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diff --git a/.gitattributes b/.gitattributes new file mode 100644 index 0000000..6833f05 --- /dev/null +++ b/.gitattributes @@ -0,0 +1,3 @@ +* text=auto +*.txt text +*.md text diff --git a/9815-8.txt b/9815-8.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..4de8ea5 --- /dev/null +++ b/9815-8.txt @@ -0,0 +1,10455 @@ +The Project Gutenberg EBook of The Principal Navigations, Voyages, +Traffiques and Discoveries of the English Nation. v. 8, by Richard Hakluyt + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere 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 www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: The Principal Navigations, Voyages, Traffiques and Discoveries of the English Nation. v. 8 + Asia, Part I. + +Author: Richard Hakluyt + +Posting Date: November 23, 2011 [EBook #9815] +Release Date: February, 2006 +First Posted: October 20, 2003 + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1 + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK PRINCIPAL NAVIGATIONS, V 8, PART I *** + + + + +Produced by Karl Hagen and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team + + + + + + + + + +** Transcriber's Notes ** + +The printed edition from which this e-text has been produced retains the +spelling and abbreviations of Hakluyt's 16th-century original. In this +version, the spelling has been retained, but the following manuscript +abbreviations have been silently expanded: + +- vowels with macrons = vowel + 'n' or 'm' +- q; = -que (in the Latin) +- y[e] = the; y[t] = that; w[t] = with + +This edition contains footnotes and two types of sidenotes. Most footnotes +are added by the editor. They follow modern (19th-century) spelling +conventions. Those that don't are Hakluyt's (and are not always +systematically marked as such by the editor). The sidenotes are Hakluyt's +own. Summarizing sidenotes are labelled [Sidenote: ] and placed before the +sentence to which they apply. Sidenotes that are keyed with a symbol are +labeled [Marginal note: ] and placed at the point of the symbol, except in +poetry, where they are placed at a convenient point. Additional notes on +corrections, etc. are signed 'KTH' + +** End Transcriber's Notes ** + + + + +THE PRINCIPAL + +NAVIGATIONS, VOYAGES, TRAFFIQUES, + +AND + +DISCOVERIES + +OF + +THE ENGLISH NATION. + +Collected by + +RICHARD HAKLUYT, PREACHER + +AND + +Edited by + +EDMUND GOLDSMID, F.R.H.S. + +VOL. VIII. + +ASIA. PART I. + + + + +Navigations, Voyages, Traffiques, and Discoueries + +OF THE ENGLISH NATION IN ASIA. + + +The life and trauailes of Pelagius borne in Wales. + +Pelagius Cambrius ex ea Britannię parte oriundus, famati illius Collegij +Bannochorensis a Cestria non procul, prępositus, erat, in quo Christianorum +philosophorum duo millia ac centum, ad plebis in Christo commoditatem +militabant, manuum suarum laboribus, iuxta Pauli doctrinam victitantes. +Post quam plures exhibitos, pro Christiana Repub. labores, vir eruditione +insignis, et tum Gręcč, tum Latinč peritus, vt Tertullianus alter, +quorundam Clericorum lacessitus iniurijs, grauatim tulit, ac tandem a fide +defecit. + +Peragratis igitur deinceps Gallijs, in Aegyptum, et Syriam aliįsque +orientis Regiones demum peruenit. Vbi ex earum partium Monacho pręsul +ordinatus, sui nominis hęresim fabricabat: asserens hominem sine peccato +nasci, ac solo voluntatis imperio sine gratia saluari posse, vt ita +nefarius baptismum ac fidem tolleret. Cum his et consimilibus impostricis +doctrinę fęcibus in patriam suam reuersus, omnem illam Regionem, Iuliano et +Cęlestino Pseudoepiscopis fautoribus, conspurcabat. Verum ante lapsum suum +studia tractabat honestissima, vt post Gennadium, Bedam, et Honorium alij +ferunt authores, composuķtque multos libros ad Christianam vtilitatem. At +postquam est Hereticus publicatus, multo plures edidit hęresi succurrentes, +et ex diametro cum vera pietate pugnantes, vnde erat a suis Britannis in +exilium pulsus, vt in Epistola ad Martinum 5. Valdenus habet. Claruit anno +post Christum incarnatum, 390. sub Maximo Britannorum Rege. + +The same in English. + +Pelagius, borne in that part of Britaine which is called Wales, was head or +gouernour of the famous Colledge of Bangor, not farre from Chester, wherein +liued a Societie of 2100. Diuines, or Students of Christian philosophie, +applying themselues to the profite of the Christian people, and liuing by +the labours of their owne hands, according to Pauls doctrine. He was a man +excellently learned, and skilfull both in the Greeke and Latine tongues, +and as it were another Tertullian; after his long and great trauailes for +the good of the Christian common wealth, seeing himselfe abused, and +iniuriously dealt withall by some of the Clergie of that time, he tooke the +matter so grieuously, that at the last he relapsed from the faith. + +Whereupon he left Wales, and went into France, and hauing gone through +France, [Footnote: He is said to have resided long at Rome, only leaving on +the capture of that city by the Gottis.] hee went therehence into Egypt, +Syria, and other Countries of the East, and being made Priest by a certaine +Monke of those partes, he there hatched his heresie, which according to his +name was called the heresie of the Pelagians: which was, that manne was +borne without sinne, and might be saued by the power of his owne will +without grace, that so the miserable man might take away faith and +baptisme. With this and the like dregges of false doctrine, he returned +againe into Wales, and there by the meanes of the two false Prelates Iulian +and Celestine, who fauoured his heresie, hee infected the whole Countrey +with it. But before his fall and Apostasie from the faith, he exercised +himselfe in the best studies, as Gennadius, Beda, Honorius, and other +authors doe report of him, and wrote many bookes seruing not a litle to +Christian vtilitie: but being once fallen into his heresie, hee wrote many +more erroneous bookes, then he did before honest, and sincere: whereupon, +at the last his owne Countreymen banished him, as Walden testifieth in his +Epistle to Pope Martine the fift. He flourished in the yere after the +Incarnation, 390. Maximus being then King of Britaine. + + * * * * * + +A testimonie of the sending of Sighelmus Bishop of Shirburne, by King + Alphred, vnto Saint Thomas of India in the yeare of our Lord 883, + recorded by William of Malmesburie, in his second booke and fourth + Chapter de gestis regum Anglorum. + +Eleemosynis intentus priuilegia ecclesiarum, sicut pater statuerat, +roborauit; et trans mare Romam, et ad sanctum Thomam in Indiam multa munera +misit. Legatus in hoc missus Sighelmus Shirburnensis Episcopus cum magna +prosperitate, quod quiuis hoc seculo miretur, Indiam penetrauit; inde +rediens exoticos splendores gemmarum, et liquores aromatum, quorum illa +humus ferax est, reportauit. + +The same in English. + +King Alphred being addicted to giving of almes, confirmed the priuileges of +Churches as his father had determined; and sent also many giftes beyond the +seas vnto Rome, and vnto S. Thomas of India. His messenger in this +businesse was Sighelmus bishop of Schirburne; [Footnote: Sherborne, in +Dorsetshire, where an abbey was founded in 700.] who with great prosperitie +(which is a matter to be wondered at in this our age) trauailed thorough +India, and returning home brought with him many strange and precious vnions +and costly spyces, such as that countrey plentifully yeeldeth. + + * * * * * + +A second testimony of the foresaid Sighelmus his voyage vnto Saint Thomas + of India &c. out of William of Malmesburie his second booke de gestis + pontificum Anglorum, cap. de episcopis Schireburnensibus, + Salisburiensibus, Wiltunensibus. + +Sighelmus trans mare, causa eleemosynarum regis, et etiam ad Sanctam Thomam +in Indiam missus mira prosperitate, quod quiuis in hoc seculo miretur, +Indiam penetrauit; indequč rediens exotici generis gemmas, quarum illa +humus ferax est, reportauit. Nonnullę illarum adhuc in ecclesię monumentis +visuntur. + +The same in English. + +Sighelmus being for the performance of the kings almes sent beyond the +seas, and trauailing vnto S. Thomas of India, very prosperously (which a +man would woonder at in this age) passed through the sayde countrey of +India, and returning home brought with him diuers strange and precious +stones, such as that climate affourdeth. Many of which stones are as yet +extant in the monuments of the Church. + + * * * * * + +The trauailes of Andrew Whiteman aliįs Leucander, Centur. 11. [Footnote: + This is misprinted "Centur. 2" in the original edition, but as Ramsey + Abbey (in Huntingdonshire) was only founded by Ailwin the Saxon, A.D. + 969-74, the 11th Century is probably meant, as further on Whiteman is + said to have flourished in 1020. Ramsey is so called from _Ram's Ey_, an + island in the fens.] + +Andręas Leucander aliįs Whiteman (iuxta Lelandum) Monachus, & Abbas +Ramesiensis Coenobij tertius fuit. Hic bonis artibus studio quodam +incredibili noctes atque dies inuigilabat, et operę pręcium ingens inde +retulit. Accessit pręterea et ardens quoddam desiderium, ea proprijs et +apertis oculis videndi loca in quibus Seruator Christus redemptionis nostrę +mysteria omnia consummauit, quorum prius sola nomina ex scripturarum +lectione nouerat: vnde et sacram Hierosolymorum vrbem miraculorum, +prędicationis, ac passionis eius testem inuisit, atque domum rediens factus +est Abbas. Claruisse fertur anno nati Seruatoris, 1020 sub Canuto Dano. + +The same in English. + +Andrew Leucander otherwise called Whiteman (as Leland reporteth) was by +profession a Monke, and the third Abbat of the Abbey of Ramsie: he was +exceedingly giuen to the studie of good artes, taking paines therein day +and night, and profited greatly thereby. And amonst all other things, he +had an incredible desire to see those places with his eyes, wherein Christ +our Sauiour performed and wrought all the mysteries of our redemption, the +names of which places he onely knew before by the reading of the +Scriptures. Whereupon he began his iourney, and went to Ierusalem a +witnesse of the miracles, preaching, and passion of Christ, and being +againe returned into his countrey, he was made the aforesayd Abbat. He +flourished in the yeere of Christ 1020. under Canutus the Dane. + + * * * * * + +The voyages of Swanus one of the sonnes of Earl Godwin vnto Ierusalem, Anno + Dom. 1052, recorded by William of Malmsburie lib. 2. de gestis regum + Anglorum, Capite 13. + +Swanus peruersi ingenij et infidi in regem, multoties a patre et fratre +Haroldo desciuit: et pirata factus, prędis maritimis virtutes maiorum +polluit. Postremņ pro conscientia Brunonis cognati interempti, et (vt +quidam dicunt) fratris Ierosolimam abijt: indeque rediens, a Saracenis +circumuentus, et ad mortem cęsus est. + +The same in English. + +Swanus being of a peruerse disposition, and faithlesse to the king, often +times disagreed with his father and his brother Harold: and afterwards +proouing a pirate, he stained the vertues of his ancestours with his +robberies vpon the seas. Last of all, being guilty vnto himselfe of the +murther of his kinseman Bruno, and (as some do report) of his owne brother, +he trauailed vnto Ierusalem: and in his returne home, being taken by the +Saracens, was beaten, and wounded vnto death. + + * * * * * + +A voyage of three Ambassadours, who in the time of K. Edward the Confessor, + and about the yere of our Lord 1056, were sent vnto Constantinople, and + from thence vnto Ephesus, together with the occasion of their sending, + &c. recorded by William of Malmesburie, lib. 2. de gestis regum Anglorum, + capite 13. + +Die sancti paschatis ad mensam apud Westmonasterium assederat, diademate +fastigatus, et optimatum turma circumuallatus. Cumque alij longam +quadragesimę inediam recentibus cibis compensantes, acriter comederent, +ille a terrenis reuocato animo, diuinum quiddam speculatus, mentes +conuiuantium permouit ampliorem perfusus in risum: nulloque causam lętitię +perquirere pręsumente, tunc quidem ita tacitum donec edendi satietas +obsonijs finem imposuit. Sed remotis mensis, cum in triclinio regalibus +exueretur, tres optimates eum prosequuti, quorum vnus erat comes Haroldus, +secundus abbas, tertius episcopus, familiaritatis ausu interrogant quid +riserat: mirum omnibus nec immeritņ videri, quarč in tanta serenitate diei +et negņtij, tacentibus cęteris, scurrilem cachinnum ejecerit. Stupenda +(inquit) vidi, nec ideo sine causa risi. Tum illi, vt moris est humani +ingenij, sciscitari et quęrere causam ardentiłs, vt supplicibus dignantčr +rem impertiatur. Ille multłm cunctatus tandem instantibus mira respondit: +septem dormientes in monte Cęlio requiescere iam ducentis annis in dextro +iacentes latere: sed tunc in hora ipsa risus sui, latus inuertisse +sinistrum: futurum vt septuaginta quatuor annis ita iaceant: dirum nimirum +miseris mortalibus omen. Nam omnia ventura in his septuaginta quatuor +annis, quę dominus circa finem mundi prędixit discipulis suis: gentem +contra gentem surrecturam, et regnum aduersus regnum, terręmotus per loca, +pestilentiam et famem, terrores de coelo et signa magna, regnorum +mutationes, gentilium in Christianos bella, item Christicolarum in paganos +victorias. Talia mirantibus inculcans passionem septem dormientium, et +habitudines corporum singulorum, quas nulla docet litera, ita promptč +disseruit: ac si cum eis quotidiano victitaret contubernio. His auditis, +comes militem, episcopus clericum, abbas monachum, ad veritatem verborum +exsculpendam, Manicheti Constantinopolitano imperatori misere, adiectis +regis sui literis et muneribus. Eos ille benignč secum habitos episcopo +Ephesi destinauit, epistola pariter, quam sacram vocant, comitante: vt +ostenderentur legatis regis Anglię septem dormientium marturiales exuuię. +Factśmque est vt vaticinium regis Edwardģ Gręcis omnibus comprobatum, qui +se a patribus accepisse iurarent, super dextrum illos latus quiescere: sed +post introitum Anglorum in speluncam, veritatem peregrinę prophetię +contubernalibus suis prędicarunt. Nec moram festinatio malorum fecit, quin +Agareni, et Arabes, et Turci, alienę scilicčt a Christo gentes, Syriam, et +Lyciam, et minorem Asiam omnino, et maioris multas vrbes, inter quas et +Ephesum, ipsam etiam Hierosolymam depopulati, super Christianos inuaderent. + +The same in English. + +Vpon Easter day king Edward the Confessor being crowned with his kingly +diademe, and accompanied with diuers of his nobles, sate at dinner in his +pallace at Westminster. And when others, after their long abstinence in the +Lent, refreshed themselves with dainty meats, and fed thereupon very +earnestly, he lifting vp his mind from earthly matters and meditating on +heauenly visions (to the great admiration of those which were present) +brake forth into an exceeding laughter: and no man presuming to enquire the +cause of his mirth, they all kept silence til dinner was ended. But after +dinner as he was in his bedchamber putting off his solemne roabes, three of +his Nobles to wit earle Harold, an Abbot, and a Bishop, being more familiar +with him then the residue followed him in and bouldly asked him what was +the occasion of his laughter: for it seemed very strange vnto them all, +what should moue him at so solemne a time and assembly, while others kept +silence, to laugh so excessively. I saw (quoth he) admirable things, and +therefore laughed I not without occasion. Then they (as it is the common +guise of all men) demaunded and enquired the cause more earnestly, humbly +beseeching faith that hee would vouchsafe to impart that secret vnto them. +Whereupon musing a long while vnto himself, at length he told them +wonderfull things: namely that seuen Sleepers had rested in mount Cęlius +two hundred yeeres, lying upon their right sides but in the very houre of +his laughter, that they turned themselues on their left sides; and that +they should continue so lying for the space of 74. yeeres after; being a +dismal signe of future calamitie vnto mankinde. For all things should come +to passe within these 74. yeeres, which, as our Sauiour Christ foretold +vnto his disciples, were to be fulfilled about the ende of the world: +namely that nation should rise against nation, and kingdome against +kingdome, and that there should bee in many places earthquakes, pestilence, +and famine, terrible apparitions in the heauens, and great signes, together +with alterations of kingdomes, warres of infidels against the Christians, +and victories of the Christians against the infidels. And as they wondered +at these relations, he declared vnto them the passion of the seuen +Sleepers, with the proportion and shape of cache of their bodies (which +things, no man liuing had as then committed vnto writing) and that so +plainely and distinctly, as if he had conuersed a long time in their +company. Hereupon the earle sent a knight, the bishop a clearke, the Abbot +a monke vnto Maniches the Emperour of Constantinople, with the letters and +gifts of their King. Who giuing them friendly entertainment, sent them ouer +vnto the bishop of Ephesus; and wrote his letters vnto him giuing him +charge, that the English Ambassadours might be admitted to see the true, +and material habiliments of the seuen Sleepers. And it came to passe that +King Edwards vision was approued by all the Greeks, who protested they were +aduertised by their fathers, that the foresaid seuen Sleepers had alwayes +before that time rested vpon their right sides; but after the Englishmen +were entered into the caue, those Sleepers confirmed the trueth of the +outlandish prophesie, vnto their countreymen. Neither were the calamities +foretold, any long time delayed: for the Aragens, Arabians, Turkes and +other vnbeleeuing nations inuading the Christians, harried and spoiled +Syria, Lycia, the lesser Asia, and many cities of Asia the greater, and +amongst the rest Ephesus, yea, and Ierusalem also. + + * * * * * + +The voyage of Alured bishop of Worcester vnto Ierusalem, an. 1058. Recorded + by Roger Houeden in parte priore Annalium, fol. 255. linea 15. + +[Sidenote: A.D. 1058] Aluredus Wigorniensis Episcopus ecclesiam, quam in +ciuitate, Glauorna ą fundamentis constraxerat, in honore principis +Apostolorum Petri honorificč dedicauit: et posteą regis licentia Wolstanum +Wigorniensem Monachum ą se ordinatum Abbatum constituit ibidem. Dein +pręsulatu dimisso Wiltoniensis ecclesię, qui sibi ad regendum commissus +fuerat, et Hermanno, cujus suprą mentionem fecimus, reddito, mare transijt, +et per Hungarian profectus est Hierosolymam, &c. + +The same in English. + +In the yere of our Lord 1058. Alured bishop of Worcester, very solemnly +dedicated a Church (which himselfe had founded and built in the citie of +Gloucester) vnto the honour of S. Peter the chiefe Apostle:[Footnote: This +is Gloucester Cathedral, the crypt, the chapels surrounding the choir, and +the lower part of the nave being the portions built by Alured that are +still extant.] and afterward by the kings permission ordained Wolstan a +Monke of Worcester of his owne choice, to be Abbate in the same place. And +then having left his Bishopricke which was committed vnto him ouer the +Church of Wilton, and having resigned the same vnto Hermannus aboue +mentioned, passed ouer the seas, and trauailed through Hungarie vnto +Ierusalem, &c. + + * * * * * + +The voyage of Ingulphus Abbat of Croiland vnto Ierusalem, performed + (according to Florentius Wigorniensis) in the yeere of our Lord, 1064, + and described by the said Ingulphus himselfe about the conclusion of his + briefe Historie. + +[Sidenote: A.D. 1064] Ego Ingulphus humilis minister Sancti Guthlaci +Monasterijque sui Croilandensis, natus in Anglia, et a parentibus Anglicis, +quippč vrbis pulcherrimę Londoniarum, pro literis addiscendis in teneriore +setate constitutus, primum Westmonasterio, postmodum Oxoniensi studio +traditus eram. Cśmque in Aristotele arripiendo supra multo coętaneos meos +profecissem, etiam Rhetoricam Tullij primam et secundam talo tenus +induebam. Factus ergo adolescentior, fastidiens parentum meorum +exiguitatem, paternos lares relinquere, et palatia regum aut principum +affectans, mollibus vestiri, pomposisque lacinijs amiciri indies ardentius +appetebam. [Sidenote: A.D. 1051] Et eccč, inclytus nunc rex noster Anglię, +tunc adhunc comes Normannię Wilhelmus ad colloquium tunc regis Anglię +Edwardi cognati sui, cum grandi ministrantium comitatu Londonias +aduentabat, Quibus citius insertus, ingerens me vbķque ad omnia emergentia +negotia peragenda, cum prosperč plurima perfecissem, in breui agnitus +Ilustrissimo comiti et astrictissimč adamatus, cum ipso Normanniam +enauigabam. Factus ibidem scriba eius, pro libito totam comitis curiam, ad +nonnullorum inuidiam regebam; quosque volui humiliabam, et quos volui +exaltabam. Cumque iuuenili calore impulsus in tam celso statu supra meos +natales consistere tęderem, quin semper ad altiora conscendere, instabili +animo, ac nimium prurienti affectu, ad erubescentiam ambitiosus auidissimč +desiderarem: [Sidenote: A.D. 1064. According to Florentius Wegorniensis.] +nuntiatur per vniuersam Normanniam plurimos archiepiscopos imperij cum +nonnullis alijs terrę principibus velle pro merito animarum suanim more +peregrinoram cum debita deuotione Hierosolymam proficisci. De familia ergo +comitis domini nostri plurimi tam milites quąm clerici, quorum primus et +pręcipuus ego eram, cum licentia, et domini nostri comitis beneuolentia, in +dictum iter nos omnes accinximus: et Alemanniam petentes, equites triginta +numero et ampliłs domino Maguntino coniuncti sumus. Parati namque omnes ad +viam, et cum dominis episcopis connumerati septem milia, pertranseuntes +prosperč multa terrarum spatia, tandem Constantinopolim peruenimus. Vbi +Alexium Imperatorem eius adorantes Agiosophiam vidimus, et infinita +sanctuaria osculati sumus. Diuertentes inde per Lyciam in manus Arabicorum +latrorium incidimus; euis ceratique de infinitis pecunijs, cum mortibus +multorum, et maxima vitę nostrę periculo vix euadentes, tandem +desideratissimam ciuitatem Hierosolymam lęto introitu tenebamus. Ab ipso +tunc patriarcha Sophronio nomine, viro veneranda canitie honestissimo ac +sanctissimo, grandi cymbalorum tonitru, et luminarium immenso fulgore +suscepti, ad diuinissimam ecclesiam sanctissimi sepulchri, tam Syrorum, +quąm Latinornm solenni processione deducti sumus. Ibi quot preces +inorauimus, quot lachrymas infleuimus, quot suspiria inspirauimus, solus +eius inhabitator nouit D. noster Iesus Christus. Ab ipso itaque +gloriosissimo sepulchro Christi ad alia sanctuaria ciuitatis inuisenda +circumducti, infinitam summam sanctarum ecclesiarum, et oratorioram, quę +Achim Soldanus dudum destruxerat, oculis lachrymosis vidimus. Et omnibus +ruinis sanctissimę ciuitatis, tam extra, quąm intra; numerosis lachrymis +intimo affectu compassi, ad quorundam restaurationem datis non paucis +pecunijs, exire in patriam et sacratissimo Iordane intingi, vniuersįque +Chrtsti vestigia osculari, desiderantissima deuotione suspirabamus. Sed +Arabum latrunculi qui omnem viam obseruabant, longiłs a ciuitate euagari, +sua rabiosa multitudine innumera non sinebant. Vere igitur accidente, +stolus nauium Ianuensium in porta Ioppensi applicuit. In quibus, cum sua +mercimonia Christiani mercatores per ciuitates maritimas commutassent, et +sancta loca similitčr adorassent, ascendentes omnes maria nos commisimus. +Et iactati fluctibus et procellis innumeris tandem Brundusium, et prospero +itinere per Apulium Romam petentes, sanctorum Apostolorum Petri et Pauli +limina, et copiosissima sanctorum martyrum monumenta per omnes stationes +osculati sumus. Indč archiepiscopi, cęterique principes imperij Alemanniam +per dextram repetentes, nos versus Franciam ad sinistram declinantes cum +inenarribilibus et gratijs et osculis ab inuicem discessimus. Et tandem de +triginta equitibus, qui de Normannia pingues exiuimus, vix viginti pauperes +peregrini, et omnes pedites, macie multa attenuati, reuersi sumus. + +The same in English. + +I Ingulphus [Footnote: This Abbot, or pretended Abbot of Croyland (whose +name is attached to a work once highly valued, professing to be a history +of the Abbey of Croyland from 626 to 1089, but which, is now believed to be +a monkish fabrication of a much later age), is said by himself to have +been, on his return from the Holy Land, appointed prior of the Abbey of +Fontenelle, in Normandy, and on William becoming King of England, Abbot of +Croyland. He was believed to have died in 1109.] an humble seruant of +reuerend Guthlac and of his monastery of Croiland, borne in England, and of +English parents, at the beautifull citie of London, was in my youth for the +attaining of good letters, placed first at Westminster, and afterward sent +to the Vniuersitie of Oxford. And hauing excelled diuers of mine equals in +learning of Aristotle, I inured my selfe somewhat vnto the first and second +Rhethorique of Tullie. And as I grew in age, disdayning my parents meane +estate, and forsaking mine owne natiue soyle, I affected the Courts of +kings and princes, and was desirous to be clad in silke, and to weare braue +and costly attire. [Sidenote: A.D. 1051] And loe, at the same time William +our souereigne king now, but then Erle of Normandie, with a great troup of +followers and attendants came vnto London, to conferre with king Edward the +Confessour his kinsman. Into whose company intruding my selfe, and +proffering my seruice for the performance of any speedy or weightie +affayres, in short time, after I had done many things with good successe, I +was knowen and most entirely beloued by the victorious Erle himselfe, and +with him I sayled into Normandie. And there being made his secretarie, I +gouerned the Erles Court (albeit with the enuie of some) as my selfe +pleased, yea whom I would I abased, and preferred whom I thought good. When +as therefore, being carried with a youthful heat and lustie humour, I began +to be wearie euen of this place, wherein I was aduanced so high aboue my +parentage, and with an inconstant minde, and affection too too ambitious, +most vehemently aspired at all occasions to climbe higher: there went a +report throughout all Normandie, that diuers Archbishops of the Empire, and +secular princes were desirous for their soules health, and for deuotion +sake, to goe on pilgrimage to Ierusalem. Wherefore out of the family of our +lorde the Earle, sundry of vs, both gentlemen and clerkes (principall of +whom was myselfe) with the licence and good will of our sayd lord the +earle, sped vs on that voiage, and trauailing thirtie horses of vs into +high Germanie, we ioyned our selues vnto the Archbishop of Mentz. And being +with the companies of the Bishop seuen thousand persons sufficiently +prouided for such an expedition, we passed prosperously through many +prouinces, and at length attained vnto Constantinople. Where doing +reuerence vnto the Emperor Alexius, we sawe the Church of Sancta Sophia, +and kissed diuers sacred reliques. Departing thence through Lycia, we fell +into the hands of the Arabian theeues: and after we had beene robbed of +infinite summes of money, and had lost many of our people, hardly escaping +with extreame danger of our liues, at length we ioyfully entered into the +most wished citie of Ierusalem. Where we wer receiued by the most reuerend, +aged, and holy patriarke Sophronius, with great melodie of cymbals and with +torch-light, and were accompanied vnto the most diuine Church of our +Sauiour his sepulchre with a solemne procession aswell of Syrians as of +Latines. Here, how many prayers we vttered, what abundance of teares we +shed, what deepe sighs we breathed foorth, our Lord Iesus Christ onely +knoweth. Wherefore being conducted from the most glorious sepulchre of +Christ to visite other sacred monuments of the citie, we saw with weeping +eyes a great number of holy Churches and oratories, which Achim the Souldan +of Egypt had lately destroyed. And so hauing bewailed with sadde teares, +and most sorowful and bleeding affections, all the ruines of that most holy +city both within and without, and hauing bestowed money for the reedifying +of some, we desired with most ardent deuotion to go forth into the +countrey, to wash our selues in the most sacred riuer of Iordan, and to +kisse all the steppes of Christ. Howbeit the theeuish Arabians lurking vpon +euery way, would not suffer vs to trauell farre from the city, by reason of +their huge and furious multitudes. Wherefore about the spring there arriued +at the port of Ioppa a fleet of ships from Genoa. In which fleet (when the +Christian merchants had exchanged all their wares at the coast townes, and +had likewise visited the holy places) wee all of vs embarked committing +ourselues to the seas: and being tossed with many stormes and tempests, at +length wee arriued at Brundusium: and so with a prosperous iourney +trauelling thorow Apulia towards Rome, we there visited the habitations of +the holy apostles Peter and Paul, and did reuerence vnto diuers monuments +of holy martyrs in all places thorowout the city. From thence the +archbishops and other princes of the empire trauelling towards the right +hand for Alemain, and we declining towards the left hand for France, +departed asunder, taking our leaues with vnspeakable thankes and +courtesies. And so at length, of thirty horsemen which went out of +Normandie fat, lusty, and frolique, we returned hither skarse twenty poore +pilgrims of vs, being all footmen, and consumed with leannesse to the bare +bones. + + * * * * * + +Diuers of the honourable family of the Beauchamps, with Robert Curtoys + sonne of William the Conqueror, made a voyage to Ierusalem 1096. Hol. + pag. 22. vol. 2. + +Pope Vrbane calling a councell at Clermont in Auuergne, exhorted the +Christian princes so earnestly to make a iourney in the Holy land, for the +recouery thereof out of the Saracens hands, that the saide great and +generall iourney was concluded vpon to be taken in hand, wherein many noble +men of Christendome went vnder the leading of Godfrey of Bouillon and +others, as in the Chronicles of France, of Germanie, and of the Holy land +doeth more plainely appeare. There went also among other diuers noble men +foorth of this Realme of England, specially that worthily bare the surname +of Beauchampe. + + * * * * * + +The voyage of Gutuere an English Lady maried to Balduine brother of + Godfreide duke of Bouillon, toward Ierusalem about 1097. And the 11. + yeere of William Rufus King of England. + +The Christian armie of Godfrie of Bouillon passing the citie of Iconium, +alias Agogna in the countrey of Licaonia, and from thence by the city of +Heraclia, came at length vnto the citie of Marasia, where they encamped, +and soiourned there three whole dayes, because of the wife of Balduine +brother germane of the duke of Loraigne. Which Lady, being long time vexed +with a grieuous maladie, was in extremitie, where at length paying the debt +due to nature, she changed this transitorie life, for life eternall; Who, +in her life time, was a very worthy and vertuous Lady, borne in England, +and descended of most noble parentage named Gutuere; Which, according to +her degree, was there most honourably enterred, to the great griefe of all +the whole armie. As reporteth William Archbishop of Tyre, lib. 3. cap. 17. +hist. belli sacri. The same author in the 10. booke and first chapter of +the same historie concerning the same English Lady, writeth further as +followeth, Baldwine hauing folowed the warres for a time, gaue his minde to +marriage, so that being in England he fell in loue with a very honourable +and noble Lady named Gutuere, whom he married and caried with him in that +first happy expedition, wherin he accompanied his brethren, the Lords, duke +Godfrey and Eustace, persons very commendable in all vertues and of +immortall memorie. But he had hard fortune in his iourney, because his +foresaid wife, being wearied with a long sicknes finished her life with a +happie end neere the citie of Marasia, before the Christian armie came vnto +Antioch, where she was honourably buried, as we haue declared before. + + * * * * * + +Chronicon Hierosolymitanum in lib. 3. cap. 27. maketh also mention of this + English Lady which he calleth Godwera in this maner. + +Hac in regione Maresch vxor Baldewini nobilissima, quam de regno Anglię +eduxit, diutina corporis molestia aggrauata, et duci Godefrido commendata, +vitam exhalauit, sepulta Catholicis obsequijs; cuius nomen erat Godwera. + +The same in English. + +In this prouince of Maresch the most noble wife of Baldwine, which he +caried with him out of England being visited with dayly sicknesses and +infirmities of body, and commended to the custody of duke Godfrey, departed +out of this life, and was buried after the Christian maner. Her name was +Godwera. + + * * * * * + +The voyage of Edgar the sonne of Edward which was the sonne of Edmund + surnamed Ironside, brother vnto K. Edward the confessor, (being + accompanied with valiant Robert the sonne of Godwin) vnto Ierusalem, in + the yeere of our Lord 1102. Recorded by William of Malmesburie, lib. 3. + histo. fol. 58. + +[Sidenote: A.D. 1102.] Subsequenti tempore cum Roberto filio Godwini milite +audacissimo Edgaras Hierosolymam pertendit Illud fuit tempus quo Turci +Baldwinum regem apud Ramas obsederunt: qui cum obsidionis iniuriam ferre +nequiret, per medias hostium acies effugit, solius Roberti opera liberatus +pręeuntis, et euaginato gladio dextra leuaque Turcos cędentis. Sed cum +successu ipso truculentior, alacritate nimia procurreret, ensis manu +excidit. Ad quem recolligendum cum se inclinasset, omnium incursu +oppressus, vinculis palmas dedit. Inde Babyloniam (vt aiunt) ductus, cum +Christum abnegare nollet, in medio foro ad signum positus, et sagittis +terebratus, martyrium consecrauit. Edgarus amisso milite regressus, +multaque beneficia ab Imperatoribus Gręcorum, et Alemannorum adeptus +(quippč qui etiam eum retinere pro generis amplitudine tentassent) omnia +pronatalis soli desiderio spreuit. Quosdam enim profectņ fallit amor patrię +vt nihil eis videatur iucundum, nisi consuetum hauserint coelum. Vndč +Edgarus fatua cupidine illusus Angliam redijt, vbi (vt superius dixi) +diuerso fortunę ludicro rotatus, nunc remotus et tacitus, canos suos in +agro consumit. + +The same in English. + +Afterward Edgar being sonne vnto the nephewe of Edward the confessour, +traueiled with Robert the sonne of Godwin a most valiant knight, vnto +Ierusalem. And it was at the same time when the Turkes besieged king +Baldwin at Rama: who not being able to endure the straight siege, was by +the helpe of Robert especially, going before him, and with his drawen sword +making a lane, and slaying the Turkes on his right hande and on his left, +deliuered out of that danger, and escaped through the midst of his enemies +campe. But vpon his happie successe being more eager and fierce, as he went +forward somewhat too hastily, his sworde fell out of his hand. Which as he +stouped to take vp, being oppressed with the whole multitude, hee was there +taken and bound. From whence (as some say) being carried vnto Babylon or +Alcair in Egypt, when he would not renounce Christ, he was tyed vnto a +stake in the midst of the market place, and being shot through with +arrowes, died a martyr. Edgar hauing lost his knight returned, and being +honoured with many rewards both by the Greekish and by the Germaine +Emperour (who both of them would right gladly haue entertained him stil for +his great nobilitie) contemned all things in respect of his natiue soile. +For in very deede some are so inueagled with the loue of their countrey, +that nothing can seeme pleasant vnto them, vnlesse they breath in the same +aire where they were bred. Wherefore Edgar being misledde with a fond +affection, returned into England; and afterward being subiect vnto diuers +changes of fortune (as we haue aboue signified) he spendeth [Marginal note: +When the author was writing of this history.] now his extreeme old age in +an obscure and priuate place of the countrey. + + * * * * * + +Mention made of one Godericus, a valiant Englishman, who was with his ships + in the voyage vnto the Holy land in the second yeere of Baldwine King of + Ierusalem, in the third yere of Henry the first of England. + +[Chronicon Hierosolymitanum lib. 9. cap. 9.] Verłm de hinc septem diebus +euolutis rex ab Assur exiens, nauem quę dicitur Buza ascendit, et cum eo +Godericus pirata de regno Anglię, ac vexillo hastę pręfixo et elato in aėre +ad radios solis vsque, Iaphet cum paucis nauigauit, vt hoc eius signo ciues +Christiani recognito, fiduciam vitę regis haberent, et non facile hostium +mķnis pauefacti, turpiter diffugium facerent, aut vrbem reddere cogerentur. +Sciebat enim eos multum de vita et salute eius desperare, Saraceni autem +viso eius signo, et recognito, ea parte quę vrbem nauigio cingebat illi in +galeis viginti et Carinis tredecim, quas vulgo appelant Cazh, occurrerunt, +volentes Buzam regis coronare. Sed Dei auxilio vndis maris illis ex aduerso +tumescentibus ac reluctantibus, Buza autem regis facili, et agili cursu +inter procellas labente, ac volitante, in portu Ioppę delusis hostibus +subitņ affuit, sex ex Saracenis in arcu suo in nauicula percussis, ac +vulneratis. Intrans itaque ciuitatem dum incolumis omnium pateret oculis, +reuixit spiritus cunctorum gementium ei de eius niorte hactenus dolentium, +eo quņd caput et rex Christianorum et princeps Hierusalem adhuc viuus et +incolumis receptus sit. + +The same in English. + +But seuen dayes afterward, the King comming out of the towne of Assur +entred into a shippe called a Busse, and one Godericke a pirate of the +kingdome of England with him, and fastening his banner on the toppe of a +speare, and holding it vp aloft in the aire against the beames of the +Sunne, sailed vnto Iaphet with a small company; That the Christian Citizens +there seeing this his banner, might conceiue hope that the King was yet +liuing, and being not easily terrified with the threates of the enemies +might shamefully runne away; or be constrained to yeeld vp the citie. For +hee knew that they were very much out of hope of his life and safetie. The +Saracens seeing and knowing this his banner, that part of them which +enuironed the Citie by water made towards him with twentie Gallies and +thirteene shippes, which they commonly cal Cazh, seeking to inclose the +kings shippe. But, by Gods helpe the billowes of the Sea swelling and +raging against them, and the Kings shippe gliding and passing through the +waues with an easie and nimble course arriued suddenly in the hauen of +Ioppa, the enemies frustrated of their purpose; and sixe of the Saracens +were hurt and wounded by shot out of the Kings shippe. So that the King +entering into the Citie, and nowe appearing in safetie in all their +sightes, the spirits of all them that mourned for him, and vntil then +lamented as though hee had bene dead, reuiued, because that the head and +King of the Christians, and prince of Ierusalem was yet aliue, and come +againe vnto them in perfect health. + + * * * * * + +Mention made of One Hardine of England one of the chiefest personages, and + a leader among other of two hundred saile of ships of Christians that + landed at Ioppa in the yeere of our Lord God 1102. + +[Chronicon Hierosolymitanum libro 9. cap. 11.] Interea dum hęc obsidio +ageretur 200. naues Christianorum nauigio Ioppen appulsę sunt, vt adorarent +in Hierusalem. Horum Bernardus Witrazh de terra Galatię, Hardinus de +Anglia, Otho de Roges, Hadewerck, vnus de prępotentibus Westfalorum, primi +et ductores fuisse referuntur, etc. Erat autem tertia feria Iulij mensis, +quando hę Christianorum copię, Deo protegente, huc nauigio angustiatis et +obsessis ad opem collatę sunt. Sarracenorum autem turmę, videntes quia +Christianorum virtus audactur facie ad faciem vicini sibi hospitio proximč +iungebatur, media nocte orbi incumbente, amotis tentorijs amplius milliari +subtractę consederunt, dum luce exorta consilium inirent, vtrum Ascalonem +redirent, aut ciues Iaphet crebris assultibus vexarent. + +The same in English. + +Whle the Sarazens continued their siege against Ioppa, two hundred saile of +Christian ships arriued at Ioppa, that they might performe their deuotions +at Hierusalem. The chiefe men and leaders of these Christians are reported +to haue bene: Bernard Witrazh of the land of Galatia, Hardine of England, +Otho of Roges, Haderwerck one of the chiefe noblemen of Westphalia, &c. +This Christian power through Gods speciall prouision, arrived here for the +succour and reliefe of the distressed and besieged Christians in Ioppa, the +third day of Iuly, 1102. and in the second yeere of Baldwine king of +Ierusalem. Whereupon the multitude of the Sarazens, seeing that the +Christian power ioyned themselves boldly, close by them even face to face +in a lodging hard by them, the very next night at midnight, remooued their +tents, and pitched them more then a mile off, that they might the next +morning bee aduised whether they should returne to Ascalon, or by often +assaults vexe the citizens of Iaphet. + +[Chronicon Hierosolymitanum, eodem libro 9. cap. l2.] continueth this +historie of these two hundreth saile of ships, and sheweth how by their +prowesse chiefly, the multitude of the Sarazens were in short space +vanquished and ouerthrowen: The words are these; Ab ipso verņ die tertię +ferię dum sic in superbia et elatione suę multitudinis immobiles Saraceni +persisterent, et multis armorum terroribus Christianum populum vexarent, +sexta feria appropinquante. Rex Baldwinus in tubis et cornibus a Iaphet +egrediens, in manu robusta equitum et peditum virtutem illorum crudeli +bello est aggressus, magnis hinc et hinc clamoribus intonantes. Christiani +quoque qui nauigio appulsi sunt horribili pariter clamore cum Rege +Baldwino, et graui strepitu vociferantes, Babylonios vehementi pugna sunt +aggressi, sęuissimis atque mortiferis plagis eos affligentes, donec bello +fatigati, et contrą ['vntrą' in source text--KTH] vim non sustinentes fugam +versus Ascalonea inierunt. Alij verņ ab insecutoribus eripi existimantes, +et mari se credentes, intolerabili procellarum fluctuatione absorpti sunt. +Et sic ciuitas Ioppe cum habitatoribus suis liberata est; Ceciderunt hac +die tria millia Saracenorum Christianorum verņ pauci perijsse inuenti sunt. + +The same in English. + +Yet notwithstanding, after the said third day of Iuly, the Sarazens +persisted high minded and insolent, by reason of their great multitude, and +much annoied the Christian people with their many forceable and terrible +weapons; whereupon, on the sixt day of Iuly early in the morning king +Baldwine issued out of Iaphet, his trumpets and cornets yeelding a great +and lowd sound, and with a very strong armie as well of horsemen as +footemen, who on euery side making great shoutes and outcries, with fierce +and sharpe battell set on the maine power of their enemies. The Christians +also who arriued in the nauie, rearing great clamours and noyses, with loud +voices and shoutings in horrible wise together, with king Baldwine +assaulted likewise with strong battell the Babylonians, and afflicted them +with most sore and deadly wounds, vntill the Sarazens being wearied with +fighting, nor able longer to endure and hold out against the valure of the +Christians, fled towards Ascalon. And other of them hoping to escape from +them that pursued them, lept into the sea, and were swalowed vp in the +waues thereof. And so the citie of Ioppa with the inhabitants thereof were +freed of their enemies. There were slaine this day three thousand Sarazens, +and but a few of the Christians perished. + + * * * * * + +A Fleete of Englishmen, Danes, and Flemings, arriued at Ioppa in the Holy + land, the seuenth yeere of Baldwine the second king of Hierusalem. + Written in the beginning of the tenth booke of the Chronicle of + Hierusalem, in the 8. yeere of Henry the first of England. + +Chap: 1. + +At the same time also in the seuenth yeere of the raigne of Baldwine the +Catholike king of Hierusalem, a very great warrelike Fleete of the +Catholike nation of England, to the number of about seuen thousand, hauing +with them more men of warre of the kingdom of Denmarke, of Flanders and of +Antwerpe, arriued with ships which they call Busses, at the hauen of the +citie of Iaphet, determining there to make their abode, vntill they hauing +obtained the kings licence and safeconduct, might safely worship at +Hierusalem. Of which nauie the chiefest and best spoken repairing to the +king, spake to him in this maner. Christ preserue the Kings life, and +prosper his kingdome from day to day; Wee, being men and souldiours of +Christian profession, haue, through the helpe of God, sayled hither through +mightie and large seas, from the farre countreys of England, Flanders, and +Denmarke, to worship at Ierusalem, and to visit the sepulchre of our Lord. +And therefore we are assembled to intreat your clemency touching the +matter, that by your fauour and safe conduct we may peaceably goe vp to +Ierusalem, and worship there, and so returne. + + +Chap. 2. + +The king fauourably hearing their whole petition, granted vnto them a +strong band of men to conduct them, which brought them safely from all +assaults and ambushes of the Gentiles by the knowen wayes vnto Ierusalem +and all other places of deuotion. After that these pilgrims, and new +Christian strangers were brought thither, they offering vnto our Lord their +vowes in the temple of the holy sepulchre, returned with great ioy, and +without all let vnto Ioppa; where finding the king, they vowed they would +assist him in all things, which should seeme good vnto him: who, greatly +commending the men, and commanding them to be well entertained with +hospitality, answered that he could not on the sudden answere to this +point, vntill that after he had called his nobles together, he had +consulted with my lord the Patriarch what was most meet and conuenient to +be done, and not to trouble in vaine so willing an army. And therefore +after a few dayes, calling vnto him my lord the Patriarch, Hugh of Tabaria, +Gunfride the keeper and lieutenant of the tower of Dauid, and the other +chiefest men of warre, he determined to haue a meeting in the city of +Rames, to consult with them what was best to be done. + + +Chap. 3. + +Who, being assembled at the day appointed, and proposing their diuers +opinions and iudgements, at length it seemed best vnto the whole company to +besiege the city Sagitta, which is also called Sidon, if peradventure, +through God's helpe, and by the strength of this new army, by land and sea +it might be ouercome. Whereupon all they which were there present and +required that this city should be besieged, because it was one of those +cities of the Gentiles which continually rebelled, were commended, and +admonished of the king euery one to go home, and to furnish themselues with +things necessary, and armour for this expedition. Euery one of them +departed home; likewise Hugh of Tabaria departed, being a chiefe man of +warre against the inuasions of the enemies, which could neuer be wearied +day nor night in the countie of the Pagans, in pursuing them with warre and +warlike stratagemes all the dayes of his life. Immediatly after this +consultation the king sent ambassadours to all the multitude of the English +men, requiring them not to remoue their campe nor fleet from the city of +Iaphet, but quietly to attend the kings further commandement. The same +embassadours also declared vnto the whole army, that the king and all his +nobility had determined to besiege and assault the city Sagitta by sea and +by land, and that their helpe and forces would there be needfull; and that +for this purpose, the king and the patriarch were comming downe vnto the +city of Acres and that they were in building of engins, and warlike +instruments, to inuade the walles and inhabitants thereof: and that in the +meane season they were to remaine at Iaphet, vntill the kings further +commandement were knowen. Whereupon they all agreed that it should be so +done according to the king's commandement; and answered that they would +attend his directions in the Hauen of Iaphet, and would in all points be +obedient vnto him vnto the death. + + +Chap.4. + +The king came downe to Acres with the patriarch, and all his family, +building, and making there by the space of fortie dayes engins, and many +kindes of warlike instruments: and appointing all things to be made +perfectly ready, which seemed to be most conuenient for the assaulting of +the city. Assoone as this purpose and intent of the king was come vnto the +eares of the inhabitants of Sagitta, and that an inuincible power of men of +warre was arriued at Iaphet to helpe the king, they were greatly astonied, +fearing that by this meanes, they should be consumed and subdued by the +king by dint of sword, as other cities, to wit, Cęsaria, Assur, Acres, +Cayphas, and Tabaria were vanquished and subdued. And therefore laying +their heads together, they promised to the king by secret mediatours, a +mighty masse of money of a coyne called Byzantines: and that further they +would yeerely pay a great tribute, vpon condition that ceasing to besiege +and inuade their city, he would spare their liues. Whereupon these +businesses were handled from day to day betweene the king and the citizens, +and they sollicited the king for the ransomming both of their city and of +their liues, proffering him from time to time more greater gifts. And the +king for his part, being carefull and perplexed for the payment of the +wages which he ought vnto his souldiers, harkened wholy vnto this offer of +money. Howbeit because he feared the Christians, least they should lay it +to his charge as a fault, he durst not as yet meddle with the same. + + +Chap. 5. + +In the meane space Hugh of Tabaria being sent for, accompanied with the +troopes of two hundred horsemen and foure hundred footmen, inuaded the +countrey of the Grosse Carle called Suet, very rich in gold and siluer most +abundant in cattle frontering vpon the countrie of the Damascenes, where +hee tooke a pray of inestimable riches and cattle, which might haue +suffised him for the besiege of Sagitta, whereof he ment to impart +liberally to the king, and his companie. This pray being gathered out of +sundry places thereabout, and being led away as farre as the citie of +Belinas, which they call Cęsaria Philippi, the Turkes which dwelt at +Damascus, together with the Saracens inhabitants of the countrie perceiuing +this, flocking on all partes together by troopes, pursued Hughes companie +to rescue the pray, and passed foorth as farre as the mountaines, ouer +which Hughes footemen did driue the pray. There beganne a great skirmish of +both partes, the one side made resistance to keepe the pray, the other +indeuoured with all their might to recouer it, vntill at length the Turkes +and Saracens preuailing, the pray was rescued and brought back againe: +which Hugh and his troopes of horsemen, suddenly vnderstanding, which were +on the side of the mountaines, incontinently rid backe vpon the spurre, +among the straight and craggie rockes, skirmishing with the enemies, and +succouring their footemen, but as it chanced they fought vnfortunately. For +Hugh, being vnarmed, and immediatly rushing into the middest of all +dangers, and after his woonted manner inuading and wounding the infidels, +being behinde with an arrowe shot through the backe which pierced thorough +his liuer and brest, he gaue vp the ghost in the handes of his owne people. +Hereupon the troupes of the Gentiles being returned with the recouered +pray, and being deuided through the secret and hard passages of the craggie +hilles, the souldiers brought the dead bodie of Hugh, which they had put in +a litter, into the citie of Nazareth, which is by the mount Thaber, where +with great mourning and lamentation, so worthie a prince, and valiant +champion was honourably and Catholikely interred. The brother of the said +Hugh named Gerrard, the same time lay sicke of a grieuous disease. Which +hearing of the death of his brother, his sicknesse of his body increasing +more vehemently through griefe, he also deceased within eight dayes after, +and was buried by his brother, after Christian maner. + + +Chap. 6. + +After the lamentable burials of these so famous Princes, the King, taking +occasion of the death of these principall men of his armie, agreed, making +none priuie thereto, to receiue the money which was offered him for his +differing off the siege of the citie of Sagitta, yet dissembling to make +peace, with the Saracens, but that he ment to go through with the worke, +that he had begunne. Whereupon sending a message vnto Iaphet, hee aduised +the English souldiers to come downe to Acres with their fleete, and to +conferre and consult with him touching the besieging and assaulting of the +citie of Sagitta, which rising immediatly vpon the kings commaundement, and +foorthwith hoysing vp the sayles of their shippes aloft with pendants and +stremers of purple, and diuerse other glorious colours, with their flagges +of scarlet colour and silke, came thither, and casting their ancres, rode +hard by the citie. The king the next day calling vnto him such as were +priuie and acquainted with his dealings, opened his griefe vnto the chiefe +Captaines of the English men and Danes, touching the slaughter of Hugh, and +the death of his brother, and what great confidence he reposed in them +concerning these warres: and that nowe therefore they being departed and +dead, he must of necessity differre the besieging of Sagitta, and for this +time dismisse the armie assembled. This resolution of the king being spred +among the people, the armie was dissolued, and the Englishmen, Danes and +Flemings, with sailes and oares going aboard their fleete, saluted +['saulted' in source text--KTH] the king, and returned home vnto their +natiue countries. + + * * * * * + +The trauailes of one Athelard an Englishman, recorded by master Bale + Centur. 12. + +Athelardus Bathoniensis Coenobij monachus, naturalium rerum mysteria, et +causas omnes, diligentiā tam vndecunque exquisitā perscrutatus est, vt cum +aliquibus veteris seculi philosophis non indignč conferri possit. Hic olim +spectatę indolis Adolescens, vt virente adhuc ętate iuuenile ingenium +foecundaret, atque ad res magnas pararet relicta dulci patria longinquas +petijt regiones. Cum verņ Ęgyptum et Arabiam peragrans, plura inuenisset, +quę eius desiderabat animus, cum magno laborum, ac literarum lucro in +Angliam tum demłm reuertebatur. Claruit anno virginei partus, 1130. Henrico +primo regnante. + +The same in English. + +Athelard a Monke of the Abbie of Bathe was so diligent a searcher of the +secrets, and causes of naturall things, that he deserueth worthely to be +compared with some of the auncient Philosophers. This man although young, +yet being of a good wit, and being desirous to increase and enrich the same +with the best things, and to prepare himselfe as it were for greater +matters, left his Countrey for a time, and trauailed into forreine Regions. +He went through Egypt, and Arabia, and found out many things which he +desired to his owne priuate contentment, and the profite of good letters +generally, and so being satisfied, returned againe into his Countrey: he +flourished in the yeere 1130. Henry the first being then king of England. + + * * * * * + +The life and trauailes of one William of Tyre, an Englishman. Centur. 12. + +[Sidenote: Hic etiam Guilielmus Tyrensis claruit sub Henrico primo.] +Guilielmus, Ecclesię Dominici sepulchri Hierosolymę Regularium Canonicorum +prior, natione Anglicus vir vita et moribus commendabilis, Anno Dom. 1128. +postquam Tyrorum Ciuitas fidei Christianę restituta est a Guimundo +Hierosolymorum patriarcha, eidem vrbi primus Archiepiscopus pręficiebatur. +Est autem Tyrus ciuitas antiquissima, Phoenicię vniuersę Metropolis, quę +inter Syrię protuincias, et bonorum omnium penč commoditate, et incolarum +frequentia primum semper obtinuit locum: post conscripta quędam opuscula, +et Epistolas, ad Dominum migrauit, An. Christi 1130. quum duobus tantum +sedisset annis, et in Tyrensi Ecclesia sepelitur. + +The same in English. + +William the Prior of the Canons Regular in the Church of Ierusalem, called +the Lords Sepulchre, was an Englishman borne, and of a vertuous and good +behauiour. After that the Citie of Tyre was restored againe to the +Christian faith, Guimunde the Patriarke of Ierusalem made him the first +Archbishop of Tyre, in the yeere 1128. Which Tyre is a very ancient Citie, +the Metropolis of all Phoenicia, and hath bene accompted the chiefest +Prouince of Syria, both for fruitful commodities and multitude of +inhabitants. This William hauing in his life written many Bookes and +Epistles, died at last in the yeere 1130. hauing bene Archbishop the space +of two yeeres, and was buried in the Church of Tyre. + + * * * * * + +The trauailes of Robertus Ketenensis. + +Robertus Ketenensis natione et cognomine Anglus, degustatis primum per +Anglorum gymnasia humanarum artium elementis literarijs, vltramarinas +statim visitare prouincias in animo constituit: Peragratis ergņ Gallijs, +Italia, Dalmatia, et Gręcia, tum demum peruenit in Asiam, vbi non paruo +labore, ac vitę suę periculo inter Saracenos truculentissimum hominum +genus, Arabicam linguam ad amussim didicit In Hispaniam postea nauigio +traductus, circa fluuium Hiberum Astrologicę artis studio, cum Hermanno +quodam Dalmata, magni sui itineris comite se totum dedit. [Sidenote: +Claruit sub Stephano.] Clarutt anno seruatoris nostri, 1143 Stephano +regnante, et Pampilonę sepelitur. + +The same in English. + +This Robert Ketenensis was called an Englishman by surname, as he was by +birth: who after some time spent in the foundations of humanitie, and in +the elements of good Artes in the Vniuersities of England, determined to +trauaile to the partes beyond sea: and so trauailed through France, Italie, +Dalmatia, and Greece, and came at last into Asia, where he liued in great +danger of his life among the cruell Saracens, but yet learned perfectly the +Arabian tongue. Afterwardes he returned by sea into Spaine, and there about +the riuer Iberus, gaue him selfe wholy to the studie of Astrologie, with +one Hermannus a Dalmatian, who had accompanied him in his long voyage. He +flourished in the yeere 1143. Steuen being then king of England, and was +buried at Pampilona. + + * * * * * + +A voyage of certaine English men vnder the conduct of Lewes king of France + vnto the Holy land. + +[Sidenote: 1147. Tempore regis Stephani.] Tantę expeditionis explicito +apparatu vterque princeps iter arripuit, et exercitu separtito. Imperator +enim Conradus pręcedebat itinere aliquot dierum, cum Italorum, Germanorum, +aliarśmque gentium amplissimis copijs. Rex vero Lodouicus sequebatur +Francorum, Flandrensium, Normannorum, Britonum, Anglorum, Burgundionum, +Prouincialium, Aquitanorum, equestri simul et pedestri agmine comitatus. +Gulielmus Neobrigensis, fol. 371. + +The same in English. + +Both the princes prouision being made for so great an expedition, they +seuering their armies, entered on their iourney. For the Emperour Conradus +went before, certaine dayes iourney, with very great power of Italians, +Germans, and other countreys. And king Lewes followed after accompanied +with a band of horsemen and footmen of French men, Fiemmings, Normans, +Britons, Englishmen, Burgundions, men of Prouence, and Gascoins. + + * * * * * + +The voyage of Iohn Lacy to Ieirusalem. + +[Sidenote: 1173.] Anno Domini 1172 fundata fuit abbatia de Stanlaw per +dominum; Iohannem Lacy Constabularium Cestrię et dominum de Halton, qui +obijt in Terra sancta anno sequenti: qui fuit vicessimus annus regni regis +Henrici secundi. + +The same in English. + +In the yere of our Lord 1172 was founded the abbey of Stanlaw by the lord +Iohn Lacy Constable of Chester, and lord of Halton, who deceased in the +Holy land the yere following: which was in the twentieth yere of king Henry +the second. + + * * * * * + +The voyage of William Mandeuile to Ierusalem. + +[Sidenote: 1177.] William Mandeuile earle of Essex, with diuers English +lords and knights, went to the Holy land in the 24 yere of Henry the +second. Holinshed pag. 101. + + * * * * * + +A great supply of money to the Holy land by Henry the 2. + +The same yeere King Henry the second being at Waltham, assigned an aide to +the maintenance of the Christian souldiers in the Holy lande, That is to +wit, two and fortie thousand marks of siluer, and fiue hundred marks of +golde. Matth. Paris and Holins. pag. 105. + + * * * * * + +A letter written from Manuel the Emperour of Constantinople, vnto Henrie + the second King of England, Anno Dom. 1177. wherein mention is made that + certaine of King Henries Noble men and subjects were present with the + sayd Emperour in a battell of his against the Soldan of Iconium. Recorded + by Roger Houeden, in Annalium parte posteriore, in regno Hen. 2. fol. + 316, et 317. + +Eodem anno Manuel Constantinopolitanus imperator, habito pręlio campestri +cum Soltano Iconij et illo devicto, in hac forma scripsit Domino regi +Anglię. + +Manuel in Christo deo Porphyrogenitus, diuinitus coronatus, sublimis, +potens, excelsus, semper Augustus, et moderator Romanorum, Comnenus, +Henrico nobilissimo regi Anglię, charissimo amico suo, salutem et omne +bonum. Cum imperium nostrum necessarium reputet notificare tibi, vt dilecto +amico suo, de omnibus quę sibi obueniunt; ideņ et de his quę nunc +acciderunt ei, opportunum iudicauit declarare tuę voluntati. Igitur a +principio coronationis nostrę imperium nostrum aduersus dei inimicos Persas +nostrum odium in corde nutriuit, dum cerneret illos in Christianos +gloriari, eleuatique in nomen dei, et Christianorum dominari regionibus. +Quo circa et alio quidem tempore indifferentčr inuasit eos, et prout deus +ei concessit, sic et fecit. Et quę ab ipso frequenter patrata sunt ad +contritionem ipsorum et perditionem, imperium nostrum credit nobilitatem +tuam non latere. Quoniam autem et nunc maximum exercitum contra eos ducere +proposuit, et bellum contra omnem Persidem mouere, quia res cogebat. Et non +vt voluit multum aliquem apparatum fecit, sicut ei visum est. Veruntamen +prout tempus dabat et rerum status, potentčr eos inuasit. Collegit ergo +circa se imperium nostrum potentias suas: sed quia carpenta ducebat +armorum, et machinarum, et aliorum instrumentorum conferentium ciuitatem +expugnationibus, pondera portantia: idcircņ nequaquam cum festinatione iter +suum agere poterat. Ampliłs autem dum adhuc propriam regionem peragraret, +antequam barbarorum aliquis aduersus nos militaret in bellis aduersarius, +ęgritudo difficillima fluxus ventris invasit nos, qui diffusus per agmina +imperij nostri pertransibat, depopulando et interimendo multos, omni +pugnatore grauior. Et hoc malum inualescens maximč nos contriuit. Ex quo +verņ fines Turcorum inuasimus, bella quidem primum frequentia concrepabant, +et agmina Turcorum cum exercitibus imperij nostri vndique dimicabant. Sed +Dei gratia ex toto ą nostris in fugam vertebantur barbari. Post verņ vbi ei +qui illic adjacet angustię loci, quę ą Persis nominatur Cibrilcimam, +propinquauimus, tot Persarum turmę peditum et equitum, quorum pleręque ab +interioribus partibus Persidis occurrerant in adiutorium contribulium +suorum, exercitui nostro superuenerunt, quot penč nostrorum excederent +numerum. Exercitu itaque imperii nostri propter vię omnino angustiam et +difficultatem, vsque ad decem milliaria extenso; et cum neque qui pręibant +possent postremos defendere, neque versa vice rursus postremi possent +pręeuntes inuare, non mediocritčr ab inuicem hos distare accidit. Sanč +primę cohortes permultłm ab acie imperij nostri diuidebantur, postremarum +oblitę, illas non pręstolantes. Quoniam igitur Turcorum agmina ex iam +factis pręlijs cognouerant, non conforre sibi ą fronte nobis repugnare, +loci angustiam bonum subuentorem cum inuenissent, posteriora statuerunt +inuadere agmina, quod et fecerunt. Arctissimo igitur vbique loco existente, +instabant barbari vndique, ą dextris et a sinistris, et aliundč dimicantes, +et tela super nos quasi imbres descendentia interimebant viros et equos +complures. Ad hęc itaque imperium nostrum vbi malum superabundabat, +reputans secum oportunum iudicabat retrņ expectare, atque illos qui illic +erant adiuuare, expectando vtiquč contra infinita illa Persarum agmina +bellum sustinuit. Quanta quidem, dum ab his circundaretur, patrauerit, non +opus est ad tempus sermonibus pertexere, ab illis autem qui interfuerunt, +forsitan discet de his tua nobilitas. Inter hęc autem existente imperio +nostro, et omne belli grauamen in tantum sustinente, postremę cohortes +vniuersę Gnecorum et Latinorum, et reliquorum omnium generum conglobatę, +quę iaciebantur ab inimicis tela non sustinentes, impactione vtuntur, et +ita violentčr ferebantur, dłm ad adiacentem ibi collem quasi ad +propugnaculum festinarent: sed precedentes impellunt nolentes. Multo autem +eleuato paluere, ac perturbante oculos, et neminem permittente videre quę +circa pedes erant, in pręcipitium quod aderat profundissimę vallis alius +super alium homines et equi sic incontinentč portati corruerunt, quņd alij +alios conculcantes ab inuicem interemerunt non ex gregarijs tantum, sed ex +clarissimis et intimis nostris consanguineis. Quis enim inhibere poterat +tantę multitudinis importabilem impulsum? At verņ imperium nostrum tot et +tantis confertum barbįris saucians, sauciatśmque, adeņ vt non modicam in +eos moueret perturbationem, obstupentes perseuerant iam ipsius, et non +remittebatur, benč iuuante deo, campum obtinuit. Neque locum illum scandere +aduersarios permisit, in quo dimicauit cum barbaris. Nec quidem equum suum +illorum timore incitauit, celerius aliquando ponere vestigia. Sed +congregando omnia agmina sua, et de morte eripiendo ea, collocauit circa +se: et sic primes attigit, et ordinatim proficiscens ad exercitus suos +accessit. Ex tunc igitur videns Soltanus, quņd post tanta quę acciderant +exercitibus nostris, imperium nostrum, sicut oportunum erat, rem huiusmodi +dispensauit, vt ipsum rursłm inuaderet: mittens supplicauit imperio nostro, +et deprecatorijs vsus est sermonibus, et requisiuit pacem illius, +promittens omnem imperij nostri adimplere voluntatem, et seruitium suum +contra omnem hominem dare, et omnes qui in regno suo tenebantur captiuos +absoluere, et esse ex toto voluntatis nostrę. Ibidem ergo per duos dies +integros, in omni potestate morati sumtis, et cognito quņd nihil poterat +fieri contra ciuitatem Iconij, perditis testudinibus et machins bellicis, +eo quņd boues cecidissent a telis in modo pluuię iactis, qui eas trahebant: +Simul autem eo quņd et vniuersa animalia nostra irruente in illa +difficillima ęgritudine laborabant, suscepit Soltani depręcationem et +foedera et iuramenta peracta sub vexillis nostris, et pacem suam ei dedit. +Inde ingressum imperium nostrum in regionem suam regreditur, tribulationem +habens non mediocrem super his quos perdidit corisanguineis, maximas tamen +Deo gratias agens, qui per suam bonitaiem et nunc Ipsum honorauit: Gratum +autem habuimus, quņd quosdam nobilitatis tuę principes accidit interesse +nobiscum, qui narrabunt de omnibus quę acciderant, tuę voluntati seriem. +Cęterum autem, licčt contristati simus propter illos qui ceciderunt: +oportunum tamen duximus, de omnibus quę; acciderant, declarare tibi, vt +dilecto amico nostro, et vt permultłm coniuncto imperio nostro, per +puerorum nostrorum intimam consanguinitatem. Vale. Data mense Nouembris, +indictione tertia. + +The same in English. + +In the yeere 1177, Manuel the emperour of Constantinople hauing fought a +field with the Soldan of Iconium, and vanquished him, wrote vnto Henry the +second king of England in maner following. + +Manuel Comnenus in Christ the euerliuing God a faithful emperour, descended +of the linage of Porphyrie, crowned by Gods grace, high, puissant, mighty, +alwayes most souereign, and gouernour of the Romans; vnto Henry the most +famous king of England, his most deare friend, greeting and all good +successe. Whereas our imperiall highnesse thinketh it expedient to +aduertise you our welbeloued friend of all our affaires: We thought it not +amisse to signifie vnto your, royal Maiestie certaine exploits at this +present atchieued by vs. From the beginning therefore of our inauguration +our imperiall highnes hath mainteined most deadly feod and hostility +against Gods enemies the Persians, seeing them so to triumph ouer +Christians, to exalt themselues against the Name of God, and to vsurpe ouer +Christian kingdomes. For which cause our imperial highnesse hath in some +sort encountered them heretofore, and did as it pleased God to giue vs +grace. And we suppose that your Maiestie is not ignorant, what our +imperiall highnesse hath often performed for their ruine and subversion. +For euen now, being vrged thereunto, we haue determined to leade a mighty +army against them, and to wage warre against all Persia. And albeit our +forces be not so great as we could wish they were, yet haue we according to +the time, and the present state of things strongly inuaded them. Wherefore +our Maiestie imperiall hath gathered our armies together: but because we +had in our armie sundry carts laden with armour, engines and other +instruments for the assault of cities, to an exceeding weight we could not +make any great speed in our iourney. Moreouer while our imperiall highnesse +was yet marching in our owne dominions, before any barbarous enemy had +fought against vs: our people were visited with the most grieuous disease +of the fluxe, which being dispersed in our troups destroyed and slew great +numbers, more then the sword of the enemy would haue done, which mischiefe +so preuailing, did woonderfully abate our forces. But after we had inuaded +the Turkish frontiers, we had at the first very often and hot skirmishes, +and the Turks came swarming to fight against our imperiall troups. Howbeit +by Gods assistance those miscreants were altogether scattered and put to +flight by our souldiers. But as we approched vnto that strait passage which +is called by the Persians Cibrilcimam, so many bands of Persian footemen +and horsemen (most whereof came from the innermost parts of Persia, to +succour their Allies) encountred our army, as were almost superiour vnto vs +in number. Wherefore the army of our Imperiall highnesse, by reason of the +straightnesse and difficultie of the way, being stretched ten miles in +length; and the first not being able to helpe the last, nor yet +contrarywise the last to rescue the first, it came to passe that they were +very farre distant asunder. And in very deed the foremost troupes were much +separated from the guard of our imperiall person, who forgetting their +fellowes behind, would not stay any whit for them. Because therefore the +Turkish bands knew full well by their former conflicts that it was +bootlesse for them to assaile the forefront of our battell, and perceiuing +the narownesse of the place to be a great aduantage, they determined to set +vpon our rereward, and did so. Wherefore our passage being very straight, +and the infidels assayling vs upon the right hand and vpon the left, and on +all sides, and discharging their weapons as thicke as hailestones against +vs, slew diuers of our men and horses. Hereupon, the slaughter of our +people still encreasing, our maiestie imperiall deemed it requisite to stay +behind, and to succour our bands in the rereward, and so expecting them we +sustained the fierce encounter of many thousand Persians. What exploits our +Imperiall person atchieued in the same skirmish, I hold it needlesse at +this time to recount: your maiestie may perhaps vnderstand more of this +matter by them which were there present Howbeit our Imperiall highnesse +being in the middest of this conflict, and enduring the fight with so great +danger, all our hindermost troups, both Greekes, Latines, and other +nations, retiring themselues close together, and not being able to suffer +the violence of their enemies weapons, pressed on so hard, and were caried +with such maine force, that hastening to ascend the next hill for their +better safegard, they vrged on them which went before, whether they would +or no. Wherevpon, much dust being raised, which stopped our eyes and +vtterly depriued vs of sight, and our men and horses pressing so sore one +vpon the necke of another, plunged themselues on the sudden into such a +steepe and dangerous valley, that treading one vpon another, they quelled +to death not onely a multitude of the common souldiours, but diuers most +honourable personages, and some of our neere kinsmen. For who could +restraine the irresistable throng of so huge a multitude? Howbeit our +Imperiall highnesse being enuironed with such swarmes of Infidels, and +giuing and receiuing wounds (insomuch that the miscreants were greatly +dismaied at our constancie) we gaue not ouer, but by Gods assistance wonne +the field. Neither did we permit the enemie to ascend vnto that place, from +whence we skirmished with him. Neither yet spurred wee on our horse any +faster for all their assaults. But marshalling air our troupes together, +and deliuering them out of danger, we disposed them about our Imperial +person; and so we ouertooke the foremost, and marched in good order with +our whole army. Nowe the Soldan perceiuing that notwithstanding the great +damages which we had sustained, our Imperial hignes prouided to giue him a +fresh encounter, humbly submitting himselfe vnto vs, and vsing submissive +speaches, made suite to haue peace at our hands, and promised to fulfill +the pleasure of our maiestie Imperiall, to doe vs seruice against all +commers, to release all our subiects which were captiues in his realme, and +to rest wholy at our commaund. [Sidenote: The citie of Iconium intended to +haue bene besieged.] Here therefore we remained two dayes with great +authoritie; and considering that wee could attempt nought against the citie +of Iconium, hauing lost all our warrelike engines, both for defence and for +batterie, for that the oxen which drew them were slaine with the enemies +weapons, falling as thicke as hailestones: and also for because all our +beasts in a maner were most grieuously diseased; our maiestie Imperial +accepted of the Soldans petition, league, and oath being made and taken +vnder our ensignes, and granted our peace vnto him. Then returned we into +our owne dominions, being greatly grieued for the losse of our deere +kinsmen, and yeelding vnto God most humble thanks, who of his goodnesse had +euen now giuen vs the victory. [Sidenote: Certaine noblemen of the king of +England were with the Emperor in his battell against the Soldan of +Iconium.] We are right glad likewise that some of your maiesties princes +and nobles accompanied vs in this action, who are able to report vnto you +all things which haue happened. And albeit we were exceedingly grieued for +the losse of our people; yet thought it we expedient to signifie vnto you +the successe of our affaires, as vnto our welbeloued friend, and one who is +very neerely allied vnto our highnesse Imperial, by reason of the +consanguitie of our children Farewell. Giuen in the moneth of Nouember, and +vpon the tenth Indiction. + + * * * * * + +The life and trauailes of Baldwinus Deuonius, sometime Archbishop of + Canterbury. + +Baldwinus Deuonius, tenui loco Excestrire natus, vir ore facundus, exactus +Philosophus, et de omne studiorum genus per illos dies aptissimus +inueniebatur. Scholarum rector primłm erat, tum postea Archidiaconus, +eruditione ac sapientia in omni negotio celebris: fuit pręterea +Cisterciensis Monachus, et Abbas Fordensis Coenobij, magnus suorum +testimatione, ar vniuiersę eorum societati quasi Antesignanus: fuit deinde +Wigorniensis pręsul, fuit et mortuo demłm Richardo Cantuariorum +Archiepiscopus, ac totius Anglię Primas. Cui muneri Baldwinus sollicitč +inuigilans, egregium se pastorem exhibuit, dominicum semen, quantum +patiebatur eius temporis, iniquitas, vbique locorum spargens. Richardus +Anglorum rex, acceptis tunc regni insignijs, summo studio classem, ac omnia +ad Hierosolymitanum bellum gerendum necessaria parauit. Secutus est illico +regem in Syriam, et Palestinam vsque Baldwinus, vt esset in tam Sancto (vt +ipse putabat) itinere laborum, dolorum, ac periculorum particeps. Pręfuit +Cantuariensi Ecclesię ferč 6 annis, et Richardum regem in Syriam secutus, +anno Salutis nostrę 1190. Tyri vitam finiuit, vbi et sepultus est. + +The same in English. + +Baldwine a Deuonshire man borne in Exceter of mean parentage, was a very +eloquent man, an exact Philosopher, and in those dayes very excellent in +all kind of studies. He was first of all a Schoolemaster: afterwards he +became an Archdeacon, very famous for his learning and wisedom in all his +doings. He was also a Cistercian Monke and Abbot of Foord Monasterie, and +the chiefe of all those that were of his order: he grew after this to be +bishop of Worcester, and at last after the death of Archb. Richard he was +promoted and made Archbishop of Canterbury, and Primate of all England. In +the discharge of which place he being very vigilant, shewed, himself a +worthy Pastor, sowing the seed of Gods word in euery place as farre foorth +as the iniquitie of that time permitted. In his time king Richard with all +indeauour prepared a Fleet and all things necessary for waging of warre +against the Infidels at lerasalem, taking with him the standerd and +ensignes of the kingdome. This Baldwme eftsoones folowed the king into +Syria and Palestina, as one desirous to be partaker of his trauailes, +paines, and perils in so holy a voyage. Hee was Archbishop of Canterburie +almost sixe yeres: but hauing followed the king into Syria, in the yeere +1190. he died at Tyre, where he was also buried. + + * * * * * + +An annotation concerning the trauailes of the sayd Baldwirie, taken out of + Giraldus Cambrensis, in his Itinerarium Cambrise, lib, a. Cap. 14. Fol + 229. + +Inter primos Thomę Becketi successor hic secundus, audita saluatoris et +salutiferę Crucis iniuria nostris (proh dolor) diebus per Saladinum +irrogata, cruce signatus, in eiusdem obsequijs, tarn remotis finibus quąm +propinquis, prędicationis officiunm viriliter assumpsit. Et postmodłm iter +accipiens, nauigióque fungens apud Marsiliam, transcurso tandem pelagi +profundo, in portu Tyrensi incolumis applicuit: et inde ad exercitum +nostrum obsidentem pariter et obsessum Aconem transiuit: vbi multos ex +nostris inueniens, et ferč cunctos principum defectu, in summa desolatlone +iam positos, et desperatione, alios quidem longa expectatione fatigatos, +alios fame et inopia grauiter afflictos, quosdam verņ aėris, inclementia +distemperatos, diem foelicitčr in terra sacra clausurus extremum, singulos +pro posse vinculo charitatis amplectens, sumptibus et impensis, verbis, et +vitę mentis confirmauit. + +The same in English. + +This Baldwine being the second successor vnto Thomas Becket, after he had +heard the wrong which was done to our Sauiour, and the signe of the Crosse +by Saladin the Sultan of Egypt, taking vpon him the Lords Character, he +couragiously perfourmed his office of preaching in the obedience thereof, +as well in farre distant Countreis as at home. And afterwards taking his +iourney and imbarking himselfe at Marseils, hauing at length passed the +Leuant sea, he arriued safely in the Hauen of Tyrus, and from thence went +ouer to Achon vnto our armie, besieging the Towne, and yet (as it were) +besieged it selfe: where finding many of our Countreymen, and almost all +men remaining in wonderfull pensiuenesse and despaire, through the +withdrawing of the Princes, some of them tyred with long expectation, +others grieuously afflicted with hunger and pouertie, and others +distempered with the heate of the weather, being ready happily to ende his +dayes in the Holy land, embracing euery one according to his abilitie in +the bond of loue, he ayded them at his costes and charges, and strengthened +them with his wordes and good examples of life. + + * * * * * + +A note drawen out of a very ancient booke remaining in the hands of the + right worshipfull M. Thomas Tilney Esquire, touching Sir Frederike Tilney + his ancestor, knighted at Acon in the Holy land for his valour, by K. + Richard the first, as foloweth. + +Pertinuit iste liber prius Frederico Tilney de Boston, in comitatu +Lincolnię militi facto apud Acon in terra Iudeę anno Regis Richardi primi +tertio. Vir erat iste magnę staturę et potens in corpore: qui cum partibus +suis dormit apud Tirrington iuxta villam sui nominis Tilney in Mershland. +Cuius altitudo in salua custodia permanet ibidem vsque in hunc diem. Et +post eius obitum sexdecem militibus eius nominis Tilney hęreditas illa +successiuč obuenit, quorum vnus post alium semper habitabat apud Boston +prędictum; dum fratris senioris hęreditas hęredi generali deuoluta est, quę +nupta est Iohanni duci Norfolcię. Eorum miles vltimus fuit Philippus Tilney +nuper de Shelleigh in Comitatu Suffolcię, pater et genitor Thomę Tilney de +Hadleigh in Comitatu prędicto Armigeri, cut modņ attinet iste liber. Anno +ętatis suę 64, Anno Domini 1556. + +The same in English. + +This booke pertained in times past vnto Sir Frederick Tilney of Boston in +the Countie of Lincolne, who was knighted at Acon in the land of Iurie, in +the third yeere of the reigne of king Richard the first. This knight was of +a tall stature, and strong of body, who resteth interred with his +forefathers at Tirrington, neere vnto a towne in Marshland called by his +owne name Tilney. The iust height of this knight is there kept in safe +custody vntill this very day. Also, after this mans decease, the +inheritance of his landes fell successively vnto sixteene sundry knights +called all by the name of Tilney, who dwelt alwayes, one after another, at +the towne of Boston aforesayd, vntill such time as the possessions of the +elder brother fell vnto an heire general, which was maried vnto Iohn duke +of Northfolke. The last knight of that name was sir Philip Tilney late of +Shelleigh in the Countie of Suffolke, predecessor and father vnto Thomas +Tilney of Hadleigh in the Countie aforesayd Esquire, vnto whom the said +booke of late appertained. In the yeere of his age 64 and in the yeere of +our Lord, 1556. + + * * * * * + +The trauailes of one Richard surnaręd Canonicus. + +Richardus Canonicus ad Trinitatis fanum Londini Regularis, ab ipsa +pueritia, bonarum artium literas impense amauit, excoluit, ac didicit. Qui +ex continuo labore atque exercitatione longa, talis tandem euasit orator, +et Poeta, quales ea ętas rarissimos nutriebat. Ob id Richardo Anglorum tunc +Regi charus, longam cum eo peregrinationem in Palęstinam ac Syriam, dum +expugnaret Turcas, suscepit. Vnde in Angliam tum demum reuersus, omnia quę +presens vidit in vrbibus, agris, ac militum castris, fideli narratione, tam +carmine, quam prosa descripsit. Neque interim omisit eiusdem Regis mores, +et formam, per omnia corporis lineamenta designare, addiditque pręclaro suo +open hoc aptissimum pro titulo nomen, scilicet, Itinerarium Regis Richardi. +Claruit anno redemptionis nostne 1200 sub Ioanne Anglorimi Rege. + +The same in English. + +Richard surnamed Canonicus an obseruant Frier of Trinitie Church in London, +was in great loue with the studies of good Artes, and tooke paines in them +and learned them. And at last by his continuall endeauour and long exercise +therein, he grewe to bee such an Oratour and Poet, as fewe were in that age +liuing, by reason whereof hee grew in fauour with Richard then King of +England, and vndertooke that long voyage with him into Palestina and Syria +against the Turkes. From whence being returned againe into England, hee +faithfully described both in Verse and Prose all such things, as hee had +seene in the Cities, fieldes and tentes of the souldiours, where hee was +present, and omitted not to note the behauiour, forme, and proportion of +body in the foresayd king, giving to his notable worke this most apt name +for the title, The Iournall of King Richard. He flourished in the yeere of +our Redemption 1200. vnder Iohn king of England. + + * * * * * + +The large contribution to the succour of the Holy land, made by king Iohn + king of England, in the third yeere of his reigne 1201. Matth. Paris and + Holinsh. pag. 164. + +At the same time also the Kings of France and England gaue large money +towards the maintenance of the army which at this present went foorth vnder +the leading of the earle of Flanders and other, to warre against the +enemies of the Christian faith at the instance of pope Innocent. There was +furthermore granted vnto them the fortieth part of all the reuenues +belonging vnto ecclesiastical persons, towards the ayd of the Christians +then being in the Holy and: and all such aswel of the nobility, as other of +the weaker sort, which had taken vpon them the crosse, and secretly layed +it downe were compelled eftsoones to receiue it now againe. + + * * * * * + +The trauailes of Hubert Walter bishop of Sarisburie. + +Hubertus Walterus Sarisburiensis Episcopus, vir probus, ingenioque ac +pietate clarus, inter pręcipuos vnus eorum erat, qui post Richardum regem +expugnandorum Saracenorum gratia in Syriam proficiscebantur. Cum ex +Palęstina rediens, audiret in Sicilia, quod idem Richardus in inimicorum +manus incidisset, omisso itinere incoepto, ad eum cursim diuertebat: Quem +et ille statim in Angliam misit, vt illic regij Senatus authoritate, +indicto pro eius redemptione tributo pecuniam colligeret quod et industrius +fecit ac regem liberauit. Inde Cantuariorum Archiepiscopus factus, post +eius mortem Ioanni illius fratri ac successori paria fidelitatis officia +pręstitit. Longa enim oratione toti Anglorum nationi persuasit, quod vir +prouidus, pręstans, fortis, genere nobilissimus, et imperio dignissimus +esset: quo salutatus a populo fuit, atque in regem coronatus. Composuit +quędam opuscula, et ex immenso animi dolore demum obijsse fertur, Anno +salutis humanę 1205. cum sedisset annos 11. Menses octo, et dies sex. Quum +vidisset ex intestinis odijs, omnia in transmarinis regionibus pessłm ire, +regnante Ioanne. + +The same in English. + +Hubert Walter bishop of Sarisburie, a vertuous man, and famous for his good +wit and piety, was one of the chiefest of them that followed king Richard +into Syria going against the Saracens. As he returned from Palęstina and +came in his iourney into Sicilia, he there heard of the ill fortune of the +king being fallen into his enemies handes, and thereupon leauing his +iourney homewards, he went presently and in all haste to the place where +the king was captiued, whom the king immediatly vpon his comming sent into +England, that by the authority of the councell, a tribute might be +collected for his redemption: which this Hubert performed with great +diligence, and deliuered the king. After this he was made Archbishop of +Canterburie, and after the death of King Richard he shewed the like dueties +of fidelitie and trust to his brother Iohn that succeeded him. For by a +long oration he perswaded the whole nation of the English men, that he was +a very circumspect man, vertuous, valiant, borne of noble parentage, and +most woorthy of the crowne. Whereupon he was so receiued of all the people +and crowned king. He wrote certaine books, and died at the last with very +great griefe of minde, in the yeere 1205, hauing beene archbishop the space +of 11 yeres 8 moneths and sixe dayes, by reason of the ciuil discords +abroad, whereby all things went topsie turuy, and in the reigne of king +Iohn. + + * * * * * + +The trauailes of Robert Curson. + +Robertus Curson ex nobili quodam Anglorum ortus genere, disciplinis tum +prophanis, tum sacris studiosus incubuit, idque (quantum ex coniecturis +colligo) in celebratissima Oxonij Academia. Pręstantissimis illic +institutoribus vsus, ex summa circa ingenuas artes industria, et assiduo +literarum labore, famam sibi inter suos celeberrimam comparauit. Ampliora +deinde meditatus Parisiorum Lutetiam, atque Romam ipsam petijt, illic +Theologus Doctor, hic verņ Cardinalis effectus. Vnde vterque Matthęus +Parisius, ac Westmonasterius, hoc de ipso testimonium adferunt: hic libro +2. ille 8. suorum Chronicorum. Anno Domini 1218 (inquiunt) in captione +Damiatę Ęgypti vrbis, sub Ioanne Brenno Hierosolymorum rege, fuit cum +Pelagio Albanensi Magister Robertus de Curson, Anglus, Clericus +celeberrimus, genere nobilis, ac Romanę Ecclesię Cardinalis, etc. Bostonus +Buriensis in sua Catalogo Cursonum aliquos libros composuisse narrat. +Claruit anno superius numerato per prędictos testes in Anglia regnante +Henrico tertio Ioannis regis filio: fuitque hic diebus Honorij tertij +Romani pontificis in Angliam, Bostono teste, legatus. + +The same in English. + +Robert Curson descended of a noble family of England, vsed great diligence +aswell in prophane as in diuine studies in the famous Vniuersitie of Oxford +(as I coniecture.) He had there the best scholemasters that were to be +gotten, and was most industrious, in the arts and continual exercises of +learning: by meanes whereof he grew to be of great renowne where he liued. +Afterward thinking of greater matters he went to Paris, and thence to Rome +it selfe, and at Paris he proceeded doctor of Diuinity, at Rome he was made +cardinall: whereupon both Matthew Paris and Matthew of Westminster produce +this testimony of him, the one in his second booke, the other in his eight +booke of Chronicles. In the yere of our Lord (say they) 1218, at the taking +of Damiata a city of Egypt vnder Iohn Brenne king of Ierusalem, M. Robert +Curson an English man, a most famous clearke of noble parentage, and +cardinall of the church of Rome, was there with Pelagius Albanensis, &c. +Boston of Burie in Suffolke in his catalogue reporteth, that he wrote +diuers books. He flourished in the yeere aforesayd by the witnesses +aforesayd. Henry the third sonne of king Iohn being then king of England: +and by the further testimony of Boston, this Curson was legate into England +in the dayes of Honorius the third, bishop of Rome. + + * * * * * + +The voyage of Ranulph earle of Chester, of Saer Quincy earle of Winchester, + William de Albanie earle of Arundel, with diuers other noble men to the + Holy land, in the second yere of King Henry the third. Matth. Paris. + Holensh. pag. 202. + +In the yeere 1218, Ranulph earle of Chester was sent into the Holy land by +king Henry the third with a goodly company of souldiers and men of warre, +to ayde the Christians there against the Infidels, which at the same time +had besieged the city of Damiata in Egypt. In which enterprise the valiancy +of the same earle after his comming thither was to his great praise most +apparent There went with him in that iourney Saer de Quincy earle of +Winchester, William de Albanie earle of Arundel, besides diuers barons, as +the lord Robert fitz Walter, Iohn constable of Chester, William de +Harecourt, and Oliuer fitz Roy sonne to the king of England, and diuers +others. + + * * * * * + +The voyage of Henry Bohun and Saer Quincy to the Holy land. + +This yere, being the sixt yere of Henry the third, deceased Henry de Bohun +earle of Hereford, and Saer de Quincy earle of Winchester, in their journey +which they made to the Holy land. Matth. Paris. Holensh. pag. 202. col. 2. + + * * * * * + +The trauailes of Ranulph Glanuile earle of Chester. + +Ranulphus Glanuile Cestrię Comes, vir nobilissimi generis, et vtroque iure +eruditus, in albo illustrium virorum ą me meritņ ponendus venit. Ita probč +omnes adolescentię suę annos legibus tum humanis tum diuinis consecrauit, +vt non prius in hominem pet ętatem euaserit, quąm nomen decśsque ab insigni +eruditione sibi comparauerit. Cum profecti essent Francorum Heroes +Ptolemaidem, inito cum Ioanne Brenno Hierosolymorum rege concilio, Damiatam +Ęgypti vrbem obsidendam constituebant, anno salutis humanę 1218. Misit +illłc Henricus rex, ab Honorio 3 Rom. Pontifice rogatus, cum magna +armatorum manu Ranulphum, ad rem Christianum iuuandam. Cuius virtus, +Polydoro teste, in eo bello miris omnium laudibus celebrata fuit. Quo +confecto negotio, Ranulphus in patriam reuersus, scripsit, De legibus +Anglię librum vnum. Fertur pręterea, et alia quędam scripsisse, sed tempus +edax rerum, ea nobis abstulit. Claruit anno ą Seruatoris nostri natiuitate +1230 confectus senio, dum Henricus tertius sub Antichristi tyrannide in +Anglia regnaret. + +The same in English. + +Ranulph Granuile earle of Chester, a man of a very noble house, and learned +in both the Lawes, deserues of deutie to be here placed by me in the +catalogue of woorthy and notable men. He applied so well all the yeeres of +his youth to the study of humane and diuine Lawes, that he came not so +soone to the age of a man, as he had purchased to himselfe by reason of his +singular learning, renowme and honour. When the noble men of France went to +Ptolomais, vpon the counsell of Iohn Brenne king of Ierusalem, they +resolued to besiege Damiata a city of Egypt, in the yeere 1218. And then +Henry the king vpon the motion of Honorius the third, bishop of Rome, sent +thither this earle Ranulph with a great power of armed souldiers, to +further the enterprise of the Christians: whose valure in that warre (by +the testimonie of Polidor Virgil) was marueilously commended of all men. +After the end of which businesse, he being returned into his countrey, +wrote a booke of the lawes of England. It is also reported that he wrote +other books, but time the destroyer of many memorials, hath taken them from +vs. He flourished in the yeere after the natiuity of Christ 1230, being +very aged, and in the reigne of K. Henry the third. + + * * * * * + +The voyage of Petrus de Rupibus bishop, of Winchester, to Ierusalem in the + yere of grace 1231, and the 15 of Henry the third. + +Anno gratis 1231, mense verņ Iulio, Petrus Wintoniensis episcopus, completo +in terra sancta iam fere per quinquennium magnifice peregrinationis voto, +reuersus est in Angliam, Kalendis Augusti; et Wintoniam veniens, susceptus +est cum processione solenni in sua ecclesia cathedrali. + +The same in English. + +In the yere of grace 1231, and in the moneth of Iuly, Peter bishop of +Winchester hauing spent almost fiue whole yeres in fulfilling his vow of +pilgrimage in the Holy land with great pompe, returned into England, about +the Kalends of August, and coming unto Winchester was received with solemne +procession into his cathedrall church. + + * * * * * + +The honourable and prosperous voyage of Richard earle of Cornewall, brother + to king Henry the third, accompanied with William Longespee earle of + Sarisburie, and many other noble men into Syria. + +In the 24 yere of king Henry the third, Richard earle of Cornwall the kings +brother, with a navy of ships sailed into Syria, where in the warres +against the Saracens he greatly advanced the part of the Christians. There +went over with him the earle of Sarisburie, William Longspee, and William +Basset, John Beauchampe, Geoffrey de Lucie, John Neuel, Geoffrey +Beauchampe, Peter de Brense, and William Furniuall. + +Simon Montfort earle of Leicester went ouer also the same time; but whereas +the earle of Cornwall tooke the sea at Marseils, the earle of Leicester +passed thorow Italy, and tooke shipping at Brindize in Apulia: and with him +went these persons of name, Thomas de Furniual with his brother Gerard de +Furniuall, Hugh Wake, Almerike de S. Aumond, Wiscard Ledet, Punchard de +Dewin, and William de Dewin that were brethren, Gerald Pesmes, Fouke de +Baugie, and Peter de Chauntenay. + +Shortly after also Iohn earle of Albemarle, William Fortis, and Peter de +Mallow a Poictouin, men for their valiancy greatly renowmed, went thither, +leading with them a great number of Christian souldiors, Matth. Paris. +Matth. West Holensh. pag. 225. col. 2. + + * * * * * + +The voyage of William Longespee [Marginal note:--Or, Longsword.] Earle of + Sarisburie into Asia, in the yeere 1248, and in the 32 yeere of the + reigne of Henry the third, king of England. + +Lewis the French king being recovered of his sicknesse which he fell into, +in the yeere 1234, vowed thereupon for a free will sacrifice to God, that +he (if the Councell of his realme would suffer him) would in his owne +person visit the Holy land: which matter was opened and debated in the +Parliament of France held in the yeere 1247. Where at length it was +concluded, that the king according to his vow should take his journey into +Asia, and the time thereof was also prefixed, which should be after the +feast of S. John Baptist the next yeere ensuing. + +At which time William Longespee a worthie warrior, with the bishop of +Worcester and certaine other great men in the Realme of England (mooved +with the example of the Frenchmen) prepared themselves likewise to the same +journey. + +It fell out in this enterprise, that about the beginning of October, the +French king assaulted and tooke Damiata, being the principall fort or hold +of the Saracens in all Egypt, Anno 1249, and having fortified the Citie +with an able garrison left with the Duke of Burgundies he remooved his +tents from thence to goe Eastward. In whose armie followed William +Longespee, accompanied with a piked number of English warriors retaining +unto him. But such was the disdaine of the Frenchmen against this William +Longespee and the Englishmen that they could not abide them, but flouted +them after an opprobrious maner with English tailes, insomuch that the +French king himselfe had much adoe to keepe peace betweene them. + +The originall cause of this grudge betweene them began thus. [Sidenote: A +fort won by the Englishmen] There was not farre from Alexandria in Egypt a +strong fort or castle replenished with great Ladies and rich treasure of +the Saracens: which hold it chanced the sayd William Longespee with his +company of English soldiers to get, more by politique dexteritie then by +open force of armes, wherewith, he and his retinue were greatly enriched. +When the Frenchmen had knowledge hereof (they not being made priuie hereto) +began to conceive an heart burning against the English souldiers, and could +not speake well of them after that. + +[Sidenote: A rich bootie also gotten by the Englishmen.] It hapned againe +not long after that the sayd William had intelligence of a company of rich +merchants among the Saracens going to a certaine Faire about the parts of +Alexandria, having their camels, asses and mules, richly loden with silkes, +precious jewels, spices, gold and silver, with cart loades of other wares, +beside victuall and other furniture, whereof the souldiers then stood in +great need: he having secret knowledge hereof, gathered all the power of +Englishmen unto him that he could, and so by night falling vpon the +merchants, some he slew with their guides and conducters, some he tooke, +some hee put to flight: the carts with the driuers, and with the oxen, +camels, asses and mules, with the whole cariage and victuals he tooke and +brought with him, losing in all the skirmish but one souldier and eight of +his seruitors: of whom notwithstanding some he brought home wounded to be +cured. + +[Sidenote: The iniurie of the Frenchmen to our English.] This being knowen +in the Campe, foorth came the Frenchmen which all this while loytered in +their pauilions, and meeting this cariage by the way, tooke all the +foresayd praie whole to themselues, rating the said William and the +Englishmen for aduenturing and issuing out of the Campe without leaue or +knowledge of their Generall, contrary to the discipline of warre. William +said againe he had done nothing but he would answere to it, whose purpose +was to haue the spoyle deuided to the behoofe of the whole armie. + +[Sidenote: Will. Longspee iustly forsaketh the French king.] When this +would not serue, hee being sore grieued in his minde so cowardly to be +spoyled of that which he so aduenturously had trauailed for, went to the +King to complaine: But when no reason nor complaint would serue by reason +of the proude Earle of Artoys the Kings brother, which vpon spight and +disdaine stood agaynst him, he bidding the King forewell sayd hee would +serue him no longer: and so William de Longespee with the rest of his +company breaking from the French hoste went to Achon. Vpon whose departure +the earle of Artoys sayd, Now is the army of French men well rid of these +tailed people, which words spoken in great despight were ill taken of many +good men that heard them. + +But not long after, when the keeper of Cayro & Babylonia, bearing a good +mind to the Christian religion, and being offended also with the Souldan, +promised to deliuer the same to the French king, instructing him what +course was best for him to take to accomplish it, the king hereupon in all +haste sent for William Longespee, promising him a full redress of all his +iniuries before receiued: who at the kings request came to him againe, and +so ioyned with the French power. + +After this, it happened that the French king passing with his armie +towardes Cayro aforesayd, came to the great riuer Nilus, on the further +part whereof the Soldan had pitched himselfe to withstand his comming ouer: +there was at this time a Saracen lately conuerted to Christ, seruing the +earle Robert the French kings brother, who told him of the absence of the +Soldan from his tents, and of a shallow foord in the riuer where they might +easily passe ouer. Whereupon the sayd earle Robert and the Master of the +Temple with a great power, esteemed to the third part of the army issued +ouer the riuer, after whom followed W. Longspee with his band of English +souldiers. These being ioyned together on the other side of the water, +encountred the same day with the Saracens remaining in the tents and put +them to the worst. Which victory being gotten, the French earle surprised +with pride and triumph, as though hee had conquered the whole earth, would +needs forward, diuiding himselfe from the maine hoste, thinking to winne +the spurres alone. To whom certain sage men of the Temple, giuing him +contrary counsell, aduised him not to do so, but rather to returne and take +their whole company with them, and so should they be more sure against all +deceits and dangers, which might be layed priuily for them. The maner of +that people (they sayd) they better knew, and had more experience thereof +then he: alledging moreouer their wearied bodies, their tired horses, their +famished souldiers, and the insufficiency also of their number, which was +not able to withstand the multitude of the enemies, especially at this +present brunt, in which the aduersaries did well see the whole state of +their dominion now to consist either in winning all or losing all. + +Which when the proud earle did heare, being inflated with no lesse +arrogancy then ignorance, with opprobrious taunts reuiled them, calling +them cowardly dastards, and betrayers of the whole countrey, obiecting vnto +them the common report of many, which sayd, that the land of the holy +crosse might soone be woon to Christendome, were it not for rebellious +Templaries, with the Hospitalaries, and their followers. + +To these contumelious rebukes, when the master of the Temple answered +againe for him and his fellowes, bidding him display his ensigne when he +would, and where he durst, they were as ready to follow him, as he to goe +before them. Then began William de Longespe the worthy knight to speake, +desiring the earle to giue eare to those men of experience, who had better +knowledge of those countreyes and people then he had, commending also their +counsell to be discreet and wholesome, and so turning to the master of the +Temple, began with gentle wordes to mittigate him likewise. The knight had +not halfe ended his talke, when the Earle taking his wordes out of his +mouth, began to fume and sweare, crying out of those cowardly Englishmen +with tailes: What a pure armie (sayd he) should we haue here, if these +tailes and tailed people were purged from it, with other like words of +villany, and much disdaine: [Sidenote: The worthy answere of William +Longspe to Earle Robert.] whereunto the English knight answering againe, +well, Earle Robert (said he) wheresoeuer you dare set your foote, my step +shall go as farre as yours, and (as I beleeue) we goe this day where you +shall not dare to come neere the taile of my horse, as in deede in the +euent it prooued true: for Earle Robert would needes set forward, weening +to get all the glory to himselfe before the comming of the hoste, and first +inuaded a litle village or castle, which was not farre off, called Mansor. +The countrey Boores and Pagans in the villages, seeing the Christians +comming, ranne out with such a maine cry and shout, that it came to the +Soldans hearing, who was neerer then our men did thinke. In the meane time, +the Christians inuading and entring into the munition [Footnote: +Fortification.] incircumspectly, were pelted and pashed [Footnote: "That +can be cut with any iron, or pashed with mighty stones." CHAPMAN _Iliad_, +xiii., 297.] with stones by them which stood aboue, whereby a great number +of our men were lost, and the armie sore maymed, and almost in despaire. + +Then immediatly vpon the same, commeth the Soldan with all his maine power, +which seeing the Christian armie to be deuided, and the brother separated +from the brother, had that which he long wished for, and so inclosing them +round about, that none should escape, had with them a cruell fight. + +Then the earle beganne to repent him of his heady rashnes, but it was too +late, who then seeing William the English knight doughtily fighting in the +chiefe brunt of the enemies, cried vnto him most cowardly to flie, seeing +God (saith he) doth fight against vs: To whom the Knight answering againe, +God forbid (sayth he) that my fathers sonne should runne away from the face +of a Saracene. [Sidenote: The cowardly flight of Earle Robert.] The Earle +then turning his horse, fled away, thinking to auoid by the swiftnes of his +horse, and so taking the riuer Thafnis, oppressed with harnesse, was there +sunken and drowned. + +Thus the Earle being gone, the Frenchmen began to dispaire and scatter. +[Sidenote: The valiant ende of William Longespe.] Then William de Longespe +bearing all the force of the enemies, stoode against them as long as he +could, wounding and slaying many a Saracen, till at length his horse being +killed, and his legges maymed, he could no longer stande, who yet +notwithstanding as he was downe, mangled their feete and legges, and did +the Saracens much sorrow, till at last after many blowes and wounds, being +stoned of the Saracens, he yeelded his life. And after the death of him, +the Saracens setting vpon the residue of the armie, whom they had compassed +on euery side, deuoured and destroyed them all, insomuch that scarce one +man remained aliue, sauing two Templaries, one Hospitaler, and one poore +rascall souldier, which brought tidings hereof to the King. + +And thus by the imprudent and foolish hardines of that French Earle, the +Frenchmen were discomfited, and that valiant English Knight ouermatched, to +the griefe of all Christian people, the glory of the Saracens, and the +vtter destruction and ruine of the whole French armie, as afterwards it +appeared. + + * * * * * + +The Voyage of Prince Edward the sonne of king Henry the third into Asia, in + the yeere 1270. + +About the yeere of our Lord, 1267. Octobonus the Popes Legate being in +England, prince Edward the sonne of king Henry, and other Noble men of +England tooke vpon them the crosse vpon S. Iohn Baptists day, by the sayd +Legates hands at Northampton, to the reliefe of the Holy land, and the +subuersion of the enemies of the crosse of Christ. For which purpose, and +for the better furnishing of the prince towards the iourney, there was +granted him a subsidie throughout all the realme, and in the moneth of May, +in the yeere of our Lord 1270. he began to set forward. + +At Michęlmas following he with his company came to Eguemortes, which is +from Marsilia eight leagues Westward, and there taking ship againe (hauing +a mery and prosperous wind) within ten dayes arriued at Tunez, where he was +with great ioy welcommed, and entertained of the Christian princes that +there were to this purpose assembled, as of Philip the French King, whose +father Lodouicus died a litle before, of Carolus the king of Sicilia, and +the two kings of Nauarre and Arragon, and as this lord Edward came thither +for his father the king of England, thither came also Henry the sonne of +the king of Almaine for his father, who at his returne from the voyage was +slaine in a chappell at Viterbium. + +When prince Edward demanded of these kings and princes what was to be done, +they answered him againe and sayd, the prince of this citie and the +prouince adioyning to the same hath bene accustomed to pay tribute vnto the +king of Sicily euery yere: and now for that the same hath bene for the +space of seuen yeeres vnpaied and more, therefore we thought good to make +invasion vpon him. But the king knowing the same tribute to be but iustly +demaunded, hath now according to our owne desire satisfied for the time +past, and also paid his tribute before hand. + +Then sayd he, My Lords, what is this to the purpose? are we not here all +assembled, and haue taken vpon vs the Lords Character to fight against the +infidels and enemies of Christ? What meane you then to conclude a peace +with them? God forbid we should do so, for now the land is plaine and hard, +so that we may approch to the holy city of Ierusalem. Then said they, now +haue we made a league with them, neither is it lawful for vs to breake the +same. But let vs returne againe to Sicilia, and when the winter is past we +may well take shipping to Acra. But this counsel nothing at all liked him, +neither did he shew himselfe wel pleased therewith: but after hee had made +them a princely banket, he went into his closet or priuy chamber from +amongst them, neither would be partaker of any of that wicked money which +they had taken. They notwithstanding continuing their purpose, at the next +mery wind tooke shipping, and for want of ships left 200. of their men a +shore, crying out, and pitiously lamenting for the peril and hazard of +death that they were in: wherewith prince Edward being somewhat mooued to +compassion: came backe againe to the land, and receiued and stowed them in +his owne ships, being the last that went aboord. + +Within seuen dayes after, they arriued in the kingdom of Sicilia, ouer +agaynst the Citie Trapes, [Footnote: Trapani, N.E. of Marsala.] casting +their ankers a league from thence within the sea, for that their shippes +were of great burden, and throughly fraught: and from the hauen of the city +they sent out barges and boates to receiue and bring such of the Nobilitie +to land as would, but their horses for the most part, and all their armour +they kept still within boord. + +At length towards the euening the sea began to be rough, and increased to a +great tempest and a mightie: insomuch that their ships were beaten one +against anothers sides, and drowned. There was of them at that tempest +lying at anker more then 120. with all their armour and munition, with +innumerable soules besides, and that wicked money also which they had taken +before, likewise perished, and was lost. + +But the tempest hurt not so much as one ship of prince Edwards, who had in +number 13. nor yet had one man lost thereby, for that (as it may be +presupposed) he consented not to the wicked counsell of the rest. + +When in the morning the princes and kings came to the sea side, and saw all +their ships drowned, and saw their men and horses in great number cast vpon +the land drowned, they had full heauie hearts, as well they might, for of +all their ships and mariners, which were in number 1500. besides the common +souldiers, there was no more saued then the manners of one onely ship, and +they in this wise. + +There was in that ship a good and wise Matrone, a Countesse or an Erles +wife, who perceiuing the tempest to grow, and fearing her selfe, called to +her the M. of the ship, and asked him whether in attempting to the shoare +it were not possible to saue themselues: he answered, that to saue the ship +it was impossible: howbeit the men that were therein by Gods helpe he +doubted not. Then sayd the countesse, for the ship force no whit, saue the +soules therein, and haue to thee double the value of the shippe: who +immediatly hoising the sailes with all force, ran the shippe aground so +neere the shore as was possible, so that with the vehemency of the weather +and force he came withall, he brast the ship and saued all that was within +the same, as he had shewed, and sayd before. + +Then the kings and princes (altering their purpose after this so great a +shipwracke) returned home againe euery one vnto their owne lands: onely +Edward, the sonne of the king of England, remained behinde with his men and +ships, which the Lord had saued and preserued. + +[Sidenote: The arriual of Prince Edward at Acra.] Then prince Edward +renouating his purpose, tooke shipping againe, and within fifteene daies +after Easter arriued he at Acra, and went a land, taking with him a +thousand of the best souldiers and most expert, and taried there a whole +moneth, refreshing both his men and horses, and that in this space he might +learne and know the secrets of the land. [Sidenote: Nazareth taken by the +prince.] After this he tooke with him sixe or seuen thousand souldiers, and +marched forward twenty miles from Acra, and tooke Nazareth, and those that +he found there he slew, and afterward returned againe to Acra. But their +enemies following after them, thinking to haue set vpon them at some streit +or other advantage, were espied by the prince, and returning againe vpon +them gaue a charge, and slew many of them, and the rest they put to flight. + +[Sidenote: A victorie against the Saracens wherein 1000 of them are +slaine.] After this, about Midsummer, when the prince had vnderstanding +that the Saracens began to gather at Cakow which was forty miles from Acra, +he marching thither, set vpon them very earely in the morning, and slew of +them more then a thousand, the rest he put to flight, and tooke rich +spoiles, marching forward till they came to a castle named Castrum +peregrinorum, situate vpon the sea coast, and taried there that night, and +the next day they returned againe toward Acra. + +In the meane season the king of Ierusalem sent vnto the noble men of +Cyprus, desiring them to come with speed to ayd the Christians, but they +would not come, saying they would keepe their owne land, and go no further. +[Sidenote: The Princes of Cyprus acknowledge obedience to the kings of +England.] Then prince Edward sent vnto them, desiring that at his request +they would come and ioyne in ayd with him: who immediatly thereupon came +vnto him with great preparation and furniture for the warres, saying, that +at his commandement they were bound to do no lesse, for that his +predecessors were sometimes the gouernors of that their land, and that they +ought alwayes to shew their fidelity to the kings of England. + +Then the Christians being herewith animated, made a third voyage or road, +and came as farre as the fort called Vincula sancti Petri, and to S. +Georgius, and when they had slain certaine there, not finding any to make +resistance against them, they retired againe from whence they came: when +thus the fame of prince Edward grew amongst his enemies, and that they +began to stand in doubt of him, they deuised among themselues how by some +pollicy they might circumuent him, and betray him. Whereupon the prince and +admirall of Ioppa sent vnto him, faining himselfe vnder great deceit +willing to become a Christian, and that he would draw with him a great +number besides, so that they might be honorably entertained and vsed of the +Christians. This talke pleased the prince well, and perswaded him to finish +the thing he had so well begun by writing againe, who also by the same +messenger sent and wrote backe vnto him diuers times about the same matter, +whereby no mistrust should spring. + +This messenger (sayth mine author) was one ex caute nutritis, one of the +stony hearted, that neither feared God nor dreaded death. + +The fift time when this messenger came, and was of the princes seruants +searched according to the maner and custome what weapon and armour he had +about him, as also his purse, that not so much as a knife could be seene +about him, he was had vp into the princes chamber, and after his reuerence +done, he pulled out certaine letters, which he deliuered the prince from +his lord, as he had done others before. This was about eight dayes after +Whitsuntide, vpon a Tuesday, somewhat before night, at which time the +prince was layed vpon his bed bare headed, in his ierkin for the great heat +and intemperature of the weather. + +When the prince had read the letters, it appeared by them, that vpon the +Saturday next following, his lord would be there ready to accomplish all +that he had written and promised. The report of these newes by the prince +to the standers by, liked them well, who drew somewhat backe to consult +thereof amongst themselues. [Sidenote: Prince Edward traiterously wounded.] +In the meane time, the messenger kneeling, and making his obeisance to the +prince (questioning further with him) put his hand to his belt, as though +he would haue pulled out some secret letters, and suddenly he pulled out an +enuenomed knife, thinking to haue stroken the prince in the belly therewith +as he lay: but the prince lifting vp his hand to defend the blow, was +striken a great wound into the arme, and being about to fetch another +stroke at him, the prince againe with his foot tooke him such a blow, that +he feld him to the ground: with that the prince gate him by the hand, and +with such violence wrasted the knife from him, that he hurt himselfe +therewith on the forehead, and immediately thrust the same into belly of +the messenger and striker, and slew him. + +The princes seruants being in the next chamber not farre off, hearing the +busling, came with great haste running in, and finding the messenger lying +dead in the floore, one of them tooke vp a stoole, and beat out his brains: +whereat the prince was wroth for that he stroke a dead man, and one that +was killed before. + +But the rumour of this accident, as it was strange, so it went soone +thorowout all the Court, and from thence among the common people, for which +they were very heauy, and greatly discouraged. To him came also the +Captaine of the Temple, and brought him a costly and precious drinke +against poison, least the venime of the knife should penetrate the liuely +blood, and in blaming wise sayd vnto him: did I not tell your Grace before +of the deceit and subtilty of this people? Notwithstanding, said he, let +your Grace take a good heart, you shall not die of this wound, my life for +yours. But straight way the Surgions and Physicians were sent for, and the +prince was dressed, and within few dayes after, the wound began to +putrifie, and the flesh to looke dead and blacke: wherupon they that were +about the prince began to mutter among themselues, and were very sad and +heauy. + +Which thing, he himself perceiuing, said vnto them: why mutter you thus +among your selues? what see you in me, can I not be healed? tell me the +trueth, be ye not afrayd. Whereupon one sayd vnto him, and it like your +Grace you may be healed, we mistrust not, but yet it will be very painfull +for you to suffer. May suffering (sayd he againe) restore health? yea sayth +the other, on paine of losing my head. Then sayd the prince, I commit my +selfe vnto you, doe with me what you thinke good. + +Then sayd one of the Physicians, is there any of your Nobles in whom your +Grace reposeth special trust? to whom the prince answered Yea, naming +certeine of the Noble men that stood about him. Then sayd the Physician to +the two, whom the prince first named, the Lord Edmund, [Marginal note: The +lord Edmond was the prince his brother.] and the lord Iohn Voisie, And doe +you also faithfully loue your Lord and prince? Who answered both, Yea +vndoubtedly. Then sayth he, take you away this gentlewoman and lady +(meaning his wife) and let her not see her lord and husband, till such time +as I will you thereunto. Whereupon they tooke her from the princes +presence, crying out, and wringing her hands. Then sayd they vnto her, Be +you contented good Lady and Madame, it is better that one woman should +weepe a little while, then that all the realme of England should weepe a +great season. + +Then on the morrow they cut out all the dead and inuenimed flesh out of the +princes arme, and threw it from them, and sayd vnto him: how cheereth your +Grace, we promise you within these fifteene dayes you shall shew your selfe +abroad (if God permit) vpon your horsebacke, whole and well as euer you +were. And according to the promise he made the prince, it came to passe, to +the no little comfort and admiration of all his subiects. + +When the great Souldan heard hereof, and that the prince was yet aliue, he +could scarsely beleeue the same, and sending vnto him three of his Nobles +and Princes, excused himselfe by them, calling his God to witnesse that the +same was done neither by him nor his consent. Which princes and messengers +standing aloofe off from the kings sonne, worshipping him, fell flat vpon +the ground: you (sayd the prince) do reuerence me, but yet you loue me not. +But they vnderstood him not, because he spake in English vnto them, +speaking by an Interpreter: neuerthelesse he honourably entertained them, +and sent them away in peace. + +Thus when prince Edward had beene eighteene moneths in Acra, he tooke +shipping about the Assumption of our Lady, as we call it, returning +homeward, and after seuen weekes he arriued in Sicilia at Trapes, and from +thence trauailed thorow the middes of Apulia, till he came to Rome, where +he was of the Pope honorably entertained. + +From thence he came into France, whose fame and noble prowesse was there +much bruted among the common people, and enuied of the Nobility, especially +of the Earle of Chalons, who thought to haue intrapped him and his company, +as may appeare in the story: but Prince Edward continued foorth his iourney +to Paris, and was there of the French king honourably entertained: and +after certaine dayes he went thence into Gascoine, where he taried till +that he heard of the death of the king his father, at which time he came +home, and was crowned king of England, in the yere of our Lord 1274. + + * * * * * + +The trauaile of Robert Turneham. + +Robertus Turneham Franciscanus, Theologię professor insignis, Lynnę celebri +Irenorum ad ripas Isidis emporio, collegio suorum fratrum magnificč +pręfuit. Edwardus Princeps, cognomento Longus, Henrici tertij filius, +bellicam expeditionem contra Saracenos Assyriam incolentes, anno Dom. 1268. +parabat. Ad quam profectionem quęsitus quoque Orator vehemens, qui plebis +in causa religionis animos excitaret, Turnehamus principi visus vel +dignissimus est, qui munus hoc obiret. Sic tanquam signifer constitutus +Assyrios vna cum Anglico exercitu petijt, ac suum non sine laude pręstitit +officiuin. Claruit anno salutiferi partus, 1280. varia componens, sub eodem +Edwardo eius nominis primo post Conquestum. + +The same in English. + +Robert Turneham Franciscan, a notable professor of Diuinitie, was with +great dignitie Prior of the Colledge of his Order in the famous Mart Towne +of Lynne, situate vpon the riuer of Isis in Norfolke. Prince Edward +surnamed the Long, the sonne of Henrie the third, prepared his warlike +voyage against the Saracens dwelling in Syria, in the yeere of our Lord, +1268. For the which expedition some earnest preacher was sought to stirre +vp the peoples minds in the cause of religion. And this Turneham seemed to +the Prince most worthy to performe that office: so that he being appointed +as it were a standard bearer, went into Syria with the English army, and +performed his duety with good commendation. He flourished in the yeere of +Christ 1280, setting forth diuers workes vnder the same King Edward the +first of that name after the Conquest. + + * * * * * + +The life of Syr Iohn Mandeuill Knight, written by Master Bale. + +Ioannes Mandeuil, vir equestris ordinis, ex fano Albini oriundus, ita ą +teneris vt aiunt, vnguiculis literarum studijs assueuerat, vt in illis +bonam foelicitatis suę partem poneret. Nam generis sui stemmata illustria, +nulli vsui futura ducebat, nisi illa clariora doctis artibus redderet. +Quare cum animum Euangelica lectione ritč instituisset, transtulit sua +studia ad rem Medicam, artem imprimis liberali ingenio dignam. Sed inter +alia, ingens quędam cupido videndi Africam, et Asiam, vastioris orbis +partes, eius animum inuaserat. Comparato igitur amplo viatico, peregrč +profectus est, anno ą Christo nato, 1332. et domum tanquam alter Vlysses, +post 34. annos rediens, ą paucissimis quidem cognitus fuit. Interim +Scythiam, Armeniam, Maiorem et Minorem, Aegyptum, vtramque Lybiam, Arabiam, +Syriam, Mediam, Mesopotamiam, Persiam, Chaldęam, Gręciam, Illyrium, +Tartariam, et alia spaciosi orbis regna, laborioso itinere visitauit. +Denique linguarum cognitione pręditus, ne tot ac tantarum rerum varietates, +et miracula quę oculatus testis viderat, memorięque mandauerat, obliuione +premerentur, in tribus linguis, Anglica, Gallica, et Latina, graphicč +scripsit Itinerarium 33. annorum. Reuersus in Angliam, ac visis sui seculi +malis, vir pius dicebat, nostris temporibus iam verius quąm olim dici +potest, virtus cessat, Ecclesia calcatur, Clerus errat, dęmon regnat, +simonia dominatur, etc. Leodij tandem obijt, anno Domini 1372. die 17. +Nouembris, apud Guilielmitas sepultus. + +The same in English. + +Iohn Mandeuil Knight, borne in the towne of S. Albons, was so well giuen to +the studie of learning from his childhood, that he seemed to plant a good +part of his felicitie in the same: for he supposed that the honour of his +birth would nothing auaile him, except he could render the same more +honourable by his knowledge in good letters. Hauing therefore well grounded +himselfe in religion by reading the Scriptures, he applied his studies to +the arte of Physicke, a profession worthy a noble wit: but amongst other +things, he was rauished with a mightie desire to see the greater partes of +the world, as Asia, and Africa. Hauing therefore prouided all things +necessarie for his iourney he departed from his countrey in the yeere of +Christ, 1332, and as another Vlysses returned home, after the space of 34. +yeeres, and was then knowen to a very fewe. In the time of his trauaile he +was in Scythia, the greater and lesse Armenia, Egypt, both Lybias, Arabia, +Syria, Media, Mesopotamia, Persia, Chaldęa, Greece, Illyrium, Tartarie, and +diuers other kingdomes of the world: and hauing gotten by this meanes the +knowledge of the languages, least so many and great varieties, and things +miraculous, whereof himselfe had bene an eie witnes, should perish in +obliuion, he committed his whole trauell of 33. yeeres to writing in three +diuers tongues, English, French and Latine. Being arriued againe in +England, and hauing seene the wickednes of that age, he gaue out this +speach. In our time (sayd he) it may be spoken more truely then of olde, +that vertue is gone, the Church is vnder foote, the Clergie is in errour, +the deuill raigneth, and Simonie beareth the sway, &c. + +He died at Leege, in the yeere 1311. the 17. day of Nouember, being there +buried in the Abbie of the Order of the Guilielmites. + + * * * * * + +The Tombe and Epitaph of Sir Iohn Mandeuil, in the citie of Leege, spoken + of by Ortelius, in his booke called Itinerarium Belgię, in this sort. + +[Sidenote: Fol. 15, 16.] Magna et populosa Leodij suburbia, ad collium +radices, in quorum iugis multa sunt, et pulcherrima monasteria, inter quę +magnificum illud, ac nobile D. Laurentio dicatum, ab Raginardo Episcopo. +Est in hac quoque regione, vel suburbijs Leodij, Guilielmitarum Coenobium, +in quo Epitaphium hoc Ioannis ą Mandeuille, excepimus. + +[Sidenote: Epitaphģum.] Hic iacet vir nobilis, D. Ioannes de Mandeuille, +aliter dictus ad Barbam, Miles, Dominus de Campdi, natus de Anglia, +Medicinę professor, deuotissimus, orator, et bonorum largissimus pauperibus +erogator, qui toto quasi orbe lustrato, Leodij diem vitę suę clausit +extremum. Anno Dom. 1371. Mensis Nouembris, Die 17. + +Hęc in lapide: in quo cęlata viri armati imago, Leonem calcantis, barba +bifurcata, ad caput manus benedicens, et vernacula hęc verba: Vos qui +paseis sor mi, pour l'amour deix proļes por mi. Clipeus erat vacuus, in quo +olim fuisse dicebant laminam ęream, et eius in ea itidem cęlata insignia, +Leonem videlicet argenteum, cui ad pectus lunula rubea in campo cęruleo, +quem Limbus ambiret denticulatus ex auro. Eius nobis ostendebant, et +cultros, ephipiįque, et calcaria quibus vsum fuisse asserebant, in +peragrando toto ferč terrarum orbe, vt clariłs testatur eius Itinerarium, +quod typis etiam excusum passim habetur. + + * * * * * + +Tabvla Pręsentis Libri Ioannes Mandevil, singvla per ordinem capitula, et + in eorum quolibet quid agitur, notificat euidenter. + +Capvt. 1 Commendatio breuis terrę Hierosolymltanę. + +2 Iter ab Anglia tam per terras quąm per aquas, vsque in Constantinopolim. + +3 De vrbe Constantinopoli, et reliquijs ibidem contentis. + +4 Via tam per terras quąm per aquas, ą Constantinopoli vsque Acharon, vel + Acon. + +5 Via ą Francia et Flandria, per solas terras vsque in Hierusalem. + +6 Via de Cypro vel de Hierusalem, vsque in Babyloniam Egypti. + +7 De Pallatio Soldani, et nominibus pręteritorum Soldanorum. + +8 De Campo Balsami in Egypto. + +9 De Nilo fluuio, et Egypti territorio. + +10 De conductu Soldani. + +11 De Monasterio Sinay. + +12 Iter per desertum Sinay, vsque in Iudeam. + +13 De ciuitate Bethleem, et semita, vsque in Ierusalem. + +14 De Ecclesia gloriosi sepulchri Domini in vrbe Ierusalem. + +15 De tribus alijs Ecclesiis, et specialiter de Templo Domini. + +16 De pluribus locis sacris extra vrbem. + +17 De sacris locis extra muros ciuitatis. + +18 De alijs locis notabilibus. + +19 De Nazareth et Samaria. + +20 De Territorio Galileę et Samarię. + +21 De secta detestabili Sarracenorum. + +22 De vita Mahometi. + +23 De colloquio Authoris cum Soldano. + +24 Persuasio ad non credentes terrarum diuersitates per orbem terrę. + +25 De Armenia, et Persia. + +26 De Ethiopia et diamantibus, ac de infima et media India. + +27 De foresto piperis. + +28 De Ecclesia beati Thomę Apostoli. + +29 De quibusdam meridionalibus insulis, et farina et melle. + +30 De Regno Cynocephalorum, et alijs Insulis. + +31 De multis alijs insulis Meridionalibus. + +32 De bona regione Mangi. + +33 De Pygmeis, et itinere vsque prouinciam Cathay. + +34 De pallacio Imperatoris magni Chan. + +35 De quatuor solemnitatibus, quas magnus Chan celebrat in Anno. + +36 De pręstigijs in festo, et de comitatu Imperatoris. + +37 Qua de causa dicitur magnus Chan. + +38 De territorio Cathay, et moribus Tartarorum. + +39 De sepultura Imperatoris magni Chan, et de creatione successoris. + +40 De multis regionibus Imperio Tartarię subiectis. + +41 De magnificentia Imperatoris Indię. + +42 De frequentia Palatij, et comitatu Imperatoris pręsbiteri Ioannis. + +43 De quisbusdam miris per Regiones Imperij Indię. + +44 De loco et dispositione Vallis infaustę. + +45 De quibusdam alijs admirandis, per Indorum insulas. + +46 De periculis et tormentis in valle infausta. + +47 De Bragmannorum insulis, et aliorum. + +48 Aliquķd de loco Paradisi terrestris per auditum. + +49 In reuertendo de Regnis Cassam, et Riboth, de Diuite Epulone, vel + consimili. + +50 De compositione huius tractatus in Ciuitate Leodiensi. + + +Liber Pręsens, Cvivs Avthor est Ioannes Mandevil militaris ordinis, agit de + diuersis patrijs, Regionibus, Prouincijs, et insulis, Turcia, Armenia + maiore et minore, Ęgypto, Lybia bassa et alta, Syria, Arabia, Persia, + Chaldęa, Tartaria, India, et de infinitis insulis, Ciuitatibus, villis, + castris, et locis, quę gentes, legum, morum, ac rituum inhabitant + diuersorum. + +DEDICATIO LIBRI. + +Principi excellentissimo, prę cunctis mortalibus pręcipuč venerando, Domino +Edwardo eius nominis tertio, diuina prouidentia Francorum et Anglorum Regi +Serenissimo, Hibernię Domino, Aquitainię Duci, mari ac eius insulis +occidentalibus dominanti, Christianorum encomio et ornatui, vniuersorumque +arma gerentium Tutori, ac Probitatis et strenuitatis exemplo, principi +quoque inuicto, mirabilis Alexandri Sequaci, ac vniuerso orbi tremendo, cum +reuerentia non qua decet, cum ad talem, et tantam reuerentiam minłs +sufficientes extiterint, sed qua paruitas, et possibilitas mittentis ac +offerentis se extendunt, contenta tradantur. + +Pars prima, continens Capita 23. + +CAPVT. 1. + +Commendatio breuis terrę Hierosolimitanę. + +Cum terra Hierosolimitana, terra promissionis filiorum Dei, dignior cunctis +mundi terris sit habenda multis ex causis, et pręcipuč illā, quod Deus +conditor coeli et mundi, ipsam tanti dignatus fuit ęstimare, vt in eo +proprinm filium saluatorem mundi, Christum exhibuerit generi humano per +incarnationem ex intemerata Virgine, et per eius conuersationem humillimam +in eadem, ac per dolorosam mortis suę consummationem ibidem, įtque indč per +eius admirandam resurrectionem, ac ascensionem in coelum, et postremņ quia +creditur illic in fine seculi reuersurus, et omnia iudicaturus: certum est, +quņd ab omnibus qui Christiano nomine ą Christo dicuntur, sit tanquam ą +suis proprijs hęredibus diligenda, et pro cuiśsque potestate ac modulo +honoranda. [Sidenote: Loquitur secundum tempora in quibus vixit.] A +principibus quidem, et potentibus vt ipsam conentur de infidelium manibus +recuperare, qui eam iam pridem ą nobis, nostris exigentibus meritis, +abstulerunt, et per annos heu plurimos possederunt: a mediocribus antem et +valentibus, vt per peregrinationem deuotam loca tam pia, et vestigia +Christi ac discipolorum tam Sancta, principaliter in remissionem visitent +delictorum. Ab impotentibus verņ, et impeditis, quatenus supradictos vel +hortentur, vel in aliquo modo iuuent, seu certč fideles fondant orationes. +Verum quia iam nostris temporibus verius quąm olim dici potest, + + Virtus, Ecclesia, Clerus, dęmon, symonia, + Cessat, calcatur, errat, regnat, dominatur, + +ecce iusto Dei iudicio, credita est terra tam inclyta, et sacrosancta +impiorum manibus Saracenorum, quod non est absque dolore pijs mentibus +audiendum, et recolendum. EGO Ioannes Mandeuill militaris ordinis saltem +gerens nomen, natus et educatus in terra Anglię, in villa sancti Albani, +ducebar in Adolescentia mea tali inspiratione, vt quamuis non per +potentiam, nec per vires proprias possem pręfatam terram suis hęredibus +recuperare, irem tamen per aliquod temporis spacium peregrinari ibidem, et +salutarem aliquantulum de propinquo. [Sidenote: Ioannis Mandiuilli +peregrinatio, per tres et triginta annos continuata.] Vnde in anno ab +Incarnatione Domini 1322. imposui me nauigationi Marsiliensis maris et +vsque in hoc temporis, Anni 1355. scilicet, per 33. annos in transmarinis +partibus mansi, peregrinatus sum, ambulaui, et circuiui multas, ac diuersas +patrias, regiones, prouincias, et insulas, Turciam, Armeniam maiorem, et +minorem, Ęgyptum, Lybiam bassam et altam, Syriam, Arabiam, Persiam, +Chaldeam, Ęthiopię partem magnam, Tartariam, Amazoniam, Indiam minorem, et +mediam, ac partem magnam de maiori, et in istis, et circum istas regiones, +multas insulas, Ciuitates, vrbes, castra, villas, et loca, vbi habitant +varię gentes, aspectuum, morum, legum, ac rituum, diuersorum: Attamen quia +summo desiderio in terra promissionis eram, ipsam diligentius per loca +vestigiorum filij Dei perlustrare curaui, et diutius in illa steti. +Quapropter et in hac prima parte huius operis iter tam peregrinandi, quam +nauigandi, ą partibus Anglię ad ipsam describo, et loca notabiliter sancta, +quę intra eandem sunt breuiter commemoro et diligenter, quatenus peregrinis +tam in itinere quam in prouentione valeat hęc descriptio in aliquo +deseruire. + +The English Version. [Footnote: This English version (for the variations +from the Latin are so great that it cannot be called a _translation_) was +published in 1725 from a MS. of the end of the 14th or beginning of the +15th century, in the Cottonian Library, marked Titus. C. xvi. + +Instead of being divided into 50 chapters like the Latin, it contains only +33, but I have thought it best to make it correspond as nearly with the +Latin as possible, merely indicating where the various chapters begin in +the English version. From the last paragraph of the introductory chapter, +it would seem that the English version was written by Mandeville +himself.--E. G.] + +[Sidenote: The Prologue] For als moche as the Lond bezonde the See, that is +to seye, the Holy Lond, that men callen the Lond of Promyssioun, or of +Beheste, passynge alle othere Londes, is the most worthi Lond, most +excellent, and Lady and Sovereyn of alle othere Londes, and is blessed and +halewed of the precyous Body and Blood of oure Lord Jesu Crist; in the +whiche Lond it lykede him to take Flesche and Blood of the Virgyne Marie, +to envyrone that holy Lond with his blessede Feet; and there he wolde of +his blessednesse enoumbre him in the seyd blessed and gloriouse Virgine +Marie, and become Man, and worche many Myracles, and preche and teche the +Feythe and the Lawe of Cristene Men unto his Children; and there it lykede +him to suffre many Reprevinges and Scornes for us; and he that was Kyng of +Hevene, of Eyr, of Erthe, of See and of alle thinges that ben conteyned in +hem, wolde alle only ben cleped Kyng of that Lond, whan he seyde, "_Rex sum +Judeorum_," that is to seyne, "I am Kyng of Jewes;" and that Lond he chees +before alle other. Londes, as the beste and most worthi Lond, and the most +vertouse lond of alle the world: For it is the herte and the myddes of all +the world; wytnessynge the philosophere, that seythe thus; "_Vertus rerum +in medio consistit:_" That is to seye, "The vertue of thinges is in the +myddes;" and in that Lond he wolde lede his lyf, and suffre passioun and +dethe of Jewes, for us; for to bye and to delyvere us from peynes of helle, +and from dethe withouten ende; the whiche was ordeyned for us, for the +synne of oure formere fader Adam, and for oure owne synnes also: for as for +himself, he hadde non evylle deserved: For he thoughte nevere evylle ne dyd +evylle: And he that was kyng of glorie and of joye myghten best in that +place suffre dethe; because he ches in that lond, rathere than in ony +othere, there to suffre his passioun and his dethe: For he that wil +pupplische ony thing to make it openly knowen, he wil make it to ben cryed +and pronounced, in the myddel place of a town; so that the thing that is +proclamed and pronounced, may evenly strecche to alle parties: Righte so, +he that was formyour of alle the world, wolde suffre for us at Jerusalem; +that is the myddes of the world; to that ende and entent, that his passioun +and his dethe, that was pupplischt there, myghte ben knowen evenly to alle +the parties of the world. See now how dere he boughte man, that he made +after his owne ymage, and how dere he azen boghte us, for the grete love +that he hadde to us; and we nevere deserved it to him. For more precyous +catelle ne gretter ransoum, ne myghte he put for us, than his blessede +body, his precyous blood, and his holy lyf, that he thralled for us; and +alle he offred for us, that nevere did synne. A dere God, what love hadde +he to his subjettes, whan he that nevere trespaced, wolde for trespassours +suffre dethe! Righte wel oughte us for to love and worschipe, to drede and +serven suche a Lord; and to worschipe and preyse suche an holy lond, that +broughte forthe suche fruyt, thorghe the whiche every man is saved, but it +be his owne defaute. Wel may that lond be called delytable and a fructuous +lond, that was bebledd [Footnote: Coloured with blood] and moysted with the +precyouse blode of oure Lord Jesu Crist; the whiche is the same lond, that +oure lord behighten us in heritage. And in that lond he wolde dye, as +seised, for to leve it to us his children. Wherfore every gode Cristene +man, that is of powere, and hathe whereof, scholde peynen him with all his +strengthe for to conquere oure righte heritage, and chacen out alle the +mysbeleevynge men. For wee ben clept cristene men, aftre Crist our Fadre. +And zif wee ben righte children of Crist, we oughte for to chalenge the +heritage, that oure Fadre lafte us, and do it out of hethene mennes hondes. +But nowe pryde, covetyse and envye han so enflawmed the hertes of lordes of +the world, that thei are more besy for to disherite here neyghbores, more +than for to chalenge or to conquere here righte heritage before seyd. And +the comoun peple, that wolde putte here bodyes and here catelle, for to +conquere oure heritage, thei may not don it withouten the lordes. For a +semblee of peple withouten a cheventeyn, [Footnote: Chieftain.] or a chief +lord, is as a flock of scheep withouten a schepperde; the whiche departeth +and desparpleth, [Footnote: Disperseth.] and wyten never whidre to go. But +wolde God, that the temporel lordes and all worldly lordes weren at gode +accord, and with the comen peple woulden taken this holy viage over the +see. Thanne I trowe wel, that within a lytyl tyme, our righte heritage +before seyd scholde be reconsyled and put in the hondes of the right heires +of Jesu Crist. + +And for als moche as it is longe tyme passed, that there was no generalle +passage ne vyage over the see; and many men desiren for to here speke of +the holy lond, and han thereof great solace and comfort; I John +Maundevylle, Knyght, alle be it I be not worthi, that was born in Englond, +in the town of Scynt Albones, passed the see in the zeer of our Lord Jesu +Crist MCCCXXII, in the day of Seynt Michelle; and hidre [Footnote: There.] +to have ben longe tyme over the see, and have seyn and gon thorghe manye +dyverse londes, and many provynces and Kingdomes and iles, and have passed +thorghe Tartarye, Percye, Ermonye [Footnote: Armenia.] the litylle and the +grete; thorghe Lybye, Caldee, and a gret partie of Ethiope; thorghe +Amazoyne, Inde the lasse and the more, a gret partie; and thorghe out many +othere iles, that ben abouten Inde; where dwellen many dyverse folkes, and +of dyverse manneres and lawes, and of dyverse schappes of men. Of which +londes and iles, I schall speake more pleynly hereaftre. And I schall +devise zou sum partie of thinges that there ben, whan time schalle ben, +aftre it may best come to my mynde; and specially for hem, that wylle and +are in purpos for to visite the holy citee of Jerusalem, and the holy +places that are thereaboute. And I schalle telle the weye, that thei +schulle holden thidre. For I have often tymes passed and ryden the way, +with gode companye of many lordes: God be thonked. + +And zee schulle undirstonde, that I have put this boke out of Latyn into +Frensche, and translated it azen out of Frensche into Englyssche, that +every man of my nacioun may undirstonde it. But lordes and knyghtes and +othere noble and worthi men, that conne Latyn but litylle, and han ben +bezonde the see, knowen and undirstonden, zif I erre in devisynge, for +forzetynge, [Footnote: Forgetting.] or elles; that thei mowe redresse it +and amende it. For thinges passed out of longe tyme from a mannes mynde or +from his syght, turnen sone into forzetynge: Because that mynde of man ne +may not ben comprehended ne witheholden, for the freeltee of mankynde. + +To teche zou the Weye out of Englond to Constantinoble. + +[Sidenote: Cap I.] In the name of God Glorious and Allemyghty. He that wil +passe over the see, to go to the city of Jerusalem, he may go by many +wayes, bothe on see and londe, aftre the contree that hee cometh fro; manye +of hem comen to on ende. But troweth not that I wil telle zou alle the +townes and cytees and castelles, that men schulle go by; for than scholde I +make to longe a tale; but alle only summe contrees and most princypalle +stedes, that men schulle gone thorgh, to gon the righte way. + + +CAPVT. 2. + +Iter ab Anglia tam per terras quam per aquas vsque in Constantinopolim. + +Qui de Hybernia, Anglia, Scotia, Noruegia, aut Gallia, iter arripit ad +partes Hierosolymitanas potest saltem vsque ad Imperialem Grecię Ciuitatem +Constantinopolim eligere sibi modum proficiscendi, siue per terras, siue +per aquas. Et si peregrinando eligit transigere viam, tendat per Coloniam +Agrippinam, et sic per Almaniam in Hungariam ad Montlusant Ciuitatem, sedem +Regni Hungarię. [Sidenote: Regis Hungarię olim potentia.] Et est Rex +Hungarię multum potens istis temporibus. Nam tenet et Sclauoniam, et magnam +partem Regni Comannorum, et Hungariam, et partem Regni Russię. Oportet vt +peregrinus in finibus Hungarię transeat magnum Danubij flumen, et vadat in +Belgradum; Hoc flumen oritur inter Montana Almanię, et currens versus +Orientem, recipit in se 40. flumina antequam finiatur in mare. De Belgrade +intratur terra Bulgarię, et transitur per Pontem petrinum fluuij Marroy, et +per terram Pyncenars, et tunc intratur Gręcia, in Ciuitates, Sternes, +Asmopape, et Andrinopolis, et sic in Constantinopolim, vbi communiter est +sedes Imperatoris Grecię. Qui autem viam eligit per aquas versus +Constantinopolim nauigare, accipiat sibi portum, prout voluerit, propinquum +siue remotum, Marsilię, Pisi, Ianuę, Venetijs, Romę, Neapoli, vel alibi: +sicque transeat Tusciam, Campaniam, Italiam, Corsicam, Sardiniam, vsque in +Siciliam, quę diuiditur ab Italia per brachiam maris non magnum. [Sidenote: +Mons ętna.] In Sicilia est mons Ętna iugiter ardens, qui ibidem apellatur +Mons Gibelle, et pręter illum habentur ibi loca Golthan vbi sunt septem +leucę quasi semper ignem spirantes: secundum diuersitatem colorum harum +flammarum estimant. [Sidenote: Aeolides insulę.] Incolę annum fertilem +fore, vel sterilem, siccum vel humidum, calidum, vel frigidum: hęc loca +vocant caminos Infernales, et ą finibus Italię vsque ad ista loca sunt 25. +miliaria. [Sidenote: Temperes Sicilię Insulę.] Sunt autem in Sicilia aliqua +Pomeria in quibus inueniuntur frondes, flores, et fructus per totum annum, +etiam, in profunda hyeme. Regnum Sicilię est bona, et grandis insula habens +in circuitu ferč leucas 300. [Sidenote: Leuca Lombardica. Quid sit dieta.] +Et ne quis eret, vel de facili reprehendat quoties scribo leucam, +intelligendum est de leuca Lombardica, quę aliquantņ maior est Geometrica; +et quoties pono numerum, sub intelligatur fere, vel circiter, siue citra, +et dietam intendo ponere, de 10. Lombardicis leucis: Geometrica autem leuca +describitur, vt notum est, per hos versus. + + Quinque pedes passum faciunt, passus quoque centum + Viginti quķnque stadium, si millia des que + Octo facis stadia, duplicatum dat tibi leuca. + +[Sidenote: Portus Grecię.] Postquam itįque peregrinus se credidit Deo et +mari, si prospera sibi fuerit nauigatio, non ascendet in terram, donec +intret aliquem portum Grecię, scilicet, Myrroyt, Valonę, Durase, siue alium +prout Diuinę placuerit uoluntati, et exhinc ibit Constantinopolim +praędictam, quaę olim Bysantium, vel Vesaton dicebatur. Hic autem notandum +est, quņd a portu Venetie, vsque ad Constantinopolim directč per mare +octingentę leucę et 80. communiter computantur ibi contentę. + +The English Version. + +First, zif a man come from the west syde of the world, as Engelond, +Irelond, Wales, Skotlond or Norwaye; he may, zif that he wole, go thorge +Almayne, and thorge the kyngdom of Hungarye, that marchethe to the lond of +Polayne, and to the lond of Pannonye, and so to Slesie. And the Kyng of +Hungarye is a gret lord and a myghty, and holdeth grete lordschippes and +meche lond in his hond. For he holdeth the kyngdom of Hungarie, Solavonye +and of Comanye a gret part, and of Bulgarie, that men clepen the lond of +Bougiers, and of the Reme of Roussye a gret partie, whereof he hathe made a +Duchee, that lasteth unto the lond of Nyflan, and marchethe to Pruysse. And +men gon thorghe the lond of this lord, thorghe a cytee that is clept +Cypron, and by the castelle of Neaseburghe, and be the evylle town, that +sytt toward the ende of Hungarye. And there passe men the ryvere of +Danubee. This ryvere of Danubee is a fulle gret ryvere; and it gothe into +Almayne, undre the hilles of Lombardye: and it receiveth into him 40 othere +ryveres; and it rennethe thorghe Hungarie and thorghe Greece and thorghe +Traachie, and it entreth into the see, toward the est, so rudely and so +scharply, that the watre of the see is fressche and holdethe his swetnesse +20 myle within the see. + +And aftre gon men to Belgrave, and entren into the lond of Bourgres; +[Footnote: Bulgaria.] and there passe men a brigge of ston, that is upon +the ryver of Marrok. [Footnote: The river Maros.] And men passen thorghe +the lond of Pyncemartz, and comen to Greece to the cytee of Nye, and to the +cytee of Fynepape, and aftre to the cytee of Dandrenoble, [Footnote: +Adrianople.] and aftre to Constantynoble, that was wont to be clept +Bezanzon. + + +CAPVT. 3. + +De vrbe Constantinopoli, et reltquijs ibidem contentis. + +Constantinopolis pulchra est Ciuitas, et nobilis, triangularis in forma, +firmitérque murata, cuius duę partes includuntur mari Hellesponto, quņd +plurimi modņ appellant brachium sanctģ Georgij, et aliqui Buke, Troia +vetus. Versus locum vbi hoc brachium exit de mari est late terrę planities, +in quā antiquitus stetit Troia Ciuitas de qua apud Poetas mira leguntur sed +nunc valdč modica apparent vestigia Ciuitatis. In Constantinopoli habentur +multa mirabilia, ac insuper multę sanctorum venerandę relliquęi, ac super +omnia, preciosissimi Crux Christi, seu maior pars illius, et tunica +inconsutilis, cum spongia et arandine, et vno clauorum, et dimidia parte +coronę spineę, cuius altera medietas seruatur in Capetla Regis Francię, +Parisijs. Nam et ego indignus ditigenter pluribus vicibus respexi partem +vtrįmque: dabatur quóque mihi de illa Parisijs vnica spina, quam vsque nunc +preciose conseruo, et est ipsa spina non lignea sed uelut de iuncis marinis +rigīda, et pungitiua. [Sidenote: Eclesia sanctę Sophię] Ecclesia +Constantinopolitana in honorem sanctę Sophię, id est, ineffabilis Dei +sapientię dedicato dicitur, et nobilissima vniuersarum mundi Ecclesiarum, +tam in schemate artificiosi operis, quąm in seruatis ibi sacrosanctis +Relliquijs: [Sidenote: Regina Helena Britanna] nam et continet corpus +sancte Annę matris nostrę Dominę translatum illuc per Reginam Helenam ab +Hierosolymis: et corpus S. Lucę Euangelistę translatum de Bethania Iudeę; +Et Corpus beati Ioannis Chrysostomi ipsius Ciuitatis Episcopi, cum multis +atlijs reliquijs preciosis; quoniam est ibi vas grande cum huiusmodi +reliquijs velut marmoreum de Petra Enhydros; quod iugiter de seipso +desudans aquam semel, in anno inuenitur suo sudore repletum. [Sidenote: +Imago Iustiniani.] Ante hanc Ecclesiam, super columnam marmoream habetur de +ęre aurato opere fuscrio, magna imago Iustiniani quondam Imperatoris super +equum sedentis, fuit autem primitus in manu imaginis fabricata sphęra +rotunda, quę iam diu č manu sua sibi cecidit, in signum quņd Imperator +muliarum terraram dominium perdidit. Nįmque solebat esse Dominus, Romanorum +Gręcorum, Asię, Syrię, Iudeę, Ęgypti, Arabię, et Persię, at nunc solum +retinet Greciam, cum aliquibus terris Grecię adiacentibus, sicut Calistrum, +Cholchos, Ortigo, Tylbriam, Minos, Flexon, Melos, Carpates, Lemnon, +Thraciam, et Macedoniam totam: Sśntque sub eo Caypoplij, et alti +Pyntenardi, ac maxima pars Commannorum. Porrņ imago tenet manum eleuatam et +extentam in orientem, velut in signum cominationis ad Orientales infideles. +De prędicta terra Thracię fuit Philosophus Aristoteles oriundus in Ciuitate +Stageres, et est ibi in loco tumba eius velut altare, vbi et singulis annis +certo die celebratur ą populo festum illius, ac si fuisset sanctus. +Temporibus ergņ magnorum consiliorum conueniunt illuc sapientes terrę, +reputantes sibi per inspirationem immitti consilium optimum de agendis. +Item ad diuisionem Thracię et Macedonię sunt duo mirabiliter alti montes, +vnus Olympus, alter Athos, cuius vltimi vmbra orķente sole apparet ad 76. +miliaria, vsque in insulam Lemnon. In horum cacumine montium ventus non +currit, nec aer mouetur, quod frequentčr probatum est per ingenium +Astronomorum, qui quandóque ascendentes scripserunt, literas in puluere, +quas sequenti anno inuenerunt quasi recentčr scriptas, et quia est ibi +purus aer sine mixtione elementi aquę necesse est vt ascendentes habeant +secum spongias aquę plenas pro adhelitus respiratione: In prędicta autem +sanctę sophię Ecclesia, (sicut ibidem dicitur,) voluit olim quidam +Imperator corpus cuiusdam sui defuncti sepelire cognati: cuius cum +foderetur sepulchrum, ventum est ad mausoleum antiquum in quo super +incineratum corpus iacebat discus auri puri, et erat sculptum in eo literis +Gręcis, Hebraicis, et Latinis sic. Iesus Christus nascetur de Virgine, et +ego credo in eum. Et erat simul inscripta data defuncti secundum modum +illius temporis quę continebat duo millia annorum ante incarnationem ipsius +Christi de Maria Virgine. Seruatur quóque hodierno tempore eadem patina in +Thesaurario eiusdem Ecclesię, et dicitur illud corpus fuisse Hermetis +sapientis. Omnes quidem, terrarum, regionum et insularum homines, qui isti +Greco obediunt Imperatori sunt Christiani, et baptizati, tamen variant +singuli in aliquo articulo fidem suam a nostra vera fide Catholica, et +diuersificant in multis suos ritus ą ritibus Romanę Ecclesię, quia iamdiu +omiserunt obedire Pontifici Romano, dicentes, quoniam beatus Petrus +Apostolus habuit sedem in Antiochia, quamuis passus fuit in Roma: +[Sidenote: Patriarchę Antiocheni authoritas.] Idcirco patriarcha +Antiochenus habet in illis Orientalibus partibus similem potestatem, quąm +Pontifex Romanus in istis Occidentalibus. Imperator etiam +Constantinopolitanus creat eorum patriarcham, et instituit pro sua +voluntate Archiepiscopos, et Episcopos, et confert dignitates, et +beneficia, similiter inuenta occasione destituit, deponit, et priuat. + +The English Version. + +And there dwellethe comounly the Emperour of Greece. And there is the most +fayr chirche and the most noble of alle the world: and it is of Seynt +Sophie. And before that chirche is the ymage of Justynyan the Emperour, +covered with gold, and he sytt upon an hors y crowned. And he was wont to +holden a round appelle of gold in his hond: but it is fallen out thereof. +And men seyn there, that it is a tokene, that the Emperour hathe y lost a +gret partie of his londes, and of his lordschipes: for he was wont to be +Emperour of Romayne and of Grece, of alle Asye the lesse, and of the lond +of Surrye, of the lond of Judee, in the whiche is Jerusalem, and of the +lond of Egypt, of Percye, of Arabye. But he hathe lost alle, but Grece; and +that lond he holt alle only. And men wolden many tymes put the appulle into +the ymages hond azen, but it wil not holde it. This appulle betokenethe the +lordschipe, that he hadde over alle the worlde, that is round. And the +tother hond he lifteth up azenst the est, in tokene to manace the +mysdoeres. This ymage stont upon a pylere of marble at Constantynoble. + +Of the Crosse and the Croune of oure Lord Jesu Crist. + +[Sidenote: Cap. II.] At Costantynoble is the cros of our Lord Jesu Crist, +and his cote withouten semes, that is clept _tunica inconsutilis_, and the +spounge, and the reed, of the whiche the Jewes zaven oure Lord eyselle +[Footnote: Vinegar] and galle, in the cros. And there is on of the nayles, +that Crist was naylled with on the cros. And some men trowen, that half the +cros, that Crist was don on, be in Cipres, in an abbey of monkes, that men +callen the Hille of the Holy Cros; but it is not so: for that cros, that is +in Cypre, is the cros, in the whiche Dysmas the gode theef was honged onne. +But alle men knowen not that; and that is evylle y don. For profyte of the +offrynge, thei seye, that it is the cros of oure Lord Jesu Crist. And zee +schulle undrestonde, that the cros of oure Lord was made of 4 manere of +trees, as it is conteyned in this vers, + + In cruce fit palma, cedrus, cypressus, oliva. + +For that pece, that went upright fro the erthe to the heved, [Footnote: +Head.] was of cypresse; and the pece, that wente overthwart, to the whiche +his honds wern nayled, was of palme; and the stock, that stode within the +erthe, in the whiche was made the morteys, was of cedre; and the table +aboven his heved, that was a fote and an half long, on the whiche the title +was writen, in Ebreu, Grece and Latyn, that was of olyve. And the Jewes +maden the cros of theise 4 manere of trees: for thei trowed that oure Lord +Jesu Crist scholde han honged on the cros, als longe as the cros myghten +laste. And therfore made thei the foot of the cros of cedre. For cedre may +not, in erthe ne in watre, rote. And therfore thei wolde, that it scholde +have lasted longe. For thei trowed, that the body of Crist scholde have +stonken; therfore thei made that pece, that went from the erthe upward, of +cypres: for it is welle smellynge; so that the smelle of his body scholde +not greve men, that wenten forby. And the overhwart pece was of palme: for +in the Olde Testament, it was ordyned, that whan on overcomen, he scholde +be crowned with palme: and for thei trowed, that thei hadden the victorye +of Crist Jesus, therfore made thei the overthwart pece of palme. [Footnote: +The reference is to the Olympic Games.] And the table of the tytle, thei +maden of olyve; for olyve betokenethe pes. And the storye of Noe +wytnessethe, whan that the culver [Footnote: Dove. Anglo-Saxon, _Cuifra_.] +broughte the braunche of olyve, that betokened pes made betwene God and +man. And so trowed the Jewes for to have pes, when Crist was ded: for thei +seyd, that he made discord and strif amonges hem. And zee schulle +undirstonde, that oure Lord was y naylled on the cros lyggynge; and +therfore he suffred the more peyne. And the Cristene men, that dwellen +bezond the see, in Grece, seyn that the tree of the cros, that we callen +cypresse, was of that tree, that Adam ete the appulle of: and that fynde +thei writen. And thei seyn also, that here Scripture seythe, that Adam was +seek, [Footnote: Sick] and seyed to his sone Sethe, that he scholde go to +the Aungelle, that kepte paradys, that he wolde senden hym oyle of mercy, +for to anoynte with his membres, that be myghte have hele. And Sethe wente. +But the aungelle wolde not late him come in; but seyd to him, that he +myghte not have of the oyle of mercy. But he toke him three greynes of the +same tree, that his fadre eet the appelle offe; and bad him, als sone as +his fadre was ded, that he scholde putte theise three greynes undre his +tonge, and grave him so: and he dide. And of theise three greynes sprang a +tree, as the aungelle seyde, that it scholde, and bere a fruyt, thorghe the +whiche fruyt Adam scholde be saved. And whan Sethe cam azen, he fonde his +fadre nere ded. And whan he was ded he did with the greynes, as the +aungelle bad him; of the whiche sprongen three trees, of the whiche the +cros was made, that bare gode froyt and blessed, oure Lord Jesu Crist; +thorghe whom, Adam and alle that comen of him, scholde be saved and +delyvered from drede of dethe withouten ende, but it be here own defaute. +This holy cros had the Jewes hydde in the erthe, undre a roche of the Mownt +of Calvarie; and it lay there 200 zeer and more, into the tyme that Seynt +Elyne, that was modre to Constantyn the Emperour of Rome. And sche was +doughtre of Kyng Cool born in Colchestre, that was Kyng of Engelond, that +was clept thanne, Brytayne the more; the whiche the Emperour Constance +wedded to his wyf, for here bewtee, and gat upon hire Constantyn, that was +aftre Emperour of Rome. + +And zee schulle undirstonde, that the cros of oure Lord was eyght cubytes +long, and the overthwart piece was of lengthe thre cubytes and an half. And +a partie of the crowne of oure Lord, wherwith he was crowned, and on of the +nayles, and the spere heed, and many other relikes ben in France, in the +kinges chapelle. And the crowne lythe in a vesselle of cristalle richely +dyghte. For a kyng of Fraunce boughte theise relikes somtyme of the Jewes; +to whom the Emperour had leyde hem to wedde, for a gret summe of sylvre. +And zif alle it be so, that men seyn, that this croune is of thornes, zee +schulle undirstonde, that it was of jonkes of the see, that is to sey, +rushes of the see, that prykken als scharpely as thornes. For I have seen +and beholden many tymes that of Parys and that of Costantynoble: for thei +were bothe on, made of russches of the see. But men han departed hem in two +parties: of the whiche, o part is at Parys, and the other part is at +Costantynoble. And I have on of tho precyouse thornes, that semethe licke a +white thorn; and that was zoven to me for gret specyaltee. For there are +many of hem broken and fallen into the vesselle, that the croune lythe in: +for thei breken for dryenesse, whan men meven hem, to schewen hem to grete +lords, that comen thidre. + +And zee schalle undirstonde, that oure Lord Jesu, in that nyghte that he +was taken, he was y lad in to a gardyn; and there he was first examyned +righte scharply; and there the Jewes scorned him, and maden him a crowne of +the braunches of albespyne, that is white thorn, that grew in that same +gardyn, and setten it on his heved, so faste and so sore, that the blood +ran down be many places of his visage, and of his necke, and of his +schuldres. And therfore hathe white thorn many vertues: for he that berethe +a braunche on him thereoffe, no thondre ne no maner of tempest may dere +him; ne in the hows, that it is inne, may non evylle gost entre ne come +unto the place that it is inne. And in that same gardyn, Seynt Petre denyed +our Lord thryes. Aftreward was oure Lord lad forthe before the bisschoppes +and the maystres of the lawe, in to another gardyn of Anne; and there also +he was examyned, repreved, and scorned, and crouned eft with a whyte thorn, +that men clepethe barbarynes, that grew in that gardyn, and that hathe also +manye vertues. And aftreward he was lad in to a gardyn of Cayphas, and +there he was crouned with eglentier. And aftre he was lad in to the chambre +of Pylate, and there he was examynd and crouned. And the Jewes setten him +in a chayere and cladde him in a mantelle; and there made thei the croune +of jonkes of the see; and there thei kneled to him, and skornede him, +seyenge, _Ave, Rex Judeorum_, that is to seye, _Heyl, Kyng of Jewes_. And +of this croune, half is at Parys, and the other half at Costantynoble. And +this croune had Crist on his heved, whan he was don upon the cros: and +therfore oughte men to worschipe it and holde it more worthi than ony of +the othere. + +And the spere schaft hathe the Emperour of Almayne: but the heved is at +Parys. And natheles the Emperour of Costantynoble seythe that he hathe the +spere heed: and I have often tyme seen it; but it is grettere than that at +Parys. + +Of the Cytee of Costantynoble, and of the Feithe of Grekis. + +[Sidenote: Cap. III.] At Costantynoble lyethe Seynte Anne oure Ladyes +modre, whom Seynte Elyne dede brynge fro Jerusalem. And there lyethe also +the body of Iohn Crisostome, that was Erchebisschopp of Costantynoble. And +there lythe also Seynt Luke the Evaungelist: for his bones werein broughte +from Bethanye, where he was beryed. And many other relikes ben there. And +there is the vesselle of ston, as it were of marbelle, that men clepen +enydros, that evermore droppeth watre, and fillethe himself everiche zeer, +til that it go over above, withouten that that men take fro withinne. + +Costantynoble is a fulle fayr cytee, and a gode and a wel walled, and it is +three cornered. And there is an arm of the see Hellespont: and sum men +callen it the mouthe of Costantynoble; and sum men callen it the brace of +Seynt George: and that arm closethe the two partes of the cytee. And upward +to the see, upon the watre, was wont to be the grete cytee of Troye, in a +fulle fayr playn: but that cytee was destroyed by hem of Grece, and lytylle +apperethe there of, be cause it so longe sithe it was destroyed. + +Abouten Grece there ben many iles, as Calistre,[Footnote: Calliste, one of +the Cyclades.] Calcas, [Footnote: Colchos.] Critige, [Footnote: Cerigo.] +Tesbria, [Footnote: Resorio.] Mynea, [Footnote: Mynia is a town in the +Island of Amorgos.] Flaxon, [Footnote: Flexos.] Melo, [Footnote: Milo.] +Carpate, [Footnote: Carpathos, probably.] and Lempne. [Footnote: Lemnos.] +And in this ile is the Mount Athos, [Footnote: Athos is on the main land, +on a promontory S.E. of Solonica.] that passeth the cloudes. And there ben +many dyvers langages and many contreys, that ben obedyent to the Emperour; +that is to seyn Turcople, Pyneynard, Cornange, and manye othere, at +Trachye, [Footnote: Thrace.] and Macedoigne, of the whiche Alisandre was +kyng. In this contree was Aristotle born, in a cytee that men clepen +Stragera, a lytil fro the cytee of Trachaye. And at Stragera lythe +Aristotle; and there is an awtier upon his toumbe: and there maken men +grete festes of hym every zeer, as thoughe he were a seynt. And at his +awtier, thei holden here grete conseilles and here assembleez: and thei +hopen, that thorghe inspiracioun of God and of him, thei schulle have the +better conseille. In this contree ben righte hyghe hilles, toward the ende +of Macedonye. And there is a gret hille, that men clepen Olympus, +[Footnote: The altitude is 9753 feet.] that departeth Macedonye and +Trachye: and it is so highe, that it passeth the cloudes. And there is +another hille, that is clept Athos, [Footnote: It is only 6678 feet. This +is the old Greek verse: [Greek: Athoos kaluptei pleura lemnias boos.]] that +is so highe, that the schadewe of hym rechethe to Lempne, that is an ile; +and it is 76 myle betwene. And aboven at the cop of the hille is the eir so +cleer, that men may fynde no wynd there. And therefore may no best lyve +there; and so is the eyr drye. And men seye in theise contrees, that +philosophres som tyme wenten upon theise hilles, and helden to here nose a +spounge moysted with watre, for to have eyr; for the eyr above was so drye. +And aboven, in the dust and in the powder of the hilles, thei wroot lettres +and figures with hire fingres: and at the zeres end thei comen azen, and +founden the same lettres and figures, the whiche thei hadde writen the zeer +before, withouten ony defaute. And therfore it semethe wel, that theise +hilles passen the clowdes and joynen to the pure eyr. + +At Constantynoble is the palays of the Emperour, righte fair and wel +dyghte: and therein is a fair place for justynges, or for other pleyes and +desportes. And it is made with stages and hath degrees aboute, that every +man may wel se, and non greve other. And undre theise stages ben stables +wel y vowted [Footnote: Vaulted.] for the Emperours hors; and alle the +pileres ben of Marbelle. And with in the chirche of Seynt Sophie, an +emperour somtyme wolde have biryed the body of his fadre, whan he was ded; +and as thei maden the grave, thei founden a body in the erthe, and upon the +body lay a fyn plate of gold; and there on was writen, in Ebreu, Grece and +Latyn, lettres that seyden thus, _Jesu Cristus nascetur de Virgine Maria, +et ego credo in eum_: That is to seyne, _Jesu Crist schalle be born of the +Virgyne Marie, and I trowe in hym_. And the date whan it was leyd in the +erthe, was 2000 zeer before oure Lord was born. And zet is the plate of +gold in the thresorye of the chirche. And men seyn, that it was Hermogene +the wise man. + +And zif alle it so be, that men of Grece ben Cristene, zit they varien from +our feithe. For thei seyn, that the Holy Gost may not come of the Sone; but +alle only of the Fadir. And thei are not obedyent to the Chirche of Rome, +ne to the Pope. And thei seyn, that here patriark hathe as meche power over +the see as the Pope hathe on this syde the see. And therefore Pope Johne +the 22'd sende letters to hem, how Christene feithe scholde ben alle on; +and that thei scholde ben obedyent to the Pope, that is Goddis vacrie +[Footnote: Vicar.] on erthe; to whom God zaf his pleyn power, for to bynde +and to assoille: and therfore thei scholde ben obedyent to him. And thei +senten azen dyverse answeres; and amonges other, thei seyden thus: +_Potentiam tuam summam, circa tuos subjectos firmiter credimus. Superbiam +tuam summam tolerare non possumus. Avaritiam tuam summam satiare non +intendimus. Dominus tecum: quia Dominus nobiscum est_. That is to seye: _We +trowe wel, that thi power is gret upon thi subgettes. We mai not suffre thi +high pryde. We ben not in purpos to fulfille thi gret covetyse. Lord be +with thi: for oure Lord is with us. Fare welle_. And other answere myghte +he not have of hem. And also thei make here sacrement of the awteer of +therf [Footnote: Unleavened. _Anglo-Saxon_, žeorf ('peorf' in source +text--KTH)] bred: for oure Lord made it of suche bred, whan he made his +mawndee. [Footnote: Last Supper.] And on the Scherethors [Footnote: Shrove +Thursday.] day make thei here therf bred, in tokene of the mawndee, and +dryen it at the sonne, and kepen it alle the zeer, and zeven it to seke +men, in stede of Goddis body. And thei make but on unxioun, whan thei +christene children. And thei annoynte not the seke men. And thei saye, that +there nys no purgatorie, and the soules schulle not have nouther joye ne +peyne, tille the day of doom. And thei seye, that fornicatioun is no synne +dedly, but a thing that is kyndely: and the men and women scholde not wedde +but ones; and whoso weddethe oftere than ones, here children ben bastardis +and geten in synne. And here prestis also ben wedded. And thei saye also, +that usure is no dedly synne. And they sellen benefices of Holy Chirche: +and so don men in others places: God amende it, whan his wille is. And that +is gret sclaundre. [Footnote: Scandal.] For now is symonye kyng crouned in +Holy Chirche: God amende it for his mercy. And thei seyn, that in Lentone, +men schulle nor faste, ne synge masse; but on the Satreday and on the +Sonday. And thei faste not on the Satreday, no tyme of the zeer, but it be +Cristemasse even on Estre even. And thei suffre not the Latines to syngen +at here awteres: and zif thei done, be ony aventure, anon thei wasschen the +awteer with holy watre. And thei seyn, that there scholde be but o masse +seyd at on awtier, upon o day. And thei seye also, that oure Lord ne eet +nevere mete: but he made tokene etyng. And also thei seye, that wee synne +dedly, in schavynge oure berdes. For the berd is tokene of a man, and zifte +of oure Lord. And thei seye, that wee synne dedly, in etynge of bestes, +that weren forboden in the Old Testament, and of the olde lawe; as swyn, +hares, and othere bestes, that chewen not here code. And thei seyn, that +wee synnen, when wee eten flessche on the dayes before Assche Wednesday, +and of that wee eten flessche the Wednesday, and egges and chese upon the +Frydayes. And thei accursen alle tho, that absteynen hem to eten flessche +the Satreday. Also the Emperour of Costantynoble makethe the patriarke, the +erchebysschoppes and bisschoppes; and zevethe dygnytees and the benefices +of chirches, and deprivethe hem that ben worthy, whan he fyndethe ony +cause. And so is the lord bothe temperelle and spirituelle, in his contree, +And zif zee wil wite [Footnote: Know.] of here A, B, C, what lettres thei +ben, here zee may seen hem, with the names, that thei clepen hem there +amonges them. + +Alpha, Betha, Gamma, Deltha, Epsilon, Zeta, Eta, Theta, Iota, Kappa, +Lambda, My,Ny, Xi, Omicron, Pi, Rho, Sigma, Tau, Upsilon, Phi, Chi, Psi, +Omega. [Greek letters removed for pain-text edition--KTH] + +And alle be it that theise thinges touchen not to o way, nevertheles thei +touchen to that, that I have hight zou, to schewe zou a partie of custumes +and maneres, and dyversitees of contrees. And for this is the first contree +that is discordant in feythe and in beleeve, and variethe from our feythe, +on this half the see, therefore I have sett it here, that zee may knowe the +dyversitee that is betwene our feythe and theires. For many men han gret +lykynge to here speke of straunge thinges of dyverse contreyes. + + +CAPVT. 4. + +Via tam per terras quam per aquas ą Constantinopoli vsque Acharon. +[Marginal note: Vel Achon.] + +A Constantinopoli qui voluerit ire pedes, transibit statim nauigio Brachium +Sancti Georgij quod satis est strictum, ibķque ad Ruphinal quod est forte +castrum, inde ad Puluereal, et hinc ad castrum Synopulum. Ex tunc intrat +Cappadociam, terram latam sed plenam altis montibus, deinde Turciam ad +portum Theueron, et ad Ciuitatem ita dictam, nunc munitam firmis turribus, +ac muris, per quam transit fluuius Reglay. Postea transitur sub Alpibus +Noyremont, et per valles de Mallenbrinis in districto Rupium, ac per villam +Doronarum, et alias villas adiacentes fluuijs Reglay, et Granconię, sķcque +peruenitur ad Antiochiam minorem super Reglay, quę vocatur nobilior Ciuitas +Syrię: Notandum autem quņd Regnum olim dictum Syria, modņ communiter +vocatur Suria. [Sidenote: Antiochia.] Ista verņ Antiochia, est magna, +pulchra, ac firma, licet quandóque maior, pulchrior, ac firmior fuerit. +Tunc autem transitur per Ciuitates Laonsam, Gibellam, Tortusiam, Toruplam, +et Berythum super mare vbi sanctus Georgius fertur occidisse Draconem. Hinc +pergitur in Ciuitatem nunc dictam Acon, quondam Ptolomaidem, antiquitłs +Acharon, quę tempore quo eam vltimņ Christiani tenebant circa annum +incarntionis Domini 1280. erat Ciuitas valdč fortis, sed modņ apparent eius +magnę ruinę. Porrņ a Constantinopoli poterit peregrinus faciliłs versus +Hierosolymorum partes per mare nauigare quam per terras peregrinare +prędictas, si deus illi propitius fuerit, et mare fidem conseruauerit. +[Sidenote: Sio.] Qui ergņ a Constantinopoli iter transire nauigando +disponit, tendat ad Ciuitatem [Marginal Note: Vel Smyrnam.] Myrnam vbi nunc +ossa Sancti Nicholai venerantur, et sic procedendo per multa maritima loca +veniet ad Insulam Sio vbi crescit gummi mastix lucidum: Inde ad Insulam +Pathmos Sancti Ioannis Euangelistę, et ad Ephesum vbi idem noscitur +sepultus: hanc totam minorem Asiam tenent nunc pessimi Turci, et eam +appellant minorem Turciam. Post Ephesum nauigatur per plures Insulas vsque +Pataram Ciuitatem, vndč oriundus fuit beatus Nicholaus, ac per Myrrheam vbi +stetit Ephesus, vbi nascuntur fortia vina valdč, deinde ad Insulam Cretę, +hinc Coos postea Lango, vndč Hypocrates Medicus dicitur natus: [Sidenote: +Rhodus Insula.] tuncque ad grandem Insulam Rhodum; et sciendum quod a +Constantinopoli vsque Rhodum, per mare dicuntur ducentę octuaginta leucę. +Hanc insulam totam tenent, et gubernant Christiani Hospitalarij nunc +temporis, quę quondam Colosse dicebatur: nam et multi Saracenorum adhuc eam +sic appellant, vnde et Epistola, quam beatus Paulus ad habitatores huius +Insulę scripsit, intitulabatur ad Colossenses. Ab hoc loco nauigando in +Cyprum, aspicitur absorptio Ciuitatis Sathalię, quę sicut olim Sodoma +dicitur perijsse, propter vnicum crimen contra naturam a quodam Iuuene +petulante commissum. [Sidenote: Cyprus Insula.] Sciendum quod a Rhodo ad +Cyprum feruntur plenč quingentę quinquaginta leucę: Cyprus magna, et +pulchra est Insula habens Archiepiscopatum, cum quinque Episcopatibus +suffraganeis: Illuc Famagosta, est vnus de principalibus portibus mundi, in +quo ferč omnium mercatores conueniunt nationum, tam Christianorum, quam +multorum Paganorom, et similiter apud portum Limechon. Est ibi et Abbatia +ordinis sancti Benedicti, in monte sanctę Crucis, vbi dicitur saluati +latronis seruari crux, qui in eadem cruce audiuit ą Christo, Hodič mecum +eris in Paradiso. [Sidenote: Fortis Cyprķ vina.] Corpus etiam sancti +Hylarionis seruatur ibi, in castro Damers quod Rex Cypri facit +diligentissimč custodiri: Vltrą modum fortia vina nascuntur in Cypro, quę +primo rubra, post annum albescunt, et quo vetustiora, eo albiora ac magis +odorifera, ac fortia efficiuntur. Vlteriłs paucissimę villę, aut Ciuitates +sunt Christianorum, sed ferč omnia Saraceni possident infideles: et proh +dolor, ab Anno 1200. incarnationis Domini aut circa, pacificč tenuerunt. +[Sidenote: Ioppa, vel Iaffe.] Qui autem a Cypro prospere legit spacia +maris, poterit in duobus naturalibus diebus peruenire in portum Ioppę, qui +Iaffe nunc nuncupatur, et proximus est a Ireusalem, distans 16, tantum +leucas, hoc est dieta cum dimidia. [Sidenote: Portus Tyri, alias Sur.] Et +sciendum quod circa medium, inter Cyprum, et Iaffe est portus Tyri quondam +munitissimę Ciuitatis, hanc dum vltimo Saraceni ą Christianis ceperunt +turpissimč destruxerunt, custodientes iam curiosč portum, timore +Christianorum. Iste portus non vocatur modo Tyrus, sed Sur. Nam et ab illa +parte est ibi introitus terrę Surię. Ante istam Ciuitatem Tyrum habetur +quidam lapis, super quem dominus noster Iesus Christus sedendo suis +discipulis vel populis prędicauit. Vnde, et Christiani olim super hunc +locum construxerunt Ecclesiam in nomine Saluatoris. Peregrinus vero qui ab +hoc loco vult peregrinari, morosč sciat, quod ad octo leucas ą Tyro in +orientem est Sarepta Sydoniorum, vbi olim Elias Propheta filium viduę +suscitauit a morte. Itemque sciat, quod ą Tyro in vnica dieta pergere +potest in Achon, siue Acharon supra scripta. [Sidenote: Achon, olim +Acharon. Mons Carmeli.] Circa Acon versłs mare, ad 120. stadia, quorum 16. +leucam constituunt, est mons Carmeli, vbi morabatur pręfatus Elias, et +super alium montem Villa Saffra vbi sanctus Iacobus, et Ioannes germani +Apostoli nascebantur, et in quorum natiuitatis loco pulchra habetur +Ecclesia. [Sidenote: Fossa Beleon.] Item propč Acon ad ripam dictam Beleon, +est fossa multum vtilis, et mirabilis quę dicitur fossa Mennon, hęc est +rotunda circumferentia, cuius diameter continet prope 100. cubitos, plena +alba et resplendente arena, et mundi ex qua conficitur mundum et perlucidum +vitrum. Pro hac arena venitur per aquas, et per terras, et exportatur +manibus et vehiculis propč et procul, et quantumcśnque de die exhauritur, +repleta manč altero reperitur: Et est in fossa ventus grandis et iugis, qui +mirabiliter arenam commouere videtur. Si quis autem vitrum de hac arena +factum in fossa reponeret, conuerteretur iterum in arenam, et qui imponeret +frustum metalli, verteretur in vitrum: nonnulli reputant hanc fossam esse +spiraculum maris arenosi, de quo mari aliquid locuturus sum in sequentibus. +Ab Acon via versus Jerusalem bifurcatur: nam qui tenet vnum latus potest +ire secus Iordanem fluuium, in Ciuitatem Damascum, qui verņ aliud, ibit in +tribus aut quatuor dietis Gazam, de qua olim fortis Samson asportauit nocte +fores portarum: deinde in Cęsaream Philippi, et Ascalonem, et Ioppam portum +supradictum, Hincque in Rama, et Castellum Emaus, et sic in Ierusalem vrbem +sacrosanctam. + + +CAPVT. 5. + +Via ą Francia aut Flandria per solas terras vsque Ierusalem. + +Itineribus, quę per terras, et per mare a nostris partibus ducunt in terram +promissionis descriptis, restat breuiter dicendum de alia via, per quam +omnino mare transeundum non est, videlicet per Almaniam, per Bohemiam, per +Prussiam, et hinc per terram Paganorum regni Lituanię, et sic per longam, +et pessimam terram primę Tartarię vsque in Indiam: Dico autem Tartarię +primę, quoniam de hac exijt primus Imperator totius Tartarię, qui semper +vocatur Grand Can, quo vix maiorem mundus habet terrenum Dominum, excepto +Imperatore superioris Indię, de quibus in secunda et tertia huius tractatus +partibus, aliquanto est diffusius narrandum. Cuncti principes huius primę +Tartarię, quorum summus semper vocatur Bachu, et moratur in Ciuitate Horda, +[Marginal note: Horda est multitudo riuens in agris.] reddunt Imperatore +Grand Can, magna tributa. [Sidenote: Mores Tartarorum.] Est autem hęc prima +Tartaria terra misera et sabulosa, et infructuosa: hoc enim scio, quņd per +aliquod tempus steti in ea, et perambulaui Insulas, regiones, et terras +circumiacentes, scilicet, Russię, Inflau, Craco, Latton, Restau, et alias +nonnullas: crescunt nįmque in ista Tartaria modica blada, pauca vina, et +fructuum, ac frugum parua copia, exceptis herbis pro pastu Bestiarum, +quarum ibi est abundantia: nam carnibus illarum vescuntur pro omnibus +cibarijs, ius earum sorbentes, et pro potu bibentes lac de omni genere +bestiarum. Quin etiam pauperiores manducant canes, lupos, catos, ratos, +talpas, ac mures, ac huiusmodi bestiolas omnes: sed nec aliquis Princeps +aut pręlatus comedit vltra semel in die, et hoc parcč, vel parcissimč: et +sunt homines valdč immundi, quia non nisi benč diuites vtuntur mappis, +linteaminibus, aut lineis indumentis: sed nec habent copiam lignorum, vnde +et fimum boum, ac omnium bestiarum desiccatum ad solem accipiunt pro ignis +materia, vbi se calefaciunt, et coquendo coquunt. Aestiuo tempore, cadunt +ibi frequenter tempestates, tonitruorum, fulminum, et grandinum, quibus +domus, arbores, bestię, et homines, comburuntur, euelluntur, et occiduntur. +Nam et quandoque subrepentč oritur ibi calor immoderatus, et improuiso +frigus immoderatum. Denķque cum terra illa, se multum inclinet ad polum +Septentrionalem, fortius ibi gelare solet, et frequentius, ac diutius quąm +ad partes nostras, vnde et quasi omnes habent ibi stupas, in quibus +manducant, et operantur. [Sidenote: Hyeme pręcipue iter faciunt per +terram.] Nec valet ą nostris partibus ingredi ad illam nisi tempore +gelicidij, quod ad introitum eius sunt tres dictę, de via molli, aquatica, +et profunda, in qua dum viator putaret se stare securum, profunderetur in +lutum ad tibias, ad genua, ad femora vel ad renes: hoc ergo sciendum quņd +paucissimi tendunt per hanc viam in terram promissionis: Nam iter est +graue, distortum, longum, et periculosum sicut audistis, imņ periculosius +quąm scribo. + + +CAPVT. 6. + +Via de Cypro vel Ierusalem vsque in Babyloniam Ęgypti. + +Descripto sicut potui triplicitčr itinere in terram sanctam, restat videre +de duabus alijs vijs, quę incidentčr solent contingere peregrinis: Multi +nįmque illorum ex speciali deuotione desiderant visitare ossa beatissimę +Virginis Catharinę in monte Sinay: [Sidenote: Babylonia Aegypti.] Cum +igitur ipsis sit necessarius Soldani Babylonię conductus eo quod Imperator +sit, et dominus omnium illarum terrarum, quidam postquam perueniunt in +Cyprum tendunt primņ in Babyloniam Ęgypti, pro impetrando conductu securo, +įtque indč pergentes in Sinay vadunt in Ierusalem. Quidam verņ postquam +perfecerunt peregrinationem Hierosolymitanam, pergunt per terras ad +Soldanum pro conductu, et tum in Sinay, propter quņd vtramque viam breuiter +describo. [Sidenote: Damiata portus Aegypti.] De Cypro in Ęgyptum itur per +mare relinquendo Hierosolymorum terram ad manum sinistram, et accipitur +primus portus Ęgypti, dictus Damiata: ibi quondam fuit Ciuitas valdč +munita, sed quod Christiani illam, primi et altera vice ceperunt, Sarraceni +vltimņ destruxerunt, et aliam remotius ą mari eiusdem nominis Ciuitatem +ędificauerunt: [Sidenote: Alexandria.] Hinc venitur in portum Alexandrię +Ęgypti, quę est Ciuitas magna, pulchra, et fortis valde, sed įbsque aquis +potabilibus. Adducit tamen sibi per longos ductus aquam Nili fluminis in +cisternis ad potandum. Alexandria nobilis, 30. stadia habet longitudinis +decémque in latum. In ea restant adhuc plures Ecclesię ą tempore +Christianorum, sed Sarraceni non sustinentes picturas Sanctorum omnes +parietes albauerunt. De Alexandria per terras venitur in Babyloniam Ęgypti, +quę etiam fundata iacet supra prędictum Nilum fluuium: Dicitur autem hęc +Babylonia minor ad differentiam magnę Babylonię, siue Babel, vbi Deus +linguas confudit olim, quę tendendo inter Orientem et Septentrionem distat +ab ista dietas circiter 40. nec est sub potestate Soldani, sed Imperatoris +Persarum, qui illam tenet in homagio ab Imperatore Cathay, dicto, Grand +Can. [Sidenote: Cayr ciuitas.] Hęc autem Babylonia Ęgypti est Ciuitas +grandis et fortis, tamen valdč prope eam est alia maior dicta Cayr, in qua +vt sępiłs residet Soldanus, quanquam Babylonia nomen per seculum diffusius +est cognitum: Altera autem via peregrinorum de Hierosolymis pro conducta +tendentium ad Soldanum talis esse potest. [Sidenote: Abilech desertum.] +Primņ tendant de Ierusalem in suprą dictam Gazam Palestinorum, inde ad +Castellum Dayre, įtque ex tunc exitur de terra Syrię, et intratur ą +superiori parte in desertum longum arenosum, et sterile, propč ad septem +dietas, quod lingua eorum vocatur Abilech; tamen per illud inueniantur +plura hospitia, vbi haberi possunt ad victum nccessaria. Et qui in eundo +rectum iter tenet, veniet in Ciuitatem dictam, Balbes, quę est ad finem +Regni Halapię: Sķcque expleto Deserto, intratur terra Ęgypti, quam ipsi +Canopat vocant, et aliqui Mersur, įtque ex tunc in Babyloniam, et Cayr, +pręfatam: In ista verņ Babylonia habetur pulchra Ecclesia Marię virginis, +in loco vbi morabatur cum filio suo, et Ioseph tempore suę fugę, et +creditur ibi contineri corpus Virginis Barbarę. + + +CAPVT. 7. + +De Pallatio Soldani, ac numero, et nominibus pręteritorum Soldanorum. + +Cayr ciuitas Imperialis et Regalis est valdč munita, et grandis, decorata +sede propria Sarracenorum Regnķ, vbi dominus eorum Soldanus communiter +residere solet, in suo Calahelick, id est, castro forti, et lato, ac in +euecta rupe statuto. Siquidem Soldanus eorum lingua sonat nomen similis +maiestatis, quo nos in Latino dicimus Cęsarem, aut Imperatorem. Pro +custodia huius Castri sunt ibidem omni tempore morantes sex millia +personarum, et pro, seruiendo, dum ibi residet, ipsi Soldano, qui omnes de +Curia eadem accipiunt necessaria, et donatiua. Iste Imperator Soldanus, est +Rex, Dominśsque quinque Regnoram magnorum: Canopat, hoc est, Ęgypti: totius +Iudeę, sicut olim Dauid, et Salomon; Halapię, in terra Machsyrię, cuius +ciuitas Damascus olim erat principalis; Arabię, quod est regnum valdč +protensum, et cum his possidet dominatus omnium Caliphorum: ad quod +sciendum, quņd quaundóque fuerunt tres Caliphorum dominatus: Ex quibus +primus Caliphus qui dicebatur Chaldęorum, et Arabum, cuius erat sedes in +Ciuitate Baldac. Alter Barbarorum et Affricorum, cuius erat sedes in Maroco +super Mare Hispanię. Tertius Aegypti: [Sidenote: Caliphus quid sit.] Est +autem Caliphus inter eos, velut inter nos Imperator, et Papa simul, +scilicet, Dominus temporalium et spiritualium. [Sidenote: Series Soldanorum +Aegypti.] Exactis igitur Caliphis circa annum incarnationis Christi 1150, +primus Soldanorum fuit nominatus Saracon: secundus filius eius, Saladin, +qui anno 1190. cum Turcis totam ferč terram promissionis abstulit ą +Christianis. Et sub quo Richardus Rex Anglię cum alijs principibus +Christianis custodiebat passum Rupium, ne ille sicut proposuerat transire, +profecisset vltra. Tertius Melachsala, ą quo sanctus Ludouicus rex Francię +captiuabatur in bello. Quartus Turquenna, qui Regem prędictum redemi +dimisit pro pecunia. Quintus Meleth. Sextus Melethemes. Septimus Melec +dayr, sub quo Edwardus Rex Anglię intrauit cum nostris Syriam, damnificans +plurimum Sarracenos. [Sidenote: Edwardus princeps Anglię, Regis Hen. 3. +filius.] Octauus Melec salle. Nonus Elphi, qui Anno Incarnationis Domini +1289. destruxit in illis partibus enormiter Christianos, et penitus omnes +inde fugauit, atque recepit Tripolim Ciuitatem. Decimus Melethasseras: hic +cepit Anno Domini 1291. in octaua paschę Accharon, fugatis vel occisis ex +ea omnibus Christianis. Exinde amissis succedentium nominibus, sextus +decimus dicebatur vel dicitur Melec Mandibron: sub isto steti ego per +aliquod tempus stipendiarius in guerris suis contra Bedones, qui ei tunc +temporis rebellabant. Horum etiam mores, et continentiam populorum, in +sequentibus declarabo: sicut veraciter fateri possum, ipse ad filiam +cuiusdam sui Principis me obtulit vxorare, et magnis dotari possessionibus, +dummodņ Christianitati resignassem: Eśmque dimisi Soldanum, quando de +partibus illis recessi. [Sidenote: Potentia Soldani Aegypti.] Soldanus +pręter homines ad sua castra seruanda deputatos, potest educere quoties +velit in exercitum de hominibus de ipsius stipendijs viuentibus et ad eius +iugitčr mandata paratis, 20. millia armatorum, ex sola Ęgypto: Et ex Syria, +et Turcia, et alijs terris, 50. millia exceptis ruralibus, et Ciuitatem +comitatibus, qui sunt velut innumerabiles. Miles quidem stipendiarius +recipit de Curia pro anni Tempore 121. aureos, et sub tali stipendio seruit +cum tribus equis et vno Camelo. Quadringenti vel Quingenti horum militum +ordinati sunt sub vno rectore, que vocatur Admirabilis: Et ille solus +recipit de curia tantum, sicut omnes sibi subditi: Notandum quod nunquam +extraneus Nuncius ire permittitur ad Soldanum nisi auratis indutus +vestibus, vel panno Tartarico aut camoleoto ad modum nobilium Sarracenorum: +[Sidenote: Reuerentia exhibita Soldano.] et oportet vt vbicunque primum +nuncius Soldanum aspiciat, siue ad fenestras, siue alibi, vt cadat ad +genua, vel protinus osculetur terram, quia talem reuerentiam facere, signum +est quņd ille desiderat ei loqui. Quamdiu autem tales loquuntur sibi, aut +literas ostendunt, circumstant Apparitores extensis brachijs leuatos +tenentes mucrones, gladios, gezas, et mackas ad feriendum, et occidendum, +si quid dictum vel nunciatum fuerit, quod Imperatori displiceat, quam citņ +ille signauerit trucidari. Veruntamen sciendum est quņd nullius hominis +personaliter ab ipso quidquam petentis consueuit repellere preces +rationabiles, et contra eorum leges aut mores non venientes. Porrņ ego in +Curia manens, vidi circa Soldanum vnum venerabilem, et expertum medicum, de +nostris partibus oriundum: [Marginal note: Cuius nomen erat M. Ioannes ad +Barbam.] solet namque circa se retinere diuersarum medicos nationum, et +quos nominandę audierit esse famę: Nos tamen rarņ inuicem conuenimus ad +colloquium, eņ quņd meum seruitium cum suo modicum congruebat: longo autem +posteą tempore, et ab illo loco remotč, videlicet in Leodij ciuitate, +composui hortatu et adiutorio eiusdem venerabilis viri hunc tractatum, +sicut in fine operis totius enarrabo. Itémque in Cayr ciuitate ducuntur ad +forum communitur tam viri quąm mulieres aliarum legum, et nationum venales, +et ad modum bestiaram venduntur pro pecunia ad seruiendum in suis +artificijs. [Sidenote: Mos oua furnis fouendi.] Habetur quoque ibi domus +plena furnis paruis, in quibus per custodes domus tam hyeme quąm ęstate +fouentur oua gallinarum, anatum, aucarum, et columbarum, vsque ad +procreationem suorum pullorum, et hijs intendunt, pro certo pretio +accipiendo ą mulierculis illic oua ferentibus. + + +CAPVT. 8. + +De Campo Balsami in Egypto. + +[Sidenote: Balsamum.] Extra hanc ciuitatem Cayr, est Campus seu ager +Balsami: circa quod sciendum, quņd optimum totius mundi Balsamum in magno +crescit Indię deserto, vbi Alexander Magnus dicitur quondam locutus fuisse +arboribus Solis et Lunę, de quo in sequentibus aliquid est scribendum. Illo +itaque Indię Balsamo duntaxat excepto, non est liquor in vniuerso orbe, qui +huic creditur comparari. Has arbores seu arbusta Balsami fecit quondam +quidam de Caliphis Aegypti de loco Engaddi inter mare mortuum, et Ierico, +vbi Domino volente excreuerat, eradicari, et in argo prędicto plantari: est +tamen hoc mirandum, quod vbicuncque alibi siue prope, siue remote +plantantur, quamuis fortč virent, et exurgant, non tamen fructificant. Et č +contrario apparet hoc miraculosum, quod in hoc agro Cayr non se permittant +coli per Sarracenos, sed solummodņ per Christianos, vel aliter non +fructificarent: Et dicunt ipsi Sarraceni hoc sępius se tentasse: sunt autem +arbusta trium vel quatuor pedem altitudinis, velut vsque ad renes hominis, +et lignum eorum aspiciendum, sicut vitis syluestris. Folia non marcescunt, +quin prius marcescant fructus, cernitur ad formam Cubebę, et gummi eorum +est Balsamum. Ipsi appellant arbores Enochkalse, fructum Abebifau, et +liquorum gribalse. Extrahitur verņ gummi de arbusculis per hunc modem: De +lapide acuto, vel de osse fracto dant scissuras per cortices in ligno, et +ex vulneribus Balsamum lachrymatur, quod in vasculis suscipiunt, cauentes +quout possunt, ne quid de illo labatur in terram: Nam se de ferro, vel alio +metallo fieret incissura, liquor Balsami corrumperetur ą sua virtute. +[Sidenote: Virtutes veri Balsami.] Veri Balsami virtutes sunt magnę quidem, +et innumerosę: nam vix aliquis mortalium scire potuit omnes, quamuis inter +Physicos quinquaginta scribantur. Rarņ vtique Sarraceni vendunt Christianis +purum et verum Balsamum, quin priłs commisceant, et falsificant sicut ego +ipse frequenter vidi. Nam aliqui tertiam, seu quartam partem immiscent +terrebynthinę. [Sidenote: Sophisticationes Balsami.] Alii ramusculos +arbustarum, et fructus eorum coquunt in oleo, quod vendunt pro Balsamo: et +quidam (quod pessimam est) nil Balsami habentes, distillant oleum, per +clauos gariophillos, et spicum nardum, et similes odoriferas species, hoc +pro Balsamo exponentes, atque aliis pluribus modis deludunt ementes. +[Sidenote: Probatio veri Balsami.] Sed et Mercatores inuicem nonnunquam +sophisticant altera vice: probatio autem veri Balsaml potest haberi +pluribus modis, quorum aliquos hic describo. Est enim Citrini coloris, +valdč clarum, et purum, et fortissimum in odoris fragrantia: si ergņ +apparet alterius quąm Citrini coloris sciatur non simplicis, sed +cuiuscunque commixtę substantię, vel ita spissum, vt non possit fluere, +scitote sophisticatum. Item si posueris modicum veri Balsami in manus +palma, non poteris sustinere eam linialiter in feruore splendentis Solis ad +spacium recitandę Dominicę orationis. Item si in clara flamma ignis vel +candelię cereę miseris punctum cultelli cum gutta puri Balsami, ipsa gutta +de facilč comburetur. Item si in scutella munda cum puro lacte caprino +posueris modicum veri Balsami, statim, miscebit se, et vnietur cum lacte, +ģta vt Balsamum non cognoscetur. Item č contrą, si posueris verum Balsamum +cum aqua Lympida, nunquam miscebit se aquę, etiamsi aquam moueris +vehementer, imņ Balsamum semper tendit ad fundum vasis, nam est in sui +quanitate valdč ponderosam, et iuxta quod minłs ponderosum inueneris, +ampliłs falsificatum noueris. + + +CAPVT. 9. + +De Nile fluuio, et Aegypti territorio. + +Nilus suprą dictus fluuius Aegypti appellatus est alio nomine Gyon, cuius +origo est ą Paradiso terrestri. Hic venit currens per deserta Indię +Maioris, hincque per meatus subterraneos transit plures terras: exiens sub +Monte Aloth, inter Indiam et Aethiopiam, et Mauritaniam intra deserta +Aegypti, irrigans totam longitudinem Aegypti vsque ad Alexandriam, ibķque +se perdit in mare. [Sidenote: Inundatio Nilo.] Sole intrante signum Cancri +omni anno hoc est, ad quindenam ante Festum Natiuitatis Ioannis Baptistę +incipit paulatim fluuius crescere, et inundare, quousque sol intret +Virginem, quod est circa Festum Laurentij, atque ex tunc decrescere, et +minui, donec Sole veniente in Lybram intra suos alueos se conseruet: Dśmque +per inundationem nimis effluit, damnificat terrę culturas, et fit Charistia +in Aegypto. [Sidenote: Raro in Aegyptio pluuia.] Et similiter dum parum +exundat, ingruit esuries, quoniam in Aegypto rarissimč pluit, aut apparent +nubes, quoniam si quandoque pluerit in ęstate, terra muribus adimpleur. +[Sidenote: Nubia.] Terra Aegypti continet in longitudine dietas quindecim, +in latitudine ferč tres, et habet triginta dietas deserti: ą finibus +Aegypti vsque Nubiam, duodecim sunt dietę. Hi Nubij sunt Christiani, sed +nigri, velut Aethiopes, vel Mauri. + +[Sidenote: Phoenix visa a Mandeuillo.] Phoenix auis, de qua dicitur, quod +semper vnica sit in mundo, viuens per annos quingentos, quę et seipsam +comburit, ac de cineribus eius, siue per naturam, siue per miraculum alia +creatur, hęc interdum apparet in Aegypto, et sicut mihi monstrabatur, vidi +duabus vicibus. Modicum est maior Aquila, cristam in capite maiorem +pauonis, collum habens croceum, dorsum Indicum, alas purpureas, caudam +duobus coloribus, per transuersum croceo et rubeo regulatam, qui singuli +colores sunt ad splendorem Solis delectabiliter videntibus resplendentes. +In Aegypto multę habentur arbores sexcies aut septies in anno +fructificantes, ibique frequenter inueniuntur in terra Smaragdi, et circa +oram Nili alij lapides pretiosi. [Sidenote: Mecha.] A Babylonia Aegypti, +vsque ad ciuitatem Meccam, (quam Pagani ibidem appellant Iacrib, et est in +magnis desertis Arabię) sunt triginta duę dietę. In ea veneratur +detestandum cadauer Machon siue Machometi honorabiliter et reuerenter in +Templo eius, quod ibi vocatur Musket, de cuius vita aliquid infrą narrabo. +Per prędicta itaque apparet, quod Imperator Sarracenorum Soldanus +Babylonię, valdč potens est Dominus. + + +CAPVT. 10. + +De couductu Soldani, et via vsque in Sinay. + +Priłs dictum est de reuerentia Soldani, quandņ ad ipsum intratur exhibenda. +Sciendum ergņ, cum ab eo petitur securus conductus, nemini denegare +consueuit, sed datur petentibus communiter sigillum eius, in appenditione +absque literis: hoc sigillum, pro vexillo in virga aut hasta dum peregrini +ferunt, omnes Sarraceni videntes illud flexis genibus in terram se +reuerenter inclinant, et portantibus omnem exhibent humanitatem. Verumtamen +satis maior fit reuerentia literis Soldani sigillatis, quod et Admirabiles, +et quicunque alij Domini, quando eis monstrantur, antequam recipiant, se +multłm inclinant: Deinde ambabus manibus eas capientes ponunt super propria +capita, posteą osculantur, et tandem legunt inclinati cum magna +veneratione, quibus semel aut bis perlectis, offerunt se promptos ad +explendum quicquid ibi iubetur, ac insuper exhibent deferenti, quicquid +possint commodi, vel honoris: sed talem conductum per literas Soldani vix +quisquam peregrinorum accipit, qui non in Curia illius stetit, vel notitiam +apud illum habuerit. [Sidenote: Literę Soldani in gratiam Mandeuilli +concessę.] Ego autem habui in recessu meo, in quibus etiam continebatur ad +omnes sibi subiectos speciale mandatum, vt me permitterent intrare, et +respicere singula loca, pro meę placito voluntatis, et mihi exponerent +quorumcunque locorum mysteria distinctč et absque vllo velamine veritatis, +ac me cum omni sodalitate mea benignč reciperent, et in cunctis +rationalibus audirent, requisiti autem si necesse foret de ciuitate +conducerent in ciuitatem. Habito itaque peregrinis conductu, ad Montem +Sinay potest ą Cayr vnam duarum incipere semitarum, vsque vallem Helim, vbi +adhuc sunt duodecim fontes aquarum. Nam vna viarum est, vt pertranseat +passagium maris rubri, non longč ab eodem loco, vbi olim populus Israel +Duce Mose, Deo iubente, siccis pedibus transiit idem mare. [Sidenote: +Ratio, cur Rubrum mare sic appellatur.] Quod quidem, licčt aqua sit satis +clara, dicitur ibi Rubrum propter lapillos, et arenas subrufi coloris: et +continet ibi nunc temporis passus maris in latitudine ferč sex leucas. +Transmissoque mari, ibit super hanc longč ab oris eiusdem per dietas +quatuor, atque ex tunc relinquens mare, tendit per deserta sex aut septem +dierum, vsque in vallem pręfatam. Alia est autem via, vt de Babylonia +intret Dyrcen deserta, tendens ad quendam fontem, quem dicitur Moses +[Marginal note: Vel Maus.] fecisse: et hinc ad riuulum Marach, qui quondam, +Mose imponente lignum, ab amaritudine dulcescebat, et sic tandem in +premissam vallem perueniant. Et restat via grandis dietę ad Montem Sinay ab +hac valle. Nam ą Babylonia vsque in Sinay, ęstimatur esse via duodecim +dictarum, quamuis nonnulli citius perueniunt. Hoc verč sciendum, neminem +peregrinorum per hęc deserta sine ductore posse tendere, cui notę sunt vię, +sed nec equi valent transire, pręcipuč quņd non inuenirent in desertis quid +bibere. [Sidenote: Abstinentia Camelorum ab aquis.] Aliquo tamen modo +transitur per Camelos, eņ quņd se continere possunt de potu duobus aut +tribus diebus: Et oportet vt itinerantes ferant secum per viam necessaria +ad victum proprium, et Camelorum, nisi quņd interdum fortč Cameli aliquid +sibi abrodere possunt circa cortices arbustorum, et folia ramusculorum. + + +CAPUT. 11. + +De Monasterio Sinay, et reliquijs beatę Catherinę. + +Mons Sinay appellatur ibi desertum Syn: quasi in radice montis istius +habetur Coenobium Monachorum pergrande, cuius clausura in circuitu est +firmata muris altis, et portis ferreis, pro metu bestiarum deserti. Hi +Monachi sunt Arabes, et Gręci, et in magno conuentu multum Deo deuoti: +viuunt in magna abstinentia, vtentes simplicibus cibariis, de lotis et +dactylis, et huiusmodi, nec vinum potantes, festis acceptis. Illic in +Ecclesia Beatę Virginis et matris Catherinę semper lampades plurimę sunt +ardentes, nam habetur ibi plena copia olei oliuarum. A posteriori parte +magni altaris monstratur locus, vbi Moysi apparuit Dominus in rubo ardente, +ipsum rubum adhuc seruans, quem dum monachi intrant, semper se discalceant +gratia illias verbi, quo Deus iussit Moysi ibidem, Solue calciamentum de +pedibus tuis, locus enim in quo stas, terra sancta est: hunc locum +appellant Bezeleel, id est, vmbra Dei. Et propč altare tribus gradibus in +altitudine, habetur capsa, seu Tumba Alabastri, sanctissima continens ossa +Virginis. Christiani qui ibidem morantur, cum magna reuerentia +aduenientibus peregrinis, ą Monachorum pręlato, seu ab alio in hoc +instituto, excipiuntur. Is quodam instrumento argenteo consueuit ossa +defricare, siue linire, vt ex iis exeat modicum olei, velut parumper +sudoris, quod tamen non apparet in colore sui tanquam olei seu Balsami, sed +aliquantulum pluris magnitudinis. Et ex isto traditur interdum aliquid +petentibus peregrinis, sed parłm, quia nec multłm exudat. Ostendere solent +et caput ipsius Catherinę cum inuolumento sanguinolento, et multas prętereą +sanctas, et venerabiles reliquias, quę omnia intuitus sum diligentur et +sępč, oculis indignis. Habent quoque in ista Ecclesia propriam Lampadem +quilibet Monachorum, quę imminente illius discessu lumen per diuinum +miraculum variat vel extinguit. [Sidenote: Monarchorum sophismata.] Ego +etiam curiosius super vno dubio quod priłs audieram, plures interrogationes +feci ab aliquibus Monachorum, vtrum scilicet pręlato eorum decedente semper +successor per diuinum signum eligetetur: et vix tandem ab eis recepi +responsum, quņd per vnum istorum miraculorum habetur successor, videlicit +in missa sepulturę defuncti omnibus Monachorum lampadibus extinctis, illius +sola Dei nutu reaccenditur, quem fieri vult pręlatum, vel de coelo +inuenitur missus breuiculus super altare, inscriptum habens nomen pręlati +futuri. Intra hanc Ecclesiam nunquam musca, vel aranea, aut huiusmodi +immundi vermiculi nascuntur, quod similiter per diuinum accidit miraculum: +nam antč replebatur Ecclesia talibus immunditiis, et totus conuentus +recederet ad construendum Ecclesiam in alio loco. Et ecce Dei genetrix +virgo beata eis visibiliter obuiauit, iubens reuerti, et dicens nunquam +Ecclesiam similibus infestari. In cuius obuiationis loco in ascensu +procliuo huius montis per multos gradus construxerunt Ecclesiam, ędificium +excellens, in honorem eiusdem virginis. Et alibuantņ altius, per eiusdem +montis ascensum est vetus Capella, quam vocant Elię Prophetę, et locum +specialiter appellant Horeb. A cuius latere in montis appendentia colitur +vinea, quam nominant Iosuę scophis, de qua quidam putare volunt, quod +Sanctus Ioannes Euangelista eam primņ plantauit. In superiori verņ montis +vertice, est Capella, quam dicunt Moysis, et illic rupis seruans adhuc +corporis eius formam impressam dum se abscondit, viritus dominum respicere +in facie. Locus quoque ibi ostenditur, in quo Deus tradidit ei decem +mandata, siue legem proprio digito scriptam, et sub rupe cauerna in qua +mansit ieiunus diebus 40. Ab hoc monte qui vocatur Mosi, restat via +producta ad quartam Leucę, vsque in montem qui dicitur Sanctę Catherinę per +vallem speciosam, ac multłm frigidam. Circa eius medium habetur Ecclesia, +nomine 40. Martyrum constructa, vbi interdum veniunt Monachi cantare +missam: Hic mons est satis altior Monte Moysis, in cuius vertice Angeli Dei +pič creduntur attulisse, et sepeliisse corpus sanctissimę Martyris +Catherinę cum inuolumento capitis suprą dicto. Attamen in ipso certo +sepulturę loco, licčt quandoque stetit Capella, modņ non est habitaculum, +sed modicus aceruus petrarum. Notandum, quņd vterque horum montium potest +vocari mons Sinay, eo quod totus circumiacens locus deserti Sin appellatur. +Sur desertum inter mare Rubrum, et solitudinem Sinay. Desertum Sur idem +Scriptura quod et Cades. Visitatis igitur ą peregrinis his sacrosanctis +memorijs, et valefacto Monachis, recommendant se eorum orationibus, et +meritis: tuncque solet aliquid victualium offerri peregrinis, pro inchoanda +via deserti Syrię versus Ierusalem. Et sicut dixi de priori deserto, sic +nec istud securč est peragrandum absque Drogemijs; id est, semitarum +ductoribus, propter vastitudinem deserti. + + +CAPVT. 12. + +Iter a deserto Sinay vsque ad Iudeam. + +Per istud latum et longum desertum, moratur vel potius vagata maxima +multitudo malorum, et incompositorum hominum, qui non manent in domibus, +sed sub pellium tabernaculis, quemadmodum et olim filij Israel in eodem +deserto ambulauerunt, quoniam aquę non manent ibi diu in locis certis: et +ideņ mutant tabernacula sequentes aquas: non colunt terras, rarņ manducant +panem, sed tantłm carnes bestiarum deserti quas venantur, coquentes super +petras calefactas ad Solem: fortes sunt et feroces, et velut desperati de +vita propria non curantes, qui licčt non habeant arma pręter lanceam, et +tarchiam, et caput grandi albo linteolo inuolutum, tamen non verentur +exercere guerras, et inire proelia contra Dominum suum Soldanum: nam et ego +stipendiarius in expeditione Soldani contra eos sępius fui. Isti sunt +quidem Arabes, sed notiori nomine appellantur Bedoyns et Acopars, et +quamuis plurima mala agunt per desertum, rarņ tamen nocent peregrinis beatę +Virginis Catharinę. [Sidenote: Ioannes Mandeuil militans contra Arabes. +Beersheba.] Itaque peregrinus qui debitum tenuit iter, veniat ą finibus +deserti in primam ciuitatem Iudeę, quę dicitur Berseba: est vicus grandis +Hebron inde miliario vergens ad Austrum: Hieronymus. Notandum, Theros Mons +Dei in regione Maglaw iuxta Montem. Notandum similiter, Arabiam in deserto +esse, cui iungitur Mons et desertum Sarracenorum, quod vocatur Phaaran. +Mihi autem videtur, quod dupliei nomine, nupe Mons Sinay, nunc Oreb +vocatur. Hieronymus. Phaaran nunc oppidum trans Oreb, iam iunctum +Sarracenis, qui in solitudine vagi pererrant. Hos interfecerunt filij +Israel, cłm de Monte Sinay castra mouissent. Est ergo, vt dixi, trans +Jordanem contra Australem plagam, et distat ab Helyn, contra Orientem, +itinere dierum trium. In deserto autem Phaaran, Scriptura commemorat +habitasse Ismaelem, vade et Ismaelitę, qui nunc Sarraceni. Legimus quoque +Chederlaomer percussisse eos qui erant in deserto Phaaran quod nunc dicitur +Ascalon, et circa eam Regio Palestinorum. Hieronymus. Hęc Bersheba erat +bona et spectabilis, vltimo tempore Christianorum, et adhuc ibi restant +nonnullę Ecclesię. + +[Sidenote: Ciuitas Hebron.] Hinc ad Leucas duas venitur in ciuitatem +Hebron, et Hebron ab Helyn distat ad Meridianam plagani millibus circiter +39. de qua legitur, quņd primis temporibus fuerit habitatio maximorum +Gigantium, Regśmque, posteą Dauidis. In hac est illa spelunca duplex, quę +seruat ossa sanctorum Patriarcharum, Abrahę, Isaac, et Jacob, Sarę, et +Rebeccę, consistitque ad radicem montis, et habetur super istam cum +propugnaculis ad modum castri constructa pulchra Ecclesia. Sarraceni +appellant istam speluncam Kariackaba, custodienies locum diligenter ac +reuerenter propter honorem Patriarcharum, et non permittentes quenquam +Christianorum aut Iudęorum ingredi, nisi ostenderit super hęc specialem +gratiam ą Soldano. Nam ipsi communiter reputant tam Christianos quąm +Iudaeos pro canibus, et quando despectiuč eos volunt appellare, dicunt +Kylp, id est, canis. + +[Sidenote: Vallis Mambrę Quercus arida.] Ab Hebron incipit vallis Mambrę, +quę protenditur ferč vsque Ierusalem: haud remotč ad Hebron est mons +Mambre, et in ipso monte arbor quercus aridę quę pro antiquitate sui, +speciale sibi nomen meruit in mundo vniuerso, vt vocetur arbor sicca: +Sarraceni autem eam dicunt Dirp: hęc creditur stetisse ante tempora Abrahę, +tamen quidam volunt putare ą mundi initio, virens donec passionis Christi +tempore siccaretur. Hoc autem certum est haberi eam ob omnibus nationibus +in venerationem. + +[Sidenote: Gambil species Aromatis] In quodam loco pręfatę vallis est +planicies, vbi per plures fossas effodiunt homines Gambil, quod comeditur +loco specierum aromaticarum, et per villas defertur venale, sed et hoc +audiui, quņd nulla ibi fossa ita valet exhauriri, si dimittatur per annum, +quin inueniatur de prędicta Gambil impleta. + +Ad duas leucas de Hebron, monstratur sepultura Loth filii fratris Abraham. +Item de ciuitate Hebron per quinque leucas amoeni itineris, hoc est in +medio die, venitur in Bethleem Iudeę. [Sidenote: Kiriath Arbe.] Notandum, +Arbe, id est, quatuor, primum dicum de eo quod ibi tres Patriarchę Abraham, +Isac, et Iacob sepulti sunt, et Adam magnus, vt in Iudęorum libro scriptum +est, licet eum quidam conditum in loco Caluarię suspicentur. Corruptč in +nostris codicibus Arboth scribitur, alibi erat arbor cłm in Hebręis legatur +Arbe, hęc est autem eadem Hebron olim Metropolis Philistinorum, ab vno +filiorum Caleb sortita vocabulum. + + +The English Version. + +Of the Weye fro Costantynoble to Jerusalem. Of Seynt John the Evaungelist; + and of Ypocras Daughter, transformed from a Woman to a Dragoun. + +[Sidenote: Cap. IV] Now returne I azen, for to teche zou the way from +Costantynoble to Jerusalem. He that wol thorghe Turkye, he gothe toward the +cytee of Nyke, and passethe thorghe the gate of Chienetout, and alle weyes +men seen before hem the hille of Chienetout, that is righte highe: and it +is a myle, and an half from Nyke. And whoso will go be watre, be the brace +of Seynt George, and by the see, where Seynt Nycholas lyethe, and toward +many other places: first men gothe to an ile, that is clept Sylo. +[Footnote: Chios] In that ile growethe mastyck on smale trees: and out of +hem comethe gomme, as it were of plombtrees or of cherietrees. And aftre +gon men thorghe the ile of Pathmos, and there wrot Seynt John the +Evaungelist the Apocalips. And zee schulle undrestonde, that Seynt Johne +was of age 32 zeer, whan oure Lord suffred his passioun; and aftre his +passioun, he lyvede 67 zeer, and in the 100th zeer of his age he dyede. +From Pathmos men gone unto Ephesim, a fair citee and nyghe to the see. And +there dyede Seynte Johne and was buryed behynde the highe awtiere, in a +toumbe. And there is a fair chirche. For Cristene men weren wont to holden +that place alweyes. And in the tombe of Seynt John is noughte but manna, +that is clept aungeles mete. For his body was translated into paradys. And +Turkes holden now alle that place, and the citee and the chirche. And alle +Asie the lesse is y cleped Turkye. And zee schulle undrestonde, that Seynt +Johne leet [Footnote: Let.] make his grave there in his lyf, and leyd +himself there inne alle quyk. And therefore somme men seyn, that he dyed +noughte, but that he restethe there till the day of doom. And forsothe +there is a great marveyle: for men may see there the erthe of the tombe +apertly many tymes steren and meven, [Footnote: Stir and move.] as there +wern quykke thinges undre. + +And from Ephesim men gon throghe many iles in the see, unto the cytee of +Paterane, [Footnote: Patera.] where Seynt Nicholas was born, and so to +Martha, [Footnote: Myra.] where he was chosen to ben bisschoppe; and there +growethe right gode wyn and strong; and that men callen wyn of Martha. And +from thens gone men to the ile of Crete, that the Emperour zaf somtyme to +Janeweys. [Footnote: The Genoese.] And thanne passen men thorghe the isles +of Colos and of Lango; [Footnote: Cos.] of the whiche iles Ypocras +[Footnote: Hippocrates.] was lord offe. And some men seyn, that in the ile +of Lango is zit the doughtre of Ypocras, in forme and lykeness of a gret +dragoun, that is a hundred fadme of lengthe, as men seyn: for I have not +seen hire. And thei of the isles callen hire, lady of the lond. And sche +lyethe in an olde castelle, in a cave, and schewethe twyes or thryes in the +zeer. And sche dothe none harm to no man, but zif men don hire harm. And +sche was thus chaunged and transformed, from a fair damysele, into lyknesse +of a dragoun, be a goddesse, that was clept Deane. [Footnote: Diana.] And +men seyn, that sche schalle so endure in that forme of a dragoun, unto the +tyme that a knyghte come, that is so hardy, that dar come to hire and kiss +hire on the mouthe: and then schall sche turne azen to hire own kynde, and +ben a woman azen: but aftre that sche schalle not liven longe. And it is +not long siththen, that a knyghte of the Rodes, that was hardy and doughty +in armes, seyde that he wole kyssen hire. And whan he was upon his +coursere, and wente to the castelle, and entred into the cave, the dragoun +lifte up hire hed azenst him. And whan the knyghte saw hire in that forme +so hidous and so horrible, he fleyghe awey. And the dragoun bare the +knyghte upon a roche, mawgre his hede; and from that roche, sche caste him +in to the see: and so was lost bothe hors and man. And also a zonge man, +that wiste not of the dragoun, wente out of a schipp, and wente thorghe the +ile, til that he come to the castelle, and cam in to the cave; and wente so +longe, til that he fond a chambre, and there he saughe a damysele, that +kembed hire hede, and lokede in a myrour: and sche hadde meche tresoure +abouten hire: and he trowed, that sche hadde ben a comoun woman, that +dwelled there to resceyve men to folye. And he abode, tille the damysele +saughe the schadewe of him in the myrour. And sche turned hire toward him, +and asked hym, what he wolde. And he seyde, he wolde ben hire limman or +paramour. And sche asked him, zif that he were a knyghte. And he seyde, +nay. And then sche seyde, that he myghte not ben hire lemman: but sche bad +him gon azen unto his fellowes, and make him knyghte, and come azen upon +the morwe, and sche scholde come out of the cave before him; and thanne +come and kysse hire on the mowthe, and have no drede; for I schalle do the +no maner harm, alle be it that thou see me in lyknesse of a dragoun. For +thoughe thou see me hidouse and horrible to loken onne, I do the to wytene, +[Footnote: Know.] that it is made be enchauntement. For withouten doubte, I +am non other than thou seest now, a woman; and therfore drede the noughte. +And zif thou kysse me, thou schalt have alle this tresoure, and be my lord, +and lord also of alle that ile. And he departed fro hire and wente to his +felowes to schippe, and leet make him knyghte, and cam azen upon the morwe, +for to kysse this damysele. And whan he saughe hire comen out of the cave, +in forme of a dragoun, so hidouse and so horrible, he hadde so grete drede, +that he fleyghe azen to the schippe; and sche folewed him. And whan sche +saughe, that he turned not azen, sche began to crye, as a thing that hadde +meche sorwe: and thanne sche turned azen, in to hire cave; and anon the +knyghte dyede. And siththen hidrewards, myghte no knyghte se hire, but that +he dyede anon. But whan a knyghte comethe, that is so hardy to kisse hire, +he schalle not dye; but he schalle turne the damysele in to hire righte +forme and kyndely schapp, and he schal be lord of alle the contreyes and +iles aboveseyd. + +And from thens men comen to the Ile of Rodes, the whiche ile Hospitaleres +holden and governen; and that token thei sumtyme from the Emperour: and it +was wont to be clept Collos; and so callen it the Turks zit. And Seynt +Poul, in his Epistles, writeth to hem of that Ile, _ad Colossenses_. +[Footnote: The truth is the Epistle was written to the Church of Collosę in +Phrygia Major.] This ile is nyghe 800 myle from Costantynoble. + +And from this ile of Rodes, men gon to Cipre, where bethe many vynes, that +first bene rede, and aftre o zeer, thei becomen white: and theise wynes +that ben most white, ben most clere and best of smelle. And men passen be +that way, be a place that was wont to ben a gret cytee and a gret lond: and +the cytee was clept Cathaillye: the which cytee and lond was lost thorghe +folye of a zonge man. For he had a fayr damysele, that he loved wel, to his +paramour; and sche dyed sodeynly, and was don in a tombe of marble: and for +the grete lust, that he had to hire, he wente in the nyghte unto hire tombe +and opened it, and went in and lay be hire, and wente his way. And whan it +came to the ende of nine monethes, there com a voys to him, and seyde, Go +to the tombe of that woman, and open it and beholde what thou hast begotten +on hīre: and if thou lette to go, thou schalt have a gret harm. And he zede +[Footnote: Went.] and opened the tombe; and there fleyghe out an eddere +righte hidous to see; the whiche als swythe fleighe aboute the cytee and +the contree; and sone after the cytee sank downe. And there ben manye +perilouse passages. + +Fro Rodes to Cypre ben 500 myle and more. But men may gon to Cypre, and +come not at Rodes. Cypre is righte a gode ile and a fayr and a gret, and it +hathe 4 princypalle cytees within him. And there is an erchebysshoppe at +Nichosie, and 4 othere byschoppes in that lond. And at Famagost is on of +the princypalle havenes of the see, that is in the world: and there arryven +Cristene men and Sarazynes and men of alle naciouns. In Cipre is the hille +of the Holy Cros; and there is an abbeye of monkis blake; and there is the +cros of Dismas the gode theef, as I have seyd before. And summe men trowen, +that there is half the crosse of oure Lord: but it is not so: and thei don +evylle, that make men to beleeve so. In Cipre lythe Seynt Zenomyne: of whom +men of that contree maken gret solempnytee. And in the Castelle of Amours +lythe the body of Seynt Hyllarie: and men kepen it right worschipfully. And +besyde Famagost was Seynt Barnabee the apostle born. In Cipre men hunten +with papyonns, that ben lyche lepardes: and thei taken wylde bestes righte +welle, and thei ben somdelle [Footnote: Somewhat.] more than lyouns; and +thei taken more scharpely the bestes and more delyverly [Footnote: +Deliberately.] than don houndes. In Cipre is the manere of lordis and alle +othere men, alle to eten on the erthe. For thei make dyches in the erthe +alle aboute in the halle, depe to the knee, and thei do pave hem: and whan +thei wil ete, thei gon there in and sytten there. And the skylle is, for +thei may ben the more fressche: for that lond is meche more hottere than it +is here. And at grete festes and for straungeres, thei setten formes and +tables, as men don in this contree: but thei had lever sytten in the erthe. + +From Cypre, men gon to the lond of Jerusalem be the see: and in a day and +in a nyghte, he that hathe gode wynd may come to the haven of Thire +[Footnote: Tyre.], that now is clept Surrye. There was somtyme a gret cytee +and a gode, of Crystene men: but Sarazins han destroyed it a gret partye; +and thei kepe that havene right welle, for drede of Cristene men. Men +myghte go more right to that havene, and come not in Cypre: but thei gon +gladly to Cypre, to reste hem on the lond, or elles to bye thingis, that +thei have nede to here lyvynge. On the see syde, men may fynde many rubyes. +And there is the welle, of the whiche Holy Writt spekethe offe, and seythe, +_Fons ortorum, et puteus aquarum viventium_: that is to seye, _The welle of +gardyns, and the dyche of lyvynge watres._ In this cytee of Thire, seyde +the woman to oure Lord, _Beatus venter qui te portavit, et ubera quę +succisti_: that is to seye, _Blessed be the body that she baar, and the +pappes that thou sowkedest._ And there oure Lord forzaf the woman of +Chananee hire synnes. And before Tyre was wont to be the ston, on the +whiche oure Lord sat and prechede: and on that ston was founded the Chirche +of Seynt Savyour. + +And 8 myle from Tyre, toward the est, upon the see, is the cytee of +Sarphen, in Sarept [Footnote: Zarephath.] of Sydonyeus. And there was wont +for to dwelle Helye the prophete; and there reysed he Jonas the wydwes sone +from dethe to lyf. And 5 myle fro Sarphen is the cytee of Sydon: of the +whiche cytee, Dydo was lady, that was Eneas wyf aftre the destruccioun of +Troye; and that founded the cytee of Cartage in Affrick, and now is cleped +Dydon Sayete. And in the cytee of Tyre regned Agenore the fadre of Dydo. +And 16 myles from Sydon is Beruthe. [Footnote: Beyrout.] And from Beruthe +to Sardenare is 3 journeys. And from Sardenar is 5 myle to Damask. + +And whoso wil go longe tyme on the see, and come nerrer to Jerusalem, he +schal go fro Cipre, be see, to the port Jaff. [Footnote: Jaffa.] For that +is the nexte havene to Jerusalem. For fro that havene is not but o day +journeye and an half to Jerusalem. And the town is called Jaff; for on of +the sones of Noe, that highte Japhet, founded it; and now it is clept +Joppe. And zee schulle undrestonde, that it is on of the oldest townes of +the world: for it was founded, before Noes flode. And zitt there schewethe +in the roche ther, as the irene cheynes were festned, that Andromade, a +gret geaunt was bounden with, and put in presoun before Noes flode: of the +whiche geaunt is a rib of his syde, that is 40 fote longe. [Footnote: Our +author here takes Andromeda for the monster that would have devoured her.] + +And whoso wil arryve at the firste port of Thire or Surre, that I have +spoken of before, may go be londe, zif he wil, to Jerusalem. And men gothe +fro Surre unto the citee of Dacoun [Footnote: St. Jean d'Acre.] in a day. +And it was clept somtyme Tholomayde. And it was somtyme a cytee of +Cristenemen, fulle fair; but it is now destroyed: and it stont upon the +see. And fro Venyse to Akoun, be see, is 2080 myles of Lombardye. And fro +Calabre or fro Cecyle to Akoun, be see, is 1300 myles of Lombardye. And the +ile of Crete is right in the myd weye. And besyde the cytee of Akoun, +toward the see, 120 furlonges on the right syde, toward the southe, is the +hylle of Carmelyn, where Helyas the prophete dwellede: and there was first +the ordre of Freres Carmes founded. This hille is not right gret, ne fulle +highe. And at the fote of this hille was somtyme a gode cytee of Cristene +men, that men cleped Cayphas: For Cayphas first founded it: but it is now +alle wasted. And on the lift syde of the hille Carmelyn is a town, that men +clepen Saffre: and that is sett on another hille. There Seynt James and +Seynt Johne were born: and in the worschipe of hem, there is a fair +chirche. And fro Tholomayde, that men clepen now Akoun, unto a gret hille, +that is clept Scalle of Thires, is 100 furlonges. And besyde the cytee of +Akoun renneth a lytille ryvere, that is clept Belon. And there nyghe is the +fosse of Mennon, that is alle round: and it is 100 cubytes of largenesse, +and it is alle fulle of gravelle, schynynge brighte, of the whiche men +maken fair verres [Footnote: Glass.] and clere. And men comen fro fer, by +watre in schippes, and be londe with cartes, for to fetten of that +gravelle. And thoughe there be nevere so moche taken awey there of, on the +day, at Morwe it is as fulle azen as evere it was. And that is a gret +mervaille. And there is evermore gret wynd in that fosse, that sterethe +everemore the gravelle, and makethe it trouble. And zif ony man do +thereinne ony maner metalle, it turnethe anon to glasse. And the glasse, +that is made of that grevelle, zif it be don azen in to the gravelle, it +turnethe anon in to gravelle as it was first. And therefore somme men seyn, +that it was a sweloghe [Footnote: Whirlpool.] of the gravely see. + +Also for Akoun aboveseyd gon men forthe 4 journees to the citee of +Palestyn, that was of the Philistyenes, that now is clept Gaza, that is a +gay cytee and a riche; and it is righte fayr, and fulle of folke, and it is +a lytillle fro the see. And from this cytee broughte Sampson the stronge +the zates upon an highe lond, whan he was taken in that cytee: and there he +slowghe in a paleys the king and hymself, and gret nombre of the beste of +the Philistienes, the whiche had put out his eyen, and schaven his hed, and +enprisound him, be tresoun of Dalida his paramour. And therefore he made +falle upon hem a gret halle, whan thei were at mete. And from thens gon men +to the cytee of Cesaire, and so to the Castelle of pylgrymes, and so to +Ascolonge, and than to Jaffe, and so to Jerusalem. + + +Of manye Names of Soudans, and of the Tour of Babiloyn. + +[Sidenote: Cap. V.] And whoso wille go be londe thorghe the lond of +Babyloyne, where the Sowdan dwellethe comonly, he moste gete grace of him +and leve, to go more sikerly [Footnote: Surely.] thorghe tho londes and +contrees. And for to go to the mount of Synay, before that men gon +Jerusalem, thei schalle go fro Gaza to the castelle of Daire. And after +that, men comen out of Surrye, and entren in to wyldernesse, and there the +weye is sondy. And that wyldernesse and desert lastethe 8 journeyes. But +alleweyes men fynden gode innes, and alle that hem nedethe of vytaylle; And +men clepen that wyldernesse Achelleke. And whan a man comethe out of that +desert, he entrethe in to Egypt, that men clepen Egypt Canopac: and aftre +other langage, men clepen it Morsyn. And there first men fynden a gode +toun, that is clept Belethe; and it is at the ende of the kyngdom of +Halappee. And from thens men gon to Babyloyne and to Cayre. + +At Babyloyne there is a faire chirche of oure lady, where sche dwelled 7 +zeer, whan sche fleyghe out of the lond of Judee, for drede of Kyng +Heroude. And there lythe the body of Seynt Barbre the Virgine and Martyr. +And there duelled Josephe whan he was sold of his bretheren. And there made +Nabugodonozor the kyng putte three children in to the forneys of fuyr; for +thei weren in the righte trouthe of beleeve: the whiche children men +cleped, Ananya, Azaria, Mizęlle; as the Psalm of Benedicite seythe. But +Nabugodbnozor cleped hem other wise, Sydrak, Misak, and Abdenago: that is +to seye, God glorious, God victorious, and God over alle thinges and remes. +[Footnote: Realms.] And that was for the myracle, that he soughe Goddes +sone go with the children thorghe the fuyr, as he seyde. There duellethe +the Soudan in his Calahelyke, (for there is comounly his see) in a fayr +castelle strong and gret and wel sett upon a roche. In that castelle +duellen alle wey, to kepe it and to serve the Sowdan, mo than 6000 +persones, that taken alle here necessaries of the Sowdanes court. I oughte +right wel to knowen it; for I duelled with him as Soudyour in his werres a +gret while, azen the Bedoynes. And he wolde have maryed me fulle highely, +to a gret princes daughtre, zif I wolde han forsaken my lawe and my beleve. +But I thanke God, I had no wille to don it, for no thing, that he behighten +[Footnote: Promised.] me. And zee schulle undrestonde, that the Soudan is +lord of 5 kyngdomes, that he hathe conquered and apropred to him be +strengthe: and theise ben the names, the kyngdom of Canapak, that is Egypt; +and the kyngdom of Jerusalem, where that David and Salomon were kynges; and +the kyngdom of Surrye, of the whiche the cytee of Damasc was chief; and the +kyngdom of Alappe, [Footnote: Aleppo.] in the lond of Mathe, and the +kyngdom of Arabye, that was to on of the 3 kynges, that made offrying to +oure Lord, whan he was born. And many othere londes he holdethe in his +hond. And there with alle he holdethe calyffes, that is a fulle gret thing +in here langage: and it is als meche to seye as kyng. And there were wont +to ben 5 Soudans: but now there is no mo but he of Egypt. And the firste +Soudan was Zarocon, that was of Mede, (as was fadre to Sahaladyn) that toke +the Califfe of Egypt and sloughe him, and was made Soudan be strengthe. +Aftre that was Soudan Sahaladyn, in whoos tyme the Kyng of Englonde, +Richarde the firste, with manye othere, kepten the passage, that Sahaladyn +ne myghte not passen. Aftre Sahaladyn, regned his sone Boradyn; aftre him +his nephewe. Aftre that the Comaynz, that weren in servage in Egypt, felten +hem self, that thei weren of gret power, thei chesen hem a Soudain amonges +hem: the whiche made him to ben cleped Melethesalan. And in his tyme entred +in to the contree, of the kynges of France, Seynt Lowyz, and foughte with +him: and the Soudan toke him and enprisound him. And this was slayn of his +owne servauntes. And aftre thei chosen an other to be Soudan, that thei +cleped Tympieman. And he let delyveren Seynt Lowys out of presoun, for +certeyn ransoum. And aftre on theise Comaynz regned, that highte Cachas, +and sloughe Tympieman, for to be Soudan: and made him ben cleped +Melechemes. And aftre, another that hadde to name Bendochdare, that sloughe +Melechemes, for to be Soudan; and cleped himself Melechdare. In his tyme +entred the gode Kyng Edward of Englond in Syrye, and dide gret harm to the +Sarrazines. And aftre was this Soudan empoysound at Damasce; and his sone +thoghte to regne aftre him be heritage, and made him to ben clept +Meleschsache. But another, that had to name Elphy, chaced him out of the +contree, and made him Soudan. This man toke the cytee of Tripolee and +destroyede manye of the Cristene men, the zeer of grace 1289; but he was +anon slayn. Aftre that was the sone of Elphy chosen to ben Soldan, and +cleped him Mellethasseraff: and he toke the citee of Akoun, and chaced out +the Christene men: and this was also empoysond. And than was his brother y +made Soudan, and was cleped Melechnasser. And aftre, on that was clept +Guytoga, toke him and put him in prisoun, in the Castelle of Mountryvalle; +and made him Soudan be strengthe, and cleped him Melechcadelle: and he was +of Tartaryne. But the Comaynz chaced him out of the contree, and diden hym +meche sorwe; and maden on of hem self Soudan, that hadde to name Lachyn. +And he made him to ben clept Melechmanser: the whiche on a day pleyed at +the chesse, and his swerd lay besyde him; and so befelle, that on wratthed +[Footnote: Provoked.] him, and with his owne propre swerd he was slayn. And +aftre that, thei weren at gret discord, for to make a Soudan. And finally +thei accordeden to Melechnasser, that Guytoga had put in prisoun at +Mountrivalle. And this regnede longe and governed wisely; so that his +eldest sone was chosen aftre him, Melechemader; the whiche his brother leet +sle prevyly, for to have the lordschipe, and made him to ben clept +Melechmadabron. And he was Soudan, whan I departed fro the contrees. And +wyte zee wel, that the Soudan may lede out of Egipt mo than 20000 men of +armes. And out of Surrye, and out of Turkye, and out of other contrees, +that he holt, he may arrere [Footnote: Raise.--Anglo-Saxon, _Aręran_.] mo +than 50000. And alle tho ben at his wages: and thei ben alle weys at him, +withouten the folke of his contree, that is withouten nombre. And everyche +of hem hath be zere the mountance of 6 score floreynes. But it behovethe, +that every of hem holde 3 hors and a cameylle. And be the cytees and be the +townes ben amyralles, that han the governance of the peple. On hath to +governe 4, and another hath to governe 5, another mo, and another wel mo. +And als moche takethe the amyralle be him allone, as alle the other +souldyours han undre hym. And therfore whan the Soudan wille avance ony +worthi knyghte, he makethe him a amyralle. And whan it is ony derthe, the +knyghtes ben right pore, and thanne thei sellen both here hors and here +harneys. And the Soudan hath 4 wyfes, on Cristene and 3 Sarazines: of the +whiche, on dwellethe at Jerusalem, and another at Damasce, and another at +Ascalon. And whan hem lyst, thei remewen to other cytees. And whan the +Soudan wille, he may go visite hem. And he hathe as many paramours, as hym +lykethe. For he makethe to come before him, the fairest and the nobleste of +birthe and the gentylleste damyseles of his contree, and he maketh hem to +ben kept and served fulle honourabely, and whan he wole have on to lye +withe him, he makethe hem alle to come before him; and he beholdethe in +alle, whiche of hem is most to his plesance, and to hire anon he sendethe +or castethe a ryng fro his fyngre: And thanne anon sche schalle ben bathed +and richely atyred, and anoynted with delicat thinges of swete smelle, and +than lad to the Soudanes chambre. And thus he dothe, als often as him list, +when he wil have ony of hem. And before the Soudan comethe no strangier, +but zif he be clothed in clothe of gold or of Tartarye or of Camaka, in the +Sarazines guyse, and as the Sarazines usen. And it behovethe, that anon at +the firste sight, that men see the Soudan, be it in wyndowe, or in what +place elles, that men knele to him and kysse the erthe: for that is the +manere to do reverence to the Soudanne, of hem that speken with him. And +whan that messangeres of straunge contrees comen before him, the Meynee of +the Soudan, whan the straungeres speken to hym, thei ben aboute the Souldan +with swerdes drawen and gysarmez and axes, here armes lift up in highe with +the wepenes, for to smyte upon hem, zif thei seye ony woord, that is +displeasance to the Soudan. And also, no straungere comethe before him, but +that he makethe him sum promys and graunt, of that the straungere asketh +resonabely, beso it be not azenst his Lawe. And so don othere prynces +bezonden. For thei seyn, that no man schalle come before no prynce, but +that he be bettre, and schalle be more gladdere in departynge from his +presence, thannie he was at the comynge before hym. + +And undirstonde zee, that that Babyloyne that I have spoken offe, where +that the Soudan duellethe, is not that gret Babyloyne, where the dyversitee +of langages was first made for vengeance, by the myracle of God, when the +grete tour of Babel was begonnen to ben made; of the whiche the walles +weren 64 furlonges of heighte; that is in the grete desertes of Arabye, +upon the weye as men gon toward the kyngdom of Caldee. But it is fulle +long, sithe that ony man durste neyhe to the tour; for it is alle deserte +and fulle of dragouns and grete serpentes, and fulle of dyverse venymouse +bestes alle abouten. That tour, with the cytee, was of 25 myle in cyrcuyt +of the walles; as thei of the contree seyn, and as men may demen [Footnote: +Judge.] by estymation, aftre that men tellen of the contree. And though it +be clept the tour of Babiloyne, zit natheles there were ordeyned with inne +many mansiouns and many gret duellynge places, in lengthe and brede: and +that tour conteyned gret contree in circuyt: for the tour allone conteyned +10 myle sqware. That tour founded Kyng Nembrothe, that was kyng of that +contree: and he was firste kyng of the world. And he leet make an ymage in +the lyknesse of his fadre, and constreyned alle his subgettes for to +worschipe it. And anon begonnen othere lordes to do the same. And so +begonnen the ydoles and symulacres first. The town and the cytee weren +fulle wel sett in a fair contree and a playn; that men clepen the contree +of Samar: of the whiche the walles of the cytee werein 200 cubytes in +heighte, and 50 cubytes in breadthe. And the ryvere of Euphrate ran thorghe +out the cytee and aboute the tour also. But Cirus the Kyng of Perse toke +from hem the ryvere, and destroyede all the cytee and the tour also. For he +departed that ryvere in 360 smale ryveres: because that he had sworn, that +he scholde putte the ryvere in suche poynt, that a woman myghte wel passe +there, withouten castynge of of hire clothes; for als moche as he hadde +lost many worthi men, that trowden to passen that ryvere by swymmynge. + +And from Babyloyne, where the Soudan dwellethe, to go right betwene the +oryent and the Septemtryon, toward the grete Babyloyne, is 40 journeys to +passen be desart. But it is not the grete Babiloyne, in the lond and in the +powere of the seyd Soudan; but it is in the power and the lordschipe of +Persye. But he holdethe it of the grete Cham, that is the gretteste +Emperour and the most sovereyn lord of alle the partes bezonde: and he is +lord of the iles of Cathay and of many othere iles, and of a gret partie of +Inde. And his lond marchethe unto Prestre Johnes lond; and he holt so moche +lond, that he knowethe not the ende. And he is more myghty and grettre lord +withoute comparisoun, than is the Soudan. Of his ryalle estate and of his +myghte, I schalle speke more plenerly when I schalle speke of the lond and +of the contree of Ynde. + +Also the cytee of Methone [Footnote: Mecca.] where Machomet lythe, is of +the grete desertes of Arabye. And there lithe the body of hym fulle +honourabely in here temple, that the Sarazines clepen Muskethe. And it is +fro Babyloyne the lesse, where the Soudan duellethe, onto Methon aboveseyd, +in to a 32 journeyes. And wytethe wel, that the rewme of Arabye is a fulle +gret contree: but there in is over moche dysert. And no man may dwelle +there in that desert, for defaute of watre. For that lond is alle gravelly +and fulle of sond. And it is drye and nothing fructuous; because that it +hathe no moysture: and therefore is there so meche desart. And ziff it +hadde ryveres and welles, and the lond also were, as it is in other +parties, it scholde ben als fulle of peple and als fulle enhabyted with +folk, as in other places. For there is fulle gret multitude of peple, where +as the lond is enhabyted. Arabye durethe fro the endes of the reme of +Caldee, unto the laste ende of Affryk, and marchethe to the lond of Ydumee, +toward the ende of Botron. And in Caldee, the chief cytee is Baldak. +[Footnote: Bagdad.] And of Affryk, the chief cytee is Cartage, that Dydo, +that was Eneas wyf, founded. The whiche Eneas was of the cytee of Troye, +and aftre was Kyng of Itaylle. Mesopotamye strecchethe also unto the +Desertes of Arabye; and it is a gret contree. In this contree is the cytee +of Araym, where Abrahames fadree duelled, and from whens Abraham departed, +be commandement of the aungelle. And of that cytee was Effraym, that was a +gret clerk and a gret doctour. And Theophylus was of that cytee also, that +oure ladye savede from oure enemye. And Mesopotame durethe fro the ryvere +of Eufrates, unto the ryvere of Tygris. For it is betwene tho 2 ryveres. +And bezonde the ryvere of Tygre, is Caldee, that is a fulle gret kyngdom. +In that Rewyme, at Baldac aboveseyd, was wont to duelle the Calyffeez, that +was wont to ben bothe as Emperour and Pope of the Arabyenez; so that he was +lord spirituelle and temporelle. And he was successour to Machomete, and of +his generatioun; That cytee of Baldak was wont to ben cleped Sutis: +[Footnote: Susa.] and Nabugodonozor founded it. And there duelled the holy +prophete Daniel; and there he saughe vissiones of Hevene; and there he made +the expositioun of dremes. And in old tyme, there were ['wene' in source +text--KTH] wont to be 3 Calyffez; and thei dwelleden in the cytee of Baldak +aboveseyd. + +And at Cayre besides Babyloyne duelled the Calyffee of Egypt. And at +Marrok, upon the west see, duelte the Calyffee of Barbaryenes and of +Affrycanes. And now is there non of the Calyffeez, ne noughte han ben, +sithe the tyme of Sowdan Sahaladyn. For from that tyme hidre, the Sowdan +clepethe him self Calyffee. And so han the Calyffeez y lost here name. Also +wytethe wel, that Babylone the lesse, where the Soudan duellethe, and at +the cytee of Cayr, that is nyghe besyde it, ben grete huge cytees manye and +fayr; and that on sytt nyghe that other. Babyloyne sytt upon the ryvere of +Gyson, somtyme clept Nyle, that comethe out of Paradys terrestre. That +ryvere of Nyle, alle the zeer, whan the sonne entrethe in to the signe of +Cancer, it begynnethe to wexe; and it wexethe alle weys, als longe as the +sonne is in Cancro, and in the signe of Lyoune. And it wexethe in suche +manere, that it is somtyme so gret, that it is 20 cubytes or more of +depnesse; and thanne it doth gret harm to the godes, that ben upon the +lond. For thanne may no man travaylle to ere [Footnote: Plough.] the +londes, for the grete moystness: and therefore is there dere tyme in that +contree. And also whan it waxethe lytylle, it is dere tyme in that contree: +for defaute of moysture. And whan the sonne is in the signe of Virgo, +thanne begynnethe the ryvere for to wane and to decrece lytyl and lytylle; +so that whan the sonne is entred into the signe of Libra, thanne thei +entren betwene theise ryveres. This ryvere comethe rennynge from Paradys +terrestre, betwene the desertes of Ynde; and aftre it smytt unto londe, and +rennethe longe tyme many grete contrees undre erthe: and aftre it gothe out +undre an highe hille, that men clepen Alothe, that is betwene Ynde and +Ethiope, the distance of five moneths journeyes fro the entree of Ethiope. +And aftre it envyronnethe alle Ethiope and Morekane, and gothe alle along +fro the Lond of Egipte; unto the cytee of Alisandre, to the ende of Egipte; +and there it fallethe into the See. Aboute this ryvere, ben manye briddes +and foules, as sikonyes, that thei clepen ibes. + +Egypt is a long contree; but it is streyt, that is to seye narow; for thei +may not enlargen it toward the desert, for defaute of watre. And the +contree is sett along upon the ryvere of Nyle; be als moche as that ryvere +may serve be flodes or otherwise, that whanne it flowethe, it may spreden +abrood thorghe the contree: so is the contree large of lengthe. For there +it reyneth not but litylle in that contree: and for that cause, they have +no watre, but zif it be of that flood of that ryvere. And for als moche as +it ne reynethe not in that contree, but the eyr is alwey pure and cleer, +therfore in that contree ben the gode astronomyeres; for thei fynde there +no cloudes, to letten hem. Also the cytee of Cayre is righte gret, and more +huge than that of Babyloyne the lesse: and it sytt aboven toward the desert +of Syrye, a lytille above the ryvere aboveseyd. In Egipt there ben 2 +parties; the Heghte, that is toward Ethiope; and the Lowenesse, that is +towardes Arabye. In Egypt is the lond of Ramasses and the lond of Gessen. +Egipt is a strong contree: for it hathe manye schrewede havenes, because of +the grete Roches, that ben stronge and daungerouse to passe by. And at +Egipt, toward the est, is the rede see, that durethe unto the cytee of +Coston: and toward the west, is the contree of Lybye, that is a fulle drye +lond, and litylle of fruyt: for it is over moche plentee of hete. And that +lond is clept Fusthe. And toward the partie Meridionalle is Ethiope. And +toward the Northe is the desart, that durethe unto Syrye: and so is the +contree strong on alle sydes. And it is wel a 15 journeyes of lengthe, and +more than two so moche of desert: and it is but two journeyes in +largenesse. And between Egipt and Nubye, it hathe wel a 12 journees of +desert. And men of Nubye ben Cristene: but thei ben blake as the Mowres, +for grete hete of the sonne. + +In Egipt there ben 5 provynces; that on highte Sahythe, that other highte +Demeseer, another Resithe, that is an ile in Nyle, another Alisandre, and +another the lond of Damiete. That cytee was wont to be righte strong; but +it was twyes wonnen of the Cristene men: and therfore after that the +Sarazines beten down the walles. And with the walles and the tour thereof, +the Sarazenes maden another cytee more fer from the see, and clepeden it +the newe Damyete. So that now no man duellethe at the rathere toun of +Damyete. And that cytee of Damyete is on of the havenes of Egypt: and at +Alisandre is that other, that is a fulle strong cytee. But there is no +watre to drynke, but zif it come be condyt from Nyle, that entrethe in to +here cisternes. And who so stopped that watre from hem, thei myghte not +endure there. In Egypt there ben but fewe forcelettes or castelles, be +cause that the contree is so strong of him self. At the desertes of Egyptes +was a worthi man, that was an holy heremyte; and there mette with hym a +monstre, (that is to seyne, a monstre is a thing difformed azen kynde both +of man or of best or of ony thing elles: and that is cleped a monstre). And +this monstre, that mette with this holy heremyte, was as it hadde ben a +man, that hadde 2 hornes trenchant on his forehede; and he hadde a body lyk +a man, unto the nabele; and benethe he hadde the body lyche a goot. And the +heremyte asked him, what he was. And the monstre answerde him, and seyde, +he was a dedly creature, suche as God hadde formed, and duelled in tho +desertes in purchasynge his Sustynance; and besoughte the heremyte, that he +wolde preye God for him, the whiche that cam from Hevene for to saven alle +mankynde, and was born of a Mayden, and suffred passioun and dethe, (as we +well knowen) be whom we lyven and ben. And zit is the hede with the 2 +hornes of that monstre at Alisandre for a Marveyle. + +In Egypt is the cytee of Elyople, [Footnote: Heliopolis.] that is to seyne, +the cytee of the sonne. In that cytee there is a temple made round, aftre +the schappe of the temple of Jerusalem. The prestes of that temple han alle +here wrytinges, undre the date of the foul that is clept Fenix: and there +is non but on in alle the world. And he comethe to brenne him self upon the +awtere of the temple, at the ende of 5 hundred zeer: for so longe he +lyvethe. And at the 500 zeers ende, the prestes arrayen here awtere +honestly, and putten there upon spices and sulphur vif [Footnote: Live.] +and other thinges, that wolen brenne lightly. And than the brid fenix +comethe, and brennethe him self to ashes. And the first day next aftre, men +fynden in the ashes a worm; and the secunde day next aftre, men fynden a +brid quyk and perfyt; and the thridde day next aftre, he fleethe his wey. +And so there is no mo briddes of that kynde in alle the world, but it +allone. And treuly that is a gret myracle of God. And men may well lykne +that bryd unto God; be cause that there nys no God but on; and also, that +our Lord aroos fro dethe to lyve, the thridde day. This bryd men seen often +tyme, fleen in tho contrees: and he is not mecheles more than an Egle. And +he hathe a crest of fedres upon his hed more gret than the poocock hathe; +and his nekke is zalowe, aftre colour of an orielle, [Footnote: Golden. +From Latin, _Aurea_. Cf. Oriel College, Golden Hall.] that is a ston well +schynynge; and his bek is coloured blew, as ynde; [Footnote: Indigo.] and +his wenges ben of purple colour, and the Taylle is zelow and red, castynge +his taylle azens in travers. And he is a fulle fair brid to loken upon, +azenst the sonne: for he schynethe fully gloriously and nobely. + +Also in Egypt ben gardyns, than han trees and herbes, the whiche beren +frutes 7 tymes in the zeer. And in that lond men fynden many fayre +emeraudes and y nowe. And therefore thei ben there grettere cheep. Also +whan it reynethe ones in the somer, in the lond of Egipt, thanne is alle +the contree fulle of grete myrs. Also at Cayre, that I spak of before, +sellen men comounly bothe men and wommen of other lawe, as we don here +bestes in the markat. And there is a comoun hows in that cytee, that is +alle fulle of smale furneys; and thidre bryngen wommen of the toun here +eyren [Footnote: Eggs.] of hennes, of gees and of dokes, for to ben put in +to tho furneyses. And thei that kepen that hows covern hem with hete of +hors dong, with outen henne, goos or doke or ony other foul; and at the +ende of 3 wekes or of a monethe, they comen azen and taken here chickenes +and norissche hem and bryngen hem forthe: so that alle the contree is fulle +of hem. And so men don there bothe wyntre and somer. + +Also in that contree, and in othere also, men fynden longe apples to selle, +in hire cesoun: and men clepen hem apples of paradys; and thei ben righte +swete and of gode savour. [Footnote: Melons.] And thoghe zee kutte hem in +never so many gobettes or parties, overthwart or end longes, evermore zee +schulle fynden in the myddes the figure of the Holy Cros of oure Lord Jesu. +But thei will roten within 8 days: and for that cause men may not carye of +the apples to no fer contrees. And thei han grete leves, of a fote and an +half of lengthe: and thei ben covenably large. And men fynden there also +the appulle tree of Adam, that han a byte at on of the sydes. And there ben +also fyge trees, that baren no leves, but fyges upon the smale braunches; +and men clepen hem figes of Pharoon. Also besyde Cayre, withouten that +cytee, is the feld where bawme growethe: and it cometh out on smale trees, +that ben non hyere than a mannes breek girdle: and thei semen as wode that +is of the wylde vyne. And in that feld ben 7 welles, that oure Lord Jesu +Crist made with on of his feet, whan he wente to pleyen with other +children. That feld is not so well closed, but that men may entren at here +owne list. But in that cesonne, that the bawme is growynge, men put there +to gode kepynge, that no man dar ben hardy to entre. This bawme growethe in +no place, but only there. And thoughe that men bryngen of the plauntes, for +to planten in other contrees, thei growen wel and fayre, but thei bryngen +forthe no fructuous thing: and the leves of bawme ne fallen noughte. And +men kutten the braunches with a scharp flynston or with a scherp bon, +[Footnote: Flintstone and bone.] whan men will go to kutte hem: For who so +kutte hem with iren, it wolde destroye his vertue and his nature. And the +Sarazines clepen the wode Enonch balse; and the fruyt, the whiche is as +Quybybes, thei clepen Abebissam; and the lycour, that droppethe fro the +braunches, thei clepen Guybalse. And men maken alle weys that bawme to ben +tyled [Footnote: Tilled.] of the Cristenemen, or elles it wolde not +fructifye; as the Sarazines seyn hem self: for it hathe ben often tyme +preved. Men seyn also, that the bawme growethe in Ynde the more, in that +desert where the trees of the sonne and of the mone spak to Alisaundre. But +I have not seen it. For I have not ben so fer aboven upward: because that +there ben to many perilouse passages. And wyte zee wel, that a man oughte +to take gode kepe for to bye bawme, but zif he cone knowe it righte wel: +for he may righte lyghtely be discoyved. For men sellen a gome, that men +clepen turbentyne, in stede of bawme; and thei putten there to a littille +bawme for to zeven gode odour. And some putten wax in oyle of the wode of +the fruyt of bawme, and seyn that it is bawme: and sume destyllen clowes of +gylofre and of spykenard of Spayne and of othere spices, that ben well +smellynge; and the lykour that gothe out there of, thei clepe it bawme: and +thei wenen, that thei han bawme; and thei have non. For the Sarazines +counterfeten it be sotyltee of craft, for to disceyven the Cristene men, as +I have sene fulle many a tyme. And after hem, the marchauntis and the +apotecaries countrefeten it eftsones, and that it is lasse worthe, and a +gret del worse. But zif it lyke zou, I schalle schewe, how zee schulle +knowe and preve, to the ende that zee schulle not ben disceyved. First zee +schulle wel knowe, that the naturelle bawme is fulle cleer, and of cytrine +colour, and stronge smellynge; and zif it be thykke, or reed or blak, it is +sophisticate, that is to seyne, contrefeted and made lyke it, for disceyt. +And undrestondethe, that zif zee wil putte a litylle bawme in the pawme of +zoure hond, azen the sonne, zif it be fyn and gode, zee ne schulle not +suffre zoure hand azenst the hete of the sonne. Also takethe a lytille +bawme, with the poynt of a knif, and touche it to the fuyr, and zif it +brenne, it is a gode signe. Aftre take also a drope of bawme, and put it in +to a dissche or in a cuppe with mylk of a goat; and zif it be naturelle +bawme, anon it wole take and beclippe the mylk. Or put a drope of bawme in +clere watre, in a cuppe of sylver or in a clere bacyn, and stere it wel +with the clere watre; and zif that the bawme be fyn and of his owne kynde, +the watre schalle nevre trouble: and zif the bawme be sophisticate, that is +to seyne countrefeted, the watre schalle become anon trouble: And also zif +the bawme be fyn, it schalle falle to the botome of the vesselle, as +thoughe it were Quyksylver: For the fyn bawme is more hevy twyes, than is +the bawme that is sophisticate and countrefeted. Now I have spoken of +Bawme: and now also I schalle speke of an other thing, that is bezonde +Babyloyne, above the flode of Nyle, toward the desert, betwene Affrik and +Egypt: that is to seyn, of the gerneres [Footnote: Granaries.] of Joseph, +that he leet make, for to kepe the greynes for the perile of the dere +zeres. And thei ben made of ston, fulle wel made of massones craft: of the +whiche two ben merveylouse grete and hye; and the tothere ne ben not so +grete. And every gerner hathe a zate, for to entre with inne, a lytille +hyghe fro the erthe. For the lond is wasted and fallen, sithe the gerneres +were made. And with inne thei ben alle fulle of serpentes. And aboven the +gerneres with outen ben many scriptures of dyverse langages. And sum men +seyn, that thei ben sepultures of grete lordes, that weren somtyme; but +that is not trewe: for alle the comoun rymour and speche is of alle the +peple there, bothe and nere, that thei ben the garneres of Joseph. And so +fynden thei in here scriptures and in here cronycles. On that other partie, +zif thei were sepultures, thei scholden not ben voyd with inne. For zee may +well knowe, that tombes and sepultures ne ben not made of suche gretnesse, +ne of such highnesse. Wherfore it is not to believe, that thei ben tombes +or sepultures. In Egypt also there ben dyyerse langages and dyverse +lettres, and of other manere condicioun, than there ben in other parties. +As I schalle devyse zou, suche as thei ben, and the names how thei clepen +hem; to suche entent, that zee mowe knowe the difference of hem and of +othere. Athoimis, Bunchi, Chinok, Durain, Eni, Fin, Gomor, Heket, Janny, +Karacta, Luzanim, Miche, Naryn, Oldache, Piloh, Quyn, Yron, Sichen, Thola, +Urmron, Yph and Yarm, Thoit. + +Now will I retourne azen, or I procede ony ferthere, for to declare zou the +othere weyes, that drawen toward Babiloyne, where the Soudan him self +duellethe, that is at the entree of Egypt; for als moche as mony folk gon +thidre first, and aftre that to the Mount Synay, and aftre retournen to +Jerusalem, as I have seyd zou here beforn. For thei fulfillen first the +more long pilgrymage, and aftre retournen azen be the nexte weyes; because +that the more nye weye is the more worthi, and that is Jerusalem. For no +other pylgrymage is not lyk, in comparsoun to it. But for to fulle fylle +here pilgrymages more esily and more sykerly, men gon first the longer +weye. But whoso wil go to Babyloyne be another weye, more schort from the +contrees of the west, that I have reherced before; or from other contrees +next fro hem; than men gon by Fraunce, be Burgoyne and be Lombardye. It +nedethe not to telle zou the names of the cytees, ne of the townes that ben +in that Weye: for the weye is comoun, and it is knowen of many naciouns. +And there ben many havenes, that men taken the see. Sume men taken the see +at Gene, some at Venyce, and passen by the see Adryatyk, that is clept the +Goulf of Venyse; that departethe [Footnote: Separates.] Ytaylle and Greece +on that syde. And some gon to Naples, some to Rome, and from Rome to +Brandys, [Footnote: Brindisi.] and there thei taken the see: and in many +othere places, where that havenes ben. And men gon be Tussye, be Champayne, +be Calabre, be Appuille, and be the hilles of Ytaylle, Chorisqe, be +Sardyne, and be Cycile, that is a gret ile and a gode. In that ile of +Cycile there ys a maner of a gardyn, in the whiche ben many dyverse frutes. +And the gardyn is alweys grene and florisshing, alle the cesouns of the +zeer, als wel in wyntre es in somer. That yle holt in compas aboute 350 +Frensche myles. And betwene Cycele and Itaylle there is not but a lytille +arm of the see, that men clepen the farde of Mescyne. And Cycile is betwene +the See Adryatyk and the See of Lombardye. And fro Cycyle in to Calabre is +but 8 myles of Lombardye. And in Cycile there is a manere of serpentes, be +the whiche men asseyen and preven, where here children ben bastardis or +none, or of lawefulle mariage. For zif thei ben born in righte mariage, the +serpentes gon aboute hem, and don hem non harm: and zif thei ben born in +Avowtrie, the serpentes byten hem and envenyme hem. And thus manye wedded +men preve, zif the children ben here owne. Also in that ile is the Mount +Ethna, that men clepen Mount Gybelle; and the Vulcanes that ben evermore +brennynge. And ther ben 7 places that brennen and that casten out dyverse +flawmes and dyverse colour. And be the chaungynge of tho flawmes, men of +that contree knowen, whanne it schalle be derthe or gode tyme, or cold or +hoot, or moyst or drye, or in alle othere maneres, how the tyme schalle be +governed. And from Itaille unto the Vulcanes nys bat 25 Myle. And men seyn, +that the Vulcanes ben weyes of Helle. + +Also whoso gothe be Pyse, zif that men list to go that weye, there is an +arm of the see, where that men gon to othere havenes in tho marches. And +that men passen be the Ile of Greaf, that is at Gene: and aftre arryvethe +men in Grece at the havene of the cytee of Myrok, or at the havene of +Valone, or at the cytee of Duras: and there is a duk at Duras, or at othere +havenes in tho marces: and so men gon to Costantynoble. And aftre gon men +be watre to the Ile of Crete, and to the Ile of Rodes, ond so to Cypre, and +so to Athens, and fro thens to Costantynoble. + +To holde the more righte weye be see, it is wel a 1880 myle of Lombardye. +And aftre fro Cipre men gon be see, and leven Jerusalem and alle the +contree on the left hond, onto Egypt, and arryven at the cytee of Damyete, +that was wont to be fulle strong, and it sytt at the entree of Egypt. And +fro Damyete gon men to the cytee of Alizandre, that sytt also upon the see. +In that cytee was seynte Kateryne beheded. And there was seynt Mark the +Evangelist martyred and buryed. But the Emperour Leoun made his bones to +ben broughte to Venyse. And zit there is at Alizandre a faire chirche, alle +white withouten peynture: and so ben alle the othere chirches, that weren +of the Cristene men, alle white with inne. For the Panemes and the +Sarrazynes madem hem white, for to fordon [Footnote: To destroy.-- +Anglo-Saxon, _for-don_.] the ymages of seyntes, that weren peynted on the +walles. That cytee of Alizandre is wel 30 furlonges in lengthe: but it is +but 10 on largenesse. And it is a full noble cytee and a fayr. At that +cytee entrethe the ryvere of Nyle in to the see; as I to zou have seyd +before. In that ryvere men fynden many precyouse stones, and meche also of +lignum aloes: and it is a manere of wode, that comethe out of Paradys +terrestre, the whiche is good for manye dyverse medicynes: and it is righte +dereworthe. And fro Alizandre men gon to Babyloyne, where the Soudan +dwellethe; that sytt also upon the ryvere of Nyle. And this wey is most +schort, for to go streyghte unto Babiloyne. + +Now schall I seye zou also the weye, that gothe fro Babiloyne to the Mount +of Synay, where Seynte Kateryne lythe. He moste passe be the desertes of +Arabye; be the whiche descries Moyses ladde the peple of Israel: and thanne +passe men be the welle, that Moyses made with his hond in the desertes, +whan the people grucched, [Footnote: Grumbled.] for thei fownden no thing +to drynke. And than passe men be the welle of Marache, of the whiche the +watre was first byttre: but the children of Israel putten there inne a +tree; and anon the watre was swete and gode for to drynke. And thanne gon +men be desart unto the Vale of Elyn; in the whiche vale be 12 welles: and +there ben 72 trees of palme, that beren the dates, the whiche Moyses fond +with the children of Israel. And fro that valeye is but a gode journeye to +the Mount of Synay. + +And whoso wil go be another weye fro Babiloyne, than men gothe be the Rede +See, that is an arm of the see occean. And there passed Moyses, with the +children of Israel, overthwart the see, alle drye, whan Pharao the Kyng of +Egypt chaced hem. And that see is wel a 6 myle of largenesse in bredthe. +And in that see was Pharao drowned and alle his hoost, that he ladde. That +see is not more reed than another see; but in some place thereof is the +gravelle reede: and therfore men clepen it the Rede See. That see reunethe +to the endes of Arabye and of Palestyne. That see lastethe more than 4 +journeyes. And then gon men be desert unto the Vale of Elyn: and fro thens +to the Mount of Synay. And zee may wel undirstonde, that be this desert, no +man may go on hors back, be cause that there nys nouther mete for hors ne +watre to drynke. And for that cause men passen that desert with camelle. +For the camaylle fynt alle wey mete in trees and on busshes, that he +fedethe him with. And he may well faste fro drynk 2 dayes or 3: and that +may non hors don. + +And wyte wel, that from Babiloyne to the Mount Synay is wel a 12 gode +journeyes: and some men maken hem more: and some men hasten hem and peynen +hem; and therefore thei maken hem lesse. And alle weys fynden men latyneres +[Footnote: Men who speak Latin.] to go with hem in the contrees, and +ferthere bezonde, in to tyme that men conne [Footnote: Know.] the langage. +And it behovethe men to here vitaille with hem, that schalle duren hem in +tho desertes, and other necessaries for to lyve by. + +And the Mount of Synay is clept the Desert of Syne, that is for to seyne +the bussche brennynge: because there Moyses sawghe oure Lord God many +tymes, in forme of fuyr brennynge upon that hille; and also in a bussche +brennynge; and spak to him. And that was at the foot of the hille. There is +an abbeye of monks, wel bylded and wel closed with zates of iren, for drede +of the wylde bestes. And the monkes ben Arrabyenes, or men of Greece: and +there is a grot covent; and alle thei ben as heremytes; and thei drynken no +wyn, but zif it be on principalle festes: and thei ben fulle devoute men, +and lyven porely and sympely, with joutes [Footnote: The original note +reads 'Gourds', but joutes are actually herbs--KTH.] and with dates: and +thei don gret absteynence and penaunce. There is the Chirche of Seynt +Kateryne, in the whiche ben manye lampes brennynge. For thei han of oyle of +olyves y now, bothe for to brenne in here lampes, and to ete also: and that +plentee have thei be the myracle of God. For the ravenes and the crowes and +the choughes, and other foules of the contree assemblen hem there every +zeer ones, and fleen thider as in pilgrymage: and eyeryche of hem bringethe +a braunche of the bayes or of olyve, in here bekes, in stede of offryng, +and leven hem there; of the whiche the monkes maken gret plentee of oyle; +and this is a gret marvaylle. And sithe that foules, that han no kyndely +wytt ne resoun, gon thidre to seche that gloriouse virgyne; wel more +oughten men than to seche hire and to worschipen hire. Also behynde the +awtier of that chirche is the place where Moyses saughe oure Lord God in a +brennynge bussche. And whanne the monkes entren in to that place, thei don +of bothe hosen and schoon or botes alweys; be cause that oure Lord seyde to +Moyses, _Do of thin hosen and thi schon: for the place that thou stondest +on is lond holy and blessed._ And the monkes clepen that place Bezeleel, +that is to seyne, the schadew of God. And besyde the highe awtiere, 3 +degrees of heighte, is the fertre [Footnote: Bier.] of alabastre, where the +bones of Seynte Kateryne lyzn. And the prelate of the monkes schewethe the +relykes to the pilgrymes. And with an instrument of sylver, he frothethe +the bones; [Footnote: Rubbeth.] and thanne ther gothe out a lytylle oyle, +as thoughe it were a maner swetynge, that is nouther lyche to oyle ne to +bawme; but it is fulle swete of smelle: And of that thei zeven a litylle to +the pilgrymes; for there gothe out but litylle quantitee of the likour. And +aftre that thei schewen the heed of Seynte Kateryne, and the clothe that +sche was wrapped inne, that is zit alle blody. And in that same clothe so y +wrapped, the aungeles beren hire body to the Mount Synay, and there thei +buryed hire with it. And thanne thei schewen the bussche, that brenned and +wasted nought, in the whiche oure Lord spak to Moyses, and othere relikes y +nowe. Also whan the prelate of the abbeye is ded, I have undirstonden, be +informacioun, that his lampe quenchethe. And whan thei chesen another +prelate, zif he be a gode man and worthi to be prelate, his lampe schal +lighte, with the grace of God, withouten touchinge of ony man. For everyche +of hem hathe a lampe be him self. And be here lampes thei knowen wel whan +ony of hem schalle dye. For whan ony schalle dye, the lyghte begynnethe to +chaunge and to wexe dym. And zif he be chosen to ben prelate, and is not +worthi, his lampe quenchethe anon. And other men han told me, that he that +syngethe the masse for the prelate that is ded, he schalle fynde upon the +awtier the name writen of him that schalle be prelate chosen. And so upon a +day I asked of the monkes, bothe on and other, how this befelle. But thei +wolde not telle me no thing, in to the tyme that I seyde, that thei scholde +not hyde the grace, that God did hem; but that thei scholde publissche it, +to make the peple to have the more devocioun; and that thei diden synne, to +hide Goddis myracle, as me seemed. For the myracles, that God hathe don, +and zit dothe every day, ben the wytnesse of his myghte and of his +merveylles; as Dayid sethe in the Psaultere; _Mirabilia testimonia tua, +Domine_: that is to seyn, _Lord, thi merveyles ben thi wytnesse_. And +thanne thei tolde me, bothe on and other, how it befelle fulle many a tyme: +but more I myghte not have of hem. In that abbeye ne entrethe not no flye +ne todes ne ewtes, ne suche foule venymouse bestes, ne lyzs ne flees, be +the myracle of God and of oure lady. For there were wont to ben many suche +manere of filthes, that the monkes werein in wille to leve the place and +the Abbeye, and weren gon fro thens, upon the mountayne aboven, for to +eschewe that place. And oure lady cam to hem, and bad hem tournen azen: and +fro this forewardes nevere entred suche filthe in that place amonges hem, +ne nevere schalle entre here aftre. Also before the zate is the welle, +where Moyses smot the ston, of the whiche the watre cam out plenteously. + +Fro that abbeye men gon up the mountayne of Moyses, be many degrees: and +there men fynden first a Chirche of oure Lady, where that sche mette the +monkes, whan thei fledden awey for the vermyn aboveseyd. And more highe +upon that mountayne is the chapelle of Helye the prophete. And that place +thei clepen Oreb, where of Holy Writt spekethe. _Et ambulavit in +fortisudine cibi illius usque ad Montem Oreb_: that is to seyne, _And he +wente in strength of that mete, unto the hille of God, Oreb_. And there +nyghe is the vyne that Seynt John the Evaungeliste planted, that men elepen +reisins, _staphis_. And a lytille aboven is the Chapelle of Moyses, and the +roche where Moyses fleghe to, for drede, when he saughe oure Lord face to +face. And in that roche is prented the forme of his body; for he smot so +strongly and so harde him self in that roche, that alle his body was dolven +with inne, thorghe the myracle of God. And there besyde is the place where +oure Lorde toke to Moyses the 10 commandementes of the lawe. And there is +the cave undre the roche, where Moyses duelte, whan he fasted 40 dayes and +40 nyghtes. And from that mountayne men passen a gret valeye, for to gon to +another mountayne, where Seynt Kateryne was buryed of the aungeles of oure +Lord. And in that valey is a chirche of 40 martyres; and there singen the +monkes of the abbeye often tyme. And that valey is right cold. And aftre +men gon up the mountayne of Seynt Kateryne, that is more highe then the +mount of Moyses. And there, where Seynt Kateryne was buryed, is nouther +chirche ne chapelle, ne other duellynge place: but there is an heep of +stones aboute the place, where the body of hire was put of the aungeles. +There was wont to ben a chapelle: but it was casten downe, and zit lyggen +the stones there. And alle be it that the collect of Seynte Kateryne seye, +that it is the place where oure Lord betaughten the Ten Comandementes to +Moyses, and there where the blessed virgyne Seynte Kateryne was buryed; +that is to undrestonde, in o contree, or in o place berynge o name. For +bothe that on and that othre is clept the Mount of Synay. But there is a +grete weye from that on to that othre, and a gret deep valeye betwene hem. + + +Of the desert bet wen e the chirche of Seynte Kateryne and Jerusalem. Of + the drie Tre; and how roses cam first in the world. + +[Sidenote: Cap. VI.] Now aftre that men had visited tho holy places, thanne +will thei turnen toward Jerusalem. And than wil thei take leve of the +monkes, and recommenden hem to here preyeres. And than thei zeven the +pilgrimes of here vitaylle, for to passe with the desertes, toward Surrye. +And tho desertes duren wel it 13 journeyes. In that desert duellyn manye of +Arrabyenes, that men clepen Bedoynes and Ascopardes. And thei ben folke +fulle of alle evylle condiciouns. And thei have none houses, but tentes; +that thei maken of skynnes of bestes, as of camaylles and of othere bestes, +that thei eten; and there benethe thei couchen hem and duellen, in place, +where thei may fynden watre, as on the Rede See or elles where For in that +desert is fulle gret defaute of watre: and often time it fallethe, that +where men fynden watre at o tyme in a place, it faylethe another tyme. And +for that skylle, thei make none habitaciouns there. Theise folk, that I +speke of, thei tylen not the lond, ne thei laboure noughte; for thei eten +no bred, but zif it be ony that dwellen nyghe a gode toun, that gon thidre +and eten bred som tyme. And thei rosten here flesche and here fische upon +the hote stones azenst the sonne. And thei ben stronge men and wel +fyghtynge. And there is so meche multytude of that folk, that thei ben +withouten nombre. And thei ne recchen of no thing, ne don not, but chacen +afere bestes, to eten hem. And thei recchen no thing of here lif: and +therefore thei dowten not the Sowdan, ne non othre prince; but thei dar wel +werre with hem, zif thei don ony thing that is grevance to hem. And thei +han often tyme werre with the Soudan; and namely, that tyme that I was with +him. And thei beren but o scheld and o spere, with outen other armes. And +thei wrappen here hedes and here necke with a gret quantytee of white +lynnen clothe. And thei ben righte felonouse and foule, and of cursed +kynde. + +And whan men passen this desert, in comynge toward Jerusalem, thei comen to +Bersabee, that was wont to ben a fulle fair town and a delytable of +Cristene men: and zit there ben summe of here chirches. In that town +dwelled Abraham the patriark, a long tyme. In that toun of Bersabee, +founded Bersabee the wife of Sire Urye, the knyghte; on the whiche Kyng +David gatt Salomon the wyse, that was king aftre David, upon the 12 +kynredes of Jerusalem, and regned 40 zeer. And fro thens gon men to the +cytee of Ebron, that is the montance [Footnote: Amount.] of a gode myle. +And it was clept somtyme the Vale of Mambree, and sumtyme it was clept the +Vale of Teres, because that Adam wepte there, an 100 zeer, for the dethe of +Abelle his sone, that Cayn slowghe. Ebron was wont to ben the princypalle +cytee of Philistyenes; and there duelleden somtyme the geauntz. And that +cytee was also Sacerdotalle, that is to seyne, seyntuarie, of the tribe of +Juda: and it was so fre, that men resceyved there alle manere of fugityfes +of other places, for here evyl dedis. In Ebron, Josue, Calephe, and here +companye comen first to aspyen, how thei myghte wynnen the lond of Beheste. +In Ebron regned first Kyng David, 7 zeer and an half: and in Jerusalem he +regnede 33 zeer and an half. And in Ebron ben alle the sepultures of the +patriarkes, Adam, Abraham, Ysaac, and of Jacob; and of here wyfes, Eve, +Sarre, and Rebekke, and of Lya: the whiche sepultures the Sarazines kepen +fulle curyously, and han the place in gret reverence, for the holy fadres, +the patriarkes, that lyzen there. And thei suffre no Cristene man entre in +to that place, but zif it be of specyalle grace of the Soudan. For thei +holden Cristen men and Jewes as dogges. And thei seyn, that thei scholde +not entre in to so holy place. And men clepen that place, where thei lyzn, +double spelunke, or double cave or double dyche; for als meche as that on +lyethe above that other. And the Sarazines clepen that place in here +langage Karicarba; that is to seyn, the place of patriarkes. And the Jewes +clepen that place Arbothe. And in that same place was Abrahames hous: and +there he satt and he saughe 3 persones, and worschipte but on; as Holy +Writt seyethe, _Tres vidit et unum adoravit_: that is to seyne, _He soughe +3, and worschiped on_: and of tho same resceyved Abraham the aungeles in to +his hous. And righte faste by that place is a cave in the roche, where Adam +and Eve duelleden, whan thei weren putt out of Paradyse; and there goten +thei here children. And in thai same place, was Adam formed and made; aftre +that that sum men seyn. For men werein wont for to clepe that place, the +feld of Damasce; because that it was in the lordschipe of Damask. And fro +thens was he translated in to paradys of delytes, as thei seyn: and aftre +that he was dryven out of Paradys, he was there left. And the same day that +he was putt in Paradys, the same day he was putt autt: for anon he synned. +There begynnethe the Vale of Ebron, that durethe nyghe to Jerusalem. There +the Aungelle commaunded Adam, that he scholde duelle with his wyf Eve: of +the whiche he gatt Sethe; of whiche tribe, that is to seyn, kynrede, Jesu +Crist was born. In that valeye is a feld, where men drawen out of the erthe +a thing, that men clepen cambylle: and thei ete it in stede of spice, and +thei bere it to selle. And men may not make the hole ne the cave, where it +is taken out of the erthe, so depe ne so wyde, but that it is, at the zeres +ende, fulle azen up to the sydes, thorgh the grace of God. + +And 2 myle from Ebron is the grave of Lothe, that was Abrahames brother. +And a lytille fro Ebron is the Mount of Mambre, of the whiche the yaleye +takethe his name. And there is a tree of oke, that the Sarazines clepen +dirpe, that is of Abrahames tyme, the whiche men clepen the drye tree. And +thei seye, that it hathe ben there sithe the beginnynge of the world; and +was sumtyme grene, and bare leves, unto the tyme that oure Lord dyede on +the cros; and thanne it dryede; and so dyden alle trees, that weren thanne +in the World. And summe seyn, be here prophecyes, that a Lord, a prynce of +the west syde of the world shalle wynnen the lond of promyssioun, that is +the Holy Lond, withe helpe of Cristene men; and he schalle do synge a masse +undir that drye tree, and than the tree schalle wexen grene and bere bothe +fruyt and leves. And thorghe that myracle manye Sarazines and Jewes schulle +be turned to Cristene feythe. And therfore thei don gret worschipe thereto, +and kepen it fulle besyly; And alle be it so, that it be drye, natheles zit +he berethe gret vertue: for certeynly he that hathe a litille there of upon +him, it helethe him of the fallynge evylle: and his hors schalle not ben a +foundred: and manye othere vertues it hathe: where fore men holden it fulle +precyous. + +From Ebron, men gon to Bethelem, in half a day: for it is but 5 myle; and +it is fulle fayre weye, be pleynes and wodes fulle deletable. + + +CAPVT. 13. + +De ciuitate Bethleem, et semita vsque in Ierusalem. + +Bethleem Ciuitas longa sed parua, firmata est vndique fossatis fortibus: +cuius modņ habitatores quasi omnos sunt Christiani. In illa ad orientem +honesta, et placida habetur Ecclesia: (nescio an aliquam eiusdem +quantitatis viderim placentiorem,) extrinsecus habens turres saltaturas, +pinnacula, et propugnacula nobili artificio fabricata, et intrinsecus 44. +de marmore decoro columnas. Ad principalis autem turris dextram in descensu +16. graduum, est diuersorij locus, vbi ex intacta et benedicta Virgine +nascebatur Christus homo Deus. Hic locus est multłm artificiosč operatus +marmore, et generosč depictus auro et argento, variņque colore, cui propč +ad tres passus est pręsepe in quo reclinabatur natus Dominus, ibķque +videtur puteus quidam, in quo aliqui putare volunt cecidisse stellam +ductricem trium Magorum, post eius peractum officium. + +Est etiam ante pręsepe Domini, tumba beati Interpretis Hieronymi, et extra +Ecclesiam monstratur cathedra, in qua residere solebat. Sub clausura huius +ecclesię ad dextram, per 18. gradus apparet fossa, quę dicitur ossium +innocentium causa Christi ab Herode impio occisorum. Hinc ad quingentos, +vel cķtra pedes habetur alia Ecclesia nomine Sancti Nicholai, in quo +scilicet loco, post recessum Magorum beata Virgo tempus sui puerperij +obseruauit. [Sidenote: Taxat simplicitatem vulgi.] Ibķque monstrantur rubra +saxa albis respersa maculis, quņd simpliciores narrant saxis euenisse de +abundantia lactis virginis ab vberibus eiecti. In via Bethleem ab Helya +miliario contra meridianam plagam iuxta viam quę ducit Ebron, Christiani de +Bethleem colunt circa ciuitatem multam copiam vinearum, ad potum sub +ipsorum. [Sidenote: Saraceni non bibunt vinum in manifesto.] Nam Sarraceni +non colunt vineas, nec vina vendunt neque in manifesto bibunt, eņ quņd +liber legis Mahomet, facit super hoc prohibitionem, et interpretatur +maledictionem. + +[Sidenote: Sanctę Charitatis.] De Bethleem in Austrum duabus leucis habetur +claustrum Sanctę Charitatis, ibidem suo tempore Abbatissę. A Bethleem +tendendo Ierusalem inuenitur ad dimidiam leucam Ecclesia, in cuius loco +Angelus dixit pastoribus, Annuncio vobis gaudium magnum, quod natus est +nobis Saluatur qui est Christus Dominus. Est et tumba Rachel Patriarchę, +vbi etiam coaceruata iacent 12. saxa magna, quę quidam autumant illic +tumulasse Iacob, eņ quņd Beniamin duodecimus sibi filius nascebatur ibidem. +Sķcque venitur in Sanctam Ciuitatem Ierusalem. [Sidenote: Bethel] Notandum, +Bethel vicus est 12. ab Helya ad dextram euntibus Neapoli, quę primłm Luza +vocabatur. Sed ex eo tempore quo ibat ad Ieroboam, filium Nebat, vituli +aurei fabricati sunt, et ą decem tribubus adorata, vocata est Bethauen, id +est, Domus Idoli, quę antč vocabatur Domus Dei. Ieronymus. Sed et Ecclesia +ędificata est vbi dormiuit Iacob, pergens Mesopotamiam, vbi et ipsi loco +Bethel, id est, domus Dei nomen imposuit. + + +CAPVT. 14. + +De Ecclesia gloriosi Sepulchri Domini in vrbe Ierusalem. + +Ierusalem cum tota terra prommissionis, est quasi vna de quinque prouincijs +vel pluribus, quibus Regnum Syrię distinguitur. Iungitur autem Iudeę ad +Orientem Regno Arabię, ad meridiem Aegypto, ad Occidentem mari mago, et ad +Aquilonem Rego Syrię. Iudeę terra per diuersa tempora ą diuersis possessa +fuit nationibus, Cananęorum, Iudęorum, Assyriorum, Persarum, Medorum, +Macedonum, Gręcorum, Romanorum, Christianorum, Sarracenorum, Barbarorum, +Turcorum, and Tartarurum. Cuius rei causa meritņ potest ęstimari, quod non +sustinuit Deus magnos peccatores longo tempore permanere in terra sibi tam +placita, et tam sancta. + +[Sidenote: Templum Sepulchri.] Itaque perigrinus veniens in Ierusalem primo +expleat suam peregrinationem, ad reuerendum et sacrosanctum Domini nostri +Iesu Christi sepulchrum: cuius Ecclesia est in vltima ciuitatis +extremitate, ad partem aquilonarem, cum proprio sui ambitus muro ipsi +ciuitati adiuncto. Ipsa verņ Ecclesia est pulchra et rotundę formę cooperta +desuper cum tegulis plumbeis, habens in Occidente turrim altam et firmam, +in pauimenti Ecclesię medio ad figuram dimidij compassi habetur nobili +opere Latonico ędificatum paruum Tabernaculum quasi 15. pedum tam +longitudinis quąm latitudinis, et altitudinis miro artificio intus extrąque +compositum, ac multłm diligenter diuersis coloribus ornatum. Hoc itaque in +Tabernaculo seu Capella, ad latus dextrum, continetur incomparabilis +thesaurus gloriosissimi sepulchri, habentis octo pedes longitudinis, et +quinque latitudinis. Et quoniam in toto habitaculo nulla est apertura +pręter paruum ostium, illustratur accedentibus peregrinis pluribus +lampadibus, (quarum ad minus vna coram sepulchro iugiter ardere solet) +ingressus. + +[Sidenote: Melech Mandybron Soldanus.] Sciendum, quņd ante breue tempus +solebat sepulchrum esse ingressis peregrinis accessibile, ad tangendum et +osculandum, sed quia multi vel effringebant, vel conabantur sibi effringere +aliquid de petra sepulchri, iste Soldanus Melech Mahdybron fecit illud +confabricari, vt nec osculari valeat, nec adiri, sed tantummodo intueri, Et +ob illam causam in sinistro pariete in altitudine quinque pedum immurari +effracturam petrę sepulchri ad quantitatem capitis humani, quod tanquam pro +sepulchro ibi ab omnibus veneratur, tangitur, et osculatur. + +Dicitur ibi quoque communiter pręfatam lampadem coram sepulchro singulis +annis in die Sanctę Parascheues, hora nona extingui, et in media nocte +Paschę sine humano studio reaccendi. [Sidenote: Mandeuillus de hoc +dubitat.] Quod (si ita est) euidens diuini beneficii miraculum est. Et +quamis id plurimi Christiani simpliciter in magno pietatis merito credant, +plerķsque tamen est in suspicione. Fortč talia Sarraceni custodes sepulchre +fingentes diuulgauerunt, pro augendo emolumenta tributi, quod inde +resultaret, seu oblationum quę dantur. + +Singulis autem annis in die coenę Domini in Parascheue, et in vigilia +Paschę, tribus his diebus manet Tabernaculum hoc apertum continuč, et patet +omnibus Christianis gentibus accessus, aliąs verņ non per annum sine +redditione tributi. Intra Ecclesiam, propč parietem dextrum, est Caluarię +locus, vbi crucifixus pependit Christus Dominus. [Sidenote: Tumba Godefridi +de Bollion.] Per gradus ascenditur in hunc locum, et est rupis velut albi +coloris, cum aliqua rubedine per loca commixta, habens scissuram, quam +dicunt Golgotha, in qua maior pars preciosi sanguinis Christi dicitur +influxisse: vbi et habetur altare constructum, ante quod consistunt tumbę +Godefridi de Bullion, et aliorum Regum Christianorum, qui circa annum +incarnationis Domini, 1100. debellauerunt et obtinuerunt sanctam vrbem cum +tota patria ex manibus Sarracenorum, et per hoc conquisierunt sibi magnum +nomen, vsque in finem sęculi duraturum. [Sidenote: Psal. 74. 12.] Propč +ipsius crucifixionķs locum continetur literis. Gręcis hoc scriptum: [Greek: +ho theos basileus hęmon pro aionos eirgasato sotęrian en mesoi tęs gęs]. +hoc est dicere, Deus Rex noster ante secula operatus est salutem in medio +terrę. Item directč in loco, vbi crux sancta stetit cum Christo rupi +infixa, habetur hoc exaratum in saxo rupis: [Greek: ho horais esi basis tęs +piseos ton kosmon], hoc est, quod vides fundamentum est fidei mundi. + +[Sidenote: Iterum taxit ignorantiam vulge. Regina Helena Anglia.] Haud +remotč ab hoc Caluarię monte, habetur et aliud altare, vbi iacet columna +flagellationis Domini, cui stant de propinque et ali coęlumnę quatuor de +Marmore aquam iugiter resundantes, et (secundum opinionem simplicium) +passionem innocentem Christie deflentes. Est sub isto altari crypta, 42. +granduum profunda, vbi sancta Helena Regina reperit tres cruces, videlicet +Christi, et latronum cum eo crucifixorum, ac etiam clauos crucis Domini in +cryptę pariete. + +In medio autem chori huius Ecciesię, est locus pauimenti stratus mirč et +pulchrč, ad integram compassi figuram vbi depositum corpus Christi de cruce +Ioseph ab Aramathia cum suis adiutoribus lauit et condiuit aromatibus. Item +infra Ecclesiam ą septentrionali parte ostenditur locus, vbi Christus +Magdalenę apparuit post suam resurrectionem, quando eum credidit +hortulanum. + +[Sidenote: Indorum Capella sive subditorum pręsbiteri Ioannis.] A dextro +autem latere ad ingressum Ecclesię, habentur gradus 18. sub quibus est +Capella Indorum, vbi soli peregrini de India per sacerdotes suos cantant +iuxta ritum suum Missas, celebrąntque diuina. Missam faciunt quidem +breuissimam, conficientes in principio verbis debitis sacramentum corporis +et sanguinis Christi de pane et vino, ac posteą paucis orationibus additis, +totum oratione Dominica concludunt officium. Hoc autem verum est, quod cum +maxima attentione, reuerentia, humilitate et deuotione se gerunt et +continent diuinis. + +[Sidenote: An Ierusalem sit in medio mundi.] Porrņ illud, quod quidam +peruulgauerunt, aut opinati sunt, Iudęam aut Ierusalem, vel Ecclesiam istam +consistere in medio totius mundi, propter prędictam scripturam, (in medio +terrę) hoc intelligi non potest localiter ad mensuram corporis terrę: Nam +si ad terrę latitudinem, quam ęstimant inter duos polos, respiciamus, +certum est Iudęam non esse in medio, quod tunc esset sub circulo ęquatoris, +et esset ibi semper ęquinoctium, et vtrumque polorum staret iis in +horizonte. Quod vtique non est ita, quod existentibus in Iudęa eleuatur +multłm polus arcticus. + +Rursus si ad terrę longitudinem spectemus, quę ęstimari potest ą Paradiso +terrestri, scilicet ą digniori et latiori terrę loco, versus eius Nadir, +scilicet versus locum sibi in Sphęra terrę oppositum, tunc Iudęa esset ad +Antipodes paradisi, quod apparet ita non esse, quod tunc esset viatori de +Iudęa ad Paradisum tendentis ęqua itineris mensura, siue tenderet versus +Orientem, siue versus Occidentem. Sed hoc non est verisimile nec verum, +sicut probatum constat per experientiam multorum. Mihi autem videtur, quod +pręfata Prophetę scriptura, potest exponi, in medio terrę, id est, circa +medium nostri habitabilis, videlicet vt Iudęa sit circa medium inter +Paradisum et Antipodes Paradisi, distans tantum ab ipso Paradiso in oriente +96. gradibus, prout ego ipse per viam orientalem tentaui; quanquam de hoc +non videtur de facili plena certitudo haberi; eo quņd in longitudine coeli +nullę stellę manent immobiles, sicut in latitudine manent poli sempčr fixi. +Vel potest ita exponi, quņd Dauid qui erat Rex Iudęa, dixit in medio terrę, +hoc est, in principali ciuitate terrę suę Ierusalem, quę erat ciuitas +regalis, siue sacerdotalis terrę Iudeę: vel fortč spiritus sanctus, qui +loquebatur per os prophetę in hoc verbo vult intelligi non corporeum aut +locale, sed totum spirituale, de quo intuitu nihil ad pręsens est +scribendum, + + +CAPVT. 15. + +De tribus alijs Ecclesijs, et specialiter de templo Domini. + +Vltrą duo stadia ab Ecclesia ad Meridiem sancti sepulchri habetur magnum +hospitale sancti Ioannis Hierosolymitani, qui caput et fundamentum esse +dignoscitur ordinis hospitaliorum modņ tententium Rhodum insulam: in quo +recipi possunt omnes Christiani perigrini cuiuscunque sint conditionis, seu +status, vel dignitatis. Nam Sarraceni pro leui cura anxij rumoris, +prohibent ne apud quenquam suorum Christianus pernoctet. Ad sustentationem +ędificij huius hospitalis, habentur in eo 124. columnę marmoreę, et in +parietibus distincti 54. pilarij. Satis propč hunc locum in orientem, est +Ecclesia quę dicitur, de Domina nostra magna: et indč non remotč alia, quę +dicitur nostrę Dominę latinorum, ędificata super locum, vbi Maria +Magdalene, et Maria Cleophę cum alijs pluribus, dum Christus cruci +affigebatur, flebant et dolores lamentabiles exercebant. + +Item ab Ecclesia Sancti Sepulchri in orientem ad stadium cum dimidio +habetur ędificium mirabile, ac pulchrum valdč, quod templum Domini +nominatur, quod constructum est in forma rotunda, cuius circumferentię +diameter habet 64 cubitos, et altitudo eius 126, et intrinsecus pro +sustentatione ędificij, multi pilarij. In medio autem templi est locus +altior 14. gradibus, qui et ipse columnis vndķque est stipatus: et secundum +quatuor mundi plagas habet templum quatuor introitus per portas Cypressinas +artificiosč compositas, nobiliterque sculptas, et excisas. Et ante portam +aquilonarem intra templum fontem aquę mundę, qui quamuis olim exundabat, +tamen nunc minimč fluit. In toto circuitu ędificij extrinsecus est valdč +pro atrio latum spacium loci, stratum per totum pauimentum marmoribus. Hoc +templum non ducitur stare in eodem loco vbi templum Dei stetit in tempore +Christi, quo post resurrectionem a Romanis destructo, istud longo post +tempore Adrianus Imperator extruxit, sed non ad formam templi prioris: +prędictum tamen excelsum in medio templi locum vocant Iudęi sanctum +sanctorum. + +Sciatis itąque quņd Sarraceni magnam exhibent huic templo reuerentiam, et +honorem sępius illud discalceati intrantes, et positis genibus deuotč Deum +omnipotentem exorantes, nulla enim ibidem habetur imago, sed multę lampades +relucentes. [Sidenote: Literę Soldani traditę Mandiuillo.] Neminem +Christianorum seu Iudęorum ingredi sinun, templum, reputantes eos indignos +ad hoc, et nimium immundos, vndč nisi virtute literarum quas habui a +Soldano, nec ego fuissem ingressus. Ingrediens autem cum meis sodalibus +deposuimus calciamenta, recogitantes cum multa cordis deuotione, nos magis +id facere debere, quąm incredulos Sarrcenos. + +Et verč meritņ est iste locus in magna reuerentia habendus: dum enim Rex +Salomon primum in illo templo per Dei iussionem, et Dauidis patris sui +commissionem ędificasset, exorauit pręsente cuncto populo Israel, vt +quicśnque illic Deum pro iusta causa rogaret audiretur; et Dominus +monstrauit exauditionis signum per nebulam de coelo emissam, prołt narrat +historia veritatis 3. Regum libro. + +Porrņ in eo loco vbi statuerat idem Rex ante templum altare holocausti, +videlicet extra portam templi occidentalem, habetur et nunc altare, sed non +ad instar, nec ad vsum primi: Nam Saraceni, quasi nihil curantes, traxerunt +in eo lineos tanquam in astrolabio figentes in linearum centro batellum, ad +cuius vmbram per lineas discernuntur diei horae. + +Etiam in hac atrij parte apparent adhuc vestigia portę speciosę, vbi Petrus +Apostolus, cum Euangelista Ioanne dixit contracto, In nomine Christi Iesu +Nazareni surge, et statim consolidabantur illi plantę. + + +CAPVT. 16. + +De pluribus locis sacris iuxta vrbem. + +[Sidenote: Templarij ą templo Salomonis dicti.] Viaturo ad dextram satis de +propinquo habetur et alia Ecclesia, quę nunc appellatur schola Salomonis: +rursusque ad Meridiem est et aliud templum siue Ecclesia, quę vocatur +Templum Salomonis, quņd olim fuit caput, et fundamentum totius ordinis +Templariorum. + +[Sidenote: Regina Helena Angla.] A claustro huius templi extrinsecus in +Aquilonem habetur decora Ecclesia beatę Annę, in cuius loco creditur virgo +Maria in eiusdem matris suę vtero fuisse genita, et concepta, parentunque +illius, scilicet, Ioachim et Annę, tumba saxea monstratur in descensu +Ecclesię, per 22. gradus, vbi et adhuc patris eius ossa putantur quiescere, +sublato inde per reginam Helenam korpore sanctę Annę, et recondito (vt +prędictum est) in Ecclesia Constantinopoli sanctę Sophię. + +[Sidenote: Probatica piscina.] Est et intra hanc Ecclesiam probatica +piscina, vbi quondam post motionem Angeli, omnes accedentes primi, a +quocśnque languore sanabantur infirmi, quę tamen nunc temporis ita neglecta +iacet, et deformata, vt videtur immunda cistrina. Habetur et ante Ecclesiam +arbor grandis, et antiqua, de qua nonnulli fabulantur, quod ad beatę Marię +natiuitatem principium accepit, et ortum. + +[Sidenote: Mons Sion.] Mons Sion est excelsior locus in vrbe ad cuius +radicem, est castrum spectabile constructum per aliquem Soldanorum. In +montis autem cacumine videntur multę sepulturę regum Indeę, videlicet +Dauid, Salomonis, et quorundam de successoribus suis. Ad introitum montis +habetur capella, et in illa lapis monumenti quem Ioseph de Arimathea +obuoluit ad ostium sepulchri est valde magnus, et est ibidem aliqua pars +columnę flagellationis, ac pars mensę super quam Dominus vltimņ cęnauit cum +Apostolis, et instituit noui Testamenti sacramentum sui venerandi corporis, +et sanguinis. Sub hac capella ad aliquos gradus monstratur locus eiusdem +cęnationis, videlicčt cęrnaculķ magni, et in eo vas, aquarum, in quo +Christus lauabat pedes Apostolorum: iuxta quod vas a Gamaliele, et alijs +viris timoratis primus sepultus fuit protomartyr Stephanus. + +In eo quoque loco intrauit post resurrectionem suam Dominus ianuis clausis +ad discipulos dicens pax vobis, et agens alia, quę plenius Euangelica +pandit Historia, ac tandem in die Pentecostes ijsdem spiritum sanctum in +linguis igneis misit ibidem. Ab hoc monte Sion versus ciuitatem habetur +Ecclesia dedicata sancto saluatori, in quo nunc dicuntur seruari ossa S. +Stephani supradicti, et sinistrum brachium S. Ioannis Chrisostomi, cuius +corpus vt dictum est requiescit Constantinopoli. + +Item ab hoc monte versus Austrum ab opposito plateę, est pulchra Ecclesia +nostrę Dominę, in cuius loco diu morabatur post ascensionem filij sui, +quamius pro parte eiusdem temporis in valle Iosaphat manserit: nam in ista +defungebatur, et in illo ab Apostolis honorificč sepulta fuit. [Sidenote: +Natatoria Siloe.] Itemque ab hoc monte in vico eundi versus vallem Iosaphat +inuenitur fons aquę dictus Natatoria Siloe, vbi cęcus natus ą Christo +missus lauabat oculos, et regressus est videns. Et dicunt quidam ibidem +sepultrum Isaiam Prophetam. + +Porro mons olim dictus Moria de quo loquitur Scriptura sacra est rupis haud +longč a supradicto templo Domini in ipsius meredie, in cuius rupis loco +excelso velut emenenti sed edito Dominus noster Iesus Christus frequentčr +instruebat suos discipulos, et populos, magnįque miracula exhibebat, atque +deprehensae mulieri in adulterio omnia peccata dimittebat. [Sidenote: +Iohan. 8.] + +Ab opposito autem prędicti fontis natatorij habetur imago lapidea, rudi et +vetusto opere sculpta, deformitérque detrita, quae manus Absalon +nuncupatur, cuius ratio lib. 2. Regum monstratur. Vbi de propč vidi Arborem +Sambucum, ad quam vel citrą cuius locum (vt dicitur) Iudas traditor per se +suspensus crepuit medius, et diffusa sunt viscera eius. + +Pręterea ą monte Sion versus Meridiem vltrą vallem ad iactum lapidis est +locus Aceldema, in quo emptus ager 30. denarijs proditionis est, Et in quo +sunt plures sepulturę peregrinorom, et vestigia cellularum, de quondam +illic commorantibus Heremitis. + + +CAPVT. 17. + +De sacris locis extra muros Ciuitatis. + +[Sidenote: Vallis Iosaphat.] Extra muros ciuitatis Ierusalem ad plagam +orientalem, est vallis Iosaphat contigua, ac si esset fossata muris ipsius +ciuitatis, et Ecclesia vbi sanctus Stephanus lapidabatur, et obdormiuit in +Domino. Hinc non longč est porta ciuitatis, quę dicitur aurea, quę nunc +sempčr obfirmata seruatur. Per hanc intrauit Christus sedens asino, et +adhuc ostenditur rupis seruare vestigia animalis in tribus aut pluribus sui +locis. [Sidenote: Mons Oliuarum. Torrens Cedron.] Statim vltrą vallem +Iosaphat aspicitur mons Oliueti, sic dictus ą pluribus, quia ibi sunt +oliuarum Arbores. In planicie huius vallis decurrit riuulus dictus torrens +Cedron, secus quem habetur pulchra, et honorificata Ecclesia sacrosanctę +sepulturę beatę, et gloriosę matris Christi: descenditur autem in Ecclesiam +per gradus 44. quņd extrinsecus est vallis inculta per fluxum fortassč +torrentis, seu per alios euentus proptčr Antiquitatem temporis. Ibique +monstratur sepulchrum eius vacuum. Habentur iuxta sepulchrum duo altaria, +sub vno est fons Aquę quę putatur exire de vno Paradisi flumine. + +Satis propč ab hac Ecclesia ad rupem Gethsemane habetur capella, vbi +scilicet Iudęis traditus fuit Christus ą Iuda. In ipsa quóque rupe +ostendebatur mihi figura impressę manus ad digitorum extensionem, quo +artificiosius humanano studio sculpi non posset, quam referunt Christum sua +venerabili manu inclinando ad rupem efficisse dum Iudęi impuras manus ad +capiendum iniecerunt in eum. Hic ad iactum lapidis in meridie orauit +['oraiit' in source text--KTH] ad suum patrem, et pro vehementi orationis +intentione sanguineum exudauit sudorem: atque ibi non remotč videtur tumba +regis Iudeę Iosaphat, į quo et vallis sibi nomen assumpsit: et credimus in +hanc vallem Christum venturum ad nouissimum, et generalissimum iudicium, +vbi (Iohele propheta testante) disceptabit de omni actione mortalium. +[Sidenote: S. Iacobi sepultura.] Ad tractum sagittę de hac tumba, est +Ecclesia vbi sanctus Iacobus maior Apostolus primo post martyrium fuit +sepultus, cuius modo sacrata ossa venerantur Compostellę in Galizia. + +Vltra vallem in supremo montes Oliueti apice discipulus cernentibus, +Dominus noster Iesus Christus eleuatis manibus ascendit in coelum, et super +eundem locum digna habetur Ecclesia, in qua eiusdem Ascensione tale +seruatur in rupe pauimenti indicium, quod sinistri pedis Christi videtur +vltimum vestigium. + +Hinc satis propč habetur et capella medio montis, vbi Christus sedens +prędicauit octo beatitudines, vbi et creditur docuisse discipulos orationem +Dominicam, scilicet, Pater noster, &c. Ab eo quoque loco non distat multum +Ecclesia beatę Maaię Aegyptiacę, in qua et eius tumba videtur: et haud +procul inde est vicus Bethphage, vbi Christus misit ante passionis suę +tempus duos de discipulis pro asina et pullo eius. In cliuo vero huius +montis Oliueti versus ciuitatem, monstratur locus, de quo videns Dominus +Ierusalem, fleuit super illam, dicens, quod si cognouisses et tu, &c. +[Sidenote: Bethania.] Atque vltrą montem in discensu eius in orientem est +villa siue castellum Bethanię, distans quasi ad leucam ab vrbe vbi in domo +cuiusdam Symonis inuitatu Christus condonauit omnia peccata Marię +Magdalenę. Et in ipso castello, quod erat sororis Marthę, et Marię +rescuscitauit fratrem earum Lazarum quatriduanum mortuum. + +[Sidenote: Ierico.] De Bethania in Ierico sunt 5. leucę, quę quondam fuit +ciuitas speciosa sed iam est villa modica: ibi Diues Zacchęus ascendit in +arborem Sycomorum, vt videret transeuntem Dominum, et restituens fraudata +quadraplum, obtinuit peccatorum remissionem omnium. + +Item de Bethania ad flumen Iordanis est iter ferč octo leucarum, per +montes, ac valles deuios, et desertos. [Sidenote: Christiani Georgici.] +Porrņ de Bethania in orientem ad 6 leucas venitur in montem magnum, vbi +Christus expleto 40. dierum, ac noctium ieiunio temptatus est ą diabolo, +fuķtque in eodem loco quandoque Ecclesia, sed modo habetur ibi quasi +coenobium quorundam Christianorum, qui Georgici vocantur. Sciendum enim +est, quod vbique intra terram Saracenorum, et similiter multorum Paganorum +inueniuntur Christiani dispersi, habitantes sub tributo, qui licet sint +baptizati omnes, et beatissimam Trinitatem credentes, diuersificantur tamen +nominibus, moribus, ritibus, fide, et opinionibus: ita vt semper vel in +multis vel in aliquibus dissentiant ą Romanę Ecclesię consuetudinibus. + +[Sidenote: Iacobitę. Syrij. Georgica. Cordelarij. Indi. Nubij. Nestorini. +Arriani.] Aliqui nįmque eorum dicuntur Christiani Iacobitę: hij errant +circa peccatorum remissionem, dicentes, non debere confiteri homini sed +soli Deo. Alij Syrij, Isti in fermentato pane conficiunt Sacramentum +altaris ritu Gręcorum. Alij Indi, Nubij, Nestorini, et Arriani. Pręfatus +autem mons magnus, vocatur hortus Abrahę, ex eo quod Abraham patriarcha ibi +dicitur commoratus, et currit propč montem riuulus, in cuius aqua vel fonte +Deus sal per Helizeum prophetam mitti iussit, vt sanaretur sterilitas, id +est, amaritudo aquę. Nec distat hic mons ą Ierico vltra grandem leucam. + + +CAPVT. 18. + +De notabilibus alijs locis, et mari mortuo. + +Rursum de ciuitate sanctę Ierusalem versus Occidentem itinere leucę, +habetur pulchra satis Ecclesia, in loco vbi dicitur creuisse arbor crucis +salutiferę. Arbor excelsa, digno stipite sacra Christi membra tangere. +[Sidenote: Nota.] Tenetur istud quidem pro certa veritate: nam et hoc satis +testatur constructio tantę, et talis Ecclesię, quamuis multa aliena, et +incerta scripta de crucis arbore ferantur per orbem. Hinc ad duas leucas +est et alia Ecclesia, vbi obuiauerunt sibi Maria virgo, et Elizabeth eius +cognata, et ad saluationem Marię Christi baiulę exultauit Iohannes in vtero +Elisabeth grauidę. + +[Sidenote: Emaus Castellum.] De isto quoque ad leucam est Emaus castellum, +distans in spacio stadiorum 60. ab Ierusalem, vbi discipuli in coena die +resurrectionis Domini cognouerant eum in fractione panis. [Sidenote: +Cosdrus Imperator.] Porrņ ab Ierusalem ad alium exitum, ad duo stadia +videtur spelunca grandis de qua dicitur quod tempore Cosdri Imperatoris +Persarum, fuerunt circa Ierusalem 12. mille martyrum occissi, quorum, +omnium corpora leo habitans in spelunca congregauit ibidem voluntate +diuina, tanquam pro singulorum sepultura obsequiosa. + +[Sidenote: Mons Exultationis.] Item ab vrbi ad leucas duas habetur in monte +tumba sepulturę sancti Samuelis prophetę, qui mons nunc vocatur +exultationis vel lęticię, eņ quod peregrinis ab illa parte intrantibus +reddit primum sanctę ciuitatis aspectum. Ab oppido autem Ierico in 30. +stadiorum spacio venitur ad Iordauis fluuij locum, vbi beatus Iohannes +Baptista Christum sacri baptismatis merebatur tingere lymphis. Et in cuius +reuerendi mysterij venerationem habetur ad dimidiam leucam ą fluuio +ędificium honestę Ecclesię consecratum in nomine eiusdem venerabilis +baptistę ministri. Ab hac Ecclesia de propč vidi domum de qua patiebar mihi +narrari, quņd in eodem loco olim fuerit Ieremię sancti habitatio prophetę. + +[Sidenote: Iordanis descriptio.] Notandum est. Iordanis fluuius quamuis +grandis non sit, bonorum tamen piscium copiam nutrit, ortum accipiens sub +monte Libanon ex duobus fontibus, scilicet Ior, et Dan, quę nomina simul +mixta nomen Iordanis efficiunt. Decurrit autem per quendam locum dictum +Maron, ac secus stagnum quod diciter Mare Tyberiadis, ac subter montes +Gylboe per amoenissima loca, atque in subterraneis meatibus per longum +spacium se occultans tandem exit in planitie, quę dicitur Meldam, id est, +forum, quod certis temporibus ibi Nundinę exercentur, et ad extremum se +iactat in mare mortuum. + + +[Sidenote: Mare mortuum.] Hoc stagnum quod vocatur mare mortuum habet +longitudinis 600. ferč stadia, et latitudinis 150. et appropinquat aliqua +pars huius maris ad quatuor leucas propč Ierico, videlicet ad latus +camporum Engadi, ex quibus (vt supra dictum est) eradicatę fuerunt abores +Balsami, quę modņ sunt in agro Cayr Ęgypti. [Sidenote: Nota.] Istud mare +dicitur mortuum. + +[Sidenote: Cur mare mortuum dicatur.] Primo quidem quņd non viuidč currit, +sed est quasi lacus. + +Secundņ quod amara est eius aqua, et foetidum reddit odorem. Tertio quņd +propter eius amaritudinem terra adiacens littori nil viride profert. + +Quartņ (prout dicitur) si cadat in ea bestia, vel aliud quid viuens, vix +poterit plenč mori siue submergi in octo diebus, nec nutrit in se pisces +aut quid simile. + +Littora quoque sua variant quam sępč colorem, et sine vlla agitatione +ventorum eijcit in quibusdam locis se aqua, extra proprios terminos. Per +huiusmodi aquam dicitur Deus pro indicibili vitio Pentapolim submersisse, +Sodomam, Gomorram, Adamam, Seboim, et Segor. + +Quidam vocant hoc mare lacum Asphaltidis, alij fluuium Dęmonum, aut flumen +Putre. Quod autem olim propheta interpretans dixit, montes Gilboe, nec ros +nec pluuia veniat super vos, magis spiritualitčr quąm literalitčr videtur +intelligendum. [Sidenote: Nota.] Nam ibi crescunt altissimi cedri, et +arbores poma ferentes, ad capitis quantitatem humani, ex quibus valdč +saporosus fit potus. + +Mare istud mortuum determinat fines terrę promissionis, et Arabię. Ideoque +vltra ipsum mare condidit quondam, vnus successorum Godfridi de Bollion +forte et spectabile castrum, ponens illic copiosam Christianorum militiam +ad terram promissionis custodiendum. Nunc verņ, temporis, est Soldani, et +appellatur Caruth, id est mons Regalis. Sub hoc monte est villa dicta +Sobal: habitat in illis partibus magna Christianorum multitudo. + + +CAPVT. 19. + +De Nazareth, et Samaria. + +Nazareth in prouincia Galileę in qua nutritus, et de qua cognominatus est +Dominus vniuersorum, distans ab Hierosolymis ad tres circiter dietas, erat +quondam ciuitas, quę nunc est dispersa, et rara domorum, quod vix villę +sibi competit nomen: et in loco Annunciationis, vbi Angelus ad Mariam +dixit, Aue gratia plena, Dominus tecum, habebatur olim bona Ecclesia, pro +qua paruum Saraceni restituerunt habitaculum, in colligendas peregrinorum +offerendas. + +A Nazareth redeundo per terrain Galileę, transitur per Ramathaym Sophim, +vbi nascebatur fidelis Samuel propheta Domini, et per Sylo, vbi locus +orationis erat antequam in Ierusalem: et per Sichem magnę vbertatis vallem, +itur in prouinciam Samarię, vbi habetur et bona ciuitas nunc dicta +Neapolts, distans, ą sancta vrbe spacio solius dietę, ac per fontem Iacob, +super quem Iesus fatigatus ab itinere colloquebatur Samaritonę, vbi et +apparet ruina destructę Ecciesię quondam illic habitę. Et est ibi villa +adhuc vocata Sychem, et in eo est mausoleum Ioseph patriarchę filij Iacob: +ad cuius ossa visitanda sub deuotione non minus peregrini Iudęi adueniunt, +quąm Christiani. + +[Sidenote: Samaria nunc Sebaste.] Hinc satis propč est mons Garizin cum +vetusto templo orationis Samaritanorum: ex tunc intratur Samaria quę modņ +appellatur Sebaste, et est illius principalis ciuitas pronuncię. In qua +fuit primum terrę mandatum corpus beati Ioannis Baptistę inter sacra +corpora Helizęi, et Abdię Prophetarum, vt quorum assimilibatur virtutibus +in vita, corporibus iungeretur in sepultura. Hęc quoque distat ab +Hierosolymis: fortassis a dietas. + +[Sidenote: Nota.] Habetur et alius puteus aut fons intra illa montana, quem +plerique similiter fontem Iacob appellant, cuius aqua secundum quatuor anni +tempora variatur ą suo colore, vt sit quandņque clara, quandņque turbida, +nunc viridis, et nunc rubra. [Sidenote: Ogerus Dux Danus.] Certum est autem +tempore Apostolorum cum Samaria recepisset verbum Dei, illos fuisse +conuersos, et baptizatos, in nomine Domini Iesu, et tamen postea per +quendam Caliphorum peruersos, Ogerus dux Danorum per Templariorum virtutem +rursum subiugauit Christianitati: sicque post plures euentus, et +variationes, illi qui nunc sunt Samaritę, finxerunt sibi hęresim propriam, +et ritum ab omnibus nationibus singularem. + +[Sidenote: Tegumenti capitis differentia.] Fatentur autem se credere in +Deum, qui cuncta creauit: recipiuntque pentateucum scripturę, cum Psalterio +Dauidis, acerrimč contendentes, se solos dilectissimos Dei filios qui etiam +pro nobili differentia inuoluunt capita linteo rubeo, Saraceni autem albo, +Indi croceo, et Christiani ibi manentes Indico, hoc est, ęreo, seu +hiacynthino. + +Porrņ ą Nazareth quatuor leucis, est ciuitas olim dicta Naym, in 2. milario +Thahor montis contra Meridiem iuxta Endor. Ieronimus. Ante cuius portam +resuscitauit Christus defunctum filium vnicum matris suę, pręsentibus +duabus turmis hominum copiosorum. Hinc quoque ad leucas duas, est ciuitas +Israel, vbi olim morabatur pessima regina Iezabel, quam Dei iudicio equorum +vngulis conculcatam, canes ferč vsque ad caluariam comederunt. + + +CAPVT. 20. + +De territorio Gallileę, et Samarię, et de villa Sardenay. + +Item ą Nazareth ad leucę dimidum, monstrantur in rupe vestigia pedum, quę +dicuntur esse Domini nostri Iesu Christi vbi de manibus Iudęorum, ipsum de +alta rupe pręcipitare volentium desiluit in istam. De quo saltu quidam +intelligunt illud scriptum Euangelicum, Iesus autem transiens per medium +illorum ibat. + +Ad quatuor autem leucas de Nazareth, est Cana Galileę, vbi Christus ad +vrbanas matris preces, mutauit vndam in vinum optimum. + +[Sidenote: Mons Thabor.] Ad distantiam quatuor leucarum ą Nazareth, venitur +in Thabor, montem spectabilem, vbi transfigurabatur Christus, coram +quibusdam suis Apostolis, apparentibus ibidem, Mose, et Helia, prophetis, +vocéque dilapsa ą magnifica Patris gloria, et videbatur Petro bonum ibi +esse: quondam in hoc monte habebatur ciuitas, cum pluribus Ecclesijs; +quarum nunc sola restant vestigia, excepto quod ille locus +transfigurationis est inhabitatus, qui est Schola Dei nominatus. [Sidenote: +Obserueretur.] Notandum. Thabor est in medio Galileę, campus mira +iucunditate sublimis, distans ą Diotesaria 3. milliaribus contra Orientem. + +Item de Nazareth in tres leucas est villa, seu castrum Zaffara, de quo +recolo me supradixisse capite 4. Et inde venitur in Mare Galileę, quod +quamuis dicatur mare, est lacus aquę dulcis longus. + +[Sidenote: Mare Tyberiadis.] Vltra centum 60. forsitan stadia est lacus, +bonorum piscium ferax et vber, qui etiam in alio loco sui vocatur mare +Tyberiadis, et in alia mare Genezareth, varians sibi nomen, secundum +ciuitas, et terras, propinquas. Circa hoc mare Christus frequentčr, et +libentčr ambulasse videtur: hic vocauit ad sui discipulatum, Petrum, et +Andream, Iacobum, et Ioannem: hic super vndam siccis ambulabat vestigijs, +et pręcipitem Petrum filium tentantem, verbo increpationis releuat ne +mergatur, hic denique rediuiuus ą morte repleuit discipulorum rete magnis +piscibus 153. + +Item in ciuitate Tiberiade, quę est propč hoc mare habetur in veneratione +mensa illius coenę, quam in Emaus castello Christus cęnauit, cum ab oculis +commensalium euanuit. Hic de propč monstratur mons ille fertilis, mons ille +pinguis, in quo de paucis panibus, et de paucioribus piscibus iussu Christi +fuerunt saturati, quinque millia hominum. + +Ad initium autem prędicti maris iuxta villam Capernaum habetur fortius +castrum totius terrę promissionis, in quo dicitur nata fuisse sancta Anna +mater virginis Marię. + +[Sidenote: Damascus.] Prędictis itaque Christi vestigijs, et terrę sanctę +locis ą peregrino cum deuotione cordis et reuerentia debita visitatis, si +desiderat reuerti, posit illud facere per Damascum; quę est ciuitas longa, +nobilis, et grandis, ac plena omnium rerum mercimonijs, cum tamen distat ą +portu maris tribus plenč dietis, per quod spacium itineris, cuncta +traijciuntur ą suis equis, Dromedarijs, et Camelis: et putatur ą plerisque +narrantibus fundata in loco vbi Cain protoplaustorum filius Abel fratrem +suum occidit. + +A Damasco de propinquo est mons Seyr, ciuitas grandis firmata duplicibus +muris ac populosa nimis, in qua sunt multi in arte Physica famosi professi. +Item ą Damasco haud remotč distat castrum satis munitum, et firmum, quod +Derces est nominatum. Habent autem in illis, et vlterioribus partibus hunc +vsum: si quando castrum ab hostibus fuerit sic obsessum, quņd Dominus eius +non possit emittere nuncium amico suo remotč moranti, recipit columbam olim +in castro, vel domo amici natam, vel educatam, quam hic sibi per certam +prouisionem allatam detinuit incaueatam, et scriptas quas vult literas +alligans collo columbę, dimittit liberam volare, quę protinus festinat ad +focum proprię natiuitatis. Sicque videtur cognosci in illo castro quid +agatur in isto. + +[Sidenote: Villa Sardenay.] Cęterum peregrinus ą Damasco reuertendo, in +quinque leucis venit Sardenay, quę est villa in alta rupe, cum multis +Ecclesijs religiosorum Monachorum, et sanctarum monialium fidei Christianę. +In quarum vna coram maiori altari in tabula lignea erat olim imago +beatissimę virginis Marię non sculpta sed depicta in plano spacio. Ex hoc +reditur per valles Bokar fertiles et pro pascendis pecorum gregibus +exuberantes: et intratur in montana vbi copiositas est fontium qui effluunt +impetu de Libano. Ibique decurrit fluuius Sabbatayr, sic dictus quod diebus +Sabbatis euidentčr rapidius transit, quąm alijs sex diebus. + +Peruenitur hinc ad satis altum montem, propč Tripolim ciuitatem, in qua ad +pręsens plures Christiani Catholicę fidei habitant iugo infidelium nimis +oppressi. [Sidenote: Sur, vel Tyrus.] Ex hoc loco sibi deliberet +peregrinus, quem sibi maris portum accipiat ad repatriandum, videlicet +Beruth, an Sur vel Tyrum. + +Postremņ sciendum, quod terra promissionis in totali longitudine sui ą Dan +qui est sub Libano vsque ad Berseba in Austrum continet circiter centum, et +80. leucas Lombardicas, et ab Hierico in totali latitudine circiter 60. +Notandum, Dan est viculus in quarto ą Pennea de Miliario euntibus, contra +Septentrionem: vsque hodič sic vocatur terminus Iudeę, contra Septentrionem +est etiam et fons Ior, de quo et Iordanis fluuius erumpens alterum sortitus +nomen Ior. Termini Iudeę terrę ą Bersabe incipiunt vsque ad Dan, qui vsque +Peneaden terminatur, Ieronimus. + + +CAPVT. 21. + +De secta detestabili Saracenorum et eorum fide. + +[Sidenote: Diligentia Mandevillu.] Iam restat vt de secta Saracenorum +aliquid scribam vel compendiosč, secundum quņd cum ijs frequentčr, +colloquendo audiui, et liber Mahometi, quem Alcaron, vel Mesahaf, vel Harmč +vocant, ijs pręcipit, sicut illum sępč inspexi, et studiosč perlegi. + +[Sidenote: Fides Saracenorum.] Credunt itaque Saraceni in Deum creatorem +coeli et terrę, qui fecit omnia in ijs contenta, et sine quo nihil est +factum. Et expectant diem nouissimum iudicij, in quo mali cum corpore et +anima descensuri sunt in infernum perpetuņ cruciandi, et boni equidem cum +anima et corpore intraturi Paradisum foelicitatis ęternę. Et hęc quidem +fides poenč inest omnium mortalium nationibus, lingua et ratione vtentibus. +Verumtamen de qualitate Paradisi est magna diuersitas inter credentes. + +Nam et Saraceni et Pagani, et omnes sectę pręter Iudęos et baptizatos +Christianos sentiunt bonorum Paradisum fore terrestrem illum de quo fuit +expulsus Adam propter inobedientiam protoplaustus: qui (vt putant) fluit, +vel tunct fluet pluribus riuis lactis et mellis, et vbi in domibus et +mansionibus nobiliter iuxta meritum vniuscuiusque ędificatur auro, et +argento et gemmis, perfruentur omnibus corporalibus delicijs, in +oblectatione animę ęternaliter sine fine. Ille ergņ qui fide sanctę +Trinitatis carent, et Christum qui est vera lux ignorant, in tenebris +ambulant. Iudęi vero et omnes baptizati rectč sentiunt Paradisum coelestem +et spiritualem, vbi quilibet secundum meritum Diuinitati vnietur, per +cognitionem, et amorem. Attamen Iudęi quod contra Scripturas suas sanctę +Trinitati contradicunt, et Christo obloquuntur, qui est vera via, nesciunt +quo vadunt. De baptizatis autem, qui firmiter fidem Catholicam in +humilitate cordis sub Ecclesię pręceptis seruauerunt, hi soli filij sunt +lucis, et in via veniendi ad coelestem Paradisum quem Christus verbo +prędicauit, et ad quem corpore et anima, videntibus discipulis, de facto +conscendit. + +Credunt etiam Saraceni, omnia esse vera, quę Deus ore prophetarum est +locutus, sed in diuersitate, quia nesciunt specificari, imo specificanti +contradicerent defacili, vel negarent. Inter omnes prophetas ponunt quatuor +excellentiores, quorum supremum et excellentissimum fatentur Iesum Marię +Virginis filium, quem et asserunt, sermonem, vel loquelam, vel spiritum +Dei, et pronunciatorem sententiarum Dei, in iudicio generali futuro, et +missum ą Deo ad Christianos docendos. + +Secundo loco Abrahamum dicunt fuisse verum Dei cultorem, et amicum. + +Tertium dant Mosi locum tanquam prolocutori Dei Misso specialiter, ad +instruendos Iudęos. + +Quartum volant esse Mahomet, sanctum, et verum Dei nuncium ad seipsos +missum, cum lege diuina in dicto libro plene contenta. Tenent itaque +indubitate, quod beata Maria Iesum peperit, et concepit virgo manens +intacta, ac libentčr loqui audiunt de incarnatione in ipsa facta per +annunciationem Gabrielis Archangeli. Nam et Alcharon eorum dicit, ad +salutationem Angeli virginem expauisse, quod tunc erat in partibus Galileę +incantator, Turquis nomine, qui per susceptam sibi formam Angeli plures +virgines deflorauerat, et beatam Virginem conuenisse Angelum, an esset +Turquis. Refert quoque eam peperisse sub palma Arbore, vbi habebatur +pręsepe bouis, et asinę, et illic prę confusione puerperij, et verecundia +ac dolore, fuisse in proximo desperatam, et infantulum in consolationem +matris dixisse, mater ne timeas, Deus in te effudit secreta ad saluationem +Mundi. Hęc et his similia multa ibi scribuntur figmenta, et isti plura +inter se narrando componunt, quę hoc loco ventilanda non sunt. + +Et dicit liber Iesum sanctissimum omnium Prophetarum fuisse veracem in +dictis et factis, benignum, pium, iustum, et ab omni vitio penitus alienum: +Sanctum quoque Ioannem Euangelistam post prędictos Prophetas fuisse alijs +Sanctiorem, cuius et Euangelium fatentur esse plenum salutari, ac veraci +doctrina, et ipsum Sanctum Ioannem illuminasse cęcos, leprosos mundasse, +suscitasse mortuos, et in coelum volasse viuentem. Erat enim (prout dicit) +plus quąm Propheta, et absque omni peccato, contradicente eodem de seipso, +si dixerimus quņd peccatum non habemus, veritas in nobis non est: vnde et +si quando Sarraceni tenent scriptum Euangelij Sancti Ioannis, aut illud +beati Lucę, missus est Angelus Gabriel, eleuant ambabus manibus pro +reuerentia super caput et super oculos id ponentes, et osculantur quąm sępč +cum summa deuotione. Nonnulli etiam eorum in Gręco, aut Latino literati +consueuerunt cum deuotione cordis id lectitare. + +Idem liber dicit Iudęos perfidos fuisse, quod Iesu eis primłm misso a Deo, +et multa miracula facienti credere noluerunt, quodque per ipsum tota gens +Iudęorum fuit dignč decepta, et meritņ illusa hoc modo. Iesus in hora dum +Iudas eum pro signo traditionis osculabatur, posuit per Metamorphosin +figuram suam, in ipsum Iudam, sķcque Iudęi in ambiguo lumine nocturni +temporis, pro Iesu Iudam capientes, ligantes, trahentes, deridentes, in +fine crucifixerunt, putantes se omnia facere Iesu, qui protinus capto et +ligato Iuda, viuus ascendit in cęelum, descensurus iterum viuus ad iudicium +in die finali. + +Et addit, Iudęos falsissimč vsque hodie nos Christianos suo mendacio +decipere, quo dķcunt se Iesu crucifixisse quem non tetegerunt. Hinc errorem +tenent Sarraceni obstinati: et quoddam argumentum inire conantur. Nam si +Deus (aiunt) permisisset Iesum, innocentem, et iustum ita miserabiliter +occidi, censuram suę summę iustitię minuisset. [Sidenote: Conuersio +Saracenorum non desperanda.] Sed cłm ipsi, vt supradictum est, in tenebris +ambulant, idcircņ ignorantes Dei iustitiam, statuere volunt iustitiam, imo +iniustitiam quam fabricant in corde suo, quia nos de cruce Christi scriptum +nouimus, benedictum est lignum per quod fit iustitia. Isti tamen quod in +aliquibus appropinquant verę fidei, multi quandoque eorum inuenti sunt +conuersi, et plures adhuc de facili conuerterentur, si haberunt +prędicatores, sincerč eis verbum tractantes, quippe cłm iam fateantur legum +Mahometi quandoque defecturam, sicut nunc perijt lex Iudęorum, et legem +Christianorum vsque in finem seculi permansuram. + + +CAPVT 22. + +De vita, et nomine Mahometi. + +Promisi in superioribus aliquid narrare de vita Mahometi legislatoris +Sarracenorum, prout vidi in scriptis, vel audiui in partibus illis. Itaque +Macho, siue Machon, vtrum in secunda syllaba scribatur N, litera, vel non +idem refert: et si tertia syllaba addatur, et dicatur Machomet, vel etiam +quarta, Machometus, nihil differt, quņd semper idem nomen representat. Ipsi +tamen illum sępiłs nominant Machon. Putatur autem istum Mahomet habuisse +generationis ortum de Ismael Abrahę filio naturali de concubina Agar, vnde +et vsque hodie quidam Sarracenorum dicuntur Ismaelitę, alij Agarenķ: sed et +quidam Moabitę, et Ammonitę, ą duobus Loth filijs Moab et Amon, genitis per +incestum de proprijs filiabus. + +[Sidenote: Tempus Natiuitatis Mahometi.] Hic verņ Machon, circa annum +incarnationis Domini sexcentissimum natus, in Arabia pauper erat gratis +pascens camelos, et interdum sequens Mercatores in Aegyptum fordellos +illorum proprio collo deferens pro mercede. Et quoniam tunc temporis tota +Aegyptus erat Christianę fidei, didicit aliquid de fide nostra, quod +diuertere solebat ad cellulam Heremitę commorantis in deserto. [Sidenote: +Fabulę Saracenorum.] Et quodammodo fabulantur Sarraceni, quod illo +quandoque ingrediente cellulam, cellulę ostium mutatum in ianuam valdč +patentem, velut ante palatium, et gloriantur hoc primum miraculum. Qui ex +tunc conquerendo sibi pecunias, et discendo seculi actus diues est +effectus, et prudens ab omnibus reputatus, in tantum, vt postmodum in terrę +gubernatorem Corrozęn, (quę est vna prouinciarum regni Arabię) assumeretur, +ac de inde defuncto principe Codige per coniugium illius relictę in eiusdem +prouincię principem eleuaretur. Erat autem satis formosus, et valens, et +vltra modum in verbis et factis maturus, et principalis, et satis +diligebatur ą suis, magis tamen metuebatur, et erat epilepticus, nemine +tamen sciente. Sed tandem ab vxore comperto contristabatur, se tali morbido +nuptam, qui versutus fefellit, et consolabatur moestam figmento mendacij +excogitati, dicens sanctum Dei Archangelum Gabrielem ad colloquendum et +inspirandum sibi, quędam arcana et diuina interdum venire, et pro virtute +aut claritate veniente se subito cadere et iacere ad intendendum +inspirationem. + + +[Sidenote: Incrementum authoritatis Mahometi.] Post hoc autem, mortuo etiam +Rege Arabię, tanta egit per simulationem sanctitatis, per donorum +effusionem, et copiam promissionum, quod electus est et assumptus, in +totias Arabię Regem. + +[Sidenote: Tempus promulgationis Alcharani.] Confirmato igitur Mahometo in +regnationis suę maiestate suprema, transactis ą conceptione Domini nostri +Iesu Christi annis solaribus 612. in die Iouis feria quinta Hebdomadę +promulgauit pręfatum detestandę legis suę librum, plenum perfidię et +erroris, et ą subditis tempore vitę suę seruari coegit, qui et vsque hodie +in tanto ęuo, et tot populis non sine iusto Dei iudicio colitur et +seruatur, quamuis miserabile, et miserandum videtur, quod tot animę in illo +perduntur. Erat quoque tempore regni eius et alius Heremita in deserto +Arabię, quem etiam quasi pro deuotione frequentare solebat, ducens secum +aliquos de principibus et famlia. Super quo plures eorum attediati +tractabant occidere Heremitan. [Sidenote: Occasio vina, interdicendi +Sarracenis.] Accedit tandem vna noctium, vt rex Heremitam et seipsum +inebriaret, et inter loquendum ambo consopiti dormirent. Et ecce habita +occasione comites gladio de latere Regis clam extracto Heremitam +interfecerunt, iterum clam condentes cruentum gladium in vagina: ac ille +euigilans virum videns occisum, magno furore succensus imposuit familię +factum, volens omnes per iustitiam condemnari ad mortem. Cumque coram +iudicibus et sapientibus ageretur, hi omnes pari concordia, simili voce, et +vno ore testabantur tam diuisim quam coniunctim, Regem in ebrietate sua +hominem occidisse, quamuis fortassis esset facti oblitus. Et in plenariam +rei probationem, dixerunt ipsum reposuisse mucronem in loculo nudum +intersum, sed calido cruore madentem. Quo ita inuento, ac tantis rex +obrutus testificationibus nimiłm erubuit, plenč obmutuit, et confusus +recessit. Et ob hoc omnibus diebus suis vina bibere renunciauit: et in lege +sua ą cunctis bibi vetuit, ac vniuersis bibentibus, colentibus, et +vendentibus maledixit. Cuius maledictio couertatur in caput eius, et in +verticem ipsius iniquitas eius descendat, cum de vino scriptum constet, +quņd Deum et homines lętificet. [Sidenote: Potus Sarracenorum.] Igitur de +eo Sarraceni in sua superstitione deuoti vinum non bibunt, quanquam plures +eorum quņd timent in publico non verentur in secreto. + +Est autem communis potus eorum dulcis, delectabilis, et nutritiuus de +Casaniel confectus, de qua et Saccarum fieri solet. + +[Sidenote: Alias Mecca.] Mahometus iste post mortem suam pessimam (mors +enim peccatorum pessima) conditus fuit honorificč in capsa, ditissimo auro, +et argento, et saxis perornata in vna ciuitate regni sui Arabię, vbi et pro +sancto, et vero Dei nuncio incepit deuotč coli ą suis per annos ducentos +sexaginta, atque ex tunc circa annum Domini nongentissimum cum veneratione +multa cadauer eius translatum est, in digniorem ciuitatem dictam Merchuel +Iachrib, vbi iam longe lateque pro maximo sanctorum, ą cordibus ą diabolica +fraude deceptis colitur, requiritur et adoratur. + +[Sidenote: Oregus a Templarijs proditus.] In ipsius translatione ipsa +ciuitas restaurabatur, et firmabatur multņ honorificentiłs, et fortiłs +destructione sua, quę per Carolum magnum Regem Francię antea fuit plenč +annihilata, dum Ogerus dux Danorum pręfatus in ea tenebatur captiuus, quem +Templarij ad filios Brehir Regis Sarracenorum cum traditione vendiderant, +eņ quņd ipse Ogerus dictum Brehir in proelio occiderat, iuxta Lugdunum +Francię ciuitatem. Et si quando nationis alterius quis ad legem conuertitur +Sarracenorum, dum a flamine eorum recipiendus est, dicit et facit eum Dei +nuncium, et repetit sic: Lęllech ella alla Mahomet zoyzel alla heth: quod +valet tantum: Non est Deus nisi vnus, et Mahomet fuit eius nuncius. + + +CAPVT. 23. + +De colloquio Authoris cum Soldano. + +Finaliter Sarraceni ponunt Iudęos malos, eņ quod legem Dei violauerunt sibi +missam, et commissam per Mosem. Et ą simili probant Christianos malos, quod +non seruant legem Euangelij Christi, quam seruandam susceperint. [Sidenote: +Error eorum qui putant vnumquemque in sua religione posse beari.] Inest +enim ijs falsa persuasio ita vt putent vnumquemque in ea qua natus est +secta posse beari, si susceptam seruauerit illibatč: ideoque probant ab +opposito se esse bonos, quia, sicut dicunt, obseruant scripta legis +pręcepta et ceremonias sancti libri sui ą Deo sibi transmissi per beatum +nuncium suum Mahomet. Vnde et ego non tacebo quid mihi contigit. + +Dominus Soldanus quodam die in castro, expulsis omnibus de camera sua, me +solłm retinuit secum tanquam pro secreto habendo colloquio. [Sidenote: +Colloquium Soldani cum Mandeuillo.] Consuetum enim est ijs eijcere omnes +tempore secretorum: qui diligenter ą me interrogauit qualis esset +gubernatio vitę in terra nostra, breuiter respondebam, bona, per Dei +gratiam, qui recepto hoc verbo dixit ita non esse. [Sidenote: Reprehensio +Sacerdotum.] Sacerdotes (inquit) vestri, qui seipsos exhibere deberent +alijs in exemplum, in malis iacent actibus, parłm curant de Templi +seruitio: habitu et studijs se conformant mundo: se inebriant vino, +continentiam infringentes, cum fraude negotiantes, ac praua principibus +consilia ingerentes. [Sidenote: Reprehensio vulgi iustissima.] Communis +quoque populus, dum festus diebus intendere deberent deuotioni in templo, +currit in hortis, in spectaculis, in tabernis vsque ad crapulam, et +ebrietatem, et pinguia manducans et bibens, ac in bestiarum morem, luxuriam +prauam exercens. [Sidenote: Vestimentorum varietas reprehensa.] In vsura, +dolo, rapina, furto, detractione, mendacio et periurio viuunt plures eorum +euidenter, ac si qui talia non agant, vt fatui reputantur, et pro nimia +cordis superbia nesciunt ad libitum excogitare, qualiter se velint habere, +mutando sibi indumenta, nunc longa, nunc curta nimis, quandoque ampla, +quandoque stricta vltra modum, vt in his singulis appareant derisi potiłs +quam vestiti: pileos quoque, calceos, caligas, corrigias sibi fabricante +exquisitas, cłm etiam č contra deberent secundłm Christi sui doctrinam +simplices, Deo deuoti, humiles, veraces, inuicem diligentes, inuicem +concordantes, et inluriam de facili remittentes. Scimus etiam eos propter +peccata sua perdidisse hanc terram optimam quam tenemus, nec timemus eam +amittere, quamdiu se taliter gubernant. Attamen non dubitamus, quin in +futurum per meliorem vitę conuersatķonem merebuntur de nostris eam manibus +recuperare. + +Ad hoc ego vltra confusus et stupefactus, nequiui inuenire responsum; +verebar enim obloqui veritati, quamuis ab Infidelis ore prolatę, et vultu +prę rubore demisso percunctatus sum, Domine, salua reuerentia, qualiter +potestis ita plenč hoc noscere? De hominibus (ait) meis interdum mitto ad +modum Mercatorum per terras, et regiones Christianorum, cum Balsamo, +gemmis, sericis, ac aromatibus, ac per illos singula exploro, tam de statu +Imperatoris, ac Pontificum, Principum, ac Sacerdotum, quąm Pręlatorum, nec +non ęquora, prouincias, ac distinctiones earum. + +Igitur peracta collocutione nostra satis producta, egressos principes in +cameram reuocauit, ex quibus quatuor de maioribus iuxta nos aduocans, fecit +eos expressč ac debitč, per singulas diuisiones in lingua Gallicana +destinguere per partes, et singuarum nomina partium, omnem regionem terrę +Anglię, ac alias Christianorum terras multas, acsi inter nostros fuissent +nati, vel multo tempore conuersati. + +Nam et ipsum Soldanum audiui cum ijs bene et directč loquentem idioma +Francorum. Itaque in omnibus his mente consternatus obmutui, cogitans, et +dolens de peccatis singulis, rem taliter se habere. + +Nunc pič igitur (rogo) consideremus, et corde attendamus, quantę sit +confusionis, et qualis opprobrij, dum Christiani nominis inimici nobis +nostra exprobrant crimina. [Sidenote: Insignis Mandeuilli peroratio.] Et +student quilibet in melius emendare, quatenus (Deo propitio) possit in +breui tempore, hęc, de qua loquimur, terra Deo delecta, hęc sacrosancta +terra, hęc filijs Dei promissa, nobis Dei adoptiuis restitui: vel certč, +quod magis exorandum est, ipsi Sarraceni ad fidem Catholicam, et +Christianam obedientiam, Ecclesię filijs aggregari, vt simul omnes per +Dominum nostrum Iesum Christum consubstantialem Dei filium perueniamus ad +coelestem Paradisum. + +Explicit prima pars huius operis. + + +The English Version. + +Betheleem is a litylle cytee, long and narwe and well walled, and in eche +syde enclosed with gode dyches; and it was wont to ben cleped Effrata; as +Holy Writt seythe, _Ecce audivimus cum in Effrata_; that is to seye, _Lo, +we herde him in Effrata_. And toward the est ende of the cytee, is a fulle +fair chirche and a gracyouse; and it hathe many toures, pynacles and +corneres, fulle stronge and curiously made: and with in that chirche ben 44 +pyleres of marble, grete and faire. And betwene the cytee and the chirche +in the felde floridus; that is to seyne, the feld florisched: for als moche +as a fayre mayden was blamed with wrong, and sclaundred, that sche hadde +don fornycacioun; for whiche cause sche was demed to the dethe, and to be +brent in that place, to the whiche sche was ladd. And as the fyre began to +brenne about hire, sche made hire preyeres to oure Lord, that als wissely +as sche was not gylty of that synne, that he wold helpe hire, and make it +to be knowen to alle men, of his mercyfulle grace. And whan sche hadde thus +seyd, sche entred in to the fuyer: and anon was the fuyr quenched and oute: +and the brondes that weren brennynge, becomen rede roseres; and the brondes +that weren not kyndled, becomen white roseres, fulle of roses. And theise +weren the first roseres and roses, both white and rede, that evere ony man +saughe. And thus was this mayden saved be the grace of God. And therfore is +that feld clept the feld of God florysscht: for it was fulle of roses. Also +besyde the queer of the chirche, at the right syde, as men comen dounward +16 greces, [Footnote: Steps.] is the place where oure Lord was born, that +is fulle welle dyghte of marble, and fulle richely peynted with gold, +sylver, azure, and other coloures. And 3 paas besyde, is the crybbe of the +ox and the asse. And besyde that, is the place where the sterre fell, that +ladde the 3 kynges, Jaspar, Melchior and Balthazar: but men of Grece clepen +hem thus, Galgalathe, Malgalathe and Saraphie: and the Jewes clepen in this +manere, in Ebrew, Appelius, Amerrius and Damasus. Theise 3 kynges offreden +to oure Lord, gold, ensence and myrre: and thei metten to gedre, thorghe +myracle of God; for thei metten to gedre in a cytee in Ynde, that Men +clepen Cassak, that is 53 journeyes fro Betheleem; and thei weren at +Betheleem the 13 day. And that was the 4 day aftre that thei hadden seyn +the sterre, whan they metten in that cytee: and thus thei weren in 9 dayes, +fro that cytee at Betheleem; and that was gret myracle. Also undre the +cloystre of the chirche, be 18 degrees, at the righte syde, is the +charnelle of the innocentes, where here bones lyzn. And before the place +where oure Lord was born, is the tombe of Seynt Jerome, that was a preest +and a cardynalle, that translatede the Bible and the psaultere from Ebrew +in to Latyn: and witheoute the mynstre; is the chayere that he satt in, +whan he translated it. And faste besyde that chirche, a 60 fedme, +[Footnote: Fathom.] is a chirche of Seynt Nicholas, where oure Lady rested +hire, aftre sche was lyghted of oure Lord. And for as meche as sche had to +meche mylk in hire pappes, that greved hire, sche mylked hem on the rede +stones of marble; so that the traces may zit be sene in the stones alle +whyte. And zee schulle undrestonde, that alle that duellen in Betheleem ben +Cristene men. And there ben fayre vynes about the cytee, and gret plentee +of wyn, that the Cristene men han don let make. But the Sarazines ne tylen +not no vynes, ne thei drynken no wyn. For here bokes of here lawe, that +Makomete betoke hem, whiche thei clepen here Alkaron, and sume clepen it +Mesaphe; and in another langage it is cleped Harme; and the same boke +forbedethe hem to drinke wyn. For in that boke, Machomete cursed alle tho +that drynken wyn, and alle hem that sellen it. For sum men seye, that he +sloughe ones an heremyte in his dronkenesse, that he loved ful wel: and +therefore he cursed wyn, and hem that drynken it. But his curs be turned in +to his owne hed; as Holy Wrytt seythe; _Et in verticem ipsius iniquitas +ejus descendet_; that is for to seye, _Hi wykkednesse schalle turne and +falle in his owne heed_. And also the Sarazines bryngen forthe no pigges, +nor thei eten no swynes flessche: for thei seye, it is brother to man, and +it was forboden be the olde lawe: and thei holden hem alle accursed that +eten there of. Also in the lond of Palestyne and in the lond of Egypt, thei +eten but lytille or non of flessche of veel or of beef; but he be so old, +that he may no more travayle for elde; for it is forbode: and for because +the have but fewe of hem, therfore thei norisschen hem, for to ere here +londes. In this cytee of Betheleem was David the kyng born: and he hadde 60 +wyfes; and the firste wyf hihte Michol: and also he hadde 300 lemmannes. + +An fro Betheleem unto Jerusalem nys but 2 myle. And in the weye to +Jerusalem, half a myle fro Betheleem is a chirche, where the aungel seyde +to the scheppardes, of the birthe of Crist. And in that weye is the tombe +of Rachelle, that was Josephes modre, the patriarke; and sche dyede anon, +aftre that sche was delyvered of hire sone Beniamyn; and there sche was +buryed of Jacob hire husbonde: and he leet setten 12 grete stones on here, +in tokene that sche had born 12 children. [Footnote: Rachel had only two +children, but twelve grandchildren.] In the same weye, half myle fro +Jerusalem, appered the sterre to the 3 kynges. In that weye also ben manye +chirches of Cristen men, be the whiche men gon towardes the cytee of +Jerusalem. + + +Of the Pilgrimages in Jerusalem and of the Holy Places thereaboute. + +[Sidenote: Cap. VII.] After for to speke of Jerusalem, the holy cytee, zee +schulle undirstonde, that it stont fulle faire betwene hilles: and there +ben no ryveres ne welles; but watre comethe be condyte from Ebron. And zee +schulle undirstonde, that Jerusalem of olde tyme, unto the tyme of +Melchisedeche, was cleped Jebus; and aftre it was clept Salem, unto the +tyme of Kyng David, that putte theise 2 names to gidere, and cleped it +Jebusalem; and aftre that Kyng Salomon cleped it Jerosoloyme: and aftre +that, men cleped it Jerusalem; and so it is cleped zit. And aboute +Jerusalem is the kyngdom of Surrye: and there besyde is the lond of +Palestyne: and besyde it is Ascolone: and besyde that is the lond of +Maritaine. But Jerusalem is in the lond of Judee; and it is clept Jude, for +that Judas Machabeus was kyng of that contree; and it marchethe estward to +the kyngdom of Arabye; on the southe syde, to the lond of Egipt; and on the +west syde, to the grete see; on the north syde, towarde the kyngdom of +Surrye, and to the See of Cypre. In Jerusalem was wont to be a patriark, +and erchebysshoppes and bisshoppes abouten in the contree. Abouten +Jerusalem ben theise cytees: Ebron, at 7 myle; Jerico, at 6 myle; Bersabee, +at 8 myle; Ascalon, at 17 myle; Jaff, at 16 myle; Ramatha, at 3 myle; and +Betheleem, at 2 myle. And a 2 myle trom Betheleem, toward the sowthe, is +the chirche of Seynt Karitot, that was abbot there; for whom thei maden +meche Doel [Footnote: Mourning.] amonges the monkes, whan he scholde dye; +and zit thei ben in moornynge, in the wise that thei maden here +lamentacioun for him the firste tyme: and it is fulle gret pytee to +beholde. + +This contree and lond of Jerusalem hathe ben in many dyverse naciounes +hondes: and often therfore hathe the contree suffred meche tribulacioun, +for the synne of the people, that duellen there. For that contree hathe ben +in the hondes of alle nacyouns: that is to seyne, of Jewes, of Chananees, +Assiryenes, Perses, Medoynes, Macedoynes, of Grekes, Romaynes, of Cristene +men, of Sarazines, Barbaryenes, Turkes, Tartaryenes, and of manye othere +dyverse nacyouns. For God wole not, that it be longe in the hondes of +trytoures ne of synneres, be thei Cristene or othere. And now have the +hethene men holden that lond in here hondes 40 zeere and more: but thei +schulle not holde it longe, zif God wole. + +And zee schulle undirstond, that whan men comen to Jerusalem, here first +pilgrymage is to the Chirche of the Holy Sepulcre, where oure Lord was +buryed, that is with oute the cytee, on the northe syde: but it is now +enclosed in, with the toun walle. And there is a fulle fayr chirche, alle +rownd, and open above, and covered with leed. And on the west syde is a +fair tour and an highe, for belles, strongly made. And in the myddes of the +chirche is a tabernacle, as it were a lytylle hows, made with a low lytylle +dore: and that tabernacle is made in manere of half a compass, righte +curiousely and richely made, of gold and azure and othere riche coloures, +fulle nobelyche made. And in the righte syde of that tabernacle is the +sepulcre of oure Lord. And the tabernacle is 8 fote longe, and 5 fote wyde, +and 11 fote in heighte. And it is not longe sithen the sepulcre was alle +open, that men myghte kisse it and touche it. But for pilgrymes that comen +thidre, peyned hem to breke the ston in peces or in poudre, therfore the +Soudan hathe do make a walle aboute the sepulcre, that no man may towche +it. But in the left syde of the walle of the tabernacle is well the heighte +of a man, a gret ston to the quantytee of a mannes hed, that was of the +holy sepulcre: and that ston kissen the pilgrymes, that comen thidre. In +that tabernacle ben no wyndowes: but it is alle made lighte with lampes, +that hangen before the sepulcre. And there is a lampe, that hongethe before +the sepulcre, that brennethe lighte: and on the Gode Fryday it gothe out be +him self; and lyghtith azen be him self at that oure, that oure Lorde roos +fro dethe to lyve. Also within the chirche, at the righte syde, besyde the +queer of the chirche, is the Mount of Calvarye, where oure Lord was don on +the Cros: and it is a roche of white colour, and a lytille medled with red: +and the Cros was set in a morteys, in the same roche: and on that roche +dropped the woundes of our Lord, whan he was payned on the Crosse; and that +is cleped Golgatha. And men gon up to that Golgotha be degrees: and in the +place of that morteys was Adames hed founden, aftre Noes flode; in tokene +that the synnes of Adam scholde ben boughte in that same place. And upon +that roche made Abraham sacrifice to oure Lord. And there is an awtere: and +before that awtere lyzn Godefray de Boleyne and Bawdewyn, and othere +Cristene kynges of Jerusalem; And there nyghe, where our Lord was +crucyfied, is this written in Greek, [Greek: Ho Theos Basileus hęmon pro +aionon eirgasato aotęrian en meso tęs gęs.] that is to seyne, in Latyn, +_Deus Rex noster ante secula operatus est salutem, in medio terrę_; that is +to seye, _Gode oure Kyng, before the worldes, hathe wroughte hele in myddis +of the erthe_. And also on that roche, where the Cros was sett, is writen +with in the roche theise, wordes; [Greek: Ho eideis esti basis tęs pisteos +holęs tou kosmou touton.] that is to seyne in Latyn, _Quod vides, est +fundamentum totius Fidei hujus Mundi_; that is to seyne, _That thou seest, +is ground of alle the feythe of this world_. And zee schulle undirstonde, +that whan oure Lord was don upon the Cros, he was 33 zere and 3 moneths of +elde. And the prophecye of David seythe thus: _Quadraginta annis proximus +fui generationi huic_; that is to seye, _fourty zeer was I neighebore to +this kynrede_. And thus scholde it seme, that the prophecyes ne were not +trewe: but thei ben bothe trewe: for in old tyme men maden a zeer of 10 +moneths; of the whiche Marche was the firste, and Decembre was the laste. +But Gayus, that was Emperour of Rome, putten theise 2 monethes there to, +Janyver and Feverer; and ordeyned the zeer of 12 monethes; that is to seye, +365 dayes, with oute lepe zeer, aftre the propre cours of the sonne. And +therfore, aftre cowntynge of 10 monethes of the zeer, de dyede in the 40 +zeer; as the prophete seyde; and aftre the zeer of 12 monethes, he was of +age 33 zeer and 3 monethes. Also with in the Mount Calvarie, on the right +side, is an awtere, where the piler lyzthe, that oure Lord Jesu was bounden +to, whan he was scourged. And there besyde ben 4 pileres of ston, that alle +weys droppen watre: and sum men seyn, that thei wepen for our Lordes dethe. +And nyghe that awtier is a place undre erthe, 42 degrees of depnesse, where +the holy croys was founden, be the wytt of Seynte Elyne, undir a roche, +where the Jewes had hidde it. And that was the verray croys assayed: for +thei founden 3 crosses; on of oure Lord, and 2 of the 2 theves: and Seynte +Elyne preved hem on a ded body, that aros from dethe to lyve, whan it was +leyed on it that oure Lord dyed on. And there by in the walle is the place +where the 4 nayles of oure Lord weren hidd: for he had 2 in his hondes, and +2 in his feet: and of on of theise, the Emperour of Costantynoble made a +brydille to his hors, to bere him in bataylle: and thorghe vertue there of, +he overcam his enemyes, and wan alle the lond of Asye the lesse; that is to +seye, Turkye, Ermonye the lasse and the more; and from Surrye to Jerusalem, +from Arabye to Persie, from Mesopotayme to the kyngdom of Halappee, from +Egypt the highe and the lowe, and all the othere kyngdomes, unto the Depe +of Ethiope, and into Ynde the lesse, that then was Cristene. And there were +in that tyme many gode holy men and holy heremytes; of whom the book of +fadres lyfes spekethe: and thei ben now in Paynemes and Sarazines honds. +But whan God alle myghty wole, righte als the londes weren lost thorghe +synne of Cristene men, so schulle thei ben wonnen azen be Cristen men +thorghe help of God. And in myddes of that chirche is a compas, in the +whiche Joseph of Aramathie leyde the body of oure Lord, whan he had taken +him down of the cross: and there he wassched the woundes of oure Lord: and +that compas, seye men, is the myddes of the world. And in the Chirche of +the Sepulchre, on the north syde, is the place where oure Lord was put in +presoun; (for he was in presoun in many places) and there is a partye of +the Cheyne that he was bounden with: and there he appered first to Marie +Magdaleyne, whan he was rysen; and sche wende, that he had ben a gardener. +In the chirche of Seynt Sepulchre was wont to ben chanouns of the ordre of +Seynt Augustyn, and hadden a priour; but the patriark was here sovereygne. +And withe oute the dores of the chirche, on the right syde, as men gon +upward 18 Greces, seyde oure Lord to his moder, _Mulier, ecce filius tuus_; +that is to seye, _Woman, lo thi Sone_. And aftre that, he seyde to John his +disciple, _Ecce mater tua_; that is to seyne, _Lo, behold thi modir_: And +these wordes he seyde on the cros. And on theise Greces wente oure Lord, +whan he bare the crosse on his schuldir. And undir this grees is a +chapelle; and in that chapelle syngen prestes, yndyenes; that is to seye, +prestes of ynde; noght aftir oure lawe, but aftir here: and alle wey thei +maken here sacrement of the awtier, seyenge, _Pater noster_, and othere +preyeres there with: with the which preyeres, thei seye the wordes, that +the sacrement is made of. For thei ne knowe not the addiciouns, that many +Popes han made; but thei synge with gode devocioun. And there nere, is the +place where that oure Lord rested him, whan he was wery, for berynge of the +Cros. And zee schulle undirstonde, that before the Chirche of the Sepulcre, +is the cytee more feble than in ony othere partie, for the grete playn that +is betwene the chirche and the cytee. And toward the est syde, with oute +the walles of the cytee, is the Vale of Josaphathe, that touchethe to the +walles, as thoughe it were a large dyche. And anen that Vale of Josaphathe, +out of the cytee, is the Chirche of Seynt Stevene, where he was stoned to +dethe. And there beside, is the gildene zate, that may not ben opened; be +the whiche zate, oure Lord entrede on Palmesonday, upon an asse; and the +zate opened azenst him, whan he wolde go unto the temple: and zit apperen +the steppes of the asses feet, in 3 places of the degrees, that ben of +fulle harde ston. And before the chirche of Seynt Sepulcre, toward the +southe, a 200 paas, is the gret hospitalle of Seynt John; of the whiche the +hospitleres hadde here foundacioun. And with inne the palays of the seke +men of that hospitalle ben 124 pileres of ston: and in the walles of the +hows, with oute the nombre aboveseyd, there ben 54 pileres, that beren up +the hows. And fro that hospitalle, to go toward the est, is a fulle fayr +chirche, that is clept _Nostre Dame la Graund_. And than is there another +chirche right nyghe, that is clept _Nostre Dame la Latytne_. And there +weren Marie Cleophee and Marie Magdaleyne, and teren here heer, whan oure +Lord was peyned in the cros. + + +Of the Temple of oure Lord. Of the Crueltee of Kyng Heroud. Of the Mount + Syon. Of Probatica Piscina. And of Natatorium Siloe. + +[Sidenote: Cap. VIII.] And fro the chirche of the sepulcre, toward the est, +at 160 paas, is _Templum Domini_. It is right a feir hows, and it is alle +round, and highe, and covered with leed, and it is well paved with white +marble: but the Sarazine wole not suffre no Cristene manne Jewes to come +there in; for thei seyn, that none so foule synfulle men scholde not come +in so holy place: but I cam in there, and in othere places, where I wolde; +for I hadde lettres of the Soudan, with his grete seel; and comounly other +men han but his signett. In the whiche lettres he comanded of his, +specyalle grace, to all his subgettes, to lete me seen alle the places, and +to enforme me pleynly alle the mysteries of every place, and to condyte me +fro cytee to cytee, zif it were nede, and buxomly to resceyve me and my +companye, and for to obeye to alle my requestes resonable, zif thei weren +not gretly azen the royalle power, and dignytee of the Soudan or of his +lawe. And to othere, that asken him grace, suche as han served him, he ne +zevethe not but his signet; the whiche thei make to be born before hem, +hangynge on a spere; and the folk of the contree don gret worschipe and +reverence to his signett or his seel, and knelen there to, as lowly as wee +don to _Corpus Domini_. And zit men don fulle grettere reverence to his +lettres. For the admyralle and alle othere lordes, that thei ben schewed +to, before or thei resceyve hem, thei knelen doun, and than thei take hem, +and putten hem on here hedes, and aftre thei kissen hem, and than thei +reden hem, knelynge with gret reverence, and than thei offren hem to do +alle, that the berere askethe. And in this _Templum Domini_ weren somtyme +chanouns reguleres: and thei hadden an abbot, to whom thei weren obedient. +And in this temple was Charlemayn, when that the aungelle broughte him the +prepuce of oure Lord Jesu Crist, of his circumcisioun: and aftre Kyng +Charles leet bryngen it to Parys, in to his chapelle: and aftre that to +Chartres. And zee schulle undirstonde, that this is not the temple that +Salomon made: for that temple dured not, bat 1102 zeer. For Tytus, +Vespasianes sone, Emperour of Rome, had leyd sege aboute Jerusalem, for to +discomfyte the Jewes: for thei putten oure Lord to dethe, with outen leve +of the Emperour. And whan he hadde wonnen the cytee, he brente the temple +and beet it down, and alle the cytee, and toke the Jewes, and dide hem to +Dethe, 1100000: and the othere he putte in presoun, and solde hem to +servage, 30 for o peny: for thei seyde, thei boughte Jesu for 30 penyes: +and he made of hem bettre cheep, whan he zaf 30 for o peny. And aftre that +tyme, Julianas Apostate, that was Emperour, zaf leve to the Jewes to make +the Temple of Jerusalem: for he hated Cristene men; and zit he was +cristned, but he forsoke his law, and becam a renegate. And whan the Jewes +hadden made the temple, com an erthe quakeng, and cast it doun (as God +wolde) and destroyed alle that thei had made. And aftre that, Adryan, that +was Emperour of Rome, and of the lynage of Troye, made Jerusalem azen, and +the temple, in the same manere, as Salomon made it. And he wolde not suffre +no Jewes to dwelle there, but only Cristene men. For alle thoughe is were +so, that hee was not cristned, zet he lovede Cristene men, more than ony +other nacioun, saf his owne. This Emperour leet enclose the Chirche of +Seynt Sepulcre, and walle it, within the cytee, that before was with oute +the cytee, long tyme beforn. And he wolde have chaunged the name of +Jerusalem, and have cleped it Elya: but that name lasted not longe. Also +zee schulle undirstonde, that the Sarazines don moche reverence to that +temple; and thei seyn, that that place is right holy. And whan thei gon in, +thei gon barefote, and knelen many tymes. And whanne my felowes and I +seyghe that, whan we comen in, wee diden of oure shoon, and camen in +barefote, and thoughten that we scholden don as moche worschipe and +reverence there to, as ony of the mysbeleevynge men sholde, and as gret +compunction in herte to have. This temple is 64 cubytes of wydenesse, and +als manye in lengthe; and of heighte it is 120 cubites: and it is with +inne, alle aboute, made with pyleres of marble: and in the myddel place of +the temple ben manye highe stages, of 14 degrees of heighte, made with gode +pyleres alle aboute: and this place the Jewes callen _Sancta Sanctorum_; +that is to seye, _holy of halewes_. And in that place comethe no man, saf +only here prelate, that makethe here sacrifice. And the folk stonden alle +aboute, in diverse stages, aftre thei ben of dignytee or of worschipe; so +that thei alle may see the sacrifice. And in that temple ben 4 entrees; and +the zates ben of cypresse, wel made and curiousely dight. And with in the +est zate, oure Lorde seyde, _Here is Jerusalem._ And in the northsyde of +that temple with in the zate, there is a welle; but it rennethe noght; of +the whiche Holy Writt spekethe, and seythe, _Vidi aquam egredientem de +Templo_; that is to seyne, _I saughe watre come out of the Temple_. And on +that other syde of the Temple there is a roche, that men clepen Moriache: +but aftre it was clept Bethel; where the arke of God, with relykes of +Jewes, weren wont to ben put. That arke or hucche, with the relikes, Tytus +ledde with hym to Rome, whan he had scomfyted alle the Jewes. In that arke +weren the 10 commandementes, and of Arones zerde, and of Moyses zerde, with +the whiche he made the Rede See departen, as it had ben a walle, on the +righte syde and on the left syde, whils that the peple of Israel passeden +the see drye foot: and with that zerde he smoot the roche; and the watre +cam out of it: and with that zerde he dide manye wondres. And there in was +a vessel of gold, fulle of manna, and clothinges and ournements and the +tabernacle of Aaron, and a tabernacle square of gold, with 12 precyous +stones, and a boyst of jasper grene, with 4 figures, and 8 names of oure +Lord, and 7 candelstykes of gold, and 12 pottes of gold, and 4 censeres of +gold, and an awtier of gold, and 4 lyouns of gold, upon the whiche thei +bare cherubyn of gold, l2 spannes long, and the cercle of swannes of +Hevene, with a tabernacle of gold, and a table of sylver, and 2 trompes of +silver, and 7 barly loves, and alle the othere relikes, that weren before +the birthe of oure Lord Jesu Crist. And upon that roche, was Jacob +slepynge, when he saughe the aungeles gon up and doun, by a laddre, and he +seyd, _Vere locus isse sanctus est, et ego ignorabam_; that is to seyne, +_Forsothe this place is holy, and I wiste it nought_. And there an aungel +helde Jacob stille, and turned his name, and cleped him Israel. And in that +same place, David saughe the aungelle, that smot the folk with a swerd, and +put it up blody in the schethe. And in that same roche, was Seynt Symeon, +whan he resceyved oure Lord into the Temple. And in this roche he sette +him, whan the Jewes wolde a stoned him; and a sterre cam doun, and zaf him +light. And upon that roche, prechede our Lord often tyme to the peple; and +out of that seyd temple, oure Lord drof the byggeres and the selleres. And +upon that roche, oure Lord sette him, whan the Jewes wolde have stoned him; +and the roche cleef in two, and in that clevynge was oure Lord hidd; and +there cam doun a sterre, and zaf lighte and served him with claretee; and +upon that roche, satt oure lady, and lerned hire sawtere; and there our +Lord forzaf the womman hire sinnes, that was founden in Avowtrie: and there +was oure Lord circumcyded: and there the aungelle schewede tydynges to +Zacharie of the birthe of Seynt Baptyst his sone; and there offred first +Melchisedeche bred and wyn to oure Lord, in tokene of the sacrement that +was to comene; and there felle David preyeng to oure Lord, and to the +aungelle, that smot the peple, that he wolde have mercy on him and on the +peple; and oure Lorde herde his preyere; and therefore wolde he make the +temple in that place: but oure Lord forbade him, be an aungelle, for he had +don tresoun, whan he leet sle Urie the worthi knyght, for to have Bersabee +his wyf; and therfore all the purveyance, that he hadde ordeyned to make +the temple with, he toke it Salomon his sone; and he made it. And he preyed +oure Lord, that alle tho that preyeden to him, in that place, with gode +herte, that he wolde heren here preyere and graunten it hem, zif thei asked +it rightefullyche: and oure Lord graunted it him: and therfore Salomon +cleped that temple, the Temple of Conseille and of Help of God. And with +oute the zate of that temple is an awtiere, where Jewes werein wont to +offren dowves and turtles. And betwene the temple and that awtiere was +Zacharie slayn. And upon the pynacle of that temple was oure Lord brought, +for to ben tempted of the enemye, the feend. And on the heighte of that +pynacle, the Jewes setten Seynt Jame, and casted him down to the erthe, +that first was Bisschopp of Jerusalem. And at the entree of that temple, +toward the west, is the zate that is clept _Porta speciosa_. And nyghe +besyde that temple, upon the right syde, is a chirche covered with leed, +that is clept Salomones Scole. And fro that temple, towardes the southe, +right nyghe, is the Temple of Salomon, that is righte fair and wel +pollisscht. And in that temple duellen the knyghtes of the temple, that +weren wont to be clept templeres: and that was the foundacionn of here +ordre; so that there duelleden knyghtes; and in _Templo Domini_, chanouns +reguleres. Fro that temple toward the est, a 120 paas, in the cornere of +the cytee, is the bathe of oure Lord: and in that bathe was wont to come +watre fro paradys, and zit it droppethe. And there besyde, is oure ladyes +bed. And faste by, is the temple of Seynt Symeon: and with oute the +cloyster of the temple, toward the northe, is a fulle faire chirche of +Seynte Anne, oure ladyes modre: and there was oure lady conceyved. And +before that chirche, is a gret tree, that began to growe the same nyght. +And undre that chirche, in goenge doun be 22 degrees, lythe Joachym, oure +ladyes fader, in a faire tombe of ston: and there besyde, lay somtyme Seynt +Anne his wyf; but Seynt Helyne leet translate hire to Costantynople. And in +that chirche is a welle, in manere of a cisterne, that is clept _Probatica +Piscina_, that hathe 5 entrees. Into that welle, aungeles weren wont to +come from Hevene, and bathen hem with inne: and, what man that first bathed +him, aftre the mevynge of the watre, was made hool, of what maner sykenes +that he hadde: and there oure Lord heled a man of the palasye, that laye 38 +zeer: and oure Lord seyde to him, _Tolle Grabatum tuum & ambula_: that is +to seye, _Take thi bed, and go_. And there besyde, was Pylates hows. And +faste by, is Kyng Heroudes hows, that leet sle the innocentes. This Heroude +was over moche cursed and cruelle: for first he leet sle his wif, that he +lovede righte welle; and for the passynge love, that he hadde to hire, whan +he saughe hire ded, he felle in a rage, and oute of his wytt, a gret while; +and sithen he cam azen to his wytt: and aftre he leet sle his two sones, +that he hadde of that wyf: and aftre that, he leet sle another of his +wyfes, and a sone, that he hadde with hire: and aftre that, he leet sle his +owne modre: and he wolde have slayn his brother also, but he dyede +sodeynly. And aftre he fell into seknesse, and whan he felte, that he +scholde dye, he sente aftre his sustre, and aftre alle the lordes of his +lond; and whan thei were comen; he leet commande hem to prisoun, and than +he seyde to his sustre, he wiste wel, that men of the contree wolde make no +sorwe for his dethe; and therefore be made his sustre swere, that sche +scholde lete smyte of alle the heds of the lordes, whan he were ded; and +than scholde alle the lond make sorwe for his dethe, and else nought: and +thus he made his testement. But his sustre fulfilled not his wille: for als +sone as he was ded, sche delyvered alle the lordes out of presoun, and lete +hem gon, eche lord to his owne; and tolde hem alle the purpos of hire +brothers ordynance: and so was this cursed kyng never made sorwe for, as he +supposed for to have ben. And zee schulle undirstonde, that in that tyme +there weren 3 Heroudes, of gret name and loos for here crueltee. This +Heroude, of whiche I have spoken offe, was Heroude Ascalonite: and he that +leet beheden seynt John the Baptist, was Heroude Antypa: and he that leet +smyte of Seynt James hed, was Heroude Agrippa; and he putte Seynt Peter in +presoun. + +Also furthermore, in the cytee, is the Chirche of Seynt Savyour; and there +is the left arm of John Crisostom, and the more partye of the hed of Seynt +Stevene. And on that other syde of the strete, toward the southe, as men +gon to Mount Syon, is a chirche of Seynt James, where he was beheded. And +fro that chirche, a 120 paas, is the Mount Syon: and there is a faire +chirche of oure Lady, where sche dwelled; and there sche dyed. And there +was wont to ben an abbot of Chanouns Reguleres. And fro thens, was sche +born of the apostles, onto the Vale of Josaphathe. And there is the ston, +that the aungelle broughte to oure Lady, fro the Mount of Synay; and it is +of that colour, that the roche is of Seynt Kateryne. And there besyde, is +the zate, where thorghe oure Ladye wente, whan sche was with childe, whan +sche wente to Betheleem. Also at the entree of the Mount Syon, is a +chapelle; and in that chapelle is the ston gret and large, with the whiche +the sepulcre was covered with, whan Josephe of Aramathie had put oure Lord +thereinne: the whiche ston the 3 Maries sawen turnen upward, whan thei +comen to the sepulcre, the day of his resurrexioun; and there founden an +aungelle, that tolde hem of oure Lordes uprysynge from dethe to lyve. And +there also is a ston, in a walle, besyde the zate, of the pyleer, that oure +Lord was scourged ate: and there was Annes hows, that was Bishop of the +Jewes, in that ryme. And there was oure Lord examyned in the nyght, and +scourged and smytten and vylently entreted. And in that same place, Seynt +Peter forsoke oure Lord thries, or the cok creew. And there is a party of +the table, that he made his souper onne, whan be made his maundee, with his +discyples; whan he zaf hem his flesche and his blode, in forme of bred and +wyn. And undre that chapelle, 32 degrees, is the place, where oure Lord +wossche his disciples feet and zit is the vesselle, where the watre was. +And there besyde that same vesselle, was Seynt Stevene buryed. And there is +the awtier, where oure Lady herde the aungelles synge messe. And there +appered first oure Lord to his disciples, after his resurrexioun, the zates +enclosed, and seyde to hem, _Pax vobis_: that is to seye, _Pees to zou_. +And on that mount, appered Crist to Seynt Thomas the apostle, and bade him +assaye his woundes; and there beleeved he first, and seyde, _Dominus meus +et Deus meus_; that is to seye, _my Lord and my God_. In the same chirche, +besyde the awteer, weren alle the aposteles on Whytsonday, whan the Holy +Gost descended on hem, in lyknesse of fuyr. And there made oure Lord his +pask, [Footnote: Pascal feast] with his disciples. And there slept Seynt +John the Evaungeliste, upon the breeste of oure Lord Jesu Crist, and saughe +slepynge many hevenly prevytees. + +Mount Syon is with inne the cytee; and it is a lytille hiere than the other +syde of the cytee: and the cytee is strongere on that syde, than on that +other syde. For at the foot of the Mount Syon, is a faire castelle and a +strong, that the Soudan leet make. In the Mount Syon weren buryed Kyng +David and Kyng Salomon, and many othere kynges, Jewes of Jerusalem. And +there is the place, where the Jewes wolden han cast up the body of oure +Lady, whan the apostles beren the body to ben buryed, in the Vale of +Josaphathe. And there is the place, where Seynt Petir wepte fulle tenderly, +aftre that he hadde forsaken oure Lord. And a stones cast fro that +chapelle, is another chapelle, where oure Lord was jugged: for that tyme, +was there Cayphases hows. From that chapelle, to go toward the est, at 140 +paas, is a deep cave undre the roche, that is clept the Galylee of oure +Lord; where Seynt Petre hidde him, whanne he had forsaken oure Lord. Item, +betwene the Mount Syon and the Temple of Salomon, is the place, where oure +Lord reysed the mayden, in hire fadres hows. Undre the Mount Syon, toward +the Vale of Josaphathe, is a welle, that is clept _Natatorium Siloe_; and +there was oure Lord wasshen, aftre his bapteme: and there made oure Lord +the blynd man to see. And there was y buryed Ysaye the prophete. Also +streghte from Natatorie Siloe, is an ymage of ston, and of olde auncyen +werk, that Absalon leet make: and because there of, men clepen it the head +of Absalon. And faste by, is zit the tree of eldre, that Judas henge him +self upon, for despeyr that he hadde, whan he solde and betrayed oure Lord. +And there besyde, was the synagoge, where the bysshoppes of Jewes and the +pharyses camen to gidere, and helden here conseille. And there caste Judas +the 30 pens before hem, and seyde, that he hadde synned, betrayenge oure +Lord. And there nyghe was the hows of the apostles Philippe and Jacob +Alphei. And on that other syde of Mount Syon, toward the southe, bezonde +the Vale, a stones cast, is Acheldamache; that is to seye, the Feld of +Blood; that was bought for the 30 pens, that oure Lord was sold fore. And +in that feld ben many tombes of Cristene men: for there ben manye pilgrymes +graven. And there ben many oratories, chapelles and heremytages, where +heremytes weren wont to duelle. And toward the est, an 100 pas, is the +charnelle of the hospitalle of seynt John, where men weren wont to putte +the bones of dede men. + +Also fro Jerusalem, toward the west, is a fair chirche, where the tree of +the cros grew. And 2 myle fro thens, is a faire chirche; where oure lady +mette with Elizabethe, whan thei weren bothe with childe; and seynt John +stered in his modres wombe, and made reverence to his Creatour, that he +saughe not. And undre the awtier of that chirche, is the place where seynt +John was born. And fro that chirche, is a myle to the castelle of Emaux; +and there also oure Lord schewed him to 2 of his disciples, aftre His +resurrexion. Also on that other syde, 200 pas fro Jerusalem, is a chirche, +where was wont to be the cave of the lioun: and undre that chirche, at 30 +degrees of depnesse, weren entered 12000 martires, in the tyme of Kyng +Cosdroc, that the lyoun mette with alle in a nyghte, be the wille of God. +Also fro Jerusalem 2 myle, is the Mount Joye, a fulle fair place and a +delicyous: and there lythe Samuel the prophete in a faire tombe: and men +clepen it Mount Joye; for it zevethe joye to pilgrymes hertes, be cause +that there men seen first Jerusalem. Also betwene Jerusalem and the Mount +of Olyvete, is the Vale of Josaphathe, undre the walles of the cytee, as I +have seyd before: and in the myddes of the vale, is a lytille ryvere, that +men clepen Torrens Cedron; and aboven it, over thwart, lay a tre, (that the +cros was made offe) that men zeden over onne: and faste by it is a litylle +pytt in the erthe, where the foot of the pileer is zit entered; and there +was oure Lord first scourged: for he was scourged and vileynsly entreted in +many places. Also in the myddel place of the vale of Josaphathe, is the +chirche of oure lady: and it is of 43 degrees, undre the erthe, unto the +sepulchre oure lady. And oure lady was of age, when sche dyed, 72 zeer. And +beside the sepulchre of oure lady, is an awtier, where oure Lord forzaf +seynt Petir all his synnes. And fro thens, toward the west, undre an +awtere, is a welle, that comethe out of the ryvere of Paradys. And witethe +wel, that that chirche is fulle lowe in the erthe; and sum is alle with +inne the erthe. But I suppose wel, that it was not so founded: but for +because that Jerusalem hathe often tyme ben destroyed, and the walles +abated and beten doun and tombled in to the vale, and that thei han ben so +filled azen, and the ground enhaunced; and for that skylle, is the chirche +so lowe with in the erthe: and natheles men seyn there comounly, that the +erthe hathe so ben cloven, sythe the tyme, that oure Lady was there buryed: +and zit men seyn there, that it wexethe and growethe every day, with outen +dowte. In that chirche were wont to ben blake monkes, that hadden hire +abbot. And besyde that chirche, is a chapelle, besyde the roche, that +highte Gethesamany: and there was oure Lord kyssed of Judas; and there was +he taken of the Jewes; and there laft oure Lord his disciples, whan he +wente to preye before his passioun, whan he preyed and seyde, _Pater, si +fieri potest, transeat a me calix iste_; that is to seye, _Fadre, zif it +may be, do lete this chalys go fro me_. And whan he cam azen to his +disciples, he fond hem slepynge. And in the roche, with inne the chapelle, +zit apperen the fyngres of oure Lordes hond, whan he putte hem in the +roche, whan the Jewes wolden have taken him. And fro thens a stones cast, +toward the southe, is anothere chapelle, where oure Lord swette droppes of +blood. And there righte nyghe, is the tombe of Kyng Josaphathe; of whom the +vale berethe the name. This Josaphathe was kyng of that contree, and was +converted by an heremyte, that was a worthi man, and dide moche gode. And +fro thens a bowe drawghte, towards the south, is the chirche, where Seynt +James and Zacharie the prophete weren buryed. And above the vale, is the +Mount of Olyvete: and it is cleped so, for the plentee of olyves, that +growen there. That mount is more highe than the cytee of Jerusalem is: and +therfore may men, upon that mount, see manye of the stretes of the cytee. +And between that mount and the cytee, is not but the vale of Josaphathe, +that is not fulle large. And fro that mount, steighe oure Lord Jesu Crist +to Hevene, upon ascencioun day: and zit there schewethe the schapp of his +left foot, in the ston. And there is a chirche, where was wont to be an +abbot and chanouns reguleres. And a lytylle thens, 28 pas, is a chapelle, +and there in is the ston, on the whiche oure Lord sat, whan he prechede the +8 blessynges, and seyde thus: _Beati pauperes spiritu_: and there he +taughte his disciples the _Pater noster_; and wrote with his finger in a +ston. And there nyghe is a chirche of Seynte Marie Egipcyane; and there +sche lythe in a tombe. And fro then toward the est, a 3 bow schote, is +Bethfagee; to the whiche oure Lord sente Seynt Peter and Seynt James, for +to feche the asse, upon Palme Sonday, and rode upon that asse to Jerusalem. +And in comynge doun fro the Mount of Olyvete, toward the est, is a +castelle, that is cleped Bethanye: and there dwelte Symon leprous, and +there herberwed oure Lord; and aftre, he was baptized of the Apostles, and +was clept Julian, and was made bisschoppe: and this is the same Julyan, +that men clepe to for gede herberghgage; for oure Lord herberwed with him, +in his hows. And in that hous, oure Lord forzaf Marie Magdaleyne hire +synnes; there sche whassched his feet with hire teres, and wyped hem with +hire heer. And there served seynt Martha, oure Lord. There oure Lord reysed +Lazar fro dethe to lyve, that was ded 4 dayes and stank, that was brother +to Marie Magdaleyne and to Martha. And there duelte also Marie Cleophe. +That castelle is wel a myle long fro Jerusalem. Also in comynge doun fro +the Mount of Olyvete, is the place where oure Lord wepte upon Jerusalem. +And there besyde is the place, where oure lady appered to seynt Thomas the +Apostle, aftre hire assumptioun, and zaf him hire Gyrdylle. And right nyghe +is the ston, where oure Lord often tyme sat upon, whan he prechede: and +upon that same schalle he sytte, at the day of doom; righte as him self +seyde. + +Also aftre the Mount of Olyvete, is the Mount of Galilee: there assembleden +the apostles, whan Marie Magdaleyne cam, and tolde hem of Cristes +uprisynge. And there, betwene the Mount Olyvete and the Mount Galilee, is a +chirche, where the aungel seyde to our lady, of hire dethe. Also fro +Bethanye to Jerico, was somtyme a litylle Cytee: but it is now alle +destroyed; and now is there but a litylle village. That cytee tok Josue, be +myracle of God and commandement of the aungel, and destroyed it and cursed +it, and alle hem that bylled it azen. Of that citee was Zacheus the dwerf, +that clomb up in to the Sycomour Tre, for to see oure Lord; be cause he was +so litille, he myghte not seen Him for the peple. And of that cytee was +Raab the comoun womman, that ascaped allone, with hem of hire lynage; and +sche often tyme refressched and fed the messageres of Israel, and kepte hem +from many grete periles of dethe: and therfore sche hadde gode reward; as +Holy Writt seythe: _Qui accipit prophetam in nomine meo, mercedem prophetę +accipiet_; that is to seye, _He that takethe a prophete in my name, he +schalle take mede of the prophete_: and so had sche; for sche prophecyed to +the messageres, seyenge, _Novi quod Dominus tradet vobis Terram hanc_; that +is to seye, _I wot wel, that oure Lord schal betake zou this Lond_: and so +he dide. And after Salomon, Naasones sone, wedded hire; and fro that tyme +was sche a worthi womman, and served God wel. Also from Betanye gon men to +flom [Footnote: River,--Latin, _flumen_.] Jordan, by a mountayne, and +thorghe desert; and it is nyghe a day jorneye fro Bethanye, toward the est, +to a gret hille, where oure Lord fasted 40 dayes. Upon that hille, the +enemy of helle bare our Lord, and tempted him, and seyde; _Dic ut lapides +isti panes fiant_; that is to seye, _Sey, that theise stones be made +loves_. In that place, upon the hille, was wont to ben a faire chirche; but +it is alle destroyed, so that there is now but an hermytage, that a maner +of Cristene men holden, that ben cleped Georgyenes: for Seynt George +converted hem. Upon that hille duelte Abraham a gret while: and therfore +men clepen it, Abrahames gardyn. And betwene the hille and this gardyn +rennethe a lytille broke of watre, that was wont to ben byttre; but be the +blessyng of Helisee the prophete, it becam swete and gode to drynke. And at +the foot of this hille, toward the playn, is a grete welle, that entrethe +in to flom Jordan. Fro that hille to Jerico, that I spak of before, is but +a myle, in goynge toward flom Jordan. Also as men gon to Jerico, sat the +blynde man, cryenge, _Jesu, fili David, miserere mei_; that is to seye, +_Jesu, Davides sone, have mercy on me_: and anon he hadde his sighte. Also +2 myle fro Jerico is flom Jordan: and an half myle more nyghe, is a faire +chirche of Seynt John the Baptist; where he baptised oure Lord: and there +besyde, is the hous of Jeremye the prophete. + + +Of the dede See; and of the Flom Jordan. Of the Hed of Seynt John the + Baptist; and of the Usages of the Samaritanes. + +[Sidenote: Cap. IX.] And fro Jerico, a 3 myle, is the dede See. Aboute that +See growethe moche alom and of alkatram. [Footnote: Brimstone.] Betwene +Jerico and that see is the lond of Dengadde; and there was wont to growe +the bawme; but men make drawe the braunches there of, and beren hem to ben +graffed at Babiloyne; and zit men clepen hem vynes of Gaddy. At a cost of +that see, as men gon from Arabe, is the mount of the Moabytes; where there +is a cave, that men clepen Karua. Upon that hille, ladde Balak the sone of +Booz, Balaam the prest, for to curse the peple of Israel. That dede See +departethe the lond of Ynde and of Arabye; and that see lastethe from Soara +unto Arabye. The watre of that see is fulle bytter and salt: and ziff the +erthe were made moyst and weet with that watre, it wolde nevere bere fruyt. +And the erthe and the lond chaungeth often his colour. And it castethe out +of the watre a thing that men clepen aspalt; also gret peces, as the +gretnesse of an hors, every day, and on alle sydes. And fro Jerusalem to +that see, is 200 furlonges. That see is in lengthe 580 furlonges, and in +brede 150 furlonges: and it is clept the dede see, for it rennethe nought. +but is evere unmevable. And nouther manne, best, ne no thing that berethe +lif in him, ne may not dyen in that see: and that hathe ben proved manye +tymes, be men that han disserved to ben dede, that han ben cast there inne, +and left there inne 3 dayes or 4, and thei ne myghte never dye ther inne: +for it resceyvethe no thing with inne him, that berethe lif. And no man may +drynken of the watre, for bytternesse. And zif a man caste iren there in, +it wole flete aboven. And zif men caste a fedre there in, it wole synke to +the botme: and theise ben thinges azenst kynde. And also the cytees there +weren lost, be cause of synne. And there besyden growen trees, that beren +fulle faire apples, and faire of colour to beholde; but whoso brekethe hem +or cuttethe hem in two, he schalle fynde with in hem coles and cyndres; in +tokene that, be wratthe of God, the cytees and the lond weren brente and +sonken into helle. Sum men clepen that see, Lake Dalfetidee; summe, the +Flom of Develes; and summe, the flom that is ever stynkynge. And in to that +see sonken the 5 cytees, be wratthe of God; that is to seyne, Sodom, +Gomorre, Aldama, Seboym and Segor, for the abhomynable synne of sodomye, +that regned in hem. But Segor, be the preyer of Lothe, was saved and kept a +gret while: for it was sett upon an hille; and zit schewethe therof sum +party, above the watre: and men may see the walles, when it is fayr wedre +and cleer. In that cytee Lothe dwelte, a lytylle while; and there was he +made dronken of his doughtres, and lay with hem, and engendred of hem Moab +and Amon. And the cause whi his doughtres made him dronken, and for to ly +by him, was this; because thei sawghe no man aboute hem, but only here +fadre: and therfore thei trowed, that God had destroyed alle the world, as +he hadde don the cytees; as he hadde don before, be Noes flood. And +therfore thei wolde lye with here fadre, for to have issue, and for to +replenysschen the world azen with peple, to restore the world azen be hem: +for thei trowed, that ther had ben no mo men in alle the world. And zif +here fadre had not ben dronken, he hadde not y leye with hem. And the hille +aboven Segor, men cleped it thanne Edom: and aftre men cleped it Seyr, and +aftre Ydumea. Also at the righte syde of that dede See, dwellethe zit the +wife of Lothe, in lyknesse of a salt ston; fur that schee loked behinde +hire, whan the cytees sonken into helle. This Lothe was Araammes sone, that +was brother to Abraham. And Sarra Abrahames wife, and Melcha Nachors wif, +weren sustren to the seyd Lothe. And the same Sarra was of elde 90 zeer, +when Ysaac hire sone was goten on hire. And Abraham hadde another sone +Ysmael, that he gat upon Agar his chambrere. And when Ysaac his sone was 8 +dayes olde, Abraham his fadre leet him ben circumcyded, and Ysmael with +him, that was 14 zeer old: wherfore the Jewes, that comen of Ysaacces lyne, +ben circumcyded the 8 day; and the Sarrazines, that comen of Ysmaeles lyne, +ben circumcyded whan thei ben 14 zeer of age. + +And zee schulle undirstonde, that with in the dede See rennethe the Flom +Jordan, and there it dyethe; for it rennethe no furthermore: and that is a +place, that is a myle fro the Chirche of seynt John the Baptist, toward the +West, a lytille benethe the place, where that christene men bathen hem +comounly. And a myle from Flom Jordan, is the Ryvere of Jabothe, the whiche +Jacob passed over, whan he cam fro Mesopotayme. This Flom Jordan is no +great ryvere; but it is plenteous of gode fissche; and it cometh out of the +hille of Lyban be 2 welles, that ben cleped Jor and Dan: and of tho 2 +Welles hath it the name. And it passethe be a lake, that is clept Maron; +and aftre it passethe by the See of Tyberye, and passethe undre the hilles +of Gelboe: and there is a full faire vale, bothe on that o syde and on that +other of the same ryvere. And men gon the hilles of Lyban, alle in lengthe, +onto the desert of Pharan. And tho hilles departen the kyngdom of Surrye +and the contree of Phenesie. And upon tho hilles growen trees of cedre, +that ben fulle hye, and thei beren longe apples, and als grete as a mannes +heved. And also this Flom Jordan departeth the lond of Galilee, and the +lond of Ydumye and the lond of Betron: and that rennethe undre erthe a +grete weye, unto a fayre playn and a gret, that is clept Meldan, in +Sarmoyz; that is to seye, feyre or markett in here langage; be cause that +there is often feyres in that pleyn. And there becomethe the watre gret and +large. And that playn is the tombe of Job. And in that Flom Jordan +above-seyd, was oure Lorde baptized of seynt John; and the voys of God the +Fadre was herd seyenge. _Hic est Filius meus dilectus, &c._; that is to +seye, _This is my beloved sone, in the whiche I am well plesed; herethe +hym_. And the Holy Gost alyghte upon hym, in lyknesse of a colver: and so +at his baptizynge, was alle the hool trynytee. And thorghe that Flom +passeden the children of Israel, alle drye feet: and thei putten stones +there in the myddel place, in tokene of the myracle, that the watre +withdrowghe him so. Also in that Flom Jordan, Naaman of Syrie bathed him; +that was fulle riche, but he was meselle: [Footnote: Leprous.] and there +anon he toke his hele. Abouten the Flom Jordan ben manye chirches, where +that manye cristene men dwelleden. And nyghe therto is the cytee of Hay, +that Josue assayled and toke. Also beyonde the Flom Jordan, is the Vale of +Mambre; and that is a fulle fair vale. Also upon the hille, that I spak of +before, where oure Lord fasted 40 dayes, a 2 myle long from Galilee, is a +faire hille and an highe; where the enemye, the fend, bare oure Lord, the +thridde tyme, to tempte him, and schewede him alle the regiouns of the +world, and seyde, _Hic omnia tibi dabo, si cadens adoraveris me_; that is +to seyne, _All this schalle I zeve the, zif thou falle and worschipe me_. + +Also fro the dede See, to gon estward out of the marches of the Holy Lond, +that is clept the Lond of Promyssioun, is a strong castelle and a fair, in +an hille, that is clept Carak, en Sarmoyz; that is to seyne, Ryally. That +castle let make kyng Baldwyn, (that was Kyng of France) whan he had +conquered that lond; and putte it in to cristene mennes hondes, for to kepe +that contree. And for that cause, was it clept the Mownt rialle. And undre +it there is a town, that hight Sobachie: and there alle abowte dwellen +cristene men, undre trybute. Fro thens gon men to Nazarethe, of the whiche +oure Lord berethe the surname. And fro thens, there is 3 journeyes to +Jerusalem: and men gon be the provynce of Galylee, be Ramatha, be Sothym +and be the highe hille of Effraim; where Elchana and Anna, the modre of +Samuelle the prophete, dwelleden. There was born this prophete: and aftre +his dethe, he was buryed at Mount Joye, as I have seyd you before. And than +gon men to Sylo; where the arke of God with the relikes weren kept longe +tyme, undre Ely the prophete. There made the peple of Ebron sacrifice to +oure Lord: and ther thei yolden up here avowes: and there spak God first to +Samuelle, and schewed him the mutacioun of ordre of presthode, and the +misterie of the sacrement. And right nyghe, on the left syde, is Gabaon and +Rama and Beniamyn; of the whiche holy writt spekethe offe. And aftre men +gon to Sychem, sumtyme clept Sychar; and that is in the provynce of +Samaritanes; and there is a fulle fair vale and a fructuouse, and there is +a fair cytee and a gode, that men clepen Neople. And from thens is a +jorneye to Jerusalem. And there is the welle, where oure Lord spak to the +woman of Samaritan. And there was wont to ben a chirche; but it is beten +doun. Besyde that welle, Kyng Roboas let make 2 calveren of gold, and made +hem to ben worschipt, and put that on at Dan, and that other at Betelle. +And a myle fro Sychar, is the cytee of Deluze. And in that cytee dwelte +Abraham, a certeyn tyme. Sychem is a 10 myle fro Jerusalem, and it is clept +Neople; that is, for to seyne, the newe cytee. And nyghe besyde is the +tombe of Josephe the sone of Jacob, that governed Egypt: for the Jewes +baren his bones from Egypt, and buryed hem there. And thidre gon the Jewes +oftentyme in pilgrimage, with gret devocioun. In that cytee was Dyne +Jacobes doughter ravysscht; for whom hire bretheren slowen many persones, +and diden many harmes to the cytee. And there besyde, is the hille of +Garasoun, where the Samaritanes maken here sacrifice: in that hille wolde +Abraham have sacrificed his sone Ysaac. And there besyde is the vale of +Dotaym: and there is the cisterne, where Josephe was cast in of his +bretheren, which thei solden; and that is a 2 myle fro Sychar. From thens +gon men to Samarye, that men clepen now Sebast; and that is the chief cytee +of that contree: and it sytt betwene the hille of Aygnes, as Jerusalem +dothe. In that cytee was the syttinges of the 12 tribes of Israel: but the +cytee is not now so gret, as it was wont to be. There was buryed seynt John +the Baptist, betwene 2 prophetes, Helyseus and Abdyan: but he was beheded +in the castelle of Macharyme, besyde the Dede See: and aftre he was +translated of his disciples, and buryed at Samarie: and there let Julianas +Apostata dyggen him up, and let brennen his bones; (for he was that time +Emperour) and let wyndwe [Footnote: Blow away.] the ashes in the wynd. But +the fynger, that schewed oure Lord, seyenge, _Ecce Agnus Dei_; that is to +seyne, _Lo the Lamb of God_: that nolde nevere brenne, but is alle hol: +that fynger leet seynte Tecle the holy virgyne be born in to the hill of +Sebast; and there maken men gret feste. In that place was wont to ben a +faire chirche; and many othere there weren; but thei ben alle beten doun. +There was wont to ben the heed of seynt John Baptist, enclosed in the +walle; but the Emperour Theodosie let drawe it out, and fond it wrapped in +a litille clothe, alle blody; and so he leet it to be born to +Costantynoble: and zit at Costantynoble is the hyndre partye of the heed: +and the for partie of the heed, til undre the chyn, is at Rome, undre the +chirche of seynt Silvestre, where ben nonnes of an hundred ordres; and it +is zit alle broylly, as thoughe it were half brent: for the Emperour +Julianus aboyeseyd, of his cursednesse and malice, let brennen that partie +with the other bones; and zit it schewethe: and this thing hathe ben +preved, both be popes and by emperours. And the Jowes benethe, that holden +to the Chyn, and a partie of the assches, and the platere, that the hed was +leyd in, whan it was smyten of, is at Gene: and the Geneweyes maken of it +gret feste; and so don the Sarazynes also. And sum men seyn; that the heed +of seynt John is at Amyas, in Picardye: and other men seyn, that it is the +heed of seynt John the Bysschop. I wot nere, but God knowethe: but in what +wyse than men worschipen it, the blessed seynt John holt him a payd. + +From this cytee of Sebast unto Jerusalem, is 12 myle. And betwene the +hilles of that contree, there is a welle, that 4 sithes in the zeer +chaungethe his colour; sometyme grene, sometyme reed, sometyme cleer, and +sometyme trouble; and men clepen that welle Job. And the folk of that +contree, that men clepen Samaritanes, weren converted and baptized by the +apostles; but thei holden not wel here doctryne; and alle weys thei holden +lawes by hem self, varyenge from cristene men, from Sarrazines, Jewes and +Paynemes. And the Samaritanes leeven well in o Godi: and thei seyn wel, +that there is but only o God, that alle formed, and alle schalle deme: and +thei holden the Bible aftre the lettre: and thei usen the psawtere, as the +Jewes don: and thei seyn, that thei ben the righte sones of God: and among +alle other folk, thei seyn that thei ben best beloved of God; and that to +hem belongethe the heritage, that God behighte to hise beloved children: +and thei han also dyverse clothinge and schapp, to loken on, than other +folk han; for thei wrappen here hedes in red linnene cloth, in difference +from othere. And the Sarazines wrappen here hedes in white lynnene clothe. +And the Cristene men, that duellen in the contree, wrappen hem in blew of +Ynde; and the Jewes in zelow clothe. In that contree duellen manye of the +Jewes, payenge tribute, as Cristene men don. And zif zee wil knowe the +lettres, that the Jewes usen, as thei clepem hem, in manner of here _A. B. +C. Alephe, Bethe, Gymel, Delethe, He, Vau, Zay, Cy, Thet, Joht, Kapho, +Lampd [sic--KTH], Mem, Num, Samethe, Ey, Fhee, Sade, Cophe, Resch, Son, +Tau_. + + +Of the Province of Galilee, and where Antecrist schalle be born; Of + Nazarethe. Of the Age of oure Lady. Of the Day of Doom; and of the + Customes of Jacobites, Surryenes; and of the Usages of Gcorgyenes. + +[Sidenote: Chap. IX.] From this contree of the Samaritanes, that I have +spoken of before, gon men to the playnes of Galilee. And men leven the +hilles, on that o partye. And Galilee is on of the provynces of the Holy +Land: and in that provynce is the cytee of Naym and Capharnaum and +Chorosaym and Bethsayde. In this Bethseyde was Seynt Petre and Seynt Andrew +borne. And thens, a 4 myle, is Chorosaym: and 5 myle fro Chorosaym, is the +cytee of Cedar, of the psautre spekethe: _Et habitavi cum habitantibus +Cedar_; that is for to seye, _And I have dwelled with the dwellynge men in +Cedar_. In Chorosaym schalle Antecrist be born, as sum men seyn; and other +men seyn, he schalle be born in Babyloyne: for the prophete seyth; _De +Babilonia Coluber exiet, qui totum mundum devorabit_; that is to seyne, +_Out of Babiloyne schal come a worm, that schal devouren alle the world_. +This Antecrist schal be norysscht in Bethsayda, and he schal regne in +Capharnaum: and therfore seythe Holy Writt: _Ve tibi, Chorosaym: ve tibi, +Bethsayda: ve tibi, Capharnaum_; that is to seye, _Wo be to the, Chorosaym; +wo to the, Bethsayda: wo to the, Capharnaum_. And alle theise townes ben in +the lond of Galilee. And also, the cane of Galilee is 4 myle fro Nazarethe: +of that cytee was Simon Chananeus, and his wif Canee; of the whiche the +holy evaungelist spekethe off: there dide oure Lord the first myracle at +the wedyng, whan he turned water in to wyn. And in the ende of Galilee, at +the hilles, was the arke of God taken; and on that other syde is the Mownt +Hender or Hermon. And there aboute gothe the Broke of Cison: and there +besyde, Barache, that was Abymeleche sone, with Delbore the prophetisse, +overcam the Oost of Ydumea, whan Cysera the kyng was slayn of Gebelle, the +wif of Aber; and chaced beyonde the Flom Jordan, be strengthe of sword, Zeb +and Zebec and Salmana; and there he slowghe him. Also a 5 myle fro Naym, is +the cytee of Jezreel, that sometyme was clept Zarym; of the which cytee +Jezabel the cursed queen was lady and queen, that toke awey the vyne of +Nabaothe, be hire strengthe. Faste by that cytee, is the Feld Magede, in +the whiche the Kyng Joras was slayn of the Kyng of Samarie, and aftre was +translated and buryed in the Mount Syon. And a myle fro Jezrael ben the +Hilles of Gelboe, where Saul and Jonathas that weren so faire, dyeden: +wherfore David cursed hem, as holy writt seythe; _Montes Gelboe, nec Ros +nec Pluvia, &c._; that is to seye, _Zee hilles of Gelboe, nouther Dew ne +Reyne com upon you_. And a myle fro the hilles of Gelboe, toward the est, +is the cytee of Cyrople, that was clept before Bethsayn. And upon the +walles of that cytee was the hed of Saul honged. + +After gon men be the hille, besyde the pleynes of Galylee, unto Nazarethe, +where was wont to ben a gret cytee and fair: but now there is not, but a +lytille village, and houses a brood here and there. And it is not walled; +and it sytt in a litille valeye, and there ben hilles alle aboute. There +was our lady born: but sche was goten at Jerusalem. And be cause that oure +lady was born at Nazarethe, therefore bare our Lord his surname of that +town. There toke Josephe our lady to wyf, when sche was 14 zeere of age: +and there Gabrielle grette our lady, seyenge, _Ave Gratia plena, Dominus +tecum_; that is to seyne, _Heyl fulle of Grace, oure Lord is with the_. And +this Salutacioun was don in a place of a gret awteer of a faire chirche, +that was wont to be somtyme: but it is now alle downe; and men han made a +litylle resceyt, besyde a pylere of that chirche, for to resceyve the +offrynges of Pilgrymes. And the Sarrazines kepen that place fulle derely, +for the profyte that thei han there offe: and thei ben fulle wykked +Sarrazines and cruelle, and more dispytous than in ony other place, and han +destroyed alle the chirches. There nyghe is Gabrielles Welle, where oure +Lord was wont to bathe Him, whan He was yong: and fro that welle bare he +watre often tyme to his modre: and in that well sche wossche often tyme the +clowtes of hire sone Jesu Crist. And fro Jerusalem unto thidre, is 3 +journeyes. At Nazarathe was our Lord norisscht. Nazarethe is als meche to +seye, as flour of the gardyn: and be gode skylle may it ben clept flour; +for there was norisscht the flour of lyf, that was Crist Jesu. And 2 myle +fro Nazarethe, it the cytee of Sephor, be the weye, that gothe from +Nazerethe to Acon. And an half myle fro Nazarethe, is the lepe of oure +Lorde: for the Jewes ladden him upon an highe roche, for to make him lepe +doun, and have slayn him: but Jesu passed amonges hem, and lepte upon +another roche; and zit ben the steppes of his feet sene in the roche, where +he allyghte. And therfore seyn sum men, whan thei dreden hem of thefes, on +ony weye, or of enemyes; _Jesus autem transiens per medium illorum ibet_; +that is to seyne, _Jesus forsothe passynge be the myddes of hem, he wente_: +in tokene and mynde, that oure Lord passed thorghe out the Jewes crueltee, +and scaped safly fro hem: so surely mowe men passen the perile of thefes. +And than sey men 2 vers of the psautre, 3 sithes: _Irruat super eos formido +et pavor in magnitudine Brachii tui, Domine, Fiant inmobiles, quasi Lapis, +donec pertranseat populus tuus, Domine; donec pertranseat populus tuus +iste, quem possedisti_. And thanne may men passe with outen perile. And zee +schulle undirstonde, that oure lady hadde child, whan sche was 15 zeere +old: and sche was conversant with hire sone 33 zeer and 3 monethes; And +aftre the passioun of oure Lord, sche lyvede 24 zeer. + +Also fro Nazarethe, men gon to the Mount Thabor; and that is a 4 myle: and +it is a fulle faire hille, and well highe, where was wont to ben a toun and +many chirches; but thei ben alle destroyed; but zit there is a place, that +men clepen the scole of God, where he was wont to teche his disciples, and +tolde hem the prevytees of hevene. And at the foot of that hille, +Melchisedeche, that was Kyng of Salem, in the turnynge of that hille, mette +Abraham in comynge azen from the bataylle, whan he had slayn Abymeleche: +and this Melchisedeche was bothe kyng and prest of Salem, that now is +cleped Jerusalem. In that hille Thabor, oure Lord transfigured him before +seynt Petre, seynt John and seynt Jame; and there they sawghe gostly Moyses +and Elye the prophetes besyde hem: and therefore seyde seynt Petre, +_Domine, bonum est nos hic esse; faciamus tria Tabernacula_; that is to +seye, _Lorde, it is gode for us to ben here; make we here 3 dwellying +places_. And there herd thei a voys of the fadir, that seye, _Hic est +filius meus dilectus, in quo mihi bene complacui_. And oure Lord defended +hem, that thei scholde not telle that avisioun, til that he were rysen from +dethe to lyf. In that hille and in that same place, at the day of doom, 4 +aungeles, with 4 trompes, schulle blowen and reysen alle men, that hadden +suffred dethe, sithe that the world was formed, from dethe to lyve; and +schnlle comen in body and soule in juggement; before the face of oure Lord, +in the Vale of Josaphate. And the doom schalle ben on Estre Day, suche tyme +as oure Lord aroos: and the dom schalle begynne, suche houre as oure Lord +descended, to helle and dispoyled it; for at such houre schal he dispoyle +the world, and lede his chosene to blisse; and the othere schalle be +condempne to perpetuelle peynes: and thanne schalle every man have aftir +his dissert, outher gode or evylle; but zif the mercy of God passe his +rightewisnesse. + +Also a myle from Mount Thabor, is the Mount Heremaon; and there was the +cytee of Naym. Before the zate of that cytee, reysed oure Lord the wydewes +sone, that had no mo children. Also 3 myle fro Nazarethe, is the Castelle +Saffra; of the whiche, the sones of Zebedee and the sones of Alphee weren. +Also a 7 myle fro Nazarethe is the Mount Kayn; andl andre that is a welle, +and besyde that welle, Lameche Noees fadre sloughe Kaym with an arwe. For +this Kaym wente thorghe breres and bosshes, as a wylde best; and he had +lyved fro the tyme of Adam his fadir, unto the tynme of Noe; and so he +lyvode nyghe to 2000 zeer. And this Lameche was alle blynd for elde. + +Fro Saffra, men gothe to the see of Galylee and to the cytee of Tyberye, +that sytt upon the same see. And alle be it, that men clepen it a see, zit +is it nouther see ne arm of the see: for it is but a stank of fresche +watir, that is in lengthe 100 furlonges; and of brede 40 furlonges; and +hathe with in him gret plentee of fissche, and rennethe in to Flom Jordan. +The cytee it not fulle gret, but it hathe gode bathes with in him. And +there; as the Flom Jordan partethe fro the see of Galilee, is a gret +brigge, where men passen from the lond of promyssioun, to the lond of +Baazan and the lond of Gerrasentz, that ben about the Flom Jordan, and the +begynnynge of the see of Tyberie. And fro thens may men go to Damask, in 3 +dayes, be the kyngdom of Traconye; the whiche kyngdom lastethe fro mount +Heremon to the see of Galilee, or to the see of Tyberie, or to the see of +Jenazarethe; and alle is o see, and this the stank that I have told zou; +but it chaungethe thus the name, for the names of the cytees that sytten +besyde hem. Upon that see, went oure Lord drye feet; and there he toke up +seynt Peter, when he began to drenche with in the see, and seyde to him, +_Modice Fidei, quare dubitasti_? And aftre his resurrexioun, oure Lord +appered on that see, to his disciples, and bad hem fyssche, and filled alle +the nett fulle of gret fisshes. In that see rowed oure Lord often tyme; and +there he called to him, seynt Peter, seynt Andrew, seynt James and seynt +John, the sones of Zebedee. In that cytee of Tyberie, is the table, upon +the whiche oure Lord eete upon, with his disciples, aftre his resurrexioun; +and thei knewen him in brekynge of bred, as the gospelle seythe; _Et +cognoverunt cum in fractione Panis_. And nyghe that cytee of Tyberie, is +the hille, where oure Lord fedde 5 thousand persones, with 5 barly loves +and 2 fisshes. In that cytee, a man cast an brennynge dart in wratthe aftir +oure Lord, and the hed smot in to the eerthe, and wax grene, and it growed +to a gret tree; and zit it growethe, and the bark there of is alle lyk +coles. Also in the hed of that See of Galilee, toward the Septemtryon, is a +strong castelle and an highe, that highte Saphor: and fast besyde it, is +Capharnaum: with in the lond of Promyssioun, is not so strong a castelle: +and there is a gode toun benethe, that is clept also Saphor. In that +castel, seynt Anne our ladyes modre was born. And there benethe was +Centurioes hous. That contree is clept the Galilee of Folk, that weren +taken to tribute of Sabulon, and of Neptalym. And in azen comynge fro that +castelle, a 30 myle, is the cytee of Dan, that somtyme was clept Belynas, +or Cesaire Philippon, that sytt at the foot of the Mount of Lyban, where +the Flom Jordan begynnethe. There begynnethe the lond of Promyssioun, and +durethe unto Bersabee, in lengthe, in goynge toward the northe in to the +southe; and it conteynethe well a 180 myles: and of brede, that is to seye, +fro Jericho unto Jaffe, and that conteynethe a 40 myle of Lombardye, or of +our contree, that ben also lytylle myles. Theise ben not myles of Gascoyne, +ne of the provynce of Almayne, where ben gret myles. And wite zee welle, +that the lond of Promyssioun is in Sirye. For the reme of Sirye durethe fro +the desertes of Arabye, unto Cecyle, and that is Ermonye the grete, that is +to seyne, fro the southe to the northe: and fro the est to the west, it +durethe fro the grete desertes of Arabye onto the West See. But in the reme +of Syrie, is the kyngdom of Judee, and many other provynces, as Palestyne, +Galilee, litylle Cilicye, and many othere. In that contree and other +contrees bezonde, thei han a custom, whan thei schulle usen werre, and whan +men holden sege abbouten cytee or castelle, and thei with innen dur not +senden out messagers with lettres, from lord to lord, for to aske sokour, +thei maken here letters and bynden hem to the nekke of a colver, and leten +the colver flee; and the colveren ben so taughte, that threi fleen with tho +lettres to the verry place, that men wolde sende hem to. For the colveres +ben norysscht in tho places, where thei ben sent to; and thei senden hem +thus, for to beren here lettres. And the colveres retournen azen, where as +thei ben norisscht; and so thei doe comounly. + + + + +MANDEVILLE'S VOYAGES + +PART II. + + +Secunda pars. + +CAPVT. 24. + +Persuasio ad non credentes terrarum diuersitates per orben terrę. + +Mirabilis Deus mirabilia propter semetipsum creauit, vt scilicet ab +intellectualibus creaturis suis intelligeretur, et per hoc diligeretur, +atque in hoc ipse creator, et creatura se mutuo fruerentur. Mirabilis est +ergo Deus maximč in illo, quņd ipse solus sufficit sibi: et mirabilis in +altis Dominus, hoc est, in coelo et in coelestibus: sed et mirabilis in +terris, et in terrestribus: tamen si verum indicauerimus, nihil est +mirabile, quod mirum videri non debet, si ille qui omnipotens est, fecit +quęcunque voluit in coelo et in terra. Sed ecce dum nobis contingit videre +rem quam priłs non vidimus, mirątur noster animus, non quņd simpliciter +mirum est, sed quod nobis id mirum et nouum. Deus vnus, simplex quidem est, +vt creaturę coelestes quņ Deo magis de propinquo sunt eņ simpliciores +existunt. Terrestres autem quņd in situ remotiori sint, idcircņ magis +diuersę, magis contrarię inter se sunt. + +[Sidenote: Reprehensio incredulorum qui nihil credunt, nisi quod domi +viderint.] Ergo quicunque sapiens est non stupet animo, dum in terrenis +respicit res varias, et diuersas, vel dum diuersa contingunt, seu +inuenķuntur in partibus terrę diuersis: sed qui intellectum super sensum +non eleuant, et magis credunt oculo suo corporeo, quąm spirituali, et qui +nunquam ą natiuitatis suę loco recesserunt, isti vix volunt credere, seu +possunt alijs vera narrantibus de mundi diuersitatibus. + +Attamen tales, si vellent, de facili videre possint suum errorem. Quia +quicunque natus in vna ciuitate, vel patria, si tantummodo moueat se ad +proximam ciuitatem, inueniet ibi procul dubio aliquam differentiam, vel +diuersitatem in idiomate linguę, vel in modo loquendi, in moribus hominum, +in occupationibus, in legibus, in consuetudinibus, vel etiam in agrorom +fructibus, in arborum frugibus, seu in his quę gignuntur in terra, in aere, +et in aquis. + +Si ergo aliqualiter inueniri possit differentia in proximo, quanto maior +sit distantia, tanto maior differentia ęstimandi est in remoto, vel in +remotiori, seu remotissimo loco. Vnde ego, quia in pręcedente parte +tractatus narrare coepi aliqua, quę in his, et in peregrinatione mea vsque +in terram promissionis sanctam vidi, de quibus etiam potest, et poterit +constare multis, qui in partibus nostris eadem peregrinatione me +pręcesserunt, et secuti sunt, procedam in describendo aliqua illorum, quę +vidi et percepi in deambulatione mea, qua peragraui multas alias terras, et +perlegi multas vndas, vsque in multorum hoc tempus annorum, et propter +insipientes, et discredentes non tacebo. Sed nec propter credentes nec +sapientes satis mouebor; tamen vt diuersa Dei opera qui respicere non +possunt oculo, saltem legant, vel audiant ex hoc scripto. Pauca vtique vidķ +horum quę sunt, sed pauca horum quę vidi, narrabo. + + +CAPVT. 25. + +De Armenia, Persia, et Amazonia. + +De regionibus quę Iudeę contiguantur, scilicet Arabia, Aegypto et Syria, +statui modicum vltra narrare, relinquens hunc locum narrandi alijs +peregrinis. Et festinans ad terras remotiores, Armeniam minorem, non per +singulas ciuitates, sed celeriter transiens, vidi ą remotis amplum cįstrum +vocatum Dei espoyer de quo mihi sustinui dici, quod sit vastum, et ą +nemine, habitatum, nisi ą fantastica quadam Domina, seruante in medio +maioris aulę super perticam, volucrem rapacem, quę dicitur Latinč +accipiter, vel huiusmodi: quam auem, si aliquis hominum ingrediens se +custodire peruigil absque vlla somnolentia per septem continuos dies et +noctes posset, ipsa Domina in fine facti apparens concederet illi +quantamcunque faceret petitionem terrę, commodi, vel honoris, sed si +obdormiret, periret. Huic tamen dicto parłm curaui accommodare aurem, nisi +quod communiter dicebatur, in bene transacto tempore prędicta fuisse +tentata per duas personas, vnum Regem, et alterum Pastorem. Et Regi quidem +quod indebitam fecit petitionem, vile successit negotium, pastori peroptimč +successit negotium. + +In Armenia maiori, est magna et bona ciuitas Artyron ad dietam prope +fluuium Euphratem. Et sunt ibi duo montes euecti valdč, vnus Sabissatele, +alter Ararath, quorum vltimus habet per anfractius, et periodos per +ascensum vię, ferč 7. leucas, et quasi omni tempore est plenus niue. + +In illo loco fertur quicuisse Arca diluuii, cuius vnicus asser monstratur, +in Ecclesia Monachorum ad montis pedem habitantium; attamem nullus hominum +pro frigore nimio attentare pręsumit ascensum. + +Est autem et ibi ciuitas Landania, de qua nonnulli dicunt quņd Noe illam +fundauerat, et ciuitas magna Hany, in qua tempore Christianorum mille +habebantur Ecclesię. + +In illa Armenia sub Imperio Persię est famosa ciuitas Tauris, vbi de +mercimonijs ponderalibus fit inestimabilis mercatura. Hinc ad decem diates +ad Orientem habeatur ciuitas Zadona, in ea Imperator Persarum moratur, et +est in eodem imperio ciuitas valdč magna Cassach, quę recto itinere dicitur +store ab Hierosolymis 55. dietis. Geth ciuitas imperialis, et melior totius +Persię in hac terra noscitur esse, cum tamen Carnaa sit satis maior. + +Circa fines Persię in terra Sennaar, est illa quę olim dicebatur Babylonia, +nec apparet ibi aliquid, quąm ruinę grandis et vetustę cuitatis, quę ab +hominibus est deserta, sed ą Draconibus inhabitata, et alijs animalibus, et +volucribus venenosis. Hanc terram tenet Imperator Persarum, vt suprą dixi. +Etiam intra fines Persię, est terra, vbi sanctus Iob patiens morabatur, quę +modo dicitur terra Sues, in cuius montanis inuenitur Manna, quod venditur +in Apothecis. Hunc terrę Sues contiguatur Chaldęa, quę non est magna, +quamuis nobilis regio habeatur. Et ab ista intratur Amazonia. + +Amazonia est modica insula, quam absquę viris sofę regunt et inhabitant +mulieres: cuius rei prima causa hęc fuit. + +Olim cum insula communiter a viris, et mulieribus habitabatur, Rex eius +dictus Colopius cum omnibus nobilibus suis in bello contra Regnum Scithię +occisus fuit. Audientes igitur nobilium vxores ipsius insulę se viduatas, +super his, in doloroso furore animi ad plures congressiones occiderunt et +fugauerunt omnes aliarum mulierum maritos, ne scilicet sua ingennitas +subiaceret voluntati, et potestati plebis. Et tandem post reformatam inter +se pacem mulieres inito consilio statuerum se solas absque viris dominari +in terra, atque ex tunc sumi sibi regimen per certam electionis formam quę +robusta, agilis, sapiens, iuuenis, ac valens apparet in armis. + +Sciendum tamen est, extra hanc insulam flumen esse, et alias modicas +insulas, quarum vna dicitur Carmagite, de quibus licitum est ijs accessire +viros, et amasios bis in anno, ita vt nulla moram trahat septem dierum +naturalium sub poena indubitata occisionis. Infantem masculum nutrire licet +quoadusque per se comedat et gradiatur, tunc transmittendus est in domum +paternam. Generosę natę puellę aufertur ignito cultro vber sinistrum pro +scuto gerendo, degeneri dextrum, ad sagittandum de arcu Turco. + +Regina cum consķliaribus et officialibus suis regit sapienter et benč +terrąm, et seruat omnes sibi sub districta obedientia, per leges, et +poenas, et amendas conscriptas. Et cum circumiacentium insularum Reges +contra se ad inuicem proeliari solent, tunc Regina Amazonię cum suis +Nobilibus ab vna parte pro magno stipendio vocari solet in adiutorium, vbi +et inuentę sunt sapientes in consilijs, probę in armis, acres in +conflictibus, et in omnibus Curię actibus bene valentes. + + +CAPVT. 26. + +De Aethiopia, et Diamantibus, et de infima India. + +Aethiopia consistit ą terra Chaldeorum in Austrum, quę distinguitur in +Orientalem Aethiopiam, et ['and' in source text--KTH] Meridionalem, quarum +prima in illis partibus vocatur Cush, propter hominum nigredinem, altera +Mauritania. [Sidenote: Mauritania. Regnum Saba.] Et est ibi Regnum Saba, de +quo legitur, quod Regi Salomoni Regis Arabum, et Saba, dona et tributa +adduxerunt. Eņque Regina Saba venit ą finibus, hoc est, ą longinquis terrę +partibus audire sapientiam Salomonis. Omnes in Aethiopia aquę in fluuijs et +riparijs, et fontibus sapiunt Sal, propter nimium calorem. [Sidenote: +Plinius.] Est ibi vnus aquę fons ita de nocte calidus, vt nemo in eo +sustineat manum, et ita de die frigidus, vt bibi vix possit. + +Generaliter isti de Mauritania Aethiopes comedunt parum, de facili +inebriantur, fluxum ventris patiuntur nec diu viuunt. + +[Sidenote: India triplex.] De Aethiopia intratur in Indiam, mediam, nam +triplex est videlicet infima, quę in quibusdam suis partibus est nimis +frigida ad inhabitandum: Media quę satis temperata est, et superior, quę +nimis calida. In India infima propter continuum et graue frigus generatur +christallum de aqua per gelu, sicut quidam asserunt. Sed certum est ibi +haberi rupes christalli, et in illis gigni optimos Diamantes, quos lingua +illius vocant Hamefht. [Sic. 'Hamese' in English version below--KTH.] + +Est autem diamas paruus pręciosus lapis, magnę virtutis, sicut pleniłs +describitur in lapidariis. Quidam inueniuntur in magnitudine pisi, vel +etiam piso minores: alii ad quantitatem fabę, sed nullus maior auellana, +vel nuce. Et dicitur de eo in partibus illis quod si hic qui portat sit +continens, et sobrius reddit illum magnanimum et audacem, et iuuat in +causis iustis certantem, conseruat substantias corporales, aufert praua +somnia, depellit prauorum spirituum illusiones, sortilegia, et +incantationes, ac valet contra lunaticam passionem, vt dęmonis obsessionem, +et venenosum quod illi appropinquauerit exsudat, et exhumescit. + +Optimi Diamantes de India assimulantur in colore multum christallo, sed +sunt aliquantulum magis citrini, et pro sui duritie poliri non possunt. +Inueniuntur autem ibi nonnulli subnigri ad colorem violę: Alii nascuntur in +Arabia nigri, et tenuiores prędictis, alii in Macedonia, et quidam in +Cypro, sed in mineriis auri, dum prima massa in minutias confringitur, +interdum reperķuntur. Sciendum enim est, sępč plures simul crescere, nec +non generant, et concipiunt inuicem de rore coeli, quemadmodum et +Margaritę: quod ego pluries tentans, accepi de rupe cespitem cum diamante +masculo, et femella, plantans in pratello, et frequentans, focillans +madefeci de rore Maii. Et ecce in breui, paruulus ex iis gignebatur, +nascebatur, et adolescebat ad debitam quantitatem: fiunt verņ omnes per +naturam cum pluribus angulis vt trium vel quatuor, aut quinque laterum, et +nonnulli cum lateribus senis. E contra omnes margaritę nascuntur in forma +sphęrica, seu rotunda. + +Et notandum quņd mercatores, pro diamantibus frequenter aliud vendunt: Nam +solet commixtio fieri de christallo Crochee, de Saphiro, de Lonpes Citrino, +de lapide Yri, et de paruis petris ex murium nidis. Probatio veri diamantis +haberi potest his modis. + +Primņ si ita inuenitur tener, vt se poliri dimittat non est verus. + +Item si de eo non potest scindi vitrum cristallum, non est verus. + +Item accipe paruum quantitatis lapidem Adamantem, qui solet sibi attrahere +acum et ferrum, et pone verum diamantem, super adamantem, tśncque si +ministraueris adamanti acum, videbis adamantem operari nihil, vero diamante +pręsente, dum tamen adamas non sit diamante maior. + +Item si cultellum laminę tenuis, habentem in manubrio inclusum vel +alligatum verum diamantem in mensa vel assere erexeris, protinus vt ipsi +venenum appropinquabit, stabit tremulans atque sudans. Et notandum, quņd +per luxuriosum, seu gulosum qui ferret diamantem amitteret virtutem ad +tempus. + +Terra Indię appellatur ab Indo ibi currente fluuio, cuius anguillę +inueniuntur quandoque vltra 20. pedes in longitudine. In media India +transitur per multas insulas vsque ad mare Oceanum, in insulam Ormuz, vbi +Mercatores Venetię sępč tendunt, sed viri, qui assueti non sunt tantum +sustinere calorem, ne exeant perpendicula de corporibus propč ad genua, ibi +se contra hoc debitč inuoluunt, et ligant, nec audent ibi transire nauibus +ferrum continentibus, ne teneantur de rupibus adamantum. + +Hic in aliquibus Aethiopię partibus habitant publicč, inhonestorum +vtriusque sexus hominum consuetudinem inhonestam gerentes, et in ęstu +meridiano refrigerandi causa exeunt circa ciuitatem ad riparias iacere, et +discurrere nudis prorsus corporibus omni pudore reiecto, ex quo procul +dubio inhonesta vitia sequuntur. + +Est et non longč ab ista insula regio seu insula Caua vel Chaua, quę ą +primo statu multłm est minorata per mare. Hi sunt infidelissimi Paganorum. +Nam quidam adorant Solem, alij Lunam, ignem, aquam, et terram, arborem, vel +serpentem, vel cui de mane primņ obuiant. Ibi magni mures, quos nos dicimus +rattas, sunt in quantitate paruorum canum. Et quoniam per cattos capi non +possunt, capiuntur per canes maiores. + +Corpora mortuoram non sepeliuntur ibi, nec cadauera quęlibet bestiarum +operiuntur, quņd ad aeris ęstum carnes in breui tempore consumuntur, nam et +tota insula consistit sub zona torrida. Inde transiri potest per mare in +Indiam superiorem, sine maiorem, videlicet Imperium Presbyteri Ioannis ad +portum ciuitatis Zarke, quę est elegans et bona satis. In ea habitant +plurimi Catholicę fidei Christiani: et habentur plurimę Abbatię +religiosorum, quas olim Dux Danorum Ogerus constituit, vnde et vsque nunc +dicuntur Ecclesię Dani, atque ex hoc nauigari potest in terram Lombe. + + +CAPVT. 27. + +De foresto Piperis, et fonte iuuentutis. + +Regio seu insula dicta Lombe, spatiosa quidem est, continens forestum +dictum aliąs Tombar, longum per dietas 18. In orbe vniuerso non noscimus +crescere piper, pręterquąm in hoc foresto. In quo et habetur duę, +ciuitates, vna Flandrina, (et illa ciuitas inhabitata est ą Iudęis, et +Christianis, inter quos sępč magna seditio oritur) altera Singlant: quas +quondam Danus fertur fundasse Ogerus, vocans vnam Flandrinam, nomine auię +suę ex parte patris sui, alteram Florentam nomine auię ex parte matris suę, +quę mutato nomine nunc vocatur Singlant. + +Sciendum est autem, piper ibi crescere in hunc modum: sicut nos plantamus +vites aut quercus arbores robustas, vt vitis cum fructibus se spargat, vt +supportetur per ramos, sic coluntur arbusta piperis ad arbores foresti, et +sparguntur per ramos, et dependent fructus vt botri. Et venit in eodem +arbusto triplex piper in anno. + +Primum est quod vocatur longum piper, et venit priusquam nascuntur folia in +arbustis, quemadmodum nos in arbore videmus corylo in hyeme ante folia +pręcedere quasdam caudulas longas, quo circa initium vindemiato, nascuntur +cum foliis botri piperis viridis ad similitudinem paruarum vuarum. Quod +quidem circa tempus Iulii in eadem viriditate vindemiatum in ęstu feruido +siccatur ad Solem, vt accipiat nigredinem, et rugarum contractionem. + +Posteą exurgit piper album in granis minoribus, et in abundantia satis +minori, quo tanquam preciosiori vtuntur in partibus illis et rarņ vendunt +ad partes istas. + +Primum piper appellatur Sorbotyn, secundum Fulful, tertium verņ Bauos. + +Sunt autem per nemus istud fera animalia, et venenosa, sicut parui +serpentes, colubri, et huiusmodi, de quibus nescio quis famam diffundit per +nostras partes, quod vindemiatores piperis tales vermes fugant per ignem: +sed non est ita, imņ vngunt brachia manus, tibias, et pedes cum quodam +succo herbę dictę Limonse, ą quo cito diffugit omne venenum. + +In huius foresti capite sub monte Polembo, est ciuitas dicta Bolemba, et +sub eodem monte fons qui dicitur Iuuentutis. Aqua huius fontis reddit +odorem et saporem quasi de omni genere aromatum, nam singulis penč horis +immutat odorem, et saporem. Et quisquis per aliquos dies potat ieiuno +stomacho sanatur in breui tempore, ą quacunque interiori infirmitate, +languore duntaxat mortis excepto: et sanč illorum qui propč sunt, et +frequenter bibunt apparet per totum vitę tempus mira iuuentus. Ego autem +ter vel quater bibi, quamobrem et vsque hodič arbitror potius me +corporaliter valere. Putatur enim fons ille immediatč per poros +subterraneos eliquari de fonte paradisi terrestris, ita quņd nulla via +decurrentium super terram fluentium vitietur. In ista etiam regione, et in +insulis circumquaque crescit gingiber valdč bonum, vnde et mercatores sępč +ibi tendunt de Venetia pro emendo pipere et gingibere. Gentes verņ huius +insulę peruersę et stollidissimę sunt superstitionis adorantes bouem +tanquam animal beatissimum, propter eius simplicitatem mansuetudinem, +patientiam, et vtilitatem. + +Multitudo cuiuslibet ciuitatis vel uillę vnum specialem nutrit bouem, quem +postquam laborauit in aratro per sex annos immolant manducantes pariter cum +maxima solemnitate. Et quicunque inde minimam minutiam comedit, reputat se +sanctificatum totum. + +Porro apud Regem tenetur bos singularis, cuius custos diligentissimč vrinam +in uase aureo accipit simpliciter, et de fimo in vase consimili: et +quotidie venit summus eorum pręlatus quem dicunt Archiprotoplaustum, offert +personaliter in prędictis preciosis vasis, Domino Regi de bouis vrina et +fimo, atque in vrina, quam appellant Gaul, tingens manus, defricit, et +perungit Regis pectus et frontem, deinde similiter de fimo in multa cordis +attentione, ad finem vt possint assequi quatuor virtutes bouis pręfati. + +Post regem cum reuerentia accedunt, et vnguntur Barones, principes, et post +ipsos cęteri ordinati quicśnque attingere possint, putantes se sanctificari +per rem penitus non valentem, imo nimis foetidam, et inhostem. + +Pręterea populi isti colunt Idola facta ad medium in forma humana, et ad +medium in forma bouis. In quibus permissione Dei per eorum perfidiam +maligni spiritus habitant dantes de interrogatis responsa. Et hijs Idolis +offerunt infinita donari aquandoque, et sacrificant interdum proprios +infantes, ipsorum sanguine Idola respergentes. + +Dum hic maritus moritur, vxor comburitur cum marito, nisi de illo habeat +sobolem cum quo viuere solet, et vilet. Quę sibi eligit cum prole +superuiuere, non habebitur de cętero fide digna. + +Attamen in simili causa, si vir non vult cremari cum vxore mortua, non +minuit ei honorem. + +Et forte vinum nascitur ibi: quod mulieres bibunt, et non viri, vt sic +mulieribus crescant barbę, sed mulieribus raduntur, et viris minime. + + +CAPVT. 28. + +De Ecclesia et corpore Saneti Thomę Apostoli. + +Hinc Meridiem pluribus exactis Insulis per viam decem dietarum venitur in +Regnum Mabron. Illic in ciuitate Calamię, seruatur in magno templo corpus +beatissimi Thomę Apostoli Domini nostri Iesu Christi in capsa honorificata. +In quo loco et martirizatus fuit, licet dicunt quidam, quod in Edissa +ciuitate. Iste populus non est multum tempus transactum, quin fuit totus in +fidei religione, sed nunc est ad pessimos Gentilium ritus peruersus, nec +attendit, nec veneratur relliquias sancti corporis Apostoli ibidem +contentas, quamuis ijs euidens, ac vtile, et mirificum pręstare solebat +beneficium, quod infra narrabo. + +Per certas historias habetur Ducem Danorum Ogerum conquisiuisse has terras, +et in exaltatione sanctarum Apostoli relliquiarum fecisse fieri pręfatam +spectactilem Ecclesiam, ac intra, eum reponi in nobilissimo loculo gemmis +auro, argentoque decenter ornato Sanctum corpus, ac deinde post annorum +tempus trecentorum Assyrios abstulisse feretrum cum ipso corpore sancto in +Edissam ciuitatem Mesopotamię, in qua et fuit martyrizatus secundum +quosdam, rursumque post sexaginta et tres annos recuperatum corpus in suam +fuisse Ecclesiam restitutum, videlicet in Calamia, atque in eiusdem +recuperationis signum certum dimiserunt isti, et dimittunt extra feretri +loculum dependere brachium dextrum, cum manu quę tetigisse creditur pia +resurgentis vulnera Christi. + +Eadem quoque manus solet vsque hodie suę verę poenitentię tale manifestere +miraculum vt dum partes quęlibet litigantes velint vtręque suas causas +iuramento confirmare, conscriptis hinc inde causis ponantur ambę cartulę in +Apostili manu. Quę cuntis [Footnote: Interea dum exirent, Monachi suos +dolos potuerunt exercere.] exeuntibus Ecclesiam protinus sub vnius horę +tempore reiecta longius falsitate, veritatem sibi reseruat: sed nunc sicut +dicere coepi isti populi huic beneficio Dei ingrati, et diabolica illusione +excęcati mirabiliter paganizant. + +Nam et in hac ipsa beati Thomę Ecclesia statuerunt multa mirę magnitudinis +simulachra, ex quibus vnum quod maius est multo alijs apparet sedens homo +in alto solio adoperto aureis sericis, et lapidibus pręciosis, habensque ad +collum suspensa pro ornatu multa cinctoria pręciose gemmis, et auro +contexta. Ad hoc autem Idolum adorandum confluunt peregrini ą remotis +partibus, et propinquis, in satis maiori copia, et valdč feruentiori +deuotione quąm Christiani, ad sanctum Iacobum in Galizia quia multi eorum +per totum peregrinationis iter, non audent erigere palpebras oculorum, ne +forte propter hoc deuotio intermittatur. + +Alij de propč venientes superaddunt labori itinerandi, vt ad tertium vel ad +quartum passum semper cadant in genibus. Nonnulli quoque demoniaca +inspiratione semetipsos per viam peregrinationis lanceolis, et cultellis +nunc minoribus, nunc maioribus sauciant vulneribus per singula corporis +loca, et dum ante Idolum perueniunt, excisum frustum de carne propria +proijciunt ad Idolum pro offerenda, ac plagis durioribus se castigant, et +quandoque spontaneč penitus se occidunt: in solemnitatibus verņ, sicut in +dedicatione, et sicut in thronizatione simulachrorum, fit conuentis populi, +quasi totius Regni. Et ducitur cum processione maius Idolum per circuitum +ciuitatis, in curru preciosissimo, modis omnibus perornato, et pręcedunt in +numero magno puellę cantantes binę, et binę ordinatissimč, succeditque +pluralitas Musicorum cum instrumentis varijs simphonizantes, quos continuč +subsequitur currus, cuius lateribus coniungit se peregrinorum exercitus, +qui et venerunt de remotis. + +Ibique cernitur miserabilis actus vltra modum. Nam aliqui victi vltrą modum +diabolica deuotione proijciunt se sub rotis currus pręcedentis, vt +frangantur sibi crura, brachia, latera, dorsa, nec non et colla in +reuerentiam Dei sui (vt dicunt) a quo remunerationem sperant, venire ad +Paradisum terrestrem. + +Et post processionem postquam statuerunt Idolum in templo suo loco, +multiplicatur coram simulachris numerus sępč plangentium, et occidentium +vltrą quam credi sit facile. Ita quod quandoque in illa vnica solemnitate +inueniuntur ducenta corpora, vel plura occisorum. Et adstantes propinqui +amici talium diaboli martyrum, eum magna musicorum melodia decantantes in +sua lingua offerunt. Idolis corpora ac demum accenso rogo omnia corpora +comburunt in honorem Idolurum, assumentes sibi singuli aliquid de ossibus +aut cineribus pro reliquiis, quas putant sibi valituras contra quęlibet +infortunia, et tempestates. Et habetur ante templum aquę lacus, velut +seruatorium piscium, in quo proijcit populus largissimč suas oblationes, +argentum, aurum, gemmas, cyphos, et similia, quibus ministri certis +temporibus exhibentes prouident Ecclesię, ac simulachro, ac sibi ipsis +abundantčr. Quoddam fabulosum scriptum exiuit per partes nostras, quod in +prędicta processione circumferatur cumpheretro corpus beati Thomę, qui et +in fine processionis populu compopulo communicaret proprijs manibus de +Eucharistę sacramento, sed non est ita, et nunquam fuit. + + +CAPVT. 29. + +De Iaua, et quibusdam aiijs meridionalibus Insulis, et de farina, melle et + piscibus Ogeri Ducis Danorum. + +Inde vlterius procedendo in Austrum per multas et mirabiles terras +quinquaginta duarum diętarum spacio, habetur magna Insula Lamori. Illic +omnes nudi incedunt, et ferč omnia sunt singulis communia, nec vtuntur +priuatis clauibus siue seris, imo et omnes mulieres sunt communes omnibus +et singulis viris, dummodo violentia non inferatur: Sed et peior est ijs +consuetudo, quņd libentčr comedunt teneras carnes humanas: vnde et +negotiatores adferunt eis crassos infantes venales: quod si non satis +pingues afferuntur, eos saginant sicut nos vitulum, siue porcum. + +Hic apparet in bona altitudine polus Antarcticus, et incipit modņ apparere +in alta Lybia, ita quod in alta Ęthiopia eleuatur octodecim gradibus, prout +ipse prohaui Astrolabio. + +Ad meridiem terrę Lamori est Insula bona, Sumebor, cuius gentes reputant se +nobiliores alijs, signantes se in facie certo cauterio. Isti semper guerras +geerunt contra pręfatus gentes nudas de Lamory. + +Ad modicam inde destantiam habetur Insula Rotonigo abundans in bonis +pluribus: sed et in Austrum sequuntur alię plures regiones et Insulę, de +quibes prolixum narrare fuisset. + +Et est valde grandis regio Iaua, habens in circuitu ambitum leucarum duarum +millium. Huius rex est valdč potens, et imperans septem insularum vicinarum +regibus. Terra ista est populosa valdč, et crescunt in ea species, et +abundantia gingiberis, canella, gariofoli, nuces muscata, et mastix cum +aromatibus multis. Sed et quod ibi nascatur vinum, non habent: aurum et +argentum est ibi in copia immensa, quņd patet in regis Iauę palatio, cuius +palatij nobilitas non est facilč scribenda. + +Cuncti gradus ascendentes ad palatij aulas, et aularum cameras, et ad +thalamos Camerarum sunt solidi de argento vel auro, sed et omnis stratura +pauimentorum in alijs habetur ad similitudinem scacarij, vnam quadratam +argenti, alteram auri, laminis valdč crassis, et in ipsis pauimentis, sunt +exsculpta gesta, et historię diuersę. In principali verņ aula, est plenarič +expressa Dani Ducis Ogeri historia, ą natiuitate ipsius, quousque in +Franciam fantasticč dicatur reuersus, cum tempore Caroli magni regis +Francię, ipse Ogerus armata manu conquisiuit Christianitati ferč omnes +partes transmarinas ą Ierosolymis vsque ad arbores solis et Lunę, ac propč +paradisum terrestrem. + +Pro hac Regione Iaua, (quę tangit fines Imperij Tartarię) sibi subiuganda, +Imperator Grand Can multoties pugnauit, sed nunquam valuit expugnare. Hinc +per mare venitur ad regnum Thalamassę, [Footnote: Vel Tholomassi.] quņd et +Panchon [Footnote: Vel Paten.] dicitur, in quo habetur magnus numerus +bonarum ciuitatum. Intra hanc Insulam, quatuor sunt genera arborum, de +quarum vna accipitur farina ad panem, de secunda mel, de tertia vinum, et +de quarta pessimum venenum. Extrabitur autem farina de suis arboribus isto +modo. + +Certo tempore anni percutitur stipes arboris vndique propč terram cum +securi, et cortex in locis pluribus vulneratur, de quibus recipitur liquor +spissus, qui desiccatus ad solis ęstum et contritus reddit farinam albam, +ac si de frumento esset confectus, attamen hic panis non est triticei +saporis, sed alterius valdč boni. + +Simili modo de suis arboribus mel elicitur, et vinum liquitur: excepto quod +illa non sicut gramina prima desiccantur. Fertur quoque ibidem, +extractionem huius farinę, mellis, et vini, per Angelum primitus fuisse +ostensam prędicto Danorum Duci, illic fame cum suo exercitu laboranti. +Contra venenum quod de quarto arboris genere stķllat, solum est intoxicato +remedium, vt de proprio fimo per puram aquam distemperato bibat. + +Et est in hac Insula quoddam mare mortuum, velut lacus foetidus, cuius in +plerķsque locis fundus, humano ingenio non valet attingi: mirę magnitudinis +arundines crescunt super hunc lacum, in altitudine cedrorum aut abietum +pedum ducentorum, ita vt viginti socij mecum nequiuimus vnius caput +iacentis arundinis subleuare de terra. Minores etiam arundines nascuntur ad +fluuii ripam, habentes in terra radices longitudinis trecentorum cubitorum +aut plurium, Ad quarum nodos radicum, inueniuntur gemmę preciosę, de quibus +expertum est, siquis vnam habuerit in pugno suo, ferrum corpori suo non +nocebit: vnde si quis ibi pugnans, petat aduersarium, ac inimicum hac gemma +munitum aggreditur eum cum fustibus non ferratis. + +De hac intratur in Insulam Calanoch, [Marginal note: Vel Alcnak.] magnam et +refertam bonorum omnium. Rex eius potens est multum, et licitum est ei, +quandocunque, et quibuslibet in regno vti mulieribus, de quibus interdum +magnum numerum tenet puerorum. Mille quadringentos habere solet ad +pręliandum elephantes, quos sibi nutriunt villani per regnum. Elephantes +vocant verkes. + +In littore maris miraculosč veniunt ibi semel in anno, per tres continuos +dies, quasi de omni genere piscium marinorum, in maxima abundantia: et +prębent se omnibus liberč capiendos ad manum. Nam et ego ipse cepi +quamplures. Vnde notandum, quod eodem tempore anni quo super dicta +extrahitur farina, mel, et vinum, conueniunt in hoc isti pisces: qua ambo +mirabilia fecit vno tempore Deus olim producere suo Ogero, quę et in +memoria illius, vsque nunc, singulis annis innouantur. + +Et sunt in hoc territorio testudines terribilis quantitatis, fitque de +maioribus Regi ac nobilibus delicatus ac preciosus cibus: mentior, si non +quasdam ibidem viderim testudinum conchas, in quarum vna se tres homines +occultarent, suntque omnes multum albi coloris. + +Si hic vir vxoratus moritur, sepelitur et vxor vna cum eo, quatenus, sicut +ibi credunt, habeant eam statim sociam in seculo altero. + + +The English version. + +And zee schulte undirstonde, that amonges the Sarazines, o part and other, +duellen many Cristene men, of many maneres and dyverse names; and alle ben +baptized, and han dyverse lawes and dyverse customes: but alle beleven in +God the Fadir and the Sone and the Holy Gost: but alle weys fayle thei, in +somme articles of oure feythe. Some of theise ben clept Jacobytes: for +seynt Jame converted hem, and seynt John baptized hem. They seyn, that a +man schal maken his confessioun only to God, and not to a man: for only to +Him, scholde man zelden him gylty of alle, that he hathe mys don. Ne God +ordeyned not, ne never devysed, ne the prophete nouther, that a man scholde +schryven him to another, (as thei seyn) but only to God: as Moyses writethe +in the Bible, and as David seythe in the Psawtre boke; _Confitebor tibi, +Domine, in toto Corde meo_: and, _Delictum meum tibi cognitum feci_: and, +_Deus meus es tu, et confitebor tibi_; and, _Quoniam cogitatio hominis +confitebitur tibi_; &c. Fot thei knowen alle the bible, and the psautere: +and therfore allegge thei so the lettre: but thei alleggen not the +aucthoritees thus in Latyn, but in here langage, fulle appertely; and seyn +wel, that David and othere prophetes seyn it. Natheles seynt Austyn and +seynt Gregory seyn thus: Augustinus; _Qui scelera sua cogitat, et conversus +fuerit, veniam sibi credat_. Gregorious; _Dominus potius mentem quam verba +respicit_. And seynt Hillary seythe; _Longorum temporum crimina, in ictu +Oculi pereunt, si Cordis nata fuerit compunctio_. And for suche +auctoritees, thei seyn, that only to God schalle a man knouleche his +defautes, zeldynge him self gylty, and cryenge him mercy, and behotynge to +him to amende him self. And therfore whan thei wil schryven hem, thei taken +fyre, and sette it besyde hem, and casten therin poudre of frank encens; +and in the smoke therof, thei schryven hem to God, and cryen him mercy. But +sothe it is, that this confessioun was first and kyndely: but seynt Petre +the apostle, and thei that camen aftre him, han ordeynd to make here +confessioun to man; and be gode resoun: for thei perceyveden wel, that no +syknesse was curable, by gode medycyne to leye therto, but zif men knewen +the nature of the maladye. And also no man may zeven covenable medicyne, +but zif he knowe the qualitee of the dede. For o synne may be grettere in o +man than in another, and in o place and in o tyme than in another: and +therfore it behovethe him, that he knowe the kynde of the dede, and +thereupon to zeven him penance. + +There ben othere, that ben clept Surienes; and thei holden the beleeve +amonges us, and of hem of Grece. And thei usen alle berdes, as men of Grece +don: and thei make the sacrament of therf bred: and in here langage, thei +usen lettres of Sarrazines; but aftre the misterie of Holy chirche, thei +usen lettres of Grece; and thei maken here confessioun, right as the +Jacobytes don. + +There ben othere, that men clepen Georgyenes, that seynt George converted; +and him thei worschipen, more than ony other seynt; and to him thei cryen +for help: and thei camen out of the reme of George. Theise folk usen +crounes schaven. The clerkes han rounde crounes, and the lewed men han +crownes alle square: and thei holden Cristene lawe, as don thei of Grece; +of whom I have spoken of before. + +Othere there ben, that men clepen Cristene men of Gyrdynge: for thei ben +alle gyrt aboven. And ther ben othere, that men clepen Nestoryenes; and +summe Arryenes, sume Nubyenes, sume of Grees, same of Ynde, and sume of +Prestre Johnes Lond. And alle theise han manye articles of oure feythe, and +to othere thei ben varyaunt. And of here variance, were to longe to telle; +and go I wil leve, as for the tyme, with outen more spekynge of hem. + + +Of the Cytee of Damasce. Of 3 Weyes to Jerusalem; on be Londe and be See; + another more be Londe than be See; and the thridde Weye to Jerusalem, + alle be Londe. + +[Sidenote: Chap. XI] Now aftre that I have told zou sum partye of folk, in +the contrees before, now wille I turnen azen to my weye, for to turnen azen +to this half. Thanne whoso wil go fro the lond of Galilee, of that that I +have spoke, for to come azen on this half, men comen azen be Damasce, that +is a fulle fayre cytee, and fulle noble, and fulle of alle merchandises, +and a 3 journeyes long fro the see, and a 5 journeyes fro Jerusalem. But +upon camaylles, mules, hors, dromedaries and other bestes, men caryen here +merciandise thidre: and thidre comethe marchauntes with merchandise be see, +from Yndee, Persee, Caldee, Ermonye, and of manye othere kyngdomes. This +cytee founded Helizeus Damascus, that was Zoman and Despenser of Abraham, +before that Ysaac was born: for he thoughte for to have ben Abrahames heir: +and he named the toun aftre his surname Damasce. And in that place, where +Damasc was founded, Kaym sloughe Abel his brother. And besyde Damasc is the +Mount Seyr. In that cytee of Damasce, ther is gret plentee of welles: and +with in the cytee and with oute, ben many fayre gardynes, and of dyverse +frutes. Non other citee is not lyche in comparisoun to it of faire +gardynes, and of faire desportes. The cytee is gret and fulle of peple, and +wel walled with double walles. And there ben manye phisicyens. And seint +Poul him self was there a physicyen, for to kepen mennes bodies in hele, +before he was converted: and aftre that, he was phisicien of soules. And +seynt Luke the Evaungelist was Disciple of seynt Poul, for to lerne phisik; +and many othere. For seynt Poul held thanne scole of phisik. And neere +besyde Damasce, was he converted: and aftre his conversionn, he duelte in +that cytee 3 dayes, with outen sight, and with outen mete or drinke. And in +tho 3 dayes he was ravisscht to hevene, and there he saughe many prevytees +of oure Lord. And faste besyde Damasce, is the Castelle of Arkes, that is +bothe fair and strong. From Damasce, men comen azen, be oure Lady of +Sardenak, that is a 5 myle on this half Damasce; and it is sytt upon a +roche, and it is a fulle faire place, and it semethe a castelle; for there +was wont to ben a castelle; but it is now a fulle faire chirche. And there +with inne, ben monkes and nonnes Cristene. And there is a vowt, undre the +chirche, where that Cristene men duellen also: and thei han many gode +vynes. And in the chirche, behynde the high awtere, in the walle, is a +table of black wode, on the whiche somtyme was depeynted an ymage of oure +Lady, that turnethe into flesche; but now the ymage schewethe but litille: +but evermore thorewe the grace of God that table droppeth as hyt were of +olyve. And there is a vessel of marbre, undre the table, to resseyve the +oyle, thare of thay yeven unto pylgrymes: for it heleth of many sykenesses. +And he that kepeth it clanly a yere, aftre that yere, hyt turneth yn to +flesche and bloode. + +By twyne the cytee of Darke and the cytee of Raphane, ys a ryvere, that men +clepen Sabatorye. For on the Saturday, hyt renneth faste; and alle the +wooke elles, hyt stondeth stylle, and renneth nouzt or lytel. And there ys +a nother ryvere, that upon the nyzt freseth wondur faste; and uppon the +day, ys noon frost sene. And so gon men by a cytee, that men clepen +Beruche. And thare men gon un to the see, that schal goon un to Cypre. And +thay aryve at Porte de Sure or of Tyrye; and than un to Cypre. Or elles men +mowen gon from the Porte of Tyrye ryzt welle, and com not yn to Cypre; and +aryve at som haven of Grece; and thanne comen men un to theis countrees, by +weyes, that I have spoken of by fore. + +Now have I tolde you of wayes, by the whyche men gon ferrest and longest; +as by Babyloyne and Mounte Synay and other places many, thorewe the whyche +londes, men turne azen to the lande of promyssyoun. Now wul y telle the +ryzt way to Jerusalem. For som men wyl nouzt passe hyt, som for thay have +nouzt despence of hem, for they have noon companye, and other many causes +reasonables. And thare fore I telle you schorttely, how a man may goon with +lytel costage and schortte tyme. A man that cometh from the londes of the +weste, he goth thorewe Fraunce, Borgoyne and Lumbardye, and to Venys and to +Geen, or to som other havene of the marches, and taketh a schyppe thare, +and gon by see to the Isle of Gryffle; and so aryveth hem yn Grece or in +Port Myroche or Valon or Duras, or at som other havene, and gon to londe, +for to reste hem; and gon ayen to the see, and aryves in Cypre; and cometh +nouzt yn the Ile of Roodes; and aryves at Famegoste, that ys the chefe +havene of Cypre, or elles at Lamatoun. And thenne ynto the schyp ayen, and +by syde the havene of Tyre, and come nouzt to lande; and so passeth he by +alle the havens of that coast, until he come to Jaffe, that ys the neyest +haven unto Jerusalem: for it is seven and twenty myle. And from Jaffe men +goon to the cytee of Rames: and that ys but lytel thenne, and hyt is a +fayre cytee. And by syde Rames, ys a fayre churche of oure Lady, whare oure +Lord schewede hym to oure Lady, in thys lykenesse, that he tokeneth the +Trynyte. And thare fast by, ys a churche of Seynt George, whare that hys +heed was smyten of. And thanne un to the Castel Emaus; and thanne unto +Mounte Joye: and from thenne, pylgrymes mowen fyrste se un to Jerusalem. +And thanne un to Mount Modeyn: and thanne unto Jerusalem. And at the Mount +Modeyn lythe the prophete Machabee. And overe Ramatha, ys the town of +Douke; where of Amos the goude prophete was. + +A nother way. For alse moche as many men ne may not suffre the savour of +the see, but hadden lever to gon by londe, they that hyt be more payne; a +man schal soo goon un to on of the havenes of Lumbardye, als Venys or an +other; and he schal passe yn to Grece, thorwe Port Moroche, or an other; +and so he schal gon un to Constantynople. And he schal so passe the wature, +that ys cleped the Brace of Seynt George, that ys an arm of the see. And +from thens he schal cum un to Pulveralle; and sythen un to the Castelle of +Cynople. And from thens schal he gon unto Capadose, that ys a grete +countree, whare that ben many grete hylles. And he schal gon thorewe +Turkye, and unto the cytee of Nyke, the whyche they wonne from the +Emperoure of Constantynople. And hyt is a fayre cytee, and wounder wel +walled: and thare ys a ryvere, that men clepen the laye: and thare men goon +by the Alpes of Aryoprynant, and by the Valez of Mallebrynez, and eke the +Vale of Ernax; and so un to Anthyoche the lesse, that sytteth on the +Ryehay. And there aboute ben many goude hylles and fayre, and many fayre +woodes, and eke wylde beestes. + +And he that wylle goon by an other way, he mote goon by the playnes of +Romayne, costynge the Romayne see. Uppon that cost, ys a woundur fayre +castelle, that men clepen Florathe. And whanne that a man ys oute of that +ylke hylles, men passen thenne thorewe a cytee, that ys called Maryoche and +Arteyse, whare that ys a grete brygge upon a ryvere of Ferne, that men +clepen Fassar: and hyt ys a grete ryvere, berynge schyppes. And by syde the +cytee of Damas, ys a ryvere that cometh from the mounteyne of Lybane, that +men hyt callen Albane. Atte passynge of this ryvere, seynt Eustache loste +hys two sones, whanne that he hadde lost hys wyffe. And yt gooth thorewe +the playne of Arthadoe; and so un to the Reed See. And so men moten goon un +to the cytee of phenne, and so un to the cytee of Ferne. And Antyoche ys a +ful fayre cytee and wel walled. For hyt ys two myle longe and eche pylere +of the brygge thare ys a goud toure. And thys ys the beest cytee of the +kyngdom of Surrye. And from Antyoche, men moten so forth goon un to the +cytee of Lacuthe; and thanne un to Geble; and thanne un tyl Tourtous: and +thare by ys the lande of Cambre, whare that ys a stronge castelle, that men +clepen Maubeke. And from Tourtouse men goon up to Thryple, uppon the see. +And uppon the see, men goon unto Deres; and thare ben two weyes un to +Jerusalem: Uppon the lyfte way, men goon fyrst un to Damas, by Flome +Jordane: uppon the ryzt syde, men goon thorewe the lande of Flagam, and so +un to the cytee of Cayphas: of the whiche Cayphas was Lord: and som clepeth +hyt the castelle Pellerynez: And from thens ys foure dayes journeyes un to +Jerusalem and they goon thorewe Cesarye Phylyppum and Jaffe and Ramys and +Emaux, and so unto Jerusalem. + +Now have I told yow som of the wayes, by the land, and eke by water, how +that men mowen goon unto Jerusalem: they that hyt be so, that there been +many other wayes, that men goon by, aftur countrees, that thay comen fram, +nevere the lasse they turne alle un tylle an ende. Yet is thare a way, alle +by lande, un to Jerusalem, and pass noon see; that ys from Fraunce or +Flaundres; but that way ys fulle lange and perylous, of grete travayle; and +thare fore fewe goon that ylke way. And who so gooth that, he mote goon +thorewe Almayn and Pruys; and so un to Tartarye. This Tartarye ys holden of +the great Chan, of whom y schal speke more afterwarde. For thydur lasteth +hys Lordschup. And the Lordes of Tartarye yeldeth unto the grete Chan +trybute. Thys ys a ful ille lande, and a sondye, and wel lytel fruyt +beryng. For thare groweth lytel goude of corne or wyn, ne benes ne pese: +but beestes ben thare y nowe, and that ful grete plente. And thare ete thay +nought but flesche with outen brede; and thay soupe the brothe there of: +and also thay drynke the mylk. And alle manere of wylde beestes they eten, +houndes, cattes, ratouns, and alle othere wylde bestes. And thei have no +wode, or elle lytylle. And therfore thei warmen and sethen here mete with +hors dong and cow dong, and of other bestes dryed azenst the sonne. And +princes and othere eten not, but ones in the day; and that but lytille. And +thei ben righte foule folk and of evyl kynde. And in somer, be alle the +contrees, fallen many tempestes and many hydouse thondres and leytes, and +slen meche peple and bestes also, fulle often tyme. And sodeynly is there +passynge hete, and sodeynly also passynge cold. And it is the foulest +contree, and the most cursed, and the porest, that men knowen. And here +prince, that governethe that contree, that thei clepen Batho, duellethe at +the cytee of Orda. And treuly no gode man scholde not duellen in that +contre. For the lond and the contree is not worthi houndes to dwelle inne. +It were a gode contree to sowen inne thristelle and breres and broom and +thornes; and for no other thing is it not good. Natheless there is gode +londe in sum place; but it is pure litille, as men seyn. I have not ben in +that contree, ne be tho weyes: but I have ben at other londes, that marchen +to tho contrees; and in the lond of Russye, and in the lond of Nyflan, and +in the reme of Crako, and of Letto, and in the reme of Daresten, and in +manye other places, that marchen to the costes: but I wente never be that +weye to Jerusalem; wherfore I may not wel telle zou the manere. But zif +this matiere plese to ony worthi man, that hathe gon be that weye, he may +telle it, zif him lyke; to that entent, that tho that wole go by that weye, +and maken here viage be tho costes, mowen knowen what weye is there. For no +man may passe be that weye godely, but in time of wyntir, for the perilous +watres, and wykkede mareyes that ben in tho contrees; that no man may +passe, but zif it be strong frost, and snowe aboven. For zif the snow ne +were, men myght not gon upon the yse, ne hors ne carre nouther. And it is +wel a 3 journeys of suche weye, to passe from Prusse to the lond of Sarazin +habitable. And it behovethe to the Cristene men, that schulle werre azen +hem every zeer, to bere here vitaylles with hem: for thei schulle fynde +there no good. And than most thei let carye here vitaylle upon the yse, +with carres that have no wheeles, that thei clepen scleyes. And als longe +as here vitaylles lasten, thei may abide there, but no longer. For there +schulle they fynde no wight that will selle hem ony vitaille or ony thing. +And whan the spyes seen ony Cristene men comen upon hem, thei rennen to the +townes, and cryen with a lowd voys, Kerra, Kerra, Kerra; and than anon thei +armen hem and assemblen hem to gydere. + +And zee schulle undirstonde, that it fresethe more strongly in tho contrees +than on this half; and therefore hathe every man stewes in his hous, and in +tho stewes thei eten and don here occupatiouns, alle that they may. For +that is at the northe parties, that men clepen the septentrionelle, where +it is alle only cold. For the sonne is but lytille or non toward tho +contreyes: and therefore in the Septentryon, that is verry northe, is the +lond so cold, that no man may duelle there: and in the contrarye, toward +the southe, it is so hoot, that no man ne may duelle there: because that +the sonne, whan he is upon the southe, castethe his bemes alle streghte +upon that partye. + + +Of the Customes of Sarasines, and of hire Lawe; and how the Soudan arresond + me, Auctour of this Book. And of the begynnynge of Machomete. + +[Sidenote: Cap. XII.] Now because that I have spoken of Sarazines and of +here contree, now zif zee wil knowe a party of here lawe and of here +beleve, I schalle telle zou, aftre that here book, that is clept Alkaron, +tellethe. And sum men clepen that book Meshaf: and sum men clepen it Harme, +aftre the dyverse langages of the contree. The whiche book Machamete toke +hem. In the whiche boke, among other thinges, is written, as I have often +tyme seen and radd, that the gode shulle gon to paradys, and the evele to +helle: and that beleven alle Sarazines. And zif a man aske hem, what +paradys thei menen; thei seyn, to paradys, that is a place of delytes, +where men schulle fynde alle maner of frutes, in alle cesouns, and ryveres +rennynge of mylk and hony, and of wyn, and of swete watre; and that thei +schulle have faire houses and noble, every man aftre his dissert, made of +precyous stones, and of gold, and of sylver; and that every man schalle +have 80 wyfes, alle maydenes; and he schalle have ado every day with hem, +and zit he schalle fynden hem alle weys maydenes. Also thei beleeven and +speken gladly of the Virgine Marie and of the Incarnacioun. And thei seyn, +that Marye was taughte of the angel; and that Gabrielle seyde to hire, that +sche was forchosen from the begynnynge of the world; and that he schewed to +hire the incarnacioun of Jesu Crist; and that sche conceyved and bare +child, mayden: and that wytnessethe here boke. And they seyn also, that +Jesu Crist spak als sone as he was born; and that he was an holy prophete +and a trewe, in woord and dede, and meke and pytous and rightefulle and +with outen ony vyce. And thei seyn also, that whan the angel schewed the +Incarnacioun of Crist unto Marie, sche was zong, and had gret drede. For +there was thanne an enchantour in the contree, that deled with wycche +craft, that men clepten Taknia, that he his enchauntementes cowde make him +in lyknesse of an angel, and wente often tymes and lay with maydenes: and +therfore Marie dredde, lest it hadde ben Taknia, that cam for to desceyve +the maydenes. And therfore sche conjured the angel, that he scholde telle +hire, zif it were he or no. And the angel answerde and seyde, that sche +scholde have no drede of him: for he was verry messager of Jesu Crist. Also +here book seythe, that whan that sche had childed undre a palme tree, sche +had gret schame, that sche hadde a child; and sche grette, and seyde, that +sche wolde that sche hadde ben ded. And anon the child spak to hire and +comforted hire, and seyde, Modir, ne dismaye the noughte; for God hathe +hidd in the his prevytees, for the salvacioun of the world. And in othere +many places seythe here Alkaron, that Jesu Crist spak als sone as he was +born. And that book seythe also, that Jesu was sent from God alle myghty, +for to ben myrour and ensample and tokne to alle men. And the Alkaron +seythe also of the day of doom, how God schal come to deme alle maner of +folk; and the gode he schalle drawen on his syde, and putte hem into +blisse; and the wykkede he schal condempne to the peynes of helle. And +amonges alle prophetes, Jesu was the most excellent and the moste worthi, +next God; and that he made the Gospelles, in the whiche is gode doctryne +and helefulle, fulle of charitee and sothefastnesse, and trewe prechinge to +hem that beleeven in God; and that he was a verry prophete, and more than a +prophete; and lyved withouten synne, and zaf syghte to the blynde, and +helede the lepres, and reysed dede men, and steyghe to hevene. And whan +thei mowe holden the boke of the Gospelles of oure Lord written, and +namely, _Missus est Angelus Gabriel_; that Gospel, thei seyn, tho that ben +lettred, often tymes in here orisouns, and thei kissen it and worschipen +it, with gret devocioun. Thei fasten an hool monethe in the zeer, and eten +noughts but be nyghte, and thei kepen hem fro here wyfes alle that monethe: +but the seke men be not constreyned to that fast. Also this book spekethe +of Jewes; and seythe, that thei ben cursed; for thei wolde not beleven, +that Jesu Crist was comen of God; and that thei lyeden falsely on Marie and +on hire sone Jesu Crist, seyenge that thei hadden crucyfyed Jesu the sone +of Marie: for he was nevere crucyfyed, as thei seyn; but that God made him +to stye up to him with outen dethe, and with outen anoye: but he +transfigured his lyknesse into Judas Scariothe, and him crucyfyden the +Jewes, and wenden that it had ben Jesus: but Jesus steyge to hevenes alle +quyk; and therfore thei seyn, that the Cristene men erren and han no gode +knowleche of this, and that thei beleeven folyly and falsly, that Jesu +Crist was crucyfyed. And they seyn zit, that and he had ben crucyfyed, that +God had don azen his rightewisnesse, for to suffre Jesu Crist, that was +innocent, to ben put upon the Cros, with outen gylt. And in this article +thei seyn, that wee faylen, and that the gret rightewisnesse of God ne +myghte not suffre so gret a wrong. And in this, faylethe here feythe. For +thei knoulechen wel, that the werkes of Jesu Crist ben gode, and his wordes +and his dedes and his doctryne by his Gospelles, weren trewe and his +meracles also trewe; and the blessed Virgine Marie is good, and holy +mayden, before and aftre the birthe of Jesu Crist; and that alle tho, that +beleven perfitely in God, schul ben saved. And because that thei gon so nye +oure feythe, thei ben lyghtly converted to Cristene lawe, whan men prechen +hem and schewe hem distynctly the lawe of Jesu Crist, and tellen hem of the +prophecyes. And also thei seyn, that thei knownen wel, be the prophecyes, +that the lawe of Machomete schalle faylen, as the lawe of the Jewes dide, +and that the lawe of Cristine peple schalle laste to the day of doom. And +zif ony man aske hem, what is here beleeve; thei answeren thus, and in this +forme, Wee beleven God formyour of hevene and of erthe and of alle othere +things, that he made. And we beleven of the day of doom, and that every man +schalle have his meryte, aftre he hathe disserved. And we beleve it for +sothe, alle that God hathe seyd be the mouthes of his prophetes. Also +Machomet commanded in his Alkaron, that every man scholde have 2 wyfes or 3 +or 4; but now thei taken unto 9, and of lemmanes als manye as he may +susteyne. And zif ony of here wyfes mys beren hem azenst hire husbonde, he +may caste hire out of his house; and departe from him, and take another: +but he schalle departe with hire his godes. Also whan men speken to hem, of +the Fadre and of the Sone and of the Holy Gost, thei seyn, that thei ben 3 +persones; but not o God. For here Alkaron spekethe not of the Trynyte. But +thei seyn wel, that God hathe speche, and elle where he dowmb; and God +hathe also a Spirit, thei knowen wel, for elle thei seyn, he were not in +lyve. And whan men speken to hem of the Incarnacioun, how that be the word +of the angel, God sente his wysdom in to erthe, and enumbred him in the +Virgyne Marie: and be the Woord of God, schulle the dede ben reysed, at the +day of doom; thei seyn, that it is sothe, and that the Woord of God hathe +gret strengthe. And thei seyn, that whoso knew not the Woord of God, he +scholde not knowe God. And thei seyn also, that Jesu Crist is the Woord of +God; and so seythe here Alkaron, where it seythe, that the angel spak to +Marie and seyde, Marie, God schalle preche the Gospel be the woord of his +mowthe, and his name schalle be clept Jesu Crist. And thei seyn also, that +Abraham was frend to God, and that Moyses was famileer spekere with God; +and Jesu Crist was the Woord and the Spirit of God; and that Machomete was +right messager of God. And thei seyh, that of theise 4, Jesu was the most +worthi and the most excellent and the most gret; so that thei han many gode +articles of oure feythe, alle be it that thei have no parfite lawe and +feythe, as Cristene men han; and therfore ben thei lightly converted; and +namely, tho that undirstonden the Scriptures and the prophecyes. For thei +han Gospelles and the prophecyes and the Byble, writen in here langage. +Wherfore thei conne meche of Holy Wrytt, but thei undirstonde it not, but +aftre the lettre: and so don the Jewes; for thei undirstonde not the lettre +gostly, but bodyly; and therfore ben thei repreved of the wise, that gostly +understonden it. And therfore seythe seynt Poul; _Litera occidit; Spiritus +vivificat_. Also the Sarazines seyn, that the Jewes ben cursed: for thei +han defouled the lawe, that God sente hem be Moyses. And the Cristene ben +cursed also, as thei seyn: for their kepen not the commandementes and the +preceptes of the Gospelle, that Jesu Crist taughte hem. And therfore I +schalle telle zou, what the Soudan tolde me uppn a day, in his chambre. He +leet voyden out of his chambre alle manner of men, lordes aad othere: for +he wolde speke with me in conseille. And there he asked me, how the +Cristene men governed hem in oure contree. And I seyde him, righte wel: +thonked be God. And he seyde me, treulyche, nay: for zee Cristene men ne +recthen righte noghte how untrewly to serve God. Ze scholde zeven ensample +to the lewed peple, for to do wel; and zee zeven hem ensample to don +evylle. For the comownes, upon festyfulle dayes, whan thei scholden gon to +chirche to serve God, than gon thei to tavernes, and ben there in glotony, +alle the day and alle nyghte, and eten and drynken, as bestes that have no +resoun, and wite not whan thei have y now. And also the Cristene men +enforcen hem, in alle maneres that thei mowen, for to fighte, and for to +desceyven that on that other. And there with alle thei ben so proude, that +thei knowen not how to ben clothed; now long, now schort, now streyt, now +large, now swerded, now daggered, and in alle manere gyses. Thei scholden +ben symple, meke and trewe, and fulle of almes dede, as Jhesu was, in whom +thei trowe: but thei ben alle the contrarie, and evere enclyned to the +evylle, and to don evylle. And thei ben so coveytous, that for a lytylle +sylyer, thei sellen here doughtres, here sustres and here owne wyfes, to +putten hem to leccherie. And on with drawethe the wif of another; and non +of hem holdethe feythe to another; but thei defoulen here lawe, that Jhesu +Crist betook hem to kepe, for here salvacioun. And thus for here synnes, +han thei lost alle this lond, that wee holden. For, for hire synnes there +God hathe taken hem in to oure hondes, noghte only be strengthe of our +self, but for here synnes. For wee knowen wel in verry sothe, that whan zee +serve God, God wil hepe zou: and whan he is with zou, no man may be azenst +you. And that knowe we wel, be oure prophecyes, that Cristene men schulle +wynnen azen this lond out of oure hondes, whan thei serven God more +devoutly. But als longe als thei ben of foule and of unclene lyvynge, (as +thei ben now) wee have no drede of hem, in no kynde: for here God wil not +helpen hem in no wise. And than I asked him, how he knew the state of +Cristene men. And he answered me, that he knew alle the state of the +comounes also, be his messangeres, that he sente to alle londes, in manere +as thei weren marchauntes of precyous stones, of clothes of gold and of +othere things; for to knowen the manere of every contree amonges Cristene +men. And than he leet clepe in alle the lordes, that he made voyden first +out of his chambre; and there he schewed me 4, that weren grete lordes in +the contree, that tolden me of my contree, and of many othere Cristene +contrees, als wel as thei had ben of the same contree: and thei spak +Frensche righte wel; and the Sowdan also, where of I had gret marvaylle. +Alas! that it is gret sclaundre to oure feythe and to oure lawe, whan folk +that ben with outen lawe, schulle repreven us and undernemen us of oure +synnes. And thei that scholden ben converted to Crist and to the lawe of +Jhesu, be oure gode ensamples and be oure acceptable lif to God, and so +converted to the lawe of Jhesu Crist, ben thorghe oure wykkednesse and +evylle lyvynge, fer fro us and straungeres fro the holy and verry beleeve, +schulle thus appelen us and holden us for wykkede lyveres and cursed. And +treuly thei sey sothe. For the Sarazines ben gode and feythfulle. For thei +kepen entierly the commaundement of the holy book Alkaron, that God sente +hem be his messager Machomet; to the whiche, as thei seyne, seynt Gabrielle +the aungel often tyme tolde the wille of God. And zee schulle undirstonde, +that Machamote was born in Arabye, that was first a pore knave, that kept +cameles, that wenten with marchantes fur marchandize; and so befelle, that +he wente with the marchandes in to Egipt: and thei weren than Cristene, in +tho partyes. And at the desertes of Arabye, he wente in to a chapelle, +where a Eremyte duelte. And when he entred in to the chapelle, that was but +a lytille and a low thing, and had but a lityl dore and a low, than the +entree began to wexe so gret and so large and so highe, as thoughe it had +ben of a gret mynstre, or the zate of a paleys. And this was the firste +myracle, the Sarazins seyn, that Machomete dide in his zouthe. Aftre began +he for to wexe wyse and riche; and he was a gret astronomer: and aftre he +was governour and prince of the lond of Cozrodane; and he governed it fully +wisely, in suche manere, that whan the prince was ded, he toke the lady to +wyfe, that highte Gadridge. And Machomete felle often in the grete +sikenesse, that men callen the fallynge evylle: wherfore the lady was fulle +sorry, that evere sche toke him to husbonde. But Machomete made hire to +beleeve, that alle tymes, whan he felle so, Gabriel the angel cam for to +speke with him; and for the gret lighte and brightnesse of the angelle, he +myghte not susteyne him fro fallynge. And therfore the Sarazines seyn, that +Gabriel cam often to speke with him. This Machomete regned in Arabye, the +zeer of oure Lord Jhesu Crist 610; and was of the generacioun of Ysmael, +that was Abrahames sone, that he gat upon Agar his chamberere. And therfere +ther ben Sarazines, that ben clept Ismaelytenes; and summe Agaryenes, of +Agar: and the othere propurly ben clept, Sarrazines, of Sarra: and summe +ben clept Moabytes, and summe Amonytes; fro the 2 sones of Lothe, Moab and +Amon, that he begat on his doughtres, that weren aftirward grete erthely +princes. And also Machomete loved wel a gode heremyte, that duelled in the +desertes, a myle fro Mount Synay, in the weye that men gon fro Arabye +toward Caldee, and toward Ynde, o day journey fro the See, where the +marchauntes of Yenyse comen often for marchandise. And so often wente +Machomete to this heremyte, that alle his men weren wrothe: for he wolde +gladly here this heremyte preche, and make his men wake alle nyghte: and +therfore his men thoughten to putte the heremyte to dethe: and so it +befelle upon a nyght, that Machomete was dronken of gode wyn, and he felle +on slepe; and his men toke Machometes swerd out of his schethe, whils he +slepte, and there with thei slowghe this heremyte: and putten his swerd +alle blody in his schethe azen. And at morwe, whan he fond the heremyte +ded, he was fulle sory and wrothe, and wolde have don his men to dethe: but +they alle with on accord seyd, that he him self had slayn him, when he was +dronken, and schewed him his swerd alle blody: and he trowed, that thei +hadden seyd sothe. And than he cursed the wyn, and alle tho that drynken +it. And therfore Sarrazines, that be devout, drynken nevere no wyn: but +sume drynken it prevyly. For zif thei dronken it openly, thei scholde ben +repreved. But thei drynken gode beverage and swete and norysshynge, that is +made of galamelle: and that is that men maken sugar of, that is of righte +gode savour: and it is gode for the breest. Also it befallethe sumtyme, +that Cristene men becomen Sarazines, outher for povertee, or for +symplenesse, or else for here owne wykkednesse. And therfore the +archiflamyn or the flamyn, as oure erchebisshop or bisshopp, whan he +receyvethe hem, seythe thus, _La ellec, Sila. Machomete rores alla_; that +is to seye, _There is no God but on, and Machomete his messager_. + + +Of the Londes of Albanye, and of Libye. Of the Wisshinges, for Wacchinge of + the Sperhauk; and of Noes Schippe. + +[Sidenote: Cap. XIII.] Now sithe I have told zou beforn of the Holy Lond, +and of that contree abouten, and of many weyes for to go to that lond, and +to the Mount Synay, and of Babyloyne the more and the lesse, and to other +places, that I have spoken beforn; now is tyme, zif it lyke zou, for to +telle zou of the marches and iles, and dyverse bestes, and of dyverse folk +bezond theise marches. For in tho contrees bezonden, ben many dyverse +contrees, and many grete kyngdomes; that ben departed be the 4 flodes, that +comen from Paradys terrestre. For Mesopotayme and the Kyngdom of Caldee and +Arabye, ben betwene the 2 ryveres of Tygre and of Eufrates. And the kyngdom +of Mede and of Persye, ben betwene the ryveres of Nile and of Tigres. And +the kyngdom of Syrie, where of I have spoken beforn, and Palestyne and +Phenycie, ben betwene Eufrates and the See Medyterrane: the whiche see +durethe in lengthe, fro Mayrok, upon the See of Spayne, unto the grete See; +so that it lastethe bezonde Costantynople 3040 myles of Lombardye. And +toward the see occyan in Ynde, is the kyngdom of Shithie, that is alle +closed with hilles. And aftre undre Schithie, and fro the See of Caspie, +unto the Flom Thainy, is Amazoyne, that is the lond of femynye, where that +no man is, but only alle wommen. And aftre is Albanye, a fulle grete reme. +And it is clept Albanye, because the folk ben whitere there, than in other +marches there abouten. And in that contree ben so gret houndes and so +stronge, that thei assaylen lyouns, and sleu hem. And thanne aftre is +Hircanye, Bactrye, Hiberye, and many other kyngdomes. And betwene the Rede +See and the see occyan, toward the southe, is the kyngdom of Ethiope, and +of Lybye the hyere. The which lond of Lybye, (that is to seyne Libye the +lowe) that begynnethe at the See of Spayne, fro thens where the Pyleres of +Hercules ben, and durethe unto aneyntes Egipt and towards Ethiope. In that +contree of Libye, is the see more highe than the lond; and it semethe that +it wolde covere the erthe, and natheles zit it passethe not his markes. And +men seen in that contre a mountayne, to the whiche no man comethe. In this +lond of Libye, whoso turnethe toward the est, the schadewe of him self is +on the right syde: and here in oure contree, the schadwe is on the left +syde. In that See of Libye, is no fissche: for thei mowe not lyve ne dure, +for the gret hete of the sonne; because that the watre is evermore +boyllynge, for the gret hete. And many othere londes there ben, that it +were to long to tellen or to nombren: but of sum parties I schal speke more +pleynly here aftre. + +Whoso wil thanne gon toward Tarterie, toward Persie, toward Caldee, and +toward Ynde, he most entre the see, at Gene or at Venyse or at sum other +havene, that I have told zou before. And than passe men the see, and +arryven at Trapazond, that is a gode cytee; and it was wont to ben the +havene of Pountz. There is the havene of persanes and of medaynes and of +the marches there bezonde. In that cytee lythe Seynt Athanasie, that was +Bishopp of Alisandre, that made the Psalm _Quicunque vult_. This Athanasius +was a gret Doctour of Dyvynytee: and because that he preched and spak so +depely of Dyvynytee and of the Godhede, he was accused to the Pope of Rome, +that he was an Heretyk. Wherfore the Pope sente aftre hym, and putte him in +presoun: and whils he was in presoun, he made that Psalm, and sente it to +the Pope, and seyde: that zif he were an heretyk, that was that heresie; +for that, he seyde, was his beleeve. And whan the Pope saughe it, and had +examyned it, that it was parfite and gode, and verryly oure feythe and oure +beleeve, he made him to ben delyvered out of presoun, and commanded that +Psalm to ben seyd every day at Pryme: and so he held Athanasie a gode man. +But he wolde nevere go to his bisshopriche azen, because that thei accused +him of heresye. Trapazond was wont to ben holden of the Emperour of +Costantynople: but a gret man, that he sente for to kepe the contree azenst +the Turkes, usurped the lond, and helde it to himself, and cleped him +Emperour of Trapazond. + +And from thens, men gon thorghe litille Ermonye. And in that contree is an +old castelle, that stont upon a roche, the whiche is cleped the Castelle of +the Sparrehawk, that is bezonde the cytee of Layays, beside the town of +Pharsipee, that belongethe to the lordschipe of Cruk; that is a riche lord +and a gode Cristene man; where men fynden a sparehauk upon a perche righte +fair, and righte wel made; and a fayre lady of fayrye, that kepethe it. And +who that wil wake that sparhauk, 7 dayes and 7 nyghtes, and as sum men +seyn, 3 dayes and 3 nyghtes, with outen companye, and with outen sleep, +that faire lady schal zeven him, whan he hathe don, the first wyssche, that +he wil wyssche, of erthely thinges: and that hathe been proved often-tymes. +And o tyme befelle, that a kyng of Ermonye, that was a worthi knyght and +doughty man and a noble prince, woke that hauk som tyme: and at the ende of +7 dayes and 7 nyghtes, the lady cam to him, and bad him wisschen: for he +had wel disserved it. And he answerde, that he was gret Lord y now, and wel +in pees, and hadde y nowghe of worldly ricchesse: and therfore he wolde +wisshe non other thing, but the body of that faire lady, to have it at his +wille. And sche answerde him, that he knew not what he asked; and seyde, +that he was a fool, to desire that he myghte not have; for sche seyde, that +he scholde not aske, but erthely thing: for sche was non erthely thing, but +a gostly thing. And the kyng seyde, that he ne wolde asken non other thing. +And the lady answerde, sythe that I may not withdrawe zou fro zoure lewed +corage, I schal zeve zou with outen wysschinge, and to alle hem that +schulle com of you. Sire kyng, zee schulle have werre withouten pees, and +alle weys to the 9 degree, zee schulle ben in subjeccioun to zoure enemyes; +and zee schulle ben nedy of alle godes. And nevere sithen, nouther the kyng +of Ermoyne, ne the contree, weren never in pees, ne thei hadden never +sithen plentee of godes; and thei han ben sithen alle weyes undre tribute +of the Sarrazines. Also the sone of a pore man woke that hauke, and wisshed +that he myghte cheve wel, and to ben happy to merchandise. And the lady +graunted him. And he becaam the most riche and the most famouse marchaunt, +that myghte ben on see or on erthe. And he becam so riche, that he knew not +the 1000 part of that he hadde: and he was wysere, in wisschynge, than was +the king. Also a knyght of the temple wooke there; and wyssched a purs +evere more fulle of gold: and the lady graunted him. But sche seyde him, +that he had asked the destruccioun of here ordre; for the trust and the +affiance of that purs, and for the grete pryde, that they scholde haven: +and so it was. And therfore loke, he kepe him wel, that schalle wake: for +zif he slepe, he is lost, that nevere man schalle seen him more. This is +not the righte weye for to go to the parties, that I have nempned before; +but for to see the merveyle, that I have spoken of. + +And therfore who so wil go right weye, men gon fro Trapazond toward Ermonye +the gret, unto a cytee that is clept Artyroun, that was wont to ben a gode +cytee and a plentyous; but the Turkes han gretly wasted it. There aboute +growethe no wyn ne fruyt, but litylle or elle non. In this lond, is the +erthe more highe than in ony other; and that makethe gret cold. And there +hen many gode watres, and gode welles, that comen undre erthe, fro the flom +of paradys, that is clept Eufrates, that is a jorneye besyde that cytee. +And that ryvere comethe towardes Ynde, undre erthe, and restorethe into the +lond of Altazar. And so passe men be this Ermonie, and entren the see of +Persie. Fro that cytee of Artyroun go men to an hille, that is clept +Sabissocolle. And there besyde is another hille, that men clepen Ararathe: +but the Jewes clepen it Taneez; where Noes schipp rested, and zit is upon +that montayne: and men may seen it a ferr, in cleer wedre: and that +montayne is wel a 7 myle highe. And sum men seyn, that thei han seen and +touched the schipp; and put here fyngeres in the parties, where the feend +went out, whan that Noe seyde _Benedicite_. But thei that seyn suche +wordes, seyn here wille: for a man may not gon up the montayne, for gret +plentee of snow that is alle wayes on that montayne, nouther somer ne +wynter: so that no man may gon up there; ne never man dide, sithe the tyme +of Noe; saf a monk, that, be the grace of God, brought on of the plankes +doun: that zit is in the mynstere, at the foot of the montayne. And besyde +is the cytee of Dayne, that Noe founded. And faste by is the cytee of Any, +in the whiche were 1000 chirches. But upon that montayne, to gon up, this +monk had gret desire; and so upon a day, he wente up: and whan he was +upward the 3 part of the montayne, he was so wery, that he myghte no +ferthere, and so he rested him, and felle o slepe; and whan he awook, he +fonde him self lyggynge at the foot of the montayne. And than he preyede +devoutly to God, that he wolde vouche saf to suffre him gon up. And an +angelle cam to him, and seyde, that he scholde gon up; and so he dide. And +sithe that tyme never non. Wherfore men scholde not beleeve such woordes. + +Fro that montayne go men to the cytee of Thauriso, that was wont to ben +clept Taxis, that is a fulle fair cytee, and a gret, and on of the beste, +that is in the world, for marchandise: and it is in the lond of the +Emperour of Persie. And men seyn, that the Emperour takethe more gode, in +that cytee, for custom of marchandise than dothe the ricchest Cristene kyng +of alle his reme, that livethe. For the tolle and the custom of his +marchantes is with outen estymacioun to ben nombred. Beside that cytee, is +a hille of salt; and of that salt, every man takethe what he will, for to +salte with, to his nede. There duellen many Cristene men, undir tribute of +Sarrazines. And fro that cytee, men passen be many townes and castelles, in +goynge toward Ynde, unto the cytee of Sadonye, that is a 10 journeyes fro +Thauriso; and it is a fulle noble cytee and a gret. And there duellethe the +Emperour of Persie, in somer: for the contree is cold y now. And there ben +gode ryveres, berynge schippes. Aftre go men the weye toward Ynde, be many +iorneyes, and be many contreyes, unto the cytee, that is clept Cassak, that +is a fulle noble cytee, and a plentyous of cornes and wynes, and of alle +other godes. This is the cytee, where the 3 kynges metten to gedre, whan +thei wenten to sechen oure Lord in Bethtem, to worschipe him, and to +presente him with gold, ensence, and myrre. And it is from that cytee to +Bethleem 53 iourneyes. Fro that cytee, men gon to another cytee, that is +clept Bethe, that is a iourneye fro the see, that men clepen the gravely +see. That is the best cytee, that the Emperour of Persie hathe, in alle his +lond. And thei clepen it there Chardabago; and others clepen it Vapa. And +the Paynemes seyn, that no Cristene man may not longe duelle, ne enduren +with the lif, in that cytee: but dyen with in schort tyme; and no man +knowethe not the cause. Aftre gon men, be many cytees and townes, and grete +contrees, that it were to longe to telle, unto the cytee of Cornaa, that +was wont to be so gret, that the walles abouten holden 25 myle aboute. The +walks schewen zit: but it is not alle enhabited. From Cornaa, go men be +many londes, and many cytees and townes, unto the lond of Job: and there +endethe the lond of the Emperour of Persie. + + +Of the Lond of Job; and of his Age. Of the Aray of men of Caldee. Of the + Lond where Wommen duellen with outen companye of men. Of the knouleche + and vertues of the verray Dyamant. + +[Sidenote: Chap. XIV.] Aftre the departynge fro Cornaa, men entren in to +the lond of Job, that is a fulle faire contree, and a plentyous of alle +godes. And men clepen that lond the lond of Sweze. In that lond is the +cytee of Theman. Job was a Payneem, and he was Are of Gosre his sone, and +held that lond, as prynce of that contree and he was so riche, that he knew +not the hundred part of his godes. And alle thoughe he were a Payneem, +natheless he served wel God, aftre his lawe: and oure Lord toke his service +to his plesance. And whan he felle in poverte, he was 78 zeer of age. And +aftre, whan God had preved his pacyence, and that it was so gret, he +broughte him azen to richesse, and to hiere estate than he was before. And +aftre that he was kyng of Ydumye, aftre Kyng Esau. And whan he was kyng, he +was clept Jobab. And in that kyngdom, he lyvede aftre 170 zere: and so he +was of age, whan he dyede, 248 zeer. In that lond of Job, there nys no +defaute of no thing, that is nedefulle to mannes body. There ben hilles, +where men getten gret plentee of manna, in gretter habundance, than in ony +other contree. This manna is clept bred of aungelles; and it is a white +thing, that is fulle swete and righte delicyous, and more swete than hony +or sugre; and it comethe of the dew of hevene that fallethe upon the +herbes, in that contree; and it congelethe and becomethe alle white and +swete: and men putten it in medicynes for rich men, to make the wombe lax, +and to purge evylle blood: for it clensethe the blode, and puttethe out +malencoyle. This lond of Job marchethe to the kyngdom of Caldee. This lond +of Caldee is fulle gret: and the langage of that contree is more gret in +sownynge, that it is in other parties bezonde the see. Men passen to go +bezond, be the Tour of Babiloyne the grete: of the whiche I have told zou +before, where that alle the langages weren first chaunged. And that is a 4 +jorneyes fro Caldee. In that reme, ben faire men, and thei gon fulle nobely +arrayed in clothes of gold, or frayed and apparayled with grete perles and +precyous stones, fulle nobely: and the wommen ben righte foule and evylle +arrayed; and thei gon alle bare fote, and clothed in evylle garnementes, +large and wyde, but thei ben schorte to the knees; and longe sleves doun to +the feet, lyche a monkes frokke; and here sleves ben hongyng aboute here +schuldres: and thei ben blake women, foule and hidouse; and treuly as foule +as thei ben, als evele thei ben. In that kyngdom of Caldee, in a cytee, +that is cleped Hur, duelled Thare, Abrahames fadre: and there was Abraham +born: and that was in that tyme, that Nunus was Kyng of Babiloyne, of +Arabye and of Egypt. This Nunus made the cytee of Nynyvee, the whiche that +Noe had begonne before: and be cause that Nunus performed it, he cleped it +Nynyve, aftre his owne name. Ther lythe Thobye the prophete, of whom Holy +Writt spekethe offe. And fro that cytee of Hur Abraham departed, be the +commandement of God, fro thens, aftre the dethe of his fadre; and ladde +with him Sarra his wife and Lothe his brotheres sone, because that he hadde +no child. And thei wenten to duelle in the lond of Chanaan, in a place, +that is clept Sychem. And this Lothe was he, that was saved, whan Sodom and +Gomorre and the othere cytees weren brent and sonken doun to helle; where +that the dede see is now, as I have told zou before. In that lond of +Caldee, thei han here propre langages, and here propre lettres. + +Besyde the lond of Caldee, is the lond of Amazoyne. And in that reme is +alle wommen, and no man; noght, as summe men seyn, that men mowe not lyve +there, but for because that the wommen will not suffre no men amonges hem, +to ben here Sovereynes. For sum tyme, ther was a kyng in that contrey; and +men maryed, as in other contreyes: and so befelle, that the kyng had werre, +with hem of Sithie; the whiche kyng highte Colopeus, that was slayn in +bataylle, and alle the gode blood of his reme. And whan the queen and alle +the othere noble ladyes sawen, that thei weren alle wydewes, and that alle +the rialle blood was lost, thei armed hem, and as creatures out of wytt, +thei slowen alle the men of the contrey, that weren laft. For thei wolden, +that alle the wommen weren wydewes, as the queen and thei weren. And fro +that tyme hiderwardes, thei nevere wolden suffren man to dwelle amonges +hem, lenger than 7 dayes and 7 nyghtes; ne that no child that were male, +scholde duelle amonges hem, longer than he were noryscht; and thanne sente +to his fader. And whan thei wil have ony companye of man, than thei drawen +hem towardes the londes marchynge next to hem: and than thei have loves, +that usen hem; and thei duellen with hem an 8 dayes or 10; and thanne gon +hom azen. And zif thei have ony knave child, thei kepen it a certeyn tyme, +and than senden it to the fadir, whan he can gon allone, and eten be him +self; or elle thei sleen it: and zif it be a femele, thei don away that on +pappe, with an hote hiren; and zif it be a womman of gret lynage, thei don +awey the left pappe, that thes may the better beren a scheeld: and zif it +be a woman of symple blood, thei don awey the ryght pappe, for to scheeen +[sic--KTH] with bowe Turkeys: for thei schote wel with bowes. In that lond +thei have a Queen, that governethe alle that lond: and alle thei ben +obeyssant to hire. And alweys thei maken here queen by eleccioun, that is +most worthy in armes. For thei ben right gode werryoures, and wyse, noble +and worthi. And thei gon often tyme in sowd, to help of other kynges in +here werres, for gold and sylver, as othere sowdyoures don: and thei +meyntenen hem self right vygouresly. This lond of Amazoyne is an Yle, alle +envirouned with the see, saf in 2 places, where ben 2 entrees. And bezond +that watir, duellen the men, that ben here paramoures, and hire loves, +where thei gon to solacen hem, whan thei wole. Besyde Amazoyne, is the lond +of Tarmegyte, that is a gret contree and a fulle delectable: and for the +godnesse of the contree, kyng Alisandre leet first make there the cytee of +Alisandre; and zit he made 12 cytees of the same name: but that cytee is +now clept Celsite. And fro that other cost of caldee, to ward the southe, +is Ethiope, a gret contree, that strecchethe to the ende of Egypt. Ethiope +is departed in 2 princypalle parties; and that is, in the est partie and in +the meridionelle partie: the whiche partie meridionelle is clept Moretane. +And the folk of that contree ben blake y now, and more blake than in the +tother partie; and thei ben clept Mowres. In that partie is a welle, that +in the day it is so cold, that no man may drynke there offe; and in the +nyght it so hoot, that no man may suffre his hond there in. And bezonde +that partie, toward the southe, to passe by the see occean, is a gret lond +and a gret contrey: but men may not duelle there, for the fervent brennynge +of the sonne; so is it passvnge hoot in that contrey. In Ethiope alle the +ryveres and alle the watres ben trouble, and thei ben somdelle salte, for +the gret hete that is there. And the folk of that contree ben lyghtly +dronken, and han but litille appetyt to mete: and thei han comounly the +flux of the wombe: and thei lyven not longe. In Ethiope ben manye dyverse +folk: and Ethiope is clept Cusis. In that contree ben folk, that han but o +foot: and thei gon so fast, that it is marvaylle: and the foot is so large, +that it schadewethe alle the body azen the sonne, whanne thei wole lye and +reste hem. In Ethiope, whan the children ben zonge and lytille, thei ben +alle zelowe: and whan that thei wexen of age, that zalownesse turnethe to +ben alle blak. In Ethiope is the cytee of Saba; and the lond, of the whiche +on of the 3 kynges, that presented oure Lord in Bethleem was kyng offe. + +Fro Ethiope men gon to Ynde, be manye dyverse contreyes. And men clepen the +highe Ynde, Emlak. And Ynde is devyded in 3 princypalle parties; that is, +the more, that is a fulle hoot contree; and Ynde the lesse, that is a fulle +atempree contrey, that strecchethe to the lond of Mede; and the 3 part +toward the Septentrion, is fulle cold; so that for pure cold and +contynuelle frost, the watre becomethe cristalle. And upon tho roches of +cristalle, growen the gode dyamandes, that ben of trouble colour. Zallow +cristalle drawethe colour lyke oylle. And thei ben so harde, that no man +may pollysche hem: and men clepen hem dyamandes in that contree, and Hamese +in another contree. Othere dyamandes men fynden in Arabye, that ben not so +gode; and thei ben more broun and more tendre. And other dyamandes also men +fynden in the ile of Cipre, that ben zit more tendre; and hem men may wel +pollische. And in the lond of Macedoyne men fynden dyamaundes also. But the +beste and the most precyouse ben in Ynde. And men fynden many tymes harde +dyamandes in a masse, that comethe out of Gold, whan men puren it and fynen +it out of the myne; whan men breken that masse in smale peces. And sum tyme +it happenethe, that men fynden summe as grete as a pese, and summe lasse; +and thei ben als harde as tho of Ynde. And alle be it that men fynden gode +dyamandes in Ynde, zit natheles men fynden hem more comounly upon the +roches in the see, and upon hilles where the myne of gold is. And thei +growen many to gedre, on lytille, another gret. And ther ben summe of the +gretness of a bene, and summe als gret as an haselle note. And thei ben +square and poynted of here owne kynde, bothe aboven and benethen, with +outen worchinge of mannes hond. And the growen to gedre, male and femele. +And thei ben norysscht with the dew of hevene. And thei engendren comounly, +and bryngen forthe smale children, that multiplyen and growen alle the +zeer. I have often tymes assayed, that zif a man kepe hem with a litylle of +the roche, and wete hem with May dew ofte sithes, thei schulle growe +everyche zeer; and the smale wole wexen grete. For righte as the fyn perle +congelethe and wexethe gret of the dew of hevene, righte so dothe the +verray dyamand: and righte as the perl of his owne kynde takethe +roundnesse, righte so the dyamand, be vertue of God, takethe squarenesse. +And men schalle bere the dyamaund on his left syde: for it is of grettere +vertue thanne, than on the righte syde. For the strengthe of here growynge +is toward the Northe; that is the left syde of the world; and the left +parte of man is, whan he turnethe his face toward the est. And zif zou lyke +to knowe the vertues of the dyamand, (as men may fynde in the lapidarye, +that many men knowen noght) I schalle telle zou: as thei bezonde the see +seyn and affermen, of whom alle science and alle philosophie comethe from. +He that berethe the diamand upon him, it zevethe him hardynesse and +manhode, and it kepethe the lemes of his body hole. It zevethe him victorye +of his enemyes, in plee and in werre; zif his cause be rightefulle: and it +kepethe him that berethe it, in gode wytt; and it kepethe him fro strif and +riot, fro sorwes and from enchauntementes and from fantasyes and illusiouns +of wykked spirites. And zif ony cursed wycche or enchauntour wolde bewycche +him, that berethe the dyamand; alle that sorwe and myschance schalle turne +to him self, thorghe vertu of that ston. And also no wylde best dar +assaylle the man, that berethe it on him. Also the dyamand scholde ben +zoven frely, with outen coveytynge and with outen byggynge: and than it is +of grettere vertu. And it makethe a man more strong and more sad azenst his +enemyes. And it helethe him that is lunatyk, and hem that the fend +pursuethe or travaylethe. And zif venym or poysoun be broughte in presence +of the dyamand, anon it begynnethe to wexe moyst and for to swete. There +ben also dyamandes in Ynde, that ben cept violastres; (for here colour is +liche vyolet, or more browne than violettes) that ben fulle harde and fulle +precyous; but zit sum men love not hem so wel as the othere: but in sothe +to me, I wolde loven hem als moche as the othere; for I have seen hem +assayed. Also there is an other maner of dyamandes, that ben als white as +cristalle; but thei ben a litylle more trouble: and thei ben gode and of +gret vertue, and alle thei ben square and poynted of here owne kynde. And +summe ben 6 squared, summe 4 squared, and summe 3, as nature schapethe hem. +And therefore whan grete lordes and knyghtes gon to seche worschipe in +armes, thei beren gladly the dyamaund upon hem. + +I schal speke a litille more of the dyamandes, alle thoughe I tarye my +matere for a tyme, to the ende that thei that knowen hem not, be not +disceyved be gabberes, that gon be the contree, that sellen hem. For whoso +wil bye the dyamande, it is needefulle to him, that he knowe hem; be cause +that men counterfeten hem often of cristalle, that is zalow; and of +saphires of cytryne colour, that is zalow also; and of the saphire loupe, +and of many other stones. But I telle zou, theise contrefetes ben not so +harde; and also the poyntes wil breken lightly, and men may easily +pollische hem. But summe werkmen, for malice, will not pollische hem, to +that entent, to maken men beleve, that thei may not ben pollischt. But men +may assaye hem in this manere; first schere with hem or write with hem in +saphires, in cristalle or in other precious stones. Aftre that men taken +the ademand, that is the schipmannes ston, that drawethe the nedle to him, +and men leyn the dyamand upon the ademand, and leyn the nedle before the +ademand; and zif the dyamand be gode and vertuous, the ademande drawethe +not the nedle to him, while the dyamand is there present. And this is the +preef, that thei bezonde the see maken. Natheles it befallethe often tyme, +that the gode dyamande losethe his vertue, be synne and for incontynence of +him, that berethe it: and thanne it is nedfulle to make it to recoveren his +vertue azen, or elle it is of litille value. + + +Of the customs of Yles abouten Ynde. Of the differences betwixt Ydoles and + Simulacres. Of 3 maner growing of Peper upon a Tree. Of the welle, that + chaungethe his odour, every hour of the day: and that is mervaylle. + +[Sidenote: Cap. XV.] In Ynde ben fulle manye dyverse contrees: and it is +cleped Ynde, for a flom, that rennethe thorghe out the contree, that is +clept Ynde. In that flomme men fynden eles of 30 fote long and more. And +the folk that duellen nyghe that watre, ben of evylle colour, grene and +zalow. In Ynde and abouten Ynde, ben mo than 5000 iles, gode and grete, +that men duellen in, with outen tho that ben inhabitable, and with outen +othere smale iles. In every ile, is gret plentee of cytees and of townes +and of folk, with outen nombre. For men of Ynde han this condicioun of +kynde, that thei nevere gon out of here owne contree: and therfore is ther +gret multitude of peple: but thei ben not sterynge ne mevable, be cause +that thei ben in the firste clymat, that is of Saturne. And Saturne is +sloughe and litille mevynge: for he taryethe to make his turn be the 12 +signes, 30 zeer; and the mone passethe thorghe the 12 signes in o monethe. +And for because that Saturne is of so late sterynge, therfore the folk of +that contree, that ben undre his clymat, han of kynde no wille for to meve +ne stere to seche strange places. And in oure contree is alle the +contrarie. For wee ben in the sevenethe climat, that is of the mone. And +the mone is of lyghtly mevynge; and the mone is planete of weye: and for +that skylle, it zevethe us wille of kynde, for to meve lyghtly, and for to +go dyverse weyes, and to sechen strange thinges and other dyversitees of +the world. For the mone envyrounethe the erthe more hastyly than ony othere +planete. + +Also men gon thorghe Ynde be many dyverse contrees, to the grete see +occean. And aftre men fynden there an ile, that is clept Crues: and thidre +comen marchantes of Venyse and Gene and of other marches, for to byen +marchandyses. But there is so grete hete in tho marches, and namely in that +ile, that for the grete distresse of the hete, mennes ballokkes hangen doun +to here knees, for the gret dissolucioun of the body. And men of that +contree, that knowen the manere, lat bynde hem up, or elle myghte thei not +lyve; and anoynt hem with oynementes made therfore, to holde hem up. In +that contree and in Ethiope and in many other contrees, the folk lyggen +alle naked in ryveres and watres, men and wommen to gedre, fro undurne of +the day, tille it be passed the noon. And thei lyen alle in the watre, saf +the visage, for the gret hete that there is. And the wommen haven no schame +of the men; but lyen alle to gidre, syde to syde, tille the hete be past. +There may men see many foule figure assembled, and namely nyghe the gode +townes. In that ile ben schippes with outen nayles of iren or bonds, for +the roches of the Ademandes: for thei ben alle fulle there aboute in that +see, that it is merveyle to speken of. And zif a schipp passed be tho +marches, that hadde outher iren bondes or iren nayles, anon he scholde ben +perisscht. For the Ademand, of his kynde, drawethe the iren to him: and so +wolde it drawe to him the schipp, because of the iren: that he scholde +never departen fro it, ne never go thens. + +Fro that ile, men gon be see to another ile, that is clept Chana, where is +gret plentee of corn and wyn: and it was wont to ben a gret ile, and a gret +havene and a good; but the see hathe gretly wasted it and overcomen it The +kyng of that contree was wont to ben so strong and so myghty, that he helde +werre azenst King Alisandre. The folk of that contree han a dyvers lawe: +for summe of hem, worschipe the sonne, summe the mone, summe the fuyr, +summe trees, summe serpentes, or the first thing that thei meeten at +morwen: and summe worschipen symulacres, and summe Ydoles. But betwene +symulacres and ydoles, is a gret difference. For symulacres ben ymages made +aftre lyknesse of men or of wommen, or of the sonne or of the mone, or of +ony best, or of ony kyndely thing: and ydoles, is an ymage made of lewed +wille of a man, that man may not fynden among kyndely thinges; as an ymage, +that hathe 4 hedes, on of a man, another of an hors, or of an ox, or of sum +other best, that no man hathe seyn aftre kyndely disposicioun. And thei +that worschipen symulacres, thei worschipen hem for sum worthi man, that +was sum tyme, as Hercules and many othere, that diden many marvayles in +here tyme. For thei seyn wel, that thei be not goddes: for thei knowen wel, +that there is a God of kynde, that made alle thinges; the which is in +hevene. But thei knowen wel, that this may not do the marvayles that he +made, but zif it had ben be the specyalle zifte of God: and therfore thei +seyn, that he was wel with God. And for be cause that he was so wel with +God, therfore the worschipe him. And so seyn thei of the sonne; be cause +that he chaungethe the tyme and zevethe hete and norisschethe alle thinges +upon erthe; and for it is of so gret profite, thei knowe wel, that that +myghte not be, but that God lovethe it more than ony other thing. And for +that skylle, God hath zoven it more gret vertue in the world: therfore it +is gode resoun, as thei seyn, to don it worschipe and reverence. And so +seyn thei, that maken here resounes, of othere planetes; and of the fuyr +also, because it is so profitable. And of Ydoles, thei seyn also, that the +ox is the moste holy best, that is in erthe, and most pacyent and more +profitable than ony other. For he dothe good y now, and he dothe non +evylle. And thei knowen wel, that it may not be with outen specyalle grace +of God; and therfore maken thei here God, of an ox the on part, and the +other halfondelle of a man: because that man is the most noble creature in +erthe; and also for he hathe lordschipe aboven alle bestes: therfore make +thei the halfendel of ydole of a man upwardes, and the tother half of an ox +dounwardes: and of serpentes and of other bestes, and dyverse thinges, that +thei worschipen, that thei meten first at morwe. And thei worschipen also +specyally alle tho that thei han gode meetynge of; and whan thei speden wel +in here iorneye, aftre here meetynge; and namely suche as thei han preved +and assayed be experience of longe tyme. For thei seyn, that thilke gode +meetynge ne may not come, but of the grace of God. And therefore thei maken +ymages lyche to tho thinges, that thei han beleeve inne, for to beholden +hem and worschipen hem first at morwe, or thei meeten ony contrarious +thinges. And there ben also sum Cristene men, that seyn, that summe bestes +han gode meetynge, that is to seye, for to meete with hem first at morwe; +and summe bestes wykked metynge: and that thei han preved ofte tyme, that +the hare hathe fulle evylle meetynge, and swy, and many othere bestes. And +the sparhauk and other foules of raveyne, whan thei fleen aftre here praye, +and take it before men of armes, it is a gode signe: and zif he fayle of +takynge his praye, it is an evylle sygne. And also to suche folk, it is an +evylle meetynge of ravenes. In theise thinges and in suche othere, ther ben +many folk, that beleeven; because it happenethe so often tyme to falle, +aftre here fantasyes. And also ther ben men y nowe, that han no beleve in +hem. And sithe that Cristene men han suche beleeve, that ben enformed and +taughte alle day, be holy doctryne, where inne thei schold beleeve, it is +no marvaylle thanne, that the Paynemes, that han no gode doctryne, but only +of here nature, beleeven more largely, for here symplenesse. And treuly I +have seen of Paynemes and Sarazines, that men clepen Augurynes, that whan +wee ryden in armes in dyverse contrees, upon oure enemyes, be the flyenge +of foules, thei wolde telle us the prenosticaciouns of thinges that felle +aftre: and so thei diden fulle often tymes, and profreden here hedes to +wedde, but zif it wolde falle as thei seyden. But natheles ther fore +scholde noght a man putten his beleeve in suche thinges: but always han +fulle trust and beleeve in God oure Sovereyn Lord. This ile of Chana, the +Sarazines han wonnen and holden. In that ile ben many lyouns, and many +othere wylde bestes. And there ben rattes in that ile, als gret as houndes +here: and men taken hem with grete mastyfes: for cattes may not take hem. +In this ile and many othere, men berye not no dede men: for the hete is +there so gret, that in a lityle tyme the flesche wil consume fro the bones. + +Fro thens, men gon be see toward Ynde the more, to a cytee that men clepen +Sarche, that is a fair cytee and a gode; and there duellen many Cristene +men of gode feythe: and ther ben manye religious men, and namely of +Mendynantes. Aftre gon men be see, to the lond of Lomb. In that lond +growethe the peper, in the forest that men clepen Combar; and it growethe +nowhere elle in alle the world, but in that forest: and that dureth wel an +18 iourneyes in lengthe. In the forest ben 2 gode cytees; that on highte +Fladrine, and that other Zinglantz. And in every of hem, duellen Cristene +men, and Jewes, gret plentee. For it is a gode contree and a plenteyous: +but there is over meche passynge hete. And zee schulle undirstonde, that +the peper growethe, in maner as dothe a wylde vyne, that is planted faste +by the trees of that wode, for to susteynen it by, as dothe the vyne. And +the fruyt thereof hangethe in manere as reysynges. And the tree is so +thikke charged, that it semethe that it wolde breke: and whan it is ripe, +it is all grene as it were ivy beryes; and than men kytten hem, as men don +the vynes, and than thei putten it upon an owven, and there it waxethe blak +and crisp. And there is 3 maner of peper, all upon o tree; long peper, blak +peper, and white peper. The long peper men clepen sorbotyn; and the blak +peper is clept fulfulle, and the white peper is clept bano. The long peper +comethe first, whanthe lef begynhethe to come; and it is lyche the chattes +of Haselle, that comethe before the lef, and it hangethe lowe. And aftre +comethe the blake with the lef, in manere of clustres of reysinges, alle +grene: and whan men han gadred it, than comethe the white, that is somdelle +lasse than the blake; and of that men bryngen but litille into this +contree; for thei bezonden with holden it for hem self, be cause it is +betere and more attempree in kynde, than the blake: and therfore is ther +not so gret plentee as of the blake. In that contree ben manye manere of +serpentes and of other vermyn, for the gret hete of the contree and of the +peper. And summe men seyn, that whan thei will gadre the peper, thei maken +fuyr, and brennen aboute, to make the serpentes and cokedrilles to flee. +But save here grace of alle that seyn so. For zif thei brenten abouten the +trees, that beren, the peper scholden ben brent, and it wolde dryen up alle +the vertue, as of ony other thing: and han thei diden hemself moche harm; +and thei scholde nevere quenchen the fuyr. But thus thei don; thei anoynten +here hondes and here feet with a juyce made of snayles and of othere +thinges, made therfore; of the whiche the serpentes and the venymous bestes +haten and dreden the savour: and that makethe hem flee before hem, because +of the smelle; and than thei gadren it seurly ynow. + +Also toward the heed of that forest, is the cytee of Polombe. And above the +cytee is a grete mountayne, that also is clept Polombe: and of that mount, +the cytee hathe his name. And at the foot of that mount, is a fayr welle +and a gret, that hathe odour and savour of alle spices; and at every hour +of the day, he chaungethe his odour and his savour diversely. And whoso +drynkethe 3 tymes fasting of that watre of that welle, he is hool of of +alle maner sykenesse, that he hathe. And thei that duellen there and +drynken often of that welle, thei nevere han sekenesse, and thei semen alle +weys zonge. I have dronken there of 3 or 4 sithes; and zit, me thinkethe, I +fare the better. Sum men clepen it the Welle of Zouthe: for thei that often +drynken there of, semen alle weys zongly, and lyven with outen sykenesse. +And men seyn, that that welle comethe out of paradys; and therfore it is so +vertuous. Be alle that contree growethe gode gyngevere: and therfore thidre +gon the marchauntes for spicerye. In that lond men worschipen the ox, for +his symplenesse and for his mekenesse, and for the profite that comethe of +him. And thei seyn, that he is the holyest best in erthe. For hem semethe, +that whoso evere be meke and paycyent, he is holy and profitable: for +thanne thei seyn, he hathe alle vertues in him. Thei maken the ox to +laboure 6 zeer or 7, and than thei ete him. And the kyng of the contree +hathe alle wey an ox with him: and he that kepethe him, hathe every day +grete fees, and kepethe every day his dong and his uryne in 2 vesselles of +gold, and bryngen it before here prelate, that thei clepen +archiprotopapaton; and he berethe it before the kyng, and makethe there +over a gret blessynge; and than the kyng wetethe his hondes there, in that +thei clepen gaul, and anyntethe his front and his brest: and aftre he +frotethe him with the dong and with the uryne with gret reverence, for to +ben fulfilt of vertues of the ox, and made holy be the vertue of that holy +thing, that nought is worthe. And whan the kyng hathe don, thanne don the +lordes; and aftre hem here mynystres and other men, zif thei may have ony +remenant. In that contree thei maken ydoles, half man, half ox; and in tho +ydoles, eville spirites speken and zeven answere to men, of what is asked +hem. Before theise ydoles, men sleen here children many tymes, and spryngen +the blood upon the ydoles; and so thei maken here sacrifise. And whan ony +man dyethe in the contree, thei brennen his body in name of penance, to +that entent, that he suffre no peyne in erthe, to ben eten of wormes. And +zif his wif have no child, thei brenne hire with him; and seyn, that it is +resoun, that sche make him companye in that other world, as sche did in +this. But and sche have children with him, thei leten hire lyve with hem, +to brynge hem up, zif sche wole. And zif that sche love more to lyve with +here children, than for to dye with hire husbonde, men holden hire for fals +and cursed; ne schee schalle never ben loved ne trusted of the peple. And +zif the womman dye before the husbonde, men brennen him with hire, zif that +he wole; and zif he wil not, no man constreynethe him thereto; but he may +wedde another tyme with outen blame and repreef. In that contree growen +manye stronge vynes: and the wommen drynken wyn, and men not: and the +wommen schaven hire berdes, and the men not. + + +Of the Domes made be seynt Thomas. Of Devocyoun and Sacrifice made to + Ydoles there, in the Cytee of Calamye; and of the processioun in goynge + aboute the Cytee. + +[Sidenote: Cap. XVI.] From that contree men passen be many marches, toward +a contree, a 10 iourneyes thens, that is clept Mabaron: and it is a gret +kyngdom, and it hathe many faire cytees and townes. In that kyngdom lithe +the body of Seynt Thomas the apostle, in flesche and bon, in a faire tombe, +in the cytee of Calamyee: for there he was martyred and buryed. But men of +Assirie beeren his bodye in to mesopatayme, in to the cytee of Edisse: and +aftre, he was broughte thidre azen. And the arm and the hoond, (that he +putte in oure Lordes syde, whan he appered to him, aftre his resurrexioun, +and seyde to him, _Noli esse incredulus, sed fidelis_) is zit lyggynge in a +vesselle with outen the tombe. And be that hond thei maken alle here +juggementes, in the contree, whoso hathe righte or wrong. For whan ther is +ony dissentioun betwene 2 partyes, and every of hem meyntenethe his cause, +and seyth, that his cause is rightfulle, and that other seythe the +contrarye, thanne bothe partyes writen here causes in 2 billes, and putten +hem in the hond of seynt Thomas; and anon he castethe awey the bille of the +wrong cause, and holdethe stille the bille with the righte cause. And +therfore men comen from fer contrees to have juggement of doutable causes: +and other juggement usen thei non there. Also the chirche, where seynt +Thomas lythe, is bothe gret and fair, and alle fulle of grete simulacres: +and tho ben grete ymages, that thei clepen here goddes; of the whiche, the +leste is als gret as 2 men. And among theise othere, there is a gret ymage, +more than ony of the othere, that is alle covered with fyn gold and +precyous stones and riche perles: and that ydole is the god of false +Cristene, that han reneyed hire feythe. And it syttethe in a chayere of +gold, fulle nobely arrayed; and he hathe aboute his necke large gyrdles, +wroughte of gold and precyous stones and perles. And this chirche is fulle +richely wroughte, and alle over gylt with inne. And to that ydole gon men +on pylgrimage, als comounly and with als gret devocioun, as Cristene men +gon to seynt James, or other holy pilgrimages. And many folk that comen fro +fer londes, to seche that ydole, for the gret devocyoun that thei han, thei +loken nevere upward, but evere more down to the erthe, for drede to see ony +thing aboute hem, that scholde lette hem of here devocyoun. And summe ther +ben, that gon on pilgrimage to this ydole, that beren knyfes in hire +hondes, that ben made fulle kene and scharpe; and alle weyes, as thei gon, +thei smyten hem self in here armes and in here legges and in here thyes, +with many hydouse woundes; and so thei scheden here blood, for love of that +ydole. And thei seyn that he is blessed and holy, that dyethe so for love +of his God. And othere there ben, that leden hire children, for to sle, to +make sacrifise to that ydole; and aftre thei han slayn hem, thei spryngen +the blood upon the ydole. And summe ther ben, that comme fro ferr, and in +goynge toward this ydole, at every thrydde pas, that thei gon fro here +hows, thei knelen; and so contynuen tille thei come thidre: and whan thei +comen there, thei taken ensense and other aromatyk thinges of noble smelle, +and sensen the ydole, as we wolde don here Goddes precyouse body. And so +comen folk to worschipe this ydole, sum fro an hundred myle, and summe fro +many mo. And before the mynstre of this ydole, is a vyvere, in rmaner of a +gret lake, fulle of watre: and there in pilgrymes casten gold and sylver, +perles and precyous stones, with outen nombre, in stede of offrynges. And +whan the mynystres of that chirche neden to maken ony reparacyoun of the +chirche or of ony of the ydoles, thei taken gold and silver, perles and +precyous stones out of the vyvere, to quyten the costages of suche thing as +thei maken or reparen; so that no thing is fawty, but anon it schalle ben +amended. And zee schulle undirstonde, that whan grete festes and +solempnytees of that ydole, as the dedicacioun of the chirche, and the +thronynge of the ydole bethe, alle the contree aboute meten there to +gidere; and thei setten this ydole upon a chare with gret reverence, wel +arrayed with clothes of gold, of riche clothes of Tartarye, of Camacca, and +other precyous clothes; and thei leden him aboute the cytee with gret +solempnytee. And before the chare, gon first in processioun alle the +maydenes of the contree, 2 and 2 to gidere, fulle ordynatly. And aftre tho +maydenes, gon the pilgrymes. And summe of hem falle doun undre the wheles +of the chare, and lat the chare gon over hem; so that thei ben dede anon. +And summe han here armes or here lymes alle to broken, and summe the sydes: +and alle this don thei for love of hire god, in gret devocioun. And he +thinkethe, that the more peyne and the more tribulacioun, that thei suffren +for love of here god, the more ioye thei schulle have in another world. And +schortly to seye zou; thei suffren so grete peynes and so harde +martyrdomes, for love of here ydole, that a Cristene man, I trowe, durst +not taken upon him the tenthe part of the peyne, for love of oure Lord +Jhesu Crist. And aftre, I seye zou, before the chare, gon alle the +mynstrelles of the contrey, with outen nombre, with dyverse instrumentes; +and thei maken alle the melodye, that thei cone. And whan thei han gon alle +aboute the cytee, thanne thei retournen azen to the mynstre, and putten the +ydole azen in to his place. And thanne, for the love and in worschipe of +that ydole, and for the reverence of the feste, thei slen himself, a 200 or +300 persones, with scharpe knyfes, of the whiche thei bryngen the bodyes +before the ydole; and than thei seyn, that tho ben seyntes, because that +thei slowen hemself of here owne gode wille, for love of here ydole. And as +men here, that hadde an holy seynt of his kyn, wolde thinke, that it were +to hem an highe worschipe, right so hem thinkethe there. And as men here +devoutly wolde writen holy seyntes lyfes and here myracles, and sewen for +here canonizaciouns, righte so don thei there, for hem that sleen hem self +wilfully, for love of here ydole; and seyn, that thei ben gloriouse +martyres and seyntes, and putten hem in here wrytynges and letanyes, and +avaunten hem gretly on to another of here holy kynnesmen; that so becomen +seyntes; and seyn, I have mo holy seyntes in my kynrede, than thou in thin. +And the custome also there is this, that whan thei that han such devocioun +and entent, for to sle him self, for love of his god, thei senden for alle +here frendes, and han gret plentee of mynstrelle, and thei gon before the +ydole ledynge him, that wil sle himself for such devocioun, betwene hem +with gret reverence. And he alle naked hath a ful scharp knyf in his hond, +and he cuttethe a gret pece of his flesche and castethe it in the face of +his ydole, seyenge his orysounes, recommendynge him to his god: and than he +smytethe himself, and makethe grete woundes and depe here and there, tille +he falle doun ded. And than his frendes presenten his body to the ydole: +and than thei seyn, syngynge, Holy God, behold what thi trewe servant hath +don for the; he hathe forsaken his wif and his children and his ricchesse +and alle the godes of the worlde and his owne lyf, for the love of the, and +to make the sacrifise of his flesche and of his blode. Wherfore, Holy God, +putte him among thi beste belovede seyntes in thi blisse of paradys: for he +hathe well disserved it. And than thei maken a gret fuyr, and brennen the +body: and thanne everyche of his frendes taken a quantyte of the assches, +and kepen hem in stede of relykes, and seyn, that it is a holy thing. And +thei have no drede of no perile, whils thei han tho holy assches upon hem. +And thei putten his name in here letanyes, as a seynt. + + +Of the evylle Customs used in the Yle of Lamary: and how the Erthe and the + See ben of round Forme and schapp, be pref of the Sterre, that is clept + Antartyk, that is fix in the Southe. + +[Sidenote: Chap. XVII.] Fro that contree go men be the see occean, and be +many dyverse yles, and be many contrees, that were to longe for to telle +of. And a 52 iorneyes fro this lond, that I have spoken of, there is +another lond, that is fulle gret, that men clepen Lamary. In that lond is +fulle gret hete: and the custom there is such, that men and wommen gon alle +naked. And thei scornen, whan thei seen ony strange folk goynge clothed. +And thei seyn, that God made Adam and Eve alle naked; and that no man +scholde schame, that is of kyndely nature. And thei seyn, that thei that +ben clothed ben folk of another world, or thei ben folk, that trowen not in +God. And thei seyn, that thei beleeven in God, that formede the world, and +that made Adam and Eve, and alle other thinges. And thei wedden there no +wyfes: for all the wommen there ben commoun, and thei forsake no man. And +thei seyn, thei synnen, zif thei refusen ony man: and so God commannded to +Adam and Eve, and to alle that comen of him, whan he seyde, _Crescite et +multiplicamini, et replete terram_. And therfore may no man in that contree +seyn, this is my wyf: ne no womman may seye, this is myn husbonde. And whan +thei han children, thei may zeven hem to what man thei wole, that hathe +companyed with hem. And also all the lond is comoun: for alle that a man +holdethe o zeer, another man hathe it another zeer. And every man takethe +what part that him lykthe. And also alle the godes of the lond ben comoun, +cornes and alle other thinges: for no thing there is clept in clos, ne no +thing there is undur lok; and every man there takethe what he wole, with +outen ony contradiccioun: and als riche is o man there, as is another. But +in that contree, there is a cursed custom: for thei eten more gladly mannes +flesche, than ony other flesche: and zit is that contree habundant of +flesche, of fissche, of cornes, of gold and sylver, and of alle other +godes. Thidre gone Marchauntes, and bryngen with hem children, to selle to +hem of the contree, and thei byzen hem: and zif thei ben fatte, thei eten +hem anon; and zif thei ben lene, thei feden hem, tille thei ben fatte, and +thanne thei eten hem: and thei seyn, that it is the best flesche and the +swettest of alle the world. In that lond, ne in many othere bezonde that, +no man may see the sterre transmontane, that is clept the sterre of the +see, that is unmevable, and that is toward the northe, that we clepen the +lode sterre. But men seen another steere, the contrarie to him, that is +toward the south, that is clept Antartyk. And right as the schip men taken +here avys here, and governe hem be the lode sterre, right so don schip men +bezonde the parties, be the sterre of the southe, the whiche sterre +apperethe not to us. And this sterre, that is toward the north, that wee +clepen the lode sterre, ne apperethe not to hem. For whiche cause, men may +wel perceyve, that the lond and the see ben of rownde schapp and forme. For +the partie of the firmament schewethe in o contree, that schewethe not in +another contree. And men may well preven be experience and sotyle +compassement of wytt, that zif a man fond passages be schippes, that wolde +go to serchen the world, MEN MYGHTE GO BE SCHIPPE ALLE ABOUTE THE WORLD, +and aboven and benethen. The whiche thing I prove thus, aftre that I have +seyn. For I have ben toward the parties of Braban, and beholden the +astrolabre, that the sterre that is clept the Transmontayne, is 53 degrees +highe. And more forthere in Almayne and Bewme, it hathe 58 degrees. And +more forthe toward the parties septemtrioneles, it is 62 degrees of heghte, +and certeyn mynutes. For I my self have mesured it by the astrolabre. Now +schulle ze knowe, that azen the Transmontayne, is the tother sterre, that +is clept Antartyke; as I have seyd before. And tho 2 sterres ne meeven +nevere. And be hem turnethe alle the firmament, righte as dothe a wheel, +that turnethe be his axille tree; so that tho sterres beren the firmament +in 2 egalle parties; so that it hathe als mochel aboven, as it hathe +benethen. Aftre this, I have gon toward the parties meridionales, that is +toward the southe: and I have founden, that in Lybye, men seen first the +sterre Antartyk. And so fer I have gon more forthe in tho contrees, that I +have founde that sterre more highe; so that toward the highe Lybye, it is +18 degrees of heghte, and certeyn minutes (of the whiche, 60 minutes maken +a degree). After goynge be see and be londe, toward this contree, of that I +have spoke, and to other yles and londes bezonde that contree, I have +founden the sterre Antartyk of 33 degrees of heghte, and mo mynutes. And +zif I hadde had companye and schippynge, for to go more bezonde, I trowe +wel in certeyn, that wee scholde have seen alle the roundnesse of the +firmament alle aboute. For as I have seyd zou be forn, the half of the +firmament is betwene tho 2 sterres: the whiche halfondelle I have seyn. And +of the tother halfondelle, I have seyn toward the north, undre Transmontane +62 degrees and 10 mynutes; and toward the partie meridionalle, I have seen +undre the Antartyk 33 degrees and 16 mynutes: and thanne the halfondelle of +the firmament in alle, ne holdethe not but 180 degrees. And of tho 180, I +have seen 62 on that o part, and 33 on that other part, that ben 95 +degrees, and nyghe the halfondelle of a degree; and so there ne faylethe +but that I have seen alle the firmament, saf 84 degrees and the halfondelle +of a degree; and that is not the fourthe part of the firmament. For the 4 +partie of the roundnesse of the firmament holt 90 degrees: so there +faylethe but 5 degrees and an half, of the fourthe partie. And also I have +seen the 3 parties of alle the roundnesse of the firmament, and more zit 5 +degrees and an half. Be the which I seye zou certeynly, that men may +envirowne alle the erthe of alle the world, as wel undre as aboven, and +turnen azen to his contree, that hadde companye and schippynge and conduyt: +and alle weyes he scholde fynde men, londes, and yles, als wel as in this +contree. For zee wyten welle, that thei that ben toward the Antartyk, thei +ben streghte, feet azen feet of hem, that dwellen undre the transmontane; +als wel as wee and thei that dwellyn undre us, ben feet azenst feet. For +alle the parties of see and of lond han here appositees, habitable or +trepassables, and thei of this half and bezond half. And wytethe wel, that +aftre that, that I may parceyve and comprehend, the londes of Pestre John, +Emperour of Ynde, ben undre us. For in goynge from Scotland or from England +toward Jerusalem, men gon upward alweys. For oure lond is in the lowe +partie of the erthe, toward the west: and the lond of Prestre John is the +lowe partie of the erthe, toward the est: and thei han there the day, whan +wee have the nyghte, and also highe to the contrarie, thei han the nyghte, +whan wee han the day. For the erthe and the see ben of round form and +schapp, as I have seyd beforn. And that that men gon upward to o cost, men +gon dounward to another cost. Also zee have herd me seye, that Jerusalem is +in the myddes of the world; and that may men preven and schewen there, be a +spere, that is pighte in to the erthe, upon the hour of mydday, whan it is +equenoxium, that schewethe no schadwe on no syde. And that it scholde ben +in the myddes of the world, David wytnessethe it in the psautre, where he +seythe, _Des operatus est salutem in medie Terre_. Thanne thei that parten +fro the parties of the west, for to go toward Jerusalem, als many iorneyes +as thei gon upward for to go thidre, in als many iorneyes may thei gon fro +Jerusalem unto other confynyes of the superficialtie of the erthe bezonde. +And whan men gon bezonde tho iourneyes, toward Ynde and to the foreyn yles, +alle is envyronynge the roundnesse of this erthe and of the see, undre oure +contrees on this half. And therfore hathe it befallen many tymes of o +thing, that I have herd cownted, whan I was zong; how a worthi man departed +somtyme from oure contrees, for to go serche the world. And so he passed +Ynde, and the yles bezonde Ynde, where ben mo than 5000 yles: and so longe +he wente be see and lond, and so enviround the world be many seysons, that +he fond an yle, where he herde speke his owne langage, callynge an oxen in +the plowghe, suche wordes as men speken to bestes in his owne contree: +whereof he hadde gret mervayle: for he knewe not how it myghte be. But I +seye, that he had gon so longe, be londe and be see, that he had envyround +alle the erthe, that he was comen azen envirounynge, that is to seye, +goynge aboute, unto his owne marches, zif he wolde have passed forthe, til +he had founden his contree and his owne knouleche. Bur he turned azen from +thens, from whens he was come fro; and so he loste moche peynefulle labour, +as him self seyde, a gret while aftre, that he was comen hom. For it +befelle aftre, that he wente in to Norweye; and there tempest of the see +toke him; and he arryved in an yle; and whan he was in that yle, he knew +wel, that it was the yle, where he had herd speke his owne langage before, +and the callynge of the oxen at the plowghe: and that was possible thinge. +But how it semethe to symplemen unlerned, that men ne mowe not go undre the +erthe, and also that men scholde falle toward the hevene, from undre! But +that may not be, upon lesse, than wee mowe falle toward hevene, fro the +erthe, where wee ben. For fro what partie of the erthe, that men duelle, +outher aboven or benethen, it semethe alweys to hem that duellen, that thei +gon more righte than ony other folk. And righte as it semethe to us, that +thei ben undre us, righte so it semethe hem, that wee ben undre hem. For +zif a man myghte falle fro the erthe unto the firmament: be grettere +resoun, the erthe and the see, that ben so grete and so hevy, scholde +fallen to the firmament: but that may not be: and therfore seithe oure Lord +God, _Non timeas me, qui suspendi Terram ex nichilo?_ And alle be it that +it be possible thing, that men may so envyrone alle the world, natheles of +a 1000 persones, on ne myghte not happen to returnen in to his contree. +For, for the gretnesse of the erthe and of the see, men may go be a 1000 +and a 1000 other weyes, that no man cowde redye him perfitely toward the +parties that he cam fro, but zif it were be aventure and happ, or be the +grace of God. For the erthe is fulle large and fulle gret, and holt in +roundnesse and aboute envyroun, be aboven and be benethen 20425 myles, +aftre the opynyoun of the olde wise astronomeres. And here seyenges I +repreve noughte. But aftre my lytylle wytt, it semethe me, savynge here +reverence, that it is more. And for to have bettere understondynge, I seye +thus, Be ther ymagyned a figure, that hathe a gret compas, and aboute the +poynt of the gret compas, that is clept the centre, be made another litille +compas: then aftre, be the gret compas devised be lines in manye parties; +and that alle the lynes meeten at the centre; so that in as many parties, +as the grete compas schal be departed, in als manye schalle be departed the +litille, that is aboute the centre, alle be it that the spaces ben lesse. +Now thanne, be the gret compas represented for the firmament, and the +litille compas represented for the erthe. Now thanne the firmament is +devysed, be astronomeres, in 12 signes; and every signe is devysed in 30 +degrees, that is 360 degrees, that the firmament hathe aboven. Also, be the +erthe devysed in als many parties as the firmament; and lat every partye +answere to a degree of the firmament: and wytethe it wel, that aftre the +auctoures of astronomye, 700 fulonges of erthe answeren to a degree of the +firmament; and tho ben 87 myles and 4 furlonges. Now be that here +multiplyed by 360 sithes; and than thei ben 31500 myles, every of 8 +furlonges, aftre myles of oure contree. So moche hathe the erthe in +roundnesse, and of heght enviroun, aftre myn opynyoun and myn +undirstondynge. And zee schulle undirstonde, that aftre the opynyoun of +olde wise philosophres and astronomeres, oure contree ne Irelond ne Wales +ne Scotlond ne Norweye ne the other yles costynge to hem, ne ben not in the +superficialte cownted aboven the erthe: as it schewethe be alle the bokes +of astronomye. For the superficialtee of the erthe is departed in 7 +parties, for the 7 planetes: and tho parties ben clept clymates. And oure +parties be not of the 7 clymates; for thei ben descendynge toward the west. +And also these yles of Ynde, which beth even azenst us, beth noght reckned +in the climates; for thei ben azenst us, that ben in the lowe contree. And +the 7 clymates strecchen hem envyrounynge the world. + + +Of the Palays of the Kyng of the Yle of Java. Of the Trees, that beren + Mele, Hony, Wyn and Venym; and of othere Mervayilles and Customes, used + in the Yles marchinge thereabouten. + +[Sidenote: Cap. XVIII.] Besyde that yle that I have spoken of, there is +another yle, that is clept Sumobor, that is a gret yle: and the kyng +thereof is righte myghty. The folk of that yle maken hem alweys to ben +marked in the visage with an hote yren, bothe men and wommen, for gret +noblesse, for to ben knowen from other folk. For thei holden hem self most +noble and most worthi of alle the world. And thei han werre alle weys with +the folk that gon alle naked. And faste besyde is another yle, that is +clept Betemga, that is a gode yle and a plentyfous. And many other yles ben +there about; where ther ben many of dyverse folk: of the whiche it were to +longe to speke of alle. + +But fast besyde that yle, for to passe be see, is a gret yle a gret +contree, that men clepen Java: and it is nyghe 2000 myle in circuyt. And +the kyng of that contree is a fulle gret lord and a ryche and a myghty, and +hathe undre him 7 other kynges of 7 other yles abouten hym. This yle is +fulle wel inhabyted, and fulle wel manned. There growen alle maner of +spicerie, more plentyfous liche than in ony other contree; as of gyngevere, +clowegylofres, canelle, zedewalle, notemuges and maces. And wytethe wel, +that the notemuge berethe the maces. For righte as the note of the haselle +hathe an husk with outen, that the note is closed in, til it be ripe, and +aftre fallethe out; righte so it is of the notemuge and of the maces. Manye +other spices and many other godes growen in that yle. For of alle thing is +there plenty, saf only of wyn: but there is gold and silver gret plentee. +And the kyng of that contree hathe a paleys fulle noble and fulle +marveyllous, and more riche than ony in the world. For alle the degrez to +gon up into halles and chambres, ben on of gold, another of sylver. And +also the pavmentes of halles and chambres ben alle square, on of gold and +another of sylver: and alle the walles with inne ben covered with gold and +sylver, in fyn plates: and in tho plates ben stories and batayles of +knyghtes enleved. And the crounes and the cercles abouten here hedes ben +made of precious stones and riche perles and grete. And the halles and the +chambres of the palays ben alle covered with inne with gold and sylver: so +that no man wolde trowe the richesse of that palays, but he had seen it. +And witethe wel, that the kyng of that yle is so myghty, that he hathe many +tymes overcomen the grete Cane of Cathay in bataylle, that is the most gret +emperour that is undre the firmament, outher bezonde the see or on this +half. For thei han had often tyme werre betwene hem, be cause that the +grete cane wolde constreynen him to holden his lond of him: but that other +at alle tymes defendethe him wel azenst him. + +Aftre that yle, in goynge be see, men fynden another yle, gode and gret, +that men clepen Pathen, that is a gret kyngdom, fulle of faire cytees and +fulle of townes. In that lond growen trees, that beren mele, wherof men +maken gode bred and white, and of gode savour; and it semethe as it were of +whete, but it is not allynges of suche savour. And there ben other trees, +that beren hony, gode and swete: and other trees, that beren venym; azenst +the whiche there is no medicyne but on; and that is to taken here propre +leves, and stampe hem and tempere hem with watre, and then drynke it: and +elle he schalle dye; for triacle will not avaylle, ne non other medicyne. +Of this venym, the Jewes had let seche of on of here frendes, for to +empoysone alle Cristiantee, as I have herd hem seye in here confessioun, +before here dyenge. But thanked be alle myghty God, thei fayleden of hire +purpos: but alle weys thei maken gret mortalitee of people. And other trees +there ben also, that beren wyn of noble sentement. And zif zou like to here +how the mele comethe out of the trees, I shalle seye zou. Men hewen the +trees with an hatchet, alle aboute the fote of the tree, tille that the +bark be parted in many parties; and than comethe out ther of a thikke +lykour, the whiche thei resceyven in vesselles, and dryen it at the hete of +the sonne; and than thei han it to a mylle to grynde; and it becomethe +faire mele and white. And the hony and the wyn and the venym ben drawen out +of other trees, in the same manere, and put in veselles for to kepe. In +that yle is a ded see, that is a lake, that hathe no ground. And zif ony +thing falle in to that lake, it schalle nevere comen up azen. In that lake +growen redes, that ben cannes, that thei clepen thaby, that ben 30 fadme +long. And of theise canes men maken faire houses. And ther ben other canes, +that ben not so longe, that growen neer the lond, and han so longe rotes, +that duren wel a 4 quartres of a furlong or more; and at the knottes of tho +rotes, men fynden precious stones, that han gret vertues: and he that +berethe ony of hem upon him, yren ne steel ne may not hurt him, ne drawe no +blood upon him: and therfore thei that han tho stones upon hem, fighten +fulle hardyly, bothe on see and lond: for men may not harmen hem on no +partye. And therfore thei that knowen the manere, and schulle fighten with +hem, thei schoten to hem arwes and quarrelles with outen yren or steel; and +so thei hurten hem and sleen hem. And also of tho cannes, thei maken houses +and schippes and other thinges; as wee han here, makynge houses and +schippes of oke or of ony other trees. And deme no man, that I seye it, but +for a truffulle: for I have seen of the cannes with myn owne eyzen fulle +many tymes lyggynge upon the ryvere of that lake: of the whiche, 20 of oure +felowes ne myghten not liften up ne beren on to the erthe. + +Aftre this yle, men gon be see to another yle, that is clept Calonak: and +it is a fair lond and a plentifous of godes. And the kyng of that contrey +hath als many wyfes as he wole; for he makethe serche alle the contree, to +geten him the fairest maydens that may ben founde, and makethe hem to ben +broughte before him; and he takethe on o nyght, and another another nyght, +and so forthe contynuelle sewyng; so that he hath a 1000 wyfes or mo. And +he liggethe never but o nyght with on of hem, and another nyght with +another, but zif that on happene to ben more lusty to his plesance than +another. And therfore the kyng getethe fully many children; sum tyme an +100, sum tyme an 200, and sum tyme mo. And he hathe also into a 14000 +olifauntz or mo, that he makethe for to ben brought up amonges his +vileynes, be alle his townes. For in cas that he had ony werre azenst any +other kyng aboute him, thanne he makethe certeyn men of armes for to gon up +in to the castelles of tree, made for the werre, that craftily ben sett up +on the olifantes bakkes, for to fyghten azen hire enemyes: and so don other +kynges there aboute. For the maner of werre is not there, as it is here or +in other contrees; ne the ordinance of werre nouther. And men clepen the +olifantes, warkes. + +And in that yle there is a gret marvayle, more to speke of than in ony +other partie of the world. For alle manere of fissches, that ben there in +the see abouten hem, comen ones in the zeer, eche manere of dyverse +fissches, on maner of kynde aftre other; and thei casten hem self to the +see banke of that yle, so gret plentee and multitude, that no man may +unnethe see but fissche; and there thei abyden 3 dayes: and every man of +the contree takethe of hem, als many as him lykethe: And aftre, that maner +of fissche, after the thridde day, departethe and gothe into the see. And +aftre hem, comen another multitude of fyssche of another kynde, and don in +the same maner as the firste diden other 3 dayes. And aftre hem, another; +tille alle the dyverse maner of fissches han ben there, and that men han +taken of hem, that hem lykethe. And no man knowethe the cause wherfore it +may ben. But thei of the contree seyn, that it is for to do reverence to +here kyng, that is the most worthi kyng, that is in the world, as thei +seyn; because that he fulfillethe the comandement, that God bad to Adam and +Eve, whan God seyde, _Crescite et multplicamini et replete terram_. And for +because that he multipliethe so the world with children, therfore God +sendethe him so the fissches of dyverse kyndes, of alle that ben in the +see, to taken at his wille, for him and alle his peple. And therfore alle +the fissches of the see comen, to maken him homage, as the most noble and +excellent kyng of the world, and that is best beloved with God, als thei +seyn. I knowe not the resoun, whi it is; but God knowethe. But this, me +semethe, is the moste marveylle, that evere I saughe. For this mervaylle is +azenst kynde, and not with kynde, that the fissches, that han fredom to +enviroun alle the costes of the see, at here owne list, comen of hire owne +wille to profren hem to the dethe, with outen constreynynge of man: and +therfore I am syker, that this may not ben, with outen a gret tokene. + +There ben also in that contree a kynde of snayles, that ben so grete, that +many persones may loggen hem in here schelles, as men wolde done in a +litylle hous. And other snayles there ben, that ben fulle grete, but not so +huge as the other. And of theise snayles, and of gret white wormes, that +han blake hedes, that ben als grete as a mannes thighe, and somme lesse, as +grete wormes that men fynden there in wodes, men maken vyaunde rialle, for +the kyng and for other grete lordes. And zif a man, that is maryed, dye in +that contree, men buryen his wif with him all quyk. For men seyn there, +that it is resoun, that sche make him companye in that other world, as sche +did in this. + + +CAPVT. 30. + +De Regnis Cynocephalorum, et alijs Insulis. + +Per mare oceanum potest hinc veniri in Insulam Kaffa: [Marginal note: Vel +Caffeles.] quicunque ibi infirmari videtur ad mortem, suspenditur ad +arborem, antequam moriatur, vt non ab immundis terrę vermibus, sed a coeli +auibus, quas reputant Dei Angelos, comedatur. + +In alia insula faciunt suos infirmos ante mortem ab eductis in hoc magnis +canibus strangulari, manducantes in conuiuio carnes pro optimo ferculo +venationis. + +Interpositis quoque multis Insulis, de quibus subticeo gratia breuitatis, +habetur Insula Mylke, [Marginal note: Vel Mekke.] et hij videntur omnium +hominum crudelissimi; Nam quilibet particularitčr pro leui et modica +stimulatione, vulnerat, sauciat, et occidit, proximum, vicinum et amicum: +Et si quando dissidentes contigerit concordari, non habebitur pax rata, +nisi quisque de alterius sanguine biberit bonum haustum. + +Hinc nauigando per multas et diuersas Insulas, qui in singulas intrare, et +moram trahere voluerit, stupenda multa videbit, et poterit venire in +Insulam Tracoide. [Marginal Note: Vel Traceda.] + +Illic sunt homines ąbsque vllo ingenio penitus bestiales, serpentibus, +vermibusque vescentes, nec inuicem loquentes, sed conceptus suos signis et +indicijs ostendentes. Diligunt preciosos lapides tantummodo pulchritudinis +gratia, non causa virtutis: et super omnes vnum diligunt lapidem habentem +60. colorum varietates, qui et Tracoides vocatur propter ipsos. + +Intratur hinc per Oceanum in regionem Niconoram, vel Nacumeram, habentem in +circuitu spacium mille leucarum: omnes ibi geniti homines habent capita ad +formam canum, vnde et in Gręco Cynocephali dicuntur. Isti etiam incedunt +nudis corporibus, excepto parui panniculi operimento, secretiora loca et +posteriora retro tegente. Rationabiles tamen multum sunt hij, et plurimum +virtuosi, ac de omni forefacto rigidam iustitiam exercentes. Sunt statura +elegantes, robusti corpore, in pręlijs lanceam cum tergia lata gerentes, +virilitérque, et prudentčr pugnantes. Omnes pro deo adorant bouem, vnde et +quilibet in fronte argenteam seu auream similitudinem bouis defert, et si +quem viuum in pręlio ceperint, sine vlla miseratione manducant. + +Rex multum est diues et potens, ac deuotus in superstitione. Nam circa +collum gestat trecentas orientales margaritas, quibus quotidič antč +commestionem orationes suas colligit, quemadmodum nos colligimus, Pater +noster, etc. Ac pręterea portat ad collum [Marginal note: Siue +carbunculum.] rubetum orientalem, nobilem, purum, pulchrum, resplendentem, +et summč preciosum, ad longitudinem pedis humani, quem habet diligentčr +seruare, quod dum eo caret non tenetur pro Rege. + +Pro isto carbunculo Grand Can Imperator, per ingenium, per insidias, per +precium, et per pręlium sępč laborauit, sed nihil profecit. Post istam +apparet insula Syllan, habens leucas de circuitu 80. quę paucos habet +homines propter multitudinem draconum, serpentum, crocodilorum in ea. Sunt +autem crocodili speciales serpentes, coloris virgulati de croceo et nigro, +cum quatuor cruribus, et tibijs et latis pedum vngulis. Aliqui horum habent +longitudinem quķnque tensarum, aut citrą, qui dum tendunt per arenosa +relinquunt signum semitę, acsi sit ibi tractus grandis arboris truncus. + +Item in hac insula habetur nons altus, et in sui vertice satis altus et +distentus et magnus aquę lacus, de quo et stulti homines fabulantur, quņd +primi parentes post eiectionem suam, illam aquam primņ lacrymauerunt. In +huius fundo lacus nascuntur margaritę, et habentur semper lapides preciosi. +Solentque pauperes terrę, accepta ą Rege licentia, semel in anno ingredi, +ac piscari gemmas, qui intrantes vngunt se succo Lymonsę, contra hirudines, +colubros, et serpentes. Sed et de lacu effluit riuulus per montis +descensum, in quo nonnunquam margaritę inueniuntur, et gemmę: dicunt etiam +ibi nullum venenatum animal nocere aduenis. + +Ibi videntur leones albi in mira magnitudine boum nostrorum, et multę +diuersę bestię, et aues, bestiolę, et auiculę aliarum specierum quąm in +partibus istis. Nam ibi et in nonnullis alijs insulis vidi vnum mirum, de +quo prius vix credidissem narranti, videlicet anates cum duobus capitibus. + +Et sciatis quņd tam hic quam alibi mare apparet satis altius suo littore, +imo qui a remotis aspicit videt suspensum quasi ad nubes. Et de hoc +admiratus fuissem, nisi quod scriptum sciui mirabiles elationes maris. + + +CAPVT. 31. + +De multis alijs Insulis Meridionalibus, de quibus et Plinius, et Munsterus. + +Versus meridien hinc legendo per mare, inuenitur regio speciosa nomine +Doudin: [Marginal note: Vel Doudeia.] cuius rex imperat seu principatur 54. +regibus in circuitu insularum. + +Dum quis hic infirmatur tendit proximus ad Idolum sciscitans an morietur, +et si respondit non, addit et dicere medicinam qua curabitur: si autem +responderit moriturum, statim conuocatis amicis occiditur, et cum +symphonia, et solemnitate comedunt eius carnes, ossa tantummodņ +sepelientes. In Insulis verņ circumiacentibus, habentur incredibilitčr +diuersę gentes. Nam vna habet homines enormis magnitudinis, cum solo in +medio frontis oculo, qui absque vllo condimento manducant carnes et pisces. + +Alia Insula habet homines aspectu deformes, nihil autem colli aut capitis +ostendentes, vnde et Acephali nuncupantur: oculos autem habent ante ad +scapulas, et in loco pectoris os apertum ad formam ferri, quo nostri +caballi fręnantur. + +In alia Insula sunt gentes planis faciebus absque eleuatione nasorum, et +palpebratum cum paruis foraminibus oculorum, et scissura modica oris. Et in +alia gentes cum superiore oris labio ita lato et amplo, vt, dum velint, +totam faciem de illo tegant. + +Alia generat homines paruę saturę cum oris foramine sic paruo, vt per +fistulas alimentum, et potum sumant, et quoniam carent lingua et dentibus, +monstrant per naturalia signa conceptus. Et aliqui sunt homines debitę +quidem staturę, et formę, nisi quņd habent pedes equķnos, quibus ita sunt +prępetes, vt syluestres bestias capiant, quas comedunt, et manducant. + +In alia homines sunt toti pilosi et hispidi, vsu simiarum manibus et +pedibus ambulantes, et ad arbores reptantes, qui quamuis non loquuntur, +apparent rationabiles, qui regem habent, et rectores. + +Et in alia omnes sunt claudi, qui quamuis pedes habeant, tamen ambulant +super genua multum ridiculosč, imņ miserabiliter, vt de passu in passum +videantur casuri in terrem. Et in quadam, sexum tam masculinum, quąm +foeminieum habentes, qui dum masculino vtuntur generant, dum foeminino, +impregnantur et pariunt. Atque, in compendio multa concludam, in singulis +54. insularum inueniuntur homines, forma, statura, actibus et moribus +singulis ab inuicem differentes, de quibus potest fieri descriptio, quam +pertranseo gratia breuitatis, et causa incredulitatis fortč quorundum +audientium. + +In istis autem meridionalibus partibus apparebat mihi eleuatio poli +Antarctici 33. graduum, cum 16. minutis. Et sciendum quod in Bohemia, +similitčr in Anglia eleuatur polus Arcticus 52. gradibus vel citra: Et in +partibus magis septentrionalibus, vbi sunt Scoti 62. gradibus cum quatuor +minutis. Ex quo patet respiciendo ad latitudinem coeli, quę est de polo ad +polum, quod itineratio mea fuit per quartum Horizontis spherę terrę et +vltra, per quinque gradus, cum 20. minutis. Cum ergņ secundum Astrologos, +totus terrę circuitus sit 31500. milliarium, octo stadijs pro milliario +computatis, et septinginta stadia respondeant ad vnum gradum, quod patet ad +latitudinem terrę, perambulaui 66733. stadia cum vno tertio, quę faciunt +4170. leucas Geometricas cum dimidia vel propč. + + +CAPVT. 32. + +De bona Regione Man chus. [Footnote: Mangi.] + +Cum igitur tot et talsa in istis Insulis vidimus monstra (quę si explicarem +scribendo vix ą legentibus omnia crederentur) non curauimus vlterius +procedere sub polo australi, ne in maiora pericula incideremus: sed proptčr +auditam et inuisam nobis famositatem potentię, nobilitatis, et glorię +Imperatoris Tartarorum, vertebam faciem cum socijs nauigare magis versus +Orientem. Cumque per multas diętas sustinuissemus multa pericula maris, +peruenimus in Regnum Manchus, [Marginal Note: Vel Mangi.] quod est in +confinibus superioris Indię, et iungitur ab vna parte Tartarię. Hęc Regio +Manchus, pro sui quantitate reputatur melior, delectabilior, et omnium +bonorum abundantior de cunctis ibi propč Regionibus. Nam et homines bestię, +et volucres maiores et corpulentiores sunt alijs, et prę vbertate vix +inuenirentur in vna ciuitate decem mendici. Formosi sunt viri, sed feminę +formosiores. Sed viri loco barbę, habent perpaucos pilos, rigidos, et +longos ab vtraque oris parte, quemadmodum nostros videmus cattos habere. + +Prima quam ingrediebaumer ciuitąs est Lachori, [Marginal Note: Siue +Lateryn.] distans vna dieta ą mari, et mirabamur, et gauisi sumus nos +inuenisse integram ciuitatem Christianę fidei. Nam et maior pars Regni +credit in Christum. + +Ibi habetur in leui precio copia rerum omnium, et pręcipuč victualium: vnum +genus est ibi serpentum in abundantia quod manducant ad omne conuiuium, et +nisi pro finali ferculo ministraretur de illis serpentibus, conuiuium quąm +modicum diceretur. + +Suntque per hoc regnum pleręque ciuitates et Ecclesię, et relligiones, quas +instituit dux Ogerus, quia hoc est vnum de quindecim regnis quę quęsiuit, +sicut infra dicetur. + +Illic sunt elegantes albę gallinę, quę non vestiuntur plumis vt nostraę, +sed optima lana. Canes aquatici, quos nos lutras nominamus, sunt ibi multi +edomiti, quņd quoties mittuntur in flumen, exportant domino piscem. + +Ab hoc loco per aliquas diętas, venitur ad huius regionis maximam vrbem +Cansay, hoc est dicere ciuitatem coeli, imo de vniuerso orbe terrarum +putatur hęc maxima Ciuitatum; nam eius circuitus 50. leucis est mensus, nec +est facile dicere, quąm, compressč a quamplurimis populis inhabitatur. Hęc +sedet in lacu maris, quemadmodum, et Venetię: et habentur in ea plures quąm +mille ducenti pontes, et in quolibet turres mirę magnitudinis, ac +fortitudinis, munitę peruigķli custodia, et pro vrbe tuenda contra +Imperatorem Grand Can. + +Multi sunt ibi Christiani, et multę Religiones Christianorum, sed et de +ordinibus Minorum, et prędicatorum, qui tamen ibi non mendicant; est magna +pluralitas ex diuersis nationibus Mercatorum. Per Regionem nascitur vinum +valdč bonum, quod appellatur Bigon. Et ad leucam extra ciuitatem, Abbatia +magna est, non de religione Christiana sed Pagana: et in ea forrestum, siue +hortus magnus vndķque circumclusus, consitus arboribus, et arbustis, in +cuius etiam medio mons, altus simul et latus, habens hortum vbi solum +inhabitant bestiolę mirabiles, sicut Simię, marmotę, Lanbon, papiones, +foreti et huiusmodi ad varia et multa genera, et ad numerum infinitum. + +Omni autem die post refectionem conuentus Abbatię, qui est valdč +monachosus, deferuntur reliquię ciborum cum magno additamento, in vasis +auro lucentibus ad hunc hortum: et ad sonitum campanę argenteę, quam +Eleemosynarius manu gestat descendentes, et occurrentes de bestiolis duo +millia aut plures sese componunt residere ad circulum more pauperum +mendicorum, et traditur singulis per seruos aliquid de his cibarijs, ac +denuņ audita campana segregando recurrunt: Cumque nos tanquam redarguentes, +diceremus, cur hęc non darentur egenis, responderunt, illic pauperes non +habentur, quod si inuenirentur, potius tamen dari deberent bestiolis. Habet +enim eorum perfidia, et Paganissimus, animas nobilium hominum post mortem +ingredi corpora nobilium bestiarum, et animas ignobilium corpora bestiarum +ignobilium et vilium, ad luenda videlicet crimina, donec peracta +poenitentia transeant in Paradisum: ideoque nutriunt, prout dicunt, has +nobiliores bestias, siue bestiolas, quņd a quibusdam nobilibus fundabatur +in principio hęc Abbatia. Multa sunt alia mira in hac ciuitate, de quibus +sciatis, quod non omnia vobis recitabo. + + +CAPVT. 33. + +De Pygmęis, et de itinere vsque in prouinciam Cathay. + +Eundo per Regionem eandem ą dicta ciuitate Cansay, ad sex dietas venitur ad +nobilem vrbem Tylenso, [Marginal Note: Vel Chezolo.] cuius muri per +circuitum tendunt ad spacium 20. leucarum: [Marginal Note: Vel Miliarium.] +et sunt 60. petrini pontes, quibus nullos memini pulchriores. + +In ista fuit prima sedes regni Mangi, nec immeritņ, cum sit munita, +delectabilis, et abundans omnibus bonis, ac deinde in predicta Cansay, nunc +autem tenetur in quadam alia ciuitate. + +Nota, quilibet ignis soluit quolibet anno vnum balis pro tributo, quod +valet vnum florenum cum dimidio, sed omnes famuli de domo vna pro vno igne +computantur: summa ignium tributalium, octies centum millia. Reliqui verņ +Christiani mercatores, in isto vico non computantur. Copia est ibi +victualium. + +Quatuor fratres minores vnum potentem conuertebant apud quem hospitabar, et +qui duxit me ad Abbatiam istam, ibi vidi scilicet quod hic narratur. + +Ad fines itaque regni Mangi transitur grandis fluuius de Dylay, [Marginal +note: Vel de Delay.] maius flumen mundi, vbi strictius est continet septem +miliaria Odericus: cuius alueus in loco districtiori continet quatuor +leucas. Et ex hoc in breui temporis spacio intratur Imperium Tartarorum, +sequendo fluuium vsque in terram Pygmeorum, per cuius medium transit. + +Hij Pygmei sunt homines statura breues ad longitudinem nostri brachij, seu +trium manuum expansarum. Tam mares quam feminę formosę et gratiosę, et +viuunt communiter ad annos sex vel septem: si qui pertingunt ad octo, mire +putantur senectutis. Ad dimidiam anni ętatem nubere possunt, in secundo +anno parturiunt: rationalis sunt, et sensati iuxta ętatem pusillam, ac +satis ingeniosi ad opera de serico, et de lana arboris. Frequentčr +pręliantur contra aues grandes patrię, exercitibus congregatis hinc inde, +et fit strages vtrimque. Hęc gens tam parua optimč operatur sericum et +bombycem. Isti Pygmei venerunt mihi obuiam chorizando. Non laborant terram, +prędia, seu vineas, sed morantur inter eos nostrę quantitatis homines, qui +eos incolunt, sicut serui, quos et Pygmęi sępč derident, quia sunt ipsis +maiores: et quod ipse non cesso mirari dum dicti homines in illa terra +generant vel pariunt, non crescit proles supra Pygmęi staturam: Insula non +est protensa, sed fortč 12. ciuitatum. Quarum vna est grandis, et bene +munita, et quam Grand Can facit cum fortibus armaturis curiosč seruari, +contra regem Mangi. + +Hinc proceditur per Imperium Grand Can, ad multas ciuitates, et villas +morum mirabiliter diuersorum, vsque in regnum Iamchan, quod est vnum de 12. +prouincijs maximis, quibus distinguitur totum Imperium Tartarorum. + +Nobilior ciuitas huius Regni seu Prouincię dicitur Iamchan, abundans +mercimonijs, et diuitijs infinitis, et multa pręstans proprio Regi tributa, +quoniam sicut illi de ciuitate fatentur, valet annuč regi quinquaginta +milia cuman florenorum auri. + +Nota. In Iamchan ciuitate est conuentus fratrum minorum: in hac sunt tres +Ecclesię Monasteriorum: reditus simul ascendit ad 12. cuman. Odericus +dixit, Vnus cuman est decem millium. Summa tributi annui, quinquaginta +milia millium Florenorum. In illis namque partibus magnus numerorum summas +estimant per cuman, numerum 10. millium qui et in Flamingo dicitur laste. + +Ad quinque leucas ab hac ciuitate est alia dicta Meke, in qua fiunt de +quodam albissimi genere ligni naues maxtimę cum aulis et thalamis, ac +multis ędificijs, tanquam Palatium tellure fundatum. + +Inde per idem regnum ad viam octo dietarum per aquam dulcem, multas per +ciuitates, et bonas villas, venimus Laucherim, [Marginal note: Siue +Lanterin.] (Odericus appellat Leuyim,) vrbem formosam opumque magnarum, +sitam super flumen magnum Cacameran. [Marginal note: Vel Caremoron.] Hoc +flumen transit per medium Cathay, cui aqua infert damnum, quando nimis +inundat, sicut palus in Ferraria, Mogus in Herbipoli: et illud sequentes +intrauimus principalem prouinciam Imperij Tartarię, dictam Cathay Calay: et +ista prouincia est multum distenta, ac plena ciuitatibus, et oppidis bonis, +et magnis omnibusque referta mercimonijs, maximč sericosis operibus, et +aromaticis speciebus. + +Nauigando per dictum flumen versus Orientem, et itinerando per hanc Cathay +prouinciam ad multas dietas per plurimas vrbes et villas, venitur in +ciuitatem Sugarmago, [Marginal note: Engarmago.] abundantiorem omnibus in +mercemoniis antedictis, quando sericum est hic vilissimum: quadragintę +librę habentur ibi pro decem florenis. + +Ab hac ciuitate, multis ciuitatibtus peregratis versus Orientem, veni ad +ciuitatem Cambalu, quę est antiqua in prouincia Cathay: Hanc postquam +Tartari ceperunt, ad dimidium miliare fecerunt vnam ciuitatem nomine Caydo, +et habet duodecim portas, et ą porta in portam duo sunt grossa miliaria +Lombardica, spacium inter medium istarum ciuitatum habitatoribus plenum +est, et circuitus cuiuslibet istarum ambit 60. miliaria Lombardica, quę +faciunt octo Teutonica. + +In hac ciuitate Cambalu residet Imperator Magnus Can, Rex Regum +terrestrium, et Dominus Dominorum terrestrium. Atque indč vlterius in +Orientem intratur vetus vrbs Caydo, vbi communiter tenet suam sedem +Imperialem Grand Can in suo palatio. Ambitus autem vrbis Caydo, est viginti +ferč leucarum, duodecim habens portas ą se distantes ampliłs quąm stadia +24. + + +The English Version. + +From that contree, men gon be the see occean, be an yle that is clept +Caffolos. Men of that contree, whan here frendes ben seke, thei hangen hem +upon trees; and seyn, that it is bettre, that briddes, that ben angeles of +God, eten hem, than the foule wormes of the erthe. + +From that yle men gon to another yle, where the folk ben of fulle cursed +kynde: for thei norysschen grete dogges, and techen hem to strangle here +frendes, whan thei ben syke: for thei wil noughte, that thei dyen of +kyndely dethe: for thei seyn, that thei scholde suffren to gret peyne, zif +thei abyden to dyen be hem self, as nature wolde: and whan thei ben thus +enstrangled, thei eten here flesche, in stede of venysoun. + +Aftreward men gon be many yles be see, unto an yle, that men clepen Milke: +and there is a fulle cursed peple: for thei delyten in ne thing more, than +for to fighten and to sle men. And thei drynken gladlyest mannes blood, the +whiche thei clepen dieu. And the mo men that a man may slee, the more +worschipe he hathe amonges hem. And zif 2 persones ben at debate, and +peraventure ben accorded be here frendes or be sumn of here alliance, it +behovethe that every of hem, that schulle ben accorded, drynke of otheres +blood: and elle the accord ne the alliance is noghte worthe, ne it schalle +not be ne repref to him to breke the alliance and the accord, but zif every +of hem drynke of otheres blood. + +And from that yle, men gon be see, from yle to yle, unto an yle, that is +clept Tracoda; where the folk of that contree ben as bestes and +unresonable, and duellen in caves, that thei maken in the erthe; for thei +have no wytt to maken hem houses. And whan thei seen ony man passynge +thorghe here contrees, thei hyden hem in here caves. And thei eten flesche +of serpentes; and thei eten but litille, and thei speken nought; but thei +hissen, as serpentes don. And thei sette no prys be no richesse, but only +of a precyous ston, that is amonges hem, that is of 60 coloures. And for +the name of the yle, thei clepen it Tracodon. And thei loven more that +ston, than ony thing elle: and zit thei knowe not the vertue thereof: but +thei coveyten it and loven it only for the beautee. + +Aftre that yle, men gon be the see occean, be many yles, unto an yle, that +is clept Nacumera; that is a gret yle and good and fayr: and it is in +kompas aboute, more than a 1000 myle. And alle the men and wommen of that +yle han houndes hedes: and thei ben clept Cynocephali: and thei ben fulle +resonable and of gode undirstondynge, saf that thei worschipen an ox for +here god. And also everyche of hem berethe an ox of gold or of sylver in +his forhed, in tokene that thei loven wel here god. And thei gon alle +naked, saf a litylle clout, that thei coveren with here knees and hire +membres. Thei ben grete folk and wel fyghtynge; and thei han a gret targe, +that coverethe alle the body, and a spere in here hond to fighte with. And +zif thei taken ony man in bataylle, anon thei eten him. The kyng of that +yle is fulle riche and fulle myghty, and righte devout aftre his lawe: and +he hathe abouten his nekke 360 perles oryent, gode and grete, and knotted, +as Pater Nostres here of amber. And in maner as wee seyn oure Pater Noster +and oure Ave Maria, cowntyng the Pater Nosters, right so this kyng seythe +every day devoutly 300 preyeres to his god, or that he ete: and he berethe +also aboute his nekke a rubye oryent, noble and fyn, that is a fote of +lengthe, and fyve fyngres large. And whan thei chesen here kyng, thei taken +him that rubye, to beren in his hond, and so thei leden him rydynge alle +abouten the cytee. And fro thens fromward, thei ben alle obeyssant to him. +And that rubye he schalle bere alle wey aboute his nekke: for zif he hadde +not that rubye upon him, men wolde not holden him for kyng. The grete Cane +of Cathay hathe gretly coveted that rubye; but he myghte never han it, for +werre ne for no maner of godes. This kyng is so rightfulle and of equytee +in his doomes, that men may go sykerlyche thorghe out alle his contree, and +bere with him what him list, that no man schalle ben hardy to robben hem: +and zif he were, the kyng wolde iustifyed anon. + +Fro this lond men gon to another yle, that is clept Silha: and it is welle +a 800 myles aboute. In that lond is fulle mochelle waste; for it is fulle +of serpentes, of dragouns and of cokadrilles; that no man dar duelle there. +Theise cocodrilles ben serpentes, zalowe and rayed aboven, and han 4 feet +and schorte thyes and grete nayles, as clees or talouns; and there ben +somme that han 5 fadme in lengthe, and summe of 6 and of 8, and of 10: and +whan thei gon be places, that ben gravelly, it semethe as thoughe men hadde +drawen a gret tree thorghe the gravelly place. And there ben also many +wylde bestes, and namelyche of olyfauntes. In that yle is a gret mountayne; +and in mydd place of the mount, is a gret lake in a fulle faire pleyne, and +there is a gret plentee of watre. And thei of the contree seyn, that Adam +and Eve wepten upon that mount an 100 zeer, whan thei weren dryven out of +Paradys. And that watre, thei seyn, is of here teres: for so moche watre +thei wepten, that made the forseyde lake. And in the botme of that lake, +men fynden many precious stones and grete perles. In that lake growen many +reedes and grete cannes; and there with inne ben many cocodrilles and +serpentes and grete watre leches. And the kyng of that contree, ones every +zeer, zevethe leve to pore men to gon in to the lake, to gadre hem precyous +stones and perles, be weye of alemesse, for the love of God, that made +Adam. And alle the zeer, men fynde y nowe. And for the vermyn, that is with +inne, thei anoynte here armes and here thyes and legges with an oynement, +made of a thing that is clept lymons, that is a manere of fruyt, lyche +smale pesen: and thanne have thei no drede of no cocodrilles, ne of non +other venymous vermyn. This watre rennethe, flowynge and ebbynge, be a syde +of the mountayne: and in that ryver men fynden precious stones and perles, +gret plentee. And men of that yle seyn comounly, that the serpentes and the +wilde bestes of that contree ne will not don non harm, ne touchen with +evylle, no strange man, that entrethe into that contree, but only to men +that ben born of the same contree. In that contree and othere there +abouten, there ben wylde gees, that han 2 hedes: and there ben lyouns alle +white, and als grete as oxen, and many other dyverse bestes, and foules +also, that be not seyn amonges us. And witethe wel, that in that contree +and in othere yles there abouten, the see is to highe, that it semethe as +though it henge at the clowdes, and that it wolde covere alle the world: +and that is gret mervaylle, that it myghte be so, saf only the wille of +God, that the eyr susteynethe it. And therfore seyth David in the Psautere, +_Mirabiles elationes Maris_. + + +How men knowen be the Ydole, zif the sike schalle dye or non. Of folk of + dyverse schap and merveylously disfigured: And of the Monkes, that zeven + hire releef to Babewynes, Apes and Marmesettes and to other Bestes. + +[Sidenote: Cap. XIX.] From that yle, in goynge be see, toward the southe, +is another gret yle, that is clept Dondun. In that yle ben folk of dyverse +kyndes; so that the fadre etethe the sone, the sone the fadre, the husbonde +the wif, and the wif the husbonde. And zif it so befall, that the fadre or +modre or ony of here frendes ben seke, anon the son gothe to the prest of +here law, and preyethe him to aske the ydole, zif his fadre or modre or +frend schalle dye on that evylle or non. And than the prest and the sone +gone to gydere before the ydole, and knelen fulle devoutly, and asken of +the ydole here demande. And zif the devylle, that is with inne, answere, +that he schalle lyve, thei kepen him wel: and zif he seye, that he schalle +dye, then the prest gothe with the sonne, with the wif of him that is +seeke, and thei putten here hondes upon his mouthe, and stoppon his brethe, +and so thei sleen him. And aftre that, thei choppen alle the body in smale +peces, and preyen alle his frendes to comen and eten of him, that is ded: +and thei senden for alle the mynstralle of the contree, and maken a +solempne feste. And whan thei han eten the flessche, thei taken the bones, +and buryen hem, and syngen and maken gret melodye. And alle tho that ben of +his kyn, or pretenden hem to ben his frendes, and thei come not to that +feste, thei ben repreved for evere and schamed, and maken gret doel; for +nevere aftre schulle thei ben holden as frendes. And thei seyn also, that +men eten here flesche, for to delyveren hem out of peyne. For zif the +wormes of the erthe eten hem, the soule scholde suffre gret peyne, as thei +seyn; and namely, whan the flesche is tendre and megre, thanne seyn here +frendes, that thei don gret synne, to leten hem have so long langure, to +suffre so moche peyne, with oute resoun. And whan thei fynde the flessche +fatte, than thei seyn, that it is wel don, to senden him sone to paradys; +and that thei have not suffred him to longe, to endure in peyne. The kyng +of this yle is a ful gret lord and a myghty; and hathe undre him 54 grete +yles, that zeven tribute to him: and in everyche of theise yles, is a kyng +crowned, and alle ben obeyssant to that kyng. And he hathe in tho yles many +diverse folk. In one of theise yles ben folk of gret stature, as Geauntes; +and thei ben hidouse for to loke upon; and thei han but on eye, and that is +in the myddylle of the front; and thei eten no thing but raw flessche and +raw fyssche. + +And in another yle, toward the southe, duellen folk of foule suture and of +cursed kynde, that han no hedes: and here eyen ben in here scholdres. + +And in another yle ben folk, that han the face all platt, alle pleyn, with +outen nese and with outen mouthe: but thei han 2 smale holes alle round, in +stede of hire eyen: and hire mouthe is plait also, with outen lippes. + +And in another yle ben folk of foul fasceon and schapp, that han the lippe +above the mouthe so gret, that whan thei slepen in the sonne, thei keveren +alle the face with that lippe. + +And in another yle, ther ben litylle folk, as dwerghes; and thei ben to so +meche as the pygmeyes, and thei han no mouthe, but in stede of hire mouthe, +thei han a lytylle round hole: and whan thei schulle eten or drynken, thei +taken thorghe a pipe or a penne or suche a thing, and sowken it in: for +thei han no tonge; and therfore thei speke not, but thei maken a maner of +hissynge, as a neddre doth, and thei maken signes on to another, as monkes +don; be the whiche, every of hem undirstondethe other. + +And in another yle ben folk, that han gret eres and longe, that hangen doun +to here knees. + +And in another yle ben folk, that han hors feet; and thei ben stronge and +myghty and swift renneres; for thei taken wyld bestes with rennyng, and +eten hem. + +And in another yle ben folk, that gon upon hire hondes and hire feet, as +bestes: and thei ben alle skynned and fedred, and thei wolde lepen als +lightly in to trees, and fro tree to tree, as it were squyrelles or apes. + +And in another yle ben folk that ben bothe man and womman: and thei han +kynde of that on and of that other; and thei han but o pappe on the o syde, +and on that other non: and thei han membres of generacioun of man and +womman; and thei usen bothe, whan hem list, ones that on, and another tyme +that other: and thei geten children, whan thei usen the membre of man; and +thei bere children, whan thei usen the membre of womman. + +And in another yle ben folk, that gon alle weyes upon here knees, ful +merveylously; and at every pas that thei gon, it semethe that thei wolde +falle: and thei han in every foot, 8 toes. + +Many other dyverse folk of dyverse nature ben there in other yles abouten, +of the whiche it were to longe to telle: and therfore I passe over +schortly. + +From theise yles, in passynge be the see occean toward the est, be many +iourneyes, men fynden a gret contree and a gret kyngdom, that men clepen +Mancy: and that is in Ynde the more: and it is the beste lond, and on of +the fairest, that may be in alle the world, and the most delectable, and +the most plentifous of all godes, that is in power of man. In that lond +duellen many Cristene men and Sarrazynes: for it is a gode contree and a +gret. And there ben there inne mo than 2000 grete cytees and riche, with +outen other grete townes. And there is more plentee of peple there, than in +ony other partie of Ynde; for the bountee of the contree. In that contree +is no nedy man, ne none that gothe on beggynge. And thei ben fulle faire +folk: but thei ben all pale. And the men han thynne berdes and fewe heres; +but thei ben longe: but unethe hathe ony man passynge 50 heres in his berd; +and on heer sitt here, another there, as the berd of a lyberd or of a catt. +In that lond ben many fairere wommen, than in ony other contree bezonde the +see: and therfore men clepen that lond Albanye; because that the folk ben +whyte. And the chief cytee of that contree is clept Latoryn; and it is a +iourneye from the see: and it is moche more than Parys. In that cytee is a +gret ryvere, berynge schippes, that gon to alle the costes in the see. No +cytee of the world is so wel stored of schippes, as is that. And alle tho +of the cytee and of the contree worschipen ydoles. In that contree ben +double sithes more briddes than ben here. There ben white gees, rede aboute +the nekke, and thei han a gret crest, as a cokkes comb upon hire hedes: and +thei ben meche more there, than thei ben here; and men byen hem there alle +quykke, right gret chepe. And there is gret plentee of neddres, of whom men +maken grete festes, and eten hem at grete sollempnytees. And he that +makethe there a feste, be it nevere so costifous, and he have no neddres, +he hathe no thanke for his travaylle. + +Many gode cytees there ben in that contree, and men han gret plentee and +gret chep of alle wynes and vitailles. In that contree ben manye chirches +of religious men, and of here lawe: and in tho chirches been ydoles, als +grete as geauntes. And to theise ydoles thei zeven to ete, at grete +festyfulle dayes, in this manere. Thei bryngen before hem mete alle soden, +als hoot as thei comen fro the fuyr, and thei leten the smoke gon up +towardes the ydoles; and than thei seyn, that the ydoles han eten; and than +the religious men eten the mete aftrewardes. In that contree been white +hennes withouten fetheres: but thei beren white wolle, as scheep don here. +In that contree, wommen that ben unmaryed, thei han tokenes on hire hedes, +lyche coronales, to ben knowen for unmaryed. Also in that contree, ther ben +bestes, taughte of men to gon in to watres, in to ryveres and in to depe +stankes, for to take fysche; the whiche best is but lytille, and men clepen +hem loyres. And whan men casten hem in to the watre, anon thei bringen up +gret fissches, als manye as men wold. And zif men wil have mo, thei cast +hem in azen, and thei bryngen up als many as men list to have. + +And fro that cytee, passynge many iourneyes, is another cytee, on of the +grettest of the world, that men clepen Cassay; that is to seyne, the Cytee +of Hevene. That cytee is well a 50 myle aboute, and it is strongliche +enhabyted with peple, in so moche that in on house men maken 10 housholdes. +In that cytee ben 12 princypalle zates; and before every zate, a 3 myle or +a 4 myle in lengthe, is a gret toun, or a gret cytee. That cytee sytt upon +a gret lake on the see; as dothe Venyse. And in that cytee ben mo than +12000 brigges: and upon every brigge, ben stronge toures and gode; in the +whiche duellen the wardeynes, for to kepen the cytee fro the gret Cane. And +on that o part of the cytee, rennethe a gret ryvere alle along the cytee. +And there duellen Cristene men, and many marchauntes and other folk of +dyverse natyouns: be cause that the lond is so gode and so plentifous. And +there growethe fulle gode wyn, that men clepen Bigon, that is fulle myghty +and gentylle in drynkynge. This is a cytee ryalle, where the Kyng of Mancy +was wont to duelle: and there duellen many religious men, as it were of the +order of freres: for thei ben mendyfauntes. + +From that cytee, men gon be watre, solacynge and disportynge hem, tille +thei come to an abbey of monkes, that is faste bye, that ben gode religious +men, after here feythe and lawe. In that abbeye is a gret gardyn and a +fair, where ben many trees of dyverse manere of frutes: and in this gardyn, +is a lytille hille, fulle of delectable trees. In that hille and in that +gardyn, ben many dyverse bestes, as of apes, marmozettes, babewynes, and +many other dyverse bestes. And every day, whan the covent of this abbeye +hathe eten, the awmener let bere the releef to the gardyn, and he smytethe +on the gardyn zate with a clyket of sylver, that he holdethe in his hond, +and anon alle the bestes of the hille and of dyverse places of the gardyn, +comen out, a 3000 or a 4000; and thei comen in gyse of pore men: and men +zeven hem the releef, in faire vesselles of sylver, clene over gylt. And +whan thei han eten, the monk smytethe eft sones on the gardyn zate with the +clyket; and than anon alle the bestes retornen azen to here places, that +thei come fro. And thei seyn, that theise bestes ben soules of worthi men, +that resemblen in lyknesse of the bestes, that ben faire: and therfore thei +zeve hem mete, for the love of God. And the other bestes that ben foule, +they seyn, ben soules of pore men and of rude comouns. And thus thei +beleeven, and no man may putte hem out of this opynyoun. Theise bestes +aboveseyd, thei let taken, whan thei ben zonge, and norisschen hem so with +almesse; als manye, as thei may fynde. And I asked hem, zif it had not ben +better, to have zoven that releef to pore men, rathere than to the bestes. +And thei answerde me and seyde, that thei hadde no pore men amonges hem, in +that contree: and thoughe it had ben so, that pore men had ben among hem, +zit were it gretter almesse, to zeven it to tho soules, that don there here +penance. Many other marveylles ben in that cytee and in the contree there +aboute, that were to long to telle zou. + +Fro that cytee, go men be the contree a 6 iourneyes, to another cytee, that +men clepen Chilenfo: of the whiche cytee, the walles ben 20 myle aboute. In +that cytee ben 60 brigges of ston, so faire, that no man may see fairere. +In that cytee was the firste sege of the Kyng of Mancy: for it is a faire +cytee, and plenteeyous of alle godes. + +Aftre passe men overthwart a gret ryvere, that men clepen Dalay: and that +is the grettest ryvere of fressche water, that is in the world. For there, +as it is most narow, it is more than a myle of brede. And thanne entren men +azen into the lond of the grete Chane. That ryvere gothe thorghe the lond +of Pigmaus: where that the folk ben of litylle stature, that ben but 3 span +long: and thei ben right faire and gentylle, aftre here quantytees, bothe +the men and the wommen. And thei maryen hem, whan thei ben half zere of +age, and geten children. And thei lyven not, but 6 zeer or 7 at the moste. +And he that lyvethe 8 zeer men holden him there righte passynge old. Theise +men ben the beste worcheres of gold, sylver, cotoun, sylk, and of alle +suche thinges, of ony other, that be in the world. And thei han often tymes +werre with the briddes of the contree, that thei taken and eten. This +litylle folk nouther labouren in londes ne in vynes. But thei han grete men +amonges hem, of oure stature, that tylen the lond, and labouren amonges the +vynes for hem. And of tho men of oure stature, han thei als grete skorne +and wondre, as we wolde have among us of geauntes, zif thei weren amonges +us. There is a gode cytee, amonges othere, where there is duellynge gret +plentee of tho lytylle folk: and it is a gret cytee and a faire, and the +men ben grete, that duellen amonges hem: but whan thei geten ony children, +thei ben als litylle as the pygmeyes: and therfore thei ben alle, for the +moste part, alle pygmeyes; for the nature of the lond is suche. The grete +Cane let kepe this cytee fulle wel: for it is his. And alle be it, that the +pygmeyes ben lytylle, zit thei ben fulle resonable, aftre here age, and +connen bothen wytt and gode and malice, y now. + +Fro that cytee, gon men be the contree, be many cytees and many townes, +unto a cytee, that men clepen Jamchay: and it is a noble cytee and a riche, +and of gret profite to the lord: and thidre go men to sechen marchandise of +alle manere of thing. That cytee is fulle moche worthe zerly to the lord of +the contree. For he hathe every zere to rente of that cytee (as thei of the +cytee seyn) 50000 cumantz of floreyns of gold: for thei cownten there alle +be cumanz: and every cumant is 10000 floryns of gold. Now may men wel +rekene, how moche that it amountethe. The kyng of that contree is fulle +myghty: and zit he is undre the grete Cane. And the gret Cane hathe undre +him 12 such provynces. In that contree, in the gode townes, is a gode +custom. For whoso wille make a feste to ony of his frendes, there ben +certeyn innes in every gode toum; and he that wil make the feste, wil seye +to the hostellere, arraye for me, to morwe, a gode dyner, for so many folk; +and tellethe him the nombre; and devysethe him the viaundes: and he seythe +also, thus moche I wil dispende, and no more. And anon the hostellere +arrayethe for him, so faire and so wel and so honestly, that ther schalle +lakke no thing. And it schalle be don sunnere, and with lasse cost, than +and a man made it in his owne hous. + +And a 5 myle fro that cytee, toward the hed of the ryvere of Dalay, is +another cytee, that men clepen Menke. In that cytee is strong navye of +schippes; and alle ben white as snow, of the kynde of the trees, that thei +ben made offe. And thei ben fulle grete schippes, and faire, and wel +ordeyned, and made with halles and chambres, and other eysementes, as +thoughe it were on the lond. + +Fro thens go men be many townes and many cytees, thorghe the contree, unto +a cytee, that men clepen Lanteryne: and it is an 8 iourneyes from the cytee +aboveseyd. This cytee sitt upon a faire ryvere, gret and brood, that men +clepen Caramaron. This ryvere passethe thorghe out Cathay: and it dothe +often tyme harm, and that fulle gret, whan it is over gret. + + +Of the grete Chane of Chatay. Of the Rialtee of his Palays, and how he sitt + at Mete; and of the grete nombre of Officeres, that serven hym. + +[Sidenote: Cap. XX.] Chatay is a gret contree and a faire, noble and riche, +and fulle of marchauntes. Thidre gon marchaundes alle zeres, for to sechen +spices and alle manere of marchandises, more comounly than in ony other +partye. And zee schulle undirstonde, that marchaundes, that comen fro Gene +or fro Venyse or fro Romanye, or other partyes of Lombardye, thei gon be +see and be lond 11 monethes, or 12, or more sum tyme, or thei may come to +the yle of Cathay, that is the princypalle regyoun of alle partyes bezonde; +and it is of the grete Cane. + +Fro Cathay go men toward the est, be many iourneyes: and than men fynden a +gode cytee, betwene theise othere, that men clepen Sugarmago. That cytee is +on of the beste stored of sylk and other marchandises, that is in the +world. Aftre go men zit to another old cytee, toward the est: and it is in +the provynce of Cathay. And besyde that cytee, the men of Tartarye han let +make another cytee, that is clept Caydon; and it hathe 12 zates: and +betwene the two zates, there is alle weyes a gret myle; so that the 2 +cytees, that is to seyne, the olde and the newe, han in circuyt more than +20 myle. + + +CAPVT. 34. + +De pallatio Imperatoris Grand Can. + +Palatium Imperatoris Grand Can, quod est in Caydo ciuitate, continet in +circuitu proprij muralis vltrą duas leucas, et sunt in eo aulę quąm plures, +in forma nobiles, et in materia nobiliores. Aula autem sedis, quę est +maxime cęterarum, habet intrinsecus pro sui sustentatione 24. aereas +columnas factas opere fusorio, de auro puro, et omnes parietes ab intus +opertas pellibus quorundam animalium, quę vocantur Pantheres: hę sanguinei +sunt coloris, et ita remicantes, vt Sole desuper relucente; vix oculus +valeat humanus sufferre splendorem, tantęque fragantię, vt illi approximare +non posset aer infectus, vnde et ista opertura parietum appreciatur super +tegmen aurearum laminarum. + +Namque stultorum aliqui Paganorum huiusmodi adorant animalia propter +colorum, odorumque virtutem. Proposui retrahere calamum ą describenda +nobilitate, gubernatione et ministrantium frequentia, atque Imperatoris +magnificentia: attamen quia coepi ego, propter incredulos, et nescios, ac +inerudibiles, non dimittam in toto. Quicunque enim nihil credunt, nihil +sciunt, neque erudiri possunt, Scriptura testante, si non credideritis non +intelligetis. Dico ergo, et verč dico, quņd in huius aulę capite sit +thronus, vel sedes Imperialis, excelsus et eminens in ascensu graduum +quamplurium, in quo residere solet in plenaria maiestate, in cuius throni +toto corpore nihil apparet minłs nobile, auro, margaritis, gemmis, et +lapidibus preciosis. Singuli gradus sunt de singulis, ac inter se diuersis +magnis lapidibus, vtpote primus de Hęmatisto, alius de Sardio, et alius de +Chrysolito, et sic vsque ad supremum gradum, qui singuli ad formam cuiusque +gradus sunt circumfusi, et clusorio opere firmati, auro solido, et +nihilominłs per superficiem auri, distinctč seminati, firmitčrque inclusi +lapilli cari, cum orientalibus Margaritis, summitas autem cum ferculo +residentię in nobilitate excisionis, et fabrifactura operis tam diuersa +est, et mira, vt paruitatem mei ingenij excedat, quamobrem et ei cedo, +vlteriusque procedo. + +Ad Imperatoris sinistram gradu vno bassior, est sedes suę primę coniugis, +tota de iaspidibus auro circumfusis, et in superficie aulę distinctę +gemmulę cum granellis eodem schemate, et similiter de iaspide. Sed adhuc +submissior vno gradu est sedes coniugis secundę, nec non et sub illa vxoris +tertię. Nam tres proprias secum habet vxores, Odericus dicit, istas duas +concubinas. Itémque resident sub tertia coniuge nobiles mulieres de +Imperatoris progenie, iuxta illustriam vniuscuiusque. + +Et notandum, quņd per totam patriam singulę mulieres maritatę, vt +intelligantur maritis subiectę, et vt discernantur ą solutis, gestant in +capitis summitate similitudinem pedis viri, longitudinis brachij et +dimidij, quadam leui materia operatam: videlicet nobiles de sericosis +operibus pannorum, seu alijs raris et pulchris pannis, et preciosis +lapillis, et ignobiles iuxta statum suum de materia communiori. + +Ad dextram verņ sedentis Imperatoris vno gradu submissus residet +primogenitus eius filius, et sub ipso ordinatč in consimilibus sedibus +nobiles proximi de cognitione Imperiali. + +Item super thronum et desuper ante ipsius throni locum, tanquam pro celato +seu operimento in throno residentium, et eorum ministrantium, est extensa +similitudo vitis operata in palmitibus, et pampinis, de auro puro ad +extensionem cubitorum quadraginta, per quadrum, atque per eam dependentes +botri vuarum de gemmis, et granellis quinque colorum, quorum albi sunt de +christallo et beryllo, et iriscrocei de topazio et fuluo christallo, rubei +de rubetorum granis, corallo, et alibandinis, virides de Smaragdis, +pyropis, et chrysolytis, nigri, de onichinis, gagetis, et gerateris. + +Tempore prandij in hac aula, Imperator et Imperatrices, et quisque de +prędictis, habet mensam sibi solam, quarum vilior pręualet thesauro grandi. + +In solennitatibus ponitur mensa Imperatori de exquisito electro, seu de +auro examinato, distincta diamantibus, et nobis ignotis in comparabilibus +gemmis, quandóque de christallo perspicuo, seu croceo, circumclusa auro cum +gemmis: quandóque de Hęmatisto, quandóque de ebore candido, vel rubicundo: +interdum de ligno artificiosč combinato, quod descendit per flumina de +Paradiso. Idem dicit Odericus. + +His mensis astant Barones, et Principes pro vasallis attentč in suis +officijs ministrantes, quorum nec vnus emittere verbum aliqua pręsumit +audacia, nisi Imperatore annuente, vel ad illum loquente, illis duntaxat +exceptis, qui certis interspatijs canunt, aut recitant de principum gestis. + +Et notandum, quando in hoc solio Maiestatis diebus solennibus residet +Imperator, subsidere ad pedes eius notarios quatuor, qui omne quod Dominus +loquitur, singuli ponunt in scriptis: nam quodcunque tunc ex ore illius +egreditur, necesse est esse, vel effici, nec valet item ipse verbum suum +mutare, nec reuocare, nisi magno consilio conuocato. + +Vniuersa vtensilia quibus in solennitate ad has seruitur mensas, sunt de +nobilibus petris auro reclusis, Cyphi de Smaragdis, vel Saphyris, topasijs, +pyropis, siue gryophis: et priuatioribus diebus, de auro probato etiam in +cameris, et cubiculis, nec reputatur ibi claritas argenti, nisi pro +pilarijs, columnis, gradibus, et pauimentis. + +Istius autem ostia aulę, dum in ea residet, aut deambulat Imperator, multi +Barones ingressum seruant intentč, et ne limen tangatur, quod hoc haberent +pro augurio, et benč verberaretur, quia Imperatore pręsente, nemo nisi +adductus in quacunque camera, vel habitatione intromittitur, donec +interrogatus iusserit Imperator. + +Latitudinem huius Basilicę ęstimo ad spatium de meis pedibus centum et +longitudinem vltrą quatuor centum. In cubiculo autem Regis dormitorio, +constat vnus pillarius, seu columna de auro solido et carbunculus conclusus +in illo longitudinis pedis vnius, totum habitaculum de nocte perfundens +lumine claro. Hic prout ego notaui, non est plenč rubeus, sed subrufus, +quasi coloris Hęmatistini. Porrņ in vna aularum, circą medium palatii, est +alius excelsus ascensus, Odericus dicit pigma, super quem dum placet, stat, +vel residet Imperator, ditissimč etiam operatus, ex auro, gemmis, baccis, +margaritis, et lapidibus raris, et in quatuor angulis, imagines quatuor +serpentum de auro puro. + +Huius per tria latera dependent retia seu cortinę de cordulis +sericis, in quibus ad singulos nodos, grossa margarita habetur +innexa, quibus cortinis tegitur officina: in eius concauitate tenetur +tumba quadrata, in qua conueniunt conductus omnium potuum, +qui bibuntur in Curia, et innumera vasorum genera, quibus potus +omnibus ministratur. + +Prętereą, iuxta palatii ambitum, habetur grandis parci spaciamentum, +diuersi generis arboribus repletum, fructus ferentibus varios, et nobis +inuisos, et in parte media, aula super excelsum collem de tam mira et +pulchra structura, vt eius nobilitas de facili ad pręsens, non possit +describi. Et vndique, par collis gyrum aquę fossatum profundum, et latum +vltrą quod pons vnicus ducit ad collem. Atque ex duobus montis lateribus, +stagnum cum diuersorum copia piscium, et volucrum indomitarum, vt aucarum, +anatum, cignorum, ciconiarum, ardearum, et collectorum in magna +pluralitate, nec non et per parcum, multę syluestres bestię, et bestiolę +quatenłs per aulę fenestras possit Dominus pro solatio respicere volucrum +aucupationes, bestiarum venationes, et piscium captiones. + +Et hoc proculdubio sciendum, quņd in nostris partibus rara sint oppida cum +pluribus mansionibus, quąm in isto palatio continentur. + +Tota ęstate moratur in India terra frigidissima, in hyeme in Cambalu. +Odericus. + +Pręter palatium hoc in Caydo, habet Imperator similitčr tria: vnum in +ciuitate Sadus, versus Septentrionem, vbi competens est frigus, ibi moratur +in ęstate. Cambalu, vbi competens calor, ibi moratur hyeme. Tertium in +ciuitate Iongh, in quo et in isto Caydo, vt sępiłs seruat sedem, eņ quņd in +istis est aer magis temperatus, quamuis semper calidus videtur Nostratibus. + + +The English Version. + +In this cytee is the Sege of the grete Cane in a fulle gret palays, and the +most passynge fair in alle the world: of the whiche the walles ben in +circuyt more than 2 myle: and within the walles, it is alle fulle of other +palays. And in the gardyn of the grete palays, there is a gret hille, upon +the whiche there is another palays; and it is the most fair and the most +riche, that ony man may devyse. And all aboute the palays and the hille, +ben many trees, berynge many dyverse frutes. And alle aboute that hille, +ben dyches grete and depe: and besyde hem, ben grete vyneres, on that o +part and on that other. And there is a fulle fair brigge to passe over the +dyches. And in theise vyneres, ben so many wylde gees and gandres and wylde +dokes and swannes and heirouns, that it is with outen nombre. And alle +aboute theise dyches and vyneres, is the grete gardyn, fulle of wylde +bestes; so that, whan the gret Cane wil have ony desport on that, to taken +ony of tho wylde bestes or of the foules, he wil lete chace hem and taken +hem at the wyndowes, with outen goynge out of his chambre. This palays, +where his sege is, is bothe gret and passynge fair. And with in the palays, +in the halle, there ben 24 pyleres of fyn gold: and alle the walles ben +covered with inne, of rede skynnes of bestes, that men clepen panteres; +that ben faire bestes, and well smellyng: so that for the swete odour of +tho skynnes, non evylle ayr may entre in to the palays. Tho skynnes ben als +rede as blode, and thei schynen so brighte azen the sonne, that unethes no +man may beholden hem. And many folk worschipen tho bestes, whan thei meeten +hem first at morwe, for here gret vertue and for the gode smelle that thei +han: and tho skynnes thei preysen more than thoughe thei were plate of fyn +gold. And in the myddes of this palays is the mountour for the grete Cane, +that is alle wrought of gold and of precyous stones and grete perles: and +at 4 corneres of the mountour, been 4 serpentes of gold: and alle aboute +ther is y made large nettes of sylk, and gold and grete perles hangynge +alle aboute the mountour. And undre the mountour, ben condytes of beverage, +that thei drynken in the emperours court. And besyde the condytes, ben many +vesselles of gold, be the whiche, thei that ben of houshold, drynken at the +condyt. And the halle of the palays is fulle nobelyche arrayed, and fulle +merveylleousely atyred on all parteys, in alle thinges, that men apparayle +with ony halle. And first, at the chief of the halle, is the emperours +throne, fulle highe, where he syttethe at the mete: and that is of fyn +precyouse stones, bordured alle aboute with pured gold and precyous stones +and grete perles. And the grees, that he gothe up to the table, ben of +precyous stones, medled with gold. And at the left syde of the emperoures +sege, is the sege of his firste wif, o degree lowere than the emperour: and +it is of jaspere, bordured with gold and preciouse stones. And the sege of +his seconde wif is also another sege, more lowere than his firste wif: and +it is also of jaspere, bordured with gold, as that other is. And the sege +of the thridde wif is also more lowe, be a degree, than the seconde wif. +For he hathe alweys 3 wifes with him, where that evere he be. And aftre his +wyfes, on the same syde, sytten the ladyes of his lynage, zit lowere, aftre +that thei ben of estate. And alle tho that ben maryed, han a countrefete, +made lyche a mannes foot, upon here hedes, a cubyte long, alle wrought with +grete perles, fyne and oryent, and aboven, made with pecokes fedres and of +other schynynge fedres; and that stont upon here hedes, like a crest, in +tokene that thei ben undre mannes fote and undre subiectioun of man. And +thei that ben unmaryed, han none suche. And aftre, at the right syde of the +Emperour, first syttethe his eldest sone, that schalle regne aftre him: and +he syttethe also o degree lowere than the emperour, in suche manere of +seges, as don the emperesses. And aftre him, sytten other grete lordes of +his lynage, every of hem a Degree lowere than other, as thei ben of estate. +And the emperour hathe his table allone be him self, that is of gold, and +of precious stones, or of cristalle, bordured with gold, and fulle of +precious stones or of amatystes or of lignum aloes, that comethe out of +paradys, or of ivory, bounden or bordured with gold. And everyche of his +wyfes hathe also hire table be hire self. And his eldest sone, and the +other lordes also, and the ladyes, and alle that sitten with the emperour, +han tables allone be hem self, fulle riche. And there nys no table, but +that it is worthe an huge tresour of gode. And undre the emperoures table, +sitten 4 clerkes, that writen alle, that the emperour seythe, be it good, +be it evylle. For alle that he seythe, moste ben holden; for he may not +chaungen his word, ne revoke it. At grete solempne festes, before the +emperoures table, men bryngen grete tables of gold, and there on ben +pecokes of gold, and many other maner of dyverse foules, alle of gold, and +richely wrought and enameled; and men maken hem dauncen and syngen, +clappynge here wenges to gydere, and maken gret noyse: and where it be by +craft or be nygromancye, I wot nere; but it is a gode sight to beholde, and +a fair; and it is gret marvayle how it may be. But I have the lasse +marvaylle, be cause that thei ben the moste sotyle men in alle sciences and +in alle craftes, that ben in the world. For of sotyltee and of malice and +of fercastynge, thei passen alle men undre hevene. And therfore thei seyn +hem self, that thei seen with 2 eyen; and the Cristene men see but with on: +be cause that thei ben more sotylle than thei. For alle other naciouns, +thei seyn, ben but blynde in conynge and worchynge in comparisoun to hem. I +did gret besynesse, for to have lerned that craft: but the maistre tolde +me, that he had made a vow to his God, to teche it to no creature, but only +to his eldeste sone. Also above the emperours table and the othere tables, +and aboven a gret partie in the halle, is a vyne, made of fyn gold: and it +spredethe alle aboute the halle; and it hath many clustres of grapes, somme +white, somme grene, summe zalowe and somme rede and somme blake, alle of +precious stones: the white ben of cristalle and of berylle and of iris; the +zalowe ben of topazes; the rede ben of rubies, and of grenaz and of +alabraundynes; the grene ben of emeraudes, of perydos and of crisolytes; +and the blake ben of onichez and garantez. And thei ben alle so propurlyche +made, that it semethe a verry vyne, berynge kyndely grapes. And before the +emperoures table, stonden grete lordes, and riche barouns and othere, that +serven the emperour at the mete. And no man is so hardy, to speke a word, +but zif the emperour speke to him; but zif it be mynstrelles, that syngen +songes, and tellen gestes or other desportes, to solace with the emperour. +And alle the vesselle, that men ben served with, in the halle or in +chambres, ben of precious stones; and specially at grete tables; outher of +jaspre or of cristalle or of amatystez or of fyn gold. And the cuppes ben +of emeraudez and of saphires or of topazes, of perydoz, and of many other +precyouse stones. Vesselle of sylver is there non: for thei telle no prys +there of, to make no vesselle offe: but thei maken ther of grecynges and +pileres and pawmentes, to halles and chambres. And before the halle dore, +stonden manye barounes, and knyghtes clene armed, to kepe that no man +entre, but zif it be the wille or the commandement of the emperour, or but +zif thei ben servauntes or mynstralle of the houshold: and other non is not +so hardy, to neighen nye the halle dore. + + +CAPVT. 35. + +De quatuor solennitatibus, quas Magnus Can celebrat in anno. + +Sciatis quņd ego, meķque sodales, pro fama magnificentię huius Imperatoris, +tradidimus nos stipendiarios esse in guerris, contra Regem Mangi +pręnominatum. Et fuimus apud ipsum 15. mensibus, et certč inuenimus multņ +maiorem partem hominum, in mediam partem nobis non fuisse relatam: hominum +(exceptis custodibus bestiarum et volucrum,) qui intra palatium certa +gerunt ministeria est numerus decem cuman. + +Nota. Traxi moram in Cambalu tribus annis: fratres nostri locum habent in +Curia sua specialiter, et festis diebus statutis dant benedictionem, +Odericus. Et quoniam Imperator habet satis plures quąm decem mille +Elephantes edomitos, et velut vltrą numerum alias bestias, (quarum quędam +tenentur in caueis, stabulis mirabilibus, vel catenis) nec non et aues +rapaces, et accipitres, falcones, ostrones, gryfandos gentiles, Laueroys, +et Satyros, sed et auiculas loquentes, et papingos, et similes, aliįsque +cantantes: reputatur numerus hominum de istis curam et laborem gerentium, +vltrą sex cuman, et prętereą iugiter ad Curiam equites cum plenarijs +armaturis, quinque cuman, et de peditibus cum pręliandi armaturis, cuman +decem. Sed et omnes de natione quacunque mundi venientes, qui petunt +describi pro Curia recipiuntur. Sic enim iussit Imperator. + +Habet et medicos Paganos viginti, et totidem Physicos, atque sine his +Medicos Christianos ducentos, et totidem Physicos, quoniam iste Grand Can +maiorem gerit confidentiam in Medicis Christianis, quąm in suę proprię +nationis medicis. + +Hoc ergņ firmiter scias, quod de Curia Regis accipiunt necessaria sua +iugitčr vltrą triginta cuman hominum, pręter expensas animalium et +volucrum, cłm tamen in festis maioribus sint homines propč in duplo tanti. +Nec valet hic dominus defectum vllum pati pecunię, eņ quņd in terra sua non +currit moneta de argento, vel auro, alióue metallo, sed tantłm de corio vel +papyro: horum enim forma denariorum signo Imperatoris impressorum preciatur +minoris aut maioris valoris, secundum diuersitatem impressionis, qui per +visitationem, detriti vel rupti, cłm ad Regis thesaurarios deferuntur, +protinłs dantur pro illis noui. + +Quatčr in anno celebrat Imperator festiuitates solennes. + +Primam de die proprię Natiuitatis. + +Secundam de die suę primę pręsentationis in eorum Templo, quod appellant +Moseath, vbi et fit ijs, nescio quod genus circumcisionis. + +Tertiam in thronizatione sui Idoli in Templo. + +Quartam de die quo Idolum cepit dare responsum, seu facere diabolica mira. +Plures enim in anno non tenet solennitates, nisi si quando nuptias filij +aut filię celebrat. + +Itaque in istis solennitatibus est populi multitudo absque numero, omnes +tamen in ordine debito, et singuli intendentes proprio ministerio, nam ad +hoc ordinandum, et disponendum, electa sunt quatuor Baronum nobilium +genera, ex quibus nonnulli sunt Reges, et alij Equites potentes, Duces, et +Marchiones, omnes induti holosericis, quibus inserti cum certa +disseminatione sunt vbique preciosi lapides, mirę virtutis, et aurifigia +speciosa, vt si quis in his partibus vnum de talibus haberet mutatorijs, +dici non posset pauper imņ prędiues. Et habet quodlibet millenariorum in +his vestibus colorem sibi proprium: primum viridem, secundum vermiculum, +tertium croceum, quartum purpureum, seu indicum. Ergo in die solenni, dum +de mane Maiestatis thronum conscenderit, veniunt se pręsentari hoc modo +Regi. + +Ante primum millenarium procedit copiosa symphonia dulcis chordarum, sicut +de violis, cytharis, lyris, et psalterijs, non autem de tubis aut tympanis: +et pręcedunt Baronis per transuersum Aulę coram residente Domino ordinatč +bini, et bini sub silentio, ferentes ambabus manibus ante pectus tabulam de +Iaspide, ebore, christallo, pyropo, vel Hęmatisto, et ante faciem throni +inclinant se Imperatori profundč. + +Illķsque pertranseuntibus, succedit simili modo millenarius secundus, et +tertius, atque quartus, nec auditur ą quoquam vnicum verbum. Hac +pręsentatione cum debita maturitate perfecta, resident in basso ą latere +throni ad proprias mensas, multi Philosophi, seu Artistę, sicut de +Astronomia, Geomantia, Pyromantia, Hydromantia, Chiromantia, Necromantia, +auguriis, ac aruspiciis, et huiusmodi, tenentes coram instrumenta suę +artis, alii Astrolabium, et Sphęras de auro, alii in aureis vasis arenam, +prunas ardentes, aquam, vinum, oleum, et caluarias mortuorum, loquentes et +respondentes, nec non de auro horologia ad minłs duo: et ad cunctas horas +secundum cursum horologiorum innuunt Philosophi seruis sibi ad hoc +deputatis, vt faciant pręstari auditum per aulam, quorum vnus aut duo +conscendentes scallum, alta voce proclamant, audite, auscultate, et omnibus +intendentibus dicit Philosophorum vnus: Quilibet nunc faciat reuerentiam +Imperatori, qui est filius Dei excelsi, Dominus et superior omnium +Dominorum Mundi, quia ecce hęc est hora. Et mox singuli in aula inclinato +corpore et capite se inclinant maiestati manentes accliui, donec idem +philosophus dicat, leuate. Atque protinłs super hoc factum, Musici suis +instrumentis, suauem personant melodiam. + +Posteą ad aliquantam moram simili modo dicit alias philosophorum, minimus +digitus in aure: et ecce hoc omnes faciunt, donec dicat, sufficit: sic in +aliam horam, seu moram dicit, manus vestra super os, et posteą manus super +caput. Atque in hunc modum iuxta temporis cursum imponunt facienda signa +diuersa. Innuunt in eis latere magna mysteria, et quodlibet horum factorum +melodia terminat Musicorum. Et sciatis me quandoque in tempore opportuno ab +eis interrogasse de his signis, qui responderunt quņd inclinare caput +Domino ad illius horę momentum, foret confirmatio omnibus diebus vitę suę, +ad obediendum ipsi et fidelitatem obseruandam imperio, nec posse corrumpi +promissionibus siue donis, quódque digitum in auricula imponere, obturatio +est auditus contra omnia Imperatori, et Imperio contraria. Et sic de +singulis factis singula mysteria confingentes decipiunt audientes: horum +itaque fraudulento ingenio, iste Grand Can festiuatus, non nisi ad talium +iudicium parari permittit cibaria, aut fieri indumenta pro suo corpore. + +Dura autem est visum Curię gubernatoribus satis de prędictis auditum, +faciunt proclamatores silentium imperari, et incipit fieri offerenda +Imperatori hoc modo. Intrant omnes qui sunt de cognatione Imperatoris +Barones adornati nobilissimč pro cuiusque decentia balteis, et indumentis, +quorum primus cum resonante symphonia pręmittit ad oblationem quotquot +valet de dextrarijs albis, et inclinans ante thronum pertransit, atque per +eundem modum singuli Baronum offerentes aliquid dignum iocale inclinant +transeuntes, silentio firmč seruato. Post hos intrantes simili modo pręlati +et Abbates, de iurisdictionibus et religionibus Paganorum offerunt singuli +pro suo statu se reuerentčr inclinantes maiestati, et maior pręlatorum +benedicit Regi, et suis ac Curię quadam suę legis oratione. + +Deinde introducuntur elephantes, leones, pardi, simię, marmotę, et diuersę +bestię, quarum ductores singuli transeuntes inclinant reuerenter, et +intentč. Postremņ afferuntur aquilę, struthiones, gryphandi, accipitres, et +papingi, cum diuersis auibus et auiculis, nec non serpentes ac pisces, +quorum portitores inclinant profundč, quoniam dicunt omnes terrenas +creaturas debere adorationem Imperatori Grand Can filio Dei excelsi: et his +perfectis, + + Musicę Camenę persoluunt debita plenč. + +Nos igitur intendamus hoc loco quęso quomodo veraciter Pagani in tenebris +ambulant: diabolica inuolutione mens eorum obtenebrata non videt quomodņ, +cłm Imperator sit homo mortalis nuper natus, et similiter sicut illi +infirmitate circundatus, atque in breui cum ipsis moriturus, quem etiam non +dubitant sub Deo, clamant eum non Deum, sed Dei filium, vbi vtique prorsus +ignorant illum non esse laudandum, nec adorandum, sed eum non intendunt +alium filium, filium increatum et connaturalem, qui et ipsos et eum +creauit, solum superlaudabilem in secula. + +Et hoc alto corde considerantes, laudemus, adoremus, glorificemus, et +superexaltemus totis viribus Deum, qui nos filios lucis esse voluit, et +salutis, nasci, baptizari, educari, erudiri sub sinceritate fidei +Christianę, excluso schismate et errore, atque sub instituto sacrosanctę +matris Ecclesię, in qua sola penč ab omni circumferentia orbis terrę fides, +quę saluat, et per dilectionem operatur nunc remansit. + +Et oremus instantčr pro ipsis Paganis, vt agnita veritatis luce videre +possint quņ ambulant, vt perueniant ad Iesum Christuro coęqualem Dei +filium, atque in ipso, et per ipsum laudare et adorare solum vnum verum +Deum. + + +CAPVT. 36. + +De ludis et pręstigijs in suo festo, et de suo comitatu. + +Celebrato post hoc prandio satis morosč, quia nunquam est vltrą semel +edendum in die, de quo et eius administratione nunc longum est scribere, +adsunt gesticulatores, mira visu, suauiįque auditu pedibus, manibus, +brachijs, humeris, capitibus, et toto corpore, ac ad singulos gestus, +correspondentes debito vocis sono. Et semper finem horum mirabilium +cantilena subsequitur musicorum. Ex hoc ioculatores pręstņ sunt, et Magi, +qui suis incantationibus pręstant pręstigia multa. + +Imprimis faciunt videri Solem et Lunam, oriendo, descendendo consuetum diei +intra Basilicam peragere cursum, cum tanta nimietate splendoris, vt vix se +inuicem homines valeant recognoscere prę fulgore, dicentes et mentientes, +Solem et Lunam coeli hanc mittere reuerentiam Imperatori. + +Hinc pari ludo comparent speciosę puellę ducere semitas et choreas, nobili +gestu nobilissimum ferre poculum lactis equarum in aureis vasis, de quo, +ponentes se in genibus, tradunt potum dominis et dominabus. + +Tunc portantur et milites in equis, et armis quoque pleni atque parati, qui +feruentibus sonipedibus se inuicem cuspidibus ad fragorem magnum +configentes lanceas comminuunt, et fragmenta per mensas, et pauimenta +discurrunt. Ac deindč fantasticč venantur per aulam, cum canibus et +papionibus, ad ceruos, lupos, vrsos, et apros, ad lepores, et marmotas. Quę +singula cłm ad horam pascant vana delectatione sensus corporeos, miseriam +tamen inserunt pię menti, quņd tot et tanti homines, neglecta prorsus animi +salute, his diabolicis operationibus se dederunt in toto. Nam certņ non ita +sine dęmonum consolatione et familiaritate pręmissa confingi dicerem. + +Nota: ą Cambalu ad viginti dietas, est pulchrum nemus girans octo dietas in +circuitu, in quo sunt omnia genera animalium: custodes habet circa eum. +Triennio vel quadriennio visitat illud Imperator, et cum multa gente nemus +circumdat, canes emittuntur et aues, cum multo clamore, et feras congregant +in medio nemoris, ad planiciem sibi sitam. Tunc Imperator priłs iacit +quinque sagittas, posteą alij: tunc Imperator dicit, Eya, hoc est, mina +bestijs, et sicut quilibet capit sagittam suam signatam, percussam, aliis +recedentibus ad sua loca. Odericus. + +Prętereą ante Imperatoris mensam eriguntur tabulę latę aureę cum sculptis, +ac si viuerent, imaginibus gallorum, pauonum ac diuersarum volucrum +artificiosč, quas pręstigiator facit pro libitu sine apprehensione manus +ire, tripudiare, chorizare, tremere, compugnare, bibere, manducare, sed et +cantare: quod quidem inter cętera mihi videbatur mirabilius et aspectu +delectabilius. Nullus istud plenč intueri potuit, nisi qui erat in throno +vel circa: et me oportet hoc loco fateri stultitiam propriam, quņd hac +delectatione tractus, magnam adhibui apud Artistam diligentiam, verbis +blandis, et quibuscunque munusculis, ac melioribus promissis, quod de tali +mihi traderet artem, qui sagax simul et fallax imprimis, spem meam trahebat +sponsionum funibus: sed at vltimum penitłs abscindebat, dicens se vouisse +Deo immortali, ne cuiquam doceret nisi proprio filio seniori, ac per hoc me +Deus ab illo malo conseruauit inuitum, et gratias nunc reddentem. + +Certum est illic homines esse subtiles ad quasdam humanas artes, et +ingeniosos ad fraudes super omnes, quas noui mundi partes, vnde et inter se +dicunt prouerbium, se solos videre duobus oculis, et Christianos vno, +cęteros autem homines cęecos: sed mentitur iniquitas sibi, quoniam ipsi +vident solo oculo terrena et transitoria, et nos Christiani duobus, quia +cum terrenis videmus spiritualia, et mansura: percussit enim Naas, +[Marginal Note: I Sam. 11. 2.] id est, humani generis hostis cum illis +foedus, vt erueret omnibus oculos dextros, scilicet spirituales. + +Cłm itaque narrata de pręmissis debeant sufficere, quando Imperator Grand +Can de vno quatuor palatiorum ad aliud transire velit, vel fortč gratia +visitationis aut ardui negotii per Imperium de Regno ad Regnum tendit per +comitatus, quatuor exercitibus antč et retrņ, et ex ambobus lateribus. + +Primus exercitus pręcedit personam Regis per vnam de suis dietis, vt semper +in hospitium de quo recessit exercitus Rex intret nocte sequenti, et est +hic primus comitatus descriptus, et statutus de numero quinquaginta cuman +virorum, hoc est, quingentorum millium, sempérque pręuisum, et prouisum +est, vt inueniant necessaria in locis, vbi habent quiescere, vel tardare +siue in hospitiis, siue in tentoriis. + +Secundus et tertius comitatus sunt eiusdem numeri virorum cum primo, quorum +vnus ad dextram tendit Imperatoris, alius ad sinistrum in distantia ab ipso +ad trium vel duarum leucarum. + +Quartus autem qui maior est omnibus, subsequitur Imperatorem quasi ad +spatium iactus balistę. Et ad hoc sciendum est, quņd personę horum +comitatuum sunt sigillatim, et summatim omnes descriptę, vt dum vna moritur +vel recedit, protinłs alia inscribatur, et numerus non minuatur. Ipse verņ +Imperator tendit residens in cella seu camera ędificata super currum +grandem forma, fortem robore, nobilem in structura, est cella de ligno +Aloes optimi odoris, et parietes cellę operti in quibusdam locis laminis +aureis, quę et ipsę distinguuntur gemmis variis, et margaritis. + +Est autem currus quatuor rotarum duntaxat, quem trahunt quatuor Elephantes +ad hoc curiosč instructi, cum quatuor hippis albis equę doctis et ipsi +cooperti ditissimis tegumentis, ac pręter aurigas nobiliter indutos, qui +currum cautissimč ducunt, adsunt et quatuor de maioribus palatii Dominis, +indč ad vehiculum habentes iugem curam, de minatione eius, et ne vltimo +exercitu appropriet infra iactum (vt dixi) sagittę. Ipse autem interdum pro +sodalitate iubet secum ascendere quam vult personam, sed minimč vltrą duos. +In cellę quoque culmine, quod aperiri valet et claudi, astant in pertica +quatuor grifandi, vel ostiones. Odericus: duodecim Girfalcones, vt si fortč +Imperator in ęre aquilam, vulturum, ardeam, vel collectorem cerneret, citņ +dimitteret istorum duas aut plures ad aucupandum. + +Nota, per Dromedarios, et cursores, et veloces, qui de hospitio ad +hospitium permutantur, scit de remotis noua. Cursor enim appropinquans +cornu sonat, et tunc alius pręparat, et vlteriłs currit. Odericus. +Sciendumque tam primogenitum Regis, quąm singulas de tribus vxoribus ducere +similem apparatum in itinerando post ipsum; scilicet cum quatuor +comitatibus, antč, et retrņ, et ą lateribus, sed in valdč minori numero +personarum pro placito, et in singulis curribus sequentibus se inuicem per +vnam dietam. + +Pręmissa omnia sic fiunt, dum Imperatori tendendum est remotč, aliąs autem +minuuntur, et distinguuntur comitatus, iuxta quod decet, vt nonnunquam +omnes Imperatores etiam cum filio simul tendant, cum vna comitatuum +distinctione. Transeunte autem sic Imperatore per ciuitates et villas +quilibet ante fores proprias pręparato igne iactat poluerem aromata +redolentem, stans genibus flexis ad reuerentiam illi. Et sciatis vbi propč +transitum illius habentur Christianę Abbatię, quas olim constituit Dux +Ogerus, exeunt obuiam illi in processione cum vexillis, et sancta cruce, et +aqua benedicta, et thuribulo, hymnum, Veni Creator spiritus decantantes. + +Nota: Ego semel cum Episcopo nostro, et alijs fratribus, uimus obuiam per +duas dietas, et portaui thuribulum. Odericus. Quos ipse ą remotis videns, +consueuit ad se appellare, et ad crucem suum galeatum deponere, ac +reuerentčr nudo capite inclinare: et pręlatus dicens super cum aliquam +orationem signat cruce, et aqua benedicta aspergit. Et quoniam necesse est, +vt quisque extraneus ante Regem apparens, offerat ei aliquid, pręlatus in +disco pręsentat ei fructus, et poma, vel pyra, et hoc in numero nouenario, +(ratio ponitur primo capitullo proximo, quod iste numerus est plus cęteris +acceptus,) de quibus Imperator vnum sibi sumens, reliqua tradit Dominis +pręsentibus: quo facto habent relligiosi recedere citņ, ne opprimantur +multitudine populi subsequentis. + +Pręfatum Domini galeatum, est ita intextum auro, diamantibus, gemmunculis, +et orientalibus margaritis, granellis, et dubletis, et prędiues in materia +et artificio, vt ei non sit ęquandus magni in partibus istis Regis +thesaurus. Item sicut hęc fiunt transeunti Imperatori, fiunt et +Imperatricibus, et filio seniori. + + +The English Version. + +And zee schulle undirstonde, that my felawes and I, with oure zomen, we +serveden this emperour, and weren his soudyoures, 15 monethes, azenst the +Kyng of Mancy, that held werre azenst him. And the cause was, for we hadden +gret lust to see his noblelesse and the estat of his court and alle his +governance, to write zif it were suche, as wee herde seye, that it was. And +treuly, we fond it more noble and more excellent and ricchere and more +marveyllous, than ever we herde speke offe; in so moche, that we wolde +never han leved it, had wee not seen it. For I trowe, that no man wolde +beleve the noblesse, the ricchesse, ne the multytude of folk that ben in +his court, but he had seen it. For it is not there, as it is here. For the +lordes here han folk of certeyn nombre, als thei may suffise: but the grete +Chane hathe every day folke at his costages and expenses, as with outen +nombre. But the ordynance, ne the expenses in mete and drynk, ne the +honestee ne the clennesse, is not so arrayed there, as it is here: for alle +the comouns there eten withouten clothe upon here knees; and thei eten alle +maner of flessche, and litylle of bred. And aftre mete, thei wypen here +hondes upon here skyrtes: and thei eten not but ones a day. But the estat +of lordes is fulle gret and riche and noble. And alle be it, that sum men +wil not trow me; but holden it for fable, to telle hem the noblesse of his +persone and of his estate and of his court and of the gret multytude of +folk, that he holt, natheles I schalle seye zou, a partye of him and of his +folk, aftre that I have seen, the manere and the ordynance, fulle many a +tyme. And whoso that wole, may leve me, zif he wille; and who so wille not, +may chuse. For I wot wel, zif ony man hathe ben in tho contrees bezonde, +thoughe he have not ben in the place, where the grete Chane duellethe, he +schalle here speke of him so meche merveylouse thing, that he schalle not +trowe it lightly: and treuly, no more did I my self, til I saughe it. And +tho that han ben in tho contrees and in the gret Canes houshold, knowen +wel, that I seye sothe. And therfore I wille not spare, for hem that knowe +not, ne beleve not, but that that thei seen, for to telle zou a partie of +him and of his estate, that he holt, whan he gothe from contree to contree, +and whan he makethe solempne festes. + + +CAPVT. 37. + +Qua de causa dicitur Grand Gan. + +Si placet audire, dicam cur hic Imperator sit appellatus Grand Can. +Audieram ego in partibus Ierosolymorum hunc esse sic dictum, ą filio Noe, +Cham: sed in terra Cathay accepi et aliam, et meram huius rei veritatem. +Nam et scribendo hęc duo nomina habent differentiam, quņd filius Noe Cham +scribitur quatuor elementis, quorum vltimum est M. et iste Can tribus +tantłm, quorum vltimum est N. + +Post annos Christi 1100. illa prima Tartaria (de qua suprą scripsi in prima +parte, capitulo quinto) fuit nimis oppressa seruitute sub Regibus +circumiacentium sibi nationum. Quandņ autem Deo placuit, maiores illius +Tartarię eleuauerunt de seipsis sibi Regem dictum Guis Can, cui et +promiserunt subiectissimam obedientiam. + +Idem cłm esset prudens strenuus 12. viriles habens filios, debellauit cum +ijs et populo suo, et vicit, ac subiecit cunctos in circuitu Reges, quibus +terra indebitč dił subiacuerat. Quin etiam apparente sibi in visione Angelo +Dei velut milite in albo equo, et candidis armis, et hortante se, vt +transiret Alpes, per montem Beliam, [Marginal note: Vel Belgiam.] et per +brachium maris, ad terram Cathay, et ad alias illic plurimas regiones +transiuit, et coepit com filijs suis aliquas ex illis debellare, et +subijcere, Deo in omnibus adiuuante patentčr. Et quoniam in equo albo ei +Angelus apparuit, qui etiam antč passum prędicti maris nouem orationes Deo +facere iussit, ideņ successores vsque hodič diligunt equos albos, et +nouenarium numerum habent prę cęteris in gratia. Dumque Guis Can morti prę +senio appropinquaret, conuocatos ante se filios hortabatur, et mouebat +exemplo 12. telorum in simul colligatorum, quę ą nullo filiorum paritčr +frangi potuerant, sed dissoluta vnumquodque per se facilč frangebatur, sic +filij (inquit) dilectissimi, si per concordiam vos inuicčm dilexeritis, et +vixeritis seniori fratri obedientes, confido in Deo iuxta promissionem mihi +ab Angelo factam, quņd omnem latissimam istam terram, et optimam illius +imperio subijcietis, quod et post patris discessum strenuissimč, ac +fidelissimč (Deo sibi prosperante) perfecerunt. Et quia cum propriis +nominibus habebant cognomen Can, primogenitus pro differentia obtinuit +nomen Grand Can, id est, Magnus Can, videlicit suprą cęteros fratres, qui +sibi in omnibus obediebant. + +Itaque iste secundus Imperator vocabatur Ochoto Can. + +Post quem filius eius regnauit dictus Guican. + +Quartus autem, qui Mango Can baptizabatur, permansitque fidelis +Christianus, qui etiam misso magno exercitu cum fratre suo Hallaon in +partes Arabię et Aegypti mandauit destrui in toto Mahometi superstitionem, +et terram poni in manibus Christianorum. Et fratre procedente, accepit +rumores de fratris sui Imperatoris morte inopinata, quaproptčr et redijt +negotio imperfecto. + +Quintus Cobilacan, qui etiam fuit Christianus, et regnauit 42. annis, et +ędificauit magnam ciuitatem Iong, maiorem satis vrbe Roma, in qua et +continetur valdč nobile palatium Imperiale. Hinc vsque hodie omnes +successores paganismo foedantur. + +Tempore autem meņ erat nomen Imperatoris Echian Can, et primogenitus eius +Cosuecan, pręter quem et alios filios habuit 12. de quorum nominibus +conscribendis non est curę presentis. + +Prima vxorum suorum vocabatur Serochan, quę et est filia Pręsbyteri Ioannis +scilicet Imperatoris Indię. + +Secunda Verouchan. + +Tertia Caranthcan. + +Istis duobus Imperatoribus non creditur inueniri maior Dominus sub +firmamento Coeli. + +In literis quę huius Imperatoris Tartarię scribuntur nomine ponitur semper +iste Titulus. Can filius Dei excelsi, omnium vniuersam terram colentium +summus Imperator, et Dominus Dominantium omnium. + +Circumferentia magni sui sigilli, continet hoc scriptum. + +Deus in Coelo, Can super terram, eius fortitudo. Omnium hominum Imperatoris + sigillum. + +Sciendum quoque quod quamuis populi ibi dicuntur, et sunt Pagani, tamen et +rex et omnes credunt in Deum immortalem, et omnipotentem, et iurant per +ipsum appellantes, Yroga, id est, Deum Naturę. Sed nihilominus colunt et +adorant idola, et simulachra aurea, et argentea, lapidea, lignea, filtria, +lanea, et linea. + + +The English Version. + +Wherefore he is clept the grete Chane. Of the Style of his Lettres, and of + the Superscripcioun abowten his grete Sealle, and his pryvee Sealle. + +[Sidenote: Chap. XXI.] First I schalle seye zou, whi he was clept the gret +Chane. Zee schulle undirstonde, that alle the world was destroyed by Noes +flood, saf only Noe and his wif and his children. Noe had 3 sones, Sem, +Cham and Japhethe. This Cham was he that saughe his fadres prevy membres +naked, whan he slepte, and scorned hem and schewed hem with his finger, to +his brethren, in scornynge wise: and ther fore he was cursed of God. And +Japhethe turned his face away, and covered hem. Theise 3 bretheren had +cesoun in alle the lond: and this Cham, for his crueltee, toke the gretter +and the beste partie, toward the est, that is clept Asye: and Sem toke +Affryk: and Japhethe toke Europe. And therfore is alle the erthe departed +in theise 3 parties, be theise 3 bretheren. Cham was the grettest, and the +most myghty: and of him camen mo generaciouns, than of the othere. And of +his sone Chuse, was engendred Nembrothe the geaunt, that was the firste +kyng, that ever was in the world: and he began the foundacion of the Tour +of Babyloyne. And that tyme, the fendes of helle camen many tymes, and +leyen with the wommen of his generacioun, and engendered on hem dyverse +folk, as monstres, and folk disfigured, summe with outen hedes, summe with +gret eres, summe with on eye, summe geauntes, summ with hors feet, and many +other dyverse schapp, azenst kynde. And of that generacioun of Cham, ben +comen the Paynemes, and dyverse folk, that ben in yles of the see, be alle +Ynde. And for als moche as he was the moste myghty, and no man myghte +withstonde him, he cleped himself the sone of God, and sovereyn of alle the +world. And for this Cham, this emperour clepeth him Cham and sovereyn of +all the world. And of the generacioun of Sem, ben comen the Sarrazines, And +of the generacioun of Japhethe, is comen the peple of Israel. And thoughe +that wee duellen in Europe, this is the opynyoun, that the Syryenes and the +Samaritanes, han amonges hem; and that thei told me, before that I wente +toward Ynde: but I fond it otherwise. Natheles the sothe is this, that +Tartarynes and thei that duellen in the grete Asye, thei camen of Cham. But +the emperour of Cathay clepeth him not Cham, but Can: and I schalle telle +zou how. It is but litylle more but 8 score zeer, that alle Tartarye was in +subiectioun and in servage to othere nacyouns abouten: for thei weren but +bestyalle folk, and diden no thing but kepten bestes, and lad hem to +pastures. But among hem, thei hadden 7 princypalle nacyouns, that weren +soveraynes of hem alle: of the whiche, the firste nacyoun or lynage was +clept Tartar; and that is the most noble and the most preysed. The seconde +lynage is clept Tanghot; the thridde Eurache; the 4 Valair; the 5 Semoche; +the 6 Megly; the 7 Coboghe. Now befelle it so, that of the firste lynage +succeeded an old worthi man, that was not riche, that hadde to name +Changuys. This man lay upon a nyght in his bed, and he sawhe in a visioun, +that there cam before him a knyght armed alle in white, and he satt upon a +white hors, and seyd to him, Can, slepest thou? The inmortalle God hathe +sent me to the; and it is his wille, that thou go to the 7 lynages, and +seye to hem, that thou schalt ben here emperour. For thou schalt conquere +the londs and the contrees, that ben abouten: and thei that marchen upon +zou, schulle ben undre zoure subieccioun, as zee han ben undre hires: for +that is Goddes wille inmortalle. And whan he cam at morwe, Changuys roos, +and wente to the 7 lynages, and tolde hem how the white knyght had seyd. +And thei scorned him, and seyden, that he was a fool; and so he departed +fro hem alle aschamed. And the nyght sewynge, this white knyght cam to the +7 lynages, and commaunded hem, on Goddes behalve inmortalle, that thei +scholde make this Changuys here emperour; and thei scholde ben out of +subieccioun; and thei scholde holden alle other regiounes aboute hem in +here servage, as thei had ben to hem beforn. And on the morwe, thei chosen +him to ben here emperour: and thei setten him upon a blak fertre; and aftre +that, thei liften him op with gret solempnytee, and thei setten him in a +chayer of gold, and diden hym alle maner of reverence; and thei cleped him, +Chan, as the white knyght called him. And whan he was thus chosen, he wolde +assayen, zif he myghte trust in hem or non, and whether thei wolde ben +obeyssant to him or non. And thanne he made many statutes and ordinances, +that thei clepen _Ysya Chan_. The first statute was, that thei scholde +beleeven and obeyen in God inmortalle, that is allemyghty, that wolde +casten hem out of servage; and at alle tymes clepe to him for help, in tyme +of nede. The tother statute was, that alle maner of men that myghte beren +armes, scholden ben nombred: and to every 10 scholde ben a maystre, and to +every 100 a maystre, and to every 1000 a maystre, and to every 10000 a +maystre. Aftre he commanded to the princypales of the 7 lynages, that thei +scholde leven and forsaken alle that thei hadden in godes and heritage; and +fro thens forthe to holden hem payd, of that that be wolde zeve hem of his +grace. And thei diden so anon. Aftre he commanded to the princypales of the +7 lynages, that every of hem scholde brynge his eldest sone before him, and +with here owne handes smyten of here hedes, with outen taryenge. And anon +his commandement was performed. And whan the Chane saghe, that thei made +non obstacle to performen his commandement, thanne he thoughte wel, that he +myghte trusten in hem, and commanded hem anon to make hem redy, and to +sewen his banere. And aftre this, Chane putt in subieccioun alle the londes +aboute him. Aftreward it befelle upon a day, that the Cane rood with a fewe +meynee, for to beholde the strengthe of the contree, that he had wonnen: +and so befelle, that a gret multytude of his enemyes metten with hem; and +for to zeven gode ensample of hardynesse to his peeple, he was the firste +that faughte, and in the myddes of his enemyes encountred; and there he was +cast from his hors, and his hors slayn. And whan his folk saughe him at the +erthe, thei weren alle abasscht, and wenden he had ben ded, and flowen +everych one; and hire enemyes aftre, and chaced hem: but thei wiste not, +that the emperour was there. And whan thei weren comen azen fro the chace, +thei wenten and soughten the wodes, zif ony of hem had ben hid in the +thikke of the wodes: and manye thei founden and slowen hem anon. So it +happend, that as thei wenten serchinge, toward the place that the emperour +was, thei saughe an owle sittynge upon a tree aboven hym; and than thei +seyden amonges hem, that there was no man, be cause that thei saughe that +brid there: and to thei wenten hire wey; and thus escaped the emperour from +dethe. And thanne he wente prevylly, alle be nyghte, tille he cam to his +folk, that weren fulle glad of his comynge, and maden grete thankynges to +God immortalle, and to that bryd, be whom here lord was saved. And therfore +princypally aboven alle foules of world, thei worschipen the owle: and whan +thei han ony of here fedres, thei kepen hem fulle precyously, in stede of +relykes, and beren hem upon here hedes with gret reverence: and thei holden +hem self blessed and saf from alle periles, while that thei han hem upon +hem; and therfore thei beren here fedres upon here hedes. Aftre alle this +the Cane ordeyned him, and assembled his peple, and wente upon hem that +hadden assayled hym before, and destroyed hem, and put hem in subieccioun +and servage. And whan he had wonnen and putt alle the londes and contrees, +on this half the Mount Belyan, in subieccioun, the whyte knyght cam to him +azen in his sleep, and seyde to him, Chan, the wille of God immortalle is, +that thou passe the Mount Belyan; and thou schalt wynne the lond, and thou +schalt putten many nacyouns in subieccioun: and for thou schalt fynde no +gode passage for to go toward that contree, go to the Mount Belyan, that is +upon the see, and knele there 9 tymes toward the est, in the worschipe of +God immortalle; and he schal schewe the weye to passe by. And the Chane +dide so. And anon the see, that touched and was fast to the mount, began to +withdrawe him, and schewed fair weye of 9 fote brede large; and so he +passed with his folk, and wan the lond of Cathay, that is the grettest +kyngdom of the world. And for the 9 knelynges, and for the 9 fote of weye, +the Chane and alle the men of Tartarye han the nombre of 9 in gret +reverence. And therfore who that wole make the Chane ony present, be it of +hors, be it of bryddes, or of arwes, or bowes, or of frute, or of ony other +thing, alweys he most make it of the nombre of 9. And so thanne ben the +presentes of grettere plesance to him, and more benygnely he wil resceyven +hem, than though he were presented with an 100 or 200. For hym semethe the +nombre of 9 so holy, be cause the messagre of God immortalle devised it. +Also whan the Chane of Cathay hadde wonen the contree of Cathay, and put in +subieccioun and undre fote many contrees abouten, he felle seek. And whan +he felte wel, that he scholde dye, he seyde to his 12 sones, that everyche +of hem scholde brynge him on of his arewes; and so thei diden anon. And +thanne he commanded, that men scholde bynden hem to gedre, in 3 places; and +than he toke hem to his eldest sone, and bad him breke hem alle to gedre. +And he enforced hem with alle his myght to breken hem: but he ne myghte +not. And than the Chane bad his seconde sone to breke hem; and so schortly +too alle, eche aftre other: but non of hem myght breke hem. And than be bad +the zongest sone dissevere everyche from other, and breken everyche be him +self: and so he dide. And than seyde the Chane to his eldest sone, and to +alle the othere, Wherfore myght zee not breke hem? And thei answereden, +that thei myght not, be cause that thei weren bounden to gydre. And +wherfore, quothe he, hathe zoure litylle zongest brother broken hem? +Because, quothe thei, that thei weren departed eche from other. And thanne +seyde the Chane, My sones, quoth he, treuly thus wil it faren be zou. For +als longe as zee ben bounden to gedere, in 3 places, that is to seyne, in +love, in trouthe and in gode accord, no man schalle ben of powere to greve +zou; but and zee ben disevered fro theise 3 places, that zoure on helpe not +zoure other, zee schulle be destroyed and brought to nought: and zif eche +of zou love other, and helpe othere, ze schulle be lordes and sovereynes of +alle othere. And whan he hadde made his ordynances, he dyed. And thanne +after hym, regned Ecchecha Cane his eldest sone. And his othere bretheren +wenten to wynnen hem many contrees and kyngdomes, unto the lond of Pruysse +and of Rossye, and made hem to ben cleped Chane: but thei weren all +obeyssant to hire eldre brother: and therfore was he clept grete Chane. +Aftre Ecchecha, regned Guyo Chane: and aftre him, Mango Chan, that was a +gode Cristene man, and baptized, and zaf lettres of perpetuelle pes to alle +Cristene men, and sente his brother Halaon with gret multytude of folk, for +to wynnen the Holy Lond, and for to put it in to Cristene mennes hondes, +and for to destroye Machametes lawe, and for to take the Calyphee of +Baldak, that was emperour and lord of alle the Sarazines. And whan this +Calyphee was taken, men fownden him of so highe worschipe, that in alle the +remenant of the world, ne myghte a man fynde a more reverent man, ne +highere in worschippe. And then Halaon made him come before him, and seyde +to hym: Why, quoth be, haddest thow not taken with the mo sowdyoures, and +men y nowe, for a lytille quantytee of thresour, for to defende the and thi +contree, that art so habundant of tresore and so high in alle worschipe? +And the Calyphee answered him, For he wel trowede, that he hadde y nowe of +his owne propre men. And than seyde Halaon, Thou were as a god of the +Sarazines: and it is convenyent to a god, to ete no mete, that is mortalle; +and therfore thou schalt not ete, but precyous stones, riche perles, and +tresour, that thou lovest so moche. And then he commanded him to presoun, +and alle his tresoure aboute him; and so he dyed for hungre, and threst. +And than aftre this, Halaon wan alle the lond of promyssioun, and putte it +in to Cristene mennes hondes. But the grete Chane his brother dyede; and +that was gret sorwe and losse to alle Cristen men. + +Aftre Mango Chan, regned Coblya Chan, that was also a Cristene man: and he +regnede 42 zere. He founded the grete cytee Izonge in Cathay, that is a +gret del more than Rome. + +The tother gret Chane, that cam aftre him, becam a Payneme, and alle the +other aftre him. + +The kyngdom of Cathay is the grettest reme of the world. And also the gret +Chan is the most myghty emperour of the world, and the grettest lord undre +the firmament; and so he clepethe him in his lettres, right thus, _Chan, +filius Dei excelsi, omnium universam Terram colentium summus Imperatur, et +Dominus omnium Dominantium_. And the lettre of his grete seel, writen +abouten, is this, _Deus in Celo, Chan super Terram, ejus fortitudo. Omnium +hominum Imperatoris Sigillum_. And the superscripcioun aboute his litylle +seel is this, _Dei Fortitudo omnium hominum. Imperatoris Sigillum_. And +alle be it that thei be not cristned, zit natheles the emperour and alle +the Tarterynes beleeven in God immortalle. And whan thei wille manacen ony +man thanne thei seyn, God knowethe wel, that I schalle do the suche a +thing, and tellethe his menace. And thus have zee herd, whi he is clept the +grete Chane. + + +Of the governance of the grete Chanes Court, and whan he makethe solempne + Festes. Of his Philosophres. And of his Array, whan he riddethe be the + contre. + +[Sidenote: Cap. XXIII.] Now schalle I telle zou the governance of the court +of the grete chane, whan he makethe solempne festes: and that is +princypally 4 tymes in the zeer. The firste feste is of his byrthe: that +other is of his presentacioun in here temple, that thei clepen here +Moscache, where thei maken a manere of circumsicioun: and the tother 2 +festes ben of his ydoles. The firste feste of the ydole is, whan he is +first put in to hire temple and throned. The tother feste is, whan the +ydole begynnethe first to speke or to worche myracles. Mo ben there not of +solempne festes, but zif he marye ony of his children. Now undirstondethe, +that at every of theise festes, he hathe gret multytude of peple, well +ordeyned and wel arrayed, be thousandes, be hundredes and be tenthes. And +every man knowethe wel, what servyse he schalle do. And every man zevethe +so gode hede and so gode attendance to his servyse, that no man fyndethe no +defaute. And there ben first ordeyned 4000 baronnes myghty and riche, for +to gouerne and to make ordynance for the feste, and for to serve the +emperour. And theise solempne festes ben made with outen, in hales and +tentes made of clothes of gold and of tartaries, fulle nobely. And alle tho +barouns han crounes of gold upon hire hedes, fulle noble and riche, fulle +of precious stones and grete perles oryent. And thei ben alle clothed in +clothes of gold or of tartaries or of camokas, so richely and so perfytly, +that no man in the world can amenden it, ne better devisen it. And alle tho +robes ben orfrayed alle abouten, and dubbed fulle of precious stones and of +grete oryent perles, fulle richely. And thei may wel do so; for clothes of +gold and of sylk ben gretter chep there a gret del, than ben clothes of +wolle. And theise 4000 barouns ben devised in 4 companyes: and every +thousand is clothed in clothes alle of o colour; and that so wel arrayed +and so richely, that it is marveyle to beholde. The firste thousand, that +is of Dukes, of Erles, of Marquyses and of Amyralles, alle clothed in +clothes of gold, with tysseux of grene silk, and bordured with gold, fulle +of preciouse stones, in maner as I have seyd before. The secounde thousand +is alle clothed in clothes dyapred of red silk, alle wroughte with gold, +and the orfrayes sett fulle of gret perl and precious stones, fulle nobely +wroughte. The 3 thousand is clothed in clothes of silk, of purpre of Ynde. +And the 4 thousand is in clothes of zalow. And alle hire clothes ben so +nobely and so richely wroughte with gold and precious stones and riche +perles, that zif a man of this contree hadde but only on of hire robes, he +myghte wel seye, that he sholde nevere be pore. For the gold and the +precious stones and the grete oryent perles ben of gretter value, on this +half the see, than thei ben bezond the see, in tho contrees. And whan thei +ben thus apparaylled, thei gon 2 and 2 togedre, fulle ordynatly before the +emperour, withouten speche of ony woord, saf only enclynynge to him. And +everyche of hem berethe a tablett of jaspere or of ivory or of cristalle; +and the mynstralle goynge before hem, sownyng here instrumentes of dyverse +melodye. And whan the firste thousand is thus passed, and hathe made his +mostre, he withdrawethe him on that o syde. And than entrethe that other +secunde thousand, and dothe right so, in the same manere of array and +contenance, as did the firste; and aftre the thridde, and than the fourthe; +and non of hem seythe not o word. And at o syde of the emperours table, +sitten many philosofres, that ben preved for wise men, in many dyverse +scyences; as of astronomye, nigromancye, geomancye, pyromancye, ydromancye, +of augurye and of many other scyences. And everyche of hem han before hem +astrolabes of gold; sum speres, summe the brayn panne of a ded man, summe +vesselles of gold fulle of gravelle or sond, summe vesseles of gold fulle +of coles brennynge, sume veselle of gold fulle of watre and of wyn and of +oyle, and summe oriloges of gold, mad ful nobely and richely wroughte, and +many other maner of instrumentes aftre hire sciences. And at certeyn +houres, whan hem thinkethe time, thei seyn to certeyn officeres, that +stonden before hem, ordeynd for the tyme, to fulfille hire commaudemenes, +Makethe pees. And than seyn the officeres, Now pees lystenethe. And aftre +that, seyth another of the philosophres, Every man do reverence, and +enclyne to the emperour, that is Goddes sone and soverayn lord of alle the +world; for now is tyme. And thanne every man bowethe his hed toward the +erthe. And thanne commandethe the same philosophre azen, Stondethe up. And +thei don so. And at another hour, seythe another philosophre, Puttethe +zoure litille fynger in zoure eres. And anon thei don so. And at another +hour, seythe another philosophre, Puttethe zoure honde before zoure mouthe. +And anon thei don so. And at another hour, seithe another philosophre, +Puttethe zoure honde upon zoure hede. And aftre that, he byddethe hem to +don here hond a wey; and thei don so. And so from hour to hour, thei +commanden certeyn thinges. And thei seyn, that tho thinges han dyverse +significaciouns. And I asked hem prevyly, what tho thinges betokened. And +on of the maistres told me, that the bowynge of the hed at that hour +betokened this, that alle tho that boweden here hedes, scholden evere more +aftre ben obeyssant and trewe to the emperour: and nevere for ziftes, ne +for promys in no kynde, ben fals ne traytour unto him for gode ne evylle. +And the puttynge of the litylle fynger in the ere, betokenethe, as thei +seyn, that none of hem ne schalle not here speke no contrarious thing to +the emperour, but that he schalle telle it anon to his conseille, or +discovere it to sum men that wille make relacioun to the emperour; thoughe +he were his fadre or brother or sone. And so forthe of alle other thtnges, +that is don be the philosophres, thei tolde me the causes of many dyverse +thinges. And trustethe righte wel in certyn, that no man dothe no thing to +the emperour, that belongethe unto him, nouther clothinge, ne bred, ne wyn, +ne bathe, ne non other thing, that longethe to hym, but at certeyn houres, +that his philosopheres wille devysen. And zif there falle werre in ony syde +to the emperour, anon the philosophres comen, and seyn here avys aftre her +calculaciouns, and conseylen the emperour of here avys, be here sciences; +so that the emperour dothe no thing with outen here conseille. And whan the +philosophres han don and perfourmed here commandementes, thanne the +mynstralle begynnen to don here mynstralcye, everyche in hire instrumentes, +eche aftre other, with alle the melodye that thei can devyse. And whan thei +han don a gode while, on of the officers of the emperour gothe up on an +highe stage wroughte fulle curyously, and cryethe and seythe with lowde +voys, Makethe pees. And than every man is stille. And thanne anon aftre, +alle the lordes, that ben of the emperours lynage, nobely arrayed in riche +clothes of gold, and ryally apparayled on white stedes, als manye as may +wel sewen hem at that tyme, ben redy to maken here presentes to the +emperour. And than seythe the styward of the court to the lordes be name, +N. of N. and nempnethe first the most enoble and the worthieste be name, +and seythe, be zee redy with suche a nombre of white hors, for to serve the +emperour, zoure sovereyn lord. And to another lord, he seythe, N. of N. be +zee redy with suche a nombre, to serve zoure sovereyn lord. And so another, +right so. And to alle the lordes of the emperoures lynage, eche aftre +other, as ben of estate. And whan thei ben alle cleped, thei entren eche +aftre other, and presentenen the white hors to the emperour; and than gon +hire wey. And than aftre, alle the other barouns every of hem zeven hem +presentes, or juelle, or sum other thing, aftre that thei ben of estate. +And than aftre hem, alle the prelates of hire lawe, and religiouse men and +other; and every man zevethe him sum thing. And whan that alle men han thus +presented the emperour, the greetest of dignytee of the prelates zevethe +hem a blessynge, seyenge an orisoun of hire lawe. And than begynnen the +mynstrelle to maken hire mynstralcye, in dyverse instrumentes, with alle +the melodye that thei can devyse. And whan thei han don hire craft, than +thei bryngen before the emperour, lyouns, libardes and other dyverse +bestes; and egles and veutours, and other dyverse foules; and fissches, and +serpentes; for to don him reverence. And than comen jogulours and +enchauntoures, that don many marvaylles: for thei maken to come in the ayr, +the sonne and the mone, be semynge, to every mannes sight. And aftre thei +maken the day to come azen, fair and plesant with bright sonne, to every +mannes sight. And than thei bryngen in daunces of the faireste damyselles +of the world, and richest arrayed. And aftre thei maken to come in, other +damyselles, bryngynge coupes of gold, fulle of mylk of dyverse bestes, and +zeven drynke to lordes and to ladyes. And than thei make knyghtes to +jousten in armes fulle lustyly; and thei rennen to gidre a gret randoum; +and thei frusschen to gidere fulle fiercely; and thei breken here speres so +rudely, that the tronchouns flen in sprotes and peces alle aboute the +halle. And than thei make to come in huntyng, for the hert and for the +boor, with houndes rennynge with open mouthe. And many other thinges thei +don, be craft of hire enchauntementes; that it is marveyle for to see. And +suche pleyes of desport thei make, til the takynge up of the boordes. + +This gret Chan hathe fulle gret peple for to serve him, as I have told zou +before. For he hathe of mynstralles the nombre of 13 cumanez: but thei +abyde not alle weys with hym. For alle the mynstrelle that comen before +hym, of what nacyoun that thei ben of, thei ben withholden with him, as of +his houshold, and entred in his bokes, as for his owne men. And aftre that, +where that evere thei gon, ever more thei cleymen for mynstralle of the +grete Chane: and undre that tytle, alle kynges and lordes, cherisschen hem +the more with ziftes and alle thing. And therefore he hathe so gret +multytude of hem. And he hathe of certeyn men, as thoughe thei were zomen, +that kepen bryddes, as ostrycches, gerfacouns, sparehaukes, faukons +gentyls, lanyeres, sacres, sacrettes, papyngayes wel spekynge, and briddes +syngynge. And also of wylde bestes, as of olifauntz, tame and othere, +babewynes, apes, marmesettes, and othere dyverse bestes; the mountance of +15 cumanez of zomen. And of Phisicyens Cristene, he hathe 200. And of +leches, that ben Cristene, he hathe 210. And of leches and Phisicyens, that +ben Sarrazines 20: but he trustethe more in the Cristene leches, than in +the Sarrazines. And his other comoun houshold is with outen nombre: and +thei alle han alle necessaries, and alle that hem nedethe, of the +emperoures court. And he hathe in his court many barouns, as servytoures, +that ben Cristene and converted to gode feythe, be the prechynge of +religiouse Cristen men, that dwellen with him: but there ben manye mo, that +wil not, that men knowen that thei ben Cristene. + +This emperour may dispenden als moche as he wille, with outen estymacioun. +For he despendethe not, he makethe no money, but of lether emprented, or of +papyre. And of that moneye, is som of gretter prys, and som of lasse prys, +aftre the dyversitee of his statutes. And whan that money hathe ronne so +longe, that it begynnethe to waste, than men beren it to the emperoures +tresorye: and than thei taken newe money for the olde. And that money gothe +thorghe out alle the contree, and thorghe out alle his provynces. For there +and bezonde hem, thei make no money, nouther of gold nor of sylver. And +therfore he may despende y now, and outrageously. And of gold and sylver, +that men beren in his contree, he makethe cylours, pyleres and paumentes in +his palays, and other dyverse thinges, what him lykethe. This emperour +hathe in his chambre, in on of the pyleres of gold, a rubye and a +charboncle of half a fote long, that in the nyght zevethe so gret clartee +and schynynge, that it is als light as day. And he hathe many other +precyous stones, and many other rubyes and charboncles: but tho ben the +grettest and the moste precyous. + +This emperour duellethe in somer in a cytee, that is toward the northe, +that is cleped Saduz: and there is cold y now. And in wyntre, he duellethe +in a cytee, that is clept Camaaleche: and that is an hote contree. But the +contree, where he duellethe in most comounly, is in Caydo or in Jong, that +is a gode contree and a tempree, aftre that the contree is there: but to +men of this contree, it were to passyng hoot. And whan this emperour wille +ryde from o contree to another, he ordeynethe 4 hostes of his folk; of the +whiche, the firste hoost gothe before him, a dayes iourneye. For that hoost +schalle ben logged the nyght, where the emperour schalle lygge upon the +morwe. And there schalle every man have alle maner of vytaylle and +necessaryes, that ben nedefulle, of the emperoures costages. And in this +firste hoost is the nombre of peple 50 cumaunez; what of hors, what of +fote: of the whiche every cumanez amounten to 10000, as I have told zou +before. And another hoost gothe in the right syde of the emperour, nygh +half a journeye fro him. And another gothe on the left syde of him, in the +same wise. And in every hoost, is as moche multytude of peple, as in the +first hoost. And thanne aftre comethe the 4 hoost, that is moche more than +ony of the othere, and that gothe behynden him, the mountance of a bowe +draught. And every hoost hathe his iourneyes ordeyned in certeyn places, +where thei schulle be logged at nyght; and there thei schulle have alle, +that hem nedethe. And zif it befalle, that ony of the hoost dye, anon thei +putten another in his place; so that the nombre schal evere more ben hool. +And zee schulle undirstonde, that the emperour, in his propre persone, +rydethe not as othere gret lordes don bezonde; but zif him liste to go +prevyly with fewe men, for to ben unknowen. And elle he rytt in a charett +with 4 wheles, upon the whiche is made a faire chambre; and it is made of a +certeyn wode, that comethe out of paradys terrestre, that men clepen lignum +aloes, that the flodes of paradys bryngen out at dyverse cesouns, as I have +told zou here beforn. And this chambre is fulle wel smellynge, be cause of +the wode, that it is made offe. And alle this chambre is covered with inne +of plate of fyn gold, dubbed with precious stones and grete perles. And 4 +olifauntz and 4 grete destreres alle white, and covered with riche +covertoures ledynge the chariot. And 4 or 5 or 6 of the grettest lordes +ryden aboute the charyot, fulle richely arrayed and fulle nobely; so that +no man schalle nyghe the charyot, but only tho lordes, but zif that the +emperour calle ony man to him, that him list to speke with alle. And above +the chambre of this chariot, that the emperour sittethe inne, ben sett upon +a perche 4 or 5 or 6 gerfacouns; to that entent, that whan the emperour +seethe ony wylde foul, that he may take it at his owne list, and have the +desport and the pley of the flight; first with on, and aftre with another: +and so he takethe his desport passynge be the contree. And no man rydethe +before him of his companye; but alle aftre him. And no man dar not come +nyghe the chariot by a bowe draught, but tho lordes only, that ben about +him: and alle the hoost cometh fayrely aftre him, in gret multitude. And +also suche another charyot, with suche hoostes, ordeynd and arrayd, gon +with the empresse, upon another syde, everyche be him self, with 4 hoostes, +right as the emperour dide; but not with so gret multytude of peple. And +his eldest sone gothe be another weye in another chariot, in the same +manere. So that there is betwene hem so gret multitude of folk, that it is +marveyle to telle it. And no man scholde trowe the nombre, but he had seen +it. And sum tyme it happethe, that whan he wil not go fer; and that it lyke +him to have the emperesse and his children with him; than thei gon alle to +gydere; and here folk ben alle medled in fere, and devyded in 4 parties +only. + +END OF VOL. VIII. + + + + + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of The Principal Navigations, Voyages, +Traffiques and Discoveries of the English Nation. v. 8, by Richard Hakluyt + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK PRINCIPAL NAVIGATIONS, V 8, PART I *** + +***** This file should be named 9815-8.txt or 9815-8.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + https://www.gutenberg.org/9/8/1/9815/ + +Produced by Karl Hagen and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. 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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 www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: The Principal Navigations, Voyages, Traffiques and Discoveries of the English Nation. v. 8 + Asia, Part I. + +Author: Richard Hakluyt + +Posting Date: November 23, 2011 [EBook #9815] +Release Date: February, 2006 +First Posted: October 20, 2003 + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ASCII + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK PRINCIPAL NAVIGATIONS, V 8, PART I *** + + + + +Produced by Karl Hagen and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team + + + + + + + + + +** Transcriber's Notes ** + +The printed edition from which this e-text has been produced retains the +spelling and abbreviations of Hakluyt's 16th-century original. In this +version, the spelling has been retained, but the following manuscript +abbreviations have been silently expanded: + +- vowels with macrons = vowel + 'n' or 'm' +- q; = -que (in the Latin) +- y[e] = the; y[t] = that; w[t] = with + +This edition contains footnotes and two types of sidenotes. Most footnotes +are added by the editor. They follow modern (19th-century) spelling +conventions. Those that don't are Hakluyt's (and are not always +systematically marked as such by the editor). The sidenotes are Hakluyt's +own. Summarizing sidenotes are labelled [Sidenote: ] and placed before the +sentence to which they apply. Sidenotes that are keyed with a symbol are +labeled [Marginal note: ] and placed at the point of the symbol, except in +poetry, where they are placed at a convenient point. Additional notes on +corrections, etc. are signed 'KTH' + +** End Transcriber's Notes ** + + + + +THE PRINCIPAL + +NAVIGATIONS, VOYAGES, TRAFFIQUES, + +AND + +DISCOVERIES + +OF + +THE ENGLISH NATION. + +Collected by + +RICHARD HAKLUYT, PREACHER + +AND + +Edited by + +EDMUND GOLDSMID, F.R.H.S. + +VOL. VIII. + +ASIA. PART I. + + + + +Navigations, Voyages, Traffiques, and Discoueries + +OF THE ENGLISH NATION IN ASIA. + + +The life and trauailes of Pelagius borne in Wales. + +Pelagius Cambrius ex ea Britanniae parte oriundus, famati illius Collegij +Bannochorensis a Cestria non procul, praepositus, erat, in quo Christianorum +philosophorum duo millia ac centum, ad plebis in Christo commoditatem +militabant, manuum suarum laboribus, iuxta Pauli doctrinam victitantes. +Post quam plures exhibitos, pro Christiana Repub. labores, vir eruditione +insignis, et tum Graece, tum Latine peritus, vt Tertullianus alter, +quorundam Clericorum lacessitus iniurijs, grauatim tulit, ac tandem a fide +defecit. + +Peragratis igitur deinceps Gallijs, in Aegyptum, et Syriam aliasque +orientis Regiones demum peruenit. Vbi ex earum partium Monacho praesul +ordinatus, sui nominis haeresim fabricabat: asserens hominem sine peccato +nasci, ac solo voluntatis imperio sine gratia saluari posse, vt ita +nefarius baptismum ac fidem tolleret. Cum his et consimilibus impostricis +doctrinae faecibus in patriam suam reuersus, omnem illam Regionem, Iuliano et +Caelestino Pseudoepiscopis fautoribus, conspurcabat. Verum ante lapsum suum +studia tractabat honestissima, vt post Gennadium, Bedam, et Honorium alij +ferunt authores, composuitque multos libros ad Christianam vtilitatem. At +postquam est Hereticus publicatus, multo plures edidit haeresi succurrentes, +et ex diametro cum vera pietate pugnantes, vnde erat a suis Britannis in +exilium pulsus, vt in Epistola ad Martinum 5. Valdenus habet. Claruit anno +post Christum incarnatum, 390. sub Maximo Britannorum Rege. + +The same in English. + +Pelagius, borne in that part of Britaine which is called Wales, was head or +gouernour of the famous Colledge of Bangor, not farre from Chester, wherein +liued a Societie of 2100. Diuines, or Students of Christian philosophie, +applying themselues to the profite of the Christian people, and liuing by +the labours of their owne hands, according to Pauls doctrine. He was a man +excellently learned, and skilfull both in the Greeke and Latine tongues, +and as it were another Tertullian; after his long and great trauailes for +the good of the Christian common wealth, seeing himselfe abused, and +iniuriously dealt withall by some of the Clergie of that time, he tooke the +matter so grieuously, that at the last he relapsed from the faith. + +Whereupon he left Wales, and went into France, and hauing gone through +France, [Footnote: He is said to have resided long at Rome, only leaving on +the capture of that city by the Gottis.] hee went therehence into Egypt, +Syria, and other Countries of the East, and being made Priest by a certaine +Monke of those partes, he there hatched his heresie, which according to his +name was called the heresie of the Pelagians: which was, that manne was +borne without sinne, and might be saued by the power of his owne will +without grace, that so the miserable man might take away faith and +baptisme. With this and the like dregges of false doctrine, he returned +againe into Wales, and there by the meanes of the two false Prelates Iulian +and Celestine, who fauoured his heresie, hee infected the whole Countrey +with it. But before his fall and Apostasie from the faith, he exercised +himselfe in the best studies, as Gennadius, Beda, Honorius, and other +authors doe report of him, and wrote many bookes seruing not a litle to +Christian vtilitie: but being once fallen into his heresie, hee wrote many +more erroneous bookes, then he did before honest, and sincere: whereupon, +at the last his owne Countreymen banished him, as Walden testifieth in his +Epistle to Pope Martine the fift. He flourished in the yere after the +Incarnation, 390. Maximus being then King of Britaine. + + * * * * * + +A testimonie of the sending of Sighelmus Bishop of Shirburne, by King + Alphred, vnto Saint Thomas of India in the yeare of our Lord 883, + recorded by William of Malmesburie, in his second booke and fourth + Chapter de gestis regum Anglorum. + +Eleemosynis intentus priuilegia ecclesiarum, sicut pater statuerat, +roborauit; et trans mare Romam, et ad sanctum Thomam in Indiam multa munera +misit. Legatus in hoc missus Sighelmus Shirburnensis Episcopus cum magna +prosperitate, quod quiuis hoc seculo miretur, Indiam penetrauit; inde +rediens exoticos splendores gemmarum, et liquores aromatum, quorum illa +humus ferax est, reportauit. + +The same in English. + +King Alphred being addicted to giving of almes, confirmed the priuileges of +Churches as his father had determined; and sent also many giftes beyond the +seas vnto Rome, and vnto S. Thomas of India. His messenger in this +businesse was Sighelmus bishop of Schirburne; [Footnote: Sherborne, in +Dorsetshire, where an abbey was founded in 700.] who with great prosperitie +(which is a matter to be wondered at in this our age) trauailed thorough +India, and returning home brought with him many strange and precious vnions +and costly spyces, such as that countrey plentifully yeeldeth. + + * * * * * + +A second testimony of the foresaid Sighelmus his voyage vnto Saint Thomas + of India &c. out of William of Malmesburie his second booke de gestis + pontificum Anglorum, cap. de episcopis Schireburnensibus, + Salisburiensibus, Wiltunensibus. + +Sighelmus trans mare, causa eleemosynarum regis, et etiam ad Sanctam Thomam +in Indiam missus mira prosperitate, quod quiuis in hoc seculo miretur, +Indiam penetrauit; indeque rediens exotici generis gemmas, quarum illa +humus ferax est, reportauit. Nonnullae illarum adhuc in ecclesiae monumentis +visuntur. + +The same in English. + +Sighelmus being for the performance of the kings almes sent beyond the +seas, and trauailing vnto S. Thomas of India, very prosperously (which a +man would woonder at in this age) passed through the sayde countrey of +India, and returning home brought with him diuers strange and precious +stones, such as that climate affourdeth. Many of which stones are as yet +extant in the monuments of the Church. + + * * * * * + +The trauailes of Andrew Whiteman alias Leucander, Centur. 11. [Footnote: + This is misprinted "Centur. 2" in the original edition, but as Ramsey + Abbey (in Huntingdonshire) was only founded by Ailwin the Saxon, A.D. + 969-74, the 11th Century is probably meant, as further on Whiteman is + said to have flourished in 1020. Ramsey is so called from _Ram's Ey_, an + island in the fens.] + +Andraeas Leucander alias Whiteman (iuxta Lelandum) Monachus, & Abbas +Ramesiensis Coenobij tertius fuit. Hic bonis artibus studio quodam +incredibili noctes atque dies inuigilabat, et operae praecium ingens inde +retulit. Accessit praeterea et ardens quoddam desiderium, ea proprijs et +apertis oculis videndi loca in quibus Seruator Christus redemptionis nostrae +mysteria omnia consummauit, quorum prius sola nomina ex scripturarum +lectione nouerat: vnde et sacram Hierosolymorum vrbem miraculorum, +praedicationis, ac passionis eius testem inuisit, atque domum rediens factus +est Abbas. Claruisse fertur anno nati Seruatoris, 1020 sub Canuto Dano. + +The same in English. + +Andrew Leucander otherwise called Whiteman (as Leland reporteth) was by +profession a Monke, and the third Abbat of the Abbey of Ramsie: he was +exceedingly giuen to the studie of good artes, taking paines therein day +and night, and profited greatly thereby. And amonst all other things, he +had an incredible desire to see those places with his eyes, wherein Christ +our Sauiour performed and wrought all the mysteries of our redemption, the +names of which places he onely knew before by the reading of the +Scriptures. Whereupon he began his iourney, and went to Ierusalem a +witnesse of the miracles, preaching, and passion of Christ, and being +againe returned into his countrey, he was made the aforesayd Abbat. He +flourished in the yeere of Christ 1020. under Canutus the Dane. + + * * * * * + +The voyages of Swanus one of the sonnes of Earl Godwin vnto Ierusalem, Anno + Dom. 1052, recorded by William of Malmsburie lib. 2. de gestis regum + Anglorum, Capite 13. + +Swanus peruersi ingenij et infidi in regem, multoties a patre et fratre +Haroldo desciuit: et pirata factus, praedis maritimis virtutes maiorum +polluit. Postremo pro conscientia Brunonis cognati interempti, et (vt +quidam dicunt) fratris Ierosolimam abijt: indeque rediens, a Saracenis +circumuentus, et ad mortem caesus est. + +The same in English. + +Swanus being of a peruerse disposition, and faithlesse to the king, often +times disagreed with his father and his brother Harold: and afterwards +proouing a pirate, he stained the vertues of his ancestours with his +robberies vpon the seas. Last of all, being guilty vnto himselfe of the +murther of his kinseman Bruno, and (as some do report) of his owne brother, +he trauailed vnto Ierusalem: and in his returne home, being taken by the +Saracens, was beaten, and wounded vnto death. + + * * * * * + +A voyage of three Ambassadours, who in the time of K. Edward the Confessor, + and about the yere of our Lord 1056, were sent vnto Constantinople, and + from thence vnto Ephesus, together with the occasion of their sending, + &c. recorded by William of Malmesburie, lib. 2. de gestis regum Anglorum, + capite 13. + +Die sancti paschatis ad mensam apud Westmonasterium assederat, diademate +fastigatus, et optimatum turma circumuallatus. Cumque alij longam +quadragesimae inediam recentibus cibis compensantes, acriter comederent, +ille a terrenis reuocato animo, diuinum quiddam speculatus, mentes +conuiuantium permouit ampliorem perfusus in risum: nulloque causam laetitiae +perquirere praesumente, tunc quidem ita tacitum donec edendi satietas +obsonijs finem imposuit. Sed remotis mensis, cum in triclinio regalibus +exueretur, tres optimates eum prosequuti, quorum vnus erat comes Haroldus, +secundus abbas, tertius episcopus, familiaritatis ausu interrogant quid +riserat: mirum omnibus nec immerito videri, quare in tanta serenitate diei +et negotij, tacentibus caeteris, scurrilem cachinnum ejecerit. Stupenda +(inquit) vidi, nec ideo sine causa risi. Tum illi, vt moris est humani +ingenij, sciscitari et quaerere causam ardentius, vt supplicibus dignanter +rem impertiatur. Ille multum cunctatus tandem instantibus mira respondit: +septem dormientes in monte Caelio requiescere iam ducentis annis in dextro +iacentes latere: sed tunc in hora ipsa risus sui, latus inuertisse +sinistrum: futurum vt septuaginta quatuor annis ita iaceant: dirum nimirum +miseris mortalibus omen. Nam omnia ventura in his septuaginta quatuor +annis, quae dominus circa finem mundi praedixit discipulis suis: gentem +contra gentem surrecturam, et regnum aduersus regnum, terraemotus per loca, +pestilentiam et famem, terrores de coelo et signa magna, regnorum +mutationes, gentilium in Christianos bella, item Christicolarum in paganos +victorias. Talia mirantibus inculcans passionem septem dormientium, et +habitudines corporum singulorum, quas nulla docet litera, ita prompte +disseruit: ac si cum eis quotidiano victitaret contubernio. His auditis, +comes militem, episcopus clericum, abbas monachum, ad veritatem verborum +exsculpendam, Manicheti Constantinopolitano imperatori misere, adiectis +regis sui literis et muneribus. Eos ille benigne secum habitos episcopo +Ephesi destinauit, epistola pariter, quam sacram vocant, comitante: vt +ostenderentur legatis regis Angliae septem dormientium marturiales exuuiae. +Factumque est vt vaticinium regis Edwardi Graecis omnibus comprobatum, qui +se a patribus accepisse iurarent, super dextrum illos latus quiescere: sed +post introitum Anglorum in speluncam, veritatem peregrinae prophetiae +contubernalibus suis praedicarunt. Nec moram festinatio malorum fecit, quin +Agareni, et Arabes, et Turci, alienae scilicet a Christo gentes, Syriam, et +Lyciam, et minorem Asiam omnino, et maioris multas vrbes, inter quas et +Ephesum, ipsam etiam Hierosolymam depopulati, super Christianos inuaderent. + +The same in English. + +Vpon Easter day king Edward the Confessor being crowned with his kingly +diademe, and accompanied with diuers of his nobles, sate at dinner in his +pallace at Westminster. And when others, after their long abstinence in the +Lent, refreshed themselves with dainty meats, and fed thereupon very +earnestly, he lifting vp his mind from earthly matters and meditating on +heauenly visions (to the great admiration of those which were present) +brake forth into an exceeding laughter: and no man presuming to enquire the +cause of his mirth, they all kept silence til dinner was ended. But after +dinner as he was in his bedchamber putting off his solemne roabes, three of +his Nobles to wit earle Harold, an Abbot, and a Bishop, being more familiar +with him then the residue followed him in and bouldly asked him what was +the occasion of his laughter: for it seemed very strange vnto them all, +what should moue him at so solemne a time and assembly, while others kept +silence, to laugh so excessively. I saw (quoth he) admirable things, and +therefore laughed I not without occasion. Then they (as it is the common +guise of all men) demaunded and enquired the cause more earnestly, humbly +beseeching faith that hee would vouchsafe to impart that secret vnto them. +Whereupon musing a long while vnto himself, at length he told them +wonderfull things: namely that seuen Sleepers had rested in mount Caelius +two hundred yeeres, lying upon their right sides but in the very houre of +his laughter, that they turned themselues on their left sides; and that +they should continue so lying for the space of 74. yeeres after; being a +dismal signe of future calamitie vnto mankinde. For all things should come +to passe within these 74. yeeres, which, as our Sauiour Christ foretold +vnto his disciples, were to be fulfilled about the ende of the world: +namely that nation should rise against nation, and kingdome against +kingdome, and that there should bee in many places earthquakes, pestilence, +and famine, terrible apparitions in the heauens, and great signes, together +with alterations of kingdomes, warres of infidels against the Christians, +and victories of the Christians against the infidels. And as they wondered +at these relations, he declared vnto them the passion of the seuen +Sleepers, with the proportion and shape of cache of their bodies (which +things, no man liuing had as then committed vnto writing) and that so +plainely and distinctly, as if he had conuersed a long time in their +company. Hereupon the earle sent a knight, the bishop a clearke, the Abbot +a monke vnto Maniches the Emperour of Constantinople, with the letters and +gifts of their King. Who giuing them friendly entertainment, sent them ouer +vnto the bishop of Ephesus; and wrote his letters vnto him giuing him +charge, that the English Ambassadours might be admitted to see the true, +and material habiliments of the seuen Sleepers. And it came to passe that +King Edwards vision was approued by all the Greeks, who protested they were +aduertised by their fathers, that the foresaid seuen Sleepers had alwayes +before that time rested vpon their right sides; but after the Englishmen +were entered into the caue, those Sleepers confirmed the trueth of the +outlandish prophesie, vnto their countreymen. Neither were the calamities +foretold, any long time delayed: for the Aragens, Arabians, Turkes and +other vnbeleeuing nations inuading the Christians, harried and spoiled +Syria, Lycia, the lesser Asia, and many cities of Asia the greater, and +amongst the rest Ephesus, yea, and Ierusalem also. + + * * * * * + +The voyage of Alured bishop of Worcester vnto Ierusalem, an. 1058. Recorded + by Roger Houeden in parte priore Annalium, fol. 255. linea 15. + +[Sidenote: A.D. 1058] Aluredus Wigorniensis Episcopus ecclesiam, quam in +ciuitate, Glauorna a fundamentis constraxerat, in honore principis +Apostolorum Petri honorifice dedicauit: et postea regis licentia Wolstanum +Wigorniensem Monachum a se ordinatum Abbatum constituit ibidem. Dein +praesulatu dimisso Wiltoniensis ecclesiae, qui sibi ad regendum commissus +fuerat, et Hermanno, cujus supra mentionem fecimus, reddito, mare transijt, +et per Hungarian profectus est Hierosolymam, &c. + +The same in English. + +In the yere of our Lord 1058. Alured bishop of Worcester, very solemnly +dedicated a Church (which himselfe had founded and built in the citie of +Gloucester) vnto the honour of S. Peter the chiefe Apostle:[Footnote: This +is Gloucester Cathedral, the crypt, the chapels surrounding the choir, and +the lower part of the nave being the portions built by Alured that are +still extant.] and afterward by the kings permission ordained Wolstan a +Monke of Worcester of his owne choice, to be Abbate in the same place. And +then having left his Bishopricke which was committed vnto him ouer the +Church of Wilton, and having resigned the same vnto Hermannus aboue +mentioned, passed ouer the seas, and trauailed through Hungarie vnto +Ierusalem, &c. + + * * * * * + +The voyage of Ingulphus Abbat of Croiland vnto Ierusalem, performed + (according to Florentius Wigorniensis) in the yeere of our Lord, 1064, + and described by the said Ingulphus himselfe about the conclusion of his + briefe Historie. + +[Sidenote: A.D. 1064] Ego Ingulphus humilis minister Sancti Guthlaci +Monasterijque sui Croilandensis, natus in Anglia, et a parentibus Anglicis, +quippe vrbis pulcherrimae Londoniarum, pro literis addiscendis in teneriore +setate constitutus, primum Westmonasterio, postmodum Oxoniensi studio +traditus eram. Cumque in Aristotele arripiendo supra multo coaetaneos meos +profecissem, etiam Rhetoricam Tullij primam et secundam talo tenus +induebam. Factus ergo adolescentior, fastidiens parentum meorum +exiguitatem, paternos lares relinquere, et palatia regum aut principum +affectans, mollibus vestiri, pomposisque lacinijs amiciri indies ardentius +appetebam. [Sidenote: A.D. 1051] Et ecce, inclytus nunc rex noster Angliae, +tunc adhunc comes Normanniae Wilhelmus ad colloquium tunc regis Angliae +Edwardi cognati sui, cum grandi ministrantium comitatu Londonias +aduentabat, Quibus citius insertus, ingerens me vbique ad omnia emergentia +negotia peragenda, cum prospere plurima perfecissem, in breui agnitus +Ilustrissimo comiti et astrictissime adamatus, cum ipso Normanniam +enauigabam. Factus ibidem scriba eius, pro libito totam comitis curiam, ad +nonnullorum inuidiam regebam; quosque volui humiliabam, et quos volui +exaltabam. Cumque iuuenili calore impulsus in tam celso statu supra meos +natales consistere taederem, quin semper ad altiora conscendere, instabili +animo, ac nimium prurienti affectu, ad erubescentiam ambitiosus auidissime +desiderarem: [Sidenote: A.D. 1064. According to Florentius Wegorniensis.] +nuntiatur per vniuersam Normanniam plurimos archiepiscopos imperij cum +nonnullis alijs terrae principibus velle pro merito animarum suanim more +peregrinoram cum debita deuotione Hierosolymam proficisci. De familia ergo +comitis domini nostri plurimi tam milites quam clerici, quorum primus et +praecipuus ego eram, cum licentia, et domini nostri comitis beneuolentia, in +dictum iter nos omnes accinximus: et Alemanniam petentes, equites triginta +numero et amplius domino Maguntino coniuncti sumus. Parati namque omnes ad +viam, et cum dominis episcopis connumerati septem milia, pertranseuntes +prospere multa terrarum spatia, tandem Constantinopolim peruenimus. Vbi +Alexium Imperatorem eius adorantes Agiosophiam vidimus, et infinita +sanctuaria osculati sumus. Diuertentes inde per Lyciam in manus Arabicorum +latrorium incidimus; euis ceratique de infinitis pecunijs, cum mortibus +multorum, et maxima vitae nostrae periculo vix euadentes, tandem +desideratissimam ciuitatem Hierosolymam laeto introitu tenebamus. Ab ipso +tunc patriarcha Sophronio nomine, viro veneranda canitie honestissimo ac +sanctissimo, grandi cymbalorum tonitru, et luminarium immenso fulgore +suscepti, ad diuinissimam ecclesiam sanctissimi sepulchri, tam Syrorum, +quam Latinornm solenni processione deducti sumus. Ibi quot preces +inorauimus, quot lachrymas infleuimus, quot suspiria inspirauimus, solus +eius inhabitator nouit D. noster Iesus Christus. Ab ipso itaque +gloriosissimo sepulchro Christi ad alia sanctuaria ciuitatis inuisenda +circumducti, infinitam summam sanctarum ecclesiarum, et oratorioram, quae +Achim Soldanus dudum destruxerat, oculis lachrymosis vidimus. Et omnibus +ruinis sanctissimae ciuitatis, tam extra, quam intra; numerosis lachrymis +intimo affectu compassi, ad quorundam restaurationem datis non paucis +pecunijs, exire in patriam et sacratissimo Iordane intingi, vniuersaque +Chrtsti vestigia osculari, desiderantissima deuotione suspirabamus. Sed +Arabum latrunculi qui omnem viam obseruabant, longius a ciuitate euagari, +sua rabiosa multitudine innumera non sinebant. Vere igitur accidente, +stolus nauium Ianuensium in porta Ioppensi applicuit. In quibus, cum sua +mercimonia Christiani mercatores per ciuitates maritimas commutassent, et +sancta loca similiter adorassent, ascendentes omnes maria nos commisimus. +Et iactati fluctibus et procellis innumeris tandem Brundusium, et prospero +itinere per Apulium Romam petentes, sanctorum Apostolorum Petri et Pauli +limina, et copiosissima sanctorum martyrum monumenta per omnes stationes +osculati sumus. Inde archiepiscopi, caeterique principes imperij Alemanniam +per dextram repetentes, nos versus Franciam ad sinistram declinantes cum +inenarribilibus et gratijs et osculis ab inuicem discessimus. Et tandem de +triginta equitibus, qui de Normannia pingues exiuimus, vix viginti pauperes +peregrini, et omnes pedites, macie multa attenuati, reuersi sumus. + +The same in English. + +I Ingulphus [Footnote: This Abbot, or pretended Abbot of Croyland (whose +name is attached to a work once highly valued, professing to be a history +of the Abbey of Croyland from 626 to 1089, but which, is now believed to be +a monkish fabrication of a much later age), is said by himself to have +been, on his return from the Holy Land, appointed prior of the Abbey of +Fontenelle, in Normandy, and on William becoming King of England, Abbot of +Croyland. He was believed to have died in 1109.] an humble seruant of +reuerend Guthlac and of his monastery of Croiland, borne in England, and of +English parents, at the beautifull citie of London, was in my youth for the +attaining of good letters, placed first at Westminster, and afterward sent +to the Vniuersitie of Oxford. And hauing excelled diuers of mine equals in +learning of Aristotle, I inured my selfe somewhat vnto the first and second +Rhethorique of Tullie. And as I grew in age, disdayning my parents meane +estate, and forsaking mine owne natiue soyle, I affected the Courts of +kings and princes, and was desirous to be clad in silke, and to weare braue +and costly attire. [Sidenote: A.D. 1051] And loe, at the same time William +our souereigne king now, but then Erle of Normandie, with a great troup of +followers and attendants came vnto London, to conferre with king Edward the +Confessour his kinsman. Into whose company intruding my selfe, and +proffering my seruice for the performance of any speedy or weightie +affayres, in short time, after I had done many things with good successe, I +was knowen and most entirely beloued by the victorious Erle himselfe, and +with him I sayled into Normandie. And there being made his secretarie, I +gouerned the Erles Court (albeit with the enuie of some) as my selfe +pleased, yea whom I would I abased, and preferred whom I thought good. When +as therefore, being carried with a youthful heat and lustie humour, I began +to be wearie euen of this place, wherein I was aduanced so high aboue my +parentage, and with an inconstant minde, and affection too too ambitious, +most vehemently aspired at all occasions to climbe higher: there went a +report throughout all Normandie, that diuers Archbishops of the Empire, and +secular princes were desirous for their soules health, and for deuotion +sake, to goe on pilgrimage to Ierusalem. Wherefore out of the family of our +lorde the Earle, sundry of vs, both gentlemen and clerkes (principall of +whom was myselfe) with the licence and good will of our sayd lord the +earle, sped vs on that voiage, and trauailing thirtie horses of vs into +high Germanie, we ioyned our selues vnto the Archbishop of Mentz. And being +with the companies of the Bishop seuen thousand persons sufficiently +prouided for such an expedition, we passed prosperously through many +prouinces, and at length attained vnto Constantinople. Where doing +reuerence vnto the Emperor Alexius, we sawe the Church of Sancta Sophia, +and kissed diuers sacred reliques. Departing thence through Lycia, we fell +into the hands of the Arabian theeues: and after we had beene robbed of +infinite summes of money, and had lost many of our people, hardly escaping +with extreame danger of our liues, at length we ioyfully entered into the +most wished citie of Ierusalem. Where we wer receiued by the most reuerend, +aged, and holy patriarke Sophronius, with great melodie of cymbals and with +torch-light, and were accompanied vnto the most diuine Church of our +Sauiour his sepulchre with a solemne procession aswell of Syrians as of +Latines. Here, how many prayers we vttered, what abundance of teares we +shed, what deepe sighs we breathed foorth, our Lord Iesus Christ onely +knoweth. Wherefore being conducted from the most glorious sepulchre of +Christ to visite other sacred monuments of the citie, we saw with weeping +eyes a great number of holy Churches and oratories, which Achim the Souldan +of Egypt had lately destroyed. And so hauing bewailed with sadde teares, +and most sorowful and bleeding affections, all the ruines of that most holy +city both within and without, and hauing bestowed money for the reedifying +of some, we desired with most ardent deuotion to go forth into the +countrey, to wash our selues in the most sacred riuer of Iordan, and to +kisse all the steppes of Christ. Howbeit the theeuish Arabians lurking vpon +euery way, would not suffer vs to trauell farre from the city, by reason of +their huge and furious multitudes. Wherefore about the spring there arriued +at the port of Ioppa a fleet of ships from Genoa. In which fleet (when the +Christian merchants had exchanged all their wares at the coast townes, and +had likewise visited the holy places) wee all of vs embarked committing +ourselues to the seas: and being tossed with many stormes and tempests, at +length wee arriued at Brundusium: and so with a prosperous iourney +trauelling thorow Apulia towards Rome, we there visited the habitations of +the holy apostles Peter and Paul, and did reuerence vnto diuers monuments +of holy martyrs in all places thorowout the city. From thence the +archbishops and other princes of the empire trauelling towards the right +hand for Alemain, and we declining towards the left hand for France, +departed asunder, taking our leaues with vnspeakable thankes and +courtesies. And so at length, of thirty horsemen which went out of +Normandie fat, lusty, and frolique, we returned hither skarse twenty poore +pilgrims of vs, being all footmen, and consumed with leannesse to the bare +bones. + + * * * * * + +Diuers of the honourable family of the Beauchamps, with Robert Curtoys + sonne of William the Conqueror, made a voyage to Ierusalem 1096. Hol. + pag. 22. vol. 2. + +Pope Vrbane calling a councell at Clermont in Auuergne, exhorted the +Christian princes so earnestly to make a iourney in the Holy land, for the +recouery thereof out of the Saracens hands, that the saide great and +generall iourney was concluded vpon to be taken in hand, wherein many noble +men of Christendome went vnder the leading of Godfrey of Bouillon and +others, as in the Chronicles of France, of Germanie, and of the Holy land +doeth more plainely appeare. There went also among other diuers noble men +foorth of this Realme of England, specially that worthily bare the surname +of Beauchampe. + + * * * * * + +The voyage of Gutuere an English Lady maried to Balduine brother of + Godfreide duke of Bouillon, toward Ierusalem about 1097. And the 11. + yeere of William Rufus King of England. + +The Christian armie of Godfrie of Bouillon passing the citie of Iconium, +alias Agogna in the countrey of Licaonia, and from thence by the city of +Heraclia, came at length vnto the citie of Marasia, where they encamped, +and soiourned there three whole dayes, because of the wife of Balduine +brother germane of the duke of Loraigne. Which Lady, being long time vexed +with a grieuous maladie, was in extremitie, where at length paying the debt +due to nature, she changed this transitorie life, for life eternall; Who, +in her life time, was a very worthy and vertuous Lady, borne in England, +and descended of most noble parentage named Gutuere; Which, according to +her degree, was there most honourably enterred, to the great griefe of all +the whole armie. As reporteth William Archbishop of Tyre, lib. 3. cap. 17. +hist. belli sacri. The same author in the 10. booke and first chapter of +the same historie concerning the same English Lady, writeth further as +followeth, Baldwine hauing folowed the warres for a time, gaue his minde to +marriage, so that being in England he fell in loue with a very honourable +and noble Lady named Gutuere, whom he married and caried with him in that +first happy expedition, wherin he accompanied his brethren, the Lords, duke +Godfrey and Eustace, persons very commendable in all vertues and of +immortall memorie. But he had hard fortune in his iourney, because his +foresaid wife, being wearied with a long sicknes finished her life with a +happie end neere the citie of Marasia, before the Christian armie came vnto +Antioch, where she was honourably buried, as we haue declared before. + + * * * * * + +Chronicon Hierosolymitanum in lib. 3. cap. 27. maketh also mention of this + English Lady which he calleth Godwera in this maner. + +Hac in regione Maresch vxor Baldewini nobilissima, quam de regno Angliae +eduxit, diutina corporis molestia aggrauata, et duci Godefrido commendata, +vitam exhalauit, sepulta Catholicis obsequijs; cuius nomen erat Godwera. + +The same in English. + +In this prouince of Maresch the most noble wife of Baldwine, which he +caried with him out of England being visited with dayly sicknesses and +infirmities of body, and commended to the custody of duke Godfrey, departed +out of this life, and was buried after the Christian maner. Her name was +Godwera. + + * * * * * + +The voyage of Edgar the sonne of Edward which was the sonne of Edmund + surnamed Ironside, brother vnto K. Edward the confessor, (being + accompanied with valiant Robert the sonne of Godwin) vnto Ierusalem, in + the yeere of our Lord 1102. Recorded by William of Malmesburie, lib. 3. + histo. fol. 58. + +[Sidenote: A.D. 1102.] Subsequenti tempore cum Roberto filio Godwini milite +audacissimo Edgaras Hierosolymam pertendit Illud fuit tempus quo Turci +Baldwinum regem apud Ramas obsederunt: qui cum obsidionis iniuriam ferre +nequiret, per medias hostium acies effugit, solius Roberti opera liberatus +praeeuntis, et euaginato gladio dextra leuaque Turcos caedentis. Sed cum +successu ipso truculentior, alacritate nimia procurreret, ensis manu +excidit. Ad quem recolligendum cum se inclinasset, omnium incursu +oppressus, vinculis palmas dedit. Inde Babyloniam (vt aiunt) ductus, cum +Christum abnegare nollet, in medio foro ad signum positus, et sagittis +terebratus, martyrium consecrauit. Edgarus amisso milite regressus, +multaque beneficia ab Imperatoribus Graecorum, et Alemannorum adeptus +(quippe qui etiam eum retinere pro generis amplitudine tentassent) omnia +pronatalis soli desiderio spreuit. Quosdam enim profecto fallit amor patriae +vt nihil eis videatur iucundum, nisi consuetum hauserint coelum. Vnde +Edgarus fatua cupidine illusus Angliam redijt, vbi (vt superius dixi) +diuerso fortunae ludicro rotatus, nunc remotus et tacitus, canos suos in +agro consumit. + +The same in English. + +Afterward Edgar being sonne vnto the nephewe of Edward the confessour, +traueiled with Robert the sonne of Godwin a most valiant knight, vnto +Ierusalem. And it was at the same time when the Turkes besieged king +Baldwin at Rama: who not being able to endure the straight siege, was by +the helpe of Robert especially, going before him, and with his drawen sword +making a lane, and slaying the Turkes on his right hande and on his left, +deliuered out of that danger, and escaped through the midst of his enemies +campe. But vpon his happie successe being more eager and fierce, as he went +forward somewhat too hastily, his sworde fell out of his hand. Which as he +stouped to take vp, being oppressed with the whole multitude, hee was there +taken and bound. From whence (as some say) being carried vnto Babylon or +Alcair in Egypt, when he would not renounce Christ, he was tyed vnto a +stake in the midst of the market place, and being shot through with +arrowes, died a martyr. Edgar hauing lost his knight returned, and being +honoured with many rewards both by the Greekish and by the Germaine +Emperour (who both of them would right gladly haue entertained him stil for +his great nobilitie) contemned all things in respect of his natiue soile. +For in very deede some are so inueagled with the loue of their countrey, +that nothing can seeme pleasant vnto them, vnlesse they breath in the same +aire where they were bred. Wherefore Edgar being misledde with a fond +affection, returned into England; and afterward being subiect vnto diuers +changes of fortune (as we haue aboue signified) he spendeth [Marginal note: +When the author was writing of this history.] now his extreeme old age in +an obscure and priuate place of the countrey. + + * * * * * + +Mention made of one Godericus, a valiant Englishman, who was with his ships + in the voyage vnto the Holy land in the second yeere of Baldwine King of + Ierusalem, in the third yere of Henry the first of England. + +[Chronicon Hierosolymitanum lib. 9. cap. 9.] Verum de hinc septem diebus +euolutis rex ab Assur exiens, nauem quae dicitur Buza ascendit, et cum eo +Godericus pirata de regno Angliae, ac vexillo hastae praefixo et elato in aere +ad radios solis vsque, Iaphet cum paucis nauigauit, vt hoc eius signo ciues +Christiani recognito, fiduciam vitae regis haberent, et non facile hostium +minis pauefacti, turpiter diffugium facerent, aut vrbem reddere cogerentur. +Sciebat enim eos multum de vita et salute eius desperare, Saraceni autem +viso eius signo, et recognito, ea parte quae vrbem nauigio cingebat illi in +galeis viginti et Carinis tredecim, quas vulgo appelant Cazh, occurrerunt, +volentes Buzam regis coronare. Sed Dei auxilio vndis maris illis ex aduerso +tumescentibus ac reluctantibus, Buza autem regis facili, et agili cursu +inter procellas labente, ac volitante, in portu Ioppae delusis hostibus +subito affuit, sex ex Saracenis in arcu suo in nauicula percussis, ac +vulneratis. Intrans itaque ciuitatem dum incolumis omnium pateret oculis, +reuixit spiritus cunctorum gementium ei de eius niorte hactenus dolentium, +eo quod caput et rex Christianorum et princeps Hierusalem adhuc viuus et +incolumis receptus sit. + +The same in English. + +But seuen dayes afterward, the King comming out of the towne of Assur +entred into a shippe called a Busse, and one Godericke a pirate of the +kingdome of England with him, and fastening his banner on the toppe of a +speare, and holding it vp aloft in the aire against the beames of the +Sunne, sailed vnto Iaphet with a small company; That the Christian Citizens +there seeing this his banner, might conceiue hope that the King was yet +liuing, and being not easily terrified with the threates of the enemies +might shamefully runne away; or be constrained to yeeld vp the citie. For +hee knew that they were very much out of hope of his life and safetie. The +Saracens seeing and knowing this his banner, that part of them which +enuironed the Citie by water made towards him with twentie Gallies and +thirteene shippes, which they commonly cal Cazh, seeking to inclose the +kings shippe. But, by Gods helpe the billowes of the Sea swelling and +raging against them, and the Kings shippe gliding and passing through the +waues with an easie and nimble course arriued suddenly in the hauen of +Ioppa, the enemies frustrated of their purpose; and sixe of the Saracens +were hurt and wounded by shot out of the Kings shippe. So that the King +entering into the Citie, and nowe appearing in safetie in all their +sightes, the spirits of all them that mourned for him, and vntil then +lamented as though hee had bene dead, reuiued, because that the head and +King of the Christians, and prince of Ierusalem was yet aliue, and come +againe vnto them in perfect health. + + * * * * * + +Mention made of One Hardine of England one of the chiefest personages, and + a leader among other of two hundred saile of ships of Christians that + landed at Ioppa in the yeere of our Lord God 1102. + +[Chronicon Hierosolymitanum libro 9. cap. 11.] Interea dum haec obsidio +ageretur 200. naues Christianorum nauigio Ioppen appulsae sunt, vt adorarent +in Hierusalem. Horum Bernardus Witrazh de terra Galatiae, Hardinus de +Anglia, Otho de Roges, Hadewerck, vnus de praepotentibus Westfalorum, primi +et ductores fuisse referuntur, etc. Erat autem tertia feria Iulij mensis, +quando hae Christianorum copiae, Deo protegente, huc nauigio angustiatis et +obsessis ad opem collatae sunt. Sarracenorum autem turmae, videntes quia +Christianorum virtus audactur facie ad faciem vicini sibi hospitio proxime +iungebatur, media nocte orbi incumbente, amotis tentorijs amplius milliari +subtractae consederunt, dum luce exorta consilium inirent, vtrum Ascalonem +redirent, aut ciues Iaphet crebris assultibus vexarent. + +The same in English. + +Whle the Sarazens continued their siege against Ioppa, two hundred saile of +Christian ships arriued at Ioppa, that they might performe their deuotions +at Hierusalem. The chiefe men and leaders of these Christians are reported +to haue bene: Bernard Witrazh of the land of Galatia, Hardine of England, +Otho of Roges, Haderwerck one of the chiefe noblemen of Westphalia, &c. +This Christian power through Gods speciall prouision, arrived here for the +succour and reliefe of the distressed and besieged Christians in Ioppa, the +third day of Iuly, 1102. and in the second yeere of Baldwine king of +Ierusalem. Whereupon the multitude of the Sarazens, seeing that the +Christian power ioyned themselves boldly, close by them even face to face +in a lodging hard by them, the very next night at midnight, remooued their +tents, and pitched them more then a mile off, that they might the next +morning bee aduised whether they should returne to Ascalon, or by often +assaults vexe the citizens of Iaphet. + +[Chronicon Hierosolymitanum, eodem libro 9. cap. l2.] continueth this +historie of these two hundreth saile of ships, and sheweth how by their +prowesse chiefly, the multitude of the Sarazens were in short space +vanquished and ouerthrowen: The words are these; Ab ipso vero die tertiae +feriae dum sic in superbia et elatione suae multitudinis immobiles Saraceni +persisterent, et multis armorum terroribus Christianum populum vexarent, +sexta feria appropinquante. Rex Baldwinus in tubis et cornibus a Iaphet +egrediens, in manu robusta equitum et peditum virtutem illorum crudeli +bello est aggressus, magnis hinc et hinc clamoribus intonantes. Christiani +quoque qui nauigio appulsi sunt horribili pariter clamore cum Rege +Baldwino, et graui strepitu vociferantes, Babylonios vehementi pugna sunt +aggressi, saeuissimis atque mortiferis plagis eos affligentes, donec bello +fatigati, et contra ['vntra' in source text--KTH] vim non sustinentes fugam +versus Ascalonea inierunt. Alij vero ab insecutoribus eripi existimantes, +et mari se credentes, intolerabili procellarum fluctuatione absorpti sunt. +Et sic ciuitas Ioppe cum habitatoribus suis liberata est; Ceciderunt hac +die tria millia Saracenorum Christianorum vero pauci perijsse inuenti sunt. + +The same in English. + +Yet notwithstanding, after the said third day of Iuly, the Sarazens +persisted high minded and insolent, by reason of their great multitude, and +much annoied the Christian people with their many forceable and terrible +weapons; whereupon, on the sixt day of Iuly early in the morning king +Baldwine issued out of Iaphet, his trumpets and cornets yeelding a great +and lowd sound, and with a very strong armie as well of horsemen as +footemen, who on euery side making great shoutes and outcries, with fierce +and sharpe battell set on the maine power of their enemies. The Christians +also who arriued in the nauie, rearing great clamours and noyses, with loud +voices and shoutings in horrible wise together, with king Baldwine +assaulted likewise with strong battell the Babylonians, and afflicted them +with most sore and deadly wounds, vntill the Sarazens being wearied with +fighting, nor able longer to endure and hold out against the valure of the +Christians, fled towards Ascalon. And other of them hoping to escape from +them that pursued them, lept into the sea, and were swalowed vp in the +waues thereof. And so the citie of Ioppa with the inhabitants thereof were +freed of their enemies. There were slaine this day three thousand Sarazens, +and but a few of the Christians perished. + + * * * * * + +A Fleete of Englishmen, Danes, and Flemings, arriued at Ioppa in the Holy + land, the seuenth yeere of Baldwine the second king of Hierusalem. + Written in the beginning of the tenth booke of the Chronicle of + Hierusalem, in the 8. yeere of Henry the first of England. + +Chap: 1. + +At the same time also in the seuenth yeere of the raigne of Baldwine the +Catholike king of Hierusalem, a very great warrelike Fleete of the +Catholike nation of England, to the number of about seuen thousand, hauing +with them more men of warre of the kingdom of Denmarke, of Flanders and of +Antwerpe, arriued with ships which they call Busses, at the hauen of the +citie of Iaphet, determining there to make their abode, vntill they hauing +obtained the kings licence and safeconduct, might safely worship at +Hierusalem. Of which nauie the chiefest and best spoken repairing to the +king, spake to him in this maner. Christ preserue the Kings life, and +prosper his kingdome from day to day; Wee, being men and souldiours of +Christian profession, haue, through the helpe of God, sayled hither through +mightie and large seas, from the farre countreys of England, Flanders, and +Denmarke, to worship at Ierusalem, and to visit the sepulchre of our Lord. +And therefore we are assembled to intreat your clemency touching the +matter, that by your fauour and safe conduct we may peaceably goe vp to +Ierusalem, and worship there, and so returne. + + +Chap. 2. + +The king fauourably hearing their whole petition, granted vnto them a +strong band of men to conduct them, which brought them safely from all +assaults and ambushes of the Gentiles by the knowen wayes vnto Ierusalem +and all other places of deuotion. After that these pilgrims, and new +Christian strangers were brought thither, they offering vnto our Lord their +vowes in the temple of the holy sepulchre, returned with great ioy, and +without all let vnto Ioppa; where finding the king, they vowed they would +assist him in all things, which should seeme good vnto him: who, greatly +commending the men, and commanding them to be well entertained with +hospitality, answered that he could not on the sudden answere to this +point, vntill that after he had called his nobles together, he had +consulted with my lord the Patriarch what was most meet and conuenient to +be done, and not to trouble in vaine so willing an army. And therefore +after a few dayes, calling vnto him my lord the Patriarch, Hugh of Tabaria, +Gunfride the keeper and lieutenant of the tower of Dauid, and the other +chiefest men of warre, he determined to haue a meeting in the city of +Rames, to consult with them what was best to be done. + + +Chap. 3. + +Who, being assembled at the day appointed, and proposing their diuers +opinions and iudgements, at length it seemed best vnto the whole company to +besiege the city Sagitta, which is also called Sidon, if peradventure, +through God's helpe, and by the strength of this new army, by land and sea +it might be ouercome. Whereupon all they which were there present and +required that this city should be besieged, because it was one of those +cities of the Gentiles which continually rebelled, were commended, and +admonished of the king euery one to go home, and to furnish themselues with +things necessary, and armour for this expedition. Euery one of them +departed home; likewise Hugh of Tabaria departed, being a chiefe man of +warre against the inuasions of the enemies, which could neuer be wearied +day nor night in the countie of the Pagans, in pursuing them with warre and +warlike stratagemes all the dayes of his life. Immediatly after this +consultation the king sent ambassadours to all the multitude of the English +men, requiring them not to remoue their campe nor fleet from the city of +Iaphet, but quietly to attend the kings further commandement. The same +embassadours also declared vnto the whole army, that the king and all his +nobility had determined to besiege and assault the city Sagitta by sea and +by land, and that their helpe and forces would there be needfull; and that +for this purpose, the king and the patriarch were comming downe vnto the +city of Acres and that they were in building of engins, and warlike +instruments, to inuade the walles and inhabitants thereof: and that in the +meane season they were to remaine at Iaphet, vntill the kings further +commandement were knowen. Whereupon they all agreed that it should be so +done according to the king's commandement; and answered that they would +attend his directions in the Hauen of Iaphet, and would in all points be +obedient vnto him vnto the death. + + +Chap.4. + +The king came downe to Acres with the patriarch, and all his family, +building, and making there by the space of fortie dayes engins, and many +kindes of warlike instruments: and appointing all things to be made +perfectly ready, which seemed to be most conuenient for the assaulting of +the city. Assoone as this purpose and intent of the king was come vnto the +eares of the inhabitants of Sagitta, and that an inuincible power of men of +warre was arriued at Iaphet to helpe the king, they were greatly astonied, +fearing that by this meanes, they should be consumed and subdued by the +king by dint of sword, as other cities, to wit, Caesaria, Assur, Acres, +Cayphas, and Tabaria were vanquished and subdued. And therefore laying +their heads together, they promised to the king by secret mediatours, a +mighty masse of money of a coyne called Byzantines: and that further they +would yeerely pay a great tribute, vpon condition that ceasing to besiege +and inuade their city, he would spare their liues. Whereupon these +businesses were handled from day to day betweene the king and the citizens, +and they sollicited the king for the ransomming both of their city and of +their liues, proffering him from time to time more greater gifts. And the +king for his part, being carefull and perplexed for the payment of the +wages which he ought vnto his souldiers, harkened wholy vnto this offer of +money. Howbeit because he feared the Christians, least they should lay it +to his charge as a fault, he durst not as yet meddle with the same. + + +Chap. 5. + +In the meane space Hugh of Tabaria being sent for, accompanied with the +troopes of two hundred horsemen and foure hundred footmen, inuaded the +countrey of the Grosse Carle called Suet, very rich in gold and siluer most +abundant in cattle frontering vpon the countrie of the Damascenes, where +hee tooke a pray of inestimable riches and cattle, which might haue +suffised him for the besiege of Sagitta, whereof he ment to impart +liberally to the king, and his companie. This pray being gathered out of +sundry places thereabout, and being led away as farre as the citie of +Belinas, which they call Caesaria Philippi, the Turkes which dwelt at +Damascus, together with the Saracens inhabitants of the countrie perceiuing +this, flocking on all partes together by troopes, pursued Hughes companie +to rescue the pray, and passed foorth as farre as the mountaines, ouer +which Hughes footemen did driue the pray. There beganne a great skirmish of +both partes, the one side made resistance to keepe the pray, the other +indeuoured with all their might to recouer it, vntill at length the Turkes +and Saracens preuailing, the pray was rescued and brought back againe: +which Hugh and his troopes of horsemen, suddenly vnderstanding, which were +on the side of the mountaines, incontinently rid backe vpon the spurre, +among the straight and craggie rockes, skirmishing with the enemies, and +succouring their footemen, but as it chanced they fought vnfortunately. For +Hugh, being vnarmed, and immediatly rushing into the middest of all +dangers, and after his woonted manner inuading and wounding the infidels, +being behinde with an arrowe shot through the backe which pierced thorough +his liuer and brest, he gaue vp the ghost in the handes of his owne people. +Hereupon the troupes of the Gentiles being returned with the recouered +pray, and being deuided through the secret and hard passages of the craggie +hilles, the souldiers brought the dead bodie of Hugh, which they had put in +a litter, into the citie of Nazareth, which is by the mount Thaber, where +with great mourning and lamentation, so worthie a prince, and valiant +champion was honourably and Catholikely interred. The brother of the said +Hugh named Gerrard, the same time lay sicke of a grieuous disease. Which +hearing of the death of his brother, his sicknesse of his body increasing +more vehemently through griefe, he also deceased within eight dayes after, +and was buried by his brother, after Christian maner. + + +Chap. 6. + +After the lamentable burials of these so famous Princes, the King, taking +occasion of the death of these principall men of his armie, agreed, making +none priuie thereto, to receiue the money which was offered him for his +differing off the siege of the citie of Sagitta, yet dissembling to make +peace, with the Saracens, but that he ment to go through with the worke, +that he had begunne. Whereupon sending a message vnto Iaphet, hee aduised +the English souldiers to come downe to Acres with their fleete, and to +conferre and consult with him touching the besieging and assaulting of the +citie of Sagitta, which rising immediatly vpon the kings commaundement, and +foorthwith hoysing vp the sayles of their shippes aloft with pendants and +stremers of purple, and diuerse other glorious colours, with their flagges +of scarlet colour and silke, came thither, and casting their ancres, rode +hard by the citie. The king the next day calling vnto him such as were +priuie and acquainted with his dealings, opened his griefe vnto the chiefe +Captaines of the English men and Danes, touching the slaughter of Hugh, and +the death of his brother, and what great confidence he reposed in them +concerning these warres: and that nowe therefore they being departed and +dead, he must of necessity differre the besieging of Sagitta, and for this +time dismisse the armie assembled. This resolution of the king being spred +among the people, the armie was dissolued, and the Englishmen, Danes and +Flemings, with sailes and oares going aboard their fleete, saluted +['saulted' in source text--KTH] the king, and returned home vnto their +natiue countries. + + * * * * * + +The trauailes of one Athelard an Englishman, recorded by master Bale + Centur. 12. + +Athelardus Bathoniensis Coenobij monachus, naturalium rerum mysteria, et +causas omnes, diligentia tam vndecunque exquisita perscrutatus est, vt cum +aliquibus veteris seculi philosophis non indigne conferri possit. Hic olim +spectatae indolis Adolescens, vt virente adhuc aetate iuuenile ingenium +foecundaret, atque ad res magnas pararet relicta dulci patria longinquas +petijt regiones. Cum vero AEgyptum et Arabiam peragrans, plura inuenisset, +quae eius desiderabat animus, cum magno laborum, ac literarum lucro in +Angliam tum demum reuertebatur. Claruit anno virginei partus, 1130. Henrico +primo regnante. + +The same in English. + +Athelard a Monke of the Abbie of Bathe was so diligent a searcher of the +secrets, and causes of naturall things, that he deserueth worthely to be +compared with some of the auncient Philosophers. This man although young, +yet being of a good wit, and being desirous to increase and enrich the same +with the best things, and to prepare himselfe as it were for greater +matters, left his Countrey for a time, and trauailed into forreine Regions. +He went through Egypt, and Arabia, and found out many things which he +desired to his owne priuate contentment, and the profite of good letters +generally, and so being satisfied, returned againe into his Countrey: he +flourished in the yeere 1130. Henry the first being then king of England. + + * * * * * + +The life and trauailes of one William of Tyre, an Englishman. Centur. 12. + +[Sidenote: Hic etiam Guilielmus Tyrensis claruit sub Henrico primo.] +Guilielmus, Ecclesiae Dominici sepulchri Hierosolymae Regularium Canonicorum +prior, natione Anglicus vir vita et moribus commendabilis, Anno Dom. 1128. +postquam Tyrorum Ciuitas fidei Christianae restituta est a Guimundo +Hierosolymorum patriarcha, eidem vrbi primus Archiepiscopus praeficiebatur. +Est autem Tyrus ciuitas antiquissima, Phoeniciae vniuersae Metropolis, quae +inter Syriae protuincias, et bonorum omnium pene commoditate, et incolarum +frequentia primum semper obtinuit locum: post conscripta quaedam opuscula, +et Epistolas, ad Dominum migrauit, An. Christi 1130. quum duobus tantum +sedisset annis, et in Tyrensi Ecclesia sepelitur. + +The same in English. + +William the Prior of the Canons Regular in the Church of Ierusalem, called +the Lords Sepulchre, was an Englishman borne, and of a vertuous and good +behauiour. After that the Citie of Tyre was restored againe to the +Christian faith, Guimunde the Patriarke of Ierusalem made him the first +Archbishop of Tyre, in the yeere 1128. Which Tyre is a very ancient Citie, +the Metropolis of all Phoenicia, and hath bene accompted the chiefest +Prouince of Syria, both for fruitful commodities and multitude of +inhabitants. This William hauing in his life written many Bookes and +Epistles, died at last in the yeere 1130. hauing bene Archbishop the space +of two yeeres, and was buried in the Church of Tyre. + + * * * * * + +The trauailes of Robertus Ketenensis. + +Robertus Ketenensis natione et cognomine Anglus, degustatis primum per +Anglorum gymnasia humanarum artium elementis literarijs, vltramarinas +statim visitare prouincias in animo constituit: Peragratis ergo Gallijs, +Italia, Dalmatia, et Graecia, tum demum peruenit in Asiam, vbi non paruo +labore, ac vitae suae periculo inter Saracenos truculentissimum hominum +genus, Arabicam linguam ad amussim didicit In Hispaniam postea nauigio +traductus, circa fluuium Hiberum Astrologicae artis studio, cum Hermanno +quodam Dalmata, magni sui itineris comite se totum dedit. [Sidenote: +Claruit sub Stephano.] Clarutt anno seruatoris nostri, 1143 Stephano +regnante, et Pampilonae sepelitur. + +The same in English. + +This Robert Ketenensis was called an Englishman by surname, as he was by +birth: who after some time spent in the foundations of humanitie, and in +the elements of good Artes in the Vniuersities of England, determined to +trauaile to the partes beyond sea: and so trauailed through France, Italie, +Dalmatia, and Greece, and came at last into Asia, where he liued in great +danger of his life among the cruell Saracens, but yet learned perfectly the +Arabian tongue. Afterwardes he returned by sea into Spaine, and there about +the riuer Iberus, gaue him selfe wholy to the studie of Astrologie, with +one Hermannus a Dalmatian, who had accompanied him in his long voyage. He +flourished in the yeere 1143. Steuen being then king of England, and was +buried at Pampilona. + + * * * * * + +A voyage of certaine English men vnder the conduct of Lewes king of France + vnto the Holy land. + +[Sidenote: 1147. Tempore regis Stephani.] Tantae expeditionis explicito +apparatu vterque princeps iter arripuit, et exercitu separtito. Imperator +enim Conradus praecedebat itinere aliquot dierum, cum Italorum, Germanorum, +aliarumque gentium amplissimis copijs. Rex vero Lodouicus sequebatur +Francorum, Flandrensium, Normannorum, Britonum, Anglorum, Burgundionum, +Prouincialium, Aquitanorum, equestri simul et pedestri agmine comitatus. +Gulielmus Neobrigensis, fol. 371. + +The same in English. + +Both the princes prouision being made for so great an expedition, they +seuering their armies, entered on their iourney. For the Emperour Conradus +went before, certaine dayes iourney, with very great power of Italians, +Germans, and other countreys. And king Lewes followed after accompanied +with a band of horsemen and footmen of French men, Fiemmings, Normans, +Britons, Englishmen, Burgundions, men of Prouence, and Gascoins. + + * * * * * + +The voyage of Iohn Lacy to Ieirusalem. + +[Sidenote: 1173.] Anno Domini 1172 fundata fuit abbatia de Stanlaw per +dominum; Iohannem Lacy Constabularium Cestriae et dominum de Halton, qui +obijt in Terra sancta anno sequenti: qui fuit vicessimus annus regni regis +Henrici secundi. + +The same in English. + +In the yere of our Lord 1172 was founded the abbey of Stanlaw by the lord +Iohn Lacy Constable of Chester, and lord of Halton, who deceased in the +Holy land the yere following: which was in the twentieth yere of king Henry +the second. + + * * * * * + +The voyage of William Mandeuile to Ierusalem. + +[Sidenote: 1177.] William Mandeuile earle of Essex, with diuers English +lords and knights, went to the Holy land in the 24 yere of Henry the +second. Holinshed pag. 101. + + * * * * * + +A great supply of money to the Holy land by Henry the 2. + +The same yeere King Henry the second being at Waltham, assigned an aide to +the maintenance of the Christian souldiers in the Holy lande, That is to +wit, two and fortie thousand marks of siluer, and fiue hundred marks of +golde. Matth. Paris and Holins. pag. 105. + + * * * * * + +A letter written from Manuel the Emperour of Constantinople, vnto Henrie + the second King of England, Anno Dom. 1177. wherein mention is made that + certaine of King Henries Noble men and subjects were present with the + sayd Emperour in a battell of his against the Soldan of Iconium. Recorded + by Roger Houeden, in Annalium parte posteriore, in regno Hen. 2. fol. + 316, et 317. + +Eodem anno Manuel Constantinopolitanus imperator, habito praelio campestri +cum Soltano Iconij et illo devicto, in hac forma scripsit Domino regi +Angliae. + +Manuel in Christo deo Porphyrogenitus, diuinitus coronatus, sublimis, +potens, excelsus, semper Augustus, et moderator Romanorum, Comnenus, +Henrico nobilissimo regi Angliae, charissimo amico suo, salutem et omne +bonum. Cum imperium nostrum necessarium reputet notificare tibi, vt dilecto +amico suo, de omnibus quae sibi obueniunt; ideo et de his quae nunc +acciderunt ei, opportunum iudicauit declarare tuae voluntati. Igitur a +principio coronationis nostrae imperium nostrum aduersus dei inimicos Persas +nostrum odium in corde nutriuit, dum cerneret illos in Christianos +gloriari, eleuatique in nomen dei, et Christianorum dominari regionibus. +Quo circa et alio quidem tempore indifferenter inuasit eos, et prout deus +ei concessit, sic et fecit. Et quae ab ipso frequenter patrata sunt ad +contritionem ipsorum et perditionem, imperium nostrum credit nobilitatem +tuam non latere. Quoniam autem et nunc maximum exercitum contra eos ducere +proposuit, et bellum contra omnem Persidem mouere, quia res cogebat. Et non +vt voluit multum aliquem apparatum fecit, sicut ei visum est. Veruntamen +prout tempus dabat et rerum status, potenter eos inuasit. Collegit ergo +circa se imperium nostrum potentias suas: sed quia carpenta ducebat +armorum, et machinarum, et aliorum instrumentorum conferentium ciuitatem +expugnationibus, pondera portantia: idcirco nequaquam cum festinatione iter +suum agere poterat. Amplius autem dum adhuc propriam regionem peragraret, +antequam barbarorum aliquis aduersus nos militaret in bellis aduersarius, +aegritudo difficillima fluxus ventris invasit nos, qui diffusus per agmina +imperij nostri pertransibat, depopulando et interimendo multos, omni +pugnatore grauior. Et hoc malum inualescens maxime nos contriuit. Ex quo +vero fines Turcorum inuasimus, bella quidem primum frequentia concrepabant, +et agmina Turcorum cum exercitibus imperij nostri vndique dimicabant. Sed +Dei gratia ex toto a nostris in fugam vertebantur barbari. Post vero vbi ei +qui illic adjacet angustiae loci, quae a Persis nominatur Cibrilcimam, +propinquauimus, tot Persarum turmae peditum et equitum, quorum pleraeque ab +interioribus partibus Persidis occurrerant in adiutorium contribulium +suorum, exercitui nostro superuenerunt, quot pene nostrorum excederent +numerum. Exercitu itaque imperii nostri propter viae omnino angustiam et +difficultatem, vsque ad decem milliaria extenso; et cum neque qui praeibant +possent postremos defendere, neque versa vice rursus postremi possent +praeeuntes inuare, non mediocriter ab inuicem hos distare accidit. Sane +primae cohortes permultum ab acie imperij nostri diuidebantur, postremarum +oblitae, illas non praestolantes. Quoniam igitur Turcorum agmina ex iam +factis praelijs cognouerant, non conforre sibi a fronte nobis repugnare, +loci angustiam bonum subuentorem cum inuenissent, posteriora statuerunt +inuadere agmina, quod et fecerunt. Arctissimo igitur vbique loco existente, +instabant barbari vndique, a dextris et a sinistris, et aliunde dimicantes, +et tela super nos quasi imbres descendentia interimebant viros et equos +complures. Ad haec itaque imperium nostrum vbi malum superabundabat, +reputans secum oportunum iudicabat retro expectare, atque illos qui illic +erant adiuuare, expectando vtique contra infinita illa Persarum agmina +bellum sustinuit. Quanta quidem, dum ab his circundaretur, patrauerit, non +opus est ad tempus sermonibus pertexere, ab illis autem qui interfuerunt, +forsitan discet de his tua nobilitas. Inter haec autem existente imperio +nostro, et omne belli grauamen in tantum sustinente, postremae cohortes +vniuersae Gnecorum et Latinorum, et reliquorum omnium generum conglobatae, +quae iaciebantur ab inimicis tela non sustinentes, impactione vtuntur, et +ita violenter ferebantur, dum ad adiacentem ibi collem quasi ad +propugnaculum festinarent: sed precedentes impellunt nolentes. Multo autem +eleuato paluere, ac perturbante oculos, et neminem permittente videre quae +circa pedes erant, in praecipitium quod aderat profundissimae vallis alius +super alium homines et equi sic incontinente portati corruerunt, quod alij +alios conculcantes ab inuicem interemerunt non ex gregarijs tantum, sed ex +clarissimis et intimis nostris consanguineis. Quis enim inhibere poterat +tantae multitudinis importabilem impulsum? At vero imperium nostrum tot et +tantis confertum barbaris saucians, sauciatumque, adeo vt non modicam in +eos moueret perturbationem, obstupentes perseuerant iam ipsius, et non +remittebatur, bene iuuante deo, campum obtinuit. Neque locum illum scandere +aduersarios permisit, in quo dimicauit cum barbaris. Nec quidem equum suum +illorum timore incitauit, celerius aliquando ponere vestigia. Sed +congregando omnia agmina sua, et de morte eripiendo ea, collocauit circa +se: et sic primes attigit, et ordinatim proficiscens ad exercitus suos +accessit. Ex tunc igitur videns Soltanus, quod post tanta quae acciderant +exercitibus nostris, imperium nostrum, sicut oportunum erat, rem huiusmodi +dispensauit, vt ipsum rursum inuaderet: mittens supplicauit imperio nostro, +et deprecatorijs vsus est sermonibus, et requisiuit pacem illius, +promittens omnem imperij nostri adimplere voluntatem, et seruitium suum +contra omnem hominem dare, et omnes qui in regno suo tenebantur captiuos +absoluere, et esse ex toto voluntatis nostrae. Ibidem ergo per duos dies +integros, in omni potestate morati sumtis, et cognito quod nihil poterat +fieri contra ciuitatem Iconij, perditis testudinibus et machins bellicis, +eo quod boues cecidissent a telis in modo pluuiae iactis, qui eas trahebant: +Simul autem eo quod et vniuersa animalia nostra irruente in illa +difficillima aegritudine laborabant, suscepit Soltani depraecationem et +foedera et iuramenta peracta sub vexillis nostris, et pacem suam ei dedit. +Inde ingressum imperium nostrum in regionem suam regreditur, tribulationem +habens non mediocrem super his quos perdidit corisanguineis, maximas tamen +Deo gratias agens, qui per suam bonitaiem et nunc Ipsum honorauit: Gratum +autem habuimus, quod quosdam nobilitatis tuae principes accidit interesse +nobiscum, qui narrabunt de omnibus quae acciderant, tuae voluntati seriem. +Caeterum autem, licet contristati simus propter illos qui ceciderunt: +oportunum tamen duximus, de omnibus quae; acciderant, declarare tibi, vt +dilecto amico nostro, et vt permultum coniuncto imperio nostro, per +puerorum nostrorum intimam consanguinitatem. Vale. Data mense Nouembris, +indictione tertia. + +The same in English. + +In the yeere 1177, Manuel the emperour of Constantinople hauing fought a +field with the Soldan of Iconium, and vanquished him, wrote vnto Henry the +second king of England in maner following. + +Manuel Comnenus in Christ the euerliuing God a faithful emperour, descended +of the linage of Porphyrie, crowned by Gods grace, high, puissant, mighty, +alwayes most souereign, and gouernour of the Romans; vnto Henry the most +famous king of England, his most deare friend, greeting and all good +successe. Whereas our imperiall highnesse thinketh it expedient to +aduertise you our welbeloued friend of all our affaires: We thought it not +amisse to signifie vnto your, royal Maiestie certaine exploits at this +present atchieued by vs. From the beginning therefore of our inauguration +our imperiall highnes hath mainteined most deadly feod and hostility +against Gods enemies the Persians, seeing them so to triumph ouer +Christians, to exalt themselues against the Name of God, and to vsurpe ouer +Christian kingdomes. For which cause our imperial highnesse hath in some +sort encountered them heretofore, and did as it pleased God to giue vs +grace. And we suppose that your Maiestie is not ignorant, what our +imperiall highnesse hath often performed for their ruine and subversion. +For euen now, being vrged thereunto, we haue determined to leade a mighty +army against them, and to wage warre against all Persia. And albeit our +forces be not so great as we could wish they were, yet haue we according to +the time, and the present state of things strongly inuaded them. Wherefore +our Maiestie imperiall hath gathered our armies together: but because we +had in our armie sundry carts laden with armour, engines and other +instruments for the assault of cities, to an exceeding weight we could not +make any great speed in our iourney. Moreouer while our imperiall highnesse +was yet marching in our owne dominions, before any barbarous enemy had +fought against vs: our people were visited with the most grieuous disease +of the fluxe, which being dispersed in our troups destroyed and slew great +numbers, more then the sword of the enemy would haue done, which mischiefe +so preuailing, did woonderfully abate our forces. But after we had inuaded +the Turkish frontiers, we had at the first very often and hot skirmishes, +and the Turks came swarming to fight against our imperiall troups. Howbeit +by Gods assistance those miscreants were altogether scattered and put to +flight by our souldiers. But as we approched vnto that strait passage which +is called by the Persians Cibrilcimam, so many bands of Persian footemen +and horsemen (most whereof came from the innermost parts of Persia, to +succour their Allies) encountred our army, as were almost superiour vnto vs +in number. Wherefore the army of our Imperiall highnesse, by reason of the +straightnesse and difficultie of the way, being stretched ten miles in +length; and the first not being able to helpe the last, nor yet +contrarywise the last to rescue the first, it came to passe that they were +very farre distant asunder. And in very deed the foremost troupes were much +separated from the guard of our imperiall person, who forgetting their +fellowes behind, would not stay any whit for them. Because therefore the +Turkish bands knew full well by their former conflicts that it was +bootlesse for them to assaile the forefront of our battell, and perceiuing +the narownesse of the place to be a great aduantage, they determined to set +vpon our rereward, and did so. Wherefore our passage being very straight, +and the infidels assayling vs upon the right hand and vpon the left, and on +all sides, and discharging their weapons as thicke as hailestones against +vs, slew diuers of our men and horses. Hereupon, the slaughter of our +people still encreasing, our maiestie imperiall deemed it requisite to stay +behind, and to succour our bands in the rereward, and so expecting them we +sustained the fierce encounter of many thousand Persians. What exploits our +Imperiall person atchieued in the same skirmish, I hold it needlesse at +this time to recount: your maiestie may perhaps vnderstand more of this +matter by them which were there present Howbeit our Imperiall highnesse +being in the middest of this conflict, and enduring the fight with so great +danger, all our hindermost troups, both Greekes, Latines, and other +nations, retiring themselues close together, and not being able to suffer +the violence of their enemies weapons, pressed on so hard, and were caried +with such maine force, that hastening to ascend the next hill for their +better safegard, they vrged on them which went before, whether they would +or no. Wherevpon, much dust being raised, which stopped our eyes and +vtterly depriued vs of sight, and our men and horses pressing so sore one +vpon the necke of another, plunged themselues on the sudden into such a +steepe and dangerous valley, that treading one vpon another, they quelled +to death not onely a multitude of the common souldiours, but diuers most +honourable personages, and some of our neere kinsmen. For who could +restraine the irresistable throng of so huge a multitude? Howbeit our +Imperiall highnesse being enuironed with such swarmes of Infidels, and +giuing and receiuing wounds (insomuch that the miscreants were greatly +dismaied at our constancie) we gaue not ouer, but by Gods assistance wonne +the field. Neither did we permit the enemie to ascend vnto that place, from +whence we skirmished with him. Neither yet spurred wee on our horse any +faster for all their assaults. But marshalling air our troupes together, +and deliuering them out of danger, we disposed them about our Imperial +person; and so we ouertooke the foremost, and marched in good order with +our whole army. Nowe the Soldan perceiuing that notwithstanding the great +damages which we had sustained, our Imperial hignes prouided to giue him a +fresh encounter, humbly submitting himselfe vnto vs, and vsing submissive +speaches, made suite to haue peace at our hands, and promised to fulfill +the pleasure of our maiestie Imperiall, to doe vs seruice against all +commers, to release all our subiects which were captiues in his realme, and +to rest wholy at our commaund. [Sidenote: The citie of Iconium intended to +haue bene besieged.] Here therefore we remained two dayes with great +authoritie; and considering that wee could attempt nought against the citie +of Iconium, hauing lost all our warrelike engines, both for defence and for +batterie, for that the oxen which drew them were slaine with the enemies +weapons, falling as thicke as hailestones: and also for because all our +beasts in a maner were most grieuously diseased; our maiestie Imperial +accepted of the Soldans petition, league, and oath being made and taken +vnder our ensignes, and granted our peace vnto him. Then returned we into +our owne dominions, being greatly grieued for the losse of our deere +kinsmen, and yeelding vnto God most humble thanks, who of his goodnesse had +euen now giuen vs the victory. [Sidenote: Certaine noblemen of the king of +England were with the Emperor in his battell against the Soldan of +Iconium.] We are right glad likewise that some of your maiesties princes +and nobles accompanied vs in this action, who are able to report vnto you +all things which haue happened. And albeit we were exceedingly grieued for +the losse of our people; yet thought it we expedient to signifie vnto you +the successe of our affaires, as vnto our welbeloued friend, and one who is +very neerely allied vnto our highnesse Imperial, by reason of the +consanguitie of our children Farewell. Giuen in the moneth of Nouember, and +vpon the tenth Indiction. + + * * * * * + +The life and trauailes of Baldwinus Deuonius, sometime Archbishop of + Canterbury. + +Baldwinus Deuonius, tenui loco Excestrire natus, vir ore facundus, exactus +Philosophus, et de omne studiorum genus per illos dies aptissimus +inueniebatur. Scholarum rector primum erat, tum postea Archidiaconus, +eruditione ac sapientia in omni negotio celebris: fuit praeterea +Cisterciensis Monachus, et Abbas Fordensis Coenobij, magnus suorum +testimatione, ar vniuiersae eorum societati quasi Antesignanus: fuit deinde +Wigorniensis praesul, fuit et mortuo demum Richardo Cantuariorum +Archiepiscopus, ac totius Angliae Primas. Cui muneri Baldwinus sollicite +inuigilans, egregium se pastorem exhibuit, dominicum semen, quantum +patiebatur eius temporis, iniquitas, vbique locorum spargens. Richardus +Anglorum rex, acceptis tunc regni insignijs, summo studio classem, ac omnia +ad Hierosolymitanum bellum gerendum necessaria parauit. Secutus est illico +regem in Syriam, et Palestinam vsque Baldwinus, vt esset in tam Sancto (vt +ipse putabat) itinere laborum, dolorum, ac periculorum particeps. Praefuit +Cantuariensi Ecclesiae fere 6 annis, et Richardum regem in Syriam secutus, +anno Salutis nostrae 1190. Tyri vitam finiuit, vbi et sepultus est. + +The same in English. + +Baldwine a Deuonshire man borne in Exceter of mean parentage, was a very +eloquent man, an exact Philosopher, and in those dayes very excellent in +all kind of studies. He was first of all a Schoolemaster: afterwards he +became an Archdeacon, very famous for his learning and wisedom in all his +doings. He was also a Cistercian Monke and Abbot of Foord Monasterie, and +the chiefe of all those that were of his order: he grew after this to be +bishop of Worcester, and at last after the death of Archb. Richard he was +promoted and made Archbishop of Canterbury, and Primate of all England. In +the discharge of which place he being very vigilant, shewed, himself a +worthy Pastor, sowing the seed of Gods word in euery place as farre foorth +as the iniquitie of that time permitted. In his time king Richard with all +indeauour prepared a Fleet and all things necessary for waging of warre +against the Infidels at lerasalem, taking with him the standerd and +ensignes of the kingdome. This Baldwme eftsoones folowed the king into +Syria and Palestina, as one desirous to be partaker of his trauailes, +paines, and perils in so holy a voyage. Hee was Archbishop of Canterburie +almost sixe yeres: but hauing followed the king into Syria, in the yeere +1190. he died at Tyre, where he was also buried. + + * * * * * + +An annotation concerning the trauailes of the sayd Baldwirie, taken out of + Giraldus Cambrensis, in his Itinerarium Cambrise, lib, a. Cap. 14. Fol + 229. + +Inter primos Thomae Becketi successor hic secundus, audita saluatoris et +salutiferae Crucis iniuria nostris (proh dolor) diebus per Saladinum +irrogata, cruce signatus, in eiusdem obsequijs, tarn remotis finibus quam +propinquis, praedicationis officiunm viriliter assumpsit. Et postmodum iter +accipiens, nauigioque fungens apud Marsiliam, transcurso tandem pelagi +profundo, in portu Tyrensi incolumis applicuit: et inde ad exercitum +nostrum obsidentem pariter et obsessum Aconem transiuit: vbi multos ex +nostris inueniens, et fere cunctos principum defectu, in summa desolatlone +iam positos, et desperatione, alios quidem longa expectatione fatigatos, +alios fame et inopia grauiter afflictos, quosdam vero aeris, inclementia +distemperatos, diem foeliciter in terra sacra clausurus extremum, singulos +pro posse vinculo charitatis amplectens, sumptibus et impensis, verbis, et +vitae mentis confirmauit. + +The same in English. + +This Baldwine being the second successor vnto Thomas Becket, after he had +heard the wrong which was done to our Sauiour, and the signe of the Crosse +by Saladin the Sultan of Egypt, taking vpon him the Lords Character, he +couragiously perfourmed his office of preaching in the obedience thereof, +as well in farre distant Countreis as at home. And afterwards taking his +iourney and imbarking himselfe at Marseils, hauing at length passed the +Leuant sea, he arriued safely in the Hauen of Tyrus, and from thence went +ouer to Achon vnto our armie, besieging the Towne, and yet (as it were) +besieged it selfe: where finding many of our Countreymen, and almost all +men remaining in wonderfull pensiuenesse and despaire, through the +withdrawing of the Princes, some of them tyred with long expectation, +others grieuously afflicted with hunger and pouertie, and others +distempered with the heate of the weather, being ready happily to ende his +dayes in the Holy land, embracing euery one according to his abilitie in +the bond of loue, he ayded them at his costes and charges, and strengthened +them with his wordes and good examples of life. + + * * * * * + +A note drawen out of a very ancient booke remaining in the hands of the + right worshipfull M. Thomas Tilney Esquire, touching Sir Frederike Tilney + his ancestor, knighted at Acon in the Holy land for his valour, by K. + Richard the first, as foloweth. + +Pertinuit iste liber prius Frederico Tilney de Boston, in comitatu +Lincolniae militi facto apud Acon in terra Iudeae anno Regis Richardi primi +tertio. Vir erat iste magnae staturae et potens in corpore: qui cum partibus +suis dormit apud Tirrington iuxta villam sui nominis Tilney in Mershland. +Cuius altitudo in salua custodia permanet ibidem vsque in hunc diem. Et +post eius obitum sexdecem militibus eius nominis Tilney haereditas illa +successiue obuenit, quorum vnus post alium semper habitabat apud Boston +praedictum; dum fratris senioris haereditas haeredi generali deuoluta est, quae +nupta est Iohanni duci Norfolciae. Eorum miles vltimus fuit Philippus Tilney +nuper de Shelleigh in Comitatu Suffolciae, pater et genitor Thomae Tilney de +Hadleigh in Comitatu praedicto Armigeri, cut modo attinet iste liber. Anno +aetatis suae 64, Anno Domini 1556. + +The same in English. + +This booke pertained in times past vnto Sir Frederick Tilney of Boston in +the Countie of Lincolne, who was knighted at Acon in the land of Iurie, in +the third yeere of the reigne of king Richard the first. This knight was of +a tall stature, and strong of body, who resteth interred with his +forefathers at Tirrington, neere vnto a towne in Marshland called by his +owne name Tilney. The iust height of this knight is there kept in safe +custody vntill this very day. Also, after this mans decease, the +inheritance of his landes fell successively vnto sixteene sundry knights +called all by the name of Tilney, who dwelt alwayes, one after another, at +the towne of Boston aforesayd, vntill such time as the possessions of the +elder brother fell vnto an heire general, which was maried vnto Iohn duke +of Northfolke. The last knight of that name was sir Philip Tilney late of +Shelleigh in the Countie of Suffolke, predecessor and father vnto Thomas +Tilney of Hadleigh in the Countie aforesayd Esquire, vnto whom the said +booke of late appertained. In the yeere of his age 64 and in the yeere of +our Lord, 1556. + + * * * * * + +The trauailes of one Richard surnaraed Canonicus. + +Richardus Canonicus ad Trinitatis fanum Londini Regularis, ab ipsa +pueritia, bonarum artium literas impense amauit, excoluit, ac didicit. Qui +ex continuo labore atque exercitatione longa, talis tandem euasit orator, +et Poeta, quales ea aetas rarissimos nutriebat. Ob id Richardo Anglorum tunc +Regi charus, longam cum eo peregrinationem in Palaestinam ac Syriam, dum +expugnaret Turcas, suscepit. Vnde in Angliam tum demum reuersus, omnia quae +presens vidit in vrbibus, agris, ac militum castris, fideli narratione, tam +carmine, quam prosa descripsit. Neque interim omisit eiusdem Regis mores, +et formam, per omnia corporis lineamenta designare, addiditque praeclaro suo +open hoc aptissimum pro titulo nomen, scilicet, Itinerarium Regis Richardi. +Claruit anno redemptionis nostne 1200 sub Ioanne Anglorimi Rege. + +The same in English. + +Richard surnamed Canonicus an obseruant Frier of Trinitie Church in London, +was in great loue with the studies of good Artes, and tooke paines in them +and learned them. And at last by his continuall endeauour and long exercise +therein, he grewe to bee such an Oratour and Poet, as fewe were in that age +liuing, by reason whereof hee grew in fauour with Richard then King of +England, and vndertooke that long voyage with him into Palestina and Syria +against the Turkes. From whence being returned againe into England, hee +faithfully described both in Verse and Prose all such things, as hee had +seene in the Cities, fieldes and tentes of the souldiours, where hee was +present, and omitted not to note the behauiour, forme, and proportion of +body in the foresayd king, giving to his notable worke this most apt name +for the title, The Iournall of King Richard. He flourished in the yeere of +our Redemption 1200. vnder Iohn king of England. + + * * * * * + +The large contribution to the succour of the Holy land, made by king Iohn + king of England, in the third yeere of his reigne 1201. Matth. Paris and + Holinsh. pag. 164. + +At the same time also the Kings of France and England gaue large money +towards the maintenance of the army which at this present went foorth vnder +the leading of the earle of Flanders and other, to warre against the +enemies of the Christian faith at the instance of pope Innocent. There was +furthermore granted vnto them the fortieth part of all the reuenues +belonging vnto ecclesiastical persons, towards the ayd of the Christians +then being in the Holy and: and all such aswel of the nobility, as other of +the weaker sort, which had taken vpon them the crosse, and secretly layed +it downe were compelled eftsoones to receiue it now againe. + + * * * * * + +The trauailes of Hubert Walter bishop of Sarisburie. + +Hubertus Walterus Sarisburiensis Episcopus, vir probus, ingenioque ac +pietate clarus, inter praecipuos vnus eorum erat, qui post Richardum regem +expugnandorum Saracenorum gratia in Syriam proficiscebantur. Cum ex +Palaestina rediens, audiret in Sicilia, quod idem Richardus in inimicorum +manus incidisset, omisso itinere incoepto, ad eum cursim diuertebat: Quem +et ille statim in Angliam misit, vt illic regij Senatus authoritate, +indicto pro eius redemptione tributo pecuniam colligeret quod et industrius +fecit ac regem liberauit. Inde Cantuariorum Archiepiscopus factus, post +eius mortem Ioanni illius fratri ac successori paria fidelitatis officia +praestitit. Longa enim oratione toti Anglorum nationi persuasit, quod vir +prouidus, praestans, fortis, genere nobilissimus, et imperio dignissimus +esset: quo salutatus a populo fuit, atque in regem coronatus. Composuit +quaedam opuscula, et ex immenso animi dolore demum obijsse fertur, Anno +salutis humanae 1205. cum sedisset annos 11. Menses octo, et dies sex. Quum +vidisset ex intestinis odijs, omnia in transmarinis regionibus pessum ire, +regnante Ioanne. + +The same in English. + +Hubert Walter bishop of Sarisburie, a vertuous man, and famous for his good +wit and piety, was one of the chiefest of them that followed king Richard +into Syria going against the Saracens. As he returned from Palaestina and +came in his iourney into Sicilia, he there heard of the ill fortune of the +king being fallen into his enemies handes, and thereupon leauing his +iourney homewards, he went presently and in all haste to the place where +the king was captiued, whom the king immediatly vpon his comming sent into +England, that by the authority of the councell, a tribute might be +collected for his redemption: which this Hubert performed with great +diligence, and deliuered the king. After this he was made Archbishop of +Canterburie, and after the death of King Richard he shewed the like dueties +of fidelitie and trust to his brother Iohn that succeeded him. For by a +long oration he perswaded the whole nation of the English men, that he was +a very circumspect man, vertuous, valiant, borne of noble parentage, and +most woorthy of the crowne. Whereupon he was so receiued of all the people +and crowned king. He wrote certaine books, and died at the last with very +great griefe of minde, in the yeere 1205, hauing beene archbishop the space +of 11 yeres 8 moneths and sixe dayes, by reason of the ciuil discords +abroad, whereby all things went topsie turuy, and in the reigne of king +Iohn. + + * * * * * + +The trauailes of Robert Curson. + +Robertus Curson ex nobili quodam Anglorum ortus genere, disciplinis tum +prophanis, tum sacris studiosus incubuit, idque (quantum ex coniecturis +colligo) in celebratissima Oxonij Academia. Praestantissimis illic +institutoribus vsus, ex summa circa ingenuas artes industria, et assiduo +literarum labore, famam sibi inter suos celeberrimam comparauit. Ampliora +deinde meditatus Parisiorum Lutetiam, atque Romam ipsam petijt, illic +Theologus Doctor, hic vero Cardinalis effectus. Vnde vterque Matthaeus +Parisius, ac Westmonasterius, hoc de ipso testimonium adferunt: hic libro +2. ille 8. suorum Chronicorum. Anno Domini 1218 (inquiunt) in captione +Damiatae AEgypti vrbis, sub Ioanne Brenno Hierosolymorum rege, fuit cum +Pelagio Albanensi Magister Robertus de Curson, Anglus, Clericus +celeberrimus, genere nobilis, ac Romanae Ecclesiae Cardinalis, etc. Bostonus +Buriensis in sua Catalogo Cursonum aliquos libros composuisse narrat. +Claruit anno superius numerato per praedictos testes in Anglia regnante +Henrico tertio Ioannis regis filio: fuitque hic diebus Honorij tertij +Romani pontificis in Angliam, Bostono teste, legatus. + +The same in English. + +Robert Curson descended of a noble family of England, vsed great diligence +aswell in prophane as in diuine studies in the famous Vniuersitie of Oxford +(as I coniecture.) He had there the best scholemasters that were to be +gotten, and was most industrious, in the arts and continual exercises of +learning: by meanes whereof he grew to be of great renowne where he liued. +Afterward thinking of greater matters he went to Paris, and thence to Rome +it selfe, and at Paris he proceeded doctor of Diuinity, at Rome he was made +cardinall: whereupon both Matthew Paris and Matthew of Westminster produce +this testimony of him, the one in his second booke, the other in his eight +booke of Chronicles. In the yere of our Lord (say they) 1218, at the taking +of Damiata a city of Egypt vnder Iohn Brenne king of Ierusalem, M. Robert +Curson an English man, a most famous clearke of noble parentage, and +cardinall of the church of Rome, was there with Pelagius Albanensis, &c. +Boston of Burie in Suffolke in his catalogue reporteth, that he wrote +diuers books. He flourished in the yeere aforesayd by the witnesses +aforesayd. Henry the third sonne of king Iohn being then king of England: +and by the further testimony of Boston, this Curson was legate into England +in the dayes of Honorius the third, bishop of Rome. + + * * * * * + +The voyage of Ranulph earle of Chester, of Saer Quincy earle of Winchester, + William de Albanie earle of Arundel, with diuers other noble men to the + Holy land, in the second yere of King Henry the third. Matth. Paris. + Holensh. pag. 202. + +In the yeere 1218, Ranulph earle of Chester was sent into the Holy land by +king Henry the third with a goodly company of souldiers and men of warre, +to ayde the Christians there against the Infidels, which at the same time +had besieged the city of Damiata in Egypt. In which enterprise the valiancy +of the same earle after his comming thither was to his great praise most +apparent There went with him in that iourney Saer de Quincy earle of +Winchester, William de Albanie earle of Arundel, besides diuers barons, as +the lord Robert fitz Walter, Iohn constable of Chester, William de +Harecourt, and Oliuer fitz Roy sonne to the king of England, and diuers +others. + + * * * * * + +The voyage of Henry Bohun and Saer Quincy to the Holy land. + +This yere, being the sixt yere of Henry the third, deceased Henry de Bohun +earle of Hereford, and Saer de Quincy earle of Winchester, in their journey +which they made to the Holy land. Matth. Paris. Holensh. pag. 202. col. 2. + + * * * * * + +The trauailes of Ranulph Glanuile earle of Chester. + +Ranulphus Glanuile Cestriae Comes, vir nobilissimi generis, et vtroque iure +eruditus, in albo illustrium virorum a me merito ponendus venit. Ita probe +omnes adolescentiae suae annos legibus tum humanis tum diuinis consecrauit, +vt non prius in hominem pet aetatem euaserit, quam nomen decusque ab insigni +eruditione sibi comparauerit. Cum profecti essent Francorum Heroes +Ptolemaidem, inito cum Ioanne Brenno Hierosolymorum rege concilio, Damiatam +AEgypti vrbem obsidendam constituebant, anno salutis humanae 1218. Misit +illuc Henricus rex, ab Honorio 3 Rom. Pontifice rogatus, cum magna +armatorum manu Ranulphum, ad rem Christianum iuuandam. Cuius virtus, +Polydoro teste, in eo bello miris omnium laudibus celebrata fuit. Quo +confecto negotio, Ranulphus in patriam reuersus, scripsit, De legibus +Angliae librum vnum. Fertur praeterea, et alia quaedam scripsisse, sed tempus +edax rerum, ea nobis abstulit. Claruit anno a Seruatoris nostri natiuitate +1230 confectus senio, dum Henricus tertius sub Antichristi tyrannide in +Anglia regnaret. + +The same in English. + +Ranulph Granuile earle of Chester, a man of a very noble house, and learned +in both the Lawes, deserues of deutie to be here placed by me in the +catalogue of woorthy and notable men. He applied so well all the yeeres of +his youth to the study of humane and diuine Lawes, that he came not so +soone to the age of a man, as he had purchased to himselfe by reason of his +singular learning, renowme and honour. When the noble men of France went to +Ptolomais, vpon the counsell of Iohn Brenne king of Ierusalem, they +resolued to besiege Damiata a city of Egypt, in the yeere 1218. And then +Henry the king vpon the motion of Honorius the third, bishop of Rome, sent +thither this earle Ranulph with a great power of armed souldiers, to +further the enterprise of the Christians: whose valure in that warre (by +the testimonie of Polidor Virgil) was marueilously commended of all men. +After the end of which businesse, he being returned into his countrey, +wrote a booke of the lawes of England. It is also reported that he wrote +other books, but time the destroyer of many memorials, hath taken them from +vs. He flourished in the yeere after the natiuity of Christ 1230, being +very aged, and in the reigne of K. Henry the third. + + * * * * * + +The voyage of Petrus de Rupibus bishop, of Winchester, to Ierusalem in the + yere of grace 1231, and the 15 of Henry the third. + +Anno gratis 1231, mense vero Iulio, Petrus Wintoniensis episcopus, completo +in terra sancta iam fere per quinquennium magnifice peregrinationis voto, +reuersus est in Angliam, Kalendis Augusti; et Wintoniam veniens, susceptus +est cum processione solenni in sua ecclesia cathedrali. + +The same in English. + +In the yere of grace 1231, and in the moneth of Iuly, Peter bishop of +Winchester hauing spent almost fiue whole yeres in fulfilling his vow of +pilgrimage in the Holy land with great pompe, returned into England, about +the Kalends of August, and coming unto Winchester was received with solemne +procession into his cathedrall church. + + * * * * * + +The honourable and prosperous voyage of Richard earle of Cornewall, brother + to king Henry the third, accompanied with William Longespee earle of + Sarisburie, and many other noble men into Syria. + +In the 24 yere of king Henry the third, Richard earle of Cornwall the kings +brother, with a navy of ships sailed into Syria, where in the warres +against the Saracens he greatly advanced the part of the Christians. There +went over with him the earle of Sarisburie, William Longspee, and William +Basset, John Beauchampe, Geoffrey de Lucie, John Neuel, Geoffrey +Beauchampe, Peter de Brense, and William Furniuall. + +Simon Montfort earle of Leicester went ouer also the same time; but whereas +the earle of Cornwall tooke the sea at Marseils, the earle of Leicester +passed thorow Italy, and tooke shipping at Brindize in Apulia: and with him +went these persons of name, Thomas de Furniual with his brother Gerard de +Furniuall, Hugh Wake, Almerike de S. Aumond, Wiscard Ledet, Punchard de +Dewin, and William de Dewin that were brethren, Gerald Pesmes, Fouke de +Baugie, and Peter de Chauntenay. + +Shortly after also Iohn earle of Albemarle, William Fortis, and Peter de +Mallow a Poictouin, men for their valiancy greatly renowmed, went thither, +leading with them a great number of Christian souldiors, Matth. Paris. +Matth. West Holensh. pag. 225. col. 2. + + * * * * * + +The voyage of William Longespee [Marginal note:--Or, Longsword.] Earle of + Sarisburie into Asia, in the yeere 1248, and in the 32 yeere of the + reigne of Henry the third, king of England. + +Lewis the French king being recovered of his sicknesse which he fell into, +in the yeere 1234, vowed thereupon for a free will sacrifice to God, that +he (if the Councell of his realme would suffer him) would in his owne +person visit the Holy land: which matter was opened and debated in the +Parliament of France held in the yeere 1247. Where at length it was +concluded, that the king according to his vow should take his journey into +Asia, and the time thereof was also prefixed, which should be after the +feast of S. John Baptist the next yeere ensuing. + +At which time William Longespee a worthie warrior, with the bishop of +Worcester and certaine other great men in the Realme of England (mooved +with the example of the Frenchmen) prepared themselves likewise to the same +journey. + +It fell out in this enterprise, that about the beginning of October, the +French king assaulted and tooke Damiata, being the principall fort or hold +of the Saracens in all Egypt, Anno 1249, and having fortified the Citie +with an able garrison left with the Duke of Burgundies he remooved his +tents from thence to goe Eastward. In whose armie followed William +Longespee, accompanied with a piked number of English warriors retaining +unto him. But such was the disdaine of the Frenchmen against this William +Longespee and the Englishmen that they could not abide them, but flouted +them after an opprobrious maner with English tailes, insomuch that the +French king himselfe had much adoe to keepe peace betweene them. + +The originall cause of this grudge betweene them began thus. [Sidenote: A +fort won by the Englishmen] There was not farre from Alexandria in Egypt a +strong fort or castle replenished with great Ladies and rich treasure of +the Saracens: which hold it chanced the sayd William Longespee with his +company of English soldiers to get, more by politique dexteritie then by +open force of armes, wherewith, he and his retinue were greatly enriched. +When the Frenchmen had knowledge hereof (they not being made priuie hereto) +began to conceive an heart burning against the English souldiers, and could +not speake well of them after that. + +[Sidenote: A rich bootie also gotten by the Englishmen.] It hapned againe +not long after that the sayd William had intelligence of a company of rich +merchants among the Saracens going to a certaine Faire about the parts of +Alexandria, having their camels, asses and mules, richly loden with silkes, +precious jewels, spices, gold and silver, with cart loades of other wares, +beside victuall and other furniture, whereof the souldiers then stood in +great need: he having secret knowledge hereof, gathered all the power of +Englishmen unto him that he could, and so by night falling vpon the +merchants, some he slew with their guides and conducters, some he tooke, +some hee put to flight: the carts with the driuers, and with the oxen, +camels, asses and mules, with the whole cariage and victuals he tooke and +brought with him, losing in all the skirmish but one souldier and eight of +his seruitors: of whom notwithstanding some he brought home wounded to be +cured. + +[Sidenote: The iniurie of the Frenchmen to our English.] This being knowen +in the Campe, foorth came the Frenchmen which all this while loytered in +their pauilions, and meeting this cariage by the way, tooke all the +foresayd praie whole to themselues, rating the said William and the +Englishmen for aduenturing and issuing out of the Campe without leaue or +knowledge of their Generall, contrary to the discipline of warre. William +said againe he had done nothing but he would answere to it, whose purpose +was to haue the spoyle deuided to the behoofe of the whole armie. + +[Sidenote: Will. Longspee iustly forsaketh the French king.] When this +would not serue, hee being sore grieued in his minde so cowardly to be +spoyled of that which he so aduenturously had trauailed for, went to the +King to complaine: But when no reason nor complaint would serue by reason +of the proude Earle of Artoys the Kings brother, which vpon spight and +disdaine stood agaynst him, he bidding the King forewell sayd hee would +serue him no longer: and so William de Longespee with the rest of his +company breaking from the French hoste went to Achon. Vpon whose departure +the earle of Artoys sayd, Now is the army of French men well rid of these +tailed people, which words spoken in great despight were ill taken of many +good men that heard them. + +But not long after, when the keeper of Cayro & Babylonia, bearing a good +mind to the Christian religion, and being offended also with the Souldan, +promised to deliuer the same to the French king, instructing him what +course was best for him to take to accomplish it, the king hereupon in all +haste sent for William Longespee, promising him a full redress of all his +iniuries before receiued: who at the kings request came to him againe, and +so ioyned with the French power. + +After this, it happened that the French king passing with his armie +towardes Cayro aforesayd, came to the great riuer Nilus, on the further +part whereof the Soldan had pitched himselfe to withstand his comming ouer: +there was at this time a Saracen lately conuerted to Christ, seruing the +earle Robert the French kings brother, who told him of the absence of the +Soldan from his tents, and of a shallow foord in the riuer where they might +easily passe ouer. Whereupon the sayd earle Robert and the Master of the +Temple with a great power, esteemed to the third part of the army issued +ouer the riuer, after whom followed W. Longspee with his band of English +souldiers. These being ioyned together on the other side of the water, +encountred the same day with the Saracens remaining in the tents and put +them to the worst. Which victory being gotten, the French earle surprised +with pride and triumph, as though hee had conquered the whole earth, would +needs forward, diuiding himselfe from the maine hoste, thinking to winne +the spurres alone. To whom certain sage men of the Temple, giuing him +contrary counsell, aduised him not to do so, but rather to returne and take +their whole company with them, and so should they be more sure against all +deceits and dangers, which might be layed priuily for them. The maner of +that people (they sayd) they better knew, and had more experience thereof +then he: alledging moreouer their wearied bodies, their tired horses, their +famished souldiers, and the insufficiency also of their number, which was +not able to withstand the multitude of the enemies, especially at this +present brunt, in which the aduersaries did well see the whole state of +their dominion now to consist either in winning all or losing all. + +Which when the proud earle did heare, being inflated with no lesse +arrogancy then ignorance, with opprobrious taunts reuiled them, calling +them cowardly dastards, and betrayers of the whole countrey, obiecting vnto +them the common report of many, which sayd, that the land of the holy +crosse might soone be woon to Christendome, were it not for rebellious +Templaries, with the Hospitalaries, and their followers. + +To these contumelious rebukes, when the master of the Temple answered +againe for him and his fellowes, bidding him display his ensigne when he +would, and where he durst, they were as ready to follow him, as he to goe +before them. Then began William de Longespe the worthy knight to speake, +desiring the earle to giue eare to those men of experience, who had better +knowledge of those countreyes and people then he had, commending also their +counsell to be discreet and wholesome, and so turning to the master of the +Temple, began with gentle wordes to mittigate him likewise. The knight had +not halfe ended his talke, when the Earle taking his wordes out of his +mouth, began to fume and sweare, crying out of those cowardly Englishmen +with tailes: What a pure armie (sayd he) should we haue here, if these +tailes and tailed people were purged from it, with other like words of +villany, and much disdaine: [Sidenote: The worthy answere of William +Longspe to Earle Robert.] whereunto the English knight answering againe, +well, Earle Robert (said he) wheresoeuer you dare set your foote, my step +shall go as farre as yours, and (as I beleeue) we goe this day where you +shall not dare to come neere the taile of my horse, as in deede in the +euent it prooued true: for Earle Robert would needes set forward, weening +to get all the glory to himselfe before the comming of the hoste, and first +inuaded a litle village or castle, which was not farre off, called Mansor. +The countrey Boores and Pagans in the villages, seeing the Christians +comming, ranne out with such a maine cry and shout, that it came to the +Soldans hearing, who was neerer then our men did thinke. In the meane time, +the Christians inuading and entring into the munition [Footnote: +Fortification.] incircumspectly, were pelted and pashed [Footnote: "That +can be cut with any iron, or pashed with mighty stones." CHAPMAN _Iliad_, +xiii., 297.] with stones by them which stood aboue, whereby a great number +of our men were lost, and the armie sore maymed, and almost in despaire. + +Then immediatly vpon the same, commeth the Soldan with all his maine power, +which seeing the Christian armie to be deuided, and the brother separated +from the brother, had that which he long wished for, and so inclosing them +round about, that none should escape, had with them a cruell fight. + +Then the earle beganne to repent him of his heady rashnes, but it was too +late, who then seeing William the English knight doughtily fighting in the +chiefe brunt of the enemies, cried vnto him most cowardly to flie, seeing +God (saith he) doth fight against vs: To whom the Knight answering againe, +God forbid (sayth he) that my fathers sonne should runne away from the face +of a Saracene. [Sidenote: The cowardly flight of Earle Robert.] The Earle +then turning his horse, fled away, thinking to auoid by the swiftnes of his +horse, and so taking the riuer Thafnis, oppressed with harnesse, was there +sunken and drowned. + +Thus the Earle being gone, the Frenchmen began to dispaire and scatter. +[Sidenote: The valiant ende of William Longespe.] Then William de Longespe +bearing all the force of the enemies, stoode against them as long as he +could, wounding and slaying many a Saracen, till at length his horse being +killed, and his legges maymed, he could no longer stande, who yet +notwithstanding as he was downe, mangled their feete and legges, and did +the Saracens much sorrow, till at last after many blowes and wounds, being +stoned of the Saracens, he yeelded his life. And after the death of him, +the Saracens setting vpon the residue of the armie, whom they had compassed +on euery side, deuoured and destroyed them all, insomuch that scarce one +man remained aliue, sauing two Templaries, one Hospitaler, and one poore +rascall souldier, which brought tidings hereof to the King. + +And thus by the imprudent and foolish hardines of that French Earle, the +Frenchmen were discomfited, and that valiant English Knight ouermatched, to +the griefe of all Christian people, the glory of the Saracens, and the +vtter destruction and ruine of the whole French armie, as afterwards it +appeared. + + * * * * * + +The Voyage of Prince Edward the sonne of king Henry the third into Asia, in + the yeere 1270. + +About the yeere of our Lord, 1267. Octobonus the Popes Legate being in +England, prince Edward the sonne of king Henry, and other Noble men of +England tooke vpon them the crosse vpon S. Iohn Baptists day, by the sayd +Legates hands at Northampton, to the reliefe of the Holy land, and the +subuersion of the enemies of the crosse of Christ. For which purpose, and +for the better furnishing of the prince towards the iourney, there was +granted him a subsidie throughout all the realme, and in the moneth of May, +in the yeere of our Lord 1270. he began to set forward. + +At Michaelmas following he with his company came to Eguemortes, which is +from Marsilia eight leagues Westward, and there taking ship againe (hauing +a mery and prosperous wind) within ten dayes arriued at Tunez, where he was +with great ioy welcommed, and entertained of the Christian princes that +there were to this purpose assembled, as of Philip the French King, whose +father Lodouicus died a litle before, of Carolus the king of Sicilia, and +the two kings of Nauarre and Arragon, and as this lord Edward came thither +for his father the king of England, thither came also Henry the sonne of +the king of Almaine for his father, who at his returne from the voyage was +slaine in a chappell at Viterbium. + +When prince Edward demanded of these kings and princes what was to be done, +they answered him againe and sayd, the prince of this citie and the +prouince adioyning to the same hath bene accustomed to pay tribute vnto the +king of Sicily euery yere: and now for that the same hath bene for the +space of seuen yeeres vnpaied and more, therefore we thought good to make +invasion vpon him. But the king knowing the same tribute to be but iustly +demaunded, hath now according to our owne desire satisfied for the time +past, and also paid his tribute before hand. + +Then sayd he, My Lords, what is this to the purpose? are we not here all +assembled, and haue taken vpon vs the Lords Character to fight against the +infidels and enemies of Christ? What meane you then to conclude a peace +with them? God forbid we should do so, for now the land is plaine and hard, +so that we may approch to the holy city of Ierusalem. Then said they, now +haue we made a league with them, neither is it lawful for vs to breake the +same. But let vs returne againe to Sicilia, and when the winter is past we +may well take shipping to Acra. But this counsel nothing at all liked him, +neither did he shew himselfe wel pleased therewith: but after hee had made +them a princely banket, he went into his closet or priuy chamber from +amongst them, neither would be partaker of any of that wicked money which +they had taken. They notwithstanding continuing their purpose, at the next +mery wind tooke shipping, and for want of ships left 200. of their men a +shore, crying out, and pitiously lamenting for the peril and hazard of +death that they were in: wherewith prince Edward being somewhat mooued to +compassion: came backe againe to the land, and receiued and stowed them in +his owne ships, being the last that went aboord. + +Within seuen dayes after, they arriued in the kingdom of Sicilia, ouer +agaynst the Citie Trapes, [Footnote: Trapani, N.E. of Marsala.] casting +their ankers a league from thence within the sea, for that their shippes +were of great burden, and throughly fraught: and from the hauen of the city +they sent out barges and boates to receiue and bring such of the Nobilitie +to land as would, but their horses for the most part, and all their armour +they kept still within boord. + +At length towards the euening the sea began to be rough, and increased to a +great tempest and a mightie: insomuch that their ships were beaten one +against anothers sides, and drowned. There was of them at that tempest +lying at anker more then 120. with all their armour and munition, with +innumerable soules besides, and that wicked money also which they had taken +before, likewise perished, and was lost. + +But the tempest hurt not so much as one ship of prince Edwards, who had in +number 13. nor yet had one man lost thereby, for that (as it may be +presupposed) he consented not to the wicked counsell of the rest. + +When in the morning the princes and kings came to the sea side, and saw all +their ships drowned, and saw their men and horses in great number cast vpon +the land drowned, they had full heauie hearts, as well they might, for of +all their ships and mariners, which were in number 1500. besides the common +souldiers, there was no more saued then the manners of one onely ship, and +they in this wise. + +There was in that ship a good and wise Matrone, a Countesse or an Erles +wife, who perceiuing the tempest to grow, and fearing her selfe, called to +her the M. of the ship, and asked him whether in attempting to the shoare +it were not possible to saue themselues: he answered, that to saue the ship +it was impossible: howbeit the men that were therein by Gods helpe he +doubted not. Then sayd the countesse, for the ship force no whit, saue the +soules therein, and haue to thee double the value of the shippe: who +immediatly hoising the sailes with all force, ran the shippe aground so +neere the shore as was possible, so that with the vehemency of the weather +and force he came withall, he brast the ship and saued all that was within +the same, as he had shewed, and sayd before. + +Then the kings and princes (altering their purpose after this so great a +shipwracke) returned home againe euery one vnto their owne lands: onely +Edward, the sonne of the king of England, remained behinde with his men and +ships, which the Lord had saued and preserued. + +[Sidenote: The arriual of Prince Edward at Acra.] Then prince Edward +renouating his purpose, tooke shipping againe, and within fifteene daies +after Easter arriued he at Acra, and went a land, taking with him a +thousand of the best souldiers and most expert, and taried there a whole +moneth, refreshing both his men and horses, and that in this space he might +learne and know the secrets of the land. [Sidenote: Nazareth taken by the +prince.] After this he tooke with him sixe or seuen thousand souldiers, and +marched forward twenty miles from Acra, and tooke Nazareth, and those that +he found there he slew, and afterward returned againe to Acra. But their +enemies following after them, thinking to haue set vpon them at some streit +or other advantage, were espied by the prince, and returning againe vpon +them gaue a charge, and slew many of them, and the rest they put to flight. + +[Sidenote: A victorie against the Saracens wherein 1000 of them are +slaine.] After this, about Midsummer, when the prince had vnderstanding +that the Saracens began to gather at Cakow which was forty miles from Acra, +he marching thither, set vpon them very earely in the morning, and slew of +them more then a thousand, the rest he put to flight, and tooke rich +spoiles, marching forward till they came to a castle named Castrum +peregrinorum, situate vpon the sea coast, and taried there that night, and +the next day they returned againe toward Acra. + +In the meane season the king of Ierusalem sent vnto the noble men of +Cyprus, desiring them to come with speed to ayd the Christians, but they +would not come, saying they would keepe their owne land, and go no further. +[Sidenote: The Princes of Cyprus acknowledge obedience to the kings of +England.] Then prince Edward sent vnto them, desiring that at his request +they would come and ioyne in ayd with him: who immediatly thereupon came +vnto him with great preparation and furniture for the warres, saying, that +at his commandement they were bound to do no lesse, for that his +predecessors were sometimes the gouernors of that their land, and that they +ought alwayes to shew their fidelity to the kings of England. + +Then the Christians being herewith animated, made a third voyage or road, +and came as farre as the fort called Vincula sancti Petri, and to S. +Georgius, and when they had slain certaine there, not finding any to make +resistance against them, they retired againe from whence they came: when +thus the fame of prince Edward grew amongst his enemies, and that they +began to stand in doubt of him, they deuised among themselues how by some +pollicy they might circumuent him, and betray him. Whereupon the prince and +admirall of Ioppa sent vnto him, faining himselfe vnder great deceit +willing to become a Christian, and that he would draw with him a great +number besides, so that they might be honorably entertained and vsed of the +Christians. This talke pleased the prince well, and perswaded him to finish +the thing he had so well begun by writing againe, who also by the same +messenger sent and wrote backe vnto him diuers times about the same matter, +whereby no mistrust should spring. + +This messenger (sayth mine author) was one ex caute nutritis, one of the +stony hearted, that neither feared God nor dreaded death. + +The fift time when this messenger came, and was of the princes seruants +searched according to the maner and custome what weapon and armour he had +about him, as also his purse, that not so much as a knife could be seene +about him, he was had vp into the princes chamber, and after his reuerence +done, he pulled out certaine letters, which he deliuered the prince from +his lord, as he had done others before. This was about eight dayes after +Whitsuntide, vpon a Tuesday, somewhat before night, at which time the +prince was layed vpon his bed bare headed, in his ierkin for the great heat +and intemperature of the weather. + +When the prince had read the letters, it appeared by them, that vpon the +Saturday next following, his lord would be there ready to accomplish all +that he had written and promised. The report of these newes by the prince +to the standers by, liked them well, who drew somewhat backe to consult +thereof amongst themselues. [Sidenote: Prince Edward traiterously wounded.] +In the meane time, the messenger kneeling, and making his obeisance to the +prince (questioning further with him) put his hand to his belt, as though +he would haue pulled out some secret letters, and suddenly he pulled out an +enuenomed knife, thinking to haue stroken the prince in the belly therewith +as he lay: but the prince lifting vp his hand to defend the blow, was +striken a great wound into the arme, and being about to fetch another +stroke at him, the prince againe with his foot tooke him such a blow, that +he feld him to the ground: with that the prince gate him by the hand, and +with such violence wrasted the knife from him, that he hurt himselfe +therewith on the forehead, and immediately thrust the same into belly of +the messenger and striker, and slew him. + +The princes seruants being in the next chamber not farre off, hearing the +busling, came with great haste running in, and finding the messenger lying +dead in the floore, one of them tooke vp a stoole, and beat out his brains: +whereat the prince was wroth for that he stroke a dead man, and one that +was killed before. + +But the rumour of this accident, as it was strange, so it went soone +thorowout all the Court, and from thence among the common people, for which +they were very heauy, and greatly discouraged. To him came also the +Captaine of the Temple, and brought him a costly and precious drinke +against poison, least the venime of the knife should penetrate the liuely +blood, and in blaming wise sayd vnto him: did I not tell your Grace before +of the deceit and subtilty of this people? Notwithstanding, said he, let +your Grace take a good heart, you shall not die of this wound, my life for +yours. But straight way the Surgions and Physicians were sent for, and the +prince was dressed, and within few dayes after, the wound began to +putrifie, and the flesh to looke dead and blacke: wherupon they that were +about the prince began to mutter among themselues, and were very sad and +heauy. + +Which thing, he himself perceiuing, said vnto them: why mutter you thus +among your selues? what see you in me, can I not be healed? tell me the +trueth, be ye not afrayd. Whereupon one sayd vnto him, and it like your +Grace you may be healed, we mistrust not, but yet it will be very painfull +for you to suffer. May suffering (sayd he againe) restore health? yea sayth +the other, on paine of losing my head. Then sayd the prince, I commit my +selfe vnto you, doe with me what you thinke good. + +Then sayd one of the Physicians, is there any of your Nobles in whom your +Grace reposeth special trust? to whom the prince answered Yea, naming +certeine of the Noble men that stood about him. Then sayd the Physician to +the two, whom the prince first named, the Lord Edmund, [Marginal note: The +lord Edmond was the prince his brother.] and the lord Iohn Voisie, And doe +you also faithfully loue your Lord and prince? Who answered both, Yea +vndoubtedly. Then sayth he, take you away this gentlewoman and lady +(meaning his wife) and let her not see her lord and husband, till such time +as I will you thereunto. Whereupon they tooke her from the princes +presence, crying out, and wringing her hands. Then sayd they vnto her, Be +you contented good Lady and Madame, it is better that one woman should +weepe a little while, then that all the realme of England should weepe a +great season. + +Then on the morrow they cut out all the dead and inuenimed flesh out of the +princes arme, and threw it from them, and sayd vnto him: how cheereth your +Grace, we promise you within these fifteene dayes you shall shew your selfe +abroad (if God permit) vpon your horsebacke, whole and well as euer you +were. And according to the promise he made the prince, it came to passe, to +the no little comfort and admiration of all his subiects. + +When the great Souldan heard hereof, and that the prince was yet aliue, he +could scarsely beleeue the same, and sending vnto him three of his Nobles +and Princes, excused himselfe by them, calling his God to witnesse that the +same was done neither by him nor his consent. Which princes and messengers +standing aloofe off from the kings sonne, worshipping him, fell flat vpon +the ground: you (sayd the prince) do reuerence me, but yet you loue me not. +But they vnderstood him not, because he spake in English vnto them, +speaking by an Interpreter: neuerthelesse he honourably entertained them, +and sent them away in peace. + +Thus when prince Edward had beene eighteene moneths in Acra, he tooke +shipping about the Assumption of our Lady, as we call it, returning +homeward, and after seuen weekes he arriued in Sicilia at Trapes, and from +thence trauailed thorow the middes of Apulia, till he came to Rome, where +he was of the Pope honorably entertained. + +From thence he came into France, whose fame and noble prowesse was there +much bruted among the common people, and enuied of the Nobility, especially +of the Earle of Chalons, who thought to haue intrapped him and his company, +as may appeare in the story: but Prince Edward continued foorth his iourney +to Paris, and was there of the French king honourably entertained: and +after certaine dayes he went thence into Gascoine, where he taried till +that he heard of the death of the king his father, at which time he came +home, and was crowned king of England, in the yere of our Lord 1274. + + * * * * * + +The trauaile of Robert Turneham. + +Robertus Turneham Franciscanus, Theologiae professor insignis, Lynnae celebri +Irenorum ad ripas Isidis emporio, collegio suorum fratrum magnifice +praefuit. Edwardus Princeps, cognomento Longus, Henrici tertij filius, +bellicam expeditionem contra Saracenos Assyriam incolentes, anno Dom. 1268. +parabat. Ad quam profectionem quaesitus quoque Orator vehemens, qui plebis +in causa religionis animos excitaret, Turnehamus principi visus vel +dignissimus est, qui munus hoc obiret. Sic tanquam signifer constitutus +Assyrios vna cum Anglico exercitu petijt, ac suum non sine laude praestitit +officiuin. Claruit anno salutiferi partus, 1280. varia componens, sub eodem +Edwardo eius nominis primo post Conquestum. + +The same in English. + +Robert Turneham Franciscan, a notable professor of Diuinitie, was with +great dignitie Prior of the Colledge of his Order in the famous Mart Towne +of Lynne, situate vpon the riuer of Isis in Norfolke. Prince Edward +surnamed the Long, the sonne of Henrie the third, prepared his warlike +voyage against the Saracens dwelling in Syria, in the yeere of our Lord, +1268. For the which expedition some earnest preacher was sought to stirre +vp the peoples minds in the cause of religion. And this Turneham seemed to +the Prince most worthy to performe that office: so that he being appointed +as it were a standard bearer, went into Syria with the English army, and +performed his duety with good commendation. He flourished in the yeere of +Christ 1280, setting forth diuers workes vnder the same King Edward the +first of that name after the Conquest. + + * * * * * + +The life of Syr Iohn Mandeuill Knight, written by Master Bale. + +Ioannes Mandeuil, vir equestris ordinis, ex fano Albini oriundus, ita a +teneris vt aiunt, vnguiculis literarum studijs assueuerat, vt in illis +bonam foelicitatis suae partem poneret. Nam generis sui stemmata illustria, +nulli vsui futura ducebat, nisi illa clariora doctis artibus redderet. +Quare cum animum Euangelica lectione rite instituisset, transtulit sua +studia ad rem Medicam, artem imprimis liberali ingenio dignam. Sed inter +alia, ingens quaedam cupido videndi Africam, et Asiam, vastioris orbis +partes, eius animum inuaserat. Comparato igitur amplo viatico, peregre +profectus est, anno a Christo nato, 1332. et domum tanquam alter Vlysses, +post 34. annos rediens, a paucissimis quidem cognitus fuit. Interim +Scythiam, Armeniam, Maiorem et Minorem, Aegyptum, vtramque Lybiam, Arabiam, +Syriam, Mediam, Mesopotamiam, Persiam, Chaldaeam, Graeciam, Illyrium, +Tartariam, et alia spaciosi orbis regna, laborioso itinere visitauit. +Denique linguarum cognitione praeditus, ne tot ac tantarum rerum varietates, +et miracula quae oculatus testis viderat, memoriaeque mandauerat, obliuione +premerentur, in tribus linguis, Anglica, Gallica, et Latina, graphice +scripsit Itinerarium 33. annorum. Reuersus in Angliam, ac visis sui seculi +malis, vir pius dicebat, nostris temporibus iam verius quam olim dici +potest, virtus cessat, Ecclesia calcatur, Clerus errat, daemon regnat, +simonia dominatur, etc. Leodij tandem obijt, anno Domini 1372. die 17. +Nouembris, apud Guilielmitas sepultus. + +The same in English. + +Iohn Mandeuil Knight, borne in the towne of S. Albons, was so well giuen to +the studie of learning from his childhood, that he seemed to plant a good +part of his felicitie in the same: for he supposed that the honour of his +birth would nothing auaile him, except he could render the same more +honourable by his knowledge in good letters. Hauing therefore well grounded +himselfe in religion by reading the Scriptures, he applied his studies to +the arte of Physicke, a profession worthy a noble wit: but amongst other +things, he was rauished with a mightie desire to see the greater partes of +the world, as Asia, and Africa. Hauing therefore prouided all things +necessarie for his iourney he departed from his countrey in the yeere of +Christ, 1332, and as another Vlysses returned home, after the space of 34. +yeeres, and was then knowen to a very fewe. In the time of his trauaile he +was in Scythia, the greater and lesse Armenia, Egypt, both Lybias, Arabia, +Syria, Media, Mesopotamia, Persia, Chaldaea, Greece, Illyrium, Tartarie, and +diuers other kingdomes of the world: and hauing gotten by this meanes the +knowledge of the languages, least so many and great varieties, and things +miraculous, whereof himselfe had bene an eie witnes, should perish in +obliuion, he committed his whole trauell of 33. yeeres to writing in three +diuers tongues, English, French and Latine. Being arriued againe in +England, and hauing seene the wickednes of that age, he gaue out this +speach. In our time (sayd he) it may be spoken more truely then of olde, +that vertue is gone, the Church is vnder foote, the Clergie is in errour, +the deuill raigneth, and Simonie beareth the sway, &c. + +He died at Leege, in the yeere 1311. the 17. day of Nouember, being there +buried in the Abbie of the Order of the Guilielmites. + + * * * * * + +The Tombe and Epitaph of Sir Iohn Mandeuil, in the citie of Leege, spoken + of by Ortelius, in his booke called Itinerarium Belgiae, in this sort. + +[Sidenote: Fol. 15, 16.] Magna et populosa Leodij suburbia, ad collium +radices, in quorum iugis multa sunt, et pulcherrima monasteria, inter quae +magnificum illud, ac nobile D. Laurentio dicatum, ab Raginardo Episcopo. +Est in hac quoque regione, vel suburbijs Leodij, Guilielmitarum Coenobium, +in quo Epitaphium hoc Ioannis a Mandeuille, excepimus. + +[Sidenote: Epitaphium.] Hic iacet vir nobilis, D. Ioannes de Mandeuille, +aliter dictus ad Barbam, Miles, Dominus de Campdi, natus de Anglia, +Medicinae professor, deuotissimus, orator, et bonorum largissimus pauperibus +erogator, qui toto quasi orbe lustrato, Leodij diem vitae suae clausit +extremum. Anno Dom. 1371. Mensis Nouembris, Die 17. + +Haec in lapide: in quo caelata viri armati imago, Leonem calcantis, barba +bifurcata, ad caput manus benedicens, et vernacula haec verba: Vos qui +paseis sor mi, pour l'amour deix proies por mi. Clipeus erat vacuus, in quo +olim fuisse dicebant laminam aeream, et eius in ea itidem caelata insignia, +Leonem videlicet argenteum, cui ad pectus lunula rubea in campo caeruleo, +quem Limbus ambiret denticulatus ex auro. Eius nobis ostendebant, et +cultros, ephipiaque, et calcaria quibus vsum fuisse asserebant, in +peragrando toto fere terrarum orbe, vt clarius testatur eius Itinerarium, +quod typis etiam excusum passim habetur. + + * * * * * + +Tabvla Praesentis Libri Ioannes Mandevil, singvla per ordinem capitula, et + in eorum quolibet quid agitur, notificat euidenter. + +Capvt. 1 Commendatio breuis terrae Hierosolymltanae. + +2 Iter ab Anglia tam per terras quam per aquas, vsque in Constantinopolim. + +3 De vrbe Constantinopoli, et reliquijs ibidem contentis. + +4 Via tam per terras quam per aquas, a Constantinopoli vsque Acharon, vel + Acon. + +5 Via a Francia et Flandria, per solas terras vsque in Hierusalem. + +6 Via de Cypro vel de Hierusalem, vsque in Babyloniam Egypti. + +7 De Pallatio Soldani, et nominibus praeteritorum Soldanorum. + +8 De Campo Balsami in Egypto. + +9 De Nilo fluuio, et Egypti territorio. + +10 De conductu Soldani. + +11 De Monasterio Sinay. + +12 Iter per desertum Sinay, vsque in Iudeam. + +13 De ciuitate Bethleem, et semita, vsque in Ierusalem. + +14 De Ecclesia gloriosi sepulchri Domini in vrbe Ierusalem. + +15 De tribus alijs Ecclesiis, et specialiter de Templo Domini. + +16 De pluribus locis sacris extra vrbem. + +17 De sacris locis extra muros ciuitatis. + +18 De alijs locis notabilibus. + +19 De Nazareth et Samaria. + +20 De Territorio Galileae et Samariae. + +21 De secta detestabili Sarracenorum. + +22 De vita Mahometi. + +23 De colloquio Authoris cum Soldano. + +24 Persuasio ad non credentes terrarum diuersitates per orbem terrae. + +25 De Armenia, et Persia. + +26 De Ethiopia et diamantibus, ac de infima et media India. + +27 De foresto piperis. + +28 De Ecclesia beati Thomae Apostoli. + +29 De quibusdam meridionalibus insulis, et farina et melle. + +30 De Regno Cynocephalorum, et alijs Insulis. + +31 De multis alijs insulis Meridionalibus. + +32 De bona regione Mangi. + +33 De Pygmeis, et itinere vsque prouinciam Cathay. + +34 De pallacio Imperatoris magni Chan. + +35 De quatuor solemnitatibus, quas magnus Chan celebrat in Anno. + +36 De praestigijs in festo, et de comitatu Imperatoris. + +37 Qua de causa dicitur magnus Chan. + +38 De territorio Cathay, et moribus Tartarorum. + +39 De sepultura Imperatoris magni Chan, et de creatione successoris. + +40 De multis regionibus Imperio Tartariae subiectis. + +41 De magnificentia Imperatoris Indiae. + +42 De frequentia Palatij, et comitatu Imperatoris praesbiteri Ioannis. + +43 De quisbusdam miris per Regiones Imperij Indiae. + +44 De loco et dispositione Vallis infaustae. + +45 De quibusdam alijs admirandis, per Indorum insulas. + +46 De periculis et tormentis in valle infausta. + +47 De Bragmannorum insulis, et aliorum. + +48 Aliquid de loco Paradisi terrestris per auditum. + +49 In reuertendo de Regnis Cassam, et Riboth, de Diuite Epulone, vel + consimili. + +50 De compositione huius tractatus in Ciuitate Leodiensi. + + +Liber Praesens, Cvivs Avthor est Ioannes Mandevil militaris ordinis, agit de + diuersis patrijs, Regionibus, Prouincijs, et insulis, Turcia, Armenia + maiore et minore, AEgypto, Lybia bassa et alta, Syria, Arabia, Persia, + Chaldaea, Tartaria, India, et de infinitis insulis, Ciuitatibus, villis, + castris, et locis, quae gentes, legum, morum, ac rituum inhabitant + diuersorum. + +DEDICATIO LIBRI. + +Principi excellentissimo, prae cunctis mortalibus praecipue venerando, Domino +Edwardo eius nominis tertio, diuina prouidentia Francorum et Anglorum Regi +Serenissimo, Hiberniae Domino, Aquitainiae Duci, mari ac eius insulis +occidentalibus dominanti, Christianorum encomio et ornatui, vniuersorumque +arma gerentium Tutori, ac Probitatis et strenuitatis exemplo, principi +quoque inuicto, mirabilis Alexandri Sequaci, ac vniuerso orbi tremendo, cum +reuerentia non qua decet, cum ad talem, et tantam reuerentiam minus +sufficientes extiterint, sed qua paruitas, et possibilitas mittentis ac +offerentis se extendunt, contenta tradantur. + +Pars prima, continens Capita 23. + +CAPVT. 1. + +Commendatio breuis terrae Hierosolimitanae. + +Cum terra Hierosolimitana, terra promissionis filiorum Dei, dignior cunctis +mundi terris sit habenda multis ex causis, et praecipue illa, quod Deus +conditor coeli et mundi, ipsam tanti dignatus fuit aestimare, vt in eo +proprinm filium saluatorem mundi, Christum exhibuerit generi humano per +incarnationem ex intemerata Virgine, et per eius conuersationem humillimam +in eadem, ac per dolorosam mortis suae consummationem ibidem, atque inde per +eius admirandam resurrectionem, ac ascensionem in coelum, et postremo quia +creditur illic in fine seculi reuersurus, et omnia iudicaturus: certum est, +quod ab omnibus qui Christiano nomine a Christo dicuntur, sit tanquam a +suis proprijs haeredibus diligenda, et pro cuiusque potestate ac modulo +honoranda. [Sidenote: Loquitur secundum tempora in quibus vixit.] A +principibus quidem, et potentibus vt ipsam conentur de infidelium manibus +recuperare, qui eam iam pridem a nobis, nostris exigentibus meritis, +abstulerunt, et per annos heu plurimos possederunt: a mediocribus antem et +valentibus, vt per peregrinationem deuotam loca tam pia, et vestigia +Christi ac discipolorum tam Sancta, principaliter in remissionem visitent +delictorum. Ab impotentibus vero, et impeditis, quatenus supradictos vel +hortentur, vel in aliquo modo iuuent, seu certe fideles fondant orationes. +Verum quia iam nostris temporibus verius quam olim dici potest, + + Virtus, Ecclesia, Clerus, daemon, symonia, + Cessat, calcatur, errat, regnat, dominatur, + +ecce iusto Dei iudicio, credita est terra tam inclyta, et sacrosancta +impiorum manibus Saracenorum, quod non est absque dolore pijs mentibus +audiendum, et recolendum. EGO Ioannes Mandeuill militaris ordinis saltem +gerens nomen, natus et educatus in terra Angliae, in villa sancti Albani, +ducebar in Adolescentia mea tali inspiratione, vt quamuis non per +potentiam, nec per vires proprias possem praefatam terram suis haeredibus +recuperare, irem tamen per aliquod temporis spacium peregrinari ibidem, et +salutarem aliquantulum de propinquo. [Sidenote: Ioannis Mandiuilli +peregrinatio, per tres et triginta annos continuata.] Vnde in anno ab +Incarnatione Domini 1322. imposui me nauigationi Marsiliensis maris et +vsque in hoc temporis, Anni 1355. scilicet, per 33. annos in transmarinis +partibus mansi, peregrinatus sum, ambulaui, et circuiui multas, ac diuersas +patrias, regiones, prouincias, et insulas, Turciam, Armeniam maiorem, et +minorem, AEgyptum, Lybiam bassam et altam, Syriam, Arabiam, Persiam, +Chaldeam, AEthiopiae partem magnam, Tartariam, Amazoniam, Indiam minorem, et +mediam, ac partem magnam de maiori, et in istis, et circum istas regiones, +multas insulas, Ciuitates, vrbes, castra, villas, et loca, vbi habitant +variae gentes, aspectuum, morum, legum, ac rituum, diuersorum: Attamen quia +summo desiderio in terra promissionis eram, ipsam diligentius per loca +vestigiorum filij Dei perlustrare curaui, et diutius in illa steti. +Quapropter et in hac prima parte huius operis iter tam peregrinandi, quam +nauigandi, a partibus Angliae ad ipsam describo, et loca notabiliter sancta, +quae intra eandem sunt breuiter commemoro et diligenter, quatenus peregrinis +tam in itinere quam in prouentione valeat haec descriptio in aliquo +deseruire. + +The English Version. [Footnote: This English version (for the variations +from the Latin are so great that it cannot be called a _translation_) was +published in 1725 from a MS. of the end of the 14th or beginning of the +15th century, in the Cottonian Library, marked Titus. C. xvi. + +Instead of being divided into 50 chapters like the Latin, it contains only +33, but I have thought it best to make it correspond as nearly with the +Latin as possible, merely indicating where the various chapters begin in +the English version. From the last paragraph of the introductory chapter, +it would seem that the English version was written by Mandeville +himself.--E. G.] + +[Sidenote: The Prologue] For als moche as the Lond bezonde the See, that is +to seye, the Holy Lond, that men callen the Lond of Promyssioun, or of +Beheste, passynge alle othere Londes, is the most worthi Lond, most +excellent, and Lady and Sovereyn of alle othere Londes, and is blessed and +halewed of the precyous Body and Blood of oure Lord Jesu Crist; in the +whiche Lond it lykede him to take Flesche and Blood of the Virgyne Marie, +to envyrone that holy Lond with his blessede Feet; and there he wolde of +his blessednesse enoumbre him in the seyd blessed and gloriouse Virgine +Marie, and become Man, and worche many Myracles, and preche and teche the +Feythe and the Lawe of Cristene Men unto his Children; and there it lykede +him to suffre many Reprevinges and Scornes for us; and he that was Kyng of +Hevene, of Eyr, of Erthe, of See and of alle thinges that ben conteyned in +hem, wolde alle only ben cleped Kyng of that Lond, whan he seyde, "_Rex sum +Judeorum_," that is to seyne, "I am Kyng of Jewes;" and that Lond he chees +before alle other. Londes, as the beste and most worthi Lond, and the most +vertouse lond of alle the world: For it is the herte and the myddes of all +the world; wytnessynge the philosophere, that seythe thus; "_Vertus rerum +in medio consistit:_" That is to seye, "The vertue of thinges is in the +myddes;" and in that Lond he wolde lede his lyf, and suffre passioun and +dethe of Jewes, for us; for to bye and to delyvere us from peynes of helle, +and from dethe withouten ende; the whiche was ordeyned for us, for the +synne of oure formere fader Adam, and for oure owne synnes also: for as for +himself, he hadde non evylle deserved: For he thoughte nevere evylle ne dyd +evylle: And he that was kyng of glorie and of joye myghten best in that +place suffre dethe; because he ches in that lond, rathere than in ony +othere, there to suffre his passioun and his dethe: For he that wil +pupplische ony thing to make it openly knowen, he wil make it to ben cryed +and pronounced, in the myddel place of a town; so that the thing that is +proclamed and pronounced, may evenly strecche to alle parties: Righte so, +he that was formyour of alle the world, wolde suffre for us at Jerusalem; +that is the myddes of the world; to that ende and entent, that his passioun +and his dethe, that was pupplischt there, myghte ben knowen evenly to alle +the parties of the world. See now how dere he boughte man, that he made +after his owne ymage, and how dere he azen boghte us, for the grete love +that he hadde to us; and we nevere deserved it to him. For more precyous +catelle ne gretter ransoum, ne myghte he put for us, than his blessede +body, his precyous blood, and his holy lyf, that he thralled for us; and +alle he offred for us, that nevere did synne. A dere God, what love hadde +he to his subjettes, whan he that nevere trespaced, wolde for trespassours +suffre dethe! Righte wel oughte us for to love and worschipe, to drede and +serven suche a Lord; and to worschipe and preyse suche an holy lond, that +broughte forthe suche fruyt, thorghe the whiche every man is saved, but it +be his owne defaute. Wel may that lond be called delytable and a fructuous +lond, that was bebledd [Footnote: Coloured with blood] and moysted with the +precyouse blode of oure Lord Jesu Crist; the whiche is the same lond, that +oure lord behighten us in heritage. And in that lond he wolde dye, as +seised, for to leve it to us his children. Wherfore every gode Cristene +man, that is of powere, and hathe whereof, scholde peynen him with all his +strengthe for to conquere oure righte heritage, and chacen out alle the +mysbeleevynge men. For wee ben clept cristene men, aftre Crist our Fadre. +And zif wee ben righte children of Crist, we oughte for to chalenge the +heritage, that oure Fadre lafte us, and do it out of hethene mennes hondes. +But nowe pryde, covetyse and envye han so enflawmed the hertes of lordes of +the world, that thei are more besy for to disherite here neyghbores, more +than for to chalenge or to conquere here righte heritage before seyd. And +the comoun peple, that wolde putte here bodyes and here catelle, for to +conquere oure heritage, thei may not don it withouten the lordes. For a +semblee of peple withouten a cheventeyn, [Footnote: Chieftain.] or a chief +lord, is as a flock of scheep withouten a schepperde; the whiche departeth +and desparpleth, [Footnote: Disperseth.] and wyten never whidre to go. But +wolde God, that the temporel lordes and all worldly lordes weren at gode +accord, and with the comen peple woulden taken this holy viage over the +see. Thanne I trowe wel, that within a lytyl tyme, our righte heritage +before seyd scholde be reconsyled and put in the hondes of the right heires +of Jesu Crist. + +And for als moche as it is longe tyme passed, that there was no generalle +passage ne vyage over the see; and many men desiren for to here speke of +the holy lond, and han thereof great solace and comfort; I John +Maundevylle, Knyght, alle be it I be not worthi, that was born in Englond, +in the town of Scynt Albones, passed the see in the zeer of our Lord Jesu +Crist MCCCXXII, in the day of Seynt Michelle; and hidre [Footnote: There.] +to have ben longe tyme over the see, and have seyn and gon thorghe manye +dyverse londes, and many provynces and Kingdomes and iles, and have passed +thorghe Tartarye, Percye, Ermonye [Footnote: Armenia.] the litylle and the +grete; thorghe Lybye, Caldee, and a gret partie of Ethiope; thorghe +Amazoyne, Inde the lasse and the more, a gret partie; and thorghe out many +othere iles, that ben abouten Inde; where dwellen many dyverse folkes, and +of dyverse manneres and lawes, and of dyverse schappes of men. Of which +londes and iles, I schall speake more pleynly hereaftre. And I schall +devise zou sum partie of thinges that there ben, whan time schalle ben, +aftre it may best come to my mynde; and specially for hem, that wylle and +are in purpos for to visite the holy citee of Jerusalem, and the holy +places that are thereaboute. And I schalle telle the weye, that thei +schulle holden thidre. For I have often tymes passed and ryden the way, +with gode companye of many lordes: God be thonked. + +And zee schulle undirstonde, that I have put this boke out of Latyn into +Frensche, and translated it azen out of Frensche into Englyssche, that +every man of my nacioun may undirstonde it. But lordes and knyghtes and +othere noble and worthi men, that conne Latyn but litylle, and han ben +bezonde the see, knowen and undirstonden, zif I erre in devisynge, for +forzetynge, [Footnote: Forgetting.] or elles; that thei mowe redresse it +and amende it. For thinges passed out of longe tyme from a mannes mynde or +from his syght, turnen sone into forzetynge: Because that mynde of man ne +may not ben comprehended ne witheholden, for the freeltee of mankynde. + +To teche zou the Weye out of Englond to Constantinoble. + +[Sidenote: Cap I.] In the name of God Glorious and Allemyghty. He that wil +passe over the see, to go to the city of Jerusalem, he may go by many +wayes, bothe on see and londe, aftre the contree that hee cometh fro; manye +of hem comen to on ende. But troweth not that I wil telle zou alle the +townes and cytees and castelles, that men schulle go by; for than scholde I +make to longe a tale; but alle only summe contrees and most princypalle +stedes, that men schulle gone thorgh, to gon the righte way. + + +CAPVT. 2. + +Iter ab Anglia tam per terras quam per aquas vsque in Constantinopolim. + +Qui de Hybernia, Anglia, Scotia, Noruegia, aut Gallia, iter arripit ad +partes Hierosolymitanas potest saltem vsque ad Imperialem Greciae Ciuitatem +Constantinopolim eligere sibi modum proficiscendi, siue per terras, siue +per aquas. Et si peregrinando eligit transigere viam, tendat per Coloniam +Agrippinam, et sic per Almaniam in Hungariam ad Montlusant Ciuitatem, sedem +Regni Hungariae. [Sidenote: Regis Hungariae olim potentia.] Et est Rex +Hungariae multum potens istis temporibus. Nam tenet et Sclauoniam, et magnam +partem Regni Comannorum, et Hungariam, et partem Regni Russiae. Oportet vt +peregrinus in finibus Hungariae transeat magnum Danubij flumen, et vadat in +Belgradum; Hoc flumen oritur inter Montana Almaniae, et currens versus +Orientem, recipit in se 40. flumina antequam finiatur in mare. De Belgrade +intratur terra Bulgariae, et transitur per Pontem petrinum fluuij Marroy, et +per terram Pyncenars, et tunc intratur Graecia, in Ciuitates, Sternes, +Asmopape, et Andrinopolis, et sic in Constantinopolim, vbi communiter est +sedes Imperatoris Greciae. Qui autem viam eligit per aquas versus +Constantinopolim nauigare, accipiat sibi portum, prout voluerit, propinquum +siue remotum, Marsiliae, Pisi, Ianuae, Venetijs, Romae, Neapoli, vel alibi: +sicque transeat Tusciam, Campaniam, Italiam, Corsicam, Sardiniam, vsque in +Siciliam, quae diuiditur ab Italia per brachiam maris non magnum. [Sidenote: +Mons aetna.] In Sicilia est mons AEtna iugiter ardens, qui ibidem apellatur +Mons Gibelle, et praeter illum habentur ibi loca Golthan vbi sunt septem +leucae quasi semper ignem spirantes: secundum diuersitatem colorum harum +flammarum estimant. [Sidenote: Aeolides insulae.] Incolae annum fertilem +fore, vel sterilem, siccum vel humidum, calidum, vel frigidum: haec loca +vocant caminos Infernales, et a finibus Italiae vsque ad ista loca sunt 25. +miliaria. [Sidenote: Temperes Siciliae Insulae.] Sunt autem in Sicilia aliqua +Pomeria in quibus inueniuntur frondes, flores, et fructus per totum annum, +etiam, in profunda hyeme. Regnum Siciliae est bona, et grandis insula habens +in circuitu fere leucas 300. [Sidenote: Leuca Lombardica. Quid sit dieta.] +Et ne quis eret, vel de facili reprehendat quoties scribo leucam, +intelligendum est de leuca Lombardica, quae aliquanto maior est Geometrica; +et quoties pono numerum, sub intelligatur fere, vel circiter, siue citra, +et dietam intendo ponere, de 10. Lombardicis leucis: Geometrica autem leuca +describitur, vt notum est, per hos versus. + + Quinque pedes passum faciunt, passus quoque centum + Viginti quinque stadium, si millia des que + Octo facis stadia, duplicatum dat tibi leuca. + +[Sidenote: Portus Greciae.] Postquam itaque peregrinus se credidit Deo et +mari, si prospera sibi fuerit nauigatio, non ascendet in terram, donec +intret aliquem portum Greciae, scilicet, Myrroyt, Valonae, Durase, siue alium +prout Diuinae placuerit uoluntati, et exhinc ibit Constantinopolim +praaedictam, quaae olim Bysantium, vel Vesaton dicebatur. Hic autem notandum +est, quod a portu Venetie, vsque ad Constantinopolim directe per mare +octingentae leucae et 80. communiter computantur ibi contentae. + +The English Version. + +First, zif a man come from the west syde of the world, as Engelond, +Irelond, Wales, Skotlond or Norwaye; he may, zif that he wole, go thorge +Almayne, and thorge the kyngdom of Hungarye, that marchethe to the lond of +Polayne, and to the lond of Pannonye, and so to Slesie. And the Kyng of +Hungarye is a gret lord and a myghty, and holdeth grete lordschippes and +meche lond in his hond. For he holdeth the kyngdom of Hungarie, Solavonye +and of Comanye a gret part, and of Bulgarie, that men clepen the lond of +Bougiers, and of the Reme of Roussye a gret partie, whereof he hathe made a +Duchee, that lasteth unto the lond of Nyflan, and marchethe to Pruysse. And +men gon thorghe the lond of this lord, thorghe a cytee that is clept +Cypron, and by the castelle of Neaseburghe, and be the evylle town, that +sytt toward the ende of Hungarye. And there passe men the ryvere of +Danubee. This ryvere of Danubee is a fulle gret ryvere; and it gothe into +Almayne, undre the hilles of Lombardye: and it receiveth into him 40 othere +ryveres; and it rennethe thorghe Hungarie and thorghe Greece and thorghe +Traachie, and it entreth into the see, toward the est, so rudely and so +scharply, that the watre of the see is fressche and holdethe his swetnesse +20 myle within the see. + +And aftre gon men to Belgrave, and entren into the lond of Bourgres; +[Footnote: Bulgaria.] and there passe men a brigge of ston, that is upon +the ryver of Marrok. [Footnote: The river Maros.] And men passen thorghe +the lond of Pyncemartz, and comen to Greece to the cytee of Nye, and to the +cytee of Fynepape, and aftre to the cytee of Dandrenoble, [Footnote: +Adrianople.] and aftre to Constantynoble, that was wont to be clept +Bezanzon. + + +CAPVT. 3. + +De vrbe Constantinopoli, et reltquijs ibidem contentis. + +Constantinopolis pulchra est Ciuitas, et nobilis, triangularis in forma, +firmiterque murata, cuius duae partes includuntur mari Hellesponto, quod +plurimi modo appellant brachium sancti Georgij, et aliqui Buke, Troia +vetus. Versus locum vbi hoc brachium exit de mari est late terrae planities, +in qua antiquitus stetit Troia Ciuitas de qua apud Poetas mira leguntur sed +nunc valde modica apparent vestigia Ciuitatis. In Constantinopoli habentur +multa mirabilia, ac insuper multae sanctorum venerandae relliquaei, ac super +omnia, preciosissimi Crux Christi, seu maior pars illius, et tunica +inconsutilis, cum spongia et arandine, et vno clauorum, et dimidia parte +coronae spineae, cuius altera medietas seruatur in Capetla Regis Franciae, +Parisijs. Nam et ego indignus ditigenter pluribus vicibus respexi partem +vtramque: dabatur quoque mihi de illa Parisijs vnica spina, quam vsque nunc +preciose conseruo, et est ipsa spina non lignea sed uelut de iuncis marinis +rigida, et pungitiua. [Sidenote: Eclesia sanctae Sophiae] Ecclesia +Constantinopolitana in honorem sanctae Sophiae, id est, ineffabilis Dei +sapientiae dedicato dicitur, et nobilissima vniuersarum mundi Ecclesiarum, +tam in schemate artificiosi operis, quam in seruatis ibi sacrosanctis +Relliquijs: [Sidenote: Regina Helena Britanna] nam et continet corpus +sancte Annae matris nostrae Dominae translatum illuc per Reginam Helenam ab +Hierosolymis: et corpus S. Lucae Euangelistae translatum de Bethania Iudeae; +Et Corpus beati Ioannis Chrysostomi ipsius Ciuitatis Episcopi, cum multis +atlijs reliquijs preciosis; quoniam est ibi vas grande cum huiusmodi +reliquijs velut marmoreum de Petra Enhydros; quod iugiter de seipso +desudans aquam semel, in anno inuenitur suo sudore repletum. [Sidenote: +Imago Iustiniani.] Ante hanc Ecclesiam, super columnam marmoream habetur de +aere aurato opere fuscrio, magna imago Iustiniani quondam Imperatoris super +equum sedentis, fuit autem primitus in manu imaginis fabricata sphaera +rotunda, quae iam diu e manu sua sibi cecidit, in signum quod Imperator +muliarum terraram dominium perdidit. Namque solebat esse Dominus, Romanorum +Graecorum, Asiae, Syriae, Iudeae, AEgypti, Arabiae, et Persiae, at nunc solum +retinet Greciam, cum aliquibus terris Greciae adiacentibus, sicut Calistrum, +Cholchos, Ortigo, Tylbriam, Minos, Flexon, Melos, Carpates, Lemnon, +Thraciam, et Macedoniam totam: Suntque sub eo Caypoplij, et alti +Pyntenardi, ac maxima pars Commannorum. Porro imago tenet manum eleuatam et +extentam in orientem, velut in signum cominationis ad Orientales infideles. +De praedicta terra Thraciae fuit Philosophus Aristoteles oriundus in Ciuitate +Stageres, et est ibi in loco tumba eius velut altare, vbi et singulis annis +certo die celebratur a populo festum illius, ac si fuisset sanctus. +Temporibus ergo magnorum consiliorum conueniunt illuc sapientes terrae, +reputantes sibi per inspirationem immitti consilium optimum de agendis. +Item ad diuisionem Thraciae et Macedoniae sunt duo mirabiliter alti montes, +vnus Olympus, alter Athos, cuius vltimi vmbra oriente sole apparet ad 76. +miliaria, vsque in insulam Lemnon. In horum cacumine montium ventus non +currit, nec aer mouetur, quod frequenter probatum est per ingenium +Astronomorum, qui quandoque ascendentes scripserunt, literas in puluere, +quas sequenti anno inuenerunt quasi recenter scriptas, et quia est ibi +purus aer sine mixtione elementi aquae necesse est vt ascendentes habeant +secum spongias aquae plenas pro adhelitus respiratione: In praedicta autem +sanctae sophiae Ecclesia, (sicut ibidem dicitur,) voluit olim quidam +Imperator corpus cuiusdam sui defuncti sepelire cognati: cuius cum +foderetur sepulchrum, ventum est ad mausoleum antiquum in quo super +incineratum corpus iacebat discus auri puri, et erat sculptum in eo literis +Graecis, Hebraicis, et Latinis sic. Iesus Christus nascetur de Virgine, et +ego credo in eum. Et erat simul inscripta data defuncti secundum modum +illius temporis quae continebat duo millia annorum ante incarnationem ipsius +Christi de Maria Virgine. Seruatur quoque hodierno tempore eadem patina in +Thesaurario eiusdem Ecclesiae, et dicitur illud corpus fuisse Hermetis +sapientis. Omnes quidem, terrarum, regionum et insularum homines, qui isti +Greco obediunt Imperatori sunt Christiani, et baptizati, tamen variant +singuli in aliquo articulo fidem suam a nostra vera fide Catholica, et +diuersificant in multis suos ritus a ritibus Romanae Ecclesiae, quia iamdiu +omiserunt obedire Pontifici Romano, dicentes, quoniam beatus Petrus +Apostolus habuit sedem in Antiochia, quamuis passus fuit in Roma: +[Sidenote: Patriarchae Antiocheni authoritas.] Idcirco patriarcha +Antiochenus habet in illis Orientalibus partibus similem potestatem, quam +Pontifex Romanus in istis Occidentalibus. Imperator etiam +Constantinopolitanus creat eorum patriarcham, et instituit pro sua +voluntate Archiepiscopos, et Episcopos, et confert dignitates, et +beneficia, similiter inuenta occasione destituit, deponit, et priuat. + +The English Version. + +And there dwellethe comounly the Emperour of Greece. And there is the most +fayr chirche and the most noble of alle the world: and it is of Seynt +Sophie. And before that chirche is the ymage of Justynyan the Emperour, +covered with gold, and he sytt upon an hors y crowned. And he was wont to +holden a round appelle of gold in his hond: but it is fallen out thereof. +And men seyn there, that it is a tokene, that the Emperour hathe y lost a +gret partie of his londes, and of his lordschipes: for he was wont to be +Emperour of Romayne and of Grece, of alle Asye the lesse, and of the lond +of Surrye, of the lond of Judee, in the whiche is Jerusalem, and of the +lond of Egypt, of Percye, of Arabye. But he hathe lost alle, but Grece; and +that lond he holt alle only. And men wolden many tymes put the appulle into +the ymages hond azen, but it wil not holde it. This appulle betokenethe the +lordschipe, that he hadde over alle the worlde, that is round. And the +tother hond he lifteth up azenst the est, in tokene to manace the +mysdoeres. This ymage stont upon a pylere of marble at Constantynoble. + +Of the Crosse and the Croune of oure Lord Jesu Crist. + +[Sidenote: Cap. II.] At Costantynoble is the cros of our Lord Jesu Crist, +and his cote withouten semes, that is clept _tunica inconsutilis_, and the +spounge, and the reed, of the whiche the Jewes zaven oure Lord eyselle +[Footnote: Vinegar] and galle, in the cros. And there is on of the nayles, +that Crist was naylled with on the cros. And some men trowen, that half the +cros, that Crist was don on, be in Cipres, in an abbey of monkes, that men +callen the Hille of the Holy Cros; but it is not so: for that cros, that is +in Cypre, is the cros, in the whiche Dysmas the gode theef was honged onne. +But alle men knowen not that; and that is evylle y don. For profyte of the +offrynge, thei seye, that it is the cros of oure Lord Jesu Crist. And zee +schulle undrestonde, that the cros of oure Lord was made of 4 manere of +trees, as it is conteyned in this vers, + + In cruce fit palma, cedrus, cypressus, oliva. + +For that pece, that went upright fro the erthe to the heved, [Footnote: +Head.] was of cypresse; and the pece, that wente overthwart, to the whiche +his honds wern nayled, was of palme; and the stock, that stode within the +erthe, in the whiche was made the morteys, was of cedre; and the table +aboven his heved, that was a fote and an half long, on the whiche the title +was writen, in Ebreu, Grece and Latyn, that was of olyve. And the Jewes +maden the cros of theise 4 manere of trees: for thei trowed that oure Lord +Jesu Crist scholde han honged on the cros, als longe as the cros myghten +laste. And therfore made thei the foot of the cros of cedre. For cedre may +not, in erthe ne in watre, rote. And therfore thei wolde, that it scholde +have lasted longe. For thei trowed, that the body of Crist scholde have +stonken; therfore thei made that pece, that went from the erthe upward, of +cypres: for it is welle smellynge; so that the smelle of his body scholde +not greve men, that wenten forby. And the overhwart pece was of palme: for +in the Olde Testament, it was ordyned, that whan on overcomen, he scholde +be crowned with palme: and for thei trowed, that thei hadden the victorye +of Crist Jesus, therfore made thei the overthwart pece of palme. [Footnote: +The reference is to the Olympic Games.] And the table of the tytle, thei +maden of olyve; for olyve betokenethe pes. And the storye of Noe +wytnessethe, whan that the culver [Footnote: Dove. Anglo-Saxon, _Cuifra_.] +broughte the braunche of olyve, that betokened pes made betwene God and +man. And so trowed the Jewes for to have pes, when Crist was ded: for thei +seyd, that he made discord and strif amonges hem. And zee schulle +undirstonde, that oure Lord was y naylled on the cros lyggynge; and +therfore he suffred the more peyne. And the Cristene men, that dwellen +bezond the see, in Grece, seyn that the tree of the cros, that we callen +cypresse, was of that tree, that Adam ete the appulle of: and that fynde +thei writen. And thei seyn also, that here Scripture seythe, that Adam was +seek, [Footnote: Sick] and seyed to his sone Sethe, that he scholde go to +the Aungelle, that kepte paradys, that he wolde senden hym oyle of mercy, +for to anoynte with his membres, that be myghte have hele. And Sethe wente. +But the aungelle wolde not late him come in; but seyd to him, that he +myghte not have of the oyle of mercy. But he toke him three greynes of the +same tree, that his fadre eet the appelle offe; and bad him, als sone as +his fadre was ded, that he scholde putte theise three greynes undre his +tonge, and grave him so: and he dide. And of theise three greynes sprang a +tree, as the aungelle seyde, that it scholde, and bere a fruyt, thorghe the +whiche fruyt Adam scholde be saved. And whan Sethe cam azen, he fonde his +fadre nere ded. And whan he was ded he did with the greynes, as the +aungelle bad him; of the whiche sprongen three trees, of the whiche the +cros was made, that bare gode froyt and blessed, oure Lord Jesu Crist; +thorghe whom, Adam and alle that comen of him, scholde be saved and +delyvered from drede of dethe withouten ende, but it be here own defaute. +This holy cros had the Jewes hydde in the erthe, undre a roche of the Mownt +of Calvarie; and it lay there 200 zeer and more, into the tyme that Seynt +Elyne, that was modre to Constantyn the Emperour of Rome. And sche was +doughtre of Kyng Cool born in Colchestre, that was Kyng of Engelond, that +was clept thanne, Brytayne the more; the whiche the Emperour Constance +wedded to his wyf, for here bewtee, and gat upon hire Constantyn, that was +aftre Emperour of Rome. + +And zee schulle undirstonde, that the cros of oure Lord was eyght cubytes +long, and the overthwart piece was of lengthe thre cubytes and an half. And +a partie of the crowne of oure Lord, wherwith he was crowned, and on of the +nayles, and the spere heed, and many other relikes ben in France, in the +kinges chapelle. And the crowne lythe in a vesselle of cristalle richely +dyghte. For a kyng of Fraunce boughte theise relikes somtyme of the Jewes; +to whom the Emperour had leyde hem to wedde, for a gret summe of sylvre. +And zif alle it be so, that men seyn, that this croune is of thornes, zee +schulle undirstonde, that it was of jonkes of the see, that is to sey, +rushes of the see, that prykken als scharpely as thornes. For I have seen +and beholden many tymes that of Parys and that of Costantynoble: for thei +were bothe on, made of russches of the see. But men han departed hem in two +parties: of the whiche, o part is at Parys, and the other part is at +Costantynoble. And I have on of tho precyouse thornes, that semethe licke a +white thorn; and that was zoven to me for gret specyaltee. For there are +many of hem broken and fallen into the vesselle, that the croune lythe in: +for thei breken for dryenesse, whan men meven hem, to schewen hem to grete +lords, that comen thidre. + +And zee schalle undirstonde, that oure Lord Jesu, in that nyghte that he +was taken, he was y lad in to a gardyn; and there he was first examyned +righte scharply; and there the Jewes scorned him, and maden him a crowne of +the braunches of albespyne, that is white thorn, that grew in that same +gardyn, and setten it on his heved, so faste and so sore, that the blood +ran down be many places of his visage, and of his necke, and of his +schuldres. And therfore hathe white thorn many vertues: for he that berethe +a braunche on him thereoffe, no thondre ne no maner of tempest may dere +him; ne in the hows, that it is inne, may non evylle gost entre ne come +unto the place that it is inne. And in that same gardyn, Seynt Petre denyed +our Lord thryes. Aftreward was oure Lord lad forthe before the bisschoppes +and the maystres of the lawe, in to another gardyn of Anne; and there also +he was examyned, repreved, and scorned, and crouned eft with a whyte thorn, +that men clepethe barbarynes, that grew in that gardyn, and that hathe also +manye vertues. And aftreward he was lad in to a gardyn of Cayphas, and +there he was crouned with eglentier. And aftre he was lad in to the chambre +of Pylate, and there he was examynd and crouned. And the Jewes setten him +in a chayere and cladde him in a mantelle; and there made thei the croune +of jonkes of the see; and there thei kneled to him, and skornede him, +seyenge, _Ave, Rex Judeorum_, that is to seye, _Heyl, Kyng of Jewes_. And +of this croune, half is at Parys, and the other half at Costantynoble. And +this croune had Crist on his heved, whan he was don upon the cros: and +therfore oughte men to worschipe it and holde it more worthi than ony of +the othere. + +And the spere schaft hathe the Emperour of Almayne: but the heved is at +Parys. And natheles the Emperour of Costantynoble seythe that he hathe the +spere heed: and I have often tyme seen it; but it is grettere than that at +Parys. + +Of the Cytee of Costantynoble, and of the Feithe of Grekis. + +[Sidenote: Cap. III.] At Costantynoble lyethe Seynte Anne oure Ladyes +modre, whom Seynte Elyne dede brynge fro Jerusalem. And there lyethe also +the body of Iohn Crisostome, that was Erchebisschopp of Costantynoble. And +there lythe also Seynt Luke the Evaungelist: for his bones werein broughte +from Bethanye, where he was beryed. And many other relikes ben there. And +there is the vesselle of ston, as it were of marbelle, that men clepen +enydros, that evermore droppeth watre, and fillethe himself everiche zeer, +til that it go over above, withouten that that men take fro withinne. + +Costantynoble is a fulle fayr cytee, and a gode and a wel walled, and it is +three cornered. And there is an arm of the see Hellespont: and sum men +callen it the mouthe of Costantynoble; and sum men callen it the brace of +Seynt George: and that arm closethe the two partes of the cytee. And upward +to the see, upon the watre, was wont to be the grete cytee of Troye, in a +fulle fayr playn: but that cytee was destroyed by hem of Grece, and lytylle +apperethe there of, be cause it so longe sithe it was destroyed. + +Abouten Grece there ben many iles, as Calistre,[Footnote: Calliste, one of +the Cyclades.] Calcas, [Footnote: Colchos.] Critige, [Footnote: Cerigo.] +Tesbria, [Footnote: Resorio.] Mynea, [Footnote: Mynia is a town in the +Island of Amorgos.] Flaxon, [Footnote: Flexos.] Melo, [Footnote: Milo.] +Carpate, [Footnote: Carpathos, probably.] and Lempne. [Footnote: Lemnos.] +And in this ile is the Mount Athos, [Footnote: Athos is on the main land, +on a promontory S.E. of Solonica.] that passeth the cloudes. And there ben +many dyvers langages and many contreys, that ben obedyent to the Emperour; +that is to seyn Turcople, Pyneynard, Cornange, and manye othere, at +Trachye, [Footnote: Thrace.] and Macedoigne, of the whiche Alisandre was +kyng. In this contree was Aristotle born, in a cytee that men clepen +Stragera, a lytil fro the cytee of Trachaye. And at Stragera lythe +Aristotle; and there is an awtier upon his toumbe: and there maken men +grete festes of hym every zeer, as thoughe he were a seynt. And at his +awtier, thei holden here grete conseilles and here assembleez: and thei +hopen, that thorghe inspiracioun of God and of him, thei schulle have the +better conseille. In this contree ben righte hyghe hilles, toward the ende +of Macedonye. And there is a gret hille, that men clepen Olympus, +[Footnote: The altitude is 9753 feet.] that departeth Macedonye and +Trachye: and it is so highe, that it passeth the cloudes. And there is +another hille, that is clept Athos, [Footnote: It is only 6678 feet. This +is the old Greek verse: [Greek: Athoos kaluptei pleura lemnias boos.]] that +is so highe, that the schadewe of hym rechethe to Lempne, that is an ile; +and it is 76 myle betwene. And aboven at the cop of the hille is the eir so +cleer, that men may fynde no wynd there. And therefore may no best lyve +there; and so is the eyr drye. And men seye in theise contrees, that +philosophres som tyme wenten upon theise hilles, and helden to here nose a +spounge moysted with watre, for to have eyr; for the eyr above was so drye. +And aboven, in the dust and in the powder of the hilles, thei wroot lettres +and figures with hire fingres: and at the zeres end thei comen azen, and +founden the same lettres and figures, the whiche thei hadde writen the zeer +before, withouten ony defaute. And therfore it semethe wel, that theise +hilles passen the clowdes and joynen to the pure eyr. + +At Constantynoble is the palays of the Emperour, righte fair and wel +dyghte: and therein is a fair place for justynges, or for other pleyes and +desportes. And it is made with stages and hath degrees aboute, that every +man may wel se, and non greve other. And undre theise stages ben stables +wel y vowted [Footnote: Vaulted.] for the Emperours hors; and alle the +pileres ben of Marbelle. And with in the chirche of Seynt Sophie, an +emperour somtyme wolde have biryed the body of his fadre, whan he was ded; +and as thei maden the grave, thei founden a body in the erthe, and upon the +body lay a fyn plate of gold; and there on was writen, in Ebreu, Grece and +Latyn, lettres that seyden thus, _Jesu Cristus nascetur de Virgine Maria, +et ego credo in eum_: That is to seyne, _Jesu Crist schalle be born of the +Virgyne Marie, and I trowe in hym_. And the date whan it was leyd in the +erthe, was 2000 zeer before oure Lord was born. And zet is the plate of +gold in the thresorye of the chirche. And men seyn, that it was Hermogene +the wise man. + +And zif alle it so be, that men of Grece ben Cristene, zit they varien from +our feithe. For thei seyn, that the Holy Gost may not come of the Sone; but +alle only of the Fadir. And thei are not obedyent to the Chirche of Rome, +ne to the Pope. And thei seyn, that here patriark hathe as meche power over +the see as the Pope hathe on this syde the see. And therefore Pope Johne +the 22'd sende letters to hem, how Christene feithe scholde ben alle on; +and that thei scholde ben obedyent to the Pope, that is Goddis vacrie +[Footnote: Vicar.] on erthe; to whom God zaf his pleyn power, for to bynde +and to assoille: and therfore thei scholde ben obedyent to him. And thei +senten azen dyverse answeres; and amonges other, thei seyden thus: +_Potentiam tuam summam, circa tuos subjectos firmiter credimus. Superbiam +tuam summam tolerare non possumus. Avaritiam tuam summam satiare non +intendimus. Dominus tecum: quia Dominus nobiscum est_. That is to seye: _We +trowe wel, that thi power is gret upon thi subgettes. We mai not suffre thi +high pryde. We ben not in purpos to fulfille thi gret covetyse. Lord be +with thi: for oure Lord is with us. Fare welle_. And other answere myghte +he not have of hem. And also thei make here sacrement of the awteer of +therf [Footnote: Unleavened. _Anglo-Saxon_, [thorn]eorf ('peorf' in source +text--KTH)] bred: for oure Lord made it of suche bred, whan he made his +mawndee. [Footnote: Last Supper.] And on the Scherethors [Footnote: Shrove +Thursday.] day make thei here therf bred, in tokene of the mawndee, and +dryen it at the sonne, and kepen it alle the zeer, and zeven it to seke +men, in stede of Goddis body. And thei make but on unxioun, whan thei +christene children. And thei annoynte not the seke men. And thei saye, that +there nys no purgatorie, and the soules schulle not have nouther joye ne +peyne, tille the day of doom. And thei seye, that fornicatioun is no synne +dedly, but a thing that is kyndely: and the men and women scholde not wedde +but ones; and whoso weddethe oftere than ones, here children ben bastardis +and geten in synne. And here prestis also ben wedded. And thei saye also, +that usure is no dedly synne. And they sellen benefices of Holy Chirche: +and so don men in others places: God amende it, whan his wille is. And that +is gret sclaundre. [Footnote: Scandal.] For now is symonye kyng crouned in +Holy Chirche: God amende it for his mercy. And thei seyn, that in Lentone, +men schulle nor faste, ne synge masse; but on the Satreday and on the +Sonday. And thei faste not on the Satreday, no tyme of the zeer, but it be +Cristemasse even on Estre even. And thei suffre not the Latines to syngen +at here awteres: and zif thei done, be ony aventure, anon thei wasschen the +awteer with holy watre. And thei seyn, that there scholde be but o masse +seyd at on awtier, upon o day. And thei seye also, that oure Lord ne eet +nevere mete: but he made tokene etyng. And also thei seye, that wee synne +dedly, in schavynge oure berdes. For the berd is tokene of a man, and zifte +of oure Lord. And thei seye, that wee synne dedly, in etynge of bestes, +that weren forboden in the Old Testament, and of the olde lawe; as swyn, +hares, and othere bestes, that chewen not here code. And thei seyn, that +wee synnen, when wee eten flessche on the dayes before Assche Wednesday, +and of that wee eten flessche the Wednesday, and egges and chese upon the +Frydayes. And thei accursen alle tho, that absteynen hem to eten flessche +the Satreday. Also the Emperour of Costantynoble makethe the patriarke, the +erchebysschoppes and bisschoppes; and zevethe dygnytees and the benefices +of chirches, and deprivethe hem that ben worthy, whan he fyndethe ony +cause. And so is the lord bothe temperelle and spirituelle, in his contree, +And zif zee wil wite [Footnote: Know.] of here A, B, C, what lettres thei +ben, here zee may seen hem, with the names, that thei clepen hem there +amonges them. + +Alpha, Betha, Gamma, Deltha, Epsilon, Zeta, Eta, Theta, Iota, Kappa, +Lambda, My,Ny, Xi, Omicron, Pi, Rho, Sigma, Tau, Upsilon, Phi, Chi, Psi, +Omega. [Greek letters removed for pain-text edition--KTH] + +And alle be it that theise thinges touchen not to o way, nevertheles thei +touchen to that, that I have hight zou, to schewe zou a partie of custumes +and maneres, and dyversitees of contrees. And for this is the first contree +that is discordant in feythe and in beleeve, and variethe from our feythe, +on this half the see, therefore I have sett it here, that zee may knowe the +dyversitee that is betwene our feythe and theires. For many men han gret +lykynge to here speke of straunge thinges of dyverse contreyes. + + +CAPVT. 4. + +Via tam per terras quam per aquas a Constantinopoli vsque Acharon. +[Marginal note: Vel Achon.] + +A Constantinopoli qui voluerit ire pedes, transibit statim nauigio Brachium +Sancti Georgij quod satis est strictum, ibique ad Ruphinal quod est forte +castrum, inde ad Puluereal, et hinc ad castrum Synopulum. Ex tunc intrat +Cappadociam, terram latam sed plenam altis montibus, deinde Turciam ad +portum Theueron, et ad Ciuitatem ita dictam, nunc munitam firmis turribus, +ac muris, per quam transit fluuius Reglay. Postea transitur sub Alpibus +Noyremont, et per valles de Mallenbrinis in districto Rupium, ac per villam +Doronarum, et alias villas adiacentes fluuijs Reglay, et Granconiae, sicque +peruenitur ad Antiochiam minorem super Reglay, quae vocatur nobilior Ciuitas +Syriae: Notandum autem quod Regnum olim dictum Syria, modo communiter +vocatur Suria. [Sidenote: Antiochia.] Ista vero Antiochia, est magna, +pulchra, ac firma, licet quandoque maior, pulchrior, ac firmior fuerit. +Tunc autem transitur per Ciuitates Laonsam, Gibellam, Tortusiam, Toruplam, +et Berythum super mare vbi sanctus Georgius fertur occidisse Draconem. Hinc +pergitur in Ciuitatem nunc dictam Acon, quondam Ptolomaidem, antiquitus +Acharon, quae tempore quo eam vltimo Christiani tenebant circa annum +incarntionis Domini 1280. erat Ciuitas valde fortis, sed modo apparent eius +magnae ruinae. Porro a Constantinopoli poterit peregrinus facilius versus +Hierosolymorum partes per mare nauigare quam per terras peregrinare +praedictas, si deus illi propitius fuerit, et mare fidem conseruauerit. +[Sidenote: Sio.] Qui ergo a Constantinopoli iter transire nauigando +disponit, tendat ad Ciuitatem [Marginal Note: Vel Smyrnam.] Myrnam vbi nunc +ossa Sancti Nicholai venerantur, et sic procedendo per multa maritima loca +veniet ad Insulam Sio vbi crescit gummi mastix lucidum: Inde ad Insulam +Pathmos Sancti Ioannis Euangelistae, et ad Ephesum vbi idem noscitur +sepultus: hanc totam minorem Asiam tenent nunc pessimi Turci, et eam +appellant minorem Turciam. Post Ephesum nauigatur per plures Insulas vsque +Pataram Ciuitatem, vnde oriundus fuit beatus Nicholaus, ac per Myrrheam vbi +stetit Ephesus, vbi nascuntur fortia vina valde, deinde ad Insulam Cretae, +hinc Coos postea Lango, vnde Hypocrates Medicus dicitur natus: [Sidenote: +Rhodus Insula.] tuncque ad grandem Insulam Rhodum; et sciendum quod a +Constantinopoli vsque Rhodum, per mare dicuntur ducentae octuaginta leucae. +Hanc insulam totam tenent, et gubernant Christiani Hospitalarij nunc +temporis, quae quondam Colosse dicebatur: nam et multi Saracenorum adhuc eam +sic appellant, vnde et Epistola, quam beatus Paulus ad habitatores huius +Insulae scripsit, intitulabatur ad Colossenses. Ab hoc loco nauigando in +Cyprum, aspicitur absorptio Ciuitatis Sathaliae, quae sicut olim Sodoma +dicitur perijsse, propter vnicum crimen contra naturam a quodam Iuuene +petulante commissum. [Sidenote: Cyprus Insula.] Sciendum quod a Rhodo ad +Cyprum feruntur plene quingentae quinquaginta leucae: Cyprus magna, et +pulchra est Insula habens Archiepiscopatum, cum quinque Episcopatibus +suffraganeis: Illuc Famagosta, est vnus de principalibus portibus mundi, in +quo fere omnium mercatores conueniunt nationum, tam Christianorum, quam +multorum Paganorom, et similiter apud portum Limechon. Est ibi et Abbatia +ordinis sancti Benedicti, in monte sanctae Crucis, vbi dicitur saluati +latronis seruari crux, qui in eadem cruce audiuit a Christo, Hodie mecum +eris in Paradiso. [Sidenote: Fortis Cypri vina.] Corpus etiam sancti +Hylarionis seruatur ibi, in castro Damers quod Rex Cypri facit +diligentissime custodiri: Vltra modum fortia vina nascuntur in Cypro, quae +primo rubra, post annum albescunt, et quo vetustiora, eo albiora ac magis +odorifera, ac fortia efficiuntur. Vlterius paucissimae villae, aut Ciuitates +sunt Christianorum, sed fere omnia Saraceni possident infideles: et proh +dolor, ab Anno 1200. incarnationis Domini aut circa, pacifice tenuerunt. +[Sidenote: Ioppa, vel Iaffe.] Qui autem a Cypro prospere legit spacia +maris, poterit in duobus naturalibus diebus peruenire in portum Ioppae, qui +Iaffe nunc nuncupatur, et proximus est a Ireusalem, distans 16, tantum +leucas, hoc est dieta cum dimidia. [Sidenote: Portus Tyri, alias Sur.] Et +sciendum quod circa medium, inter Cyprum, et Iaffe est portus Tyri quondam +munitissimae Ciuitatis, hanc dum vltimo Saraceni a Christianis ceperunt +turpissime destruxerunt, custodientes iam curiose portum, timore +Christianorum. Iste portus non vocatur modo Tyrus, sed Sur. Nam et ab illa +parte est ibi introitus terrae Suriae. Ante istam Ciuitatem Tyrum habetur +quidam lapis, super quem dominus noster Iesus Christus sedendo suis +discipulis vel populis praedicauit. Vnde, et Christiani olim super hunc +locum construxerunt Ecclesiam in nomine Saluatoris. Peregrinus vero qui ab +hoc loco vult peregrinari, morose sciat, quod ad octo leucas a Tyro in +orientem est Sarepta Sydoniorum, vbi olim Elias Propheta filium viduae +suscitauit a morte. Itemque sciat, quod a Tyro in vnica dieta pergere +potest in Achon, siue Acharon supra scripta. [Sidenote: Achon, olim +Acharon. Mons Carmeli.] Circa Acon versus mare, ad 120. stadia, quorum 16. +leucam constituunt, est mons Carmeli, vbi morabatur praefatus Elias, et +super alium montem Villa Saffra vbi sanctus Iacobus, et Ioannes germani +Apostoli nascebantur, et in quorum natiuitatis loco pulchra habetur +Ecclesia. [Sidenote: Fossa Beleon.] Item prope Acon ad ripam dictam Beleon, +est fossa multum vtilis, et mirabilis quae dicitur fossa Mennon, haec est +rotunda circumferentia, cuius diameter continet prope 100. cubitos, plena +alba et resplendente arena, et mundi ex qua conficitur mundum et perlucidum +vitrum. Pro hac arena venitur per aquas, et per terras, et exportatur +manibus et vehiculis prope et procul, et quantumcunque de die exhauritur, +repleta mane altero reperitur: Et est in fossa ventus grandis et iugis, qui +mirabiliter arenam commouere videtur. Si quis autem vitrum de hac arena +factum in fossa reponeret, conuerteretur iterum in arenam, et qui imponeret +frustum metalli, verteretur in vitrum: nonnulli reputant hanc fossam esse +spiraculum maris arenosi, de quo mari aliquid locuturus sum in sequentibus. +Ab Acon via versus Jerusalem bifurcatur: nam qui tenet vnum latus potest +ire secus Iordanem fluuium, in Ciuitatem Damascum, qui vero aliud, ibit in +tribus aut quatuor dietis Gazam, de qua olim fortis Samson asportauit nocte +fores portarum: deinde in Caesaream Philippi, et Ascalonem, et Ioppam portum +supradictum, Hincque in Rama, et Castellum Emaus, et sic in Ierusalem vrbem +sacrosanctam. + + +CAPVT. 5. + +Via a Francia aut Flandria per solas terras vsque Ierusalem. + +Itineribus, quae per terras, et per mare a nostris partibus ducunt in terram +promissionis descriptis, restat breuiter dicendum de alia via, per quam +omnino mare transeundum non est, videlicet per Almaniam, per Bohemiam, per +Prussiam, et hinc per terram Paganorum regni Lituaniae, et sic per longam, +et pessimam terram primae Tartariae vsque in Indiam: Dico autem Tartariae +primae, quoniam de hac exijt primus Imperator totius Tartariae, qui semper +vocatur Grand Can, quo vix maiorem mundus habet terrenum Dominum, excepto +Imperatore superioris Indiae, de quibus in secunda et tertia huius tractatus +partibus, aliquanto est diffusius narrandum. Cuncti principes huius primae +Tartariae, quorum summus semper vocatur Bachu, et moratur in Ciuitate Horda, +[Marginal note: Horda est multitudo riuens in agris.] reddunt Imperatore +Grand Can, magna tributa. [Sidenote: Mores Tartarorum.] Est autem haec prima +Tartaria terra misera et sabulosa, et infructuosa: hoc enim scio, quod per +aliquod tempus steti in ea, et perambulaui Insulas, regiones, et terras +circumiacentes, scilicet, Russiae, Inflau, Craco, Latton, Restau, et alias +nonnullas: crescunt namque in ista Tartaria modica blada, pauca vina, et +fructuum, ac frugum parua copia, exceptis herbis pro pastu Bestiarum, +quarum ibi est abundantia: nam carnibus illarum vescuntur pro omnibus +cibarijs, ius earum sorbentes, et pro potu bibentes lac de omni genere +bestiarum. Quin etiam pauperiores manducant canes, lupos, catos, ratos, +talpas, ac mures, ac huiusmodi bestiolas omnes: sed nec aliquis Princeps +aut praelatus comedit vltra semel in die, et hoc parce, vel parcissime: et +sunt homines valde immundi, quia non nisi bene diuites vtuntur mappis, +linteaminibus, aut lineis indumentis: sed nec habent copiam lignorum, vnde +et fimum boum, ac omnium bestiarum desiccatum ad solem accipiunt pro ignis +materia, vbi se calefaciunt, et coquendo coquunt. Aestiuo tempore, cadunt +ibi frequenter tempestates, tonitruorum, fulminum, et grandinum, quibus +domus, arbores, bestiae, et homines, comburuntur, euelluntur, et occiduntur. +Nam et quandoque subrepente oritur ibi calor immoderatus, et improuiso +frigus immoderatum. Denique cum terra illa, se multum inclinet ad polum +Septentrionalem, fortius ibi gelare solet, et frequentius, ac diutius quam +ad partes nostras, vnde et quasi omnes habent ibi stupas, in quibus +manducant, et operantur. [Sidenote: Hyeme praecipue iter faciunt per +terram.] Nec valet a nostris partibus ingredi ad illam nisi tempore +gelicidij, quod ad introitum eius sunt tres dictae, de via molli, aquatica, +et profunda, in qua dum viator putaret se stare securum, profunderetur in +lutum ad tibias, ad genua, ad femora vel ad renes: hoc ergo sciendum quod +paucissimi tendunt per hanc viam in terram promissionis: Nam iter est +graue, distortum, longum, et periculosum sicut audistis, imo periculosius +quam scribo. + + +CAPVT. 6. + +Via de Cypro vel Ierusalem vsque in Babyloniam AEgypti. + +Descripto sicut potui tripliciter itinere in terram sanctam, restat videre +de duabus alijs vijs, quae incidenter solent contingere peregrinis: Multi +namque illorum ex speciali deuotione desiderant visitare ossa beatissimae +Virginis Catharinae in monte Sinay: [Sidenote: Babylonia Aegypti.] Cum +igitur ipsis sit necessarius Soldani Babyloniae conductus eo quod Imperator +sit, et dominus omnium illarum terrarum, quidam postquam perueniunt in +Cyprum tendunt primo in Babyloniam AEgypti, pro impetrando conductu securo, +atque inde pergentes in Sinay vadunt in Ierusalem. Quidam vero postquam +perfecerunt peregrinationem Hierosolymitanam, pergunt per terras ad +Soldanum pro conductu, et tum in Sinay, propter quod vtramque viam breuiter +describo. [Sidenote: Damiata portus Aegypti.] De Cypro in AEgyptum itur per +mare relinquendo Hierosolymorum terram ad manum sinistram, et accipitur +primus portus AEgypti, dictus Damiata: ibi quondam fuit Ciuitas valde +munita, sed quod Christiani illam, primi et altera vice ceperunt, Sarraceni +vltimo destruxerunt, et aliam remotius a mari eiusdem nominis Ciuitatem +aedificauerunt: [Sidenote: Alexandria.] Hinc venitur in portum Alexandriae +AEgypti, quae est Ciuitas magna, pulchra, et fortis valde, sed absque aquis +potabilibus. Adducit tamen sibi per longos ductus aquam Nili fluminis in +cisternis ad potandum. Alexandria nobilis, 30. stadia habet longitudinis +decemque in latum. In ea restant adhuc plures Ecclesiae a tempore +Christianorum, sed Sarraceni non sustinentes picturas Sanctorum omnes +parietes albauerunt. De Alexandria per terras venitur in Babyloniam AEgypti, +quae etiam fundata iacet supra praedictum Nilum fluuium: Dicitur autem haec +Babylonia minor ad differentiam magnae Babyloniae, siue Babel, vbi Deus +linguas confudit olim, quae tendendo inter Orientem et Septentrionem distat +ab ista dietas circiter 40. nec est sub potestate Soldani, sed Imperatoris +Persarum, qui illam tenet in homagio ab Imperatore Cathay, dicto, Grand +Can. [Sidenote: Cayr ciuitas.] Haec autem Babylonia AEgypti est Ciuitas +grandis et fortis, tamen valde prope eam est alia maior dicta Cayr, in qua +vt saepius residet Soldanus, quanquam Babylonia nomen per seculum diffusius +est cognitum: Altera autem via peregrinorum de Hierosolymis pro conducta +tendentium ad Soldanum talis esse potest. [Sidenote: Abilech desertum.] +Primo tendant de Ierusalem in supra dictam Gazam Palestinorum, inde ad +Castellum Dayre, atque ex tunc exitur de terra Syriae, et intratur a +superiori parte in desertum longum arenosum, et sterile, prope ad septem +dietas, quod lingua eorum vocatur Abilech; tamen per illud inueniantur +plura hospitia, vbi haberi possunt ad victum nccessaria. Et qui in eundo +rectum iter tenet, veniet in Ciuitatem dictam, Balbes, quae est ad finem +Regni Halapiae: Sicque expleto Deserto, intratur terra AEgypti, quam ipsi +Canopat vocant, et aliqui Mersur, atque ex tunc in Babyloniam, et Cayr, +praefatam: In ista vero Babylonia habetur pulchra Ecclesia Mariae virginis, +in loco vbi morabatur cum filio suo, et Ioseph tempore suae fugae, et +creditur ibi contineri corpus Virginis Barbarae. + + +CAPVT. 7. + +De Pallatio Soldani, ac numero, et nominibus praeteritorum Soldanorum. + +Cayr ciuitas Imperialis et Regalis est valde munita, et grandis, decorata +sede propria Sarracenorum Regni, vbi dominus eorum Soldanus communiter +residere solet, in suo Calahelick, id est, castro forti, et lato, ac in +euecta rupe statuto. Siquidem Soldanus eorum lingua sonat nomen similis +maiestatis, quo nos in Latino dicimus Caesarem, aut Imperatorem. Pro +custodia huius Castri sunt ibidem omni tempore morantes sex millia +personarum, et pro, seruiendo, dum ibi residet, ipsi Soldano, qui omnes de +Curia eadem accipiunt necessaria, et donatiua. Iste Imperator Soldanus, est +Rex, Dominusque quinque Regnoram magnorum: Canopat, hoc est, AEgypti: totius +Iudeae, sicut olim Dauid, et Salomon; Halapiae, in terra Machsyriae, cuius +ciuitas Damascus olim erat principalis; Arabiae, quod est regnum valde +protensum, et cum his possidet dominatus omnium Caliphorum: ad quod +sciendum, quod quaundoque fuerunt tres Caliphorum dominatus: Ex quibus +primus Caliphus qui dicebatur Chaldaeorum, et Arabum, cuius erat sedes in +Ciuitate Baldac. Alter Barbarorum et Affricorum, cuius erat sedes in Maroco +super Mare Hispaniae. Tertius Aegypti: [Sidenote: Caliphus quid sit.] Est +autem Caliphus inter eos, velut inter nos Imperator, et Papa simul, +scilicet, Dominus temporalium et spiritualium. [Sidenote: Series Soldanorum +Aegypti.] Exactis igitur Caliphis circa annum incarnationis Christi 1150, +primus Soldanorum fuit nominatus Saracon: secundus filius eius, Saladin, +qui anno 1190. cum Turcis totam fere terram promissionis abstulit a +Christianis. Et sub quo Richardus Rex Angliae cum alijs principibus +Christianis custodiebat passum Rupium, ne ille sicut proposuerat transire, +profecisset vltra. Tertius Melachsala, a quo sanctus Ludouicus rex Franciae +captiuabatur in bello. Quartus Turquenna, qui Regem praedictum redemi +dimisit pro pecunia. Quintus Meleth. Sextus Melethemes. Septimus Melec +dayr, sub quo Edwardus Rex Angliae intrauit cum nostris Syriam, damnificans +plurimum Sarracenos. [Sidenote: Edwardus princeps Angliae, Regis Hen. 3. +filius.] Octauus Melec salle. Nonus Elphi, qui Anno Incarnationis Domini +1289. destruxit in illis partibus enormiter Christianos, et penitus omnes +inde fugauit, atque recepit Tripolim Ciuitatem. Decimus Melethasseras: hic +cepit Anno Domini 1291. in octaua paschae Accharon, fugatis vel occisis ex +ea omnibus Christianis. Exinde amissis succedentium nominibus, sextus +decimus dicebatur vel dicitur Melec Mandibron: sub isto steti ego per +aliquod tempus stipendiarius in guerris suis contra Bedones, qui ei tunc +temporis rebellabant. Horum etiam mores, et continentiam populorum, in +sequentibus declarabo: sicut veraciter fateri possum, ipse ad filiam +cuiusdam sui Principis me obtulit vxorare, et magnis dotari possessionibus, +dummodo Christianitati resignassem: Eumque dimisi Soldanum, quando de +partibus illis recessi. [Sidenote: Potentia Soldani Aegypti.] Soldanus +praeter homines ad sua castra seruanda deputatos, potest educere quoties +velit in exercitum de hominibus de ipsius stipendijs viuentibus et ad eius +iugiter mandata paratis, 20. millia armatorum, ex sola AEgypto: Et ex Syria, +et Turcia, et alijs terris, 50. millia exceptis ruralibus, et Ciuitatem +comitatibus, qui sunt velut innumerabiles. Miles quidem stipendiarius +recipit de Curia pro anni Tempore 121. aureos, et sub tali stipendio seruit +cum tribus equis et vno Camelo. Quadringenti vel Quingenti horum militum +ordinati sunt sub vno rectore, que vocatur Admirabilis: Et ille solus +recipit de curia tantum, sicut omnes sibi subditi: Notandum quod nunquam +extraneus Nuncius ire permittitur ad Soldanum nisi auratis indutus +vestibus, vel panno Tartarico aut camoleoto ad modum nobilium Sarracenorum: +[Sidenote: Reuerentia exhibita Soldano.] et oportet vt vbicunque primum +nuncius Soldanum aspiciat, siue ad fenestras, siue alibi, vt cadat ad +genua, vel protinus osculetur terram, quia talem reuerentiam facere, signum +est quod ille desiderat ei loqui. Quamdiu autem tales loquuntur sibi, aut +literas ostendunt, circumstant Apparitores extensis brachijs leuatos +tenentes mucrones, gladios, gezas, et mackas ad feriendum, et occidendum, +si quid dictum vel nunciatum fuerit, quod Imperatori displiceat, quam cito +ille signauerit trucidari. Veruntamen sciendum est quod nullius hominis +personaliter ab ipso quidquam petentis consueuit repellere preces +rationabiles, et contra eorum leges aut mores non venientes. Porro ego in +Curia manens, vidi circa Soldanum vnum venerabilem, et expertum medicum, de +nostris partibus oriundum: [Marginal note: Cuius nomen erat M. Ioannes ad +Barbam.] solet namque circa se retinere diuersarum medicos nationum, et +quos nominandae audierit esse famae: Nos tamen raro inuicem conuenimus ad +colloquium, eo quod meum seruitium cum suo modicum congruebat: longo autem +postea tempore, et ab illo loco remote, videlicet in Leodij ciuitate, +composui hortatu et adiutorio eiusdem venerabilis viri hunc tractatum, +sicut in fine operis totius enarrabo. Itemque in Cayr ciuitate ducuntur ad +forum communitur tam viri quam mulieres aliarum legum, et nationum venales, +et ad modum bestiaram venduntur pro pecunia ad seruiendum in suis +artificijs. [Sidenote: Mos oua furnis fouendi.] Habetur quoque ibi domus +plena furnis paruis, in quibus per custodes domus tam hyeme quam aestate +fouentur oua gallinarum, anatum, aucarum, et columbarum, vsque ad +procreationem suorum pullorum, et hijs intendunt, pro certo pretio +accipiendo a mulierculis illic oua ferentibus. + + +CAPVT. 8. + +De Campo Balsami in Egypto. + +[Sidenote: Balsamum.] Extra hanc ciuitatem Cayr, est Campus seu ager +Balsami: circa quod sciendum, quod optimum totius mundi Balsamum in magno +crescit Indiae deserto, vbi Alexander Magnus dicitur quondam locutus fuisse +arboribus Solis et Lunae, de quo in sequentibus aliquid est scribendum. Illo +itaque Indiae Balsamo duntaxat excepto, non est liquor in vniuerso orbe, qui +huic creditur comparari. Has arbores seu arbusta Balsami fecit quondam +quidam de Caliphis Aegypti de loco Engaddi inter mare mortuum, et Ierico, +vbi Domino volente excreuerat, eradicari, et in argo praedicto plantari: est +tamen hoc mirandum, quod vbicuncque alibi siue prope, siue remote +plantantur, quamuis forte virent, et exurgant, non tamen fructificant. Et e +contrario apparet hoc miraculosum, quod in hoc agro Cayr non se permittant +coli per Sarracenos, sed solummodo per Christianos, vel aliter non +fructificarent: Et dicunt ipsi Sarraceni hoc saepius se tentasse: sunt autem +arbusta trium vel quatuor pedem altitudinis, velut vsque ad renes hominis, +et lignum eorum aspiciendum, sicut vitis syluestris. Folia non marcescunt, +quin prius marcescant fructus, cernitur ad formam Cubebae, et gummi eorum +est Balsamum. Ipsi appellant arbores Enochkalse, fructum Abebifau, et +liquorum gribalse. Extrahitur vero gummi de arbusculis per hunc modem: De +lapide acuto, vel de osse fracto dant scissuras per cortices in ligno, et +ex vulneribus Balsamum lachrymatur, quod in vasculis suscipiunt, cauentes +quout possunt, ne quid de illo labatur in terram: Nam se de ferro, vel alio +metallo fieret incissura, liquor Balsami corrumperetur a sua virtute. +[Sidenote: Virtutes veri Balsami.] Veri Balsami virtutes sunt magnae quidem, +et innumerosae: nam vix aliquis mortalium scire potuit omnes, quamuis inter +Physicos quinquaginta scribantur. Raro vtique Sarraceni vendunt Christianis +purum et verum Balsamum, quin prius commisceant, et falsificant sicut ego +ipse frequenter vidi. Nam aliqui tertiam, seu quartam partem immiscent +terrebynthinae. [Sidenote: Sophisticationes Balsami.] Alii ramusculos +arbustarum, et fructus eorum coquunt in oleo, quod vendunt pro Balsamo: et +quidam (quod pessimam est) nil Balsami habentes, distillant oleum, per +clauos gariophillos, et spicum nardum, et similes odoriferas species, hoc +pro Balsamo exponentes, atque aliis pluribus modis deludunt ementes. +[Sidenote: Probatio veri Balsami.] Sed et Mercatores inuicem nonnunquam +sophisticant altera vice: probatio autem veri Balsaml potest haberi +pluribus modis, quorum aliquos hic describo. Est enim Citrini coloris, +valde clarum, et purum, et fortissimum in odoris fragrantia: si ergo +apparet alterius quam Citrini coloris sciatur non simplicis, sed +cuiuscunque commixtae substantiae, vel ita spissum, vt non possit fluere, +scitote sophisticatum. Item si posueris modicum veri Balsami in manus +palma, non poteris sustinere eam linialiter in feruore splendentis Solis ad +spacium recitandae Dominicae orationis. Item si in clara flamma ignis vel +candeliae cereae miseris punctum cultelli cum gutta puri Balsami, ipsa gutta +de facile comburetur. Item si in scutella munda cum puro lacte caprino +posueris modicum veri Balsami, statim, miscebit se, et vnietur cum lacte, +ita vt Balsamum non cognoscetur. Item e contra, si posueris verum Balsamum +cum aqua Lympida, nunquam miscebit se aquae, etiamsi aquam moueris +vehementer, imo Balsamum semper tendit ad fundum vasis, nam est in sui +quanitate valde ponderosam, et iuxta quod minus ponderosum inueneris, +amplius falsificatum noueris. + + +CAPVT. 9. + +De Nile fluuio, et Aegypti territorio. + +Nilus supra dictus fluuius Aegypti appellatus est alio nomine Gyon, cuius +origo est a Paradiso terrestri. Hic venit currens per deserta Indiae +Maioris, hincque per meatus subterraneos transit plures terras: exiens sub +Monte Aloth, inter Indiam et Aethiopiam, et Mauritaniam intra deserta +Aegypti, irrigans totam longitudinem Aegypti vsque ad Alexandriam, ibique +se perdit in mare. [Sidenote: Inundatio Nilo.] Sole intrante signum Cancri +omni anno hoc est, ad quindenam ante Festum Natiuitatis Ioannis Baptistae +incipit paulatim fluuius crescere, et inundare, quousque sol intret +Virginem, quod est circa Festum Laurentij, atque ex tunc decrescere, et +minui, donec Sole veniente in Lybram intra suos alueos se conseruet: Dumque +per inundationem nimis effluit, damnificat terrae culturas, et fit Charistia +in Aegypto. [Sidenote: Raro in Aegyptio pluuia.] Et similiter dum parum +exundat, ingruit esuries, quoniam in Aegypto rarissime pluit, aut apparent +nubes, quoniam si quandoque pluerit in aestate, terra muribus adimpleur. +[Sidenote: Nubia.] Terra Aegypti continet in longitudine dietas quindecim, +in latitudine fere tres, et habet triginta dietas deserti: a finibus +Aegypti vsque Nubiam, duodecim sunt dietae. Hi Nubij sunt Christiani, sed +nigri, velut Aethiopes, vel Mauri. + +[Sidenote: Phoenix visa a Mandeuillo.] Phoenix auis, de qua dicitur, quod +semper vnica sit in mundo, viuens per annos quingentos, quae et seipsam +comburit, ac de cineribus eius, siue per naturam, siue per miraculum alia +creatur, haec interdum apparet in Aegypto, et sicut mihi monstrabatur, vidi +duabus vicibus. Modicum est maior Aquila, cristam in capite maiorem +pauonis, collum habens croceum, dorsum Indicum, alas purpureas, caudam +duobus coloribus, per transuersum croceo et rubeo regulatam, qui singuli +colores sunt ad splendorem Solis delectabiliter videntibus resplendentes. +In Aegypto multae habentur arbores sexcies aut septies in anno +fructificantes, ibique frequenter inueniuntur in terra Smaragdi, et circa +oram Nili alij lapides pretiosi. [Sidenote: Mecha.] A Babylonia Aegypti, +vsque ad ciuitatem Meccam, (quam Pagani ibidem appellant Iacrib, et est in +magnis desertis Arabiae) sunt triginta duae dietae. In ea veneratur +detestandum cadauer Machon siue Machometi honorabiliter et reuerenter in +Templo eius, quod ibi vocatur Musket, de cuius vita aliquid infra narrabo. +Per praedicta itaque apparet, quod Imperator Sarracenorum Soldanus +Babyloniae, valde potens est Dominus. + + +CAPVT. 10. + +De couductu Soldani, et via vsque in Sinay. + +Prius dictum est de reuerentia Soldani, quando ad ipsum intratur exhibenda. +Sciendum ergo, cum ab eo petitur securus conductus, nemini denegare +consueuit, sed datur petentibus communiter sigillum eius, in appenditione +absque literis: hoc sigillum, pro vexillo in virga aut hasta dum peregrini +ferunt, omnes Sarraceni videntes illud flexis genibus in terram se +reuerenter inclinant, et portantibus omnem exhibent humanitatem. Verumtamen +satis maior fit reuerentia literis Soldani sigillatis, quod et Admirabiles, +et quicunque alij Domini, quando eis monstrantur, antequam recipiant, se +multum inclinant: Deinde ambabus manibus eas capientes ponunt super propria +capita, postea osculantur, et tandem legunt inclinati cum magna +veneratione, quibus semel aut bis perlectis, offerunt se promptos ad +explendum quicquid ibi iubetur, ac insuper exhibent deferenti, quicquid +possint commodi, vel honoris: sed talem conductum per literas Soldani vix +quisquam peregrinorum accipit, qui non in Curia illius stetit, vel notitiam +apud illum habuerit. [Sidenote: Literae Soldani in gratiam Mandeuilli +concessae.] Ego autem habui in recessu meo, in quibus etiam continebatur ad +omnes sibi subiectos speciale mandatum, vt me permitterent intrare, et +respicere singula loca, pro meae placito voluntatis, et mihi exponerent +quorumcunque locorum mysteria distincte et absque vllo velamine veritatis, +ac me cum omni sodalitate mea benigne reciperent, et in cunctis +rationalibus audirent, requisiti autem si necesse foret de ciuitate +conducerent in ciuitatem. Habito itaque peregrinis conductu, ad Montem +Sinay potest a Cayr vnam duarum incipere semitarum, vsque vallem Helim, vbi +adhuc sunt duodecim fontes aquarum. Nam vna viarum est, vt pertranseat +passagium maris rubri, non longe ab eodem loco, vbi olim populus Israel +Duce Mose, Deo iubente, siccis pedibus transiit idem mare. [Sidenote: +Ratio, cur Rubrum mare sic appellatur.] Quod quidem, licet aqua sit satis +clara, dicitur ibi Rubrum propter lapillos, et arenas subrufi coloris: et +continet ibi nunc temporis passus maris in latitudine fere sex leucas. +Transmissoque mari, ibit super hanc longe ab oris eiusdem per dietas +quatuor, atque ex tunc relinquens mare, tendit per deserta sex aut septem +dierum, vsque in vallem praefatam. Alia est autem via, vt de Babylonia +intret Dyrcen deserta, tendens ad quendam fontem, quem dicitur Moses +[Marginal note: Vel Maus.] fecisse: et hinc ad riuulum Marach, qui quondam, +Mose imponente lignum, ab amaritudine dulcescebat, et sic tandem in +premissam vallem perueniant. Et restat via grandis dietae ad Montem Sinay ab +hac valle. Nam a Babylonia vsque in Sinay, aestimatur esse via duodecim +dictarum, quamuis nonnulli citius perueniunt. Hoc vere sciendum, neminem +peregrinorum per haec deserta sine ductore posse tendere, cui notae sunt viae, +sed nec equi valent transire, praecipue quod non inuenirent in desertis quid +bibere. [Sidenote: Abstinentia Camelorum ab aquis.] Aliquo tamen modo +transitur per Camelos, eo quod se continere possunt de potu duobus aut +tribus diebus: Et oportet vt itinerantes ferant secum per viam necessaria +ad victum proprium, et Camelorum, nisi quod interdum forte Cameli aliquid +sibi abrodere possunt circa cortices arbustorum, et folia ramusculorum. + + +CAPUT. 11. + +De Monasterio Sinay, et reliquijs beatae Catherinae. + +Mons Sinay appellatur ibi desertum Syn: quasi in radice montis istius +habetur Coenobium Monachorum pergrande, cuius clausura in circuitu est +firmata muris altis, et portis ferreis, pro metu bestiarum deserti. Hi +Monachi sunt Arabes, et Graeci, et in magno conuentu multum Deo deuoti: +viuunt in magna abstinentia, vtentes simplicibus cibariis, de lotis et +dactylis, et huiusmodi, nec vinum potantes, festis acceptis. Illic in +Ecclesia Beatae Virginis et matris Catherinae semper lampades plurimae sunt +ardentes, nam habetur ibi plena copia olei oliuarum. A posteriori parte +magni altaris monstratur locus, vbi Moysi apparuit Dominus in rubo ardente, +ipsum rubum adhuc seruans, quem dum monachi intrant, semper se discalceant +gratia illias verbi, quo Deus iussit Moysi ibidem, Solue calciamentum de +pedibus tuis, locus enim in quo stas, terra sancta est: hunc locum +appellant Bezeleel, id est, vmbra Dei. Et prope altare tribus gradibus in +altitudine, habetur capsa, seu Tumba Alabastri, sanctissima continens ossa +Virginis. Christiani qui ibidem morantur, cum magna reuerentia +aduenientibus peregrinis, a Monachorum praelato, seu ab alio in hoc +instituto, excipiuntur. Is quodam instrumento argenteo consueuit ossa +defricare, siue linire, vt ex iis exeat modicum olei, velut parumper +sudoris, quod tamen non apparet in colore sui tanquam olei seu Balsami, sed +aliquantulum pluris magnitudinis. Et ex isto traditur interdum aliquid +petentibus peregrinis, sed parum, quia nec multum exudat. Ostendere solent +et caput ipsius Catherinae cum inuolumento sanguinolento, et multas praeterea +sanctas, et venerabiles reliquias, quae omnia intuitus sum diligentur et +saepe, oculis indignis. Habent quoque in ista Ecclesia propriam Lampadem +quilibet Monachorum, quae imminente illius discessu lumen per diuinum +miraculum variat vel extinguit. [Sidenote: Monarchorum sophismata.] Ego +etiam curiosius super vno dubio quod prius audieram, plures interrogationes +feci ab aliquibus Monachorum, vtrum scilicet praelato eorum decedente semper +successor per diuinum signum eligetetur: et vix tandem ab eis recepi +responsum, quod per vnum istorum miraculorum habetur successor, videlicit +in missa sepulturae defuncti omnibus Monachorum lampadibus extinctis, illius +sola Dei nutu reaccenditur, quem fieri vult praelatum, vel de coelo +inuenitur missus breuiculus super altare, inscriptum habens nomen praelati +futuri. Intra hanc Ecclesiam nunquam musca, vel aranea, aut huiusmodi +immundi vermiculi nascuntur, quod similiter per diuinum accidit miraculum: +nam ante replebatur Ecclesia talibus immunditiis, et totus conuentus +recederet ad construendum Ecclesiam in alio loco. Et ecce Dei genetrix +virgo beata eis visibiliter obuiauit, iubens reuerti, et dicens nunquam +Ecclesiam similibus infestari. In cuius obuiationis loco in ascensu +procliuo huius montis per multos gradus construxerunt Ecclesiam, aedificium +excellens, in honorem eiusdem virginis. Et alibuanto altius, per eiusdem +montis ascensum est vetus Capella, quam vocant Eliae Prophetae, et locum +specialiter appellant Horeb. A cuius latere in montis appendentia colitur +vinea, quam nominant Iosuae scophis, de qua quidam putare volunt, quod +Sanctus Ioannes Euangelista eam primo plantauit. In superiori vero montis +vertice, est Capella, quam dicunt Moysis, et illic rupis seruans adhuc +corporis eius formam impressam dum se abscondit, viritus dominum respicere +in facie. Locus quoque ibi ostenditur, in quo Deus tradidit ei decem +mandata, siue legem proprio digito scriptam, et sub rupe cauerna in qua +mansit ieiunus diebus 40. Ab hoc monte qui vocatur Mosi, restat via +producta ad quartam Leucae, vsque in montem qui dicitur Sanctae Catherinae per +vallem speciosam, ac multum frigidam. Circa eius medium habetur Ecclesia, +nomine 40. Martyrum constructa, vbi interdum veniunt Monachi cantare +missam: Hic mons est satis altior Monte Moysis, in cuius vertice Angeli Dei +pie creduntur attulisse, et sepeliisse corpus sanctissimae Martyris +Catherinae cum inuolumento capitis supra dicto. Attamen in ipso certo +sepulturae loco, licet quandoque stetit Capella, modo non est habitaculum, +sed modicus aceruus petrarum. Notandum, quod vterque horum montium potest +vocari mons Sinay, eo quod totus circumiacens locus deserti Sin appellatur. +Sur desertum inter mare Rubrum, et solitudinem Sinay. Desertum Sur idem +Scriptura quod et Cades. Visitatis igitur a peregrinis his sacrosanctis +memorijs, et valefacto Monachis, recommendant se eorum orationibus, et +meritis: tuncque solet aliquid victualium offerri peregrinis, pro inchoanda +via deserti Syriae versus Ierusalem. Et sicut dixi de priori deserto, sic +nec istud secure est peragrandum absque Drogemijs; id est, semitarum +ductoribus, propter vastitudinem deserti. + + +CAPVT. 12. + +Iter a deserto Sinay vsque ad Iudeam. + +Per istud latum et longum desertum, moratur vel potius vagata maxima +multitudo malorum, et incompositorum hominum, qui non manent in domibus, +sed sub pellium tabernaculis, quemadmodum et olim filij Israel in eodem +deserto ambulauerunt, quoniam aquae non manent ibi diu in locis certis: et +ideo mutant tabernacula sequentes aquas: non colunt terras, raro manducant +panem, sed tantum carnes bestiarum deserti quas venantur, coquentes super +petras calefactas ad Solem: fortes sunt et feroces, et velut desperati de +vita propria non curantes, qui licet non habeant arma praeter lanceam, et +tarchiam, et caput grandi albo linteolo inuolutum, tamen non verentur +exercere guerras, et inire proelia contra Dominum suum Soldanum: nam et ego +stipendiarius in expeditione Soldani contra eos saepius fui. Isti sunt +quidem Arabes, sed notiori nomine appellantur Bedoyns et Acopars, et +quamuis plurima mala agunt per desertum, raro tamen nocent peregrinis beatae +Virginis Catharinae. [Sidenote: Ioannes Mandeuil militans contra Arabes. +Beersheba.] Itaque peregrinus qui debitum tenuit iter, veniat a finibus +deserti in primam ciuitatem Iudeae, quae dicitur Berseba: est vicus grandis +Hebron inde miliario vergens ad Austrum: Hieronymus. Notandum, Theros Mons +Dei in regione Maglaw iuxta Montem. Notandum similiter, Arabiam in deserto +esse, cui iungitur Mons et desertum Sarracenorum, quod vocatur Phaaran. +Mihi autem videtur, quod dupliei nomine, nupe Mons Sinay, nunc Oreb +vocatur. Hieronymus. Phaaran nunc oppidum trans Oreb, iam iunctum +Sarracenis, qui in solitudine vagi pererrant. Hos interfecerunt filij +Israel, cum de Monte Sinay castra mouissent. Est ergo, vt dixi, trans +Jordanem contra Australem plagam, et distat ab Helyn, contra Orientem, +itinere dierum trium. In deserto autem Phaaran, Scriptura commemorat +habitasse Ismaelem, vade et Ismaelitae, qui nunc Sarraceni. Legimus quoque +Chederlaomer percussisse eos qui erant in deserto Phaaran quod nunc dicitur +Ascalon, et circa eam Regio Palestinorum. Hieronymus. Haec Bersheba erat +bona et spectabilis, vltimo tempore Christianorum, et adhuc ibi restant +nonnullae Ecclesiae. + +[Sidenote: Ciuitas Hebron.] Hinc ad Leucas duas venitur in ciuitatem +Hebron, et Hebron ab Helyn distat ad Meridianam plagani millibus circiter +39. de qua legitur, quod primis temporibus fuerit habitatio maximorum +Gigantium, Regumque, postea Dauidis. In hac est illa spelunca duplex, quae +seruat ossa sanctorum Patriarcharum, Abrahae, Isaac, et Jacob, Sarae, et +Rebeccae, consistitque ad radicem montis, et habetur super istam cum +propugnaculis ad modum castri constructa pulchra Ecclesia. Sarraceni +appellant istam speluncam Kariackaba, custodienies locum diligenter ac +reuerenter propter honorem Patriarcharum, et non permittentes quenquam +Christianorum aut Iudaeorum ingredi, nisi ostenderit super haec specialem +gratiam a Soldano. Nam ipsi communiter reputant tam Christianos quam +Iudaeos pro canibus, et quando despectiue eos volunt appellare, dicunt +Kylp, id est, canis. + +[Sidenote: Vallis Mambrae Quercus arida.] Ab Hebron incipit vallis Mambrae, +quae protenditur fere vsque Ierusalem: haud remote ad Hebron est mons +Mambre, et in ipso monte arbor quercus aridae quae pro antiquitate sui, +speciale sibi nomen meruit in mundo vniuerso, vt vocetur arbor sicca: +Sarraceni autem eam dicunt Dirp: haec creditur stetisse ante tempora Abrahae, +tamen quidam volunt putare a mundi initio, virens donec passionis Christi +tempore siccaretur. Hoc autem certum est haberi eam ob omnibus nationibus +in venerationem. + +[Sidenote: Gambil species Aromatis] In quodam loco praefatae vallis est +planicies, vbi per plures fossas effodiunt homines Gambil, quod comeditur +loco specierum aromaticarum, et per villas defertur venale, sed et hoc +audiui, quod nulla ibi fossa ita valet exhauriri, si dimittatur per annum, +quin inueniatur de praedicta Gambil impleta. + +Ad duas leucas de Hebron, monstratur sepultura Loth filii fratris Abraham. +Item de ciuitate Hebron per quinque leucas amoeni itineris, hoc est in +medio die, venitur in Bethleem Iudeae. [Sidenote: Kiriath Arbe.] Notandum, +Arbe, id est, quatuor, primum dicum de eo quod ibi tres Patriarchae Abraham, +Isac, et Iacob sepulti sunt, et Adam magnus, vt in Iudaeorum libro scriptum +est, licet eum quidam conditum in loco Caluariae suspicentur. Corrupte in +nostris codicibus Arboth scribitur, alibi erat arbor cum in Hebraeis legatur +Arbe, haec est autem eadem Hebron olim Metropolis Philistinorum, ab vno +filiorum Caleb sortita vocabulum. + + +The English Version. + +Of the Weye fro Costantynoble to Jerusalem. Of Seynt John the Evaungelist; + and of Ypocras Daughter, transformed from a Woman to a Dragoun. + +[Sidenote: Cap. IV] Now returne I azen, for to teche zou the way from +Costantynoble to Jerusalem. He that wol thorghe Turkye, he gothe toward the +cytee of Nyke, and passethe thorghe the gate of Chienetout, and alle weyes +men seen before hem the hille of Chienetout, that is righte highe: and it +is a myle, and an half from Nyke. And whoso will go be watre, be the brace +of Seynt George, and by the see, where Seynt Nycholas lyethe, and toward +many other places: first men gothe to an ile, that is clept Sylo. +[Footnote: Chios] In that ile growethe mastyck on smale trees: and out of +hem comethe gomme, as it were of plombtrees or of cherietrees. And aftre +gon men thorghe the ile of Pathmos, and there wrot Seynt John the +Evaungelist the Apocalips. And zee schulle undrestonde, that Seynt Johne +was of age 32 zeer, whan oure Lord suffred his passioun; and aftre his +passioun, he lyvede 67 zeer, and in the 100th zeer of his age he dyede. +From Pathmos men gone unto Ephesim, a fair citee and nyghe to the see. And +there dyede Seynte Johne and was buryed behynde the highe awtiere, in a +toumbe. And there is a fair chirche. For Cristene men weren wont to holden +that place alweyes. And in the tombe of Seynt John is noughte but manna, +that is clept aungeles mete. For his body was translated into paradys. And +Turkes holden now alle that place, and the citee and the chirche. And alle +Asie the lesse is y cleped Turkye. And zee schulle undrestonde, that Seynt +Johne leet [Footnote: Let.] make his grave there in his lyf, and leyd +himself there inne alle quyk. And therefore somme men seyn, that he dyed +noughte, but that he restethe there till the day of doom. And forsothe +there is a great marveyle: for men may see there the erthe of the tombe +apertly many tymes steren and meven, [Footnote: Stir and move.] as there +wern quykke thinges undre. + +And from Ephesim men gon throghe many iles in the see, unto the cytee of +Paterane, [Footnote: Patera.] where Seynt Nicholas was born, and so to +Martha, [Footnote: Myra.] where he was chosen to ben bisschoppe; and there +growethe right gode wyn and strong; and that men callen wyn of Martha. And +from thens gone men to the ile of Crete, that the Emperour zaf somtyme to +Janeweys. [Footnote: The Genoese.] And thanne passen men thorghe the isles +of Colos and of Lango; [Footnote: Cos.] of the whiche iles Ypocras +[Footnote: Hippocrates.] was lord offe. And some men seyn, that in the ile +of Lango is zit the doughtre of Ypocras, in forme and lykeness of a gret +dragoun, that is a hundred fadme of lengthe, as men seyn: for I have not +seen hire. And thei of the isles callen hire, lady of the lond. And sche +lyethe in an olde castelle, in a cave, and schewethe twyes or thryes in the +zeer. And sche dothe none harm to no man, but zif men don hire harm. And +sche was thus chaunged and transformed, from a fair damysele, into lyknesse +of a dragoun, be a goddesse, that was clept Deane. [Footnote: Diana.] And +men seyn, that sche schalle so endure in that forme of a dragoun, unto the +tyme that a knyghte come, that is so hardy, that dar come to hire and kiss +hire on the mouthe: and then schall sche turne azen to hire own kynde, and +ben a woman azen: but aftre that sche schalle not liven longe. And it is +not long siththen, that a knyghte of the Rodes, that was hardy and doughty +in armes, seyde that he wole kyssen hire. And whan he was upon his +coursere, and wente to the castelle, and entred into the cave, the dragoun +lifte up hire hed azenst him. And whan the knyghte saw hire in that forme +so hidous and so horrible, he fleyghe awey. And the dragoun bare the +knyghte upon a roche, mawgre his hede; and from that roche, sche caste him +in to the see: and so was lost bothe hors and man. And also a zonge man, +that wiste not of the dragoun, wente out of a schipp, and wente thorghe the +ile, til that he come to the castelle, and cam in to the cave; and wente so +longe, til that he fond a chambre, and there he saughe a damysele, that +kembed hire hede, and lokede in a myrour: and sche hadde meche tresoure +abouten hire: and he trowed, that sche hadde ben a comoun woman, that +dwelled there to resceyve men to folye. And he abode, tille the damysele +saughe the schadewe of him in the myrour. And sche turned hire toward him, +and asked hym, what he wolde. And he seyde, he wolde ben hire limman or +paramour. And sche asked him, zif that he were a knyghte. And he seyde, +nay. And then sche seyde, that he myghte not ben hire lemman: but sche bad +him gon azen unto his fellowes, and make him knyghte, and come azen upon +the morwe, and sche scholde come out of the cave before him; and thanne +come and kysse hire on the mowthe, and have no drede; for I schalle do the +no maner harm, alle be it that thou see me in lyknesse of a dragoun. For +thoughe thou see me hidouse and horrible to loken onne, I do the to wytene, +[Footnote: Know.] that it is made be enchauntement. For withouten doubte, I +am non other than thou seest now, a woman; and therfore drede the noughte. +And zif thou kysse me, thou schalt have alle this tresoure, and be my lord, +and lord also of alle that ile. And he departed fro hire and wente to his +felowes to schippe, and leet make him knyghte, and cam azen upon the morwe, +for to kysse this damysele. And whan he saughe hire comen out of the cave, +in forme of a dragoun, so hidouse and so horrible, he hadde so grete drede, +that he fleyghe azen to the schippe; and sche folewed him. And whan sche +saughe, that he turned not azen, sche began to crye, as a thing that hadde +meche sorwe: and thanne sche turned azen, in to hire cave; and anon the +knyghte dyede. And siththen hidrewards, myghte no knyghte se hire, but that +he dyede anon. But whan a knyghte comethe, that is so hardy to kisse hire, +he schalle not dye; but he schalle turne the damysele in to hire righte +forme and kyndely schapp, and he schal be lord of alle the contreyes and +iles aboveseyd. + +And from thens men comen to the Ile of Rodes, the whiche ile Hospitaleres +holden and governen; and that token thei sumtyme from the Emperour: and it +was wont to be clept Collos; and so callen it the Turks zit. And Seynt +Poul, in his Epistles, writeth to hem of that Ile, _ad Colossenses_. +[Footnote: The truth is the Epistle was written to the Church of Collosae in +Phrygia Major.] This ile is nyghe 800 myle from Costantynoble. + +And from this ile of Rodes, men gon to Cipre, where bethe many vynes, that +first bene rede, and aftre o zeer, thei becomen white: and theise wynes +that ben most white, ben most clere and best of smelle. And men passen be +that way, be a place that was wont to ben a gret cytee and a gret lond: and +the cytee was clept Cathaillye: the which cytee and lond was lost thorghe +folye of a zonge man. For he had a fayr damysele, that he loved wel, to his +paramour; and sche dyed sodeynly, and was don in a tombe of marble: and for +the grete lust, that he had to hire, he wente in the nyghte unto hire tombe +and opened it, and went in and lay be hire, and wente his way. And whan it +came to the ende of nine monethes, there com a voys to him, and seyde, Go +to the tombe of that woman, and open it and beholde what thou hast begotten +on hire: and if thou lette to go, thou schalt have a gret harm. And he zede +[Footnote: Went.] and opened the tombe; and there fleyghe out an eddere +righte hidous to see; the whiche als swythe fleighe aboute the cytee and +the contree; and sone after the cytee sank downe. And there ben manye +perilouse passages. + +Fro Rodes to Cypre ben 500 myle and more. But men may gon to Cypre, and +come not at Rodes. Cypre is righte a gode ile and a fayr and a gret, and it +hathe 4 princypalle cytees within him. And there is an erchebysshoppe at +Nichosie, and 4 othere byschoppes in that lond. And at Famagost is on of +the princypalle havenes of the see, that is in the world: and there arryven +Cristene men and Sarazynes and men of alle naciouns. In Cipre is the hille +of the Holy Cros; and there is an abbeye of monkis blake; and there is the +cros of Dismas the gode theef, as I have seyd before. And summe men trowen, +that there is half the crosse of oure Lord: but it is not so: and thei don +evylle, that make men to beleeve so. In Cipre lythe Seynt Zenomyne: of whom +men of that contree maken gret solempnytee. And in the Castelle of Amours +lythe the body of Seynt Hyllarie: and men kepen it right worschipfully. And +besyde Famagost was Seynt Barnabee the apostle born. In Cipre men hunten +with papyonns, that ben lyche lepardes: and thei taken wylde bestes righte +welle, and thei ben somdelle [Footnote: Somewhat.] more than lyouns; and +thei taken more scharpely the bestes and more delyverly [Footnote: +Deliberately.] than don houndes. In Cipre is the manere of lordis and alle +othere men, alle to eten on the erthe. For thei make dyches in the erthe +alle aboute in the halle, depe to the knee, and thei do pave hem: and whan +thei wil ete, thei gon there in and sytten there. And the skylle is, for +thei may ben the more fressche: for that lond is meche more hottere than it +is here. And at grete festes and for straungeres, thei setten formes and +tables, as men don in this contree: but thei had lever sytten in the erthe. + +From Cypre, men gon to the lond of Jerusalem be the see: and in a day and +in a nyghte, he that hathe gode wynd may come to the haven of Thire +[Footnote: Tyre.], that now is clept Surrye. There was somtyme a gret cytee +and a gode, of Crystene men: but Sarazins han destroyed it a gret partye; +and thei kepe that havene right welle, for drede of Cristene men. Men +myghte go more right to that havene, and come not in Cypre: but thei gon +gladly to Cypre, to reste hem on the lond, or elles to bye thingis, that +thei have nede to here lyvynge. On the see syde, men may fynde many rubyes. +And there is the welle, of the whiche Holy Writt spekethe offe, and seythe, +_Fons ortorum, et puteus aquarum viventium_: that is to seye, _The welle of +gardyns, and the dyche of lyvynge watres._ In this cytee of Thire, seyde +the woman to oure Lord, _Beatus venter qui te portavit, et ubera quae +succisti_: that is to seye, _Blessed be the body that she baar, and the +pappes that thou sowkedest._ And there oure Lord forzaf the woman of +Chananee hire synnes. And before Tyre was wont to be the ston, on the +whiche oure Lord sat and prechede: and on that ston was founded the Chirche +of Seynt Savyour. + +And 8 myle from Tyre, toward the est, upon the see, is the cytee of +Sarphen, in Sarept [Footnote: Zarephath.] of Sydonyeus. And there was wont +for to dwelle Helye the prophete; and there reysed he Jonas the wydwes sone +from dethe to lyf. And 5 myle fro Sarphen is the cytee of Sydon: of the +whiche cytee, Dydo was lady, that was Eneas wyf aftre the destruccioun of +Troye; and that founded the cytee of Cartage in Affrick, and now is cleped +Dydon Sayete. And in the cytee of Tyre regned Agenore the fadre of Dydo. +And 16 myles from Sydon is Beruthe. [Footnote: Beyrout.] And from Beruthe +to Sardenare is 3 journeys. And from Sardenar is 5 myle to Damask. + +And whoso wil go longe tyme on the see, and come nerrer to Jerusalem, he +schal go fro Cipre, be see, to the port Jaff. [Footnote: Jaffa.] For that +is the nexte havene to Jerusalem. For fro that havene is not but o day +journeye and an half to Jerusalem. And the town is called Jaff; for on of +the sones of Noe, that highte Japhet, founded it; and now it is clept +Joppe. And zee schulle undrestonde, that it is on of the oldest townes of +the world: for it was founded, before Noes flode. And zitt there schewethe +in the roche ther, as the irene cheynes were festned, that Andromade, a +gret geaunt was bounden with, and put in presoun before Noes flode: of the +whiche geaunt is a rib of his syde, that is 40 fote longe. [Footnote: Our +author here takes Andromeda for the monster that would have devoured her.] + +And whoso wil arryve at the firste port of Thire or Surre, that I have +spoken of before, may go be londe, zif he wil, to Jerusalem. And men gothe +fro Surre unto the citee of Dacoun [Footnote: St. Jean d'Acre.] in a day. +And it was clept somtyme Tholomayde. And it was somtyme a cytee of +Cristenemen, fulle fair; but it is now destroyed: and it stont upon the +see. And fro Venyse to Akoun, be see, is 2080 myles of Lombardye. And fro +Calabre or fro Cecyle to Akoun, be see, is 1300 myles of Lombardye. And the +ile of Crete is right in the myd weye. And besyde the cytee of Akoun, +toward the see, 120 furlonges on the right syde, toward the southe, is the +hylle of Carmelyn, where Helyas the prophete dwellede: and there was first +the ordre of Freres Carmes founded. This hille is not right gret, ne fulle +highe. And at the fote of this hille was somtyme a gode cytee of Cristene +men, that men cleped Cayphas: For Cayphas first founded it: but it is now +alle wasted. And on the lift syde of the hille Carmelyn is a town, that men +clepen Saffre: and that is sett on another hille. There Seynt James and +Seynt Johne were born: and in the worschipe of hem, there is a fair +chirche. And fro Tholomayde, that men clepen now Akoun, unto a gret hille, +that is clept Scalle of Thires, is 100 furlonges. And besyde the cytee of +Akoun renneth a lytille ryvere, that is clept Belon. And there nyghe is the +fosse of Mennon, that is alle round: and it is 100 cubytes of largenesse, +and it is alle fulle of gravelle, schynynge brighte, of the whiche men +maken fair verres [Footnote: Glass.] and clere. And men comen fro fer, by +watre in schippes, and be londe with cartes, for to fetten of that +gravelle. And thoughe there be nevere so moche taken awey there of, on the +day, at Morwe it is as fulle azen as evere it was. And that is a gret +mervaille. And there is evermore gret wynd in that fosse, that sterethe +everemore the gravelle, and makethe it trouble. And zif ony man do +thereinne ony maner metalle, it turnethe anon to glasse. And the glasse, +that is made of that grevelle, zif it be don azen in to the gravelle, it +turnethe anon in to gravelle as it was first. And therefore somme men seyn, +that it was a sweloghe [Footnote: Whirlpool.] of the gravely see. + +Also for Akoun aboveseyd gon men forthe 4 journees to the citee of +Palestyn, that was of the Philistyenes, that now is clept Gaza, that is a +gay cytee and a riche; and it is righte fayr, and fulle of folke, and it is +a lytillle fro the see. And from this cytee broughte Sampson the stronge +the zates upon an highe lond, whan he was taken in that cytee: and there he +slowghe in a paleys the king and hymself, and gret nombre of the beste of +the Philistienes, the whiche had put out his eyen, and schaven his hed, and +enprisound him, be tresoun of Dalida his paramour. And therefore he made +falle upon hem a gret halle, whan thei were at mete. And from thens gon men +to the cytee of Cesaire, and so to the Castelle of pylgrymes, and so to +Ascolonge, and than to Jaffe, and so to Jerusalem. + + +Of manye Names of Soudans, and of the Tour of Babiloyn. + +[Sidenote: Cap. V.] And whoso wille go be londe thorghe the lond of +Babyloyne, where the Sowdan dwellethe comonly, he moste gete grace of him +and leve, to go more sikerly [Footnote: Surely.] thorghe tho londes and +contrees. And for to go to the mount of Synay, before that men gon +Jerusalem, thei schalle go fro Gaza to the castelle of Daire. And after +that, men comen out of Surrye, and entren in to wyldernesse, and there the +weye is sondy. And that wyldernesse and desert lastethe 8 journeyes. But +alleweyes men fynden gode innes, and alle that hem nedethe of vytaylle; And +men clepen that wyldernesse Achelleke. And whan a man comethe out of that +desert, he entrethe in to Egypt, that men clepen Egypt Canopac: and aftre +other langage, men clepen it Morsyn. And there first men fynden a gode +toun, that is clept Belethe; and it is at the ende of the kyngdom of +Halappee. And from thens men gon to Babyloyne and to Cayre. + +At Babyloyne there is a faire chirche of oure lady, where sche dwelled 7 +zeer, whan sche fleyghe out of the lond of Judee, for drede of Kyng +Heroude. And there lythe the body of Seynt Barbre the Virgine and Martyr. +And there duelled Josephe whan he was sold of his bretheren. And there made +Nabugodonozor the kyng putte three children in to the forneys of fuyr; for +thei weren in the righte trouthe of beleeve: the whiche children men +cleped, Ananya, Azaria, Mizaelle; as the Psalm of Benedicite seythe. But +Nabugodbnozor cleped hem other wise, Sydrak, Misak, and Abdenago: that is +to seye, God glorious, God victorious, and God over alle thinges and remes. +[Footnote: Realms.] And that was for the myracle, that he soughe Goddes +sone go with the children thorghe the fuyr, as he seyde. There duellethe +the Soudan in his Calahelyke, (for there is comounly his see) in a fayr +castelle strong and gret and wel sett upon a roche. In that castelle +duellen alle wey, to kepe it and to serve the Sowdan, mo than 6000 +persones, that taken alle here necessaries of the Sowdanes court. I oughte +right wel to knowen it; for I duelled with him as Soudyour in his werres a +gret while, azen the Bedoynes. And he wolde have maryed me fulle highely, +to a gret princes daughtre, zif I wolde han forsaken my lawe and my beleve. +But I thanke God, I had no wille to don it, for no thing, that he behighten +[Footnote: Promised.] me. And zee schulle undrestonde, that the Soudan is +lord of 5 kyngdomes, that he hathe conquered and apropred to him be +strengthe: and theise ben the names, the kyngdom of Canapak, that is Egypt; +and the kyngdom of Jerusalem, where that David and Salomon were kynges; and +the kyngdom of Surrye, of the whiche the cytee of Damasc was chief; and the +kyngdom of Alappe, [Footnote: Aleppo.] in the lond of Mathe, and the +kyngdom of Arabye, that was to on of the 3 kynges, that made offrying to +oure Lord, whan he was born. And many othere londes he holdethe in his +hond. And there with alle he holdethe calyffes, that is a fulle gret thing +in here langage: and it is als meche to seye as kyng. And there were wont +to ben 5 Soudans: but now there is no mo but he of Egypt. And the firste +Soudan was Zarocon, that was of Mede, (as was fadre to Sahaladyn) that toke +the Califfe of Egypt and sloughe him, and was made Soudan be strengthe. +Aftre that was Soudan Sahaladyn, in whoos tyme the Kyng of Englonde, +Richarde the firste, with manye othere, kepten the passage, that Sahaladyn +ne myghte not passen. Aftre Sahaladyn, regned his sone Boradyn; aftre him +his nephewe. Aftre that the Comaynz, that weren in servage in Egypt, felten +hem self, that thei weren of gret power, thei chesen hem a Soudain amonges +hem: the whiche made him to ben cleped Melethesalan. And in his tyme entred +in to the contree, of the kynges of France, Seynt Lowyz, and foughte with +him: and the Soudan toke him and enprisound him. And this was slayn of his +owne servauntes. And aftre thei chosen an other to be Soudan, that thei +cleped Tympieman. And he let delyveren Seynt Lowys out of presoun, for +certeyn ransoum. And aftre on theise Comaynz regned, that highte Cachas, +and sloughe Tympieman, for to be Soudan: and made him ben cleped +Melechemes. And aftre, another that hadde to name Bendochdare, that sloughe +Melechemes, for to be Soudan; and cleped himself Melechdare. In his tyme +entred the gode Kyng Edward of Englond in Syrye, and dide gret harm to the +Sarrazines. And aftre was this Soudan empoysound at Damasce; and his sone +thoghte to regne aftre him be heritage, and made him to ben clept +Meleschsache. But another, that had to name Elphy, chaced him out of the +contree, and made him Soudan. This man toke the cytee of Tripolee and +destroyede manye of the Cristene men, the zeer of grace 1289; but he was +anon slayn. Aftre that was the sone of Elphy chosen to ben Soldan, and +cleped him Mellethasseraff: and he toke the citee of Akoun, and chaced out +the Christene men: and this was also empoysond. And than was his brother y +made Soudan, and was cleped Melechnasser. And aftre, on that was clept +Guytoga, toke him and put him in prisoun, in the Castelle of Mountryvalle; +and made him Soudan be strengthe, and cleped him Melechcadelle: and he was +of Tartaryne. But the Comaynz chaced him out of the contree, and diden hym +meche sorwe; and maden on of hem self Soudan, that hadde to name Lachyn. +And he made him to ben clept Melechmanser: the whiche on a day pleyed at +the chesse, and his swerd lay besyde him; and so befelle, that on wratthed +[Footnote: Provoked.] him, and with his owne propre swerd he was slayn. And +aftre that, thei weren at gret discord, for to make a Soudan. And finally +thei accordeden to Melechnasser, that Guytoga had put in prisoun at +Mountrivalle. And this regnede longe and governed wisely; so that his +eldest sone was chosen aftre him, Melechemader; the whiche his brother leet +sle prevyly, for to have the lordschipe, and made him to ben clept +Melechmadabron. And he was Soudan, whan I departed fro the contrees. And +wyte zee wel, that the Soudan may lede out of Egipt mo than 20000 men of +armes. And out of Surrye, and out of Turkye, and out of other contrees, +that he holt, he may arrere [Footnote: Raise.--Anglo-Saxon, _Araeran_.] mo +than 50000. And alle tho ben at his wages: and thei ben alle weys at him, +withouten the folke of his contree, that is withouten nombre. And everyche +of hem hath be zere the mountance of 6 score floreynes. But it behovethe, +that every of hem holde 3 hors and a cameylle. And be the cytees and be the +townes ben amyralles, that han the governance of the peple. On hath to +governe 4, and another hath to governe 5, another mo, and another wel mo. +And als moche takethe the amyralle be him allone, as alle the other +souldyours han undre hym. And therfore whan the Soudan wille avance ony +worthi knyghte, he makethe him a amyralle. And whan it is ony derthe, the +knyghtes ben right pore, and thanne thei sellen both here hors and here +harneys. And the Soudan hath 4 wyfes, on Cristene and 3 Sarazines: of the +whiche, on dwellethe at Jerusalem, and another at Damasce, and another at +Ascalon. And whan hem lyst, thei remewen to other cytees. And whan the +Soudan wille, he may go visite hem. And he hathe as many paramours, as hym +lykethe. For he makethe to come before him, the fairest and the nobleste of +birthe and the gentylleste damyseles of his contree, and he maketh hem to +ben kept and served fulle honourabely, and whan he wole have on to lye +withe him, he makethe hem alle to come before him; and he beholdethe in +alle, whiche of hem is most to his plesance, and to hire anon he sendethe +or castethe a ryng fro his fyngre: And thanne anon sche schalle ben bathed +and richely atyred, and anoynted with delicat thinges of swete smelle, and +than lad to the Soudanes chambre. And thus he dothe, als often as him list, +when he wil have ony of hem. And before the Soudan comethe no strangier, +but zif he be clothed in clothe of gold or of Tartarye or of Camaka, in the +Sarazines guyse, and as the Sarazines usen. And it behovethe, that anon at +the firste sight, that men see the Soudan, be it in wyndowe, or in what +place elles, that men knele to him and kysse the erthe: for that is the +manere to do reverence to the Soudanne, of hem that speken with him. And +whan that messangeres of straunge contrees comen before him, the Meynee of +the Soudan, whan the straungeres speken to hym, thei ben aboute the Souldan +with swerdes drawen and gysarmez and axes, here armes lift up in highe with +the wepenes, for to smyte upon hem, zif thei seye ony woord, that is +displeasance to the Soudan. And also, no straungere comethe before him, but +that he makethe him sum promys and graunt, of that the straungere asketh +resonabely, beso it be not azenst his Lawe. And so don othere prynces +bezonden. For thei seyn, that no man schalle come before no prynce, but +that he be bettre, and schalle be more gladdere in departynge from his +presence, thannie he was at the comynge before hym. + +And undirstonde zee, that that Babyloyne that I have spoken offe, where +that the Soudan duellethe, is not that gret Babyloyne, where the dyversitee +of langages was first made for vengeance, by the myracle of God, when the +grete tour of Babel was begonnen to ben made; of the whiche the walles +weren 64 furlonges of heighte; that is in the grete desertes of Arabye, +upon the weye as men gon toward the kyngdom of Caldee. But it is fulle +long, sithe that ony man durste neyhe to the tour; for it is alle deserte +and fulle of dragouns and grete serpentes, and fulle of dyverse venymouse +bestes alle abouten. That tour, with the cytee, was of 25 myle in cyrcuyt +of the walles; as thei of the contree seyn, and as men may demen [Footnote: +Judge.] by estymation, aftre that men tellen of the contree. And though it +be clept the tour of Babiloyne, zit natheles there were ordeyned with inne +many mansiouns and many gret duellynge places, in lengthe and brede: and +that tour conteyned gret contree in circuyt: for the tour allone conteyned +10 myle sqware. That tour founded Kyng Nembrothe, that was kyng of that +contree: and he was firste kyng of the world. And he leet make an ymage in +the lyknesse of his fadre, and constreyned alle his subgettes for to +worschipe it. And anon begonnen othere lordes to do the same. And so +begonnen the ydoles and symulacres first. The town and the cytee weren +fulle wel sett in a fair contree and a playn; that men clepen the contree +of Samar: of the whiche the walles of the cytee werein 200 cubytes in +heighte, and 50 cubytes in breadthe. And the ryvere of Euphrate ran thorghe +out the cytee and aboute the tour also. But Cirus the Kyng of Perse toke +from hem the ryvere, and destroyede all the cytee and the tour also. For he +departed that ryvere in 360 smale ryveres: because that he had sworn, that +he scholde putte the ryvere in suche poynt, that a woman myghte wel passe +there, withouten castynge of of hire clothes; for als moche as he hadde +lost many worthi men, that trowden to passen that ryvere by swymmynge. + +And from Babyloyne, where the Soudan dwellethe, to go right betwene the +oryent and the Septemtryon, toward the grete Babyloyne, is 40 journeys to +passen be desart. But it is not the grete Babiloyne, in the lond and in the +powere of the seyd Soudan; but it is in the power and the lordschipe of +Persye. But he holdethe it of the grete Cham, that is the gretteste +Emperour and the most sovereyn lord of alle the partes bezonde: and he is +lord of the iles of Cathay and of many othere iles, and of a gret partie of +Inde. And his lond marchethe unto Prestre Johnes lond; and he holt so moche +lond, that he knowethe not the ende. And he is more myghty and grettre lord +withoute comparisoun, than is the Soudan. Of his ryalle estate and of his +myghte, I schalle speke more plenerly when I schalle speke of the lond and +of the contree of Ynde. + +Also the cytee of Methone [Footnote: Mecca.] where Machomet lythe, is of +the grete desertes of Arabye. And there lithe the body of hym fulle +honourabely in here temple, that the Sarazines clepen Muskethe. And it is +fro Babyloyne the lesse, where the Soudan duellethe, onto Methon aboveseyd, +in to a 32 journeyes. And wytethe wel, that the rewme of Arabye is a fulle +gret contree: but there in is over moche dysert. And no man may dwelle +there in that desert, for defaute of watre. For that lond is alle gravelly +and fulle of sond. And it is drye and nothing fructuous; because that it +hathe no moysture: and therefore is there so meche desart. And ziff it +hadde ryveres and welles, and the lond also were, as it is in other +parties, it scholde ben als fulle of peple and als fulle enhabyted with +folk, as in other places. For there is fulle gret multitude of peple, where +as the lond is enhabyted. Arabye durethe fro the endes of the reme of +Caldee, unto the laste ende of Affryk, and marchethe to the lond of Ydumee, +toward the ende of Botron. And in Caldee, the chief cytee is Baldak. +[Footnote: Bagdad.] And of Affryk, the chief cytee is Cartage, that Dydo, +that was Eneas wyf, founded. The whiche Eneas was of the cytee of Troye, +and aftre was Kyng of Itaylle. Mesopotamye strecchethe also unto the +Desertes of Arabye; and it is a gret contree. In this contree is the cytee +of Araym, where Abrahames fadree duelled, and from whens Abraham departed, +be commandement of the aungelle. And of that cytee was Effraym, that was a +gret clerk and a gret doctour. And Theophylus was of that cytee also, that +oure ladye savede from oure enemye. And Mesopotame durethe fro the ryvere +of Eufrates, unto the ryvere of Tygris. For it is betwene tho 2 ryveres. +And bezonde the ryvere of Tygre, is Caldee, that is a fulle gret kyngdom. +In that Rewyme, at Baldac aboveseyd, was wont to duelle the Calyffeez, that +was wont to ben bothe as Emperour and Pope of the Arabyenez; so that he was +lord spirituelle and temporelle. And he was successour to Machomete, and of +his generatioun; That cytee of Baldak was wont to ben cleped Sutis: +[Footnote: Susa.] and Nabugodonozor founded it. And there duelled the holy +prophete Daniel; and there he saughe vissiones of Hevene; and there he made +the expositioun of dremes. And in old tyme, there were ['wene' in source +text--KTH] wont to be 3 Calyffez; and thei dwelleden in the cytee of Baldak +aboveseyd. + +And at Cayre besides Babyloyne duelled the Calyffee of Egypt. And at +Marrok, upon the west see, duelte the Calyffee of Barbaryenes and of +Affrycanes. And now is there non of the Calyffeez, ne noughte han ben, +sithe the tyme of Sowdan Sahaladyn. For from that tyme hidre, the Sowdan +clepethe him self Calyffee. And so han the Calyffeez y lost here name. Also +wytethe wel, that Babylone the lesse, where the Soudan duellethe, and at +the cytee of Cayr, that is nyghe besyde it, ben grete huge cytees manye and +fayr; and that on sytt nyghe that other. Babyloyne sytt upon the ryvere of +Gyson, somtyme clept Nyle, that comethe out of Paradys terrestre. That +ryvere of Nyle, alle the zeer, whan the sonne entrethe in to the signe of +Cancer, it begynnethe to wexe; and it wexethe alle weys, als longe as the +sonne is in Cancro, and in the signe of Lyoune. And it wexethe in suche +manere, that it is somtyme so gret, that it is 20 cubytes or more of +depnesse; and thanne it doth gret harm to the godes, that ben upon the +lond. For thanne may no man travaylle to ere [Footnote: Plough.] the +londes, for the grete moystness: and therefore is there dere tyme in that +contree. And also whan it waxethe lytylle, it is dere tyme in that contree: +for defaute of moysture. And whan the sonne is in the signe of Virgo, +thanne begynnethe the ryvere for to wane and to decrece lytyl and lytylle; +so that whan the sonne is entred into the signe of Libra, thanne thei +entren betwene theise ryveres. This ryvere comethe rennynge from Paradys +terrestre, betwene the desertes of Ynde; and aftre it smytt unto londe, and +rennethe longe tyme many grete contrees undre erthe: and aftre it gothe out +undre an highe hille, that men clepen Alothe, that is betwene Ynde and +Ethiope, the distance of five moneths journeyes fro the entree of Ethiope. +And aftre it envyronnethe alle Ethiope and Morekane, and gothe alle along +fro the Lond of Egipte; unto the cytee of Alisandre, to the ende of Egipte; +and there it fallethe into the See. Aboute this ryvere, ben manye briddes +and foules, as sikonyes, that thei clepen ibes. + +Egypt is a long contree; but it is streyt, that is to seye narow; for thei +may not enlargen it toward the desert, for defaute of watre. And the +contree is sett along upon the ryvere of Nyle; be als moche as that ryvere +may serve be flodes or otherwise, that whanne it flowethe, it may spreden +abrood thorghe the contree: so is the contree large of lengthe. For there +it reyneth not but litylle in that contree: and for that cause, they have +no watre, but zif it be of that flood of that ryvere. And for als moche as +it ne reynethe not in that contree, but the eyr is alwey pure and cleer, +therfore in that contree ben the gode astronomyeres; for thei fynde there +no cloudes, to letten hem. Also the cytee of Cayre is righte gret, and more +huge than that of Babyloyne the lesse: and it sytt aboven toward the desert +of Syrye, a lytille above the ryvere aboveseyd. In Egipt there ben 2 +parties; the Heghte, that is toward Ethiope; and the Lowenesse, that is +towardes Arabye. In Egypt is the lond of Ramasses and the lond of Gessen. +Egipt is a strong contree: for it hathe manye schrewede havenes, because of +the grete Roches, that ben stronge and daungerouse to passe by. And at +Egipt, toward the est, is the rede see, that durethe unto the cytee of +Coston: and toward the west, is the contree of Lybye, that is a fulle drye +lond, and litylle of fruyt: for it is over moche plentee of hete. And that +lond is clept Fusthe. And toward the partie Meridionalle is Ethiope. And +toward the Northe is the desart, that durethe unto Syrye: and so is the +contree strong on alle sydes. And it is wel a 15 journeyes of lengthe, and +more than two so moche of desert: and it is but two journeyes in +largenesse. And between Egipt and Nubye, it hathe wel a 12 journees of +desert. And men of Nubye ben Cristene: but thei ben blake as the Mowres, +for grete hete of the sonne. + +In Egipt there ben 5 provynces; that on highte Sahythe, that other highte +Demeseer, another Resithe, that is an ile in Nyle, another Alisandre, and +another the lond of Damiete. That cytee was wont to be righte strong; but +it was twyes wonnen of the Cristene men: and therfore after that the +Sarazines beten down the walles. And with the walles and the tour thereof, +the Sarazenes maden another cytee more fer from the see, and clepeden it +the newe Damyete. So that now no man duellethe at the rathere toun of +Damyete. And that cytee of Damyete is on of the havenes of Egypt: and at +Alisandre is that other, that is a fulle strong cytee. But there is no +watre to drynke, but zif it come be condyt from Nyle, that entrethe in to +here cisternes. And who so stopped that watre from hem, thei myghte not +endure there. In Egypt there ben but fewe forcelettes or castelles, be +cause that the contree is so strong of him self. At the desertes of Egyptes +was a worthi man, that was an holy heremyte; and there mette with hym a +monstre, (that is to seyne, a monstre is a thing difformed azen kynde both +of man or of best or of ony thing elles: and that is cleped a monstre). And +this monstre, that mette with this holy heremyte, was as it hadde ben a +man, that hadde 2 hornes trenchant on his forehede; and he hadde a body lyk +a man, unto the nabele; and benethe he hadde the body lyche a goot. And the +heremyte asked him, what he was. And the monstre answerde him, and seyde, +he was a dedly creature, suche as God hadde formed, and duelled in tho +desertes in purchasynge his Sustynance; and besoughte the heremyte, that he +wolde preye God for him, the whiche that cam from Hevene for to saven alle +mankynde, and was born of a Mayden, and suffred passioun and dethe, (as we +well knowen) be whom we lyven and ben. And zit is the hede with the 2 +hornes of that monstre at Alisandre for a Marveyle. + +In Egypt is the cytee of Elyople, [Footnote: Heliopolis.] that is to seyne, +the cytee of the sonne. In that cytee there is a temple made round, aftre +the schappe of the temple of Jerusalem. The prestes of that temple han alle +here wrytinges, undre the date of the foul that is clept Fenix: and there +is non but on in alle the world. And he comethe to brenne him self upon the +awtere of the temple, at the ende of 5 hundred zeer: for so longe he +lyvethe. And at the 500 zeers ende, the prestes arrayen here awtere +honestly, and putten there upon spices and sulphur vif [Footnote: Live.] +and other thinges, that wolen brenne lightly. And than the brid fenix +comethe, and brennethe him self to ashes. And the first day next aftre, men +fynden in the ashes a worm; and the secunde day next aftre, men fynden a +brid quyk and perfyt; and the thridde day next aftre, he fleethe his wey. +And so there is no mo briddes of that kynde in alle the world, but it +allone. And treuly that is a gret myracle of God. And men may well lykne +that bryd unto God; be cause that there nys no God but on; and also, that +our Lord aroos fro dethe to lyve, the thridde day. This bryd men seen often +tyme, fleen in tho contrees: and he is not mecheles more than an Egle. And +he hathe a crest of fedres upon his hed more gret than the poocock hathe; +and his nekke is zalowe, aftre colour of an orielle, [Footnote: Golden. +From Latin, _Aurea_. Cf. Oriel College, Golden Hall.] that is a ston well +schynynge; and his bek is coloured blew, as ynde; [Footnote: Indigo.] and +his wenges ben of purple colour, and the Taylle is zelow and red, castynge +his taylle azens in travers. And he is a fulle fair brid to loken upon, +azenst the sonne: for he schynethe fully gloriously and nobely. + +Also in Egypt ben gardyns, than han trees and herbes, the whiche beren +frutes 7 tymes in the zeer. And in that lond men fynden many fayre +emeraudes and y nowe. And therefore thei ben there grettere cheep. Also +whan it reynethe ones in the somer, in the lond of Egipt, thanne is alle +the contree fulle of grete myrs. Also at Cayre, that I spak of before, +sellen men comounly bothe men and wommen of other lawe, as we don here +bestes in the markat. And there is a comoun hows in that cytee, that is +alle fulle of smale furneys; and thidre bryngen wommen of the toun here +eyren [Footnote: Eggs.] of hennes, of gees and of dokes, for to ben put in +to tho furneyses. And thei that kepen that hows covern hem with hete of +hors dong, with outen henne, goos or doke or ony other foul; and at the +ende of 3 wekes or of a monethe, they comen azen and taken here chickenes +and norissche hem and bryngen hem forthe: so that alle the contree is fulle +of hem. And so men don there bothe wyntre and somer. + +Also in that contree, and in othere also, men fynden longe apples to selle, +in hire cesoun: and men clepen hem apples of paradys; and thei ben righte +swete and of gode savour. [Footnote: Melons.] And thoghe zee kutte hem in +never so many gobettes or parties, overthwart or end longes, evermore zee +schulle fynden in the myddes the figure of the Holy Cros of oure Lord Jesu. +But thei will roten within 8 days: and for that cause men may not carye of +the apples to no fer contrees. And thei han grete leves, of a fote and an +half of lengthe: and thei ben covenably large. And men fynden there also +the appulle tree of Adam, that han a byte at on of the sydes. And there ben +also fyge trees, that baren no leves, but fyges upon the smale braunches; +and men clepen hem figes of Pharoon. Also besyde Cayre, withouten that +cytee, is the feld where bawme growethe: and it cometh out on smale trees, +that ben non hyere than a mannes breek girdle: and thei semen as wode that +is of the wylde vyne. And in that feld ben 7 welles, that oure Lord Jesu +Crist made with on of his feet, whan he wente to pleyen with other +children. That feld is not so well closed, but that men may entren at here +owne list. But in that cesonne, that the bawme is growynge, men put there +to gode kepynge, that no man dar ben hardy to entre. This bawme growethe in +no place, but only there. And thoughe that men bryngen of the plauntes, for +to planten in other contrees, thei growen wel and fayre, but thei bryngen +forthe no fructuous thing: and the leves of bawme ne fallen noughte. And +men kutten the braunches with a scharp flynston or with a scherp bon, +[Footnote: Flintstone and bone.] whan men will go to kutte hem: For who so +kutte hem with iren, it wolde destroye his vertue and his nature. And the +Sarazines clepen the wode Enonch balse; and the fruyt, the whiche is as +Quybybes, thei clepen Abebissam; and the lycour, that droppethe fro the +braunches, thei clepen Guybalse. And men maken alle weys that bawme to ben +tyled [Footnote: Tilled.] of the Cristenemen, or elles it wolde not +fructifye; as the Sarazines seyn hem self: for it hathe ben often tyme +preved. Men seyn also, that the bawme growethe in Ynde the more, in that +desert where the trees of the sonne and of the mone spak to Alisaundre. But +I have not seen it. For I have not ben so fer aboven upward: because that +there ben to many perilouse passages. And wyte zee wel, that a man oughte +to take gode kepe for to bye bawme, but zif he cone knowe it righte wel: +for he may righte lyghtely be discoyved. For men sellen a gome, that men +clepen turbentyne, in stede of bawme; and thei putten there to a littille +bawme for to zeven gode odour. And some putten wax in oyle of the wode of +the fruyt of bawme, and seyn that it is bawme: and sume destyllen clowes of +gylofre and of spykenard of Spayne and of othere spices, that ben well +smellynge; and the lykour that gothe out there of, thei clepe it bawme: and +thei wenen, that thei han bawme; and thei have non. For the Sarazines +counterfeten it be sotyltee of craft, for to disceyven the Cristene men, as +I have sene fulle many a tyme. And after hem, the marchauntis and the +apotecaries countrefeten it eftsones, and that it is lasse worthe, and a +gret del worse. But zif it lyke zou, I schalle schewe, how zee schulle +knowe and preve, to the ende that zee schulle not ben disceyved. First zee +schulle wel knowe, that the naturelle bawme is fulle cleer, and of cytrine +colour, and stronge smellynge; and zif it be thykke, or reed or blak, it is +sophisticate, that is to seyne, contrefeted and made lyke it, for disceyt. +And undrestondethe, that zif zee wil putte a litylle bawme in the pawme of +zoure hond, azen the sonne, zif it be fyn and gode, zee ne schulle not +suffre zoure hand azenst the hete of the sonne. Also takethe a lytille +bawme, with the poynt of a knif, and touche it to the fuyr, and zif it +brenne, it is a gode signe. Aftre take also a drope of bawme, and put it in +to a dissche or in a cuppe with mylk of a goat; and zif it be naturelle +bawme, anon it wole take and beclippe the mylk. Or put a drope of bawme in +clere watre, in a cuppe of sylver or in a clere bacyn, and stere it wel +with the clere watre; and zif that the bawme be fyn and of his owne kynde, +the watre schalle nevre trouble: and zif the bawme be sophisticate, that is +to seyne countrefeted, the watre schalle become anon trouble: And also zif +the bawme be fyn, it schalle falle to the botome of the vesselle, as +thoughe it were Quyksylver: For the fyn bawme is more hevy twyes, than is +the bawme that is sophisticate and countrefeted. Now I have spoken of +Bawme: and now also I schalle speke of an other thing, that is bezonde +Babyloyne, above the flode of Nyle, toward the desert, betwene Affrik and +Egypt: that is to seyn, of the gerneres [Footnote: Granaries.] of Joseph, +that he leet make, for to kepe the greynes for the perile of the dere +zeres. And thei ben made of ston, fulle wel made of massones craft: of the +whiche two ben merveylouse grete and hye; and the tothere ne ben not so +grete. And every gerner hathe a zate, for to entre with inne, a lytille +hyghe fro the erthe. For the lond is wasted and fallen, sithe the gerneres +were made. And with inne thei ben alle fulle of serpentes. And aboven the +gerneres with outen ben many scriptures of dyverse langages. And sum men +seyn, that thei ben sepultures of grete lordes, that weren somtyme; but +that is not trewe: for alle the comoun rymour and speche is of alle the +peple there, bothe and nere, that thei ben the garneres of Joseph. And so +fynden thei in here scriptures and in here cronycles. On that other partie, +zif thei were sepultures, thei scholden not ben voyd with inne. For zee may +well knowe, that tombes and sepultures ne ben not made of suche gretnesse, +ne of such highnesse. Wherfore it is not to believe, that thei ben tombes +or sepultures. In Egypt also there ben dyyerse langages and dyverse +lettres, and of other manere condicioun, than there ben in other parties. +As I schalle devyse zou, suche as thei ben, and the names how thei clepen +hem; to suche entent, that zee mowe knowe the difference of hem and of +othere. Athoimis, Bunchi, Chinok, Durain, Eni, Fin, Gomor, Heket, Janny, +Karacta, Luzanim, Miche, Naryn, Oldache, Piloh, Quyn, Yron, Sichen, Thola, +Urmron, Yph and Yarm, Thoit. + +Now will I retourne azen, or I procede ony ferthere, for to declare zou the +othere weyes, that drawen toward Babiloyne, where the Soudan him self +duellethe, that is at the entree of Egypt; for als moche as mony folk gon +thidre first, and aftre that to the Mount Synay, and aftre retournen to +Jerusalem, as I have seyd zou here beforn. For thei fulfillen first the +more long pilgrymage, and aftre retournen azen be the nexte weyes; because +that the more nye weye is the more worthi, and that is Jerusalem. For no +other pylgrymage is not lyk, in comparsoun to it. But for to fulle fylle +here pilgrymages more esily and more sykerly, men gon first the longer +weye. But whoso wil go to Babyloyne be another weye, more schort from the +contrees of the west, that I have reherced before; or from other contrees +next fro hem; than men gon by Fraunce, be Burgoyne and be Lombardye. It +nedethe not to telle zou the names of the cytees, ne of the townes that ben +in that Weye: for the weye is comoun, and it is knowen of many naciouns. +And there ben many havenes, that men taken the see. Sume men taken the see +at Gene, some at Venyce, and passen by the see Adryatyk, that is clept the +Goulf of Venyse; that departethe [Footnote: Separates.] Ytaylle and Greece +on that syde. And some gon to Naples, some to Rome, and from Rome to +Brandys, [Footnote: Brindisi.] and there thei taken the see: and in many +othere places, where that havenes ben. And men gon be Tussye, be Champayne, +be Calabre, be Appuille, and be the hilles of Ytaylle, Chorisqe, be +Sardyne, and be Cycile, that is a gret ile and a gode. In that ile of +Cycile there ys a maner of a gardyn, in the whiche ben many dyverse frutes. +And the gardyn is alweys grene and florisshing, alle the cesouns of the +zeer, als wel in wyntre es in somer. That yle holt in compas aboute 350 +Frensche myles. And betwene Cycele and Itaylle there is not but a lytille +arm of the see, that men clepen the farde of Mescyne. And Cycile is betwene +the See Adryatyk and the See of Lombardye. And fro Cycyle in to Calabre is +but 8 myles of Lombardye. And in Cycile there is a manere of serpentes, be +the whiche men asseyen and preven, where here children ben bastardis or +none, or of lawefulle mariage. For zif thei ben born in righte mariage, the +serpentes gon aboute hem, and don hem non harm: and zif thei ben born in +Avowtrie, the serpentes byten hem and envenyme hem. And thus manye wedded +men preve, zif the children ben here owne. Also in that ile is the Mount +Ethna, that men clepen Mount Gybelle; and the Vulcanes that ben evermore +brennynge. And ther ben 7 places that brennen and that casten out dyverse +flawmes and dyverse colour. And be the chaungynge of tho flawmes, men of +that contree knowen, whanne it schalle be derthe or gode tyme, or cold or +hoot, or moyst or drye, or in alle othere maneres, how the tyme schalle be +governed. And from Itaille unto the Vulcanes nys bat 25 Myle. And men seyn, +that the Vulcanes ben weyes of Helle. + +Also whoso gothe be Pyse, zif that men list to go that weye, there is an +arm of the see, where that men gon to othere havenes in tho marches. And +that men passen be the Ile of Greaf, that is at Gene: and aftre arryvethe +men in Grece at the havene of the cytee of Myrok, or at the havene of +Valone, or at the cytee of Duras: and there is a duk at Duras, or at othere +havenes in tho marces: and so men gon to Costantynoble. And aftre gon men +be watre to the Ile of Crete, and to the Ile of Rodes, ond so to Cypre, and +so to Athens, and fro thens to Costantynoble. + +To holde the more righte weye be see, it is wel a 1880 myle of Lombardye. +And aftre fro Cipre men gon be see, and leven Jerusalem and alle the +contree on the left hond, onto Egypt, and arryven at the cytee of Damyete, +that was wont to be fulle strong, and it sytt at the entree of Egypt. And +fro Damyete gon men to the cytee of Alizandre, that sytt also upon the see. +In that cytee was seynte Kateryne beheded. And there was seynt Mark the +Evangelist martyred and buryed. But the Emperour Leoun made his bones to +ben broughte to Venyse. And zit there is at Alizandre a faire chirche, alle +white withouten peynture: and so ben alle the othere chirches, that weren +of the Cristene men, alle white with inne. For the Panemes and the +Sarrazynes madem hem white, for to fordon [Footnote: To destroy.-- +Anglo-Saxon, _for-don_.] the ymages of seyntes, that weren peynted on the +walles. That cytee of Alizandre is wel 30 furlonges in lengthe: but it is +but 10 on largenesse. And it is a full noble cytee and a fayr. At that +cytee entrethe the ryvere of Nyle in to the see; as I to zou have seyd +before. In that ryvere men fynden many precyouse stones, and meche also of +lignum aloes: and it is a manere of wode, that comethe out of Paradys +terrestre, the whiche is good for manye dyverse medicynes: and it is righte +dereworthe. And fro Alizandre men gon to Babyloyne, where the Soudan +dwellethe; that sytt also upon the ryvere of Nyle. And this wey is most +schort, for to go streyghte unto Babiloyne. + +Now schall I seye zou also the weye, that gothe fro Babiloyne to the Mount +of Synay, where Seynte Kateryne lythe. He moste passe be the desertes of +Arabye; be the whiche descries Moyses ladde the peple of Israel: and thanne +passe men be the welle, that Moyses made with his hond in the desertes, +whan the people grucched, [Footnote: Grumbled.] for thei fownden no thing +to drynke. And than passe men be the welle of Marache, of the whiche the +watre was first byttre: but the children of Israel putten there inne a +tree; and anon the watre was swete and gode for to drynke. And thanne gon +men be desart unto the Vale of Elyn; in the whiche vale be 12 welles: and +there ben 72 trees of palme, that beren the dates, the whiche Moyses fond +with the children of Israel. And fro that valeye is but a gode journeye to +the Mount of Synay. + +And whoso wil go be another weye fro Babiloyne, than men gothe be the Rede +See, that is an arm of the see occean. And there passed Moyses, with the +children of Israel, overthwart the see, alle drye, whan Pharao the Kyng of +Egypt chaced hem. And that see is wel a 6 myle of largenesse in bredthe. +And in that see was Pharao drowned and alle his hoost, that he ladde. That +see is not more reed than another see; but in some place thereof is the +gravelle reede: and therfore men clepen it the Rede See. That see reunethe +to the endes of Arabye and of Palestyne. That see lastethe more than 4 +journeyes. And then gon men be desert unto the Vale of Elyn: and fro thens +to the Mount of Synay. And zee may wel undirstonde, that be this desert, no +man may go on hors back, be cause that there nys nouther mete for hors ne +watre to drynke. And for that cause men passen that desert with camelle. +For the camaylle fynt alle wey mete in trees and on busshes, that he +fedethe him with. And he may well faste fro drynk 2 dayes or 3: and that +may non hors don. + +And wyte wel, that from Babiloyne to the Mount Synay is wel a 12 gode +journeyes: and some men maken hem more: and some men hasten hem and peynen +hem; and therefore thei maken hem lesse. And alle weys fynden men latyneres +[Footnote: Men who speak Latin.] to go with hem in the contrees, and +ferthere bezonde, in to tyme that men conne [Footnote: Know.] the langage. +And it behovethe men to here vitaille with hem, that schalle duren hem in +tho desertes, and other necessaries for to lyve by. + +And the Mount of Synay is clept the Desert of Syne, that is for to seyne +the bussche brennynge: because there Moyses sawghe oure Lord God many +tymes, in forme of fuyr brennynge upon that hille; and also in a bussche +brennynge; and spak to him. And that was at the foot of the hille. There is +an abbeye of monks, wel bylded and wel closed with zates of iren, for drede +of the wylde bestes. And the monkes ben Arrabyenes, or men of Greece: and +there is a grot covent; and alle thei ben as heremytes; and thei drynken no +wyn, but zif it be on principalle festes: and thei ben fulle devoute men, +and lyven porely and sympely, with joutes [Footnote: The original note +reads 'Gourds', but joutes are actually herbs--KTH.] and with dates: and +thei don gret absteynence and penaunce. There is the Chirche of Seynt +Kateryne, in the whiche ben manye lampes brennynge. For thei han of oyle of +olyves y now, bothe for to brenne in here lampes, and to ete also: and that +plentee have thei be the myracle of God. For the ravenes and the crowes and +the choughes, and other foules of the contree assemblen hem there every +zeer ones, and fleen thider as in pilgrymage: and eyeryche of hem bringethe +a braunche of the bayes or of olyve, in here bekes, in stede of offryng, +and leven hem there; of the whiche the monkes maken gret plentee of oyle; +and this is a gret marvaylle. And sithe that foules, that han no kyndely +wytt ne resoun, gon thidre to seche that gloriouse virgyne; wel more +oughten men than to seche hire and to worschipen hire. Also behynde the +awtier of that chirche is the place where Moyses saughe oure Lord God in a +brennynge bussche. And whanne the monkes entren in to that place, thei don +of bothe hosen and schoon or botes alweys; be cause that oure Lord seyde to +Moyses, _Do of thin hosen and thi schon: for the place that thou stondest +on is lond holy and blessed._ And the monkes clepen that place Bezeleel, +that is to seyne, the schadew of God. And besyde the highe awtiere, 3 +degrees of heighte, is the fertre [Footnote: Bier.] of alabastre, where the +bones of Seynte Kateryne lyzn. And the prelate of the monkes schewethe the +relykes to the pilgrymes. And with an instrument of sylver, he frothethe +the bones; [Footnote: Rubbeth.] and thanne ther gothe out a lytylle oyle, +as thoughe it were a maner swetynge, that is nouther lyche to oyle ne to +bawme; but it is fulle swete of smelle: And of that thei zeven a litylle to +the pilgrymes; for there gothe out but litylle quantitee of the likour. And +aftre that thei schewen the heed of Seynte Kateryne, and the clothe that +sche was wrapped inne, that is zit alle blody. And in that same clothe so y +wrapped, the aungeles beren hire body to the Mount Synay, and there thei +buryed hire with it. And thanne thei schewen the bussche, that brenned and +wasted nought, in the whiche oure Lord spak to Moyses, and othere relikes y +nowe. Also whan the prelate of the abbeye is ded, I have undirstonden, be +informacioun, that his lampe quenchethe. And whan thei chesen another +prelate, zif he be a gode man and worthi to be prelate, his lampe schal +lighte, with the grace of God, withouten touchinge of ony man. For everyche +of hem hathe a lampe be him self. And be here lampes thei knowen wel whan +ony of hem schalle dye. For whan ony schalle dye, the lyghte begynnethe to +chaunge and to wexe dym. And zif he be chosen to ben prelate, and is not +worthi, his lampe quenchethe anon. And other men han told me, that he that +syngethe the masse for the prelate that is ded, he schalle fynde upon the +awtier the name writen of him that schalle be prelate chosen. And so upon a +day I asked of the monkes, bothe on and other, how this befelle. But thei +wolde not telle me no thing, in to the tyme that I seyde, that thei scholde +not hyde the grace, that God did hem; but that thei scholde publissche it, +to make the peple to have the more devocioun; and that thei diden synne, to +hide Goddis myracle, as me seemed. For the myracles, that God hathe don, +and zit dothe every day, ben the wytnesse of his myghte and of his +merveylles; as Dayid sethe in the Psaultere; _Mirabilia testimonia tua, +Domine_: that is to seyn, _Lord, thi merveyles ben thi wytnesse_. And +thanne thei tolde me, bothe on and other, how it befelle fulle many a tyme: +but more I myghte not have of hem. In that abbeye ne entrethe not no flye +ne todes ne ewtes, ne suche foule venymouse bestes, ne lyzs ne flees, be +the myracle of God and of oure lady. For there were wont to ben many suche +manere of filthes, that the monkes werein in wille to leve the place and +the Abbeye, and weren gon fro thens, upon the mountayne aboven, for to +eschewe that place. And oure lady cam to hem, and bad hem tournen azen: and +fro this forewardes nevere entred suche filthe in that place amonges hem, +ne nevere schalle entre here aftre. Also before the zate is the welle, +where Moyses smot the ston, of the whiche the watre cam out plenteously. + +Fro that abbeye men gon up the mountayne of Moyses, be many degrees: and +there men fynden first a Chirche of oure Lady, where that sche mette the +monkes, whan thei fledden awey for the vermyn aboveseyd. And more highe +upon that mountayne is the chapelle of Helye the prophete. And that place +thei clepen Oreb, where of Holy Writt spekethe. _Et ambulavit in +fortisudine cibi illius usque ad Montem Oreb_: that is to seyne, _And he +wente in strength of that mete, unto the hille of God, Oreb_. And there +nyghe is the vyne that Seynt John the Evaungeliste planted, that men elepen +reisins, _staphis_. And a lytille aboven is the Chapelle of Moyses, and the +roche where Moyses fleghe to, for drede, when he saughe oure Lord face to +face. And in that roche is prented the forme of his body; for he smot so +strongly and so harde him self in that roche, that alle his body was dolven +with inne, thorghe the myracle of God. And there besyde is the place where +oure Lorde toke to Moyses the 10 commandementes of the lawe. And there is +the cave undre the roche, where Moyses duelte, whan he fasted 40 dayes and +40 nyghtes. And from that mountayne men passen a gret valeye, for to gon to +another mountayne, where Seynt Kateryne was buryed of the aungeles of oure +Lord. And in that valey is a chirche of 40 martyres; and there singen the +monkes of the abbeye often tyme. And that valey is right cold. And aftre +men gon up the mountayne of Seynt Kateryne, that is more highe then the +mount of Moyses. And there, where Seynt Kateryne was buryed, is nouther +chirche ne chapelle, ne other duellynge place: but there is an heep of +stones aboute the place, where the body of hire was put of the aungeles. +There was wont to ben a chapelle: but it was casten downe, and zit lyggen +the stones there. And alle be it that the collect of Seynte Kateryne seye, +that it is the place where oure Lord betaughten the Ten Comandementes to +Moyses, and there where the blessed virgyne Seynte Kateryne was buryed; +that is to undrestonde, in o contree, or in o place berynge o name. For +bothe that on and that othre is clept the Mount of Synay. But there is a +grete weye from that on to that othre, and a gret deep valeye betwene hem. + + +Of the desert bet wen e the chirche of Seynte Kateryne and Jerusalem. Of + the drie Tre; and how roses cam first in the world. + +[Sidenote: Cap. VI.] Now aftre that men had visited tho holy places, thanne +will thei turnen toward Jerusalem. And than wil thei take leve of the +monkes, and recommenden hem to here preyeres. And than thei zeven the +pilgrimes of here vitaylle, for to passe with the desertes, toward Surrye. +And tho desertes duren wel it 13 journeyes. In that desert duellyn manye of +Arrabyenes, that men clepen Bedoynes and Ascopardes. And thei ben folke +fulle of alle evylle condiciouns. And thei have none houses, but tentes; +that thei maken of skynnes of bestes, as of camaylles and of othere bestes, +that thei eten; and there benethe thei couchen hem and duellen, in place, +where thei may fynden watre, as on the Rede See or elles where For in that +desert is fulle gret defaute of watre: and often time it fallethe, that +where men fynden watre at o tyme in a place, it faylethe another tyme. And +for that skylle, thei make none habitaciouns there. Theise folk, that I +speke of, thei tylen not the lond, ne thei laboure noughte; for thei eten +no bred, but zif it be ony that dwellen nyghe a gode toun, that gon thidre +and eten bred som tyme. And thei rosten here flesche and here fische upon +the hote stones azenst the sonne. And thei ben stronge men and wel +fyghtynge. And there is so meche multytude of that folk, that thei ben +withouten nombre. And thei ne recchen of no thing, ne don not, but chacen +afere bestes, to eten hem. And thei recchen no thing of here lif: and +therefore thei dowten not the Sowdan, ne non othre prince; but thei dar wel +werre with hem, zif thei don ony thing that is grevance to hem. And thei +han often tyme werre with the Soudan; and namely, that tyme that I was with +him. And thei beren but o scheld and o spere, with outen other armes. And +thei wrappen here hedes and here necke with a gret quantytee of white +lynnen clothe. And thei ben righte felonouse and foule, and of cursed +kynde. + +And whan men passen this desert, in comynge toward Jerusalem, thei comen to +Bersabee, that was wont to ben a fulle fair town and a delytable of +Cristene men: and zit there ben summe of here chirches. In that town +dwelled Abraham the patriark, a long tyme. In that toun of Bersabee, +founded Bersabee the wife of Sire Urye, the knyghte; on the whiche Kyng +David gatt Salomon the wyse, that was king aftre David, upon the 12 +kynredes of Jerusalem, and regned 40 zeer. And fro thens gon men to the +cytee of Ebron, that is the montance [Footnote: Amount.] of a gode myle. +And it was clept somtyme the Vale of Mambree, and sumtyme it was clept the +Vale of Teres, because that Adam wepte there, an 100 zeer, for the dethe of +Abelle his sone, that Cayn slowghe. Ebron was wont to ben the princypalle +cytee of Philistyenes; and there duelleden somtyme the geauntz. And that +cytee was also Sacerdotalle, that is to seyne, seyntuarie, of the tribe of +Juda: and it was so fre, that men resceyved there alle manere of fugityfes +of other places, for here evyl dedis. In Ebron, Josue, Calephe, and here +companye comen first to aspyen, how thei myghte wynnen the lond of Beheste. +In Ebron regned first Kyng David, 7 zeer and an half: and in Jerusalem he +regnede 33 zeer and an half. And in Ebron ben alle the sepultures of the +patriarkes, Adam, Abraham, Ysaac, and of Jacob; and of here wyfes, Eve, +Sarre, and Rebekke, and of Lya: the whiche sepultures the Sarazines kepen +fulle curyously, and han the place in gret reverence, for the holy fadres, +the patriarkes, that lyzen there. And thei suffre no Cristene man entre in +to that place, but zif it be of specyalle grace of the Soudan. For thei +holden Cristen men and Jewes as dogges. And thei seyn, that thei scholde +not entre in to so holy place. And men clepen that place, where thei lyzn, +double spelunke, or double cave or double dyche; for als meche as that on +lyethe above that other. And the Sarazines clepen that place in here +langage Karicarba; that is to seyn, the place of patriarkes. And the Jewes +clepen that place Arbothe. And in that same place was Abrahames hous: and +there he satt and he saughe 3 persones, and worschipte but on; as Holy +Writt seyethe, _Tres vidit et unum adoravit_: that is to seyne, _He soughe +3, and worschiped on_: and of tho same resceyved Abraham the aungeles in to +his hous. And righte faste by that place is a cave in the roche, where Adam +and Eve duelleden, whan thei weren putt out of Paradyse; and there goten +thei here children. And in thai same place, was Adam formed and made; aftre +that that sum men seyn. For men werein wont for to clepe that place, the +feld of Damasce; because that it was in the lordschipe of Damask. And fro +thens was he translated in to paradys of delytes, as thei seyn: and aftre +that he was dryven out of Paradys, he was there left. And the same day that +he was putt in Paradys, the same day he was putt autt: for anon he synned. +There begynnethe the Vale of Ebron, that durethe nyghe to Jerusalem. There +the Aungelle commaunded Adam, that he scholde duelle with his wyf Eve: of +the whiche he gatt Sethe; of whiche tribe, that is to seyn, kynrede, Jesu +Crist was born. In that valeye is a feld, where men drawen out of the erthe +a thing, that men clepen cambylle: and thei ete it in stede of spice, and +thei bere it to selle. And men may not make the hole ne the cave, where it +is taken out of the erthe, so depe ne so wyde, but that it is, at the zeres +ende, fulle azen up to the sydes, thorgh the grace of God. + +And 2 myle from Ebron is the grave of Lothe, that was Abrahames brother. +And a lytille fro Ebron is the Mount of Mambre, of the whiche the yaleye +takethe his name. And there is a tree of oke, that the Sarazines clepen +dirpe, that is of Abrahames tyme, the whiche men clepen the drye tree. And +thei seye, that it hathe ben there sithe the beginnynge of the world; and +was sumtyme grene, and bare leves, unto the tyme that oure Lord dyede on +the cros; and thanne it dryede; and so dyden alle trees, that weren thanne +in the World. And summe seyn, be here prophecyes, that a Lord, a prynce of +the west syde of the world shalle wynnen the lond of promyssioun, that is +the Holy Lond, withe helpe of Cristene men; and he schalle do synge a masse +undir that drye tree, and than the tree schalle wexen grene and bere bothe +fruyt and leves. And thorghe that myracle manye Sarazines and Jewes schulle +be turned to Cristene feythe. And therfore thei don gret worschipe thereto, +and kepen it fulle besyly; And alle be it so, that it be drye, natheles zit +he berethe gret vertue: for certeynly he that hathe a litille there of upon +him, it helethe him of the fallynge evylle: and his hors schalle not ben a +foundred: and manye othere vertues it hathe: where fore men holden it fulle +precyous. + +From Ebron, men gon to Bethelem, in half a day: for it is but 5 myle; and +it is fulle fayre weye, be pleynes and wodes fulle deletable. + + +CAPVT. 13. + +De ciuitate Bethleem, et semita vsque in Ierusalem. + +Bethleem Ciuitas longa sed parua, firmata est vndique fossatis fortibus: +cuius modo habitatores quasi omnos sunt Christiani. In illa ad orientem +honesta, et placida habetur Ecclesia: (nescio an aliquam eiusdem +quantitatis viderim placentiorem,) extrinsecus habens turres saltaturas, +pinnacula, et propugnacula nobili artificio fabricata, et intrinsecus 44. +de marmore decoro columnas. Ad principalis autem turris dextram in descensu +16. graduum, est diuersorij locus, vbi ex intacta et benedicta Virgine +nascebatur Christus homo Deus. Hic locus est multum artificiose operatus +marmore, et generose depictus auro et argento, varioque colore, cui prope +ad tres passus est praesepe in quo reclinabatur natus Dominus, ibique +videtur puteus quidam, in quo aliqui putare volunt cecidisse stellam +ductricem trium Magorum, post eius peractum officium. + +Est etiam ante praesepe Domini, tumba beati Interpretis Hieronymi, et extra +Ecclesiam monstratur cathedra, in qua residere solebat. Sub clausura huius +ecclesiae ad dextram, per 18. gradus apparet fossa, quae dicitur ossium +innocentium causa Christi ab Herode impio occisorum. Hinc ad quingentos, +vel citra pedes habetur alia Ecclesia nomine Sancti Nicholai, in quo +scilicet loco, post recessum Magorum beata Virgo tempus sui puerperij +obseruauit. [Sidenote: Taxat simplicitatem vulgi.] Ibique monstrantur rubra +saxa albis respersa maculis, quod simpliciores narrant saxis euenisse de +abundantia lactis virginis ab vberibus eiecti. In via Bethleem ab Helya +miliario contra meridianam plagam iuxta viam quae ducit Ebron, Christiani de +Bethleem colunt circa ciuitatem multam copiam vinearum, ad potum sub +ipsorum. [Sidenote: Saraceni non bibunt vinum in manifesto.] Nam Sarraceni +non colunt vineas, nec vina vendunt neque in manifesto bibunt, eo quod +liber legis Mahomet, facit super hoc prohibitionem, et interpretatur +maledictionem. + +[Sidenote: Sanctae Charitatis.] De Bethleem in Austrum duabus leucis habetur +claustrum Sanctae Charitatis, ibidem suo tempore Abbatissae. A Bethleem +tendendo Ierusalem inuenitur ad dimidiam leucam Ecclesia, in cuius loco +Angelus dixit pastoribus, Annuncio vobis gaudium magnum, quod natus est +nobis Saluatur qui est Christus Dominus. Est et tumba Rachel Patriarchae, +vbi etiam coaceruata iacent 12. saxa magna, quae quidam autumant illic +tumulasse Iacob, eo quod Beniamin duodecimus sibi filius nascebatur ibidem. +Sicque venitur in Sanctam Ciuitatem Ierusalem. [Sidenote: Bethel] Notandum, +Bethel vicus est 12. ab Helya ad dextram euntibus Neapoli, quae primum Luza +vocabatur. Sed ex eo tempore quo ibat ad Ieroboam, filium Nebat, vituli +aurei fabricati sunt, et a decem tribubus adorata, vocata est Bethauen, id +est, Domus Idoli, quae ante vocabatur Domus Dei. Ieronymus. Sed et Ecclesia +aedificata est vbi dormiuit Iacob, pergens Mesopotamiam, vbi et ipsi loco +Bethel, id est, domus Dei nomen imposuit. + + +CAPVT. 14. + +De Ecclesia gloriosi Sepulchri Domini in vrbe Ierusalem. + +Ierusalem cum tota terra prommissionis, est quasi vna de quinque prouincijs +vel pluribus, quibus Regnum Syriae distinguitur. Iungitur autem Iudeae ad +Orientem Regno Arabiae, ad meridiem Aegypto, ad Occidentem mari mago, et ad +Aquilonem Rego Syriae. Iudeae terra per diuersa tempora a diuersis possessa +fuit nationibus, Cananaeorum, Iudaeorum, Assyriorum, Persarum, Medorum, +Macedonum, Graecorum, Romanorum, Christianorum, Sarracenorum, Barbarorum, +Turcorum, and Tartarurum. Cuius rei causa merito potest aestimari, quod non +sustinuit Deus magnos peccatores longo tempore permanere in terra sibi tam +placita, et tam sancta. + +[Sidenote: Templum Sepulchri.] Itaque perigrinus veniens in Ierusalem primo +expleat suam peregrinationem, ad reuerendum et sacrosanctum Domini nostri +Iesu Christi sepulchrum: cuius Ecclesia est in vltima ciuitatis +extremitate, ad partem aquilonarem, cum proprio sui ambitus muro ipsi +ciuitati adiuncto. Ipsa vero Ecclesia est pulchra et rotundae formae cooperta +desuper cum tegulis plumbeis, habens in Occidente turrim altam et firmam, +in pauimenti Ecclesiae medio ad figuram dimidij compassi habetur nobili +opere Latonico aedificatum paruum Tabernaculum quasi 15. pedum tam +longitudinis quam latitudinis, et altitudinis miro artificio intus extraque +compositum, ac multum diligenter diuersis coloribus ornatum. Hoc itaque in +Tabernaculo seu Capella, ad latus dextrum, continetur incomparabilis +thesaurus gloriosissimi sepulchri, habentis octo pedes longitudinis, et +quinque latitudinis. Et quoniam in toto habitaculo nulla est apertura +praeter paruum ostium, illustratur accedentibus peregrinis pluribus +lampadibus, (quarum ad minus vna coram sepulchro iugiter ardere solet) +ingressus. + +[Sidenote: Melech Mandybron Soldanus.] Sciendum, quod ante breue tempus +solebat sepulchrum esse ingressis peregrinis accessibile, ad tangendum et +osculandum, sed quia multi vel effringebant, vel conabantur sibi effringere +aliquid de petra sepulchri, iste Soldanus Melech Mahdybron fecit illud +confabricari, vt nec osculari valeat, nec adiri, sed tantummodo intueri, Et +ob illam causam in sinistro pariete in altitudine quinque pedum immurari +effracturam petrae sepulchri ad quantitatem capitis humani, quod tanquam pro +sepulchro ibi ab omnibus veneratur, tangitur, et osculatur. + +Dicitur ibi quoque communiter praefatam lampadem coram sepulchro singulis +annis in die Sanctae Parascheues, hora nona extingui, et in media nocte +Paschae sine humano studio reaccendi. [Sidenote: Mandeuillus de hoc +dubitat.] Quod (si ita est) euidens diuini beneficii miraculum est. Et +quamis id plurimi Christiani simpliciter in magno pietatis merito credant, +plerisque tamen est in suspicione. Forte talia Sarraceni custodes sepulchre +fingentes diuulgauerunt, pro augendo emolumenta tributi, quod inde +resultaret, seu oblationum quae dantur. + +Singulis autem annis in die coenae Domini in Parascheue, et in vigilia +Paschae, tribus his diebus manet Tabernaculum hoc apertum continue, et patet +omnibus Christianis gentibus accessus, alias vero non per annum sine +redditione tributi. Intra Ecclesiam, prope parietem dextrum, est Caluariae +locus, vbi crucifixus pependit Christus Dominus. [Sidenote: Tumba Godefridi +de Bollion.] Per gradus ascenditur in hunc locum, et est rupis velut albi +coloris, cum aliqua rubedine per loca commixta, habens scissuram, quam +dicunt Golgotha, in qua maior pars preciosi sanguinis Christi dicitur +influxisse: vbi et habetur altare constructum, ante quod consistunt tumbae +Godefridi de Bullion, et aliorum Regum Christianorum, qui circa annum +incarnationis Domini, 1100. debellauerunt et obtinuerunt sanctam vrbem cum +tota patria ex manibus Sarracenorum, et per hoc conquisierunt sibi magnum +nomen, vsque in finem saeculi duraturum. [Sidenote: Psal. 74. 12.] Prope +ipsius crucifixionis locum continetur literis. Graecis hoc scriptum: [Greek: +ho theos basileus haemon pro aionos eirgasato sotaerian en mesoi taes gaes]. +hoc est dicere, Deus Rex noster ante secula operatus est salutem in medio +terrae. Item directe in loco, vbi crux sancta stetit cum Christo rupi +infixa, habetur hoc exaratum in saxo rupis: [Greek: ho horais esi basis taes +piseos ton kosmon], hoc est, quod vides fundamentum est fidei mundi. + +[Sidenote: Iterum taxit ignorantiam vulge. Regina Helena Anglia.] Haud +remote ab hoc Caluariae monte, habetur et aliud altare, vbi iacet columna +flagellationis Domini, cui stant de propinque et ali coaelumnae quatuor de +Marmore aquam iugiter resundantes, et (secundum opinionem simplicium) +passionem innocentem Christie deflentes. Est sub isto altari crypta, 42. +granduum profunda, vbi sancta Helena Regina reperit tres cruces, videlicet +Christi, et latronum cum eo crucifixorum, ac etiam clauos crucis Domini in +cryptae pariete. + +In medio autem chori huius Ecciesiae, est locus pauimenti stratus mire et +pulchre, ad integram compassi figuram vbi depositum corpus Christi de cruce +Ioseph ab Aramathia cum suis adiutoribus lauit et condiuit aromatibus. Item +infra Ecclesiam a septentrionali parte ostenditur locus, vbi Christus +Magdalenae apparuit post suam resurrectionem, quando eum credidit +hortulanum. + +[Sidenote: Indorum Capella sive subditorum praesbiteri Ioannis.] A dextro +autem latere ad ingressum Ecclesiae, habentur gradus 18. sub quibus est +Capella Indorum, vbi soli peregrini de India per sacerdotes suos cantant +iuxta ritum suum Missas, celebrantque diuina. Missam faciunt quidem +breuissimam, conficientes in principio verbis debitis sacramentum corporis +et sanguinis Christi de pane et vino, ac postea paucis orationibus additis, +totum oratione Dominica concludunt officium. Hoc autem verum est, quod cum +maxima attentione, reuerentia, humilitate et deuotione se gerunt et +continent diuinis. + +[Sidenote: An Ierusalem sit in medio mundi.] Porro illud, quod quidam +peruulgauerunt, aut opinati sunt, Iudaeam aut Ierusalem, vel Ecclesiam istam +consistere in medio totius mundi, propter praedictam scripturam, (in medio +terrae) hoc intelligi non potest localiter ad mensuram corporis terrae: Nam +si ad terrae latitudinem, quam aestimant inter duos polos, respiciamus, +certum est Iudaeam non esse in medio, quod tunc esset sub circulo aequatoris, +et esset ibi semper aequinoctium, et vtrumque polorum staret iis in +horizonte. Quod vtique non est ita, quod existentibus in Iudaea eleuatur +multum polus arcticus. + +Rursus si ad terrae longitudinem spectemus, quae aestimari potest a Paradiso +terrestri, scilicet a digniori et latiori terrae loco, versus eius Nadir, +scilicet versus locum sibi in Sphaera terrae oppositum, tunc Iudaea esset ad +Antipodes paradisi, quod apparet ita non esse, quod tunc esset viatori de +Iudaea ad Paradisum tendentis aequa itineris mensura, siue tenderet versus +Orientem, siue versus Occidentem. Sed hoc non est verisimile nec verum, +sicut probatum constat per experientiam multorum. Mihi autem videtur, quod +praefata Prophetae scriptura, potest exponi, in medio terrae, id est, circa +medium nostri habitabilis, videlicet vt Iudaea sit circa medium inter +Paradisum et Antipodes Paradisi, distans tantum ab ipso Paradiso in oriente +96. gradibus, prout ego ipse per viam orientalem tentaui; quanquam de hoc +non videtur de facili plena certitudo haberi; eo quod in longitudine coeli +nullae stellae manent immobiles, sicut in latitudine manent poli semper fixi. +Vel potest ita exponi, quod Dauid qui erat Rex Iudaea, dixit in medio terrae, +hoc est, in principali ciuitate terrae suae Ierusalem, quae erat ciuitas +regalis, siue sacerdotalis terrae Iudeae: vel forte spiritus sanctus, qui +loquebatur per os prophetae in hoc verbo vult intelligi non corporeum aut +locale, sed totum spirituale, de quo intuitu nihil ad praesens est +scribendum, + + +CAPVT. 15. + +De tribus alijs Ecclesijs, et specialiter de templo Domini. + +Vltra duo stadia ab Ecclesia ad Meridiem sancti sepulchri habetur magnum +hospitale sancti Ioannis Hierosolymitani, qui caput et fundamentum esse +dignoscitur ordinis hospitaliorum modo tententium Rhodum insulam: in quo +recipi possunt omnes Christiani perigrini cuiuscunque sint conditionis, seu +status, vel dignitatis. Nam Sarraceni pro leui cura anxij rumoris, +prohibent ne apud quenquam suorum Christianus pernoctet. Ad sustentationem +aedificij huius hospitalis, habentur in eo 124. columnae marmoreae, et in +parietibus distincti 54. pilarij. Satis prope hunc locum in orientem, est +Ecclesia quae dicitur, de Domina nostra magna: et inde non remote alia, quae +dicitur nostrae Dominae latinorum, aedificata super locum, vbi Maria +Magdalene, et Maria Cleophae cum alijs pluribus, dum Christus cruci +affigebatur, flebant et dolores lamentabiles exercebant. + +Item ab Ecclesia Sancti Sepulchri in orientem ad stadium cum dimidio +habetur aedificium mirabile, ac pulchrum valde, quod templum Domini +nominatur, quod constructum est in forma rotunda, cuius circumferentiae +diameter habet 64 cubitos, et altitudo eius 126, et intrinsecus pro +sustentatione aedificij, multi pilarij. In medio autem templi est locus +altior 14. gradibus, qui et ipse columnis vndique est stipatus: et secundum +quatuor mundi plagas habet templum quatuor introitus per portas Cypressinas +artificiose compositas, nobiliterque sculptas, et excisas. Et ante portam +aquilonarem intra templum fontem aquae mundae, qui quamuis olim exundabat, +tamen nunc minime fluit. In toto circuitu aedificij extrinsecus est valde +pro atrio latum spacium loci, stratum per totum pauimentum marmoribus. Hoc +templum non ducitur stare in eodem loco vbi templum Dei stetit in tempore +Christi, quo post resurrectionem a Romanis destructo, istud longo post +tempore Adrianus Imperator extruxit, sed non ad formam templi prioris: +praedictum tamen excelsum in medio templi locum vocant Iudaei sanctum +sanctorum. + +Sciatis itaque quod Sarraceni magnam exhibent huic templo reuerentiam, et +honorem saepius illud discalceati intrantes, et positis genibus deuote Deum +omnipotentem exorantes, nulla enim ibidem habetur imago, sed multae lampades +relucentes. [Sidenote: Literae Soldani traditae Mandiuillo.] Neminem +Christianorum seu Iudaeorum ingredi sinun, templum, reputantes eos indignos +ad hoc, et nimium immundos, vnde nisi virtute literarum quas habui a +Soldano, nec ego fuissem ingressus. Ingrediens autem cum meis sodalibus +deposuimus calciamenta, recogitantes cum multa cordis deuotione, nos magis +id facere debere, quam incredulos Sarrcenos. + +Et vere merito est iste locus in magna reuerentia habendus: dum enim Rex +Salomon primum in illo templo per Dei iussionem, et Dauidis patris sui +commissionem aedificasset, exorauit praesente cuncto populo Israel, vt +quicunque illic Deum pro iusta causa rogaret audiretur; et Dominus +monstrauit exauditionis signum per nebulam de coelo emissam, prout narrat +historia veritatis 3. Regum libro. + +Porro in eo loco vbi statuerat idem Rex ante templum altare holocausti, +videlicet extra portam templi occidentalem, habetur et nunc altare, sed non +ad instar, nec ad vsum primi: Nam Saraceni, quasi nihil curantes, traxerunt +in eo lineos tanquam in astrolabio figentes in linearum centro batellum, ad +cuius vmbram per lineas discernuntur diei horae. + +Etiam in hac atrij parte apparent adhuc vestigia portae speciosae, vbi Petrus +Apostolus, cum Euangelista Ioanne dixit contracto, In nomine Christi Iesu +Nazareni surge, et statim consolidabantur illi plantae. + + +CAPVT. 16. + +De pluribus locis sacris iuxta vrbem. + +[Sidenote: Templarij a templo Salomonis dicti.] Viaturo ad dextram satis de +propinquo habetur et alia Ecclesia, quae nunc appellatur schola Salomonis: +rursusque ad Meridiem est et aliud templum siue Ecclesia, quae vocatur +Templum Salomonis, quod olim fuit caput, et fundamentum totius ordinis +Templariorum. + +[Sidenote: Regina Helena Angla.] A claustro huius templi extrinsecus in +Aquilonem habetur decora Ecclesia beatae Annae, in cuius loco creditur virgo +Maria in eiusdem matris suae vtero fuisse genita, et concepta, parentunque +illius, scilicet, Ioachim et Annae, tumba saxea monstratur in descensu +Ecclesiae, per 22. gradus, vbi et adhuc patris eius ossa putantur quiescere, +sublato inde per reginam Helenam korpore sanctae Annae, et recondito (vt +praedictum est) in Ecclesia Constantinopoli sanctae Sophiae. + +[Sidenote: Probatica piscina.] Est et intra hanc Ecclesiam probatica +piscina, vbi quondam post motionem Angeli, omnes accedentes primi, a +quocunque languore sanabantur infirmi, quae tamen nunc temporis ita neglecta +iacet, et deformata, vt videtur immunda cistrina. Habetur et ante Ecclesiam +arbor grandis, et antiqua, de qua nonnulli fabulantur, quod ad beatae Mariae +natiuitatem principium accepit, et ortum. + +[Sidenote: Mons Sion.] Mons Sion est excelsior locus in vrbe ad cuius +radicem, est castrum spectabile constructum per aliquem Soldanorum. In +montis autem cacumine videntur multae sepulturae regum Indeae, videlicet +Dauid, Salomonis, et quorundam de successoribus suis. Ad introitum montis +habetur capella, et in illa lapis monumenti quem Ioseph de Arimathea +obuoluit ad ostium sepulchri est valde magnus, et est ibidem aliqua pars +columnae flagellationis, ac pars mensae super quam Dominus vltimo caenauit cum +Apostolis, et instituit noui Testamenti sacramentum sui venerandi corporis, +et sanguinis. Sub hac capella ad aliquos gradus monstratur locus eiusdem +caenationis, videlicet caernaculi magni, et in eo vas, aquarum, in quo +Christus lauabat pedes Apostolorum: iuxta quod vas a Gamaliele, et alijs +viris timoratis primus sepultus fuit protomartyr Stephanus. + +In eo quoque loco intrauit post resurrectionem suam Dominus ianuis clausis +ad discipulos dicens pax vobis, et agens alia, quae plenius Euangelica +pandit Historia, ac tandem in die Pentecostes ijsdem spiritum sanctum in +linguis igneis misit ibidem. Ab hoc monte Sion versus ciuitatem habetur +Ecclesia dedicata sancto saluatori, in quo nunc dicuntur seruari ossa S. +Stephani supradicti, et sinistrum brachium S. Ioannis Chrisostomi, cuius +corpus vt dictum est requiescit Constantinopoli. + +Item ab hoc monte versus Austrum ab opposito plateae, est pulchra Ecclesia +nostrae Dominae, in cuius loco diu morabatur post ascensionem filij sui, +quamius pro parte eiusdem temporis in valle Iosaphat manserit: nam in ista +defungebatur, et in illo ab Apostolis honorifice sepulta fuit. [Sidenote: +Natatoria Siloe.] Itemque ab hoc monte in vico eundi versus vallem Iosaphat +inuenitur fons aquae dictus Natatoria Siloe, vbi caecus natus a Christo +missus lauabat oculos, et regressus est videns. Et dicunt quidam ibidem +sepultrum Isaiam Prophetam. + +Porro mons olim dictus Moria de quo loquitur Scriptura sacra est rupis haud +longe a supradicto templo Domini in ipsius meredie, in cuius rupis loco +excelso velut emenenti sed edito Dominus noster Iesus Christus frequenter +instruebat suos discipulos, et populos, magnaque miracula exhibebat, atque +deprehensae mulieri in adulterio omnia peccata dimittebat. [Sidenote: +Iohan. 8.] + +Ab opposito autem praedicti fontis natatorij habetur imago lapidea, rudi et +vetusto opere sculpta, deformiterque detrita, quae manus Absalon +nuncupatur, cuius ratio lib. 2. Regum monstratur. Vbi de prope vidi Arborem +Sambucum, ad quam vel citra cuius locum (vt dicitur) Iudas traditor per se +suspensus crepuit medius, et diffusa sunt viscera eius. + +Praeterea a monte Sion versus Meridiem vltra vallem ad iactum lapidis est +locus Aceldema, in quo emptus ager 30. denarijs proditionis est, Et in quo +sunt plures sepulturae peregrinorom, et vestigia cellularum, de quondam +illic commorantibus Heremitis. + + +CAPVT. 17. + +De sacris locis extra muros Ciuitatis. + +[Sidenote: Vallis Iosaphat.] Extra muros ciuitatis Ierusalem ad plagam +orientalem, est vallis Iosaphat contigua, ac si esset fossata muris ipsius +ciuitatis, et Ecclesia vbi sanctus Stephanus lapidabatur, et obdormiuit in +Domino. Hinc non longe est porta ciuitatis, quae dicitur aurea, quae nunc +semper obfirmata seruatur. Per hanc intrauit Christus sedens asino, et +adhuc ostenditur rupis seruare vestigia animalis in tribus aut pluribus sui +locis. [Sidenote: Mons Oliuarum. Torrens Cedron.] Statim vltra vallem +Iosaphat aspicitur mons Oliueti, sic dictus a pluribus, quia ibi sunt +oliuarum Arbores. In planicie huius vallis decurrit riuulus dictus torrens +Cedron, secus quem habetur pulchra, et honorificata Ecclesia sacrosanctae +sepulturae beatae, et gloriosae matris Christi: descenditur autem in Ecclesiam +per gradus 44. quod extrinsecus est vallis inculta per fluxum fortasse +torrentis, seu per alios euentus propter Antiquitatem temporis. Ibique +monstratur sepulchrum eius vacuum. Habentur iuxta sepulchrum duo altaria, +sub vno est fons Aquae quae putatur exire de vno Paradisi flumine. + +Satis prope ab hac Ecclesia ad rupem Gethsemane habetur capella, vbi +scilicet Iudaeis traditus fuit Christus a Iuda. In ipsa quoque rupe +ostendebatur mihi figura impressae manus ad digitorum extensionem, quo +artificiosius humanano studio sculpi non posset, quam referunt Christum sua +venerabili manu inclinando ad rupem efficisse dum Iudaei impuras manus ad +capiendum iniecerunt in eum. Hic ad iactum lapidis in meridie orauit +['oraiit' in source text--KTH] ad suum patrem, et pro vehementi orationis +intentione sanguineum exudauit sudorem: atque ibi non remote videtur tumba +regis Iudeae Iosaphat, a quo et vallis sibi nomen assumpsit: et credimus in +hanc vallem Christum venturum ad nouissimum, et generalissimum iudicium, +vbi (Iohele propheta testante) disceptabit de omni actione mortalium. +[Sidenote: S. Iacobi sepultura.] Ad tractum sagittae de hac tumba, est +Ecclesia vbi sanctus Iacobus maior Apostolus primo post martyrium fuit +sepultus, cuius modo sacrata ossa venerantur Compostellae in Galizia. + +Vltra vallem in supremo montes Oliueti apice discipulus cernentibus, +Dominus noster Iesus Christus eleuatis manibus ascendit in coelum, et super +eundem locum digna habetur Ecclesia, in qua eiusdem Ascensione tale +seruatur in rupe pauimenti indicium, quod sinistri pedis Christi videtur +vltimum vestigium. + +Hinc satis prope habetur et capella medio montis, vbi Christus sedens +praedicauit octo beatitudines, vbi et creditur docuisse discipulos orationem +Dominicam, scilicet, Pater noster, &c. Ab eo quoque loco non distat multum +Ecclesia beatae Maaiae Aegyptiacae, in qua et eius tumba videtur: et haud +procul inde est vicus Bethphage, vbi Christus misit ante passionis suae +tempus duos de discipulis pro asina et pullo eius. In cliuo vero huius +montis Oliueti versus ciuitatem, monstratur locus, de quo videns Dominus +Ierusalem, fleuit super illam, dicens, quod si cognouisses et tu, &c. +[Sidenote: Bethania.] Atque vltra montem in discensu eius in orientem est +villa siue castellum Bethaniae, distans quasi ad leucam ab vrbe vbi in domo +cuiusdam Symonis inuitatu Christus condonauit omnia peccata Mariae +Magdalenae. Et in ipso castello, quod erat sororis Marthae, et Mariae +rescuscitauit fratrem earum Lazarum quatriduanum mortuum. + +[Sidenote: Ierico.] De Bethania in Ierico sunt 5. leucae, quae quondam fuit +ciuitas speciosa sed iam est villa modica: ibi Diues Zacchaeus ascendit in +arborem Sycomorum, vt videret transeuntem Dominum, et restituens fraudata +quadraplum, obtinuit peccatorum remissionem omnium. + +Item de Bethania ad flumen Iordanis est iter fere octo leucarum, per +montes, ac valles deuios, et desertos. [Sidenote: Christiani Georgici.] +Porro de Bethania in orientem ad 6 leucas venitur in montem magnum, vbi +Christus expleto 40. dierum, ac noctium ieiunio temptatus est a diabolo, +fuitque in eodem loco quandoque Ecclesia, sed modo habetur ibi quasi +coenobium quorundam Christianorum, qui Georgici vocantur. Sciendum enim +est, quod vbique intra terram Saracenorum, et similiter multorum Paganorum +inueniuntur Christiani dispersi, habitantes sub tributo, qui licet sint +baptizati omnes, et beatissimam Trinitatem credentes, diuersificantur tamen +nominibus, moribus, ritibus, fide, et opinionibus: ita vt semper vel in +multis vel in aliquibus dissentiant a Romanae Ecclesiae consuetudinibus. + +[Sidenote: Iacobitae. Syrij. Georgica. Cordelarij. Indi. Nubij. Nestorini. +Arriani.] Aliqui namque eorum dicuntur Christiani Iacobitae: hij errant +circa peccatorum remissionem, dicentes, non debere confiteri homini sed +soli Deo. Alij Syrij, Isti in fermentato pane conficiunt Sacramentum +altaris ritu Graecorum. Alij Indi, Nubij, Nestorini, et Arriani. Praefatus +autem mons magnus, vocatur hortus Abrahae, ex eo quod Abraham patriarcha ibi +dicitur commoratus, et currit prope montem riuulus, in cuius aqua vel fonte +Deus sal per Helizeum prophetam mitti iussit, vt sanaretur sterilitas, id +est, amaritudo aquae. Nec distat hic mons a Ierico vltra grandem leucam. + + +CAPVT. 18. + +De notabilibus alijs locis, et mari mortuo. + +Rursum de ciuitate sanctae Ierusalem versus Occidentem itinere leucae, +habetur pulchra satis Ecclesia, in loco vbi dicitur creuisse arbor crucis +salutiferae. Arbor excelsa, digno stipite sacra Christi membra tangere. +[Sidenote: Nota.] Tenetur istud quidem pro certa veritate: nam et hoc satis +testatur constructio tantae, et talis Ecclesiae, quamuis multa aliena, et +incerta scripta de crucis arbore ferantur per orbem. Hinc ad duas leucas +est et alia Ecclesia, vbi obuiauerunt sibi Maria virgo, et Elizabeth eius +cognata, et ad saluationem Mariae Christi baiulae exultauit Iohannes in vtero +Elisabeth grauidae. + +[Sidenote: Emaus Castellum.] De isto quoque ad leucam est Emaus castellum, +distans in spacio stadiorum 60. ab Ierusalem, vbi discipuli in coena die +resurrectionis Domini cognouerant eum in fractione panis. [Sidenote: +Cosdrus Imperator.] Porro ab Ierusalem ad alium exitum, ad duo stadia +videtur spelunca grandis de qua dicitur quod tempore Cosdri Imperatoris +Persarum, fuerunt circa Ierusalem 12. mille martyrum occissi, quorum, +omnium corpora leo habitans in spelunca congregauit ibidem voluntate +diuina, tanquam pro singulorum sepultura obsequiosa. + +[Sidenote: Mons Exultationis.] Item ab vrbi ad leucas duas habetur in monte +tumba sepulturae sancti Samuelis prophetae, qui mons nunc vocatur +exultationis vel laeticiae, eo quod peregrinis ab illa parte intrantibus +reddit primum sanctae ciuitatis aspectum. Ab oppido autem Ierico in 30. +stadiorum spacio venitur ad Iordauis fluuij locum, vbi beatus Iohannes +Baptista Christum sacri baptismatis merebatur tingere lymphis. Et in cuius +reuerendi mysterij venerationem habetur ad dimidiam leucam a fluuio +aedificium honestae Ecclesiae consecratum in nomine eiusdem venerabilis +baptistae ministri. Ab hac Ecclesia de prope vidi domum de qua patiebar mihi +narrari, quod in eodem loco olim fuerit Ieremiae sancti habitatio prophetae. + +[Sidenote: Iordanis descriptio.] Notandum est. Iordanis fluuius quamuis +grandis non sit, bonorum tamen piscium copiam nutrit, ortum accipiens sub +monte Libanon ex duobus fontibus, scilicet Ior, et Dan, quae nomina simul +mixta nomen Iordanis efficiunt. Decurrit autem per quendam locum dictum +Maron, ac secus stagnum quod diciter Mare Tyberiadis, ac subter montes +Gylboe per amoenissima loca, atque in subterraneis meatibus per longum +spacium se occultans tandem exit in planitie, quae dicitur Meldam, id est, +forum, quod certis temporibus ibi Nundinae exercentur, et ad extremum se +iactat in mare mortuum. + + +[Sidenote: Mare mortuum.] Hoc stagnum quod vocatur mare mortuum habet +longitudinis 600. fere stadia, et latitudinis 150. et appropinquat aliqua +pars huius maris ad quatuor leucas prope Ierico, videlicet ad latus +camporum Engadi, ex quibus (vt supra dictum est) eradicatae fuerunt abores +Balsami, quae modo sunt in agro Cayr AEgypti. [Sidenote: Nota.] Istud mare +dicitur mortuum. + +[Sidenote: Cur mare mortuum dicatur.] Primo quidem quod non viuide currit, +sed est quasi lacus. + +Secundo quod amara est eius aqua, et foetidum reddit odorem. Tertio quod +propter eius amaritudinem terra adiacens littori nil viride profert. + +Quarto (prout dicitur) si cadat in ea bestia, vel aliud quid viuens, vix +poterit plene mori siue submergi in octo diebus, nec nutrit in se pisces +aut quid simile. + +Littora quoque sua variant quam saepe colorem, et sine vlla agitatione +ventorum eijcit in quibusdam locis se aqua, extra proprios terminos. Per +huiusmodi aquam dicitur Deus pro indicibili vitio Pentapolim submersisse, +Sodomam, Gomorram, Adamam, Seboim, et Segor. + +Quidam vocant hoc mare lacum Asphaltidis, alij fluuium Daemonum, aut flumen +Putre. Quod autem olim propheta interpretans dixit, montes Gilboe, nec ros +nec pluuia veniat super vos, magis spiritualiter quam literaliter videtur +intelligendum. [Sidenote: Nota.] Nam ibi crescunt altissimi cedri, et +arbores poma ferentes, ad capitis quantitatem humani, ex quibus valde +saporosus fit potus. + +Mare istud mortuum determinat fines terrae promissionis, et Arabiae. Ideoque +vltra ipsum mare condidit quondam, vnus successorum Godfridi de Bollion +forte et spectabile castrum, ponens illic copiosam Christianorum militiam +ad terram promissionis custodiendum. Nunc vero, temporis, est Soldani, et +appellatur Caruth, id est mons Regalis. Sub hoc monte est villa dicta +Sobal: habitat in illis partibus magna Christianorum multitudo. + + +CAPVT. 19. + +De Nazareth, et Samaria. + +Nazareth in prouincia Galileae in qua nutritus, et de qua cognominatus est +Dominus vniuersorum, distans ab Hierosolymis ad tres circiter dietas, erat +quondam ciuitas, quae nunc est dispersa, et rara domorum, quod vix villae +sibi competit nomen: et in loco Annunciationis, vbi Angelus ad Mariam +dixit, Aue gratia plena, Dominus tecum, habebatur olim bona Ecclesia, pro +qua paruum Saraceni restituerunt habitaculum, in colligendas peregrinorum +offerendas. + +A Nazareth redeundo per terrain Galileae, transitur per Ramathaym Sophim, +vbi nascebatur fidelis Samuel propheta Domini, et per Sylo, vbi locus +orationis erat antequam in Ierusalem: et per Sichem magnae vbertatis vallem, +itur in prouinciam Samariae, vbi habetur et bona ciuitas nunc dicta +Neapolts, distans, a sancta vrbe spacio solius dietae, ac per fontem Iacob, +super quem Iesus fatigatus ab itinere colloquebatur Samaritonae, vbi et +apparet ruina destructae Ecciesiae quondam illic habitae. Et est ibi villa +adhuc vocata Sychem, et in eo est mausoleum Ioseph patriarchae filij Iacob: +ad cuius ossa visitanda sub deuotione non minus peregrini Iudaei adueniunt, +quam Christiani. + +[Sidenote: Samaria nunc Sebaste.] Hinc satis prope est mons Garizin cum +vetusto templo orationis Samaritanorum: ex tunc intratur Samaria quae modo +appellatur Sebaste, et est illius principalis ciuitas pronunciae. In qua +fuit primum terrae mandatum corpus beati Ioannis Baptistae inter sacra +corpora Helizaei, et Abdiae Prophetarum, vt quorum assimilibatur virtutibus +in vita, corporibus iungeretur in sepultura. Haec quoque distat ab +Hierosolymis: fortassis a dietas. + +[Sidenote: Nota.] Habetur et alius puteus aut fons intra illa montana, quem +plerique similiter fontem Iacob appellant, cuius aqua secundum quatuor anni +tempora variatur a suo colore, vt sit quandoque clara, quandoque turbida, +nunc viridis, et nunc rubra. [Sidenote: Ogerus Dux Danus.] Certum est autem +tempore Apostolorum cum Samaria recepisset verbum Dei, illos fuisse +conuersos, et baptizatos, in nomine Domini Iesu, et tamen postea per +quendam Caliphorum peruersos, Ogerus dux Danorum per Templariorum virtutem +rursum subiugauit Christianitati: sicque post plures euentus, et +variationes, illi qui nunc sunt Samaritae, finxerunt sibi haeresim propriam, +et ritum ab omnibus nationibus singularem. + +[Sidenote: Tegumenti capitis differentia.] Fatentur autem se credere in +Deum, qui cuncta creauit: recipiuntque pentateucum scripturae, cum Psalterio +Dauidis, acerrime contendentes, se solos dilectissimos Dei filios qui etiam +pro nobili differentia inuoluunt capita linteo rubeo, Saraceni autem albo, +Indi croceo, et Christiani ibi manentes Indico, hoc est, aereo, seu +hiacynthino. + +Porro a Nazareth quatuor leucis, est ciuitas olim dicta Naym, in 2. milario +Thahor montis contra Meridiem iuxta Endor. Ieronimus. Ante cuius portam +resuscitauit Christus defunctum filium vnicum matris suae, praesentibus +duabus turmis hominum copiosorum. Hinc quoque ad leucas duas, est ciuitas +Israel, vbi olim morabatur pessima regina Iezabel, quam Dei iudicio equorum +vngulis conculcatam, canes fere vsque ad caluariam comederunt. + + +CAPVT. 20. + +De territorio Gallileae, et Samariae, et de villa Sardenay. + +Item a Nazareth ad leucae dimidum, monstrantur in rupe vestigia pedum, quae +dicuntur esse Domini nostri Iesu Christi vbi de manibus Iudaeorum, ipsum de +alta rupe praecipitare volentium desiluit in istam. De quo saltu quidam +intelligunt illud scriptum Euangelicum, Iesus autem transiens per medium +illorum ibat. + +Ad quatuor autem leucas de Nazareth, est Cana Galileae, vbi Christus ad +vrbanas matris preces, mutauit vndam in vinum optimum. + +[Sidenote: Mons Thabor.] Ad distantiam quatuor leucarum a Nazareth, venitur +in Thabor, montem spectabilem, vbi transfigurabatur Christus, coram +quibusdam suis Apostolis, apparentibus ibidem, Mose, et Helia, prophetis, +voceque dilapsa a magnifica Patris gloria, et videbatur Petro bonum ibi +esse: quondam in hoc monte habebatur ciuitas, cum pluribus Ecclesijs; +quarum nunc sola restant vestigia, excepto quod ille locus +transfigurationis est inhabitatus, qui est Schola Dei nominatus. [Sidenote: +Obserueretur.] Notandum. Thabor est in medio Galileae, campus mira +iucunditate sublimis, distans a Diotesaria 3. milliaribus contra Orientem. + +Item de Nazareth in tres leucas est villa, seu castrum Zaffara, de quo +recolo me supradixisse capite 4. Et inde venitur in Mare Galileae, quod +quamuis dicatur mare, est lacus aquae dulcis longus. + +[Sidenote: Mare Tyberiadis.] Vltra centum 60. forsitan stadia est lacus, +bonorum piscium ferax et vber, qui etiam in alio loco sui vocatur mare +Tyberiadis, et in alia mare Genezareth, varians sibi nomen, secundum +ciuitas, et terras, propinquas. Circa hoc mare Christus frequenter, et +libenter ambulasse videtur: hic vocauit ad sui discipulatum, Petrum, et +Andream, Iacobum, et Ioannem: hic super vndam siccis ambulabat vestigijs, +et praecipitem Petrum filium tentantem, verbo increpationis releuat ne +mergatur, hic denique rediuiuus a morte repleuit discipulorum rete magnis +piscibus 153. + +Item in ciuitate Tiberiade, quae est prope hoc mare habetur in veneratione +mensa illius coenae, quam in Emaus castello Christus caenauit, cum ab oculis +commensalium euanuit. Hic de prope monstratur mons ille fertilis, mons ille +pinguis, in quo de paucis panibus, et de paucioribus piscibus iussu Christi +fuerunt saturati, quinque millia hominum. + +Ad initium autem praedicti maris iuxta villam Capernaum habetur fortius +castrum totius terrae promissionis, in quo dicitur nata fuisse sancta Anna +mater virginis Mariae. + +[Sidenote: Damascus.] Praedictis itaque Christi vestigijs, et terrae sanctae +locis a peregrino cum deuotione cordis et reuerentia debita visitatis, si +desiderat reuerti, posit illud facere per Damascum; quae est ciuitas longa, +nobilis, et grandis, ac plena omnium rerum mercimonijs, cum tamen distat a +portu maris tribus plene dietis, per quod spacium itineris, cuncta +traijciuntur a suis equis, Dromedarijs, et Camelis: et putatur a plerisque +narrantibus fundata in loco vbi Cain protoplaustorum filius Abel fratrem +suum occidit. + +A Damasco de propinquo est mons Seyr, ciuitas grandis firmata duplicibus +muris ac populosa nimis, in qua sunt multi in arte Physica famosi professi. +Item a Damasco haud remote distat castrum satis munitum, et firmum, quod +Derces est nominatum. Habent autem in illis, et vlterioribus partibus hunc +vsum: si quando castrum ab hostibus fuerit sic obsessum, quod Dominus eius +non possit emittere nuncium amico suo remote moranti, recipit columbam olim +in castro, vel domo amici natam, vel educatam, quam hic sibi per certam +prouisionem allatam detinuit incaueatam, et scriptas quas vult literas +alligans collo columbae, dimittit liberam volare, quae protinus festinat ad +focum propriae natiuitatis. Sicque videtur cognosci in illo castro quid +agatur in isto. + +[Sidenote: Villa Sardenay.] Caeterum peregrinus a Damasco reuertendo, in +quinque leucis venit Sardenay, quae est villa in alta rupe, cum multis +Ecclesijs religiosorum Monachorum, et sanctarum monialium fidei Christianae. +In quarum vna coram maiori altari in tabula lignea erat olim imago +beatissimae virginis Mariae non sculpta sed depicta in plano spacio. Ex hoc +reditur per valles Bokar fertiles et pro pascendis pecorum gregibus +exuberantes: et intratur in montana vbi copiositas est fontium qui effluunt +impetu de Libano. Ibique decurrit fluuius Sabbatayr, sic dictus quod diebus +Sabbatis euidenter rapidius transit, quam alijs sex diebus. + +Peruenitur hinc ad satis altum montem, prope Tripolim ciuitatem, in qua ad +praesens plures Christiani Catholicae fidei habitant iugo infidelium nimis +oppressi. [Sidenote: Sur, vel Tyrus.] Ex hoc loco sibi deliberet +peregrinus, quem sibi maris portum accipiat ad repatriandum, videlicet +Beruth, an Sur vel Tyrum. + +Postremo sciendum, quod terra promissionis in totali longitudine sui a Dan +qui est sub Libano vsque ad Berseba in Austrum continet circiter centum, et +80. leucas Lombardicas, et ab Hierico in totali latitudine circiter 60. +Notandum, Dan est viculus in quarto a Pennea de Miliario euntibus, contra +Septentrionem: vsque hodie sic vocatur terminus Iudeae, contra Septentrionem +est etiam et fons Ior, de quo et Iordanis fluuius erumpens alterum sortitus +nomen Ior. Termini Iudeae terrae a Bersabe incipiunt vsque ad Dan, qui vsque +Peneaden terminatur, Ieronimus. + + +CAPVT. 21. + +De secta detestabili Saracenorum et eorum fide. + +[Sidenote: Diligentia Mandevillu.] Iam restat vt de secta Saracenorum +aliquid scribam vel compendiose, secundum quod cum ijs frequenter, +colloquendo audiui, et liber Mahometi, quem Alcaron, vel Mesahaf, vel Harme +vocant, ijs praecipit, sicut illum saepe inspexi, et studiose perlegi. + +[Sidenote: Fides Saracenorum.] Credunt itaque Saraceni in Deum creatorem +coeli et terrae, qui fecit omnia in ijs contenta, et sine quo nihil est +factum. Et expectant diem nouissimum iudicij, in quo mali cum corpore et +anima descensuri sunt in infernum perpetuo cruciandi, et boni equidem cum +anima et corpore intraturi Paradisum foelicitatis aeternae. Et haec quidem +fides poene inest omnium mortalium nationibus, lingua et ratione vtentibus. +Verumtamen de qualitate Paradisi est magna diuersitas inter credentes. + +Nam et Saraceni et Pagani, et omnes sectae praeter Iudaeos et baptizatos +Christianos sentiunt bonorum Paradisum fore terrestrem illum de quo fuit +expulsus Adam propter inobedientiam protoplaustus: qui (vt putant) fluit, +vel tunct fluet pluribus riuis lactis et mellis, et vbi in domibus et +mansionibus nobiliter iuxta meritum vniuscuiusque aedificatur auro, et +argento et gemmis, perfruentur omnibus corporalibus delicijs, in +oblectatione animae aeternaliter sine fine. Ille ergo qui fide sanctae +Trinitatis carent, et Christum qui est vera lux ignorant, in tenebris +ambulant. Iudaei vero et omnes baptizati recte sentiunt Paradisum coelestem +et spiritualem, vbi quilibet secundum meritum Diuinitati vnietur, per +cognitionem, et amorem. Attamen Iudaei quod contra Scripturas suas sanctae +Trinitati contradicunt, et Christo obloquuntur, qui est vera via, nesciunt +quo vadunt. De baptizatis autem, qui firmiter fidem Catholicam in +humilitate cordis sub Ecclesiae praeceptis seruauerunt, hi soli filij sunt +lucis, et in via veniendi ad coelestem Paradisum quem Christus verbo +praedicauit, et ad quem corpore et anima, videntibus discipulis, de facto +conscendit. + +Credunt etiam Saraceni, omnia esse vera, quae Deus ore prophetarum est +locutus, sed in diuersitate, quia nesciunt specificari, imo specificanti +contradicerent defacili, vel negarent. Inter omnes prophetas ponunt quatuor +excellentiores, quorum supremum et excellentissimum fatentur Iesum Mariae +Virginis filium, quem et asserunt, sermonem, vel loquelam, vel spiritum +Dei, et pronunciatorem sententiarum Dei, in iudicio generali futuro, et +missum a Deo ad Christianos docendos. + +Secundo loco Abrahamum dicunt fuisse verum Dei cultorem, et amicum. + +Tertium dant Mosi locum tanquam prolocutori Dei Misso specialiter, ad +instruendos Iudaeos. + +Quartum volant esse Mahomet, sanctum, et verum Dei nuncium ad seipsos +missum, cum lege diuina in dicto libro plene contenta. Tenent itaque +indubitate, quod beata Maria Iesum peperit, et concepit virgo manens +intacta, ac libenter loqui audiunt de incarnatione in ipsa facta per +annunciationem Gabrielis Archangeli. Nam et Alcharon eorum dicit, ad +salutationem Angeli virginem expauisse, quod tunc erat in partibus Galileae +incantator, Turquis nomine, qui per susceptam sibi formam Angeli plures +virgines deflorauerat, et beatam Virginem conuenisse Angelum, an esset +Turquis. Refert quoque eam peperisse sub palma Arbore, vbi habebatur +praesepe bouis, et asinae, et illic prae confusione puerperij, et verecundia +ac dolore, fuisse in proximo desperatam, et infantulum in consolationem +matris dixisse, mater ne timeas, Deus in te effudit secreta ad saluationem +Mundi. Haec et his similia multa ibi scribuntur figmenta, et isti plura +inter se narrando componunt, quae hoc loco ventilanda non sunt. + +Et dicit liber Iesum sanctissimum omnium Prophetarum fuisse veracem in +dictis et factis, benignum, pium, iustum, et ab omni vitio penitus alienum: +Sanctum quoque Ioannem Euangelistam post praedictos Prophetas fuisse alijs +Sanctiorem, cuius et Euangelium fatentur esse plenum salutari, ac veraci +doctrina, et ipsum Sanctum Ioannem illuminasse caecos, leprosos mundasse, +suscitasse mortuos, et in coelum volasse viuentem. Erat enim (prout dicit) +plus quam Propheta, et absque omni peccato, contradicente eodem de seipso, +si dixerimus quod peccatum non habemus, veritas in nobis non est: vnde et +si quando Sarraceni tenent scriptum Euangelij Sancti Ioannis, aut illud +beati Lucae, missus est Angelus Gabriel, eleuant ambabus manibus pro +reuerentia super caput et super oculos id ponentes, et osculantur quam saepe +cum summa deuotione. Nonnulli etiam eorum in Graeco, aut Latino literati +consueuerunt cum deuotione cordis id lectitare. + +Idem liber dicit Iudaeos perfidos fuisse, quod Iesu eis primum misso a Deo, +et multa miracula facienti credere noluerunt, quodque per ipsum tota gens +Iudaeorum fuit digne decepta, et merito illusa hoc modo. Iesus in hora dum +Iudas eum pro signo traditionis osculabatur, posuit per Metamorphosin +figuram suam, in ipsum Iudam, sicque Iudaei in ambiguo lumine nocturni +temporis, pro Iesu Iudam capientes, ligantes, trahentes, deridentes, in +fine crucifixerunt, putantes se omnia facere Iesu, qui protinus capto et +ligato Iuda, viuus ascendit in caeelum, descensurus iterum viuus ad iudicium +in die finali. + +Et addit, Iudaeos falsissime vsque hodie nos Christianos suo mendacio +decipere, quo dicunt se Iesu crucifixisse quem non tetegerunt. Hinc errorem +tenent Sarraceni obstinati: et quoddam argumentum inire conantur. Nam si +Deus (aiunt) permisisset Iesum, innocentem, et iustum ita miserabiliter +occidi, censuram suae summae iustitiae minuisset. [Sidenote: Conuersio +Saracenorum non desperanda.] Sed cum ipsi, vt supradictum est, in tenebris +ambulant, idcirco ignorantes Dei iustitiam, statuere volunt iustitiam, imo +iniustitiam quam fabricant in corde suo, quia nos de cruce Christi scriptum +nouimus, benedictum est lignum per quod fit iustitia. Isti tamen quod in +aliquibus appropinquant verae fidei, multi quandoque eorum inuenti sunt +conuersi, et plures adhuc de facili conuerterentur, si haberunt +praedicatores, sincere eis verbum tractantes, quippe cum iam fateantur legum +Mahometi quandoque defecturam, sicut nunc perijt lex Iudaeorum, et legem +Christianorum vsque in finem seculi permansuram. + + +CAPVT 22. + +De vita, et nomine Mahometi. + +Promisi in superioribus aliquid narrare de vita Mahometi legislatoris +Sarracenorum, prout vidi in scriptis, vel audiui in partibus illis. Itaque +Macho, siue Machon, vtrum in secunda syllaba scribatur N, litera, vel non +idem refert: et si tertia syllaba addatur, et dicatur Machomet, vel etiam +quarta, Machometus, nihil differt, quod semper idem nomen representat. Ipsi +tamen illum saepius nominant Machon. Putatur autem istum Mahomet habuisse +generationis ortum de Ismael Abrahae filio naturali de concubina Agar, vnde +et vsque hodie quidam Sarracenorum dicuntur Ismaelitae, alij Agareni: sed et +quidam Moabitae, et Ammonitae, a duobus Loth filijs Moab et Amon, genitis per +incestum de proprijs filiabus. + +[Sidenote: Tempus Natiuitatis Mahometi.] Hic vero Machon, circa annum +incarnationis Domini sexcentissimum natus, in Arabia pauper erat gratis +pascens camelos, et interdum sequens Mercatores in Aegyptum fordellos +illorum proprio collo deferens pro mercede. Et quoniam tunc temporis tota +Aegyptus erat Christianae fidei, didicit aliquid de fide nostra, quod +diuertere solebat ad cellulam Heremitae commorantis in deserto. [Sidenote: +Fabulae Saracenorum.] Et quodammodo fabulantur Sarraceni, quod illo +quandoque ingrediente cellulam, cellulae ostium mutatum in ianuam valde +patentem, velut ante palatium, et gloriantur hoc primum miraculum. Qui ex +tunc conquerendo sibi pecunias, et discendo seculi actus diues est +effectus, et prudens ab omnibus reputatus, in tantum, vt postmodum in terrae +gubernatorem Corrozaen, (quae est vna prouinciarum regni Arabiae) assumeretur, +ac de inde defuncto principe Codige per coniugium illius relictae in eiusdem +prouinciae principem eleuaretur. Erat autem satis formosus, et valens, et +vltra modum in verbis et factis maturus, et principalis, et satis +diligebatur a suis, magis tamen metuebatur, et erat epilepticus, nemine +tamen sciente. Sed tandem ab vxore comperto contristabatur, se tali morbido +nuptam, qui versutus fefellit, et consolabatur moestam figmento mendacij +excogitati, dicens sanctum Dei Archangelum Gabrielem ad colloquendum et +inspirandum sibi, quaedam arcana et diuina interdum venire, et pro virtute +aut claritate veniente se subito cadere et iacere ad intendendum +inspirationem. + + +[Sidenote: Incrementum authoritatis Mahometi.] Post hoc autem, mortuo etiam +Rege Arabiae, tanta egit per simulationem sanctitatis, per donorum +effusionem, et copiam promissionum, quod electus est et assumptus, in +totias Arabiae Regem. + +[Sidenote: Tempus promulgationis Alcharani.] Confirmato igitur Mahometo in +regnationis suae maiestate suprema, transactis a conceptione Domini nostri +Iesu Christi annis solaribus 612. in die Iouis feria quinta Hebdomadae +promulgauit praefatum detestandae legis suae librum, plenum perfidiae et +erroris, et a subditis tempore vitae suae seruari coegit, qui et vsque hodie +in tanto aeuo, et tot populis non sine iusto Dei iudicio colitur et +seruatur, quamuis miserabile, et miserandum videtur, quod tot animae in illo +perduntur. Erat quoque tempore regni eius et alius Heremita in deserto +Arabiae, quem etiam quasi pro deuotione frequentare solebat, ducens secum +aliquos de principibus et famlia. Super quo plures eorum attediati +tractabant occidere Heremitan. [Sidenote: Occasio vina, interdicendi +Sarracenis.] Accedit tandem vna noctium, vt rex Heremitam et seipsum +inebriaret, et inter loquendum ambo consopiti dormirent. Et ecce habita +occasione comites gladio de latere Regis clam extracto Heremitam +interfecerunt, iterum clam condentes cruentum gladium in vagina: ac ille +euigilans virum videns occisum, magno furore succensus imposuit familiae +factum, volens omnes per iustitiam condemnari ad mortem. Cumque coram +iudicibus et sapientibus ageretur, hi omnes pari concordia, simili voce, et +vno ore testabantur tam diuisim quam coniunctim, Regem in ebrietate sua +hominem occidisse, quamuis fortassis esset facti oblitus. Et in plenariam +rei probationem, dixerunt ipsum reposuisse mucronem in loculo nudum +intersum, sed calido cruore madentem. Quo ita inuento, ac tantis rex +obrutus testificationibus nimium erubuit, plene obmutuit, et confusus +recessit. Et ob hoc omnibus diebus suis vina bibere renunciauit: et in lege +sua a cunctis bibi vetuit, ac vniuersis bibentibus, colentibus, et +vendentibus maledixit. Cuius maledictio couertatur in caput eius, et in +verticem ipsius iniquitas eius descendat, cum de vino scriptum constet, +quod Deum et homines laetificet. [Sidenote: Potus Sarracenorum.] Igitur de +eo Sarraceni in sua superstitione deuoti vinum non bibunt, quanquam plures +eorum quod timent in publico non verentur in secreto. + +Est autem communis potus eorum dulcis, delectabilis, et nutritiuus de +Casaniel confectus, de qua et Saccarum fieri solet. + +[Sidenote: Alias Mecca.] Mahometus iste post mortem suam pessimam (mors +enim peccatorum pessima) conditus fuit honorifice in capsa, ditissimo auro, +et argento, et saxis perornata in vna ciuitate regni sui Arabiae, vbi et pro +sancto, et vero Dei nuncio incepit deuote coli a suis per annos ducentos +sexaginta, atque ex tunc circa annum Domini nongentissimum cum veneratione +multa cadauer eius translatum est, in digniorem ciuitatem dictam Merchuel +Iachrib, vbi iam longe lateque pro maximo sanctorum, a cordibus a diabolica +fraude deceptis colitur, requiritur et adoratur. + +[Sidenote: Oregus a Templarijs proditus.] In ipsius translatione ipsa +ciuitas restaurabatur, et firmabatur multo honorificentius, et fortius +destructione sua, quae per Carolum magnum Regem Franciae antea fuit plene +annihilata, dum Ogerus dux Danorum praefatus in ea tenebatur captiuus, quem +Templarij ad filios Brehir Regis Sarracenorum cum traditione vendiderant, +eo quod ipse Ogerus dictum Brehir in proelio occiderat, iuxta Lugdunum +Franciae ciuitatem. Et si quando nationis alterius quis ad legem conuertitur +Sarracenorum, dum a flamine eorum recipiendus est, dicit et facit eum Dei +nuncium, et repetit sic: Laellech ella alla Mahomet zoyzel alla heth: quod +valet tantum: Non est Deus nisi vnus, et Mahomet fuit eius nuncius. + + +CAPVT. 23. + +De colloquio Authoris cum Soldano. + +Finaliter Sarraceni ponunt Iudaeos malos, eo quod legem Dei violauerunt sibi +missam, et commissam per Mosem. Et a simili probant Christianos malos, quod +non seruant legem Euangelij Christi, quam seruandam susceperint. [Sidenote: +Error eorum qui putant vnumquemque in sua religione posse beari.] Inest +enim ijs falsa persuasio ita vt putent vnumquemque in ea qua natus est +secta posse beari, si susceptam seruauerit illibate: ideoque probant ab +opposito se esse bonos, quia, sicut dicunt, obseruant scripta legis +praecepta et ceremonias sancti libri sui a Deo sibi transmissi per beatum +nuncium suum Mahomet. Vnde et ego non tacebo quid mihi contigit. + +Dominus Soldanus quodam die in castro, expulsis omnibus de camera sua, me +solum retinuit secum tanquam pro secreto habendo colloquio. [Sidenote: +Colloquium Soldani cum Mandeuillo.] Consuetum enim est ijs eijcere omnes +tempore secretorum: qui diligenter a me interrogauit qualis esset +gubernatio vitae in terra nostra, breuiter respondebam, bona, per Dei +gratiam, qui recepto hoc verbo dixit ita non esse. [Sidenote: Reprehensio +Sacerdotum.] Sacerdotes (inquit) vestri, qui seipsos exhibere deberent +alijs in exemplum, in malis iacent actibus, parum curant de Templi +seruitio: habitu et studijs se conformant mundo: se inebriant vino, +continentiam infringentes, cum fraude negotiantes, ac praua principibus +consilia ingerentes. [Sidenote: Reprehensio vulgi iustissima.] Communis +quoque populus, dum festus diebus intendere deberent deuotioni in templo, +currit in hortis, in spectaculis, in tabernis vsque ad crapulam, et +ebrietatem, et pinguia manducans et bibens, ac in bestiarum morem, luxuriam +prauam exercens. [Sidenote: Vestimentorum varietas reprehensa.] In vsura, +dolo, rapina, furto, detractione, mendacio et periurio viuunt plures eorum +euidenter, ac si qui talia non agant, vt fatui reputantur, et pro nimia +cordis superbia nesciunt ad libitum excogitare, qualiter se velint habere, +mutando sibi indumenta, nunc longa, nunc curta nimis, quandoque ampla, +quandoque stricta vltra modum, vt in his singulis appareant derisi potius +quam vestiti: pileos quoque, calceos, caligas, corrigias sibi fabricante +exquisitas, cum etiam e contra deberent secundum Christi sui doctrinam +simplices, Deo deuoti, humiles, veraces, inuicem diligentes, inuicem +concordantes, et inluriam de facili remittentes. Scimus etiam eos propter +peccata sua perdidisse hanc terram optimam quam tenemus, nec timemus eam +amittere, quamdiu se taliter gubernant. Attamen non dubitamus, quin in +futurum per meliorem vitae conuersationem merebuntur de nostris eam manibus +recuperare. + +Ad hoc ego vltra confusus et stupefactus, nequiui inuenire responsum; +verebar enim obloqui veritati, quamuis ab Infidelis ore prolatae, et vultu +prae rubore demisso percunctatus sum, Domine, salua reuerentia, qualiter +potestis ita plene hoc noscere? De hominibus (ait) meis interdum mitto ad +modum Mercatorum per terras, et regiones Christianorum, cum Balsamo, +gemmis, sericis, ac aromatibus, ac per illos singula exploro, tam de statu +Imperatoris, ac Pontificum, Principum, ac Sacerdotum, quam Praelatorum, nec +non aequora, prouincias, ac distinctiones earum. + +Igitur peracta collocutione nostra satis producta, egressos principes in +cameram reuocauit, ex quibus quatuor de maioribus iuxta nos aduocans, fecit +eos expresse ac debite, per singulas diuisiones in lingua Gallicana +destinguere per partes, et singuarum nomina partium, omnem regionem terrae +Angliae, ac alias Christianorum terras multas, acsi inter nostros fuissent +nati, vel multo tempore conuersati. + +Nam et ipsum Soldanum audiui cum ijs bene et directe loquentem idioma +Francorum. Itaque in omnibus his mente consternatus obmutui, cogitans, et +dolens de peccatis singulis, rem taliter se habere. + +Nunc pie igitur (rogo) consideremus, et corde attendamus, quantae sit +confusionis, et qualis opprobrij, dum Christiani nominis inimici nobis +nostra exprobrant crimina. [Sidenote: Insignis Mandeuilli peroratio.] Et +student quilibet in melius emendare, quatenus (Deo propitio) possit in +breui tempore, haec, de qua loquimur, terra Deo delecta, haec sacrosancta +terra, haec filijs Dei promissa, nobis Dei adoptiuis restitui: vel certe, +quod magis exorandum est, ipsi Sarraceni ad fidem Catholicam, et +Christianam obedientiam, Ecclesiae filijs aggregari, vt simul omnes per +Dominum nostrum Iesum Christum consubstantialem Dei filium perueniamus ad +coelestem Paradisum. + +Explicit prima pars huius operis. + + +The English Version. + +Betheleem is a litylle cytee, long and narwe and well walled, and in eche +syde enclosed with gode dyches; and it was wont to ben cleped Effrata; as +Holy Writt seythe, _Ecce audivimus cum in Effrata_; that is to seye, _Lo, +we herde him in Effrata_. And toward the est ende of the cytee, is a fulle +fair chirche and a gracyouse; and it hathe many toures, pynacles and +corneres, fulle stronge and curiously made: and with in that chirche ben 44 +pyleres of marble, grete and faire. And betwene the cytee and the chirche +in the felde floridus; that is to seyne, the feld florisched: for als moche +as a fayre mayden was blamed with wrong, and sclaundred, that sche hadde +don fornycacioun; for whiche cause sche was demed to the dethe, and to be +brent in that place, to the whiche sche was ladd. And as the fyre began to +brenne about hire, sche made hire preyeres to oure Lord, that als wissely +as sche was not gylty of that synne, that he wold helpe hire, and make it +to be knowen to alle men, of his mercyfulle grace. And whan sche hadde thus +seyd, sche entred in to the fuyer: and anon was the fuyr quenched and oute: +and the brondes that weren brennynge, becomen rede roseres; and the brondes +that weren not kyndled, becomen white roseres, fulle of roses. And theise +weren the first roseres and roses, both white and rede, that evere ony man +saughe. And thus was this mayden saved be the grace of God. And therfore is +that feld clept the feld of God florysscht: for it was fulle of roses. Also +besyde the queer of the chirche, at the right syde, as men comen dounward +16 greces, [Footnote: Steps.] is the place where oure Lord was born, that +is fulle welle dyghte of marble, and fulle richely peynted with gold, +sylver, azure, and other coloures. And 3 paas besyde, is the crybbe of the +ox and the asse. And besyde that, is the place where the sterre fell, that +ladde the 3 kynges, Jaspar, Melchior and Balthazar: but men of Grece clepen +hem thus, Galgalathe, Malgalathe and Saraphie: and the Jewes clepen in this +manere, in Ebrew, Appelius, Amerrius and Damasus. Theise 3 kynges offreden +to oure Lord, gold, ensence and myrre: and thei metten to gedre, thorghe +myracle of God; for thei metten to gedre in a cytee in Ynde, that Men +clepen Cassak, that is 53 journeyes fro Betheleem; and thei weren at +Betheleem the 13 day. And that was the 4 day aftre that thei hadden seyn +the sterre, whan they metten in that cytee: and thus thei weren in 9 dayes, +fro that cytee at Betheleem; and that was gret myracle. Also undre the +cloystre of the chirche, be 18 degrees, at the righte syde, is the +charnelle of the innocentes, where here bones lyzn. And before the place +where oure Lord was born, is the tombe of Seynt Jerome, that was a preest +and a cardynalle, that translatede the Bible and the psaultere from Ebrew +in to Latyn: and witheoute the mynstre; is the chayere that he satt in, +whan he translated it. And faste besyde that chirche, a 60 fedme, +[Footnote: Fathom.] is a chirche of Seynt Nicholas, where oure Lady rested +hire, aftre sche was lyghted of oure Lord. And for as meche as sche had to +meche mylk in hire pappes, that greved hire, sche mylked hem on the rede +stones of marble; so that the traces may zit be sene in the stones alle +whyte. And zee schulle undrestonde, that alle that duellen in Betheleem ben +Cristene men. And there ben fayre vynes about the cytee, and gret plentee +of wyn, that the Cristene men han don let make. But the Sarazines ne tylen +not no vynes, ne thei drynken no wyn. For here bokes of here lawe, that +Makomete betoke hem, whiche thei clepen here Alkaron, and sume clepen it +Mesaphe; and in another langage it is cleped Harme; and the same boke +forbedethe hem to drinke wyn. For in that boke, Machomete cursed alle tho +that drynken wyn, and alle hem that sellen it. For sum men seye, that he +sloughe ones an heremyte in his dronkenesse, that he loved ful wel: and +therefore he cursed wyn, and hem that drynken it. But his curs be turned in +to his owne hed; as Holy Wrytt seythe; _Et in verticem ipsius iniquitas +ejus descendet_; that is for to seye, _Hi wykkednesse schalle turne and +falle in his owne heed_. And also the Sarazines bryngen forthe no pigges, +nor thei eten no swynes flessche: for thei seye, it is brother to man, and +it was forboden be the olde lawe: and thei holden hem alle accursed that +eten there of. Also in the lond of Palestyne and in the lond of Egypt, thei +eten but lytille or non of flessche of veel or of beef; but he be so old, +that he may no more travayle for elde; for it is forbode: and for because +the have but fewe of hem, therfore thei norisschen hem, for to ere here +londes. In this cytee of Betheleem was David the kyng born: and he hadde 60 +wyfes; and the firste wyf hihte Michol: and also he hadde 300 lemmannes. + +An fro Betheleem unto Jerusalem nys but 2 myle. And in the weye to +Jerusalem, half a myle fro Betheleem is a chirche, where the aungel seyde +to the scheppardes, of the birthe of Crist. And in that weye is the tombe +of Rachelle, that was Josephes modre, the patriarke; and sche dyede anon, +aftre that sche was delyvered of hire sone Beniamyn; and there sche was +buryed of Jacob hire husbonde: and he leet setten 12 grete stones on here, +in tokene that sche had born 12 children. [Footnote: Rachel had only two +children, but twelve grandchildren.] In the same weye, half myle fro +Jerusalem, appered the sterre to the 3 kynges. In that weye also ben manye +chirches of Cristen men, be the whiche men gon towardes the cytee of +Jerusalem. + + +Of the Pilgrimages in Jerusalem and of the Holy Places thereaboute. + +[Sidenote: Cap. VII.] After for to speke of Jerusalem, the holy cytee, zee +schulle undirstonde, that it stont fulle faire betwene hilles: and there +ben no ryveres ne welles; but watre comethe be condyte from Ebron. And zee +schulle undirstonde, that Jerusalem of olde tyme, unto the tyme of +Melchisedeche, was cleped Jebus; and aftre it was clept Salem, unto the +tyme of Kyng David, that putte theise 2 names to gidere, and cleped it +Jebusalem; and aftre that Kyng Salomon cleped it Jerosoloyme: and aftre +that, men cleped it Jerusalem; and so it is cleped zit. And aboute +Jerusalem is the kyngdom of Surrye: and there besyde is the lond of +Palestyne: and besyde it is Ascolone: and besyde that is the lond of +Maritaine. But Jerusalem is in the lond of Judee; and it is clept Jude, for +that Judas Machabeus was kyng of that contree; and it marchethe estward to +the kyngdom of Arabye; on the southe syde, to the lond of Egipt; and on the +west syde, to the grete see; on the north syde, towarde the kyngdom of +Surrye, and to the See of Cypre. In Jerusalem was wont to be a patriark, +and erchebysshoppes and bisshoppes abouten in the contree. Abouten +Jerusalem ben theise cytees: Ebron, at 7 myle; Jerico, at 6 myle; Bersabee, +at 8 myle; Ascalon, at 17 myle; Jaff, at 16 myle; Ramatha, at 3 myle; and +Betheleem, at 2 myle. And a 2 myle trom Betheleem, toward the sowthe, is +the chirche of Seynt Karitot, that was abbot there; for whom thei maden +meche Doel [Footnote: Mourning.] amonges the monkes, whan he scholde dye; +and zit thei ben in moornynge, in the wise that thei maden here +lamentacioun for him the firste tyme: and it is fulle gret pytee to +beholde. + +This contree and lond of Jerusalem hathe ben in many dyverse naciounes +hondes: and often therfore hathe the contree suffred meche tribulacioun, +for the synne of the people, that duellen there. For that contree hathe ben +in the hondes of alle nacyouns: that is to seyne, of Jewes, of Chananees, +Assiryenes, Perses, Medoynes, Macedoynes, of Grekes, Romaynes, of Cristene +men, of Sarazines, Barbaryenes, Turkes, Tartaryenes, and of manye othere +dyverse nacyouns. For God wole not, that it be longe in the hondes of +trytoures ne of synneres, be thei Cristene or othere. And now have the +hethene men holden that lond in here hondes 40 zeere and more: but thei +schulle not holde it longe, zif God wole. + +And zee schulle undirstond, that whan men comen to Jerusalem, here first +pilgrymage is to the Chirche of the Holy Sepulcre, where oure Lord was +buryed, that is with oute the cytee, on the northe syde: but it is now +enclosed in, with the toun walle. And there is a fulle fayr chirche, alle +rownd, and open above, and covered with leed. And on the west syde is a +fair tour and an highe, for belles, strongly made. And in the myddes of the +chirche is a tabernacle, as it were a lytylle hows, made with a low lytylle +dore: and that tabernacle is made in manere of half a compass, righte +curiousely and richely made, of gold and azure and othere riche coloures, +fulle nobelyche made. And in the righte syde of that tabernacle is the +sepulcre of oure Lord. And the tabernacle is 8 fote longe, and 5 fote wyde, +and 11 fote in heighte. And it is not longe sithen the sepulcre was alle +open, that men myghte kisse it and touche it. But for pilgrymes that comen +thidre, peyned hem to breke the ston in peces or in poudre, therfore the +Soudan hathe do make a walle aboute the sepulcre, that no man may towche +it. But in the left syde of the walle of the tabernacle is well the heighte +of a man, a gret ston to the quantytee of a mannes hed, that was of the +holy sepulcre: and that ston kissen the pilgrymes, that comen thidre. In +that tabernacle ben no wyndowes: but it is alle made lighte with lampes, +that hangen before the sepulcre. And there is a lampe, that hongethe before +the sepulcre, that brennethe lighte: and on the Gode Fryday it gothe out be +him self; and lyghtith azen be him self at that oure, that oure Lorde roos +fro dethe to lyve. Also within the chirche, at the righte syde, besyde the +queer of the chirche, is the Mount of Calvarye, where oure Lord was don on +the Cros: and it is a roche of white colour, and a lytille medled with red: +and the Cros was set in a morteys, in the same roche: and on that roche +dropped the woundes of our Lord, whan he was payned on the Crosse; and that +is cleped Golgatha. And men gon up to that Golgotha be degrees: and in the +place of that morteys was Adames hed founden, aftre Noes flode; in tokene +that the synnes of Adam scholde ben boughte in that same place. And upon +that roche made Abraham sacrifice to oure Lord. And there is an awtere: and +before that awtere lyzn Godefray de Boleyne and Bawdewyn, and othere +Cristene kynges of Jerusalem; And there nyghe, where our Lord was +crucyfied, is this written in Greek, [Greek: Ho Theos Basileus haemon pro +aionon eirgasato aotaerian en meso taes gaes.] that is to seyne, in Latyn, +_Deus Rex noster ante secula operatus est salutem, in medio terrae_; that is +to seye, _Gode oure Kyng, before the worldes, hathe wroughte hele in myddis +of the erthe_. And also on that roche, where the Cros was sett, is writen +with in the roche theise, wordes; [Greek: Ho eideis esti basis taes pisteos +holaes tou kosmou touton.] that is to seyne in Latyn, _Quod vides, est +fundamentum totius Fidei hujus Mundi_; that is to seyne, _That thou seest, +is ground of alle the feythe of this world_. And zee schulle undirstonde, +that whan oure Lord was don upon the Cros, he was 33 zere and 3 moneths of +elde. And the prophecye of David seythe thus: _Quadraginta annis proximus +fui generationi huic_; that is to seye, _fourty zeer was I neighebore to +this kynrede_. And thus scholde it seme, that the prophecyes ne were not +trewe: but thei ben bothe trewe: for in old tyme men maden a zeer of 10 +moneths; of the whiche Marche was the firste, and Decembre was the laste. +But Gayus, that was Emperour of Rome, putten theise 2 monethes there to, +Janyver and Feverer; and ordeyned the zeer of 12 monethes; that is to seye, +365 dayes, with oute lepe zeer, aftre the propre cours of the sonne. And +therfore, aftre cowntynge of 10 monethes of the zeer, de dyede in the 40 +zeer; as the prophete seyde; and aftre the zeer of 12 monethes, he was of +age 33 zeer and 3 monethes. Also with in the Mount Calvarie, on the right +side, is an awtere, where the piler lyzthe, that oure Lord Jesu was bounden +to, whan he was scourged. And there besyde ben 4 pileres of ston, that alle +weys droppen watre: and sum men seyn, that thei wepen for our Lordes dethe. +And nyghe that awtier is a place undre erthe, 42 degrees of depnesse, where +the holy croys was founden, be the wytt of Seynte Elyne, undir a roche, +where the Jewes had hidde it. And that was the verray croys assayed: for +thei founden 3 crosses; on of oure Lord, and 2 of the 2 theves: and Seynte +Elyne preved hem on a ded body, that aros from dethe to lyve, whan it was +leyed on it that oure Lord dyed on. And there by in the walle is the place +where the 4 nayles of oure Lord weren hidd: for he had 2 in his hondes, and +2 in his feet: and of on of theise, the Emperour of Costantynoble made a +brydille to his hors, to bere him in bataylle: and thorghe vertue there of, +he overcam his enemyes, and wan alle the lond of Asye the lesse; that is to +seye, Turkye, Ermonye the lasse and the more; and from Surrye to Jerusalem, +from Arabye to Persie, from Mesopotayme to the kyngdom of Halappee, from +Egypt the highe and the lowe, and all the othere kyngdomes, unto the Depe +of Ethiope, and into Ynde the lesse, that then was Cristene. And there were +in that tyme many gode holy men and holy heremytes; of whom the book of +fadres lyfes spekethe: and thei ben now in Paynemes and Sarazines honds. +But whan God alle myghty wole, righte als the londes weren lost thorghe +synne of Cristene men, so schulle thei ben wonnen azen be Cristen men +thorghe help of God. And in myddes of that chirche is a compas, in the +whiche Joseph of Aramathie leyde the body of oure Lord, whan he had taken +him down of the cross: and there he wassched the woundes of oure Lord: and +that compas, seye men, is the myddes of the world. And in the Chirche of +the Sepulchre, on the north syde, is the place where oure Lord was put in +presoun; (for he was in presoun in many places) and there is a partye of +the Cheyne that he was bounden with: and there he appered first to Marie +Magdaleyne, whan he was rysen; and sche wende, that he had ben a gardener. +In the chirche of Seynt Sepulchre was wont to ben chanouns of the ordre of +Seynt Augustyn, and hadden a priour; but the patriark was here sovereygne. +And withe oute the dores of the chirche, on the right syde, as men gon +upward 18 Greces, seyde oure Lord to his moder, _Mulier, ecce filius tuus_; +that is to seye, _Woman, lo thi Sone_. And aftre that, he seyde to John his +disciple, _Ecce mater tua_; that is to seyne, _Lo, behold thi modir_: And +these wordes he seyde on the cros. And on theise Greces wente oure Lord, +whan he bare the crosse on his schuldir. And undir this grees is a +chapelle; and in that chapelle syngen prestes, yndyenes; that is to seye, +prestes of ynde; noght aftir oure lawe, but aftir here: and alle wey thei +maken here sacrement of the awtier, seyenge, _Pater noster_, and othere +preyeres there with: with the which preyeres, thei seye the wordes, that +the sacrement is made of. For thei ne knowe not the addiciouns, that many +Popes han made; but thei synge with gode devocioun. And there nere, is the +place where that oure Lord rested him, whan he was wery, for berynge of the +Cros. And zee schulle undirstonde, that before the Chirche of the Sepulcre, +is the cytee more feble than in ony othere partie, for the grete playn that +is betwene the chirche and the cytee. And toward the est syde, with oute +the walles of the cytee, is the Vale of Josaphathe, that touchethe to the +walles, as thoughe it were a large dyche. And anen that Vale of Josaphathe, +out of the cytee, is the Chirche of Seynt Stevene, where he was stoned to +dethe. And there beside, is the gildene zate, that may not ben opened; be +the whiche zate, oure Lord entrede on Palmesonday, upon an asse; and the +zate opened azenst him, whan he wolde go unto the temple: and zit apperen +the steppes of the asses feet, in 3 places of the degrees, that ben of +fulle harde ston. And before the chirche of Seynt Sepulcre, toward the +southe, a 200 paas, is the gret hospitalle of Seynt John; of the whiche the +hospitleres hadde here foundacioun. And with inne the palays of the seke +men of that hospitalle ben 124 pileres of ston: and in the walles of the +hows, with oute the nombre aboveseyd, there ben 54 pileres, that beren up +the hows. And fro that hospitalle, to go toward the est, is a fulle fayr +chirche, that is clept _Nostre Dame la Graund_. And than is there another +chirche right nyghe, that is clept _Nostre Dame la Latytne_. And there +weren Marie Cleophee and Marie Magdaleyne, and teren here heer, whan oure +Lord was peyned in the cros. + + +Of the Temple of oure Lord. Of the Crueltee of Kyng Heroud. Of the Mount + Syon. Of Probatica Piscina. And of Natatorium Siloe. + +[Sidenote: Cap. VIII.] And fro the chirche of the sepulcre, toward the est, +at 160 paas, is _Templum Domini_. It is right a feir hows, and it is alle +round, and highe, and covered with leed, and it is well paved with white +marble: but the Sarazine wole not suffre no Cristene manne Jewes to come +there in; for thei seyn, that none so foule synfulle men scholde not come +in so holy place: but I cam in there, and in othere places, where I wolde; +for I hadde lettres of the Soudan, with his grete seel; and comounly other +men han but his signett. In the whiche lettres he comanded of his, +specyalle grace, to all his subgettes, to lete me seen alle the places, and +to enforme me pleynly alle the mysteries of every place, and to condyte me +fro cytee to cytee, zif it were nede, and buxomly to resceyve me and my +companye, and for to obeye to alle my requestes resonable, zif thei weren +not gretly azen the royalle power, and dignytee of the Soudan or of his +lawe. And to othere, that asken him grace, suche as han served him, he ne +zevethe not but his signet; the whiche thei make to be born before hem, +hangynge on a spere; and the folk of the contree don gret worschipe and +reverence to his signett or his seel, and knelen there to, as lowly as wee +don to _Corpus Domini_. And zit men don fulle grettere reverence to his +lettres. For the admyralle and alle othere lordes, that thei ben schewed +to, before or thei resceyve hem, thei knelen doun, and than thei take hem, +and putten hem on here hedes, and aftre thei kissen hem, and than thei +reden hem, knelynge with gret reverence, and than thei offren hem to do +alle, that the berere askethe. And in this _Templum Domini_ weren somtyme +chanouns reguleres: and thei hadden an abbot, to whom thei weren obedient. +And in this temple was Charlemayn, when that the aungelle broughte him the +prepuce of oure Lord Jesu Crist, of his circumcisioun: and aftre Kyng +Charles leet bryngen it to Parys, in to his chapelle: and aftre that to +Chartres. And zee schulle undirstonde, that this is not the temple that +Salomon made: for that temple dured not, bat 1102 zeer. For Tytus, +Vespasianes sone, Emperour of Rome, had leyd sege aboute Jerusalem, for to +discomfyte the Jewes: for thei putten oure Lord to dethe, with outen leve +of the Emperour. And whan he hadde wonnen the cytee, he brente the temple +and beet it down, and alle the cytee, and toke the Jewes, and dide hem to +Dethe, 1100000: and the othere he putte in presoun, and solde hem to +servage, 30 for o peny: for thei seyde, thei boughte Jesu for 30 penyes: +and he made of hem bettre cheep, whan he zaf 30 for o peny. And aftre that +tyme, Julianas Apostate, that was Emperour, zaf leve to the Jewes to make +the Temple of Jerusalem: for he hated Cristene men; and zit he was +cristned, but he forsoke his law, and becam a renegate. And whan the Jewes +hadden made the temple, com an erthe quakeng, and cast it doun (as God +wolde) and destroyed alle that thei had made. And aftre that, Adryan, that +was Emperour of Rome, and of the lynage of Troye, made Jerusalem azen, and +the temple, in the same manere, as Salomon made it. And he wolde not suffre +no Jewes to dwelle there, but only Cristene men. For alle thoughe is were +so, that hee was not cristned, zet he lovede Cristene men, more than ony +other nacioun, saf his owne. This Emperour leet enclose the Chirche of +Seynt Sepulcre, and walle it, within the cytee, that before was with oute +the cytee, long tyme beforn. And he wolde have chaunged the name of +Jerusalem, and have cleped it Elya: but that name lasted not longe. Also +zee schulle undirstonde, that the Sarazines don moche reverence to that +temple; and thei seyn, that that place is right holy. And whan thei gon in, +thei gon barefote, and knelen many tymes. And whanne my felowes and I +seyghe that, whan we comen in, wee diden of oure shoon, and camen in +barefote, and thoughten that we scholden don as moche worschipe and +reverence there to, as ony of the mysbeleevynge men sholde, and as gret +compunction in herte to have. This temple is 64 cubytes of wydenesse, and +als manye in lengthe; and of heighte it is 120 cubites: and it is with +inne, alle aboute, made with pyleres of marble: and in the myddel place of +the temple ben manye highe stages, of 14 degrees of heighte, made with gode +pyleres alle aboute: and this place the Jewes callen _Sancta Sanctorum_; +that is to seye, _holy of halewes_. And in that place comethe no man, saf +only here prelate, that makethe here sacrifice. And the folk stonden alle +aboute, in diverse stages, aftre thei ben of dignytee or of worschipe; so +that thei alle may see the sacrifice. And in that temple ben 4 entrees; and +the zates ben of cypresse, wel made and curiousely dight. And with in the +est zate, oure Lorde seyde, _Here is Jerusalem._ And in the northsyde of +that temple with in the zate, there is a welle; but it rennethe noght; of +the whiche Holy Writt spekethe, and seythe, _Vidi aquam egredientem de +Templo_; that is to seyne, _I saughe watre come out of the Temple_. And on +that other syde of the Temple there is a roche, that men clepen Moriache: +but aftre it was clept Bethel; where the arke of God, with relykes of +Jewes, weren wont to ben put. That arke or hucche, with the relikes, Tytus +ledde with hym to Rome, whan he had scomfyted alle the Jewes. In that arke +weren the 10 commandementes, and of Arones zerde, and of Moyses zerde, with +the whiche he made the Rede See departen, as it had ben a walle, on the +righte syde and on the left syde, whils that the peple of Israel passeden +the see drye foot: and with that zerde he smoot the roche; and the watre +cam out of it: and with that zerde he dide manye wondres. And there in was +a vessel of gold, fulle of manna, and clothinges and ournements and the +tabernacle of Aaron, and a tabernacle square of gold, with 12 precyous +stones, and a boyst of jasper grene, with 4 figures, and 8 names of oure +Lord, and 7 candelstykes of gold, and 12 pottes of gold, and 4 censeres of +gold, and an awtier of gold, and 4 lyouns of gold, upon the whiche thei +bare cherubyn of gold, l2 spannes long, and the cercle of swannes of +Hevene, with a tabernacle of gold, and a table of sylver, and 2 trompes of +silver, and 7 barly loves, and alle the othere relikes, that weren before +the birthe of oure Lord Jesu Crist. And upon that roche, was Jacob +slepynge, when he saughe the aungeles gon up and doun, by a laddre, and he +seyd, _Vere locus isse sanctus est, et ego ignorabam_; that is to seyne, +_Forsothe this place is holy, and I wiste it nought_. And there an aungel +helde Jacob stille, and turned his name, and cleped him Israel. And in that +same place, David saughe the aungelle, that smot the folk with a swerd, and +put it up blody in the schethe. And in that same roche, was Seynt Symeon, +whan he resceyved oure Lord into the Temple. And in this roche he sette +him, whan the Jewes wolde a stoned him; and a sterre cam doun, and zaf him +light. And upon that roche, prechede our Lord often tyme to the peple; and +out of that seyd temple, oure Lord drof the byggeres and the selleres. And +upon that roche, oure Lord sette him, whan the Jewes wolde have stoned him; +and the roche cleef in two, and in that clevynge was oure Lord hidd; and +there cam doun a sterre, and zaf lighte and served him with claretee; and +upon that roche, satt oure lady, and lerned hire sawtere; and there our +Lord forzaf the womman hire sinnes, that was founden in Avowtrie: and there +was oure Lord circumcyded: and there the aungelle schewede tydynges to +Zacharie of the birthe of Seynt Baptyst his sone; and there offred first +Melchisedeche bred and wyn to oure Lord, in tokene of the sacrement that +was to comene; and there felle David preyeng to oure Lord, and to the +aungelle, that smot the peple, that he wolde have mercy on him and on the +peple; and oure Lorde herde his preyere; and therefore wolde he make the +temple in that place: but oure Lord forbade him, be an aungelle, for he had +don tresoun, whan he leet sle Urie the worthi knyght, for to have Bersabee +his wyf; and therfore all the purveyance, that he hadde ordeyned to make +the temple with, he toke it Salomon his sone; and he made it. And he preyed +oure Lord, that alle tho that preyeden to him, in that place, with gode +herte, that he wolde heren here preyere and graunten it hem, zif thei asked +it rightefullyche: and oure Lord graunted it him: and therfore Salomon +cleped that temple, the Temple of Conseille and of Help of God. And with +oute the zate of that temple is an awtiere, where Jewes werein wont to +offren dowves and turtles. And betwene the temple and that awtiere was +Zacharie slayn. And upon the pynacle of that temple was oure Lord brought, +for to ben tempted of the enemye, the feend. And on the heighte of that +pynacle, the Jewes setten Seynt Jame, and casted him down to the erthe, +that first was Bisschopp of Jerusalem. And at the entree of that temple, +toward the west, is the zate that is clept _Porta speciosa_. And nyghe +besyde that temple, upon the right syde, is a chirche covered with leed, +that is clept Salomones Scole. And fro that temple, towardes the southe, +right nyghe, is the Temple of Salomon, that is righte fair and wel +pollisscht. And in that temple duellen the knyghtes of the temple, that +weren wont to be clept templeres: and that was the foundacionn of here +ordre; so that there duelleden knyghtes; and in _Templo Domini_, chanouns +reguleres. Fro that temple toward the est, a 120 paas, in the cornere of +the cytee, is the bathe of oure Lord: and in that bathe was wont to come +watre fro paradys, and zit it droppethe. And there besyde, is oure ladyes +bed. And faste by, is the temple of Seynt Symeon: and with oute the +cloyster of the temple, toward the northe, is a fulle faire chirche of +Seynte Anne, oure ladyes modre: and there was oure lady conceyved. And +before that chirche, is a gret tree, that began to growe the same nyght. +And undre that chirche, in goenge doun be 22 degrees, lythe Joachym, oure +ladyes fader, in a faire tombe of ston: and there besyde, lay somtyme Seynt +Anne his wyf; but Seynt Helyne leet translate hire to Costantynople. And in +that chirche is a welle, in manere of a cisterne, that is clept _Probatica +Piscina_, that hathe 5 entrees. Into that welle, aungeles weren wont to +come from Hevene, and bathen hem with inne: and, what man that first bathed +him, aftre the mevynge of the watre, was made hool, of what maner sykenes +that he hadde: and there oure Lord heled a man of the palasye, that laye 38 +zeer: and oure Lord seyde to him, _Tolle Grabatum tuum & ambula_: that is +to seye, _Take thi bed, and go_. And there besyde, was Pylates hows. And +faste by, is Kyng Heroudes hows, that leet sle the innocentes. This Heroude +was over moche cursed and cruelle: for first he leet sle his wif, that he +lovede righte welle; and for the passynge love, that he hadde to hire, whan +he saughe hire ded, he felle in a rage, and oute of his wytt, a gret while; +and sithen he cam azen to his wytt: and aftre he leet sle his two sones, +that he hadde of that wyf: and aftre that, he leet sle another of his +wyfes, and a sone, that he hadde with hire: and aftre that, he leet sle his +owne modre: and he wolde have slayn his brother also, but he dyede +sodeynly. And aftre he fell into seknesse, and whan he felte, that he +scholde dye, he sente aftre his sustre, and aftre alle the lordes of his +lond; and whan thei were comen; he leet commande hem to prisoun, and than +he seyde to his sustre, he wiste wel, that men of the contree wolde make no +sorwe for his dethe; and therefore be made his sustre swere, that sche +scholde lete smyte of alle the heds of the lordes, whan he were ded; and +than scholde alle the lond make sorwe for his dethe, and else nought: and +thus he made his testement. But his sustre fulfilled not his wille: for als +sone as he was ded, sche delyvered alle the lordes out of presoun, and lete +hem gon, eche lord to his owne; and tolde hem alle the purpos of hire +brothers ordynance: and so was this cursed kyng never made sorwe for, as he +supposed for to have ben. And zee schulle undirstonde, that in that tyme +there weren 3 Heroudes, of gret name and loos for here crueltee. This +Heroude, of whiche I have spoken offe, was Heroude Ascalonite: and he that +leet beheden seynt John the Baptist, was Heroude Antypa: and he that leet +smyte of Seynt James hed, was Heroude Agrippa; and he putte Seynt Peter in +presoun. + +Also furthermore, in the cytee, is the Chirche of Seynt Savyour; and there +is the left arm of John Crisostom, and the more partye of the hed of Seynt +Stevene. And on that other syde of the strete, toward the southe, as men +gon to Mount Syon, is a chirche of Seynt James, where he was beheded. And +fro that chirche, a 120 paas, is the Mount Syon: and there is a faire +chirche of oure Lady, where sche dwelled; and there sche dyed. And there +was wont to ben an abbot of Chanouns Reguleres. And fro thens, was sche +born of the apostles, onto the Vale of Josaphathe. And there is the ston, +that the aungelle broughte to oure Lady, fro the Mount of Synay; and it is +of that colour, that the roche is of Seynt Kateryne. And there besyde, is +the zate, where thorghe oure Ladye wente, whan sche was with childe, whan +sche wente to Betheleem. Also at the entree of the Mount Syon, is a +chapelle; and in that chapelle is the ston gret and large, with the whiche +the sepulcre was covered with, whan Josephe of Aramathie had put oure Lord +thereinne: the whiche ston the 3 Maries sawen turnen upward, whan thei +comen to the sepulcre, the day of his resurrexioun; and there founden an +aungelle, that tolde hem of oure Lordes uprysynge from dethe to lyve. And +there also is a ston, in a walle, besyde the zate, of the pyleer, that oure +Lord was scourged ate: and there was Annes hows, that was Bishop of the +Jewes, in that ryme. And there was oure Lord examyned in the nyght, and +scourged and smytten and vylently entreted. And in that same place, Seynt +Peter forsoke oure Lord thries, or the cok creew. And there is a party of +the table, that he made his souper onne, whan be made his maundee, with his +discyples; whan he zaf hem his flesche and his blode, in forme of bred and +wyn. And undre that chapelle, 32 degrees, is the place, where oure Lord +wossche his disciples feet and zit is the vesselle, where the watre was. +And there besyde that same vesselle, was Seynt Stevene buryed. And there is +the awtier, where oure Lady herde the aungelles synge messe. And there +appered first oure Lord to his disciples, after his resurrexioun, the zates +enclosed, and seyde to hem, _Pax vobis_: that is to seye, _Pees to zou_. +And on that mount, appered Crist to Seynt Thomas the apostle, and bade him +assaye his woundes; and there beleeved he first, and seyde, _Dominus meus +et Deus meus_; that is to seye, _my Lord and my God_. In the same chirche, +besyde the awteer, weren alle the aposteles on Whytsonday, whan the Holy +Gost descended on hem, in lyknesse of fuyr. And there made oure Lord his +pask, [Footnote: Pascal feast] with his disciples. And there slept Seynt +John the Evaungeliste, upon the breeste of oure Lord Jesu Crist, and saughe +slepynge many hevenly prevytees. + +Mount Syon is with inne the cytee; and it is a lytille hiere than the other +syde of the cytee: and the cytee is strongere on that syde, than on that +other syde. For at the foot of the Mount Syon, is a faire castelle and a +strong, that the Soudan leet make. In the Mount Syon weren buryed Kyng +David and Kyng Salomon, and many othere kynges, Jewes of Jerusalem. And +there is the place, where the Jewes wolden han cast up the body of oure +Lady, whan the apostles beren the body to ben buryed, in the Vale of +Josaphathe. And there is the place, where Seynt Petir wepte fulle tenderly, +aftre that he hadde forsaken oure Lord. And a stones cast fro that +chapelle, is another chapelle, where oure Lord was jugged: for that tyme, +was there Cayphases hows. From that chapelle, to go toward the est, at 140 +paas, is a deep cave undre the roche, that is clept the Galylee of oure +Lord; where Seynt Petre hidde him, whanne he had forsaken oure Lord. Item, +betwene the Mount Syon and the Temple of Salomon, is the place, where oure +Lord reysed the mayden, in hire fadres hows. Undre the Mount Syon, toward +the Vale of Josaphathe, is a welle, that is clept _Natatorium Siloe_; and +there was oure Lord wasshen, aftre his bapteme: and there made oure Lord +the blynd man to see. And there was y buryed Ysaye the prophete. Also +streghte from Natatorie Siloe, is an ymage of ston, and of olde auncyen +werk, that Absalon leet make: and because there of, men clepen it the head +of Absalon. And faste by, is zit the tree of eldre, that Judas henge him +self upon, for despeyr that he hadde, whan he solde and betrayed oure Lord. +And there besyde, was the synagoge, where the bysshoppes of Jewes and the +pharyses camen to gidere, and helden here conseille. And there caste Judas +the 30 pens before hem, and seyde, that he hadde synned, betrayenge oure +Lord. And there nyghe was the hows of the apostles Philippe and Jacob +Alphei. And on that other syde of Mount Syon, toward the southe, bezonde +the Vale, a stones cast, is Acheldamache; that is to seye, the Feld of +Blood; that was bought for the 30 pens, that oure Lord was sold fore. And +in that feld ben many tombes of Cristene men: for there ben manye pilgrymes +graven. And there ben many oratories, chapelles and heremytages, where +heremytes weren wont to duelle. And toward the est, an 100 pas, is the +charnelle of the hospitalle of seynt John, where men weren wont to putte +the bones of dede men. + +Also fro Jerusalem, toward the west, is a fair chirche, where the tree of +the cros grew. And 2 myle fro thens, is a faire chirche; where oure lady +mette with Elizabethe, whan thei weren bothe with childe; and seynt John +stered in his modres wombe, and made reverence to his Creatour, that he +saughe not. And undre the awtier of that chirche, is the place where seynt +John was born. And fro that chirche, is a myle to the castelle of Emaux; +and there also oure Lord schewed him to 2 of his disciples, aftre His +resurrexion. Also on that other syde, 200 pas fro Jerusalem, is a chirche, +where was wont to be the cave of the lioun: and undre that chirche, at 30 +degrees of depnesse, weren entered 12000 martires, in the tyme of Kyng +Cosdroc, that the lyoun mette with alle in a nyghte, be the wille of God. +Also fro Jerusalem 2 myle, is the Mount Joye, a fulle fair place and a +delicyous: and there lythe Samuel the prophete in a faire tombe: and men +clepen it Mount Joye; for it zevethe joye to pilgrymes hertes, be cause +that there men seen first Jerusalem. Also betwene Jerusalem and the Mount +of Olyvete, is the Vale of Josaphathe, undre the walles of the cytee, as I +have seyd before: and in the myddes of the vale, is a lytille ryvere, that +men clepen Torrens Cedron; and aboven it, over thwart, lay a tre, (that the +cros was made offe) that men zeden over onne: and faste by it is a litylle +pytt in the erthe, where the foot of the pileer is zit entered; and there +was oure Lord first scourged: for he was scourged and vileynsly entreted in +many places. Also in the myddel place of the vale of Josaphathe, is the +chirche of oure lady: and it is of 43 degrees, undre the erthe, unto the +sepulchre oure lady. And oure lady was of age, when sche dyed, 72 zeer. And +beside the sepulchre of oure lady, is an awtier, where oure Lord forzaf +seynt Petir all his synnes. And fro thens, toward the west, undre an +awtere, is a welle, that comethe out of the ryvere of Paradys. And witethe +wel, that that chirche is fulle lowe in the erthe; and sum is alle with +inne the erthe. But I suppose wel, that it was not so founded: but for +because that Jerusalem hathe often tyme ben destroyed, and the walles +abated and beten doun and tombled in to the vale, and that thei han ben so +filled azen, and the ground enhaunced; and for that skylle, is the chirche +so lowe with in the erthe: and natheles men seyn there comounly, that the +erthe hathe so ben cloven, sythe the tyme, that oure Lady was there buryed: +and zit men seyn there, that it wexethe and growethe every day, with outen +dowte. In that chirche were wont to ben blake monkes, that hadden hire +abbot. And besyde that chirche, is a chapelle, besyde the roche, that +highte Gethesamany: and there was oure Lord kyssed of Judas; and there was +he taken of the Jewes; and there laft oure Lord his disciples, whan he +wente to preye before his passioun, whan he preyed and seyde, _Pater, si +fieri potest, transeat a me calix iste_; that is to seye, _Fadre, zif it +may be, do lete this chalys go fro me_. And whan he cam azen to his +disciples, he fond hem slepynge. And in the roche, with inne the chapelle, +zit apperen the fyngres of oure Lordes hond, whan he putte hem in the +roche, whan the Jewes wolden have taken him. And fro thens a stones cast, +toward the southe, is anothere chapelle, where oure Lord swette droppes of +blood. And there righte nyghe, is the tombe of Kyng Josaphathe; of whom the +vale berethe the name. This Josaphathe was kyng of that contree, and was +converted by an heremyte, that was a worthi man, and dide moche gode. And +fro thens a bowe drawghte, towards the south, is the chirche, where Seynt +James and Zacharie the prophete weren buryed. And above the vale, is the +Mount of Olyvete: and it is cleped so, for the plentee of olyves, that +growen there. That mount is more highe than the cytee of Jerusalem is: and +therfore may men, upon that mount, see manye of the stretes of the cytee. +And between that mount and the cytee, is not but the vale of Josaphathe, +that is not fulle large. And fro that mount, steighe oure Lord Jesu Crist +to Hevene, upon ascencioun day: and zit there schewethe the schapp of his +left foot, in the ston. And there is a chirche, where was wont to be an +abbot and chanouns reguleres. And a lytylle thens, 28 pas, is a chapelle, +and there in is the ston, on the whiche oure Lord sat, whan he prechede the +8 blessynges, and seyde thus: _Beati pauperes spiritu_: and there he +taughte his disciples the _Pater noster_; and wrote with his finger in a +ston. And there nyghe is a chirche of Seynte Marie Egipcyane; and there +sche lythe in a tombe. And fro then toward the est, a 3 bow schote, is +Bethfagee; to the whiche oure Lord sente Seynt Peter and Seynt James, for +to feche the asse, upon Palme Sonday, and rode upon that asse to Jerusalem. +And in comynge doun fro the Mount of Olyvete, toward the est, is a +castelle, that is cleped Bethanye: and there dwelte Symon leprous, and +there herberwed oure Lord; and aftre, he was baptized of the Apostles, and +was clept Julian, and was made bisschoppe: and this is the same Julyan, +that men clepe to for gede herberghgage; for oure Lord herberwed with him, +in his hows. And in that hous, oure Lord forzaf Marie Magdaleyne hire +synnes; there sche whassched his feet with hire teres, and wyped hem with +hire heer. And there served seynt Martha, oure Lord. There oure Lord reysed +Lazar fro dethe to lyve, that was ded 4 dayes and stank, that was brother +to Marie Magdaleyne and to Martha. And there duelte also Marie Cleophe. +That castelle is wel a myle long fro Jerusalem. Also in comynge doun fro +the Mount of Olyvete, is the place where oure Lord wepte upon Jerusalem. +And there besyde is the place, where oure lady appered to seynt Thomas the +Apostle, aftre hire assumptioun, and zaf him hire Gyrdylle. And right nyghe +is the ston, where oure Lord often tyme sat upon, whan he prechede: and +upon that same schalle he sytte, at the day of doom; righte as him self +seyde. + +Also aftre the Mount of Olyvete, is the Mount of Galilee: there assembleden +the apostles, whan Marie Magdaleyne cam, and tolde hem of Cristes +uprisynge. And there, betwene the Mount Olyvete and the Mount Galilee, is a +chirche, where the aungel seyde to our lady, of hire dethe. Also fro +Bethanye to Jerico, was somtyme a litylle Cytee: but it is now alle +destroyed; and now is there but a litylle village. That cytee tok Josue, be +myracle of God and commandement of the aungel, and destroyed it and cursed +it, and alle hem that bylled it azen. Of that citee was Zacheus the dwerf, +that clomb up in to the Sycomour Tre, for to see oure Lord; be cause he was +so litille, he myghte not seen Him for the peple. And of that cytee was +Raab the comoun womman, that ascaped allone, with hem of hire lynage; and +sche often tyme refressched and fed the messageres of Israel, and kepte hem +from many grete periles of dethe: and therfore sche hadde gode reward; as +Holy Writt seythe: _Qui accipit prophetam in nomine meo, mercedem prophetae +accipiet_; that is to seye, _He that takethe a prophete in my name, he +schalle take mede of the prophete_: and so had sche; for sche prophecyed to +the messageres, seyenge, _Novi quod Dominus tradet vobis Terram hanc_; that +is to seye, _I wot wel, that oure Lord schal betake zou this Lond_: and so +he dide. And after Salomon, Naasones sone, wedded hire; and fro that tyme +was sche a worthi womman, and served God wel. Also from Betanye gon men to +flom [Footnote: River,--Latin, _flumen_.] Jordan, by a mountayne, and +thorghe desert; and it is nyghe a day jorneye fro Bethanye, toward the est, +to a gret hille, where oure Lord fasted 40 dayes. Upon that hille, the +enemy of helle bare our Lord, and tempted him, and seyde; _Dic ut lapides +isti panes fiant_; that is to seye, _Sey, that theise stones be made +loves_. In that place, upon the hille, was wont to ben a faire chirche; but +it is alle destroyed, so that there is now but an hermytage, that a maner +of Cristene men holden, that ben cleped Georgyenes: for Seynt George +converted hem. Upon that hille duelte Abraham a gret while: and therfore +men clepen it, Abrahames gardyn. And betwene the hille and this gardyn +rennethe a lytille broke of watre, that was wont to ben byttre; but be the +blessyng of Helisee the prophete, it becam swete and gode to drynke. And at +the foot of this hille, toward the playn, is a grete welle, that entrethe +in to flom Jordan. Fro that hille to Jerico, that I spak of before, is but +a myle, in goynge toward flom Jordan. Also as men gon to Jerico, sat the +blynde man, cryenge, _Jesu, fili David, miserere mei_; that is to seye, +_Jesu, Davides sone, have mercy on me_: and anon he hadde his sighte. Also +2 myle fro Jerico is flom Jordan: and an half myle more nyghe, is a faire +chirche of Seynt John the Baptist; where he baptised oure Lord: and there +besyde, is the hous of Jeremye the prophete. + + +Of the dede See; and of the Flom Jordan. Of the Hed of Seynt John the + Baptist; and of the Usages of the Samaritanes. + +[Sidenote: Cap. IX.] And fro Jerico, a 3 myle, is the dede See. Aboute that +See growethe moche alom and of alkatram. [Footnote: Brimstone.] Betwene +Jerico and that see is the lond of Dengadde; and there was wont to growe +the bawme; but men make drawe the braunches there of, and beren hem to ben +graffed at Babiloyne; and zit men clepen hem vynes of Gaddy. At a cost of +that see, as men gon from Arabe, is the mount of the Moabytes; where there +is a cave, that men clepen Karua. Upon that hille, ladde Balak the sone of +Booz, Balaam the prest, for to curse the peple of Israel. That dede See +departethe the lond of Ynde and of Arabye; and that see lastethe from Soara +unto Arabye. The watre of that see is fulle bytter and salt: and ziff the +erthe were made moyst and weet with that watre, it wolde nevere bere fruyt. +And the erthe and the lond chaungeth often his colour. And it castethe out +of the watre a thing that men clepen aspalt; also gret peces, as the +gretnesse of an hors, every day, and on alle sydes. And fro Jerusalem to +that see, is 200 furlonges. That see is in lengthe 580 furlonges, and in +brede 150 furlonges: and it is clept the dede see, for it rennethe nought. +but is evere unmevable. And nouther manne, best, ne no thing that berethe +lif in him, ne may not dyen in that see: and that hathe ben proved manye +tymes, be men that han disserved to ben dede, that han ben cast there inne, +and left there inne 3 dayes or 4, and thei ne myghte never dye ther inne: +for it resceyvethe no thing with inne him, that berethe lif. And no man may +drynken of the watre, for bytternesse. And zif a man caste iren there in, +it wole flete aboven. And zif men caste a fedre there in, it wole synke to +the botme: and theise ben thinges azenst kynde. And also the cytees there +weren lost, be cause of synne. And there besyden growen trees, that beren +fulle faire apples, and faire of colour to beholde; but whoso brekethe hem +or cuttethe hem in two, he schalle fynde with in hem coles and cyndres; in +tokene that, be wratthe of God, the cytees and the lond weren brente and +sonken into helle. Sum men clepen that see, Lake Dalfetidee; summe, the +Flom of Develes; and summe, the flom that is ever stynkynge. And in to that +see sonken the 5 cytees, be wratthe of God; that is to seyne, Sodom, +Gomorre, Aldama, Seboym and Segor, for the abhomynable synne of sodomye, +that regned in hem. But Segor, be the preyer of Lothe, was saved and kept a +gret while: for it was sett upon an hille; and zit schewethe therof sum +party, above the watre: and men may see the walles, when it is fayr wedre +and cleer. In that cytee Lothe dwelte, a lytylle while; and there was he +made dronken of his doughtres, and lay with hem, and engendred of hem Moab +and Amon. And the cause whi his doughtres made him dronken, and for to ly +by him, was this; because thei sawghe no man aboute hem, but only here +fadre: and therfore thei trowed, that God had destroyed alle the world, as +he hadde don the cytees; as he hadde don before, be Noes flood. And +therfore thei wolde lye with here fadre, for to have issue, and for to +replenysschen the world azen with peple, to restore the world azen be hem: +for thei trowed, that ther had ben no mo men in alle the world. And zif +here fadre had not ben dronken, he hadde not y leye with hem. And the hille +aboven Segor, men cleped it thanne Edom: and aftre men cleped it Seyr, and +aftre Ydumea. Also at the righte syde of that dede See, dwellethe zit the +wife of Lothe, in lyknesse of a salt ston; fur that schee loked behinde +hire, whan the cytees sonken into helle. This Lothe was Araammes sone, that +was brother to Abraham. And Sarra Abrahames wife, and Melcha Nachors wif, +weren sustren to the seyd Lothe. And the same Sarra was of elde 90 zeer, +when Ysaac hire sone was goten on hire. And Abraham hadde another sone +Ysmael, that he gat upon Agar his chambrere. And when Ysaac his sone was 8 +dayes olde, Abraham his fadre leet him ben circumcyded, and Ysmael with +him, that was 14 zeer old: wherfore the Jewes, that comen of Ysaacces lyne, +ben circumcyded the 8 day; and the Sarrazines, that comen of Ysmaeles lyne, +ben circumcyded whan thei ben 14 zeer of age. + +And zee schulle undirstonde, that with in the dede See rennethe the Flom +Jordan, and there it dyethe; for it rennethe no furthermore: and that is a +place, that is a myle fro the Chirche of seynt John the Baptist, toward the +West, a lytille benethe the place, where that christene men bathen hem +comounly. And a myle from Flom Jordan, is the Ryvere of Jabothe, the whiche +Jacob passed over, whan he cam fro Mesopotayme. This Flom Jordan is no +great ryvere; but it is plenteous of gode fissche; and it cometh out of the +hille of Lyban be 2 welles, that ben cleped Jor and Dan: and of tho 2 +Welles hath it the name. And it passethe be a lake, that is clept Maron; +and aftre it passethe by the See of Tyberye, and passethe undre the hilles +of Gelboe: and there is a full faire vale, bothe on that o syde and on that +other of the same ryvere. And men gon the hilles of Lyban, alle in lengthe, +onto the desert of Pharan. And tho hilles departen the kyngdom of Surrye +and the contree of Phenesie. And upon tho hilles growen trees of cedre, +that ben fulle hye, and thei beren longe apples, and als grete as a mannes +heved. And also this Flom Jordan departeth the lond of Galilee, and the +lond of Ydumye and the lond of Betron: and that rennethe undre erthe a +grete weye, unto a fayre playn and a gret, that is clept Meldan, in +Sarmoyz; that is to seye, feyre or markett in here langage; be cause that +there is often feyres in that pleyn. And there becomethe the watre gret and +large. And that playn is the tombe of Job. And in that Flom Jordan +above-seyd, was oure Lorde baptized of seynt John; and the voys of God the +Fadre was herd seyenge. _Hic est Filius meus dilectus, &c._; that is to +seye, _This is my beloved sone, in the whiche I am well plesed; herethe +hym_. And the Holy Gost alyghte upon hym, in lyknesse of a colver: and so +at his baptizynge, was alle the hool trynytee. And thorghe that Flom +passeden the children of Israel, alle drye feet: and thei putten stones +there in the myddel place, in tokene of the myracle, that the watre +withdrowghe him so. Also in that Flom Jordan, Naaman of Syrie bathed him; +that was fulle riche, but he was meselle: [Footnote: Leprous.] and there +anon he toke his hele. Abouten the Flom Jordan ben manye chirches, where +that manye cristene men dwelleden. And nyghe therto is the cytee of Hay, +that Josue assayled and toke. Also beyonde the Flom Jordan, is the Vale of +Mambre; and that is a fulle fair vale. Also upon the hille, that I spak of +before, where oure Lord fasted 40 dayes, a 2 myle long from Galilee, is a +faire hille and an highe; where the enemye, the fend, bare oure Lord, the +thridde tyme, to tempte him, and schewede him alle the regiouns of the +world, and seyde, _Hic omnia tibi dabo, si cadens adoraveris me_; that is +to seyne, _All this schalle I zeve the, zif thou falle and worschipe me_. + +Also fro the dede See, to gon estward out of the marches of the Holy Lond, +that is clept the Lond of Promyssioun, is a strong castelle and a fair, in +an hille, that is clept Carak, en Sarmoyz; that is to seyne, Ryally. That +castle let make kyng Baldwyn, (that was Kyng of France) whan he had +conquered that lond; and putte it in to cristene mennes hondes, for to kepe +that contree. And for that cause, was it clept the Mownt rialle. And undre +it there is a town, that hight Sobachie: and there alle abowte dwellen +cristene men, undre trybute. Fro thens gon men to Nazarethe, of the whiche +oure Lord berethe the surname. And fro thens, there is 3 journeyes to +Jerusalem: and men gon be the provynce of Galylee, be Ramatha, be Sothym +and be the highe hille of Effraim; where Elchana and Anna, the modre of +Samuelle the prophete, dwelleden. There was born this prophete: and aftre +his dethe, he was buryed at Mount Joye, as I have seyd you before. And than +gon men to Sylo; where the arke of God with the relikes weren kept longe +tyme, undre Ely the prophete. There made the peple of Ebron sacrifice to +oure Lord: and ther thei yolden up here avowes: and there spak God first to +Samuelle, and schewed him the mutacioun of ordre of presthode, and the +misterie of the sacrement. And right nyghe, on the left syde, is Gabaon and +Rama and Beniamyn; of the whiche holy writt spekethe offe. And aftre men +gon to Sychem, sumtyme clept Sychar; and that is in the provynce of +Samaritanes; and there is a fulle fair vale and a fructuouse, and there is +a fair cytee and a gode, that men clepen Neople. And from thens is a +jorneye to Jerusalem. And there is the welle, where oure Lord spak to the +woman of Samaritan. And there was wont to ben a chirche; but it is beten +doun. Besyde that welle, Kyng Roboas let make 2 calveren of gold, and made +hem to ben worschipt, and put that on at Dan, and that other at Betelle. +And a myle fro Sychar, is the cytee of Deluze. And in that cytee dwelte +Abraham, a certeyn tyme. Sychem is a 10 myle fro Jerusalem, and it is clept +Neople; that is, for to seyne, the newe cytee. And nyghe besyde is the +tombe of Josephe the sone of Jacob, that governed Egypt: for the Jewes +baren his bones from Egypt, and buryed hem there. And thidre gon the Jewes +oftentyme in pilgrimage, with gret devocioun. In that cytee was Dyne +Jacobes doughter ravysscht; for whom hire bretheren slowen many persones, +and diden many harmes to the cytee. And there besyde, is the hille of +Garasoun, where the Samaritanes maken here sacrifice: in that hille wolde +Abraham have sacrificed his sone Ysaac. And there besyde is the vale of +Dotaym: and there is the cisterne, where Josephe was cast in of his +bretheren, which thei solden; and that is a 2 myle fro Sychar. From thens +gon men to Samarye, that men clepen now Sebast; and that is the chief cytee +of that contree: and it sytt betwene the hille of Aygnes, as Jerusalem +dothe. In that cytee was the syttinges of the 12 tribes of Israel: but the +cytee is not now so gret, as it was wont to be. There was buryed seynt John +the Baptist, betwene 2 prophetes, Helyseus and Abdyan: but he was beheded +in the castelle of Macharyme, besyde the Dede See: and aftre he was +translated of his disciples, and buryed at Samarie: and there let Julianas +Apostata dyggen him up, and let brennen his bones; (for he was that time +Emperour) and let wyndwe [Footnote: Blow away.] the ashes in the wynd. But +the fynger, that schewed oure Lord, seyenge, _Ecce Agnus Dei_; that is to +seyne, _Lo the Lamb of God_: that nolde nevere brenne, but is alle hol: +that fynger leet seynte Tecle the holy virgyne be born in to the hill of +Sebast; and there maken men gret feste. In that place was wont to ben a +faire chirche; and many othere there weren; but thei ben alle beten doun. +There was wont to ben the heed of seynt John Baptist, enclosed in the +walle; but the Emperour Theodosie let drawe it out, and fond it wrapped in +a litille clothe, alle blody; and so he leet it to be born to +Costantynoble: and zit at Costantynoble is the hyndre partye of the heed: +and the for partie of the heed, til undre the chyn, is at Rome, undre the +chirche of seynt Silvestre, where ben nonnes of an hundred ordres; and it +is zit alle broylly, as thoughe it were half brent: for the Emperour +Julianus aboyeseyd, of his cursednesse and malice, let brennen that partie +with the other bones; and zit it schewethe: and this thing hathe ben +preved, both be popes and by emperours. And the Jowes benethe, that holden +to the Chyn, and a partie of the assches, and the platere, that the hed was +leyd in, whan it was smyten of, is at Gene: and the Geneweyes maken of it +gret feste; and so don the Sarazynes also. And sum men seyn; that the heed +of seynt John is at Amyas, in Picardye: and other men seyn, that it is the +heed of seynt John the Bysschop. I wot nere, but God knowethe: but in what +wyse than men worschipen it, the blessed seynt John holt him a payd. + +From this cytee of Sebast unto Jerusalem, is 12 myle. And betwene the +hilles of that contree, there is a welle, that 4 sithes in the zeer +chaungethe his colour; sometyme grene, sometyme reed, sometyme cleer, and +sometyme trouble; and men clepen that welle Job. And the folk of that +contree, that men clepen Samaritanes, weren converted and baptized by the +apostles; but thei holden not wel here doctryne; and alle weys thei holden +lawes by hem self, varyenge from cristene men, from Sarrazines, Jewes and +Paynemes. And the Samaritanes leeven well in o Godi: and thei seyn wel, +that there is but only o God, that alle formed, and alle schalle deme: and +thei holden the Bible aftre the lettre: and thei usen the psawtere, as the +Jewes don: and thei seyn, that thei ben the righte sones of God: and among +alle other folk, thei seyn that thei ben best beloved of God; and that to +hem belongethe the heritage, that God behighte to hise beloved children: +and thei han also dyverse clothinge and schapp, to loken on, than other +folk han; for thei wrappen here hedes in red linnene cloth, in difference +from othere. And the Sarazines wrappen here hedes in white lynnene clothe. +And the Cristene men, that duellen in the contree, wrappen hem in blew of +Ynde; and the Jewes in zelow clothe. In that contree duellen manye of the +Jewes, payenge tribute, as Cristene men don. And zif zee wil knowe the +lettres, that the Jewes usen, as thei clepem hem, in manner of here _A. B. +C. Alephe, Bethe, Gymel, Delethe, He, Vau, Zay, Cy, Thet, Joht, Kapho, +Lampd [sic--KTH], Mem, Num, Samethe, Ey, Fhee, Sade, Cophe, Resch, Son, +Tau_. + + +Of the Province of Galilee, and where Antecrist schalle be born; Of + Nazarethe. Of the Age of oure Lady. Of the Day of Doom; and of the + Customes of Jacobites, Surryenes; and of the Usages of Gcorgyenes. + +[Sidenote: Chap. IX.] From this contree of the Samaritanes, that I have +spoken of before, gon men to the playnes of Galilee. And men leven the +hilles, on that o partye. And Galilee is on of the provynces of the Holy +Land: and in that provynce is the cytee of Naym and Capharnaum and +Chorosaym and Bethsayde. In this Bethseyde was Seynt Petre and Seynt Andrew +borne. And thens, a 4 myle, is Chorosaym: and 5 myle fro Chorosaym, is the +cytee of Cedar, of the psautre spekethe: _Et habitavi cum habitantibus +Cedar_; that is for to seye, _And I have dwelled with the dwellynge men in +Cedar_. In Chorosaym schalle Antecrist be born, as sum men seyn; and other +men seyn, he schalle be born in Babyloyne: for the prophete seyth; _De +Babilonia Coluber exiet, qui totum mundum devorabit_; that is to seyne, +_Out of Babiloyne schal come a worm, that schal devouren alle the world_. +This Antecrist schal be norysscht in Bethsayda, and he schal regne in +Capharnaum: and therfore seythe Holy Writt: _Ve tibi, Chorosaym: ve tibi, +Bethsayda: ve tibi, Capharnaum_; that is to seye, _Wo be to the, Chorosaym; +wo to the, Bethsayda: wo to the, Capharnaum_. And alle theise townes ben in +the lond of Galilee. And also, the cane of Galilee is 4 myle fro Nazarethe: +of that cytee was Simon Chananeus, and his wif Canee; of the whiche the +holy evaungelist spekethe off: there dide oure Lord the first myracle at +the wedyng, whan he turned water in to wyn. And in the ende of Galilee, at +the hilles, was the arke of God taken; and on that other syde is the Mownt +Hender or Hermon. And there aboute gothe the Broke of Cison: and there +besyde, Barache, that was Abymeleche sone, with Delbore the prophetisse, +overcam the Oost of Ydumea, whan Cysera the kyng was slayn of Gebelle, the +wif of Aber; and chaced beyonde the Flom Jordan, be strengthe of sword, Zeb +and Zebec and Salmana; and there he slowghe him. Also a 5 myle fro Naym, is +the cytee of Jezreel, that sometyme was clept Zarym; of the which cytee +Jezabel the cursed queen was lady and queen, that toke awey the vyne of +Nabaothe, be hire strengthe. Faste by that cytee, is the Feld Magede, in +the whiche the Kyng Joras was slayn of the Kyng of Samarie, and aftre was +translated and buryed in the Mount Syon. And a myle fro Jezrael ben the +Hilles of Gelboe, where Saul and Jonathas that weren so faire, dyeden: +wherfore David cursed hem, as holy writt seythe; _Montes Gelboe, nec Ros +nec Pluvia, &c._; that is to seye, _Zee hilles of Gelboe, nouther Dew ne +Reyne com upon you_. And a myle fro the hilles of Gelboe, toward the est, +is the cytee of Cyrople, that was clept before Bethsayn. And upon the +walles of that cytee was the hed of Saul honged. + +After gon men be the hille, besyde the pleynes of Galylee, unto Nazarethe, +where was wont to ben a gret cytee and fair: but now there is not, but a +lytille village, and houses a brood here and there. And it is not walled; +and it sytt in a litille valeye, and there ben hilles alle aboute. There +was our lady born: but sche was goten at Jerusalem. And be cause that oure +lady was born at Nazarethe, therefore bare our Lord his surname of that +town. There toke Josephe our lady to wyf, when sche was 14 zeere of age: +and there Gabrielle grette our lady, seyenge, _Ave Gratia plena, Dominus +tecum_; that is to seyne, _Heyl fulle of Grace, oure Lord is with the_. And +this Salutacioun was don in a place of a gret awteer of a faire chirche, +that was wont to be somtyme: but it is now alle downe; and men han made a +litylle resceyt, besyde a pylere of that chirche, for to resceyve the +offrynges of Pilgrymes. And the Sarrazines kepen that place fulle derely, +for the profyte that thei han there offe: and thei ben fulle wykked +Sarrazines and cruelle, and more dispytous than in ony other place, and han +destroyed alle the chirches. There nyghe is Gabrielles Welle, where oure +Lord was wont to bathe Him, whan He was yong: and fro that welle bare he +watre often tyme to his modre: and in that well sche wossche often tyme the +clowtes of hire sone Jesu Crist. And fro Jerusalem unto thidre, is 3 +journeyes. At Nazarathe was our Lord norisscht. Nazarethe is als meche to +seye, as flour of the gardyn: and be gode skylle may it ben clept flour; +for there was norisscht the flour of lyf, that was Crist Jesu. And 2 myle +fro Nazarethe, it the cytee of Sephor, be the weye, that gothe from +Nazerethe to Acon. And an half myle fro Nazarethe, is the lepe of oure +Lorde: for the Jewes ladden him upon an highe roche, for to make him lepe +doun, and have slayn him: but Jesu passed amonges hem, and lepte upon +another roche; and zit ben the steppes of his feet sene in the roche, where +he allyghte. And therfore seyn sum men, whan thei dreden hem of thefes, on +ony weye, or of enemyes; _Jesus autem transiens per medium illorum ibet_; +that is to seyne, _Jesus forsothe passynge be the myddes of hem, he wente_: +in tokene and mynde, that oure Lord passed thorghe out the Jewes crueltee, +and scaped safly fro hem: so surely mowe men passen the perile of thefes. +And than sey men 2 vers of the psautre, 3 sithes: _Irruat super eos formido +et pavor in magnitudine Brachii tui, Domine, Fiant inmobiles, quasi Lapis, +donec pertranseat populus tuus, Domine; donec pertranseat populus tuus +iste, quem possedisti_. And thanne may men passe with outen perile. And zee +schulle undirstonde, that oure lady hadde child, whan sche was 15 zeere +old: and sche was conversant with hire sone 33 zeer and 3 monethes; And +aftre the passioun of oure Lord, sche lyvede 24 zeer. + +Also fro Nazarethe, men gon to the Mount Thabor; and that is a 4 myle: and +it is a fulle faire hille, and well highe, where was wont to ben a toun and +many chirches; but thei ben alle destroyed; but zit there is a place, that +men clepen the scole of God, where he was wont to teche his disciples, and +tolde hem the prevytees of hevene. And at the foot of that hille, +Melchisedeche, that was Kyng of Salem, in the turnynge of that hille, mette +Abraham in comynge azen from the bataylle, whan he had slayn Abymeleche: +and this Melchisedeche was bothe kyng and prest of Salem, that now is +cleped Jerusalem. In that hille Thabor, oure Lord transfigured him before +seynt Petre, seynt John and seynt Jame; and there they sawghe gostly Moyses +and Elye the prophetes besyde hem: and therefore seyde seynt Petre, +_Domine, bonum est nos hic esse; faciamus tria Tabernacula_; that is to +seye, _Lorde, it is gode for us to ben here; make we here 3 dwellying +places_. And there herd thei a voys of the fadir, that seye, _Hic est +filius meus dilectus, in quo mihi bene complacui_. And oure Lord defended +hem, that thei scholde not telle that avisioun, til that he were rysen from +dethe to lyf. In that hille and in that same place, at the day of doom, 4 +aungeles, with 4 trompes, schulle blowen and reysen alle men, that hadden +suffred dethe, sithe that the world was formed, from dethe to lyve; and +schnlle comen in body and soule in juggement; before the face of oure Lord, +in the Vale of Josaphate. And the doom schalle ben on Estre Day, suche tyme +as oure Lord aroos: and the dom schalle begynne, suche houre as oure Lord +descended, to helle and dispoyled it; for at such houre schal he dispoyle +the world, and lede his chosene to blisse; and the othere schalle be +condempne to perpetuelle peynes: and thanne schalle every man have aftir +his dissert, outher gode or evylle; but zif the mercy of God passe his +rightewisnesse. + +Also a myle from Mount Thabor, is the Mount Heremaon; and there was the +cytee of Naym. Before the zate of that cytee, reysed oure Lord the wydewes +sone, that had no mo children. Also 3 myle fro Nazarethe, is the Castelle +Saffra; of the whiche, the sones of Zebedee and the sones of Alphee weren. +Also a 7 myle fro Nazarethe is the Mount Kayn; andl andre that is a welle, +and besyde that welle, Lameche Noees fadre sloughe Kaym with an arwe. For +this Kaym wente thorghe breres and bosshes, as a wylde best; and he had +lyved fro the tyme of Adam his fadir, unto the tynme of Noe; and so he +lyvode nyghe to 2000 zeer. And this Lameche was alle blynd for elde. + +Fro Saffra, men gothe to the see of Galylee and to the cytee of Tyberye, +that sytt upon the same see. And alle be it, that men clepen it a see, zit +is it nouther see ne arm of the see: for it is but a stank of fresche +watir, that is in lengthe 100 furlonges; and of brede 40 furlonges; and +hathe with in him gret plentee of fissche, and rennethe in to Flom Jordan. +The cytee it not fulle gret, but it hathe gode bathes with in him. And +there; as the Flom Jordan partethe fro the see of Galilee, is a gret +brigge, where men passen from the lond of promyssioun, to the lond of +Baazan and the lond of Gerrasentz, that ben about the Flom Jordan, and the +begynnynge of the see of Tyberie. And fro thens may men go to Damask, in 3 +dayes, be the kyngdom of Traconye; the whiche kyngdom lastethe fro mount +Heremon to the see of Galilee, or to the see of Tyberie, or to the see of +Jenazarethe; and alle is o see, and this the stank that I have told zou; +but it chaungethe thus the name, for the names of the cytees that sytten +besyde hem. Upon that see, went oure Lord drye feet; and there he toke up +seynt Peter, when he began to drenche with in the see, and seyde to him, +_Modice Fidei, quare dubitasti_? And aftre his resurrexioun, oure Lord +appered on that see, to his disciples, and bad hem fyssche, and filled alle +the nett fulle of gret fisshes. In that see rowed oure Lord often tyme; and +there he called to him, seynt Peter, seynt Andrew, seynt James and seynt +John, the sones of Zebedee. In that cytee of Tyberie, is the table, upon +the whiche oure Lord eete upon, with his disciples, aftre his resurrexioun; +and thei knewen him in brekynge of bred, as the gospelle seythe; _Et +cognoverunt cum in fractione Panis_. And nyghe that cytee of Tyberie, is +the hille, where oure Lord fedde 5 thousand persones, with 5 barly loves +and 2 fisshes. In that cytee, a man cast an brennynge dart in wratthe aftir +oure Lord, and the hed smot in to the eerthe, and wax grene, and it growed +to a gret tree; and zit it growethe, and the bark there of is alle lyk +coles. Also in the hed of that See of Galilee, toward the Septemtryon, is a +strong castelle and an highe, that highte Saphor: and fast besyde it, is +Capharnaum: with in the lond of Promyssioun, is not so strong a castelle: +and there is a gode toun benethe, that is clept also Saphor. In that +castel, seynt Anne our ladyes modre was born. And there benethe was +Centurioes hous. That contree is clept the Galilee of Folk, that weren +taken to tribute of Sabulon, and of Neptalym. And in azen comynge fro that +castelle, a 30 myle, is the cytee of Dan, that somtyme was clept Belynas, +or Cesaire Philippon, that sytt at the foot of the Mount of Lyban, where +the Flom Jordan begynnethe. There begynnethe the lond of Promyssioun, and +durethe unto Bersabee, in lengthe, in goynge toward the northe in to the +southe; and it conteynethe well a 180 myles: and of brede, that is to seye, +fro Jericho unto Jaffe, and that conteynethe a 40 myle of Lombardye, or of +our contree, that ben also lytylle myles. Theise ben not myles of Gascoyne, +ne of the provynce of Almayne, where ben gret myles. And wite zee welle, +that the lond of Promyssioun is in Sirye. For the reme of Sirye durethe fro +the desertes of Arabye, unto Cecyle, and that is Ermonye the grete, that is +to seyne, fro the southe to the northe: and fro the est to the west, it +durethe fro the grete desertes of Arabye onto the West See. But in the reme +of Syrie, is the kyngdom of Judee, and many other provynces, as Palestyne, +Galilee, litylle Cilicye, and many othere. In that contree and other +contrees bezonde, thei han a custom, whan thei schulle usen werre, and whan +men holden sege abbouten cytee or castelle, and thei with innen dur not +senden out messagers with lettres, from lord to lord, for to aske sokour, +thei maken here letters and bynden hem to the nekke of a colver, and leten +the colver flee; and the colveren ben so taughte, that threi fleen with tho +lettres to the verry place, that men wolde sende hem to. For the colveres +ben norysscht in tho places, where thei ben sent to; and thei senden hem +thus, for to beren here lettres. And the colveres retournen azen, where as +thei ben norisscht; and so thei doe comounly. + + + + +MANDEVILLE'S VOYAGES + +PART II. + + +Secunda pars. + +CAPVT. 24. + +Persuasio ad non credentes terrarum diuersitates per orben terrae. + +Mirabilis Deus mirabilia propter semetipsum creauit, vt scilicet ab +intellectualibus creaturis suis intelligeretur, et per hoc diligeretur, +atque in hoc ipse creator, et creatura se mutuo fruerentur. Mirabilis est +ergo Deus maxime in illo, quod ipse solus sufficit sibi: et mirabilis in +altis Dominus, hoc est, in coelo et in coelestibus: sed et mirabilis in +terris, et in terrestribus: tamen si verum indicauerimus, nihil est +mirabile, quod mirum videri non debet, si ille qui omnipotens est, fecit +quaecunque voluit in coelo et in terra. Sed ecce dum nobis contingit videre +rem quam prius non vidimus, miratur noster animus, non quod simpliciter +mirum est, sed quod nobis id mirum et nouum. Deus vnus, simplex quidem est, +vt creaturae coelestes quo Deo magis de propinquo sunt eo simpliciores +existunt. Terrestres autem quod in situ remotiori sint, idcirco magis +diuersae, magis contrariae inter se sunt. + +[Sidenote: Reprehensio incredulorum qui nihil credunt, nisi quod domi +viderint.] Ergo quicunque sapiens est non stupet animo, dum in terrenis +respicit res varias, et diuersas, vel dum diuersa contingunt, seu +inueniuntur in partibus terrae diuersis: sed qui intellectum super sensum +non eleuant, et magis credunt oculo suo corporeo, quam spirituali, et qui +nunquam a natiuitatis suae loco recesserunt, isti vix volunt credere, seu +possunt alijs vera narrantibus de mundi diuersitatibus. + +Attamen tales, si vellent, de facili videre possint suum errorem. Quia +quicunque natus in vna ciuitate, vel patria, si tantummodo moueat se ad +proximam ciuitatem, inueniet ibi procul dubio aliquam differentiam, vel +diuersitatem in idiomate linguae, vel in modo loquendi, in moribus hominum, +in occupationibus, in legibus, in consuetudinibus, vel etiam in agrorom +fructibus, in arborum frugibus, seu in his quae gignuntur in terra, in aere, +et in aquis. + +Si ergo aliqualiter inueniri possit differentia in proximo, quanto maior +sit distantia, tanto maior differentia aestimandi est in remoto, vel in +remotiori, seu remotissimo loco. Vnde ego, quia in praecedente parte +tractatus narrare coepi aliqua, quae in his, et in peregrinatione mea vsque +in terram promissionis sanctam vidi, de quibus etiam potest, et poterit +constare multis, qui in partibus nostris eadem peregrinatione me +praecesserunt, et secuti sunt, procedam in describendo aliqua illorum, quae +vidi et percepi in deambulatione mea, qua peragraui multas alias terras, et +perlegi multas vndas, vsque in multorum hoc tempus annorum, et propter +insipientes, et discredentes non tacebo. Sed nec propter credentes nec +sapientes satis mouebor; tamen vt diuersa Dei opera qui respicere non +possunt oculo, saltem legant, vel audiant ex hoc scripto. Pauca vtique vidi +horum quae sunt, sed pauca horum quae vidi, narrabo. + + +CAPVT. 25. + +De Armenia, Persia, et Amazonia. + +De regionibus quae Iudeae contiguantur, scilicet Arabia, Aegypto et Syria, +statui modicum vltra narrare, relinquens hunc locum narrandi alijs +peregrinis. Et festinans ad terras remotiores, Armeniam minorem, non per +singulas ciuitates, sed celeriter transiens, vidi a remotis amplum castrum +vocatum Dei espoyer de quo mihi sustinui dici, quod sit vastum, et a +nemine, habitatum, nisi a fantastica quadam Domina, seruante in medio +maioris aulae super perticam, volucrem rapacem, quae dicitur Latine +accipiter, vel huiusmodi: quam auem, si aliquis hominum ingrediens se +custodire peruigil absque vlla somnolentia per septem continuos dies et +noctes posset, ipsa Domina in fine facti apparens concederet illi +quantamcunque faceret petitionem terrae, commodi, vel honoris, sed si +obdormiret, periret. Huic tamen dicto parum curaui accommodare aurem, nisi +quod communiter dicebatur, in bene transacto tempore praedicta fuisse +tentata per duas personas, vnum Regem, et alterum Pastorem. Et Regi quidem +quod indebitam fecit petitionem, vile successit negotium, pastori peroptime +successit negotium. + +In Armenia maiori, est magna et bona ciuitas Artyron ad dietam prope +fluuium Euphratem. Et sunt ibi duo montes euecti valde, vnus Sabissatele, +alter Ararath, quorum vltimus habet per anfractius, et periodos per +ascensum viae, fere 7. leucas, et quasi omni tempore est plenus niue. + +In illo loco fertur quicuisse Arca diluuii, cuius vnicus asser monstratur, +in Ecclesia Monachorum ad montis pedem habitantium; attamem nullus hominum +pro frigore nimio attentare praesumit ascensum. + +Est autem et ibi ciuitas Landania, de qua nonnulli dicunt quod Noe illam +fundauerat, et ciuitas magna Hany, in qua tempore Christianorum mille +habebantur Ecclesiae. + +In illa Armenia sub Imperio Persiae est famosa ciuitas Tauris, vbi de +mercimonijs ponderalibus fit inestimabilis mercatura. Hinc ad decem diates +ad Orientem habeatur ciuitas Zadona, in ea Imperator Persarum moratur, et +est in eodem imperio ciuitas valde magna Cassach, quae recto itinere dicitur +store ab Hierosolymis 55. dietis. Geth ciuitas imperialis, et melior totius +Persiae in hac terra noscitur esse, cum tamen Carnaa sit satis maior. + +Circa fines Persiae in terra Sennaar, est illa quae olim dicebatur Babylonia, +nec apparet ibi aliquid, quam ruinae grandis et vetustae cuitatis, quae ab +hominibus est deserta, sed a Draconibus inhabitata, et alijs animalibus, et +volucribus venenosis. Hanc terram tenet Imperator Persarum, vt supra dixi. +Etiam intra fines Persiae, est terra, vbi sanctus Iob patiens morabatur, quae +modo dicitur terra Sues, in cuius montanis inuenitur Manna, quod venditur +in Apothecis. Hunc terrae Sues contiguatur Chaldaea, quae non est magna, +quamuis nobilis regio habeatur. Et ab ista intratur Amazonia. + +Amazonia est modica insula, quam absquae viris sofae regunt et inhabitant +mulieres: cuius rei prima causa haec fuit. + +Olim cum insula communiter a viris, et mulieribus habitabatur, Rex eius +dictus Colopius cum omnibus nobilibus suis in bello contra Regnum Scithiae +occisus fuit. Audientes igitur nobilium vxores ipsius insulae se viduatas, +super his, in doloroso furore animi ad plures congressiones occiderunt et +fugauerunt omnes aliarum mulierum maritos, ne scilicet sua ingennitas +subiaceret voluntati, et potestati plebis. Et tandem post reformatam inter +se pacem mulieres inito consilio statuerum se solas absque viris dominari +in terra, atque ex tunc sumi sibi regimen per certam electionis formam quae +robusta, agilis, sapiens, iuuenis, ac valens apparet in armis. + +Sciendum tamen est, extra hanc insulam flumen esse, et alias modicas +insulas, quarum vna dicitur Carmagite, de quibus licitum est ijs accessire +viros, et amasios bis in anno, ita vt nulla moram trahat septem dierum +naturalium sub poena indubitata occisionis. Infantem masculum nutrire licet +quoadusque per se comedat et gradiatur, tunc transmittendus est in domum +paternam. Generosae natae puellae aufertur ignito cultro vber sinistrum pro +scuto gerendo, degeneri dextrum, ad sagittandum de arcu Turco. + +Regina cum consiliaribus et officialibus suis regit sapienter et bene +terram, et seruat omnes sibi sub districta obedientia, per leges, et +poenas, et amendas conscriptas. Et cum circumiacentium insularum Reges +contra se ad inuicem proeliari solent, tunc Regina Amazoniae cum suis +Nobilibus ab vna parte pro magno stipendio vocari solet in adiutorium, vbi +et inuentae sunt sapientes in consilijs, probae in armis, acres in +conflictibus, et in omnibus Curiae actibus bene valentes. + + +CAPVT. 26. + +De Aethiopia, et Diamantibus, et de infima India. + +Aethiopia consistit a terra Chaldeorum in Austrum, quae distinguitur in +Orientalem Aethiopiam, et ['and' in source text--KTH] Meridionalem, quarum +prima in illis partibus vocatur Cush, propter hominum nigredinem, altera +Mauritania. [Sidenote: Mauritania. Regnum Saba.] Et est ibi Regnum Saba, de +quo legitur, quod Regi Salomoni Regis Arabum, et Saba, dona et tributa +adduxerunt. Eoque Regina Saba venit a finibus, hoc est, a longinquis terrae +partibus audire sapientiam Salomonis. Omnes in Aethiopia aquae in fluuijs et +riparijs, et fontibus sapiunt Sal, propter nimium calorem. [Sidenote: +Plinius.] Est ibi vnus aquae fons ita de nocte calidus, vt nemo in eo +sustineat manum, et ita de die frigidus, vt bibi vix possit. + +Generaliter isti de Mauritania Aethiopes comedunt parum, de facili +inebriantur, fluxum ventris patiuntur nec diu viuunt. + +[Sidenote: India triplex.] De Aethiopia intratur in Indiam, mediam, nam +triplex est videlicet infima, quae in quibusdam suis partibus est nimis +frigida ad inhabitandum: Media quae satis temperata est, et superior, quae +nimis calida. In India infima propter continuum et graue frigus generatur +christallum de aqua per gelu, sicut quidam asserunt. Sed certum est ibi +haberi rupes christalli, et in illis gigni optimos Diamantes, quos lingua +illius vocant Hamefht. [Sic. 'Hamese' in English version below--KTH.] + +Est autem diamas paruus praeciosus lapis, magnae virtutis, sicut plenius +describitur in lapidariis. Quidam inueniuntur in magnitudine pisi, vel +etiam piso minores: alii ad quantitatem fabae, sed nullus maior auellana, +vel nuce. Et dicitur de eo in partibus illis quod si hic qui portat sit +continens, et sobrius reddit illum magnanimum et audacem, et iuuat in +causis iustis certantem, conseruat substantias corporales, aufert praua +somnia, depellit prauorum spirituum illusiones, sortilegia, et +incantationes, ac valet contra lunaticam passionem, vt daemonis obsessionem, +et venenosum quod illi appropinquauerit exsudat, et exhumescit. + +Optimi Diamantes de India assimulantur in colore multum christallo, sed +sunt aliquantulum magis citrini, et pro sui duritie poliri non possunt. +Inueniuntur autem ibi nonnulli subnigri ad colorem violae: Alii nascuntur in +Arabia nigri, et tenuiores praedictis, alii in Macedonia, et quidam in +Cypro, sed in mineriis auri, dum prima massa in minutias confringitur, +interdum reperiuntur. Sciendum enim est, saepe plures simul crescere, nec +non generant, et concipiunt inuicem de rore coeli, quemadmodum et +Margaritae: quod ego pluries tentans, accepi de rupe cespitem cum diamante +masculo, et femella, plantans in pratello, et frequentans, focillans +madefeci de rore Maii. Et ecce in breui, paruulus ex iis gignebatur, +nascebatur, et adolescebat ad debitam quantitatem: fiunt vero omnes per +naturam cum pluribus angulis vt trium vel quatuor, aut quinque laterum, et +nonnulli cum lateribus senis. E contra omnes margaritae nascuntur in forma +sphaerica, seu rotunda. + +Et notandum quod mercatores, pro diamantibus frequenter aliud vendunt: Nam +solet commixtio fieri de christallo Crochee, de Saphiro, de Lonpes Citrino, +de lapide Yri, et de paruis petris ex murium nidis. Probatio veri diamantis +haberi potest his modis. + +Primo si ita inuenitur tener, vt se poliri dimittat non est verus. + +Item si de eo non potest scindi vitrum cristallum, non est verus. + +Item accipe paruum quantitatis lapidem Adamantem, qui solet sibi attrahere +acum et ferrum, et pone verum diamantem, super adamantem, tuncque si +ministraueris adamanti acum, videbis adamantem operari nihil, vero diamante +praesente, dum tamen adamas non sit diamante maior. + +Item si cultellum laminae tenuis, habentem in manubrio inclusum vel +alligatum verum diamantem in mensa vel assere erexeris, protinus vt ipsi +venenum appropinquabit, stabit tremulans atque sudans. Et notandum, quod +per luxuriosum, seu gulosum qui ferret diamantem amitteret virtutem ad +tempus. + +Terra Indiae appellatur ab Indo ibi currente fluuio, cuius anguillae +inueniuntur quandoque vltra 20. pedes in longitudine. In media India +transitur per multas insulas vsque ad mare Oceanum, in insulam Ormuz, vbi +Mercatores Venetiae saepe tendunt, sed viri, qui assueti non sunt tantum +sustinere calorem, ne exeant perpendicula de corporibus prope ad genua, ibi +se contra hoc debite inuoluunt, et ligant, nec audent ibi transire nauibus +ferrum continentibus, ne teneantur de rupibus adamantum. + +Hic in aliquibus Aethiopiae partibus habitant publice, inhonestorum +vtriusque sexus hominum consuetudinem inhonestam gerentes, et in aestu +meridiano refrigerandi causa exeunt circa ciuitatem ad riparias iacere, et +discurrere nudis prorsus corporibus omni pudore reiecto, ex quo procul +dubio inhonesta vitia sequuntur. + +Est et non longe ab ista insula regio seu insula Caua vel Chaua, quae a +primo statu multum est minorata per mare. Hi sunt infidelissimi Paganorum. +Nam quidam adorant Solem, alij Lunam, ignem, aquam, et terram, arborem, vel +serpentem, vel cui de mane primo obuiant. Ibi magni mures, quos nos dicimus +rattas, sunt in quantitate paruorum canum. Et quoniam per cattos capi non +possunt, capiuntur per canes maiores. + +Corpora mortuoram non sepeliuntur ibi, nec cadauera quaelibet bestiarum +operiuntur, quod ad aeris aestum carnes in breui tempore consumuntur, nam et +tota insula consistit sub zona torrida. Inde transiri potest per mare in +Indiam superiorem, sine maiorem, videlicet Imperium Presbyteri Ioannis ad +portum ciuitatis Zarke, quae est elegans et bona satis. In ea habitant +plurimi Catholicae fidei Christiani: et habentur plurimae Abbatiae +religiosorum, quas olim Dux Danorum Ogerus constituit, vnde et vsque nunc +dicuntur Ecclesiae Dani, atque ex hoc nauigari potest in terram Lombe. + + +CAPVT. 27. + +De foresto Piperis, et fonte iuuentutis. + +Regio seu insula dicta Lombe, spatiosa quidem est, continens forestum +dictum alias Tombar, longum per dietas 18. In orbe vniuerso non noscimus +crescere piper, praeterquam in hoc foresto. In quo et habetur duae, +ciuitates, vna Flandrina, (et illa ciuitas inhabitata est a Iudaeis, et +Christianis, inter quos saepe magna seditio oritur) altera Singlant: quas +quondam Danus fertur fundasse Ogerus, vocans vnam Flandrinam, nomine auiae +suae ex parte patris sui, alteram Florentam nomine auiae ex parte matris suae, +quae mutato nomine nunc vocatur Singlant. + +Sciendum est autem, piper ibi crescere in hunc modum: sicut nos plantamus +vites aut quercus arbores robustas, vt vitis cum fructibus se spargat, vt +supportetur per ramos, sic coluntur arbusta piperis ad arbores foresti, et +sparguntur per ramos, et dependent fructus vt botri. Et venit in eodem +arbusto triplex piper in anno. + +Primum est quod vocatur longum piper, et venit priusquam nascuntur folia in +arbustis, quemadmodum nos in arbore videmus corylo in hyeme ante folia +praecedere quasdam caudulas longas, quo circa initium vindemiato, nascuntur +cum foliis botri piperis viridis ad similitudinem paruarum vuarum. Quod +quidem circa tempus Iulii in eadem viriditate vindemiatum in aestu feruido +siccatur ad Solem, vt accipiat nigredinem, et rugarum contractionem. + +Postea exurgit piper album in granis minoribus, et in abundantia satis +minori, quo tanquam preciosiori vtuntur in partibus illis et raro vendunt +ad partes istas. + +Primum piper appellatur Sorbotyn, secundum Fulful, tertium vero Bauos. + +Sunt autem per nemus istud fera animalia, et venenosa, sicut parui +serpentes, colubri, et huiusmodi, de quibus nescio quis famam diffundit per +nostras partes, quod vindemiatores piperis tales vermes fugant per ignem: +sed non est ita, imo vngunt brachia manus, tibias, et pedes cum quodam +succo herbae dictae Limonse, a quo cito diffugit omne venenum. + +In huius foresti capite sub monte Polembo, est ciuitas dicta Bolemba, et +sub eodem monte fons qui dicitur Iuuentutis. Aqua huius fontis reddit +odorem et saporem quasi de omni genere aromatum, nam singulis pene horis +immutat odorem, et saporem. Et quisquis per aliquos dies potat ieiuno +stomacho sanatur in breui tempore, a quacunque interiori infirmitate, +languore duntaxat mortis excepto: et sane illorum qui prope sunt, et +frequenter bibunt apparet per totum vitae tempus mira iuuentus. Ego autem +ter vel quater bibi, quamobrem et vsque hodie arbitror potius me +corporaliter valere. Putatur enim fons ille immediate per poros +subterraneos eliquari de fonte paradisi terrestris, ita quod nulla via +decurrentium super terram fluentium vitietur. In ista etiam regione, et in +insulis circumquaque crescit gingiber valde bonum, vnde et mercatores saepe +ibi tendunt de Venetia pro emendo pipere et gingibere. Gentes vero huius +insulae peruersae et stollidissimae sunt superstitionis adorantes bouem +tanquam animal beatissimum, propter eius simplicitatem mansuetudinem, +patientiam, et vtilitatem. + +Multitudo cuiuslibet ciuitatis vel uillae vnum specialem nutrit bouem, quem +postquam laborauit in aratro per sex annos immolant manducantes pariter cum +maxima solemnitate. Et quicunque inde minimam minutiam comedit, reputat se +sanctificatum totum. + +Porro apud Regem tenetur bos singularis, cuius custos diligentissime vrinam +in uase aureo accipit simpliciter, et de fimo in vase consimili: et +quotidie venit summus eorum praelatus quem dicunt Archiprotoplaustum, offert +personaliter in praedictis preciosis vasis, Domino Regi de bouis vrina et +fimo, atque in vrina, quam appellant Gaul, tingens manus, defricit, et +perungit Regis pectus et frontem, deinde similiter de fimo in multa cordis +attentione, ad finem vt possint assequi quatuor virtutes bouis praefati. + +Post regem cum reuerentia accedunt, et vnguntur Barones, principes, et post +ipsos caeteri ordinati quicunque attingere possint, putantes se sanctificari +per rem penitus non valentem, imo nimis foetidam, et inhostem. + +Praeterea populi isti colunt Idola facta ad medium in forma humana, et ad +medium in forma bouis. In quibus permissione Dei per eorum perfidiam +maligni spiritus habitant dantes de interrogatis responsa. Et hijs Idolis +offerunt infinita donari aquandoque, et sacrificant interdum proprios +infantes, ipsorum sanguine Idola respergentes. + +Dum hic maritus moritur, vxor comburitur cum marito, nisi de illo habeat +sobolem cum quo viuere solet, et vilet. Quae sibi eligit cum prole +superuiuere, non habebitur de caetero fide digna. + +Attamen in simili causa, si vir non vult cremari cum vxore mortua, non +minuit ei honorem. + +Et forte vinum nascitur ibi: quod mulieres bibunt, et non viri, vt sic +mulieribus crescant barbae, sed mulieribus raduntur, et viris minime. + + +CAPVT. 28. + +De Ecclesia et corpore Saneti Thomae Apostoli. + +Hinc Meridiem pluribus exactis Insulis per viam decem dietarum venitur in +Regnum Mabron. Illic in ciuitate Calamiae, seruatur in magno templo corpus +beatissimi Thomae Apostoli Domini nostri Iesu Christi in capsa honorificata. +In quo loco et martirizatus fuit, licet dicunt quidam, quod in Edissa +ciuitate. Iste populus non est multum tempus transactum, quin fuit totus in +fidei religione, sed nunc est ad pessimos Gentilium ritus peruersus, nec +attendit, nec veneratur relliquias sancti corporis Apostoli ibidem +contentas, quamuis ijs euidens, ac vtile, et mirificum praestare solebat +beneficium, quod infra narrabo. + +Per certas historias habetur Ducem Danorum Ogerum conquisiuisse has terras, +et in exaltatione sanctarum Apostoli relliquiarum fecisse fieri praefatam +spectactilem Ecclesiam, ac intra, eum reponi in nobilissimo loculo gemmis +auro, argentoque decenter ornato Sanctum corpus, ac deinde post annorum +tempus trecentorum Assyrios abstulisse feretrum cum ipso corpore sancto in +Edissam ciuitatem Mesopotamiae, in qua et fuit martyrizatus secundum +quosdam, rursumque post sexaginta et tres annos recuperatum corpus in suam +fuisse Ecclesiam restitutum, videlicet in Calamia, atque in eiusdem +recuperationis signum certum dimiserunt isti, et dimittunt extra feretri +loculum dependere brachium dextrum, cum manu quae tetigisse creditur pia +resurgentis vulnera Christi. + +Eadem quoque manus solet vsque hodie suae verae poenitentiae tale manifestere +miraculum vt dum partes quaelibet litigantes velint vtraeque suas causas +iuramento confirmare, conscriptis hinc inde causis ponantur ambae cartulae in +Apostili manu. Quae cuntis [Footnote: Interea dum exirent, Monachi suos +dolos potuerunt exercere.] exeuntibus Ecclesiam protinus sub vnius horae +tempore reiecta longius falsitate, veritatem sibi reseruat: sed nunc sicut +dicere coepi isti populi huic beneficio Dei ingrati, et diabolica illusione +excaecati mirabiliter paganizant. + +Nam et in hac ipsa beati Thomae Ecclesia statuerunt multa mirae magnitudinis +simulachra, ex quibus vnum quod maius est multo alijs apparet sedens homo +in alto solio adoperto aureis sericis, et lapidibus praeciosis, habensque ad +collum suspensa pro ornatu multa cinctoria praeciose gemmis, et auro +contexta. Ad hoc autem Idolum adorandum confluunt peregrini a remotis +partibus, et propinquis, in satis maiori copia, et valde feruentiori +deuotione quam Christiani, ad sanctum Iacobum in Galizia quia multi eorum +per totum peregrinationis iter, non audent erigere palpebras oculorum, ne +forte propter hoc deuotio intermittatur. + +Alij de prope venientes superaddunt labori itinerandi, vt ad tertium vel ad +quartum passum semper cadant in genibus. Nonnulli quoque demoniaca +inspiratione semetipsos per viam peregrinationis lanceolis, et cultellis +nunc minoribus, nunc maioribus sauciant vulneribus per singula corporis +loca, et dum ante Idolum perueniunt, excisum frustum de carne propria +proijciunt ad Idolum pro offerenda, ac plagis durioribus se castigant, et +quandoque spontanee penitus se occidunt: in solemnitatibus vero, sicut in +dedicatione, et sicut in thronizatione simulachrorum, fit conuentis populi, +quasi totius Regni. Et ducitur cum processione maius Idolum per circuitum +ciuitatis, in curru preciosissimo, modis omnibus perornato, et praecedunt in +numero magno puellae cantantes binae, et binae ordinatissime, succeditque +pluralitas Musicorum cum instrumentis varijs simphonizantes, quos continue +subsequitur currus, cuius lateribus coniungit se peregrinorum exercitus, +qui et venerunt de remotis. + +Ibique cernitur miserabilis actus vltra modum. Nam aliqui victi vltra modum +diabolica deuotione proijciunt se sub rotis currus praecedentis, vt +frangantur sibi crura, brachia, latera, dorsa, nec non et colla in +reuerentiam Dei sui (vt dicunt) a quo remunerationem sperant, venire ad +Paradisum terrestrem. + +Et post processionem postquam statuerunt Idolum in templo suo loco, +multiplicatur coram simulachris numerus saepe plangentium, et occidentium +vltra quam credi sit facile. Ita quod quandoque in illa vnica solemnitate +inueniuntur ducenta corpora, vel plura occisorum. Et adstantes propinqui +amici talium diaboli martyrum, eum magna musicorum melodia decantantes in +sua lingua offerunt. Idolis corpora ac demum accenso rogo omnia corpora +comburunt in honorem Idolurum, assumentes sibi singuli aliquid de ossibus +aut cineribus pro reliquiis, quas putant sibi valituras contra quaelibet +infortunia, et tempestates. Et habetur ante templum aquae lacus, velut +seruatorium piscium, in quo proijcit populus largissime suas oblationes, +argentum, aurum, gemmas, cyphos, et similia, quibus ministri certis +temporibus exhibentes prouident Ecclesiae, ac simulachro, ac sibi ipsis +abundanter. Quoddam fabulosum scriptum exiuit per partes nostras, quod in +praedicta processione circumferatur cumpheretro corpus beati Thomae, qui et +in fine processionis populu compopulo communicaret proprijs manibus de +Eucharistae sacramento, sed non est ita, et nunquam fuit. + + +CAPVT. 29. + +De Iaua, et quibusdam aiijs meridionalibus Insulis, et de farina, melle et + piscibus Ogeri Ducis Danorum. + +Inde vlterius procedendo in Austrum per multas et mirabiles terras +quinquaginta duarum diaetarum spacio, habetur magna Insula Lamori. Illic +omnes nudi incedunt, et fere omnia sunt singulis communia, nec vtuntur +priuatis clauibus siue seris, imo et omnes mulieres sunt communes omnibus +et singulis viris, dummodo violentia non inferatur: Sed et peior est ijs +consuetudo, quod libenter comedunt teneras carnes humanas: vnde et +negotiatores adferunt eis crassos infantes venales: quod si non satis +pingues afferuntur, eos saginant sicut nos vitulum, siue porcum. + +Hic apparet in bona altitudine polus Antarcticus, et incipit modo apparere +in alta Lybia, ita quod in alta AEthiopia eleuatur octodecim gradibus, prout +ipse prohaui Astrolabio. + +Ad meridiem terrae Lamori est Insula bona, Sumebor, cuius gentes reputant se +nobiliores alijs, signantes se in facie certo cauterio. Isti semper guerras +geerunt contra praefatus gentes nudas de Lamory. + +Ad modicam inde destantiam habetur Insula Rotonigo abundans in bonis +pluribus: sed et in Austrum sequuntur aliae plures regiones et Insulae, de +quibes prolixum narrare fuisset. + +Et est valde grandis regio Iaua, habens in circuitu ambitum leucarum duarum +millium. Huius rex est valde potens, et imperans septem insularum vicinarum +regibus. Terra ista est populosa valde, et crescunt in ea species, et +abundantia gingiberis, canella, gariofoli, nuces muscata, et mastix cum +aromatibus multis. Sed et quod ibi nascatur vinum, non habent: aurum et +argentum est ibi in copia immensa, quod patet in regis Iauae palatio, cuius +palatij nobilitas non est facile scribenda. + +Cuncti gradus ascendentes ad palatij aulas, et aularum cameras, et ad +thalamos Camerarum sunt solidi de argento vel auro, sed et omnis stratura +pauimentorum in alijs habetur ad similitudinem scacarij, vnam quadratam +argenti, alteram auri, laminis valde crassis, et in ipsis pauimentis, sunt +exsculpta gesta, et historiae diuersae. In principali vero aula, est plenarie +expressa Dani Ducis Ogeri historia, a natiuitate ipsius, quousque in +Franciam fantastice dicatur reuersus, cum tempore Caroli magni regis +Franciae, ipse Ogerus armata manu conquisiuit Christianitati fere omnes +partes transmarinas a Ierosolymis vsque ad arbores solis et Lunae, ac prope +paradisum terrestrem. + +Pro hac Regione Iaua, (quae tangit fines Imperij Tartariae) sibi subiuganda, +Imperator Grand Can multoties pugnauit, sed nunquam valuit expugnare. Hinc +per mare venitur ad regnum Thalamassae, [Footnote: Vel Tholomassi.] quod et +Panchon [Footnote: Vel Paten.] dicitur, in quo habetur magnus numerus +bonarum ciuitatum. Intra hanc Insulam, quatuor sunt genera arborum, de +quarum vna accipitur farina ad panem, de secunda mel, de tertia vinum, et +de quarta pessimum venenum. Extrabitur autem farina de suis arboribus isto +modo. + +Certo tempore anni percutitur stipes arboris vndique prope terram cum +securi, et cortex in locis pluribus vulneratur, de quibus recipitur liquor +spissus, qui desiccatus ad solis aestum et contritus reddit farinam albam, +ac si de frumento esset confectus, attamen hic panis non est triticei +saporis, sed alterius valde boni. + +Simili modo de suis arboribus mel elicitur, et vinum liquitur: excepto quod +illa non sicut gramina prima desiccantur. Fertur quoque ibidem, +extractionem huius farinae, mellis, et vini, per Angelum primitus fuisse +ostensam praedicto Danorum Duci, illic fame cum suo exercitu laboranti. +Contra venenum quod de quarto arboris genere stillat, solum est intoxicato +remedium, vt de proprio fimo per puram aquam distemperato bibat. + +Et est in hac Insula quoddam mare mortuum, velut lacus foetidus, cuius in +plerisque locis fundus, humano ingenio non valet attingi: mirae magnitudinis +arundines crescunt super hunc lacum, in altitudine cedrorum aut abietum +pedum ducentorum, ita vt viginti socij mecum nequiuimus vnius caput +iacentis arundinis subleuare de terra. Minores etiam arundines nascuntur ad +fluuii ripam, habentes in terra radices longitudinis trecentorum cubitorum +aut plurium, Ad quarum nodos radicum, inueniuntur gemmae preciosae, de quibus +expertum est, siquis vnam habuerit in pugno suo, ferrum corpori suo non +nocebit: vnde si quis ibi pugnans, petat aduersarium, ac inimicum hac gemma +munitum aggreditur eum cum fustibus non ferratis. + +De hac intratur in Insulam Calanoch, [Marginal note: Vel Alcnak.] magnam et +refertam bonorum omnium. Rex eius potens est multum, et licitum est ei, +quandocunque, et quibuslibet in regno vti mulieribus, de quibus interdum +magnum numerum tenet puerorum. Mille quadringentos habere solet ad +praeliandum elephantes, quos sibi nutriunt villani per regnum. Elephantes +vocant verkes. + +In littore maris miraculose veniunt ibi semel in anno, per tres continuos +dies, quasi de omni genere piscium marinorum, in maxima abundantia: et +praebent se omnibus libere capiendos ad manum. Nam et ego ipse cepi +quamplures. Vnde notandum, quod eodem tempore anni quo super dicta +extrahitur farina, mel, et vinum, conueniunt in hoc isti pisces: qua ambo +mirabilia fecit vno tempore Deus olim producere suo Ogero, quae et in +memoria illius, vsque nunc, singulis annis innouantur. + +Et sunt in hoc territorio testudines terribilis quantitatis, fitque de +maioribus Regi ac nobilibus delicatus ac preciosus cibus: mentior, si non +quasdam ibidem viderim testudinum conchas, in quarum vna se tres homines +occultarent, suntque omnes multum albi coloris. + +Si hic vir vxoratus moritur, sepelitur et vxor vna cum eo, quatenus, sicut +ibi credunt, habeant eam statim sociam in seculo altero. + + +The English version. + +And zee schulte undirstonde, that amonges the Sarazines, o part and other, +duellen many Cristene men, of many maneres and dyverse names; and alle ben +baptized, and han dyverse lawes and dyverse customes: but alle beleven in +God the Fadir and the Sone and the Holy Gost: but alle weys fayle thei, in +somme articles of oure feythe. Some of theise ben clept Jacobytes: for +seynt Jame converted hem, and seynt John baptized hem. They seyn, that a +man schal maken his confessioun only to God, and not to a man: for only to +Him, scholde man zelden him gylty of alle, that he hathe mys don. Ne God +ordeyned not, ne never devysed, ne the prophete nouther, that a man scholde +schryven him to another, (as thei seyn) but only to God: as Moyses writethe +in the Bible, and as David seythe in the Psawtre boke; _Confitebor tibi, +Domine, in toto Corde meo_: and, _Delictum meum tibi cognitum feci_: and, +_Deus meus es tu, et confitebor tibi_; and, _Quoniam cogitatio hominis +confitebitur tibi_; &c. Fot thei knowen alle the bible, and the psautere: +and therfore allegge thei so the lettre: but thei alleggen not the +aucthoritees thus in Latyn, but in here langage, fulle appertely; and seyn +wel, that David and othere prophetes seyn it. Natheles seynt Austyn and +seynt Gregory seyn thus: Augustinus; _Qui scelera sua cogitat, et conversus +fuerit, veniam sibi credat_. Gregorious; _Dominus potius mentem quam verba +respicit_. And seynt Hillary seythe; _Longorum temporum crimina, in ictu +Oculi pereunt, si Cordis nata fuerit compunctio_. And for suche +auctoritees, thei seyn, that only to God schalle a man knouleche his +defautes, zeldynge him self gylty, and cryenge him mercy, and behotynge to +him to amende him self. And therfore whan thei wil schryven hem, thei taken +fyre, and sette it besyde hem, and casten therin poudre of frank encens; +and in the smoke therof, thei schryven hem to God, and cryen him mercy. But +sothe it is, that this confessioun was first and kyndely: but seynt Petre +the apostle, and thei that camen aftre him, han ordeynd to make here +confessioun to man; and be gode resoun: for thei perceyveden wel, that no +syknesse was curable, by gode medycyne to leye therto, but zif men knewen +the nature of the maladye. And also no man may zeven covenable medicyne, +but zif he knowe the qualitee of the dede. For o synne may be grettere in o +man than in another, and in o place and in o tyme than in another: and +therfore it behovethe him, that he knowe the kynde of the dede, and +thereupon to zeven him penance. + +There ben othere, that ben clept Surienes; and thei holden the beleeve +amonges us, and of hem of Grece. And thei usen alle berdes, as men of Grece +don: and thei make the sacrament of therf bred: and in here langage, thei +usen lettres of Sarrazines; but aftre the misterie of Holy chirche, thei +usen lettres of Grece; and thei maken here confessioun, right as the +Jacobytes don. + +There ben othere, that men clepen Georgyenes, that seynt George converted; +and him thei worschipen, more than ony other seynt; and to him thei cryen +for help: and thei camen out of the reme of George. Theise folk usen +crounes schaven. The clerkes han rounde crounes, and the lewed men han +crownes alle square: and thei holden Cristene lawe, as don thei of Grece; +of whom I have spoken of before. + +Othere there ben, that men clepen Cristene men of Gyrdynge: for thei ben +alle gyrt aboven. And ther ben othere, that men clepen Nestoryenes; and +summe Arryenes, sume Nubyenes, sume of Grees, same of Ynde, and sume of +Prestre Johnes Lond. And alle theise han manye articles of oure feythe, and +to othere thei ben varyaunt. And of here variance, were to longe to telle; +and go I wil leve, as for the tyme, with outen more spekynge of hem. + + +Of the Cytee of Damasce. Of 3 Weyes to Jerusalem; on be Londe and be See; + another more be Londe than be See; and the thridde Weye to Jerusalem, + alle be Londe. + +[Sidenote: Chap. XI] Now aftre that I have told zou sum partye of folk, in +the contrees before, now wille I turnen azen to my weye, for to turnen azen +to this half. Thanne whoso wil go fro the lond of Galilee, of that that I +have spoke, for to come azen on this half, men comen azen be Damasce, that +is a fulle fayre cytee, and fulle noble, and fulle of alle merchandises, +and a 3 journeyes long fro the see, and a 5 journeyes fro Jerusalem. But +upon camaylles, mules, hors, dromedaries and other bestes, men caryen here +merciandise thidre: and thidre comethe marchauntes with merchandise be see, +from Yndee, Persee, Caldee, Ermonye, and of manye othere kyngdomes. This +cytee founded Helizeus Damascus, that was Zoman and Despenser of Abraham, +before that Ysaac was born: for he thoughte for to have ben Abrahames heir: +and he named the toun aftre his surname Damasce. And in that place, where +Damasc was founded, Kaym sloughe Abel his brother. And besyde Damasc is the +Mount Seyr. In that cytee of Damasce, ther is gret plentee of welles: and +with in the cytee and with oute, ben many fayre gardynes, and of dyverse +frutes. Non other citee is not lyche in comparisoun to it of faire +gardynes, and of faire desportes. The cytee is gret and fulle of peple, and +wel walled with double walles. And there ben manye phisicyens. And seint +Poul him self was there a physicyen, for to kepen mennes bodies in hele, +before he was converted: and aftre that, he was phisicien of soules. And +seynt Luke the Evaungelist was Disciple of seynt Poul, for to lerne phisik; +and many othere. For seynt Poul held thanne scole of phisik. And neere +besyde Damasce, was he converted: and aftre his conversionn, he duelte in +that cytee 3 dayes, with outen sight, and with outen mete or drinke. And in +tho 3 dayes he was ravisscht to hevene, and there he saughe many prevytees +of oure Lord. And faste besyde Damasce, is the Castelle of Arkes, that is +bothe fair and strong. From Damasce, men comen azen, be oure Lady of +Sardenak, that is a 5 myle on this half Damasce; and it is sytt upon a +roche, and it is a fulle faire place, and it semethe a castelle; for there +was wont to ben a castelle; but it is now a fulle faire chirche. And there +with inne, ben monkes and nonnes Cristene. And there is a vowt, undre the +chirche, where that Cristene men duellen also: and thei han many gode +vynes. And in the chirche, behynde the high awtere, in the walle, is a +table of black wode, on the whiche somtyme was depeynted an ymage of oure +Lady, that turnethe into flesche; but now the ymage schewethe but litille: +but evermore thorewe the grace of God that table droppeth as hyt were of +olyve. And there is a vessel of marbre, undre the table, to resseyve the +oyle, thare of thay yeven unto pylgrymes: for it heleth of many sykenesses. +And he that kepeth it clanly a yere, aftre that yere, hyt turneth yn to +flesche and bloode. + +By twyne the cytee of Darke and the cytee of Raphane, ys a ryvere, that men +clepen Sabatorye. For on the Saturday, hyt renneth faste; and alle the +wooke elles, hyt stondeth stylle, and renneth nouzt or lytel. And there ys +a nother ryvere, that upon the nyzt freseth wondur faste; and uppon the +day, ys noon frost sene. And so gon men by a cytee, that men clepen +Beruche. And thare men gon un to the see, that schal goon un to Cypre. And +thay aryve at Porte de Sure or of Tyrye; and than un to Cypre. Or elles men +mowen gon from the Porte of Tyrye ryzt welle, and com not yn to Cypre; and +aryve at som haven of Grece; and thanne comen men un to theis countrees, by +weyes, that I have spoken of by fore. + +Now have I tolde you of wayes, by the whyche men gon ferrest and longest; +as by Babyloyne and Mounte Synay and other places many, thorewe the whyche +londes, men turne azen to the lande of promyssyoun. Now wul y telle the +ryzt way to Jerusalem. For som men wyl nouzt passe hyt, som for thay have +nouzt despence of hem, for they have noon companye, and other many causes +reasonables. And thare fore I telle you schorttely, how a man may goon with +lytel costage and schortte tyme. A man that cometh from the londes of the +weste, he goth thorewe Fraunce, Borgoyne and Lumbardye, and to Venys and to +Geen, or to som other havene of the marches, and taketh a schyppe thare, +and gon by see to the Isle of Gryffle; and so aryveth hem yn Grece or in +Port Myroche or Valon or Duras, or at som other havene, and gon to londe, +for to reste hem; and gon ayen to the see, and aryves in Cypre; and cometh +nouzt yn the Ile of Roodes; and aryves at Famegoste, that ys the chefe +havene of Cypre, or elles at Lamatoun. And thenne ynto the schyp ayen, and +by syde the havene of Tyre, and come nouzt to lande; and so passeth he by +alle the havens of that coast, until he come to Jaffe, that ys the neyest +haven unto Jerusalem: for it is seven and twenty myle. And from Jaffe men +goon to the cytee of Rames: and that ys but lytel thenne, and hyt is a +fayre cytee. And by syde Rames, ys a fayre churche of oure Lady, whare oure +Lord schewede hym to oure Lady, in thys lykenesse, that he tokeneth the +Trynyte. And thare fast by, ys a churche of Seynt George, whare that hys +heed was smyten of. And thanne un to the Castel Emaus; and thanne unto +Mounte Joye: and from thenne, pylgrymes mowen fyrste se un to Jerusalem. +And thanne un to Mount Modeyn: and thanne unto Jerusalem. And at the Mount +Modeyn lythe the prophete Machabee. And overe Ramatha, ys the town of +Douke; where of Amos the goude prophete was. + +A nother way. For alse moche as many men ne may not suffre the savour of +the see, but hadden lever to gon by londe, they that hyt be more payne; a +man schal soo goon un to on of the havenes of Lumbardye, als Venys or an +other; and he schal passe yn to Grece, thorwe Port Moroche, or an other; +and so he schal gon un to Constantynople. And he schal so passe the wature, +that ys cleped the Brace of Seynt George, that ys an arm of the see. And +from thens he schal cum un to Pulveralle; and sythen un to the Castelle of +Cynople. And from thens schal he gon unto Capadose, that ys a grete +countree, whare that ben many grete hylles. And he schal gon thorewe +Turkye, and unto the cytee of Nyke, the whyche they wonne from the +Emperoure of Constantynople. And hyt is a fayre cytee, and wounder wel +walled: and thare ys a ryvere, that men clepen the laye: and thare men goon +by the Alpes of Aryoprynant, and by the Valez of Mallebrynez, and eke the +Vale of Ernax; and so un to Anthyoche the lesse, that sytteth on the +Ryehay. And there aboute ben many goude hylles and fayre, and many fayre +woodes, and eke wylde beestes. + +And he that wylle goon by an other way, he mote goon by the playnes of +Romayne, costynge the Romayne see. Uppon that cost, ys a woundur fayre +castelle, that men clepen Florathe. And whanne that a man ys oute of that +ylke hylles, men passen thenne thorewe a cytee, that ys called Maryoche and +Arteyse, whare that ys a grete brygge upon a ryvere of Ferne, that men +clepen Fassar: and hyt ys a grete ryvere, berynge schyppes. And by syde the +cytee of Damas, ys a ryvere that cometh from the mounteyne of Lybane, that +men hyt callen Albane. Atte passynge of this ryvere, seynt Eustache loste +hys two sones, whanne that he hadde lost hys wyffe. And yt gooth thorewe +the playne of Arthadoe; and so un to the Reed See. And so men moten goon un +to the cytee of phenne, and so un to the cytee of Ferne. And Antyoche ys a +ful fayre cytee and wel walled. For hyt ys two myle longe and eche pylere +of the brygge thare ys a goud toure. And thys ys the beest cytee of the +kyngdom of Surrye. And from Antyoche, men moten so forth goon un to the +cytee of Lacuthe; and thanne un to Geble; and thanne un tyl Tourtous: and +thare by ys the lande of Cambre, whare that ys a stronge castelle, that men +clepen Maubeke. And from Tourtouse men goon up to Thryple, uppon the see. +And uppon the see, men goon unto Deres; and thare ben two weyes un to +Jerusalem: Uppon the lyfte way, men goon fyrst un to Damas, by Flome +Jordane: uppon the ryzt syde, men goon thorewe the lande of Flagam, and so +un to the cytee of Cayphas: of the whiche Cayphas was Lord: and som clepeth +hyt the castelle Pellerynez: And from thens ys foure dayes journeyes un to +Jerusalem and they goon thorewe Cesarye Phylyppum and Jaffe and Ramys and +Emaux, and so unto Jerusalem. + +Now have I told yow som of the wayes, by the land, and eke by water, how +that men mowen goon unto Jerusalem: they that hyt be so, that there been +many other wayes, that men goon by, aftur countrees, that thay comen fram, +nevere the lasse they turne alle un tylle an ende. Yet is thare a way, alle +by lande, un to Jerusalem, and pass noon see; that ys from Fraunce or +Flaundres; but that way ys fulle lange and perylous, of grete travayle; and +thare fore fewe goon that ylke way. And who so gooth that, he mote goon +thorewe Almayn and Pruys; and so un to Tartarye. This Tartarye ys holden of +the great Chan, of whom y schal speke more afterwarde. For thydur lasteth +hys Lordschup. And the Lordes of Tartarye yeldeth unto the grete Chan +trybute. Thys ys a ful ille lande, and a sondye, and wel lytel fruyt +beryng. For thare groweth lytel goude of corne or wyn, ne benes ne pese: +but beestes ben thare y nowe, and that ful grete plente. And thare ete thay +nought but flesche with outen brede; and thay soupe the brothe there of: +and also thay drynke the mylk. And alle manere of wylde beestes they eten, +houndes, cattes, ratouns, and alle othere wylde bestes. And thei have no +wode, or elle lytylle. And therfore thei warmen and sethen here mete with +hors dong and cow dong, and of other bestes dryed azenst the sonne. And +princes and othere eten not, but ones in the day; and that but lytille. And +thei ben righte foule folk and of evyl kynde. And in somer, be alle the +contrees, fallen many tempestes and many hydouse thondres and leytes, and +slen meche peple and bestes also, fulle often tyme. And sodeynly is there +passynge hete, and sodeynly also passynge cold. And it is the foulest +contree, and the most cursed, and the porest, that men knowen. And here +prince, that governethe that contree, that thei clepen Batho, duellethe at +the cytee of Orda. And treuly no gode man scholde not duellen in that +contre. For the lond and the contree is not worthi houndes to dwelle inne. +It were a gode contree to sowen inne thristelle and breres and broom and +thornes; and for no other thing is it not good. Natheless there is gode +londe in sum place; but it is pure litille, as men seyn. I have not ben in +that contree, ne be tho weyes: but I have ben at other londes, that marchen +to tho contrees; and in the lond of Russye, and in the lond of Nyflan, and +in the reme of Crako, and of Letto, and in the reme of Daresten, and in +manye other places, that marchen to the costes: but I wente never be that +weye to Jerusalem; wherfore I may not wel telle zou the manere. But zif +this matiere plese to ony worthi man, that hathe gon be that weye, he may +telle it, zif him lyke; to that entent, that tho that wole go by that weye, +and maken here viage be tho costes, mowen knowen what weye is there. For no +man may passe be that weye godely, but in time of wyntir, for the perilous +watres, and wykkede mareyes that ben in tho contrees; that no man may +passe, but zif it be strong frost, and snowe aboven. For zif the snow ne +were, men myght not gon upon the yse, ne hors ne carre nouther. And it is +wel a 3 journeys of suche weye, to passe from Prusse to the lond of Sarazin +habitable. And it behovethe to the Cristene men, that schulle werre azen +hem every zeer, to bere here vitaylles with hem: for thei schulle fynde +there no good. And than most thei let carye here vitaylle upon the yse, +with carres that have no wheeles, that thei clepen scleyes. And als longe +as here vitaylles lasten, thei may abide there, but no longer. For there +schulle they fynde no wight that will selle hem ony vitaille or ony thing. +And whan the spyes seen ony Cristene men comen upon hem, thei rennen to the +townes, and cryen with a lowd voys, Kerra, Kerra, Kerra; and than anon thei +armen hem and assemblen hem to gydere. + +And zee schulle undirstonde, that it fresethe more strongly in tho contrees +than on this half; and therefore hathe every man stewes in his hous, and in +tho stewes thei eten and don here occupatiouns, alle that they may. For +that is at the northe parties, that men clepen the septentrionelle, where +it is alle only cold. For the sonne is but lytille or non toward tho +contreyes: and therefore in the Septentryon, that is verry northe, is the +lond so cold, that no man may duelle there: and in the contrarye, toward +the southe, it is so hoot, that no man ne may duelle there: because that +the sonne, whan he is upon the southe, castethe his bemes alle streghte +upon that partye. + + +Of the Customes of Sarasines, and of hire Lawe; and how the Soudan arresond + me, Auctour of this Book. And of the begynnynge of Machomete. + +[Sidenote: Cap. XII.] Now because that I have spoken of Sarazines and of +here contree, now zif zee wil knowe a party of here lawe and of here +beleve, I schalle telle zou, aftre that here book, that is clept Alkaron, +tellethe. And sum men clepen that book Meshaf: and sum men clepen it Harme, +aftre the dyverse langages of the contree. The whiche book Machamete toke +hem. In the whiche boke, among other thinges, is written, as I have often +tyme seen and radd, that the gode shulle gon to paradys, and the evele to +helle: and that beleven alle Sarazines. And zif a man aske hem, what +paradys thei menen; thei seyn, to paradys, that is a place of delytes, +where men schulle fynde alle maner of frutes, in alle cesouns, and ryveres +rennynge of mylk and hony, and of wyn, and of swete watre; and that thei +schulle have faire houses and noble, every man aftre his dissert, made of +precyous stones, and of gold, and of sylver; and that every man schalle +have 80 wyfes, alle maydenes; and he schalle have ado every day with hem, +and zit he schalle fynden hem alle weys maydenes. Also thei beleeven and +speken gladly of the Virgine Marie and of the Incarnacioun. And thei seyn, +that Marye was taughte of the angel; and that Gabrielle seyde to hire, that +sche was forchosen from the begynnynge of the world; and that he schewed to +hire the incarnacioun of Jesu Crist; and that sche conceyved and bare +child, mayden: and that wytnessethe here boke. And they seyn also, that +Jesu Crist spak als sone as he was born; and that he was an holy prophete +and a trewe, in woord and dede, and meke and pytous and rightefulle and +with outen ony vyce. And thei seyn also, that whan the angel schewed the +Incarnacioun of Crist unto Marie, sche was zong, and had gret drede. For +there was thanne an enchantour in the contree, that deled with wycche +craft, that men clepten Taknia, that he his enchauntementes cowde make him +in lyknesse of an angel, and wente often tymes and lay with maydenes: and +therfore Marie dredde, lest it hadde ben Taknia, that cam for to desceyve +the maydenes. And therfore sche conjured the angel, that he scholde telle +hire, zif it were he or no. And the angel answerde and seyde, that sche +scholde have no drede of him: for he was verry messager of Jesu Crist. Also +here book seythe, that whan that sche had childed undre a palme tree, sche +had gret schame, that sche hadde a child; and sche grette, and seyde, that +sche wolde that sche hadde ben ded. And anon the child spak to hire and +comforted hire, and seyde, Modir, ne dismaye the noughte; for God hathe +hidd in the his prevytees, for the salvacioun of the world. And in othere +many places seythe here Alkaron, that Jesu Crist spak als sone as he was +born. And that book seythe also, that Jesu was sent from God alle myghty, +for to ben myrour and ensample and tokne to alle men. And the Alkaron +seythe also of the day of doom, how God schal come to deme alle maner of +folk; and the gode he schalle drawen on his syde, and putte hem into +blisse; and the wykkede he schal condempne to the peynes of helle. And +amonges alle prophetes, Jesu was the most excellent and the moste worthi, +next God; and that he made the Gospelles, in the whiche is gode doctryne +and helefulle, fulle of charitee and sothefastnesse, and trewe prechinge to +hem that beleeven in God; and that he was a verry prophete, and more than a +prophete; and lyved withouten synne, and zaf syghte to the blynde, and +helede the lepres, and reysed dede men, and steyghe to hevene. And whan +thei mowe holden the boke of the Gospelles of oure Lord written, and +namely, _Missus est Angelus Gabriel_; that Gospel, thei seyn, tho that ben +lettred, often tymes in here orisouns, and thei kissen it and worschipen +it, with gret devocioun. Thei fasten an hool monethe in the zeer, and eten +noughts but be nyghte, and thei kepen hem fro here wyfes alle that monethe: +but the seke men be not constreyned to that fast. Also this book spekethe +of Jewes; and seythe, that thei ben cursed; for thei wolde not beleven, +that Jesu Crist was comen of God; and that thei lyeden falsely on Marie and +on hire sone Jesu Crist, seyenge that thei hadden crucyfyed Jesu the sone +of Marie: for he was nevere crucyfyed, as thei seyn; but that God made him +to stye up to him with outen dethe, and with outen anoye: but he +transfigured his lyknesse into Judas Scariothe, and him crucyfyden the +Jewes, and wenden that it had ben Jesus: but Jesus steyge to hevenes alle +quyk; and therfore thei seyn, that the Cristene men erren and han no gode +knowleche of this, and that thei beleeven folyly and falsly, that Jesu +Crist was crucyfyed. And they seyn zit, that and he had ben crucyfyed, that +God had don azen his rightewisnesse, for to suffre Jesu Crist, that was +innocent, to ben put upon the Cros, with outen gylt. And in this article +thei seyn, that wee faylen, and that the gret rightewisnesse of God ne +myghte not suffre so gret a wrong. And in this, faylethe here feythe. For +thei knoulechen wel, that the werkes of Jesu Crist ben gode, and his wordes +and his dedes and his doctryne by his Gospelles, weren trewe and his +meracles also trewe; and the blessed Virgine Marie is good, and holy +mayden, before and aftre the birthe of Jesu Crist; and that alle tho, that +beleven perfitely in God, schul ben saved. And because that thei gon so nye +oure feythe, thei ben lyghtly converted to Cristene lawe, whan men prechen +hem and schewe hem distynctly the lawe of Jesu Crist, and tellen hem of the +prophecyes. And also thei seyn, that thei knownen wel, be the prophecyes, +that the lawe of Machomete schalle faylen, as the lawe of the Jewes dide, +and that the lawe of Cristine peple schalle laste to the day of doom. And +zif ony man aske hem, what is here beleeve; thei answeren thus, and in this +forme, Wee beleven God formyour of hevene and of erthe and of alle othere +things, that he made. And we beleven of the day of doom, and that every man +schalle have his meryte, aftre he hathe disserved. And we beleve it for +sothe, alle that God hathe seyd be the mouthes of his prophetes. Also +Machomet commanded in his Alkaron, that every man scholde have 2 wyfes or 3 +or 4; but now thei taken unto 9, and of lemmanes als manye as he may +susteyne. And zif ony of here wyfes mys beren hem azenst hire husbonde, he +may caste hire out of his house; and departe from him, and take another: +but he schalle departe with hire his godes. Also whan men speken to hem, of +the Fadre and of the Sone and of the Holy Gost, thei seyn, that thei ben 3 +persones; but not o God. For here Alkaron spekethe not of the Trynyte. But +thei seyn wel, that God hathe speche, and elle where he dowmb; and God +hathe also a Spirit, thei knowen wel, for elle thei seyn, he were not in +lyve. And whan men speken to hem of the Incarnacioun, how that be the word +of the angel, God sente his wysdom in to erthe, and enumbred him in the +Virgyne Marie: and be the Woord of God, schulle the dede ben reysed, at the +day of doom; thei seyn, that it is sothe, and that the Woord of God hathe +gret strengthe. And thei seyn, that whoso knew not the Woord of God, he +scholde not knowe God. And thei seyn also, that Jesu Crist is the Woord of +God; and so seythe here Alkaron, where it seythe, that the angel spak to +Marie and seyde, Marie, God schalle preche the Gospel be the woord of his +mowthe, and his name schalle be clept Jesu Crist. And thei seyn also, that +Abraham was frend to God, and that Moyses was famileer spekere with God; +and Jesu Crist was the Woord and the Spirit of God; and that Machomete was +right messager of God. And thei seyh, that of theise 4, Jesu was the most +worthi and the most excellent and the most gret; so that thei han many gode +articles of oure feythe, alle be it that thei have no parfite lawe and +feythe, as Cristene men han; and therfore ben thei lightly converted; and +namely, tho that undirstonden the Scriptures and the prophecyes. For thei +han Gospelles and the prophecyes and the Byble, writen in here langage. +Wherfore thei conne meche of Holy Wrytt, but thei undirstonde it not, but +aftre the lettre: and so don the Jewes; for thei undirstonde not the lettre +gostly, but bodyly; and therfore ben thei repreved of the wise, that gostly +understonden it. And therfore seythe seynt Poul; _Litera occidit; Spiritus +vivificat_. Also the Sarazines seyn, that the Jewes ben cursed: for thei +han defouled the lawe, that God sente hem be Moyses. And the Cristene ben +cursed also, as thei seyn: for their kepen not the commandementes and the +preceptes of the Gospelle, that Jesu Crist taughte hem. And therfore I +schalle telle zou, what the Soudan tolde me uppn a day, in his chambre. He +leet voyden out of his chambre alle manner of men, lordes aad othere: for +he wolde speke with me in conseille. And there he asked me, how the +Cristene men governed hem in oure contree. And I seyde him, righte wel: +thonked be God. And he seyde me, treulyche, nay: for zee Cristene men ne +recthen righte noghte how untrewly to serve God. Ze scholde zeven ensample +to the lewed peple, for to do wel; and zee zeven hem ensample to don +evylle. For the comownes, upon festyfulle dayes, whan thei scholden gon to +chirche to serve God, than gon thei to tavernes, and ben there in glotony, +alle the day and alle nyghte, and eten and drynken, as bestes that have no +resoun, and wite not whan thei have y now. And also the Cristene men +enforcen hem, in alle maneres that thei mowen, for to fighte, and for to +desceyven that on that other. And there with alle thei ben so proude, that +thei knowen not how to ben clothed; now long, now schort, now streyt, now +large, now swerded, now daggered, and in alle manere gyses. Thei scholden +ben symple, meke and trewe, and fulle of almes dede, as Jhesu was, in whom +thei trowe: but thei ben alle the contrarie, and evere enclyned to the +evylle, and to don evylle. And thei ben so coveytous, that for a lytylle +sylyer, thei sellen here doughtres, here sustres and here owne wyfes, to +putten hem to leccherie. And on with drawethe the wif of another; and non +of hem holdethe feythe to another; but thei defoulen here lawe, that Jhesu +Crist betook hem to kepe, for here salvacioun. And thus for here synnes, +han thei lost alle this lond, that wee holden. For, for hire synnes there +God hathe taken hem in to oure hondes, noghte only be strengthe of our +self, but for here synnes. For wee knowen wel in verry sothe, that whan zee +serve God, God wil hepe zou: and whan he is with zou, no man may be azenst +you. And that knowe we wel, be oure prophecyes, that Cristene men schulle +wynnen azen this lond out of oure hondes, whan thei serven God more +devoutly. But als longe als thei ben of foule and of unclene lyvynge, (as +thei ben now) wee have no drede of hem, in no kynde: for here God wil not +helpen hem in no wise. And than I asked him, how he knew the state of +Cristene men. And he answered me, that he knew alle the state of the +comounes also, be his messangeres, that he sente to alle londes, in manere +as thei weren marchauntes of precyous stones, of clothes of gold and of +othere things; for to knowen the manere of every contree amonges Cristene +men. And than he leet clepe in alle the lordes, that he made voyden first +out of his chambre; and there he schewed me 4, that weren grete lordes in +the contree, that tolden me of my contree, and of many othere Cristene +contrees, als wel as thei had ben of the same contree: and thei spak +Frensche righte wel; and the Sowdan also, where of I had gret marvaylle. +Alas! that it is gret sclaundre to oure feythe and to oure lawe, whan folk +that ben with outen lawe, schulle repreven us and undernemen us of oure +synnes. And thei that scholden ben converted to Crist and to the lawe of +Jhesu, be oure gode ensamples and be oure acceptable lif to God, and so +converted to the lawe of Jhesu Crist, ben thorghe oure wykkednesse and +evylle lyvynge, fer fro us and straungeres fro the holy and verry beleeve, +schulle thus appelen us and holden us for wykkede lyveres and cursed. And +treuly thei sey sothe. For the Sarazines ben gode and feythfulle. For thei +kepen entierly the commaundement of the holy book Alkaron, that God sente +hem be his messager Machomet; to the whiche, as thei seyne, seynt Gabrielle +the aungel often tyme tolde the wille of God. And zee schulle undirstonde, +that Machamote was born in Arabye, that was first a pore knave, that kept +cameles, that wenten with marchantes fur marchandize; and so befelle, that +he wente with the marchandes in to Egipt: and thei weren than Cristene, in +tho partyes. And at the desertes of Arabye, he wente in to a chapelle, +where a Eremyte duelte. And when he entred in to the chapelle, that was but +a lytille and a low thing, and had but a lityl dore and a low, than the +entree began to wexe so gret and so large and so highe, as thoughe it had +ben of a gret mynstre, or the zate of a paleys. And this was the firste +myracle, the Sarazins seyn, that Machomete dide in his zouthe. Aftre began +he for to wexe wyse and riche; and he was a gret astronomer: and aftre he +was governour and prince of the lond of Cozrodane; and he governed it fully +wisely, in suche manere, that whan the prince was ded, he toke the lady to +wyfe, that highte Gadridge. And Machomete felle often in the grete +sikenesse, that men callen the fallynge evylle: wherfore the lady was fulle +sorry, that evere sche toke him to husbonde. But Machomete made hire to +beleeve, that alle tymes, whan he felle so, Gabriel the angel cam for to +speke with him; and for the gret lighte and brightnesse of the angelle, he +myghte not susteyne him fro fallynge. And therfore the Sarazines seyn, that +Gabriel cam often to speke with him. This Machomete regned in Arabye, the +zeer of oure Lord Jhesu Crist 610; and was of the generacioun of Ysmael, +that was Abrahames sone, that he gat upon Agar his chamberere. And therfere +ther ben Sarazines, that ben clept Ismaelytenes; and summe Agaryenes, of +Agar: and the othere propurly ben clept, Sarrazines, of Sarra: and summe +ben clept Moabytes, and summe Amonytes; fro the 2 sones of Lothe, Moab and +Amon, that he begat on his doughtres, that weren aftirward grete erthely +princes. And also Machomete loved wel a gode heremyte, that duelled in the +desertes, a myle fro Mount Synay, in the weye that men gon fro Arabye +toward Caldee, and toward Ynde, o day journey fro the See, where the +marchauntes of Yenyse comen often for marchandise. And so often wente +Machomete to this heremyte, that alle his men weren wrothe: for he wolde +gladly here this heremyte preche, and make his men wake alle nyghte: and +therfore his men thoughten to putte the heremyte to dethe: and so it +befelle upon a nyght, that Machomete was dronken of gode wyn, and he felle +on slepe; and his men toke Machometes swerd out of his schethe, whils he +slepte, and there with thei slowghe this heremyte: and putten his swerd +alle blody in his schethe azen. And at morwe, whan he fond the heremyte +ded, he was fulle sory and wrothe, and wolde have don his men to dethe: but +they alle with on accord seyd, that he him self had slayn him, when he was +dronken, and schewed him his swerd alle blody: and he trowed, that thei +hadden seyd sothe. And than he cursed the wyn, and alle tho that drynken +it. And therfore Sarrazines, that be devout, drynken nevere no wyn: but +sume drynken it prevyly. For zif thei dronken it openly, thei scholde ben +repreved. But thei drynken gode beverage and swete and norysshynge, that is +made of galamelle: and that is that men maken sugar of, that is of righte +gode savour: and it is gode for the breest. Also it befallethe sumtyme, +that Cristene men becomen Sarazines, outher for povertee, or for +symplenesse, or else for here owne wykkednesse. And therfore the +archiflamyn or the flamyn, as oure erchebisshop or bisshopp, whan he +receyvethe hem, seythe thus, _La ellec, Sila. Machomete rores alla_; that +is to seye, _There is no God but on, and Machomete his messager_. + + +Of the Londes of Albanye, and of Libye. Of the Wisshinges, for Wacchinge of + the Sperhauk; and of Noes Schippe. + +[Sidenote: Cap. XIII.] Now sithe I have told zou beforn of the Holy Lond, +and of that contree abouten, and of many weyes for to go to that lond, and +to the Mount Synay, and of Babyloyne the more and the lesse, and to other +places, that I have spoken beforn; now is tyme, zif it lyke zou, for to +telle zou of the marches and iles, and dyverse bestes, and of dyverse folk +bezond theise marches. For in tho contrees bezonden, ben many dyverse +contrees, and many grete kyngdomes; that ben departed be the 4 flodes, that +comen from Paradys terrestre. For Mesopotayme and the Kyngdom of Caldee and +Arabye, ben betwene the 2 ryveres of Tygre and of Eufrates. And the kyngdom +of Mede and of Persye, ben betwene the ryveres of Nile and of Tigres. And +the kyngdom of Syrie, where of I have spoken beforn, and Palestyne and +Phenycie, ben betwene Eufrates and the See Medyterrane: the whiche see +durethe in lengthe, fro Mayrok, upon the See of Spayne, unto the grete See; +so that it lastethe bezonde Costantynople 3040 myles of Lombardye. And +toward the see occyan in Ynde, is the kyngdom of Shithie, that is alle +closed with hilles. And aftre undre Schithie, and fro the See of Caspie, +unto the Flom Thainy, is Amazoyne, that is the lond of femynye, where that +no man is, but only alle wommen. And aftre is Albanye, a fulle grete reme. +And it is clept Albanye, because the folk ben whitere there, than in other +marches there abouten. And in that contree ben so gret houndes and so +stronge, that thei assaylen lyouns, and sleu hem. And thanne aftre is +Hircanye, Bactrye, Hiberye, and many other kyngdomes. And betwene the Rede +See and the see occyan, toward the southe, is the kyngdom of Ethiope, and +of Lybye the hyere. The which lond of Lybye, (that is to seyne Libye the +lowe) that begynnethe at the See of Spayne, fro thens where the Pyleres of +Hercules ben, and durethe unto aneyntes Egipt and towards Ethiope. In that +contree of Libye, is the see more highe than the lond; and it semethe that +it wolde covere the erthe, and natheles zit it passethe not his markes. And +men seen in that contre a mountayne, to the whiche no man comethe. In this +lond of Libye, whoso turnethe toward the est, the schadewe of him self is +on the right syde: and here in oure contree, the schadwe is on the left +syde. In that See of Libye, is no fissche: for thei mowe not lyve ne dure, +for the gret hete of the sonne; because that the watre is evermore +boyllynge, for the gret hete. And many othere londes there ben, that it +were to long to tellen or to nombren: but of sum parties I schal speke more +pleynly here aftre. + +Whoso wil thanne gon toward Tarterie, toward Persie, toward Caldee, and +toward Ynde, he most entre the see, at Gene or at Venyse or at sum other +havene, that I have told zou before. And than passe men the see, and +arryven at Trapazond, that is a gode cytee; and it was wont to ben the +havene of Pountz. There is the havene of persanes and of medaynes and of +the marches there bezonde. In that cytee lythe Seynt Athanasie, that was +Bishopp of Alisandre, that made the Psalm _Quicunque vult_. This Athanasius +was a gret Doctour of Dyvynytee: and because that he preched and spak so +depely of Dyvynytee and of the Godhede, he was accused to the Pope of Rome, +that he was an Heretyk. Wherfore the Pope sente aftre hym, and putte him in +presoun: and whils he was in presoun, he made that Psalm, and sente it to +the Pope, and seyde: that zif he were an heretyk, that was that heresie; +for that, he seyde, was his beleeve. And whan the Pope saughe it, and had +examyned it, that it was parfite and gode, and verryly oure feythe and oure +beleeve, he made him to ben delyvered out of presoun, and commanded that +Psalm to ben seyd every day at Pryme: and so he held Athanasie a gode man. +But he wolde nevere go to his bisshopriche azen, because that thei accused +him of heresye. Trapazond was wont to ben holden of the Emperour of +Costantynople: but a gret man, that he sente for to kepe the contree azenst +the Turkes, usurped the lond, and helde it to himself, and cleped him +Emperour of Trapazond. + +And from thens, men gon thorghe litille Ermonye. And in that contree is an +old castelle, that stont upon a roche, the whiche is cleped the Castelle of +the Sparrehawk, that is bezonde the cytee of Layays, beside the town of +Pharsipee, that belongethe to the lordschipe of Cruk; that is a riche lord +and a gode Cristene man; where men fynden a sparehauk upon a perche righte +fair, and righte wel made; and a fayre lady of fayrye, that kepethe it. And +who that wil wake that sparhauk, 7 dayes and 7 nyghtes, and as sum men +seyn, 3 dayes and 3 nyghtes, with outen companye, and with outen sleep, +that faire lady schal zeven him, whan he hathe don, the first wyssche, that +he wil wyssche, of erthely thinges: and that hathe been proved often-tymes. +And o tyme befelle, that a kyng of Ermonye, that was a worthi knyght and +doughty man and a noble prince, woke that hauk som tyme: and at the ende of +7 dayes and 7 nyghtes, the lady cam to him, and bad him wisschen: for he +had wel disserved it. And he answerde, that he was gret Lord y now, and wel +in pees, and hadde y nowghe of worldly ricchesse: and therfore he wolde +wisshe non other thing, but the body of that faire lady, to have it at his +wille. And sche answerde him, that he knew not what he asked; and seyde, +that he was a fool, to desire that he myghte not have; for sche seyde, that +he scholde not aske, but erthely thing: for sche was non erthely thing, but +a gostly thing. And the kyng seyde, that he ne wolde asken non other thing. +And the lady answerde, sythe that I may not withdrawe zou fro zoure lewed +corage, I schal zeve zou with outen wysschinge, and to alle hem that +schulle com of you. Sire kyng, zee schulle have werre withouten pees, and +alle weys to the 9 degree, zee schulle ben in subjeccioun to zoure enemyes; +and zee schulle ben nedy of alle godes. And nevere sithen, nouther the kyng +of Ermoyne, ne the contree, weren never in pees, ne thei hadden never +sithen plentee of godes; and thei han ben sithen alle weyes undre tribute +of the Sarrazines. Also the sone of a pore man woke that hauke, and wisshed +that he myghte cheve wel, and to ben happy to merchandise. And the lady +graunted him. And he becaam the most riche and the most famouse marchaunt, +that myghte ben on see or on erthe. And he becam so riche, that he knew not +the 1000 part of that he hadde: and he was wysere, in wisschynge, than was +the king. Also a knyght of the temple wooke there; and wyssched a purs +evere more fulle of gold: and the lady graunted him. But sche seyde him, +that he had asked the destruccioun of here ordre; for the trust and the +affiance of that purs, and for the grete pryde, that they scholde haven: +and so it was. And therfore loke, he kepe him wel, that schalle wake: for +zif he slepe, he is lost, that nevere man schalle seen him more. This is +not the righte weye for to go to the parties, that I have nempned before; +but for to see the merveyle, that I have spoken of. + +And therfore who so wil go right weye, men gon fro Trapazond toward Ermonye +the gret, unto a cytee that is clept Artyroun, that was wont to ben a gode +cytee and a plentyous; but the Turkes han gretly wasted it. There aboute +growethe no wyn ne fruyt, but litylle or elle non. In this lond, is the +erthe more highe than in ony other; and that makethe gret cold. And there +hen many gode watres, and gode welles, that comen undre erthe, fro the flom +of paradys, that is clept Eufrates, that is a jorneye besyde that cytee. +And that ryvere comethe towardes Ynde, undre erthe, and restorethe into the +lond of Altazar. And so passe men be this Ermonie, and entren the see of +Persie. Fro that cytee of Artyroun go men to an hille, that is clept +Sabissocolle. And there besyde is another hille, that men clepen Ararathe: +but the Jewes clepen it Taneez; where Noes schipp rested, and zit is upon +that montayne: and men may seen it a ferr, in cleer wedre: and that +montayne is wel a 7 myle highe. And sum men seyn, that thei han seen and +touched the schipp; and put here fyngeres in the parties, where the feend +went out, whan that Noe seyde _Benedicite_. But thei that seyn suche +wordes, seyn here wille: for a man may not gon up the montayne, for gret +plentee of snow that is alle wayes on that montayne, nouther somer ne +wynter: so that no man may gon up there; ne never man dide, sithe the tyme +of Noe; saf a monk, that, be the grace of God, brought on of the plankes +doun: that zit is in the mynstere, at the foot of the montayne. And besyde +is the cytee of Dayne, that Noe founded. And faste by is the cytee of Any, +in the whiche were 1000 chirches. But upon that montayne, to gon up, this +monk had gret desire; and so upon a day, he wente up: and whan he was +upward the 3 part of the montayne, he was so wery, that he myghte no +ferthere, and so he rested him, and felle o slepe; and whan he awook, he +fonde him self lyggynge at the foot of the montayne. And than he preyede +devoutly to God, that he wolde vouche saf to suffre him gon up. And an +angelle cam to him, and seyde, that he scholde gon up; and so he dide. And +sithe that tyme never non. Wherfore men scholde not beleeve such woordes. + +Fro that montayne go men to the cytee of Thauriso, that was wont to ben +clept Taxis, that is a fulle fair cytee, and a gret, and on of the beste, +that is in the world, for marchandise: and it is in the lond of the +Emperour of Persie. And men seyn, that the Emperour takethe more gode, in +that cytee, for custom of marchandise than dothe the ricchest Cristene kyng +of alle his reme, that livethe. For the tolle and the custom of his +marchantes is with outen estymacioun to ben nombred. Beside that cytee, is +a hille of salt; and of that salt, every man takethe what he will, for to +salte with, to his nede. There duellen many Cristene men, undir tribute of +Sarrazines. And fro that cytee, men passen be many townes and castelles, in +goynge toward Ynde, unto the cytee of Sadonye, that is a 10 journeyes fro +Thauriso; and it is a fulle noble cytee and a gret. And there duellethe the +Emperour of Persie, in somer: for the contree is cold y now. And there ben +gode ryveres, berynge schippes. Aftre go men the weye toward Ynde, be many +iorneyes, and be many contreyes, unto the cytee, that is clept Cassak, that +is a fulle noble cytee, and a plentyous of cornes and wynes, and of alle +other godes. This is the cytee, where the 3 kynges metten to gedre, whan +thei wenten to sechen oure Lord in Bethtem, to worschipe him, and to +presente him with gold, ensence, and myrre. And it is from that cytee to +Bethleem 53 iourneyes. Fro that cytee, men gon to another cytee, that is +clept Bethe, that is a iourneye fro the see, that men clepen the gravely +see. That is the best cytee, that the Emperour of Persie hathe, in alle his +lond. And thei clepen it there Chardabago; and others clepen it Vapa. And +the Paynemes seyn, that no Cristene man may not longe duelle, ne enduren +with the lif, in that cytee: but dyen with in schort tyme; and no man +knowethe not the cause. Aftre gon men, be many cytees and townes, and grete +contrees, that it were to longe to telle, unto the cytee of Cornaa, that +was wont to be so gret, that the walles abouten holden 25 myle aboute. The +walks schewen zit: but it is not alle enhabited. From Cornaa, go men be +many londes, and many cytees and townes, unto the lond of Job: and there +endethe the lond of the Emperour of Persie. + + +Of the Lond of Job; and of his Age. Of the Aray of men of Caldee. Of the + Lond where Wommen duellen with outen companye of men. Of the knouleche + and vertues of the verray Dyamant. + +[Sidenote: Chap. XIV.] Aftre the departynge fro Cornaa, men entren in to +the lond of Job, that is a fulle faire contree, and a plentyous of alle +godes. And men clepen that lond the lond of Sweze. In that lond is the +cytee of Theman. Job was a Payneem, and he was Are of Gosre his sone, and +held that lond, as prynce of that contree and he was so riche, that he knew +not the hundred part of his godes. And alle thoughe he were a Payneem, +natheless he served wel God, aftre his lawe: and oure Lord toke his service +to his plesance. And whan he felle in poverte, he was 78 zeer of age. And +aftre, whan God had preved his pacyence, and that it was so gret, he +broughte him azen to richesse, and to hiere estate than he was before. And +aftre that he was kyng of Ydumye, aftre Kyng Esau. And whan he was kyng, he +was clept Jobab. And in that kyngdom, he lyvede aftre 170 zere: and so he +was of age, whan he dyede, 248 zeer. In that lond of Job, there nys no +defaute of no thing, that is nedefulle to mannes body. There ben hilles, +where men getten gret plentee of manna, in gretter habundance, than in ony +other contree. This manna is clept bred of aungelles; and it is a white +thing, that is fulle swete and righte delicyous, and more swete than hony +or sugre; and it comethe of the dew of hevene that fallethe upon the +herbes, in that contree; and it congelethe and becomethe alle white and +swete: and men putten it in medicynes for rich men, to make the wombe lax, +and to purge evylle blood: for it clensethe the blode, and puttethe out +malencoyle. This lond of Job marchethe to the kyngdom of Caldee. This lond +of Caldee is fulle gret: and the langage of that contree is more gret in +sownynge, that it is in other parties bezonde the see. Men passen to go +bezond, be the Tour of Babiloyne the grete: of the whiche I have told zou +before, where that alle the langages weren first chaunged. And that is a 4 +jorneyes fro Caldee. In that reme, ben faire men, and thei gon fulle nobely +arrayed in clothes of gold, or frayed and apparayled with grete perles and +precyous stones, fulle nobely: and the wommen ben righte foule and evylle +arrayed; and thei gon alle bare fote, and clothed in evylle garnementes, +large and wyde, but thei ben schorte to the knees; and longe sleves doun to +the feet, lyche a monkes frokke; and here sleves ben hongyng aboute here +schuldres: and thei ben blake women, foule and hidouse; and treuly as foule +as thei ben, als evele thei ben. In that kyngdom of Caldee, in a cytee, +that is cleped Hur, duelled Thare, Abrahames fadre: and there was Abraham +born: and that was in that tyme, that Nunus was Kyng of Babiloyne, of +Arabye and of Egypt. This Nunus made the cytee of Nynyvee, the whiche that +Noe had begonne before: and be cause that Nunus performed it, he cleped it +Nynyve, aftre his owne name. Ther lythe Thobye the prophete, of whom Holy +Writt spekethe offe. And fro that cytee of Hur Abraham departed, be the +commandement of God, fro thens, aftre the dethe of his fadre; and ladde +with him Sarra his wife and Lothe his brotheres sone, because that he hadde +no child. And thei wenten to duelle in the lond of Chanaan, in a place, +that is clept Sychem. And this Lothe was he, that was saved, whan Sodom and +Gomorre and the othere cytees weren brent and sonken doun to helle; where +that the dede see is now, as I have told zou before. In that lond of +Caldee, thei han here propre langages, and here propre lettres. + +Besyde the lond of Caldee, is the lond of Amazoyne. And in that reme is +alle wommen, and no man; noght, as summe men seyn, that men mowe not lyve +there, but for because that the wommen will not suffre no men amonges hem, +to ben here Sovereynes. For sum tyme, ther was a kyng in that contrey; and +men maryed, as in other contreyes: and so befelle, that the kyng had werre, +with hem of Sithie; the whiche kyng highte Colopeus, that was slayn in +bataylle, and alle the gode blood of his reme. And whan the queen and alle +the othere noble ladyes sawen, that thei weren alle wydewes, and that alle +the rialle blood was lost, thei armed hem, and as creatures out of wytt, +thei slowen alle the men of the contrey, that weren laft. For thei wolden, +that alle the wommen weren wydewes, as the queen and thei weren. And fro +that tyme hiderwardes, thei nevere wolden suffren man to dwelle amonges +hem, lenger than 7 dayes and 7 nyghtes; ne that no child that were male, +scholde duelle amonges hem, longer than he were noryscht; and thanne sente +to his fader. And whan thei wil have ony companye of man, than thei drawen +hem towardes the londes marchynge next to hem: and than thei have loves, +that usen hem; and thei duellen with hem an 8 dayes or 10; and thanne gon +hom azen. And zif thei have ony knave child, thei kepen it a certeyn tyme, +and than senden it to the fadir, whan he can gon allone, and eten be him +self; or elle thei sleen it: and zif it be a femele, thei don away that on +pappe, with an hote hiren; and zif it be a womman of gret lynage, thei don +awey the left pappe, that thes may the better beren a scheeld: and zif it +be a woman of symple blood, thei don awey the ryght pappe, for to scheeen +[sic--KTH] with bowe Turkeys: for thei schote wel with bowes. In that lond +thei have a Queen, that governethe alle that lond: and alle thei ben +obeyssant to hire. And alweys thei maken here queen by eleccioun, that is +most worthy in armes. For thei ben right gode werryoures, and wyse, noble +and worthi. And thei gon often tyme in sowd, to help of other kynges in +here werres, for gold and sylver, as othere sowdyoures don: and thei +meyntenen hem self right vygouresly. This lond of Amazoyne is an Yle, alle +envirouned with the see, saf in 2 places, where ben 2 entrees. And bezond +that watir, duellen the men, that ben here paramoures, and hire loves, +where thei gon to solacen hem, whan thei wole. Besyde Amazoyne, is the lond +of Tarmegyte, that is a gret contree and a fulle delectable: and for the +godnesse of the contree, kyng Alisandre leet first make there the cytee of +Alisandre; and zit he made 12 cytees of the same name: but that cytee is +now clept Celsite. And fro that other cost of caldee, to ward the southe, +is Ethiope, a gret contree, that strecchethe to the ende of Egypt. Ethiope +is departed in 2 princypalle parties; and that is, in the est partie and in +the meridionelle partie: the whiche partie meridionelle is clept Moretane. +And the folk of that contree ben blake y now, and more blake than in the +tother partie; and thei ben clept Mowres. In that partie is a welle, that +in the day it is so cold, that no man may drynke there offe; and in the +nyght it so hoot, that no man may suffre his hond there in. And bezonde +that partie, toward the southe, to passe by the see occean, is a gret lond +and a gret contrey: but men may not duelle there, for the fervent brennynge +of the sonne; so is it passvnge hoot in that contrey. In Ethiope alle the +ryveres and alle the watres ben trouble, and thei ben somdelle salte, for +the gret hete that is there. And the folk of that contree ben lyghtly +dronken, and han but litille appetyt to mete: and thei han comounly the +flux of the wombe: and thei lyven not longe. In Ethiope ben manye dyverse +folk: and Ethiope is clept Cusis. In that contree ben folk, that han but o +foot: and thei gon so fast, that it is marvaylle: and the foot is so large, +that it schadewethe alle the body azen the sonne, whanne thei wole lye and +reste hem. In Ethiope, whan the children ben zonge and lytille, thei ben +alle zelowe: and whan that thei wexen of age, that zalownesse turnethe to +ben alle blak. In Ethiope is the cytee of Saba; and the lond, of the whiche +on of the 3 kynges, that presented oure Lord in Bethleem was kyng offe. + +Fro Ethiope men gon to Ynde, be manye dyverse contreyes. And men clepen the +highe Ynde, Emlak. And Ynde is devyded in 3 princypalle parties; that is, +the more, that is a fulle hoot contree; and Ynde the lesse, that is a fulle +atempree contrey, that strecchethe to the lond of Mede; and the 3 part +toward the Septentrion, is fulle cold; so that for pure cold and +contynuelle frost, the watre becomethe cristalle. And upon tho roches of +cristalle, growen the gode dyamandes, that ben of trouble colour. Zallow +cristalle drawethe colour lyke oylle. And thei ben so harde, that no man +may pollysche hem: and men clepen hem dyamandes in that contree, and Hamese +in another contree. Othere dyamandes men fynden in Arabye, that ben not so +gode; and thei ben more broun and more tendre. And other dyamandes also men +fynden in the ile of Cipre, that ben zit more tendre; and hem men may wel +pollische. And in the lond of Macedoyne men fynden dyamaundes also. But the +beste and the most precyouse ben in Ynde. And men fynden many tymes harde +dyamandes in a masse, that comethe out of Gold, whan men puren it and fynen +it out of the myne; whan men breken that masse in smale peces. And sum tyme +it happenethe, that men fynden summe as grete as a pese, and summe lasse; +and thei ben als harde as tho of Ynde. And alle be it that men fynden gode +dyamandes in Ynde, zit natheles men fynden hem more comounly upon the +roches in the see, and upon hilles where the myne of gold is. And thei +growen many to gedre, on lytille, another gret. And ther ben summe of the +gretness of a bene, and summe als gret as an haselle note. And thei ben +square and poynted of here owne kynde, bothe aboven and benethen, with +outen worchinge of mannes hond. And the growen to gedre, male and femele. +And thei ben norysscht with the dew of hevene. And thei engendren comounly, +and bryngen forthe smale children, that multiplyen and growen alle the +zeer. I have often tymes assayed, that zif a man kepe hem with a litylle of +the roche, and wete hem with May dew ofte sithes, thei schulle growe +everyche zeer; and the smale wole wexen grete. For righte as the fyn perle +congelethe and wexethe gret of the dew of hevene, righte so dothe the +verray dyamand: and righte as the perl of his owne kynde takethe +roundnesse, righte so the dyamand, be vertue of God, takethe squarenesse. +And men schalle bere the dyamaund on his left syde: for it is of grettere +vertue thanne, than on the righte syde. For the strengthe of here growynge +is toward the Northe; that is the left syde of the world; and the left +parte of man is, whan he turnethe his face toward the est. And zif zou lyke +to knowe the vertues of the dyamand, (as men may fynde in the lapidarye, +that many men knowen noght) I schalle telle zou: as thei bezonde the see +seyn and affermen, of whom alle science and alle philosophie comethe from. +He that berethe the diamand upon him, it zevethe him hardynesse and +manhode, and it kepethe the lemes of his body hole. It zevethe him victorye +of his enemyes, in plee and in werre; zif his cause be rightefulle: and it +kepethe him that berethe it, in gode wytt; and it kepethe him fro strif and +riot, fro sorwes and from enchauntementes and from fantasyes and illusiouns +of wykked spirites. And zif ony cursed wycche or enchauntour wolde bewycche +him, that berethe the dyamand; alle that sorwe and myschance schalle turne +to him self, thorghe vertu of that ston. And also no wylde best dar +assaylle the man, that berethe it on him. Also the dyamand scholde ben +zoven frely, with outen coveytynge and with outen byggynge: and than it is +of grettere vertu. And it makethe a man more strong and more sad azenst his +enemyes. And it helethe him that is lunatyk, and hem that the fend +pursuethe or travaylethe. And zif venym or poysoun be broughte in presence +of the dyamand, anon it begynnethe to wexe moyst and for to swete. There +ben also dyamandes in Ynde, that ben cept violastres; (for here colour is +liche vyolet, or more browne than violettes) that ben fulle harde and fulle +precyous; but zit sum men love not hem so wel as the othere: but in sothe +to me, I wolde loven hem als moche as the othere; for I have seen hem +assayed. Also there is an other maner of dyamandes, that ben als white as +cristalle; but thei ben a litylle more trouble: and thei ben gode and of +gret vertue, and alle thei ben square and poynted of here owne kynde. And +summe ben 6 squared, summe 4 squared, and summe 3, as nature schapethe hem. +And therefore whan grete lordes and knyghtes gon to seche worschipe in +armes, thei beren gladly the dyamaund upon hem. + +I schal speke a litille more of the dyamandes, alle thoughe I tarye my +matere for a tyme, to the ende that thei that knowen hem not, be not +disceyved be gabberes, that gon be the contree, that sellen hem. For whoso +wil bye the dyamande, it is needefulle to him, that he knowe hem; be cause +that men counterfeten hem often of cristalle, that is zalow; and of +saphires of cytryne colour, that is zalow also; and of the saphire loupe, +and of many other stones. But I telle zou, theise contrefetes ben not so +harde; and also the poyntes wil breken lightly, and men may easily +pollische hem. But summe werkmen, for malice, will not pollische hem, to +that entent, to maken men beleve, that thei may not ben pollischt. But men +may assaye hem in this manere; first schere with hem or write with hem in +saphires, in cristalle or in other precious stones. Aftre that men taken +the ademand, that is the schipmannes ston, that drawethe the nedle to him, +and men leyn the dyamand upon the ademand, and leyn the nedle before the +ademand; and zif the dyamand be gode and vertuous, the ademande drawethe +not the nedle to him, while the dyamand is there present. And this is the +preef, that thei bezonde the see maken. Natheles it befallethe often tyme, +that the gode dyamande losethe his vertue, be synne and for incontynence of +him, that berethe it: and thanne it is nedfulle to make it to recoveren his +vertue azen, or elle it is of litille value. + + +Of the customs of Yles abouten Ynde. Of the differences betwixt Ydoles and + Simulacres. Of 3 maner growing of Peper upon a Tree. Of the welle, that + chaungethe his odour, every hour of the day: and that is mervaylle. + +[Sidenote: Cap. XV.] In Ynde ben fulle manye dyverse contrees: and it is +cleped Ynde, for a flom, that rennethe thorghe out the contree, that is +clept Ynde. In that flomme men fynden eles of 30 fote long and more. And +the folk that duellen nyghe that watre, ben of evylle colour, grene and +zalow. In Ynde and abouten Ynde, ben mo than 5000 iles, gode and grete, +that men duellen in, with outen tho that ben inhabitable, and with outen +othere smale iles. In every ile, is gret plentee of cytees and of townes +and of folk, with outen nombre. For men of Ynde han this condicioun of +kynde, that thei nevere gon out of here owne contree: and therfore is ther +gret multitude of peple: but thei ben not sterynge ne mevable, be cause +that thei ben in the firste clymat, that is of Saturne. And Saturne is +sloughe and litille mevynge: for he taryethe to make his turn be the 12 +signes, 30 zeer; and the mone passethe thorghe the 12 signes in o monethe. +And for because that Saturne is of so late sterynge, therfore the folk of +that contree, that ben undre his clymat, han of kynde no wille for to meve +ne stere to seche strange places. And in oure contree is alle the +contrarie. For wee ben in the sevenethe climat, that is of the mone. And +the mone is of lyghtly mevynge; and the mone is planete of weye: and for +that skylle, it zevethe us wille of kynde, for to meve lyghtly, and for to +go dyverse weyes, and to sechen strange thinges and other dyversitees of +the world. For the mone envyrounethe the erthe more hastyly than ony othere +planete. + +Also men gon thorghe Ynde be many dyverse contrees, to the grete see +occean. And aftre men fynden there an ile, that is clept Crues: and thidre +comen marchantes of Venyse and Gene and of other marches, for to byen +marchandyses. But there is so grete hete in tho marches, and namely in that +ile, that for the grete distresse of the hete, mennes ballokkes hangen doun +to here knees, for the gret dissolucioun of the body. And men of that +contree, that knowen the manere, lat bynde hem up, or elle myghte thei not +lyve; and anoynt hem with oynementes made therfore, to holde hem up. In +that contree and in Ethiope and in many other contrees, the folk lyggen +alle naked in ryveres and watres, men and wommen to gedre, fro undurne of +the day, tille it be passed the noon. And thei lyen alle in the watre, saf +the visage, for the gret hete that there is. And the wommen haven no schame +of the men; but lyen alle to gidre, syde to syde, tille the hete be past. +There may men see many foule figure assembled, and namely nyghe the gode +townes. In that ile ben schippes with outen nayles of iren or bonds, for +the roches of the Ademandes: for thei ben alle fulle there aboute in that +see, that it is merveyle to speken of. And zif a schipp passed be tho +marches, that hadde outher iren bondes or iren nayles, anon he scholde ben +perisscht. For the Ademand, of his kynde, drawethe the iren to him: and so +wolde it drawe to him the schipp, because of the iren: that he scholde +never departen fro it, ne never go thens. + +Fro that ile, men gon be see to another ile, that is clept Chana, where is +gret plentee of corn and wyn: and it was wont to ben a gret ile, and a gret +havene and a good; but the see hathe gretly wasted it and overcomen it The +kyng of that contree was wont to ben so strong and so myghty, that he helde +werre azenst King Alisandre. The folk of that contree han a dyvers lawe: +for summe of hem, worschipe the sonne, summe the mone, summe the fuyr, +summe trees, summe serpentes, or the first thing that thei meeten at +morwen: and summe worschipen symulacres, and summe Ydoles. But betwene +symulacres and ydoles, is a gret difference. For symulacres ben ymages made +aftre lyknesse of men or of wommen, or of the sonne or of the mone, or of +ony best, or of ony kyndely thing: and ydoles, is an ymage made of lewed +wille of a man, that man may not fynden among kyndely thinges; as an ymage, +that hathe 4 hedes, on of a man, another of an hors, or of an ox, or of sum +other best, that no man hathe seyn aftre kyndely disposicioun. And thei +that worschipen symulacres, thei worschipen hem for sum worthi man, that +was sum tyme, as Hercules and many othere, that diden many marvayles in +here tyme. For thei seyn wel, that thei be not goddes: for thei knowen wel, +that there is a God of kynde, that made alle thinges; the which is in +hevene. But thei knowen wel, that this may not do the marvayles that he +made, but zif it had ben be the specyalle zifte of God: and therfore thei +seyn, that he was wel with God. And for be cause that he was so wel with +God, therfore the worschipe him. And so seyn thei of the sonne; be cause +that he chaungethe the tyme and zevethe hete and norisschethe alle thinges +upon erthe; and for it is of so gret profite, thei knowe wel, that that +myghte not be, but that God lovethe it more than ony other thing. And for +that skylle, God hath zoven it more gret vertue in the world: therfore it +is gode resoun, as thei seyn, to don it worschipe and reverence. And so +seyn thei, that maken here resounes, of othere planetes; and of the fuyr +also, because it is so profitable. And of Ydoles, thei seyn also, that the +ox is the moste holy best, that is in erthe, and most pacyent and more +profitable than ony other. For he dothe good y now, and he dothe non +evylle. And thei knowen wel, that it may not be with outen specyalle grace +of God; and therfore maken thei here God, of an ox the on part, and the +other halfondelle of a man: because that man is the most noble creature in +erthe; and also for he hathe lordschipe aboven alle bestes: therfore make +thei the halfendel of ydole of a man upwardes, and the tother half of an ox +dounwardes: and of serpentes and of other bestes, and dyverse thinges, that +thei worschipen, that thei meten first at morwe. And thei worschipen also +specyally alle tho that thei han gode meetynge of; and whan thei speden wel +in here iorneye, aftre here meetynge; and namely suche as thei han preved +and assayed be experience of longe tyme. For thei seyn, that thilke gode +meetynge ne may not come, but of the grace of God. And therefore thei maken +ymages lyche to tho thinges, that thei han beleeve inne, for to beholden +hem and worschipen hem first at morwe, or thei meeten ony contrarious +thinges. And there ben also sum Cristene men, that seyn, that summe bestes +han gode meetynge, that is to seye, for to meete with hem first at morwe; +and summe bestes wykked metynge: and that thei han preved ofte tyme, that +the hare hathe fulle evylle meetynge, and swy, and many othere bestes. And +the sparhauk and other foules of raveyne, whan thei fleen aftre here praye, +and take it before men of armes, it is a gode signe: and zif he fayle of +takynge his praye, it is an evylle sygne. And also to suche folk, it is an +evylle meetynge of ravenes. In theise thinges and in suche othere, ther ben +many folk, that beleeven; because it happenethe so often tyme to falle, +aftre here fantasyes. And also ther ben men y nowe, that han no beleve in +hem. And sithe that Cristene men han suche beleeve, that ben enformed and +taughte alle day, be holy doctryne, where inne thei schold beleeve, it is +no marvaylle thanne, that the Paynemes, that han no gode doctryne, but only +of here nature, beleeven more largely, for here symplenesse. And treuly I +have seen of Paynemes and Sarazines, that men clepen Augurynes, that whan +wee ryden in armes in dyverse contrees, upon oure enemyes, be the flyenge +of foules, thei wolde telle us the prenosticaciouns of thinges that felle +aftre: and so thei diden fulle often tymes, and profreden here hedes to +wedde, but zif it wolde falle as thei seyden. But natheles ther fore +scholde noght a man putten his beleeve in suche thinges: but always han +fulle trust and beleeve in God oure Sovereyn Lord. This ile of Chana, the +Sarazines han wonnen and holden. In that ile ben many lyouns, and many +othere wylde bestes. And there ben rattes in that ile, als gret as houndes +here: and men taken hem with grete mastyfes: for cattes may not take hem. +In this ile and many othere, men berye not no dede men: for the hete is +there so gret, that in a lityle tyme the flesche wil consume fro the bones. + +Fro thens, men gon be see toward Ynde the more, to a cytee that men clepen +Sarche, that is a fair cytee and a gode; and there duellen many Cristene +men of gode feythe: and ther ben manye religious men, and namely of +Mendynantes. Aftre gon men be see, to the lond of Lomb. In that lond +growethe the peper, in the forest that men clepen Combar; and it growethe +nowhere elle in alle the world, but in that forest: and that dureth wel an +18 iourneyes in lengthe. In the forest ben 2 gode cytees; that on highte +Fladrine, and that other Zinglantz. And in every of hem, duellen Cristene +men, and Jewes, gret plentee. For it is a gode contree and a plenteyous: +but there is over meche passynge hete. And zee schulle undirstonde, that +the peper growethe, in maner as dothe a wylde vyne, that is planted faste +by the trees of that wode, for to susteynen it by, as dothe the vyne. And +the fruyt thereof hangethe in manere as reysynges. And the tree is so +thikke charged, that it semethe that it wolde breke: and whan it is ripe, +it is all grene as it were ivy beryes; and than men kytten hem, as men don +the vynes, and than thei putten it upon an owven, and there it waxethe blak +and crisp. And there is 3 maner of peper, all upon o tree; long peper, blak +peper, and white peper. The long peper men clepen sorbotyn; and the blak +peper is clept fulfulle, and the white peper is clept bano. The long peper +comethe first, whanthe lef begynhethe to come; and it is lyche the chattes +of Haselle, that comethe before the lef, and it hangethe lowe. And aftre +comethe the blake with the lef, in manere of clustres of reysinges, alle +grene: and whan men han gadred it, than comethe the white, that is somdelle +lasse than the blake; and of that men bryngen but litille into this +contree; for thei bezonden with holden it for hem self, be cause it is +betere and more attempree in kynde, than the blake: and therfore is ther +not so gret plentee as of the blake. In that contree ben manye manere of +serpentes and of other vermyn, for the gret hete of the contree and of the +peper. And summe men seyn, that whan thei will gadre the peper, thei maken +fuyr, and brennen aboute, to make the serpentes and cokedrilles to flee. +But save here grace of alle that seyn so. For zif thei brenten abouten the +trees, that beren, the peper scholden ben brent, and it wolde dryen up alle +the vertue, as of ony other thing: and han thei diden hemself moche harm; +and thei scholde nevere quenchen the fuyr. But thus thei don; thei anoynten +here hondes and here feet with a juyce made of snayles and of othere +thinges, made therfore; of the whiche the serpentes and the venymous bestes +haten and dreden the savour: and that makethe hem flee before hem, because +of the smelle; and than thei gadren it seurly ynow. + +Also toward the heed of that forest, is the cytee of Polombe. And above the +cytee is a grete mountayne, that also is clept Polombe: and of that mount, +the cytee hathe his name. And at the foot of that mount, is a fayr welle +and a gret, that hathe odour and savour of alle spices; and at every hour +of the day, he chaungethe his odour and his savour diversely. And whoso +drynkethe 3 tymes fasting of that watre of that welle, he is hool of of +alle maner sykenesse, that he hathe. And thei that duellen there and +drynken often of that welle, thei nevere han sekenesse, and thei semen alle +weys zonge. I have dronken there of 3 or 4 sithes; and zit, me thinkethe, I +fare the better. Sum men clepen it the Welle of Zouthe: for thei that often +drynken there of, semen alle weys zongly, and lyven with outen sykenesse. +And men seyn, that that welle comethe out of paradys; and therfore it is so +vertuous. Be alle that contree growethe gode gyngevere: and therfore thidre +gon the marchauntes for spicerye. In that lond men worschipen the ox, for +his symplenesse and for his mekenesse, and for the profite that comethe of +him. And thei seyn, that he is the holyest best in erthe. For hem semethe, +that whoso evere be meke and paycyent, he is holy and profitable: for +thanne thei seyn, he hathe alle vertues in him. Thei maken the ox to +laboure 6 zeer or 7, and than thei ete him. And the kyng of the contree +hathe alle wey an ox with him: and he that kepethe him, hathe every day +grete fees, and kepethe every day his dong and his uryne in 2 vesselles of +gold, and bryngen it before here prelate, that thei clepen +archiprotopapaton; and he berethe it before the kyng, and makethe there +over a gret blessynge; and than the kyng wetethe his hondes there, in that +thei clepen gaul, and anyntethe his front and his brest: and aftre he +frotethe him with the dong and with the uryne with gret reverence, for to +ben fulfilt of vertues of the ox, and made holy be the vertue of that holy +thing, that nought is worthe. And whan the kyng hathe don, thanne don the +lordes; and aftre hem here mynystres and other men, zif thei may have ony +remenant. In that contree thei maken ydoles, half man, half ox; and in tho +ydoles, eville spirites speken and zeven answere to men, of what is asked +hem. Before theise ydoles, men sleen here children many tymes, and spryngen +the blood upon the ydoles; and so thei maken here sacrifise. And whan ony +man dyethe in the contree, thei brennen his body in name of penance, to +that entent, that he suffre no peyne in erthe, to ben eten of wormes. And +zif his wif have no child, thei brenne hire with him; and seyn, that it is +resoun, that sche make him companye in that other world, as sche did in +this. But and sche have children with him, thei leten hire lyve with hem, +to brynge hem up, zif sche wole. And zif that sche love more to lyve with +here children, than for to dye with hire husbonde, men holden hire for fals +and cursed; ne schee schalle never ben loved ne trusted of the peple. And +zif the womman dye before the husbonde, men brennen him with hire, zif that +he wole; and zif he wil not, no man constreynethe him thereto; but he may +wedde another tyme with outen blame and repreef. In that contree growen +manye stronge vynes: and the wommen drynken wyn, and men not: and the +wommen schaven hire berdes, and the men not. + + +Of the Domes made be seynt Thomas. Of Devocyoun and Sacrifice made to + Ydoles there, in the Cytee of Calamye; and of the processioun in goynge + aboute the Cytee. + +[Sidenote: Cap. XVI.] From that contree men passen be many marches, toward +a contree, a 10 iourneyes thens, that is clept Mabaron: and it is a gret +kyngdom, and it hathe many faire cytees and townes. In that kyngdom lithe +the body of Seynt Thomas the apostle, in flesche and bon, in a faire tombe, +in the cytee of Calamyee: for there he was martyred and buryed. But men of +Assirie beeren his bodye in to mesopatayme, in to the cytee of Edisse: and +aftre, he was broughte thidre azen. And the arm and the hoond, (that he +putte in oure Lordes syde, whan he appered to him, aftre his resurrexioun, +and seyde to him, _Noli esse incredulus, sed fidelis_) is zit lyggynge in a +vesselle with outen the tombe. And be that hond thei maken alle here +juggementes, in the contree, whoso hathe righte or wrong. For whan ther is +ony dissentioun betwene 2 partyes, and every of hem meyntenethe his cause, +and seyth, that his cause is rightfulle, and that other seythe the +contrarye, thanne bothe partyes writen here causes in 2 billes, and putten +hem in the hond of seynt Thomas; and anon he castethe awey the bille of the +wrong cause, and holdethe stille the bille with the righte cause. And +therfore men comen from fer contrees to have juggement of doutable causes: +and other juggement usen thei non there. Also the chirche, where seynt +Thomas lythe, is bothe gret and fair, and alle fulle of grete simulacres: +and tho ben grete ymages, that thei clepen here goddes; of the whiche, the +leste is als gret as 2 men. And among theise othere, there is a gret ymage, +more than ony of the othere, that is alle covered with fyn gold and +precyous stones and riche perles: and that ydole is the god of false +Cristene, that han reneyed hire feythe. And it syttethe in a chayere of +gold, fulle nobely arrayed; and he hathe aboute his necke large gyrdles, +wroughte of gold and precyous stones and perles. And this chirche is fulle +richely wroughte, and alle over gylt with inne. And to that ydole gon men +on pylgrimage, als comounly and with als gret devocioun, as Cristene men +gon to seynt James, or other holy pilgrimages. And many folk that comen fro +fer londes, to seche that ydole, for the gret devocyoun that thei han, thei +loken nevere upward, but evere more down to the erthe, for drede to see ony +thing aboute hem, that scholde lette hem of here devocyoun. And summe ther +ben, that gon on pilgrimage to this ydole, that beren knyfes in hire +hondes, that ben made fulle kene and scharpe; and alle weyes, as thei gon, +thei smyten hem self in here armes and in here legges and in here thyes, +with many hydouse woundes; and so thei scheden here blood, for love of that +ydole. And thei seyn that he is blessed and holy, that dyethe so for love +of his God. And othere there ben, that leden hire children, for to sle, to +make sacrifise to that ydole; and aftre thei han slayn hem, thei spryngen +the blood upon the ydole. And summe ther ben, that comme fro ferr, and in +goynge toward this ydole, at every thrydde pas, that thei gon fro here +hows, thei knelen; and so contynuen tille thei come thidre: and whan thei +comen there, thei taken ensense and other aromatyk thinges of noble smelle, +and sensen the ydole, as we wolde don here Goddes precyouse body. And so +comen folk to worschipe this ydole, sum fro an hundred myle, and summe fro +many mo. And before the mynstre of this ydole, is a vyvere, in rmaner of a +gret lake, fulle of watre: and there in pilgrymes casten gold and sylver, +perles and precyous stones, with outen nombre, in stede of offrynges. And +whan the mynystres of that chirche neden to maken ony reparacyoun of the +chirche or of ony of the ydoles, thei taken gold and silver, perles and +precyous stones out of the vyvere, to quyten the costages of suche thing as +thei maken or reparen; so that no thing is fawty, but anon it schalle ben +amended. And zee schulle undirstonde, that whan grete festes and +solempnytees of that ydole, as the dedicacioun of the chirche, and the +thronynge of the ydole bethe, alle the contree aboute meten there to +gidere; and thei setten this ydole upon a chare with gret reverence, wel +arrayed with clothes of gold, of riche clothes of Tartarye, of Camacca, and +other precyous clothes; and thei leden him aboute the cytee with gret +solempnytee. And before the chare, gon first in processioun alle the +maydenes of the contree, 2 and 2 to gidere, fulle ordynatly. And aftre tho +maydenes, gon the pilgrymes. And summe of hem falle doun undre the wheles +of the chare, and lat the chare gon over hem; so that thei ben dede anon. +And summe han here armes or here lymes alle to broken, and summe the sydes: +and alle this don thei for love of hire god, in gret devocioun. And he +thinkethe, that the more peyne and the more tribulacioun, that thei suffren +for love of here god, the more ioye thei schulle have in another world. And +schortly to seye zou; thei suffren so grete peynes and so harde +martyrdomes, for love of here ydole, that a Cristene man, I trowe, durst +not taken upon him the tenthe part of the peyne, for love of oure Lord +Jhesu Crist. And aftre, I seye zou, before the chare, gon alle the +mynstrelles of the contrey, with outen nombre, with dyverse instrumentes; +and thei maken alle the melodye, that thei cone. And whan thei han gon alle +aboute the cytee, thanne thei retournen azen to the mynstre, and putten the +ydole azen in to his place. And thanne, for the love and in worschipe of +that ydole, and for the reverence of the feste, thei slen himself, a 200 or +300 persones, with scharpe knyfes, of the whiche thei bryngen the bodyes +before the ydole; and than thei seyn, that tho ben seyntes, because that +thei slowen hemself of here owne gode wille, for love of here ydole. And as +men here, that hadde an holy seynt of his kyn, wolde thinke, that it were +to hem an highe worschipe, right so hem thinkethe there. And as men here +devoutly wolde writen holy seyntes lyfes and here myracles, and sewen for +here canonizaciouns, righte so don thei there, for hem that sleen hem self +wilfully, for love of here ydole; and seyn, that thei ben gloriouse +martyres and seyntes, and putten hem in here wrytynges and letanyes, and +avaunten hem gretly on to another of here holy kynnesmen; that so becomen +seyntes; and seyn, I have mo holy seyntes in my kynrede, than thou in thin. +And the custome also there is this, that whan thei that han such devocioun +and entent, for to sle him self, for love of his god, thei senden for alle +here frendes, and han gret plentee of mynstrelle, and thei gon before the +ydole ledynge him, that wil sle himself for such devocioun, betwene hem +with gret reverence. And he alle naked hath a ful scharp knyf in his hond, +and he cuttethe a gret pece of his flesche and castethe it in the face of +his ydole, seyenge his orysounes, recommendynge him to his god: and than he +smytethe himself, and makethe grete woundes and depe here and there, tille +he falle doun ded. And than his frendes presenten his body to the ydole: +and than thei seyn, syngynge, Holy God, behold what thi trewe servant hath +don for the; he hathe forsaken his wif and his children and his ricchesse +and alle the godes of the worlde and his owne lyf, for the love of the, and +to make the sacrifise of his flesche and of his blode. Wherfore, Holy God, +putte him among thi beste belovede seyntes in thi blisse of paradys: for he +hathe well disserved it. And than thei maken a gret fuyr, and brennen the +body: and thanne everyche of his frendes taken a quantyte of the assches, +and kepen hem in stede of relykes, and seyn, that it is a holy thing. And +thei have no drede of no perile, whils thei han tho holy assches upon hem. +And thei putten his name in here letanyes, as a seynt. + + +Of the evylle Customs used in the Yle of Lamary: and how the Erthe and the + See ben of round Forme and schapp, be pref of the Sterre, that is clept + Antartyk, that is fix in the Southe. + +[Sidenote: Chap. XVII.] Fro that contree go men be the see occean, and be +many dyverse yles, and be many contrees, that were to longe for to telle +of. And a 52 iorneyes fro this lond, that I have spoken of, there is +another lond, that is fulle gret, that men clepen Lamary. In that lond is +fulle gret hete: and the custom there is such, that men and wommen gon alle +naked. And thei scornen, whan thei seen ony strange folk goynge clothed. +And thei seyn, that God made Adam and Eve alle naked; and that no man +scholde schame, that is of kyndely nature. And thei seyn, that thei that +ben clothed ben folk of another world, or thei ben folk, that trowen not in +God. And thei seyn, that thei beleeven in God, that formede the world, and +that made Adam and Eve, and alle other thinges. And thei wedden there no +wyfes: for all the wommen there ben commoun, and thei forsake no man. And +thei seyn, thei synnen, zif thei refusen ony man: and so God commannded to +Adam and Eve, and to alle that comen of him, whan he seyde, _Crescite et +multiplicamini, et replete terram_. And therfore may no man in that contree +seyn, this is my wyf: ne no womman may seye, this is myn husbonde. And whan +thei han children, thei may zeven hem to what man thei wole, that hathe +companyed with hem. And also all the lond is comoun: for alle that a man +holdethe o zeer, another man hathe it another zeer. And every man takethe +what part that him lykthe. And also alle the godes of the lond ben comoun, +cornes and alle other thinges: for no thing there is clept in clos, ne no +thing there is undur lok; and every man there takethe what he wole, with +outen ony contradiccioun: and als riche is o man there, as is another. But +in that contree, there is a cursed custom: for thei eten more gladly mannes +flesche, than ony other flesche: and zit is that contree habundant of +flesche, of fissche, of cornes, of gold and sylver, and of alle other +godes. Thidre gone Marchauntes, and bryngen with hem children, to selle to +hem of the contree, and thei byzen hem: and zif thei ben fatte, thei eten +hem anon; and zif thei ben lene, thei feden hem, tille thei ben fatte, and +thanne thei eten hem: and thei seyn, that it is the best flesche and the +swettest of alle the world. In that lond, ne in many othere bezonde that, +no man may see the sterre transmontane, that is clept the sterre of the +see, that is unmevable, and that is toward the northe, that we clepen the +lode sterre. But men seen another steere, the contrarie to him, that is +toward the south, that is clept Antartyk. And right as the schip men taken +here avys here, and governe hem be the lode sterre, right so don schip men +bezonde the parties, be the sterre of the southe, the whiche sterre +apperethe not to us. And this sterre, that is toward the north, that wee +clepen the lode sterre, ne apperethe not to hem. For whiche cause, men may +wel perceyve, that the lond and the see ben of rownde schapp and forme. For +the partie of the firmament schewethe in o contree, that schewethe not in +another contree. And men may well preven be experience and sotyle +compassement of wytt, that zif a man fond passages be schippes, that wolde +go to serchen the world, MEN MYGHTE GO BE SCHIPPE ALLE ABOUTE THE WORLD, +and aboven and benethen. The whiche thing I prove thus, aftre that I have +seyn. For I have ben toward the parties of Braban, and beholden the +astrolabre, that the sterre that is clept the Transmontayne, is 53 degrees +highe. And more forthere in Almayne and Bewme, it hathe 58 degrees. And +more forthe toward the parties septemtrioneles, it is 62 degrees of heghte, +and certeyn mynutes. For I my self have mesured it by the astrolabre. Now +schulle ze knowe, that azen the Transmontayne, is the tother sterre, that +is clept Antartyke; as I have seyd before. And tho 2 sterres ne meeven +nevere. And be hem turnethe alle the firmament, righte as dothe a wheel, +that turnethe be his axille tree; so that tho sterres beren the firmament +in 2 egalle parties; so that it hathe als mochel aboven, as it hathe +benethen. Aftre this, I have gon toward the parties meridionales, that is +toward the southe: and I have founden, that in Lybye, men seen first the +sterre Antartyk. And so fer I have gon more forthe in tho contrees, that I +have founde that sterre more highe; so that toward the highe Lybye, it is +18 degrees of heghte, and certeyn minutes (of the whiche, 60 minutes maken +a degree). After goynge be see and be londe, toward this contree, of that I +have spoke, and to other yles and londes bezonde that contree, I have +founden the sterre Antartyk of 33 degrees of heghte, and mo mynutes. And +zif I hadde had companye and schippynge, for to go more bezonde, I trowe +wel in certeyn, that wee scholde have seen alle the roundnesse of the +firmament alle aboute. For as I have seyd zou be forn, the half of the +firmament is betwene tho 2 sterres: the whiche halfondelle I have seyn. And +of the tother halfondelle, I have seyn toward the north, undre Transmontane +62 degrees and 10 mynutes; and toward the partie meridionalle, I have seen +undre the Antartyk 33 degrees and 16 mynutes: and thanne the halfondelle of +the firmament in alle, ne holdethe not but 180 degrees. And of tho 180, I +have seen 62 on that o part, and 33 on that other part, that ben 95 +degrees, and nyghe the halfondelle of a degree; and so there ne faylethe +but that I have seen alle the firmament, saf 84 degrees and the halfondelle +of a degree; and that is not the fourthe part of the firmament. For the 4 +partie of the roundnesse of the firmament holt 90 degrees: so there +faylethe but 5 degrees and an half, of the fourthe partie. And also I have +seen the 3 parties of alle the roundnesse of the firmament, and more zit 5 +degrees and an half. Be the which I seye zou certeynly, that men may +envirowne alle the erthe of alle the world, as wel undre as aboven, and +turnen azen to his contree, that hadde companye and schippynge and conduyt: +and alle weyes he scholde fynde men, londes, and yles, als wel as in this +contree. For zee wyten welle, that thei that ben toward the Antartyk, thei +ben streghte, feet azen feet of hem, that dwellen undre the transmontane; +als wel as wee and thei that dwellyn undre us, ben feet azenst feet. For +alle the parties of see and of lond han here appositees, habitable or +trepassables, and thei of this half and bezond half. And wytethe wel, that +aftre that, that I may parceyve and comprehend, the londes of Pestre John, +Emperour of Ynde, ben undre us. For in goynge from Scotland or from England +toward Jerusalem, men gon upward alweys. For oure lond is in the lowe +partie of the erthe, toward the west: and the lond of Prestre John is the +lowe partie of the erthe, toward the est: and thei han there the day, whan +wee have the nyghte, and also highe to the contrarie, thei han the nyghte, +whan wee han the day. For the erthe and the see ben of round form and +schapp, as I have seyd beforn. And that that men gon upward to o cost, men +gon dounward to another cost. Also zee have herd me seye, that Jerusalem is +in the myddes of the world; and that may men preven and schewen there, be a +spere, that is pighte in to the erthe, upon the hour of mydday, whan it is +equenoxium, that schewethe no schadwe on no syde. And that it scholde ben +in the myddes of the world, David wytnessethe it in the psautre, where he +seythe, _Des operatus est salutem in medie Terre_. Thanne thei that parten +fro the parties of the west, for to go toward Jerusalem, als many iorneyes +as thei gon upward for to go thidre, in als many iorneyes may thei gon fro +Jerusalem unto other confynyes of the superficialtie of the erthe bezonde. +And whan men gon bezonde tho iourneyes, toward Ynde and to the foreyn yles, +alle is envyronynge the roundnesse of this erthe and of the see, undre oure +contrees on this half. And therfore hathe it befallen many tymes of o +thing, that I have herd cownted, whan I was zong; how a worthi man departed +somtyme from oure contrees, for to go serche the world. And so he passed +Ynde, and the yles bezonde Ynde, where ben mo than 5000 yles: and so longe +he wente be see and lond, and so enviround the world be many seysons, that +he fond an yle, where he herde speke his owne langage, callynge an oxen in +the plowghe, suche wordes as men speken to bestes in his owne contree: +whereof he hadde gret mervayle: for he knewe not how it myghte be. But I +seye, that he had gon so longe, be londe and be see, that he had envyround +alle the erthe, that he was comen azen envirounynge, that is to seye, +goynge aboute, unto his owne marches, zif he wolde have passed forthe, til +he had founden his contree and his owne knouleche. Bur he turned azen from +thens, from whens he was come fro; and so he loste moche peynefulle labour, +as him self seyde, a gret while aftre, that he was comen hom. For it +befelle aftre, that he wente in to Norweye; and there tempest of the see +toke him; and he arryved in an yle; and whan he was in that yle, he knew +wel, that it was the yle, where he had herd speke his owne langage before, +and the callynge of the oxen at the plowghe: and that was possible thinge. +But how it semethe to symplemen unlerned, that men ne mowe not go undre the +erthe, and also that men scholde falle toward the hevene, from undre! But +that may not be, upon lesse, than wee mowe falle toward hevene, fro the +erthe, where wee ben. For fro what partie of the erthe, that men duelle, +outher aboven or benethen, it semethe alweys to hem that duellen, that thei +gon more righte than ony other folk. And righte as it semethe to us, that +thei ben undre us, righte so it semethe hem, that wee ben undre hem. For +zif a man myghte falle fro the erthe unto the firmament: be grettere +resoun, the erthe and the see, that ben so grete and so hevy, scholde +fallen to the firmament: but that may not be: and therfore seithe oure Lord +God, _Non timeas me, qui suspendi Terram ex nichilo?_ And alle be it that +it be possible thing, that men may so envyrone alle the world, natheles of +a 1000 persones, on ne myghte not happen to returnen in to his contree. +For, for the gretnesse of the erthe and of the see, men may go be a 1000 +and a 1000 other weyes, that no man cowde redye him perfitely toward the +parties that he cam fro, but zif it were be aventure and happ, or be the +grace of God. For the erthe is fulle large and fulle gret, and holt in +roundnesse and aboute envyroun, be aboven and be benethen 20425 myles, +aftre the opynyoun of the olde wise astronomeres. And here seyenges I +repreve noughte. But aftre my lytylle wytt, it semethe me, savynge here +reverence, that it is more. And for to have bettere understondynge, I seye +thus, Be ther ymagyned a figure, that hathe a gret compas, and aboute the +poynt of the gret compas, that is clept the centre, be made another litille +compas: then aftre, be the gret compas devised be lines in manye parties; +and that alle the lynes meeten at the centre; so that in as many parties, +as the grete compas schal be departed, in als manye schalle be departed the +litille, that is aboute the centre, alle be it that the spaces ben lesse. +Now thanne, be the gret compas represented for the firmament, and the +litille compas represented for the erthe. Now thanne the firmament is +devysed, be astronomeres, in 12 signes; and every signe is devysed in 30 +degrees, that is 360 degrees, that the firmament hathe aboven. Also, be the +erthe devysed in als many parties as the firmament; and lat every partye +answere to a degree of the firmament: and wytethe it wel, that aftre the +auctoures of astronomye, 700 fulonges of erthe answeren to a degree of the +firmament; and tho ben 87 myles and 4 furlonges. Now be that here +multiplyed by 360 sithes; and than thei ben 31500 myles, every of 8 +furlonges, aftre myles of oure contree. So moche hathe the erthe in +roundnesse, and of heght enviroun, aftre myn opynyoun and myn +undirstondynge. And zee schulle undirstonde, that aftre the opynyoun of +olde wise philosophres and astronomeres, oure contree ne Irelond ne Wales +ne Scotlond ne Norweye ne the other yles costynge to hem, ne ben not in the +superficialte cownted aboven the erthe: as it schewethe be alle the bokes +of astronomye. For the superficialtee of the erthe is departed in 7 +parties, for the 7 planetes: and tho parties ben clept clymates. And oure +parties be not of the 7 clymates; for thei ben descendynge toward the west. +And also these yles of Ynde, which beth even azenst us, beth noght reckned +in the climates; for thei ben azenst us, that ben in the lowe contree. And +the 7 clymates strecchen hem envyrounynge the world. + + +Of the Palays of the Kyng of the Yle of Java. Of the Trees, that beren + Mele, Hony, Wyn and Venym; and of othere Mervayilles and Customes, used + in the Yles marchinge thereabouten. + +[Sidenote: Cap. XVIII.] Besyde that yle that I have spoken of, there is +another yle, that is clept Sumobor, that is a gret yle: and the kyng +thereof is righte myghty. The folk of that yle maken hem alweys to ben +marked in the visage with an hote yren, bothe men and wommen, for gret +noblesse, for to ben knowen from other folk. For thei holden hem self most +noble and most worthi of alle the world. And thei han werre alle weys with +the folk that gon alle naked. And faste besyde is another yle, that is +clept Betemga, that is a gode yle and a plentyfous. And many other yles ben +there about; where ther ben many of dyverse folk: of the whiche it were to +longe to speke of alle. + +But fast besyde that yle, for to passe be see, is a gret yle a gret +contree, that men clepen Java: and it is nyghe 2000 myle in circuyt. And +the kyng of that contree is a fulle gret lord and a ryche and a myghty, and +hathe undre him 7 other kynges of 7 other yles abouten hym. This yle is +fulle wel inhabyted, and fulle wel manned. There growen alle maner of +spicerie, more plentyfous liche than in ony other contree; as of gyngevere, +clowegylofres, canelle, zedewalle, notemuges and maces. And wytethe wel, +that the notemuge berethe the maces. For righte as the note of the haselle +hathe an husk with outen, that the note is closed in, til it be ripe, and +aftre fallethe out; righte so it is of the notemuge and of the maces. Manye +other spices and many other godes growen in that yle. For of alle thing is +there plenty, saf only of wyn: but there is gold and silver gret plentee. +And the kyng of that contree hathe a paleys fulle noble and fulle +marveyllous, and more riche than ony in the world. For alle the degrez to +gon up into halles and chambres, ben on of gold, another of sylver. And +also the pavmentes of halles and chambres ben alle square, on of gold and +another of sylver: and alle the walles with inne ben covered with gold and +sylver, in fyn plates: and in tho plates ben stories and batayles of +knyghtes enleved. And the crounes and the cercles abouten here hedes ben +made of precious stones and riche perles and grete. And the halles and the +chambres of the palays ben alle covered with inne with gold and sylver: so +that no man wolde trowe the richesse of that palays, but he had seen it. +And witethe wel, that the kyng of that yle is so myghty, that he hathe many +tymes overcomen the grete Cane of Cathay in bataylle, that is the most gret +emperour that is undre the firmament, outher bezonde the see or on this +half. For thei han had often tyme werre betwene hem, be cause that the +grete cane wolde constreynen him to holden his lond of him: but that other +at alle tymes defendethe him wel azenst him. + +Aftre that yle, in goynge be see, men fynden another yle, gode and gret, +that men clepen Pathen, that is a gret kyngdom, fulle of faire cytees and +fulle of townes. In that lond growen trees, that beren mele, wherof men +maken gode bred and white, and of gode savour; and it semethe as it were of +whete, but it is not allynges of suche savour. And there ben other trees, +that beren hony, gode and swete: and other trees, that beren venym; azenst +the whiche there is no medicyne but on; and that is to taken here propre +leves, and stampe hem and tempere hem with watre, and then drynke it: and +elle he schalle dye; for triacle will not avaylle, ne non other medicyne. +Of this venym, the Jewes had let seche of on of here frendes, for to +empoysone alle Cristiantee, as I have herd hem seye in here confessioun, +before here dyenge. But thanked be alle myghty God, thei fayleden of hire +purpos: but alle weys thei maken gret mortalitee of people. And other trees +there ben also, that beren wyn of noble sentement. And zif zou like to here +how the mele comethe out of the trees, I shalle seye zou. Men hewen the +trees with an hatchet, alle aboute the fote of the tree, tille that the +bark be parted in many parties; and than comethe out ther of a thikke +lykour, the whiche thei resceyven in vesselles, and dryen it at the hete of +the sonne; and than thei han it to a mylle to grynde; and it becomethe +faire mele and white. And the hony and the wyn and the venym ben drawen out +of other trees, in the same manere, and put in veselles for to kepe. In +that yle is a ded see, that is a lake, that hathe no ground. And zif ony +thing falle in to that lake, it schalle nevere comen up azen. In that lake +growen redes, that ben cannes, that thei clepen thaby, that ben 30 fadme +long. And of theise canes men maken faire houses. And ther ben other canes, +that ben not so longe, that growen neer the lond, and han so longe rotes, +that duren wel a 4 quartres of a furlong or more; and at the knottes of tho +rotes, men fynden precious stones, that han gret vertues: and he that +berethe ony of hem upon him, yren ne steel ne may not hurt him, ne drawe no +blood upon him: and therfore thei that han tho stones upon hem, fighten +fulle hardyly, bothe on see and lond: for men may not harmen hem on no +partye. And therfore thei that knowen the manere, and schulle fighten with +hem, thei schoten to hem arwes and quarrelles with outen yren or steel; and +so thei hurten hem and sleen hem. And also of tho cannes, thei maken houses +and schippes and other thinges; as wee han here, makynge houses and +schippes of oke or of ony other trees. And deme no man, that I seye it, but +for a truffulle: for I have seen of the cannes with myn owne eyzen fulle +many tymes lyggynge upon the ryvere of that lake: of the whiche, 20 of oure +felowes ne myghten not liften up ne beren on to the erthe. + +Aftre this yle, men gon be see to another yle, that is clept Calonak: and +it is a fair lond and a plentifous of godes. And the kyng of that contrey +hath als many wyfes as he wole; for he makethe serche alle the contree, to +geten him the fairest maydens that may ben founde, and makethe hem to ben +broughte before him; and he takethe on o nyght, and another another nyght, +and so forthe contynuelle sewyng; so that he hath a 1000 wyfes or mo. And +he liggethe never but o nyght with on of hem, and another nyght with +another, but zif that on happene to ben more lusty to his plesance than +another. And therfore the kyng getethe fully many children; sum tyme an +100, sum tyme an 200, and sum tyme mo. And he hathe also into a 14000 +olifauntz or mo, that he makethe for to ben brought up amonges his +vileynes, be alle his townes. For in cas that he had ony werre azenst any +other kyng aboute him, thanne he makethe certeyn men of armes for to gon up +in to the castelles of tree, made for the werre, that craftily ben sett up +on the olifantes bakkes, for to fyghten azen hire enemyes: and so don other +kynges there aboute. For the maner of werre is not there, as it is here or +in other contrees; ne the ordinance of werre nouther. And men clepen the +olifantes, warkes. + +And in that yle there is a gret marvayle, more to speke of than in ony +other partie of the world. For alle manere of fissches, that ben there in +the see abouten hem, comen ones in the zeer, eche manere of dyverse +fissches, on maner of kynde aftre other; and thei casten hem self to the +see banke of that yle, so gret plentee and multitude, that no man may +unnethe see but fissche; and there thei abyden 3 dayes: and every man of +the contree takethe of hem, als many as him lykethe: And aftre, that maner +of fissche, after the thridde day, departethe and gothe into the see. And +aftre hem, comen another multitude of fyssche of another kynde, and don in +the same maner as the firste diden other 3 dayes. And aftre hem, another; +tille alle the dyverse maner of fissches han ben there, and that men han +taken of hem, that hem lykethe. And no man knowethe the cause wherfore it +may ben. But thei of the contree seyn, that it is for to do reverence to +here kyng, that is the most worthi kyng, that is in the world, as thei +seyn; because that he fulfillethe the comandement, that God bad to Adam and +Eve, whan God seyde, _Crescite et multplicamini et replete terram_. And for +because that he multipliethe so the world with children, therfore God +sendethe him so the fissches of dyverse kyndes, of alle that ben in the +see, to taken at his wille, for him and alle his peple. And therfore alle +the fissches of the see comen, to maken him homage, as the most noble and +excellent kyng of the world, and that is best beloved with God, als thei +seyn. I knowe not the resoun, whi it is; but God knowethe. But this, me +semethe, is the moste marveylle, that evere I saughe. For this mervaylle is +azenst kynde, and not with kynde, that the fissches, that han fredom to +enviroun alle the costes of the see, at here owne list, comen of hire owne +wille to profren hem to the dethe, with outen constreynynge of man: and +therfore I am syker, that this may not ben, with outen a gret tokene. + +There ben also in that contree a kynde of snayles, that ben so grete, that +many persones may loggen hem in here schelles, as men wolde done in a +litylle hous. And other snayles there ben, that ben fulle grete, but not so +huge as the other. And of theise snayles, and of gret white wormes, that +han blake hedes, that ben als grete as a mannes thighe, and somme lesse, as +grete wormes that men fynden there in wodes, men maken vyaunde rialle, for +the kyng and for other grete lordes. And zif a man, that is maryed, dye in +that contree, men buryen his wif with him all quyk. For men seyn there, +that it is resoun, that sche make him companye in that other world, as sche +did in this. + + +CAPVT. 30. + +De Regnis Cynocephalorum, et alijs Insulis. + +Per mare oceanum potest hinc veniri in Insulam Kaffa: [Marginal note: Vel +Caffeles.] quicunque ibi infirmari videtur ad mortem, suspenditur ad +arborem, antequam moriatur, vt non ab immundis terrae vermibus, sed a coeli +auibus, quas reputant Dei Angelos, comedatur. + +In alia insula faciunt suos infirmos ante mortem ab eductis in hoc magnis +canibus strangulari, manducantes in conuiuio carnes pro optimo ferculo +venationis. + +Interpositis quoque multis Insulis, de quibus subticeo gratia breuitatis, +habetur Insula Mylke, [Marginal note: Vel Mekke.] et hij videntur omnium +hominum crudelissimi; Nam quilibet particulariter pro leui et modica +stimulatione, vulnerat, sauciat, et occidit, proximum, vicinum et amicum: +Et si quando dissidentes contigerit concordari, non habebitur pax rata, +nisi quisque de alterius sanguine biberit bonum haustum. + +Hinc nauigando per multas et diuersas Insulas, qui in singulas intrare, et +moram trahere voluerit, stupenda multa videbit, et poterit venire in +Insulam Tracoide. [Marginal Note: Vel Traceda.] + +Illic sunt homines absque vllo ingenio penitus bestiales, serpentibus, +vermibusque vescentes, nec inuicem loquentes, sed conceptus suos signis et +indicijs ostendentes. Diligunt preciosos lapides tantummodo pulchritudinis +gratia, non causa virtutis: et super omnes vnum diligunt lapidem habentem +60. colorum varietates, qui et Tracoides vocatur propter ipsos. + +Intratur hinc per Oceanum in regionem Niconoram, vel Nacumeram, habentem in +circuitu spacium mille leucarum: omnes ibi geniti homines habent capita ad +formam canum, vnde et in Graeco Cynocephali dicuntur. Isti etiam incedunt +nudis corporibus, excepto parui panniculi operimento, secretiora loca et +posteriora retro tegente. Rationabiles tamen multum sunt hij, et plurimum +virtuosi, ac de omni forefacto rigidam iustitiam exercentes. Sunt statura +elegantes, robusti corpore, in praelijs lanceam cum tergia lata gerentes, +viriliterque, et prudenter pugnantes. Omnes pro deo adorant bouem, vnde et +quilibet in fronte argenteam seu auream similitudinem bouis defert, et si +quem viuum in praelio ceperint, sine vlla miseratione manducant. + +Rex multum est diues et potens, ac deuotus in superstitione. Nam circa +collum gestat trecentas orientales margaritas, quibus quotidie ante +commestionem orationes suas colligit, quemadmodum nos colligimus, Pater +noster, etc. Ac praeterea portat ad collum [Marginal note: Siue +carbunculum.] rubetum orientalem, nobilem, purum, pulchrum, resplendentem, +et summe preciosum, ad longitudinem pedis humani, quem habet diligenter +seruare, quod dum eo caret non tenetur pro Rege. + +Pro isto carbunculo Grand Can Imperator, per ingenium, per insidias, per +precium, et per praelium saepe laborauit, sed nihil profecit. Post istam +apparet insula Syllan, habens leucas de circuitu 80. quae paucos habet +homines propter multitudinem draconum, serpentum, crocodilorum in ea. Sunt +autem crocodili speciales serpentes, coloris virgulati de croceo et nigro, +cum quatuor cruribus, et tibijs et latis pedum vngulis. Aliqui horum habent +longitudinem quinque tensarum, aut citra, qui dum tendunt per arenosa +relinquunt signum semitae, acsi sit ibi tractus grandis arboris truncus. + +Item in hac insula habetur nons altus, et in sui vertice satis altus et +distentus et magnus aquae lacus, de quo et stulti homines fabulantur, quod +primi parentes post eiectionem suam, illam aquam primo lacrymauerunt. In +huius fundo lacus nascuntur margaritae, et habentur semper lapides preciosi. +Solentque pauperes terrae, accepta a Rege licentia, semel in anno ingredi, +ac piscari gemmas, qui intrantes vngunt se succo Lymonsae, contra hirudines, +colubros, et serpentes. Sed et de lacu effluit riuulus per montis +descensum, in quo nonnunquam margaritae inueniuntur, et gemmae: dicunt etiam +ibi nullum venenatum animal nocere aduenis. + +Ibi videntur leones albi in mira magnitudine boum nostrorum, et multae +diuersae bestiae, et aues, bestiolae, et auiculae aliarum specierum quam in +partibus istis. Nam ibi et in nonnullis alijs insulis vidi vnum mirum, de +quo prius vix credidissem narranti, videlicet anates cum duobus capitibus. + +Et sciatis quod tam hic quam alibi mare apparet satis altius suo littore, +imo qui a remotis aspicit videt suspensum quasi ad nubes. Et de hoc +admiratus fuissem, nisi quod scriptum sciui mirabiles elationes maris. + + +CAPVT. 31. + +De multis alijs Insulis Meridionalibus, de quibus et Plinius, et Munsterus. + +Versus meridien hinc legendo per mare, inuenitur regio speciosa nomine +Doudin: [Marginal note: Vel Doudeia.] cuius rex imperat seu principatur 54. +regibus in circuitu insularum. + +Dum quis hic infirmatur tendit proximus ad Idolum sciscitans an morietur, +et si respondit non, addit et dicere medicinam qua curabitur: si autem +responderit moriturum, statim conuocatis amicis occiditur, et cum +symphonia, et solemnitate comedunt eius carnes, ossa tantummodo +sepelientes. In Insulis vero circumiacentibus, habentur incredibiliter +diuersae gentes. Nam vna habet homines enormis magnitudinis, cum solo in +medio frontis oculo, qui absque vllo condimento manducant carnes et pisces. + +Alia Insula habet homines aspectu deformes, nihil autem colli aut capitis +ostendentes, vnde et Acephali nuncupantur: oculos autem habent ante ad +scapulas, et in loco pectoris os apertum ad formam ferri, quo nostri +caballi fraenantur. + +In alia Insula sunt gentes planis faciebus absque eleuatione nasorum, et +palpebratum cum paruis foraminibus oculorum, et scissura modica oris. Et in +alia gentes cum superiore oris labio ita lato et amplo, vt, dum velint, +totam faciem de illo tegant. + +Alia generat homines paruae saturae cum oris foramine sic paruo, vt per +fistulas alimentum, et potum sumant, et quoniam carent lingua et dentibus, +monstrant per naturalia signa conceptus. Et aliqui sunt homines debitae +quidem staturae, et formae, nisi quod habent pedes equinos, quibus ita sunt +praepetes, vt syluestres bestias capiant, quas comedunt, et manducant. + +In alia homines sunt toti pilosi et hispidi, vsu simiarum manibus et +pedibus ambulantes, et ad arbores reptantes, qui quamuis non loquuntur, +apparent rationabiles, qui regem habent, et rectores. + +Et in alia omnes sunt claudi, qui quamuis pedes habeant, tamen ambulant +super genua multum ridiculose, imo miserabiliter, vt de passu in passum +videantur casuri in terrem. Et in quadam, sexum tam masculinum, quam +foeminieum habentes, qui dum masculino vtuntur generant, dum foeminino, +impregnantur et pariunt. Atque, in compendio multa concludam, in singulis +54. insularum inueniuntur homines, forma, statura, actibus et moribus +singulis ab inuicem differentes, de quibus potest fieri descriptio, quam +pertranseo gratia breuitatis, et causa incredulitatis forte quorundum +audientium. + +In istis autem meridionalibus partibus apparebat mihi eleuatio poli +Antarctici 33. graduum, cum 16. minutis. Et sciendum quod in Bohemia, +similiter in Anglia eleuatur polus Arcticus 52. gradibus vel citra: Et in +partibus magis septentrionalibus, vbi sunt Scoti 62. gradibus cum quatuor +minutis. Ex quo patet respiciendo ad latitudinem coeli, quae est de polo ad +polum, quod itineratio mea fuit per quartum Horizontis spherae terrae et +vltra, per quinque gradus, cum 20. minutis. Cum ergo secundum Astrologos, +totus terrae circuitus sit 31500. milliarium, octo stadijs pro milliario +computatis, et septinginta stadia respondeant ad vnum gradum, quod patet ad +latitudinem terrae, perambulaui 66733. stadia cum vno tertio, quae faciunt +4170. leucas Geometricas cum dimidia vel prope. + + +CAPVT. 32. + +De bona Regione Man chus. [Footnote: Mangi.] + +Cum igitur tot et talsa in istis Insulis vidimus monstra (quae si explicarem +scribendo vix a legentibus omnia crederentur) non curauimus vlterius +procedere sub polo australi, ne in maiora pericula incideremus: sed propter +auditam et inuisam nobis famositatem potentiae, nobilitatis, et gloriae +Imperatoris Tartarorum, vertebam faciem cum socijs nauigare magis versus +Orientem. Cumque per multas diaetas sustinuissemus multa pericula maris, +peruenimus in Regnum Manchus, [Marginal Note: Vel Mangi.] quod est in +confinibus superioris Indiae, et iungitur ab vna parte Tartariae. Haec Regio +Manchus, pro sui quantitate reputatur melior, delectabilior, et omnium +bonorum abundantior de cunctis ibi prope Regionibus. Nam et homines bestiae, +et volucres maiores et corpulentiores sunt alijs, et prae vbertate vix +inuenirentur in vna ciuitate decem mendici. Formosi sunt viri, sed feminae +formosiores. Sed viri loco barbae, habent perpaucos pilos, rigidos, et +longos ab vtraque oris parte, quemadmodum nostros videmus cattos habere. + +Prima quam ingrediebaumer ciuitas est Lachori, [Marginal Note: Siue +Lateryn.] distans vna dieta a mari, et mirabamur, et gauisi sumus nos +inuenisse integram ciuitatem Christianae fidei. Nam et maior pars Regni +credit in Christum. + +Ibi habetur in leui precio copia rerum omnium, et praecipue victualium: vnum +genus est ibi serpentum in abundantia quod manducant ad omne conuiuium, et +nisi pro finali ferculo ministraretur de illis serpentibus, conuiuium quam +modicum diceretur. + +Suntque per hoc regnum pleraeque ciuitates et Ecclesiae, et relligiones, quas +instituit dux Ogerus, quia hoc est vnum de quindecim regnis quae quaesiuit, +sicut infra dicetur. + +Illic sunt elegantes albae gallinae, quae non vestiuntur plumis vt nostraae, +sed optima lana. Canes aquatici, quos nos lutras nominamus, sunt ibi multi +edomiti, quod quoties mittuntur in flumen, exportant domino piscem. + +Ab hoc loco per aliquas diaetas, venitur ad huius regionis maximam vrbem +Cansay, hoc est dicere ciuitatem coeli, imo de vniuerso orbe terrarum +putatur haec maxima Ciuitatum; nam eius circuitus 50. leucis est mensus, nec +est facile dicere, quam, compresse a quamplurimis populis inhabitatur. Haec +sedet in lacu maris, quemadmodum, et Venetiae: et habentur in ea plures quam +mille ducenti pontes, et in quolibet turres mirae magnitudinis, ac +fortitudinis, munitae peruigili custodia, et pro vrbe tuenda contra +Imperatorem Grand Can. + +Multi sunt ibi Christiani, et multae Religiones Christianorum, sed et de +ordinibus Minorum, et praedicatorum, qui tamen ibi non mendicant; est magna +pluralitas ex diuersis nationibus Mercatorum. Per Regionem nascitur vinum +valde bonum, quod appellatur Bigon. Et ad leucam extra ciuitatem, Abbatia +magna est, non de religione Christiana sed Pagana: et in ea forrestum, siue +hortus magnus vndique circumclusus, consitus arboribus, et arbustis, in +cuius etiam medio mons, altus simul et latus, habens hortum vbi solum +inhabitant bestiolae mirabiles, sicut Simiae, marmotae, Lanbon, papiones, +foreti et huiusmodi ad varia et multa genera, et ad numerum infinitum. + +Omni autem die post refectionem conuentus Abbatiae, qui est valde +monachosus, deferuntur reliquiae ciborum cum magno additamento, in vasis +auro lucentibus ad hunc hortum: et ad sonitum campanae argenteae, quam +Eleemosynarius manu gestat descendentes, et occurrentes de bestiolis duo +millia aut plures sese componunt residere ad circulum more pauperum +mendicorum, et traditur singulis per seruos aliquid de his cibarijs, ac +denuo audita campana segregando recurrunt: Cumque nos tanquam redarguentes, +diceremus, cur haec non darentur egenis, responderunt, illic pauperes non +habentur, quod si inuenirentur, potius tamen dari deberent bestiolis. Habet +enim eorum perfidia, et Paganissimus, animas nobilium hominum post mortem +ingredi corpora nobilium bestiarum, et animas ignobilium corpora bestiarum +ignobilium et vilium, ad luenda videlicet crimina, donec peracta +poenitentia transeant in Paradisum: ideoque nutriunt, prout dicunt, has +nobiliores bestias, siue bestiolas, quod a quibusdam nobilibus fundabatur +in principio haec Abbatia. Multa sunt alia mira in hac ciuitate, de quibus +sciatis, quod non omnia vobis recitabo. + + +CAPVT. 33. + +De Pygmaeis, et de itinere vsque in prouinciam Cathay. + +Eundo per Regionem eandem a dicta ciuitate Cansay, ad sex dietas venitur ad +nobilem vrbem Tylenso, [Marginal Note: Vel Chezolo.] cuius muri per +circuitum tendunt ad spacium 20. leucarum: [Marginal Note: Vel Miliarium.] +et sunt 60. petrini pontes, quibus nullos memini pulchriores. + +In ista fuit prima sedes regni Mangi, nec immerito, cum sit munita, +delectabilis, et abundans omnibus bonis, ac deinde in predicta Cansay, nunc +autem tenetur in quadam alia ciuitate. + +Nota, quilibet ignis soluit quolibet anno vnum balis pro tributo, quod +valet vnum florenum cum dimidio, sed omnes famuli de domo vna pro vno igne +computantur: summa ignium tributalium, octies centum millia. Reliqui vero +Christiani mercatores, in isto vico non computantur. Copia est ibi +victualium. + +Quatuor fratres minores vnum potentem conuertebant apud quem hospitabar, et +qui duxit me ad Abbatiam istam, ibi vidi scilicet quod hic narratur. + +Ad fines itaque regni Mangi transitur grandis fluuius de Dylay, [Marginal +note: Vel de Delay.] maius flumen mundi, vbi strictius est continet septem +miliaria Odericus: cuius alueus in loco districtiori continet quatuor +leucas. Et ex hoc in breui temporis spacio intratur Imperium Tartarorum, +sequendo fluuium vsque in terram Pygmeorum, per cuius medium transit. + +Hij Pygmei sunt homines statura breues ad longitudinem nostri brachij, seu +trium manuum expansarum. Tam mares quam feminae formosae et gratiosae, et +viuunt communiter ad annos sex vel septem: si qui pertingunt ad octo, mire +putantur senectutis. Ad dimidiam anni aetatem nubere possunt, in secundo +anno parturiunt: rationalis sunt, et sensati iuxta aetatem pusillam, ac +satis ingeniosi ad opera de serico, et de lana arboris. Frequenter +praeliantur contra aues grandes patriae, exercitibus congregatis hinc inde, +et fit strages vtrimque. Haec gens tam parua optime operatur sericum et +bombycem. Isti Pygmei venerunt mihi obuiam chorizando. Non laborant terram, +praedia, seu vineas, sed morantur inter eos nostrae quantitatis homines, qui +eos incolunt, sicut serui, quos et Pygmaei saepe derident, quia sunt ipsis +maiores: et quod ipse non cesso mirari dum dicti homines in illa terra +generant vel pariunt, non crescit proles supra Pygmaei staturam: Insula non +est protensa, sed forte 12. ciuitatum. Quarum vna est grandis, et bene +munita, et quam Grand Can facit cum fortibus armaturis curiose seruari, +contra regem Mangi. + +Hinc proceditur per Imperium Grand Can, ad multas ciuitates, et villas +morum mirabiliter diuersorum, vsque in regnum Iamchan, quod est vnum de 12. +prouincijs maximis, quibus distinguitur totum Imperium Tartarorum. + +Nobilior ciuitas huius Regni seu Prouinciae dicitur Iamchan, abundans +mercimonijs, et diuitijs infinitis, et multa praestans proprio Regi tributa, +quoniam sicut illi de ciuitate fatentur, valet annue regi quinquaginta +milia cuman florenorum auri. + +Nota. In Iamchan ciuitate est conuentus fratrum minorum: in hac sunt tres +Ecclesiae Monasteriorum: reditus simul ascendit ad 12. cuman. Odericus +dixit, Vnus cuman est decem millium. Summa tributi annui, quinquaginta +milia millium Florenorum. In illis namque partibus magnus numerorum summas +estimant per cuman, numerum 10. millium qui et in Flamingo dicitur laste. + +Ad quinque leucas ab hac ciuitate est alia dicta Meke, in qua fiunt de +quodam albissimi genere ligni naues maxtimae cum aulis et thalamis, ac +multis aedificijs, tanquam Palatium tellure fundatum. + +Inde per idem regnum ad viam octo dietarum per aquam dulcem, multas per +ciuitates, et bonas villas, venimus Laucherim, [Marginal note: Siue +Lanterin.] (Odericus appellat Leuyim,) vrbem formosam opumque magnarum, +sitam super flumen magnum Cacameran. [Marginal note: Vel Caremoron.] Hoc +flumen transit per medium Cathay, cui aqua infert damnum, quando nimis +inundat, sicut palus in Ferraria, Mogus in Herbipoli: et illud sequentes +intrauimus principalem prouinciam Imperij Tartariae, dictam Cathay Calay: et +ista prouincia est multum distenta, ac plena ciuitatibus, et oppidis bonis, +et magnis omnibusque referta mercimonijs, maxime sericosis operibus, et +aromaticis speciebus. + +Nauigando per dictum flumen versus Orientem, et itinerando per hanc Cathay +prouinciam ad multas dietas per plurimas vrbes et villas, venitur in +ciuitatem Sugarmago, [Marginal note: Engarmago.] abundantiorem omnibus in +mercemoniis antedictis, quando sericum est hic vilissimum: quadragintae +librae habentur ibi pro decem florenis. + +Ab hac ciuitate, multis ciuitatibtus peregratis versus Orientem, veni ad +ciuitatem Cambalu, quae est antiqua in prouincia Cathay: Hanc postquam +Tartari ceperunt, ad dimidium miliare fecerunt vnam ciuitatem nomine Caydo, +et habet duodecim portas, et a porta in portam duo sunt grossa miliaria +Lombardica, spacium inter medium istarum ciuitatum habitatoribus plenum +est, et circuitus cuiuslibet istarum ambit 60. miliaria Lombardica, quae +faciunt octo Teutonica. + +In hac ciuitate Cambalu residet Imperator Magnus Can, Rex Regum +terrestrium, et Dominus Dominorum terrestrium. Atque inde vlterius in +Orientem intratur vetus vrbs Caydo, vbi communiter tenet suam sedem +Imperialem Grand Can in suo palatio. Ambitus autem vrbis Caydo, est viginti +fere leucarum, duodecim habens portas a se distantes amplius quam stadia +24. + + +The English Version. + +From that contree, men gon be the see occean, be an yle that is clept +Caffolos. Men of that contree, whan here frendes ben seke, thei hangen hem +upon trees; and seyn, that it is bettre, that briddes, that ben angeles of +God, eten hem, than the foule wormes of the erthe. + +From that yle men gon to another yle, where the folk ben of fulle cursed +kynde: for thei norysschen grete dogges, and techen hem to strangle here +frendes, whan thei ben syke: for thei wil noughte, that thei dyen of +kyndely dethe: for thei seyn, that thei scholde suffren to gret peyne, zif +thei abyden to dyen be hem self, as nature wolde: and whan thei ben thus +enstrangled, thei eten here flesche, in stede of venysoun. + +Aftreward men gon be many yles be see, unto an yle, that men clepen Milke: +and there is a fulle cursed peple: for thei delyten in ne thing more, than +for to fighten and to sle men. And thei drynken gladlyest mannes blood, the +whiche thei clepen dieu. And the mo men that a man may slee, the more +worschipe he hathe amonges hem. And zif 2 persones ben at debate, and +peraventure ben accorded be here frendes or be sumn of here alliance, it +behovethe that every of hem, that schulle ben accorded, drynke of otheres +blood: and elle the accord ne the alliance is noghte worthe, ne it schalle +not be ne repref to him to breke the alliance and the accord, but zif every +of hem drynke of otheres blood. + +And from that yle, men gon be see, from yle to yle, unto an yle, that is +clept Tracoda; where the folk of that contree ben as bestes and +unresonable, and duellen in caves, that thei maken in the erthe; for thei +have no wytt to maken hem houses. And whan thei seen ony man passynge +thorghe here contrees, thei hyden hem in here caves. And thei eten flesche +of serpentes; and thei eten but litille, and thei speken nought; but thei +hissen, as serpentes don. And thei sette no prys be no richesse, but only +of a precyous ston, that is amonges hem, that is of 60 coloures. And for +the name of the yle, thei clepen it Tracodon. And thei loven more that +ston, than ony thing elle: and zit thei knowe not the vertue thereof: but +thei coveyten it and loven it only for the beautee. + +Aftre that yle, men gon be the see occean, be many yles, unto an yle, that +is clept Nacumera; that is a gret yle and good and fayr: and it is in +kompas aboute, more than a 1000 myle. And alle the men and wommen of that +yle han houndes hedes: and thei ben clept Cynocephali: and thei ben fulle +resonable and of gode undirstondynge, saf that thei worschipen an ox for +here god. And also everyche of hem berethe an ox of gold or of sylver in +his forhed, in tokene that thei loven wel here god. And thei gon alle +naked, saf a litylle clout, that thei coveren with here knees and hire +membres. Thei ben grete folk and wel fyghtynge; and thei han a gret targe, +that coverethe alle the body, and a spere in here hond to fighte with. And +zif thei taken ony man in bataylle, anon thei eten him. The kyng of that +yle is fulle riche and fulle myghty, and righte devout aftre his lawe: and +he hathe abouten his nekke 360 perles oryent, gode and grete, and knotted, +as Pater Nostres here of amber. And in maner as wee seyn oure Pater Noster +and oure Ave Maria, cowntyng the Pater Nosters, right so this kyng seythe +every day devoutly 300 preyeres to his god, or that he ete: and he berethe +also aboute his nekke a rubye oryent, noble and fyn, that is a fote of +lengthe, and fyve fyngres large. And whan thei chesen here kyng, thei taken +him that rubye, to beren in his hond, and so thei leden him rydynge alle +abouten the cytee. And fro thens fromward, thei ben alle obeyssant to him. +And that rubye he schalle bere alle wey aboute his nekke: for zif he hadde +not that rubye upon him, men wolde not holden him for kyng. The grete Cane +of Cathay hathe gretly coveted that rubye; but he myghte never han it, for +werre ne for no maner of godes. This kyng is so rightfulle and of equytee +in his doomes, that men may go sykerlyche thorghe out alle his contree, and +bere with him what him list, that no man schalle ben hardy to robben hem: +and zif he were, the kyng wolde iustifyed anon. + +Fro this lond men gon to another yle, that is clept Silha: and it is welle +a 800 myles aboute. In that lond is fulle mochelle waste; for it is fulle +of serpentes, of dragouns and of cokadrilles; that no man dar duelle there. +Theise cocodrilles ben serpentes, zalowe and rayed aboven, and han 4 feet +and schorte thyes and grete nayles, as clees or talouns; and there ben +somme that han 5 fadme in lengthe, and summe of 6 and of 8, and of 10: and +whan thei gon be places, that ben gravelly, it semethe as thoughe men hadde +drawen a gret tree thorghe the gravelly place. And there ben also many +wylde bestes, and namelyche of olyfauntes. In that yle is a gret mountayne; +and in mydd place of the mount, is a gret lake in a fulle faire pleyne, and +there is a gret plentee of watre. And thei of the contree seyn, that Adam +and Eve wepten upon that mount an 100 zeer, whan thei weren dryven out of +Paradys. And that watre, thei seyn, is of here teres: for so moche watre +thei wepten, that made the forseyde lake. And in the botme of that lake, +men fynden many precious stones and grete perles. In that lake growen many +reedes and grete cannes; and there with inne ben many cocodrilles and +serpentes and grete watre leches. And the kyng of that contree, ones every +zeer, zevethe leve to pore men to gon in to the lake, to gadre hem precyous +stones and perles, be weye of alemesse, for the love of God, that made +Adam. And alle the zeer, men fynde y nowe. And for the vermyn, that is with +inne, thei anoynte here armes and here thyes and legges with an oynement, +made of a thing that is clept lymons, that is a manere of fruyt, lyche +smale pesen: and thanne have thei no drede of no cocodrilles, ne of non +other venymous vermyn. This watre rennethe, flowynge and ebbynge, be a syde +of the mountayne: and in that ryver men fynden precious stones and perles, +gret plentee. And men of that yle seyn comounly, that the serpentes and the +wilde bestes of that contree ne will not don non harm, ne touchen with +evylle, no strange man, that entrethe into that contree, but only to men +that ben born of the same contree. In that contree and othere there +abouten, there ben wylde gees, that han 2 hedes: and there ben lyouns alle +white, and als grete as oxen, and many other dyverse bestes, and foules +also, that be not seyn amonges us. And witethe wel, that in that contree +and in othere yles there abouten, the see is to highe, that it semethe as +though it henge at the clowdes, and that it wolde covere alle the world: +and that is gret mervaylle, that it myghte be so, saf only the wille of +God, that the eyr susteynethe it. And therfore seyth David in the Psautere, +_Mirabiles elationes Maris_. + + +How men knowen be the Ydole, zif the sike schalle dye or non. Of folk of + dyverse schap and merveylously disfigured: And of the Monkes, that zeven + hire releef to Babewynes, Apes and Marmesettes and to other Bestes. + +[Sidenote: Cap. XIX.] From that yle, in goynge be see, toward the southe, +is another gret yle, that is clept Dondun. In that yle ben folk of dyverse +kyndes; so that the fadre etethe the sone, the sone the fadre, the husbonde +the wif, and the wif the husbonde. And zif it so befall, that the fadre or +modre or ony of here frendes ben seke, anon the son gothe to the prest of +here law, and preyethe him to aske the ydole, zif his fadre or modre or +frend schalle dye on that evylle or non. And than the prest and the sone +gone to gydere before the ydole, and knelen fulle devoutly, and asken of +the ydole here demande. And zif the devylle, that is with inne, answere, +that he schalle lyve, thei kepen him wel: and zif he seye, that he schalle +dye, then the prest gothe with the sonne, with the wif of him that is +seeke, and thei putten here hondes upon his mouthe, and stoppon his brethe, +and so thei sleen him. And aftre that, thei choppen alle the body in smale +peces, and preyen alle his frendes to comen and eten of him, that is ded: +and thei senden for alle the mynstralle of the contree, and maken a +solempne feste. And whan thei han eten the flessche, thei taken the bones, +and buryen hem, and syngen and maken gret melodye. And alle tho that ben of +his kyn, or pretenden hem to ben his frendes, and thei come not to that +feste, thei ben repreved for evere and schamed, and maken gret doel; for +nevere aftre schulle thei ben holden as frendes. And thei seyn also, that +men eten here flesche, for to delyveren hem out of peyne. For zif the +wormes of the erthe eten hem, the soule scholde suffre gret peyne, as thei +seyn; and namely, whan the flesche is tendre and megre, thanne seyn here +frendes, that thei don gret synne, to leten hem have so long langure, to +suffre so moche peyne, with oute resoun. And whan thei fynde the flessche +fatte, than thei seyn, that it is wel don, to senden him sone to paradys; +and that thei have not suffred him to longe, to endure in peyne. The kyng +of this yle is a ful gret lord and a myghty; and hathe undre him 54 grete +yles, that zeven tribute to him: and in everyche of theise yles, is a kyng +crowned, and alle ben obeyssant to that kyng. And he hathe in tho yles many +diverse folk. In one of theise yles ben folk of gret stature, as Geauntes; +and thei ben hidouse for to loke upon; and thei han but on eye, and that is +in the myddylle of the front; and thei eten no thing but raw flessche and +raw fyssche. + +And in another yle, toward the southe, duellen folk of foule suture and of +cursed kynde, that han no hedes: and here eyen ben in here scholdres. + +And in another yle ben folk, that han the face all platt, alle pleyn, with +outen nese and with outen mouthe: but thei han 2 smale holes alle round, in +stede of hire eyen: and hire mouthe is plait also, with outen lippes. + +And in another yle ben folk of foul fasceon and schapp, that han the lippe +above the mouthe so gret, that whan thei slepen in the sonne, thei keveren +alle the face with that lippe. + +And in another yle, ther ben litylle folk, as dwerghes; and thei ben to so +meche as the pygmeyes, and thei han no mouthe, but in stede of hire mouthe, +thei han a lytylle round hole: and whan thei schulle eten or drynken, thei +taken thorghe a pipe or a penne or suche a thing, and sowken it in: for +thei han no tonge; and therfore thei speke not, but thei maken a maner of +hissynge, as a neddre doth, and thei maken signes on to another, as monkes +don; be the whiche, every of hem undirstondethe other. + +And in another yle ben folk, that han gret eres and longe, that hangen doun +to here knees. + +And in another yle ben folk, that han hors feet; and thei ben stronge and +myghty and swift renneres; for thei taken wyld bestes with rennyng, and +eten hem. + +And in another yle ben folk, that gon upon hire hondes and hire feet, as +bestes: and thei ben alle skynned and fedred, and thei wolde lepen als +lightly in to trees, and fro tree to tree, as it were squyrelles or apes. + +And in another yle ben folk that ben bothe man and womman: and thei han +kynde of that on and of that other; and thei han but o pappe on the o syde, +and on that other non: and thei han membres of generacioun of man and +womman; and thei usen bothe, whan hem list, ones that on, and another tyme +that other: and thei geten children, whan thei usen the membre of man; and +thei bere children, whan thei usen the membre of womman. + +And in another yle ben folk, that gon alle weyes upon here knees, ful +merveylously; and at every pas that thei gon, it semethe that thei wolde +falle: and thei han in every foot, 8 toes. + +Many other dyverse folk of dyverse nature ben there in other yles abouten, +of the whiche it were to longe to telle: and therfore I passe over +schortly. + +From theise yles, in passynge be the see occean toward the est, be many +iourneyes, men fynden a gret contree and a gret kyngdom, that men clepen +Mancy: and that is in Ynde the more: and it is the beste lond, and on of +the fairest, that may be in alle the world, and the most delectable, and +the most plentifous of all godes, that is in power of man. In that lond +duellen many Cristene men and Sarrazynes: for it is a gode contree and a +gret. And there ben there inne mo than 2000 grete cytees and riche, with +outen other grete townes. And there is more plentee of peple there, than in +ony other partie of Ynde; for the bountee of the contree. In that contree +is no nedy man, ne none that gothe on beggynge. And thei ben fulle faire +folk: but thei ben all pale. And the men han thynne berdes and fewe heres; +but thei ben longe: but unethe hathe ony man passynge 50 heres in his berd; +and on heer sitt here, another there, as the berd of a lyberd or of a catt. +In that lond ben many fairere wommen, than in ony other contree bezonde the +see: and therfore men clepen that lond Albanye; because that the folk ben +whyte. And the chief cytee of that contree is clept Latoryn; and it is a +iourneye from the see: and it is moche more than Parys. In that cytee is a +gret ryvere, berynge schippes, that gon to alle the costes in the see. No +cytee of the world is so wel stored of schippes, as is that. And alle tho +of the cytee and of the contree worschipen ydoles. In that contree ben +double sithes more briddes than ben here. There ben white gees, rede aboute +the nekke, and thei han a gret crest, as a cokkes comb upon hire hedes: and +thei ben meche more there, than thei ben here; and men byen hem there alle +quykke, right gret chepe. And there is gret plentee of neddres, of whom men +maken grete festes, and eten hem at grete sollempnytees. And he that +makethe there a feste, be it nevere so costifous, and he have no neddres, +he hathe no thanke for his travaylle. + +Many gode cytees there ben in that contree, and men han gret plentee and +gret chep of alle wynes and vitailles. In that contree ben manye chirches +of religious men, and of here lawe: and in tho chirches been ydoles, als +grete as geauntes. And to theise ydoles thei zeven to ete, at grete +festyfulle dayes, in this manere. Thei bryngen before hem mete alle soden, +als hoot as thei comen fro the fuyr, and thei leten the smoke gon up +towardes the ydoles; and than thei seyn, that the ydoles han eten; and than +the religious men eten the mete aftrewardes. In that contree been white +hennes withouten fetheres: but thei beren white wolle, as scheep don here. +In that contree, wommen that ben unmaryed, thei han tokenes on hire hedes, +lyche coronales, to ben knowen for unmaryed. Also in that contree, ther ben +bestes, taughte of men to gon in to watres, in to ryveres and in to depe +stankes, for to take fysche; the whiche best is but lytille, and men clepen +hem loyres. And whan men casten hem in to the watre, anon thei bringen up +gret fissches, als manye as men wold. And zif men wil have mo, thei cast +hem in azen, and thei bryngen up als many as men list to have. + +And fro that cytee, passynge many iourneyes, is another cytee, on of the +grettest of the world, that men clepen Cassay; that is to seyne, the Cytee +of Hevene. That cytee is well a 50 myle aboute, and it is strongliche +enhabyted with peple, in so moche that in on house men maken 10 housholdes. +In that cytee ben 12 princypalle zates; and before every zate, a 3 myle or +a 4 myle in lengthe, is a gret toun, or a gret cytee. That cytee sytt upon +a gret lake on the see; as dothe Venyse. And in that cytee ben mo than +12000 brigges: and upon every brigge, ben stronge toures and gode; in the +whiche duellen the wardeynes, for to kepen the cytee fro the gret Cane. And +on that o part of the cytee, rennethe a gret ryvere alle along the cytee. +And there duellen Cristene men, and many marchauntes and other folk of +dyverse natyouns: be cause that the lond is so gode and so plentifous. And +there growethe fulle gode wyn, that men clepen Bigon, that is fulle myghty +and gentylle in drynkynge. This is a cytee ryalle, where the Kyng of Mancy +was wont to duelle: and there duellen many religious men, as it were of the +order of freres: for thei ben mendyfauntes. + +From that cytee, men gon be watre, solacynge and disportynge hem, tille +thei come to an abbey of monkes, that is faste bye, that ben gode religious +men, after here feythe and lawe. In that abbeye is a gret gardyn and a +fair, where ben many trees of dyverse manere of frutes: and in this gardyn, +is a lytille hille, fulle of delectable trees. In that hille and in that +gardyn, ben many dyverse bestes, as of apes, marmozettes, babewynes, and +many other dyverse bestes. And every day, whan the covent of this abbeye +hathe eten, the awmener let bere the releef to the gardyn, and he smytethe +on the gardyn zate with a clyket of sylver, that he holdethe in his hond, +and anon alle the bestes of the hille and of dyverse places of the gardyn, +comen out, a 3000 or a 4000; and thei comen in gyse of pore men: and men +zeven hem the releef, in faire vesselles of sylver, clene over gylt. And +whan thei han eten, the monk smytethe eft sones on the gardyn zate with the +clyket; and than anon alle the bestes retornen azen to here places, that +thei come fro. And thei seyn, that theise bestes ben soules of worthi men, +that resemblen in lyknesse of the bestes, that ben faire: and therfore thei +zeve hem mete, for the love of God. And the other bestes that ben foule, +they seyn, ben soules of pore men and of rude comouns. And thus thei +beleeven, and no man may putte hem out of this opynyoun. Theise bestes +aboveseyd, thei let taken, whan thei ben zonge, and norisschen hem so with +almesse; als manye, as thei may fynde. And I asked hem, zif it had not ben +better, to have zoven that releef to pore men, rathere than to the bestes. +And thei answerde me and seyde, that thei hadde no pore men amonges hem, in +that contree: and thoughe it had ben so, that pore men had ben among hem, +zit were it gretter almesse, to zeven it to tho soules, that don there here +penance. Many other marveylles ben in that cytee and in the contree there +aboute, that were to long to telle zou. + +Fro that cytee, go men be the contree a 6 iourneyes, to another cytee, that +men clepen Chilenfo: of the whiche cytee, the walles ben 20 myle aboute. In +that cytee ben 60 brigges of ston, so faire, that no man may see fairere. +In that cytee was the firste sege of the Kyng of Mancy: for it is a faire +cytee, and plenteeyous of alle godes. + +Aftre passe men overthwart a gret ryvere, that men clepen Dalay: and that +is the grettest ryvere of fressche water, that is in the world. For there, +as it is most narow, it is more than a myle of brede. And thanne entren men +azen into the lond of the grete Chane. That ryvere gothe thorghe the lond +of Pigmaus: where that the folk ben of litylle stature, that ben but 3 span +long: and thei ben right faire and gentylle, aftre here quantytees, bothe +the men and the wommen. And thei maryen hem, whan thei ben half zere of +age, and geten children. And thei lyven not, but 6 zeer or 7 at the moste. +And he that lyvethe 8 zeer men holden him there righte passynge old. Theise +men ben the beste worcheres of gold, sylver, cotoun, sylk, and of alle +suche thinges, of ony other, that be in the world. And thei han often tymes +werre with the briddes of the contree, that thei taken and eten. This +litylle folk nouther labouren in londes ne in vynes. But thei han grete men +amonges hem, of oure stature, that tylen the lond, and labouren amonges the +vynes for hem. And of tho men of oure stature, han thei als grete skorne +and wondre, as we wolde have among us of geauntes, zif thei weren amonges +us. There is a gode cytee, amonges othere, where there is duellynge gret +plentee of tho lytylle folk: and it is a gret cytee and a faire, and the +men ben grete, that duellen amonges hem: but whan thei geten ony children, +thei ben als litylle as the pygmeyes: and therfore thei ben alle, for the +moste part, alle pygmeyes; for the nature of the lond is suche. The grete +Cane let kepe this cytee fulle wel: for it is his. And alle be it, that the +pygmeyes ben lytylle, zit thei ben fulle resonable, aftre here age, and +connen bothen wytt and gode and malice, y now. + +Fro that cytee, gon men be the contree, be many cytees and many townes, +unto a cytee, that men clepen Jamchay: and it is a noble cytee and a riche, +and of gret profite to the lord: and thidre go men to sechen marchandise of +alle manere of thing. That cytee is fulle moche worthe zerly to the lord of +the contree. For he hathe every zere to rente of that cytee (as thei of the +cytee seyn) 50000 cumantz of floreyns of gold: for thei cownten there alle +be cumanz: and every cumant is 10000 floryns of gold. Now may men wel +rekene, how moche that it amountethe. The kyng of that contree is fulle +myghty: and zit he is undre the grete Cane. And the gret Cane hathe undre +him 12 such provynces. In that contree, in the gode townes, is a gode +custom. For whoso wille make a feste to ony of his frendes, there ben +certeyn innes in every gode toum; and he that wil make the feste, wil seye +to the hostellere, arraye for me, to morwe, a gode dyner, for so many folk; +and tellethe him the nombre; and devysethe him the viaundes: and he seythe +also, thus moche I wil dispende, and no more. And anon the hostellere +arrayethe for him, so faire and so wel and so honestly, that ther schalle +lakke no thing. And it schalle be don sunnere, and with lasse cost, than +and a man made it in his owne hous. + +And a 5 myle fro that cytee, toward the hed of the ryvere of Dalay, is +another cytee, that men clepen Menke. In that cytee is strong navye of +schippes; and alle ben white as snow, of the kynde of the trees, that thei +ben made offe. And thei ben fulle grete schippes, and faire, and wel +ordeyned, and made with halles and chambres, and other eysementes, as +thoughe it were on the lond. + +Fro thens go men be many townes and many cytees, thorghe the contree, unto +a cytee, that men clepen Lanteryne: and it is an 8 iourneyes from the cytee +aboveseyd. This cytee sitt upon a faire ryvere, gret and brood, that men +clepen Caramaron. This ryvere passethe thorghe out Cathay: and it dothe +often tyme harm, and that fulle gret, whan it is over gret. + + +Of the grete Chane of Chatay. Of the Rialtee of his Palays, and how he sitt + at Mete; and of the grete nombre of Officeres, that serven hym. + +[Sidenote: Cap. XX.] Chatay is a gret contree and a faire, noble and riche, +and fulle of marchauntes. Thidre gon marchaundes alle zeres, for to sechen +spices and alle manere of marchandises, more comounly than in ony other +partye. And zee schulle undirstonde, that marchaundes, that comen fro Gene +or fro Venyse or fro Romanye, or other partyes of Lombardye, thei gon be +see and be lond 11 monethes, or 12, or more sum tyme, or thei may come to +the yle of Cathay, that is the princypalle regyoun of alle partyes bezonde; +and it is of the grete Cane. + +Fro Cathay go men toward the est, be many iourneyes: and than men fynden a +gode cytee, betwene theise othere, that men clepen Sugarmago. That cytee is +on of the beste stored of sylk and other marchandises, that is in the +world. Aftre go men zit to another old cytee, toward the est: and it is in +the provynce of Cathay. And besyde that cytee, the men of Tartarye han let +make another cytee, that is clept Caydon; and it hathe 12 zates: and +betwene the two zates, there is alle weyes a gret myle; so that the 2 +cytees, that is to seyne, the olde and the newe, han in circuyt more than +20 myle. + + +CAPVT. 34. + +De pallatio Imperatoris Grand Can. + +Palatium Imperatoris Grand Can, quod est in Caydo ciuitate, continet in +circuitu proprij muralis vltra duas leucas, et sunt in eo aulae quam plures, +in forma nobiles, et in materia nobiliores. Aula autem sedis, quae est +maxime caeterarum, habet intrinsecus pro sui sustentatione 24. aereas +columnas factas opere fusorio, de auro puro, et omnes parietes ab intus +opertas pellibus quorundam animalium, quae vocantur Pantheres: hae sanguinei +sunt coloris, et ita remicantes, vt Sole desuper relucente; vix oculus +valeat humanus sufferre splendorem, tantaeque fragantiae, vt illi approximare +non posset aer infectus, vnde et ista opertura parietum appreciatur super +tegmen aurearum laminarum. + +Namque stultorum aliqui Paganorum huiusmodi adorant animalia propter +colorum, odorumque virtutem. Proposui retrahere calamum a describenda +nobilitate, gubernatione et ministrantium frequentia, atque Imperatoris +magnificentia: attamen quia coepi ego, propter incredulos, et nescios, ac +inerudibiles, non dimittam in toto. Quicunque enim nihil credunt, nihil +sciunt, neque erudiri possunt, Scriptura testante, si non credideritis non +intelligetis. Dico ergo, et vere dico, quod in huius aulae capite sit +thronus, vel sedes Imperialis, excelsus et eminens in ascensu graduum +quamplurium, in quo residere solet in plenaria maiestate, in cuius throni +toto corpore nihil apparet minus nobile, auro, margaritis, gemmis, et +lapidibus preciosis. Singuli gradus sunt de singulis, ac inter se diuersis +magnis lapidibus, vtpote primus de Haematisto, alius de Sardio, et alius de +Chrysolito, et sic vsque ad supremum gradum, qui singuli ad formam cuiusque +gradus sunt circumfusi, et clusorio opere firmati, auro solido, et +nihilominus per superficiem auri, distincte seminati, firmiterque inclusi +lapilli cari, cum orientalibus Margaritis, summitas autem cum ferculo +residentiae in nobilitate excisionis, et fabrifactura operis tam diuersa +est, et mira, vt paruitatem mei ingenij excedat, quamobrem et ei cedo, +vlteriusque procedo. + +Ad Imperatoris sinistram gradu vno bassior, est sedes suae primae coniugis, +tota de iaspidibus auro circumfusis, et in superficie aulae distinctae +gemmulae cum granellis eodem schemate, et similiter de iaspide. Sed adhuc +submissior vno gradu est sedes coniugis secundae, nec non et sub illa vxoris +tertiae. Nam tres proprias secum habet vxores, Odericus dicit, istas duas +concubinas. Itemque resident sub tertia coniuge nobiles mulieres de +Imperatoris progenie, iuxta illustriam vniuscuiusque. + +Et notandum, quod per totam patriam singulae mulieres maritatae, vt +intelligantur maritis subiectae, et vt discernantur a solutis, gestant in +capitis summitate similitudinem pedis viri, longitudinis brachij et +dimidij, quadam leui materia operatam: videlicet nobiles de sericosis +operibus pannorum, seu alijs raris et pulchris pannis, et preciosis +lapillis, et ignobiles iuxta statum suum de materia communiori. + +Ad dextram vero sedentis Imperatoris vno gradu submissus residet +primogenitus eius filius, et sub ipso ordinate in consimilibus sedibus +nobiles proximi de cognitione Imperiali. + +Item super thronum et desuper ante ipsius throni locum, tanquam pro celato +seu operimento in throno residentium, et eorum ministrantium, est extensa +similitudo vitis operata in palmitibus, et pampinis, de auro puro ad +extensionem cubitorum quadraginta, per quadrum, atque per eam dependentes +botri vuarum de gemmis, et granellis quinque colorum, quorum albi sunt de +christallo et beryllo, et iriscrocei de topazio et fuluo christallo, rubei +de rubetorum granis, corallo, et alibandinis, virides de Smaragdis, +pyropis, et chrysolytis, nigri, de onichinis, gagetis, et gerateris. + +Tempore prandij in hac aula, Imperator et Imperatrices, et quisque de +praedictis, habet mensam sibi solam, quarum vilior praeualet thesauro grandi. + +In solennitatibus ponitur mensa Imperatori de exquisito electro, seu de +auro examinato, distincta diamantibus, et nobis ignotis in comparabilibus +gemmis, quandoque de christallo perspicuo, seu croceo, circumclusa auro cum +gemmis: quandoque de Haematisto, quandoque de ebore candido, vel rubicundo: +interdum de ligno artificiose combinato, quod descendit per flumina de +Paradiso. Idem dicit Odericus. + +His mensis astant Barones, et Principes pro vasallis attente in suis +officijs ministrantes, quorum nec vnus emittere verbum aliqua praesumit +audacia, nisi Imperatore annuente, vel ad illum loquente, illis duntaxat +exceptis, qui certis interspatijs canunt, aut recitant de principum gestis. + +Et notandum, quando in hoc solio Maiestatis diebus solennibus residet +Imperator, subsidere ad pedes eius notarios quatuor, qui omne quod Dominus +loquitur, singuli ponunt in scriptis: nam quodcunque tunc ex ore illius +egreditur, necesse est esse, vel effici, nec valet item ipse verbum suum +mutare, nec reuocare, nisi magno consilio conuocato. + +Vniuersa vtensilia quibus in solennitate ad has seruitur mensas, sunt de +nobilibus petris auro reclusis, Cyphi de Smaragdis, vel Saphyris, topasijs, +pyropis, siue gryophis: et priuatioribus diebus, de auro probato etiam in +cameris, et cubiculis, nec reputatur ibi claritas argenti, nisi pro +pilarijs, columnis, gradibus, et pauimentis. + +Istius autem ostia aulae, dum in ea residet, aut deambulat Imperator, multi +Barones ingressum seruant intente, et ne limen tangatur, quod hoc haberent +pro augurio, et bene verberaretur, quia Imperatore praesente, nemo nisi +adductus in quacunque camera, vel habitatione intromittitur, donec +interrogatus iusserit Imperator. + +Latitudinem huius Basilicae aestimo ad spatium de meis pedibus centum et +longitudinem vltra quatuor centum. In cubiculo autem Regis dormitorio, +constat vnus pillarius, seu columna de auro solido et carbunculus conclusus +in illo longitudinis pedis vnius, totum habitaculum de nocte perfundens +lumine claro. Hic prout ego notaui, non est plene rubeus, sed subrufus, +quasi coloris Haematistini. Porro in vna aularum, circa medium palatii, est +alius excelsus ascensus, Odericus dicit pigma, super quem dum placet, stat, +vel residet Imperator, ditissime etiam operatus, ex auro, gemmis, baccis, +margaritis, et lapidibus raris, et in quatuor angulis, imagines quatuor +serpentum de auro puro. + +Huius per tria latera dependent retia seu cortinae de cordulis +sericis, in quibus ad singulos nodos, grossa margarita habetur +innexa, quibus cortinis tegitur officina: in eius concauitate tenetur +tumba quadrata, in qua conueniunt conductus omnium potuum, +qui bibuntur in Curia, et innumera vasorum genera, quibus potus +omnibus ministratur. + +Praeterea, iuxta palatii ambitum, habetur grandis parci spaciamentum, +diuersi generis arboribus repletum, fructus ferentibus varios, et nobis +inuisos, et in parte media, aula super excelsum collem de tam mira et +pulchra structura, vt eius nobilitas de facili ad praesens, non possit +describi. Et vndique, par collis gyrum aquae fossatum profundum, et latum +vltra quod pons vnicus ducit ad collem. Atque ex duobus montis lateribus, +stagnum cum diuersorum copia piscium, et volucrum indomitarum, vt aucarum, +anatum, cignorum, ciconiarum, ardearum, et collectorum in magna +pluralitate, nec non et per parcum, multae syluestres bestiae, et bestiolae +quatenus per aulae fenestras possit Dominus pro solatio respicere volucrum +aucupationes, bestiarum venationes, et piscium captiones. + +Et hoc proculdubio sciendum, quod in nostris partibus rara sint oppida cum +pluribus mansionibus, quam in isto palatio continentur. + +Tota aestate moratur in India terra frigidissima, in hyeme in Cambalu. +Odericus. + +Praeter palatium hoc in Caydo, habet Imperator similiter tria: vnum in +ciuitate Sadus, versus Septentrionem, vbi competens est frigus, ibi moratur +in aestate. Cambalu, vbi competens calor, ibi moratur hyeme. Tertium in +ciuitate Iongh, in quo et in isto Caydo, vt saepius seruat sedem, eo quod in +istis est aer magis temperatus, quamuis semper calidus videtur Nostratibus. + + +The English Version. + +In this cytee is the Sege of the grete Cane in a fulle gret palays, and the +most passynge fair in alle the world: of the whiche the walles ben in +circuyt more than 2 myle: and within the walles, it is alle fulle of other +palays. And in the gardyn of the grete palays, there is a gret hille, upon +the whiche there is another palays; and it is the most fair and the most +riche, that ony man may devyse. And all aboute the palays and the hille, +ben many trees, berynge many dyverse frutes. And alle aboute that hille, +ben dyches grete and depe: and besyde hem, ben grete vyneres, on that o +part and on that other. And there is a fulle fair brigge to passe over the +dyches. And in theise vyneres, ben so many wylde gees and gandres and wylde +dokes and swannes and heirouns, that it is with outen nombre. And alle +aboute theise dyches and vyneres, is the grete gardyn, fulle of wylde +bestes; so that, whan the gret Cane wil have ony desport on that, to taken +ony of tho wylde bestes or of the foules, he wil lete chace hem and taken +hem at the wyndowes, with outen goynge out of his chambre. This palays, +where his sege is, is bothe gret and passynge fair. And with in the palays, +in the halle, there ben 24 pyleres of fyn gold: and alle the walles ben +covered with inne, of rede skynnes of bestes, that men clepen panteres; +that ben faire bestes, and well smellyng: so that for the swete odour of +tho skynnes, non evylle ayr may entre in to the palays. Tho skynnes ben als +rede as blode, and thei schynen so brighte azen the sonne, that unethes no +man may beholden hem. And many folk worschipen tho bestes, whan thei meeten +hem first at morwe, for here gret vertue and for the gode smelle that thei +han: and tho skynnes thei preysen more than thoughe thei were plate of fyn +gold. And in the myddes of this palays is the mountour for the grete Cane, +that is alle wrought of gold and of precyous stones and grete perles: and +at 4 corneres of the mountour, been 4 serpentes of gold: and alle aboute +ther is y made large nettes of sylk, and gold and grete perles hangynge +alle aboute the mountour. And undre the mountour, ben condytes of beverage, +that thei drynken in the emperours court. And besyde the condytes, ben many +vesselles of gold, be the whiche, thei that ben of houshold, drynken at the +condyt. And the halle of the palays is fulle nobelyche arrayed, and fulle +merveylleousely atyred on all parteys, in alle thinges, that men apparayle +with ony halle. And first, at the chief of the halle, is the emperours +throne, fulle highe, where he syttethe at the mete: and that is of fyn +precyouse stones, bordured alle aboute with pured gold and precyous stones +and grete perles. And the grees, that he gothe up to the table, ben of +precyous stones, medled with gold. And at the left syde of the emperoures +sege, is the sege of his firste wif, o degree lowere than the emperour: and +it is of jaspere, bordured with gold and preciouse stones. And the sege of +his seconde wif is also another sege, more lowere than his firste wif: and +it is also of jaspere, bordured with gold, as that other is. And the sege +of the thridde wif is also more lowe, be a degree, than the seconde wif. +For he hathe alweys 3 wifes with him, where that evere he be. And aftre his +wyfes, on the same syde, sytten the ladyes of his lynage, zit lowere, aftre +that thei ben of estate. And alle tho that ben maryed, han a countrefete, +made lyche a mannes foot, upon here hedes, a cubyte long, alle wrought with +grete perles, fyne and oryent, and aboven, made with pecokes fedres and of +other schynynge fedres; and that stont upon here hedes, like a crest, in +tokene that thei ben undre mannes fote and undre subiectioun of man. And +thei that ben unmaryed, han none suche. And aftre, at the right syde of the +Emperour, first syttethe his eldest sone, that schalle regne aftre him: and +he syttethe also o degree lowere than the emperour, in suche manere of +seges, as don the emperesses. And aftre him, sytten other grete lordes of +his lynage, every of hem a Degree lowere than other, as thei ben of estate. +And the emperour hathe his table allone be him self, that is of gold, and +of precious stones, or of cristalle, bordured with gold, and fulle of +precious stones or of amatystes or of lignum aloes, that comethe out of +paradys, or of ivory, bounden or bordured with gold. And everyche of his +wyfes hathe also hire table be hire self. And his eldest sone, and the +other lordes also, and the ladyes, and alle that sitten with the emperour, +han tables allone be hem self, fulle riche. And there nys no table, but +that it is worthe an huge tresour of gode. And undre the emperoures table, +sitten 4 clerkes, that writen alle, that the emperour seythe, be it good, +be it evylle. For alle that he seythe, moste ben holden; for he may not +chaungen his word, ne revoke it. At grete solempne festes, before the +emperoures table, men bryngen grete tables of gold, and there on ben +pecokes of gold, and many other maner of dyverse foules, alle of gold, and +richely wrought and enameled; and men maken hem dauncen and syngen, +clappynge here wenges to gydere, and maken gret noyse: and where it be by +craft or be nygromancye, I wot nere; but it is a gode sight to beholde, and +a fair; and it is gret marvayle how it may be. But I have the lasse +marvaylle, be cause that thei ben the moste sotyle men in alle sciences and +in alle craftes, that ben in the world. For of sotyltee and of malice and +of fercastynge, thei passen alle men undre hevene. And therfore thei seyn +hem self, that thei seen with 2 eyen; and the Cristene men see but with on: +be cause that thei ben more sotylle than thei. For alle other naciouns, +thei seyn, ben but blynde in conynge and worchynge in comparisoun to hem. I +did gret besynesse, for to have lerned that craft: but the maistre tolde +me, that he had made a vow to his God, to teche it to no creature, but only +to his eldeste sone. Also above the emperours table and the othere tables, +and aboven a gret partie in the halle, is a vyne, made of fyn gold: and it +spredethe alle aboute the halle; and it hath many clustres of grapes, somme +white, somme grene, summe zalowe and somme rede and somme blake, alle of +precious stones: the white ben of cristalle and of berylle and of iris; the +zalowe ben of topazes; the rede ben of rubies, and of grenaz and of +alabraundynes; the grene ben of emeraudes, of perydos and of crisolytes; +and the blake ben of onichez and garantez. And thei ben alle so propurlyche +made, that it semethe a verry vyne, berynge kyndely grapes. And before the +emperoures table, stonden grete lordes, and riche barouns and othere, that +serven the emperour at the mete. And no man is so hardy, to speke a word, +but zif the emperour speke to him; but zif it be mynstrelles, that syngen +songes, and tellen gestes or other desportes, to solace with the emperour. +And alle the vesselle, that men ben served with, in the halle or in +chambres, ben of precious stones; and specially at grete tables; outher of +jaspre or of cristalle or of amatystez or of fyn gold. And the cuppes ben +of emeraudez and of saphires or of topazes, of perydoz, and of many other +precyouse stones. Vesselle of sylver is there non: for thei telle no prys +there of, to make no vesselle offe: but thei maken ther of grecynges and +pileres and pawmentes, to halles and chambres. And before the halle dore, +stonden manye barounes, and knyghtes clene armed, to kepe that no man +entre, but zif it be the wille or the commandement of the emperour, or but +zif thei ben servauntes or mynstralle of the houshold: and other non is not +so hardy, to neighen nye the halle dore. + + +CAPVT. 35. + +De quatuor solennitatibus, quas Magnus Can celebrat in anno. + +Sciatis quod ego, meique sodales, pro fama magnificentiae huius Imperatoris, +tradidimus nos stipendiarios esse in guerris, contra Regem Mangi +praenominatum. Et fuimus apud ipsum 15. mensibus, et certe inuenimus multo +maiorem partem hominum, in mediam partem nobis non fuisse relatam: hominum +(exceptis custodibus bestiarum et volucrum,) qui intra palatium certa +gerunt ministeria est numerus decem cuman. + +Nota. Traxi moram in Cambalu tribus annis: fratres nostri locum habent in +Curia sua specialiter, et festis diebus statutis dant benedictionem, +Odericus. Et quoniam Imperator habet satis plures quam decem mille +Elephantes edomitos, et velut vltra numerum alias bestias, (quarum quaedam +tenentur in caueis, stabulis mirabilibus, vel catenis) nec non et aues +rapaces, et accipitres, falcones, ostrones, gryfandos gentiles, Laueroys, +et Satyros, sed et auiculas loquentes, et papingos, et similes, aliasque +cantantes: reputatur numerus hominum de istis curam et laborem gerentium, +vltra sex cuman, et praeterea iugiter ad Curiam equites cum plenarijs +armaturis, quinque cuman, et de peditibus cum praeliandi armaturis, cuman +decem. Sed et omnes de natione quacunque mundi venientes, qui petunt +describi pro Curia recipiuntur. Sic enim iussit Imperator. + +Habet et medicos Paganos viginti, et totidem Physicos, atque sine his +Medicos Christianos ducentos, et totidem Physicos, quoniam iste Grand Can +maiorem gerit confidentiam in Medicis Christianis, quam in suae propriae +nationis medicis. + +Hoc ergo firmiter scias, quod de Curia Regis accipiunt necessaria sua +iugiter vltra triginta cuman hominum, praeter expensas animalium et +volucrum, cum tamen in festis maioribus sint homines prope in duplo tanti. +Nec valet hic dominus defectum vllum pati pecuniae, eo quod in terra sua non +currit moneta de argento, vel auro, alioue metallo, sed tantum de corio vel +papyro: horum enim forma denariorum signo Imperatoris impressorum preciatur +minoris aut maioris valoris, secundum diuersitatem impressionis, qui per +visitationem, detriti vel rupti, cum ad Regis thesaurarios deferuntur, +protinus dantur pro illis noui. + +Quater in anno celebrat Imperator festiuitates solennes. + +Primam de die propriae Natiuitatis. + +Secundam de die suae primae praesentationis in eorum Templo, quod appellant +Moseath, vbi et fit ijs, nescio quod genus circumcisionis. + +Tertiam in thronizatione sui Idoli in Templo. + +Quartam de die quo Idolum cepit dare responsum, seu facere diabolica mira. +Plures enim in anno non tenet solennitates, nisi si quando nuptias filij +aut filiae celebrat. + +Itaque in istis solennitatibus est populi multitudo absque numero, omnes +tamen in ordine debito, et singuli intendentes proprio ministerio, nam ad +hoc ordinandum, et disponendum, electa sunt quatuor Baronum nobilium +genera, ex quibus nonnulli sunt Reges, et alij Equites potentes, Duces, et +Marchiones, omnes induti holosericis, quibus inserti cum certa +disseminatione sunt vbique preciosi lapides, mirae virtutis, et aurifigia +speciosa, vt si quis in his partibus vnum de talibus haberet mutatorijs, +dici non posset pauper imo praediues. Et habet quodlibet millenariorum in +his vestibus colorem sibi proprium: primum viridem, secundum vermiculum, +tertium croceum, quartum purpureum, seu indicum. Ergo in die solenni, dum +de mane Maiestatis thronum conscenderit, veniunt se praesentari hoc modo +Regi. + +Ante primum millenarium procedit copiosa symphonia dulcis chordarum, sicut +de violis, cytharis, lyris, et psalterijs, non autem de tubis aut tympanis: +et praecedunt Baronis per transuersum Aulae coram residente Domino ordinate +bini, et bini sub silentio, ferentes ambabus manibus ante pectus tabulam de +Iaspide, ebore, christallo, pyropo, vel Haematisto, et ante faciem throni +inclinant se Imperatori profunde. + +Illisque pertranseuntibus, succedit simili modo millenarius secundus, et +tertius, atque quartus, nec auditur a quoquam vnicum verbum. Hac +praesentatione cum debita maturitate perfecta, resident in basso a latere +throni ad proprias mensas, multi Philosophi, seu Artistae, sicut de +Astronomia, Geomantia, Pyromantia, Hydromantia, Chiromantia, Necromantia, +auguriis, ac aruspiciis, et huiusmodi, tenentes coram instrumenta suae +artis, alii Astrolabium, et Sphaeras de auro, alii in aureis vasis arenam, +prunas ardentes, aquam, vinum, oleum, et caluarias mortuorum, loquentes et +respondentes, nec non de auro horologia ad minus duo: et ad cunctas horas +secundum cursum horologiorum innuunt Philosophi seruis sibi ad hoc +deputatis, vt faciant praestari auditum per aulam, quorum vnus aut duo +conscendentes scallum, alta voce proclamant, audite, auscultate, et omnibus +intendentibus dicit Philosophorum vnus: Quilibet nunc faciat reuerentiam +Imperatori, qui est filius Dei excelsi, Dominus et superior omnium +Dominorum Mundi, quia ecce haec est hora. Et mox singuli in aula inclinato +corpore et capite se inclinant maiestati manentes accliui, donec idem +philosophus dicat, leuate. Atque protinus super hoc factum, Musici suis +instrumentis, suauem personant melodiam. + +Postea ad aliquantam moram simili modo dicit alias philosophorum, minimus +digitus in aure: et ecce hoc omnes faciunt, donec dicat, sufficit: sic in +aliam horam, seu moram dicit, manus vestra super os, et postea manus super +caput. Atque in hunc modum iuxta temporis cursum imponunt facienda signa +diuersa. Innuunt in eis latere magna mysteria, et quodlibet horum factorum +melodia terminat Musicorum. Et sciatis me quandoque in tempore opportuno ab +eis interrogasse de his signis, qui responderunt quod inclinare caput +Domino ad illius horae momentum, foret confirmatio omnibus diebus vitae suae, +ad obediendum ipsi et fidelitatem obseruandam imperio, nec posse corrumpi +promissionibus siue donis, quodque digitum in auricula imponere, obturatio +est auditus contra omnia Imperatori, et Imperio contraria. Et sic de +singulis factis singula mysteria confingentes decipiunt audientes: horum +itaque fraudulento ingenio, iste Grand Can festiuatus, non nisi ad talium +iudicium parari permittit cibaria, aut fieri indumenta pro suo corpore. + +Dura autem est visum Curiae gubernatoribus satis de praedictis auditum, +faciunt proclamatores silentium imperari, et incipit fieri offerenda +Imperatori hoc modo. Intrant omnes qui sunt de cognatione Imperatoris +Barones adornati nobilissime pro cuiusque decentia balteis, et indumentis, +quorum primus cum resonante symphonia praemittit ad oblationem quotquot +valet de dextrarijs albis, et inclinans ante thronum pertransit, atque per +eundem modum singuli Baronum offerentes aliquid dignum iocale inclinant +transeuntes, silentio firme seruato. Post hos intrantes simili modo praelati +et Abbates, de iurisdictionibus et religionibus Paganorum offerunt singuli +pro suo statu se reuerenter inclinantes maiestati, et maior praelatorum +benedicit Regi, et suis ac Curiae quadam suae legis oratione. + +Deinde introducuntur elephantes, leones, pardi, simiae, marmotae, et diuersae +bestiae, quarum ductores singuli transeuntes inclinant reuerenter, et +intente. Postremo afferuntur aquilae, struthiones, gryphandi, accipitres, et +papingi, cum diuersis auibus et auiculis, nec non serpentes ac pisces, +quorum portitores inclinant profunde, quoniam dicunt omnes terrenas +creaturas debere adorationem Imperatori Grand Can filio Dei excelsi: et his +perfectis, + + Musicae Camenae persoluunt debita plene. + +Nos igitur intendamus hoc loco quaeso quomodo veraciter Pagani in tenebris +ambulant: diabolica inuolutione mens eorum obtenebrata non videt quomodo, +cum Imperator sit homo mortalis nuper natus, et similiter sicut illi +infirmitate circundatus, atque in breui cum ipsis moriturus, quem etiam non +dubitant sub Deo, clamant eum non Deum, sed Dei filium, vbi vtique prorsus +ignorant illum non esse laudandum, nec adorandum, sed eum non intendunt +alium filium, filium increatum et connaturalem, qui et ipsos et eum +creauit, solum superlaudabilem in secula. + +Et hoc alto corde considerantes, laudemus, adoremus, glorificemus, et +superexaltemus totis viribus Deum, qui nos filios lucis esse voluit, et +salutis, nasci, baptizari, educari, erudiri sub sinceritate fidei +Christianae, excluso schismate et errore, atque sub instituto sacrosanctae +matris Ecclesiae, in qua sola pene ab omni circumferentia orbis terrae fides, +quae saluat, et per dilectionem operatur nunc remansit. + +Et oremus instanter pro ipsis Paganis, vt agnita veritatis luce videre +possint quo ambulant, vt perueniant ad Iesum Christuro coaequalem Dei +filium, atque in ipso, et per ipsum laudare et adorare solum vnum verum +Deum. + + +CAPVT. 36. + +De ludis et praestigijs in suo festo, et de suo comitatu. + +Celebrato post hoc prandio satis morose, quia nunquam est vltra semel +edendum in die, de quo et eius administratione nunc longum est scribere, +adsunt gesticulatores, mira visu, suauiaque auditu pedibus, manibus, +brachijs, humeris, capitibus, et toto corpore, ac ad singulos gestus, +correspondentes debito vocis sono. Et semper finem horum mirabilium +cantilena subsequitur musicorum. Ex hoc ioculatores praesto sunt, et Magi, +qui suis incantationibus praestant praestigia multa. + +Imprimis faciunt videri Solem et Lunam, oriendo, descendendo consuetum diei +intra Basilicam peragere cursum, cum tanta nimietate splendoris, vt vix se +inuicem homines valeant recognoscere prae fulgore, dicentes et mentientes, +Solem et Lunam coeli hanc mittere reuerentiam Imperatori. + +Hinc pari ludo comparent speciosae puellae ducere semitas et choreas, nobili +gestu nobilissimum ferre poculum lactis equarum in aureis vasis, de quo, +ponentes se in genibus, tradunt potum dominis et dominabus. + +Tunc portantur et milites in equis, et armis quoque pleni atque parati, qui +feruentibus sonipedibus se inuicem cuspidibus ad fragorem magnum +configentes lanceas comminuunt, et fragmenta per mensas, et pauimenta +discurrunt. Ac deinde fantastice venantur per aulam, cum canibus et +papionibus, ad ceruos, lupos, vrsos, et apros, ad lepores, et marmotas. Quae +singula cum ad horam pascant vana delectatione sensus corporeos, miseriam +tamen inserunt piae menti, quod tot et tanti homines, neglecta prorsus animi +salute, his diabolicis operationibus se dederunt in toto. Nam certo non ita +sine daemonum consolatione et familiaritate praemissa confingi dicerem. + +Nota: a Cambalu ad viginti dietas, est pulchrum nemus girans octo dietas in +circuitu, in quo sunt omnia genera animalium: custodes habet circa eum. +Triennio vel quadriennio visitat illud Imperator, et cum multa gente nemus +circumdat, canes emittuntur et aues, cum multo clamore, et feras congregant +in medio nemoris, ad planiciem sibi sitam. Tunc Imperator prius iacit +quinque sagittas, postea alij: tunc Imperator dicit, Eya, hoc est, mina +bestijs, et sicut quilibet capit sagittam suam signatam, percussam, aliis +recedentibus ad sua loca. Odericus. + +Praeterea ante Imperatoris mensam eriguntur tabulae latae aureae cum sculptis, +ac si viuerent, imaginibus gallorum, pauonum ac diuersarum volucrum +artificiose, quas praestigiator facit pro libitu sine apprehensione manus +ire, tripudiare, chorizare, tremere, compugnare, bibere, manducare, sed et +cantare: quod quidem inter caetera mihi videbatur mirabilius et aspectu +delectabilius. Nullus istud plene intueri potuit, nisi qui erat in throno +vel circa: et me oportet hoc loco fateri stultitiam propriam, quod hac +delectatione tractus, magnam adhibui apud Artistam diligentiam, verbis +blandis, et quibuscunque munusculis, ac melioribus promissis, quod de tali +mihi traderet artem, qui sagax simul et fallax imprimis, spem meam trahebat +sponsionum funibus: sed at vltimum penitus abscindebat, dicens se vouisse +Deo immortali, ne cuiquam doceret nisi proprio filio seniori, ac per hoc me +Deus ab illo malo conseruauit inuitum, et gratias nunc reddentem. + +Certum est illic homines esse subtiles ad quasdam humanas artes, et +ingeniosos ad fraudes super omnes, quas noui mundi partes, vnde et inter se +dicunt prouerbium, se solos videre duobus oculis, et Christianos vno, +caeteros autem homines caeecos: sed mentitur iniquitas sibi, quoniam ipsi +vident solo oculo terrena et transitoria, et nos Christiani duobus, quia +cum terrenis videmus spiritualia, et mansura: percussit enim Naas, +[Marginal Note: I Sam. 11. 2.] id est, humani generis hostis cum illis +foedus, vt erueret omnibus oculos dextros, scilicet spirituales. + +Cum itaque narrata de praemissis debeant sufficere, quando Imperator Grand +Can de vno quatuor palatiorum ad aliud transire velit, vel forte gratia +visitationis aut ardui negotii per Imperium de Regno ad Regnum tendit per +comitatus, quatuor exercitibus ante et retro, et ex ambobus lateribus. + +Primus exercitus praecedit personam Regis per vnam de suis dietis, vt semper +in hospitium de quo recessit exercitus Rex intret nocte sequenti, et est +hic primus comitatus descriptus, et statutus de numero quinquaginta cuman +virorum, hoc est, quingentorum millium, semperque praeuisum, et prouisum +est, vt inueniant necessaria in locis, vbi habent quiescere, vel tardare +siue in hospitiis, siue in tentoriis. + +Secundus et tertius comitatus sunt eiusdem numeri virorum cum primo, quorum +vnus ad dextram tendit Imperatoris, alius ad sinistrum in distantia ab ipso +ad trium vel duarum leucarum. + +Quartus autem qui maior est omnibus, subsequitur Imperatorem quasi ad +spatium iactus balistae. Et ad hoc sciendum est, quod personae horum +comitatuum sunt sigillatim, et summatim omnes descriptae, vt dum vna moritur +vel recedit, protinus alia inscribatur, et numerus non minuatur. Ipse vero +Imperator tendit residens in cella seu camera aedificata super currum +grandem forma, fortem robore, nobilem in structura, est cella de ligno +Aloes optimi odoris, et parietes cellae operti in quibusdam locis laminis +aureis, quae et ipsae distinguuntur gemmis variis, et margaritis. + +Est autem currus quatuor rotarum duntaxat, quem trahunt quatuor Elephantes +ad hoc curiose instructi, cum quatuor hippis albis equae doctis et ipsi +cooperti ditissimis tegumentis, ac praeter aurigas nobiliter indutos, qui +currum cautissime ducunt, adsunt et quatuor de maioribus palatii Dominis, +inde ad vehiculum habentes iugem curam, de minatione eius, et ne vltimo +exercitu appropriet infra iactum (vt dixi) sagittae. Ipse autem interdum pro +sodalitate iubet secum ascendere quam vult personam, sed minime vltra duos. +In cellae quoque culmine, quod aperiri valet et claudi, astant in pertica +quatuor grifandi, vel ostiones. Odericus: duodecim Girfalcones, vt si forte +Imperator in aere aquilam, vulturum, ardeam, vel collectorem cerneret, cito +dimitteret istorum duas aut plures ad aucupandum. + +Nota, per Dromedarios, et cursores, et veloces, qui de hospitio ad +hospitium permutantur, scit de remotis noua. Cursor enim appropinquans +cornu sonat, et tunc alius praeparat, et vlterius currit. Odericus. +Sciendumque tam primogenitum Regis, quam singulas de tribus vxoribus ducere +similem apparatum in itinerando post ipsum; scilicet cum quatuor +comitatibus, ante, et retro, et a lateribus, sed in valde minori numero +personarum pro placito, et in singulis curribus sequentibus se inuicem per +vnam dietam. + +Praemissa omnia sic fiunt, dum Imperatori tendendum est remote, alias autem +minuuntur, et distinguuntur comitatus, iuxta quod decet, vt nonnunquam +omnes Imperatores etiam cum filio simul tendant, cum vna comitatuum +distinctione. Transeunte autem sic Imperatore per ciuitates et villas +quilibet ante fores proprias praeparato igne iactat poluerem aromata +redolentem, stans genibus flexis ad reuerentiam illi. Et sciatis vbi prope +transitum illius habentur Christianae Abbatiae, quas olim constituit Dux +Ogerus, exeunt obuiam illi in processione cum vexillis, et sancta cruce, et +aqua benedicta, et thuribulo, hymnum, Veni Creator spiritus decantantes. + +Nota: Ego semel cum Episcopo nostro, et alijs fratribus, uimus obuiam per +duas dietas, et portaui thuribulum. Odericus. Quos ipse a remotis videns, +consueuit ad se appellare, et ad crucem suum galeatum deponere, ac +reuerenter nudo capite inclinare: et praelatus dicens super cum aliquam +orationem signat cruce, et aqua benedicta aspergit. Et quoniam necesse est, +vt quisque extraneus ante Regem apparens, offerat ei aliquid, praelatus in +disco praesentat ei fructus, et poma, vel pyra, et hoc in numero nouenario, +(ratio ponitur primo capitullo proximo, quod iste numerus est plus caeteris +acceptus,) de quibus Imperator vnum sibi sumens, reliqua tradit Dominis +praesentibus: quo facto habent relligiosi recedere cito, ne opprimantur +multitudine populi subsequentis. + +Praefatum Domini galeatum, est ita intextum auro, diamantibus, gemmunculis, +et orientalibus margaritis, granellis, et dubletis, et praediues in materia +et artificio, vt ei non sit aequandus magni in partibus istis Regis +thesaurus. Item sicut haec fiunt transeunti Imperatori, fiunt et +Imperatricibus, et filio seniori. + + +The English Version. + +And zee schulle undirstonde, that my felawes and I, with oure zomen, we +serveden this emperour, and weren his soudyoures, 15 monethes, azenst the +Kyng of Mancy, that held werre azenst him. And the cause was, for we hadden +gret lust to see his noblelesse and the estat of his court and alle his +governance, to write zif it were suche, as wee herde seye, that it was. And +treuly, we fond it more noble and more excellent and ricchere and more +marveyllous, than ever we herde speke offe; in so moche, that we wolde +never han leved it, had wee not seen it. For I trowe, that no man wolde +beleve the noblesse, the ricchesse, ne the multytude of folk that ben in +his court, but he had seen it. For it is not there, as it is here. For the +lordes here han folk of certeyn nombre, als thei may suffise: but the grete +Chane hathe every day folke at his costages and expenses, as with outen +nombre. But the ordynance, ne the expenses in mete and drynk, ne the +honestee ne the clennesse, is not so arrayed there, as it is here: for alle +the comouns there eten withouten clothe upon here knees; and thei eten alle +maner of flessche, and litylle of bred. And aftre mete, thei wypen here +hondes upon here skyrtes: and thei eten not but ones a day. But the estat +of lordes is fulle gret and riche and noble. And alle be it, that sum men +wil not trow me; but holden it for fable, to telle hem the noblesse of his +persone and of his estate and of his court and of the gret multytude of +folk, that he holt, natheles I schalle seye zou, a partye of him and of his +folk, aftre that I have seen, the manere and the ordynance, fulle many a +tyme. And whoso that wole, may leve me, zif he wille; and who so wille not, +may chuse. For I wot wel, zif ony man hathe ben in tho contrees bezonde, +thoughe he have not ben in the place, where the grete Chane duellethe, he +schalle here speke of him so meche merveylouse thing, that he schalle not +trowe it lightly: and treuly, no more did I my self, til I saughe it. And +tho that han ben in tho contrees and in the gret Canes houshold, knowen +wel, that I seye sothe. And therfore I wille not spare, for hem that knowe +not, ne beleve not, but that that thei seen, for to telle zou a partie of +him and of his estate, that he holt, whan he gothe from contree to contree, +and whan he makethe solempne festes. + + +CAPVT. 37. + +Qua de causa dicitur Grand Gan. + +Si placet audire, dicam cur hic Imperator sit appellatus Grand Can. +Audieram ego in partibus Ierosolymorum hunc esse sic dictum, a filio Noe, +Cham: sed in terra Cathay accepi et aliam, et meram huius rei veritatem. +Nam et scribendo haec duo nomina habent differentiam, quod filius Noe Cham +scribitur quatuor elementis, quorum vltimum est M. et iste Can tribus +tantum, quorum vltimum est N. + +Post annos Christi 1100. illa prima Tartaria (de qua supra scripsi in prima +parte, capitulo quinto) fuit nimis oppressa seruitute sub Regibus +circumiacentium sibi nationum. Quando autem Deo placuit, maiores illius +Tartariae eleuauerunt de seipsis sibi Regem dictum Guis Can, cui et +promiserunt subiectissimam obedientiam. + +Idem cum esset prudens strenuus 12. viriles habens filios, debellauit cum +ijs et populo suo, et vicit, ac subiecit cunctos in circuitu Reges, quibus +terra indebite diu subiacuerat. Quin etiam apparente sibi in visione Angelo +Dei velut milite in albo equo, et candidis armis, et hortante se, vt +transiret Alpes, per montem Beliam, [Marginal note: Vel Belgiam.] et per +brachium maris, ad terram Cathay, et ad alias illic plurimas regiones +transiuit, et coepit com filijs suis aliquas ex illis debellare, et +subijcere, Deo in omnibus adiuuante patenter. Et quoniam in equo albo ei +Angelus apparuit, qui etiam ante passum praedicti maris nouem orationes Deo +facere iussit, ideo successores vsque hodie diligunt equos albos, et +nouenarium numerum habent prae caeteris in gratia. Dumque Guis Can morti prae +senio appropinquaret, conuocatos ante se filios hortabatur, et mouebat +exemplo 12. telorum in simul colligatorum, quae a nullo filiorum pariter +frangi potuerant, sed dissoluta vnumquodque per se facile frangebatur, sic +filij (inquit) dilectissimi, si per concordiam vos inuicem dilexeritis, et +vixeritis seniori fratri obedientes, confido in Deo iuxta promissionem mihi +ab Angelo factam, quod omnem latissimam istam terram, et optimam illius +imperio subijcietis, quod et post patris discessum strenuissime, ac +fidelissime (Deo sibi prosperante) perfecerunt. Et quia cum propriis +nominibus habebant cognomen Can, primogenitus pro differentia obtinuit +nomen Grand Can, id est, Magnus Can, videlicit supra caeteros fratres, qui +sibi in omnibus obediebant. + +Itaque iste secundus Imperator vocabatur Ochoto Can. + +Post quem filius eius regnauit dictus Guican. + +Quartus autem, qui Mango Can baptizabatur, permansitque fidelis +Christianus, qui etiam misso magno exercitu cum fratre suo Hallaon in +partes Arabiae et Aegypti mandauit destrui in toto Mahometi superstitionem, +et terram poni in manibus Christianorum. Et fratre procedente, accepit +rumores de fratris sui Imperatoris morte inopinata, quapropter et redijt +negotio imperfecto. + +Quintus Cobilacan, qui etiam fuit Christianus, et regnauit 42. annis, et +aedificauit magnam ciuitatem Iong, maiorem satis vrbe Roma, in qua et +continetur valde nobile palatium Imperiale. Hinc vsque hodie omnes +successores paganismo foedantur. + +Tempore autem meo erat nomen Imperatoris Echian Can, et primogenitus eius +Cosuecan, praeter quem et alios filios habuit 12. de quorum nominibus +conscribendis non est curae presentis. + +Prima vxorum suorum vocabatur Serochan, quae et est filia Praesbyteri Ioannis +scilicet Imperatoris Indiae. + +Secunda Verouchan. + +Tertia Caranthcan. + +Istis duobus Imperatoribus non creditur inueniri maior Dominus sub +firmamento Coeli. + +In literis quae huius Imperatoris Tartariae scribuntur nomine ponitur semper +iste Titulus. Can filius Dei excelsi, omnium vniuersam terram colentium +summus Imperator, et Dominus Dominantium omnium. + +Circumferentia magni sui sigilli, continet hoc scriptum. + +Deus in Coelo, Can super terram, eius fortitudo. Omnium hominum Imperatoris + sigillum. + +Sciendum quoque quod quamuis populi ibi dicuntur, et sunt Pagani, tamen et +rex et omnes credunt in Deum immortalem, et omnipotentem, et iurant per +ipsum appellantes, Yroga, id est, Deum Naturae. Sed nihilominus colunt et +adorant idola, et simulachra aurea, et argentea, lapidea, lignea, filtria, +lanea, et linea. + + +The English Version. + +Wherefore he is clept the grete Chane. Of the Style of his Lettres, and of + the Superscripcioun abowten his grete Sealle, and his pryvee Sealle. + +[Sidenote: Chap. XXI.] First I schalle seye zou, whi he was clept the gret +Chane. Zee schulle undirstonde, that alle the world was destroyed by Noes +flood, saf only Noe and his wif and his children. Noe had 3 sones, Sem, +Cham and Japhethe. This Cham was he that saughe his fadres prevy membres +naked, whan he slepte, and scorned hem and schewed hem with his finger, to +his brethren, in scornynge wise: and ther fore he was cursed of God. And +Japhethe turned his face away, and covered hem. Theise 3 bretheren had +cesoun in alle the lond: and this Cham, for his crueltee, toke the gretter +and the beste partie, toward the est, that is clept Asye: and Sem toke +Affryk: and Japhethe toke Europe. And therfore is alle the erthe departed +in theise 3 parties, be theise 3 bretheren. Cham was the grettest, and the +most myghty: and of him camen mo generaciouns, than of the othere. And of +his sone Chuse, was engendred Nembrothe the geaunt, that was the firste +kyng, that ever was in the world: and he began the foundacion of the Tour +of Babyloyne. And that tyme, the fendes of helle camen many tymes, and +leyen with the wommen of his generacioun, and engendered on hem dyverse +folk, as monstres, and folk disfigured, summe with outen hedes, summe with +gret eres, summe with on eye, summe geauntes, summ with hors feet, and many +other dyverse schapp, azenst kynde. And of that generacioun of Cham, ben +comen the Paynemes, and dyverse folk, that ben in yles of the see, be alle +Ynde. And for als moche as he was the moste myghty, and no man myghte +withstonde him, he cleped himself the sone of God, and sovereyn of alle the +world. And for this Cham, this emperour clepeth him Cham and sovereyn of +all the world. And of the generacioun of Sem, ben comen the Sarrazines, And +of the generacioun of Japhethe, is comen the peple of Israel. And thoughe +that wee duellen in Europe, this is the opynyoun, that the Syryenes and the +Samaritanes, han amonges hem; and that thei told me, before that I wente +toward Ynde: but I fond it otherwise. Natheles the sothe is this, that +Tartarynes and thei that duellen in the grete Asye, thei camen of Cham. But +the emperour of Cathay clepeth him not Cham, but Can: and I schalle telle +zou how. It is but litylle more but 8 score zeer, that alle Tartarye was in +subiectioun and in servage to othere nacyouns abouten: for thei weren but +bestyalle folk, and diden no thing but kepten bestes, and lad hem to +pastures. But among hem, thei hadden 7 princypalle nacyouns, that weren +soveraynes of hem alle: of the whiche, the firste nacyoun or lynage was +clept Tartar; and that is the most noble and the most preysed. The seconde +lynage is clept Tanghot; the thridde Eurache; the 4 Valair; the 5 Semoche; +the 6 Megly; the 7 Coboghe. Now befelle it so, that of the firste lynage +succeeded an old worthi man, that was not riche, that hadde to name +Changuys. This man lay upon a nyght in his bed, and he sawhe in a visioun, +that there cam before him a knyght armed alle in white, and he satt upon a +white hors, and seyd to him, Can, slepest thou? The inmortalle God hathe +sent me to the; and it is his wille, that thou go to the 7 lynages, and +seye to hem, that thou schalt ben here emperour. For thou schalt conquere +the londs and the contrees, that ben abouten: and thei that marchen upon +zou, schulle ben undre zoure subieccioun, as zee han ben undre hires: for +that is Goddes wille inmortalle. And whan he cam at morwe, Changuys roos, +and wente to the 7 lynages, and tolde hem how the white knyght had seyd. +And thei scorned him, and seyden, that he was a fool; and so he departed +fro hem alle aschamed. And the nyght sewynge, this white knyght cam to the +7 lynages, and commaunded hem, on Goddes behalve inmortalle, that thei +scholde make this Changuys here emperour; and thei scholde ben out of +subieccioun; and thei scholde holden alle other regiounes aboute hem in +here servage, as thei had ben to hem beforn. And on the morwe, thei chosen +him to ben here emperour: and thei setten him upon a blak fertre; and aftre +that, thei liften him op with gret solempnytee, and thei setten him in a +chayer of gold, and diden hym alle maner of reverence; and thei cleped him, +Chan, as the white knyght called him. And whan he was thus chosen, he wolde +assayen, zif he myghte trust in hem or non, and whether thei wolde ben +obeyssant to him or non. And thanne he made many statutes and ordinances, +that thei clepen _Ysya Chan_. The first statute was, that thei scholde +beleeven and obeyen in God inmortalle, that is allemyghty, that wolde +casten hem out of servage; and at alle tymes clepe to him for help, in tyme +of nede. The tother statute was, that alle maner of men that myghte beren +armes, scholden ben nombred: and to every 10 scholde ben a maystre, and to +every 100 a maystre, and to every 1000 a maystre, and to every 10000 a +maystre. Aftre he commanded to the princypales of the 7 lynages, that thei +scholde leven and forsaken alle that thei hadden in godes and heritage; and +fro thens forthe to holden hem payd, of that that be wolde zeve hem of his +grace. And thei diden so anon. Aftre he commanded to the princypales of the +7 lynages, that every of hem scholde brynge his eldest sone before him, and +with here owne handes smyten of here hedes, with outen taryenge. And anon +his commandement was performed. And whan the Chane saghe, that thei made +non obstacle to performen his commandement, thanne he thoughte wel, that he +myghte trusten in hem, and commanded hem anon to make hem redy, and to +sewen his banere. And aftre this, Chane putt in subieccioun alle the londes +aboute him. Aftreward it befelle upon a day, that the Cane rood with a fewe +meynee, for to beholde the strengthe of the contree, that he had wonnen: +and so befelle, that a gret multytude of his enemyes metten with hem; and +for to zeven gode ensample of hardynesse to his peeple, he was the firste +that faughte, and in the myddes of his enemyes encountred; and there he was +cast from his hors, and his hors slayn. And whan his folk saughe him at the +erthe, thei weren alle abasscht, and wenden he had ben ded, and flowen +everych one; and hire enemyes aftre, and chaced hem: but thei wiste not, +that the emperour was there. And whan thei weren comen azen fro the chace, +thei wenten and soughten the wodes, zif ony of hem had ben hid in the +thikke of the wodes: and manye thei founden and slowen hem anon. So it +happend, that as thei wenten serchinge, toward the place that the emperour +was, thei saughe an owle sittynge upon a tree aboven hym; and than thei +seyden amonges hem, that there was no man, be cause that thei saughe that +brid there: and to thei wenten hire wey; and thus escaped the emperour from +dethe. And thanne he wente prevylly, alle be nyghte, tille he cam to his +folk, that weren fulle glad of his comynge, and maden grete thankynges to +God immortalle, and to that bryd, be whom here lord was saved. And therfore +princypally aboven alle foules of world, thei worschipen the owle: and whan +thei han ony of here fedres, thei kepen hem fulle precyously, in stede of +relykes, and beren hem upon here hedes with gret reverence: and thei holden +hem self blessed and saf from alle periles, while that thei han hem upon +hem; and therfore thei beren here fedres upon here hedes. Aftre alle this +the Cane ordeyned him, and assembled his peple, and wente upon hem that +hadden assayled hym before, and destroyed hem, and put hem in subieccioun +and servage. And whan he had wonnen and putt alle the londes and contrees, +on this half the Mount Belyan, in subieccioun, the whyte knyght cam to him +azen in his sleep, and seyde to him, Chan, the wille of God immortalle is, +that thou passe the Mount Belyan; and thou schalt wynne the lond, and thou +schalt putten many nacyouns in subieccioun: and for thou schalt fynde no +gode passage for to go toward that contree, go to the Mount Belyan, that is +upon the see, and knele there 9 tymes toward the est, in the worschipe of +God immortalle; and he schal schewe the weye to passe by. And the Chane +dide so. And anon the see, that touched and was fast to the mount, began to +withdrawe him, and schewed fair weye of 9 fote brede large; and so he +passed with his folk, and wan the lond of Cathay, that is the grettest +kyngdom of the world. And for the 9 knelynges, and for the 9 fote of weye, +the Chane and alle the men of Tartarye han the nombre of 9 in gret +reverence. And therfore who that wole make the Chane ony present, be it of +hors, be it of bryddes, or of arwes, or bowes, or of frute, or of ony other +thing, alweys he most make it of the nombre of 9. And so thanne ben the +presentes of grettere plesance to him, and more benygnely he wil resceyven +hem, than though he were presented with an 100 or 200. For hym semethe the +nombre of 9 so holy, be cause the messagre of God immortalle devised it. +Also whan the Chane of Cathay hadde wonen the contree of Cathay, and put in +subieccioun and undre fote many contrees abouten, he felle seek. And whan +he felte wel, that he scholde dye, he seyde to his 12 sones, that everyche +of hem scholde brynge him on of his arewes; and so thei diden anon. And +thanne he commanded, that men scholde bynden hem to gedre, in 3 places; and +than he toke hem to his eldest sone, and bad him breke hem alle to gedre. +And he enforced hem with alle his myght to breken hem: but he ne myghte +not. And than the Chane bad his seconde sone to breke hem; and so schortly +too alle, eche aftre other: but non of hem myght breke hem. And than be bad +the zongest sone dissevere everyche from other, and breken everyche be him +self: and so he dide. And than seyde the Chane to his eldest sone, and to +alle the othere, Wherfore myght zee not breke hem? And thei answereden, +that thei myght not, be cause that thei weren bounden to gydre. And +wherfore, quothe he, hathe zoure litylle zongest brother broken hem? +Because, quothe thei, that thei weren departed eche from other. And thanne +seyde the Chane, My sones, quoth he, treuly thus wil it faren be zou. For +als longe as zee ben bounden to gedere, in 3 places, that is to seyne, in +love, in trouthe and in gode accord, no man schalle ben of powere to greve +zou; but and zee ben disevered fro theise 3 places, that zoure on helpe not +zoure other, zee schulle be destroyed and brought to nought: and zif eche +of zou love other, and helpe othere, ze schulle be lordes and sovereynes of +alle othere. And whan he hadde made his ordynances, he dyed. And thanne +after hym, regned Ecchecha Cane his eldest sone. And his othere bretheren +wenten to wynnen hem many contrees and kyngdomes, unto the lond of Pruysse +and of Rossye, and made hem to ben cleped Chane: but thei weren all +obeyssant to hire eldre brother: and therfore was he clept grete Chane. +Aftre Ecchecha, regned Guyo Chane: and aftre him, Mango Chan, that was a +gode Cristene man, and baptized, and zaf lettres of perpetuelle pes to alle +Cristene men, and sente his brother Halaon with gret multytude of folk, for +to wynnen the Holy Lond, and for to put it in to Cristene mennes hondes, +and for to destroye Machametes lawe, and for to take the Calyphee of +Baldak, that was emperour and lord of alle the Sarazines. And whan this +Calyphee was taken, men fownden him of so highe worschipe, that in alle the +remenant of the world, ne myghte a man fynde a more reverent man, ne +highere in worschippe. And then Halaon made him come before him, and seyde +to hym: Why, quoth be, haddest thow not taken with the mo sowdyoures, and +men y nowe, for a lytille quantytee of thresour, for to defende the and thi +contree, that art so habundant of tresore and so high in alle worschipe? +And the Calyphee answered him, For he wel trowede, that he hadde y nowe of +his owne propre men. And than seyde Halaon, Thou were as a god of the +Sarazines: and it is convenyent to a god, to ete no mete, that is mortalle; +and therfore thou schalt not ete, but precyous stones, riche perles, and +tresour, that thou lovest so moche. And then he commanded him to presoun, +and alle his tresoure aboute him; and so he dyed for hungre, and threst. +And than aftre this, Halaon wan alle the lond of promyssioun, and putte it +in to Cristene mennes hondes. But the grete Chane his brother dyede; and +that was gret sorwe and losse to alle Cristen men. + +Aftre Mango Chan, regned Coblya Chan, that was also a Cristene man: and he +regnede 42 zere. He founded the grete cytee Izonge in Cathay, that is a +gret del more than Rome. + +The tother gret Chane, that cam aftre him, becam a Payneme, and alle the +other aftre him. + +The kyngdom of Cathay is the grettest reme of the world. And also the gret +Chan is the most myghty emperour of the world, and the grettest lord undre +the firmament; and so he clepethe him in his lettres, right thus, _Chan, +filius Dei excelsi, omnium universam Terram colentium summus Imperatur, et +Dominus omnium Dominantium_. And the lettre of his grete seel, writen +abouten, is this, _Deus in Celo, Chan super Terram, ejus fortitudo. Omnium +hominum Imperatoris Sigillum_. And the superscripcioun aboute his litylle +seel is this, _Dei Fortitudo omnium hominum. Imperatoris Sigillum_. And +alle be it that thei be not cristned, zit natheles the emperour and alle +the Tarterynes beleeven in God immortalle. And whan thei wille manacen ony +man thanne thei seyn, God knowethe wel, that I schalle do the suche a +thing, and tellethe his menace. And thus have zee herd, whi he is clept the +grete Chane. + + +Of the governance of the grete Chanes Court, and whan he makethe solempne + Festes. Of his Philosophres. And of his Array, whan he riddethe be the + contre. + +[Sidenote: Cap. XXIII.] Now schalle I telle zou the governance of the court +of the grete chane, whan he makethe solempne festes: and that is +princypally 4 tymes in the zeer. The firste feste is of his byrthe: that +other is of his presentacioun in here temple, that thei clepen here +Moscache, where thei maken a manere of circumsicioun: and the tother 2 +festes ben of his ydoles. The firste feste of the ydole is, whan he is +first put in to hire temple and throned. The tother feste is, whan the +ydole begynnethe first to speke or to worche myracles. Mo ben there not of +solempne festes, but zif he marye ony of his children. Now undirstondethe, +that at every of theise festes, he hathe gret multytude of peple, well +ordeyned and wel arrayed, be thousandes, be hundredes and be tenthes. And +every man knowethe wel, what servyse he schalle do. And every man zevethe +so gode hede and so gode attendance to his servyse, that no man fyndethe no +defaute. And there ben first ordeyned 4000 baronnes myghty and riche, for +to gouerne and to make ordynance for the feste, and for to serve the +emperour. And theise solempne festes ben made with outen, in hales and +tentes made of clothes of gold and of tartaries, fulle nobely. And alle tho +barouns han crounes of gold upon hire hedes, fulle noble and riche, fulle +of precious stones and grete perles oryent. And thei ben alle clothed in +clothes of gold or of tartaries or of camokas, so richely and so perfytly, +that no man in the world can amenden it, ne better devisen it. And alle tho +robes ben orfrayed alle abouten, and dubbed fulle of precious stones and of +grete oryent perles, fulle richely. And thei may wel do so; for clothes of +gold and of sylk ben gretter chep there a gret del, than ben clothes of +wolle. And theise 4000 barouns ben devised in 4 companyes: and every +thousand is clothed in clothes alle of o colour; and that so wel arrayed +and so richely, that it is marveyle to beholde. The firste thousand, that +is of Dukes, of Erles, of Marquyses and of Amyralles, alle clothed in +clothes of gold, with tysseux of grene silk, and bordured with gold, fulle +of preciouse stones, in maner as I have seyd before. The secounde thousand +is alle clothed in clothes dyapred of red silk, alle wroughte with gold, +and the orfrayes sett fulle of gret perl and precious stones, fulle nobely +wroughte. The 3 thousand is clothed in clothes of silk, of purpre of Ynde. +And the 4 thousand is in clothes of zalow. And alle hire clothes ben so +nobely and so richely wroughte with gold and precious stones and riche +perles, that zif a man of this contree hadde but only on of hire robes, he +myghte wel seye, that he sholde nevere be pore. For the gold and the +precious stones and the grete oryent perles ben of gretter value, on this +half the see, than thei ben bezond the see, in tho contrees. And whan thei +ben thus apparaylled, thei gon 2 and 2 togedre, fulle ordynatly before the +emperour, withouten speche of ony woord, saf only enclynynge to him. And +everyche of hem berethe a tablett of jaspere or of ivory or of cristalle; +and the mynstralle goynge before hem, sownyng here instrumentes of dyverse +melodye. And whan the firste thousand is thus passed, and hathe made his +mostre, he withdrawethe him on that o syde. And than entrethe that other +secunde thousand, and dothe right so, in the same manere of array and +contenance, as did the firste; and aftre the thridde, and than the fourthe; +and non of hem seythe not o word. And at o syde of the emperours table, +sitten many philosofres, that ben preved for wise men, in many dyverse +scyences; as of astronomye, nigromancye, geomancye, pyromancye, ydromancye, +of augurye and of many other scyences. And everyche of hem han before hem +astrolabes of gold; sum speres, summe the brayn panne of a ded man, summe +vesselles of gold fulle of gravelle or sond, summe vesseles of gold fulle +of coles brennynge, sume veselle of gold fulle of watre and of wyn and of +oyle, and summe oriloges of gold, mad ful nobely and richely wroughte, and +many other maner of instrumentes aftre hire sciences. And at certeyn +houres, whan hem thinkethe time, thei seyn to certeyn officeres, that +stonden before hem, ordeynd for the tyme, to fulfille hire commaudemenes, +Makethe pees. And than seyn the officeres, Now pees lystenethe. And aftre +that, seyth another of the philosophres, Every man do reverence, and +enclyne to the emperour, that is Goddes sone and soverayn lord of alle the +world; for now is tyme. And thanne every man bowethe his hed toward the +erthe. And thanne commandethe the same philosophre azen, Stondethe up. And +thei don so. And at another hour, seythe another philosophre, Puttethe +zoure litille fynger in zoure eres. And anon thei don so. And at another +hour, seythe another philosophre, Puttethe zoure honde before zoure mouthe. +And anon thei don so. And at another hour, seithe another philosophre, +Puttethe zoure honde upon zoure hede. And aftre that, he byddethe hem to +don here hond a wey; and thei don so. And so from hour to hour, thei +commanden certeyn thinges. And thei seyn, that tho thinges han dyverse +significaciouns. And I asked hem prevyly, what tho thinges betokened. And +on of the maistres told me, that the bowynge of the hed at that hour +betokened this, that alle tho that boweden here hedes, scholden evere more +aftre ben obeyssant and trewe to the emperour: and nevere for ziftes, ne +for promys in no kynde, ben fals ne traytour unto him for gode ne evylle. +And the puttynge of the litylle fynger in the ere, betokenethe, as thei +seyn, that none of hem ne schalle not here speke no contrarious thing to +the emperour, but that he schalle telle it anon to his conseille, or +discovere it to sum men that wille make relacioun to the emperour; thoughe +he were his fadre or brother or sone. And so forthe of alle other thtnges, +that is don be the philosophres, thei tolde me the causes of many dyverse +thinges. And trustethe righte wel in certyn, that no man dothe no thing to +the emperour, that belongethe unto him, nouther clothinge, ne bred, ne wyn, +ne bathe, ne non other thing, that longethe to hym, but at certeyn houres, +that his philosopheres wille devysen. And zif there falle werre in ony syde +to the emperour, anon the philosophres comen, and seyn here avys aftre her +calculaciouns, and conseylen the emperour of here avys, be here sciences; +so that the emperour dothe no thing with outen here conseille. And whan the +philosophres han don and perfourmed here commandementes, thanne the +mynstralle begynnen to don here mynstralcye, everyche in hire instrumentes, +eche aftre other, with alle the melodye that thei can devyse. And whan thei +han don a gode while, on of the officers of the emperour gothe up on an +highe stage wroughte fulle curyously, and cryethe and seythe with lowde +voys, Makethe pees. And than every man is stille. And thanne anon aftre, +alle the lordes, that ben of the emperours lynage, nobely arrayed in riche +clothes of gold, and ryally apparayled on white stedes, als manye as may +wel sewen hem at that tyme, ben redy to maken here presentes to the +emperour. And than seythe the styward of the court to the lordes be name, +N. of N. and nempnethe first the most enoble and the worthieste be name, +and seythe, be zee redy with suche a nombre of white hors, for to serve the +emperour, zoure sovereyn lord. And to another lord, he seythe, N. of N. be +zee redy with suche a nombre, to serve zoure sovereyn lord. And so another, +right so. And to alle the lordes of the emperoures lynage, eche aftre +other, as ben of estate. And whan thei ben alle cleped, thei entren eche +aftre other, and presentenen the white hors to the emperour; and than gon +hire wey. And than aftre, alle the other barouns every of hem zeven hem +presentes, or juelle, or sum other thing, aftre that thei ben of estate. +And than aftre hem, alle the prelates of hire lawe, and religiouse men and +other; and every man zevethe him sum thing. And whan that alle men han thus +presented the emperour, the greetest of dignytee of the prelates zevethe +hem a blessynge, seyenge an orisoun of hire lawe. And than begynnen the +mynstrelle to maken hire mynstralcye, in dyverse instrumentes, with alle +the melodye that thei can devyse. And whan thei han don hire craft, than +thei bryngen before the emperour, lyouns, libardes and other dyverse +bestes; and egles and veutours, and other dyverse foules; and fissches, and +serpentes; for to don him reverence. And than comen jogulours and +enchauntoures, that don many marvaylles: for thei maken to come in the ayr, +the sonne and the mone, be semynge, to every mannes sight. And aftre thei +maken the day to come azen, fair and plesant with bright sonne, to every +mannes sight. And than thei bryngen in daunces of the faireste damyselles +of the world, and richest arrayed. And aftre thei maken to come in, other +damyselles, bryngynge coupes of gold, fulle of mylk of dyverse bestes, and +zeven drynke to lordes and to ladyes. And than thei make knyghtes to +jousten in armes fulle lustyly; and thei rennen to gidre a gret randoum; +and thei frusschen to gidere fulle fiercely; and thei breken here speres so +rudely, that the tronchouns flen in sprotes and peces alle aboute the +halle. And than thei make to come in huntyng, for the hert and for the +boor, with houndes rennynge with open mouthe. And many other thinges thei +don, be craft of hire enchauntementes; that it is marveyle for to see. And +suche pleyes of desport thei make, til the takynge up of the boordes. + +This gret Chan hathe fulle gret peple for to serve him, as I have told zou +before. For he hathe of mynstralles the nombre of 13 cumanez: but thei +abyde not alle weys with hym. For alle the mynstrelle that comen before +hym, of what nacyoun that thei ben of, thei ben withholden with him, as of +his houshold, and entred in his bokes, as for his owne men. And aftre that, +where that evere thei gon, ever more thei cleymen for mynstralle of the +grete Chane: and undre that tytle, alle kynges and lordes, cherisschen hem +the more with ziftes and alle thing. And therefore he hathe so gret +multytude of hem. And he hathe of certeyn men, as thoughe thei were zomen, +that kepen bryddes, as ostrycches, gerfacouns, sparehaukes, faukons +gentyls, lanyeres, sacres, sacrettes, papyngayes wel spekynge, and briddes +syngynge. And also of wylde bestes, as of olifauntz, tame and othere, +babewynes, apes, marmesettes, and othere dyverse bestes; the mountance of +15 cumanez of zomen. And of Phisicyens Cristene, he hathe 200. And of +leches, that ben Cristene, he hathe 210. And of leches and Phisicyens, that +ben Sarrazines 20: but he trustethe more in the Cristene leches, than in +the Sarrazines. And his other comoun houshold is with outen nombre: and +thei alle han alle necessaries, and alle that hem nedethe, of the +emperoures court. And he hathe in his court many barouns, as servytoures, +that ben Cristene and converted to gode feythe, be the prechynge of +religiouse Cristen men, that dwellen with him: but there ben manye mo, that +wil not, that men knowen that thei ben Cristene. + +This emperour may dispenden als moche as he wille, with outen estymacioun. +For he despendethe not, he makethe no money, but of lether emprented, or of +papyre. And of that moneye, is som of gretter prys, and som of lasse prys, +aftre the dyversitee of his statutes. And whan that money hathe ronne so +longe, that it begynnethe to waste, than men beren it to the emperoures +tresorye: and than thei taken newe money for the olde. And that money gothe +thorghe out alle the contree, and thorghe out alle his provynces. For there +and bezonde hem, thei make no money, nouther of gold nor of sylver. And +therfore he may despende y now, and outrageously. And of gold and sylver, +that men beren in his contree, he makethe cylours, pyleres and paumentes in +his palays, and other dyverse thinges, what him lykethe. This emperour +hathe in his chambre, in on of the pyleres of gold, a rubye and a +charboncle of half a fote long, that in the nyght zevethe so gret clartee +and schynynge, that it is als light as day. And he hathe many other +precyous stones, and many other rubyes and charboncles: but tho ben the +grettest and the moste precyous. + +This emperour duellethe in somer in a cytee, that is toward the northe, +that is cleped Saduz: and there is cold y now. And in wyntre, he duellethe +in a cytee, that is clept Camaaleche: and that is an hote contree. But the +contree, where he duellethe in most comounly, is in Caydo or in Jong, that +is a gode contree and a tempree, aftre that the contree is there: but to +men of this contree, it were to passyng hoot. And whan this emperour wille +ryde from o contree to another, he ordeynethe 4 hostes of his folk; of the +whiche, the firste hoost gothe before him, a dayes iourneye. For that hoost +schalle ben logged the nyght, where the emperour schalle lygge upon the +morwe. And there schalle every man have alle maner of vytaylle and +necessaryes, that ben nedefulle, of the emperoures costages. And in this +firste hoost is the nombre of peple 50 cumaunez; what of hors, what of +fote: of the whiche every cumanez amounten to 10000, as I have told zou +before. And another hoost gothe in the right syde of the emperour, nygh +half a journeye fro him. And another gothe on the left syde of him, in the +same wise. And in every hoost, is as moche multytude of peple, as in the +first hoost. And thanne aftre comethe the 4 hoost, that is moche more than +ony of the othere, and that gothe behynden him, the mountance of a bowe +draught. And every hoost hathe his iourneyes ordeyned in certeyn places, +where thei schulle be logged at nyght; and there thei schulle have alle, +that hem nedethe. And zif it befalle, that ony of the hoost dye, anon thei +putten another in his place; so that the nombre schal evere more ben hool. +And zee schulle undirstonde, that the emperour, in his propre persone, +rydethe not as othere gret lordes don bezonde; but zif him liste to go +prevyly with fewe men, for to ben unknowen. And elle he rytt in a charett +with 4 wheles, upon the whiche is made a faire chambre; and it is made of a +certeyn wode, that comethe out of paradys terrestre, that men clepen lignum +aloes, that the flodes of paradys bryngen out at dyverse cesouns, as I have +told zou here beforn. And this chambre is fulle wel smellynge, be cause of +the wode, that it is made offe. And alle this chambre is covered with inne +of plate of fyn gold, dubbed with precious stones and grete perles. And 4 +olifauntz and 4 grete destreres alle white, and covered with riche +covertoures ledynge the chariot. And 4 or 5 or 6 of the grettest lordes +ryden aboute the charyot, fulle richely arrayed and fulle nobely; so that +no man schalle nyghe the charyot, but only tho lordes, but zif that the +emperour calle ony man to him, that him list to speke with alle. And above +the chambre of this chariot, that the emperour sittethe inne, ben sett upon +a perche 4 or 5 or 6 gerfacouns; to that entent, that whan the emperour +seethe ony wylde foul, that he may take it at his owne list, and have the +desport and the pley of the flight; first with on, and aftre with another: +and so he takethe his desport passynge be the contree. And no man rydethe +before him of his companye; but alle aftre him. And no man dar not come +nyghe the chariot by a bowe draught, but tho lordes only, that ben about +him: and alle the hoost cometh fayrely aftre him, in gret multitude. And +also suche another charyot, with suche hoostes, ordeynd and arrayd, gon +with the empresse, upon another syde, everyche be him self, with 4 hoostes, +right as the emperour dide; but not with so gret multytude of peple. And +his eldest sone gothe be another weye in another chariot, in the same +manere. So that there is betwene hem so gret multitude of folk, that it is +marveyle to telle it. And no man scholde trowe the nombre, but he had seen +it. And sum tyme it happethe, that whan he wil not go fer; and that it lyke +him to have the emperesse and his children with him; than thei gon alle to +gydere; and here folk ben alle medled in fere, and devyded in 4 parties +only. + +END OF VOL. VIII. + + + + + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of The Principal Navigations, Voyages, +Traffiques and Discoveries of the English Nation. v. 8, by Richard Hakluyt + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK PRINCIPAL NAVIGATIONS, V 8, PART I *** + +***** This file should be named 9815.txt or 9815.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + https://www.gutenberg.org/9/8/1/9815/ + +Produced by Karl Hagen and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. 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You can also find out about how to make a +donation to Project Gutenberg, and how to get involved. + + +**Welcome To The World of Free Plain Vanilla Electronic Texts** + +**eBooks Readable By Both Humans and By Computers, Since 1971** + +*****These eBooks Were Prepared By Thousands of Volunteers!***** + + +Title: The Principal Navigations, Voyages, Traffiques and Discoveries + of the English Nation. v. 8 + Asia, Part I. + +Author: Richard Hakluyt + +Release Date: February, 2006 [EBook #9815] +[Yes, we are more than one year ahead of schedule] +[This file was first posted on October 20, 2003] + +Edition: 10 + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ASCII + +*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK PRINCIPAL NAVIGATIONS, V8 *** + + + + +Produced by Karl Hagen and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team + + + + +** Transcriber's Notes ** + +The printed edition from which this e-text has been produced retains the +spelling and abbreviations of Hakluyt's 16th-century original. In this +version, the spelling has been retained, but the following manuscript +abbreviations have been silently expanded: + +- vowels with macrons = vowel + 'n' or 'm' +- q; = -que (in the Latin) +- y[e] = the; y[t] = that; w[t] = with + +This edition contains footnotes and two types of sidenotes. Most footnotes +are added by the editor. They follow modern (19th-century) spelling +conventions. Those that don't are Hakluyt's (and are not always +systematically marked as such by the editor). The sidenotes are Hakluyt's +own. Summarizing sidenotes are labelled [Sidenote: ] and placed before the +sentence to which they apply. Sidenotes that are keyed with a symbol are +labeled [Marginal note: ] and placed at the point of the symbol, except in +poetry, where they are placed at a convenient point. Additional notes on +corrections, etc. are signed 'KTH' + +** End Transcriber's Notes ** + + + + +THE PRINCIPAL + +NAVIGATIONS, VOYAGES, TRAFFIQUES, + +AND + +DISCOVERIES + +OF + +THE ENGLISH NATION. + +Collected by + +RICHARD HAKLUYT, PREACHER + +AND + +Edited by + +EDMUND GOLDSMID, F.R.H.S. + +VOL. VIII. + +ASIA. PART I. + + + + +Navigations, Voyages, Traffiques, and Discoueries + +OF THE ENGLISH NATION IN ASIA. + + +The life and trauailes of Pelagius borne in Wales. + +Pelagius Cambrius ex ea Britanniae parte oriundus, famati illius Collegij +Bannochorensis a Cestria non procul, praepositus, erat, in quo Christianorum +philosophorum duo millia ac centum, ad plebis in Christo commoditatem +militabant, manuum suarum laboribus, iuxta Pauli doctrinam victitantes. +Post quam plures exhibitos, pro Christiana Repub. labores, vir eruditione +insignis, et tum Graece, tum Latine peritus, vt Tertullianus alter, +quorundam Clericorum lacessitus iniurijs, grauatim tulit, ac tandem a fide +defecit. + +Peragratis igitur deinceps Gallijs, in Aegyptum, et Syriam aliasque +orientis Regiones demum peruenit. Vbi ex earum partium Monacho praesul +ordinatus, sui nominis haeresim fabricabat: asserens hominem sine peccato +nasci, ac solo voluntatis imperio sine gratia saluari posse, vt ita +nefarius baptismum ac fidem tolleret. Cum his et consimilibus impostricis +doctrinae faecibus in patriam suam reuersus, omnem illam Regionem, Iuliano et +Caelestino Pseudoepiscopis fautoribus, conspurcabat. Verum ante lapsum suum +studia tractabat honestissima, vt post Gennadium, Bedam, et Honorium alij +ferunt authores, composuitque multos libros ad Christianam vtilitatem. At +postquam est Hereticus publicatus, multo plures edidit haeresi succurrentes, +et ex diametro cum vera pietate pugnantes, vnde erat a suis Britannis in +exilium pulsus, vt in Epistola ad Martinum 5. Valdenus habet. Claruit anno +post Christum incarnatum, 390. sub Maximo Britannorum Rege. + +The same in English. + +Pelagius, borne in that part of Britaine which is called Wales, was head or +gouernour of the famous Colledge of Bangor, not farre from Chester, wherein +liued a Societie of 2100. Diuines, or Students of Christian philosophie, +applying themselues to the profite of the Christian people, and liuing by +the labours of their owne hands, according to Pauls doctrine. He was a man +excellently learned, and skilfull both in the Greeke and Latine tongues, +and as it were another Tertullian; after his long and great trauailes for +the good of the Christian common wealth, seeing himselfe abused, and +iniuriously dealt withall by some of the Clergie of that time, he tooke the +matter so grieuously, that at the last he relapsed from the faith. + +Whereupon he left Wales, and went into France, and hauing gone through +France, [Footnote: He is said to have resided long at Rome, only leaving on +the capture of that city by the Gottis.] hee went therehence into Egypt, +Syria, and other Countries of the East, and being made Priest by a certaine +Monke of those partes, he there hatched his heresie, which according to his +name was called the heresie of the Pelagians: which was, that manne was +borne without sinne, and might be saued by the power of his owne will +without grace, that so the miserable man might take away faith and +baptisme. With this and the like dregges of false doctrine, he returned +againe into Wales, and there by the meanes of the two false Prelates Iulian +and Celestine, who fauoured his heresie, hee infected the whole Countrey +with it. But before his fall and Apostasie from the faith, he exercised +himselfe in the best studies, as Gennadius, Beda, Honorius, and other +authors doe report of him, and wrote many bookes seruing not a litle to +Christian vtilitie: but being once fallen into his heresie, hee wrote many +more erroneous bookes, then he did before honest, and sincere: whereupon, +at the last his owne Countreymen banished him, as Walden testifieth in his +Epistle to Pope Martine the fift. He flourished in the yere after the +Incarnation, 390. Maximus being then King of Britaine. + + * * * * * + +A testimonie of the sending of Sighelmus Bishop of Shirburne, by King + Alphred, vnto Saint Thomas of India in the yeare of our Lord 883, + recorded by William of Malmesburie, in his second booke and fourth + Chapter de gestis regum Anglorum. + +Eleemosynis intentus priuilegia ecclesiarum, sicut pater statuerat, +roborauit; et trans mare Romam, et ad sanctum Thomam in Indiam multa munera +misit. Legatus in hoc missus Sighelmus Shirburnensis Episcopus cum magna +prosperitate, quod quiuis hoc seculo miretur, Indiam penetrauit; inde +rediens exoticos splendores gemmarum, et liquores aromatum, quorum illa +humus ferax est, reportauit. + +The same in English. + +King Alphred being addicted to giving of almes, confirmed the priuileges of +Churches as his father had determined; and sent also many giftes beyond the +seas vnto Rome, and vnto S. Thomas of India. His messenger in this +businesse was Sighelmus bishop of Schirburne; [Footnote: Sherborne, in +Dorsetshire, where an abbey was founded in 700.] who with great prosperitie +(which is a matter to be wondered at in this our age) trauailed thorough +India, and returning home brought with him many strange and precious vnions +and costly spyces, such as that countrey plentifully yeeldeth. + + * * * * * + +A second testimony of the foresaid Sighelmus his voyage vnto Saint Thomas + of India &c. out of William of Malmesburie his second booke de gestis + pontificum Anglorum, cap. de episcopis Schireburnensibus, + Salisburiensibus, Wiltunensibus. + +Sighelmus trans mare, causa eleemosynarum regis, et etiam ad Sanctam Thomam +in Indiam missus mira prosperitate, quod quiuis in hoc seculo miretur, +Indiam penetrauit; indeque rediens exotici generis gemmas, quarum illa +humus ferax est, reportauit. Nonnullae illarum adhuc in ecclesiae monumentis +visuntur. + +The same in English. + +Sighelmus being for the performance of the kings almes sent beyond the +seas, and trauailing vnto S. Thomas of India, very prosperously (which a +man would woonder at in this age) passed through the sayde countrey of +India, and returning home brought with him diuers strange and precious +stones, such as that climate affourdeth. Many of which stones are as yet +extant in the monuments of the Church. + + * * * * * + +The trauailes of Andrew Whiteman alias Leucander, Centur. 11. [Footnote: + This is misprinted "Centur. 2" in the original edition, but as Ramsey + Abbey (in Huntingdonshire) was only founded by Ailwin the Saxon, A.D. + 969-74, the 11th Century is probably meant, as further on Whiteman is + said to have flourished in 1020. Ramsey is so called from _Ram's Ey_, an + island in the fens.] + +Andraeas Leucander alias Whiteman (iuxta Lelandum) Monachus, & Abbas +Ramesiensis Coenobij tertius fuit. Hic bonis artibus studio quodam +incredibili noctes atque dies inuigilabat, et operae praecium ingens inde +retulit. Accessit praeterea et ardens quoddam desiderium, ea proprijs et +apertis oculis videndi loca in quibus Seruator Christus redemptionis nostrae +mysteria omnia consummauit, quorum prius sola nomina ex scripturarum +lectione nouerat: vnde et sacram Hierosolymorum vrbem miraculorum, +praedicationis, ac passionis eius testem inuisit, atque domum rediens factus +est Abbas. Claruisse fertur anno nati Seruatoris, 1020 sub Canuto Dano. + +The same in English. + +Andrew Leucander otherwise called Whiteman (as Leland reporteth) was by +profession a Monke, and the third Abbat of the Abbey of Ramsie: he was +exceedingly giuen to the studie of good artes, taking paines therein day +and night, and profited greatly thereby. And amonst all other things, he +had an incredible desire to see those places with his eyes, wherein Christ +our Sauiour performed and wrought all the mysteries of our redemption, the +names of which places he onely knew before by the reading of the +Scriptures. Whereupon he began his iourney, and went to Ierusalem a +witnesse of the miracles, preaching, and passion of Christ, and being +againe returned into his countrey, he was made the aforesayd Abbat. He +flourished in the yeere of Christ 1020. under Canutus the Dane. + + * * * * * + +The voyages of Swanus one of the sonnes of Earl Godwin vnto Ierusalem, Anno + Dom. 1052, recorded by William of Malmsburie lib. 2. de gestis regum + Anglorum, Capite 13. + +Swanus peruersi ingenij et infidi in regem, multoties a patre et fratre +Haroldo desciuit: et pirata factus, praedis maritimis virtutes maiorum +polluit. Postremo pro conscientia Brunonis cognati interempti, et (vt +quidam dicunt) fratris Ierosolimam abijt: indeque rediens, a Saracenis +circumuentus, et ad mortem caesus est. + +The same in English. + +Swanus being of a peruerse disposition, and faithlesse to the king, often +times disagreed with his father and his brother Harold: and afterwards +proouing a pirate, he stained the vertues of his ancestours with his +robberies vpon the seas. Last of all, being guilty vnto himselfe of the +murther of his kinseman Bruno, and (as some do report) of his owne brother, +he trauailed vnto Ierusalem: and in his returne home, being taken by the +Saracens, was beaten, and wounded vnto death. + + * * * * * + +A voyage of three Ambassadours, who in the time of K. Edward the Confessor, + and about the yere of our Lord 1056, were sent vnto Constantinople, and + from thence vnto Ephesus, together with the occasion of their sending, + &c. recorded by William of Malmesburie, lib. 2. de gestis regum Anglorum, + capite 13. + +Die sancti paschatis ad mensam apud Westmonasterium assederat, diademate +fastigatus, et optimatum turma circumuallatus. Cumque alij longam +quadragesimae inediam recentibus cibis compensantes, acriter comederent, +ille a terrenis reuocato animo, diuinum quiddam speculatus, mentes +conuiuantium permouit ampliorem perfusus in risum: nulloque causam laetitiae +perquirere praesumente, tunc quidem ita tacitum donec edendi satietas +obsonijs finem imposuit. Sed remotis mensis, cum in triclinio regalibus +exueretur, tres optimates eum prosequuti, quorum vnus erat comes Haroldus, +secundus abbas, tertius episcopus, familiaritatis ausu interrogant quid +riserat: mirum omnibus nec immerito videri, quare in tanta serenitate diei +et negotij, tacentibus caeteris, scurrilem cachinnum ejecerit. Stupenda +(inquit) vidi, nec ideo sine causa risi. Tum illi, vt moris est humani +ingenij, sciscitari et quaerere causam ardentius, vt supplicibus dignanter +rem impertiatur. Ille multum cunctatus tandem instantibus mira respondit: +septem dormientes in monte Caelio requiescere iam ducentis annis in dextro +iacentes latere: sed tunc in hora ipsa risus sui, latus inuertisse +sinistrum: futurum vt septuaginta quatuor annis ita iaceant: dirum nimirum +miseris mortalibus omen. Nam omnia ventura in his septuaginta quatuor +annis, quae dominus circa finem mundi praedixit discipulis suis: gentem +contra gentem surrecturam, et regnum aduersus regnum, terraemotus per loca, +pestilentiam et famem, terrores de coelo et signa magna, regnorum +mutationes, gentilium in Christianos bella, item Christicolarum in paganos +victorias. Talia mirantibus inculcans passionem septem dormientium, et +habitudines corporum singulorum, quas nulla docet litera, ita prompte +disseruit: ac si cum eis quotidiano victitaret contubernio. His auditis, +comes militem, episcopus clericum, abbas monachum, ad veritatem verborum +exsculpendam, Manicheti Constantinopolitano imperatori misere, adiectis +regis sui literis et muneribus. Eos ille benigne secum habitos episcopo +Ephesi destinauit, epistola pariter, quam sacram vocant, comitante: vt +ostenderentur legatis regis Angliae septem dormientium marturiales exuuiae. +Factumque est vt vaticinium regis Edwardi Graecis omnibus comprobatum, qui +se a patribus accepisse iurarent, super dextrum illos latus quiescere: sed +post introitum Anglorum in speluncam, veritatem peregrinae prophetiae +contubernalibus suis praedicarunt. Nec moram festinatio malorum fecit, quin +Agareni, et Arabes, et Turci, alienae scilicet a Christo gentes, Syriam, et +Lyciam, et minorem Asiam omnino, et maioris multas vrbes, inter quas et +Ephesum, ipsam etiam Hierosolymam depopulati, super Christianos inuaderent. + +The same in English. + +Vpon Easter day king Edward the Confessor being crowned with his kingly +diademe, and accompanied with diuers of his nobles, sate at dinner in his +pallace at Westminster. And when others, after their long abstinence in the +Lent, refreshed themselves with dainty meats, and fed thereupon very +earnestly, he lifting vp his mind from earthly matters and meditating on +heauenly visions (to the great admiration of those which were present) +brake forth into an exceeding laughter: and no man presuming to enquire the +cause of his mirth, they all kept silence til dinner was ended. But after +dinner as he was in his bedchamber putting off his solemne roabes, three of +his Nobles to wit earle Harold, an Abbot, and a Bishop, being more familiar +with him then the residue followed him in and bouldly asked him what was +the occasion of his laughter: for it seemed very strange vnto them all, +what should moue him at so solemne a time and assembly, while others kept +silence, to laugh so excessively. I saw (quoth he) admirable things, and +therefore laughed I not without occasion. Then they (as it is the common +guise of all men) demaunded and enquired the cause more earnestly, humbly +beseeching faith that hee would vouchsafe to impart that secret vnto them. +Whereupon musing a long while vnto himself, at length he told them +wonderfull things: namely that seuen Sleepers had rested in mount Caelius +two hundred yeeres, lying upon their right sides but in the very houre of +his laughter, that they turned themselues on their left sides; and that +they should continue so lying for the space of 74. yeeres after; being a +dismal signe of future calamitie vnto mankinde. For all things should come +to passe within these 74. yeeres, which, as our Sauiour Christ foretold +vnto his disciples, were to be fulfilled about the ende of the world: +namely that nation should rise against nation, and kingdome against +kingdome, and that there should bee in many places earthquakes, pestilence, +and famine, terrible apparitions in the heauens, and great signes, together +with alterations of kingdomes, warres of infidels against the Christians, +and victories of the Christians against the infidels. And as they wondered +at these relations, he declared vnto them the passion of the seuen +Sleepers, with the proportion and shape of cache of their bodies (which +things, no man liuing had as then committed vnto writing) and that so +plainely and distinctly, as if he had conuersed a long time in their +company. Hereupon the earle sent a knight, the bishop a clearke, the Abbot +a monke vnto Maniches the Emperour of Constantinople, with the letters and +gifts of their King. Who giuing them friendly entertainment, sent them ouer +vnto the bishop of Ephesus; and wrote his letters vnto him giuing him +charge, that the English Ambassadours might be admitted to see the true, +and material habiliments of the seuen Sleepers. And it came to passe that +King Edwards vision was approued by all the Greeks, who protested they were +aduertised by their fathers, that the foresaid seuen Sleepers had alwayes +before that time rested vpon their right sides; but after the Englishmen +were entered into the caue, those Sleepers confirmed the trueth of the +outlandish prophesie, vnto their countreymen. Neither were the calamities +foretold, any long time delayed: for the Aragens, Arabians, Turkes and +other vnbeleeuing nations inuading the Christians, harried and spoiled +Syria, Lycia, the lesser Asia, and many cities of Asia the greater, and +amongst the rest Ephesus, yea, and Ierusalem also. + + * * * * * + +The voyage of Alured bishop of Worcester vnto Ierusalem, an. 1058. Recorded + by Roger Houeden in parte priore Annalium, fol. 255. linea 15. + +[Sidenote: A.D. 1058] Aluredus Wigorniensis Episcopus ecclesiam, quam in +ciuitate, Glauorna a fundamentis constraxerat, in honore principis +Apostolorum Petri honorifice dedicauit: et postea regis licentia Wolstanum +Wigorniensem Monachum a se ordinatum Abbatum constituit ibidem. Dein +praesulatu dimisso Wiltoniensis ecclesiae, qui sibi ad regendum commissus +fuerat, et Hermanno, cujus supra mentionem fecimus, reddito, mare transijt, +et per Hungarian profectus est Hierosolymam, &c. + +The same in English. + +In the yere of our Lord 1058. Alured bishop of Worcester, very solemnly +dedicated a Church (which himselfe had founded and built in the citie of +Gloucester) vnto the honour of S. Peter the chiefe Apostle:[Footnote: This +is Gloucester Cathedral, the crypt, the chapels surrounding the choir, and +the lower part of the nave being the portions built by Alured that are +still extant.] and afterward by the kings permission ordained Wolstan a +Monke of Worcester of his owne choice, to be Abbate in the same place. And +then having left his Bishopricke which was committed vnto him ouer the +Church of Wilton, and having resigned the same vnto Hermannus aboue +mentioned, passed ouer the seas, and trauailed through Hungarie vnto +Ierusalem, &c. + + * * * * * + +The voyage of Ingulphus Abbat of Croiland vnto Ierusalem, performed + (according to Florentius Wigorniensis) in the yeere of our Lord, 1064, + and described by the said Ingulphus himselfe about the conclusion of his + briefe Historie. + +[Sidenote: A.D. 1064] Ego Ingulphus humilis minister Sancti Guthlaci +Monasterijque sui Croilandensis, natus in Anglia, et a parentibus Anglicis, +quippe vrbis pulcherrimae Londoniarum, pro literis addiscendis in teneriore +setate constitutus, primum Westmonasterio, postmodum Oxoniensi studio +traditus eram. Cumque in Aristotele arripiendo supra multo coaetaneos meos +profecissem, etiam Rhetoricam Tullij primam et secundam talo tenus +induebam. Factus ergo adolescentior, fastidiens parentum meorum +exiguitatem, paternos lares relinquere, et palatia regum aut principum +affectans, mollibus vestiri, pomposisque lacinijs amiciri indies ardentius +appetebam. [Sidenote: A.D. 1051] Et ecce, inclytus nunc rex noster Angliae, +tunc adhunc comes Normanniae Wilhelmus ad colloquium tunc regis Angliae +Edwardi cognati sui, cum grandi ministrantium comitatu Londonias +aduentabat, Quibus citius insertus, ingerens me vbique ad omnia emergentia +negotia peragenda, cum prospere plurima perfecissem, in breui agnitus +Ilustrissimo comiti et astrictissime adamatus, cum ipso Normanniam +enauigabam. Factus ibidem scriba eius, pro libito totam comitis curiam, ad +nonnullorum inuidiam regebam; quosque volui humiliabam, et quos volui +exaltabam. Cumque iuuenili calore impulsus in tam celso statu supra meos +natales consistere taederem, quin semper ad altiora conscendere, instabili +animo, ac nimium prurienti affectu, ad erubescentiam ambitiosus auidissime +desiderarem: [Sidenote: A.D. 1064. According to Florentius Wegorniensis.] +nuntiatur per vniuersam Normanniam plurimos archiepiscopos imperij cum +nonnullis alijs terrae principibus velle pro merito animarum suanim more +peregrinoram cum debita deuotione Hierosolymam proficisci. De familia ergo +comitis domini nostri plurimi tam milites quam clerici, quorum primus et +praecipuus ego eram, cum licentia, et domini nostri comitis beneuolentia, in +dictum iter nos omnes accinximus: et Alemanniam petentes, equites triginta +numero et amplius domino Maguntino coniuncti sumus. Parati namque omnes ad +viam, et cum dominis episcopis connumerati septem milia, pertranseuntes +prospere multa terrarum spatia, tandem Constantinopolim peruenimus. Vbi +Alexium Imperatorem eius adorantes Agiosophiam vidimus, et infinita +sanctuaria osculati sumus. Diuertentes inde per Lyciam in manus Arabicorum +latrorium incidimus; euis ceratique de infinitis pecunijs, cum mortibus +multorum, et maxima vitae nostrae periculo vix euadentes, tandem +desideratissimam ciuitatem Hierosolymam laeto introitu tenebamus. Ab ipso +tunc patriarcha Sophronio nomine, viro veneranda canitie honestissimo ac +sanctissimo, grandi cymbalorum tonitru, et luminarium immenso fulgore +suscepti, ad diuinissimam ecclesiam sanctissimi sepulchri, tam Syrorum, +quam Latinornm solenni processione deducti sumus. Ibi quot preces +inorauimus, quot lachrymas infleuimus, quot suspiria inspirauimus, solus +eius inhabitator nouit D. noster Iesus Christus. Ab ipso itaque +gloriosissimo sepulchro Christi ad alia sanctuaria ciuitatis inuisenda +circumducti, infinitam summam sanctarum ecclesiarum, et oratorioram, quae +Achim Soldanus dudum destruxerat, oculis lachrymosis vidimus. Et omnibus +ruinis sanctissimae ciuitatis, tam extra, quam intra; numerosis lachrymis +intimo affectu compassi, ad quorundam restaurationem datis non paucis +pecunijs, exire in patriam et sacratissimo Iordane intingi, vniuersaque +Chrtsti vestigia osculari, desiderantissima deuotione suspirabamus. Sed +Arabum latrunculi qui omnem viam obseruabant, longius a ciuitate euagari, +sua rabiosa multitudine innumera non sinebant. Vere igitur accidente, +stolus nauium Ianuensium in porta Ioppensi applicuit. In quibus, cum sua +mercimonia Christiani mercatores per ciuitates maritimas commutassent, et +sancta loca similiter adorassent, ascendentes omnes maria nos commisimus. +Et iactati fluctibus et procellis innumeris tandem Brundusium, et prospero +itinere per Apulium Romam petentes, sanctorum Apostolorum Petri et Pauli +limina, et copiosissima sanctorum martyrum monumenta per omnes stationes +osculati sumus. Inde archiepiscopi, caeterique principes imperij Alemanniam +per dextram repetentes, nos versus Franciam ad sinistram declinantes cum +inenarribilibus et gratijs et osculis ab inuicem discessimus. Et tandem de +triginta equitibus, qui de Normannia pingues exiuimus, vix viginti pauperes +peregrini, et omnes pedites, macie multa attenuati, reuersi sumus. + +The same in English. + +I Ingulphus [Footnote: This Abbot, or pretended Abbot of Croyland (whose +name is attached to a work once highly valued, professing to be a history +of the Abbey of Croyland from 626 to 1089, but which, is now believed to be +a monkish fabrication of a much later age), is said by himself to have +been, on his return from the Holy Land, appointed prior of the Abbey of +Fontenelle, in Normandy, and on William becoming King of England, Abbot of +Croyland. He was believed to have died in 1109.] an humble seruant of +reuerend Guthlac and of his monastery of Croiland, borne in England, and of +English parents, at the beautifull citie of London, was in my youth for the +attaining of good letters, placed first at Westminster, and afterward sent +to the Vniuersitie of Oxford. And hauing excelled diuers of mine equals in +learning of Aristotle, I inured my selfe somewhat vnto the first and second +Rhethorique of Tullie. And as I grew in age, disdayning my parents meane +estate, and forsaking mine owne natiue soyle, I affected the Courts of +kings and princes, and was desirous to be clad in silke, and to weare braue +and costly attire. [Sidenote: A.D. 1051] And loe, at the same time William +our souereigne king now, but then Erle of Normandie, with a great troup of +followers and attendants came vnto London, to conferre with king Edward the +Confessour his kinsman. Into whose company intruding my selfe, and +proffering my seruice for the performance of any speedy or weightie +affayres, in short time, after I had done many things with good successe, I +was knowen and most entirely beloued by the victorious Erle himselfe, and +with him I sayled into Normandie. And there being made his secretarie, I +gouerned the Erles Court (albeit with the enuie of some) as my selfe +pleased, yea whom I would I abased, and preferred whom I thought good. When +as therefore, being carried with a youthful heat and lustie humour, I began +to be wearie euen of this place, wherein I was aduanced so high aboue my +parentage, and with an inconstant minde, and affection too too ambitious, +most vehemently aspired at all occasions to climbe higher: there went a +report throughout all Normandie, that diuers Archbishops of the Empire, and +secular princes were desirous for their soules health, and for deuotion +sake, to goe on pilgrimage to Ierusalem. Wherefore out of the family of our +lorde the Earle, sundry of vs, both gentlemen and clerkes (principall of +whom was myselfe) with the licence and good will of our sayd lord the +earle, sped vs on that voiage, and trauailing thirtie horses of vs into +high Germanie, we ioyned our selues vnto the Archbishop of Mentz. And being +with the companies of the Bishop seuen thousand persons sufficiently +prouided for such an expedition, we passed prosperously through many +prouinces, and at length attained vnto Constantinople. Where doing +reuerence vnto the Emperor Alexius, we sawe the Church of Sancta Sophia, +and kissed diuers sacred reliques. Departing thence through Lycia, we fell +into the hands of the Arabian theeues: and after we had beene robbed of +infinite summes of money, and had lost many of our people, hardly escaping +with extreame danger of our liues, at length we ioyfully entered into the +most wished citie of Ierusalem. Where we wer receiued by the most reuerend, +aged, and holy patriarke Sophronius, with great melodie of cymbals and with +torch-light, and were accompanied vnto the most diuine Church of our +Sauiour his sepulchre with a solemne procession aswell of Syrians as of +Latines. Here, how many prayers we vttered, what abundance of teares we +shed, what deepe sighs we breathed foorth, our Lord Iesus Christ onely +knoweth. Wherefore being conducted from the most glorious sepulchre of +Christ to visite other sacred monuments of the citie, we saw with weeping +eyes a great number of holy Churches and oratories, which Achim the Souldan +of Egypt had lately destroyed. And so hauing bewailed with sadde teares, +and most sorowful and bleeding affections, all the ruines of that most holy +city both within and without, and hauing bestowed money for the reedifying +of some, we desired with most ardent deuotion to go forth into the +countrey, to wash our selues in the most sacred riuer of Iordan, and to +kisse all the steppes of Christ. Howbeit the theeuish Arabians lurking vpon +euery way, would not suffer vs to trauell farre from the city, by reason of +their huge and furious multitudes. Wherefore about the spring there arriued +at the port of Ioppa a fleet of ships from Genoa. In which fleet (when the +Christian merchants had exchanged all their wares at the coast townes, and +had likewise visited the holy places) wee all of vs embarked committing +ourselues to the seas: and being tossed with many stormes and tempests, at +length wee arriued at Brundusium: and so with a prosperous iourney +trauelling thorow Apulia towards Rome, we there visited the habitations of +the holy apostles Peter and Paul, and did reuerence vnto diuers monuments +of holy martyrs in all places thorowout the city. From thence the +archbishops and other princes of the empire trauelling towards the right +hand for Alemain, and we declining towards the left hand for France, +departed asunder, taking our leaues with vnspeakable thankes and +courtesies. And so at length, of thirty horsemen which went out of +Normandie fat, lusty, and frolique, we returned hither skarse twenty poore +pilgrims of vs, being all footmen, and consumed with leannesse to the bare +bones. + + * * * * * + +Diuers of the honourable family of the Beauchamps, with Robert Curtoys + sonne of William the Conqueror, made a voyage to Ierusalem 1096. Hol. + pag. 22. vol. 2. + +Pope Vrbane calling a councell at Clermont in Auuergne, exhorted the +Christian princes so earnestly to make a iourney in the Holy land, for the +recouery thereof out of the Saracens hands, that the saide great and +generall iourney was concluded vpon to be taken in hand, wherein many noble +men of Christendome went vnder the leading of Godfrey of Bouillon and +others, as in the Chronicles of France, of Germanie, and of the Holy land +doeth more plainely appeare. There went also among other diuers noble men +foorth of this Realme of England, specially that worthily bare the surname +of Beauchampe. + + * * * * * + +The voyage of Gutuere an English Lady maried to Balduine brother of + Godfreide duke of Bouillon, toward Ierusalem about 1097. And the 11. + yeere of William Rufus King of England. + +The Christian armie of Godfrie of Bouillon passing the citie of Iconium, +alias Agogna in the countrey of Licaonia, and from thence by the city of +Heraclia, came at length vnto the citie of Marasia, where they encamped, +and soiourned there three whole dayes, because of the wife of Balduine +brother germane of the duke of Loraigne. Which Lady, being long time vexed +with a grieuous maladie, was in extremitie, where at length paying the debt +due to nature, she changed this transitorie life, for life eternall; Who, +in her life time, was a very worthy and vertuous Lady, borne in England, +and descended of most noble parentage named Gutuere; Which, according to +her degree, was there most honourably enterred, to the great griefe of all +the whole armie. As reporteth William Archbishop of Tyre, lib. 3. cap. 17. +hist. belli sacri. The same author in the 10. booke and first chapter of +the same historie concerning the same English Lady, writeth further as +followeth, Baldwine hauing folowed the warres for a time, gaue his minde to +marriage, so that being in England he fell in loue with a very honourable +and noble Lady named Gutuere, whom he married and caried with him in that +first happy expedition, wherin he accompanied his brethren, the Lords, duke +Godfrey and Eustace, persons very commendable in all vertues and of +immortall memorie. But he had hard fortune in his iourney, because his +foresaid wife, being wearied with a long sicknes finished her life with a +happie end neere the citie of Marasia, before the Christian armie came vnto +Antioch, where she was honourably buried, as we haue declared before. + + * * * * * + +Chronicon Hierosolymitanum in lib. 3. cap. 27. maketh also mention of this + English Lady which he calleth Godwera in this maner. + +Hac in regione Maresch vxor Baldewini nobilissima, quam de regno Angliae +eduxit, diutina corporis molestia aggrauata, et duci Godefrido commendata, +vitam exhalauit, sepulta Catholicis obsequijs; cuius nomen erat Godwera. + +The same in English. + +In this prouince of Maresch the most noble wife of Baldwine, which he +caried with him out of England being visited with dayly sicknesses and +infirmities of body, and commended to the custody of duke Godfrey, departed +out of this life, and was buried after the Christian maner. Her name was +Godwera. + + * * * * * + +The voyage of Edgar the sonne of Edward which was the sonne of Edmund + surnamed Ironside, brother vnto K. Edward the confessor, (being + accompanied with valiant Robert the sonne of Godwin) vnto Ierusalem, in + the yeere of our Lord 1102. Recorded by William of Malmesburie, lib. 3. + histo. fol. 58. + +[Sidenote: A.D. 1102.] Subsequenti tempore cum Roberto filio Godwini milite +audacissimo Edgaras Hierosolymam pertendit Illud fuit tempus quo Turci +Baldwinum regem apud Ramas obsederunt: qui cum obsidionis iniuriam ferre +nequiret, per medias hostium acies effugit, solius Roberti opera liberatus +praeeuntis, et euaginato gladio dextra leuaque Turcos caedentis. Sed cum +successu ipso truculentior, alacritate nimia procurreret, ensis manu +excidit. Ad quem recolligendum cum se inclinasset, omnium incursu +oppressus, vinculis palmas dedit. Inde Babyloniam (vt aiunt) ductus, cum +Christum abnegare nollet, in medio foro ad signum positus, et sagittis +terebratus, martyrium consecrauit. Edgarus amisso milite regressus, +multaque beneficia ab Imperatoribus Graecorum, et Alemannorum adeptus +(quippe qui etiam eum retinere pro generis amplitudine tentassent) omnia +pronatalis soli desiderio spreuit. Quosdam enim profecto fallit amor patriae +vt nihil eis videatur iucundum, nisi consuetum hauserint coelum. Vnde +Edgarus fatua cupidine illusus Angliam redijt, vbi (vt superius dixi) +diuerso fortunae ludicro rotatus, nunc remotus et tacitus, canos suos in +agro consumit. + +The same in English. + +Afterward Edgar being sonne vnto the nephewe of Edward the confessour, +traueiled with Robert the sonne of Godwin a most valiant knight, vnto +Ierusalem. And it was at the same time when the Turkes besieged king +Baldwin at Rama: who not being able to endure the straight siege, was by +the helpe of Robert especially, going before him, and with his drawen sword +making a lane, and slaying the Turkes on his right hande and on his left, +deliuered out of that danger, and escaped through the midst of his enemies +campe. But vpon his happie successe being more eager and fierce, as he went +forward somewhat too hastily, his sworde fell out of his hand. Which as he +stouped to take vp, being oppressed with the whole multitude, hee was there +taken and bound. From whence (as some say) being carried vnto Babylon or +Alcair in Egypt, when he would not renounce Christ, he was tyed vnto a +stake in the midst of the market place, and being shot through with +arrowes, died a martyr. Edgar hauing lost his knight returned, and being +honoured with many rewards both by the Greekish and by the Germaine +Emperour (who both of them would right gladly haue entertained him stil for +his great nobilitie) contemned all things in respect of his natiue soile. +For in very deede some are so inueagled with the loue of their countrey, +that nothing can seeme pleasant vnto them, vnlesse they breath in the same +aire where they were bred. Wherefore Edgar being misledde with a fond +affection, returned into England; and afterward being subiect vnto diuers +changes of fortune (as we haue aboue signified) he spendeth [Marginal note: +When the author was writing of this history.] now his extreeme old age in +an obscure and priuate place of the countrey. + + * * * * * + +Mention made of one Godericus, a valiant Englishman, who was with his ships + in the voyage vnto the Holy land in the second yeere of Baldwine King of + Ierusalem, in the third yere of Henry the first of England. + +[Chronicon Hierosolymitanum lib. 9. cap. 9.] Verum de hinc septem diebus +euolutis rex ab Assur exiens, nauem quae dicitur Buza ascendit, et cum eo +Godericus pirata de regno Angliae, ac vexillo hastae praefixo et elato in aere +ad radios solis vsque, Iaphet cum paucis nauigauit, vt hoc eius signo ciues +Christiani recognito, fiduciam vitae regis haberent, et non facile hostium +minis pauefacti, turpiter diffugium facerent, aut vrbem reddere cogerentur. +Sciebat enim eos multum de vita et salute eius desperare, Saraceni autem +viso eius signo, et recognito, ea parte quae vrbem nauigio cingebat illi in +galeis viginti et Carinis tredecim, quas vulgo appelant Cazh, occurrerunt, +volentes Buzam regis coronare. Sed Dei auxilio vndis maris illis ex aduerso +tumescentibus ac reluctantibus, Buza autem regis facili, et agili cursu +inter procellas labente, ac volitante, in portu Ioppae delusis hostibus +subito affuit, sex ex Saracenis in arcu suo in nauicula percussis, ac +vulneratis. Intrans itaque ciuitatem dum incolumis omnium pateret oculis, +reuixit spiritus cunctorum gementium ei de eius niorte hactenus dolentium, +eo quod caput et rex Christianorum et princeps Hierusalem adhuc viuus et +incolumis receptus sit. + +The same in English. + +But seuen dayes afterward, the King comming out of the towne of Assur +entred into a shippe called a Busse, and one Godericke a pirate of the +kingdome of England with him, and fastening his banner on the toppe of a +speare, and holding it vp aloft in the aire against the beames of the +Sunne, sailed vnto Iaphet with a small company; That the Christian Citizens +there seeing this his banner, might conceiue hope that the King was yet +liuing, and being not easily terrified with the threates of the enemies +might shamefully runne away; or be constrained to yeeld vp the citie. For +hee knew that they were very much out of hope of his life and safetie. The +Saracens seeing and knowing this his banner, that part of them which +enuironed the Citie by water made towards him with twentie Gallies and +thirteene shippes, which they commonly cal Cazh, seeking to inclose the +kings shippe. But, by Gods helpe the billowes of the Sea swelling and +raging against them, and the Kings shippe gliding and passing through the +waues with an easie and nimble course arriued suddenly in the hauen of +Ioppa, the enemies frustrated of their purpose; and sixe of the Saracens +were hurt and wounded by shot out of the Kings shippe. So that the King +entering into the Citie, and nowe appearing in safetie in all their +sightes, the spirits of all them that mourned for him, and vntil then +lamented as though hee had bene dead, reuiued, because that the head and +King of the Christians, and prince of Ierusalem was yet aliue, and come +againe vnto them in perfect health. + + * * * * * + +Mention made of One Hardine of England one of the chiefest personages, and + a leader among other of two hundred saile of ships of Christians that + landed at Ioppa in the yeere of our Lord God 1102. + +[Chronicon Hierosolymitanum libro 9. cap. 11.] Interea dum haec obsidio +ageretur 200. naues Christianorum nauigio Ioppen appulsae sunt, vt adorarent +in Hierusalem. Horum Bernardus Witrazh de terra Galatiae, Hardinus de +Anglia, Otho de Roges, Hadewerck, vnus de praepotentibus Westfalorum, primi +et ductores fuisse referuntur, etc. Erat autem tertia feria Iulij mensis, +quando hae Christianorum copiae, Deo protegente, huc nauigio angustiatis et +obsessis ad opem collatae sunt. Sarracenorum autem turmae, videntes quia +Christianorum virtus audactur facie ad faciem vicini sibi hospitio proxime +iungebatur, media nocte orbi incumbente, amotis tentorijs amplius milliari +subtractae consederunt, dum luce exorta consilium inirent, vtrum Ascalonem +redirent, aut ciues Iaphet crebris assultibus vexarent. + +The same in English. + +Whle the Sarazens continued their siege against Ioppa, two hundred saile of +Christian ships arriued at Ioppa, that they might performe their deuotions +at Hierusalem. The chiefe men and leaders of these Christians are reported +to haue bene: Bernard Witrazh of the land of Galatia, Hardine of England, +Otho of Roges, Haderwerck one of the chiefe noblemen of Westphalia, &c. +This Christian power through Gods speciall prouision, arrived here for the +succour and reliefe of the distressed and besieged Christians in Ioppa, the +third day of Iuly, 1102. and in the second yeere of Baldwine king of +Ierusalem. Whereupon the multitude of the Sarazens, seeing that the +Christian power ioyned themselves boldly, close by them even face to face +in a lodging hard by them, the very next night at midnight, remooued their +tents, and pitched them more then a mile off, that they might the next +morning bee aduised whether they should returne to Ascalon, or by often +assaults vexe the citizens of Iaphet. + +[Chronicon Hierosolymitanum, eodem libro 9. cap. l2.] continueth this +historie of these two hundreth saile of ships, and sheweth how by their +prowesse chiefly, the multitude of the Sarazens were in short space +vanquished and ouerthrowen: The words are these; Ab ipso vero die tertiae +feriae dum sic in superbia et elatione suae multitudinis immobiles Saraceni +persisterent, et multis armorum terroribus Christianum populum vexarent, +sexta feria appropinquante. Rex Baldwinus in tubis et cornibus a Iaphet +egrediens, in manu robusta equitum et peditum virtutem illorum crudeli +bello est aggressus, magnis hinc et hinc clamoribus intonantes. Christiani +quoque qui nauigio appulsi sunt horribili pariter clamore cum Rege +Baldwino, et graui strepitu vociferantes, Babylonios vehementi pugna sunt +aggressi, saeuissimis atque mortiferis plagis eos affligentes, donec bello +fatigati, et contra ['vntra' in source text--KTH] vim non sustinentes fugam +versus Ascalonea inierunt. Alij vero ab insecutoribus eripi existimantes, +et mari se credentes, intolerabili procellarum fluctuatione absorpti sunt. +Et sic ciuitas Ioppe cum habitatoribus suis liberata est; Ceciderunt hac +die tria millia Saracenorum Christianorum vero pauci perijsse inuenti sunt. + +The same in English. + +Yet notwithstanding, after the said third day of Iuly, the Sarazens +persisted high minded and insolent, by reason of their great multitude, and +much annoied the Christian people with their many forceable and terrible +weapons; whereupon, on the sixt day of Iuly early in the morning king +Baldwine issued out of Iaphet, his trumpets and cornets yeelding a great +and lowd sound, and with a very strong armie as well of horsemen as +footemen, who on euery side making great shoutes and outcries, with fierce +and sharpe battell set on the maine power of their enemies. The Christians +also who arriued in the nauie, rearing great clamours and noyses, with loud +voices and shoutings in horrible wise together, with king Baldwine +assaulted likewise with strong battell the Babylonians, and afflicted them +with most sore and deadly wounds, vntill the Sarazens being wearied with +fighting, nor able longer to endure and hold out against the valure of the +Christians, fled towards Ascalon. And other of them hoping to escape from +them that pursued them, lept into the sea, and were swalowed vp in the +waues thereof. And so the citie of Ioppa with the inhabitants thereof were +freed of their enemies. There were slaine this day three thousand Sarazens, +and but a few of the Christians perished. + + * * * * * + +A Fleete of Englishmen, Danes, and Flemings, arriued at Ioppa in the Holy + land, the seuenth yeere of Baldwine the second king of Hierusalem. + Written in the beginning of the tenth booke of the Chronicle of + Hierusalem, in the 8. yeere of Henry the first of England. + +Chap: 1. + +At the same time also in the seuenth yeere of the raigne of Baldwine the +Catholike king of Hierusalem, a very great warrelike Fleete of the +Catholike nation of England, to the number of about seuen thousand, hauing +with them more men of warre of the kingdom of Denmarke, of Flanders and of +Antwerpe, arriued with ships which they call Busses, at the hauen of the +citie of Iaphet, determining there to make their abode, vntill they hauing +obtained the kings licence and safeconduct, might safely worship at +Hierusalem. Of which nauie the chiefest and best spoken repairing to the +king, spake to him in this maner. Christ preserue the Kings life, and +prosper his kingdome from day to day; Wee, being men and souldiours of +Christian profession, haue, through the helpe of God, sayled hither through +mightie and large seas, from the farre countreys of England, Flanders, and +Denmarke, to worship at Ierusalem, and to visit the sepulchre of our Lord. +And therefore we are assembled to intreat your clemency touching the +matter, that by your fauour and safe conduct we may peaceably goe vp to +Ierusalem, and worship there, and so returne. + + +Chap. 2. + +The king fauourably hearing their whole petition, granted vnto them a +strong band of men to conduct them, which brought them safely from all +assaults and ambushes of the Gentiles by the knowen wayes vnto Ierusalem +and all other places of deuotion. After that these pilgrims, and new +Christian strangers were brought thither, they offering vnto our Lord their +vowes in the temple of the holy sepulchre, returned with great ioy, and +without all let vnto Ioppa; where finding the king, they vowed they would +assist him in all things, which should seeme good vnto him: who, greatly +commending the men, and commanding them to be well entertained with +hospitality, answered that he could not on the sudden answere to this +point, vntill that after he had called his nobles together, he had +consulted with my lord the Patriarch what was most meet and conuenient to +be done, and not to trouble in vaine so willing an army. And therefore +after a few dayes, calling vnto him my lord the Patriarch, Hugh of Tabaria, +Gunfride the keeper and lieutenant of the tower of Dauid, and the other +chiefest men of warre, he determined to haue a meeting in the city of +Rames, to consult with them what was best to be done. + + +Chap. 3. + +Who, being assembled at the day appointed, and proposing their diuers +opinions and iudgements, at length it seemed best vnto the whole company to +besiege the city Sagitta, which is also called Sidon, if peradventure, +through God's helpe, and by the strength of this new army, by land and sea +it might be ouercome. Whereupon all they which were there present and +required that this city should be besieged, because it was one of those +cities of the Gentiles which continually rebelled, were commended, and +admonished of the king euery one to go home, and to furnish themselues with +things necessary, and armour for this expedition. Euery one of them +departed home; likewise Hugh of Tabaria departed, being a chiefe man of +warre against the inuasions of the enemies, which could neuer be wearied +day nor night in the countie of the Pagans, in pursuing them with warre and +warlike stratagemes all the dayes of his life. Immediatly after this +consultation the king sent ambassadours to all the multitude of the English +men, requiring them not to remoue their campe nor fleet from the city of +Iaphet, but quietly to attend the kings further commandement. The same +embassadours also declared vnto the whole army, that the king and all his +nobility had determined to besiege and assault the city Sagitta by sea and +by land, and that their helpe and forces would there be needfull; and that +for this purpose, the king and the patriarch were comming downe vnto the +city of Acres and that they were in building of engins, and warlike +instruments, to inuade the walles and inhabitants thereof: and that in the +meane season they were to remaine at Iaphet, vntill the kings further +commandement were knowen. Whereupon they all agreed that it should be so +done according to the king's commandement; and answered that they would +attend his directions in the Hauen of Iaphet, and would in all points be +obedient vnto him vnto the death. + + +Chap.4. + +The king came downe to Acres with the patriarch, and all his family, +building, and making there by the space of fortie dayes engins, and many +kindes of warlike instruments: and appointing all things to be made +perfectly ready, which seemed to be most conuenient for the assaulting of +the city. Assoone as this purpose and intent of the king was come vnto the +eares of the inhabitants of Sagitta, and that an inuincible power of men of +warre was arriued at Iaphet to helpe the king, they were greatly astonied, +fearing that by this meanes, they should be consumed and subdued by the +king by dint of sword, as other cities, to wit, Caesaria, Assur, Acres, +Cayphas, and Tabaria were vanquished and subdued. And therefore laying +their heads together, they promised to the king by secret mediatours, a +mighty masse of money of a coyne called Byzantines: and that further they +would yeerely pay a great tribute, vpon condition that ceasing to besiege +and inuade their city, he would spare their liues. Whereupon these +businesses were handled from day to day betweene the king and the citizens, +and they sollicited the king for the ransomming both of their city and of +their liues, proffering him from time to time more greater gifts. And the +king for his part, being carefull and perplexed for the payment of the +wages which he ought vnto his souldiers, harkened wholy vnto this offer of +money. Howbeit because he feared the Christians, least they should lay it +to his charge as a fault, he durst not as yet meddle with the same. + + +Chap. 5. + +In the meane space Hugh of Tabaria being sent for, accompanied with the +troopes of two hundred horsemen and foure hundred footmen, inuaded the +countrey of the Grosse Carle called Suet, very rich in gold and siluer most +abundant in cattle frontering vpon the countrie of the Damascenes, where +hee tooke a pray of inestimable riches and cattle, which might haue +suffised him for the besiege of Sagitta, whereof he ment to impart +liberally to the king, and his companie. This pray being gathered out of +sundry places thereabout, and being led away as farre as the citie of +Belinas, which they call Caesaria Philippi, the Turkes which dwelt at +Damascus, together with the Saracens inhabitants of the countrie perceiuing +this, flocking on all partes together by troopes, pursued Hughes companie +to rescue the pray, and passed foorth as farre as the mountaines, ouer +which Hughes footemen did driue the pray. There beganne a great skirmish of +both partes, the one side made resistance to keepe the pray, the other +indeuoured with all their might to recouer it, vntill at length the Turkes +and Saracens preuailing, the pray was rescued and brought back againe: +which Hugh and his troopes of horsemen, suddenly vnderstanding, which were +on the side of the mountaines, incontinently rid backe vpon the spurre, +among the straight and craggie rockes, skirmishing with the enemies, and +succouring their footemen, but as it chanced they fought vnfortunately. For +Hugh, being vnarmed, and immediatly rushing into the middest of all +dangers, and after his woonted manner inuading and wounding the infidels, +being behinde with an arrowe shot through the backe which pierced thorough +his liuer and brest, he gaue vp the ghost in the handes of his owne people. +Hereupon the troupes of the Gentiles being returned with the recouered +pray, and being deuided through the secret and hard passages of the craggie +hilles, the souldiers brought the dead bodie of Hugh, which they had put in +a litter, into the citie of Nazareth, which is by the mount Thaber, where +with great mourning and lamentation, so worthie a prince, and valiant +champion was honourably and Catholikely interred. The brother of the said +Hugh named Gerrard, the same time lay sicke of a grieuous disease. Which +hearing of the death of his brother, his sicknesse of his body increasing +more vehemently through griefe, he also deceased within eight dayes after, +and was buried by his brother, after Christian maner. + + +Chap. 6. + +After the lamentable burials of these so famous Princes, the King, taking +occasion of the death of these principall men of his armie, agreed, making +none priuie thereto, to receiue the money which was offered him for his +differing off the siege of the citie of Sagitta, yet dissembling to make +peace, with the Saracens, but that he ment to go through with the worke, +that he had begunne. Whereupon sending a message vnto Iaphet, hee aduised +the English souldiers to come downe to Acres with their fleete, and to +conferre and consult with him touching the besieging and assaulting of the +citie of Sagitta, which rising immediatly vpon the kings commaundement, and +foorthwith hoysing vp the sayles of their shippes aloft with pendants and +stremers of purple, and diuerse other glorious colours, with their flagges +of scarlet colour and silke, came thither, and casting their ancres, rode +hard by the citie. The king the next day calling vnto him such as were +priuie and acquainted with his dealings, opened his griefe vnto the chiefe +Captaines of the English men and Danes, touching the slaughter of Hugh, and +the death of his brother, and what great confidence he reposed in them +concerning these warres: and that nowe therefore they being departed and +dead, he must of necessity differre the besieging of Sagitta, and for this +time dismisse the armie assembled. This resolution of the king being spred +among the people, the armie was dissolued, and the Englishmen, Danes and +Flemings, with sailes and oares going aboard their fleete, saluted +['saulted' in source text--KTH] the king, and returned home vnto their +natiue countries. + + * * * * * + +The trauailes of one Athelard an Englishman, recorded by master Bale + Centur. 12. + +Athelardus Bathoniensis Coenobij monachus, naturalium rerum mysteria, et +causas omnes, diligentia tam vndecunque exquisita perscrutatus est, vt cum +aliquibus veteris seculi philosophis non indigne conferri possit. Hic olim +spectatae indolis Adolescens, vt virente adhuc aetate iuuenile ingenium +foecundaret, atque ad res magnas pararet relicta dulci patria longinquas +petijt regiones. Cum vero AEgyptum et Arabiam peragrans, plura inuenisset, +quae eius desiderabat animus, cum magno laborum, ac literarum lucro in +Angliam tum demum reuertebatur. Claruit anno virginei partus, 1130. Henrico +primo regnante. + +The same in English. + +Athelard a Monke of the Abbie of Bathe was so diligent a searcher of the +secrets, and causes of naturall things, that he deserueth worthely to be +compared with some of the auncient Philosophers. This man although young, +yet being of a good wit, and being desirous to increase and enrich the same +with the best things, and to prepare himselfe as it were for greater +matters, left his Countrey for a time, and trauailed into forreine Regions. +He went through Egypt, and Arabia, and found out many things which he +desired to his owne priuate contentment, and the profite of good letters +generally, and so being satisfied, returned againe into his Countrey: he +flourished in the yeere 1130. Henry the first being then king of England. + + * * * * * + +The life and trauailes of one William of Tyre, an Englishman. Centur. 12. + +[Sidenote: Hic etiam Guilielmus Tyrensis claruit sub Henrico primo.] +Guilielmus, Ecclesiae Dominici sepulchri Hierosolymae Regularium Canonicorum +prior, natione Anglicus vir vita et moribus commendabilis, Anno Dom. 1128. +postquam Tyrorum Ciuitas fidei Christianae restituta est a Guimundo +Hierosolymorum patriarcha, eidem vrbi primus Archiepiscopus praeficiebatur. +Est autem Tyrus ciuitas antiquissima, Phoeniciae vniuersae Metropolis, quae +inter Syriae protuincias, et bonorum omnium pene commoditate, et incolarum +frequentia primum semper obtinuit locum: post conscripta quaedam opuscula, +et Epistolas, ad Dominum migrauit, An. Christi 1130. quum duobus tantum +sedisset annis, et in Tyrensi Ecclesia sepelitur. + +The same in English. + +William the Prior of the Canons Regular in the Church of Ierusalem, called +the Lords Sepulchre, was an Englishman borne, and of a vertuous and good +behauiour. After that the Citie of Tyre was restored againe to the +Christian faith, Guimunde the Patriarke of Ierusalem made him the first +Archbishop of Tyre, in the yeere 1128. Which Tyre is a very ancient Citie, +the Metropolis of all Phoenicia, and hath bene accompted the chiefest +Prouince of Syria, both for fruitful commodities and multitude of +inhabitants. This William hauing in his life written many Bookes and +Epistles, died at last in the yeere 1130. hauing bene Archbishop the space +of two yeeres, and was buried in the Church of Tyre. + + * * * * * + +The trauailes of Robertus Ketenensis. + +Robertus Ketenensis natione et cognomine Anglus, degustatis primum per +Anglorum gymnasia humanarum artium elementis literarijs, vltramarinas +statim visitare prouincias in animo constituit: Peragratis ergo Gallijs, +Italia, Dalmatia, et Graecia, tum demum peruenit in Asiam, vbi non paruo +labore, ac vitae suae periculo inter Saracenos truculentissimum hominum +genus, Arabicam linguam ad amussim didicit In Hispaniam postea nauigio +traductus, circa fluuium Hiberum Astrologicae artis studio, cum Hermanno +quodam Dalmata, magni sui itineris comite se totum dedit. [Sidenote: +Claruit sub Stephano.] Clarutt anno seruatoris nostri, 1143 Stephano +regnante, et Pampilonae sepelitur. + +The same in English. + +This Robert Ketenensis was called an Englishman by surname, as he was by +birth: who after some time spent in the foundations of humanitie, and in +the elements of good Artes in the Vniuersities of England, determined to +trauaile to the partes beyond sea: and so trauailed through France, Italie, +Dalmatia, and Greece, and came at last into Asia, where he liued in great +danger of his life among the cruell Saracens, but yet learned perfectly the +Arabian tongue. Afterwardes he returned by sea into Spaine, and there about +the riuer Iberus, gaue him selfe wholy to the studie of Astrologie, with +one Hermannus a Dalmatian, who had accompanied him in his long voyage. He +flourished in the yeere 1143. Steuen being then king of England, and was +buried at Pampilona. + + * * * * * + +A voyage of certaine English men vnder the conduct of Lewes king of France + vnto the Holy land. + +[Sidenote: 1147. Tempore regis Stephani.] Tantae expeditionis explicito +apparatu vterque princeps iter arripuit, et exercitu separtito. Imperator +enim Conradus praecedebat itinere aliquot dierum, cum Italorum, Germanorum, +aliarumque gentium amplissimis copijs. Rex vero Lodouicus sequebatur +Francorum, Flandrensium, Normannorum, Britonum, Anglorum, Burgundionum, +Prouincialium, Aquitanorum, equestri simul et pedestri agmine comitatus. +Gulielmus Neobrigensis, fol. 371. + +The same in English. + +Both the princes prouision being made for so great an expedition, they +seuering their armies, entered on their iourney. For the Emperour Conradus +went before, certaine dayes iourney, with very great power of Italians, +Germans, and other countreys. And king Lewes followed after accompanied +with a band of horsemen and footmen of French men, Fiemmings, Normans, +Britons, Englishmen, Burgundions, men of Prouence, and Gascoins. + + * * * * * + +The voyage of Iohn Lacy to Ieirusalem. + +[Sidenote: 1173.] Anno Domini 1172 fundata fuit abbatia de Stanlaw per +dominum; Iohannem Lacy Constabularium Cestriae et dominum de Halton, qui +obijt in Terra sancta anno sequenti: qui fuit vicessimus annus regni regis +Henrici secundi. + +The same in English. + +In the yere of our Lord 1172 was founded the abbey of Stanlaw by the lord +Iohn Lacy Constable of Chester, and lord of Halton, who deceased in the +Holy land the yere following: which was in the twentieth yere of king Henry +the second. + + * * * * * + +The voyage of William Mandeuile to Ierusalem. + +[Sidenote: 1177.] William Mandeuile earle of Essex, with diuers English +lords and knights, went to the Holy land in the 24 yere of Henry the +second. Holinshed pag. 101. + + * * * * * + +A great supply of money to the Holy land by Henry the 2. + +The same yeere King Henry the second being at Waltham, assigned an aide to +the maintenance of the Christian souldiers in the Holy lande, That is to +wit, two and fortie thousand marks of siluer, and fiue hundred marks of +golde. Matth. Paris and Holins. pag. 105. + + * * * * * + +A letter written from Manuel the Emperour of Constantinople, vnto Henrie + the second King of England, Anno Dom. 1177. wherein mention is made that + certaine of King Henries Noble men and subjects were present with the + sayd Emperour in a battell of his against the Soldan of Iconium. Recorded + by Roger Houeden, in Annalium parte posteriore, in regno Hen. 2. fol. + 316, et 317. + +Eodem anno Manuel Constantinopolitanus imperator, habito praelio campestri +cum Soltano Iconij et illo devicto, in hac forma scripsit Domino regi +Angliae. + +Manuel in Christo deo Porphyrogenitus, diuinitus coronatus, sublimis, +potens, excelsus, semper Augustus, et moderator Romanorum, Comnenus, +Henrico nobilissimo regi Angliae, charissimo amico suo, salutem et omne +bonum. Cum imperium nostrum necessarium reputet notificare tibi, vt dilecto +amico suo, de omnibus quae sibi obueniunt; ideo et de his quae nunc +acciderunt ei, opportunum iudicauit declarare tuae voluntati. Igitur a +principio coronationis nostrae imperium nostrum aduersus dei inimicos Persas +nostrum odium in corde nutriuit, dum cerneret illos in Christianos +gloriari, eleuatique in nomen dei, et Christianorum dominari regionibus. +Quo circa et alio quidem tempore indifferenter inuasit eos, et prout deus +ei concessit, sic et fecit. Et quae ab ipso frequenter patrata sunt ad +contritionem ipsorum et perditionem, imperium nostrum credit nobilitatem +tuam non latere. Quoniam autem et nunc maximum exercitum contra eos ducere +proposuit, et bellum contra omnem Persidem mouere, quia res cogebat. Et non +vt voluit multum aliquem apparatum fecit, sicut ei visum est. Veruntamen +prout tempus dabat et rerum status, potenter eos inuasit. Collegit ergo +circa se imperium nostrum potentias suas: sed quia carpenta ducebat +armorum, et machinarum, et aliorum instrumentorum conferentium ciuitatem +expugnationibus, pondera portantia: idcirco nequaquam cum festinatione iter +suum agere poterat. Amplius autem dum adhuc propriam regionem peragraret, +antequam barbarorum aliquis aduersus nos militaret in bellis aduersarius, +aegritudo difficillima fluxus ventris invasit nos, qui diffusus per agmina +imperij nostri pertransibat, depopulando et interimendo multos, omni +pugnatore grauior. Et hoc malum inualescens maxime nos contriuit. Ex quo +vero fines Turcorum inuasimus, bella quidem primum frequentia concrepabant, +et agmina Turcorum cum exercitibus imperij nostri vndique dimicabant. Sed +Dei gratia ex toto a nostris in fugam vertebantur barbari. Post vero vbi ei +qui illic adjacet angustiae loci, quae a Persis nominatur Cibrilcimam, +propinquauimus, tot Persarum turmae peditum et equitum, quorum pleraeque ab +interioribus partibus Persidis occurrerant in adiutorium contribulium +suorum, exercitui nostro superuenerunt, quot pene nostrorum excederent +numerum. Exercitu itaque imperii nostri propter viae omnino angustiam et +difficultatem, vsque ad decem milliaria extenso; et cum neque qui praeibant +possent postremos defendere, neque versa vice rursus postremi possent +praeeuntes inuare, non mediocriter ab inuicem hos distare accidit. Sane +primae cohortes permultum ab acie imperij nostri diuidebantur, postremarum +oblitae, illas non praestolantes. Quoniam igitur Turcorum agmina ex iam +factis praelijs cognouerant, non conforre sibi a fronte nobis repugnare, +loci angustiam bonum subuentorem cum inuenissent, posteriora statuerunt +inuadere agmina, quod et fecerunt. Arctissimo igitur vbique loco existente, +instabant barbari vndique, a dextris et a sinistris, et aliunde dimicantes, +et tela super nos quasi imbres descendentia interimebant viros et equos +complures. Ad haec itaque imperium nostrum vbi malum superabundabat, +reputans secum oportunum iudicabat retro expectare, atque illos qui illic +erant adiuuare, expectando vtique contra infinita illa Persarum agmina +bellum sustinuit. Quanta quidem, dum ab his circundaretur, patrauerit, non +opus est ad tempus sermonibus pertexere, ab illis autem qui interfuerunt, +forsitan discet de his tua nobilitas. Inter haec autem existente imperio +nostro, et omne belli grauamen in tantum sustinente, postremae cohortes +vniuersae Gnecorum et Latinorum, et reliquorum omnium generum conglobatae, +quae iaciebantur ab inimicis tela non sustinentes, impactione vtuntur, et +ita violenter ferebantur, dum ad adiacentem ibi collem quasi ad +propugnaculum festinarent: sed precedentes impellunt nolentes. Multo autem +eleuato paluere, ac perturbante oculos, et neminem permittente videre quae +circa pedes erant, in praecipitium quod aderat profundissimae vallis alius +super alium homines et equi sic incontinente portati corruerunt, quod alij +alios conculcantes ab inuicem interemerunt non ex gregarijs tantum, sed ex +clarissimis et intimis nostris consanguineis. Quis enim inhibere poterat +tantae multitudinis importabilem impulsum? At vero imperium nostrum tot et +tantis confertum barbaris saucians, sauciatumque, adeo vt non modicam in +eos moueret perturbationem, obstupentes perseuerant iam ipsius, et non +remittebatur, bene iuuante deo, campum obtinuit. Neque locum illum scandere +aduersarios permisit, in quo dimicauit cum barbaris. Nec quidem equum suum +illorum timore incitauit, celerius aliquando ponere vestigia. Sed +congregando omnia agmina sua, et de morte eripiendo ea, collocauit circa +se: et sic primes attigit, et ordinatim proficiscens ad exercitus suos +accessit. Ex tunc igitur videns Soltanus, quod post tanta quae acciderant +exercitibus nostris, imperium nostrum, sicut oportunum erat, rem huiusmodi +dispensauit, vt ipsum rursum inuaderet: mittens supplicauit imperio nostro, +et deprecatorijs vsus est sermonibus, et requisiuit pacem illius, +promittens omnem imperij nostri adimplere voluntatem, et seruitium suum +contra omnem hominem dare, et omnes qui in regno suo tenebantur captiuos +absoluere, et esse ex toto voluntatis nostrae. Ibidem ergo per duos dies +integros, in omni potestate morati sumtis, et cognito quod nihil poterat +fieri contra ciuitatem Iconij, perditis testudinibus et machins bellicis, +eo quod boues cecidissent a telis in modo pluuiae iactis, qui eas trahebant: +Simul autem eo quod et vniuersa animalia nostra irruente in illa +difficillima aegritudine laborabant, suscepit Soltani depraecationem et +foedera et iuramenta peracta sub vexillis nostris, et pacem suam ei dedit. +Inde ingressum imperium nostrum in regionem suam regreditur, tribulationem +habens non mediocrem super his quos perdidit corisanguineis, maximas tamen +Deo gratias agens, qui per suam bonitaiem et nunc Ipsum honorauit: Gratum +autem habuimus, quod quosdam nobilitatis tuae principes accidit interesse +nobiscum, qui narrabunt de omnibus quae acciderant, tuae voluntati seriem. +Caeterum autem, licet contristati simus propter illos qui ceciderunt: +oportunum tamen duximus, de omnibus quae; acciderant, declarare tibi, vt +dilecto amico nostro, et vt permultum coniuncto imperio nostro, per +puerorum nostrorum intimam consanguinitatem. Vale. Data mense Nouembris, +indictione tertia. + +The same in English. + +In the yeere 1177, Manuel the emperour of Constantinople hauing fought a +field with the Soldan of Iconium, and vanquished him, wrote vnto Henry the +second king of England in maner following. + +Manuel Comnenus in Christ the euerliuing God a faithful emperour, descended +of the linage of Porphyrie, crowned by Gods grace, high, puissant, mighty, +alwayes most souereign, and gouernour of the Romans; vnto Henry the most +famous king of England, his most deare friend, greeting and all good +successe. Whereas our imperiall highnesse thinketh it expedient to +aduertise you our welbeloued friend of all our affaires: We thought it not +amisse to signifie vnto your, royal Maiestie certaine exploits at this +present atchieued by vs. From the beginning therefore of our inauguration +our imperiall highnes hath mainteined most deadly feod and hostility +against Gods enemies the Persians, seeing them so to triumph ouer +Christians, to exalt themselues against the Name of God, and to vsurpe ouer +Christian kingdomes. For which cause our imperial highnesse hath in some +sort encountered them heretofore, and did as it pleased God to giue vs +grace. And we suppose that your Maiestie is not ignorant, what our +imperiall highnesse hath often performed for their ruine and subversion. +For euen now, being vrged thereunto, we haue determined to leade a mighty +army against them, and to wage warre against all Persia. And albeit our +forces be not so great as we could wish they were, yet haue we according to +the time, and the present state of things strongly inuaded them. Wherefore +our Maiestie imperiall hath gathered our armies together: but because we +had in our armie sundry carts laden with armour, engines and other +instruments for the assault of cities, to an exceeding weight we could not +make any great speed in our iourney. Moreouer while our imperiall highnesse +was yet marching in our owne dominions, before any barbarous enemy had +fought against vs: our people were visited with the most grieuous disease +of the fluxe, which being dispersed in our troups destroyed and slew great +numbers, more then the sword of the enemy would haue done, which mischiefe +so preuailing, did woonderfully abate our forces. But after we had inuaded +the Turkish frontiers, we had at the first very often and hot skirmishes, +and the Turks came swarming to fight against our imperiall troups. Howbeit +by Gods assistance those miscreants were altogether scattered and put to +flight by our souldiers. But as we approched vnto that strait passage which +is called by the Persians Cibrilcimam, so many bands of Persian footemen +and horsemen (most whereof came from the innermost parts of Persia, to +succour their Allies) encountred our army, as were almost superiour vnto vs +in number. Wherefore the army of our Imperiall highnesse, by reason of the +straightnesse and difficultie of the way, being stretched ten miles in +length; and the first not being able to helpe the last, nor yet +contrarywise the last to rescue the first, it came to passe that they were +very farre distant asunder. And in very deed the foremost troupes were much +separated from the guard of our imperiall person, who forgetting their +fellowes behind, would not stay any whit for them. Because therefore the +Turkish bands knew full well by their former conflicts that it was +bootlesse for them to assaile the forefront of our battell, and perceiuing +the narownesse of the place to be a great aduantage, they determined to set +vpon our rereward, and did so. Wherefore our passage being very straight, +and the infidels assayling vs upon the right hand and vpon the left, and on +all sides, and discharging their weapons as thicke as hailestones against +vs, slew diuers of our men and horses. Hereupon, the slaughter of our +people still encreasing, our maiestie imperiall deemed it requisite to stay +behind, and to succour our bands in the rereward, and so expecting them we +sustained the fierce encounter of many thousand Persians. What exploits our +Imperiall person atchieued in the same skirmish, I hold it needlesse at +this time to recount: your maiestie may perhaps vnderstand more of this +matter by them which were there present Howbeit our Imperiall highnesse +being in the middest of this conflict, and enduring the fight with so great +danger, all our hindermost troups, both Greekes, Latines, and other +nations, retiring themselues close together, and not being able to suffer +the violence of their enemies weapons, pressed on so hard, and were caried +with such maine force, that hastening to ascend the next hill for their +better safegard, they vrged on them which went before, whether they would +or no. Wherevpon, much dust being raised, which stopped our eyes and +vtterly depriued vs of sight, and our men and horses pressing so sore one +vpon the necke of another, plunged themselues on the sudden into such a +steepe and dangerous valley, that treading one vpon another, they quelled +to death not onely a multitude of the common souldiours, but diuers most +honourable personages, and some of our neere kinsmen. For who could +restraine the irresistable throng of so huge a multitude? Howbeit our +Imperiall highnesse being enuironed with such swarmes of Infidels, and +giuing and receiuing wounds (insomuch that the miscreants were greatly +dismaied at our constancie) we gaue not ouer, but by Gods assistance wonne +the field. Neither did we permit the enemie to ascend vnto that place, from +whence we skirmished with him. Neither yet spurred wee on our horse any +faster for all their assaults. But marshalling air our troupes together, +and deliuering them out of danger, we disposed them about our Imperial +person; and so we ouertooke the foremost, and marched in good order with +our whole army. Nowe the Soldan perceiuing that notwithstanding the great +damages which we had sustained, our Imperial hignes prouided to giue him a +fresh encounter, humbly submitting himselfe vnto vs, and vsing submissive +speaches, made suite to haue peace at our hands, and promised to fulfill +the pleasure of our maiestie Imperiall, to doe vs seruice against all +commers, to release all our subiects which were captiues in his realme, and +to rest wholy at our commaund. [Sidenote: The citie of Iconium intended to +haue bene besieged.] Here therefore we remained two dayes with great +authoritie; and considering that wee could attempt nought against the citie +of Iconium, hauing lost all our warrelike engines, both for defence and for +batterie, for that the oxen which drew them were slaine with the enemies +weapons, falling as thicke as hailestones: and also for because all our +beasts in a maner were most grieuously diseased; our maiestie Imperial +accepted of the Soldans petition, league, and oath being made and taken +vnder our ensignes, and granted our peace vnto him. Then returned we into +our owne dominions, being greatly grieued for the losse of our deere +kinsmen, and yeelding vnto God most humble thanks, who of his goodnesse had +euen now giuen vs the victory. [Sidenote: Certaine noblemen of the king of +England were with the Emperor in his battell against the Soldan of +Iconium.] We are right glad likewise that some of your maiesties princes +and nobles accompanied vs in this action, who are able to report vnto you +all things which haue happened. And albeit we were exceedingly grieued for +the losse of our people; yet thought it we expedient to signifie vnto you +the successe of our affaires, as vnto our welbeloued friend, and one who is +very neerely allied vnto our highnesse Imperial, by reason of the +consanguitie of our children Farewell. Giuen in the moneth of Nouember, and +vpon the tenth Indiction. + + * * * * * + +The life and trauailes of Baldwinus Deuonius, sometime Archbishop of + Canterbury. + +Baldwinus Deuonius, tenui loco Excestrire natus, vir ore facundus, exactus +Philosophus, et de omne studiorum genus per illos dies aptissimus +inueniebatur. Scholarum rector primum erat, tum postea Archidiaconus, +eruditione ac sapientia in omni negotio celebris: fuit praeterea +Cisterciensis Monachus, et Abbas Fordensis Coenobij, magnus suorum +testimatione, ar vniuiersae eorum societati quasi Antesignanus: fuit deinde +Wigorniensis praesul, fuit et mortuo demum Richardo Cantuariorum +Archiepiscopus, ac totius Angliae Primas. Cui muneri Baldwinus sollicite +inuigilans, egregium se pastorem exhibuit, dominicum semen, quantum +patiebatur eius temporis, iniquitas, vbique locorum spargens. Richardus +Anglorum rex, acceptis tunc regni insignijs, summo studio classem, ac omnia +ad Hierosolymitanum bellum gerendum necessaria parauit. Secutus est illico +regem in Syriam, et Palestinam vsque Baldwinus, vt esset in tam Sancto (vt +ipse putabat) itinere laborum, dolorum, ac periculorum particeps. Praefuit +Cantuariensi Ecclesiae fere 6 annis, et Richardum regem in Syriam secutus, +anno Salutis nostrae 1190. Tyri vitam finiuit, vbi et sepultus est. + +The same in English. + +Baldwine a Deuonshire man borne in Exceter of mean parentage, was a very +eloquent man, an exact Philosopher, and in those dayes very excellent in +all kind of studies. He was first of all a Schoolemaster: afterwards he +became an Archdeacon, very famous for his learning and wisedom in all his +doings. He was also a Cistercian Monke and Abbot of Foord Monasterie, and +the chiefe of all those that were of his order: he grew after this to be +bishop of Worcester, and at last after the death of Archb. Richard he was +promoted and made Archbishop of Canterbury, and Primate of all England. In +the discharge of which place he being very vigilant, shewed, himself a +worthy Pastor, sowing the seed of Gods word in euery place as farre foorth +as the iniquitie of that time permitted. In his time king Richard with all +indeauour prepared a Fleet and all things necessary for waging of warre +against the Infidels at lerasalem, taking with him the standerd and +ensignes of the kingdome. This Baldwme eftsoones folowed the king into +Syria and Palestina, as one desirous to be partaker of his trauailes, +paines, and perils in so holy a voyage. Hee was Archbishop of Canterburie +almost sixe yeres: but hauing followed the king into Syria, in the yeere +1190. he died at Tyre, where he was also buried. + + * * * * * + +An annotation concerning the trauailes of the sayd Baldwirie, taken out of + Giraldus Cambrensis, in his Itinerarium Cambrise, lib, a. Cap. 14. Fol + 229. + +Inter primos Thomae Becketi successor hic secundus, audita saluatoris et +salutiferae Crucis iniuria nostris (proh dolor) diebus per Saladinum +irrogata, cruce signatus, in eiusdem obsequijs, tarn remotis finibus quam +propinquis, praedicationis officiunm viriliter assumpsit. Et postmodum iter +accipiens, nauigioque fungens apud Marsiliam, transcurso tandem pelagi +profundo, in portu Tyrensi incolumis applicuit: et inde ad exercitum +nostrum obsidentem pariter et obsessum Aconem transiuit: vbi multos ex +nostris inueniens, et fere cunctos principum defectu, in summa desolatlone +iam positos, et desperatione, alios quidem longa expectatione fatigatos, +alios fame et inopia grauiter afflictos, quosdam vero aeris, inclementia +distemperatos, diem foeliciter in terra sacra clausurus extremum, singulos +pro posse vinculo charitatis amplectens, sumptibus et impensis, verbis, et +vitae mentis confirmauit. + +The same in English. + +This Baldwine being the second successor vnto Thomas Becket, after he had +heard the wrong which was done to our Sauiour, and the signe of the Crosse +by Saladin the Sultan of Egypt, taking vpon him the Lords Character, he +couragiously perfourmed his office of preaching in the obedience thereof, +as well in farre distant Countreis as at home. And afterwards taking his +iourney and imbarking himselfe at Marseils, hauing at length passed the +Leuant sea, he arriued safely in the Hauen of Tyrus, and from thence went +ouer to Achon vnto our armie, besieging the Towne, and yet (as it were) +besieged it selfe: where finding many of our Countreymen, and almost all +men remaining in wonderfull pensiuenesse and despaire, through the +withdrawing of the Princes, some of them tyred with long expectation, +others grieuously afflicted with hunger and pouertie, and others +distempered with the heate of the weather, being ready happily to ende his +dayes in the Holy land, embracing euery one according to his abilitie in +the bond of loue, he ayded them at his costes and charges, and strengthened +them with his wordes and good examples of life. + + * * * * * + +A note drawen out of a very ancient booke remaining in the hands of the + right worshipfull M. Thomas Tilney Esquire, touching Sir Frederike Tilney + his ancestor, knighted at Acon in the Holy land for his valour, by K. + Richard the first, as foloweth. + +Pertinuit iste liber prius Frederico Tilney de Boston, in comitatu +Lincolniae militi facto apud Acon in terra Iudeae anno Regis Richardi primi +tertio. Vir erat iste magnae staturae et potens in corpore: qui cum partibus +suis dormit apud Tirrington iuxta villam sui nominis Tilney in Mershland. +Cuius altitudo in salua custodia permanet ibidem vsque in hunc diem. Et +post eius obitum sexdecem militibus eius nominis Tilney haereditas illa +successiue obuenit, quorum vnus post alium semper habitabat apud Boston +praedictum; dum fratris senioris haereditas haeredi generali deuoluta est, quae +nupta est Iohanni duci Norfolciae. Eorum miles vltimus fuit Philippus Tilney +nuper de Shelleigh in Comitatu Suffolciae, pater et genitor Thomae Tilney de +Hadleigh in Comitatu praedicto Armigeri, cut modo attinet iste liber. Anno +aetatis suae 64, Anno Domini 1556. + +The same in English. + +This booke pertained in times past vnto Sir Frederick Tilney of Boston in +the Countie of Lincolne, who was knighted at Acon in the land of Iurie, in +the third yeere of the reigne of king Richard the first. This knight was of +a tall stature, and strong of body, who resteth interred with his +forefathers at Tirrington, neere vnto a towne in Marshland called by his +owne name Tilney. The iust height of this knight is there kept in safe +custody vntill this very day. Also, after this mans decease, the +inheritance of his landes fell successively vnto sixteene sundry knights +called all by the name of Tilney, who dwelt alwayes, one after another, at +the towne of Boston aforesayd, vntill such time as the possessions of the +elder brother fell vnto an heire general, which was maried vnto Iohn duke +of Northfolke. The last knight of that name was sir Philip Tilney late of +Shelleigh in the Countie of Suffolke, predecessor and father vnto Thomas +Tilney of Hadleigh in the Countie aforesayd Esquire, vnto whom the said +booke of late appertained. In the yeere of his age 64 and in the yeere of +our Lord, 1556. + + * * * * * + +The trauailes of one Richard surnaraed Canonicus. + +Richardus Canonicus ad Trinitatis fanum Londini Regularis, ab ipsa +pueritia, bonarum artium literas impense amauit, excoluit, ac didicit. Qui +ex continuo labore atque exercitatione longa, talis tandem euasit orator, +et Poeta, quales ea aetas rarissimos nutriebat. Ob id Richardo Anglorum tunc +Regi charus, longam cum eo peregrinationem in Palaestinam ac Syriam, dum +expugnaret Turcas, suscepit. Vnde in Angliam tum demum reuersus, omnia quae +presens vidit in vrbibus, agris, ac militum castris, fideli narratione, tam +carmine, quam prosa descripsit. Neque interim omisit eiusdem Regis mores, +et formam, per omnia corporis lineamenta designare, addiditque praeclaro suo +open hoc aptissimum pro titulo nomen, scilicet, Itinerarium Regis Richardi. +Claruit anno redemptionis nostne 1200 sub Ioanne Anglorimi Rege. + +The same in English. + +Richard surnamed Canonicus an obseruant Frier of Trinitie Church in London, +was in great loue with the studies of good Artes, and tooke paines in them +and learned them. And at last by his continuall endeauour and long exercise +therein, he grewe to bee such an Oratour and Poet, as fewe were in that age +liuing, by reason whereof hee grew in fauour with Richard then King of +England, and vndertooke that long voyage with him into Palestina and Syria +against the Turkes. From whence being returned againe into England, hee +faithfully described both in Verse and Prose all such things, as hee had +seene in the Cities, fieldes and tentes of the souldiours, where hee was +present, and omitted not to note the behauiour, forme, and proportion of +body in the foresayd king, giving to his notable worke this most apt name +for the title, The Iournall of King Richard. He flourished in the yeere of +our Redemption 1200. vnder Iohn king of England. + + * * * * * + +The large contribution to the succour of the Holy land, made by king Iohn + king of England, in the third yeere of his reigne 1201. Matth. Paris and + Holinsh. pag. 164. + +At the same time also the Kings of France and England gaue large money +towards the maintenance of the army which at this present went foorth vnder +the leading of the earle of Flanders and other, to warre against the +enemies of the Christian faith at the instance of pope Innocent. There was +furthermore granted vnto them the fortieth part of all the reuenues +belonging vnto ecclesiastical persons, towards the ayd of the Christians +then being in the Holy and: and all such aswel of the nobility, as other of +the weaker sort, which had taken vpon them the crosse, and secretly layed +it downe were compelled eftsoones to receiue it now againe. + + * * * * * + +The trauailes of Hubert Walter bishop of Sarisburie. + +Hubertus Walterus Sarisburiensis Episcopus, vir probus, ingenioque ac +pietate clarus, inter praecipuos vnus eorum erat, qui post Richardum regem +expugnandorum Saracenorum gratia in Syriam proficiscebantur. Cum ex +Palaestina rediens, audiret in Sicilia, quod idem Richardus in inimicorum +manus incidisset, omisso itinere incoepto, ad eum cursim diuertebat: Quem +et ille statim in Angliam misit, vt illic regij Senatus authoritate, +indicto pro eius redemptione tributo pecuniam colligeret quod et industrius +fecit ac regem liberauit. Inde Cantuariorum Archiepiscopus factus, post +eius mortem Ioanni illius fratri ac successori paria fidelitatis officia +praestitit. Longa enim oratione toti Anglorum nationi persuasit, quod vir +prouidus, praestans, fortis, genere nobilissimus, et imperio dignissimus +esset: quo salutatus a populo fuit, atque in regem coronatus. Composuit +quaedam opuscula, et ex immenso animi dolore demum obijsse fertur, Anno +salutis humanae 1205. cum sedisset annos 11. Menses octo, et dies sex. Quum +vidisset ex intestinis odijs, omnia in transmarinis regionibus pessum ire, +regnante Ioanne. + +The same in English. + +Hubert Walter bishop of Sarisburie, a vertuous man, and famous for his good +wit and piety, was one of the chiefest of them that followed king Richard +into Syria going against the Saracens. As he returned from Palaestina and +came in his iourney into Sicilia, he there heard of the ill fortune of the +king being fallen into his enemies handes, and thereupon leauing his +iourney homewards, he went presently and in all haste to the place where +the king was captiued, whom the king immediatly vpon his comming sent into +England, that by the authority of the councell, a tribute might be +collected for his redemption: which this Hubert performed with great +diligence, and deliuered the king. After this he was made Archbishop of +Canterburie, and after the death of King Richard he shewed the like dueties +of fidelitie and trust to his brother Iohn that succeeded him. For by a +long oration he perswaded the whole nation of the English men, that he was +a very circumspect man, vertuous, valiant, borne of noble parentage, and +most woorthy of the crowne. Whereupon he was so receiued of all the people +and crowned king. He wrote certaine books, and died at the last with very +great griefe of minde, in the yeere 1205, hauing beene archbishop the space +of 11 yeres 8 moneths and sixe dayes, by reason of the ciuil discords +abroad, whereby all things went topsie turuy, and in the reigne of king +Iohn. + + * * * * * + +The trauailes of Robert Curson. + +Robertus Curson ex nobili quodam Anglorum ortus genere, disciplinis tum +prophanis, tum sacris studiosus incubuit, idque (quantum ex coniecturis +colligo) in celebratissima Oxonij Academia. Praestantissimis illic +institutoribus vsus, ex summa circa ingenuas artes industria, et assiduo +literarum labore, famam sibi inter suos celeberrimam comparauit. Ampliora +deinde meditatus Parisiorum Lutetiam, atque Romam ipsam petijt, illic +Theologus Doctor, hic vero Cardinalis effectus. Vnde vterque Matthaeus +Parisius, ac Westmonasterius, hoc de ipso testimonium adferunt: hic libro +2. ille 8. suorum Chronicorum. Anno Domini 1218 (inquiunt) in captione +Damiatae AEgypti vrbis, sub Ioanne Brenno Hierosolymorum rege, fuit cum +Pelagio Albanensi Magister Robertus de Curson, Anglus, Clericus +celeberrimus, genere nobilis, ac Romanae Ecclesiae Cardinalis, etc. Bostonus +Buriensis in sua Catalogo Cursonum aliquos libros composuisse narrat. +Claruit anno superius numerato per praedictos testes in Anglia regnante +Henrico tertio Ioannis regis filio: fuitque hic diebus Honorij tertij +Romani pontificis in Angliam, Bostono teste, legatus. + +The same in English. + +Robert Curson descended of a noble family of England, vsed great diligence +aswell in prophane as in diuine studies in the famous Vniuersitie of Oxford +(as I coniecture.) He had there the best scholemasters that were to be +gotten, and was most industrious, in the arts and continual exercises of +learning: by meanes whereof he grew to be of great renowne where he liued. +Afterward thinking of greater matters he went to Paris, and thence to Rome +it selfe, and at Paris he proceeded doctor of Diuinity, at Rome he was made +cardinall: whereupon both Matthew Paris and Matthew of Westminster produce +this testimony of him, the one in his second booke, the other in his eight +booke of Chronicles. In the yere of our Lord (say they) 1218, at the taking +of Damiata a city of Egypt vnder Iohn Brenne king of Ierusalem, M. Robert +Curson an English man, a most famous clearke of noble parentage, and +cardinall of the church of Rome, was there with Pelagius Albanensis, &c. +Boston of Burie in Suffolke in his catalogue reporteth, that he wrote +diuers books. He flourished in the yeere aforesayd by the witnesses +aforesayd. Henry the third sonne of king Iohn being then king of England: +and by the further testimony of Boston, this Curson was legate into England +in the dayes of Honorius the third, bishop of Rome. + + * * * * * + +The voyage of Ranulph earle of Chester, of Saer Quincy earle of Winchester, + William de Albanie earle of Arundel, with diuers other noble men to the + Holy land, in the second yere of King Henry the third. Matth. Paris. + Holensh. pag. 202. + +In the yeere 1218, Ranulph earle of Chester was sent into the Holy land by +king Henry the third with a goodly company of souldiers and men of warre, +to ayde the Christians there against the Infidels, which at the same time +had besieged the city of Damiata in Egypt. In which enterprise the valiancy +of the same earle after his comming thither was to his great praise most +apparent There went with him in that iourney Saer de Quincy earle of +Winchester, William de Albanie earle of Arundel, besides diuers barons, as +the lord Robert fitz Walter, Iohn constable of Chester, William de +Harecourt, and Oliuer fitz Roy sonne to the king of England, and diuers +others. + + * * * * * + +The voyage of Henry Bohun and Saer Quincy to the Holy land. + +This yere, being the sixt yere of Henry the third, deceased Henry de Bohun +earle of Hereford, and Saer de Quincy earle of Winchester, in their journey +which they made to the Holy land. Matth. Paris. Holensh. pag. 202. col. 2. + + * * * * * + +The trauailes of Ranulph Glanuile earle of Chester. + +Ranulphus Glanuile Cestriae Comes, vir nobilissimi generis, et vtroque iure +eruditus, in albo illustrium virorum a me merito ponendus venit. Ita probe +omnes adolescentiae suae annos legibus tum humanis tum diuinis consecrauit, +vt non prius in hominem pet aetatem euaserit, quam nomen decusque ab insigni +eruditione sibi comparauerit. Cum profecti essent Francorum Heroes +Ptolemaidem, inito cum Ioanne Brenno Hierosolymorum rege concilio, Damiatam +AEgypti vrbem obsidendam constituebant, anno salutis humanae 1218. Misit +illuc Henricus rex, ab Honorio 3 Rom. Pontifice rogatus, cum magna +armatorum manu Ranulphum, ad rem Christianum iuuandam. Cuius virtus, +Polydoro teste, in eo bello miris omnium laudibus celebrata fuit. Quo +confecto negotio, Ranulphus in patriam reuersus, scripsit, De legibus +Angliae librum vnum. Fertur praeterea, et alia quaedam scripsisse, sed tempus +edax rerum, ea nobis abstulit. Claruit anno a Seruatoris nostri natiuitate +1230 confectus senio, dum Henricus tertius sub Antichristi tyrannide in +Anglia regnaret. + +The same in English. + +Ranulph Granuile earle of Chester, a man of a very noble house, and learned +in both the Lawes, deserues of deutie to be here placed by me in the +catalogue of woorthy and notable men. He applied so well all the yeeres of +his youth to the study of humane and diuine Lawes, that he came not so +soone to the age of a man, as he had purchased to himselfe by reason of his +singular learning, renowme and honour. When the noble men of France went to +Ptolomais, vpon the counsell of Iohn Brenne king of Ierusalem, they +resolued to besiege Damiata a city of Egypt, in the yeere 1218. And then +Henry the king vpon the motion of Honorius the third, bishop of Rome, sent +thither this earle Ranulph with a great power of armed souldiers, to +further the enterprise of the Christians: whose valure in that warre (by +the testimonie of Polidor Virgil) was marueilously commended of all men. +After the end of which businesse, he being returned into his countrey, +wrote a booke of the lawes of England. It is also reported that he wrote +other books, but time the destroyer of many memorials, hath taken them from +vs. He flourished in the yeere after the natiuity of Christ 1230, being +very aged, and in the reigne of K. Henry the third. + + * * * * * + +The voyage of Petrus de Rupibus bishop, of Winchester, to Ierusalem in the + yere of grace 1231, and the 15 of Henry the third. + +Anno gratis 1231, mense vero Iulio, Petrus Wintoniensis episcopus, completo +in terra sancta iam fere per quinquennium magnifice peregrinationis voto, +reuersus est in Angliam, Kalendis Augusti; et Wintoniam veniens, susceptus +est cum processione solenni in sua ecclesia cathedrali. + +The same in English. + +In the yere of grace 1231, and in the moneth of Iuly, Peter bishop of +Winchester hauing spent almost fiue whole yeres in fulfilling his vow of +pilgrimage in the Holy land with great pompe, returned into England, about +the Kalends of August, and coming unto Winchester was received with solemne +procession into his cathedrall church. + + * * * * * + +The honourable and prosperous voyage of Richard earle of Cornewall, brother + to king Henry the third, accompanied with William Longespee earle of + Sarisburie, and many other noble men into Syria. + +In the 24 yere of king Henry the third, Richard earle of Cornwall the kings +brother, with a navy of ships sailed into Syria, where in the warres +against the Saracens he greatly advanced the part of the Christians. There +went over with him the earle of Sarisburie, William Longspee, and William +Basset, John Beauchampe, Geoffrey de Lucie, John Neuel, Geoffrey +Beauchampe, Peter de Brense, and William Furniuall. + +Simon Montfort earle of Leicester went ouer also the same time; but whereas +the earle of Cornwall tooke the sea at Marseils, the earle of Leicester +passed thorow Italy, and tooke shipping at Brindize in Apulia: and with him +went these persons of name, Thomas de Furniual with his brother Gerard de +Furniuall, Hugh Wake, Almerike de S. Aumond, Wiscard Ledet, Punchard de +Dewin, and William de Dewin that were brethren, Gerald Pesmes, Fouke de +Baugie, and Peter de Chauntenay. + +Shortly after also Iohn earle of Albemarle, William Fortis, and Peter de +Mallow a Poictouin, men for their valiancy greatly renowmed, went thither, +leading with them a great number of Christian souldiors, Matth. Paris. +Matth. West Holensh. pag. 225. col. 2. + + * * * * * + +The voyage of William Longespee [Marginal note:--Or, Longsword.] Earle of + Sarisburie into Asia, in the yeere 1248, and in the 32 yeere of the + reigne of Henry the third, king of England. + +Lewis the French king being recovered of his sicknesse which he fell into, +in the yeere 1234, vowed thereupon for a free will sacrifice to God, that +he (if the Councell of his realme would suffer him) would in his owne +person visit the Holy land: which matter was opened and debated in the +Parliament of France held in the yeere 1247. Where at length it was +concluded, that the king according to his vow should take his journey into +Asia, and the time thereof was also prefixed, which should be after the +feast of S. John Baptist the next yeere ensuing. + +At which time William Longespee a worthie warrior, with the bishop of +Worcester and certaine other great men in the Realme of England (mooved +with the example of the Frenchmen) prepared themselves likewise to the same +journey. + +It fell out in this enterprise, that about the beginning of October, the +French king assaulted and tooke Damiata, being the principall fort or hold +of the Saracens in all Egypt, Anno 1249, and having fortified the Citie +with an able garrison left with the Duke of Burgundies he remooved his +tents from thence to goe Eastward. In whose armie followed William +Longespee, accompanied with a piked number of English warriors retaining +unto him. But such was the disdaine of the Frenchmen against this William +Longespee and the Englishmen that they could not abide them, but flouted +them after an opprobrious maner with English tailes, insomuch that the +French king himselfe had much adoe to keepe peace betweene them. + +The originall cause of this grudge betweene them began thus. [Sidenote: A +fort won by the Englishmen] There was not farre from Alexandria in Egypt a +strong fort or castle replenished with great Ladies and rich treasure of +the Saracens: which hold it chanced the sayd William Longespee with his +company of English soldiers to get, more by politique dexteritie then by +open force of armes, wherewith, he and his retinue were greatly enriched. +When the Frenchmen had knowledge hereof (they not being made priuie hereto) +began to conceive an heart burning against the English souldiers, and could +not speake well of them after that. + +[Sidenote: A rich bootie also gotten by the Englishmen.] It hapned againe +not long after that the sayd William had intelligence of a company of rich +merchants among the Saracens going to a certaine Faire about the parts of +Alexandria, having their camels, asses and mules, richly loden with silkes, +precious jewels, spices, gold and silver, with cart loades of other wares, +beside victuall and other furniture, whereof the souldiers then stood in +great need: he having secret knowledge hereof, gathered all the power of +Englishmen unto him that he could, and so by night falling vpon the +merchants, some he slew with their guides and conducters, some he tooke, +some hee put to flight: the carts with the driuers, and with the oxen, +camels, asses and mules, with the whole cariage and victuals he tooke and +brought with him, losing in all the skirmish but one souldier and eight of +his seruitors: of whom notwithstanding some he brought home wounded to be +cured. + +[Sidenote: The iniurie of the Frenchmen to our English.] This being knowen +in the Campe, foorth came the Frenchmen which all this while loytered in +their pauilions, and meeting this cariage by the way, tooke all the +foresayd praie whole to themselues, rating the said William and the +Englishmen for aduenturing and issuing out of the Campe without leaue or +knowledge of their Generall, contrary to the discipline of warre. William +said againe he had done nothing but he would answere to it, whose purpose +was to haue the spoyle deuided to the behoofe of the whole armie. + +[Sidenote: Will. Longspee iustly forsaketh the French king.] When this +would not serue, hee being sore grieued in his minde so cowardly to be +spoyled of that which he so aduenturously had trauailed for, went to the +King to complaine: But when no reason nor complaint would serue by reason +of the proude Earle of Artoys the Kings brother, which vpon spight and +disdaine stood agaynst him, he bidding the King forewell sayd hee would +serue him no longer: and so William de Longespee with the rest of his +company breaking from the French hoste went to Achon. Vpon whose departure +the earle of Artoys sayd, Now is the army of French men well rid of these +tailed people, which words spoken in great despight were ill taken of many +good men that heard them. + +But not long after, when the keeper of Cayro & Babylonia, bearing a good +mind to the Christian religion, and being offended also with the Souldan, +promised to deliuer the same to the French king, instructing him what +course was best for him to take to accomplish it, the king hereupon in all +haste sent for William Longespee, promising him a full redress of all his +iniuries before receiued: who at the kings request came to him againe, and +so ioyned with the French power. + +After this, it happened that the French king passing with his armie +towardes Cayro aforesayd, came to the great riuer Nilus, on the further +part whereof the Soldan had pitched himselfe to withstand his comming ouer: +there was at this time a Saracen lately conuerted to Christ, seruing the +earle Robert the French kings brother, who told him of the absence of the +Soldan from his tents, and of a shallow foord in the riuer where they might +easily passe ouer. Whereupon the sayd earle Robert and the Master of the +Temple with a great power, esteemed to the third part of the army issued +ouer the riuer, after whom followed W. Longspee with his band of English +souldiers. These being ioyned together on the other side of the water, +encountred the same day with the Saracens remaining in the tents and put +them to the worst. Which victory being gotten, the French earle surprised +with pride and triumph, as though hee had conquered the whole earth, would +needs forward, diuiding himselfe from the maine hoste, thinking to winne +the spurres alone. To whom certain sage men of the Temple, giuing him +contrary counsell, aduised him not to do so, but rather to returne and take +their whole company with them, and so should they be more sure against all +deceits and dangers, which might be layed priuily for them. The maner of +that people (they sayd) they better knew, and had more experience thereof +then he: alledging moreouer their wearied bodies, their tired horses, their +famished souldiers, and the insufficiency also of their number, which was +not able to withstand the multitude of the enemies, especially at this +present brunt, in which the aduersaries did well see the whole state of +their dominion now to consist either in winning all or losing all. + +Which when the proud earle did heare, being inflated with no lesse +arrogancy then ignorance, with opprobrious taunts reuiled them, calling +them cowardly dastards, and betrayers of the whole countrey, obiecting vnto +them the common report of many, which sayd, that the land of the holy +crosse might soone be woon to Christendome, were it not for rebellious +Templaries, with the Hospitalaries, and their followers. + +To these contumelious rebukes, when the master of the Temple answered +againe for him and his fellowes, bidding him display his ensigne when he +would, and where he durst, they were as ready to follow him, as he to goe +before them. Then began William de Longespe the worthy knight to speake, +desiring the earle to giue eare to those men of experience, who had better +knowledge of those countreyes and people then he had, commending also their +counsell to be discreet and wholesome, and so turning to the master of the +Temple, began with gentle wordes to mittigate him likewise. The knight had +not halfe ended his talke, when the Earle taking his wordes out of his +mouth, began to fume and sweare, crying out of those cowardly Englishmen +with tailes: What a pure armie (sayd he) should we haue here, if these +tailes and tailed people were purged from it, with other like words of +villany, and much disdaine: [Sidenote: The worthy answere of William +Longspe to Earle Robert.] whereunto the English knight answering againe, +well, Earle Robert (said he) wheresoeuer you dare set your foote, my step +shall go as farre as yours, and (as I beleeue) we goe this day where you +shall not dare to come neere the taile of my horse, as in deede in the +euent it prooued true: for Earle Robert would needes set forward, weening +to get all the glory to himselfe before the comming of the hoste, and first +inuaded a litle village or castle, which was not farre off, called Mansor. +The countrey Boores and Pagans in the villages, seeing the Christians +comming, ranne out with such a maine cry and shout, that it came to the +Soldans hearing, who was neerer then our men did thinke. In the meane time, +the Christians inuading and entring into the munition [Footnote: +Fortification.] incircumspectly, were pelted and pashed [Footnote: "That +can be cut with any iron, or pashed with mighty stones." CHAPMAN _Iliad_, +xiii., 297.] with stones by them which stood aboue, whereby a great number +of our men were lost, and the armie sore maymed, and almost in despaire. + +Then immediatly vpon the same, commeth the Soldan with all his maine power, +which seeing the Christian armie to be deuided, and the brother separated +from the brother, had that which he long wished for, and so inclosing them +round about, that none should escape, had with them a cruell fight. + +Then the earle beganne to repent him of his heady rashnes, but it was too +late, who then seeing William the English knight doughtily fighting in the +chiefe brunt of the enemies, cried vnto him most cowardly to flie, seeing +God (saith he) doth fight against vs: To whom the Knight answering againe, +God forbid (sayth he) that my fathers sonne should runne away from the face +of a Saracene. [Sidenote: The cowardly flight of Earle Robert.] The Earle +then turning his horse, fled away, thinking to auoid by the swiftnes of his +horse, and so taking the riuer Thafnis, oppressed with harnesse, was there +sunken and drowned. + +Thus the Earle being gone, the Frenchmen began to dispaire and scatter. +[Sidenote: The valiant ende of William Longespe.] Then William de Longespe +bearing all the force of the enemies, stoode against them as long as he +could, wounding and slaying many a Saracen, till at length his horse being +killed, and his legges maymed, he could no longer stande, who yet +notwithstanding as he was downe, mangled their feete and legges, and did +the Saracens much sorrow, till at last after many blowes and wounds, being +stoned of the Saracens, he yeelded his life. And after the death of him, +the Saracens setting vpon the residue of the armie, whom they had compassed +on euery side, deuoured and destroyed them all, insomuch that scarce one +man remained aliue, sauing two Templaries, one Hospitaler, and one poore +rascall souldier, which brought tidings hereof to the King. + +And thus by the imprudent and foolish hardines of that French Earle, the +Frenchmen were discomfited, and that valiant English Knight ouermatched, to +the griefe of all Christian people, the glory of the Saracens, and the +vtter destruction and ruine of the whole French armie, as afterwards it +appeared. + + * * * * * + +The Voyage of Prince Edward the sonne of king Henry the third into Asia, in + the yeere 1270. + +About the yeere of our Lord, 1267. Octobonus the Popes Legate being in +England, prince Edward the sonne of king Henry, and other Noble men of +England tooke vpon them the crosse vpon S. Iohn Baptists day, by the sayd +Legates hands at Northampton, to the reliefe of the Holy land, and the +subuersion of the enemies of the crosse of Christ. For which purpose, and +for the better furnishing of the prince towards the iourney, there was +granted him a subsidie throughout all the realme, and in the moneth of May, +in the yeere of our Lord 1270. he began to set forward. + +At Michaelmas following he with his company came to Eguemortes, which is +from Marsilia eight leagues Westward, and there taking ship againe (hauing +a mery and prosperous wind) within ten dayes arriued at Tunez, where he was +with great ioy welcommed, and entertained of the Christian princes that +there were to this purpose assembled, as of Philip the French King, whose +father Lodouicus died a litle before, of Carolus the king of Sicilia, and +the two kings of Nauarre and Arragon, and as this lord Edward came thither +for his father the king of England, thither came also Henry the sonne of +the king of Almaine for his father, who at his returne from the voyage was +slaine in a chappell at Viterbium. + +When prince Edward demanded of these kings and princes what was to be done, +they answered him againe and sayd, the prince of this citie and the +prouince adioyning to the same hath bene accustomed to pay tribute vnto the +king of Sicily euery yere: and now for that the same hath bene for the +space of seuen yeeres vnpaied and more, therefore we thought good to make +invasion vpon him. But the king knowing the same tribute to be but iustly +demaunded, hath now according to our owne desire satisfied for the time +past, and also paid his tribute before hand. + +Then sayd he, My Lords, what is this to the purpose? are we not here all +assembled, and haue taken vpon vs the Lords Character to fight against the +infidels and enemies of Christ? What meane you then to conclude a peace +with them? God forbid we should do so, for now the land is plaine and hard, +so that we may approch to the holy city of Ierusalem. Then said they, now +haue we made a league with them, neither is it lawful for vs to breake the +same. But let vs returne againe to Sicilia, and when the winter is past we +may well take shipping to Acra. But this counsel nothing at all liked him, +neither did he shew himselfe wel pleased therewith: but after hee had made +them a princely banket, he went into his closet or priuy chamber from +amongst them, neither would be partaker of any of that wicked money which +they had taken. They notwithstanding continuing their purpose, at the next +mery wind tooke shipping, and for want of ships left 200. of their men a +shore, crying out, and pitiously lamenting for the peril and hazard of +death that they were in: wherewith prince Edward being somewhat mooued to +compassion: came backe againe to the land, and receiued and stowed them in +his owne ships, being the last that went aboord. + +Within seuen dayes after, they arriued in the kingdom of Sicilia, ouer +agaynst the Citie Trapes, [Footnote: Trapani, N.E. of Marsala.] casting +their ankers a league from thence within the sea, for that their shippes +were of great burden, and throughly fraught: and from the hauen of the city +they sent out barges and boates to receiue and bring such of the Nobilitie +to land as would, but their horses for the most part, and all their armour +they kept still within boord. + +At length towards the euening the sea began to be rough, and increased to a +great tempest and a mightie: insomuch that their ships were beaten one +against anothers sides, and drowned. There was of them at that tempest +lying at anker more then 120. with all their armour and munition, with +innumerable soules besides, and that wicked money also which they had taken +before, likewise perished, and was lost. + +But the tempest hurt not so much as one ship of prince Edwards, who had in +number 13. nor yet had one man lost thereby, for that (as it may be +presupposed) he consented not to the wicked counsell of the rest. + +When in the morning the princes and kings came to the sea side, and saw all +their ships drowned, and saw their men and horses in great number cast vpon +the land drowned, they had full heauie hearts, as well they might, for of +all their ships and mariners, which were in number 1500. besides the common +souldiers, there was no more saued then the manners of one onely ship, and +they in this wise. + +There was in that ship a good and wise Matrone, a Countesse or an Erles +wife, who perceiuing the tempest to grow, and fearing her selfe, called to +her the M. of the ship, and asked him whether in attempting to the shoare +it were not possible to saue themselues: he answered, that to saue the ship +it was impossible: howbeit the men that were therein by Gods helpe he +doubted not. Then sayd the countesse, for the ship force no whit, saue the +soules therein, and haue to thee double the value of the shippe: who +immediatly hoising the sailes with all force, ran the shippe aground so +neere the shore as was possible, so that with the vehemency of the weather +and force he came withall, he brast the ship and saued all that was within +the same, as he had shewed, and sayd before. + +Then the kings and princes (altering their purpose after this so great a +shipwracke) returned home againe euery one vnto their owne lands: onely +Edward, the sonne of the king of England, remained behinde with his men and +ships, which the Lord had saued and preserued. + +[Sidenote: The arriual of Prince Edward at Acra.] Then prince Edward +renouating his purpose, tooke shipping againe, and within fifteene daies +after Easter arriued he at Acra, and went a land, taking with him a +thousand of the best souldiers and most expert, and taried there a whole +moneth, refreshing both his men and horses, and that in this space he might +learne and know the secrets of the land. [Sidenote: Nazareth taken by the +prince.] After this he tooke with him sixe or seuen thousand souldiers, and +marched forward twenty miles from Acra, and tooke Nazareth, and those that +he found there he slew, and afterward returned againe to Acra. But their +enemies following after them, thinking to haue set vpon them at some streit +or other advantage, were espied by the prince, and returning againe vpon +them gaue a charge, and slew many of them, and the rest they put to flight. + +[Sidenote: A victorie against the Saracens wherein 1000 of them are +slaine.] After this, about Midsummer, when the prince had vnderstanding +that the Saracens began to gather at Cakow which was forty miles from Acra, +he marching thither, set vpon them very earely in the morning, and slew of +them more then a thousand, the rest he put to flight, and tooke rich +spoiles, marching forward till they came to a castle named Castrum +peregrinorum, situate vpon the sea coast, and taried there that night, and +the next day they returned againe toward Acra. + +In the meane season the king of Ierusalem sent vnto the noble men of +Cyprus, desiring them to come with speed to ayd the Christians, but they +would not come, saying they would keepe their owne land, and go no further. +[Sidenote: The Princes of Cyprus acknowledge obedience to the kings of +England.] Then prince Edward sent vnto them, desiring that at his request +they would come and ioyne in ayd with him: who immediatly thereupon came +vnto him with great preparation and furniture for the warres, saying, that +at his commandement they were bound to do no lesse, for that his +predecessors were sometimes the gouernors of that their land, and that they +ought alwayes to shew their fidelity to the kings of England. + +Then the Christians being herewith animated, made a third voyage or road, +and came as farre as the fort called Vincula sancti Petri, and to S. +Georgius, and when they had slain certaine there, not finding any to make +resistance against them, they retired againe from whence they came: when +thus the fame of prince Edward grew amongst his enemies, and that they +began to stand in doubt of him, they deuised among themselues how by some +pollicy they might circumuent him, and betray him. Whereupon the prince and +admirall of Ioppa sent vnto him, faining himselfe vnder great deceit +willing to become a Christian, and that he would draw with him a great +number besides, so that they might be honorably entertained and vsed of the +Christians. This talke pleased the prince well, and perswaded him to finish +the thing he had so well begun by writing againe, who also by the same +messenger sent and wrote backe vnto him diuers times about the same matter, +whereby no mistrust should spring. + +This messenger (sayth mine author) was one ex caute nutritis, one of the +stony hearted, that neither feared God nor dreaded death. + +The fift time when this messenger came, and was of the princes seruants +searched according to the maner and custome what weapon and armour he had +about him, as also his purse, that not so much as a knife could be seene +about him, he was had vp into the princes chamber, and after his reuerence +done, he pulled out certaine letters, which he deliuered the prince from +his lord, as he had done others before. This was about eight dayes after +Whitsuntide, vpon a Tuesday, somewhat before night, at which time the +prince was layed vpon his bed bare headed, in his ierkin for the great heat +and intemperature of the weather. + +When the prince had read the letters, it appeared by them, that vpon the +Saturday next following, his lord would be there ready to accomplish all +that he had written and promised. The report of these newes by the prince +to the standers by, liked them well, who drew somewhat backe to consult +thereof amongst themselues. [Sidenote: Prince Edward traiterously wounded.] +In the meane time, the messenger kneeling, and making his obeisance to the +prince (questioning further with him) put his hand to his belt, as though +he would haue pulled out some secret letters, and suddenly he pulled out an +enuenomed knife, thinking to haue stroken the prince in the belly therewith +as he lay: but the prince lifting vp his hand to defend the blow, was +striken a great wound into the arme, and being about to fetch another +stroke at him, the prince againe with his foot tooke him such a blow, that +he feld him to the ground: with that the prince gate him by the hand, and +with such violence wrasted the knife from him, that he hurt himselfe +therewith on the forehead, and immediately thrust the same into belly of +the messenger and striker, and slew him. + +The princes seruants being in the next chamber not farre off, hearing the +busling, came with great haste running in, and finding the messenger lying +dead in the floore, one of them tooke vp a stoole, and beat out his brains: +whereat the prince was wroth for that he stroke a dead man, and one that +was killed before. + +But the rumour of this accident, as it was strange, so it went soone +thorowout all the Court, and from thence among the common people, for which +they were very heauy, and greatly discouraged. To him came also the +Captaine of the Temple, and brought him a costly and precious drinke +against poison, least the venime of the knife should penetrate the liuely +blood, and in blaming wise sayd vnto him: did I not tell your Grace before +of the deceit and subtilty of this people? Notwithstanding, said he, let +your Grace take a good heart, you shall not die of this wound, my life for +yours. But straight way the Surgions and Physicians were sent for, and the +prince was dressed, and within few dayes after, the wound began to +putrifie, and the flesh to looke dead and blacke: wherupon they that were +about the prince began to mutter among themselues, and were very sad and +heauy. + +Which thing, he himself perceiuing, said vnto them: why mutter you thus +among your selues? what see you in me, can I not be healed? tell me the +trueth, be ye not afrayd. Whereupon one sayd vnto him, and it like your +Grace you may be healed, we mistrust not, but yet it will be very painfull +for you to suffer. May suffering (sayd he againe) restore health? yea sayth +the other, on paine of losing my head. Then sayd the prince, I commit my +selfe vnto you, doe with me what you thinke good. + +Then sayd one of the Physicians, is there any of your Nobles in whom your +Grace reposeth special trust? to whom the prince answered Yea, naming +certeine of the Noble men that stood about him. Then sayd the Physician to +the two, whom the prince first named, the Lord Edmund, [Marginal note: The +lord Edmond was the prince his brother.] and the lord Iohn Voisie, And doe +you also faithfully loue your Lord and prince? Who answered both, Yea +vndoubtedly. Then sayth he, take you away this gentlewoman and lady +(meaning his wife) and let her not see her lord and husband, till such time +as I will you thereunto. Whereupon they tooke her from the princes +presence, crying out, and wringing her hands. Then sayd they vnto her, Be +you contented good Lady and Madame, it is better that one woman should +weepe a little while, then that all the realme of England should weepe a +great season. + +Then on the morrow they cut out all the dead and inuenimed flesh out of the +princes arme, and threw it from them, and sayd vnto him: how cheereth your +Grace, we promise you within these fifteene dayes you shall shew your selfe +abroad (if God permit) vpon your horsebacke, whole and well as euer you +were. And according to the promise he made the prince, it came to passe, to +the no little comfort and admiration of all his subiects. + +When the great Souldan heard hereof, and that the prince was yet aliue, he +could scarsely beleeue the same, and sending vnto him three of his Nobles +and Princes, excused himselfe by them, calling his God to witnesse that the +same was done neither by him nor his consent. Which princes and messengers +standing aloofe off from the kings sonne, worshipping him, fell flat vpon +the ground: you (sayd the prince) do reuerence me, but yet you loue me not. +But they vnderstood him not, because he spake in English vnto them, +speaking by an Interpreter: neuerthelesse he honourably entertained them, +and sent them away in peace. + +Thus when prince Edward had beene eighteene moneths in Acra, he tooke +shipping about the Assumption of our Lady, as we call it, returning +homeward, and after seuen weekes he arriued in Sicilia at Trapes, and from +thence trauailed thorow the middes of Apulia, till he came to Rome, where +he was of the Pope honorably entertained. + +From thence he came into France, whose fame and noble prowesse was there +much bruted among the common people, and enuied of the Nobility, especially +of the Earle of Chalons, who thought to haue intrapped him and his company, +as may appeare in the story: but Prince Edward continued foorth his iourney +to Paris, and was there of the French king honourably entertained: and +after certaine dayes he went thence into Gascoine, where he taried till +that he heard of the death of the king his father, at which time he came +home, and was crowned king of England, in the yere of our Lord 1274. + + * * * * * + +The trauaile of Robert Turneham. + +Robertus Turneham Franciscanus, Theologiae professor insignis, Lynnae celebri +Irenorum ad ripas Isidis emporio, collegio suorum fratrum magnifice +praefuit. Edwardus Princeps, cognomento Longus, Henrici tertij filius, +bellicam expeditionem contra Saracenos Assyriam incolentes, anno Dom. 1268. +parabat. Ad quam profectionem quaesitus quoque Orator vehemens, qui plebis +in causa religionis animos excitaret, Turnehamus principi visus vel +dignissimus est, qui munus hoc obiret. Sic tanquam signifer constitutus +Assyrios vna cum Anglico exercitu petijt, ac suum non sine laude praestitit +officiuin. Claruit anno salutiferi partus, 1280. varia componens, sub eodem +Edwardo eius nominis primo post Conquestum. + +The same in English. + +Robert Turneham Franciscan, a notable professor of Diuinitie, was with +great dignitie Prior of the Colledge of his Order in the famous Mart Towne +of Lynne, situate vpon the riuer of Isis in Norfolke. Prince Edward +surnamed the Long, the sonne of Henrie the third, prepared his warlike +voyage against the Saracens dwelling in Syria, in the yeere of our Lord, +1268. For the which expedition some earnest preacher was sought to stirre +vp the peoples minds in the cause of religion. And this Turneham seemed to +the Prince most worthy to performe that office: so that he being appointed +as it were a standard bearer, went into Syria with the English army, and +performed his duety with good commendation. He flourished in the yeere of +Christ 1280, setting forth diuers workes vnder the same King Edward the +first of that name after the Conquest. + + * * * * * + +The life of Syr Iohn Mandeuill Knight, written by Master Bale. + +Ioannes Mandeuil, vir equestris ordinis, ex fano Albini oriundus, ita a +teneris vt aiunt, vnguiculis literarum studijs assueuerat, vt in illis +bonam foelicitatis suae partem poneret. Nam generis sui stemmata illustria, +nulli vsui futura ducebat, nisi illa clariora doctis artibus redderet. +Quare cum animum Euangelica lectione rite instituisset, transtulit sua +studia ad rem Medicam, artem imprimis liberali ingenio dignam. Sed inter +alia, ingens quaedam cupido videndi Africam, et Asiam, vastioris orbis +partes, eius animum inuaserat. Comparato igitur amplo viatico, peregre +profectus est, anno a Christo nato, 1332. et domum tanquam alter Vlysses, +post 34. annos rediens, a paucissimis quidem cognitus fuit. Interim +Scythiam, Armeniam, Maiorem et Minorem, Aegyptum, vtramque Lybiam, Arabiam, +Syriam, Mediam, Mesopotamiam, Persiam, Chaldaeam, Graeciam, Illyrium, +Tartariam, et alia spaciosi orbis regna, laborioso itinere visitauit. +Denique linguarum cognitione praeditus, ne tot ac tantarum rerum varietates, +et miracula quae oculatus testis viderat, memoriaeque mandauerat, obliuione +premerentur, in tribus linguis, Anglica, Gallica, et Latina, graphice +scripsit Itinerarium 33. annorum. Reuersus in Angliam, ac visis sui seculi +malis, vir pius dicebat, nostris temporibus iam verius quam olim dici +potest, virtus cessat, Ecclesia calcatur, Clerus errat, daemon regnat, +simonia dominatur, etc. Leodij tandem obijt, anno Domini 1372. die 17. +Nouembris, apud Guilielmitas sepultus. + +The same in English. + +Iohn Mandeuil Knight, borne in the towne of S. Albons, was so well giuen to +the studie of learning from his childhood, that he seemed to plant a good +part of his felicitie in the same: for he supposed that the honour of his +birth would nothing auaile him, except he could render the same more +honourable by his knowledge in good letters. Hauing therefore well grounded +himselfe in religion by reading the Scriptures, he applied his studies to +the arte of Physicke, a profession worthy a noble wit: but amongst other +things, he was rauished with a mightie desire to see the greater partes of +the world, as Asia, and Africa. Hauing therefore prouided all things +necessarie for his iourney he departed from his countrey in the yeere of +Christ, 1332, and as another Vlysses returned home, after the space of 34. +yeeres, and was then knowen to a very fewe. In the time of his trauaile he +was in Scythia, the greater and lesse Armenia, Egypt, both Lybias, Arabia, +Syria, Media, Mesopotamia, Persia, Chaldaea, Greece, Illyrium, Tartarie, and +diuers other kingdomes of the world: and hauing gotten by this meanes the +knowledge of the languages, least so many and great varieties, and things +miraculous, whereof himselfe had bene an eie witnes, should perish in +obliuion, he committed his whole trauell of 33. yeeres to writing in three +diuers tongues, English, French and Latine. Being arriued againe in +England, and hauing seene the wickednes of that age, he gaue out this +speach. In our time (sayd he) it may be spoken more truely then of olde, +that vertue is gone, the Church is vnder foote, the Clergie is in errour, +the deuill raigneth, and Simonie beareth the sway, &c. + +He died at Leege, in the yeere 1311. the 17. day of Nouember, being there +buried in the Abbie of the Order of the Guilielmites. + + * * * * * + +The Tombe and Epitaph of Sir Iohn Mandeuil, in the citie of Leege, spoken + of by Ortelius, in his booke called Itinerarium Belgiae, in this sort. + +[Sidenote: Fol. 15, 16.] Magna et populosa Leodij suburbia, ad collium +radices, in quorum iugis multa sunt, et pulcherrima monasteria, inter quae +magnificum illud, ac nobile D. Laurentio dicatum, ab Raginardo Episcopo. +Est in hac quoque regione, vel suburbijs Leodij, Guilielmitarum Coenobium, +in quo Epitaphium hoc Ioannis a Mandeuille, excepimus. + +[Sidenote: Epitaphium.] Hic iacet vir nobilis, D. Ioannes de Mandeuille, +aliter dictus ad Barbam, Miles, Dominus de Campdi, natus de Anglia, +Medicinae professor, deuotissimus, orator, et bonorum largissimus pauperibus +erogator, qui toto quasi orbe lustrato, Leodij diem vitae suae clausit +extremum. Anno Dom. 1371. Mensis Nouembris, Die 17. + +Haec in lapide: in quo caelata viri armati imago, Leonem calcantis, barba +bifurcata, ad caput manus benedicens, et vernacula haec verba: Vos qui +paseis sor mi, pour l'amour deix proies por mi. Clipeus erat vacuus, in quo +olim fuisse dicebant laminam aeream, et eius in ea itidem caelata insignia, +Leonem videlicet argenteum, cui ad pectus lunula rubea in campo caeruleo, +quem Limbus ambiret denticulatus ex auro. Eius nobis ostendebant, et +cultros, ephipiaque, et calcaria quibus vsum fuisse asserebant, in +peragrando toto fere terrarum orbe, vt clarius testatur eius Itinerarium, +quod typis etiam excusum passim habetur. + + * * * * * + +Tabvla Praesentis Libri Ioannes Mandevil, singvla per ordinem capitula, et + in eorum quolibet quid agitur, notificat euidenter. + +Capvt. 1 Commendatio breuis terrae Hierosolymltanae. + +2 Iter ab Anglia tam per terras quam per aquas, vsque in Constantinopolim. + +3 De vrbe Constantinopoli, et reliquijs ibidem contentis. + +4 Via tam per terras quam per aquas, a Constantinopoli vsque Acharon, vel + Acon. + +5 Via a Francia et Flandria, per solas terras vsque in Hierusalem. + +6 Via de Cypro vel de Hierusalem, vsque in Babyloniam Egypti. + +7 De Pallatio Soldani, et nominibus praeteritorum Soldanorum. + +8 De Campo Balsami in Egypto. + +9 De Nilo fluuio, et Egypti territorio. + +10 De conductu Soldani. + +11 De Monasterio Sinay. + +12 Iter per desertum Sinay, vsque in Iudeam. + +13 De ciuitate Bethleem, et semita, vsque in Ierusalem. + +14 De Ecclesia gloriosi sepulchri Domini in vrbe Ierusalem. + +15 De tribus alijs Ecclesiis, et specialiter de Templo Domini. + +16 De pluribus locis sacris extra vrbem. + +17 De sacris locis extra muros ciuitatis. + +18 De alijs locis notabilibus. + +19 De Nazareth et Samaria. + +20 De Territorio Galileae et Samariae. + +21 De secta detestabili Sarracenorum. + +22 De vita Mahometi. + +23 De colloquio Authoris cum Soldano. + +24 Persuasio ad non credentes terrarum diuersitates per orbem terrae. + +25 De Armenia, et Persia. + +26 De Ethiopia et diamantibus, ac de infima et media India. + +27 De foresto piperis. + +28 De Ecclesia beati Thomae Apostoli. + +29 De quibusdam meridionalibus insulis, et farina et melle. + +30 De Regno Cynocephalorum, et alijs Insulis. + +31 De multis alijs insulis Meridionalibus. + +32 De bona regione Mangi. + +33 De Pygmeis, et itinere vsque prouinciam Cathay. + +34 De pallacio Imperatoris magni Chan. + +35 De quatuor solemnitatibus, quas magnus Chan celebrat in Anno. + +36 De praestigijs in festo, et de comitatu Imperatoris. + +37 Qua de causa dicitur magnus Chan. + +38 De territorio Cathay, et moribus Tartarorum. + +39 De sepultura Imperatoris magni Chan, et de creatione successoris. + +40 De multis regionibus Imperio Tartariae subiectis. + +41 De magnificentia Imperatoris Indiae. + +42 De frequentia Palatij, et comitatu Imperatoris praesbiteri Ioannis. + +43 De quisbusdam miris per Regiones Imperij Indiae. + +44 De loco et dispositione Vallis infaustae. + +45 De quibusdam alijs admirandis, per Indorum insulas. + +46 De periculis et tormentis in valle infausta. + +47 De Bragmannorum insulis, et aliorum. + +48 Aliquid de loco Paradisi terrestris per auditum. + +49 In reuertendo de Regnis Cassam, et Riboth, de Diuite Epulone, vel + consimili. + +50 De compositione huius tractatus in Ciuitate Leodiensi. + + +Liber Praesens, Cvivs Avthor est Ioannes Mandevil militaris ordinis, agit de + diuersis patrijs, Regionibus, Prouincijs, et insulis, Turcia, Armenia + maiore et minore, AEgypto, Lybia bassa et alta, Syria, Arabia, Persia, + Chaldaea, Tartaria, India, et de infinitis insulis, Ciuitatibus, villis, + castris, et locis, quae gentes, legum, morum, ac rituum inhabitant + diuersorum. + +DEDICATIO LIBRI. + +Principi excellentissimo, prae cunctis mortalibus praecipue venerando, Domino +Edwardo eius nominis tertio, diuina prouidentia Francorum et Anglorum Regi +Serenissimo, Hiberniae Domino, Aquitainiae Duci, mari ac eius insulis +occidentalibus dominanti, Christianorum encomio et ornatui, vniuersorumque +arma gerentium Tutori, ac Probitatis et strenuitatis exemplo, principi +quoque inuicto, mirabilis Alexandri Sequaci, ac vniuerso orbi tremendo, cum +reuerentia non qua decet, cum ad talem, et tantam reuerentiam minus +sufficientes extiterint, sed qua paruitas, et possibilitas mittentis ac +offerentis se extendunt, contenta tradantur. + +Pars prima, continens Capita 23. + +CAPVT. 1. + +Commendatio breuis terrae Hierosolimitanae. + +Cum terra Hierosolimitana, terra promissionis filiorum Dei, dignior cunctis +mundi terris sit habenda multis ex causis, et praecipue illa, quod Deus +conditor coeli et mundi, ipsam tanti dignatus fuit aestimare, vt in eo +proprinm filium saluatorem mundi, Christum exhibuerit generi humano per +incarnationem ex intemerata Virgine, et per eius conuersationem humillimam +in eadem, ac per dolorosam mortis suae consummationem ibidem, atque inde per +eius admirandam resurrectionem, ac ascensionem in coelum, et postremo quia +creditur illic in fine seculi reuersurus, et omnia iudicaturus: certum est, +quod ab omnibus qui Christiano nomine a Christo dicuntur, sit tanquam a +suis proprijs haeredibus diligenda, et pro cuiusque potestate ac modulo +honoranda. [Sidenote: Loquitur secundum tempora in quibus vixit.] A +principibus quidem, et potentibus vt ipsam conentur de infidelium manibus +recuperare, qui eam iam pridem a nobis, nostris exigentibus meritis, +abstulerunt, et per annos heu plurimos possederunt: a mediocribus antem et +valentibus, vt per peregrinationem deuotam loca tam pia, et vestigia +Christi ac discipolorum tam Sancta, principaliter in remissionem visitent +delictorum. Ab impotentibus vero, et impeditis, quatenus supradictos vel +hortentur, vel in aliquo modo iuuent, seu certe fideles fondant orationes. +Verum quia iam nostris temporibus verius quam olim dici potest, + + Virtus, Ecclesia, Clerus, daemon, symonia, + Cessat, calcatur, errat, regnat, dominatur, + +ecce iusto Dei iudicio, credita est terra tam inclyta, et sacrosancta +impiorum manibus Saracenorum, quod non est absque dolore pijs mentibus +audiendum, et recolendum. EGO Ioannes Mandeuill militaris ordinis saltem +gerens nomen, natus et educatus in terra Angliae, in villa sancti Albani, +ducebar in Adolescentia mea tali inspiratione, vt quamuis non per +potentiam, nec per vires proprias possem praefatam terram suis haeredibus +recuperare, irem tamen per aliquod temporis spacium peregrinari ibidem, et +salutarem aliquantulum de propinquo. [Sidenote: Ioannis Mandiuilli +peregrinatio, per tres et triginta annos continuata.] Vnde in anno ab +Incarnatione Domini 1322. imposui me nauigationi Marsiliensis maris et +vsque in hoc temporis, Anni 1355. scilicet, per 33. annos in transmarinis +partibus mansi, peregrinatus sum, ambulaui, et circuiui multas, ac diuersas +patrias, regiones, prouincias, et insulas, Turciam, Armeniam maiorem, et +minorem, AEgyptum, Lybiam bassam et altam, Syriam, Arabiam, Persiam, +Chaldeam, AEthiopiae partem magnam, Tartariam, Amazoniam, Indiam minorem, et +mediam, ac partem magnam de maiori, et in istis, et circum istas regiones, +multas insulas, Ciuitates, vrbes, castra, villas, et loca, vbi habitant +variae gentes, aspectuum, morum, legum, ac rituum, diuersorum: Attamen quia +summo desiderio in terra promissionis eram, ipsam diligentius per loca +vestigiorum filij Dei perlustrare curaui, et diutius in illa steti. +Quapropter et in hac prima parte huius operis iter tam peregrinandi, quam +nauigandi, a partibus Angliae ad ipsam describo, et loca notabiliter sancta, +quae intra eandem sunt breuiter commemoro et diligenter, quatenus peregrinis +tam in itinere quam in prouentione valeat haec descriptio in aliquo +deseruire. + +The English Version. [Footnote: This English version (for the variations +from the Latin are so great that it cannot be called a _translation_) was +published in 1725 from a MS. of the end of the 14th or beginning of the +15th century, in the Cottonian Library, marked Titus. C. xvi. + +Instead of being divided into 50 chapters like the Latin, it contains only +33, but I have thought it best to make it correspond as nearly with the +Latin as possible, merely indicating where the various chapters begin in +the English version. From the last paragraph of the introductory chapter, +it would seem that the English version was written by Mandeville +himself.--E. G.] + +[Sidenote: The Prologue] For als moche as the Lond bezonde the See, that is +to seye, the Holy Lond, that men callen the Lond of Promyssioun, or of +Beheste, passynge alle othere Londes, is the most worthi Lond, most +excellent, and Lady and Sovereyn of alle othere Londes, and is blessed and +halewed of the precyous Body and Blood of oure Lord Jesu Crist; in the +whiche Lond it lykede him to take Flesche and Blood of the Virgyne Marie, +to envyrone that holy Lond with his blessede Feet; and there he wolde of +his blessednesse enoumbre him in the seyd blessed and gloriouse Virgine +Marie, and become Man, and worche many Myracles, and preche and teche the +Feythe and the Lawe of Cristene Men unto his Children; and there it lykede +him to suffre many Reprevinges and Scornes for us; and he that was Kyng of +Hevene, of Eyr, of Erthe, of See and of alle thinges that ben conteyned in +hem, wolde alle only ben cleped Kyng of that Lond, whan he seyde, "_Rex sum +Judeorum_," that is to seyne, "I am Kyng of Jewes;" and that Lond he chees +before alle other. Londes, as the beste and most worthi Lond, and the most +vertouse lond of alle the world: For it is the herte and the myddes of all +the world; wytnessynge the philosophere, that seythe thus; "_Vertus rerum +in medio consistit:_" That is to seye, "The vertue of thinges is in the +myddes;" and in that Lond he wolde lede his lyf, and suffre passioun and +dethe of Jewes, for us; for to bye and to delyvere us from peynes of helle, +and from dethe withouten ende; the whiche was ordeyned for us, for the +synne of oure formere fader Adam, and for oure owne synnes also: for as for +himself, he hadde non evylle deserved: For he thoughte nevere evylle ne dyd +evylle: And he that was kyng of glorie and of joye myghten best in that +place suffre dethe; because he ches in that lond, rathere than in ony +othere, there to suffre his passioun and his dethe: For he that wil +pupplische ony thing to make it openly knowen, he wil make it to ben cryed +and pronounced, in the myddel place of a town; so that the thing that is +proclamed and pronounced, may evenly strecche to alle parties: Righte so, +he that was formyour of alle the world, wolde suffre for us at Jerusalem; +that is the myddes of the world; to that ende and entent, that his passioun +and his dethe, that was pupplischt there, myghte ben knowen evenly to alle +the parties of the world. See now how dere he boughte man, that he made +after his owne ymage, and how dere he azen boghte us, for the grete love +that he hadde to us; and we nevere deserved it to him. For more precyous +catelle ne gretter ransoum, ne myghte he put for us, than his blessede +body, his precyous blood, and his holy lyf, that he thralled for us; and +alle he offred for us, that nevere did synne. A dere God, what love hadde +he to his subjettes, whan he that nevere trespaced, wolde for trespassours +suffre dethe! Righte wel oughte us for to love and worschipe, to drede and +serven suche a Lord; and to worschipe and preyse suche an holy lond, that +broughte forthe suche fruyt, thorghe the whiche every man is saved, but it +be his owne defaute. Wel may that lond be called delytable and a fructuous +lond, that was bebledd [Footnote: Coloured with blood] and moysted with the +precyouse blode of oure Lord Jesu Crist; the whiche is the same lond, that +oure lord behighten us in heritage. And in that lond he wolde dye, as +seised, for to leve it to us his children. Wherfore every gode Cristene +man, that is of powere, and hathe whereof, scholde peynen him with all his +strengthe for to conquere oure righte heritage, and chacen out alle the +mysbeleevynge men. For wee ben clept cristene men, aftre Crist our Fadre. +And zif wee ben righte children of Crist, we oughte for to chalenge the +heritage, that oure Fadre lafte us, and do it out of hethene mennes hondes. +But nowe pryde, covetyse and envye han so enflawmed the hertes of lordes of +the world, that thei are more besy for to disherite here neyghbores, more +than for to chalenge or to conquere here righte heritage before seyd. And +the comoun peple, that wolde putte here bodyes and here catelle, for to +conquere oure heritage, thei may not don it withouten the lordes. For a +semblee of peple withouten a cheventeyn, [Footnote: Chieftain.] or a chief +lord, is as a flock of scheep withouten a schepperde; the whiche departeth +and desparpleth, [Footnote: Disperseth.] and wyten never whidre to go. But +wolde God, that the temporel lordes and all worldly lordes weren at gode +accord, and with the comen peple woulden taken this holy viage over the +see. Thanne I trowe wel, that within a lytyl tyme, our righte heritage +before seyd scholde be reconsyled and put in the hondes of the right heires +of Jesu Crist. + +And for als moche as it is longe tyme passed, that there was no generalle +passage ne vyage over the see; and many men desiren for to here speke of +the holy lond, and han thereof great solace and comfort; I John +Maundevylle, Knyght, alle be it I be not worthi, that was born in Englond, +in the town of Scynt Albones, passed the see in the zeer of our Lord Jesu +Crist MCCCXXII, in the day of Seynt Michelle; and hidre [Footnote: There.] +to have ben longe tyme over the see, and have seyn and gon thorghe manye +dyverse londes, and many provynces and Kingdomes and iles, and have passed +thorghe Tartarye, Percye, Ermonye [Footnote: Armenia.] the litylle and the +grete; thorghe Lybye, Caldee, and a gret partie of Ethiope; thorghe +Amazoyne, Inde the lasse and the more, a gret partie; and thorghe out many +othere iles, that ben abouten Inde; where dwellen many dyverse folkes, and +of dyverse manneres and lawes, and of dyverse schappes of men. Of which +londes and iles, I schall speake more pleynly hereaftre. And I schall +devise zou sum partie of thinges that there ben, whan time schalle ben, +aftre it may best come to my mynde; and specially for hem, that wylle and +are in purpos for to visite the holy citee of Jerusalem, and the holy +places that are thereaboute. And I schalle telle the weye, that thei +schulle holden thidre. For I have often tymes passed and ryden the way, +with gode companye of many lordes: God be thonked. + +And zee schulle undirstonde, that I have put this boke out of Latyn into +Frensche, and translated it azen out of Frensche into Englyssche, that +every man of my nacioun may undirstonde it. But lordes and knyghtes and +othere noble and worthi men, that conne Latyn but litylle, and han ben +bezonde the see, knowen and undirstonden, zif I erre in devisynge, for +forzetynge, [Footnote: Forgetting.] or elles; that thei mowe redresse it +and amende it. For thinges passed out of longe tyme from a mannes mynde or +from his syght, turnen sone into forzetynge: Because that mynde of man ne +may not ben comprehended ne witheholden, for the freeltee of mankynde. + +To teche zou the Weye out of Englond to Constantinoble. + +[Sidenote: Cap I.] In the name of God Glorious and Allemyghty. He that wil +passe over the see, to go to the city of Jerusalem, he may go by many +wayes, bothe on see and londe, aftre the contree that hee cometh fro; manye +of hem comen to on ende. But troweth not that I wil telle zou alle the +townes and cytees and castelles, that men schulle go by; for than scholde I +make to longe a tale; but alle only summe contrees and most princypalle +stedes, that men schulle gone thorgh, to gon the righte way. + + +CAPVT. 2. + +Iter ab Anglia tam per terras quam per aquas vsque in Constantinopolim. + +Qui de Hybernia, Anglia, Scotia, Noruegia, aut Gallia, iter arripit ad +partes Hierosolymitanas potest saltem vsque ad Imperialem Greciae Ciuitatem +Constantinopolim eligere sibi modum proficiscendi, siue per terras, siue +per aquas. Et si peregrinando eligit transigere viam, tendat per Coloniam +Agrippinam, et sic per Almaniam in Hungariam ad Montlusant Ciuitatem, sedem +Regni Hungariae. [Sidenote: Regis Hungariae olim potentia.] Et est Rex +Hungariae multum potens istis temporibus. Nam tenet et Sclauoniam, et magnam +partem Regni Comannorum, et Hungariam, et partem Regni Russiae. Oportet vt +peregrinus in finibus Hungariae transeat magnum Danubij flumen, et vadat in +Belgradum; Hoc flumen oritur inter Montana Almaniae, et currens versus +Orientem, recipit in se 40. flumina antequam finiatur in mare. De Belgrade +intratur terra Bulgariae, et transitur per Pontem petrinum fluuij Marroy, et +per terram Pyncenars, et tunc intratur Graecia, in Ciuitates, Sternes, +Asmopape, et Andrinopolis, et sic in Constantinopolim, vbi communiter est +sedes Imperatoris Greciae. Qui autem viam eligit per aquas versus +Constantinopolim nauigare, accipiat sibi portum, prout voluerit, propinquum +siue remotum, Marsiliae, Pisi, Ianuae, Venetijs, Romae, Neapoli, vel alibi: +sicque transeat Tusciam, Campaniam, Italiam, Corsicam, Sardiniam, vsque in +Siciliam, quae diuiditur ab Italia per brachiam maris non magnum. [Sidenote: +Mons aetna.] In Sicilia est mons AEtna iugiter ardens, qui ibidem apellatur +Mons Gibelle, et praeter illum habentur ibi loca Golthan vbi sunt septem +leucae quasi semper ignem spirantes: secundum diuersitatem colorum harum +flammarum estimant. [Sidenote: Aeolides insulae.] Incolae annum fertilem +fore, vel sterilem, siccum vel humidum, calidum, vel frigidum: haec loca +vocant caminos Infernales, et a finibus Italiae vsque ad ista loca sunt 25. +miliaria. [Sidenote: Temperes Siciliae Insulae.] Sunt autem in Sicilia aliqua +Pomeria in quibus inueniuntur frondes, flores, et fructus per totum annum, +etiam, in profunda hyeme. Regnum Siciliae est bona, et grandis insula habens +in circuitu fere leucas 300. [Sidenote: Leuca Lombardica. Quid sit dieta.] +Et ne quis eret, vel de facili reprehendat quoties scribo leucam, +intelligendum est de leuca Lombardica, quae aliquanto maior est Geometrica; +et quoties pono numerum, sub intelligatur fere, vel circiter, siue citra, +et dietam intendo ponere, de 10. Lombardicis leucis: Geometrica autem leuca +describitur, vt notum est, per hos versus. + + Quinque pedes passum faciunt, passus quoque centum + Viginti quinque stadium, si millia des que + Octo facis stadia, duplicatum dat tibi leuca. + +[Sidenote: Portus Greciae.] Postquam itaque peregrinus se credidit Deo et +mari, si prospera sibi fuerit nauigatio, non ascendet in terram, donec +intret aliquem portum Greciae, scilicet, Myrroyt, Valonae, Durase, siue alium +prout Diuinae placuerit uoluntati, et exhinc ibit Constantinopolim +praaedictam, quaae olim Bysantium, vel Vesaton dicebatur. Hic autem notandum +est, quod a portu Venetie, vsque ad Constantinopolim directe per mare +octingentae leucae et 80. communiter computantur ibi contentae. + +The English Version. + +First, zif a man come from the west syde of the world, as Engelond, +Irelond, Wales, Skotlond or Norwaye; he may, zif that he wole, go thorge +Almayne, and thorge the kyngdom of Hungarye, that marchethe to the lond of +Polayne, and to the lond of Pannonye, and so to Slesie. And the Kyng of +Hungarye is a gret lord and a myghty, and holdeth grete lordschippes and +meche lond in his hond. For he holdeth the kyngdom of Hungarie, Solavonye +and of Comanye a gret part, and of Bulgarie, that men clepen the lond of +Bougiers, and of the Reme of Roussye a gret partie, whereof he hathe made a +Duchee, that lasteth unto the lond of Nyflan, and marchethe to Pruysse. And +men gon thorghe the lond of this lord, thorghe a cytee that is clept +Cypron, and by the castelle of Neaseburghe, and be the evylle town, that +sytt toward the ende of Hungarye. And there passe men the ryvere of +Danubee. This ryvere of Danubee is a fulle gret ryvere; and it gothe into +Almayne, undre the hilles of Lombardye: and it receiveth into him 40 othere +ryveres; and it rennethe thorghe Hungarie and thorghe Greece and thorghe +Traachie, and it entreth into the see, toward the est, so rudely and so +scharply, that the watre of the see is fressche and holdethe his swetnesse +20 myle within the see. + +And aftre gon men to Belgrave, and entren into the lond of Bourgres; +[Footnote: Bulgaria.] and there passe men a brigge of ston, that is upon +the ryver of Marrok. [Footnote: The river Maros.] And men passen thorghe +the lond of Pyncemartz, and comen to Greece to the cytee of Nye, and to the +cytee of Fynepape, and aftre to the cytee of Dandrenoble, [Footnote: +Adrianople.] and aftre to Constantynoble, that was wont to be clept +Bezanzon. + + +CAPVT. 3. + +De vrbe Constantinopoli, et reltquijs ibidem contentis. + +Constantinopolis pulchra est Ciuitas, et nobilis, triangularis in forma, +firmiterque murata, cuius duae partes includuntur mari Hellesponto, quod +plurimi modo appellant brachium sancti Georgij, et aliqui Buke, Troia +vetus. Versus locum vbi hoc brachium exit de mari est late terrae planities, +in qua antiquitus stetit Troia Ciuitas de qua apud Poetas mira leguntur sed +nunc valde modica apparent vestigia Ciuitatis. In Constantinopoli habentur +multa mirabilia, ac insuper multae sanctorum venerandae relliquaei, ac super +omnia, preciosissimi Crux Christi, seu maior pars illius, et tunica +inconsutilis, cum spongia et arandine, et vno clauorum, et dimidia parte +coronae spineae, cuius altera medietas seruatur in Capetla Regis Franciae, +Parisijs. Nam et ego indignus ditigenter pluribus vicibus respexi partem +vtramque: dabatur quoque mihi de illa Parisijs vnica spina, quam vsque nunc +preciose conseruo, et est ipsa spina non lignea sed uelut de iuncis marinis +rigida, et pungitiua. [Sidenote: Eclesia sanctae Sophiae] Ecclesia +Constantinopolitana in honorem sanctae Sophiae, id est, ineffabilis Dei +sapientiae dedicato dicitur, et nobilissima vniuersarum mundi Ecclesiarum, +tam in schemate artificiosi operis, quam in seruatis ibi sacrosanctis +Relliquijs: [Sidenote: Regina Helena Britanna] nam et continet corpus +sancte Annae matris nostrae Dominae translatum illuc per Reginam Helenam ab +Hierosolymis: et corpus S. Lucae Euangelistae translatum de Bethania Iudeae; +Et Corpus beati Ioannis Chrysostomi ipsius Ciuitatis Episcopi, cum multis +atlijs reliquijs preciosis; quoniam est ibi vas grande cum huiusmodi +reliquijs velut marmoreum de Petra Enhydros; quod iugiter de seipso +desudans aquam semel, in anno inuenitur suo sudore repletum. [Sidenote: +Imago Iustiniani.] Ante hanc Ecclesiam, super columnam marmoream habetur de +aere aurato opere fuscrio, magna imago Iustiniani quondam Imperatoris super +equum sedentis, fuit autem primitus in manu imaginis fabricata sphaera +rotunda, quae iam diu e manu sua sibi cecidit, in signum quod Imperator +muliarum terraram dominium perdidit. Namque solebat esse Dominus, Romanorum +Graecorum, Asiae, Syriae, Iudeae, AEgypti, Arabiae, et Persiae, at nunc solum +retinet Greciam, cum aliquibus terris Greciae adiacentibus, sicut Calistrum, +Cholchos, Ortigo, Tylbriam, Minos, Flexon, Melos, Carpates, Lemnon, +Thraciam, et Macedoniam totam: Suntque sub eo Caypoplij, et alti +Pyntenardi, ac maxima pars Commannorum. Porro imago tenet manum eleuatam et +extentam in orientem, velut in signum cominationis ad Orientales infideles. +De praedicta terra Thraciae fuit Philosophus Aristoteles oriundus in Ciuitate +Stageres, et est ibi in loco tumba eius velut altare, vbi et singulis annis +certo die celebratur a populo festum illius, ac si fuisset sanctus. +Temporibus ergo magnorum consiliorum conueniunt illuc sapientes terrae, +reputantes sibi per inspirationem immitti consilium optimum de agendis. +Item ad diuisionem Thraciae et Macedoniae sunt duo mirabiliter alti montes, +vnus Olympus, alter Athos, cuius vltimi vmbra oriente sole apparet ad 76. +miliaria, vsque in insulam Lemnon. In horum cacumine montium ventus non +currit, nec aer mouetur, quod frequenter probatum est per ingenium +Astronomorum, qui quandoque ascendentes scripserunt, literas in puluere, +quas sequenti anno inuenerunt quasi recenter scriptas, et quia est ibi +purus aer sine mixtione elementi aquae necesse est vt ascendentes habeant +secum spongias aquae plenas pro adhelitus respiratione: In praedicta autem +sanctae sophiae Ecclesia, (sicut ibidem dicitur,) voluit olim quidam +Imperator corpus cuiusdam sui defuncti sepelire cognati: cuius cum +foderetur sepulchrum, ventum est ad mausoleum antiquum in quo super +incineratum corpus iacebat discus auri puri, et erat sculptum in eo literis +Graecis, Hebraicis, et Latinis sic. Iesus Christus nascetur de Virgine, et +ego credo in eum. Et erat simul inscripta data defuncti secundum modum +illius temporis quae continebat duo millia annorum ante incarnationem ipsius +Christi de Maria Virgine. Seruatur quoque hodierno tempore eadem patina in +Thesaurario eiusdem Ecclesiae, et dicitur illud corpus fuisse Hermetis +sapientis. Omnes quidem, terrarum, regionum et insularum homines, qui isti +Greco obediunt Imperatori sunt Christiani, et baptizati, tamen variant +singuli in aliquo articulo fidem suam a nostra vera fide Catholica, et +diuersificant in multis suos ritus a ritibus Romanae Ecclesiae, quia iamdiu +omiserunt obedire Pontifici Romano, dicentes, quoniam beatus Petrus +Apostolus habuit sedem in Antiochia, quamuis passus fuit in Roma: +[Sidenote: Patriarchae Antiocheni authoritas.] Idcirco patriarcha +Antiochenus habet in illis Orientalibus partibus similem potestatem, quam +Pontifex Romanus in istis Occidentalibus. Imperator etiam +Constantinopolitanus creat eorum patriarcham, et instituit pro sua +voluntate Archiepiscopos, et Episcopos, et confert dignitates, et +beneficia, similiter inuenta occasione destituit, deponit, et priuat. + +The English Version. + +And there dwellethe comounly the Emperour of Greece. And there is the most +fayr chirche and the most noble of alle the world: and it is of Seynt +Sophie. And before that chirche is the ymage of Justynyan the Emperour, +covered with gold, and he sytt upon an hors y crowned. And he was wont to +holden a round appelle of gold in his hond: but it is fallen out thereof. +And men seyn there, that it is a tokene, that the Emperour hathe y lost a +gret partie of his londes, and of his lordschipes: for he was wont to be +Emperour of Romayne and of Grece, of alle Asye the lesse, and of the lond +of Surrye, of the lond of Judee, in the whiche is Jerusalem, and of the +lond of Egypt, of Percye, of Arabye. But he hathe lost alle, but Grece; and +that lond he holt alle only. And men wolden many tymes put the appulle into +the ymages hond azen, but it wil not holde it. This appulle betokenethe the +lordschipe, that he hadde over alle the worlde, that is round. And the +tother hond he lifteth up azenst the est, in tokene to manace the +mysdoeres. This ymage stont upon a pylere of marble at Constantynoble. + +Of the Crosse and the Croune of oure Lord Jesu Crist. + +[Sidenote: Cap. II.] At Costantynoble is the cros of our Lord Jesu Crist, +and his cote withouten semes, that is clept _tunica inconsutilis_, and the +spounge, and the reed, of the whiche the Jewes zaven oure Lord eyselle +[Footnote: Vinegar] and galle, in the cros. And there is on of the nayles, +that Crist was naylled with on the cros. And some men trowen, that half the +cros, that Crist was don on, be in Cipres, in an abbey of monkes, that men +callen the Hille of the Holy Cros; but it is not so: for that cros, that is +in Cypre, is the cros, in the whiche Dysmas the gode theef was honged onne. +But alle men knowen not that; and that is evylle y don. For profyte of the +offrynge, thei seye, that it is the cros of oure Lord Jesu Crist. And zee +schulle undrestonde, that the cros of oure Lord was made of 4 manere of +trees, as it is conteyned in this vers, + + In cruce fit palma, cedrus, cypressus, oliva. + +For that pece, that went upright fro the erthe to the heved, [Footnote: +Head.] was of cypresse; and the pece, that wente overthwart, to the whiche +his honds wern nayled, was of palme; and the stock, that stode within the +erthe, in the whiche was made the morteys, was of cedre; and the table +aboven his heved, that was a fote and an half long, on the whiche the title +was writen, in Ebreu, Grece and Latyn, that was of olyve. And the Jewes +maden the cros of theise 4 manere of trees: for thei trowed that oure Lord +Jesu Crist scholde han honged on the cros, als longe as the cros myghten +laste. And therfore made thei the foot of the cros of cedre. For cedre may +not, in erthe ne in watre, rote. And therfore thei wolde, that it scholde +have lasted longe. For thei trowed, that the body of Crist scholde have +stonken; therfore thei made that pece, that went from the erthe upward, of +cypres: for it is welle smellynge; so that the smelle of his body scholde +not greve men, that wenten forby. And the overhwart pece was of palme: for +in the Olde Testament, it was ordyned, that whan on overcomen, he scholde +be crowned with palme: and for thei trowed, that thei hadden the victorye +of Crist Jesus, therfore made thei the overthwart pece of palme. [Footnote: +The reference is to the Olympic Games.] And the table of the tytle, thei +maden of olyve; for olyve betokenethe pes. And the storye of Noe +wytnessethe, whan that the culver [Footnote: Dove. Anglo-Saxon, _Cuifra_.] +broughte the braunche of olyve, that betokened pes made betwene God and +man. And so trowed the Jewes for to have pes, when Crist was ded: for thei +seyd, that he made discord and strif amonges hem. And zee schulle +undirstonde, that oure Lord was y naylled on the cros lyggynge; and +therfore he suffred the more peyne. And the Cristene men, that dwellen +bezond the see, in Grece, seyn that the tree of the cros, that we callen +cypresse, was of that tree, that Adam ete the appulle of: and that fynde +thei writen. And thei seyn also, that here Scripture seythe, that Adam was +seek, [Footnote: Sick] and seyed to his sone Sethe, that he scholde go to +the Aungelle, that kepte paradys, that he wolde senden hym oyle of mercy, +for to anoynte with his membres, that be myghte have hele. And Sethe wente. +But the aungelle wolde not late him come in; but seyd to him, that he +myghte not have of the oyle of mercy. But he toke him three greynes of the +same tree, that his fadre eet the appelle offe; and bad him, als sone as +his fadre was ded, that he scholde putte theise three greynes undre his +tonge, and grave him so: and he dide. And of theise three greynes sprang a +tree, as the aungelle seyde, that it scholde, and bere a fruyt, thorghe the +whiche fruyt Adam scholde be saved. And whan Sethe cam azen, he fonde his +fadre nere ded. And whan he was ded he did with the greynes, as the +aungelle bad him; of the whiche sprongen three trees, of the whiche the +cros was made, that bare gode froyt and blessed, oure Lord Jesu Crist; +thorghe whom, Adam and alle that comen of him, scholde be saved and +delyvered from drede of dethe withouten ende, but it be here own defaute. +This holy cros had the Jewes hydde in the erthe, undre a roche of the Mownt +of Calvarie; and it lay there 200 zeer and more, into the tyme that Seynt +Elyne, that was modre to Constantyn the Emperour of Rome. And sche was +doughtre of Kyng Cool born in Colchestre, that was Kyng of Engelond, that +was clept thanne, Brytayne the more; the whiche the Emperour Constance +wedded to his wyf, for here bewtee, and gat upon hire Constantyn, that was +aftre Emperour of Rome. + +And zee schulle undirstonde, that the cros of oure Lord was eyght cubytes +long, and the overthwart piece was of lengthe thre cubytes and an half. And +a partie of the crowne of oure Lord, wherwith he was crowned, and on of the +nayles, and the spere heed, and many other relikes ben in France, in the +kinges chapelle. And the crowne lythe in a vesselle of cristalle richely +dyghte. For a kyng of Fraunce boughte theise relikes somtyme of the Jewes; +to whom the Emperour had leyde hem to wedde, for a gret summe of sylvre. +And zif alle it be so, that men seyn, that this croune is of thornes, zee +schulle undirstonde, that it was of jonkes of the see, that is to sey, +rushes of the see, that prykken als scharpely as thornes. For I have seen +and beholden many tymes that of Parys and that of Costantynoble: for thei +were bothe on, made of russches of the see. But men han departed hem in two +parties: of the whiche, o part is at Parys, and the other part is at +Costantynoble. And I have on of tho precyouse thornes, that semethe licke a +white thorn; and that was zoven to me for gret specyaltee. For there are +many of hem broken and fallen into the vesselle, that the croune lythe in: +for thei breken for dryenesse, whan men meven hem, to schewen hem to grete +lords, that comen thidre. + +And zee schalle undirstonde, that oure Lord Jesu, in that nyghte that he +was taken, he was y lad in to a gardyn; and there he was first examyned +righte scharply; and there the Jewes scorned him, and maden him a crowne of +the braunches of albespyne, that is white thorn, that grew in that same +gardyn, and setten it on his heved, so faste and so sore, that the blood +ran down be many places of his visage, and of his necke, and of his +schuldres. And therfore hathe white thorn many vertues: for he that berethe +a braunche on him thereoffe, no thondre ne no maner of tempest may dere +him; ne in the hows, that it is inne, may non evylle gost entre ne come +unto the place that it is inne. And in that same gardyn, Seynt Petre denyed +our Lord thryes. Aftreward was oure Lord lad forthe before the bisschoppes +and the maystres of the lawe, in to another gardyn of Anne; and there also +he was examyned, repreved, and scorned, and crouned eft with a whyte thorn, +that men clepethe barbarynes, that grew in that gardyn, and that hathe also +manye vertues. And aftreward he was lad in to a gardyn of Cayphas, and +there he was crouned with eglentier. And aftre he was lad in to the chambre +of Pylate, and there he was examynd and crouned. And the Jewes setten him +in a chayere and cladde him in a mantelle; and there made thei the croune +of jonkes of the see; and there thei kneled to him, and skornede him, +seyenge, _Ave, Rex Judeorum_, that is to seye, _Heyl, Kyng of Jewes_. And +of this croune, half is at Parys, and the other half at Costantynoble. And +this croune had Crist on his heved, whan he was don upon the cros: and +therfore oughte men to worschipe it and holde it more worthi than ony of +the othere. + +And the spere schaft hathe the Emperour of Almayne: but the heved is at +Parys. And natheles the Emperour of Costantynoble seythe that he hathe the +spere heed: and I have often tyme seen it; but it is grettere than that at +Parys. + +Of the Cytee of Costantynoble, and of the Feithe of Grekis. + +[Sidenote: Cap. III.] At Costantynoble lyethe Seynte Anne oure Ladyes +modre, whom Seynte Elyne dede brynge fro Jerusalem. And there lyethe also +the body of Iohn Crisostome, that was Erchebisschopp of Costantynoble. And +there lythe also Seynt Luke the Evaungelist: for his bones werein broughte +from Bethanye, where he was beryed. And many other relikes ben there. And +there is the vesselle of ston, as it were of marbelle, that men clepen +enydros, that evermore droppeth watre, and fillethe himself everiche zeer, +til that it go over above, withouten that that men take fro withinne. + +Costantynoble is a fulle fayr cytee, and a gode and a wel walled, and it is +three cornered. And there is an arm of the see Hellespont: and sum men +callen it the mouthe of Costantynoble; and sum men callen it the brace of +Seynt George: and that arm closethe the two partes of the cytee. And upward +to the see, upon the watre, was wont to be the grete cytee of Troye, in a +fulle fayr playn: but that cytee was destroyed by hem of Grece, and lytylle +apperethe there of, be cause it so longe sithe it was destroyed. + +Abouten Grece there ben many iles, as Calistre,[Footnote: Calliste, one of +the Cyclades.] Calcas, [Footnote: Colchos.] Critige, [Footnote: Cerigo.] +Tesbria, [Footnote: Resorio.] Mynea, [Footnote: Mynia is a town in the +Island of Amorgos.] Flaxon, [Footnote: Flexos.] Melo, [Footnote: Milo.] +Carpate, [Footnote: Carpathos, probably.] and Lempne. [Footnote: Lemnos.] +And in this ile is the Mount Athos, [Footnote: Athos is on the main land, +on a promontory S.E. of Solonica.] that passeth the cloudes. And there ben +many dyvers langages and many contreys, that ben obedyent to the Emperour; +that is to seyn Turcople, Pyneynard, Cornange, and manye othere, at +Trachye, [Footnote: Thrace.] and Macedoigne, of the whiche Alisandre was +kyng. In this contree was Aristotle born, in a cytee that men clepen +Stragera, a lytil fro the cytee of Trachaye. And at Stragera lythe +Aristotle; and there is an awtier upon his toumbe: and there maken men +grete festes of hym every zeer, as thoughe he were a seynt. And at his +awtier, thei holden here grete conseilles and here assembleez: and thei +hopen, that thorghe inspiracioun of God and of him, thei schulle have the +better conseille. In this contree ben righte hyghe hilles, toward the ende +of Macedonye. And there is a gret hille, that men clepen Olympus, +[Footnote: The altitude is 9753 feet.] that departeth Macedonye and +Trachye: and it is so highe, that it passeth the cloudes. And there is +another hille, that is clept Athos, [Footnote: It is only 6678 feet. This +is the old Greek verse: [Greek: Athoos kaluptei pleura lemnias boos.]] that +is so highe, that the schadewe of hym rechethe to Lempne, that is an ile; +and it is 76 myle betwene. And aboven at the cop of the hille is the eir so +cleer, that men may fynde no wynd there. And therefore may no best lyve +there; and so is the eyr drye. And men seye in theise contrees, that +philosophres som tyme wenten upon theise hilles, and helden to here nose a +spounge moysted with watre, for to have eyr; for the eyr above was so drye. +And aboven, in the dust and in the powder of the hilles, thei wroot lettres +and figures with hire fingres: and at the zeres end thei comen azen, and +founden the same lettres and figures, the whiche thei hadde writen the zeer +before, withouten ony defaute. And therfore it semethe wel, that theise +hilles passen the clowdes and joynen to the pure eyr. + +At Constantynoble is the palays of the Emperour, righte fair and wel +dyghte: and therein is a fair place for justynges, or for other pleyes and +desportes. And it is made with stages and hath degrees aboute, that every +man may wel se, and non greve other. And undre theise stages ben stables +wel y vowted [Footnote: Vaulted.] for the Emperours hors; and alle the +pileres ben of Marbelle. And with in the chirche of Seynt Sophie, an +emperour somtyme wolde have biryed the body of his fadre, whan he was ded; +and as thei maden the grave, thei founden a body in the erthe, and upon the +body lay a fyn plate of gold; and there on was writen, in Ebreu, Grece and +Latyn, lettres that seyden thus, _Jesu Cristus nascetur de Virgine Maria, +et ego credo in eum_: That is to seyne, _Jesu Crist schalle be born of the +Virgyne Marie, and I trowe in hym_. And the date whan it was leyd in the +erthe, was 2000 zeer before oure Lord was born. And zet is the plate of +gold in the thresorye of the chirche. And men seyn, that it was Hermogene +the wise man. + +And zif alle it so be, that men of Grece ben Cristene, zit they varien from +our feithe. For thei seyn, that the Holy Gost may not come of the Sone; but +alle only of the Fadir. And thei are not obedyent to the Chirche of Rome, +ne to the Pope. And thei seyn, that here patriark hathe as meche power over +the see as the Pope hathe on this syde the see. And therefore Pope Johne +the 22'd sende letters to hem, how Christene feithe scholde ben alle on; +and that thei scholde ben obedyent to the Pope, that is Goddis vacrie +[Footnote: Vicar.] on erthe; to whom God zaf his pleyn power, for to bynde +and to assoille: and therfore thei scholde ben obedyent to him. And thei +senten azen dyverse answeres; and amonges other, thei seyden thus: +_Potentiam tuam summam, circa tuos subjectos firmiter credimus. Superbiam +tuam summam tolerare non possumus. Avaritiam tuam summam satiare non +intendimus. Dominus tecum: quia Dominus nobiscum est_. That is to seye: _We +trowe wel, that thi power is gret upon thi subgettes. We mai not suffre thi +high pryde. We ben not in purpos to fulfille thi gret covetyse. Lord be +with thi: for oure Lord is with us. Fare welle_. And other answere myghte +he not have of hem. And also thei make here sacrement of the awteer of +therf [Footnote: Unleavened. _Anglo-Saxon_, eorf ('peorf' in source +text--KTH)] bred: for oure Lord made it of suche bred, whan he made his +mawndee. [Footnote: Last Supper.] And on the Scherethors [Footnote: Shrove +Thursday.] day make thei here therf bred, in tokene of the mawndee, and +dryen it at the sonne, and kepen it alle the zeer, and zeven it to seke +men, in stede of Goddis body. And thei make but on unxioun, whan thei +christene children. And thei annoynte not the seke men. And thei saye, that +there nys no purgatorie, and the soules schulle not have nouther joye ne +peyne, tille the day of doom. And thei seye, that fornicatioun is no synne +dedly, but a thing that is kyndely: and the men and women scholde not wedde +but ones; and whoso weddethe oftere than ones, here children ben bastardis +and geten in synne. And here prestis also ben wedded. And thei saye also, +that usure is no dedly synne. And they sellen benefices of Holy Chirche: +and so don men in others places: God amende it, whan his wille is. And that +is gret sclaundre. [Footnote: Scandal.] For now is symonye kyng crouned in +Holy Chirche: God amende it for his mercy. And thei seyn, that in Lentone, +men schulle nor faste, ne synge masse; but on the Satreday and on the +Sonday. And thei faste not on the Satreday, no tyme of the zeer, but it be +Cristemasse even on Estre even. And thei suffre not the Latines to syngen +at here awteres: and zif thei done, be ony aventure, anon thei wasschen the +awteer with holy watre. And thei seyn, that there scholde be but o masse +seyd at on awtier, upon o day. And thei seye also, that oure Lord ne eet +nevere mete: but he made tokene etyng. And also thei seye, that wee synne +dedly, in schavynge oure berdes. For the berd is tokene of a man, and zifte +of oure Lord. And thei seye, that wee synne dedly, in etynge of bestes, +that weren forboden in the Old Testament, and of the olde lawe; as swyn, +hares, and othere bestes, that chewen not here code. And thei seyn, that +wee synnen, when wee eten flessche on the dayes before Assche Wednesday, +and of that wee eten flessche the Wednesday, and egges and chese upon the +Frydayes. And thei accursen alle tho, that absteynen hem to eten flessche +the Satreday. Also the Emperour of Costantynoble makethe the patriarke, the +erchebysschoppes and bisschoppes; and zevethe dygnytees and the benefices +of chirches, and deprivethe hem that ben worthy, whan he fyndethe ony +cause. And so is the lord bothe temperelle and spirituelle, in his contree, +And zif zee wil wite [Footnote: Know.] of here A, B, C, what lettres thei +ben, here zee may seen hem, with the names, that thei clepen hem there +amonges them. + +Alpha, Betha, Gamma, Deltha, Epsilon, Zeta, Eta, Theta, Iota, Kappa, +Lambda, My,Ny, Xi, Omicron, Pi, Rho, Sigma, Tau, Upsilon, Phi, Chi, Psi, +Omega. [Greek letters removed for pain-text edition--KTH] + +And alle be it that theise thinges touchen not to o way, nevertheles thei +touchen to that, that I have hight zou, to schewe zou a partie of custumes +and maneres, and dyversitees of contrees. And for this is the first contree +that is discordant in feythe and in beleeve, and variethe from our feythe, +on this half the see, therefore I have sett it here, that zee may knowe the +dyversitee that is betwene our feythe and theires. For many men han gret +lykynge to here speke of straunge thinges of dyverse contreyes. + + +CAPVT. 4. + +Via tam per terras quam per aquas a Constantinopoli vsque Acharon. +[Marginal note: Vel Achon.] + +A Constantinopoli qui voluerit ire pedes, transibit statim nauigio Brachium +Sancti Georgij quod satis est strictum, ibique ad Ruphinal quod est forte +castrum, inde ad Puluereal, et hinc ad castrum Synopulum. Ex tunc intrat +Cappadociam, terram latam sed plenam altis montibus, deinde Turciam ad +portum Theueron, et ad Ciuitatem ita dictam, nunc munitam firmis turribus, +ac muris, per quam transit fluuius Reglay. Postea transitur sub Alpibus +Noyremont, et per valles de Mallenbrinis in districto Rupium, ac per villam +Doronarum, et alias villas adiacentes fluuijs Reglay, et Granconiae, sicque +peruenitur ad Antiochiam minorem super Reglay, quae vocatur nobilior Ciuitas +Syriae: Notandum autem quod Regnum olim dictum Syria, modo communiter +vocatur Suria. [Sidenote: Antiochia.] Ista vero Antiochia, est magna, +pulchra, ac firma, licet quandoque maior, pulchrior, ac firmior fuerit. +Tunc autem transitur per Ciuitates Laonsam, Gibellam, Tortusiam, Toruplam, +et Berythum super mare vbi sanctus Georgius fertur occidisse Draconem. Hinc +pergitur in Ciuitatem nunc dictam Acon, quondam Ptolomaidem, antiquitus +Acharon, quae tempore quo eam vltimo Christiani tenebant circa annum +incarntionis Domini 1280. erat Ciuitas valde fortis, sed modo apparent eius +magnae ruinae. Porro a Constantinopoli poterit peregrinus facilius versus +Hierosolymorum partes per mare nauigare quam per terras peregrinare +praedictas, si deus illi propitius fuerit, et mare fidem conseruauerit. +[Sidenote: Sio.] Qui ergo a Constantinopoli iter transire nauigando +disponit, tendat ad Ciuitatem [Marginal Note: Vel Smyrnam.] Myrnam vbi nunc +ossa Sancti Nicholai venerantur, et sic procedendo per multa maritima loca +veniet ad Insulam Sio vbi crescit gummi mastix lucidum: Inde ad Insulam +Pathmos Sancti Ioannis Euangelistae, et ad Ephesum vbi idem noscitur +sepultus: hanc totam minorem Asiam tenent nunc pessimi Turci, et eam +appellant minorem Turciam. Post Ephesum nauigatur per plures Insulas vsque +Pataram Ciuitatem, vnde oriundus fuit beatus Nicholaus, ac per Myrrheam vbi +stetit Ephesus, vbi nascuntur fortia vina valde, deinde ad Insulam Cretae, +hinc Coos postea Lango, vnde Hypocrates Medicus dicitur natus: [Sidenote: +Rhodus Insula.] tuncque ad grandem Insulam Rhodum; et sciendum quod a +Constantinopoli vsque Rhodum, per mare dicuntur ducentae octuaginta leucae. +Hanc insulam totam tenent, et gubernant Christiani Hospitalarij nunc +temporis, quae quondam Colosse dicebatur: nam et multi Saracenorum adhuc eam +sic appellant, vnde et Epistola, quam beatus Paulus ad habitatores huius +Insulae scripsit, intitulabatur ad Colossenses. Ab hoc loco nauigando in +Cyprum, aspicitur absorptio Ciuitatis Sathaliae, quae sicut olim Sodoma +dicitur perijsse, propter vnicum crimen contra naturam a quodam Iuuene +petulante commissum. [Sidenote: Cyprus Insula.] Sciendum quod a Rhodo ad +Cyprum feruntur plene quingentae quinquaginta leucae: Cyprus magna, et +pulchra est Insula habens Archiepiscopatum, cum quinque Episcopatibus +suffraganeis: Illuc Famagosta, est vnus de principalibus portibus mundi, in +quo fere omnium mercatores conueniunt nationum, tam Christianorum, quam +multorum Paganorom, et similiter apud portum Limechon. Est ibi et Abbatia +ordinis sancti Benedicti, in monte sanctae Crucis, vbi dicitur saluati +latronis seruari crux, qui in eadem cruce audiuit a Christo, Hodie mecum +eris in Paradiso. [Sidenote: Fortis Cypri vina.] Corpus etiam sancti +Hylarionis seruatur ibi, in castro Damers quod Rex Cypri facit +diligentissime custodiri: Vltra modum fortia vina nascuntur in Cypro, quae +primo rubra, post annum albescunt, et quo vetustiora, eo albiora ac magis +odorifera, ac fortia efficiuntur. Vlterius paucissimae villae, aut Ciuitates +sunt Christianorum, sed fere omnia Saraceni possident infideles: et proh +dolor, ab Anno 1200. incarnationis Domini aut circa, pacifice tenuerunt. +[Sidenote: Ioppa, vel Iaffe.] Qui autem a Cypro prospere legit spacia +maris, poterit in duobus naturalibus diebus peruenire in portum Ioppae, qui +Iaffe nunc nuncupatur, et proximus est a Ireusalem, distans 16, tantum +leucas, hoc est dieta cum dimidia. [Sidenote: Portus Tyri, alias Sur.] Et +sciendum quod circa medium, inter Cyprum, et Iaffe est portus Tyri quondam +munitissimae Ciuitatis, hanc dum vltimo Saraceni a Christianis ceperunt +turpissime destruxerunt, custodientes iam curiose portum, timore +Christianorum. Iste portus non vocatur modo Tyrus, sed Sur. Nam et ab illa +parte est ibi introitus terrae Suriae. Ante istam Ciuitatem Tyrum habetur +quidam lapis, super quem dominus noster Iesus Christus sedendo suis +discipulis vel populis praedicauit. Vnde, et Christiani olim super hunc +locum construxerunt Ecclesiam in nomine Saluatoris. Peregrinus vero qui ab +hoc loco vult peregrinari, morose sciat, quod ad octo leucas a Tyro in +orientem est Sarepta Sydoniorum, vbi olim Elias Propheta filium viduae +suscitauit a morte. Itemque sciat, quod a Tyro in vnica dieta pergere +potest in Achon, siue Acharon supra scripta. [Sidenote: Achon, olim +Acharon. Mons Carmeli.] Circa Acon versus mare, ad 120. stadia, quorum 16. +leucam constituunt, est mons Carmeli, vbi morabatur praefatus Elias, et +super alium montem Villa Saffra vbi sanctus Iacobus, et Ioannes germani +Apostoli nascebantur, et in quorum natiuitatis loco pulchra habetur +Ecclesia. [Sidenote: Fossa Beleon.] Item prope Acon ad ripam dictam Beleon, +est fossa multum vtilis, et mirabilis quae dicitur fossa Mennon, haec est +rotunda circumferentia, cuius diameter continet prope 100. cubitos, plena +alba et resplendente arena, et mundi ex qua conficitur mundum et perlucidum +vitrum. Pro hac arena venitur per aquas, et per terras, et exportatur +manibus et vehiculis prope et procul, et quantumcunque de die exhauritur, +repleta mane altero reperitur: Et est in fossa ventus grandis et iugis, qui +mirabiliter arenam commouere videtur. Si quis autem vitrum de hac arena +factum in fossa reponeret, conuerteretur iterum in arenam, et qui imponeret +frustum metalli, verteretur in vitrum: nonnulli reputant hanc fossam esse +spiraculum maris arenosi, de quo mari aliquid locuturus sum in sequentibus. +Ab Acon via versus Jerusalem bifurcatur: nam qui tenet vnum latus potest +ire secus Iordanem fluuium, in Ciuitatem Damascum, qui vero aliud, ibit in +tribus aut quatuor dietis Gazam, de qua olim fortis Samson asportauit nocte +fores portarum: deinde in Caesaream Philippi, et Ascalonem, et Ioppam portum +supradictum, Hincque in Rama, et Castellum Emaus, et sic in Ierusalem vrbem +sacrosanctam. + + +CAPVT. 5. + +Via a Francia aut Flandria per solas terras vsque Ierusalem. + +Itineribus, quae per terras, et per mare a nostris partibus ducunt in terram +promissionis descriptis, restat breuiter dicendum de alia via, per quam +omnino mare transeundum non est, videlicet per Almaniam, per Bohemiam, per +Prussiam, et hinc per terram Paganorum regni Lituaniae, et sic per longam, +et pessimam terram primae Tartariae vsque in Indiam: Dico autem Tartariae +primae, quoniam de hac exijt primus Imperator totius Tartariae, qui semper +vocatur Grand Can, quo vix maiorem mundus habet terrenum Dominum, excepto +Imperatore superioris Indiae, de quibus in secunda et tertia huius tractatus +partibus, aliquanto est diffusius narrandum. Cuncti principes huius primae +Tartariae, quorum summus semper vocatur Bachu, et moratur in Ciuitate Horda, +[Marginal note: Horda est multitudo riuens in agris.] reddunt Imperatore +Grand Can, magna tributa. [Sidenote: Mores Tartarorum.] Est autem haec prima +Tartaria terra misera et sabulosa, et infructuosa: hoc enim scio, quod per +aliquod tempus steti in ea, et perambulaui Insulas, regiones, et terras +circumiacentes, scilicet, Russiae, Inflau, Craco, Latton, Restau, et alias +nonnullas: crescunt namque in ista Tartaria modica blada, pauca vina, et +fructuum, ac frugum parua copia, exceptis herbis pro pastu Bestiarum, +quarum ibi est abundantia: nam carnibus illarum vescuntur pro omnibus +cibarijs, ius earum sorbentes, et pro potu bibentes lac de omni genere +bestiarum. Quin etiam pauperiores manducant canes, lupos, catos, ratos, +talpas, ac mures, ac huiusmodi bestiolas omnes: sed nec aliquis Princeps +aut praelatus comedit vltra semel in die, et hoc parce, vel parcissime: et +sunt homines valde immundi, quia non nisi bene diuites vtuntur mappis, +linteaminibus, aut lineis indumentis: sed nec habent copiam lignorum, vnde +et fimum boum, ac omnium bestiarum desiccatum ad solem accipiunt pro ignis +materia, vbi se calefaciunt, et coquendo coquunt. Aestiuo tempore, cadunt +ibi frequenter tempestates, tonitruorum, fulminum, et grandinum, quibus +domus, arbores, bestiae, et homines, comburuntur, euelluntur, et occiduntur. +Nam et quandoque subrepente oritur ibi calor immoderatus, et improuiso +frigus immoderatum. Denique cum terra illa, se multum inclinet ad polum +Septentrionalem, fortius ibi gelare solet, et frequentius, ac diutius quam +ad partes nostras, vnde et quasi omnes habent ibi stupas, in quibus +manducant, et operantur. [Sidenote: Hyeme praecipue iter faciunt per +terram.] Nec valet a nostris partibus ingredi ad illam nisi tempore +gelicidij, quod ad introitum eius sunt tres dictae, de via molli, aquatica, +et profunda, in qua dum viator putaret se stare securum, profunderetur in +lutum ad tibias, ad genua, ad femora vel ad renes: hoc ergo sciendum quod +paucissimi tendunt per hanc viam in terram promissionis: Nam iter est +graue, distortum, longum, et periculosum sicut audistis, imo periculosius +quam scribo. + + +CAPVT. 6. + +Via de Cypro vel Ierusalem vsque in Babyloniam AEgypti. + +Descripto sicut potui tripliciter itinere in terram sanctam, restat videre +de duabus alijs vijs, quae incidenter solent contingere peregrinis: Multi +namque illorum ex speciali deuotione desiderant visitare ossa beatissimae +Virginis Catharinae in monte Sinay: [Sidenote: Babylonia Aegypti.] Cum +igitur ipsis sit necessarius Soldani Babyloniae conductus eo quod Imperator +sit, et dominus omnium illarum terrarum, quidam postquam perueniunt in +Cyprum tendunt primo in Babyloniam AEgypti, pro impetrando conductu securo, +atque inde pergentes in Sinay vadunt in Ierusalem. Quidam vero postquam +perfecerunt peregrinationem Hierosolymitanam, pergunt per terras ad +Soldanum pro conductu, et tum in Sinay, propter quod vtramque viam breuiter +describo. [Sidenote: Damiata portus Aegypti.] De Cypro in AEgyptum itur per +mare relinquendo Hierosolymorum terram ad manum sinistram, et accipitur +primus portus AEgypti, dictus Damiata: ibi quondam fuit Ciuitas valde +munita, sed quod Christiani illam, primi et altera vice ceperunt, Sarraceni +vltimo destruxerunt, et aliam remotius a mari eiusdem nominis Ciuitatem +aedificauerunt: [Sidenote: Alexandria.] Hinc venitur in portum Alexandriae +AEgypti, quae est Ciuitas magna, pulchra, et fortis valde, sed absque aquis +potabilibus. Adducit tamen sibi per longos ductus aquam Nili fluminis in +cisternis ad potandum. Alexandria nobilis, 30. stadia habet longitudinis +decemque in latum. In ea restant adhuc plures Ecclesiae a tempore +Christianorum, sed Sarraceni non sustinentes picturas Sanctorum omnes +parietes albauerunt. De Alexandria per terras venitur in Babyloniam AEgypti, +quae etiam fundata iacet supra praedictum Nilum fluuium: Dicitur autem haec +Babylonia minor ad differentiam magnae Babyloniae, siue Babel, vbi Deus +linguas confudit olim, quae tendendo inter Orientem et Septentrionem distat +ab ista dietas circiter 40. nec est sub potestate Soldani, sed Imperatoris +Persarum, qui illam tenet in homagio ab Imperatore Cathay, dicto, Grand +Can. [Sidenote: Cayr ciuitas.] Haec autem Babylonia AEgypti est Ciuitas +grandis et fortis, tamen valde prope eam est alia maior dicta Cayr, in qua +vt saepius residet Soldanus, quanquam Babylonia nomen per seculum diffusius +est cognitum: Altera autem via peregrinorum de Hierosolymis pro conducta +tendentium ad Soldanum talis esse potest. [Sidenote: Abilech desertum.] +Primo tendant de Ierusalem in supra dictam Gazam Palestinorum, inde ad +Castellum Dayre, atque ex tunc exitur de terra Syriae, et intratur a +superiori parte in desertum longum arenosum, et sterile, prope ad septem +dietas, quod lingua eorum vocatur Abilech; tamen per illud inueniantur +plura hospitia, vbi haberi possunt ad victum nccessaria. Et qui in eundo +rectum iter tenet, veniet in Ciuitatem dictam, Balbes, quae est ad finem +Regni Halapiae: Sicque expleto Deserto, intratur terra AEgypti, quam ipsi +Canopat vocant, et aliqui Mersur, atque ex tunc in Babyloniam, et Cayr, +praefatam: In ista vero Babylonia habetur pulchra Ecclesia Mariae virginis, +in loco vbi morabatur cum filio suo, et Ioseph tempore suae fugae, et +creditur ibi contineri corpus Virginis Barbarae. + + +CAPVT. 7. + +De Pallatio Soldani, ac numero, et nominibus praeteritorum Soldanorum. + +Cayr ciuitas Imperialis et Regalis est valde munita, et grandis, decorata +sede propria Sarracenorum Regni, vbi dominus eorum Soldanus communiter +residere solet, in suo Calahelick, id est, castro forti, et lato, ac in +euecta rupe statuto. Siquidem Soldanus eorum lingua sonat nomen similis +maiestatis, quo nos in Latino dicimus Caesarem, aut Imperatorem. Pro +custodia huius Castri sunt ibidem omni tempore morantes sex millia +personarum, et pro, seruiendo, dum ibi residet, ipsi Soldano, qui omnes de +Curia eadem accipiunt necessaria, et donatiua. Iste Imperator Soldanus, est +Rex, Dominusque quinque Regnoram magnorum: Canopat, hoc est, AEgypti: totius +Iudeae, sicut olim Dauid, et Salomon; Halapiae, in terra Machsyriae, cuius +ciuitas Damascus olim erat principalis; Arabiae, quod est regnum valde +protensum, et cum his possidet dominatus omnium Caliphorum: ad quod +sciendum, quod quaundoque fuerunt tres Caliphorum dominatus: Ex quibus +primus Caliphus qui dicebatur Chaldaeorum, et Arabum, cuius erat sedes in +Ciuitate Baldac. Alter Barbarorum et Affricorum, cuius erat sedes in Maroco +super Mare Hispaniae. Tertius Aegypti: [Sidenote: Caliphus quid sit.] Est +autem Caliphus inter eos, velut inter nos Imperator, et Papa simul, +scilicet, Dominus temporalium et spiritualium. [Sidenote: Series Soldanorum +Aegypti.] Exactis igitur Caliphis circa annum incarnationis Christi 1150, +primus Soldanorum fuit nominatus Saracon: secundus filius eius, Saladin, +qui anno 1190. cum Turcis totam fere terram promissionis abstulit a +Christianis. Et sub quo Richardus Rex Angliae cum alijs principibus +Christianis custodiebat passum Rupium, ne ille sicut proposuerat transire, +profecisset vltra. Tertius Melachsala, a quo sanctus Ludouicus rex Franciae +captiuabatur in bello. Quartus Turquenna, qui Regem praedictum redemi +dimisit pro pecunia. Quintus Meleth. Sextus Melethemes. Septimus Melec +dayr, sub quo Edwardus Rex Angliae intrauit cum nostris Syriam, damnificans +plurimum Sarracenos. [Sidenote: Edwardus princeps Angliae, Regis Hen. 3. +filius.] Octauus Melec salle. Nonus Elphi, qui Anno Incarnationis Domini +1289. destruxit in illis partibus enormiter Christianos, et penitus omnes +inde fugauit, atque recepit Tripolim Ciuitatem. Decimus Melethasseras: hic +cepit Anno Domini 1291. in octaua paschae Accharon, fugatis vel occisis ex +ea omnibus Christianis. Exinde amissis succedentium nominibus, sextus +decimus dicebatur vel dicitur Melec Mandibron: sub isto steti ego per +aliquod tempus stipendiarius in guerris suis contra Bedones, qui ei tunc +temporis rebellabant. Horum etiam mores, et continentiam populorum, in +sequentibus declarabo: sicut veraciter fateri possum, ipse ad filiam +cuiusdam sui Principis me obtulit vxorare, et magnis dotari possessionibus, +dummodo Christianitati resignassem: Eumque dimisi Soldanum, quando de +partibus illis recessi. [Sidenote: Potentia Soldani Aegypti.] Soldanus +praeter homines ad sua castra seruanda deputatos, potest educere quoties +velit in exercitum de hominibus de ipsius stipendijs viuentibus et ad eius +iugiter mandata paratis, 20. millia armatorum, ex sola AEgypto: Et ex Syria, +et Turcia, et alijs terris, 50. millia exceptis ruralibus, et Ciuitatem +comitatibus, qui sunt velut innumerabiles. Miles quidem stipendiarius +recipit de Curia pro anni Tempore 121. aureos, et sub tali stipendio seruit +cum tribus equis et vno Camelo. Quadringenti vel Quingenti horum militum +ordinati sunt sub vno rectore, que vocatur Admirabilis: Et ille solus +recipit de curia tantum, sicut omnes sibi subditi: Notandum quod nunquam +extraneus Nuncius ire permittitur ad Soldanum nisi auratis indutus +vestibus, vel panno Tartarico aut camoleoto ad modum nobilium Sarracenorum: +[Sidenote: Reuerentia exhibita Soldano.] et oportet vt vbicunque primum +nuncius Soldanum aspiciat, siue ad fenestras, siue alibi, vt cadat ad +genua, vel protinus osculetur terram, quia talem reuerentiam facere, signum +est quod ille desiderat ei loqui. Quamdiu autem tales loquuntur sibi, aut +literas ostendunt, circumstant Apparitores extensis brachijs leuatos +tenentes mucrones, gladios, gezas, et mackas ad feriendum, et occidendum, +si quid dictum vel nunciatum fuerit, quod Imperatori displiceat, quam cito +ille signauerit trucidari. Veruntamen sciendum est quod nullius hominis +personaliter ab ipso quidquam petentis consueuit repellere preces +rationabiles, et contra eorum leges aut mores non venientes. Porro ego in +Curia manens, vidi circa Soldanum vnum venerabilem, et expertum medicum, de +nostris partibus oriundum: [Marginal note: Cuius nomen erat M. Ioannes ad +Barbam.] solet namque circa se retinere diuersarum medicos nationum, et +quos nominandae audierit esse famae: Nos tamen raro inuicem conuenimus ad +colloquium, eo quod meum seruitium cum suo modicum congruebat: longo autem +postea tempore, et ab illo loco remote, videlicet in Leodij ciuitate, +composui hortatu et adiutorio eiusdem venerabilis viri hunc tractatum, +sicut in fine operis totius enarrabo. Itemque in Cayr ciuitate ducuntur ad +forum communitur tam viri quam mulieres aliarum legum, et nationum venales, +et ad modum bestiaram venduntur pro pecunia ad seruiendum in suis +artificijs. [Sidenote: Mos oua furnis fouendi.] Habetur quoque ibi domus +plena furnis paruis, in quibus per custodes domus tam hyeme quam aestate +fouentur oua gallinarum, anatum, aucarum, et columbarum, vsque ad +procreationem suorum pullorum, et hijs intendunt, pro certo pretio +accipiendo a mulierculis illic oua ferentibus. + + +CAPVT. 8. + +De Campo Balsami in Egypto. + +[Sidenote: Balsamum.] Extra hanc ciuitatem Cayr, est Campus seu ager +Balsami: circa quod sciendum, quod optimum totius mundi Balsamum in magno +crescit Indiae deserto, vbi Alexander Magnus dicitur quondam locutus fuisse +arboribus Solis et Lunae, de quo in sequentibus aliquid est scribendum. Illo +itaque Indiae Balsamo duntaxat excepto, non est liquor in vniuerso orbe, qui +huic creditur comparari. Has arbores seu arbusta Balsami fecit quondam +quidam de Caliphis Aegypti de loco Engaddi inter mare mortuum, et Ierico, +vbi Domino volente excreuerat, eradicari, et in argo praedicto plantari: est +tamen hoc mirandum, quod vbicuncque alibi siue prope, siue remote +plantantur, quamuis forte virent, et exurgant, non tamen fructificant. Et e +contrario apparet hoc miraculosum, quod in hoc agro Cayr non se permittant +coli per Sarracenos, sed solummodo per Christianos, vel aliter non +fructificarent: Et dicunt ipsi Sarraceni hoc saepius se tentasse: sunt autem +arbusta trium vel quatuor pedem altitudinis, velut vsque ad renes hominis, +et lignum eorum aspiciendum, sicut vitis syluestris. Folia non marcescunt, +quin prius marcescant fructus, cernitur ad formam Cubebae, et gummi eorum +est Balsamum. Ipsi appellant arbores Enochkalse, fructum Abebifau, et +liquorum gribalse. Extrahitur vero gummi de arbusculis per hunc modem: De +lapide acuto, vel de osse fracto dant scissuras per cortices in ligno, et +ex vulneribus Balsamum lachrymatur, quod in vasculis suscipiunt, cauentes +quout possunt, ne quid de illo labatur in terram: Nam se de ferro, vel alio +metallo fieret incissura, liquor Balsami corrumperetur a sua virtute. +[Sidenote: Virtutes veri Balsami.] Veri Balsami virtutes sunt magnae quidem, +et innumerosae: nam vix aliquis mortalium scire potuit omnes, quamuis inter +Physicos quinquaginta scribantur. Raro vtique Sarraceni vendunt Christianis +purum et verum Balsamum, quin prius commisceant, et falsificant sicut ego +ipse frequenter vidi. Nam aliqui tertiam, seu quartam partem immiscent +terrebynthinae. [Sidenote: Sophisticationes Balsami.] Alii ramusculos +arbustarum, et fructus eorum coquunt in oleo, quod vendunt pro Balsamo: et +quidam (quod pessimam est) nil Balsami habentes, distillant oleum, per +clauos gariophillos, et spicum nardum, et similes odoriferas species, hoc +pro Balsamo exponentes, atque aliis pluribus modis deludunt ementes. +[Sidenote: Probatio veri Balsami.] Sed et Mercatores inuicem nonnunquam +sophisticant altera vice: probatio autem veri Balsaml potest haberi +pluribus modis, quorum aliquos hic describo. Est enim Citrini coloris, +valde clarum, et purum, et fortissimum in odoris fragrantia: si ergo +apparet alterius quam Citrini coloris sciatur non simplicis, sed +cuiuscunque commixtae substantiae, vel ita spissum, vt non possit fluere, +scitote sophisticatum. Item si posueris modicum veri Balsami in manus +palma, non poteris sustinere eam linialiter in feruore splendentis Solis ad +spacium recitandae Dominicae orationis. Item si in clara flamma ignis vel +candeliae cereae miseris punctum cultelli cum gutta puri Balsami, ipsa gutta +de facile comburetur. Item si in scutella munda cum puro lacte caprino +posueris modicum veri Balsami, statim, miscebit se, et vnietur cum lacte, +ita vt Balsamum non cognoscetur. Item e contra, si posueris verum Balsamum +cum aqua Lympida, nunquam miscebit se aquae, etiamsi aquam moueris +vehementer, imo Balsamum semper tendit ad fundum vasis, nam est in sui +quanitate valde ponderosam, et iuxta quod minus ponderosum inueneris, +amplius falsificatum noueris. + + +CAPVT. 9. + +De Nile fluuio, et Aegypti territorio. + +Nilus supra dictus fluuius Aegypti appellatus est alio nomine Gyon, cuius +origo est a Paradiso terrestri. Hic venit currens per deserta Indiae +Maioris, hincque per meatus subterraneos transit plures terras: exiens sub +Monte Aloth, inter Indiam et Aethiopiam, et Mauritaniam intra deserta +Aegypti, irrigans totam longitudinem Aegypti vsque ad Alexandriam, ibique +se perdit in mare. [Sidenote: Inundatio Nilo.] Sole intrante signum Cancri +omni anno hoc est, ad quindenam ante Festum Natiuitatis Ioannis Baptistae +incipit paulatim fluuius crescere, et inundare, quousque sol intret +Virginem, quod est circa Festum Laurentij, atque ex tunc decrescere, et +minui, donec Sole veniente in Lybram intra suos alueos se conseruet: Dumque +per inundationem nimis effluit, damnificat terrae culturas, et fit Charistia +in Aegypto. [Sidenote: Raro in Aegyptio pluuia.] Et similiter dum parum +exundat, ingruit esuries, quoniam in Aegypto rarissime pluit, aut apparent +nubes, quoniam si quandoque pluerit in aestate, terra muribus adimpleur. +[Sidenote: Nubia.] Terra Aegypti continet in longitudine dietas quindecim, +in latitudine fere tres, et habet triginta dietas deserti: a finibus +Aegypti vsque Nubiam, duodecim sunt dietae. Hi Nubij sunt Christiani, sed +nigri, velut Aethiopes, vel Mauri. + +[Sidenote: Phoenix visa a Mandeuillo.] Phoenix auis, de qua dicitur, quod +semper vnica sit in mundo, viuens per annos quingentos, quae et seipsam +comburit, ac de cineribus eius, siue per naturam, siue per miraculum alia +creatur, haec interdum apparet in Aegypto, et sicut mihi monstrabatur, vidi +duabus vicibus. Modicum est maior Aquila, cristam in capite maiorem +pauonis, collum habens croceum, dorsum Indicum, alas purpureas, caudam +duobus coloribus, per transuersum croceo et rubeo regulatam, qui singuli +colores sunt ad splendorem Solis delectabiliter videntibus resplendentes. +In Aegypto multae habentur arbores sexcies aut septies in anno +fructificantes, ibique frequenter inueniuntur in terra Smaragdi, et circa +oram Nili alij lapides pretiosi. [Sidenote: Mecha.] A Babylonia Aegypti, +vsque ad ciuitatem Meccam, (quam Pagani ibidem appellant Iacrib, et est in +magnis desertis Arabiae) sunt triginta duae dietae. In ea veneratur +detestandum cadauer Machon siue Machometi honorabiliter et reuerenter in +Templo eius, quod ibi vocatur Musket, de cuius vita aliquid infra narrabo. +Per praedicta itaque apparet, quod Imperator Sarracenorum Soldanus +Babyloniae, valde potens est Dominus. + + +CAPVT. 10. + +De couductu Soldani, et via vsque in Sinay. + +Prius dictum est de reuerentia Soldani, quando ad ipsum intratur exhibenda. +Sciendum ergo, cum ab eo petitur securus conductus, nemini denegare +consueuit, sed datur petentibus communiter sigillum eius, in appenditione +absque literis: hoc sigillum, pro vexillo in virga aut hasta dum peregrini +ferunt, omnes Sarraceni videntes illud flexis genibus in terram se +reuerenter inclinant, et portantibus omnem exhibent humanitatem. Verumtamen +satis maior fit reuerentia literis Soldani sigillatis, quod et Admirabiles, +et quicunque alij Domini, quando eis monstrantur, antequam recipiant, se +multum inclinant: Deinde ambabus manibus eas capientes ponunt super propria +capita, postea osculantur, et tandem legunt inclinati cum magna +veneratione, quibus semel aut bis perlectis, offerunt se promptos ad +explendum quicquid ibi iubetur, ac insuper exhibent deferenti, quicquid +possint commodi, vel honoris: sed talem conductum per literas Soldani vix +quisquam peregrinorum accipit, qui non in Curia illius stetit, vel notitiam +apud illum habuerit. [Sidenote: Literae Soldani in gratiam Mandeuilli +concessae.] Ego autem habui in recessu meo, in quibus etiam continebatur ad +omnes sibi subiectos speciale mandatum, vt me permitterent intrare, et +respicere singula loca, pro meae placito voluntatis, et mihi exponerent +quorumcunque locorum mysteria distincte et absque vllo velamine veritatis, +ac me cum omni sodalitate mea benigne reciperent, et in cunctis +rationalibus audirent, requisiti autem si necesse foret de ciuitate +conducerent in ciuitatem. Habito itaque peregrinis conductu, ad Montem +Sinay potest a Cayr vnam duarum incipere semitarum, vsque vallem Helim, vbi +adhuc sunt duodecim fontes aquarum. Nam vna viarum est, vt pertranseat +passagium maris rubri, non longe ab eodem loco, vbi olim populus Israel +Duce Mose, Deo iubente, siccis pedibus transiit idem mare. [Sidenote: +Ratio, cur Rubrum mare sic appellatur.] Quod quidem, licet aqua sit satis +clara, dicitur ibi Rubrum propter lapillos, et arenas subrufi coloris: et +continet ibi nunc temporis passus maris in latitudine fere sex leucas. +Transmissoque mari, ibit super hanc longe ab oris eiusdem per dietas +quatuor, atque ex tunc relinquens mare, tendit per deserta sex aut septem +dierum, vsque in vallem praefatam. Alia est autem via, vt de Babylonia +intret Dyrcen deserta, tendens ad quendam fontem, quem dicitur Moses +[Marginal note: Vel Maus.] fecisse: et hinc ad riuulum Marach, qui quondam, +Mose imponente lignum, ab amaritudine dulcescebat, et sic tandem in +premissam vallem perueniant. Et restat via grandis dietae ad Montem Sinay ab +hac valle. Nam a Babylonia vsque in Sinay, aestimatur esse via duodecim +dictarum, quamuis nonnulli citius perueniunt. Hoc vere sciendum, neminem +peregrinorum per haec deserta sine ductore posse tendere, cui notae sunt viae, +sed nec equi valent transire, praecipue quod non inuenirent in desertis quid +bibere. [Sidenote: Abstinentia Camelorum ab aquis.] Aliquo tamen modo +transitur per Camelos, eo quod se continere possunt de potu duobus aut +tribus diebus: Et oportet vt itinerantes ferant secum per viam necessaria +ad victum proprium, et Camelorum, nisi quod interdum forte Cameli aliquid +sibi abrodere possunt circa cortices arbustorum, et folia ramusculorum. + + +CAPUT. 11. + +De Monasterio Sinay, et reliquijs beatae Catherinae. + +Mons Sinay appellatur ibi desertum Syn: quasi in radice montis istius +habetur Coenobium Monachorum pergrande, cuius clausura in circuitu est +firmata muris altis, et portis ferreis, pro metu bestiarum deserti. Hi +Monachi sunt Arabes, et Graeci, et in magno conuentu multum Deo deuoti: +viuunt in magna abstinentia, vtentes simplicibus cibariis, de lotis et +dactylis, et huiusmodi, nec vinum potantes, festis acceptis. Illic in +Ecclesia Beatae Virginis et matris Catherinae semper lampades plurimae sunt +ardentes, nam habetur ibi plena copia olei oliuarum. A posteriori parte +magni altaris monstratur locus, vbi Moysi apparuit Dominus in rubo ardente, +ipsum rubum adhuc seruans, quem dum monachi intrant, semper se discalceant +gratia illias verbi, quo Deus iussit Moysi ibidem, Solue calciamentum de +pedibus tuis, locus enim in quo stas, terra sancta est: hunc locum +appellant Bezeleel, id est, vmbra Dei. Et prope altare tribus gradibus in +altitudine, habetur capsa, seu Tumba Alabastri, sanctissima continens ossa +Virginis. Christiani qui ibidem morantur, cum magna reuerentia +aduenientibus peregrinis, a Monachorum praelato, seu ab alio in hoc +instituto, excipiuntur. Is quodam instrumento argenteo consueuit ossa +defricare, siue linire, vt ex iis exeat modicum olei, velut parumper +sudoris, quod tamen non apparet in colore sui tanquam olei seu Balsami, sed +aliquantulum pluris magnitudinis. Et ex isto traditur interdum aliquid +petentibus peregrinis, sed parum, quia nec multum exudat. Ostendere solent +et caput ipsius Catherinae cum inuolumento sanguinolento, et multas praeterea +sanctas, et venerabiles reliquias, quae omnia intuitus sum diligentur et +saepe, oculis indignis. Habent quoque in ista Ecclesia propriam Lampadem +quilibet Monachorum, quae imminente illius discessu lumen per diuinum +miraculum variat vel extinguit. [Sidenote: Monarchorum sophismata.] Ego +etiam curiosius super vno dubio quod prius audieram, plures interrogationes +feci ab aliquibus Monachorum, vtrum scilicet praelato eorum decedente semper +successor per diuinum signum eligetetur: et vix tandem ab eis recepi +responsum, quod per vnum istorum miraculorum habetur successor, videlicit +in missa sepulturae defuncti omnibus Monachorum lampadibus extinctis, illius +sola Dei nutu reaccenditur, quem fieri vult praelatum, vel de coelo +inuenitur missus breuiculus super altare, inscriptum habens nomen praelati +futuri. Intra hanc Ecclesiam nunquam musca, vel aranea, aut huiusmodi +immundi vermiculi nascuntur, quod similiter per diuinum accidit miraculum: +nam ante replebatur Ecclesia talibus immunditiis, et totus conuentus +recederet ad construendum Ecclesiam in alio loco. Et ecce Dei genetrix +virgo beata eis visibiliter obuiauit, iubens reuerti, et dicens nunquam +Ecclesiam similibus infestari. In cuius obuiationis loco in ascensu +procliuo huius montis per multos gradus construxerunt Ecclesiam, aedificium +excellens, in honorem eiusdem virginis. Et alibuanto altius, per eiusdem +montis ascensum est vetus Capella, quam vocant Eliae Prophetae, et locum +specialiter appellant Horeb. A cuius latere in montis appendentia colitur +vinea, quam nominant Iosuae scophis, de qua quidam putare volunt, quod +Sanctus Ioannes Euangelista eam primo plantauit. In superiori vero montis +vertice, est Capella, quam dicunt Moysis, et illic rupis seruans adhuc +corporis eius formam impressam dum se abscondit, viritus dominum respicere +in facie. Locus quoque ibi ostenditur, in quo Deus tradidit ei decem +mandata, siue legem proprio digito scriptam, et sub rupe cauerna in qua +mansit ieiunus diebus 40. Ab hoc monte qui vocatur Mosi, restat via +producta ad quartam Leucae, vsque in montem qui dicitur Sanctae Catherinae per +vallem speciosam, ac multum frigidam. Circa eius medium habetur Ecclesia, +nomine 40. Martyrum constructa, vbi interdum veniunt Monachi cantare +missam: Hic mons est satis altior Monte Moysis, in cuius vertice Angeli Dei +pie creduntur attulisse, et sepeliisse corpus sanctissimae Martyris +Catherinae cum inuolumento capitis supra dicto. Attamen in ipso certo +sepulturae loco, licet quandoque stetit Capella, modo non est habitaculum, +sed modicus aceruus petrarum. Notandum, quod vterque horum montium potest +vocari mons Sinay, eo quod totus circumiacens locus deserti Sin appellatur. +Sur desertum inter mare Rubrum, et solitudinem Sinay. Desertum Sur idem +Scriptura quod et Cades. Visitatis igitur a peregrinis his sacrosanctis +memorijs, et valefacto Monachis, recommendant se eorum orationibus, et +meritis: tuncque solet aliquid victualium offerri peregrinis, pro inchoanda +via deserti Syriae versus Ierusalem. Et sicut dixi de priori deserto, sic +nec istud secure est peragrandum absque Drogemijs; id est, semitarum +ductoribus, propter vastitudinem deserti. + + +CAPVT. 12. + +Iter a deserto Sinay vsque ad Iudeam. + +Per istud latum et longum desertum, moratur vel potius vagata maxima +multitudo malorum, et incompositorum hominum, qui non manent in domibus, +sed sub pellium tabernaculis, quemadmodum et olim filij Israel in eodem +deserto ambulauerunt, quoniam aquae non manent ibi diu in locis certis: et +ideo mutant tabernacula sequentes aquas: non colunt terras, raro manducant +panem, sed tantum carnes bestiarum deserti quas venantur, coquentes super +petras calefactas ad Solem: fortes sunt et feroces, et velut desperati de +vita propria non curantes, qui licet non habeant arma praeter lanceam, et +tarchiam, et caput grandi albo linteolo inuolutum, tamen non verentur +exercere guerras, et inire proelia contra Dominum suum Soldanum: nam et ego +stipendiarius in expeditione Soldani contra eos saepius fui. Isti sunt +quidem Arabes, sed notiori nomine appellantur Bedoyns et Acopars, et +quamuis plurima mala agunt per desertum, raro tamen nocent peregrinis beatae +Virginis Catharinae. [Sidenote: Ioannes Mandeuil militans contra Arabes. +Beersheba.] Itaque peregrinus qui debitum tenuit iter, veniat a finibus +deserti in primam ciuitatem Iudeae, quae dicitur Berseba: est vicus grandis +Hebron inde miliario vergens ad Austrum: Hieronymus. Notandum, Theros Mons +Dei in regione Maglaw iuxta Montem. Notandum similiter, Arabiam in deserto +esse, cui iungitur Mons et desertum Sarracenorum, quod vocatur Phaaran. +Mihi autem videtur, quod dupliei nomine, nupe Mons Sinay, nunc Oreb +vocatur. Hieronymus. Phaaran nunc oppidum trans Oreb, iam iunctum +Sarracenis, qui in solitudine vagi pererrant. Hos interfecerunt filij +Israel, cum de Monte Sinay castra mouissent. Est ergo, vt dixi, trans +Jordanem contra Australem plagam, et distat ab Helyn, contra Orientem, +itinere dierum trium. In deserto autem Phaaran, Scriptura commemorat +habitasse Ismaelem, vade et Ismaelitae, qui nunc Sarraceni. Legimus quoque +Chederlaomer percussisse eos qui erant in deserto Phaaran quod nunc dicitur +Ascalon, et circa eam Regio Palestinorum. Hieronymus. Haec Bersheba erat +bona et spectabilis, vltimo tempore Christianorum, et adhuc ibi restant +nonnullae Ecclesiae. + +[Sidenote: Ciuitas Hebron.] Hinc ad Leucas duas venitur in ciuitatem +Hebron, et Hebron ab Helyn distat ad Meridianam plagani millibus circiter +39. de qua legitur, quod primis temporibus fuerit habitatio maximorum +Gigantium, Regumque, postea Dauidis. In hac est illa spelunca duplex, quae +seruat ossa sanctorum Patriarcharum, Abrahae, Isaac, et Jacob, Sarae, et +Rebeccae, consistitque ad radicem montis, et habetur super istam cum +propugnaculis ad modum castri constructa pulchra Ecclesia. Sarraceni +appellant istam speluncam Kariackaba, custodienies locum diligenter ac +reuerenter propter honorem Patriarcharum, et non permittentes quenquam +Christianorum aut Iudaeorum ingredi, nisi ostenderit super haec specialem +gratiam a Soldano. Nam ipsi communiter reputant tam Christianos quam +Iudaeos pro canibus, et quando despectiue eos volunt appellare, dicunt +Kylp, id est, canis. + +[Sidenote: Vallis Mambrae Quercus arida.] Ab Hebron incipit vallis Mambrae, +quae protenditur fere vsque Ierusalem: haud remote ad Hebron est mons +Mambre, et in ipso monte arbor quercus aridae quae pro antiquitate sui, +speciale sibi nomen meruit in mundo vniuerso, vt vocetur arbor sicca: +Sarraceni autem eam dicunt Dirp: haec creditur stetisse ante tempora Abrahae, +tamen quidam volunt putare a mundi initio, virens donec passionis Christi +tempore siccaretur. Hoc autem certum est haberi eam ob omnibus nationibus +in venerationem. + +[Sidenote: Gambil species Aromatis] In quodam loco praefatae vallis est +planicies, vbi per plures fossas effodiunt homines Gambil, quod comeditur +loco specierum aromaticarum, et per villas defertur venale, sed et hoc +audiui, quod nulla ibi fossa ita valet exhauriri, si dimittatur per annum, +quin inueniatur de praedicta Gambil impleta. + +Ad duas leucas de Hebron, monstratur sepultura Loth filii fratris Abraham. +Item de ciuitate Hebron per quinque leucas amoeni itineris, hoc est in +medio die, venitur in Bethleem Iudeae. [Sidenote: Kiriath Arbe.] Notandum, +Arbe, id est, quatuor, primum dicum de eo quod ibi tres Patriarchae Abraham, +Isac, et Iacob sepulti sunt, et Adam magnus, vt in Iudaeorum libro scriptum +est, licet eum quidam conditum in loco Caluariae suspicentur. Corrupte in +nostris codicibus Arboth scribitur, alibi erat arbor cum in Hebraeis legatur +Arbe, haec est autem eadem Hebron olim Metropolis Philistinorum, ab vno +filiorum Caleb sortita vocabulum. + + +The English Version. + +Of the Weye fro Costantynoble to Jerusalem. Of Seynt John the Evaungelist; + and of Ypocras Daughter, transformed from a Woman to a Dragoun. + +[Sidenote: Cap. IV] Now returne I azen, for to teche zou the way from +Costantynoble to Jerusalem. He that wol thorghe Turkye, he gothe toward the +cytee of Nyke, and passethe thorghe the gate of Chienetout, and alle weyes +men seen before hem the hille of Chienetout, that is righte highe: and it +is a myle, and an half from Nyke. And whoso will go be watre, be the brace +of Seynt George, and by the see, where Seynt Nycholas lyethe, and toward +many other places: first men gothe to an ile, that is clept Sylo. +[Footnote: Chios] In that ile growethe mastyck on smale trees: and out of +hem comethe gomme, as it were of plombtrees or of cherietrees. And aftre +gon men thorghe the ile of Pathmos, and there wrot Seynt John the +Evaungelist the Apocalips. And zee schulle undrestonde, that Seynt Johne +was of age 32 zeer, whan oure Lord suffred his passioun; and aftre his +passioun, he lyvede 67 zeer, and in the 100th zeer of his age he dyede. +From Pathmos men gone unto Ephesim, a fair citee and nyghe to the see. And +there dyede Seynte Johne and was buryed behynde the highe awtiere, in a +toumbe. And there is a fair chirche. For Cristene men weren wont to holden +that place alweyes. And in the tombe of Seynt John is noughte but manna, +that is clept aungeles mete. For his body was translated into paradys. And +Turkes holden now alle that place, and the citee and the chirche. And alle +Asie the lesse is y cleped Turkye. And zee schulle undrestonde, that Seynt +Johne leet [Footnote: Let.] make his grave there in his lyf, and leyd +himself there inne alle quyk. And therefore somme men seyn, that he dyed +noughte, but that he restethe there till the day of doom. And forsothe +there is a great marveyle: for men may see there the erthe of the tombe +apertly many tymes steren and meven, [Footnote: Stir and move.] as there +wern quykke thinges undre. + +And from Ephesim men gon throghe many iles in the see, unto the cytee of +Paterane, [Footnote: Patera.] where Seynt Nicholas was born, and so to +Martha, [Footnote: Myra.] where he was chosen to ben bisschoppe; and there +growethe right gode wyn and strong; and that men callen wyn of Martha. And +from thens gone men to the ile of Crete, that the Emperour zaf somtyme to +Janeweys. [Footnote: The Genoese.] And thanne passen men thorghe the isles +of Colos and of Lango; [Footnote: Cos.] of the whiche iles Ypocras +[Footnote: Hippocrates.] was lord offe. And some men seyn, that in the ile +of Lango is zit the doughtre of Ypocras, in forme and lykeness of a gret +dragoun, that is a hundred fadme of lengthe, as men seyn: for I have not +seen hire. And thei of the isles callen hire, lady of the lond. And sche +lyethe in an olde castelle, in a cave, and schewethe twyes or thryes in the +zeer. And sche dothe none harm to no man, but zif men don hire harm. And +sche was thus chaunged and transformed, from a fair damysele, into lyknesse +of a dragoun, be a goddesse, that was clept Deane. [Footnote: Diana.] And +men seyn, that sche schalle so endure in that forme of a dragoun, unto the +tyme that a knyghte come, that is so hardy, that dar come to hire and kiss +hire on the mouthe: and then schall sche turne azen to hire own kynde, and +ben a woman azen: but aftre that sche schalle not liven longe. And it is +not long siththen, that a knyghte of the Rodes, that was hardy and doughty +in armes, seyde that he wole kyssen hire. And whan he was upon his +coursere, and wente to the castelle, and entred into the cave, the dragoun +lifte up hire hed azenst him. And whan the knyghte saw hire in that forme +so hidous and so horrible, he fleyghe awey. And the dragoun bare the +knyghte upon a roche, mawgre his hede; and from that roche, sche caste him +in to the see: and so was lost bothe hors and man. And also a zonge man, +that wiste not of the dragoun, wente out of a schipp, and wente thorghe the +ile, til that he come to the castelle, and cam in to the cave; and wente so +longe, til that he fond a chambre, and there he saughe a damysele, that +kembed hire hede, and lokede in a myrour: and sche hadde meche tresoure +abouten hire: and he trowed, that sche hadde ben a comoun woman, that +dwelled there to resceyve men to folye. And he abode, tille the damysele +saughe the schadewe of him in the myrour. And sche turned hire toward him, +and asked hym, what he wolde. And he seyde, he wolde ben hire limman or +paramour. And sche asked him, zif that he were a knyghte. And he seyde, +nay. And then sche seyde, that he myghte not ben hire lemman: but sche bad +him gon azen unto his fellowes, and make him knyghte, and come azen upon +the morwe, and sche scholde come out of the cave before him; and thanne +come and kysse hire on the mowthe, and have no drede; for I schalle do the +no maner harm, alle be it that thou see me in lyknesse of a dragoun. For +thoughe thou see me hidouse and horrible to loken onne, I do the to wytene, +[Footnote: Know.] that it is made be enchauntement. For withouten doubte, I +am non other than thou seest now, a woman; and therfore drede the noughte. +And zif thou kysse me, thou schalt have alle this tresoure, and be my lord, +and lord also of alle that ile. And he departed fro hire and wente to his +felowes to schippe, and leet make him knyghte, and cam azen upon the morwe, +for to kysse this damysele. And whan he saughe hire comen out of the cave, +in forme of a dragoun, so hidouse and so horrible, he hadde so grete drede, +that he fleyghe azen to the schippe; and sche folewed him. And whan sche +saughe, that he turned not azen, sche began to crye, as a thing that hadde +meche sorwe: and thanne sche turned azen, in to hire cave; and anon the +knyghte dyede. And siththen hidrewards, myghte no knyghte se hire, but that +he dyede anon. But whan a knyghte comethe, that is so hardy to kisse hire, +he schalle not dye; but he schalle turne the damysele in to hire righte +forme and kyndely schapp, and he schal be lord of alle the contreyes and +iles aboveseyd. + +And from thens men comen to the Ile of Rodes, the whiche ile Hospitaleres +holden and governen; and that token thei sumtyme from the Emperour: and it +was wont to be clept Collos; and so callen it the Turks zit. And Seynt +Poul, in his Epistles, writeth to hem of that Ile, _ad Colossenses_. +[Footnote: The truth is the Epistle was written to the Church of Collosae in +Phrygia Major.] This ile is nyghe 800 myle from Costantynoble. + +And from this ile of Rodes, men gon to Cipre, where bethe many vynes, that +first bene rede, and aftre o zeer, thei becomen white: and theise wynes +that ben most white, ben most clere and best of smelle. And men passen be +that way, be a place that was wont to ben a gret cytee and a gret lond: and +the cytee was clept Cathaillye: the which cytee and lond was lost thorghe +folye of a zonge man. For he had a fayr damysele, that he loved wel, to his +paramour; and sche dyed sodeynly, and was don in a tombe of marble: and for +the grete lust, that he had to hire, he wente in the nyghte unto hire tombe +and opened it, and went in and lay be hire, and wente his way. And whan it +came to the ende of nine monethes, there com a voys to him, and seyde, Go +to the tombe of that woman, and open it and beholde what thou hast begotten +on hire: and if thou lette to go, thou schalt have a gret harm. And he zede +[Footnote: Went.] and opened the tombe; and there fleyghe out an eddere +righte hidous to see; the whiche als swythe fleighe aboute the cytee and +the contree; and sone after the cytee sank downe. And there ben manye +perilouse passages. + +Fro Rodes to Cypre ben 500 myle and more. But men may gon to Cypre, and +come not at Rodes. Cypre is righte a gode ile and a fayr and a gret, and it +hathe 4 princypalle cytees within him. And there is an erchebysshoppe at +Nichosie, and 4 othere byschoppes in that lond. And at Famagost is on of +the princypalle havenes of the see, that is in the world: and there arryven +Cristene men and Sarazynes and men of alle naciouns. In Cipre is the hille +of the Holy Cros; and there is an abbeye of monkis blake; and there is the +cros of Dismas the gode theef, as I have seyd before. And summe men trowen, +that there is half the crosse of oure Lord: but it is not so: and thei don +evylle, that make men to beleeve so. In Cipre lythe Seynt Zenomyne: of whom +men of that contree maken gret solempnytee. And in the Castelle of Amours +lythe the body of Seynt Hyllarie: and men kepen it right worschipfully. And +besyde Famagost was Seynt Barnabee the apostle born. In Cipre men hunten +with papyonns, that ben lyche lepardes: and thei taken wylde bestes righte +welle, and thei ben somdelle [Footnote: Somewhat.] more than lyouns; and +thei taken more scharpely the bestes and more delyverly [Footnote: +Deliberately.] than don houndes. In Cipre is the manere of lordis and alle +othere men, alle to eten on the erthe. For thei make dyches in the erthe +alle aboute in the halle, depe to the knee, and thei do pave hem: and whan +thei wil ete, thei gon there in and sytten there. And the skylle is, for +thei may ben the more fressche: for that lond is meche more hottere than it +is here. And at grete festes and for straungeres, thei setten formes and +tables, as men don in this contree: but thei had lever sytten in the erthe. + +From Cypre, men gon to the lond of Jerusalem be the see: and in a day and +in a nyghte, he that hathe gode wynd may come to the haven of Thire +[Footnote: Tyre.], that now is clept Surrye. There was somtyme a gret cytee +and a gode, of Crystene men: but Sarazins han destroyed it a gret partye; +and thei kepe that havene right welle, for drede of Cristene men. Men +myghte go more right to that havene, and come not in Cypre: but thei gon +gladly to Cypre, to reste hem on the lond, or elles to bye thingis, that +thei have nede to here lyvynge. On the see syde, men may fynde many rubyes. +And there is the welle, of the whiche Holy Writt spekethe offe, and seythe, +_Fons ortorum, et puteus aquarum viventium_: that is to seye, _The welle of +gardyns, and the dyche of lyvynge watres._ In this cytee of Thire, seyde +the woman to oure Lord, _Beatus venter qui te portavit, et ubera quae +succisti_: that is to seye, _Blessed be the body that she baar, and the +pappes that thou sowkedest._ And there oure Lord forzaf the woman of +Chananee hire synnes. And before Tyre was wont to be the ston, on the +whiche oure Lord sat and prechede: and on that ston was founded the Chirche +of Seynt Savyour. + +And 8 myle from Tyre, toward the est, upon the see, is the cytee of +Sarphen, in Sarept [Footnote: Zarephath.] of Sydonyeus. And there was wont +for to dwelle Helye the prophete; and there reysed he Jonas the wydwes sone +from dethe to lyf. And 5 myle fro Sarphen is the cytee of Sydon: of the +whiche cytee, Dydo was lady, that was Eneas wyf aftre the destruccioun of +Troye; and that founded the cytee of Cartage in Affrick, and now is cleped +Dydon Sayete. And in the cytee of Tyre regned Agenore the fadre of Dydo. +And 16 myles from Sydon is Beruthe. [Footnote: Beyrout.] And from Beruthe +to Sardenare is 3 journeys. And from Sardenar is 5 myle to Damask. + +And whoso wil go longe tyme on the see, and come nerrer to Jerusalem, he +schal go fro Cipre, be see, to the port Jaff. [Footnote: Jaffa.] For that +is the nexte havene to Jerusalem. For fro that havene is not but o day +journeye and an half to Jerusalem. And the town is called Jaff; for on of +the sones of Noe, that highte Japhet, founded it; and now it is clept +Joppe. And zee schulle undrestonde, that it is on of the oldest townes of +the world: for it was founded, before Noes flode. And zitt there schewethe +in the roche ther, as the irene cheynes were festned, that Andromade, a +gret geaunt was bounden with, and put in presoun before Noes flode: of the +whiche geaunt is a rib of his syde, that is 40 fote longe. [Footnote: Our +author here takes Andromeda for the monster that would have devoured her.] + +And whoso wil arryve at the firste port of Thire or Surre, that I have +spoken of before, may go be londe, zif he wil, to Jerusalem. And men gothe +fro Surre unto the citee of Dacoun [Footnote: St. Jean d'Acre.] in a day. +And it was clept somtyme Tholomayde. And it was somtyme a cytee of +Cristenemen, fulle fair; but it is now destroyed: and it stont upon the +see. And fro Venyse to Akoun, be see, is 2080 myles of Lombardye. And fro +Calabre or fro Cecyle to Akoun, be see, is 1300 myles of Lombardye. And the +ile of Crete is right in the myd weye. And besyde the cytee of Akoun, +toward the see, 120 furlonges on the right syde, toward the southe, is the +hylle of Carmelyn, where Helyas the prophete dwellede: and there was first +the ordre of Freres Carmes founded. This hille is not right gret, ne fulle +highe. And at the fote of this hille was somtyme a gode cytee of Cristene +men, that men cleped Cayphas: For Cayphas first founded it: but it is now +alle wasted. And on the lift syde of the hille Carmelyn is a town, that men +clepen Saffre: and that is sett on another hille. There Seynt James and +Seynt Johne were born: and in the worschipe of hem, there is a fair +chirche. And fro Tholomayde, that men clepen now Akoun, unto a gret hille, +that is clept Scalle of Thires, is 100 furlonges. And besyde the cytee of +Akoun renneth a lytille ryvere, that is clept Belon. And there nyghe is the +fosse of Mennon, that is alle round: and it is 100 cubytes of largenesse, +and it is alle fulle of gravelle, schynynge brighte, of the whiche men +maken fair verres [Footnote: Glass.] and clere. And men comen fro fer, by +watre in schippes, and be londe with cartes, for to fetten of that +gravelle. And thoughe there be nevere so moche taken awey there of, on the +day, at Morwe it is as fulle azen as evere it was. And that is a gret +mervaille. And there is evermore gret wynd in that fosse, that sterethe +everemore the gravelle, and makethe it trouble. And zif ony man do +thereinne ony maner metalle, it turnethe anon to glasse. And the glasse, +that is made of that grevelle, zif it be don azen in to the gravelle, it +turnethe anon in to gravelle as it was first. And therefore somme men seyn, +that it was a sweloghe [Footnote: Whirlpool.] of the gravely see. + +Also for Akoun aboveseyd gon men forthe 4 journees to the citee of +Palestyn, that was of the Philistyenes, that now is clept Gaza, that is a +gay cytee and a riche; and it is righte fayr, and fulle of folke, and it is +a lytillle fro the see. And from this cytee broughte Sampson the stronge +the zates upon an highe lond, whan he was taken in that cytee: and there he +slowghe in a paleys the king and hymself, and gret nombre of the beste of +the Philistienes, the whiche had put out his eyen, and schaven his hed, and +enprisound him, be tresoun of Dalida his paramour. And therefore he made +falle upon hem a gret halle, whan thei were at mete. And from thens gon men +to the cytee of Cesaire, and so to the Castelle of pylgrymes, and so to +Ascolonge, and than to Jaffe, and so to Jerusalem. + + +Of manye Names of Soudans, and of the Tour of Babiloyn. + +[Sidenote: Cap. V.] And whoso wille go be londe thorghe the lond of +Babyloyne, where the Sowdan dwellethe comonly, he moste gete grace of him +and leve, to go more sikerly [Footnote: Surely.] thorghe tho londes and +contrees. And for to go to the mount of Synay, before that men gon +Jerusalem, thei schalle go fro Gaza to the castelle of Daire. And after +that, men comen out of Surrye, and entren in to wyldernesse, and there the +weye is sondy. And that wyldernesse and desert lastethe 8 journeyes. But +alleweyes men fynden gode innes, and alle that hem nedethe of vytaylle; And +men clepen that wyldernesse Achelleke. And whan a man comethe out of that +desert, he entrethe in to Egypt, that men clepen Egypt Canopac: and aftre +other langage, men clepen it Morsyn. And there first men fynden a gode +toun, that is clept Belethe; and it is at the ende of the kyngdom of +Halappee. And from thens men gon to Babyloyne and to Cayre. + +At Babyloyne there is a faire chirche of oure lady, where sche dwelled 7 +zeer, whan sche fleyghe out of the lond of Judee, for drede of Kyng +Heroude. And there lythe the body of Seynt Barbre the Virgine and Martyr. +And there duelled Josephe whan he was sold of his bretheren. And there made +Nabugodonozor the kyng putte three children in to the forneys of fuyr; for +thei weren in the righte trouthe of beleeve: the whiche children men +cleped, Ananya, Azaria, Mizaelle; as the Psalm of Benedicite seythe. But +Nabugodbnozor cleped hem other wise, Sydrak, Misak, and Abdenago: that is +to seye, God glorious, God victorious, and God over alle thinges and remes. +[Footnote: Realms.] And that was for the myracle, that he soughe Goddes +sone go with the children thorghe the fuyr, as he seyde. There duellethe +the Soudan in his Calahelyke, (for there is comounly his see) in a fayr +castelle strong and gret and wel sett upon a roche. In that castelle +duellen alle wey, to kepe it and to serve the Sowdan, mo than 6000 +persones, that taken alle here necessaries of the Sowdanes court. I oughte +right wel to knowen it; for I duelled with him as Soudyour in his werres a +gret while, azen the Bedoynes. And he wolde have maryed me fulle highely, +to a gret princes daughtre, zif I wolde han forsaken my lawe and my beleve. +But I thanke God, I had no wille to don it, for no thing, that he behighten +[Footnote: Promised.] me. And zee schulle undrestonde, that the Soudan is +lord of 5 kyngdomes, that he hathe conquered and apropred to him be +strengthe: and theise ben the names, the kyngdom of Canapak, that is Egypt; +and the kyngdom of Jerusalem, where that David and Salomon were kynges; and +the kyngdom of Surrye, of the whiche the cytee of Damasc was chief; and the +kyngdom of Alappe, [Footnote: Aleppo.] in the lond of Mathe, and the +kyngdom of Arabye, that was to on of the 3 kynges, that made offrying to +oure Lord, whan he was born. And many othere londes he holdethe in his +hond. And there with alle he holdethe calyffes, that is a fulle gret thing +in here langage: and it is als meche to seye as kyng. And there were wont +to ben 5 Soudans: but now there is no mo but he of Egypt. And the firste +Soudan was Zarocon, that was of Mede, (as was fadre to Sahaladyn) that toke +the Califfe of Egypt and sloughe him, and was made Soudan be strengthe. +Aftre that was Soudan Sahaladyn, in whoos tyme the Kyng of Englonde, +Richarde the firste, with manye othere, kepten the passage, that Sahaladyn +ne myghte not passen. Aftre Sahaladyn, regned his sone Boradyn; aftre him +his nephewe. Aftre that the Comaynz, that weren in servage in Egypt, felten +hem self, that thei weren of gret power, thei chesen hem a Soudain amonges +hem: the whiche made him to ben cleped Melethesalan. And in his tyme entred +in to the contree, of the kynges of France, Seynt Lowyz, and foughte with +him: and the Soudan toke him and enprisound him. And this was slayn of his +owne servauntes. And aftre thei chosen an other to be Soudan, that thei +cleped Tympieman. And he let delyveren Seynt Lowys out of presoun, for +certeyn ransoum. And aftre on theise Comaynz regned, that highte Cachas, +and sloughe Tympieman, for to be Soudan: and made him ben cleped +Melechemes. And aftre, another that hadde to name Bendochdare, that sloughe +Melechemes, for to be Soudan; and cleped himself Melechdare. In his tyme +entred the gode Kyng Edward of Englond in Syrye, and dide gret harm to the +Sarrazines. And aftre was this Soudan empoysound at Damasce; and his sone +thoghte to regne aftre him be heritage, and made him to ben clept +Meleschsache. But another, that had to name Elphy, chaced him out of the +contree, and made him Soudan. This man toke the cytee of Tripolee and +destroyede manye of the Cristene men, the zeer of grace 1289; but he was +anon slayn. Aftre that was the sone of Elphy chosen to ben Soldan, and +cleped him Mellethasseraff: and he toke the citee of Akoun, and chaced out +the Christene men: and this was also empoysond. And than was his brother y +made Soudan, and was cleped Melechnasser. And aftre, on that was clept +Guytoga, toke him and put him in prisoun, in the Castelle of Mountryvalle; +and made him Soudan be strengthe, and cleped him Melechcadelle: and he was +of Tartaryne. But the Comaynz chaced him out of the contree, and diden hym +meche sorwe; and maden on of hem self Soudan, that hadde to name Lachyn. +And he made him to ben clept Melechmanser: the whiche on a day pleyed at +the chesse, and his swerd lay besyde him; and so befelle, that on wratthed +[Footnote: Provoked.] him, and with his owne propre swerd he was slayn. And +aftre that, thei weren at gret discord, for to make a Soudan. And finally +thei accordeden to Melechnasser, that Guytoga had put in prisoun at +Mountrivalle. And this regnede longe and governed wisely; so that his +eldest sone was chosen aftre him, Melechemader; the whiche his brother leet +sle prevyly, for to have the lordschipe, and made him to ben clept +Melechmadabron. And he was Soudan, whan I departed fro the contrees. And +wyte zee wel, that the Soudan may lede out of Egipt mo than 20000 men of +armes. And out of Surrye, and out of Turkye, and out of other contrees, +that he holt, he may arrere [Footnote: Raise.--Anglo-Saxon, _Araeran_.] mo +than 50000. And alle tho ben at his wages: and thei ben alle weys at him, +withouten the folke of his contree, that is withouten nombre. And everyche +of hem hath be zere the mountance of 6 score floreynes. But it behovethe, +that every of hem holde 3 hors and a cameylle. And be the cytees and be the +townes ben amyralles, that han the governance of the peple. On hath to +governe 4, and another hath to governe 5, another mo, and another wel mo. +And als moche takethe the amyralle be him allone, as alle the other +souldyours han undre hym. And therfore whan the Soudan wille avance ony +worthi knyghte, he makethe him a amyralle. And whan it is ony derthe, the +knyghtes ben right pore, and thanne thei sellen both here hors and here +harneys. And the Soudan hath 4 wyfes, on Cristene and 3 Sarazines: of the +whiche, on dwellethe at Jerusalem, and another at Damasce, and another at +Ascalon. And whan hem lyst, thei remewen to other cytees. And whan the +Soudan wille, he may go visite hem. And he hathe as many paramours, as hym +lykethe. For he makethe to come before him, the fairest and the nobleste of +birthe and the gentylleste damyseles of his contree, and he maketh hem to +ben kept and served fulle honourabely, and whan he wole have on to lye +withe him, he makethe hem alle to come before him; and he beholdethe in +alle, whiche of hem is most to his plesance, and to hire anon he sendethe +or castethe a ryng fro his fyngre: And thanne anon sche schalle ben bathed +and richely atyred, and anoynted with delicat thinges of swete smelle, and +than lad to the Soudanes chambre. And thus he dothe, als often as him list, +when he wil have ony of hem. And before the Soudan comethe no strangier, +but zif he be clothed in clothe of gold or of Tartarye or of Camaka, in the +Sarazines guyse, and as the Sarazines usen. And it behovethe, that anon at +the firste sight, that men see the Soudan, be it in wyndowe, or in what +place elles, that men knele to him and kysse the erthe: for that is the +manere to do reverence to the Soudanne, of hem that speken with him. And +whan that messangeres of straunge contrees comen before him, the Meynee of +the Soudan, whan the straungeres speken to hym, thei ben aboute the Souldan +with swerdes drawen and gysarmez and axes, here armes lift up in highe with +the wepenes, for to smyte upon hem, zif thei seye ony woord, that is +displeasance to the Soudan. And also, no straungere comethe before him, but +that he makethe him sum promys and graunt, of that the straungere asketh +resonabely, beso it be not azenst his Lawe. And so don othere prynces +bezonden. For thei seyn, that no man schalle come before no prynce, but +that he be bettre, and schalle be more gladdere in departynge from his +presence, thannie he was at the comynge before hym. + +And undirstonde zee, that that Babyloyne that I have spoken offe, where +that the Soudan duellethe, is not that gret Babyloyne, where the dyversitee +of langages was first made for vengeance, by the myracle of God, when the +grete tour of Babel was begonnen to ben made; of the whiche the walles +weren 64 furlonges of heighte; that is in the grete desertes of Arabye, +upon the weye as men gon toward the kyngdom of Caldee. But it is fulle +long, sithe that ony man durste neyhe to the tour; for it is alle deserte +and fulle of dragouns and grete serpentes, and fulle of dyverse venymouse +bestes alle abouten. That tour, with the cytee, was of 25 myle in cyrcuyt +of the walles; as thei of the contree seyn, and as men may demen [Footnote: +Judge.] by estymation, aftre that men tellen of the contree. And though it +be clept the tour of Babiloyne, zit natheles there were ordeyned with inne +many mansiouns and many gret duellynge places, in lengthe and brede: and +that tour conteyned gret contree in circuyt: for the tour allone conteyned +10 myle sqware. That tour founded Kyng Nembrothe, that was kyng of that +contree: and he was firste kyng of the world. And he leet make an ymage in +the lyknesse of his fadre, and constreyned alle his subgettes for to +worschipe it. And anon begonnen othere lordes to do the same. And so +begonnen the ydoles and symulacres first. The town and the cytee weren +fulle wel sett in a fair contree and a playn; that men clepen the contree +of Samar: of the whiche the walles of the cytee werein 200 cubytes in +heighte, and 50 cubytes in breadthe. And the ryvere of Euphrate ran thorghe +out the cytee and aboute the tour also. But Cirus the Kyng of Perse toke +from hem the ryvere, and destroyede all the cytee and the tour also. For he +departed that ryvere in 360 smale ryveres: because that he had sworn, that +he scholde putte the ryvere in suche poynt, that a woman myghte wel passe +there, withouten castynge of of hire clothes; for als moche as he hadde +lost many worthi men, that trowden to passen that ryvere by swymmynge. + +And from Babyloyne, where the Soudan dwellethe, to go right betwene the +oryent and the Septemtryon, toward the grete Babyloyne, is 40 journeys to +passen be desart. But it is not the grete Babiloyne, in the lond and in the +powere of the seyd Soudan; but it is in the power and the lordschipe of +Persye. But he holdethe it of the grete Cham, that is the gretteste +Emperour and the most sovereyn lord of alle the partes bezonde: and he is +lord of the iles of Cathay and of many othere iles, and of a gret partie of +Inde. And his lond marchethe unto Prestre Johnes lond; and he holt so moche +lond, that he knowethe not the ende. And he is more myghty and grettre lord +withoute comparisoun, than is the Soudan. Of his ryalle estate and of his +myghte, I schalle speke more plenerly when I schalle speke of the lond and +of the contree of Ynde. + +Also the cytee of Methone [Footnote: Mecca.] where Machomet lythe, is of +the grete desertes of Arabye. And there lithe the body of hym fulle +honourabely in here temple, that the Sarazines clepen Muskethe. And it is +fro Babyloyne the lesse, where the Soudan duellethe, onto Methon aboveseyd, +in to a 32 journeyes. And wytethe wel, that the rewme of Arabye is a fulle +gret contree: but there in is over moche dysert. And no man may dwelle +there in that desert, for defaute of watre. For that lond is alle gravelly +and fulle of sond. And it is drye and nothing fructuous; because that it +hathe no moysture: and therefore is there so meche desart. And ziff it +hadde ryveres and welles, and the lond also were, as it is in other +parties, it scholde ben als fulle of peple and als fulle enhabyted with +folk, as in other places. For there is fulle gret multitude of peple, where +as the lond is enhabyted. Arabye durethe fro the endes of the reme of +Caldee, unto the laste ende of Affryk, and marchethe to the lond of Ydumee, +toward the ende of Botron. And in Caldee, the chief cytee is Baldak. +[Footnote: Bagdad.] And of Affryk, the chief cytee is Cartage, that Dydo, +that was Eneas wyf, founded. The whiche Eneas was of the cytee of Troye, +and aftre was Kyng of Itaylle. Mesopotamye strecchethe also unto the +Desertes of Arabye; and it is a gret contree. In this contree is the cytee +of Araym, where Abrahames fadree duelled, and from whens Abraham departed, +be commandement of the aungelle. And of that cytee was Effraym, that was a +gret clerk and a gret doctour. And Theophylus was of that cytee also, that +oure ladye savede from oure enemye. And Mesopotame durethe fro the ryvere +of Eufrates, unto the ryvere of Tygris. For it is betwene tho 2 ryveres. +And bezonde the ryvere of Tygre, is Caldee, that is a fulle gret kyngdom. +In that Rewyme, at Baldac aboveseyd, was wont to duelle the Calyffeez, that +was wont to ben bothe as Emperour and Pope of the Arabyenez; so that he was +lord spirituelle and temporelle. And he was successour to Machomete, and of +his generatioun; That cytee of Baldak was wont to ben cleped Sutis: +[Footnote: Susa.] and Nabugodonozor founded it. And there duelled the holy +prophete Daniel; and there he saughe vissiones of Hevene; and there he made +the expositioun of dremes. And in old tyme, there were ['wene' in source +text--KTH] wont to be 3 Calyffez; and thei dwelleden in the cytee of Baldak +aboveseyd. + +And at Cayre besides Babyloyne duelled the Calyffee of Egypt. And at +Marrok, upon the west see, duelte the Calyffee of Barbaryenes and of +Affrycanes. And now is there non of the Calyffeez, ne noughte han ben, +sithe the tyme of Sowdan Sahaladyn. For from that tyme hidre, the Sowdan +clepethe him self Calyffee. And so han the Calyffeez y lost here name. Also +wytethe wel, that Babylone the lesse, where the Soudan duellethe, and at +the cytee of Cayr, that is nyghe besyde it, ben grete huge cytees manye and +fayr; and that on sytt nyghe that other. Babyloyne sytt upon the ryvere of +Gyson, somtyme clept Nyle, that comethe out of Paradys terrestre. That +ryvere of Nyle, alle the zeer, whan the sonne entrethe in to the signe of +Cancer, it begynnethe to wexe; and it wexethe alle weys, als longe as the +sonne is in Cancro, and in the signe of Lyoune. And it wexethe in suche +manere, that it is somtyme so gret, that it is 20 cubytes or more of +depnesse; and thanne it doth gret harm to the godes, that ben upon the +lond. For thanne may no man travaylle to ere [Footnote: Plough.] the +londes, for the grete moystness: and therefore is there dere tyme in that +contree. And also whan it waxethe lytylle, it is dere tyme in that contree: +for defaute of moysture. And whan the sonne is in the signe of Virgo, +thanne begynnethe the ryvere for to wane and to decrece lytyl and lytylle; +so that whan the sonne is entred into the signe of Libra, thanne thei +entren betwene theise ryveres. This ryvere comethe rennynge from Paradys +terrestre, betwene the desertes of Ynde; and aftre it smytt unto londe, and +rennethe longe tyme many grete contrees undre erthe: and aftre it gothe out +undre an highe hille, that men clepen Alothe, that is betwene Ynde and +Ethiope, the distance of five moneths journeyes fro the entree of Ethiope. +And aftre it envyronnethe alle Ethiope and Morekane, and gothe alle along +fro the Lond of Egipte; unto the cytee of Alisandre, to the ende of Egipte; +and there it fallethe into the See. Aboute this ryvere, ben manye briddes +and foules, as sikonyes, that thei clepen ibes. + +Egypt is a long contree; but it is streyt, that is to seye narow; for thei +may not enlargen it toward the desert, for defaute of watre. And the +contree is sett along upon the ryvere of Nyle; be als moche as that ryvere +may serve be flodes or otherwise, that whanne it flowethe, it may spreden +abrood thorghe the contree: so is the contree large of lengthe. For there +it reyneth not but litylle in that contree: and for that cause, they have +no watre, but zif it be of that flood of that ryvere. And for als moche as +it ne reynethe not in that contree, but the eyr is alwey pure and cleer, +therfore in that contree ben the gode astronomyeres; for thei fynde there +no cloudes, to letten hem. Also the cytee of Cayre is righte gret, and more +huge than that of Babyloyne the lesse: and it sytt aboven toward the desert +of Syrye, a lytille above the ryvere aboveseyd. In Egipt there ben 2 +parties; the Heghte, that is toward Ethiope; and the Lowenesse, that is +towardes Arabye. In Egypt is the lond of Ramasses and the lond of Gessen. +Egipt is a strong contree: for it hathe manye schrewede havenes, because of +the grete Roches, that ben stronge and daungerouse to passe by. And at +Egipt, toward the est, is the rede see, that durethe unto the cytee of +Coston: and toward the west, is the contree of Lybye, that is a fulle drye +lond, and litylle of fruyt: for it is over moche plentee of hete. And that +lond is clept Fusthe. And toward the partie Meridionalle is Ethiope. And +toward the Northe is the desart, that durethe unto Syrye: and so is the +contree strong on alle sydes. And it is wel a 15 journeyes of lengthe, and +more than two so moche of desert: and it is but two journeyes in +largenesse. And between Egipt and Nubye, it hathe wel a 12 journees of +desert. And men of Nubye ben Cristene: but thei ben blake as the Mowres, +for grete hete of the sonne. + +In Egipt there ben 5 provynces; that on highte Sahythe, that other highte +Demeseer, another Resithe, that is an ile in Nyle, another Alisandre, and +another the lond of Damiete. That cytee was wont to be righte strong; but +it was twyes wonnen of the Cristene men: and therfore after that the +Sarazines beten down the walles. And with the walles and the tour thereof, +the Sarazenes maden another cytee more fer from the see, and clepeden it +the newe Damyete. So that now no man duellethe at the rathere toun of +Damyete. And that cytee of Damyete is on of the havenes of Egypt: and at +Alisandre is that other, that is a fulle strong cytee. But there is no +watre to drynke, but zif it come be condyt from Nyle, that entrethe in to +here cisternes. And who so stopped that watre from hem, thei myghte not +endure there. In Egypt there ben but fewe forcelettes or castelles, be +cause that the contree is so strong of him self. At the desertes of Egyptes +was a worthi man, that was an holy heremyte; and there mette with hym a +monstre, (that is to seyne, a monstre is a thing difformed azen kynde both +of man or of best or of ony thing elles: and that is cleped a monstre). And +this monstre, that mette with this holy heremyte, was as it hadde ben a +man, that hadde 2 hornes trenchant on his forehede; and he hadde a body lyk +a man, unto the nabele; and benethe he hadde the body lyche a goot. And the +heremyte asked him, what he was. And the monstre answerde him, and seyde, +he was a dedly creature, suche as God hadde formed, and duelled in tho +desertes in purchasynge his Sustynance; and besoughte the heremyte, that he +wolde preye God for him, the whiche that cam from Hevene for to saven alle +mankynde, and was born of a Mayden, and suffred passioun and dethe, (as we +well knowen) be whom we lyven and ben. And zit is the hede with the 2 +hornes of that monstre at Alisandre for a Marveyle. + +In Egypt is the cytee of Elyople, [Footnote: Heliopolis.] that is to seyne, +the cytee of the sonne. In that cytee there is a temple made round, aftre +the schappe of the temple of Jerusalem. The prestes of that temple han alle +here wrytinges, undre the date of the foul that is clept Fenix: and there +is non but on in alle the world. And he comethe to brenne him self upon the +awtere of the temple, at the ende of 5 hundred zeer: for so longe he +lyvethe. And at the 500 zeers ende, the prestes arrayen here awtere +honestly, and putten there upon spices and sulphur vif [Footnote: Live.] +and other thinges, that wolen brenne lightly. And than the brid fenix +comethe, and brennethe him self to ashes. And the first day next aftre, men +fynden in the ashes a worm; and the secunde day next aftre, men fynden a +brid quyk and perfyt; and the thridde day next aftre, he fleethe his wey. +And so there is no mo briddes of that kynde in alle the world, but it +allone. And treuly that is a gret myracle of God. And men may well lykne +that bryd unto God; be cause that there nys no God but on; and also, that +our Lord aroos fro dethe to lyve, the thridde day. This bryd men seen often +tyme, fleen in tho contrees: and he is not mecheles more than an Egle. And +he hathe a crest of fedres upon his hed more gret than the poocock hathe; +and his nekke is zalowe, aftre colour of an orielle, [Footnote: Golden. +From Latin, _Aurea_. Cf. Oriel College, Golden Hall.] that is a ston well +schynynge; and his bek is coloured blew, as ynde; [Footnote: Indigo.] and +his wenges ben of purple colour, and the Taylle is zelow and red, castynge +his taylle azens in travers. And he is a fulle fair brid to loken upon, +azenst the sonne: for he schynethe fully gloriously and nobely. + +Also in Egypt ben gardyns, than han trees and herbes, the whiche beren +frutes 7 tymes in the zeer. And in that lond men fynden many fayre +emeraudes and y nowe. And therefore thei ben there grettere cheep. Also +whan it reynethe ones in the somer, in the lond of Egipt, thanne is alle +the contree fulle of grete myrs. Also at Cayre, that I spak of before, +sellen men comounly bothe men and wommen of other lawe, as we don here +bestes in the markat. And there is a comoun hows in that cytee, that is +alle fulle of smale furneys; and thidre bryngen wommen of the toun here +eyren [Footnote: Eggs.] of hennes, of gees and of dokes, for to ben put in +to tho furneyses. And thei that kepen that hows covern hem with hete of +hors dong, with outen henne, goos or doke or ony other foul; and at the +ende of 3 wekes or of a monethe, they comen azen and taken here chickenes +and norissche hem and bryngen hem forthe: so that alle the contree is fulle +of hem. And so men don there bothe wyntre and somer. + +Also in that contree, and in othere also, men fynden longe apples to selle, +in hire cesoun: and men clepen hem apples of paradys; and thei ben righte +swete and of gode savour. [Footnote: Melons.] And thoghe zee kutte hem in +never so many gobettes or parties, overthwart or end longes, evermore zee +schulle fynden in the myddes the figure of the Holy Cros of oure Lord Jesu. +But thei will roten within 8 days: and for that cause men may not carye of +the apples to no fer contrees. And thei han grete leves, of a fote and an +half of lengthe: and thei ben covenably large. And men fynden there also +the appulle tree of Adam, that han a byte at on of the sydes. And there ben +also fyge trees, that baren no leves, but fyges upon the smale braunches; +and men clepen hem figes of Pharoon. Also besyde Cayre, withouten that +cytee, is the feld where bawme growethe: and it cometh out on smale trees, +that ben non hyere than a mannes breek girdle: and thei semen as wode that +is of the wylde vyne. And in that feld ben 7 welles, that oure Lord Jesu +Crist made with on of his feet, whan he wente to pleyen with other +children. That feld is not so well closed, but that men may entren at here +owne list. But in that cesonne, that the bawme is growynge, men put there +to gode kepynge, that no man dar ben hardy to entre. This bawme growethe in +no place, but only there. And thoughe that men bryngen of the plauntes, for +to planten in other contrees, thei growen wel and fayre, but thei bryngen +forthe no fructuous thing: and the leves of bawme ne fallen noughte. And +men kutten the braunches with a scharp flynston or with a scherp bon, +[Footnote: Flintstone and bone.] whan men will go to kutte hem: For who so +kutte hem with iren, it wolde destroye his vertue and his nature. And the +Sarazines clepen the wode Enonch balse; and the fruyt, the whiche is as +Quybybes, thei clepen Abebissam; and the lycour, that droppethe fro the +braunches, thei clepen Guybalse. And men maken alle weys that bawme to ben +tyled [Footnote: Tilled.] of the Cristenemen, or elles it wolde not +fructifye; as the Sarazines seyn hem self: for it hathe ben often tyme +preved. Men seyn also, that the bawme growethe in Ynde the more, in that +desert where the trees of the sonne and of the mone spak to Alisaundre. But +I have not seen it. For I have not ben so fer aboven upward: because that +there ben to many perilouse passages. And wyte zee wel, that a man oughte +to take gode kepe for to bye bawme, but zif he cone knowe it righte wel: +for he may righte lyghtely be discoyved. For men sellen a gome, that men +clepen turbentyne, in stede of bawme; and thei putten there to a littille +bawme for to zeven gode odour. And some putten wax in oyle of the wode of +the fruyt of bawme, and seyn that it is bawme: and sume destyllen clowes of +gylofre and of spykenard of Spayne and of othere spices, that ben well +smellynge; and the lykour that gothe out there of, thei clepe it bawme: and +thei wenen, that thei han bawme; and thei have non. For the Sarazines +counterfeten it be sotyltee of craft, for to disceyven the Cristene men, as +I have sene fulle many a tyme. And after hem, the marchauntis and the +apotecaries countrefeten it eftsones, and that it is lasse worthe, and a +gret del worse. But zif it lyke zou, I schalle schewe, how zee schulle +knowe and preve, to the ende that zee schulle not ben disceyved. First zee +schulle wel knowe, that the naturelle bawme is fulle cleer, and of cytrine +colour, and stronge smellynge; and zif it be thykke, or reed or blak, it is +sophisticate, that is to seyne, contrefeted and made lyke it, for disceyt. +And undrestondethe, that zif zee wil putte a litylle bawme in the pawme of +zoure hond, azen the sonne, zif it be fyn and gode, zee ne schulle not +suffre zoure hand azenst the hete of the sonne. Also takethe a lytille +bawme, with the poynt of a knif, and touche it to the fuyr, and zif it +brenne, it is a gode signe. Aftre take also a drope of bawme, and put it in +to a dissche or in a cuppe with mylk of a goat; and zif it be naturelle +bawme, anon it wole take and beclippe the mylk. Or put a drope of bawme in +clere watre, in a cuppe of sylver or in a clere bacyn, and stere it wel +with the clere watre; and zif that the bawme be fyn and of his owne kynde, +the watre schalle nevre trouble: and zif the bawme be sophisticate, that is +to seyne countrefeted, the watre schalle become anon trouble: And also zif +the bawme be fyn, it schalle falle to the botome of the vesselle, as +thoughe it were Quyksylver: For the fyn bawme is more hevy twyes, than is +the bawme that is sophisticate and countrefeted. Now I have spoken of +Bawme: and now also I schalle speke of an other thing, that is bezonde +Babyloyne, above the flode of Nyle, toward the desert, betwene Affrik and +Egypt: that is to seyn, of the gerneres [Footnote: Granaries.] of Joseph, +that he leet make, for to kepe the greynes for the perile of the dere +zeres. And thei ben made of ston, fulle wel made of massones craft: of the +whiche two ben merveylouse grete and hye; and the tothere ne ben not so +grete. And every gerner hathe a zate, for to entre with inne, a lytille +hyghe fro the erthe. For the lond is wasted and fallen, sithe the gerneres +were made. And with inne thei ben alle fulle of serpentes. And aboven the +gerneres with outen ben many scriptures of dyverse langages. And sum men +seyn, that thei ben sepultures of grete lordes, that weren somtyme; but +that is not trewe: for alle the comoun rymour and speche is of alle the +peple there, bothe and nere, that thei ben the garneres of Joseph. And so +fynden thei in here scriptures and in here cronycles. On that other partie, +zif thei were sepultures, thei scholden not ben voyd with inne. For zee may +well knowe, that tombes and sepultures ne ben not made of suche gretnesse, +ne of such highnesse. Wherfore it is not to believe, that thei ben tombes +or sepultures. In Egypt also there ben dyyerse langages and dyverse +lettres, and of other manere condicioun, than there ben in other parties. +As I schalle devyse zou, suche as thei ben, and the names how thei clepen +hem; to suche entent, that zee mowe knowe the difference of hem and of +othere. Athoimis, Bunchi, Chinok, Durain, Eni, Fin, Gomor, Heket, Janny, +Karacta, Luzanim, Miche, Naryn, Oldache, Piloh, Quyn, Yron, Sichen, Thola, +Urmron, Yph and Yarm, Thoit. + +Now will I retourne azen, or I procede ony ferthere, for to declare zou the +othere weyes, that drawen toward Babiloyne, where the Soudan him self +duellethe, that is at the entree of Egypt; for als moche as mony folk gon +thidre first, and aftre that to the Mount Synay, and aftre retournen to +Jerusalem, as I have seyd zou here beforn. For thei fulfillen first the +more long pilgrymage, and aftre retournen azen be the nexte weyes; because +that the more nye weye is the more worthi, and that is Jerusalem. For no +other pylgrymage is not lyk, in comparsoun to it. But for to fulle fylle +here pilgrymages more esily and more sykerly, men gon first the longer +weye. But whoso wil go to Babyloyne be another weye, more schort from the +contrees of the west, that I have reherced before; or from other contrees +next fro hem; than men gon by Fraunce, be Burgoyne and be Lombardye. It +nedethe not to telle zou the names of the cytees, ne of the townes that ben +in that Weye: for the weye is comoun, and it is knowen of many naciouns. +And there ben many havenes, that men taken the see. Sume men taken the see +at Gene, some at Venyce, and passen by the see Adryatyk, that is clept the +Goulf of Venyse; that departethe [Footnote: Separates.] Ytaylle and Greece +on that syde. And some gon to Naples, some to Rome, and from Rome to +Brandys, [Footnote: Brindisi.] and there thei taken the see: and in many +othere places, where that havenes ben. And men gon be Tussye, be Champayne, +be Calabre, be Appuille, and be the hilles of Ytaylle, Chorisqe, be +Sardyne, and be Cycile, that is a gret ile and a gode. In that ile of +Cycile there ys a maner of a gardyn, in the whiche ben many dyverse frutes. +And the gardyn is alweys grene and florisshing, alle the cesouns of the +zeer, als wel in wyntre es in somer. That yle holt in compas aboute 350 +Frensche myles. And betwene Cycele and Itaylle there is not but a lytille +arm of the see, that men clepen the farde of Mescyne. And Cycile is betwene +the See Adryatyk and the See of Lombardye. And fro Cycyle in to Calabre is +but 8 myles of Lombardye. And in Cycile there is a manere of serpentes, be +the whiche men asseyen and preven, where here children ben bastardis or +none, or of lawefulle mariage. For zif thei ben born in righte mariage, the +serpentes gon aboute hem, and don hem non harm: and zif thei ben born in +Avowtrie, the serpentes byten hem and envenyme hem. And thus manye wedded +men preve, zif the children ben here owne. Also in that ile is the Mount +Ethna, that men clepen Mount Gybelle; and the Vulcanes that ben evermore +brennynge. And ther ben 7 places that brennen and that casten out dyverse +flawmes and dyverse colour. And be the chaungynge of tho flawmes, men of +that contree knowen, whanne it schalle be derthe or gode tyme, or cold or +hoot, or moyst or drye, or in alle othere maneres, how the tyme schalle be +governed. And from Itaille unto the Vulcanes nys bat 25 Myle. And men seyn, +that the Vulcanes ben weyes of Helle. + +Also whoso gothe be Pyse, zif that men list to go that weye, there is an +arm of the see, where that men gon to othere havenes in tho marches. And +that men passen be the Ile of Greaf, that is at Gene: and aftre arryvethe +men in Grece at the havene of the cytee of Myrok, or at the havene of +Valone, or at the cytee of Duras: and there is a duk at Duras, or at othere +havenes in tho marces: and so men gon to Costantynoble. And aftre gon men +be watre to the Ile of Crete, and to the Ile of Rodes, ond so to Cypre, and +so to Athens, and fro thens to Costantynoble. + +To holde the more righte weye be see, it is wel a 1880 myle of Lombardye. +And aftre fro Cipre men gon be see, and leven Jerusalem and alle the +contree on the left hond, onto Egypt, and arryven at the cytee of Damyete, +that was wont to be fulle strong, and it sytt at the entree of Egypt. And +fro Damyete gon men to the cytee of Alizandre, that sytt also upon the see. +In that cytee was seynte Kateryne beheded. And there was seynt Mark the +Evangelist martyred and buryed. But the Emperour Leoun made his bones to +ben broughte to Venyse. And zit there is at Alizandre a faire chirche, alle +white withouten peynture: and so ben alle the othere chirches, that weren +of the Cristene men, alle white with inne. For the Panemes and the +Sarrazynes madem hem white, for to fordon [Footnote: To destroy.-- +Anglo-Saxon, _for-don_.] the ymages of seyntes, that weren peynted on the +walles. That cytee of Alizandre is wel 30 furlonges in lengthe: but it is +but 10 on largenesse. And it is a full noble cytee and a fayr. At that +cytee entrethe the ryvere of Nyle in to the see; as I to zou have seyd +before. In that ryvere men fynden many precyouse stones, and meche also of +lignum aloes: and it is a manere of wode, that comethe out of Paradys +terrestre, the whiche is good for manye dyverse medicynes: and it is righte +dereworthe. And fro Alizandre men gon to Babyloyne, where the Soudan +dwellethe; that sytt also upon the ryvere of Nyle. And this wey is most +schort, for to go streyghte unto Babiloyne. + +Now schall I seye zou also the weye, that gothe fro Babiloyne to the Mount +of Synay, where Seynte Kateryne lythe. He moste passe be the desertes of +Arabye; be the whiche descries Moyses ladde the peple of Israel: and thanne +passe men be the welle, that Moyses made with his hond in the desertes, +whan the people grucched, [Footnote: Grumbled.] for thei fownden no thing +to drynke. And than passe men be the welle of Marache, of the whiche the +watre was first byttre: but the children of Israel putten there inne a +tree; and anon the watre was swete and gode for to drynke. And thanne gon +men be desart unto the Vale of Elyn; in the whiche vale be 12 welles: and +there ben 72 trees of palme, that beren the dates, the whiche Moyses fond +with the children of Israel. And fro that valeye is but a gode journeye to +the Mount of Synay. + +And whoso wil go be another weye fro Babiloyne, than men gothe be the Rede +See, that is an arm of the see occean. And there passed Moyses, with the +children of Israel, overthwart the see, alle drye, whan Pharao the Kyng of +Egypt chaced hem. And that see is wel a 6 myle of largenesse in bredthe. +And in that see was Pharao drowned and alle his hoost, that he ladde. That +see is not more reed than another see; but in some place thereof is the +gravelle reede: and therfore men clepen it the Rede See. That see reunethe +to the endes of Arabye and of Palestyne. That see lastethe more than 4 +journeyes. And then gon men be desert unto the Vale of Elyn: and fro thens +to the Mount of Synay. And zee may wel undirstonde, that be this desert, no +man may go on hors back, be cause that there nys nouther mete for hors ne +watre to drynke. And for that cause men passen that desert with camelle. +For the camaylle fynt alle wey mete in trees and on busshes, that he +fedethe him with. And he may well faste fro drynk 2 dayes or 3: and that +may non hors don. + +And wyte wel, that from Babiloyne to the Mount Synay is wel a 12 gode +journeyes: and some men maken hem more: and some men hasten hem and peynen +hem; and therefore thei maken hem lesse. And alle weys fynden men latyneres +[Footnote: Men who speak Latin.] to go with hem in the contrees, and +ferthere bezonde, in to tyme that men conne [Footnote: Know.] the langage. +And it behovethe men to here vitaille with hem, that schalle duren hem in +tho desertes, and other necessaries for to lyve by. + +And the Mount of Synay is clept the Desert of Syne, that is for to seyne +the bussche brennynge: because there Moyses sawghe oure Lord God many +tymes, in forme of fuyr brennynge upon that hille; and also in a bussche +brennynge; and spak to him. And that was at the foot of the hille. There is +an abbeye of monks, wel bylded and wel closed with zates of iren, for drede +of the wylde bestes. And the monkes ben Arrabyenes, or men of Greece: and +there is a grot covent; and alle thei ben as heremytes; and thei drynken no +wyn, but zif it be on principalle festes: and thei ben fulle devoute men, +and lyven porely and sympely, with joutes [Footnote: The original note +reads 'Gourds', but joutes are actually herbs--KTH.] and with dates: and +thei don gret absteynence and penaunce. There is the Chirche of Seynt +Kateryne, in the whiche ben manye lampes brennynge. For thei han of oyle of +olyves y now, bothe for to brenne in here lampes, and to ete also: and that +plentee have thei be the myracle of God. For the ravenes and the crowes and +the choughes, and other foules of the contree assemblen hem there every +zeer ones, and fleen thider as in pilgrymage: and eyeryche of hem bringethe +a braunche of the bayes or of olyve, in here bekes, in stede of offryng, +and leven hem there; of the whiche the monkes maken gret plentee of oyle; +and this is a gret marvaylle. And sithe that foules, that han no kyndely +wytt ne resoun, gon thidre to seche that gloriouse virgyne; wel more +oughten men than to seche hire and to worschipen hire. Also behynde the +awtier of that chirche is the place where Moyses saughe oure Lord God in a +brennynge bussche. And whanne the monkes entren in to that place, thei don +of bothe hosen and schoon or botes alweys; be cause that oure Lord seyde to +Moyses, _Do of thin hosen and thi schon: for the place that thou stondest +on is lond holy and blessed._ And the monkes clepen that place Bezeleel, +that is to seyne, the schadew of God. And besyde the highe awtiere, 3 +degrees of heighte, is the fertre [Footnote: Bier.] of alabastre, where the +bones of Seynte Kateryne lyzn. And the prelate of the monkes schewethe the +relykes to the pilgrymes. And with an instrument of sylver, he frothethe +the bones; [Footnote: Rubbeth.] and thanne ther gothe out a lytylle oyle, +as thoughe it were a maner swetynge, that is nouther lyche to oyle ne to +bawme; but it is fulle swete of smelle: And of that thei zeven a litylle to +the pilgrymes; for there gothe out but litylle quantitee of the likour. And +aftre that thei schewen the heed of Seynte Kateryne, and the clothe that +sche was wrapped inne, that is zit alle blody. And in that same clothe so y +wrapped, the aungeles beren hire body to the Mount Synay, and there thei +buryed hire with it. And thanne thei schewen the bussche, that brenned and +wasted nought, in the whiche oure Lord spak to Moyses, and othere relikes y +nowe. Also whan the prelate of the abbeye is ded, I have undirstonden, be +informacioun, that his lampe quenchethe. And whan thei chesen another +prelate, zif he be a gode man and worthi to be prelate, his lampe schal +lighte, with the grace of God, withouten touchinge of ony man. For everyche +of hem hathe a lampe be him self. And be here lampes thei knowen wel whan +ony of hem schalle dye. For whan ony schalle dye, the lyghte begynnethe to +chaunge and to wexe dym. And zif he be chosen to ben prelate, and is not +worthi, his lampe quenchethe anon. And other men han told me, that he that +syngethe the masse for the prelate that is ded, he schalle fynde upon the +awtier the name writen of him that schalle be prelate chosen. And so upon a +day I asked of the monkes, bothe on and other, how this befelle. But thei +wolde not telle me no thing, in to the tyme that I seyde, that thei scholde +not hyde the grace, that God did hem; but that thei scholde publissche it, +to make the peple to have the more devocioun; and that thei diden synne, to +hide Goddis myracle, as me seemed. For the myracles, that God hathe don, +and zit dothe every day, ben the wytnesse of his myghte and of his +merveylles; as Dayid sethe in the Psaultere; _Mirabilia testimonia tua, +Domine_: that is to seyn, _Lord, thi merveyles ben thi wytnesse_. And +thanne thei tolde me, bothe on and other, how it befelle fulle many a tyme: +but more I myghte not have of hem. In that abbeye ne entrethe not no flye +ne todes ne ewtes, ne suche foule venymouse bestes, ne lyzs ne flees, be +the myracle of God and of oure lady. For there were wont to ben many suche +manere of filthes, that the monkes werein in wille to leve the place and +the Abbeye, and weren gon fro thens, upon the mountayne aboven, for to +eschewe that place. And oure lady cam to hem, and bad hem tournen azen: and +fro this forewardes nevere entred suche filthe in that place amonges hem, +ne nevere schalle entre here aftre. Also before the zate is the welle, +where Moyses smot the ston, of the whiche the watre cam out plenteously. + +Fro that abbeye men gon up the mountayne of Moyses, be many degrees: and +there men fynden first a Chirche of oure Lady, where that sche mette the +monkes, whan thei fledden awey for the vermyn aboveseyd. And more highe +upon that mountayne is the chapelle of Helye the prophete. And that place +thei clepen Oreb, where of Holy Writt spekethe. _Et ambulavit in +fortisudine cibi illius usque ad Montem Oreb_: that is to seyne, _And he +wente in strength of that mete, unto the hille of God, Oreb_. And there +nyghe is the vyne that Seynt John the Evaungeliste planted, that men elepen +reisins, _staphis_. And a lytille aboven is the Chapelle of Moyses, and the +roche where Moyses fleghe to, for drede, when he saughe oure Lord face to +face. And in that roche is prented the forme of his body; for he smot so +strongly and so harde him self in that roche, that alle his body was dolven +with inne, thorghe the myracle of God. And there besyde is the place where +oure Lorde toke to Moyses the 10 commandementes of the lawe. And there is +the cave undre the roche, where Moyses duelte, whan he fasted 40 dayes and +40 nyghtes. And from that mountayne men passen a gret valeye, for to gon to +another mountayne, where Seynt Kateryne was buryed of the aungeles of oure +Lord. And in that valey is a chirche of 40 martyres; and there singen the +monkes of the abbeye often tyme. And that valey is right cold. And aftre +men gon up the mountayne of Seynt Kateryne, that is more highe then the +mount of Moyses. And there, where Seynt Kateryne was buryed, is nouther +chirche ne chapelle, ne other duellynge place: but there is an heep of +stones aboute the place, where the body of hire was put of the aungeles. +There was wont to ben a chapelle: but it was casten downe, and zit lyggen +the stones there. And alle be it that the collect of Seynte Kateryne seye, +that it is the place where oure Lord betaughten the Ten Comandementes to +Moyses, and there where the blessed virgyne Seynte Kateryne was buryed; +that is to undrestonde, in o contree, or in o place berynge o name. For +bothe that on and that othre is clept the Mount of Synay. But there is a +grete weye from that on to that othre, and a gret deep valeye betwene hem. + + +Of the desert bet wen e the chirche of Seynte Kateryne and Jerusalem. Of + the drie Tre; and how roses cam first in the world. + +[Sidenote: Cap. VI.] Now aftre that men had visited tho holy places, thanne +will thei turnen toward Jerusalem. And than wil thei take leve of the +monkes, and recommenden hem to here preyeres. And than thei zeven the +pilgrimes of here vitaylle, for to passe with the desertes, toward Surrye. +And tho desertes duren wel it 13 journeyes. In that desert duellyn manye of +Arrabyenes, that men clepen Bedoynes and Ascopardes. And thei ben folke +fulle of alle evylle condiciouns. And thei have none houses, but tentes; +that thei maken of skynnes of bestes, as of camaylles and of othere bestes, +that thei eten; and there benethe thei couchen hem and duellen, in place, +where thei may fynden watre, as on the Rede See or elles where For in that +desert is fulle gret defaute of watre: and often time it fallethe, that +where men fynden watre at o tyme in a place, it faylethe another tyme. And +for that skylle, thei make none habitaciouns there. Theise folk, that I +speke of, thei tylen not the lond, ne thei laboure noughte; for thei eten +no bred, but zif it be ony that dwellen nyghe a gode toun, that gon thidre +and eten bred som tyme. And thei rosten here flesche and here fische upon +the hote stones azenst the sonne. And thei ben stronge men and wel +fyghtynge. And there is so meche multytude of that folk, that thei ben +withouten nombre. And thei ne recchen of no thing, ne don not, but chacen +afere bestes, to eten hem. And thei recchen no thing of here lif: and +therefore thei dowten not the Sowdan, ne non othre prince; but thei dar wel +werre with hem, zif thei don ony thing that is grevance to hem. And thei +han often tyme werre with the Soudan; and namely, that tyme that I was with +him. And thei beren but o scheld and o spere, with outen other armes. And +thei wrappen here hedes and here necke with a gret quantytee of white +lynnen clothe. And thei ben righte felonouse and foule, and of cursed +kynde. + +And whan men passen this desert, in comynge toward Jerusalem, thei comen to +Bersabee, that was wont to ben a fulle fair town and a delytable of +Cristene men: and zit there ben summe of here chirches. In that town +dwelled Abraham the patriark, a long tyme. In that toun of Bersabee, +founded Bersabee the wife of Sire Urye, the knyghte; on the whiche Kyng +David gatt Salomon the wyse, that was king aftre David, upon the 12 +kynredes of Jerusalem, and regned 40 zeer. And fro thens gon men to the +cytee of Ebron, that is the montance [Footnote: Amount.] of a gode myle. +And it was clept somtyme the Vale of Mambree, and sumtyme it was clept the +Vale of Teres, because that Adam wepte there, an 100 zeer, for the dethe of +Abelle his sone, that Cayn slowghe. Ebron was wont to ben the princypalle +cytee of Philistyenes; and there duelleden somtyme the geauntz. And that +cytee was also Sacerdotalle, that is to seyne, seyntuarie, of the tribe of +Juda: and it was so fre, that men resceyved there alle manere of fugityfes +of other places, for here evyl dedis. In Ebron, Josue, Calephe, and here +companye comen first to aspyen, how thei myghte wynnen the lond of Beheste. +In Ebron regned first Kyng David, 7 zeer and an half: and in Jerusalem he +regnede 33 zeer and an half. And in Ebron ben alle the sepultures of the +patriarkes, Adam, Abraham, Ysaac, and of Jacob; and of here wyfes, Eve, +Sarre, and Rebekke, and of Lya: the whiche sepultures the Sarazines kepen +fulle curyously, and han the place in gret reverence, for the holy fadres, +the patriarkes, that lyzen there. And thei suffre no Cristene man entre in +to that place, but zif it be of specyalle grace of the Soudan. For thei +holden Cristen men and Jewes as dogges. And thei seyn, that thei scholde +not entre in to so holy place. And men clepen that place, where thei lyzn, +double spelunke, or double cave or double dyche; for als meche as that on +lyethe above that other. And the Sarazines clepen that place in here +langage Karicarba; that is to seyn, the place of patriarkes. And the Jewes +clepen that place Arbothe. And in that same place was Abrahames hous: and +there he satt and he saughe 3 persones, and worschipte but on; as Holy +Writt seyethe, _Tres vidit et unum adoravit_: that is to seyne, _He soughe +3, and worschiped on_: and of tho same resceyved Abraham the aungeles in to +his hous. And righte faste by that place is a cave in the roche, where Adam +and Eve duelleden, whan thei weren putt out of Paradyse; and there goten +thei here children. And in thai same place, was Adam formed and made; aftre +that that sum men seyn. For men werein wont for to clepe that place, the +feld of Damasce; because that it was in the lordschipe of Damask. And fro +thens was he translated in to paradys of delytes, as thei seyn: and aftre +that he was dryven out of Paradys, he was there left. And the same day that +he was putt in Paradys, the same day he was putt autt: for anon he synned. +There begynnethe the Vale of Ebron, that durethe nyghe to Jerusalem. There +the Aungelle commaunded Adam, that he scholde duelle with his wyf Eve: of +the whiche he gatt Sethe; of whiche tribe, that is to seyn, kynrede, Jesu +Crist was born. In that valeye is a feld, where men drawen out of the erthe +a thing, that men clepen cambylle: and thei ete it in stede of spice, and +thei bere it to selle. And men may not make the hole ne the cave, where it +is taken out of the erthe, so depe ne so wyde, but that it is, at the zeres +ende, fulle azen up to the sydes, thorgh the grace of God. + +And 2 myle from Ebron is the grave of Lothe, that was Abrahames brother. +And a lytille fro Ebron is the Mount of Mambre, of the whiche the yaleye +takethe his name. And there is a tree of oke, that the Sarazines clepen +dirpe, that is of Abrahames tyme, the whiche men clepen the drye tree. And +thei seye, that it hathe ben there sithe the beginnynge of the world; and +was sumtyme grene, and bare leves, unto the tyme that oure Lord dyede on +the cros; and thanne it dryede; and so dyden alle trees, that weren thanne +in the World. And summe seyn, be here prophecyes, that a Lord, a prynce of +the west syde of the world shalle wynnen the lond of promyssioun, that is +the Holy Lond, withe helpe of Cristene men; and he schalle do synge a masse +undir that drye tree, and than the tree schalle wexen grene and bere bothe +fruyt and leves. And thorghe that myracle manye Sarazines and Jewes schulle +be turned to Cristene feythe. And therfore thei don gret worschipe thereto, +and kepen it fulle besyly; And alle be it so, that it be drye, natheles zit +he berethe gret vertue: for certeynly he that hathe a litille there of upon +him, it helethe him of the fallynge evylle: and his hors schalle not ben a +foundred: and manye othere vertues it hathe: where fore men holden it fulle +precyous. + +From Ebron, men gon to Bethelem, in half a day: for it is but 5 myle; and +it is fulle fayre weye, be pleynes and wodes fulle deletable. + + +CAPVT. 13. + +De ciuitate Bethleem, et semita vsque in Ierusalem. + +Bethleem Ciuitas longa sed parua, firmata est vndique fossatis fortibus: +cuius modo habitatores quasi omnos sunt Christiani. In illa ad orientem +honesta, et placida habetur Ecclesia: (nescio an aliquam eiusdem +quantitatis viderim placentiorem,) extrinsecus habens turres saltaturas, +pinnacula, et propugnacula nobili artificio fabricata, et intrinsecus 44. +de marmore decoro columnas. Ad principalis autem turris dextram in descensu +16. graduum, est diuersorij locus, vbi ex intacta et benedicta Virgine +nascebatur Christus homo Deus. Hic locus est multum artificiose operatus +marmore, et generose depictus auro et argento, varioque colore, cui prope +ad tres passus est praesepe in quo reclinabatur natus Dominus, ibique +videtur puteus quidam, in quo aliqui putare volunt cecidisse stellam +ductricem trium Magorum, post eius peractum officium. + +Est etiam ante praesepe Domini, tumba beati Interpretis Hieronymi, et extra +Ecclesiam monstratur cathedra, in qua residere solebat. Sub clausura huius +ecclesiae ad dextram, per 18. gradus apparet fossa, quae dicitur ossium +innocentium causa Christi ab Herode impio occisorum. Hinc ad quingentos, +vel citra pedes habetur alia Ecclesia nomine Sancti Nicholai, in quo +scilicet loco, post recessum Magorum beata Virgo tempus sui puerperij +obseruauit. [Sidenote: Taxat simplicitatem vulgi.] Ibique monstrantur rubra +saxa albis respersa maculis, quod simpliciores narrant saxis euenisse de +abundantia lactis virginis ab vberibus eiecti. In via Bethleem ab Helya +miliario contra meridianam plagam iuxta viam quae ducit Ebron, Christiani de +Bethleem colunt circa ciuitatem multam copiam vinearum, ad potum sub +ipsorum. [Sidenote: Saraceni non bibunt vinum in manifesto.] Nam Sarraceni +non colunt vineas, nec vina vendunt neque in manifesto bibunt, eo quod +liber legis Mahomet, facit super hoc prohibitionem, et interpretatur +maledictionem. + +[Sidenote: Sanctae Charitatis.] De Bethleem in Austrum duabus leucis habetur +claustrum Sanctae Charitatis, ibidem suo tempore Abbatissae. A Bethleem +tendendo Ierusalem inuenitur ad dimidiam leucam Ecclesia, in cuius loco +Angelus dixit pastoribus, Annuncio vobis gaudium magnum, quod natus est +nobis Saluatur qui est Christus Dominus. Est et tumba Rachel Patriarchae, +vbi etiam coaceruata iacent 12. saxa magna, quae quidam autumant illic +tumulasse Iacob, eo quod Beniamin duodecimus sibi filius nascebatur ibidem. +Sicque venitur in Sanctam Ciuitatem Ierusalem. [Sidenote: Bethel] Notandum, +Bethel vicus est 12. ab Helya ad dextram euntibus Neapoli, quae primum Luza +vocabatur. Sed ex eo tempore quo ibat ad Ieroboam, filium Nebat, vituli +aurei fabricati sunt, et a decem tribubus adorata, vocata est Bethauen, id +est, Domus Idoli, quae ante vocabatur Domus Dei. Ieronymus. Sed et Ecclesia +aedificata est vbi dormiuit Iacob, pergens Mesopotamiam, vbi et ipsi loco +Bethel, id est, domus Dei nomen imposuit. + + +CAPVT. 14. + +De Ecclesia gloriosi Sepulchri Domini in vrbe Ierusalem. + +Ierusalem cum tota terra prommissionis, est quasi vna de quinque prouincijs +vel pluribus, quibus Regnum Syriae distinguitur. Iungitur autem Iudeae ad +Orientem Regno Arabiae, ad meridiem Aegypto, ad Occidentem mari mago, et ad +Aquilonem Rego Syriae. Iudeae terra per diuersa tempora a diuersis possessa +fuit nationibus, Cananaeorum, Iudaeorum, Assyriorum, Persarum, Medorum, +Macedonum, Graecorum, Romanorum, Christianorum, Sarracenorum, Barbarorum, +Turcorum, and Tartarurum. Cuius rei causa merito potest aestimari, quod non +sustinuit Deus magnos peccatores longo tempore permanere in terra sibi tam +placita, et tam sancta. + +[Sidenote: Templum Sepulchri.] Itaque perigrinus veniens in Ierusalem primo +expleat suam peregrinationem, ad reuerendum et sacrosanctum Domini nostri +Iesu Christi sepulchrum: cuius Ecclesia est in vltima ciuitatis +extremitate, ad partem aquilonarem, cum proprio sui ambitus muro ipsi +ciuitati adiuncto. Ipsa vero Ecclesia est pulchra et rotundae formae cooperta +desuper cum tegulis plumbeis, habens in Occidente turrim altam et firmam, +in pauimenti Ecclesiae medio ad figuram dimidij compassi habetur nobili +opere Latonico aedificatum paruum Tabernaculum quasi 15. pedum tam +longitudinis quam latitudinis, et altitudinis miro artificio intus extraque +compositum, ac multum diligenter diuersis coloribus ornatum. Hoc itaque in +Tabernaculo seu Capella, ad latus dextrum, continetur incomparabilis +thesaurus gloriosissimi sepulchri, habentis octo pedes longitudinis, et +quinque latitudinis. Et quoniam in toto habitaculo nulla est apertura +praeter paruum ostium, illustratur accedentibus peregrinis pluribus +lampadibus, (quarum ad minus vna coram sepulchro iugiter ardere solet) +ingressus. + +[Sidenote: Melech Mandybron Soldanus.] Sciendum, quod ante breue tempus +solebat sepulchrum esse ingressis peregrinis accessibile, ad tangendum et +osculandum, sed quia multi vel effringebant, vel conabantur sibi effringere +aliquid de petra sepulchri, iste Soldanus Melech Mahdybron fecit illud +confabricari, vt nec osculari valeat, nec adiri, sed tantummodo intueri, Et +ob illam causam in sinistro pariete in altitudine quinque pedum immurari +effracturam petrae sepulchri ad quantitatem capitis humani, quod tanquam pro +sepulchro ibi ab omnibus veneratur, tangitur, et osculatur. + +Dicitur ibi quoque communiter praefatam lampadem coram sepulchro singulis +annis in die Sanctae Parascheues, hora nona extingui, et in media nocte +Paschae sine humano studio reaccendi. [Sidenote: Mandeuillus de hoc +dubitat.] Quod (si ita est) euidens diuini beneficii miraculum est. Et +quamis id plurimi Christiani simpliciter in magno pietatis merito credant, +plerisque tamen est in suspicione. Forte talia Sarraceni custodes sepulchre +fingentes diuulgauerunt, pro augendo emolumenta tributi, quod inde +resultaret, seu oblationum quae dantur. + +Singulis autem annis in die coenae Domini in Parascheue, et in vigilia +Paschae, tribus his diebus manet Tabernaculum hoc apertum continue, et patet +omnibus Christianis gentibus accessus, alias vero non per annum sine +redditione tributi. Intra Ecclesiam, prope parietem dextrum, est Caluariae +locus, vbi crucifixus pependit Christus Dominus. [Sidenote: Tumba Godefridi +de Bollion.] Per gradus ascenditur in hunc locum, et est rupis velut albi +coloris, cum aliqua rubedine per loca commixta, habens scissuram, quam +dicunt Golgotha, in qua maior pars preciosi sanguinis Christi dicitur +influxisse: vbi et habetur altare constructum, ante quod consistunt tumbae +Godefridi de Bullion, et aliorum Regum Christianorum, qui circa annum +incarnationis Domini, 1100. debellauerunt et obtinuerunt sanctam vrbem cum +tota patria ex manibus Sarracenorum, et per hoc conquisierunt sibi magnum +nomen, vsque in finem saeculi duraturum. [Sidenote: Psal. 74. 12.] Prope +ipsius crucifixionis locum continetur literis. Graecis hoc scriptum: [Greek: +ho theos basileus haemon pro aionos eirgasato sotaerian en mesoi taes gaes]. +hoc est dicere, Deus Rex noster ante secula operatus est salutem in medio +terrae. Item directe in loco, vbi crux sancta stetit cum Christo rupi +infixa, habetur hoc exaratum in saxo rupis: [Greek: ho horais esi basis taes +piseos ton kosmon], hoc est, quod vides fundamentum est fidei mundi. + +[Sidenote: Iterum taxit ignorantiam vulge. Regina Helena Anglia.] Haud +remote ab hoc Caluariae monte, habetur et aliud altare, vbi iacet columna +flagellationis Domini, cui stant de propinque et ali coaelumnae quatuor de +Marmore aquam iugiter resundantes, et (secundum opinionem simplicium) +passionem innocentem Christie deflentes. Est sub isto altari crypta, 42. +granduum profunda, vbi sancta Helena Regina reperit tres cruces, videlicet +Christi, et latronum cum eo crucifixorum, ac etiam clauos crucis Domini in +cryptae pariete. + +In medio autem chori huius Ecciesiae, est locus pauimenti stratus mire et +pulchre, ad integram compassi figuram vbi depositum corpus Christi de cruce +Ioseph ab Aramathia cum suis adiutoribus lauit et condiuit aromatibus. Item +infra Ecclesiam a septentrionali parte ostenditur locus, vbi Christus +Magdalenae apparuit post suam resurrectionem, quando eum credidit +hortulanum. + +[Sidenote: Indorum Capella sive subditorum praesbiteri Ioannis.] A dextro +autem latere ad ingressum Ecclesiae, habentur gradus 18. sub quibus est +Capella Indorum, vbi soli peregrini de India per sacerdotes suos cantant +iuxta ritum suum Missas, celebrantque diuina. Missam faciunt quidem +breuissimam, conficientes in principio verbis debitis sacramentum corporis +et sanguinis Christi de pane et vino, ac postea paucis orationibus additis, +totum oratione Dominica concludunt officium. Hoc autem verum est, quod cum +maxima attentione, reuerentia, humilitate et deuotione se gerunt et +continent diuinis. + +[Sidenote: An Ierusalem sit in medio mundi.] Porro illud, quod quidam +peruulgauerunt, aut opinati sunt, Iudaeam aut Ierusalem, vel Ecclesiam istam +consistere in medio totius mundi, propter praedictam scripturam, (in medio +terrae) hoc intelligi non potest localiter ad mensuram corporis terrae: Nam +si ad terrae latitudinem, quam aestimant inter duos polos, respiciamus, +certum est Iudaeam non esse in medio, quod tunc esset sub circulo aequatoris, +et esset ibi semper aequinoctium, et vtrumque polorum staret iis in +horizonte. Quod vtique non est ita, quod existentibus in Iudaea eleuatur +multum polus arcticus. + +Rursus si ad terrae longitudinem spectemus, quae aestimari potest a Paradiso +terrestri, scilicet a digniori et latiori terrae loco, versus eius Nadir, +scilicet versus locum sibi in Sphaera terrae oppositum, tunc Iudaea esset ad +Antipodes paradisi, quod apparet ita non esse, quod tunc esset viatori de +Iudaea ad Paradisum tendentis aequa itineris mensura, siue tenderet versus +Orientem, siue versus Occidentem. Sed hoc non est verisimile nec verum, +sicut probatum constat per experientiam multorum. Mihi autem videtur, quod +praefata Prophetae scriptura, potest exponi, in medio terrae, id est, circa +medium nostri habitabilis, videlicet vt Iudaea sit circa medium inter +Paradisum et Antipodes Paradisi, distans tantum ab ipso Paradiso in oriente +96. gradibus, prout ego ipse per viam orientalem tentaui; quanquam de hoc +non videtur de facili plena certitudo haberi; eo quod in longitudine coeli +nullae stellae manent immobiles, sicut in latitudine manent poli semper fixi. +Vel potest ita exponi, quod Dauid qui erat Rex Iudaea, dixit in medio terrae, +hoc est, in principali ciuitate terrae suae Ierusalem, quae erat ciuitas +regalis, siue sacerdotalis terrae Iudeae: vel forte spiritus sanctus, qui +loquebatur per os prophetae in hoc verbo vult intelligi non corporeum aut +locale, sed totum spirituale, de quo intuitu nihil ad praesens est +scribendum, + + +CAPVT. 15. + +De tribus alijs Ecclesijs, et specialiter de templo Domini. + +Vltra duo stadia ab Ecclesia ad Meridiem sancti sepulchri habetur magnum +hospitale sancti Ioannis Hierosolymitani, qui caput et fundamentum esse +dignoscitur ordinis hospitaliorum modo tententium Rhodum insulam: in quo +recipi possunt omnes Christiani perigrini cuiuscunque sint conditionis, seu +status, vel dignitatis. Nam Sarraceni pro leui cura anxij rumoris, +prohibent ne apud quenquam suorum Christianus pernoctet. Ad sustentationem +aedificij huius hospitalis, habentur in eo 124. columnae marmoreae, et in +parietibus distincti 54. pilarij. Satis prope hunc locum in orientem, est +Ecclesia quae dicitur, de Domina nostra magna: et inde non remote alia, quae +dicitur nostrae Dominae latinorum, aedificata super locum, vbi Maria +Magdalene, et Maria Cleophae cum alijs pluribus, dum Christus cruci +affigebatur, flebant et dolores lamentabiles exercebant. + +Item ab Ecclesia Sancti Sepulchri in orientem ad stadium cum dimidio +habetur aedificium mirabile, ac pulchrum valde, quod templum Domini +nominatur, quod constructum est in forma rotunda, cuius circumferentiae +diameter habet 64 cubitos, et altitudo eius 126, et intrinsecus pro +sustentatione aedificij, multi pilarij. In medio autem templi est locus +altior 14. gradibus, qui et ipse columnis vndique est stipatus: et secundum +quatuor mundi plagas habet templum quatuor introitus per portas Cypressinas +artificiose compositas, nobiliterque sculptas, et excisas. Et ante portam +aquilonarem intra templum fontem aquae mundae, qui quamuis olim exundabat, +tamen nunc minime fluit. In toto circuitu aedificij extrinsecus est valde +pro atrio latum spacium loci, stratum per totum pauimentum marmoribus. Hoc +templum non ducitur stare in eodem loco vbi templum Dei stetit in tempore +Christi, quo post resurrectionem a Romanis destructo, istud longo post +tempore Adrianus Imperator extruxit, sed non ad formam templi prioris: +praedictum tamen excelsum in medio templi locum vocant Iudaei sanctum +sanctorum. + +Sciatis itaque quod Sarraceni magnam exhibent huic templo reuerentiam, et +honorem saepius illud discalceati intrantes, et positis genibus deuote Deum +omnipotentem exorantes, nulla enim ibidem habetur imago, sed multae lampades +relucentes. [Sidenote: Literae Soldani traditae Mandiuillo.] Neminem +Christianorum seu Iudaeorum ingredi sinun, templum, reputantes eos indignos +ad hoc, et nimium immundos, vnde nisi virtute literarum quas habui a +Soldano, nec ego fuissem ingressus. Ingrediens autem cum meis sodalibus +deposuimus calciamenta, recogitantes cum multa cordis deuotione, nos magis +id facere debere, quam incredulos Sarrcenos. + +Et vere merito est iste locus in magna reuerentia habendus: dum enim Rex +Salomon primum in illo templo per Dei iussionem, et Dauidis patris sui +commissionem aedificasset, exorauit praesente cuncto populo Israel, vt +quicunque illic Deum pro iusta causa rogaret audiretur; et Dominus +monstrauit exauditionis signum per nebulam de coelo emissam, prout narrat +historia veritatis 3. Regum libro. + +Porro in eo loco vbi statuerat idem Rex ante templum altare holocausti, +videlicet extra portam templi occidentalem, habetur et nunc altare, sed non +ad instar, nec ad vsum primi: Nam Saraceni, quasi nihil curantes, traxerunt +in eo lineos tanquam in astrolabio figentes in linearum centro batellum, ad +cuius vmbram per lineas discernuntur diei horae. + +Etiam in hac atrij parte apparent adhuc vestigia portae speciosae, vbi Petrus +Apostolus, cum Euangelista Ioanne dixit contracto, In nomine Christi Iesu +Nazareni surge, et statim consolidabantur illi plantae. + + +CAPVT. 16. + +De pluribus locis sacris iuxta vrbem. + +[Sidenote: Templarij a templo Salomonis dicti.] Viaturo ad dextram satis de +propinquo habetur et alia Ecclesia, quae nunc appellatur schola Salomonis: +rursusque ad Meridiem est et aliud templum siue Ecclesia, quae vocatur +Templum Salomonis, quod olim fuit caput, et fundamentum totius ordinis +Templariorum. + +[Sidenote: Regina Helena Angla.] A claustro huius templi extrinsecus in +Aquilonem habetur decora Ecclesia beatae Annae, in cuius loco creditur virgo +Maria in eiusdem matris suae vtero fuisse genita, et concepta, parentunque +illius, scilicet, Ioachim et Annae, tumba saxea monstratur in descensu +Ecclesiae, per 22. gradus, vbi et adhuc patris eius ossa putantur quiescere, +sublato inde per reginam Helenam korpore sanctae Annae, et recondito (vt +praedictum est) in Ecclesia Constantinopoli sanctae Sophiae. + +[Sidenote: Probatica piscina.] Est et intra hanc Ecclesiam probatica +piscina, vbi quondam post motionem Angeli, omnes accedentes primi, a +quocunque languore sanabantur infirmi, quae tamen nunc temporis ita neglecta +iacet, et deformata, vt videtur immunda cistrina. Habetur et ante Ecclesiam +arbor grandis, et antiqua, de qua nonnulli fabulantur, quod ad beatae Mariae +natiuitatem principium accepit, et ortum. + +[Sidenote: Mons Sion.] Mons Sion est excelsior locus in vrbe ad cuius +radicem, est castrum spectabile constructum per aliquem Soldanorum. In +montis autem cacumine videntur multae sepulturae regum Indeae, videlicet +Dauid, Salomonis, et quorundam de successoribus suis. Ad introitum montis +habetur capella, et in illa lapis monumenti quem Ioseph de Arimathea +obuoluit ad ostium sepulchri est valde magnus, et est ibidem aliqua pars +columnae flagellationis, ac pars mensae super quam Dominus vltimo caenauit cum +Apostolis, et instituit noui Testamenti sacramentum sui venerandi corporis, +et sanguinis. Sub hac capella ad aliquos gradus monstratur locus eiusdem +caenationis, videlicet caernaculi magni, et in eo vas, aquarum, in quo +Christus lauabat pedes Apostolorum: iuxta quod vas a Gamaliele, et alijs +viris timoratis primus sepultus fuit protomartyr Stephanus. + +In eo quoque loco intrauit post resurrectionem suam Dominus ianuis clausis +ad discipulos dicens pax vobis, et agens alia, quae plenius Euangelica +pandit Historia, ac tandem in die Pentecostes ijsdem spiritum sanctum in +linguis igneis misit ibidem. Ab hoc monte Sion versus ciuitatem habetur +Ecclesia dedicata sancto saluatori, in quo nunc dicuntur seruari ossa S. +Stephani supradicti, et sinistrum brachium S. Ioannis Chrisostomi, cuius +corpus vt dictum est requiescit Constantinopoli. + +Item ab hoc monte versus Austrum ab opposito plateae, est pulchra Ecclesia +nostrae Dominae, in cuius loco diu morabatur post ascensionem filij sui, +quamius pro parte eiusdem temporis in valle Iosaphat manserit: nam in ista +defungebatur, et in illo ab Apostolis honorifice sepulta fuit. [Sidenote: +Natatoria Siloe.] Itemque ab hoc monte in vico eundi versus vallem Iosaphat +inuenitur fons aquae dictus Natatoria Siloe, vbi caecus natus a Christo +missus lauabat oculos, et regressus est videns. Et dicunt quidam ibidem +sepultrum Isaiam Prophetam. + +Porro mons olim dictus Moria de quo loquitur Scriptura sacra est rupis haud +longe a supradicto templo Domini in ipsius meredie, in cuius rupis loco +excelso velut emenenti sed edito Dominus noster Iesus Christus frequenter +instruebat suos discipulos, et populos, magnaque miracula exhibebat, atque +deprehensae mulieri in adulterio omnia peccata dimittebat. [Sidenote: +Iohan. 8.] + +Ab opposito autem praedicti fontis natatorij habetur imago lapidea, rudi et +vetusto opere sculpta, deformiterque detrita, quae manus Absalon +nuncupatur, cuius ratio lib. 2. Regum monstratur. Vbi de prope vidi Arborem +Sambucum, ad quam vel citra cuius locum (vt dicitur) Iudas traditor per se +suspensus crepuit medius, et diffusa sunt viscera eius. + +Praeterea a monte Sion versus Meridiem vltra vallem ad iactum lapidis est +locus Aceldema, in quo emptus ager 30. denarijs proditionis est, Et in quo +sunt plures sepulturae peregrinorom, et vestigia cellularum, de quondam +illic commorantibus Heremitis. + + +CAPVT. 17. + +De sacris locis extra muros Ciuitatis. + +[Sidenote: Vallis Iosaphat.] Extra muros ciuitatis Ierusalem ad plagam +orientalem, est vallis Iosaphat contigua, ac si esset fossata muris ipsius +ciuitatis, et Ecclesia vbi sanctus Stephanus lapidabatur, et obdormiuit in +Domino. Hinc non longe est porta ciuitatis, quae dicitur aurea, quae nunc +semper obfirmata seruatur. Per hanc intrauit Christus sedens asino, et +adhuc ostenditur rupis seruare vestigia animalis in tribus aut pluribus sui +locis. [Sidenote: Mons Oliuarum. Torrens Cedron.] Statim vltra vallem +Iosaphat aspicitur mons Oliueti, sic dictus a pluribus, quia ibi sunt +oliuarum Arbores. In planicie huius vallis decurrit riuulus dictus torrens +Cedron, secus quem habetur pulchra, et honorificata Ecclesia sacrosanctae +sepulturae beatae, et gloriosae matris Christi: descenditur autem in Ecclesiam +per gradus 44. quod extrinsecus est vallis inculta per fluxum fortasse +torrentis, seu per alios euentus propter Antiquitatem temporis. Ibique +monstratur sepulchrum eius vacuum. Habentur iuxta sepulchrum duo altaria, +sub vno est fons Aquae quae putatur exire de vno Paradisi flumine. + +Satis prope ab hac Ecclesia ad rupem Gethsemane habetur capella, vbi +scilicet Iudaeis traditus fuit Christus a Iuda. In ipsa quoque rupe +ostendebatur mihi figura impressae manus ad digitorum extensionem, quo +artificiosius humanano studio sculpi non posset, quam referunt Christum sua +venerabili manu inclinando ad rupem efficisse dum Iudaei impuras manus ad +capiendum iniecerunt in eum. Hic ad iactum lapidis in meridie orauit +['oraiit' in source text--KTH] ad suum patrem, et pro vehementi orationis +intentione sanguineum exudauit sudorem: atque ibi non remote videtur tumba +regis Iudeae Iosaphat, a quo et vallis sibi nomen assumpsit: et credimus in +hanc vallem Christum venturum ad nouissimum, et generalissimum iudicium, +vbi (Iohele propheta testante) disceptabit de omni actione mortalium. +[Sidenote: S. Iacobi sepultura.] Ad tractum sagittae de hac tumba, est +Ecclesia vbi sanctus Iacobus maior Apostolus primo post martyrium fuit +sepultus, cuius modo sacrata ossa venerantur Compostellae in Galizia. + +Vltra vallem in supremo montes Oliueti apice discipulus cernentibus, +Dominus noster Iesus Christus eleuatis manibus ascendit in coelum, et super +eundem locum digna habetur Ecclesia, in qua eiusdem Ascensione tale +seruatur in rupe pauimenti indicium, quod sinistri pedis Christi videtur +vltimum vestigium. + +Hinc satis prope habetur et capella medio montis, vbi Christus sedens +praedicauit octo beatitudines, vbi et creditur docuisse discipulos orationem +Dominicam, scilicet, Pater noster, &c. Ab eo quoque loco non distat multum +Ecclesia beatae Maaiae Aegyptiacae, in qua et eius tumba videtur: et haud +procul inde est vicus Bethphage, vbi Christus misit ante passionis suae +tempus duos de discipulis pro asina et pullo eius. In cliuo vero huius +montis Oliueti versus ciuitatem, monstratur locus, de quo videns Dominus +Ierusalem, fleuit super illam, dicens, quod si cognouisses et tu, &c. +[Sidenote: Bethania.] Atque vltra montem in discensu eius in orientem est +villa siue castellum Bethaniae, distans quasi ad leucam ab vrbe vbi in domo +cuiusdam Symonis inuitatu Christus condonauit omnia peccata Mariae +Magdalenae. Et in ipso castello, quod erat sororis Marthae, et Mariae +rescuscitauit fratrem earum Lazarum quatriduanum mortuum. + +[Sidenote: Ierico.] De Bethania in Ierico sunt 5. leucae, quae quondam fuit +ciuitas speciosa sed iam est villa modica: ibi Diues Zacchaeus ascendit in +arborem Sycomorum, vt videret transeuntem Dominum, et restituens fraudata +quadraplum, obtinuit peccatorum remissionem omnium. + +Item de Bethania ad flumen Iordanis est iter fere octo leucarum, per +montes, ac valles deuios, et desertos. [Sidenote: Christiani Georgici.] +Porro de Bethania in orientem ad 6 leucas venitur in montem magnum, vbi +Christus expleto 40. dierum, ac noctium ieiunio temptatus est a diabolo, +fuitque in eodem loco quandoque Ecclesia, sed modo habetur ibi quasi +coenobium quorundam Christianorum, qui Georgici vocantur. Sciendum enim +est, quod vbique intra terram Saracenorum, et similiter multorum Paganorum +inueniuntur Christiani dispersi, habitantes sub tributo, qui licet sint +baptizati omnes, et beatissimam Trinitatem credentes, diuersificantur tamen +nominibus, moribus, ritibus, fide, et opinionibus: ita vt semper vel in +multis vel in aliquibus dissentiant a Romanae Ecclesiae consuetudinibus. + +[Sidenote: Iacobitae. Syrij. Georgica. Cordelarij. Indi. Nubij. Nestorini. +Arriani.] Aliqui namque eorum dicuntur Christiani Iacobitae: hij errant +circa peccatorum remissionem, dicentes, non debere confiteri homini sed +soli Deo. Alij Syrij, Isti in fermentato pane conficiunt Sacramentum +altaris ritu Graecorum. Alij Indi, Nubij, Nestorini, et Arriani. Praefatus +autem mons magnus, vocatur hortus Abrahae, ex eo quod Abraham patriarcha ibi +dicitur commoratus, et currit prope montem riuulus, in cuius aqua vel fonte +Deus sal per Helizeum prophetam mitti iussit, vt sanaretur sterilitas, id +est, amaritudo aquae. Nec distat hic mons a Ierico vltra grandem leucam. + + +CAPVT. 18. + +De notabilibus alijs locis, et mari mortuo. + +Rursum de ciuitate sanctae Ierusalem versus Occidentem itinere leucae, +habetur pulchra satis Ecclesia, in loco vbi dicitur creuisse arbor crucis +salutiferae. Arbor excelsa, digno stipite sacra Christi membra tangere. +[Sidenote: Nota.] Tenetur istud quidem pro certa veritate: nam et hoc satis +testatur constructio tantae, et talis Ecclesiae, quamuis multa aliena, et +incerta scripta de crucis arbore ferantur per orbem. Hinc ad duas leucas +est et alia Ecclesia, vbi obuiauerunt sibi Maria virgo, et Elizabeth eius +cognata, et ad saluationem Mariae Christi baiulae exultauit Iohannes in vtero +Elisabeth grauidae. + +[Sidenote: Emaus Castellum.] De isto quoque ad leucam est Emaus castellum, +distans in spacio stadiorum 60. ab Ierusalem, vbi discipuli in coena die +resurrectionis Domini cognouerant eum in fractione panis. [Sidenote: +Cosdrus Imperator.] Porro ab Ierusalem ad alium exitum, ad duo stadia +videtur spelunca grandis de qua dicitur quod tempore Cosdri Imperatoris +Persarum, fuerunt circa Ierusalem 12. mille martyrum occissi, quorum, +omnium corpora leo habitans in spelunca congregauit ibidem voluntate +diuina, tanquam pro singulorum sepultura obsequiosa. + +[Sidenote: Mons Exultationis.] Item ab vrbi ad leucas duas habetur in monte +tumba sepulturae sancti Samuelis prophetae, qui mons nunc vocatur +exultationis vel laeticiae, eo quod peregrinis ab illa parte intrantibus +reddit primum sanctae ciuitatis aspectum. Ab oppido autem Ierico in 30. +stadiorum spacio venitur ad Iordauis fluuij locum, vbi beatus Iohannes +Baptista Christum sacri baptismatis merebatur tingere lymphis. Et in cuius +reuerendi mysterij venerationem habetur ad dimidiam leucam a fluuio +aedificium honestae Ecclesiae consecratum in nomine eiusdem venerabilis +baptistae ministri. Ab hac Ecclesia de prope vidi domum de qua patiebar mihi +narrari, quod in eodem loco olim fuerit Ieremiae sancti habitatio prophetae. + +[Sidenote: Iordanis descriptio.] Notandum est. Iordanis fluuius quamuis +grandis non sit, bonorum tamen piscium copiam nutrit, ortum accipiens sub +monte Libanon ex duobus fontibus, scilicet Ior, et Dan, quae nomina simul +mixta nomen Iordanis efficiunt. Decurrit autem per quendam locum dictum +Maron, ac secus stagnum quod diciter Mare Tyberiadis, ac subter montes +Gylboe per amoenissima loca, atque in subterraneis meatibus per longum +spacium se occultans tandem exit in planitie, quae dicitur Meldam, id est, +forum, quod certis temporibus ibi Nundinae exercentur, et ad extremum se +iactat in mare mortuum. + + +[Sidenote: Mare mortuum.] Hoc stagnum quod vocatur mare mortuum habet +longitudinis 600. fere stadia, et latitudinis 150. et appropinquat aliqua +pars huius maris ad quatuor leucas prope Ierico, videlicet ad latus +camporum Engadi, ex quibus (vt supra dictum est) eradicatae fuerunt abores +Balsami, quae modo sunt in agro Cayr AEgypti. [Sidenote: Nota.] Istud mare +dicitur mortuum. + +[Sidenote: Cur mare mortuum dicatur.] Primo quidem quod non viuide currit, +sed est quasi lacus. + +Secundo quod amara est eius aqua, et foetidum reddit odorem. Tertio quod +propter eius amaritudinem terra adiacens littori nil viride profert. + +Quarto (prout dicitur) si cadat in ea bestia, vel aliud quid viuens, vix +poterit plene mori siue submergi in octo diebus, nec nutrit in se pisces +aut quid simile. + +Littora quoque sua variant quam saepe colorem, et sine vlla agitatione +ventorum eijcit in quibusdam locis se aqua, extra proprios terminos. Per +huiusmodi aquam dicitur Deus pro indicibili vitio Pentapolim submersisse, +Sodomam, Gomorram, Adamam, Seboim, et Segor. + +Quidam vocant hoc mare lacum Asphaltidis, alij fluuium Daemonum, aut flumen +Putre. Quod autem olim propheta interpretans dixit, montes Gilboe, nec ros +nec pluuia veniat super vos, magis spiritualiter quam literaliter videtur +intelligendum. [Sidenote: Nota.] Nam ibi crescunt altissimi cedri, et +arbores poma ferentes, ad capitis quantitatem humani, ex quibus valde +saporosus fit potus. + +Mare istud mortuum determinat fines terrae promissionis, et Arabiae. Ideoque +vltra ipsum mare condidit quondam, vnus successorum Godfridi de Bollion +forte et spectabile castrum, ponens illic copiosam Christianorum militiam +ad terram promissionis custodiendum. Nunc vero, temporis, est Soldani, et +appellatur Caruth, id est mons Regalis. Sub hoc monte est villa dicta +Sobal: habitat in illis partibus magna Christianorum multitudo. + + +CAPVT. 19. + +De Nazareth, et Samaria. + +Nazareth in prouincia Galileae in qua nutritus, et de qua cognominatus est +Dominus vniuersorum, distans ab Hierosolymis ad tres circiter dietas, erat +quondam ciuitas, quae nunc est dispersa, et rara domorum, quod vix villae +sibi competit nomen: et in loco Annunciationis, vbi Angelus ad Mariam +dixit, Aue gratia plena, Dominus tecum, habebatur olim bona Ecclesia, pro +qua paruum Saraceni restituerunt habitaculum, in colligendas peregrinorum +offerendas. + +A Nazareth redeundo per terrain Galileae, transitur per Ramathaym Sophim, +vbi nascebatur fidelis Samuel propheta Domini, et per Sylo, vbi locus +orationis erat antequam in Ierusalem: et per Sichem magnae vbertatis vallem, +itur in prouinciam Samariae, vbi habetur et bona ciuitas nunc dicta +Neapolts, distans, a sancta vrbe spacio solius dietae, ac per fontem Iacob, +super quem Iesus fatigatus ab itinere colloquebatur Samaritonae, vbi et +apparet ruina destructae Ecciesiae quondam illic habitae. Et est ibi villa +adhuc vocata Sychem, et in eo est mausoleum Ioseph patriarchae filij Iacob: +ad cuius ossa visitanda sub deuotione non minus peregrini Iudaei adueniunt, +quam Christiani. + +[Sidenote: Samaria nunc Sebaste.] Hinc satis prope est mons Garizin cum +vetusto templo orationis Samaritanorum: ex tunc intratur Samaria quae modo +appellatur Sebaste, et est illius principalis ciuitas pronunciae. In qua +fuit primum terrae mandatum corpus beati Ioannis Baptistae inter sacra +corpora Helizaei, et Abdiae Prophetarum, vt quorum assimilibatur virtutibus +in vita, corporibus iungeretur in sepultura. Haec quoque distat ab +Hierosolymis: fortassis a dietas. + +[Sidenote: Nota.] Habetur et alius puteus aut fons intra illa montana, quem +plerique similiter fontem Iacob appellant, cuius aqua secundum quatuor anni +tempora variatur a suo colore, vt sit quandoque clara, quandoque turbida, +nunc viridis, et nunc rubra. [Sidenote: Ogerus Dux Danus.] Certum est autem +tempore Apostolorum cum Samaria recepisset verbum Dei, illos fuisse +conuersos, et baptizatos, in nomine Domini Iesu, et tamen postea per +quendam Caliphorum peruersos, Ogerus dux Danorum per Templariorum virtutem +rursum subiugauit Christianitati: sicque post plures euentus, et +variationes, illi qui nunc sunt Samaritae, finxerunt sibi haeresim propriam, +et ritum ab omnibus nationibus singularem. + +[Sidenote: Tegumenti capitis differentia.] Fatentur autem se credere in +Deum, qui cuncta creauit: recipiuntque pentateucum scripturae, cum Psalterio +Dauidis, acerrime contendentes, se solos dilectissimos Dei filios qui etiam +pro nobili differentia inuoluunt capita linteo rubeo, Saraceni autem albo, +Indi croceo, et Christiani ibi manentes Indico, hoc est, aereo, seu +hiacynthino. + +Porro a Nazareth quatuor leucis, est ciuitas olim dicta Naym, in 2. milario +Thahor montis contra Meridiem iuxta Endor. Ieronimus. Ante cuius portam +resuscitauit Christus defunctum filium vnicum matris suae, praesentibus +duabus turmis hominum copiosorum. Hinc quoque ad leucas duas, est ciuitas +Israel, vbi olim morabatur pessima regina Iezabel, quam Dei iudicio equorum +vngulis conculcatam, canes fere vsque ad caluariam comederunt. + + +CAPVT. 20. + +De territorio Gallileae, et Samariae, et de villa Sardenay. + +Item a Nazareth ad leucae dimidum, monstrantur in rupe vestigia pedum, quae +dicuntur esse Domini nostri Iesu Christi vbi de manibus Iudaeorum, ipsum de +alta rupe praecipitare volentium desiluit in istam. De quo saltu quidam +intelligunt illud scriptum Euangelicum, Iesus autem transiens per medium +illorum ibat. + +Ad quatuor autem leucas de Nazareth, est Cana Galileae, vbi Christus ad +vrbanas matris preces, mutauit vndam in vinum optimum. + +[Sidenote: Mons Thabor.] Ad distantiam quatuor leucarum a Nazareth, venitur +in Thabor, montem spectabilem, vbi transfigurabatur Christus, coram +quibusdam suis Apostolis, apparentibus ibidem, Mose, et Helia, prophetis, +voceque dilapsa a magnifica Patris gloria, et videbatur Petro bonum ibi +esse: quondam in hoc monte habebatur ciuitas, cum pluribus Ecclesijs; +quarum nunc sola restant vestigia, excepto quod ille locus +transfigurationis est inhabitatus, qui est Schola Dei nominatus. [Sidenote: +Obserueretur.] Notandum. Thabor est in medio Galileae, campus mira +iucunditate sublimis, distans a Diotesaria 3. milliaribus contra Orientem. + +Item de Nazareth in tres leucas est villa, seu castrum Zaffara, de quo +recolo me supradixisse capite 4. Et inde venitur in Mare Galileae, quod +quamuis dicatur mare, est lacus aquae dulcis longus. + +[Sidenote: Mare Tyberiadis.] Vltra centum 60. forsitan stadia est lacus, +bonorum piscium ferax et vber, qui etiam in alio loco sui vocatur mare +Tyberiadis, et in alia mare Genezareth, varians sibi nomen, secundum +ciuitas, et terras, propinquas. Circa hoc mare Christus frequenter, et +libenter ambulasse videtur: hic vocauit ad sui discipulatum, Petrum, et +Andream, Iacobum, et Ioannem: hic super vndam siccis ambulabat vestigijs, +et praecipitem Petrum filium tentantem, verbo increpationis releuat ne +mergatur, hic denique rediuiuus a morte repleuit discipulorum rete magnis +piscibus 153. + +Item in ciuitate Tiberiade, quae est prope hoc mare habetur in veneratione +mensa illius coenae, quam in Emaus castello Christus caenauit, cum ab oculis +commensalium euanuit. Hic de prope monstratur mons ille fertilis, mons ille +pinguis, in quo de paucis panibus, et de paucioribus piscibus iussu Christi +fuerunt saturati, quinque millia hominum. + +Ad initium autem praedicti maris iuxta villam Capernaum habetur fortius +castrum totius terrae promissionis, in quo dicitur nata fuisse sancta Anna +mater virginis Mariae. + +[Sidenote: Damascus.] Praedictis itaque Christi vestigijs, et terrae sanctae +locis a peregrino cum deuotione cordis et reuerentia debita visitatis, si +desiderat reuerti, posit illud facere per Damascum; quae est ciuitas longa, +nobilis, et grandis, ac plena omnium rerum mercimonijs, cum tamen distat a +portu maris tribus plene dietis, per quod spacium itineris, cuncta +traijciuntur a suis equis, Dromedarijs, et Camelis: et putatur a plerisque +narrantibus fundata in loco vbi Cain protoplaustorum filius Abel fratrem +suum occidit. + +A Damasco de propinquo est mons Seyr, ciuitas grandis firmata duplicibus +muris ac populosa nimis, in qua sunt multi in arte Physica famosi professi. +Item a Damasco haud remote distat castrum satis munitum, et firmum, quod +Derces est nominatum. Habent autem in illis, et vlterioribus partibus hunc +vsum: si quando castrum ab hostibus fuerit sic obsessum, quod Dominus eius +non possit emittere nuncium amico suo remote moranti, recipit columbam olim +in castro, vel domo amici natam, vel educatam, quam hic sibi per certam +prouisionem allatam detinuit incaueatam, et scriptas quas vult literas +alligans collo columbae, dimittit liberam volare, quae protinus festinat ad +focum propriae natiuitatis. Sicque videtur cognosci in illo castro quid +agatur in isto. + +[Sidenote: Villa Sardenay.] Caeterum peregrinus a Damasco reuertendo, in +quinque leucis venit Sardenay, quae est villa in alta rupe, cum multis +Ecclesijs religiosorum Monachorum, et sanctarum monialium fidei Christianae. +In quarum vna coram maiori altari in tabula lignea erat olim imago +beatissimae virginis Mariae non sculpta sed depicta in plano spacio. Ex hoc +reditur per valles Bokar fertiles et pro pascendis pecorum gregibus +exuberantes: et intratur in montana vbi copiositas est fontium qui effluunt +impetu de Libano. Ibique decurrit fluuius Sabbatayr, sic dictus quod diebus +Sabbatis euidenter rapidius transit, quam alijs sex diebus. + +Peruenitur hinc ad satis altum montem, prope Tripolim ciuitatem, in qua ad +praesens plures Christiani Catholicae fidei habitant iugo infidelium nimis +oppressi. [Sidenote: Sur, vel Tyrus.] Ex hoc loco sibi deliberet +peregrinus, quem sibi maris portum accipiat ad repatriandum, videlicet +Beruth, an Sur vel Tyrum. + +Postremo sciendum, quod terra promissionis in totali longitudine sui a Dan +qui est sub Libano vsque ad Berseba in Austrum continet circiter centum, et +80. leucas Lombardicas, et ab Hierico in totali latitudine circiter 60. +Notandum, Dan est viculus in quarto a Pennea de Miliario euntibus, contra +Septentrionem: vsque hodie sic vocatur terminus Iudeae, contra Septentrionem +est etiam et fons Ior, de quo et Iordanis fluuius erumpens alterum sortitus +nomen Ior. Termini Iudeae terrae a Bersabe incipiunt vsque ad Dan, qui vsque +Peneaden terminatur, Ieronimus. + + +CAPVT. 21. + +De secta detestabili Saracenorum et eorum fide. + +[Sidenote: Diligentia Mandevillu.] Iam restat vt de secta Saracenorum +aliquid scribam vel compendiose, secundum quod cum ijs frequenter, +colloquendo audiui, et liber Mahometi, quem Alcaron, vel Mesahaf, vel Harme +vocant, ijs praecipit, sicut illum saepe inspexi, et studiose perlegi. + +[Sidenote: Fides Saracenorum.] Credunt itaque Saraceni in Deum creatorem +coeli et terrae, qui fecit omnia in ijs contenta, et sine quo nihil est +factum. Et expectant diem nouissimum iudicij, in quo mali cum corpore et +anima descensuri sunt in infernum perpetuo cruciandi, et boni equidem cum +anima et corpore intraturi Paradisum foelicitatis aeternae. Et haec quidem +fides poene inest omnium mortalium nationibus, lingua et ratione vtentibus. +Verumtamen de qualitate Paradisi est magna diuersitas inter credentes. + +Nam et Saraceni et Pagani, et omnes sectae praeter Iudaeos et baptizatos +Christianos sentiunt bonorum Paradisum fore terrestrem illum de quo fuit +expulsus Adam propter inobedientiam protoplaustus: qui (vt putant) fluit, +vel tunct fluet pluribus riuis lactis et mellis, et vbi in domibus et +mansionibus nobiliter iuxta meritum vniuscuiusque aedificatur auro, et +argento et gemmis, perfruentur omnibus corporalibus delicijs, in +oblectatione animae aeternaliter sine fine. Ille ergo qui fide sanctae +Trinitatis carent, et Christum qui est vera lux ignorant, in tenebris +ambulant. Iudaei vero et omnes baptizati recte sentiunt Paradisum coelestem +et spiritualem, vbi quilibet secundum meritum Diuinitati vnietur, per +cognitionem, et amorem. Attamen Iudaei quod contra Scripturas suas sanctae +Trinitati contradicunt, et Christo obloquuntur, qui est vera via, nesciunt +quo vadunt. De baptizatis autem, qui firmiter fidem Catholicam in +humilitate cordis sub Ecclesiae praeceptis seruauerunt, hi soli filij sunt +lucis, et in via veniendi ad coelestem Paradisum quem Christus verbo +praedicauit, et ad quem corpore et anima, videntibus discipulis, de facto +conscendit. + +Credunt etiam Saraceni, omnia esse vera, quae Deus ore prophetarum est +locutus, sed in diuersitate, quia nesciunt specificari, imo specificanti +contradicerent defacili, vel negarent. Inter omnes prophetas ponunt quatuor +excellentiores, quorum supremum et excellentissimum fatentur Iesum Mariae +Virginis filium, quem et asserunt, sermonem, vel loquelam, vel spiritum +Dei, et pronunciatorem sententiarum Dei, in iudicio generali futuro, et +missum a Deo ad Christianos docendos. + +Secundo loco Abrahamum dicunt fuisse verum Dei cultorem, et amicum. + +Tertium dant Mosi locum tanquam prolocutori Dei Misso specialiter, ad +instruendos Iudaeos. + +Quartum volant esse Mahomet, sanctum, et verum Dei nuncium ad seipsos +missum, cum lege diuina in dicto libro plene contenta. Tenent itaque +indubitate, quod beata Maria Iesum peperit, et concepit virgo manens +intacta, ac libenter loqui audiunt de incarnatione in ipsa facta per +annunciationem Gabrielis Archangeli. Nam et Alcharon eorum dicit, ad +salutationem Angeli virginem expauisse, quod tunc erat in partibus Galileae +incantator, Turquis nomine, qui per susceptam sibi formam Angeli plures +virgines deflorauerat, et beatam Virginem conuenisse Angelum, an esset +Turquis. Refert quoque eam peperisse sub palma Arbore, vbi habebatur +praesepe bouis, et asinae, et illic prae confusione puerperij, et verecundia +ac dolore, fuisse in proximo desperatam, et infantulum in consolationem +matris dixisse, mater ne timeas, Deus in te effudit secreta ad saluationem +Mundi. Haec et his similia multa ibi scribuntur figmenta, et isti plura +inter se narrando componunt, quae hoc loco ventilanda non sunt. + +Et dicit liber Iesum sanctissimum omnium Prophetarum fuisse veracem in +dictis et factis, benignum, pium, iustum, et ab omni vitio penitus alienum: +Sanctum quoque Ioannem Euangelistam post praedictos Prophetas fuisse alijs +Sanctiorem, cuius et Euangelium fatentur esse plenum salutari, ac veraci +doctrina, et ipsum Sanctum Ioannem illuminasse caecos, leprosos mundasse, +suscitasse mortuos, et in coelum volasse viuentem. Erat enim (prout dicit) +plus quam Propheta, et absque omni peccato, contradicente eodem de seipso, +si dixerimus quod peccatum non habemus, veritas in nobis non est: vnde et +si quando Sarraceni tenent scriptum Euangelij Sancti Ioannis, aut illud +beati Lucae, missus est Angelus Gabriel, eleuant ambabus manibus pro +reuerentia super caput et super oculos id ponentes, et osculantur quam saepe +cum summa deuotione. Nonnulli etiam eorum in Graeco, aut Latino literati +consueuerunt cum deuotione cordis id lectitare. + +Idem liber dicit Iudaeos perfidos fuisse, quod Iesu eis primum misso a Deo, +et multa miracula facienti credere noluerunt, quodque per ipsum tota gens +Iudaeorum fuit digne decepta, et merito illusa hoc modo. Iesus in hora dum +Iudas eum pro signo traditionis osculabatur, posuit per Metamorphosin +figuram suam, in ipsum Iudam, sicque Iudaei in ambiguo lumine nocturni +temporis, pro Iesu Iudam capientes, ligantes, trahentes, deridentes, in +fine crucifixerunt, putantes se omnia facere Iesu, qui protinus capto et +ligato Iuda, viuus ascendit in caeelum, descensurus iterum viuus ad iudicium +in die finali. + +Et addit, Iudaeos falsissime vsque hodie nos Christianos suo mendacio +decipere, quo dicunt se Iesu crucifixisse quem non tetegerunt. Hinc errorem +tenent Sarraceni obstinati: et quoddam argumentum inire conantur. Nam si +Deus (aiunt) permisisset Iesum, innocentem, et iustum ita miserabiliter +occidi, censuram suae summae iustitiae minuisset. [Sidenote: Conuersio +Saracenorum non desperanda.] Sed cum ipsi, vt supradictum est, in tenebris +ambulant, idcirco ignorantes Dei iustitiam, statuere volunt iustitiam, imo +iniustitiam quam fabricant in corde suo, quia nos de cruce Christi scriptum +nouimus, benedictum est lignum per quod fit iustitia. Isti tamen quod in +aliquibus appropinquant verae fidei, multi quandoque eorum inuenti sunt +conuersi, et plures adhuc de facili conuerterentur, si haberunt +praedicatores, sincere eis verbum tractantes, quippe cum iam fateantur legum +Mahometi quandoque defecturam, sicut nunc perijt lex Iudaeorum, et legem +Christianorum vsque in finem seculi permansuram. + + +CAPVT 22. + +De vita, et nomine Mahometi. + +Promisi in superioribus aliquid narrare de vita Mahometi legislatoris +Sarracenorum, prout vidi in scriptis, vel audiui in partibus illis. Itaque +Macho, siue Machon, vtrum in secunda syllaba scribatur N, litera, vel non +idem refert: et si tertia syllaba addatur, et dicatur Machomet, vel etiam +quarta, Machometus, nihil differt, quod semper idem nomen representat. Ipsi +tamen illum saepius nominant Machon. Putatur autem istum Mahomet habuisse +generationis ortum de Ismael Abrahae filio naturali de concubina Agar, vnde +et vsque hodie quidam Sarracenorum dicuntur Ismaelitae, alij Agareni: sed et +quidam Moabitae, et Ammonitae, a duobus Loth filijs Moab et Amon, genitis per +incestum de proprijs filiabus. + +[Sidenote: Tempus Natiuitatis Mahometi.] Hic vero Machon, circa annum +incarnationis Domini sexcentissimum natus, in Arabia pauper erat gratis +pascens camelos, et interdum sequens Mercatores in Aegyptum fordellos +illorum proprio collo deferens pro mercede. Et quoniam tunc temporis tota +Aegyptus erat Christianae fidei, didicit aliquid de fide nostra, quod +diuertere solebat ad cellulam Heremitae commorantis in deserto. [Sidenote: +Fabulae Saracenorum.] Et quodammodo fabulantur Sarraceni, quod illo +quandoque ingrediente cellulam, cellulae ostium mutatum in ianuam valde +patentem, velut ante palatium, et gloriantur hoc primum miraculum. Qui ex +tunc conquerendo sibi pecunias, et discendo seculi actus diues est +effectus, et prudens ab omnibus reputatus, in tantum, vt postmodum in terrae +gubernatorem Corrozaen, (quae est vna prouinciarum regni Arabiae) assumeretur, +ac de inde defuncto principe Codige per coniugium illius relictae in eiusdem +prouinciae principem eleuaretur. Erat autem satis formosus, et valens, et +vltra modum in verbis et factis maturus, et principalis, et satis +diligebatur a suis, magis tamen metuebatur, et erat epilepticus, nemine +tamen sciente. Sed tandem ab vxore comperto contristabatur, se tali morbido +nuptam, qui versutus fefellit, et consolabatur moestam figmento mendacij +excogitati, dicens sanctum Dei Archangelum Gabrielem ad colloquendum et +inspirandum sibi, quaedam arcana et diuina interdum venire, et pro virtute +aut claritate veniente se subito cadere et iacere ad intendendum +inspirationem. + + +[Sidenote: Incrementum authoritatis Mahometi.] Post hoc autem, mortuo etiam +Rege Arabiae, tanta egit per simulationem sanctitatis, per donorum +effusionem, et copiam promissionum, quod electus est et assumptus, in +totias Arabiae Regem. + +[Sidenote: Tempus promulgationis Alcharani.] Confirmato igitur Mahometo in +regnationis suae maiestate suprema, transactis a conceptione Domini nostri +Iesu Christi annis solaribus 612. in die Iouis feria quinta Hebdomadae +promulgauit praefatum detestandae legis suae librum, plenum perfidiae et +erroris, et a subditis tempore vitae suae seruari coegit, qui et vsque hodie +in tanto aeuo, et tot populis non sine iusto Dei iudicio colitur et +seruatur, quamuis miserabile, et miserandum videtur, quod tot animae in illo +perduntur. Erat quoque tempore regni eius et alius Heremita in deserto +Arabiae, quem etiam quasi pro deuotione frequentare solebat, ducens secum +aliquos de principibus et famlia. Super quo plures eorum attediati +tractabant occidere Heremitan. [Sidenote: Occasio vina, interdicendi +Sarracenis.] Accedit tandem vna noctium, vt rex Heremitam et seipsum +inebriaret, et inter loquendum ambo consopiti dormirent. Et ecce habita +occasione comites gladio de latere Regis clam extracto Heremitam +interfecerunt, iterum clam condentes cruentum gladium in vagina: ac ille +euigilans virum videns occisum, magno furore succensus imposuit familiae +factum, volens omnes per iustitiam condemnari ad mortem. Cumque coram +iudicibus et sapientibus ageretur, hi omnes pari concordia, simili voce, et +vno ore testabantur tam diuisim quam coniunctim, Regem in ebrietate sua +hominem occidisse, quamuis fortassis esset facti oblitus. Et in plenariam +rei probationem, dixerunt ipsum reposuisse mucronem in loculo nudum +intersum, sed calido cruore madentem. Quo ita inuento, ac tantis rex +obrutus testificationibus nimium erubuit, plene obmutuit, et confusus +recessit. Et ob hoc omnibus diebus suis vina bibere renunciauit: et in lege +sua a cunctis bibi vetuit, ac vniuersis bibentibus, colentibus, et +vendentibus maledixit. Cuius maledictio couertatur in caput eius, et in +verticem ipsius iniquitas eius descendat, cum de vino scriptum constet, +quod Deum et homines laetificet. [Sidenote: Potus Sarracenorum.] Igitur de +eo Sarraceni in sua superstitione deuoti vinum non bibunt, quanquam plures +eorum quod timent in publico non verentur in secreto. + +Est autem communis potus eorum dulcis, delectabilis, et nutritiuus de +Casaniel confectus, de qua et Saccarum fieri solet. + +[Sidenote: Alias Mecca.] Mahometus iste post mortem suam pessimam (mors +enim peccatorum pessima) conditus fuit honorifice in capsa, ditissimo auro, +et argento, et saxis perornata in vna ciuitate regni sui Arabiae, vbi et pro +sancto, et vero Dei nuncio incepit deuote coli a suis per annos ducentos +sexaginta, atque ex tunc circa annum Domini nongentissimum cum veneratione +multa cadauer eius translatum est, in digniorem ciuitatem dictam Merchuel +Iachrib, vbi iam longe lateque pro maximo sanctorum, a cordibus a diabolica +fraude deceptis colitur, requiritur et adoratur. + +[Sidenote: Oregus a Templarijs proditus.] In ipsius translatione ipsa +ciuitas restaurabatur, et firmabatur multo honorificentius, et fortius +destructione sua, quae per Carolum magnum Regem Franciae antea fuit plene +annihilata, dum Ogerus dux Danorum praefatus in ea tenebatur captiuus, quem +Templarij ad filios Brehir Regis Sarracenorum cum traditione vendiderant, +eo quod ipse Ogerus dictum Brehir in proelio occiderat, iuxta Lugdunum +Franciae ciuitatem. Et si quando nationis alterius quis ad legem conuertitur +Sarracenorum, dum a flamine eorum recipiendus est, dicit et facit eum Dei +nuncium, et repetit sic: Laellech ella alla Mahomet zoyzel alla heth: quod +valet tantum: Non est Deus nisi vnus, et Mahomet fuit eius nuncius. + + +CAPVT. 23. + +De colloquio Authoris cum Soldano. + +Finaliter Sarraceni ponunt Iudaeos malos, eo quod legem Dei violauerunt sibi +missam, et commissam per Mosem. Et a simili probant Christianos malos, quod +non seruant legem Euangelij Christi, quam seruandam susceperint. [Sidenote: +Error eorum qui putant vnumquemque in sua religione posse beari.] Inest +enim ijs falsa persuasio ita vt putent vnumquemque in ea qua natus est +secta posse beari, si susceptam seruauerit illibate: ideoque probant ab +opposito se esse bonos, quia, sicut dicunt, obseruant scripta legis +praecepta et ceremonias sancti libri sui a Deo sibi transmissi per beatum +nuncium suum Mahomet. Vnde et ego non tacebo quid mihi contigit. + +Dominus Soldanus quodam die in castro, expulsis omnibus de camera sua, me +solum retinuit secum tanquam pro secreto habendo colloquio. [Sidenote: +Colloquium Soldani cum Mandeuillo.] Consuetum enim est ijs eijcere omnes +tempore secretorum: qui diligenter a me interrogauit qualis esset +gubernatio vitae in terra nostra, breuiter respondebam, bona, per Dei +gratiam, qui recepto hoc verbo dixit ita non esse. [Sidenote: Reprehensio +Sacerdotum.] Sacerdotes (inquit) vestri, qui seipsos exhibere deberent +alijs in exemplum, in malis iacent actibus, parum curant de Templi +seruitio: habitu et studijs se conformant mundo: se inebriant vino, +continentiam infringentes, cum fraude negotiantes, ac praua principibus +consilia ingerentes. [Sidenote: Reprehensio vulgi iustissima.] Communis +quoque populus, dum festus diebus intendere deberent deuotioni in templo, +currit in hortis, in spectaculis, in tabernis vsque ad crapulam, et +ebrietatem, et pinguia manducans et bibens, ac in bestiarum morem, luxuriam +prauam exercens. [Sidenote: Vestimentorum varietas reprehensa.] In vsura, +dolo, rapina, furto, detractione, mendacio et periurio viuunt plures eorum +euidenter, ac si qui talia non agant, vt fatui reputantur, et pro nimia +cordis superbia nesciunt ad libitum excogitare, qualiter se velint habere, +mutando sibi indumenta, nunc longa, nunc curta nimis, quandoque ampla, +quandoque stricta vltra modum, vt in his singulis appareant derisi potius +quam vestiti: pileos quoque, calceos, caligas, corrigias sibi fabricante +exquisitas, cum etiam e contra deberent secundum Christi sui doctrinam +simplices, Deo deuoti, humiles, veraces, inuicem diligentes, inuicem +concordantes, et inluriam de facili remittentes. Scimus etiam eos propter +peccata sua perdidisse hanc terram optimam quam tenemus, nec timemus eam +amittere, quamdiu se taliter gubernant. Attamen non dubitamus, quin in +futurum per meliorem vitae conuersationem merebuntur de nostris eam manibus +recuperare. + +Ad hoc ego vltra confusus et stupefactus, nequiui inuenire responsum; +verebar enim obloqui veritati, quamuis ab Infidelis ore prolatae, et vultu +prae rubore demisso percunctatus sum, Domine, salua reuerentia, qualiter +potestis ita plene hoc noscere? De hominibus (ait) meis interdum mitto ad +modum Mercatorum per terras, et regiones Christianorum, cum Balsamo, +gemmis, sericis, ac aromatibus, ac per illos singula exploro, tam de statu +Imperatoris, ac Pontificum, Principum, ac Sacerdotum, quam Praelatorum, nec +non aequora, prouincias, ac distinctiones earum. + +Igitur peracta collocutione nostra satis producta, egressos principes in +cameram reuocauit, ex quibus quatuor de maioribus iuxta nos aduocans, fecit +eos expresse ac debite, per singulas diuisiones in lingua Gallicana +destinguere per partes, et singuarum nomina partium, omnem regionem terrae +Angliae, ac alias Christianorum terras multas, acsi inter nostros fuissent +nati, vel multo tempore conuersati. + +Nam et ipsum Soldanum audiui cum ijs bene et directe loquentem idioma +Francorum. Itaque in omnibus his mente consternatus obmutui, cogitans, et +dolens de peccatis singulis, rem taliter se habere. + +Nunc pie igitur (rogo) consideremus, et corde attendamus, quantae sit +confusionis, et qualis opprobrij, dum Christiani nominis inimici nobis +nostra exprobrant crimina. [Sidenote: Insignis Mandeuilli peroratio.] Et +student quilibet in melius emendare, quatenus (Deo propitio) possit in +breui tempore, haec, de qua loquimur, terra Deo delecta, haec sacrosancta +terra, haec filijs Dei promissa, nobis Dei adoptiuis restitui: vel certe, +quod magis exorandum est, ipsi Sarraceni ad fidem Catholicam, et +Christianam obedientiam, Ecclesiae filijs aggregari, vt simul omnes per +Dominum nostrum Iesum Christum consubstantialem Dei filium perueniamus ad +coelestem Paradisum. + +Explicit prima pars huius operis. + + +The English Version. + +Betheleem is a litylle cytee, long and narwe and well walled, and in eche +syde enclosed with gode dyches; and it was wont to ben cleped Effrata; as +Holy Writt seythe, _Ecce audivimus cum in Effrata_; that is to seye, _Lo, +we herde him in Effrata_. And toward the est ende of the cytee, is a fulle +fair chirche and a gracyouse; and it hathe many toures, pynacles and +corneres, fulle stronge and curiously made: and with in that chirche ben 44 +pyleres of marble, grete and faire. And betwene the cytee and the chirche +in the felde floridus; that is to seyne, the feld florisched: for als moche +as a fayre mayden was blamed with wrong, and sclaundred, that sche hadde +don fornycacioun; for whiche cause sche was demed to the dethe, and to be +brent in that place, to the whiche sche was ladd. And as the fyre began to +brenne about hire, sche made hire preyeres to oure Lord, that als wissely +as sche was not gylty of that synne, that he wold helpe hire, and make it +to be knowen to alle men, of his mercyfulle grace. And whan sche hadde thus +seyd, sche entred in to the fuyer: and anon was the fuyr quenched and oute: +and the brondes that weren brennynge, becomen rede roseres; and the brondes +that weren not kyndled, becomen white roseres, fulle of roses. And theise +weren the first roseres and roses, both white and rede, that evere ony man +saughe. And thus was this mayden saved be the grace of God. And therfore is +that feld clept the feld of God florysscht: for it was fulle of roses. Also +besyde the queer of the chirche, at the right syde, as men comen dounward +16 greces, [Footnote: Steps.] is the place where oure Lord was born, that +is fulle welle dyghte of marble, and fulle richely peynted with gold, +sylver, azure, and other coloures. And 3 paas besyde, is the crybbe of the +ox and the asse. And besyde that, is the place where the sterre fell, that +ladde the 3 kynges, Jaspar, Melchior and Balthazar: but men of Grece clepen +hem thus, Galgalathe, Malgalathe and Saraphie: and the Jewes clepen in this +manere, in Ebrew, Appelius, Amerrius and Damasus. Theise 3 kynges offreden +to oure Lord, gold, ensence and myrre: and thei metten to gedre, thorghe +myracle of God; for thei metten to gedre in a cytee in Ynde, that Men +clepen Cassak, that is 53 journeyes fro Betheleem; and thei weren at +Betheleem the 13 day. And that was the 4 day aftre that thei hadden seyn +the sterre, whan they metten in that cytee: and thus thei weren in 9 dayes, +fro that cytee at Betheleem; and that was gret myracle. Also undre the +cloystre of the chirche, be 18 degrees, at the righte syde, is the +charnelle of the innocentes, where here bones lyzn. And before the place +where oure Lord was born, is the tombe of Seynt Jerome, that was a preest +and a cardynalle, that translatede the Bible and the psaultere from Ebrew +in to Latyn: and witheoute the mynstre; is the chayere that he satt in, +whan he translated it. And faste besyde that chirche, a 60 fedme, +[Footnote: Fathom.] is a chirche of Seynt Nicholas, where oure Lady rested +hire, aftre sche was lyghted of oure Lord. And for as meche as sche had to +meche mylk in hire pappes, that greved hire, sche mylked hem on the rede +stones of marble; so that the traces may zit be sene in the stones alle +whyte. And zee schulle undrestonde, that alle that duellen in Betheleem ben +Cristene men. And there ben fayre vynes about the cytee, and gret plentee +of wyn, that the Cristene men han don let make. But the Sarazines ne tylen +not no vynes, ne thei drynken no wyn. For here bokes of here lawe, that +Makomete betoke hem, whiche thei clepen here Alkaron, and sume clepen it +Mesaphe; and in another langage it is cleped Harme; and the same boke +forbedethe hem to drinke wyn. For in that boke, Machomete cursed alle tho +that drynken wyn, and alle hem that sellen it. For sum men seye, that he +sloughe ones an heremyte in his dronkenesse, that he loved ful wel: and +therefore he cursed wyn, and hem that drynken it. But his curs be turned in +to his owne hed; as Holy Wrytt seythe; _Et in verticem ipsius iniquitas +ejus descendet_; that is for to seye, _Hi wykkednesse schalle turne and +falle in his owne heed_. And also the Sarazines bryngen forthe no pigges, +nor thei eten no swynes flessche: for thei seye, it is brother to man, and +it was forboden be the olde lawe: and thei holden hem alle accursed that +eten there of. Also in the lond of Palestyne and in the lond of Egypt, thei +eten but lytille or non of flessche of veel or of beef; but he be so old, +that he may no more travayle for elde; for it is forbode: and for because +the have but fewe of hem, therfore thei norisschen hem, for to ere here +londes. In this cytee of Betheleem was David the kyng born: and he hadde 60 +wyfes; and the firste wyf hihte Michol: and also he hadde 300 lemmannes. + +An fro Betheleem unto Jerusalem nys but 2 myle. And in the weye to +Jerusalem, half a myle fro Betheleem is a chirche, where the aungel seyde +to the scheppardes, of the birthe of Crist. And in that weye is the tombe +of Rachelle, that was Josephes modre, the patriarke; and sche dyede anon, +aftre that sche was delyvered of hire sone Beniamyn; and there sche was +buryed of Jacob hire husbonde: and he leet setten 12 grete stones on here, +in tokene that sche had born 12 children. [Footnote: Rachel had only two +children, but twelve grandchildren.] In the same weye, half myle fro +Jerusalem, appered the sterre to the 3 kynges. In that weye also ben manye +chirches of Cristen men, be the whiche men gon towardes the cytee of +Jerusalem. + + +Of the Pilgrimages in Jerusalem and of the Holy Places thereaboute. + +[Sidenote: Cap. VII.] After for to speke of Jerusalem, the holy cytee, zee +schulle undirstonde, that it stont fulle faire betwene hilles: and there +ben no ryveres ne welles; but watre comethe be condyte from Ebron. And zee +schulle undirstonde, that Jerusalem of olde tyme, unto the tyme of +Melchisedeche, was cleped Jebus; and aftre it was clept Salem, unto the +tyme of Kyng David, that putte theise 2 names to gidere, and cleped it +Jebusalem; and aftre that Kyng Salomon cleped it Jerosoloyme: and aftre +that, men cleped it Jerusalem; and so it is cleped zit. And aboute +Jerusalem is the kyngdom of Surrye: and there besyde is the lond of +Palestyne: and besyde it is Ascolone: and besyde that is the lond of +Maritaine. But Jerusalem is in the lond of Judee; and it is clept Jude, for +that Judas Machabeus was kyng of that contree; and it marchethe estward to +the kyngdom of Arabye; on the southe syde, to the lond of Egipt; and on the +west syde, to the grete see; on the north syde, towarde the kyngdom of +Surrye, and to the See of Cypre. In Jerusalem was wont to be a patriark, +and erchebysshoppes and bisshoppes abouten in the contree. Abouten +Jerusalem ben theise cytees: Ebron, at 7 myle; Jerico, at 6 myle; Bersabee, +at 8 myle; Ascalon, at 17 myle; Jaff, at 16 myle; Ramatha, at 3 myle; and +Betheleem, at 2 myle. And a 2 myle trom Betheleem, toward the sowthe, is +the chirche of Seynt Karitot, that was abbot there; for whom thei maden +meche Doel [Footnote: Mourning.] amonges the monkes, whan he scholde dye; +and zit thei ben in moornynge, in the wise that thei maden here +lamentacioun for him the firste tyme: and it is fulle gret pytee to +beholde. + +This contree and lond of Jerusalem hathe ben in many dyverse naciounes +hondes: and often therfore hathe the contree suffred meche tribulacioun, +for the synne of the people, that duellen there. For that contree hathe ben +in the hondes of alle nacyouns: that is to seyne, of Jewes, of Chananees, +Assiryenes, Perses, Medoynes, Macedoynes, of Grekes, Romaynes, of Cristene +men, of Sarazines, Barbaryenes, Turkes, Tartaryenes, and of manye othere +dyverse nacyouns. For God wole not, that it be longe in the hondes of +trytoures ne of synneres, be thei Cristene or othere. And now have the +hethene men holden that lond in here hondes 40 zeere and more: but thei +schulle not holde it longe, zif God wole. + +And zee schulle undirstond, that whan men comen to Jerusalem, here first +pilgrymage is to the Chirche of the Holy Sepulcre, where oure Lord was +buryed, that is with oute the cytee, on the northe syde: but it is now +enclosed in, with the toun walle. And there is a fulle fayr chirche, alle +rownd, and open above, and covered with leed. And on the west syde is a +fair tour and an highe, for belles, strongly made. And in the myddes of the +chirche is a tabernacle, as it were a lytylle hows, made with a low lytylle +dore: and that tabernacle is made in manere of half a compass, righte +curiousely and richely made, of gold and azure and othere riche coloures, +fulle nobelyche made. And in the righte syde of that tabernacle is the +sepulcre of oure Lord. And the tabernacle is 8 fote longe, and 5 fote wyde, +and 11 fote in heighte. And it is not longe sithen the sepulcre was alle +open, that men myghte kisse it and touche it. But for pilgrymes that comen +thidre, peyned hem to breke the ston in peces or in poudre, therfore the +Soudan hathe do make a walle aboute the sepulcre, that no man may towche +it. But in the left syde of the walle of the tabernacle is well the heighte +of a man, a gret ston to the quantytee of a mannes hed, that was of the +holy sepulcre: and that ston kissen the pilgrymes, that comen thidre. In +that tabernacle ben no wyndowes: but it is alle made lighte with lampes, +that hangen before the sepulcre. And there is a lampe, that hongethe before +the sepulcre, that brennethe lighte: and on the Gode Fryday it gothe out be +him self; and lyghtith azen be him self at that oure, that oure Lorde roos +fro dethe to lyve. Also within the chirche, at the righte syde, besyde the +queer of the chirche, is the Mount of Calvarye, where oure Lord was don on +the Cros: and it is a roche of white colour, and a lytille medled with red: +and the Cros was set in a morteys, in the same roche: and on that roche +dropped the woundes of our Lord, whan he was payned on the Crosse; and that +is cleped Golgatha. And men gon up to that Golgotha be degrees: and in the +place of that morteys was Adames hed founden, aftre Noes flode; in tokene +that the synnes of Adam scholde ben boughte in that same place. And upon +that roche made Abraham sacrifice to oure Lord. And there is an awtere: and +before that awtere lyzn Godefray de Boleyne and Bawdewyn, and othere +Cristene kynges of Jerusalem; And there nyghe, where our Lord was +crucyfied, is this written in Greek, [Greek: Ho Theos Basileus haemon pro +aionon eirgasato aotaerian en meso taes gaes.] that is to seyne, in Latyn, +_Deus Rex noster ante secula operatus est salutem, in medio terrae_; that is +to seye, _Gode oure Kyng, before the worldes, hathe wroughte hele in myddis +of the erthe_. And also on that roche, where the Cros was sett, is writen +with in the roche theise, wordes; [Greek: Ho eideis esti basis taes pisteos +holaes tou kosmou touton.] that is to seyne in Latyn, _Quod vides, est +fundamentum totius Fidei hujus Mundi_; that is to seyne, _That thou seest, +is ground of alle the feythe of this world_. And zee schulle undirstonde, +that whan oure Lord was don upon the Cros, he was 33 zere and 3 moneths of +elde. And the prophecye of David seythe thus: _Quadraginta annis proximus +fui generationi huic_; that is to seye, _fourty zeer was I neighebore to +this kynrede_. And thus scholde it seme, that the prophecyes ne were not +trewe: but thei ben bothe trewe: for in old tyme men maden a zeer of 10 +moneths; of the whiche Marche was the firste, and Decembre was the laste. +But Gayus, that was Emperour of Rome, putten theise 2 monethes there to, +Janyver and Feverer; and ordeyned the zeer of 12 monethes; that is to seye, +365 dayes, with oute lepe zeer, aftre the propre cours of the sonne. And +therfore, aftre cowntynge of 10 monethes of the zeer, de dyede in the 40 +zeer; as the prophete seyde; and aftre the zeer of 12 monethes, he was of +age 33 zeer and 3 monethes. Also with in the Mount Calvarie, on the right +side, is an awtere, where the piler lyzthe, that oure Lord Jesu was bounden +to, whan he was scourged. And there besyde ben 4 pileres of ston, that alle +weys droppen watre: and sum men seyn, that thei wepen for our Lordes dethe. +And nyghe that awtier is a place undre erthe, 42 degrees of depnesse, where +the holy croys was founden, be the wytt of Seynte Elyne, undir a roche, +where the Jewes had hidde it. And that was the verray croys assayed: for +thei founden 3 crosses; on of oure Lord, and 2 of the 2 theves: and Seynte +Elyne preved hem on a ded body, that aros from dethe to lyve, whan it was +leyed on it that oure Lord dyed on. And there by in the walle is the place +where the 4 nayles of oure Lord weren hidd: for he had 2 in his hondes, and +2 in his feet: and of on of theise, the Emperour of Costantynoble made a +brydille to his hors, to bere him in bataylle: and thorghe vertue there of, +he overcam his enemyes, and wan alle the lond of Asye the lesse; that is to +seye, Turkye, Ermonye the lasse and the more; and from Surrye to Jerusalem, +from Arabye to Persie, from Mesopotayme to the kyngdom of Halappee, from +Egypt the highe and the lowe, and all the othere kyngdomes, unto the Depe +of Ethiope, and into Ynde the lesse, that then was Cristene. And there were +in that tyme many gode holy men and holy heremytes; of whom the book of +fadres lyfes spekethe: and thei ben now in Paynemes and Sarazines honds. +But whan God alle myghty wole, righte als the londes weren lost thorghe +synne of Cristene men, so schulle thei ben wonnen azen be Cristen men +thorghe help of God. And in myddes of that chirche is a compas, in the +whiche Joseph of Aramathie leyde the body of oure Lord, whan he had taken +him down of the cross: and there he wassched the woundes of oure Lord: and +that compas, seye men, is the myddes of the world. And in the Chirche of +the Sepulchre, on the north syde, is the place where oure Lord was put in +presoun; (for he was in presoun in many places) and there is a partye of +the Cheyne that he was bounden with: and there he appered first to Marie +Magdaleyne, whan he was rysen; and sche wende, that he had ben a gardener. +In the chirche of Seynt Sepulchre was wont to ben chanouns of the ordre of +Seynt Augustyn, and hadden a priour; but the patriark was here sovereygne. +And withe oute the dores of the chirche, on the right syde, as men gon +upward 18 Greces, seyde oure Lord to his moder, _Mulier, ecce filius tuus_; +that is to seye, _Woman, lo thi Sone_. And aftre that, he seyde to John his +disciple, _Ecce mater tua_; that is to seyne, _Lo, behold thi modir_: And +these wordes he seyde on the cros. And on theise Greces wente oure Lord, +whan he bare the crosse on his schuldir. And undir this grees is a +chapelle; and in that chapelle syngen prestes, yndyenes; that is to seye, +prestes of ynde; noght aftir oure lawe, but aftir here: and alle wey thei +maken here sacrement of the awtier, seyenge, _Pater noster_, and othere +preyeres there with: with the which preyeres, thei seye the wordes, that +the sacrement is made of. For thei ne knowe not the addiciouns, that many +Popes han made; but thei synge with gode devocioun. And there nere, is the +place where that oure Lord rested him, whan he was wery, for berynge of the +Cros. And zee schulle undirstonde, that before the Chirche of the Sepulcre, +is the cytee more feble than in ony othere partie, for the grete playn that +is betwene the chirche and the cytee. And toward the est syde, with oute +the walles of the cytee, is the Vale of Josaphathe, that touchethe to the +walles, as thoughe it were a large dyche. And anen that Vale of Josaphathe, +out of the cytee, is the Chirche of Seynt Stevene, where he was stoned to +dethe. And there beside, is the gildene zate, that may not ben opened; be +the whiche zate, oure Lord entrede on Palmesonday, upon an asse; and the +zate opened azenst him, whan he wolde go unto the temple: and zit apperen +the steppes of the asses feet, in 3 places of the degrees, that ben of +fulle harde ston. And before the chirche of Seynt Sepulcre, toward the +southe, a 200 paas, is the gret hospitalle of Seynt John; of the whiche the +hospitleres hadde here foundacioun. And with inne the palays of the seke +men of that hospitalle ben 124 pileres of ston: and in the walles of the +hows, with oute the nombre aboveseyd, there ben 54 pileres, that beren up +the hows. And fro that hospitalle, to go toward the est, is a fulle fayr +chirche, that is clept _Nostre Dame la Graund_. And than is there another +chirche right nyghe, that is clept _Nostre Dame la Latytne_. And there +weren Marie Cleophee and Marie Magdaleyne, and teren here heer, whan oure +Lord was peyned in the cros. + + +Of the Temple of oure Lord. Of the Crueltee of Kyng Heroud. Of the Mount + Syon. Of Probatica Piscina. And of Natatorium Siloe. + +[Sidenote: Cap. VIII.] And fro the chirche of the sepulcre, toward the est, +at 160 paas, is _Templum Domini_. It is right a feir hows, and it is alle +round, and highe, and covered with leed, and it is well paved with white +marble: but the Sarazine wole not suffre no Cristene manne Jewes to come +there in; for thei seyn, that none so foule synfulle men scholde not come +in so holy place: but I cam in there, and in othere places, where I wolde; +for I hadde lettres of the Soudan, with his grete seel; and comounly other +men han but his signett. In the whiche lettres he comanded of his, +specyalle grace, to all his subgettes, to lete me seen alle the places, and +to enforme me pleynly alle the mysteries of every place, and to condyte me +fro cytee to cytee, zif it were nede, and buxomly to resceyve me and my +companye, and for to obeye to alle my requestes resonable, zif thei weren +not gretly azen the royalle power, and dignytee of the Soudan or of his +lawe. And to othere, that asken him grace, suche as han served him, he ne +zevethe not but his signet; the whiche thei make to be born before hem, +hangynge on a spere; and the folk of the contree don gret worschipe and +reverence to his signett or his seel, and knelen there to, as lowly as wee +don to _Corpus Domini_. And zit men don fulle grettere reverence to his +lettres. For the admyralle and alle othere lordes, that thei ben schewed +to, before or thei resceyve hem, thei knelen doun, and than thei take hem, +and putten hem on here hedes, and aftre thei kissen hem, and than thei +reden hem, knelynge with gret reverence, and than thei offren hem to do +alle, that the berere askethe. And in this _Templum Domini_ weren somtyme +chanouns reguleres: and thei hadden an abbot, to whom thei weren obedient. +And in this temple was Charlemayn, when that the aungelle broughte him the +prepuce of oure Lord Jesu Crist, of his circumcisioun: and aftre Kyng +Charles leet bryngen it to Parys, in to his chapelle: and aftre that to +Chartres. And zee schulle undirstonde, that this is not the temple that +Salomon made: for that temple dured not, bat 1102 zeer. For Tytus, +Vespasianes sone, Emperour of Rome, had leyd sege aboute Jerusalem, for to +discomfyte the Jewes: for thei putten oure Lord to dethe, with outen leve +of the Emperour. And whan he hadde wonnen the cytee, he brente the temple +and beet it down, and alle the cytee, and toke the Jewes, and dide hem to +Dethe, 1100000: and the othere he putte in presoun, and solde hem to +servage, 30 for o peny: for thei seyde, thei boughte Jesu for 30 penyes: +and he made of hem bettre cheep, whan he zaf 30 for o peny. And aftre that +tyme, Julianas Apostate, that was Emperour, zaf leve to the Jewes to make +the Temple of Jerusalem: for he hated Cristene men; and zit he was +cristned, but he forsoke his law, and becam a renegate. And whan the Jewes +hadden made the temple, com an erthe quakeng, and cast it doun (as God +wolde) and destroyed alle that thei had made. And aftre that, Adryan, that +was Emperour of Rome, and of the lynage of Troye, made Jerusalem azen, and +the temple, in the same manere, as Salomon made it. And he wolde not suffre +no Jewes to dwelle there, but only Cristene men. For alle thoughe is were +so, that hee was not cristned, zet he lovede Cristene men, more than ony +other nacioun, saf his owne. This Emperour leet enclose the Chirche of +Seynt Sepulcre, and walle it, within the cytee, that before was with oute +the cytee, long tyme beforn. And he wolde have chaunged the name of +Jerusalem, and have cleped it Elya: but that name lasted not longe. Also +zee schulle undirstonde, that the Sarazines don moche reverence to that +temple; and thei seyn, that that place is right holy. And whan thei gon in, +thei gon barefote, and knelen many tymes. And whanne my felowes and I +seyghe that, whan we comen in, wee diden of oure shoon, and camen in +barefote, and thoughten that we scholden don as moche worschipe and +reverence there to, as ony of the mysbeleevynge men sholde, and as gret +compunction in herte to have. This temple is 64 cubytes of wydenesse, and +als manye in lengthe; and of heighte it is 120 cubites: and it is with +inne, alle aboute, made with pyleres of marble: and in the myddel place of +the temple ben manye highe stages, of 14 degrees of heighte, made with gode +pyleres alle aboute: and this place the Jewes callen _Sancta Sanctorum_; +that is to seye, _holy of halewes_. And in that place comethe no man, saf +only here prelate, that makethe here sacrifice. And the folk stonden alle +aboute, in diverse stages, aftre thei ben of dignytee or of worschipe; so +that thei alle may see the sacrifice. And in that temple ben 4 entrees; and +the zates ben of cypresse, wel made and curiousely dight. And with in the +est zate, oure Lorde seyde, _Here is Jerusalem._ And in the northsyde of +that temple with in the zate, there is a welle; but it rennethe noght; of +the whiche Holy Writt spekethe, and seythe, _Vidi aquam egredientem de +Templo_; that is to seyne, _I saughe watre come out of the Temple_. And on +that other syde of the Temple there is a roche, that men clepen Moriache: +but aftre it was clept Bethel; where the arke of God, with relykes of +Jewes, weren wont to ben put. That arke or hucche, with the relikes, Tytus +ledde with hym to Rome, whan he had scomfyted alle the Jewes. In that arke +weren the 10 commandementes, and of Arones zerde, and of Moyses zerde, with +the whiche he made the Rede See departen, as it had ben a walle, on the +righte syde and on the left syde, whils that the peple of Israel passeden +the see drye foot: and with that zerde he smoot the roche; and the watre +cam out of it: and with that zerde he dide manye wondres. And there in was +a vessel of gold, fulle of manna, and clothinges and ournements and the +tabernacle of Aaron, and a tabernacle square of gold, with 12 precyous +stones, and a boyst of jasper grene, with 4 figures, and 8 names of oure +Lord, and 7 candelstykes of gold, and 12 pottes of gold, and 4 censeres of +gold, and an awtier of gold, and 4 lyouns of gold, upon the whiche thei +bare cherubyn of gold, l2 spannes long, and the cercle of swannes of +Hevene, with a tabernacle of gold, and a table of sylver, and 2 trompes of +silver, and 7 barly loves, and alle the othere relikes, that weren before +the birthe of oure Lord Jesu Crist. And upon that roche, was Jacob +slepynge, when he saughe the aungeles gon up and doun, by a laddre, and he +seyd, _Vere locus isse sanctus est, et ego ignorabam_; that is to seyne, +_Forsothe this place is holy, and I wiste it nought_. And there an aungel +helde Jacob stille, and turned his name, and cleped him Israel. And in that +same place, David saughe the aungelle, that smot the folk with a swerd, and +put it up blody in the schethe. And in that same roche, was Seynt Symeon, +whan he resceyved oure Lord into the Temple. And in this roche he sette +him, whan the Jewes wolde a stoned him; and a sterre cam doun, and zaf him +light. And upon that roche, prechede our Lord often tyme to the peple; and +out of that seyd temple, oure Lord drof the byggeres and the selleres. And +upon that roche, oure Lord sette him, whan the Jewes wolde have stoned him; +and the roche cleef in two, and in that clevynge was oure Lord hidd; and +there cam doun a sterre, and zaf lighte and served him with claretee; and +upon that roche, satt oure lady, and lerned hire sawtere; and there our +Lord forzaf the womman hire sinnes, that was founden in Avowtrie: and there +was oure Lord circumcyded: and there the aungelle schewede tydynges to +Zacharie of the birthe of Seynt Baptyst his sone; and there offred first +Melchisedeche bred and wyn to oure Lord, in tokene of the sacrement that +was to comene; and there felle David preyeng to oure Lord, and to the +aungelle, that smot the peple, that he wolde have mercy on him and on the +peple; and oure Lorde herde his preyere; and therefore wolde he make the +temple in that place: but oure Lord forbade him, be an aungelle, for he had +don tresoun, whan he leet sle Urie the worthi knyght, for to have Bersabee +his wyf; and therfore all the purveyance, that he hadde ordeyned to make +the temple with, he toke it Salomon his sone; and he made it. And he preyed +oure Lord, that alle tho that preyeden to him, in that place, with gode +herte, that he wolde heren here preyere and graunten it hem, zif thei asked +it rightefullyche: and oure Lord graunted it him: and therfore Salomon +cleped that temple, the Temple of Conseille and of Help of God. And with +oute the zate of that temple is an awtiere, where Jewes werein wont to +offren dowves and turtles. And betwene the temple and that awtiere was +Zacharie slayn. And upon the pynacle of that temple was oure Lord brought, +for to ben tempted of the enemye, the feend. And on the heighte of that +pynacle, the Jewes setten Seynt Jame, and casted him down to the erthe, +that first was Bisschopp of Jerusalem. And at the entree of that temple, +toward the west, is the zate that is clept _Porta speciosa_. And nyghe +besyde that temple, upon the right syde, is a chirche covered with leed, +that is clept Salomones Scole. And fro that temple, towardes the southe, +right nyghe, is the Temple of Salomon, that is righte fair and wel +pollisscht. And in that temple duellen the knyghtes of the temple, that +weren wont to be clept templeres: and that was the foundacionn of here +ordre; so that there duelleden knyghtes; and in _Templo Domini_, chanouns +reguleres. Fro that temple toward the est, a 120 paas, in the cornere of +the cytee, is the bathe of oure Lord: and in that bathe was wont to come +watre fro paradys, and zit it droppethe. And there besyde, is oure ladyes +bed. And faste by, is the temple of Seynt Symeon: and with oute the +cloyster of the temple, toward the northe, is a fulle faire chirche of +Seynte Anne, oure ladyes modre: and there was oure lady conceyved. And +before that chirche, is a gret tree, that began to growe the same nyght. +And undre that chirche, in goenge doun be 22 degrees, lythe Joachym, oure +ladyes fader, in a faire tombe of ston: and there besyde, lay somtyme Seynt +Anne his wyf; but Seynt Helyne leet translate hire to Costantynople. And in +that chirche is a welle, in manere of a cisterne, that is clept _Probatica +Piscina_, that hathe 5 entrees. Into that welle, aungeles weren wont to +come from Hevene, and bathen hem with inne: and, what man that first bathed +him, aftre the mevynge of the watre, was made hool, of what maner sykenes +that he hadde: and there oure Lord heled a man of the palasye, that laye 38 +zeer: and oure Lord seyde to him, _Tolle Grabatum tuum & ambula_: that is +to seye, _Take thi bed, and go_. And there besyde, was Pylates hows. And +faste by, is Kyng Heroudes hows, that leet sle the innocentes. This Heroude +was over moche cursed and cruelle: for first he leet sle his wif, that he +lovede righte welle; and for the passynge love, that he hadde to hire, whan +he saughe hire ded, he felle in a rage, and oute of his wytt, a gret while; +and sithen he cam azen to his wytt: and aftre he leet sle his two sones, +that he hadde of that wyf: and aftre that, he leet sle another of his +wyfes, and a sone, that he hadde with hire: and aftre that, he leet sle his +owne modre: and he wolde have slayn his brother also, but he dyede +sodeynly. And aftre he fell into seknesse, and whan he felte, that he +scholde dye, he sente aftre his sustre, and aftre alle the lordes of his +lond; and whan thei were comen; he leet commande hem to prisoun, and than +he seyde to his sustre, he wiste wel, that men of the contree wolde make no +sorwe for his dethe; and therefore be made his sustre swere, that sche +scholde lete smyte of alle the heds of the lordes, whan he were ded; and +than scholde alle the lond make sorwe for his dethe, and else nought: and +thus he made his testement. But his sustre fulfilled not his wille: for als +sone as he was ded, sche delyvered alle the lordes out of presoun, and lete +hem gon, eche lord to his owne; and tolde hem alle the purpos of hire +brothers ordynance: and so was this cursed kyng never made sorwe for, as he +supposed for to have ben. And zee schulle undirstonde, that in that tyme +there weren 3 Heroudes, of gret name and loos for here crueltee. This +Heroude, of whiche I have spoken offe, was Heroude Ascalonite: and he that +leet beheden seynt John the Baptist, was Heroude Antypa: and he that leet +smyte of Seynt James hed, was Heroude Agrippa; and he putte Seynt Peter in +presoun. + +Also furthermore, in the cytee, is the Chirche of Seynt Savyour; and there +is the left arm of John Crisostom, and the more partye of the hed of Seynt +Stevene. And on that other syde of the strete, toward the southe, as men +gon to Mount Syon, is a chirche of Seynt James, where he was beheded. And +fro that chirche, a 120 paas, is the Mount Syon: and there is a faire +chirche of oure Lady, where sche dwelled; and there sche dyed. And there +was wont to ben an abbot of Chanouns Reguleres. And fro thens, was sche +born of the apostles, onto the Vale of Josaphathe. And there is the ston, +that the aungelle broughte to oure Lady, fro the Mount of Synay; and it is +of that colour, that the roche is of Seynt Kateryne. And there besyde, is +the zate, where thorghe oure Ladye wente, whan sche was with childe, whan +sche wente to Betheleem. Also at the entree of the Mount Syon, is a +chapelle; and in that chapelle is the ston gret and large, with the whiche +the sepulcre was covered with, whan Josephe of Aramathie had put oure Lord +thereinne: the whiche ston the 3 Maries sawen turnen upward, whan thei +comen to the sepulcre, the day of his resurrexioun; and there founden an +aungelle, that tolde hem of oure Lordes uprysynge from dethe to lyve. And +there also is a ston, in a walle, besyde the zate, of the pyleer, that oure +Lord was scourged ate: and there was Annes hows, that was Bishop of the +Jewes, in that ryme. And there was oure Lord examyned in the nyght, and +scourged and smytten and vylently entreted. And in that same place, Seynt +Peter forsoke oure Lord thries, or the cok creew. And there is a party of +the table, that he made his souper onne, whan be made his maundee, with his +discyples; whan he zaf hem his flesche and his blode, in forme of bred and +wyn. And undre that chapelle, 32 degrees, is the place, where oure Lord +wossche his disciples feet and zit is the vesselle, where the watre was. +And there besyde that same vesselle, was Seynt Stevene buryed. And there is +the awtier, where oure Lady herde the aungelles synge messe. And there +appered first oure Lord to his disciples, after his resurrexioun, the zates +enclosed, and seyde to hem, _Pax vobis_: that is to seye, _Pees to zou_. +And on that mount, appered Crist to Seynt Thomas the apostle, and bade him +assaye his woundes; and there beleeved he first, and seyde, _Dominus meus +et Deus meus_; that is to seye, _my Lord and my God_. In the same chirche, +besyde the awteer, weren alle the aposteles on Whytsonday, whan the Holy +Gost descended on hem, in lyknesse of fuyr. And there made oure Lord his +pask, [Footnote: Pascal feast] with his disciples. And there slept Seynt +John the Evaungeliste, upon the breeste of oure Lord Jesu Crist, and saughe +slepynge many hevenly prevytees. + +Mount Syon is with inne the cytee; and it is a lytille hiere than the other +syde of the cytee: and the cytee is strongere on that syde, than on that +other syde. For at the foot of the Mount Syon, is a faire castelle and a +strong, that the Soudan leet make. In the Mount Syon weren buryed Kyng +David and Kyng Salomon, and many othere kynges, Jewes of Jerusalem. And +there is the place, where the Jewes wolden han cast up the body of oure +Lady, whan the apostles beren the body to ben buryed, in the Vale of +Josaphathe. And there is the place, where Seynt Petir wepte fulle tenderly, +aftre that he hadde forsaken oure Lord. And a stones cast fro that +chapelle, is another chapelle, where oure Lord was jugged: for that tyme, +was there Cayphases hows. From that chapelle, to go toward the est, at 140 +paas, is a deep cave undre the roche, that is clept the Galylee of oure +Lord; where Seynt Petre hidde him, whanne he had forsaken oure Lord. Item, +betwene the Mount Syon and the Temple of Salomon, is the place, where oure +Lord reysed the mayden, in hire fadres hows. Undre the Mount Syon, toward +the Vale of Josaphathe, is a welle, that is clept _Natatorium Siloe_; and +there was oure Lord wasshen, aftre his bapteme: and there made oure Lord +the blynd man to see. And there was y buryed Ysaye the prophete. Also +streghte from Natatorie Siloe, is an ymage of ston, and of olde auncyen +werk, that Absalon leet make: and because there of, men clepen it the head +of Absalon. And faste by, is zit the tree of eldre, that Judas henge him +self upon, for despeyr that he hadde, whan he solde and betrayed oure Lord. +And there besyde, was the synagoge, where the bysshoppes of Jewes and the +pharyses camen to gidere, and helden here conseille. And there caste Judas +the 30 pens before hem, and seyde, that he hadde synned, betrayenge oure +Lord. And there nyghe was the hows of the apostles Philippe and Jacob +Alphei. And on that other syde of Mount Syon, toward the southe, bezonde +the Vale, a stones cast, is Acheldamache; that is to seye, the Feld of +Blood; that was bought for the 30 pens, that oure Lord was sold fore. And +in that feld ben many tombes of Cristene men: for there ben manye pilgrymes +graven. And there ben many oratories, chapelles and heremytages, where +heremytes weren wont to duelle. And toward the est, an 100 pas, is the +charnelle of the hospitalle of seynt John, where men weren wont to putte +the bones of dede men. + +Also fro Jerusalem, toward the west, is a fair chirche, where the tree of +the cros grew. And 2 myle fro thens, is a faire chirche; where oure lady +mette with Elizabethe, whan thei weren bothe with childe; and seynt John +stered in his modres wombe, and made reverence to his Creatour, that he +saughe not. And undre the awtier of that chirche, is the place where seynt +John was born. And fro that chirche, is a myle to the castelle of Emaux; +and there also oure Lord schewed him to 2 of his disciples, aftre His +resurrexion. Also on that other syde, 200 pas fro Jerusalem, is a chirche, +where was wont to be the cave of the lioun: and undre that chirche, at 30 +degrees of depnesse, weren entered 12000 martires, in the tyme of Kyng +Cosdroc, that the lyoun mette with alle in a nyghte, be the wille of God. +Also fro Jerusalem 2 myle, is the Mount Joye, a fulle fair place and a +delicyous: and there lythe Samuel the prophete in a faire tombe: and men +clepen it Mount Joye; for it zevethe joye to pilgrymes hertes, be cause +that there men seen first Jerusalem. Also betwene Jerusalem and the Mount +of Olyvete, is the Vale of Josaphathe, undre the walles of the cytee, as I +have seyd before: and in the myddes of the vale, is a lytille ryvere, that +men clepen Torrens Cedron; and aboven it, over thwart, lay a tre, (that the +cros was made offe) that men zeden over onne: and faste by it is a litylle +pytt in the erthe, where the foot of the pileer is zit entered; and there +was oure Lord first scourged: for he was scourged and vileynsly entreted in +many places. Also in the myddel place of the vale of Josaphathe, is the +chirche of oure lady: and it is of 43 degrees, undre the erthe, unto the +sepulchre oure lady. And oure lady was of age, when sche dyed, 72 zeer. And +beside the sepulchre of oure lady, is an awtier, where oure Lord forzaf +seynt Petir all his synnes. And fro thens, toward the west, undre an +awtere, is a welle, that comethe out of the ryvere of Paradys. And witethe +wel, that that chirche is fulle lowe in the erthe; and sum is alle with +inne the erthe. But I suppose wel, that it was not so founded: but for +because that Jerusalem hathe often tyme ben destroyed, and the walles +abated and beten doun and tombled in to the vale, and that thei han ben so +filled azen, and the ground enhaunced; and for that skylle, is the chirche +so lowe with in the erthe: and natheles men seyn there comounly, that the +erthe hathe so ben cloven, sythe the tyme, that oure Lady was there buryed: +and zit men seyn there, that it wexethe and growethe every day, with outen +dowte. In that chirche were wont to ben blake monkes, that hadden hire +abbot. And besyde that chirche, is a chapelle, besyde the roche, that +highte Gethesamany: and there was oure Lord kyssed of Judas; and there was +he taken of the Jewes; and there laft oure Lord his disciples, whan he +wente to preye before his passioun, whan he preyed and seyde, _Pater, si +fieri potest, transeat a me calix iste_; that is to seye, _Fadre, zif it +may be, do lete this chalys go fro me_. And whan he cam azen to his +disciples, he fond hem slepynge. And in the roche, with inne the chapelle, +zit apperen the fyngres of oure Lordes hond, whan he putte hem in the +roche, whan the Jewes wolden have taken him. And fro thens a stones cast, +toward the southe, is anothere chapelle, where oure Lord swette droppes of +blood. And there righte nyghe, is the tombe of Kyng Josaphathe; of whom the +vale berethe the name. This Josaphathe was kyng of that contree, and was +converted by an heremyte, that was a worthi man, and dide moche gode. And +fro thens a bowe drawghte, towards the south, is the chirche, where Seynt +James and Zacharie the prophete weren buryed. And above the vale, is the +Mount of Olyvete: and it is cleped so, for the plentee of olyves, that +growen there. That mount is more highe than the cytee of Jerusalem is: and +therfore may men, upon that mount, see manye of the stretes of the cytee. +And between that mount and the cytee, is not but the vale of Josaphathe, +that is not fulle large. And fro that mount, steighe oure Lord Jesu Crist +to Hevene, upon ascencioun day: and zit there schewethe the schapp of his +left foot, in the ston. And there is a chirche, where was wont to be an +abbot and chanouns reguleres. And a lytylle thens, 28 pas, is a chapelle, +and there in is the ston, on the whiche oure Lord sat, whan he prechede the +8 blessynges, and seyde thus: _Beati pauperes spiritu_: and there he +taughte his disciples the _Pater noster_; and wrote with his finger in a +ston. And there nyghe is a chirche of Seynte Marie Egipcyane; and there +sche lythe in a tombe. And fro then toward the est, a 3 bow schote, is +Bethfagee; to the whiche oure Lord sente Seynt Peter and Seynt James, for +to feche the asse, upon Palme Sonday, and rode upon that asse to Jerusalem. +And in comynge doun fro the Mount of Olyvete, toward the est, is a +castelle, that is cleped Bethanye: and there dwelte Symon leprous, and +there herberwed oure Lord; and aftre, he was baptized of the Apostles, and +was clept Julian, and was made bisschoppe: and this is the same Julyan, +that men clepe to for gede herberghgage; for oure Lord herberwed with him, +in his hows. And in that hous, oure Lord forzaf Marie Magdaleyne hire +synnes; there sche whassched his feet with hire teres, and wyped hem with +hire heer. And there served seynt Martha, oure Lord. There oure Lord reysed +Lazar fro dethe to lyve, that was ded 4 dayes and stank, that was brother +to Marie Magdaleyne and to Martha. And there duelte also Marie Cleophe. +That castelle is wel a myle long fro Jerusalem. Also in comynge doun fro +the Mount of Olyvete, is the place where oure Lord wepte upon Jerusalem. +And there besyde is the place, where oure lady appered to seynt Thomas the +Apostle, aftre hire assumptioun, and zaf him hire Gyrdylle. And right nyghe +is the ston, where oure Lord often tyme sat upon, whan he prechede: and +upon that same schalle he sytte, at the day of doom; righte as him self +seyde. + +Also aftre the Mount of Olyvete, is the Mount of Galilee: there assembleden +the apostles, whan Marie Magdaleyne cam, and tolde hem of Cristes +uprisynge. And there, betwene the Mount Olyvete and the Mount Galilee, is a +chirche, where the aungel seyde to our lady, of hire dethe. Also fro +Bethanye to Jerico, was somtyme a litylle Cytee: but it is now alle +destroyed; and now is there but a litylle village. That cytee tok Josue, be +myracle of God and commandement of the aungel, and destroyed it and cursed +it, and alle hem that bylled it azen. Of that citee was Zacheus the dwerf, +that clomb up in to the Sycomour Tre, for to see oure Lord; be cause he was +so litille, he myghte not seen Him for the peple. And of that cytee was +Raab the comoun womman, that ascaped allone, with hem of hire lynage; and +sche often tyme refressched and fed the messageres of Israel, and kepte hem +from many grete periles of dethe: and therfore sche hadde gode reward; as +Holy Writt seythe: _Qui accipit prophetam in nomine meo, mercedem prophetae +accipiet_; that is to seye, _He that takethe a prophete in my name, he +schalle take mede of the prophete_: and so had sche; for sche prophecyed to +the messageres, seyenge, _Novi quod Dominus tradet vobis Terram hanc_; that +is to seye, _I wot wel, that oure Lord schal betake zou this Lond_: and so +he dide. And after Salomon, Naasones sone, wedded hire; and fro that tyme +was sche a worthi womman, and served God wel. Also from Betanye gon men to +flom [Footnote: River,--Latin, _flumen_.] Jordan, by a mountayne, and +thorghe desert; and it is nyghe a day jorneye fro Bethanye, toward the est, +to a gret hille, where oure Lord fasted 40 dayes. Upon that hille, the +enemy of helle bare our Lord, and tempted him, and seyde; _Dic ut lapides +isti panes fiant_; that is to seye, _Sey, that theise stones be made +loves_. In that place, upon the hille, was wont to ben a faire chirche; but +it is alle destroyed, so that there is now but an hermytage, that a maner +of Cristene men holden, that ben cleped Georgyenes: for Seynt George +converted hem. Upon that hille duelte Abraham a gret while: and therfore +men clepen it, Abrahames gardyn. And betwene the hille and this gardyn +rennethe a lytille broke of watre, that was wont to ben byttre; but be the +blessyng of Helisee the prophete, it becam swete and gode to drynke. And at +the foot of this hille, toward the playn, is a grete welle, that entrethe +in to flom Jordan. Fro that hille to Jerico, that I spak of before, is but +a myle, in goynge toward flom Jordan. Also as men gon to Jerico, sat the +blynde man, cryenge, _Jesu, fili David, miserere mei_; that is to seye, +_Jesu, Davides sone, have mercy on me_: and anon he hadde his sighte. Also +2 myle fro Jerico is flom Jordan: and an half myle more nyghe, is a faire +chirche of Seynt John the Baptist; where he baptised oure Lord: and there +besyde, is the hous of Jeremye the prophete. + + +Of the dede See; and of the Flom Jordan. Of the Hed of Seynt John the + Baptist; and of the Usages of the Samaritanes. + +[Sidenote: Cap. IX.] And fro Jerico, a 3 myle, is the dede See. Aboute that +See growethe moche alom and of alkatram. [Footnote: Brimstone.] Betwene +Jerico and that see is the lond of Dengadde; and there was wont to growe +the bawme; but men make drawe the braunches there of, and beren hem to ben +graffed at Babiloyne; and zit men clepen hem vynes of Gaddy. At a cost of +that see, as men gon from Arabe, is the mount of the Moabytes; where there +is a cave, that men clepen Karua. Upon that hille, ladde Balak the sone of +Booz, Balaam the prest, for to curse the peple of Israel. That dede See +departethe the lond of Ynde and of Arabye; and that see lastethe from Soara +unto Arabye. The watre of that see is fulle bytter and salt: and ziff the +erthe were made moyst and weet with that watre, it wolde nevere bere fruyt. +And the erthe and the lond chaungeth often his colour. And it castethe out +of the watre a thing that men clepen aspalt; also gret peces, as the +gretnesse of an hors, every day, and on alle sydes. And fro Jerusalem to +that see, is 200 furlonges. That see is in lengthe 580 furlonges, and in +brede 150 furlonges: and it is clept the dede see, for it rennethe nought. +but is evere unmevable. And nouther manne, best, ne no thing that berethe +lif in him, ne may not dyen in that see: and that hathe ben proved manye +tymes, be men that han disserved to ben dede, that han ben cast there inne, +and left there inne 3 dayes or 4, and thei ne myghte never dye ther inne: +for it resceyvethe no thing with inne him, that berethe lif. And no man may +drynken of the watre, for bytternesse. And zif a man caste iren there in, +it wole flete aboven. And zif men caste a fedre there in, it wole synke to +the botme: and theise ben thinges azenst kynde. And also the cytees there +weren lost, be cause of synne. And there besyden growen trees, that beren +fulle faire apples, and faire of colour to beholde; but whoso brekethe hem +or cuttethe hem in two, he schalle fynde with in hem coles and cyndres; in +tokene that, be wratthe of God, the cytees and the lond weren brente and +sonken into helle. Sum men clepen that see, Lake Dalfetidee; summe, the +Flom of Develes; and summe, the flom that is ever stynkynge. And in to that +see sonken the 5 cytees, be wratthe of God; that is to seyne, Sodom, +Gomorre, Aldama, Seboym and Segor, for the abhomynable synne of sodomye, +that regned in hem. But Segor, be the preyer of Lothe, was saved and kept a +gret while: for it was sett upon an hille; and zit schewethe therof sum +party, above the watre: and men may see the walles, when it is fayr wedre +and cleer. In that cytee Lothe dwelte, a lytylle while; and there was he +made dronken of his doughtres, and lay with hem, and engendred of hem Moab +and Amon. And the cause whi his doughtres made him dronken, and for to ly +by him, was this; because thei sawghe no man aboute hem, but only here +fadre: and therfore thei trowed, that God had destroyed alle the world, as +he hadde don the cytees; as he hadde don before, be Noes flood. And +therfore thei wolde lye with here fadre, for to have issue, and for to +replenysschen the world azen with peple, to restore the world azen be hem: +for thei trowed, that ther had ben no mo men in alle the world. And zif +here fadre had not ben dronken, he hadde not y leye with hem. And the hille +aboven Segor, men cleped it thanne Edom: and aftre men cleped it Seyr, and +aftre Ydumea. Also at the righte syde of that dede See, dwellethe zit the +wife of Lothe, in lyknesse of a salt ston; fur that schee loked behinde +hire, whan the cytees sonken into helle. This Lothe was Araammes sone, that +was brother to Abraham. And Sarra Abrahames wife, and Melcha Nachors wif, +weren sustren to the seyd Lothe. And the same Sarra was of elde 90 zeer, +when Ysaac hire sone was goten on hire. And Abraham hadde another sone +Ysmael, that he gat upon Agar his chambrere. And when Ysaac his sone was 8 +dayes olde, Abraham his fadre leet him ben circumcyded, and Ysmael with +him, that was 14 zeer old: wherfore the Jewes, that comen of Ysaacces lyne, +ben circumcyded the 8 day; and the Sarrazines, that comen of Ysmaeles lyne, +ben circumcyded whan thei ben 14 zeer of age. + +And zee schulle undirstonde, that with in the dede See rennethe the Flom +Jordan, and there it dyethe; for it rennethe no furthermore: and that is a +place, that is a myle fro the Chirche of seynt John the Baptist, toward the +West, a lytille benethe the place, where that christene men bathen hem +comounly. And a myle from Flom Jordan, is the Ryvere of Jabothe, the whiche +Jacob passed over, whan he cam fro Mesopotayme. This Flom Jordan is no +great ryvere; but it is plenteous of gode fissche; and it cometh out of the +hille of Lyban be 2 welles, that ben cleped Jor and Dan: and of tho 2 +Welles hath it the name. And it passethe be a lake, that is clept Maron; +and aftre it passethe by the See of Tyberye, and passethe undre the hilles +of Gelboe: and there is a full faire vale, bothe on that o syde and on that +other of the same ryvere. And men gon the hilles of Lyban, alle in lengthe, +onto the desert of Pharan. And tho hilles departen the kyngdom of Surrye +and the contree of Phenesie. And upon tho hilles growen trees of cedre, +that ben fulle hye, and thei beren longe apples, and als grete as a mannes +heved. And also this Flom Jordan departeth the lond of Galilee, and the +lond of Ydumye and the lond of Betron: and that rennethe undre erthe a +grete weye, unto a fayre playn and a gret, that is clept Meldan, in +Sarmoyz; that is to seye, feyre or markett in here langage; be cause that +there is often feyres in that pleyn. And there becomethe the watre gret and +large. And that playn is the tombe of Job. And in that Flom Jordan +above-seyd, was oure Lorde baptized of seynt John; and the voys of God the +Fadre was herd seyenge. _Hic est Filius meus dilectus, &c._; that is to +seye, _This is my beloved sone, in the whiche I am well plesed; herethe +hym_. And the Holy Gost alyghte upon hym, in lyknesse of a colver: and so +at his baptizynge, was alle the hool trynytee. And thorghe that Flom +passeden the children of Israel, alle drye feet: and thei putten stones +there in the myddel place, in tokene of the myracle, that the watre +withdrowghe him so. Also in that Flom Jordan, Naaman of Syrie bathed him; +that was fulle riche, but he was meselle: [Footnote: Leprous.] and there +anon he toke his hele. Abouten the Flom Jordan ben manye chirches, where +that manye cristene men dwelleden. And nyghe therto is the cytee of Hay, +that Josue assayled and toke. Also beyonde the Flom Jordan, is the Vale of +Mambre; and that is a fulle fair vale. Also upon the hille, that I spak of +before, where oure Lord fasted 40 dayes, a 2 myle long from Galilee, is a +faire hille and an highe; where the enemye, the fend, bare oure Lord, the +thridde tyme, to tempte him, and schewede him alle the regiouns of the +world, and seyde, _Hic omnia tibi dabo, si cadens adoraveris me_; that is +to seyne, _All this schalle I zeve the, zif thou falle and worschipe me_. + +Also fro the dede See, to gon estward out of the marches of the Holy Lond, +that is clept the Lond of Promyssioun, is a strong castelle and a fair, in +an hille, that is clept Carak, en Sarmoyz; that is to seyne, Ryally. That +castle let make kyng Baldwyn, (that was Kyng of France) whan he had +conquered that lond; and putte it in to cristene mennes hondes, for to kepe +that contree. And for that cause, was it clept the Mownt rialle. And undre +it there is a town, that hight Sobachie: and there alle abowte dwellen +cristene men, undre trybute. Fro thens gon men to Nazarethe, of the whiche +oure Lord berethe the surname. And fro thens, there is 3 journeyes to +Jerusalem: and men gon be the provynce of Galylee, be Ramatha, be Sothym +and be the highe hille of Effraim; where Elchana and Anna, the modre of +Samuelle the prophete, dwelleden. There was born this prophete: and aftre +his dethe, he was buryed at Mount Joye, as I have seyd you before. And than +gon men to Sylo; where the arke of God with the relikes weren kept longe +tyme, undre Ely the prophete. There made the peple of Ebron sacrifice to +oure Lord: and ther thei yolden up here avowes: and there spak God first to +Samuelle, and schewed him the mutacioun of ordre of presthode, and the +misterie of the sacrement. And right nyghe, on the left syde, is Gabaon and +Rama and Beniamyn; of the whiche holy writt spekethe offe. And aftre men +gon to Sychem, sumtyme clept Sychar; and that is in the provynce of +Samaritanes; and there is a fulle fair vale and a fructuouse, and there is +a fair cytee and a gode, that men clepen Neople. And from thens is a +jorneye to Jerusalem. And there is the welle, where oure Lord spak to the +woman of Samaritan. And there was wont to ben a chirche; but it is beten +doun. Besyde that welle, Kyng Roboas let make 2 calveren of gold, and made +hem to ben worschipt, and put that on at Dan, and that other at Betelle. +And a myle fro Sychar, is the cytee of Deluze. And in that cytee dwelte +Abraham, a certeyn tyme. Sychem is a 10 myle fro Jerusalem, and it is clept +Neople; that is, for to seyne, the newe cytee. And nyghe besyde is the +tombe of Josephe the sone of Jacob, that governed Egypt: for the Jewes +baren his bones from Egypt, and buryed hem there. And thidre gon the Jewes +oftentyme in pilgrimage, with gret devocioun. In that cytee was Dyne +Jacobes doughter ravysscht; for whom hire bretheren slowen many persones, +and diden many harmes to the cytee. And there besyde, is the hille of +Garasoun, where the Samaritanes maken here sacrifice: in that hille wolde +Abraham have sacrificed his sone Ysaac. And there besyde is the vale of +Dotaym: and there is the cisterne, where Josephe was cast in of his +bretheren, which thei solden; and that is a 2 myle fro Sychar. From thens +gon men to Samarye, that men clepen now Sebast; and that is the chief cytee +of that contree: and it sytt betwene the hille of Aygnes, as Jerusalem +dothe. In that cytee was the syttinges of the 12 tribes of Israel: but the +cytee is not now so gret, as it was wont to be. There was buryed seynt John +the Baptist, betwene 2 prophetes, Helyseus and Abdyan: but he was beheded +in the castelle of Macharyme, besyde the Dede See: and aftre he was +translated of his disciples, and buryed at Samarie: and there let Julianas +Apostata dyggen him up, and let brennen his bones; (for he was that time +Emperour) and let wyndwe [Footnote: Blow away.] the ashes in the wynd. But +the fynger, that schewed oure Lord, seyenge, _Ecce Agnus Dei_; that is to +seyne, _Lo the Lamb of God_: that nolde nevere brenne, but is alle hol: +that fynger leet seynte Tecle the holy virgyne be born in to the hill of +Sebast; and there maken men gret feste. In that place was wont to ben a +faire chirche; and many othere there weren; but thei ben alle beten doun. +There was wont to ben the heed of seynt John Baptist, enclosed in the +walle; but the Emperour Theodosie let drawe it out, and fond it wrapped in +a litille clothe, alle blody; and so he leet it to be born to +Costantynoble: and zit at Costantynoble is the hyndre partye of the heed: +and the for partie of the heed, til undre the chyn, is at Rome, undre the +chirche of seynt Silvestre, where ben nonnes of an hundred ordres; and it +is zit alle broylly, as thoughe it were half brent: for the Emperour +Julianus aboyeseyd, of his cursednesse and malice, let brennen that partie +with the other bones; and zit it schewethe: and this thing hathe ben +preved, both be popes and by emperours. And the Jowes benethe, that holden +to the Chyn, and a partie of the assches, and the platere, that the hed was +leyd in, whan it was smyten of, is at Gene: and the Geneweyes maken of it +gret feste; and so don the Sarazynes also. And sum men seyn; that the heed +of seynt John is at Amyas, in Picardye: and other men seyn, that it is the +heed of seynt John the Bysschop. I wot nere, but God knowethe: but in what +wyse than men worschipen it, the blessed seynt John holt him a payd. + +From this cytee of Sebast unto Jerusalem, is 12 myle. And betwene the +hilles of that contree, there is a welle, that 4 sithes in the zeer +chaungethe his colour; sometyme grene, sometyme reed, sometyme cleer, and +sometyme trouble; and men clepen that welle Job. And the folk of that +contree, that men clepen Samaritanes, weren converted and baptized by the +apostles; but thei holden not wel here doctryne; and alle weys thei holden +lawes by hem self, varyenge from cristene men, from Sarrazines, Jewes and +Paynemes. And the Samaritanes leeven well in o Godi: and thei seyn wel, +that there is but only o God, that alle formed, and alle schalle deme: and +thei holden the Bible aftre the lettre: and thei usen the psawtere, as the +Jewes don: and thei seyn, that thei ben the righte sones of God: and among +alle other folk, thei seyn that thei ben best beloved of God; and that to +hem belongethe the heritage, that God behighte to hise beloved children: +and thei han also dyverse clothinge and schapp, to loken on, than other +folk han; for thei wrappen here hedes in red linnene cloth, in difference +from othere. And the Sarazines wrappen here hedes in white lynnene clothe. +And the Cristene men, that duellen in the contree, wrappen hem in blew of +Ynde; and the Jewes in zelow clothe. In that contree duellen manye of the +Jewes, payenge tribute, as Cristene men don. And zif zee wil knowe the +lettres, that the Jewes usen, as thei clepem hem, in manner of here _A. B. +C. Alephe, Bethe, Gymel, Delethe, He, Vau, Zay, Cy, Thet, Joht, Kapho, +Lampd [sic--KTH], Mem, Num, Samethe, Ey, Fhee, Sade, Cophe, Resch, Son, +Tau_. + + +Of the Province of Galilee, and where Antecrist schalle be born; Of + Nazarethe. Of the Age of oure Lady. Of the Day of Doom; and of the + Customes of Jacobites, Surryenes; and of the Usages of Gcorgyenes. + +[Sidenote: Chap. IX.] From this contree of the Samaritanes, that I have +spoken of before, gon men to the playnes of Galilee. And men leven the +hilles, on that o partye. And Galilee is on of the provynces of the Holy +Land: and in that provynce is the cytee of Naym and Capharnaum and +Chorosaym and Bethsayde. In this Bethseyde was Seynt Petre and Seynt Andrew +borne. And thens, a 4 myle, is Chorosaym: and 5 myle fro Chorosaym, is the +cytee of Cedar, of the psautre spekethe: _Et habitavi cum habitantibus +Cedar_; that is for to seye, _And I have dwelled with the dwellynge men in +Cedar_. In Chorosaym schalle Antecrist be born, as sum men seyn; and other +men seyn, he schalle be born in Babyloyne: for the prophete seyth; _De +Babilonia Coluber exiet, qui totum mundum devorabit_; that is to seyne, +_Out of Babiloyne schal come a worm, that schal devouren alle the world_. +This Antecrist schal be norysscht in Bethsayda, and he schal regne in +Capharnaum: and therfore seythe Holy Writt: _Ve tibi, Chorosaym: ve tibi, +Bethsayda: ve tibi, Capharnaum_; that is to seye, _Wo be to the, Chorosaym; +wo to the, Bethsayda: wo to the, Capharnaum_. And alle theise townes ben in +the lond of Galilee. And also, the cane of Galilee is 4 myle fro Nazarethe: +of that cytee was Simon Chananeus, and his wif Canee; of the whiche the +holy evaungelist spekethe off: there dide oure Lord the first myracle at +the wedyng, whan he turned water in to wyn. And in the ende of Galilee, at +the hilles, was the arke of God taken; and on that other syde is the Mownt +Hender or Hermon. And there aboute gothe the Broke of Cison: and there +besyde, Barache, that was Abymeleche sone, with Delbore the prophetisse, +overcam the Oost of Ydumea, whan Cysera the kyng was slayn of Gebelle, the +wif of Aber; and chaced beyonde the Flom Jordan, be strengthe of sword, Zeb +and Zebec and Salmana; and there he slowghe him. Also a 5 myle fro Naym, is +the cytee of Jezreel, that sometyme was clept Zarym; of the which cytee +Jezabel the cursed queen was lady and queen, that toke awey the vyne of +Nabaothe, be hire strengthe. Faste by that cytee, is the Feld Magede, in +the whiche the Kyng Joras was slayn of the Kyng of Samarie, and aftre was +translated and buryed in the Mount Syon. And a myle fro Jezrael ben the +Hilles of Gelboe, where Saul and Jonathas that weren so faire, dyeden: +wherfore David cursed hem, as holy writt seythe; _Montes Gelboe, nec Ros +nec Pluvia, &c._; that is to seye, _Zee hilles of Gelboe, nouther Dew ne +Reyne com upon you_. And a myle fro the hilles of Gelboe, toward the est, +is the cytee of Cyrople, that was clept before Bethsayn. And upon the +walles of that cytee was the hed of Saul honged. + +After gon men be the hille, besyde the pleynes of Galylee, unto Nazarethe, +where was wont to ben a gret cytee and fair: but now there is not, but a +lytille village, and houses a brood here and there. And it is not walled; +and it sytt in a litille valeye, and there ben hilles alle aboute. There +was our lady born: but sche was goten at Jerusalem. And be cause that oure +lady was born at Nazarethe, therefore bare our Lord his surname of that +town. There toke Josephe our lady to wyf, when sche was 14 zeere of age: +and there Gabrielle grette our lady, seyenge, _Ave Gratia plena, Dominus +tecum_; that is to seyne, _Heyl fulle of Grace, oure Lord is with the_. And +this Salutacioun was don in a place of a gret awteer of a faire chirche, +that was wont to be somtyme: but it is now alle downe; and men han made a +litylle resceyt, besyde a pylere of that chirche, for to resceyve the +offrynges of Pilgrymes. And the Sarrazines kepen that place fulle derely, +for the profyte that thei han there offe: and thei ben fulle wykked +Sarrazines and cruelle, and more dispytous than in ony other place, and han +destroyed alle the chirches. There nyghe is Gabrielles Welle, where oure +Lord was wont to bathe Him, whan He was yong: and fro that welle bare he +watre often tyme to his modre: and in that well sche wossche often tyme the +clowtes of hire sone Jesu Crist. And fro Jerusalem unto thidre, is 3 +journeyes. At Nazarathe was our Lord norisscht. Nazarethe is als meche to +seye, as flour of the gardyn: and be gode skylle may it ben clept flour; +for there was norisscht the flour of lyf, that was Crist Jesu. And 2 myle +fro Nazarethe, it the cytee of Sephor, be the weye, that gothe from +Nazerethe to Acon. And an half myle fro Nazarethe, is the lepe of oure +Lorde: for the Jewes ladden him upon an highe roche, for to make him lepe +doun, and have slayn him: but Jesu passed amonges hem, and lepte upon +another roche; and zit ben the steppes of his feet sene in the roche, where +he allyghte. And therfore seyn sum men, whan thei dreden hem of thefes, on +ony weye, or of enemyes; _Jesus autem transiens per medium illorum ibet_; +that is to seyne, _Jesus forsothe passynge be the myddes of hem, he wente_: +in tokene and mynde, that oure Lord passed thorghe out the Jewes crueltee, +and scaped safly fro hem: so surely mowe men passen the perile of thefes. +And than sey men 2 vers of the psautre, 3 sithes: _Irruat super eos formido +et pavor in magnitudine Brachii tui, Domine, Fiant inmobiles, quasi Lapis, +donec pertranseat populus tuus, Domine; donec pertranseat populus tuus +iste, quem possedisti_. And thanne may men passe with outen perile. And zee +schulle undirstonde, that oure lady hadde child, whan sche was 15 zeere +old: and sche was conversant with hire sone 33 zeer and 3 monethes; And +aftre the passioun of oure Lord, sche lyvede 24 zeer. + +Also fro Nazarethe, men gon to the Mount Thabor; and that is a 4 myle: and +it is a fulle faire hille, and well highe, where was wont to ben a toun and +many chirches; but thei ben alle destroyed; but zit there is a place, that +men clepen the scole of God, where he was wont to teche his disciples, and +tolde hem the prevytees of hevene. And at the foot of that hille, +Melchisedeche, that was Kyng of Salem, in the turnynge of that hille, mette +Abraham in comynge azen from the bataylle, whan he had slayn Abymeleche: +and this Melchisedeche was bothe kyng and prest of Salem, that now is +cleped Jerusalem. In that hille Thabor, oure Lord transfigured him before +seynt Petre, seynt John and seynt Jame; and there they sawghe gostly Moyses +and Elye the prophetes besyde hem: and therefore seyde seynt Petre, +_Domine, bonum est nos hic esse; faciamus tria Tabernacula_; that is to +seye, _Lorde, it is gode for us to ben here; make we here 3 dwellying +places_. And there herd thei a voys of the fadir, that seye, _Hic est +filius meus dilectus, in quo mihi bene complacui_. And oure Lord defended +hem, that thei scholde not telle that avisioun, til that he were rysen from +dethe to lyf. In that hille and in that same place, at the day of doom, 4 +aungeles, with 4 trompes, schulle blowen and reysen alle men, that hadden +suffred dethe, sithe that the world was formed, from dethe to lyve; and +schnlle comen in body and soule in juggement; before the face of oure Lord, +in the Vale of Josaphate. And the doom schalle ben on Estre Day, suche tyme +as oure Lord aroos: and the dom schalle begynne, suche houre as oure Lord +descended, to helle and dispoyled it; for at such houre schal he dispoyle +the world, and lede his chosene to blisse; and the othere schalle be +condempne to perpetuelle peynes: and thanne schalle every man have aftir +his dissert, outher gode or evylle; but zif the mercy of God passe his +rightewisnesse. + +Also a myle from Mount Thabor, is the Mount Heremaon; and there was the +cytee of Naym. Before the zate of that cytee, reysed oure Lord the wydewes +sone, that had no mo children. Also 3 myle fro Nazarethe, is the Castelle +Saffra; of the whiche, the sones of Zebedee and the sones of Alphee weren. +Also a 7 myle fro Nazarethe is the Mount Kayn; andl andre that is a welle, +and besyde that welle, Lameche Noees fadre sloughe Kaym with an arwe. For +this Kaym wente thorghe breres and bosshes, as a wylde best; and he had +lyved fro the tyme of Adam his fadir, unto the tynme of Noe; and so he +lyvode nyghe to 2000 zeer. And this Lameche was alle blynd for elde. + +Fro Saffra, men gothe to the see of Galylee and to the cytee of Tyberye, +that sytt upon the same see. And alle be it, that men clepen it a see, zit +is it nouther see ne arm of the see: for it is but a stank of fresche +watir, that is in lengthe 100 furlonges; and of brede 40 furlonges; and +hathe with in him gret plentee of fissche, and rennethe in to Flom Jordan. +The cytee it not fulle gret, but it hathe gode bathes with in him. And +there; as the Flom Jordan partethe fro the see of Galilee, is a gret +brigge, where men passen from the lond of promyssioun, to the lond of +Baazan and the lond of Gerrasentz, that ben about the Flom Jordan, and the +begynnynge of the see of Tyberie. And fro thens may men go to Damask, in 3 +dayes, be the kyngdom of Traconye; the whiche kyngdom lastethe fro mount +Heremon to the see of Galilee, or to the see of Tyberie, or to the see of +Jenazarethe; and alle is o see, and this the stank that I have told zou; +but it chaungethe thus the name, for the names of the cytees that sytten +besyde hem. Upon that see, went oure Lord drye feet; and there he toke up +seynt Peter, when he began to drenche with in the see, and seyde to him, +_Modice Fidei, quare dubitasti_? And aftre his resurrexioun, oure Lord +appered on that see, to his disciples, and bad hem fyssche, and filled alle +the nett fulle of gret fisshes. In that see rowed oure Lord often tyme; and +there he called to him, seynt Peter, seynt Andrew, seynt James and seynt +John, the sones of Zebedee. In that cytee of Tyberie, is the table, upon +the whiche oure Lord eete upon, with his disciples, aftre his resurrexioun; +and thei knewen him in brekynge of bred, as the gospelle seythe; _Et +cognoverunt cum in fractione Panis_. And nyghe that cytee of Tyberie, is +the hille, where oure Lord fedde 5 thousand persones, with 5 barly loves +and 2 fisshes. In that cytee, a man cast an brennynge dart in wratthe aftir +oure Lord, and the hed smot in to the eerthe, and wax grene, and it growed +to a gret tree; and zit it growethe, and the bark there of is alle lyk +coles. Also in the hed of that See of Galilee, toward the Septemtryon, is a +strong castelle and an highe, that highte Saphor: and fast besyde it, is +Capharnaum: with in the lond of Promyssioun, is not so strong a castelle: +and there is a gode toun benethe, that is clept also Saphor. In that +castel, seynt Anne our ladyes modre was born. And there benethe was +Centurioes hous. That contree is clept the Galilee of Folk, that weren +taken to tribute of Sabulon, and of Neptalym. And in azen comynge fro that +castelle, a 30 myle, is the cytee of Dan, that somtyme was clept Belynas, +or Cesaire Philippon, that sytt at the foot of the Mount of Lyban, where +the Flom Jordan begynnethe. There begynnethe the lond of Promyssioun, and +durethe unto Bersabee, in lengthe, in goynge toward the northe in to the +southe; and it conteynethe well a 180 myles: and of brede, that is to seye, +fro Jericho unto Jaffe, and that conteynethe a 40 myle of Lombardye, or of +our contree, that ben also lytylle myles. Theise ben not myles of Gascoyne, +ne of the provynce of Almayne, where ben gret myles. And wite zee welle, +that the lond of Promyssioun is in Sirye. For the reme of Sirye durethe fro +the desertes of Arabye, unto Cecyle, and that is Ermonye the grete, that is +to seyne, fro the southe to the northe: and fro the est to the west, it +durethe fro the grete desertes of Arabye onto the West See. But in the reme +of Syrie, is the kyngdom of Judee, and many other provynces, as Palestyne, +Galilee, litylle Cilicye, and many othere. In that contree and other +contrees bezonde, thei han a custom, whan thei schulle usen werre, and whan +men holden sege abbouten cytee or castelle, and thei with innen dur not +senden out messagers with lettres, from lord to lord, for to aske sokour, +thei maken here letters and bynden hem to the nekke of a colver, and leten +the colver flee; and the colveren ben so taughte, that threi fleen with tho +lettres to the verry place, that men wolde sende hem to. For the colveres +ben norysscht in tho places, where thei ben sent to; and thei senden hem +thus, for to beren here lettres. And the colveres retournen azen, where as +thei ben norisscht; and so thei doe comounly. + + + + +MANDEVILLE'S VOYAGES + +PART II. + + +Secunda pars. + +CAPVT. 24. + +Persuasio ad non credentes terrarum diuersitates per orben terrae. + +Mirabilis Deus mirabilia propter semetipsum creauit, vt scilicet ab +intellectualibus creaturis suis intelligeretur, et per hoc diligeretur, +atque in hoc ipse creator, et creatura se mutuo fruerentur. Mirabilis est +ergo Deus maxime in illo, quod ipse solus sufficit sibi: et mirabilis in +altis Dominus, hoc est, in coelo et in coelestibus: sed et mirabilis in +terris, et in terrestribus: tamen si verum indicauerimus, nihil est +mirabile, quod mirum videri non debet, si ille qui omnipotens est, fecit +quaecunque voluit in coelo et in terra. Sed ecce dum nobis contingit videre +rem quam prius non vidimus, miratur noster animus, non quod simpliciter +mirum est, sed quod nobis id mirum et nouum. Deus vnus, simplex quidem est, +vt creaturae coelestes quo Deo magis de propinquo sunt eo simpliciores +existunt. Terrestres autem quod in situ remotiori sint, idcirco magis +diuersae, magis contrariae inter se sunt. + +[Sidenote: Reprehensio incredulorum qui nihil credunt, nisi quod domi +viderint.] Ergo quicunque sapiens est non stupet animo, dum in terrenis +respicit res varias, et diuersas, vel dum diuersa contingunt, seu +inueniuntur in partibus terrae diuersis: sed qui intellectum super sensum +non eleuant, et magis credunt oculo suo corporeo, quam spirituali, et qui +nunquam a natiuitatis suae loco recesserunt, isti vix volunt credere, seu +possunt alijs vera narrantibus de mundi diuersitatibus. + +Attamen tales, si vellent, de facili videre possint suum errorem. Quia +quicunque natus in vna ciuitate, vel patria, si tantummodo moueat se ad +proximam ciuitatem, inueniet ibi procul dubio aliquam differentiam, vel +diuersitatem in idiomate linguae, vel in modo loquendi, in moribus hominum, +in occupationibus, in legibus, in consuetudinibus, vel etiam in agrorom +fructibus, in arborum frugibus, seu in his quae gignuntur in terra, in aere, +et in aquis. + +Si ergo aliqualiter inueniri possit differentia in proximo, quanto maior +sit distantia, tanto maior differentia aestimandi est in remoto, vel in +remotiori, seu remotissimo loco. Vnde ego, quia in praecedente parte +tractatus narrare coepi aliqua, quae in his, et in peregrinatione mea vsque +in terram promissionis sanctam vidi, de quibus etiam potest, et poterit +constare multis, qui in partibus nostris eadem peregrinatione me +praecesserunt, et secuti sunt, procedam in describendo aliqua illorum, quae +vidi et percepi in deambulatione mea, qua peragraui multas alias terras, et +perlegi multas vndas, vsque in multorum hoc tempus annorum, et propter +insipientes, et discredentes non tacebo. Sed nec propter credentes nec +sapientes satis mouebor; tamen vt diuersa Dei opera qui respicere non +possunt oculo, saltem legant, vel audiant ex hoc scripto. Pauca vtique vidi +horum quae sunt, sed pauca horum quae vidi, narrabo. + + +CAPVT. 25. + +De Armenia, Persia, et Amazonia. + +De regionibus quae Iudeae contiguantur, scilicet Arabia, Aegypto et Syria, +statui modicum vltra narrare, relinquens hunc locum narrandi alijs +peregrinis. Et festinans ad terras remotiores, Armeniam minorem, non per +singulas ciuitates, sed celeriter transiens, vidi a remotis amplum castrum +vocatum Dei espoyer de quo mihi sustinui dici, quod sit vastum, et a +nemine, habitatum, nisi a fantastica quadam Domina, seruante in medio +maioris aulae super perticam, volucrem rapacem, quae dicitur Latine +accipiter, vel huiusmodi: quam auem, si aliquis hominum ingrediens se +custodire peruigil absque vlla somnolentia per septem continuos dies et +noctes posset, ipsa Domina in fine facti apparens concederet illi +quantamcunque faceret petitionem terrae, commodi, vel honoris, sed si +obdormiret, periret. Huic tamen dicto parum curaui accommodare aurem, nisi +quod communiter dicebatur, in bene transacto tempore praedicta fuisse +tentata per duas personas, vnum Regem, et alterum Pastorem. Et Regi quidem +quod indebitam fecit petitionem, vile successit negotium, pastori peroptime +successit negotium. + +In Armenia maiori, est magna et bona ciuitas Artyron ad dietam prope +fluuium Euphratem. Et sunt ibi duo montes euecti valde, vnus Sabissatele, +alter Ararath, quorum vltimus habet per anfractius, et periodos per +ascensum viae, fere 7. leucas, et quasi omni tempore est plenus niue. + +In illo loco fertur quicuisse Arca diluuii, cuius vnicus asser monstratur, +in Ecclesia Monachorum ad montis pedem habitantium; attamem nullus hominum +pro frigore nimio attentare praesumit ascensum. + +Est autem et ibi ciuitas Landania, de qua nonnulli dicunt quod Noe illam +fundauerat, et ciuitas magna Hany, in qua tempore Christianorum mille +habebantur Ecclesiae. + +In illa Armenia sub Imperio Persiae est famosa ciuitas Tauris, vbi de +mercimonijs ponderalibus fit inestimabilis mercatura. Hinc ad decem diates +ad Orientem habeatur ciuitas Zadona, in ea Imperator Persarum moratur, et +est in eodem imperio ciuitas valde magna Cassach, quae recto itinere dicitur +store ab Hierosolymis 55. dietis. Geth ciuitas imperialis, et melior totius +Persiae in hac terra noscitur esse, cum tamen Carnaa sit satis maior. + +Circa fines Persiae in terra Sennaar, est illa quae olim dicebatur Babylonia, +nec apparet ibi aliquid, quam ruinae grandis et vetustae cuitatis, quae ab +hominibus est deserta, sed a Draconibus inhabitata, et alijs animalibus, et +volucribus venenosis. Hanc terram tenet Imperator Persarum, vt supra dixi. +Etiam intra fines Persiae, est terra, vbi sanctus Iob patiens morabatur, quae +modo dicitur terra Sues, in cuius montanis inuenitur Manna, quod venditur +in Apothecis. Hunc terrae Sues contiguatur Chaldaea, quae non est magna, +quamuis nobilis regio habeatur. Et ab ista intratur Amazonia. + +Amazonia est modica insula, quam absquae viris sofae regunt et inhabitant +mulieres: cuius rei prima causa haec fuit. + +Olim cum insula communiter a viris, et mulieribus habitabatur, Rex eius +dictus Colopius cum omnibus nobilibus suis in bello contra Regnum Scithiae +occisus fuit. Audientes igitur nobilium vxores ipsius insulae se viduatas, +super his, in doloroso furore animi ad plures congressiones occiderunt et +fugauerunt omnes aliarum mulierum maritos, ne scilicet sua ingennitas +subiaceret voluntati, et potestati plebis. Et tandem post reformatam inter +se pacem mulieres inito consilio statuerum se solas absque viris dominari +in terra, atque ex tunc sumi sibi regimen per certam electionis formam quae +robusta, agilis, sapiens, iuuenis, ac valens apparet in armis. + +Sciendum tamen est, extra hanc insulam flumen esse, et alias modicas +insulas, quarum vna dicitur Carmagite, de quibus licitum est ijs accessire +viros, et amasios bis in anno, ita vt nulla moram trahat septem dierum +naturalium sub poena indubitata occisionis. Infantem masculum nutrire licet +quoadusque per se comedat et gradiatur, tunc transmittendus est in domum +paternam. Generosae natae puellae aufertur ignito cultro vber sinistrum pro +scuto gerendo, degeneri dextrum, ad sagittandum de arcu Turco. + +Regina cum consiliaribus et officialibus suis regit sapienter et bene +terram, et seruat omnes sibi sub districta obedientia, per leges, et +poenas, et amendas conscriptas. Et cum circumiacentium insularum Reges +contra se ad inuicem proeliari solent, tunc Regina Amazoniae cum suis +Nobilibus ab vna parte pro magno stipendio vocari solet in adiutorium, vbi +et inuentae sunt sapientes in consilijs, probae in armis, acres in +conflictibus, et in omnibus Curiae actibus bene valentes. + + +CAPVT. 26. + +De Aethiopia, et Diamantibus, et de infima India. + +Aethiopia consistit a terra Chaldeorum in Austrum, quae distinguitur in +Orientalem Aethiopiam, et ['and' in source text--KTH] Meridionalem, quarum +prima in illis partibus vocatur Cush, propter hominum nigredinem, altera +Mauritania. [Sidenote: Mauritania. Regnum Saba.] Et est ibi Regnum Saba, de +quo legitur, quod Regi Salomoni Regis Arabum, et Saba, dona et tributa +adduxerunt. Eoque Regina Saba venit a finibus, hoc est, a longinquis terrae +partibus audire sapientiam Salomonis. Omnes in Aethiopia aquae in fluuijs et +riparijs, et fontibus sapiunt Sal, propter nimium calorem. [Sidenote: +Plinius.] Est ibi vnus aquae fons ita de nocte calidus, vt nemo in eo +sustineat manum, et ita de die frigidus, vt bibi vix possit. + +Generaliter isti de Mauritania Aethiopes comedunt parum, de facili +inebriantur, fluxum ventris patiuntur nec diu viuunt. + +[Sidenote: India triplex.] De Aethiopia intratur in Indiam, mediam, nam +triplex est videlicet infima, quae in quibusdam suis partibus est nimis +frigida ad inhabitandum: Media quae satis temperata est, et superior, quae +nimis calida. In India infima propter continuum et graue frigus generatur +christallum de aqua per gelu, sicut quidam asserunt. Sed certum est ibi +haberi rupes christalli, et in illis gigni optimos Diamantes, quos lingua +illius vocant Hamefht. [Sic. 'Hamese' in English version below--KTH.] + +Est autem diamas paruus praeciosus lapis, magnae virtutis, sicut plenius +describitur in lapidariis. Quidam inueniuntur in magnitudine pisi, vel +etiam piso minores: alii ad quantitatem fabae, sed nullus maior auellana, +vel nuce. Et dicitur de eo in partibus illis quod si hic qui portat sit +continens, et sobrius reddit illum magnanimum et audacem, et iuuat in +causis iustis certantem, conseruat substantias corporales, aufert praua +somnia, depellit prauorum spirituum illusiones, sortilegia, et +incantationes, ac valet contra lunaticam passionem, vt daemonis obsessionem, +et venenosum quod illi appropinquauerit exsudat, et exhumescit. + +Optimi Diamantes de India assimulantur in colore multum christallo, sed +sunt aliquantulum magis citrini, et pro sui duritie poliri non possunt. +Inueniuntur autem ibi nonnulli subnigri ad colorem violae: Alii nascuntur in +Arabia nigri, et tenuiores praedictis, alii in Macedonia, et quidam in +Cypro, sed in mineriis auri, dum prima massa in minutias confringitur, +interdum reperiuntur. Sciendum enim est, saepe plures simul crescere, nec +non generant, et concipiunt inuicem de rore coeli, quemadmodum et +Margaritae: quod ego pluries tentans, accepi de rupe cespitem cum diamante +masculo, et femella, plantans in pratello, et frequentans, focillans +madefeci de rore Maii. Et ecce in breui, paruulus ex iis gignebatur, +nascebatur, et adolescebat ad debitam quantitatem: fiunt vero omnes per +naturam cum pluribus angulis vt trium vel quatuor, aut quinque laterum, et +nonnulli cum lateribus senis. E contra omnes margaritae nascuntur in forma +sphaerica, seu rotunda. + +Et notandum quod mercatores, pro diamantibus frequenter aliud vendunt: Nam +solet commixtio fieri de christallo Crochee, de Saphiro, de Lonpes Citrino, +de lapide Yri, et de paruis petris ex murium nidis. Probatio veri diamantis +haberi potest his modis. + +Primo si ita inuenitur tener, vt se poliri dimittat non est verus. + +Item si de eo non potest scindi vitrum cristallum, non est verus. + +Item accipe paruum quantitatis lapidem Adamantem, qui solet sibi attrahere +acum et ferrum, et pone verum diamantem, super adamantem, tuncque si +ministraueris adamanti acum, videbis adamantem operari nihil, vero diamante +praesente, dum tamen adamas non sit diamante maior. + +Item si cultellum laminae tenuis, habentem in manubrio inclusum vel +alligatum verum diamantem in mensa vel assere erexeris, protinus vt ipsi +venenum appropinquabit, stabit tremulans atque sudans. Et notandum, quod +per luxuriosum, seu gulosum qui ferret diamantem amitteret virtutem ad +tempus. + +Terra Indiae appellatur ab Indo ibi currente fluuio, cuius anguillae +inueniuntur quandoque vltra 20. pedes in longitudine. In media India +transitur per multas insulas vsque ad mare Oceanum, in insulam Ormuz, vbi +Mercatores Venetiae saepe tendunt, sed viri, qui assueti non sunt tantum +sustinere calorem, ne exeant perpendicula de corporibus prope ad genua, ibi +se contra hoc debite inuoluunt, et ligant, nec audent ibi transire nauibus +ferrum continentibus, ne teneantur de rupibus adamantum. + +Hic in aliquibus Aethiopiae partibus habitant publice, inhonestorum +vtriusque sexus hominum consuetudinem inhonestam gerentes, et in aestu +meridiano refrigerandi causa exeunt circa ciuitatem ad riparias iacere, et +discurrere nudis prorsus corporibus omni pudore reiecto, ex quo procul +dubio inhonesta vitia sequuntur. + +Est et non longe ab ista insula regio seu insula Caua vel Chaua, quae a +primo statu multum est minorata per mare. Hi sunt infidelissimi Paganorum. +Nam quidam adorant Solem, alij Lunam, ignem, aquam, et terram, arborem, vel +serpentem, vel cui de mane primo obuiant. Ibi magni mures, quos nos dicimus +rattas, sunt in quantitate paruorum canum. Et quoniam per cattos capi non +possunt, capiuntur per canes maiores. + +Corpora mortuoram non sepeliuntur ibi, nec cadauera quaelibet bestiarum +operiuntur, quod ad aeris aestum carnes in breui tempore consumuntur, nam et +tota insula consistit sub zona torrida. Inde transiri potest per mare in +Indiam superiorem, sine maiorem, videlicet Imperium Presbyteri Ioannis ad +portum ciuitatis Zarke, quae est elegans et bona satis. In ea habitant +plurimi Catholicae fidei Christiani: et habentur plurimae Abbatiae +religiosorum, quas olim Dux Danorum Ogerus constituit, vnde et vsque nunc +dicuntur Ecclesiae Dani, atque ex hoc nauigari potest in terram Lombe. + + +CAPVT. 27. + +De foresto Piperis, et fonte iuuentutis. + +Regio seu insula dicta Lombe, spatiosa quidem est, continens forestum +dictum alias Tombar, longum per dietas 18. In orbe vniuerso non noscimus +crescere piper, praeterquam in hoc foresto. In quo et habetur duae, +ciuitates, vna Flandrina, (et illa ciuitas inhabitata est a Iudaeis, et +Christianis, inter quos saepe magna seditio oritur) altera Singlant: quas +quondam Danus fertur fundasse Ogerus, vocans vnam Flandrinam, nomine auiae +suae ex parte patris sui, alteram Florentam nomine auiae ex parte matris suae, +quae mutato nomine nunc vocatur Singlant. + +Sciendum est autem, piper ibi crescere in hunc modum: sicut nos plantamus +vites aut quercus arbores robustas, vt vitis cum fructibus se spargat, vt +supportetur per ramos, sic coluntur arbusta piperis ad arbores foresti, et +sparguntur per ramos, et dependent fructus vt botri. Et venit in eodem +arbusto triplex piper in anno. + +Primum est quod vocatur longum piper, et venit priusquam nascuntur folia in +arbustis, quemadmodum nos in arbore videmus corylo in hyeme ante folia +praecedere quasdam caudulas longas, quo circa initium vindemiato, nascuntur +cum foliis botri piperis viridis ad similitudinem paruarum vuarum. Quod +quidem circa tempus Iulii in eadem viriditate vindemiatum in aestu feruido +siccatur ad Solem, vt accipiat nigredinem, et rugarum contractionem. + +Postea exurgit piper album in granis minoribus, et in abundantia satis +minori, quo tanquam preciosiori vtuntur in partibus illis et raro vendunt +ad partes istas. + +Primum piper appellatur Sorbotyn, secundum Fulful, tertium vero Bauos. + +Sunt autem per nemus istud fera animalia, et venenosa, sicut parui +serpentes, colubri, et huiusmodi, de quibus nescio quis famam diffundit per +nostras partes, quod vindemiatores piperis tales vermes fugant per ignem: +sed non est ita, imo vngunt brachia manus, tibias, et pedes cum quodam +succo herbae dictae Limonse, a quo cito diffugit omne venenum. + +In huius foresti capite sub monte Polembo, est ciuitas dicta Bolemba, et +sub eodem monte fons qui dicitur Iuuentutis. Aqua huius fontis reddit +odorem et saporem quasi de omni genere aromatum, nam singulis pene horis +immutat odorem, et saporem. Et quisquis per aliquos dies potat ieiuno +stomacho sanatur in breui tempore, a quacunque interiori infirmitate, +languore duntaxat mortis excepto: et sane illorum qui prope sunt, et +frequenter bibunt apparet per totum vitae tempus mira iuuentus. Ego autem +ter vel quater bibi, quamobrem et vsque hodie arbitror potius me +corporaliter valere. Putatur enim fons ille immediate per poros +subterraneos eliquari de fonte paradisi terrestris, ita quod nulla via +decurrentium super terram fluentium vitietur. In ista etiam regione, et in +insulis circumquaque crescit gingiber valde bonum, vnde et mercatores saepe +ibi tendunt de Venetia pro emendo pipere et gingibere. Gentes vero huius +insulae peruersae et stollidissimae sunt superstitionis adorantes bouem +tanquam animal beatissimum, propter eius simplicitatem mansuetudinem, +patientiam, et vtilitatem. + +Multitudo cuiuslibet ciuitatis vel uillae vnum specialem nutrit bouem, quem +postquam laborauit in aratro per sex annos immolant manducantes pariter cum +maxima solemnitate. Et quicunque inde minimam minutiam comedit, reputat se +sanctificatum totum. + +Porro apud Regem tenetur bos singularis, cuius custos diligentissime vrinam +in uase aureo accipit simpliciter, et de fimo in vase consimili: et +quotidie venit summus eorum praelatus quem dicunt Archiprotoplaustum, offert +personaliter in praedictis preciosis vasis, Domino Regi de bouis vrina et +fimo, atque in vrina, quam appellant Gaul, tingens manus, defricit, et +perungit Regis pectus et frontem, deinde similiter de fimo in multa cordis +attentione, ad finem vt possint assequi quatuor virtutes bouis praefati. + +Post regem cum reuerentia accedunt, et vnguntur Barones, principes, et post +ipsos caeteri ordinati quicunque attingere possint, putantes se sanctificari +per rem penitus non valentem, imo nimis foetidam, et inhostem. + +Praeterea populi isti colunt Idola facta ad medium in forma humana, et ad +medium in forma bouis. In quibus permissione Dei per eorum perfidiam +maligni spiritus habitant dantes de interrogatis responsa. Et hijs Idolis +offerunt infinita donari aquandoque, et sacrificant interdum proprios +infantes, ipsorum sanguine Idola respergentes. + +Dum hic maritus moritur, vxor comburitur cum marito, nisi de illo habeat +sobolem cum quo viuere solet, et vilet. Quae sibi eligit cum prole +superuiuere, non habebitur de caetero fide digna. + +Attamen in simili causa, si vir non vult cremari cum vxore mortua, non +minuit ei honorem. + +Et forte vinum nascitur ibi: quod mulieres bibunt, et non viri, vt sic +mulieribus crescant barbae, sed mulieribus raduntur, et viris minime. + + +CAPVT. 28. + +De Ecclesia et corpore Saneti Thomae Apostoli. + +Hinc Meridiem pluribus exactis Insulis per viam decem dietarum venitur in +Regnum Mabron. Illic in ciuitate Calamiae, seruatur in magno templo corpus +beatissimi Thomae Apostoli Domini nostri Iesu Christi in capsa honorificata. +In quo loco et martirizatus fuit, licet dicunt quidam, quod in Edissa +ciuitate. Iste populus non est multum tempus transactum, quin fuit totus in +fidei religione, sed nunc est ad pessimos Gentilium ritus peruersus, nec +attendit, nec veneratur relliquias sancti corporis Apostoli ibidem +contentas, quamuis ijs euidens, ac vtile, et mirificum praestare solebat +beneficium, quod infra narrabo. + +Per certas historias habetur Ducem Danorum Ogerum conquisiuisse has terras, +et in exaltatione sanctarum Apostoli relliquiarum fecisse fieri praefatam +spectactilem Ecclesiam, ac intra, eum reponi in nobilissimo loculo gemmis +auro, argentoque decenter ornato Sanctum corpus, ac deinde post annorum +tempus trecentorum Assyrios abstulisse feretrum cum ipso corpore sancto in +Edissam ciuitatem Mesopotamiae, in qua et fuit martyrizatus secundum +quosdam, rursumque post sexaginta et tres annos recuperatum corpus in suam +fuisse Ecclesiam restitutum, videlicet in Calamia, atque in eiusdem +recuperationis signum certum dimiserunt isti, et dimittunt extra feretri +loculum dependere brachium dextrum, cum manu quae tetigisse creditur pia +resurgentis vulnera Christi. + +Eadem quoque manus solet vsque hodie suae verae poenitentiae tale manifestere +miraculum vt dum partes quaelibet litigantes velint vtraeque suas causas +iuramento confirmare, conscriptis hinc inde causis ponantur ambae cartulae in +Apostili manu. Quae cuntis [Footnote: Interea dum exirent, Monachi suos +dolos potuerunt exercere.] exeuntibus Ecclesiam protinus sub vnius horae +tempore reiecta longius falsitate, veritatem sibi reseruat: sed nunc sicut +dicere coepi isti populi huic beneficio Dei ingrati, et diabolica illusione +excaecati mirabiliter paganizant. + +Nam et in hac ipsa beati Thomae Ecclesia statuerunt multa mirae magnitudinis +simulachra, ex quibus vnum quod maius est multo alijs apparet sedens homo +in alto solio adoperto aureis sericis, et lapidibus praeciosis, habensque ad +collum suspensa pro ornatu multa cinctoria praeciose gemmis, et auro +contexta. Ad hoc autem Idolum adorandum confluunt peregrini a remotis +partibus, et propinquis, in satis maiori copia, et valde feruentiori +deuotione quam Christiani, ad sanctum Iacobum in Galizia quia multi eorum +per totum peregrinationis iter, non audent erigere palpebras oculorum, ne +forte propter hoc deuotio intermittatur. + +Alij de prope venientes superaddunt labori itinerandi, vt ad tertium vel ad +quartum passum semper cadant in genibus. Nonnulli quoque demoniaca +inspiratione semetipsos per viam peregrinationis lanceolis, et cultellis +nunc minoribus, nunc maioribus sauciant vulneribus per singula corporis +loca, et dum ante Idolum perueniunt, excisum frustum de carne propria +proijciunt ad Idolum pro offerenda, ac plagis durioribus se castigant, et +quandoque spontanee penitus se occidunt: in solemnitatibus vero, sicut in +dedicatione, et sicut in thronizatione simulachrorum, fit conuentis populi, +quasi totius Regni. Et ducitur cum processione maius Idolum per circuitum +ciuitatis, in curru preciosissimo, modis omnibus perornato, et praecedunt in +numero magno puellae cantantes binae, et binae ordinatissime, succeditque +pluralitas Musicorum cum instrumentis varijs simphonizantes, quos continue +subsequitur currus, cuius lateribus coniungit se peregrinorum exercitus, +qui et venerunt de remotis. + +Ibique cernitur miserabilis actus vltra modum. Nam aliqui victi vltra modum +diabolica deuotione proijciunt se sub rotis currus praecedentis, vt +frangantur sibi crura, brachia, latera, dorsa, nec non et colla in +reuerentiam Dei sui (vt dicunt) a quo remunerationem sperant, venire ad +Paradisum terrestrem. + +Et post processionem postquam statuerunt Idolum in templo suo loco, +multiplicatur coram simulachris numerus saepe plangentium, et occidentium +vltra quam credi sit facile. Ita quod quandoque in illa vnica solemnitate +inueniuntur ducenta corpora, vel plura occisorum. Et adstantes propinqui +amici talium diaboli martyrum, eum magna musicorum melodia decantantes in +sua lingua offerunt. Idolis corpora ac demum accenso rogo omnia corpora +comburunt in honorem Idolurum, assumentes sibi singuli aliquid de ossibus +aut cineribus pro reliquiis, quas putant sibi valituras contra quaelibet +infortunia, et tempestates. Et habetur ante templum aquae lacus, velut +seruatorium piscium, in quo proijcit populus largissime suas oblationes, +argentum, aurum, gemmas, cyphos, et similia, quibus ministri certis +temporibus exhibentes prouident Ecclesiae, ac simulachro, ac sibi ipsis +abundanter. Quoddam fabulosum scriptum exiuit per partes nostras, quod in +praedicta processione circumferatur cumpheretro corpus beati Thomae, qui et +in fine processionis populu compopulo communicaret proprijs manibus de +Eucharistae sacramento, sed non est ita, et nunquam fuit. + + +CAPVT. 29. + +De Iaua, et quibusdam aiijs meridionalibus Insulis, et de farina, melle et + piscibus Ogeri Ducis Danorum. + +Inde vlterius procedendo in Austrum per multas et mirabiles terras +quinquaginta duarum diaetarum spacio, habetur magna Insula Lamori. Illic +omnes nudi incedunt, et fere omnia sunt singulis communia, nec vtuntur +priuatis clauibus siue seris, imo et omnes mulieres sunt communes omnibus +et singulis viris, dummodo violentia non inferatur: Sed et peior est ijs +consuetudo, quod libenter comedunt teneras carnes humanas: vnde et +negotiatores adferunt eis crassos infantes venales: quod si non satis +pingues afferuntur, eos saginant sicut nos vitulum, siue porcum. + +Hic apparet in bona altitudine polus Antarcticus, et incipit modo apparere +in alta Lybia, ita quod in alta AEthiopia eleuatur octodecim gradibus, prout +ipse prohaui Astrolabio. + +Ad meridiem terrae Lamori est Insula bona, Sumebor, cuius gentes reputant se +nobiliores alijs, signantes se in facie certo cauterio. Isti semper guerras +geerunt contra praefatus gentes nudas de Lamory. + +Ad modicam inde destantiam habetur Insula Rotonigo abundans in bonis +pluribus: sed et in Austrum sequuntur aliae plures regiones et Insulae, de +quibes prolixum narrare fuisset. + +Et est valde grandis regio Iaua, habens in circuitu ambitum leucarum duarum +millium. Huius rex est valde potens, et imperans septem insularum vicinarum +regibus. Terra ista est populosa valde, et crescunt in ea species, et +abundantia gingiberis, canella, gariofoli, nuces muscata, et mastix cum +aromatibus multis. Sed et quod ibi nascatur vinum, non habent: aurum et +argentum est ibi in copia immensa, quod patet in regis Iauae palatio, cuius +palatij nobilitas non est facile scribenda. + +Cuncti gradus ascendentes ad palatij aulas, et aularum cameras, et ad +thalamos Camerarum sunt solidi de argento vel auro, sed et omnis stratura +pauimentorum in alijs habetur ad similitudinem scacarij, vnam quadratam +argenti, alteram auri, laminis valde crassis, et in ipsis pauimentis, sunt +exsculpta gesta, et historiae diuersae. In principali vero aula, est plenarie +expressa Dani Ducis Ogeri historia, a natiuitate ipsius, quousque in +Franciam fantastice dicatur reuersus, cum tempore Caroli magni regis +Franciae, ipse Ogerus armata manu conquisiuit Christianitati fere omnes +partes transmarinas a Ierosolymis vsque ad arbores solis et Lunae, ac prope +paradisum terrestrem. + +Pro hac Regione Iaua, (quae tangit fines Imperij Tartariae) sibi subiuganda, +Imperator Grand Can multoties pugnauit, sed nunquam valuit expugnare. Hinc +per mare venitur ad regnum Thalamassae, [Footnote: Vel Tholomassi.] quod et +Panchon [Footnote: Vel Paten.] dicitur, in quo habetur magnus numerus +bonarum ciuitatum. Intra hanc Insulam, quatuor sunt genera arborum, de +quarum vna accipitur farina ad panem, de secunda mel, de tertia vinum, et +de quarta pessimum venenum. Extrabitur autem farina de suis arboribus isto +modo. + +Certo tempore anni percutitur stipes arboris vndique prope terram cum +securi, et cortex in locis pluribus vulneratur, de quibus recipitur liquor +spissus, qui desiccatus ad solis aestum et contritus reddit farinam albam, +ac si de frumento esset confectus, attamen hic panis non est triticei +saporis, sed alterius valde boni. + +Simili modo de suis arboribus mel elicitur, et vinum liquitur: excepto quod +illa non sicut gramina prima desiccantur. Fertur quoque ibidem, +extractionem huius farinae, mellis, et vini, per Angelum primitus fuisse +ostensam praedicto Danorum Duci, illic fame cum suo exercitu laboranti. +Contra venenum quod de quarto arboris genere stillat, solum est intoxicato +remedium, vt de proprio fimo per puram aquam distemperato bibat. + +Et est in hac Insula quoddam mare mortuum, velut lacus foetidus, cuius in +plerisque locis fundus, humano ingenio non valet attingi: mirae magnitudinis +arundines crescunt super hunc lacum, in altitudine cedrorum aut abietum +pedum ducentorum, ita vt viginti socij mecum nequiuimus vnius caput +iacentis arundinis subleuare de terra. Minores etiam arundines nascuntur ad +fluuii ripam, habentes in terra radices longitudinis trecentorum cubitorum +aut plurium, Ad quarum nodos radicum, inueniuntur gemmae preciosae, de quibus +expertum est, siquis vnam habuerit in pugno suo, ferrum corpori suo non +nocebit: vnde si quis ibi pugnans, petat aduersarium, ac inimicum hac gemma +munitum aggreditur eum cum fustibus non ferratis. + +De hac intratur in Insulam Calanoch, [Marginal note: Vel Alcnak.] magnam et +refertam bonorum omnium. Rex eius potens est multum, et licitum est ei, +quandocunque, et quibuslibet in regno vti mulieribus, de quibus interdum +magnum numerum tenet puerorum. Mille quadringentos habere solet ad +praeliandum elephantes, quos sibi nutriunt villani per regnum. Elephantes +vocant verkes. + +In littore maris miraculose veniunt ibi semel in anno, per tres continuos +dies, quasi de omni genere piscium marinorum, in maxima abundantia: et +praebent se omnibus libere capiendos ad manum. Nam et ego ipse cepi +quamplures. Vnde notandum, quod eodem tempore anni quo super dicta +extrahitur farina, mel, et vinum, conueniunt in hoc isti pisces: qua ambo +mirabilia fecit vno tempore Deus olim producere suo Ogero, quae et in +memoria illius, vsque nunc, singulis annis innouantur. + +Et sunt in hoc territorio testudines terribilis quantitatis, fitque de +maioribus Regi ac nobilibus delicatus ac preciosus cibus: mentior, si non +quasdam ibidem viderim testudinum conchas, in quarum vna se tres homines +occultarent, suntque omnes multum albi coloris. + +Si hic vir vxoratus moritur, sepelitur et vxor vna cum eo, quatenus, sicut +ibi credunt, habeant eam statim sociam in seculo altero. + + +The English version. + +And zee schulte undirstonde, that amonges the Sarazines, o part and other, +duellen many Cristene men, of many maneres and dyverse names; and alle ben +baptized, and han dyverse lawes and dyverse customes: but alle beleven in +God the Fadir and the Sone and the Holy Gost: but alle weys fayle thei, in +somme articles of oure feythe. Some of theise ben clept Jacobytes: for +seynt Jame converted hem, and seynt John baptized hem. They seyn, that a +man schal maken his confessioun only to God, and not to a man: for only to +Him, scholde man zelden him gylty of alle, that he hathe mys don. Ne God +ordeyned not, ne never devysed, ne the prophete nouther, that a man scholde +schryven him to another, (as thei seyn) but only to God: as Moyses writethe +in the Bible, and as David seythe in the Psawtre boke; _Confitebor tibi, +Domine, in toto Corde meo_: and, _Delictum meum tibi cognitum feci_: and, +_Deus meus es tu, et confitebor tibi_; and, _Quoniam cogitatio hominis +confitebitur tibi_; &c. Fot thei knowen alle the bible, and the psautere: +and therfore allegge thei so the lettre: but thei alleggen not the +aucthoritees thus in Latyn, but in here langage, fulle appertely; and seyn +wel, that David and othere prophetes seyn it. Natheles seynt Austyn and +seynt Gregory seyn thus: Augustinus; _Qui scelera sua cogitat, et conversus +fuerit, veniam sibi credat_. Gregorious; _Dominus potius mentem quam verba +respicit_. And seynt Hillary seythe; _Longorum temporum crimina, in ictu +Oculi pereunt, si Cordis nata fuerit compunctio_. And for suche +auctoritees, thei seyn, that only to God schalle a man knouleche his +defautes, zeldynge him self gylty, and cryenge him mercy, and behotynge to +him to amende him self. And therfore whan thei wil schryven hem, thei taken +fyre, and sette it besyde hem, and casten therin poudre of frank encens; +and in the smoke therof, thei schryven hem to God, and cryen him mercy. But +sothe it is, that this confessioun was first and kyndely: but seynt Petre +the apostle, and thei that camen aftre him, han ordeynd to make here +confessioun to man; and be gode resoun: for thei perceyveden wel, that no +syknesse was curable, by gode medycyne to leye therto, but zif men knewen +the nature of the maladye. And also no man may zeven covenable medicyne, +but zif he knowe the qualitee of the dede. For o synne may be grettere in o +man than in another, and in o place and in o tyme than in another: and +therfore it behovethe him, that he knowe the kynde of the dede, and +thereupon to zeven him penance. + +There ben othere, that ben clept Surienes; and thei holden the beleeve +amonges us, and of hem of Grece. And thei usen alle berdes, as men of Grece +don: and thei make the sacrament of therf bred: and in here langage, thei +usen lettres of Sarrazines; but aftre the misterie of Holy chirche, thei +usen lettres of Grece; and thei maken here confessioun, right as the +Jacobytes don. + +There ben othere, that men clepen Georgyenes, that seynt George converted; +and him thei worschipen, more than ony other seynt; and to him thei cryen +for help: and thei camen out of the reme of George. Theise folk usen +crounes schaven. The clerkes han rounde crounes, and the lewed men han +crownes alle square: and thei holden Cristene lawe, as don thei of Grece; +of whom I have spoken of before. + +Othere there ben, that men clepen Cristene men of Gyrdynge: for thei ben +alle gyrt aboven. And ther ben othere, that men clepen Nestoryenes; and +summe Arryenes, sume Nubyenes, sume of Grees, same of Ynde, and sume of +Prestre Johnes Lond. And alle theise han manye articles of oure feythe, and +to othere thei ben varyaunt. And of here variance, were to longe to telle; +and go I wil leve, as for the tyme, with outen more spekynge of hem. + + +Of the Cytee of Damasce. Of 3 Weyes to Jerusalem; on be Londe and be See; + another more be Londe than be See; and the thridde Weye to Jerusalem, + alle be Londe. + +[Sidenote: Chap. XI] Now aftre that I have told zou sum partye of folk, in +the contrees before, now wille I turnen azen to my weye, for to turnen azen +to this half. Thanne whoso wil go fro the lond of Galilee, of that that I +have spoke, for to come azen on this half, men comen azen be Damasce, that +is a fulle fayre cytee, and fulle noble, and fulle of alle merchandises, +and a 3 journeyes long fro the see, and a 5 journeyes fro Jerusalem. But +upon camaylles, mules, hors, dromedaries and other bestes, men caryen here +merciandise thidre: and thidre comethe marchauntes with merchandise be see, +from Yndee, Persee, Caldee, Ermonye, and of manye othere kyngdomes. This +cytee founded Helizeus Damascus, that was Zoman and Despenser of Abraham, +before that Ysaac was born: for he thoughte for to have ben Abrahames heir: +and he named the toun aftre his surname Damasce. And in that place, where +Damasc was founded, Kaym sloughe Abel his brother. And besyde Damasc is the +Mount Seyr. In that cytee of Damasce, ther is gret plentee of welles: and +with in the cytee and with oute, ben many fayre gardynes, and of dyverse +frutes. Non other citee is not lyche in comparisoun to it of faire +gardynes, and of faire desportes. The cytee is gret and fulle of peple, and +wel walled with double walles. And there ben manye phisicyens. And seint +Poul him self was there a physicyen, for to kepen mennes bodies in hele, +before he was converted: and aftre that, he was phisicien of soules. And +seynt Luke the Evaungelist was Disciple of seynt Poul, for to lerne phisik; +and many othere. For seynt Poul held thanne scole of phisik. And neere +besyde Damasce, was he converted: and aftre his conversionn, he duelte in +that cytee 3 dayes, with outen sight, and with outen mete or drinke. And in +tho 3 dayes he was ravisscht to hevene, and there he saughe many prevytees +of oure Lord. And faste besyde Damasce, is the Castelle of Arkes, that is +bothe fair and strong. From Damasce, men comen azen, be oure Lady of +Sardenak, that is a 5 myle on this half Damasce; and it is sytt upon a +roche, and it is a fulle faire place, and it semethe a castelle; for there +was wont to ben a castelle; but it is now a fulle faire chirche. And there +with inne, ben monkes and nonnes Cristene. And there is a vowt, undre the +chirche, where that Cristene men duellen also: and thei han many gode +vynes. And in the chirche, behynde the high awtere, in the walle, is a +table of black wode, on the whiche somtyme was depeynted an ymage of oure +Lady, that turnethe into flesche; but now the ymage schewethe but litille: +but evermore thorewe the grace of God that table droppeth as hyt were of +olyve. And there is a vessel of marbre, undre the table, to resseyve the +oyle, thare of thay yeven unto pylgrymes: for it heleth of many sykenesses. +And he that kepeth it clanly a yere, aftre that yere, hyt turneth yn to +flesche and bloode. + +By twyne the cytee of Darke and the cytee of Raphane, ys a ryvere, that men +clepen Sabatorye. For on the Saturday, hyt renneth faste; and alle the +wooke elles, hyt stondeth stylle, and renneth nouzt or lytel. And there ys +a nother ryvere, that upon the nyzt freseth wondur faste; and uppon the +day, ys noon frost sene. And so gon men by a cytee, that men clepen +Beruche. And thare men gon un to the see, that schal goon un to Cypre. And +thay aryve at Porte de Sure or of Tyrye; and than un to Cypre. Or elles men +mowen gon from the Porte of Tyrye ryzt welle, and com not yn to Cypre; and +aryve at som haven of Grece; and thanne comen men un to theis countrees, by +weyes, that I have spoken of by fore. + +Now have I tolde you of wayes, by the whyche men gon ferrest and longest; +as by Babyloyne and Mounte Synay and other places many, thorewe the whyche +londes, men turne azen to the lande of promyssyoun. Now wul y telle the +ryzt way to Jerusalem. For som men wyl nouzt passe hyt, som for thay have +nouzt despence of hem, for they have noon companye, and other many causes +reasonables. And thare fore I telle you schorttely, how a man may goon with +lytel costage and schortte tyme. A man that cometh from the londes of the +weste, he goth thorewe Fraunce, Borgoyne and Lumbardye, and to Venys and to +Geen, or to som other havene of the marches, and taketh a schyppe thare, +and gon by see to the Isle of Gryffle; and so aryveth hem yn Grece or in +Port Myroche or Valon or Duras, or at som other havene, and gon to londe, +for to reste hem; and gon ayen to the see, and aryves in Cypre; and cometh +nouzt yn the Ile of Roodes; and aryves at Famegoste, that ys the chefe +havene of Cypre, or elles at Lamatoun. And thenne ynto the schyp ayen, and +by syde the havene of Tyre, and come nouzt to lande; and so passeth he by +alle the havens of that coast, until he come to Jaffe, that ys the neyest +haven unto Jerusalem: for it is seven and twenty myle. And from Jaffe men +goon to the cytee of Rames: and that ys but lytel thenne, and hyt is a +fayre cytee. And by syde Rames, ys a fayre churche of oure Lady, whare oure +Lord schewede hym to oure Lady, in thys lykenesse, that he tokeneth the +Trynyte. And thare fast by, ys a churche of Seynt George, whare that hys +heed was smyten of. And thanne un to the Castel Emaus; and thanne unto +Mounte Joye: and from thenne, pylgrymes mowen fyrste se un to Jerusalem. +And thanne un to Mount Modeyn: and thanne unto Jerusalem. And at the Mount +Modeyn lythe the prophete Machabee. And overe Ramatha, ys the town of +Douke; where of Amos the goude prophete was. + +A nother way. For alse moche as many men ne may not suffre the savour of +the see, but hadden lever to gon by londe, they that hyt be more payne; a +man schal soo goon un to on of the havenes of Lumbardye, als Venys or an +other; and he schal passe yn to Grece, thorwe Port Moroche, or an other; +and so he schal gon un to Constantynople. And he schal so passe the wature, +that ys cleped the Brace of Seynt George, that ys an arm of the see. And +from thens he schal cum un to Pulveralle; and sythen un to the Castelle of +Cynople. And from thens schal he gon unto Capadose, that ys a grete +countree, whare that ben many grete hylles. And he schal gon thorewe +Turkye, and unto the cytee of Nyke, the whyche they wonne from the +Emperoure of Constantynople. And hyt is a fayre cytee, and wounder wel +walled: and thare ys a ryvere, that men clepen the laye: and thare men goon +by the Alpes of Aryoprynant, and by the Valez of Mallebrynez, and eke the +Vale of Ernax; and so un to Anthyoche the lesse, that sytteth on the +Ryehay. And there aboute ben many goude hylles and fayre, and many fayre +woodes, and eke wylde beestes. + +And he that wylle goon by an other way, he mote goon by the playnes of +Romayne, costynge the Romayne see. Uppon that cost, ys a woundur fayre +castelle, that men clepen Florathe. And whanne that a man ys oute of that +ylke hylles, men passen thenne thorewe a cytee, that ys called Maryoche and +Arteyse, whare that ys a grete brygge upon a ryvere of Ferne, that men +clepen Fassar: and hyt ys a grete ryvere, berynge schyppes. And by syde the +cytee of Damas, ys a ryvere that cometh from the mounteyne of Lybane, that +men hyt callen Albane. Atte passynge of this ryvere, seynt Eustache loste +hys two sones, whanne that he hadde lost hys wyffe. And yt gooth thorewe +the playne of Arthadoe; and so un to the Reed See. And so men moten goon un +to the cytee of phenne, and so un to the cytee of Ferne. And Antyoche ys a +ful fayre cytee and wel walled. For hyt ys two myle longe and eche pylere +of the brygge thare ys a goud toure. And thys ys the beest cytee of the +kyngdom of Surrye. And from Antyoche, men moten so forth goon un to the +cytee of Lacuthe; and thanne un to Geble; and thanne un tyl Tourtous: and +thare by ys the lande of Cambre, whare that ys a stronge castelle, that men +clepen Maubeke. And from Tourtouse men goon up to Thryple, uppon the see. +And uppon the see, men goon unto Deres; and thare ben two weyes un to +Jerusalem: Uppon the lyfte way, men goon fyrst un to Damas, by Flome +Jordane: uppon the ryzt syde, men goon thorewe the lande of Flagam, and so +un to the cytee of Cayphas: of the whiche Cayphas was Lord: and som clepeth +hyt the castelle Pellerynez: And from thens ys foure dayes journeyes un to +Jerusalem and they goon thorewe Cesarye Phylyppum and Jaffe and Ramys and +Emaux, and so unto Jerusalem. + +Now have I told yow som of the wayes, by the land, and eke by water, how +that men mowen goon unto Jerusalem: they that hyt be so, that there been +many other wayes, that men goon by, aftur countrees, that thay comen fram, +nevere the lasse they turne alle un tylle an ende. Yet is thare a way, alle +by lande, un to Jerusalem, and pass noon see; that ys from Fraunce or +Flaundres; but that way ys fulle lange and perylous, of grete travayle; and +thare fore fewe goon that ylke way. And who so gooth that, he mote goon +thorewe Almayn and Pruys; and so un to Tartarye. This Tartarye ys holden of +the great Chan, of whom y schal speke more afterwarde. For thydur lasteth +hys Lordschup. And the Lordes of Tartarye yeldeth unto the grete Chan +trybute. Thys ys a ful ille lande, and a sondye, and wel lytel fruyt +beryng. For thare groweth lytel goude of corne or wyn, ne benes ne pese: +but beestes ben thare y nowe, and that ful grete plente. And thare ete thay +nought but flesche with outen brede; and thay soupe the brothe there of: +and also thay drynke the mylk. And alle manere of wylde beestes they eten, +houndes, cattes, ratouns, and alle othere wylde bestes. And thei have no +wode, or elle lytylle. And therfore thei warmen and sethen here mete with +hors dong and cow dong, and of other bestes dryed azenst the sonne. And +princes and othere eten not, but ones in the day; and that but lytille. And +thei ben righte foule folk and of evyl kynde. And in somer, be alle the +contrees, fallen many tempestes and many hydouse thondres and leytes, and +slen meche peple and bestes also, fulle often tyme. And sodeynly is there +passynge hete, and sodeynly also passynge cold. And it is the foulest +contree, and the most cursed, and the porest, that men knowen. And here +prince, that governethe that contree, that thei clepen Batho, duellethe at +the cytee of Orda. And treuly no gode man scholde not duellen in that +contre. For the lond and the contree is not worthi houndes to dwelle inne. +It were a gode contree to sowen inne thristelle and breres and broom and +thornes; and for no other thing is it not good. Natheless there is gode +londe in sum place; but it is pure litille, as men seyn. I have not ben in +that contree, ne be tho weyes: but I have ben at other londes, that marchen +to tho contrees; and in the lond of Russye, and in the lond of Nyflan, and +in the reme of Crako, and of Letto, and in the reme of Daresten, and in +manye other places, that marchen to the costes: but I wente never be that +weye to Jerusalem; wherfore I may not wel telle zou the manere. But zif +this matiere plese to ony worthi man, that hathe gon be that weye, he may +telle it, zif him lyke; to that entent, that tho that wole go by that weye, +and maken here viage be tho costes, mowen knowen what weye is there. For no +man may passe be that weye godely, but in time of wyntir, for the perilous +watres, and wykkede mareyes that ben in tho contrees; that no man may +passe, but zif it be strong frost, and snowe aboven. For zif the snow ne +were, men myght not gon upon the yse, ne hors ne carre nouther. And it is +wel a 3 journeys of suche weye, to passe from Prusse to the lond of Sarazin +habitable. And it behovethe to the Cristene men, that schulle werre azen +hem every zeer, to bere here vitaylles with hem: for thei schulle fynde +there no good. And than most thei let carye here vitaylle upon the yse, +with carres that have no wheeles, that thei clepen scleyes. And als longe +as here vitaylles lasten, thei may abide there, but no longer. For there +schulle they fynde no wight that will selle hem ony vitaille or ony thing. +And whan the spyes seen ony Cristene men comen upon hem, thei rennen to the +townes, and cryen with a lowd voys, Kerra, Kerra, Kerra; and than anon thei +armen hem and assemblen hem to gydere. + +And zee schulle undirstonde, that it fresethe more strongly in tho contrees +than on this half; and therefore hathe every man stewes in his hous, and in +tho stewes thei eten and don here occupatiouns, alle that they may. For +that is at the northe parties, that men clepen the septentrionelle, where +it is alle only cold. For the sonne is but lytille or non toward tho +contreyes: and therefore in the Septentryon, that is verry northe, is the +lond so cold, that no man may duelle there: and in the contrarye, toward +the southe, it is so hoot, that no man ne may duelle there: because that +the sonne, whan he is upon the southe, castethe his bemes alle streghte +upon that partye. + + +Of the Customes of Sarasines, and of hire Lawe; and how the Soudan arresond + me, Auctour of this Book. And of the begynnynge of Machomete. + +[Sidenote: Cap. XII.] Now because that I have spoken of Sarazines and of +here contree, now zif zee wil knowe a party of here lawe and of here +beleve, I schalle telle zou, aftre that here book, that is clept Alkaron, +tellethe. And sum men clepen that book Meshaf: and sum men clepen it Harme, +aftre the dyverse langages of the contree. The whiche book Machamete toke +hem. In the whiche boke, among other thinges, is written, as I have often +tyme seen and radd, that the gode shulle gon to paradys, and the evele to +helle: and that beleven alle Sarazines. And zif a man aske hem, what +paradys thei menen; thei seyn, to paradys, that is a place of delytes, +where men schulle fynde alle maner of frutes, in alle cesouns, and ryveres +rennynge of mylk and hony, and of wyn, and of swete watre; and that thei +schulle have faire houses and noble, every man aftre his dissert, made of +precyous stones, and of gold, and of sylver; and that every man schalle +have 80 wyfes, alle maydenes; and he schalle have ado every day with hem, +and zit he schalle fynden hem alle weys maydenes. Also thei beleeven and +speken gladly of the Virgine Marie and of the Incarnacioun. And thei seyn, +that Marye was taughte of the angel; and that Gabrielle seyde to hire, that +sche was forchosen from the begynnynge of the world; and that he schewed to +hire the incarnacioun of Jesu Crist; and that sche conceyved and bare +child, mayden: and that wytnessethe here boke. And they seyn also, that +Jesu Crist spak als sone as he was born; and that he was an holy prophete +and a trewe, in woord and dede, and meke and pytous and rightefulle and +with outen ony vyce. And thei seyn also, that whan the angel schewed the +Incarnacioun of Crist unto Marie, sche was zong, and had gret drede. For +there was thanne an enchantour in the contree, that deled with wycche +craft, that men clepten Taknia, that he his enchauntementes cowde make him +in lyknesse of an angel, and wente often tymes and lay with maydenes: and +therfore Marie dredde, lest it hadde ben Taknia, that cam for to desceyve +the maydenes. And therfore sche conjured the angel, that he scholde telle +hire, zif it were he or no. And the angel answerde and seyde, that sche +scholde have no drede of him: for he was verry messager of Jesu Crist. Also +here book seythe, that whan that sche had childed undre a palme tree, sche +had gret schame, that sche hadde a child; and sche grette, and seyde, that +sche wolde that sche hadde ben ded. And anon the child spak to hire and +comforted hire, and seyde, Modir, ne dismaye the noughte; for God hathe +hidd in the his prevytees, for the salvacioun of the world. And in othere +many places seythe here Alkaron, that Jesu Crist spak als sone as he was +born. And that book seythe also, that Jesu was sent from God alle myghty, +for to ben myrour and ensample and tokne to alle men. And the Alkaron +seythe also of the day of doom, how God schal come to deme alle maner of +folk; and the gode he schalle drawen on his syde, and putte hem into +blisse; and the wykkede he schal condempne to the peynes of helle. And +amonges alle prophetes, Jesu was the most excellent and the moste worthi, +next God; and that he made the Gospelles, in the whiche is gode doctryne +and helefulle, fulle of charitee and sothefastnesse, and trewe prechinge to +hem that beleeven in God; and that he was a verry prophete, and more than a +prophete; and lyved withouten synne, and zaf syghte to the blynde, and +helede the lepres, and reysed dede men, and steyghe to hevene. And whan +thei mowe holden the boke of the Gospelles of oure Lord written, and +namely, _Missus est Angelus Gabriel_; that Gospel, thei seyn, tho that ben +lettred, often tymes in here orisouns, and thei kissen it and worschipen +it, with gret devocioun. Thei fasten an hool monethe in the zeer, and eten +noughts but be nyghte, and thei kepen hem fro here wyfes alle that monethe: +but the seke men be not constreyned to that fast. Also this book spekethe +of Jewes; and seythe, that thei ben cursed; for thei wolde not beleven, +that Jesu Crist was comen of God; and that thei lyeden falsely on Marie and +on hire sone Jesu Crist, seyenge that thei hadden crucyfyed Jesu the sone +of Marie: for he was nevere crucyfyed, as thei seyn; but that God made him +to stye up to him with outen dethe, and with outen anoye: but he +transfigured his lyknesse into Judas Scariothe, and him crucyfyden the +Jewes, and wenden that it had ben Jesus: but Jesus steyge to hevenes alle +quyk; and therfore thei seyn, that the Cristene men erren and han no gode +knowleche of this, and that thei beleeven folyly and falsly, that Jesu +Crist was crucyfyed. And they seyn zit, that and he had ben crucyfyed, that +God had don azen his rightewisnesse, for to suffre Jesu Crist, that was +innocent, to ben put upon the Cros, with outen gylt. And in this article +thei seyn, that wee faylen, and that the gret rightewisnesse of God ne +myghte not suffre so gret a wrong. And in this, faylethe here feythe. For +thei knoulechen wel, that the werkes of Jesu Crist ben gode, and his wordes +and his dedes and his doctryne by his Gospelles, weren trewe and his +meracles also trewe; and the blessed Virgine Marie is good, and holy +mayden, before and aftre the birthe of Jesu Crist; and that alle tho, that +beleven perfitely in God, schul ben saved. And because that thei gon so nye +oure feythe, thei ben lyghtly converted to Cristene lawe, whan men prechen +hem and schewe hem distynctly the lawe of Jesu Crist, and tellen hem of the +prophecyes. And also thei seyn, that thei knownen wel, be the prophecyes, +that the lawe of Machomete schalle faylen, as the lawe of the Jewes dide, +and that the lawe of Cristine peple schalle laste to the day of doom. And +zif ony man aske hem, what is here beleeve; thei answeren thus, and in this +forme, Wee beleven God formyour of hevene and of erthe and of alle othere +things, that he made. And we beleven of the day of doom, and that every man +schalle have his meryte, aftre he hathe disserved. And we beleve it for +sothe, alle that God hathe seyd be the mouthes of his prophetes. Also +Machomet commanded in his Alkaron, that every man scholde have 2 wyfes or 3 +or 4; but now thei taken unto 9, and of lemmanes als manye as he may +susteyne. And zif ony of here wyfes mys beren hem azenst hire husbonde, he +may caste hire out of his house; and departe from him, and take another: +but he schalle departe with hire his godes. Also whan men speken to hem, of +the Fadre and of the Sone and of the Holy Gost, thei seyn, that thei ben 3 +persones; but not o God. For here Alkaron spekethe not of the Trynyte. But +thei seyn wel, that God hathe speche, and elle where he dowmb; and God +hathe also a Spirit, thei knowen wel, for elle thei seyn, he were not in +lyve. And whan men speken to hem of the Incarnacioun, how that be the word +of the angel, God sente his wysdom in to erthe, and enumbred him in the +Virgyne Marie: and be the Woord of God, schulle the dede ben reysed, at the +day of doom; thei seyn, that it is sothe, and that the Woord of God hathe +gret strengthe. And thei seyn, that whoso knew not the Woord of God, he +scholde not knowe God. And thei seyn also, that Jesu Crist is the Woord of +God; and so seythe here Alkaron, where it seythe, that the angel spak to +Marie and seyde, Marie, God schalle preche the Gospel be the woord of his +mowthe, and his name schalle be clept Jesu Crist. And thei seyn also, that +Abraham was frend to God, and that Moyses was famileer spekere with God; +and Jesu Crist was the Woord and the Spirit of God; and that Machomete was +right messager of God. And thei seyh, that of theise 4, Jesu was the most +worthi and the most excellent and the most gret; so that thei han many gode +articles of oure feythe, alle be it that thei have no parfite lawe and +feythe, as Cristene men han; and therfore ben thei lightly converted; and +namely, tho that undirstonden the Scriptures and the prophecyes. For thei +han Gospelles and the prophecyes and the Byble, writen in here langage. +Wherfore thei conne meche of Holy Wrytt, but thei undirstonde it not, but +aftre the lettre: and so don the Jewes; for thei undirstonde not the lettre +gostly, but bodyly; and therfore ben thei repreved of the wise, that gostly +understonden it. And therfore seythe seynt Poul; _Litera occidit; Spiritus +vivificat_. Also the Sarazines seyn, that the Jewes ben cursed: for thei +han defouled the lawe, that God sente hem be Moyses. And the Cristene ben +cursed also, as thei seyn: for their kepen not the commandementes and the +preceptes of the Gospelle, that Jesu Crist taughte hem. And therfore I +schalle telle zou, what the Soudan tolde me uppn a day, in his chambre. He +leet voyden out of his chambre alle manner of men, lordes aad othere: for +he wolde speke with me in conseille. And there he asked me, how the +Cristene men governed hem in oure contree. And I seyde him, righte wel: +thonked be God. And he seyde me, treulyche, nay: for zee Cristene men ne +recthen righte noghte how untrewly to serve God. Ze scholde zeven ensample +to the lewed peple, for to do wel; and zee zeven hem ensample to don +evylle. For the comownes, upon festyfulle dayes, whan thei scholden gon to +chirche to serve God, than gon thei to tavernes, and ben there in glotony, +alle the day and alle nyghte, and eten and drynken, as bestes that have no +resoun, and wite not whan thei have y now. And also the Cristene men +enforcen hem, in alle maneres that thei mowen, for to fighte, and for to +desceyven that on that other. And there with alle thei ben so proude, that +thei knowen not how to ben clothed; now long, now schort, now streyt, now +large, now swerded, now daggered, and in alle manere gyses. Thei scholden +ben symple, meke and trewe, and fulle of almes dede, as Jhesu was, in whom +thei trowe: but thei ben alle the contrarie, and evere enclyned to the +evylle, and to don evylle. And thei ben so coveytous, that for a lytylle +sylyer, thei sellen here doughtres, here sustres and here owne wyfes, to +putten hem to leccherie. And on with drawethe the wif of another; and non +of hem holdethe feythe to another; but thei defoulen here lawe, that Jhesu +Crist betook hem to kepe, for here salvacioun. And thus for here synnes, +han thei lost alle this lond, that wee holden. For, for hire synnes there +God hathe taken hem in to oure hondes, noghte only be strengthe of our +self, but for here synnes. For wee knowen wel in verry sothe, that whan zee +serve God, God wil hepe zou: and whan he is with zou, no man may be azenst +you. And that knowe we wel, be oure prophecyes, that Cristene men schulle +wynnen azen this lond out of oure hondes, whan thei serven God more +devoutly. But als longe als thei ben of foule and of unclene lyvynge, (as +thei ben now) wee have no drede of hem, in no kynde: for here God wil not +helpen hem in no wise. And than I asked him, how he knew the state of +Cristene men. And he answered me, that he knew alle the state of the +comounes also, be his messangeres, that he sente to alle londes, in manere +as thei weren marchauntes of precyous stones, of clothes of gold and of +othere things; for to knowen the manere of every contree amonges Cristene +men. And than he leet clepe in alle the lordes, that he made voyden first +out of his chambre; and there he schewed me 4, that weren grete lordes in +the contree, that tolden me of my contree, and of many othere Cristene +contrees, als wel as thei had ben of the same contree: and thei spak +Frensche righte wel; and the Sowdan also, where of I had gret marvaylle. +Alas! that it is gret sclaundre to oure feythe and to oure lawe, whan folk +that ben with outen lawe, schulle repreven us and undernemen us of oure +synnes. And thei that scholden ben converted to Crist and to the lawe of +Jhesu, be oure gode ensamples and be oure acceptable lif to God, and so +converted to the lawe of Jhesu Crist, ben thorghe oure wykkednesse and +evylle lyvynge, fer fro us and straungeres fro the holy and verry beleeve, +schulle thus appelen us and holden us for wykkede lyveres and cursed. And +treuly thei sey sothe. For the Sarazines ben gode and feythfulle. For thei +kepen entierly the commaundement of the holy book Alkaron, that God sente +hem be his messager Machomet; to the whiche, as thei seyne, seynt Gabrielle +the aungel often tyme tolde the wille of God. And zee schulle undirstonde, +that Machamote was born in Arabye, that was first a pore knave, that kept +cameles, that wenten with marchantes fur marchandize; and so befelle, that +he wente with the marchandes in to Egipt: and thei weren than Cristene, in +tho partyes. And at the desertes of Arabye, he wente in to a chapelle, +where a Eremyte duelte. And when he entred in to the chapelle, that was but +a lytille and a low thing, and had but a lityl dore and a low, than the +entree began to wexe so gret and so large and so highe, as thoughe it had +ben of a gret mynstre, or the zate of a paleys. And this was the firste +myracle, the Sarazins seyn, that Machomete dide in his zouthe. Aftre began +he for to wexe wyse and riche; and he was a gret astronomer: and aftre he +was governour and prince of the lond of Cozrodane; and he governed it fully +wisely, in suche manere, that whan the prince was ded, he toke the lady to +wyfe, that highte Gadridge. And Machomete felle often in the grete +sikenesse, that men callen the fallynge evylle: wherfore the lady was fulle +sorry, that evere sche toke him to husbonde. But Machomete made hire to +beleeve, that alle tymes, whan he felle so, Gabriel the angel cam for to +speke with him; and for the gret lighte and brightnesse of the angelle, he +myghte not susteyne him fro fallynge. And therfore the Sarazines seyn, that +Gabriel cam often to speke with him. This Machomete regned in Arabye, the +zeer of oure Lord Jhesu Crist 610; and was of the generacioun of Ysmael, +that was Abrahames sone, that he gat upon Agar his chamberere. And therfere +ther ben Sarazines, that ben clept Ismaelytenes; and summe Agaryenes, of +Agar: and the othere propurly ben clept, Sarrazines, of Sarra: and summe +ben clept Moabytes, and summe Amonytes; fro the 2 sones of Lothe, Moab and +Amon, that he begat on his doughtres, that weren aftirward grete erthely +princes. And also Machomete loved wel a gode heremyte, that duelled in the +desertes, a myle fro Mount Synay, in the weye that men gon fro Arabye +toward Caldee, and toward Ynde, o day journey fro the See, where the +marchauntes of Yenyse comen often for marchandise. And so often wente +Machomete to this heremyte, that alle his men weren wrothe: for he wolde +gladly here this heremyte preche, and make his men wake alle nyghte: and +therfore his men thoughten to putte the heremyte to dethe: and so it +befelle upon a nyght, that Machomete was dronken of gode wyn, and he felle +on slepe; and his men toke Machometes swerd out of his schethe, whils he +slepte, and there with thei slowghe this heremyte: and putten his swerd +alle blody in his schethe azen. And at morwe, whan he fond the heremyte +ded, he was fulle sory and wrothe, and wolde have don his men to dethe: but +they alle with on accord seyd, that he him self had slayn him, when he was +dronken, and schewed him his swerd alle blody: and he trowed, that thei +hadden seyd sothe. And than he cursed the wyn, and alle tho that drynken +it. And therfore Sarrazines, that be devout, drynken nevere no wyn: but +sume drynken it prevyly. For zif thei dronken it openly, thei scholde ben +repreved. But thei drynken gode beverage and swete and norysshynge, that is +made of galamelle: and that is that men maken sugar of, that is of righte +gode savour: and it is gode for the breest. Also it befallethe sumtyme, +that Cristene men becomen Sarazines, outher for povertee, or for +symplenesse, or else for here owne wykkednesse. And therfore the +archiflamyn or the flamyn, as oure erchebisshop or bisshopp, whan he +receyvethe hem, seythe thus, _La ellec, Sila. Machomete rores alla_; that +is to seye, _There is no God but on, and Machomete his messager_. + + +Of the Londes of Albanye, and of Libye. Of the Wisshinges, for Wacchinge of + the Sperhauk; and of Noes Schippe. + +[Sidenote: Cap. XIII.] Now sithe I have told zou beforn of the Holy Lond, +and of that contree abouten, and of many weyes for to go to that lond, and +to the Mount Synay, and of Babyloyne the more and the lesse, and to other +places, that I have spoken beforn; now is tyme, zif it lyke zou, for to +telle zou of the marches and iles, and dyverse bestes, and of dyverse folk +bezond theise marches. For in tho contrees bezonden, ben many dyverse +contrees, and many grete kyngdomes; that ben departed be the 4 flodes, that +comen from Paradys terrestre. For Mesopotayme and the Kyngdom of Caldee and +Arabye, ben betwene the 2 ryveres of Tygre and of Eufrates. And the kyngdom +of Mede and of Persye, ben betwene the ryveres of Nile and of Tigres. And +the kyngdom of Syrie, where of I have spoken beforn, and Palestyne and +Phenycie, ben betwene Eufrates and the See Medyterrane: the whiche see +durethe in lengthe, fro Mayrok, upon the See of Spayne, unto the grete See; +so that it lastethe bezonde Costantynople 3040 myles of Lombardye. And +toward the see occyan in Ynde, is the kyngdom of Shithie, that is alle +closed with hilles. And aftre undre Schithie, and fro the See of Caspie, +unto the Flom Thainy, is Amazoyne, that is the lond of femynye, where that +no man is, but only alle wommen. And aftre is Albanye, a fulle grete reme. +And it is clept Albanye, because the folk ben whitere there, than in other +marches there abouten. And in that contree ben so gret houndes and so +stronge, that thei assaylen lyouns, and sleu hem. And thanne aftre is +Hircanye, Bactrye, Hiberye, and many other kyngdomes. And betwene the Rede +See and the see occyan, toward the southe, is the kyngdom of Ethiope, and +of Lybye the hyere. The which lond of Lybye, (that is to seyne Libye the +lowe) that begynnethe at the See of Spayne, fro thens where the Pyleres of +Hercules ben, and durethe unto aneyntes Egipt and towards Ethiope. In that +contree of Libye, is the see more highe than the lond; and it semethe that +it wolde covere the erthe, and natheles zit it passethe not his markes. And +men seen in that contre a mountayne, to the whiche no man comethe. In this +lond of Libye, whoso turnethe toward the est, the schadewe of him self is +on the right syde: and here in oure contree, the schadwe is on the left +syde. In that See of Libye, is no fissche: for thei mowe not lyve ne dure, +for the gret hete of the sonne; because that the watre is evermore +boyllynge, for the gret hete. And many othere londes there ben, that it +were to long to tellen or to nombren: but of sum parties I schal speke more +pleynly here aftre. + +Whoso wil thanne gon toward Tarterie, toward Persie, toward Caldee, and +toward Ynde, he most entre the see, at Gene or at Venyse or at sum other +havene, that I have told zou before. And than passe men the see, and +arryven at Trapazond, that is a gode cytee; and it was wont to ben the +havene of Pountz. There is the havene of persanes and of medaynes and of +the marches there bezonde. In that cytee lythe Seynt Athanasie, that was +Bishopp of Alisandre, that made the Psalm _Quicunque vult_. This Athanasius +was a gret Doctour of Dyvynytee: and because that he preched and spak so +depely of Dyvynytee and of the Godhede, he was accused to the Pope of Rome, +that he was an Heretyk. Wherfore the Pope sente aftre hym, and putte him in +presoun: and whils he was in presoun, he made that Psalm, and sente it to +the Pope, and seyde: that zif he were an heretyk, that was that heresie; +for that, he seyde, was his beleeve. And whan the Pope saughe it, and had +examyned it, that it was parfite and gode, and verryly oure feythe and oure +beleeve, he made him to ben delyvered out of presoun, and commanded that +Psalm to ben seyd every day at Pryme: and so he held Athanasie a gode man. +But he wolde nevere go to his bisshopriche azen, because that thei accused +him of heresye. Trapazond was wont to ben holden of the Emperour of +Costantynople: but a gret man, that he sente for to kepe the contree azenst +the Turkes, usurped the lond, and helde it to himself, and cleped him +Emperour of Trapazond. + +And from thens, men gon thorghe litille Ermonye. And in that contree is an +old castelle, that stont upon a roche, the whiche is cleped the Castelle of +the Sparrehawk, that is bezonde the cytee of Layays, beside the town of +Pharsipee, that belongethe to the lordschipe of Cruk; that is a riche lord +and a gode Cristene man; where men fynden a sparehauk upon a perche righte +fair, and righte wel made; and a fayre lady of fayrye, that kepethe it. And +who that wil wake that sparhauk, 7 dayes and 7 nyghtes, and as sum men +seyn, 3 dayes and 3 nyghtes, with outen companye, and with outen sleep, +that faire lady schal zeven him, whan he hathe don, the first wyssche, that +he wil wyssche, of erthely thinges: and that hathe been proved often-tymes. +And o tyme befelle, that a kyng of Ermonye, that was a worthi knyght and +doughty man and a noble prince, woke that hauk som tyme: and at the ende of +7 dayes and 7 nyghtes, the lady cam to him, and bad him wisschen: for he +had wel disserved it. And he answerde, that he was gret Lord y now, and wel +in pees, and hadde y nowghe of worldly ricchesse: and therfore he wolde +wisshe non other thing, but the body of that faire lady, to have it at his +wille. And sche answerde him, that he knew not what he asked; and seyde, +that he was a fool, to desire that he myghte not have; for sche seyde, that +he scholde not aske, but erthely thing: for sche was non erthely thing, but +a gostly thing. And the kyng seyde, that he ne wolde asken non other thing. +And the lady answerde, sythe that I may not withdrawe zou fro zoure lewed +corage, I schal zeve zou with outen wysschinge, and to alle hem that +schulle com of you. Sire kyng, zee schulle have werre withouten pees, and +alle weys to the 9 degree, zee schulle ben in subjeccioun to zoure enemyes; +and zee schulle ben nedy of alle godes. And nevere sithen, nouther the kyng +of Ermoyne, ne the contree, weren never in pees, ne thei hadden never +sithen plentee of godes; and thei han ben sithen alle weyes undre tribute +of the Sarrazines. Also the sone of a pore man woke that hauke, and wisshed +that he myghte cheve wel, and to ben happy to merchandise. And the lady +graunted him. And he becaam the most riche and the most famouse marchaunt, +that myghte ben on see or on erthe. And he becam so riche, that he knew not +the 1000 part of that he hadde: and he was wysere, in wisschynge, than was +the king. Also a knyght of the temple wooke there; and wyssched a purs +evere more fulle of gold: and the lady graunted him. But sche seyde him, +that he had asked the destruccioun of here ordre; for the trust and the +affiance of that purs, and for the grete pryde, that they scholde haven: +and so it was. And therfore loke, he kepe him wel, that schalle wake: for +zif he slepe, he is lost, that nevere man schalle seen him more. This is +not the righte weye for to go to the parties, that I have nempned before; +but for to see the merveyle, that I have spoken of. + +And therfore who so wil go right weye, men gon fro Trapazond toward Ermonye +the gret, unto a cytee that is clept Artyroun, that was wont to ben a gode +cytee and a plentyous; but the Turkes han gretly wasted it. There aboute +growethe no wyn ne fruyt, but litylle or elle non. In this lond, is the +erthe more highe than in ony other; and that makethe gret cold. And there +hen many gode watres, and gode welles, that comen undre erthe, fro the flom +of paradys, that is clept Eufrates, that is a jorneye besyde that cytee. +And that ryvere comethe towardes Ynde, undre erthe, and restorethe into the +lond of Altazar. And so passe men be this Ermonie, and entren the see of +Persie. Fro that cytee of Artyroun go men to an hille, that is clept +Sabissocolle. And there besyde is another hille, that men clepen Ararathe: +but the Jewes clepen it Taneez; where Noes schipp rested, and zit is upon +that montayne: and men may seen it a ferr, in cleer wedre: and that +montayne is wel a 7 myle highe. And sum men seyn, that thei han seen and +touched the schipp; and put here fyngeres in the parties, where the feend +went out, whan that Noe seyde _Benedicite_. But thei that seyn suche +wordes, seyn here wille: for a man may not gon up the montayne, for gret +plentee of snow that is alle wayes on that montayne, nouther somer ne +wynter: so that no man may gon up there; ne never man dide, sithe the tyme +of Noe; saf a monk, that, be the grace of God, brought on of the plankes +doun: that zit is in the mynstere, at the foot of the montayne. And besyde +is the cytee of Dayne, that Noe founded. And faste by is the cytee of Any, +in the whiche were 1000 chirches. But upon that montayne, to gon up, this +monk had gret desire; and so upon a day, he wente up: and whan he was +upward the 3 part of the montayne, he was so wery, that he myghte no +ferthere, and so he rested him, and felle o slepe; and whan he awook, he +fonde him self lyggynge at the foot of the montayne. And than he preyede +devoutly to God, that he wolde vouche saf to suffre him gon up. And an +angelle cam to him, and seyde, that he scholde gon up; and so he dide. And +sithe that tyme never non. Wherfore men scholde not beleeve such woordes. + +Fro that montayne go men to the cytee of Thauriso, that was wont to ben +clept Taxis, that is a fulle fair cytee, and a gret, and on of the beste, +that is in the world, for marchandise: and it is in the lond of the +Emperour of Persie. And men seyn, that the Emperour takethe more gode, in +that cytee, for custom of marchandise than dothe the ricchest Cristene kyng +of alle his reme, that livethe. For the tolle and the custom of his +marchantes is with outen estymacioun to ben nombred. Beside that cytee, is +a hille of salt; and of that salt, every man takethe what he will, for to +salte with, to his nede. There duellen many Cristene men, undir tribute of +Sarrazines. And fro that cytee, men passen be many townes and castelles, in +goynge toward Ynde, unto the cytee of Sadonye, that is a 10 journeyes fro +Thauriso; and it is a fulle noble cytee and a gret. And there duellethe the +Emperour of Persie, in somer: for the contree is cold y now. And there ben +gode ryveres, berynge schippes. Aftre go men the weye toward Ynde, be many +iorneyes, and be many contreyes, unto the cytee, that is clept Cassak, that +is a fulle noble cytee, and a plentyous of cornes and wynes, and of alle +other godes. This is the cytee, where the 3 kynges metten to gedre, whan +thei wenten to sechen oure Lord in Bethtem, to worschipe him, and to +presente him with gold, ensence, and myrre. And it is from that cytee to +Bethleem 53 iourneyes. Fro that cytee, men gon to another cytee, that is +clept Bethe, that is a iourneye fro the see, that men clepen the gravely +see. That is the best cytee, that the Emperour of Persie hathe, in alle his +lond. And thei clepen it there Chardabago; and others clepen it Vapa. And +the Paynemes seyn, that no Cristene man may not longe duelle, ne enduren +with the lif, in that cytee: but dyen with in schort tyme; and no man +knowethe not the cause. Aftre gon men, be many cytees and townes, and grete +contrees, that it were to longe to telle, unto the cytee of Cornaa, that +was wont to be so gret, that the walles abouten holden 25 myle aboute. The +walks schewen zit: but it is not alle enhabited. From Cornaa, go men be +many londes, and many cytees and townes, unto the lond of Job: and there +endethe the lond of the Emperour of Persie. + + +Of the Lond of Job; and of his Age. Of the Aray of men of Caldee. Of the + Lond where Wommen duellen with outen companye of men. Of the knouleche + and vertues of the verray Dyamant. + +[Sidenote: Chap. XIV.] Aftre the departynge fro Cornaa, men entren in to +the lond of Job, that is a fulle faire contree, and a plentyous of alle +godes. And men clepen that lond the lond of Sweze. In that lond is the +cytee of Theman. Job was a Payneem, and he was Are of Gosre his sone, and +held that lond, as prynce of that contree and he was so riche, that he knew +not the hundred part of his godes. And alle thoughe he were a Payneem, +natheless he served wel God, aftre his lawe: and oure Lord toke his service +to his plesance. And whan he felle in poverte, he was 78 zeer of age. And +aftre, whan God had preved his pacyence, and that it was so gret, he +broughte him azen to richesse, and to hiere estate than he was before. And +aftre that he was kyng of Ydumye, aftre Kyng Esau. And whan he was kyng, he +was clept Jobab. And in that kyngdom, he lyvede aftre 170 zere: and so he +was of age, whan he dyede, 248 zeer. In that lond of Job, there nys no +defaute of no thing, that is nedefulle to mannes body. There ben hilles, +where men getten gret plentee of manna, in gretter habundance, than in ony +other contree. This manna is clept bred of aungelles; and it is a white +thing, that is fulle swete and righte delicyous, and more swete than hony +or sugre; and it comethe of the dew of hevene that fallethe upon the +herbes, in that contree; and it congelethe and becomethe alle white and +swete: and men putten it in medicynes for rich men, to make the wombe lax, +and to purge evylle blood: for it clensethe the blode, and puttethe out +malencoyle. This lond of Job marchethe to the kyngdom of Caldee. This lond +of Caldee is fulle gret: and the langage of that contree is more gret in +sownynge, that it is in other parties bezonde the see. Men passen to go +bezond, be the Tour of Babiloyne the grete: of the whiche I have told zou +before, where that alle the langages weren first chaunged. And that is a 4 +jorneyes fro Caldee. In that reme, ben faire men, and thei gon fulle nobely +arrayed in clothes of gold, or frayed and apparayled with grete perles and +precyous stones, fulle nobely: and the wommen ben righte foule and evylle +arrayed; and thei gon alle bare fote, and clothed in evylle garnementes, +large and wyde, but thei ben schorte to the knees; and longe sleves doun to +the feet, lyche a monkes frokke; and here sleves ben hongyng aboute here +schuldres: and thei ben blake women, foule and hidouse; and treuly as foule +as thei ben, als evele thei ben. In that kyngdom of Caldee, in a cytee, +that is cleped Hur, duelled Thare, Abrahames fadre: and there was Abraham +born: and that was in that tyme, that Nunus was Kyng of Babiloyne, of +Arabye and of Egypt. This Nunus made the cytee of Nynyvee, the whiche that +Noe had begonne before: and be cause that Nunus performed it, he cleped it +Nynyve, aftre his owne name. Ther lythe Thobye the prophete, of whom Holy +Writt spekethe offe. And fro that cytee of Hur Abraham departed, be the +commandement of God, fro thens, aftre the dethe of his fadre; and ladde +with him Sarra his wife and Lothe his brotheres sone, because that he hadde +no child. And thei wenten to duelle in the lond of Chanaan, in a place, +that is clept Sychem. And this Lothe was he, that was saved, whan Sodom and +Gomorre and the othere cytees weren brent and sonken doun to helle; where +that the dede see is now, as I have told zou before. In that lond of +Caldee, thei han here propre langages, and here propre lettres. + +Besyde the lond of Caldee, is the lond of Amazoyne. And in that reme is +alle wommen, and no man; noght, as summe men seyn, that men mowe not lyve +there, but for because that the wommen will not suffre no men amonges hem, +to ben here Sovereynes. For sum tyme, ther was a kyng in that contrey; and +men maryed, as in other contreyes: and so befelle, that the kyng had werre, +with hem of Sithie; the whiche kyng highte Colopeus, that was slayn in +bataylle, and alle the gode blood of his reme. And whan the queen and alle +the othere noble ladyes sawen, that thei weren alle wydewes, and that alle +the rialle blood was lost, thei armed hem, and as creatures out of wytt, +thei slowen alle the men of the contrey, that weren laft. For thei wolden, +that alle the wommen weren wydewes, as the queen and thei weren. And fro +that tyme hiderwardes, thei nevere wolden suffren man to dwelle amonges +hem, lenger than 7 dayes and 7 nyghtes; ne that no child that were male, +scholde duelle amonges hem, longer than he were noryscht; and thanne sente +to his fader. And whan thei wil have ony companye of man, than thei drawen +hem towardes the londes marchynge next to hem: and than thei have loves, +that usen hem; and thei duellen with hem an 8 dayes or 10; and thanne gon +hom azen. And zif thei have ony knave child, thei kepen it a certeyn tyme, +and than senden it to the fadir, whan he can gon allone, and eten be him +self; or elle thei sleen it: and zif it be a femele, thei don away that on +pappe, with an hote hiren; and zif it be a womman of gret lynage, thei don +awey the left pappe, that thes may the better beren a scheeld: and zif it +be a woman of symple blood, thei don awey the ryght pappe, for to scheeen +[sic--KTH] with bowe Turkeys: for thei schote wel with bowes. In that lond +thei have a Queen, that governethe alle that lond: and alle thei ben +obeyssant to hire. And alweys thei maken here queen by eleccioun, that is +most worthy in armes. For thei ben right gode werryoures, and wyse, noble +and worthi. And thei gon often tyme in sowd, to help of other kynges in +here werres, for gold and sylver, as othere sowdyoures don: and thei +meyntenen hem self right vygouresly. This lond of Amazoyne is an Yle, alle +envirouned with the see, saf in 2 places, where ben 2 entrees. And bezond +that watir, duellen the men, that ben here paramoures, and hire loves, +where thei gon to solacen hem, whan thei wole. Besyde Amazoyne, is the lond +of Tarmegyte, that is a gret contree and a fulle delectable: and for the +godnesse of the contree, kyng Alisandre leet first make there the cytee of +Alisandre; and zit he made 12 cytees of the same name: but that cytee is +now clept Celsite. And fro that other cost of caldee, to ward the southe, +is Ethiope, a gret contree, that strecchethe to the ende of Egypt. Ethiope +is departed in 2 princypalle parties; and that is, in the est partie and in +the meridionelle partie: the whiche partie meridionelle is clept Moretane. +And the folk of that contree ben blake y now, and more blake than in the +tother partie; and thei ben clept Mowres. In that partie is a welle, that +in the day it is so cold, that no man may drynke there offe; and in the +nyght it so hoot, that no man may suffre his hond there in. And bezonde +that partie, toward the southe, to passe by the see occean, is a gret lond +and a gret contrey: but men may not duelle there, for the fervent brennynge +of the sonne; so is it passvnge hoot in that contrey. In Ethiope alle the +ryveres and alle the watres ben trouble, and thei ben somdelle salte, for +the gret hete that is there. And the folk of that contree ben lyghtly +dronken, and han but litille appetyt to mete: and thei han comounly the +flux of the wombe: and thei lyven not longe. In Ethiope ben manye dyverse +folk: and Ethiope is clept Cusis. In that contree ben folk, that han but o +foot: and thei gon so fast, that it is marvaylle: and the foot is so large, +that it schadewethe alle the body azen the sonne, whanne thei wole lye and +reste hem. In Ethiope, whan the children ben zonge and lytille, thei ben +alle zelowe: and whan that thei wexen of age, that zalownesse turnethe to +ben alle blak. In Ethiope is the cytee of Saba; and the lond, of the whiche +on of the 3 kynges, that presented oure Lord in Bethleem was kyng offe. + +Fro Ethiope men gon to Ynde, be manye dyverse contreyes. And men clepen the +highe Ynde, Emlak. And Ynde is devyded in 3 princypalle parties; that is, +the more, that is a fulle hoot contree; and Ynde the lesse, that is a fulle +atempree contrey, that strecchethe to the lond of Mede; and the 3 part +toward the Septentrion, is fulle cold; so that for pure cold and +contynuelle frost, the watre becomethe cristalle. And upon tho roches of +cristalle, growen the gode dyamandes, that ben of trouble colour. Zallow +cristalle drawethe colour lyke oylle. And thei ben so harde, that no man +may pollysche hem: and men clepen hem dyamandes in that contree, and Hamese +in another contree. Othere dyamandes men fynden in Arabye, that ben not so +gode; and thei ben more broun and more tendre. And other dyamandes also men +fynden in the ile of Cipre, that ben zit more tendre; and hem men may wel +pollische. And in the lond of Macedoyne men fynden dyamaundes also. But the +beste and the most precyouse ben in Ynde. And men fynden many tymes harde +dyamandes in a masse, that comethe out of Gold, whan men puren it and fynen +it out of the myne; whan men breken that masse in smale peces. And sum tyme +it happenethe, that men fynden summe as grete as a pese, and summe lasse; +and thei ben als harde as tho of Ynde. And alle be it that men fynden gode +dyamandes in Ynde, zit natheles men fynden hem more comounly upon the +roches in the see, and upon hilles where the myne of gold is. And thei +growen many to gedre, on lytille, another gret. And ther ben summe of the +gretness of a bene, and summe als gret as an haselle note. And thei ben +square and poynted of here owne kynde, bothe aboven and benethen, with +outen worchinge of mannes hond. And the growen to gedre, male and femele. +And thei ben norysscht with the dew of hevene. And thei engendren comounly, +and bryngen forthe smale children, that multiplyen and growen alle the +zeer. I have often tymes assayed, that zif a man kepe hem with a litylle of +the roche, and wete hem with May dew ofte sithes, thei schulle growe +everyche zeer; and the smale wole wexen grete. For righte as the fyn perle +congelethe and wexethe gret of the dew of hevene, righte so dothe the +verray dyamand: and righte as the perl of his owne kynde takethe +roundnesse, righte so the dyamand, be vertue of God, takethe squarenesse. +And men schalle bere the dyamaund on his left syde: for it is of grettere +vertue thanne, than on the righte syde. For the strengthe of here growynge +is toward the Northe; that is the left syde of the world; and the left +parte of man is, whan he turnethe his face toward the est. And zif zou lyke +to knowe the vertues of the dyamand, (as men may fynde in the lapidarye, +that many men knowen noght) I schalle telle zou: as thei bezonde the see +seyn and affermen, of whom alle science and alle philosophie comethe from. +He that berethe the diamand upon him, it zevethe him hardynesse and +manhode, and it kepethe the lemes of his body hole. It zevethe him victorye +of his enemyes, in plee and in werre; zif his cause be rightefulle: and it +kepethe him that berethe it, in gode wytt; and it kepethe him fro strif and +riot, fro sorwes and from enchauntementes and from fantasyes and illusiouns +of wykked spirites. And zif ony cursed wycche or enchauntour wolde bewycche +him, that berethe the dyamand; alle that sorwe and myschance schalle turne +to him self, thorghe vertu of that ston. And also no wylde best dar +assaylle the man, that berethe it on him. Also the dyamand scholde ben +zoven frely, with outen coveytynge and with outen byggynge: and than it is +of grettere vertu. And it makethe a man more strong and more sad azenst his +enemyes. And it helethe him that is lunatyk, and hem that the fend +pursuethe or travaylethe. And zif venym or poysoun be broughte in presence +of the dyamand, anon it begynnethe to wexe moyst and for to swete. There +ben also dyamandes in Ynde, that ben cept violastres; (for here colour is +liche vyolet, or more browne than violettes) that ben fulle harde and fulle +precyous; but zit sum men love not hem so wel as the othere: but in sothe +to me, I wolde loven hem als moche as the othere; for I have seen hem +assayed. Also there is an other maner of dyamandes, that ben als white as +cristalle; but thei ben a litylle more trouble: and thei ben gode and of +gret vertue, and alle thei ben square and poynted of here owne kynde. And +summe ben 6 squared, summe 4 squared, and summe 3, as nature schapethe hem. +And therefore whan grete lordes and knyghtes gon to seche worschipe in +armes, thei beren gladly the dyamaund upon hem. + +I schal speke a litille more of the dyamandes, alle thoughe I tarye my +matere for a tyme, to the ende that thei that knowen hem not, be not +disceyved be gabberes, that gon be the contree, that sellen hem. For whoso +wil bye the dyamande, it is needefulle to him, that he knowe hem; be cause +that men counterfeten hem often of cristalle, that is zalow; and of +saphires of cytryne colour, that is zalow also; and of the saphire loupe, +and of many other stones. But I telle zou, theise contrefetes ben not so +harde; and also the poyntes wil breken lightly, and men may easily +pollische hem. But summe werkmen, for malice, will not pollische hem, to +that entent, to maken men beleve, that thei may not ben pollischt. But men +may assaye hem in this manere; first schere with hem or write with hem in +saphires, in cristalle or in other precious stones. Aftre that men taken +the ademand, that is the schipmannes ston, that drawethe the nedle to him, +and men leyn the dyamand upon the ademand, and leyn the nedle before the +ademand; and zif the dyamand be gode and vertuous, the ademande drawethe +not the nedle to him, while the dyamand is there present. And this is the +preef, that thei bezonde the see maken. Natheles it befallethe often tyme, +that the gode dyamande losethe his vertue, be synne and for incontynence of +him, that berethe it: and thanne it is nedfulle to make it to recoveren his +vertue azen, or elle it is of litille value. + + +Of the customs of Yles abouten Ynde. Of the differences betwixt Ydoles and + Simulacres. Of 3 maner growing of Peper upon a Tree. Of the welle, that + chaungethe his odour, every hour of the day: and that is mervaylle. + +[Sidenote: Cap. XV.] In Ynde ben fulle manye dyverse contrees: and it is +cleped Ynde, for a flom, that rennethe thorghe out the contree, that is +clept Ynde. In that flomme men fynden eles of 30 fote long and more. And +the folk that duellen nyghe that watre, ben of evylle colour, grene and +zalow. In Ynde and abouten Ynde, ben mo than 5000 iles, gode and grete, +that men duellen in, with outen tho that ben inhabitable, and with outen +othere smale iles. In every ile, is gret plentee of cytees and of townes +and of folk, with outen nombre. For men of Ynde han this condicioun of +kynde, that thei nevere gon out of here owne contree: and therfore is ther +gret multitude of peple: but thei ben not sterynge ne mevable, be cause +that thei ben in the firste clymat, that is of Saturne. And Saturne is +sloughe and litille mevynge: for he taryethe to make his turn be the 12 +signes, 30 zeer; and the mone passethe thorghe the 12 signes in o monethe. +And for because that Saturne is of so late sterynge, therfore the folk of +that contree, that ben undre his clymat, han of kynde no wille for to meve +ne stere to seche strange places. And in oure contree is alle the +contrarie. For wee ben in the sevenethe climat, that is of the mone. And +the mone is of lyghtly mevynge; and the mone is planete of weye: and for +that skylle, it zevethe us wille of kynde, for to meve lyghtly, and for to +go dyverse weyes, and to sechen strange thinges and other dyversitees of +the world. For the mone envyrounethe the erthe more hastyly than ony othere +planete. + +Also men gon thorghe Ynde be many dyverse contrees, to the grete see +occean. And aftre men fynden there an ile, that is clept Crues: and thidre +comen marchantes of Venyse and Gene and of other marches, for to byen +marchandyses. But there is so grete hete in tho marches, and namely in that +ile, that for the grete distresse of the hete, mennes ballokkes hangen doun +to here knees, for the gret dissolucioun of the body. And men of that +contree, that knowen the manere, lat bynde hem up, or elle myghte thei not +lyve; and anoynt hem with oynementes made therfore, to holde hem up. In +that contree and in Ethiope and in many other contrees, the folk lyggen +alle naked in ryveres and watres, men and wommen to gedre, fro undurne of +the day, tille it be passed the noon. And thei lyen alle in the watre, saf +the visage, for the gret hete that there is. And the wommen haven no schame +of the men; but lyen alle to gidre, syde to syde, tille the hete be past. +There may men see many foule figure assembled, and namely nyghe the gode +townes. In that ile ben schippes with outen nayles of iren or bonds, for +the roches of the Ademandes: for thei ben alle fulle there aboute in that +see, that it is merveyle to speken of. And zif a schipp passed be tho +marches, that hadde outher iren bondes or iren nayles, anon he scholde ben +perisscht. For the Ademand, of his kynde, drawethe the iren to him: and so +wolde it drawe to him the schipp, because of the iren: that he scholde +never departen fro it, ne never go thens. + +Fro that ile, men gon be see to another ile, that is clept Chana, where is +gret plentee of corn and wyn: and it was wont to ben a gret ile, and a gret +havene and a good; but the see hathe gretly wasted it and overcomen it The +kyng of that contree was wont to ben so strong and so myghty, that he helde +werre azenst King Alisandre. The folk of that contree han a dyvers lawe: +for summe of hem, worschipe the sonne, summe the mone, summe the fuyr, +summe trees, summe serpentes, or the first thing that thei meeten at +morwen: and summe worschipen symulacres, and summe Ydoles. But betwene +symulacres and ydoles, is a gret difference. For symulacres ben ymages made +aftre lyknesse of men or of wommen, or of the sonne or of the mone, or of +ony best, or of ony kyndely thing: and ydoles, is an ymage made of lewed +wille of a man, that man may not fynden among kyndely thinges; as an ymage, +that hathe 4 hedes, on of a man, another of an hors, or of an ox, or of sum +other best, that no man hathe seyn aftre kyndely disposicioun. And thei +that worschipen symulacres, thei worschipen hem for sum worthi man, that +was sum tyme, as Hercules and many othere, that diden many marvayles in +here tyme. For thei seyn wel, that thei be not goddes: for thei knowen wel, +that there is a God of kynde, that made alle thinges; the which is in +hevene. But thei knowen wel, that this may not do the marvayles that he +made, but zif it had ben be the specyalle zifte of God: and therfore thei +seyn, that he was wel with God. And for be cause that he was so wel with +God, therfore the worschipe him. And so seyn thei of the sonne; be cause +that he chaungethe the tyme and zevethe hete and norisschethe alle thinges +upon erthe; and for it is of so gret profite, thei knowe wel, that that +myghte not be, but that God lovethe it more than ony other thing. And for +that skylle, God hath zoven it more gret vertue in the world: therfore it +is gode resoun, as thei seyn, to don it worschipe and reverence. And so +seyn thei, that maken here resounes, of othere planetes; and of the fuyr +also, because it is so profitable. And of Ydoles, thei seyn also, that the +ox is the moste holy best, that is in erthe, and most pacyent and more +profitable than ony other. For he dothe good y now, and he dothe non +evylle. And thei knowen wel, that it may not be with outen specyalle grace +of God; and therfore maken thei here God, of an ox the on part, and the +other halfondelle of a man: because that man is the most noble creature in +erthe; and also for he hathe lordschipe aboven alle bestes: therfore make +thei the halfendel of ydole of a man upwardes, and the tother half of an ox +dounwardes: and of serpentes and of other bestes, and dyverse thinges, that +thei worschipen, that thei meten first at morwe. And thei worschipen also +specyally alle tho that thei han gode meetynge of; and whan thei speden wel +in here iorneye, aftre here meetynge; and namely suche as thei han preved +and assayed be experience of longe tyme. For thei seyn, that thilke gode +meetynge ne may not come, but of the grace of God. And therefore thei maken +ymages lyche to tho thinges, that thei han beleeve inne, for to beholden +hem and worschipen hem first at morwe, or thei meeten ony contrarious +thinges. And there ben also sum Cristene men, that seyn, that summe bestes +han gode meetynge, that is to seye, for to meete with hem first at morwe; +and summe bestes wykked metynge: and that thei han preved ofte tyme, that +the hare hathe fulle evylle meetynge, and swy, and many othere bestes. And +the sparhauk and other foules of raveyne, whan thei fleen aftre here praye, +and take it before men of armes, it is a gode signe: and zif he fayle of +takynge his praye, it is an evylle sygne. And also to suche folk, it is an +evylle meetynge of ravenes. In theise thinges and in suche othere, ther ben +many folk, that beleeven; because it happenethe so often tyme to falle, +aftre here fantasyes. And also ther ben men y nowe, that han no beleve in +hem. And sithe that Cristene men han suche beleeve, that ben enformed and +taughte alle day, be holy doctryne, where inne thei schold beleeve, it is +no marvaylle thanne, that the Paynemes, that han no gode doctryne, but only +of here nature, beleeven more largely, for here symplenesse. And treuly I +have seen of Paynemes and Sarazines, that men clepen Augurynes, that whan +wee ryden in armes in dyverse contrees, upon oure enemyes, be the flyenge +of foules, thei wolde telle us the prenosticaciouns of thinges that felle +aftre: and so thei diden fulle often tymes, and profreden here hedes to +wedde, but zif it wolde falle as thei seyden. But natheles ther fore +scholde noght a man putten his beleeve in suche thinges: but always han +fulle trust and beleeve in God oure Sovereyn Lord. This ile of Chana, the +Sarazines han wonnen and holden. In that ile ben many lyouns, and many +othere wylde bestes. And there ben rattes in that ile, als gret as houndes +here: and men taken hem with grete mastyfes: for cattes may not take hem. +In this ile and many othere, men berye not no dede men: for the hete is +there so gret, that in a lityle tyme the flesche wil consume fro the bones. + +Fro thens, men gon be see toward Ynde the more, to a cytee that men clepen +Sarche, that is a fair cytee and a gode; and there duellen many Cristene +men of gode feythe: and ther ben manye religious men, and namely of +Mendynantes. Aftre gon men be see, to the lond of Lomb. In that lond +growethe the peper, in the forest that men clepen Combar; and it growethe +nowhere elle in alle the world, but in that forest: and that dureth wel an +18 iourneyes in lengthe. In the forest ben 2 gode cytees; that on highte +Fladrine, and that other Zinglantz. And in every of hem, duellen Cristene +men, and Jewes, gret plentee. For it is a gode contree and a plenteyous: +but there is over meche passynge hete. And zee schulle undirstonde, that +the peper growethe, in maner as dothe a wylde vyne, that is planted faste +by the trees of that wode, for to susteynen it by, as dothe the vyne. And +the fruyt thereof hangethe in manere as reysynges. And the tree is so +thikke charged, that it semethe that it wolde breke: and whan it is ripe, +it is all grene as it were ivy beryes; and than men kytten hem, as men don +the vynes, and than thei putten it upon an owven, and there it waxethe blak +and crisp. And there is 3 maner of peper, all upon o tree; long peper, blak +peper, and white peper. The long peper men clepen sorbotyn; and the blak +peper is clept fulfulle, and the white peper is clept bano. The long peper +comethe first, whanthe lef begynhethe to come; and it is lyche the chattes +of Haselle, that comethe before the lef, and it hangethe lowe. And aftre +comethe the blake with the lef, in manere of clustres of reysinges, alle +grene: and whan men han gadred it, than comethe the white, that is somdelle +lasse than the blake; and of that men bryngen but litille into this +contree; for thei bezonden with holden it for hem self, be cause it is +betere and more attempree in kynde, than the blake: and therfore is ther +not so gret plentee as of the blake. In that contree ben manye manere of +serpentes and of other vermyn, for the gret hete of the contree and of the +peper. And summe men seyn, that whan thei will gadre the peper, thei maken +fuyr, and brennen aboute, to make the serpentes and cokedrilles to flee. +But save here grace of alle that seyn so. For zif thei brenten abouten the +trees, that beren, the peper scholden ben brent, and it wolde dryen up alle +the vertue, as of ony other thing: and han thei diden hemself moche harm; +and thei scholde nevere quenchen the fuyr. But thus thei don; thei anoynten +here hondes and here feet with a juyce made of snayles and of othere +thinges, made therfore; of the whiche the serpentes and the venymous bestes +haten and dreden the savour: and that makethe hem flee before hem, because +of the smelle; and than thei gadren it seurly ynow. + +Also toward the heed of that forest, is the cytee of Polombe. And above the +cytee is a grete mountayne, that also is clept Polombe: and of that mount, +the cytee hathe his name. And at the foot of that mount, is a fayr welle +and a gret, that hathe odour and savour of alle spices; and at every hour +of the day, he chaungethe his odour and his savour diversely. And whoso +drynkethe 3 tymes fasting of that watre of that welle, he is hool of of +alle maner sykenesse, that he hathe. And thei that duellen there and +drynken often of that welle, thei nevere han sekenesse, and thei semen alle +weys zonge. I have dronken there of 3 or 4 sithes; and zit, me thinkethe, I +fare the better. Sum men clepen it the Welle of Zouthe: for thei that often +drynken there of, semen alle weys zongly, and lyven with outen sykenesse. +And men seyn, that that welle comethe out of paradys; and therfore it is so +vertuous. Be alle that contree growethe gode gyngevere: and therfore thidre +gon the marchauntes for spicerye. In that lond men worschipen the ox, for +his symplenesse and for his mekenesse, and for the profite that comethe of +him. And thei seyn, that he is the holyest best in erthe. For hem semethe, +that whoso evere be meke and paycyent, he is holy and profitable: for +thanne thei seyn, he hathe alle vertues in him. Thei maken the ox to +laboure 6 zeer or 7, and than thei ete him. And the kyng of the contree +hathe alle wey an ox with him: and he that kepethe him, hathe every day +grete fees, and kepethe every day his dong and his uryne in 2 vesselles of +gold, and bryngen it before here prelate, that thei clepen +archiprotopapaton; and he berethe it before the kyng, and makethe there +over a gret blessynge; and than the kyng wetethe his hondes there, in that +thei clepen gaul, and anyntethe his front and his brest: and aftre he +frotethe him with the dong and with the uryne with gret reverence, for to +ben fulfilt of vertues of the ox, and made holy be the vertue of that holy +thing, that nought is worthe. And whan the kyng hathe don, thanne don the +lordes; and aftre hem here mynystres and other men, zif thei may have ony +remenant. In that contree thei maken ydoles, half man, half ox; and in tho +ydoles, eville spirites speken and zeven answere to men, of what is asked +hem. Before theise ydoles, men sleen here children many tymes, and spryngen +the blood upon the ydoles; and so thei maken here sacrifise. And whan ony +man dyethe in the contree, thei brennen his body in name of penance, to +that entent, that he suffre no peyne in erthe, to ben eten of wormes. And +zif his wif have no child, thei brenne hire with him; and seyn, that it is +resoun, that sche make him companye in that other world, as sche did in +this. But and sche have children with him, thei leten hire lyve with hem, +to brynge hem up, zif sche wole. And zif that sche love more to lyve with +here children, than for to dye with hire husbonde, men holden hire for fals +and cursed; ne schee schalle never ben loved ne trusted of the peple. And +zif the womman dye before the husbonde, men brennen him with hire, zif that +he wole; and zif he wil not, no man constreynethe him thereto; but he may +wedde another tyme with outen blame and repreef. In that contree growen +manye stronge vynes: and the wommen drynken wyn, and men not: and the +wommen schaven hire berdes, and the men not. + + +Of the Domes made be seynt Thomas. Of Devocyoun and Sacrifice made to + Ydoles there, in the Cytee of Calamye; and of the processioun in goynge + aboute the Cytee. + +[Sidenote: Cap. XVI.] From that contree men passen be many marches, toward +a contree, a 10 iourneyes thens, that is clept Mabaron: and it is a gret +kyngdom, and it hathe many faire cytees and townes. In that kyngdom lithe +the body of Seynt Thomas the apostle, in flesche and bon, in a faire tombe, +in the cytee of Calamyee: for there he was martyred and buryed. But men of +Assirie beeren his bodye in to mesopatayme, in to the cytee of Edisse: and +aftre, he was broughte thidre azen. And the arm and the hoond, (that he +putte in oure Lordes syde, whan he appered to him, aftre his resurrexioun, +and seyde to him, _Noli esse incredulus, sed fidelis_) is zit lyggynge in a +vesselle with outen the tombe. And be that hond thei maken alle here +juggementes, in the contree, whoso hathe righte or wrong. For whan ther is +ony dissentioun betwene 2 partyes, and every of hem meyntenethe his cause, +and seyth, that his cause is rightfulle, and that other seythe the +contrarye, thanne bothe partyes writen here causes in 2 billes, and putten +hem in the hond of seynt Thomas; and anon he castethe awey the bille of the +wrong cause, and holdethe stille the bille with the righte cause. And +therfore men comen from fer contrees to have juggement of doutable causes: +and other juggement usen thei non there. Also the chirche, where seynt +Thomas lythe, is bothe gret and fair, and alle fulle of grete simulacres: +and tho ben grete ymages, that thei clepen here goddes; of the whiche, the +leste is als gret as 2 men. And among theise othere, there is a gret ymage, +more than ony of the othere, that is alle covered with fyn gold and +precyous stones and riche perles: and that ydole is the god of false +Cristene, that han reneyed hire feythe. And it syttethe in a chayere of +gold, fulle nobely arrayed; and he hathe aboute his necke large gyrdles, +wroughte of gold and precyous stones and perles. And this chirche is fulle +richely wroughte, and alle over gylt with inne. And to that ydole gon men +on pylgrimage, als comounly and with als gret devocioun, as Cristene men +gon to seynt James, or other holy pilgrimages. And many folk that comen fro +fer londes, to seche that ydole, for the gret devocyoun that thei han, thei +loken nevere upward, but evere more down to the erthe, for drede to see ony +thing aboute hem, that scholde lette hem of here devocyoun. And summe ther +ben, that gon on pilgrimage to this ydole, that beren knyfes in hire +hondes, that ben made fulle kene and scharpe; and alle weyes, as thei gon, +thei smyten hem self in here armes and in here legges and in here thyes, +with many hydouse woundes; and so thei scheden here blood, for love of that +ydole. And thei seyn that he is blessed and holy, that dyethe so for love +of his God. And othere there ben, that leden hire children, for to sle, to +make sacrifise to that ydole; and aftre thei han slayn hem, thei spryngen +the blood upon the ydole. And summe ther ben, that comme fro ferr, and in +goynge toward this ydole, at every thrydde pas, that thei gon fro here +hows, thei knelen; and so contynuen tille thei come thidre: and whan thei +comen there, thei taken ensense and other aromatyk thinges of noble smelle, +and sensen the ydole, as we wolde don here Goddes precyouse body. And so +comen folk to worschipe this ydole, sum fro an hundred myle, and summe fro +many mo. And before the mynstre of this ydole, is a vyvere, in rmaner of a +gret lake, fulle of watre: and there in pilgrymes casten gold and sylver, +perles and precyous stones, with outen nombre, in stede of offrynges. And +whan the mynystres of that chirche neden to maken ony reparacyoun of the +chirche or of ony of the ydoles, thei taken gold and silver, perles and +precyous stones out of the vyvere, to quyten the costages of suche thing as +thei maken or reparen; so that no thing is fawty, but anon it schalle ben +amended. And zee schulle undirstonde, that whan grete festes and +solempnytees of that ydole, as the dedicacioun of the chirche, and the +thronynge of the ydole bethe, alle the contree aboute meten there to +gidere; and thei setten this ydole upon a chare with gret reverence, wel +arrayed with clothes of gold, of riche clothes of Tartarye, of Camacca, and +other precyous clothes; and thei leden him aboute the cytee with gret +solempnytee. And before the chare, gon first in processioun alle the +maydenes of the contree, 2 and 2 to gidere, fulle ordynatly. And aftre tho +maydenes, gon the pilgrymes. And summe of hem falle doun undre the wheles +of the chare, and lat the chare gon over hem; so that thei ben dede anon. +And summe han here armes or here lymes alle to broken, and summe the sydes: +and alle this don thei for love of hire god, in gret devocioun. And he +thinkethe, that the more peyne and the more tribulacioun, that thei suffren +for love of here god, the more ioye thei schulle have in another world. And +schortly to seye zou; thei suffren so grete peynes and so harde +martyrdomes, for love of here ydole, that a Cristene man, I trowe, durst +not taken upon him the tenthe part of the peyne, for love of oure Lord +Jhesu Crist. And aftre, I seye zou, before the chare, gon alle the +mynstrelles of the contrey, with outen nombre, with dyverse instrumentes; +and thei maken alle the melodye, that thei cone. And whan thei han gon alle +aboute the cytee, thanne thei retournen azen to the mynstre, and putten the +ydole azen in to his place. And thanne, for the love and in worschipe of +that ydole, and for the reverence of the feste, thei slen himself, a 200 or +300 persones, with scharpe knyfes, of the whiche thei bryngen the bodyes +before the ydole; and than thei seyn, that tho ben seyntes, because that +thei slowen hemself of here owne gode wille, for love of here ydole. And as +men here, that hadde an holy seynt of his kyn, wolde thinke, that it were +to hem an highe worschipe, right so hem thinkethe there. And as men here +devoutly wolde writen holy seyntes lyfes and here myracles, and sewen for +here canonizaciouns, righte so don thei there, for hem that sleen hem self +wilfully, for love of here ydole; and seyn, that thei ben gloriouse +martyres and seyntes, and putten hem in here wrytynges and letanyes, and +avaunten hem gretly on to another of here holy kynnesmen; that so becomen +seyntes; and seyn, I have mo holy seyntes in my kynrede, than thou in thin. +And the custome also there is this, that whan thei that han such devocioun +and entent, for to sle him self, for love of his god, thei senden for alle +here frendes, and han gret plentee of mynstrelle, and thei gon before the +ydole ledynge him, that wil sle himself for such devocioun, betwene hem +with gret reverence. And he alle naked hath a ful scharp knyf in his hond, +and he cuttethe a gret pece of his flesche and castethe it in the face of +his ydole, seyenge his orysounes, recommendynge him to his god: and than he +smytethe himself, and makethe grete woundes and depe here and there, tille +he falle doun ded. And than his frendes presenten his body to the ydole: +and than thei seyn, syngynge, Holy God, behold what thi trewe servant hath +don for the; he hathe forsaken his wif and his children and his ricchesse +and alle the godes of the worlde and his owne lyf, for the love of the, and +to make the sacrifise of his flesche and of his blode. Wherfore, Holy God, +putte him among thi beste belovede seyntes in thi blisse of paradys: for he +hathe well disserved it. And than thei maken a gret fuyr, and brennen the +body: and thanne everyche of his frendes taken a quantyte of the assches, +and kepen hem in stede of relykes, and seyn, that it is a holy thing. And +thei have no drede of no perile, whils thei han tho holy assches upon hem. +And thei putten his name in here letanyes, as a seynt. + + +Of the evylle Customs used in the Yle of Lamary: and how the Erthe and the + See ben of round Forme and schapp, be pref of the Sterre, that is clept + Antartyk, that is fix in the Southe. + +[Sidenote: Chap. XVII.] Fro that contree go men be the see occean, and be +many dyverse yles, and be many contrees, that were to longe for to telle +of. And a 52 iorneyes fro this lond, that I have spoken of, there is +another lond, that is fulle gret, that men clepen Lamary. In that lond is +fulle gret hete: and the custom there is such, that men and wommen gon alle +naked. And thei scornen, whan thei seen ony strange folk goynge clothed. +And thei seyn, that God made Adam and Eve alle naked; and that no man +scholde schame, that is of kyndely nature. And thei seyn, that thei that +ben clothed ben folk of another world, or thei ben folk, that trowen not in +God. And thei seyn, that thei beleeven in God, that formede the world, and +that made Adam and Eve, and alle other thinges. And thei wedden there no +wyfes: for all the wommen there ben commoun, and thei forsake no man. And +thei seyn, thei synnen, zif thei refusen ony man: and so God commannded to +Adam and Eve, and to alle that comen of him, whan he seyde, _Crescite et +multiplicamini, et replete terram_. And therfore may no man in that contree +seyn, this is my wyf: ne no womman may seye, this is myn husbonde. And whan +thei han children, thei may zeven hem to what man thei wole, that hathe +companyed with hem. And also all the lond is comoun: for alle that a man +holdethe o zeer, another man hathe it another zeer. And every man takethe +what part that him lykthe. And also alle the godes of the lond ben comoun, +cornes and alle other thinges: for no thing there is clept in clos, ne no +thing there is undur lok; and every man there takethe what he wole, with +outen ony contradiccioun: and als riche is o man there, as is another. But +in that contree, there is a cursed custom: for thei eten more gladly mannes +flesche, than ony other flesche: and zit is that contree habundant of +flesche, of fissche, of cornes, of gold and sylver, and of alle other +godes. Thidre gone Marchauntes, and bryngen with hem children, to selle to +hem of the contree, and thei byzen hem: and zif thei ben fatte, thei eten +hem anon; and zif thei ben lene, thei feden hem, tille thei ben fatte, and +thanne thei eten hem: and thei seyn, that it is the best flesche and the +swettest of alle the world. In that lond, ne in many othere bezonde that, +no man may see the sterre transmontane, that is clept the sterre of the +see, that is unmevable, and that is toward the northe, that we clepen the +lode sterre. But men seen another steere, the contrarie to him, that is +toward the south, that is clept Antartyk. And right as the schip men taken +here avys here, and governe hem be the lode sterre, right so don schip men +bezonde the parties, be the sterre of the southe, the whiche sterre +apperethe not to us. And this sterre, that is toward the north, that wee +clepen the lode sterre, ne apperethe not to hem. For whiche cause, men may +wel perceyve, that the lond and the see ben of rownde schapp and forme. For +the partie of the firmament schewethe in o contree, that schewethe not in +another contree. And men may well preven be experience and sotyle +compassement of wytt, that zif a man fond passages be schippes, that wolde +go to serchen the world, MEN MYGHTE GO BE SCHIPPE ALLE ABOUTE THE WORLD, +and aboven and benethen. The whiche thing I prove thus, aftre that I have +seyn. For I have ben toward the parties of Braban, and beholden the +astrolabre, that the sterre that is clept the Transmontayne, is 53 degrees +highe. And more forthere in Almayne and Bewme, it hathe 58 degrees. And +more forthe toward the parties septemtrioneles, it is 62 degrees of heghte, +and certeyn mynutes. For I my self have mesured it by the astrolabre. Now +schulle ze knowe, that azen the Transmontayne, is the tother sterre, that +is clept Antartyke; as I have seyd before. And tho 2 sterres ne meeven +nevere. And be hem turnethe alle the firmament, righte as dothe a wheel, +that turnethe be his axille tree; so that tho sterres beren the firmament +in 2 egalle parties; so that it hathe als mochel aboven, as it hathe +benethen. Aftre this, I have gon toward the parties meridionales, that is +toward the southe: and I have founden, that in Lybye, men seen first the +sterre Antartyk. And so fer I have gon more forthe in tho contrees, that I +have founde that sterre more highe; so that toward the highe Lybye, it is +18 degrees of heghte, and certeyn minutes (of the whiche, 60 minutes maken +a degree). After goynge be see and be londe, toward this contree, of that I +have spoke, and to other yles and londes bezonde that contree, I have +founden the sterre Antartyk of 33 degrees of heghte, and mo mynutes. And +zif I hadde had companye and schippynge, for to go more bezonde, I trowe +wel in certeyn, that wee scholde have seen alle the roundnesse of the +firmament alle aboute. For as I have seyd zou be forn, the half of the +firmament is betwene tho 2 sterres: the whiche halfondelle I have seyn. And +of the tother halfondelle, I have seyn toward the north, undre Transmontane +62 degrees and 10 mynutes; and toward the partie meridionalle, I have seen +undre the Antartyk 33 degrees and 16 mynutes: and thanne the halfondelle of +the firmament in alle, ne holdethe not but 180 degrees. And of tho 180, I +have seen 62 on that o part, and 33 on that other part, that ben 95 +degrees, and nyghe the halfondelle of a degree; and so there ne faylethe +but that I have seen alle the firmament, saf 84 degrees and the halfondelle +of a degree; and that is not the fourthe part of the firmament. For the 4 +partie of the roundnesse of the firmament holt 90 degrees: so there +faylethe but 5 degrees and an half, of the fourthe partie. And also I have +seen the 3 parties of alle the roundnesse of the firmament, and more zit 5 +degrees and an half. Be the which I seye zou certeynly, that men may +envirowne alle the erthe of alle the world, as wel undre as aboven, and +turnen azen to his contree, that hadde companye and schippynge and conduyt: +and alle weyes he scholde fynde men, londes, and yles, als wel as in this +contree. For zee wyten welle, that thei that ben toward the Antartyk, thei +ben streghte, feet azen feet of hem, that dwellen undre the transmontane; +als wel as wee and thei that dwellyn undre us, ben feet azenst feet. For +alle the parties of see and of lond han here appositees, habitable or +trepassables, and thei of this half and bezond half. And wytethe wel, that +aftre that, that I may parceyve and comprehend, the londes of Pestre John, +Emperour of Ynde, ben undre us. For in goynge from Scotland or from England +toward Jerusalem, men gon upward alweys. For oure lond is in the lowe +partie of the erthe, toward the west: and the lond of Prestre John is the +lowe partie of the erthe, toward the est: and thei han there the day, whan +wee have the nyghte, and also highe to the contrarie, thei han the nyghte, +whan wee han the day. For the erthe and the see ben of round form and +schapp, as I have seyd beforn. And that that men gon upward to o cost, men +gon dounward to another cost. Also zee have herd me seye, that Jerusalem is +in the myddes of the world; and that may men preven and schewen there, be a +spere, that is pighte in to the erthe, upon the hour of mydday, whan it is +equenoxium, that schewethe no schadwe on no syde. And that it scholde ben +in the myddes of the world, David wytnessethe it in the psautre, where he +seythe, _Des operatus est salutem in medie Terre_. Thanne thei that parten +fro the parties of the west, for to go toward Jerusalem, als many iorneyes +as thei gon upward for to go thidre, in als many iorneyes may thei gon fro +Jerusalem unto other confynyes of the superficialtie of the erthe bezonde. +And whan men gon bezonde tho iourneyes, toward Ynde and to the foreyn yles, +alle is envyronynge the roundnesse of this erthe and of the see, undre oure +contrees on this half. And therfore hathe it befallen many tymes of o +thing, that I have herd cownted, whan I was zong; how a worthi man departed +somtyme from oure contrees, for to go serche the world. And so he passed +Ynde, and the yles bezonde Ynde, where ben mo than 5000 yles: and so longe +he wente be see and lond, and so enviround the world be many seysons, that +he fond an yle, where he herde speke his owne langage, callynge an oxen in +the plowghe, suche wordes as men speken to bestes in his owne contree: +whereof he hadde gret mervayle: for he knewe not how it myghte be. But I +seye, that he had gon so longe, be londe and be see, that he had envyround +alle the erthe, that he was comen azen envirounynge, that is to seye, +goynge aboute, unto his owne marches, zif he wolde have passed forthe, til +he had founden his contree and his owne knouleche. Bur he turned azen from +thens, from whens he was come fro; and so he loste moche peynefulle labour, +as him self seyde, a gret while aftre, that he was comen hom. For it +befelle aftre, that he wente in to Norweye; and there tempest of the see +toke him; and he arryved in an yle; and whan he was in that yle, he knew +wel, that it was the yle, where he had herd speke his owne langage before, +and the callynge of the oxen at the plowghe: and that was possible thinge. +But how it semethe to symplemen unlerned, that men ne mowe not go undre the +erthe, and also that men scholde falle toward the hevene, from undre! But +that may not be, upon lesse, than wee mowe falle toward hevene, fro the +erthe, where wee ben. For fro what partie of the erthe, that men duelle, +outher aboven or benethen, it semethe alweys to hem that duellen, that thei +gon more righte than ony other folk. And righte as it semethe to us, that +thei ben undre us, righte so it semethe hem, that wee ben undre hem. For +zif a man myghte falle fro the erthe unto the firmament: be grettere +resoun, the erthe and the see, that ben so grete and so hevy, scholde +fallen to the firmament: but that may not be: and therfore seithe oure Lord +God, _Non timeas me, qui suspendi Terram ex nichilo?_ And alle be it that +it be possible thing, that men may so envyrone alle the world, natheles of +a 1000 persones, on ne myghte not happen to returnen in to his contree. +For, for the gretnesse of the erthe and of the see, men may go be a 1000 +and a 1000 other weyes, that no man cowde redye him perfitely toward the +parties that he cam fro, but zif it were be aventure and happ, or be the +grace of God. For the erthe is fulle large and fulle gret, and holt in +roundnesse and aboute envyroun, be aboven and be benethen 20425 myles, +aftre the opynyoun of the olde wise astronomeres. And here seyenges I +repreve noughte. But aftre my lytylle wytt, it semethe me, savynge here +reverence, that it is more. And for to have bettere understondynge, I seye +thus, Be ther ymagyned a figure, that hathe a gret compas, and aboute the +poynt of the gret compas, that is clept the centre, be made another litille +compas: then aftre, be the gret compas devised be lines in manye parties; +and that alle the lynes meeten at the centre; so that in as many parties, +as the grete compas schal be departed, in als manye schalle be departed the +litille, that is aboute the centre, alle be it that the spaces ben lesse. +Now thanne, be the gret compas represented for the firmament, and the +litille compas represented for the erthe. Now thanne the firmament is +devysed, be astronomeres, in 12 signes; and every signe is devysed in 30 +degrees, that is 360 degrees, that the firmament hathe aboven. Also, be the +erthe devysed in als many parties as the firmament; and lat every partye +answere to a degree of the firmament: and wytethe it wel, that aftre the +auctoures of astronomye, 700 fulonges of erthe answeren to a degree of the +firmament; and tho ben 87 myles and 4 furlonges. Now be that here +multiplyed by 360 sithes; and than thei ben 31500 myles, every of 8 +furlonges, aftre myles of oure contree. So moche hathe the erthe in +roundnesse, and of heght enviroun, aftre myn opynyoun and myn +undirstondynge. And zee schulle undirstonde, that aftre the opynyoun of +olde wise philosophres and astronomeres, oure contree ne Irelond ne Wales +ne Scotlond ne Norweye ne the other yles costynge to hem, ne ben not in the +superficialte cownted aboven the erthe: as it schewethe be alle the bokes +of astronomye. For the superficialtee of the erthe is departed in 7 +parties, for the 7 planetes: and tho parties ben clept clymates. And oure +parties be not of the 7 clymates; for thei ben descendynge toward the west. +And also these yles of Ynde, which beth even azenst us, beth noght reckned +in the climates; for thei ben azenst us, that ben in the lowe contree. And +the 7 clymates strecchen hem envyrounynge the world. + + +Of the Palays of the Kyng of the Yle of Java. Of the Trees, that beren + Mele, Hony, Wyn and Venym; and of othere Mervayilles and Customes, used + in the Yles marchinge thereabouten. + +[Sidenote: Cap. XVIII.] Besyde that yle that I have spoken of, there is +another yle, that is clept Sumobor, that is a gret yle: and the kyng +thereof is righte myghty. The folk of that yle maken hem alweys to ben +marked in the visage with an hote yren, bothe men and wommen, for gret +noblesse, for to ben knowen from other folk. For thei holden hem self most +noble and most worthi of alle the world. And thei han werre alle weys with +the folk that gon alle naked. And faste besyde is another yle, that is +clept Betemga, that is a gode yle and a plentyfous. And many other yles ben +there about; where ther ben many of dyverse folk: of the whiche it were to +longe to speke of alle. + +But fast besyde that yle, for to passe be see, is a gret yle a gret +contree, that men clepen Java: and it is nyghe 2000 myle in circuyt. And +the kyng of that contree is a fulle gret lord and a ryche and a myghty, and +hathe undre him 7 other kynges of 7 other yles abouten hym. This yle is +fulle wel inhabyted, and fulle wel manned. There growen alle maner of +spicerie, more plentyfous liche than in ony other contree; as of gyngevere, +clowegylofres, canelle, zedewalle, notemuges and maces. And wytethe wel, +that the notemuge berethe the maces. For righte as the note of the haselle +hathe an husk with outen, that the note is closed in, til it be ripe, and +aftre fallethe out; righte so it is of the notemuge and of the maces. Manye +other spices and many other godes growen in that yle. For of alle thing is +there plenty, saf only of wyn: but there is gold and silver gret plentee. +And the kyng of that contree hathe a paleys fulle noble and fulle +marveyllous, and more riche than ony in the world. For alle the degrez to +gon up into halles and chambres, ben on of gold, another of sylver. And +also the pavmentes of halles and chambres ben alle square, on of gold and +another of sylver: and alle the walles with inne ben covered with gold and +sylver, in fyn plates: and in tho plates ben stories and batayles of +knyghtes enleved. And the crounes and the cercles abouten here hedes ben +made of precious stones and riche perles and grete. And the halles and the +chambres of the palays ben alle covered with inne with gold and sylver: so +that no man wolde trowe the richesse of that palays, but he had seen it. +And witethe wel, that the kyng of that yle is so myghty, that he hathe many +tymes overcomen the grete Cane of Cathay in bataylle, that is the most gret +emperour that is undre the firmament, outher bezonde the see or on this +half. For thei han had often tyme werre betwene hem, be cause that the +grete cane wolde constreynen him to holden his lond of him: but that other +at alle tymes defendethe him wel azenst him. + +Aftre that yle, in goynge be see, men fynden another yle, gode and gret, +that men clepen Pathen, that is a gret kyngdom, fulle of faire cytees and +fulle of townes. In that lond growen trees, that beren mele, wherof men +maken gode bred and white, and of gode savour; and it semethe as it were of +whete, but it is not allynges of suche savour. And there ben other trees, +that beren hony, gode and swete: and other trees, that beren venym; azenst +the whiche there is no medicyne but on; and that is to taken here propre +leves, and stampe hem and tempere hem with watre, and then drynke it: and +elle he schalle dye; for triacle will not avaylle, ne non other medicyne. +Of this venym, the Jewes had let seche of on of here frendes, for to +empoysone alle Cristiantee, as I have herd hem seye in here confessioun, +before here dyenge. But thanked be alle myghty God, thei fayleden of hire +purpos: but alle weys thei maken gret mortalitee of people. And other trees +there ben also, that beren wyn of noble sentement. And zif zou like to here +how the mele comethe out of the trees, I shalle seye zou. Men hewen the +trees with an hatchet, alle aboute the fote of the tree, tille that the +bark be parted in many parties; and than comethe out ther of a thikke +lykour, the whiche thei resceyven in vesselles, and dryen it at the hete of +the sonne; and than thei han it to a mylle to grynde; and it becomethe +faire mele and white. And the hony and the wyn and the venym ben drawen out +of other trees, in the same manere, and put in veselles for to kepe. In +that yle is a ded see, that is a lake, that hathe no ground. And zif ony +thing falle in to that lake, it schalle nevere comen up azen. In that lake +growen redes, that ben cannes, that thei clepen thaby, that ben 30 fadme +long. And of theise canes men maken faire houses. And ther ben other canes, +that ben not so longe, that growen neer the lond, and han so longe rotes, +that duren wel a 4 quartres of a furlong or more; and at the knottes of tho +rotes, men fynden precious stones, that han gret vertues: and he that +berethe ony of hem upon him, yren ne steel ne may not hurt him, ne drawe no +blood upon him: and therfore thei that han tho stones upon hem, fighten +fulle hardyly, bothe on see and lond: for men may not harmen hem on no +partye. And therfore thei that knowen the manere, and schulle fighten with +hem, thei schoten to hem arwes and quarrelles with outen yren or steel; and +so thei hurten hem and sleen hem. And also of tho cannes, thei maken houses +and schippes and other thinges; as wee han here, makynge houses and +schippes of oke or of ony other trees. And deme no man, that I seye it, but +for a truffulle: for I have seen of the cannes with myn owne eyzen fulle +many tymes lyggynge upon the ryvere of that lake: of the whiche, 20 of oure +felowes ne myghten not liften up ne beren on to the erthe. + +Aftre this yle, men gon be see to another yle, that is clept Calonak: and +it is a fair lond and a plentifous of godes. And the kyng of that contrey +hath als many wyfes as he wole; for he makethe serche alle the contree, to +geten him the fairest maydens that may ben founde, and makethe hem to ben +broughte before him; and he takethe on o nyght, and another another nyght, +and so forthe contynuelle sewyng; so that he hath a 1000 wyfes or mo. And +he liggethe never but o nyght with on of hem, and another nyght with +another, but zif that on happene to ben more lusty to his plesance than +another. And therfore the kyng getethe fully many children; sum tyme an +100, sum tyme an 200, and sum tyme mo. And he hathe also into a 14000 +olifauntz or mo, that he makethe for to ben brought up amonges his +vileynes, be alle his townes. For in cas that he had ony werre azenst any +other kyng aboute him, thanne he makethe certeyn men of armes for to gon up +in to the castelles of tree, made for the werre, that craftily ben sett up +on the olifantes bakkes, for to fyghten azen hire enemyes: and so don other +kynges there aboute. For the maner of werre is not there, as it is here or +in other contrees; ne the ordinance of werre nouther. And men clepen the +olifantes, warkes. + +And in that yle there is a gret marvayle, more to speke of than in ony +other partie of the world. For alle manere of fissches, that ben there in +the see abouten hem, comen ones in the zeer, eche manere of dyverse +fissches, on maner of kynde aftre other; and thei casten hem self to the +see banke of that yle, so gret plentee and multitude, that no man may +unnethe see but fissche; and there thei abyden 3 dayes: and every man of +the contree takethe of hem, als many as him lykethe: And aftre, that maner +of fissche, after the thridde day, departethe and gothe into the see. And +aftre hem, comen another multitude of fyssche of another kynde, and don in +the same maner as the firste diden other 3 dayes. And aftre hem, another; +tille alle the dyverse maner of fissches han ben there, and that men han +taken of hem, that hem lykethe. And no man knowethe the cause wherfore it +may ben. But thei of the contree seyn, that it is for to do reverence to +here kyng, that is the most worthi kyng, that is in the world, as thei +seyn; because that he fulfillethe the comandement, that God bad to Adam and +Eve, whan God seyde, _Crescite et multplicamini et replete terram_. And for +because that he multipliethe so the world with children, therfore God +sendethe him so the fissches of dyverse kyndes, of alle that ben in the +see, to taken at his wille, for him and alle his peple. And therfore alle +the fissches of the see comen, to maken him homage, as the most noble and +excellent kyng of the world, and that is best beloved with God, als thei +seyn. I knowe not the resoun, whi it is; but God knowethe. But this, me +semethe, is the moste marveylle, that evere I saughe. For this mervaylle is +azenst kynde, and not with kynde, that the fissches, that han fredom to +enviroun alle the costes of the see, at here owne list, comen of hire owne +wille to profren hem to the dethe, with outen constreynynge of man: and +therfore I am syker, that this may not ben, with outen a gret tokene. + +There ben also in that contree a kynde of snayles, that ben so grete, that +many persones may loggen hem in here schelles, as men wolde done in a +litylle hous. And other snayles there ben, that ben fulle grete, but not so +huge as the other. And of theise snayles, and of gret white wormes, that +han blake hedes, that ben als grete as a mannes thighe, and somme lesse, as +grete wormes that men fynden there in wodes, men maken vyaunde rialle, for +the kyng and for other grete lordes. And zif a man, that is maryed, dye in +that contree, men buryen his wif with him all quyk. For men seyn there, +that it is resoun, that sche make him companye in that other world, as sche +did in this. + + +CAPVT. 30. + +De Regnis Cynocephalorum, et alijs Insulis. + +Per mare oceanum potest hinc veniri in Insulam Kaffa: [Marginal note: Vel +Caffeles.] quicunque ibi infirmari videtur ad mortem, suspenditur ad +arborem, antequam moriatur, vt non ab immundis terrae vermibus, sed a coeli +auibus, quas reputant Dei Angelos, comedatur. + +In alia insula faciunt suos infirmos ante mortem ab eductis in hoc magnis +canibus strangulari, manducantes in conuiuio carnes pro optimo ferculo +venationis. + +Interpositis quoque multis Insulis, de quibus subticeo gratia breuitatis, +habetur Insula Mylke, [Marginal note: Vel Mekke.] et hij videntur omnium +hominum crudelissimi; Nam quilibet particulariter pro leui et modica +stimulatione, vulnerat, sauciat, et occidit, proximum, vicinum et amicum: +Et si quando dissidentes contigerit concordari, non habebitur pax rata, +nisi quisque de alterius sanguine biberit bonum haustum. + +Hinc nauigando per multas et diuersas Insulas, qui in singulas intrare, et +moram trahere voluerit, stupenda multa videbit, et poterit venire in +Insulam Tracoide. [Marginal Note: Vel Traceda.] + +Illic sunt homines absque vllo ingenio penitus bestiales, serpentibus, +vermibusque vescentes, nec inuicem loquentes, sed conceptus suos signis et +indicijs ostendentes. Diligunt preciosos lapides tantummodo pulchritudinis +gratia, non causa virtutis: et super omnes vnum diligunt lapidem habentem +60. colorum varietates, qui et Tracoides vocatur propter ipsos. + +Intratur hinc per Oceanum in regionem Niconoram, vel Nacumeram, habentem in +circuitu spacium mille leucarum: omnes ibi geniti homines habent capita ad +formam canum, vnde et in Graeco Cynocephali dicuntur. Isti etiam incedunt +nudis corporibus, excepto parui panniculi operimento, secretiora loca et +posteriora retro tegente. Rationabiles tamen multum sunt hij, et plurimum +virtuosi, ac de omni forefacto rigidam iustitiam exercentes. Sunt statura +elegantes, robusti corpore, in praelijs lanceam cum tergia lata gerentes, +viriliterque, et prudenter pugnantes. Omnes pro deo adorant bouem, vnde et +quilibet in fronte argenteam seu auream similitudinem bouis defert, et si +quem viuum in praelio ceperint, sine vlla miseratione manducant. + +Rex multum est diues et potens, ac deuotus in superstitione. Nam circa +collum gestat trecentas orientales margaritas, quibus quotidie ante +commestionem orationes suas colligit, quemadmodum nos colligimus, Pater +noster, etc. Ac praeterea portat ad collum [Marginal note: Siue +carbunculum.] rubetum orientalem, nobilem, purum, pulchrum, resplendentem, +et summe preciosum, ad longitudinem pedis humani, quem habet diligenter +seruare, quod dum eo caret non tenetur pro Rege. + +Pro isto carbunculo Grand Can Imperator, per ingenium, per insidias, per +precium, et per praelium saepe laborauit, sed nihil profecit. Post istam +apparet insula Syllan, habens leucas de circuitu 80. quae paucos habet +homines propter multitudinem draconum, serpentum, crocodilorum in ea. Sunt +autem crocodili speciales serpentes, coloris virgulati de croceo et nigro, +cum quatuor cruribus, et tibijs et latis pedum vngulis. Aliqui horum habent +longitudinem quinque tensarum, aut citra, qui dum tendunt per arenosa +relinquunt signum semitae, acsi sit ibi tractus grandis arboris truncus. + +Item in hac insula habetur nons altus, et in sui vertice satis altus et +distentus et magnus aquae lacus, de quo et stulti homines fabulantur, quod +primi parentes post eiectionem suam, illam aquam primo lacrymauerunt. In +huius fundo lacus nascuntur margaritae, et habentur semper lapides preciosi. +Solentque pauperes terrae, accepta a Rege licentia, semel in anno ingredi, +ac piscari gemmas, qui intrantes vngunt se succo Lymonsae, contra hirudines, +colubros, et serpentes. Sed et de lacu effluit riuulus per montis +descensum, in quo nonnunquam margaritae inueniuntur, et gemmae: dicunt etiam +ibi nullum venenatum animal nocere aduenis. + +Ibi videntur leones albi in mira magnitudine boum nostrorum, et multae +diuersae bestiae, et aues, bestiolae, et auiculae aliarum specierum quam in +partibus istis. Nam ibi et in nonnullis alijs insulis vidi vnum mirum, de +quo prius vix credidissem narranti, videlicet anates cum duobus capitibus. + +Et sciatis quod tam hic quam alibi mare apparet satis altius suo littore, +imo qui a remotis aspicit videt suspensum quasi ad nubes. Et de hoc +admiratus fuissem, nisi quod scriptum sciui mirabiles elationes maris. + + +CAPVT. 31. + +De multis alijs Insulis Meridionalibus, de quibus et Plinius, et Munsterus. + +Versus meridien hinc legendo per mare, inuenitur regio speciosa nomine +Doudin: [Marginal note: Vel Doudeia.] cuius rex imperat seu principatur 54. +regibus in circuitu insularum. + +Dum quis hic infirmatur tendit proximus ad Idolum sciscitans an morietur, +et si respondit non, addit et dicere medicinam qua curabitur: si autem +responderit moriturum, statim conuocatis amicis occiditur, et cum +symphonia, et solemnitate comedunt eius carnes, ossa tantummodo +sepelientes. In Insulis vero circumiacentibus, habentur incredibiliter +diuersae gentes. Nam vna habet homines enormis magnitudinis, cum solo in +medio frontis oculo, qui absque vllo condimento manducant carnes et pisces. + +Alia Insula habet homines aspectu deformes, nihil autem colli aut capitis +ostendentes, vnde et Acephali nuncupantur: oculos autem habent ante ad +scapulas, et in loco pectoris os apertum ad formam ferri, quo nostri +caballi fraenantur. + +In alia Insula sunt gentes planis faciebus absque eleuatione nasorum, et +palpebratum cum paruis foraminibus oculorum, et scissura modica oris. Et in +alia gentes cum superiore oris labio ita lato et amplo, vt, dum velint, +totam faciem de illo tegant. + +Alia generat homines paruae saturae cum oris foramine sic paruo, vt per +fistulas alimentum, et potum sumant, et quoniam carent lingua et dentibus, +monstrant per naturalia signa conceptus. Et aliqui sunt homines debitae +quidem staturae, et formae, nisi quod habent pedes equinos, quibus ita sunt +praepetes, vt syluestres bestias capiant, quas comedunt, et manducant. + +In alia homines sunt toti pilosi et hispidi, vsu simiarum manibus et +pedibus ambulantes, et ad arbores reptantes, qui quamuis non loquuntur, +apparent rationabiles, qui regem habent, et rectores. + +Et in alia omnes sunt claudi, qui quamuis pedes habeant, tamen ambulant +super genua multum ridiculose, imo miserabiliter, vt de passu in passum +videantur casuri in terrem. Et in quadam, sexum tam masculinum, quam +foeminieum habentes, qui dum masculino vtuntur generant, dum foeminino, +impregnantur et pariunt. Atque, in compendio multa concludam, in singulis +54. insularum inueniuntur homines, forma, statura, actibus et moribus +singulis ab inuicem differentes, de quibus potest fieri descriptio, quam +pertranseo gratia breuitatis, et causa incredulitatis forte quorundum +audientium. + +In istis autem meridionalibus partibus apparebat mihi eleuatio poli +Antarctici 33. graduum, cum 16. minutis. Et sciendum quod in Bohemia, +similiter in Anglia eleuatur polus Arcticus 52. gradibus vel citra: Et in +partibus magis septentrionalibus, vbi sunt Scoti 62. gradibus cum quatuor +minutis. Ex quo patet respiciendo ad latitudinem coeli, quae est de polo ad +polum, quod itineratio mea fuit per quartum Horizontis spherae terrae et +vltra, per quinque gradus, cum 20. minutis. Cum ergo secundum Astrologos, +totus terrae circuitus sit 31500. milliarium, octo stadijs pro milliario +computatis, et septinginta stadia respondeant ad vnum gradum, quod patet ad +latitudinem terrae, perambulaui 66733. stadia cum vno tertio, quae faciunt +4170. leucas Geometricas cum dimidia vel prope. + + +CAPVT. 32. + +De bona Regione Man chus. [Footnote: Mangi.] + +Cum igitur tot et talsa in istis Insulis vidimus monstra (quae si explicarem +scribendo vix a legentibus omnia crederentur) non curauimus vlterius +procedere sub polo australi, ne in maiora pericula incideremus: sed propter +auditam et inuisam nobis famositatem potentiae, nobilitatis, et gloriae +Imperatoris Tartarorum, vertebam faciem cum socijs nauigare magis versus +Orientem. Cumque per multas diaetas sustinuissemus multa pericula maris, +peruenimus in Regnum Manchus, [Marginal Note: Vel Mangi.] quod est in +confinibus superioris Indiae, et iungitur ab vna parte Tartariae. Haec Regio +Manchus, pro sui quantitate reputatur melior, delectabilior, et omnium +bonorum abundantior de cunctis ibi prope Regionibus. Nam et homines bestiae, +et volucres maiores et corpulentiores sunt alijs, et prae vbertate vix +inuenirentur in vna ciuitate decem mendici. Formosi sunt viri, sed feminae +formosiores. Sed viri loco barbae, habent perpaucos pilos, rigidos, et +longos ab vtraque oris parte, quemadmodum nostros videmus cattos habere. + +Prima quam ingrediebaumer ciuitas est Lachori, [Marginal Note: Siue +Lateryn.] distans vna dieta a mari, et mirabamur, et gauisi sumus nos +inuenisse integram ciuitatem Christianae fidei. Nam et maior pars Regni +credit in Christum. + +Ibi habetur in leui precio copia rerum omnium, et praecipue victualium: vnum +genus est ibi serpentum in abundantia quod manducant ad omne conuiuium, et +nisi pro finali ferculo ministraretur de illis serpentibus, conuiuium quam +modicum diceretur. + +Suntque per hoc regnum pleraeque ciuitates et Ecclesiae, et relligiones, quas +instituit dux Ogerus, quia hoc est vnum de quindecim regnis quae quaesiuit, +sicut infra dicetur. + +Illic sunt elegantes albae gallinae, quae non vestiuntur plumis vt nostraae, +sed optima lana. Canes aquatici, quos nos lutras nominamus, sunt ibi multi +edomiti, quod quoties mittuntur in flumen, exportant domino piscem. + +Ab hoc loco per aliquas diaetas, venitur ad huius regionis maximam vrbem +Cansay, hoc est dicere ciuitatem coeli, imo de vniuerso orbe terrarum +putatur haec maxima Ciuitatum; nam eius circuitus 50. leucis est mensus, nec +est facile dicere, quam, compresse a quamplurimis populis inhabitatur. Haec +sedet in lacu maris, quemadmodum, et Venetiae: et habentur in ea plures quam +mille ducenti pontes, et in quolibet turres mirae magnitudinis, ac +fortitudinis, munitae peruigili custodia, et pro vrbe tuenda contra +Imperatorem Grand Can. + +Multi sunt ibi Christiani, et multae Religiones Christianorum, sed et de +ordinibus Minorum, et praedicatorum, qui tamen ibi non mendicant; est magna +pluralitas ex diuersis nationibus Mercatorum. Per Regionem nascitur vinum +valde bonum, quod appellatur Bigon. Et ad leucam extra ciuitatem, Abbatia +magna est, non de religione Christiana sed Pagana: et in ea forrestum, siue +hortus magnus vndique circumclusus, consitus arboribus, et arbustis, in +cuius etiam medio mons, altus simul et latus, habens hortum vbi solum +inhabitant bestiolae mirabiles, sicut Simiae, marmotae, Lanbon, papiones, +foreti et huiusmodi ad varia et multa genera, et ad numerum infinitum. + +Omni autem die post refectionem conuentus Abbatiae, qui est valde +monachosus, deferuntur reliquiae ciborum cum magno additamento, in vasis +auro lucentibus ad hunc hortum: et ad sonitum campanae argenteae, quam +Eleemosynarius manu gestat descendentes, et occurrentes de bestiolis duo +millia aut plures sese componunt residere ad circulum more pauperum +mendicorum, et traditur singulis per seruos aliquid de his cibarijs, ac +denuo audita campana segregando recurrunt: Cumque nos tanquam redarguentes, +diceremus, cur haec non darentur egenis, responderunt, illic pauperes non +habentur, quod si inuenirentur, potius tamen dari deberent bestiolis. Habet +enim eorum perfidia, et Paganissimus, animas nobilium hominum post mortem +ingredi corpora nobilium bestiarum, et animas ignobilium corpora bestiarum +ignobilium et vilium, ad luenda videlicet crimina, donec peracta +poenitentia transeant in Paradisum: ideoque nutriunt, prout dicunt, has +nobiliores bestias, siue bestiolas, quod a quibusdam nobilibus fundabatur +in principio haec Abbatia. Multa sunt alia mira in hac ciuitate, de quibus +sciatis, quod non omnia vobis recitabo. + + +CAPVT. 33. + +De Pygmaeis, et de itinere vsque in prouinciam Cathay. + +Eundo per Regionem eandem a dicta ciuitate Cansay, ad sex dietas venitur ad +nobilem vrbem Tylenso, [Marginal Note: Vel Chezolo.] cuius muri per +circuitum tendunt ad spacium 20. leucarum: [Marginal Note: Vel Miliarium.] +et sunt 60. petrini pontes, quibus nullos memini pulchriores. + +In ista fuit prima sedes regni Mangi, nec immerito, cum sit munita, +delectabilis, et abundans omnibus bonis, ac deinde in predicta Cansay, nunc +autem tenetur in quadam alia ciuitate. + +Nota, quilibet ignis soluit quolibet anno vnum balis pro tributo, quod +valet vnum florenum cum dimidio, sed omnes famuli de domo vna pro vno igne +computantur: summa ignium tributalium, octies centum millia. Reliqui vero +Christiani mercatores, in isto vico non computantur. Copia est ibi +victualium. + +Quatuor fratres minores vnum potentem conuertebant apud quem hospitabar, et +qui duxit me ad Abbatiam istam, ibi vidi scilicet quod hic narratur. + +Ad fines itaque regni Mangi transitur grandis fluuius de Dylay, [Marginal +note: Vel de Delay.] maius flumen mundi, vbi strictius est continet septem +miliaria Odericus: cuius alueus in loco districtiori continet quatuor +leucas. Et ex hoc in breui temporis spacio intratur Imperium Tartarorum, +sequendo fluuium vsque in terram Pygmeorum, per cuius medium transit. + +Hij Pygmei sunt homines statura breues ad longitudinem nostri brachij, seu +trium manuum expansarum. Tam mares quam feminae formosae et gratiosae, et +viuunt communiter ad annos sex vel septem: si qui pertingunt ad octo, mire +putantur senectutis. Ad dimidiam anni aetatem nubere possunt, in secundo +anno parturiunt: rationalis sunt, et sensati iuxta aetatem pusillam, ac +satis ingeniosi ad opera de serico, et de lana arboris. Frequenter +praeliantur contra aues grandes patriae, exercitibus congregatis hinc inde, +et fit strages vtrimque. Haec gens tam parua optime operatur sericum et +bombycem. Isti Pygmei venerunt mihi obuiam chorizando. Non laborant terram, +praedia, seu vineas, sed morantur inter eos nostrae quantitatis homines, qui +eos incolunt, sicut serui, quos et Pygmaei saepe derident, quia sunt ipsis +maiores: et quod ipse non cesso mirari dum dicti homines in illa terra +generant vel pariunt, non crescit proles supra Pygmaei staturam: Insula non +est protensa, sed forte 12. ciuitatum. Quarum vna est grandis, et bene +munita, et quam Grand Can facit cum fortibus armaturis curiose seruari, +contra regem Mangi. + +Hinc proceditur per Imperium Grand Can, ad multas ciuitates, et villas +morum mirabiliter diuersorum, vsque in regnum Iamchan, quod est vnum de 12. +prouincijs maximis, quibus distinguitur totum Imperium Tartarorum. + +Nobilior ciuitas huius Regni seu Prouinciae dicitur Iamchan, abundans +mercimonijs, et diuitijs infinitis, et multa praestans proprio Regi tributa, +quoniam sicut illi de ciuitate fatentur, valet annue regi quinquaginta +milia cuman florenorum auri. + +Nota. In Iamchan ciuitate est conuentus fratrum minorum: in hac sunt tres +Ecclesiae Monasteriorum: reditus simul ascendit ad 12. cuman. Odericus +dixit, Vnus cuman est decem millium. Summa tributi annui, quinquaginta +milia millium Florenorum. In illis namque partibus magnus numerorum summas +estimant per cuman, numerum 10. millium qui et in Flamingo dicitur laste. + +Ad quinque leucas ab hac ciuitate est alia dicta Meke, in qua fiunt de +quodam albissimi genere ligni naues maxtimae cum aulis et thalamis, ac +multis aedificijs, tanquam Palatium tellure fundatum. + +Inde per idem regnum ad viam octo dietarum per aquam dulcem, multas per +ciuitates, et bonas villas, venimus Laucherim, [Marginal note: Siue +Lanterin.] (Odericus appellat Leuyim,) vrbem formosam opumque magnarum, +sitam super flumen magnum Cacameran. [Marginal note: Vel Caremoron.] Hoc +flumen transit per medium Cathay, cui aqua infert damnum, quando nimis +inundat, sicut palus in Ferraria, Mogus in Herbipoli: et illud sequentes +intrauimus principalem prouinciam Imperij Tartariae, dictam Cathay Calay: et +ista prouincia est multum distenta, ac plena ciuitatibus, et oppidis bonis, +et magnis omnibusque referta mercimonijs, maxime sericosis operibus, et +aromaticis speciebus. + +Nauigando per dictum flumen versus Orientem, et itinerando per hanc Cathay +prouinciam ad multas dietas per plurimas vrbes et villas, venitur in +ciuitatem Sugarmago, [Marginal note: Engarmago.] abundantiorem omnibus in +mercemoniis antedictis, quando sericum est hic vilissimum: quadragintae +librae habentur ibi pro decem florenis. + +Ab hac ciuitate, multis ciuitatibtus peregratis versus Orientem, veni ad +ciuitatem Cambalu, quae est antiqua in prouincia Cathay: Hanc postquam +Tartari ceperunt, ad dimidium miliare fecerunt vnam ciuitatem nomine Caydo, +et habet duodecim portas, et a porta in portam duo sunt grossa miliaria +Lombardica, spacium inter medium istarum ciuitatum habitatoribus plenum +est, et circuitus cuiuslibet istarum ambit 60. miliaria Lombardica, quae +faciunt octo Teutonica. + +In hac ciuitate Cambalu residet Imperator Magnus Can, Rex Regum +terrestrium, et Dominus Dominorum terrestrium. Atque inde vlterius in +Orientem intratur vetus vrbs Caydo, vbi communiter tenet suam sedem +Imperialem Grand Can in suo palatio. Ambitus autem vrbis Caydo, est viginti +fere leucarum, duodecim habens portas a se distantes amplius quam stadia +24. + + +The English Version. + +From that contree, men gon be the see occean, be an yle that is clept +Caffolos. Men of that contree, whan here frendes ben seke, thei hangen hem +upon trees; and seyn, that it is bettre, that briddes, that ben angeles of +God, eten hem, than the foule wormes of the erthe. + +From that yle men gon to another yle, where the folk ben of fulle cursed +kynde: for thei norysschen grete dogges, and techen hem to strangle here +frendes, whan thei ben syke: for thei wil noughte, that thei dyen of +kyndely dethe: for thei seyn, that thei scholde suffren to gret peyne, zif +thei abyden to dyen be hem self, as nature wolde: and whan thei ben thus +enstrangled, thei eten here flesche, in stede of venysoun. + +Aftreward men gon be many yles be see, unto an yle, that men clepen Milke: +and there is a fulle cursed peple: for thei delyten in ne thing more, than +for to fighten and to sle men. And thei drynken gladlyest mannes blood, the +whiche thei clepen dieu. And the mo men that a man may slee, the more +worschipe he hathe amonges hem. And zif 2 persones ben at debate, and +peraventure ben accorded be here frendes or be sumn of here alliance, it +behovethe that every of hem, that schulle ben accorded, drynke of otheres +blood: and elle the accord ne the alliance is noghte worthe, ne it schalle +not be ne repref to him to breke the alliance and the accord, but zif every +of hem drynke of otheres blood. + +And from that yle, men gon be see, from yle to yle, unto an yle, that is +clept Tracoda; where the folk of that contree ben as bestes and +unresonable, and duellen in caves, that thei maken in the erthe; for thei +have no wytt to maken hem houses. And whan thei seen ony man passynge +thorghe here contrees, thei hyden hem in here caves. And thei eten flesche +of serpentes; and thei eten but litille, and thei speken nought; but thei +hissen, as serpentes don. And thei sette no prys be no richesse, but only +of a precyous ston, that is amonges hem, that is of 60 coloures. And for +the name of the yle, thei clepen it Tracodon. And thei loven more that +ston, than ony thing elle: and zit thei knowe not the vertue thereof: but +thei coveyten it and loven it only for the beautee. + +Aftre that yle, men gon be the see occean, be many yles, unto an yle, that +is clept Nacumera; that is a gret yle and good and fayr: and it is in +kompas aboute, more than a 1000 myle. And alle the men and wommen of that +yle han houndes hedes: and thei ben clept Cynocephali: and thei ben fulle +resonable and of gode undirstondynge, saf that thei worschipen an ox for +here god. And also everyche of hem berethe an ox of gold or of sylver in +his forhed, in tokene that thei loven wel here god. And thei gon alle +naked, saf a litylle clout, that thei coveren with here knees and hire +membres. Thei ben grete folk and wel fyghtynge; and thei han a gret targe, +that coverethe alle the body, and a spere in here hond to fighte with. And +zif thei taken ony man in bataylle, anon thei eten him. The kyng of that +yle is fulle riche and fulle myghty, and righte devout aftre his lawe: and +he hathe abouten his nekke 360 perles oryent, gode and grete, and knotted, +as Pater Nostres here of amber. And in maner as wee seyn oure Pater Noster +and oure Ave Maria, cowntyng the Pater Nosters, right so this kyng seythe +every day devoutly 300 preyeres to his god, or that he ete: and he berethe +also aboute his nekke a rubye oryent, noble and fyn, that is a fote of +lengthe, and fyve fyngres large. And whan thei chesen here kyng, thei taken +him that rubye, to beren in his hond, and so thei leden him rydynge alle +abouten the cytee. And fro thens fromward, thei ben alle obeyssant to him. +And that rubye he schalle bere alle wey aboute his nekke: for zif he hadde +not that rubye upon him, men wolde not holden him for kyng. The grete Cane +of Cathay hathe gretly coveted that rubye; but he myghte never han it, for +werre ne for no maner of godes. This kyng is so rightfulle and of equytee +in his doomes, that men may go sykerlyche thorghe out alle his contree, and +bere with him what him list, that no man schalle ben hardy to robben hem: +and zif he were, the kyng wolde iustifyed anon. + +Fro this lond men gon to another yle, that is clept Silha: and it is welle +a 800 myles aboute. In that lond is fulle mochelle waste; for it is fulle +of serpentes, of dragouns and of cokadrilles; that no man dar duelle there. +Theise cocodrilles ben serpentes, zalowe and rayed aboven, and han 4 feet +and schorte thyes and grete nayles, as clees or talouns; and there ben +somme that han 5 fadme in lengthe, and summe of 6 and of 8, and of 10: and +whan thei gon be places, that ben gravelly, it semethe as thoughe men hadde +drawen a gret tree thorghe the gravelly place. And there ben also many +wylde bestes, and namelyche of olyfauntes. In that yle is a gret mountayne; +and in mydd place of the mount, is a gret lake in a fulle faire pleyne, and +there is a gret plentee of watre. And thei of the contree seyn, that Adam +and Eve wepten upon that mount an 100 zeer, whan thei weren dryven out of +Paradys. And that watre, thei seyn, is of here teres: for so moche watre +thei wepten, that made the forseyde lake. And in the botme of that lake, +men fynden many precious stones and grete perles. In that lake growen many +reedes and grete cannes; and there with inne ben many cocodrilles and +serpentes and grete watre leches. And the kyng of that contree, ones every +zeer, zevethe leve to pore men to gon in to the lake, to gadre hem precyous +stones and perles, be weye of alemesse, for the love of God, that made +Adam. And alle the zeer, men fynde y nowe. And for the vermyn, that is with +inne, thei anoynte here armes and here thyes and legges with an oynement, +made of a thing that is clept lymons, that is a manere of fruyt, lyche +smale pesen: and thanne have thei no drede of no cocodrilles, ne of non +other venymous vermyn. This watre rennethe, flowynge and ebbynge, be a syde +of the mountayne: and in that ryver men fynden precious stones and perles, +gret plentee. And men of that yle seyn comounly, that the serpentes and the +wilde bestes of that contree ne will not don non harm, ne touchen with +evylle, no strange man, that entrethe into that contree, but only to men +that ben born of the same contree. In that contree and othere there +abouten, there ben wylde gees, that han 2 hedes: and there ben lyouns alle +white, and als grete as oxen, and many other dyverse bestes, and foules +also, that be not seyn amonges us. And witethe wel, that in that contree +and in othere yles there abouten, the see is to highe, that it semethe as +though it henge at the clowdes, and that it wolde covere alle the world: +and that is gret mervaylle, that it myghte be so, saf only the wille of +God, that the eyr susteynethe it. And therfore seyth David in the Psautere, +_Mirabiles elationes Maris_. + + +How men knowen be the Ydole, zif the sike schalle dye or non. Of folk of + dyverse schap and merveylously disfigured: And of the Monkes, that zeven + hire releef to Babewynes, Apes and Marmesettes and to other Bestes. + +[Sidenote: Cap. XIX.] From that yle, in goynge be see, toward the southe, +is another gret yle, that is clept Dondun. In that yle ben folk of dyverse +kyndes; so that the fadre etethe the sone, the sone the fadre, the husbonde +the wif, and the wif the husbonde. And zif it so befall, that the fadre or +modre or ony of here frendes ben seke, anon the son gothe to the prest of +here law, and preyethe him to aske the ydole, zif his fadre or modre or +frend schalle dye on that evylle or non. And than the prest and the sone +gone to gydere before the ydole, and knelen fulle devoutly, and asken of +the ydole here demande. And zif the devylle, that is with inne, answere, +that he schalle lyve, thei kepen him wel: and zif he seye, that he schalle +dye, then the prest gothe with the sonne, with the wif of him that is +seeke, and thei putten here hondes upon his mouthe, and stoppon his brethe, +and so thei sleen him. And aftre that, thei choppen alle the body in smale +peces, and preyen alle his frendes to comen and eten of him, that is ded: +and thei senden for alle the mynstralle of the contree, and maken a +solempne feste. And whan thei han eten the flessche, thei taken the bones, +and buryen hem, and syngen and maken gret melodye. And alle tho that ben of +his kyn, or pretenden hem to ben his frendes, and thei come not to that +feste, thei ben repreved for evere and schamed, and maken gret doel; for +nevere aftre schulle thei ben holden as frendes. And thei seyn also, that +men eten here flesche, for to delyveren hem out of peyne. For zif the +wormes of the erthe eten hem, the soule scholde suffre gret peyne, as thei +seyn; and namely, whan the flesche is tendre and megre, thanne seyn here +frendes, that thei don gret synne, to leten hem have so long langure, to +suffre so moche peyne, with oute resoun. And whan thei fynde the flessche +fatte, than thei seyn, that it is wel don, to senden him sone to paradys; +and that thei have not suffred him to longe, to endure in peyne. The kyng +of this yle is a ful gret lord and a myghty; and hathe undre him 54 grete +yles, that zeven tribute to him: and in everyche of theise yles, is a kyng +crowned, and alle ben obeyssant to that kyng. And he hathe in tho yles many +diverse folk. In one of theise yles ben folk of gret stature, as Geauntes; +and thei ben hidouse for to loke upon; and thei han but on eye, and that is +in the myddylle of the front; and thei eten no thing but raw flessche and +raw fyssche. + +And in another yle, toward the southe, duellen folk of foule suture and of +cursed kynde, that han no hedes: and here eyen ben in here scholdres. + +And in another yle ben folk, that han the face all platt, alle pleyn, with +outen nese and with outen mouthe: but thei han 2 smale holes alle round, in +stede of hire eyen: and hire mouthe is plait also, with outen lippes. + +And in another yle ben folk of foul fasceon and schapp, that han the lippe +above the mouthe so gret, that whan thei slepen in the sonne, thei keveren +alle the face with that lippe. + +And in another yle, ther ben litylle folk, as dwerghes; and thei ben to so +meche as the pygmeyes, and thei han no mouthe, but in stede of hire mouthe, +thei han a lytylle round hole: and whan thei schulle eten or drynken, thei +taken thorghe a pipe or a penne or suche a thing, and sowken it in: for +thei han no tonge; and therfore thei speke not, but thei maken a maner of +hissynge, as a neddre doth, and thei maken signes on to another, as monkes +don; be the whiche, every of hem undirstondethe other. + +And in another yle ben folk, that han gret eres and longe, that hangen doun +to here knees. + +And in another yle ben folk, that han hors feet; and thei ben stronge and +myghty and swift renneres; for thei taken wyld bestes with rennyng, and +eten hem. + +And in another yle ben folk, that gon upon hire hondes and hire feet, as +bestes: and thei ben alle skynned and fedred, and thei wolde lepen als +lightly in to trees, and fro tree to tree, as it were squyrelles or apes. + +And in another yle ben folk that ben bothe man and womman: and thei han +kynde of that on and of that other; and thei han but o pappe on the o syde, +and on that other non: and thei han membres of generacioun of man and +womman; and thei usen bothe, whan hem list, ones that on, and another tyme +that other: and thei geten children, whan thei usen the membre of man; and +thei bere children, whan thei usen the membre of womman. + +And in another yle ben folk, that gon alle weyes upon here knees, ful +merveylously; and at every pas that thei gon, it semethe that thei wolde +falle: and thei han in every foot, 8 toes. + +Many other dyverse folk of dyverse nature ben there in other yles abouten, +of the whiche it were to longe to telle: and therfore I passe over +schortly. + +From theise yles, in passynge be the see occean toward the est, be many +iourneyes, men fynden a gret contree and a gret kyngdom, that men clepen +Mancy: and that is in Ynde the more: and it is the beste lond, and on of +the fairest, that may be in alle the world, and the most delectable, and +the most plentifous of all godes, that is in power of man. In that lond +duellen many Cristene men and Sarrazynes: for it is a gode contree and a +gret. And there ben there inne mo than 2000 grete cytees and riche, with +outen other grete townes. And there is more plentee of peple there, than in +ony other partie of Ynde; for the bountee of the contree. In that contree +is no nedy man, ne none that gothe on beggynge. And thei ben fulle faire +folk: but thei ben all pale. And the men han thynne berdes and fewe heres; +but thei ben longe: but unethe hathe ony man passynge 50 heres in his berd; +and on heer sitt here, another there, as the berd of a lyberd or of a catt. +In that lond ben many fairere wommen, than in ony other contree bezonde the +see: and therfore men clepen that lond Albanye; because that the folk ben +whyte. And the chief cytee of that contree is clept Latoryn; and it is a +iourneye from the see: and it is moche more than Parys. In that cytee is a +gret ryvere, berynge schippes, that gon to alle the costes in the see. No +cytee of the world is so wel stored of schippes, as is that. And alle tho +of the cytee and of the contree worschipen ydoles. In that contree ben +double sithes more briddes than ben here. There ben white gees, rede aboute +the nekke, and thei han a gret crest, as a cokkes comb upon hire hedes: and +thei ben meche more there, than thei ben here; and men byen hem there alle +quykke, right gret chepe. And there is gret plentee of neddres, of whom men +maken grete festes, and eten hem at grete sollempnytees. And he that +makethe there a feste, be it nevere so costifous, and he have no neddres, +he hathe no thanke for his travaylle. + +Many gode cytees there ben in that contree, and men han gret plentee and +gret chep of alle wynes and vitailles. In that contree ben manye chirches +of religious men, and of here lawe: and in tho chirches been ydoles, als +grete as geauntes. And to theise ydoles thei zeven to ete, at grete +festyfulle dayes, in this manere. Thei bryngen before hem mete alle soden, +als hoot as thei comen fro the fuyr, and thei leten the smoke gon up +towardes the ydoles; and than thei seyn, that the ydoles han eten; and than +the religious men eten the mete aftrewardes. In that contree been white +hennes withouten fetheres: but thei beren white wolle, as scheep don here. +In that contree, wommen that ben unmaryed, thei han tokenes on hire hedes, +lyche coronales, to ben knowen for unmaryed. Also in that contree, ther ben +bestes, taughte of men to gon in to watres, in to ryveres and in to depe +stankes, for to take fysche; the whiche best is but lytille, and men clepen +hem loyres. And whan men casten hem in to the watre, anon thei bringen up +gret fissches, als manye as men wold. And zif men wil have mo, thei cast +hem in azen, and thei bryngen up als many as men list to have. + +And fro that cytee, passynge many iourneyes, is another cytee, on of the +grettest of the world, that men clepen Cassay; that is to seyne, the Cytee +of Hevene. That cytee is well a 50 myle aboute, and it is strongliche +enhabyted with peple, in so moche that in on house men maken 10 housholdes. +In that cytee ben 12 princypalle zates; and before every zate, a 3 myle or +a 4 myle in lengthe, is a gret toun, or a gret cytee. That cytee sytt upon +a gret lake on the see; as dothe Venyse. And in that cytee ben mo than +12000 brigges: and upon every brigge, ben stronge toures and gode; in the +whiche duellen the wardeynes, for to kepen the cytee fro the gret Cane. And +on that o part of the cytee, rennethe a gret ryvere alle along the cytee. +And there duellen Cristene men, and many marchauntes and other folk of +dyverse natyouns: be cause that the lond is so gode and so plentifous. And +there growethe fulle gode wyn, that men clepen Bigon, that is fulle myghty +and gentylle in drynkynge. This is a cytee ryalle, where the Kyng of Mancy +was wont to duelle: and there duellen many religious men, as it were of the +order of freres: for thei ben mendyfauntes. + +From that cytee, men gon be watre, solacynge and disportynge hem, tille +thei come to an abbey of monkes, that is faste bye, that ben gode religious +men, after here feythe and lawe. In that abbeye is a gret gardyn and a +fair, where ben many trees of dyverse manere of frutes: and in this gardyn, +is a lytille hille, fulle of delectable trees. In that hille and in that +gardyn, ben many dyverse bestes, as of apes, marmozettes, babewynes, and +many other dyverse bestes. And every day, whan the covent of this abbeye +hathe eten, the awmener let bere the releef to the gardyn, and he smytethe +on the gardyn zate with a clyket of sylver, that he holdethe in his hond, +and anon alle the bestes of the hille and of dyverse places of the gardyn, +comen out, a 3000 or a 4000; and thei comen in gyse of pore men: and men +zeven hem the releef, in faire vesselles of sylver, clene over gylt. And +whan thei han eten, the monk smytethe eft sones on the gardyn zate with the +clyket; and than anon alle the bestes retornen azen to here places, that +thei come fro. And thei seyn, that theise bestes ben soules of worthi men, +that resemblen in lyknesse of the bestes, that ben faire: and therfore thei +zeve hem mete, for the love of God. And the other bestes that ben foule, +they seyn, ben soules of pore men and of rude comouns. And thus thei +beleeven, and no man may putte hem out of this opynyoun. Theise bestes +aboveseyd, thei let taken, whan thei ben zonge, and norisschen hem so with +almesse; als manye, as thei may fynde. And I asked hem, zif it had not ben +better, to have zoven that releef to pore men, rathere than to the bestes. +And thei answerde me and seyde, that thei hadde no pore men amonges hem, in +that contree: and thoughe it had ben so, that pore men had ben among hem, +zit were it gretter almesse, to zeven it to tho soules, that don there here +penance. Many other marveylles ben in that cytee and in the contree there +aboute, that were to long to telle zou. + +Fro that cytee, go men be the contree a 6 iourneyes, to another cytee, that +men clepen Chilenfo: of the whiche cytee, the walles ben 20 myle aboute. In +that cytee ben 60 brigges of ston, so faire, that no man may see fairere. +In that cytee was the firste sege of the Kyng of Mancy: for it is a faire +cytee, and plenteeyous of alle godes. + +Aftre passe men overthwart a gret ryvere, that men clepen Dalay: and that +is the grettest ryvere of fressche water, that is in the world. For there, +as it is most narow, it is more than a myle of brede. And thanne entren men +azen into the lond of the grete Chane. That ryvere gothe thorghe the lond +of Pigmaus: where that the folk ben of litylle stature, that ben but 3 span +long: and thei ben right faire and gentylle, aftre here quantytees, bothe +the men and the wommen. And thei maryen hem, whan thei ben half zere of +age, and geten children. And thei lyven not, but 6 zeer or 7 at the moste. +And he that lyvethe 8 zeer men holden him there righte passynge old. Theise +men ben the beste worcheres of gold, sylver, cotoun, sylk, and of alle +suche thinges, of ony other, that be in the world. And thei han often tymes +werre with the briddes of the contree, that thei taken and eten. This +litylle folk nouther labouren in londes ne in vynes. But thei han grete men +amonges hem, of oure stature, that tylen the lond, and labouren amonges the +vynes for hem. And of tho men of oure stature, han thei als grete skorne +and wondre, as we wolde have among us of geauntes, zif thei weren amonges +us. There is a gode cytee, amonges othere, where there is duellynge gret +plentee of tho lytylle folk: and it is a gret cytee and a faire, and the +men ben grete, that duellen amonges hem: but whan thei geten ony children, +thei ben als litylle as the pygmeyes: and therfore thei ben alle, for the +moste part, alle pygmeyes; for the nature of the lond is suche. The grete +Cane let kepe this cytee fulle wel: for it is his. And alle be it, that the +pygmeyes ben lytylle, zit thei ben fulle resonable, aftre here age, and +connen bothen wytt and gode and malice, y now. + +Fro that cytee, gon men be the contree, be many cytees and many townes, +unto a cytee, that men clepen Jamchay: and it is a noble cytee and a riche, +and of gret profite to the lord: and thidre go men to sechen marchandise of +alle manere of thing. That cytee is fulle moche worthe zerly to the lord of +the contree. For he hathe every zere to rente of that cytee (as thei of the +cytee seyn) 50000 cumantz of floreyns of gold: for thei cownten there alle +be cumanz: and every cumant is 10000 floryns of gold. Now may men wel +rekene, how moche that it amountethe. The kyng of that contree is fulle +myghty: and zit he is undre the grete Cane. And the gret Cane hathe undre +him 12 such provynces. In that contree, in the gode townes, is a gode +custom. For whoso wille make a feste to ony of his frendes, there ben +certeyn innes in every gode toum; and he that wil make the feste, wil seye +to the hostellere, arraye for me, to morwe, a gode dyner, for so many folk; +and tellethe him the nombre; and devysethe him the viaundes: and he seythe +also, thus moche I wil dispende, and no more. And anon the hostellere +arrayethe for him, so faire and so wel and so honestly, that ther schalle +lakke no thing. And it schalle be don sunnere, and with lasse cost, than +and a man made it in his owne hous. + +And a 5 myle fro that cytee, toward the hed of the ryvere of Dalay, is +another cytee, that men clepen Menke. In that cytee is strong navye of +schippes; and alle ben white as snow, of the kynde of the trees, that thei +ben made offe. And thei ben fulle grete schippes, and faire, and wel +ordeyned, and made with halles and chambres, and other eysementes, as +thoughe it were on the lond. + +Fro thens go men be many townes and many cytees, thorghe the contree, unto +a cytee, that men clepen Lanteryne: and it is an 8 iourneyes from the cytee +aboveseyd. This cytee sitt upon a faire ryvere, gret and brood, that men +clepen Caramaron. This ryvere passethe thorghe out Cathay: and it dothe +often tyme harm, and that fulle gret, whan it is over gret. + + +Of the grete Chane of Chatay. Of the Rialtee of his Palays, and how he sitt + at Mete; and of the grete nombre of Officeres, that serven hym. + +[Sidenote: Cap. XX.] Chatay is a gret contree and a faire, noble and riche, +and fulle of marchauntes. Thidre gon marchaundes alle zeres, for to sechen +spices and alle manere of marchandises, more comounly than in ony other +partye. And zee schulle undirstonde, that marchaundes, that comen fro Gene +or fro Venyse or fro Romanye, or other partyes of Lombardye, thei gon be +see and be lond 11 monethes, or 12, or more sum tyme, or thei may come to +the yle of Cathay, that is the princypalle regyoun of alle partyes bezonde; +and it is of the grete Cane. + +Fro Cathay go men toward the est, be many iourneyes: and than men fynden a +gode cytee, betwene theise othere, that men clepen Sugarmago. That cytee is +on of the beste stored of sylk and other marchandises, that is in the +world. Aftre go men zit to another old cytee, toward the est: and it is in +the provynce of Cathay. And besyde that cytee, the men of Tartarye han let +make another cytee, that is clept Caydon; and it hathe 12 zates: and +betwene the two zates, there is alle weyes a gret myle; so that the 2 +cytees, that is to seyne, the olde and the newe, han in circuyt more than +20 myle. + + +CAPVT. 34. + +De pallatio Imperatoris Grand Can. + +Palatium Imperatoris Grand Can, quod est in Caydo ciuitate, continet in +circuitu proprij muralis vltra duas leucas, et sunt in eo aulae quam plures, +in forma nobiles, et in materia nobiliores. Aula autem sedis, quae est +maxime caeterarum, habet intrinsecus pro sui sustentatione 24. aereas +columnas factas opere fusorio, de auro puro, et omnes parietes ab intus +opertas pellibus quorundam animalium, quae vocantur Pantheres: hae sanguinei +sunt coloris, et ita remicantes, vt Sole desuper relucente; vix oculus +valeat humanus sufferre splendorem, tantaeque fragantiae, vt illi approximare +non posset aer infectus, vnde et ista opertura parietum appreciatur super +tegmen aurearum laminarum. + +Namque stultorum aliqui Paganorum huiusmodi adorant animalia propter +colorum, odorumque virtutem. Proposui retrahere calamum a describenda +nobilitate, gubernatione et ministrantium frequentia, atque Imperatoris +magnificentia: attamen quia coepi ego, propter incredulos, et nescios, ac +inerudibiles, non dimittam in toto. Quicunque enim nihil credunt, nihil +sciunt, neque erudiri possunt, Scriptura testante, si non credideritis non +intelligetis. Dico ergo, et vere dico, quod in huius aulae capite sit +thronus, vel sedes Imperialis, excelsus et eminens in ascensu graduum +quamplurium, in quo residere solet in plenaria maiestate, in cuius throni +toto corpore nihil apparet minus nobile, auro, margaritis, gemmis, et +lapidibus preciosis. Singuli gradus sunt de singulis, ac inter se diuersis +magnis lapidibus, vtpote primus de Haematisto, alius de Sardio, et alius de +Chrysolito, et sic vsque ad supremum gradum, qui singuli ad formam cuiusque +gradus sunt circumfusi, et clusorio opere firmati, auro solido, et +nihilominus per superficiem auri, distincte seminati, firmiterque inclusi +lapilli cari, cum orientalibus Margaritis, summitas autem cum ferculo +residentiae in nobilitate excisionis, et fabrifactura operis tam diuersa +est, et mira, vt paruitatem mei ingenij excedat, quamobrem et ei cedo, +vlteriusque procedo. + +Ad Imperatoris sinistram gradu vno bassior, est sedes suae primae coniugis, +tota de iaspidibus auro circumfusis, et in superficie aulae distinctae +gemmulae cum granellis eodem schemate, et similiter de iaspide. Sed adhuc +submissior vno gradu est sedes coniugis secundae, nec non et sub illa vxoris +tertiae. Nam tres proprias secum habet vxores, Odericus dicit, istas duas +concubinas. Itemque resident sub tertia coniuge nobiles mulieres de +Imperatoris progenie, iuxta illustriam vniuscuiusque. + +Et notandum, quod per totam patriam singulae mulieres maritatae, vt +intelligantur maritis subiectae, et vt discernantur a solutis, gestant in +capitis summitate similitudinem pedis viri, longitudinis brachij et +dimidij, quadam leui materia operatam: videlicet nobiles de sericosis +operibus pannorum, seu alijs raris et pulchris pannis, et preciosis +lapillis, et ignobiles iuxta statum suum de materia communiori. + +Ad dextram vero sedentis Imperatoris vno gradu submissus residet +primogenitus eius filius, et sub ipso ordinate in consimilibus sedibus +nobiles proximi de cognitione Imperiali. + +Item super thronum et desuper ante ipsius throni locum, tanquam pro celato +seu operimento in throno residentium, et eorum ministrantium, est extensa +similitudo vitis operata in palmitibus, et pampinis, de auro puro ad +extensionem cubitorum quadraginta, per quadrum, atque per eam dependentes +botri vuarum de gemmis, et granellis quinque colorum, quorum albi sunt de +christallo et beryllo, et iriscrocei de topazio et fuluo christallo, rubei +de rubetorum granis, corallo, et alibandinis, virides de Smaragdis, +pyropis, et chrysolytis, nigri, de onichinis, gagetis, et gerateris. + +Tempore prandij in hac aula, Imperator et Imperatrices, et quisque de +praedictis, habet mensam sibi solam, quarum vilior praeualet thesauro grandi. + +In solennitatibus ponitur mensa Imperatori de exquisito electro, seu de +auro examinato, distincta diamantibus, et nobis ignotis in comparabilibus +gemmis, quandoque de christallo perspicuo, seu croceo, circumclusa auro cum +gemmis: quandoque de Haematisto, quandoque de ebore candido, vel rubicundo: +interdum de ligno artificiose combinato, quod descendit per flumina de +Paradiso. Idem dicit Odericus. + +His mensis astant Barones, et Principes pro vasallis attente in suis +officijs ministrantes, quorum nec vnus emittere verbum aliqua praesumit +audacia, nisi Imperatore annuente, vel ad illum loquente, illis duntaxat +exceptis, qui certis interspatijs canunt, aut recitant de principum gestis. + +Et notandum, quando in hoc solio Maiestatis diebus solennibus residet +Imperator, subsidere ad pedes eius notarios quatuor, qui omne quod Dominus +loquitur, singuli ponunt in scriptis: nam quodcunque tunc ex ore illius +egreditur, necesse est esse, vel effici, nec valet item ipse verbum suum +mutare, nec reuocare, nisi magno consilio conuocato. + +Vniuersa vtensilia quibus in solennitate ad has seruitur mensas, sunt de +nobilibus petris auro reclusis, Cyphi de Smaragdis, vel Saphyris, topasijs, +pyropis, siue gryophis: et priuatioribus diebus, de auro probato etiam in +cameris, et cubiculis, nec reputatur ibi claritas argenti, nisi pro +pilarijs, columnis, gradibus, et pauimentis. + +Istius autem ostia aulae, dum in ea residet, aut deambulat Imperator, multi +Barones ingressum seruant intente, et ne limen tangatur, quod hoc haberent +pro augurio, et bene verberaretur, quia Imperatore praesente, nemo nisi +adductus in quacunque camera, vel habitatione intromittitur, donec +interrogatus iusserit Imperator. + +Latitudinem huius Basilicae aestimo ad spatium de meis pedibus centum et +longitudinem vltra quatuor centum. In cubiculo autem Regis dormitorio, +constat vnus pillarius, seu columna de auro solido et carbunculus conclusus +in illo longitudinis pedis vnius, totum habitaculum de nocte perfundens +lumine claro. Hic prout ego notaui, non est plene rubeus, sed subrufus, +quasi coloris Haematistini. Porro in vna aularum, circa medium palatii, est +alius excelsus ascensus, Odericus dicit pigma, super quem dum placet, stat, +vel residet Imperator, ditissime etiam operatus, ex auro, gemmis, baccis, +margaritis, et lapidibus raris, et in quatuor angulis, imagines quatuor +serpentum de auro puro. + +Huius per tria latera dependent retia seu cortinae de cordulis +sericis, in quibus ad singulos nodos, grossa margarita habetur +innexa, quibus cortinis tegitur officina: in eius concauitate tenetur +tumba quadrata, in qua conueniunt conductus omnium potuum, +qui bibuntur in Curia, et innumera vasorum genera, quibus potus +omnibus ministratur. + +Praeterea, iuxta palatii ambitum, habetur grandis parci spaciamentum, +diuersi generis arboribus repletum, fructus ferentibus varios, et nobis +inuisos, et in parte media, aula super excelsum collem de tam mira et +pulchra structura, vt eius nobilitas de facili ad praesens, non possit +describi. Et vndique, par collis gyrum aquae fossatum profundum, et latum +vltra quod pons vnicus ducit ad collem. Atque ex duobus montis lateribus, +stagnum cum diuersorum copia piscium, et volucrum indomitarum, vt aucarum, +anatum, cignorum, ciconiarum, ardearum, et collectorum in magna +pluralitate, nec non et per parcum, multae syluestres bestiae, et bestiolae +quatenus per aulae fenestras possit Dominus pro solatio respicere volucrum +aucupationes, bestiarum venationes, et piscium captiones. + +Et hoc proculdubio sciendum, quod in nostris partibus rara sint oppida cum +pluribus mansionibus, quam in isto palatio continentur. + +Tota aestate moratur in India terra frigidissima, in hyeme in Cambalu. +Odericus. + +Praeter palatium hoc in Caydo, habet Imperator similiter tria: vnum in +ciuitate Sadus, versus Septentrionem, vbi competens est frigus, ibi moratur +in aestate. Cambalu, vbi competens calor, ibi moratur hyeme. Tertium in +ciuitate Iongh, in quo et in isto Caydo, vt saepius seruat sedem, eo quod in +istis est aer magis temperatus, quamuis semper calidus videtur Nostratibus. + + +The English Version. + +In this cytee is the Sege of the grete Cane in a fulle gret palays, and the +most passynge fair in alle the world: of the whiche the walles ben in +circuyt more than 2 myle: and within the walles, it is alle fulle of other +palays. And in the gardyn of the grete palays, there is a gret hille, upon +the whiche there is another palays; and it is the most fair and the most +riche, that ony man may devyse. And all aboute the palays and the hille, +ben many trees, berynge many dyverse frutes. And alle aboute that hille, +ben dyches grete and depe: and besyde hem, ben grete vyneres, on that o +part and on that other. And there is a fulle fair brigge to passe over the +dyches. And in theise vyneres, ben so many wylde gees and gandres and wylde +dokes and swannes and heirouns, that it is with outen nombre. And alle +aboute theise dyches and vyneres, is the grete gardyn, fulle of wylde +bestes; so that, whan the gret Cane wil have ony desport on that, to taken +ony of tho wylde bestes or of the foules, he wil lete chace hem and taken +hem at the wyndowes, with outen goynge out of his chambre. This palays, +where his sege is, is bothe gret and passynge fair. And with in the palays, +in the halle, there ben 24 pyleres of fyn gold: and alle the walles ben +covered with inne, of rede skynnes of bestes, that men clepen panteres; +that ben faire bestes, and well smellyng: so that for the swete odour of +tho skynnes, non evylle ayr may entre in to the palays. Tho skynnes ben als +rede as blode, and thei schynen so brighte azen the sonne, that unethes no +man may beholden hem. And many folk worschipen tho bestes, whan thei meeten +hem first at morwe, for here gret vertue and for the gode smelle that thei +han: and tho skynnes thei preysen more than thoughe thei were plate of fyn +gold. And in the myddes of this palays is the mountour for the grete Cane, +that is alle wrought of gold and of precyous stones and grete perles: and +at 4 corneres of the mountour, been 4 serpentes of gold: and alle aboute +ther is y made large nettes of sylk, and gold and grete perles hangynge +alle aboute the mountour. And undre the mountour, ben condytes of beverage, +that thei drynken in the emperours court. And besyde the condytes, ben many +vesselles of gold, be the whiche, thei that ben of houshold, drynken at the +condyt. And the halle of the palays is fulle nobelyche arrayed, and fulle +merveylleousely atyred on all parteys, in alle thinges, that men apparayle +with ony halle. And first, at the chief of the halle, is the emperours +throne, fulle highe, where he syttethe at the mete: and that is of fyn +precyouse stones, bordured alle aboute with pured gold and precyous stones +and grete perles. And the grees, that he gothe up to the table, ben of +precyous stones, medled with gold. And at the left syde of the emperoures +sege, is the sege of his firste wif, o degree lowere than the emperour: and +it is of jaspere, bordured with gold and preciouse stones. And the sege of +his seconde wif is also another sege, more lowere than his firste wif: and +it is also of jaspere, bordured with gold, as that other is. And the sege +of the thridde wif is also more lowe, be a degree, than the seconde wif. +For he hathe alweys 3 wifes with him, where that evere he be. And aftre his +wyfes, on the same syde, sytten the ladyes of his lynage, zit lowere, aftre +that thei ben of estate. And alle tho that ben maryed, han a countrefete, +made lyche a mannes foot, upon here hedes, a cubyte long, alle wrought with +grete perles, fyne and oryent, and aboven, made with pecokes fedres and of +other schynynge fedres; and that stont upon here hedes, like a crest, in +tokene that thei ben undre mannes fote and undre subiectioun of man. And +thei that ben unmaryed, han none suche. And aftre, at the right syde of the +Emperour, first syttethe his eldest sone, that schalle regne aftre him: and +he syttethe also o degree lowere than the emperour, in suche manere of +seges, as don the emperesses. And aftre him, sytten other grete lordes of +his lynage, every of hem a Degree lowere than other, as thei ben of estate. +And the emperour hathe his table allone be him self, that is of gold, and +of precious stones, or of cristalle, bordured with gold, and fulle of +precious stones or of amatystes or of lignum aloes, that comethe out of +paradys, or of ivory, bounden or bordured with gold. And everyche of his +wyfes hathe also hire table be hire self. And his eldest sone, and the +other lordes also, and the ladyes, and alle that sitten with the emperour, +han tables allone be hem self, fulle riche. And there nys no table, but +that it is worthe an huge tresour of gode. And undre the emperoures table, +sitten 4 clerkes, that writen alle, that the emperour seythe, be it good, +be it evylle. For alle that he seythe, moste ben holden; for he may not +chaungen his word, ne revoke it. At grete solempne festes, before the +emperoures table, men bryngen grete tables of gold, and there on ben +pecokes of gold, and many other maner of dyverse foules, alle of gold, and +richely wrought and enameled; and men maken hem dauncen and syngen, +clappynge here wenges to gydere, and maken gret noyse: and where it be by +craft or be nygromancye, I wot nere; but it is a gode sight to beholde, and +a fair; and it is gret marvayle how it may be. But I have the lasse +marvaylle, be cause that thei ben the moste sotyle men in alle sciences and +in alle craftes, that ben in the world. For of sotyltee and of malice and +of fercastynge, thei passen alle men undre hevene. And therfore thei seyn +hem self, that thei seen with 2 eyen; and the Cristene men see but with on: +be cause that thei ben more sotylle than thei. For alle other naciouns, +thei seyn, ben but blynde in conynge and worchynge in comparisoun to hem. I +did gret besynesse, for to have lerned that craft: but the maistre tolde +me, that he had made a vow to his God, to teche it to no creature, but only +to his eldeste sone. Also above the emperours table and the othere tables, +and aboven a gret partie in the halle, is a vyne, made of fyn gold: and it +spredethe alle aboute the halle; and it hath many clustres of grapes, somme +white, somme grene, summe zalowe and somme rede and somme blake, alle of +precious stones: the white ben of cristalle and of berylle and of iris; the +zalowe ben of topazes; the rede ben of rubies, and of grenaz and of +alabraundynes; the grene ben of emeraudes, of perydos and of crisolytes; +and the blake ben of onichez and garantez. And thei ben alle so propurlyche +made, that it semethe a verry vyne, berynge kyndely grapes. And before the +emperoures table, stonden grete lordes, and riche barouns and othere, that +serven the emperour at the mete. And no man is so hardy, to speke a word, +but zif the emperour speke to him; but zif it be mynstrelles, that syngen +songes, and tellen gestes or other desportes, to solace with the emperour. +And alle the vesselle, that men ben served with, in the halle or in +chambres, ben of precious stones; and specially at grete tables; outher of +jaspre or of cristalle or of amatystez or of fyn gold. And the cuppes ben +of emeraudez and of saphires or of topazes, of perydoz, and of many other +precyouse stones. Vesselle of sylver is there non: for thei telle no prys +there of, to make no vesselle offe: but thei maken ther of grecynges and +pileres and pawmentes, to halles and chambres. And before the halle dore, +stonden manye barounes, and knyghtes clene armed, to kepe that no man +entre, but zif it be the wille or the commandement of the emperour, or but +zif thei ben servauntes or mynstralle of the houshold: and other non is not +so hardy, to neighen nye the halle dore. + + +CAPVT. 35. + +De quatuor solennitatibus, quas Magnus Can celebrat in anno. + +Sciatis quod ego, meique sodales, pro fama magnificentiae huius Imperatoris, +tradidimus nos stipendiarios esse in guerris, contra Regem Mangi +praenominatum. Et fuimus apud ipsum 15. mensibus, et certe inuenimus multo +maiorem partem hominum, in mediam partem nobis non fuisse relatam: hominum +(exceptis custodibus bestiarum et volucrum,) qui intra palatium certa +gerunt ministeria est numerus decem cuman. + +Nota. Traxi moram in Cambalu tribus annis: fratres nostri locum habent in +Curia sua specialiter, et festis diebus statutis dant benedictionem, +Odericus. Et quoniam Imperator habet satis plures quam decem mille +Elephantes edomitos, et velut vltra numerum alias bestias, (quarum quaedam +tenentur in caueis, stabulis mirabilibus, vel catenis) nec non et aues +rapaces, et accipitres, falcones, ostrones, gryfandos gentiles, Laueroys, +et Satyros, sed et auiculas loquentes, et papingos, et similes, aliasque +cantantes: reputatur numerus hominum de istis curam et laborem gerentium, +vltra sex cuman, et praeterea iugiter ad Curiam equites cum plenarijs +armaturis, quinque cuman, et de peditibus cum praeliandi armaturis, cuman +decem. Sed et omnes de natione quacunque mundi venientes, qui petunt +describi pro Curia recipiuntur. Sic enim iussit Imperator. + +Habet et medicos Paganos viginti, et totidem Physicos, atque sine his +Medicos Christianos ducentos, et totidem Physicos, quoniam iste Grand Can +maiorem gerit confidentiam in Medicis Christianis, quam in suae propriae +nationis medicis. + +Hoc ergo firmiter scias, quod de Curia Regis accipiunt necessaria sua +iugiter vltra triginta cuman hominum, praeter expensas animalium et +volucrum, cum tamen in festis maioribus sint homines prope in duplo tanti. +Nec valet hic dominus defectum vllum pati pecuniae, eo quod in terra sua non +currit moneta de argento, vel auro, alioue metallo, sed tantum de corio vel +papyro: horum enim forma denariorum signo Imperatoris impressorum preciatur +minoris aut maioris valoris, secundum diuersitatem impressionis, qui per +visitationem, detriti vel rupti, cum ad Regis thesaurarios deferuntur, +protinus dantur pro illis noui. + +Quater in anno celebrat Imperator festiuitates solennes. + +Primam de die propriae Natiuitatis. + +Secundam de die suae primae praesentationis in eorum Templo, quod appellant +Moseath, vbi et fit ijs, nescio quod genus circumcisionis. + +Tertiam in thronizatione sui Idoli in Templo. + +Quartam de die quo Idolum cepit dare responsum, seu facere diabolica mira. +Plures enim in anno non tenet solennitates, nisi si quando nuptias filij +aut filiae celebrat. + +Itaque in istis solennitatibus est populi multitudo absque numero, omnes +tamen in ordine debito, et singuli intendentes proprio ministerio, nam ad +hoc ordinandum, et disponendum, electa sunt quatuor Baronum nobilium +genera, ex quibus nonnulli sunt Reges, et alij Equites potentes, Duces, et +Marchiones, omnes induti holosericis, quibus inserti cum certa +disseminatione sunt vbique preciosi lapides, mirae virtutis, et aurifigia +speciosa, vt si quis in his partibus vnum de talibus haberet mutatorijs, +dici non posset pauper imo praediues. Et habet quodlibet millenariorum in +his vestibus colorem sibi proprium: primum viridem, secundum vermiculum, +tertium croceum, quartum purpureum, seu indicum. Ergo in die solenni, dum +de mane Maiestatis thronum conscenderit, veniunt se praesentari hoc modo +Regi. + +Ante primum millenarium procedit copiosa symphonia dulcis chordarum, sicut +de violis, cytharis, lyris, et psalterijs, non autem de tubis aut tympanis: +et praecedunt Baronis per transuersum Aulae coram residente Domino ordinate +bini, et bini sub silentio, ferentes ambabus manibus ante pectus tabulam de +Iaspide, ebore, christallo, pyropo, vel Haematisto, et ante faciem throni +inclinant se Imperatori profunde. + +Illisque pertranseuntibus, succedit simili modo millenarius secundus, et +tertius, atque quartus, nec auditur a quoquam vnicum verbum. Hac +praesentatione cum debita maturitate perfecta, resident in basso a latere +throni ad proprias mensas, multi Philosophi, seu Artistae, sicut de +Astronomia, Geomantia, Pyromantia, Hydromantia, Chiromantia, Necromantia, +auguriis, ac aruspiciis, et huiusmodi, tenentes coram instrumenta suae +artis, alii Astrolabium, et Sphaeras de auro, alii in aureis vasis arenam, +prunas ardentes, aquam, vinum, oleum, et caluarias mortuorum, loquentes et +respondentes, nec non de auro horologia ad minus duo: et ad cunctas horas +secundum cursum horologiorum innuunt Philosophi seruis sibi ad hoc +deputatis, vt faciant praestari auditum per aulam, quorum vnus aut duo +conscendentes scallum, alta voce proclamant, audite, auscultate, et omnibus +intendentibus dicit Philosophorum vnus: Quilibet nunc faciat reuerentiam +Imperatori, qui est filius Dei excelsi, Dominus et superior omnium +Dominorum Mundi, quia ecce haec est hora. Et mox singuli in aula inclinato +corpore et capite se inclinant maiestati manentes accliui, donec idem +philosophus dicat, leuate. Atque protinus super hoc factum, Musici suis +instrumentis, suauem personant melodiam. + +Postea ad aliquantam moram simili modo dicit alias philosophorum, minimus +digitus in aure: et ecce hoc omnes faciunt, donec dicat, sufficit: sic in +aliam horam, seu moram dicit, manus vestra super os, et postea manus super +caput. Atque in hunc modum iuxta temporis cursum imponunt facienda signa +diuersa. Innuunt in eis latere magna mysteria, et quodlibet horum factorum +melodia terminat Musicorum. Et sciatis me quandoque in tempore opportuno ab +eis interrogasse de his signis, qui responderunt quod inclinare caput +Domino ad illius horae momentum, foret confirmatio omnibus diebus vitae suae, +ad obediendum ipsi et fidelitatem obseruandam imperio, nec posse corrumpi +promissionibus siue donis, quodque digitum in auricula imponere, obturatio +est auditus contra omnia Imperatori, et Imperio contraria. Et sic de +singulis factis singula mysteria confingentes decipiunt audientes: horum +itaque fraudulento ingenio, iste Grand Can festiuatus, non nisi ad talium +iudicium parari permittit cibaria, aut fieri indumenta pro suo corpore. + +Dura autem est visum Curiae gubernatoribus satis de praedictis auditum, +faciunt proclamatores silentium imperari, et incipit fieri offerenda +Imperatori hoc modo. Intrant omnes qui sunt de cognatione Imperatoris +Barones adornati nobilissime pro cuiusque decentia balteis, et indumentis, +quorum primus cum resonante symphonia praemittit ad oblationem quotquot +valet de dextrarijs albis, et inclinans ante thronum pertransit, atque per +eundem modum singuli Baronum offerentes aliquid dignum iocale inclinant +transeuntes, silentio firme seruato. Post hos intrantes simili modo praelati +et Abbates, de iurisdictionibus et religionibus Paganorum offerunt singuli +pro suo statu se reuerenter inclinantes maiestati, et maior praelatorum +benedicit Regi, et suis ac Curiae quadam suae legis oratione. + +Deinde introducuntur elephantes, leones, pardi, simiae, marmotae, et diuersae +bestiae, quarum ductores singuli transeuntes inclinant reuerenter, et +intente. Postremo afferuntur aquilae, struthiones, gryphandi, accipitres, et +papingi, cum diuersis auibus et auiculis, nec non serpentes ac pisces, +quorum portitores inclinant profunde, quoniam dicunt omnes terrenas +creaturas debere adorationem Imperatori Grand Can filio Dei excelsi: et his +perfectis, + + Musicae Camenae persoluunt debita plene. + +Nos igitur intendamus hoc loco quaeso quomodo veraciter Pagani in tenebris +ambulant: diabolica inuolutione mens eorum obtenebrata non videt quomodo, +cum Imperator sit homo mortalis nuper natus, et similiter sicut illi +infirmitate circundatus, atque in breui cum ipsis moriturus, quem etiam non +dubitant sub Deo, clamant eum non Deum, sed Dei filium, vbi vtique prorsus +ignorant illum non esse laudandum, nec adorandum, sed eum non intendunt +alium filium, filium increatum et connaturalem, qui et ipsos et eum +creauit, solum superlaudabilem in secula. + +Et hoc alto corde considerantes, laudemus, adoremus, glorificemus, et +superexaltemus totis viribus Deum, qui nos filios lucis esse voluit, et +salutis, nasci, baptizari, educari, erudiri sub sinceritate fidei +Christianae, excluso schismate et errore, atque sub instituto sacrosanctae +matris Ecclesiae, in qua sola pene ab omni circumferentia orbis terrae fides, +quae saluat, et per dilectionem operatur nunc remansit. + +Et oremus instanter pro ipsis Paganis, vt agnita veritatis luce videre +possint quo ambulant, vt perueniant ad Iesum Christuro coaequalem Dei +filium, atque in ipso, et per ipsum laudare et adorare solum vnum verum +Deum. + + +CAPVT. 36. + +De ludis et praestigijs in suo festo, et de suo comitatu. + +Celebrato post hoc prandio satis morose, quia nunquam est vltra semel +edendum in die, de quo et eius administratione nunc longum est scribere, +adsunt gesticulatores, mira visu, suauiaque auditu pedibus, manibus, +brachijs, humeris, capitibus, et toto corpore, ac ad singulos gestus, +correspondentes debito vocis sono. Et semper finem horum mirabilium +cantilena subsequitur musicorum. Ex hoc ioculatores praesto sunt, et Magi, +qui suis incantationibus praestant praestigia multa. + +Imprimis faciunt videri Solem et Lunam, oriendo, descendendo consuetum diei +intra Basilicam peragere cursum, cum tanta nimietate splendoris, vt vix se +inuicem homines valeant recognoscere prae fulgore, dicentes et mentientes, +Solem et Lunam coeli hanc mittere reuerentiam Imperatori. + +Hinc pari ludo comparent speciosae puellae ducere semitas et choreas, nobili +gestu nobilissimum ferre poculum lactis equarum in aureis vasis, de quo, +ponentes se in genibus, tradunt potum dominis et dominabus. + +Tunc portantur et milites in equis, et armis quoque pleni atque parati, qui +feruentibus sonipedibus se inuicem cuspidibus ad fragorem magnum +configentes lanceas comminuunt, et fragmenta per mensas, et pauimenta +discurrunt. Ac deinde fantastice venantur per aulam, cum canibus et +papionibus, ad ceruos, lupos, vrsos, et apros, ad lepores, et marmotas. Quae +singula cum ad horam pascant vana delectatione sensus corporeos, miseriam +tamen inserunt piae menti, quod tot et tanti homines, neglecta prorsus animi +salute, his diabolicis operationibus se dederunt in toto. Nam certo non ita +sine daemonum consolatione et familiaritate praemissa confingi dicerem. + +Nota: a Cambalu ad viginti dietas, est pulchrum nemus girans octo dietas in +circuitu, in quo sunt omnia genera animalium: custodes habet circa eum. +Triennio vel quadriennio visitat illud Imperator, et cum multa gente nemus +circumdat, canes emittuntur et aues, cum multo clamore, et feras congregant +in medio nemoris, ad planiciem sibi sitam. Tunc Imperator prius iacit +quinque sagittas, postea alij: tunc Imperator dicit, Eya, hoc est, mina +bestijs, et sicut quilibet capit sagittam suam signatam, percussam, aliis +recedentibus ad sua loca. Odericus. + +Praeterea ante Imperatoris mensam eriguntur tabulae latae aureae cum sculptis, +ac si viuerent, imaginibus gallorum, pauonum ac diuersarum volucrum +artificiose, quas praestigiator facit pro libitu sine apprehensione manus +ire, tripudiare, chorizare, tremere, compugnare, bibere, manducare, sed et +cantare: quod quidem inter caetera mihi videbatur mirabilius et aspectu +delectabilius. Nullus istud plene intueri potuit, nisi qui erat in throno +vel circa: et me oportet hoc loco fateri stultitiam propriam, quod hac +delectatione tractus, magnam adhibui apud Artistam diligentiam, verbis +blandis, et quibuscunque munusculis, ac melioribus promissis, quod de tali +mihi traderet artem, qui sagax simul et fallax imprimis, spem meam trahebat +sponsionum funibus: sed at vltimum penitus abscindebat, dicens se vouisse +Deo immortali, ne cuiquam doceret nisi proprio filio seniori, ac per hoc me +Deus ab illo malo conseruauit inuitum, et gratias nunc reddentem. + +Certum est illic homines esse subtiles ad quasdam humanas artes, et +ingeniosos ad fraudes super omnes, quas noui mundi partes, vnde et inter se +dicunt prouerbium, se solos videre duobus oculis, et Christianos vno, +caeteros autem homines caeecos: sed mentitur iniquitas sibi, quoniam ipsi +vident solo oculo terrena et transitoria, et nos Christiani duobus, quia +cum terrenis videmus spiritualia, et mansura: percussit enim Naas, +[Marginal Note: I Sam. 11. 2.] id est, humani generis hostis cum illis +foedus, vt erueret omnibus oculos dextros, scilicet spirituales. + +Cum itaque narrata de praemissis debeant sufficere, quando Imperator Grand +Can de vno quatuor palatiorum ad aliud transire velit, vel forte gratia +visitationis aut ardui negotii per Imperium de Regno ad Regnum tendit per +comitatus, quatuor exercitibus ante et retro, et ex ambobus lateribus. + +Primus exercitus praecedit personam Regis per vnam de suis dietis, vt semper +in hospitium de quo recessit exercitus Rex intret nocte sequenti, et est +hic primus comitatus descriptus, et statutus de numero quinquaginta cuman +virorum, hoc est, quingentorum millium, semperque praeuisum, et prouisum +est, vt inueniant necessaria in locis, vbi habent quiescere, vel tardare +siue in hospitiis, siue in tentoriis. + +Secundus et tertius comitatus sunt eiusdem numeri virorum cum primo, quorum +vnus ad dextram tendit Imperatoris, alius ad sinistrum in distantia ab ipso +ad trium vel duarum leucarum. + +Quartus autem qui maior est omnibus, subsequitur Imperatorem quasi ad +spatium iactus balistae. Et ad hoc sciendum est, quod personae horum +comitatuum sunt sigillatim, et summatim omnes descriptae, vt dum vna moritur +vel recedit, protinus alia inscribatur, et numerus non minuatur. Ipse vero +Imperator tendit residens in cella seu camera aedificata super currum +grandem forma, fortem robore, nobilem in structura, est cella de ligno +Aloes optimi odoris, et parietes cellae operti in quibusdam locis laminis +aureis, quae et ipsae distinguuntur gemmis variis, et margaritis. + +Est autem currus quatuor rotarum duntaxat, quem trahunt quatuor Elephantes +ad hoc curiose instructi, cum quatuor hippis albis equae doctis et ipsi +cooperti ditissimis tegumentis, ac praeter aurigas nobiliter indutos, qui +currum cautissime ducunt, adsunt et quatuor de maioribus palatii Dominis, +inde ad vehiculum habentes iugem curam, de minatione eius, et ne vltimo +exercitu appropriet infra iactum (vt dixi) sagittae. Ipse autem interdum pro +sodalitate iubet secum ascendere quam vult personam, sed minime vltra duos. +In cellae quoque culmine, quod aperiri valet et claudi, astant in pertica +quatuor grifandi, vel ostiones. Odericus: duodecim Girfalcones, vt si forte +Imperator in aere aquilam, vulturum, ardeam, vel collectorem cerneret, cito +dimitteret istorum duas aut plures ad aucupandum. + +Nota, per Dromedarios, et cursores, et veloces, qui de hospitio ad +hospitium permutantur, scit de remotis noua. Cursor enim appropinquans +cornu sonat, et tunc alius praeparat, et vlterius currit. Odericus. +Sciendumque tam primogenitum Regis, quam singulas de tribus vxoribus ducere +similem apparatum in itinerando post ipsum; scilicet cum quatuor +comitatibus, ante, et retro, et a lateribus, sed in valde minori numero +personarum pro placito, et in singulis curribus sequentibus se inuicem per +vnam dietam. + +Praemissa omnia sic fiunt, dum Imperatori tendendum est remote, alias autem +minuuntur, et distinguuntur comitatus, iuxta quod decet, vt nonnunquam +omnes Imperatores etiam cum filio simul tendant, cum vna comitatuum +distinctione. Transeunte autem sic Imperatore per ciuitates et villas +quilibet ante fores proprias praeparato igne iactat poluerem aromata +redolentem, stans genibus flexis ad reuerentiam illi. Et sciatis vbi prope +transitum illius habentur Christianae Abbatiae, quas olim constituit Dux +Ogerus, exeunt obuiam illi in processione cum vexillis, et sancta cruce, et +aqua benedicta, et thuribulo, hymnum, Veni Creator spiritus decantantes. + +Nota: Ego semel cum Episcopo nostro, et alijs fratribus, uimus obuiam per +duas dietas, et portaui thuribulum. Odericus. Quos ipse a remotis videns, +consueuit ad se appellare, et ad crucem suum galeatum deponere, ac +reuerenter nudo capite inclinare: et praelatus dicens super cum aliquam +orationem signat cruce, et aqua benedicta aspergit. Et quoniam necesse est, +vt quisque extraneus ante Regem apparens, offerat ei aliquid, praelatus in +disco praesentat ei fructus, et poma, vel pyra, et hoc in numero nouenario, +(ratio ponitur primo capitullo proximo, quod iste numerus est plus caeteris +acceptus,) de quibus Imperator vnum sibi sumens, reliqua tradit Dominis +praesentibus: quo facto habent relligiosi recedere cito, ne opprimantur +multitudine populi subsequentis. + +Praefatum Domini galeatum, est ita intextum auro, diamantibus, gemmunculis, +et orientalibus margaritis, granellis, et dubletis, et praediues in materia +et artificio, vt ei non sit aequandus magni in partibus istis Regis +thesaurus. Item sicut haec fiunt transeunti Imperatori, fiunt et +Imperatricibus, et filio seniori. + + +The English Version. + +And zee schulle undirstonde, that my felawes and I, with oure zomen, we +serveden this emperour, and weren his soudyoures, 15 monethes, azenst the +Kyng of Mancy, that held werre azenst him. And the cause was, for we hadden +gret lust to see his noblelesse and the estat of his court and alle his +governance, to write zif it were suche, as wee herde seye, that it was. And +treuly, we fond it more noble and more excellent and ricchere and more +marveyllous, than ever we herde speke offe; in so moche, that we wolde +never han leved it, had wee not seen it. For I trowe, that no man wolde +beleve the noblesse, the ricchesse, ne the multytude of folk that ben in +his court, but he had seen it. For it is not there, as it is here. For the +lordes here han folk of certeyn nombre, als thei may suffise: but the grete +Chane hathe every day folke at his costages and expenses, as with outen +nombre. But the ordynance, ne the expenses in mete and drynk, ne the +honestee ne the clennesse, is not so arrayed there, as it is here: for alle +the comouns there eten withouten clothe upon here knees; and thei eten alle +maner of flessche, and litylle of bred. And aftre mete, thei wypen here +hondes upon here skyrtes: and thei eten not but ones a day. But the estat +of lordes is fulle gret and riche and noble. And alle be it, that sum men +wil not trow me; but holden it for fable, to telle hem the noblesse of his +persone and of his estate and of his court and of the gret multytude of +folk, that he holt, natheles I schalle seye zou, a partye of him and of his +folk, aftre that I have seen, the manere and the ordynance, fulle many a +tyme. And whoso that wole, may leve me, zif he wille; and who so wille not, +may chuse. For I wot wel, zif ony man hathe ben in tho contrees bezonde, +thoughe he have not ben in the place, where the grete Chane duellethe, he +schalle here speke of him so meche merveylouse thing, that he schalle not +trowe it lightly: and treuly, no more did I my self, til I saughe it. And +tho that han ben in tho contrees and in the gret Canes houshold, knowen +wel, that I seye sothe. And therfore I wille not spare, for hem that knowe +not, ne beleve not, but that that thei seen, for to telle zou a partie of +him and of his estate, that he holt, whan he gothe from contree to contree, +and whan he makethe solempne festes. + + +CAPVT. 37. + +Qua de causa dicitur Grand Gan. + +Si placet audire, dicam cur hic Imperator sit appellatus Grand Can. +Audieram ego in partibus Ierosolymorum hunc esse sic dictum, a filio Noe, +Cham: sed in terra Cathay accepi et aliam, et meram huius rei veritatem. +Nam et scribendo haec duo nomina habent differentiam, quod filius Noe Cham +scribitur quatuor elementis, quorum vltimum est M. et iste Can tribus +tantum, quorum vltimum est N. + +Post annos Christi 1100. illa prima Tartaria (de qua supra scripsi in prima +parte, capitulo quinto) fuit nimis oppressa seruitute sub Regibus +circumiacentium sibi nationum. Quando autem Deo placuit, maiores illius +Tartariae eleuauerunt de seipsis sibi Regem dictum Guis Can, cui et +promiserunt subiectissimam obedientiam. + +Idem cum esset prudens strenuus 12. viriles habens filios, debellauit cum +ijs et populo suo, et vicit, ac subiecit cunctos in circuitu Reges, quibus +terra indebite diu subiacuerat. Quin etiam apparente sibi in visione Angelo +Dei velut milite in albo equo, et candidis armis, et hortante se, vt +transiret Alpes, per montem Beliam, [Marginal note: Vel Belgiam.] et per +brachium maris, ad terram Cathay, et ad alias illic plurimas regiones +transiuit, et coepit com filijs suis aliquas ex illis debellare, et +subijcere, Deo in omnibus adiuuante patenter. Et quoniam in equo albo ei +Angelus apparuit, qui etiam ante passum praedicti maris nouem orationes Deo +facere iussit, ideo successores vsque hodie diligunt equos albos, et +nouenarium numerum habent prae caeteris in gratia. Dumque Guis Can morti prae +senio appropinquaret, conuocatos ante se filios hortabatur, et mouebat +exemplo 12. telorum in simul colligatorum, quae a nullo filiorum pariter +frangi potuerant, sed dissoluta vnumquodque per se facile frangebatur, sic +filij (inquit) dilectissimi, si per concordiam vos inuicem dilexeritis, et +vixeritis seniori fratri obedientes, confido in Deo iuxta promissionem mihi +ab Angelo factam, quod omnem latissimam istam terram, et optimam illius +imperio subijcietis, quod et post patris discessum strenuissime, ac +fidelissime (Deo sibi prosperante) perfecerunt. Et quia cum propriis +nominibus habebant cognomen Can, primogenitus pro differentia obtinuit +nomen Grand Can, id est, Magnus Can, videlicit supra caeteros fratres, qui +sibi in omnibus obediebant. + +Itaque iste secundus Imperator vocabatur Ochoto Can. + +Post quem filius eius regnauit dictus Guican. + +Quartus autem, qui Mango Can baptizabatur, permansitque fidelis +Christianus, qui etiam misso magno exercitu cum fratre suo Hallaon in +partes Arabiae et Aegypti mandauit destrui in toto Mahometi superstitionem, +et terram poni in manibus Christianorum. Et fratre procedente, accepit +rumores de fratris sui Imperatoris morte inopinata, quapropter et redijt +negotio imperfecto. + +Quintus Cobilacan, qui etiam fuit Christianus, et regnauit 42. annis, et +aedificauit magnam ciuitatem Iong, maiorem satis vrbe Roma, in qua et +continetur valde nobile palatium Imperiale. Hinc vsque hodie omnes +successores paganismo foedantur. + +Tempore autem meo erat nomen Imperatoris Echian Can, et primogenitus eius +Cosuecan, praeter quem et alios filios habuit 12. de quorum nominibus +conscribendis non est curae presentis. + +Prima vxorum suorum vocabatur Serochan, quae et est filia Praesbyteri Ioannis +scilicet Imperatoris Indiae. + +Secunda Verouchan. + +Tertia Caranthcan. + +Istis duobus Imperatoribus non creditur inueniri maior Dominus sub +firmamento Coeli. + +In literis quae huius Imperatoris Tartariae scribuntur nomine ponitur semper +iste Titulus. Can filius Dei excelsi, omnium vniuersam terram colentium +summus Imperator, et Dominus Dominantium omnium. + +Circumferentia magni sui sigilli, continet hoc scriptum. + +Deus in Coelo, Can super terram, eius fortitudo. Omnium hominum Imperatoris + sigillum. + +Sciendum quoque quod quamuis populi ibi dicuntur, et sunt Pagani, tamen et +rex et omnes credunt in Deum immortalem, et omnipotentem, et iurant per +ipsum appellantes, Yroga, id est, Deum Naturae. Sed nihilominus colunt et +adorant idola, et simulachra aurea, et argentea, lapidea, lignea, filtria, +lanea, et linea. + + +The English Version. + +Wherefore he is clept the grete Chane. Of the Style of his Lettres, and of + the Superscripcioun abowten his grete Sealle, and his pryvee Sealle. + +[Sidenote: Chap. XXI.] First I schalle seye zou, whi he was clept the gret +Chane. Zee schulle undirstonde, that alle the world was destroyed by Noes +flood, saf only Noe and his wif and his children. Noe had 3 sones, Sem, +Cham and Japhethe. This Cham was he that saughe his fadres prevy membres +naked, whan he slepte, and scorned hem and schewed hem with his finger, to +his brethren, in scornynge wise: and ther fore he was cursed of God. And +Japhethe turned his face away, and covered hem. Theise 3 bretheren had +cesoun in alle the lond: and this Cham, for his crueltee, toke the gretter +and the beste partie, toward the est, that is clept Asye: and Sem toke +Affryk: and Japhethe toke Europe. And therfore is alle the erthe departed +in theise 3 parties, be theise 3 bretheren. Cham was the grettest, and the +most myghty: and of him camen mo generaciouns, than of the othere. And of +his sone Chuse, was engendred Nembrothe the geaunt, that was the firste +kyng, that ever was in the world: and he began the foundacion of the Tour +of Babyloyne. And that tyme, the fendes of helle camen many tymes, and +leyen with the wommen of his generacioun, and engendered on hem dyverse +folk, as monstres, and folk disfigured, summe with outen hedes, summe with +gret eres, summe with on eye, summe geauntes, summ with hors feet, and many +other dyverse schapp, azenst kynde. And of that generacioun of Cham, ben +comen the Paynemes, and dyverse folk, that ben in yles of the see, be alle +Ynde. And for als moche as he was the moste myghty, and no man myghte +withstonde him, he cleped himself the sone of God, and sovereyn of alle the +world. And for this Cham, this emperour clepeth him Cham and sovereyn of +all the world. And of the generacioun of Sem, ben comen the Sarrazines, And +of the generacioun of Japhethe, is comen the peple of Israel. And thoughe +that wee duellen in Europe, this is the opynyoun, that the Syryenes and the +Samaritanes, han amonges hem; and that thei told me, before that I wente +toward Ynde: but I fond it otherwise. Natheles the sothe is this, that +Tartarynes and thei that duellen in the grete Asye, thei camen of Cham. But +the emperour of Cathay clepeth him not Cham, but Can: and I schalle telle +zou how. It is but litylle more but 8 score zeer, that alle Tartarye was in +subiectioun and in servage to othere nacyouns abouten: for thei weren but +bestyalle folk, and diden no thing but kepten bestes, and lad hem to +pastures. But among hem, thei hadden 7 princypalle nacyouns, that weren +soveraynes of hem alle: of the whiche, the firste nacyoun or lynage was +clept Tartar; and that is the most noble and the most preysed. The seconde +lynage is clept Tanghot; the thridde Eurache; the 4 Valair; the 5 Semoche; +the 6 Megly; the 7 Coboghe. Now befelle it so, that of the firste lynage +succeeded an old worthi man, that was not riche, that hadde to name +Changuys. This man lay upon a nyght in his bed, and he sawhe in a visioun, +that there cam before him a knyght armed alle in white, and he satt upon a +white hors, and seyd to him, Can, slepest thou? The inmortalle God hathe +sent me to the; and it is his wille, that thou go to the 7 lynages, and +seye to hem, that thou schalt ben here emperour. For thou schalt conquere +the londs and the contrees, that ben abouten: and thei that marchen upon +zou, schulle ben undre zoure subieccioun, as zee han ben undre hires: for +that is Goddes wille inmortalle. And whan he cam at morwe, Changuys roos, +and wente to the 7 lynages, and tolde hem how the white knyght had seyd. +And thei scorned him, and seyden, that he was a fool; and so he departed +fro hem alle aschamed. And the nyght sewynge, this white knyght cam to the +7 lynages, and commaunded hem, on Goddes behalve inmortalle, that thei +scholde make this Changuys here emperour; and thei scholde ben out of +subieccioun; and thei scholde holden alle other regiounes aboute hem in +here servage, as thei had ben to hem beforn. And on the morwe, thei chosen +him to ben here emperour: and thei setten him upon a blak fertre; and aftre +that, thei liften him op with gret solempnytee, and thei setten him in a +chayer of gold, and diden hym alle maner of reverence; and thei cleped him, +Chan, as the white knyght called him. And whan he was thus chosen, he wolde +assayen, zif he myghte trust in hem or non, and whether thei wolde ben +obeyssant to him or non. And thanne he made many statutes and ordinances, +that thei clepen _Ysya Chan_. The first statute was, that thei scholde +beleeven and obeyen in God inmortalle, that is allemyghty, that wolde +casten hem out of servage; and at alle tymes clepe to him for help, in tyme +of nede. The tother statute was, that alle maner of men that myghte beren +armes, scholden ben nombred: and to every 10 scholde ben a maystre, and to +every 100 a maystre, and to every 1000 a maystre, and to every 10000 a +maystre. Aftre he commanded to the princypales of the 7 lynages, that thei +scholde leven and forsaken alle that thei hadden in godes and heritage; and +fro thens forthe to holden hem payd, of that that be wolde zeve hem of his +grace. And thei diden so anon. Aftre he commanded to the princypales of the +7 lynages, that every of hem scholde brynge his eldest sone before him, and +with here owne handes smyten of here hedes, with outen taryenge. And anon +his commandement was performed. And whan the Chane saghe, that thei made +non obstacle to performen his commandement, thanne he thoughte wel, that he +myghte trusten in hem, and commanded hem anon to make hem redy, and to +sewen his banere. And aftre this, Chane putt in subieccioun alle the londes +aboute him. Aftreward it befelle upon a day, that the Cane rood with a fewe +meynee, for to beholde the strengthe of the contree, that he had wonnen: +and so befelle, that a gret multytude of his enemyes metten with hem; and +for to zeven gode ensample of hardynesse to his peeple, he was the firste +that faughte, and in the myddes of his enemyes encountred; and there he was +cast from his hors, and his hors slayn. And whan his folk saughe him at the +erthe, thei weren alle abasscht, and wenden he had ben ded, and flowen +everych one; and hire enemyes aftre, and chaced hem: but thei wiste not, +that the emperour was there. And whan thei weren comen azen fro the chace, +thei wenten and soughten the wodes, zif ony of hem had ben hid in the +thikke of the wodes: and manye thei founden and slowen hem anon. So it +happend, that as thei wenten serchinge, toward the place that the emperour +was, thei saughe an owle sittynge upon a tree aboven hym; and than thei +seyden amonges hem, that there was no man, be cause that thei saughe that +brid there: and to thei wenten hire wey; and thus escaped the emperour from +dethe. And thanne he wente prevylly, alle be nyghte, tille he cam to his +folk, that weren fulle glad of his comynge, and maden grete thankynges to +God immortalle, and to that bryd, be whom here lord was saved. And therfore +princypally aboven alle foules of world, thei worschipen the owle: and whan +thei han ony of here fedres, thei kepen hem fulle precyously, in stede of +relykes, and beren hem upon here hedes with gret reverence: and thei holden +hem self blessed and saf from alle periles, while that thei han hem upon +hem; and therfore thei beren here fedres upon here hedes. Aftre alle this +the Cane ordeyned him, and assembled his peple, and wente upon hem that +hadden assayled hym before, and destroyed hem, and put hem in subieccioun +and servage. And whan he had wonnen and putt alle the londes and contrees, +on this half the Mount Belyan, in subieccioun, the whyte knyght cam to him +azen in his sleep, and seyde to him, Chan, the wille of God immortalle is, +that thou passe the Mount Belyan; and thou schalt wynne the lond, and thou +schalt putten many nacyouns in subieccioun: and for thou schalt fynde no +gode passage for to go toward that contree, go to the Mount Belyan, that is +upon the see, and knele there 9 tymes toward the est, in the worschipe of +God immortalle; and he schal schewe the weye to passe by. And the Chane +dide so. And anon the see, that touched and was fast to the mount, began to +withdrawe him, and schewed fair weye of 9 fote brede large; and so he +passed with his folk, and wan the lond of Cathay, that is the grettest +kyngdom of the world. And for the 9 knelynges, and for the 9 fote of weye, +the Chane and alle the men of Tartarye han the nombre of 9 in gret +reverence. And therfore who that wole make the Chane ony present, be it of +hors, be it of bryddes, or of arwes, or bowes, or of frute, or of ony other +thing, alweys he most make it of the nombre of 9. And so thanne ben the +presentes of grettere plesance to him, and more benygnely he wil resceyven +hem, than though he were presented with an 100 or 200. For hym semethe the +nombre of 9 so holy, be cause the messagre of God immortalle devised it. +Also whan the Chane of Cathay hadde wonen the contree of Cathay, and put in +subieccioun and undre fote many contrees abouten, he felle seek. And whan +he felte wel, that he scholde dye, he seyde to his 12 sones, that everyche +of hem scholde brynge him on of his arewes; and so thei diden anon. And +thanne he commanded, that men scholde bynden hem to gedre, in 3 places; and +than he toke hem to his eldest sone, and bad him breke hem alle to gedre. +And he enforced hem with alle his myght to breken hem: but he ne myghte +not. And than the Chane bad his seconde sone to breke hem; and so schortly +too alle, eche aftre other: but non of hem myght breke hem. And than be bad +the zongest sone dissevere everyche from other, and breken everyche be him +self: and so he dide. And than seyde the Chane to his eldest sone, and to +alle the othere, Wherfore myght zee not breke hem? And thei answereden, +that thei myght not, be cause that thei weren bounden to gydre. And +wherfore, quothe he, hathe zoure litylle zongest brother broken hem? +Because, quothe thei, that thei weren departed eche from other. And thanne +seyde the Chane, My sones, quoth he, treuly thus wil it faren be zou. For +als longe as zee ben bounden to gedere, in 3 places, that is to seyne, in +love, in trouthe and in gode accord, no man schalle ben of powere to greve +zou; but and zee ben disevered fro theise 3 places, that zoure on helpe not +zoure other, zee schulle be destroyed and brought to nought: and zif eche +of zou love other, and helpe othere, ze schulle be lordes and sovereynes of +alle othere. And whan he hadde made his ordynances, he dyed. And thanne +after hym, regned Ecchecha Cane his eldest sone. And his othere bretheren +wenten to wynnen hem many contrees and kyngdomes, unto the lond of Pruysse +and of Rossye, and made hem to ben cleped Chane: but thei weren all +obeyssant to hire eldre brother: and therfore was he clept grete Chane. +Aftre Ecchecha, regned Guyo Chane: and aftre him, Mango Chan, that was a +gode Cristene man, and baptized, and zaf lettres of perpetuelle pes to alle +Cristene men, and sente his brother Halaon with gret multytude of folk, for +to wynnen the Holy Lond, and for to put it in to Cristene mennes hondes, +and for to destroye Machametes lawe, and for to take the Calyphee of +Baldak, that was emperour and lord of alle the Sarazines. And whan this +Calyphee was taken, men fownden him of so highe worschipe, that in alle the +remenant of the world, ne myghte a man fynde a more reverent man, ne +highere in worschippe. And then Halaon made him come before him, and seyde +to hym: Why, quoth be, haddest thow not taken with the mo sowdyoures, and +men y nowe, for a lytille quantytee of thresour, for to defende the and thi +contree, that art so habundant of tresore and so high in alle worschipe? +And the Calyphee answered him, For he wel trowede, that he hadde y nowe of +his owne propre men. And than seyde Halaon, Thou were as a god of the +Sarazines: and it is convenyent to a god, to ete no mete, that is mortalle; +and therfore thou schalt not ete, but precyous stones, riche perles, and +tresour, that thou lovest so moche. And then he commanded him to presoun, +and alle his tresoure aboute him; and so he dyed for hungre, and threst. +And than aftre this, Halaon wan alle the lond of promyssioun, and putte it +in to Cristene mennes hondes. But the grete Chane his brother dyede; and +that was gret sorwe and losse to alle Cristen men. + +Aftre Mango Chan, regned Coblya Chan, that was also a Cristene man: and he +regnede 42 zere. He founded the grete cytee Izonge in Cathay, that is a +gret del more than Rome. + +The tother gret Chane, that cam aftre him, becam a Payneme, and alle the +other aftre him. + +The kyngdom of Cathay is the grettest reme of the world. And also the gret +Chan is the most myghty emperour of the world, and the grettest lord undre +the firmament; and so he clepethe him in his lettres, right thus, _Chan, +filius Dei excelsi, omnium universam Terram colentium summus Imperatur, et +Dominus omnium Dominantium_. And the lettre of his grete seel, writen +abouten, is this, _Deus in Celo, Chan super Terram, ejus fortitudo. Omnium +hominum Imperatoris Sigillum_. And the superscripcioun aboute his litylle +seel is this, _Dei Fortitudo omnium hominum. Imperatoris Sigillum_. And +alle be it that thei be not cristned, zit natheles the emperour and alle +the Tarterynes beleeven in God immortalle. And whan thei wille manacen ony +man thanne thei seyn, God knowethe wel, that I schalle do the suche a +thing, and tellethe his menace. And thus have zee herd, whi he is clept the +grete Chane. + + +Of the governance of the grete Chanes Court, and whan he makethe solempne + Festes. Of his Philosophres. And of his Array, whan he riddethe be the + contre. + +[Sidenote: Cap. XXIII.] Now schalle I telle zou the governance of the court +of the grete chane, whan he makethe solempne festes: and that is +princypally 4 tymes in the zeer. The firste feste is of his byrthe: that +other is of his presentacioun in here temple, that thei clepen here +Moscache, where thei maken a manere of circumsicioun: and the tother 2 +festes ben of his ydoles. The firste feste of the ydole is, whan he is +first put in to hire temple and throned. The tother feste is, whan the +ydole begynnethe first to speke or to worche myracles. Mo ben there not of +solempne festes, but zif he marye ony of his children. Now undirstondethe, +that at every of theise festes, he hathe gret multytude of peple, well +ordeyned and wel arrayed, be thousandes, be hundredes and be tenthes. And +every man knowethe wel, what servyse he schalle do. And every man zevethe +so gode hede and so gode attendance to his servyse, that no man fyndethe no +defaute. And there ben first ordeyned 4000 baronnes myghty and riche, for +to gouerne and to make ordynance for the feste, and for to serve the +emperour. And theise solempne festes ben made with outen, in hales and +tentes made of clothes of gold and of tartaries, fulle nobely. And alle tho +barouns han crounes of gold upon hire hedes, fulle noble and riche, fulle +of precious stones and grete perles oryent. And thei ben alle clothed in +clothes of gold or of tartaries or of camokas, so richely and so perfytly, +that no man in the world can amenden it, ne better devisen it. And alle tho +robes ben orfrayed alle abouten, and dubbed fulle of precious stones and of +grete oryent perles, fulle richely. And thei may wel do so; for clothes of +gold and of sylk ben gretter chep there a gret del, than ben clothes of +wolle. And theise 4000 barouns ben devised in 4 companyes: and every +thousand is clothed in clothes alle of o colour; and that so wel arrayed +and so richely, that it is marveyle to beholde. The firste thousand, that +is of Dukes, of Erles, of Marquyses and of Amyralles, alle clothed in +clothes of gold, with tysseux of grene silk, and bordured with gold, fulle +of preciouse stones, in maner as I have seyd before. The secounde thousand +is alle clothed in clothes dyapred of red silk, alle wroughte with gold, +and the orfrayes sett fulle of gret perl and precious stones, fulle nobely +wroughte. The 3 thousand is clothed in clothes of silk, of purpre of Ynde. +And the 4 thousand is in clothes of zalow. And alle hire clothes ben so +nobely and so richely wroughte with gold and precious stones and riche +perles, that zif a man of this contree hadde but only on of hire robes, he +myghte wel seye, that he sholde nevere be pore. For the gold and the +precious stones and the grete oryent perles ben of gretter value, on this +half the see, than thei ben bezond the see, in tho contrees. And whan thei +ben thus apparaylled, thei gon 2 and 2 togedre, fulle ordynatly before the +emperour, withouten speche of ony woord, saf only enclynynge to him. And +everyche of hem berethe a tablett of jaspere or of ivory or of cristalle; +and the mynstralle goynge before hem, sownyng here instrumentes of dyverse +melodye. And whan the firste thousand is thus passed, and hathe made his +mostre, he withdrawethe him on that o syde. And than entrethe that other +secunde thousand, and dothe right so, in the same manere of array and +contenance, as did the firste; and aftre the thridde, and than the fourthe; +and non of hem seythe not o word. And at o syde of the emperours table, +sitten many philosofres, that ben preved for wise men, in many dyverse +scyences; as of astronomye, nigromancye, geomancye, pyromancye, ydromancye, +of augurye and of many other scyences. And everyche of hem han before hem +astrolabes of gold; sum speres, summe the brayn panne of a ded man, summe +vesselles of gold fulle of gravelle or sond, summe vesseles of gold fulle +of coles brennynge, sume veselle of gold fulle of watre and of wyn and of +oyle, and summe oriloges of gold, mad ful nobely and richely wroughte, and +many other maner of instrumentes aftre hire sciences. And at certeyn +houres, whan hem thinkethe time, thei seyn to certeyn officeres, that +stonden before hem, ordeynd for the tyme, to fulfille hire commaudemenes, +Makethe pees. And than seyn the officeres, Now pees lystenethe. And aftre +that, seyth another of the philosophres, Every man do reverence, and +enclyne to the emperour, that is Goddes sone and soverayn lord of alle the +world; for now is tyme. And thanne every man bowethe his hed toward the +erthe. And thanne commandethe the same philosophre azen, Stondethe up. And +thei don so. And at another hour, seythe another philosophre, Puttethe +zoure litille fynger in zoure eres. And anon thei don so. And at another +hour, seythe another philosophre, Puttethe zoure honde before zoure mouthe. +And anon thei don so. And at another hour, seithe another philosophre, +Puttethe zoure honde upon zoure hede. And aftre that, he byddethe hem to +don here hond a wey; and thei don so. And so from hour to hour, thei +commanden certeyn thinges. And thei seyn, that tho thinges han dyverse +significaciouns. And I asked hem prevyly, what tho thinges betokened. And +on of the maistres told me, that the bowynge of the hed at that hour +betokened this, that alle tho that boweden here hedes, scholden evere more +aftre ben obeyssant and trewe to the emperour: and nevere for ziftes, ne +for promys in no kynde, ben fals ne traytour unto him for gode ne evylle. +And the puttynge of the litylle fynger in the ere, betokenethe, as thei +seyn, that none of hem ne schalle not here speke no contrarious thing to +the emperour, but that he schalle telle it anon to his conseille, or +discovere it to sum men that wille make relacioun to the emperour; thoughe +he were his fadre or brother or sone. And so forthe of alle other thtnges, +that is don be the philosophres, thei tolde me the causes of many dyverse +thinges. And trustethe righte wel in certyn, that no man dothe no thing to +the emperour, that belongethe unto him, nouther clothinge, ne bred, ne wyn, +ne bathe, ne non other thing, that longethe to hym, but at certeyn houres, +that his philosopheres wille devysen. And zif there falle werre in ony syde +to the emperour, anon the philosophres comen, and seyn here avys aftre her +calculaciouns, and conseylen the emperour of here avys, be here sciences; +so that the emperour dothe no thing with outen here conseille. And whan the +philosophres han don and perfourmed here commandementes, thanne the +mynstralle begynnen to don here mynstralcye, everyche in hire instrumentes, +eche aftre other, with alle the melodye that thei can devyse. And whan thei +han don a gode while, on of the officers of the emperour gothe up on an +highe stage wroughte fulle curyously, and cryethe and seythe with lowde +voys, Makethe pees. And than every man is stille. And thanne anon aftre, +alle the lordes, that ben of the emperours lynage, nobely arrayed in riche +clothes of gold, and ryally apparayled on white stedes, als manye as may +wel sewen hem at that tyme, ben redy to maken here presentes to the +emperour. And than seythe the styward of the court to the lordes be name, +N. of N. and nempnethe first the most enoble and the worthieste be name, +and seythe, be zee redy with suche a nombre of white hors, for to serve the +emperour, zoure sovereyn lord. And to another lord, he seythe, N. of N. be +zee redy with suche a nombre, to serve zoure sovereyn lord. And so another, +right so. And to alle the lordes of the emperoures lynage, eche aftre +other, as ben of estate. And whan thei ben alle cleped, thei entren eche +aftre other, and presentenen the white hors to the emperour; and than gon +hire wey. And than aftre, alle the other barouns every of hem zeven hem +presentes, or juelle, or sum other thing, aftre that thei ben of estate. +And than aftre hem, alle the prelates of hire lawe, and religiouse men and +other; and every man zevethe him sum thing. And whan that alle men han thus +presented the emperour, the greetest of dignytee of the prelates zevethe +hem a blessynge, seyenge an orisoun of hire lawe. And than begynnen the +mynstrelle to maken hire mynstralcye, in dyverse instrumentes, with alle +the melodye that thei can devyse. And whan thei han don hire craft, than +thei bryngen before the emperour, lyouns, libardes and other dyverse +bestes; and egles and veutours, and other dyverse foules; and fissches, and +serpentes; for to don him reverence. And than comen jogulours and +enchauntoures, that don many marvaylles: for thei maken to come in the ayr, +the sonne and the mone, be semynge, to every mannes sight. And aftre thei +maken the day to come azen, fair and plesant with bright sonne, to every +mannes sight. And than thei bryngen in daunces of the faireste damyselles +of the world, and richest arrayed. And aftre thei maken to come in, other +damyselles, bryngynge coupes of gold, fulle of mylk of dyverse bestes, and +zeven drynke to lordes and to ladyes. And than thei make knyghtes to +jousten in armes fulle lustyly; and thei rennen to gidre a gret randoum; +and thei frusschen to gidere fulle fiercely; and thei breken here speres so +rudely, that the tronchouns flen in sprotes and peces alle aboute the +halle. And than thei make to come in huntyng, for the hert and for the +boor, with houndes rennynge with open mouthe. And many other thinges thei +don, be craft of hire enchauntementes; that it is marveyle for to see. And +suche pleyes of desport thei make, til the takynge up of the boordes. + +This gret Chan hathe fulle gret peple for to serve him, as I have told zou +before. For he hathe of mynstralles the nombre of 13 cumanez: but thei +abyde not alle weys with hym. For alle the mynstrelle that comen before +hym, of what nacyoun that thei ben of, thei ben withholden with him, as of +his houshold, and entred in his bokes, as for his owne men. And aftre that, +where that evere thei gon, ever more thei cleymen for mynstralle of the +grete Chane: and undre that tytle, alle kynges and lordes, cherisschen hem +the more with ziftes and alle thing. And therefore he hathe so gret +multytude of hem. And he hathe of certeyn men, as thoughe thei were zomen, +that kepen bryddes, as ostrycches, gerfacouns, sparehaukes, faukons +gentyls, lanyeres, sacres, sacrettes, papyngayes wel spekynge, and briddes +syngynge. And also of wylde bestes, as of olifauntz, tame and othere, +babewynes, apes, marmesettes, and othere dyverse bestes; the mountance of +15 cumanez of zomen. And of Phisicyens Cristene, he hathe 200. And of +leches, that ben Cristene, he hathe 210. And of leches and Phisicyens, that +ben Sarrazines 20: but he trustethe more in the Cristene leches, than in +the Sarrazines. And his other comoun houshold is with outen nombre: and +thei alle han alle necessaries, and alle that hem nedethe, of the +emperoures court. And he hathe in his court many barouns, as servytoures, +that ben Cristene and converted to gode feythe, be the prechynge of +religiouse Cristen men, that dwellen with him: but there ben manye mo, that +wil not, that men knowen that thei ben Cristene. + +This emperour may dispenden als moche as he wille, with outen estymacioun. +For he despendethe not, he makethe no money, but of lether emprented, or of +papyre. And of that moneye, is som of gretter prys, and som of lasse prys, +aftre the dyversitee of his statutes. And whan that money hathe ronne so +longe, that it begynnethe to waste, than men beren it to the emperoures +tresorye: and than thei taken newe money for the olde. And that money gothe +thorghe out alle the contree, and thorghe out alle his provynces. For there +and bezonde hem, thei make no money, nouther of gold nor of sylver. And +therfore he may despende y now, and outrageously. And of gold and sylver, +that men beren in his contree, he makethe cylours, pyleres and paumentes in +his palays, and other dyverse thinges, what him lykethe. This emperour +hathe in his chambre, in on of the pyleres of gold, a rubye and a +charboncle of half a fote long, that in the nyght zevethe so gret clartee +and schynynge, that it is als light as day. And he hathe many other +precyous stones, and many other rubyes and charboncles: but tho ben the +grettest and the moste precyous. + +This emperour duellethe in somer in a cytee, that is toward the northe, +that is cleped Saduz: and there is cold y now. And in wyntre, he duellethe +in a cytee, that is clept Camaaleche: and that is an hote contree. But the +contree, where he duellethe in most comounly, is in Caydo or in Jong, that +is a gode contree and a tempree, aftre that the contree is there: but to +men of this contree, it were to passyng hoot. And whan this emperour wille +ryde from o contree to another, he ordeynethe 4 hostes of his folk; of the +whiche, the firste hoost gothe before him, a dayes iourneye. For that hoost +schalle ben logged the nyght, where the emperour schalle lygge upon the +morwe. And there schalle every man have alle maner of vytaylle and +necessaryes, that ben nedefulle, of the emperoures costages. And in this +firste hoost is the nombre of peple 50 cumaunez; what of hors, what of +fote: of the whiche every cumanez amounten to 10000, as I have told zou +before. And another hoost gothe in the right syde of the emperour, nygh +half a journeye fro him. And another gothe on the left syde of him, in the +same wise. And in every hoost, is as moche multytude of peple, as in the +first hoost. And thanne aftre comethe the 4 hoost, that is moche more than +ony of the othere, and that gothe behynden him, the mountance of a bowe +draught. And every hoost hathe his iourneyes ordeyned in certeyn places, +where thei schulle be logged at nyght; and there thei schulle have alle, +that hem nedethe. And zif it befalle, that ony of the hoost dye, anon thei +putten another in his place; so that the nombre schal evere more ben hool. +And zee schulle undirstonde, that the emperour, in his propre persone, +rydethe not as othere gret lordes don bezonde; but zif him liste to go +prevyly with fewe men, for to ben unknowen. And elle he rytt in a charett +with 4 wheles, upon the whiche is made a faire chambre; and it is made of a +certeyn wode, that comethe out of paradys terrestre, that men clepen lignum +aloes, that the flodes of paradys bryngen out at dyverse cesouns, as I have +told zou here beforn. And this chambre is fulle wel smellynge, be cause of +the wode, that it is made offe. And alle this chambre is covered with inne +of plate of fyn gold, dubbed with precious stones and grete perles. And 4 +olifauntz and 4 grete destreres alle white, and covered with riche +covertoures ledynge the chariot. And 4 or 5 or 6 of the grettest lordes +ryden aboute the charyot, fulle richely arrayed and fulle nobely; so that +no man schalle nyghe the charyot, but only tho lordes, but zif that the +emperour calle ony man to him, that him list to speke with alle. And above +the chambre of this chariot, that the emperour sittethe inne, ben sett upon +a perche 4 or 5 or 6 gerfacouns; to that entent, that whan the emperour +seethe ony wylde foul, that he may take it at his owne list, and have the +desport and the pley of the flight; first with on, and aftre with another: +and so he takethe his desport passynge be the contree. And no man rydethe +before him of his companye; but alle aftre him. And no man dar not come +nyghe the chariot by a bowe draught, but tho lordes only, that ben about +him: and alle the hoost cometh fayrely aftre him, in gret multitude. And +also suche another charyot, with suche hoostes, ordeynd and arrayd, gon +with the empresse, upon another syde, everyche be him self, with 4 hoostes, +right as the emperour dide; but not with so gret multytude of peple. And +his eldest sone gothe be another weye in another chariot, in the same +manere. So that there is betwene hem so gret multitude of folk, that it is +marveyle to telle it. And no man scholde trowe the nombre, but he had seen +it. And sum tyme it happethe, that whan he wil not go fer; and that it lyke +him to have the emperesse and his children with him; than thei gon alle to +gydere; and here folk ben alle medled in fere, and devyded in 4 parties +only. + +END OF VOL. VIII. + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of The Principal Navigations, Voyages, +Traffiques and Discoveries of the English Nation. v. 8, by Richard Hakluyt + +*** END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK PRINCIPAL NAVIGATIONS, V8 *** + +This file should be named 7hk0810.txt or 7hk0810.zip +Corrected EDITIONS of our eBooks get a new NUMBER, 7hk0811.txt +VERSIONS based on separate sources get new LETTER, 7hk0810a.txt + +Produced by Karl Hagen and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team + +Project Gutenberg eBooks are often created from several printed +editions, all of which are confirmed as Public Domain in the US +unless a copyright notice is included. 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Be sure to check the +copyright laws for your country before downloading or redistributing +this or any other Project Gutenberg eBook. + +This header should be the first thing seen when viewing this Project +Gutenberg file. Please do not remove it. Do not change or edit the +header without written permission. + +Please read the "legal small print," and other information about the +eBook and Project Gutenberg at the bottom of this file. Included is +important information about your specific rights and restrictions in +how the file may be used. You can also find out about how to make a +donation to Project Gutenberg, and how to get involved. + + +**Welcome To The World of Free Plain Vanilla Electronic Texts** + +**eBooks Readable By Both Humans and By Computers, Since 1971** + +*****These eBooks Were Prepared By Thousands of Volunteers!***** + + +Title: The Principal Navigations, Voyages, Traffiques and Discoveries + of the English Nation. v. 8 + Asia, Part I. + +Author: Richard Hakluyt + +Release Date: February, 2006 [EBook #9815] +[Yes, we are more than one year ahead of schedule] +[This file was first posted on October 20, 2003] + +Edition: 10 + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1 + +*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK PRINCIPAL NAVIGATIONS, V8 *** + + + + +Produced by Karl Hagen and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team + + + + +** Transcriber's Notes ** + +The printed edition from which this e-text has been produced retains the +spelling and abbreviations of Hakluyt's 16th-century original. In this +version, the spelling has been retained, but the following manuscript +abbreviations have been silently expanded: + +- vowels with macrons = vowel + 'n' or 'm' +- q; = -que (in the Latin) +- y[e] = the; y[t] = that; w[t] = with + +This edition contains footnotes and two types of sidenotes. Most footnotes +are added by the editor. They follow modern (19th-century) spelling +conventions. Those that don't are Hakluyt's (and are not always +systematically marked as such by the editor). The sidenotes are Hakluyt's +own. Summarizing sidenotes are labelled [Sidenote: ] and placed before the +sentence to which they apply. Sidenotes that are keyed with a symbol are +labeled [Marginal note: ] and placed at the point of the symbol, except in +poetry, where they are placed at a convenient point. Additional notes on +corrections, etc. are signed 'KTH' + +** End Transcriber's Notes ** + + + + +THE PRINCIPAL + +NAVIGATIONS, VOYAGES, TRAFFIQUES, + +AND + +DISCOVERIES + +OF + +THE ENGLISH NATION. + +Collected by + +RICHARD HAKLUYT, PREACHER + +AND + +Edited by + +EDMUND GOLDSMID, F.R.H.S. + +VOL. VIII. + +ASIA. PART I. + + + + +Navigations, Voyages, Traffiques, and Discoueries + +OF THE ENGLISH NATION IN ASIA. + + +The life and trauailes of Pelagius borne in Wales. + +Pelagius Cambrius ex ea Britannię parte oriundus, famati illius Collegij +Bannochorensis a Cestria non procul, prępositus, erat, in quo Christianorum +philosophorum duo millia ac centum, ad plebis in Christo commoditatem +militabant, manuum suarum laboribus, iuxta Pauli doctrinam victitantes. +Post quam plures exhibitos, pro Christiana Repub. labores, vir eruditione +insignis, et tum Gręcč, tum Latinč peritus, vt Tertullianus alter, +quorundam Clericorum lacessitus iniurijs, grauatim tulit, ac tandem a fide +defecit. + +Peragratis igitur deinceps Gallijs, in Aegyptum, et Syriam aliįsque +orientis Regiones demum peruenit. Vbi ex earum partium Monacho pręsul +ordinatus, sui nominis hęresim fabricabat: asserens hominem sine peccato +nasci, ac solo voluntatis imperio sine gratia saluari posse, vt ita +nefarius baptismum ac fidem tolleret. Cum his et consimilibus impostricis +doctrinę fęcibus in patriam suam reuersus, omnem illam Regionem, Iuliano et +Cęlestino Pseudoepiscopis fautoribus, conspurcabat. Verum ante lapsum suum +studia tractabat honestissima, vt post Gennadium, Bedam, et Honorium alij +ferunt authores, composuķtque multos libros ad Christianam vtilitatem. At +postquam est Hereticus publicatus, multo plures edidit hęresi succurrentes, +et ex diametro cum vera pietate pugnantes, vnde erat a suis Britannis in +exilium pulsus, vt in Epistola ad Martinum 5. Valdenus habet. Claruit anno +post Christum incarnatum, 390. sub Maximo Britannorum Rege. + +The same in English. + +Pelagius, borne in that part of Britaine which is called Wales, was head or +gouernour of the famous Colledge of Bangor, not farre from Chester, wherein +liued a Societie of 2100. Diuines, or Students of Christian philosophie, +applying themselues to the profite of the Christian people, and liuing by +the labours of their owne hands, according to Pauls doctrine. He was a man +excellently learned, and skilfull both in the Greeke and Latine tongues, +and as it were another Tertullian; after his long and great trauailes for +the good of the Christian common wealth, seeing himselfe abused, and +iniuriously dealt withall by some of the Clergie of that time, he tooke the +matter so grieuously, that at the last he relapsed from the faith. + +Whereupon he left Wales, and went into France, and hauing gone through +France, [Footnote: He is said to have resided long at Rome, only leaving on +the capture of that city by the Gottis.] hee went therehence into Egypt, +Syria, and other Countries of the East, and being made Priest by a certaine +Monke of those partes, he there hatched his heresie, which according to his +name was called the heresie of the Pelagians: which was, that manne was +borne without sinne, and might be saued by the power of his owne will +without grace, that so the miserable man might take away faith and +baptisme. With this and the like dregges of false doctrine, he returned +againe into Wales, and there by the meanes of the two false Prelates Iulian +and Celestine, who fauoured his heresie, hee infected the whole Countrey +with it. But before his fall and Apostasie from the faith, he exercised +himselfe in the best studies, as Gennadius, Beda, Honorius, and other +authors doe report of him, and wrote many bookes seruing not a litle to +Christian vtilitie: but being once fallen into his heresie, hee wrote many +more erroneous bookes, then he did before honest, and sincere: whereupon, +at the last his owne Countreymen banished him, as Walden testifieth in his +Epistle to Pope Martine the fift. He flourished in the yere after the +Incarnation, 390. Maximus being then King of Britaine. + + * * * * * + +A testimonie of the sending of Sighelmus Bishop of Shirburne, by King + Alphred, vnto Saint Thomas of India in the yeare of our Lord 883, + recorded by William of Malmesburie, in his second booke and fourth + Chapter de gestis regum Anglorum. + +Eleemosynis intentus priuilegia ecclesiarum, sicut pater statuerat, +roborauit; et trans mare Romam, et ad sanctum Thomam in Indiam multa munera +misit. Legatus in hoc missus Sighelmus Shirburnensis Episcopus cum magna +prosperitate, quod quiuis hoc seculo miretur, Indiam penetrauit; inde +rediens exoticos splendores gemmarum, et liquores aromatum, quorum illa +humus ferax est, reportauit. + +The same in English. + +King Alphred being addicted to giving of almes, confirmed the priuileges of +Churches as his father had determined; and sent also many giftes beyond the +seas vnto Rome, and vnto S. Thomas of India. His messenger in this +businesse was Sighelmus bishop of Schirburne; [Footnote: Sherborne, in +Dorsetshire, where an abbey was founded in 700.] who with great prosperitie +(which is a matter to be wondered at in this our age) trauailed thorough +India, and returning home brought with him many strange and precious vnions +and costly spyces, such as that countrey plentifully yeeldeth. + + * * * * * + +A second testimony of the foresaid Sighelmus his voyage vnto Saint Thomas + of India &c. out of William of Malmesburie his second booke de gestis + pontificum Anglorum, cap. de episcopis Schireburnensibus, + Salisburiensibus, Wiltunensibus. + +Sighelmus trans mare, causa eleemosynarum regis, et etiam ad Sanctam Thomam +in Indiam missus mira prosperitate, quod quiuis in hoc seculo miretur, +Indiam penetrauit; indequč rediens exotici generis gemmas, quarum illa +humus ferax est, reportauit. Nonnullę illarum adhuc in ecclesię monumentis +visuntur. + +The same in English. + +Sighelmus being for the performance of the kings almes sent beyond the +seas, and trauailing vnto S. Thomas of India, very prosperously (which a +man would woonder at in this age) passed through the sayde countrey of +India, and returning home brought with him diuers strange and precious +stones, such as that climate affourdeth. Many of which stones are as yet +extant in the monuments of the Church. + + * * * * * + +The trauailes of Andrew Whiteman aliįs Leucander, Centur. 11. [Footnote: + This is misprinted "Centur. 2" in the original edition, but as Ramsey + Abbey (in Huntingdonshire) was only founded by Ailwin the Saxon, A.D. + 969-74, the 11th Century is probably meant, as further on Whiteman is + said to have flourished in 1020. Ramsey is so called from _Ram's Ey_, an + island in the fens.] + +Andręas Leucander aliįs Whiteman (iuxta Lelandum) Monachus, & Abbas +Ramesiensis Coenobij tertius fuit. Hic bonis artibus studio quodam +incredibili noctes atque dies inuigilabat, et operę pręcium ingens inde +retulit. Accessit pręterea et ardens quoddam desiderium, ea proprijs et +apertis oculis videndi loca in quibus Seruator Christus redemptionis nostrę +mysteria omnia consummauit, quorum prius sola nomina ex scripturarum +lectione nouerat: vnde et sacram Hierosolymorum vrbem miraculorum, +prędicationis, ac passionis eius testem inuisit, atque domum rediens factus +est Abbas. Claruisse fertur anno nati Seruatoris, 1020 sub Canuto Dano. + +The same in English. + +Andrew Leucander otherwise called Whiteman (as Leland reporteth) was by +profession a Monke, and the third Abbat of the Abbey of Ramsie: he was +exceedingly giuen to the studie of good artes, taking paines therein day +and night, and profited greatly thereby. And amonst all other things, he +had an incredible desire to see those places with his eyes, wherein Christ +our Sauiour performed and wrought all the mysteries of our redemption, the +names of which places he onely knew before by the reading of the +Scriptures. Whereupon he began his iourney, and went to Ierusalem a +witnesse of the miracles, preaching, and passion of Christ, and being +againe returned into his countrey, he was made the aforesayd Abbat. He +flourished in the yeere of Christ 1020. under Canutus the Dane. + + * * * * * + +The voyages of Swanus one of the sonnes of Earl Godwin vnto Ierusalem, Anno + Dom. 1052, recorded by William of Malmsburie lib. 2. de gestis regum + Anglorum, Capite 13. + +Swanus peruersi ingenij et infidi in regem, multoties a patre et fratre +Haroldo desciuit: et pirata factus, prędis maritimis virtutes maiorum +polluit. Postremņ pro conscientia Brunonis cognati interempti, et (vt +quidam dicunt) fratris Ierosolimam abijt: indeque rediens, a Saracenis +circumuentus, et ad mortem cęsus est. + +The same in English. + +Swanus being of a peruerse disposition, and faithlesse to the king, often +times disagreed with his father and his brother Harold: and afterwards +proouing a pirate, he stained the vertues of his ancestours with his +robberies vpon the seas. Last of all, being guilty vnto himselfe of the +murther of his kinseman Bruno, and (as some do report) of his owne brother, +he trauailed vnto Ierusalem: and in his returne home, being taken by the +Saracens, was beaten, and wounded vnto death. + + * * * * * + +A voyage of three Ambassadours, who in the time of K. Edward the Confessor, + and about the yere of our Lord 1056, were sent vnto Constantinople, and + from thence vnto Ephesus, together with the occasion of their sending, + &c. recorded by William of Malmesburie, lib. 2. de gestis regum Anglorum, + capite 13. + +Die sancti paschatis ad mensam apud Westmonasterium assederat, diademate +fastigatus, et optimatum turma circumuallatus. Cumque alij longam +quadragesimę inediam recentibus cibis compensantes, acriter comederent, +ille a terrenis reuocato animo, diuinum quiddam speculatus, mentes +conuiuantium permouit ampliorem perfusus in risum: nulloque causam lętitię +perquirere pręsumente, tunc quidem ita tacitum donec edendi satietas +obsonijs finem imposuit. Sed remotis mensis, cum in triclinio regalibus +exueretur, tres optimates eum prosequuti, quorum vnus erat comes Haroldus, +secundus abbas, tertius episcopus, familiaritatis ausu interrogant quid +riserat: mirum omnibus nec immeritņ videri, quarč in tanta serenitate diei +et negņtij, tacentibus cęteris, scurrilem cachinnum ejecerit. Stupenda +(inquit) vidi, nec ideo sine causa risi. Tum illi, vt moris est humani +ingenij, sciscitari et quęrere causam ardentiłs, vt supplicibus dignantčr +rem impertiatur. Ille multłm cunctatus tandem instantibus mira respondit: +septem dormientes in monte Cęlio requiescere iam ducentis annis in dextro +iacentes latere: sed tunc in hora ipsa risus sui, latus inuertisse +sinistrum: futurum vt septuaginta quatuor annis ita iaceant: dirum nimirum +miseris mortalibus omen. Nam omnia ventura in his septuaginta quatuor +annis, quę dominus circa finem mundi prędixit discipulis suis: gentem +contra gentem surrecturam, et regnum aduersus regnum, terręmotus per loca, +pestilentiam et famem, terrores de coelo et signa magna, regnorum +mutationes, gentilium in Christianos bella, item Christicolarum in paganos +victorias. Talia mirantibus inculcans passionem septem dormientium, et +habitudines corporum singulorum, quas nulla docet litera, ita promptč +disseruit: ac si cum eis quotidiano victitaret contubernio. His auditis, +comes militem, episcopus clericum, abbas monachum, ad veritatem verborum +exsculpendam, Manicheti Constantinopolitano imperatori misere, adiectis +regis sui literis et muneribus. Eos ille benignč secum habitos episcopo +Ephesi destinauit, epistola pariter, quam sacram vocant, comitante: vt +ostenderentur legatis regis Anglię septem dormientium marturiales exuuię. +Factśmque est vt vaticinium regis Edwardģ Gręcis omnibus comprobatum, qui +se a patribus accepisse iurarent, super dextrum illos latus quiescere: sed +post introitum Anglorum in speluncam, veritatem peregrinę prophetię +contubernalibus suis prędicarunt. Nec moram festinatio malorum fecit, quin +Agareni, et Arabes, et Turci, alienę scilicčt a Christo gentes, Syriam, et +Lyciam, et minorem Asiam omnino, et maioris multas vrbes, inter quas et +Ephesum, ipsam etiam Hierosolymam depopulati, super Christianos inuaderent. + +The same in English. + +Vpon Easter day king Edward the Confessor being crowned with his kingly +diademe, and accompanied with diuers of his nobles, sate at dinner in his +pallace at Westminster. And when others, after their long abstinence in the +Lent, refreshed themselves with dainty meats, and fed thereupon very +earnestly, he lifting vp his mind from earthly matters and meditating on +heauenly visions (to the great admiration of those which were present) +brake forth into an exceeding laughter: and no man presuming to enquire the +cause of his mirth, they all kept silence til dinner was ended. But after +dinner as he was in his bedchamber putting off his solemne roabes, three of +his Nobles to wit earle Harold, an Abbot, and a Bishop, being more familiar +with him then the residue followed him in and bouldly asked him what was +the occasion of his laughter: for it seemed very strange vnto them all, +what should moue him at so solemne a time and assembly, while others kept +silence, to laugh so excessively. I saw (quoth he) admirable things, and +therefore laughed I not without occasion. Then they (as it is the common +guise of all men) demaunded and enquired the cause more earnestly, humbly +beseeching faith that hee would vouchsafe to impart that secret vnto them. +Whereupon musing a long while vnto himself, at length he told them +wonderfull things: namely that seuen Sleepers had rested in mount Cęlius +two hundred yeeres, lying upon their right sides but in the very houre of +his laughter, that they turned themselues on their left sides; and that +they should continue so lying for the space of 74. yeeres after; being a +dismal signe of future calamitie vnto mankinde. For all things should come +to passe within these 74. yeeres, which, as our Sauiour Christ foretold +vnto his disciples, were to be fulfilled about the ende of the world: +namely that nation should rise against nation, and kingdome against +kingdome, and that there should bee in many places earthquakes, pestilence, +and famine, terrible apparitions in the heauens, and great signes, together +with alterations of kingdomes, warres of infidels against the Christians, +and victories of the Christians against the infidels. And as they wondered +at these relations, he declared vnto them the passion of the seuen +Sleepers, with the proportion and shape of cache of their bodies (which +things, no man liuing had as then committed vnto writing) and that so +plainely and distinctly, as if he had conuersed a long time in their +company. Hereupon the earle sent a knight, the bishop a clearke, the Abbot +a monke vnto Maniches the Emperour of Constantinople, with the letters and +gifts of their King. Who giuing them friendly entertainment, sent them ouer +vnto the bishop of Ephesus; and wrote his letters vnto him giuing him +charge, that the English Ambassadours might be admitted to see the true, +and material habiliments of the seuen Sleepers. And it came to passe that +King Edwards vision was approued by all the Greeks, who protested they were +aduertised by their fathers, that the foresaid seuen Sleepers had alwayes +before that time rested vpon their right sides; but after the Englishmen +were entered into the caue, those Sleepers confirmed the trueth of the +outlandish prophesie, vnto their countreymen. Neither were the calamities +foretold, any long time delayed: for the Aragens, Arabians, Turkes and +other vnbeleeuing nations inuading the Christians, harried and spoiled +Syria, Lycia, the lesser Asia, and many cities of Asia the greater, and +amongst the rest Ephesus, yea, and Ierusalem also. + + * * * * * + +The voyage of Alured bishop of Worcester vnto Ierusalem, an. 1058. Recorded + by Roger Houeden in parte priore Annalium, fol. 255. linea 15. + +[Sidenote: A.D. 1058] Aluredus Wigorniensis Episcopus ecclesiam, quam in +ciuitate, Glauorna ą fundamentis constraxerat, in honore principis +Apostolorum Petri honorificč dedicauit: et posteą regis licentia Wolstanum +Wigorniensem Monachum ą se ordinatum Abbatum constituit ibidem. Dein +pręsulatu dimisso Wiltoniensis ecclesię, qui sibi ad regendum commissus +fuerat, et Hermanno, cujus suprą mentionem fecimus, reddito, mare transijt, +et per Hungarian profectus est Hierosolymam, &c. + +The same in English. + +In the yere of our Lord 1058. Alured bishop of Worcester, very solemnly +dedicated a Church (which himselfe had founded and built in the citie of +Gloucester) vnto the honour of S. Peter the chiefe Apostle:[Footnote: This +is Gloucester Cathedral, the crypt, the chapels surrounding the choir, and +the lower part of the nave being the portions built by Alured that are +still extant.] and afterward by the kings permission ordained Wolstan a +Monke of Worcester of his owne choice, to be Abbate in the same place. And +then having left his Bishopricke which was committed vnto him ouer the +Church of Wilton, and having resigned the same vnto Hermannus aboue +mentioned, passed ouer the seas, and trauailed through Hungarie vnto +Ierusalem, &c. + + * * * * * + +The voyage of Ingulphus Abbat of Croiland vnto Ierusalem, performed + (according to Florentius Wigorniensis) in the yeere of our Lord, 1064, + and described by the said Ingulphus himselfe about the conclusion of his + briefe Historie. + +[Sidenote: A.D. 1064] Ego Ingulphus humilis minister Sancti Guthlaci +Monasterijque sui Croilandensis, natus in Anglia, et a parentibus Anglicis, +quippč vrbis pulcherrimę Londoniarum, pro literis addiscendis in teneriore +setate constitutus, primum Westmonasterio, postmodum Oxoniensi studio +traditus eram. Cśmque in Aristotele arripiendo supra multo coętaneos meos +profecissem, etiam Rhetoricam Tullij primam et secundam talo tenus +induebam. Factus ergo adolescentior, fastidiens parentum meorum +exiguitatem, paternos lares relinquere, et palatia regum aut principum +affectans, mollibus vestiri, pomposisque lacinijs amiciri indies ardentius +appetebam. [Sidenote: A.D. 1051] Et eccč, inclytus nunc rex noster Anglię, +tunc adhunc comes Normannię Wilhelmus ad colloquium tunc regis Anglię +Edwardi cognati sui, cum grandi ministrantium comitatu Londonias +aduentabat, Quibus citius insertus, ingerens me vbķque ad omnia emergentia +negotia peragenda, cum prosperč plurima perfecissem, in breui agnitus +Ilustrissimo comiti et astrictissimč adamatus, cum ipso Normanniam +enauigabam. Factus ibidem scriba eius, pro libito totam comitis curiam, ad +nonnullorum inuidiam regebam; quosque volui humiliabam, et quos volui +exaltabam. Cumque iuuenili calore impulsus in tam celso statu supra meos +natales consistere tęderem, quin semper ad altiora conscendere, instabili +animo, ac nimium prurienti affectu, ad erubescentiam ambitiosus auidissimč +desiderarem: [Sidenote: A.D. 1064. According to Florentius Wegorniensis.] +nuntiatur per vniuersam Normanniam plurimos archiepiscopos imperij cum +nonnullis alijs terrę principibus velle pro merito animarum suanim more +peregrinoram cum debita deuotione Hierosolymam proficisci. De familia ergo +comitis domini nostri plurimi tam milites quąm clerici, quorum primus et +pręcipuus ego eram, cum licentia, et domini nostri comitis beneuolentia, in +dictum iter nos omnes accinximus: et Alemanniam petentes, equites triginta +numero et ampliłs domino Maguntino coniuncti sumus. Parati namque omnes ad +viam, et cum dominis episcopis connumerati septem milia, pertranseuntes +prosperč multa terrarum spatia, tandem Constantinopolim peruenimus. Vbi +Alexium Imperatorem eius adorantes Agiosophiam vidimus, et infinita +sanctuaria osculati sumus. Diuertentes inde per Lyciam in manus Arabicorum +latrorium incidimus; euis ceratique de infinitis pecunijs, cum mortibus +multorum, et maxima vitę nostrę periculo vix euadentes, tandem +desideratissimam ciuitatem Hierosolymam lęto introitu tenebamus. Ab ipso +tunc patriarcha Sophronio nomine, viro veneranda canitie honestissimo ac +sanctissimo, grandi cymbalorum tonitru, et luminarium immenso fulgore +suscepti, ad diuinissimam ecclesiam sanctissimi sepulchri, tam Syrorum, +quąm Latinornm solenni processione deducti sumus. Ibi quot preces +inorauimus, quot lachrymas infleuimus, quot suspiria inspirauimus, solus +eius inhabitator nouit D. noster Iesus Christus. Ab ipso itaque +gloriosissimo sepulchro Christi ad alia sanctuaria ciuitatis inuisenda +circumducti, infinitam summam sanctarum ecclesiarum, et oratorioram, quę +Achim Soldanus dudum destruxerat, oculis lachrymosis vidimus. Et omnibus +ruinis sanctissimę ciuitatis, tam extra, quąm intra; numerosis lachrymis +intimo affectu compassi, ad quorundam restaurationem datis non paucis +pecunijs, exire in patriam et sacratissimo Iordane intingi, vniuersįque +Chrtsti vestigia osculari, desiderantissima deuotione suspirabamus. Sed +Arabum latrunculi qui omnem viam obseruabant, longiłs a ciuitate euagari, +sua rabiosa multitudine innumera non sinebant. Vere igitur accidente, +stolus nauium Ianuensium in porta Ioppensi applicuit. In quibus, cum sua +mercimonia Christiani mercatores per ciuitates maritimas commutassent, et +sancta loca similitčr adorassent, ascendentes omnes maria nos commisimus. +Et iactati fluctibus et procellis innumeris tandem Brundusium, et prospero +itinere per Apulium Romam petentes, sanctorum Apostolorum Petri et Pauli +limina, et copiosissima sanctorum martyrum monumenta per omnes stationes +osculati sumus. Indč archiepiscopi, cęterique principes imperij Alemanniam +per dextram repetentes, nos versus Franciam ad sinistram declinantes cum +inenarribilibus et gratijs et osculis ab inuicem discessimus. Et tandem de +triginta equitibus, qui de Normannia pingues exiuimus, vix viginti pauperes +peregrini, et omnes pedites, macie multa attenuati, reuersi sumus. + +The same in English. + +I Ingulphus [Footnote: This Abbot, or pretended Abbot of Croyland (whose +name is attached to a work once highly valued, professing to be a history +of the Abbey of Croyland from 626 to 1089, but which, is now believed to be +a monkish fabrication of a much later age), is said by himself to have +been, on his return from the Holy Land, appointed prior of the Abbey of +Fontenelle, in Normandy, and on William becoming King of England, Abbot of +Croyland. He was believed to have died in 1109.] an humble seruant of +reuerend Guthlac and of his monastery of Croiland, borne in England, and of +English parents, at the beautifull citie of London, was in my youth for the +attaining of good letters, placed first at Westminster, and afterward sent +to the Vniuersitie of Oxford. And hauing excelled diuers of mine equals in +learning of Aristotle, I inured my selfe somewhat vnto the first and second +Rhethorique of Tullie. And as I grew in age, disdayning my parents meane +estate, and forsaking mine owne natiue soyle, I affected the Courts of +kings and princes, and was desirous to be clad in silke, and to weare braue +and costly attire. [Sidenote: A.D. 1051] And loe, at the same time William +our souereigne king now, but then Erle of Normandie, with a great troup of +followers and attendants came vnto London, to conferre with king Edward the +Confessour his kinsman. Into whose company intruding my selfe, and +proffering my seruice for the performance of any speedy or weightie +affayres, in short time, after I had done many things with good successe, I +was knowen and most entirely beloued by the victorious Erle himselfe, and +with him I sayled into Normandie. And there being made his secretarie, I +gouerned the Erles Court (albeit with the enuie of some) as my selfe +pleased, yea whom I would I abased, and preferred whom I thought good. When +as therefore, being carried with a youthful heat and lustie humour, I began +to be wearie euen of this place, wherein I was aduanced so high aboue my +parentage, and with an inconstant minde, and affection too too ambitious, +most vehemently aspired at all occasions to climbe higher: there went a +report throughout all Normandie, that diuers Archbishops of the Empire, and +secular princes were desirous for their soules health, and for deuotion +sake, to goe on pilgrimage to Ierusalem. Wherefore out of the family of our +lorde the Earle, sundry of vs, both gentlemen and clerkes (principall of +whom was myselfe) with the licence and good will of our sayd lord the +earle, sped vs on that voiage, and trauailing thirtie horses of vs into +high Germanie, we ioyned our selues vnto the Archbishop of Mentz. And being +with the companies of the Bishop seuen thousand persons sufficiently +prouided for such an expedition, we passed prosperously through many +prouinces, and at length attained vnto Constantinople. Where doing +reuerence vnto the Emperor Alexius, we sawe the Church of Sancta Sophia, +and kissed diuers sacred reliques. Departing thence through Lycia, we fell +into the hands of the Arabian theeues: and after we had beene robbed of +infinite summes of money, and had lost many of our people, hardly escaping +with extreame danger of our liues, at length we ioyfully entered into the +most wished citie of Ierusalem. Where we wer receiued by the most reuerend, +aged, and holy patriarke Sophronius, with great melodie of cymbals and with +torch-light, and were accompanied vnto the most diuine Church of our +Sauiour his sepulchre with a solemne procession aswell of Syrians as of +Latines. Here, how many prayers we vttered, what abundance of teares we +shed, what deepe sighs we breathed foorth, our Lord Iesus Christ onely +knoweth. Wherefore being conducted from the most glorious sepulchre of +Christ to visite other sacred monuments of the citie, we saw with weeping +eyes a great number of holy Churches and oratories, which Achim the Souldan +of Egypt had lately destroyed. And so hauing bewailed with sadde teares, +and most sorowful and bleeding affections, all the ruines of that most holy +city both within and without, and hauing bestowed money for the reedifying +of some, we desired with most ardent deuotion to go forth into the +countrey, to wash our selues in the most sacred riuer of Iordan, and to +kisse all the steppes of Christ. Howbeit the theeuish Arabians lurking vpon +euery way, would not suffer vs to trauell farre from the city, by reason of +their huge and furious multitudes. Wherefore about the spring there arriued +at the port of Ioppa a fleet of ships from Genoa. In which fleet (when the +Christian merchants had exchanged all their wares at the coast townes, and +had likewise visited the holy places) wee all of vs embarked committing +ourselues to the seas: and being tossed with many stormes and tempests, at +length wee arriued at Brundusium: and so with a prosperous iourney +trauelling thorow Apulia towards Rome, we there visited the habitations of +the holy apostles Peter and Paul, and did reuerence vnto diuers monuments +of holy martyrs in all places thorowout the city. From thence the +archbishops and other princes of the empire trauelling towards the right +hand for Alemain, and we declining towards the left hand for France, +departed asunder, taking our leaues with vnspeakable thankes and +courtesies. And so at length, of thirty horsemen which went out of +Normandie fat, lusty, and frolique, we returned hither skarse twenty poore +pilgrims of vs, being all footmen, and consumed with leannesse to the bare +bones. + + * * * * * + +Diuers of the honourable family of the Beauchamps, with Robert Curtoys + sonne of William the Conqueror, made a voyage to Ierusalem 1096. Hol. + pag. 22. vol. 2. + +Pope Vrbane calling a councell at Clermont in Auuergne, exhorted the +Christian princes so earnestly to make a iourney in the Holy land, for the +recouery thereof out of the Saracens hands, that the saide great and +generall iourney was concluded vpon to be taken in hand, wherein many noble +men of Christendome went vnder the leading of Godfrey of Bouillon and +others, as in the Chronicles of France, of Germanie, and of the Holy land +doeth more plainely appeare. There went also among other diuers noble men +foorth of this Realme of England, specially that worthily bare the surname +of Beauchampe. + + * * * * * + +The voyage of Gutuere an English Lady maried to Balduine brother of + Godfreide duke of Bouillon, toward Ierusalem about 1097. And the 11. + yeere of William Rufus King of England. + +The Christian armie of Godfrie of Bouillon passing the citie of Iconium, +alias Agogna in the countrey of Licaonia, and from thence by the city of +Heraclia, came at length vnto the citie of Marasia, where they encamped, +and soiourned there three whole dayes, because of the wife of Balduine +brother germane of the duke of Loraigne. Which Lady, being long time vexed +with a grieuous maladie, was in extremitie, where at length paying the debt +due to nature, she changed this transitorie life, for life eternall; Who, +in her life time, was a very worthy and vertuous Lady, borne in England, +and descended of most noble parentage named Gutuere; Which, according to +her degree, was there most honourably enterred, to the great griefe of all +the whole armie. As reporteth William Archbishop of Tyre, lib. 3. cap. 17. +hist. belli sacri. The same author in the 10. booke and first chapter of +the same historie concerning the same English Lady, writeth further as +followeth, Baldwine hauing folowed the warres for a time, gaue his minde to +marriage, so that being in England he fell in loue with a very honourable +and noble Lady named Gutuere, whom he married and caried with him in that +first happy expedition, wherin he accompanied his brethren, the Lords, duke +Godfrey and Eustace, persons very commendable in all vertues and of +immortall memorie. But he had hard fortune in his iourney, because his +foresaid wife, being wearied with a long sicknes finished her life with a +happie end neere the citie of Marasia, before the Christian armie came vnto +Antioch, where she was honourably buried, as we haue declared before. + + * * * * * + +Chronicon Hierosolymitanum in lib. 3. cap. 27. maketh also mention of this + English Lady which he calleth Godwera in this maner. + +Hac in regione Maresch vxor Baldewini nobilissima, quam de regno Anglię +eduxit, diutina corporis molestia aggrauata, et duci Godefrido commendata, +vitam exhalauit, sepulta Catholicis obsequijs; cuius nomen erat Godwera. + +The same in English. + +In this prouince of Maresch the most noble wife of Baldwine, which he +caried with him out of England being visited with dayly sicknesses and +infirmities of body, and commended to the custody of duke Godfrey, departed +out of this life, and was buried after the Christian maner. Her name was +Godwera. + + * * * * * + +The voyage of Edgar the sonne of Edward which was the sonne of Edmund + surnamed Ironside, brother vnto K. Edward the confessor, (being + accompanied with valiant Robert the sonne of Godwin) vnto Ierusalem, in + the yeere of our Lord 1102. Recorded by William of Malmesburie, lib. 3. + histo. fol. 58. + +[Sidenote: A.D. 1102.] Subsequenti tempore cum Roberto filio Godwini milite +audacissimo Edgaras Hierosolymam pertendit Illud fuit tempus quo Turci +Baldwinum regem apud Ramas obsederunt: qui cum obsidionis iniuriam ferre +nequiret, per medias hostium acies effugit, solius Roberti opera liberatus +pręeuntis, et euaginato gladio dextra leuaque Turcos cędentis. Sed cum +successu ipso truculentior, alacritate nimia procurreret, ensis manu +excidit. Ad quem recolligendum cum se inclinasset, omnium incursu +oppressus, vinculis palmas dedit. Inde Babyloniam (vt aiunt) ductus, cum +Christum abnegare nollet, in medio foro ad signum positus, et sagittis +terebratus, martyrium consecrauit. Edgarus amisso milite regressus, +multaque beneficia ab Imperatoribus Gręcorum, et Alemannorum adeptus +(quippč qui etiam eum retinere pro generis amplitudine tentassent) omnia +pronatalis soli desiderio spreuit. Quosdam enim profectņ fallit amor patrię +vt nihil eis videatur iucundum, nisi consuetum hauserint coelum. Vndč +Edgarus fatua cupidine illusus Angliam redijt, vbi (vt superius dixi) +diuerso fortunę ludicro rotatus, nunc remotus et tacitus, canos suos in +agro consumit. + +The same in English. + +Afterward Edgar being sonne vnto the nephewe of Edward the confessour, +traueiled with Robert the sonne of Godwin a most valiant knight, vnto +Ierusalem. And it was at the same time when the Turkes besieged king +Baldwin at Rama: who not being able to endure the straight siege, was by +the helpe of Robert especially, going before him, and with his drawen sword +making a lane, and slaying the Turkes on his right hande and on his left, +deliuered out of that danger, and escaped through the midst of his enemies +campe. But vpon his happie successe being more eager and fierce, as he went +forward somewhat too hastily, his sworde fell out of his hand. Which as he +stouped to take vp, being oppressed with the whole multitude, hee was there +taken and bound. From whence (as some say) being carried vnto Babylon or +Alcair in Egypt, when he would not renounce Christ, he was tyed vnto a +stake in the midst of the market place, and being shot through with +arrowes, died a martyr. Edgar hauing lost his knight returned, and being +honoured with many rewards both by the Greekish and by the Germaine +Emperour (who both of them would right gladly haue entertained him stil for +his great nobilitie) contemned all things in respect of his natiue soile. +For in very deede some are so inueagled with the loue of their countrey, +that nothing can seeme pleasant vnto them, vnlesse they breath in the same +aire where they were bred. Wherefore Edgar being misledde with a fond +affection, returned into England; and afterward being subiect vnto diuers +changes of fortune (as we haue aboue signified) he spendeth [Marginal note: +When the author was writing of this history.] now his extreeme old age in +an obscure and priuate place of the countrey. + + * * * * * + +Mention made of one Godericus, a valiant Englishman, who was with his ships + in the voyage vnto the Holy land in the second yeere of Baldwine King of + Ierusalem, in the third yere of Henry the first of England. + +[Chronicon Hierosolymitanum lib. 9. cap. 9.] Verłm de hinc septem diebus +euolutis rex ab Assur exiens, nauem quę dicitur Buza ascendit, et cum eo +Godericus pirata de regno Anglię, ac vexillo hastę pręfixo et elato in aėre +ad radios solis vsque, Iaphet cum paucis nauigauit, vt hoc eius signo ciues +Christiani recognito, fiduciam vitę regis haberent, et non facile hostium +mķnis pauefacti, turpiter diffugium facerent, aut vrbem reddere cogerentur. +Sciebat enim eos multum de vita et salute eius desperare, Saraceni autem +viso eius signo, et recognito, ea parte quę vrbem nauigio cingebat illi in +galeis viginti et Carinis tredecim, quas vulgo appelant Cazh, occurrerunt, +volentes Buzam regis coronare. Sed Dei auxilio vndis maris illis ex aduerso +tumescentibus ac reluctantibus, Buza autem regis facili, et agili cursu +inter procellas labente, ac volitante, in portu Ioppę delusis hostibus +subitņ affuit, sex ex Saracenis in arcu suo in nauicula percussis, ac +vulneratis. Intrans itaque ciuitatem dum incolumis omnium pateret oculis, +reuixit spiritus cunctorum gementium ei de eius niorte hactenus dolentium, +eo quņd caput et rex Christianorum et princeps Hierusalem adhuc viuus et +incolumis receptus sit. + +The same in English. + +But seuen dayes afterward, the King comming out of the towne of Assur +entred into a shippe called a Busse, and one Godericke a pirate of the +kingdome of England with him, and fastening his banner on the toppe of a +speare, and holding it vp aloft in the aire against the beames of the +Sunne, sailed vnto Iaphet with a small company; That the Christian Citizens +there seeing this his banner, might conceiue hope that the King was yet +liuing, and being not easily terrified with the threates of the enemies +might shamefully runne away; or be constrained to yeeld vp the citie. For +hee knew that they were very much out of hope of his life and safetie. The +Saracens seeing and knowing this his banner, that part of them which +enuironed the Citie by water made towards him with twentie Gallies and +thirteene shippes, which they commonly cal Cazh, seeking to inclose the +kings shippe. But, by Gods helpe the billowes of the Sea swelling and +raging against them, and the Kings shippe gliding and passing through the +waues with an easie and nimble course arriued suddenly in the hauen of +Ioppa, the enemies frustrated of their purpose; and sixe of the Saracens +were hurt and wounded by shot out of the Kings shippe. So that the King +entering into the Citie, and nowe appearing in safetie in all their +sightes, the spirits of all them that mourned for him, and vntil then +lamented as though hee had bene dead, reuiued, because that the head and +King of the Christians, and prince of Ierusalem was yet aliue, and come +againe vnto them in perfect health. + + * * * * * + +Mention made of One Hardine of England one of the chiefest personages, and + a leader among other of two hundred saile of ships of Christians that + landed at Ioppa in the yeere of our Lord God 1102. + +[Chronicon Hierosolymitanum libro 9. cap. 11.] Interea dum hęc obsidio +ageretur 200. naues Christianorum nauigio Ioppen appulsę sunt, vt adorarent +in Hierusalem. Horum Bernardus Witrazh de terra Galatię, Hardinus de +Anglia, Otho de Roges, Hadewerck, vnus de prępotentibus Westfalorum, primi +et ductores fuisse referuntur, etc. Erat autem tertia feria Iulij mensis, +quando hę Christianorum copię, Deo protegente, huc nauigio angustiatis et +obsessis ad opem collatę sunt. Sarracenorum autem turmę, videntes quia +Christianorum virtus audactur facie ad faciem vicini sibi hospitio proximč +iungebatur, media nocte orbi incumbente, amotis tentorijs amplius milliari +subtractę consederunt, dum luce exorta consilium inirent, vtrum Ascalonem +redirent, aut ciues Iaphet crebris assultibus vexarent. + +The same in English. + +Whle the Sarazens continued their siege against Ioppa, two hundred saile of +Christian ships arriued at Ioppa, that they might performe their deuotions +at Hierusalem. The chiefe men and leaders of these Christians are reported +to haue bene: Bernard Witrazh of the land of Galatia, Hardine of England, +Otho of Roges, Haderwerck one of the chiefe noblemen of Westphalia, &c. +This Christian power through Gods speciall prouision, arrived here for the +succour and reliefe of the distressed and besieged Christians in Ioppa, the +third day of Iuly, 1102. and in the second yeere of Baldwine king of +Ierusalem. Whereupon the multitude of the Sarazens, seeing that the +Christian power ioyned themselves boldly, close by them even face to face +in a lodging hard by them, the very next night at midnight, remooued their +tents, and pitched them more then a mile off, that they might the next +morning bee aduised whether they should returne to Ascalon, or by often +assaults vexe the citizens of Iaphet. + +[Chronicon Hierosolymitanum, eodem libro 9. cap. l2.] continueth this +historie of these two hundreth saile of ships, and sheweth how by their +prowesse chiefly, the multitude of the Sarazens were in short space +vanquished and ouerthrowen: The words are these; Ab ipso verņ die tertię +ferię dum sic in superbia et elatione suę multitudinis immobiles Saraceni +persisterent, et multis armorum terroribus Christianum populum vexarent, +sexta feria appropinquante. Rex Baldwinus in tubis et cornibus a Iaphet +egrediens, in manu robusta equitum et peditum virtutem illorum crudeli +bello est aggressus, magnis hinc et hinc clamoribus intonantes. Christiani +quoque qui nauigio appulsi sunt horribili pariter clamore cum Rege +Baldwino, et graui strepitu vociferantes, Babylonios vehementi pugna sunt +aggressi, sęuissimis atque mortiferis plagis eos affligentes, donec bello +fatigati, et contrą ['vntrą' in source text--KTH] vim non sustinentes fugam +versus Ascalonea inierunt. Alij verņ ab insecutoribus eripi existimantes, +et mari se credentes, intolerabili procellarum fluctuatione absorpti sunt. +Et sic ciuitas Ioppe cum habitatoribus suis liberata est; Ceciderunt hac +die tria millia Saracenorum Christianorum verņ pauci perijsse inuenti sunt. + +The same in English. + +Yet notwithstanding, after the said third day of Iuly, the Sarazens +persisted high minded and insolent, by reason of their great multitude, and +much annoied the Christian people with their many forceable and terrible +weapons; whereupon, on the sixt day of Iuly early in the morning king +Baldwine issued out of Iaphet, his trumpets and cornets yeelding a great +and lowd sound, and with a very strong armie as well of horsemen as +footemen, who on euery side making great shoutes and outcries, with fierce +and sharpe battell set on the maine power of their enemies. The Christians +also who arriued in the nauie, rearing great clamours and noyses, with loud +voices and shoutings in horrible wise together, with king Baldwine +assaulted likewise with strong battell the Babylonians, and afflicted them +with most sore and deadly wounds, vntill the Sarazens being wearied with +fighting, nor able longer to endure and hold out against the valure of the +Christians, fled towards Ascalon. And other of them hoping to escape from +them that pursued them, lept into the sea, and were swalowed vp in the +waues thereof. And so the citie of Ioppa with the inhabitants thereof were +freed of their enemies. There were slaine this day three thousand Sarazens, +and but a few of the Christians perished. + + * * * * * + +A Fleete of Englishmen, Danes, and Flemings, arriued at Ioppa in the Holy + land, the seuenth yeere of Baldwine the second king of Hierusalem. + Written in the beginning of the tenth booke of the Chronicle of + Hierusalem, in the 8. yeere of Henry the first of England. + +Chap: 1. + +At the same time also in the seuenth yeere of the raigne of Baldwine the +Catholike king of Hierusalem, a very great warrelike Fleete of the +Catholike nation of England, to the number of about seuen thousand, hauing +with them more men of warre of the kingdom of Denmarke, of Flanders and of +Antwerpe, arriued with ships which they call Busses, at the hauen of the +citie of Iaphet, determining there to make their abode, vntill they hauing +obtained the kings licence and safeconduct, might safely worship at +Hierusalem. Of which nauie the chiefest and best spoken repairing to the +king, spake to him in this maner. Christ preserue the Kings life, and +prosper his kingdome from day to day; Wee, being men and souldiours of +Christian profession, haue, through the helpe of God, sayled hither through +mightie and large seas, from the farre countreys of England, Flanders, and +Denmarke, to worship at Ierusalem, and to visit the sepulchre of our Lord. +And therefore we are assembled to intreat your clemency touching the +matter, that by your fauour and safe conduct we may peaceably goe vp to +Ierusalem, and worship there, and so returne. + + +Chap. 2. + +The king fauourably hearing their whole petition, granted vnto them a +strong band of men to conduct them, which brought them safely from all +assaults and ambushes of the Gentiles by the knowen wayes vnto Ierusalem +and all other places of deuotion. After that these pilgrims, and new +Christian strangers were brought thither, they offering vnto our Lord their +vowes in the temple of the holy sepulchre, returned with great ioy, and +without all let vnto Ioppa; where finding the king, they vowed they would +assist him in all things, which should seeme good vnto him: who, greatly +commending the men, and commanding them to be well entertained with +hospitality, answered that he could not on the sudden answere to this +point, vntill that after he had called his nobles together, he had +consulted with my lord the Patriarch what was most meet and conuenient to +be done, and not to trouble in vaine so willing an army. And therefore +after a few dayes, calling vnto him my lord the Patriarch, Hugh of Tabaria, +Gunfride the keeper and lieutenant of the tower of Dauid, and the other +chiefest men of warre, he determined to haue a meeting in the city of +Rames, to consult with them what was best to be done. + + +Chap. 3. + +Who, being assembled at the day appointed, and proposing their diuers +opinions and iudgements, at length it seemed best vnto the whole company to +besiege the city Sagitta, which is also called Sidon, if peradventure, +through God's helpe, and by the strength of this new army, by land and sea +it might be ouercome. Whereupon all they which were there present and +required that this city should be besieged, because it was one of those +cities of the Gentiles which continually rebelled, were commended, and +admonished of the king euery one to go home, and to furnish themselues with +things necessary, and armour for this expedition. Euery one of them +departed home; likewise Hugh of Tabaria departed, being a chiefe man of +warre against the inuasions of the enemies, which could neuer be wearied +day nor night in the countie of the Pagans, in pursuing them with warre and +warlike stratagemes all the dayes of his life. Immediatly after this +consultation the king sent ambassadours to all the multitude of the English +men, requiring them not to remoue their campe nor fleet from the city of +Iaphet, but quietly to attend the kings further commandement. The same +embassadours also declared vnto the whole army, that the king and all his +nobility had determined to besiege and assault the city Sagitta by sea and +by land, and that their helpe and forces would there be needfull; and that +for this purpose, the king and the patriarch were comming downe vnto the +city of Acres and that they were in building of engins, and warlike +instruments, to inuade the walles and inhabitants thereof: and that in the +meane season they were to remaine at Iaphet, vntill the kings further +commandement were knowen. Whereupon they all agreed that it should be so +done according to the king's commandement; and answered that they would +attend his directions in the Hauen of Iaphet, and would in all points be +obedient vnto him vnto the death. + + +Chap.4. + +The king came downe to Acres with the patriarch, and all his family, +building, and making there by the space of fortie dayes engins, and many +kindes of warlike instruments: and appointing all things to be made +perfectly ready, which seemed to be most conuenient for the assaulting of +the city. Assoone as this purpose and intent of the king was come vnto the +eares of the inhabitants of Sagitta, and that an inuincible power of men of +warre was arriued at Iaphet to helpe the king, they were greatly astonied, +fearing that by this meanes, they should be consumed and subdued by the +king by dint of sword, as other cities, to wit, Cęsaria, Assur, Acres, +Cayphas, and Tabaria were vanquished and subdued. And therefore laying +their heads together, they promised to the king by secret mediatours, a +mighty masse of money of a coyne called Byzantines: and that further they +would yeerely pay a great tribute, vpon condition that ceasing to besiege +and inuade their city, he would spare their liues. Whereupon these +businesses were handled from day to day betweene the king and the citizens, +and they sollicited the king for the ransomming both of their city and of +their liues, proffering him from time to time more greater gifts. And the +king for his part, being carefull and perplexed for the payment of the +wages which he ought vnto his souldiers, harkened wholy vnto this offer of +money. Howbeit because he feared the Christians, least they should lay it +to his charge as a fault, he durst not as yet meddle with the same. + + +Chap. 5. + +In the meane space Hugh of Tabaria being sent for, accompanied with the +troopes of two hundred horsemen and foure hundred footmen, inuaded the +countrey of the Grosse Carle called Suet, very rich in gold and siluer most +abundant in cattle frontering vpon the countrie of the Damascenes, where +hee tooke a pray of inestimable riches and cattle, which might haue +suffised him for the besiege of Sagitta, whereof he ment to impart +liberally to the king, and his companie. This pray being gathered out of +sundry places thereabout, and being led away as farre as the citie of +Belinas, which they call Cęsaria Philippi, the Turkes which dwelt at +Damascus, together with the Saracens inhabitants of the countrie perceiuing +this, flocking on all partes together by troopes, pursued Hughes companie +to rescue the pray, and passed foorth as farre as the mountaines, ouer +which Hughes footemen did driue the pray. There beganne a great skirmish of +both partes, the one side made resistance to keepe the pray, the other +indeuoured with all their might to recouer it, vntill at length the Turkes +and Saracens preuailing, the pray was rescued and brought back againe: +which Hugh and his troopes of horsemen, suddenly vnderstanding, which were +on the side of the mountaines, incontinently rid backe vpon the spurre, +among the straight and craggie rockes, skirmishing with the enemies, and +succouring their footemen, but as it chanced they fought vnfortunately. For +Hugh, being vnarmed, and immediatly rushing into the middest of all +dangers, and after his woonted manner inuading and wounding the infidels, +being behinde with an arrowe shot through the backe which pierced thorough +his liuer and brest, he gaue vp the ghost in the handes of his owne people. +Hereupon the troupes of the Gentiles being returned with the recouered +pray, and being deuided through the secret and hard passages of the craggie +hilles, the souldiers brought the dead bodie of Hugh, which they had put in +a litter, into the citie of Nazareth, which is by the mount Thaber, where +with great mourning and lamentation, so worthie a prince, and valiant +champion was honourably and Catholikely interred. The brother of the said +Hugh named Gerrard, the same time lay sicke of a grieuous disease. Which +hearing of the death of his brother, his sicknesse of his body increasing +more vehemently through griefe, he also deceased within eight dayes after, +and was buried by his brother, after Christian maner. + + +Chap. 6. + +After the lamentable burials of these so famous Princes, the King, taking +occasion of the death of these principall men of his armie, agreed, making +none priuie thereto, to receiue the money which was offered him for his +differing off the siege of the citie of Sagitta, yet dissembling to make +peace, with the Saracens, but that he ment to go through with the worke, +that he had begunne. Whereupon sending a message vnto Iaphet, hee aduised +the English souldiers to come downe to Acres with their fleete, and to +conferre and consult with him touching the besieging and assaulting of the +citie of Sagitta, which rising immediatly vpon the kings commaundement, and +foorthwith hoysing vp the sayles of their shippes aloft with pendants and +stremers of purple, and diuerse other glorious colours, with their flagges +of scarlet colour and silke, came thither, and casting their ancres, rode +hard by the citie. The king the next day calling vnto him such as were +priuie and acquainted with his dealings, opened his griefe vnto the chiefe +Captaines of the English men and Danes, touching the slaughter of Hugh, and +the death of his brother, and what great confidence he reposed in them +concerning these warres: and that nowe therefore they being departed and +dead, he must of necessity differre the besieging of Sagitta, and for this +time dismisse the armie assembled. This resolution of the king being spred +among the people, the armie was dissolued, and the Englishmen, Danes and +Flemings, with sailes and oares going aboard their fleete, saluted +['saulted' in source text--KTH] the king, and returned home vnto their +natiue countries. + + * * * * * + +The trauailes of one Athelard an Englishman, recorded by master Bale + Centur. 12. + +Athelardus Bathoniensis Coenobij monachus, naturalium rerum mysteria, et +causas omnes, diligentiā tam vndecunque exquisitā perscrutatus est, vt cum +aliquibus veteris seculi philosophis non indignč conferri possit. Hic olim +spectatę indolis Adolescens, vt virente adhuc ętate iuuenile ingenium +foecundaret, atque ad res magnas pararet relicta dulci patria longinquas +petijt regiones. Cum verņ Ęgyptum et Arabiam peragrans, plura inuenisset, +quę eius desiderabat animus, cum magno laborum, ac literarum lucro in +Angliam tum demłm reuertebatur. Claruit anno virginei partus, 1130. Henrico +primo regnante. + +The same in English. + +Athelard a Monke of the Abbie of Bathe was so diligent a searcher of the +secrets, and causes of naturall things, that he deserueth worthely to be +compared with some of the auncient Philosophers. This man although young, +yet being of a good wit, and being desirous to increase and enrich the same +with the best things, and to prepare himselfe as it were for greater +matters, left his Countrey for a time, and trauailed into forreine Regions. +He went through Egypt, and Arabia, and found out many things which he +desired to his owne priuate contentment, and the profite of good letters +generally, and so being satisfied, returned againe into his Countrey: he +flourished in the yeere 1130. Henry the first being then king of England. + + * * * * * + +The life and trauailes of one William of Tyre, an Englishman. Centur. 12. + +[Sidenote: Hic etiam Guilielmus Tyrensis claruit sub Henrico primo.] +Guilielmus, Ecclesię Dominici sepulchri Hierosolymę Regularium Canonicorum +prior, natione Anglicus vir vita et moribus commendabilis, Anno Dom. 1128. +postquam Tyrorum Ciuitas fidei Christianę restituta est a Guimundo +Hierosolymorum patriarcha, eidem vrbi primus Archiepiscopus pręficiebatur. +Est autem Tyrus ciuitas antiquissima, Phoenicię vniuersę Metropolis, quę +inter Syrię protuincias, et bonorum omnium penč commoditate, et incolarum +frequentia primum semper obtinuit locum: post conscripta quędam opuscula, +et Epistolas, ad Dominum migrauit, An. Christi 1130. quum duobus tantum +sedisset annis, et in Tyrensi Ecclesia sepelitur. + +The same in English. + +William the Prior of the Canons Regular in the Church of Ierusalem, called +the Lords Sepulchre, was an Englishman borne, and of a vertuous and good +behauiour. After that the Citie of Tyre was restored againe to the +Christian faith, Guimunde the Patriarke of Ierusalem made him the first +Archbishop of Tyre, in the yeere 1128. Which Tyre is a very ancient Citie, +the Metropolis of all Phoenicia, and hath bene accompted the chiefest +Prouince of Syria, both for fruitful commodities and multitude of +inhabitants. This William hauing in his life written many Bookes and +Epistles, died at last in the yeere 1130. hauing bene Archbishop the space +of two yeeres, and was buried in the Church of Tyre. + + * * * * * + +The trauailes of Robertus Ketenensis. + +Robertus Ketenensis natione et cognomine Anglus, degustatis primum per +Anglorum gymnasia humanarum artium elementis literarijs, vltramarinas +statim visitare prouincias in animo constituit: Peragratis ergņ Gallijs, +Italia, Dalmatia, et Gręcia, tum demum peruenit in Asiam, vbi non paruo +labore, ac vitę suę periculo inter Saracenos truculentissimum hominum +genus, Arabicam linguam ad amussim didicit In Hispaniam postea nauigio +traductus, circa fluuium Hiberum Astrologicę artis studio, cum Hermanno +quodam Dalmata, magni sui itineris comite se totum dedit. [Sidenote: +Claruit sub Stephano.] Clarutt anno seruatoris nostri, 1143 Stephano +regnante, et Pampilonę sepelitur. + +The same in English. + +This Robert Ketenensis was called an Englishman by surname, as he was by +birth: who after some time spent in the foundations of humanitie, and in +the elements of good Artes in the Vniuersities of England, determined to +trauaile to the partes beyond sea: and so trauailed through France, Italie, +Dalmatia, and Greece, and came at last into Asia, where he liued in great +danger of his life among the cruell Saracens, but yet learned perfectly the +Arabian tongue. Afterwardes he returned by sea into Spaine, and there about +the riuer Iberus, gaue him selfe wholy to the studie of Astrologie, with +one Hermannus a Dalmatian, who had accompanied him in his long voyage. He +flourished in the yeere 1143. Steuen being then king of England, and was +buried at Pampilona. + + * * * * * + +A voyage of certaine English men vnder the conduct of Lewes king of France + vnto the Holy land. + +[Sidenote: 1147. Tempore regis Stephani.] Tantę expeditionis explicito +apparatu vterque princeps iter arripuit, et exercitu separtito. Imperator +enim Conradus pręcedebat itinere aliquot dierum, cum Italorum, Germanorum, +aliarśmque gentium amplissimis copijs. Rex vero Lodouicus sequebatur +Francorum, Flandrensium, Normannorum, Britonum, Anglorum, Burgundionum, +Prouincialium, Aquitanorum, equestri simul et pedestri agmine comitatus. +Gulielmus Neobrigensis, fol. 371. + +The same in English. + +Both the princes prouision being made for so great an expedition, they +seuering their armies, entered on their iourney. For the Emperour Conradus +went before, certaine dayes iourney, with very great power of Italians, +Germans, and other countreys. And king Lewes followed after accompanied +with a band of horsemen and footmen of French men, Fiemmings, Normans, +Britons, Englishmen, Burgundions, men of Prouence, and Gascoins. + + * * * * * + +The voyage of Iohn Lacy to Ieirusalem. + +[Sidenote: 1173.] Anno Domini 1172 fundata fuit abbatia de Stanlaw per +dominum; Iohannem Lacy Constabularium Cestrię et dominum de Halton, qui +obijt in Terra sancta anno sequenti: qui fuit vicessimus annus regni regis +Henrici secundi. + +The same in English. + +In the yere of our Lord 1172 was founded the abbey of Stanlaw by the lord +Iohn Lacy Constable of Chester, and lord of Halton, who deceased in the +Holy land the yere following: which was in the twentieth yere of king Henry +the second. + + * * * * * + +The voyage of William Mandeuile to Ierusalem. + +[Sidenote: 1177.] William Mandeuile earle of Essex, with diuers English +lords and knights, went to the Holy land in the 24 yere of Henry the +second. Holinshed pag. 101. + + * * * * * + +A great supply of money to the Holy land by Henry the 2. + +The same yeere King Henry the second being at Waltham, assigned an aide to +the maintenance of the Christian souldiers in the Holy lande, That is to +wit, two and fortie thousand marks of siluer, and fiue hundred marks of +golde. Matth. Paris and Holins. pag. 105. + + * * * * * + +A letter written from Manuel the Emperour of Constantinople, vnto Henrie + the second King of England, Anno Dom. 1177. wherein mention is made that + certaine of King Henries Noble men and subjects were present with the + sayd Emperour in a battell of his against the Soldan of Iconium. Recorded + by Roger Houeden, in Annalium parte posteriore, in regno Hen. 2. fol. + 316, et 317. + +Eodem anno Manuel Constantinopolitanus imperator, habito pręlio campestri +cum Soltano Iconij et illo devicto, in hac forma scripsit Domino regi +Anglię. + +Manuel in Christo deo Porphyrogenitus, diuinitus coronatus, sublimis, +potens, excelsus, semper Augustus, et moderator Romanorum, Comnenus, +Henrico nobilissimo regi Anglię, charissimo amico suo, salutem et omne +bonum. Cum imperium nostrum necessarium reputet notificare tibi, vt dilecto +amico suo, de omnibus quę sibi obueniunt; ideņ et de his quę nunc +acciderunt ei, opportunum iudicauit declarare tuę voluntati. Igitur a +principio coronationis nostrę imperium nostrum aduersus dei inimicos Persas +nostrum odium in corde nutriuit, dum cerneret illos in Christianos +gloriari, eleuatique in nomen dei, et Christianorum dominari regionibus. +Quo circa et alio quidem tempore indifferentčr inuasit eos, et prout deus +ei concessit, sic et fecit. Et quę ab ipso frequenter patrata sunt ad +contritionem ipsorum et perditionem, imperium nostrum credit nobilitatem +tuam non latere. Quoniam autem et nunc maximum exercitum contra eos ducere +proposuit, et bellum contra omnem Persidem mouere, quia res cogebat. Et non +vt voluit multum aliquem apparatum fecit, sicut ei visum est. Veruntamen +prout tempus dabat et rerum status, potentčr eos inuasit. Collegit ergo +circa se imperium nostrum potentias suas: sed quia carpenta ducebat +armorum, et machinarum, et aliorum instrumentorum conferentium ciuitatem +expugnationibus, pondera portantia: idcircņ nequaquam cum festinatione iter +suum agere poterat. Ampliłs autem dum adhuc propriam regionem peragraret, +antequam barbarorum aliquis aduersus nos militaret in bellis aduersarius, +ęgritudo difficillima fluxus ventris invasit nos, qui diffusus per agmina +imperij nostri pertransibat, depopulando et interimendo multos, omni +pugnatore grauior. Et hoc malum inualescens maximč nos contriuit. Ex quo +verņ fines Turcorum inuasimus, bella quidem primum frequentia concrepabant, +et agmina Turcorum cum exercitibus imperij nostri vndique dimicabant. Sed +Dei gratia ex toto ą nostris in fugam vertebantur barbari. Post verņ vbi ei +qui illic adjacet angustię loci, quę ą Persis nominatur Cibrilcimam, +propinquauimus, tot Persarum turmę peditum et equitum, quorum pleręque ab +interioribus partibus Persidis occurrerant in adiutorium contribulium +suorum, exercitui nostro superuenerunt, quot penč nostrorum excederent +numerum. Exercitu itaque imperii nostri propter vię omnino angustiam et +difficultatem, vsque ad decem milliaria extenso; et cum neque qui pręibant +possent postremos defendere, neque versa vice rursus postremi possent +pręeuntes inuare, non mediocritčr ab inuicem hos distare accidit. Sanč +primę cohortes permultłm ab acie imperij nostri diuidebantur, postremarum +oblitę, illas non pręstolantes. Quoniam igitur Turcorum agmina ex iam +factis pręlijs cognouerant, non conforre sibi ą fronte nobis repugnare, +loci angustiam bonum subuentorem cum inuenissent, posteriora statuerunt +inuadere agmina, quod et fecerunt. Arctissimo igitur vbique loco existente, +instabant barbari vndique, ą dextris et a sinistris, et aliundč dimicantes, +et tela super nos quasi imbres descendentia interimebant viros et equos +complures. Ad hęc itaque imperium nostrum vbi malum superabundabat, +reputans secum oportunum iudicabat retrņ expectare, atque illos qui illic +erant adiuuare, expectando vtiquč contra infinita illa Persarum agmina +bellum sustinuit. Quanta quidem, dum ab his circundaretur, patrauerit, non +opus est ad tempus sermonibus pertexere, ab illis autem qui interfuerunt, +forsitan discet de his tua nobilitas. Inter hęc autem existente imperio +nostro, et omne belli grauamen in tantum sustinente, postremę cohortes +vniuersę Gnecorum et Latinorum, et reliquorum omnium generum conglobatę, +quę iaciebantur ab inimicis tela non sustinentes, impactione vtuntur, et +ita violentčr ferebantur, dłm ad adiacentem ibi collem quasi ad +propugnaculum festinarent: sed precedentes impellunt nolentes. Multo autem +eleuato paluere, ac perturbante oculos, et neminem permittente videre quę +circa pedes erant, in pręcipitium quod aderat profundissimę vallis alius +super alium homines et equi sic incontinentč portati corruerunt, quņd alij +alios conculcantes ab inuicem interemerunt non ex gregarijs tantum, sed ex +clarissimis et intimis nostris consanguineis. Quis enim inhibere poterat +tantę multitudinis importabilem impulsum? At verņ imperium nostrum tot et +tantis confertum barbįris saucians, sauciatśmque, adeņ vt non modicam in +eos moueret perturbationem, obstupentes perseuerant iam ipsius, et non +remittebatur, benč iuuante deo, campum obtinuit. Neque locum illum scandere +aduersarios permisit, in quo dimicauit cum barbaris. Nec quidem equum suum +illorum timore incitauit, celerius aliquando ponere vestigia. Sed +congregando omnia agmina sua, et de morte eripiendo ea, collocauit circa +se: et sic primes attigit, et ordinatim proficiscens ad exercitus suos +accessit. Ex tunc igitur videns Soltanus, quņd post tanta quę acciderant +exercitibus nostris, imperium nostrum, sicut oportunum erat, rem huiusmodi +dispensauit, vt ipsum rursłm inuaderet: mittens supplicauit imperio nostro, +et deprecatorijs vsus est sermonibus, et requisiuit pacem illius, +promittens omnem imperij nostri adimplere voluntatem, et seruitium suum +contra omnem hominem dare, et omnes qui in regno suo tenebantur captiuos +absoluere, et esse ex toto voluntatis nostrę. Ibidem ergo per duos dies +integros, in omni potestate morati sumtis, et cognito quņd nihil poterat +fieri contra ciuitatem Iconij, perditis testudinibus et machins bellicis, +eo quņd boues cecidissent a telis in modo pluuię iactis, qui eas trahebant: +Simul autem eo quņd et vniuersa animalia nostra irruente in illa +difficillima ęgritudine laborabant, suscepit Soltani depręcationem et +foedera et iuramenta peracta sub vexillis nostris, et pacem suam ei dedit. +Inde ingressum imperium nostrum in regionem suam regreditur, tribulationem +habens non mediocrem super his quos perdidit corisanguineis, maximas tamen +Deo gratias agens, qui per suam bonitaiem et nunc Ipsum honorauit: Gratum +autem habuimus, quņd quosdam nobilitatis tuę principes accidit interesse +nobiscum, qui narrabunt de omnibus quę acciderant, tuę voluntati seriem. +Cęterum autem, licčt contristati simus propter illos qui ceciderunt: +oportunum tamen duximus, de omnibus quę; acciderant, declarare tibi, vt +dilecto amico nostro, et vt permultłm coniuncto imperio nostro, per +puerorum nostrorum intimam consanguinitatem. Vale. Data mense Nouembris, +indictione tertia. + +The same in English. + +In the yeere 1177, Manuel the emperour of Constantinople hauing fought a +field with the Soldan of Iconium, and vanquished him, wrote vnto Henry the +second king of England in maner following. + +Manuel Comnenus in Christ the euerliuing God a faithful emperour, descended +of the linage of Porphyrie, crowned by Gods grace, high, puissant, mighty, +alwayes most souereign, and gouernour of the Romans; vnto Henry the most +famous king of England, his most deare friend, greeting and all good +successe. Whereas our imperiall highnesse thinketh it expedient to +aduertise you our welbeloued friend of all our affaires: We thought it not +amisse to signifie vnto your, royal Maiestie certaine exploits at this +present atchieued by vs. From the beginning therefore of our inauguration +our imperiall highnes hath mainteined most deadly feod and hostility +against Gods enemies the Persians, seeing them so to triumph ouer +Christians, to exalt themselues against the Name of God, and to vsurpe ouer +Christian kingdomes. For which cause our imperial highnesse hath in some +sort encountered them heretofore, and did as it pleased God to giue vs +grace. And we suppose that your Maiestie is not ignorant, what our +imperiall highnesse hath often performed for their ruine and subversion. +For euen now, being vrged thereunto, we haue determined to leade a mighty +army against them, and to wage warre against all Persia. And albeit our +forces be not so great as we could wish they were, yet haue we according to +the time, and the present state of things strongly inuaded them. Wherefore +our Maiestie imperiall hath gathered our armies together: but because we +had in our armie sundry carts laden with armour, engines and other +instruments for the assault of cities, to an exceeding weight we could not +make any great speed in our iourney. Moreouer while our imperiall highnesse +was yet marching in our owne dominions, before any barbarous enemy had +fought against vs: our people were visited with the most grieuous disease +of the fluxe, which being dispersed in our troups destroyed and slew great +numbers, more then the sword of the enemy would haue done, which mischiefe +so preuailing, did woonderfully abate our forces. But after we had inuaded +the Turkish frontiers, we had at the first very often and hot skirmishes, +and the Turks came swarming to fight against our imperiall troups. Howbeit +by Gods assistance those miscreants were altogether scattered and put to +flight by our souldiers. But as we approched vnto that strait passage which +is called by the Persians Cibrilcimam, so many bands of Persian footemen +and horsemen (most whereof came from the innermost parts of Persia, to +succour their Allies) encountred our army, as were almost superiour vnto vs +in number. Wherefore the army of our Imperiall highnesse, by reason of the +straightnesse and difficultie of the way, being stretched ten miles in +length; and the first not being able to helpe the last, nor yet +contrarywise the last to rescue the first, it came to passe that they were +very farre distant asunder. And in very deed the foremost troupes were much +separated from the guard of our imperiall person, who forgetting their +fellowes behind, would not stay any whit for them. Because therefore the +Turkish bands knew full well by their former conflicts that it was +bootlesse for them to assaile the forefront of our battell, and perceiuing +the narownesse of the place to be a great aduantage, they determined to set +vpon our rereward, and did so. Wherefore our passage being very straight, +and the infidels assayling vs upon the right hand and vpon the left, and on +all sides, and discharging their weapons as thicke as hailestones against +vs, slew diuers of our men and horses. Hereupon, the slaughter of our +people still encreasing, our maiestie imperiall deemed it requisite to stay +behind, and to succour our bands in the rereward, and so expecting them we +sustained the fierce encounter of many thousand Persians. What exploits our +Imperiall person atchieued in the same skirmish, I hold it needlesse at +this time to recount: your maiestie may perhaps vnderstand more of this +matter by them which were there present Howbeit our Imperiall highnesse +being in the middest of this conflict, and enduring the fight with so great +danger, all our hindermost troups, both Greekes, Latines, and other +nations, retiring themselues close together, and not being able to suffer +the violence of their enemies weapons, pressed on so hard, and were caried +with such maine force, that hastening to ascend the next hill for their +better safegard, they vrged on them which went before, whether they would +or no. Wherevpon, much dust being raised, which stopped our eyes and +vtterly depriued vs of sight, and our men and horses pressing so sore one +vpon the necke of another, plunged themselues on the sudden into such a +steepe and dangerous valley, that treading one vpon another, they quelled +to death not onely a multitude of the common souldiours, but diuers most +honourable personages, and some of our neere kinsmen. For who could +restraine the irresistable throng of so huge a multitude? Howbeit our +Imperiall highnesse being enuironed with such swarmes of Infidels, and +giuing and receiuing wounds (insomuch that the miscreants were greatly +dismaied at our constancie) we gaue not ouer, but by Gods assistance wonne +the field. Neither did we permit the enemie to ascend vnto that place, from +whence we skirmished with him. Neither yet spurred wee on our horse any +faster for all their assaults. But marshalling air our troupes together, +and deliuering them out of danger, we disposed them about our Imperial +person; and so we ouertooke the foremost, and marched in good order with +our whole army. Nowe the Soldan perceiuing that notwithstanding the great +damages which we had sustained, our Imperial hignes prouided to giue him a +fresh encounter, humbly submitting himselfe vnto vs, and vsing submissive +speaches, made suite to haue peace at our hands, and promised to fulfill +the pleasure of our maiestie Imperiall, to doe vs seruice against all +commers, to release all our subiects which were captiues in his realme, and +to rest wholy at our commaund. [Sidenote: The citie of Iconium intended to +haue bene besieged.] Here therefore we remained two dayes with great +authoritie; and considering that wee could attempt nought against the citie +of Iconium, hauing lost all our warrelike engines, both for defence and for +batterie, for that the oxen which drew them were slaine with the enemies +weapons, falling as thicke as hailestones: and also for because all our +beasts in a maner were most grieuously diseased; our maiestie Imperial +accepted of the Soldans petition, league, and oath being made and taken +vnder our ensignes, and granted our peace vnto him. Then returned we into +our owne dominions, being greatly grieued for the losse of our deere +kinsmen, and yeelding vnto God most humble thanks, who of his goodnesse had +euen now giuen vs the victory. [Sidenote: Certaine noblemen of the king of +England were with the Emperor in his battell against the Soldan of +Iconium.] We are right glad likewise that some of your maiesties princes +and nobles accompanied vs in this action, who are able to report vnto you +all things which haue happened. And albeit we were exceedingly grieued for +the losse of our people; yet thought it we expedient to signifie vnto you +the successe of our affaires, as vnto our welbeloued friend, and one who is +very neerely allied vnto our highnesse Imperial, by reason of the +consanguitie of our children Farewell. Giuen in the moneth of Nouember, and +vpon the tenth Indiction. + + * * * * * + +The life and trauailes of Baldwinus Deuonius, sometime Archbishop of + Canterbury. + +Baldwinus Deuonius, tenui loco Excestrire natus, vir ore facundus, exactus +Philosophus, et de omne studiorum genus per illos dies aptissimus +inueniebatur. Scholarum rector primłm erat, tum postea Archidiaconus, +eruditione ac sapientia in omni negotio celebris: fuit pręterea +Cisterciensis Monachus, et Abbas Fordensis Coenobij, magnus suorum +testimatione, ar vniuiersę eorum societati quasi Antesignanus: fuit deinde +Wigorniensis pręsul, fuit et mortuo demłm Richardo Cantuariorum +Archiepiscopus, ac totius Anglię Primas. Cui muneri Baldwinus sollicitč +inuigilans, egregium se pastorem exhibuit, dominicum semen, quantum +patiebatur eius temporis, iniquitas, vbique locorum spargens. Richardus +Anglorum rex, acceptis tunc regni insignijs, summo studio classem, ac omnia +ad Hierosolymitanum bellum gerendum necessaria parauit. Secutus est illico +regem in Syriam, et Palestinam vsque Baldwinus, vt esset in tam Sancto (vt +ipse putabat) itinere laborum, dolorum, ac periculorum particeps. Pręfuit +Cantuariensi Ecclesię ferč 6 annis, et Richardum regem in Syriam secutus, +anno Salutis nostrę 1190. Tyri vitam finiuit, vbi et sepultus est. + +The same in English. + +Baldwine a Deuonshire man borne in Exceter of mean parentage, was a very +eloquent man, an exact Philosopher, and in those dayes very excellent in +all kind of studies. He was first of all a Schoolemaster: afterwards he +became an Archdeacon, very famous for his learning and wisedom in all his +doings. He was also a Cistercian Monke and Abbot of Foord Monasterie, and +the chiefe of all those that were of his order: he grew after this to be +bishop of Worcester, and at last after the death of Archb. Richard he was +promoted and made Archbishop of Canterbury, and Primate of all England. In +the discharge of which place he being very vigilant, shewed, himself a +worthy Pastor, sowing the seed of Gods word in euery place as farre foorth +as the iniquitie of that time permitted. In his time king Richard with all +indeauour prepared a Fleet and all things necessary for waging of warre +against the Infidels at lerasalem, taking with him the standerd and +ensignes of the kingdome. This Baldwme eftsoones folowed the king into +Syria and Palestina, as one desirous to be partaker of his trauailes, +paines, and perils in so holy a voyage. Hee was Archbishop of Canterburie +almost sixe yeres: but hauing followed the king into Syria, in the yeere +1190. he died at Tyre, where he was also buried. + + * * * * * + +An annotation concerning the trauailes of the sayd Baldwirie, taken out of + Giraldus Cambrensis, in his Itinerarium Cambrise, lib, a. Cap. 14. Fol + 229. + +Inter primos Thomę Becketi successor hic secundus, audita saluatoris et +salutiferę Crucis iniuria nostris (proh dolor) diebus per Saladinum +irrogata, cruce signatus, in eiusdem obsequijs, tarn remotis finibus quąm +propinquis, prędicationis officiunm viriliter assumpsit. Et postmodłm iter +accipiens, nauigióque fungens apud Marsiliam, transcurso tandem pelagi +profundo, in portu Tyrensi incolumis applicuit: et inde ad exercitum +nostrum obsidentem pariter et obsessum Aconem transiuit: vbi multos ex +nostris inueniens, et ferč cunctos principum defectu, in summa desolatlone +iam positos, et desperatione, alios quidem longa expectatione fatigatos, +alios fame et inopia grauiter afflictos, quosdam verņ aėris, inclementia +distemperatos, diem foelicitčr in terra sacra clausurus extremum, singulos +pro posse vinculo charitatis amplectens, sumptibus et impensis, verbis, et +vitę mentis confirmauit. + +The same in English. + +This Baldwine being the second successor vnto Thomas Becket, after he had +heard the wrong which was done to our Sauiour, and the signe of the Crosse +by Saladin the Sultan of Egypt, taking vpon him the Lords Character, he +couragiously perfourmed his office of preaching in the obedience thereof, +as well in farre distant Countreis as at home. And afterwards taking his +iourney and imbarking himselfe at Marseils, hauing at length passed the +Leuant sea, he arriued safely in the Hauen of Tyrus, and from thence went +ouer to Achon vnto our armie, besieging the Towne, and yet (as it were) +besieged it selfe: where finding many of our Countreymen, and almost all +men remaining in wonderfull pensiuenesse and despaire, through the +withdrawing of the Princes, some of them tyred with long expectation, +others grieuously afflicted with hunger and pouertie, and others +distempered with the heate of the weather, being ready happily to ende his +dayes in the Holy land, embracing euery one according to his abilitie in +the bond of loue, he ayded them at his costes and charges, and strengthened +them with his wordes and good examples of life. + + * * * * * + +A note drawen out of a very ancient booke remaining in the hands of the + right worshipfull M. Thomas Tilney Esquire, touching Sir Frederike Tilney + his ancestor, knighted at Acon in the Holy land for his valour, by K. + Richard the first, as foloweth. + +Pertinuit iste liber prius Frederico Tilney de Boston, in comitatu +Lincolnię militi facto apud Acon in terra Iudeę anno Regis Richardi primi +tertio. Vir erat iste magnę staturę et potens in corpore: qui cum partibus +suis dormit apud Tirrington iuxta villam sui nominis Tilney in Mershland. +Cuius altitudo in salua custodia permanet ibidem vsque in hunc diem. Et +post eius obitum sexdecem militibus eius nominis Tilney hęreditas illa +successiuč obuenit, quorum vnus post alium semper habitabat apud Boston +prędictum; dum fratris senioris hęreditas hęredi generali deuoluta est, quę +nupta est Iohanni duci Norfolcię. Eorum miles vltimus fuit Philippus Tilney +nuper de Shelleigh in Comitatu Suffolcię, pater et genitor Thomę Tilney de +Hadleigh in Comitatu prędicto Armigeri, cut modņ attinet iste liber. Anno +ętatis suę 64, Anno Domini 1556. + +The same in English. + +This booke pertained in times past vnto Sir Frederick Tilney of Boston in +the Countie of Lincolne, who was knighted at Acon in the land of Iurie, in +the third yeere of the reigne of king Richard the first. This knight was of +a tall stature, and strong of body, who resteth interred with his +forefathers at Tirrington, neere vnto a towne in Marshland called by his +owne name Tilney. The iust height of this knight is there kept in safe +custody vntill this very day. Also, after this mans decease, the +inheritance of his landes fell successively vnto sixteene sundry knights +called all by the name of Tilney, who dwelt alwayes, one after another, at +the towne of Boston aforesayd, vntill such time as the possessions of the +elder brother fell vnto an heire general, which was maried vnto Iohn duke +of Northfolke. The last knight of that name was sir Philip Tilney late of +Shelleigh in the Countie of Suffolke, predecessor and father vnto Thomas +Tilney of Hadleigh in the Countie aforesayd Esquire, vnto whom the said +booke of late appertained. In the yeere of his age 64 and in the yeere of +our Lord, 1556. + + * * * * * + +The trauailes of one Richard surnaręd Canonicus. + +Richardus Canonicus ad Trinitatis fanum Londini Regularis, ab ipsa +pueritia, bonarum artium literas impense amauit, excoluit, ac didicit. Qui +ex continuo labore atque exercitatione longa, talis tandem euasit orator, +et Poeta, quales ea ętas rarissimos nutriebat. Ob id Richardo Anglorum tunc +Regi charus, longam cum eo peregrinationem in Palęstinam ac Syriam, dum +expugnaret Turcas, suscepit. Vnde in Angliam tum demum reuersus, omnia quę +presens vidit in vrbibus, agris, ac militum castris, fideli narratione, tam +carmine, quam prosa descripsit. Neque interim omisit eiusdem Regis mores, +et formam, per omnia corporis lineamenta designare, addiditque pręclaro suo +open hoc aptissimum pro titulo nomen, scilicet, Itinerarium Regis Richardi. +Claruit anno redemptionis nostne 1200 sub Ioanne Anglorimi Rege. + +The same in English. + +Richard surnamed Canonicus an obseruant Frier of Trinitie Church in London, +was in great loue with the studies of good Artes, and tooke paines in them +and learned them. And at last by his continuall endeauour and long exercise +therein, he grewe to bee such an Oratour and Poet, as fewe were in that age +liuing, by reason whereof hee grew in fauour with Richard then King of +England, and vndertooke that long voyage with him into Palestina and Syria +against the Turkes. From whence being returned againe into England, hee +faithfully described both in Verse and Prose all such things, as hee had +seene in the Cities, fieldes and tentes of the souldiours, where hee was +present, and omitted not to note the behauiour, forme, and proportion of +body in the foresayd king, giving to his notable worke this most apt name +for the title, The Iournall of King Richard. He flourished in the yeere of +our Redemption 1200. vnder Iohn king of England. + + * * * * * + +The large contribution to the succour of the Holy land, made by king Iohn + king of England, in the third yeere of his reigne 1201. Matth. Paris and + Holinsh. pag. 164. + +At the same time also the Kings of France and England gaue large money +towards the maintenance of the army which at this present went foorth vnder +the leading of the earle of Flanders and other, to warre against the +enemies of the Christian faith at the instance of pope Innocent. There was +furthermore granted vnto them the fortieth part of all the reuenues +belonging vnto ecclesiastical persons, towards the ayd of the Christians +then being in the Holy and: and all such aswel of the nobility, as other of +the weaker sort, which had taken vpon them the crosse, and secretly layed +it downe were compelled eftsoones to receiue it now againe. + + * * * * * + +The trauailes of Hubert Walter bishop of Sarisburie. + +Hubertus Walterus Sarisburiensis Episcopus, vir probus, ingenioque ac +pietate clarus, inter pręcipuos vnus eorum erat, qui post Richardum regem +expugnandorum Saracenorum gratia in Syriam proficiscebantur. Cum ex +Palęstina rediens, audiret in Sicilia, quod idem Richardus in inimicorum +manus incidisset, omisso itinere incoepto, ad eum cursim diuertebat: Quem +et ille statim in Angliam misit, vt illic regij Senatus authoritate, +indicto pro eius redemptione tributo pecuniam colligeret quod et industrius +fecit ac regem liberauit. Inde Cantuariorum Archiepiscopus factus, post +eius mortem Ioanni illius fratri ac successori paria fidelitatis officia +pręstitit. Longa enim oratione toti Anglorum nationi persuasit, quod vir +prouidus, pręstans, fortis, genere nobilissimus, et imperio dignissimus +esset: quo salutatus a populo fuit, atque in regem coronatus. Composuit +quędam opuscula, et ex immenso animi dolore demum obijsse fertur, Anno +salutis humanę 1205. cum sedisset annos 11. Menses octo, et dies sex. Quum +vidisset ex intestinis odijs, omnia in transmarinis regionibus pessłm ire, +regnante Ioanne. + +The same in English. + +Hubert Walter bishop of Sarisburie, a vertuous man, and famous for his good +wit and piety, was one of the chiefest of them that followed king Richard +into Syria going against the Saracens. As he returned from Palęstina and +came in his iourney into Sicilia, he there heard of the ill fortune of the +king being fallen into his enemies handes, and thereupon leauing his +iourney homewards, he went presently and in all haste to the place where +the king was captiued, whom the king immediatly vpon his comming sent into +England, that by the authority of the councell, a tribute might be +collected for his redemption: which this Hubert performed with great +diligence, and deliuered the king. After this he was made Archbishop of +Canterburie, and after the death of King Richard he shewed the like dueties +of fidelitie and trust to his brother Iohn that succeeded him. For by a +long oration he perswaded the whole nation of the English men, that he was +a very circumspect man, vertuous, valiant, borne of noble parentage, and +most woorthy of the crowne. Whereupon he was so receiued of all the people +and crowned king. He wrote certaine books, and died at the last with very +great griefe of minde, in the yeere 1205, hauing beene archbishop the space +of 11 yeres 8 moneths and sixe dayes, by reason of the ciuil discords +abroad, whereby all things went topsie turuy, and in the reigne of king +Iohn. + + * * * * * + +The trauailes of Robert Curson. + +Robertus Curson ex nobili quodam Anglorum ortus genere, disciplinis tum +prophanis, tum sacris studiosus incubuit, idque (quantum ex coniecturis +colligo) in celebratissima Oxonij Academia. Pręstantissimis illic +institutoribus vsus, ex summa circa ingenuas artes industria, et assiduo +literarum labore, famam sibi inter suos celeberrimam comparauit. Ampliora +deinde meditatus Parisiorum Lutetiam, atque Romam ipsam petijt, illic +Theologus Doctor, hic verņ Cardinalis effectus. Vnde vterque Matthęus +Parisius, ac Westmonasterius, hoc de ipso testimonium adferunt: hic libro +2. ille 8. suorum Chronicorum. Anno Domini 1218 (inquiunt) in captione +Damiatę Ęgypti vrbis, sub Ioanne Brenno Hierosolymorum rege, fuit cum +Pelagio Albanensi Magister Robertus de Curson, Anglus, Clericus +celeberrimus, genere nobilis, ac Romanę Ecclesię Cardinalis, etc. Bostonus +Buriensis in sua Catalogo Cursonum aliquos libros composuisse narrat. +Claruit anno superius numerato per prędictos testes in Anglia regnante +Henrico tertio Ioannis regis filio: fuitque hic diebus Honorij tertij +Romani pontificis in Angliam, Bostono teste, legatus. + +The same in English. + +Robert Curson descended of a noble family of England, vsed great diligence +aswell in prophane as in diuine studies in the famous Vniuersitie of Oxford +(as I coniecture.) He had there the best scholemasters that were to be +gotten, and was most industrious, in the arts and continual exercises of +learning: by meanes whereof he grew to be of great renowne where he liued. +Afterward thinking of greater matters he went to Paris, and thence to Rome +it selfe, and at Paris he proceeded doctor of Diuinity, at Rome he was made +cardinall: whereupon both Matthew Paris and Matthew of Westminster produce +this testimony of him, the one in his second booke, the other in his eight +booke of Chronicles. In the yere of our Lord (say they) 1218, at the taking +of Damiata a city of Egypt vnder Iohn Brenne king of Ierusalem, M. Robert +Curson an English man, a most famous clearke of noble parentage, and +cardinall of the church of Rome, was there with Pelagius Albanensis, &c. +Boston of Burie in Suffolke in his catalogue reporteth, that he wrote +diuers books. He flourished in the yeere aforesayd by the witnesses +aforesayd. Henry the third sonne of king Iohn being then king of England: +and by the further testimony of Boston, this Curson was legate into England +in the dayes of Honorius the third, bishop of Rome. + + * * * * * + +The voyage of Ranulph earle of Chester, of Saer Quincy earle of Winchester, + William de Albanie earle of Arundel, with diuers other noble men to the + Holy land, in the second yere of King Henry the third. Matth. Paris. + Holensh. pag. 202. + +In the yeere 1218, Ranulph earle of Chester was sent into the Holy land by +king Henry the third with a goodly company of souldiers and men of warre, +to ayde the Christians there against the Infidels, which at the same time +had besieged the city of Damiata in Egypt. In which enterprise the valiancy +of the same earle after his comming thither was to his great praise most +apparent There went with him in that iourney Saer de Quincy earle of +Winchester, William de Albanie earle of Arundel, besides diuers barons, as +the lord Robert fitz Walter, Iohn constable of Chester, William de +Harecourt, and Oliuer fitz Roy sonne to the king of England, and diuers +others. + + * * * * * + +The voyage of Henry Bohun and Saer Quincy to the Holy land. + +This yere, being the sixt yere of Henry the third, deceased Henry de Bohun +earle of Hereford, and Saer de Quincy earle of Winchester, in their journey +which they made to the Holy land. Matth. Paris. Holensh. pag. 202. col. 2. + + * * * * * + +The trauailes of Ranulph Glanuile earle of Chester. + +Ranulphus Glanuile Cestrię Comes, vir nobilissimi generis, et vtroque iure +eruditus, in albo illustrium virorum ą me meritņ ponendus venit. Ita probč +omnes adolescentię suę annos legibus tum humanis tum diuinis consecrauit, +vt non prius in hominem pet ętatem euaserit, quąm nomen decśsque ab insigni +eruditione sibi comparauerit. Cum profecti essent Francorum Heroes +Ptolemaidem, inito cum Ioanne Brenno Hierosolymorum rege concilio, Damiatam +Ęgypti vrbem obsidendam constituebant, anno salutis humanę 1218. Misit +illłc Henricus rex, ab Honorio 3 Rom. Pontifice rogatus, cum magna +armatorum manu Ranulphum, ad rem Christianum iuuandam. Cuius virtus, +Polydoro teste, in eo bello miris omnium laudibus celebrata fuit. Quo +confecto negotio, Ranulphus in patriam reuersus, scripsit, De legibus +Anglię librum vnum. Fertur pręterea, et alia quędam scripsisse, sed tempus +edax rerum, ea nobis abstulit. Claruit anno ą Seruatoris nostri natiuitate +1230 confectus senio, dum Henricus tertius sub Antichristi tyrannide in +Anglia regnaret. + +The same in English. + +Ranulph Granuile earle of Chester, a man of a very noble house, and learned +in both the Lawes, deserues of deutie to be here placed by me in the +catalogue of woorthy and notable men. He applied so well all the yeeres of +his youth to the study of humane and diuine Lawes, that he came not so +soone to the age of a man, as he had purchased to himselfe by reason of his +singular learning, renowme and honour. When the noble men of France went to +Ptolomais, vpon the counsell of Iohn Brenne king of Ierusalem, they +resolued to besiege Damiata a city of Egypt, in the yeere 1218. And then +Henry the king vpon the motion of Honorius the third, bishop of Rome, sent +thither this earle Ranulph with a great power of armed souldiers, to +further the enterprise of the Christians: whose valure in that warre (by +the testimonie of Polidor Virgil) was marueilously commended of all men. +After the end of which businesse, he being returned into his countrey, +wrote a booke of the lawes of England. It is also reported that he wrote +other books, but time the destroyer of many memorials, hath taken them from +vs. He flourished in the yeere after the natiuity of Christ 1230, being +very aged, and in the reigne of K. Henry the third. + + * * * * * + +The voyage of Petrus de Rupibus bishop, of Winchester, to Ierusalem in the + yere of grace 1231, and the 15 of Henry the third. + +Anno gratis 1231, mense verņ Iulio, Petrus Wintoniensis episcopus, completo +in terra sancta iam fere per quinquennium magnifice peregrinationis voto, +reuersus est in Angliam, Kalendis Augusti; et Wintoniam veniens, susceptus +est cum processione solenni in sua ecclesia cathedrali. + +The same in English. + +In the yere of grace 1231, and in the moneth of Iuly, Peter bishop of +Winchester hauing spent almost fiue whole yeres in fulfilling his vow of +pilgrimage in the Holy land with great pompe, returned into England, about +the Kalends of August, and coming unto Winchester was received with solemne +procession into his cathedrall church. + + * * * * * + +The honourable and prosperous voyage of Richard earle of Cornewall, brother + to king Henry the third, accompanied with William Longespee earle of + Sarisburie, and many other noble men into Syria. + +In the 24 yere of king Henry the third, Richard earle of Cornwall the kings +brother, with a navy of ships sailed into Syria, where in the warres +against the Saracens he greatly advanced the part of the Christians. There +went over with him the earle of Sarisburie, William Longspee, and William +Basset, John Beauchampe, Geoffrey de Lucie, John Neuel, Geoffrey +Beauchampe, Peter de Brense, and William Furniuall. + +Simon Montfort earle of Leicester went ouer also the same time; but whereas +the earle of Cornwall tooke the sea at Marseils, the earle of Leicester +passed thorow Italy, and tooke shipping at Brindize in Apulia: and with him +went these persons of name, Thomas de Furniual with his brother Gerard de +Furniuall, Hugh Wake, Almerike de S. Aumond, Wiscard Ledet, Punchard de +Dewin, and William de Dewin that were brethren, Gerald Pesmes, Fouke de +Baugie, and Peter de Chauntenay. + +Shortly after also Iohn earle of Albemarle, William Fortis, and Peter de +Mallow a Poictouin, men for their valiancy greatly renowmed, went thither, +leading with them a great number of Christian souldiors, Matth. Paris. +Matth. West Holensh. pag. 225. col. 2. + + * * * * * + +The voyage of William Longespee [Marginal note:--Or, Longsword.] Earle of + Sarisburie into Asia, in the yeere 1248, and in the 32 yeere of the + reigne of Henry the third, king of England. + +Lewis the French king being recovered of his sicknesse which he fell into, +in the yeere 1234, vowed thereupon for a free will sacrifice to God, that +he (if the Councell of his realme would suffer him) would in his owne +person visit the Holy land: which matter was opened and debated in the +Parliament of France held in the yeere 1247. Where at length it was +concluded, that the king according to his vow should take his journey into +Asia, and the time thereof was also prefixed, which should be after the +feast of S. John Baptist the next yeere ensuing. + +At which time William Longespee a worthie warrior, with the bishop of +Worcester and certaine other great men in the Realme of England (mooved +with the example of the Frenchmen) prepared themselves likewise to the same +journey. + +It fell out in this enterprise, that about the beginning of October, the +French king assaulted and tooke Damiata, being the principall fort or hold +of the Saracens in all Egypt, Anno 1249, and having fortified the Citie +with an able garrison left with the Duke of Burgundies he remooved his +tents from thence to goe Eastward. In whose armie followed William +Longespee, accompanied with a piked number of English warriors retaining +unto him. But such was the disdaine of the Frenchmen against this William +Longespee and the Englishmen that they could not abide them, but flouted +them after an opprobrious maner with English tailes, insomuch that the +French king himselfe had much adoe to keepe peace betweene them. + +The originall cause of this grudge betweene them began thus. [Sidenote: A +fort won by the Englishmen] There was not farre from Alexandria in Egypt a +strong fort or castle replenished with great Ladies and rich treasure of +the Saracens: which hold it chanced the sayd William Longespee with his +company of English soldiers to get, more by politique dexteritie then by +open force of armes, wherewith, he and his retinue were greatly enriched. +When the Frenchmen had knowledge hereof (they not being made priuie hereto) +began to conceive an heart burning against the English souldiers, and could +not speake well of them after that. + +[Sidenote: A rich bootie also gotten by the Englishmen.] It hapned againe +not long after that the sayd William had intelligence of a company of rich +merchants among the Saracens going to a certaine Faire about the parts of +Alexandria, having their camels, asses and mules, richly loden with silkes, +precious jewels, spices, gold and silver, with cart loades of other wares, +beside victuall and other furniture, whereof the souldiers then stood in +great need: he having secret knowledge hereof, gathered all the power of +Englishmen unto him that he could, and so by night falling vpon the +merchants, some he slew with their guides and conducters, some he tooke, +some hee put to flight: the carts with the driuers, and with the oxen, +camels, asses and mules, with the whole cariage and victuals he tooke and +brought with him, losing in all the skirmish but one souldier and eight of +his seruitors: of whom notwithstanding some he brought home wounded to be +cured. + +[Sidenote: The iniurie of the Frenchmen to our English.] This being knowen +in the Campe, foorth came the Frenchmen which all this while loytered in +their pauilions, and meeting this cariage by the way, tooke all the +foresayd praie whole to themselues, rating the said William and the +Englishmen for aduenturing and issuing out of the Campe without leaue or +knowledge of their Generall, contrary to the discipline of warre. William +said againe he had done nothing but he would answere to it, whose purpose +was to haue the spoyle deuided to the behoofe of the whole armie. + +[Sidenote: Will. Longspee iustly forsaketh the French king.] When this +would not serue, hee being sore grieued in his minde so cowardly to be +spoyled of that which he so aduenturously had trauailed for, went to the +King to complaine: But when no reason nor complaint would serue by reason +of the proude Earle of Artoys the Kings brother, which vpon spight and +disdaine stood agaynst him, he bidding the King forewell sayd hee would +serue him no longer: and so William de Longespee with the rest of his +company breaking from the French hoste went to Achon. Vpon whose departure +the earle of Artoys sayd, Now is the army of French men well rid of these +tailed people, which words spoken in great despight were ill taken of many +good men that heard them. + +But not long after, when the keeper of Cayro & Babylonia, bearing a good +mind to the Christian religion, and being offended also with the Souldan, +promised to deliuer the same to the French king, instructing him what +course was best for him to take to accomplish it, the king hereupon in all +haste sent for William Longespee, promising him a full redress of all his +iniuries before receiued: who at the kings request came to him againe, and +so ioyned with the French power. + +After this, it happened that the French king passing with his armie +towardes Cayro aforesayd, came to the great riuer Nilus, on the further +part whereof the Soldan had pitched himselfe to withstand his comming ouer: +there was at this time a Saracen lately conuerted to Christ, seruing the +earle Robert the French kings brother, who told him of the absence of the +Soldan from his tents, and of a shallow foord in the riuer where they might +easily passe ouer. Whereupon the sayd earle Robert and the Master of the +Temple with a great power, esteemed to the third part of the army issued +ouer the riuer, after whom followed W. Longspee with his band of English +souldiers. These being ioyned together on the other side of the water, +encountred the same day with the Saracens remaining in the tents and put +them to the worst. Which victory being gotten, the French earle surprised +with pride and triumph, as though hee had conquered the whole earth, would +needs forward, diuiding himselfe from the maine hoste, thinking to winne +the spurres alone. To whom certain sage men of the Temple, giuing him +contrary counsell, aduised him not to do so, but rather to returne and take +their whole company with them, and so should they be more sure against all +deceits and dangers, which might be layed priuily for them. The maner of +that people (they sayd) they better knew, and had more experience thereof +then he: alledging moreouer their wearied bodies, their tired horses, their +famished souldiers, and the insufficiency also of their number, which was +not able to withstand the multitude of the enemies, especially at this +present brunt, in which the aduersaries did well see the whole state of +their dominion now to consist either in winning all or losing all. + +Which when the proud earle did heare, being inflated with no lesse +arrogancy then ignorance, with opprobrious taunts reuiled them, calling +them cowardly dastards, and betrayers of the whole countrey, obiecting vnto +them the common report of many, which sayd, that the land of the holy +crosse might soone be woon to Christendome, were it not for rebellious +Templaries, with the Hospitalaries, and their followers. + +To these contumelious rebukes, when the master of the Temple answered +againe for him and his fellowes, bidding him display his ensigne when he +would, and where he durst, they were as ready to follow him, as he to goe +before them. Then began William de Longespe the worthy knight to speake, +desiring the earle to giue eare to those men of experience, who had better +knowledge of those countreyes and people then he had, commending also their +counsell to be discreet and wholesome, and so turning to the master of the +Temple, began with gentle wordes to mittigate him likewise. The knight had +not halfe ended his talke, when the Earle taking his wordes out of his +mouth, began to fume and sweare, crying out of those cowardly Englishmen +with tailes: What a pure armie (sayd he) should we haue here, if these +tailes and tailed people were purged from it, with other like words of +villany, and much disdaine: [Sidenote: The worthy answere of William +Longspe to Earle Robert.] whereunto the English knight answering againe, +well, Earle Robert (said he) wheresoeuer you dare set your foote, my step +shall go as farre as yours, and (as I beleeue) we goe this day where you +shall not dare to come neere the taile of my horse, as in deede in the +euent it prooued true: for Earle Robert would needes set forward, weening +to get all the glory to himselfe before the comming of the hoste, and first +inuaded a litle village or castle, which was not farre off, called Mansor. +The countrey Boores and Pagans in the villages, seeing the Christians +comming, ranne out with such a maine cry and shout, that it came to the +Soldans hearing, who was neerer then our men did thinke. In the meane time, +the Christians inuading and entring into the munition [Footnote: +Fortification.] incircumspectly, were pelted and pashed [Footnote: "That +can be cut with any iron, or pashed with mighty stones." CHAPMAN _Iliad_, +xiii., 297.] with stones by them which stood aboue, whereby a great number +of our men were lost, and the armie sore maymed, and almost in despaire. + +Then immediatly vpon the same, commeth the Soldan with all his maine power, +which seeing the Christian armie to be deuided, and the brother separated +from the brother, had that which he long wished for, and so inclosing them +round about, that none should escape, had with them a cruell fight. + +Then the earle beganne to repent him of his heady rashnes, but it was too +late, who then seeing William the English knight doughtily fighting in the +chiefe brunt of the enemies, cried vnto him most cowardly to flie, seeing +God (saith he) doth fight against vs: To whom the Knight answering againe, +God forbid (sayth he) that my fathers sonne should runne away from the face +of a Saracene. [Sidenote: The cowardly flight of Earle Robert.] The Earle +then turning his horse, fled away, thinking to auoid by the swiftnes of his +horse, and so taking the riuer Thafnis, oppressed with harnesse, was there +sunken and drowned. + +Thus the Earle being gone, the Frenchmen began to dispaire and scatter. +[Sidenote: The valiant ende of William Longespe.] Then William de Longespe +bearing all the force of the enemies, stoode against them as long as he +could, wounding and slaying many a Saracen, till at length his horse being +killed, and his legges maymed, he could no longer stande, who yet +notwithstanding as he was downe, mangled their feete and legges, and did +the Saracens much sorrow, till at last after many blowes and wounds, being +stoned of the Saracens, he yeelded his life. And after the death of him, +the Saracens setting vpon the residue of the armie, whom they had compassed +on euery side, deuoured and destroyed them all, insomuch that scarce one +man remained aliue, sauing two Templaries, one Hospitaler, and one poore +rascall souldier, which brought tidings hereof to the King. + +And thus by the imprudent and foolish hardines of that French Earle, the +Frenchmen were discomfited, and that valiant English Knight ouermatched, to +the griefe of all Christian people, the glory of the Saracens, and the +vtter destruction and ruine of the whole French armie, as afterwards it +appeared. + + * * * * * + +The Voyage of Prince Edward the sonne of king Henry the third into Asia, in + the yeere 1270. + +About the yeere of our Lord, 1267. Octobonus the Popes Legate being in +England, prince Edward the sonne of king Henry, and other Noble men of +England tooke vpon them the crosse vpon S. Iohn Baptists day, by the sayd +Legates hands at Northampton, to the reliefe of the Holy land, and the +subuersion of the enemies of the crosse of Christ. For which purpose, and +for the better furnishing of the prince towards the iourney, there was +granted him a subsidie throughout all the realme, and in the moneth of May, +in the yeere of our Lord 1270. he began to set forward. + +At Michęlmas following he with his company came to Eguemortes, which is +from Marsilia eight leagues Westward, and there taking ship againe (hauing +a mery and prosperous wind) within ten dayes arriued at Tunez, where he was +with great ioy welcommed, and entertained of the Christian princes that +there were to this purpose assembled, as of Philip the French King, whose +father Lodouicus died a litle before, of Carolus the king of Sicilia, and +the two kings of Nauarre and Arragon, and as this lord Edward came thither +for his father the king of England, thither came also Henry the sonne of +the king of Almaine for his father, who at his returne from the voyage was +slaine in a chappell at Viterbium. + +When prince Edward demanded of these kings and princes what was to be done, +they answered him againe and sayd, the prince of this citie and the +prouince adioyning to the same hath bene accustomed to pay tribute vnto the +king of Sicily euery yere: and now for that the same hath bene for the +space of seuen yeeres vnpaied and more, therefore we thought good to make +invasion vpon him. But the king knowing the same tribute to be but iustly +demaunded, hath now according to our owne desire satisfied for the time +past, and also paid his tribute before hand. + +Then sayd he, My Lords, what is this to the purpose? are we not here all +assembled, and haue taken vpon vs the Lords Character to fight against the +infidels and enemies of Christ? What meane you then to conclude a peace +with them? God forbid we should do so, for now the land is plaine and hard, +so that we may approch to the holy city of Ierusalem. Then said they, now +haue we made a league with them, neither is it lawful for vs to breake the +same. But let vs returne againe to Sicilia, and when the winter is past we +may well take shipping to Acra. But this counsel nothing at all liked him, +neither did he shew himselfe wel pleased therewith: but after hee had made +them a princely banket, he went into his closet or priuy chamber from +amongst them, neither would be partaker of any of that wicked money which +they had taken. They notwithstanding continuing their purpose, at the next +mery wind tooke shipping, and for want of ships left 200. of their men a +shore, crying out, and pitiously lamenting for the peril and hazard of +death that they were in: wherewith prince Edward being somewhat mooued to +compassion: came backe againe to the land, and receiued and stowed them in +his owne ships, being the last that went aboord. + +Within seuen dayes after, they arriued in the kingdom of Sicilia, ouer +agaynst the Citie Trapes, [Footnote: Trapani, N.E. of Marsala.] casting +their ankers a league from thence within the sea, for that their shippes +were of great burden, and throughly fraught: and from the hauen of the city +they sent out barges and boates to receiue and bring such of the Nobilitie +to land as would, but their horses for the most part, and all their armour +they kept still within boord. + +At length towards the euening the sea began to be rough, and increased to a +great tempest and a mightie: insomuch that their ships were beaten one +against anothers sides, and drowned. There was of them at that tempest +lying at anker more then 120. with all their armour and munition, with +innumerable soules besides, and that wicked money also which they had taken +before, likewise perished, and was lost. + +But the tempest hurt not so much as one ship of prince Edwards, who had in +number 13. nor yet had one man lost thereby, for that (as it may be +presupposed) he consented not to the wicked counsell of the rest. + +When in the morning the princes and kings came to the sea side, and saw all +their ships drowned, and saw their men and horses in great number cast vpon +the land drowned, they had full heauie hearts, as well they might, for of +all their ships and mariners, which were in number 1500. besides the common +souldiers, there was no more saued then the manners of one onely ship, and +they in this wise. + +There was in that ship a good and wise Matrone, a Countesse or an Erles +wife, who perceiuing the tempest to grow, and fearing her selfe, called to +her the M. of the ship, and asked him whether in attempting to the shoare +it were not possible to saue themselues: he answered, that to saue the ship +it was impossible: howbeit the men that were therein by Gods helpe he +doubted not. Then sayd the countesse, for the ship force no whit, saue the +soules therein, and haue to thee double the value of the shippe: who +immediatly hoising the sailes with all force, ran the shippe aground so +neere the shore as was possible, so that with the vehemency of the weather +and force he came withall, he brast the ship and saued all that was within +the same, as he had shewed, and sayd before. + +Then the kings and princes (altering their purpose after this so great a +shipwracke) returned home againe euery one vnto their owne lands: onely +Edward, the sonne of the king of England, remained behinde with his men and +ships, which the Lord had saued and preserued. + +[Sidenote: The arriual of Prince Edward at Acra.] Then prince Edward +renouating his purpose, tooke shipping againe, and within fifteene daies +after Easter arriued he at Acra, and went a land, taking with him a +thousand of the best souldiers and most expert, and taried there a whole +moneth, refreshing both his men and horses, and that in this space he might +learne and know the secrets of the land. [Sidenote: Nazareth taken by the +prince.] After this he tooke with him sixe or seuen thousand souldiers, and +marched forward twenty miles from Acra, and tooke Nazareth, and those that +he found there he slew, and afterward returned againe to Acra. But their +enemies following after them, thinking to haue set vpon them at some streit +or other advantage, were espied by the prince, and returning againe vpon +them gaue a charge, and slew many of them, and the rest they put to flight. + +[Sidenote: A victorie against the Saracens wherein 1000 of them are +slaine.] After this, about Midsummer, when the prince had vnderstanding +that the Saracens began to gather at Cakow which was forty miles from Acra, +he marching thither, set vpon them very earely in the morning, and slew of +them more then a thousand, the rest he put to flight, and tooke rich +spoiles, marching forward till they came to a castle named Castrum +peregrinorum, situate vpon the sea coast, and taried there that night, and +the next day they returned againe toward Acra. + +In the meane season the king of Ierusalem sent vnto the noble men of +Cyprus, desiring them to come with speed to ayd the Christians, but they +would not come, saying they would keepe their owne land, and go no further. +[Sidenote: The Princes of Cyprus acknowledge obedience to the kings of +England.] Then prince Edward sent vnto them, desiring that at his request +they would come and ioyne in ayd with him: who immediatly thereupon came +vnto him with great preparation and furniture for the warres, saying, that +at his commandement they were bound to do no lesse, for that his +predecessors were sometimes the gouernors of that their land, and that they +ought alwayes to shew their fidelity to the kings of England. + +Then the Christians being herewith animated, made a third voyage or road, +and came as farre as the fort called Vincula sancti Petri, and to S. +Georgius, and when they had slain certaine there, not finding any to make +resistance against them, they retired againe from whence they came: when +thus the fame of prince Edward grew amongst his enemies, and that they +began to stand in doubt of him, they deuised among themselues how by some +pollicy they might circumuent him, and betray him. Whereupon the prince and +admirall of Ioppa sent vnto him, faining himselfe vnder great deceit +willing to become a Christian, and that he would draw with him a great +number besides, so that they might be honorably entertained and vsed of the +Christians. This talke pleased the prince well, and perswaded him to finish +the thing he had so well begun by writing againe, who also by the same +messenger sent and wrote backe vnto him diuers times about the same matter, +whereby no mistrust should spring. + +This messenger (sayth mine author) was one ex caute nutritis, one of the +stony hearted, that neither feared God nor dreaded death. + +The fift time when this messenger came, and was of the princes seruants +searched according to the maner and custome what weapon and armour he had +about him, as also his purse, that not so much as a knife could be seene +about him, he was had vp into the princes chamber, and after his reuerence +done, he pulled out certaine letters, which he deliuered the prince from +his lord, as he had done others before. This was about eight dayes after +Whitsuntide, vpon a Tuesday, somewhat before night, at which time the +prince was layed vpon his bed bare headed, in his ierkin for the great heat +and intemperature of the weather. + +When the prince had read the letters, it appeared by them, that vpon the +Saturday next following, his lord would be there ready to accomplish all +that he had written and promised. The report of these newes by the prince +to the standers by, liked them well, who drew somewhat backe to consult +thereof amongst themselues. [Sidenote: Prince Edward traiterously wounded.] +In the meane time, the messenger kneeling, and making his obeisance to the +prince (questioning further with him) put his hand to his belt, as though +he would haue pulled out some secret letters, and suddenly he pulled out an +enuenomed knife, thinking to haue stroken the prince in the belly therewith +as he lay: but the prince lifting vp his hand to defend the blow, was +striken a great wound into the arme, and being about to fetch another +stroke at him, the prince againe with his foot tooke him such a blow, that +he feld him to the ground: with that the prince gate him by the hand, and +with such violence wrasted the knife from him, that he hurt himselfe +therewith on the forehead, and immediately thrust the same into belly of +the messenger and striker, and slew him. + +The princes seruants being in the next chamber not farre off, hearing the +busling, came with great haste running in, and finding the messenger lying +dead in the floore, one of them tooke vp a stoole, and beat out his brains: +whereat the prince was wroth for that he stroke a dead man, and one that +was killed before. + +But the rumour of this accident, as it was strange, so it went soone +thorowout all the Court, and from thence among the common people, for which +they were very heauy, and greatly discouraged. To him came also the +Captaine of the Temple, and brought him a costly and precious drinke +against poison, least the venime of the knife should penetrate the liuely +blood, and in blaming wise sayd vnto him: did I not tell your Grace before +of the deceit and subtilty of this people? Notwithstanding, said he, let +your Grace take a good heart, you shall not die of this wound, my life for +yours. But straight way the Surgions and Physicians were sent for, and the +prince was dressed, and within few dayes after, the wound began to +putrifie, and the flesh to looke dead and blacke: wherupon they that were +about the prince began to mutter among themselues, and were very sad and +heauy. + +Which thing, he himself perceiuing, said vnto them: why mutter you thus +among your selues? what see you in me, can I not be healed? tell me the +trueth, be ye not afrayd. Whereupon one sayd vnto him, and it like your +Grace you may be healed, we mistrust not, but yet it will be very painfull +for you to suffer. May suffering (sayd he againe) restore health? yea sayth +the other, on paine of losing my head. Then sayd the prince, I commit my +selfe vnto you, doe with me what you thinke good. + +Then sayd one of the Physicians, is there any of your Nobles in whom your +Grace reposeth special trust? to whom the prince answered Yea, naming +certeine of the Noble men that stood about him. Then sayd the Physician to +the two, whom the prince first named, the Lord Edmund, [Marginal note: The +lord Edmond was the prince his brother.] and the lord Iohn Voisie, And doe +you also faithfully loue your Lord and prince? Who answered both, Yea +vndoubtedly. Then sayth he, take you away this gentlewoman and lady +(meaning his wife) and let her not see her lord and husband, till such time +as I will you thereunto. Whereupon they tooke her from the princes +presence, crying out, and wringing her hands. Then sayd they vnto her, Be +you contented good Lady and Madame, it is better that one woman should +weepe a little while, then that all the realme of England should weepe a +great season. + +Then on the morrow they cut out all the dead and inuenimed flesh out of the +princes arme, and threw it from them, and sayd vnto him: how cheereth your +Grace, we promise you within these fifteene dayes you shall shew your selfe +abroad (if God permit) vpon your horsebacke, whole and well as euer you +were. And according to the promise he made the prince, it came to passe, to +the no little comfort and admiration of all his subiects. + +When the great Souldan heard hereof, and that the prince was yet aliue, he +could scarsely beleeue the same, and sending vnto him three of his Nobles +and Princes, excused himselfe by them, calling his God to witnesse that the +same was done neither by him nor his consent. Which princes and messengers +standing aloofe off from the kings sonne, worshipping him, fell flat vpon +the ground: you (sayd the prince) do reuerence me, but yet you loue me not. +But they vnderstood him not, because he spake in English vnto them, +speaking by an Interpreter: neuerthelesse he honourably entertained them, +and sent them away in peace. + +Thus when prince Edward had beene eighteene moneths in Acra, he tooke +shipping about the Assumption of our Lady, as we call it, returning +homeward, and after seuen weekes he arriued in Sicilia at Trapes, and from +thence trauailed thorow the middes of Apulia, till he came to Rome, where +he was of the Pope honorably entertained. + +From thence he came into France, whose fame and noble prowesse was there +much bruted among the common people, and enuied of the Nobility, especially +of the Earle of Chalons, who thought to haue intrapped him and his company, +as may appeare in the story: but Prince Edward continued foorth his iourney +to Paris, and was there of the French king honourably entertained: and +after certaine dayes he went thence into Gascoine, where he taried till +that he heard of the death of the king his father, at which time he came +home, and was crowned king of England, in the yere of our Lord 1274. + + * * * * * + +The trauaile of Robert Turneham. + +Robertus Turneham Franciscanus, Theologię professor insignis, Lynnę celebri +Irenorum ad ripas Isidis emporio, collegio suorum fratrum magnificč +pręfuit. Edwardus Princeps, cognomento Longus, Henrici tertij filius, +bellicam expeditionem contra Saracenos Assyriam incolentes, anno Dom. 1268. +parabat. Ad quam profectionem quęsitus quoque Orator vehemens, qui plebis +in causa religionis animos excitaret, Turnehamus principi visus vel +dignissimus est, qui munus hoc obiret. Sic tanquam signifer constitutus +Assyrios vna cum Anglico exercitu petijt, ac suum non sine laude pręstitit +officiuin. Claruit anno salutiferi partus, 1280. varia componens, sub eodem +Edwardo eius nominis primo post Conquestum. + +The same in English. + +Robert Turneham Franciscan, a notable professor of Diuinitie, was with +great dignitie Prior of the Colledge of his Order in the famous Mart Towne +of Lynne, situate vpon the riuer of Isis in Norfolke. Prince Edward +surnamed the Long, the sonne of Henrie the third, prepared his warlike +voyage against the Saracens dwelling in Syria, in the yeere of our Lord, +1268. For the which expedition some earnest preacher was sought to stirre +vp the peoples minds in the cause of religion. And this Turneham seemed to +the Prince most worthy to performe that office: so that he being appointed +as it were a standard bearer, went into Syria with the English army, and +performed his duety with good commendation. He flourished in the yeere of +Christ 1280, setting forth diuers workes vnder the same King Edward the +first of that name after the Conquest. + + * * * * * + +The life of Syr Iohn Mandeuill Knight, written by Master Bale. + +Ioannes Mandeuil, vir equestris ordinis, ex fano Albini oriundus, ita ą +teneris vt aiunt, vnguiculis literarum studijs assueuerat, vt in illis +bonam foelicitatis suę partem poneret. Nam generis sui stemmata illustria, +nulli vsui futura ducebat, nisi illa clariora doctis artibus redderet. +Quare cum animum Euangelica lectione ritč instituisset, transtulit sua +studia ad rem Medicam, artem imprimis liberali ingenio dignam. Sed inter +alia, ingens quędam cupido videndi Africam, et Asiam, vastioris orbis +partes, eius animum inuaserat. Comparato igitur amplo viatico, peregrč +profectus est, anno ą Christo nato, 1332. et domum tanquam alter Vlysses, +post 34. annos rediens, ą paucissimis quidem cognitus fuit. Interim +Scythiam, Armeniam, Maiorem et Minorem, Aegyptum, vtramque Lybiam, Arabiam, +Syriam, Mediam, Mesopotamiam, Persiam, Chaldęam, Gręciam, Illyrium, +Tartariam, et alia spaciosi orbis regna, laborioso itinere visitauit. +Denique linguarum cognitione pręditus, ne tot ac tantarum rerum varietates, +et miracula quę oculatus testis viderat, memorięque mandauerat, obliuione +premerentur, in tribus linguis, Anglica, Gallica, et Latina, graphicč +scripsit Itinerarium 33. annorum. Reuersus in Angliam, ac visis sui seculi +malis, vir pius dicebat, nostris temporibus iam verius quąm olim dici +potest, virtus cessat, Ecclesia calcatur, Clerus errat, dęmon regnat, +simonia dominatur, etc. Leodij tandem obijt, anno Domini 1372. die 17. +Nouembris, apud Guilielmitas sepultus. + +The same in English. + +Iohn Mandeuil Knight, borne in the towne of S. Albons, was so well giuen to +the studie of learning from his childhood, that he seemed to plant a good +part of his felicitie in the same: for he supposed that the honour of his +birth would nothing auaile him, except he could render the same more +honourable by his knowledge in good letters. Hauing therefore well grounded +himselfe in religion by reading the Scriptures, he applied his studies to +the arte of Physicke, a profession worthy a noble wit: but amongst other +things, he was rauished with a mightie desire to see the greater partes of +the world, as Asia, and Africa. Hauing therefore prouided all things +necessarie for his iourney he departed from his countrey in the yeere of +Christ, 1332, and as another Vlysses returned home, after the space of 34. +yeeres, and was then knowen to a very fewe. In the time of his trauaile he +was in Scythia, the greater and lesse Armenia, Egypt, both Lybias, Arabia, +Syria, Media, Mesopotamia, Persia, Chaldęa, Greece, Illyrium, Tartarie, and +diuers other kingdomes of the world: and hauing gotten by this meanes the +knowledge of the languages, least so many and great varieties, and things +miraculous, whereof himselfe had bene an eie witnes, should perish in +obliuion, he committed his whole trauell of 33. yeeres to writing in three +diuers tongues, English, French and Latine. Being arriued againe in +England, and hauing seene the wickednes of that age, he gaue out this +speach. In our time (sayd he) it may be spoken more truely then of olde, +that vertue is gone, the Church is vnder foote, the Clergie is in errour, +the deuill raigneth, and Simonie beareth the sway, &c. + +He died at Leege, in the yeere 1311. the 17. day of Nouember, being there +buried in the Abbie of the Order of the Guilielmites. + + * * * * * + +The Tombe and Epitaph of Sir Iohn Mandeuil, in the citie of Leege, spoken + of by Ortelius, in his booke called Itinerarium Belgię, in this sort. + +[Sidenote: Fol. 15, 16.] Magna et populosa Leodij suburbia, ad collium +radices, in quorum iugis multa sunt, et pulcherrima monasteria, inter quę +magnificum illud, ac nobile D. Laurentio dicatum, ab Raginardo Episcopo. +Est in hac quoque regione, vel suburbijs Leodij, Guilielmitarum Coenobium, +in quo Epitaphium hoc Ioannis ą Mandeuille, excepimus. + +[Sidenote: Epitaphģum.] Hic iacet vir nobilis, D. Ioannes de Mandeuille, +aliter dictus ad Barbam, Miles, Dominus de Campdi, natus de Anglia, +Medicinę professor, deuotissimus, orator, et bonorum largissimus pauperibus +erogator, qui toto quasi orbe lustrato, Leodij diem vitę suę clausit +extremum. Anno Dom. 1371. Mensis Nouembris, Die 17. + +Hęc in lapide: in quo cęlata viri armati imago, Leonem calcantis, barba +bifurcata, ad caput manus benedicens, et vernacula hęc verba: Vos qui +paseis sor mi, pour l'amour deix proļes por mi. Clipeus erat vacuus, in quo +olim fuisse dicebant laminam ęream, et eius in ea itidem cęlata insignia, +Leonem videlicet argenteum, cui ad pectus lunula rubea in campo cęruleo, +quem Limbus ambiret denticulatus ex auro. Eius nobis ostendebant, et +cultros, ephipiįque, et calcaria quibus vsum fuisse asserebant, in +peragrando toto ferč terrarum orbe, vt clariłs testatur eius Itinerarium, +quod typis etiam excusum passim habetur. + + * * * * * + +Tabvla Pręsentis Libri Ioannes Mandevil, singvla per ordinem capitula, et + in eorum quolibet quid agitur, notificat euidenter. + +Capvt. 1 Commendatio breuis terrę Hierosolymltanę. + +2 Iter ab Anglia tam per terras quąm per aquas, vsque in Constantinopolim. + +3 De vrbe Constantinopoli, et reliquijs ibidem contentis. + +4 Via tam per terras quąm per aquas, ą Constantinopoli vsque Acharon, vel + Acon. + +5 Via ą Francia et Flandria, per solas terras vsque in Hierusalem. + +6 Via de Cypro vel de Hierusalem, vsque in Babyloniam Egypti. + +7 De Pallatio Soldani, et nominibus pręteritorum Soldanorum. + +8 De Campo Balsami in Egypto. + +9 De Nilo fluuio, et Egypti territorio. + +10 De conductu Soldani. + +11 De Monasterio Sinay. + +12 Iter per desertum Sinay, vsque in Iudeam. + +13 De ciuitate Bethleem, et semita, vsque in Ierusalem. + +14 De Ecclesia gloriosi sepulchri Domini in vrbe Ierusalem. + +15 De tribus alijs Ecclesiis, et specialiter de Templo Domini. + +16 De pluribus locis sacris extra vrbem. + +17 De sacris locis extra muros ciuitatis. + +18 De alijs locis notabilibus. + +19 De Nazareth et Samaria. + +20 De Territorio Galileę et Samarię. + +21 De secta detestabili Sarracenorum. + +22 De vita Mahometi. + +23 De colloquio Authoris cum Soldano. + +24 Persuasio ad non credentes terrarum diuersitates per orbem terrę. + +25 De Armenia, et Persia. + +26 De Ethiopia et diamantibus, ac de infima et media India. + +27 De foresto piperis. + +28 De Ecclesia beati Thomę Apostoli. + +29 De quibusdam meridionalibus insulis, et farina et melle. + +30 De Regno Cynocephalorum, et alijs Insulis. + +31 De multis alijs insulis Meridionalibus. + +32 De bona regione Mangi. + +33 De Pygmeis, et itinere vsque prouinciam Cathay. + +34 De pallacio Imperatoris magni Chan. + +35 De quatuor solemnitatibus, quas magnus Chan celebrat in Anno. + +36 De pręstigijs in festo, et de comitatu Imperatoris. + +37 Qua de causa dicitur magnus Chan. + +38 De territorio Cathay, et moribus Tartarorum. + +39 De sepultura Imperatoris magni Chan, et de creatione successoris. + +40 De multis regionibus Imperio Tartarię subiectis. + +41 De magnificentia Imperatoris Indię. + +42 De frequentia Palatij, et comitatu Imperatoris pręsbiteri Ioannis. + +43 De quisbusdam miris per Regiones Imperij Indię. + +44 De loco et dispositione Vallis infaustę. + +45 De quibusdam alijs admirandis, per Indorum insulas. + +46 De periculis et tormentis in valle infausta. + +47 De Bragmannorum insulis, et aliorum. + +48 Aliquķd de loco Paradisi terrestris per auditum. + +49 In reuertendo de Regnis Cassam, et Riboth, de Diuite Epulone, vel + consimili. + +50 De compositione huius tractatus in Ciuitate Leodiensi. + + +Liber Pręsens, Cvivs Avthor est Ioannes Mandevil militaris ordinis, agit de + diuersis patrijs, Regionibus, Prouincijs, et insulis, Turcia, Armenia + maiore et minore, Ęgypto, Lybia bassa et alta, Syria, Arabia, Persia, + Chaldęa, Tartaria, India, et de infinitis insulis, Ciuitatibus, villis, + castris, et locis, quę gentes, legum, morum, ac rituum inhabitant + diuersorum. + +DEDICATIO LIBRI. + +Principi excellentissimo, prę cunctis mortalibus pręcipuč venerando, Domino +Edwardo eius nominis tertio, diuina prouidentia Francorum et Anglorum Regi +Serenissimo, Hibernię Domino, Aquitainię Duci, mari ac eius insulis +occidentalibus dominanti, Christianorum encomio et ornatui, vniuersorumque +arma gerentium Tutori, ac Probitatis et strenuitatis exemplo, principi +quoque inuicto, mirabilis Alexandri Sequaci, ac vniuerso orbi tremendo, cum +reuerentia non qua decet, cum ad talem, et tantam reuerentiam minłs +sufficientes extiterint, sed qua paruitas, et possibilitas mittentis ac +offerentis se extendunt, contenta tradantur. + +Pars prima, continens Capita 23. + +CAPVT. 1. + +Commendatio breuis terrę Hierosolimitanę. + +Cum terra Hierosolimitana, terra promissionis filiorum Dei, dignior cunctis +mundi terris sit habenda multis ex causis, et pręcipuč illā, quod Deus +conditor coeli et mundi, ipsam tanti dignatus fuit ęstimare, vt in eo +proprinm filium saluatorem mundi, Christum exhibuerit generi humano per +incarnationem ex intemerata Virgine, et per eius conuersationem humillimam +in eadem, ac per dolorosam mortis suę consummationem ibidem, įtque indč per +eius admirandam resurrectionem, ac ascensionem in coelum, et postremņ quia +creditur illic in fine seculi reuersurus, et omnia iudicaturus: certum est, +quņd ab omnibus qui Christiano nomine ą Christo dicuntur, sit tanquam ą +suis proprijs hęredibus diligenda, et pro cuiśsque potestate ac modulo +honoranda. [Sidenote: Loquitur secundum tempora in quibus vixit.] A +principibus quidem, et potentibus vt ipsam conentur de infidelium manibus +recuperare, qui eam iam pridem ą nobis, nostris exigentibus meritis, +abstulerunt, et per annos heu plurimos possederunt: a mediocribus antem et +valentibus, vt per peregrinationem deuotam loca tam pia, et vestigia +Christi ac discipolorum tam Sancta, principaliter in remissionem visitent +delictorum. Ab impotentibus verņ, et impeditis, quatenus supradictos vel +hortentur, vel in aliquo modo iuuent, seu certč fideles fondant orationes. +Verum quia iam nostris temporibus verius quąm olim dici potest, + + Virtus, Ecclesia, Clerus, dęmon, symonia, + Cessat, calcatur, errat, regnat, dominatur, + +ecce iusto Dei iudicio, credita est terra tam inclyta, et sacrosancta +impiorum manibus Saracenorum, quod non est absque dolore pijs mentibus +audiendum, et recolendum. EGO Ioannes Mandeuill militaris ordinis saltem +gerens nomen, natus et educatus in terra Anglię, in villa sancti Albani, +ducebar in Adolescentia mea tali inspiratione, vt quamuis non per +potentiam, nec per vires proprias possem pręfatam terram suis hęredibus +recuperare, irem tamen per aliquod temporis spacium peregrinari ibidem, et +salutarem aliquantulum de propinquo. [Sidenote: Ioannis Mandiuilli +peregrinatio, per tres et triginta annos continuata.] Vnde in anno ab +Incarnatione Domini 1322. imposui me nauigationi Marsiliensis maris et +vsque in hoc temporis, Anni 1355. scilicet, per 33. annos in transmarinis +partibus mansi, peregrinatus sum, ambulaui, et circuiui multas, ac diuersas +patrias, regiones, prouincias, et insulas, Turciam, Armeniam maiorem, et +minorem, Ęgyptum, Lybiam bassam et altam, Syriam, Arabiam, Persiam, +Chaldeam, Ęthiopię partem magnam, Tartariam, Amazoniam, Indiam minorem, et +mediam, ac partem magnam de maiori, et in istis, et circum istas regiones, +multas insulas, Ciuitates, vrbes, castra, villas, et loca, vbi habitant +varię gentes, aspectuum, morum, legum, ac rituum, diuersorum: Attamen quia +summo desiderio in terra promissionis eram, ipsam diligentius per loca +vestigiorum filij Dei perlustrare curaui, et diutius in illa steti. +Quapropter et in hac prima parte huius operis iter tam peregrinandi, quam +nauigandi, ą partibus Anglię ad ipsam describo, et loca notabiliter sancta, +quę intra eandem sunt breuiter commemoro et diligenter, quatenus peregrinis +tam in itinere quam in prouentione valeat hęc descriptio in aliquo +deseruire. + +The English Version. [Footnote: This English version (for the variations +from the Latin are so great that it cannot be called a _translation_) was +published in 1725 from a MS. of the end of the 14th or beginning of the +15th century, in the Cottonian Library, marked Titus. C. xvi. + +Instead of being divided into 50 chapters like the Latin, it contains only +33, but I have thought it best to make it correspond as nearly with the +Latin as possible, merely indicating where the various chapters begin in +the English version. From the last paragraph of the introductory chapter, +it would seem that the English version was written by Mandeville +himself.--E. G.] + +[Sidenote: The Prologue] For als moche as the Lond bezonde the See, that is +to seye, the Holy Lond, that men callen the Lond of Promyssioun, or of +Beheste, passynge alle othere Londes, is the most worthi Lond, most +excellent, and Lady and Sovereyn of alle othere Londes, and is blessed and +halewed of the precyous Body and Blood of oure Lord Jesu Crist; in the +whiche Lond it lykede him to take Flesche and Blood of the Virgyne Marie, +to envyrone that holy Lond with his blessede Feet; and there he wolde of +his blessednesse enoumbre him in the seyd blessed and gloriouse Virgine +Marie, and become Man, and worche many Myracles, and preche and teche the +Feythe and the Lawe of Cristene Men unto his Children; and there it lykede +him to suffre many Reprevinges and Scornes for us; and he that was Kyng of +Hevene, of Eyr, of Erthe, of See and of alle thinges that ben conteyned in +hem, wolde alle only ben cleped Kyng of that Lond, whan he seyde, "_Rex sum +Judeorum_," that is to seyne, "I am Kyng of Jewes;" and that Lond he chees +before alle other. Londes, as the beste and most worthi Lond, and the most +vertouse lond of alle the world: For it is the herte and the myddes of all +the world; wytnessynge the philosophere, that seythe thus; "_Vertus rerum +in medio consistit:_" That is to seye, "The vertue of thinges is in the +myddes;" and in that Lond he wolde lede his lyf, and suffre passioun and +dethe of Jewes, for us; for to bye and to delyvere us from peynes of helle, +and from dethe withouten ende; the whiche was ordeyned for us, for the +synne of oure formere fader Adam, and for oure owne synnes also: for as for +himself, he hadde non evylle deserved: For he thoughte nevere evylle ne dyd +evylle: And he that was kyng of glorie and of joye myghten best in that +place suffre dethe; because he ches in that lond, rathere than in ony +othere, there to suffre his passioun and his dethe: For he that wil +pupplische ony thing to make it openly knowen, he wil make it to ben cryed +and pronounced, in the myddel place of a town; so that the thing that is +proclamed and pronounced, may evenly strecche to alle parties: Righte so, +he that was formyour of alle the world, wolde suffre for us at Jerusalem; +that is the myddes of the world; to that ende and entent, that his passioun +and his dethe, that was pupplischt there, myghte ben knowen evenly to alle +the parties of the world. See now how dere he boughte man, that he made +after his owne ymage, and how dere he azen boghte us, for the grete love +that he hadde to us; and we nevere deserved it to him. For more precyous +catelle ne gretter ransoum, ne myghte he put for us, than his blessede +body, his precyous blood, and his holy lyf, that he thralled for us; and +alle he offred for us, that nevere did synne. A dere God, what love hadde +he to his subjettes, whan he that nevere trespaced, wolde for trespassours +suffre dethe! Righte wel oughte us for to love and worschipe, to drede and +serven suche a Lord; and to worschipe and preyse suche an holy lond, that +broughte forthe suche fruyt, thorghe the whiche every man is saved, but it +be his owne defaute. Wel may that lond be called delytable and a fructuous +lond, that was bebledd [Footnote: Coloured with blood] and moysted with the +precyouse blode of oure Lord Jesu Crist; the whiche is the same lond, that +oure lord behighten us in heritage. And in that lond he wolde dye, as +seised, for to leve it to us his children. Wherfore every gode Cristene +man, that is of powere, and hathe whereof, scholde peynen him with all his +strengthe for to conquere oure righte heritage, and chacen out alle the +mysbeleevynge men. For wee ben clept cristene men, aftre Crist our Fadre. +And zif wee ben righte children of Crist, we oughte for to chalenge the +heritage, that oure Fadre lafte us, and do it out of hethene mennes hondes. +But nowe pryde, covetyse and envye han so enflawmed the hertes of lordes of +the world, that thei are more besy for to disherite here neyghbores, more +than for to chalenge or to conquere here righte heritage before seyd. And +the comoun peple, that wolde putte here bodyes and here catelle, for to +conquere oure heritage, thei may not don it withouten the lordes. For a +semblee of peple withouten a cheventeyn, [Footnote: Chieftain.] or a chief +lord, is as a flock of scheep withouten a schepperde; the whiche departeth +and desparpleth, [Footnote: Disperseth.] and wyten never whidre to go. But +wolde God, that the temporel lordes and all worldly lordes weren at gode +accord, and with the comen peple woulden taken this holy viage over the +see. Thanne I trowe wel, that within a lytyl tyme, our righte heritage +before seyd scholde be reconsyled and put in the hondes of the right heires +of Jesu Crist. + +And for als moche as it is longe tyme passed, that there was no generalle +passage ne vyage over the see; and many men desiren for to here speke of +the holy lond, and han thereof great solace and comfort; I John +Maundevylle, Knyght, alle be it I be not worthi, that was born in Englond, +in the town of Scynt Albones, passed the see in the zeer of our Lord Jesu +Crist MCCCXXII, in the day of Seynt Michelle; and hidre [Footnote: There.] +to have ben longe tyme over the see, and have seyn and gon thorghe manye +dyverse londes, and many provynces and Kingdomes and iles, and have passed +thorghe Tartarye, Percye, Ermonye [Footnote: Armenia.] the litylle and the +grete; thorghe Lybye, Caldee, and a gret partie of Ethiope; thorghe +Amazoyne, Inde the lasse and the more, a gret partie; and thorghe out many +othere iles, that ben abouten Inde; where dwellen many dyverse folkes, and +of dyverse manneres and lawes, and of dyverse schappes of men. Of which +londes and iles, I schall speake more pleynly hereaftre. And I schall +devise zou sum partie of thinges that there ben, whan time schalle ben, +aftre it may best come to my mynde; and specially for hem, that wylle and +are in purpos for to visite the holy citee of Jerusalem, and the holy +places that are thereaboute. And I schalle telle the weye, that thei +schulle holden thidre. For I have often tymes passed and ryden the way, +with gode companye of many lordes: God be thonked. + +And zee schulle undirstonde, that I have put this boke out of Latyn into +Frensche, and translated it azen out of Frensche into Englyssche, that +every man of my nacioun may undirstonde it. But lordes and knyghtes and +othere noble and worthi men, that conne Latyn but litylle, and han ben +bezonde the see, knowen and undirstonden, zif I erre in devisynge, for +forzetynge, [Footnote: Forgetting.] or elles; that thei mowe redresse it +and amende it. For thinges passed out of longe tyme from a mannes mynde or +from his syght, turnen sone into forzetynge: Because that mynde of man ne +may not ben comprehended ne witheholden, for the freeltee of mankynde. + +To teche zou the Weye out of Englond to Constantinoble. + +[Sidenote: Cap I.] In the name of God Glorious and Allemyghty. He that wil +passe over the see, to go to the city of Jerusalem, he may go by many +wayes, bothe on see and londe, aftre the contree that hee cometh fro; manye +of hem comen to on ende. But troweth not that I wil telle zou alle the +townes and cytees and castelles, that men schulle go by; for than scholde I +make to longe a tale; but alle only summe contrees and most princypalle +stedes, that men schulle gone thorgh, to gon the righte way. + + +CAPVT. 2. + +Iter ab Anglia tam per terras quam per aquas vsque in Constantinopolim. + +Qui de Hybernia, Anglia, Scotia, Noruegia, aut Gallia, iter arripit ad +partes Hierosolymitanas potest saltem vsque ad Imperialem Grecię Ciuitatem +Constantinopolim eligere sibi modum proficiscendi, siue per terras, siue +per aquas. Et si peregrinando eligit transigere viam, tendat per Coloniam +Agrippinam, et sic per Almaniam in Hungariam ad Montlusant Ciuitatem, sedem +Regni Hungarię. [Sidenote: Regis Hungarię olim potentia.] Et est Rex +Hungarię multum potens istis temporibus. Nam tenet et Sclauoniam, et magnam +partem Regni Comannorum, et Hungariam, et partem Regni Russię. Oportet vt +peregrinus in finibus Hungarię transeat magnum Danubij flumen, et vadat in +Belgradum; Hoc flumen oritur inter Montana Almanię, et currens versus +Orientem, recipit in se 40. flumina antequam finiatur in mare. De Belgrade +intratur terra Bulgarię, et transitur per Pontem petrinum fluuij Marroy, et +per terram Pyncenars, et tunc intratur Gręcia, in Ciuitates, Sternes, +Asmopape, et Andrinopolis, et sic in Constantinopolim, vbi communiter est +sedes Imperatoris Grecię. Qui autem viam eligit per aquas versus +Constantinopolim nauigare, accipiat sibi portum, prout voluerit, propinquum +siue remotum, Marsilię, Pisi, Ianuę, Venetijs, Romę, Neapoli, vel alibi: +sicque transeat Tusciam, Campaniam, Italiam, Corsicam, Sardiniam, vsque in +Siciliam, quę diuiditur ab Italia per brachiam maris non magnum. [Sidenote: +Mons ętna.] In Sicilia est mons Ętna iugiter ardens, qui ibidem apellatur +Mons Gibelle, et pręter illum habentur ibi loca Golthan vbi sunt septem +leucę quasi semper ignem spirantes: secundum diuersitatem colorum harum +flammarum estimant. [Sidenote: Aeolides insulę.] Incolę annum fertilem +fore, vel sterilem, siccum vel humidum, calidum, vel frigidum: hęc loca +vocant caminos Infernales, et ą finibus Italię vsque ad ista loca sunt 25. +miliaria. [Sidenote: Temperes Sicilię Insulę.] Sunt autem in Sicilia aliqua +Pomeria in quibus inueniuntur frondes, flores, et fructus per totum annum, +etiam, in profunda hyeme. Regnum Sicilię est bona, et grandis insula habens +in circuitu ferč leucas 300. [Sidenote: Leuca Lombardica. Quid sit dieta.] +Et ne quis eret, vel de facili reprehendat quoties scribo leucam, +intelligendum est de leuca Lombardica, quę aliquantņ maior est Geometrica; +et quoties pono numerum, sub intelligatur fere, vel circiter, siue citra, +et dietam intendo ponere, de 10. Lombardicis leucis: Geometrica autem leuca +describitur, vt notum est, per hos versus. + + Quinque pedes passum faciunt, passus quoque centum + Viginti quķnque stadium, si millia des que + Octo facis stadia, duplicatum dat tibi leuca. + +[Sidenote: Portus Grecię.] Postquam itįque peregrinus se credidit Deo et +mari, si prospera sibi fuerit nauigatio, non ascendet in terram, donec +intret aliquem portum Grecię, scilicet, Myrroyt, Valonę, Durase, siue alium +prout Diuinę placuerit uoluntati, et exhinc ibit Constantinopolim +praędictam, quaę olim Bysantium, vel Vesaton dicebatur. Hic autem notandum +est, quņd a portu Venetie, vsque ad Constantinopolim directč per mare +octingentę leucę et 80. communiter computantur ibi contentę. + +The English Version. + +First, zif a man come from the west syde of the world, as Engelond, +Irelond, Wales, Skotlond or Norwaye; he may, zif that he wole, go thorge +Almayne, and thorge the kyngdom of Hungarye, that marchethe to the lond of +Polayne, and to the lond of Pannonye, and so to Slesie. And the Kyng of +Hungarye is a gret lord and a myghty, and holdeth grete lordschippes and +meche lond in his hond. For he holdeth the kyngdom of Hungarie, Solavonye +and of Comanye a gret part, and of Bulgarie, that men clepen the lond of +Bougiers, and of the Reme of Roussye a gret partie, whereof he hathe made a +Duchee, that lasteth unto the lond of Nyflan, and marchethe to Pruysse. And +men gon thorghe the lond of this lord, thorghe a cytee that is clept +Cypron, and by the castelle of Neaseburghe, and be the evylle town, that +sytt toward the ende of Hungarye. And there passe men the ryvere of +Danubee. This ryvere of Danubee is a fulle gret ryvere; and it gothe into +Almayne, undre the hilles of Lombardye: and it receiveth into him 40 othere +ryveres; and it rennethe thorghe Hungarie and thorghe Greece and thorghe +Traachie, and it entreth into the see, toward the est, so rudely and so +scharply, that the watre of the see is fressche and holdethe his swetnesse +20 myle within the see. + +And aftre gon men to Belgrave, and entren into the lond of Bourgres; +[Footnote: Bulgaria.] and there passe men a brigge of ston, that is upon +the ryver of Marrok. [Footnote: The river Maros.] And men passen thorghe +the lond of Pyncemartz, and comen to Greece to the cytee of Nye, and to the +cytee of Fynepape, and aftre to the cytee of Dandrenoble, [Footnote: +Adrianople.] and aftre to Constantynoble, that was wont to be clept +Bezanzon. + + +CAPVT. 3. + +De vrbe Constantinopoli, et reltquijs ibidem contentis. + +Constantinopolis pulchra est Ciuitas, et nobilis, triangularis in forma, +firmitérque murata, cuius duę partes includuntur mari Hellesponto, quņd +plurimi modņ appellant brachium sanctģ Georgij, et aliqui Buke, Troia +vetus. Versus locum vbi hoc brachium exit de mari est late terrę planities, +in quā antiquitus stetit Troia Ciuitas de qua apud Poetas mira leguntur sed +nunc valdč modica apparent vestigia Ciuitatis. In Constantinopoli habentur +multa mirabilia, ac insuper multę sanctorum venerandę relliquęi, ac super +omnia, preciosissimi Crux Christi, seu maior pars illius, et tunica +inconsutilis, cum spongia et arandine, et vno clauorum, et dimidia parte +coronę spineę, cuius altera medietas seruatur in Capetla Regis Francię, +Parisijs. Nam et ego indignus ditigenter pluribus vicibus respexi partem +vtrįmque: dabatur quóque mihi de illa Parisijs vnica spina, quam vsque nunc +preciose conseruo, et est ipsa spina non lignea sed uelut de iuncis marinis +rigīda, et pungitiua. [Sidenote: Eclesia sanctę Sophię] Ecclesia +Constantinopolitana in honorem sanctę Sophię, id est, ineffabilis Dei +sapientię dedicato dicitur, et nobilissima vniuersarum mundi Ecclesiarum, +tam in schemate artificiosi operis, quąm in seruatis ibi sacrosanctis +Relliquijs: [Sidenote: Regina Helena Britanna] nam et continet corpus +sancte Annę matris nostrę Dominę translatum illuc per Reginam Helenam ab +Hierosolymis: et corpus S. Lucę Euangelistę translatum de Bethania Iudeę; +Et Corpus beati Ioannis Chrysostomi ipsius Ciuitatis Episcopi, cum multis +atlijs reliquijs preciosis; quoniam est ibi vas grande cum huiusmodi +reliquijs velut marmoreum de Petra Enhydros; quod iugiter de seipso +desudans aquam semel, in anno inuenitur suo sudore repletum. [Sidenote: +Imago Iustiniani.] Ante hanc Ecclesiam, super columnam marmoream habetur de +ęre aurato opere fuscrio, magna imago Iustiniani quondam Imperatoris super +equum sedentis, fuit autem primitus in manu imaginis fabricata sphęra +rotunda, quę iam diu č manu sua sibi cecidit, in signum quņd Imperator +muliarum terraram dominium perdidit. Nįmque solebat esse Dominus, Romanorum +Gręcorum, Asię, Syrię, Iudeę, Ęgypti, Arabię, et Persię, at nunc solum +retinet Greciam, cum aliquibus terris Grecię adiacentibus, sicut Calistrum, +Cholchos, Ortigo, Tylbriam, Minos, Flexon, Melos, Carpates, Lemnon, +Thraciam, et Macedoniam totam: Sśntque sub eo Caypoplij, et alti +Pyntenardi, ac maxima pars Commannorum. Porrņ imago tenet manum eleuatam et +extentam in orientem, velut in signum cominationis ad Orientales infideles. +De prędicta terra Thracię fuit Philosophus Aristoteles oriundus in Ciuitate +Stageres, et est ibi in loco tumba eius velut altare, vbi et singulis annis +certo die celebratur ą populo festum illius, ac si fuisset sanctus. +Temporibus ergņ magnorum consiliorum conueniunt illuc sapientes terrę, +reputantes sibi per inspirationem immitti consilium optimum de agendis. +Item ad diuisionem Thracię et Macedonię sunt duo mirabiliter alti montes, +vnus Olympus, alter Athos, cuius vltimi vmbra orķente sole apparet ad 76. +miliaria, vsque in insulam Lemnon. In horum cacumine montium ventus non +currit, nec aer mouetur, quod frequentčr probatum est per ingenium +Astronomorum, qui quandóque ascendentes scripserunt, literas in puluere, +quas sequenti anno inuenerunt quasi recentčr scriptas, et quia est ibi +purus aer sine mixtione elementi aquę necesse est vt ascendentes habeant +secum spongias aquę plenas pro adhelitus respiratione: In prędicta autem +sanctę sophię Ecclesia, (sicut ibidem dicitur,) voluit olim quidam +Imperator corpus cuiusdam sui defuncti sepelire cognati: cuius cum +foderetur sepulchrum, ventum est ad mausoleum antiquum in quo super +incineratum corpus iacebat discus auri puri, et erat sculptum in eo literis +Gręcis, Hebraicis, et Latinis sic. Iesus Christus nascetur de Virgine, et +ego credo in eum. Et erat simul inscripta data defuncti secundum modum +illius temporis quę continebat duo millia annorum ante incarnationem ipsius +Christi de Maria Virgine. Seruatur quóque hodierno tempore eadem patina in +Thesaurario eiusdem Ecclesię, et dicitur illud corpus fuisse Hermetis +sapientis. Omnes quidem, terrarum, regionum et insularum homines, qui isti +Greco obediunt Imperatori sunt Christiani, et baptizati, tamen variant +singuli in aliquo articulo fidem suam a nostra vera fide Catholica, et +diuersificant in multis suos ritus ą ritibus Romanę Ecclesię, quia iamdiu +omiserunt obedire Pontifici Romano, dicentes, quoniam beatus Petrus +Apostolus habuit sedem in Antiochia, quamuis passus fuit in Roma: +[Sidenote: Patriarchę Antiocheni authoritas.] Idcirco patriarcha +Antiochenus habet in illis Orientalibus partibus similem potestatem, quąm +Pontifex Romanus in istis Occidentalibus. Imperator etiam +Constantinopolitanus creat eorum patriarcham, et instituit pro sua +voluntate Archiepiscopos, et Episcopos, et confert dignitates, et +beneficia, similiter inuenta occasione destituit, deponit, et priuat. + +The English Version. + +And there dwellethe comounly the Emperour of Greece. And there is the most +fayr chirche and the most noble of alle the world: and it is of Seynt +Sophie. And before that chirche is the ymage of Justynyan the Emperour, +covered with gold, and he sytt upon an hors y crowned. And he was wont to +holden a round appelle of gold in his hond: but it is fallen out thereof. +And men seyn there, that it is a tokene, that the Emperour hathe y lost a +gret partie of his londes, and of his lordschipes: for he was wont to be +Emperour of Romayne and of Grece, of alle Asye the lesse, and of the lond +of Surrye, of the lond of Judee, in the whiche is Jerusalem, and of the +lond of Egypt, of Percye, of Arabye. But he hathe lost alle, but Grece; and +that lond he holt alle only. And men wolden many tymes put the appulle into +the ymages hond azen, but it wil not holde it. This appulle betokenethe the +lordschipe, that he hadde over alle the worlde, that is round. And the +tother hond he lifteth up azenst the est, in tokene to manace the +mysdoeres. This ymage stont upon a pylere of marble at Constantynoble. + +Of the Crosse and the Croune of oure Lord Jesu Crist. + +[Sidenote: Cap. II.] At Costantynoble is the cros of our Lord Jesu Crist, +and his cote withouten semes, that is clept _tunica inconsutilis_, and the +spounge, and the reed, of the whiche the Jewes zaven oure Lord eyselle +[Footnote: Vinegar] and galle, in the cros. And there is on of the nayles, +that Crist was naylled with on the cros. And some men trowen, that half the +cros, that Crist was don on, be in Cipres, in an abbey of monkes, that men +callen the Hille of the Holy Cros; but it is not so: for that cros, that is +in Cypre, is the cros, in the whiche Dysmas the gode theef was honged onne. +But alle men knowen not that; and that is evylle y don. For profyte of the +offrynge, thei seye, that it is the cros of oure Lord Jesu Crist. And zee +schulle undrestonde, that the cros of oure Lord was made of 4 manere of +trees, as it is conteyned in this vers, + + In cruce fit palma, cedrus, cypressus, oliva. + +For that pece, that went upright fro the erthe to the heved, [Footnote: +Head.] was of cypresse; and the pece, that wente overthwart, to the whiche +his honds wern nayled, was of palme; and the stock, that stode within the +erthe, in the whiche was made the morteys, was of cedre; and the table +aboven his heved, that was a fote and an half long, on the whiche the title +was writen, in Ebreu, Grece and Latyn, that was of olyve. And the Jewes +maden the cros of theise 4 manere of trees: for thei trowed that oure Lord +Jesu Crist scholde han honged on the cros, als longe as the cros myghten +laste. And therfore made thei the foot of the cros of cedre. For cedre may +not, in erthe ne in watre, rote. And therfore thei wolde, that it scholde +have lasted longe. For thei trowed, that the body of Crist scholde have +stonken; therfore thei made that pece, that went from the erthe upward, of +cypres: for it is welle smellynge; so that the smelle of his body scholde +not greve men, that wenten forby. And the overhwart pece was of palme: for +in the Olde Testament, it was ordyned, that whan on overcomen, he scholde +be crowned with palme: and for thei trowed, that thei hadden the victorye +of Crist Jesus, therfore made thei the overthwart pece of palme. [Footnote: +The reference is to the Olympic Games.] And the table of the tytle, thei +maden of olyve; for olyve betokenethe pes. And the storye of Noe +wytnessethe, whan that the culver [Footnote: Dove. Anglo-Saxon, _Cuifra_.] +broughte the braunche of olyve, that betokened pes made betwene God and +man. And so trowed the Jewes for to have pes, when Crist was ded: for thei +seyd, that he made discord and strif amonges hem. And zee schulle +undirstonde, that oure Lord was y naylled on the cros lyggynge; and +therfore he suffred the more peyne. And the Cristene men, that dwellen +bezond the see, in Grece, seyn that the tree of the cros, that we callen +cypresse, was of that tree, that Adam ete the appulle of: and that fynde +thei writen. And thei seyn also, that here Scripture seythe, that Adam was +seek, [Footnote: Sick] and seyed to his sone Sethe, that he scholde go to +the Aungelle, that kepte paradys, that he wolde senden hym oyle of mercy, +for to anoynte with his membres, that be myghte have hele. And Sethe wente. +But the aungelle wolde not late him come in; but seyd to him, that he +myghte not have of the oyle of mercy. But he toke him three greynes of the +same tree, that his fadre eet the appelle offe; and bad him, als sone as +his fadre was ded, that he scholde putte theise three greynes undre his +tonge, and grave him so: and he dide. And of theise three greynes sprang a +tree, as the aungelle seyde, that it scholde, and bere a fruyt, thorghe the +whiche fruyt Adam scholde be saved. And whan Sethe cam azen, he fonde his +fadre nere ded. And whan he was ded he did with the greynes, as the +aungelle bad him; of the whiche sprongen three trees, of the whiche the +cros was made, that bare gode froyt and blessed, oure Lord Jesu Crist; +thorghe whom, Adam and alle that comen of him, scholde be saved and +delyvered from drede of dethe withouten ende, but it be here own defaute. +This holy cros had the Jewes hydde in the erthe, undre a roche of the Mownt +of Calvarie; and it lay there 200 zeer and more, into the tyme that Seynt +Elyne, that was modre to Constantyn the Emperour of Rome. And sche was +doughtre of Kyng Cool born in Colchestre, that was Kyng of Engelond, that +was clept thanne, Brytayne the more; the whiche the Emperour Constance +wedded to his wyf, for here bewtee, and gat upon hire Constantyn, that was +aftre Emperour of Rome. + +And zee schulle undirstonde, that the cros of oure Lord was eyght cubytes +long, and the overthwart piece was of lengthe thre cubytes and an half. And +a partie of the crowne of oure Lord, wherwith he was crowned, and on of the +nayles, and the spere heed, and many other relikes ben in France, in the +kinges chapelle. And the crowne lythe in a vesselle of cristalle richely +dyghte. For a kyng of Fraunce boughte theise relikes somtyme of the Jewes; +to whom the Emperour had leyde hem to wedde, for a gret summe of sylvre. +And zif alle it be so, that men seyn, that this croune is of thornes, zee +schulle undirstonde, that it was of jonkes of the see, that is to sey, +rushes of the see, that prykken als scharpely as thornes. For I have seen +and beholden many tymes that of Parys and that of Costantynoble: for thei +were bothe on, made of russches of the see. But men han departed hem in two +parties: of the whiche, o part is at Parys, and the other part is at +Costantynoble. And I have on of tho precyouse thornes, that semethe licke a +white thorn; and that was zoven to me for gret specyaltee. For there are +many of hem broken and fallen into the vesselle, that the croune lythe in: +for thei breken for dryenesse, whan men meven hem, to schewen hem to grete +lords, that comen thidre. + +And zee schalle undirstonde, that oure Lord Jesu, in that nyghte that he +was taken, he was y lad in to a gardyn; and there he was first examyned +righte scharply; and there the Jewes scorned him, and maden him a crowne of +the braunches of albespyne, that is white thorn, that grew in that same +gardyn, and setten it on his heved, so faste and so sore, that the blood +ran down be many places of his visage, and of his necke, and of his +schuldres. And therfore hathe white thorn many vertues: for he that berethe +a braunche on him thereoffe, no thondre ne no maner of tempest may dere +him; ne in the hows, that it is inne, may non evylle gost entre ne come +unto the place that it is inne. And in that same gardyn, Seynt Petre denyed +our Lord thryes. Aftreward was oure Lord lad forthe before the bisschoppes +and the maystres of the lawe, in to another gardyn of Anne; and there also +he was examyned, repreved, and scorned, and crouned eft with a whyte thorn, +that men clepethe barbarynes, that grew in that gardyn, and that hathe also +manye vertues. And aftreward he was lad in to a gardyn of Cayphas, and +there he was crouned with eglentier. And aftre he was lad in to the chambre +of Pylate, and there he was examynd and crouned. And the Jewes setten him +in a chayere and cladde him in a mantelle; and there made thei the croune +of jonkes of the see; and there thei kneled to him, and skornede him, +seyenge, _Ave, Rex Judeorum_, that is to seye, _Heyl, Kyng of Jewes_. And +of this croune, half is at Parys, and the other half at Costantynoble. And +this croune had Crist on his heved, whan he was don upon the cros: and +therfore oughte men to worschipe it and holde it more worthi than ony of +the othere. + +And the spere schaft hathe the Emperour of Almayne: but the heved is at +Parys. And natheles the Emperour of Costantynoble seythe that he hathe the +spere heed: and I have often tyme seen it; but it is grettere than that at +Parys. + +Of the Cytee of Costantynoble, and of the Feithe of Grekis. + +[Sidenote: Cap. III.] At Costantynoble lyethe Seynte Anne oure Ladyes +modre, whom Seynte Elyne dede brynge fro Jerusalem. And there lyethe also +the body of Iohn Crisostome, that was Erchebisschopp of Costantynoble. And +there lythe also Seynt Luke the Evaungelist: for his bones werein broughte +from Bethanye, where he was beryed. And many other relikes ben there. And +there is the vesselle of ston, as it were of marbelle, that men clepen +enydros, that evermore droppeth watre, and fillethe himself everiche zeer, +til that it go over above, withouten that that men take fro withinne. + +Costantynoble is a fulle fayr cytee, and a gode and a wel walled, and it is +three cornered. And there is an arm of the see Hellespont: and sum men +callen it the mouthe of Costantynoble; and sum men callen it the brace of +Seynt George: and that arm closethe the two partes of the cytee. And upward +to the see, upon the watre, was wont to be the grete cytee of Troye, in a +fulle fayr playn: but that cytee was destroyed by hem of Grece, and lytylle +apperethe there of, be cause it so longe sithe it was destroyed. + +Abouten Grece there ben many iles, as Calistre,[Footnote: Calliste, one of +the Cyclades.] Calcas, [Footnote: Colchos.] Critige, [Footnote: Cerigo.] +Tesbria, [Footnote: Resorio.] Mynea, [Footnote: Mynia is a town in the +Island of Amorgos.] Flaxon, [Footnote: Flexos.] Melo, [Footnote: Milo.] +Carpate, [Footnote: Carpathos, probably.] and Lempne. [Footnote: Lemnos.] +And in this ile is the Mount Athos, [Footnote: Athos is on the main land, +on a promontory S.E. of Solonica.] that passeth the cloudes. And there ben +many dyvers langages and many contreys, that ben obedyent to the Emperour; +that is to seyn Turcople, Pyneynard, Cornange, and manye othere, at +Trachye, [Footnote: Thrace.] and Macedoigne, of the whiche Alisandre was +kyng. In this contree was Aristotle born, in a cytee that men clepen +Stragera, a lytil fro the cytee of Trachaye. And at Stragera lythe +Aristotle; and there is an awtier upon his toumbe: and there maken men +grete festes of hym every zeer, as thoughe he were a seynt. And at his +awtier, thei holden here grete conseilles and here assembleez: and thei +hopen, that thorghe inspiracioun of God and of him, thei schulle have the +better conseille. In this contree ben righte hyghe hilles, toward the ende +of Macedonye. And there is a gret hille, that men clepen Olympus, +[Footnote: The altitude is 9753 feet.] that departeth Macedonye and +Trachye: and it is so highe, that it passeth the cloudes. And there is +another hille, that is clept Athos, [Footnote: It is only 6678 feet. This +is the old Greek verse: [Greek: Athoos kaluptei pleura lemnias boos.]] that +is so highe, that the schadewe of hym rechethe to Lempne, that is an ile; +and it is 76 myle betwene. And aboven at the cop of the hille is the eir so +cleer, that men may fynde no wynd there. And therefore may no best lyve +there; and so is the eyr drye. And men seye in theise contrees, that +philosophres som tyme wenten upon theise hilles, and helden to here nose a +spounge moysted with watre, for to have eyr; for the eyr above was so drye. +And aboven, in the dust and in the powder of the hilles, thei wroot lettres +and figures with hire fingres: and at the zeres end thei comen azen, and +founden the same lettres and figures, the whiche thei hadde writen the zeer +before, withouten ony defaute. And therfore it semethe wel, that theise +hilles passen the clowdes and joynen to the pure eyr. + +At Constantynoble is the palays of the Emperour, righte fair and wel +dyghte: and therein is a fair place for justynges, or for other pleyes and +desportes. And it is made with stages and hath degrees aboute, that every +man may wel se, and non greve other. And undre theise stages ben stables +wel y vowted [Footnote: Vaulted.] for the Emperours hors; and alle the +pileres ben of Marbelle. And with in the chirche of Seynt Sophie, an +emperour somtyme wolde have biryed the body of his fadre, whan he was ded; +and as thei maden the grave, thei founden a body in the erthe, and upon the +body lay a fyn plate of gold; and there on was writen, in Ebreu, Grece and +Latyn, lettres that seyden thus, _Jesu Cristus nascetur de Virgine Maria, +et ego credo in eum_: That is to seyne, _Jesu Crist schalle be born of the +Virgyne Marie, and I trowe in hym_. And the date whan it was leyd in the +erthe, was 2000 zeer before oure Lord was born. And zet is the plate of +gold in the thresorye of the chirche. And men seyn, that it was Hermogene +the wise man. + +And zif alle it so be, that men of Grece ben Cristene, zit they varien from +our feithe. For thei seyn, that the Holy Gost may not come of the Sone; but +alle only of the Fadir. And thei are not obedyent to the Chirche of Rome, +ne to the Pope. And thei seyn, that here patriark hathe as meche power over +the see as the Pope hathe on this syde the see. And therefore Pope Johne +the 22'd sende letters to hem, how Christene feithe scholde ben alle on; +and that thei scholde ben obedyent to the Pope, that is Goddis vacrie +[Footnote: Vicar.] on erthe; to whom God zaf his pleyn power, for to bynde +and to assoille: and therfore thei scholde ben obedyent to him. And thei +senten azen dyverse answeres; and amonges other, thei seyden thus: +_Potentiam tuam summam, circa tuos subjectos firmiter credimus. Superbiam +tuam summam tolerare non possumus. Avaritiam tuam summam satiare non +intendimus. Dominus tecum: quia Dominus nobiscum est_. That is to seye: _We +trowe wel, that thi power is gret upon thi subgettes. We mai not suffre thi +high pryde. We ben not in purpos to fulfille thi gret covetyse. Lord be +with thi: for oure Lord is with us. Fare welle_. And other answere myghte +he not have of hem. And also thei make here sacrement of the awteer of +therf [Footnote: Unleavened. _Anglo-Saxon_, žeorf ('peorf' in source +text--KTH)] bred: for oure Lord made it of suche bred, whan he made his +mawndee. [Footnote: Last Supper.] And on the Scherethors [Footnote: Shrove +Thursday.] day make thei here therf bred, in tokene of the mawndee, and +dryen it at the sonne, and kepen it alle the zeer, and zeven it to seke +men, in stede of Goddis body. And thei make but on unxioun, whan thei +christene children. And thei annoynte not the seke men. And thei saye, that +there nys no purgatorie, and the soules schulle not have nouther joye ne +peyne, tille the day of doom. And thei seye, that fornicatioun is no synne +dedly, but a thing that is kyndely: and the men and women scholde not wedde +but ones; and whoso weddethe oftere than ones, here children ben bastardis +and geten in synne. And here prestis also ben wedded. And thei saye also, +that usure is no dedly synne. And they sellen benefices of Holy Chirche: +and so don men in others places: God amende it, whan his wille is. And that +is gret sclaundre. [Footnote: Scandal.] For now is symonye kyng crouned in +Holy Chirche: God amende it for his mercy. And thei seyn, that in Lentone, +men schulle nor faste, ne synge masse; but on the Satreday and on the +Sonday. And thei faste not on the Satreday, no tyme of the zeer, but it be +Cristemasse even on Estre even. And thei suffre not the Latines to syngen +at here awteres: and zif thei done, be ony aventure, anon thei wasschen the +awteer with holy watre. And thei seyn, that there scholde be but o masse +seyd at on awtier, upon o day. And thei seye also, that oure Lord ne eet +nevere mete: but he made tokene etyng. And also thei seye, that wee synne +dedly, in schavynge oure berdes. For the berd is tokene of a man, and zifte +of oure Lord. And thei seye, that wee synne dedly, in etynge of bestes, +that weren forboden in the Old Testament, and of the olde lawe; as swyn, +hares, and othere bestes, that chewen not here code. And thei seyn, that +wee synnen, when wee eten flessche on the dayes before Assche Wednesday, +and of that wee eten flessche the Wednesday, and egges and chese upon the +Frydayes. And thei accursen alle tho, that absteynen hem to eten flessche +the Satreday. Also the Emperour of Costantynoble makethe the patriarke, the +erchebysschoppes and bisschoppes; and zevethe dygnytees and the benefices +of chirches, and deprivethe hem that ben worthy, whan he fyndethe ony +cause. And so is the lord bothe temperelle and spirituelle, in his contree, +And zif zee wil wite [Footnote: Know.] of here A, B, C, what lettres thei +ben, here zee may seen hem, with the names, that thei clepen hem there +amonges them. + +Alpha, Betha, Gamma, Deltha, Epsilon, Zeta, Eta, Theta, Iota, Kappa, +Lambda, My,Ny, Xi, Omicron, Pi, Rho, Sigma, Tau, Upsilon, Phi, Chi, Psi, +Omega. [Greek letters removed for pain-text edition--KTH] + +And alle be it that theise thinges touchen not to o way, nevertheles thei +touchen to that, that I have hight zou, to schewe zou a partie of custumes +and maneres, and dyversitees of contrees. And for this is the first contree +that is discordant in feythe and in beleeve, and variethe from our feythe, +on this half the see, therefore I have sett it here, that zee may knowe the +dyversitee that is betwene our feythe and theires. For many men han gret +lykynge to here speke of straunge thinges of dyverse contreyes. + + +CAPVT. 4. + +Via tam per terras quam per aquas ą Constantinopoli vsque Acharon. +[Marginal note: Vel Achon.] + +A Constantinopoli qui voluerit ire pedes, transibit statim nauigio Brachium +Sancti Georgij quod satis est strictum, ibķque ad Ruphinal quod est forte +castrum, inde ad Puluereal, et hinc ad castrum Synopulum. Ex tunc intrat +Cappadociam, terram latam sed plenam altis montibus, deinde Turciam ad +portum Theueron, et ad Ciuitatem ita dictam, nunc munitam firmis turribus, +ac muris, per quam transit fluuius Reglay. Postea transitur sub Alpibus +Noyremont, et per valles de Mallenbrinis in districto Rupium, ac per villam +Doronarum, et alias villas adiacentes fluuijs Reglay, et Granconię, sķcque +peruenitur ad Antiochiam minorem super Reglay, quę vocatur nobilior Ciuitas +Syrię: Notandum autem quņd Regnum olim dictum Syria, modņ communiter +vocatur Suria. [Sidenote: Antiochia.] Ista verņ Antiochia, est magna, +pulchra, ac firma, licet quandóque maior, pulchrior, ac firmior fuerit. +Tunc autem transitur per Ciuitates Laonsam, Gibellam, Tortusiam, Toruplam, +et Berythum super mare vbi sanctus Georgius fertur occidisse Draconem. Hinc +pergitur in Ciuitatem nunc dictam Acon, quondam Ptolomaidem, antiquitłs +Acharon, quę tempore quo eam vltimņ Christiani tenebant circa annum +incarntionis Domini 1280. erat Ciuitas valdč fortis, sed modņ apparent eius +magnę ruinę. Porrņ a Constantinopoli poterit peregrinus faciliłs versus +Hierosolymorum partes per mare nauigare quam per terras peregrinare +prędictas, si deus illi propitius fuerit, et mare fidem conseruauerit. +[Sidenote: Sio.] Qui ergņ a Constantinopoli iter transire nauigando +disponit, tendat ad Ciuitatem [Marginal Note: Vel Smyrnam.] Myrnam vbi nunc +ossa Sancti Nicholai venerantur, et sic procedendo per multa maritima loca +veniet ad Insulam Sio vbi crescit gummi mastix lucidum: Inde ad Insulam +Pathmos Sancti Ioannis Euangelistę, et ad Ephesum vbi idem noscitur +sepultus: hanc totam minorem Asiam tenent nunc pessimi Turci, et eam +appellant minorem Turciam. Post Ephesum nauigatur per plures Insulas vsque +Pataram Ciuitatem, vndč oriundus fuit beatus Nicholaus, ac per Myrrheam vbi +stetit Ephesus, vbi nascuntur fortia vina valdč, deinde ad Insulam Cretę, +hinc Coos postea Lango, vndč Hypocrates Medicus dicitur natus: [Sidenote: +Rhodus Insula.] tuncque ad grandem Insulam Rhodum; et sciendum quod a +Constantinopoli vsque Rhodum, per mare dicuntur ducentę octuaginta leucę. +Hanc insulam totam tenent, et gubernant Christiani Hospitalarij nunc +temporis, quę quondam Colosse dicebatur: nam et multi Saracenorum adhuc eam +sic appellant, vnde et Epistola, quam beatus Paulus ad habitatores huius +Insulę scripsit, intitulabatur ad Colossenses. Ab hoc loco nauigando in +Cyprum, aspicitur absorptio Ciuitatis Sathalię, quę sicut olim Sodoma +dicitur perijsse, propter vnicum crimen contra naturam a quodam Iuuene +petulante commissum. [Sidenote: Cyprus Insula.] Sciendum quod a Rhodo ad +Cyprum feruntur plenč quingentę quinquaginta leucę: Cyprus magna, et +pulchra est Insula habens Archiepiscopatum, cum quinque Episcopatibus +suffraganeis: Illuc Famagosta, est vnus de principalibus portibus mundi, in +quo ferč omnium mercatores conueniunt nationum, tam Christianorum, quam +multorum Paganorom, et similiter apud portum Limechon. Est ibi et Abbatia +ordinis sancti Benedicti, in monte sanctę Crucis, vbi dicitur saluati +latronis seruari crux, qui in eadem cruce audiuit ą Christo, Hodič mecum +eris in Paradiso. [Sidenote: Fortis Cyprķ vina.] Corpus etiam sancti +Hylarionis seruatur ibi, in castro Damers quod Rex Cypri facit +diligentissimč custodiri: Vltrą modum fortia vina nascuntur in Cypro, quę +primo rubra, post annum albescunt, et quo vetustiora, eo albiora ac magis +odorifera, ac fortia efficiuntur. Vlteriłs paucissimę villę, aut Ciuitates +sunt Christianorum, sed ferč omnia Saraceni possident infideles: et proh +dolor, ab Anno 1200. incarnationis Domini aut circa, pacificč tenuerunt. +[Sidenote: Ioppa, vel Iaffe.] Qui autem a Cypro prospere legit spacia +maris, poterit in duobus naturalibus diebus peruenire in portum Ioppę, qui +Iaffe nunc nuncupatur, et proximus est a Ireusalem, distans 16, tantum +leucas, hoc est dieta cum dimidia. [Sidenote: Portus Tyri, alias Sur.] Et +sciendum quod circa medium, inter Cyprum, et Iaffe est portus Tyri quondam +munitissimę Ciuitatis, hanc dum vltimo Saraceni ą Christianis ceperunt +turpissimč destruxerunt, custodientes iam curiosč portum, timore +Christianorum. Iste portus non vocatur modo Tyrus, sed Sur. Nam et ab illa +parte est ibi introitus terrę Surię. Ante istam Ciuitatem Tyrum habetur +quidam lapis, super quem dominus noster Iesus Christus sedendo suis +discipulis vel populis prędicauit. Vnde, et Christiani olim super hunc +locum construxerunt Ecclesiam in nomine Saluatoris. Peregrinus vero qui ab +hoc loco vult peregrinari, morosč sciat, quod ad octo leucas ą Tyro in +orientem est Sarepta Sydoniorum, vbi olim Elias Propheta filium viduę +suscitauit a morte. Itemque sciat, quod ą Tyro in vnica dieta pergere +potest in Achon, siue Acharon supra scripta. [Sidenote: Achon, olim +Acharon. Mons Carmeli.] Circa Acon versłs mare, ad 120. stadia, quorum 16. +leucam constituunt, est mons Carmeli, vbi morabatur pręfatus Elias, et +super alium montem Villa Saffra vbi sanctus Iacobus, et Ioannes germani +Apostoli nascebantur, et in quorum natiuitatis loco pulchra habetur +Ecclesia. [Sidenote: Fossa Beleon.] Item propč Acon ad ripam dictam Beleon, +est fossa multum vtilis, et mirabilis quę dicitur fossa Mennon, hęc est +rotunda circumferentia, cuius diameter continet prope 100. cubitos, plena +alba et resplendente arena, et mundi ex qua conficitur mundum et perlucidum +vitrum. Pro hac arena venitur per aquas, et per terras, et exportatur +manibus et vehiculis propč et procul, et quantumcśnque de die exhauritur, +repleta manč altero reperitur: Et est in fossa ventus grandis et iugis, qui +mirabiliter arenam commouere videtur. Si quis autem vitrum de hac arena +factum in fossa reponeret, conuerteretur iterum in arenam, et qui imponeret +frustum metalli, verteretur in vitrum: nonnulli reputant hanc fossam esse +spiraculum maris arenosi, de quo mari aliquid locuturus sum in sequentibus. +Ab Acon via versus Jerusalem bifurcatur: nam qui tenet vnum latus potest +ire secus Iordanem fluuium, in Ciuitatem Damascum, qui verņ aliud, ibit in +tribus aut quatuor dietis Gazam, de qua olim fortis Samson asportauit nocte +fores portarum: deinde in Cęsaream Philippi, et Ascalonem, et Ioppam portum +supradictum, Hincque in Rama, et Castellum Emaus, et sic in Ierusalem vrbem +sacrosanctam. + + +CAPVT. 5. + +Via ą Francia aut Flandria per solas terras vsque Ierusalem. + +Itineribus, quę per terras, et per mare a nostris partibus ducunt in terram +promissionis descriptis, restat breuiter dicendum de alia via, per quam +omnino mare transeundum non est, videlicet per Almaniam, per Bohemiam, per +Prussiam, et hinc per terram Paganorum regni Lituanię, et sic per longam, +et pessimam terram primę Tartarię vsque in Indiam: Dico autem Tartarię +primę, quoniam de hac exijt primus Imperator totius Tartarię, qui semper +vocatur Grand Can, quo vix maiorem mundus habet terrenum Dominum, excepto +Imperatore superioris Indię, de quibus in secunda et tertia huius tractatus +partibus, aliquanto est diffusius narrandum. Cuncti principes huius primę +Tartarię, quorum summus semper vocatur Bachu, et moratur in Ciuitate Horda, +[Marginal note: Horda est multitudo riuens in agris.] reddunt Imperatore +Grand Can, magna tributa. [Sidenote: Mores Tartarorum.] Est autem hęc prima +Tartaria terra misera et sabulosa, et infructuosa: hoc enim scio, quņd per +aliquod tempus steti in ea, et perambulaui Insulas, regiones, et terras +circumiacentes, scilicet, Russię, Inflau, Craco, Latton, Restau, et alias +nonnullas: crescunt nįmque in ista Tartaria modica blada, pauca vina, et +fructuum, ac frugum parua copia, exceptis herbis pro pastu Bestiarum, +quarum ibi est abundantia: nam carnibus illarum vescuntur pro omnibus +cibarijs, ius earum sorbentes, et pro potu bibentes lac de omni genere +bestiarum. Quin etiam pauperiores manducant canes, lupos, catos, ratos, +talpas, ac mures, ac huiusmodi bestiolas omnes: sed nec aliquis Princeps +aut pręlatus comedit vltra semel in die, et hoc parcč, vel parcissimč: et +sunt homines valdč immundi, quia non nisi benč diuites vtuntur mappis, +linteaminibus, aut lineis indumentis: sed nec habent copiam lignorum, vnde +et fimum boum, ac omnium bestiarum desiccatum ad solem accipiunt pro ignis +materia, vbi se calefaciunt, et coquendo coquunt. Aestiuo tempore, cadunt +ibi frequenter tempestates, tonitruorum, fulminum, et grandinum, quibus +domus, arbores, bestię, et homines, comburuntur, euelluntur, et occiduntur. +Nam et quandoque subrepentč oritur ibi calor immoderatus, et improuiso +frigus immoderatum. Denķque cum terra illa, se multum inclinet ad polum +Septentrionalem, fortius ibi gelare solet, et frequentius, ac diutius quąm +ad partes nostras, vnde et quasi omnes habent ibi stupas, in quibus +manducant, et operantur. [Sidenote: Hyeme pręcipue iter faciunt per +terram.] Nec valet ą nostris partibus ingredi ad illam nisi tempore +gelicidij, quod ad introitum eius sunt tres dictę, de via molli, aquatica, +et profunda, in qua dum viator putaret se stare securum, profunderetur in +lutum ad tibias, ad genua, ad femora vel ad renes: hoc ergo sciendum quņd +paucissimi tendunt per hanc viam in terram promissionis: Nam iter est +graue, distortum, longum, et periculosum sicut audistis, imņ periculosius +quąm scribo. + + +CAPVT. 6. + +Via de Cypro vel Ierusalem vsque in Babyloniam Ęgypti. + +Descripto sicut potui triplicitčr itinere in terram sanctam, restat videre +de duabus alijs vijs, quę incidentčr solent contingere peregrinis: Multi +nįmque illorum ex speciali deuotione desiderant visitare ossa beatissimę +Virginis Catharinę in monte Sinay: [Sidenote: Babylonia Aegypti.] Cum +igitur ipsis sit necessarius Soldani Babylonię conductus eo quod Imperator +sit, et dominus omnium illarum terrarum, quidam postquam perueniunt in +Cyprum tendunt primņ in Babyloniam Ęgypti, pro impetrando conductu securo, +įtque indč pergentes in Sinay vadunt in Ierusalem. Quidam verņ postquam +perfecerunt peregrinationem Hierosolymitanam, pergunt per terras ad +Soldanum pro conductu, et tum in Sinay, propter quņd vtramque viam breuiter +describo. [Sidenote: Damiata portus Aegypti.] De Cypro in Ęgyptum itur per +mare relinquendo Hierosolymorum terram ad manum sinistram, et accipitur +primus portus Ęgypti, dictus Damiata: ibi quondam fuit Ciuitas valdč +munita, sed quod Christiani illam, primi et altera vice ceperunt, Sarraceni +vltimņ destruxerunt, et aliam remotius ą mari eiusdem nominis Ciuitatem +ędificauerunt: [Sidenote: Alexandria.] Hinc venitur in portum Alexandrię +Ęgypti, quę est Ciuitas magna, pulchra, et fortis valde, sed įbsque aquis +potabilibus. Adducit tamen sibi per longos ductus aquam Nili fluminis in +cisternis ad potandum. Alexandria nobilis, 30. stadia habet longitudinis +decémque in latum. In ea restant adhuc plures Ecclesię ą tempore +Christianorum, sed Sarraceni non sustinentes picturas Sanctorum omnes +parietes albauerunt. De Alexandria per terras venitur in Babyloniam Ęgypti, +quę etiam fundata iacet supra prędictum Nilum fluuium: Dicitur autem hęc +Babylonia minor ad differentiam magnę Babylonię, siue Babel, vbi Deus +linguas confudit olim, quę tendendo inter Orientem et Septentrionem distat +ab ista dietas circiter 40. nec est sub potestate Soldani, sed Imperatoris +Persarum, qui illam tenet in homagio ab Imperatore Cathay, dicto, Grand +Can. [Sidenote: Cayr ciuitas.] Hęc autem Babylonia Ęgypti est Ciuitas +grandis et fortis, tamen valdč prope eam est alia maior dicta Cayr, in qua +vt sępiłs residet Soldanus, quanquam Babylonia nomen per seculum diffusius +est cognitum: Altera autem via peregrinorum de Hierosolymis pro conducta +tendentium ad Soldanum talis esse potest. [Sidenote: Abilech desertum.] +Primņ tendant de Ierusalem in suprą dictam Gazam Palestinorum, inde ad +Castellum Dayre, įtque ex tunc exitur de terra Syrię, et intratur ą +superiori parte in desertum longum arenosum, et sterile, propč ad septem +dietas, quod lingua eorum vocatur Abilech; tamen per illud inueniantur +plura hospitia, vbi haberi possunt ad victum nccessaria. Et qui in eundo +rectum iter tenet, veniet in Ciuitatem dictam, Balbes, quę est ad finem +Regni Halapię: Sķcque expleto Deserto, intratur terra Ęgypti, quam ipsi +Canopat vocant, et aliqui Mersur, įtque ex tunc in Babyloniam, et Cayr, +pręfatam: In ista verņ Babylonia habetur pulchra Ecclesia Marię virginis, +in loco vbi morabatur cum filio suo, et Ioseph tempore suę fugę, et +creditur ibi contineri corpus Virginis Barbarę. + + +CAPVT. 7. + +De Pallatio Soldani, ac numero, et nominibus pręteritorum Soldanorum. + +Cayr ciuitas Imperialis et Regalis est valdč munita, et grandis, decorata +sede propria Sarracenorum Regnķ, vbi dominus eorum Soldanus communiter +residere solet, in suo Calahelick, id est, castro forti, et lato, ac in +euecta rupe statuto. Siquidem Soldanus eorum lingua sonat nomen similis +maiestatis, quo nos in Latino dicimus Cęsarem, aut Imperatorem. Pro +custodia huius Castri sunt ibidem omni tempore morantes sex millia +personarum, et pro, seruiendo, dum ibi residet, ipsi Soldano, qui omnes de +Curia eadem accipiunt necessaria, et donatiua. Iste Imperator Soldanus, est +Rex, Dominśsque quinque Regnoram magnorum: Canopat, hoc est, Ęgypti: totius +Iudeę, sicut olim Dauid, et Salomon; Halapię, in terra Machsyrię, cuius +ciuitas Damascus olim erat principalis; Arabię, quod est regnum valdč +protensum, et cum his possidet dominatus omnium Caliphorum: ad quod +sciendum, quņd quaundóque fuerunt tres Caliphorum dominatus: Ex quibus +primus Caliphus qui dicebatur Chaldęorum, et Arabum, cuius erat sedes in +Ciuitate Baldac. Alter Barbarorum et Affricorum, cuius erat sedes in Maroco +super Mare Hispanię. Tertius Aegypti: [Sidenote: Caliphus quid sit.] Est +autem Caliphus inter eos, velut inter nos Imperator, et Papa simul, +scilicet, Dominus temporalium et spiritualium. [Sidenote: Series Soldanorum +Aegypti.] Exactis igitur Caliphis circa annum incarnationis Christi 1150, +primus Soldanorum fuit nominatus Saracon: secundus filius eius, Saladin, +qui anno 1190. cum Turcis totam ferč terram promissionis abstulit ą +Christianis. Et sub quo Richardus Rex Anglię cum alijs principibus +Christianis custodiebat passum Rupium, ne ille sicut proposuerat transire, +profecisset vltra. Tertius Melachsala, ą quo sanctus Ludouicus rex Francię +captiuabatur in bello. Quartus Turquenna, qui Regem prędictum redemi +dimisit pro pecunia. Quintus Meleth. Sextus Melethemes. Septimus Melec +dayr, sub quo Edwardus Rex Anglię intrauit cum nostris Syriam, damnificans +plurimum Sarracenos. [Sidenote: Edwardus princeps Anglię, Regis Hen. 3. +filius.] Octauus Melec salle. Nonus Elphi, qui Anno Incarnationis Domini +1289. destruxit in illis partibus enormiter Christianos, et penitus omnes +inde fugauit, atque recepit Tripolim Ciuitatem. Decimus Melethasseras: hic +cepit Anno Domini 1291. in octaua paschę Accharon, fugatis vel occisis ex +ea omnibus Christianis. Exinde amissis succedentium nominibus, sextus +decimus dicebatur vel dicitur Melec Mandibron: sub isto steti ego per +aliquod tempus stipendiarius in guerris suis contra Bedones, qui ei tunc +temporis rebellabant. Horum etiam mores, et continentiam populorum, in +sequentibus declarabo: sicut veraciter fateri possum, ipse ad filiam +cuiusdam sui Principis me obtulit vxorare, et magnis dotari possessionibus, +dummodņ Christianitati resignassem: Eśmque dimisi Soldanum, quando de +partibus illis recessi. [Sidenote: Potentia Soldani Aegypti.] Soldanus +pręter homines ad sua castra seruanda deputatos, potest educere quoties +velit in exercitum de hominibus de ipsius stipendijs viuentibus et ad eius +iugitčr mandata paratis, 20. millia armatorum, ex sola Ęgypto: Et ex Syria, +et Turcia, et alijs terris, 50. millia exceptis ruralibus, et Ciuitatem +comitatibus, qui sunt velut innumerabiles. Miles quidem stipendiarius +recipit de Curia pro anni Tempore 121. aureos, et sub tali stipendio seruit +cum tribus equis et vno Camelo. Quadringenti vel Quingenti horum militum +ordinati sunt sub vno rectore, que vocatur Admirabilis: Et ille solus +recipit de curia tantum, sicut omnes sibi subditi: Notandum quod nunquam +extraneus Nuncius ire permittitur ad Soldanum nisi auratis indutus +vestibus, vel panno Tartarico aut camoleoto ad modum nobilium Sarracenorum: +[Sidenote: Reuerentia exhibita Soldano.] et oportet vt vbicunque primum +nuncius Soldanum aspiciat, siue ad fenestras, siue alibi, vt cadat ad +genua, vel protinus osculetur terram, quia talem reuerentiam facere, signum +est quņd ille desiderat ei loqui. Quamdiu autem tales loquuntur sibi, aut +literas ostendunt, circumstant Apparitores extensis brachijs leuatos +tenentes mucrones, gladios, gezas, et mackas ad feriendum, et occidendum, +si quid dictum vel nunciatum fuerit, quod Imperatori displiceat, quam citņ +ille signauerit trucidari. Veruntamen sciendum est quņd nullius hominis +personaliter ab ipso quidquam petentis consueuit repellere preces +rationabiles, et contra eorum leges aut mores non venientes. Porrņ ego in +Curia manens, vidi circa Soldanum vnum venerabilem, et expertum medicum, de +nostris partibus oriundum: [Marginal note: Cuius nomen erat M. Ioannes ad +Barbam.] solet namque circa se retinere diuersarum medicos nationum, et +quos nominandę audierit esse famę: Nos tamen rarņ inuicem conuenimus ad +colloquium, eņ quņd meum seruitium cum suo modicum congruebat: longo autem +posteą tempore, et ab illo loco remotč, videlicet in Leodij ciuitate, +composui hortatu et adiutorio eiusdem venerabilis viri hunc tractatum, +sicut in fine operis totius enarrabo. Itémque in Cayr ciuitate ducuntur ad +forum communitur tam viri quąm mulieres aliarum legum, et nationum venales, +et ad modum bestiaram venduntur pro pecunia ad seruiendum in suis +artificijs. [Sidenote: Mos oua furnis fouendi.] Habetur quoque ibi domus +plena furnis paruis, in quibus per custodes domus tam hyeme quąm ęstate +fouentur oua gallinarum, anatum, aucarum, et columbarum, vsque ad +procreationem suorum pullorum, et hijs intendunt, pro certo pretio +accipiendo ą mulierculis illic oua ferentibus. + + +CAPVT. 8. + +De Campo Balsami in Egypto. + +[Sidenote: Balsamum.] Extra hanc ciuitatem Cayr, est Campus seu ager +Balsami: circa quod sciendum, quņd optimum totius mundi Balsamum in magno +crescit Indię deserto, vbi Alexander Magnus dicitur quondam locutus fuisse +arboribus Solis et Lunę, de quo in sequentibus aliquid est scribendum. Illo +itaque Indię Balsamo duntaxat excepto, non est liquor in vniuerso orbe, qui +huic creditur comparari. Has arbores seu arbusta Balsami fecit quondam +quidam de Caliphis Aegypti de loco Engaddi inter mare mortuum, et Ierico, +vbi Domino volente excreuerat, eradicari, et in argo prędicto plantari: est +tamen hoc mirandum, quod vbicuncque alibi siue prope, siue remote +plantantur, quamuis fortč virent, et exurgant, non tamen fructificant. Et č +contrario apparet hoc miraculosum, quod in hoc agro Cayr non se permittant +coli per Sarracenos, sed solummodņ per Christianos, vel aliter non +fructificarent: Et dicunt ipsi Sarraceni hoc sępius se tentasse: sunt autem +arbusta trium vel quatuor pedem altitudinis, velut vsque ad renes hominis, +et lignum eorum aspiciendum, sicut vitis syluestris. Folia non marcescunt, +quin prius marcescant fructus, cernitur ad formam Cubebę, et gummi eorum +est Balsamum. Ipsi appellant arbores Enochkalse, fructum Abebifau, et +liquorum gribalse. Extrahitur verņ gummi de arbusculis per hunc modem: De +lapide acuto, vel de osse fracto dant scissuras per cortices in ligno, et +ex vulneribus Balsamum lachrymatur, quod in vasculis suscipiunt, cauentes +quout possunt, ne quid de illo labatur in terram: Nam se de ferro, vel alio +metallo fieret incissura, liquor Balsami corrumperetur ą sua virtute. +[Sidenote: Virtutes veri Balsami.] Veri Balsami virtutes sunt magnę quidem, +et innumerosę: nam vix aliquis mortalium scire potuit omnes, quamuis inter +Physicos quinquaginta scribantur. Rarņ vtique Sarraceni vendunt Christianis +purum et verum Balsamum, quin priłs commisceant, et falsificant sicut ego +ipse frequenter vidi. Nam aliqui tertiam, seu quartam partem immiscent +terrebynthinę. [Sidenote: Sophisticationes Balsami.] Alii ramusculos +arbustarum, et fructus eorum coquunt in oleo, quod vendunt pro Balsamo: et +quidam (quod pessimam est) nil Balsami habentes, distillant oleum, per +clauos gariophillos, et spicum nardum, et similes odoriferas species, hoc +pro Balsamo exponentes, atque aliis pluribus modis deludunt ementes. +[Sidenote: Probatio veri Balsami.] Sed et Mercatores inuicem nonnunquam +sophisticant altera vice: probatio autem veri Balsaml potest haberi +pluribus modis, quorum aliquos hic describo. Est enim Citrini coloris, +valdč clarum, et purum, et fortissimum in odoris fragrantia: si ergņ +apparet alterius quąm Citrini coloris sciatur non simplicis, sed +cuiuscunque commixtę substantię, vel ita spissum, vt non possit fluere, +scitote sophisticatum. Item si posueris modicum veri Balsami in manus +palma, non poteris sustinere eam linialiter in feruore splendentis Solis ad +spacium recitandę Dominicę orationis. Item si in clara flamma ignis vel +candelię cereę miseris punctum cultelli cum gutta puri Balsami, ipsa gutta +de facilč comburetur. Item si in scutella munda cum puro lacte caprino +posueris modicum veri Balsami, statim, miscebit se, et vnietur cum lacte, +ģta vt Balsamum non cognoscetur. Item č contrą, si posueris verum Balsamum +cum aqua Lympida, nunquam miscebit se aquę, etiamsi aquam moueris +vehementer, imņ Balsamum semper tendit ad fundum vasis, nam est in sui +quanitate valdč ponderosam, et iuxta quod minłs ponderosum inueneris, +ampliłs falsificatum noueris. + + +CAPVT. 9. + +De Nile fluuio, et Aegypti territorio. + +Nilus suprą dictus fluuius Aegypti appellatus est alio nomine Gyon, cuius +origo est ą Paradiso terrestri. Hic venit currens per deserta Indię +Maioris, hincque per meatus subterraneos transit plures terras: exiens sub +Monte Aloth, inter Indiam et Aethiopiam, et Mauritaniam intra deserta +Aegypti, irrigans totam longitudinem Aegypti vsque ad Alexandriam, ibķque +se perdit in mare. [Sidenote: Inundatio Nilo.] Sole intrante signum Cancri +omni anno hoc est, ad quindenam ante Festum Natiuitatis Ioannis Baptistę +incipit paulatim fluuius crescere, et inundare, quousque sol intret +Virginem, quod est circa Festum Laurentij, atque ex tunc decrescere, et +minui, donec Sole veniente in Lybram intra suos alueos se conseruet: Dśmque +per inundationem nimis effluit, damnificat terrę culturas, et fit Charistia +in Aegypto. [Sidenote: Raro in Aegyptio pluuia.] Et similiter dum parum +exundat, ingruit esuries, quoniam in Aegypto rarissimč pluit, aut apparent +nubes, quoniam si quandoque pluerit in ęstate, terra muribus adimpleur. +[Sidenote: Nubia.] Terra Aegypti continet in longitudine dietas quindecim, +in latitudine ferč tres, et habet triginta dietas deserti: ą finibus +Aegypti vsque Nubiam, duodecim sunt dietę. Hi Nubij sunt Christiani, sed +nigri, velut Aethiopes, vel Mauri. + +[Sidenote: Phoenix visa a Mandeuillo.] Phoenix auis, de qua dicitur, quod +semper vnica sit in mundo, viuens per annos quingentos, quę et seipsam +comburit, ac de cineribus eius, siue per naturam, siue per miraculum alia +creatur, hęc interdum apparet in Aegypto, et sicut mihi monstrabatur, vidi +duabus vicibus. Modicum est maior Aquila, cristam in capite maiorem +pauonis, collum habens croceum, dorsum Indicum, alas purpureas, caudam +duobus coloribus, per transuersum croceo et rubeo regulatam, qui singuli +colores sunt ad splendorem Solis delectabiliter videntibus resplendentes. +In Aegypto multę habentur arbores sexcies aut septies in anno +fructificantes, ibique frequenter inueniuntur in terra Smaragdi, et circa +oram Nili alij lapides pretiosi. [Sidenote: Mecha.] A Babylonia Aegypti, +vsque ad ciuitatem Meccam, (quam Pagani ibidem appellant Iacrib, et est in +magnis desertis Arabię) sunt triginta duę dietę. In ea veneratur +detestandum cadauer Machon siue Machometi honorabiliter et reuerenter in +Templo eius, quod ibi vocatur Musket, de cuius vita aliquid infrą narrabo. +Per prędicta itaque apparet, quod Imperator Sarracenorum Soldanus +Babylonię, valdč potens est Dominus. + + +CAPVT. 10. + +De couductu Soldani, et via vsque in Sinay. + +Priłs dictum est de reuerentia Soldani, quandņ ad ipsum intratur exhibenda. +Sciendum ergņ, cum ab eo petitur securus conductus, nemini denegare +consueuit, sed datur petentibus communiter sigillum eius, in appenditione +absque literis: hoc sigillum, pro vexillo in virga aut hasta dum peregrini +ferunt, omnes Sarraceni videntes illud flexis genibus in terram se +reuerenter inclinant, et portantibus omnem exhibent humanitatem. Verumtamen +satis maior fit reuerentia literis Soldani sigillatis, quod et Admirabiles, +et quicunque alij Domini, quando eis monstrantur, antequam recipiant, se +multłm inclinant: Deinde ambabus manibus eas capientes ponunt super propria +capita, posteą osculantur, et tandem legunt inclinati cum magna +veneratione, quibus semel aut bis perlectis, offerunt se promptos ad +explendum quicquid ibi iubetur, ac insuper exhibent deferenti, quicquid +possint commodi, vel honoris: sed talem conductum per literas Soldani vix +quisquam peregrinorum accipit, qui non in Curia illius stetit, vel notitiam +apud illum habuerit. [Sidenote: Literę Soldani in gratiam Mandeuilli +concessę.] Ego autem habui in recessu meo, in quibus etiam continebatur ad +omnes sibi subiectos speciale mandatum, vt me permitterent intrare, et +respicere singula loca, pro meę placito voluntatis, et mihi exponerent +quorumcunque locorum mysteria distinctč et absque vllo velamine veritatis, +ac me cum omni sodalitate mea benignč reciperent, et in cunctis +rationalibus audirent, requisiti autem si necesse foret de ciuitate +conducerent in ciuitatem. Habito itaque peregrinis conductu, ad Montem +Sinay potest ą Cayr vnam duarum incipere semitarum, vsque vallem Helim, vbi +adhuc sunt duodecim fontes aquarum. Nam vna viarum est, vt pertranseat +passagium maris rubri, non longč ab eodem loco, vbi olim populus Israel +Duce Mose, Deo iubente, siccis pedibus transiit idem mare. [Sidenote: +Ratio, cur Rubrum mare sic appellatur.] Quod quidem, licčt aqua sit satis +clara, dicitur ibi Rubrum propter lapillos, et arenas subrufi coloris: et +continet ibi nunc temporis passus maris in latitudine ferč sex leucas. +Transmissoque mari, ibit super hanc longč ab oris eiusdem per dietas +quatuor, atque ex tunc relinquens mare, tendit per deserta sex aut septem +dierum, vsque in vallem pręfatam. Alia est autem via, vt de Babylonia +intret Dyrcen deserta, tendens ad quendam fontem, quem dicitur Moses +[Marginal note: Vel Maus.] fecisse: et hinc ad riuulum Marach, qui quondam, +Mose imponente lignum, ab amaritudine dulcescebat, et sic tandem in +premissam vallem perueniant. Et restat via grandis dietę ad Montem Sinay ab +hac valle. Nam ą Babylonia vsque in Sinay, ęstimatur esse via duodecim +dictarum, quamuis nonnulli citius perueniunt. Hoc verč sciendum, neminem +peregrinorum per hęc deserta sine ductore posse tendere, cui notę sunt vię, +sed nec equi valent transire, pręcipuč quņd non inuenirent in desertis quid +bibere. [Sidenote: Abstinentia Camelorum ab aquis.] Aliquo tamen modo +transitur per Camelos, eņ quņd se continere possunt de potu duobus aut +tribus diebus: Et oportet vt itinerantes ferant secum per viam necessaria +ad victum proprium, et Camelorum, nisi quņd interdum fortč Cameli aliquid +sibi abrodere possunt circa cortices arbustorum, et folia ramusculorum. + + +CAPUT. 11. + +De Monasterio Sinay, et reliquijs beatę Catherinę. + +Mons Sinay appellatur ibi desertum Syn: quasi in radice montis istius +habetur Coenobium Monachorum pergrande, cuius clausura in circuitu est +firmata muris altis, et portis ferreis, pro metu bestiarum deserti. Hi +Monachi sunt Arabes, et Gręci, et in magno conuentu multum Deo deuoti: +viuunt in magna abstinentia, vtentes simplicibus cibariis, de lotis et +dactylis, et huiusmodi, nec vinum potantes, festis acceptis. Illic in +Ecclesia Beatę Virginis et matris Catherinę semper lampades plurimę sunt +ardentes, nam habetur ibi plena copia olei oliuarum. A posteriori parte +magni altaris monstratur locus, vbi Moysi apparuit Dominus in rubo ardente, +ipsum rubum adhuc seruans, quem dum monachi intrant, semper se discalceant +gratia illias verbi, quo Deus iussit Moysi ibidem, Solue calciamentum de +pedibus tuis, locus enim in quo stas, terra sancta est: hunc locum +appellant Bezeleel, id est, vmbra Dei. Et propč altare tribus gradibus in +altitudine, habetur capsa, seu Tumba Alabastri, sanctissima continens ossa +Virginis. Christiani qui ibidem morantur, cum magna reuerentia +aduenientibus peregrinis, ą Monachorum pręlato, seu ab alio in hoc +instituto, excipiuntur. Is quodam instrumento argenteo consueuit ossa +defricare, siue linire, vt ex iis exeat modicum olei, velut parumper +sudoris, quod tamen non apparet in colore sui tanquam olei seu Balsami, sed +aliquantulum pluris magnitudinis. Et ex isto traditur interdum aliquid +petentibus peregrinis, sed parłm, quia nec multłm exudat. Ostendere solent +et caput ipsius Catherinę cum inuolumento sanguinolento, et multas prętereą +sanctas, et venerabiles reliquias, quę omnia intuitus sum diligentur et +sępč, oculis indignis. Habent quoque in ista Ecclesia propriam Lampadem +quilibet Monachorum, quę imminente illius discessu lumen per diuinum +miraculum variat vel extinguit. [Sidenote: Monarchorum sophismata.] Ego +etiam curiosius super vno dubio quod priłs audieram, plures interrogationes +feci ab aliquibus Monachorum, vtrum scilicet pręlato eorum decedente semper +successor per diuinum signum eligetetur: et vix tandem ab eis recepi +responsum, quņd per vnum istorum miraculorum habetur successor, videlicit +in missa sepulturę defuncti omnibus Monachorum lampadibus extinctis, illius +sola Dei nutu reaccenditur, quem fieri vult pręlatum, vel de coelo +inuenitur missus breuiculus super altare, inscriptum habens nomen pręlati +futuri. Intra hanc Ecclesiam nunquam musca, vel aranea, aut huiusmodi +immundi vermiculi nascuntur, quod similiter per diuinum accidit miraculum: +nam antč replebatur Ecclesia talibus immunditiis, et totus conuentus +recederet ad construendum Ecclesiam in alio loco. Et ecce Dei genetrix +virgo beata eis visibiliter obuiauit, iubens reuerti, et dicens nunquam +Ecclesiam similibus infestari. In cuius obuiationis loco in ascensu +procliuo huius montis per multos gradus construxerunt Ecclesiam, ędificium +excellens, in honorem eiusdem virginis. Et alibuantņ altius, per eiusdem +montis ascensum est vetus Capella, quam vocant Elię Prophetę, et locum +specialiter appellant Horeb. A cuius latere in montis appendentia colitur +vinea, quam nominant Iosuę scophis, de qua quidam putare volunt, quod +Sanctus Ioannes Euangelista eam primņ plantauit. In superiori verņ montis +vertice, est Capella, quam dicunt Moysis, et illic rupis seruans adhuc +corporis eius formam impressam dum se abscondit, viritus dominum respicere +in facie. Locus quoque ibi ostenditur, in quo Deus tradidit ei decem +mandata, siue legem proprio digito scriptam, et sub rupe cauerna in qua +mansit ieiunus diebus 40. Ab hoc monte qui vocatur Mosi, restat via +producta ad quartam Leucę, vsque in montem qui dicitur Sanctę Catherinę per +vallem speciosam, ac multłm frigidam. Circa eius medium habetur Ecclesia, +nomine 40. Martyrum constructa, vbi interdum veniunt Monachi cantare +missam: Hic mons est satis altior Monte Moysis, in cuius vertice Angeli Dei +pič creduntur attulisse, et sepeliisse corpus sanctissimę Martyris +Catherinę cum inuolumento capitis suprą dicto. Attamen in ipso certo +sepulturę loco, licčt quandoque stetit Capella, modņ non est habitaculum, +sed modicus aceruus petrarum. Notandum, quņd vterque horum montium potest +vocari mons Sinay, eo quod totus circumiacens locus deserti Sin appellatur. +Sur desertum inter mare Rubrum, et solitudinem Sinay. Desertum Sur idem +Scriptura quod et Cades. Visitatis igitur ą peregrinis his sacrosanctis +memorijs, et valefacto Monachis, recommendant se eorum orationibus, et +meritis: tuncque solet aliquid victualium offerri peregrinis, pro inchoanda +via deserti Syrię versus Ierusalem. Et sicut dixi de priori deserto, sic +nec istud securč est peragrandum absque Drogemijs; id est, semitarum +ductoribus, propter vastitudinem deserti. + + +CAPVT. 12. + +Iter a deserto Sinay vsque ad Iudeam. + +Per istud latum et longum desertum, moratur vel potius vagata maxima +multitudo malorum, et incompositorum hominum, qui non manent in domibus, +sed sub pellium tabernaculis, quemadmodum et olim filij Israel in eodem +deserto ambulauerunt, quoniam aquę non manent ibi diu in locis certis: et +ideņ mutant tabernacula sequentes aquas: non colunt terras, rarņ manducant +panem, sed tantłm carnes bestiarum deserti quas venantur, coquentes super +petras calefactas ad Solem: fortes sunt et feroces, et velut desperati de +vita propria non curantes, qui licčt non habeant arma pręter lanceam, et +tarchiam, et caput grandi albo linteolo inuolutum, tamen non verentur +exercere guerras, et inire proelia contra Dominum suum Soldanum: nam et ego +stipendiarius in expeditione Soldani contra eos sępius fui. Isti sunt +quidem Arabes, sed notiori nomine appellantur Bedoyns et Acopars, et +quamuis plurima mala agunt per desertum, rarņ tamen nocent peregrinis beatę +Virginis Catharinę. [Sidenote: Ioannes Mandeuil militans contra Arabes. +Beersheba.] Itaque peregrinus qui debitum tenuit iter, veniat ą finibus +deserti in primam ciuitatem Iudeę, quę dicitur Berseba: est vicus grandis +Hebron inde miliario vergens ad Austrum: Hieronymus. Notandum, Theros Mons +Dei in regione Maglaw iuxta Montem. Notandum similiter, Arabiam in deserto +esse, cui iungitur Mons et desertum Sarracenorum, quod vocatur Phaaran. +Mihi autem videtur, quod dupliei nomine, nupe Mons Sinay, nunc Oreb +vocatur. Hieronymus. Phaaran nunc oppidum trans Oreb, iam iunctum +Sarracenis, qui in solitudine vagi pererrant. Hos interfecerunt filij +Israel, cłm de Monte Sinay castra mouissent. Est ergo, vt dixi, trans +Jordanem contra Australem plagam, et distat ab Helyn, contra Orientem, +itinere dierum trium. In deserto autem Phaaran, Scriptura commemorat +habitasse Ismaelem, vade et Ismaelitę, qui nunc Sarraceni. Legimus quoque +Chederlaomer percussisse eos qui erant in deserto Phaaran quod nunc dicitur +Ascalon, et circa eam Regio Palestinorum. Hieronymus. Hęc Bersheba erat +bona et spectabilis, vltimo tempore Christianorum, et adhuc ibi restant +nonnullę Ecclesię. + +[Sidenote: Ciuitas Hebron.] Hinc ad Leucas duas venitur in ciuitatem +Hebron, et Hebron ab Helyn distat ad Meridianam plagani millibus circiter +39. de qua legitur, quņd primis temporibus fuerit habitatio maximorum +Gigantium, Regśmque, posteą Dauidis. In hac est illa spelunca duplex, quę +seruat ossa sanctorum Patriarcharum, Abrahę, Isaac, et Jacob, Sarę, et +Rebeccę, consistitque ad radicem montis, et habetur super istam cum +propugnaculis ad modum castri constructa pulchra Ecclesia. Sarraceni +appellant istam speluncam Kariackaba, custodienies locum diligenter ac +reuerenter propter honorem Patriarcharum, et non permittentes quenquam +Christianorum aut Iudęorum ingredi, nisi ostenderit super hęc specialem +gratiam ą Soldano. Nam ipsi communiter reputant tam Christianos quąm +Iudaeos pro canibus, et quando despectiuč eos volunt appellare, dicunt +Kylp, id est, canis. + +[Sidenote: Vallis Mambrę Quercus arida.] Ab Hebron incipit vallis Mambrę, +quę protenditur ferč vsque Ierusalem: haud remotč ad Hebron est mons +Mambre, et in ipso monte arbor quercus aridę quę pro antiquitate sui, +speciale sibi nomen meruit in mundo vniuerso, vt vocetur arbor sicca: +Sarraceni autem eam dicunt Dirp: hęc creditur stetisse ante tempora Abrahę, +tamen quidam volunt putare ą mundi initio, virens donec passionis Christi +tempore siccaretur. Hoc autem certum est haberi eam ob omnibus nationibus +in venerationem. + +[Sidenote: Gambil species Aromatis] In quodam loco pręfatę vallis est +planicies, vbi per plures fossas effodiunt homines Gambil, quod comeditur +loco specierum aromaticarum, et per villas defertur venale, sed et hoc +audiui, quņd nulla ibi fossa ita valet exhauriri, si dimittatur per annum, +quin inueniatur de prędicta Gambil impleta. + +Ad duas leucas de Hebron, monstratur sepultura Loth filii fratris Abraham. +Item de ciuitate Hebron per quinque leucas amoeni itineris, hoc est in +medio die, venitur in Bethleem Iudeę. [Sidenote: Kiriath Arbe.] Notandum, +Arbe, id est, quatuor, primum dicum de eo quod ibi tres Patriarchę Abraham, +Isac, et Iacob sepulti sunt, et Adam magnus, vt in Iudęorum libro scriptum +est, licet eum quidam conditum in loco Caluarię suspicentur. Corruptč in +nostris codicibus Arboth scribitur, alibi erat arbor cłm in Hebręis legatur +Arbe, hęc est autem eadem Hebron olim Metropolis Philistinorum, ab vno +filiorum Caleb sortita vocabulum. + + +The English Version. + +Of the Weye fro Costantynoble to Jerusalem. Of Seynt John the Evaungelist; + and of Ypocras Daughter, transformed from a Woman to a Dragoun. + +[Sidenote: Cap. IV] Now returne I azen, for to teche zou the way from +Costantynoble to Jerusalem. He that wol thorghe Turkye, he gothe toward the +cytee of Nyke, and passethe thorghe the gate of Chienetout, and alle weyes +men seen before hem the hille of Chienetout, that is righte highe: and it +is a myle, and an half from Nyke. And whoso will go be watre, be the brace +of Seynt George, and by the see, where Seynt Nycholas lyethe, and toward +many other places: first men gothe to an ile, that is clept Sylo. +[Footnote: Chios] In that ile growethe mastyck on smale trees: and out of +hem comethe gomme, as it were of plombtrees or of cherietrees. And aftre +gon men thorghe the ile of Pathmos, and there wrot Seynt John the +Evaungelist the Apocalips. And zee schulle undrestonde, that Seynt Johne +was of age 32 zeer, whan oure Lord suffred his passioun; and aftre his +passioun, he lyvede 67 zeer, and in the 100th zeer of his age he dyede. +From Pathmos men gone unto Ephesim, a fair citee and nyghe to the see. And +there dyede Seynte Johne and was buryed behynde the highe awtiere, in a +toumbe. And there is a fair chirche. For Cristene men weren wont to holden +that place alweyes. And in the tombe of Seynt John is noughte but manna, +that is clept aungeles mete. For his body was translated into paradys. And +Turkes holden now alle that place, and the citee and the chirche. And alle +Asie the lesse is y cleped Turkye. And zee schulle undrestonde, that Seynt +Johne leet [Footnote: Let.] make his grave there in his lyf, and leyd +himself there inne alle quyk. And therefore somme men seyn, that he dyed +noughte, but that he restethe there till the day of doom. And forsothe +there is a great marveyle: for men may see there the erthe of the tombe +apertly many tymes steren and meven, [Footnote: Stir and move.] as there +wern quykke thinges undre. + +And from Ephesim men gon throghe many iles in the see, unto the cytee of +Paterane, [Footnote: Patera.] where Seynt Nicholas was born, and so to +Martha, [Footnote: Myra.] where he was chosen to ben bisschoppe; and there +growethe right gode wyn and strong; and that men callen wyn of Martha. And +from thens gone men to the ile of Crete, that the Emperour zaf somtyme to +Janeweys. [Footnote: The Genoese.] And thanne passen men thorghe the isles +of Colos and of Lango; [Footnote: Cos.] of the whiche iles Ypocras +[Footnote: Hippocrates.] was lord offe. And some men seyn, that in the ile +of Lango is zit the doughtre of Ypocras, in forme and lykeness of a gret +dragoun, that is a hundred fadme of lengthe, as men seyn: for I have not +seen hire. And thei of the isles callen hire, lady of the lond. And sche +lyethe in an olde castelle, in a cave, and schewethe twyes or thryes in the +zeer. And sche dothe none harm to no man, but zif men don hire harm. And +sche was thus chaunged and transformed, from a fair damysele, into lyknesse +of a dragoun, be a goddesse, that was clept Deane. [Footnote: Diana.] And +men seyn, that sche schalle so endure in that forme of a dragoun, unto the +tyme that a knyghte come, that is so hardy, that dar come to hire and kiss +hire on the mouthe: and then schall sche turne azen to hire own kynde, and +ben a woman azen: but aftre that sche schalle not liven longe. And it is +not long siththen, that a knyghte of the Rodes, that was hardy and doughty +in armes, seyde that he wole kyssen hire. And whan he was upon his +coursere, and wente to the castelle, and entred into the cave, the dragoun +lifte up hire hed azenst him. And whan the knyghte saw hire in that forme +so hidous and so horrible, he fleyghe awey. And the dragoun bare the +knyghte upon a roche, mawgre his hede; and from that roche, sche caste him +in to the see: and so was lost bothe hors and man. And also a zonge man, +that wiste not of the dragoun, wente out of a schipp, and wente thorghe the +ile, til that he come to the castelle, and cam in to the cave; and wente so +longe, til that he fond a chambre, and there he saughe a damysele, that +kembed hire hede, and lokede in a myrour: and sche hadde meche tresoure +abouten hire: and he trowed, that sche hadde ben a comoun woman, that +dwelled there to resceyve men to folye. And he abode, tille the damysele +saughe the schadewe of him in the myrour. And sche turned hire toward him, +and asked hym, what he wolde. And he seyde, he wolde ben hire limman or +paramour. And sche asked him, zif that he were a knyghte. And he seyde, +nay. And then sche seyde, that he myghte not ben hire lemman: but sche bad +him gon azen unto his fellowes, and make him knyghte, and come azen upon +the morwe, and sche scholde come out of the cave before him; and thanne +come and kysse hire on the mowthe, and have no drede; for I schalle do the +no maner harm, alle be it that thou see me in lyknesse of a dragoun. For +thoughe thou see me hidouse and horrible to loken onne, I do the to wytene, +[Footnote: Know.] that it is made be enchauntement. For withouten doubte, I +am non other than thou seest now, a woman; and therfore drede the noughte. +And zif thou kysse me, thou schalt have alle this tresoure, and be my lord, +and lord also of alle that ile. And he departed fro hire and wente to his +felowes to schippe, and leet make him knyghte, and cam azen upon the morwe, +for to kysse this damysele. And whan he saughe hire comen out of the cave, +in forme of a dragoun, so hidouse and so horrible, he hadde so grete drede, +that he fleyghe azen to the schippe; and sche folewed him. And whan sche +saughe, that he turned not azen, sche began to crye, as a thing that hadde +meche sorwe: and thanne sche turned azen, in to hire cave; and anon the +knyghte dyede. And siththen hidrewards, myghte no knyghte se hire, but that +he dyede anon. But whan a knyghte comethe, that is so hardy to kisse hire, +he schalle not dye; but he schalle turne the damysele in to hire righte +forme and kyndely schapp, and he schal be lord of alle the contreyes and +iles aboveseyd. + +And from thens men comen to the Ile of Rodes, the whiche ile Hospitaleres +holden and governen; and that token thei sumtyme from the Emperour: and it +was wont to be clept Collos; and so callen it the Turks zit. And Seynt +Poul, in his Epistles, writeth to hem of that Ile, _ad Colossenses_. +[Footnote: The truth is the Epistle was written to the Church of Collosę in +Phrygia Major.] This ile is nyghe 800 myle from Costantynoble. + +And from this ile of Rodes, men gon to Cipre, where bethe many vynes, that +first bene rede, and aftre o zeer, thei becomen white: and theise wynes +that ben most white, ben most clere and best of smelle. And men passen be +that way, be a place that was wont to ben a gret cytee and a gret lond: and +the cytee was clept Cathaillye: the which cytee and lond was lost thorghe +folye of a zonge man. For he had a fayr damysele, that he loved wel, to his +paramour; and sche dyed sodeynly, and was don in a tombe of marble: and for +the grete lust, that he had to hire, he wente in the nyghte unto hire tombe +and opened it, and went in and lay be hire, and wente his way. And whan it +came to the ende of nine monethes, there com a voys to him, and seyde, Go +to the tombe of that woman, and open it and beholde what thou hast begotten +on hīre: and if thou lette to go, thou schalt have a gret harm. And he zede +[Footnote: Went.] and opened the tombe; and there fleyghe out an eddere +righte hidous to see; the whiche als swythe fleighe aboute the cytee and +the contree; and sone after the cytee sank downe. And there ben manye +perilouse passages. + +Fro Rodes to Cypre ben 500 myle and more. But men may gon to Cypre, and +come not at Rodes. Cypre is righte a gode ile and a fayr and a gret, and it +hathe 4 princypalle cytees within him. And there is an erchebysshoppe at +Nichosie, and 4 othere byschoppes in that lond. And at Famagost is on of +the princypalle havenes of the see, that is in the world: and there arryven +Cristene men and Sarazynes and men of alle naciouns. In Cipre is the hille +of the Holy Cros; and there is an abbeye of monkis blake; and there is the +cros of Dismas the gode theef, as I have seyd before. And summe men trowen, +that there is half the crosse of oure Lord: but it is not so: and thei don +evylle, that make men to beleeve so. In Cipre lythe Seynt Zenomyne: of whom +men of that contree maken gret solempnytee. And in the Castelle of Amours +lythe the body of Seynt Hyllarie: and men kepen it right worschipfully. And +besyde Famagost was Seynt Barnabee the apostle born. In Cipre men hunten +with papyonns, that ben lyche lepardes: and thei taken wylde bestes righte +welle, and thei ben somdelle [Footnote: Somewhat.] more than lyouns; and +thei taken more scharpely the bestes and more delyverly [Footnote: +Deliberately.] than don houndes. In Cipre is the manere of lordis and alle +othere men, alle to eten on the erthe. For thei make dyches in the erthe +alle aboute in the halle, depe to the knee, and thei do pave hem: and whan +thei wil ete, thei gon there in and sytten there. And the skylle is, for +thei may ben the more fressche: for that lond is meche more hottere than it +is here. And at grete festes and for straungeres, thei setten formes and +tables, as men don in this contree: but thei had lever sytten in the erthe. + +From Cypre, men gon to the lond of Jerusalem be the see: and in a day and +in a nyghte, he that hathe gode wynd may come to the haven of Thire +[Footnote: Tyre.], that now is clept Surrye. There was somtyme a gret cytee +and a gode, of Crystene men: but Sarazins han destroyed it a gret partye; +and thei kepe that havene right welle, for drede of Cristene men. Men +myghte go more right to that havene, and come not in Cypre: but thei gon +gladly to Cypre, to reste hem on the lond, or elles to bye thingis, that +thei have nede to here lyvynge. On the see syde, men may fynde many rubyes. +And there is the welle, of the whiche Holy Writt spekethe offe, and seythe, +_Fons ortorum, et puteus aquarum viventium_: that is to seye, _The welle of +gardyns, and the dyche of lyvynge watres._ In this cytee of Thire, seyde +the woman to oure Lord, _Beatus venter qui te portavit, et ubera quę +succisti_: that is to seye, _Blessed be the body that she baar, and the +pappes that thou sowkedest._ And there oure Lord forzaf the woman of +Chananee hire synnes. And before Tyre was wont to be the ston, on the +whiche oure Lord sat and prechede: and on that ston was founded the Chirche +of Seynt Savyour. + +And 8 myle from Tyre, toward the est, upon the see, is the cytee of +Sarphen, in Sarept [Footnote: Zarephath.] of Sydonyeus. And there was wont +for to dwelle Helye the prophete; and there reysed he Jonas the wydwes sone +from dethe to lyf. And 5 myle fro Sarphen is the cytee of Sydon: of the +whiche cytee, Dydo was lady, that was Eneas wyf aftre the destruccioun of +Troye; and that founded the cytee of Cartage in Affrick, and now is cleped +Dydon Sayete. And in the cytee of Tyre regned Agenore the fadre of Dydo. +And 16 myles from Sydon is Beruthe. [Footnote: Beyrout.] And from Beruthe +to Sardenare is 3 journeys. And from Sardenar is 5 myle to Damask. + +And whoso wil go longe tyme on the see, and come nerrer to Jerusalem, he +schal go fro Cipre, be see, to the port Jaff. [Footnote: Jaffa.] For that +is the nexte havene to Jerusalem. For fro that havene is not but o day +journeye and an half to Jerusalem. And the town is called Jaff; for on of +the sones of Noe, that highte Japhet, founded it; and now it is clept +Joppe. And zee schulle undrestonde, that it is on of the oldest townes of +the world: for it was founded, before Noes flode. And zitt there schewethe +in the roche ther, as the irene cheynes were festned, that Andromade, a +gret geaunt was bounden with, and put in presoun before Noes flode: of the +whiche geaunt is a rib of his syde, that is 40 fote longe. [Footnote: Our +author here takes Andromeda for the monster that would have devoured her.] + +And whoso wil arryve at the firste port of Thire or Surre, that I have +spoken of before, may go be londe, zif he wil, to Jerusalem. And men gothe +fro Surre unto the citee of Dacoun [Footnote: St. Jean d'Acre.] in a day. +And it was clept somtyme Tholomayde. And it was somtyme a cytee of +Cristenemen, fulle fair; but it is now destroyed: and it stont upon the +see. And fro Venyse to Akoun, be see, is 2080 myles of Lombardye. And fro +Calabre or fro Cecyle to Akoun, be see, is 1300 myles of Lombardye. And the +ile of Crete is right in the myd weye. And besyde the cytee of Akoun, +toward the see, 120 furlonges on the right syde, toward the southe, is the +hylle of Carmelyn, where Helyas the prophete dwellede: and there was first +the ordre of Freres Carmes founded. This hille is not right gret, ne fulle +highe. And at the fote of this hille was somtyme a gode cytee of Cristene +men, that men cleped Cayphas: For Cayphas first founded it: but it is now +alle wasted. And on the lift syde of the hille Carmelyn is a town, that men +clepen Saffre: and that is sett on another hille. There Seynt James and +Seynt Johne were born: and in the worschipe of hem, there is a fair +chirche. And fro Tholomayde, that men clepen now Akoun, unto a gret hille, +that is clept Scalle of Thires, is 100 furlonges. And besyde the cytee of +Akoun renneth a lytille ryvere, that is clept Belon. And there nyghe is the +fosse of Mennon, that is alle round: and it is 100 cubytes of largenesse, +and it is alle fulle of gravelle, schynynge brighte, of the whiche men +maken fair verres [Footnote: Glass.] and clere. And men comen fro fer, by +watre in schippes, and be londe with cartes, for to fetten of that +gravelle. And thoughe there be nevere so moche taken awey there of, on the +day, at Morwe it is as fulle azen as evere it was. And that is a gret +mervaille. And there is evermore gret wynd in that fosse, that sterethe +everemore the gravelle, and makethe it trouble. And zif ony man do +thereinne ony maner metalle, it turnethe anon to glasse. And the glasse, +that is made of that grevelle, zif it be don azen in to the gravelle, it +turnethe anon in to gravelle as it was first. And therefore somme men seyn, +that it was a sweloghe [Footnote: Whirlpool.] of the gravely see. + +Also for Akoun aboveseyd gon men forthe 4 journees to the citee of +Palestyn, that was of the Philistyenes, that now is clept Gaza, that is a +gay cytee and a riche; and it is righte fayr, and fulle of folke, and it is +a lytillle fro the see. And from this cytee broughte Sampson the stronge +the zates upon an highe lond, whan he was taken in that cytee: and there he +slowghe in a paleys the king and hymself, and gret nombre of the beste of +the Philistienes, the whiche had put out his eyen, and schaven his hed, and +enprisound him, be tresoun of Dalida his paramour. And therefore he made +falle upon hem a gret halle, whan thei were at mete. And from thens gon men +to the cytee of Cesaire, and so to the Castelle of pylgrymes, and so to +Ascolonge, and than to Jaffe, and so to Jerusalem. + + +Of manye Names of Soudans, and of the Tour of Babiloyn. + +[Sidenote: Cap. V.] And whoso wille go be londe thorghe the lond of +Babyloyne, where the Sowdan dwellethe comonly, he moste gete grace of him +and leve, to go more sikerly [Footnote: Surely.] thorghe tho londes and +contrees. And for to go to the mount of Synay, before that men gon +Jerusalem, thei schalle go fro Gaza to the castelle of Daire. And after +that, men comen out of Surrye, and entren in to wyldernesse, and there the +weye is sondy. And that wyldernesse and desert lastethe 8 journeyes. But +alleweyes men fynden gode innes, and alle that hem nedethe of vytaylle; And +men clepen that wyldernesse Achelleke. And whan a man comethe out of that +desert, he entrethe in to Egypt, that men clepen Egypt Canopac: and aftre +other langage, men clepen it Morsyn. And there first men fynden a gode +toun, that is clept Belethe; and it is at the ende of the kyngdom of +Halappee. And from thens men gon to Babyloyne and to Cayre. + +At Babyloyne there is a faire chirche of oure lady, where sche dwelled 7 +zeer, whan sche fleyghe out of the lond of Judee, for drede of Kyng +Heroude. And there lythe the body of Seynt Barbre the Virgine and Martyr. +And there duelled Josephe whan he was sold of his bretheren. And there made +Nabugodonozor the kyng putte three children in to the forneys of fuyr; for +thei weren in the righte trouthe of beleeve: the whiche children men +cleped, Ananya, Azaria, Mizęlle; as the Psalm of Benedicite seythe. But +Nabugodbnozor cleped hem other wise, Sydrak, Misak, and Abdenago: that is +to seye, God glorious, God victorious, and God over alle thinges and remes. +[Footnote: Realms.] And that was for the myracle, that he soughe Goddes +sone go with the children thorghe the fuyr, as he seyde. There duellethe +the Soudan in his Calahelyke, (for there is comounly his see) in a fayr +castelle strong and gret and wel sett upon a roche. In that castelle +duellen alle wey, to kepe it and to serve the Sowdan, mo than 6000 +persones, that taken alle here necessaries of the Sowdanes court. I oughte +right wel to knowen it; for I duelled with him as Soudyour in his werres a +gret while, azen the Bedoynes. And he wolde have maryed me fulle highely, +to a gret princes daughtre, zif I wolde han forsaken my lawe and my beleve. +But I thanke God, I had no wille to don it, for no thing, that he behighten +[Footnote: Promised.] me. And zee schulle undrestonde, that the Soudan is +lord of 5 kyngdomes, that he hathe conquered and apropred to him be +strengthe: and theise ben the names, the kyngdom of Canapak, that is Egypt; +and the kyngdom of Jerusalem, where that David and Salomon were kynges; and +the kyngdom of Surrye, of the whiche the cytee of Damasc was chief; and the +kyngdom of Alappe, [Footnote: Aleppo.] in the lond of Mathe, and the +kyngdom of Arabye, that was to on of the 3 kynges, that made offrying to +oure Lord, whan he was born. And many othere londes he holdethe in his +hond. And there with alle he holdethe calyffes, that is a fulle gret thing +in here langage: and it is als meche to seye as kyng. And there were wont +to ben 5 Soudans: but now there is no mo but he of Egypt. And the firste +Soudan was Zarocon, that was of Mede, (as was fadre to Sahaladyn) that toke +the Califfe of Egypt and sloughe him, and was made Soudan be strengthe. +Aftre that was Soudan Sahaladyn, in whoos tyme the Kyng of Englonde, +Richarde the firste, with manye othere, kepten the passage, that Sahaladyn +ne myghte not passen. Aftre Sahaladyn, regned his sone Boradyn; aftre him +his nephewe. Aftre that the Comaynz, that weren in servage in Egypt, felten +hem self, that thei weren of gret power, thei chesen hem a Soudain amonges +hem: the whiche made him to ben cleped Melethesalan. And in his tyme entred +in to the contree, of the kynges of France, Seynt Lowyz, and foughte with +him: and the Soudan toke him and enprisound him. And this was slayn of his +owne servauntes. And aftre thei chosen an other to be Soudan, that thei +cleped Tympieman. And he let delyveren Seynt Lowys out of presoun, for +certeyn ransoum. And aftre on theise Comaynz regned, that highte Cachas, +and sloughe Tympieman, for to be Soudan: and made him ben cleped +Melechemes. And aftre, another that hadde to name Bendochdare, that sloughe +Melechemes, for to be Soudan; and cleped himself Melechdare. In his tyme +entred the gode Kyng Edward of Englond in Syrye, and dide gret harm to the +Sarrazines. And aftre was this Soudan empoysound at Damasce; and his sone +thoghte to regne aftre him be heritage, and made him to ben clept +Meleschsache. But another, that had to name Elphy, chaced him out of the +contree, and made him Soudan. This man toke the cytee of Tripolee and +destroyede manye of the Cristene men, the zeer of grace 1289; but he was +anon slayn. Aftre that was the sone of Elphy chosen to ben Soldan, and +cleped him Mellethasseraff: and he toke the citee of Akoun, and chaced out +the Christene men: and this was also empoysond. And than was his brother y +made Soudan, and was cleped Melechnasser. And aftre, on that was clept +Guytoga, toke him and put him in prisoun, in the Castelle of Mountryvalle; +and made him Soudan be strengthe, and cleped him Melechcadelle: and he was +of Tartaryne. But the Comaynz chaced him out of the contree, and diden hym +meche sorwe; and maden on of hem self Soudan, that hadde to name Lachyn. +And he made him to ben clept Melechmanser: the whiche on a day pleyed at +the chesse, and his swerd lay besyde him; and so befelle, that on wratthed +[Footnote: Provoked.] him, and with his owne propre swerd he was slayn. And +aftre that, thei weren at gret discord, for to make a Soudan. And finally +thei accordeden to Melechnasser, that Guytoga had put in prisoun at +Mountrivalle. And this regnede longe and governed wisely; so that his +eldest sone was chosen aftre him, Melechemader; the whiche his brother leet +sle prevyly, for to have the lordschipe, and made him to ben clept +Melechmadabron. And he was Soudan, whan I departed fro the contrees. And +wyte zee wel, that the Soudan may lede out of Egipt mo than 20000 men of +armes. And out of Surrye, and out of Turkye, and out of other contrees, +that he holt, he may arrere [Footnote: Raise.--Anglo-Saxon, _Aręran_.] mo +than 50000. And alle tho ben at his wages: and thei ben alle weys at him, +withouten the folke of his contree, that is withouten nombre. And everyche +of hem hath be zere the mountance of 6 score floreynes. But it behovethe, +that every of hem holde 3 hors and a cameylle. And be the cytees and be the +townes ben amyralles, that han the governance of the peple. On hath to +governe 4, and another hath to governe 5, another mo, and another wel mo. +And als moche takethe the amyralle be him allone, as alle the other +souldyours han undre hym. And therfore whan the Soudan wille avance ony +worthi knyghte, he makethe him a amyralle. And whan it is ony derthe, the +knyghtes ben right pore, and thanne thei sellen both here hors and here +harneys. And the Soudan hath 4 wyfes, on Cristene and 3 Sarazines: of the +whiche, on dwellethe at Jerusalem, and another at Damasce, and another at +Ascalon. And whan hem lyst, thei remewen to other cytees. And whan the +Soudan wille, he may go visite hem. And he hathe as many paramours, as hym +lykethe. For he makethe to come before him, the fairest and the nobleste of +birthe and the gentylleste damyseles of his contree, and he maketh hem to +ben kept and served fulle honourabely, and whan he wole have on to lye +withe him, he makethe hem alle to come before him; and he beholdethe in +alle, whiche of hem is most to his plesance, and to hire anon he sendethe +or castethe a ryng fro his fyngre: And thanne anon sche schalle ben bathed +and richely atyred, and anoynted with delicat thinges of swete smelle, and +than lad to the Soudanes chambre. And thus he dothe, als often as him list, +when he wil have ony of hem. And before the Soudan comethe no strangier, +but zif he be clothed in clothe of gold or of Tartarye or of Camaka, in the +Sarazines guyse, and as the Sarazines usen. And it behovethe, that anon at +the firste sight, that men see the Soudan, be it in wyndowe, or in what +place elles, that men knele to him and kysse the erthe: for that is the +manere to do reverence to the Soudanne, of hem that speken with him. And +whan that messangeres of straunge contrees comen before him, the Meynee of +the Soudan, whan the straungeres speken to hym, thei ben aboute the Souldan +with swerdes drawen and gysarmez and axes, here armes lift up in highe with +the wepenes, for to smyte upon hem, zif thei seye ony woord, that is +displeasance to the Soudan. And also, no straungere comethe before him, but +that he makethe him sum promys and graunt, of that the straungere asketh +resonabely, beso it be not azenst his Lawe. And so don othere prynces +bezonden. For thei seyn, that no man schalle come before no prynce, but +that he be bettre, and schalle be more gladdere in departynge from his +presence, thannie he was at the comynge before hym. + +And undirstonde zee, that that Babyloyne that I have spoken offe, where +that the Soudan duellethe, is not that gret Babyloyne, where the dyversitee +of langages was first made for vengeance, by the myracle of God, when the +grete tour of Babel was begonnen to ben made; of the whiche the walles +weren 64 furlonges of heighte; that is in the grete desertes of Arabye, +upon the weye as men gon toward the kyngdom of Caldee. But it is fulle +long, sithe that ony man durste neyhe to the tour; for it is alle deserte +and fulle of dragouns and grete serpentes, and fulle of dyverse venymouse +bestes alle abouten. That tour, with the cytee, was of 25 myle in cyrcuyt +of the walles; as thei of the contree seyn, and as men may demen [Footnote: +Judge.] by estymation, aftre that men tellen of the contree. And though it +be clept the tour of Babiloyne, zit natheles there were ordeyned with inne +many mansiouns and many gret duellynge places, in lengthe and brede: and +that tour conteyned gret contree in circuyt: for the tour allone conteyned +10 myle sqware. That tour founded Kyng Nembrothe, that was kyng of that +contree: and he was firste kyng of the world. And he leet make an ymage in +the lyknesse of his fadre, and constreyned alle his subgettes for to +worschipe it. And anon begonnen othere lordes to do the same. And so +begonnen the ydoles and symulacres first. The town and the cytee weren +fulle wel sett in a fair contree and a playn; that men clepen the contree +of Samar: of the whiche the walles of the cytee werein 200 cubytes in +heighte, and 50 cubytes in breadthe. And the ryvere of Euphrate ran thorghe +out the cytee and aboute the tour also. But Cirus the Kyng of Perse toke +from hem the ryvere, and destroyede all the cytee and the tour also. For he +departed that ryvere in 360 smale ryveres: because that he had sworn, that +he scholde putte the ryvere in suche poynt, that a woman myghte wel passe +there, withouten castynge of of hire clothes; for als moche as he hadde +lost many worthi men, that trowden to passen that ryvere by swymmynge. + +And from Babyloyne, where the Soudan dwellethe, to go right betwene the +oryent and the Septemtryon, toward the grete Babyloyne, is 40 journeys to +passen be desart. But it is not the grete Babiloyne, in the lond and in the +powere of the seyd Soudan; but it is in the power and the lordschipe of +Persye. But he holdethe it of the grete Cham, that is the gretteste +Emperour and the most sovereyn lord of alle the partes bezonde: and he is +lord of the iles of Cathay and of many othere iles, and of a gret partie of +Inde. And his lond marchethe unto Prestre Johnes lond; and he holt so moche +lond, that he knowethe not the ende. And he is more myghty and grettre lord +withoute comparisoun, than is the Soudan. Of his ryalle estate and of his +myghte, I schalle speke more plenerly when I schalle speke of the lond and +of the contree of Ynde. + +Also the cytee of Methone [Footnote: Mecca.] where Machomet lythe, is of +the grete desertes of Arabye. And there lithe the body of hym fulle +honourabely in here temple, that the Sarazines clepen Muskethe. And it is +fro Babyloyne the lesse, where the Soudan duellethe, onto Methon aboveseyd, +in to a 32 journeyes. And wytethe wel, that the rewme of Arabye is a fulle +gret contree: but there in is over moche dysert. And no man may dwelle +there in that desert, for defaute of watre. For that lond is alle gravelly +and fulle of sond. And it is drye and nothing fructuous; because that it +hathe no moysture: and therefore is there so meche desart. And ziff it +hadde ryveres and welles, and the lond also were, as it is in other +parties, it scholde ben als fulle of peple and als fulle enhabyted with +folk, as in other places. For there is fulle gret multitude of peple, where +as the lond is enhabyted. Arabye durethe fro the endes of the reme of +Caldee, unto the laste ende of Affryk, and marchethe to the lond of Ydumee, +toward the ende of Botron. And in Caldee, the chief cytee is Baldak. +[Footnote: Bagdad.] And of Affryk, the chief cytee is Cartage, that Dydo, +that was Eneas wyf, founded. The whiche Eneas was of the cytee of Troye, +and aftre was Kyng of Itaylle. Mesopotamye strecchethe also unto the +Desertes of Arabye; and it is a gret contree. In this contree is the cytee +of Araym, where Abrahames fadree duelled, and from whens Abraham departed, +be commandement of the aungelle. And of that cytee was Effraym, that was a +gret clerk and a gret doctour. And Theophylus was of that cytee also, that +oure ladye savede from oure enemye. And Mesopotame durethe fro the ryvere +of Eufrates, unto the ryvere of Tygris. For it is betwene tho 2 ryveres. +And bezonde the ryvere of Tygre, is Caldee, that is a fulle gret kyngdom. +In that Rewyme, at Baldac aboveseyd, was wont to duelle the Calyffeez, that +was wont to ben bothe as Emperour and Pope of the Arabyenez; so that he was +lord spirituelle and temporelle. And he was successour to Machomete, and of +his generatioun; That cytee of Baldak was wont to ben cleped Sutis: +[Footnote: Susa.] and Nabugodonozor founded it. And there duelled the holy +prophete Daniel; and there he saughe vissiones of Hevene; and there he made +the expositioun of dremes. And in old tyme, there were ['wene' in source +text--KTH] wont to be 3 Calyffez; and thei dwelleden in the cytee of Baldak +aboveseyd. + +And at Cayre besides Babyloyne duelled the Calyffee of Egypt. And at +Marrok, upon the west see, duelte the Calyffee of Barbaryenes and of +Affrycanes. And now is there non of the Calyffeez, ne noughte han ben, +sithe the tyme of Sowdan Sahaladyn. For from that tyme hidre, the Sowdan +clepethe him self Calyffee. And so han the Calyffeez y lost here name. Also +wytethe wel, that Babylone the lesse, where the Soudan duellethe, and at +the cytee of Cayr, that is nyghe besyde it, ben grete huge cytees manye and +fayr; and that on sytt nyghe that other. Babyloyne sytt upon the ryvere of +Gyson, somtyme clept Nyle, that comethe out of Paradys terrestre. That +ryvere of Nyle, alle the zeer, whan the sonne entrethe in to the signe of +Cancer, it begynnethe to wexe; and it wexethe alle weys, als longe as the +sonne is in Cancro, and in the signe of Lyoune. And it wexethe in suche +manere, that it is somtyme so gret, that it is 20 cubytes or more of +depnesse; and thanne it doth gret harm to the godes, that ben upon the +lond. For thanne may no man travaylle to ere [Footnote: Plough.] the +londes, for the grete moystness: and therefore is there dere tyme in that +contree. And also whan it waxethe lytylle, it is dere tyme in that contree: +for defaute of moysture. And whan the sonne is in the signe of Virgo, +thanne begynnethe the ryvere for to wane and to decrece lytyl and lytylle; +so that whan the sonne is entred into the signe of Libra, thanne thei +entren betwene theise ryveres. This ryvere comethe rennynge from Paradys +terrestre, betwene the desertes of Ynde; and aftre it smytt unto londe, and +rennethe longe tyme many grete contrees undre erthe: and aftre it gothe out +undre an highe hille, that men clepen Alothe, that is betwene Ynde and +Ethiope, the distance of five moneths journeyes fro the entree of Ethiope. +And aftre it envyronnethe alle Ethiope and Morekane, and gothe alle along +fro the Lond of Egipte; unto the cytee of Alisandre, to the ende of Egipte; +and there it fallethe into the See. Aboute this ryvere, ben manye briddes +and foules, as sikonyes, that thei clepen ibes. + +Egypt is a long contree; but it is streyt, that is to seye narow; for thei +may not enlargen it toward the desert, for defaute of watre. And the +contree is sett along upon the ryvere of Nyle; be als moche as that ryvere +may serve be flodes or otherwise, that whanne it flowethe, it may spreden +abrood thorghe the contree: so is the contree large of lengthe. For there +it reyneth not but litylle in that contree: and for that cause, they have +no watre, but zif it be of that flood of that ryvere. And for als moche as +it ne reynethe not in that contree, but the eyr is alwey pure and cleer, +therfore in that contree ben the gode astronomyeres; for thei fynde there +no cloudes, to letten hem. Also the cytee of Cayre is righte gret, and more +huge than that of Babyloyne the lesse: and it sytt aboven toward the desert +of Syrye, a lytille above the ryvere aboveseyd. In Egipt there ben 2 +parties; the Heghte, that is toward Ethiope; and the Lowenesse, that is +towardes Arabye. In Egypt is the lond of Ramasses and the lond of Gessen. +Egipt is a strong contree: for it hathe manye schrewede havenes, because of +the grete Roches, that ben stronge and daungerouse to passe by. And at +Egipt, toward the est, is the rede see, that durethe unto the cytee of +Coston: and toward the west, is the contree of Lybye, that is a fulle drye +lond, and litylle of fruyt: for it is over moche plentee of hete. And that +lond is clept Fusthe. And toward the partie Meridionalle is Ethiope. And +toward the Northe is the desart, that durethe unto Syrye: and so is the +contree strong on alle sydes. And it is wel a 15 journeyes of lengthe, and +more than two so moche of desert: and it is but two journeyes in +largenesse. And between Egipt and Nubye, it hathe wel a 12 journees of +desert. And men of Nubye ben Cristene: but thei ben blake as the Mowres, +for grete hete of the sonne. + +In Egipt there ben 5 provynces; that on highte Sahythe, that other highte +Demeseer, another Resithe, that is an ile in Nyle, another Alisandre, and +another the lond of Damiete. That cytee was wont to be righte strong; but +it was twyes wonnen of the Cristene men: and therfore after that the +Sarazines beten down the walles. And with the walles and the tour thereof, +the Sarazenes maden another cytee more fer from the see, and clepeden it +the newe Damyete. So that now no man duellethe at the rathere toun of +Damyete. And that cytee of Damyete is on of the havenes of Egypt: and at +Alisandre is that other, that is a fulle strong cytee. But there is no +watre to drynke, but zif it come be condyt from Nyle, that entrethe in to +here cisternes. And who so stopped that watre from hem, thei myghte not +endure there. In Egypt there ben but fewe forcelettes or castelles, be +cause that the contree is so strong of him self. At the desertes of Egyptes +was a worthi man, that was an holy heremyte; and there mette with hym a +monstre, (that is to seyne, a monstre is a thing difformed azen kynde both +of man or of best or of ony thing elles: and that is cleped a monstre). And +this monstre, that mette with this holy heremyte, was as it hadde ben a +man, that hadde 2 hornes trenchant on his forehede; and he hadde a body lyk +a man, unto the nabele; and benethe he hadde the body lyche a goot. And the +heremyte asked him, what he was. And the monstre answerde him, and seyde, +he was a dedly creature, suche as God hadde formed, and duelled in tho +desertes in purchasynge his Sustynance; and besoughte the heremyte, that he +wolde preye God for him, the whiche that cam from Hevene for to saven alle +mankynde, and was born of a Mayden, and suffred passioun and dethe, (as we +well knowen) be whom we lyven and ben. And zit is the hede with the 2 +hornes of that monstre at Alisandre for a Marveyle. + +In Egypt is the cytee of Elyople, [Footnote: Heliopolis.] that is to seyne, +the cytee of the sonne. In that cytee there is a temple made round, aftre +the schappe of the temple of Jerusalem. The prestes of that temple han alle +here wrytinges, undre the date of the foul that is clept Fenix: and there +is non but on in alle the world. And he comethe to brenne him self upon the +awtere of the temple, at the ende of 5 hundred zeer: for so longe he +lyvethe. And at the 500 zeers ende, the prestes arrayen here awtere +honestly, and putten there upon spices and sulphur vif [Footnote: Live.] +and other thinges, that wolen brenne lightly. And than the brid fenix +comethe, and brennethe him self to ashes. And the first day next aftre, men +fynden in the ashes a worm; and the secunde day next aftre, men fynden a +brid quyk and perfyt; and the thridde day next aftre, he fleethe his wey. +And so there is no mo briddes of that kynde in alle the world, but it +allone. And treuly that is a gret myracle of God. And men may well lykne +that bryd unto God; be cause that there nys no God but on; and also, that +our Lord aroos fro dethe to lyve, the thridde day. This bryd men seen often +tyme, fleen in tho contrees: and he is not mecheles more than an Egle. And +he hathe a crest of fedres upon his hed more gret than the poocock hathe; +and his nekke is zalowe, aftre colour of an orielle, [Footnote: Golden. +From Latin, _Aurea_. Cf. Oriel College, Golden Hall.] that is a ston well +schynynge; and his bek is coloured blew, as ynde; [Footnote: Indigo.] and +his wenges ben of purple colour, and the Taylle is zelow and red, castynge +his taylle azens in travers. And he is a fulle fair brid to loken upon, +azenst the sonne: for he schynethe fully gloriously and nobely. + +Also in Egypt ben gardyns, than han trees and herbes, the whiche beren +frutes 7 tymes in the zeer. And in that lond men fynden many fayre +emeraudes and y nowe. And therefore thei ben there grettere cheep. Also +whan it reynethe ones in the somer, in the lond of Egipt, thanne is alle +the contree fulle of grete myrs. Also at Cayre, that I spak of before, +sellen men comounly bothe men and wommen of other lawe, as we don here +bestes in the markat. And there is a comoun hows in that cytee, that is +alle fulle of smale furneys; and thidre bryngen wommen of the toun here +eyren [Footnote: Eggs.] of hennes, of gees and of dokes, for to ben put in +to tho furneyses. And thei that kepen that hows covern hem with hete of +hors dong, with outen henne, goos or doke or ony other foul; and at the +ende of 3 wekes or of a monethe, they comen azen and taken here chickenes +and norissche hem and bryngen hem forthe: so that alle the contree is fulle +of hem. And so men don there bothe wyntre and somer. + +Also in that contree, and in othere also, men fynden longe apples to selle, +in hire cesoun: and men clepen hem apples of paradys; and thei ben righte +swete and of gode savour. [Footnote: Melons.] And thoghe zee kutte hem in +never so many gobettes or parties, overthwart or end longes, evermore zee +schulle fynden in the myddes the figure of the Holy Cros of oure Lord Jesu. +But thei will roten within 8 days: and for that cause men may not carye of +the apples to no fer contrees. And thei han grete leves, of a fote and an +half of lengthe: and thei ben covenably large. And men fynden there also +the appulle tree of Adam, that han a byte at on of the sydes. And there ben +also fyge trees, that baren no leves, but fyges upon the smale braunches; +and men clepen hem figes of Pharoon. Also besyde Cayre, withouten that +cytee, is the feld where bawme growethe: and it cometh out on smale trees, +that ben non hyere than a mannes breek girdle: and thei semen as wode that +is of the wylde vyne. And in that feld ben 7 welles, that oure Lord Jesu +Crist made with on of his feet, whan he wente to pleyen with other +children. That feld is not so well closed, but that men may entren at here +owne list. But in that cesonne, that the bawme is growynge, men put there +to gode kepynge, that no man dar ben hardy to entre. This bawme growethe in +no place, but only there. And thoughe that men bryngen of the plauntes, for +to planten in other contrees, thei growen wel and fayre, but thei bryngen +forthe no fructuous thing: and the leves of bawme ne fallen noughte. And +men kutten the braunches with a scharp flynston or with a scherp bon, +[Footnote: Flintstone and bone.] whan men will go to kutte hem: For who so +kutte hem with iren, it wolde destroye his vertue and his nature. And the +Sarazines clepen the wode Enonch balse; and the fruyt, the whiche is as +Quybybes, thei clepen Abebissam; and the lycour, that droppethe fro the +braunches, thei clepen Guybalse. And men maken alle weys that bawme to ben +tyled [Footnote: Tilled.] of the Cristenemen, or elles it wolde not +fructifye; as the Sarazines seyn hem self: for it hathe ben often tyme +preved. Men seyn also, that the bawme growethe in Ynde the more, in that +desert where the trees of the sonne and of the mone spak to Alisaundre. But +I have not seen it. For I have not ben so fer aboven upward: because that +there ben to many perilouse passages. And wyte zee wel, that a man oughte +to take gode kepe for to bye bawme, but zif he cone knowe it righte wel: +for he may righte lyghtely be discoyved. For men sellen a gome, that men +clepen turbentyne, in stede of bawme; and thei putten there to a littille +bawme for to zeven gode odour. And some putten wax in oyle of the wode of +the fruyt of bawme, and seyn that it is bawme: and sume destyllen clowes of +gylofre and of spykenard of Spayne and of othere spices, that ben well +smellynge; and the lykour that gothe out there of, thei clepe it bawme: and +thei wenen, that thei han bawme; and thei have non. For the Sarazines +counterfeten it be sotyltee of craft, for to disceyven the Cristene men, as +I have sene fulle many a tyme. And after hem, the marchauntis and the +apotecaries countrefeten it eftsones, and that it is lasse worthe, and a +gret del worse. But zif it lyke zou, I schalle schewe, how zee schulle +knowe and preve, to the ende that zee schulle not ben disceyved. First zee +schulle wel knowe, that the naturelle bawme is fulle cleer, and of cytrine +colour, and stronge smellynge; and zif it be thykke, or reed or blak, it is +sophisticate, that is to seyne, contrefeted and made lyke it, for disceyt. +And undrestondethe, that zif zee wil putte a litylle bawme in the pawme of +zoure hond, azen the sonne, zif it be fyn and gode, zee ne schulle not +suffre zoure hand azenst the hete of the sonne. Also takethe a lytille +bawme, with the poynt of a knif, and touche it to the fuyr, and zif it +brenne, it is a gode signe. Aftre take also a drope of bawme, and put it in +to a dissche or in a cuppe with mylk of a goat; and zif it be naturelle +bawme, anon it wole take and beclippe the mylk. Or put a drope of bawme in +clere watre, in a cuppe of sylver or in a clere bacyn, and stere it wel +with the clere watre; and zif that the bawme be fyn and of his owne kynde, +the watre schalle nevre trouble: and zif the bawme be sophisticate, that is +to seyne countrefeted, the watre schalle become anon trouble: And also zif +the bawme be fyn, it schalle falle to the botome of the vesselle, as +thoughe it were Quyksylver: For the fyn bawme is more hevy twyes, than is +the bawme that is sophisticate and countrefeted. Now I have spoken of +Bawme: and now also I schalle speke of an other thing, that is bezonde +Babyloyne, above the flode of Nyle, toward the desert, betwene Affrik and +Egypt: that is to seyn, of the gerneres [Footnote: Granaries.] of Joseph, +that he leet make, for to kepe the greynes for the perile of the dere +zeres. And thei ben made of ston, fulle wel made of massones craft: of the +whiche two ben merveylouse grete and hye; and the tothere ne ben not so +grete. And every gerner hathe a zate, for to entre with inne, a lytille +hyghe fro the erthe. For the lond is wasted and fallen, sithe the gerneres +were made. And with inne thei ben alle fulle of serpentes. And aboven the +gerneres with outen ben many scriptures of dyverse langages. And sum men +seyn, that thei ben sepultures of grete lordes, that weren somtyme; but +that is not trewe: for alle the comoun rymour and speche is of alle the +peple there, bothe and nere, that thei ben the garneres of Joseph. And so +fynden thei in here scriptures and in here cronycles. On that other partie, +zif thei were sepultures, thei scholden not ben voyd with inne. For zee may +well knowe, that tombes and sepultures ne ben not made of suche gretnesse, +ne of such highnesse. Wherfore it is not to believe, that thei ben tombes +or sepultures. In Egypt also there ben dyyerse langages and dyverse +lettres, and of other manere condicioun, than there ben in other parties. +As I schalle devyse zou, suche as thei ben, and the names how thei clepen +hem; to suche entent, that zee mowe knowe the difference of hem and of +othere. Athoimis, Bunchi, Chinok, Durain, Eni, Fin, Gomor, Heket, Janny, +Karacta, Luzanim, Miche, Naryn, Oldache, Piloh, Quyn, Yron, Sichen, Thola, +Urmron, Yph and Yarm, Thoit. + +Now will I retourne azen, or I procede ony ferthere, for to declare zou the +othere weyes, that drawen toward Babiloyne, where the Soudan him self +duellethe, that is at the entree of Egypt; for als moche as mony folk gon +thidre first, and aftre that to the Mount Synay, and aftre retournen to +Jerusalem, as I have seyd zou here beforn. For thei fulfillen first the +more long pilgrymage, and aftre retournen azen be the nexte weyes; because +that the more nye weye is the more worthi, and that is Jerusalem. For no +other pylgrymage is not lyk, in comparsoun to it. But for to fulle fylle +here pilgrymages more esily and more sykerly, men gon first the longer +weye. But whoso wil go to Babyloyne be another weye, more schort from the +contrees of the west, that I have reherced before; or from other contrees +next fro hem; than men gon by Fraunce, be Burgoyne and be Lombardye. It +nedethe not to telle zou the names of the cytees, ne of the townes that ben +in that Weye: for the weye is comoun, and it is knowen of many naciouns. +And there ben many havenes, that men taken the see. Sume men taken the see +at Gene, some at Venyce, and passen by the see Adryatyk, that is clept the +Goulf of Venyse; that departethe [Footnote: Separates.] Ytaylle and Greece +on that syde. And some gon to Naples, some to Rome, and from Rome to +Brandys, [Footnote: Brindisi.] and there thei taken the see: and in many +othere places, where that havenes ben. And men gon be Tussye, be Champayne, +be Calabre, be Appuille, and be the hilles of Ytaylle, Chorisqe, be +Sardyne, and be Cycile, that is a gret ile and a gode. In that ile of +Cycile there ys a maner of a gardyn, in the whiche ben many dyverse frutes. +And the gardyn is alweys grene and florisshing, alle the cesouns of the +zeer, als wel in wyntre es in somer. That yle holt in compas aboute 350 +Frensche myles. And betwene Cycele and Itaylle there is not but a lytille +arm of the see, that men clepen the farde of Mescyne. And Cycile is betwene +the See Adryatyk and the See of Lombardye. And fro Cycyle in to Calabre is +but 8 myles of Lombardye. And in Cycile there is a manere of serpentes, be +the whiche men asseyen and preven, where here children ben bastardis or +none, or of lawefulle mariage. For zif thei ben born in righte mariage, the +serpentes gon aboute hem, and don hem non harm: and zif thei ben born in +Avowtrie, the serpentes byten hem and envenyme hem. And thus manye wedded +men preve, zif the children ben here owne. Also in that ile is the Mount +Ethna, that men clepen Mount Gybelle; and the Vulcanes that ben evermore +brennynge. And ther ben 7 places that brennen and that casten out dyverse +flawmes and dyverse colour. And be the chaungynge of tho flawmes, men of +that contree knowen, whanne it schalle be derthe or gode tyme, or cold or +hoot, or moyst or drye, or in alle othere maneres, how the tyme schalle be +governed. And from Itaille unto the Vulcanes nys bat 25 Myle. And men seyn, +that the Vulcanes ben weyes of Helle. + +Also whoso gothe be Pyse, zif that men list to go that weye, there is an +arm of the see, where that men gon to othere havenes in tho marches. And +that men passen be the Ile of Greaf, that is at Gene: and aftre arryvethe +men in Grece at the havene of the cytee of Myrok, or at the havene of +Valone, or at the cytee of Duras: and there is a duk at Duras, or at othere +havenes in tho marces: and so men gon to Costantynoble. And aftre gon men +be watre to the Ile of Crete, and to the Ile of Rodes, ond so to Cypre, and +so to Athens, and fro thens to Costantynoble. + +To holde the more righte weye be see, it is wel a 1880 myle of Lombardye. +And aftre fro Cipre men gon be see, and leven Jerusalem and alle the +contree on the left hond, onto Egypt, and arryven at the cytee of Damyete, +that was wont to be fulle strong, and it sytt at the entree of Egypt. And +fro Damyete gon men to the cytee of Alizandre, that sytt also upon the see. +In that cytee was seynte Kateryne beheded. And there was seynt Mark the +Evangelist martyred and buryed. But the Emperour Leoun made his bones to +ben broughte to Venyse. And zit there is at Alizandre a faire chirche, alle +white withouten peynture: and so ben alle the othere chirches, that weren +of the Cristene men, alle white with inne. For the Panemes and the +Sarrazynes madem hem white, for to fordon [Footnote: To destroy.-- +Anglo-Saxon, _for-don_.] the ymages of seyntes, that weren peynted on the +walles. That cytee of Alizandre is wel 30 furlonges in lengthe: but it is +but 10 on largenesse. And it is a full noble cytee and a fayr. At that +cytee entrethe the ryvere of Nyle in to the see; as I to zou have seyd +before. In that ryvere men fynden many precyouse stones, and meche also of +lignum aloes: and it is a manere of wode, that comethe out of Paradys +terrestre, the whiche is good for manye dyverse medicynes: and it is righte +dereworthe. And fro Alizandre men gon to Babyloyne, where the Soudan +dwellethe; that sytt also upon the ryvere of Nyle. And this wey is most +schort, for to go streyghte unto Babiloyne. + +Now schall I seye zou also the weye, that gothe fro Babiloyne to the Mount +of Synay, where Seynte Kateryne lythe. He moste passe be the desertes of +Arabye; be the whiche descries Moyses ladde the peple of Israel: and thanne +passe men be the welle, that Moyses made with his hond in the desertes, +whan the people grucched, [Footnote: Grumbled.] for thei fownden no thing +to drynke. And than passe men be the welle of Marache, of the whiche the +watre was first byttre: but the children of Israel putten there inne a +tree; and anon the watre was swete and gode for to drynke. And thanne gon +men be desart unto the Vale of Elyn; in the whiche vale be 12 welles: and +there ben 72 trees of palme, that beren the dates, the whiche Moyses fond +with the children of Israel. And fro that valeye is but a gode journeye to +the Mount of Synay. + +And whoso wil go be another weye fro Babiloyne, than men gothe be the Rede +See, that is an arm of the see occean. And there passed Moyses, with the +children of Israel, overthwart the see, alle drye, whan Pharao the Kyng of +Egypt chaced hem. And that see is wel a 6 myle of largenesse in bredthe. +And in that see was Pharao drowned and alle his hoost, that he ladde. That +see is not more reed than another see; but in some place thereof is the +gravelle reede: and therfore men clepen it the Rede See. That see reunethe +to the endes of Arabye and of Palestyne. That see lastethe more than 4 +journeyes. And then gon men be desert unto the Vale of Elyn: and fro thens +to the Mount of Synay. And zee may wel undirstonde, that be this desert, no +man may go on hors back, be cause that there nys nouther mete for hors ne +watre to drynke. And for that cause men passen that desert with camelle. +For the camaylle fynt alle wey mete in trees and on busshes, that he +fedethe him with. And he may well faste fro drynk 2 dayes or 3: and that +may non hors don. + +And wyte wel, that from Babiloyne to the Mount Synay is wel a 12 gode +journeyes: and some men maken hem more: and some men hasten hem and peynen +hem; and therefore thei maken hem lesse. And alle weys fynden men latyneres +[Footnote: Men who speak Latin.] to go with hem in the contrees, and +ferthere bezonde, in to tyme that men conne [Footnote: Know.] the langage. +And it behovethe men to here vitaille with hem, that schalle duren hem in +tho desertes, and other necessaries for to lyve by. + +And the Mount of Synay is clept the Desert of Syne, that is for to seyne +the bussche brennynge: because there Moyses sawghe oure Lord God many +tymes, in forme of fuyr brennynge upon that hille; and also in a bussche +brennynge; and spak to him. And that was at the foot of the hille. There is +an abbeye of monks, wel bylded and wel closed with zates of iren, for drede +of the wylde bestes. And the monkes ben Arrabyenes, or men of Greece: and +there is a grot covent; and alle thei ben as heremytes; and thei drynken no +wyn, but zif it be on principalle festes: and thei ben fulle devoute men, +and lyven porely and sympely, with joutes [Footnote: The original note +reads 'Gourds', but joutes are actually herbs--KTH.] and with dates: and +thei don gret absteynence and penaunce. There is the Chirche of Seynt +Kateryne, in the whiche ben manye lampes brennynge. For thei han of oyle of +olyves y now, bothe for to brenne in here lampes, and to ete also: and that +plentee have thei be the myracle of God. For the ravenes and the crowes and +the choughes, and other foules of the contree assemblen hem there every +zeer ones, and fleen thider as in pilgrymage: and eyeryche of hem bringethe +a braunche of the bayes or of olyve, in here bekes, in stede of offryng, +and leven hem there; of the whiche the monkes maken gret plentee of oyle; +and this is a gret marvaylle. And sithe that foules, that han no kyndely +wytt ne resoun, gon thidre to seche that gloriouse virgyne; wel more +oughten men than to seche hire and to worschipen hire. Also behynde the +awtier of that chirche is the place where Moyses saughe oure Lord God in a +brennynge bussche. And whanne the monkes entren in to that place, thei don +of bothe hosen and schoon or botes alweys; be cause that oure Lord seyde to +Moyses, _Do of thin hosen and thi schon: for the place that thou stondest +on is lond holy and blessed._ And the monkes clepen that place Bezeleel, +that is to seyne, the schadew of God. And besyde the highe awtiere, 3 +degrees of heighte, is the fertre [Footnote: Bier.] of alabastre, where the +bones of Seynte Kateryne lyzn. And the prelate of the monkes schewethe the +relykes to the pilgrymes. And with an instrument of sylver, he frothethe +the bones; [Footnote: Rubbeth.] and thanne ther gothe out a lytylle oyle, +as thoughe it were a maner swetynge, that is nouther lyche to oyle ne to +bawme; but it is fulle swete of smelle: And of that thei zeven a litylle to +the pilgrymes; for there gothe out but litylle quantitee of the likour. And +aftre that thei schewen the heed of Seynte Kateryne, and the clothe that +sche was wrapped inne, that is zit alle blody. And in that same clothe so y +wrapped, the aungeles beren hire body to the Mount Synay, and there thei +buryed hire with it. And thanne thei schewen the bussche, that brenned and +wasted nought, in the whiche oure Lord spak to Moyses, and othere relikes y +nowe. Also whan the prelate of the abbeye is ded, I have undirstonden, be +informacioun, that his lampe quenchethe. And whan thei chesen another +prelate, zif he be a gode man and worthi to be prelate, his lampe schal +lighte, with the grace of God, withouten touchinge of ony man. For everyche +of hem hathe a lampe be him self. And be here lampes thei knowen wel whan +ony of hem schalle dye. For whan ony schalle dye, the lyghte begynnethe to +chaunge and to wexe dym. And zif he be chosen to ben prelate, and is not +worthi, his lampe quenchethe anon. And other men han told me, that he that +syngethe the masse for the prelate that is ded, he schalle fynde upon the +awtier the name writen of him that schalle be prelate chosen. And so upon a +day I asked of the monkes, bothe on and other, how this befelle. But thei +wolde not telle me no thing, in to the tyme that I seyde, that thei scholde +not hyde the grace, that God did hem; but that thei scholde publissche it, +to make the peple to have the more devocioun; and that thei diden synne, to +hide Goddis myracle, as me seemed. For the myracles, that God hathe don, +and zit dothe every day, ben the wytnesse of his myghte and of his +merveylles; as Dayid sethe in the Psaultere; _Mirabilia testimonia tua, +Domine_: that is to seyn, _Lord, thi merveyles ben thi wytnesse_. And +thanne thei tolde me, bothe on and other, how it befelle fulle many a tyme: +but more I myghte not have of hem. In that abbeye ne entrethe not no flye +ne todes ne ewtes, ne suche foule venymouse bestes, ne lyzs ne flees, be +the myracle of God and of oure lady. For there were wont to ben many suche +manere of filthes, that the monkes werein in wille to leve the place and +the Abbeye, and weren gon fro thens, upon the mountayne aboven, for to +eschewe that place. And oure lady cam to hem, and bad hem tournen azen: and +fro this forewardes nevere entred suche filthe in that place amonges hem, +ne nevere schalle entre here aftre. Also before the zate is the welle, +where Moyses smot the ston, of the whiche the watre cam out plenteously. + +Fro that abbeye men gon up the mountayne of Moyses, be many degrees: and +there men fynden first a Chirche of oure Lady, where that sche mette the +monkes, whan thei fledden awey for the vermyn aboveseyd. And more highe +upon that mountayne is the chapelle of Helye the prophete. And that place +thei clepen Oreb, where of Holy Writt spekethe. _Et ambulavit in +fortisudine cibi illius usque ad Montem Oreb_: that is to seyne, _And he +wente in strength of that mete, unto the hille of God, Oreb_. And there +nyghe is the vyne that Seynt John the Evaungeliste planted, that men elepen +reisins, _staphis_. And a lytille aboven is the Chapelle of Moyses, and the +roche where Moyses fleghe to, for drede, when he saughe oure Lord face to +face. And in that roche is prented the forme of his body; for he smot so +strongly and so harde him self in that roche, that alle his body was dolven +with inne, thorghe the myracle of God. And there besyde is the place where +oure Lorde toke to Moyses the 10 commandementes of the lawe. And there is +the cave undre the roche, where Moyses duelte, whan he fasted 40 dayes and +40 nyghtes. And from that mountayne men passen a gret valeye, for to gon to +another mountayne, where Seynt Kateryne was buryed of the aungeles of oure +Lord. And in that valey is a chirche of 40 martyres; and there singen the +monkes of the abbeye often tyme. And that valey is right cold. And aftre +men gon up the mountayne of Seynt Kateryne, that is more highe then the +mount of Moyses. And there, where Seynt Kateryne was buryed, is nouther +chirche ne chapelle, ne other duellynge place: but there is an heep of +stones aboute the place, where the body of hire was put of the aungeles. +There was wont to ben a chapelle: but it was casten downe, and zit lyggen +the stones there. And alle be it that the collect of Seynte Kateryne seye, +that it is the place where oure Lord betaughten the Ten Comandementes to +Moyses, and there where the blessed virgyne Seynte Kateryne was buryed; +that is to undrestonde, in o contree, or in o place berynge o name. For +bothe that on and that othre is clept the Mount of Synay. But there is a +grete weye from that on to that othre, and a gret deep valeye betwene hem. + + +Of the desert bet wen e the chirche of Seynte Kateryne and Jerusalem. Of + the drie Tre; and how roses cam first in the world. + +[Sidenote: Cap. VI.] Now aftre that men had visited tho holy places, thanne +will thei turnen toward Jerusalem. And than wil thei take leve of the +monkes, and recommenden hem to here preyeres. And than thei zeven the +pilgrimes of here vitaylle, for to passe with the desertes, toward Surrye. +And tho desertes duren wel it 13 journeyes. In that desert duellyn manye of +Arrabyenes, that men clepen Bedoynes and Ascopardes. And thei ben folke +fulle of alle evylle condiciouns. And thei have none houses, but tentes; +that thei maken of skynnes of bestes, as of camaylles and of othere bestes, +that thei eten; and there benethe thei couchen hem and duellen, in place, +where thei may fynden watre, as on the Rede See or elles where For in that +desert is fulle gret defaute of watre: and often time it fallethe, that +where men fynden watre at o tyme in a place, it faylethe another tyme. And +for that skylle, thei make none habitaciouns there. Theise folk, that I +speke of, thei tylen not the lond, ne thei laboure noughte; for thei eten +no bred, but zif it be ony that dwellen nyghe a gode toun, that gon thidre +and eten bred som tyme. And thei rosten here flesche and here fische upon +the hote stones azenst the sonne. And thei ben stronge men and wel +fyghtynge. And there is so meche multytude of that folk, that thei ben +withouten nombre. And thei ne recchen of no thing, ne don not, but chacen +afere bestes, to eten hem. And thei recchen no thing of here lif: and +therefore thei dowten not the Sowdan, ne non othre prince; but thei dar wel +werre with hem, zif thei don ony thing that is grevance to hem. And thei +han often tyme werre with the Soudan; and namely, that tyme that I was with +him. And thei beren but o scheld and o spere, with outen other armes. And +thei wrappen here hedes and here necke with a gret quantytee of white +lynnen clothe. And thei ben righte felonouse and foule, and of cursed +kynde. + +And whan men passen this desert, in comynge toward Jerusalem, thei comen to +Bersabee, that was wont to ben a fulle fair town and a delytable of +Cristene men: and zit there ben summe of here chirches. In that town +dwelled Abraham the patriark, a long tyme. In that toun of Bersabee, +founded Bersabee the wife of Sire Urye, the knyghte; on the whiche Kyng +David gatt Salomon the wyse, that was king aftre David, upon the 12 +kynredes of Jerusalem, and regned 40 zeer. And fro thens gon men to the +cytee of Ebron, that is the montance [Footnote: Amount.] of a gode myle. +And it was clept somtyme the Vale of Mambree, and sumtyme it was clept the +Vale of Teres, because that Adam wepte there, an 100 zeer, for the dethe of +Abelle his sone, that Cayn slowghe. Ebron was wont to ben the princypalle +cytee of Philistyenes; and there duelleden somtyme the geauntz. And that +cytee was also Sacerdotalle, that is to seyne, seyntuarie, of the tribe of +Juda: and it was so fre, that men resceyved there alle manere of fugityfes +of other places, for here evyl dedis. In Ebron, Josue, Calephe, and here +companye comen first to aspyen, how thei myghte wynnen the lond of Beheste. +In Ebron regned first Kyng David, 7 zeer and an half: and in Jerusalem he +regnede 33 zeer and an half. And in Ebron ben alle the sepultures of the +patriarkes, Adam, Abraham, Ysaac, and of Jacob; and of here wyfes, Eve, +Sarre, and Rebekke, and of Lya: the whiche sepultures the Sarazines kepen +fulle curyously, and han the place in gret reverence, for the holy fadres, +the patriarkes, that lyzen there. And thei suffre no Cristene man entre in +to that place, but zif it be of specyalle grace of the Soudan. For thei +holden Cristen men and Jewes as dogges. And thei seyn, that thei scholde +not entre in to so holy place. And men clepen that place, where thei lyzn, +double spelunke, or double cave or double dyche; for als meche as that on +lyethe above that other. And the Sarazines clepen that place in here +langage Karicarba; that is to seyn, the place of patriarkes. And the Jewes +clepen that place Arbothe. And in that same place was Abrahames hous: and +there he satt and he saughe 3 persones, and worschipte but on; as Holy +Writt seyethe, _Tres vidit et unum adoravit_: that is to seyne, _He soughe +3, and worschiped on_: and of tho same resceyved Abraham the aungeles in to +his hous. And righte faste by that place is a cave in the roche, where Adam +and Eve duelleden, whan thei weren putt out of Paradyse; and there goten +thei here children. And in thai same place, was Adam formed and made; aftre +that that sum men seyn. For men werein wont for to clepe that place, the +feld of Damasce; because that it was in the lordschipe of Damask. And fro +thens was he translated in to paradys of delytes, as thei seyn: and aftre +that he was dryven out of Paradys, he was there left. And the same day that +he was putt in Paradys, the same day he was putt autt: for anon he synned. +There begynnethe the Vale of Ebron, that durethe nyghe to Jerusalem. There +the Aungelle commaunded Adam, that he scholde duelle with his wyf Eve: of +the whiche he gatt Sethe; of whiche tribe, that is to seyn, kynrede, Jesu +Crist was born. In that valeye is a feld, where men drawen out of the erthe +a thing, that men clepen cambylle: and thei ete it in stede of spice, and +thei bere it to selle. And men may not make the hole ne the cave, where it +is taken out of the erthe, so depe ne so wyde, but that it is, at the zeres +ende, fulle azen up to the sydes, thorgh the grace of God. + +And 2 myle from Ebron is the grave of Lothe, that was Abrahames brother. +And a lytille fro Ebron is the Mount of Mambre, of the whiche the yaleye +takethe his name. And there is a tree of oke, that the Sarazines clepen +dirpe, that is of Abrahames tyme, the whiche men clepen the drye tree. And +thei seye, that it hathe ben there sithe the beginnynge of the world; and +was sumtyme grene, and bare leves, unto the tyme that oure Lord dyede on +the cros; and thanne it dryede; and so dyden alle trees, that weren thanne +in the World. And summe seyn, be here prophecyes, that a Lord, a prynce of +the west syde of the world shalle wynnen the lond of promyssioun, that is +the Holy Lond, withe helpe of Cristene men; and he schalle do synge a masse +undir that drye tree, and than the tree schalle wexen grene and bere bothe +fruyt and leves. And thorghe that myracle manye Sarazines and Jewes schulle +be turned to Cristene feythe. And therfore thei don gret worschipe thereto, +and kepen it fulle besyly; And alle be it so, that it be drye, natheles zit +he berethe gret vertue: for certeynly he that hathe a litille there of upon +him, it helethe him of the fallynge evylle: and his hors schalle not ben a +foundred: and manye othere vertues it hathe: where fore men holden it fulle +precyous. + +From Ebron, men gon to Bethelem, in half a day: for it is but 5 myle; and +it is fulle fayre weye, be pleynes and wodes fulle deletable. + + +CAPVT. 13. + +De ciuitate Bethleem, et semita vsque in Ierusalem. + +Bethleem Ciuitas longa sed parua, firmata est vndique fossatis fortibus: +cuius modņ habitatores quasi omnos sunt Christiani. In illa ad orientem +honesta, et placida habetur Ecclesia: (nescio an aliquam eiusdem +quantitatis viderim placentiorem,) extrinsecus habens turres saltaturas, +pinnacula, et propugnacula nobili artificio fabricata, et intrinsecus 44. +de marmore decoro columnas. Ad principalis autem turris dextram in descensu +16. graduum, est diuersorij locus, vbi ex intacta et benedicta Virgine +nascebatur Christus homo Deus. Hic locus est multłm artificiosč operatus +marmore, et generosč depictus auro et argento, variņque colore, cui propč +ad tres passus est pręsepe in quo reclinabatur natus Dominus, ibķque +videtur puteus quidam, in quo aliqui putare volunt cecidisse stellam +ductricem trium Magorum, post eius peractum officium. + +Est etiam ante pręsepe Domini, tumba beati Interpretis Hieronymi, et extra +Ecclesiam monstratur cathedra, in qua residere solebat. Sub clausura huius +ecclesię ad dextram, per 18. gradus apparet fossa, quę dicitur ossium +innocentium causa Christi ab Herode impio occisorum. Hinc ad quingentos, +vel cķtra pedes habetur alia Ecclesia nomine Sancti Nicholai, in quo +scilicet loco, post recessum Magorum beata Virgo tempus sui puerperij +obseruauit. [Sidenote: Taxat simplicitatem vulgi.] Ibķque monstrantur rubra +saxa albis respersa maculis, quņd simpliciores narrant saxis euenisse de +abundantia lactis virginis ab vberibus eiecti. In via Bethleem ab Helya +miliario contra meridianam plagam iuxta viam quę ducit Ebron, Christiani de +Bethleem colunt circa ciuitatem multam copiam vinearum, ad potum sub +ipsorum. [Sidenote: Saraceni non bibunt vinum in manifesto.] Nam Sarraceni +non colunt vineas, nec vina vendunt neque in manifesto bibunt, eņ quņd +liber legis Mahomet, facit super hoc prohibitionem, et interpretatur +maledictionem. + +[Sidenote: Sanctę Charitatis.] De Bethleem in Austrum duabus leucis habetur +claustrum Sanctę Charitatis, ibidem suo tempore Abbatissę. A Bethleem +tendendo Ierusalem inuenitur ad dimidiam leucam Ecclesia, in cuius loco +Angelus dixit pastoribus, Annuncio vobis gaudium magnum, quod natus est +nobis Saluatur qui est Christus Dominus. Est et tumba Rachel Patriarchę, +vbi etiam coaceruata iacent 12. saxa magna, quę quidam autumant illic +tumulasse Iacob, eņ quņd Beniamin duodecimus sibi filius nascebatur ibidem. +Sķcque venitur in Sanctam Ciuitatem Ierusalem. [Sidenote: Bethel] Notandum, +Bethel vicus est 12. ab Helya ad dextram euntibus Neapoli, quę primłm Luza +vocabatur. Sed ex eo tempore quo ibat ad Ieroboam, filium Nebat, vituli +aurei fabricati sunt, et ą decem tribubus adorata, vocata est Bethauen, id +est, Domus Idoli, quę antč vocabatur Domus Dei. Ieronymus. Sed et Ecclesia +ędificata est vbi dormiuit Iacob, pergens Mesopotamiam, vbi et ipsi loco +Bethel, id est, domus Dei nomen imposuit. + + +CAPVT. 14. + +De Ecclesia gloriosi Sepulchri Domini in vrbe Ierusalem. + +Ierusalem cum tota terra prommissionis, est quasi vna de quinque prouincijs +vel pluribus, quibus Regnum Syrię distinguitur. Iungitur autem Iudeę ad +Orientem Regno Arabię, ad meridiem Aegypto, ad Occidentem mari mago, et ad +Aquilonem Rego Syrię. Iudeę terra per diuersa tempora ą diuersis possessa +fuit nationibus, Cananęorum, Iudęorum, Assyriorum, Persarum, Medorum, +Macedonum, Gręcorum, Romanorum, Christianorum, Sarracenorum, Barbarorum, +Turcorum, and Tartarurum. Cuius rei causa meritņ potest ęstimari, quod non +sustinuit Deus magnos peccatores longo tempore permanere in terra sibi tam +placita, et tam sancta. + +[Sidenote: Templum Sepulchri.] Itaque perigrinus veniens in Ierusalem primo +expleat suam peregrinationem, ad reuerendum et sacrosanctum Domini nostri +Iesu Christi sepulchrum: cuius Ecclesia est in vltima ciuitatis +extremitate, ad partem aquilonarem, cum proprio sui ambitus muro ipsi +ciuitati adiuncto. Ipsa verņ Ecclesia est pulchra et rotundę formę cooperta +desuper cum tegulis plumbeis, habens in Occidente turrim altam et firmam, +in pauimenti Ecclesię medio ad figuram dimidij compassi habetur nobili +opere Latonico ędificatum paruum Tabernaculum quasi 15. pedum tam +longitudinis quąm latitudinis, et altitudinis miro artificio intus extrąque +compositum, ac multłm diligenter diuersis coloribus ornatum. Hoc itaque in +Tabernaculo seu Capella, ad latus dextrum, continetur incomparabilis +thesaurus gloriosissimi sepulchri, habentis octo pedes longitudinis, et +quinque latitudinis. Et quoniam in toto habitaculo nulla est apertura +pręter paruum ostium, illustratur accedentibus peregrinis pluribus +lampadibus, (quarum ad minus vna coram sepulchro iugiter ardere solet) +ingressus. + +[Sidenote: Melech Mandybron Soldanus.] Sciendum, quņd ante breue tempus +solebat sepulchrum esse ingressis peregrinis accessibile, ad tangendum et +osculandum, sed quia multi vel effringebant, vel conabantur sibi effringere +aliquid de petra sepulchri, iste Soldanus Melech Mahdybron fecit illud +confabricari, vt nec osculari valeat, nec adiri, sed tantummodo intueri, Et +ob illam causam in sinistro pariete in altitudine quinque pedum immurari +effracturam petrę sepulchri ad quantitatem capitis humani, quod tanquam pro +sepulchro ibi ab omnibus veneratur, tangitur, et osculatur. + +Dicitur ibi quoque communiter pręfatam lampadem coram sepulchro singulis +annis in die Sanctę Parascheues, hora nona extingui, et in media nocte +Paschę sine humano studio reaccendi. [Sidenote: Mandeuillus de hoc +dubitat.] Quod (si ita est) euidens diuini beneficii miraculum est. Et +quamis id plurimi Christiani simpliciter in magno pietatis merito credant, +plerķsque tamen est in suspicione. Fortč talia Sarraceni custodes sepulchre +fingentes diuulgauerunt, pro augendo emolumenta tributi, quod inde +resultaret, seu oblationum quę dantur. + +Singulis autem annis in die coenę Domini in Parascheue, et in vigilia +Paschę, tribus his diebus manet Tabernaculum hoc apertum continuč, et patet +omnibus Christianis gentibus accessus, aliąs verņ non per annum sine +redditione tributi. Intra Ecclesiam, propč parietem dextrum, est Caluarię +locus, vbi crucifixus pependit Christus Dominus. [Sidenote: Tumba Godefridi +de Bollion.] Per gradus ascenditur in hunc locum, et est rupis velut albi +coloris, cum aliqua rubedine per loca commixta, habens scissuram, quam +dicunt Golgotha, in qua maior pars preciosi sanguinis Christi dicitur +influxisse: vbi et habetur altare constructum, ante quod consistunt tumbę +Godefridi de Bullion, et aliorum Regum Christianorum, qui circa annum +incarnationis Domini, 1100. debellauerunt et obtinuerunt sanctam vrbem cum +tota patria ex manibus Sarracenorum, et per hoc conquisierunt sibi magnum +nomen, vsque in finem sęculi duraturum. [Sidenote: Psal. 74. 12.] Propč +ipsius crucifixionķs locum continetur literis. Gręcis hoc scriptum: [Greek: +ho theos basileus hęmon pro aionos eirgasato sotęrian en mesoi tęs gęs]. +hoc est dicere, Deus Rex noster ante secula operatus est salutem in medio +terrę. Item directč in loco, vbi crux sancta stetit cum Christo rupi +infixa, habetur hoc exaratum in saxo rupis: [Greek: ho horais esi basis tęs +piseos ton kosmon], hoc est, quod vides fundamentum est fidei mundi. + +[Sidenote: Iterum taxit ignorantiam vulge. Regina Helena Anglia.] Haud +remotč ab hoc Caluarię monte, habetur et aliud altare, vbi iacet columna +flagellationis Domini, cui stant de propinque et ali coęlumnę quatuor de +Marmore aquam iugiter resundantes, et (secundum opinionem simplicium) +passionem innocentem Christie deflentes. Est sub isto altari crypta, 42. +granduum profunda, vbi sancta Helena Regina reperit tres cruces, videlicet +Christi, et latronum cum eo crucifixorum, ac etiam clauos crucis Domini in +cryptę pariete. + +In medio autem chori huius Ecciesię, est locus pauimenti stratus mirč et +pulchrč, ad integram compassi figuram vbi depositum corpus Christi de cruce +Ioseph ab Aramathia cum suis adiutoribus lauit et condiuit aromatibus. Item +infra Ecclesiam ą septentrionali parte ostenditur locus, vbi Christus +Magdalenę apparuit post suam resurrectionem, quando eum credidit +hortulanum. + +[Sidenote: Indorum Capella sive subditorum pręsbiteri Ioannis.] A dextro +autem latere ad ingressum Ecclesię, habentur gradus 18. sub quibus est +Capella Indorum, vbi soli peregrini de India per sacerdotes suos cantant +iuxta ritum suum Missas, celebrąntque diuina. Missam faciunt quidem +breuissimam, conficientes in principio verbis debitis sacramentum corporis +et sanguinis Christi de pane et vino, ac posteą paucis orationibus additis, +totum oratione Dominica concludunt officium. Hoc autem verum est, quod cum +maxima attentione, reuerentia, humilitate et deuotione se gerunt et +continent diuinis. + +[Sidenote: An Ierusalem sit in medio mundi.] Porrņ illud, quod quidam +peruulgauerunt, aut opinati sunt, Iudęam aut Ierusalem, vel Ecclesiam istam +consistere in medio totius mundi, propter prędictam scripturam, (in medio +terrę) hoc intelligi non potest localiter ad mensuram corporis terrę: Nam +si ad terrę latitudinem, quam ęstimant inter duos polos, respiciamus, +certum est Iudęam non esse in medio, quod tunc esset sub circulo ęquatoris, +et esset ibi semper ęquinoctium, et vtrumque polorum staret iis in +horizonte. Quod vtique non est ita, quod existentibus in Iudęa eleuatur +multłm polus arcticus. + +Rursus si ad terrę longitudinem spectemus, quę ęstimari potest ą Paradiso +terrestri, scilicet ą digniori et latiori terrę loco, versus eius Nadir, +scilicet versus locum sibi in Sphęra terrę oppositum, tunc Iudęa esset ad +Antipodes paradisi, quod apparet ita non esse, quod tunc esset viatori de +Iudęa ad Paradisum tendentis ęqua itineris mensura, siue tenderet versus +Orientem, siue versus Occidentem. Sed hoc non est verisimile nec verum, +sicut probatum constat per experientiam multorum. Mihi autem videtur, quod +pręfata Prophetę scriptura, potest exponi, in medio terrę, id est, circa +medium nostri habitabilis, videlicet vt Iudęa sit circa medium inter +Paradisum et Antipodes Paradisi, distans tantum ab ipso Paradiso in oriente +96. gradibus, prout ego ipse per viam orientalem tentaui; quanquam de hoc +non videtur de facili plena certitudo haberi; eo quņd in longitudine coeli +nullę stellę manent immobiles, sicut in latitudine manent poli sempčr fixi. +Vel potest ita exponi, quņd Dauid qui erat Rex Iudęa, dixit in medio terrę, +hoc est, in principali ciuitate terrę suę Ierusalem, quę erat ciuitas +regalis, siue sacerdotalis terrę Iudeę: vel fortč spiritus sanctus, qui +loquebatur per os prophetę in hoc verbo vult intelligi non corporeum aut +locale, sed totum spirituale, de quo intuitu nihil ad pręsens est +scribendum, + + +CAPVT. 15. + +De tribus alijs Ecclesijs, et specialiter de templo Domini. + +Vltrą duo stadia ab Ecclesia ad Meridiem sancti sepulchri habetur magnum +hospitale sancti Ioannis Hierosolymitani, qui caput et fundamentum esse +dignoscitur ordinis hospitaliorum modņ tententium Rhodum insulam: in quo +recipi possunt omnes Christiani perigrini cuiuscunque sint conditionis, seu +status, vel dignitatis. Nam Sarraceni pro leui cura anxij rumoris, +prohibent ne apud quenquam suorum Christianus pernoctet. Ad sustentationem +ędificij huius hospitalis, habentur in eo 124. columnę marmoreę, et in +parietibus distincti 54. pilarij. Satis propč hunc locum in orientem, est +Ecclesia quę dicitur, de Domina nostra magna: et indč non remotč alia, quę +dicitur nostrę Dominę latinorum, ędificata super locum, vbi Maria +Magdalene, et Maria Cleophę cum alijs pluribus, dum Christus cruci +affigebatur, flebant et dolores lamentabiles exercebant. + +Item ab Ecclesia Sancti Sepulchri in orientem ad stadium cum dimidio +habetur ędificium mirabile, ac pulchrum valdč, quod templum Domini +nominatur, quod constructum est in forma rotunda, cuius circumferentię +diameter habet 64 cubitos, et altitudo eius 126, et intrinsecus pro +sustentatione ędificij, multi pilarij. In medio autem templi est locus +altior 14. gradibus, qui et ipse columnis vndķque est stipatus: et secundum +quatuor mundi plagas habet templum quatuor introitus per portas Cypressinas +artificiosč compositas, nobiliterque sculptas, et excisas. Et ante portam +aquilonarem intra templum fontem aquę mundę, qui quamuis olim exundabat, +tamen nunc minimč fluit. In toto circuitu ędificij extrinsecus est valdč +pro atrio latum spacium loci, stratum per totum pauimentum marmoribus. Hoc +templum non ducitur stare in eodem loco vbi templum Dei stetit in tempore +Christi, quo post resurrectionem a Romanis destructo, istud longo post +tempore Adrianus Imperator extruxit, sed non ad formam templi prioris: +prędictum tamen excelsum in medio templi locum vocant Iudęi sanctum +sanctorum. + +Sciatis itąque quņd Sarraceni magnam exhibent huic templo reuerentiam, et +honorem sępius illud discalceati intrantes, et positis genibus deuotč Deum +omnipotentem exorantes, nulla enim ibidem habetur imago, sed multę lampades +relucentes. [Sidenote: Literę Soldani traditę Mandiuillo.] Neminem +Christianorum seu Iudęorum ingredi sinun, templum, reputantes eos indignos +ad hoc, et nimium immundos, vndč nisi virtute literarum quas habui a +Soldano, nec ego fuissem ingressus. Ingrediens autem cum meis sodalibus +deposuimus calciamenta, recogitantes cum multa cordis deuotione, nos magis +id facere debere, quąm incredulos Sarrcenos. + +Et verč meritņ est iste locus in magna reuerentia habendus: dum enim Rex +Salomon primum in illo templo per Dei iussionem, et Dauidis patris sui +commissionem ędificasset, exorauit pręsente cuncto populo Israel, vt +quicśnque illic Deum pro iusta causa rogaret audiretur; et Dominus +monstrauit exauditionis signum per nebulam de coelo emissam, prołt narrat +historia veritatis 3. Regum libro. + +Porrņ in eo loco vbi statuerat idem Rex ante templum altare holocausti, +videlicet extra portam templi occidentalem, habetur et nunc altare, sed non +ad instar, nec ad vsum primi: Nam Saraceni, quasi nihil curantes, traxerunt +in eo lineos tanquam in astrolabio figentes in linearum centro batellum, ad +cuius vmbram per lineas discernuntur diei horae. + +Etiam in hac atrij parte apparent adhuc vestigia portę speciosę, vbi Petrus +Apostolus, cum Euangelista Ioanne dixit contracto, In nomine Christi Iesu +Nazareni surge, et statim consolidabantur illi plantę. + + +CAPVT. 16. + +De pluribus locis sacris iuxta vrbem. + +[Sidenote: Templarij ą templo Salomonis dicti.] Viaturo ad dextram satis de +propinquo habetur et alia Ecclesia, quę nunc appellatur schola Salomonis: +rursusque ad Meridiem est et aliud templum siue Ecclesia, quę vocatur +Templum Salomonis, quņd olim fuit caput, et fundamentum totius ordinis +Templariorum. + +[Sidenote: Regina Helena Angla.] A claustro huius templi extrinsecus in +Aquilonem habetur decora Ecclesia beatę Annę, in cuius loco creditur virgo +Maria in eiusdem matris suę vtero fuisse genita, et concepta, parentunque +illius, scilicet, Ioachim et Annę, tumba saxea monstratur in descensu +Ecclesię, per 22. gradus, vbi et adhuc patris eius ossa putantur quiescere, +sublato inde per reginam Helenam korpore sanctę Annę, et recondito (vt +prędictum est) in Ecclesia Constantinopoli sanctę Sophię. + +[Sidenote: Probatica piscina.] Est et intra hanc Ecclesiam probatica +piscina, vbi quondam post motionem Angeli, omnes accedentes primi, a +quocśnque languore sanabantur infirmi, quę tamen nunc temporis ita neglecta +iacet, et deformata, vt videtur immunda cistrina. Habetur et ante Ecclesiam +arbor grandis, et antiqua, de qua nonnulli fabulantur, quod ad beatę Marię +natiuitatem principium accepit, et ortum. + +[Sidenote: Mons Sion.] Mons Sion est excelsior locus in vrbe ad cuius +radicem, est castrum spectabile constructum per aliquem Soldanorum. In +montis autem cacumine videntur multę sepulturę regum Indeę, videlicet +Dauid, Salomonis, et quorundam de successoribus suis. Ad introitum montis +habetur capella, et in illa lapis monumenti quem Ioseph de Arimathea +obuoluit ad ostium sepulchri est valde magnus, et est ibidem aliqua pars +columnę flagellationis, ac pars mensę super quam Dominus vltimņ cęnauit cum +Apostolis, et instituit noui Testamenti sacramentum sui venerandi corporis, +et sanguinis. Sub hac capella ad aliquos gradus monstratur locus eiusdem +cęnationis, videlicčt cęrnaculķ magni, et in eo vas, aquarum, in quo +Christus lauabat pedes Apostolorum: iuxta quod vas a Gamaliele, et alijs +viris timoratis primus sepultus fuit protomartyr Stephanus. + +In eo quoque loco intrauit post resurrectionem suam Dominus ianuis clausis +ad discipulos dicens pax vobis, et agens alia, quę plenius Euangelica +pandit Historia, ac tandem in die Pentecostes ijsdem spiritum sanctum in +linguis igneis misit ibidem. Ab hoc monte Sion versus ciuitatem habetur +Ecclesia dedicata sancto saluatori, in quo nunc dicuntur seruari ossa S. +Stephani supradicti, et sinistrum brachium S. Ioannis Chrisostomi, cuius +corpus vt dictum est requiescit Constantinopoli. + +Item ab hoc monte versus Austrum ab opposito plateę, est pulchra Ecclesia +nostrę Dominę, in cuius loco diu morabatur post ascensionem filij sui, +quamius pro parte eiusdem temporis in valle Iosaphat manserit: nam in ista +defungebatur, et in illo ab Apostolis honorificč sepulta fuit. [Sidenote: +Natatoria Siloe.] Itemque ab hoc monte in vico eundi versus vallem Iosaphat +inuenitur fons aquę dictus Natatoria Siloe, vbi cęcus natus ą Christo +missus lauabat oculos, et regressus est videns. Et dicunt quidam ibidem +sepultrum Isaiam Prophetam. + +Porro mons olim dictus Moria de quo loquitur Scriptura sacra est rupis haud +longč a supradicto templo Domini in ipsius meredie, in cuius rupis loco +excelso velut emenenti sed edito Dominus noster Iesus Christus frequentčr +instruebat suos discipulos, et populos, magnįque miracula exhibebat, atque +deprehensae mulieri in adulterio omnia peccata dimittebat. [Sidenote: +Iohan. 8.] + +Ab opposito autem prędicti fontis natatorij habetur imago lapidea, rudi et +vetusto opere sculpta, deformitérque detrita, quae manus Absalon +nuncupatur, cuius ratio lib. 2. Regum monstratur. Vbi de propč vidi Arborem +Sambucum, ad quam vel citrą cuius locum (vt dicitur) Iudas traditor per se +suspensus crepuit medius, et diffusa sunt viscera eius. + +Pręterea ą monte Sion versus Meridiem vltrą vallem ad iactum lapidis est +locus Aceldema, in quo emptus ager 30. denarijs proditionis est, Et in quo +sunt plures sepulturę peregrinorom, et vestigia cellularum, de quondam +illic commorantibus Heremitis. + + +CAPVT. 17. + +De sacris locis extra muros Ciuitatis. + +[Sidenote: Vallis Iosaphat.] Extra muros ciuitatis Ierusalem ad plagam +orientalem, est vallis Iosaphat contigua, ac si esset fossata muris ipsius +ciuitatis, et Ecclesia vbi sanctus Stephanus lapidabatur, et obdormiuit in +Domino. Hinc non longč est porta ciuitatis, quę dicitur aurea, quę nunc +sempčr obfirmata seruatur. Per hanc intrauit Christus sedens asino, et +adhuc ostenditur rupis seruare vestigia animalis in tribus aut pluribus sui +locis. [Sidenote: Mons Oliuarum. Torrens Cedron.] Statim vltrą vallem +Iosaphat aspicitur mons Oliueti, sic dictus ą pluribus, quia ibi sunt +oliuarum Arbores. In planicie huius vallis decurrit riuulus dictus torrens +Cedron, secus quem habetur pulchra, et honorificata Ecclesia sacrosanctę +sepulturę beatę, et gloriosę matris Christi: descenditur autem in Ecclesiam +per gradus 44. quņd extrinsecus est vallis inculta per fluxum fortassč +torrentis, seu per alios euentus proptčr Antiquitatem temporis. Ibique +monstratur sepulchrum eius vacuum. Habentur iuxta sepulchrum duo altaria, +sub vno est fons Aquę quę putatur exire de vno Paradisi flumine. + +Satis propč ab hac Ecclesia ad rupem Gethsemane habetur capella, vbi +scilicet Iudęis traditus fuit Christus ą Iuda. In ipsa quóque rupe +ostendebatur mihi figura impressę manus ad digitorum extensionem, quo +artificiosius humanano studio sculpi non posset, quam referunt Christum sua +venerabili manu inclinando ad rupem efficisse dum Iudęi impuras manus ad +capiendum iniecerunt in eum. Hic ad iactum lapidis in meridie orauit +['oraiit' in source text--KTH] ad suum patrem, et pro vehementi orationis +intentione sanguineum exudauit sudorem: atque ibi non remotč videtur tumba +regis Iudeę Iosaphat, į quo et vallis sibi nomen assumpsit: et credimus in +hanc vallem Christum venturum ad nouissimum, et generalissimum iudicium, +vbi (Iohele propheta testante) disceptabit de omni actione mortalium. +[Sidenote: S. Iacobi sepultura.] Ad tractum sagittę de hac tumba, est +Ecclesia vbi sanctus Iacobus maior Apostolus primo post martyrium fuit +sepultus, cuius modo sacrata ossa venerantur Compostellę in Galizia. + +Vltra vallem in supremo montes Oliueti apice discipulus cernentibus, +Dominus noster Iesus Christus eleuatis manibus ascendit in coelum, et super +eundem locum digna habetur Ecclesia, in qua eiusdem Ascensione tale +seruatur in rupe pauimenti indicium, quod sinistri pedis Christi videtur +vltimum vestigium. + +Hinc satis propč habetur et capella medio montis, vbi Christus sedens +prędicauit octo beatitudines, vbi et creditur docuisse discipulos orationem +Dominicam, scilicet, Pater noster, &c. Ab eo quoque loco non distat multum +Ecclesia beatę Maaię Aegyptiacę, in qua et eius tumba videtur: et haud +procul inde est vicus Bethphage, vbi Christus misit ante passionis suę +tempus duos de discipulis pro asina et pullo eius. In cliuo vero huius +montis Oliueti versus ciuitatem, monstratur locus, de quo videns Dominus +Ierusalem, fleuit super illam, dicens, quod si cognouisses et tu, &c. +[Sidenote: Bethania.] Atque vltrą montem in discensu eius in orientem est +villa siue castellum Bethanię, distans quasi ad leucam ab vrbe vbi in domo +cuiusdam Symonis inuitatu Christus condonauit omnia peccata Marię +Magdalenę. Et in ipso castello, quod erat sororis Marthę, et Marię +rescuscitauit fratrem earum Lazarum quatriduanum mortuum. + +[Sidenote: Ierico.] De Bethania in Ierico sunt 5. leucę, quę quondam fuit +ciuitas speciosa sed iam est villa modica: ibi Diues Zacchęus ascendit in +arborem Sycomorum, vt videret transeuntem Dominum, et restituens fraudata +quadraplum, obtinuit peccatorum remissionem omnium. + +Item de Bethania ad flumen Iordanis est iter ferč octo leucarum, per +montes, ac valles deuios, et desertos. [Sidenote: Christiani Georgici.] +Porrņ de Bethania in orientem ad 6 leucas venitur in montem magnum, vbi +Christus expleto 40. dierum, ac noctium ieiunio temptatus est ą diabolo, +fuķtque in eodem loco quandoque Ecclesia, sed modo habetur ibi quasi +coenobium quorundam Christianorum, qui Georgici vocantur. Sciendum enim +est, quod vbique intra terram Saracenorum, et similiter multorum Paganorum +inueniuntur Christiani dispersi, habitantes sub tributo, qui licet sint +baptizati omnes, et beatissimam Trinitatem credentes, diuersificantur tamen +nominibus, moribus, ritibus, fide, et opinionibus: ita vt semper vel in +multis vel in aliquibus dissentiant ą Romanę Ecclesię consuetudinibus. + +[Sidenote: Iacobitę. Syrij. Georgica. Cordelarij. Indi. Nubij. Nestorini. +Arriani.] Aliqui nįmque eorum dicuntur Christiani Iacobitę: hij errant +circa peccatorum remissionem, dicentes, non debere confiteri homini sed +soli Deo. Alij Syrij, Isti in fermentato pane conficiunt Sacramentum +altaris ritu Gręcorum. Alij Indi, Nubij, Nestorini, et Arriani. Pręfatus +autem mons magnus, vocatur hortus Abrahę, ex eo quod Abraham patriarcha ibi +dicitur commoratus, et currit propč montem riuulus, in cuius aqua vel fonte +Deus sal per Helizeum prophetam mitti iussit, vt sanaretur sterilitas, id +est, amaritudo aquę. Nec distat hic mons ą Ierico vltra grandem leucam. + + +CAPVT. 18. + +De notabilibus alijs locis, et mari mortuo. + +Rursum de ciuitate sanctę Ierusalem versus Occidentem itinere leucę, +habetur pulchra satis Ecclesia, in loco vbi dicitur creuisse arbor crucis +salutiferę. Arbor excelsa, digno stipite sacra Christi membra tangere. +[Sidenote: Nota.] Tenetur istud quidem pro certa veritate: nam et hoc satis +testatur constructio tantę, et talis Ecclesię, quamuis multa aliena, et +incerta scripta de crucis arbore ferantur per orbem. Hinc ad duas leucas +est et alia Ecclesia, vbi obuiauerunt sibi Maria virgo, et Elizabeth eius +cognata, et ad saluationem Marię Christi baiulę exultauit Iohannes in vtero +Elisabeth grauidę. + +[Sidenote: Emaus Castellum.] De isto quoque ad leucam est Emaus castellum, +distans in spacio stadiorum 60. ab Ierusalem, vbi discipuli in coena die +resurrectionis Domini cognouerant eum in fractione panis. [Sidenote: +Cosdrus Imperator.] Porrņ ab Ierusalem ad alium exitum, ad duo stadia +videtur spelunca grandis de qua dicitur quod tempore Cosdri Imperatoris +Persarum, fuerunt circa Ierusalem 12. mille martyrum occissi, quorum, +omnium corpora leo habitans in spelunca congregauit ibidem voluntate +diuina, tanquam pro singulorum sepultura obsequiosa. + +[Sidenote: Mons Exultationis.] Item ab vrbi ad leucas duas habetur in monte +tumba sepulturę sancti Samuelis prophetę, qui mons nunc vocatur +exultationis vel lęticię, eņ quod peregrinis ab illa parte intrantibus +reddit primum sanctę ciuitatis aspectum. Ab oppido autem Ierico in 30. +stadiorum spacio venitur ad Iordauis fluuij locum, vbi beatus Iohannes +Baptista Christum sacri baptismatis merebatur tingere lymphis. Et in cuius +reuerendi mysterij venerationem habetur ad dimidiam leucam ą fluuio +ędificium honestę Ecclesię consecratum in nomine eiusdem venerabilis +baptistę ministri. Ab hac Ecclesia de propč vidi domum de qua patiebar mihi +narrari, quņd in eodem loco olim fuerit Ieremię sancti habitatio prophetę. + +[Sidenote: Iordanis descriptio.] Notandum est. Iordanis fluuius quamuis +grandis non sit, bonorum tamen piscium copiam nutrit, ortum accipiens sub +monte Libanon ex duobus fontibus, scilicet Ior, et Dan, quę nomina simul +mixta nomen Iordanis efficiunt. Decurrit autem per quendam locum dictum +Maron, ac secus stagnum quod diciter Mare Tyberiadis, ac subter montes +Gylboe per amoenissima loca, atque in subterraneis meatibus per longum +spacium se occultans tandem exit in planitie, quę dicitur Meldam, id est, +forum, quod certis temporibus ibi Nundinę exercentur, et ad extremum se +iactat in mare mortuum. + + +[Sidenote: Mare mortuum.] Hoc stagnum quod vocatur mare mortuum habet +longitudinis 600. ferč stadia, et latitudinis 150. et appropinquat aliqua +pars huius maris ad quatuor leucas propč Ierico, videlicet ad latus +camporum Engadi, ex quibus (vt supra dictum est) eradicatę fuerunt abores +Balsami, quę modņ sunt in agro Cayr Ęgypti. [Sidenote: Nota.] Istud mare +dicitur mortuum. + +[Sidenote: Cur mare mortuum dicatur.] Primo quidem quņd non viuidč currit, +sed est quasi lacus. + +Secundņ quod amara est eius aqua, et foetidum reddit odorem. Tertio quņd +propter eius amaritudinem terra adiacens littori nil viride profert. + +Quartņ (prout dicitur) si cadat in ea bestia, vel aliud quid viuens, vix +poterit plenč mori siue submergi in octo diebus, nec nutrit in se pisces +aut quid simile. + +Littora quoque sua variant quam sępč colorem, et sine vlla agitatione +ventorum eijcit in quibusdam locis se aqua, extra proprios terminos. Per +huiusmodi aquam dicitur Deus pro indicibili vitio Pentapolim submersisse, +Sodomam, Gomorram, Adamam, Seboim, et Segor. + +Quidam vocant hoc mare lacum Asphaltidis, alij fluuium Dęmonum, aut flumen +Putre. Quod autem olim propheta interpretans dixit, montes Gilboe, nec ros +nec pluuia veniat super vos, magis spiritualitčr quąm literalitčr videtur +intelligendum. [Sidenote: Nota.] Nam ibi crescunt altissimi cedri, et +arbores poma ferentes, ad capitis quantitatem humani, ex quibus valdč +saporosus fit potus. + +Mare istud mortuum determinat fines terrę promissionis, et Arabię. Ideoque +vltra ipsum mare condidit quondam, vnus successorum Godfridi de Bollion +forte et spectabile castrum, ponens illic copiosam Christianorum militiam +ad terram promissionis custodiendum. Nunc verņ, temporis, est Soldani, et +appellatur Caruth, id est mons Regalis. Sub hoc monte est villa dicta +Sobal: habitat in illis partibus magna Christianorum multitudo. + + +CAPVT. 19. + +De Nazareth, et Samaria. + +Nazareth in prouincia Galileę in qua nutritus, et de qua cognominatus est +Dominus vniuersorum, distans ab Hierosolymis ad tres circiter dietas, erat +quondam ciuitas, quę nunc est dispersa, et rara domorum, quod vix villę +sibi competit nomen: et in loco Annunciationis, vbi Angelus ad Mariam +dixit, Aue gratia plena, Dominus tecum, habebatur olim bona Ecclesia, pro +qua paruum Saraceni restituerunt habitaculum, in colligendas peregrinorum +offerendas. + +A Nazareth redeundo per terrain Galileę, transitur per Ramathaym Sophim, +vbi nascebatur fidelis Samuel propheta Domini, et per Sylo, vbi locus +orationis erat antequam in Ierusalem: et per Sichem magnę vbertatis vallem, +itur in prouinciam Samarię, vbi habetur et bona ciuitas nunc dicta +Neapolts, distans, ą sancta vrbe spacio solius dietę, ac per fontem Iacob, +super quem Iesus fatigatus ab itinere colloquebatur Samaritonę, vbi et +apparet ruina destructę Ecciesię quondam illic habitę. Et est ibi villa +adhuc vocata Sychem, et in eo est mausoleum Ioseph patriarchę filij Iacob: +ad cuius ossa visitanda sub deuotione non minus peregrini Iudęi adueniunt, +quąm Christiani. + +[Sidenote: Samaria nunc Sebaste.] Hinc satis propč est mons Garizin cum +vetusto templo orationis Samaritanorum: ex tunc intratur Samaria quę modņ +appellatur Sebaste, et est illius principalis ciuitas pronuncię. In qua +fuit primum terrę mandatum corpus beati Ioannis Baptistę inter sacra +corpora Helizęi, et Abdię Prophetarum, vt quorum assimilibatur virtutibus +in vita, corporibus iungeretur in sepultura. Hęc quoque distat ab +Hierosolymis: fortassis a dietas. + +[Sidenote: Nota.] Habetur et alius puteus aut fons intra illa montana, quem +plerique similiter fontem Iacob appellant, cuius aqua secundum quatuor anni +tempora variatur ą suo colore, vt sit quandņque clara, quandņque turbida, +nunc viridis, et nunc rubra. [Sidenote: Ogerus Dux Danus.] Certum est autem +tempore Apostolorum cum Samaria recepisset verbum Dei, illos fuisse +conuersos, et baptizatos, in nomine Domini Iesu, et tamen postea per +quendam Caliphorum peruersos, Ogerus dux Danorum per Templariorum virtutem +rursum subiugauit Christianitati: sicque post plures euentus, et +variationes, illi qui nunc sunt Samaritę, finxerunt sibi hęresim propriam, +et ritum ab omnibus nationibus singularem. + +[Sidenote: Tegumenti capitis differentia.] Fatentur autem se credere in +Deum, qui cuncta creauit: recipiuntque pentateucum scripturę, cum Psalterio +Dauidis, acerrimč contendentes, se solos dilectissimos Dei filios qui etiam +pro nobili differentia inuoluunt capita linteo rubeo, Saraceni autem albo, +Indi croceo, et Christiani ibi manentes Indico, hoc est, ęreo, seu +hiacynthino. + +Porrņ ą Nazareth quatuor leucis, est ciuitas olim dicta Naym, in 2. milario +Thahor montis contra Meridiem iuxta Endor. Ieronimus. Ante cuius portam +resuscitauit Christus defunctum filium vnicum matris suę, pręsentibus +duabus turmis hominum copiosorum. Hinc quoque ad leucas duas, est ciuitas +Israel, vbi olim morabatur pessima regina Iezabel, quam Dei iudicio equorum +vngulis conculcatam, canes ferč vsque ad caluariam comederunt. + + +CAPVT. 20. + +De territorio Gallileę, et Samarię, et de villa Sardenay. + +Item ą Nazareth ad leucę dimidum, monstrantur in rupe vestigia pedum, quę +dicuntur esse Domini nostri Iesu Christi vbi de manibus Iudęorum, ipsum de +alta rupe pręcipitare volentium desiluit in istam. De quo saltu quidam +intelligunt illud scriptum Euangelicum, Iesus autem transiens per medium +illorum ibat. + +Ad quatuor autem leucas de Nazareth, est Cana Galileę, vbi Christus ad +vrbanas matris preces, mutauit vndam in vinum optimum. + +[Sidenote: Mons Thabor.] Ad distantiam quatuor leucarum ą Nazareth, venitur +in Thabor, montem spectabilem, vbi transfigurabatur Christus, coram +quibusdam suis Apostolis, apparentibus ibidem, Mose, et Helia, prophetis, +vocéque dilapsa ą magnifica Patris gloria, et videbatur Petro bonum ibi +esse: quondam in hoc monte habebatur ciuitas, cum pluribus Ecclesijs; +quarum nunc sola restant vestigia, excepto quod ille locus +transfigurationis est inhabitatus, qui est Schola Dei nominatus. [Sidenote: +Obserueretur.] Notandum. Thabor est in medio Galileę, campus mira +iucunditate sublimis, distans ą Diotesaria 3. milliaribus contra Orientem. + +Item de Nazareth in tres leucas est villa, seu castrum Zaffara, de quo +recolo me supradixisse capite 4. Et inde venitur in Mare Galileę, quod +quamuis dicatur mare, est lacus aquę dulcis longus. + +[Sidenote: Mare Tyberiadis.] Vltra centum 60. forsitan stadia est lacus, +bonorum piscium ferax et vber, qui etiam in alio loco sui vocatur mare +Tyberiadis, et in alia mare Genezareth, varians sibi nomen, secundum +ciuitas, et terras, propinquas. Circa hoc mare Christus frequentčr, et +libentčr ambulasse videtur: hic vocauit ad sui discipulatum, Petrum, et +Andream, Iacobum, et Ioannem: hic super vndam siccis ambulabat vestigijs, +et pręcipitem Petrum filium tentantem, verbo increpationis releuat ne +mergatur, hic denique rediuiuus ą morte repleuit discipulorum rete magnis +piscibus 153. + +Item in ciuitate Tiberiade, quę est propč hoc mare habetur in veneratione +mensa illius coenę, quam in Emaus castello Christus cęnauit, cum ab oculis +commensalium euanuit. Hic de propč monstratur mons ille fertilis, mons ille +pinguis, in quo de paucis panibus, et de paucioribus piscibus iussu Christi +fuerunt saturati, quinque millia hominum. + +Ad initium autem prędicti maris iuxta villam Capernaum habetur fortius +castrum totius terrę promissionis, in quo dicitur nata fuisse sancta Anna +mater virginis Marię. + +[Sidenote: Damascus.] Prędictis itaque Christi vestigijs, et terrę sanctę +locis ą peregrino cum deuotione cordis et reuerentia debita visitatis, si +desiderat reuerti, posit illud facere per Damascum; quę est ciuitas longa, +nobilis, et grandis, ac plena omnium rerum mercimonijs, cum tamen distat ą +portu maris tribus plenč dietis, per quod spacium itineris, cuncta +traijciuntur ą suis equis, Dromedarijs, et Camelis: et putatur ą plerisque +narrantibus fundata in loco vbi Cain protoplaustorum filius Abel fratrem +suum occidit. + +A Damasco de propinquo est mons Seyr, ciuitas grandis firmata duplicibus +muris ac populosa nimis, in qua sunt multi in arte Physica famosi professi. +Item ą Damasco haud remotč distat castrum satis munitum, et firmum, quod +Derces est nominatum. Habent autem in illis, et vlterioribus partibus hunc +vsum: si quando castrum ab hostibus fuerit sic obsessum, quņd Dominus eius +non possit emittere nuncium amico suo remotč moranti, recipit columbam olim +in castro, vel domo amici natam, vel educatam, quam hic sibi per certam +prouisionem allatam detinuit incaueatam, et scriptas quas vult literas +alligans collo columbę, dimittit liberam volare, quę protinus festinat ad +focum proprię natiuitatis. Sicque videtur cognosci in illo castro quid +agatur in isto. + +[Sidenote: Villa Sardenay.] Cęterum peregrinus ą Damasco reuertendo, in +quinque leucis venit Sardenay, quę est villa in alta rupe, cum multis +Ecclesijs religiosorum Monachorum, et sanctarum monialium fidei Christianę. +In quarum vna coram maiori altari in tabula lignea erat olim imago +beatissimę virginis Marię non sculpta sed depicta in plano spacio. Ex hoc +reditur per valles Bokar fertiles et pro pascendis pecorum gregibus +exuberantes: et intratur in montana vbi copiositas est fontium qui effluunt +impetu de Libano. Ibique decurrit fluuius Sabbatayr, sic dictus quod diebus +Sabbatis euidentčr rapidius transit, quąm alijs sex diebus. + +Peruenitur hinc ad satis altum montem, propč Tripolim ciuitatem, in qua ad +pręsens plures Christiani Catholicę fidei habitant iugo infidelium nimis +oppressi. [Sidenote: Sur, vel Tyrus.] Ex hoc loco sibi deliberet +peregrinus, quem sibi maris portum accipiat ad repatriandum, videlicet +Beruth, an Sur vel Tyrum. + +Postremņ sciendum, quod terra promissionis in totali longitudine sui ą Dan +qui est sub Libano vsque ad Berseba in Austrum continet circiter centum, et +80. leucas Lombardicas, et ab Hierico in totali latitudine circiter 60. +Notandum, Dan est viculus in quarto ą Pennea de Miliario euntibus, contra +Septentrionem: vsque hodič sic vocatur terminus Iudeę, contra Septentrionem +est etiam et fons Ior, de quo et Iordanis fluuius erumpens alterum sortitus +nomen Ior. Termini Iudeę terrę ą Bersabe incipiunt vsque ad Dan, qui vsque +Peneaden terminatur, Ieronimus. + + +CAPVT. 21. + +De secta detestabili Saracenorum et eorum fide. + +[Sidenote: Diligentia Mandevillu.] Iam restat vt de secta Saracenorum +aliquid scribam vel compendiosč, secundum quņd cum ijs frequentčr, +colloquendo audiui, et liber Mahometi, quem Alcaron, vel Mesahaf, vel Harmč +vocant, ijs pręcipit, sicut illum sępč inspexi, et studiosč perlegi. + +[Sidenote: Fides Saracenorum.] Credunt itaque Saraceni in Deum creatorem +coeli et terrę, qui fecit omnia in ijs contenta, et sine quo nihil est +factum. Et expectant diem nouissimum iudicij, in quo mali cum corpore et +anima descensuri sunt in infernum perpetuņ cruciandi, et boni equidem cum +anima et corpore intraturi Paradisum foelicitatis ęternę. Et hęc quidem +fides poenč inest omnium mortalium nationibus, lingua et ratione vtentibus. +Verumtamen de qualitate Paradisi est magna diuersitas inter credentes. + +Nam et Saraceni et Pagani, et omnes sectę pręter Iudęos et baptizatos +Christianos sentiunt bonorum Paradisum fore terrestrem illum de quo fuit +expulsus Adam propter inobedientiam protoplaustus: qui (vt putant) fluit, +vel tunct fluet pluribus riuis lactis et mellis, et vbi in domibus et +mansionibus nobiliter iuxta meritum vniuscuiusque ędificatur auro, et +argento et gemmis, perfruentur omnibus corporalibus delicijs, in +oblectatione animę ęternaliter sine fine. Ille ergņ qui fide sanctę +Trinitatis carent, et Christum qui est vera lux ignorant, in tenebris +ambulant. Iudęi vero et omnes baptizati rectč sentiunt Paradisum coelestem +et spiritualem, vbi quilibet secundum meritum Diuinitati vnietur, per +cognitionem, et amorem. Attamen Iudęi quod contra Scripturas suas sanctę +Trinitati contradicunt, et Christo obloquuntur, qui est vera via, nesciunt +quo vadunt. De baptizatis autem, qui firmiter fidem Catholicam in +humilitate cordis sub Ecclesię pręceptis seruauerunt, hi soli filij sunt +lucis, et in via veniendi ad coelestem Paradisum quem Christus verbo +prędicauit, et ad quem corpore et anima, videntibus discipulis, de facto +conscendit. + +Credunt etiam Saraceni, omnia esse vera, quę Deus ore prophetarum est +locutus, sed in diuersitate, quia nesciunt specificari, imo specificanti +contradicerent defacili, vel negarent. Inter omnes prophetas ponunt quatuor +excellentiores, quorum supremum et excellentissimum fatentur Iesum Marię +Virginis filium, quem et asserunt, sermonem, vel loquelam, vel spiritum +Dei, et pronunciatorem sententiarum Dei, in iudicio generali futuro, et +missum ą Deo ad Christianos docendos. + +Secundo loco Abrahamum dicunt fuisse verum Dei cultorem, et amicum. + +Tertium dant Mosi locum tanquam prolocutori Dei Misso specialiter, ad +instruendos Iudęos. + +Quartum volant esse Mahomet, sanctum, et verum Dei nuncium ad seipsos +missum, cum lege diuina in dicto libro plene contenta. Tenent itaque +indubitate, quod beata Maria Iesum peperit, et concepit virgo manens +intacta, ac libentčr loqui audiunt de incarnatione in ipsa facta per +annunciationem Gabrielis Archangeli. Nam et Alcharon eorum dicit, ad +salutationem Angeli virginem expauisse, quod tunc erat in partibus Galileę +incantator, Turquis nomine, qui per susceptam sibi formam Angeli plures +virgines deflorauerat, et beatam Virginem conuenisse Angelum, an esset +Turquis. Refert quoque eam peperisse sub palma Arbore, vbi habebatur +pręsepe bouis, et asinę, et illic prę confusione puerperij, et verecundia +ac dolore, fuisse in proximo desperatam, et infantulum in consolationem +matris dixisse, mater ne timeas, Deus in te effudit secreta ad saluationem +Mundi. Hęc et his similia multa ibi scribuntur figmenta, et isti plura +inter se narrando componunt, quę hoc loco ventilanda non sunt. + +Et dicit liber Iesum sanctissimum omnium Prophetarum fuisse veracem in +dictis et factis, benignum, pium, iustum, et ab omni vitio penitus alienum: +Sanctum quoque Ioannem Euangelistam post prędictos Prophetas fuisse alijs +Sanctiorem, cuius et Euangelium fatentur esse plenum salutari, ac veraci +doctrina, et ipsum Sanctum Ioannem illuminasse cęcos, leprosos mundasse, +suscitasse mortuos, et in coelum volasse viuentem. Erat enim (prout dicit) +plus quąm Propheta, et absque omni peccato, contradicente eodem de seipso, +si dixerimus quņd peccatum non habemus, veritas in nobis non est: vnde et +si quando Sarraceni tenent scriptum Euangelij Sancti Ioannis, aut illud +beati Lucę, missus est Angelus Gabriel, eleuant ambabus manibus pro +reuerentia super caput et super oculos id ponentes, et osculantur quąm sępč +cum summa deuotione. Nonnulli etiam eorum in Gręco, aut Latino literati +consueuerunt cum deuotione cordis id lectitare. + +Idem liber dicit Iudęos perfidos fuisse, quod Iesu eis primłm misso a Deo, +et multa miracula facienti credere noluerunt, quodque per ipsum tota gens +Iudęorum fuit dignč decepta, et meritņ illusa hoc modo. Iesus in hora dum +Iudas eum pro signo traditionis osculabatur, posuit per Metamorphosin +figuram suam, in ipsum Iudam, sķcque Iudęi in ambiguo lumine nocturni +temporis, pro Iesu Iudam capientes, ligantes, trahentes, deridentes, in +fine crucifixerunt, putantes se omnia facere Iesu, qui protinus capto et +ligato Iuda, viuus ascendit in cęelum, descensurus iterum viuus ad iudicium +in die finali. + +Et addit, Iudęos falsissimč vsque hodie nos Christianos suo mendacio +decipere, quo dķcunt se Iesu crucifixisse quem non tetegerunt. Hinc errorem +tenent Sarraceni obstinati: et quoddam argumentum inire conantur. Nam si +Deus (aiunt) permisisset Iesum, innocentem, et iustum ita miserabiliter +occidi, censuram suę summę iustitię minuisset. [Sidenote: Conuersio +Saracenorum non desperanda.] Sed cłm ipsi, vt supradictum est, in tenebris +ambulant, idcircņ ignorantes Dei iustitiam, statuere volunt iustitiam, imo +iniustitiam quam fabricant in corde suo, quia nos de cruce Christi scriptum +nouimus, benedictum est lignum per quod fit iustitia. Isti tamen quod in +aliquibus appropinquant verę fidei, multi quandoque eorum inuenti sunt +conuersi, et plures adhuc de facili conuerterentur, si haberunt +prędicatores, sincerč eis verbum tractantes, quippe cłm iam fateantur legum +Mahometi quandoque defecturam, sicut nunc perijt lex Iudęorum, et legem +Christianorum vsque in finem seculi permansuram. + + +CAPVT 22. + +De vita, et nomine Mahometi. + +Promisi in superioribus aliquid narrare de vita Mahometi legislatoris +Sarracenorum, prout vidi in scriptis, vel audiui in partibus illis. Itaque +Macho, siue Machon, vtrum in secunda syllaba scribatur N, litera, vel non +idem refert: et si tertia syllaba addatur, et dicatur Machomet, vel etiam +quarta, Machometus, nihil differt, quņd semper idem nomen representat. Ipsi +tamen illum sępiłs nominant Machon. Putatur autem istum Mahomet habuisse +generationis ortum de Ismael Abrahę filio naturali de concubina Agar, vnde +et vsque hodie quidam Sarracenorum dicuntur Ismaelitę, alij Agarenķ: sed et +quidam Moabitę, et Ammonitę, ą duobus Loth filijs Moab et Amon, genitis per +incestum de proprijs filiabus. + +[Sidenote: Tempus Natiuitatis Mahometi.] Hic verņ Machon, circa annum +incarnationis Domini sexcentissimum natus, in Arabia pauper erat gratis +pascens camelos, et interdum sequens Mercatores in Aegyptum fordellos +illorum proprio collo deferens pro mercede. Et quoniam tunc temporis tota +Aegyptus erat Christianę fidei, didicit aliquid de fide nostra, quod +diuertere solebat ad cellulam Heremitę commorantis in deserto. [Sidenote: +Fabulę Saracenorum.] Et quodammodo fabulantur Sarraceni, quod illo +quandoque ingrediente cellulam, cellulę ostium mutatum in ianuam valdč +patentem, velut ante palatium, et gloriantur hoc primum miraculum. Qui ex +tunc conquerendo sibi pecunias, et discendo seculi actus diues est +effectus, et prudens ab omnibus reputatus, in tantum, vt postmodum in terrę +gubernatorem Corrozęn, (quę est vna prouinciarum regni Arabię) assumeretur, +ac de inde defuncto principe Codige per coniugium illius relictę in eiusdem +prouincię principem eleuaretur. Erat autem satis formosus, et valens, et +vltra modum in verbis et factis maturus, et principalis, et satis +diligebatur ą suis, magis tamen metuebatur, et erat epilepticus, nemine +tamen sciente. Sed tandem ab vxore comperto contristabatur, se tali morbido +nuptam, qui versutus fefellit, et consolabatur moestam figmento mendacij +excogitati, dicens sanctum Dei Archangelum Gabrielem ad colloquendum et +inspirandum sibi, quędam arcana et diuina interdum venire, et pro virtute +aut claritate veniente se subito cadere et iacere ad intendendum +inspirationem. + + +[Sidenote: Incrementum authoritatis Mahometi.] Post hoc autem, mortuo etiam +Rege Arabię, tanta egit per simulationem sanctitatis, per donorum +effusionem, et copiam promissionum, quod electus est et assumptus, in +totias Arabię Regem. + +[Sidenote: Tempus promulgationis Alcharani.] Confirmato igitur Mahometo in +regnationis suę maiestate suprema, transactis ą conceptione Domini nostri +Iesu Christi annis solaribus 612. in die Iouis feria quinta Hebdomadę +promulgauit pręfatum detestandę legis suę librum, plenum perfidię et +erroris, et ą subditis tempore vitę suę seruari coegit, qui et vsque hodie +in tanto ęuo, et tot populis non sine iusto Dei iudicio colitur et +seruatur, quamuis miserabile, et miserandum videtur, quod tot animę in illo +perduntur. Erat quoque tempore regni eius et alius Heremita in deserto +Arabię, quem etiam quasi pro deuotione frequentare solebat, ducens secum +aliquos de principibus et famlia. Super quo plures eorum attediati +tractabant occidere Heremitan. [Sidenote: Occasio vina, interdicendi +Sarracenis.] Accedit tandem vna noctium, vt rex Heremitam et seipsum +inebriaret, et inter loquendum ambo consopiti dormirent. Et ecce habita +occasione comites gladio de latere Regis clam extracto Heremitam +interfecerunt, iterum clam condentes cruentum gladium in vagina: ac ille +euigilans virum videns occisum, magno furore succensus imposuit familię +factum, volens omnes per iustitiam condemnari ad mortem. Cumque coram +iudicibus et sapientibus ageretur, hi omnes pari concordia, simili voce, et +vno ore testabantur tam diuisim quam coniunctim, Regem in ebrietate sua +hominem occidisse, quamuis fortassis esset facti oblitus. Et in plenariam +rei probationem, dixerunt ipsum reposuisse mucronem in loculo nudum +intersum, sed calido cruore madentem. Quo ita inuento, ac tantis rex +obrutus testificationibus nimiłm erubuit, plenč obmutuit, et confusus +recessit. Et ob hoc omnibus diebus suis vina bibere renunciauit: et in lege +sua ą cunctis bibi vetuit, ac vniuersis bibentibus, colentibus, et +vendentibus maledixit. Cuius maledictio couertatur in caput eius, et in +verticem ipsius iniquitas eius descendat, cum de vino scriptum constet, +quņd Deum et homines lętificet. [Sidenote: Potus Sarracenorum.] Igitur de +eo Sarraceni in sua superstitione deuoti vinum non bibunt, quanquam plures +eorum quņd timent in publico non verentur in secreto. + +Est autem communis potus eorum dulcis, delectabilis, et nutritiuus de +Casaniel confectus, de qua et Saccarum fieri solet. + +[Sidenote: Alias Mecca.] Mahometus iste post mortem suam pessimam (mors +enim peccatorum pessima) conditus fuit honorificč in capsa, ditissimo auro, +et argento, et saxis perornata in vna ciuitate regni sui Arabię, vbi et pro +sancto, et vero Dei nuncio incepit deuotč coli ą suis per annos ducentos +sexaginta, atque ex tunc circa annum Domini nongentissimum cum veneratione +multa cadauer eius translatum est, in digniorem ciuitatem dictam Merchuel +Iachrib, vbi iam longe lateque pro maximo sanctorum, ą cordibus ą diabolica +fraude deceptis colitur, requiritur et adoratur. + +[Sidenote: Oregus a Templarijs proditus.] In ipsius translatione ipsa +ciuitas restaurabatur, et firmabatur multņ honorificentiłs, et fortiłs +destructione sua, quę per Carolum magnum Regem Francię antea fuit plenč +annihilata, dum Ogerus dux Danorum pręfatus in ea tenebatur captiuus, quem +Templarij ad filios Brehir Regis Sarracenorum cum traditione vendiderant, +eņ quņd ipse Ogerus dictum Brehir in proelio occiderat, iuxta Lugdunum +Francię ciuitatem. Et si quando nationis alterius quis ad legem conuertitur +Sarracenorum, dum a flamine eorum recipiendus est, dicit et facit eum Dei +nuncium, et repetit sic: Lęllech ella alla Mahomet zoyzel alla heth: quod +valet tantum: Non est Deus nisi vnus, et Mahomet fuit eius nuncius. + + +CAPVT. 23. + +De colloquio Authoris cum Soldano. + +Finaliter Sarraceni ponunt Iudęos malos, eņ quod legem Dei violauerunt sibi +missam, et commissam per Mosem. Et ą simili probant Christianos malos, quod +non seruant legem Euangelij Christi, quam seruandam susceperint. [Sidenote: +Error eorum qui putant vnumquemque in sua religione posse beari.] Inest +enim ijs falsa persuasio ita vt putent vnumquemque in ea qua natus est +secta posse beari, si susceptam seruauerit illibatč: ideoque probant ab +opposito se esse bonos, quia, sicut dicunt, obseruant scripta legis +pręcepta et ceremonias sancti libri sui ą Deo sibi transmissi per beatum +nuncium suum Mahomet. Vnde et ego non tacebo quid mihi contigit. + +Dominus Soldanus quodam die in castro, expulsis omnibus de camera sua, me +solłm retinuit secum tanquam pro secreto habendo colloquio. [Sidenote: +Colloquium Soldani cum Mandeuillo.] Consuetum enim est ijs eijcere omnes +tempore secretorum: qui diligenter ą me interrogauit qualis esset +gubernatio vitę in terra nostra, breuiter respondebam, bona, per Dei +gratiam, qui recepto hoc verbo dixit ita non esse. [Sidenote: Reprehensio +Sacerdotum.] Sacerdotes (inquit) vestri, qui seipsos exhibere deberent +alijs in exemplum, in malis iacent actibus, parłm curant de Templi +seruitio: habitu et studijs se conformant mundo: se inebriant vino, +continentiam infringentes, cum fraude negotiantes, ac praua principibus +consilia ingerentes. [Sidenote: Reprehensio vulgi iustissima.] Communis +quoque populus, dum festus diebus intendere deberent deuotioni in templo, +currit in hortis, in spectaculis, in tabernis vsque ad crapulam, et +ebrietatem, et pinguia manducans et bibens, ac in bestiarum morem, luxuriam +prauam exercens. [Sidenote: Vestimentorum varietas reprehensa.] In vsura, +dolo, rapina, furto, detractione, mendacio et periurio viuunt plures eorum +euidenter, ac si qui talia non agant, vt fatui reputantur, et pro nimia +cordis superbia nesciunt ad libitum excogitare, qualiter se velint habere, +mutando sibi indumenta, nunc longa, nunc curta nimis, quandoque ampla, +quandoque stricta vltra modum, vt in his singulis appareant derisi potiłs +quam vestiti: pileos quoque, calceos, caligas, corrigias sibi fabricante +exquisitas, cłm etiam č contra deberent secundłm Christi sui doctrinam +simplices, Deo deuoti, humiles, veraces, inuicem diligentes, inuicem +concordantes, et inluriam de facili remittentes. Scimus etiam eos propter +peccata sua perdidisse hanc terram optimam quam tenemus, nec timemus eam +amittere, quamdiu se taliter gubernant. Attamen non dubitamus, quin in +futurum per meliorem vitę conuersatķonem merebuntur de nostris eam manibus +recuperare. + +Ad hoc ego vltra confusus et stupefactus, nequiui inuenire responsum; +verebar enim obloqui veritati, quamuis ab Infidelis ore prolatę, et vultu +prę rubore demisso percunctatus sum, Domine, salua reuerentia, qualiter +potestis ita plenč hoc noscere? De hominibus (ait) meis interdum mitto ad +modum Mercatorum per terras, et regiones Christianorum, cum Balsamo, +gemmis, sericis, ac aromatibus, ac per illos singula exploro, tam de statu +Imperatoris, ac Pontificum, Principum, ac Sacerdotum, quąm Pręlatorum, nec +non ęquora, prouincias, ac distinctiones earum. + +Igitur peracta collocutione nostra satis producta, egressos principes in +cameram reuocauit, ex quibus quatuor de maioribus iuxta nos aduocans, fecit +eos expressč ac debitč, per singulas diuisiones in lingua Gallicana +destinguere per partes, et singuarum nomina partium, omnem regionem terrę +Anglię, ac alias Christianorum terras multas, acsi inter nostros fuissent +nati, vel multo tempore conuersati. + +Nam et ipsum Soldanum audiui cum ijs bene et directč loquentem idioma +Francorum. Itaque in omnibus his mente consternatus obmutui, cogitans, et +dolens de peccatis singulis, rem taliter se habere. + +Nunc pič igitur (rogo) consideremus, et corde attendamus, quantę sit +confusionis, et qualis opprobrij, dum Christiani nominis inimici nobis +nostra exprobrant crimina. [Sidenote: Insignis Mandeuilli peroratio.] Et +student quilibet in melius emendare, quatenus (Deo propitio) possit in +breui tempore, hęc, de qua loquimur, terra Deo delecta, hęc sacrosancta +terra, hęc filijs Dei promissa, nobis Dei adoptiuis restitui: vel certč, +quod magis exorandum est, ipsi Sarraceni ad fidem Catholicam, et +Christianam obedientiam, Ecclesię filijs aggregari, vt simul omnes per +Dominum nostrum Iesum Christum consubstantialem Dei filium perueniamus ad +coelestem Paradisum. + +Explicit prima pars huius operis. + + +The English Version. + +Betheleem is a litylle cytee, long and narwe and well walled, and in eche +syde enclosed with gode dyches; and it was wont to ben cleped Effrata; as +Holy Writt seythe, _Ecce audivimus cum in Effrata_; that is to seye, _Lo, +we herde him in Effrata_. And toward the est ende of the cytee, is a fulle +fair chirche and a gracyouse; and it hathe many toures, pynacles and +corneres, fulle stronge and curiously made: and with in that chirche ben 44 +pyleres of marble, grete and faire. And betwene the cytee and the chirche +in the felde floridus; that is to seyne, the feld florisched: for als moche +as a fayre mayden was blamed with wrong, and sclaundred, that sche hadde +don fornycacioun; for whiche cause sche was demed to the dethe, and to be +brent in that place, to the whiche sche was ladd. And as the fyre began to +brenne about hire, sche made hire preyeres to oure Lord, that als wissely +as sche was not gylty of that synne, that he wold helpe hire, and make it +to be knowen to alle men, of his mercyfulle grace. And whan sche hadde thus +seyd, sche entred in to the fuyer: and anon was the fuyr quenched and oute: +and the brondes that weren brennynge, becomen rede roseres; and the brondes +that weren not kyndled, becomen white roseres, fulle of roses. And theise +weren the first roseres and roses, both white and rede, that evere ony man +saughe. And thus was this mayden saved be the grace of God. And therfore is +that feld clept the feld of God florysscht: for it was fulle of roses. Also +besyde the queer of the chirche, at the right syde, as men comen dounward +16 greces, [Footnote: Steps.] is the place where oure Lord was born, that +is fulle welle dyghte of marble, and fulle richely peynted with gold, +sylver, azure, and other coloures. And 3 paas besyde, is the crybbe of the +ox and the asse. And besyde that, is the place where the sterre fell, that +ladde the 3 kynges, Jaspar, Melchior and Balthazar: but men of Grece clepen +hem thus, Galgalathe, Malgalathe and Saraphie: and the Jewes clepen in this +manere, in Ebrew, Appelius, Amerrius and Damasus. Theise 3 kynges offreden +to oure Lord, gold, ensence and myrre: and thei metten to gedre, thorghe +myracle of God; for thei metten to gedre in a cytee in Ynde, that Men +clepen Cassak, that is 53 journeyes fro Betheleem; and thei weren at +Betheleem the 13 day. And that was the 4 day aftre that thei hadden seyn +the sterre, whan they metten in that cytee: and thus thei weren in 9 dayes, +fro that cytee at Betheleem; and that was gret myracle. Also undre the +cloystre of the chirche, be 18 degrees, at the righte syde, is the +charnelle of the innocentes, where here bones lyzn. And before the place +where oure Lord was born, is the tombe of Seynt Jerome, that was a preest +and a cardynalle, that translatede the Bible and the psaultere from Ebrew +in to Latyn: and witheoute the mynstre; is the chayere that he satt in, +whan he translated it. And faste besyde that chirche, a 60 fedme, +[Footnote: Fathom.] is a chirche of Seynt Nicholas, where oure Lady rested +hire, aftre sche was lyghted of oure Lord. And for as meche as sche had to +meche mylk in hire pappes, that greved hire, sche mylked hem on the rede +stones of marble; so that the traces may zit be sene in the stones alle +whyte. And zee schulle undrestonde, that alle that duellen in Betheleem ben +Cristene men. And there ben fayre vynes about the cytee, and gret plentee +of wyn, that the Cristene men han don let make. But the Sarazines ne tylen +not no vynes, ne thei drynken no wyn. For here bokes of here lawe, that +Makomete betoke hem, whiche thei clepen here Alkaron, and sume clepen it +Mesaphe; and in another langage it is cleped Harme; and the same boke +forbedethe hem to drinke wyn. For in that boke, Machomete cursed alle tho +that drynken wyn, and alle hem that sellen it. For sum men seye, that he +sloughe ones an heremyte in his dronkenesse, that he loved ful wel: and +therefore he cursed wyn, and hem that drynken it. But his curs be turned in +to his owne hed; as Holy Wrytt seythe; _Et in verticem ipsius iniquitas +ejus descendet_; that is for to seye, _Hi wykkednesse schalle turne and +falle in his owne heed_. And also the Sarazines bryngen forthe no pigges, +nor thei eten no swynes flessche: for thei seye, it is brother to man, and +it was forboden be the olde lawe: and thei holden hem alle accursed that +eten there of. Also in the lond of Palestyne and in the lond of Egypt, thei +eten but lytille or non of flessche of veel or of beef; but he be so old, +that he may no more travayle for elde; for it is forbode: and for because +the have but fewe of hem, therfore thei norisschen hem, for to ere here +londes. In this cytee of Betheleem was David the kyng born: and he hadde 60 +wyfes; and the firste wyf hihte Michol: and also he hadde 300 lemmannes. + +An fro Betheleem unto Jerusalem nys but 2 myle. And in the weye to +Jerusalem, half a myle fro Betheleem is a chirche, where the aungel seyde +to the scheppardes, of the birthe of Crist. And in that weye is the tombe +of Rachelle, that was Josephes modre, the patriarke; and sche dyede anon, +aftre that sche was delyvered of hire sone Beniamyn; and there sche was +buryed of Jacob hire husbonde: and he leet setten 12 grete stones on here, +in tokene that sche had born 12 children. [Footnote: Rachel had only two +children, but twelve grandchildren.] In the same weye, half myle fro +Jerusalem, appered the sterre to the 3 kynges. In that weye also ben manye +chirches of Cristen men, be the whiche men gon towardes the cytee of +Jerusalem. + + +Of the Pilgrimages in Jerusalem and of the Holy Places thereaboute. + +[Sidenote: Cap. VII.] After for to speke of Jerusalem, the holy cytee, zee +schulle undirstonde, that it stont fulle faire betwene hilles: and there +ben no ryveres ne welles; but watre comethe be condyte from Ebron. And zee +schulle undirstonde, that Jerusalem of olde tyme, unto the tyme of +Melchisedeche, was cleped Jebus; and aftre it was clept Salem, unto the +tyme of Kyng David, that putte theise 2 names to gidere, and cleped it +Jebusalem; and aftre that Kyng Salomon cleped it Jerosoloyme: and aftre +that, men cleped it Jerusalem; and so it is cleped zit. And aboute +Jerusalem is the kyngdom of Surrye: and there besyde is the lond of +Palestyne: and besyde it is Ascolone: and besyde that is the lond of +Maritaine. But Jerusalem is in the lond of Judee; and it is clept Jude, for +that Judas Machabeus was kyng of that contree; and it marchethe estward to +the kyngdom of Arabye; on the southe syde, to the lond of Egipt; and on the +west syde, to the grete see; on the north syde, towarde the kyngdom of +Surrye, and to the See of Cypre. In Jerusalem was wont to be a patriark, +and erchebysshoppes and bisshoppes abouten in the contree. Abouten +Jerusalem ben theise cytees: Ebron, at 7 myle; Jerico, at 6 myle; Bersabee, +at 8 myle; Ascalon, at 17 myle; Jaff, at 16 myle; Ramatha, at 3 myle; and +Betheleem, at 2 myle. And a 2 myle trom Betheleem, toward the sowthe, is +the chirche of Seynt Karitot, that was abbot there; for whom thei maden +meche Doel [Footnote: Mourning.] amonges the monkes, whan he scholde dye; +and zit thei ben in moornynge, in the wise that thei maden here +lamentacioun for him the firste tyme: and it is fulle gret pytee to +beholde. + +This contree and lond of Jerusalem hathe ben in many dyverse naciounes +hondes: and often therfore hathe the contree suffred meche tribulacioun, +for the synne of the people, that duellen there. For that contree hathe ben +in the hondes of alle nacyouns: that is to seyne, of Jewes, of Chananees, +Assiryenes, Perses, Medoynes, Macedoynes, of Grekes, Romaynes, of Cristene +men, of Sarazines, Barbaryenes, Turkes, Tartaryenes, and of manye othere +dyverse nacyouns. For God wole not, that it be longe in the hondes of +trytoures ne of synneres, be thei Cristene or othere. And now have the +hethene men holden that lond in here hondes 40 zeere and more: but thei +schulle not holde it longe, zif God wole. + +And zee schulle undirstond, that whan men comen to Jerusalem, here first +pilgrymage is to the Chirche of the Holy Sepulcre, where oure Lord was +buryed, that is with oute the cytee, on the northe syde: but it is now +enclosed in, with the toun walle. And there is a fulle fayr chirche, alle +rownd, and open above, and covered with leed. And on the west syde is a +fair tour and an highe, for belles, strongly made. And in the myddes of the +chirche is a tabernacle, as it were a lytylle hows, made with a low lytylle +dore: and that tabernacle is made in manere of half a compass, righte +curiousely and richely made, of gold and azure and othere riche coloures, +fulle nobelyche made. And in the righte syde of that tabernacle is the +sepulcre of oure Lord. And the tabernacle is 8 fote longe, and 5 fote wyde, +and 11 fote in heighte. And it is not longe sithen the sepulcre was alle +open, that men myghte kisse it and touche it. But for pilgrymes that comen +thidre, peyned hem to breke the ston in peces or in poudre, therfore the +Soudan hathe do make a walle aboute the sepulcre, that no man may towche +it. But in the left syde of the walle of the tabernacle is well the heighte +of a man, a gret ston to the quantytee of a mannes hed, that was of the +holy sepulcre: and that ston kissen the pilgrymes, that comen thidre. In +that tabernacle ben no wyndowes: but it is alle made lighte with lampes, +that hangen before the sepulcre. And there is a lampe, that hongethe before +the sepulcre, that brennethe lighte: and on the Gode Fryday it gothe out be +him self; and lyghtith azen be him self at that oure, that oure Lorde roos +fro dethe to lyve. Also within the chirche, at the righte syde, besyde the +queer of the chirche, is the Mount of Calvarye, where oure Lord was don on +the Cros: and it is a roche of white colour, and a lytille medled with red: +and the Cros was set in a morteys, in the same roche: and on that roche +dropped the woundes of our Lord, whan he was payned on the Crosse; and that +is cleped Golgatha. And men gon up to that Golgotha be degrees: and in the +place of that morteys was Adames hed founden, aftre Noes flode; in tokene +that the synnes of Adam scholde ben boughte in that same place. And upon +that roche made Abraham sacrifice to oure Lord. And there is an awtere: and +before that awtere lyzn Godefray de Boleyne and Bawdewyn, and othere +Cristene kynges of Jerusalem; And there nyghe, where our Lord was +crucyfied, is this written in Greek, [Greek: Ho Theos Basileus hęmon pro +aionon eirgasato aotęrian en meso tęs gęs.] that is to seyne, in Latyn, +_Deus Rex noster ante secula operatus est salutem, in medio terrę_; that is +to seye, _Gode oure Kyng, before the worldes, hathe wroughte hele in myddis +of the erthe_. And also on that roche, where the Cros was sett, is writen +with in the roche theise, wordes; [Greek: Ho eideis esti basis tęs pisteos +holęs tou kosmou touton.] that is to seyne in Latyn, _Quod vides, est +fundamentum totius Fidei hujus Mundi_; that is to seyne, _That thou seest, +is ground of alle the feythe of this world_. And zee schulle undirstonde, +that whan oure Lord was don upon the Cros, he was 33 zere and 3 moneths of +elde. And the prophecye of David seythe thus: _Quadraginta annis proximus +fui generationi huic_; that is to seye, _fourty zeer was I neighebore to +this kynrede_. And thus scholde it seme, that the prophecyes ne were not +trewe: but thei ben bothe trewe: for in old tyme men maden a zeer of 10 +moneths; of the whiche Marche was the firste, and Decembre was the laste. +But Gayus, that was Emperour of Rome, putten theise 2 monethes there to, +Janyver and Feverer; and ordeyned the zeer of 12 monethes; that is to seye, +365 dayes, with oute lepe zeer, aftre the propre cours of the sonne. And +therfore, aftre cowntynge of 10 monethes of the zeer, de dyede in the 40 +zeer; as the prophete seyde; and aftre the zeer of 12 monethes, he was of +age 33 zeer and 3 monethes. Also with in the Mount Calvarie, on the right +side, is an awtere, where the piler lyzthe, that oure Lord Jesu was bounden +to, whan he was scourged. And there besyde ben 4 pileres of ston, that alle +weys droppen watre: and sum men seyn, that thei wepen for our Lordes dethe. +And nyghe that awtier is a place undre erthe, 42 degrees of depnesse, where +the holy croys was founden, be the wytt of Seynte Elyne, undir a roche, +where the Jewes had hidde it. And that was the verray croys assayed: for +thei founden 3 crosses; on of oure Lord, and 2 of the 2 theves: and Seynte +Elyne preved hem on a ded body, that aros from dethe to lyve, whan it was +leyed on it that oure Lord dyed on. And there by in the walle is the place +where the 4 nayles of oure Lord weren hidd: for he had 2 in his hondes, and +2 in his feet: and of on of theise, the Emperour of Costantynoble made a +brydille to his hors, to bere him in bataylle: and thorghe vertue there of, +he overcam his enemyes, and wan alle the lond of Asye the lesse; that is to +seye, Turkye, Ermonye the lasse and the more; and from Surrye to Jerusalem, +from Arabye to Persie, from Mesopotayme to the kyngdom of Halappee, from +Egypt the highe and the lowe, and all the othere kyngdomes, unto the Depe +of Ethiope, and into Ynde the lesse, that then was Cristene. And there were +in that tyme many gode holy men and holy heremytes; of whom the book of +fadres lyfes spekethe: and thei ben now in Paynemes and Sarazines honds. +But whan God alle myghty wole, righte als the londes weren lost thorghe +synne of Cristene men, so schulle thei ben wonnen azen be Cristen men +thorghe help of God. And in myddes of that chirche is a compas, in the +whiche Joseph of Aramathie leyde the body of oure Lord, whan he had taken +him down of the cross: and there he wassched the woundes of oure Lord: and +that compas, seye men, is the myddes of the world. And in the Chirche of +the Sepulchre, on the north syde, is the place where oure Lord was put in +presoun; (for he was in presoun in many places) and there is a partye of +the Cheyne that he was bounden with: and there he appered first to Marie +Magdaleyne, whan he was rysen; and sche wende, that he had ben a gardener. +In the chirche of Seynt Sepulchre was wont to ben chanouns of the ordre of +Seynt Augustyn, and hadden a priour; but the patriark was here sovereygne. +And withe oute the dores of the chirche, on the right syde, as men gon +upward 18 Greces, seyde oure Lord to his moder, _Mulier, ecce filius tuus_; +that is to seye, _Woman, lo thi Sone_. And aftre that, he seyde to John his +disciple, _Ecce mater tua_; that is to seyne, _Lo, behold thi modir_: And +these wordes he seyde on the cros. And on theise Greces wente oure Lord, +whan he bare the crosse on his schuldir. And undir this grees is a +chapelle; and in that chapelle syngen prestes, yndyenes; that is to seye, +prestes of ynde; noght aftir oure lawe, but aftir here: and alle wey thei +maken here sacrement of the awtier, seyenge, _Pater noster_, and othere +preyeres there with: with the which preyeres, thei seye the wordes, that +the sacrement is made of. For thei ne knowe not the addiciouns, that many +Popes han made; but thei synge with gode devocioun. And there nere, is the +place where that oure Lord rested him, whan he was wery, for berynge of the +Cros. And zee schulle undirstonde, that before the Chirche of the Sepulcre, +is the cytee more feble than in ony othere partie, for the grete playn that +is betwene the chirche and the cytee. And toward the est syde, with oute +the walles of the cytee, is the Vale of Josaphathe, that touchethe to the +walles, as thoughe it were a large dyche. And anen that Vale of Josaphathe, +out of the cytee, is the Chirche of Seynt Stevene, where he was stoned to +dethe. And there beside, is the gildene zate, that may not ben opened; be +the whiche zate, oure Lord entrede on Palmesonday, upon an asse; and the +zate opened azenst him, whan he wolde go unto the temple: and zit apperen +the steppes of the asses feet, in 3 places of the degrees, that ben of +fulle harde ston. And before the chirche of Seynt Sepulcre, toward the +southe, a 200 paas, is the gret hospitalle of Seynt John; of the whiche the +hospitleres hadde here foundacioun. And with inne the palays of the seke +men of that hospitalle ben 124 pileres of ston: and in the walles of the +hows, with oute the nombre aboveseyd, there ben 54 pileres, that beren up +the hows. And fro that hospitalle, to go toward the est, is a fulle fayr +chirche, that is clept _Nostre Dame la Graund_. And than is there another +chirche right nyghe, that is clept _Nostre Dame la Latytne_. And there +weren Marie Cleophee and Marie Magdaleyne, and teren here heer, whan oure +Lord was peyned in the cros. + + +Of the Temple of oure Lord. Of the Crueltee of Kyng Heroud. Of the Mount + Syon. Of Probatica Piscina. And of Natatorium Siloe. + +[Sidenote: Cap. VIII.] And fro the chirche of the sepulcre, toward the est, +at 160 paas, is _Templum Domini_. It is right a feir hows, and it is alle +round, and highe, and covered with leed, and it is well paved with white +marble: but the Sarazine wole not suffre no Cristene manne Jewes to come +there in; for thei seyn, that none so foule synfulle men scholde not come +in so holy place: but I cam in there, and in othere places, where I wolde; +for I hadde lettres of the Soudan, with his grete seel; and comounly other +men han but his signett. In the whiche lettres he comanded of his, +specyalle grace, to all his subgettes, to lete me seen alle the places, and +to enforme me pleynly alle the mysteries of every place, and to condyte me +fro cytee to cytee, zif it were nede, and buxomly to resceyve me and my +companye, and for to obeye to alle my requestes resonable, zif thei weren +not gretly azen the royalle power, and dignytee of the Soudan or of his +lawe. And to othere, that asken him grace, suche as han served him, he ne +zevethe not but his signet; the whiche thei make to be born before hem, +hangynge on a spere; and the folk of the contree don gret worschipe and +reverence to his signett or his seel, and knelen there to, as lowly as wee +don to _Corpus Domini_. And zit men don fulle grettere reverence to his +lettres. For the admyralle and alle othere lordes, that thei ben schewed +to, before or thei resceyve hem, thei knelen doun, and than thei take hem, +and putten hem on here hedes, and aftre thei kissen hem, and than thei +reden hem, knelynge with gret reverence, and than thei offren hem to do +alle, that the berere askethe. And in this _Templum Domini_ weren somtyme +chanouns reguleres: and thei hadden an abbot, to whom thei weren obedient. +And in this temple was Charlemayn, when that the aungelle broughte him the +prepuce of oure Lord Jesu Crist, of his circumcisioun: and aftre Kyng +Charles leet bryngen it to Parys, in to his chapelle: and aftre that to +Chartres. And zee schulle undirstonde, that this is not the temple that +Salomon made: for that temple dured not, bat 1102 zeer. For Tytus, +Vespasianes sone, Emperour of Rome, had leyd sege aboute Jerusalem, for to +discomfyte the Jewes: for thei putten oure Lord to dethe, with outen leve +of the Emperour. And whan he hadde wonnen the cytee, he brente the temple +and beet it down, and alle the cytee, and toke the Jewes, and dide hem to +Dethe, 1100000: and the othere he putte in presoun, and solde hem to +servage, 30 for o peny: for thei seyde, thei boughte Jesu for 30 penyes: +and he made of hem bettre cheep, whan he zaf 30 for o peny. And aftre that +tyme, Julianas Apostate, that was Emperour, zaf leve to the Jewes to make +the Temple of Jerusalem: for he hated Cristene men; and zit he was +cristned, but he forsoke his law, and becam a renegate. And whan the Jewes +hadden made the temple, com an erthe quakeng, and cast it doun (as God +wolde) and destroyed alle that thei had made. And aftre that, Adryan, that +was Emperour of Rome, and of the lynage of Troye, made Jerusalem azen, and +the temple, in the same manere, as Salomon made it. And he wolde not suffre +no Jewes to dwelle there, but only Cristene men. For alle thoughe is were +so, that hee was not cristned, zet he lovede Cristene men, more than ony +other nacioun, saf his owne. This Emperour leet enclose the Chirche of +Seynt Sepulcre, and walle it, within the cytee, that before was with oute +the cytee, long tyme beforn. And he wolde have chaunged the name of +Jerusalem, and have cleped it Elya: but that name lasted not longe. Also +zee schulle undirstonde, that the Sarazines don moche reverence to that +temple; and thei seyn, that that place is right holy. And whan thei gon in, +thei gon barefote, and knelen many tymes. And whanne my felowes and I +seyghe that, whan we comen in, wee diden of oure shoon, and camen in +barefote, and thoughten that we scholden don as moche worschipe and +reverence there to, as ony of the mysbeleevynge men sholde, and as gret +compunction in herte to have. This temple is 64 cubytes of wydenesse, and +als manye in lengthe; and of heighte it is 120 cubites: and it is with +inne, alle aboute, made with pyleres of marble: and in the myddel place of +the temple ben manye highe stages, of 14 degrees of heighte, made with gode +pyleres alle aboute: and this place the Jewes callen _Sancta Sanctorum_; +that is to seye, _holy of halewes_. And in that place comethe no man, saf +only here prelate, that makethe here sacrifice. And the folk stonden alle +aboute, in diverse stages, aftre thei ben of dignytee or of worschipe; so +that thei alle may see the sacrifice. And in that temple ben 4 entrees; and +the zates ben of cypresse, wel made and curiousely dight. And with in the +est zate, oure Lorde seyde, _Here is Jerusalem._ And in the northsyde of +that temple with in the zate, there is a welle; but it rennethe noght; of +the whiche Holy Writt spekethe, and seythe, _Vidi aquam egredientem de +Templo_; that is to seyne, _I saughe watre come out of the Temple_. And on +that other syde of the Temple there is a roche, that men clepen Moriache: +but aftre it was clept Bethel; where the arke of God, with relykes of +Jewes, weren wont to ben put. That arke or hucche, with the relikes, Tytus +ledde with hym to Rome, whan he had scomfyted alle the Jewes. In that arke +weren the 10 commandementes, and of Arones zerde, and of Moyses zerde, with +the whiche he made the Rede See departen, as it had ben a walle, on the +righte syde and on the left syde, whils that the peple of Israel passeden +the see drye foot: and with that zerde he smoot the roche; and the watre +cam out of it: and with that zerde he dide manye wondres. And there in was +a vessel of gold, fulle of manna, and clothinges and ournements and the +tabernacle of Aaron, and a tabernacle square of gold, with 12 precyous +stones, and a boyst of jasper grene, with 4 figures, and 8 names of oure +Lord, and 7 candelstykes of gold, and 12 pottes of gold, and 4 censeres of +gold, and an awtier of gold, and 4 lyouns of gold, upon the whiche thei +bare cherubyn of gold, l2 spannes long, and the cercle of swannes of +Hevene, with a tabernacle of gold, and a table of sylver, and 2 trompes of +silver, and 7 barly loves, and alle the othere relikes, that weren before +the birthe of oure Lord Jesu Crist. And upon that roche, was Jacob +slepynge, when he saughe the aungeles gon up and doun, by a laddre, and he +seyd, _Vere locus isse sanctus est, et ego ignorabam_; that is to seyne, +_Forsothe this place is holy, and I wiste it nought_. And there an aungel +helde Jacob stille, and turned his name, and cleped him Israel. And in that +same place, David saughe the aungelle, that smot the folk with a swerd, and +put it up blody in the schethe. And in that same roche, was Seynt Symeon, +whan he resceyved oure Lord into the Temple. And in this roche he sette +him, whan the Jewes wolde a stoned him; and a sterre cam doun, and zaf him +light. And upon that roche, prechede our Lord often tyme to the peple; and +out of that seyd temple, oure Lord drof the byggeres and the selleres. And +upon that roche, oure Lord sette him, whan the Jewes wolde have stoned him; +and the roche cleef in two, and in that clevynge was oure Lord hidd; and +there cam doun a sterre, and zaf lighte and served him with claretee; and +upon that roche, satt oure lady, and lerned hire sawtere; and there our +Lord forzaf the womman hire sinnes, that was founden in Avowtrie: and there +was oure Lord circumcyded: and there the aungelle schewede tydynges to +Zacharie of the birthe of Seynt Baptyst his sone; and there offred first +Melchisedeche bred and wyn to oure Lord, in tokene of the sacrement that +was to comene; and there felle David preyeng to oure Lord, and to the +aungelle, that smot the peple, that he wolde have mercy on him and on the +peple; and oure Lorde herde his preyere; and therefore wolde he make the +temple in that place: but oure Lord forbade him, be an aungelle, for he had +don tresoun, whan he leet sle Urie the worthi knyght, for to have Bersabee +his wyf; and therfore all the purveyance, that he hadde ordeyned to make +the temple with, he toke it Salomon his sone; and he made it. And he preyed +oure Lord, that alle tho that preyeden to him, in that place, with gode +herte, that he wolde heren here preyere and graunten it hem, zif thei asked +it rightefullyche: and oure Lord graunted it him: and therfore Salomon +cleped that temple, the Temple of Conseille and of Help of God. And with +oute the zate of that temple is an awtiere, where Jewes werein wont to +offren dowves and turtles. And betwene the temple and that awtiere was +Zacharie slayn. And upon the pynacle of that temple was oure Lord brought, +for to ben tempted of the enemye, the feend. And on the heighte of that +pynacle, the Jewes setten Seynt Jame, and casted him down to the erthe, +that first was Bisschopp of Jerusalem. And at the entree of that temple, +toward the west, is the zate that is clept _Porta speciosa_. And nyghe +besyde that temple, upon the right syde, is a chirche covered with leed, +that is clept Salomones Scole. And fro that temple, towardes the southe, +right nyghe, is the Temple of Salomon, that is righte fair and wel +pollisscht. And in that temple duellen the knyghtes of the temple, that +weren wont to be clept templeres: and that was the foundacionn of here +ordre; so that there duelleden knyghtes; and in _Templo Domini_, chanouns +reguleres. Fro that temple toward the est, a 120 paas, in the cornere of +the cytee, is the bathe of oure Lord: and in that bathe was wont to come +watre fro paradys, and zit it droppethe. And there besyde, is oure ladyes +bed. And faste by, is the temple of Seynt Symeon: and with oute the +cloyster of the temple, toward the northe, is a fulle faire chirche of +Seynte Anne, oure ladyes modre: and there was oure lady conceyved. And +before that chirche, is a gret tree, that began to growe the same nyght. +And undre that chirche, in goenge doun be 22 degrees, lythe Joachym, oure +ladyes fader, in a faire tombe of ston: and there besyde, lay somtyme Seynt +Anne his wyf; but Seynt Helyne leet translate hire to Costantynople. And in +that chirche is a welle, in manere of a cisterne, that is clept _Probatica +Piscina_, that hathe 5 entrees. Into that welle, aungeles weren wont to +come from Hevene, and bathen hem with inne: and, what man that first bathed +him, aftre the mevynge of the watre, was made hool, of what maner sykenes +that he hadde: and there oure Lord heled a man of the palasye, that laye 38 +zeer: and oure Lord seyde to him, _Tolle Grabatum tuum & ambula_: that is +to seye, _Take thi bed, and go_. And there besyde, was Pylates hows. And +faste by, is Kyng Heroudes hows, that leet sle the innocentes. This Heroude +was over moche cursed and cruelle: for first he leet sle his wif, that he +lovede righte welle; and for the passynge love, that he hadde to hire, whan +he saughe hire ded, he felle in a rage, and oute of his wytt, a gret while; +and sithen he cam azen to his wytt: and aftre he leet sle his two sones, +that he hadde of that wyf: and aftre that, he leet sle another of his +wyfes, and a sone, that he hadde with hire: and aftre that, he leet sle his +owne modre: and he wolde have slayn his brother also, but he dyede +sodeynly. And aftre he fell into seknesse, and whan he felte, that he +scholde dye, he sente aftre his sustre, and aftre alle the lordes of his +lond; and whan thei were comen; he leet commande hem to prisoun, and than +he seyde to his sustre, he wiste wel, that men of the contree wolde make no +sorwe for his dethe; and therefore be made his sustre swere, that sche +scholde lete smyte of alle the heds of the lordes, whan he were ded; and +than scholde alle the lond make sorwe for his dethe, and else nought: and +thus he made his testement. But his sustre fulfilled not his wille: for als +sone as he was ded, sche delyvered alle the lordes out of presoun, and lete +hem gon, eche lord to his owne; and tolde hem alle the purpos of hire +brothers ordynance: and so was this cursed kyng never made sorwe for, as he +supposed for to have ben. And zee schulle undirstonde, that in that tyme +there weren 3 Heroudes, of gret name and loos for here crueltee. This +Heroude, of whiche I have spoken offe, was Heroude Ascalonite: and he that +leet beheden seynt John the Baptist, was Heroude Antypa: and he that leet +smyte of Seynt James hed, was Heroude Agrippa; and he putte Seynt Peter in +presoun. + +Also furthermore, in the cytee, is the Chirche of Seynt Savyour; and there +is the left arm of John Crisostom, and the more partye of the hed of Seynt +Stevene. And on that other syde of the strete, toward the southe, as men +gon to Mount Syon, is a chirche of Seynt James, where he was beheded. And +fro that chirche, a 120 paas, is the Mount Syon: and there is a faire +chirche of oure Lady, where sche dwelled; and there sche dyed. And there +was wont to ben an abbot of Chanouns Reguleres. And fro thens, was sche +born of the apostles, onto the Vale of Josaphathe. And there is the ston, +that the aungelle broughte to oure Lady, fro the Mount of Synay; and it is +of that colour, that the roche is of Seynt Kateryne. And there besyde, is +the zate, where thorghe oure Ladye wente, whan sche was with childe, whan +sche wente to Betheleem. Also at the entree of the Mount Syon, is a +chapelle; and in that chapelle is the ston gret and large, with the whiche +the sepulcre was covered with, whan Josephe of Aramathie had put oure Lord +thereinne: the whiche ston the 3 Maries sawen turnen upward, whan thei +comen to the sepulcre, the day of his resurrexioun; and there founden an +aungelle, that tolde hem of oure Lordes uprysynge from dethe to lyve. And +there also is a ston, in a walle, besyde the zate, of the pyleer, that oure +Lord was scourged ate: and there was Annes hows, that was Bishop of the +Jewes, in that ryme. And there was oure Lord examyned in the nyght, and +scourged and smytten and vylently entreted. And in that same place, Seynt +Peter forsoke oure Lord thries, or the cok creew. And there is a party of +the table, that he made his souper onne, whan be made his maundee, with his +discyples; whan he zaf hem his flesche and his blode, in forme of bred and +wyn. And undre that chapelle, 32 degrees, is the place, where oure Lord +wossche his disciples feet and zit is the vesselle, where the watre was. +And there besyde that same vesselle, was Seynt Stevene buryed. And there is +the awtier, where oure Lady herde the aungelles synge messe. And there +appered first oure Lord to his disciples, after his resurrexioun, the zates +enclosed, and seyde to hem, _Pax vobis_: that is to seye, _Pees to zou_. +And on that mount, appered Crist to Seynt Thomas the apostle, and bade him +assaye his woundes; and there beleeved he first, and seyde, _Dominus meus +et Deus meus_; that is to seye, _my Lord and my God_. In the same chirche, +besyde the awteer, weren alle the aposteles on Whytsonday, whan the Holy +Gost descended on hem, in lyknesse of fuyr. And there made oure Lord his +pask, [Footnote: Pascal feast] with his disciples. And there slept Seynt +John the Evaungeliste, upon the breeste of oure Lord Jesu Crist, and saughe +slepynge many hevenly prevytees. + +Mount Syon is with inne the cytee; and it is a lytille hiere than the other +syde of the cytee: and the cytee is strongere on that syde, than on that +other syde. For at the foot of the Mount Syon, is a faire castelle and a +strong, that the Soudan leet make. In the Mount Syon weren buryed Kyng +David and Kyng Salomon, and many othere kynges, Jewes of Jerusalem. And +there is the place, where the Jewes wolden han cast up the body of oure +Lady, whan the apostles beren the body to ben buryed, in the Vale of +Josaphathe. And there is the place, where Seynt Petir wepte fulle tenderly, +aftre that he hadde forsaken oure Lord. And a stones cast fro that +chapelle, is another chapelle, where oure Lord was jugged: for that tyme, +was there Cayphases hows. From that chapelle, to go toward the est, at 140 +paas, is a deep cave undre the roche, that is clept the Galylee of oure +Lord; where Seynt Petre hidde him, whanne he had forsaken oure Lord. Item, +betwene the Mount Syon and the Temple of Salomon, is the place, where oure +Lord reysed the mayden, in hire fadres hows. Undre the Mount Syon, toward +the Vale of Josaphathe, is a welle, that is clept _Natatorium Siloe_; and +there was oure Lord wasshen, aftre his bapteme: and there made oure Lord +the blynd man to see. And there was y buryed Ysaye the prophete. Also +streghte from Natatorie Siloe, is an ymage of ston, and of olde auncyen +werk, that Absalon leet make: and because there of, men clepen it the head +of Absalon. And faste by, is zit the tree of eldre, that Judas henge him +self upon, for despeyr that he hadde, whan he solde and betrayed oure Lord. +And there besyde, was the synagoge, where the bysshoppes of Jewes and the +pharyses camen to gidere, and helden here conseille. And there caste Judas +the 30 pens before hem, and seyde, that he hadde synned, betrayenge oure +Lord. And there nyghe was the hows of the apostles Philippe and Jacob +Alphei. And on that other syde of Mount Syon, toward the southe, bezonde +the Vale, a stones cast, is Acheldamache; that is to seye, the Feld of +Blood; that was bought for the 30 pens, that oure Lord was sold fore. And +in that feld ben many tombes of Cristene men: for there ben manye pilgrymes +graven. And there ben many oratories, chapelles and heremytages, where +heremytes weren wont to duelle. And toward the est, an 100 pas, is the +charnelle of the hospitalle of seynt John, where men weren wont to putte +the bones of dede men. + +Also fro Jerusalem, toward the west, is a fair chirche, where the tree of +the cros grew. And 2 myle fro thens, is a faire chirche; where oure lady +mette with Elizabethe, whan thei weren bothe with childe; and seynt John +stered in his modres wombe, and made reverence to his Creatour, that he +saughe not. And undre the awtier of that chirche, is the place where seynt +John was born. And fro that chirche, is a myle to the castelle of Emaux; +and there also oure Lord schewed him to 2 of his disciples, aftre His +resurrexion. Also on that other syde, 200 pas fro Jerusalem, is a chirche, +where was wont to be the cave of the lioun: and undre that chirche, at 30 +degrees of depnesse, weren entered 12000 martires, in the tyme of Kyng +Cosdroc, that the lyoun mette with alle in a nyghte, be the wille of God. +Also fro Jerusalem 2 myle, is the Mount Joye, a fulle fair place and a +delicyous: and there lythe Samuel the prophete in a faire tombe: and men +clepen it Mount Joye; for it zevethe joye to pilgrymes hertes, be cause +that there men seen first Jerusalem. Also betwene Jerusalem and the Mount +of Olyvete, is the Vale of Josaphathe, undre the walles of the cytee, as I +have seyd before: and in the myddes of the vale, is a lytille ryvere, that +men clepen Torrens Cedron; and aboven it, over thwart, lay a tre, (that the +cros was made offe) that men zeden over onne: and faste by it is a litylle +pytt in the erthe, where the foot of the pileer is zit entered; and there +was oure Lord first scourged: for he was scourged and vileynsly entreted in +many places. Also in the myddel place of the vale of Josaphathe, is the +chirche of oure lady: and it is of 43 degrees, undre the erthe, unto the +sepulchre oure lady. And oure lady was of age, when sche dyed, 72 zeer. And +beside the sepulchre of oure lady, is an awtier, where oure Lord forzaf +seynt Petir all his synnes. And fro thens, toward the west, undre an +awtere, is a welle, that comethe out of the ryvere of Paradys. And witethe +wel, that that chirche is fulle lowe in the erthe; and sum is alle with +inne the erthe. But I suppose wel, that it was not so founded: but for +because that Jerusalem hathe often tyme ben destroyed, and the walles +abated and beten doun and tombled in to the vale, and that thei han ben so +filled azen, and the ground enhaunced; and for that skylle, is the chirche +so lowe with in the erthe: and natheles men seyn there comounly, that the +erthe hathe so ben cloven, sythe the tyme, that oure Lady was there buryed: +and zit men seyn there, that it wexethe and growethe every day, with outen +dowte. In that chirche were wont to ben blake monkes, that hadden hire +abbot. And besyde that chirche, is a chapelle, besyde the roche, that +highte Gethesamany: and there was oure Lord kyssed of Judas; and there was +he taken of the Jewes; and there laft oure Lord his disciples, whan he +wente to preye before his passioun, whan he preyed and seyde, _Pater, si +fieri potest, transeat a me calix iste_; that is to seye, _Fadre, zif it +may be, do lete this chalys go fro me_. And whan he cam azen to his +disciples, he fond hem slepynge. And in the roche, with inne the chapelle, +zit apperen the fyngres of oure Lordes hond, whan he putte hem in the +roche, whan the Jewes wolden have taken him. And fro thens a stones cast, +toward the southe, is anothere chapelle, where oure Lord swette droppes of +blood. And there righte nyghe, is the tombe of Kyng Josaphathe; of whom the +vale berethe the name. This Josaphathe was kyng of that contree, and was +converted by an heremyte, that was a worthi man, and dide moche gode. And +fro thens a bowe drawghte, towards the south, is the chirche, where Seynt +James and Zacharie the prophete weren buryed. And above the vale, is the +Mount of Olyvete: and it is cleped so, for the plentee of olyves, that +growen there. That mount is more highe than the cytee of Jerusalem is: and +therfore may men, upon that mount, see manye of the stretes of the cytee. +And between that mount and the cytee, is not but the vale of Josaphathe, +that is not fulle large. And fro that mount, steighe oure Lord Jesu Crist +to Hevene, upon ascencioun day: and zit there schewethe the schapp of his +left foot, in the ston. And there is a chirche, where was wont to be an +abbot and chanouns reguleres. And a lytylle thens, 28 pas, is a chapelle, +and there in is the ston, on the whiche oure Lord sat, whan he prechede the +8 blessynges, and seyde thus: _Beati pauperes spiritu_: and there he +taughte his disciples the _Pater noster_; and wrote with his finger in a +ston. And there nyghe is a chirche of Seynte Marie Egipcyane; and there +sche lythe in a tombe. And fro then toward the est, a 3 bow schote, is +Bethfagee; to the whiche oure Lord sente Seynt Peter and Seynt James, for +to feche the asse, upon Palme Sonday, and rode upon that asse to Jerusalem. +And in comynge doun fro the Mount of Olyvete, toward the est, is a +castelle, that is cleped Bethanye: and there dwelte Symon leprous, and +there herberwed oure Lord; and aftre, he was baptized of the Apostles, and +was clept Julian, and was made bisschoppe: and this is the same Julyan, +that men clepe to for gede herberghgage; for oure Lord herberwed with him, +in his hows. And in that hous, oure Lord forzaf Marie Magdaleyne hire +synnes; there sche whassched his feet with hire teres, and wyped hem with +hire heer. And there served seynt Martha, oure Lord. There oure Lord reysed +Lazar fro dethe to lyve, that was ded 4 dayes and stank, that was brother +to Marie Magdaleyne and to Martha. And there duelte also Marie Cleophe. +That castelle is wel a myle long fro Jerusalem. Also in comynge doun fro +the Mount of Olyvete, is the place where oure Lord wepte upon Jerusalem. +And there besyde is the place, where oure lady appered to seynt Thomas the +Apostle, aftre hire assumptioun, and zaf him hire Gyrdylle. And right nyghe +is the ston, where oure Lord often tyme sat upon, whan he prechede: and +upon that same schalle he sytte, at the day of doom; righte as him self +seyde. + +Also aftre the Mount of Olyvete, is the Mount of Galilee: there assembleden +the apostles, whan Marie Magdaleyne cam, and tolde hem of Cristes +uprisynge. And there, betwene the Mount Olyvete and the Mount Galilee, is a +chirche, where the aungel seyde to our lady, of hire dethe. Also fro +Bethanye to Jerico, was somtyme a litylle Cytee: but it is now alle +destroyed; and now is there but a litylle village. That cytee tok Josue, be +myracle of God and commandement of the aungel, and destroyed it and cursed +it, and alle hem that bylled it azen. Of that citee was Zacheus the dwerf, +that clomb up in to the Sycomour Tre, for to see oure Lord; be cause he was +so litille, he myghte not seen Him for the peple. And of that cytee was +Raab the comoun womman, that ascaped allone, with hem of hire lynage; and +sche often tyme refressched and fed the messageres of Israel, and kepte hem +from many grete periles of dethe: and therfore sche hadde gode reward; as +Holy Writt seythe: _Qui accipit prophetam in nomine meo, mercedem prophetę +accipiet_; that is to seye, _He that takethe a prophete in my name, he +schalle take mede of the prophete_: and so had sche; for sche prophecyed to +the messageres, seyenge, _Novi quod Dominus tradet vobis Terram hanc_; that +is to seye, _I wot wel, that oure Lord schal betake zou this Lond_: and so +he dide. And after Salomon, Naasones sone, wedded hire; and fro that tyme +was sche a worthi womman, and served God wel. Also from Betanye gon men to +flom [Footnote: River,--Latin, _flumen_.] Jordan, by a mountayne, and +thorghe desert; and it is nyghe a day jorneye fro Bethanye, toward the est, +to a gret hille, where oure Lord fasted 40 dayes. Upon that hille, the +enemy of helle bare our Lord, and tempted him, and seyde; _Dic ut lapides +isti panes fiant_; that is to seye, _Sey, that theise stones be made +loves_. In that place, upon the hille, was wont to ben a faire chirche; but +it is alle destroyed, so that there is now but an hermytage, that a maner +of Cristene men holden, that ben cleped Georgyenes: for Seynt George +converted hem. Upon that hille duelte Abraham a gret while: and therfore +men clepen it, Abrahames gardyn. And betwene the hille and this gardyn +rennethe a lytille broke of watre, that was wont to ben byttre; but be the +blessyng of Helisee the prophete, it becam swete and gode to drynke. And at +the foot of this hille, toward the playn, is a grete welle, that entrethe +in to flom Jordan. Fro that hille to Jerico, that I spak of before, is but +a myle, in goynge toward flom Jordan. Also as men gon to Jerico, sat the +blynde man, cryenge, _Jesu, fili David, miserere mei_; that is to seye, +_Jesu, Davides sone, have mercy on me_: and anon he hadde his sighte. Also +2 myle fro Jerico is flom Jordan: and an half myle more nyghe, is a faire +chirche of Seynt John the Baptist; where he baptised oure Lord: and there +besyde, is the hous of Jeremye the prophete. + + +Of the dede See; and of the Flom Jordan. Of the Hed of Seynt John the + Baptist; and of the Usages of the Samaritanes. + +[Sidenote: Cap. IX.] And fro Jerico, a 3 myle, is the dede See. Aboute that +See growethe moche alom and of alkatram. [Footnote: Brimstone.] Betwene +Jerico and that see is the lond of Dengadde; and there was wont to growe +the bawme; but men make drawe the braunches there of, and beren hem to ben +graffed at Babiloyne; and zit men clepen hem vynes of Gaddy. At a cost of +that see, as men gon from Arabe, is the mount of the Moabytes; where there +is a cave, that men clepen Karua. Upon that hille, ladde Balak the sone of +Booz, Balaam the prest, for to curse the peple of Israel. That dede See +departethe the lond of Ynde and of Arabye; and that see lastethe from Soara +unto Arabye. The watre of that see is fulle bytter and salt: and ziff the +erthe were made moyst and weet with that watre, it wolde nevere bere fruyt. +And the erthe and the lond chaungeth often his colour. And it castethe out +of the watre a thing that men clepen aspalt; also gret peces, as the +gretnesse of an hors, every day, and on alle sydes. And fro Jerusalem to +that see, is 200 furlonges. That see is in lengthe 580 furlonges, and in +brede 150 furlonges: and it is clept the dede see, for it rennethe nought. +but is evere unmevable. And nouther manne, best, ne no thing that berethe +lif in him, ne may not dyen in that see: and that hathe ben proved manye +tymes, be men that han disserved to ben dede, that han ben cast there inne, +and left there inne 3 dayes or 4, and thei ne myghte never dye ther inne: +for it resceyvethe no thing with inne him, that berethe lif. And no man may +drynken of the watre, for bytternesse. And zif a man caste iren there in, +it wole flete aboven. And zif men caste a fedre there in, it wole synke to +the botme: and theise ben thinges azenst kynde. And also the cytees there +weren lost, be cause of synne. And there besyden growen trees, that beren +fulle faire apples, and faire of colour to beholde; but whoso brekethe hem +or cuttethe hem in two, he schalle fynde with in hem coles and cyndres; in +tokene that, be wratthe of God, the cytees and the lond weren brente and +sonken into helle. Sum men clepen that see, Lake Dalfetidee; summe, the +Flom of Develes; and summe, the flom that is ever stynkynge. And in to that +see sonken the 5 cytees, be wratthe of God; that is to seyne, Sodom, +Gomorre, Aldama, Seboym and Segor, for the abhomynable synne of sodomye, +that regned in hem. But Segor, be the preyer of Lothe, was saved and kept a +gret while: for it was sett upon an hille; and zit schewethe therof sum +party, above the watre: and men may see the walles, when it is fayr wedre +and cleer. In that cytee Lothe dwelte, a lytylle while; and there was he +made dronken of his doughtres, and lay with hem, and engendred of hem Moab +and Amon. And the cause whi his doughtres made him dronken, and for to ly +by him, was this; because thei sawghe no man aboute hem, but only here +fadre: and therfore thei trowed, that God had destroyed alle the world, as +he hadde don the cytees; as he hadde don before, be Noes flood. And +therfore thei wolde lye with here fadre, for to have issue, and for to +replenysschen the world azen with peple, to restore the world azen be hem: +for thei trowed, that ther had ben no mo men in alle the world. And zif +here fadre had not ben dronken, he hadde not y leye with hem. And the hille +aboven Segor, men cleped it thanne Edom: and aftre men cleped it Seyr, and +aftre Ydumea. Also at the righte syde of that dede See, dwellethe zit the +wife of Lothe, in lyknesse of a salt ston; fur that schee loked behinde +hire, whan the cytees sonken into helle. This Lothe was Araammes sone, that +was brother to Abraham. And Sarra Abrahames wife, and Melcha Nachors wif, +weren sustren to the seyd Lothe. And the same Sarra was of elde 90 zeer, +when Ysaac hire sone was goten on hire. And Abraham hadde another sone +Ysmael, that he gat upon Agar his chambrere. And when Ysaac his sone was 8 +dayes olde, Abraham his fadre leet him ben circumcyded, and Ysmael with +him, that was 14 zeer old: wherfore the Jewes, that comen of Ysaacces lyne, +ben circumcyded the 8 day; and the Sarrazines, that comen of Ysmaeles lyne, +ben circumcyded whan thei ben 14 zeer of age. + +And zee schulle undirstonde, that with in the dede See rennethe the Flom +Jordan, and there it dyethe; for it rennethe no furthermore: and that is a +place, that is a myle fro the Chirche of seynt John the Baptist, toward the +West, a lytille benethe the place, where that christene men bathen hem +comounly. And a myle from Flom Jordan, is the Ryvere of Jabothe, the whiche +Jacob passed over, whan he cam fro Mesopotayme. This Flom Jordan is no +great ryvere; but it is plenteous of gode fissche; and it cometh out of the +hille of Lyban be 2 welles, that ben cleped Jor and Dan: and of tho 2 +Welles hath it the name. And it passethe be a lake, that is clept Maron; +and aftre it passethe by the See of Tyberye, and passethe undre the hilles +of Gelboe: and there is a full faire vale, bothe on that o syde and on that +other of the same ryvere. And men gon the hilles of Lyban, alle in lengthe, +onto the desert of Pharan. And tho hilles departen the kyngdom of Surrye +and the contree of Phenesie. And upon tho hilles growen trees of cedre, +that ben fulle hye, and thei beren longe apples, and als grete as a mannes +heved. And also this Flom Jordan departeth the lond of Galilee, and the +lond of Ydumye and the lond of Betron: and that rennethe undre erthe a +grete weye, unto a fayre playn and a gret, that is clept Meldan, in +Sarmoyz; that is to seye, feyre or markett in here langage; be cause that +there is often feyres in that pleyn. And there becomethe the watre gret and +large. And that playn is the tombe of Job. And in that Flom Jordan +above-seyd, was oure Lorde baptized of seynt John; and the voys of God the +Fadre was herd seyenge. _Hic est Filius meus dilectus, &c._; that is to +seye, _This is my beloved sone, in the whiche I am well plesed; herethe +hym_. And the Holy Gost alyghte upon hym, in lyknesse of a colver: and so +at his baptizynge, was alle the hool trynytee. And thorghe that Flom +passeden the children of Israel, alle drye feet: and thei putten stones +there in the myddel place, in tokene of the myracle, that the watre +withdrowghe him so. Also in that Flom Jordan, Naaman of Syrie bathed him; +that was fulle riche, but he was meselle: [Footnote: Leprous.] and there +anon he toke his hele. Abouten the Flom Jordan ben manye chirches, where +that manye cristene men dwelleden. And nyghe therto is the cytee of Hay, +that Josue assayled and toke. Also beyonde the Flom Jordan, is the Vale of +Mambre; and that is a fulle fair vale. Also upon the hille, that I spak of +before, where oure Lord fasted 40 dayes, a 2 myle long from Galilee, is a +faire hille and an highe; where the enemye, the fend, bare oure Lord, the +thridde tyme, to tempte him, and schewede him alle the regiouns of the +world, and seyde, _Hic omnia tibi dabo, si cadens adoraveris me_; that is +to seyne, _All this schalle I zeve the, zif thou falle and worschipe me_. + +Also fro the dede See, to gon estward out of the marches of the Holy Lond, +that is clept the Lond of Promyssioun, is a strong castelle and a fair, in +an hille, that is clept Carak, en Sarmoyz; that is to seyne, Ryally. That +castle let make kyng Baldwyn, (that was Kyng of France) whan he had +conquered that lond; and putte it in to cristene mennes hondes, for to kepe +that contree. And for that cause, was it clept the Mownt rialle. And undre +it there is a town, that hight Sobachie: and there alle abowte dwellen +cristene men, undre trybute. Fro thens gon men to Nazarethe, of the whiche +oure Lord berethe the surname. And fro thens, there is 3 journeyes to +Jerusalem: and men gon be the provynce of Galylee, be Ramatha, be Sothym +and be the highe hille of Effraim; where Elchana and Anna, the modre of +Samuelle the prophete, dwelleden. There was born this prophete: and aftre +his dethe, he was buryed at Mount Joye, as I have seyd you before. And than +gon men to Sylo; where the arke of God with the relikes weren kept longe +tyme, undre Ely the prophete. There made the peple of Ebron sacrifice to +oure Lord: and ther thei yolden up here avowes: and there spak God first to +Samuelle, and schewed him the mutacioun of ordre of presthode, and the +misterie of the sacrement. And right nyghe, on the left syde, is Gabaon and +Rama and Beniamyn; of the whiche holy writt spekethe offe. And aftre men +gon to Sychem, sumtyme clept Sychar; and that is in the provynce of +Samaritanes; and there is a fulle fair vale and a fructuouse, and there is +a fair cytee and a gode, that men clepen Neople. And from thens is a +jorneye to Jerusalem. And there is the welle, where oure Lord spak to the +woman of Samaritan. And there was wont to ben a chirche; but it is beten +doun. Besyde that welle, Kyng Roboas let make 2 calveren of gold, and made +hem to ben worschipt, and put that on at Dan, and that other at Betelle. +And a myle fro Sychar, is the cytee of Deluze. And in that cytee dwelte +Abraham, a certeyn tyme. Sychem is a 10 myle fro Jerusalem, and it is clept +Neople; that is, for to seyne, the newe cytee. And nyghe besyde is the +tombe of Josephe the sone of Jacob, that governed Egypt: for the Jewes +baren his bones from Egypt, and buryed hem there. And thidre gon the Jewes +oftentyme in pilgrimage, with gret devocioun. In that cytee was Dyne +Jacobes doughter ravysscht; for whom hire bretheren slowen many persones, +and diden many harmes to the cytee. And there besyde, is the hille of +Garasoun, where the Samaritanes maken here sacrifice: in that hille wolde +Abraham have sacrificed his sone Ysaac. And there besyde is the vale of +Dotaym: and there is the cisterne, where Josephe was cast in of his +bretheren, which thei solden; and that is a 2 myle fro Sychar. From thens +gon men to Samarye, that men clepen now Sebast; and that is the chief cytee +of that contree: and it sytt betwene the hille of Aygnes, as Jerusalem +dothe. In that cytee was the syttinges of the 12 tribes of Israel: but the +cytee is not now so gret, as it was wont to be. There was buryed seynt John +the Baptist, betwene 2 prophetes, Helyseus and Abdyan: but he was beheded +in the castelle of Macharyme, besyde the Dede See: and aftre he was +translated of his disciples, and buryed at Samarie: and there let Julianas +Apostata dyggen him up, and let brennen his bones; (for he was that time +Emperour) and let wyndwe [Footnote: Blow away.] the ashes in the wynd. But +the fynger, that schewed oure Lord, seyenge, _Ecce Agnus Dei_; that is to +seyne, _Lo the Lamb of God_: that nolde nevere brenne, but is alle hol: +that fynger leet seynte Tecle the holy virgyne be born in to the hill of +Sebast; and there maken men gret feste. In that place was wont to ben a +faire chirche; and many othere there weren; but thei ben alle beten doun. +There was wont to ben the heed of seynt John Baptist, enclosed in the +walle; but the Emperour Theodosie let drawe it out, and fond it wrapped in +a litille clothe, alle blody; and so he leet it to be born to +Costantynoble: and zit at Costantynoble is the hyndre partye of the heed: +and the for partie of the heed, til undre the chyn, is at Rome, undre the +chirche of seynt Silvestre, where ben nonnes of an hundred ordres; and it +is zit alle broylly, as thoughe it were half brent: for the Emperour +Julianus aboyeseyd, of his cursednesse and malice, let brennen that partie +with the other bones; and zit it schewethe: and this thing hathe ben +preved, both be popes and by emperours. And the Jowes benethe, that holden +to the Chyn, and a partie of the assches, and the platere, that the hed was +leyd in, whan it was smyten of, is at Gene: and the Geneweyes maken of it +gret feste; and so don the Sarazynes also. And sum men seyn; that the heed +of seynt John is at Amyas, in Picardye: and other men seyn, that it is the +heed of seynt John the Bysschop. I wot nere, but God knowethe: but in what +wyse than men worschipen it, the blessed seynt John holt him a payd. + +From this cytee of Sebast unto Jerusalem, is 12 myle. And betwene the +hilles of that contree, there is a welle, that 4 sithes in the zeer +chaungethe his colour; sometyme grene, sometyme reed, sometyme cleer, and +sometyme trouble; and men clepen that welle Job. And the folk of that +contree, that men clepen Samaritanes, weren converted and baptized by the +apostles; but thei holden not wel here doctryne; and alle weys thei holden +lawes by hem self, varyenge from cristene men, from Sarrazines, Jewes and +Paynemes. And the Samaritanes leeven well in o Godi: and thei seyn wel, +that there is but only o God, that alle formed, and alle schalle deme: and +thei holden the Bible aftre the lettre: and thei usen the psawtere, as the +Jewes don: and thei seyn, that thei ben the righte sones of God: and among +alle other folk, thei seyn that thei ben best beloved of God; and that to +hem belongethe the heritage, that God behighte to hise beloved children: +and thei han also dyverse clothinge and schapp, to loken on, than other +folk han; for thei wrappen here hedes in red linnene cloth, in difference +from othere. And the Sarazines wrappen here hedes in white lynnene clothe. +And the Cristene men, that duellen in the contree, wrappen hem in blew of +Ynde; and the Jewes in zelow clothe. In that contree duellen manye of the +Jewes, payenge tribute, as Cristene men don. And zif zee wil knowe the +lettres, that the Jewes usen, as thei clepem hem, in manner of here _A. B. +C. Alephe, Bethe, Gymel, Delethe, He, Vau, Zay, Cy, Thet, Joht, Kapho, +Lampd [sic--KTH], Mem, Num, Samethe, Ey, Fhee, Sade, Cophe, Resch, Son, +Tau_. + + +Of the Province of Galilee, and where Antecrist schalle be born; Of + Nazarethe. Of the Age of oure Lady. Of the Day of Doom; and of the + Customes of Jacobites, Surryenes; and of the Usages of Gcorgyenes. + +[Sidenote: Chap. IX.] From this contree of the Samaritanes, that I have +spoken of before, gon men to the playnes of Galilee. And men leven the +hilles, on that o partye. And Galilee is on of the provynces of the Holy +Land: and in that provynce is the cytee of Naym and Capharnaum and +Chorosaym and Bethsayde. In this Bethseyde was Seynt Petre and Seynt Andrew +borne. And thens, a 4 myle, is Chorosaym: and 5 myle fro Chorosaym, is the +cytee of Cedar, of the psautre spekethe: _Et habitavi cum habitantibus +Cedar_; that is for to seye, _And I have dwelled with the dwellynge men in +Cedar_. In Chorosaym schalle Antecrist be born, as sum men seyn; and other +men seyn, he schalle be born in Babyloyne: for the prophete seyth; _De +Babilonia Coluber exiet, qui totum mundum devorabit_; that is to seyne, +_Out of Babiloyne schal come a worm, that schal devouren alle the world_. +This Antecrist schal be norysscht in Bethsayda, and he schal regne in +Capharnaum: and therfore seythe Holy Writt: _Ve tibi, Chorosaym: ve tibi, +Bethsayda: ve tibi, Capharnaum_; that is to seye, _Wo be to the, Chorosaym; +wo to the, Bethsayda: wo to the, Capharnaum_. And alle theise townes ben in +the lond of Galilee. And also, the cane of Galilee is 4 myle fro Nazarethe: +of that cytee was Simon Chananeus, and his wif Canee; of the whiche the +holy evaungelist spekethe off: there dide oure Lord the first myracle at +the wedyng, whan he turned water in to wyn. And in the ende of Galilee, at +the hilles, was the arke of God taken; and on that other syde is the Mownt +Hender or Hermon. And there aboute gothe the Broke of Cison: and there +besyde, Barache, that was Abymeleche sone, with Delbore the prophetisse, +overcam the Oost of Ydumea, whan Cysera the kyng was slayn of Gebelle, the +wif of Aber; and chaced beyonde the Flom Jordan, be strengthe of sword, Zeb +and Zebec and Salmana; and there he slowghe him. Also a 5 myle fro Naym, is +the cytee of Jezreel, that sometyme was clept Zarym; of the which cytee +Jezabel the cursed queen was lady and queen, that toke awey the vyne of +Nabaothe, be hire strengthe. Faste by that cytee, is the Feld Magede, in +the whiche the Kyng Joras was slayn of the Kyng of Samarie, and aftre was +translated and buryed in the Mount Syon. And a myle fro Jezrael ben the +Hilles of Gelboe, where Saul and Jonathas that weren so faire, dyeden: +wherfore David cursed hem, as holy writt seythe; _Montes Gelboe, nec Ros +nec Pluvia, &c._; that is to seye, _Zee hilles of Gelboe, nouther Dew ne +Reyne com upon you_. And a myle fro the hilles of Gelboe, toward the est, +is the cytee of Cyrople, that was clept before Bethsayn. And upon the +walles of that cytee was the hed of Saul honged. + +After gon men be the hille, besyde the pleynes of Galylee, unto Nazarethe, +where was wont to ben a gret cytee and fair: but now there is not, but a +lytille village, and houses a brood here and there. And it is not walled; +and it sytt in a litille valeye, and there ben hilles alle aboute. There +was our lady born: but sche was goten at Jerusalem. And be cause that oure +lady was born at Nazarethe, therefore bare our Lord his surname of that +town. There toke Josephe our lady to wyf, when sche was 14 zeere of age: +and there Gabrielle grette our lady, seyenge, _Ave Gratia plena, Dominus +tecum_; that is to seyne, _Heyl fulle of Grace, oure Lord is with the_. And +this Salutacioun was don in a place of a gret awteer of a faire chirche, +that was wont to be somtyme: but it is now alle downe; and men han made a +litylle resceyt, besyde a pylere of that chirche, for to resceyve the +offrynges of Pilgrymes. And the Sarrazines kepen that place fulle derely, +for the profyte that thei han there offe: and thei ben fulle wykked +Sarrazines and cruelle, and more dispytous than in ony other place, and han +destroyed alle the chirches. There nyghe is Gabrielles Welle, where oure +Lord was wont to bathe Him, whan He was yong: and fro that welle bare he +watre often tyme to his modre: and in that well sche wossche often tyme the +clowtes of hire sone Jesu Crist. And fro Jerusalem unto thidre, is 3 +journeyes. At Nazarathe was our Lord norisscht. Nazarethe is als meche to +seye, as flour of the gardyn: and be gode skylle may it ben clept flour; +for there was norisscht the flour of lyf, that was Crist Jesu. And 2 myle +fro Nazarethe, it the cytee of Sephor, be the weye, that gothe from +Nazerethe to Acon. And an half myle fro Nazarethe, is the lepe of oure +Lorde: for the Jewes ladden him upon an highe roche, for to make him lepe +doun, and have slayn him: but Jesu passed amonges hem, and lepte upon +another roche; and zit ben the steppes of his feet sene in the roche, where +he allyghte. And therfore seyn sum men, whan thei dreden hem of thefes, on +ony weye, or of enemyes; _Jesus autem transiens per medium illorum ibet_; +that is to seyne, _Jesus forsothe passynge be the myddes of hem, he wente_: +in tokene and mynde, that oure Lord passed thorghe out the Jewes crueltee, +and scaped safly fro hem: so surely mowe men passen the perile of thefes. +And than sey men 2 vers of the psautre, 3 sithes: _Irruat super eos formido +et pavor in magnitudine Brachii tui, Domine, Fiant inmobiles, quasi Lapis, +donec pertranseat populus tuus, Domine; donec pertranseat populus tuus +iste, quem possedisti_. And thanne may men passe with outen perile. And zee +schulle undirstonde, that oure lady hadde child, whan sche was 15 zeere +old: and sche was conversant with hire sone 33 zeer and 3 monethes; And +aftre the passioun of oure Lord, sche lyvede 24 zeer. + +Also fro Nazarethe, men gon to the Mount Thabor; and that is a 4 myle: and +it is a fulle faire hille, and well highe, where was wont to ben a toun and +many chirches; but thei ben alle destroyed; but zit there is a place, that +men clepen the scole of God, where he was wont to teche his disciples, and +tolde hem the prevytees of hevene. And at the foot of that hille, +Melchisedeche, that was Kyng of Salem, in the turnynge of that hille, mette +Abraham in comynge azen from the bataylle, whan he had slayn Abymeleche: +and this Melchisedeche was bothe kyng and prest of Salem, that now is +cleped Jerusalem. In that hille Thabor, oure Lord transfigured him before +seynt Petre, seynt John and seynt Jame; and there they sawghe gostly Moyses +and Elye the prophetes besyde hem: and therefore seyde seynt Petre, +_Domine, bonum est nos hic esse; faciamus tria Tabernacula_; that is to +seye, _Lorde, it is gode for us to ben here; make we here 3 dwellying +places_. And there herd thei a voys of the fadir, that seye, _Hic est +filius meus dilectus, in quo mihi bene complacui_. And oure Lord defended +hem, that thei scholde not telle that avisioun, til that he were rysen from +dethe to lyf. In that hille and in that same place, at the day of doom, 4 +aungeles, with 4 trompes, schulle blowen and reysen alle men, that hadden +suffred dethe, sithe that the world was formed, from dethe to lyve; and +schnlle comen in body and soule in juggement; before the face of oure Lord, +in the Vale of Josaphate. And the doom schalle ben on Estre Day, suche tyme +as oure Lord aroos: and the dom schalle begynne, suche houre as oure Lord +descended, to helle and dispoyled it; for at such houre schal he dispoyle +the world, and lede his chosene to blisse; and the othere schalle be +condempne to perpetuelle peynes: and thanne schalle every man have aftir +his dissert, outher gode or evylle; but zif the mercy of God passe his +rightewisnesse. + +Also a myle from Mount Thabor, is the Mount Heremaon; and there was the +cytee of Naym. Before the zate of that cytee, reysed oure Lord the wydewes +sone, that had no mo children. Also 3 myle fro Nazarethe, is the Castelle +Saffra; of the whiche, the sones of Zebedee and the sones of Alphee weren. +Also a 7 myle fro Nazarethe is the Mount Kayn; andl andre that is a welle, +and besyde that welle, Lameche Noees fadre sloughe Kaym with an arwe. For +this Kaym wente thorghe breres and bosshes, as a wylde best; and he had +lyved fro the tyme of Adam his fadir, unto the tynme of Noe; and so he +lyvode nyghe to 2000 zeer. And this Lameche was alle blynd for elde. + +Fro Saffra, men gothe to the see of Galylee and to the cytee of Tyberye, +that sytt upon the same see. And alle be it, that men clepen it a see, zit +is it nouther see ne arm of the see: for it is but a stank of fresche +watir, that is in lengthe 100 furlonges; and of brede 40 furlonges; and +hathe with in him gret plentee of fissche, and rennethe in to Flom Jordan. +The cytee it not fulle gret, but it hathe gode bathes with in him. And +there; as the Flom Jordan partethe fro the see of Galilee, is a gret +brigge, where men passen from the lond of promyssioun, to the lond of +Baazan and the lond of Gerrasentz, that ben about the Flom Jordan, and the +begynnynge of the see of Tyberie. And fro thens may men go to Damask, in 3 +dayes, be the kyngdom of Traconye; the whiche kyngdom lastethe fro mount +Heremon to the see of Galilee, or to the see of Tyberie, or to the see of +Jenazarethe; and alle is o see, and this the stank that I have told zou; +but it chaungethe thus the name, for the names of the cytees that sytten +besyde hem. Upon that see, went oure Lord drye feet; and there he toke up +seynt Peter, when he began to drenche with in the see, and seyde to him, +_Modice Fidei, quare dubitasti_? And aftre his resurrexioun, oure Lord +appered on that see, to his disciples, and bad hem fyssche, and filled alle +the nett fulle of gret fisshes. In that see rowed oure Lord often tyme; and +there he called to him, seynt Peter, seynt Andrew, seynt James and seynt +John, the sones of Zebedee. In that cytee of Tyberie, is the table, upon +the whiche oure Lord eete upon, with his disciples, aftre his resurrexioun; +and thei knewen him in brekynge of bred, as the gospelle seythe; _Et +cognoverunt cum in fractione Panis_. And nyghe that cytee of Tyberie, is +the hille, where oure Lord fedde 5 thousand persones, with 5 barly loves +and 2 fisshes. In that cytee, a man cast an brennynge dart in wratthe aftir +oure Lord, and the hed smot in to the eerthe, and wax grene, and it growed +to a gret tree; and zit it growethe, and the bark there of is alle lyk +coles. Also in the hed of that See of Galilee, toward the Septemtryon, is a +strong castelle and an highe, that highte Saphor: and fast besyde it, is +Capharnaum: with in the lond of Promyssioun, is not so strong a castelle: +and there is a gode toun benethe, that is clept also Saphor. In that +castel, seynt Anne our ladyes modre was born. And there benethe was +Centurioes hous. That contree is clept the Galilee of Folk, that weren +taken to tribute of Sabulon, and of Neptalym. And in azen comynge fro that +castelle, a 30 myle, is the cytee of Dan, that somtyme was clept Belynas, +or Cesaire Philippon, that sytt at the foot of the Mount of Lyban, where +the Flom Jordan begynnethe. There begynnethe the lond of Promyssioun, and +durethe unto Bersabee, in lengthe, in goynge toward the northe in to the +southe; and it conteynethe well a 180 myles: and of brede, that is to seye, +fro Jericho unto Jaffe, and that conteynethe a 40 myle of Lombardye, or of +our contree, that ben also lytylle myles. Theise ben not myles of Gascoyne, +ne of the provynce of Almayne, where ben gret myles. And wite zee welle, +that the lond of Promyssioun is in Sirye. For the reme of Sirye durethe fro +the desertes of Arabye, unto Cecyle, and that is Ermonye the grete, that is +to seyne, fro the southe to the northe: and fro the est to the west, it +durethe fro the grete desertes of Arabye onto the West See. But in the reme +of Syrie, is the kyngdom of Judee, and many other provynces, as Palestyne, +Galilee, litylle Cilicye, and many othere. In that contree and other +contrees bezonde, thei han a custom, whan thei schulle usen werre, and whan +men holden sege abbouten cytee or castelle, and thei with innen dur not +senden out messagers with lettres, from lord to lord, for to aske sokour, +thei maken here letters and bynden hem to the nekke of a colver, and leten +the colver flee; and the colveren ben so taughte, that threi fleen with tho +lettres to the verry place, that men wolde sende hem to. For the colveres +ben norysscht in tho places, where thei ben sent to; and thei senden hem +thus, for to beren here lettres. And the colveres retournen azen, where as +thei ben norisscht; and so thei doe comounly. + + + + +MANDEVILLE'S VOYAGES + +PART II. + + +Secunda pars. + +CAPVT. 24. + +Persuasio ad non credentes terrarum diuersitates per orben terrę. + +Mirabilis Deus mirabilia propter semetipsum creauit, vt scilicet ab +intellectualibus creaturis suis intelligeretur, et per hoc diligeretur, +atque in hoc ipse creator, et creatura se mutuo fruerentur. Mirabilis est +ergo Deus maximč in illo, quņd ipse solus sufficit sibi: et mirabilis in +altis Dominus, hoc est, in coelo et in coelestibus: sed et mirabilis in +terris, et in terrestribus: tamen si verum indicauerimus, nihil est +mirabile, quod mirum videri non debet, si ille qui omnipotens est, fecit +quęcunque voluit in coelo et in terra. Sed ecce dum nobis contingit videre +rem quam priłs non vidimus, mirątur noster animus, non quņd simpliciter +mirum est, sed quod nobis id mirum et nouum. Deus vnus, simplex quidem est, +vt creaturę coelestes quņ Deo magis de propinquo sunt eņ simpliciores +existunt. Terrestres autem quņd in situ remotiori sint, idcircņ magis +diuersę, magis contrarię inter se sunt. + +[Sidenote: Reprehensio incredulorum qui nihil credunt, nisi quod domi +viderint.] Ergo quicunque sapiens est non stupet animo, dum in terrenis +respicit res varias, et diuersas, vel dum diuersa contingunt, seu +inuenķuntur in partibus terrę diuersis: sed qui intellectum super sensum +non eleuant, et magis credunt oculo suo corporeo, quąm spirituali, et qui +nunquam ą natiuitatis suę loco recesserunt, isti vix volunt credere, seu +possunt alijs vera narrantibus de mundi diuersitatibus. + +Attamen tales, si vellent, de facili videre possint suum errorem. Quia +quicunque natus in vna ciuitate, vel patria, si tantummodo moueat se ad +proximam ciuitatem, inueniet ibi procul dubio aliquam differentiam, vel +diuersitatem in idiomate linguę, vel in modo loquendi, in moribus hominum, +in occupationibus, in legibus, in consuetudinibus, vel etiam in agrorom +fructibus, in arborum frugibus, seu in his quę gignuntur in terra, in aere, +et in aquis. + +Si ergo aliqualiter inueniri possit differentia in proximo, quanto maior +sit distantia, tanto maior differentia ęstimandi est in remoto, vel in +remotiori, seu remotissimo loco. Vnde ego, quia in pręcedente parte +tractatus narrare coepi aliqua, quę in his, et in peregrinatione mea vsque +in terram promissionis sanctam vidi, de quibus etiam potest, et poterit +constare multis, qui in partibus nostris eadem peregrinatione me +pręcesserunt, et secuti sunt, procedam in describendo aliqua illorum, quę +vidi et percepi in deambulatione mea, qua peragraui multas alias terras, et +perlegi multas vndas, vsque in multorum hoc tempus annorum, et propter +insipientes, et discredentes non tacebo. Sed nec propter credentes nec +sapientes satis mouebor; tamen vt diuersa Dei opera qui respicere non +possunt oculo, saltem legant, vel audiant ex hoc scripto. Pauca vtique vidķ +horum quę sunt, sed pauca horum quę vidi, narrabo. + + +CAPVT. 25. + +De Armenia, Persia, et Amazonia. + +De regionibus quę Iudeę contiguantur, scilicet Arabia, Aegypto et Syria, +statui modicum vltra narrare, relinquens hunc locum narrandi alijs +peregrinis. Et festinans ad terras remotiores, Armeniam minorem, non per +singulas ciuitates, sed celeriter transiens, vidi ą remotis amplum cįstrum +vocatum Dei espoyer de quo mihi sustinui dici, quod sit vastum, et ą +nemine, habitatum, nisi ą fantastica quadam Domina, seruante in medio +maioris aulę super perticam, volucrem rapacem, quę dicitur Latinč +accipiter, vel huiusmodi: quam auem, si aliquis hominum ingrediens se +custodire peruigil absque vlla somnolentia per septem continuos dies et +noctes posset, ipsa Domina in fine facti apparens concederet illi +quantamcunque faceret petitionem terrę, commodi, vel honoris, sed si +obdormiret, periret. Huic tamen dicto parłm curaui accommodare aurem, nisi +quod communiter dicebatur, in bene transacto tempore prędicta fuisse +tentata per duas personas, vnum Regem, et alterum Pastorem. Et Regi quidem +quod indebitam fecit petitionem, vile successit negotium, pastori peroptimč +successit negotium. + +In Armenia maiori, est magna et bona ciuitas Artyron ad dietam prope +fluuium Euphratem. Et sunt ibi duo montes euecti valdč, vnus Sabissatele, +alter Ararath, quorum vltimus habet per anfractius, et periodos per +ascensum vię, ferč 7. leucas, et quasi omni tempore est plenus niue. + +In illo loco fertur quicuisse Arca diluuii, cuius vnicus asser monstratur, +in Ecclesia Monachorum ad montis pedem habitantium; attamem nullus hominum +pro frigore nimio attentare pręsumit ascensum. + +Est autem et ibi ciuitas Landania, de qua nonnulli dicunt quņd Noe illam +fundauerat, et ciuitas magna Hany, in qua tempore Christianorum mille +habebantur Ecclesię. + +In illa Armenia sub Imperio Persię est famosa ciuitas Tauris, vbi de +mercimonijs ponderalibus fit inestimabilis mercatura. Hinc ad decem diates +ad Orientem habeatur ciuitas Zadona, in ea Imperator Persarum moratur, et +est in eodem imperio ciuitas valdč magna Cassach, quę recto itinere dicitur +store ab Hierosolymis 55. dietis. Geth ciuitas imperialis, et melior totius +Persię in hac terra noscitur esse, cum tamen Carnaa sit satis maior. + +Circa fines Persię in terra Sennaar, est illa quę olim dicebatur Babylonia, +nec apparet ibi aliquid, quąm ruinę grandis et vetustę cuitatis, quę ab +hominibus est deserta, sed ą Draconibus inhabitata, et alijs animalibus, et +volucribus venenosis. Hanc terram tenet Imperator Persarum, vt suprą dixi. +Etiam intra fines Persię, est terra, vbi sanctus Iob patiens morabatur, quę +modo dicitur terra Sues, in cuius montanis inuenitur Manna, quod venditur +in Apothecis. Hunc terrę Sues contiguatur Chaldęa, quę non est magna, +quamuis nobilis regio habeatur. Et ab ista intratur Amazonia. + +Amazonia est modica insula, quam absquę viris sofę regunt et inhabitant +mulieres: cuius rei prima causa hęc fuit. + +Olim cum insula communiter a viris, et mulieribus habitabatur, Rex eius +dictus Colopius cum omnibus nobilibus suis in bello contra Regnum Scithię +occisus fuit. Audientes igitur nobilium vxores ipsius insulę se viduatas, +super his, in doloroso furore animi ad plures congressiones occiderunt et +fugauerunt omnes aliarum mulierum maritos, ne scilicet sua ingennitas +subiaceret voluntati, et potestati plebis. Et tandem post reformatam inter +se pacem mulieres inito consilio statuerum se solas absque viris dominari +in terra, atque ex tunc sumi sibi regimen per certam electionis formam quę +robusta, agilis, sapiens, iuuenis, ac valens apparet in armis. + +Sciendum tamen est, extra hanc insulam flumen esse, et alias modicas +insulas, quarum vna dicitur Carmagite, de quibus licitum est ijs accessire +viros, et amasios bis in anno, ita vt nulla moram trahat septem dierum +naturalium sub poena indubitata occisionis. Infantem masculum nutrire licet +quoadusque per se comedat et gradiatur, tunc transmittendus est in domum +paternam. Generosę natę puellę aufertur ignito cultro vber sinistrum pro +scuto gerendo, degeneri dextrum, ad sagittandum de arcu Turco. + +Regina cum consķliaribus et officialibus suis regit sapienter et benč +terrąm, et seruat omnes sibi sub districta obedientia, per leges, et +poenas, et amendas conscriptas. Et cum circumiacentium insularum Reges +contra se ad inuicem proeliari solent, tunc Regina Amazonię cum suis +Nobilibus ab vna parte pro magno stipendio vocari solet in adiutorium, vbi +et inuentę sunt sapientes in consilijs, probę in armis, acres in +conflictibus, et in omnibus Curię actibus bene valentes. + + +CAPVT. 26. + +De Aethiopia, et Diamantibus, et de infima India. + +Aethiopia consistit ą terra Chaldeorum in Austrum, quę distinguitur in +Orientalem Aethiopiam, et ['and' in source text--KTH] Meridionalem, quarum +prima in illis partibus vocatur Cush, propter hominum nigredinem, altera +Mauritania. [Sidenote: Mauritania. Regnum Saba.] Et est ibi Regnum Saba, de +quo legitur, quod Regi Salomoni Regis Arabum, et Saba, dona et tributa +adduxerunt. Eņque Regina Saba venit ą finibus, hoc est, ą longinquis terrę +partibus audire sapientiam Salomonis. Omnes in Aethiopia aquę in fluuijs et +riparijs, et fontibus sapiunt Sal, propter nimium calorem. [Sidenote: +Plinius.] Est ibi vnus aquę fons ita de nocte calidus, vt nemo in eo +sustineat manum, et ita de die frigidus, vt bibi vix possit. + +Generaliter isti de Mauritania Aethiopes comedunt parum, de facili +inebriantur, fluxum ventris patiuntur nec diu viuunt. + +[Sidenote: India triplex.] De Aethiopia intratur in Indiam, mediam, nam +triplex est videlicet infima, quę in quibusdam suis partibus est nimis +frigida ad inhabitandum: Media quę satis temperata est, et superior, quę +nimis calida. In India infima propter continuum et graue frigus generatur +christallum de aqua per gelu, sicut quidam asserunt. Sed certum est ibi +haberi rupes christalli, et in illis gigni optimos Diamantes, quos lingua +illius vocant Hamefht. [Sic. 'Hamese' in English version below--KTH.] + +Est autem diamas paruus pręciosus lapis, magnę virtutis, sicut pleniłs +describitur in lapidariis. Quidam inueniuntur in magnitudine pisi, vel +etiam piso minores: alii ad quantitatem fabę, sed nullus maior auellana, +vel nuce. Et dicitur de eo in partibus illis quod si hic qui portat sit +continens, et sobrius reddit illum magnanimum et audacem, et iuuat in +causis iustis certantem, conseruat substantias corporales, aufert praua +somnia, depellit prauorum spirituum illusiones, sortilegia, et +incantationes, ac valet contra lunaticam passionem, vt dęmonis obsessionem, +et venenosum quod illi appropinquauerit exsudat, et exhumescit. + +Optimi Diamantes de India assimulantur in colore multum christallo, sed +sunt aliquantulum magis citrini, et pro sui duritie poliri non possunt. +Inueniuntur autem ibi nonnulli subnigri ad colorem violę: Alii nascuntur in +Arabia nigri, et tenuiores prędictis, alii in Macedonia, et quidam in +Cypro, sed in mineriis auri, dum prima massa in minutias confringitur, +interdum reperķuntur. Sciendum enim est, sępč plures simul crescere, nec +non generant, et concipiunt inuicem de rore coeli, quemadmodum et +Margaritę: quod ego pluries tentans, accepi de rupe cespitem cum diamante +masculo, et femella, plantans in pratello, et frequentans, focillans +madefeci de rore Maii. Et ecce in breui, paruulus ex iis gignebatur, +nascebatur, et adolescebat ad debitam quantitatem: fiunt verņ omnes per +naturam cum pluribus angulis vt trium vel quatuor, aut quinque laterum, et +nonnulli cum lateribus senis. E contra omnes margaritę nascuntur in forma +sphęrica, seu rotunda. + +Et notandum quņd mercatores, pro diamantibus frequenter aliud vendunt: Nam +solet commixtio fieri de christallo Crochee, de Saphiro, de Lonpes Citrino, +de lapide Yri, et de paruis petris ex murium nidis. Probatio veri diamantis +haberi potest his modis. + +Primņ si ita inuenitur tener, vt se poliri dimittat non est verus. + +Item si de eo non potest scindi vitrum cristallum, non est verus. + +Item accipe paruum quantitatis lapidem Adamantem, qui solet sibi attrahere +acum et ferrum, et pone verum diamantem, super adamantem, tśncque si +ministraueris adamanti acum, videbis adamantem operari nihil, vero diamante +pręsente, dum tamen adamas non sit diamante maior. + +Item si cultellum laminę tenuis, habentem in manubrio inclusum vel +alligatum verum diamantem in mensa vel assere erexeris, protinus vt ipsi +venenum appropinquabit, stabit tremulans atque sudans. Et notandum, quņd +per luxuriosum, seu gulosum qui ferret diamantem amitteret virtutem ad +tempus. + +Terra Indię appellatur ab Indo ibi currente fluuio, cuius anguillę +inueniuntur quandoque vltra 20. pedes in longitudine. In media India +transitur per multas insulas vsque ad mare Oceanum, in insulam Ormuz, vbi +Mercatores Venetię sępč tendunt, sed viri, qui assueti non sunt tantum +sustinere calorem, ne exeant perpendicula de corporibus propč ad genua, ibi +se contra hoc debitč inuoluunt, et ligant, nec audent ibi transire nauibus +ferrum continentibus, ne teneantur de rupibus adamantum. + +Hic in aliquibus Aethiopię partibus habitant publicč, inhonestorum +vtriusque sexus hominum consuetudinem inhonestam gerentes, et in ęstu +meridiano refrigerandi causa exeunt circa ciuitatem ad riparias iacere, et +discurrere nudis prorsus corporibus omni pudore reiecto, ex quo procul +dubio inhonesta vitia sequuntur. + +Est et non longč ab ista insula regio seu insula Caua vel Chaua, quę ą +primo statu multłm est minorata per mare. Hi sunt infidelissimi Paganorum. +Nam quidam adorant Solem, alij Lunam, ignem, aquam, et terram, arborem, vel +serpentem, vel cui de mane primņ obuiant. Ibi magni mures, quos nos dicimus +rattas, sunt in quantitate paruorum canum. Et quoniam per cattos capi non +possunt, capiuntur per canes maiores. + +Corpora mortuoram non sepeliuntur ibi, nec cadauera quęlibet bestiarum +operiuntur, quņd ad aeris ęstum carnes in breui tempore consumuntur, nam et +tota insula consistit sub zona torrida. Inde transiri potest per mare in +Indiam superiorem, sine maiorem, videlicet Imperium Presbyteri Ioannis ad +portum ciuitatis Zarke, quę est elegans et bona satis. In ea habitant +plurimi Catholicę fidei Christiani: et habentur plurimę Abbatię +religiosorum, quas olim Dux Danorum Ogerus constituit, vnde et vsque nunc +dicuntur Ecclesię Dani, atque ex hoc nauigari potest in terram Lombe. + + +CAPVT. 27. + +De foresto Piperis, et fonte iuuentutis. + +Regio seu insula dicta Lombe, spatiosa quidem est, continens forestum +dictum aliąs Tombar, longum per dietas 18. In orbe vniuerso non noscimus +crescere piper, pręterquąm in hoc foresto. In quo et habetur duę, +ciuitates, vna Flandrina, (et illa ciuitas inhabitata est ą Iudęis, et +Christianis, inter quos sępč magna seditio oritur) altera Singlant: quas +quondam Danus fertur fundasse Ogerus, vocans vnam Flandrinam, nomine auię +suę ex parte patris sui, alteram Florentam nomine auię ex parte matris suę, +quę mutato nomine nunc vocatur Singlant. + +Sciendum est autem, piper ibi crescere in hunc modum: sicut nos plantamus +vites aut quercus arbores robustas, vt vitis cum fructibus se spargat, vt +supportetur per ramos, sic coluntur arbusta piperis ad arbores foresti, et +sparguntur per ramos, et dependent fructus vt botri. Et venit in eodem +arbusto triplex piper in anno. + +Primum est quod vocatur longum piper, et venit priusquam nascuntur folia in +arbustis, quemadmodum nos in arbore videmus corylo in hyeme ante folia +pręcedere quasdam caudulas longas, quo circa initium vindemiato, nascuntur +cum foliis botri piperis viridis ad similitudinem paruarum vuarum. Quod +quidem circa tempus Iulii in eadem viriditate vindemiatum in ęstu feruido +siccatur ad Solem, vt accipiat nigredinem, et rugarum contractionem. + +Posteą exurgit piper album in granis minoribus, et in abundantia satis +minori, quo tanquam preciosiori vtuntur in partibus illis et rarņ vendunt +ad partes istas. + +Primum piper appellatur Sorbotyn, secundum Fulful, tertium verņ Bauos. + +Sunt autem per nemus istud fera animalia, et venenosa, sicut parui +serpentes, colubri, et huiusmodi, de quibus nescio quis famam diffundit per +nostras partes, quod vindemiatores piperis tales vermes fugant per ignem: +sed non est ita, imņ vngunt brachia manus, tibias, et pedes cum quodam +succo herbę dictę Limonse, ą quo cito diffugit omne venenum. + +In huius foresti capite sub monte Polembo, est ciuitas dicta Bolemba, et +sub eodem monte fons qui dicitur Iuuentutis. Aqua huius fontis reddit +odorem et saporem quasi de omni genere aromatum, nam singulis penč horis +immutat odorem, et saporem. Et quisquis per aliquos dies potat ieiuno +stomacho sanatur in breui tempore, ą quacunque interiori infirmitate, +languore duntaxat mortis excepto: et sanč illorum qui propč sunt, et +frequenter bibunt apparet per totum vitę tempus mira iuuentus. Ego autem +ter vel quater bibi, quamobrem et vsque hodič arbitror potius me +corporaliter valere. Putatur enim fons ille immediatč per poros +subterraneos eliquari de fonte paradisi terrestris, ita quņd nulla via +decurrentium super terram fluentium vitietur. In ista etiam regione, et in +insulis circumquaque crescit gingiber valdč bonum, vnde et mercatores sępč +ibi tendunt de Venetia pro emendo pipere et gingibere. Gentes verņ huius +insulę peruersę et stollidissimę sunt superstitionis adorantes bouem +tanquam animal beatissimum, propter eius simplicitatem mansuetudinem, +patientiam, et vtilitatem. + +Multitudo cuiuslibet ciuitatis vel uillę vnum specialem nutrit bouem, quem +postquam laborauit in aratro per sex annos immolant manducantes pariter cum +maxima solemnitate. Et quicunque inde minimam minutiam comedit, reputat se +sanctificatum totum. + +Porro apud Regem tenetur bos singularis, cuius custos diligentissimč vrinam +in uase aureo accipit simpliciter, et de fimo in vase consimili: et +quotidie venit summus eorum pręlatus quem dicunt Archiprotoplaustum, offert +personaliter in prędictis preciosis vasis, Domino Regi de bouis vrina et +fimo, atque in vrina, quam appellant Gaul, tingens manus, defricit, et +perungit Regis pectus et frontem, deinde similiter de fimo in multa cordis +attentione, ad finem vt possint assequi quatuor virtutes bouis pręfati. + +Post regem cum reuerentia accedunt, et vnguntur Barones, principes, et post +ipsos cęteri ordinati quicśnque attingere possint, putantes se sanctificari +per rem penitus non valentem, imo nimis foetidam, et inhostem. + +Pręterea populi isti colunt Idola facta ad medium in forma humana, et ad +medium in forma bouis. In quibus permissione Dei per eorum perfidiam +maligni spiritus habitant dantes de interrogatis responsa. Et hijs Idolis +offerunt infinita donari aquandoque, et sacrificant interdum proprios +infantes, ipsorum sanguine Idola respergentes. + +Dum hic maritus moritur, vxor comburitur cum marito, nisi de illo habeat +sobolem cum quo viuere solet, et vilet. Quę sibi eligit cum prole +superuiuere, non habebitur de cętero fide digna. + +Attamen in simili causa, si vir non vult cremari cum vxore mortua, non +minuit ei honorem. + +Et forte vinum nascitur ibi: quod mulieres bibunt, et non viri, vt sic +mulieribus crescant barbę, sed mulieribus raduntur, et viris minime. + + +CAPVT. 28. + +De Ecclesia et corpore Saneti Thomę Apostoli. + +Hinc Meridiem pluribus exactis Insulis per viam decem dietarum venitur in +Regnum Mabron. Illic in ciuitate Calamię, seruatur in magno templo corpus +beatissimi Thomę Apostoli Domini nostri Iesu Christi in capsa honorificata. +In quo loco et martirizatus fuit, licet dicunt quidam, quod in Edissa +ciuitate. Iste populus non est multum tempus transactum, quin fuit totus in +fidei religione, sed nunc est ad pessimos Gentilium ritus peruersus, nec +attendit, nec veneratur relliquias sancti corporis Apostoli ibidem +contentas, quamuis ijs euidens, ac vtile, et mirificum pręstare solebat +beneficium, quod infra narrabo. + +Per certas historias habetur Ducem Danorum Ogerum conquisiuisse has terras, +et in exaltatione sanctarum Apostoli relliquiarum fecisse fieri pręfatam +spectactilem Ecclesiam, ac intra, eum reponi in nobilissimo loculo gemmis +auro, argentoque decenter ornato Sanctum corpus, ac deinde post annorum +tempus trecentorum Assyrios abstulisse feretrum cum ipso corpore sancto in +Edissam ciuitatem Mesopotamię, in qua et fuit martyrizatus secundum +quosdam, rursumque post sexaginta et tres annos recuperatum corpus in suam +fuisse Ecclesiam restitutum, videlicet in Calamia, atque in eiusdem +recuperationis signum certum dimiserunt isti, et dimittunt extra feretri +loculum dependere brachium dextrum, cum manu quę tetigisse creditur pia +resurgentis vulnera Christi. + +Eadem quoque manus solet vsque hodie suę verę poenitentię tale manifestere +miraculum vt dum partes quęlibet litigantes velint vtręque suas causas +iuramento confirmare, conscriptis hinc inde causis ponantur ambę cartulę in +Apostili manu. Quę cuntis [Footnote: Interea dum exirent, Monachi suos +dolos potuerunt exercere.] exeuntibus Ecclesiam protinus sub vnius horę +tempore reiecta longius falsitate, veritatem sibi reseruat: sed nunc sicut +dicere coepi isti populi huic beneficio Dei ingrati, et diabolica illusione +excęcati mirabiliter paganizant. + +Nam et in hac ipsa beati Thomę Ecclesia statuerunt multa mirę magnitudinis +simulachra, ex quibus vnum quod maius est multo alijs apparet sedens homo +in alto solio adoperto aureis sericis, et lapidibus pręciosis, habensque ad +collum suspensa pro ornatu multa cinctoria pręciose gemmis, et auro +contexta. Ad hoc autem Idolum adorandum confluunt peregrini ą remotis +partibus, et propinquis, in satis maiori copia, et valdč feruentiori +deuotione quąm Christiani, ad sanctum Iacobum in Galizia quia multi eorum +per totum peregrinationis iter, non audent erigere palpebras oculorum, ne +forte propter hoc deuotio intermittatur. + +Alij de propč venientes superaddunt labori itinerandi, vt ad tertium vel ad +quartum passum semper cadant in genibus. Nonnulli quoque demoniaca +inspiratione semetipsos per viam peregrinationis lanceolis, et cultellis +nunc minoribus, nunc maioribus sauciant vulneribus per singula corporis +loca, et dum ante Idolum perueniunt, excisum frustum de carne propria +proijciunt ad Idolum pro offerenda, ac plagis durioribus se castigant, et +quandoque spontaneč penitus se occidunt: in solemnitatibus verņ, sicut in +dedicatione, et sicut in thronizatione simulachrorum, fit conuentis populi, +quasi totius Regni. Et ducitur cum processione maius Idolum per circuitum +ciuitatis, in curru preciosissimo, modis omnibus perornato, et pręcedunt in +numero magno puellę cantantes binę, et binę ordinatissimč, succeditque +pluralitas Musicorum cum instrumentis varijs simphonizantes, quos continuč +subsequitur currus, cuius lateribus coniungit se peregrinorum exercitus, +qui et venerunt de remotis. + +Ibique cernitur miserabilis actus vltra modum. Nam aliqui victi vltrą modum +diabolica deuotione proijciunt se sub rotis currus pręcedentis, vt +frangantur sibi crura, brachia, latera, dorsa, nec non et colla in +reuerentiam Dei sui (vt dicunt) a quo remunerationem sperant, venire ad +Paradisum terrestrem. + +Et post processionem postquam statuerunt Idolum in templo suo loco, +multiplicatur coram simulachris numerus sępč plangentium, et occidentium +vltrą quam credi sit facile. Ita quod quandoque in illa vnica solemnitate +inueniuntur ducenta corpora, vel plura occisorum. Et adstantes propinqui +amici talium diaboli martyrum, eum magna musicorum melodia decantantes in +sua lingua offerunt. Idolis corpora ac demum accenso rogo omnia corpora +comburunt in honorem Idolurum, assumentes sibi singuli aliquid de ossibus +aut cineribus pro reliquiis, quas putant sibi valituras contra quęlibet +infortunia, et tempestates. Et habetur ante templum aquę lacus, velut +seruatorium piscium, in quo proijcit populus largissimč suas oblationes, +argentum, aurum, gemmas, cyphos, et similia, quibus ministri certis +temporibus exhibentes prouident Ecclesię, ac simulachro, ac sibi ipsis +abundantčr. Quoddam fabulosum scriptum exiuit per partes nostras, quod in +prędicta processione circumferatur cumpheretro corpus beati Thomę, qui et +in fine processionis populu compopulo communicaret proprijs manibus de +Eucharistę sacramento, sed non est ita, et nunquam fuit. + + +CAPVT. 29. + +De Iaua, et quibusdam aiijs meridionalibus Insulis, et de farina, melle et + piscibus Ogeri Ducis Danorum. + +Inde vlterius procedendo in Austrum per multas et mirabiles terras +quinquaginta duarum diętarum spacio, habetur magna Insula Lamori. Illic +omnes nudi incedunt, et ferč omnia sunt singulis communia, nec vtuntur +priuatis clauibus siue seris, imo et omnes mulieres sunt communes omnibus +et singulis viris, dummodo violentia non inferatur: Sed et peior est ijs +consuetudo, quņd libentčr comedunt teneras carnes humanas: vnde et +negotiatores adferunt eis crassos infantes venales: quod si non satis +pingues afferuntur, eos saginant sicut nos vitulum, siue porcum. + +Hic apparet in bona altitudine polus Antarcticus, et incipit modņ apparere +in alta Lybia, ita quod in alta Ęthiopia eleuatur octodecim gradibus, prout +ipse prohaui Astrolabio. + +Ad meridiem terrę Lamori est Insula bona, Sumebor, cuius gentes reputant se +nobiliores alijs, signantes se in facie certo cauterio. Isti semper guerras +geerunt contra pręfatus gentes nudas de Lamory. + +Ad modicam inde destantiam habetur Insula Rotonigo abundans in bonis +pluribus: sed et in Austrum sequuntur alię plures regiones et Insulę, de +quibes prolixum narrare fuisset. + +Et est valde grandis regio Iaua, habens in circuitu ambitum leucarum duarum +millium. Huius rex est valdč potens, et imperans septem insularum vicinarum +regibus. Terra ista est populosa valdč, et crescunt in ea species, et +abundantia gingiberis, canella, gariofoli, nuces muscata, et mastix cum +aromatibus multis. Sed et quod ibi nascatur vinum, non habent: aurum et +argentum est ibi in copia immensa, quņd patet in regis Iauę palatio, cuius +palatij nobilitas non est facilč scribenda. + +Cuncti gradus ascendentes ad palatij aulas, et aularum cameras, et ad +thalamos Camerarum sunt solidi de argento vel auro, sed et omnis stratura +pauimentorum in alijs habetur ad similitudinem scacarij, vnam quadratam +argenti, alteram auri, laminis valdč crassis, et in ipsis pauimentis, sunt +exsculpta gesta, et historię diuersę. In principali verņ aula, est plenarič +expressa Dani Ducis Ogeri historia, ą natiuitate ipsius, quousque in +Franciam fantasticč dicatur reuersus, cum tempore Caroli magni regis +Francię, ipse Ogerus armata manu conquisiuit Christianitati ferč omnes +partes transmarinas ą Ierosolymis vsque ad arbores solis et Lunę, ac propč +paradisum terrestrem. + +Pro hac Regione Iaua, (quę tangit fines Imperij Tartarię) sibi subiuganda, +Imperator Grand Can multoties pugnauit, sed nunquam valuit expugnare. Hinc +per mare venitur ad regnum Thalamassę, [Footnote: Vel Tholomassi.] quņd et +Panchon [Footnote: Vel Paten.] dicitur, in quo habetur magnus numerus +bonarum ciuitatum. Intra hanc Insulam, quatuor sunt genera arborum, de +quarum vna accipitur farina ad panem, de secunda mel, de tertia vinum, et +de quarta pessimum venenum. Extrabitur autem farina de suis arboribus isto +modo. + +Certo tempore anni percutitur stipes arboris vndique propč terram cum +securi, et cortex in locis pluribus vulneratur, de quibus recipitur liquor +spissus, qui desiccatus ad solis ęstum et contritus reddit farinam albam, +ac si de frumento esset confectus, attamen hic panis non est triticei +saporis, sed alterius valdč boni. + +Simili modo de suis arboribus mel elicitur, et vinum liquitur: excepto quod +illa non sicut gramina prima desiccantur. Fertur quoque ibidem, +extractionem huius farinę, mellis, et vini, per Angelum primitus fuisse +ostensam prędicto Danorum Duci, illic fame cum suo exercitu laboranti. +Contra venenum quod de quarto arboris genere stķllat, solum est intoxicato +remedium, vt de proprio fimo per puram aquam distemperato bibat. + +Et est in hac Insula quoddam mare mortuum, velut lacus foetidus, cuius in +plerķsque locis fundus, humano ingenio non valet attingi: mirę magnitudinis +arundines crescunt super hunc lacum, in altitudine cedrorum aut abietum +pedum ducentorum, ita vt viginti socij mecum nequiuimus vnius caput +iacentis arundinis subleuare de terra. Minores etiam arundines nascuntur ad +fluuii ripam, habentes in terra radices longitudinis trecentorum cubitorum +aut plurium, Ad quarum nodos radicum, inueniuntur gemmę preciosę, de quibus +expertum est, siquis vnam habuerit in pugno suo, ferrum corpori suo non +nocebit: vnde si quis ibi pugnans, petat aduersarium, ac inimicum hac gemma +munitum aggreditur eum cum fustibus non ferratis. + +De hac intratur in Insulam Calanoch, [Marginal note: Vel Alcnak.] magnam et +refertam bonorum omnium. Rex eius potens est multum, et licitum est ei, +quandocunque, et quibuslibet in regno vti mulieribus, de quibus interdum +magnum numerum tenet puerorum. Mille quadringentos habere solet ad +pręliandum elephantes, quos sibi nutriunt villani per regnum. Elephantes +vocant verkes. + +In littore maris miraculosč veniunt ibi semel in anno, per tres continuos +dies, quasi de omni genere piscium marinorum, in maxima abundantia: et +prębent se omnibus liberč capiendos ad manum. Nam et ego ipse cepi +quamplures. Vnde notandum, quod eodem tempore anni quo super dicta +extrahitur farina, mel, et vinum, conueniunt in hoc isti pisces: qua ambo +mirabilia fecit vno tempore Deus olim producere suo Ogero, quę et in +memoria illius, vsque nunc, singulis annis innouantur. + +Et sunt in hoc territorio testudines terribilis quantitatis, fitque de +maioribus Regi ac nobilibus delicatus ac preciosus cibus: mentior, si non +quasdam ibidem viderim testudinum conchas, in quarum vna se tres homines +occultarent, suntque omnes multum albi coloris. + +Si hic vir vxoratus moritur, sepelitur et vxor vna cum eo, quatenus, sicut +ibi credunt, habeant eam statim sociam in seculo altero. + + +The English version. + +And zee schulte undirstonde, that amonges the Sarazines, o part and other, +duellen many Cristene men, of many maneres and dyverse names; and alle ben +baptized, and han dyverse lawes and dyverse customes: but alle beleven in +God the Fadir and the Sone and the Holy Gost: but alle weys fayle thei, in +somme articles of oure feythe. Some of theise ben clept Jacobytes: for +seynt Jame converted hem, and seynt John baptized hem. They seyn, that a +man schal maken his confessioun only to God, and not to a man: for only to +Him, scholde man zelden him gylty of alle, that he hathe mys don. Ne God +ordeyned not, ne never devysed, ne the prophete nouther, that a man scholde +schryven him to another, (as thei seyn) but only to God: as Moyses writethe +in the Bible, and as David seythe in the Psawtre boke; _Confitebor tibi, +Domine, in toto Corde meo_: and, _Delictum meum tibi cognitum feci_: and, +_Deus meus es tu, et confitebor tibi_; and, _Quoniam cogitatio hominis +confitebitur tibi_; &c. Fot thei knowen alle the bible, and the psautere: +and therfore allegge thei so the lettre: but thei alleggen not the +aucthoritees thus in Latyn, but in here langage, fulle appertely; and seyn +wel, that David and othere prophetes seyn it. Natheles seynt Austyn and +seynt Gregory seyn thus: Augustinus; _Qui scelera sua cogitat, et conversus +fuerit, veniam sibi credat_. Gregorious; _Dominus potius mentem quam verba +respicit_. And seynt Hillary seythe; _Longorum temporum crimina, in ictu +Oculi pereunt, si Cordis nata fuerit compunctio_. And for suche +auctoritees, thei seyn, that only to God schalle a man knouleche his +defautes, zeldynge him self gylty, and cryenge him mercy, and behotynge to +him to amende him self. And therfore whan thei wil schryven hem, thei taken +fyre, and sette it besyde hem, and casten therin poudre of frank encens; +and in the smoke therof, thei schryven hem to God, and cryen him mercy. But +sothe it is, that this confessioun was first and kyndely: but seynt Petre +the apostle, and thei that camen aftre him, han ordeynd to make here +confessioun to man; and be gode resoun: for thei perceyveden wel, that no +syknesse was curable, by gode medycyne to leye therto, but zif men knewen +the nature of the maladye. And also no man may zeven covenable medicyne, +but zif he knowe the qualitee of the dede. For o synne may be grettere in o +man than in another, and in o place and in o tyme than in another: and +therfore it behovethe him, that he knowe the kynde of the dede, and +thereupon to zeven him penance. + +There ben othere, that ben clept Surienes; and thei holden the beleeve +amonges us, and of hem of Grece. And thei usen alle berdes, as men of Grece +don: and thei make the sacrament of therf bred: and in here langage, thei +usen lettres of Sarrazines; but aftre the misterie of Holy chirche, thei +usen lettres of Grece; and thei maken here confessioun, right as the +Jacobytes don. + +There ben othere, that men clepen Georgyenes, that seynt George converted; +and him thei worschipen, more than ony other seynt; and to him thei cryen +for help: and thei camen out of the reme of George. Theise folk usen +crounes schaven. The clerkes han rounde crounes, and the lewed men han +crownes alle square: and thei holden Cristene lawe, as don thei of Grece; +of whom I have spoken of before. + +Othere there ben, that men clepen Cristene men of Gyrdynge: for thei ben +alle gyrt aboven. And ther ben othere, that men clepen Nestoryenes; and +summe Arryenes, sume Nubyenes, sume of Grees, same of Ynde, and sume of +Prestre Johnes Lond. And alle theise han manye articles of oure feythe, and +to othere thei ben varyaunt. And of here variance, were to longe to telle; +and go I wil leve, as for the tyme, with outen more spekynge of hem. + + +Of the Cytee of Damasce. Of 3 Weyes to Jerusalem; on be Londe and be See; + another more be Londe than be See; and the thridde Weye to Jerusalem, + alle be Londe. + +[Sidenote: Chap. XI] Now aftre that I have told zou sum partye of folk, in +the contrees before, now wille I turnen azen to my weye, for to turnen azen +to this half. Thanne whoso wil go fro the lond of Galilee, of that that I +have spoke, for to come azen on this half, men comen azen be Damasce, that +is a fulle fayre cytee, and fulle noble, and fulle of alle merchandises, +and a 3 journeyes long fro the see, and a 5 journeyes fro Jerusalem. But +upon camaylles, mules, hors, dromedaries and other bestes, men caryen here +merciandise thidre: and thidre comethe marchauntes with merchandise be see, +from Yndee, Persee, Caldee, Ermonye, and of manye othere kyngdomes. This +cytee founded Helizeus Damascus, that was Zoman and Despenser of Abraham, +before that Ysaac was born: for he thoughte for to have ben Abrahames heir: +and he named the toun aftre his surname Damasce. And in that place, where +Damasc was founded, Kaym sloughe Abel his brother. And besyde Damasc is the +Mount Seyr. In that cytee of Damasce, ther is gret plentee of welles: and +with in the cytee and with oute, ben many fayre gardynes, and of dyverse +frutes. Non other citee is not lyche in comparisoun to it of faire +gardynes, and of faire desportes. The cytee is gret and fulle of peple, and +wel walled with double walles. And there ben manye phisicyens. And seint +Poul him self was there a physicyen, for to kepen mennes bodies in hele, +before he was converted: and aftre that, he was phisicien of soules. And +seynt Luke the Evaungelist was Disciple of seynt Poul, for to lerne phisik; +and many othere. For seynt Poul held thanne scole of phisik. And neere +besyde Damasce, was he converted: and aftre his conversionn, he duelte in +that cytee 3 dayes, with outen sight, and with outen mete or drinke. And in +tho 3 dayes he was ravisscht to hevene, and there he saughe many prevytees +of oure Lord. And faste besyde Damasce, is the Castelle of Arkes, that is +bothe fair and strong. From Damasce, men comen azen, be oure Lady of +Sardenak, that is a 5 myle on this half Damasce; and it is sytt upon a +roche, and it is a fulle faire place, and it semethe a castelle; for there +was wont to ben a castelle; but it is now a fulle faire chirche. And there +with inne, ben monkes and nonnes Cristene. And there is a vowt, undre the +chirche, where that Cristene men duellen also: and thei han many gode +vynes. And in the chirche, behynde the high awtere, in the walle, is a +table of black wode, on the whiche somtyme was depeynted an ymage of oure +Lady, that turnethe into flesche; but now the ymage schewethe but litille: +but evermore thorewe the grace of God that table droppeth as hyt were of +olyve. And there is a vessel of marbre, undre the table, to resseyve the +oyle, thare of thay yeven unto pylgrymes: for it heleth of many sykenesses. +And he that kepeth it clanly a yere, aftre that yere, hyt turneth yn to +flesche and bloode. + +By twyne the cytee of Darke and the cytee of Raphane, ys a ryvere, that men +clepen Sabatorye. For on the Saturday, hyt renneth faste; and alle the +wooke elles, hyt stondeth stylle, and renneth nouzt or lytel. And there ys +a nother ryvere, that upon the nyzt freseth wondur faste; and uppon the +day, ys noon frost sene. And so gon men by a cytee, that men clepen +Beruche. And thare men gon un to the see, that schal goon un to Cypre. And +thay aryve at Porte de Sure or of Tyrye; and than un to Cypre. Or elles men +mowen gon from the Porte of Tyrye ryzt welle, and com not yn to Cypre; and +aryve at som haven of Grece; and thanne comen men un to theis countrees, by +weyes, that I have spoken of by fore. + +Now have I tolde you of wayes, by the whyche men gon ferrest and longest; +as by Babyloyne and Mounte Synay and other places many, thorewe the whyche +londes, men turne azen to the lande of promyssyoun. Now wul y telle the +ryzt way to Jerusalem. For som men wyl nouzt passe hyt, som for thay have +nouzt despence of hem, for they have noon companye, and other many causes +reasonables. And thare fore I telle you schorttely, how a man may goon with +lytel costage and schortte tyme. A man that cometh from the londes of the +weste, he goth thorewe Fraunce, Borgoyne and Lumbardye, and to Venys and to +Geen, or to som other havene of the marches, and taketh a schyppe thare, +and gon by see to the Isle of Gryffle; and so aryveth hem yn Grece or in +Port Myroche or Valon or Duras, or at som other havene, and gon to londe, +for to reste hem; and gon ayen to the see, and aryves in Cypre; and cometh +nouzt yn the Ile of Roodes; and aryves at Famegoste, that ys the chefe +havene of Cypre, or elles at Lamatoun. And thenne ynto the schyp ayen, and +by syde the havene of Tyre, and come nouzt to lande; and so passeth he by +alle the havens of that coast, until he come to Jaffe, that ys the neyest +haven unto Jerusalem: for it is seven and twenty myle. And from Jaffe men +goon to the cytee of Rames: and that ys but lytel thenne, and hyt is a +fayre cytee. And by syde Rames, ys a fayre churche of oure Lady, whare oure +Lord schewede hym to oure Lady, in thys lykenesse, that he tokeneth the +Trynyte. And thare fast by, ys a churche of Seynt George, whare that hys +heed was smyten of. And thanne un to the Castel Emaus; and thanne unto +Mounte Joye: and from thenne, pylgrymes mowen fyrste se un to Jerusalem. +And thanne un to Mount Modeyn: and thanne unto Jerusalem. And at the Mount +Modeyn lythe the prophete Machabee. And overe Ramatha, ys the town of +Douke; where of Amos the goude prophete was. + +A nother way. For alse moche as many men ne may not suffre the savour of +the see, but hadden lever to gon by londe, they that hyt be more payne; a +man schal soo goon un to on of the havenes of Lumbardye, als Venys or an +other; and he schal passe yn to Grece, thorwe Port Moroche, or an other; +and so he schal gon un to Constantynople. And he schal so passe the wature, +that ys cleped the Brace of Seynt George, that ys an arm of the see. And +from thens he schal cum un to Pulveralle; and sythen un to the Castelle of +Cynople. And from thens schal he gon unto Capadose, that ys a grete +countree, whare that ben many grete hylles. And he schal gon thorewe +Turkye, and unto the cytee of Nyke, the whyche they wonne from the +Emperoure of Constantynople. And hyt is a fayre cytee, and wounder wel +walled: and thare ys a ryvere, that men clepen the laye: and thare men goon +by the Alpes of Aryoprynant, and by the Valez of Mallebrynez, and eke the +Vale of Ernax; and so un to Anthyoche the lesse, that sytteth on the +Ryehay. And there aboute ben many goude hylles and fayre, and many fayre +woodes, and eke wylde beestes. + +And he that wylle goon by an other way, he mote goon by the playnes of +Romayne, costynge the Romayne see. Uppon that cost, ys a woundur fayre +castelle, that men clepen Florathe. And whanne that a man ys oute of that +ylke hylles, men passen thenne thorewe a cytee, that ys called Maryoche and +Arteyse, whare that ys a grete brygge upon a ryvere of Ferne, that men +clepen Fassar: and hyt ys a grete ryvere, berynge schyppes. And by syde the +cytee of Damas, ys a ryvere that cometh from the mounteyne of Lybane, that +men hyt callen Albane. Atte passynge of this ryvere, seynt Eustache loste +hys two sones, whanne that he hadde lost hys wyffe. And yt gooth thorewe +the playne of Arthadoe; and so un to the Reed See. And so men moten goon un +to the cytee of phenne, and so un to the cytee of Ferne. And Antyoche ys a +ful fayre cytee and wel walled. For hyt ys two myle longe and eche pylere +of the brygge thare ys a goud toure. And thys ys the beest cytee of the +kyngdom of Surrye. And from Antyoche, men moten so forth goon un to the +cytee of Lacuthe; and thanne un to Geble; and thanne un tyl Tourtous: and +thare by ys the lande of Cambre, whare that ys a stronge castelle, that men +clepen Maubeke. And from Tourtouse men goon up to Thryple, uppon the see. +And uppon the see, men goon unto Deres; and thare ben two weyes un to +Jerusalem: Uppon the lyfte way, men goon fyrst un to Damas, by Flome +Jordane: uppon the ryzt syde, men goon thorewe the lande of Flagam, and so +un to the cytee of Cayphas: of the whiche Cayphas was Lord: and som clepeth +hyt the castelle Pellerynez: And from thens ys foure dayes journeyes un to +Jerusalem and they goon thorewe Cesarye Phylyppum and Jaffe and Ramys and +Emaux, and so unto Jerusalem. + +Now have I told yow som of the wayes, by the land, and eke by water, how +that men mowen goon unto Jerusalem: they that hyt be so, that there been +many other wayes, that men goon by, aftur countrees, that thay comen fram, +nevere the lasse they turne alle un tylle an ende. Yet is thare a way, alle +by lande, un to Jerusalem, and pass noon see; that ys from Fraunce or +Flaundres; but that way ys fulle lange and perylous, of grete travayle; and +thare fore fewe goon that ylke way. And who so gooth that, he mote goon +thorewe Almayn and Pruys; and so un to Tartarye. This Tartarye ys holden of +the great Chan, of whom y schal speke more afterwarde. For thydur lasteth +hys Lordschup. And the Lordes of Tartarye yeldeth unto the grete Chan +trybute. Thys ys a ful ille lande, and a sondye, and wel lytel fruyt +beryng. For thare groweth lytel goude of corne or wyn, ne benes ne pese: +but beestes ben thare y nowe, and that ful grete plente. And thare ete thay +nought but flesche with outen brede; and thay soupe the brothe there of: +and also thay drynke the mylk. And alle manere of wylde beestes they eten, +houndes, cattes, ratouns, and alle othere wylde bestes. And thei have no +wode, or elle lytylle. And therfore thei warmen and sethen here mete with +hors dong and cow dong, and of other bestes dryed azenst the sonne. And +princes and othere eten not, but ones in the day; and that but lytille. And +thei ben righte foule folk and of evyl kynde. And in somer, be alle the +contrees, fallen many tempestes and many hydouse thondres and leytes, and +slen meche peple and bestes also, fulle often tyme. And sodeynly is there +passynge hete, and sodeynly also passynge cold. And it is the foulest +contree, and the most cursed, and the porest, that men knowen. And here +prince, that governethe that contree, that thei clepen Batho, duellethe at +the cytee of Orda. And treuly no gode man scholde not duellen in that +contre. For the lond and the contree is not worthi houndes to dwelle inne. +It were a gode contree to sowen inne thristelle and breres and broom and +thornes; and for no other thing is it not good. Natheless there is gode +londe in sum place; but it is pure litille, as men seyn. I have not ben in +that contree, ne be tho weyes: but I have ben at other londes, that marchen +to tho contrees; and in the lond of Russye, and in the lond of Nyflan, and +in the reme of Crako, and of Letto, and in the reme of Daresten, and in +manye other places, that marchen to the costes: but I wente never be that +weye to Jerusalem; wherfore I may not wel telle zou the manere. But zif +this matiere plese to ony worthi man, that hathe gon be that weye, he may +telle it, zif him lyke; to that entent, that tho that wole go by that weye, +and maken here viage be tho costes, mowen knowen what weye is there. For no +man may passe be that weye godely, but in time of wyntir, for the perilous +watres, and wykkede mareyes that ben in tho contrees; that no man may +passe, but zif it be strong frost, and snowe aboven. For zif the snow ne +were, men myght not gon upon the yse, ne hors ne carre nouther. And it is +wel a 3 journeys of suche weye, to passe from Prusse to the lond of Sarazin +habitable. And it behovethe to the Cristene men, that schulle werre azen +hem every zeer, to bere here vitaylles with hem: for thei schulle fynde +there no good. And than most thei let carye here vitaylle upon the yse, +with carres that have no wheeles, that thei clepen scleyes. And als longe +as here vitaylles lasten, thei may abide there, but no longer. For there +schulle they fynde no wight that will selle hem ony vitaille or ony thing. +And whan the spyes seen ony Cristene men comen upon hem, thei rennen to the +townes, and cryen with a lowd voys, Kerra, Kerra, Kerra; and than anon thei +armen hem and assemblen hem to gydere. + +And zee schulle undirstonde, that it fresethe more strongly in tho contrees +than on this half; and therefore hathe every man stewes in his hous, and in +tho stewes thei eten and don here occupatiouns, alle that they may. For +that is at the northe parties, that men clepen the septentrionelle, where +it is alle only cold. For the sonne is but lytille or non toward tho +contreyes: and therefore in the Septentryon, that is verry northe, is the +lond so cold, that no man may duelle there: and in the contrarye, toward +the southe, it is so hoot, that no man ne may duelle there: because that +the sonne, whan he is upon the southe, castethe his bemes alle streghte +upon that partye. + + +Of the Customes of Sarasines, and of hire Lawe; and how the Soudan arresond + me, Auctour of this Book. And of the begynnynge of Machomete. + +[Sidenote: Cap. XII.] Now because that I have spoken of Sarazines and of +here contree, now zif zee wil knowe a party of here lawe and of here +beleve, I schalle telle zou, aftre that here book, that is clept Alkaron, +tellethe. And sum men clepen that book Meshaf: and sum men clepen it Harme, +aftre the dyverse langages of the contree. The whiche book Machamete toke +hem. In the whiche boke, among other thinges, is written, as I have often +tyme seen and radd, that the gode shulle gon to paradys, and the evele to +helle: and that beleven alle Sarazines. And zif a man aske hem, what +paradys thei menen; thei seyn, to paradys, that is a place of delytes, +where men schulle fynde alle maner of frutes, in alle cesouns, and ryveres +rennynge of mylk and hony, and of wyn, and of swete watre; and that thei +schulle have faire houses and noble, every man aftre his dissert, made of +precyous stones, and of gold, and of sylver; and that every man schalle +have 80 wyfes, alle maydenes; and he schalle have ado every day with hem, +and zit he schalle fynden hem alle weys maydenes. Also thei beleeven and +speken gladly of the Virgine Marie and of the Incarnacioun. And thei seyn, +that Marye was taughte of the angel; and that Gabrielle seyde to hire, that +sche was forchosen from the begynnynge of the world; and that he schewed to +hire the incarnacioun of Jesu Crist; and that sche conceyved and bare +child, mayden: and that wytnessethe here boke. And they seyn also, that +Jesu Crist spak als sone as he was born; and that he was an holy prophete +and a trewe, in woord and dede, and meke and pytous and rightefulle and +with outen ony vyce. And thei seyn also, that whan the angel schewed the +Incarnacioun of Crist unto Marie, sche was zong, and had gret drede. For +there was thanne an enchantour in the contree, that deled with wycche +craft, that men clepten Taknia, that he his enchauntementes cowde make him +in lyknesse of an angel, and wente often tymes and lay with maydenes: and +therfore Marie dredde, lest it hadde ben Taknia, that cam for to desceyve +the maydenes. And therfore sche conjured the angel, that he scholde telle +hire, zif it were he or no. And the angel answerde and seyde, that sche +scholde have no drede of him: for he was verry messager of Jesu Crist. Also +here book seythe, that whan that sche had childed undre a palme tree, sche +had gret schame, that sche hadde a child; and sche grette, and seyde, that +sche wolde that sche hadde ben ded. And anon the child spak to hire and +comforted hire, and seyde, Modir, ne dismaye the noughte; for God hathe +hidd in the his prevytees, for the salvacioun of the world. And in othere +many places seythe here Alkaron, that Jesu Crist spak als sone as he was +born. And that book seythe also, that Jesu was sent from God alle myghty, +for to ben myrour and ensample and tokne to alle men. And the Alkaron +seythe also of the day of doom, how God schal come to deme alle maner of +folk; and the gode he schalle drawen on his syde, and putte hem into +blisse; and the wykkede he schal condempne to the peynes of helle. And +amonges alle prophetes, Jesu was the most excellent and the moste worthi, +next God; and that he made the Gospelles, in the whiche is gode doctryne +and helefulle, fulle of charitee and sothefastnesse, and trewe prechinge to +hem that beleeven in God; and that he was a verry prophete, and more than a +prophete; and lyved withouten synne, and zaf syghte to the blynde, and +helede the lepres, and reysed dede men, and steyghe to hevene. And whan +thei mowe holden the boke of the Gospelles of oure Lord written, and +namely, _Missus est Angelus Gabriel_; that Gospel, thei seyn, tho that ben +lettred, often tymes in here orisouns, and thei kissen it and worschipen +it, with gret devocioun. Thei fasten an hool monethe in the zeer, and eten +noughts but be nyghte, and thei kepen hem fro here wyfes alle that monethe: +but the seke men be not constreyned to that fast. Also this book spekethe +of Jewes; and seythe, that thei ben cursed; for thei wolde not beleven, +that Jesu Crist was comen of God; and that thei lyeden falsely on Marie and +on hire sone Jesu Crist, seyenge that thei hadden crucyfyed Jesu the sone +of Marie: for he was nevere crucyfyed, as thei seyn; but that God made him +to stye up to him with outen dethe, and with outen anoye: but he +transfigured his lyknesse into Judas Scariothe, and him crucyfyden the +Jewes, and wenden that it had ben Jesus: but Jesus steyge to hevenes alle +quyk; and therfore thei seyn, that the Cristene men erren and han no gode +knowleche of this, and that thei beleeven folyly and falsly, that Jesu +Crist was crucyfyed. And they seyn zit, that and he had ben crucyfyed, that +God had don azen his rightewisnesse, for to suffre Jesu Crist, that was +innocent, to ben put upon the Cros, with outen gylt. And in this article +thei seyn, that wee faylen, and that the gret rightewisnesse of God ne +myghte not suffre so gret a wrong. And in this, faylethe here feythe. For +thei knoulechen wel, that the werkes of Jesu Crist ben gode, and his wordes +and his dedes and his doctryne by his Gospelles, weren trewe and his +meracles also trewe; and the blessed Virgine Marie is good, and holy +mayden, before and aftre the birthe of Jesu Crist; and that alle tho, that +beleven perfitely in God, schul ben saved. And because that thei gon so nye +oure feythe, thei ben lyghtly converted to Cristene lawe, whan men prechen +hem and schewe hem distynctly the lawe of Jesu Crist, and tellen hem of the +prophecyes. And also thei seyn, that thei knownen wel, be the prophecyes, +that the lawe of Machomete schalle faylen, as the lawe of the Jewes dide, +and that the lawe of Cristine peple schalle laste to the day of doom. And +zif ony man aske hem, what is here beleeve; thei answeren thus, and in this +forme, Wee beleven God formyour of hevene and of erthe and of alle othere +things, that he made. And we beleven of the day of doom, and that every man +schalle have his meryte, aftre he hathe disserved. And we beleve it for +sothe, alle that God hathe seyd be the mouthes of his prophetes. Also +Machomet commanded in his Alkaron, that every man scholde have 2 wyfes or 3 +or 4; but now thei taken unto 9, and of lemmanes als manye as he may +susteyne. And zif ony of here wyfes mys beren hem azenst hire husbonde, he +may caste hire out of his house; and departe from him, and take another: +but he schalle departe with hire his godes. Also whan men speken to hem, of +the Fadre and of the Sone and of the Holy Gost, thei seyn, that thei ben 3 +persones; but not o God. For here Alkaron spekethe not of the Trynyte. But +thei seyn wel, that God hathe speche, and elle where he dowmb; and God +hathe also a Spirit, thei knowen wel, for elle thei seyn, he were not in +lyve. And whan men speken to hem of the Incarnacioun, how that be the word +of the angel, God sente his wysdom in to erthe, and enumbred him in the +Virgyne Marie: and be the Woord of God, schulle the dede ben reysed, at the +day of doom; thei seyn, that it is sothe, and that the Woord of God hathe +gret strengthe. And thei seyn, that whoso knew not the Woord of God, he +scholde not knowe God. And thei seyn also, that Jesu Crist is the Woord of +God; and so seythe here Alkaron, where it seythe, that the angel spak to +Marie and seyde, Marie, God schalle preche the Gospel be the woord of his +mowthe, and his name schalle be clept Jesu Crist. And thei seyn also, that +Abraham was frend to God, and that Moyses was famileer spekere with God; +and Jesu Crist was the Woord and the Spirit of God; and that Machomete was +right messager of God. And thei seyh, that of theise 4, Jesu was the most +worthi and the most excellent and the most gret; so that thei han many gode +articles of oure feythe, alle be it that thei have no parfite lawe and +feythe, as Cristene men han; and therfore ben thei lightly converted; and +namely, tho that undirstonden the Scriptures and the prophecyes. For thei +han Gospelles and the prophecyes and the Byble, writen in here langage. +Wherfore thei conne meche of Holy Wrytt, but thei undirstonde it not, but +aftre the lettre: and so don the Jewes; for thei undirstonde not the lettre +gostly, but bodyly; and therfore ben thei repreved of the wise, that gostly +understonden it. And therfore seythe seynt Poul; _Litera occidit; Spiritus +vivificat_. Also the Sarazines seyn, that the Jewes ben cursed: for thei +han defouled the lawe, that God sente hem be Moyses. And the Cristene ben +cursed also, as thei seyn: for their kepen not the commandementes and the +preceptes of the Gospelle, that Jesu Crist taughte hem. And therfore I +schalle telle zou, what the Soudan tolde me uppn a day, in his chambre. He +leet voyden out of his chambre alle manner of men, lordes aad othere: for +he wolde speke with me in conseille. And there he asked me, how the +Cristene men governed hem in oure contree. And I seyde him, righte wel: +thonked be God. And he seyde me, treulyche, nay: for zee Cristene men ne +recthen righte noghte how untrewly to serve God. Ze scholde zeven ensample +to the lewed peple, for to do wel; and zee zeven hem ensample to don +evylle. For the comownes, upon festyfulle dayes, whan thei scholden gon to +chirche to serve God, than gon thei to tavernes, and ben there in glotony, +alle the day and alle nyghte, and eten and drynken, as bestes that have no +resoun, and wite not whan thei have y now. And also the Cristene men +enforcen hem, in alle maneres that thei mowen, for to fighte, and for to +desceyven that on that other. And there with alle thei ben so proude, that +thei knowen not how to ben clothed; now long, now schort, now streyt, now +large, now swerded, now daggered, and in alle manere gyses. Thei scholden +ben symple, meke and trewe, and fulle of almes dede, as Jhesu was, in whom +thei trowe: but thei ben alle the contrarie, and evere enclyned to the +evylle, and to don evylle. And thei ben so coveytous, that for a lytylle +sylyer, thei sellen here doughtres, here sustres and here owne wyfes, to +putten hem to leccherie. And on with drawethe the wif of another; and non +of hem holdethe feythe to another; but thei defoulen here lawe, that Jhesu +Crist betook hem to kepe, for here salvacioun. And thus for here synnes, +han thei lost alle this lond, that wee holden. For, for hire synnes there +God hathe taken hem in to oure hondes, noghte only be strengthe of our +self, but for here synnes. For wee knowen wel in verry sothe, that whan zee +serve God, God wil hepe zou: and whan he is with zou, no man may be azenst +you. And that knowe we wel, be oure prophecyes, that Cristene men schulle +wynnen azen this lond out of oure hondes, whan thei serven God more +devoutly. But als longe als thei ben of foule and of unclene lyvynge, (as +thei ben now) wee have no drede of hem, in no kynde: for here God wil not +helpen hem in no wise. And than I asked him, how he knew the state of +Cristene men. And he answered me, that he knew alle the state of the +comounes also, be his messangeres, that he sente to alle londes, in manere +as thei weren marchauntes of precyous stones, of clothes of gold and of +othere things; for to knowen the manere of every contree amonges Cristene +men. And than he leet clepe in alle the lordes, that he made voyden first +out of his chambre; and there he schewed me 4, that weren grete lordes in +the contree, that tolden me of my contree, and of many othere Cristene +contrees, als wel as thei had ben of the same contree: and thei spak +Frensche righte wel; and the Sowdan also, where of I had gret marvaylle. +Alas! that it is gret sclaundre to oure feythe and to oure lawe, whan folk +that ben with outen lawe, schulle repreven us and undernemen us of oure +synnes. And thei that scholden ben converted to Crist and to the lawe of +Jhesu, be oure gode ensamples and be oure acceptable lif to God, and so +converted to the lawe of Jhesu Crist, ben thorghe oure wykkednesse and +evylle lyvynge, fer fro us and straungeres fro the holy and verry beleeve, +schulle thus appelen us and holden us for wykkede lyveres and cursed. And +treuly thei sey sothe. For the Sarazines ben gode and feythfulle. For thei +kepen entierly the commaundement of the holy book Alkaron, that God sente +hem be his messager Machomet; to the whiche, as thei seyne, seynt Gabrielle +the aungel often tyme tolde the wille of God. And zee schulle undirstonde, +that Machamote was born in Arabye, that was first a pore knave, that kept +cameles, that wenten with marchantes fur marchandize; and so befelle, that +he wente with the marchandes in to Egipt: and thei weren than Cristene, in +tho partyes. And at the desertes of Arabye, he wente in to a chapelle, +where a Eremyte duelte. And when he entred in to the chapelle, that was but +a lytille and a low thing, and had but a lityl dore and a low, than the +entree began to wexe so gret and so large and so highe, as thoughe it had +ben of a gret mynstre, or the zate of a paleys. And this was the firste +myracle, the Sarazins seyn, that Machomete dide in his zouthe. Aftre began +he for to wexe wyse and riche; and he was a gret astronomer: and aftre he +was governour and prince of the lond of Cozrodane; and he governed it fully +wisely, in suche manere, that whan the prince was ded, he toke the lady to +wyfe, that highte Gadridge. And Machomete felle often in the grete +sikenesse, that men callen the fallynge evylle: wherfore the lady was fulle +sorry, that evere sche toke him to husbonde. But Machomete made hire to +beleeve, that alle tymes, whan he felle so, Gabriel the angel cam for to +speke with him; and for the gret lighte and brightnesse of the angelle, he +myghte not susteyne him fro fallynge. And therfore the Sarazines seyn, that +Gabriel cam often to speke with him. This Machomete regned in Arabye, the +zeer of oure Lord Jhesu Crist 610; and was of the generacioun of Ysmael, +that was Abrahames sone, that he gat upon Agar his chamberere. And therfere +ther ben Sarazines, that ben clept Ismaelytenes; and summe Agaryenes, of +Agar: and the othere propurly ben clept, Sarrazines, of Sarra: and summe +ben clept Moabytes, and summe Amonytes; fro the 2 sones of Lothe, Moab and +Amon, that he begat on his doughtres, that weren aftirward grete erthely +princes. And also Machomete loved wel a gode heremyte, that duelled in the +desertes, a myle fro Mount Synay, in the weye that men gon fro Arabye +toward Caldee, and toward Ynde, o day journey fro the See, where the +marchauntes of Yenyse comen often for marchandise. And so often wente +Machomete to this heremyte, that alle his men weren wrothe: for he wolde +gladly here this heremyte preche, and make his men wake alle nyghte: and +therfore his men thoughten to putte the heremyte to dethe: and so it +befelle upon a nyght, that Machomete was dronken of gode wyn, and he felle +on slepe; and his men toke Machometes swerd out of his schethe, whils he +slepte, and there with thei slowghe this heremyte: and putten his swerd +alle blody in his schethe azen. And at morwe, whan he fond the heremyte +ded, he was fulle sory and wrothe, and wolde have don his men to dethe: but +they alle with on accord seyd, that he him self had slayn him, when he was +dronken, and schewed him his swerd alle blody: and he trowed, that thei +hadden seyd sothe. And than he cursed the wyn, and alle tho that drynken +it. And therfore Sarrazines, that be devout, drynken nevere no wyn: but +sume drynken it prevyly. For zif thei dronken it openly, thei scholde ben +repreved. But thei drynken gode beverage and swete and norysshynge, that is +made of galamelle: and that is that men maken sugar of, that is of righte +gode savour: and it is gode for the breest. Also it befallethe sumtyme, +that Cristene men becomen Sarazines, outher for povertee, or for +symplenesse, or else for here owne wykkednesse. And therfore the +archiflamyn or the flamyn, as oure erchebisshop or bisshopp, whan he +receyvethe hem, seythe thus, _La ellec, Sila. Machomete rores alla_; that +is to seye, _There is no God but on, and Machomete his messager_. + + +Of the Londes of Albanye, and of Libye. Of the Wisshinges, for Wacchinge of + the Sperhauk; and of Noes Schippe. + +[Sidenote: Cap. XIII.] Now sithe I have told zou beforn of the Holy Lond, +and of that contree abouten, and of many weyes for to go to that lond, and +to the Mount Synay, and of Babyloyne the more and the lesse, and to other +places, that I have spoken beforn; now is tyme, zif it lyke zou, for to +telle zou of the marches and iles, and dyverse bestes, and of dyverse folk +bezond theise marches. For in tho contrees bezonden, ben many dyverse +contrees, and many grete kyngdomes; that ben departed be the 4 flodes, that +comen from Paradys terrestre. For Mesopotayme and the Kyngdom of Caldee and +Arabye, ben betwene the 2 ryveres of Tygre and of Eufrates. And the kyngdom +of Mede and of Persye, ben betwene the ryveres of Nile and of Tigres. And +the kyngdom of Syrie, where of I have spoken beforn, and Palestyne and +Phenycie, ben betwene Eufrates and the See Medyterrane: the whiche see +durethe in lengthe, fro Mayrok, upon the See of Spayne, unto the grete See; +so that it lastethe bezonde Costantynople 3040 myles of Lombardye. And +toward the see occyan in Ynde, is the kyngdom of Shithie, that is alle +closed with hilles. And aftre undre Schithie, and fro the See of Caspie, +unto the Flom Thainy, is Amazoyne, that is the lond of femynye, where that +no man is, but only alle wommen. And aftre is Albanye, a fulle grete reme. +And it is clept Albanye, because the folk ben whitere there, than in other +marches there abouten. And in that contree ben so gret houndes and so +stronge, that thei assaylen lyouns, and sleu hem. And thanne aftre is +Hircanye, Bactrye, Hiberye, and many other kyngdomes. And betwene the Rede +See and the see occyan, toward the southe, is the kyngdom of Ethiope, and +of Lybye the hyere. The which lond of Lybye, (that is to seyne Libye the +lowe) that begynnethe at the See of Spayne, fro thens where the Pyleres of +Hercules ben, and durethe unto aneyntes Egipt and towards Ethiope. In that +contree of Libye, is the see more highe than the lond; and it semethe that +it wolde covere the erthe, and natheles zit it passethe not his markes. And +men seen in that contre a mountayne, to the whiche no man comethe. In this +lond of Libye, whoso turnethe toward the est, the schadewe of him self is +on the right syde: and here in oure contree, the schadwe is on the left +syde. In that See of Libye, is no fissche: for thei mowe not lyve ne dure, +for the gret hete of the sonne; because that the watre is evermore +boyllynge, for the gret hete. And many othere londes there ben, that it +were to long to tellen or to nombren: but of sum parties I schal speke more +pleynly here aftre. + +Whoso wil thanne gon toward Tarterie, toward Persie, toward Caldee, and +toward Ynde, he most entre the see, at Gene or at Venyse or at sum other +havene, that I have told zou before. And than passe men the see, and +arryven at Trapazond, that is a gode cytee; and it was wont to ben the +havene of Pountz. There is the havene of persanes and of medaynes and of +the marches there bezonde. In that cytee lythe Seynt Athanasie, that was +Bishopp of Alisandre, that made the Psalm _Quicunque vult_. This Athanasius +was a gret Doctour of Dyvynytee: and because that he preched and spak so +depely of Dyvynytee and of the Godhede, he was accused to the Pope of Rome, +that he was an Heretyk. Wherfore the Pope sente aftre hym, and putte him in +presoun: and whils he was in presoun, he made that Psalm, and sente it to +the Pope, and seyde: that zif he were an heretyk, that was that heresie; +for that, he seyde, was his beleeve. And whan the Pope saughe it, and had +examyned it, that it was parfite and gode, and verryly oure feythe and oure +beleeve, he made him to ben delyvered out of presoun, and commanded that +Psalm to ben seyd every day at Pryme: and so he held Athanasie a gode man. +But he wolde nevere go to his bisshopriche azen, because that thei accused +him of heresye. Trapazond was wont to ben holden of the Emperour of +Costantynople: but a gret man, that he sente for to kepe the contree azenst +the Turkes, usurped the lond, and helde it to himself, and cleped him +Emperour of Trapazond. + +And from thens, men gon thorghe litille Ermonye. And in that contree is an +old castelle, that stont upon a roche, the whiche is cleped the Castelle of +the Sparrehawk, that is bezonde the cytee of Layays, beside the town of +Pharsipee, that belongethe to the lordschipe of Cruk; that is a riche lord +and a gode Cristene man; where men fynden a sparehauk upon a perche righte +fair, and righte wel made; and a fayre lady of fayrye, that kepethe it. And +who that wil wake that sparhauk, 7 dayes and 7 nyghtes, and as sum men +seyn, 3 dayes and 3 nyghtes, with outen companye, and with outen sleep, +that faire lady schal zeven him, whan he hathe don, the first wyssche, that +he wil wyssche, of erthely thinges: and that hathe been proved often-tymes. +And o tyme befelle, that a kyng of Ermonye, that was a worthi knyght and +doughty man and a noble prince, woke that hauk som tyme: and at the ende of +7 dayes and 7 nyghtes, the lady cam to him, and bad him wisschen: for he +had wel disserved it. And he answerde, that he was gret Lord y now, and wel +in pees, and hadde y nowghe of worldly ricchesse: and therfore he wolde +wisshe non other thing, but the body of that faire lady, to have it at his +wille. And sche answerde him, that he knew not what he asked; and seyde, +that he was a fool, to desire that he myghte not have; for sche seyde, that +he scholde not aske, but erthely thing: for sche was non erthely thing, but +a gostly thing. And the kyng seyde, that he ne wolde asken non other thing. +And the lady answerde, sythe that I may not withdrawe zou fro zoure lewed +corage, I schal zeve zou with outen wysschinge, and to alle hem that +schulle com of you. Sire kyng, zee schulle have werre withouten pees, and +alle weys to the 9 degree, zee schulle ben in subjeccioun to zoure enemyes; +and zee schulle ben nedy of alle godes. And nevere sithen, nouther the kyng +of Ermoyne, ne the contree, weren never in pees, ne thei hadden never +sithen plentee of godes; and thei han ben sithen alle weyes undre tribute +of the Sarrazines. Also the sone of a pore man woke that hauke, and wisshed +that he myghte cheve wel, and to ben happy to merchandise. And the lady +graunted him. And he becaam the most riche and the most famouse marchaunt, +that myghte ben on see or on erthe. And he becam so riche, that he knew not +the 1000 part of that he hadde: and he was wysere, in wisschynge, than was +the king. Also a knyght of the temple wooke there; and wyssched a purs +evere more fulle of gold: and the lady graunted him. But sche seyde him, +that he had asked the destruccioun of here ordre; for the trust and the +affiance of that purs, and for the grete pryde, that they scholde haven: +and so it was. And therfore loke, he kepe him wel, that schalle wake: for +zif he slepe, he is lost, that nevere man schalle seen him more. This is +not the righte weye for to go to the parties, that I have nempned before; +but for to see the merveyle, that I have spoken of. + +And therfore who so wil go right weye, men gon fro Trapazond toward Ermonye +the gret, unto a cytee that is clept Artyroun, that was wont to ben a gode +cytee and a plentyous; but the Turkes han gretly wasted it. There aboute +growethe no wyn ne fruyt, but litylle or elle non. In this lond, is the +erthe more highe than in ony other; and that makethe gret cold. And there +hen many gode watres, and gode welles, that comen undre erthe, fro the flom +of paradys, that is clept Eufrates, that is a jorneye besyde that cytee. +And that ryvere comethe towardes Ynde, undre erthe, and restorethe into the +lond of Altazar. And so passe men be this Ermonie, and entren the see of +Persie. Fro that cytee of Artyroun go men to an hille, that is clept +Sabissocolle. And there besyde is another hille, that men clepen Ararathe: +but the Jewes clepen it Taneez; where Noes schipp rested, and zit is upon +that montayne: and men may seen it a ferr, in cleer wedre: and that +montayne is wel a 7 myle highe. And sum men seyn, that thei han seen and +touched the schipp; and put here fyngeres in the parties, where the feend +went out, whan that Noe seyde _Benedicite_. But thei that seyn suche +wordes, seyn here wille: for a man may not gon up the montayne, for gret +plentee of snow that is alle wayes on that montayne, nouther somer ne +wynter: so that no man may gon up there; ne never man dide, sithe the tyme +of Noe; saf a monk, that, be the grace of God, brought on of the plankes +doun: that zit is in the mynstere, at the foot of the montayne. And besyde +is the cytee of Dayne, that Noe founded. And faste by is the cytee of Any, +in the whiche were 1000 chirches. But upon that montayne, to gon up, this +monk had gret desire; and so upon a day, he wente up: and whan he was +upward the 3 part of the montayne, he was so wery, that he myghte no +ferthere, and so he rested him, and felle o slepe; and whan he awook, he +fonde him self lyggynge at the foot of the montayne. And than he preyede +devoutly to God, that he wolde vouche saf to suffre him gon up. And an +angelle cam to him, and seyde, that he scholde gon up; and so he dide. And +sithe that tyme never non. Wherfore men scholde not beleeve such woordes. + +Fro that montayne go men to the cytee of Thauriso, that was wont to ben +clept Taxis, that is a fulle fair cytee, and a gret, and on of the beste, +that is in the world, for marchandise: and it is in the lond of the +Emperour of Persie. And men seyn, that the Emperour takethe more gode, in +that cytee, for custom of marchandise than dothe the ricchest Cristene kyng +of alle his reme, that livethe. For the tolle and the custom of his +marchantes is with outen estymacioun to ben nombred. Beside that cytee, is +a hille of salt; and of that salt, every man takethe what he will, for to +salte with, to his nede. There duellen many Cristene men, undir tribute of +Sarrazines. And fro that cytee, men passen be many townes and castelles, in +goynge toward Ynde, unto the cytee of Sadonye, that is a 10 journeyes fro +Thauriso; and it is a fulle noble cytee and a gret. And there duellethe the +Emperour of Persie, in somer: for the contree is cold y now. And there ben +gode ryveres, berynge schippes. Aftre go men the weye toward Ynde, be many +iorneyes, and be many contreyes, unto the cytee, that is clept Cassak, that +is a fulle noble cytee, and a plentyous of cornes and wynes, and of alle +other godes. This is the cytee, where the 3 kynges metten to gedre, whan +thei wenten to sechen oure Lord in Bethtem, to worschipe him, and to +presente him with gold, ensence, and myrre. And it is from that cytee to +Bethleem 53 iourneyes. Fro that cytee, men gon to another cytee, that is +clept Bethe, that is a iourneye fro the see, that men clepen the gravely +see. That is the best cytee, that the Emperour of Persie hathe, in alle his +lond. And thei clepen it there Chardabago; and others clepen it Vapa. And +the Paynemes seyn, that no Cristene man may not longe duelle, ne enduren +with the lif, in that cytee: but dyen with in schort tyme; and no man +knowethe not the cause. Aftre gon men, be many cytees and townes, and grete +contrees, that it were to longe to telle, unto the cytee of Cornaa, that +was wont to be so gret, that the walles abouten holden 25 myle aboute. The +walks schewen zit: but it is not alle enhabited. From Cornaa, go men be +many londes, and many cytees and townes, unto the lond of Job: and there +endethe the lond of the Emperour of Persie. + + +Of the Lond of Job; and of his Age. Of the Aray of men of Caldee. Of the + Lond where Wommen duellen with outen companye of men. Of the knouleche + and vertues of the verray Dyamant. + +[Sidenote: Chap. XIV.] Aftre the departynge fro Cornaa, men entren in to +the lond of Job, that is a fulle faire contree, and a plentyous of alle +godes. And men clepen that lond the lond of Sweze. In that lond is the +cytee of Theman. Job was a Payneem, and he was Are of Gosre his sone, and +held that lond, as prynce of that contree and he was so riche, that he knew +not the hundred part of his godes. And alle thoughe he were a Payneem, +natheless he served wel God, aftre his lawe: and oure Lord toke his service +to his plesance. And whan he felle in poverte, he was 78 zeer of age. And +aftre, whan God had preved his pacyence, and that it was so gret, he +broughte him azen to richesse, and to hiere estate than he was before. And +aftre that he was kyng of Ydumye, aftre Kyng Esau. And whan he was kyng, he +was clept Jobab. And in that kyngdom, he lyvede aftre 170 zere: and so he +was of age, whan he dyede, 248 zeer. In that lond of Job, there nys no +defaute of no thing, that is nedefulle to mannes body. There ben hilles, +where men getten gret plentee of manna, in gretter habundance, than in ony +other contree. This manna is clept bred of aungelles; and it is a white +thing, that is fulle swete and righte delicyous, and more swete than hony +or sugre; and it comethe of the dew of hevene that fallethe upon the +herbes, in that contree; and it congelethe and becomethe alle white and +swete: and men putten it in medicynes for rich men, to make the wombe lax, +and to purge evylle blood: for it clensethe the blode, and puttethe out +malencoyle. This lond of Job marchethe to the kyngdom of Caldee. This lond +of Caldee is fulle gret: and the langage of that contree is more gret in +sownynge, that it is in other parties bezonde the see. Men passen to go +bezond, be the Tour of Babiloyne the grete: of the whiche I have told zou +before, where that alle the langages weren first chaunged. And that is a 4 +jorneyes fro Caldee. In that reme, ben faire men, and thei gon fulle nobely +arrayed in clothes of gold, or frayed and apparayled with grete perles and +precyous stones, fulle nobely: and the wommen ben righte foule and evylle +arrayed; and thei gon alle bare fote, and clothed in evylle garnementes, +large and wyde, but thei ben schorte to the knees; and longe sleves doun to +the feet, lyche a monkes frokke; and here sleves ben hongyng aboute here +schuldres: and thei ben blake women, foule and hidouse; and treuly as foule +as thei ben, als evele thei ben. In that kyngdom of Caldee, in a cytee, +that is cleped Hur, duelled Thare, Abrahames fadre: and there was Abraham +born: and that was in that tyme, that Nunus was Kyng of Babiloyne, of +Arabye and of Egypt. This Nunus made the cytee of Nynyvee, the whiche that +Noe had begonne before: and be cause that Nunus performed it, he cleped it +Nynyve, aftre his owne name. Ther lythe Thobye the prophete, of whom Holy +Writt spekethe offe. And fro that cytee of Hur Abraham departed, be the +commandement of God, fro thens, aftre the dethe of his fadre; and ladde +with him Sarra his wife and Lothe his brotheres sone, because that he hadde +no child. And thei wenten to duelle in the lond of Chanaan, in a place, +that is clept Sychem. And this Lothe was he, that was saved, whan Sodom and +Gomorre and the othere cytees weren brent and sonken doun to helle; where +that the dede see is now, as I have told zou before. In that lond of +Caldee, thei han here propre langages, and here propre lettres. + +Besyde the lond of Caldee, is the lond of Amazoyne. And in that reme is +alle wommen, and no man; noght, as summe men seyn, that men mowe not lyve +there, but for because that the wommen will not suffre no men amonges hem, +to ben here Sovereynes. For sum tyme, ther was a kyng in that contrey; and +men maryed, as in other contreyes: and so befelle, that the kyng had werre, +with hem of Sithie; the whiche kyng highte Colopeus, that was slayn in +bataylle, and alle the gode blood of his reme. And whan the queen and alle +the othere noble ladyes sawen, that thei weren alle wydewes, and that alle +the rialle blood was lost, thei armed hem, and as creatures out of wytt, +thei slowen alle the men of the contrey, that weren laft. For thei wolden, +that alle the wommen weren wydewes, as the queen and thei weren. And fro +that tyme hiderwardes, thei nevere wolden suffren man to dwelle amonges +hem, lenger than 7 dayes and 7 nyghtes; ne that no child that were male, +scholde duelle amonges hem, longer than he were noryscht; and thanne sente +to his fader. And whan thei wil have ony companye of man, than thei drawen +hem towardes the londes marchynge next to hem: and than thei have loves, +that usen hem; and thei duellen with hem an 8 dayes or 10; and thanne gon +hom azen. And zif thei have ony knave child, thei kepen it a certeyn tyme, +and than senden it to the fadir, whan he can gon allone, and eten be him +self; or elle thei sleen it: and zif it be a femele, thei don away that on +pappe, with an hote hiren; and zif it be a womman of gret lynage, thei don +awey the left pappe, that thes may the better beren a scheeld: and zif it +be a woman of symple blood, thei don awey the ryght pappe, for to scheeen +[sic--KTH] with bowe Turkeys: for thei schote wel with bowes. In that lond +thei have a Queen, that governethe alle that lond: and alle thei ben +obeyssant to hire. And alweys thei maken here queen by eleccioun, that is +most worthy in armes. For thei ben right gode werryoures, and wyse, noble +and worthi. And thei gon often tyme in sowd, to help of other kynges in +here werres, for gold and sylver, as othere sowdyoures don: and thei +meyntenen hem self right vygouresly. This lond of Amazoyne is an Yle, alle +envirouned with the see, saf in 2 places, where ben 2 entrees. And bezond +that watir, duellen the men, that ben here paramoures, and hire loves, +where thei gon to solacen hem, whan thei wole. Besyde Amazoyne, is the lond +of Tarmegyte, that is a gret contree and a fulle delectable: and for the +godnesse of the contree, kyng Alisandre leet first make there the cytee of +Alisandre; and zit he made 12 cytees of the same name: but that cytee is +now clept Celsite. And fro that other cost of caldee, to ward the southe, +is Ethiope, a gret contree, that strecchethe to the ende of Egypt. Ethiope +is departed in 2 princypalle parties; and that is, in the est partie and in +the meridionelle partie: the whiche partie meridionelle is clept Moretane. +And the folk of that contree ben blake y now, and more blake than in the +tother partie; and thei ben clept Mowres. In that partie is a welle, that +in the day it is so cold, that no man may drynke there offe; and in the +nyght it so hoot, that no man may suffre his hond there in. And bezonde +that partie, toward the southe, to passe by the see occean, is a gret lond +and a gret contrey: but men may not duelle there, for the fervent brennynge +of the sonne; so is it passvnge hoot in that contrey. In Ethiope alle the +ryveres and alle the watres ben trouble, and thei ben somdelle salte, for +the gret hete that is there. And the folk of that contree ben lyghtly +dronken, and han but litille appetyt to mete: and thei han comounly the +flux of the wombe: and thei lyven not longe. In Ethiope ben manye dyverse +folk: and Ethiope is clept Cusis. In that contree ben folk, that han but o +foot: and thei gon so fast, that it is marvaylle: and the foot is so large, +that it schadewethe alle the body azen the sonne, whanne thei wole lye and +reste hem. In Ethiope, whan the children ben zonge and lytille, thei ben +alle zelowe: and whan that thei wexen of age, that zalownesse turnethe to +ben alle blak. In Ethiope is the cytee of Saba; and the lond, of the whiche +on of the 3 kynges, that presented oure Lord in Bethleem was kyng offe. + +Fro Ethiope men gon to Ynde, be manye dyverse contreyes. And men clepen the +highe Ynde, Emlak. And Ynde is devyded in 3 princypalle parties; that is, +the more, that is a fulle hoot contree; and Ynde the lesse, that is a fulle +atempree contrey, that strecchethe to the lond of Mede; and the 3 part +toward the Septentrion, is fulle cold; so that for pure cold and +contynuelle frost, the watre becomethe cristalle. And upon tho roches of +cristalle, growen the gode dyamandes, that ben of trouble colour. Zallow +cristalle drawethe colour lyke oylle. And thei ben so harde, that no man +may pollysche hem: and men clepen hem dyamandes in that contree, and Hamese +in another contree. Othere dyamandes men fynden in Arabye, that ben not so +gode; and thei ben more broun and more tendre. And other dyamandes also men +fynden in the ile of Cipre, that ben zit more tendre; and hem men may wel +pollische. And in the lond of Macedoyne men fynden dyamaundes also. But the +beste and the most precyouse ben in Ynde. And men fynden many tymes harde +dyamandes in a masse, that comethe out of Gold, whan men puren it and fynen +it out of the myne; whan men breken that masse in smale peces. And sum tyme +it happenethe, that men fynden summe as grete as a pese, and summe lasse; +and thei ben als harde as tho of Ynde. And alle be it that men fynden gode +dyamandes in Ynde, zit natheles men fynden hem more comounly upon the +roches in the see, and upon hilles where the myne of gold is. And thei +growen many to gedre, on lytille, another gret. And ther ben summe of the +gretness of a bene, and summe als gret as an haselle note. And thei ben +square and poynted of here owne kynde, bothe aboven and benethen, with +outen worchinge of mannes hond. And the growen to gedre, male and femele. +And thei ben norysscht with the dew of hevene. And thei engendren comounly, +and bryngen forthe smale children, that multiplyen and growen alle the +zeer. I have often tymes assayed, that zif a man kepe hem with a litylle of +the roche, and wete hem with May dew ofte sithes, thei schulle growe +everyche zeer; and the smale wole wexen grete. For righte as the fyn perle +congelethe and wexethe gret of the dew of hevene, righte so dothe the +verray dyamand: and righte as the perl of his owne kynde takethe +roundnesse, righte so the dyamand, be vertue of God, takethe squarenesse. +And men schalle bere the dyamaund on his left syde: for it is of grettere +vertue thanne, than on the righte syde. For the strengthe of here growynge +is toward the Northe; that is the left syde of the world; and the left +parte of man is, whan he turnethe his face toward the est. And zif zou lyke +to knowe the vertues of the dyamand, (as men may fynde in the lapidarye, +that many men knowen noght) I schalle telle zou: as thei bezonde the see +seyn and affermen, of whom alle science and alle philosophie comethe from. +He that berethe the diamand upon him, it zevethe him hardynesse and +manhode, and it kepethe the lemes of his body hole. It zevethe him victorye +of his enemyes, in plee and in werre; zif his cause be rightefulle: and it +kepethe him that berethe it, in gode wytt; and it kepethe him fro strif and +riot, fro sorwes and from enchauntementes and from fantasyes and illusiouns +of wykked spirites. And zif ony cursed wycche or enchauntour wolde bewycche +him, that berethe the dyamand; alle that sorwe and myschance schalle turne +to him self, thorghe vertu of that ston. And also no wylde best dar +assaylle the man, that berethe it on him. Also the dyamand scholde ben +zoven frely, with outen coveytynge and with outen byggynge: and than it is +of grettere vertu. And it makethe a man more strong and more sad azenst his +enemyes. And it helethe him that is lunatyk, and hem that the fend +pursuethe or travaylethe. And zif venym or poysoun be broughte in presence +of the dyamand, anon it begynnethe to wexe moyst and for to swete. There +ben also dyamandes in Ynde, that ben cept violastres; (for here colour is +liche vyolet, or more browne than violettes) that ben fulle harde and fulle +precyous; but zit sum men love not hem so wel as the othere: but in sothe +to me, I wolde loven hem als moche as the othere; for I have seen hem +assayed. Also there is an other maner of dyamandes, that ben als white as +cristalle; but thei ben a litylle more trouble: and thei ben gode and of +gret vertue, and alle thei ben square and poynted of here owne kynde. And +summe ben 6 squared, summe 4 squared, and summe 3, as nature schapethe hem. +And therefore whan grete lordes and knyghtes gon to seche worschipe in +armes, thei beren gladly the dyamaund upon hem. + +I schal speke a litille more of the dyamandes, alle thoughe I tarye my +matere for a tyme, to the ende that thei that knowen hem not, be not +disceyved be gabberes, that gon be the contree, that sellen hem. For whoso +wil bye the dyamande, it is needefulle to him, that he knowe hem; be cause +that men counterfeten hem often of cristalle, that is zalow; and of +saphires of cytryne colour, that is zalow also; and of the saphire loupe, +and of many other stones. But I telle zou, theise contrefetes ben not so +harde; and also the poyntes wil breken lightly, and men may easily +pollische hem. But summe werkmen, for malice, will not pollische hem, to +that entent, to maken men beleve, that thei may not ben pollischt. But men +may assaye hem in this manere; first schere with hem or write with hem in +saphires, in cristalle or in other precious stones. Aftre that men taken +the ademand, that is the schipmannes ston, that drawethe the nedle to him, +and men leyn the dyamand upon the ademand, and leyn the nedle before the +ademand; and zif the dyamand be gode and vertuous, the ademande drawethe +not the nedle to him, while the dyamand is there present. And this is the +preef, that thei bezonde the see maken. Natheles it befallethe often tyme, +that the gode dyamande losethe his vertue, be synne and for incontynence of +him, that berethe it: and thanne it is nedfulle to make it to recoveren his +vertue azen, or elle it is of litille value. + + +Of the customs of Yles abouten Ynde. Of the differences betwixt Ydoles and + Simulacres. Of 3 maner growing of Peper upon a Tree. Of the welle, that + chaungethe his odour, every hour of the day: and that is mervaylle. + +[Sidenote: Cap. XV.] In Ynde ben fulle manye dyverse contrees: and it is +cleped Ynde, for a flom, that rennethe thorghe out the contree, that is +clept Ynde. In that flomme men fynden eles of 30 fote long and more. And +the folk that duellen nyghe that watre, ben of evylle colour, grene and +zalow. In Ynde and abouten Ynde, ben mo than 5000 iles, gode and grete, +that men duellen in, with outen tho that ben inhabitable, and with outen +othere smale iles. In every ile, is gret plentee of cytees and of townes +and of folk, with outen nombre. For men of Ynde han this condicioun of +kynde, that thei nevere gon out of here owne contree: and therfore is ther +gret multitude of peple: but thei ben not sterynge ne mevable, be cause +that thei ben in the firste clymat, that is of Saturne. And Saturne is +sloughe and litille mevynge: for he taryethe to make his turn be the 12 +signes, 30 zeer; and the mone passethe thorghe the 12 signes in o monethe. +And for because that Saturne is of so late sterynge, therfore the folk of +that contree, that ben undre his clymat, han of kynde no wille for to meve +ne stere to seche strange places. And in oure contree is alle the +contrarie. For wee ben in the sevenethe climat, that is of the mone. And +the mone is of lyghtly mevynge; and the mone is planete of weye: and for +that skylle, it zevethe us wille of kynde, for to meve lyghtly, and for to +go dyverse weyes, and to sechen strange thinges and other dyversitees of +the world. For the mone envyrounethe the erthe more hastyly than ony othere +planete. + +Also men gon thorghe Ynde be many dyverse contrees, to the grete see +occean. And aftre men fynden there an ile, that is clept Crues: and thidre +comen marchantes of Venyse and Gene and of other marches, for to byen +marchandyses. But there is so grete hete in tho marches, and namely in that +ile, that for the grete distresse of the hete, mennes ballokkes hangen doun +to here knees, for the gret dissolucioun of the body. And men of that +contree, that knowen the manere, lat bynde hem up, or elle myghte thei not +lyve; and anoynt hem with oynementes made therfore, to holde hem up. In +that contree and in Ethiope and in many other contrees, the folk lyggen +alle naked in ryveres and watres, men and wommen to gedre, fro undurne of +the day, tille it be passed the noon. And thei lyen alle in the watre, saf +the visage, for the gret hete that there is. And the wommen haven no schame +of the men; but lyen alle to gidre, syde to syde, tille the hete be past. +There may men see many foule figure assembled, and namely nyghe the gode +townes. In that ile ben schippes with outen nayles of iren or bonds, for +the roches of the Ademandes: for thei ben alle fulle there aboute in that +see, that it is merveyle to speken of. And zif a schipp passed be tho +marches, that hadde outher iren bondes or iren nayles, anon he scholde ben +perisscht. For the Ademand, of his kynde, drawethe the iren to him: and so +wolde it drawe to him the schipp, because of the iren: that he scholde +never departen fro it, ne never go thens. + +Fro that ile, men gon be see to another ile, that is clept Chana, where is +gret plentee of corn and wyn: and it was wont to ben a gret ile, and a gret +havene and a good; but the see hathe gretly wasted it and overcomen it The +kyng of that contree was wont to ben so strong and so myghty, that he helde +werre azenst King Alisandre. The folk of that contree han a dyvers lawe: +for summe of hem, worschipe the sonne, summe the mone, summe the fuyr, +summe trees, summe serpentes, or the first thing that thei meeten at +morwen: and summe worschipen symulacres, and summe Ydoles. But betwene +symulacres and ydoles, is a gret difference. For symulacres ben ymages made +aftre lyknesse of men or of wommen, or of the sonne or of the mone, or of +ony best, or of ony kyndely thing: and ydoles, is an ymage made of lewed +wille of a man, that man may not fynden among kyndely thinges; as an ymage, +that hathe 4 hedes, on of a man, another of an hors, or of an ox, or of sum +other best, that no man hathe seyn aftre kyndely disposicioun. And thei +that worschipen symulacres, thei worschipen hem for sum worthi man, that +was sum tyme, as Hercules and many othere, that diden many marvayles in +here tyme. For thei seyn wel, that thei be not goddes: for thei knowen wel, +that there is a God of kynde, that made alle thinges; the which is in +hevene. But thei knowen wel, that this may not do the marvayles that he +made, but zif it had ben be the specyalle zifte of God: and therfore thei +seyn, that he was wel with God. And for be cause that he was so wel with +God, therfore the worschipe him. And so seyn thei of the sonne; be cause +that he chaungethe the tyme and zevethe hete and norisschethe alle thinges +upon erthe; and for it is of so gret profite, thei knowe wel, that that +myghte not be, but that God lovethe it more than ony other thing. And for +that skylle, God hath zoven it more gret vertue in the world: therfore it +is gode resoun, as thei seyn, to don it worschipe and reverence. And so +seyn thei, that maken here resounes, of othere planetes; and of the fuyr +also, because it is so profitable. And of Ydoles, thei seyn also, that the +ox is the moste holy best, that is in erthe, and most pacyent and more +profitable than ony other. For he dothe good y now, and he dothe non +evylle. And thei knowen wel, that it may not be with outen specyalle grace +of God; and therfore maken thei here God, of an ox the on part, and the +other halfondelle of a man: because that man is the most noble creature in +erthe; and also for he hathe lordschipe aboven alle bestes: therfore make +thei the halfendel of ydole of a man upwardes, and the tother half of an ox +dounwardes: and of serpentes and of other bestes, and dyverse thinges, that +thei worschipen, that thei meten first at morwe. And thei worschipen also +specyally alle tho that thei han gode meetynge of; and whan thei speden wel +in here iorneye, aftre here meetynge; and namely suche as thei han preved +and assayed be experience of longe tyme. For thei seyn, that thilke gode +meetynge ne may not come, but of the grace of God. And therefore thei maken +ymages lyche to tho thinges, that thei han beleeve inne, for to beholden +hem and worschipen hem first at morwe, or thei meeten ony contrarious +thinges. And there ben also sum Cristene men, that seyn, that summe bestes +han gode meetynge, that is to seye, for to meete with hem first at morwe; +and summe bestes wykked metynge: and that thei han preved ofte tyme, that +the hare hathe fulle evylle meetynge, and swy, and many othere bestes. And +the sparhauk and other foules of raveyne, whan thei fleen aftre here praye, +and take it before men of armes, it is a gode signe: and zif he fayle of +takynge his praye, it is an evylle sygne. And also to suche folk, it is an +evylle meetynge of ravenes. In theise thinges and in suche othere, ther ben +many folk, that beleeven; because it happenethe so often tyme to falle, +aftre here fantasyes. And also ther ben men y nowe, that han no beleve in +hem. And sithe that Cristene men han suche beleeve, that ben enformed and +taughte alle day, be holy doctryne, where inne thei schold beleeve, it is +no marvaylle thanne, that the Paynemes, that han no gode doctryne, but only +of here nature, beleeven more largely, for here symplenesse. And treuly I +have seen of Paynemes and Sarazines, that men clepen Augurynes, that whan +wee ryden in armes in dyverse contrees, upon oure enemyes, be the flyenge +of foules, thei wolde telle us the prenosticaciouns of thinges that felle +aftre: and so thei diden fulle often tymes, and profreden here hedes to +wedde, but zif it wolde falle as thei seyden. But natheles ther fore +scholde noght a man putten his beleeve in suche thinges: but always han +fulle trust and beleeve in God oure Sovereyn Lord. This ile of Chana, the +Sarazines han wonnen and holden. In that ile ben many lyouns, and many +othere wylde bestes. And there ben rattes in that ile, als gret as houndes +here: and men taken hem with grete mastyfes: for cattes may not take hem. +In this ile and many othere, men berye not no dede men: for the hete is +there so gret, that in a lityle tyme the flesche wil consume fro the bones. + +Fro thens, men gon be see toward Ynde the more, to a cytee that men clepen +Sarche, that is a fair cytee and a gode; and there duellen many Cristene +men of gode feythe: and ther ben manye religious men, and namely of +Mendynantes. Aftre gon men be see, to the lond of Lomb. In that lond +growethe the peper, in the forest that men clepen Combar; and it growethe +nowhere elle in alle the world, but in that forest: and that dureth wel an +18 iourneyes in lengthe. In the forest ben 2 gode cytees; that on highte +Fladrine, and that other Zinglantz. And in every of hem, duellen Cristene +men, and Jewes, gret plentee. For it is a gode contree and a plenteyous: +but there is over meche passynge hete. And zee schulle undirstonde, that +the peper growethe, in maner as dothe a wylde vyne, that is planted faste +by the trees of that wode, for to susteynen it by, as dothe the vyne. And +the fruyt thereof hangethe in manere as reysynges. And the tree is so +thikke charged, that it semethe that it wolde breke: and whan it is ripe, +it is all grene as it were ivy beryes; and than men kytten hem, as men don +the vynes, and than thei putten it upon an owven, and there it waxethe blak +and crisp. And there is 3 maner of peper, all upon o tree; long peper, blak +peper, and white peper. The long peper men clepen sorbotyn; and the blak +peper is clept fulfulle, and the white peper is clept bano. The long peper +comethe first, whanthe lef begynhethe to come; and it is lyche the chattes +of Haselle, that comethe before the lef, and it hangethe lowe. And aftre +comethe the blake with the lef, in manere of clustres of reysinges, alle +grene: and whan men han gadred it, than comethe the white, that is somdelle +lasse than the blake; and of that men bryngen but litille into this +contree; for thei bezonden with holden it for hem self, be cause it is +betere and more attempree in kynde, than the blake: and therfore is ther +not so gret plentee as of the blake. In that contree ben manye manere of +serpentes and of other vermyn, for the gret hete of the contree and of the +peper. And summe men seyn, that whan thei will gadre the peper, thei maken +fuyr, and brennen aboute, to make the serpentes and cokedrilles to flee. +But save here grace of alle that seyn so. For zif thei brenten abouten the +trees, that beren, the peper scholden ben brent, and it wolde dryen up alle +the vertue, as of ony other thing: and han thei diden hemself moche harm; +and thei scholde nevere quenchen the fuyr. But thus thei don; thei anoynten +here hondes and here feet with a juyce made of snayles and of othere +thinges, made therfore; of the whiche the serpentes and the venymous bestes +haten and dreden the savour: and that makethe hem flee before hem, because +of the smelle; and than thei gadren it seurly ynow. + +Also toward the heed of that forest, is the cytee of Polombe. And above the +cytee is a grete mountayne, that also is clept Polombe: and of that mount, +the cytee hathe his name. And at the foot of that mount, is a fayr welle +and a gret, that hathe odour and savour of alle spices; and at every hour +of the day, he chaungethe his odour and his savour diversely. And whoso +drynkethe 3 tymes fasting of that watre of that welle, he is hool of of +alle maner sykenesse, that he hathe. And thei that duellen there and +drynken often of that welle, thei nevere han sekenesse, and thei semen alle +weys zonge. I have dronken there of 3 or 4 sithes; and zit, me thinkethe, I +fare the better. Sum men clepen it the Welle of Zouthe: for thei that often +drynken there of, semen alle weys zongly, and lyven with outen sykenesse. +And men seyn, that that welle comethe out of paradys; and therfore it is so +vertuous. Be alle that contree growethe gode gyngevere: and therfore thidre +gon the marchauntes for spicerye. In that lond men worschipen the ox, for +his symplenesse and for his mekenesse, and for the profite that comethe of +him. And thei seyn, that he is the holyest best in erthe. For hem semethe, +that whoso evere be meke and paycyent, he is holy and profitable: for +thanne thei seyn, he hathe alle vertues in him. Thei maken the ox to +laboure 6 zeer or 7, and than thei ete him. And the kyng of the contree +hathe alle wey an ox with him: and he that kepethe him, hathe every day +grete fees, and kepethe every day his dong and his uryne in 2 vesselles of +gold, and bryngen it before here prelate, that thei clepen +archiprotopapaton; and he berethe it before the kyng, and makethe there +over a gret blessynge; and than the kyng wetethe his hondes there, in that +thei clepen gaul, and anyntethe his front and his brest: and aftre he +frotethe him with the dong and with the uryne with gret reverence, for to +ben fulfilt of vertues of the ox, and made holy be the vertue of that holy +thing, that nought is worthe. And whan the kyng hathe don, thanne don the +lordes; and aftre hem here mynystres and other men, zif thei may have ony +remenant. In that contree thei maken ydoles, half man, half ox; and in tho +ydoles, eville spirites speken and zeven answere to men, of what is asked +hem. Before theise ydoles, men sleen here children many tymes, and spryngen +the blood upon the ydoles; and so thei maken here sacrifise. And whan ony +man dyethe in the contree, thei brennen his body in name of penance, to +that entent, that he suffre no peyne in erthe, to ben eten of wormes. And +zif his wif have no child, thei brenne hire with him; and seyn, that it is +resoun, that sche make him companye in that other world, as sche did in +this. But and sche have children with him, thei leten hire lyve with hem, +to brynge hem up, zif sche wole. And zif that sche love more to lyve with +here children, than for to dye with hire husbonde, men holden hire for fals +and cursed; ne schee schalle never ben loved ne trusted of the peple. And +zif the womman dye before the husbonde, men brennen him with hire, zif that +he wole; and zif he wil not, no man constreynethe him thereto; but he may +wedde another tyme with outen blame and repreef. In that contree growen +manye stronge vynes: and the wommen drynken wyn, and men not: and the +wommen schaven hire berdes, and the men not. + + +Of the Domes made be seynt Thomas. Of Devocyoun and Sacrifice made to + Ydoles there, in the Cytee of Calamye; and of the processioun in goynge + aboute the Cytee. + +[Sidenote: Cap. XVI.] From that contree men passen be many marches, toward +a contree, a 10 iourneyes thens, that is clept Mabaron: and it is a gret +kyngdom, and it hathe many faire cytees and townes. In that kyngdom lithe +the body of Seynt Thomas the apostle, in flesche and bon, in a faire tombe, +in the cytee of Calamyee: for there he was martyred and buryed. But men of +Assirie beeren his bodye in to mesopatayme, in to the cytee of Edisse: and +aftre, he was broughte thidre azen. And the arm and the hoond, (that he +putte in oure Lordes syde, whan he appered to him, aftre his resurrexioun, +and seyde to him, _Noli esse incredulus, sed fidelis_) is zit lyggynge in a +vesselle with outen the tombe. And be that hond thei maken alle here +juggementes, in the contree, whoso hathe righte or wrong. For whan ther is +ony dissentioun betwene 2 partyes, and every of hem meyntenethe his cause, +and seyth, that his cause is rightfulle, and that other seythe the +contrarye, thanne bothe partyes writen here causes in 2 billes, and putten +hem in the hond of seynt Thomas; and anon he castethe awey the bille of the +wrong cause, and holdethe stille the bille with the righte cause. And +therfore men comen from fer contrees to have juggement of doutable causes: +and other juggement usen thei non there. Also the chirche, where seynt +Thomas lythe, is bothe gret and fair, and alle fulle of grete simulacres: +and tho ben grete ymages, that thei clepen here goddes; of the whiche, the +leste is als gret as 2 men. And among theise othere, there is a gret ymage, +more than ony of the othere, that is alle covered with fyn gold and +precyous stones and riche perles: and that ydole is the god of false +Cristene, that han reneyed hire feythe. And it syttethe in a chayere of +gold, fulle nobely arrayed; and he hathe aboute his necke large gyrdles, +wroughte of gold and precyous stones and perles. And this chirche is fulle +richely wroughte, and alle over gylt with inne. And to that ydole gon men +on pylgrimage, als comounly and with als gret devocioun, as Cristene men +gon to seynt James, or other holy pilgrimages. And many folk that comen fro +fer londes, to seche that ydole, for the gret devocyoun that thei han, thei +loken nevere upward, but evere more down to the erthe, for drede to see ony +thing aboute hem, that scholde lette hem of here devocyoun. And summe ther +ben, that gon on pilgrimage to this ydole, that beren knyfes in hire +hondes, that ben made fulle kene and scharpe; and alle weyes, as thei gon, +thei smyten hem self in here armes and in here legges and in here thyes, +with many hydouse woundes; and so thei scheden here blood, for love of that +ydole. And thei seyn that he is blessed and holy, that dyethe so for love +of his God. And othere there ben, that leden hire children, for to sle, to +make sacrifise to that ydole; and aftre thei han slayn hem, thei spryngen +the blood upon the ydole. And summe ther ben, that comme fro ferr, and in +goynge toward this ydole, at every thrydde pas, that thei gon fro here +hows, thei knelen; and so contynuen tille thei come thidre: and whan thei +comen there, thei taken ensense and other aromatyk thinges of noble smelle, +and sensen the ydole, as we wolde don here Goddes precyouse body. And so +comen folk to worschipe this ydole, sum fro an hundred myle, and summe fro +many mo. And before the mynstre of this ydole, is a vyvere, in rmaner of a +gret lake, fulle of watre: and there in pilgrymes casten gold and sylver, +perles and precyous stones, with outen nombre, in stede of offrynges. And +whan the mynystres of that chirche neden to maken ony reparacyoun of the +chirche or of ony of the ydoles, thei taken gold and silver, perles and +precyous stones out of the vyvere, to quyten the costages of suche thing as +thei maken or reparen; so that no thing is fawty, but anon it schalle ben +amended. And zee schulle undirstonde, that whan grete festes and +solempnytees of that ydole, as the dedicacioun of the chirche, and the +thronynge of the ydole bethe, alle the contree aboute meten there to +gidere; and thei setten this ydole upon a chare with gret reverence, wel +arrayed with clothes of gold, of riche clothes of Tartarye, of Camacca, and +other precyous clothes; and thei leden him aboute the cytee with gret +solempnytee. And before the chare, gon first in processioun alle the +maydenes of the contree, 2 and 2 to gidere, fulle ordynatly. And aftre tho +maydenes, gon the pilgrymes. And summe of hem falle doun undre the wheles +of the chare, and lat the chare gon over hem; so that thei ben dede anon. +And summe han here armes or here lymes alle to broken, and summe the sydes: +and alle this don thei for love of hire god, in gret devocioun. And he +thinkethe, that the more peyne and the more tribulacioun, that thei suffren +for love of here god, the more ioye thei schulle have in another world. And +schortly to seye zou; thei suffren so grete peynes and so harde +martyrdomes, for love of here ydole, that a Cristene man, I trowe, durst +not taken upon him the tenthe part of the peyne, for love of oure Lord +Jhesu Crist. And aftre, I seye zou, before the chare, gon alle the +mynstrelles of the contrey, with outen nombre, with dyverse instrumentes; +and thei maken alle the melodye, that thei cone. And whan thei han gon alle +aboute the cytee, thanne thei retournen azen to the mynstre, and putten the +ydole azen in to his place. And thanne, for the love and in worschipe of +that ydole, and for the reverence of the feste, thei slen himself, a 200 or +300 persones, with scharpe knyfes, of the whiche thei bryngen the bodyes +before the ydole; and than thei seyn, that tho ben seyntes, because that +thei slowen hemself of here owne gode wille, for love of here ydole. And as +men here, that hadde an holy seynt of his kyn, wolde thinke, that it were +to hem an highe worschipe, right so hem thinkethe there. And as men here +devoutly wolde writen holy seyntes lyfes and here myracles, and sewen for +here canonizaciouns, righte so don thei there, for hem that sleen hem self +wilfully, for love of here ydole; and seyn, that thei ben gloriouse +martyres and seyntes, and putten hem in here wrytynges and letanyes, and +avaunten hem gretly on to another of here holy kynnesmen; that so becomen +seyntes; and seyn, I have mo holy seyntes in my kynrede, than thou in thin. +And the custome also there is this, that whan thei that han such devocioun +and entent, for to sle him self, for love of his god, thei senden for alle +here frendes, and han gret plentee of mynstrelle, and thei gon before the +ydole ledynge him, that wil sle himself for such devocioun, betwene hem +with gret reverence. And he alle naked hath a ful scharp knyf in his hond, +and he cuttethe a gret pece of his flesche and castethe it in the face of +his ydole, seyenge his orysounes, recommendynge him to his god: and than he +smytethe himself, and makethe grete woundes and depe here and there, tille +he falle doun ded. And than his frendes presenten his body to the ydole: +and than thei seyn, syngynge, Holy God, behold what thi trewe servant hath +don for the; he hathe forsaken his wif and his children and his ricchesse +and alle the godes of the worlde and his owne lyf, for the love of the, and +to make the sacrifise of his flesche and of his blode. Wherfore, Holy God, +putte him among thi beste belovede seyntes in thi blisse of paradys: for he +hathe well disserved it. And than thei maken a gret fuyr, and brennen the +body: and thanne everyche of his frendes taken a quantyte of the assches, +and kepen hem in stede of relykes, and seyn, that it is a holy thing. And +thei have no drede of no perile, whils thei han tho holy assches upon hem. +And thei putten his name in here letanyes, as a seynt. + + +Of the evylle Customs used in the Yle of Lamary: and how the Erthe and the + See ben of round Forme and schapp, be pref of the Sterre, that is clept + Antartyk, that is fix in the Southe. + +[Sidenote: Chap. XVII.] Fro that contree go men be the see occean, and be +many dyverse yles, and be many contrees, that were to longe for to telle +of. And a 52 iorneyes fro this lond, that I have spoken of, there is +another lond, that is fulle gret, that men clepen Lamary. In that lond is +fulle gret hete: and the custom there is such, that men and wommen gon alle +naked. And thei scornen, whan thei seen ony strange folk goynge clothed. +And thei seyn, that God made Adam and Eve alle naked; and that no man +scholde schame, that is of kyndely nature. And thei seyn, that thei that +ben clothed ben folk of another world, or thei ben folk, that trowen not in +God. And thei seyn, that thei beleeven in God, that formede the world, and +that made Adam and Eve, and alle other thinges. And thei wedden there no +wyfes: for all the wommen there ben commoun, and thei forsake no man. And +thei seyn, thei synnen, zif thei refusen ony man: and so God commannded to +Adam and Eve, and to alle that comen of him, whan he seyde, _Crescite et +multiplicamini, et replete terram_. And therfore may no man in that contree +seyn, this is my wyf: ne no womman may seye, this is myn husbonde. And whan +thei han children, thei may zeven hem to what man thei wole, that hathe +companyed with hem. And also all the lond is comoun: for alle that a man +holdethe o zeer, another man hathe it another zeer. And every man takethe +what part that him lykthe. And also alle the godes of the lond ben comoun, +cornes and alle other thinges: for no thing there is clept in clos, ne no +thing there is undur lok; and every man there takethe what he wole, with +outen ony contradiccioun: and als riche is o man there, as is another. But +in that contree, there is a cursed custom: for thei eten more gladly mannes +flesche, than ony other flesche: and zit is that contree habundant of +flesche, of fissche, of cornes, of gold and sylver, and of alle other +godes. Thidre gone Marchauntes, and bryngen with hem children, to selle to +hem of the contree, and thei byzen hem: and zif thei ben fatte, thei eten +hem anon; and zif thei ben lene, thei feden hem, tille thei ben fatte, and +thanne thei eten hem: and thei seyn, that it is the best flesche and the +swettest of alle the world. In that lond, ne in many othere bezonde that, +no man may see the sterre transmontane, that is clept the sterre of the +see, that is unmevable, and that is toward the northe, that we clepen the +lode sterre. But men seen another steere, the contrarie to him, that is +toward the south, that is clept Antartyk. And right as the schip men taken +here avys here, and governe hem be the lode sterre, right so don schip men +bezonde the parties, be the sterre of the southe, the whiche sterre +apperethe not to us. And this sterre, that is toward the north, that wee +clepen the lode sterre, ne apperethe not to hem. For whiche cause, men may +wel perceyve, that the lond and the see ben of rownde schapp and forme. For +the partie of the firmament schewethe in o contree, that schewethe not in +another contree. And men may well preven be experience and sotyle +compassement of wytt, that zif a man fond passages be schippes, that wolde +go to serchen the world, MEN MYGHTE GO BE SCHIPPE ALLE ABOUTE THE WORLD, +and aboven and benethen. The whiche thing I prove thus, aftre that I have +seyn. For I have ben toward the parties of Braban, and beholden the +astrolabre, that the sterre that is clept the Transmontayne, is 53 degrees +highe. And more forthere in Almayne and Bewme, it hathe 58 degrees. And +more forthe toward the parties septemtrioneles, it is 62 degrees of heghte, +and certeyn mynutes. For I my self have mesured it by the astrolabre. Now +schulle ze knowe, that azen the Transmontayne, is the tother sterre, that +is clept Antartyke; as I have seyd before. And tho 2 sterres ne meeven +nevere. And be hem turnethe alle the firmament, righte as dothe a wheel, +that turnethe be his axille tree; so that tho sterres beren the firmament +in 2 egalle parties; so that it hathe als mochel aboven, as it hathe +benethen. Aftre this, I have gon toward the parties meridionales, that is +toward the southe: and I have founden, that in Lybye, men seen first the +sterre Antartyk. And so fer I have gon more forthe in tho contrees, that I +have founde that sterre more highe; so that toward the highe Lybye, it is +18 degrees of heghte, and certeyn minutes (of the whiche, 60 minutes maken +a degree). After goynge be see and be londe, toward this contree, of that I +have spoke, and to other yles and londes bezonde that contree, I have +founden the sterre Antartyk of 33 degrees of heghte, and mo mynutes. And +zif I hadde had companye and schippynge, for to go more bezonde, I trowe +wel in certeyn, that wee scholde have seen alle the roundnesse of the +firmament alle aboute. For as I have seyd zou be forn, the half of the +firmament is betwene tho 2 sterres: the whiche halfondelle I have seyn. And +of the tother halfondelle, I have seyn toward the north, undre Transmontane +62 degrees and 10 mynutes; and toward the partie meridionalle, I have seen +undre the Antartyk 33 degrees and 16 mynutes: and thanne the halfondelle of +the firmament in alle, ne holdethe not but 180 degrees. And of tho 180, I +have seen 62 on that o part, and 33 on that other part, that ben 95 +degrees, and nyghe the halfondelle of a degree; and so there ne faylethe +but that I have seen alle the firmament, saf 84 degrees and the halfondelle +of a degree; and that is not the fourthe part of the firmament. For the 4 +partie of the roundnesse of the firmament holt 90 degrees: so there +faylethe but 5 degrees and an half, of the fourthe partie. And also I have +seen the 3 parties of alle the roundnesse of the firmament, and more zit 5 +degrees and an half. Be the which I seye zou certeynly, that men may +envirowne alle the erthe of alle the world, as wel undre as aboven, and +turnen azen to his contree, that hadde companye and schippynge and conduyt: +and alle weyes he scholde fynde men, londes, and yles, als wel as in this +contree. For zee wyten welle, that thei that ben toward the Antartyk, thei +ben streghte, feet azen feet of hem, that dwellen undre the transmontane; +als wel as wee and thei that dwellyn undre us, ben feet azenst feet. For +alle the parties of see and of lond han here appositees, habitable or +trepassables, and thei of this half and bezond half. And wytethe wel, that +aftre that, that I may parceyve and comprehend, the londes of Pestre John, +Emperour of Ynde, ben undre us. For in goynge from Scotland or from England +toward Jerusalem, men gon upward alweys. For oure lond is in the lowe +partie of the erthe, toward the west: and the lond of Prestre John is the +lowe partie of the erthe, toward the est: and thei han there the day, whan +wee have the nyghte, and also highe to the contrarie, thei han the nyghte, +whan wee han the day. For the erthe and the see ben of round form and +schapp, as I have seyd beforn. And that that men gon upward to o cost, men +gon dounward to another cost. Also zee have herd me seye, that Jerusalem is +in the myddes of the world; and that may men preven and schewen there, be a +spere, that is pighte in to the erthe, upon the hour of mydday, whan it is +equenoxium, that schewethe no schadwe on no syde. And that it scholde ben +in the myddes of the world, David wytnessethe it in the psautre, where he +seythe, _Des operatus est salutem in medie Terre_. Thanne thei that parten +fro the parties of the west, for to go toward Jerusalem, als many iorneyes +as thei gon upward for to go thidre, in als many iorneyes may thei gon fro +Jerusalem unto other confynyes of the superficialtie of the erthe bezonde. +And whan men gon bezonde tho iourneyes, toward Ynde and to the foreyn yles, +alle is envyronynge the roundnesse of this erthe and of the see, undre oure +contrees on this half. And therfore hathe it befallen many tymes of o +thing, that I have herd cownted, whan I was zong; how a worthi man departed +somtyme from oure contrees, for to go serche the world. And so he passed +Ynde, and the yles bezonde Ynde, where ben mo than 5000 yles: and so longe +he wente be see and lond, and so enviround the world be many seysons, that +he fond an yle, where he herde speke his owne langage, callynge an oxen in +the plowghe, suche wordes as men speken to bestes in his owne contree: +whereof he hadde gret mervayle: for he knewe not how it myghte be. But I +seye, that he had gon so longe, be londe and be see, that he had envyround +alle the erthe, that he was comen azen envirounynge, that is to seye, +goynge aboute, unto his owne marches, zif he wolde have passed forthe, til +he had founden his contree and his owne knouleche. Bur he turned azen from +thens, from whens he was come fro; and so he loste moche peynefulle labour, +as him self seyde, a gret while aftre, that he was comen hom. For it +befelle aftre, that he wente in to Norweye; and there tempest of the see +toke him; and he arryved in an yle; and whan he was in that yle, he knew +wel, that it was the yle, where he had herd speke his owne langage before, +and the callynge of the oxen at the plowghe: and that was possible thinge. +But how it semethe to symplemen unlerned, that men ne mowe not go undre the +erthe, and also that men scholde falle toward the hevene, from undre! But +that may not be, upon lesse, than wee mowe falle toward hevene, fro the +erthe, where wee ben. For fro what partie of the erthe, that men duelle, +outher aboven or benethen, it semethe alweys to hem that duellen, that thei +gon more righte than ony other folk. And righte as it semethe to us, that +thei ben undre us, righte so it semethe hem, that wee ben undre hem. For +zif a man myghte falle fro the erthe unto the firmament: be grettere +resoun, the erthe and the see, that ben so grete and so hevy, scholde +fallen to the firmament: but that may not be: and therfore seithe oure Lord +God, _Non timeas me, qui suspendi Terram ex nichilo?_ And alle be it that +it be possible thing, that men may so envyrone alle the world, natheles of +a 1000 persones, on ne myghte not happen to returnen in to his contree. +For, for the gretnesse of the erthe and of the see, men may go be a 1000 +and a 1000 other weyes, that no man cowde redye him perfitely toward the +parties that he cam fro, but zif it were be aventure and happ, or be the +grace of God. For the erthe is fulle large and fulle gret, and holt in +roundnesse and aboute envyroun, be aboven and be benethen 20425 myles, +aftre the opynyoun of the olde wise astronomeres. And here seyenges I +repreve noughte. But aftre my lytylle wytt, it semethe me, savynge here +reverence, that it is more. And for to have bettere understondynge, I seye +thus, Be ther ymagyned a figure, that hathe a gret compas, and aboute the +poynt of the gret compas, that is clept the centre, be made another litille +compas: then aftre, be the gret compas devised be lines in manye parties; +and that alle the lynes meeten at the centre; so that in as many parties, +as the grete compas schal be departed, in als manye schalle be departed the +litille, that is aboute the centre, alle be it that the spaces ben lesse. +Now thanne, be the gret compas represented for the firmament, and the +litille compas represented for the erthe. Now thanne the firmament is +devysed, be astronomeres, in 12 signes; and every signe is devysed in 30 +degrees, that is 360 degrees, that the firmament hathe aboven. Also, be the +erthe devysed in als many parties as the firmament; and lat every partye +answere to a degree of the firmament: and wytethe it wel, that aftre the +auctoures of astronomye, 700 fulonges of erthe answeren to a degree of the +firmament; and tho ben 87 myles and 4 furlonges. Now be that here +multiplyed by 360 sithes; and than thei ben 31500 myles, every of 8 +furlonges, aftre myles of oure contree. So moche hathe the erthe in +roundnesse, and of heght enviroun, aftre myn opynyoun and myn +undirstondynge. And zee schulle undirstonde, that aftre the opynyoun of +olde wise philosophres and astronomeres, oure contree ne Irelond ne Wales +ne Scotlond ne Norweye ne the other yles costynge to hem, ne ben not in the +superficialte cownted aboven the erthe: as it schewethe be alle the bokes +of astronomye. For the superficialtee of the erthe is departed in 7 +parties, for the 7 planetes: and tho parties ben clept clymates. And oure +parties be not of the 7 clymates; for thei ben descendynge toward the west. +And also these yles of Ynde, which beth even azenst us, beth noght reckned +in the climates; for thei ben azenst us, that ben in the lowe contree. And +the 7 clymates strecchen hem envyrounynge the world. + + +Of the Palays of the Kyng of the Yle of Java. Of the Trees, that beren + Mele, Hony, Wyn and Venym; and of othere Mervayilles and Customes, used + in the Yles marchinge thereabouten. + +[Sidenote: Cap. XVIII.] Besyde that yle that I have spoken of, there is +another yle, that is clept Sumobor, that is a gret yle: and the kyng +thereof is righte myghty. The folk of that yle maken hem alweys to ben +marked in the visage with an hote yren, bothe men and wommen, for gret +noblesse, for to ben knowen from other folk. For thei holden hem self most +noble and most worthi of alle the world. And thei han werre alle weys with +the folk that gon alle naked. And faste besyde is another yle, that is +clept Betemga, that is a gode yle and a plentyfous. And many other yles ben +there about; where ther ben many of dyverse folk: of the whiche it were to +longe to speke of alle. + +But fast besyde that yle, for to passe be see, is a gret yle a gret +contree, that men clepen Java: and it is nyghe 2000 myle in circuyt. And +the kyng of that contree is a fulle gret lord and a ryche and a myghty, and +hathe undre him 7 other kynges of 7 other yles abouten hym. This yle is +fulle wel inhabyted, and fulle wel manned. There growen alle maner of +spicerie, more plentyfous liche than in ony other contree; as of gyngevere, +clowegylofres, canelle, zedewalle, notemuges and maces. And wytethe wel, +that the notemuge berethe the maces. For righte as the note of the haselle +hathe an husk with outen, that the note is closed in, til it be ripe, and +aftre fallethe out; righte so it is of the notemuge and of the maces. Manye +other spices and many other godes growen in that yle. For of alle thing is +there plenty, saf only of wyn: but there is gold and silver gret plentee. +And the kyng of that contree hathe a paleys fulle noble and fulle +marveyllous, and more riche than ony in the world. For alle the degrez to +gon up into halles and chambres, ben on of gold, another of sylver. And +also the pavmentes of halles and chambres ben alle square, on of gold and +another of sylver: and alle the walles with inne ben covered with gold and +sylver, in fyn plates: and in tho plates ben stories and batayles of +knyghtes enleved. And the crounes and the cercles abouten here hedes ben +made of precious stones and riche perles and grete. And the halles and the +chambres of the palays ben alle covered with inne with gold and sylver: so +that no man wolde trowe the richesse of that palays, but he had seen it. +And witethe wel, that the kyng of that yle is so myghty, that he hathe many +tymes overcomen the grete Cane of Cathay in bataylle, that is the most gret +emperour that is undre the firmament, outher bezonde the see or on this +half. For thei han had often tyme werre betwene hem, be cause that the +grete cane wolde constreynen him to holden his lond of him: but that other +at alle tymes defendethe him wel azenst him. + +Aftre that yle, in goynge be see, men fynden another yle, gode and gret, +that men clepen Pathen, that is a gret kyngdom, fulle of faire cytees and +fulle of townes. In that lond growen trees, that beren mele, wherof men +maken gode bred and white, and of gode savour; and it semethe as it were of +whete, but it is not allynges of suche savour. And there ben other trees, +that beren hony, gode and swete: and other trees, that beren venym; azenst +the whiche there is no medicyne but on; and that is to taken here propre +leves, and stampe hem and tempere hem with watre, and then drynke it: and +elle he schalle dye; for triacle will not avaylle, ne non other medicyne. +Of this venym, the Jewes had let seche of on of here frendes, for to +empoysone alle Cristiantee, as I have herd hem seye in here confessioun, +before here dyenge. But thanked be alle myghty God, thei fayleden of hire +purpos: but alle weys thei maken gret mortalitee of people. And other trees +there ben also, that beren wyn of noble sentement. And zif zou like to here +how the mele comethe out of the trees, I shalle seye zou. Men hewen the +trees with an hatchet, alle aboute the fote of the tree, tille that the +bark be parted in many parties; and than comethe out ther of a thikke +lykour, the whiche thei resceyven in vesselles, and dryen it at the hete of +the sonne; and than thei han it to a mylle to grynde; and it becomethe +faire mele and white. And the hony and the wyn and the venym ben drawen out +of other trees, in the same manere, and put in veselles for to kepe. In +that yle is a ded see, that is a lake, that hathe no ground. And zif ony +thing falle in to that lake, it schalle nevere comen up azen. In that lake +growen redes, that ben cannes, that thei clepen thaby, that ben 30 fadme +long. And of theise canes men maken faire houses. And ther ben other canes, +that ben not so longe, that growen neer the lond, and han so longe rotes, +that duren wel a 4 quartres of a furlong or more; and at the knottes of tho +rotes, men fynden precious stones, that han gret vertues: and he that +berethe ony of hem upon him, yren ne steel ne may not hurt him, ne drawe no +blood upon him: and therfore thei that han tho stones upon hem, fighten +fulle hardyly, bothe on see and lond: for men may not harmen hem on no +partye. And therfore thei that knowen the manere, and schulle fighten with +hem, thei schoten to hem arwes and quarrelles with outen yren or steel; and +so thei hurten hem and sleen hem. And also of tho cannes, thei maken houses +and schippes and other thinges; as wee han here, makynge houses and +schippes of oke or of ony other trees. And deme no man, that I seye it, but +for a truffulle: for I have seen of the cannes with myn owne eyzen fulle +many tymes lyggynge upon the ryvere of that lake: of the whiche, 20 of oure +felowes ne myghten not liften up ne beren on to the erthe. + +Aftre this yle, men gon be see to another yle, that is clept Calonak: and +it is a fair lond and a plentifous of godes. And the kyng of that contrey +hath als many wyfes as he wole; for he makethe serche alle the contree, to +geten him the fairest maydens that may ben founde, and makethe hem to ben +broughte before him; and he takethe on o nyght, and another another nyght, +and so forthe contynuelle sewyng; so that he hath a 1000 wyfes or mo. And +he liggethe never but o nyght with on of hem, and another nyght with +another, but zif that on happene to ben more lusty to his plesance than +another. And therfore the kyng getethe fully many children; sum tyme an +100, sum tyme an 200, and sum tyme mo. And he hathe also into a 14000 +olifauntz or mo, that he makethe for to ben brought up amonges his +vileynes, be alle his townes. For in cas that he had ony werre azenst any +other kyng aboute him, thanne he makethe certeyn men of armes for to gon up +in to the castelles of tree, made for the werre, that craftily ben sett up +on the olifantes bakkes, for to fyghten azen hire enemyes: and so don other +kynges there aboute. For the maner of werre is not there, as it is here or +in other contrees; ne the ordinance of werre nouther. And men clepen the +olifantes, warkes. + +And in that yle there is a gret marvayle, more to speke of than in ony +other partie of the world. For alle manere of fissches, that ben there in +the see abouten hem, comen ones in the zeer, eche manere of dyverse +fissches, on maner of kynde aftre other; and thei casten hem self to the +see banke of that yle, so gret plentee and multitude, that no man may +unnethe see but fissche; and there thei abyden 3 dayes: and every man of +the contree takethe of hem, als many as him lykethe: And aftre, that maner +of fissche, after the thridde day, departethe and gothe into the see. And +aftre hem, comen another multitude of fyssche of another kynde, and don in +the same maner as the firste diden other 3 dayes. And aftre hem, another; +tille alle the dyverse maner of fissches han ben there, and that men han +taken of hem, that hem lykethe. And no man knowethe the cause wherfore it +may ben. But thei of the contree seyn, that it is for to do reverence to +here kyng, that is the most worthi kyng, that is in the world, as thei +seyn; because that he fulfillethe the comandement, that God bad to Adam and +Eve, whan God seyde, _Crescite et multplicamini et replete terram_. And for +because that he multipliethe so the world with children, therfore God +sendethe him so the fissches of dyverse kyndes, of alle that ben in the +see, to taken at his wille, for him and alle his peple. And therfore alle +the fissches of the see comen, to maken him homage, as the most noble and +excellent kyng of the world, and that is best beloved with God, als thei +seyn. I knowe not the resoun, whi it is; but God knowethe. But this, me +semethe, is the moste marveylle, that evere I saughe. For this mervaylle is +azenst kynde, and not with kynde, that the fissches, that han fredom to +enviroun alle the costes of the see, at here owne list, comen of hire owne +wille to profren hem to the dethe, with outen constreynynge of man: and +therfore I am syker, that this may not ben, with outen a gret tokene. + +There ben also in that contree a kynde of snayles, that ben so grete, that +many persones may loggen hem in here schelles, as men wolde done in a +litylle hous. And other snayles there ben, that ben fulle grete, but not so +huge as the other. And of theise snayles, and of gret white wormes, that +han blake hedes, that ben als grete as a mannes thighe, and somme lesse, as +grete wormes that men fynden there in wodes, men maken vyaunde rialle, for +the kyng and for other grete lordes. And zif a man, that is maryed, dye in +that contree, men buryen his wif with him all quyk. For men seyn there, +that it is resoun, that sche make him companye in that other world, as sche +did in this. + + +CAPVT. 30. + +De Regnis Cynocephalorum, et alijs Insulis. + +Per mare oceanum potest hinc veniri in Insulam Kaffa: [Marginal note: Vel +Caffeles.] quicunque ibi infirmari videtur ad mortem, suspenditur ad +arborem, antequam moriatur, vt non ab immundis terrę vermibus, sed a coeli +auibus, quas reputant Dei Angelos, comedatur. + +In alia insula faciunt suos infirmos ante mortem ab eductis in hoc magnis +canibus strangulari, manducantes in conuiuio carnes pro optimo ferculo +venationis. + +Interpositis quoque multis Insulis, de quibus subticeo gratia breuitatis, +habetur Insula Mylke, [Marginal note: Vel Mekke.] et hij videntur omnium +hominum crudelissimi; Nam quilibet particularitčr pro leui et modica +stimulatione, vulnerat, sauciat, et occidit, proximum, vicinum et amicum: +Et si quando dissidentes contigerit concordari, non habebitur pax rata, +nisi quisque de alterius sanguine biberit bonum haustum. + +Hinc nauigando per multas et diuersas Insulas, qui in singulas intrare, et +moram trahere voluerit, stupenda multa videbit, et poterit venire in +Insulam Tracoide. [Marginal Note: Vel Traceda.] + +Illic sunt homines ąbsque vllo ingenio penitus bestiales, serpentibus, +vermibusque vescentes, nec inuicem loquentes, sed conceptus suos signis et +indicijs ostendentes. Diligunt preciosos lapides tantummodo pulchritudinis +gratia, non causa virtutis: et super omnes vnum diligunt lapidem habentem +60. colorum varietates, qui et Tracoides vocatur propter ipsos. + +Intratur hinc per Oceanum in regionem Niconoram, vel Nacumeram, habentem in +circuitu spacium mille leucarum: omnes ibi geniti homines habent capita ad +formam canum, vnde et in Gręco Cynocephali dicuntur. Isti etiam incedunt +nudis corporibus, excepto parui panniculi operimento, secretiora loca et +posteriora retro tegente. Rationabiles tamen multum sunt hij, et plurimum +virtuosi, ac de omni forefacto rigidam iustitiam exercentes. Sunt statura +elegantes, robusti corpore, in pręlijs lanceam cum tergia lata gerentes, +virilitérque, et prudentčr pugnantes. Omnes pro deo adorant bouem, vnde et +quilibet in fronte argenteam seu auream similitudinem bouis defert, et si +quem viuum in pręlio ceperint, sine vlla miseratione manducant. + +Rex multum est diues et potens, ac deuotus in superstitione. Nam circa +collum gestat trecentas orientales margaritas, quibus quotidič antč +commestionem orationes suas colligit, quemadmodum nos colligimus, Pater +noster, etc. Ac pręterea portat ad collum [Marginal note: Siue +carbunculum.] rubetum orientalem, nobilem, purum, pulchrum, resplendentem, +et summč preciosum, ad longitudinem pedis humani, quem habet diligentčr +seruare, quod dum eo caret non tenetur pro Rege. + +Pro isto carbunculo Grand Can Imperator, per ingenium, per insidias, per +precium, et per pręlium sępč laborauit, sed nihil profecit. Post istam +apparet insula Syllan, habens leucas de circuitu 80. quę paucos habet +homines propter multitudinem draconum, serpentum, crocodilorum in ea. Sunt +autem crocodili speciales serpentes, coloris virgulati de croceo et nigro, +cum quatuor cruribus, et tibijs et latis pedum vngulis. Aliqui horum habent +longitudinem quķnque tensarum, aut citrą, qui dum tendunt per arenosa +relinquunt signum semitę, acsi sit ibi tractus grandis arboris truncus. + +Item in hac insula habetur nons altus, et in sui vertice satis altus et +distentus et magnus aquę lacus, de quo et stulti homines fabulantur, quņd +primi parentes post eiectionem suam, illam aquam primņ lacrymauerunt. In +huius fundo lacus nascuntur margaritę, et habentur semper lapides preciosi. +Solentque pauperes terrę, accepta ą Rege licentia, semel in anno ingredi, +ac piscari gemmas, qui intrantes vngunt se succo Lymonsę, contra hirudines, +colubros, et serpentes. Sed et de lacu effluit riuulus per montis +descensum, in quo nonnunquam margaritę inueniuntur, et gemmę: dicunt etiam +ibi nullum venenatum animal nocere aduenis. + +Ibi videntur leones albi in mira magnitudine boum nostrorum, et multę +diuersę bestię, et aues, bestiolę, et auiculę aliarum specierum quąm in +partibus istis. Nam ibi et in nonnullis alijs insulis vidi vnum mirum, de +quo prius vix credidissem narranti, videlicet anates cum duobus capitibus. + +Et sciatis quņd tam hic quam alibi mare apparet satis altius suo littore, +imo qui a remotis aspicit videt suspensum quasi ad nubes. Et de hoc +admiratus fuissem, nisi quod scriptum sciui mirabiles elationes maris. + + +CAPVT. 31. + +De multis alijs Insulis Meridionalibus, de quibus et Plinius, et Munsterus. + +Versus meridien hinc legendo per mare, inuenitur regio speciosa nomine +Doudin: [Marginal note: Vel Doudeia.] cuius rex imperat seu principatur 54. +regibus in circuitu insularum. + +Dum quis hic infirmatur tendit proximus ad Idolum sciscitans an morietur, +et si respondit non, addit et dicere medicinam qua curabitur: si autem +responderit moriturum, statim conuocatis amicis occiditur, et cum +symphonia, et solemnitate comedunt eius carnes, ossa tantummodņ +sepelientes. In Insulis verņ circumiacentibus, habentur incredibilitčr +diuersę gentes. Nam vna habet homines enormis magnitudinis, cum solo in +medio frontis oculo, qui absque vllo condimento manducant carnes et pisces. + +Alia Insula habet homines aspectu deformes, nihil autem colli aut capitis +ostendentes, vnde et Acephali nuncupantur: oculos autem habent ante ad +scapulas, et in loco pectoris os apertum ad formam ferri, quo nostri +caballi fręnantur. + +In alia Insula sunt gentes planis faciebus absque eleuatione nasorum, et +palpebratum cum paruis foraminibus oculorum, et scissura modica oris. Et in +alia gentes cum superiore oris labio ita lato et amplo, vt, dum velint, +totam faciem de illo tegant. + +Alia generat homines paruę saturę cum oris foramine sic paruo, vt per +fistulas alimentum, et potum sumant, et quoniam carent lingua et dentibus, +monstrant per naturalia signa conceptus. Et aliqui sunt homines debitę +quidem staturę, et formę, nisi quņd habent pedes equķnos, quibus ita sunt +prępetes, vt syluestres bestias capiant, quas comedunt, et manducant. + +In alia homines sunt toti pilosi et hispidi, vsu simiarum manibus et +pedibus ambulantes, et ad arbores reptantes, qui quamuis non loquuntur, +apparent rationabiles, qui regem habent, et rectores. + +Et in alia omnes sunt claudi, qui quamuis pedes habeant, tamen ambulant +super genua multum ridiculosč, imņ miserabiliter, vt de passu in passum +videantur casuri in terrem. Et in quadam, sexum tam masculinum, quąm +foeminieum habentes, qui dum masculino vtuntur generant, dum foeminino, +impregnantur et pariunt. Atque, in compendio multa concludam, in singulis +54. insularum inueniuntur homines, forma, statura, actibus et moribus +singulis ab inuicem differentes, de quibus potest fieri descriptio, quam +pertranseo gratia breuitatis, et causa incredulitatis fortč quorundum +audientium. + +In istis autem meridionalibus partibus apparebat mihi eleuatio poli +Antarctici 33. graduum, cum 16. minutis. Et sciendum quod in Bohemia, +similitčr in Anglia eleuatur polus Arcticus 52. gradibus vel citra: Et in +partibus magis septentrionalibus, vbi sunt Scoti 62. gradibus cum quatuor +minutis. Ex quo patet respiciendo ad latitudinem coeli, quę est de polo ad +polum, quod itineratio mea fuit per quartum Horizontis spherę terrę et +vltra, per quinque gradus, cum 20. minutis. Cum ergņ secundum Astrologos, +totus terrę circuitus sit 31500. milliarium, octo stadijs pro milliario +computatis, et septinginta stadia respondeant ad vnum gradum, quod patet ad +latitudinem terrę, perambulaui 66733. stadia cum vno tertio, quę faciunt +4170. leucas Geometricas cum dimidia vel propč. + + +CAPVT. 32. + +De bona Regione Man chus. [Footnote: Mangi.] + +Cum igitur tot et talsa in istis Insulis vidimus monstra (quę si explicarem +scribendo vix ą legentibus omnia crederentur) non curauimus vlterius +procedere sub polo australi, ne in maiora pericula incideremus: sed proptčr +auditam et inuisam nobis famositatem potentię, nobilitatis, et glorię +Imperatoris Tartarorum, vertebam faciem cum socijs nauigare magis versus +Orientem. Cumque per multas diętas sustinuissemus multa pericula maris, +peruenimus in Regnum Manchus, [Marginal Note: Vel Mangi.] quod est in +confinibus superioris Indię, et iungitur ab vna parte Tartarię. Hęc Regio +Manchus, pro sui quantitate reputatur melior, delectabilior, et omnium +bonorum abundantior de cunctis ibi propč Regionibus. Nam et homines bestię, +et volucres maiores et corpulentiores sunt alijs, et prę vbertate vix +inuenirentur in vna ciuitate decem mendici. Formosi sunt viri, sed feminę +formosiores. Sed viri loco barbę, habent perpaucos pilos, rigidos, et +longos ab vtraque oris parte, quemadmodum nostros videmus cattos habere. + +Prima quam ingrediebaumer ciuitąs est Lachori, [Marginal Note: Siue +Lateryn.] distans vna dieta ą mari, et mirabamur, et gauisi sumus nos +inuenisse integram ciuitatem Christianę fidei. Nam et maior pars Regni +credit in Christum. + +Ibi habetur in leui precio copia rerum omnium, et pręcipuč victualium: vnum +genus est ibi serpentum in abundantia quod manducant ad omne conuiuium, et +nisi pro finali ferculo ministraretur de illis serpentibus, conuiuium quąm +modicum diceretur. + +Suntque per hoc regnum pleręque ciuitates et Ecclesię, et relligiones, quas +instituit dux Ogerus, quia hoc est vnum de quindecim regnis quę quęsiuit, +sicut infra dicetur. + +Illic sunt elegantes albę gallinę, quę non vestiuntur plumis vt nostraę, +sed optima lana. Canes aquatici, quos nos lutras nominamus, sunt ibi multi +edomiti, quņd quoties mittuntur in flumen, exportant domino piscem. + +Ab hoc loco per aliquas diętas, venitur ad huius regionis maximam vrbem +Cansay, hoc est dicere ciuitatem coeli, imo de vniuerso orbe terrarum +putatur hęc maxima Ciuitatum; nam eius circuitus 50. leucis est mensus, nec +est facile dicere, quąm, compressč a quamplurimis populis inhabitatur. Hęc +sedet in lacu maris, quemadmodum, et Venetię: et habentur in ea plures quąm +mille ducenti pontes, et in quolibet turres mirę magnitudinis, ac +fortitudinis, munitę peruigķli custodia, et pro vrbe tuenda contra +Imperatorem Grand Can. + +Multi sunt ibi Christiani, et multę Religiones Christianorum, sed et de +ordinibus Minorum, et prędicatorum, qui tamen ibi non mendicant; est magna +pluralitas ex diuersis nationibus Mercatorum. Per Regionem nascitur vinum +valdč bonum, quod appellatur Bigon. Et ad leucam extra ciuitatem, Abbatia +magna est, non de religione Christiana sed Pagana: et in ea forrestum, siue +hortus magnus vndķque circumclusus, consitus arboribus, et arbustis, in +cuius etiam medio mons, altus simul et latus, habens hortum vbi solum +inhabitant bestiolę mirabiles, sicut Simię, marmotę, Lanbon, papiones, +foreti et huiusmodi ad varia et multa genera, et ad numerum infinitum. + +Omni autem die post refectionem conuentus Abbatię, qui est valdč +monachosus, deferuntur reliquię ciborum cum magno additamento, in vasis +auro lucentibus ad hunc hortum: et ad sonitum campanę argenteę, quam +Eleemosynarius manu gestat descendentes, et occurrentes de bestiolis duo +millia aut plures sese componunt residere ad circulum more pauperum +mendicorum, et traditur singulis per seruos aliquid de his cibarijs, ac +denuņ audita campana segregando recurrunt: Cumque nos tanquam redarguentes, +diceremus, cur hęc non darentur egenis, responderunt, illic pauperes non +habentur, quod si inuenirentur, potius tamen dari deberent bestiolis. Habet +enim eorum perfidia, et Paganissimus, animas nobilium hominum post mortem +ingredi corpora nobilium bestiarum, et animas ignobilium corpora bestiarum +ignobilium et vilium, ad luenda videlicet crimina, donec peracta +poenitentia transeant in Paradisum: ideoque nutriunt, prout dicunt, has +nobiliores bestias, siue bestiolas, quņd a quibusdam nobilibus fundabatur +in principio hęc Abbatia. Multa sunt alia mira in hac ciuitate, de quibus +sciatis, quod non omnia vobis recitabo. + + +CAPVT. 33. + +De Pygmęis, et de itinere vsque in prouinciam Cathay. + +Eundo per Regionem eandem ą dicta ciuitate Cansay, ad sex dietas venitur ad +nobilem vrbem Tylenso, [Marginal Note: Vel Chezolo.] cuius muri per +circuitum tendunt ad spacium 20. leucarum: [Marginal Note: Vel Miliarium.] +et sunt 60. petrini pontes, quibus nullos memini pulchriores. + +In ista fuit prima sedes regni Mangi, nec immeritņ, cum sit munita, +delectabilis, et abundans omnibus bonis, ac deinde in predicta Cansay, nunc +autem tenetur in quadam alia ciuitate. + +Nota, quilibet ignis soluit quolibet anno vnum balis pro tributo, quod +valet vnum florenum cum dimidio, sed omnes famuli de domo vna pro vno igne +computantur: summa ignium tributalium, octies centum millia. Reliqui verņ +Christiani mercatores, in isto vico non computantur. Copia est ibi +victualium. + +Quatuor fratres minores vnum potentem conuertebant apud quem hospitabar, et +qui duxit me ad Abbatiam istam, ibi vidi scilicet quod hic narratur. + +Ad fines itaque regni Mangi transitur grandis fluuius de Dylay, [Marginal +note: Vel de Delay.] maius flumen mundi, vbi strictius est continet septem +miliaria Odericus: cuius alueus in loco districtiori continet quatuor +leucas. Et ex hoc in breui temporis spacio intratur Imperium Tartarorum, +sequendo fluuium vsque in terram Pygmeorum, per cuius medium transit. + +Hij Pygmei sunt homines statura breues ad longitudinem nostri brachij, seu +trium manuum expansarum. Tam mares quam feminę formosę et gratiosę, et +viuunt communiter ad annos sex vel septem: si qui pertingunt ad octo, mire +putantur senectutis. Ad dimidiam anni ętatem nubere possunt, in secundo +anno parturiunt: rationalis sunt, et sensati iuxta ętatem pusillam, ac +satis ingeniosi ad opera de serico, et de lana arboris. Frequentčr +pręliantur contra aues grandes patrię, exercitibus congregatis hinc inde, +et fit strages vtrimque. Hęc gens tam parua optimč operatur sericum et +bombycem. Isti Pygmei venerunt mihi obuiam chorizando. Non laborant terram, +prędia, seu vineas, sed morantur inter eos nostrę quantitatis homines, qui +eos incolunt, sicut serui, quos et Pygmęi sępč derident, quia sunt ipsis +maiores: et quod ipse non cesso mirari dum dicti homines in illa terra +generant vel pariunt, non crescit proles supra Pygmęi staturam: Insula non +est protensa, sed fortč 12. ciuitatum. Quarum vna est grandis, et bene +munita, et quam Grand Can facit cum fortibus armaturis curiosč seruari, +contra regem Mangi. + +Hinc proceditur per Imperium Grand Can, ad multas ciuitates, et villas +morum mirabiliter diuersorum, vsque in regnum Iamchan, quod est vnum de 12. +prouincijs maximis, quibus distinguitur totum Imperium Tartarorum. + +Nobilior ciuitas huius Regni seu Prouincię dicitur Iamchan, abundans +mercimonijs, et diuitijs infinitis, et multa pręstans proprio Regi tributa, +quoniam sicut illi de ciuitate fatentur, valet annuč regi quinquaginta +milia cuman florenorum auri. + +Nota. In Iamchan ciuitate est conuentus fratrum minorum: in hac sunt tres +Ecclesię Monasteriorum: reditus simul ascendit ad 12. cuman. Odericus +dixit, Vnus cuman est decem millium. Summa tributi annui, quinquaginta +milia millium Florenorum. In illis namque partibus magnus numerorum summas +estimant per cuman, numerum 10. millium qui et in Flamingo dicitur laste. + +Ad quinque leucas ab hac ciuitate est alia dicta Meke, in qua fiunt de +quodam albissimi genere ligni naues maxtimę cum aulis et thalamis, ac +multis ędificijs, tanquam Palatium tellure fundatum. + +Inde per idem regnum ad viam octo dietarum per aquam dulcem, multas per +ciuitates, et bonas villas, venimus Laucherim, [Marginal note: Siue +Lanterin.] (Odericus appellat Leuyim,) vrbem formosam opumque magnarum, +sitam super flumen magnum Cacameran. [Marginal note: Vel Caremoron.] Hoc +flumen transit per medium Cathay, cui aqua infert damnum, quando nimis +inundat, sicut palus in Ferraria, Mogus in Herbipoli: et illud sequentes +intrauimus principalem prouinciam Imperij Tartarię, dictam Cathay Calay: et +ista prouincia est multum distenta, ac plena ciuitatibus, et oppidis bonis, +et magnis omnibusque referta mercimonijs, maximč sericosis operibus, et +aromaticis speciebus. + +Nauigando per dictum flumen versus Orientem, et itinerando per hanc Cathay +prouinciam ad multas dietas per plurimas vrbes et villas, venitur in +ciuitatem Sugarmago, [Marginal note: Engarmago.] abundantiorem omnibus in +mercemoniis antedictis, quando sericum est hic vilissimum: quadragintę +librę habentur ibi pro decem florenis. + +Ab hac ciuitate, multis ciuitatibtus peregratis versus Orientem, veni ad +ciuitatem Cambalu, quę est antiqua in prouincia Cathay: Hanc postquam +Tartari ceperunt, ad dimidium miliare fecerunt vnam ciuitatem nomine Caydo, +et habet duodecim portas, et ą porta in portam duo sunt grossa miliaria +Lombardica, spacium inter medium istarum ciuitatum habitatoribus plenum +est, et circuitus cuiuslibet istarum ambit 60. miliaria Lombardica, quę +faciunt octo Teutonica. + +In hac ciuitate Cambalu residet Imperator Magnus Can, Rex Regum +terrestrium, et Dominus Dominorum terrestrium. Atque indč vlterius in +Orientem intratur vetus vrbs Caydo, vbi communiter tenet suam sedem +Imperialem Grand Can in suo palatio. Ambitus autem vrbis Caydo, est viginti +ferč leucarum, duodecim habens portas ą se distantes ampliłs quąm stadia +24. + + +The English Version. + +From that contree, men gon be the see occean, be an yle that is clept +Caffolos. Men of that contree, whan here frendes ben seke, thei hangen hem +upon trees; and seyn, that it is bettre, that briddes, that ben angeles of +God, eten hem, than the foule wormes of the erthe. + +From that yle men gon to another yle, where the folk ben of fulle cursed +kynde: for thei norysschen grete dogges, and techen hem to strangle here +frendes, whan thei ben syke: for thei wil noughte, that thei dyen of +kyndely dethe: for thei seyn, that thei scholde suffren to gret peyne, zif +thei abyden to dyen be hem self, as nature wolde: and whan thei ben thus +enstrangled, thei eten here flesche, in stede of venysoun. + +Aftreward men gon be many yles be see, unto an yle, that men clepen Milke: +and there is a fulle cursed peple: for thei delyten in ne thing more, than +for to fighten and to sle men. And thei drynken gladlyest mannes blood, the +whiche thei clepen dieu. And the mo men that a man may slee, the more +worschipe he hathe amonges hem. And zif 2 persones ben at debate, and +peraventure ben accorded be here frendes or be sumn of here alliance, it +behovethe that every of hem, that schulle ben accorded, drynke of otheres +blood: and elle the accord ne the alliance is noghte worthe, ne it schalle +not be ne repref to him to breke the alliance and the accord, but zif every +of hem drynke of otheres blood. + +And from that yle, men gon be see, from yle to yle, unto an yle, that is +clept Tracoda; where the folk of that contree ben as bestes and +unresonable, and duellen in caves, that thei maken in the erthe; for thei +have no wytt to maken hem houses. And whan thei seen ony man passynge +thorghe here contrees, thei hyden hem in here caves. And thei eten flesche +of serpentes; and thei eten but litille, and thei speken nought; but thei +hissen, as serpentes don. And thei sette no prys be no richesse, but only +of a precyous ston, that is amonges hem, that is of 60 coloures. And for +the name of the yle, thei clepen it Tracodon. And thei loven more that +ston, than ony thing elle: and zit thei knowe not the vertue thereof: but +thei coveyten it and loven it only for the beautee. + +Aftre that yle, men gon be the see occean, be many yles, unto an yle, that +is clept Nacumera; that is a gret yle and good and fayr: and it is in +kompas aboute, more than a 1000 myle. And alle the men and wommen of that +yle han houndes hedes: and thei ben clept Cynocephali: and thei ben fulle +resonable and of gode undirstondynge, saf that thei worschipen an ox for +here god. And also everyche of hem berethe an ox of gold or of sylver in +his forhed, in tokene that thei loven wel here god. And thei gon alle +naked, saf a litylle clout, that thei coveren with here knees and hire +membres. Thei ben grete folk and wel fyghtynge; and thei han a gret targe, +that coverethe alle the body, and a spere in here hond to fighte with. And +zif thei taken ony man in bataylle, anon thei eten him. The kyng of that +yle is fulle riche and fulle myghty, and righte devout aftre his lawe: and +he hathe abouten his nekke 360 perles oryent, gode and grete, and knotted, +as Pater Nostres here of amber. And in maner as wee seyn oure Pater Noster +and oure Ave Maria, cowntyng the Pater Nosters, right so this kyng seythe +every day devoutly 300 preyeres to his god, or that he ete: and he berethe +also aboute his nekke a rubye oryent, noble and fyn, that is a fote of +lengthe, and fyve fyngres large. And whan thei chesen here kyng, thei taken +him that rubye, to beren in his hond, and so thei leden him rydynge alle +abouten the cytee. And fro thens fromward, thei ben alle obeyssant to him. +And that rubye he schalle bere alle wey aboute his nekke: for zif he hadde +not that rubye upon him, men wolde not holden him for kyng. The grete Cane +of Cathay hathe gretly coveted that rubye; but he myghte never han it, for +werre ne for no maner of godes. This kyng is so rightfulle and of equytee +in his doomes, that men may go sykerlyche thorghe out alle his contree, and +bere with him what him list, that no man schalle ben hardy to robben hem: +and zif he were, the kyng wolde iustifyed anon. + +Fro this lond men gon to another yle, that is clept Silha: and it is welle +a 800 myles aboute. In that lond is fulle mochelle waste; for it is fulle +of serpentes, of dragouns and of cokadrilles; that no man dar duelle there. +Theise cocodrilles ben serpentes, zalowe and rayed aboven, and han 4 feet +and schorte thyes and grete nayles, as clees or talouns; and there ben +somme that han 5 fadme in lengthe, and summe of 6 and of 8, and of 10: and +whan thei gon be places, that ben gravelly, it semethe as thoughe men hadde +drawen a gret tree thorghe the gravelly place. And there ben also many +wylde bestes, and namelyche of olyfauntes. In that yle is a gret mountayne; +and in mydd place of the mount, is a gret lake in a fulle faire pleyne, and +there is a gret plentee of watre. And thei of the contree seyn, that Adam +and Eve wepten upon that mount an 100 zeer, whan thei weren dryven out of +Paradys. And that watre, thei seyn, is of here teres: for so moche watre +thei wepten, that made the forseyde lake. And in the botme of that lake, +men fynden many precious stones and grete perles. In that lake growen many +reedes and grete cannes; and there with inne ben many cocodrilles and +serpentes and grete watre leches. And the kyng of that contree, ones every +zeer, zevethe leve to pore men to gon in to the lake, to gadre hem precyous +stones and perles, be weye of alemesse, for the love of God, that made +Adam. And alle the zeer, men fynde y nowe. And for the vermyn, that is with +inne, thei anoynte here armes and here thyes and legges with an oynement, +made of a thing that is clept lymons, that is a manere of fruyt, lyche +smale pesen: and thanne have thei no drede of no cocodrilles, ne of non +other venymous vermyn. This watre rennethe, flowynge and ebbynge, be a syde +of the mountayne: and in that ryver men fynden precious stones and perles, +gret plentee. And men of that yle seyn comounly, that the serpentes and the +wilde bestes of that contree ne will not don non harm, ne touchen with +evylle, no strange man, that entrethe into that contree, but only to men +that ben born of the same contree. In that contree and othere there +abouten, there ben wylde gees, that han 2 hedes: and there ben lyouns alle +white, and als grete as oxen, and many other dyverse bestes, and foules +also, that be not seyn amonges us. And witethe wel, that in that contree +and in othere yles there abouten, the see is to highe, that it semethe as +though it henge at the clowdes, and that it wolde covere alle the world: +and that is gret mervaylle, that it myghte be so, saf only the wille of +God, that the eyr susteynethe it. And therfore seyth David in the Psautere, +_Mirabiles elationes Maris_. + + +How men knowen be the Ydole, zif the sike schalle dye or non. Of folk of + dyverse schap and merveylously disfigured: And of the Monkes, that zeven + hire releef to Babewynes, Apes and Marmesettes and to other Bestes. + +[Sidenote: Cap. XIX.] From that yle, in goynge be see, toward the southe, +is another gret yle, that is clept Dondun. In that yle ben folk of dyverse +kyndes; so that the fadre etethe the sone, the sone the fadre, the husbonde +the wif, and the wif the husbonde. And zif it so befall, that the fadre or +modre or ony of here frendes ben seke, anon the son gothe to the prest of +here law, and preyethe him to aske the ydole, zif his fadre or modre or +frend schalle dye on that evylle or non. And than the prest and the sone +gone to gydere before the ydole, and knelen fulle devoutly, and asken of +the ydole here demande. And zif the devylle, that is with inne, answere, +that he schalle lyve, thei kepen him wel: and zif he seye, that he schalle +dye, then the prest gothe with the sonne, with the wif of him that is +seeke, and thei putten here hondes upon his mouthe, and stoppon his brethe, +and so thei sleen him. And aftre that, thei choppen alle the body in smale +peces, and preyen alle his frendes to comen and eten of him, that is ded: +and thei senden for alle the mynstralle of the contree, and maken a +solempne feste. And whan thei han eten the flessche, thei taken the bones, +and buryen hem, and syngen and maken gret melodye. And alle tho that ben of +his kyn, or pretenden hem to ben his frendes, and thei come not to that +feste, thei ben repreved for evere and schamed, and maken gret doel; for +nevere aftre schulle thei ben holden as frendes. And thei seyn also, that +men eten here flesche, for to delyveren hem out of peyne. For zif the +wormes of the erthe eten hem, the soule scholde suffre gret peyne, as thei +seyn; and namely, whan the flesche is tendre and megre, thanne seyn here +frendes, that thei don gret synne, to leten hem have so long langure, to +suffre so moche peyne, with oute resoun. And whan thei fynde the flessche +fatte, than thei seyn, that it is wel don, to senden him sone to paradys; +and that thei have not suffred him to longe, to endure in peyne. The kyng +of this yle is a ful gret lord and a myghty; and hathe undre him 54 grete +yles, that zeven tribute to him: and in everyche of theise yles, is a kyng +crowned, and alle ben obeyssant to that kyng. And he hathe in tho yles many +diverse folk. In one of theise yles ben folk of gret stature, as Geauntes; +and thei ben hidouse for to loke upon; and thei han but on eye, and that is +in the myddylle of the front; and thei eten no thing but raw flessche and +raw fyssche. + +And in another yle, toward the southe, duellen folk of foule suture and of +cursed kynde, that han no hedes: and here eyen ben in here scholdres. + +And in another yle ben folk, that han the face all platt, alle pleyn, with +outen nese and with outen mouthe: but thei han 2 smale holes alle round, in +stede of hire eyen: and hire mouthe is plait also, with outen lippes. + +And in another yle ben folk of foul fasceon and schapp, that han the lippe +above the mouthe so gret, that whan thei slepen in the sonne, thei keveren +alle the face with that lippe. + +And in another yle, ther ben litylle folk, as dwerghes; and thei ben to so +meche as the pygmeyes, and thei han no mouthe, but in stede of hire mouthe, +thei han a lytylle round hole: and whan thei schulle eten or drynken, thei +taken thorghe a pipe or a penne or suche a thing, and sowken it in: for +thei han no tonge; and therfore thei speke not, but thei maken a maner of +hissynge, as a neddre doth, and thei maken signes on to another, as monkes +don; be the whiche, every of hem undirstondethe other. + +And in another yle ben folk, that han gret eres and longe, that hangen doun +to here knees. + +And in another yle ben folk, that han hors feet; and thei ben stronge and +myghty and swift renneres; for thei taken wyld bestes with rennyng, and +eten hem. + +And in another yle ben folk, that gon upon hire hondes and hire feet, as +bestes: and thei ben alle skynned and fedred, and thei wolde lepen als +lightly in to trees, and fro tree to tree, as it were squyrelles or apes. + +And in another yle ben folk that ben bothe man and womman: and thei han +kynde of that on and of that other; and thei han but o pappe on the o syde, +and on that other non: and thei han membres of generacioun of man and +womman; and thei usen bothe, whan hem list, ones that on, and another tyme +that other: and thei geten children, whan thei usen the membre of man; and +thei bere children, whan thei usen the membre of womman. + +And in another yle ben folk, that gon alle weyes upon here knees, ful +merveylously; and at every pas that thei gon, it semethe that thei wolde +falle: and thei han in every foot, 8 toes. + +Many other dyverse folk of dyverse nature ben there in other yles abouten, +of the whiche it were to longe to telle: and therfore I passe over +schortly. + +From theise yles, in passynge be the see occean toward the est, be many +iourneyes, men fynden a gret contree and a gret kyngdom, that men clepen +Mancy: and that is in Ynde the more: and it is the beste lond, and on of +the fairest, that may be in alle the world, and the most delectable, and +the most plentifous of all godes, that is in power of man. In that lond +duellen many Cristene men and Sarrazynes: for it is a gode contree and a +gret. And there ben there inne mo than 2000 grete cytees and riche, with +outen other grete townes. And there is more plentee of peple there, than in +ony other partie of Ynde; for the bountee of the contree. In that contree +is no nedy man, ne none that gothe on beggynge. And thei ben fulle faire +folk: but thei ben all pale. And the men han thynne berdes and fewe heres; +but thei ben longe: but unethe hathe ony man passynge 50 heres in his berd; +and on heer sitt here, another there, as the berd of a lyberd or of a catt. +In that lond ben many fairere wommen, than in ony other contree bezonde the +see: and therfore men clepen that lond Albanye; because that the folk ben +whyte. And the chief cytee of that contree is clept Latoryn; and it is a +iourneye from the see: and it is moche more than Parys. In that cytee is a +gret ryvere, berynge schippes, that gon to alle the costes in the see. No +cytee of the world is so wel stored of schippes, as is that. And alle tho +of the cytee and of the contree worschipen ydoles. In that contree ben +double sithes more briddes than ben here. There ben white gees, rede aboute +the nekke, and thei han a gret crest, as a cokkes comb upon hire hedes: and +thei ben meche more there, than thei ben here; and men byen hem there alle +quykke, right gret chepe. And there is gret plentee of neddres, of whom men +maken grete festes, and eten hem at grete sollempnytees. And he that +makethe there a feste, be it nevere so costifous, and he have no neddres, +he hathe no thanke for his travaylle. + +Many gode cytees there ben in that contree, and men han gret plentee and +gret chep of alle wynes and vitailles. In that contree ben manye chirches +of religious men, and of here lawe: and in tho chirches been ydoles, als +grete as geauntes. And to theise ydoles thei zeven to ete, at grete +festyfulle dayes, in this manere. Thei bryngen before hem mete alle soden, +als hoot as thei comen fro the fuyr, and thei leten the smoke gon up +towardes the ydoles; and than thei seyn, that the ydoles han eten; and than +the religious men eten the mete aftrewardes. In that contree been white +hennes withouten fetheres: but thei beren white wolle, as scheep don here. +In that contree, wommen that ben unmaryed, thei han tokenes on hire hedes, +lyche coronales, to ben knowen for unmaryed. Also in that contree, ther ben +bestes, taughte of men to gon in to watres, in to ryveres and in to depe +stankes, for to take fysche; the whiche best is but lytille, and men clepen +hem loyres. And whan men casten hem in to the watre, anon thei bringen up +gret fissches, als manye as men wold. And zif men wil have mo, thei cast +hem in azen, and thei bryngen up als many as men list to have. + +And fro that cytee, passynge many iourneyes, is another cytee, on of the +grettest of the world, that men clepen Cassay; that is to seyne, the Cytee +of Hevene. That cytee is well a 50 myle aboute, and it is strongliche +enhabyted with peple, in so moche that in on house men maken 10 housholdes. +In that cytee ben 12 princypalle zates; and before every zate, a 3 myle or +a 4 myle in lengthe, is a gret toun, or a gret cytee. That cytee sytt upon +a gret lake on the see; as dothe Venyse. And in that cytee ben mo than +12000 brigges: and upon every brigge, ben stronge toures and gode; in the +whiche duellen the wardeynes, for to kepen the cytee fro the gret Cane. And +on that o part of the cytee, rennethe a gret ryvere alle along the cytee. +And there duellen Cristene men, and many marchauntes and other folk of +dyverse natyouns: be cause that the lond is so gode and so plentifous. And +there growethe fulle gode wyn, that men clepen Bigon, that is fulle myghty +and gentylle in drynkynge. This is a cytee ryalle, where the Kyng of Mancy +was wont to duelle: and there duellen many religious men, as it were of the +order of freres: for thei ben mendyfauntes. + +From that cytee, men gon be watre, solacynge and disportynge hem, tille +thei come to an abbey of monkes, that is faste bye, that ben gode religious +men, after here feythe and lawe. In that abbeye is a gret gardyn and a +fair, where ben many trees of dyverse manere of frutes: and in this gardyn, +is a lytille hille, fulle of delectable trees. In that hille and in that +gardyn, ben many dyverse bestes, as of apes, marmozettes, babewynes, and +many other dyverse bestes. And every day, whan the covent of this abbeye +hathe eten, the awmener let bere the releef to the gardyn, and he smytethe +on the gardyn zate with a clyket of sylver, that he holdethe in his hond, +and anon alle the bestes of the hille and of dyverse places of the gardyn, +comen out, a 3000 or a 4000; and thei comen in gyse of pore men: and men +zeven hem the releef, in faire vesselles of sylver, clene over gylt. And +whan thei han eten, the monk smytethe eft sones on the gardyn zate with the +clyket; and than anon alle the bestes retornen azen to here places, that +thei come fro. And thei seyn, that theise bestes ben soules of worthi men, +that resemblen in lyknesse of the bestes, that ben faire: and therfore thei +zeve hem mete, for the love of God. And the other bestes that ben foule, +they seyn, ben soules of pore men and of rude comouns. And thus thei +beleeven, and no man may putte hem out of this opynyoun. Theise bestes +aboveseyd, thei let taken, whan thei ben zonge, and norisschen hem so with +almesse; als manye, as thei may fynde. And I asked hem, zif it had not ben +better, to have zoven that releef to pore men, rathere than to the bestes. +And thei answerde me and seyde, that thei hadde no pore men amonges hem, in +that contree: and thoughe it had ben so, that pore men had ben among hem, +zit were it gretter almesse, to zeven it to tho soules, that don there here +penance. Many other marveylles ben in that cytee and in the contree there +aboute, that were to long to telle zou. + +Fro that cytee, go men be the contree a 6 iourneyes, to another cytee, that +men clepen Chilenfo: of the whiche cytee, the walles ben 20 myle aboute. In +that cytee ben 60 brigges of ston, so faire, that no man may see fairere. +In that cytee was the firste sege of the Kyng of Mancy: for it is a faire +cytee, and plenteeyous of alle godes. + +Aftre passe men overthwart a gret ryvere, that men clepen Dalay: and that +is the grettest ryvere of fressche water, that is in the world. For there, +as it is most narow, it is more than a myle of brede. And thanne entren men +azen into the lond of the grete Chane. That ryvere gothe thorghe the lond +of Pigmaus: where that the folk ben of litylle stature, that ben but 3 span +long: and thei ben right faire and gentylle, aftre here quantytees, bothe +the men and the wommen. And thei maryen hem, whan thei ben half zere of +age, and geten children. And thei lyven not, but 6 zeer or 7 at the moste. +And he that lyvethe 8 zeer men holden him there righte passynge old. Theise +men ben the beste worcheres of gold, sylver, cotoun, sylk, and of alle +suche thinges, of ony other, that be in the world. And thei han often tymes +werre with the briddes of the contree, that thei taken and eten. This +litylle folk nouther labouren in londes ne in vynes. But thei han grete men +amonges hem, of oure stature, that tylen the lond, and labouren amonges the +vynes for hem. And of tho men of oure stature, han thei als grete skorne +and wondre, as we wolde have among us of geauntes, zif thei weren amonges +us. There is a gode cytee, amonges othere, where there is duellynge gret +plentee of tho lytylle folk: and it is a gret cytee and a faire, and the +men ben grete, that duellen amonges hem: but whan thei geten ony children, +thei ben als litylle as the pygmeyes: and therfore thei ben alle, for the +moste part, alle pygmeyes; for the nature of the lond is suche. The grete +Cane let kepe this cytee fulle wel: for it is his. And alle be it, that the +pygmeyes ben lytylle, zit thei ben fulle resonable, aftre here age, and +connen bothen wytt and gode and malice, y now. + +Fro that cytee, gon men be the contree, be many cytees and many townes, +unto a cytee, that men clepen Jamchay: and it is a noble cytee and a riche, +and of gret profite to the lord: and thidre go men to sechen marchandise of +alle manere of thing. That cytee is fulle moche worthe zerly to the lord of +the contree. For he hathe every zere to rente of that cytee (as thei of the +cytee seyn) 50000 cumantz of floreyns of gold: for thei cownten there alle +be cumanz: and every cumant is 10000 floryns of gold. Now may men wel +rekene, how moche that it amountethe. The kyng of that contree is fulle +myghty: and zit he is undre the grete Cane. And the gret Cane hathe undre +him 12 such provynces. In that contree, in the gode townes, is a gode +custom. For whoso wille make a feste to ony of his frendes, there ben +certeyn innes in every gode toum; and he that wil make the feste, wil seye +to the hostellere, arraye for me, to morwe, a gode dyner, for so many folk; +and tellethe him the nombre; and devysethe him the viaundes: and he seythe +also, thus moche I wil dispende, and no more. And anon the hostellere +arrayethe for him, so faire and so wel and so honestly, that ther schalle +lakke no thing. And it schalle be don sunnere, and with lasse cost, than +and a man made it in his owne hous. + +And a 5 myle fro that cytee, toward the hed of the ryvere of Dalay, is +another cytee, that men clepen Menke. In that cytee is strong navye of +schippes; and alle ben white as snow, of the kynde of the trees, that thei +ben made offe. And thei ben fulle grete schippes, and faire, and wel +ordeyned, and made with halles and chambres, and other eysementes, as +thoughe it were on the lond. + +Fro thens go men be many townes and many cytees, thorghe the contree, unto +a cytee, that men clepen Lanteryne: and it is an 8 iourneyes from the cytee +aboveseyd. This cytee sitt upon a faire ryvere, gret and brood, that men +clepen Caramaron. This ryvere passethe thorghe out Cathay: and it dothe +often tyme harm, and that fulle gret, whan it is over gret. + + +Of the grete Chane of Chatay. Of the Rialtee of his Palays, and how he sitt + at Mete; and of the grete nombre of Officeres, that serven hym. + +[Sidenote: Cap. XX.] Chatay is a gret contree and a faire, noble and riche, +and fulle of marchauntes. Thidre gon marchaundes alle zeres, for to sechen +spices and alle manere of marchandises, more comounly than in ony other +partye. And zee schulle undirstonde, that marchaundes, that comen fro Gene +or fro Venyse or fro Romanye, or other partyes of Lombardye, thei gon be +see and be lond 11 monethes, or 12, or more sum tyme, or thei may come to +the yle of Cathay, that is the princypalle regyoun of alle partyes bezonde; +and it is of the grete Cane. + +Fro Cathay go men toward the est, be many iourneyes: and than men fynden a +gode cytee, betwene theise othere, that men clepen Sugarmago. That cytee is +on of the beste stored of sylk and other marchandises, that is in the +world. Aftre go men zit to another old cytee, toward the est: and it is in +the provynce of Cathay. And besyde that cytee, the men of Tartarye han let +make another cytee, that is clept Caydon; and it hathe 12 zates: and +betwene the two zates, there is alle weyes a gret myle; so that the 2 +cytees, that is to seyne, the olde and the newe, han in circuyt more than +20 myle. + + +CAPVT. 34. + +De pallatio Imperatoris Grand Can. + +Palatium Imperatoris Grand Can, quod est in Caydo ciuitate, continet in +circuitu proprij muralis vltrą duas leucas, et sunt in eo aulę quąm plures, +in forma nobiles, et in materia nobiliores. Aula autem sedis, quę est +maxime cęterarum, habet intrinsecus pro sui sustentatione 24. aereas +columnas factas opere fusorio, de auro puro, et omnes parietes ab intus +opertas pellibus quorundam animalium, quę vocantur Pantheres: hę sanguinei +sunt coloris, et ita remicantes, vt Sole desuper relucente; vix oculus +valeat humanus sufferre splendorem, tantęque fragantię, vt illi approximare +non posset aer infectus, vnde et ista opertura parietum appreciatur super +tegmen aurearum laminarum. + +Namque stultorum aliqui Paganorum huiusmodi adorant animalia propter +colorum, odorumque virtutem. Proposui retrahere calamum ą describenda +nobilitate, gubernatione et ministrantium frequentia, atque Imperatoris +magnificentia: attamen quia coepi ego, propter incredulos, et nescios, ac +inerudibiles, non dimittam in toto. Quicunque enim nihil credunt, nihil +sciunt, neque erudiri possunt, Scriptura testante, si non credideritis non +intelligetis. Dico ergo, et verč dico, quņd in huius aulę capite sit +thronus, vel sedes Imperialis, excelsus et eminens in ascensu graduum +quamplurium, in quo residere solet in plenaria maiestate, in cuius throni +toto corpore nihil apparet minłs nobile, auro, margaritis, gemmis, et +lapidibus preciosis. Singuli gradus sunt de singulis, ac inter se diuersis +magnis lapidibus, vtpote primus de Hęmatisto, alius de Sardio, et alius de +Chrysolito, et sic vsque ad supremum gradum, qui singuli ad formam cuiusque +gradus sunt circumfusi, et clusorio opere firmati, auro solido, et +nihilominłs per superficiem auri, distinctč seminati, firmitčrque inclusi +lapilli cari, cum orientalibus Margaritis, summitas autem cum ferculo +residentię in nobilitate excisionis, et fabrifactura operis tam diuersa +est, et mira, vt paruitatem mei ingenij excedat, quamobrem et ei cedo, +vlteriusque procedo. + +Ad Imperatoris sinistram gradu vno bassior, est sedes suę primę coniugis, +tota de iaspidibus auro circumfusis, et in superficie aulę distinctę +gemmulę cum granellis eodem schemate, et similiter de iaspide. Sed adhuc +submissior vno gradu est sedes coniugis secundę, nec non et sub illa vxoris +tertię. Nam tres proprias secum habet vxores, Odericus dicit, istas duas +concubinas. Itémque resident sub tertia coniuge nobiles mulieres de +Imperatoris progenie, iuxta illustriam vniuscuiusque. + +Et notandum, quņd per totam patriam singulę mulieres maritatę, vt +intelligantur maritis subiectę, et vt discernantur ą solutis, gestant in +capitis summitate similitudinem pedis viri, longitudinis brachij et +dimidij, quadam leui materia operatam: videlicet nobiles de sericosis +operibus pannorum, seu alijs raris et pulchris pannis, et preciosis +lapillis, et ignobiles iuxta statum suum de materia communiori. + +Ad dextram verņ sedentis Imperatoris vno gradu submissus residet +primogenitus eius filius, et sub ipso ordinatč in consimilibus sedibus +nobiles proximi de cognitione Imperiali. + +Item super thronum et desuper ante ipsius throni locum, tanquam pro celato +seu operimento in throno residentium, et eorum ministrantium, est extensa +similitudo vitis operata in palmitibus, et pampinis, de auro puro ad +extensionem cubitorum quadraginta, per quadrum, atque per eam dependentes +botri vuarum de gemmis, et granellis quinque colorum, quorum albi sunt de +christallo et beryllo, et iriscrocei de topazio et fuluo christallo, rubei +de rubetorum granis, corallo, et alibandinis, virides de Smaragdis, +pyropis, et chrysolytis, nigri, de onichinis, gagetis, et gerateris. + +Tempore prandij in hac aula, Imperator et Imperatrices, et quisque de +prędictis, habet mensam sibi solam, quarum vilior pręualet thesauro grandi. + +In solennitatibus ponitur mensa Imperatori de exquisito electro, seu de +auro examinato, distincta diamantibus, et nobis ignotis in comparabilibus +gemmis, quandóque de christallo perspicuo, seu croceo, circumclusa auro cum +gemmis: quandóque de Hęmatisto, quandóque de ebore candido, vel rubicundo: +interdum de ligno artificiosč combinato, quod descendit per flumina de +Paradiso. Idem dicit Odericus. + +His mensis astant Barones, et Principes pro vasallis attentč in suis +officijs ministrantes, quorum nec vnus emittere verbum aliqua pręsumit +audacia, nisi Imperatore annuente, vel ad illum loquente, illis duntaxat +exceptis, qui certis interspatijs canunt, aut recitant de principum gestis. + +Et notandum, quando in hoc solio Maiestatis diebus solennibus residet +Imperator, subsidere ad pedes eius notarios quatuor, qui omne quod Dominus +loquitur, singuli ponunt in scriptis: nam quodcunque tunc ex ore illius +egreditur, necesse est esse, vel effici, nec valet item ipse verbum suum +mutare, nec reuocare, nisi magno consilio conuocato. + +Vniuersa vtensilia quibus in solennitate ad has seruitur mensas, sunt de +nobilibus petris auro reclusis, Cyphi de Smaragdis, vel Saphyris, topasijs, +pyropis, siue gryophis: et priuatioribus diebus, de auro probato etiam in +cameris, et cubiculis, nec reputatur ibi claritas argenti, nisi pro +pilarijs, columnis, gradibus, et pauimentis. + +Istius autem ostia aulę, dum in ea residet, aut deambulat Imperator, multi +Barones ingressum seruant intentč, et ne limen tangatur, quod hoc haberent +pro augurio, et benč verberaretur, quia Imperatore pręsente, nemo nisi +adductus in quacunque camera, vel habitatione intromittitur, donec +interrogatus iusserit Imperator. + +Latitudinem huius Basilicę ęstimo ad spatium de meis pedibus centum et +longitudinem vltrą quatuor centum. In cubiculo autem Regis dormitorio, +constat vnus pillarius, seu columna de auro solido et carbunculus conclusus +in illo longitudinis pedis vnius, totum habitaculum de nocte perfundens +lumine claro. Hic prout ego notaui, non est plenč rubeus, sed subrufus, +quasi coloris Hęmatistini. Porrņ in vna aularum, circą medium palatii, est +alius excelsus ascensus, Odericus dicit pigma, super quem dum placet, stat, +vel residet Imperator, ditissimč etiam operatus, ex auro, gemmis, baccis, +margaritis, et lapidibus raris, et in quatuor angulis, imagines quatuor +serpentum de auro puro. + +Huius per tria latera dependent retia seu cortinę de cordulis +sericis, in quibus ad singulos nodos, grossa margarita habetur +innexa, quibus cortinis tegitur officina: in eius concauitate tenetur +tumba quadrata, in qua conueniunt conductus omnium potuum, +qui bibuntur in Curia, et innumera vasorum genera, quibus potus +omnibus ministratur. + +Prętereą, iuxta palatii ambitum, habetur grandis parci spaciamentum, +diuersi generis arboribus repletum, fructus ferentibus varios, et nobis +inuisos, et in parte media, aula super excelsum collem de tam mira et +pulchra structura, vt eius nobilitas de facili ad pręsens, non possit +describi. Et vndique, par collis gyrum aquę fossatum profundum, et latum +vltrą quod pons vnicus ducit ad collem. Atque ex duobus montis lateribus, +stagnum cum diuersorum copia piscium, et volucrum indomitarum, vt aucarum, +anatum, cignorum, ciconiarum, ardearum, et collectorum in magna +pluralitate, nec non et per parcum, multę syluestres bestię, et bestiolę +quatenłs per aulę fenestras possit Dominus pro solatio respicere volucrum +aucupationes, bestiarum venationes, et piscium captiones. + +Et hoc proculdubio sciendum, quņd in nostris partibus rara sint oppida cum +pluribus mansionibus, quąm in isto palatio continentur. + +Tota ęstate moratur in India terra frigidissima, in hyeme in Cambalu. +Odericus. + +Pręter palatium hoc in Caydo, habet Imperator similitčr tria: vnum in +ciuitate Sadus, versus Septentrionem, vbi competens est frigus, ibi moratur +in ęstate. Cambalu, vbi competens calor, ibi moratur hyeme. Tertium in +ciuitate Iongh, in quo et in isto Caydo, vt sępiłs seruat sedem, eņ quņd in +istis est aer magis temperatus, quamuis semper calidus videtur Nostratibus. + + +The English Version. + +In this cytee is the Sege of the grete Cane in a fulle gret palays, and the +most passynge fair in alle the world: of the whiche the walles ben in +circuyt more than 2 myle: and within the walles, it is alle fulle of other +palays. And in the gardyn of the grete palays, there is a gret hille, upon +the whiche there is another palays; and it is the most fair and the most +riche, that ony man may devyse. And all aboute the palays and the hille, +ben many trees, berynge many dyverse frutes. And alle aboute that hille, +ben dyches grete and depe: and besyde hem, ben grete vyneres, on that o +part and on that other. And there is a fulle fair brigge to passe over the +dyches. And in theise vyneres, ben so many wylde gees and gandres and wylde +dokes and swannes and heirouns, that it is with outen nombre. And alle +aboute theise dyches and vyneres, is the grete gardyn, fulle of wylde +bestes; so that, whan the gret Cane wil have ony desport on that, to taken +ony of tho wylde bestes or of the foules, he wil lete chace hem and taken +hem at the wyndowes, with outen goynge out of his chambre. This palays, +where his sege is, is bothe gret and passynge fair. And with in the palays, +in the halle, there ben 24 pyleres of fyn gold: and alle the walles ben +covered with inne, of rede skynnes of bestes, that men clepen panteres; +that ben faire bestes, and well smellyng: so that for the swete odour of +tho skynnes, non evylle ayr may entre in to the palays. Tho skynnes ben als +rede as blode, and thei schynen so brighte azen the sonne, that unethes no +man may beholden hem. And many folk worschipen tho bestes, whan thei meeten +hem first at morwe, for here gret vertue and for the gode smelle that thei +han: and tho skynnes thei preysen more than thoughe thei were plate of fyn +gold. And in the myddes of this palays is the mountour for the grete Cane, +that is alle wrought of gold and of precyous stones and grete perles: and +at 4 corneres of the mountour, been 4 serpentes of gold: and alle aboute +ther is y made large nettes of sylk, and gold and grete perles hangynge +alle aboute the mountour. And undre the mountour, ben condytes of beverage, +that thei drynken in the emperours court. And besyde the condytes, ben many +vesselles of gold, be the whiche, thei that ben of houshold, drynken at the +condyt. And the halle of the palays is fulle nobelyche arrayed, and fulle +merveylleousely atyred on all parteys, in alle thinges, that men apparayle +with ony halle. And first, at the chief of the halle, is the emperours +throne, fulle highe, where he syttethe at the mete: and that is of fyn +precyouse stones, bordured alle aboute with pured gold and precyous stones +and grete perles. And the grees, that he gothe up to the table, ben of +precyous stones, medled with gold. And at the left syde of the emperoures +sege, is the sege of his firste wif, o degree lowere than the emperour: and +it is of jaspere, bordured with gold and preciouse stones. And the sege of +his seconde wif is also another sege, more lowere than his firste wif: and +it is also of jaspere, bordured with gold, as that other is. And the sege +of the thridde wif is also more lowe, be a degree, than the seconde wif. +For he hathe alweys 3 wifes with him, where that evere he be. And aftre his +wyfes, on the same syde, sytten the ladyes of his lynage, zit lowere, aftre +that thei ben of estate. And alle tho that ben maryed, han a countrefete, +made lyche a mannes foot, upon here hedes, a cubyte long, alle wrought with +grete perles, fyne and oryent, and aboven, made with pecokes fedres and of +other schynynge fedres; and that stont upon here hedes, like a crest, in +tokene that thei ben undre mannes fote and undre subiectioun of man. And +thei that ben unmaryed, han none suche. And aftre, at the right syde of the +Emperour, first syttethe his eldest sone, that schalle regne aftre him: and +he syttethe also o degree lowere than the emperour, in suche manere of +seges, as don the emperesses. And aftre him, sytten other grete lordes of +his lynage, every of hem a Degree lowere than other, as thei ben of estate. +And the emperour hathe his table allone be him self, that is of gold, and +of precious stones, or of cristalle, bordured with gold, and fulle of +precious stones or of amatystes or of lignum aloes, that comethe out of +paradys, or of ivory, bounden or bordured with gold. And everyche of his +wyfes hathe also hire table be hire self. And his eldest sone, and the +other lordes also, and the ladyes, and alle that sitten with the emperour, +han tables allone be hem self, fulle riche. And there nys no table, but +that it is worthe an huge tresour of gode. And undre the emperoures table, +sitten 4 clerkes, that writen alle, that the emperour seythe, be it good, +be it evylle. For alle that he seythe, moste ben holden; for he may not +chaungen his word, ne revoke it. At grete solempne festes, before the +emperoures table, men bryngen grete tables of gold, and there on ben +pecokes of gold, and many other maner of dyverse foules, alle of gold, and +richely wrought and enameled; and men maken hem dauncen and syngen, +clappynge here wenges to gydere, and maken gret noyse: and where it be by +craft or be nygromancye, I wot nere; but it is a gode sight to beholde, and +a fair; and it is gret marvayle how it may be. But I have the lasse +marvaylle, be cause that thei ben the moste sotyle men in alle sciences and +in alle craftes, that ben in the world. For of sotyltee and of malice and +of fercastynge, thei passen alle men undre hevene. And therfore thei seyn +hem self, that thei seen with 2 eyen; and the Cristene men see but with on: +be cause that thei ben more sotylle than thei. For alle other naciouns, +thei seyn, ben but blynde in conynge and worchynge in comparisoun to hem. I +did gret besynesse, for to have lerned that craft: but the maistre tolde +me, that he had made a vow to his God, to teche it to no creature, but only +to his eldeste sone. Also above the emperours table and the othere tables, +and aboven a gret partie in the halle, is a vyne, made of fyn gold: and it +spredethe alle aboute the halle; and it hath many clustres of grapes, somme +white, somme grene, summe zalowe and somme rede and somme blake, alle of +precious stones: the white ben of cristalle and of berylle and of iris; the +zalowe ben of topazes; the rede ben of rubies, and of grenaz and of +alabraundynes; the grene ben of emeraudes, of perydos and of crisolytes; +and the blake ben of onichez and garantez. And thei ben alle so propurlyche +made, that it semethe a verry vyne, berynge kyndely grapes. And before the +emperoures table, stonden grete lordes, and riche barouns and othere, that +serven the emperour at the mete. And no man is so hardy, to speke a word, +but zif the emperour speke to him; but zif it be mynstrelles, that syngen +songes, and tellen gestes or other desportes, to solace with the emperour. +And alle the vesselle, that men ben served with, in the halle or in +chambres, ben of precious stones; and specially at grete tables; outher of +jaspre or of cristalle or of amatystez or of fyn gold. And the cuppes ben +of emeraudez and of saphires or of topazes, of perydoz, and of many other +precyouse stones. Vesselle of sylver is there non: for thei telle no prys +there of, to make no vesselle offe: but thei maken ther of grecynges and +pileres and pawmentes, to halles and chambres. And before the halle dore, +stonden manye barounes, and knyghtes clene armed, to kepe that no man +entre, but zif it be the wille or the commandement of the emperour, or but +zif thei ben servauntes or mynstralle of the houshold: and other non is not +so hardy, to neighen nye the halle dore. + + +CAPVT. 35. + +De quatuor solennitatibus, quas Magnus Can celebrat in anno. + +Sciatis quņd ego, meķque sodales, pro fama magnificentię huius Imperatoris, +tradidimus nos stipendiarios esse in guerris, contra Regem Mangi +pręnominatum. Et fuimus apud ipsum 15. mensibus, et certč inuenimus multņ +maiorem partem hominum, in mediam partem nobis non fuisse relatam: hominum +(exceptis custodibus bestiarum et volucrum,) qui intra palatium certa +gerunt ministeria est numerus decem cuman. + +Nota. Traxi moram in Cambalu tribus annis: fratres nostri locum habent in +Curia sua specialiter, et festis diebus statutis dant benedictionem, +Odericus. Et quoniam Imperator habet satis plures quąm decem mille +Elephantes edomitos, et velut vltrą numerum alias bestias, (quarum quędam +tenentur in caueis, stabulis mirabilibus, vel catenis) nec non et aues +rapaces, et accipitres, falcones, ostrones, gryfandos gentiles, Laueroys, +et Satyros, sed et auiculas loquentes, et papingos, et similes, aliįsque +cantantes: reputatur numerus hominum de istis curam et laborem gerentium, +vltrą sex cuman, et prętereą iugiter ad Curiam equites cum plenarijs +armaturis, quinque cuman, et de peditibus cum pręliandi armaturis, cuman +decem. Sed et omnes de natione quacunque mundi venientes, qui petunt +describi pro Curia recipiuntur. Sic enim iussit Imperator. + +Habet et medicos Paganos viginti, et totidem Physicos, atque sine his +Medicos Christianos ducentos, et totidem Physicos, quoniam iste Grand Can +maiorem gerit confidentiam in Medicis Christianis, quąm in suę proprię +nationis medicis. + +Hoc ergņ firmiter scias, quod de Curia Regis accipiunt necessaria sua +iugitčr vltrą triginta cuman hominum, pręter expensas animalium et +volucrum, cłm tamen in festis maioribus sint homines propč in duplo tanti. +Nec valet hic dominus defectum vllum pati pecunię, eņ quņd in terra sua non +currit moneta de argento, vel auro, alióue metallo, sed tantłm de corio vel +papyro: horum enim forma denariorum signo Imperatoris impressorum preciatur +minoris aut maioris valoris, secundum diuersitatem impressionis, qui per +visitationem, detriti vel rupti, cłm ad Regis thesaurarios deferuntur, +protinłs dantur pro illis noui. + +Quatčr in anno celebrat Imperator festiuitates solennes. + +Primam de die proprię Natiuitatis. + +Secundam de die suę primę pręsentationis in eorum Templo, quod appellant +Moseath, vbi et fit ijs, nescio quod genus circumcisionis. + +Tertiam in thronizatione sui Idoli in Templo. + +Quartam de die quo Idolum cepit dare responsum, seu facere diabolica mira. +Plures enim in anno non tenet solennitates, nisi si quando nuptias filij +aut filię celebrat. + +Itaque in istis solennitatibus est populi multitudo absque numero, omnes +tamen in ordine debito, et singuli intendentes proprio ministerio, nam ad +hoc ordinandum, et disponendum, electa sunt quatuor Baronum nobilium +genera, ex quibus nonnulli sunt Reges, et alij Equites potentes, Duces, et +Marchiones, omnes induti holosericis, quibus inserti cum certa +disseminatione sunt vbique preciosi lapides, mirę virtutis, et aurifigia +speciosa, vt si quis in his partibus vnum de talibus haberet mutatorijs, +dici non posset pauper imņ prędiues. Et habet quodlibet millenariorum in +his vestibus colorem sibi proprium: primum viridem, secundum vermiculum, +tertium croceum, quartum purpureum, seu indicum. Ergo in die solenni, dum +de mane Maiestatis thronum conscenderit, veniunt se pręsentari hoc modo +Regi. + +Ante primum millenarium procedit copiosa symphonia dulcis chordarum, sicut +de violis, cytharis, lyris, et psalterijs, non autem de tubis aut tympanis: +et pręcedunt Baronis per transuersum Aulę coram residente Domino ordinatč +bini, et bini sub silentio, ferentes ambabus manibus ante pectus tabulam de +Iaspide, ebore, christallo, pyropo, vel Hęmatisto, et ante faciem throni +inclinant se Imperatori profundč. + +Illķsque pertranseuntibus, succedit simili modo millenarius secundus, et +tertius, atque quartus, nec auditur ą quoquam vnicum verbum. Hac +pręsentatione cum debita maturitate perfecta, resident in basso ą latere +throni ad proprias mensas, multi Philosophi, seu Artistę, sicut de +Astronomia, Geomantia, Pyromantia, Hydromantia, Chiromantia, Necromantia, +auguriis, ac aruspiciis, et huiusmodi, tenentes coram instrumenta suę +artis, alii Astrolabium, et Sphęras de auro, alii in aureis vasis arenam, +prunas ardentes, aquam, vinum, oleum, et caluarias mortuorum, loquentes et +respondentes, nec non de auro horologia ad minłs duo: et ad cunctas horas +secundum cursum horologiorum innuunt Philosophi seruis sibi ad hoc +deputatis, vt faciant pręstari auditum per aulam, quorum vnus aut duo +conscendentes scallum, alta voce proclamant, audite, auscultate, et omnibus +intendentibus dicit Philosophorum vnus: Quilibet nunc faciat reuerentiam +Imperatori, qui est filius Dei excelsi, Dominus et superior omnium +Dominorum Mundi, quia ecce hęc est hora. Et mox singuli in aula inclinato +corpore et capite se inclinant maiestati manentes accliui, donec idem +philosophus dicat, leuate. Atque protinłs super hoc factum, Musici suis +instrumentis, suauem personant melodiam. + +Posteą ad aliquantam moram simili modo dicit alias philosophorum, minimus +digitus in aure: et ecce hoc omnes faciunt, donec dicat, sufficit: sic in +aliam horam, seu moram dicit, manus vestra super os, et posteą manus super +caput. Atque in hunc modum iuxta temporis cursum imponunt facienda signa +diuersa. Innuunt in eis latere magna mysteria, et quodlibet horum factorum +melodia terminat Musicorum. Et sciatis me quandoque in tempore opportuno ab +eis interrogasse de his signis, qui responderunt quņd inclinare caput +Domino ad illius horę momentum, foret confirmatio omnibus diebus vitę suę, +ad obediendum ipsi et fidelitatem obseruandam imperio, nec posse corrumpi +promissionibus siue donis, quódque digitum in auricula imponere, obturatio +est auditus contra omnia Imperatori, et Imperio contraria. Et sic de +singulis factis singula mysteria confingentes decipiunt audientes: horum +itaque fraudulento ingenio, iste Grand Can festiuatus, non nisi ad talium +iudicium parari permittit cibaria, aut fieri indumenta pro suo corpore. + +Dura autem est visum Curię gubernatoribus satis de prędictis auditum, +faciunt proclamatores silentium imperari, et incipit fieri offerenda +Imperatori hoc modo. Intrant omnes qui sunt de cognatione Imperatoris +Barones adornati nobilissimč pro cuiusque decentia balteis, et indumentis, +quorum primus cum resonante symphonia pręmittit ad oblationem quotquot +valet de dextrarijs albis, et inclinans ante thronum pertransit, atque per +eundem modum singuli Baronum offerentes aliquid dignum iocale inclinant +transeuntes, silentio firmč seruato. Post hos intrantes simili modo pręlati +et Abbates, de iurisdictionibus et religionibus Paganorum offerunt singuli +pro suo statu se reuerentčr inclinantes maiestati, et maior pręlatorum +benedicit Regi, et suis ac Curię quadam suę legis oratione. + +Deinde introducuntur elephantes, leones, pardi, simię, marmotę, et diuersę +bestię, quarum ductores singuli transeuntes inclinant reuerenter, et +intentč. Postremņ afferuntur aquilę, struthiones, gryphandi, accipitres, et +papingi, cum diuersis auibus et auiculis, nec non serpentes ac pisces, +quorum portitores inclinant profundč, quoniam dicunt omnes terrenas +creaturas debere adorationem Imperatori Grand Can filio Dei excelsi: et his +perfectis, + + Musicę Camenę persoluunt debita plenč. + +Nos igitur intendamus hoc loco quęso quomodo veraciter Pagani in tenebris +ambulant: diabolica inuolutione mens eorum obtenebrata non videt quomodņ, +cłm Imperator sit homo mortalis nuper natus, et similiter sicut illi +infirmitate circundatus, atque in breui cum ipsis moriturus, quem etiam non +dubitant sub Deo, clamant eum non Deum, sed Dei filium, vbi vtique prorsus +ignorant illum non esse laudandum, nec adorandum, sed eum non intendunt +alium filium, filium increatum et connaturalem, qui et ipsos et eum +creauit, solum superlaudabilem in secula. + +Et hoc alto corde considerantes, laudemus, adoremus, glorificemus, et +superexaltemus totis viribus Deum, qui nos filios lucis esse voluit, et +salutis, nasci, baptizari, educari, erudiri sub sinceritate fidei +Christianę, excluso schismate et errore, atque sub instituto sacrosanctę +matris Ecclesię, in qua sola penč ab omni circumferentia orbis terrę fides, +quę saluat, et per dilectionem operatur nunc remansit. + +Et oremus instantčr pro ipsis Paganis, vt agnita veritatis luce videre +possint quņ ambulant, vt perueniant ad Iesum Christuro coęqualem Dei +filium, atque in ipso, et per ipsum laudare et adorare solum vnum verum +Deum. + + +CAPVT. 36. + +De ludis et pręstigijs in suo festo, et de suo comitatu. + +Celebrato post hoc prandio satis morosč, quia nunquam est vltrą semel +edendum in die, de quo et eius administratione nunc longum est scribere, +adsunt gesticulatores, mira visu, suauiįque auditu pedibus, manibus, +brachijs, humeris, capitibus, et toto corpore, ac ad singulos gestus, +correspondentes debito vocis sono. Et semper finem horum mirabilium +cantilena subsequitur musicorum. Ex hoc ioculatores pręstņ sunt, et Magi, +qui suis incantationibus pręstant pręstigia multa. + +Imprimis faciunt videri Solem et Lunam, oriendo, descendendo consuetum diei +intra Basilicam peragere cursum, cum tanta nimietate splendoris, vt vix se +inuicem homines valeant recognoscere prę fulgore, dicentes et mentientes, +Solem et Lunam coeli hanc mittere reuerentiam Imperatori. + +Hinc pari ludo comparent speciosę puellę ducere semitas et choreas, nobili +gestu nobilissimum ferre poculum lactis equarum in aureis vasis, de quo, +ponentes se in genibus, tradunt potum dominis et dominabus. + +Tunc portantur et milites in equis, et armis quoque pleni atque parati, qui +feruentibus sonipedibus se inuicem cuspidibus ad fragorem magnum +configentes lanceas comminuunt, et fragmenta per mensas, et pauimenta +discurrunt. Ac deindč fantasticč venantur per aulam, cum canibus et +papionibus, ad ceruos, lupos, vrsos, et apros, ad lepores, et marmotas. Quę +singula cłm ad horam pascant vana delectatione sensus corporeos, miseriam +tamen inserunt pię menti, quņd tot et tanti homines, neglecta prorsus animi +salute, his diabolicis operationibus se dederunt in toto. Nam certņ non ita +sine dęmonum consolatione et familiaritate pręmissa confingi dicerem. + +Nota: ą Cambalu ad viginti dietas, est pulchrum nemus girans octo dietas in +circuitu, in quo sunt omnia genera animalium: custodes habet circa eum. +Triennio vel quadriennio visitat illud Imperator, et cum multa gente nemus +circumdat, canes emittuntur et aues, cum multo clamore, et feras congregant +in medio nemoris, ad planiciem sibi sitam. Tunc Imperator priłs iacit +quinque sagittas, posteą alij: tunc Imperator dicit, Eya, hoc est, mina +bestijs, et sicut quilibet capit sagittam suam signatam, percussam, aliis +recedentibus ad sua loca. Odericus. + +Prętereą ante Imperatoris mensam eriguntur tabulę latę aureę cum sculptis, +ac si viuerent, imaginibus gallorum, pauonum ac diuersarum volucrum +artificiosč, quas pręstigiator facit pro libitu sine apprehensione manus +ire, tripudiare, chorizare, tremere, compugnare, bibere, manducare, sed et +cantare: quod quidem inter cętera mihi videbatur mirabilius et aspectu +delectabilius. Nullus istud plenč intueri potuit, nisi qui erat in throno +vel circa: et me oportet hoc loco fateri stultitiam propriam, quņd hac +delectatione tractus, magnam adhibui apud Artistam diligentiam, verbis +blandis, et quibuscunque munusculis, ac melioribus promissis, quod de tali +mihi traderet artem, qui sagax simul et fallax imprimis, spem meam trahebat +sponsionum funibus: sed at vltimum penitłs abscindebat, dicens se vouisse +Deo immortali, ne cuiquam doceret nisi proprio filio seniori, ac per hoc me +Deus ab illo malo conseruauit inuitum, et gratias nunc reddentem. + +Certum est illic homines esse subtiles ad quasdam humanas artes, et +ingeniosos ad fraudes super omnes, quas noui mundi partes, vnde et inter se +dicunt prouerbium, se solos videre duobus oculis, et Christianos vno, +cęteros autem homines cęecos: sed mentitur iniquitas sibi, quoniam ipsi +vident solo oculo terrena et transitoria, et nos Christiani duobus, quia +cum terrenis videmus spiritualia, et mansura: percussit enim Naas, +[Marginal Note: I Sam. 11. 2.] id est, humani generis hostis cum illis +foedus, vt erueret omnibus oculos dextros, scilicet spirituales. + +Cłm itaque narrata de pręmissis debeant sufficere, quando Imperator Grand +Can de vno quatuor palatiorum ad aliud transire velit, vel fortč gratia +visitationis aut ardui negotii per Imperium de Regno ad Regnum tendit per +comitatus, quatuor exercitibus antč et retrņ, et ex ambobus lateribus. + +Primus exercitus pręcedit personam Regis per vnam de suis dietis, vt semper +in hospitium de quo recessit exercitus Rex intret nocte sequenti, et est +hic primus comitatus descriptus, et statutus de numero quinquaginta cuman +virorum, hoc est, quingentorum millium, sempérque pręuisum, et prouisum +est, vt inueniant necessaria in locis, vbi habent quiescere, vel tardare +siue in hospitiis, siue in tentoriis. + +Secundus et tertius comitatus sunt eiusdem numeri virorum cum primo, quorum +vnus ad dextram tendit Imperatoris, alius ad sinistrum in distantia ab ipso +ad trium vel duarum leucarum. + +Quartus autem qui maior est omnibus, subsequitur Imperatorem quasi ad +spatium iactus balistę. Et ad hoc sciendum est, quņd personę horum +comitatuum sunt sigillatim, et summatim omnes descriptę, vt dum vna moritur +vel recedit, protinłs alia inscribatur, et numerus non minuatur. Ipse verņ +Imperator tendit residens in cella seu camera ędificata super currum +grandem forma, fortem robore, nobilem in structura, est cella de ligno +Aloes optimi odoris, et parietes cellę operti in quibusdam locis laminis +aureis, quę et ipsę distinguuntur gemmis variis, et margaritis. + +Est autem currus quatuor rotarum duntaxat, quem trahunt quatuor Elephantes +ad hoc curiosč instructi, cum quatuor hippis albis equę doctis et ipsi +cooperti ditissimis tegumentis, ac pręter aurigas nobiliter indutos, qui +currum cautissimč ducunt, adsunt et quatuor de maioribus palatii Dominis, +indč ad vehiculum habentes iugem curam, de minatione eius, et ne vltimo +exercitu appropriet infra iactum (vt dixi) sagittę. Ipse autem interdum pro +sodalitate iubet secum ascendere quam vult personam, sed minimč vltrą duos. +In cellę quoque culmine, quod aperiri valet et claudi, astant in pertica +quatuor grifandi, vel ostiones. Odericus: duodecim Girfalcones, vt si fortč +Imperator in ęre aquilam, vulturum, ardeam, vel collectorem cerneret, citņ +dimitteret istorum duas aut plures ad aucupandum. + +Nota, per Dromedarios, et cursores, et veloces, qui de hospitio ad +hospitium permutantur, scit de remotis noua. Cursor enim appropinquans +cornu sonat, et tunc alius pręparat, et vlteriłs currit. Odericus. +Sciendumque tam primogenitum Regis, quąm singulas de tribus vxoribus ducere +similem apparatum in itinerando post ipsum; scilicet cum quatuor +comitatibus, antč, et retrņ, et ą lateribus, sed in valdč minori numero +personarum pro placito, et in singulis curribus sequentibus se inuicem per +vnam dietam. + +Pręmissa omnia sic fiunt, dum Imperatori tendendum est remotč, aliąs autem +minuuntur, et distinguuntur comitatus, iuxta quod decet, vt nonnunquam +omnes Imperatores etiam cum filio simul tendant, cum vna comitatuum +distinctione. Transeunte autem sic Imperatore per ciuitates et villas +quilibet ante fores proprias pręparato igne iactat poluerem aromata +redolentem, stans genibus flexis ad reuerentiam illi. Et sciatis vbi propč +transitum illius habentur Christianę Abbatię, quas olim constituit Dux +Ogerus, exeunt obuiam illi in processione cum vexillis, et sancta cruce, et +aqua benedicta, et thuribulo, hymnum, Veni Creator spiritus decantantes. + +Nota: Ego semel cum Episcopo nostro, et alijs fratribus, uimus obuiam per +duas dietas, et portaui thuribulum. Odericus. Quos ipse ą remotis videns, +consueuit ad se appellare, et ad crucem suum galeatum deponere, ac +reuerentčr nudo capite inclinare: et pręlatus dicens super cum aliquam +orationem signat cruce, et aqua benedicta aspergit. Et quoniam necesse est, +vt quisque extraneus ante Regem apparens, offerat ei aliquid, pręlatus in +disco pręsentat ei fructus, et poma, vel pyra, et hoc in numero nouenario, +(ratio ponitur primo capitullo proximo, quod iste numerus est plus cęteris +acceptus,) de quibus Imperator vnum sibi sumens, reliqua tradit Dominis +pręsentibus: quo facto habent relligiosi recedere citņ, ne opprimantur +multitudine populi subsequentis. + +Pręfatum Domini galeatum, est ita intextum auro, diamantibus, gemmunculis, +et orientalibus margaritis, granellis, et dubletis, et prędiues in materia +et artificio, vt ei non sit ęquandus magni in partibus istis Regis +thesaurus. Item sicut hęc fiunt transeunti Imperatori, fiunt et +Imperatricibus, et filio seniori. + + +The English Version. + +And zee schulle undirstonde, that my felawes and I, with oure zomen, we +serveden this emperour, and weren his soudyoures, 15 monethes, azenst the +Kyng of Mancy, that held werre azenst him. And the cause was, for we hadden +gret lust to see his noblelesse and the estat of his court and alle his +governance, to write zif it were suche, as wee herde seye, that it was. And +treuly, we fond it more noble and more excellent and ricchere and more +marveyllous, than ever we herde speke offe; in so moche, that we wolde +never han leved it, had wee not seen it. For I trowe, that no man wolde +beleve the noblesse, the ricchesse, ne the multytude of folk that ben in +his court, but he had seen it. For it is not there, as it is here. For the +lordes here han folk of certeyn nombre, als thei may suffise: but the grete +Chane hathe every day folke at his costages and expenses, as with outen +nombre. But the ordynance, ne the expenses in mete and drynk, ne the +honestee ne the clennesse, is not so arrayed there, as it is here: for alle +the comouns there eten withouten clothe upon here knees; and thei eten alle +maner of flessche, and litylle of bred. And aftre mete, thei wypen here +hondes upon here skyrtes: and thei eten not but ones a day. But the estat +of lordes is fulle gret and riche and noble. And alle be it, that sum men +wil not trow me; but holden it for fable, to telle hem the noblesse of his +persone and of his estate and of his court and of the gret multytude of +folk, that he holt, natheles I schalle seye zou, a partye of him and of his +folk, aftre that I have seen, the manere and the ordynance, fulle many a +tyme. And whoso that wole, may leve me, zif he wille; and who so wille not, +may chuse. For I wot wel, zif ony man hathe ben in tho contrees bezonde, +thoughe he have not ben in the place, where the grete Chane duellethe, he +schalle here speke of him so meche merveylouse thing, that he schalle not +trowe it lightly: and treuly, no more did I my self, til I saughe it. And +tho that han ben in tho contrees and in the gret Canes houshold, knowen +wel, that I seye sothe. And therfore I wille not spare, for hem that knowe +not, ne beleve not, but that that thei seen, for to telle zou a partie of +him and of his estate, that he holt, whan he gothe from contree to contree, +and whan he makethe solempne festes. + + +CAPVT. 37. + +Qua de causa dicitur Grand Gan. + +Si placet audire, dicam cur hic Imperator sit appellatus Grand Can. +Audieram ego in partibus Ierosolymorum hunc esse sic dictum, ą filio Noe, +Cham: sed in terra Cathay accepi et aliam, et meram huius rei veritatem. +Nam et scribendo hęc duo nomina habent differentiam, quņd filius Noe Cham +scribitur quatuor elementis, quorum vltimum est M. et iste Can tribus +tantłm, quorum vltimum est N. + +Post annos Christi 1100. illa prima Tartaria (de qua suprą scripsi in prima +parte, capitulo quinto) fuit nimis oppressa seruitute sub Regibus +circumiacentium sibi nationum. Quandņ autem Deo placuit, maiores illius +Tartarię eleuauerunt de seipsis sibi Regem dictum Guis Can, cui et +promiserunt subiectissimam obedientiam. + +Idem cłm esset prudens strenuus 12. viriles habens filios, debellauit cum +ijs et populo suo, et vicit, ac subiecit cunctos in circuitu Reges, quibus +terra indebitč dił subiacuerat. Quin etiam apparente sibi in visione Angelo +Dei velut milite in albo equo, et candidis armis, et hortante se, vt +transiret Alpes, per montem Beliam, [Marginal note: Vel Belgiam.] et per +brachium maris, ad terram Cathay, et ad alias illic plurimas regiones +transiuit, et coepit com filijs suis aliquas ex illis debellare, et +subijcere, Deo in omnibus adiuuante patentčr. Et quoniam in equo albo ei +Angelus apparuit, qui etiam antč passum prędicti maris nouem orationes Deo +facere iussit, ideņ successores vsque hodič diligunt equos albos, et +nouenarium numerum habent prę cęteris in gratia. Dumque Guis Can morti prę +senio appropinquaret, conuocatos ante se filios hortabatur, et mouebat +exemplo 12. telorum in simul colligatorum, quę ą nullo filiorum paritčr +frangi potuerant, sed dissoluta vnumquodque per se facilč frangebatur, sic +filij (inquit) dilectissimi, si per concordiam vos inuicčm dilexeritis, et +vixeritis seniori fratri obedientes, confido in Deo iuxta promissionem mihi +ab Angelo factam, quņd omnem latissimam istam terram, et optimam illius +imperio subijcietis, quod et post patris discessum strenuissimč, ac +fidelissimč (Deo sibi prosperante) perfecerunt. Et quia cum propriis +nominibus habebant cognomen Can, primogenitus pro differentia obtinuit +nomen Grand Can, id est, Magnus Can, videlicit suprą cęteros fratres, qui +sibi in omnibus obediebant. + +Itaque iste secundus Imperator vocabatur Ochoto Can. + +Post quem filius eius regnauit dictus Guican. + +Quartus autem, qui Mango Can baptizabatur, permansitque fidelis +Christianus, qui etiam misso magno exercitu cum fratre suo Hallaon in +partes Arabię et Aegypti mandauit destrui in toto Mahometi superstitionem, +et terram poni in manibus Christianorum. Et fratre procedente, accepit +rumores de fratris sui Imperatoris morte inopinata, quaproptčr et redijt +negotio imperfecto. + +Quintus Cobilacan, qui etiam fuit Christianus, et regnauit 42. annis, et +ędificauit magnam ciuitatem Iong, maiorem satis vrbe Roma, in qua et +continetur valdč nobile palatium Imperiale. Hinc vsque hodie omnes +successores paganismo foedantur. + +Tempore autem meņ erat nomen Imperatoris Echian Can, et primogenitus eius +Cosuecan, pręter quem et alios filios habuit 12. de quorum nominibus +conscribendis non est curę presentis. + +Prima vxorum suorum vocabatur Serochan, quę et est filia Pręsbyteri Ioannis +scilicet Imperatoris Indię. + +Secunda Verouchan. + +Tertia Caranthcan. + +Istis duobus Imperatoribus non creditur inueniri maior Dominus sub +firmamento Coeli. + +In literis quę huius Imperatoris Tartarię scribuntur nomine ponitur semper +iste Titulus. Can filius Dei excelsi, omnium vniuersam terram colentium +summus Imperator, et Dominus Dominantium omnium. + +Circumferentia magni sui sigilli, continet hoc scriptum. + +Deus in Coelo, Can super terram, eius fortitudo. Omnium hominum Imperatoris + sigillum. + +Sciendum quoque quod quamuis populi ibi dicuntur, et sunt Pagani, tamen et +rex et omnes credunt in Deum immortalem, et omnipotentem, et iurant per +ipsum appellantes, Yroga, id est, Deum Naturę. Sed nihilominus colunt et +adorant idola, et simulachra aurea, et argentea, lapidea, lignea, filtria, +lanea, et linea. + + +The English Version. + +Wherefore he is clept the grete Chane. Of the Style of his Lettres, and of + the Superscripcioun abowten his grete Sealle, and his pryvee Sealle. + +[Sidenote: Chap. XXI.] First I schalle seye zou, whi he was clept the gret +Chane. Zee schulle undirstonde, that alle the world was destroyed by Noes +flood, saf only Noe and his wif and his children. Noe had 3 sones, Sem, +Cham and Japhethe. This Cham was he that saughe his fadres prevy membres +naked, whan he slepte, and scorned hem and schewed hem with his finger, to +his brethren, in scornynge wise: and ther fore he was cursed of God. And +Japhethe turned his face away, and covered hem. Theise 3 bretheren had +cesoun in alle the lond: and this Cham, for his crueltee, toke the gretter +and the beste partie, toward the est, that is clept Asye: and Sem toke +Affryk: and Japhethe toke Europe. And therfore is alle the erthe departed +in theise 3 parties, be theise 3 bretheren. Cham was the grettest, and the +most myghty: and of him camen mo generaciouns, than of the othere. And of +his sone Chuse, was engendred Nembrothe the geaunt, that was the firste +kyng, that ever was in the world: and he began the foundacion of the Tour +of Babyloyne. And that tyme, the fendes of helle camen many tymes, and +leyen with the wommen of his generacioun, and engendered on hem dyverse +folk, as monstres, and folk disfigured, summe with outen hedes, summe with +gret eres, summe with on eye, summe geauntes, summ with hors feet, and many +other dyverse schapp, azenst kynde. And of that generacioun of Cham, ben +comen the Paynemes, and dyverse folk, that ben in yles of the see, be alle +Ynde. And for als moche as he was the moste myghty, and no man myghte +withstonde him, he cleped himself the sone of God, and sovereyn of alle the +world. And for this Cham, this emperour clepeth him Cham and sovereyn of +all the world. And of the generacioun of Sem, ben comen the Sarrazines, And +of the generacioun of Japhethe, is comen the peple of Israel. And thoughe +that wee duellen in Europe, this is the opynyoun, that the Syryenes and the +Samaritanes, han amonges hem; and that thei told me, before that I wente +toward Ynde: but I fond it otherwise. Natheles the sothe is this, that +Tartarynes and thei that duellen in the grete Asye, thei camen of Cham. But +the emperour of Cathay clepeth him not Cham, but Can: and I schalle telle +zou how. It is but litylle more but 8 score zeer, that alle Tartarye was in +subiectioun and in servage to othere nacyouns abouten: for thei weren but +bestyalle folk, and diden no thing but kepten bestes, and lad hem to +pastures. But among hem, thei hadden 7 princypalle nacyouns, that weren +soveraynes of hem alle: of the whiche, the firste nacyoun or lynage was +clept Tartar; and that is the most noble and the most preysed. The seconde +lynage is clept Tanghot; the thridde Eurache; the 4 Valair; the 5 Semoche; +the 6 Megly; the 7 Coboghe. Now befelle it so, that of the firste lynage +succeeded an old worthi man, that was not riche, that hadde to name +Changuys. This man lay upon a nyght in his bed, and he sawhe in a visioun, +that there cam before him a knyght armed alle in white, and he satt upon a +white hors, and seyd to him, Can, slepest thou? The inmortalle God hathe +sent me to the; and it is his wille, that thou go to the 7 lynages, and +seye to hem, that thou schalt ben here emperour. For thou schalt conquere +the londs and the contrees, that ben abouten: and thei that marchen upon +zou, schulle ben undre zoure subieccioun, as zee han ben undre hires: for +that is Goddes wille inmortalle. And whan he cam at morwe, Changuys roos, +and wente to the 7 lynages, and tolde hem how the white knyght had seyd. +And thei scorned him, and seyden, that he was a fool; and so he departed +fro hem alle aschamed. And the nyght sewynge, this white knyght cam to the +7 lynages, and commaunded hem, on Goddes behalve inmortalle, that thei +scholde make this Changuys here emperour; and thei scholde ben out of +subieccioun; and thei scholde holden alle other regiounes aboute hem in +here servage, as thei had ben to hem beforn. And on the morwe, thei chosen +him to ben here emperour: and thei setten him upon a blak fertre; and aftre +that, thei liften him op with gret solempnytee, and thei setten him in a +chayer of gold, and diden hym alle maner of reverence; and thei cleped him, +Chan, as the white knyght called him. And whan he was thus chosen, he wolde +assayen, zif he myghte trust in hem or non, and whether thei wolde ben +obeyssant to him or non. And thanne he made many statutes and ordinances, +that thei clepen _Ysya Chan_. The first statute was, that thei scholde +beleeven and obeyen in God inmortalle, that is allemyghty, that wolde +casten hem out of servage; and at alle tymes clepe to him for help, in tyme +of nede. The tother statute was, that alle maner of men that myghte beren +armes, scholden ben nombred: and to every 10 scholde ben a maystre, and to +every 100 a maystre, and to every 1000 a maystre, and to every 10000 a +maystre. Aftre he commanded to the princypales of the 7 lynages, that thei +scholde leven and forsaken alle that thei hadden in godes and heritage; and +fro thens forthe to holden hem payd, of that that be wolde zeve hem of his +grace. And thei diden so anon. Aftre he commanded to the princypales of the +7 lynages, that every of hem scholde brynge his eldest sone before him, and +with here owne handes smyten of here hedes, with outen taryenge. And anon +his commandement was performed. And whan the Chane saghe, that thei made +non obstacle to performen his commandement, thanne he thoughte wel, that he +myghte trusten in hem, and commanded hem anon to make hem redy, and to +sewen his banere. And aftre this, Chane putt in subieccioun alle the londes +aboute him. Aftreward it befelle upon a day, that the Cane rood with a fewe +meynee, for to beholde the strengthe of the contree, that he had wonnen: +and so befelle, that a gret multytude of his enemyes metten with hem; and +for to zeven gode ensample of hardynesse to his peeple, he was the firste +that faughte, and in the myddes of his enemyes encountred; and there he was +cast from his hors, and his hors slayn. And whan his folk saughe him at the +erthe, thei weren alle abasscht, and wenden he had ben ded, and flowen +everych one; and hire enemyes aftre, and chaced hem: but thei wiste not, +that the emperour was there. And whan thei weren comen azen fro the chace, +thei wenten and soughten the wodes, zif ony of hem had ben hid in the +thikke of the wodes: and manye thei founden and slowen hem anon. So it +happend, that as thei wenten serchinge, toward the place that the emperour +was, thei saughe an owle sittynge upon a tree aboven hym; and than thei +seyden amonges hem, that there was no man, be cause that thei saughe that +brid there: and to thei wenten hire wey; and thus escaped the emperour from +dethe. And thanne he wente prevylly, alle be nyghte, tille he cam to his +folk, that weren fulle glad of his comynge, and maden grete thankynges to +God immortalle, and to that bryd, be whom here lord was saved. And therfore +princypally aboven alle foules of world, thei worschipen the owle: and whan +thei han ony of here fedres, thei kepen hem fulle precyously, in stede of +relykes, and beren hem upon here hedes with gret reverence: and thei holden +hem self blessed and saf from alle periles, while that thei han hem upon +hem; and therfore thei beren here fedres upon here hedes. Aftre alle this +the Cane ordeyned him, and assembled his peple, and wente upon hem that +hadden assayled hym before, and destroyed hem, and put hem in subieccioun +and servage. And whan he had wonnen and putt alle the londes and contrees, +on this half the Mount Belyan, in subieccioun, the whyte knyght cam to him +azen in his sleep, and seyde to him, Chan, the wille of God immortalle is, +that thou passe the Mount Belyan; and thou schalt wynne the lond, and thou +schalt putten many nacyouns in subieccioun: and for thou schalt fynde no +gode passage for to go toward that contree, go to the Mount Belyan, that is +upon the see, and knele there 9 tymes toward the est, in the worschipe of +God immortalle; and he schal schewe the weye to passe by. And the Chane +dide so. And anon the see, that touched and was fast to the mount, began to +withdrawe him, and schewed fair weye of 9 fote brede large; and so he +passed with his folk, and wan the lond of Cathay, that is the grettest +kyngdom of the world. And for the 9 knelynges, and for the 9 fote of weye, +the Chane and alle the men of Tartarye han the nombre of 9 in gret +reverence. And therfore who that wole make the Chane ony present, be it of +hors, be it of bryddes, or of arwes, or bowes, or of frute, or of ony other +thing, alweys he most make it of the nombre of 9. And so thanne ben the +presentes of grettere plesance to him, and more benygnely he wil resceyven +hem, than though he were presented with an 100 or 200. For hym semethe the +nombre of 9 so holy, be cause the messagre of God immortalle devised it. +Also whan the Chane of Cathay hadde wonen the contree of Cathay, and put in +subieccioun and undre fote many contrees abouten, he felle seek. And whan +he felte wel, that he scholde dye, he seyde to his 12 sones, that everyche +of hem scholde brynge him on of his arewes; and so thei diden anon. And +thanne he commanded, that men scholde bynden hem to gedre, in 3 places; and +than he toke hem to his eldest sone, and bad him breke hem alle to gedre. +And he enforced hem with alle his myght to breken hem: but he ne myghte +not. And than the Chane bad his seconde sone to breke hem; and so schortly +too alle, eche aftre other: but non of hem myght breke hem. And than be bad +the zongest sone dissevere everyche from other, and breken everyche be him +self: and so he dide. And than seyde the Chane to his eldest sone, and to +alle the othere, Wherfore myght zee not breke hem? And thei answereden, +that thei myght not, be cause that thei weren bounden to gydre. And +wherfore, quothe he, hathe zoure litylle zongest brother broken hem? +Because, quothe thei, that thei weren departed eche from other. And thanne +seyde the Chane, My sones, quoth he, treuly thus wil it faren be zou. For +als longe as zee ben bounden to gedere, in 3 places, that is to seyne, in +love, in trouthe and in gode accord, no man schalle ben of powere to greve +zou; but and zee ben disevered fro theise 3 places, that zoure on helpe not +zoure other, zee schulle be destroyed and brought to nought: and zif eche +of zou love other, and helpe othere, ze schulle be lordes and sovereynes of +alle othere. And whan he hadde made his ordynances, he dyed. And thanne +after hym, regned Ecchecha Cane his eldest sone. And his othere bretheren +wenten to wynnen hem many contrees and kyngdomes, unto the lond of Pruysse +and of Rossye, and made hem to ben cleped Chane: but thei weren all +obeyssant to hire eldre brother: and therfore was he clept grete Chane. +Aftre Ecchecha, regned Guyo Chane: and aftre him, Mango Chan, that was a +gode Cristene man, and baptized, and zaf lettres of perpetuelle pes to alle +Cristene men, and sente his brother Halaon with gret multytude of folk, for +to wynnen the Holy Lond, and for to put it in to Cristene mennes hondes, +and for to destroye Machametes lawe, and for to take the Calyphee of +Baldak, that was emperour and lord of alle the Sarazines. And whan this +Calyphee was taken, men fownden him of so highe worschipe, that in alle the +remenant of the world, ne myghte a man fynde a more reverent man, ne +highere in worschippe. And then Halaon made him come before him, and seyde +to hym: Why, quoth be, haddest thow not taken with the mo sowdyoures, and +men y nowe, for a lytille quantytee of thresour, for to defende the and thi +contree, that art so habundant of tresore and so high in alle worschipe? +And the Calyphee answered him, For he wel trowede, that he hadde y nowe of +his owne propre men. And than seyde Halaon, Thou were as a god of the +Sarazines: and it is convenyent to a god, to ete no mete, that is mortalle; +and therfore thou schalt not ete, but precyous stones, riche perles, and +tresour, that thou lovest so moche. And then he commanded him to presoun, +and alle his tresoure aboute him; and so he dyed for hungre, and threst. +And than aftre this, Halaon wan alle the lond of promyssioun, and putte it +in to Cristene mennes hondes. But the grete Chane his brother dyede; and +that was gret sorwe and losse to alle Cristen men. + +Aftre Mango Chan, regned Coblya Chan, that was also a Cristene man: and he +regnede 42 zere. He founded the grete cytee Izonge in Cathay, that is a +gret del more than Rome. + +The tother gret Chane, that cam aftre him, becam a Payneme, and alle the +other aftre him. + +The kyngdom of Cathay is the grettest reme of the world. And also the gret +Chan is the most myghty emperour of the world, and the grettest lord undre +the firmament; and so he clepethe him in his lettres, right thus, _Chan, +filius Dei excelsi, omnium universam Terram colentium summus Imperatur, et +Dominus omnium Dominantium_. And the lettre of his grete seel, writen +abouten, is this, _Deus in Celo, Chan super Terram, ejus fortitudo. Omnium +hominum Imperatoris Sigillum_. And the superscripcioun aboute his litylle +seel is this, _Dei Fortitudo omnium hominum. Imperatoris Sigillum_. And +alle be it that thei be not cristned, zit natheles the emperour and alle +the Tarterynes beleeven in God immortalle. And whan thei wille manacen ony +man thanne thei seyn, God knowethe wel, that I schalle do the suche a +thing, and tellethe his menace. And thus have zee herd, whi he is clept the +grete Chane. + + +Of the governance of the grete Chanes Court, and whan he makethe solempne + Festes. Of his Philosophres. And of his Array, whan he riddethe be the + contre. + +[Sidenote: Cap. XXIII.] Now schalle I telle zou the governance of the court +of the grete chane, whan he makethe solempne festes: and that is +princypally 4 tymes in the zeer. The firste feste is of his byrthe: that +other is of his presentacioun in here temple, that thei clepen here +Moscache, where thei maken a manere of circumsicioun: and the tother 2 +festes ben of his ydoles. The firste feste of the ydole is, whan he is +first put in to hire temple and throned. The tother feste is, whan the +ydole begynnethe first to speke or to worche myracles. Mo ben there not of +solempne festes, but zif he marye ony of his children. Now undirstondethe, +that at every of theise festes, he hathe gret multytude of peple, well +ordeyned and wel arrayed, be thousandes, be hundredes and be tenthes. And +every man knowethe wel, what servyse he schalle do. And every man zevethe +so gode hede and so gode attendance to his servyse, that no man fyndethe no +defaute. And there ben first ordeyned 4000 baronnes myghty and riche, for +to gouerne and to make ordynance for the feste, and for to serve the +emperour. And theise solempne festes ben made with outen, in hales and +tentes made of clothes of gold and of tartaries, fulle nobely. And alle tho +barouns han crounes of gold upon hire hedes, fulle noble and riche, fulle +of precious stones and grete perles oryent. And thei ben alle clothed in +clothes of gold or of tartaries or of camokas, so richely and so perfytly, +that no man in the world can amenden it, ne better devisen it. And alle tho +robes ben orfrayed alle abouten, and dubbed fulle of precious stones and of +grete oryent perles, fulle richely. And thei may wel do so; for clothes of +gold and of sylk ben gretter chep there a gret del, than ben clothes of +wolle. And theise 4000 barouns ben devised in 4 companyes: and every +thousand is clothed in clothes alle of o colour; and that so wel arrayed +and so richely, that it is marveyle to beholde. The firste thousand, that +is of Dukes, of Erles, of Marquyses and of Amyralles, alle clothed in +clothes of gold, with tysseux of grene silk, and bordured with gold, fulle +of preciouse stones, in maner as I have seyd before. The secounde thousand +is alle clothed in clothes dyapred of red silk, alle wroughte with gold, +and the orfrayes sett fulle of gret perl and precious stones, fulle nobely +wroughte. The 3 thousand is clothed in clothes of silk, of purpre of Ynde. +And the 4 thousand is in clothes of zalow. And alle hire clothes ben so +nobely and so richely wroughte with gold and precious stones and riche +perles, that zif a man of this contree hadde but only on of hire robes, he +myghte wel seye, that he sholde nevere be pore. For the gold and the +precious stones and the grete oryent perles ben of gretter value, on this +half the see, than thei ben bezond the see, in tho contrees. And whan thei +ben thus apparaylled, thei gon 2 and 2 togedre, fulle ordynatly before the +emperour, withouten speche of ony woord, saf only enclynynge to him. And +everyche of hem berethe a tablett of jaspere or of ivory or of cristalle; +and the mynstralle goynge before hem, sownyng here instrumentes of dyverse +melodye. And whan the firste thousand is thus passed, and hathe made his +mostre, he withdrawethe him on that o syde. And than entrethe that other +secunde thousand, and dothe right so, in the same manere of array and +contenance, as did the firste; and aftre the thridde, and than the fourthe; +and non of hem seythe not o word. And at o syde of the emperours table, +sitten many philosofres, that ben preved for wise men, in many dyverse +scyences; as of astronomye, nigromancye, geomancye, pyromancye, ydromancye, +of augurye and of many other scyences. And everyche of hem han before hem +astrolabes of gold; sum speres, summe the brayn panne of a ded man, summe +vesselles of gold fulle of gravelle or sond, summe vesseles of gold fulle +of coles brennynge, sume veselle of gold fulle of watre and of wyn and of +oyle, and summe oriloges of gold, mad ful nobely and richely wroughte, and +many other maner of instrumentes aftre hire sciences. And at certeyn +houres, whan hem thinkethe time, thei seyn to certeyn officeres, that +stonden before hem, ordeynd for the tyme, to fulfille hire commaudemenes, +Makethe pees. And than seyn the officeres, Now pees lystenethe. And aftre +that, seyth another of the philosophres, Every man do reverence, and +enclyne to the emperour, that is Goddes sone and soverayn lord of alle the +world; for now is tyme. And thanne every man bowethe his hed toward the +erthe. And thanne commandethe the same philosophre azen, Stondethe up. And +thei don so. And at another hour, seythe another philosophre, Puttethe +zoure litille fynger in zoure eres. And anon thei don so. And at another +hour, seythe another philosophre, Puttethe zoure honde before zoure mouthe. +And anon thei don so. And at another hour, seithe another philosophre, +Puttethe zoure honde upon zoure hede. And aftre that, he byddethe hem to +don here hond a wey; and thei don so. And so from hour to hour, thei +commanden certeyn thinges. And thei seyn, that tho thinges han dyverse +significaciouns. And I asked hem prevyly, what tho thinges betokened. And +on of the maistres told me, that the bowynge of the hed at that hour +betokened this, that alle tho that boweden here hedes, scholden evere more +aftre ben obeyssant and trewe to the emperour: and nevere for ziftes, ne +for promys in no kynde, ben fals ne traytour unto him for gode ne evylle. +And the puttynge of the litylle fynger in the ere, betokenethe, as thei +seyn, that none of hem ne schalle not here speke no contrarious thing to +the emperour, but that he schalle telle it anon to his conseille, or +discovere it to sum men that wille make relacioun to the emperour; thoughe +he were his fadre or brother or sone. And so forthe of alle other thtnges, +that is don be the philosophres, thei tolde me the causes of many dyverse +thinges. And trustethe righte wel in certyn, that no man dothe no thing to +the emperour, that belongethe unto him, nouther clothinge, ne bred, ne wyn, +ne bathe, ne non other thing, that longethe to hym, but at certeyn houres, +that his philosopheres wille devysen. And zif there falle werre in ony syde +to the emperour, anon the philosophres comen, and seyn here avys aftre her +calculaciouns, and conseylen the emperour of here avys, be here sciences; +so that the emperour dothe no thing with outen here conseille. And whan the +philosophres han don and perfourmed here commandementes, thanne the +mynstralle begynnen to don here mynstralcye, everyche in hire instrumentes, +eche aftre other, with alle the melodye that thei can devyse. And whan thei +han don a gode while, on of the officers of the emperour gothe up on an +highe stage wroughte fulle curyously, and cryethe and seythe with lowde +voys, Makethe pees. And than every man is stille. And thanne anon aftre, +alle the lordes, that ben of the emperours lynage, nobely arrayed in riche +clothes of gold, and ryally apparayled on white stedes, als manye as may +wel sewen hem at that tyme, ben redy to maken here presentes to the +emperour. And than seythe the styward of the court to the lordes be name, +N. of N. and nempnethe first the most enoble and the worthieste be name, +and seythe, be zee redy with suche a nombre of white hors, for to serve the +emperour, zoure sovereyn lord. And to another lord, he seythe, N. of N. be +zee redy with suche a nombre, to serve zoure sovereyn lord. And so another, +right so. And to alle the lordes of the emperoures lynage, eche aftre +other, as ben of estate. And whan thei ben alle cleped, thei entren eche +aftre other, and presentenen the white hors to the emperour; and than gon +hire wey. And than aftre, alle the other barouns every of hem zeven hem +presentes, or juelle, or sum other thing, aftre that thei ben of estate. +And than aftre hem, alle the prelates of hire lawe, and religiouse men and +other; and every man zevethe him sum thing. And whan that alle men han thus +presented the emperour, the greetest of dignytee of the prelates zevethe +hem a blessynge, seyenge an orisoun of hire lawe. And than begynnen the +mynstrelle to maken hire mynstralcye, in dyverse instrumentes, with alle +the melodye that thei can devyse. And whan thei han don hire craft, than +thei bryngen before the emperour, lyouns, libardes and other dyverse +bestes; and egles and veutours, and other dyverse foules; and fissches, and +serpentes; for to don him reverence. And than comen jogulours and +enchauntoures, that don many marvaylles: for thei maken to come in the ayr, +the sonne and the mone, be semynge, to every mannes sight. And aftre thei +maken the day to come azen, fair and plesant with bright sonne, to every +mannes sight. And than thei bryngen in daunces of the faireste damyselles +of the world, and richest arrayed. And aftre thei maken to come in, other +damyselles, bryngynge coupes of gold, fulle of mylk of dyverse bestes, and +zeven drynke to lordes and to ladyes. And than thei make knyghtes to +jousten in armes fulle lustyly; and thei rennen to gidre a gret randoum; +and thei frusschen to gidere fulle fiercely; and thei breken here speres so +rudely, that the tronchouns flen in sprotes and peces alle aboute the +halle. And than thei make to come in huntyng, for the hert and for the +boor, with houndes rennynge with open mouthe. And many other thinges thei +don, be craft of hire enchauntementes; that it is marveyle for to see. And +suche pleyes of desport thei make, til the takynge up of the boordes. + +This gret Chan hathe fulle gret peple for to serve him, as I have told zou +before. For he hathe of mynstralles the nombre of 13 cumanez: but thei +abyde not alle weys with hym. For alle the mynstrelle that comen before +hym, of what nacyoun that thei ben of, thei ben withholden with him, as of +his houshold, and entred in his bokes, as for his owne men. And aftre that, +where that evere thei gon, ever more thei cleymen for mynstralle of the +grete Chane: and undre that tytle, alle kynges and lordes, cherisschen hem +the more with ziftes and alle thing. And therefore he hathe so gret +multytude of hem. And he hathe of certeyn men, as thoughe thei were zomen, +that kepen bryddes, as ostrycches, gerfacouns, sparehaukes, faukons +gentyls, lanyeres, sacres, sacrettes, papyngayes wel spekynge, and briddes +syngynge. And also of wylde bestes, as of olifauntz, tame and othere, +babewynes, apes, marmesettes, and othere dyverse bestes; the mountance of +15 cumanez of zomen. And of Phisicyens Cristene, he hathe 200. And of +leches, that ben Cristene, he hathe 210. And of leches and Phisicyens, that +ben Sarrazines 20: but he trustethe more in the Cristene leches, than in +the Sarrazines. And his other comoun houshold is with outen nombre: and +thei alle han alle necessaries, and alle that hem nedethe, of the +emperoures court. And he hathe in his court many barouns, as servytoures, +that ben Cristene and converted to gode feythe, be the prechynge of +religiouse Cristen men, that dwellen with him: but there ben manye mo, that +wil not, that men knowen that thei ben Cristene. + +This emperour may dispenden als moche as he wille, with outen estymacioun. +For he despendethe not, he makethe no money, but of lether emprented, or of +papyre. And of that moneye, is som of gretter prys, and som of lasse prys, +aftre the dyversitee of his statutes. And whan that money hathe ronne so +longe, that it begynnethe to waste, than men beren it to the emperoures +tresorye: and than thei taken newe money for the olde. And that money gothe +thorghe out alle the contree, and thorghe out alle his provynces. For there +and bezonde hem, thei make no money, nouther of gold nor of sylver. And +therfore he may despende y now, and outrageously. And of gold and sylver, +that men beren in his contree, he makethe cylours, pyleres and paumentes in +his palays, and other dyverse thinges, what him lykethe. This emperour +hathe in his chambre, in on of the pyleres of gold, a rubye and a +charboncle of half a fote long, that in the nyght zevethe so gret clartee +and schynynge, that it is als light as day. And he hathe many other +precyous stones, and many other rubyes and charboncles: but tho ben the +grettest and the moste precyous. + +This emperour duellethe in somer in a cytee, that is toward the northe, +that is cleped Saduz: and there is cold y now. And in wyntre, he duellethe +in a cytee, that is clept Camaaleche: and that is an hote contree. But the +contree, where he duellethe in most comounly, is in Caydo or in Jong, that +is a gode contree and a tempree, aftre that the contree is there: but to +men of this contree, it were to passyng hoot. And whan this emperour wille +ryde from o contree to another, he ordeynethe 4 hostes of his folk; of the +whiche, the firste hoost gothe before him, a dayes iourneye. For that hoost +schalle ben logged the nyght, where the emperour schalle lygge upon the +morwe. And there schalle every man have alle maner of vytaylle and +necessaryes, that ben nedefulle, of the emperoures costages. And in this +firste hoost is the nombre of peple 50 cumaunez; what of hors, what of +fote: of the whiche every cumanez amounten to 10000, as I have told zou +before. And another hoost gothe in the right syde of the emperour, nygh +half a journeye fro him. And another gothe on the left syde of him, in the +same wise. And in every hoost, is as moche multytude of peple, as in the +first hoost. And thanne aftre comethe the 4 hoost, that is moche more than +ony of the othere, and that gothe behynden him, the mountance of a bowe +draught. And every hoost hathe his iourneyes ordeyned in certeyn places, +where thei schulle be logged at nyght; and there thei schulle have alle, +that hem nedethe. And zif it befalle, that ony of the hoost dye, anon thei +putten another in his place; so that the nombre schal evere more ben hool. +And zee schulle undirstonde, that the emperour, in his propre persone, +rydethe not as othere gret lordes don bezonde; but zif him liste to go +prevyly with fewe men, for to ben unknowen. And elle he rytt in a charett +with 4 wheles, upon the whiche is made a faire chambre; and it is made of a +certeyn wode, that comethe out of paradys terrestre, that men clepen lignum +aloes, that the flodes of paradys bryngen out at dyverse cesouns, as I have +told zou here beforn. And this chambre is fulle wel smellynge, be cause of +the wode, that it is made offe. And alle this chambre is covered with inne +of plate of fyn gold, dubbed with precious stones and grete perles. And 4 +olifauntz and 4 grete destreres alle white, and covered with riche +covertoures ledynge the chariot. And 4 or 5 or 6 of the grettest lordes +ryden aboute the charyot, fulle richely arrayed and fulle nobely; so that +no man schalle nyghe the charyot, but only tho lordes, but zif that the +emperour calle ony man to him, that him list to speke with alle. And above +the chambre of this chariot, that the emperour sittethe inne, ben sett upon +a perche 4 or 5 or 6 gerfacouns; to that entent, that whan the emperour +seethe ony wylde foul, that he may take it at his owne list, and have the +desport and the pley of the flight; first with on, and aftre with another: +and so he takethe his desport passynge be the contree. And no man rydethe +before him of his companye; but alle aftre him. And no man dar not come +nyghe the chariot by a bowe draught, but tho lordes only, that ben about +him: and alle the hoost cometh fayrely aftre him, in gret multitude. And +also suche another charyot, with suche hoostes, ordeynd and arrayd, gon +with the empresse, upon another syde, everyche be him self, with 4 hoostes, +right as the emperour dide; but not with so gret multytude of peple. And +his eldest sone gothe be another weye in another chariot, in the same +manere. So that there is betwene hem so gret multitude of folk, that it is +marveyle to telle it. And no man scholde trowe the nombre, but he had seen +it. And sum tyme it happethe, that whan he wil not go fer; and that it lyke +him to have the emperesse and his children with him; than thei gon alle to +gydere; and here folk ben alle medled in fere, and devyded in 4 parties +only. + +END OF VOL. VIII. + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of The Principal Navigations, Voyages, +Traffiques and Discoveries of the English Nation. v. 8, by Richard Hakluyt + +*** END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK PRINCIPAL NAVIGATIONS, V8 *** + +This file should be named 8hk0810.txt or 8hk0810.zip +Corrected EDITIONS of our eBooks get a new NUMBER, 8hk0811.txt +VERSIONS based on separate sources get new LETTER, 8hk0810a.txt + +Produced by Karl Hagen and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team + +Project Gutenberg eBooks are often created from several printed +editions, all of which are confirmed as Public Domain in the US +unless a copyright notice is included. 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