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The Principal Navigations, Voyages, Traffiques and Discoveries of the English Nation — Volume 09

by Richard Hakluyt · English · Gutenberg #10673 · 818,663 chars · public domain (US)

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Title: The Principal Navigations, Voyages, Traffiques and Discoveries of the English Nation — Volume 09

Author: Richard Hakluyt


        
Release date: January 1, 2004 [eBook #10673]
                Most recently updated: October 28, 2024

Language: English

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*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE PRINCIPAL NAVIGATIONS, VOYAGES, TRAFFIQUES AND DISCOVERIES OF THE ENGLISH NATION — VOLUME 09 ***

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. IX.

ASIA. PART II.




Nauigations, Voyages, Traffiques, and Discoueries

OF THE ENGLISH NATION IN ASIA.



CAPVT. 38.

De territorio Cathay, et moribus Tartarorum.

Totum Imperium Imperatoris Grand Can distinctum est in 12. magnas
prouincias, iuxta numerum duodecim filiorum primi Genitoris Can, quarum
quælibet in se continet circiter 6. millia ciuitatum, præter villas non
numeratas quæ sunt Velut ábsque numero. Habent et singulæ prouinciæ regem
principalem, hoc est 12. reges prouinciales, et horum quisque sub se reges
Insularum plurimos, alij 50. alij centum, alij plures, qui omnes et singuli
subiectissimè obediunt Grand Can Imperatori. Harum prouinciarum maior, et
nobilior dícitur Cathay, qui consistit in Asia profunda. Tres enim sunt
Asiæ, scilicet quæ profunda dicitur, et Asia dicta maior quæ nobis est
satis propinquior et tertia minor intra quam est Ephesus beati Ioannis
Euangelistæ sepultura, de qua habes in præcedentibus. Audistis statum
magnatum et nobilium esse permagnificum, et gloriosum, sed sciatis longè
secus esse apud communes et priuatos homines tam in ciuitatibus quam in
forensibus totius Tartariae. In prouincijs autem Cathay habetur tantum de
mercimonijs specierum, et de operibus sericosis; quòd multis facilius
acquirere esset praetiosum indumentam, quàm camisium de lino. Vnde et
quicunque sunt alicuius honestatis non carent desuper precioso vestimento.

Omnes tam viri quam faemina similibus in forma vestibus inducuntur,
videlicet valdè latis, et breuibus vsque ad genua cum apertura in lateribus
quam firmant (dum volunt) ansis quibusdam, nam vtérque sexus est brachijs
seu femoralibus plenè tectus. Nunquam vtuntur toga aut collobio, sed nec
caputio vndè nec per aspectum indumentorum potest haberi differentia inter
virum et mulierem innuptam. Sed nupta (vt supra dictum est) gestat per
aliquod tegumentum in capite formam pedes viri.

Nubit illic vir quotquot placet mulieribus, vt nonnulli habeant decem vel
duodecim vxores aut plures. Nam quísque maritus iungitur licentèr cuilibet
mulieri, exceptis matre, et amita, sorore, et filia. Sicut viri equitant,
tendunt, et currunt per patriam pro negotijs sic et mulieres, quoniam et
ipse operantur omnia ferè artificia mechanica sicut pannos et quicquid
efficiter de panno, corio, sericoque, minantque carrucas, et vehicula, sed
viri fabricant de ferro et de omni metallo, lapidibus atque ligno, nec vir
nec mulier nobilis aut degener comedit vltra semel in die communiter. Multa
nutriunt pecora sed nullos porcos, parum comeditur ibi de pane exceptis
magnatibus et diuitibus, sed carnes edunt pecorum, bestiarum, et
bestiolarum vtpote boum, ouium, caprarum, equorum, asinorum, canum,
cattorum, murium, et rattorum, ius carnium sorbentes, et omnis generis lac
bibentes.

Nobiles autem bibunt lac equarum, seu lamentorum, pro nobilissimo potu et
pauperes aquam bullitam cum modico mellis, quia nec vinum ibi habetur, nec
ceruisia confictur: et multi ac plurimi fontes consulunt in sua siti, per
villas, et rura. Domus, et habitacula rotundae sunt formae, compositae et
contextae paruis lignis, et flexilibus virgulis, ad modum cauearum quas nos
facimus pro auiculis, habentes rotundam in culmine aperturam praestantem
duo beneficia habitationi, quoniam et ignis quem in medio domus
constituunt, fumum emittit, et pro aspiciendo lumen immittit. Intrinsecus
sunt parietes vndíque de filtro, sed et tectum filtreum est: has domus, dum
locum habitandi mutare volunt, vel dum indiuitina expeditione procedunt,
ducunt secum in plaustris quasi tentoria.

Multas superuacuas obseruant ceremonias, quia respiciunt in vanitates et
insanias falsas: solem et lunam praecipuè adorant, eisque frequentèr genua
curuant, et ad nouilunium, quicquid est magni estimant inchoandum.

Nullus omnino vtitur calcaribus in equitando, sed cogunt equum flagello
scorpione, reputantes peccatum non leue si quis ad hoc flagellum appodiat,
aut iumentum percuteret suo freno, pleráque similia, quæ parum aut nihil
nocent, ponderant vt grauia, sicut imponere cultellum in igne, os osse
confringere, lac seu aliud potabile in terram effundere, nec non et
huiusmodi multa.

[Sidenote: Mingere intra dominum peccatum capitale.] Sed super hæc, tenent
pro grauiori admisso mingere intra domum quæ inhabitatur, et qui de tanto
crimine proclamaretur assuetus, mitteretur ad mortem. Et de singulis
necesse est vt confiteatur peccator Flamini suæ legis, et soluat summam
pecuniarum delicti. Et si peccatum deturpationis habitaculi venerit in
publicum, oportebit reconciliari domum per sacerdotem, priusquam vllus
audebit intrare. Insuper et peccatorem necesse erit pertransire ignem,
semel, bis, dut ter iuxta iudicium Flaminis, quatenus per ignis acrimoniam
purgetur à tanti inquinatione peccati.

Neminem hominum prohibent inter se habitare, sed indifferentèr receptant,
Iudæos, Christiános, Saracenos, et homines cuiuscúnque nationis, vel legis,
dicentes se satis putare suum ritum non ita securum ad salutem, nisi
quandóque; traherentur ad ritum magis salutarem, quem tamen determinate
nunc ignorant, imò multi de nobilibus sunt iam in Christianitate baptizati.

Attamen qui illorum sunt curiales Imperatoris non vellent in palatio
publicari.

Poenè oblitus eram, quod nunc hic dico notandum, quia dum ab extra
Imperium, quis veniens nuntius aut legatus cupit tradere proprijs manibus
literas Imperatori [Marginal note: Seu Gubernatorum.], vel deponere coram
illo mandata, non permittitur, donec prius in puris transeat liueas ad
venum ad minus regurn pro sui purgatione, ne quid forsitan afferat cuius
visu, vel odoratu seu tactu rex possit grauari.

[Sidenote: Arma Tartarorum.] Porrò Tartari in præcincto expeditionis habent
singuli duos arcus, cum magna pluralitate teloram: Nam omnes sunt
sagittarij ad manum et cum rigida et longa lancea. Nobilis autem in equis
preciosè phaleratis ferunt gladios, ver spatas breues et latas, scindentes
pro vno latere, et in capitibus galeas, de corio cocto, non altas, sed ad
capitis formara depressas.

Quicúnque de suis fugerit de prælio, ipso facto conseriptus est, vt
siquando inuentus fuerit occidatur. Si Castrum vel ciuitas obsessa se illis
reddere voluerit, nullam acceptant conditionem nisi cum morte omnium
inimicorum, vel si quis homo singularis se dederit victum nihilominus
ábsque vlla miseratione occidunt, detruncantes illi protinus aures, quas
postea coquentes, et in aceto (dum habuerint) ponentes mittunt inuicem ad
conuiuia pro extremo ferculo: [Sidenote: Tartari retro sagittantes.] dumque
ipsi in bellis arte fugam simulant, periculosum est eos insequi, quoniam
iaciunt sagittas à tergo, quibus equos et homines occidere norunt. Et
quando in prima acie comparant ad bellandum, mirabilitèr sese constringunt,
vt media pars numeri eoram vix credatur.

Generalitèr noueritis, omnes Tartaros habere paruos oculos, et modicam vel
raram barbam: in proprijs locis raro inter se litigant, contendunt, aut
pugnant, timentes legum pergraues emendas. Et inuenitur ibi rarius
vespilio, latro, fur, homicida, iniurians, adulter, aut fornicarius, quia
tales criminatores inuestigatione sollicita requiruntur, et sine
redemptione aliqua perimuntur.

Dum quis decumbit infirmus figitur lancea iuxta illum in terra, et cum
appropinquauerit morti, nullus remanet ìuxta ipsum, cum verò mortuus esse
scitur, confestim in campis, et cum lancea sepelitur.


The English Version.

And zee schulle undirstonde, that the empire of this gret Chane is devyded
in 12 provynces; and every provynce hathe mo than 2000 cytees; and of
townes with outen nombre. This contree is fulle gret. For it hathe 12
pryncypalle kynges, in 12 provynces. And every of tho kynges han many
kynges undre hem; and alle thei ben obeyssant to the gret Chane. And his
lond and his lordschipe durethe so ferre that a man may not gon from on hed
to another, nouther be see ne lond, the space of 7 zeer. And thorghe the
desertes of his lordschipe, there as men may fynde no townes, there ben
innes ordeyned be every iorneye, to resceyve bothe man and hors; in the
whiche thei schalle fynde plentee of vytaylle, and of alle thing, that hem
nedethe, for to go be the contree.

And there is a marveylouse custom in that contree, (but is profitable) that
zif ony contrarious thing, that scholde ben preiudice or grevance to the
Emperour, in ony kynde, anon the Emperour hathe tydynges there of and fulle
knowleche in a day, thoughe it be 3 or 4 iorneys fro him or more. For his
ambassedours taken here dromedaries or hire hors, and thei priken in alle
that evere thei may toward on of the innes: and whan thei comen there, anon
thei blowen an horne; and anon thei of the in knowen wel y now that there
ben tydynges to warnen the Emperour of sum rebellyoun azenst him. And
thanne anon thei maken other men redy, in alle haste that thei may, to
beren lettres, and pryken in alle that evere thei may, tille thei come to
the other innes with here lettres: and thanne thei maken fressche men redy,
to pryke forthe with the lettres, toward the Emperour; whille that the
laste bryngere reste him, and bayte his dromedarie or his hors. And so fro
in to in, tille it come to the Emperour. And thus anon hathe he hasty
tydynges of ony thing, that berethe charge, be his corrours, that rennen so
hastyly, thorghe out alle the contree. And also whan the Emperour sendethe
his corrours hastyly, thorghe out his lond, everyche of hem hathe a large
thong fulle of smale belles; and whan thei neyghen nere to the innes of
other corroures, that ben also ordeyned be the iorneyes, thei ryngen here
belles, and anon the other corrours maken hem redy, and rennen here weye
unto another in: and thus rennethe on to other, fulle spedyly and swyftly,
till the Emperours entent be served, in alle haste. And theise currours ben
clept chydydo, aftre here langage, that is to seye, a messagere.

Also whan the Emperour gothe from o contree to another, as I have told you
here before, and he passe thorghe cytees and townes, every man makethe a
fuyr before his dore, and puttethe there inne poudre of gode gommes, that
ben swete smellynge, for to make gode savour to the Emperour. And alle the
peple knelethe doun azenst him, and don him gret reverence. And there where
religyouse Cristene men dwellen, as thei don in many cytees in thei lond,
thei gon before him with processioun with cros and holy watre; and thei
seyngen, _Veni Creator, spiritus_, with an highe voys, and gon towardes
him. And whan he herethe hem, he commaundethe to his lordes to ryde besyde
him, that the religiouse men may come to him. And whan thei ben nyghe him,
with the cros, thanne he dothe a down his galaothe, that syt upon his hede,
in manere of a chapelet, that is made of gold and preciouse stone and grete
perles. And it is so ryche, that, men preysen it to the value of a roialme,
in that contre. And than he knelethe to the cros. And than the prelate of
the religiouse men seythe before him certeyn orisouns, and zevethe him a
blessynge with the cros: and he enclynethe to the blessynge fulle devoutly.
And thanne the prelate zevethe him sum maner frute, to the nombre of 9, in
a platere of sylver, with peres or apples or other manere frute. And he
takethe on; and than men zeven to the othere lordes, that ben aboute him.
For the custom is suche, that no straungere schalle come before him, but
zif he zeve hym sum manere thing, aftre the olde lawe, that seythe, _Nemo
accedat in conspectu meo vacuus_. And thanne the Emperour seythe to the
religious men, that thei withdrawe hem azen, that thei ne be hurt ne harmed
of the gret multytude of hors that comen behynde him. And also in the same
maner don the religious men, that dwellen there, to the Emperesses, that
passen by hem, and to his eldest sone; and to every of hem, thei presenten
frute.

And zee schulle undirstonde, that the people, that he hathe so many hostes
offe, abouten hym and aboute his wyfes and his sone, thei dwelle not
contynuelle with him: but alle weys, whan him lykethe, thei ben sent fore;
and aftre whan thei han don, thei retournen to hire owne housholdes; saf
only thei that ben dwellynge with hym in houshold, for to serven him and
his wyfes and his sones, for to governen his houshold. And alle be it, that
the othere ben departed fro him, aftre that thei han perfourmed hire
servyse, zit there abydethe contynuelly with him in court, 50000 men at
horse, and 200000 men a fote; with outen mynstrelles, and tho that kepen
wylde bestes and dyverse briddes, of the whiche I have tolde zou the nombre
before.

Undre the firmament, is not so gret a lord, ne so myghty, ne so riche, as
the gret Chane: nought Prestre Johan, that is Emperour of the highe Ynde,
ne the Sowdan of Babylone, ne the Emperour of Persye. Alle theise ne ben
not in comparisoun to the grete Chane; nouther of myght, ne of noblesse, ne
of ryaltee, ne of richesse: for in alle theise, he passethe alle erthely
princes. Wherfore it is gret harm, that he belevethe not feithfully in God.
And natheles he wil gladly here speke of God; and he suffrethe wel, that
Cristene men duelle in his lordschipe, and that men of his feythe ben made
Cristene men, zif thei wile, thorghe out alle his contree. For he
defendethe no man to holde no lawe, other than him lykethe.

In that contree, sum man hathe an 100 wyfes, summe 60, mo, somme lesse. And
thei taken the nexte of hire kyn, to hire wyfes, saf only, that thei out
taken hire modres, hire doughtres, and hire sustres on the fadir syde, of
another womman, thei may wel take; and hire bretheres wyfes also aftre here
dethe; and here step modres also in the same wyse.


Of the Lawe and customs of the Tartarienes, duellynge in Chatay; and how
  that men don, whan the Emperour schal dye, and how he schal be chosen.

[Sidenote: Cap. XXIII.] The folk of that contree usen alle longe clothes,
with outen furroures. And thei ben clothed with precious clothes of
Tartarye; and of clothes of gold. And here clothes ben slytt at the syde;
and thei ben festned with laces of silk. And thei clothen hem also with
pylches, and the hyde with outen. And thei usen nouther cappe ne hood. And
in the same maner as the men gon, the wommen gon; so that no man may unethe
knowe the men fro the wommen, saf only tho wommen, that ben maryed, that
beren the tokne upon hire hedes of a mannes foot, in signe that thei ben
undre mannes fote and undre subieccioun of man. And here wyfes ne dwelle
not to gydere but every of hem be hire self. And the husbonde may ligge
with whom of hem, that him lykethe. Everyche hathe his hous, bothe man and
womman. And here houses ben made rounde of staves; and it hathe a rounde
wyndowe aboven, that zevethe hem light, and also that servethe for
delyverance of smoke. And the helynge of here houses, and the wowes and the
dores ben alle of wode.

And whan thei gon to werre, thei leiden hire houses with hem, upon
chariottes; as men don tentes or pavyllouns. And thei maken hire fuyr, in
the myddes of hire houses. And thei han gret multytude of alle maner of
bestes, saf only of swyn: for thei bryngen non forthe. And thei beleeven
wel, o God, that made and formede alle thinges. And natheles zit han thei
ydoles of gold and sylver, and of tree, and of clothe. And to tho ydoles,
thei offren alle weys hyre first mylk of hire bestes, and also of hire
metes, and of hire drynkes, before thei eten. And thei offren often tymes
hors and bestes. And the clepen the God of Kynde, Yroga. And hire Emperour
also, what name that evere behave, thei putten evermore therto Chane. And
whan I was there, hire Emperour had to name Thiaut; so that he was clept
Thiaut Chane. And his eldeste sone was clept Tossue. And whanne he schalle
ben emperour, he schalle ben clept Tossue Chane. And at that tyme, the
Emperour hadde 12 sones, with outen him; that were named, Cuncy, Ordii,
Chahaday, Buryn, Negu, Nocab, Cadu, Siban, Cuten, Balacy, Babylan and
Garegan, And of his 3 wyfes, the firste and the pryncypalle, that was
Prestre Johnes doughtre, hadde to name Serioche Chan; and the tother Borak
Chan; and the tother Karanke Chan.

The folk of that contree begynnen alle hire thinges in the newe mone: and
thei worschipen moche the mone and the sonne, and often tyme knelen azenst
hem. And alle the folk of the contree ryden comounly with outen spores: but
thei beren alle weys a lytille whippe in hire hondes, for to chacen with
hire hors. And thei had gret conscience, and holden it for a gret synne, to
casten a knyf in the fuyr, and for to drawe flessche out of a pot with a
knyf, and for to smyte an hors with the handille of a whippe, or to smyte
an hors with a brydille, or to breke o bon with another, or for to caste
mylk or ony lykour, that men may drynke, upon the erthe, or for to take and
sle lytil children. And the moste synne, that ony man may do, is to pissen
in hire houses, that thei dwellen in. And who so that may be founden with
that synne, sykerly thei slen hym. And of everyche of theise synnes, it
behovethe hem to ben schryven of hire prestes, and to paye gret somme of
silver for hire penance. And it behovethe also, that the place, that men
han pissed in, be halewed azen; and elles dar no man entren there inne. And
whan thei han payed hire penance, men maken hem passen thorghe a fuyr or
thorghe 2, for to clensen hem of hire synnes. And also whan ony messangere
comethe and bryngethe lettres or ony present to the Emperour, it behovethe
him, that he with the thing that he bryngethe, passe thorghe 2 brennynge
fuyres, for to purgen hem, that he brynge no poysoun ne venym, ne no wykked
thing, that myght be grevance to the lord. And also, zif ony man or womman
be taken in avowtery or fornycacyoun, anon thei sleen him. Men of that
contree ben alle gode archeres, and schooten right welle, bothe men and
women, als wel on hors bak, prykynge, as on fote, rennynge. And the wommen
maken alle thinges and alle maner mysteres and craftes; as of clothes,
botes and other thinges; and thei dryven cartes, plowes and waynes and
chariottes; and thei maken houses and alle maner of mysteres, out taken
bowes and arwes and armures, that men maken. And alle the wommen weren
breech, as wel as men. Alle the folk of that contree ben fulle obeyssant to
hire sovereynes; ne thei fighten not ne chiden not, on with another. And
there ben nouther thefes ne robboures in that contree; and every man
worschipethe othere: but no man there dothe no reverence to no straungeres,
but zif thei ben grete princes. And thei eten houndes, lyounes, lyberdes,
mares and foles, asses, rattes and mees, and alle maner of bestes, grete
and smale; saf only swyn, and bestes that weren defended by the olde lawe.
And thei eaten alle the bestes, with outen and with inne, with outen
castynge awey of ony thing, saf only the filthe. And thei eten but litille
bred, but zif it be in courtes of grete lordes. And thei have not, in many
places, nouther pesen ne benes, ne non other potages, but the brothe of the
flessche. For littile ete thei ony thing, but flessche and the brothe. And
whan thei han eten, thei wypen hire hondes upon hire skirtes: for thei use
non naperye, ne towaylles, but zif it be before grete lordes: but the
common peple hathe none. And whan thei han eten, thei putten hire dissches
unwasschen in to the pot or cawdroun, with remenant of the flessche and of
the brothe, till thei wole eten azen. And the ryche men drynken mylk of
mares or of camaylles or of asses or of other bestes. And thei wil ben
lightly dronken of mylk, or of another drynk, that is made of hony and of
watre soden to gidre. For in that contree is nouther wyn ne ale. Thei lyven
fulle wrecched liche; and thei eten but ones in the day, and that but
lyttle, nouther in courtes ne in other places. And in soothe, o man allone
in this contree wil ete more in a day, than on of hem will ete in 3 dayes.
And zif ony straunge messagre come there to a lord, men maken him to ete
but ones a day, and that fulle litille.

And whan thei werren, thei werren fulle wisely, and alle weys don here
besynes, to destroyen hire enemyes. Every man there berethe 2 bowes or 3,
and of arwes gret plentee, and a gret ax. And the gentyles han schorte
speres and large, and fulle trenchant on that o syde: and thei han plates
and helmes, made of quyrboylle; and hire hors covertoures of the same. And
who so fleethe fro the bataylle, thei sle him. And whan thei holden ony
sege abouten castelle or toun, that is walled and defensable, thei behoten
to hem that ben with inne, to don alle the profite and gode, that it is
marveylle to here: and thei graunten also to hem that ben with inne, alle
that thei wille asken hem. And aftre that thei ben zolden, anon thei sleen
hem alle, and kutten of hire eres, and sowcen hem in vynegre, and there of
thei maken gret servyse for lordes. Alle here lust and alle here
ymaginacioun, is for to putten alle londes undre hire subieccioun. And thei
seyn, that thei knowen wel be hire prophecyes, that thei schulle ben
overcomen by archieres, and be strengthe of hem: but they knowe not of what
nacioun, ne of what lawe thei schulle ben offe, that schulle overcomen hem.
And therfore thei suffren, that folk of alle lawes may peysibely duellen
amonges hem.

Also whan thei wille make hire ydoles, or an ymage of ony of hire frendes,
for to have remembrance of hym, thei maken alle weys the ymage alle naked,
with outen any maner of clothinge. For thei seyn, that in gode love scholde
be no coverynge, that man scholde not love for the faire clothinge, ne for
the riche aray, but only for the body, suche as God hathe made it, and for
the gode vertues that the body is endowed with of nature; but only for fair
clothinge, that is not of kyndely nature.

And zee schulle undirstonde, that it is gret drede for to pursue the
Tartarines, zif thei fleen in bataylle. For in fleynge, thei schooten
behynden hem, and sleen bothe men and hors. And whan thei wil fighte, thei
wille schokken hem to gidre in a plomp; that zif there be 20000 men, men
schalle not wenen, that there be scant 10000. And thei cone wel wynnen lond
of straungeres, but thei cone not kepen it. For thei han grettre lust to
lye in tentes with outen, than for to lye in castelle or in townes. And
thei preysen no thing the wytt of other naciouns. And amonges hem, oyle of
olyve is fulle dere: for thei holden it for fulle noble medicyne. And alle
the Tartarienes han smale eyen and litille of berd, and not thikke hered,
but schiere. And thei ben false and traytoures: and thei lasten noghte that
thei behoten. Thei ben fulle harde folk, and moche peyne and wo mow suffren
and disese, more than ony other folk: for thei ben taughte therto in hire
owne contree, of Zouthe: and therfore thei spenden, as who seythe, right
nought.

And whan ony man schalle dye, men setter a spere besyde him: and whan he
drawethe towardes the dethe, every man fleethe out of the hous, tille he be
ded; and aftre that, thei buryen him in the feldes.


CAPVT. 39.

De sepultura Imperatoris Grand Can, et creatione successoris.

Imperator Grand Can postquam eius cognita fuerit defunctio defertur mox à
paucis viris in parco palatij, ad præuisum locum vbi debeat sepeliri. Et
nudato prius toto illo loco à graminibus cum cespite figitur ibi tentorium,
in quo velut in solio regali de ligno corpus defuncti residens collocatur,
paraturque mensa plena coram eo cibarijs præciosis, et potu de lacte
iumentorum. Instabulatur ibi et equa cum suo pullo, sed et ipse albus,
nobilitèr phaleratus, et onustatus certo pondere auri et argenti. Et est
totum Tentorij pauimentum de mundo stramine stratum.

Tuncque effodiunt in circuitu fossam latam valdè, et profundam vt totum
tentorium cum omnibus contentis descendat in illam. Eoque facto ita
equalitèr terram planificantes adoperiunt graminibus, vt in omni tempore
locus sepulturæ non valeat apparere. Et quoniam ignorantiæ nubilo turpiter
excæcati putant in alio seculo homines delectationibus frui, dicunt quòd
tentorium erit ei pro hospitio, cibi ad edendum, lac ad potandum, equus ad
equitandum, aurum et argentum ad respiciendum, sed et equa lac sempèr
præstabit, et pullos equinos successiue generabit.

Post has itaque Imperatoris defuncti miseras exequias, nullus omnino
audebit de ipso loqui coram vxoribus et filijs, et propinquis, sed nec
nominare, quia per hoc putarent derogari paci, et quieti illius, qua non
dubitant eum dominari, in maiori satis gloria Paradisi quam hic stetit.

Igitur Imperatore Grand Can sepulto obliuioni tradito, conueniunt quàm citò
nobiles de septem tribubus prouinciæ Cathay, et cui Imperium ex
propinquitate competit, dicunt sic.

    Ecce volumus, ordinamus, atque precamur, vt sis noster Dominus et
    Imperator.

Qui respondet

     Si vultis me super vos, sicut et iuris mei est, imperare, oportebit
     vos fore mihi obedientes tam ad mortem quàm ad vitam.

Et respondentes dicunt.

     Nos faciemus quicquid praeceperitis.

Túncque Imperator addit hæc verba: Ergo scitote, quod ex nunc verbum meum
acutum et scindens erit vt meus ensis: [Sidenote: i. cathedra.] Pergit
quóque sessum in suo Philtro nigro super pauimentum in conspectu throni
expanso, et cum ipso Philtro eleuatur ab omnibus, et infertur Imperij
solio, ac coronatur diademate præcedentis Imperatoris.

De inde singuli principes, et singuæ ciuitates, oppida, et villæ per
vniuersum imperium mittunt ei munera iocalia, vasa, pannos, equos,
elephantes, aurum, argentum, et lapides preciosos, quorum, qualium, et
quantorum vix vel in numero haberi potest aestimatio.


CAPVT. 40.

De multis regionibus Imperio Tartariae subiectis.

Breuitèr et nunc intendo cursum describere aliquarum magnarum regionum et
Insularum Imperij Tartariæ. Et primò illas quæ descendunt à prouincia
Cathay per septentrionalem plagam, vsque ad fines Christianitatis Prussiae,
et Russiae.

Ergò prouincia Cathay descendens in sui oriente à regno Tharsis iungitur ab
occidente regno Turquescen, in quo et sunt plurimae ciuitates, quarum
formosior dicitur Octopar. Ipsum autem Turquescen regnum iungitur ad
occidentem sui regno, seu Imperio. Persiae, et ad septentrionem regno
Corasinae, quod spaciosum este valde, habens versus orientem sui vltra
centum diaetas deserti: hoc regnum est multis bonis abundans, et appellatur
eius melior ciuitas etiam Corasine.

Isti quoque regno iungitur in occidente versus partes nostras regnum
Commanorum, quod et similiter longum est, et latum, sed in paucis sui locis
inhabitatum: Nam in quibusdam est frigus nimium, in alijs nimius calor, et
in nonnullis nimia muscarum multitudo.

De istis Commanis venit olim fugata quædam pluralitas populi vsque in
terram Ægypti quae ibidem succreta nunc ita inualuit, vt suppressis
indigenis videatur regnare: Nam et de seipsis constituerunt hunc, qui modo
est Soldanus, Melech Mandibron. Per Commanorum regnum decurrit Grandis
fluuius Echil, qui omni hyemali tempore in magna spissitudine gelatur; in
superiori quoque parte huius regni inter duo freta Caspiæ, et Oceani, mons
sublimis est valde Chocas. Nota quod à nostris partibus non possit vsque in
Indiam superiorem duci magnus exercitus per terras, nisi per tres
tantummodo transitus, quorum iste est vnus, qui tamen non valet transiri
nisi tempore glaciei, et hic appellatus est Lodekonc.

Alter per Turquescen, et per Persiam, tamen ibi sunt deserta plurium
dietarum, in quibus nisi esset exercitus bene prouisus, posset perire.

Tertius ad primos fines regni Commanorum, transfretando tamen mare vsque in
regnum Abchaz: principalis ciuitas Commanorum dicitur Sarach.

Ab hoc regno versus partes nostras inuenitur regio Laiton quae est vltima
paganismi, iungitur iste finis terræ Christianitatitis regno Prussiæ, et
Russiæ.

Post potestatem Imperij Tartariæ descendendo à prouincia Cathay in
Australem plagam venitur versus Persiam, Syriam, et Greciam. Versus terram
Christianorum possum aliqualiter in summa (quantum conuenit huic scripto)
connotare. Dixi supra iam prouinciam Cathay iungi regno Turquescen ad
occidentem, et illud quòque iungi regno seu Imperio Persiæ. Ad quod
sciendum, quamuis rex Persiæ habet etiam ab olim nomen Imperatoris; quia
(cum tenet aliquas terras sui Imperij ab Imperatore Tartarorum) necesse est
vt in tanto subiectus sit illi.

Sunt autem in Persia duæ regiones: vna altæ Persiæ, quæ à regno Turquescen
descendens, iungitur ad occidentem sui fluuis Pyson. In ista habentur
renominatæ ciuitates, quarum meliores duæ dicuntur Bocura et Seonargant,
quam aliqui appellant Samarkand. Et altera Regio bassæ Persiæ, descendens à
flumine Pyson, qui ad sui occidentem iungiter regno Mediæ et terræ minoris
Armeniæ, et ad Aquilonem mari Caspio, et ad Austrum terræ minoris Indiæ.

In hac bassa Persia tres principaliores ciuitates sunt Aessabor, Saphaon,
Sarmasaule. In terra autem maioris Armeniæ quondam habebantur quatuor regna
quæ nunc dicuntur subesse Imperio Persarum, habétque famam terræ nobilis,
et ad occidentem sui iungitur Regno Turciæ.

Hec Armenia multas valdè bonas continet ciuitates, quarum famosior est
Taurisa. Regnum Mediæ quod subest Regi Persarum quamuis non latum est,
tamen longum est, et ad occidentem sui regno Chaldeæ coniunctum. In Media
meliores duæ ciuitates sunt, Seras, et Keremen.

[Sidenote: Georgia. Abchas, aliàs Alchaz.] Hinc ad occidentem sui, iuncta
est regio Georgiæ, quæ modo constat diuisa in duo regna: Nam pars superior,
quæ iungitur Mediæ, reseruauit sibi nomen Georgiæ, sed inferior pars
dicitur regnum Abchaz. Ambo hæc regna, et regis eorum, sunt de fide
Christiana, et homines ita deuoti vt ad minus semel in hebdomada
communicent sacramentis, iuxta ritum Græcorum confectis. Et quidem regnum
Georgiæ subiacet imperio Grand Can: sed Abchaz nunquam ab ipso Imperatore
Tartariæ, neque Persarum, neque Medorum domino subdi potuit, eo quòd
munitum est aquis et rupibus et alijs prouisionibus contra impugnationes
hostiles.

[Sidenote: In parte regni Georgiæ sunt tenebrae.] Iuxta hoc regnum Abchaz
habetur vnum minum et mirabile, nam magnus est territorij locus dictus
Hamson, et continens in circuitu spacium viæ quatuor diætarum: videter
semper opertus tenebris densis vt nemo audeat illic intrare profundè,
quoniam si qui presumpserint, non sunt visi reuerti. Attamen fatentur
vicini sub illis se tenebris audisse nonnunquam clamores hominum, hinnitus,
mugitus, rugitus, et boatus pecudum, et bestiarum, sed et cantus gallorum,
vt per hæc et alia signa constet ibi habitare gentes: nam et fluuius
decurrens monstrat signa sæpè certissima in suo exitu: ignoratur tamen si
tenebræ per totum territorium sint eiusdem densitatis, an forte sint in
circuitu per aliquod spacium, et intrinsecus plus luminosum.

Dicuntur autem tenebræ istæ olim per diuinum miraculum aduenisse. Saboere
enim Imperatore Persarum, circa annum Gratiæ ducentessimum quinquagessimum
in persecutione Christianorum tendente cum pleno exercitu per hunc locum,
et Christianis tyrannidem eius fugientibus, contigit ex improuiso eos ità
arctari, vt se effugere desperarent, quapropter statim ad orationis
refugium omnes se sternentes clamauerunt ad Christum auxiliatorem suum: Et
deus, qui pro puro corde Christianos ad se orantes semper exaudit, expleuit
illic literam vaticinij Isaiæ: quia ecce tenebræ operient terram et caligo
populos, monstrans per tenebram terrenam, quam eis superduxit, quas passuri
essent inimici nominis Christi tenebras infernales, indicansque per
temporalem vitam, quam sibi fidelibus conseruauit, eam quam possessuri sunt
viri Christiani vitam perpetuam, et coelestem.

Itaque hoc regnum Abchaz ad occidentem sui iungitur regno Turciæ, quod in
longo et lato valdè extensum multas continet prouincias scilicet Iconiæ,
Cappadociæ, Sauræ, Brike, Besicon, Patan, et Gennoch; hij omnes Turci, cum
tota Syria et Arabia vsque ad Galliziam Hispaniæ, subsunt Imperatori
Babyloniæ Soldano, et sunt in singulis prouinciis et regionibus ciuitates
magnæ, ac multæ nimis. Consequentèr huic regno Turciæ ad Occidentem sui in
ciuitate Cathasa [Marginal note: Vel Sathata.] iungitur per mare Greciæ
superior pars potestatis Imperatoris Constantinopolitani, et quasi ad
Aquilonem contiguatur regno Syriæ: cuius vna prouincia est terra
promissionis, prout hoc satis dictum est suprà. Sunt et aliæ terre, et
Insulæ, et patriæ latæ, et spatiosæ, continentes in se multa regna, et
reges, et gentes diuersas, de quibus nunc per singula pertractare non est
consilij.

Ad supradictam Chaldæam iungitur Mesopotamia, et minor Armenia, et velut ad
Austrum eius Æthiopia, Mauritania, Lybia alta et bassa, et Nubia.
[Sidenote: Extensio Imperij Grand Can.] Excepto ergò duntaxat districtu
Imperij Persiæ, et potestate Soldani, omnes sæpè pertractatæ terræ,
regiones, regna et Insulæ descendendo tam par Aquilonem, quam ad Austrum à
prouincia Cathay, vsque ad Christianitatem sunt de Imperio Tartariæ Grand
Can. [Sidenote: Distantia à Roma ad Cathayam per Institores.] Et notandum
de spacio distantiæ, quod institores de Roma, vel Venetia festinantes tam
per terras, quàm per mare, expendunt de tempore 11. menses, et quandoque
duodecim, priusquam in Cathay valeant peruenire.

Hijs itaque visis describam saltem aliquas à prouincia Cathay in orientem
terras Imperij Tartarorum. [Sidenote: Cadilla Regio orientalior Cathay.
Angli nostri hanc bestiolam nuper viderunt in Persia.] Illic habetur regio
Cadilla spaciosa multum, simul et speciosa: crescunt namque in ea fructus
ad quantitatem magnorum Cawardorum, in quibus inuenitur vna bestiola, in
carne et sanguine ad formam agnelli absque lana, et manducatur totus
fructus cum bestiola. Sunt et alij plures diuersi fructus, quorum penes nos
non est respectus nec vsus. Nam et sunt ibi nonnullæ speciales vites
ferentes botros incredibiliter magnos, quorum vnum vix virilis vir valet in
hasta portare.

Et deinde in meridiem per aliquas diætas, potest perueniri ad primas Caspiæ
alpes, quæ descendendo descendunt vsque ad Amazoniam, insulam mulierum, de
qua tractatum est. Inter has Alpes retinetur maxima multitudo Iudæorum
decem tribum Israel, per Dei voluntatem ita inclusa, vt in copiosa
numerositate non possint à nostra parte exire, quamuis aliqui pauci
nonnunquam sunt visi transisse. Haberent autem competentem exitum circa
insulam Amazoniæ, sed illum diligenter regina obseruat.

[Sidenote: Bacchariæ Regnum vel Boghariæ.] Porrò de regione Cadilla in
orientem venitur ad regnum Backariae, in qua mali et multum crudeles
habitant homines, nec est securum itinerare per illam, quòd ad modicam
occasionem (si Deus non conseruaret) occiderent viatorem et manducarent.
[Sidenote: Arbor Lanifera.] Illic sunt arbores ferentes lanam velut ouium,
ex qua texunt pannos ad vestimenta. Hypocentauri sunt ibi pro media
superiori parte in forma humana, et pro inferiori figura equorum, seu
taurorum, venantes in terris, et piscantes in aquis quod comedunt, et super
omnia carnes hominum, quos capere possunt. [Sidenote: Gryphones, de quibus
Paulus Venetæ] Nec non et gryphi illic apparent pro media posteriori parte
in forma leonis, pro anteriori in forma aquilæ. Sed sciatis, corpus magni
gryphi maius esse octo leonibus de partibus istis. Nam postquam equum,
bouem vel hominem, etiam asinum occiderit, leuat et asportat pleno volatu:
tanquam cornua bouis aut vaccae sunt illi vngulæ, de quibus etiam fieri
solent ciphi ad bibendum, qui plurimùm reputantur preciosi. Fiunt quóque de
pennis alarum eius arcus rigidi, et fortes ad iaciendum missilia et
sagittas. Ad istius regni Baccariae extremitates in Orientum finitur terra
potestatis Grand Can: Et iungitur ei terra potestatis magni Imperatoris
Indiæ, qui semper vocatur Præsbyter Ioannes. Notandum, quoties per
prouincias totius Imperij Grand Can, quicquam accidit, quod Imperatorem non
oportet latere, confestim mittuntur per reges aut barones nuncij in
dromedarijs aut equis, qui celerrimè festinant ad certa hospitia, ad hoc
ipsum, velut ábsque numero per imperium instituta: Isque nuncius hospitio
appropinquans, et cornu resonans, dum auditor paratur minicius alter, qui
de manu suscipiens literas, per recentem dromedarium festinat ad aliud
hospitium, et sic in breui tempore perferuntur rumores ad curia aures.
[Sidenote: Cursores, Chidibo Tartaricè dicti.] Similique modo nuncij
pedites permutantur de hospitio in hospitium, vt citiùs percipiatur
negocium huius nuncij: appellantur sua lingua Chidibo.

[Sidenote: Charita Mandeuilli.] Ergò per præmissa satis elucet magnam esse
nobilitatem, potestatem, reuerentiam, et dominationem Imperatoris Tartariæ
Grand Can de Cathay, et quòd nullus ab ista parte Imperator nec Persiæ, nec
Babylonia, nec Greciæ, sed nec Romæ est illi comparandus. Vndè et multum
miserandum est, quia ipse cùm toto Imperio nec est fide Catholica
illustratus, nec salutari lauachro regeneratus: et hoc oremus vt in breui
eueniat, per Iesum Christum Dominum nostrum.

Explicit pars secunda huius opens.


The English Version.

And whan the emperour dyethe, men setten him in a chayere in myddes the
place of his tent: and men setten a table before him clene, covered with a
clothe, and there upon flesche and dyverse vyaundes, and a cuppe fulle of
mares mylk: And men putten a mare besyde him, with hire fole, and an hors
saddled and brydeled; and thei leyn upon the hors gold and silver gret
quantytee: and thei putten abouten him gret plentee of stree: and than men
maken a gret pytt and a large; and with the tent and alle theise other
thinges, then putten him in erthe. And thei seyn, that whan he schalle come
in to another world, he schalle not ben with outen an hows, ne with owten
hors, ne with outen gold and sylver: and the mare schalle zeven him mylk,
and bryngen him forthe mo hors, tille he be wel stored in the tother world.
For thei trowen, that aftre hire dethe, thei schulle be etynge and
drynkynge in that other world, and solacynge hem with hire wifes, as thei
diden here. And aftre tyme, that the emperour is thus entered, no man
schalle be so hardy to speke of him before his frendes, And zit natheles
somtyme fallethe of manye, that thei maken hem to ben entered prevylly be
nyghte, in wylde places, and putten azen the grasse over the pytt for to
growe: or elle men coveren the pytt with gravelle and sond, that no man
schalle perceyve where, ne knowe where the pytt is, to that entent, that
never aftre, non of his frendes schulle han mynde ne rememberance of him.
And thanne thei seyn, that he is ravissht in to another world where he is a
grettre lord, than he was here. And thanne aftre the dethe of the emperour,
the 7 lynages assemblen hem to gidere, and chesen his eldest sone, or the
nexte aftre him, of his blood: and thus thei seye to him; wee wolen and wee
preyen and ordeynen, that zee ben oure lord and oure emperour. And thanne
he answerethe, zif yee wile, that I regne over zou, as lord, do eyeryche of
zou, that I schalle commanden him, outher to abyde or to go; and whom
soever that I commaunde to ben slayn, that anon he be slayn. And thei
answeren alle with o voys, what so evere zee commanden, it schalle be don.
Thanne seythe the emperour, now undirstondethe wel, that my woord from hens
forthe, is scharp and bytynge as a swerd. After men setten him upon a blak
stede, and so men bryngen him to a cheyere fulle richely arrayed, and there
thei crownen hym. And thanne alle the cytees and gode townes senden hym
ryche presentes; so that at that iourneye, he schalle have more than 60
chariottes charged with gold and sylver, with outen jewelles of gold and
precyouse stones, that lordes zeven hym, that ben withouten estymacioun:
and with outen hors and clothes of gold and of Camakaas and Tartarynes,
that ben with outen nombre.


Of the Roialme of Thurse and the Londes and Kyngdomes towardes the
  Septentrionale parties, in comynge down from the Lond of Cathay.

This lond of Cathay is in Asye the depe. And aftre, on this half, is
Asyetthe more. The kyngdom of Cathay marchethe toward the west, unto the
kyngdom of Tharse; the whiche was on of the kinges, that cam to presente
our Lord in Betheleem. And thei that ben of the lynage of that kyng, arn
somme Cristene. In Tharse, thei eten no flessche, ne thei drynken no wyn.
And on this half, towardes the west, is the kyngdom of Turquesten, that
strecchethe him toward the west, to the kyngdom of Persie; and toward the
Septrentionalle, to the kyngdom of Chorasme. In the contre of Turquesten,
ben but fewe gode cytees: but the beste cytee of that lond highte Octorar.
There ben grete pastures; but fewe Coornes; and therfore, for the most
partie, thei ben alle herdemen: and thei lyzn in tentes, and thei drynken a
maner ale, made of hony.

And aftre, on this half, is the kyngdom of Chorasme, that is a gode lond
and a plentevous, with outen wyn. And it hathe a desert toward the est,
that lastethe more than an 100 iourneyes. And the beste cytee of that
contree is clept Chorasme. And of that cytee, berethe the contree his name.
The folk of that contree ben hardy werryoures. And on this half is the
kyngdom of Comanye, where of the Comayns that dwelleden in Grece, somtyme
weren chaced out. This is on of the grettest kyngdomes of the world: but it
is not alle enhabyted. For at on of the parties, there is so gret cold,
that no man may dwelle there: and in another partie, there is so grete
hete, that no man may endure it. And also there ben so many flyes, that no
man may knowe on what syde he may turne him. In that contree is but lytille
arberye, ne trees that beren frute, ne othere. Thei lyzn in tentes. And
thei brenen the dong of bestes for defaute of wode.

This kyngdom descendeth on this half toward us, and toward Pruysse, and
toward Rossye. And thorghe that contree rennethe the ryvere of Ethille,
that is on of the grettest ryveres of the world. And it fresethe so
strongly alle zeres, that many tymes men han foughten upon the Ise with
grete hostes, bothe parties on fote, and hire hors voyded for the tyme: and
what on hors and on fote, mo than 200000 persones on every syde. And
betweene that ryvere and the grete see ocean, that thei clepen the see
maure, lyzn alle theise Roialmes. And toward the hede benethe in that
Roialme, is the mount Chotaz, that is the hiest mount of the world: and it
is betwene the see Maure and the see Caspy. There is fulle streyt and
dangerous passage, for to go toward Ynde. And therfore Kyng Alysandre leet
make there a strong cytee, that men clepen Alizandre, for to kepe the
contree, that no man scholde passe with outen his leve. And now men clepen
that cytee, the Zate of Helle. And the princypalle cytee of Comenye is
clept Sarak, that is on of the 3 weyes for to go in to Ynde: but be the
weye, ne may not passe no gret multytude of peple, but zif it be in wyntre.
And that passage men clepen the Derbent. The tother weye is for to go fro
the citee of Turquesten, be Persie: and be that weye, ben manye iourneyes
be desert. And the thridde weye is that comethe fro Comanye, and than to go
be the grete see and be the kyngdom of Abchaz.

And zee schulle undirstonde, that alle theise kyngdomes and alle theise
londes aboveseyd, unto Pruysse and to Rossye, ben alle obeyssant to the
grete Chane of Cathay; and many othere contrees, that marchen to other
costes. Wherfore his powere and his lordschipe is fulle gret, and fulle
myghty.


Of the Emperour of Persye, and of the lond of darknesse and of other
  Kyngdomes, that belongen to the grete Chane of Cathay, and other Londes
  of his, unto the See of Greece.

[Sidenote: Cap. XXV.] Now sithe I have devysed zou the londes and the
kyngdoms toward the parties septentrionales, in comynge down from the lond
of Cathay, unto the londes of the Cristene, towardes Pruysse and Rossye;
now schalle I devyse zou of other londes and kyngdomes, comynge doun be
other costes, toward the right syde, unto the see of Grece, toward the lond
of Cristene men: and therfore that, aftre Ynde and aftre Cathay, the
Emperour of Persie is the gretteste lord. Therfore I schalle telle zou of
the kyngdom of Persie. First, where he hathe 2 kyngdomes; the firste
kyngdom begynnethe toward the est, toward the kyngdom of Turquesten, and it
strecchethe toward the west, unto the ryyere of Phison, that is on of the 4
ryveres, that comen out of paradys. And on another syde, it strecchethe
toward the septemtrion, unto the see of Caspye: and also toward the southe,
unto the desert of Ynde. And this contree is gode and pleyn and fulle of
peple. And there ben manye gode cytees. But the 2 princypalle cytees ben
theise, Boyturra and Seornergant, that sum men clepen Sormagant. The tother
kyngdom of Persie strecchethe toward the ryvere of Phison, and the parties
of the west, unto the kyngdom of Mede: and fro the grete Armenye, and
toward the septemtrion, to the see of Caspie; and toward the southe, to the
land of Ynde. That is also a gode lond and a plentefous; and it hath 3
grete princypalle cytees, Messabor, Caphon and Sarmassane.

And thanne aftre is Armenye, in the which weren wont to ben 4 kyngdomes:
that is a noble contree, and fulle of godes. And it begyinnethe at Persie,
and strecchethe toward the west in lengthe, unto Turkye. And in largenesse,
it durethe to the cytee of Alizandre, that now is clept the Zate of Helle,
that I spak offe beforn, undre the kyngdom of Mede. In this Armenye ben
fulle manye gode cytees: but Tanrizo is most of name.

Aftre this, is the kyngdom of Mede, that is fulle long: but it is not fulle
large, that begynnethe toward the est, to the land of Persie, and to Ynde
the lesse. And it strecchethe toward the west, toward the kyngdom of
Caldee, and toward the septemtrion, descendynge toward the litille Armenye.
In that kyngdom of Medee, ther ben many grere hilles, and litille of pleyn
erthe. There duellen Sarazines, and another maner of folk, that men clepen
Cordynes. The beste 2 cytees of that kyngdom, ben Sarras and Karemen.

Aftre that, is the kyngdom of George, that begynnethe toward the est; to
the gret mountayne, that is clept Abzor; where that duellen many dyverse
folk of dyverse naciouns. And men clepen the contree Alamo. This kyngdom
strecchethe him towardes Turkye, and toward the grete see: and toward the
south, it marchethe to the grete Armenye. And there ben 2 kyngomes in that
contree; that on is the kyngdom of Georgie, and that other is the kyngdom
of Abcaz. And alle weys in that contree ben 2 kynges, and thei ben bothe
Cristene: but the Kyng of Georgie is in subieccioun to the grete Chane. And
the King of Abcaz hathe the more strong contree: and he alle weyes
vigerously defendethe his contree; azenst alle tho that assaylen him; so
that no man may make him in subieccioun to no man. In that kyngdom of Abcaz
is a gret marvaylle. For a provynce of the contree, that hathe wel in
circuyt 3 iorneyes, that men clepen Hanyson, is alle covered with
derknesse, with outen ony brightnesse or light; so that no man may see ne
here, ne no man dar entren in to hem. And natheles, thei of the contree
seyn, that som tyme men heren voys of folk, and hors nyzenge, and cokkes
crowynge. And men witen wel, that men duellen there: but thei knowe not
what men. And thei seyn, that the derknesse befelle be myracle of God. For
a cursed Emperour of Persie, that highte Saures, pursuede alle Cristene
men, to destroye hem, and to compelle hem to make sacrifise to his ydoles;
and rood with grete host, in alle that ever he myghte, for to confounde the
Cristene men. And thanne in that contree, dwellen manye gode Cristene men,
the whiche that laften hire godes, and wolde han fled in to Grece: and whan
they weren in a playn, that highte Megon, anon this cursed emperour mett
with hem, with his hoost, for to have slayn hem, and hewen hem to peces.
And anon the Cristene men kneleden to the grounde, and made hire preyeres
to God to sokoure hem. And anon a gret thikke clowde cam, and covered the
emperour and alle his hoost: and so thei enduren in that manere, that thei
ne mowe not gon out, on no syde; and so schulle thei ever more abyden in
derknesse, tille the day of dome, be the myracle of God. And thanne the
Cristene men wenten, where hem lykede best, at hire own plesance, with
outen lettynge of ony creature; and hire enemyes enclosed and confounded in
derknesse, with outen ony strok. Wherfore we may wel seye, with David, _A
Domino factum est istud; et est mirable in oculis nostris_. And that was a
gret myracle, that God made for hem. Wherfore methinkethe, that Cristene
men scholden ben more devoute, to serven oure Lord God, than ony other men
of ony other secte. For with outen ony drede, ne were cursednesse and synne
of Cristene men, thei scholden be lordes of alle the world. For the banere
of Jesu Crist is alle weys displayed, and redy on alle sydes, to the help
of his trewe lovynge servauntes: in so moche, that o gode Cristene man, in
gode beleeve, scholde overcomen and out chacen a 1000 cursed mysbeleevynge
men: as David seyth in the Psautere, _Quoniam persequebatur unus mille, et
duo fugarent decem milia_. Et, _Cadent a latere tuo mille, et decem milia a
dextris tuis_. And how that it myghte ben, that on scholde chacen a 1000,
David himself seythe, folewynge, _Quia manus Domini fecit hæc omnia_. And
oure Lord himself seythe, be the prophetes mouth, _Si in viis meis
ambulaveritis, super tribulantes vos misissem manum meam_. So that wee may
seen apertely, that zif wee wil be gode men, non enemye ne may not enduren
azenst us. Also zee schulle undirstonde, that out of that lond of
derknesse, gothe out a gret ryvere, that schewethe wel, that there ben folk
dwellynge, be many redy tokenes: but no man dar not entre in to it.

And wytethe well, that in the kyngdoms of Georgie, of Abchaz and of the
litile Armenye, ben gode Cristene men and devoute. For thei schryven hem
and howsele hem evermore ones or twyes in the woke. And there ben many of
hem, that howsele hem every day: and so do wee not on this half; alle be it
that Seynt Poul commandethe it, seyenge, _Omnibus diebus dominicis ad
communicandum hortor_. Thei kepen that commandement: but wee ne kepen it
not.

Also aftre, on this half, is Turkye, that marchethe to the gret Armenye.
And there ben many provynces, as Capadoche, Saure, Brique, Quesiton, Pytan
and Gemethe. And in everyche of theise ben many gode cytees. This Turkye
strecchethe unto the cytee of Sachala, that sittethe upon the see of Grece;
and so it marchethe to Syrie. Syrie is a gret contree and a gode, as I have
told zou before. And also it hathe, aboven toward Ynde, the kyngdom of
Caldee, that strecchethe fro the mountaynes of Calde, toward the est, unto
the cytee of Nynyvee, that sittethe upon the ryvere of Tygre: and in
largenesse, it begynnethe toward the northe, to the cytee of Maraga; and it
strecchethe toward the southe, unto the see occean. In Caldee is a pleyn
contree, and fewe hilles and few ryveres.

Aftre is the kyngdom of Mesopotayme, that begynnethe toward the est, to the
flom of Tygre, unto a cytee that is clept Moselle: and it strecchethe
toward the west, to the flom of Eufrate, unto a cytee that is clept Roianz:
and in lengthe it gothe to the mount of Armenye, unto the desert of Ynde
the lesse. This is a gode contree and a pleyn; but it hathe fewe ryveres.
It hathe but 2 mountaynes in that contree: of the whiche, on highte Symar,
and that other Lyson. And this lond marchethe to the kyngdom of Caldee.

Zit there is, toward the parties meridionales, many contrees and many
regyouns; as the lond of Ethiope, that marchethe, toward the est, to the
grete desertes; toward the west, to the kyngdom of Nubye; toward the
southe, to the kyngdom of Moretane; and toward the north to the Rede See.
Aftre is Moretane, that durethe fro the mountaynes of Ethiope, unto Lybie
the hize. And that contree lyzth a long fro the see ocean, toward the
southe; and toward the northe, it marchethe to Nubye, and to the highe
Lybye. (Theise men of Nubye ben Cristene.) And it marchethe fro the londes
aboveseyd to the desertes of Egypt. And that is the Egypt, that I have
spoken of before. And aftre is Libye the hye, and Lybye the lowe, that
descendethe down lowe, toward the grete see of Spayne. In the whiche
contree ben many kyngdomes and many dyverse folk. Now I have devysed zou
many contrees, on this half the kyngdom of Cathay: of the whiche, many ben
obeyssant to the grete Chane.


Of the Contrees and Yles, that ben bezonde the Lond of Cathay; and of the
  Frutes there; and of 22 Kynges enclosed within the Mountaynes.

[Sidenote: Cap. XXVI.]

Now schalle I seye zou sewyngly of contrees and yles, that ben bezonde the
contrees that I have spoken of. Wherfore I seye zou, in passynge be the
lond of Cathaye, toward the highe Ynde, and toward Bacharye, men passen be
a kyngdom, that men clepen Caldilhe; that is a fulle fair contree. And
there growethe a maner of fruyt, as thoughe it weren gowrdes: and whan thei
ben rype, men kutten hem a to, and men fynden with inne a lytylle best, in
flessche, in bon and blode, as though it were a lytylle lomb, with outen
wolle. And men eten bothe the frut and the best: and that is a gret
marveylle. Of that frute I have eten; alle thoughe it were wondirfulle: but
that I knowe wel, that God is marveyllous in his werkes. And natheles I
told hem, of als gret a marveylle to hem, that is amonges us: and that was
of the Bernakes. For I tolde hem, that in oure contree weren trees, that
beren a fruyt, that becomen briddes fleeynge: and tho that fellen in the
water, lyven; and thei that fallen on the erthe, dyen anon: and thei ben
right gode to mannes mete. And here of had thei als gret marvaylle, that
summe of hem trowed, it were an impossible thing to be. [Footnote: The
Barnacle-bearing trees are said to have grown in Ireland.] In that contree
ben longe apples of gode savour; where of ben mo than 100 in a clustre, and
als manye in another; and thei han gret longe leves and large, of 2 fote
long or more. And in that contree, and in other contrees there abouten,
growen many trees, that beren clowe gylofres and notemuges, and grete notes
of Ynde and of canelle and of many other spices. And there ben vynes, that
beren so grete grapes, that a strong man scholde have y now to done, for to
bere o clustre with alle the grapes. In that same regioun ben the
mountaynes of Caspye, that men clepen Uber in the contree. Betwene the
mountaynes, the Jewes of 10 lynages ben enclosed, that men clepen Gothe and
Magothe: and thei mowe not gon out on no syde. There weren enclosed 22
kynges with hire peple, that duelleden betwene the mountaynes of Sythye.
There Kyng Alisandre chacede hem betwene tho mountaynes; and there he
thoughte for to enclose hem thorghe werk of his men. But whan he saughe,
that he myghte not don it, ne bryng it to an ende, he preyed to God of
Nature, that he wolde parforme that that he had begonne. And alle were it
so, that he was a Payneme and not worthi to ben herd, zit God of his grace
closed the mountaynes to gydre: so that thei dwellen there, alle faste y
lokked and enclosed with highe mountaynes alle aboute, saf only on o syde;
and on that syde is the see of Caspye. Now may sum men asken, Sithe that
the see is on that o syde, wherfore go thei not out on the see syde, for to
go where that hem lykethe? But to this question, I schal answere, That see
of Caspye gothe out be londe, undre the mountaynes, and rennethe be the
desert at o syde of the contree; and aftre it strecchethe unto the endes of
Persie. And alle thoughe it be clept a see, it is no see, ne it touchethe
to non other see; but it is a lake, the grettest of the world. And thoughe
thei wolden putten hem in to that see, thei ne wysten never, where that
thei scholde arryven. And also thei conen no langage, but only hire owne,
that no man knowethe but thei: and therfore mowe thei not gon out. And also
zee schulle undirstond, that the Jewes han no propre lond of hire owne for
to dwellen inne, in alle the world, but only that lond betwene the
mountaynes. And zit thei zelden tribute for that lond to the Queen of
Amazoine, the whiche makethe hem to ben kept in cloos fulle diligently,
that thei schalle not gon out on no syde, but be the cost of hire lond. For
hire lond marchethe to tho mountaynes. And often it hathe befallen, that
summe of the Jewes han gon up the mountaynes, and avaled down to the
valeyes: but gret nombre of folk ne may not do so. For the mountaynes ben
so hye and so streghte up, that thei moste abyde there, maugre hire myghte.
For thei mowe not gon out, but be a littille issue, that was made be
strengthe of men; and it lastethe wel a 4 gret myle. And aftre, is there
zit a lond alle desert, where men may fynde no watre, ne for dyggynge, ne
for non other thing. Wherfore men may not dwellen in that place: so it is
fulle of dragounes, of serpentes and of other venymous bestes, that no man
dar not passe, but zif it be strong wyntre. And that streyt passage, men
clepen in that contree, Clyron. And that is the passage, that the Queen of
Amazoine makethe to ben kept. And thoghe it happene, sum of hem, be
fortune, to gon out; thei conen no maner of langage but Ebrow: so that thei
can not speke to the peple. And zit natheles, men seyn, thei schalle gon
out in the tyme of Antecrist, and that thei schulle maken gret slaughtre of
Cristene men. And therfore alle the Jewes, that dwellen in alle londes,
lernen alle weys to speken Ebrew, in hope that whan the other Jewes schulle
gon out, that thei may undirstonden hire speche, and to leden hem in to
Cristendom, for to destroye the Cristene peple. For the Jewes seyn, that
they knowen wel, be hire Prophecyes, that thei of Caspye schulle been undre
hire subieccioun, als longe as they had ben in subieccioun of hem. And zif
that zee wil wyte, how that thei schulle fynden hire Weye, aftre that I
have herd seye, I schalle telle zou. In the time of Antecrist, a fox
schalle make there his trayne, and mynen an hole, where Kyng Alisandre leet
make the Zates: and so longe he schalle mynen and perce the erthe, till
that he schalle passe thorghe, towardes that folk. And whan thei seen the
fox thei schulle have gret marveylle of him, be cause that thei saughe
never suche a best. For of alle other bestes, thei han enclosed amonges
hem, saf only the fox. And thanne thei schullen chacen him and pursuen him
so streyte, tille that he come to the same place, that he cam fro. And
thanne thei schullen dyggen and mynen so strongly, tille that thei fynden
the zates, that Kyng Alisandre leet make of grete stones and passynge huge,
wel symented and made stronge for the maystrie. And tho zates thei schulle
breken, and so gon out, be fyndynge of that issue.

Fro that lond, gon men toward the lond of Bacharie, where ben fulle
cruelle. In that lond ben trees, that beren wolle, as thoghe it were of
scheep; where of men maken clothes, and alle thing that may ben made of
wolle. In that contree ben many Ipotaynes, that dwellen somtyme in the
watre, and somtyme on the lond: and thei ben half man and half hors, as I
have seyd before: and thei eten men, whan thei may take hem. And there ben
ryveres of watres, that ben fulle byttere, three sythes more than is the
watir of the see. In that contree ben many Griffounes, more plentee than in
ony other contree. Sum men seyn, that thei han the body upward, as an
eagle, and benethe as a Lyoun: and treuly thei seyn sothe, that thei ben of
that schapp. But o griffoun hathe the body more gret and is more strong
thanne 8 lyouns, of suche lyouns as ben o this half; and more gret and
strongere, than an 100 egles, suche as we han amonges us. For o griffoun
there will bere, fleynge to his neste, a gret hors, or 2 oxen zoked to
gidere, as thei gon at the plowghe. For he hathe his talouns so longe and
so large and grete, upon his feet, as thoughe thei weren hornes of grete
oxen or of bugles or of Kyzn; so that men maken cuppes of hem, to drynken
of: and of hire ribbes and of the pennes and of hire wenges, men maken
bowes fulle stronge, to schote with arwes and quarelle. From thens gon men,
be many iourneyes, thorghe the lond of Prestre John, the grete Emperour of
Ynde. And men clepen his Roialme, the Yle of Pentexoire,


END OF PART II.



MANDEVILLE'S VOYAGES.

PART III.


Tertia pars.

CAPVT. 41.

De magnificentia Imperatoris Indiæ et preciositate Palatij.

[Sidenote: Seu Pentoxoria Ciuitas Nyse] Cum in præcedentibus Imperator
Indiæ dictus sit magnus, restat de illius magnificentia aliquid poni hoc
loco: cuius vtique gloria, nobilitas, et potestas, dici non habetur minor,
est tamen in aliquibus satis maior, quia omne æquale non est idem cum illo
cui æquatur: itáque à finibus regni Bachariæ supradicti vbi contiguatur
Imperio Indiæ, eundo per multas diætas intratur in Pentoxyriæ quod est
magnæ latitudinis, et abundantiæ in multis bonis: huius nominatior ciuitas,
dicitur Nyse, et in ea habet Imperator palatium Imperiale, in quo residet
dum sibi placet. Imperator iste semper vocitatus est Præsbyter Ioannes,
cuius nominis causam audieram quandoque non veram: sed in illis partibus
accepi rationem indubitatam, quam breuiter hîc enarro. [Sidenote: Narratio
de rebus gestis Ogeri Ducis Daniæ.] Circa annum ab incarnatione Domini
octingentessimum, dux Ogerus de Danemarchia, cum quindecim cognationis suæ
baronibus, et armatis viginti milibus transiuit mare Greciæ, et fauente
sibi Deo conquisiuit Christianitati per multa prælia pené omnes terras,
regiones, et insulas, quas esse de potestate Grand Can prædixi, nec non et
omnes, quæ sunt de potestate Imperij huius Imperatoris Indiæ. Eratque inter
Barones vnus denominatus Ioannes filius Goudebucf, regis Frisonum: qui
dictus Ioannes Deo deuotus fuit, et dum licuit Ecclesiarum limina iniuit,
vnde et barones ei dabant quasi per iocum Præsbyter Ioannes vocabulum.
[Sidenote: Vndè Presbyter Ioannis sit dictus. 4000. Insulæ.] Dum ergo
Ogerus dictas regiones expugnatas diuideret in hijs quindecim suis
cognatis, et quemlibet eorum in suo loco constitueret regem, quatenus
Christiana religio in illa orbis superficie semper stabilis permaneret,
tradidit isti Præsbytero Ioanni superiorem Indiam, cum 4000. insulis,
regionibus, et ipsum præfecit Imperatorem super reliquos cognatos, vt ei
certa tributa impenderent, et in omnibus obedirent, átque ex tunc omnes
successores Indiæ sunt vocati Præsbyter Ioannes et vsque in hodiernum
tempus boni manserunt Christiani, et religionis æmulatores. Interim cum
causa matrimoniorum aut procurationis filiorum dispersa est primi Imperij
integritas, et multæ de insulis conuersæ vel potius peruersæ retrocesserunt
ad vetustum squalorem paganismi primi. Nota. Recedens à Cambalu versus
orientem post 50. dietas ad terram Præsbyteri Ioannes, principalis ciuitas
terræ vocatur Cosan, satis parua sicut Vincentia: habet etiam sub se multas
alias ciuitates. Ex pacto semper habet in vxorem vnam de filiabus Grand
Can.

Per multas peruenitur ad prouinciam Casan, quæ est secunda melior de mundo,
vbi subtilior est, habet dietas 50. longior, 60. et est vna de duodecim
partibus Imperij Grand Can. Odericus. Vide infra capitulo 49. de Cassan, et
de Epulone. Deinde venitur in Thebeth prouinciam, quæ India est confinis.
Itaque Rex et Imperator iste tenet spatiosissimum Imperium plenum valdè
multis Regionibus et Insulis amplis, diuisum inter quatuor flumina magna de
Paradiso terrestri descendentia, Pyson, Gyon, Tygrim, et Euphratem. Nam
vltra fines orientales eius Imperij, et terrestram Paradisum, nullus
hominum habitat vel domitatur.

Præterea imperat multis alijs regionibus et insulis quæ distinguntur per
brachia maris Oceani, et in quibus singulis continetur grandis numerositas
ciuitatum ac villarum, et multitudo innumera populorum præ abundantia, et
præciositate omnium terrenorum bonorum.

Imperium Indiæ habetur famosum per vniuersum orbem. Sed et famosius
haberetur si mercatores mundi communitèr possint et auderent adire sicut
Cathay, Nostratibus enim perrarus est illic accessus, tam præ
longinquitate, quàm præ marinis periculis. Nam exceptis alijs sunt ibi
quamplures Adamantini colles, ad oram maris, et intra mare, qui sua virtute
attrahunt sibi naues ferrum continentes. Quoniam et mihi nauiganti
monstrabatur per nautas à remotis quasi paruula Insula in mari, quam
asserebant totalitèr ab antiquis temporibus paulatim ibi cumulatam de
nauibus per Adamantes retentis.

[Sidenote: Latitudo Imperij Præsbyteri Ioannis est 4. mensium iter.]
Estimatur autem latitudo huius Imperij per dietas quatuor mensium, sed
longitudini non datur estimatio, eo quòd tenditur vsque Paradisum vbi
nullus accedit.

Distinctum est Imperium per duodecim prouincias, quibus totidem præsunt
reges principales seu prouinciales, et quorum singuli habent sub se Reges,
Duces, Marchiones, et Barones, praestantes atque reddentes Praesbytero
Ioanni promptam obedientiam, et certa tributa. Saepius et communitèr tenet
Sedem Imperator in palatio vrbis Imperialis Suse. Hoc autem Palatium tale
et tantum est, vt per me non credatur debite estimandum. Istud tamen dico
audentèr in summa, quòd grandius, nobilius, preciosius, et placidius est,
in auro, gemmis, structuris, et schemate supra descripto palatio Grand Can
in Caydo.

Et ex speciali sciatis, istius palatij principales portas esse de
Sardonico, vndìque in ebore circumcluso: sed et transuersæ lineæ sunt omnes
Eburneæ, aularum et cubiculorum fenestræ christallinæ. Mensarum quaedam
Smaragdinæ, aliquæ Haematistinæ, caeterorumque lapidum preciosorum per
aurum sibimet coniunctorum. Et nonnullæ in toto aureæ vel gemmunculis
disseminatæ, et vnaquaeque de mensis cum stabilimento proprij generis. De
throni quoque preciositate, quia meæ demonstrationis excellit modum,
solummodo dico, singulos ascensionis gradus esse singulorum lapidum
preciosorum: Primum onychis, secundum christallai, tertium iaspidis,
quartum haematisti, quintum sardij, sextum cornelij. Et septimus qui est
sub sedentis Imperatoris pedibus, ipse est, chrysolitus, omnes circumfusi,
et inclusoria arte formati, auro splendida relucentes. Sed et ambo throni
reclinatoria ex smaragdis auro combinatis, eoque distincto nobilissimis
granis, et gemmis: cuncti pilarij in camera Regis dormitoria consistunt de
auro fuluo, disseminati baccis, et quampluribus carbunculorum rubetis,
totum de nocte habitaculum illustrantibus.

Et nihilominus in ea christallina lampas plena balsamo pistico sed ardens
et lucens, tam pro augendo lumine, quàm pro corrigendo aere, tamen etiam
pro ministrando optimo odore.

Forma lecti Imperatoris compacta est de puris et nobilissimis Saphyris,
conclusi vtique aureis vel eburneis ligaturis, vt virtute lapidum capiat
suauem somnum, motusque carnis inhonesti stimuli, in eo refrenentur.
Nunquam enim iungitur mulieri nisi soli coniugi propriæ, sed nec illi nisi
quatuor quindenis anni videlicet in capite hyemis, veris, æstatis, et
autumni causa sobolis generandæ.

Vtque breuitèr transeam de multa huius palatij nobilitate, mirabile hoc
solummodò praemissis super addo. Quia circa medium illius in summo apice
turris maioris, duo sunt nodi seu pomella de decoctissimi auri metallo miræ
magnitudinis, et serenæ resplendentiæ, et in ipsis formati duo carbunculi
grandes, et lati, sua virtute tenebras effugantes, et velut splendorem
plenilunij nocturno tempore mentientes.


The English Version.

Of the Ryalle estate of Prestre John; and of a riche man, that made a
  marveyllous Castelle, and cleped it Paradys; and of his Sotyltee.

[Sidenote: Chap. XXVII.] This Emperour Prestre John holt fulle gret lond,
and hathe many fulle noble cytees and gode townes in his royalme, and many
grete dyvene yles ond large. For alle the contree of Ynde is devysed in
yles, for the grete flodes, that comen from Paradys, that departen alle the
lond in many parties. And also in the see, he hathe fulle manye yles. And
the beste cytee in the yle of Pentexoire is Nyse, that is a fulle ryalle
cytee and a noble, and fulle riche. This Prestre John hathe undre him many
kynges and many yles and many dyverse folk of dyverse condiciouns. And this
lond is fulle gode and ryche; but not so riche as is the lond of the grete
Chane. For the marchauntes come not thidre so comounly, for to bye
marchandises, as thei don in the lond of the gret Chane: for it is to fer
to travaylle to. And on that other partie, in the yle of Cathay, men fynden
alle maner thing, that is nede to man; clothes of gold, of silk, and
spycerie. And therfore, alle be it that men han grettre chep in the yle of
Prestre John, natheles men dreden the longe wey and the grete periles in
the see, in tho parties. For in many places of the see ben grete roches of
stones of the adamant, that of his propre nature drawethe iren to him. And
therfore there passen no schippes, that han outher bondes or nayles of iren
with in hem: and zif there do, anon the roches of the adamantes drawen hem
to hem, that never thei may go thens. I my self have seen o ferrom in that
see, as thoughe it hadde ben a gret yle fulle of trees and buscaylle, fulle
of thornes and breres, gret plentee. And the schipmen tolde us, that alle
that was of schippes, that weren drawen thidre be the adamauntes, for the
iren that was in hem. And of the rotenesse and other thing that was with in
the schippes, grewen suche buscaylle and thornes and breres and grene
grasse and suche maner of thing; and of the mastes and the seylle zerdes;
it semed a gret wode or a grove. And suche roches ben in many places there
abouten. And therfore dur not the marchauntes passen there, but zif thei
knowen wel the passages, or elle that thei han gode lodes men. And also
thei dreden the longe weye: and therfore thei gon to Cathay; for it is more
nyghe: and zit is not so nyghe, but that men moste ben travayllynge be see
and lond, 11 monethes or 12, from Gene or from Venyse, or he come to
Cathay. And zit is the lond of Prestre John more ferr, be many dredfulle
iourneyes. And the marchauntes passen be the kyngdom of Persie, and gon to
a cytee that is clept Hermes: for Hermes the philosophre founded it. And
aftre that, thei passen an arm of the see, and thanne thei gon to another
cytee that is clept Golbache: and there thei fynden marchandises, and of
popengayes, as gret plentee as men fynden here of gees. And zif thei will
passen ferthere, thei may gon sykerly i now. In that contree is but lytylle
whete or berley: and therfore thei eten ryzs and hony and mylk and chese
and frute.

This Emperour Prestre John takethe alle weys to his wif, the doughtre of
the grete Chane: and the gret Chane also in the same wise, the doughtre of
Prestre John. For theise 2 ben the grettest lordes undir the firmament.

In the lond of Prestre John, ben manye dyverse thinges and many precious
stones, so gret and so large, that men maken of hem vesselle: as plateres,
dissches and cuppes. And many other marveylles ben there; that it were to
cumbrous and to long to putten it in scripture of bokes.


CAPVT 42.

De frequentia palatij et comitatu Imperatoris.

Seruiunt et praestò sunt iugitèr Domino Imperatori septem reges, qui in
capite singulorum mensium, alijs septem regibus pro illis palatium
ingredientibus recedunt ad propria, donec reuoluatur eis tempus statutum.
Hij curam habent de gubernatione administrationum in aula maiori per
subiectos eis 72. duces, et 300. et 63. comites seu barones, quorum
vnusquisque optimè nouit et diligentèr intendit proprio ministerio.

Nam isti sunt Imperatoris Cubicularij, isti Camerarij, isti scindunt Regi
morsellos: alij de apponendis curam gerunt ferculis et deponendis,
deafferendis, deasportandis, alij pincernæ, Archimandritæ, ostiarij, et sic
de singulis.

Nec non absque iam dictis, manducant omni die in aula coràm Imperatore,
duodecim Archiepiscopi, 220. Episcopi, quibus etiam alij totidem certis
temporibus succedunt per vices. Verumtamem ad quotidianas expensas vsque
praemissas, veniunt de Curia 300. millia personarum, sed non ampliùs: sed
sicut praedixi de Curia praecedentis Imperatoris sic nullus hic,
cuiuscunque sit status, aut sexus, comedit vltrà semel in die, et hoc ipsum
sobriè satis: quoniam prout æstimare possum, expensæ duodecim hominum de
nostris communitèr compensarent triginta hominum in partibus illis.

Dum Ioannem Presbyterum contingit procedere cum exercitu in plena
exhibitione, non deferuntur vexilla, sed tredecim cruces magnæ altitudinis
et grossitudinis, de auro distincto pretiosissimis petris, in honorem
Christi et suorum Apostolorum duodecim. Hæ vectantur in singulis curribus,
et singularum ad hoc maximis curribus cum custodia cuiuscunque crucis,
decem mille equitum, et centum mille peditum, nec tamen hic numerus auget
vel minuit principalem exercitum Paganorum.

Tempore pacis per terras proprias de palatio ad palatium, aut de regno ad
regnum, dum tendere ei placet, comitatur vtique magna multitudine hominum
antè et retrò, et ex vtroque laterum.

Tùncque portantur coràm eo tria valdè notabilia, quæ tam illi quàm omnibus
ea dignè notantibus esse possunt salutaria. Praecedit enim eum in spatio
circiter octodecim passuum discus onustus velut omni genere pretiosorum
vasorum auri et argenti, gemmarum, et inæstimabilis artificij. Illumque
discum subsequitur propinquiùs Imperatori ad spatium centum passuum, alia
crux lignea nullo penitùs auro, nulloue colore aut preciositate
artificialis operis adornata.

Dehinc ad sex passuum succedit ibidem propinquans Imperatori discus aureus
terra nigerrima plenus. Sunt enim prædicti comitatus in custodiam et
honorem personæ Imperatoris, discus vassorum in ostensionem diuitiarum, et
maiestatis Imperialis. Crux in recordatione passionis et mortis, quam in
cruce ligni simplice Christus passus est pro nobis. Et terra nigra in
memoriam diræ mortis, qua caro ipsius Imperatoris, quæ terra est, in terram
ibit corruptionis.


The English Version.

But of the princypalle yles and of his estate and of his lawe, I schalle
telle zou som partye. This Emperour Prestre John is Cristene; and a gret
partie of his contree also; but zit thei have not alle the articles of oure
feythe, as wee have. Thei beleven wel in the Fadre, in the Sone and in the
Holy Gost: and thei ben fulle devoute, and righte trewe on to another. And
thei sette not be no barettes, ne by cawteles, ne of no disceytes. And he
hathe undre him 72 provynces; and in every provynce is a kyng. And theise
kynges han kynges undre hem; and alle ben tributaries to Prestre John.


CAPVT. 43.

De quibusdam miris per regiones Indiæ.

Licèt plurima mira habeantur in terra Imperij Presbyteri Ioannis, ne
materia operis nimiùm proteletur, multa tego silentio: et solùm de
quibusdam in principalibus Insulis narro. [Sidenote: Magnum mare arenosum]
Ergò in primis dico vidisse me magnum mare arenosum, quod de solùm minuta
arena sine vlla aqua cum lapillorum granellis currit, et fluit per altas
eleuationes, et depressiones ad similitudinem maris aquæ, nec vnquam
quiescit: et quòd ipse non cesso stupere, inueniuntur pisces ad littus
proiecti, qui cum sint alterius formæ et speciei, quàm de nostro mari,
videntur tamen gustui in edendo delicatiores. [Sidenote: In orientali India
vsque hodie venti anniuersarij arenis ostia fluminum suffocant.] Nullo
tamen humano ingenio videtur hoc mare transuadari, aut nauigari, aut illo
piscari, sed nec propter sui longitudinem, et plura impedimenta de propè
circuiri.

Item ab hoc latere maris per tres dietas habentur magnæ montium alpes,
inter quas venit quasi oriens de Paradiso fluuius decurrentibus petris,
nihil penitùs habens aquæ, in quibus æstimandæ sunt plurimum magnarum esse
virtutum, quamuis de singulis humanæ scientiæ constare non potest.

Hîc petrarum fluuius currit ad intercisum tempus, quasi in tribus septimanæ
diebus, per spatium deserti Indiæ plurium dietarum, velut fluuius, quousque
tandem se perdat in mare arenosum praedictum, atque ex tunc ipsi lapides
penitùs non comparent. Tempore autem sui cursus nullus appropinquare
praesumit, præ strepitu eius et motu: sed tempore quietis aditur sine
periculo vitæ.

In Orientem versus fluuij originem ad ingressum deserti magni inter quosdam
de montibus, cernitur grandis terræ planicies tanquam spatiosi campi
totalitèr arenosi, in quo videntur ad Solis ortum exurgere de arena, et
secundùm eleuationem Solis excrescere quaedam virgulta, atque in feruore
meridiei producere fructum. Ac de illo in Solis decliuo fructus cum
arbustulis paulatim minui, et in occasu penitùs deperire, vnde et nullus
hominum audet illorum vti fructibus, ne sit quid fantasticum et nociuum.

In huius deserti interioribus, vidi homines in toto syluestres, qui etsi in
superioribus formam praetendere videantur humanam, descendunt in
subterioribus ad formam bestiæ alicuius.

Horum quidam frontes gerunt cornibus asperatas, grinientes vt feræ vel
apri: alij nonnulla vti videntur loquela, quam nemo rationalium nonit, et
quibusdam signis concepta depromunt. Et est illic pluralitas syluestrium
canum, qui dicuntur papiones, quibus postquam edomiti, et ad venandum
instructi fuerint, valent capi multæ bestiæ per desertum. [Sidenote:
Papagalli.] Est et copiositas papingonum auium viridium in colore quas
appellant phicake, et quarum diuersa sunt genera, nobiliores habent latas
in rostro linguas, et in vtroque pede digitos duos. Et quaedam ex istis
naturaliter loquuntur verba aut prouerbia, seu salutationes, in patriæ
idiomate, vt euidenter salutes, concedant, et reddant viatoribus, et
nonnunquam debitum iter errantibus per desertum ostendant. Minus autem
nobiles non loquuntur ex natura, sed si latas habent linguas, et non sunt
vltrà duorum annorum ætatis, possunt per assiduitatem instrui ad loquelam.

Aliæ nec loquuntur, nec eradiuntur, sed solùm clamitant pro voce milui, et
nisi tres digitos habent in pede.

Nota: in quarta orientali Deus dedit fratribus minoribus magnam gratiam,
vnde in magna Tartaria ita expellunt ab obsessis daemones, sicut de domo
canes: vnde quandoque per decem dietas ad eos adducuntur daemoniaci
alligati, et statim fratribus praecipientibus in nomine Iesu Christi,
exeunt, et liberati baptizantur, et comburunt idola, et plures credunt, et
quandoque exeunt idola de igne, et fratres proijciunt aquam benedictam, et
clamat daemon, Vide, de meo habitaculo expellor propter fratres minores.
Ita multi credunt, et baptizantur. Odericus.

[Sidenote Melescorde Regio. Vel regionis.] Item nota: dum recederem de
terra Praesbyteri Ioannis versos occidentem, applicui ad contratam vnam,
quæ dicitur Melescorde, quæ pulchra est, et multùm fertilis: inter montes
duos huius contratæ fecerat quidam murum circundantem montem, et in eo
fontes nobilissimos, et omne detectabile. Et hunc locum dicebant paradisum,
sicut hic ferè continetur. Ideò Odericus, qui posteà narrat de valle
infausta in hoc se terminat.

[Sidenote: Mischorach.] Ad supradictum Indiæ regnum Pentexoriæ satis propè,
et lata est et longa Insula, Mischorach, bonis copiosè referta, de qua vnum
scribo praeteritum mirum.

Ante paucos hos annos, villanus ditissimus, sibi valdè preciosum
construxerat palatium, quasi pro Paradiso terrestri, circundatum, munitum
fortalitijs, ac repletum omnibus corporalibus delicijs.

Illic areæ, turres, cameræ, cubicula, cum alijs ædificijs, in multo numero,
et gloria permagnifica, ac historiarum picturis, inter quas, nonnunquam
prodigioso artificio bestiæ et bestiolæ, aues et auiculæ discurrebant,
volitibant, et per pugnas, garritus, collusiones, mentiebantur viuere.

[Sidenote: Ditissimi villani paradisus fictitius.] Illic prata, et pometa,
et seruatoria circà deliciosi collis congestum, distincta velut omni genere
florum, arborum, et herbarum, cum multis fontibus et riuulis, quorum
perspicuitas, et fluxus in glaris suauem et auditui praestabant
refectionem, et super aliquos fuerunt exceptioris artificij, circumstructi
auro, et argento, et gemmis, et tres principales fontes emittentes ad
palatium Domini per occultas conductas, riuulos vini, lactis, et mellis.

Copiosus quoque numerus formosorum puerorum, et puellarum, ætatis inter
decem et sex decem annos, indutorum torquibus, et cycladibus exauratis,
exercentium inter iocos cantus et spectacula, ac seruientium suo Domino
prope nutum. Audiebantur ex turrium custodibus, nec non videbantur
dulcisonæ, symphoniæ, generum diuersorum, vt certissimè putares, non
hominum, sed Angelorum: et in istis, ac similibus, deliciebatur iste
villanus.

Sed et aurum liuido nil iuuat, imò nocet: quia enim hic inuidiæ et otij
facibus super ingenuitatem mentis omnium generaliter nobilium principum
verebatur in corde: (ingenuitas enim, et rusticitas nunquam cohabitant in
cordis vno domicilio) Composuerat ista sibi in hunc finem, vt per se
singulos aduocaret aliquos vasallos corpore robustos, menteque audaces,
atque ad omnem proteruiam benè procliues: et cuilibet pro placitis
muneribus commisit vt illum seu illum principem seu Baronem, quem dicebat
sibi aduersarium, clàm per insidias vel impetum, occideret, promittens
quenquam post factum ad se recepturum perpetuò in hunc locum: sed et velut
vaticinans pseudo praedicauit, si quem illorum pro his flagitijs contigeret
corporaliter tradi morti, nihilominùs animam eius in hunc amoenum Paridisum
recipi, et viuere in æeternum.

[Sidenote: Mandeuillus oculatus testis.] Per hunc igitur modum nonnulis
nobilibus occisis, et interfectis, tandem nudabatur eius nequitia tanta, et
congregati regionis Barones miserum occiderunt, eius opera destruentes.
Ipse ego inibi ductus vidi fontium loca, et multa rei vestigia.


CAPVT. 44.

De loco et dispositione vallis infaustæ.

Huius ad insulæ extremitates non procul à fluuio Pyson, habetur locus
mirabilis pariter et terribilis, vltrà omne mundanum, penè et procul: de
euentibus, ac laboribus infinitis, quæ mihi meísque in tempore
itinerationis acciderunt hucusque subticui, cùm iam vnum de maioribus ecce
narro.

Est illic in alpibus vallis infausta, quatuor fermè leucarum: longitudo
vallis, quasi ad quatuor milliaria Lombardica, appellata vallis
incantationis, seu periculosa, seu propiùs daemoniosa: intrà quam diebus ac
noctibus resonant boatus et tumultus tonitruorum, tempestatum, clamorum, et
stridorum, diuersique generis sonituum terribilium, quos illic exercet
multitudo spirituum malignorum.

Propè ad vallis medium sub vna rupium, apparet omni tempore visibiliter
integrum ac maximum caput daemonis vsque ad humeros tantùm, cuius speciem
præ horrore nullus pleno intuitu humanus audet diu oculus sustinere: nam
respicientes contrà aspicit truculentèr, agitans oculos minacitèr, tanquam
ex palpebris eiecturus (quæ et scintillant) flammas in altum. Totumque
caput sese rotat ad minas, et variat terribilitèr modum et continentiam sub
repentè diuersis maneriebus. Exitque de illo per totum ignis obscuratus
fumo, et foetor, tantus, quòd per magnum spatium viæ pessimam vallem
infectat.

Ingredi autem volentibus, apparet semper ad introitum vallis, magna copia
auri, argenti, vasorum, vestium, et rerum pretiosarum, quas proculdubio ibi
daemones confingunt, quibus et ab olim multi insipientium hominum
concupiscentia tracti intrarunt, et vsque nunc intrant pro colligendo
thesauro: sed de Infidelibus paucissimi reuertuntur, imò nec de
Christianis, qui auaritiæ causa ingrediuntur: per vallis autem semitam, quæ
inter montes et monticulos, tortuosa et aspera est, gradientes vident, et
audiunt, daemoniacos spiritus multos volutantes, et imaginibus corporum
visibilium, serpentum, volucrum, vlularum, lamiarum, et huiusmodi specierum
horribilium dentibus minitantes, vngulas erigentes, incognitos sibilos
spirantes propè super capita ad aures transgredientium. Sempérque minuitur
lumen aeris, donec ventum fuerit ad terribilissimum locum capitis
antedicti.

Si quis autem sinceræ fidei Christianus per contritionem veram et
confessionem, se posuerit in statu saluationis, munitus corporis Christi
mysterijs, ac signo crucis, cum intentione ibidem agendi poenitentiam de
admissis, et cauendi de admittendis, putatur posse hanc transire vallem
securus quidem à morte, non tamen liber à laboribus, horroribus, et
tormentis, et exire, de omnibus culpis praeteritis corruptis, ac de futuris
magis solito cautus, sicut scriptum est, territi purgabuntur.

Nota aliud mirabile magnum. Vidi cùm irem per vnam vallem positam iuxta
flumen quod egreditur de paradiso, vidi in ea multa corpora mortuorum, in
qua etiam audiui multa genera Musicorum, qui ibi mirabilitèr pulsabant:
tantus erat ibi tinnitus Musicorum, quòd incussit mihi timorem horribilem.

Est autem longitudo illius vallis quasi ad quatuor milliaria Lombardica, in
qua si vnus Infidelis intrat, nunquam egreditur, sed sine mora moritur: Et
licet sciui, quòd intrantes moriuntur, tamen acceptaui intrare, vt viderem
quid ibi esset. Dum intrassem tot humana cadauera ibi vidi, quod nisi quis
videret, credere non posset.

In hac valle, ab vno eius latere, vidi faciem hominis valdè horribilem, qui
tantum horrorem mihi incussit, quòd putaui me spiritum exhalare, propter
quod saepè repetij verbum vitæ, scilicet, verbum Caro factum est.

Ad illam faciem non audebam accedere, nisi ad distantiam octo passuum:
posteà iui ad caput vallis, et ascendi super montem arenosum, in quo
vndique circumspiciens, nihil videbam, nisi instrumenta musicalia, quæ
audiebam fortitèr pulsare. Cùm fuissem in capite montis, reperi multum
argentum congregatum ibi in similitudinem squamarum piscium, vnde posui in
gremio, sed quod de ipso non curabam, dimisi illud, et sic illaesus
transiui Deo concedente.

Sarraceni cùm hoc scirent, reuerebantur me esse baptizatum, et sanctum:
mortuos nunc in valle dicebant, homines infernales.

Odericus ad literam hic terminat suum librum: non fuit tot perpessus in
valle, sicut ego. Anno Domini 1331. Ianuarij nono, migrauit ad Christum, in
conuentu Minorum: cuius vitam statim in fine, et vsque nunc claris
miraculis diuina prouidentia approbat, et commendat, prout continebatur in
quaterno, à quo concordantias hic superseminaui.


CAPVT. 45.

De periculo et tormentis in valle eadem.

Itaque dico vobis, cùm sodalibus, qui simul eramus, quatuordecim diuersarum
nationum ante ingressum huius tanti periculi peruenissemus, nos tractatu
longo, et deliberatione acuta consiliabamur, vtrùmnam ingredi deberemus, et
quidam affirmabant, alii verò negabant. Erant autem in numero duo deuoti
fratres, de religione beati Francisci, natione Lombardi, qui videbantur pro
seipsis non multum curare ingressum, nisi quia noluerunt nos animare ad
ingressum, dicentes, si qui nostrum per confessionem, et Eucharistiæ
susceptionem se ibidem praemunirent, ingrederentur cum illis: quo, ab
omnibus mediante debita prouisione, quam ipsi fratres penes se gerebant
peracto, parauimus mentes nostras cum pedibus ad intrandum.

Sed ecce quinque de nobis, duo Graeci et tres Hispani, semetipsos ab alijs
segregantes, visi sunt alium requirere introitum nos praecedere cupientes,
et certè nos illos exinde non vidimus, et quid eis acciderit an periculum
subierint, velne ignoramus.

Nos autem nouem per vallem processimus in silentio, et cum cordis ea
deuotione, quam quisque sibi potuerit obtinere: et ecce in breui transacto
spatio apparuerunt cumuli massarum auri et argenti, et preciosorum copia
vasorum. Sed dico vobis pro parte mea, quia nihil horum tetigi, reputans id
fallaciam daemonum confinxisse ad mittendum concupiscentiam in cor nostram,
imò sine intermissione conabar cor meum custodire ad deuotionem inceptam.

Procedentibus igitur nobis lux coeli minuebator paulatim et augebatur
horror, quoniam propè nos vndique etiam sub pedibus nostris apparebant
iacere cadauera mortuorum hominum penitùs defuncta: alia adhuc spirantia,
et nonulla semiuiua, super quæ dum nos aliquando calcare contingeret,
conquerebantur, ac dolorosè submurmurabant.

Et licèt non certum id habebam, æstimaui hoc fieri in parte vel in toto
fictione daemonum, reputans in breui tempore tantam multitudinem hominum
spontaneè vallem intrasse, et si à longo tempore in ea perijssent
putrefactos fuisse.

Ergò in initio nostri processus quasi propè leucam inuenitur iter sub
pedibus satis promptum, sed lumine tanquam ad medium nobis sufficiente, via
torquebatur nimis, et asperabatur: et ecce figuræ daemonum, circum et suprà
in aere se ferentium, ad imagines horribilium luporum, leonum, laruarum,
megerarum, iuxtà cuiuscunque genus vlulantium, rugentium, stridentium,
gannientium, hiantes ore, intentantes dentibus, rostris, ac vnguibus, nos
terrere, mordere, discerpere, deglutire.

Quapropter pro breui interdum soluto silentio nos inuicèm hortabamur, ne
quis pro pusillanimitate terrori cederet, et tanto deficeret in agone. Hoc
igitur modo per secundam leucam expirante nobis vsque ad tenebras lumine,
quousque quis vix vmbram proximi agnoscere possit, praeter praedicta in
aere tormenta, incurrebant nobis ad tibias, et pedes pluralitas quasi
porcorum, vrsorum, et caprarum grinnientium, et impellentium nos ad lapsum,
quod vel ad tertium, vel quartum, aut sextum passum solatenus cadebamus in
palmas, seu genua, vel prosternebamur in faciem, aut supini.

Ac superuenere praeter hoc ventorum turbines, fulgurum coruscationes,
tonitruorum boatus, drandium casus et exundatio pluuiarum, quantas et
quales nunquam accepimus in hoc mundo, quibus iactabamur, ruebamus,
quassabamur, et periclitati fuimus extrà narrandum.

Interdum quoque sensimus tanquam graues baculorum ictus, per humeros,
dorsa, latera, et ad renes, alij quidem grauiores, alij vt puta secundum
demeritum vniuscuiusque. Et certè dum per tanta tormenta, quasi exhaustis
totis viribus, iam propè medium locum vallis erat ventum, accidit repentè,
sub vnico instanti temporis, quibusdam nostrum expalmatio ita dura, vt
omnes paritèr collisi, et prostrati iaceremus in extasi per vnam vul duas
forsitan horas.

Et isto defectu vidit quilibet suo modo spiritualem visionem
supermirabilem, et excedentem omne dictum, et scriptum.

Ego verò de visione mea nihil ausus sum scribere, vel loqui, quia et
fratres singuli inhibuerunt, nisi de his, quæ corporalitèr intuebamur, et
passi sumus.

Grauissimum singuli sustinuimus ictum per corporis loca diuersa, vnus in
facie, alius in pectore, ad costas, in dorso, vel ad humerum, et mansit
cuique signum percussuræ nigerrimum, ad formam virilis manus humanæ:

[Sidenote: Mirabilis ictus.] Ictum autem meum in colli ceruice tali ac
tanta passione, vt putabam caput abscissum de corpore auolare: et hinc ad
octodecimum annum mansit mihi in prima magnitudine signum: sed et vsque
nunc variato colore locus ille demonstrat penissimè cicatricem, donec cum
cadauere tota mutabitur in sepulchro: porrò vbi nos ab extasi in his
tenebris separauimus singuli per diuinam gratiam respirando, loquendo,
palpando, erigendo nos ipsos mutua humanitate, vt potuimus, recollegimus,
et cohortabamur, cùm subitò nobis apparuit sub tenebroso lumine, vel potiùs
fumosa caligine, locus ille spatiosus mediæ vallis, continens antedictum
horribile caput daemonis, plenus foetore inaestimabili, et iugi occupatus
exercitatione innumerorum spirituum malignorum.

Hunc ergo locum ineptum cùm vitare vellemus in toto nequiuimus extremitatem
eius, quocunque girantes, nullus nostrorum perfecto aspectu audebat
respicere quæ gerebantur ibidem, quia inuadens tremor statuebat
horripilationem extrahebat, sudorem, et pudorem omnes extinguere
videbantur. Nec tamen potuit esse consilium de reuertendo, ne propter
immutatum propositum confestim à daemonibus strangularemur.

Transiuimus, Dei gratia nobis opitulante, sed non sine maximo horroris,
foetorisque tormento: rursumque ex tunc procedentes nos apprehendebat
tenebrosa, validaque tempestas, ventorum, coruscationum, tonitruum,
grandinum, et pluuiarum, cuius, quassatione collabebamur in facies, et in
dorso dextrorsum, et sinistrorsum, interuoluente ad tibias, sicut priùs
multitudine grinnientium bestiarum, nec dubito scribere quoque ampliùs,
quàm 500. vicibus per hanc vallem quisque nostrum sternebatur ad terram.

Post verò exactam tertiam leucam, coepit nobis augeri lux aeris, ex quo
animosiores effecti, in vno tranquilliori loco nos parùm pausantes, gratias
Deo palmis extensis in caelum, reddidimus immensas, et praecipuè quod
nullus deesset de nouenario numero sociorum.

Nihilominùs tamen spiritus in aere nobis minari non cessabant, pretendentes
in derisionem sua pudenda simul, et foeda virilia et posteriora.

Pro certo ergò habeatis de his quæ vidi, et sensi, nullam possum vobis
tradere æquipollentiam verborum, cùm quia grauissima erant, tum quia,
singulis ne mihi deuotionem minueret non attendebam, tum etiam, quod præ
horrore, labore, et dolore multa memoriæ non commendabam.

Per quartam autem leucam (ductrice gratia) leuiùs transeuntes, sustinuimus
tamen sub pedibus hominum cadauera mortuorum, propè vallis exitum rerum
tentamina preciosarum.

Nunc itaque obsecro magno cordis effectu, haec legentes et audientes ego,
qui in illa hora quid erga me agebat misericordissimi Dei pietas ignorabam,
vt velitis pro me, simul et mecum ex mentis intimo collaudare ipsum
Dominum, qui tunc de potestate tenebrarum illarum eripuit me indignum, et
prout confido, à delictis iuuentutis me purgauit, quatenùs de posteà
commissis, et committendis, mihi propitiùs fore dignetur, cùm iam senior
sim effectus. Quoniam etsi ex tunc proposui mores corrigere, ex nunc statuo
in melius emendare, per filium eius Iesum Christum Dominum nostrum.

Ad hoc, addo breuitèr, quòd non auderem hortari quenquam, me consulentem,
vt spontaneè ingrederetur hanc vallem infaustam, quamuis ego curiosus
intraui. Venientes posthac ad proximas habitationes, necesse fuit nobis
intendere ad recreandum corpora cibarijs, et balneis, et ad medendum
vulneribus, et quassaturis, donec per aliquod tempus vnusquisque acciperet
deliberationem super suo futuro.

CAPVT. 46.

De quibusdam alijs admirandis per Indorum insulas.

[Sidenote: Gigantes Anthropophagi.] Vt modò procedam in tractatu. Sciatis
ad paucas inde dietas grandem insulam haberi gigantum, ad straturam
altitudinis viginti quinque pedum nostrorum, de quibus ipse vidi nonnullos,
sed extrà terram eorum, et audiuimus esse intrinsecùs quosdam triginta
pedum, et vltrà: hi operiuntur non vestibus, sed bestiarum pellibus
vtcunque sibi appensis, comedentes animalium carnes crudas, et lac pro potu
sorbentes, atque appetentes super omnem esum carnes humanas.

Istorum non curaui intrare insulam: nam et audiui quòd ad maris littus
solent insidiari nauigantibus, nauesque submergere, nisi interdum
redimantur tribus aut quatuor per sortem hominibus sibi datis.

[Sidenote: Letiferi aspectus mulierum.] Versus Austrum hinc in mari Oceano,
habetur inter alias insulas vna, vbi crudelibus quibusdam mulieribus
nascitur in oculis lapis rarus, et malus, quæ si per iram respexerint
hominem, more Basilisci interficiunt solo visu.

Et vltrà hanc insulam alia maior et populosior, vbi cùm multi sint vsus
nobis insueti, vnum describo.

[Sidenote: Insula vbi virgines vitiantur antequam nubant.] Dum
desponsauerit vir puellam, virginem, mandat hominem incompositum, velut
ribaldum, qui sua idonea claue per expertos super hoc diligentèr
considerata, si reputatur idonea reseret et vestiget sub nocte vnica
virginalem conclauem, pro mercede sibi tradita competenti. Et si postera
nocte accedens sponsus ita non inuenerit, poterit, et consueuit hominem
impetere ad mortis iudicium indeclinabile. Cumque huius moris discere
voluissem causam, accepi responsum, pro certis temporibus apud eos,
virgines habuisse in matricibus paruos serpentes, quibus nocebantur primi
ad illas intrantes.

Ideoque et viri, que pro mercede tantum subeunt periculum, vocant sua
loquela cadibrum, est, stultos desperatos.

Ex hac, apparet Insula in qua inter alios vsus, peruersæ sunt matres contra
naturam et scripturam, cum pepererent contristantur, et dum proles moritur
iocundantur, iactantes in magno igne cum conuiuio et exultatione, dumque
maritus ante vxorem decidit, patebit vxoris plena dilectio, si cum corpore
mariti, quod rogo traditur se iactat cremandum, vt quia in isto seculo
steterunt amoris vinculo colligati, non sint alio separati.

Nec tamen intelligunt illud seculum, nisi quod sibi confingunt terrestrem
Paradisum. Purum aut minorem annis, trahet mater secum si placet, sed
ætatis puer perfectæ, eliget pro proprio placito viuere superstes, aut mori
iuxta parentes.

Hic etiam non succedunt Reges per generationem sed per electionem, vt
assumatur non nobilior, aut fortior, sed morigeratior, et iustior, 50 ad
minus annorum, nullam habens sobolem aut vxorem, seruaturque illic iusticiæ
rigor in plena censura, in omnibus et contra omnes, etiamsi forefecerit
ipse Rex, qui nec eximitur a traditis legibus pro concupiscentia vel
contemptione quarumlibet personarum.

Veruntamen Rex si peccauerit non occiditur ob reuerentiam, sed quòd sub
poena mortis, publicè inhibetur, ne quispiam in Regione ei verbo vel vllo
facto communicet, et quoniam sui loco alter rex constituitur, necesse est
illi breui vita degere vel perpetuò exulare. Constat post ipsam, et alia
Insula, multis bonis locuples, et hominibus populosa, de qua recolo
scribendum, quod nulla occasione comedunt tria genera carnium, gallinarum,
leporam, et aucarum, quas etsi nutriant in copijs, vtuntur duntaxat
pellibus aut plumis.

Caeterarum vero bestiarum et animalium licitè vescuntur carnibus pro victu,
et lacte pro potu. Ibi quisque vir licitè potest coniungi cuique mulieri;
quantumcunque propinquet, exceptis progenitoribus, patre matre. Nam
cohabitatio, et commixtio omnium virorum ad singulas mulieres apparet ibi
communis, vnde mater natum paruulum suum, adicit pro sui placito cuicunque
viro, qui circa generationis tempus secumn dormierit, nec valet vllus
virorum esse certus de proprio generato, quem modum exlegem arbitror et
turpem.

Sicut ergò praefatus sum, multa mira videntur per Regiones Indorum, mira
quidem nobis, sed illis assueta, quibus si nostra recitarentur assueta,
audirent pro miris. Nam et dum quibusdam dixi aucas viuas apud nos nasci in
arboribus, admirati sunt satis. In multis locis seminatur singulis annis
sementum de Cothon, quod nos dicimus lanam arboream, exurgunt ei modica
arbusta, vel potius arbustula de quibus talis lana habetur: est arbor
luniperus, de cuius ligno desiccato, si carbones viuos sub proprijs
cineribus tenueris diligenter opertos, igniti seruabuntur ad annum.

Est et genus Nucum incredibilis magnitudinis ad quantitatem magni capitis:
et bestia vocata, oraflans, vel serfans, corpore in nostrorum aldtudine
caballorum, et collo in 20 longitudine cubitorum ad prospiciendum vltra
domos et muros, quorum posteriora apparent vt hinniculi siue lerni.

Genus est etiam Camelionum ad formam hynnulorum, qui semper patulo tendunt
ore, vel nil manducantes. Viuunt de aere, quæ etiam ad suum libitum
videntur sibi variare colorem, exceptis (vt dicitur) albo vel rubeo.

Maximi quóque serpentes, inuicem qualitate, et genere differentes
atque colore.

Aliqui cristam in capite gerunt, quidam more hominum ad duos pedes erecti
incedunt, et nonnulli qui dicuntur Reguli, venenum per ora distillare non
cessant, nec non quam plures cocodrilli, de quibus aliquid in
praecedentibus retuli; [Sidenote: Apri ingentes. Leones albi. Louheraus.]
et apri in nostrorum magnitudine boum, spinosi ericij, in quantitate
porcorum, leones albi in altitudine dextrariorum. Louheraus, seu Edouches
per Indiam habentur, quod ferarum genus satis est maius nostris communibus
equis, geren in fronte tetri capitis tria longa cornua, ad formam pugionis,
ex vtraque parte scindentia, vt eis nonnunquam interficiant Elephantes.

Aliæ quoque bestiæ crudeles vt vrsi cum capitibus ferè aprorum et habentes
pedes senos, qui finduntur latis vngulis bis acutis, et cum caudis leonum
siue pardorum.

Et quod vix credetur, mures pro quantitate, 10, aut 12. nostrorum et
vespertiliones ad modum coruorum.

Sed et aucæ in triplo maiores nostris, plumis indutæ rubris, nisi quod in
pectore et collo apparet nigredo.

Et breuiter tam ibi quàm alibi, habentur pisces, bestiæ, volucres, aut
vermes diuersorum generum, aut specierum, de quibus hoc loco, vel inutilis,
vel prolixa posset fieri narratio, quod nec illis qui nunquam propria
exierunt, credibilis videretur.


The English Version.

And he hathe in his lordschipes many grete marveyles. For in his contree,
is the see that men clepen the Gravely See, that is alle gravelle and sond,
with outen ony drope of watre: and it ebbethe and flowethe in grete wawes,
as other sees don: and it is never stille ne in pes, in no maner cesoun.
And no man may passe that see be navye, be no maner of craft: and therfore
may no man knowe, what lond is bezond that see. And alle be it that it have
no watre, zit men fynden there in and on the bankes, fulle gode fissche of
other maner of kynde and schappe, thanne men fynden in ony other see; and
thei ben of right goode tast, and delycious to mannes mete.

And a 3 iourneys long fro that see, ben gret mountaynes; out of the whiche
gothe out a gret flood, that comethe out of paradys: and it is fulle of
precious stones, with outen ony drope of water: and it rennethe thorghe the
desert, on that o syde; so that it makethe the see gravely: and it berethe
in to that see, and there it endethe. And that flomme rennethe also, 3
dayes in the woke, and bryngethe with him grete stones, and the roches also
therewith, and that gret plentee. And anon as thei ben entred in to the
gravely see, thei ben seyn no more; but lost for evere more. And in tho 3
dayes, that that ryvere rennethe, no man dar entren in to it: but in the
other dayes, men dar entren wel y now. Also bezonde that flomme, more
upward to the desertes, is a gret pleyn alle gravelly betwene the
mountaynes: and in that playn, every day at the sonne risynge, begynnen to
growe smale trees; and thei growen til mydday, berynge frute: but no man
dar taken of that frute; for it is a thing of fayrye. And aftre mydday,
thei discrecen and entren azen in to the Erthe, so that at the goynge doun
of the Sonne, thei apperen no more; and so thei don every day; and that is
a gret marvaille.

In that desert ben many wylde men, that ben hidouse to loken on: for thei
ben horned; and thei speken nought, but thei gronten, as pygges. And there
is also gret plentee of wylde Houndes. And there ben manye popegayes, that
thei clepen psitakes in hire langage: and thei speken of hire propre
nature, and salven men that gon thorghe the desertes, and speken to hem als
appertely, as thoughe it were a man. And thei that speken wel, han a large
tonge, and han 5 toos upon a Fote. And there ben also of other manere, that
han but 3 toos upon a fote; and thei speken not, or but litille: for thei
cone not but cryen.

This Emperour Prestre John, whan he gothe in to battaylle, azenst ony other
Lord, he hathe no baneres born before him: but he hathe 3 crosses of gold,
fyn, grete and hye, fulle of precious stones: and every of the crosses ben
sett in a chariot, fulle richely arrayed. And for to kepen every cros, ben
ordeyned 10000 men at Armes, and mo than 100000 men on Fote, in maner as
men wolde kepe a Stondard in oure Contrees, whan that wee ben in lond of
werre. And this nombre of folk is with outen the pryncipalle Hoost, and
with outen Wenges ordeynd for the bataylle. And he hathe no werre, but
ridethe with a pryvy meynee, thanne he hathe bore before him but o cross of
tree, with outen peynte peynture, and with outen gold or silver or precious
stones; in remembrance, that Jesus suffred dethe upon a cros of tree. And
he hathe born before him also a plater of gold fulle of erthe, in tokene
that his noblesse and his myghte and his flessche schalle turnen to erthe.
And he hathe born before him also a vesselle of silver, fulle of noble
jewelles of gold fulle riche, and of precious stones, in tokene of his
lordschipe and of his noblesse and of his myght. He duellethe comounly in
the cytee of Suse; and there is his principalle palays, that is so riche
and so noble, that no man wil trowe it by estymacioun, but he had seen it.
And aboven the chief tour of the palays, ben 2 rounde pomeles of gold; and
in everyche of hem ben 2 carboncles grete and large, that schynen fulle
brighte upon the nyght. And the principalle zates of his palays ben of
precious ston, that men clepen sardoyne: and the bordure and the barres ben
of ivorye: and the wyndowes of the halles and chambres ben of cristalle:
and the tables where on men eten, somme ben of emeraudes, summe of amatyst
and summe of gold, fulle of precious stones; and the pileres, that beren up
the tables, ben of the same precious stones. And the degrees to gon up to
his throne, where he sittethe at the mete, on is of oniche, another is of
cristalle, and another of jaspre grene, another of amatyst, another of
sardyne, another of corneline, and the sevene that he settethe on his feet,
is of crisolyte. And alle theise degrees ben bordured with fyn gold, with
the tother precious stones, sett with grete perles oryent. And the sydes of
the sege of his throne ben of emeraudes, and bordured with gold fulle
nobely, and dubbed with other precious stones and grete perles. And alle
the pileres in his chambre, ben of fyne gold with precious stones, and with
many carboncles, that zeven gret lyght upon the nyght to alle peple. And
alle be it that the charboncle zeve lyght right y now, natheles at alle
tymes brennethe a vesselle of cristalle fulle of bawme, for to zeven gode
smelle, and odour to the emperour, and to voyden awey alle wykkede eyres
and corrupciouns. And the forme of his bedd is of fyne saphires bended with
gold, for to make him slepen wel, and to refreynen him from lecherye. For
he wille not lyze with his wyfes, but 4 sithes in the zeer, aftre the four
cesouns: and that is only for to engendre children. He hathe also a fulle
fayr palays and a noble, at the cytee of Nyse, where that he dwellethe,
whan him best lykethe; but the ayr is not so attempree, as it is at the
cytee of Suse. And zee schulle undirstonde, that in alle his contree, ne in
the contrees there alle aboute, men eten noghte but ones in the day, as men
don in the court of the grete Chane. And so thei eten every day in his
court, mo than 30000 persones, with outen goeres and comeres. But the 30000
persones of his contree, ne of the contree of the grete Chane, ne spenden
noghte so moche gode, as don 12000 of oure contree. This Emperour Prestre
John hathe evere more 7 kynges with him, to serve him: and thei departen
hire service be certeyn monethes. And with theise kynges serven alle weys
72 dukes and 360 erles. And alle the dayes of the zeer, there eten in his
houshold and in his court, 12 erchebysshoppes and 20 bisshoppes. And the
patriark of Seynt Thomas is there, as is the Pope here. And the
erchebisshoppes and the bisshoppes and the abboties in that contree, ben
alle kynges. And everyche of theise grete lordes knowen wel y now the
attendance of hire servyse. This on is mayster of his houshold, another is
his chamberleyn, another servethe him of a dissche, another of the cuppe,
another is styward, another is mareschalle, another is prynce of his armes:
and thus is he fulle nobely and ryally served. And his lond durethe in
verry brede 4 moneths iorneyes, and in lengthe out of measure; that is to
seyn, alle the yles undir erthe, that wee supposen to ben undir us.

Besyde the yle of Pentexoire, that is the lond of Prestre John, is a gret
yle long and brode, that men clepen Milsterak; and it is in the lordschipe
of Prestre John. In that yle is gret plentee of godes. There was dwellynge
somtyme a ryche man, and it is not longe sithen, and men clept him
Gatholonabes; and he was fulle of cauteles and of sotylle disceytes; and he
hadde a fulle fair castelle, and a strong, in a mountayne, so strong and so
noble, that no man cowde devise a fairere ne a strangere. And he had let
muren alle the mountayne aboute with a strong walle and a fair. And with
inne tho walles he had the fairest gardyn, that ony man myghte beholde; and
therein were trees berynge alle maner of frutes, that ony man cowde devyse;
and there in were also alle maner vertuous herbes of gode smelle, and alle
other herbes also, that beren faire floures. And he had also in that
gardyn, many faire welles; and beside tho welles, he had lete make faire
halles and faire chambres, depeynted alle with gold and azure. And there
weren in that place many a dyverse thinges and many dyverse stories: and of
bestes and of bryddes, that songen fulle delectabely; and meveden be craft,
that it semede that thei weren quyke. And he had also in his gardyn alle
maner of foules and of bestes that ony man myghte thenke on, for to have
pley or desport to beholde hem. And he had also in that place, the faireste
zonge Damyseles, that myghte ben founde undir the age of 15 zere, and the
faireste zonge striplynges, that men myghte gete of that same age: and alle
thei weren clothed in clothes of gold fully richely: and he seyde, that tho
weren aungeles. And he had also let make 3 welles, faire and noble, and
alle envyround with ston of jaspre, of cristalle, pyapred with gold, and
sett with precious stones and grete orient perles. And he had made a
conduyt undir erthe, so that the 3 weles, at his list, on scholde renne
milk, another wyn, and another hony. And that place he clept paradys. And
whan that ony gode knyghte, that was hardy and noble, cam to see this
rialtee, he wolde lede him into his paradys, and schewen him theise
wondirfulle thinges, to his desport, and the marveyllous and delicious song
of dyverse briddes, and the faire damyseles, and the faire welles of mylk,
wyn and hony, plentevous rennynge. And he wolde let make dyyerse
Instrumentes of Musick to sownen in an highe Tour, so merily that it was
joye for to here; and no man scholde see the craft thereof: and tho, he
seyde, weren aungeles of God, and that place was paradys, that God had
behighte to his frendes, seyenge, _Dabo vobis terram fluentem lacte et
mel_. And thanne wolde he maken hem to drynken of certeyn drynk, where of
anon thei scholden be dronken. And thanne wolde hem thinken gretter delyt,
than thei hadden before. And than wolde he seye to hem, that zif thei wolde
dyen for him and for his love, that aftir hire dethe, thei scholde come to
his paradys; and thei scholde ben of the age of the damyseles, and thei
scholde pleyen with hem, and zit ben maydenes. And aftir thai, zit scholde
he putten hem in a fayrere paradys, where that thei schold see God of
Nature visibely, in His majestee and in His blisse. And than wolde He
schewe hem His entent, and seye hem, that zif thei wolde go sle suche a
Lord, or suche a man, that was his enemye, or contrarious to his list, that
thei scholde not dred to done it, and for to be slayn therefore hemself:
for aftir hire dethe, he wold putten hem into another paradys, that was an
100 fold fairer than ony of the tothere; and there schode thei dwellen with
the most fairest damyselles that myghte be, and play with hem ever more.
And thus wenten many dyverse lusty bacheleres for to sle grete lords, in
dyverse countrees, that weren his enemyes, and maden hem self to ben slayn,
in hope to have that paradys. And thus often tyme, he was revenged of his
enemyes, be his sotylle disceytes and false cauteles. And whan the worthi
men of the contree hadden perceyved this sotylle falshod of this
Gatholonabes, thei assembled hem with force, and assayleden his castelle,
and slowen him, and destroyden alle the faire places, and alle the
nobletees of that paradys. The place of the welles and of the walles and of
many other thinges, ben zit apertly sene: but the richesse is voyded clene.
And it is not longe gon, sithe that place was destroyed.


Of the Develes Hede in the Valeye perilous; and of the Customs of folk in
  dyverse Yles, that ben abouten, in the Lordschipe of Prestre John.

[Sidenote: Chap. XXVIII.] Besyde that Yle of Mistorak, upon the left syde,
nyghe to the ryvere of Phison, is a marveylous thing. There is a vale
betwene the mountaynes, that durethe nyghe a 4 myle: and summen clepen it
the Vale Enchaunted; some clepen it the Vale of Develes, and some clepen it
the Vale Perilous. In that vale, heren men often tyme grete tempestes and
thondres and grete murmures and noyses, alle dayes and nyghtes: and gret
noyse, as it were sown of tabours and of nakeres and trompes, as thoughe it
were of a gret feste; This ale is alle fulle of develes, and hathe ben alle
weyes. And men seyn there, that it is on of the entrees of helle. In that
vale is gret plentee of gold and sylver: wherefore many mysbelevynge men,
and manye Christene men also, gon in often tyme, for to have of the
thresoure, that there is: but fewe comen azen; and namely of the mys
belevynge men, ne of the Cristene men nouther: for thei ben anon strangled
of develes. And in mydde place of that vale, undir a roche, is an hed and
the visage of a devyl bodyliche, fulle horrible and dreadfulle to see, and
it schewethe not but the hed, to the schuldres. But there is no man in the
world so hardy, Cristene man ne other, but that he wolde ben a drad for to
beholde it: and that it wolde semen him to dye for drede; so is it hidous
for to beholde. For he beholdethe even man so scharply, with dreadfulle
eyen, that ben evere more mevynge and sparklynge, as fuyr, and chaungethe
and sterethe so often in dyverse manere, with so horrible countenance, that
no man dar not neighen towardes him. And fro him comethe out smoke and
stynk and fuyr, and so moche abhomynacioun, that unethe no man may there
endure. But the gode Cristene men, that ben stable in the feythe, entren
welle withouten perile. For thei wil first schryven hem, and marken hem
with the tokene of the Holy Cros; so that the fendes ne han no power over
hem. But alle be it that thei ben with outen perile, zit natheles ne ben
thei not with outen drede, whan that thei seen the develes visibely and
bodyly alle aboute hem, that maken fully dyverse assautes and manaces in
eyr and in erthe, and agasten hem with strokes of thondre blastes and of
tempestes. And the most drede is, that God wole taken vengeance thanne, of
that men han mys don azen his wille. And zee schulle undirstonde, that whan
my fellows and I weren in that vale, wee weren in gret thought, whether
that wee dursten putten oure bodyes in aventure, to gon in or non, in the
proteccioun of God. And somme of oure fellowes accordeden to enter, and
somme noght. So there weren with us 2 worthi men, Frere Menoures, that
weren of Lombardye, that seyden, that zif ony man wolde entren, thei wolde
gon in with us. And when thei hadden seyd so, upon the gracyous trust of
God and of hem, wee leet synge masse, and made every man to ben schryven
and houseld: and thanne wee entreden 14 personnes; but at oure goynge out,
wee weren but 9. And so we wisten nevere, whether that oure fellowes weren
lost, or elle turned azen for drede: but wee ne saughe hem never after: and
tho weren 2 men of Grece and 3 of Spayne. And oure other fellows, that
wolden not gon in with us, thei wenten by another coste, to ben before us,
and so thei were. And thus wee passeden that perilous vale, and founden
thereinne gold and sylver and precious stones and riche jewelles gret
plentee, both here and there, as us semed: but whether that it was, as us
semede, I wot nere: for I touched none, because that the develes ben so
subtyle to make a thing to seme otherwise than it is, for to disceyve
mankynde; and therfore I towched none; and also because that I wolde not
ben put out of my devocioun: for I was more devout thanne, than evere I was
before or after, and alle for the drede of fendes, that I saughe in dyverse
figures; and also for the gret multytude of dede bodyes, that I saughe
there liggynge be the weye, be alle the vale, as thoughe there had ben a
bataylle betwene 2 kynges and the myghtyest of the contree, and that the
gretter partye had ben discomfyted and slayn. And I trowe, that unethe
scholde ony contree have so moche peple with in him, as lay slayn in that
vale, as us thoughte; the whiche was an hidouse sight to seen. And I
merveylled moche, that there weren so manye, and the bodyes all hole, with
outen rotynge. But I trowe, that fendes made hem semen to ben so hole, with
outen rotynge. But that myghte not ben to myn avys, that so manye scholde
have entred so newely, ne so manye newely slayn, with outen stynkynge and
rotynge. And manye of hem were in habite of Cristene men: but I trowe wel,
that it weren of suche, that wenten in for covetyse of the thresoure, that
was there, and hadden over moche feblenesse in feithe; so that hire hertes
ne myghte not enduren in the beleve for drede. And therfore weren wee the
more devout a gret del: and zit wee weren cast doun and beten down many
tymes to the hard erthe, be wyndes and thondres and tempestes: but evere
more God of His grace halp us: and so we passed that perilous vale, with
outen perile and with outen encombrance. Thanked be alle myghty Godd.

Aftre this, bezonde the vale, is a gret yle, where the folk ben grete
geauntes of 28 fote longe or of 30 fote longe; and thei han no clothinge,
but of skynnes of bestes, that thei hangen upon hem: and thei eten no
breed, but alle raw flesche: and thei drynken mylk of bestes; for thei han
plentee of alle bestaylle. And thei have none houses, to lyen inne. And
thei eten more gladly mannes flessche, thanne ony other flesche. In to that
yle dar no man gladly entren: and zif thei seen a schipp and men there
inne, anon thei entren in to the see, for to take hem.

And men seyden us, that in an yle bezonde that, weren geantes of grettere
stature: summe of 45 fote, or 50 fote long, and as some men seyn, summe of
50 cubytes long: but I saghe none of tho; for I hadde no lust to go to tho
parties, because that no man comethe nouther in to that yle ne in to the
other, but zif he be devoured anon. And among tho geauntes ben scheep, als
grete as oxen here; and thei beren gret wolle and roughe. Of the scheep I
have seyn many tymes. And men han seyn many tymes tho geauntes taken men in
the see out of hire schippes, and broughte hem to lond, 2 in on hond and 2
in another, etynge hem goynge, alle rawe and alle quyk.

Another yle is there toward the northe, in the see occean, where that ben
fulle cruele and ful evele wommen of nature; and thei han precious stones
in hire eyen: and thei ben of that kynde, that zif thei beholden ony man
with wratthe, thei slen him anon with the beholdynge, as dothe the
basilisk.

Another yle is there, fulle fair and gode and gret, and fulle of peple,
where the custom is suche, that the firste nyght that thei ben maryed, thei
maken another man to lye be hire wifes, for to have hire maydenhode: and
therfore thei taken gret huyre and gret thank. And ther ben certeyn men in
every town, that serven of non other thing; and thei clepen hem Cadeberiz,
that is to seyne, the foles of Wanhope. For thei of the contree holden it
so gret a thing and so perilous, for to haven the maydenhode of a woman,
that hem semethe that thei that haven first the maydenhode, puttethe him in
aventure of his lif. And zif the husbonde fynde his wif mayden, that other
next nyghte, aftre that she scholde have ben leyn by of the man, that is
assigned therefore, perauntes for dronkenesse or for some other cause, the
husbonde schalle pleyne upon him, that he hathe not don his deveer, in
suche cruelle wise, as thoughe he wolde have him slayn therfore. But after
the firste nyght, that they ben leyn by, thei kepen hem so streytely, that
thei ben not so hardy to speke with no man. And I asked hem the cause, whi
that thei helden suche custom: and thei seyden me, that of old tyme, men
hadden ben dede for deflourynge of maydenes, that hadden serpentes in hire
bodyes, that stongen men upon hire zerdes, that thei dyeden anon: and
therfore thei helden that custom, to make other men, ordeyn'd therefore, to
lye be hire wyfes, for drede of dethe, and to assaye the passage be
another, rather than for to putte hem in that aventure.

Aftre that, is another yle, where that wommen maken gret sorwe, whan hire
children ben y born: and whan thei dyen, thei maken gret feste and gret
joye and revelle, and thanne thei casten hem into a gret fuyr brennynge.
And tho that loven wel hire husbondes, zif hire husbondes ben dede, thei
casten hem also in the fuyr, with hire children, and brennen hem. And thei
seyn, that the fuyr schalle clensen hem of alle filthes and of alle vices,
and thei schulle gon pured and clene in to another world, to hire
husbondes, and thei schulle leden hire children with hem. And the cause whi
that they wepen, when hire children ben born, is this, for whan thei comen
in to this world, thei comen to labour, sorwe and hevynesse: and whi thei
maken ioye and gladnesse at hire dyenge, is be cause that, as thei seyn,
thanne thei gon to Paradys, where the ryveres rennen mylk and hony, where
that men seen hem in ioye and in habundance of godes, with outen sorwe and
labour. In that yle men maken hire kyng evere more be eleccioun: and thei
ne chese him nought for no noblesse ne for no ricchesse, but suche an on as
is of gode maneres and of gode condiciouns, and therewith alle rightfulle;
and also that he be of gret age, and that he have no children. In that yle
men ben fulle rightfulle, and thei don rightfulle iuggementes in every
cause, bothe of riche and pore, smale and grete, aftre the quantytee of the
trespas, that is mys don. And the kyng may nought deme no man to dethe,
with outen assent of his barouns and other wyse men of conseille, and that
alle the court accorde therto. And zif the kyng him self do ony homycydie
or ony cryme, as to sle a man, or ony suche cas, he schalle dye therefore;
but he schalle not be slayn, as another man, but men schulle defende in
peyne of dethe, that no man be so hardy to make him companye, ne to speke
with hym, ne that no man zeve him ne selle him ne serve him nouther of mete
ne drynk: and so schalle he dye in myschef. Thei spare no man that hath
trespaced, nouther for love ne for favour ne for ricchesse ne for noblesse,
but that he schalle have aftre that he hathe don.

Bezonde that yle, is another yle, where is gret multytude of folk; and thei
wole not for nothing eten flesche of hares, ne of hennes, ne of gees: and
zit thei bryngen forthe y now, for to seen hem and to beholden hem only.
But thei eten Flesche of alle other bestes, and drynken mylk. In that
contre, thei taken hire doughtres and hire sustres to here wyfes, and hire
other kynneswomen. And zif there ben 10 or 12 men or mo dwellynge in an
hows, the wif of eyeryche of hem schalle ben comoun to hem alle, that
duellen in that hows; so that every man may liggen with whom he wole of
hem, on o nyght. And zif sche have ony child, sche may zeve it to what man
sche list, that hathe companyed with hire; so that no man knoweth there,
whether the child be his or anotheres. And zif ony man seye to hem, that
thei norrischen other mennes children, thei answeren, that so don other men
hires. In that contre and be all Ynde, ben gret plentee of cokodrilles,
that is the maner of a longe serpent, as I haye seyd before. And in the
nyght, thei dwellen in the watir, and on the day, upon the lond, in roches
and caves. And thei ete no mete in all the wynter: but thei lyzn as in a
drem, as don the serpentes. Theise serpentes slen men, and thei eten hem
wepynge: and whan thei eten, thei meven the over Jowe, and noughte the
nether Jowe; and thei have no Tonge. In that contree, and in many other
bezonde that, and also in manye on this half, men putten in werke the sede
of cotoun: and thei sowen it every zeer, and than growthe it in smale
trees, that beren cotoun. And so don men every zeer; so that there is
plentee of cotoun, at alle tymes. Item, in this yle and in many other,
there is a manner of wode, hard and strong: who so coverethe the coles of
that wode undir the assches there offe, the coles wil duellen and abyden
alle quyk, a zere or more. And that tre hathe many leves, as the gynypre
hathe. And there ben also many trees, that of nature thei wole never brenne
ne rote in no manere. And there ben note trees, that beren notes, als grete
as a mannes hed. There also ben many bestes, that ben clept orafles.
[Footnote: Giraffes.] In Arabye, thei ben clept gerfauntz; that is a best
pomelee or apotted; that is but a litylle more highe, than is a stede; but
he hathe the necke a 20 cubytes long: and his croup and his tayl is as of
an hert: and he may loken over a gret highe Hous. And there ben also in
that contree manye camles, that is a lytille best as a goot, that is wylde
and he lyvethe be the eyr, and etethe nought ne drynkethe nought at no
tyme. And he chaungethe his colour often tyme: for men seen him often
scithes, now in o colour and now in another colour: and he may chaunge him
in to alle maner of coloures that him list, saf only in to red and white.
There ben also in that contree passynge grete serpentes, sume of 120 Fote
long, and thei ben of dyverse coloures, as rayed, rede, grene and zalowe,
blewe and blake, and alle spekelede. And there ben othere, that han crestes
upon hire hedes: and thei gon upon hire feet upright: and thei ben wel a 4
fadme gret or more: and thei duellen alle weye in roches or in mountaynes:
and thei han alle wey the throte open, of whens thei droppen venym alle
weys. And there ben also wylde swyn of many coloures, als gret as ben oxen
in oure contree, and thei ben alle spotted, as ben zonge fownes. And there
ben also urchounes, als gret as wylde swyn here. Wee clepen hem poriz de
spyne. And ther ben lyouns alle whyte gret and myghty. And ther ben also of
other bestes, als grete and more gretter than is a destrere: and men clepen
hem loerancz: and sum men clepen hem odenthos: and thei han a blak hed and
3 longe hornes trenchant in the front, scharpe as a sword; and the body is
sclender. And he is a fulle felonous best: and he chacethe and sleethe the
olifaunt. There ben also manye other bestes, fullye wykked and cruelle,
that ben not mocheles more than a bere; and thei han the hed lyche a bore;
and thei han 6 feet: and on every foote 2 large clawes trenchant: and the
body is lyche a bere, and the tayl as a lyoun. And there ben also myse, als
gret as houndes; and zalowe myse, als grete as ravenes. And ther ben gees
alle rede, thre sithes more gret than oure here: and thei han the hed, the
necke and the brest alle black. And many other dyverse bestes ben in tho
contrees, and elle where there abouten: and manye dyverse briddes also; of
the whiche, it were to longe for to telle zou: and therefore I passe over
at this tyme.


CAPVT. 47.

De Bracmannorum et aliorum Insulis.

Bracmannorum Insula quasi ad medium Imperij consistit Praesbyteri Ioannis.
Hic licet Christiani non sunt, viuunt tamen naturali optimo more. Rudes
enim et incomparati, simplices, et inscij omnis artis apparent. Non cupidi,
superbi, inuidi, iracundi, gulosi, aut luxuriosi nec iurant, fraudant, aut
mentiuntur. Laborant corpora, sed intendunt animo implere quo ad valent
naturale mandatum, hoc facias alijs quod tibi vis fieri: credentes et
adorantes omnium creatorum Deum, et sperantes ab ipso simpliciter
Paradisum.

Sobrij quoque sunt, quapropter et longo tempore viuunt: et si quis ab eorum
moribus degenerat, proscribitur perpetuò sine mora, omnibus nulla posita
differentia personarum, vnde et in iusto Dei iudicio, quòd naturalem
exercere iustitiam contendunt, Elementa eis naturaliter obsequuntur, et
rarò eos tangit tempestas, aut fames, pestilentia aut gladius.

[Sidenote: Flumen Chene.] Magna riparia dicta Chene currit per Insulam,
ministrans piscium et aquarum copiam: Istos olim Alexander rex Grecorum
debellare cupiens, misit eis literas comminationis, cui inter caetera
notabilia remandauerunt, nihil se habere curiosi, quod Rex tantus deberet
concupiscere, nihilque ita se timere perdituros sicut pacem bonam, quam
hactenus habuerunt inconcussam: sicque diuino nutu est actum vt Rex
truculentus ad alia se verteret, atque in breui postmodùm caderet, quia
dissipat Dominus eos, qui bella volunt, et istis manet pax multa
diligentibus eam.

[Sidenote: Pytan.] Pytan Insula breuis continet paucos et breues
habitatores, Pygmaeis modico longiores, qui decoris vultibus nullo vnquam
cibo vescentes, specialis pomi quod secum portant sustentantur odore, quo
si carerent ad parum, color in vultu marcesceret, et die tertia vita
periret.

Discretio et rationabilitas ijs adest modica, nec enim habent laborare nisi
pro vestitu, quem sibi circa arbusta colligunt: Et conficit vnusquisque pro
12 annis vitæ suæ.

Vltra hanc Insulam siluestres, et fortes habentur homines, sed bestiales,
vestiti per totum corpus proprijs capillis et pilis, exceptis palmis, et
faciebus, qui videntur penitus gubernatione et politia carere: venantur
carnes per siluas, et discurrunt piscantes in aquis, omnia cruda vorantes.

[Sidenote: Fluius Briemer.] Huius ad terræ metas manat fluuius Briemer
latitudinis duarum leucarum, et semis, quem nos transire nequiuimus, nec
ausi fuimus. Quoniam illo transmisso instant deserta 15, aut plurium
diætatum inhabitata nunc temporis (prout audieramus) diuersis et nobis
ignotis generibus bestiarum, serpentum, draconum, gryphium, aspidum,
dypsarum, et colubrorum in multitudine tanta, vt centum millia armatorum
simul pertingere vsquè ad arbores, quæ ibi dicuntur solis et lunæ, vix
possent. Attamen suo tempore Alexander magnus scribitur pertigisse, et
quaedam ab arboribus fictitia succepisse responsa.

[Sidenote: Balsamum indicum.] Circa has arbores excolitur Balsamum, cuius
liquoris comparatio nusquam scitur contineri sub coelo. Nam ibidem homines,
de istarum arborum fructibus et Balsamo vtentes dicuntur illorum virtute
quadringentis aut pluribus annis viuere.

Peruenit autem et Dux Danus Ogerus, ac manducauit de illis, vnde et
nonnulli præ sensus stoliditate vel fidei leuitate putant ipsum adhuc alibi
viuere in terris. Ego autem quia tantum pro dilatanda Christianitate
laborauit arbitror magis, eum regnare cum Christo in coelis.

[Sidenote: Taprobana Insula, et eius descriptio.] Versus Orientales partes
Indorum consistit magna regio Taprobane exuberans optimis terrenorum
bonorum, in quam nauigio intrauimus in octo vel circa diaetis per aquam
satis tenuem, haud profundam. Ibi, sicut et in alijs multis Insulis, rex
non nascitur sed eligitur per partes terræ: et est haec vna de quindecim
nominatis Regionibus conquisitionis Ogeri. Ista, cum modicum declinet à
circulo terræ sub Æquatore, patitur in anno duas æstates, et duas hyemes,
si tamen hyems aliqua dici debeat, et non magis æstas, quia nullus hic dies
anni caret fructu, flore, germine.

Habitatores sunt discreti, et honesti, vnde et mercatores de remotis
partibus libenter cum ijs communicant: et sparsim per regionem habitant
plurimi diuites Christiani.

[Sidenote: Orilla. Argita.] Hijs iunguntur duæ insulæ (quas nos vocamus,
Orilla, et Argita), quanquam illa lingua aliter nominentur. In quarum prima
sunt multæ mineriæ auri, in secunda argenti, et propter quandam
crassitudinem aeris continuam, perpauca apparent sydera, praeter vnum quod
dicunt Canopum, quod æstimo planetam Veneris. [Sidenote: Hunc locum notat
Gerardus Mercator in sua charta generali.] Et quod mirum est valdè de omni
lunatione ijs apparet nisi 2. quarta. Cuius rei probabilis ratio effugit
etiam Astronomos valdè peritos. Atque per has Insulas quoddam rubrum mare à
mari Oceano segregatur.

Itaque in Orilla in locis multis effoditur, colligitur, et conflatur
optimum auri metallum, per viros, mulieres, et paruulos in hoc instructos,
sed et in nonnullis ibi montibus monstrantur congregationes bestiolarum in
quantitate nostrorum catulorum, in formicarum forma ac natura totali: qui
pro suis viribus effodiunt, purificant, et colligunt cum intenta
occupatione auri minutias, eas reponentes, et repositas retrahentes de
cauernis et specubus in cauernas et specus. Et in conseruando sum
diligentes et acres, vt nemo audeat de facili propinquare, nisi quod
interdum ab illis pausantibus; seu ab æstu se occultantibus, aliqui non
sine periculo in dromedarijs et veredarijs rapiunt, vel furantur.

Solet etiam ab eis obtineri, quòd excogitato ingenio super equam quæ nuper
foetum ediderit, imponentes homines duas de ligno cistulas, seu cophinos
nouos, vacuos, et apertos à lateribus dependentes propè terram: hanc
famelicam dimittunt vt se pascat ad herbas in montem: Quam formicæ videntes
solam salientes et iocantes, colludunt ad eam et ad eius confines pro
nouitate: et quoniam eis est naturale, vt circa se omne vacuum implere
conentur comportant certatim aurum suum in vasculis suis mundis. Cumque
homines a remotis tempus obseruauerint, emittunt pellum equæ vt videat
matrem, cuius aspectu iam diu stetit priuatus, ad cuius hinnitum protinus
equa reuertitur onusta de auro. Hijs ergò et similibus modis homines aurum
diripiunt à formicis.


CAPVT. 48.

Aliquid de loco Paradisi terrestris per auditum.

A Finibus Imperij Indiæ recta linea in orientem nihil est habitatum vel
habitabile, propter rupium, et montium altitudinem, et asperitatem, et
propter aeris inter Alpes diuersitatem: nam in multis locis, licet
quandoque aer sit serenus, nunc fit spissus nunc fumosus, vel venenosus, et
frequenter die medio tenebrosus. Durantque aut potius aggrauescunt
huiusmodi difficultates, vsque ad illum amænissimum Paradisi locum, quem
protoplausti per inobedientiam sibi et posteris perdidisse noscuntur, quod
spacium si metiri posset, est multarum vtique diætarum. Quia iam non
vlterius processi, nec procedere quiui, pauca duntaxat de illo loco referam
verisimilia, quæ didici per auditum.

[Sidenote: Descriptio Paradisi.] Paradisus terrestris dicitur locus
spaciosus ad amplitudinem quasi quinque Insularum nostrarum, Angliæ,
Normanniæ, Hiberniæ, Scotiæ, et Noruegiæ, aut forsan satis plurium. Cuius
situs est pertingens in altitudine ad aeris supremam superficiem, eò quod
illic terra vel terræ orbis sit multum spissior quàm alibi per modum
excentricum à vero centro mundi, nec valet hoc deinde ab aliquo experto
refelli, scriptura veritatis clamante, quòd ibi sit fons irrigans vniuersam
superficiem terrae: aquae enim est natura semper fluere ad Ima.

Exeunt autem ab illo fonte versus nostri partes hemispherij, hoc est nobis
de illo loco in occidentem quatuor flumina, Pyson, Gyon, Tygris, et
Euphrates, ab ista dimidia parte terrae circa Æquatoris circulum terrae
influentes, quapropter et merito credendum videtur, exire de eodem fonte et
alia quatuor flumina irrigantia terram oppositam, quae est circa alteram
dimidiam partem circuli Æquatoris, quamuis nos eorum fluminum loca,
virtutes, et nomina ignoramus, quòd homines habitant ab alia parte
Æquinoctij.

[Sidenote: Gentes ad austrum Aequatoris.] Hoc tamen volo sciri pro vero et
audiui, illic terræ faciem inhabitatam in maxima multitudine ciuitatum,
vrbium, et regionum, quoniam et eorum institores Indiam frequentant, et
nunciant sibi inuicem gentes et principes per literas, ac alijs modis
destinare sunt visi.

[Sidenote: Ganges fluuius.] Vnus nostrorum fluuiorum Pyson currit per
Indiam, et per eius deserta quandoque sub terra, sed saepiùs supra, qui et
Ganges illic appellatus est, ab illo vltimo Paganitatis rege, quem Dux
Ogerus deuictum cùm baptizari renueret in ipso flumine proiectum submersit.

Ad littus huius reperiuntur multi lapides praeciositatis immensæ et metalli
grani carissimi, nec non et auri mineriæ, multumque descendit in eo natans
lignum Aloes ex Paradiso, quod rebus miræ virtutis inserit Salomon in
Canticis.

Hinc secundus fluuius Gyon, currit per Aethiopiam, vnde dum venit in
Ægyptum, accipit nomen Nilus. Tertius Tygris veniens per Assyriam influit
maiorem Armeniam et Persiam: tandemque fluuij singuli per loca singula se
iactant in mare per quod defluunt vsque ad Nador, id est, ad oppositum
diametrum paradisi: Ideoque merito æstimantur omnes vniuerso orbe aquæ
dulces originem capere, à supradicto paradisi fonte, quamuis secundum
distantiam maiorem vel minorem, et secundum naturas rerum per quas meant
diuersos habere inueniuntur sapores, atque virtutes.

Porrò ipsum Paradisi locum audiui à tribus plagis, orientali, meridionali,
et septentrionali, inaccessibilem tam hominibus quàm bestijs, eo quòd
apparet ripis perpendiculariter abscissa, tanquam inestimabilis
altitudinis. Et ab occidente id est nostra parte tanquam super omnium
humanorum intuitum rogus ardens, qui in scripturis rumphea flammea
appellator, vt nulli creaturæ terrenæ ascensus in eum credatur nisi
quibusdam volatilibus, prout decreuit iusti iudicij Deus.

Ambulantibus enim illuc siue repentibus hominibus obstarent tenebræ imo
rupes, aer infestus, bestiæ, serpentes, frigus, et camua. Nauigare autem
contra ictum fluminis nitentes impediret intrinsecus recursus, ac
impetuosus et quandoque subterraneus aquæ cursus descendentis cum
vehementia ab euectissimo, vt dictum est, loco, qui suo quoque strepitu,
per petras atque strictos aliosque diuersos cadens gurgites, efficeret
surdos, et aeris mutatio caecos, vnde et multi tam nobiles quàm ignobiles,
fatua sese audacia in isto ponentes periculo perierunt, alijs excoecatis,
alijs absurdatis, et nonnullis in ipso accessu subitanea morte peremptis.
Ex quo nimirum credi habetur isto Deum displicere conatum.

Quapropter et ego ex illo loco statui animum ad repatriandum, quatenus Deo
propitio, Anglia quæ me produxit seculo viuentem, usciperet morientem.


Of the Godenesse of the folk of the Yle of Bragman. Of Kyng Alisandre: and
  wherfore the Emperour of Ynde is clept Prestre John.

[Sidenote: Cap. XXIX.] And bezonde that yle, is another yle, gret and gode,
and, plentyfous, where that ben gode folk and trewe, and of gode lyvynge,
aftre hire beleve, and of gode feythe. And alle be it that thei ben not
cristned, ne have no perfyt lawe, zit natheles of kyndely lawe, thei ben
fulle of alle vertue, and thei eschewen alle vices and alle malices and
alle synnes. For thei ben not proude ne coveytous ne envyous ne wrathefulle
ne glotouns ne leccherous; ne thei don to no man other wise than thei wolde
that other men diden to hem: and in this poynt, thei fullefillen the 10
commandementes of God: and thei zive no charge of aveer ne of ricchesse:
and thei lye not, ne thei swere not, for non occasioun; but thei seyn
symply, ze and nay. For thei seyn, He that swerethe, wil disceyve his
neyghbore: and therfore alle that thei don, thei don it with outen othe.
And men clepen that yle, the Yle of Bragman: and somme men clepen it the
Lond of Feythe. And thorgh that lond runnethe a gret ryvere, that is clept
Thebe. And in generalle, alle the men of tho yles and of alle the marches
there abouten, ben more trewe than in ony othere contrees there abouten,
and more righte fulle than othere, in alle thinges. In that yle is no
thief, ne mordrere, ne comoun woman, ne pore beggere, ne nevere was man
slayn in that contree. And thei ben so chast, and leden so gode lif, as tho
thei weren religious men: and thei fasten alle dayes. And because thei ben
so trewe and so rightfulle and so fulle of alle gode condiciouns, thei
weren nevere greved with tempestes ne with thondre ne with leyt ne with
hayl ne with pestylence ne with werre ne with hungre ne with non other
tribulaccioun, as wee ben many tymes amonges us, for our synnes. Wherfore
it semethe wel, that God lovethe hem and is plesed with hire creance, for
hire gode dedes. Thei beleven wel in God, that made alle thinges; and him
thei worschipen. And thei preysen non erthely ricchesse; and so thei ben
alle right fulle. And thei lyven fulle ordynatly, and so sobrely in met and
drynk, that thei lyven right longe. And the most part of hem dyen with
outen syknesse, whan nature faylethe hem for elde. And it befelle in Kyng
Alisandres tyme, that he purposed him to conquere that yle, and to maken
hem to holden of him. And whan thei of the contree herden it, thei senten
messangeres to him with lettres, that seyden thus: What may ben y now to
that man, to whom alle the world is insuffisant: thou schalt fynde no thing
in us, that may cause the to warren azenst us: for wee have no ricchesse,
ne none wee coveyten: and alle the godes of our contree ben in comoun. Oure
mete, that we susteyne with alle oure bodyes, is our richesse: and in stede
of tresoure of gold and sylver, wee maken oure tresoure of accord and pees,
and for to love every man other. And for to apparaylle with oure bodyes,
wee usen a sely litylle clout, for to wrappen in oure carcynes. Oure wyfes
ne ben not arrayed for to make no man plesance, but only connable array,
for to eschewe folye. Whan men peynen hem to arraye the body, for to make
it semen fayrere than God made it, thei don gret synne. For man scholde not
devise no aske grettre beautee, than God hathe ordeyned man to ben at his
birthe. The erthe mynystrethe to us 2 thynges; our liflode, that comethe of
the erthe that wee lyve by, and oure sepulture aftre oure dethe. Wee have
ben in perpetuelle pees tille now, that thou come to disherite us; and also
wee have a kyng, nought for to do justice to every man, for he schalle
fynde no forfete amonge us; but for to kepe noblesse, and for to schewe
that wee ben obeyssant, wee have a kyng. For justice ne hathe not among us
no place: for wee don no man otherwise than wee desiren that man don to us;
so that rightwisnesse ne vengeance han nought to don amonges us; so that no
thing thou may take fro us, but oure god pes, that alle weys hath dured
amonge us. And whan Kyng Alisandre had rad theise lettres, he thoughte that
he scholde do gret synne, for to trouble hem: and thanne he sente hem
surteez, that thei scholde not ben aferd of him, and that thei scholde
kepen hire gode maneres and hire gode pees, as thei hadden used before of
custom; and so he let hem allone.

Another yle there is, that men clepen Oxidrate; and another yle, that men
clepen Gynosophe, where there is also gode folk, and fulle of gode feythe:
and thei holden for the most partye the gode condiciouns and customs and
gode maneres, as men of the contree above seyd: but thei gon alle naked. In
to that yle entred Kyng Alisandre, to see the manere. And when he saughe
hire gret feythe and hire trouthe, that was amonges hem, he seyde that he
wolde not greven hem: and bad hem aske of him, what that they wolde have of
hym, ricchesse or ony thing elles; and thei scholde have it with gode
wille. And thei answerden, that he was riche y now, that hadde mete and
drynke to susteyne the body with. For the ricchesse of this world, that is
transitorie, is not worthe: but zif it were in his power to make hem
immortalle, there of wolde thei preyen him, and thanken him. And Alisandre
answerde hem, that it was not in his powere to don it, because he was
mortelle, as thei were. And thanne thei asked him, whi he was so proud and
so fierce and so besy, for to putten alle the world undre his subieccioun,
righte as thou were a god; and hast no terme of this lif, neither day ne
hour; and wylnest to have alle the world at thi commandement, that schalle
leve the with outen fayle, or thou leve it. And righte as it hathe ben to
other men before the, right so it schalle ben to othere aftre the: and from
hens schal thou bere no thyng; but as thou were born naked, righte so alle
naked schalle thi body ben turned in to erthe, that thou were made of.
Wherfore thou scholdest thenke and impresse it in thi mynde, that nothing
is immortalle, but only God, that made alle thing. Be the whiche answere,
Alisandre was gretly astoneyed and abayst; and alle confuse departe from
hem. And alle be it that theyse folk han not the articles of oure feythe,
as wee han, natheles for hire gode feythe naturelle, and for hire gode
entent, I trowe fulle, that God lovethe hem, and that God take hire servyse
to gree, right as he did of Job, that was a Paynem, and held him for his
trewe servaunt. And therfore alle be it that there ben many dyverse lawes
in the world, zit I trowe, that God lovethe alweys hem that loven him, and
serven him mekely in trouthe; and namely, hem that dispysen the veyn glorie
of this world; as this folk don, and as Job did also: and therfore seyde
oure Lorde, be the mouthe of Ozee the prophete, _Ponam eis multiplices
leges meas_. And also in another place, _Qui totum orbem subdit suis
legibus_. And also our Lord seythe in the Gospelle, _Alias oves habeo, que
non sunt ex hoc ovili_; that is to seyne, that he hadde othere servauntes,
than tho that ben undre Cristene lawe. And to that acordethe the avisioun,
that Seynt Petir saughe at Jaffe, how the aungel cam from Hevene, and
broughte before him diverse bestes, as serpentes and other crepynge bestes
of the erthe, and of other also gret plentee, and bad him take and ete. And
Seynt Petir answerde; I ete never, quoth he, of unclene bestes. And thanne
seyde the aungelle, _Non dices immunda, que Deus mundavit_. And that was in
tokene, that no man scholde have in despite non erthely man, for here
diverse lawes: for wee knowe not whom God lovethe, ne whom God hatethe. And
for that ensample, whan men seyn _De profundis_, thei seyn it in comoun and
in generalle, with the Cristene, _pro animabus omnium defunctorum, pro
quibus sit orandum_. And therfore seye I of this folk, that ben so trewe
and so feythefulle, that God lovethe hem. For he hathe amonges hem many of
the prophetes, and alle weye hathe had. And in tho yles, thei prophecyed
the incarnacioun of oure Lord Jesu Crist, how he scholde ben born of a
mayden; 3000 zeer or more or oure Lord was born of the Virgyne Marie. And
thei beleeven wel in the incarnacioun, and that fulle perfitely: but thei
knowe not the manere, how be suffred his passioun and dethe for us.

And bezonde theise yles, there is another yle, that is clept Pytan. The
folk of that contree ne tyle not, ne laboure not the erthe: for thei eten
no manere thing: and thei ben of gode colour, and of faire schap, aftre
hire gretnesse: but the smalle ben as dwerghes: but not so litylle, as ben
the pigmeyes. Theise men lyven be the smelle of wylde apples, and whan thei
gon ony fer weye, thei beren the apples with hem. For zif the hadde lost
the savour of the apples, thei scholde dyen anon. Thei ne ben not fulle
resonable: but thei ben symple and bestyalle.

Aftre that, is another yle, where the folk ben alle skynned, roughe heer,
as a rough best, saf only the face and the pawme of the hond. Theise folk
gon als wel undir the watir of the see, as thei don above the lond, alle
drye. And thei eten bothe flessche and fissche alle raughe. In this yle is
a great ryvere, that is wel a 2 myle and an half of brede, that is clept
Beumare. And fro that rivere a 15 journeyes in lengthe, goynge be the
desertes of the tother syde of the ryvere, (whoso myght gon it, for I was
not there: but it was told us of hem of the contree, that with inne tho
desertes) weren the trees of the sonne, and of the mone, that spaken to
Kyng Alisandre, and warned him of his dethe. And men seyn, that the folk
that kepen tho trees, and eten of the frute and of the bawme that growethe
there, lyven wel 400 zeere or 500 zere, be vertue of the frut and of the
bawme. For men seyn, that bawme growethe there in gret plentee, and no
where elles, saf only at Babyloyne, as I have told zou before. Wee wolde
han gon toward the trees fulle gladly, zif wee had myght: but I trowe, that
100000 men of armes myghte not passen the desertes safly, for the gret
multytude of wylde bestes, and of grete dragouns, and of grete multytude
serpentes, that there ben, that slen and devouren alle that comen aneyntes
hem. In that contre ben manye white olifantes with outen nombre, and of
unycornes, and of lyouns of many maneres, and many of suche bestes, that I
have told before, and of many other hydouse bestes with outen nombre.

Many other yles there ben in the lond of Prestre John, and many grete
marveyles, that weren to long to tellen alle, bothe of his ricchesse and of
his noblesse, and of the gret plentee also of precious stones, that he
hathe. I trow that zee knowe wel y now, and have herd seye, wherefore the
Emperour is clept Prestre John. But nathales for hem that knowen not, I
schalle seye zou the cause. It was somtyme an Emperour there, that was a
worthi and a fulle noble prynce, that hadde Cristene knyghtes in his
companye, as he hathe that is how. So it befelle, that he hadde gret list
for to see the service in the chirche, among Cristen men. And than dured
Cristendom bezonde the zee, alle Turkye, Surrye, Tartarie, Jerusalem,
Palestyne, Arabye, Halappee, and alle the lond of Egypte. So it befelle,
that this emperour cam, with a Cristene knyght with him, into a chirche in
Egypt: and it was the Saterday in Wyttson woke. And the bishop made ordres.
And he beheld and listend the servyse fulle tentyfly: and he askede the
Cristene knight, what men of degree thei scholden ben prestes. And than the
emperour seyde, that he wolde no longer ben clept kyng ne emperour, but
preest; and that he wolde have the name of the first preest, that went out
of the chirche: and his name was John. And so evere more sithens, he is
cleped Prestre John.

In his lond ben manye Cristene men of gode feythe and of gode lawe; and
namely of hem of the same contree; and han comounly hire prestes, that
syngen the messe, and maken the sacrement of the awtier of bred, right as
the Grekes don: but thei seyn not so many thinges as the messe, as men don
here. For thei seye not but only that, that the apostles seyden, as oure
Lord taughte hem: righte as seynt Peter and seynt Thomas and the other
apostles songen the messe, seyenge the Pater-noster, and the wordes of the
sacrement. But wee have many mo addiciouns, that dyverse popes han made,
that thei ne knowe not offe;


Of the Hilles of Gold, that Pissemyres kepen: and of the 4 Flodes, that
  comen fro Paradys terrestre.

[Sidenote: Cap. XXX.] Toward the est partye of Prestre Johnes lond, is an
yle gode an gret, that men clepen Taprobane, that is fulle noble and fulle
fructuous: and the kyng thereof is fulle ryche, and is undre the obeyssance
of Prestre John. And alle weys there thei make hire king be eleccyoun. In
that ile ben 2 someres and 2 wyntres; and men harvesten the corn twyes a
zeer. And in alle the cesouns of the zeer ben the gardynes florisht. There
dwellen gode folke and resonable, and manye Cristene men amonges hem, that
ben so riche, that thei wyte not what to done with hire godes. Of olde
tyme, whan men passed from the lond of Prestre John unto that yle, men
maden ordynance for to passe by schippe, 23 dayes or more: but now men
passen by schippe in 7 dayes. And men may see the botme of the see in many
places: for it is not fulle depe.

Besyde that yle, toward the est, ben 2 other yles: and men clepen that on
Orille, and that other Argyte; of the whiche alle the lond is myne of gold
and sylver. And tho yles ben right where that the Rede See departethe fro
the see occean. And in tho yles men seen ther no sterres so clerly as in
other places: for there apperen no sterres, but only o clere sterre, that
men clepen Canapos. And there is not the mone seyn in alle the lunacioun,
saf only the seconde quarteroun. In the yle also of this Taprobane ben gret
hilles of gold, that Pissemyres kepen fulle diligently. And thei fynen the
pured gold, and casten away the unpured. And theise Pissemyres ben gret as
houndes: so that no man dar come to tho hilles: for the Pissemyres wolde
assaylen hem and devouren hem anon; so that no man may gete of that gold,
but be gret sleighte. And therfore whan it is gret hete, the Pissemyres
resten hem in the erthe, from pryme of the day in to noon: and than the
folk of the con tree taken camayles, dromedaries and hors and other bestes
and gon thidre, and chargen hem in alle haste that thei may. And aftre that
thei fleen away, in alle haste that the bestes may go, or the Pissemyres
comen out of the erthe. And in other tymes, whan it is not so hote, and
that he Pissemyres ne resten hem not in the erthe, than thei geten gold be
this sotyltee: thei taken mares, that han zonge coltes or foles, and leyn
upon the mares voyde vesselles made therfore; and thei ben alle open
aboven, and hangynge lowe to the erthe: and thanne thei sende forth tho
mares for to pasturen aboute the hilles, and with holden the foles with hem
at home. And whan the Pissemyres sen tho vesselles, thei lepen in anon, and
thei han this kynde, that thei lete no thing ben empty among hem, but anon
thei fillen it, be it what maner of thing that it be: and so thei fillen
tho vesselles with gold. And whan that the folk supposen, that the vesselle
ben fulle, thei putten forthe anon the zonge foles, and maken hem to nyzen
aftre hire dames; and than anon the mares retornen towardes hire foles,
with hire charges of gold; and than men dischargen hem, and geten gold y
now be this sotyltee. For the Pissemyres wole suffren bestes to gon and
pasturen amonges hem; but no man in no wyse.

And bezonde the lond and the yles and the desertes of Prestre Johnes
lordschipe, in goynge streyght toward the est, men fynde nothing but
mountaynes and roches fulle grete: and there is the derke regyoun, where no
man may see, nouther be day ne be nyght, as thei of the contree seyn. And
that desert, and that place of derknesse, duren fro this cost unto Paradys
terrestre; where that Adam oure foremost fader, and Eve weren putt, that
dwelleden there but lytylle while; and that is towards the est, at the
begynnynge of the erthe. But that is not that est, that wee clep oure est,
on this half, where the sonne risethe to us: for whenne the sonne is est in
tho partyes, toward Paradys terrestre, it is thanne mydnyght in oure
parties o this half, for the rowndenesse of the erthe, of the whiche I have
towched to zou before. For oure Lord God made the erthe alle round, in the
mydde place of the firmament. And there as mountaynes and hilles ben, and
valeyes, that is not but only of Noes flode, that wasted the softe ground
and the tendre, and felle doun into valeyes: and the harde erthe, and the
roche abyden mountaynes, whan the soft erthe and tendre wax nessche,
throghe the water, and felle and becamen valeyes.

Of Paradys, ne can not I speken propurly: for I was not there. It is fer
bezonde; and that forthinkethe me: and also I was not worthi. But as I have
herd seye of wyse men bezonde, I schalle telle zou with gode wille. Paradys
terrestre, as wise men seyn, is the highest place of erthe, that is in alle
the world: and it is so highe, that it touchethe nyghe to the cercle of the
mone, there as the mone makethe hire torn. For sche is so highe, that the
flode of Noe ne myght not come to hire, that wolde have covered alle the
erthe of the world alle aboute, and aboven and benethen, saf Paradys only
allone. And this Paradys is enclosed alle aboute with a walle; and men wyte
not wherof it is. For the walles ben covered alle over with mosse; as it
semethe. And it semethe not that the walle is ston of nature. And that
walle strecchethe fro the southe to the northe; and it hathe not but on
entree, that is closed with fyre brennynge; so that no man, that is
mortalle, ne dar not entren. And in the moste highe place of Paradys, evene
in the myddel place, is a welle, that castethe out the 4 flodes, that
rennen be dyverse londes: of the whiche, the first is clept Phison or
Ganges, that is alle on: and it rennethe thorghe out Ynde or Emlak: in the
whiche ryvere ben manye preciouse stones, and mochel of lignum aloes, and
moche gravelle of gold. And that other ryvere is clept Nilus or Gyson, that
gothe be Ethiope, and aftre be Egypt. And that other is clept Tigris, that
rennethe be Assirye and be Armenye the grete. And that other is clept
Eufrate, that rennethe also be Medee and be Armonye and be Persye. And men
there bezonde seyn, that alle the swete watres of the world aboven and
benethen, taken hire begynnynge of the welle of Paradys: and out of that
welle, alle watres comen and gon. The firste ryvere is clept Phison, that
is to seyne in hire langage, Assemblee: for many other ryveres meten hem
there, and gon in to that ryvere. And sum men clepen it Ganges; for a kyng
that was in Ynde, that highte Gangeres, and that it ran thorge out his
lond. And that water is in sum place clere, and in sum place trouble: in
sum place hoot, and in sum place cole. The seconde ryvere is clept Nilus or
Gyson: for it is alle weye trouble: and Gyson, in the langage of Ethiope,
is to seye trouble: and in the langage of Egipt also. The thridde ryvere,
that is clept Tigris, is as moche for to seye as faste rennynge: for he
rennethe more faste than ony of the tother. And also there is a best, that
is cleped Tigris, that is faste rennynge. The fourthe ryvere is clept
Eufrates, that is to seyne, wel berynge: for there growen manye godes upon
that ryvere, as cornes, frutes, and othere godes y nowe plentee.

And zee schulle undirstonde, that no man that is mortelle, ne may not
approchen to that paradys. For be londe no man may go for wylde bestes,
that ben in the desertes, and for the highe mountaynes and gret huge
roches, that no man may passe by, for the derke places that ben there, and
that manye: and be the ryveres may no man go; for the water rennethe so
rudely and so scharply, because that it comethe doun so outrageously from
the highe places aboven, that it rennethe in so grete wawes, that no schipp
may not rowe ne seyle azenes it: and the watre rorethe so, and makethe so
huge noyse, and so gret tempest, that no man may here other in the schipp,
thoughe he cryede with alle the craft that he cowde, in the hyeste voys
that he myghte. Many grete lordes han assayed with gret wille many tymes
for to passen be tho ryveres toward paradys, with fulle grete companyes:
but thei myghte not speden in hire viage; and manye dyeden for werynesse of
rowynge azenst tho stronge wawes; and many of hem becamen blynde, and many
deve, for the noyse of the water: and summe weren perisscht and loste, with
inne the wawes: so that no mortelle man may approche to that place, with
outen specyalle grace of God: so that of that place I can seye zou no more.
And therfore I schall holde me stille, and retornen to that that I have
seen.


CAPVT. 49.

In reuertendo de Cassan, et Riboth, et de diuite Epulone.

[Sidenote: Via per quam Mandeuillus redijt in Angliam.] Ex hinc de illis
quæ in reuertendo vidi scribo cursim pauca, ne modum excedere videatur
materia. [Sidenote: Cassan.] Reuertebar itaque quasi per Aquilonare latus
Imperij Presbyteri Ioannis, et nunc terræ, non mari nos commendantes,
transiuimus Deo Ductore, multas Insulas in multis diaetis, et peruenimus ad
regionem magnam Cassan: haec cum sit vna de quindecim habens longitudinem
diaetarum 60. et latitudinem propè 30. posset esse nominatior omnibus ibi
circa prouincijs, si a nostris frequentaretur.

Notandum. Cassan (secundum Odericum) est melior prouincia de mundo, vbi
strictior est, habet diaetas 50. vbi longior 60, et est vna de 12.
prouincijs Imperij Grand Can. Est ista populosa, distincta ciuitatibus, vt
quisque à quacunque plaga de vna exeat ciuitate nouerit aliam in media
diaeta propinquam. Tenétque istam regionem Cassan rex diues et potens, pro
parte de Imperio Praebyteri Ioannis, et pro parte de Imperio Grand Can.

[Sidenote: Riboth.] De ista in reuersione nostra venimus ad Regnum Riboth,
quod similiter est vnum de quindecim, latum, et speciosum, in quo de multis
bonis, habetur plena copia. Hoc tenetur in toto de Imperio Tartarorum.

[Sidenote: Labassi, summus idolorum pontifex.] Vna est ibi inter et super
omnes ciuitas Sacerdotalis, et Regia, in qua Rex habet suum magnificum
palatium, et summus Idolorum Pontifex quem Labassi appellant, cui omnes
Regni obediunt et populi sicut Domino Papæ nos Christiani quoniam et iubet,
et benedicit, ac confert sacerdotibus beneficia idolorum.

Ciuitatis vndique muri sunt compacti albis et nigris lapidibus conquadratis
ad modum scakarij, omnesque contractæ simili pauimento sunt stratæ. Tanta
est illic reuerentia sacrificiorum vt si quis vel in modica quantitate,
sanguinem hominis, seu immolaticiæ pecudis fudisse deprehensus fuerit,
nequaquam iudicium mortis euadet. Et inter innumeras superstitiones est
illic vna talis.

Haeres cuius pater defungitur, si alicuius vult esse reputationis, mandat
cognatos, amicos, Relligiosos, et sacerdotes pro posse, qui certo Die
conuenientes sub magno Symphoniæ festo, corportant defuncti cadauer, in
montis sublime cacumen. Ibi accedens dignior Praelatorum, funeris caput
abscindit, tradens haeredi in aureo disco decantanti sub deuotione suas
orationes cum suis in propria lingua. Atque interim aues regionis rapaces,
et immundæ, vt corui, vultures, et aquilæ, quæ pro consuetudine optimè
morem norunt, aduolant magno numero in aere: Tuncque Relligiosi cum
sacerdotibus detruncant corpus in frusta velut in macello, proijcientes
pecias in altum auibus, ac decantantes certam ad hoc compositam orationem,
tanquam si nostri sacerdotes cantarent. Subuenite sancti Dei, etc.

Et habet eorum oratio, hunc sensum in sua lingua. Respice quàm iustus et
sanctus extitit homo iste, quem Angeli Dei conueniunt accipere et in
Paradisum deferre. Talique diabolico errore delusi, putant filius, et
amici, quod defunctus sit in Paradisum translatus, viuat illic sempiterne
beatus, quoniam, vbi plures conuenere volucrum, ibi maiorem laetantur et
iactant fuisse numerum Angelorum.

Hinc deinde reuertentes, cum choris, et resonantia Musicorum, filius
paratum praestat omnibus conuiuium, in cuius fine pro extremo ferculo,
tradit singulis particulam, de patris capite summa cum devotione. Hanc
etiam capitis caluariam filius facit postmodum debitè formari et poliri
sibi pro cypho, in quo bibit in conuijs, ob recordationem amantissimi
patris.

Ab hoc Regno decem dietis per potestatem Imperatoris Grand Can, inuenitur
Insula delectabilis, et speciosa satis: cuius Rex est praepotens in gloria,
et in diuitijs superabundans, et de multis quæ illic geruntur admirandis
vnum recito solum.

[Sidenote: Diues Epulo.] Quòd est ibi homo quidam ditissimus nullius
dignitatis nomine honoratus, sed bysso, ac serico adornatus, et splendide
omni tempore epulatus: non ergo vult dici princeps, Dux, comes, miles, aut
huiusmodi, licet superioritatem habeat super marchiones aliquos et barones.
Eius possessionis valor æstimatur in anno 30. cuman de assinarijs bladi, et
risi, nec quærit nisi delitiosè viuere in isto seculo, vt cum diuite
Epulone sepeliatur in inferno. Cum etiam sibi derelictus sit, iste viuendi
modus a retrogenitoribus, eum et ipse posteris derelinquet. Hic tanquam
Imperiali residet palatio, cuius muri ambitus ad tractum leucæ tenditur,
continens arbusta, vineta, rinulos, fontes et stagna, aulas, et cubicula
auro strata depictaque mirè, et sculpta artificiosè, vltra quam vales
explicare, et inter omnia ad medium palatium in celso vertice atrium
amaenum, valdè tamen modico, sed cunctis praeciosius, ædificio, quasi ad
seema nostrarum Ecclesiarium, cum turribus, pilarijs, et columnis, in
quibus nihil prominet indignius auro. Nunquam vel rarò hic exit de suo
palatio cum solis pulchris quos sibi conuocat et conuariat paruis pueris et
puellis, non excedentibus 16. annos ætatis. Tendit dum libet pedibus,
quandoque vectatur equo, interdum ducitur vehiculo, nonnunquam vult ferri
gestatorio, vel certè puellaribus brachijs, et visitat saepissimè praefatum
praeciosius ædificium: atque hijs et modis alijs excogitat delectare visum
pulchris, auditum suauibus, olfactum redolentibus, tactum lenibus, et
gustum pascere delicatis. Electas semper habet praesto 50. puellas ei, et
de proximo exquisitissimè ministrantes tam ad mensam quàm ad cubiculum, et
ad omne libitum.

[Sidenote: Versus.] Hæ ad prandium recumbenti afferunt processionis more
pro singulo ferculo semper 5. genera dapum nobilium cum dulcisonæ
resonantia cantilenæ, quarum aliquæ ei singulos detruncant genu flexo
morsellos, aliquæ ponunt in ore, mundis tergentes comedentis labia mappis.

Nam ipse quidem in mensa continet iacentes manus puras et quietas. Post
deseruitionem ferculi primi, seruitur pro secundo in 5. alijs dapum
generibus modo quo supra, et renouatur in apponendo cantus suauior melodia.

Ista àbsque vlla Domini cura per ministros quotidiè reparantur etiam in
maiori satis quam effor nobilitate, nisi dum ipse pro placito iusserit,
quandoque temperari.

Deliciosius igitur quo vult deducit carnem, non curans animam, sed nec
probitatem curans terrenam, pascit sterilem, et viduæ non benefacit. Et

    Quia viuit sicut porcus,
    Morientem suscipit orcus.

[Sidenote: Longitudo vnguium. Vtunturetiam in Florida principes longis
vnguibus.] Porrò quod eum dixi manus tenere quietas, noueritis nimirum nil
posse manibus capere vel tenere, propter longitudinem, et recuruitatem
vnguium in digitis, qui sibi nullo tempore praescinduntur. Seruatur enim
hoc pro nobili more patriæ, et viri diuites delicati, qui proprios possunt
habere ministros nunquàm sibi dimittunt vngues resecare, vnde et nonnullis
circumdantur vndique manus, acsi uiderentur armatæ.

[Sidenote: Noua historia Chinensis hoc testatur.] Foeminarum autem mos est
nobilis si habeant paruos pedes, vnde et generosarum in cunis strictissimè
simè obuoluuntur, vt vix ad medium debitæ quantitatis excrescere possint.


The English Version.

Of the Customs of Kynges, and othere that dwellen in the Yles costynge to
  Prestre Johnes Lond. And of the Worschipe that the Sone dothe to the
  Fader, whan he is dede.

[Sidenote: Cap. XXXI.] From tho yles, that I have spoken of before, in the
lond of Prestre John, that ben undre erthe as to us, that ben o this half,
and of other yles, that ben more furthere bezonde; who so wil, pursuen hem,
for to comen azen right to pursuen hem, for to comen azen right to the
parties that he cam fro; and so environne alle erthe: but what for the
yles, what for the see, and what for strong rowynge, fewe folk assayen for
to passen that passage; alle be it that men myghte don it wel, that myght
ben of power to dresse him thereto; as I have seyd zou before. And therfore
men returnen from tho yles aboveseyd, be other yles costynge fro the lond
of Prestre John. And thanne comen men in returnynge to an yle, that is
clept Casson: and that yle hathe wel 60 jorrneyes in lengthe, and more than
50 in brede. This is the beste yle, and the beste kyngdom, that is in alle
tho partyes, out taken Cathay. And zif the merchauntes useden als moche
that contre an thei don Cathay, it wolde ben better than Cathay, in a
schort while. This contree is fulle well enhabyted, and so fulle of cytees,
and of gode townes, and enhabyted with peple, that whan a man gothe out of
o cytee, men seen another cytee, evene before hem: and that is what partye
that a man go, in alle that contree. In that yle is gret plentee of alle
godes for to lyve with, and of alle manere of spices. And there ben grete
forestes of chesteynes. The kyng of that yle is fulle ryche and fulle
myghty: and natheles he holt his lond of the grete Chane, and is obeyssant
to hym. For it is on of the 12 provynces, that the grete Chane hathe undre
him, with outen his propre lond, and with outen other lesse yles, that he
hathe: for he hathe fulle manye.

From that kyngdom comen men, in returnynge, to another yle, that is clept
Rybothe: and it is also under the grete Chane. That is a fulle gode
contree, and fulle plentefous of alle godes and of wynes and frut, and alle
other ricchesse. And the folk of that contree han none houses: but thei
dwellen and lyggen all under tentes, made of black ferne, by alle the
contree. And the princypalle cytee, and the most royalle, is alle walled
with black ston and white. And alle the stretes also ben pathed of the same
stones. In that cytee is no man so hardy, to schede Blode of no man, ne of
no best, for the reverence of an ydole, that is worschipt there. And in
that yle dwellethe the pope of hire lawe, that they clepen Lobassy. This
Lobassy zevethe alle the benefices, and alle other dignytees, and all other
thinges, that belongen to the ydole. And alle tho that holden ony thing of
hire chirches, religious and othere, obeyen to him; as men don here to the
Pope of Rome.

In that yle thei han a custom, be alle the contree, that whan the fader is
ded of ony man, and the sone list to do gret worchipe to his fader, he
sendethe to alle his frendes, and to all his kyn, and for religious men and
preestes, and for mynstralle also, gret plentee. And thanne men beren the
dede body unto a gret hille, with gret joye and solempnyte. And when thei
han brought it thider, the chief prelate smytethe of the hede, and leythe
it upon a gret platere of Gold and of sylver, zif so be he be a riche man;
and than he takethe the hede to the sone; and thanne the sone and his other
kyn syngen and seyn manye orisouns: and thanne the prestes, and the
religious men, smyten alle the body of the dede man in peces: and thanne
thei seyn certeyn orisouns. And the fowles of raveyne of alle the contree
abouten knowen the custom of long tyme before, and comen fleenge aboyen in
the eyr, as egles, gledes, ravenes and othere foules of raveyne, that eten
flesche. And than the preestes casten the gobettes of the flesche; and than
the foules eche of hem takethe that he may, and gothe a litille thens and
etethe it: and so thei don whils ony pece lastethe of the dede body. And
aftre that, as preestes amonges us syngen for the dede, _Subvenite sancti
Dei_, &c. right so the preestes syngen with highe voys in hire langage,
beholdethe how so worthi a man, and how gode a man this was, that the
aungeles of God comen for to sechen him, and for to bryngen him in to
paradys. And thanne semethe in to the sone, that he is highliche worschipt,
whan that many briddes and foules and raveyne comen and eten his fader. And
he that hathe most nombre of foules, is most worschiped. Thanne the sone
bryngethe hoom with him alle his kyn, and his frendes, and alle the othere
to his hows, and makethe hem a gret feste. And thanne alle his frendes
maken hire avaunt and hire dalyance, how the fowles comen thider, here 5,
here 6, here 10, and there 20, and so forthe: and thei rejoyssen hem hugely
for to speke there of. And whan thei ben at mete, the sone let brynge
forthe the hede of his fader, and there of he zevethe of the flesche to his
most specyalle frendes, in stede of entre messe, or a sukkarke. And of the
brayn panne, he letethe make a cuppe, and there of drynkethe he and his
other frendes also, with great devocioun, in remembrance of the holy man,
that the aungeles of God han eten. And that cuppe the sone schalle kepe to
drynken of, alle his lif tyme, in remembrance of his fadir.

From that lond, in returnynge be 10 jorneyes thorghe out the lond of the
grete Chane, is another gode yle, and a gret kyngdom, where the kyng is
fulle riche and myghty. And amonges the riche men of his contree, is a
passynge riche man, that is no prince, ne duke ne erl; but he hathe mo that
holden of him londes and other lordschipes: for he is more riche. For he
hathe every zeer of annuelle rente 300000 hors charged with corn of dyverse
greynes and of ryzs: and so he ledethe a fulle noble lif, and a delycate,
aftre the custom of the contree. For he hathe every day, 50 fair damyseles,
alle maydenes, that serven him everemore at his mete, and for to lye be hem
o nyght, and for to do with hem that is to his pleasance. And whan he is at
the table, they bryngen him hys mete at every tyme, 5 and 5 to gedre. And
in bryngynge hire servyse, thei syngen a song. And aftre that, thei kutten
his mete, and putten it in his mouthe; for he touchethe no thing ne
handlethe nought, but holdethe evere more his hondes before him, upon the
table. For he hathe so long nayles, that he may take no thing, ne handle no
thing. For the noblesse of that contree is to have longe nayles, and to
make hem growen alle weys to ben as longe as men may. And there ben manye
in that contree, that han hire nayles so longe, that thei envyronne alle
the hond: and that is a gret noblesse. And the noblesse of the wommen, is
for to haven smale feet and litille: and therfore anon as thei ben born,
they leet bynde hire feet so streyte, that thei may not growen half as
nature wolde; and alle weys theise damyseles, that I spak of beforn, syngen
alle the tyme that this riche man etethe: and whan that he etethe no more
of his firste cours, than other 5 and 5 of faire damyseles bryngen him his
seconde cours, alle weys syngynge, as thei dide beforn. And so thei don
contynuelly every day, to the ende of his mete. And in this manere he
ledethe his lif. And so dide thei before him, that weren his auncestres;
and so schulle thei that comen aftre him, with outen doynge of ony dedes of
armes: but lyven evere more thus in ese, as a swyn, that is fedde in sty,
for to ben made fatte. He hathe a fulle fair palays and fulle riche, where
that he dwellethe inne: of the whiche, the walles ben in circuyt 2 myle:
and he hathe with inne many faire gardynes, and many faire halles and
chambres, and the pawment of his halles and chambres ben of gold and
sylver. And in the myd place of on of his gardynes, is a lytylle mountayne,
wher there is a litylle medewe: and in that medewe, is a litylle toothille
with toures and pynacles, alle of gold: and in that litylle toothille wole
he sytten often tyme, for to taken the ayr and to desporten hym: for that
place is made for no thing elles, but only for his desport.

Fro that contree men comen be the lond of the grete Chane also, that I have
spoken of before.

And ze schulle undirstonde, that of alle theise contrees, and of alle
theise yles, and of alle the dyverse folk, that I have spoken of before,
and of dyverse lawes, and of dyverse beleeves that thei han; zit is there
non of hem alle, but that thei han sum resoun with in hem and
undirstondynge, but zif it be the fewere: and that han certeyn articles of
oure feithe and summe gode poyntes of oure beleeve: and that thei beleeven
in God, that formede alle thinges and made the world; and clepen him God of
Nature, aftre that the prophete seythe, _Et metuent cum omnes fines terre_:
and also in another place, _Omnes gentes servient ei_; that is to seyn,
_Alle folke schalle serven Him_. But zit thei cone not speken perfytly;
(for there is no man to techen hem) but only that thei cone devyse be hire
naturelle wytt. For thei han no knouleche of the Sone, ne of the Holy Gost:
but thei cone alle speken of the Bible: and namely of Genesis, of the
prophetes lawes, and of the Bokes of Moyses. And thei seyn wel, that the
creatures, that thei worschipen, ne ben no goddes: but thei worschipen hem,
for the vertue that is in hem, that may not be, but only be the grace of
God. And of simulacres and of ydoles, thei seyn, that there ben no folk,
but that thei han simulacres: and that thei seyn, for we Cristene men han
ymages, as of Oure Lady, and of othere seyntes, that wee worschipen; nohte
the ymages of tree or of ston, but the seyntes, in whoos name thei ben made
aftre. For righte as the bokes of the Scripture of hem techen the clerkes,
how and in what manere thei schulle beleeven, righte so the ymages and the
peyntynges techen the lewed folk to worschipen the seyntes, and to have hem
in hire mynde, in whoos name that the ymages ben made aftre. Thei seyn
also, that the aungeles of God speken to hem in tho ydoles, and that thei
don manye grete myracles. And thei seyn sothe, that there is an aungele
with in hem: for there ben 2 maner of aungeles, a gode and an evelle; as
the Grekes seyn, Cacho and Calo; this Cacho is the wykked aungelle, and
Calo is the gode aungelle: but the tother is not the gode aungelle, but the
wykked aungelle, that is with inne the ydoles, for to disceyven hem, and
for to meyntenen hem in hire errour.


CAPVT. 50.

De compositione huius tractatus in nobili ciuitate Leodiensi.

In reuertendo igitur venitur ab hac insula per prouincias magnas Imperij
Tartarorum, in quibus semper noua, semper mira, imo nonnunquam incredibilia
viator potest videre, percipere, et audire.

Et Noueritis, vt praedixi, me pauca eorum vidisse, quæ in terris sunt
mirabilium, sed nec hic scripsisse centessimam partem eorum quæ vidi, quod
nec omnia memoriæ commendare potui, et de commendatis multa subticui,
proptèr modestiam, quam decet omnibus actibus addi.

Idcirco vt et alijs, qui vel antè me in partibus illis steterunt, vel ituri
sunt, maneat locus narrandi siue scribendi, modum huius pono tractatus,
potius decurtans quàm complens, quoniam aliàs loquendi non esset finis, nec
aures implerentur auditu.

[Sidenote: Concludit opus suum.] Itàque anno à natiuitate Domini nostri
Iesu Christi 1355. in patriando, cum ad nobilem Legiæ, seu Leodij ciuitatem
peruenissem, et præ grandeuitate ac artericis guttis illic decumberem in
vico qui dicitur, Bassessanemi, consului causa conualescendi aliquos
medicos ciuitatis: Et accidit, Dei nutu, vnum intrare physicum super alios
ætate simul et canicie venerandum, ac in sua arte euidenter expertum, qui
ibidem dicebatur communiter, Magister Ioannes ad barbam.

Is, dum paritèr colloqueremur, interseruit aliquid dictis, per quod tandem
nostra inuicem renouabatur antiqua notitia, quam quondam habueramus in Cayr
Aegypti apud Melech Mandibron Soldanum, prout suprà tetigi in 7. capitulo
libri.

Qui cum in me experientiam artis suæ excellenter monstrasset, adhortabatur
ac praecabatur instanter, vt de hijs quæ videram tempore peregrinationis,
et itinerationis meæ per mundum, aliquid digererem in scriptis ad legendum,
et audiendum pro vtilitate.

Sicque tandem illius monitu et adiutorio, compositus est iste tractatus, de
quo certè nil scribere proposueram, donec saltem ad partes proprias in
Anglia peruenissem. [Sidenote: Edwardus tertius.] Et credo praemissa circa
me, per prouidentiam et gratiam Dei contigisse, quoniam à tempore quo
recessi, duo reges nostri Angliæ, et Franciæ, non cessauerunt inuicem
exercere destructiones, depraedationes, insidias, et interfectiones, inter
quas, nisi à Domino custoditus, non transissem sine morte, vel mortis
periculo, et sine criminum grandi cumulo. Et ecce nunc egressionis meæ anno
33. constitutus in Leodij ciuitate, quæ à mari Angliæ distat solum per duas
diætas, audio dictas Dominorum inimicitias, per gartiam Dei consopitas:
quapropter et spero, ac propono de reliquo secundum maturiorem ætatem me
posse in proprijs, intendere corporis quieti, animaeque saluti.

Hie itaque finis sit scripti, in nomine Patris, et Filij, et spiritus
sancti, AMEN.

Explicit itinerarium à terra Angliæ, in partes Hierosolimitanas, et in
  vlteriores transmarinas, editum primò in lingua Gallicana, à Domino
  Ioanne Mandeuille milite, suo authore, Anno incarnationis Domini 1355. in
  Ciuitate Leodiensi: Et Paulò post in eadem ciuitate, translatum in dictam
  formam Latinam.


The English Version.

There ben manye other dyverse contrees and manye other marveyles bezonde,
that I have not seen: wherfore of hem I can not speke propurly, to telle
zou the manere of hem. And also in the contrees where I have ben, ben many
dyversitees of manye wondir fulle thinges, mo thanne I make mencioun of.
For it were to longe thing to devyse zou the manere. And therfore that that
I have devised zou of certeyn contrees, that I have spoken of before, I
beseche zoure worthi and excellent noblesse, that it suffise to zou at this
tyme. For zif that I devysed zou alle that is bezonde the see, another man
peraunter, that wolde peynen him and travaylle his body for to go in to tho
marches, for to encerche tho contrees, myghten ben blamed be my wordes, in
rehercynge many straunge thynges. For he myghten not seye no thing of newe,
in the whiche the hereres myghten haven outher solace or desport or lust or
lykynge in the herynge. For men seyn alle weys, that newe thynges and newe
tydynges ben plesant to here. Wherfore I wole holde me stille, with outen
ony more rehercyng of dyversiteez or of marvaylles, that ben bezonde, to
that entent and ende, that who so wil gon in to the contrees, he schalle
fynde y nowe to speke of, that I have not touched of in no wyse.

And zee schulle undirstonde, zif it lyke zou, that at myn hom comynge, I
cam to Rome, and schewed my lif to oure holy fadir the Pope, and was
assoylled of alle that lay in my conscience, of many a dyverse grevous
poynt: as men mosten nedes, that ben in company, dwellyng amonges so many a
dyverse folk of dyverse secte and of beleeve, as I have ben. And amonges
alle, I schewed hym this tretys, that I had made aftre informacioun of men,
that knewen of thinges, that I had not seen my self; and also of marveyles
and customes, that I hadde seen my self; as fer as God wolde zeve me grace:
and besoughte his holy fadirhode, that my boke myghten be examyned and
corrected be avys of his wyse and discreet conscille. And oure holy fadir,
of his special grace, remytted my boke to ben examyned and preved be the
avys of his seyd conscille. Be the whiche, my boke was preeved for trewe;
in so moche that thei schewed me a boke, that my boke was examynde by, that
comprehended fulle moche more, ben an hundred part; be the whiche, the
_Mappa Mundi_ was made after. And so my boke (alle be it that many men ne
list not to zeve credence to no thing, but to that that thei seen with hire
eye, ne be the auctour ne the persone never so trewe) is affermed and
preved be oure holy fadir, in maner and forme as I have seyd.

And I John Maundevylle knyghte aboveseyd, (alle thoughe I ben unworthi)
that departed from oure contrees and passed the see, the zeer of grace
1322, that have passed many londes and manye yles and contrees, and cerched
manye fulle straunge places, and have ben in manye a fulle gode honourable
comyanye, and at many a faire dede of armes, (alle be it that I dide none
my self, for myn unable insuffisance) now I am comen hom (mawgree my self)
to reste: for gowtes, artetykes, that me distreynen, tho diffynen the ende
of my labour, azenst my wille (God knowethe). And thus takynge solace in my
wrecched reste, recordynge the tyme passed, I have fulfilled theise thinges
and putte hem wryten in this boke, as it wolde come in to my mynde, the
zeer of grace 1356 in the 34 zeer that I departede from oure contrees.
Wherfore I preye to alle the rederes and hereres of this boke, zif it plese
hem, that thei wolde preyen to God for me: and I schalle preye for hem. And
alle tho that seyn for me a _Pater nostre_, with an _Ave Maria_, that God
forzeve me my synnes, I make hem parteneres, and graunte hem part of alle
the gode pilgrymages and of alle the gode dedes, that I have don, zif ony
be to his plesance: and noghte only of tho, but of alle that evere I
schalle do unto my lyfes ende. And I beseche Almighty God, fro whom alle
godenesse and grace comethe fro, that he vouchesaf, of his excellent mercy
and habundant grace, to fulle fylle hire soules with inspiracioun of the
Holy Gost, in makynge defence of alle hire gostly enemyes here in erthe, to
hire salvacioun, bothe of body and soule; to worschipe and thankynge of
Him, that is three and on, with outen begynnynge and withouten endynge;
that is, with outen qualitee, good, and with outen quantytee, gret; that in
alle places is present, and alle thinges conteynynge; the whiche that no
goodnesse may amende, ne non evelle empeyre; that in perfeyte Trynytee
lyvethe and regnethe God, be alle worldes and be alle tymes. Amen, Amen,
Amen.

       *       *       *       *       *

Richardi Hakluyti breuis admonitio ad Lectorem.

Ioannem Mandeuillum nostratem, eruditum et insignem Authorem (Balaeo,
Mercatore, Ortelio, et alijs, testibus) ab innumeris Scribarum et
Typographorum mendis repurgando, ex multorum, eorumque optimorum
exemplarium collatione, quid praestiterim, virorum doctorum, et eorum
praecipuè, qui Geographiæ et Antiquitatis periti sunt, esto iudicium. Quæ
autem habet de monstriferis hominum formis itinerarij sui praecedentis
capitibus trigessimo, trigessimo primo, trigessimo tertio, et sparsim in
sequentibus, quanquam non negem ab illo fortasse quædam eorum alicubi visa
fuisse, maiori tamen ex parte ex Caio Plinio secundo hausta videntur, vt
facile patebit ca cum his Plinianis, hic ideo a me appositis, collaturo,
quæ idem Plinius, singulis suis authoribus singula refert, in eorum
plærisque fidem suam minimè obstringens. Vale, atque aut meliora dato, aut
his vtere mecum.

       *       *       *       *       *

Ex libro sexto Naturalis historiæ C. Plinij secundi. Cap. 30.

Vniuersa verò gens Ætheria appellata est, deinde Atlantia, mox à Vulcani
filio Æthiope Æthiopia. Animalium hominumque effigies monstriferas circa
extremitates eius gigni minimè mirum, artifici ad formanda corpora
effigiésque caelandas mobilitate ignea. Ferunt certè ab Orientis parte
intimatgentes esse sine naribus. æquali totius oris planitie. Alias
superiore labro orbas, alias sine linguis. Pars etiam ore concreto et
naribus carens, vno tantùm foramine spirat, potùmque calamis auenæ trahit,
et grana eiusdem auenæ, sponte prouenientis ad vescendum; Quibusdam pro
sermone nutus motùsque membrorum est, &c.

       *       *       *       *       *

Ex libro eiusdem Plinij septimo. Cap. 2. cui titulus est, De Scythis, et
  aliarum diversitate gentium.

Esse Scytharum genera, et quidem plura, quæ corporibus humanis vescerentur,
indicauimus. Idipsum incredibile fortasse, ni cogitimus in medio orbe
terrarum, ac Sicilia et Italia fuisse, gentes huius monstri, Cyclopas et
Laestrigonas, et nuperrimè trans Alpes hominem immolari gentium carum more
solitum: quod paulum à mandendo abest. Sed et iuxta eos, qui sunt ad
Septentrionem versi, haud procul ab ipso Aquilonis exortu, specuque eius
dicto, quem locum Gesclitron appellant, produntur Arimaspi, duos diximus,
vno oculo in fronte media insignes: quibus assiduè bellum esse circa
metalla cum gryphis, ferarum volucri genere, quale vulgò traditur, eruente
ex cuniculis aurum, mira cupiditate et feris custodientibus, et Arimaspis
rapientibus, multi, sed maximè illustres Herodotus, et Aristeas
Proconnesius scribunt. Super alios autem Anthropophagos Scythas, in quadam
conualle magna Imai montis, regio est, quæ vocatur Abarimon, in qua
syluestres viuunt homines, auersis post crura plantis, eximiæ velocitatis,
passim cum feris vagantes. Hos in alio non spirare coelo, ideoque ad
finitimos reges non pertrahi, neque ad Alexandrum magnum pertractos, Beton
itinerum eius mensor prodidit. Priores Anthropophagos, quos ad
Septentrionem esse diximus decem dierum itinere supra Borysthenem amnem,
ossibus humanorum capitum bibere, cutibusque cum capillo pro mantelibus
ante pectora vti, Isigonus Nicænsis. Idem in Albania gigni quosdam glauca
oculorum acie, à pueritia statim canos, qui noctu plusquàm interdiu
cernant. Idem itinere dierum x. supra Borysthenem, Sauromatas tertio die
cibum capere semper. Crates Pergamenus in Hellesponto circa Parium, genus
hominum fuisse tradit, quos Ophiogenes vocat serpentum ictus contactu
leuare solitos, et manu imposita venena extrahere corpori. Varro etiam nunc
esse paucos ibi, quorum saliuæ contra ictus serpentum medeantur. Similis et
in Africa gens Psyllorum fuit, vt Agatharchides scribit, à Psyllo rege
dicta, cuius sepulchrum in parte Syrtium maiorum est. Horum corpori
ingenitum fuit virus exitiale serpentibus, vt cuius odore sopirent eas. Mos
verò, liberos genitos protinus obijciendi saeuissimis earum, eòque genere
pudicitiam coniugum experiendi, non profugientibus adulterino sanguine
natos serpentibus. Haec gens ipsa quidem prope internicione sublata est à
Nasamonibus, qui nunc eas tenent sedes: genus tamen hominum ex his qui
profugerant, aut cùm pugnatum est, abfuerant, hodièque remanent in paucis.
Simile et in Italia Marsorum gentis durat, quos à Circes filio ortos
seruant, et ideo inesse ijs vim naturalem eam. Et tamen omnibus hominibus
contra serpentes inest venenum: ferùntque ictas saliua, vt feruentis aquæ
contactum fugere. Quòd si in fauces penetrauerit, etiam mori: idque maximè
humani ieiuni oris. Supra Nasamonis confinésque illis Machlyas, Androginos
esse vtriusque naturæ, inter se vicibus coeuntes, Calliphanes tradit.
Aristoteles adijcit, dextram mamman ijs virilem, lacuam muliebrem esse. In
eadem Africa familias quasdam effascinantium, Isigonus et Nymphodorus
tradunt quarum laudatione intereant probata, arescant arbores, emoriantur
infantes. Esse eiusdem generis in Triballis et Illyrijs, adijcit Isigonus,
qui visu quoque effascinent, interimantque quos diutius intueantur. Iratis
praecipuè oculis: quod eorum malum faciliùs sentire puberes. Notabilius
esse quòd pupillas binas in oculis singulis habeant. Huius generis et
foeminas in Scythia, quæ vocantur Bithyæ, prodit Apollonides. Philarchus et
in Ponto Thibiorum genus, multosque alios eiusdem naturæ: quorum notas
tradit in altero oculo geminam pupillam, in altero equi effigiem. Eosdem
praetereà non posse mergi, ne veste quidem degrauatos. Haud dissimile ijs
genus Pharnacum in Æthiopia prodidit Damon, quorum sudor tabem contactis
corporibus afferat. Foeminas quidem omnes vbique visu nocere, quæ duplices
pupillas habeant, Cicero quoque apud nos autor est. Adeò naturæ, cùm
ferarum morem vescendi humanis visceribus in homine genuisset, gignere
etiam in toto corpore et in quorundam oculis quoque venena placuit: ne quid
vsquam mali esset, quod in homine non esset. Haud procul vrbe Roma in
Faliscorum agro familiæ sum paucæ, quæ vocantur Hirpiæ: quæ sacrificio
annuo, quod fit ad montem Soractem Apollini, super ambustam ligni struem
ambulantes non aduruntur. Et ob id perpetuo senatusconsulto militiæ
omniumque aliorum numerum vacationem habent. Quorundam corpore partes
nascuntur ad aliqua mirabiles sicut Pyrrho regi pollex in dextero pede:
cuius tactu lienosis medebatur. Hunc cremari cum reliquo corpore non
potuisse tradunt, conditumque loculo in templo. Praecipuè India Æthiopumque
tractus, miraculis scatent. Maxima in India gignuntur animalia, Indicio
sunt canes grandioris caeteris. Arbores quidem tantæ proceritatis
traduntur, vt sagittis superari nequeant. Haec facit vbertas soli,
temperies coeli, aquarum abundantia (si libeat credere) vt sub vna ficu
turmæ condantur equitum. Arundines verò tantæ proceritatis, vt singula
internodia alueo nauigabili ternos interdum homines ferant. Multos ibi
quina cubita constat longitudine excedere: non expuere: non capitis, aut
dentium, aut oculorum vllo dolore affici, rarò aliarum corporis partium:
tam moderato Solis vapore durari. Philosophos eorum quos Gymnosophystas
vocant, ab exortu ad Occasum praestare, contuentes Solem immobilibus
oculis: feruentibus harenis toto die alternis pedibus insistere. In monte
cui nomen est Milo, homines esse auersis plantis, octonos digitos in
singulis pedibus habentes, autor est Megasthenes. In multis autem montibus
genus hominum capitibus caninis, ferarum pellibus velari, pro voce latratum
edere, vnguibus armatum venatu et aucupio vesci. Horum supra centum viginti
millia fuisse prodente se, Ctesias scribit: et in quadam gente Indiæ,
foeminas semel in vita parere, genitosque confestim canescere. Item hominum
genus, qui Monosceli vocarentur, singulis cruribus, miræ pernicitatis ad
saltum: eosdemque Sciopodas vocari, quòd in maiori æstu humi iacentes
resupini, vmbra se pedum protegant, non longè eos à Troglodytis abesse.
Rursusque ab his Occidentem versus quosdam sine ceruice, oculos in humeris
habentes. Sunt et Satyri subsolanis Indorum montibus (Cartadalorum dicitur
Regio) pernicissimum animal, tum quadrupedes, tum rectè currentes humana
effigie propter velocitatem, nisi senes aut ægri, non capiuntur.
Choromandarum gentem vocat Tauron siluestrem sine voce, stridoris horrendi,
hirtis corporibus, oculis glaucis, dentibus caninis. Eudoxus in meridianis
Indiæ viris plantas esse cubitales, foeminis adeò paruas, vt Struthopodes
appellentur. Megastenes gentem inter Nomadas Indos narium loco foramina
tantùm habentem, anguium modo loripedem, vocarit Syrictas. Ad extremos
fines Indiæ ab Oriente, circa fontem Gangis, Astomorum gentem sine ore,
corpore toto hirtam vestiri frondium lanugine, halitu tantùm viuentem et
odore quem naribus trahant: nullum illis cibum, nullumque potum: tantum
radicum florumque varios odores et syluestrium malorum, quæ secum portant
longiore itinere, ne desit olfactus, grauiore paulò odore haud difficulter
examinari. Supra hos extrema in parte montium Spithamaei Pygmaei narrantur,
ternas spithamas longitudine, hoc est, ternos dodrantos non excedentes,
salubri caelo, sempérque vernante, montibus ab Aquilone oppositis, quos à
gruibus infestari Homerus quoque prodidit: Fama est, insidentes arietum,
caprarumque dorsis, armatos sagittis, veris tempore, vniuerso agmine ad
mare descendere, et oua pullosque earum alitum consumere, ternis
expeditionem eam mensibus confici, aliter futuris gregibus non resisti.
Casas eorum luto, pennisque, et ouorum putaminibus construi. Aristotelis in
cauernis viuere Pygmaeos tradit. Caetera de his, vt reliqui. Cyrnos Indorum
genus Isigonus annis centenis quadragenis viuere. Item Aethiopas
Marcrobios, et Seras existimat, et qui Athon montem incolant: hos quidem
quia viperinis carnibus alantur, itaque nec capiti, nec vestibus eorum
noxia corpori inesse animalia. Onesicritus, quibus in locis Indiæ vmbræ non
sint, corpora hominum cubitorum quinum, et binorum palmorum existere, et
viuere annos centum triginta, nec senescere, sed vt medio æuo mori. Crates
Pergamenus Indos, qui centenos annos excedant Gymnætas appelat, non pauci
Macrobios. Ctesias gentem ex his, quæ appellatur Pandore, in conuallibus
sitam, annos ducenos viuere, in iuuenta candido capillo, qui in senectute
nigrescat. Contra alios quadragenos non excedere annos, iunctos Macrobijs,
quorum foeminæ semel pariant: idque et Agatharchides tradit, prætereà
locustis eos ali, et esse pernices. Mandrorum nomen ijs dedit Clitarchus et
Megastenes, trecentosque eorum vicos annumerat. Foeminas septimo ætatis
anno parere, senectam quadragesimo anno accedere. Artemidorus, in Taprobana
insula longissimam vitam sine vllo corporis languore traduci. Duris,
Indorum quosdam cum feris coire, mistosque et semiferos esse partus. In
Calingis eiusdem Indiæ gente quinquennes concipere foeminas, octauum vitæ
annum non excedere, et alibi cauda villosa homines nasci pernicitatis
eximiæ, alios auribus totos contegi. Oritas ab Indis Arbis fluuius
disterminat. Ii nullum alium cibum nouere, quàm piscium, quos vnguibus
dissectos sole torreant, atque ita panem ex his faciunt, vt refert
Clitarchus. Troglodytas super Aethiopiam velociores esse equis, Pergamenus
Crates. Item Aethiopas octona cubita longitudine excedere. Syrbotas vocari
gentem eam Nomadum Aethiopum, secundùm flumen Astapum ad Septentrionem
vregentium. [Marginal note: Vel vergentium.] Gens Menisminorum appellata,
abest ab oceana dierum itinere viginti, animalium que Cynocephalos vocamus,
lacte viuit, quorum armenta pacscit maribus interemptis, praeterquam
sobolis causa. In Africæ solitudinibus hominum species obuiæ subinde fiunt,
momentoque euanescunt. Haec atque talia, ex hominum genere ludibria sibi,
nobis miracula, ingeniosa fecit natura: et singula quidem, quæ facit
indies, ac propè horas, quis enumerare valeat? Ad detegendam eius
potentiam, satis sit inter prodigia posuisse gentes.


END OF MANDEVILLE'S VOYAGES.

       *       *       *       *       *

Anthony Beck bishop of Durisme was elected Patriarch of Hierusalem, and
  confirmed by Clement the fift bishop of Rome: in the 34 yere of Edward
  the first. Lelandus.

Antonius Beckus episcopus Dunelmensis fuit, regnante Edwardo eius
appelationis ab aduentu Gulielmi magni in Angliam primo. Electus est in
patriarcham Hierosolymitanum anno Christo 1305, et a Clemente quinto Rom.
pontifice confirmatus. Splendidus erat supra quàm decebat episcopum.
Construxit castrum Achelandæ, quatuor passuum millibus a Dunelmo in ripa
Vnduglessi fluuioli. Elteshamum etiam vicinum Grenouico, ac Somaridunum
castellum Lindianæ prouinciæ, ædificijs illustria reddidit. Deinde et
palatium Londini erexit, quod nunc Edwardi principis est. Tandem ex
splendore nimio, et potentia conflauit sibi apud nobilitatem ingentem
inuidiam, quam viuens nunquam extinguere potuit. Sed de Antonio, et eius
scriptis fusiùs in opere, cuius titulus de pontificibus Britannicis,
dicemus. Obijt Antonius anno a nato in salutem nostram Christo, 1310,
Edwardo secundo regnante.


The same in English.

Anthony Beck was bishop of Durisme in the time of the reigne of Edward the
first of that name after the inuasion of William the great into England.
This Anthony was elected patriarch of Ierusalem in the yeere of our Lord
God 1305, and was confirmed by Clement the fift, pope of Rome. He was of
greater magnificence then for the calling of a bishop. He founded also the
castle of Acheland foure miles from Durisme, on the shore of a prety riuer
called Vnduglesme. [Footnote: Probably Barnard Castle, on the Tees.] He
much beautified with new buildings Eltham mannor nere vnto Greenwich, and
the castle Somaridune in the county of Lindsey. [Footnote: Lindsey is the
popular name for the north part of County Lincoln.] And lastly, he built
new out of the ground the palace of London, which now is in possession of
prince Edward. Insomuch, that at length, through his ouer great
magnificence and power he procured to himselfe great enuy among the
nobility, which he could not asswage during the rest of his life. But of
this Anthony and of his writings we will speake more at large in our booke
intituled of the Britain bishops. This Anthony finished his life in the
yere of our Lord God, 1310, and in the reigne of king Edward the second.

       *       *       *       *       *

Incipit Itinerarium fratris Odorici fratrum minorum de mirabilibus
  Orientalium Tartarorum.

Licet multa et varia de ritibus et conditionibus huius mundi enarrentur a
multis, ego tamen frater Odoricus de foro Iulij de portu Vahonis, volens ad
partes infidelium transfretare, magna et mira vidi et audiui, quæ possum
veracitèr enarrare. Primò transiens Mare Maius me de Pera iuxta
Constantinopolim transtuli Trapesundam, quæ antiquitùs Pontus vocabatur:
Haec terra benè situata est, sicut scala quaedam Persarum et Medorum, et
eorum qui sunt vltra mare. In hac terra vidi mirabile quod mihi placuit,
scilicet hominem ducentem secum plusquam 4000 perdicum. Homo autem per
terram gradiebatur, perdices vero volabant per aera, quas ipse ad quoddam
castrum dictum Zauena duxit, distans à Trapesunda per tres dietas. Hæ
perdices illius conditionis erant, cùm homo ille quiescere voluit, omnes se
aptabant circa ipsum, more pullorum gallinarum, et per illum modum duxit
eas vsque ad Trapesundam, et vsque ad palatium imperatoris, qui de illis
sumpsit quot voluit, et residu

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