Notwithstanding that the modernes founded on a contrarie opinion and ocular reason affirme the length thereof to bee from the West too the East 110. miles and the whole circuite 160. Pompone sayth that there were in it fiue cities Antissa Pyra Eresson Ciraue and Mytilene of which the whoâ—e Ile beareth the name But Seruie calleth it Methine howsoeuer it be Strabo spake aright where he sayeth it to haue two great ports the one on the direct South able to hold aboue fiftie gallies and many other vessels The other being great sure and deepe hauing at the entrie thereof a small Iland but where he sayth the second to lye on the North part he may by the view eisight onely be reproued being in deed towards the East Of the Citie of Mytelene was Pithagore one of the seuen sages of Grecia Alcee the Poet and his brother Antimenides a man most valiant at arms Theophraste Phanie Philosophers Peripatetiques familiar friends of Aristotle likewise ArioÌ„ the most excellent player on the harp of whom Herodote speaketh very fable like saying that he being by certaine theeues cast into the Sea was by a Dolphin brought safe and sound to the porte of Tenare Of thence was also Terpandre the famous MusitioÌ„ which ioined the seueÌ„th string to the quadricord after the likenesse of the seuen straying starres Sapho a woman most welâ— learned in poetrie was also a Lesbian being called the x. Muse numbred amongst the ix Poets Liâ—iques She inuented the verses which after her name are called Saphic being very feruently in loue with Phaon who being gone into Sicilia fearing that she was not beloued of him againe in a fury rage of a loue dismeasured she cast her selfe downe headlong from the mount Epyre into the Sea In our time are sproâ—g out of the same two so happie renowned Coursaries brethreÌ„ Cairadni Ariadne Barberousse which being gone as being two of the poorest of the Ile to seek their adueÌ„ture vppon the Sea were so fauorably coÌ„ducted by fortune that they both are happily disceased with the name title of kings of Alger The first inhabitaÌ„ts of this yle after the saying of Diadore were the Pelasgiens for after the Xanthe the sonne of Priape king of the Pelasgiens had part of the Segniorie of Letia went to Lesbos which theÌ„ was not inhabited after the palasgiens succeeded the Eoliens after was subiect to the Empire of Persia after that to the MacedoniaÌ„s finally vnder the Emperours of Grecia vntill such time as the Emperor Calo Iani being driuen away by Cartacusan and afterwards recouered â—he empire through the ayd of Catalusio of Genua gaue vnto him in recompence of the help succour which he had done vnto hym for him his posterity the Lordship domination ouer thys yle Notwithstanding since that the Turkes haue made dyuers rodes spoiles into the same thei haue finally brought it vnder their puissance dominioÌ„ She produceth of the best wines that are in al Graecia great quantity of al good fruits for althogh the moste part of the yle is hilly and sauage yet is therein the middest therof a valley very good and fruitful Of our nauigation from the yle of Metelin to Galliopoli Chap. 10 FRoÌ„ Metelin we sailed aloÌ„g by Natolia or little Asia vnto the promontory of Sigee by the moderns called the cape of Ianissaries right against which by the distaÌ„ce of 10. miles is the yle of Tenedon so called of one Tenes which first peopled y e same and there founded a city which he called after his name Plinie in his naturall history writeth that in this yle there is a fountain which by natural vertue from the third houre of the Solsticium vnto the sixt doth so abound of water that for a certaine tyme she batheth and watereth the whole plaine of the yle and afterwards during the rest of the yeere remaineth dry ful of clifts Strabo also affyrmeth that without the city of Tenedon was the teÌ„ple of Neptune greatly reuerenced by the concurrence of the people which of al parts came vnto it Alongest this side betweene the port of Sigee and the floud Xanthus otherwise called Scamander are seuen diuers ruines and peeces of walles fouÌ„dations colomnes pillers and other monuments of the great and ancient city of Troy by the elders so much celebrated whiche ruines by their long large extending which they shew is made apparant the greatnes and magnificence of the sayd so renowmed in the end most infortunate city The riuer Scamander being aboue it comming from the bottom of the mouÌ„t Ida which is clothed with al maner of trees as pinetrees Serapins Cypres Terebinths Iemuers other trees great litle Aroma ticque ruÌ„neth softly aloÌ„g the vally of Mesaulon so issueth into the sea froÌ„ thence we entred the streit of HellespoÌ„t for the safegard wherof there are 2. strong castles builded by Mehemet the 2. coÌ„querour of Constantinople the one on the one side of Europe at Charronesse Thracien the other in little Asia in the same places as they of the countrie do affirm where somtimes were the 2. castles of Seste Abyde so renowmed by the fables of the poets in memory of the loue of LeaÌ„der Hero Seste whiche is in Europe is cituated at the foot of a mouÌ„tain wherof the circuit is made after the form of a double clauer leafe to wyt with 2. towers one within another euery one made in 3. halfe circles the great coÌ„passe of the wal in form of a triaÌ„gle which haue at euery corner a tower which beateth defendeth the other for this castle is alwaies hath bin wel prouided of men munition the other on the side of Asia wheras stood Abyde is more new strong theÌ„ Seste for it is in form 4. square cituated in a plain marish the most faire and fruitfull as in anye place hath bin seen aswel for gardens fruits tillage grounds and pastures which are about it as for the riuer of Simois wherwith it is watered which comming from the mount Ida as doth the ScamaÌ„der runneth along by the castle so issueth into the sea the castle as I haue begun to say is in form 4. square hauing on euery corner a rouÌ„d tower in the middest of the base court a high tower 4. square like vnto a platform which beateth coÌ„mandeth of al parts al wel indifferently raÌ„parded ditched furnished of good ordinaÌ„ce specially the curtines which beateth al along vpon the water too the seaward For oftentimes they are assaulted on that side Before the gate on the side of the Bourg there is a great place to keep their markets in a faire Mosquee The gard hauing with a loud voyce requested vs to come neer the shore we came to an anker very nigh the castle wherin when our patrone would followe
report great praise of Vlisses For that he knew many mens manners and saw many cities And as histories beare witnesse of Mithridates the King of Pontus whose peregrinations and expeditions into forreyne landes was so beneficiall that besides a number of vnnamed commoditities he had the exquisite vse of two and twenty sundry tongues But nowe Right honorable and Noble to stop this flowing streame of wordes I leaue to the leuell of your exact considerations the manifold vtilities of peregrination because you are completely furnished with knowledge and experience in that behalfe not seuered but vnited Beseeching you to accept at my handes with no lesse fauour and well liking than is presented with hearty goodwill and honest meaning a work extant in French published in Duitch now printed in English at my costes charges for the general profite pleasure of the studious and al such as delight in nouelties Wherin thinges no lesse straunge and true are remembred than eyther Christopherus Colonus noteth in his voyage to the Indies or Petrus Martyr de Angleria mentioneth of the West Ocean ylandes or Gonzalus Ferdinandus Ouiedus specifieth of the occidentall Indies or Ludouicus Wertomannus rehearseth of Arabia Aegypt Persia Syria Aethiopia c. or Maximilian Transiluan recordeth of the wonderfull nauigation of the Spaniards rounde about the worlde c. Hoping that your Honorable wisedomes wil esteeme of it as the commendable labours of an aduenturous and skilfull trauelled Gentleman doth requyre which is the vttermost and indeede all in all that I can wish sauing health and happye dayes to your Honors with the fulnesse of all vertue and perfect noblenesse Your Honors most humble to be commanded Iohn Stell The first Booke of the nauigations and peregrinations Orientals of Nicholas de Nicholaij of Daulphine Chamberlaine and Geographar Ordinarie of the King of Fraunce The departure and voyage of the Lorde of Aâ—amont Ambassadour for the King towardes the great Turke from Constantinople to returne into Fraunce Chap. 1. ABout the end of the yeere of our Lord 1550. The Lord of Aramont a wyse vertuous Gentleman after he had for many yeeres bin Ambassadour for the most Christian kings Frauncis the first of that name and Henrie the 2. towardes Soliman Emperour of the Turkes about certain affaires greatly importing his charge was by the said Soliman sent backe into Fraunce and departing froÌ„ the citie of Constantinople aunciently called Bizance and of the Turks Stambolda hauing trauayled through the countries of Thracia Macedonia Bulgaria and surmounted the height and sharpnesse of the mount Rhodope vulgarly called the mountes of siluer because of the siluer mynes that there are found and passed Morannia Bossina and Seruia whiche by the auncients was called Mysia differing from those whiche are in Asia came to Ragusa in times past called Epidauia a citie in Dalmatia most rich and famous cituated vpon the Sea Adriatique gouerned in common wealth as hereafter in his place shalbe declared From thence inbarking himselfe in a Brigantin passed along by the Goulphe Adriatique the coasts of Dalmatia Slauonia the Ile of Istria vnto the cytie of Venice afterwardes taking his iourney by land towardes Padoa Vincence Veronne Bresse other towns of the Seigniorie of Venice of the Grisons Switsers arriued in the end at Lyons and from thence to Roane where hee imbarked vppon the riuer of Loyre repayred to the king beyng in the citie of Blois where his maister did receyue hym with all royall humanitie and hauing well and at large vnderstanded the proceedinges in his charge and the cause of his comming often putting the same to the deliberation of his counsell his returne was finallye concluded and resolued and that for the more suretie of his voyage he shoulde returne by Sea To which intent and in consideration of his vertue and seruice hauing already honourably endued him with the estate of a Gentleman ordinarie of his chamber hee gaue vnto hym two Gallies of the best and best furnished that were within the haueÌ„ of Marseillie ordayned the knight of Seur a man of great experience and excellent iudgement to accompany him with his galliot well appointed and I for certaine causes was by his maiestie expressely commaunded to assist him in all places during his voyage The departure of the Lorde of Arramont from the Court to returne in his ambassadge into Leuant towardes the greate Turke Chap. iâ— THE sayde Lorde of Arramount thus beeyng dispatched with all thinges necessary for his voyage hauing taken his leaue of his maiestie and of all the Princes and Lordes of hys counsell we departed from Hoyron a house in Poytou moste faire and stately belonging vnto Monsieur de Boissij Knyght of the order and greate maister of his Maiesties horse about the last of May 1551. and in fewe dayes after beyng come to Lyons we embarked vpon the Rhone a riuer being one of the swiftest of al Europe to go downe into Auignion where my Lady of Aramount of most feruent desire and singuler affection was attending her husbande as hauing byn depriued of his presence more then tenne yeeres And there being arriued he was of her receyued wyth incredible ioye and contentation as also of the Gentlemen and Ladies dwelling within the Citie and thereaboutes his kinsmen and Allies who all came to visite and bidde him welcome Afterwardes about the ende of the fifteenth daye after wee had rested ourselues the Ambassadour being mindfully bent to his charge hauing sette an order in his housholde affaires and taken his leaue of all parties sent downe his traine by water himselfe went by land accompanied with his kinsfolke certain Gentlemen went to visit the countie of Tende gouernor Lieuetenant general for the king in Prouince at his house at Marignane the day folowing they both arriued at Marseillie were lodged in the kings lodging where within few dayes after the Ambassador was takeÌ„ with a grieuous sickenes which persecuted him so violeÌ„tly that men dispayred of his life NotwithstaÌ„ding he was so diligently tended succoured of God men that before the captain Coste his Lieuetenant had giuen order for the ful rigging of his gallies the knight de la Seure his Galliot he recouered his health so as the iiii day of the moneth of Iulie in the yeere before specified about euensong time the Ambassadour his coÌ„pany imbarked in his gallies The ankers being weied by force of oares we went to the yle of If distant froÌ„ Marseillye one mile at the fortresse wherof my Lord the county of Tende accompanied with the great prior of Rome the Lord of Carses the captain Marse captain Pier bon captain of the said fortresse diuers other captaines gentlemen souldiers with xv gallies there caused a supper to be prepared And after the table was takeÌ„ vp and leaue taken of both parties the said countie with his companie
returned to Marseillie we about the first watch sayled straight towards the port of Carry beyng distant froÌ„ the yle of If xij miles at which place we made prouision of fresh water for our gallies and reuiewe of the Gentlemen souldiers and other of our company the principal wherof were the afore named Knight de Seure with his Galliot The Lorde of Monteuand Daulphinois a manne at armes of the company of the saide countie of Tende with a frigat to accompany vs and to bring backe newes from vs. The Captayn Coste Lieuetenant of the Ambassadours gallies a nephew of his called Erasme The Lord of S. Veran brother vnto my Lady of Arramont The young Baron of London and the Lord Fleâ—ri both nephewes to the Ambassador the knight of Magliane the Lord of Corignac chamberlaine ordinary vnto the king who for his very long voyages and trauailes in the kings affaires in Leuant was after the said Lord of Arramont made chiefe Ambassadour but notwithstanding afterwards cleane forgetting the honour and good which he had receiued of the king his soueraine Lord and the crowne of Fraunce contrary to that whiche duty fidelity commanded him went ouer to the king of Spayne The Lord of Vilrailh also chamberlaine ordinary vnto the king a gentleman learned and of singuler experience who for that he had the duitch tongue besides the Latine and other languages very familiarly hath since diuers times vnder the reigne and commandement of king Henrie byn very honorably and happily imploied in great and honorable affaires towards the Princes and Potentates of Germanie the holy empyre Three gentlemen of Gascoignie being brethren called Iueuses the Lord of Saint Marie the Lord De la motte otherwise called Chasteau Regnaud the captaines la castelle Barges and Bartolome de Auignon Guiliam de Grantrie nephew of Monsieur de Laubespine presently elected and sent to Constantinople as other Ambassadors a nephew of mine called Claude de Bayard and diuers other of whom for auoyding of prolixity I leaue to speake The reuiewe being thus made and hauing returned on shore certaine vnfit eaters our ankers being weyed and our sailes displayed we sayled along by East and by North towardes the North of the cape De creo in Cathalonia which the Spaniardes call Capo de Creuses and after hauing passed Grece Tramontane sailed through the Spanish Seas towards the Iles Baleares so aunciently called but by the modernes Maiorque and Minorque whereof passing forwarde wee will make some more description Of the Iles Baleares now called Maiorqúe and Minorqúe Chap. 3. THE yles Baleares whiche were so called and deriued out of the name of Balee coÌ„panion vnto Hercules althogh the Grecians haue named them Gimnesie Diodore Gimnaisis yet are they vulgarely by the Mariners called Maiorque and Minorque being situated in the Spanishe or Beleare Sea according to the name of the saide ylandes The inhabitaunts whereof as Vegece writeth were the first inuenters of casting with the sling Maiorque after the opinion of Bordon in his Isolarie conteineth in circuite 480. myles although the maryners now adayes doe ascribe vnto it but 200 and in breadth 100. about whiche Iles there are certaine shelues wherof the one which lyeth towardes the South is called Cabrera the other towardes the West Dragonera The saide Ilande hath two cities Palme nowe called Maiorque or Mallorque accorcording to the name of the Iland and Polence now called Alcidia Minorque hath in length 60. miles in circuit 150. to the East stretcheth from Maiorque 30. miles hath also according to the modernes two cities of which the one is called Minorque but aunciently Mugo and the other Iamma nowe called Citadella And although Minorque is lesse then Maiorque yet in goodnesse nothing inferiour for certainely both are very fertile and haue good ports Of the Iles by the auntients called the Pitieous Iles and nowe Ieuâ—â—e and Fromentiere Chap. 4. FRom the Baleares wee sayled towardes the Iles called Pitious which in times past were called Ebuse and Ophicuse â—â— that all the people moued at it runne to the mole head to see vs enter into the port where we being entred Cotignac was again sent with the Chiaous to the king to aduertise him of our arriual who stayed not but straightwayes ther came with him diuers other Chiaous captaines and Ianissaries to receiue the Ambassadour presenting him with a fayre horse of Turkie harnished after the fashion of a Spanish Gennet to bring him to the pallace which standeth in the middest of the citie wher comming in good order we entred into the lower court from whence the Chiaous which first was come with Cotignac conducting vs brought vs into another court somthing lesse then the first in the midst wherof was a smal pond foursquare paued with marble stones And at the end which is toward the South stood against the wal a great fountain for the common seruice of the house and at one of the sides was a great stayre of wood whiche did ascende into a long gallerie standing vpon pillers some of diuers marber stones some of white stone in the middest of the pauement which was of Marberstone made very artificially a small fountaine beeing no higher set then the pauement besides a seate which did enuiron it The king being apparelled in a gowne of whyte Damaske sate at the ende of the said Gallerie vpon a very fayre and costly seat a little from hym was his Capi-aga which is the Captain of his estate cloathed in a long gowne of crymson Veluet wyth a Tulbant vppon his head holding in hys hande a long staffe of siluer neare vnto hym were his Capagis which are Porters euerye one hauing in his hand a staffe couloured greene a little further were in a range the kings slaues bearyng on theyr heads a Saracoll of Crymson veluet and before the front the bande a siluer socket set with long feathers and certaine stones of small value And there the Ambassadour hauing done his reuereÌ„ce to the king in kyssyng of hys handes the kyng caused him to sit downe by him and after certaine talke the Ambassadour shewed hym his commission and so tooke his leaue of him and returning too his Gallies was accompanied by those whiche brought him vp The whole day after we were visited of a great number of Turks Moores to whom of our partes was made good cheere during foure dayes the king sent to vs euery day sixe oxen and xxi muttons The captaynes of the Gallies of Alger and other Turks and Moores brought vnto vs all sortes of frutes as Peares Apples Figs Reasons and millons of excellent goodnesse certain bread without leauen like vntoo cakes or bunnes To eueri of theÌ„ was giuen som money which increased their good will to returne often For in al the world is no nation like to them in theft and couetuousnes we
the Sea Mediterane giuen all to whoredome sodometrie theft and all other most detestable vices lyuing onely of rouings spoyles pilling at the Seas and the Ilande beyng about them and with their practick art bryng dayly too Algera number of pore Christians which they sell vnto the Moores and other merchauntes of Barbarie for slaues who afterwarde transport them and sell them where they thinke good or els beating them miserably wyth staues doo imploy and constraine them too woorke in the fields and in all other vile and abiect occupations and seruitude almost intollerable And therfore it is not to be marueyled at though these poore Christian slaues made of it no scruple at all in putting of vs in danger to set themselues at libertie Without the Citie towardes the West are manye fayre and pleasaunte Gardens sette and adourned with diuers trees brynging foorth fruites of all sortes Amongest other thinges there bee milons of marueylous goodnesse and incomparable sweetnesse they haue also another frute called Pateque which the Italians call Anguries beeing like in bignesse and colour to our greene citrouilles in winter which they eate rawe wythout bread or salt and hath a tast so delicate sweete that it melteth in ones mouth giuing a water as it were sugred and serue greatly to refresh and digest About theyr Gardens are many Welles full of good water and the grounde there aboutes although it is mountaines and vallies is verie fertile for frutes and vines On the other part towards the East wythout the towne runneth into the Sea a small riuer called Sauo which serueth well aswell to drinke of as other commodities and also maketh many mylles to grynde The course of the Sea from the Cape of Marfuz where as yet are seene the foundations of the auncient citie Tipasa which in times paste was by the Emperours of Rome honoured in prayse of the countrie Latine doth bow wind lyke vnto a Crosbowlath and all along the riuer and the shoare the Moorishe women and mayden slaues of Alger doe goe too washe theyr lynnen being commonly whole naked sauing that they weare a peece of cotton cloath of some strange colour to couer their secrete partes which notwithstanding for a litle peece of money they will willinglie vncouer They weare also for an ornament about theyr necke armes and legges great collers or bracelets of latten set wyth certaine false stones But as for the wiues of the Turkes or Moores they are not seene goe vncouered for they weare a greate Bernuche made of a blanket of white blacke or violet colour which couereth theyr whole body and the head And to the end yee shoulde more easilye comprehende the maner of all theyr apparrel I haue thought good in the ende of this present Chapter liuelye too sette foorth vnto you a woman as shee goeth in the streete and a maiden Moore beeing a slaue The seconde daye after our arriuall at Alger I founde the meanes for moneye and withe fayre woordes too hyre a renyed Spaniarde too conducte and leade mee thorowe all places that I most desired too see So as by his meanes I saw and learned many things within iiii or v. dayes that we were there in quiet And namely brought me vpon a high mountaine being a myle from the towne to see behold the cituation of a very strong and great tower beeyng buylded vpon another mountaine there neere about gently enquiring of him what strength the tower might be of he declared vnto me that the bredth of the ditches about the same was xvij brases sauing about the gate entry into it towardes the North it was only seuen fadomes broade and twoo speare lengths deep Moreouer he saide vnto me that within the fortresse there were niene great cast pieces and xviij other as wel mynions as faw conets other and that in the middest of the tower there was a wel of very good water vpon the height therof standing a windemill and another standing without the gates And that xxx ordinary souldiers are committed within it to keep the same And to make shorte that this tower was made to none other intent as also others since haue confirmed then for the garding and keeping of the fountayne heads which from thence are brought and conueyed vnder the water into the citie A Woman Moorisque of Alger in Barbarie as she goeth in the streetes A Mayden Moorisque being a slaue in Alger By what meanes Cairadin Barberousse came to be king of Alger Chap. 9. ALger was long time vnder the dominion of the king of Telensin vntil such time as they of Bugie chose a newe Kyng vnto whom they gaue and rendred them selues as his tributaries because he was neerer vnto them then the king of Telensin and that he could sooner helpe them if need were But in processe of time perceiuing themselues to bee as it were free and out of al doubt armed certaine shippes too the sea wyth the which they became suche Coursaires or pirates that in short time they annoyed by their pyracies robberies on the Sea not onely the coast of Spayne but also all the Mediterane ylandes Whiche perceiuing Ferdinando the king Catholike sent to Alger a great army to assiege them for to keep them in most distresse caused with a marueilous readinesse a forte to be made in a smal yland which lyeth before the citie keeping them by that meanes so straightly besieged that in short time they were constrained to require a truce for ten yeeres Which was agreed vnto them vpon condition of a certayne tribute which they payed vntill the death of king Ferdinando for then they espying a conuenient tyme and meanes too breake the truce and to set them selues at liberty called vnto them Cairadin Barba-rousse who after the siege of Bone retired to the castle of Gegill standing in the coast of the Mediterane Sea vppon the toppe of a high rock 70. myles from Bugie who being by them chosen too be their chiefe captaine gaue many fierce assaults vnto the fortresse so as he put the Spaniards too flight and incontinent after caused it to be ruined and pulled downe euen to the foundation He then seyng so happy successe of his enterprise could no longer abyde to be as companion but in a bath traiterously slew a prince of Arabie called Selim who declared himself to be Lord of the Citie Afterwardes forsaking the name of a Captayne any longer caused himselfe to be called king and coyned money vnder his name and so wel guided his affayres that in short time after he brought all his neighbours about him to become contributory vnto him Such was the beginning of the magnificent estate of Cariedin Barbe-rousse after whose death his brother Hariadne succeeded him in the kingdome after him his sonne Cassam who reigned at the time we arriued there Of the further procession of our Nauigation Chap. x. TO returne to the discourse of our nauigation
which I left at the Cape Matafuz from whēce hauing soiourned there a night we departed in the morning the wind was so contrary that it forced vs to come to an anker neere to the cape Tedele at which place we saw within a great rocke a deep entrance being 2. flight shot long into the whiche the sea entreth euen to the very bottom where we entred with our skiffe euen to the halfe way of it and thinking to passe on further we founde so great a number of straunge myce that we were constrayned to turne back so were we persecuted And so for feare they should pisse on our heades their pisse being venimous we were forced to couer vs and to wrappe our selues in our cloakes This parte of the sea is very ful of mountaines and great rockes Approching the citie of Tedele are certayne valleyes very fertile of vines gardens and fruitful trees and we there lying at anker certaine of the citie for our money brought vnto vs sundry victuals fruits and melons In the euening we took in fresh water out of a wel being a little beyond our gallies in the morning with a fauourable winde hauing doubled the cape we passed along the towne of Tedele of which I shal make here a brief description Of the towne Teddel and of the Inhabitants thereof Chap. 11. TEddel is a citie conteining about 2000. harthsteeds cituated vpon the sea Mediterane 60. myles from Alger at the bottom of a mountaine on the hanging o◠a great rocke On the midst of the mountain is a litle castel from the which along goeth a wall stretching to that of the citie The Affricans first did edifie it and at this present is inhabited of a people very merry and pleasant For for the most part of them they are giuen to the exercise of the harpe and Lute Their principal craft and occupation is fishing and dying of wolles and cloth by reason of diuers small brookes very fit for their dyings which discending from the mountaines through diuers places of the towne issue into the Sea The inhabitants of the same place are vnder the same obeisance iustice that they of Alger are Leauing the coast and town of Teddele we bare roome to seawards had so good speed that the 24. of Iulie in the euening we discouered the citie of Gigeri but euen thinking to be neere it within a moment arose such a sodain Borasque or Flaa that if our marriners had not nimbly bestirred them selues in taking in of their sailes we had byn in great danger to haue been all drowned and immmediatly saw our frigat which was made fast to our gallie lost before our eyes because they hadde not quickly cut the halser but al our men were saued by swimming to our gallies These Borasques engendred of a wind called by the Gretians Typhon of Plinie Vertex or Vortex but vulgarly Tourbillon or whirlewinde proceed not ou◠of the West notwithstanding do often happen in Winter are very often dangerous all along the coast of Barbarie and as they come very sodainly so are agayne soone appeased The twentie fiue in the Euening we arryued at the porte of Bone where we being come to an anker the Ambassadour sent to salute the Caddy which keepeth the town vpon tribute vnder the king of Alger This Caddi was a renyed Christian notwithstanding shewed himselfe very curteous and liberal towards vs for ouer and aboue the refreshings of flesh bread and fruites which he gaue vs about supper time sent vnto the Ambassador two great platters of Macolique ful of their kind of meat dressed according to their fashion which was a kinde of Menudes made in paste with onions and fat poullets with certain sawces of verie good taste and sauour Of the citie of Bone aunciently called Hippon of which S. Augustine was Bishop Chap. 12. BOne aunciently called Hippon of which Saint Augustine hath beene Bishoppe in times past edified of the Romains vpon the Mediterane sea standeth of the one side vppon hygh and ragged rockes and there is a very faire and sumptuous Mosquee vnto which is adioyned the house of the Caddy but the other side of the towne towardes the South and the valley is cituated more lower and aswell within as without accommodated with welles and good fountaines The houses within it hauing been twise saccaged and spoyled by the Spaniardes are euil builded and this towne doth not now containe aboue 300. harthes Thee Emperour Charles the 5. after he had subdued the towne caused vpon a height of one side towardes the West a great castle too be builded which commaunded of all sides and did accommodate it with a number of cestarns to gather water in for that on this height there is neither well nor fountaine Notwithstanding shortly after it was rased by the Turks and Moores and the Spaniards driuen out of it without the city towards the East is seen a goodly large champion countrey inhabited tilled by a kind of people called Merdez which countrey besides the great quantity of corne that it bringeth foorth nourisheth pastoureth in the valley a great number of oxen kine sheep and other cattel so plentifully that with their mylke and butter not only the city of Bone is prouided and furnished but also Thunes the yle of Gerbes there are also about it many faire garden plats plentifully abounding with dates figs and sweet melonnes At the beginning of the valley passe two smal riuers whereof the next and greatest hath a bridge of stone vnder the which is a waye to an old ruined Church being between 2. rocks which the Moores do say too haue byn the Church of S. Augustine which made me the more desirous to go and see it Notwithstanding that a Iewe borne in Spaine being then with me vsed al the meanes he coulde to perswade me from it for the daungers which he sayd too be there of the theeues called Alerbes which there abouts do lye secretly hidde too entrappe them that came therabouts by which his remonstrances notwithstanding he could not disswade me but that needs he must accompany me and certainly there I found by experience and vppon the toppe of a high mountaine he shewed me a smal troupe of these Alerbes starke naked mounted on horsebacke with their darts in theyr handes after the fashion of those I saw in Alger In the hauen or roade which lyeth before the fortresse is found great quantity of very faire corall whiche Andree Doria then had in farm of the king of Alger for which he paide vnto him yeerely great summes of money By chaunce we found there a shippe of Marselie conducted by a coursarie to gather the same who presented vntoo the Ambassadour many faire and great braunches The next day being the 26. after sunne set waiyng our ankers we departed from Bone and passed from the gulf which contynueth about 18. miles to the cape of Rose
knight de Villegaignon in his treaty which he hath made of the warres of Malta doth recyte a history no lesse lamentable then full of dispayre and vnnaturall crueltye and is of a Sicilian whiche in that place hadde dwelled of longe tyme and there married a wyfe by whom hee had twoo faire daughters then beyng in state to bee marryed who seeing his laste calamitye approching because he woulde not in hys presence see his wife and his daughters rauished and violated and to bee brought in shamefull seruitude and too deliuer them from all shame and bondage hauing called them intoo his house firste slewe wyth hys swoorde hys two daughters and afterwardes their mother And this doone wyth a Harquebuse and a Crossebow bent as cleane bereft of sences made towardes his enemies of whom he slewe twayne at the first encounter afterwardes fighting a while with his swoord beeing inuyroned wyth the multitude of the Turkes broughte him selfe too the end of his moste vnhappye life Beholde the summarye of the miseries happened through the Turkes in fewe dayes in the yles of Sicilia Malta and Goze After whiche thynges the Bascha caused his armye with the whole bootie and preye to imbarke and remooued the twenty seuenth of Iuly towards Barbary to assiege the castle of Tripoli the dinner being ended the Ambassador in presence of that noble assembly declared the zeale good wil which the most ChristiaÌ„ king his maister had alwaies borne to their religion the great displeasure he would take when he should vnderstand the great dammage which the Turks had done to that yle assuring them that if in time he had bin there arriued too haue his remonstrance vnto the Bassha he wold neither haue spared his pains nor yet the fauour of the king his maister to haue caused them to remoue Whervpon the great maister after his great thaÌ„ks said vnto him that there was yet time inough to pleasure them if that according to the good wil of the king offer which he had made it might please him to saile towards Tripoli which the Turkes were gone to besiege to the end too perswade them in so great necessity and before they should proceed further to remoue leaue the siege for he feared that the place being little and of smal force and moreouer for that by reason of the poore treasure of the religious as he affirmed coulde not haue bin fortified nor succoured and might not long hold out nor resist such a great army wherunto the Ambassadour did willingly consent although the charge of his voiage did commaund him to go another way And they of the religion hauing prepared a frigat to direct vs he assured theÌ„ that so soon as he could he would by the same giue them to vnderstand of al the newes we soiourned in the Ile of Malta onely two dayes aswel to make cleane our Gallies as too take in fresh water other things necessary And within this small time I indeuoured all paynes and study to see and vnderstand the things most notable and singular of this IlaÌ„d In which the knight of Villegaignon for the old acquaintance he had with me and the good wil he bare towardes me was a great helpe vnto me And therfore before I proceed any further I thought it not to vary from my purpose to make here a succinct description of the yland memorable things therof following therin as well the writings of the auncient and moderne Geographers Historiographers as that which with mine eies I haue seene Description of the Ile of Malta Chap. 16. MAlta which by the auncientes was called Melita is an yle in the Sea Mediterrane betweene Sicilia and Tripoli in Barbary which from the West to the East containeth in length two and twentie miles in breadth xi and in circuit threescore It is an Iland low and stonie and hath fiue faire large ports all issuyng at one mouth at the entrie of which Ile is the castle where the graund master keepeth by arte and nature almoste inexpugnable beeing furnished wyth good quantitie of ordiâ—nance and cituated vppon a high rocke of three parts enuironed with the Sea and on the side towardes Cande separated with a large chaÌ„nel from the Bourg which lyeth vnderneath it very great and well inhabited full of fayre houses and pallaces well builded euery one with a Cesterne for they â—aue neither there nor in the castle neyther wells nor fountains There be also many fayre Churches both Greek Latine and in the middest of the great place a great piller erected wher the malefactors are punished True it is that this Bourg is not defensible agaynst any great siege because it is enuironed with great hilles vnto which of all sides it is subiect shee is inhabited peopled with a great number of Commaunders Knights and Merchants of all nations and aboue all there is great aboundaunce of Curtisans both Greeke Italian Spaniards Moores and Maltez The common sort weare none other cloathyng because of the extremitie of the heate then a longe linnen whyte smocke gyrded vnder their breastes and ouer the same a fine whyte woollen mantle by the Moores called Barnuche as in the end of this chapter I haue liuely set foorth vnto you The citie is distaunt sixe myles from the castle cituated vppon the toppe of a mountaine enuironed on the three partes with great valleyesfull of grauel and large stones very painful too goe vpon On the South side about two miles from the Citie is a great fountain bringing forth such a marueilous number of Eeles that it is a matter hard to be beleeued which haue so sharpe teeth that there caÌ„not be a string so good but they wil bite it asunder so as such as wil take them are forced to strengthen their lines about the hooke with a silke or cotten threed as soone as they feele them taken be very redy to pul theÌ„ vp out of this fountain our gallies took their fresh water There are in this Iland 60. castles or villages all wel inhabited very abundant of Barlie Cunego which is a graine which they mingle amongst their corne to make bread Cotton Citronnes Oranges Melons other frutes of excellent goodnesse but for wheat wine they do furnish theÌ„selues out of Sicile there are bred very good mulers horses of the rase of Spaine The sir Villegaigon led me into a garden which the grand M Omede caused to be made beyond the port neare vnto the Bourg which garden is beautified with a goodly lodging conteining chaÌ„ber warderobe hal kitchin the court is pauid with Mosaique stone the fountaines very fresh good to drink the gardiners house chappell ponde for to water the horses all cut out by marueilous industrious art out of a great rocke which is of a very faire white stone and neere the entraunce of the gate out of the same rock
vs taking the aduantage of the streame which there is so extreem with suche force that there is no mariner so perfect but that it would sore trouble him not finding sufficiēt depth was so fiercelye caste thwart the nose of our gallie that it whollye burst the same in peeces Which the warders seing they came forthwith aboorde of vs with smal boats after they had seen the safe conduct of the ambassador vnderstood of him the newes of theyr army at sea they gaue him to vnderstand that it was not the custom that ambassadors shuld passe that streight without some presents giuē to the captaine other officers of the castle so as to cōtent their insatiable auarice he gaue to thē certaine ducates Afterwards hauing mended and newe couered a peece of our palliment our ankors beeing weighed wee went that day too come to an ankor at a great village called Maiton which lyeth on the side that the Seste is of inhabited with Gretians which are all spynners of wooll and cotten I say aswell men as women and of their threed they make Esclaunis which are couerlets with long hayre The village containeth about two or three hundred hearthsteds and is cituated vppon the hanging of a mountain neare the Sea side on the bending of it which is in the midst are seen the foūdatiōs of an old castle alōg the streets of the village corners of the houses are peeces of fair columnes other monuments with certaine figures broken which giueth an appearance that it hath in times past bin some renowmed city This place aboundeth of fayre and fruitful gardens and is a great countrey of vines producing great aboundance of good wines which they preserue in great earthen pitchers which they bury in the ground to the intent too keepe the same the longer good They haue also aboundance of pastures and good waters both of wels fountaines al along the sea side are seen 36. windmilles hauing euery one of them 10. wings and also there are diuers of them about the castle of Abyde The next day in the morning as we were lading of wines which we took in for our gallies there came a complaint vnto the Ambassadour of two Graecian marriners of the Patronne which the day before had stollen two gownes from one of the Inhabitants of that place Of which the one being taken hadde presently three stroppados at the yardes arme of the gally but the other being better aduised and swifter of his feet escaped After dinner we departed from this place and hauing a fore-winde sayling along by Graecia we passed the castle of widdows lying vpon the sea coast three myles from Mayton wherof nothing is seene but the ruines vnder which lieth a vallie very fertile of al things The Greeks do say that it was there where the Turks first passed out of Asia into Graecia by the meanes of two Geneuoises which carried them ouer in their ships for a duccat a peece being passed killed al the men that were within the castle which afterwardes gaue the occasion that it was called the castle of widdowes About 5. a clocke in the Euening we arriued before the Citie of Galliopoli beyng 30. miles beyonde the castle Of the citie of Galliopoli Chap. 11. GAlliopoli is an auncient city cituated vppon Cherenesse of Thracia at the point whiche looketh towardes Propontide neer vnto the city of Lamsacque which is in Asia the lesse some hold opinion that she was builded by C. Caligula and other say that she was in times past inhabited by Frenchmen for that this word Gallipoli signifieth City of the Gaules or Frenchmē and for that the Frenchmen do dwel in Gaule as Nicopoli and Philipopoli signifieth the city of Nicholas Phillip She cōteineth 600. housholds but the principal habitations are so ruined that scarce ther is any notable thing to be seen but that the hauen is very good and able too hold a good army of all sorts of ships◠neuertheles there is a castle which seemeth in tymes past too haue beene very strong but now is altogether ruyned and yet there is an ordinary watche kept there In this city are dyuers Windmilles and there are also twoo Amarathes whereof the one is at the going out of the towne towardes Constantinople which was builded by Sinan Bascha which was in the time of Mehemet the second which conquested Constantinople and the other of Sultan Baiaset which lieth buried there in a most sumptuous sepulture Very neere vnto it the great Turke hath caused to be made a very faire fountayne whiche springeth of very good waters through a conduit as bigge as a mans arme wherof the water is carryed too be sold throughout the Citie for two Aspres the burden for they haue none other water to drinke then well water which is neither good nor wholesome to drinke The other Amarathe is within the Citie they haue to them both belonging two faire Mosquees the Citie is not compassed wyth walles but is altogether open after the manner of a village there are within it many fair gardens and most frutefull trees of al sorts and very excellent vpon the cape whiche stretcheth intoo the sea is a high Theater made like vnto a Turret eight square about the cape are diuers windmilles There are paid two ordinari tributes for euery head as well for menne as women and children one of which which is an Aspre is called Piginte and hee that taketh it too farme payeth yeerely vntoo the great Turke 30000. Ducates and yet gayneth a great deale besides that which hee stealeth the other is called the Capitanat in which they pay two Aspres for euety head the farme wherof is worth to the great Turke 60000. duccats This city is peopled with Christians Greekes Iewes Turks which do vse their greate trades of marchaundise being a towne of great resort aswel from the firme land as the sea which is the occasiō that victuals there are cōmonly very deere The wind being verye good for vs we continued our voyage along the costs of Thracia towards Propontide passing by Macrotique which otherwise is called Longus murus afterwardes Byzante nowe Rodesto or Rodosto beeing vppon the middest of a gulph hauing 30. myles in bredth leauing the yles Proconese of the moderns called Mormora the Besbiques at thys day called Calanio on our right hand and from thence passed towards the city of Perinthe vulgarly called Heraclee which as the foundations do shew hath in times past bin very great She standeth vpon the point of a promontory which stretcheth far into the sea hauing one of the greatest and fayrest portes defensible against al winds as is or may be seen which at the entry hath certaine smal rockes and enter into it with a South wind The rest of the promontory is ful of ruines vnhabited except that which is in the streight and whereas now the Towne standeth which towardes
practised with diuers Persian gentlemeÌ„ which had giuen themselues into the seruice of the great Turk and spoken with them by interpreters and Dragomans as I haue likewise done with diuers merchants and artificers dwelling at Constantinople but to say truth I do finde them without comparison more noble more ciuil more liberall and of better spirite and iudgement then the Turkes are vnto whom what countenance soeuer they doe shew they are mortall enemies I thinke that I haue nowe sufficiently described the lawes customes religions and manner of liuing aswel of the Antique as Moderne Persians and resteth now to describe vnto you the cituation of their countrie whereunto to attaine fully I am deliberated as hereafter yee shall vnderstand to folow the most auncient famous and moderne Geographers Historians which are found to haue theereof written A Gentleman of Persia. Description of the kingdome of the Persians Chap. 7. THE kingdome of the Persians according to Ptolome is a region of Asia so named Persea after the name of Perseus the sonne of Iupiter and Danae which on the North parte bordereth with the Medes on the West with Susiana on the East with the two Carmanies and on the South with a part of the Persian sea or Goulphe In Persia are founde many auncient and moderne Cities whereof the most auncients are Babylon now called Baiadet Suse which is altogether ruined except the Castle whereof as yet a part standeth the great citie of Procopolis or Percepolis vppon the flood Araxes in times past destroyed by Alexander the great Likewise the Citie of Scyras whiche remaineth in her autiquitie conteyning in circuit with the suburbs twentie thousand paces Moreouer the Citie of Alexandria otherwise called Isia cituated vpon the riuer Syria and Arion lying all on the foote of the mount Caucase vppon the riuer Euprates whiche the Arabians call Aforat are the Cities of Ioppe and Nicephore the Castle of Isse where Darius was ouerthrowne and discomfited The Cities of Thesiphon and Carra where was broken the armie of Marcus Crassus in which place are as yet seene diuers sepulchres and antiquities whiche the Inhabitannts doe say to be of the Romane Senatours which dyed in the same ouerthrowe The Cities of Persogade Opine and others bordering vppon Armenia the greater being vnder the dominion of the Sophy In which Armenia vpon the riuer Euprates are many townes inhabited of Christians Georgians being meÌ„ valiant at armes The names of their cities are Tunis Masestan and Derbent lying vpon the Caspian sea or sea of Bachau there are likewise the Cities of Artassetta Asimosia and Micopoli As for the Moderne Cities of Persia the pincipallest where most often the Sophy dwelleth is the noble Citie of Thauris aunciently called Phasis or Terua and by the Persians vulgarly Teuris being notwithstaÌ„ding in Armenia within the same is vsed great trafficke of diuers marchandises of cloth of gold of siluer and of silke and of al sorts of fine stones an infiniâ—e number of merchaunts doe resort thither of al partes of the world as from the Indies from Baldac from Molsuc from Cremesol and from the countrey of the Latins the other are Bagadet wherof I haue spoken before and Cambalech a great city Basta Mulasia Vaâ—ta Drecherin and Saltamac All which cities are in the countrie of Chelmodate betwixt the riuer Euphrates and the Tigre vppon the side of the mount Cortestan called by the ancients the mount of Taur Vpon the said riuer of Euphrates lieth the citie of Adene and the castle of Bir. The Cities of Merchin Assanchef Sair Chesfen Vastian and Coy all being cituated on the toppe and about the mount Cortestan Gies also being a great city sixe dayes iourney distant from the goulph of Persia otherwise called the Misidan Sea vppon the which lye also the yle city of Ormus where greate trade of marchandise is vsed with the Portugals and whereas are fished great quantitie of Pearles Likewise the cities of Sultania Saban Cassan Come and Iex being all cities of great Persia wel traded with merchandize and whereas is made great quantitie of silke which is carryed throughout all Suria and into Bursia aunciently called Prusa being the principall citie of Bethinia cituated at the foote of the Mount Olimpe Vppon the borders of the flood Indus as yee goe too Calicut is the great citie of Querdy neare the Persian gulfe and vpon the riuer Bindamach the foure cities following to wit Vergan Maruth Sana and Nain and on the North side from the Sea Caspium vnto Thauris Coy Rey Sidau Billan Strana Barbariden Madranolan Samachi and the citie of Arben which hath gates of yron sometimes builded by Alexander the great And vpon the border of the same Sea is the fayre and rich citie of Bacach Moreouer towards Armenia the greater in Persia are the cities of AnsengaÌ„ Maluchia Sio Ere Meson These are the fairest most famous cities which at this present are vnder the dominion of the Sophy as for the riuers the most renowmed in al Persia is Bindmir of the auncients called Bragada whereupon is to be noted that the distance from the sea Maior vnto the Sea Caspium is Of the Persian women Chap. 8. IF amongest the women of the East partes the Persians haue of all auncestrie obtained the laud and prayse to be the most gentle and proper in their apparrel and cloathing so are they likewise no lessefull made in proportion of their bodies and naturall beautie namely and aboue al other those of the auncient and royall Citie of Sciras which are so praysed in their beautie whitenesse pleasant ciuilitie and shamefast grace that the Moores of an olde and common Prouet be will say that their Prophet Mahomet would not go to Scyras for feare that hee hauing once tasted of the pleasures of those women his soule after his death could neuer haue entred into Paradise we haue moreouer sufficient testimonie of the singular beautie of these Persian women by Alexander the great who keeping the daughters of the king Darius as his prisoners would neuer salute them but with his eyes looking downewards and besides so seldome as he could for the feare which hee had of beeing ouercome with their beautie and would saye sometimes vnto his familiar friendes that the daughters of the Persians did great harme vnto the eyes of those that looked vpon them The Persians in their habite goe very honourably clothed and like vntoo the Turkes and Grecians weare long gownes closed and buttoned before and attyre their heads with sundry bandes of diuers colours the endes whereof hang downe verye lowe before and behinde ouer their shoulders in the fourme and maner as the picture following doth shew vnto you which I haue naturally drawen out in Constantinople with the fauor of a Persian with whom I was entred in friendship but it was not without cost great difficultie and danger for that there is no nation in the worlde which are more loth to let their wiues be seene not
Bellon in his obseruation in number 5 or 6. thousand haue 23 or 24. monasteries al well fortified for that they shuld not be molested of the Coursaries and Pirates on the sea al these Caloieres liue vnder the obeysance of the Patriarch of Cōstantinople This mount Athos is so high that it passeth the skies so as diuers haue written that from thēce the sun shining the shadow doth extend to the yle of Lemnos being distant one from another 70. M. pases And neuertheles Xerxes the great king of the Persians going against the Graecians caused this mount to be cut through on the side that ioyneth vnto the firm land making the sea to passe vnderneath it in such sort that easily he made it round about nauigable The Thraces as Herodote in his 7 book writeth haue the way whereby Xerxes passed his army in such reuerence that neuer since that time they would till or sow the same Plutarch in the life of Alexander the great maketh mention of a certayne Stacicrates an ingenious maister who being sent for to come before the said Alexander proposed vnto him that if his pleasure were he would make to be cut in humain figure the mount of Athos with such art industry that with his left hand he should sustaine a Citie habitable for 10000. persons with the right hād shuld powre out a great riuer which should run down into the sea But Alexander taking it for a iest would not beleeue it As for the cities of Thracia the principallest and most ancientest are Bisia sometimes the fortresse of the kings of Thracia but odious vnto the swallowes for the detestable sinne of Thereus Phinolopis Curnubisance presently Pera or Galatha Bizance now Constantinople cituated vppon the Bosphore Thracian wherof I haue before made particular descriptiō Ye haue afterwards Opisime at the foot of the mount of Eme Valla Orcelis Tonsus Caliba Nicopoli Ostamphus Arsus Carpudemon Bergula presently Bergas Plotinopolis Drusipara Selimbria otherwise Selions or Solombria Perinthe or Heraclee About Propontide Praside Terta Penetropolis at the foot of the mount Rhodope and afterwards of his foundator Philippopoli and finally Adrianopolis which I cannot passe without description for that the great Lord keepeth oftentimes his residence there Of the Citie of Andrinopole Chap. 25. ADrianopolis which sometimes was called Stratomcie Odrysus and Trimuntium vulgarly Andernople Andernopoli or Andrinople was a city most ample and faire as by the auncient walles may be seene her cituation is in a playne but about it hath many fruitful hilles All the houses except the auncient churches of the Christians and the Mosquees and bathes of the Turkes are builded after the Turkie fashion of wood and earth Sultan Selim builded there for a dwelling place a fayre and sumptuous Sarail for that it was the place of his most residence as also is of Sultan Soliman that now reigneth namely in Winter for the commodity of hunting wherein hee greatly delighteth There is besides another Sarail for the lodging of the Azamoglans or Ianissaries but the fairest and most sumptuous building of all is the Mosquee of Sultan Amarat at one of the entries of the citie ye passe ouer a great bridge of stone of Marbre very high on the one side wherof as also alongst by the Sarail passeth the riuer Hebrus vulgarly called Matizza and on the other side the Tuns whiche riuers by the turning in their course haue made neere vnto the citie many faire prety yles no lesse pleasant then profitable as being trimmed and dressed into most faire orchardes full of all sortes of excellent fruitfull trees and delicious gardens The citie is peopled with a great number of Christians Greekes hauing there their Metropoli who hauing lost their liberty and seeing them selues destitute and dispossessed of all they hadde are retyred thither some to giue themselues to some trade of merchandise or handicrafte The other hauing yet left some meane to liue by go vp down thinking of their former estates and degrees There are likewise an infinite number of rich Iewes and great traders with merchandise ready monie to giue and deliuer out by grosse vpon excessiue vsury But the number of the Turkes is the greatest of all and specially of excellent woorkmen which is the occasion that the city doth abound of all sortes of merchaundises and faire works of saddels bridles al other furnitures for horses which there are made very faire and perfect likewise fine damaskened needles the faire maroquins and skins of al sorts of liuely colours straunge diuers aboue al other places in the world As for the manner of the garments of the inhabitaunts I haue hereafter presented in order the liuely drafts of a woman of estate of Graecia of a Turky woman of meane estate and of a mayden of ioy or a common woman or strumpet of whom not only the city but likewise the whole countrey is full And as for the men Turkes Iewes or Christians they goe apparrelled after the manner of those of Constantinople other cities of Thracia and Graecia To returne now to our first points of Geographie you haue also in this region Traianopoli Apri Bizanta now Rodesto or Rodeste but according to Pliny Macronticke Partyra Lysimachia which is cituated at the foote of the great chersonesse within the which is Gallipoli builded by C. Caligula Maditus presently Maythō aboūding of very good wines Ceste against Abide Cretee the port Cele where was foughten on the water the battaile betwixt the Athenians the Lacedemonians in whiche place are the markes of the ruines of Lacedemonia There is againe founde Cinosseme the sepulchre of Hecuba after that Helle being the end of Hellespont and likewise the place where Xerxes made a bridge to passe ouer his armie out of Asia into Grecia there is also the promontorie Mastuce and the flood Egee memorable because of the shipping of the Athenians Afterwardes returning into the lande Aphrodise Cipselle otherwise Capsilar whereas is founde great quantitie of fine allom Aen◠builded by Aeneas in the time of his fleeing after the ruine of Troy Sardique presently Triadisse Pergame Nicopolis Abdere or Polystilo wher Democritus the Philosopher was borne Ene a free Citie within which was erected the sepulchre of Polidore Fisique Dyme Marogne Pantalie Topicis Gazore Phillippi Oesine Neapolis whiche besides is called Cristopolis Stagira the natiue countrie of the great Aristotle Moreouer about the beginning of the bankes Pontick wheras the riuer Istre entreth into the sea are many fayre cities as Istropolis of the Melesians Ionie Celatin or Acernete Heraclee and Bizone which was swallowed vppe through an earthquake About the riuers Mela and Hebrus are the Cicones and more further the Dorisques whiche is the place where Xerxes not being able to number his armie measured the circuite of the grounde whiche they ouerspreade After that is the promontorie Serree in which place Orpheus through the sounde and harmonie of his
whereof the do vaunt themselues to haue been they first inueÌ„tors those which dwelled in Asia did weare for their armes little shields couered with oxe hides with two hunters speares and on their heads hadde sallets of leather vppon the same hornes like vnto Oxen. Thus ye haue that which Herodote doth write in his seuenth booke Their language is like vnto that of the Scithians But at this present their speeche their garments religion manner of liuing miserable calamitie and seruitude is coÌ„forme like vnto the other Grecians which are vnder the same puissaunce and tyrannous obeysaunce of the Turke A woman Iewe of Andrinople A maiden Iewe of Andrinople The description of Grecia Chap. 29. GRecia amongest other countries in Europe is the most noble most famous and was first called Helles of one of the sonnes of Deucalion and Pirrha and afterwardes Grecia of a king whose name was Grecus and is so ample that shee exteÌ„deth ioyneth with the sea Mirtee so called of Myrtile the sonne of Mercurie drawing by great circulation from the North to the South from the East towardes the sea Egee and from the West to the sea Ionie vntil she commeth to ingulfe 5. miles within it so as it lacketh very little but that in the midst it is cut and deuided Then againe enlarging her sometimes of one side sometimes of another principally towards the sea Ionie and then agayne comming intoo a lesse breadth then where she taketh her beginning draweth in y e end to be almost an iland which aunciently was called Appie and Pelasgie and since Peloponese by reason of the gulfes and promontories wherewith they are parted and deuided But by the modernes is called Moree being in figure almost like to a plaÌ„tin leaf the circuit of the Peninsula according to Pliniâ— and Isidore is fiue hundreth seuentie and three paces but if all the creekes of all the gulfs and promontories should be reckoned woulde contein little lesse then twise as much notwithstanding according to Polibe besides the borders containeth about foure thousand stadias or paces and from the East to the West forty thousand and foure hundreth Ptolome bordereth the PelopoÌ„nesse of the North with the gulfe of Corinthe presently called the gulf of Lepanto and with Istine and from thence with the sea Creticque Towards the West and the South bordereth wyth the Adriaticque sea and on the East with the sea of Candia sometimes called Cretique The country of Macedonia first called Emathie of Emathias that was king thereof afterwards Macedonia of Macedon the sonne of Deucalion or according to Berose the sonne of Oâ—yris by valiant strength of the great Alexander obtained before the Empire Monarchie of the most part of the world habitable for hauing passed Asia Armenia Iberia Albania Capadocia Siria Egypt the mountaines of Taur Caucase subdued the Bactrians the Medes the Persians and in the end vanquished and ouercame all the East partes moreouer was victorious ouer the Indians The Macedonians doe say themselues to be come descended of Sethim the sonne of Iaon theyr prouinces are Thessalia which according to Pompone and Plinie was first called Emone of the king Aemon since Pelasgie and againe Hellade Myrmidone by reason whereof Homer gaue three sundry names vnto the Thessalians to wit Mirmidons Helenes Achees but at the last was called Thessalia of Thessale whiche possessed the kingdom The principall citie is Thessalonia vulgarely called Salonicke vntoo whiche people S. Paul the apostle of Iesus Christ wrote many godly Epistles This citie is as yet most ample rich inhabited of thre sundry sorts of people to wit Christian Greeks Iewesâ— Turkes but the number of Iewes being merchaÌ„ts very rich is the greatest and there are 80. synagogues their attire on their head is a yelow Tulbant safroned that of the Grecian christians is blew that of the Turks white for that through the same diuersitie of colors they should be known the one from the other are all clothed in long gownes as the other Orientals are In Thessalia is the mount Pernassus consecrated vnto the god Apollo vnto which the people retyred at the time of the deluge in this region in the riegne of Ducalion There is also the mount Pelion vpon the which was celebrated the mariage of â—he king Peleus with the Nymph Thetis Neare vnto Thessalia is Magnesia Moreouer Ethiotes Dorie Locre whereof the inhabitaÌ„ts were called Ozoles Phoce Beoce hauing taken that name as Plinie writeth of an oxe which there was sacrificed by Cadmus the sonne of Agenor In this prouince neare vnto the riuer Erimne are two fountaines of such vertue that the water of the one of them giueth increaseth memorie to those that drink of it the other taketh away the memorie Beoce stretching from the East to the West toucheth the sea Eboique and the gulfe Etanee famous through the goodly reuowme of the city of Thebes In this prouince is the mount Citharee the riuer of Ismenee the fountaines of Irce Aganippe was the place of birth of the Muses at the wood of Helicon the natiue countrie of Hercules of the father Bacchus who taught the Thebans to plant the vines the vsage of wine moreouer she was the productrice of the strong valiant Epimanondas As for the citie of Thebes so much renowmed by the auncients is at this present but a small castle of little estimation as likewise presently are the most part of the other Cities of Macedonia which are altogether desolated ruined In Macedonia is the fouÌ„tain of Susistige out of which issueth a poison being of such a strength that it will not be kept in any other thing theÌ„ in the hoof of a horse foot is thought of diuers that Alexander the great was poisoned with the same Ye haue moreouer Attique which took such a name of one of the sonnes of a king named Attis who after Cecrops succeeded in the kingdome or els of Athis the sonne of Cuba king of the Athenians but according to others Actique of the king Actron or of Arcte which signifieth a coast And likewise Megare a region so full of woods and mountains that the most part of the inhabitants are shepherds keepers of cattel Of all these prouinces Attike is the principallest most famous In Peloponese which somtimes was called Rocque the most noble prouince of Grecia are the regions of Argole Laconia which before was named Oebalia in the which is the citie of Amicle being the naturall countrie of Castor Pollux There is the cape Malee of the modernes called the cape of S. Ange being a great enemie vnto the seafaring meÌ„ as before I haue described in the first chapter of the second book There is moreouer Messenie which by the Sparthes was brought vnder seruitude for that oftentimes it was giueÌ„ to reuolting seditions which was the occasioÌ„ that they were more rudely intreated theÌ„
other seruaÌ„ts to take away al their means strength of reuoltingâ— After that is Achaie aunciently called Egial because of the cities in order cituated al alongst her borders Ele Arcadie which hath the name of Arcade the son of Iupiter In the same is the Palude lerne wher Hercules killed y e serpent Hidra that had seeuen heads There is also the great impetuous flood of Erimanthe greatly remembred by diuers Poets and Historiographers taking his origin of the mounte Erimanthe wherof it hath taken his name Moreouer there is Etolie and Acarnie before called Carte Epire goeth euen to Adrie in these regions the places cities farre from the Sea the most notable and that doe merite to be set out are Thessalia Thessalonique Larisse anciently Iolque in Magnesie Antronie in Phiotide Phithie in Locree Syne and Calliacre Plinie in hys fourth booke the first chapter sayth that the Locrians haue been called Ozoles In Phocide is the citie of Delphe cituated at the foote of the mount Parnasus and watered wyth the riuer Cephisusi within the same citie was in times paste a temple within the which Phoebus or Apollo the God of deuination according to the errour of the auncients was worshipped In Beoce Thebes whiche at this present hath but a little castle stibes and Citheree muche celebrated by the fables of the Poets and in Atticque is Eluse consecrated vnto Ceres But the most renowmed citie of all Grecia is Athens whiche was builded by Cecrops Diphies beeing in the dayes of Moses which called it Cecropia afterwardes was called Mopsophie of Mopsus and Ionie the sonne of Ion the sonne of Xuthe or els as Iosephus reciteth of Ianus the sonne of Iaphet finally of Minerua for the GreciaÌ„s called Minerua Athene she was the inuentour of all good artes and industrious liberall sciences mother nurse of diuers excellent Philosophers Orators and Poets which through their labors and memorable works haue gotten immortal praise But by chaunge of time and vnstedfastnesse of fortune this so flourishing a citie is brought to such extremitie ruine that at this present there is nothing of estimation left of it but a little castle which is called Sethine builded on the leauinges of the walles of the auncient and renowmed temple of Minerua In Migare otherwise called Niscee is the Citie of Megare in whiche was borne Euclide prince of the Geometrians and thys Cytie gaue the name vntoo the prouince as Argus dyd in Argos In Argolide is Argos and Micene and the temple of Iuno muche renowed aswell for antiquitie as deuotion In Laconie is Terapne Lacedemone the seate and habitation of the king Agamemnon which also was called Sparthe of Sparthus the son of Phoroneus but presently is called Mysithra Ther is likewise Amicde distant twentie stadias from Lacedemon a country abounding of all good and excellent frutefull trees and other goods and in the same is the temple of Apollo the most excellent of all others in that countrie aswell in riches as cunning building set in that quarter of the towne which is towards the sea and the mount Tayget In Messenia Messene and Methon or Modon at the siege whereof Philip king of Macedonie father of Alexander the great lost one of his eyes with the shot of an arrowe In Achie is Pise of Oenomae Elis the OlimpiaÌ„ teÌ„ple of Iupiter much renowmed because of the Olimpian games and tho rowe singular deuotion and a great deale more because of the excellencie of the image made by the hands of Phydias Arcadie is rounde about enuironed of the Peloponesians and her principall cities are Psefe Tenie and Orcomene The mountes Pholoe Cillene Parthene and Menale the ryuers Erimanthe and Ladoen In Arcadia greatlye florished Prometheus the sonne of Iapetus who being a man of deep knowledge taught the rude menne to liue ciuillie hee inuented the natural pourtractes with the fatte earth and was also the firste that stroke fire out of the flint stone and that taught the Grecians Astrologie and therefore the poets doe faine that hee helde vp the heauen In Etolie is Naupacte vulgarely Lepanto or Epacto In Acarnania presently called Ducte or Ducat or Duche the castle Strate In Epire is the temple of Iupiter Dodone and the sacred fountayne whiche is of such a vertue that putting into it any burning thing is sodainly extinguished but putting into it a bundle of straw it is foorthwith set on fire Passing beyounde the coastes of the promontorie Sepie by Demetrie Boic Pitheleon and Echine is the passage towardes the gulfe of Pagase whiche hauing imbraced or enuironed the Citie of Pagase receiueth into hys hauen the ryuer Sperchie and this place is renowmed for that the Minies accoÌ„paning Iason when he went to Colchos to conquer the golden fleese did there go on land and deliuered their ship Argo to goe and driue vpon the greate sea whiche voyage is so celebrated that the poets haue fayned this shippe Argo to haue been taken vp into heauen and vpon this reason doe put it amongest the Celestiall signes It is needfull and of force that they which this way will go vnto Sunio first to passe the gulfes Maliabe and Opunce of which are the Trophees sometimes by the Laconians there discomfited killed and come vntoo the straights called Thermopyles which crosse through the midst of Grecia like vnto the Appenin hilles of Italie The mountaines are so high that it seemeth almost a thing impossible to get vppe vnto them but betweene both there is a valley about threescore paces wide by the which onely yee can get vp vnto them through which means these mountainnes haue been called Pyles which is to say portes and by reason of the whot waters that runne out of the same Thermopyles They were so renowmed by the great discomfitures of the Persians done by the Greekes vnder the conduct of the valiant Leonidas the Laconian who brauelye withstoode the impetuositie and furor of Xerxes but in our time they haue not been able to resist or shut vppe the passage vnto the Turkes of whoÌ„ all the Grecians haue been ouercome subued It hath againe Scatphie Cnemides Alope Larymne Besides Aulide wher the assembling of the army was made by Agamemnon and other princes of Grecia after the league by them made to goe to the siege of Troy There is also Marathon a true testimonie of diuers noble prowessesâ— celebrated since the victorie of Theseus and by the great foyle which the armie of the Persians receiued there yee haue moreouer there Rhamne a little citie but famous because of the temple of Amphiaâ—aus and the Nemesis of Phidias Thorique and Brauron were there sometimes good cities but now there is nothing left of them but the name Sunio is a promontorie bordering and running along by the sea side of Hellade or Grece on the side that is towardes the East and from thence vnto Megare a citie of Atticke doth turne towardes the South The fields of the Megarians
come vnto Istine being of a long and streight exteÌ„dure of the space of 5000. paces entreth into the sea Egeum and the sea Ionie There is the castle Cenchree the temple of Neptune and the famous games called Istmetiques instituted by Theseus vpon enuie of those which Hercules had instituted in Olimpe Corinthe which in time passed was so notable of riches first builded by a Brigand called Sisiphe the son of Eolus in the foure score yeare of the age of Moses and was called Corcyre or Certhyre and aâ—terwardes Ephire after that she was augmented was ruined and builded againe by Corinthus the sonne of Orestes or Iupiter which after his name called it Corinthe whiche signifieth administration or publicque safegarde and since was againe destroyed by the Romans and restored by Auguste Caesar within this citie of Corinthe there was somtimes a temple of great beautie excelleÌ„cieâ— dedicated vnto the Goddesse Venus to whom belonged aboue â— 1000. whores of renowne dedicated to this goddesse according too the Heathen custome which were common vnto all commers But now Corinthe is but a little village called CaraÌ„ tho In the region of Corinthe is a place nowe adayes called Sydrocapsa whereas be many fine mines of gold of which the Turk receiueth an inestimable riches This prouince bringeth foorth the most fine copper of all Europe whereof are made vessels verye excellent of great prise FroÌ„ the most high towre of the fortresse called Acrocorinthe are seene both the seas to wit of Ionie and Egee The mouth rinage of Peloponese is deuided with many gulfes promontories too wit towardes the East with Bucephalus Cherchonese Scilee towardes the South Malee Tenare Acâ—ite Ichtis towards the West Chelonate Arasse froÌ„ Istmus to Scilee do dwel the Epidaures famous renowmed for that they haue the temple of Esculape and the TrezeniaÌ„s Illustred for the faith which they alwaies obsâ—rued in the confederacies whiche they made with the Athenians Ther are the ports Saronique Scemte Pagone but as for the townes whiche are on the sea coastes Epidaure is cituated on the side of the gulfe Saxonique of nature beset and enuironed with high mountaines The sicke folkes which wentâ— vntoo the temple of Esculape for to bee healed slept there in the nyghte and said that Esculape in this manner did heale them in theire sleepe Troese and Hermione are also cituatid and placed on the border of the sea Betwixt Scilee and Malee is Argolique betwixte this Tenare is Laconique froÌ„ thence to Acrite Asinee froÌ„ theÌ„ce towards Ichtis Cyparissienne In Argolicque the riuers knowne are Erasine and Inaque the Castle of Lerne In Laconique Githie and Eurotas riuers but in Tenare is the temple of Neptune a caue or Antre like vnto the same of Pont called Acherusienne In Assine is the riuer Pamisse and in the Ciparissenne Alphee And euery one of these are called after the names of the Cities cituated vpoÌ„ the sea coast Cilene and Callipoli are vpon the riuer of Patras which aunciently was called Aroe in which place Saint Andrewe an apostle of Iesus Christ receiued the crowne of his martirdome In Epire sometimes called Molosse by reason of the people Molosses which somtimes haue reined there ther is nothing more singular then the gulfe Ambritien In this prouince are the townes Action Argy Amphiloche Ambratie and Buthroton vulgarelye Butrinto the royall citie of Aeacides and Pirrhus The Partheneans and Dessaretes vsed for their habitation the first countries amongest which the principall townes are Orique and Dirrachium by the auncients called Epidamne but the Romanes chaunged the name thereof for that it seemed vnto them almost à Malum AuguriuÌ„ an vnhappie encounter to them that went thither because that Damnum in their language signifieth damage Neere vnto Epidamne is Apollonie Salone Iadere Narone Tragure the gulfe Polatique and Pola sometimes as is sayd inhabited of the Colques But since as all thynges in the worlde are chaungeable and inconstant became the Colonie of the Romanes The riuers thereof are Eas and Nar and the Danube which is in that place and hauing chaunged or lost his name is called Ister Eas runneth alongest Apollonie Nar entreth the Pyreans and Lyburnians and Ister through the Istrians Tergiste lying beyond it in the middest of Adrie closeth and endeth the Illiricque Of the manner and auncient order of liuing of the Grecians Chap. 30. THe Graecians in their ancient maner of liuing were very vnciuil barbarous for they liued dwelled with the beasts in al idlenesse hauing no meate more daintier for their nourishment then the fruits of wild trees to wit acorns other mast But through long succession of time they became so to be framed ordered vnto al humain society good manners that amongst all other nations they were reputed to be the most ciuil wise valiant in al Europe Neuerthelesse for that in diuers countries of Graecia the men not thinking them selues sufficiently assured neither vppon the high wayes nor in the houses because of the feare they had of the Pirates rouers on the sea which in great number dwelled alongst the seaside weÌ„t alwaies armed according to the custome of the Barbarians for the defence conseruation of their goods their families persons The Athenians were the first that left off to go so armed framed themselues to leade a life more honest ciuil And true it is that for a certayne time the auncient men did cloth theÌ„selues most simply aboue all others the Lacedemonians who notwithstanding that at al times they had bin esteemed the most rich wealthy of al the Graecians did notwithstanding goe all apparrelled equally after one sort aswell the meaner as the richest sort haue byn the first that for the wrestling haue stripped themselues naked annointed their bodies with oile wheras they which vsed the like exerciâ—e in Olimpe couered the shame fastâ—members with small clothes And as yet presently the Barbaries Asians AffricaÌ„s being appointed to wrastle for the game do weare breeches of leather do annoint their bodies armes with oyle to the end their aduersaries shuld fasten the lesse hold vpon them euen as I haue before amply declared in the description of the ordinary Wrestlers of the great Turk Of Lycurgus lawes giuen vnto the Lacedemonians Chap. 31. LYcurgus perceiuing the Lacedemonians to liue without any honest form of pollicie was the first that instituted lawes vnto them hauing first abolished all the corrupted customes which they had before amongst them First he confirmed the people in the obeysance of their princes and the princes to the true iustice of the Empyres through the meane of a Senate of 28. Counsellers which he constituted as a barre and bulwarke vnto the popular temerity and againe to the contrary to foresee likewise that the Princes should not vsurpe vpon tyrannous force to diuide and equally part the lands possessioÌ„s to
is cut a great man on horse back coloured greene a great deale bigger theÌ„ the rustique of Rome As for the garden the earth is carried into it planted with all sorts of excellent fruteful trees as apples of paradice which they cal muses dates apples pears prunes peaches figs coÌ„mon of the Indias other frutes hearbes of incoÌ„parable goodnes in such sort that this place excelleth all others in pleasures dainties The aire in sommer is daÌ„gerous by reasoÌ„ of the great heat therfore they study to seek places coole shadowous to eschew the heat of the Sunâ— ther is another port which specteth towards the North called the port of S. Paule where the Turks as I haue said laÌ„ded to assiege the citie and this place is so called for that the apostle Paule hauing suffred the daÌ„gers of marueilous teÌ„pests vpoÌ„ the Sea 14. daies wheÌ„ by Festus he was sent to Rome his feet haÌ„des bound beeing stong with a viper cast the same into the fire healed the father of publius of the ague fluxe which hapned in the third yere of the raigne of Nero. A woman of the Ile of Malta Of our departure from Malta towardes Tripoli Chap. 17. To returne to our Nauigation according too the request which the Grand master hadde made vnto the Ambassadour vppon the Sunday beeing the seconde day of August at the going downe of the Sunne beeing departed from the hauenâ— hauing doubled the Cape of Marche-Siroch we sailed vntil the tuesday following towardes the euening at which time we descried the coast oâ— Tripoli but to eschewe the danger of the night because of the coast which is low and sandie and for that wee woulde not at an vndue houre enter amongest the Turkes armie hauing stroke our sayles we did nothing but lie by the winde vntill the dawning of the day when wee perceyued the ignorance of our Pilots whiche hauing taken no heed vnto the streame which in those partes is very fierce we found our selues to bee driuen backe about thirtie miles from our right course and were constrained too goe about by Lebech towards the cape of Taiure distaunt from the Towne of Taiure twoo miles and twelue miles from Tripoli At thys Cape of Taiure were foure Galliots of the rearewarde of the Turkes armie whom hauing saluted we proceeded forwardes towards the armie which was about a myle froÌ„ Tripoli where Cotignac with the Frigat was sent to shewe the Bascha of our comming which straightwayes was sent backe with a Raiz of the gallie a â—anissarie to receiue the Ambassador to bring him to the Gallie royall who being entred into hys skiffe honorably accoÌ„panied went to salute the Bascha who made him good countenance shewyng hys comming to be very acceptable vnto him The talke betweene them was for this time not very long for the Ambassadour incontinently returned to his Gallies and within a while after the Bascha sent vnto him a present of fiue and twentie Muttons certain other refreshments All that day we were visited by diuers Turkes and renied Christians the next day the Ambassadour sent his presents vnto the Bascha which were two fine peeces of Scarlet of Paris one peece of fine Holland cloath and one small clocke or dyall which he receiued with very great contentment pleasure Afterward Cotignac which had carried the present returning the Ambassadour accompanied of his Gentlemen went to declare vnto him the cause of his commyng praying hym in the name and behalfe of the king to refrain froÌ„ such an enterprise which the Bascha wold not agree vnto but too the coÌ„trarie made him answereâ— y t the great Turk was much agreeued that the knightes at the giuing ouer of the Rhodes hauing sworne at no time after to weare armes against the Turkish nation had not only contrary to their oth aided fauorised all the enterprises of the Emperour namely at the taking of the citie of Africa against Dorgut but also of themselues dyd daily make warre vnto his highnesse and did therevnto all the worst they could And that he therefore was mooued to dresse this armie to chastice their temeritie and if it were possible to driue them out of Africa and in all that laye in him to endamage theÌ„ he coÌ„plained also of the Seure Leon Strossa priour of Capua for that he being in seruice of his most Christian Maiesty had sent his gally to them of the religion to serue in the warres against them Moreouer that the day before he had vnderstanding that the Frigate which we brought with vs was of Malta whereof he thought very straunge of which the Ambassadour perceiuing and that by no intreatie he was to be perswaded from his pretence determined too proceed on his voyage towardes Constantinople with all diligence to him possible to the intent to assay whether he could obtaine of the great Lord that which by his lieuetenaunt was refused making his account that the place which too him seemed more strong then it was and better furnished of good men of warre ordinance and all other kind of munition wold hold out longer then it did but he could not obtaine his leaue of the Bascha but desired him to passe the time ther vntil such time as he had seen the successe of his enterprise whiche hee hoped to haue shortly executed which made the Ambassador very sorrowfull who did greatly excuse himself vppon the hast of his voyage but all was in vain for there was no remedy but to obey and to arme himselfe with patience The Bascha and Dorgut did in the meane space diligently aduaunce their trenches and approches for planting of their ordinance whiche they did not without great losse of their men for they of the castle hauing a great deale of good ordinaunce and the best gunners in the world did continually nothing but shoot and discharged very few shot in vaine in such sort that they were often constrained to retyre and to returne with longer trenches The seuenth day of August the Bascha came a land too cause the rest of his artillerie to be brought vnto the trenches and therfore sent to the Ambassadour praying him to come to see the placing of his campe and the place where he made his approches which he durst not refuse for fear of putting himself in suspition taking with him to accompanie him the sir of S. Vetan Cotignac the knights De Seure and de Maliane the sir Caius de Wirail Saint Marie and the sir De Montenard the Captaine Coste me and certaine other of his houshold hee founde the Bascha vpon the sea side vnder a pauillion whiche for the heare of the Sun he had caused to be set vp and after they had a litle while deuised together we were brought vpon an hill from whence me might easily see both the towne and the castle the planting of their campe and their approches by long and croked trenches from
fresh water for that theirs began to stinke which forth with was deliuered vnto him In which space an Italian slaue which was escaped out of Constantinople came swimming intoo our gallie which notwithstanding we left not to prosecute our race towards the yle of Sapiēce being distant from Malta 550. miles where we touched not but followed on along the coast of Morea to passe the cape Malee now called Cape S. Ange very dāgerous for saylers extending 50. miles into the sea the sayling by it is so perillous by reason of the contrariety of the wyndes blowing the one against the other that oftentimes the Maryners are constrayned to put it in aduenture twise or thrise before they can passe the same as oftē are put back to the sea-shore for the sea which so furiously casteth against Malee is such that without great labour and long space she is not to be recouered or surmounted and oftentimes when men do think to be escaped the most danger are by contrariety of winds carried back againe to such places as oftentimes they cannot escape death And there forthwith we found our selues too be in great peril for hauing al the whole day sailed with a prosperous wind about the edge of the euening being ready to double the cape euen in a moment arose a wind out of the Northeast so cold and so contrary to our nauigation that we were cōstrained thinking to go on forwards to goe backe 30. miles to the yle of Cerigo which belōgeth to the Venitians In which we soiourned 8. dayes and that by reason of the contrary winde to wyt one day at the port of S. Nicholas where first we arriued and seuen daies vnder the castle and fortresse called Capsali to eschew the daungers of the Coursaries which euery day were thereabouts whether we came too an anker vppon good wyll and request of the Proueditor which incontinent after we were come to an anker sent too visite and salute the Ambassadour wyth refreshinges of mutton foule and freshe bread commanding all the inhabitauntes of the yle to furnish vs for our money with all sorts of their victualles which did vs great pleasure because of the necessitie whiche beganne too presse vs in such sort that we were at the poynt to distribute the bysket vnto the maryners and gally slaues by weight which the Ambassadour marking very well and for that he would not be ingrate he sent vnto him by his Lieuetenaunt and other his gentlemen reciproque presents which by him were courteously receiued and wel estemed for he was a Gentleman both honorable vertuous wherof I took experience at twoo seueral times that I went to him and being enformed of mine estate profession he vsed all curtesie liberality towards me in such sort that without feare or scruple he caused to be shewed vnto mee the whole fortresse the munitions of the castle which by nature artifice seemed to be inuincible being towards the sea side cituated vpon a high rock not to be ascended and towards the land inuironed with great and deep vallyes hauing also the said Castle but one gate to enter into which is very strōg wel garded with 20. Italian souldiers which cause al them that shal enter into it without any exception too lay downe their weapons The Proueditors lodging standeth towardes the sea and round about the hall are painted the armes with the names of al the proueditors which for the Seignorie haue gouerned that yland from the yeere 1502. vntil the time of this said gouernor called Iohan Andree Quirini which was in the yeere 1551. Vnder the castle stādeth the town being great cituated vpō the hanging of a hil being euil to get vp vnto for that there is but one streete cut out of a harde slipperie rocke of black marber Description of the yle Citharee vulgarly called Cerigo Chap. 2. THis Ile of Cerigo as writeth Bordon in his Isolary was first called Scothera but as saieth Aristotle Porphiris for the beautiful marbers which are there And yet Plinie and diuers others do cal it Cithere by the name of Cithere the sonne of Phaenis presently is called Cerigo Within this yle Venus after her birth made her first habitation within a temple erected for her was worshipped reuerēced as a goddesse princesse of the same She regardeth towards y e west y e cape Malee distāt frō it according to the opiniō of the moderne mariners 30. myles But Pliny Strabon make therof but 5. miles distāce wherein me thinketh they haue greatly erred for experiēce sheweth the distāce to be much greater There are diuers ports which neuerthelesse are very straight dāgerous this yle is round about so ful of woods mountaines that she is almost desert vnhabited but towards the castel where the Proueditor dwelleth in certain smal villages of no account the circuit is 60. thousād paces aboūding as reciteth the said Bordon of wild asses whiche haue in their head a stone hauing the vertue against the falling sicknes paine in the flanks to laye vppon a woman that cannot be deliuered of child Antiquities by the author obserued in the yle of Cithare Chap. 3 DVring the time of our abode in this yle of Cithare for too refresh my spirit eschew idlenes I took the pain to seeke out the reliques antiquities aswel of the city of Cithare as of the castle of Menelaus and the old temple of Venus and in the ende were shewed vnto me by one of the Iland vpon the toppe of an high mountaine certaine ruines which he said too be of the sayde temple and there were seen two high pillers Ionique without heads with fiue other foursquare amongst the which appeared the forme of a great portal and neare vnto it the stature of a woman cloathed after the Grecian fashion of bignes vnmeasured But as my guide told me certaine yeeres before the head had been taken away by Proueditor of the Ile whiche had caused the same to be conueighed to Venice and the Isolands doe affirme that it was the effige of Helene which Iohn de Maire of Belges in his illustrations of Gaule doth approue saying that it was there where Paris after he had rauished Helene tooke of her the first frutes of his loue A little below this temple vpon the same mountaine was the castle of Menalaus the husband of Helene which was king of Sparta lord of this Ile The foundations of which Castle are there as yet apparant by the residue of the walles which are made of grauen stone without morter or playster of length and bignesse vnmeasurable then was also an high tower fouresquare from the which in faire and cleare weather may be seene not onely the citie of Sparthe but also the most part of Penelopese now called Morea From this castle they discend into the Citie of Citheree which was
cituated on the East part on the hanging of a hil in which appeared yet certain peeces of the old walles And for better witnesse of the antiquitie thereof the inhabitaunts of the Ile doe at this present day call all these old ruines Paleopolys which is to say and old Citie vnder which passeth a small ryuer which through the middest of a gulfe issueth into the Sea and vppon the bankes of this gulfe are within a great rock eighteen or twentie bathes small great cut out by marueilous art the most part being made with pypes and gutters to bryng the waters vnto them I saw these bathes thorow a great hole which in times past was made for a breathing hole vpon the toppe of a rocke whereof the principall entrie was couered and shut with great bushes and wilde brambles which in processe of time and lacke of frequentation were so growen and multiplyed that to content my minde I resolued by a coarde too go downe into this hole which readily I did by the helpe of those that were with mee and after mee followed my nephewe and wee straightwayes so bestirred our selues with an axe too cut downe the trees and bushes which letted the going downe that we made such a gap that euery man might enter and see at his pleasure Likewise after our first arriuall the Ambassadour hauing sent his gard to the mountain of S. Nicholas being very high stony ill to climbe vp I shewed hym two chappels being vppon the toppe of it of which the biggest had aswel within as without his pauement very antickly wrought after the Mosaique fashion with figures of hunters on hosebacke Hartes Lions Beares Dogges and diuers birdes And thus ye haue the most part of those things which I haue seene worthie of memorie the wind still continuyng contrarie and the Seas being sore wrought constrained vs to remain there all that while to our great griefe The 7. day of September and of our aboade dyed of a blooddy flixe a young Gentleman called Polmi kinsman to Saint Marie who according to the commoditie of the place was honourably buryed with in the Bourg which being notified vnto the Proueditor fearing he had died of the plague incontinently forbadde all hys folke and the men of the Iland to deale or frequent any more with vs nor yet to bryng any more victuals vnto vs. The same night also we hadde newes of a Galliot of Messene which comming from ventring was arriued at the Dragoners which are two smal Ilandes very neare to Cerigo therfore the better to be on our gard euerie one put himself readie in armes And as it pleased God which knewe what was necessary for vs for that alreadie we began to way out the bisket vnto the gallie slaues and that in the Patronne there was scarce lefte for foure dayes about the second watch in the night the Sea which for eight dayes before had sore raged began to asswage and the North East windes which so long had continued fauourably changed into the West and by North. Of our departure from the Ile of Citheree or Cerigo Chap. 4. About the third watch our ankors beeyng weighed by the help of god who neuer forgetteth his in time of need we departed out of the hauen and with sayles spread doubled the Cape of Saint Nicholas of the same Ile and after that the cape Malee and sayled aswell with one as other wynde that we entred the Sea Aegeum passing by the Iles of Archipelagua and approching the Ile of Tino with force of oâ—res we ouertooke two Ragusian shippes for that the Seas beyng calme they coulde not flee the master refusing to speak with vs seâ—t a passenger beyng of Chio vnto vs in a small boate whom the Ambassadour asking from whence those shippes came sayde that it was not fiue dayes past since they were depaâ—ted from Messena in Sicilia as for any newes of the warres he wold declare nothyng excusing himselfe saide that it apperâ—ained too Merchants to be occupied wyth theyr merchaÌ„dise and yet neuerthelesse tolde vs that Andre Doria wyth fiue â—allies well appointed was twyse departed returned determined for too entrappe vs at the passage and that the first occasion of his retourne too Messena was for that the Maste of one of the chiefe Gallies was by storme broken and the second for that he hadde missed of his enterprise hee was fallen sicke with thought Thus hauyng retourned this good fellowe who scarcely woulde imparte any of this newes vnto vs to hys shippe we agayne began to follow on our course towards the Ile of Chio and in the night hauing passed the Cape Mastic we approched in the morning within eight miles of the Citie Of our arryuall at the Citie of Chio. Chap. 5. THE next day beyng the tenth of September after we had putte our gallies in order with theyr flagges banners streamers and Gailiardets and the Gentle meÌ„ Souldiers set in their ranks we made way towards the streÌ„gth port of Chio at the entring wherof were discharged all the ordinance harquebuses and afterwardes wyth sound of Trumpets and Clarons we came to an anker neare vnto the mole head vpon the which and al along the hauen the people came running to see vs arriue and we had not so soone touched grounde but the Ambassadour was straightwayes visited by the principall and most auncient of the Seigniorie of which one made the oration for the rest with great curtesie and honour offeryng hym the Citie withall that was within it to dispose of the same according to his pleasure with great affectioÌ„ reqâ—sting him to take the same for his lodging quiet recreation and repose of his trauailes sustayned on the Seas assuring him that the Segniorie desired nothing more then the good intreatie of him and his For which the Ambassadour rendred vnto them his most hartie thanks excusing hymself vpon the weakenes of his person and hast of his voyage towardes Constantinople so as hee could not come a land and for that he was also resolued to depart that night but promised them that at his return he wold certain dayes passe the time amongst them The said lordes were not so sone returned into the town but they sent a boat ladeÌ„ with diuers Presents to wit .xij. couple of quick partriges being in twelue seuerall cages twelue couple of fat capons sundry baskets full of Citrons Lemonds Orenges Pomegranets Apples Peares prunes and Reisons of such bignesse that there were some of themâ— that euery cluster weighed sixe or seuen poundes a great quantitie of new bread and certaine calues muttoÌ„s which refreshings wer vnto vs no lesse welcome then necessary Moreouer in the afternoone they sent vnto vs a good quantity of al manner of fruit with a 100. poullets two buts of wine of Chio two fourth parts of muscadell 12. boetes mastick 4. tapites floured of pinsed satten for there are made the best and fairest of any place in
him in the hearing and decyding of all processes and differences They ordeyn further from 6. moneths to 6 monethes 4. gouernors which are assistants in the iudgement of criminall persons when there is question to iudge them to death takyng informations of al things pollitique aswel of the City and suburbes as generally of the whole yle are also appointed to receiâ—e all Ambassadors aswel Barbaries as Christians that come into their yle They haue moreouer 12. counseilers which are called when there are matters of great importance but aboue these the 4. Gouernours do commaund There are also created 2. other officers which are to take view and acknowledgement of al victuals may iudge of small matters being vnder the value of twenty crownes Being also curious of their healthes they do establish two persons which by reason of their charges are called iudges of health for that specially they haue a regarde that in the plague time no shippe or other strange vessel do enter into their port without first shewing a good certificat that the place froÌ„ whence they come is not infected with the plague Furthermore there are foure other officers twoo of which are Mahomies the third a Grecian and the fourth a Citizen which altogether haue the charge to looke vnto the old and new buildings and other meane pollitike affayres Item more twoo Lordes beyng Mahomies which haue the gouernement of the masticke beeyng forbidden vnto all persons vppon payne of death not to gather sell the saide Mastick but by their leaue and consent they haue also a captaine for the night and diuers other meane officers which for auoyding of prolixitie I wyll passe ouer with silence and yet wyll speake of two things worthie of reciting which I haue seene in this Ile whereof the first is of the diuers nature of two figge trees which were shewed vnto me in the garden of the gray Friers which is such that the frute of the one which is good to eat can neuer com to be rype but with the figges of the other which notwythstanding are nought to eate and therefore they vse them in this order About the time that the figs begynne to waxe ripe they teare certaine braunches of the figge tree that is nought and caste the same vpon the other that is good or els doe fasten by the stake certaine quantitie of the yll figges after they haue firste picked them out of which prickes do ingender and breed certaine small flying wormes which with their billes and stinges picking the other figs sodaynely after they are picked they come to a good and perfect rypenesse and as I was informed they haue of those fig trees a great quantitie in that Iland The second thing worthie of memorie is that in certain Casales or villages of that Ile are seene an inestimable number of great red partriges as tame as though they wer chickins or hens of this country which the countrie folks do feed by great flocks driuing them in the daye time too goe grase in the mountaynes and towards the euening the boyes or girles which do keep them do cal them together with a whistle or some song and these Partriges being accustomed to such calles incontinently euery flock which somtimes are two or three hundred more or lesse gather to their conductor which bringeth them home to their village dwelling as though they were hennes or tame geese they go also a feeding in small flockes alongest the streets of the citie within priuate houses but being caried out of this Ile they become wild forgetting their tamenes They of Chio as diuers inhabitants worthie of credit haue enformed me obserue a custom vsed of antiquity that if a womaÌ„ after the discease of her husbaÌ„d wil remain a widow with preteÌ„ce neuer to marry again the Segniorie coÌ„straineth her to pay a certain peece of mony which they cal Argomoniatico y t is to sauing the honour and reuerence of the Reader as a cout set at rest of vnfit Moreouer that if a mayden of the countrey or city doth lose her maydenhead before she is marryed and that she wil continue in that occupation she is bound to giue a duccat vnto the Captayne of the night and after may vse it at her pleasure without feare or danger and herein lyeth the most assured gayne which this gentle Captaine hath in his estate office Diuers great and excelleÌ„t personages haue taken their beginning birth in this yle amongst which were Io Tragicque Theopompe the historiaÌ„ Theocrite the Sophist as the InsulaÌ„s say the Poet Homer producing for a witnesse those which were called Homerides which as Pindare sayeth were most excellent singers Bubale and Antherme brethren the sonnes of Antherme the most renowmed caruer and grauer of Images were there borne which as Pliny reciteth in derision and mockery made the shape and proportion of Hipponax the poet Iambique because of his hardfauourednesse and deformity and set it out openly abroade at which this Poet being full of poeticall spyte and indignation in great coler drew the sword of his wit that is to say of his verses that some dare well say that he constrayned them of dispaire and anger to hang themselues Now after we had soiourned in this yle with al pleasures vntil the 13. day of the same moneth of Septem about the going downe of the sunne we being al gone aboord our ankers weyed â—ailed close along by the yle to the little yle of S. Stephano which lyeth at the entraunce of the port Delphin and from thence too Cardemille distaunt from the port Delphin 10. miles and 20. myles from the city of Chio. Afterwardes setting our course east Northeast towardes the goulph of Caloni being from the yle of Metelin and distant from Cardemille 30. miles and for to be there the next night we sailed alongst the land to the port of Segre which is 20. miles below the goulph wheras because the wind was too fresh we reposed vntil the break of day But I will not passe further without first making a brief description of the yle of Metelin following therin the opinions aswel of the auncient and late Geographers as that which I could learn of the maryners and inhabitants of the countrey Of the Ile of Metelin Chap. 9. MEtelin is an yle in the Sea of Aegee by the auncients first called Lesbos and aftewards named Issa Pelasgie Mytylene Mytais and lastly Metelim of Milet the sonne of Phoebus whiche builded the citie and named it Mytilene which was not only metropolitane of al the townes of Eolea but also as writeth Pope Pius obtained the empyre of the Troyans This Ile as writeth Ptolome extendeth from the South to the North in distaunce threescore myles counting from the Citie of manlee ioyning to the Promontorie Sigrie vnto the cape Lesbos aunciently called the promontorie of Sytrie
the sea side is not walled wee rested there one nighte but neuerthelesse came not a lande And in the morninge in the dawning of the daye beeyng with rowing gotten out of the porte wee founde a fresh wind which sayling brought vs before the goulph of Selimbrie which the modernes call Seliuree beyng an auncient city Trauishing this goulph a Northerly wynde came full in the face of vs and thought too haue made vs turne backe agayne but we laboured so that we passed the mouthes of the flouds Athiras which is also called Pidaras and presently Ponte Picciolo and Bathinias nowe vulgarly Ponte grande and from thence we went to come too an anker at a fayre Casal called Flora which is builded on the brinke of the Sea within a wood of Cypres and dyuers other trees From thence the Ambassadour sent a manne by land towards Constantinople too signifie his comming too his Secretary Phebus whom hee hadde left there as hys Agent which was vppon a Saterday beyng the nienteenth of September hauing agayne weighed our ankers wee recouered by force of oares the Casal of Saint Stephano which hath a very good port And there are seene certayne monumentes of olde walles beyng of great apparence The sayde Casal hath a small cape before which lye certayne small rockes and wee perceyuing the weather to be very close came to an anker in the Sea which wee hadde not so soone done but the raine ouertooke vs with such an impetuosity and violence that it semed that the skies would fall After supper the rayne beyng ceasâ—ed and the ankers weighed with strength of rowing we coasted along euen right ouer against the first corner of Constantinople in whiche place are seuen towres by the Turks called Iadicula within whiche the great Turks one after another haue kept their tresure for the keping wherof there are 500. meÌ„ ordinarily called Assarelis all beyng slaues vnto the great Turke and which haue bin his Ianissaries Their chiefe called Disdarga is a manne of great praise and authority From the said Casal S. Stephano vnto the 7. towers are seen diuers walles ruined and many faire mines whereof are taken great quantity of stone too builde the Mosquee of the great Turk other edifices of the city There came too visit vs in a boate a gray fryer of Calabria called brother Iohn with a certaine Grecian being both of the Ambassadors familie vnto whom they presented a letter from his Secretary Agent being very glad to heare good newes of his aâ—â—ayres and houshold we passed a good part of the night with talke making good cheer for the sayd Frater hadde brought with him a great bottle which the Grecians cal Ocalips ful of good muscadel with a quaÌ„titie of Plaisantin cheese certain sauceges and other good and acceptable refreshments to make vs mery with Aftarwards when euery one had prepared himselfe too goe to his rest about twelue of the clocke arose a fierce colde wynde wyth a sharpe showre of rayne whiche contynued vntyll the morning and so soone as it beganne too ceasse the Ambassadour returned the Gray Fryer and we hauing weighed our ankors rowed alongest by the Citie too recouer the poynt of the Sarail whiche is the seconde and moste eminent corner The wynde and the rayne tooke vs agayne wyth suche a furour and impetuosite that it euidentlye seemed heaueÌ„ earth wold haue gone together Notwithstanding the great desire which the Ambassador and his had to ioyne with a place so loÌ„g desired taking a good heart setting al feare aside we did vse such force that in despite of the rayne wind furye of the sea we gate the point of the Sarail but as wee thought to enter into the channel we found the streame that commeth froÌ„ Bosphore of Thracia so violent outragious besides that the wind was altogether contrary so as it was not possible for vs to enter but were constrayned not without great danger to passe ouer into Calcidonie and Natolie to passe along by the tower of the gard lying in the sea called the tower of â—anissaries to get aboue the streame working so forcibly with ores that wee entred into the port at the entring wherof were put out all the flags baÌ„ners streames gailliadets of our gallies our artyllery charged wherwith we saluted them before the Sarâ—il to be short thanks be giuen to God being the souerain pilot of al those that trust in him which in so long a voyage had safely coÌ„ducted vs being escaped out of many great dangers we went to take our harborowe on the side of Constantinople where the first Dragoman of the great Turk called Hebrahim a gentlemaÌ„ of Polonia of the Mahumet sect diuers other great personages Turks came to receiue the ambassadour assoone as he was landed accompanied with the Lord of Cotignac the yong Baron of Lodon S. Mary the yong Iueusse Serres me with certain others of his houshold hauing caused him to light on a faire horse which was brought for him was conducted vntoo the house of Rostan Bascha who receiued him with great couÌ„tenance of friendship And after being returned vnto the gally we crossed the channel to go towards Pera where he was also receiued with tokens of great ioy and gladnesse of all the christian inhabitaunts the most part of which accompanied him to his lodging which happened the 20 day of September anno 1551. being the 78. day after our departure from Marseille Of the foundation of Bizance now called Constantinople Chap. 12. BYzance called Constantinople is a citie moste famous by Strabo entituled Illustre and of Pliny and Iustin most noble cituated in Thracia now called Romaine a Region being one of the most fertil in al Europe vpoÌ„ the goulph of Poâ—thus which separateth Asia from Europe The forme therof is three square wherof the two sides are washed by the sea thâ—â—hyrd ioyneth vnto the firme land The soile therof is very deleâ—â—able bringing foorth all kinkes of good fruites necessary for sustenance of humane life the cituation wherof is so wel deâ—â—sed ordered that no shippe can enter nor go forth but with good wil of the Constantinopolitans being maisters of the sea Pontique which hauing 2. mouths the one coÌ„ming from Propontide the other froÌ„ the sea EuxinuÌ„ is by Ouid called tâ—â— port of 2. seas for the distance from Constantinople to Calcedon is but 14. furlongs the place which by the ancieÌ„ts is called Phane cituated in Asia wheras Iason returning from Calchos sacrificed vnto the 12. goddes hath in bredth but 10. furlonges But forsomuch as many great riuers of Asia and many more of Europe doe fall intoo the blacke and Euxine Sea 〈◊〉 commeth too passe that beeyng full she gusheth out through the mouth of her wyth great vyolence intoo the Sea Poâ—ticque and from thence through the streit of Hellesponthus beyng not much broader
then three furlongs into the Sea of Egee This city according to the saying of many ancient authors was first builded by the LacedemoniaÌ„s vnder the conduct of theyr Duke Pausane which was about the yere of the world 3292. before the birth of Iesus Christ 663. which after they â—ad consulted with Apollo where they shuld plant settle theâ—â— abode dwelling place they were by an oracle aunswered that they shuld do it eueÌ„ hard by the blind which were the Meâ—ariaÌ„s for that after they were sailed into Thracia leauing the good and fruitfull coast where since Byzance was builded vnaduisedly went planted themselues either for the oppositioÌ„ most fruitful of the ground of Asia or for the vain hope they had for the fishing they builded there a citie which they called Calcedon But they found themselues greatly deceaâ—ed for the fishes being carried by the violence of the floud and tyde of the Euxine Sea into Propontide approching neer vnto the banks of Calcedon being frayed through the whitenesse of the rocks do retire streightwaies to the side of Byzance which gaue occasion vnto the valiant Pausanias to fortifie the city with good wals raÌ„pards changing the first name therof which as Pliny saith was Ligos called the same Bizance Notwithstanding that Diodore and Polibe do contrarily say that it was called Bizance by the name of a captayn which was the first founder therof Pausanias as Zonare writeth possessed the same 7. yeeres during which time Fortune shewing her selfe an enemy vntoo hys magnificence stuffed the hearte of the Athenians with such an insatiable ambition that they hauing brought thither their forces after a long siege diuers assaults did beare away the victory which the Lacedemonians seeing could not abyde but with their whole puissance took their weapons in hand wyth such pertinacie that the aduenture therof on the one side the other was very hazardous and variable being somtimes taken agayne by her first founders afterwards by her aggressors became in the end a pray vnto both the armies And after that Seuerus succeeding in the Romain empire the TyraÌ„t Pissinin her mortal enemy beyng in possession Bizance suborned the emperor to lay siege to the same who not hauing sufficient power to ouercome the same by assaults kept theÌ„ besieged the space of 3. whole yeres in the end through extreme famine constrained them to yeeld them selues vntoo the mercy of the Romaines which was such that after they had put to the sword al the men of warre that were within it killed the magistrats therof ruined cast down to the ground the wals of the city Seuerus afterwards to satisfy his cruelty spoiled the citizens of al their rights fraÌ„chises liberties giuing moreouer the land possessions vnto the Perinthiens And thus this most famous city remained in miserable calamity vntil such time as ConstaÌ„tine the great emperor did reedify the same in maner as foloweth The reedification of Bizance by Constantine the great Emperour Chap. 13. COnstantine the great Emperor of the Romains seeking to resist the courses robberies which the Parthes dayly vsed towards the Romains deliberated to transport the empyre into the East parts there too builde a large city which first he minded to haue builded in Sardique afterwards in Troiada a country of high Phrigia neere vntoo the cape Sigee in the place where somtimes stood the city of Troy which he began to reedify and to repaire the foundations therof But being by a reuelation in the night inspired to change the place caused to be recommenced the works of Calcedon where certain Eagles as Zonare writeth being flowen thither took in their bils the masons lines and crossing the streit let them fal neere vnto Bizance wherof the Emperor being aduertised taking the same for a good signe diuine instruction after he had taken view of the place called backe the maisters of his works from Calcidon caused the city to be repaired and amplified which according to his name he called Constantinople notwithstanding that at the first he had called the same new Rome as likewyse it was called Ethuse and Antonie but by the Grecians Stimboli and of the Turks Stampolda which signifieth a large City The Emperour now seyng his city builded and sufficiently peopled compassed the same with wals towres ditches building therin many sumptuous teÌ„ples adorning it with many magnifique buildings necessary works aswel publike as priuat and afterwards for the more beautifying thereof caused to be brought froÌ„ Rome diuers antiquities worthy of memory amongst others the Palladium of antieÌ„t Troy which he caused to be set in the place of Placote y e great columne of Porphyre which was set vp in the same place neere vnto which he caused to be erected a stature of brasse too the likenesse of Apollo of a maruellous bignesse in which place he ordayned his name too be set vppe but in the time of the Emperour Alexis Comine this stature through a great impetuous tempest was cast downe too the ground broken all to peeces This Emperor lyued there many yeres most prosperously in happy estate as likewise did many of his successors but not altogether exempt of diuers persecutions as well by warres fire pestileÌ„ce earthquakes as suÌ„dry other calamities vntil such time as god being beÌ„t to punish the people for their sinnes through negligence of emperors stirred vp Mehemet the 2. of that name the â— Emperour vntoo the Turks who being moued of an ardent desire to bring the christians vnto decay thereby to augment his empire being beyond measure â—elous too see this noble Citie so flourish before his eies went with a maruellous power both by sea and by land to giue a furious siege vnto the Citie The ende and issue wherof was such that after a long siege battery and diuers assaultes the Infidelles hauing gotten the walles with a greate hurlement and fury entred into the Citie where at the first entrye they made a maruellous slaughter of the poore assieged without sparyng anye age or degree The Emperour Constantine they kylled in the presse as hee thought too haue saued hym selfe and after they hadd cutte off hys heade in derision ignominie they carryed the same vpon the poynt of a speare round about the campe and Citye And afterwardes Mehemet not contenting himselfe wyth the violating and deflouring of the Emperor his wife his daughters other Ladies of honour by a more then inhumane rage caused theÌ„ in his presence to be dismembred cut in peeces during the time of the saccaging which continued 3. daies there was no kind of fornicatioÌ„ sodometry sacrilege nor cruelty by theÌ„ left vnexecuted they spoiled the incomparable temple of S. Sophia before by most marueâ—lous expences builded by the emperor IustiniaÌ„ of al ornameÌ„ts hallowed vessels made therof a stable
cesternes vauted supported some by vaultes and othersom by a great number of pillars and diuers other fragments of Antiquities Of the Castle of seuen towres by rhe Turkes called Iadicula Chap. 17. VPon the corner of the citie wich stretcheth towards Gallipoli nere vnto the Sea side there is as before I haue said a very strong castle compassed with seuen great towres enuironed wyth hygh and strong walles furnished with a good quantitie of artillerie which castle is by the Turkes called Iadicula for the keeping whereof there is a captaine called Disgarda a man of great reuenewes and authoritie which ordinarily hath vnder him fiue huÌ„dred dead payes called Assarelis which haue all been lanissaries and haue euery one of them for theyr wages fiue thousand Aspres by the yeere there the great Turk keepeth such gard for that he and other Emperours Turkes his predecessours haue alwayes there kept their treasures and yet the great Lord commeth thither very seldome Of the Sarail wherein the great Turke dwelleth Chapter 18 VPon the corner of the citie which the Grecians haue called S. Demetrius the ancients the Promontorie Chrisoseras which stretcheth towardes the Easte right against the mouth of the port standeth the Sarail where ordinarilie the great lord Turk doth resede wheÌ„ he is at Constantinople and this Sarail is inclosed with strong high walles being in circuit about two miles in the midst wherof vpon a little hil is to be seen a faire delectable garden which beginning on the middest of the mount discendeth towards the Sea there are diuers little houses dwelling places with a gallery standing vpoÌ„ columnes after the forme of a monastarie round about the whiche are about 200. chaÌ„bers therabout the great Turk dwelleth for the most part of the sommer for that it is a place both high of a fresh aire abounding of good waters in times past these inhabitatioÌ„s haue bin of the dependeÌ„ces of S. Sophie but Baiazet the 2. caused theÌ„ to be deuided and in the midst therof caused a principal house to be builded within the which in the lower chaÌ„bers to eschew the Northeast wind of the Grecians called Boree Aparctie as coÌ„ming froÌ„ the party of Arctus whiche in greek signifieth a she Bear which by the Bosphore Thracien coÌ„meth out of the great sea he dwelleth all the winter A litle more below was another smal habitation al made of very cleare glasse ioyned tyed together with roddes of Tin in forme of a rounde Hemisphere vnder which by wonderful artifice passed a faire cleare fountain which sweetly disceÌ„ding by the same Hemisphere spreadeth ouer the whole garden In this place Baiazet in sommer ofteÌ„ went to refresh himself and pas his sleep ouer with the sweet noice of the waters but now the most part thereof being ruined the water hath taken his course towards other places within this coÌ„passe is as yet the Sarail of Sultana wife to the great Turke garnished with bathes most magnificque nere vnto the same a place for yong childreÌ„ which are pages being notwithstaÌ„ding estemed as slaues are there nourished instructed and exercised aswell in their religion as to ryde horses to shoote and doe all other warlyke exercises euen from their age of eight niene or ten yeeres vnto twentie the ordinarie number of these children being commonly about fiue or sixe hundred There is also a great stable within the which the Turk ordinarily keepeth forty or fiftie of his most fayrest horses The first and greatest gate wherby meÌ„ enter into this Sarail on the fide of S. Sophia is very great and well set forth with letters of gold and leaues of diuers colours after the fashion forme Iamesque through the same they enter into a great and large place vnpaued at the head whereof between two great towres is another gate garded by a nuÌ„ber of Capagis Ianissaries who vpoÌ„ the same haue their furnitures weapons hanging for there all those that do resort vnto the Sarail or court doe accustomably alight of their horses from thence go on foot into another great Court where the Baschas three times in the weeke giue publique audience vnto all commers of what nation or religion soeuer they be aswel in matters politique as processes other differences And notwithstaÌ„ding the number of the people comming together from all partes is very great yet suche silence is kept that yee could scarce say that the standers by did either spit or cough In the middest of this court is a very fayre fountaine set about with diuers faire cypres trees and below the garden towards the point of the Sarail whereupon the sea beatâ—th is another gate neare vnto which is a small pauillion out of the which the great Turk embarketh when he wil go to passe the time in his garden which he hath caused too bee made in Natolie in the place by the Turkes called Scutary by the auncients Calcedon and for this intent are ordeined two Brigantins vppon one of which hee is embarked by Bostaugi Bassi Captaine of the gardens gardiners and the other Brigentin followeth after being kept reserued as at a moment to succour supply the instant necessities which might happen The great ladie and wife vnto the great Turk The great Sarail or Sarail of women Chap. 19. THere is moreouer within the middest of the citie the olde Sarail which first was builded and inhabited by Mehemet the second before the edification of that before mentioned whiche likewise conntaineth 2000. paces in circuit inclosed with hygh walles of fifteene cubites and of thicknesse accordingly without any towres it hath onely two gates wherof the one commonly standeth open being wel garded by Eunuches and the other almost neuer opened within this Sarail are diuers smal houses being separated with chambers kitchins and other necessary coÌ„modities whithin which do dwell the wiues concubines of the great Turk which in number are aboue 200. being the most part daughters of Christians some beyng taken by courses on the seas or by land aswel fâ—om Grecians Hongarians Wallachers Mingreles Italians as other christian nations some of the other are bought of merchants and afterwardes by Beglierbeis Baschas and Captaines presented vnto the great Turke who keepeth them within this Sarail wel apparrelled nourished entertained vnder streight keeping of the Eunuches and euery ten of them haue a Matrone too instruct gouerne and teach them too woorke all sorts of needle woorkes The captaine of this Sarail called Capiangassi is also an Eunuch or a gelded man hauing for his wages threescore Aspres euery day and is clothed twise a yeere with cloth of silk he hath vnder him fortie Eunuches which supply the common seruice of these Dames of whiche the great Lorde taketh his pleasure when hee thinketh good and if it so come too passe that any of them be gotten with childe he causeth her to be separated from the other
the ende was solde and deliuered vntoo an olde marchant a Turke for foure and thirtie ducates I hope with God his help in my second volume to treate more particularly of the payne calamity miserable seruitude wherwith these poore christiaÌ„ slaues are intreated by the hands of these cruell BarbariaÌ„s The Bezestan standeth euery day open vntill the after noon except vpon the Friday which is the festiual day of the Turkes as the Sunday is vnto vs and the saterday vnto the Iewes There are besides this diuers other publike places to sel vpon the market dayes one for old apparrel and other things as Saint Thomas Apostle is in London and the lowsie mart in Antwerpe and the other for al sorts of gold works and of silke wrought wyth the needle and in the Sadlers hall are sold many faire furnitures for horses vessels of gold and other fine things faire painted after the Damaskin fashion or after the Iamesque sort fayrer then in any place in Turkie But the aforesaid Bezestan is the place where the most costly things are sold. A Woman Turke going through the Citie A Woman Turke leading her children Of the citie of Pera or Galata Chap. 24. PEra or Galatha which ancieÌ„tly was called Cornubyzance is a citie of great antiquitie builded by the Geneuoises who sent thither one of their Colonies and is vulgarely called Pera by a Greeke worde which signifieth beyond for that it is cituated beyond the Canal very nigh vnto constantinople men do passe from the one towne to the other with barkes called Permes it is well to be gone by lande but that it is in compasse round about 12. miles As for the hauen it is one of the sayrest and commondiousest which as I think is in all the world for in circuit it containeth more then foure or fiue great miles and the breadth at the entrye thereof is more then one myle and in some places halfe a mile The depth therof is such that there is no ships or GallioÌ„s of what bignesse soeuer they be which caÌ„not ankor on both sides euen to the very houses sides This citie of Pera is builded partlye on the middest and partly on the hanging of an hyll beeing in compasse little lesse then three myles and is separated by walles in three partes within one of the which do dwell the right Peratins in the other the Grecians and in the third the Turks which haue the whole gouernment thereof and a certaine of Iewes for that the most part of the Iewes doe dwell in Constantinople The proportion therof is in a maner confused for that she is broade in the middest lowest partes and long at the further ende Shee is verye well beset with houses which neuerthelesse are neither greatly fair lesse coÌ„modious notwithstaÌ„nding there are diuers tayre fouÌ„taines led through pypes out of the riuer Danube and other floods neerer vnto theÌ„ All the whole length of the Citie is washed with the springs of the Sea without the gate which is towardes the hauen side is the arcenal of the great Turk which hath neare an hundreth arches or vaultes to builde and hale the gallies vnder couert and drye And on the further part of the hauens mouth is the gate of Bombardes or gunnes which is the place where artillery is cast neere vnto the sea side where are to be seene diuers great and little peeces aswell of brasse as of yron being those which the Turkes haue wonne of the Christians in Hungary the Rhodes and diuers other places in Christeâ—dome On the height of the other part of the city are the vynes gardens wel tilled accompanied with diuers pleasaunt houses for the most part appertaining to certayne Christians of whom the most part doth dwel at Pera few at CoÌ„stantinople for so the great Turke willeth commaundeth The FreÌ„chmen and true Peratines doe liue according to the lawes of the Romish Church which differeth much from the religion of the Graecians which is the occasion that they doe not greatly loue one another for the diuersity of their faith wherby it commeth to passe that if a Greek do marry with a Perotte Francke or a Graecian woman with a Perot Franco euery one of them do liue according to their religion and do therfore not agree very wel together There is also without the citie the Sarail of the Azamoglans or Ianissaries and the places ordained for the burying of the Iewes and Turkes But the Ambassadours of Fraunce do ordinarily keepe their residence within the City as likewise do the pledges or ostages of the Venetians and Florentines aswell to maintain the leagues and confederacies of the amity whiche they haue with the great Turk as for their traffick and trade of marchandise which they doe there exercise likewise through out al the parts of Leuant Of the women and maydens of Graecia and the Peratines Franques of Pera or Galata Chap. 25. THe apparel of the womeÌ„ maideÌ„s of Graecia the Peratins Franques is so rich costly that he that had not seene it would scarce beleeue it for that they doe not onely set al their care and study to be braue and wel attired but that whiche is more they doe oftentimes weare about them their whole substance as they goe along the citie to their churches or bathes for there is not so base a citizens or merchants wife which doeth not weare her gownes of veluet crymsin sattin or damask set with passament lace buttons of golde or siluer and the meaner sort of taffaties and figured silkes with many chaines handrings or bracelets carquants tablets and other Iewels garnished with diuers stones some of them being fine some agayne of smal valew and on their heade I speake of the maidens and newly married they weare a rounde cappe of crymfin sattin or cloth of gold figured wound round about with a band of two inches broad being of silk and gold set with fine pearles stones very costlye their smockes are of cypresse or taffata coloured hemmed and ouercast with golde like as the Turkes do weare they forget not also to attyre themselues after such a sort that if a man did see them as they do march he woulde take them to be Nymphes or Spouses which is the occasion that the most part of them specially the maryed sort do in steede of vertue and chastitie giue themselues too all voluptuousnesse and vnshamefastnesse for if the husbande will not or cannot intertaine them in apparell according to their will and desire they will procure one or more friendes to furnish them at pleasure which amongst them is very common accordyng to the custome of the countrie almost ordinarie But it is also very true that the womeÌ„ being somewhat aged notwithstanding they are richly apparrelled yet doe weare the same modestly for as they goe about the streetes they doe weare a fine white linnen cloath
of yeeres and age they should also bee greene of sense and iudgement which so commonly is not found to be amongest olde men rype of age yeres vnto whom the number of yeres and long experience ought to haue brought more wisedome and rype doctrine wel and duly to administer Iustce which ought not to bee peruerâ—ed nor corrupted by any friendshippe fauour kinred or any other alyaunce and muche lesse through insatiable auarice The estate therfore of these worthie Cadilesquers is very stately and honourable besides that they dayly and ordinarily doe followe the court of the great Lord which they call the gate and through the honour reuerence and dignitie they doe goe before the Bascha for all that their authority is not so greate They are executors of the lawes with the consent of the Baschas they do constitute and depose the Cadis which are Iudges of the prouinces and also take acknowledgement vpon the appellations interposed vpon the sentences iudgements of the saide Cadis according to their prouinces and circuites to wit the one for whole Graecia and the other for the Natolie which is very Turkie Their annuall wages for their estate and office aswell for the Churche as administration of iustice is about seuen or eight thousand duccats besides their ordinary gaynes euery of them entertayning for hys seruice two or 3. hundred slaues and besides haue giuen them and kept at the charges of the great Lord ten Secretaries and twoo Moolurbassis whiche are busied about the horses As for their apparrel they loue to be cloathed in chamblet satten or damaske of sad colours and more honest as russet browne tawny or darke purple The sleeues of their gownes be long and streit vppon their heades they doe weare a Tulbant of a marueilous widenesse and bignesse hauing the middest which they doe call Mogeuisi more lower and streight then the other ordinarie are going through the Countrie or Citie they doe ryde most commonly on Mules or Mulets or sometimes on gelded horses couered vpon the croupâ—r with a cloth of purple colour garded with silk fringes as in the picture following ye may see and if it happeÌ„ that they do go on foot they go with a graue fayre soft pace wearing their beard long fierce shewing in theÌ„ a great grauitie ioyned with a fained holinesse casting foorth but few words but suche as are of theyr lawe and religion altogeather with euident and meare hypocrisie Cadilesquier a Iudge in spiritual and temporal matters Of foure sundrie religions of the Turkes their maner of liuing and pourtracts of the religions and first of the Geomalers Chap. 15. YF the beliefe and faith of the religious Hermites and Pilgrimes both Turkes and Moores Mahometistes were as good holy and true as it is in false appearance coloured with most euident hypocrisie damnable superstition they might a great deale better assure themselues of their saluation then they do for their maner of liuing is so beastly and farre from the true religion vnder colour of their fained holinesse and vaine deuotion that by comparable reason it might better be called a life of brute beastes then of reasonable men wee will therfore discouer here a little of their foure hypocriticall religioÌ„s of the obseruatioÌ„s therof of which in the end of euery description ye may see the figures naturally draweÌ„ out These foure orders of false Mahumeticall religion are in their language called Geomalers Calenders Deruis and Torlaquis The life of the Geomalers to beginne first with them is not much different from that of the worldly sort for that the most part of them are fayre young men and of ryche houses whiche willinglye doe giue themselues to runne about the countrie and to trauel through many and diuers regions prouinces as through Barbarie Egypt Arabia Persia the Indies and the whole land of Turkie for to see and vnderstand the world with great pleasure at other mens charges vnder colour of their pilgrimage and religion the most parte of these are good artificers the other giueÌ„ to reading to describe all their voyages the lands and countries which â—hey haue runne through and trauailed Duryng these blind straying peregrinations they carry none other apparrell then a little cassock without sleeues being of purple colour made and fashioned like vntoo a deacons coate so short that it commeth but to aboue theyr knees gyrt in the middest with a long and large girdle of silke and gold of no small beautie and valour vpon the endes wherof are houng certaine Cimbals of siluer mixt with some other cleare sounding mettall and they doe ordinarilie weare sixe or seuen of these aswell about their girdle as vnder their knees And besides the coote in steede of a cloke they are couered aboue the shoulders with the skinne of a Lion or Leopard being whole and in his naturall haire which they doe make fast vpon their breast by the two former legges All the rest of the partes of their bodies are bare sauing that in their eares they doe weare great rings of siluer or of other mettal and on their feet a kinde of shoes made after the fashion of those which the Apostles did weare bound togeather with coardes and to bee the more disguised and appeare more holy they let their haire grow very long and weare the same spread out vppon their shoulders as the brides doe in these Countries And to make them grow to shew the more longer they vse by continuall artifice Terebinthe and vernish laying somtimes for to make it the thicker goates haire whereof the chamblets are made And in such superstitious apparrell raunging about the countrie they doe beare in one of their handes a booke written in the Persian language full of songes and amarous sonnets compounded after the vsage of their rime And being many of theÌ„ in a companie their belles and cymballes both neare and afar of make such a pleasant tune that the hearers do therein take very delectable pleasure And if by fortune these iolly louing religious do in the streetes meete with some faire young strippling streightwayes they doe set him in the middest of them cherishing him with a faire and sweete musicke of their voyces and sounde of their cymballes which to hearken vnto euery one runneth and true it is that whilest they do sing they doe sound onely with one of their belles or cymballes euery man keeping measure and time vntoo the voyce of the other and then afterwardes doe sounde all their belles togeather and in this order they doe runne about visiting the artificers and other people for to allure them to giue them some peece of money Amongest these deuout pilgrimes of loue there are some which secretly and vnder pretext of religion doe of a feruent loue draw vnto them the hearts of many faire women likewise of the fairest yonglings of which they are no lesse amarous then they are of the woman kind so much
do say they do liue These good religious people thus liuing on the profite of their shop and when soeuer that there is not brought sufficiently vnto them for the maintenance of their ydle life thē they come forth out of their denne euen as the wolfe pinched with hunger commeth out of the wood and goe about the streetes asking of almes leading in their hande a Beare or Harte with a bell about his necke as yee may see in the figure following Beholde then how vnder colour of religion they doe disguyse their damnable and more then euident hipocrisie And of these gallaunt companions I haue seene a great manye in Constantinople but many more in Andrinopole A religious Turke Of those which doe cal themselues kinsemen to Mahomet Chap. 20. THere are diuers amongst the Turks which doe call themselues for such are reputed kinsemen of Mahomet wherof some doe weare a greene Tulbant and the other a Muzauegia which is to say a bonnet whiche they doe weare vnder the Tulbant being of colour green al the rest of the Tulbāt white They do weare such colour for that they say their Prophet ware the like on his head and contrarie to the Turks The Sophians whiche are the Persians weare redde ones Sophy is not the name of the King of persia as some doe thinke for this name commeth of their sect and religion which commandeth them of an humility not to weare on their heades any habite more precious then wool and for that in the Arabian tongue wool is called Sophy those which are of this sect are called Sophians and in derision the Turks do cal them Kesulbach which is to say redde heads The Turks the Sophians doe say that it were not reasonable to couer the dishonest partes of the body with the colour which the Prophetes did weare on their heads And therefore is no more permitted vnto the Turkes to weare green hose then vnto the Sophians to weare red hosen whosoeuer should weare them shuld be esteemed amongst them as an heretike And therefore is not permitted vnto any but vnto such as do say themselues to be sprong of the kinred of Mahomet to weare a greene Tulbant and therefore are called Iessilbas wich is to say greene heads They are also commonly called Emirs which may be interpreted kinsemen of the Prophet and are holden in such reputation for holinesse of life that in iudgement the testimony or witnessing of one of them is allowed for 2. others But they are so mischieuous vnhappy that for money they wil make no conscience to beare such false witnes such as ye wil haue thē specially if he be a Iewe or a Christian vnto whom they are mortal enimies Some of them are verye rich and go honorably apparrelled The other are poore handicraftes men or sellers of fruites candles and vineger whereof I haue seene a great many in Constantinople and Andrinopl◠Likewise diuers of them come with the Hagis pilgrims of Mecque making often with them through great hypocrisie their prayers in the midst of the place And for that they are of most peruerse and abhominable nature diuers amongest these barbarous and rusticall people are constrayned more for the feare which they haue of their false witnessing then for the holinesse which they know in them to beare vnto them greate honour and reuerence Emir a kinseman of Mahomet Of the Pilgrims of Mecqua by the Turks called Hagislars Chap. 21. THe Turkes Moores and all other such barbarous nations liuing vnder the obseruance of the law commādement of the false prophet Mahomet find written in diuers places passages of their Alcoram that God hath promised vnto all Musulmans which through deuotion should go to visit the temple of Mecqua by the Arabians called Alcaaba that he woulde neuer send their soules into perdition Vpon confidēce of which promise they will gladly goe on such pilgrimage leauing vndone al other houshold or common affaires and foreseeing the difficulty of the voyage by reason of the long desarts and sandes whereby they must passe doe beginne these pilgrimages some soone and some later according to the distaunce of the Countrey because they wil be at Mecqua against Easter which they do cal Chucci Bairam But before they do depart because their voyage should be the more lucky they doe aske one another forgiuenesse of their offences And then the day of their departure being come they doe assemble in great companies taking their way first towards the city of Damas or of Caire which the Arabians doe call Alcair where the crewe doth assemble for they will not depart lightly except they be at the least thirty or fortie thousand in a companye with a good number of Ianissaries appoynted for the securitie conduct defence and safegard of them and to take regarde that the same be not pilled and saccaged of the Arabians which day and night are watching in the desarts to spoile and take the pilgrims and trauaylers And besides that the companye hauing to passe thorow so manye desartes sandye wythered vnfruitefull and lacking of all thinges necessarye for mans sustenance order is taken for the loding of many Cammels with great prouision of victuals fodder and water aswell for the persons as for the Cammels and other beastes for that in these sandye and drye wildernesses no droppe of water is founde but from three dayes to 3. dayes iourney whiche notwithstanding they must get with force of armes from the Arabians which keep and defend the same hauing then thus passed these desarts and the Pilgrims arriued at Medine Thalnabi which also hath bin called Tribic or as others do say Iezrab They do go vnto the temple and there lay their Alcoram vpon the sepulture of Mahomet And after that the houre of seruice being come the Maizins beginne to cry vppon the towres as their custome is to call the people together to come vnto their ceremonies and there remayne in prayer the space of 3. houres which ended they repaire vnto a mount neere vnto the town called Arafetagi vpon the which they doe strippe themselues starke naked and goe to bathe in a riuer neere vnto it euen to the necke mumbling out certaine long prayers which ended they go out of the water to putte on their clothes agayne and the nexte morning they proceede on their way towardes Mecqua being 3. small dayes iourney from Medine where they being come do enter into the temple to say their prayers After which they goe turning seuen times about a fouresquare towre at euery circuite kissing the edge thereof from thence they goe vnto a pit of salt water which they cal Birzenzen being closed within a Tower being from the other ten or twelue pases pronouncing these wordes All this be to the honour of God which is most mercifull God forgiue me al my sinnes These wordes being ended certayne mynisters there appointed to draw the water doe cast vpon the head of euery one of them three small
buckets full without sparing of their clothes These beastly Mahometistes thinking through such outward washing to be cleansed purged of their inward sinnes Moreouer they say that the tower which they seuen tymes doe goe about was the first house of prayer whiche Abraham buylded through the commaundement of God Nowe when they are in this towre well washed and bathed they goe to doe their sacrifice vppon a mount neere vnto it presenting for an offering manye sheepe whiche beeyng immolated and sacryficed they doe distribute amongest the poore for God his sake The sacrifice being thus ended a Sermon is made vnto them by the Cady Muselman and that beng done euerye one of them doe goe to cast 2. stones in a place where they say the Diuel appeared to Abraham when he builded the temple From thence they returne to Mecqua to say diuers other prayers desiring God to exalt them as he exalted Abraham to the building of the temple All these ceremonies being accomplyshed they depart to goe towardes Ierusalem which they cal Cuzumobarech there do visite the holy mount where the temple of Solomon was which they holde in great reuereÌ„ce In this place they do celebrate another feast and there exercise new ceremonies At the departure from the temple of Solomon euery one taketh his way to returne homewards or els where he doth thinke good And thus they goe in troupes carrying great banners with a pyke halfe moone in the top of the staffe going about the townes villages singing the praises of their greate Prophet Mahomet and asking of almes for the honor of God that which is giuen them they do eate altogether beyng sett downe in the middest of the common place after they haue thus eaten with a great hypocrisie and shew of holines they doe openly make their prayers The most part of these pilgrimâ— which the Turks call Hagislars are Moores clothed poorely inough although that diuers of them doe say to bee descended of the line of Mahomet as the Emirs aboue mentioned And of these I haue seen a great number at Constantinople apparrelled after the maner as here I haue represented vnto you in the figure following Pilgrim Moores returning from Mecqua Of the Sacquas carriers of water being also Pilgrims of Mecqua Chap. 22. IT is founde in the Alcoram that Mahomet prophet of the Turks doth forbid al his â—ectators Mahometistes to drinke wine For that he did esteeme it a true nourishment of all euils and sinnes and also as diuers haue written to keepe the Arabians with such seuere prohibitioÌ„ in greater sobriety who for the naturall heat which is in them taking the wine in too aboundantly would not so easily suffer themselues to be tamed nor brought vnder subiection by reason of these defences are thorowout whole Turky Graecia and other prouinces vnder the obeisance of the great Turke a great nuÌ„ber of Turkes Moores called Sacquaz which dayly goe by the streetes places and assemblies of the cities townes and suburbes of the said prouinces with a scrippe of leather ful of fountaine or cestarne water houÌ„g on their side couered aboue with a faire cloth embrodered with leaues about it or els plaine in one hand a cup of fine Corinthian latten guilded and damaskined out of the which of great charity they doe offer and giue to drink al them that will but yet for to make the water seem more faire delectable to drinke they put within the cuppe many and diuers stones of Calcedonie Iaspe and lapis Azuli bearing in the same hand a lookingglasse which they hold before the eyes of those to whom they giue to drink exhorting and admonishing them with words demonstratiue to think on death for doing the office of this gentlenes they wil aske no paiment nor recompeÌ„ce but if through honest liberality some peece of monie be giuen vnto them they wil most gladly receiue it and in manner of thankes and congratulation they pull out of a budget or poke which hangeth at their girdle a vyollfull of sweet smelling water which they cast on the face and beard of him that hath giuen them money I haue in a morning at Constantinople seene fifty of these Sacquas in a companye all furnished with theyr scrips large girdles cups glasses al other their instrumeÌ„ts whiche thus apparelled went through the city demaÌ„ding their new yeres gifts of al those they met withal whether they were Turks Christians or Iewes in the honour of one of their saints whose feast they celebrated that day And the more to prouoke men to giue vnto them presented to the one an apple to the other an orange or as I haue said did cast sweet water in their faces for you must vnderstand that the liberality of the Turkes and Moores is so great that they will hazard to giue the value of a Mangor which is the 8. part of an Aspre to haue two or three Aspres again for it The same day in the afternoone these woorshipful Sacquas with their ornature came vnto me to the house of my Lord the Ambassador where then I was lodged he being then in Andrinopole to see as they said the picture which the day before I had made of one of their companions whiche brought them thither But the end was that they would not depart without hauing of me some present alleadging by their reasons that they had done me great honour in comming to visit me with the best of their stuffe and apparrel so as for to ridd my self of them I gaue them about 20. Aspres and so being very well contented they returned to the place from whence they came Now to returne vnto my first purpose some of these Sacquas do this office of charitie through deuotion whiche they haue receiued at Mecqua but the others doe it for hope of a gaine which they pretend to get therby for besides that which is giuen vnto them of almes they are waged either publikely or of som in particular Ther are moreouer diuers other which in that order do keep before their houses great vessels of marber full of water couered vnder locke and key about the bottoÌ„ therof is a cock of brasse to draw water out of with a cup of latten damasked fastened vnto it with a small yron chaine to the intent that euery on may drink therof at his pleasure or going to the Mosquee likewise wash his hands So as this charity is in such recommendation amongst the Turks that there are no artificers keeping shops which haue not coÌ„monly great vessels or artificiall fountaines ful of water standing vpon their stalleâ— for the common commoditie as before I haue amplye declared Sacquas of nation a Moore a bearer of water and a Pilgrim of Mecqua The fourth booke of the Nauigations and Peregrinations Orientals of N. Nicolay of Daulphine Chamberlaine and Geographer ordinarie vnto the king of Fraunce Of the auncient Lawes and maner of liuing of the Persians The first
only vnto straungers like as I was vnto them but scarce they will trust them with their nearest parents whether they be father or brother so full are they of suspition and Ielousie The first Sibille called Sanabete or Sambetha of whome Nicanor maketh mention describing the deedes of Alexander was of nation a Persian notwithstanding that some doe say a Chaldean hauing too her father one called Berose and her mother beeing called Erimanthe shee compounded foure and twentie bookes and prophesied the myracle of the fiue loaues and two fishes as more amplie is treated in the booke of the Sebilles A Woman of Persia. Description of the three Arabies and first of the rockie or stonie Chap. 9. To come to the more easier knowledge of the lawes manners customes religion and maner of lyuing of the auncient and moderne Arabians I haue taken in hande first to beginne with the description of their countrey which according to ptolomie and other Geographers aswel ancient as moderne hath bin diuided into three prouinces to wit Arabia the stonye Arabia the desart and Arabia the happy Arabia the stony was thus called of the name of the old and famous citye of Petra called in Esaie the stone of the desart and presently according to Voleteran Arach Notwithstanding that the vulgare Arabians doe cal it Rabach cituated vpon the brooke Arnon and wheras aunciently was the seat royall namely in the time of the most puissant king Areta which about the comming of our sauiour into the world was king Or els this countrie is called stonie because of the great mountaines and rocks which enuirone close the same in Notwithstanding that within the same are found diuers fountaines abounding of very good waters she bordereth on the West with Egypt almost in the midst of Istma being between the castles of Posside presently called Ara and Rinocorura lying vpon the further parts of the redde sea or the Arabian sea on the part of our Mediterane sea the lake of Syrboni betweene which space whereof Plinie maketh but 125. myles the seas coÌ„ming froÌ„ diuers parts do diuide theÌ„selues And the third part of the world which is Asia the greater ioyneth there with the firme land of Egypt aboue Istma at the mouth of the red sea which appertaineth vnto this Arabia and extendeth beyond the gulph Elanitick and the city Elane of whom this gulph hath taken his name Of the East and the south it is enuironed with mouÌ„tains which diuide the same on the one side from Arabia the happy and on the other part froÌ„ the desart On the North it bordereth with Syria entring vnto the lake Asphaltide so named because of the aboundaunce of the Asphalte which it produceth which is gathered vppon this lake of whiche is made the Greeke fire some doe call it Stercus Demonum for that the smell thereof stinketh verye muche Philadelphe and Batanee and in none other place is the sayde Arabia more fertile then in this This Arabia was in times past through the great heat barreÌ„nesse of the fields little estemed of the auncients but we ought otherwise to think thereof for the memorie and reuerence of the dyuine things which there haue happened for beâ—ingly shee receyued and kept the children of Israel for the space of forty yeeres after they had maruellously passed dry foote through the redde sea And likewise the same tyme the Citie of Madian nourished Moyses his wife and children Likewise within the same is the mount Sinai or Oreb which Ptolome calleth Melane and the Moores Turla vpon the which the law was giuen vnto Moyses Neere vnto this mount is the stone which beeing touched by the saide Moyses cast forth water abundantly to the great alteration of the children of Israel Likewise towards Egypt is the mount Casie so renowned for the sepulture of Pompee the great which there is Plynie calleth the people of this Arabia and of the desart Scenites because they dwelled vnder tentes cabbynes wythout hauing any other houses or buyldinges and like Vagabondes went straying with their cattell from place to place staying onely at the place where aboundaunce of pasture bade them Their most famous and auncient neighbors are the Nabathees so called by the name of Nabaioth the sonne of Ismael neighbors also vnto the Amouerats Of Arabia the desart Chap. 10. THe second Arabia which is the desart is of greate compasse and Solitude which on the West part according to Ptolome bordereth vppon Arabia the stonie and on the East with the Sea Persick and along the Chaldees is deuided from Arabia the happie being on the North side with the riuer Euphrates whiche commeth from Comaigene she is inhabited with diuers peoples whereof those whiche are called Nabaâ—â—ees which doe dwell in the East partes the most desart and without water goe straying like vntoo theeues through the fieldes making many incursions vpon theyr neighbours and vnto the Carouanes which thereby doe passe to go to Medine and to the Mecqua For in all Arabia the desart there are but these two Townes and the place called Metach where Mahomet wrote his Alcoram but there are many small castles the Countrie is so barren that it bringeth foorth neither trees fruites nor waters but very little But the inhabitants whiche doe none other occupation then to robbe and steale doe dig there certaine pittes which are vnknowne vnto the strangers by that meanes doe eschewe the daunger of their enemies cannot be ouercome likewise haue alwayes liued with al libertie without at any time to haue beene subiect vnto strange kynges but vnder certaine Captaines vnto whom they obey Many haue written that besides these greate desartes there is another called the sandye sea the greatest whereof whiche is called Benahali is in breadth twelue dayes iourney beyng all whyte and loose sande These saide desarts are called sea for that like vnto the sea they are subiect vnto the fortune of the wyndes so as those which doe conduct the Carouanes are constrayned to helpe them selues with the carde and compasse as the marriners doe vpon the sea And he which is the guide goeth before mouÌ„ted on a cammel but if through misfortune the wind come coÌ„trary vnto their way diuers are found buried in the sand wheÌ„soeuer that hapneth few do escape the peril these dead carcases being by succession of time discouered are curiously takeÌ„ vp carried vnto the merchants who buy the same and is as diuers do affirme that which is called Mumie Plutarch wrytinge of the lyfe of Alexander maketh mention that in thys greate desarte remayned dead vnder the sandes fifty thousand menne of the armie of Cambises this sand being moued with a storme which blew out of the south And that which is worse in al this sandy sea is found no water but those which do passe through it must carry the same vpon their Camels with al other things necessary for the sustentation of their bodies for during these twelue dayes iourney there is
nothing to be found but white sande The principallest places of this Arabia neere vnto the redde Sea are the Citie of Zidem the porte of Mecqua and the yle of Camarran The people thereof are of complection neerer the blacke then white and are all Mahometistes Of Arabia the happie Chap. 11. THe third Arabia so called of Arabo the sonne of Apollo of Babylon by the Graecians called Eudemon which signifieth very happie separateth Iudea from Egypt and deuideth it selfe from Arabia the desart at the port of Zidem within the firme lande stretcheth vnto Arabia the stonie shee hath at the mouth of the Sea the citie of Adem whiche is in greatnesse strength quantitie of people trafficke of merchandize the most famous not only of this prouince but likewise of al those other parts Moreouer Fatarque the Ile of Maeyra at the cape of Reselgati Calha Masquati Curia on the side of the streight of Ormus and also amongest the mountaines are diuers other Cities Castles and Villages The people are very apte for the armes because they are ordinarilye exercised in the warres Their horses are the best in the world and haue great number of Camels and Oxen whom they vse in carying of fardles and burdens and other things necessarie Of nature they are presumptuous and proude notwithstanding doe obey vnto a king which for the most part of the time hath warres with certaine people of the other Arabies The part of this Arabia bordering vpon Ethyopia by the auncients called Trogloditick beginneth vpon the red sea towards the counâ—â—ie of the Abissins and endeth at the yle of Madagassar otherwise called the yle of S. George and extendeth neere vnto the yle of Delaque some do say that it extendeth no further then vnto the cape of Guardafumi whiche if it bee so she hath without the streight Zeila Barbora and within Delaque Laquari being a port not greatly peopled froÌ„ whence if it were not for feare of the ArabiaÌ„s whiche assaile and robbe the Carouanes that passe along ye might by land goe ouer in 6. daies vnto the riuer of Nyl The richest best peopled nation of this region are the Sabees The Metropolitan Citie wherof is called Saba cituated on a high mounted in which their king was in times past created by succession of linage with great honour and reioycing of the people whose life although the same seemed to be happy for that he might do al thinges and had euery man at commaundement without giuing account or reason of those thinges which he did it was mixed with a great many of perplections for that it was not permitted vnto him to goe out of his pallace vppon paine that attempting the contrary to bee foorthwith stoned by the people being an auncient superstition and obseruance which they had by an oracle of their goddes This region aboue all the other in the world is the most pleasant and abundant of things pretious Aromaticke Moreouer it beareth corne aboundaÌ„tly oliues all other excellent fruites and is watered with dyuers riuers most wholesome fountaines The South parte is furnished with diuers faire forrests full of trees bearing Frankincense and mirrhe Palme trees Cinamond Casse LedanuÌ„ the sauour of these trees being vnto the smelling of men of such a sweetnesse that the same seemeth rather to be heauenly then earthly or humane So as it might be saide that nature consulted there to gather togither so many good and sweete smelles In the same forrests are a great number of redd and venimous serpents which leaping vpon men doe byte them with poyson most daungerous and mortall They make fire of the branches of mirrhe but the smell therof is so pernicious that if they dyd not remedy the same with the smoke of Storax it woulde ingender vnto theÌ„ sicknesses vncurable They which gather the Frankincense dedicated vnto diuine honors are called sacred or holy for that during the time of their gathering they do abstayne from women and burialls esteeming that by that kinde of obseruation and ceremony their marchaundise will increase the more Diuers haue written that the incense is not found in any other place then in Arabia But Pedro Gesa of Leon in hys second part of the history general of the west Indies saith that neere vnto the riuer Marannon is found great quantitie of FraÌ„kincense better then that of Arabia In this place are also found the Sardonique stones Molochite and those which are called Iris being of colour as cleere as crystal the Andromede also and the Pederote which Plinie calleth Opalius it is saide also that there is bred the bird Phaenix which liueth as some do say â—40 yeeres but Pliny saith 660. yeres Manilius Senator of Rome affirmeth that with the life of this bird the reuolution of the great yere is made which diuers as Solin say to consist not in 540. yeres but in 12950. yeres Let him beleue it that wilâ— as for me I thinke that to speake of the Phaenix is none other thing then the telling of a fable vnto the ports of the said Zeila Barbora Delaqua come to traffick the merchants of Cambaia of AdeÌ„ of the whole Arabia They bring thither smal clothes of diuers sorts and colours and other things from the said CaÌ„baye and Ormmus and for their marchandises they receiue againe raisons dates golde Iuorie and slaues and do their trafficke at the port of Zeila and Barbora vnto which ports lykewise do come they of Chiloa Melinde Braua Madagassar and Mombaza And thus by these two ports are dispersed the merchandises throughout the countries of the Abissins and euen into Turkie and Graecia where I haue seene diuers merchants of Arabia clothed and apparrelled as the figure following doeth shew A Merchant of Arabia Of the auncient maner of liuing lawes and religion of the Arabians Chap. 12. IN old times the Arabians had amongst them diuers maner of liuing and different ceremonies they weare long haire and weare on their heads a cloth wreathd shauing their beard with a rasor suffered no haire to grow but only the moustaches betwixt the nose the mouth as they do yet at this present As for arts sciences they kept no schoole but liued after the instructions which they had receiued of their fathers Vnto the most auncient of them was giuen the puissaunce gouernement ouer all the other hauing nothing particular but lyued al in one comminalty vsing their wyues which they tooke of their lynnage in common yea euen of their own mothers sisters esteming themselues in that manner as al brethren together And such amongst them as vsed carnal company with any other woman then as was of his own blood was punished by death as an Adulterer They had in great obseruation the soleÌ„nity of others for whensouer they woulde sweare amitie and confederation with any other they set in the midst of the 2. parties som certain person who with a sharp cutting stone cut them
in the hand as neere the thumbe as might be afterwards took the haire flocks of their coates which he dipped within the blood ther with rubbed 7. stones which were laide betweene both the Iurāts calling vpon Bacchus Vranie for they had an opinion that there were none other gods then these calling Bacchus Vratalt Vranie Alilat then the mediator of such a peace amity admonished the 2. parties carefully to obserue keep the pacts couentions between them made sworne The Arabians as before we haue said are crafty proud doe beleue that in valure hardines they doe surpasse al the other nations in the world for the present they are al obseruators of the sect of Mahomet the most part are subiect and Tributories vnto the great Turke A Slaue Moore Of the aduenturers called Dellis or Zatasnicis Chap. 13. DEllis are aduenturers like vnto light horsemen whose profession is to seeke their aduentures in the most daungerous places where by warlike feates of armes they make proofe of their strength and manhood and therfore do loue to follow the armye of the great Turke without any wages like vnto the Anchises but that the most part of them are kept and intertained at the charges of the Basshas Beglierbeis and Sangiaques which euery one of them haue a number of the brauest valiantest in their trayn These do dwel in the parties of Bossine Seruia bordering vppon Graecia on the one side and on the other Hungarie and Austria and at this present time are called Seruians or Crouats whiche are the true Illirians whom Herodian in the life of Seuerus describeth to bee men most valiaunt of greate stature well shapen and bigge sette their colour beyng yealowishe but of nature most malitious and of custome more then barbarous of grosse vnderstanding and easie to be deceiued Notwithstanding they were in great estimation with Alexander the great yea so that oftētimes they durst vndertake to take in hand the occupying of Macedonia The Turks doe call them Dellys which is to say hardye fooles but amongest them they call themselues Zatasnicis which signifieth in their language defyers of men for that euerye one of them are bounde to fight agaynst tenne before they can attayne to the name and token of Delly or Zatasnici they challenge alwaies body for body to breake the speare vppon their enimies vsing in their fightes many guyles and craftes which are remained to them from their auncestors with such dexterity hardines that most often they remaine victorious The first Delly that I saw was in Andrinopole being then with the Lord of Arramont in the house of Rostan Basha too whom the sayde Delly was retaynour who not onelye at my request but also in hope to haue some present as he had did follow vs vnto our lodging where whilest he was making good cheere I tooke the extract of his person and of his strange habite which was suche as followeth his doublet and his longe and large hosen by the Turkes called Saluares were of the skinne of a young beare wyth the haire outward and vnder theyr Saluares bootes or buskins of yeallowe Marokin sharpe before and very high beinde shodde vnderneath with yron and compassed with long and large spurres Vppon the head he hadde a long cappe after the Polonian or Georgian fashion hangyng downe ouer one of his shoulders made of a Leopardes skynne well spotted and ouer the same before the foreheade for too shew more ferefull was fastned a long tayle of an Eagle and the two winges nayled vpon the target with two great yron nailes which hee carryed in a scarfe about his shoulders hys armes were the Cymiter or skayne and the dagger and in the ryghte hande the Busdegan whiche is to saye the mase of armes well damaskaned But certaine when hee departed from Andrinopole with the forces whiche Achmat Bascha whiche since the great Turke caused to bee strangled in his bedde carryed for the great Lord into Transsiluania I saw him mounted on a fair Turkie horse decked with the whole skinne of a great Lion fastened with the two formost feet before vpon the brest and the other two hanging downe behind his Busdegan hung at his sadle bow in his right hand bare a long launce the poleaxe at the point being well steeled altogeather beeing as yee may liuely see in the picture following I was moreouer curious to aske him by a Dragoman of what nation he was and what religion he kept wherupon wisely he gaue me to vnderstand that he was of nation a Seruian but that his grandfather was descēded of the Parthes a people sometimes renowmed estemed to be the most warlike in all the East parts and that as for his religion notwithstanding that hee dissembled to liue with the Turks according to their law yet was he frō his birth of heart wil a christian the better to make me beleeue it he sayde in the vulgare Greeke and in the Esclauon tongue the Lordes Prayer the salutation of the Aungell and the Symbole of the Apostles Furthermore I asked him why hee did apparrell himselfe so strangely and with such great feathers his aunswere was that it was to shew and appeare vnto his enemies more furious fearefull And as for the feathers the custome amongst them was that to none other it was permitted to weare them but vnto suche as had made some memorable proofe of their person for that amongst them the feathers were estemed to be the true ornament of a valiant man of warre which was al that I could learne of this prety Delly Delly which signifieth foole hardy Of the men and women of Celicia presently called Caramania Chap. 14. WIthin the citie of Constātinople neere vnto the 7 towres there is a great street for the most part inhabited by the Caramanians by the auncients called Cilicians liuing as other strange nations do vnder the tribute of the great Turke and exercising marchandises or handicraftes wherein they are verye ingenious and cunning specially in goldsmithes worke imbrodering The Goldsmithes keepe their shops neere vnto the Bezestan which is as before I haue said a hall whereas al sortes of costly marchandises are solde as of golde of siluer of stones furres cloth of gold and of siluer and silke slaues Cammels horses vnto him that most biddeth Amongst which Caramanians are the most excellent and richest workes The Caramanian women principally those of quality do but seldome goe abroade as the other Graecians do except it be to the bathes or to the Church but keepe themselues ordinarily inclosed within their houses imploying their time in making of diuers faire needleworks vpon cloth which they put to be sold at the Bezestan or other common markets But the other women of lesse estate for to get their liuing and for reliefe of their necessity giue themselues to sel openly within the citie egges chickins cheeses and hearbs go apparrelled as
yee see in the figure â—ollowing But the richer sort goe more brauely costly apparrelled for they weare their Doliman either of veluet satten or damaske on their head a long myter figured with flowers of diuers colours couered with a great cloake hanging downe behynde to the ground the men are apparrelled after the fashion of the other Graecians obseruing the same fayth and religion and obeye vnto the Patriarche of Constantinople A woman of Caramania Of Cilicia presently called Caramania Chap. 15. AS for the countrey of Caramania first called Cilicia of the name of Caelix the sonn of Agenor according to Herodote Hipachea is described by Ptolome in his fift booke as a prouince of little Asia hauing for her borders towardes the East the mount Aman presently called the blacke mountaine of the North the mount of Taur of the west side a part of Pamphilia and on the other part of the South the vttermost partes of the goulph Issique which now is called â—asse This region is enuyroned with high and sharpe mountaines from the whiche drop towardes the sea diuers riuers And of these mountaines the issues are very narrow and streight of the one other side enuironed high with mountains first called the ports of Armenia afterwards the mountains of Caspie presently of Silicia through which narrow streights Alexander the great going into the East parties with great perilles and daungerous hazard made his armie to passe The principall and Metropolitan citie of this couÌ„trie is Tharse vulgarely called Terrase being the place of birth and houshold of S. Paul which first was founded by the noble Perseus sonne of the faire Danae Although Solin and pope Pius attribute her first edification vnto Sardanapal the last sonne of Anacindaraxe and last king of the Assyrians through the midst of the same Countrie runneth the fayre riuer Cydne or Caâ—ne by the FreÌ„chmeÌ„ called the riuer of Salef which takes her spring from the mount of Taur and wherein was drowned the Emperour Frederike Barberosse Vitruuius in his eight book and third chapter saith that if they did wash their legs within this riuer Cydne that incontinent after they should finde them selues cleansed and healed of their disease The Tarsians were in times past so giuen to philosophie that they excelled the Athenians and Alexandrians notwithstanding that the Athenians were more famous and renowmed in straunge countries and that their Citie was more frequented with al sorts of people Neuerthelesse the Tarsians were in philosophy more excellent and of their citie tooke origin Antipater Archelaus Antenor Marcel Diogenes Artemidore Dionisius and Crates the Grammarian Besides Tarse the head citie of Cilicia there is another renowmed citie of the auncients called Coryce and of the modernes Curth of all sides enuironed with a haueÌ„ of the sea sauing of one side being very streight which ioyneth vnto the firme land Aboue this citie there is an Antherne a caue or denne which Pomponius Mela saith to be made by such singular artifice of nature that the admiration excellency and soueraigne beautie thereof carrieth those that enter into it out of their proper senses and memory and almost rauisheth and taketh awaye the spirites of those whiche vppon the sodaine enter intoo it But after they are come to themselues they cannot satisfie them of the pleasure which is there For for to come to the bottom of this heauenlike denne you doe discend by a faire stare about 3. quarters of a myle indelectable and shadowed where is heard a harmony more then humaine certaine sounds agreeing sounding like vnto symbals or other melodious instruments which greatly abasheth and seemeth marueilous to those that firste enter into it So as in times past the inhabitauntes of the countrie by superstitious opinion did thinke that this sounding caue was the sepulchrall bedde of the valiaunt Gyant Typhon In the playne fieldes which are about Coryce or Curth groweth abundance of very good saffron giuing more smel being more like vnto the colour of golde and more profitable in medicines then any other hath for the singularitie thereof by the ancients been called saffron of Coryce Tarse therefore and Coryce are two the most famous and renowmed Cities of Cilicia or Caramania although there be diuers others of good and antique name as Selimontis in the honour of the good Emperor Traian after his death consecrated in his name and called Traianopolis There is also Satalia cituated vpon the sea coast of Cilicia whereof hath taken the name the goulfe of Satalia aunciently called Issa and presently Iasse about this place Alexander the Macedonian vanquished and ouercame the great Darius kyng of the Persians by reason whereof the Citie was called Nicopolis which is to say towne of victory Moreouer in the same region is as yet resting the auncient towne of the Sun called Heliopolis or to say better Solos or Soloe for that Solon one of the seuen sages of Grecia was founder therof and afterwardes by the name of Pompe was called Pompeiopolis for that in the time of the triumphaunt Rome the Cicilians dwelling along the coast of the Mediteran sea a people beeing acquainted with the seas exercising the nauigation Pirates Coursaries and Skummers of the sea stood vp in so great number and so strong men giuen to piracie of vessels and ships necessarie for that purpose as Foysts and Brigantins that they possessed and kept the Sea side in such distresse that they did not onely let and anoy the merchaunts shippes and shippes of warre but likewise kept the portes and passages so shutte that they kept away the corne and victuals from all Italie whereby the Romane people were in danger of being famished Wherfore as Flore writeth in his Epitome Pompee was sent against them with an armie which through marueilous diligence and speede within fortie dayes ouercame them and chased them cleane out of the sea and in the ende hauing on the land taken them into mercie sent them into certaine townes and landes in Cilicia farre from the Sea there to dwell and liue and too the ende to purge the sea and namely assigned newe inhabitants in the towne then called Soloe and since vpon this reason Pompeiopolis The Cilicians were in times past called Tarses as Iosephus writeth theyr denomination hauing taken that name of Tarse nephewe vnto Iaphet who first gaue them the order too liue bearyng ouer them the principalitie and gouernement Likewise called after hys name theyr chiefe citie Tarse Nowe a dayes the whole Cilicia is as I haue sayde called Caramania a countrie reduced vnder the puissaunce and domination of the great Turke whiche before was a kingdome so puissaunt that the kinges of Caramania might haue brought intoo the fielde fortie thousande menne on horsebacke yea that Orcan Lorde of the Turkes sonne and successour of the firste Othoman who made himselfe chiefe of the Turkes and that first gaue the name of his noblenesse to their Emperors durst wel for
to make himselfe more noble to take in marriage the daughter of Caraman king of Caramania so called after hys name after he had conquested and ouercome the same Of the Merchant Iewes dwelling in Constantinople and other places of Turkie and Grecia Chap. 16. THE number of the Iewes dwelling throughout all the Citities of Turkie and Grecia and principally at Constantinople is so great that it is a thing marueilous and incredible for the number of these vsing trade and trafique of merchandise like of money at vsurie doth there multiply so from day too daye that the great haunt and bringing of merchandises which arriue there of all parts aswell by Sea as by land is such that it may be saide with good reason that at this present day they haue in their handes the moste and greatest trafique of merchandize and readie money that is in al Leuant And lykewise their shops and warehouses the best furnished of all riche sortes of merchandises which are in Constantinople are those of the Iewes Likewise they haue amongest them workemen of all artes and handicraftes moste excellent and specially of the Maranes of late banished and driuen out of Spaine Portugale who to the great detriment and damage of the Christianitie haue taught the Turkes diuers inuentions craftes and engines of warre as to make artillerie harquebuses gunne pouder shot and other munitions they haue also there set vp printing not before seene in those countries by the which in faire characters they put in light diuers bookes in diuers languages as Greek Latin Italian Spanish and the Hebrewe tongue beeing too them naturall but are not permitted to print the Turkie or Arabian tongue they haue also the commoditie vsage to speake and vnderstand all other sortes of languages vsed in Leuant which serueth them greatly for the communication and trafique which they haue with other strange nations to whom oftentimes they serue for Dragomans or interpretours Besides this detestable nation of the Iewes are men ful of all malice fraude deceit and subtill dealing exercising execrable vsuries amongst the Christians and other nations without any consciences or reprehention but haue free licence paying the tribute a thing whiche is a great ruine vntoo the countrie people where they are conuersant They are marueilous obstinate and stubborne in their infidelitie attending daily their Messias promised by whoÌ„ they hope to be brought agayn into the land of promise they haue the vale of Moses so knit before theâ— eyes of their vnderstanding that they will not nor by any manner of meanes can see or acknowledge the brightness and light of â—esus Christ whom through misbelief enuie and vnmeasured rage they condemned and caused too dye on the crosse and charging themselues with the offence sinne committed towardes his person wrote vnto Pilate hys blood bee vppon vs and our children and therfore their sinne hath followed them and their successours throughout al generations so as where they would not receiue his saluation the same for euer shalbe kept from them to their great mischiefe and confusion for since their extermination and the vengeaunce vpon Ierusalem vnto this present day they hadde at no time any certayne dwelling place vpon the face of the earth but haue alwayes gone straying dispearsed and driuen awaye from Countrie to countrie And yet euen at this day in what region soeuer they are permitted to dwell vnder tribute they are abhorred of God and menne and more persecuted of the Turkes which in derision call them Chifont then of any other nation who haue them in such disdaine and hatred that by no meanes they will eate in their companie and much lâ—sse marry any of their wiues or daughters notwithstanding that oftentimes they doe marry with Christians whom they permit too liue according to their lawe and haue a pleasure too eate and bee conuersant with Christians and that which is woorse if a Iewe woulde become a Muselman he should not bee receiued except first leauing his Iudaical sect he became a christian The Iewes which dwell in Constanstinople Andrinople Bursia Salonica Gallipoli other places of the dominion of the great Turke are all apparrelled with long garments like vnto the Gretians and other nations of Leuant but for their mark and token to be knowen froÌ„ others they weare a yealow Tulbant Those that dwel in the Ile of Chio which are in great number vnder the tribute of the Seigniorie in steed of a Tulbant doe weare a great cap of credit whiche some doe call a bonnet of Arbaleste being also of yealow colour This which I haue drawen out is one of those that carie cloath to sell through the citie of Constantinople A Merchant Iewe. Of the Armenians Chap. 17. THE Armenians are conuersant in Turkie and Grecia lyke vnto straungers chiefly at Constantinople and Pera being the most part merchants doe great trafique of merchandizes of Leuant as Chamblets Mockados Sayes and Carpets of Suria The poorer sort of them are artificers or els doe giue them selues to dressing of gardens and vines Their garmentes are long like vntoo the Grecians and other nations of the East partes and on their heads doe weare a blue Tulbant mixed with redde and white for that it is not permitted vnto anye then to the Turkes to weare a Tulbant being white onely The religion and maner of liuing of the ancient Armenians Chap. 18. IN times past the Armenians in theire lawes customes maner of liuing did not much differ from the Medians nor likewise in theire religion wherin the most parte followed the errour of the Persians neuerthelesse the Persians worshippe one Goddesse onely called Tanais vnto whom they builded in sundrie places diuers temples and dedicated vnto them not onely their menne and woman seruants but likewise their owne daughters of the most noble houses their lawe being such as constrained them too put them foorth publikelye and a long time vnto all commers before they might be marryed there was none that for this matter woulde refuse too take them in marriage which to contract they dyd as followeth The bride grome did cut of the tip of the right eare of the bride and the bride of the left eare of her husband by this mutuall consentment without any other ceremonie was the marriage contracted and obserued betweene them and published to all the worlde But when they would vowe any great solemne oth they tooke of the blood of their right eare so drunk it with wine as is written in the nienth booke of Valerius Maximus Iosephus in his first booke of the antiquitie of the Iewes writeth that Otree the sonne of Aram was he which first gaue the lawe and maner of liuing vnto the Armenians Moderne religion of the Armenians Chap. 19. AS for their faith and moderne religion they are christians hauing their church and ceremonies a part as all other not being Turks haue al which the great Lord doth permit to liue according
amongst the countreyes of Sophy as being ennobled of his royall city of Tauris or Terua as Ptolome saith or els as it seemeth vnto some Hebrewes very well experimented in languages assieties of couÌ„tries the famous auncient citie of Susa. But as foâ— Armenia the lesser the most part therof is now vnder the yoke dominion of the great Turke and Armenia the greater vnder the puissance of Sophi king of the Persians A Merchant of Armenia Of the Ragusins Chap. 21. THe Ragusins generally are riche for that they are very couetous enclining their minde to nothing more then to the gayne of marchandise and to make ready money Besides this they are of nature so proud that they do not think to be more knowledge or noblenesse in any other nation then is in them And to speake trueth they do deserue great praise considering that the cituation of their towne being in such a sharpe place and so streightly extended by their onely vertue and industrye yea almost in despite of nature they haue opened the way to all coÌ„modities necessary The apparrel of the meÌ„ is such that some do cloth theÌ„selues after the Venetian others after another maner as ye may see by y t figures folowing to wit the merchaÌ„ts the foot posts as are the Fantes carrying of letters whom we do cal messeÌ„gers which carry y e ordinary dispatches froÌ„ Raguse to Constantinople and from Constantinople to Raguse aswell of the Ambassadours of Fraunce as of the hostages of the Venetians and Florentins Their common language is the Sclauonian speeche and doe also speake certaine broken Italian more lewdly then the Venetians doe Their women are not very fayre and apparrell themselues but homely wearing ordinarily on theyr head an high attyre made of fine linnen cloth but the nobler sort weare it of white silke hauing their hosen euen to the heeles they doe goe very seldome abrode out of their houses but do loue to be looking out at the windowes to beholde the goers by As for their daughters are kept so close shut in as they are not to be seen by no manner of wise Of the pollicie and gouernment of the Ragusins Chap. 22. THE politique estate of the Ragusins is Aristocratie or a common wealth gouerned by the Lordes out of which is created euery month a president which remaineth in the pallace and hath twelue counsailers by whom the congregation is called Pregai or Pregadi vnto which doe resort an hundreth or more of the auncients of the citie And besides these aforesaide they haue moreouer the great counsell vnto which are assistant all the nobles of the age of twentie yeeres and vpwardes They are tributaries vnto the great Turke of twelue thousand ducats which they are bound to send vnto him euerie yere with two Oratours to Constantinople or els where he shalbe A Merchant of Raguse Fante of Raguse or a carrier of letters Of the Citie of Raguse Chap. 23. RAguse which Ptolome calleth Epidaure is a citie very ancient noble although the same which presently is called Raguse is not the old for that was destroyed by y e Gothes but of the ruines therof the later Raguse was by the inhabitauntes builded ten thousand pases from the olde which for thâ— present is but litle inhabited but the new is so much the more â—requented better peopled edified in most faire cituation vpon the coast of the Adriatique sea beeing notwithstanding within the precinct of the Dalmatian The hauen is very little wrought with handes On the vpper part there is a mount of great highnesse and sharpnesse at the foote whereof the citye is founded she is very subiect vnto windes Earthquakes and also in Winter season is very colde There are diuers foâ—ntaines taking their beginning of the next mountains the water wherof is very sweet wholesome to drink About the distance of a myle from the city there is a faire delectable place called Grauosa set all along with houses builded by most fayre ingenious Architecture accompanied with diuers gardens and pleasaunces planted with Orenge trees citrons lemons other excellent fruitful trees of diuers sorts There are also seene many cleere fayre fountaines dyuinely wrought which thorow conduits pypes they make to come foorth where it pleaseth them And this faire place of Grauosa standeth on the edge of the sea which there maketh a goulph after the fashion of a port very pleasant and able to receiue a 100. Gallies Description of Thracia Chap. 24. THracia which first was called Perca and since Scithon is a prouince in Europe counted amongst the regions of Scithia most ample and of great compasse but of an yll temperature the ayre being vnwholesome not healthfull the ground also barren inough except it be in the places neere vnto the sea It was named Thracia after the name of Thiras the sonne of Iaphet or els as others say of Thrax the sonne of Mars by thys reason seeming to be the most apparant was by Euripides called the house of Mars at this present day is called Romaine is diuided in 2. partes the one wherof is called Thracia onely and the other Thracia Chersonese On the East part bordereth vpon the sea Exinum and Propontide on the south the Sea Aegeum the floud Strymon presently Redino the fields of Macedonia on the North the riuer Istre beeing the Danube or Danoe and on the West the mountains of Peonia a part of Pannonia the riuer of Saue as Plinie Strabo haue written who doe affirme Thracia to be diuided by the mount Eme and that the Triballes Dardanes a fierce proude people and the MysiaÌ„s inhabited Thracia but the Triballes possessed the part presently kept by the Rastians whom we do cal Seruians After the Triballes are the Bulgares from the East vnto the sea Euxinum dwel between Istre and the mount Eme extending towardes the south alongest the sea coast vnto Hellespontus and is that which presently is called Romanie The riuers of Thracia are Bathynia Athyras Arsus vulgarly Chiarelech Melas whereof taketh the name the gulph of Mela otherwise the gulfe of Caridia Hebrus now Matizza or Valisa Nesus or Neste StrimoÌ„ But the most famous are the three last Of the most renowmed mounts ye haue Eme which separateth the Thracians from the Triballes which by some hath byn called the chayne of the world Rhodope so called by Rhodope Queene of Thracia out of which do spring the riuers Neste Hebrus the mount Orbel much celebrated for the sacrifice of Bacchus through the congregation of the Menades vnder the conduct of the Poet Orpheus Amongst these mountaines Eme is of such a height that from the top therof which as Pliny reciteth is 6000. paces is seen the sea of Exinum there is moreouer the mount Athos of the Latines called Monte santo because it is altogether habited of the Caloeres Greeks which are as most curiously writeth M. Peter
the end that in goods heritages the one should not be esteemed more wealthy then the other but only in this that they should surpasse one another in vertue and manhood and that by this meanes they should liue altogether as true brethren He tooke away and abolished al kinds of money of siluer and golde and insteed thereof made yron to be coyned which notwithstanding he made to be tempered and extinguished being red hot in vineger to the intent to make it soft by that meanes to be vnfit for all other woorkes he banished out of Lacedemon all handicrafts and artes not necessary and instituted banquets common feasts to the intent to refraine superfluity and dayntinesse vnto which aswel the poore as the rich were called welcommed both with one place and one kinde of meate they called these banquets Phiditia by the Candiots were named Andria he forbad the often attempting of warres agaynst ones self party or enemies for feare least they should be constrained often to defend themselues and in the end become valiaunt and good fighters he commaunded that the maydens should exercyse them selues to runne wrastle cast the dart and throw the barre to make them through such exercise the more strong able to beare children and when there was any great feast or solemne sacrifice willed them to sing and daunce amongest boyes starke naked which was done with al honesty without any feare or shame ordained also that the mayden virgins should be married without any dowry of money for that the men should marry them for their vertues and good manners to get children and not for couâ—tous getting of money Moreouer it behoued that those which would marry should not haue too doe with wiues whilest they were little young of a tender age but with such as were strong able to beare children He also further permitted to those that were fayre well disposed to lye with other mens wyues for to labour in them as in a fruitfull ground and to engender children in common it was estemed a matter of no reproch to an old decayed man hauing a faire and young wife to choose some faire young man seeming agreable vnto him to make him to lie with her and so to get her with childe and rayse vp seede vnto him which child he took and brought vp as his owne and yet it seemed vnto him a very foolish and straunge matter in other nations which so carefully got faire dogges to lyne their hot bitches and sought the fairest stoned horses to spring their mares and notwithstanding with great care kept their wyues so closely vnder lock and key for feare least they shoulde gette of theyr neyghbours whereof sometymes theyr iealous husbandes coulde not furnish them The great honours he ordained to be giuen according to the degrees of age and not according to the aboundance of goodes riches And for that some of his lawes seemed to be too rigorous and streight by reason of their corrupted maner he feyned that he had instituted theÌ„ by the commandement of the God Apollo which had inuented the same this did he because they should be receiued of the people with more renerence and by othe bound the city to keepe the same inuiolated without diminishing any part thereof vntil his returne from the Oracle of Delphis whether as he said he went to consult what should be good to be added or taken away But he went intoo Crete where hee ended hys dayes in voluntarie exyle where after his death as wryteth Aristocrates the sonne of Hippaâ—chus his body by some of his friends was consumed into ashes according to his decree were throwen into the Sea for feare if they were brought vnto Lacedemon the Sparthans shoulde not thynke themselues to be free of the othe which they hadde sworne for the inuyolable obseruation of hys lawes Thus yee haue summarily that which Plutarche writeth of the life of the same Licurgus Of the Athenians Chap. 32. AS for the Athenians Iustine in his 12. booke reciteth that they were the first that taught the art of spinning of wooll making of wines and oyles to plow the ground to sow corn for at the first they fed on nothing but on acornes for theyr dwellings had none other lodgings theÌ„ litle cabbins caues Doxius was the first that builded houses in Athens which following therin the maner of the swalows he builded of earth In the daies of Deucalion Cecrops raigned as king ouer the Athenians is he whom the Poets haue fayned to haue 2. forheads because he was the first that ioyned the men the women by the right line of mariage After him succeeded Granaus which had a daughter called Athis which gaue the name vnto the region After that reigned Amphitrion which first coÌ„secrated the citie vnto the goddesse Minerua named it Athene In his time was the great flood inundation of the waters which marred and drowned the most part of Grecia in this great deluge were only saued those that could get vp to the mountaines or the other which were coÌ„ueyed towards DeucalioÌ„ king of Thessalia By whom according to the feinings of the Poets the world was by order of succession restored The kingdome being since come vnto Eristheus during his reigne the sowing of corne was brought in inuented in Eleusine by Triptolemus therfore in remembrance of this good thing the nights were sacred vnto him The Athenians being esteemed the wisest amongst the Graecians for that the administration of their common wealth was gouerned by the sage wise doctrines of the Philosophers made a lawe that to euery one of them it was permitted to take two wiues but thereby were streightly forbidden to keepe any concubine saying it to be a thing without all honesty to keepe other mennes wiues and to giue vnto his owne an yll example of liuing And this they did for the opinion which they had that a man could not liue without women and company and when the one was brought to bed or sick he might go vnto the other or els if the one were barren the other might be fit to bring forth children and succession and to her that was fitt to conceaue the gouernement and administration of the house was giuen and the barren woman was vnto him as a seruaunt Plinie is one of his Epistles saith that the Athenians were wont to marry the brother with the sister but not the Vncle with the nephew alledging for his reason that the marriage of a brother with the sister was an euen match but the Vncle with the nephew was the marrying of the olde with the young The lawes of Solon giuen to the Atheninians Chap. 33. SOlon beyng by the common voyce of the Athenians chosen for the general reformer of their lawes and of the whole estate of their common wealth to confirme or abolish that whiche he thought reasonable first reuoked and made voyde
all those which Dracon had made except certain touching murthering deathes of men for that they were too seuere rigorous for for all sorts of crime he had almost ordayned but one punishment only which was death so as if any had bin foūd in idlenes or if he had stollen fruits or hearbs out of a garden he was aswel condemned to death as if he had bin a murtherer or sacriledge which gaue occasion vnto Demades that the lawes of Dracon were rather written with blood then with ynke Secondly he ordained that the rich citizens shuld haue the offices of magistrates that the meaner sort of the people shuld haue their part in the authority gouernmēt of the city he made generally to be estimated the goods of euery one particularly putting into the first order those which were found aswel in grayn as fruits of yerely reuenues the quantity of 500. minots liquided and those he called Pentacosiomedimnes which is to say hauing 500. minotes of reuenue and those whiche had 300. and might maintaine a horse of seruice were put into the second degree were called knights those which had but 200 were put into the 3. rank and were called Zeugites but the other beyng vnder 200. were put vnto the fourth rank he called thē Theles as who would say mercionaries and wold not permit these to exercise any publike office nor yet to enioy the right of Burgesie but to haue voyces in the elections assemblies of the city and iudgements in which the people were soueraine iudges Notwithstanding the bettet to prouide for the weakenesse of the people he permitted vnto euery one that would to take in hand the quarrel of him that had bin wronged Aboue the counsel of the Areopages which he had established he set another second coūsel of 100 men for the matters of estate whiche he did choose out of euery degree wherof 4. were chosen to consult vpon matters before they were proponed vnto the people He willed moreouer that if any had married a rich yong heire that afterwards he was found not able to liue with her so fleshly as his youth required that thē it was permitted to the womā to choose to her helpe the neerest kinsemā of her husbād such as shuld plese her to couple her self with him so that the children which he shuld beget shuld at the least be of the blood and linage of her husbād Furthermore he took away the dowries of other marriages willing that the men should haue with their wiues three gownes only and certaine other small moueables of litle value thinking it a thing neither iust nor reasonable that marriage should be made a traffique to be gayned by as by other merchandises but wished that it should be done of a hearty loue towards the common children He forbad the speaking euil of the dead expresly not to wrong or iniury the citizens either in word or deed vpō pain of three dragmes the one to be giuen to him that shuld be offended the other two to be for the common purse he permitted vnto euery one to make a wil to take such an heire as he shuld thinke good so as he had no children He permitted also the killing of the Adulterer being found with the deed but only condemned him that took a womā of free cōdition by force in a 100 drachmas he forbad that none might sel his daughters or sisters except that being married they were foūd in adultery To those y t won the prise at y e Istmick games he ordained out of the cōmō purse 100. dragmas those that had wonne at the Olimpicke 500. and to him that brought in the head of a woolfe was giuen 5. dragmes and one dragme for the head of a she woolfe he wold not that the freedome of the Citie shuld be giuen vnto any strāger except he were banished his Countrey for euer he made many other goodly ordinances which I passe with silence referring vnto the reader to see that which Plutarch hath written of the life of the said Solon but will declare onely that after he had authorised the lawes for a 100. yeres he made them to be written in boords or roundelles of wood which roundels according to Aristotle were called Cyrbes and fayned that the Goddesse Minerua had inuēted the same afterwards hauing made the counsel common people to sweare the obseruation therof because of the opportunity which some dayly vsed to take away or mittigate some of them he tooke leaue of the Athenians for 10. yeres and by sea went into Egypt where he remayned a certaine space afterwards returning into Cypres in the end returned to Athens where he found such troubles seditions partialities amongst the inhabitants that in the end they opened the way vnto Phisistratus to vsurpe his tyranny to the great grief of the said Solon which notwithstanding lyued vnto the time that Hegestrate was prouost of Athens The armes of the Macedonians Chap. 34. THe Macedonians in times past were amōgst the other Graecians in feats of warre most valiant flourishing they had their Phalanguelike vnto a fouresquare battell of footmen ioyned togethet with their armes being long pykes called Sarisses of 18. foot long with the which they opened the battels of their enimies their headpeece was of a raw oxe hide their curasse cuilted with flaxe the shield of leather the iauelin sword short and thus were set out their Phalangue which as Vegece writeth were at the first but 8000. men but according to Dion of the life of Antonie Caracole euery Phalangue Macedonique in the time of Alexāder the great was 16. M. men did not set in order their legions as the Romains did which did make one rāge to enter within another but made only a souldier to enter in the place of him that was slain and by such warlike order dyd many high and memorable feats of armes But after the discōfiture of the Persians through the maruellous increase of their power they fell into such a vainglory arrogancy euen as at al times pride and presumption are accustōmed to accompanye great prosperities that in place of most honest gouernment which they had in their common wealth they gaue thēselues to a life disordered corrupted and ful of al villany and abhominable dissolution wherupon ensued that during the time of this monarchy the Graecians had between themselues many great long warres yea such as in the end this so noble Graecia was altogether ruined and destroyed for euery one attēpting vpon it of al sides was in the end giuen as a pray vnto all strangers By the figure following is to be seen what the maner of apparel is of the Macedonian women nowadayes A woman of Macedonia The auncient religion of the Grecians Chap. 35. THe same Graecians through their marueilous industry and subtlety of spirite were inuenters of many monstrous manners of superstition and idolatry for euery one of
entertainement or liuing bookes apparrel theÌ„ about the sum of 200. dâ—cates a yeere which are ordeined distributed vnto theÌ„ by the churches ouer which they do coÌ„maund their garmentes are nothing different nor more rich theÌ„ those of a simple moÌ„k whom they do call Caloier but that vpon their head insteed of a three crowned myter they do weare a great felt hat wherupon is laid a large band of cloth of gold crosse wise Their priests did weare long beards were marryed to one woman onely which comming to die they might not marrie another and if they were found in adultery they were punished by their superiors without any mercy They do celebrate the masse in their vulgare laÌ„guage to the intent to bee vnderstanded of all men and coÌ„municate the L. supper vnder two kinds do it indifferently aswell vnto the great as lesser sort They do not put any water into their wine they deny the purgatory say that praiers fastings almes do nothing help the souls of the disceased wil not suffer any carued images of saints in their churches but on flat pictures painted These patriarches haue besides an other custom very straÌ„ge which is that euery yere on the good friday they do anathemise excoÌ„municate the pope al princes christiaÌ„ people obeying vnto the traditions of the Rom church They do obserue two Lents with great abstinence wher of the first beginneth on the fat muÌ„day being ix dayes before the leÌ„t of the Latins during these ix daies they may eat egs cheese and fish but after that vntil Easter they doe abstayn froÌ„ al kind of fishes and other meat that hath blood in it The other Lent they do solemnise in the time of the Aduent theÌ„ do fast 40. dayes with like abstinence as at the first And finally they haue many other ceremonies farre different from the Romaine Church and although in their religion they do obserue many good things yet do they in many things differ much from the primitiue Church I meane such as haue bin taught vs by the Apostles By reason of which their errors as for diuers other vyces wherwith they haue bin are entangled it is not to be marueiled at though this Graecian nation which hath byn the most flourishing in al Europe aswel in gouernment of coÌ„mon wealth as administration of iustice good policy ful of excelleÌ„t captains and good souldiers expert philosophers yea that rightly it might haue byn called the iust spring and fountaine of all phylosophy and liberall sciences and now through the variable course of nature vnstedfastnes of fortune the most desart barbarous desolated countrey habitable on earth as beyng fallen into ignominious calamity and miserable seruitude vnder those that are more barbarous For besides the great vyces wherin first they were so deepe drowned being in the chiefe of their monarchie and magnificeÌ„ce after they had ouercome the Persians feeling themselues riche puissant because of suche a spoile they fel into such pride presumption that not being able to liue in peace one with another had between them many long cruel warres vppon which followed the ruine saccagement desolation of their couÌ„trey burning of their cities cruel murthering of their ancieÌ„t citizeÌ„s other inestimable losses So as by the same Graecia was altogether destroied marred and ouerthrown yea that after it was set as a pray opeÌ„ passage to those y t wold inuade y e same in the end froÌ„ honest coÌ„moÌ„ wealthes politike gouernmeÌ„t the inhabitaÌ„ts were brought vnder tiraÌ„ny forthwith vnder kingdoÌ„s And after they had remaind vnder the subiectioÌ„ obeisance of the romain empire vnto the last CoÌ„stantin for making vp of their last calamities by diuyne permission for punishmeÌ„t of their vices detestable sinnes after they had lost their Emperour and the imperiall citie of Constantinople his wife children parentes friendes and riches to the whole ruine of the oriental empire they beyng all destroied dead or captiues sequesâ—red of their rightes immunities traunchises and liberties too the moste shamefull confusion of Princes and Christian potentates contempt of diuine religion These wretched Graecians are left vnder the miserable seruitude of these miscreated Mahometists constrained to insupportable tributes yea to pay the tenth person of their owne children as before in the description of the Azamoglans I haue declared such are the righteous iudgements of GOD towards the misbeleeuing and those that abuse his gracious gifts I haue before liuely set forth the figure of a woman of Lacedemonia to wit of those which vpon the high waies neere vnto the villages do sell bread vnto the passers by and hereafter I doe represent vnto you the Gentleman and the Merchant of Graecia and the Gentlemans hat must be blacke as that of the Albanoys and the tulbant of the merchant must be skie coloured yee haue also here the portraite of a woman of the countrey in Graecia A Gentleman of Graecia A Merchant of Grecia A countrie woman of Grecia A Table of the Chapters of this booke of Nauigations and Peregrinations Orientals of Nicolas de Nicolay of Daulphine Chamberlaine and Geographer ordinary of the king of Fraunce The first number signifieth the Chapter the seconde the Folio Chapters of the first booke THE departure and voyage of the Lord of Arramont Ambassadour for the king towards the great Turk from Constantinople to returne into Fraunce Chap. 1. Folio 1. The departure of the Lord of Arramont from the Court to returne in his Ambassage into Leuant towards the great Turke 2.1 Of the yles Baleares now called Maiorque Minorque 3.3 Of the yles auncienly called the Pitious and now Ieuisse and Fromentiere 4.3 Nauigation from the yles called Pitious to the citie of Alger 5.3 Of our arriuall in Alger 6.4 Of the great perilles dangers wee were brought into by the meanes of certaine Christian slaues that were escaped 7.5 Description of the citie of Alger 8.7 By what meanes Cairadin Barbarouse came to the king of Alger 9.12 Of the further proceeding on our nauigation 10.12 Of the the towne Teddel and the inhabitantes thereof 11. 13 Of the citie of Bone aunciently called Hippon of which saint Augustine was bishop 12.13 Of our arriuall at the yle of Panthalaree 13.14 Description of the yle 14.15 Of our departure froÌ„ the yle Panthalaree towards Malta 15.15 Description of the yle of Malta 16.17 Of our departure from Malta towards Tripoli 17.19 Foundation of the Citie of Tripoli 18.20 Of the Bazar where the christiaÌ„s were sold taken in the yles of Sicile Malta and Goze of their maner of trenches Gabions and batteries of the Turke 19.21 Of the composition and giuing ouer of the castle of Tripoli vnto Sinan Bascha 20.24 Description of the ruines of Tripoli 21.26 Of our returne from Tripoli to returne to Malta 22.28 The Chapters of the second booke THE departure of the Lorde of Arramont Ambassadour for
king Henry the second towards Soliman Emperor of the Turkes from the yle of Malta to proceede on his voyage towards Leuant 1.31 Description of the yle Citharee vulgarely called Cerigo 2.32 Antiquities by the authour obserued in the yle of Citharee 3.32 Of our departure from the yle of Citharaee or Cerigo 4.34 Of our arriuall at the yle of Chio. 5.34 Description of the yle of Chio. 6.35 Of the citie of Chio. 7.36 Of the gouernment of the yle and citie of Chio. 8.41 Of the yle of Metelin 9.42 Of our nauigation froÌ„ the yle of Metelin to Galliopoli 10.43 Of the citie of Galliopoli 11.44 Of the foundatioÌ„ of Bizance now called CoÌ„stantinople 12.47 The reedification of Byzance by Constantine the great Emperour 13.48 Of two marueilous fires happened by chaunce at two seuerall times within Constantinople 14.49 Of two earthquakes hapned within Constantinople 15.49 Antiquities of Constantinople 16.50 Of the castle of 7. towres by the Turks called Iadicula 17.50 Of the Sarail wherein the great Turke dwelleth 18.51 The great Sarail or Sarail of women 19.53 Of the most famous temple of S. Sophia and other Mosques of Constantinople 20.57 Of the bathes and maner of washing of the Turkes 21.58 Of the women of Turkie going vntoo the bathes and of their apparrell and maner of cleannesse 22.59 Of the place called Bezestan and other publike markets 23.62 Of the Citie of Pera or Galata 24.65 Of the women and maidens of Grecia of the Peratins Franques of Pera or Galata 25.65 The Chapters of the thirde booke OF the origin and bringing vppe of the Azamoglans being children of tribute leauied vppon the Christians being subiectes and tributaries vnto the great Turke 1.69 Of the Azamoglans rusticke 2.71 Of the origin and first institution of the order of Ianissaries 3.73 Of the Ianissaries which are continually about the gates of the great Lord or at Constantinople 4 7â— Of the Bolucks Bassis being captaines ouer a hundreth Ianissaries 5.78 Of the Ianissarie Aga Captains generall of the Ianissaries 5.79 Of the Solaquis archers and of the ordinary gard of the great Turke 7.80 Of the Peicz or Lacquaes of the great Turk 8.82 Of the apparrell custome and maner of liuing of the auncient Peicz or Lacquaes of the Emperours of Turkie 9.84 Of the wrastlers of the great Turke called Guressis or Peluianders 10.86 Of the Cookes and other officers of the kitchin of the greate Turke and ordinary manner of the eating of the Turkes 11 90. Of the Phisitions of Constantinople 12.93 Of the Grecian Peysants or husbandmen called Voinucz 13.95 Oâ— the Cadilesquers great doctours of the lawe Mahometicke and chiefe Iustices of the Turkes 14 97. Of foure sundry religions of the Turks their maner of liuing portraites of the religious first of the Geomalers 15.99 Of the 2. sect of the religious Turks called Calenders 16.101 Of the 3. sect of the religious Turks called Deruis 17.102 Of the 4 sect of the religious Turks called Torlaquis 18.104 Of other religious Turkes leading a solitary life amongest beasts 19.106 Of those which do cal theÌ„selues kinsemeÌ„ to Mahomet 20.108 Of the Pilgrims of Mecqua by the Turkes called Hagislars 21.110 Of the Sacquas carriers of water beyng also pylgrims of Mecqua 22.112 The Chapters of the fourth Booke OF the auncient lawes and manner of liuing of the Persians 1.113 Of the religion and ceremonies of the ancient Persians 2.115 The auncient weapons of the Persians 3.115 Of the religion of the Persians vsed now adayes 4.115 Of the estate of the Persians now adayesâ— 5.116 Of the wanton and voluptuous life of the Persians 6.117 Description of the kingdome of the Persians 7.118 Of the Persian women 8.119 Description of the three Arabies and first of the rocky or stonie 9.121 Of Arabia the desart 10.121 Of Arabia the happie 11.122 Of the auncient maner of liuing lawes and religion of the Arabians 12.125 Of the aduentures called Dellis or Zatasnisis 13.126 Of the men and women of Cilicia presently called Caramonia 14.128 Of Celicia presently called Caramonia 15.129 Of the merchant Iewes dwelling in Constantinople and other places of Turkie and Grecia 16.130 Of the Armenians 17.133 Religion maner of liuing of the ancient ArmeniaÌ„s 18.133 Moderne religion of the Armenians 19.133 Of Armenia 20.134 Of the Ragusins 21 136. Of the pollicy and gouernment of the Ragusins 22.136 Of the citie of Raguse 23.139 Description of Thracia 24.139 Of the city of Andrinopoli 25.140 Maner lawes religion and auncient order of liuing of the Thracians 26.145 Of the auncient opinion of the Thracians touching the immortality of the soule 27.145 The auncient armes of the Thracians 28.146 The description of Graecia 29.149 Of the maner and auncient order of lyuing of the Graecians 30.153 Of Licurgus lawes giuen vnto the Lacedemonians 31.153 Of the Athenians 32.154 The lawes of Solon giuen to the Athenians 33. 155. The armes of the Macedonians 34.156 The auncient religion of the Graecians 35.158 The Moderne religion of the Graecians 36.158 Imprinted at London by Thomas Dawson 1550. The Lorde of Aramont sent Ambassadour from the king of Fraunce to Soliman Emperour of the Turkes The voiage by land from CoÌ„stantinople to Ragusa Nauigation from Ragusa to Venice Iourney from Venice to the city of Blois The Lorde of ArramoÌ„t made gentleman ordinarye of the kings chamber and captain of two gallies The king coÌ„maundeth the author of this booke to goe with the Ambassadour into Leuant The departure of the Lord of Arramont froÌ„ the court to returne on hys Ambassadge in to Leuant in anno 1551. The Ladye of Arramont receyueth the Ambassadour her husband at Auignion The Ambassadour fell into an extreame sicknes at Marseille He recouereth his health Port of Carry Ingratitude mother of al vices Cape de Creo. Description of the Iles Baleares Vigece saith the inhabitaÌ„tes of this Ile to haue been the first inuentors of casting with the sling Description of the Iles pitious Description of the Palais The king of Alger receiueth the Ambassadour Capi-aga Capigis The Ambassadour saluteth the king Liberalitie of the king Couetous nanation Conspiracie of the Turkes against vs. The Turkes rose in armâ—s against vs. Erasme nephew vnto captaine Coste was deliuered vnto y e Turkes â—o appease theÌ„ Cape of Matafus Change of names of Alger Furnaces fitly made for breeding of chickins Camels and oxen shod The Moores do ride their horses with-without saddel or bridel VVeapons of the Moores Manie renâ—ed christians in Alger A miserable life of the christian slaues in Alger Pleasant Gardens Sauo a riuer Tipasa an old citie Ferdinando king catholike constrayneth the Moores to a truce Selim slaine by treason Cape of Tedele Strange myce Teddel Borasque of Barbary moste dangerous for saylers Porte of Bone Bone anciently Hippon Charl. the v. builded there a castel The Spaniards driuen out of the castle Merdez a people A church builded by S. Aug. Cape de Rose Galite and Symboles A flying fishe Newes
sent to the Ambassadour Pantalaree ancieÌ„tly Paconie Oile made of Stinco The womeÌ„ of this countrie are very good Swimmers Roade of S. Paule Goze saccaged 6300. prisoners taken A pitiful history A strange crueltie The zeale of king Henry to the religion of Malta The ambassador consenteth to go too Tripoli too perswade the Bassha to leaue the siege thereof Malta ancieÌ„tly called Melita The castle of the grand master verye strong Many whores in Malta Sommer cloathing of the women of Malta Description of the citie Eeles with sharp teeth Sixtie villages in Malta Port of Saint Peter Acts. 28. â—â— Cape of march Siroch Ignorance in Pilots is most dangerous Cape of Taiure The Ambassadour saluteth the Bascha The Bascha his answere founded on the periury of the knights of the religion A hardie enterprise of certaine knights Tripoli Extortions of officers cause sometimes the subiects to reuolt from their soueraine An heremit constrained to take gouernment vpoÌ„ him Charles the â— gaue the keeping of Tripoly vnto the Knightes of the religion Maner to serch the christian slaues that come to bee sold. Raiz are captaines of the gallies Importunitie of the Argosin CoÌ„ditions proponed by the assieged Vaillier vpon the Baschas word goeth to him Vallier sent to the gallies with irons vpon him A good wise answere of Vaillier Faith and promise brokenâ— The ambassadors care for the Prisoners An Arch tryumphal Munitions of warre resting within the castle A cruel sacryfice vppon the person of Iohn Chabas a gunner of the Castle The maister two gallieâ— slaues of ourâ— gallie died Ingratitude of the grand maister Vaillier put vnder arest The Iles of Zefalonia and Zante A gift agreeable and necessary The yle of Sapience Cape Malee or S. Ange verye dangerous for Saylers The yle of Cerigo Port S. Nicholas The castle Capsali Curtesie of the Proueditor of Cerigo Cerigo Error of Pliny Strabon Wild asses hauinge in theyr head a stone of great vertue Ruine of the temple of Venus The stature and effigâ— of Helene Foundations of the castle of Menalaus Bathes cut in rockes Our comming to Chio. An oration made to the Ambassadour Pli. lib. 5. c. 30. Mount S. Helie Book 14. C. 15. MouÌ„t Pelenee Port of Cardamille S. George Lithilimione Cape Mastico of the auncients Phane promoutoriuÌ„ The maner of gatheryng of mastick The price and value of the mastick The Geneuoises do pay vnto the Turke 10000. crowneâ— for Chio. The Burse where the merchants doc assemble Prase of the women of Chio. Apparrel of the women of Chio. A sumptuous church of the Grecians Mahomies geÌ„tlemen Geneuoises Foure goueâ—â—nors elected Twelue councellers Officers for victuals 4. Officers for the ouerseeing of the buildings Twoo Mahomies haue the gouernment of the mastic Tame partriges which are led brought to and fro the fieldes A tribute whiche the widdowes of Chio that wil not marry must pay The whooreâ— do pay a trybute vnto the captaine of the night for thyr lycence Io tragicque Theopompe the Historian Theocrite the Sophist Homere Bubal and Antherme brethren Hipponax the Poet Iambique Ile of S. Steph. Port Delphin Cardemille In his descriptio of Asia the lesse chap. 74. Cape of Lesbos Cairadni and Ariadne brethren Metelin vnder the puissance of the Turke Promontorie Sigeâ— The fountayn Ephere Temple of Neptune The riuer Scaâ—â—nder Mesaulon â—treiâ—e of Helâ—espont Two castles â—byde in Asia A streame very dangerous Exaction of those of the gard vpon the passingers MaitoÌ„ a great village VVindemilles with x. wings Tributes or head mony Macrotique Byzante or Rodesto Goulph Selimbrie Casal S. Stephano Iadicula Calcedon in Natolie Our arriuall at CoÌ„staÌ„tinople The Ambassador being arriued goeth too salute the Rostan Bascha Byzance otherwise Constantinople Description of Constantinople Calcedon Phane The time of the building repayring of Constantinople MegariaÌ„s why they are called blind CalcedoÌ„ builded by the Megarians Ligos Diodore and Polibe contrary to Pliny Byzance ruyned by Seuerus the Emperour Troy begun to be new buylded A signe gyuen by Eagles The palladiâ— of Rome brought too Constantinople Mehemet the 2. spoyleth and saccageth CoÌ„stantinople Constantine the emperour killed in a presse The emperesse with her daughters and maydens rauished defloured after cut in peeces The temple of S Sophia made a Stewes A marueilous prouidence Twelue kingdomes 200 cities by the Turks taken from the christians A Librarie of 120000. volumes The stature of of a dragon 120. foot long Hippodrome The sepulchre of Constantin mad of Porphyre 2 Sarail of Sultane wyfe to the great Turke 3 the Sarayl for the yonge Slaues The court vvhere the baschas 3. times in the week doe giue audience vnto all commers the porters of this Sarail are Eunuches The turke hath aboue 200 coÌ„cubinâ— Iustinian fouÌ„der of the â—eÌ„ple of S. Sophia The Turks oâ—pinion of imaâ—ges 3 Mosques in Constantinâ—ple â—ewe vacaâ—oundes in Turkes Bathes publikâ— and priuate The Mahumatised maie not enter into the Mosques with out first being washed Herod Cleander The vsage of the baths hath byn anciently obserued of the Scithes Good cheapâ— Peltâ—rie Slaues sold as horses are in markets The Friday is vnto the Turkes as the Sunday to the Christians the Saterday to the Iewes Pera Galata Cornubizance Pera signifieth beyond Description of Pera. Pera inhabited by three sundry nations An Arcenal of 100 Arches Artillery gotten of the christians Sarail of the Azamoglans Churchyards The Ambassadors of France Venice Florance were lodged in Pera The apparel of the Graecians and women of Pera is exceeding rich Excesse of apparrell procureth vnshamefastnesse Of 3. male children one leuied for tribute Compassion ought to bee had of these christiaÌ„ slaues 200. CoÌ„missaries ordained for leuying of these poore children Snow preserued al the sommer long VVages and entertainment of the Azamoglans Tambora like vnto a Cittern The Azamoglans doe become deadlye enemies to the ChristiaÌ„s and their owne parents Vnnatural ingratitude of Rostan Bascha Georg Castriot called Scanderbegus being brought vp as an Azamoglan reuolteth against the great Turk and setteth his Cuntrie at libertie Vnhappie bringing vp Passeth nature The order of the Ianissaries instituted by Amarat the 7. Emperour of the Turkes Armure of thâ— Macedonians Armure of the Ianissaries Distribution of the order of the Ianissaries Wages of the Ianissaries The spoile of the Marchant Iewes and christians giuen vnto the Ianissaries by the new Emperourâ— Aduertisment for all princes The Ianissaries vnmarryed in time of peace do keep watch in Constantinople Euery Ambassadour hath 6. or 8. Ianissaties for his gard A commendable order for intertaining of the old Ianissaries Chechaia or Protegero The Ianissarie Aga doth somtimes marry the daughters or sisters of the greate Turke 300. Solaquâ—â— To turne the back toward the great Turâ— is accounted great vnreuerence Sugar candie good for fainâ—nes They runne backwards on the way The ancient Peiz wer shod like horseâ— Peichz weare a bal in their mouthes like horses There are no â—nnes throughout al Leuant Pleuianders are Moores Indians or tartares VVhy wrestlers do anoint themselues many wrestlers in Alger Inuention of wrestling 4. Officers seâ— ouer the Cookes Great differeÌ„ce betwixte the Turks vs in dressing of meate Meates of the Turkes Water is the moste commoÌ„ drinke of the Turkis Opium wyll make them drunke Iewes excelleÌ„t in phisicke whyâ— Amon â—â— Hebrew PhisitioÌ„ Ten Phisitions for the commons of the Sarail Voinuchz neighbors vnto Boâ—sinian A Baggepype 2. cadilisquâ—â— one for the â—â—tolie and onâ— for Grecia Vages of the Cadilesquers Apparrell and â—anner of the Cadilesquers 4 orders of 〈◊〉 Religious Gâ—â—maâ—ers Caleâ—â—ders Doruisâ— Torlaquis beeing a Sectarie vile abhominabâ—â— VVhy the Gâ—â—malers are caâ—led men of 〈◊〉 religion of loue abstinence chastitie of the Calenders Apparrell of the Calenderâ—â— The first martir of these religious Apparrell of the Deruis Spoiles vnder pretext of religion Matslach an hearbe of pestilent operation a foolish temeritie of one of these Religious Apparel of the Torlaquis Beastlinesse of these Torlaquis The Torlaquis do vse also of the Matslach Mahomets kinsemen doe weare a garment Tulbant seueral to be known froÌ„ others VVine forbidden by Mahâ—met and why opinion of the Persians towardes their Kinge Arabia parted into three prouinces The smell of mirrhe vnwholesome Dellys Cilicia of Cilix A caue very strange Iewes great vsurers Tanais a goddesse worshipped by the Armenians A strange fashion of contracting marriage A generall description of Grecia Phalangue Heresie of Donatus