for the space of fiue daies that wee staied there and eat and dranke with vs after an vnsatiable manner and very gréedily Also we sent the Gouernor a present of two chéeses a Gammon of bakon and fiue or sixe harrels of pickle Oisters which he accepted very thankefully and returned vs in requital therof two or thrée Goats and a Shéepe or two and good store of Unions And there we tooke in fresh water Canarie wine Marmalad of Quinces at twelue pence the pound little barrels of Suckets at three shillings the barrell Oranges Limmons Ponicitrions and excellent faire white bread made with Anniséeds and is by them called Nunnes bread The eightéenth day of Aprill about seuen of the clocke in the morning we waighed Ancor and set saile hauing a faire gale of wind for some thrée houres and being then becalmed we houered too fro till the 21. day and hauing then againe a faire gale of winde we sailed vntill the 27. day about two or three of the clock in the afternoone that we ariued ancored at Mayo being about thrée hundred leagues from the Canaries and comming from thence wee were determined to take in fresh water at a place called Bonauista but hauing ancored we found the water to bee two or three miles vp in the land neither was it cleare water so that we tooke the smaller quantity But thero were other good commodities For at our first comming we were told by two Negroes that there wee might haue as many Goats as we would gratis and I well remember we had to the number of two hundred or there abouts in both our ships Also-they told vs that there were but twelu men in the Iland and that there was verie great store of Salt growing out of the ground so that if we pleased we might lade both our ships therewith it is excellent good white salt and as cleare as euer I saw any in England Ouer against the I le of Mayo some eight leagues distance is an Iland called S. Deago wee staied at Mayo from the twenty seuenth of Aprill in the afternoone vntill the fourth day of May at sixe of the clocke in the morning when we set saile and sailed vntill the twentieth day of May that we were past the Equinoctiall line about 4. or 6. of the clocke in the morning being distant froÌ„ the I le of Mayo about thrée hundred fourty eight leagâ—es or there abouts as our master Philip de Grone noted it downe in his owne Booke of the description of the whole Uoiage And thence we still sailed forwards vntill the fourth of Iuly that wee caâ—â—e to a part of Souldania with al our men in health Gods name be praised but two which were touched a little with the scuruy which â—â—one after recouered themselues on shore to their former health Also the same day we espied Land which is called Cape bona Speranse being some fifteene or sixteene leagues of Souldania and standeth in some thirty fiue Degrées or thereabouts At Souldania wee refreshed our selues excellently well so long as we were there and had and tooke in for our prouision about foure hundred head of Cattel as Oxen Stéeres Sheepe and Lambes and foules and fish of sundry sorts very plentifull and fresh water great store Also in that place is an Iland called Pengwin some fiue or sixe leagues from the maine Land where are great store of fowles called also Pengwins infinite number of Sealles And to fetch some of those Seales we went twice thither and filled our boat each time and made tranie Oile thereof for Lampes Also in this Iland we found 20. fat shéepe being left there by the Hollanders for a Pinnis which we met some two hundred leagues from Cape bona Speranse which shéepe we tooke with vs and left sixe beasts or bullocks in their steads At our â—irst comming to Souldania wee began to build or set vp our Pinnis and launched her the fifth day of September next following and in seuen or eight daies after she was rigged and ready in all points to haue gone away if any such necessity had béene Souldania is within the Kingdome of Ethiopia Now the Ethiopians are by nature very brutish or beastly people especially in their feeding For I haue séene them eate the guts garbedge yea euen the very panch where the dung â—ilth lieth Also when we haue cast off those Seale fishes into the riuer neere adioining where they haue lyen the space of fourtéen daies and that they haue béene putriâ—ied and stuncke so vehâ—mently that it could almost haue stifled one of vs to come by them these people haue taken them vp and â—aten them when they haue â—warmed with cranling maggots Also in this Countrey are sundry sorts of wilde beasts which my selfe and others of our Company going on shore of purpose haue seene and perceiued some of them to â—e very fierce and cruell so that afterwards when we found their dens we durst not enter them nor come very neere them lest they should be in them The Ethiopians brought downe to the shore side to sell Estridgs egges and some empty shels with a small hole in one end with Estridges feathers and Porpentines quils and for all their Traffique and Commodities they chiefly desire Iron estéeming it more then either gold or siluer For with our old iron we bought all our Cattell and any thing else that we had of them In this Countrey wee remained from the fouretéenth day of Iuly vntil the twentieth day of September then next following The 20. day of September earely in the morning we waighed ancor and that night we lost the good ship called the Vnion and our Pinnis called by the name of the Good hope the night being very darke and windy now the euening before we lost them the Vnion about fiue of the Clocke put out her Ensigne but to what intent we knew not nor could imagine but all that night we lay at hull The next day being the 21. day hauing a faire and strong gale of winde and afterwards sundry contrary windes and many calmes yet at length wee attained to the height of S. Laurence on the 27. day of October standing in the height of 26. degrees from whence we sailed with many crosse and contrary winds and calmes Yet at length on the 22. day of Nouember in the morning wee descried two or thrée small Ilands and in the afternoone we espied an Iland called Gomora a very high Land and on the 24. day we sent our boat to the shore side and there came to the shore side fiue or sixe men of that Countrey and sold vs Plantains and nothing else at that time The next day we sent our boat againe but a little before they came to the shore they espied a Cannooe and two men in it a fishing we went betweene them and the shore but would not violently take them then we shewed them a knife oâ— two and they came both into our
A TRVE AND ALMOST INCREdible report of an Englishman that being cast away in the good Ship call the Assention in Cambaya the farthest part of the East Indies Trauelled by Land through many vnkowne Kingdomes and great Cities VVith a particular Description of all those Kingdomes Cities and People As also A Relation of their commodities and manner of Traffique and at what season of the yeere they are most in vse Faithfully related WITH A DISCOVERY OF A GREAT Emperour called the Great Mogull a Prince not till now knowne to our English Nation By Captaine Robert Couerte LONDON Printed by WILLIAM HALL for Thomas Archer and Richard Redmer 1612. TO THE RIGHT HONOVRABLE ROBERT EARLE OF SALISBVRY KNIGHT OF THE MOST HOnourable Order of the Garter Vicount Cranborne Lord CECIL of Essindon Lord high TREASVRER of England Chancellour of the Vniuersity of Cambridge and one of his Maiesties most Honourable Priuie Councell AS the most noble Maecenas of all good Arts the most worthy Patron of all such as can any way merit of their Countrey I haue elected you Right Honourable Lord to whom I haue presumed encouraged by your known grace and Clemency to Dedicate these my tedious and dangerous Trauels In which your Honour shall finde vndoubtedly all truth and some nouelty If after your more weighty and serious Considerations you will daine the perusall of this my rude and vnpolisht discourse For being shipwrackt in Cambaya the farthest part of the East Indies and not dispairing in the power of the Almighty of my safe returne to my Countrey Leauing the rest to the number of 75. that would not hazard so desperate and vnexpected an vndertaking I aduentured to passe thorow many vnknown Kingdomes and Cities ouer Land of all which I haue to my plain vnderstanding made a particular and â—aithfull discouery Protesting to your Honor that in all my trauels and almost incredible dangers I haue heere exprest no more then I haue directly seen and to my great sufferance and difficultie prooued Pardon I intreat your Lordship this my presumption in selecting you the noble and worthy Patron to so rude a discourse whose simplenesse is onely excused in the Truth That granted I shall thinke my selfe most comforted after al my precedent Hazards that your Honor will but daine to accept of this report Your Lordships Humbly deuoted Robert Couerte To the Reader REceiue Courteous Reader a true report of my dangerous Trauels which will I make no question be as pleasing to thee in reading as they were painefull to me in suffering Heere thou maiest safely and without danger see that which hath cost me many a tedious and weary step many a cold and comfortlesse lodging and many a thin and hungry meale I publish not these my Aduentures in any pride or Arrogancie But I thinke I should prooue ingratefull to my preseruer not to let the world know his miraculous power in safegarding me beyond mine owne hope or mans Imagination The report of these my perils are freely thine mine hath onely been the dangers and sufferance Bee thou as well pleased with my faithfull discouery as I am contented with my hard and paineful Pilgrimage Thine ROBERT COVERâ—â— A TRVE AND ALmost incredible report of an Englishman that being cast away in the ship called the Assention in Cambaya the farthest part of the East Indies Trauelled by Land through many vnknown Kingdomes and great CITIES THe 14. day of March 1607. wée came into the Downes and there ancored against Deale about 3. miles from Sandwich where we staied vntill the 25. day of the same moneth being by computation the first day of the yéere 1608. vpon which day about foure of the clock in the morning we waighed ancor and past by Douer betwéene thrée and foure of the clocke in the afternoone without any staying but giuing them notice with 3. peeces of Ordinance of our passing by and so passed forwards some thrée leagues and then by a contrary winde we were driuen backe againe into Douer roade where we ancored and staied till fiue of the clocke in the morning being the twenty sixe day of March. and then weighing ancor we sailed some thrée leagues when the winde contrarying constrained vs againe to cast ancor vntill the 27. day in the morning about seuen or eight of the clocke and then hauing a faire gale of winde we sailed to Plimouth where we arriued the 29. day between tenne and eleuen of the clocke in the forenoone where we staied till the thirtie one day of March. And then hauing a faire gale of winde wee waighed ancor and sailed vntill wee came in sight of an Iland called the Saluages on Sunday being the tenth day of Aprill being about fiue hundred leagues from Plimouth and still sailed forwards vntill the next morning that we came within sight of the grand Canaries which belong to the Spaniard And vpon the twelfth day of Aprill about eight or nine of the clocke in the night we ancored and discharged a peece of Ordinance for a boat to come aboard but to no effect For before our ariuall in the road there was a rumor of twelue saile of Flemmings that were coÌ„ming that way to no good intent as the Spaniards afterward told vs to be some of those Flemmings that had ouerrunne the rest where upon they sent vp into the Countrey for one hundred and fifty horse and foot or more for their defence and safegard if néede should be nor would they be peswaded to the contrarie vntill two of our Factors went on shore and fully satisfied them in any thing they demanded or doubted and that our intent was only to make prouision for such things as we wanted and the next morning as the manner there is we discharged another péece of Ordinance And then the Gouernour of the Towne sent a boat to know what we craued whereupon we certified them of our wants and they told vs they would giue the Gouernour intelligence and returne vs an answere which was that vnlesse wee came into the road it was beyond his Commission to releeue vs yet hauing first sworne and examined our Factors and so knowing the truth of our intended voiage they gaue them a warrant to take a boat to come aboard at their pleasures with licence to supply our wants if they had any thing that might content vs. Yet one thing aboue the rest made vs much to maruell which was two English ships which wee perceiued and knew by their flagges being in the road who had not so much kindnesse in them as to giue vs notice of the custome or manners of these subtill and currish people And of this doubt wee were also resolued that no man whatsoeuer being once within their Dominions may come aboard any ship that shall arriue there and lie out of the roade although they be of their owne Nation without their Gouernors and Councels permittance or licence At our being there some of them came aboard of vs euery day
the General consented heereupon our Master called the Pilot to see if he had any skil in the Plat and so to let him depart and all the rest But when thus treacherously they offered vs the first abuse we could doe no lesse then we did being in our owne defence and for the safegard of our liues Yet did some fiue or sixe of these villaines recouer a Pangaia by their excellent swiftnesse in swimming and escaped to the shore they swimming to windward faster then our Pinnis could rowe In this skirmish were hurt but thrée of our Company namely Master Glascocke with two wounds whereof one was a deepe wound in his backe Master Tindals was aimed at his breast he hauing nothing in his hand to defend himselfe yet by the assistance of the Almighty he turned himselfe about and receiued the stabbe in his arme and our Masters was in his belly as is formerly said which God be thanked they all recouered and were well cured The 19. day of Ianuary wée espied many Ilands which the Portugals call by the name of Almaisant being to the number of nine Ilands al vnpeopled as the Portugals write and affirme The 20. day we sent our Pinnis in the morning to one of those Ilands to séeke fresh water but could finde none yet they found there great store of Land Turtles and brought some sixe aboard then wee sailed â—o an other Iland which seemed more likely for fresh water then the first where we cast Ancor The 21. day about ten of the Clock in the forenoone Riding there at twelue or thirtéene fathome water and a reasonable good harbour we staied there vntill the first day of February and then waighed Ancor and departed Here we refreshed our selues very well with fresh water Coquonuts fish Palmitoes and Doues great plenty The first day of February we set saile and sailed with a faire winde vntill the 19. day that wée passed the Equinoctiall line and on the fiftéenth day in the morning betime we came within ken of land which was the coast of Melueidey vpon the maine The 16. day we came to an Ancor about nine of the Clocke in the morning at 12. fathome water and some two leagues from the shore and presently wee sent our Pinnis to the shore to séeke some refreshing but they could by no meanes get on shore nor would the people of the Countrey being fearefull come within parly which at their returne they certified our Master of and so in the afternoone we set saile againe and departed Now about this time it pleased God by the confession of William Acton one of our ship boies to reueale a foule and detestable sinne committed amongst vs which being approued against him by a Iury hée was condemned to die and was executed for the same on the third day of March being Friday in the morning The 21. day betimes in the morning we espied an Iland standing in the height of 12. Degrées and 17. minutes being barren and vnpeopled ouer against which Iland some thrée leagues distant stood foure hillocks or rocks for this Iland we bore vp a whole day and a night and finding it to be barren and vnpeopled by sending our skiffe on shore wée passed by it and the same day wée espied thrée Ilands more about sunne setting standing in the height of 12. Degrées and 29. minutes to which Ilands we came the 29. day of March 1609. two of which Ilands were within a league one of another and the third we found to be Sacatora and standeth in 12. Degrées and 24. minutes where we Ancored in a fine Bay the 30. day in the morning about ten of the Clocke At sight of vs the Ilanders made a fire and wée sent our skiffe an shore but the people fled with great feare and trembling hauing as it séemed beene formerly iniured by some that had passed 〈…〉 our men looking about found no likelie-hood of any reléefe there and so came aboard and certified the Generall thereof so that about fiue of the clock in the afternoone wée waighed ancor and sailed along to find out the chiefe harbor The 31. day we stood of into the main Sea wher we met with a Guzarat ship laden with Cotton woolls Callicoes and Pentathoes béeing bound for Adden whether wée kept her company in regard they told vs it was a Towne of great trading but wée found it quite contrary for it was onely a Towne of garison and many Souldiers in it and at the very entring into the Towne is a Castle cut out of the maine and incompassed round with the Sea wherein are thirty two péeces of Ordinance and fiftie péeces in the towne The 10. day of Aprill wee arriued there and the Guzarat ship went into the Towne and told the Gouernour there was an English Ship come to trade there Who presently sent his Admirall to vs and our Generall vnaduisedly went on shore where hée and his fellowes were receiued with 4. great Horses and were caried before the Gouernour in as great pomp and state as the Towne could yéeld But the Gouernor finding him to be a plaine and simple man put him in a house with a Chowse or kéeper with many Ianyzaries or Souldiers to gard him and so kept him prisoner sixe wéekes my selfe being prisoner with him And then the Gouernor caused him to send aboard for Iron Tinne and Cloath to the value of 2500. Dollars with promise to buy the same which when he had on shore hée claimed and made stay thereof for the Custome of the ship onely and when hee saw hee had gotten as much as hée could hee sent him aboard the 27. day of May and kept 2. of our Merchants for 2000. Dollars which he said was for ancorage but the generall voice of the company was that hee should haue none whereupon hee sent the Merchants vp into the Countrey some 8. daies iourney to a place called Siany where the Bashaw then lay The 28. day our Pinnace came to vs who told vs their Master was dead and inquiring where and how the company told vs he was knockt in the head with a Mallet hammer by one Thomas Clarke with the consent of Francis Driuer his mate Andrew Euans and Edward Hilles beeing foure murderous and bad minded men who beeing asked why and vpon what occasion they did it they could make no excuse nor alledge any cause saue onely that hee had some small quantity of Aquauitae and Rosa solis for his owne store and for the good of them or any one aboard that should stand in néede thereof and was prouident to kéepe and preserue the same till great need should be and therefore out of méere malice and chieflie by the instigation of Francis Driuer his mate they thus murdred an innocent man who thought them no harme nor suspected any such danger The 31. day of May a Iury was called and vpon iust and due proofe according to our English lawes they were conuicted and Francis Driuer
His second sonne liueth with him and is called Sultane Nawbree and him hée thinketh to make his heire apparant His third sonne is called Sultane Lawlle and is Uiceroy of Lihorne His fourth sonne is called Sultane Lill and is Uiceroy of the Gentiles and these are his fiue sonnes Also hée hath ten Uiceroys more vnder him that gouern ten seuerall Prouinces or Countries viz. Can Canow Uiceroy of the Guzarats Can Iohn Uiceroy of the Bulloites Michall Can Uiceroy of the Bannians Howsouer Can Uiceroy of Cambaia Hodge Iohn Uiceroy of Bengolla Michaell Can Uiceroy of the Hendownes Sawder Can Uiceroy of the Puttans and hée lieth in the City of Candahar Allee Can Uiceroy of the Bullochies and lieth in the City of Buckera Sawber Can Uiceroy of the Multans and Can Bullard Uiceroy of the Indestands These are the names of his ten Uiceroys béeing all Heathens but very worthy men and expert in the warres Hée hath a great number of Noble men to attend on him An Earle is called a Nawbob and they are the chiefe men that attend on him when he goâ—eth abroad for at home none attend him but Euenuches or gelded men His Lord chiefe Iustice is an Euenuch and is calâ—led Awlee Nawbob hée is thought to bée woorth twenty English millions Hée kéepeth twenty Elephants one hundreth and fifty Camels and Dromedaries and fiue hundreth Horse to attend on him The Lord Treasurer is a mighty man called Sultan Carowdon Hée hath forty Elephants to attend him two hundreth Camels and Dromedaries and one thousand Horse at his seruice And when he commeth to sit in his place of Iustice hée is brought vpon an Elephant clad in cloth of gold or siluer and sometimes in a Pollankan carried by foure slaues he lying in it as if hée lay in a cradle in as great pomp and ease as may bée and hath four maces of siluer and gilt carried before him and ten banners and as great attendance as if hee were a King yet on Twesdaies and Thursdaies the King himselfe sits in Iudgement of all causes He custometh all strangers goods himselfe the custome beeing but small at his pleasure as sometimes the value of ten shillings custometh goods worth two hundreth pound Also if a Merchant stranger bring wares or merchandize from a farre Countrey as from Chyna Bengalla and thinketh hée shall make a bad voiage or lose thereby if hée acquaint the King therewith and that the merchandize bée fit for Kings Princes and Noble men the King himselfe will take part thereof and cause his Nobles to take the rest at such rates as the Merchant shall not only bée a sauer but a great gainer thereby The Mogoll lyueth in as great state and pompe as may be deuised both for Maiestie and princely pleasure for hee had brought before him euery day during our abode there 50. Elephants royall clad in cloth of golde and siluer with drums fifes and trumpets whereof some fight one with another wounding one another very deadly and cannot be parted but with Rackets of wilde fier made round like hoopes and so run the same in their faces and some of them fight with wilde horses as one Elephant with 6. horses whereof he hath killed 2. instantly by clasping his trunck about their neckes and so pulling them to him with his teeth breaketh their necks Also there are tame Elephants that will take the viceroyes sonnes being the Kings pages with their truncks gaping as they would eat them and yet verie gently will set them vpon his owne head and hauing sitten there a good space will set them downe againe one their féet as tenderly as a mother would set downe her owne childe doing them no harme at all The Elephant wil not goe out of the sight of his female nor will he be ruled if he doe this I can speake by experience hauing séene triall made thereof Also euery he Elephant hath 3. or 4. females and I saw one that had 4. females and 12. yong ones of his owne begetting There ingendring together is strange for the female lieth downe on her backe and he commeth vpon her and so ingender But if he perceiue any man to beholde or sée him thus ingendring hee will kill him if he can Also the King hath Deare Rammes Ueruathoes or Beazors Lyons Leopards and Wolues that fight before him Also if a Cauilier be condemned for any offence and iudged to die he may by the custom of the Country Craue combate with a Lion for his life which the King denieth to none that crave it as for example I saw one that at the first incounter strooke the Lion with his fist that he felled him but the Lion recouering returned with great furie and violence and caught such hold on him that he rent out his guts with the heart and liuer and so tore him in peeces and this was performed before the King Also there are horses that fight with Allegators or Crocodiles in Tancks or ponds of water where I also saw one Allegator kill 2. stone horses at one time There is also a faire Riuer called Indawe running from thence to Mesopotamia carrieth boats or lighters of 40. tun and is replenished with fish of all sorts Also there are 4. Basars or markets euery day in the weeke and great store of all things to be bought and sold there and at a very reasonable rate As a hen for 2. pence a Turkey for 6. pence a liue deare for a dollar a sheep for 2. shillings a goat for 2. shillings a couple of oxen for 4. dollars being 16. shillings sterling a good hogge for 2. shillings but none buy them but Christians and none sell them but the Bannyans who breed them and as much fish for 3. pence as will serue 5. reasonable men at a meale Also great store of fruit as Limmons Oranges Apricocks Grapes Peares Apples and Plummes But with their grapes they make no wines because their lawes forbid it Also Raisons as great and faire as Raisons of Damasko with great store of cloth of golde veluets and silkes out of Persia and silkes and cloth of gold from Chyna but those are course and lowe prised but abundance are their vended and Captaine Hawkins thinketh that our Richer silkes veluets and such like would be excellent good commodities there But especially our Cloth of light coulors For there is no Cloth but a kind of course Cloth like Cotton which is made at Lyhore and at a Towne called Esmeere and their finest and best is a kind of course red cloth like a Uenice red and this is the vsuall wearing for the chiefest Cauâ—liers and these are all the places of clothing that I could by any meanes heare of in all that Country The word Mogoll in their language is as much as to say the great white King for he is a white man and of the Race of the Tartares He is King of many Kingdomes and writeth himselfe in his scile Patteshaw Shelham Shoâ—h that is the King
of all the great coynes For there is a seuerall coyne at Lahore another at Brampoâ—t another at Surrot another at Cambaia another at Sabbaâ—ton and another at Awgru And for his seuerall Kingdomes he is King of the Guzarats of the Bannians of the Bulloits of Callicot and Bengolla which are Gentiles of the Indeâ—â—ands of the Mogolles of the Hendouns of the Moltans of the Puttans of the Bullochies and of the Alkeysors with some others which I cannot particularly name Also he writeth himselfe the nynthe King from Tamberlaine And to this his great stile he is also of as great power wealth and commande yet will he vrge none of what Nation soeuer to forsake their Religions but esteemeth any man somuch the better by how much the more he is firme and constant in his Religion and of all other he maketh most accompt of Christians and will allow them double the meanes that hee giueth to any other nation and keepeth continually two Christians Friars to conuerse with them in the Christian Religion and manners of Christendome He hath also the picture of our Lady in the place of his praier or Religious proceedings and hath oftentimes said that he could find in his heart to be a Christian if they had not so many Gods There was at my being there an Armenian Christian that in hope of gaine and preferment turned More which being told the King he saide if he thought to saue his soule thereby that was a sufficient Recompence for him but he would rather haue giuen him preferment if he had kept himselfe still a Chriâ—stian The Mogoll is also verie bountifull for to one that gaue him a little deere he gaue 1000. Ruckees being 100. pound sterling also to another that gaue him a couple of land spannels he gaue the like reward and to another that gaue him two Cocks he gaue 2000. Ruckées Also there be excellent faire Hawkes of all sorts from the Goshauke to the Sparehauke and great store of game as Phesants Partriges Plouers Quailes Mallard and of all other sorts of fowle in great plentie There are no great dogges but a kind of Mungrels whereof two wil hardly kill a deare in a whole day and yet they are so choise ouer them that they make them coates to keepe them warme and cleane Nor haue they any parkes but Forrests and Commons wherein any man may hunt that will saue only within 6. miles of Agra round about which is lymitted and reserued for the Kings priuate pleasure onely The King hath there begun a goodly monument for his Father which hath been already 9. yeeres in building and will hardly be finished in 5. yeeres more and yet there are continually 5000. workemen at worke thereon The substance therof is very fine marble curiously wrought It is in forme 9. square being 2. English miles about and 9. stories in height Also it was credibly reported vnto me by a Christian Friar who solemnly protested he heard the King him selfe speake it that hee intended to bestow a hundreth millions of Treasure on that monument And hauing viewed and seen this great and rich Citie of Agra with the pleasures and Commodities thereof on the 18. day of Ianuarie my selfe with Ioseph Salebancke and Iohn Frencham went to the King and craued his Passe for England who very courteously demaÌ„ded of vs if we would serue him in his wars offering vs what maintenance we would aske of him which wee humbly excused both in regard of this our voiage wherin diuers others besids our selues were partners as also in regard we had Wiues and Children in our owne Countrie to whom both by Law and Nature wee were bound to make returne if it were possible whereupon most graciously â—e granted vs his Passe vnder his hand and great Seale for our safe conduct thorow al his Kingdomes and Dominions Then his chiefe Secretary went with vs to his third Quéene for it is said that hee hath ten Quéenes one thousand Concubines and two hundreth Euenuches And this Quéene is kéeper of his great â—eale where it was sealed and deliuered vnto vs. Then I also went to the chiefe Friar and craued his letters aswell to the Kings and Princes whose Kingdoms and Dominions we were to passe thorow as also to the Clergy and places of Religion which he most willingly granted béeing a man of great Credit there and greatly esteemed and well knowne in other Kingdomes Also hee gaue me his letters of commendations to one Iohn Midnall an English Merchant or Factor who had lien in Agroe three yeeres but before I came into England Iohn Midnall was gone againe for the East Indies and I deliuered his letter to M r. GREENAVVAY Deputy gouernor in London for the Company of the East Indian Merchants The one and twentieth day wee tooke our leaue of Captaine Hawkins whom wee left therein great credit with the King béeing allowed one hundreth Ruckées a day which is ten pound sterling and is intituled by the name of a Can which is a Knight and keepeth company with the greatest Noble men belonging to the King and hee séemeth very willing to doe his Country good And this is asmuch as I can say concerning him The 22. day we tooke our iourney towards England being 5. English men viz my selfe Ioseph Salâ—hancke Iohn Frencham Richard Martin and Richard Fox and Guilliam Asâ—lee a More our guide and trauelled towards Ispahan in Persia and so with 5. horses and 2. Camels we tooke the way to Biany because Iohn Midâ—all had gone the way by Laâ—or before also this way was but two moneths iourney though very dangerous and that by Laâ—or was 4. moneths iourney and without danger viz. From Agra we came to Fetterbarre being 12. course And froÌ„ thence to Bianic being 12. course more And this is the chiefest place â—or Indico in all the East Indies where are 12. Indico Milles. The Indico groweth in small bushes like goosberry bushes and carrieth a séede like Cabbege séed And being cut down is laid on heapes for half a yéere to rot and then brought into a vault to be troden with Oxen to tread the Indico from the stalkes and so to the Milles to be ground very fine and lastly is boiled in Furnaces and very well refined and sorted into seuerall sorts A seere of Indico in Biany is worth ten pence which seere doth containe twenty ounces at the least This I know to be true and brought a sample of the Indico home with me And for this Indico the Anneele that is made thereof there is much trading of Merchants from Agro and Lahore The 25. day we came to Hendowne being twenty fiue course this is an ancient faire City where is also good store of course Indico The 26. day we came to Mogoll being 14. course This is a small market Towne where are also course Indico and Callicoes The 27. day we went some 12. course to a small Uillage called Halstot The 28. day we trauelled 12. course to a small
Uillage called Chatsoe where are shéepe and goats great store and very cheape The 29. day we went 12. course to a small Town called Laddanna and there are great store of Cotton Wools. The 30. day we went eight course to a small town called Mosabad where is great store of corne The 31. day we went 12. course to Bandason a smal Uillage The first day of February we came to a faire Riuer called Paddar that runneth to Guzarat and this Riuer parteth the Dominions of the Indestands and Hendownes and falleth into the gulph of Persia. And from thence we went to the City of Esmeere being twelue course from Bandason Héere the great Mogol hath a stately house where are continually kept 600. Elephants and 1000. Horses for the warres to bée ready at the Kings command There is great store of wools and much cloathing for course cloth and cottens also Iauelins Bowes and Arrowes Armour Swords and other weapons for the Warres and two Basars or Markets euery wéeke The Indestands are very gallant people and great Merchants into most parts of the world The second day wée went into the Hendownes Countrey some 12. course and came to Richmall where is great store of Game and a pleasant place for hawking and hunting The fourth day we went 12. course to Mearta a faire City where I saw thrée faire and ancient Tombes or Monuments of the Hendownes there are thrée Basars or Markets euery wéeke Also great store of Indico cotten wooll yarne and cloth This City in my iudgement is as big as the City of Exceter The sixth day we went some twelue course to Hursallo a small Uillage The seuenth day we went 14. course to Lauara a small village where is great store of Corne Cattell and Shéepe and very good cheape The eight day we went 12. course to Towry a Towne of Garrison of the Hendownes The ninth day we went 11. course to Chummo a small Uillage The tenth day we went 13. course to Moulto a Uillage The 11. day we went 10. course to Pucker a small Uillage The 12. day we went 12. course to Senawra a little Towne The 13. day we went but fiue course to Basonpee a small village The 14. day we went fiue course more to Gislemeere a faâ—re City and hath in it a strong Castle where lyeth a grand Cauilier Also there is great trading of Merchandize by Land and in the Castle are thirty peeces of Ordinance The 18. day we went from thence some 14. course ouer the sands that part the Hendownes and Multans and lay in the fields The Hendownes are naturally discended from the Gentiles yet refuse no manner of meat flesh nor fish and are many of them very notable théeues They pray naked dresse and eat their meat naked and where they dresse and eat their meat they make a circle within which circle none must enter during the time of their dressing and eating their meat Their women are brought vp of children with shackles some of siluer some of brasse and some of Iron on their legs and rings in their eares all which are still increased or made bigger as they grow in yéeres and bignesse so that in time they haue holes in their eares so great that a man may thrust his hand thorow Also they doe weare bracelets of Elephants téeth about their armes from the wrist to the elbow The 19. day wée went eight course and lay in the Fields The 20. day wée went 12. courâ—e more and lay in the fields The twenty one day we went 12. course and lay by a well some 60. fathome déepe where water was very scarse The 22. day we trauelled 16. course where wée could get no better water then was almost halfe Cowpâ—sse The 23. day we went some 15. course and lay in the fields The 24. day we went some fiue course and came to thrée Townes viz. Roree Buckar and Sucker where is a gallant fresh Riuer and small ships that may goe to Armoose as the Townsmen report Now the shipping belongeth to Roree being some fifty or sixty saile and are of the burden of fourty fifty and sixty tâ—â— whereby there is trade of Merchandize as far as the coast of Molindee and as far as Mosembique and this Riuer falleth into the gulph of Pâ—rsia Buckar standeth in the middle of the Riuer which maketh it in forme of an Iland and is besides very strongly built The Indians cal this Riuer the Riuer of Damiadee And in this Towne of Bucker lieth Allâ—e Can the Mogols Uiceroy of the Bullochies who are such a stubborne rebellious people that he kéepeth that strong hold of purpose to retire vnto and to gather a head and renew his forces at all assaies to subdue and kéepe them in awe and obedience which notwithstanding he can hardly doe Also this Allâ—e Can is a very worthy and bountifull Prince who gaue vs very gallant and kinde entertainment and commanded vs to come dayly to his Court where we had both costly and plentifull diet at all times and héere wée left Io. Frencham one of our company sicke Sucker is a Towne consisting most of Weauers and Diars and liue by cloathing and serue the Countrey round about and this is the first Towne of the Bullochies And Roree the last confine towne of the Multans who are good husbandmen and painefull people and deale much in Merchandize as Cloth Indico and other commodities and are very good people to deale withall yet their Religion is Mahometicall At Sucker we staied 24. daies and more for a Cofâ—ilo or Conuâ—y For the Captaine of the Castle would not suffer vs to goe without one because the way was dangerous and full of Théeues which afterwards we found true for had we not by the great prouidence of God escaped their hands it had cost vs our liues and yet it cost vs some money besides The 25. day of March 1610. wée came from Sucker and trauelled ouer the plaines some thrée course or thereabouts The 26. day wée trauelled through the woods or Desarts some thrée course more The 27. day wée went thrée course more through the Desarts and there wée tooke in water for two daies which was but bad water neither but there was no better to be had nor any towne to come to vntill we came to Gorra some eight course distant from thence which was on the 28. day at night where we rested two daies and were very well vsed yet being a Towne of the Bullochies and Rebels wée were in great feare but we found no such cause God be praised The Bullochies are Man-eaters being men of huge limmes and proportion euen giantlike nor are they of any Religion at all saue only that they worship the Sunne The 21. day we came to Norry being about 10. course and this is the last Towne of the Bullochies and so to the Puttans The first day of Aprill we tooke our iourney ouer the plaines earely in the morning and about breake of day wée met
with tenne or twelue men playing on Fiddles as if they had come in friendly maner to welcome vs but indéed they were no better then Théeues that intended to rob and pillege vs for by the Sun rising wée were beset round with them and their companions whose certaine number wée could not discerne nor know And though wée had a Caffeloe or Conuoy of two hundred strong yet wée were glad to intreat the Captaine of that vnruly Crew to stand our friend and both to bribe him priuatly and to pay openly besides in the name of a custom twenty Checkéenoes in gold nor would all this haue serued the turne but for the Mogols Passe vnder his hand and great seale which they much feared but that all our throats had béene cut as other in greater number had formerly beene yet at last vpon this friendly composition they garded and conducted vs through their Countrey vntill wée were past all danger and so departed and that day wée trauelled some nine course ouer the plaines and â—ooke vp our lodging in the plaine Fields The second day wée trauelled some eight course to a Towne called Daddor where wee rested two daies The fifth day we trauelled eight course ouer the mountaines The sixth day we went ten course ouer the mountaines The seuenth day we went eight course ouer the Mountaines The eight day we went eight course to Vachesto a Towne of ciuill and quiet Gouernment where wee rested that night The ninth day we went thrée or foure course ouer the mountaines and lay in the fields The tenth day we went some eight course in the mountaines The eleuenth day we went nine or ten course in the Mountaines The twelfth day we went some nine or ten course in the mountaines The thirtéenth day we went nine or ten course in the mountaines The fourtéenth day we went some fourtéene course ouer The 15. day we came to Candahar being but two course from thence where we staied 20. or 21. daies This is a great and gallant Citie of the Puttans where Sawdder Conuiceâ—oy of the Puttans keepeth his Court and residence There is great and continuall traffique by land from Persia Indestand Mesopotamia and from all partes betweene that and China with all sortes of merchandize and commodities which those Countries yeelde For there are continually 7 or 8. thousand Camels about the Citie which trade to and fro with merchandize Also the viceroy hath continually 40. â—00 horses for the warres in readinesse for feare of Rebellion because the Puttans are a strong and warlike people and inclined to rebellion by reason they came vnder the Mâ—gols gouernment and subiection by force and conquest and therefore loue him not in their hearts but obey him for feare The 6. day of May we tooke our iourney for Ispahawne in Persia and trauelled some 8 course that day and came to a gallant Riuer where were two Townes on each side of the Riuer one and at one of these Townes called Langor we rested that night The 7. day we went some 6. or 7. course ouer the plaines The 8. day we went in like manner some 7. course more and lay in the fields The 9. day we went ouer the plaines some 12. course and came to a great Riuer which diuideth the land of the Puttans from Persia and there we paid custome for our Owts or Camels and rested 2. daies by the Riuer side The 12. day we were ferried ouer the Riuer which is called Sabbaa to a castle a course from thence and neer to a Towne called Grees This Riuer diuideth the confines of the great Mogoll and the King The Puttans are a warlike and goodly people and were their beards long which the Mogols doe hate also they worship the great God of heauen and despise Mahomet Their Priests goe in Sackcloth with great Chaines about their middles And doe fall downe and pray continuallie in Sackcloth and Ashes And so passing out of the great Mogols kingdomes and dominions we came to the Towne of Grees being the first Towne of Persia where we rested a day and a night The Towne of Grees is a frontier Towne and therefore the King or as they call him the Shawbash of Persia keepeth heere a garrison of ten thousand men and a gouernour to command them The 14. day we went ouer the plaines 6. forsongs euery forsong being a league and euery league 2. course and rested in the fields The 15. day we trauelled ouer the plaines some 6. forsongs more and came to a Castle where we refreshed our selues and our cattle and theâ—e we rested our selues two daies to stay for a Coffeloe or conuoy which came to vs the 14. day at night The 18. day we went 5. forsongs ouer the fields or plaines and lay in the fields The 19. day at night we trauelled some 4 forsongs to a Towne called Doctorcham where wee staied all the next day and night The 21. day we trauelled some 5 or 6 forsongs in the night to a Towne called Sehawe and thus for certaine daies we trauelled al by night by reason of the extreame heat in the day time The 22. day at night we trauelled some 6 forsongs ouer the plaines The 23. day at night we went 5 forsongs to a Town called Vâ—a where are great store of Feltmakers which also make felt Carpets weauers of Turkie Carpets there are also great store of Dates and all sorts of fruits The 24. day wee trauelled some 6. forsongs to a faire Citie called Parra where we staied 22. daies for a Coffeloe or Conuoy my selfe being also sicke there there is great trade of merchandize and great store of raw silke which in the Persian tongue is called Auerisham The 6. day we went some 2. forsongs ouer the mountaines The 7. day we went 4. or 5. forsongs ouer the mountaines The 8. day we went 7. forsongs The 9. day we went some 5. forsongs The 10. day we went 10. forsongs all in the mountaines The 11. day we trauelled some 3. forsongs to a towne called Banda being but a harbor or lodging place The 12. day wee went some 3. forsongs ouer the plaines The 13. day we trauelled some 5. forsongs ouer the plaines and rested till the 14. day at night and then trauelled some 7. forsongs and a halfe The 15. day wee came to a Towne called Sunday where we rested that night and all the next day and night The 17. day we trauelled some 7. forsongs and a halfe ouer the plaines The 18. daie wee went in like manner some 9. forsongs The 19. day we went 5. forsongs to a Towne called Beastâ— The 20. day we went some 4. forsongs The 21. day we trauelled some 6. forsongs to a towne called Gusta where we rested a day and a night The 23. day we trauelled 4. forsongs to a watering place The 24. day we trauelled 10. forsongs and rested in the fields The 25. day we trauelled 7. forsongs to a Towne called Dattee where was great store of
Muskmillions and there wee had good reléefe The 26. day we trauelled some 4. forsongs to a place where was a gallant vawlt with water The 27. day we went some 7. forsongs to a Towne called Yesday The 28. day we went some 5. forsongs to a Towne called Pahanauens where we rested 2. daies and two nights There is great store of raw silke or Auerisham as they call it The 2. day of Iuly we went 5. forsongs ouer the plaines The third day we went 8. forsongs ouer the barren and wilde plaines where we had no water but salt water and the ground all couered ouerwith salt The 4. day we trauelled 7. forsongs in salt ground and none but salt water The 5. day we went 15. forsongs for want of water in a most barren and day Country and came to a town called Bibe where we rested two daies and two nights The 8. day we truealled some 14. forsongs to a Towne called Godanna where we rested that night and the next day and night and here is also great store of raw silke The 10. day we trauelled some 20. forsongs to a Town called Hemda where are great store of Grapes and Muskmillions The 12. day we trauelled some 15. forsongs to a Towne called Corneta The 13. day we went 6. or 7. forsongs to a Towne called Orrinkca a lodging Towne The 14. day we went but 4. forsongs to a little village The 15. day we went 5. forsongs to a Towne called Gowra being a faire great Towne where is great store of raw silkes bed couerings silke carpets cotten Carpets and such like commodities and there wée staied that night and the next day and night The seuenteenth day we went nine forsongs before we could finde any water The eightéenth day we trauelled fiue forsongs to a little Uillage The ninetéenth day we went seuen forsongs ouer the plaines The twentieth day wée went some fiue forsongs ouer the plaines The twenty one day wée trauelled some sixe forsongs ouer the plaines The twenty two day we went two forsongs and a halfe The twenty thrée day we came to Ispahawne The twenty fourth day we entred into the City where wée staied eleuen or twelue daies This City of Ispahawne is a gallant City and one of the principall Cities of Persia and aboundeth in traffique of all sorts of Merchandize There are many great Surroies where are houses made of purpose for the laying in and kéeping of Merchants goods and to harbour and lodge themselues and their Camels Horses or other Cattle and prouision the profits of which Surroies redound to the King only The whole Countrey aboue a hundred miles round about doe wholly and generally trade to this City with their chiefest and best commodities There is also a place in forme like the Exchange of an inestimable wealth where is nothing to be sold but things of great value and worth As Cloth of gold siluer and tissue sattans veluets Iewels and pearles In one end are nothing but raw silkes in another end are twisted and wrought silkes In another none but Merchanttailors who sell all sorts of apparell ready made as it is in Birching lane but farre more rich and all of the Persian fashion as sutes of cloth of gold and siluer veluet satten taffâ—â—y Callico and none almost of any worser sorts Also there is great score of Indico and Anneele and of all maner of Drugs which are sold by Iewes and other strangers that send them thither and haue continuall trading there Also there are Camels the best and strongest that are to bee found with gallant Horses and Mules abundance For whereas an ordinary Camels load is fiue hundred waight the Persian Camels load is vsually 800. waight The Shawbash â—or as we call him the King hath there diuers gallant and stately houses and banqueting houses with Orchards Gardens Springs ponds of water walks and Galleries as pleasantly seated and artificially contriued as can be thought or deuised But the King himselfe before my comming thither was remoued to a place called Tobrin as it was told me by the Christian Friars And at his chiefest house standing ouer against the great Basar or Market place there are good store of brasse Ordinance orderly planted before the gase thereof for defence if néede be as namely two Dâ—my Cannons two whole Culuerings two Cannon Pedrars and thirty other field Péeces Also heere I made enquiry of Master Robert Sherley thinking to haue had some assistance and better directions from him or by his procurement in my Iourney but it was told me directly that hée was departed some seuen months before for England and had his way by the Caspian Seas being two months Iourney from Ispahawn That is to say himselfe and his wife being a woman of great worth and estéeme in that Countrey with Camels and Horses to carry his treasure stuffe and prouision and many attendants both men and women And in his Company one Captaine and sixe or seuen Englishmen more Also there are great store of Grapes and Wines and of all sorts of fruits their stronger Wines like vnto Canary Sacke their red Wines like high Countrey Claret and their smaller Wines like to Iland Wines Also victuals good store and good cheape And there lieth continually a Portugall Embassador and fiue Portugall Friars who haue a Church and a house to entertaine Roman Catholiks and other Christians at their pleasures and haue meanes sufficient to maintaine the same Also there are great store of Armenian Christians and some Gréekes who liue all at frée liberty without restraint or controll for their Religion And so much for the great and rich City of Ispahawne The sixth day of August wee departed from thence and trauelled some sixe forsongs and lay in the fields close by a riuer side The seuenth day we trauelled ten forsongs in the Desarts and on the eight day sixe forsongs more to the Towne of Corronday The ninth day to Miskerion and so directly to Bugdad or Babilon being a months Iourney that is to say sixe forsongs to Miskereon The tenth day wée went ten forsongs in the Desarts The eleuenth day eleuenth forsongs in the Desarts The twelfe day nine forsongs more in the Desarts The thirtéenth day we went fourtéene forsongs to a little Uillage called Corryn The fourteenth day ten forsongs in the Desarts The fifteenth day nine forsongs in the Desarts The sixteenth day we trauelled nine or ten forsongs to a little Towne called Lackeree The seuenteenth day wée trauelled eight forsongs in the Desarts The eightéenth day we trauelled twelue forsongs in the Desarts to a water Mill where we lay all night The ninetéenth day wée went fourtéene forsongs through the Desarts to a little Towne called Corbet That twentieth day we trauelled twelue forsongs to a Cloth towne that is to say where all the houses were made of hairy cloth like tents and there we rested two daies The thrée and twentieth day we trauelled some eight forsongs in the Desarts The foure and
some 30 leagues from Mussaw Cosam The 4. day of Nouember we trauelled some eight leagues to a small village called Deesh The 5. day we set forwards towards Mussell other wise called Niniuy being some 30. leagues or more from Deesh and trauelled thither in 5. daies This Citie is now much ruinated and yet the Remainder thereof is as spacious and great as most Cities that I haue seene in all my trauels within the City is a great Bashaw or gouernour vnder the great Turke Also without the City there standeth a faire strong Castle vpon the bankes of the Riuer Tygris where is also another Bashaw or gouernor for the Castle and Suburbs of the citie Theâ—e is no trade of merchandize in this City but it is only kept by the Turke as a Towne of Garrison yet there are Armenian Christians who haue their Churches and Friars and doe fréely vse their Religion without checke or comptroll Also there are yet remaining manie ancient monuments which make relation and shew that it hath beene a City of great antiquity and famous memory and in this City we staied 4. daies The 14. day we went 4. leagues to a Castle called Nâ—ssebaw and rested that night and the next day we trauelled 12. leagues more and at night came to Nussâ—baw where the Prophet Ionas preached to all the Countries round about and there remaineth his picture in stone though much defaced by the warres yet it is kept and maintained by the Christians whereof there are many dispersed amongst the Turkes euer since the destruction or ouerthrow of Niniuie by the Turkes and are now called by the name of Curgees From thence we trauelled some 25. leagues in thrée daies and on the 18. day at night came to Hamadaine an ancient Towne of the Armenians but much ruinated by the Turkes Here we saw many ancient monuments which shewed that it had bin a Towne of great antiquity and worth and at this Towne we staied one day and a night The 20. day we tooke our iourney towards a towne called Goubba being 25. leagues and 3. daies iourney and came thither the 22. day at night where we met with a Consul of Venice and 5. Venetians more trauelling to Bugdad or Babilon and there we staied a day and a night The 24. day we trauelled towards the great City of Vlfawe being 25. leagues and 3. daies iourney and came thither the 26. day at night and there all trauellers pay great custome This is a mighty strong City and a continuall Garrison kept there by the Turke Nor can any Carrauant or Conuoy or any passenger be suffered to lodge within the City But in the day time they may come into it to the Bassart or market to bâ—y necessaries and so depart againe and here we sâ—â—â—ed 5. daies The 2. day of December wee tooke our iourney to Beere a great Towne vpon the Ryuer Euphrates being â— daies 〈◊〉 and 25. leagues distant whither we came the fourth day at night and staied there one day This is also a strong Towne of Garrison The 6. day we were ferried ouer the Riuer and went 2. daies iourney being soule 15. leagues to the Towne of Lumman and came thither on the 7. day at night The 8. day we trauelled 10. leagues to the City of Aleppo and came thither that night and by the waie we trauelled 2. leagues thorough the plaines where was nothing but figs or as I may â—earme it a forest of â—ig trees and another place of as great length being all vâ—ne trées full of grapes And being come to the great and worthy City of Aleppo we went to the English house where I found Maâ—ter Paul Pinder to be Consul a very worthy gentleman and well deseruing a place of so great credit and esteeme at whose hands we found very courteous and kind entertainment for at my comming to him I was destitute both of mony and cloaths and so was my companion Richard Martin But he releeued vs first with meat drinke and lodging during our abode there being some 12. daies also he furnisht vs with apparrell and at our departure with money for our iourney Also there was one M. Spike who was both kind and bountifull vnto vs. And so were all the rest of the English Merchants whom I cannot particularly nameâ— both kind and curiâ—ous vnto vs which was vnto vs a great refreshing and comfort in our iourney Aleppo is a City of wonderfull great trading and as well knowne to England or at lest to our English Merchants as Kingstone vpon Thames And thus much I can say more of it that within foure daies after our comming thither there came aboue 20â—0 Camels laden with Silkes and all sorts of merchandiâ—e all or most whereof I ouer went in my trauels being in seuerall Carauans some from Mesopotamia some from Agro some from the 〈◊〉 and some from Persia and so at other times continually they come from thence and other places whence any trading can come by Land The one and twentieth day I take my leaue of Master Paul Pindar Master Spicke and the rest of the Merchants and tooke my iourney together with my Companion Richard Martin for Tripolie and that daâ— wee trauelled sâ—me seuen leagues ouer the Desarts and resâ—ed twâ— houres and then trauelled some 15. leagues farther to an old Towne called 〈◊〉 wâ—ere we rested halfe a day and baâ—â—â—d and then trauelled some ten leagues more and baited and resâ—ed our selues in the fields sâ—me seâ—â—e houres and then trauelled 〈…〉 towne câ—lled Hamaâ— And the reason why 〈…〉 thus hâ—rd was to 〈◊〉 company will a Carâ—â—â—â—nd or Coâ—nâ—â—ey of 100â— strong who were bound for 〈…〉 there great 〈◊〉 mee was then resident wâ—ereas also we should haue trauelled in great danger and hâ—â—ard of our liues by reason the Countrey is so full of theeues In this towne are many Weauers that make great store of Dimatree and schamâ—tree and Cottons also it is a great thorow faire and there is a great Oâ—â—sâ—rie or Inne which they call a Caan and there wee rested two daies The sixe and twentieth day we trauelled some eight leagues to a little towne called Roma where wée lay all night The seuen and twentieth day wee trauelled some eight leagues more to a Monastery called Huddreaâ—â—ns which was built by an Armenian Christian who gâ—ue sufficieÌ„t maintenance to prouide Oliues bread and Oile for Lamps for the harbour reliefe of all Christian trauellers and there is the picture of Saint George on Horse backe fighting with the Dragon and his picture on foot and his Crosse and mention in old Roman print of his noble memorable acts which Relique is much honored by many Christians as they trauell by the same and to that end there iâ— a Chapel and Lampes burning therein continually The twenty eight day we went some tenne leagues to a litâ—le Towne called Hone and lay there that night The 29. day we trauelled to Tripolis being tenne leagues from thence where we
twentieth day wée trauelled some nine or tenne forsongs ouer the Desarts to another Cloth towne The twentie fiue day wée went through a mighty great Wood being fifteene forsongs in length where we went downe such an extreame stéepe hill that wee broke two of our Camels necks and had much to doe to goe downe the same our selues without harme and there were sted all night The sixe and twentieth day wée went some two forsongs to an other Cloth towne where wée rested thrée daies and thrée nights and there we paid Custome for our Camels to a great City being but a forsong from thence and is called Nezzeret where on the top of a mighty great mountaine was a monument of a great Sultan or Gentleman and when wée asked why hée was buried there it was directly answered because he was so much the néerer to heauen The thirtieth day we trauelled ten forsongs to the Riuer of Synnee which runneth into the Riuer Euphrates and deuideth the confines of Persia and Arâ—bia and by the Riuer side was remaining some old walles of a rumated Towne of Persia which was rased and destroied by the Turkes and Arabians The one and thirtieth day we trauelled eight forsongs in a waste Countrey where we lay by a Well al night Amongst the Persians the Sultans or Gentlemen and men of better sort are gallant men and of ciuill and courteous behauiour but the baser sort are â—ullen vnciuill and men of very bad conditions And generally they doe worship Mahomet and are common Buggerers as the Turks are yet they are people that labour extreamely as in digging planting and sowing and in picking of Cotton wooll and other wooll in spinning and making Coats and other things of Felt. Nor haue they almost any raiâ—e there but by extreame labour let the water out of the Riuers into their Pastures and Corne grounds There are good shéepe and goats plenty but â—ine and Oxen are very scarce Also Turkies and Hennes and other sorts of foules plenty And there a man may trauell without danger of robbing for it is there a strange thing to heare of a théefe And somuch for Persia and the Persians The first day of September wée trauelled twelue forsongs to a great Towne called Sabbercam being the first towne that wée came to in Arabia where are growing great store of Pomgranats which the Arabians doe call Anarres This is a Towne of Garrison of the Arabians and héere wée staied a day and a night The third day we trauelled â—ouretéene forsongs to a towne called Buldad where we also paid custome and héere we staied a day and a night This is also a towne of Garrison and full of théeues and at our comming out of the towne Ioseph Salenbancke one 〈◊〉 my Companions staying but a little behind the Coâ—â—sâ—lâ—e or Conuoy was by the Arabians robbed stripped and extreamely beaten and hurt So that if by chance I had not reserued some 100. Chickéenâ—es wée had 〈◊〉 beene both quite destitute of money to bring vs home into our Countrey The sixth day wée trauelled eightéene forsongs to the great City of Bâ—gdet or Babylon where we staied vntill the twentie two day of October following This City standeth vpon the great Riuer Euphrates and is a great rich and strong City with mighty strong wals whereon are planted 100. and twenty péeces of brasse ordinance Also there are ships small and great to the number of 300. saile belonging to this Citie and great trade of merchandize both by water and land It is not past 4. yéeres since the Turke wan this City from the Persians Also there is a â—â—oting bridge built vpon 33. great lighters strongly chained and fastened together from Bugdad ouer Euphrates to olde Babilon standing ouer against Bugdad on the other side of the Riuer And within a league from thence standeth the Remainder of the â—â—ynated Tower of Babell being one of the wonders of the world In Bugdad lieth one of the Turkes grand Bashawes called by the name of Mahomet Patteshogh who is estéemed as a Uiceroy and is gouernor of the City vnder the great Turke There are only two Venetian factors who trade for inestymable wealth in merchandize of all sorts Also some small number of Armenians which are all the Christians that are there resident The Turke is a valiant and resolute Souldier as by their proceedings may appeare both in winning the City of Bugdad and another City of as great strength as that called Towras and belonged also to the Persian whereof the Mahomet Patteshogh had certaine intelligence on the 12. day of October whilest we were there And that the great Turke or as they call him the Grand Gushell Bashe assuredly thinketh and intendeth in short space to approach to the wals of Ispahawne being a great and gallant Citie and standeth farre within the kingdome of Persia. The 10. day of October there came vnto vs an English man called Iohn white who said he was sent for a discouery to the East Indies and was bound for Ispahawne to méet with Iohn Midnall who we assured him not to be there but at Armoose Then did I and Ioseph Salebancke perswade him to trauell to the red sea of Cambaia whether he tolde vs Sir Henry Midleton was bound from England with a good ship called the Trades increase of the burden of 1000. or 1100. tun with another ship called the Cloue and a Pinnis called the Pepper Corne and the cause why we thus aduised him was for that he haâ—uing the Turkish language might accompany my friend Ioseph Salebancke to Sir Henry Middleton to acquaint him with the true discourse of our whole voyage and trauels whereby he might beware of and auoid the like dangers that we sustained and were in As also how and where to take his best oportunity for his lading as time and occasion should serue And vpon the 18. day Ioseph Salebancke and Iohn White tooke their iourney accordingly to a great City called Balsara standing vpon the Riuer Euphrates and is 18. daies iourney from Bugdad or Babilon where they were to méet with a Carranant or conuoy to conduct them to the Citie of Iudaia nere vnto the Red Sea And although Ioseph Salebancke was then verie poore hauing béen formerly robbed yet was he very willing to take this long and dangerous iourney vpon 〈◊〉 for the good of his Country And all the good that I could doe for him was to procure him a Camell and to lend him some part of my small store being in all not aboue 6. pound steâ—ling and so I left them to the protection of the almighty The 22. day of October we tooke our iourney from Bugdad or Babilon to the City of Aleppo And hauing trauelled 60. leagues at the least all thorough the desarts which wee did in some 8. daies we came to a Towne called Mussaw Cosam The 31. day we trauelled some 4. daies iourny thorow the desarts to the Towne of Ruseele being onely a thorow faire or lodging place