¶ Of the newe lādes and of y e people founde by the messengers of the kynge of portȳgale named Emanuel.
Of the .x. dyuers nacyons crystened.
Of pope Iohn̄ and his landes and of the costely keyes and wonders molodyes that in that lande is.
HEre a foretymes in the yere of our Lorde god. M.CCC.C.xcvi. & so be we with shyppes of Lusseboene sayled oute of Portyngale thorough the cōmaundemēt of the Kynge Emanuel So haue we had our vyage / For by fortune ylandes ouer the great see with great charge and daūger so haue we at the laste foū de oon lordshyp where we sayled well .ix.C. my lee by the cooste of Selandes there we at y e laste went a lande but that lāde is not nowe knowē for there haue no masters wryten therof nor it knowethe and it is named Armenica / there we sawe meny wōders of beestes and fowles y t we haue neuer seen before / the people of this lande haue no kynge nor lorde nor theyr god But all thinges is comune / this people goeth all naked But the men and women haue on theyr heed necke / Armes / Knees / and fete all with feders [Page] boūden for there bewtynes & fayrenes. These folke lyuen lyke bestes without any resonablenes and the wymen be also as comon. And the men hath conuersacyon with the wymen / who that they ben or who they fyrst mete / is she his syster his moder / his daughter / or any other kȳ red. And the wymen be very hoote and dysposed to lecherdnes. And they ete also on a nother The man etethe his wyfe his chylderne / as we also haue seen and they hange also the bodyes or persons fleeshe in the smoke / as men do with vs swynes fleshe. And that lande is ryght full of folke / for they lyue comonly .iij.C. yere & more as w t sykenesse they dye nat / they take much fysshe for they can goen vnder the water and feche so the fysshes out of the water. & they werre also on vpon a nother / for the olde men brynge the yonge men therto / that they gather a great company therto of towe partyes / and comethe on ayene the other to the felde or bateyll / & slee on the other with great hepes. And howe holdeth the fylde / they take the other prysoners▪ And they brynge them to deth and ete them / and as the deed is eten then sley they the rest And they been than eten also / or otherwyse lyue they longer tymes & many yeres more than other people for they haue costely spyces & rotes / where they them selfe recouer with / and hele them as they be seke.
Of the blacke Mores
AL the fyrste cam we in the lande of Canarien / whyche is .C. & .l. myles from Lyssebone. And ther betwyn been .ij. ylandes. In y t one is well made people and men make there moche cheese of great wylde gootes. also is ther fisshe and suykere good cheep. That other ylād is not enhabite ther be lytell people therin / and they be all a frayde and wylde / also ther ayeen lyeth the lande of Barbera / and is from them in to y e Gennea .CC.l. myles. & that is the blackes mores land. and ayen y e begynnyg of this lande is oon aforemōtayen and hooth caput vi ride / and there by is y e towne Bitsagitsch .v.C. [Page] myles from Lussebonen there by be many walefysshes and flyinge fysshes on the on syde of Bisagitsche .ij.C. & .l. myles sayle men vnder y e sone so ferre / that men the northe sayle sterre or pollumarticum / or the waghen called / no more may be seen / but pollum ante articum or y t sowth layd sterre sawe we fourth with the forsayde More lande is .M.iiij.C. myles great / there y e people goeth all naked with golden rynges on handes and fete.
THat lande of Allago is .v.C. myles greatter And gothe ayenste the begynnynge of Arabien and there is that kyngdom Safale in this lāde Allago is the people clothed as aboue is marked / the were and bere for there clothes skynnes of wylde bestes. The men bere clokes made of barkes of trees & ledder to kyuer theyr members with. And the women kyuer theym with skynnes of bestes. & take vpon there heddes for kerchers skynnes of oxē or other bestes also pyche the theyr mennes forhed lyke as mē pytche the shyppes / and there dwellynge is vnder the erthe. There is many cowes. oxē / great shepe and other fayre bestes. This is on fayre & lusty lande of good water & swete herbes. This people hathe a swyfte hasty speche. There is no money but of yron and that euery body take it for there ware they bere whyte staues there we pyns is lange pykes and stones ther they caste myghtly with. That Lande is so full of sande y t they muste goo vpon brode trenchers that they falle not and synke. After that cometh men into the lande of arabyen.
Arabia..
COmyng in Arabia sawe we y e people clothed lyke as here is figured stande. Loue this kyngdone hath be oon of the thre holy kyngys. Item ther bynde they ther oxe son with Arabie gold about ther hornes / and erys. And also goldyn rynges aboute thyr legges. And for gold take they of marchaūdes sylkȳg kerchers and lynen clothe. Item ther after sewe now .v. ylādes. the fyrst yland named Mōsabith. sixty myles from Safalen. is leeid y e towne Quiola that was foūde of the kynges folke of portȳgal And they slewe there moche people and robbed the towne. And there without had there kynge [Page] edyfyed on castell that is named seynt Iacobis castell there in lyeth a .C. bolde and hardy men that lyeth and kepeth it.
THe seuente myles from Quiola lyeth the towne Bōbassa that they also byrned and [Page] robbed that also there they gatte moche goodes From thens nowe .xxiiij. myle lyeth the great towne Melida and they befrendes / and there be many sloueynes and fell people out of Geneen From Melinda it is .iiij. score & .x. myles to on Persia there gowe they ouer the see. For by the towne Megha into the ylande Auxēdia There is also one that hath be of y e thre holy kȳ ges of the eest .C. myles into the Kyngdome of Canenor and there begyn the spyces to growe and from thens fare they forthe in to the great lande of great Indyen.
¶ Of great Indyen.
THey gowe from Cananor into great Indyen there the people goo all naked but y e [Page] the kyuer there members with lynen cloth and and they be brounde blacke / with longe here and of tho women is not wryten but on kaute the see sawe men manye meruelouse people of manereren the women bere there chyldrē and theyr householde stuffe. Here fynde men gynger / peper / comeyn / and all manere of spyces / & costely stones for lytell moneye. There be also many maner of frute fygges of good sauyour .vij. ynches longe and .iij. ynches brode. There be bulfeldes and coyes but the coyes slepe they not / there groweth good wyne / muche honeye / ryse / costely corne whyte as wete mele / Ther by standeth the towne of Banderana and it is .vij myles into Callienten from thens is .xl. myles there men goo for all maner of spyces that men were wōte to caray and conuey ouer the redde see thorowgh Alexander but nowe is there one newe way foundē ouer the the see in Calacutē is many folke out of seynt thomas lande y t also be crystened▪ and folke of other landes and nacyons they goo ouer into that kyngdome Kyngryche Gutschyn as hereafter stādes wryten.
¶ Of Gutschin that Kyngedome.
ANd than cā we in the kyngdome of Gutschyn and ther hath the kynge of portyngale do make .ij. Casteyles from here was the thre holy kynges. there groeth muche peper & the ꝓperest stapell therof. That kyngdom Colē is .xxiiij. myles from there / and there been many krystened men / we fynde also great Olyfā tes & many dyuers maner and wōders bestes and other thynges that men cannot wryghte all. gardeȳes frutes is there muche gretter thā in our landes of Europa. That ylande Melaqua is from thens .viij.C. myles / There also is moche costely spyces. There is nowe .ij. ylādes the on is Bandan and therin groweth the cloues. [Page] That other Tanagora or Narnaria and there groeth not no other wodde than whyte & red sandelen wodde / This is fortuned that for a bell of a glasse men may haue one handfull of peerles. In Gutschin bere some tymes there kynge but that do the people of his courte and holde obedyance vnder theym one w t a nother They do all there thynges all sleyghtly For as as they be assembled in one gatherynge / than cryeth the capitayne I wyll sowe / & as the subiectes here theyr capitayne crye sowe thā take they parte of / the sede and no man sayth the cō trary and letteth the other lye and that takeche the lorde with out any body contrary saynge / & so do they in all merchaundyse. Forthe by that kyngdome Gutshyn / Colum / Bandan / & Nagaria .xxx. myles in Arsinia there hath the kynge .xij. kynges vnder hym / and there lyeth buryed seynt Thomas apostell.
IN some of these aforsayde wrytten landes ben great and fayre frutes & they be greatter than in these our landes of Europa In Illa mandra be great hygh trees for the people of y t contrey hewe great steppes aboute to clyme vp in to the tree to gather the frutes that groweth there on for whan they be a thrust to take there of. In Arsinia is great brode fygge Trees with great fygges well .vij. ynches longe and .iij. ynches brode and the Fygge tre is so brode of braū che and leues that .xl. men may be hydde vnder the forsayd braunches and leues for the hete of the sonne / and there for to reste all to gather at theyr one pleasure.
WE haue in this vyage sayled aboute the forth parte of the worlde for to reken frō Lussyngborē whiche is ferre equinoccyall scherliniē .xxxix. grades & on halfe so haue we sayled ouer y e linie equinocciall .l. grades that maketh xc. grades therfore they of Lussbone is vnder y e forsayde linie .xxxix. grade & one halfe in the hygh hed of the hemels is the breyde of westes / so is them of Lussbone to these folke to sene the .l. grades is ouer the selfe lyne soth cornerwyse .v. grades in perpēdiculer linia whiche linie as we stande ryght of y e poynt the hemls hange vpon our hed and these folke in theyr sydes or rybbes and woort set in the maner of on tryanghel [...] on drycantyche cornard. therfore it must nedes be y t the sowth landes be tēpered w t swete erthe for the northe wyndes can nat there blowe.
AFter this maner of fourme is the Kynge of Gutschyin borne with the nobleste of his lande / And before hym is borne many instrumētes of musyke as trō pettes & other and .iiij. of the nobleste bereth the canapie ouer his hed lest that the soon shuld burne hym / and this kynge is beloued of all his estates and cōmon people.
¶ Of the .x. dyuerce cristened nacions.
IT is to knowe that y e people of crystindom is deuided and ben in .x. Nacyons. That is to vnderstand the Latyne / Grekes / Indien / Iacobites / nestorijnes / moronites / Armenes / georgianes / Surianes / mororabes / wherof y e moost deyle is ketters and kyt of / of the holy Romes chyrche.
¶ The fyrste nacyon.
FIrste nacyon is the Latynes and they haue to theyr lorde the Emperour of Almayne and many Kynges as the kynge of castylyan / of Aragon / of portyngale / of nauaryen / and these kynges is for spaynnes nacyon In y t nacyon of the frenche lande is one kynge of Fraū ce and many dukes and Erles. In the naciō of Italian is the kynge of Cicylian / the kynge of Naples and many dukes and Erles and there is also many lordshyppes as Veneyse Florēce seuen Ienuen.
IN the nacyon of Germanien is nowe many kynges with out the emperoure / as the Kynge of Englande / of Scotlande / of Vngerien / of Bohemē / of Polen / of Denmarke / of sweden / of Northwegen / of Dalmacyen / and there is many Dukes and Erles &c. In that ylande of Sypers is the kynge of Sypers / All these a fore wryten is vnder the obeyisaūce or the chyrche of Rome.
¶ The seconde nacyon.
THe Grekes haue spyrytually the Patriarcke of Constantynnoplen / & many Archebysshops / bysshops / and abbottes. And in y e temperalte haue they one Emperour and many dukes and erles / and there is but fewe of thē that be crystened / For the Agarenen & Turkes hath nowe the moost parte of Grekes / & is not obedient to the chyrch of Rome. And they haue a great erre for they saye that the holy ghost cā not of the sone but alone of the fader. And they say also that there is no purgatory / that is all a yenste our belefe.
¶ The thirde nacyon.
THey of Indyen hath one prynce and that is pope Iohn̄ whose myghtynes & rychedome amoūteth aboue all prynces of the world for he hath vnder hym .lxxij. kynges and as pope Iohn̄ dayely rydeth he bere a fore hym one crosse of wode for to thynke on at all tymes & remember vpon the passions of Ihū and to the batayle doth he bere .xij. crosses of golde made and set with precyouse stones for his baners / in this lande is the body of seynt Thomas.
¶ The fourth nacyon.
IAcobyten named also of on ketter Iacob [...] was be one dyssyple of the Patryarche of Alexandryne / and this helde the one great land in Oryenten and Asyen and is named that lande of Mambrone and it is by Egypten and go the to Echyopen and into Indien to / and hathe vnder hym well .xl. kynges rychedom / these be kytte and chrystened with a byrnynge yren for they branue the token of the holy crosse in theyr forehed / vpon the breste / vpon the arme / they cō fesse them to god alone and none prestes / & they say that in christo is alone the godhed without the manhod / & some of them speketh Caldesche some Arabier / some other speches after theyr lā gage of the lande / and these been condemned of the holy chyrche in that counsayll of Ceden.
¶ The fyfth nacyon.
THere be also Nestorijnē named of the ketter Nestorinus that was one bysshope of the byssops of Cōstantynenoplen and they sett ij. persones in christo that is the Godhed and y e persones / and they forsake that maria is the moder of god / but they beleue well of Ihū. & theyr wrytynge is in caldenssher speche and they make the sacrament in broune brede and there be great multytude of theym & they dwell in Tartarien [Page] and in great Indyen / and theyr lande is as great as a thousande of Italy / and these ketters be condamned in that thyrde counsayll of Ephesyn & is departed of the holy Romes chyrche & abyde in theyr opynion.
¶ The syxte nacyon.
BY the ketter Moren they be named Moroniten they say alone in christo is one vnderstande and one wyll and those dwell by Lybien in the lāde of Phenicen and there be great multitude and they be bolde and hardey men. and great warryars with the bowe / And they haue theyr bysshops clothed as the Latynes w t the bysshops myter on his hed & with the croysers staffe and rynges / These hath ben some tyme vnder the obeyissaunce of the chyrche of Rome whā Innocentius was pope / but afterwarde cain they ayen in theyr opynion and there a byde in theyr opynyon.
¶ The seuenth nacyon.
ARmenuyten is also named for that they dwell in the lande of Armeneten nere vnto Anthiochyen and there is whryttyn seruyce of the masses. & theyr other tydes is all in theyr one comon speche so that they all mey vnderstā de it what they synge or rede / & they haue theyr hed or fader to whome they do reuerence as we do the pope. And they faste the lenton with greatter deuocyon than we doo / for they ete in the lenton no fysshe / nor they drynke no wyue / but they ete flesshe vpon frydayes.
¶ The eyght nacyon.
THis nacyon is named Georgidni of seynt George for they haue hym in theyr batelles for theyr patrone / and they dwell in the lāde of Oryenten / and they be fayer / lusty / and strō ge pepyll / and they be sore a drad of the Medon perssen Assiryen there they aboute dwelle And they haue theyr scyrpture in y e Greekes speche and they haue theyr sacramentes as the Grekes / and the clarkes haue rounde crownes / and they seke the holy graue to Iherusalem w t open or spred baners. And they gyue the sarasons no trybute for the sarasons fereth those folke very sore / there women bere harneyse lyke the men and they haue also beardes as y e men and they bere vpon theyr heddes and vpon hye cubettes hye hattes and as the wryte to the Sodan thā gyueth he them that they dyssyre.
¶ The Nynthe nacion.
THe Surianē is named after theyr towne Surie that is the grettest in all Suryē or Assyryen theyr scrypture & seruyce of god in y e Grekes speche but they speke sarasons speche and they holde the manere of y e grekes / and haue bysshoppes that in all thynges be obedyent and they make theyr sacrament of browne brede & they haue the opynyon of the Grekes ayē [Page] the Latynes there be some crystened that in the holy lande is named Samerytanes that were conuerted in the tyme that the apostels prethee but they vnderstande thē nor well in the crystē beleue.
¶ The tenthe nacyon.
MOzoraben so called affter the latē for they holde & vse the maner of the crysten of Arbien / and of these were wonte to be manye people in Affrijken and in Spaengnien but nowe is there lyttell in the tellyng / They haue ī theyr seruyce of god lateyne as we do / And they be vnder the obeyisaunce of the chyrche of Rome. And the latynes prelates but in many thynges ben they dyuerse departed for also the day hath xxiiij. houres / Also many tymes hymnes and psalmes and other orasouns haue they and verylonge / And that that y e Latyns rede in the begynnyng of theyr seruyce that rede they in the mydle or in the laste ende. And that sacramēt of the auter breketh some of them in .vij. partes & some in .x. partyes / and these people be very deuoute and they mareye but ones in theyr lyfe & as the women hath loste theyr fyrst husbond so [Page] dothe they meddle no more with no man / but a byde fro thensfourth in chastyte.
O For .ij. causes cometh the departynge of y e crysten nacyons. The fyrste cause is that men in olde tyme myght the crysten haue only haue generall consiliū / Therfore as the ketters stode vp ayen the crystē belefe so was there no body turned nor saught counsayll there ayen. The other cause was the ferswynmygnes of y e opprest pope of y e schole of Rome that no messē gere nor lerned shulde to the krysten thow that were come in seche lodyng / for had they do that they shulde haue be conuerted to the ryght belefe. Thorowsth whiche ryght belefe brynge vs to the hyghest glorye the fader the sone the holy ghoste thre persones and one god. Amen.
Pope Iohn̄ by y e grace of god the mooste myghty stekynge a boue all kyngys of y e worlde gyue saluyte the Emperour of Rome. & also the kinge of Fraunce.
Oure wel belouyd frynde We late you vnder stande and knowe of our lande And the maner of oure lyuinge & of our people beestes and fowles. ¶ And you saye that we beleue not in god and praye not to hym as you do. So late we you vnderstāde that we beleue in god the fader. in god the son̄e. and in god the holy gooste. The whyche be vnpartyble and one very god. and is allthȳge myghty.
And also certefye yow with oure lettres sealed and doo you knowelege of oure folke or people and of our lande. And yf there be ony thynge y e we kan doo for you. sende vs worde & we shall [Page] it doo with good herte & wyll. And yf it please ony of you to come in our lande we shall gyue they in gold and syluer to thyr necessite / & make them great lordis. and gyue to them also lande and good to lyue on. & doo to hem worshyp and honor. For the goodnes that we haue herde say of you. And we do you knowlege that we haue the richeste crowne of the worlde as of golde & syluer & of precyous stones in great multitude And we haue also vnder vs mighty .xlij. kingꝭdomes and al good cristen people. and we kepe also the poure people with our almes alle that cometh be it strenger or of oure owne people thorough the loue of almyghty god oure lorde Ihesu Criste.
¶ Item Oure lande is parted in .iiij. For the landes of Indien / there be two. and in that grettest Indien is the body of seynt Thomas. And this same Indien is partiner of y e coste of orient for it lyeth besyde a toure y e whych is caalled babel / & it id not ferre fro Babilonyen. And also that other parte of Indien is aboute Septētryon. and there is great plenty of wyne / bredde & all maner of vytayle
¶ Item aso in our lande be gryffons / and it is a greate byrde and a myghty. for he wyll well cary in his neste an ore / or an horse for his yōge byrdes to ete. Also in Saxen is a towne whych is called Grounzwyk ther is one of the clawes y t whych is well as great as an horn of an oxe.
¶ In our lande be olyphātes / dromedaries / wylde oxes the whyche haue .vij. hornes. also Beeres and Lyons of dyuers colours / as y e redd / grene / blacke / & whitte ¶ Item and also be wylde asses the whych haue longe eeres / and haue twoo smale hornes. &c.
IN our lāde be also fowles y e whyche that haue the maystery of all birdes of the worlde / and haue a colour lyke y e fyer / and his wyngis kyt lyke a rasour. and this byrdes ben called Ilerion. and in alle the worlde is nomore than two. & they lyuen .iij. skore yere & then̄e they laye eggis and sytte vpon theym .xl. dayes / & as sone as they haue yonges they flee awaye / fader and moder to the zee and ther they drowne theym self. and alle tho byrdes y t come ayenst them do them company to the zee. and as sone as the be drowned all the other byrdes tourne ayen to the neste there they yonge byrdes ben lefte / and gyue them mete & drinke to the tyme that the can flee and nurter them selfe. &c.
¶ Yet ben there other byrdes the whyche ben called Tygris / and they be so stronge that they wyll bere or cary in theyr neste a man sytting vpon an horse all armyd fro the hede to y e fote.
¶ Itē In our lande is also a grete
deserte or forest therī dweleth people bothe men & wymmen the whyche haue nomore than one eye afore. and behinde they haue .iij. or .iiij. eyen
¶ Yet is in oure lande an other maner of people the whiche ete none other than rawe fleshe. & they care not yf it were of man or woman or of beestis & also the care not of ther owne deth. and as sone as there one of them dyeth the ere theym alle rawe / both there one fader or moeder. And they saye y t mans fleyshe is good and naturly to ete rawe / for they saye that they doe it for parte of penaunce for there synnes And they be also cursed of god / and they be called Gog and Magog And of them be no more than one maner of people of this worlde & they shall be dystributed or parted thorough all the world whan Antechryst shall come. and these same were the people or folke the whych that hadde put in prysone or in holde the great kynge Alexander of Macedonien. But for all [Page] that he wente his way And of this people shalbe no iugement at the dredefull day of dome lyke the prophete sayeth. ¶ Nescio quis. &c.
But neuertheles thonder and lytenynge shall come fro heuen and bourne theym all in poder And whan that we haue ony enemyes thanne gyue we theym lycence to put theym downe & ete them that be ayensse vs and then make we them to tourne ageyne into there owne lande. For if they sholde abyde longe w t vs they shuld vndo vs all & ete vs lyke as they do there owne propre folke.
¶ And yet is there another manere of people / the whyche hath rownde fete lyke an horse / & also they haue .iiij. sharpe clawes behynde at there Heles. Wherew t they strongely fyght that there is no manere thyng can stōde ayenste them / nether harnayse / yrone / nor stele they passe all thorowth / & this people gyue vnto vs great trybute. & they be also without dowte great labourers.
¶ Yet is there a nother smale lāde in a parte of that same forest aforesayde / and it is .xlij. dayes Iourneyes longe. And it is called Feminie the great. And in that same lāde there be thre Quenes without all other landes / thowe that holdē [Page] there been of these quenes forsayde And whan these quenes shall goo to felde / then eche of thē hath .iij. hondered. M. wymen and all in harneyse / with out all the other women the whych that caray vytayle with carte horse and also w t olyfauntes. And these women be very manly in fytynge and hardy. ¶ And in this same lande may come no men but .ix. dayes in the yere and no lenger / and than they haue conuersaciō and felysshyp with the men and nomore of the hole yere. For if the men there wolde abyde the women shulde them slee all.
¶ And this same lande is closed all aboute with a water called Cyphon comynge our of paradyse And in this same lande may come no man without a great shyp or a great barke.
¶ Of the people named Pygnies.
ANd yet is there a nother smale lande and also another Ryuer called Pyconye that is .x. dayes iourneye longe / and .vij. brode and this people of this forsayde lande be not great / but they be lyke chyldrē of .vij. yere of age and they haue horseys as great as a great dogge & they be good crystened folke and they haue no warre ayenste noman / But they haue warre ayenste the fowles euery yere / whan they shall haue in there frute and corne And thā the kynge putteth on his harneyse. and thā they fyght ayenste the byrdes. And than there be slayn on bothe partyes many on / and also they be great labourers / and whan the fylde is don than the byrdes flee a waye fro them.
¶ Also in our lande been y e Sagittary. the whyche bē fro the myddel vpward lyke men / and fro y e myddell donwarde ben they lyke the halfe neder parte of an horse and they bere bowes and arowes. And the shute stronger thā ony other nacyon of people.
¶ And in our lande be also vnicornes and they been of the manere with blacke and grene / and these vnicornes slee many Lyons. and the Lyō sleeth the vnicorne with subtylnes. Whan the Vnicorne hath put hym to rest at a tree / & than cometh the Lyon and ronnyth aboute the tree and after hym thā ronnyth the vnycorne and wolde fayne sley hym / & than he ronnyth hym selfe īto the tree with his horne so harde that he cannot pull it out ageyne. than cōmeth the Lyō and hath the mastery vpon the vnicorne.
¶ Item there is a nother parte of a forest therin dwelleth another maner of folke / and this people ben .xx. Cubettes of heythe But they were in tyme paste to be of the heyth of .xl. Cubettes. And they haue nat the pore to come out of that deserte or foreste and all is thorowe the myghte of almyghty god. For if they sholde come out by there strength & hardynesse the wolde cōquere all the worlde.
¶ Here begynnith of y e byrde the whyche is called Fenix.
¶ In oure lande is also a byrde y e whyche is called Phenix and is y e fayrest byrde of all y e world & there is nomore than one in all y e cours of nature. and he lyueth C. yere. and thenne flyeth he so hyghe that the sonne sett the fyre in his wynges / & then̄e cometh he don ayen to his nest and there he burneth to pudre and of the asshes comyth a worme / & within. C dayes after growyth there out another byrde as fayre as euer that other was.
¶ Item Also in oure lande is plenty of wyne bredde / fleshe. And that is necessary for mannys body
¶ Item In our lande maye come none venyn beeste on that one syde
¶ Item Betwene oure lande and the Turkes lande is a ryuer ronnynge and is called Sydō it commeth out of paradyse of the erthe / and is full of precyous stones
¶ And also in oure lande ben ronnyge many smale riuers the whyche that come out of this forsayde riuer. and they also ben fulle of precyous stones. As Ysmaraddus Iaspis Saphyrꝭ Scobassus Dyamant Topasius / Carbonkel. [Page] Rubin. and yet more other they whyche I not all can reherce.
¶ Also in oure lande groweth on herbe and is called Parmanabel / and that same herbe is so myghty euer soo who that same herbe beryth a boute hym he maye cōiure the deuyll of helle and do hym saye what so euer he wyl axe of hȳ and therfore the deuyll dare not come in to our lande.
Itē also in our lande growith peper in forestis full of snakes and other venym beestes. & whā it is rype than sende we for our folke and they put that fyre ther in / & thā they venym beestys flee awaye▪ than we gadder it & caryed to oure houses and wasshed in two or .iij. waters / and than we drey it ayen / and also it waxed black & good
¶ Item aboute this passage is a fonteyne or a conduyte / so who of this watere drinked .iij. tymes he shall waxe yonge / and also yf a man haue had a sykenes .xxx. yere and drynked of this same water he shall therof be hole and sonde.
And also as a man therof drinked hym semeth that he had occupyed the beste mete and drinke of the worlde. and this same fonteyne is full of the grace of the holy goost. & who sowe in this same water wasshed his body he shall become yonge of .xxx. yere.
And ye shall knowe that I am haloweth in my [Page]
moder wombe / and I am olde .v.C.lxij. yere. and I haue me wesshed .vi. tymes in that same water.
¶ Item In our lande is also a zee very peruulyous / and there can we haue noo passage with noo maner of shyppyng and than do we vs cary there ouer with our gryffous.
¶ Item at that one syde of this zee ronnyth a smale ryuere and therin be many precyous stones. and also ther growyth a certen herbe that is good to all maner of medycyne.
¶ Also ye shall vnderstande that betwene vs & the Iewes rōnyth a great ryuer that is full of precyous stones and it is so stronge in here ronnyng y t noman ther ouer can passe / excepte y e saterdaye / & thā parted shehere & toke w t here all that she fyndeth in here waye. And this same lande moste we strōgely kepe for oure ennemyes. an vp these costes haue we .xlij. stronge castels none stronger in y e world. & ben well kepte of people. To vnderstande .x.M. knyghtes on horsbacke .vi.M. Crosse bowes .xv.M. longe bowes. & .xl.M. othere men on horsbacke well [Page] armed. y t whyche these Castels haue in kyping by cause that the great kynge of Israhel shall not ther passe with his people. For he is twyes as strōge as I am. And his lande is twyes as grete as all Crystence and turkey. For he hath in his kepynge the seconde parte of the worlde And the great kynge of Israhel hath vnder hȳ iij.C. kynges .iiij.M. princes. duces. erles. barōs knyghtes / squyers without nombre. and all these be subgette to the great kynge of Israhel. But yf he myght passe ouer this forsayde ryuer with his people they sholde slee both crysten and turkes. And ye shall knowe that we all saterdaye late passe .viij.C. or M. men for beye suche manere good or marchaundyse as they wyll haue. but we late them not come w t in y e wallis of thys castels. for they bye it with out y e walles of thys fortresses. and they paye ther marchaundyses with platis of siluer or of gold for they haue none other money. & whan they haue don ther besynes they tourne home ayen in theyr owne lande. and these forsayde castels be sete to gyder within a bowe shotte.
And ye shall vnderstande that within a myle of these castels is a great Cite and a fayre and it is the strongest of all the worlde. the whyche cite is in our kepyng of one of our kyngis. and he receyueth tribute of the great kyng of Israhel. And also gyueth vs euery yere .ij.C. horses laden w t golde / syluer / and precyous stones. [Page] Except alle charges and costes that men doth in the cyte and in thyse forsayde castels. And whan that we haue warre ayenst them / than slee we them alle and late noman alyue. & therfore they wyll kepe no warre ayenste vs. and the wymmen of the Iewes be very fayre none fayrer in erth nowe a dayes lyuinge. And by this forsayde ryuer is a zee ther noman maye passe / but whā the wynde blowyth fro benethe strongely than parted she here / and thanne the passe with great hast. and than they take with hȳ all maner of precious stones. but they may selle none therof for that wee haue taken therof our chose.
¶ In a parte of our lande is an hylle there noman maye dwelle for hete of the sonne▪ & there bee wormes many on without fyre can not lyue. And by this same hylle we kepe .xl.M. people that no thynge ells but make fyre / and whā this wormes feele the fyre than thei come oute of the erthe and goo in too that fyre. and there they spynne lyke the wormes y t the sylke spȳneth And of that same spynnyng we make our clotynge that we were on feste dayes. and whan they be foule / thā they be cast in to y e fyer & they becom as fayre as euer they were afore
And ye shall vnderstande that saint Thomas doeth more myracles than ony seynt in heuen For he comyth bodly euery yere in his chirche and doth a sermon / and also in a palays there [Page]
ye here after of hym shall here
¶ And ye shall also knowe that there be dyuers of people of fason in oure lande / also there be people that haue the body of a man & the hede lyke a dogge and they be good takers of fysshe. and they be good to vnderstande of theyre speche. & they wyll goo in to the zee a hole daye longe to the tyme that they haue takē suche as they wolde haue / and than y e come ayen charged with fysshe. and bere them in to y e houses / for they haue there dwellinge places vnder erthe. and then̄e take we part of there fysshes that vs beste lyketh▪ and they do great harme among our bee thow y t be wylde. and they fyghte also ayenste our archers. &c.
¶ In oure lande is also one manere of byrdes and laye ther eggis in the zee .xxi. and ther out growen yonge byrdes▪ and thā the flee away and we take somtyme of theȳ for they bee good for to ete whā they be yonge For yf theyr were ony man that hathe lost his nature and ete of this same byrde he sholl it gete ayen and becom as stronge as euer he was afore.
¶ Also in our lande is that same tree / ther y t holy crestē dom or olye our rōnith. and this tree is dreye / and ther is a great serpent which y t tree hath in kepynge all the hole yere nyght & daye but alone vp seȳt Iohn̄s daye & night & than slepyth the serpēt or dragon. and than goo we to the tree & take y t crisma. and of this same is nomore than iij. pōd. & thā tourne we ayē secretely w t great drede & fere y t he vs not see / for ells he wyll slee vs. & this same tree is a dayes iourney fro y e paradys of y e erthe but whā this serpent is a waked than maked he great mone and sorow. & this dragon hath .ix. hedes and .ij. wynges. and is as great as twoo horses. But for all y t it foloweth vs stylle tyl we ben come to the zee ayen. and than tourned it ayen. & then̄e bere we that crisma to y e patriarch of seynt thomas & he haloweth it / & ther w t they make vs al crysten. & y e remenaūt sende we to y e patriarche of Iherusalem. & he sende it forth to the Pope of rome. & he puth ther to olyet of lyfe and than halowyth it / & then̄ he sendeth̄ all crystēte thorugh ¶ Also ye shall vnderstande whan we shall goo to warre than doo we afore vs bere with xiiij kinges .xiiij. rofers with golde & syluer really [Page] wroght with precious stones. and the other kȳ ges come after vs with grete stremers and baners of sylke & syndale very rychely wrought. Ye shall knowe also that afore vs gone .xl.M. clerkis / & also many knyghtis. and men a fote there be .ij.C.M. without cariers and cariers tho that go with the olyphantes and cary our harneys and vitales.
¶ ye shall vnderstande also as we goo to fylde than put we our lande in the kepyng of the Patriarche of seynt thomas. And whan we pecesably ryde than do we bere afore vs a crosse of wodde in worshyp of oure lorde Ihesu Cryste. Also in the incomynge of euery cyte stande .iij. crosses made of wodde / for to remembre y e passiō of our lord Ihesu cryste. And whan we ryde pecesably than do we also bere afor vs a basyn full of erthe to remembre y t we be come of erthe and that we shall waxe erthe ayen. and we do also bere for vs another basyn full of fyne gold to a token that wee be the nobleste & mightyest kyngis of all the worlde.
¶ There is also in our lande noman so hardy that dare breke his wedloke.. but yf he dyde he sholde be incōtynent be burnyd. For our lorde hym self hath ordyned wedlok therfore it shold be kept by reason yf tbat we louyd oure lorde Ihesu Cryste. For it is one of the sacramentes of the holy chyrche
¶ Also there dare noman make a lye in oure [Page] lande. for of he dyde he sholde incontynent bee sleyn & we be feythful in oure saying & doying ¶ Also ye shall vnderstand that we euery yere goo vysite the holy body of the prophete danyel in oure forest / and we take with vs .xM. clerkis and as many knyghtys. and .CC. castels. made vpon Olyphantes / fore to kepe vs fro y e dragons y e whyche haue .vij. hedes. the whych that haue theyr dwellynge in that forest.
¶ And there bee also in that same place dates y e winter and somer hange on the trees fayr and grene. And y e foreste is great a .C. & .xxx. dayes iourney. and y e .ij. patriarches ben before vs at table for they haue the myght of the pope of rome. And we haue twyes as many abbotes ī our lande as there be dayes in a yere .xv. more And euerich one of them cometh ones in y e yere and saythe masse vpon saint Thomas auter. And I my self seye also masse in the grete festis dayes of y e yere. and ther for I am called pope Iohn̄. For I priste after the outshewyng of sacrifice of the auters. & kinge after outshewing of Iusticie. ¶ And I pope Iohn̄ was halowid afore I was borne. for oure lorde sende his angell to my fader and sayde to hym make a pallays the whyche shall be of the grace of god and a chamber of that paradyse for your sonne comynge For hi shall be the grettest kynge of the worlde. and he shalle a longe tyme lyue. So who that in this pallays comyth he shall [Page] haue no hongre nor thryste. & he shall not deye and as sone as my fader was a wakyd he was very mery / and incōtynent he began to make this pallays lyke ye shall here. At fyrst of y e incomynge of this pallays is made of cristall & the couerynge of it is of precious stones and with in realy wrought with sterres lyke yf it were y e heuen. & that pauing is also of cristall & within this same pallays be none wȳdowes. & within this same pallays be .xxiiij. pyllers of fyne gold & of precyous stones of all maner sortes. & ther am I at great feste dayes of the yere and seynt Thomas prechyth ī middell of this pallays to the people. And whithin this same pallays is a conduyte or a fonteyne is lyke wyne in drynkȳge / so who thereof drincketh he desyred none other mete nor drinke and noman can telle fro whens it cometh or whyther it gothe. Also ther is another great merueyll ī this same pallays whan we shall goo to our dyner / so is there no maner of mete made redy for vs / not ther is no maner of instrumētes to make mete redy with all. but there comith before vs all maner of delycious mete / that comyth there thoroughe the holy goost. And it is not wel possyble to wrytte all maner of goodnes they whiche y t be in oure lande. And ye shall vnderstande that we writte nothynge to you but that trewe is.. For if we sholde wryte lyes to you / god and seȳt thomas sholde punysshe vs / for we sholde lese all our dignyte and oure worshypp.
And we praye you that ye wyl writte vs ayen with the berer of this lettre. and sende to vs ageyn a good knyght of y e generacyon of fraūce
And we praye the kynge of Fraunce that he wyll vs recommaunde to the myghty kyng of Englande. and also to all other kȳges the whyche y t dwelle beyonde the zee thow that bē crystened and we praye god that he you wyl gyue the grace of the holy goost Amen. Written in oure holy pallays in the byrth of my selfe .v. hō dred. and seuen