In winter time they make excellent drinke of Rise, of Mill, and of honie,
being well and high coloured like wine. Also they haue wine brought vnto
them from farre countries. In summer time they care not for any drinke, but
Cosmos. And it standeth alwaies within the entrance of his doore, and next
vnto it stands a minstrell with his fidle. I sawe there no such citerns and
vials as ours commonly be, but many other musicall instruments which are
not vsed among vs. And when the master of the house begins to drinke, one
of his seruants cryeth out with a lowde voice HA, and the minstrell playes
vpon his fidle. [Sidenote: They vse the like custome in Florida.] And when
they make any great solemne feast, they all of them clap their hands and
daunce to the noyse of musique the men before their master and the women
before their mistresse. And when the master hath drunke, then cries out his
seruant as before, and the minstrell stayeth his musique. Then drinke they
all around both men and women: and sometimes they carowse for the victory
very filthily and drunkenly. Also when they will prouoke any man, they pul
him by the eares to the drinke, and lug and drawe him strongly to stretch
out his throate clapping their handes and dauncing before him. Moreouer
when some of them will make great feasting and reioycing, one of the
company takes a full cuppe, and two other stand, one on his right hand and
another on his left, and so they three come singing to the man who is to
haue the cuppe reached vnto him, still singing and dauncing before him: and
when he stretcheth foorth his hand to receiue the cuppe, they leape
suddenly backe, returning againe as they did before, and so hauing deluded
him thrice or fower times by drawing backe the cuppe vntill he be merie,
and hath gotten a good appetite, then they giue him the cuppe, singing and
dauncing and stamping with their feete, vntill he hath done drinking.
De cibarijs eorum. Cap. 5.
De cibis et victualibus eorum noueritis, quod indifferenter comedunt omnia
morticinia sua. Et inter tot pecora et armenta non potest esse quin multa
animalia moriantur. Tamen in æstate quamdiu durat eis cosmos, hoc est lac
equinum, non curant de alio cibo. Vnde tunc si contingat eis mori bouem vel
equum, siccant carnes scindendo per tenues pecias et suspendendo ad solem
et ventum, quæ statim sine sale siccantur absque aliquo fætore. De
intestinis equorum faciunt andulges meliores quàm de porcis; quas comedunt
recentes: reliquas carnes reseruant ad hyemem. De pellibus boum faciunt
vtres magnos, quos mirabiliter siccant ad fumum. De posteriori parte pellis
equi faciunt pulcherrimos soculares. De carne vnius arietis dant comedere
quinquaginta hominibus vel centum. Scindunt enim minutatim in scutella cum
sale et aqua, aliam enim salsam non faciunt, et tunc cum puncto cultelli
vel furcinula, quas proprias faciunt ad hoc, cum qua solemus comedere pira
et poma cocta in vino, porrigunt cuilibet circumstantium buccellam vnam vel
duas, secundum multitudinem comedentium. Dominus antequam proponitur caro
arietis in primo ipse accipit quod placet ei: et etiam si dat alicui partem
specialem, oportet quod accipiens comedat eam solus, et nemini licet dare
ei. Si non potest totum comedere, asportat secum, vel dat garcioni suo, si
est presens, qui custodiat ei: sin aliter, recondit in saptargat suo, hoc
est in bursa quadrata, quam portant ad recondendum omnia talia, in qua et
ossa recondunt, quando non habent spacium bene rodendi ea, vt postea
rodant, ne pereat aliquid de cibo.
The same in English.
Of their foode and victuals. Chap. 5.
Concerning their foode and victuals, be it knowen vnto your Highnesse that
they do, without al difference or exception, eate all their dead carrions.
And amongst so many droues it cannot be, but some cattell must needes die.
Howbeit in summer, so long as their Cosmos, that is, their mares milke
lasteth, they care not for any foode. [Sidenote: Drying of flesh in the
wind.] And if they chance to haue an oxe or an horse dye, they drie the
flesh thereof: for cutting it into thin slices and hanging it vp against
the Sunne and the wind, it is presently dried without salt, and also
without stenche or corruption. They make better puddings of their horses
then of their hogs, which they eate being new made: the rest of the flesh
they reserue vntill winter. They make of their oxe skins great bladders or
bags, which they doe wonderfully dry in the smoake. Of the hinder part of
their horse hides they make very fine sandals and pantofles. They giue vnto
50. or an 100. men the flesh of one ram to eat. For they mince it in a
bowle with salt and water (other sauce they haue none) and then with the
point of a knife, or a little forke which they make for the same purpose
(such as wee vse to take rosted peares or apples out of wine withal) they
reach vnto euery one of the company a morsell or twaine, according to the
multitude of guestes. The master of the house, before the rams flesh be
distributed, first of all himselfe taketh thereof, what he pleaseth. Also,
if he giueth vnto any of the company a speciall part, the receiuer therof
must eat it alone, and must not impart ought therof vnto any other. Not
being able to eate it vp all, he caries it with him, or deliuers it vnto
his boy, if he be present, to keepe it: if not, he puts it vp into his
Saptargat, that is to say, his foure square budget, which they vse to cary
about with them for the sauing of all such prouision, and wherein they lay
vp their bones, when they haue not time to gnaw them throughly, that they
may burnish them afterward, to the end that no whit of their food may come
to nought.
Quomodo faciunt Cosmos. Cap. 6.
Ipsum Cosmos, hoc est lac iumentinum fit hoc modo. Extendunt cordam longam
super terram ad duos palos fixos in terra, et ad illam cordam ligant
circiter horas tres, pullos equarum quas volunt mungere. Tunc stant matres
iuxta pullos suos et permittunt se pacifice mungi. Et si aliqua est nimis
indomita, tunc accipit vnus homo pullum et supponit ei permittens parum
sugere, tunc retrahit illum, et emunctor lactis succedit. Congregata ergo
multitudine lactis, quod est ita dulce sicut vaccinum, dum est recens,
fundunt illud in magnum vtrem siue bucellam, et incipiunt illud concutere
cum ligno ad hoc aptato, quod grossum est inferius sicut caput hominis et
cauatum subtus: et quam cito concutiunt illud, incipit bullire sicut vinum
nouum, et acescere siue fermentari, et excutiunt illud donec extrahant
butirum. Tunc gustant illud; et quando est temperate pungitiuum bibunt:
pungit enim super linguam sicut vinum raspei dum bibitur. Et postquam homo
cessat bibere, relinquit saporem super linguam lactis amygdalini, et multum
reddit interiora hominis iucunda, et etiam inebriat debilia capita: multum
etiam prouocat vrinam. Faciunt etiam Cara-cosmos, hoc est nigrum cosmos ad
vsum magnorum dominorum, hoc modo. Lac equinum non coagulatur. Ratio enim
est: quod nullius animalis lac nisi cuius fetet venter non inuenitur
coagulum. In ventre pulli equi non inuenitur: vnde lac equæ non coagulatur.
Concutiunt ergo lac in tantum, quod omnino quod spissum est in eo vadat ad
fundum rectà, sicut fæces vini, et quod purum est remanet superius et est
sicut serum, et sicut mustum album. Fæces sunt albæ multum, et dantur
seruis, et faciunt multum dormire. Illud clarum bibunt domini: et est pro
certo valde suauis potus et bonæ efficaciæ. Baatu habet 30. casalia circa
herbergiam suam ad vnam dietam, quorum vnam quodque qualibet die seruit ei
de tali lacte centum equarum, hoc est, qualibet die lac trium millium
equarum, excepto alio lacte albo, quod deferunt alij. Sicut enim in Syria
rustici dant tertiam partem fructuum, quam ipsi afferunt ad curias
dominorum suorum, ita et isti lac equarum tertiæ diei. De lacte vaccino
primò extrahunt butyrum et bulliunt illud vsque ad perfectam decoctionem,
et postea recondunt illud in vtribus arietinis quos ad hoc reseruant. Et
non ponunt sal in butiro: tamen propter magnam decoctionem non putrescit;
et reseruant illud contra hyemem. Residuum lac quod remanet post butirum
permittunt acescere quantum acrius fieri potest et bulliunt illud, et
coagulatur bulliendo, et coagulum illud desiccant ad solem, et efficitur
durum sicut scoria ferri. Quod recondunt in saccis contra hyemem tempore
hyemali quando deficit eis lac, ponunt illud acre coagulum, quod ipsi
vocant gri-vt, in vtre, et super infundunt aquam calidam, et concutiunt
fortiter donec illud resoluatur in aqua; quæ ex illo efficitur tota
acetosa, et illam aquam bibunt loco lactis. Summè cauent ne bibant aquam
puram.
The same in English.
How they make their drinke called Cosmos. Chap 6.
Their drinke called Cosmos, which is mares milke, is prepared after this
manner. They fasten a long line vnto 2. posts standing firmely in the
ground, and vnto the same line they tie the young foles of those mares,
which they mean to milke. Then come the dams to stand by their foles gently
suffering themselues to be milked. And if any of them be too vnruly, then
one takes her fole, and puts it vnder her, letting it suck a while, and
presently carying it away againe, there comes another man to milke the said
mare. And hauing gotten a good quantity of this milke together (being as
sweet as cowes milke) while it is newe they powre it into a great bladder
or bag, and they beat the said bag with a piece of wood made for the
purpose, hauing a club at the lower ende like a mans head, which is hollow
within: and so soone as they beat vpon it, it begins to boile like newe
wine, and to be sower and sharp of taste, and they beate it in that manner
till butter come thereof. Then taste they thereof, and being indifferently
sharpe they drinke it: for it biteth a mans tongue like the wine of raspes,
when it is drunk. After a man hath taken a draught thereof, it leaueth
behind it a taste like the taste of almon milke, and goeth downe very
pleasantly, intoxicating weake braines: also it causeth vrine to be auoided
in great measure. Likewise Caracosmos, that is to say black Cosmos, for
great lords to drink, they make on this maner. First they beat the said
milke so long till the thickest part thereof descend right downe to the
bottome like the lees of white wine, and that which is thin and pure
remaineth aboue, being like vnto whay or white must The said lees or dregs
being very white, are giuen to seruants, and will cause them to sleepe
exceedingly. That which is thinne and cleare their masters drinke: and in
very deed it is marueilous sweete and holesome liquor. Duke Baatu hath
thirty cottages or granges within a daies iourney of his abiding place:
euery one of which serueth him dayly with the Caracosmos of an hundreth
mares milk, and so all of them together euery day with the milke of 3000.
mares, besides white milke which other of his subiects bring. For euen as
the husbandmen of Syria bestow the third part of their fruicts and carie it
vnto the courts of their lords, euen so doe they their mares milke euery
third day. Out of their cowes milke they first churne butter, boyling the
which butter vnto a perfect decoction, they put it into rams skinnes, which
they reserue for the same purpose. Neither doe they salte their butter: and
yet by reason of the long seething, it putrifieth not: and they keepe it in
store for winter. The churnmilke which remaineth of the butter, they let
alone till it be as sowre as possibly it may be, then they boile it and in
boiling, it is turned all into curdes, which curds they drie in the sun,
making them as hard as the drosse of iron: and this kind of food also they
store vp in sachels against winter. In the winter season when milke faileth
them, they put the foresaid curds (which they cal Gry-vt) into a bladder,
and powring hot water thereinto, they beat it lustily till they haue
resolued it into the said water, which is thereby made exceedingly sowre,
and that they drinke in stead of milke [Footnote: Presumably the first
mention of preserved milk in any form.]. They are very scrupulous, and take
diligent heed that they drinke not fayre water by it selfe.
De bestijs quas comedunt, et de vestibus, ac de venatione eorum. Chap. 7.
Magni domini habent casalia versus meridiem, de quibus afferunt eis milium
et farinam contra hyemem, pauperes procurant sibi pro arietibus et pellibus
commutando. Sclaui etiam implent ventrem suum aqua crassa, et hac contenti
sunt. Mures cum longis caudis non comedunt et omne genus murium habens
curtam caudam. Sunt etiam ibi multæ marmotes, quas ipsi vocant Sogur; quæ
conueniunt in vna fouea in hyeme 20. vel 30. pariter, et dormiunt sex
mensibus: quas capiunt in magna multitudine. Sunt etiam ibi, cuniculi
habentes longam caudam sicut cari; et in summitate caudæ habent pilos
nigros et albos. Habent et multas alias bestiolas bonas ad comedendum: quas
ipsi valde bene discernunt. Ceruos non vidi ibi; lepores paucos vidi,
gaselos multos. Asinos syluestres vidi in magna multitudine, qui sunt quasi
muli. Vidi et aliud genus animalis quod dicitur Artak, quod habet recte
corpus arietis et cornua torta, sed tantæ quantitatis, quod vix poteram vna
manu leuare duo cornua: et faciunt de cornibus illis ciphos magnos. Habent
falcones, girfalcones, et herodios in magna multitudine: quos omnes portant
super manum dexteram: et ponunt semper falconi vnam corrigiam paruulam
circa collum, quæ pendet ei vsque ad medietatem pectoris: per quam cum
proijciunt eum ad prædam, inclinant cum sinistra manu caput et pectus
falconis, ne verberetur à vento, vel ne feratur sursum. Magnum ergo partem
victus sui acquirunt venatione. De vestibus et habitu eorum noueritis, quod
de Cataya et alijs regionibus Orientis, et etiam de Perside et alijs
regionibus austri veniunt eis panni serici et aurei, et telæ de bambasio,
quibus induuntur in æstate. [Sidenote: Maior Hungaria.] De Russia, de
Moxel, et Maiore Bulgaria et Pascatir, quæ est maior Hungaria, et Kersis:
(quæ omnes sunt regiones ad Aquilonem et plenæ syluis;) et alijs multis
regionibus ad latus aquilonare, quæ eis obediunt, adducuntur eis pelles
preciosæ multi generis; quas nunquam vidi in partibus nostris: Quibus
induuntur in hyeme. Et faciunt semper in hyeme duas pelliceas ad minus:
vnam, cuius pilus est ad carnem: aliam cuius pilus est extra contra ventum
et niues, quæ multoties sunt de pellibus lupinis vel vulpibus vel
papionibus. Et dum sedent in domo habent aliam delicatiorem. Pauperes
faciunt illas exteriores de canibus et capris. Quum volunt venari feras,
conueniunt magna multitudo et circundant regionem in qua sciunt feras esse,
et paulatim appropinquant sibi, donec concludant feras inter se quasi infra
circulum, et tunc sagitant ad eas; faciunt etiam braccas de pellibus.
Diuites etiam furrant vestes suas de stupa setæ, quæ est supra modum
mollis, et leuis et calida. Pauperes furrant vestes de tela de bambasio, de
delicatiori lana quam possunt extrahere: de grossiori faciunt filtrum ad
cooperiendum domos suas et cistas, et ad lectisternia. De lana etiam et
tertia parte pilorum equi admixta, faciunt cordas suas. De filtro etiam
faciunt pauellas sub sellis, et capas contra pluuiam. [Sidenote: Nota.]
Vnde multum expendunt de lana. Habitum virorum vidistis.
The same in English.
Of the beastes which they eat, of their garments, and of their maner of
hunting. Chap. 7.
Great lords haue cottages or granges towards the South, from whence their
tenants bring them Millet and meale against winter. The poorer sort prouide
themselues of such necessaries, for the exchange of rams, and of other
beasts skins. The Tartars slaues fil their bellies with thick water, and
are therewithall contented. They wil neither eate mise with long tailes,
nor any kinde of mise with short tailes. They haue also certaine litle
beasts called by them Sogur, which lie in a caue twenty or thirty of them
together, al the whole winter sleeping there for the space of sixe moneths:
[Footnote: Marmosets] and these they take in great abundance. There are
also a kind of conies hauing long tayles like vnto cats: and on the outside
of their tailes grow blacke and white haires. They haue many other small
beasts good to eat, which they know and discerne right well. I saw no Deere
there, and but a fewe hares but a great number of Roes. I saw wild asses in
great abundance which be like vnto Mules. Also I saw another kind of beast
called Artak, hauing in al resemblance the body of a ram and crooked
hornes, which are of such bignes, that I could scarce lift vp a paire of
them with one hand; and of these hornes they make great drinking cups.
[Sidenote: Our falconers vse the left first. Another strange custome, which
I leaue to be scanned by falconers themselues.] They haue Falcons,
Girfalcons, and other haukes in great plenty all which they cary vpon their
right hands: and they put alwaies about their Falcons necks a string of
leather, which hangeth down to the midst of their gorges, by the which
string they cast them off the fist at their game, with their left hand they
bow doune the heads and breasts of the sayd haukes, least they should be
tossed vp and downe, and beaten with the wind, or least they should soare
too high. Wherefore they get a great part of their victuals, by hunting and
hauking. Concerning their garments and attire be it knowen vnto your
Maiestie, that out of Cataya and other regions of the East, out of Persia
also and other countries of the South, there are brought vnto them stuffes
of silke, cloth of gold, and cotton cloth, which they weare in time of
summer. But out of Russia, Moxel, Bulgaria the greater, and Pascatir, that
is Hungaria the greater, and out of Kersis (all which are Northerne regions
and full of woods) and also out of many other countries of the North, which
are subiect vnto them, the inhabitants bring them rich and costly skins of
diuers sortes (which I neuer saw in our countries) wherewithal they are
clad in winter. And alwaies against winter they make themselues two gownes,
one with the fur inward to their skin, and another with the furre outward,
to defend them from wind and snow, which for the most part are made of
woolues skins, or Fox skins, or els of Papions. And when they sit within
the house, they haue a finer gowne to weare. The poorer sort make their
vpper gowne of dogs or of goats skins. When they goe to hunt for wild
beasts, there meets a great company together, and inuironing the place
round about, where they are sure to find some game, by litle and litle they
approach on al sides, til they haue gotten the wild beasts into the midst,
as it were into a circle, and then they discharge their arrowes at them.
Also they make themselues breeches of skins. The rich Tartars somtimes fur
their gowns with pelluce or silke shag, which is exceeding soft, light, and
warme. The poorer sort do line their clothes with cotton cloth which is
made of the finest wooll they can pick out, and of the courser part of the
said wool, they make felt to couer their houses and their chests, and for
their bedding also. [Sidenote: Great expense of wooll.] Of the same wool,
being fixed with one third part of horse haire, they make all their
cordage. They make also of the said felt couerings for their stooles, and
caps to defende their heads from the weather: for all which purposes they
spend a great quantity of their wooll. And thus much concerning the attyre
of the men.
De rasura virorum et ornatu mulierum. Cap. 8.
Viri radunt in summitate capitis quadrangulum, et ab anterioribus angulis
ducunt rasuram cristæ capitis vsque ad tempora. Radunt etiam tempora et
collum vsque ad summum concauitatis ceruicis: et frontem anterius vsque ad
frontinellam, super quam relinquunt manipulum pilorum descendentium vsque
ad supercilia. In angulis occipitis relinquunt crines, quibus faciunt
tricas, quas succingunt nodando vsque ad aures. Et habitus puellarum non
differt ab habitu virorum, nisi quod aliquantulum est longior. Sed in
crastino postquam est nupta radit caluariam suam à medietate capitis versus
frontem, et habet tunicam latam sicut cucullam monialis, et per omnia
latiorem et longiorem, fissam ante, quam ligat sub dextro latere. In hoc
enim differunt Tartari à Turcis: quod Turci ligani tunicas suas ad
sinistram, Tartari semper ad dextram. Postea habent ornamentum capitis,
quod vocant botta, quod fit de cortice arboris vel alia materia, quam
possunt inuenire, leuiore: et est grossum et rotundum, quantum potest
duabus manibus complecti; longum vero vnius cubiti et plus, quadrum
superius, sicut capitellum vnius columnæ. Istud botta cooperiunt panno
serico precioso; et est concauum interius: et super capitellum in medio vel
super quadraturam illam ponunt virgulam de calamis pennarum vel cannis
gracilibus longitudinis scilicet vnius cubiti et plus: et illam sibi
virgulam ornant superius de pennis pauonis, et per longum in circuitu
pennulis caudæ malardi, et etiam lapidibus præciosis. Diuites dominæ istud
ornamentum ponunt in summitate capitis quod stringunt fortiter cum almucia,
quæ foramen habet in summitate ad hoc aptatum, et in isto recondunt crines
suos quos recolligunt à parte posteriori ad summitatem capitis quasi in
nodo vno et reponunt in illo botta, quod postea fortiter ligant sub
gutture. Vnde quum equitant plures dominæ simul et videntur à longe,
apparent milites, habentes galeas in capitibus cum lanceis eleuatis. Illud
enim botta apparet galea de super lancea. Et sedent omhes mulieres super
equos sicut viti diuersificantes coxas; et ligant cucullas suas panno
serico aerij coloris super renes, et alia fascia stringunt ad mamillas: et
ligant vnam peciam albam sub occulis, quæ descendit vsque ad pectus. Et
sunt mulieres miræ pinguedinis, et quæ minus habet de naso pulchrior
reputatur. Deturpant etiam turpiter pinguedine facies suas: nunquam cubant
in lecto pro puerperio.
The same in English.
Of the fashion which the Tartars vse in cutting their haire, and of the
attire of their women. Chap. 8.
The men shaue a plot foure square vpon the crownes of their heads, and from
the two formost corners they shaue, as it were, two seames downe to their
temples: they shaue also their temples and the hinder part of their head
euen vnto the nape of the necke: likewise they shaue the forepart of their
scalp downe to their foreheads, and vpon their foreheads they leaue a locke
of hayre reaching downe vnto their eye browes: vpon the two hindermost
corners of their heads, they haue two lockes also, which they twine and
braid into knots and so bind and knit them vnder each eare one. Moreouer
their womens garments differ not from their mens, sauing that they are
somewhat longer. But on the morrowe after one of their women is maried,
shee shaues her scalpe from the middest of her head downe to her forehead,
and weares a wide garment like vnto the hood of a Nunne, yea larger and
longer in all parts then a Nuns hood, being open before and girt vnto them
vnder the right side. For herein doe the Tartars differ from the Turkes:
because the Turkes fasten their garments to their bodies on the left side:
but the Tartars alwaies on the right side. They haue also an ornament for
their heads which they call Botta, being made of the barke of a tree, or of
some such other lighter matter as they can find, which by reason of the
thicknes and roundnes therof cannot be holden but in both hands together:
and it hath a square sharp spire rising from the top therof, being more
then a cubite in length, and fashioned like vnto a pinacle. The said Botta
they couer al ouer with a piece of rich silke: and it is hollow within: and
vpon the midst of the sayd spire or square toppe, they put a bunch of quils
or of slender canes a cubite long and more: and the sayd bunch, on the top
thereof, they beautifie with Peacocks feathers, and round about al the
length therof, with the feathers of a Malards taile, and with precious
stones also. Great ladies weare this kind of ornament vpon their heads
binding it strongly with a certain hat or coyfe, which hath an hole in the
crowne, fit for the spire to come through it: and vnder the fore-said
ornament they couer the haires of their heads, which they gather vp round
together from the hinder part therof to the crowne, and so lap them vp in a
knot or bundel within the said Botta, which afterward they bind strongly
vnder their throtes. Hereupon when a great company of such gentlewomen ride
together, and are beheld a far off, they seem to be souldiers with helmets
on their heads carrying their launces vpright: for the said Botta appeareth
like an helmet with a launce ouer it. Al their women sit on horsebacke
bestriding their horses like men: and they bind their hoods or gownes about
their wastes with a skie coloured silke skarfe, and with another skarfe
they girde it aboue their breasts: and they bind also a piece of white
silke like a mufler or mask vnder their eyes, reaching down vnto their
breast These gentlewomen are exceeding fat, and the lesser their noses be,
the fairer are they esteemed: they daube ouer their sweet faces with grease
too shamefully: and they neuer lie in bed for their trauel of childbirth.
De officio mulierum, et operibus earum, ac de nuptijs earum. Cap. 9.
Officium foeminarum est ducere bigas, ponere domus super eas et deponere,
mungere vaccas, facere butirum et griut, parare pelles, et consuere eas,
quas consuunt filo deneruis; diuidunt enim neruos in minuta fila, et postea
illa contorquent in vnum longum filum. Consuunt etiam soculares et soccos
et alias vestes. Vestes vero nunquam lauant, quia dicunt quod Deus tunc
irascitur, et quod fiant torotrua si suspendantur ad siccandum: Imo
lauantes verberant et eis auferunt. Tonitrua supra modum timent: tunc omnes
extraneos emittunt de domibus suis; et inuoluunt se in filtris nigris, in
quibus latitant, donec transierit. Nunquam etiam lauant scutellos, imo
carne cocta alueum in quo debent ponere eam lauant brodio bulliente de
caldaria, et postea refundunt in caldariam; faciunt et filtrum et
cooperiunt domos. Viri faciunt solum arcus et sagittas, fabricant strepas,
et fræna, et faciunt cellas, carpentant domos et bigas: custodiunt equos et
mungunt equas, concutiunt ipsum cosmos et lac equinum, faciunt vires in
quibus reconditur: custodiunt etiam camelos, et onerant eos Oues et Capras
custodiunt mixtim et mungunt aliquando viri, aliquando mulieres. [Sidenote:
Pellium paratio] De lacte ouium inspissato et salso parant pelles. Cum
volunt manus vel caput lauare implent os suum aqua et paulatim fundunt de
ore suo super manus, et eadem humectant crines suos, et lauant caput suum.
De nuptijs eorum noueritis, quod nemo habet ibi vxorem nisi emat eam; vnde
aliquando sunt puellæ multum aduitæ ante quam nubant: semper enim tenent
eas parentes, donec vendant eas. Seruant etiam gradus consanguinitatis
primum et secundum: nullum autem seruant affinitatis. Habent enim simul vel
successiue duas sorores. Nulla vidua nubit inter eos, hac ratione; quia
credunt quod omnes qui seruiunt eis in hac vita seruient in futura. Vnde
vidua credunt, quod semper reuertitur post mortem ad primum maritum. Vnde
accidit turpis consuetudo inter eos quod filius scilicet ducit aliquando
omnes vxores patris sui, excepta matre. Curia enim patris et matris semper
accidit iuniori filio. Vnde oportet quod ipse prouideat omnibus vxoribus
patris sui, quia adueniunt eæ cum curia paterna. Et tunc si vult vtitur eis
pro vxoribus, quia non reputat sibi iniuriam, si reuertatur ad patrem post
mortem. Cum ergo aliquis fecerit pactum cum aliquo de filia accipienda,
facit pater puellæ conuiuium, et illa fuagit ad consanguineos, vt ibi
lateat: Tunc pater dicit, Ecce filia mea tua est, accipe eam vbicunque
inueneris: Tunc ille quærit cum amicis suis, donec inueniat eam, et
oportet, quod vi capiat eam et ducat eam quasi violenter ad domum.
The same in English.
Of the dueties inioined vnto the Tartarian women, and of their labours, and
also of their mariages. Chap. 9.
The duties of women are, to driue carts: to lay their houses vpon carts and
to take them downe again: to milke kine: to make butter and Gry-vt: to
dresse skins and to sow them, which they vsually sowe with thread made of
sinewes, for they diuide sinewes into slender threads, and then twine them
into one long thread. They make sandals and socks and other garments.
Howbeit they neuer wash any apparel: for they say that God is then angry,
and that dreadful thunder wil ensue, if washed garments be hanged forth to
drie: yea, they beat such as wash and take their garments from them. They
are wonderfully afraid of thunder: for in the time of thunder they thrust
all strangers, out of their houses, and then wrapping themselues in black
felt, they lie hidden therein, til the thunder be ouerpast. They neuer wash
their dishes or bowles: yea, when their flesh is sodden, they wash the
platter wherein it must be put, with scalding hot broth out of the pot, and
then powre the said broth into the pot againe. They make felte also, and
couer their houses therewith. The duties of the men are to make bowes and
arrowes, stirrops, bridles and saddles, to build houses and carts, to keep
horses, to milke, mares, to churne Cosmos and mares milke, and to make bags
wherein to put it, they keepe camels also and lay burthens vpon them. As
for sheepe and goates they tend and milke them, aswell the men as the
women. With sheeps milke thicked and salted they dresse and tan their
hides. When they wil wash their hands or their heads, they fil their
mouthes full of water, and spouting it into their hands by little and
little, they sprinckle their haire and wash their heades therwith.
[Footnote: The same custom still exists amongst the inhabitants of the Lena
Delta] As touching mariages, your Highnes is to vnderstand, that no man can
haue a wife among them till he hath bought her whereupon somtimes their
maids are very stale before they be maried, for their parents alwaies keepe
them till they can sel them. They keepe the first and second degrees of
consanguinitie inuiolable, as we do but they haue no regard of the degrees
of affinity: for they wil marrie together, or by succession, two sisters.
Their widowes marie not at al, for this reason: because they beleeue, that
al who haue serued them in this life, shall do them seruice in the life to
come also. Whereupon they are perswaded, that euery widow after death shal
returne vnto her own husband. And herehence ariseth an abominable and
filthy custome among them, namely that the sonne marieth somtimes all his
fathers wiues except his own mother: For the court or house of the father
or mother falleth by inheritance alwaies to the yonger son. Whereupon he is
to prouide for all his fathers wiues, because they are part of his
inheritance aswel as his fathers possessions. And then if he will he vseth
then for his owne wiues: for he thinks it no iniurie or disparagement vnto
himselfe, although they returne vnto his father after death. Therfore when
any man hath bargained with another for a maid, the father of the said
damosel makes him a feast: in the meane while she fleeth vnto some of her
kinsfolks to hide her selfe. Then saith her father vnto the bridegrome:
Loe, my daughter is yours, take her whersoeuer you can find her. Then he
and his friends seek for her till they can find her, and hauing found her
hee must take her by force and cary her, as it were, violently vnto his
owne house.
De iusticijs eorum et iudicijs, et de morte ac sepultura eorum. Cap. 10.
De iusticijs eorum nouentis, quod quando duo homines pugnant, nemo audet se
intermittere. Etiam pater non audet iuuare filium. Sed qui peiorem partem
habet, appellat ad curiam domini. Et si alius post appellationem tangat
eum, interficitur. Sed oportet quod statim absque dilatione vadat: Et ille
qui passus est iniuriam ducit eum quasi captiuum. Neminem puniunt capitali
sententia, nisi deprehensus fuerit in facto, vel confessus. Sed quum
diffamatus est à pluribus, bene torquent eum, vt confiteatur. Homicidium
puniunt capitali sententia, et etiam coitum cum non sua. Non suam dico vel
vxorem vel famulam: Sua enim sclaua licet vti prout libet. Item enorme
furtum puniunt morte. Pro leui furto, sicut pro vno ariete, dummodo non
fuerit sæpe deprehensus in hoc, verberant crudeliter. Et si dant centum
ictus oportet quod habeant centum baculos, de illis dico, qui verberantur
sententia curiæ. Item falsos nuncios, quia faciunt se nuncios et non sunt,
interficiunt. Item sacrilegas, de quibus dicam vobis postea plenius, quia
tales reputant veneficas. Quando aliquis moritur plangunt vehementer
vlulando: et tunc sunt liberi quod non dant vectigal vsque ad annum. Et si
quis interest morti alicuius adulti non ingreditur domum ipsius Mangucham
vsque ad annum. Si paruulus est qui moritur, non ingreditur vsque post
lunationem. Iuxta sepulturam defuncti semper relinquunt domum vnam. Si est
de nobilibus, hoc est de genere Chingis, qui fuit primus pater et domimis
eorum, illius qui moritur ignoratur sepultura: et semper circa loca illa
vbi sepeliunt nobiles suos est vna herbergia hominum custodientium
sepulturas. Non intellexi quod ipsi recondunt thesaurum cum mortuis. Comani
faciunt magnum tumulum super defunctum et erigunt ei statuam versa facie ad
orientem, tenentem ciphum in manu sua ante vmbelicum; fabricant et
diuitibus pyramides, id est domunculas acutas: et alicubi vidi magnas
turres de tegulis coctis: alicubi lapideas domos, quamuis lapides non
inueniantur ibi. Vidi quendam nouiter defunctum, cui suspenderant pelles
sexdecem equorum, ad quodlibet latus mundi quatuor inter perticas altas: et
apposuerunt ei cosmos vt biberet, et carnes vt comederet: et tamen dicebant
de illo quod fuerat baptizatus. Alias vidi sepulturas versus orientem.
Areas scilicet magnas structas lapidibus, aliquas rotundas, aliquas
quadratas, et postea quatuor lapides longos erectos ad quatuor regiones
mundi circa aream. Et vbi aliquis infirmatur cubat in lecto et ponit signum
super domum suam, quod ibi est infirmus, et quod nullus ingrediatur: vnde
nullus visitat infirmum nisi seruiens eius. Quando etiam aliquis de magnis
curijs infirmatur, ponunt custodes longe circa curiam, qui infra illos
terminos neminem permittunt transire: timent enim ne mali spiritus vel
ventus veniant cum ingredientibus. Ipsos diuinatores vocant tanquam
sacerdotes suos.
The same in English.
Of their execution of iustice and iudgement: and of their deaths and
burials. Chap. 10.
Concerning their lawes or their execution of iustice, your Maiesty is to be
aduertised, and when two men fight, no third man dare intrude himself to
part them. Yea, the father dare not help his owne sonne. But he that goes
by the worst must appeale vnto the court of his lord. And whosoeuer els
offereth him any violence after appeale, is put to death. But he must go
presently without all delay: and he that hath suffered the iniury, carieth
him, as it were captiue. They punish no man with sentence of death, vnles
hee bee taken in the deede doing, or confesseth the same. But being accused
by the multitude, they put him vnto extreame torture to make him confesse
the trueth. They punish murther with death, and carnall copulation also
with any other besides his owne. By his own, I meane his wife or his maid
seruant, for he may vse his slaue as he listeth himself. Heinous theft also
or felony they punish with death. For a light theft, as namely for stealing
of a ram, the party (not being apprehended in the deed doing, but otherwise
detected) is cruelly beaten. And if the executioner laies on an 100.
strokes, he must haue an 100. staues, namely for such as are beaten vpon
sentence giuen in the court. Also counterfeit messengers, because they
feine themselues to be messengers, when as indeed they are none at all,
they punish with death. Sacrilegious persons they vse in like manner (of
which kind of malefactors your Maiesty shall vnderstand more fully
hereafter) because they esteeme such to be witches. When any man dieth,
they lament and howle most pitifully for him: and the said mourners are
free from paying any tribute for one whole yeare after. Also whosoeuer is
present at the house where any one growen to mans estate lieth dead, he
must not enter into the court of Mangu-Can til one whole yere be expired.
If it were a child deceased he must not enter into the said court til the
next moneth after. Neere vnto the graue of the partie deceased they alwaies
leaue one cottage. If any of their nobles (being of the stock of Chingis,
who was their first lord and father) deceaseth, his sepulcher is vnknowen.
And alwayes about those places where they interre their nobles, there is
one house of men to keep the sepulchers. I could not learn that they vse to
hide treasures in the graues of their dead. The Comanians build a great
toomb ouer their dead, and erect the image of the dead party thereupon,
with his face towards the East, holding a drinking cup in his hand, before
his nauel. They erect also vpon the monuments of rich men, Pyramides, that
is to say, little sharpe houses or pinacles: and in some places I saw
mighty towers made of brick, in other places Pyramides made of stones,
albeit there are no stones to be found thereabout. I saw one newly buried,
in whose behalfe they hanged vp 16. horse hides, vnto each quarter of the
world 4, betweene certain high posts: and they set besides his graue Cosmos
for him to drink, and flesh to eat: and yet they sayd that he was baptized.
I beheld other kinds of sepulchers also towards the East: namely large
flowres or pauements made of stone, some round and some square, and then 4.
long stones pitched vpright, about the said pauement towards the 4. regions
of the world. When any man is sicke, he lieth in his bed, and causeth a
signe to be set vpon his house, to signifie that there lieth a sicke person
there, to the end that no man may enter into the sayd house: whereupon none
at all visit any sicke party but his seruant only. Moreouer, when any one
is sicke in their great courts, they appoint watchmen to stand round about
the said court, who wil not suffer any person to enter within the precincts
thereof. For they feare least euill spirits or winds should come together
with the parties that enter in. They esteeme of soothsayers, as of their
priests.
Qualiter ingressi sunt inter Tartaros, et de ingratitudine eorum. Cap. 11.
Quando ergo ingressi sumus inter illos barbaros, visum fuit mihi, vt dixi
superius, quod ingrederer aliud seculum. Circumdederunt enim nos in equis
postquam diu fecerant nos expectare sedentes in vmbra sub bigis nigris.
Prima quæstio fuit, vtrum vnquam fuissemus inter eos; habito quod non:
inceperunt impudenter petere de cibarijs nostris, et dedimus de pane
biscocto et vino quod attuleramus nobiscum de villa: et potata vna lagena
vini, petierunt aliam, dicentes, quod homo non ingreditur domum vno pede;
non dedimus eis, excusantes nos quod parem haberemus Tunc quæsiuerunt vnde
veniremus, et quo vellemus ire; dixi eis superiora verba, quod audieramus
de Sartach, quod esset Christianus, et quod vellem ire ad eum, quia habebam
deferre ei literas vestras. Ipsi diligenter quæsiuerunt, vtrum irem de mea
voluntate, vel vtrum mitterer. Ego respondi quod nemo coegit me ad eundum,
nec iuissem nisi voluissem: vnde de mea voluntate ibam, et etiam de
voluntate superioris me. Bene caui, quod nunquam dixi, me esse nuncium
vestrum. Tunc quæsiuerunt quid esset in bigis, vtrum esset aurum vel
argentum, vel vestes preciosæ, quas deferrem Sartach. Ego respondi, quod
Sartach videret quid deferremus ei quando perueniremus ad eum; et quod non
intererat eorum ista quærere: sed facerent me deduci vsque ad capitaneum
suum, et ipse si vellet mihi præbere ducatum vsque ad Sartach faceret: sin
minus, reuerterer. Erat enim in illa prouincia vnus consanguineus Baatu,
nomine Scacatai, cui dominus imperator Constantinopolitanus mittebat
literas deprecatorias, quod me permitteret transire. Tunc ipsi
acquieuerunt, præbentes nobis equos et boues et duos homines, qui
deducerent nos. Et alij qui adduxerant nos sunt reuersi. Prius tamen
antequam prædicta darent, fecerunt nos diu expectare petentes de pane
nostro pro paruulis suis: Et omnia quæ videbant super famulos nostros,
cultellos, chirothecas, bursas, corrigias, omnia admirantes et volentes
habere. Excusabam me, quia longa nobis restabat via, nec debebamus ita cito
spoliare nos rebus necessarijs ad tantam viam perficiendam. Tunc dicebant
quod essem batrator. Verum est quod nihil abstulerint vi: Sed valde
importune et impudenter petunt quæ vident. Et si dat homo eis perdit, quia
sunt ingrati. Reputant se dominos mundi, et videtur eis, quod nihil debeat
eis negari ab aliquo. Si non dat, et postea indigeat seruicio eorum, male
ministrant ei. Dederunt nobis bibere de lacte suo vaccino, à quo contractom
erat butirum, acetoso valde, quod ipsi vocant Apram et sic recessimus ab
eis. Et visum fuit mihi recte, quod euadissem de manibus dæmonum. In
crastino peruenimus ad capitaneum. Ex quo recessimus à Soldaia vsque ad
Sartach in duobus mensibus nunquam iacuimus in domo nec in tentorio, sed
semper sub dio, vel sub bigis nostris, nec vidimus aliquam villam, vel
vestigium alicuius ædificij vbi fuisset villa, nisi tumbas Comanorum in
maxima multitudine. Illo sero dedit nobis garcio qui ducebat nos bibere
cosmos; ad cuius haustum totus sudaui propter horrorem et nouitatem, quia
nunquam biberam de eo; valde tamen sapidum videbatur mihi, sicut vere est.
The same in English.
Of our first entrance among the Tartars, and of their ingratitude. Chap.
11.
And being come amongst those barbarous people, me thought (as I said
before) that I was entred into a new world: for they came flocking about vs
on horse back, after they had made vs a long time to awaite for them
sitting in the shadow, vnder their black carts. The first question which
they demanded was whether we had euer bin with them heretofore, or no? And
giuing them answere that we had not, they began impudently to beg our
victuals from vs. And we gaue them some of our bisket and wine, which we
had brought with vs from the towne of Soldaia. And hauing drunke off one
flagon of our wine they demanded another, saying, that a man goeth not into
the house with one foote. Howbeit we gaue them no more, excusing our selues
that we had but a litle. Then they asked vs, whence we came, and whither we
were bound? I answered them with the words aboue mentioned: that we had
heard concerning duke Sartach, that he was become a Christian, and that
vnto him our determination was to trauel, hauing your Maiesties letters to
deliuer vnto him. They were very inquisitiue to know whether I came of mine
own accord, or whether I were sent? I answered that no man compelled me to
come, neither had I come, vnles I my selfe had bin willing: and that
therefore I was come according to mine own wil, and to the will of my
superior. I tooke diligent heed neuer to say that I was your Maiesties
ambassador. Then they asked what I had in my carts; whether it were gold or
siluer, or rich garments to carie vnto Sartach? I answered that Sartach
should see what we had brought, when we were once come vnto him, and that
they had nothing to do to aske such questions, but rather ought to conduct
me vnto their captaine, and that he, if he thought good, should cause me to
be directed vnto Sartach: if not, that I would returne. For there was in
the same prouince one of Baatu his kinsmen called Scacati, vnto whom my
lord the Emperor of Constantinople had written letters of request to suffer
me to passe through his territory. With this answere of ours they were
satisfied, giuing vs horses and oxen, and two men to conduct vs. Howbeit
before they would allow vs the foresayd neccessaries for our iorney, they
made vs to awayt a long whyle, begging our bread for their yong brats,
wondering at all things which they sawe about our seruants, as their
kniues, gloues, purses, and points, and desiring to haue them. I excused my
self that we had a long way to trauel, and that we must in no wise so soon
depriue our selues of things necessary, to finish so long a iourney. Then
they said that I was a very varlet. True it is, that they tooke nothing by
force from me: howbeit they will beg that which they see very importunatly
and shamelesly. And if a man bestow ought vpon them, it is but cost lost,
for they are thankles wretches. They esteeme themselues lords and think
that nothing should be denied them by any man. If a man giues them nought,
and afterward stands in neede of their seruice, they will do right nought
for him. They gaue vs of their cowes milke to drink after that butter was
cherned out of it, being very sower, which they cal Apram. And so we
departed from them. And in very deed it seemed to me that we were escaped
out of the hands of diuels. On the morrow we were come vnto the captain.
From the time wherin we departed from Soldaia, till we arriued at the court
of Sartach, which was the space of two moneths, we neuer lay in house or
tent, but alwaies vnder the starry canopy, and in the open aire, or vnder
our carts. Neither yet saw we any village, nor any mention of building
where a village had bin, but the graues of the Comanians in great
abundance. The same euening our guide which had conducted vs, gaue vs some
Cosmos. After I had drunke thereof I sweat most extreamly for the nouelty
and strangenes, because I neuer dranke of it before. Notwithstanding me
thought it was very sauory, as indeed it was.
De curia Scacatay, et quod Christiani non bibunt cosmos. Cap. 12.
Mane ergo obuiauimus bigis Scacatay onustis domibus. Et videbatur mihi quod
obuiaret mihi ciuitas magna. Mirabar etiam super multitudine armentorum
boum et equorum et gregum ouium: paucos videbam homines qui ista
gubernarent; vnde inquisiui quot homines haberet sub se? et dictum fuit
mihi, quod non plusquam quingentos, quorum medietatem transiueramus in alia
herbergia. Tunc incepit mihi dicere garcio qui ducebat nos, quod aliquid
oporteret Scacatay dare: et ipse fecit nos stare, et præcessit nuncians
aduentum nostrum. Iam erat hora plusquam tertia, et deposuerunt domos suas
iuxta quondam aquam. Et venit ad nos interpres ipsius, qui statim cognito,
quod nunquam fueramus inter illos, poposcit de cibis nostris, et dedimus
ei, poscebat etiam vestimentum aliquod, quia dicturas erat verbum nostrum
ante dominum suum. Excusauimus nos. Quæsiuit quid portaremus domino suo?
Accepimus vnum flasconem de vino, et impleuimus vnum veringal de biscocto
et platellum vnum de pomis et aliis fructibus. Sed non placebat ei, quia
non ferebamos aliquem pannum pretiosum. Sic tamen ingressi sumus cum timore
et verecundia. Sedebat ipse in lecto suo tenens citharulam in manu, et vxor
sua iuxta eum: de qua credebam in veritate, quod amputasset sibi nasum
inter oculos vt simior esset: nihil enim habebat ibi de naso, et vnxerat
locum ilium quodam vnguento nigro, et etiam supercilia: quod erat
turpissimum in oculis nostris. Tunc dixi ei verba supradicta. [Sidenote:
Nota diligenter.] Vbique enim aportebat nos dicere idem verbum. Super hoc
enim eramus bene præmoniti ab illis qui fuerant inter illos, quod nunquam
mutaremus verba nostra. Rogaui etiam eum vt dignaretur accipere munusculum
de manu nostra, excusans me, quia monachus eram, nec erat ordinis nostri
possidere aurum, vel argentum, vel vestes preciosas. Vnde non habebam
aliquid talium, quod possem ei dare: sed de cibis nostris acciperet pro
benedictione. Tunc fecit recipi, et distribuit statim hominibus suis qui
conuenerant ad potandum. Dedi etiam ei literas Imperatoris
Constantinopolitani: (Hoc fuit in octauis ascensionis). Qui statim eas
Soldaiam misit vt ibi interpretarentur: quia erant in Græco, nec habebat
secum qui sciret literas Græcas. Quæsiuit etiam à nobis, si vellemus bibere
cosmos, hoc est, lac iumentinum. Christiani enim Ruteni, Græci, et Alani,
qui sunt inter eos, qui volunt stricte custodire legem suam, non bibunt
illud: Imo non reputant se Christianos postquam biberunt. Et sacerdotes
eorum reconciliant eos, tanquam negassent fidem Christianam. Ego respondi,
quod habebamus adhuc sufficienter ad bibendum: et cum ille potus deficeret
nobis, oporteret nos bibere illud, quod daretur nobis. Quæsiuit etiam quid
contineretur in literis nostris, quas mittebatis Sartach. Dixi quod clausæ
erant bullæ nostræ; et quod non erant in eis nisi bona verba et amicabilia.
Quæsiuit et quæ verba diceremus Sartach? Respondi, Verba fidei Christianæ.
Quæsiuit quæ? Quia libenter vellet audire. Tunc exposui ei prout potui per
interpretem meum, qui nullius erat ingenij, nec alicuius eloquentiæ,
symbolum fidei. Quo audito, ipse tacuit et mouit caput. Tunc assignauit
nobis duos homines, qui nos custodirent, et equos et boues: et fecit nos
bigare secum, donec reuerteretur nuncius, quem ipse miserat pro
interpretatione, literarum imperatoris; et iuimus cum eo vsque in crastinum
Pentecostes.
The same in English.
Of the court of Scacatai: and how the Christians drinke no Cosmos. Chap.
12.
On the morrowe after we met with the cartes of Scacatai laden with houses,
and me thought that a mighty citie came to meete me. I wondered also at the
great multitude of huge droues of oxen, and horses, and at the flockes of
sheepe. I could see but a fewe men that guided all these matters: whereupon
I inquired how many men he had vnder him, and they told me that he had not
aboue 500. in all, the one halfe of which number we were come past, as they
lay in another lodging. Then the seruant which was our guide told me, that
I must present somwhat vnto Scacatay: and so he caused vs to stay, going
himselfe before to giue notice of our comming. By this time it was past
three of the clocke, and they vnladed their houses nere vnto a certain
water: And there came vnto vs his interpreter, who being aduertised by vs
that wee were neuer there before, demanded some of our victuals, and we
yeelded vnto his request. Also he required of vs some garment for a reward,
because he was to interpret our sayings vnto his master. Howbeit we excused
our selues as well as wee could. Then he asked vs, what we would present
vnto his Lord? And we tooke a flagon of wine, and filled a maund with
bisket, and a platter with apples and other fruits. But he was not
contented therewith, because we brought him not some rich garment.
Notwithstanding we entred so into his presence with feare and bashfulnes.
He sate vpon his bed holding a citron in his hand, and his wife sate by
him: who (as I verily thinke) had cut and pared her nose betweene the eyes,
that she might seeme to be more flat and saddle-nosed: for she had left her
selfe no nose at all in that place, hauing annointed the very same place
with a black ointment, and her eye browes also: which sight seemed most
vgly in our eies. Then I rehearsed vnto him the same wordes, which I had
spoken in other places before. For it stoode vs in hand to vse one and the
same speech in all places. [Sidenote: A caueat right worthy the noting.]
For we were wel forewarned of this circumstance by some which had been
amongst the Tartars, that we should neuer varie in our tale. Then I
besought him, that he would vochsafe to accept that small gifte at our
hands, excusing my selfe that I was a Monke, and that it was against our
profession to possesse gold, or siluer, or precious garments, and therefore
that I had not any such thing to giue him, howbeit he should receiue some
part of our victuals instead of a blessing. Hereupon he caused our present
to be receiued, and immediately distributed the same among his men, who
were mette together for the same purpose, to drinke and make merrie. I
deliuered also vnto him the Emperor of Constantinople his letters (this was
eight dayes after the feast of Ascension) who sent them forthwith to
Soldaia to haue them interpreted there: for they were written in Greeke,
and he had none about him that was skilfulle in the Greeke tongue. He asked
vs also whether we would drink any Cosmos, that is to say mares milke? (For
those that are Christians among them, as namely the Russians, Grecians, and
Alanians, who keep their own law very strictly, wil in no case drinke
thereof, yea, they accompt themselues no Christians after they haue once
drunke of it, and their priests reconcile them vnto the Church as if they
had renounced the Christian faith.) I gaue him answere, that we had as yet
sufficient of our owne to drinke, and that when our drinke failed vs, we
must be constrained to drink such as should be giuen vnto vs. He enquired
also what was contained in our letters, which your Maiestie sent vnto
Sartach? I answered: that they were sealed vp, and that there was nothing
conteined in them, but good and friendly wordes. And he asked what wordes
wee would deliuer vnto Sartach? I answered: the words of Christian faith.
He asked again what these words were? For he was very desirous to heare
them. Then I expounded vnto him as well as I could, by mine interpretor,
(who had no wit nor any vtterance of speech) the Apostles creed. Which
after he had heard, holding his peace, he shooke his head. Then hee
assigned vnto vs two men, who shoulde giue attendance vpon our selues, vpon
our horses, and vpon our Oxen. And hee caused vs to ride in his companie,
till the messenger whome hee had sent for the interpretation of the
Emperours letters, was returned. And so wee traueiled in his companie till
the morowe after Pentecost.
Qualiter Alani venerunt ad eos in vigilia pentecostes. Cap. 13.
In vigilia Pentecostes venerunt ad nos quidam Alani, qui ibi dicuntur
[Marginal note: Vel Akas.] Acias, Christiani secundum ritum Græcorum;
habentes literas Græcas et sacerdotes Græcos: tamen non sunt schismatici
sicut Græci; sed sine acceptione personarum venerantur omnem Christianum:
et detulerunt nobis carnes coctas, rogantes vt comedremus de cibo eorum, et
oraremus pro quodam defuncto eorum. Tunc dixi quod vigilia erat tantæ
solennitatis, quod illa die non comederemus carnes. Et exposui eis de
solennitate, super quo fuerunt multum gauisi; quia omnia ignorabant quæ
spectant ad ritum Christianum, solo nomine Christi excepto. Quæsiuerunt et
ipsi et alij multi Christiani, Ruteni et Hungari, vtrum possent saluari,
quia oportebat eos bibere cosmos, et comedere morticinia et interfecta à
Saracenis et alijs infidelibus: quæ etiam ipsi Græci et Ruteni sacerdotes
reputant quasi morticinia vel idolis immolata: quia ignorabant tempora
ieiunij: nec poterant custodire etiam si cognouissent. Tunc rectificabar
eos prout potui, docens et confortans in fide. Carnes quas detulerant
reseruauimus vsque ad diem festum: nihil enim inueniebamus venale pro auro
et argento, nisi pro telis et alijs [Marginal note: Nota diligentissime.]
pannis: et illos non habebamus. Quum famuli nostri offerebant eis
ipperpera, ipsi fricabant digitis, et ponebant ad nares, vt odore,
sentirent, vtrum essent cuprum. Nec dabant nobis cibum nisi lac vaccinum
acre valde et foetidum. Vinum iam deficiebat nobis. Aqua ita turbabatur ab
equis, quod non erat potabilis. Nisi fuisset biscoctum quod habebamus, et
gratia Dei, forte fuissemus mortui.
The same in English.
Howe the Alanians came vnto vs on Pentecost or Whitson euen. Chap. 13.
Vpon the euen of Pentecost, there came vnto vs certaine Alanians, wno are
called [Marginal note: Or Akas.] Acias, being Christians after the maner of
the Grecians, vsing greeke bookes and Grecian priests: howbeit they are not
schismatiques as the Grecians are, but without acception of persons, they
honour al Christians. And they brought vnto vs sodden flesh, requesting vs
to eat of their meat, and to pray for one of their company being dead. Then
I sayd, because it was the euen of so great and so solemne a feast day,
that we would not eate any flesh for that time. And I expounded vnto them
the solemnitie of the sayd feast, whereat they greatly reioyced: for they
were ignorant of all things appertayning to Christian religion, except only
the name of Christ. They and many other Christians, both Russians, and
Hungarians demanded of vs, whether they might be saued or no, because they
were constrained to drinke Cosmos, and to eate the dead carkases of such
things, as were slaine by the Saracens, and other infidels? Which euen the
Greeke and Russian priests themselues also esteeme as things strangled or
offered vnto idoles: because they were ignorant of the times of fasting,
neither could they haue obserued them albeit they had knowen them. Then
instructed I them as well as I could and strengthened them in the faith. As
for the flesh which they had brought we reserued it vntill the feast day.
[Sidenote: Cloth is the chiefe marchandise in Tartarie.] For there was
nothing to be sold among the Tartars for gold and siluer, but only for
cloth and garments of the which kind of marchandise wee had none at all.
When our seruants offered them any coine called Yperpera, they rubbed it
with their fingers, and put it vnto their noses, to try by the smell
whether it were copper or no. Neither did they allow vs any foode but cowes
milke onely which was very sowre and filthy. There was one thing most
necessary greatly wanting vnto vs. For the water was so foule and muddy by
reason of their horses, that it was not meete to be drunk. And but for
certaine bisket, which was by the goodnes of God remaining vnto vs, we had
vndoubtedly perished.
De Saraceno qui dixit se velle baptizari, et de hominibus qui apparent
leprosi. Cap. 14.
In die pentecostes venit ad nos quidam Saracenus, qui cum loqueretur
nobiscum, incepimus exponere fidem. Qui audiens beneficia Dei exhibita
humano generi in incarnatione Christi, et resurrectionem mortuorum, et
indicium futurum, et quod ablutio peccatorum esset in baptismo: dixit se
velle baptizari. Et cum pararemus nos ad baptizandum eum, ipse subito
ascendit equum suum, dicens se iturum domum et habiturum consilium cum
vxore sua. Qui in crastino loquens nobiscum, dixit quod nullo modo auderet
accipere baptisma, quia tunc non biberet cosmos. Christiani enim illius
loci hoc dicebant, quod nullus verus Christianus deberet bibere: et sine
potu illo non posset viuere in solitudine illa. A qua opinione nullo modo
potui diuertere illum. Vnde noueritis pro certo quod multum elongantur à
fide propter illam opinionem quæ iam viguit inter illos per Rutenos, quorum
maxima multitude est inter eos. Illa die dedit nobis ille capitaneus vnum
hominem, qui nos deduceret vsque ad Sartach et duos qui ducerent nos vsque
ad proximam herbergiam; quæ inde distabat quinque dietas prout boues
poterant ire. Dederunt etiam nobis vnam capram pro cibo et plures vtres
lactis vaccini, et de cosmos parum: quia illud preciosum est inter illos.
Et sic arripientes iter recte in aquilonem, visum fuit mihi quod vnam
portam inferni transissemus. Garciones qui ducebant nos, incipiebant nobis
audacter furari, quia videbant nos parum cautos. Tandem amissis pluribus
vexatio dabat nobis intellectum Peruenimus tandem ad extremitatem illius
prouincæ, quæ clauditur vno fossato ab vno mari vsque ad aliud: extra quam
erat herbergia eorum apud quos intrassemus: videbantur nobis leprosi omnes:
[Sidenote: Salinæ.] quia erant viles homines ibi collocati, vt reciperent
tributum ab accipientibus sal a salinis superius dictis. Ab illo loco, vt
dicebant, oportebat nos ambulare quindecim diebus, quibus non inueniremus
populum. Cum illis bibimus cosmos: et dedimus illis vnum veringal plenum
fructibus et panem biscoctum. [Sidenote: Decem dietæ.] Qui dederunt nobis
octo boues, vnam captram pro tanto itinere, et nescio quot vtres plenos
lacte vaccino. Sic mutatis bobus arripuimus iter, quod perfecimus decem
diebus vsque ad aliam herbergiam: nec inuenimus aquam in ilia via nisi in
fossis in conuallibus factis, exceptis duobus paruis fluminibus. Et
tendebamus rectè in orientem ex quo exiuimus prædictam prouinciam Gasariæ,
habentes mare ad meridiem et vastam solitudinem ad aquilonem: quæ durat per
viginti dietas alicubi in latitudine; In qua nulla est sylua, nullus mons,
nullus lapis. Herba est optima. In hac solebant pascere Comani, qui
dicuntur Capchat. A Teutonicis verò dicuntur Valani, et prouincia Valania.
Ab Isidoro vero dicitur à flumine Tanai vsque ad paludes Meotidis et
Danubium Alania. Et durat ista terra in longitudine à Danubio vsque Tanaim;
qui est terminus Asiæ; et Europæ, itinere duorum mensium velociter
equitando prout equitant Tartari: [Sidenote: Comania longitudo.] Quæ tota
inhabitabatur à Comanis Capchat, et etiam vltra à Tanai vsque [Marginal
note: Etilia quæ et Volga flumen.] Etiliam: Inter quæ flumina sunt decem
diete magnæ. [Sidenote: Russia.] Ad aquilonem verò istius prouinciæ iacet
Russia, quæ vbique syluas habet, et protenditur à Polonia et Hungaria vsque
Tanaim: quæ tota vastata est à Tartaris, et adhuc quotidie vastatur.
Præponunt enim Rutenis, quia sunt Christiani, Saracenos: et cum non possunt
amplius dare aurum vel argentum, ducunt eos et paruulos eorum tanquam
greges ad solitudinem vt custodiant animalia eorum. [Sidenote: Prussia.]
Vltra Russiam ad aquilonem est Prussia, quam nuper subiugauerunt totam
fratres Teutonici. Et certe de facili acquierent Russiam, si apponerent
manum. Si enim Tartari audirent, quod magnus sacerdos, hoc est, Papa
faceret cruce signari contra eos, omnes fugerunt ad solitudines suas.
The same in English.
Of a Saracen which said that he would be baptized: and of certaine men
which seemed to be lepers. Chap. 14.
Vpon the day of Pentecost there came vnto vs a certain Saracen, vnto whome,
as hee talked with vs, we expounded the Christian faith. Who (hearing of
God's benefits exhibited vnto mankind by the incarnation of our Sauior
Christ, and the resurrection of the dead, and the iudgement to come, and
that in baptisme was a washing away of sinnes) sayd that hee would be
baptized. But when we prepared our selues to the baptising of him, he
suddenly mounted on horsebacke, saying that he would goe home and consult
with his wife what were best to be done. And on the morrow after he told
vs, that he durst in no case receiue baptisme, because then he should
drinke no more Cosmos. For the Christians of that place affirme that no
true Christians ought to drinke thereof: and that without the said liquor
he could not liue in that desert From which opinion, I could not for my
life remoue him. Wherefore be it knowen of a certainty vnto your highnes,
that they are much estranged from the Christian faith by reason of that
opinion which hath bin broached and confirmed among them by the Russians,
of whom there is a great multitude in that place. The same day Scacatay the
captaine aforesayd gaue vs one man to conduct vs to Sartach, and two other
to guide vs vnto the next lodging, which was distant from that place fiue
dayes iourney for oxen to trauell. They gaue vnto vs also a goate for
victuals, and a great many bladders of cowes milke, and but a little
Cosmos, because it is of so great estimation among them. And so taking our
iourney directly toward the North, me thought that wee had passed through
one of hell gates. The seruants which conducted vs began to play the bold
theeues with vs, seeing vs take so little heed vnto our selues. At length
hauing lost much by their theeuery, harme taught vs wisdome. And then we
came vnto the extremity of that prouince, which is fortified with a ditch
from one sea vnto another: without the bounds wherof their lodging was
situate. Into the which, so soone as we had entred, al the inhabitants
there seemed vnto vs to be infected with leprosie: [Sidenote: Salt pits.]
for certain base fellowes were placed there to receiue tribute of al such
as tooke salt out of the salt pits aforesaid. From that place they told vs
that we must trauel fifteen daies iourney, before we shuld find any other
people. With them wee dranke Cosmos, and gaue vnto them a basket full of
fruites and of bisket. And they gaue vnto vs eight oxen and one goate, to
sustaine vs in so great a iourney, and I knowe not how many bladders of
milke. [Sidenote: Ten dayes iorney.] And so changing our oxen, we tooke our
iourney which we finished in tenne dayes, arriuing at another lodging:
neither found wee any water all that way, but onely in certane ditches made
in the valleys, except two small riuers. And from the time wherein wee
departed out of the foresaid prouince of Gasaria, we trauailed directly
Eastward, hauing a Sea on the South side of vs, and a waste desert on the
North, which desert, in some places, reacheth twenty dayes iourney in
breadth, and there is neither tree, mountaine, nor stone therein. And it is
most excellent pasture. Here the Comanians, which were called Capthac, were
wont to feede their cattell. Howbeit by the Dutch men they are called
Valani, and the prouince it selfe Valania. [Sidenote: The length of
Comania.] But Isidore calleth all that tract of land stretching from the
riuer of Tanais to the lake of Mæotis, and so along as farre as Danubius,
the countrey of Alania. And the same land contunueth in length from
Danubius vnto Tanais (which diuideth Asia from Europe) for the space of two
moneths iourney, albeit a man should ride poste as fast as the Tartars vse
to ride: and it was all ouer inhabited by the Comanians, called Capthac:
yea and beyond Tanais, as farre as the riuer Edil or Volga: the space
betweene the two which riuers is a great and long iourney to bee trauailed
in ten dayes. [Sidenote: Russia.] To the North of the same prouince lieth
Russia, which is full of wood in all places, and stretcheth from Polonia
and Hungaria, euen to the riuer of Tanais: and it hath bene wasted all ouer
by the Tartars, and as yet is daily wasted by them. They preferre the
Saracens before the Russians, because they are Christians, and when they
are able to giue them no more golde or siluer, they driue them and their
children like flockes of sheepe into the wildernes, constraining them to
keepe their cattell there. [Sidenote: Prussia.] Beyond Russia lieth the
countrey of Prussia, which the Dutch knights of the order of Saint Maries
hospitall of Ierusalem haue of late wholly conquered and subdued. And in
very deede they might easily winne Russia, if they would put to their
helping hand. For if the Tartars should but once know, that the great
Priest, that is to say, the Pope did cause the ensigne of the crosse to bee
displaied against them, they would flee all into their desert and solitarie
places. [Footnote: There is some confusion in original edition, which I
have here corrected.]
De tedijs quæ patiebantur, et de sepultura Comanorum. Cap. 15.
Ibamus ergo versus orientem, nihil videntes nisi coelum et terram, et
aliquando mare ad dextram, quod dicitur Mare Tanais, et etiam sepulturas
Comanorum, quæ apparebant nobis à duabus leucis secundum quod solebant
parentelæ eorum sepeliri simul. Quam diu eramus in solitudine bene erat
nobis: quòd tædium quod patiebar quum veniebamus ad mansiones eorum non
possem exprimere verbis. Volebat enim dux noster, quod ad quoslibet
capitaneos ingrederer cum xenio: et ad hoc non sufficiebant expensæ.
Quotidie enim eramus octo personæ comedentes viaticum nostrum exceptis
seruientibus, qui omnes volebant comedere nobiscum. Nos enim eramus
quinqui, et ipsi tres qui ducebant nos: duo ducentes bigas, et vnus iturus
nobiscum vsque ad Sartach. Carnes quas dabant non sufficiebant; nec
inueniebamus aliquid venale pro moneta. [Sidenote: Calor maximus ibi in
æstate.] Et cum sedebamus sub bigis notris pro vmbra, quia calor erat ibi
maximus illo tempore, ipsi ita importune ingerebant se nobis, quod
conculcabant nos, volentes omnia nostra videre. Si arripiebat eos appetitus
purgandi ventrem, non elongabant se à nobis, quam possit faba iactari. Imo
iuxta nos colloquentes mutuò faciebant immunditias suas: et multa alia
faciebant quæ erant supra modum tædiosa. Super omnia grauabat me, quod cum
volebam dicere eis aliquod verbum ædificationis, interpres meus dicebat,
non facietis me prædicare: quia nescio talia verba dicere. Et verum
dicebat. Ego enim perpendi postea, quum incepi aliquantulum intelligere
idioma, quod quum dicebam vnum, ipse totum aliud dicebat, secundum quod ei
occurrebat. Tunc videns periculum loquendi per ipsum, elegi magis facere.
[Sidenote: Tanais fluuius.] Ambulauimus ergo cum magno labore de mansione
in mansionem: ita quod paucis diebus ante festum beatæ Mariæ Magdalenæ veni
ad fluuium magnum Tanais: qui diuidit Asiam ab Europa, sicut Nilus fluuius
Ægypti, Asiam ab Africa. [Sidenote: Casale Rutenorum.] In illo loco quo
applicuimus fecerunt Baatu et Sartach fieri quoddam casale de Rutenis in
ripa orientali, qui transferant nuncios et mercatores cum nauiculis. Ipsi
transtulerunt nos primo et postea bigas ponentes vnam rotam in vna barca et
aliam in alia, ligantes barcas ad inuicem; et sic remigantes transibant.
Ibi egit dux noster valde stulte. Ipse enim credebat, quod illi de casali
deberent nobis ministrare equos, et dimisit animalia quæ adduxeramus in
alia biga, vt redirent ad dominos suos. Et quum postulauimus ab eis
animalia, ipsi respondebant quod habebant priuilegium à Baatu, quod non
tenerentur ad aliud, nisi transferre euntes et redeuntes: etiam à
mercatoribus accipiebant magnum tributum. Stetimus ergo ibi in ripa
fluminis tribus diebus. Prima die dederunt nobis magnam borbatam recentem:
secunda die panem de siligine et parum de carnibus, quas acceperat
procurator villæ ostiatim per diuersas domos. [Sidenote: Latitudo Tanais.]
Tertia die pisces siccos, quos habent ibi in magna multitudine. Fluuius
ille erat ibi tantæ latitudinus, quantæ est Sequana Parisijis. Et antequam
peruenissemus ad locum illum, transiuimus multas aquas pulcherrimas et
piscosissimas: Sed Tartari nesciunt eos capere, nec curant de pisce nisi
sit ita magnus, quod possunt comedere carnes eius, sicut carnes arietinas.
[Sidenote: Oceanus.] Ille fluuius est terminus Orientalis Russiæ; et oritur
de paludibus quæ pertingunt ad Oceanum ad aquilonem. Fluuius vero currit ad
meridiem in quoddam magnum Mare septingentorum millium, antequam pertingat
ad Mare Ponti: Et omnes aquæ quas transiuimus vadunt ad illas partes. Habet
etiam prædictum flumen magnam syluam in ripa Occidentali. Vltra locum illum
non ascendunt Tartari versus Aquilonem: quia tunc temporis [Marginal note:
Ad introitum Augusti redeunt ad meridiem.] circa introitum Augusti
incipiunt redire versus meridiem. Vnde aliud est casale inferius vbi
transeunt nuncij tempore hyemali. Eramus igitur ibi in magna angustia, quia
nec equos nec baues inueniebamus pro pecunia. Tandem postquam ostendi eis,
quod laboraui pro communi vtilitate omnium Christianorum, accommodauerunt
nobis boues et homines: nos autem oportebat ire pedibus. Tunc temporis
metebant siliginem: triticum non proficiebat ibi bene. Milium habent in
magna copia. Mulieres Rutenæ ornant capita sicut nostræ. Supertunicalia sua
exterius ornant vario vel grisio a pedibus vsque ad genua. Homines portant
capas sicut Teutonici: sed in capite portant pileos de filtro acutos in
summitate longo acumine. Ambulauimus ergo tribus diebus non inuenientes
populum. Et cum essemus valde fatigati et boues similiter, nec sciremus
quorsum possemus Tartaros inuenire, accurrerunt subito duo equi, quos
recepimus cum gaudio magno, et ascenderunt eos dux noster et interpres, vt
specularentur quorsum possemus populum inuenire. Tandem quarta die inuentis
hominibus gauisi sumus tanquam naufragi venientes ad portum. Tunc acceptis
equis et bobus iuimus de mansione ad mansionem donec peruenimus vsque ad
herbergiam Sartach secundo Calendas Augusti.
The same in English.
Of our afflictions which we sustained: and of the Comanians maner of
buriall. Chap. 15.
We therefore went on towards the East, seeing nothing but heauen and earth,
and sometimes the sea on our right hand, called the Sea of Tanais, and the
sepulchres of the Comanians, which appeared vnto vs two leagues off, in
which places they were wont to burie their kinred altogether. So long as we
were trauelling through the desert, it went reasonably well with vs. For I
cannot sufficiently expresse in words the irkesome and tedious troubles
which I susteined, when I came at any of their places of abode. For our
guide would haue vs goe in vnto euery Captaine with a present, and our
expenses would not extend so farre. For we were euery day eight persons of
vs spending our waifaring prouision, for the Tartars seruants would all of
them eate of our victuals. We ourselues were fiue in number, and the
seruants our guides were three, two to driue our carts, and one to conduct
vs vnto Sartach. The flesh which they gaue vs was not sufficient for vs:
neither could we finde any thing to be bought for our money. [Sidenote:
Extreme heate in Sommer.] And as we sate vnder our carts in the coole
shadowe, by reason of the extreame and vehement heate which was there at
that time, they did so importunately and shamelesly intrude themselues into
our companie, that they would euen tread vpon vs, to see whatsoeuer things
we had. Hauing list at any time to ease themselues, the filthy lozels had
not the maners to withdrawe themselues farther from vs, then a beane can
bee cast. Yea, like vile slouens they would lay their tailes in our
presence, while they were yet talking with vs: many other things they
committed, which were most tedious and loathsome vnto vs. But aboue all
things it grieued me to the very heart, that when I would vtter ought vnto
them, which might tend to their edification, my foolish interpreter would
say: you shall not make me become a Preacher now: I tell you, I cannot nor
I will not rehearse any such wordes. And true it was which he saide, For I
perceiued afterward, when I began to haue a little smattering in the
language, that when I spake one thing, he would say quite another,
whatsoeuer came next vnto his witlesse tongues end. [Sidenote: Tanaia.]
Then seeing the danger I might incurre in speaking by such an interpreter,
I resolued much rather to holde my peace, and thus we traiueiled with great
toile from lodging to lodging, till at the length, a fewe dayes before the
feast of Saint Marie Magdalene, we arriued at the banke of the mightie
riuer Tanais which diuideth Asia from Europa, euen as the riuer Nilus of
Ægypt disioyneth Asia from Africa. At the same place where wee arriued,
Baatu and Sartach did cause a certaine cottage to be built, vpon the
Easterne bankeof of the riuer, for a companie of Russians to dwelle in to
the ende they might transport Ambassadoors and merchants in ferrie-boates
ouer that part of the riuer. First they ferried vs ouer, and then our
carts, putting one wheele into one lyter, and the other wheele into another
lyter, hauing bounde both the lyters together, and so they rowe them ouer.
In this place our guide played the foole most extreamely. For hee imagining
that the said Russians, dwelling in the cottage, should haue prouided vs
horses, sent home the beasts which we brought with vs, in another cart,
that they might returne ynto their owne masters. And when we demanded to
haue some beasts of them, they answered, that they had a priuiledge from
Baatu, whereby they were bound to none other seruice, but only to ferry
ouer goers and commers: and that they receiued great tribute of marchants
in regard therof. We staied therfore by the said riuers side three daies.
The first day they gaue vnto vs a great fresh turbut: the second day they
bestowed rye bread, and a litle flesh vpon vs, which the purueyer of the
village had taken vp at euerie house for vs: and the third day dried
fishes, which they haue there in great abundance. [Sidenote: The breadth of
Tanaia.] The saide riuer was euen as broad in that place, as the riuer of
the Sein is at Paris. And before we came there, we passed ouer many goodly
waters, and full of fish: howbeit the Barbarous and rude Tartars know not
how to take them: neither do they make any reckoning of any fish, except it
be so great, that they may pray vpon the flesh thereof, as vpon the flesh
of a ram. [Sidenote: He is much deceiued.] The riuer is the limite of the
East part of Russia, and it springeth out of the fennes of Mæotis, which
fennes stretch vnto the North Ocean. And it runneth Southward into a
certain great sea 700. miles about before it falleth into the sea called
Pontus Euximus. And al the riuers, which we passed ouer, ran with ful
stream into those quarters. The foresaid riuer hath great store of wood
also growing vpon the West side thereof. [Sidenote: About the beginning of
August, the Tartars returne southward.] Beyond this place the Tartars
ascend no farther vnto the North: for at that season of the yeere, about
the first of August, they begin to returne backe vnto the South. And
therefore there is another cottage somewhat lower, where passengers are
ferried ouer in Winter time. And in this place wee were driuen to great
extremitie, by reason that we could get neither horses, nor oxen, for any
money. At length, after I had declared vnto them, that my comming was to
labour for the common good of all Christians, they sent vs oxen and men;
howbeit we our selues were faine to trauel on foote. At this time they were
reaping their rye. Wheat prospereth not wel in that soile. They haue the
seede of Millium in great abundance. The Russian women attire their heads
like vnto our women. They imbroder their safegards or gowns on the outside,
from their feet vnto their knees with particoloured or grey stuffe. The
Russian men weare caps like vnto the Dutch men. Also they weare vpon their
heads certain sharpe, and high crowned hats made of felt much like vnto a
sugar loafe. Then traueiled we 3. daies together, not finding any people.
And when our selues and our oxen were exceeding weary and faint, not
knowing how far off we should find any Tartars, on the sudden, there came
two horses running towards vs, which we tooke with great ioy, and our guide
and interpreter mounted vpon their backes, to see, how far off they could
descry any people. At length vpon the fourth day of our iourney, hauing
found some inhabitants, we reioyced like sea faring men, which had escaped
out of a dangerous tempest, and had newly recouered the hauen. Then hauing
taken fresh horses, and oxen, we passed on from lodging to lodging, till at
the last, vpon the second of the Kalends of August, we arriued at the
habitation of Duke Sartach himselfe.
De regione Sartach, et de gentibus illius. Cap. 16.
Regio ista vltra Tanaim est pulcherrima, habens flumina et syluas
aquilonem. Sunt syluæ maximæ, quas inhabitant duo genera hominum: Moxel
scilicet, qui sunt sine lege, puri pagani. Ciuitatem non habent sed casulas
in syluis. Dominus eorum et magna pars eorum fuerunt interfecti in
Alemania. Tartari enim dux erant eos ad introitum Alemaniæ. Vnde ipsi
multum commendant Alemanos, sperantes quod adhuc liberabuntur per eos à
seruitute Tartarorum. Si mercator veniat ad eos, oportet quod ille apud
quem primo descendit prouideat ei quamdiu vult esse inter eos. Si quis
dormiat cum vxore alterius, ille non curat nisi videat proprijs oculis:
vnde non sum Zelotypi. Abundant apud eos porei, mel, et cera, pelles
preciosæ, et falcones. [Sidenote: Merdui Saraceni.] Post illos sunt alij
qui dicuntur Merdas, quos latini vocant Merduos, et sunt Saraceni. Post
illos est [Marginal note: vel Volga fluuius.] Etilia, quæ est maior
fiuuius, quam vnquam viderim: et venit ab Aquilone de maiori Bulgaria
tendens ad meridiem: et cadit in quendam lacum habentum spacium quatuor
mensium in circuitu, de quo postea dicam vobis. Ista ergo duo flumina
Tanais et Etilia versus regiones Aquilonis per quas transiuimus non distant
ab inuicem nisi decem dietis, sed ad meridiem multum diuiduntur ab inuicem.
Tanais enim descendit in Mare Ponti: Etilia facit prædictum Mare siue
lacum, cum alijs multis fluminibus, qua cadunt in ilium de Perside.
Habebamus autem ad meridiem montes maximos in quibus habitant in lateribus
versus solitudinem illam Cergis et Alani siue [Marginal note: Kerkis. vel
Aais.] Acas, qui sunt Christiani et adhuc pugnant contra Tartaros.
[Sidenote: Lesgi Saraceni.] Post istos prope Mare siue lacum Etiliæ sunt
quidam Saraceni qui dicuntur Lesgi, qui similiter obediunt. Post hos est
Porta ferrea, quam fecit Alexander ad excludendas Barbaras gentes de
Perside; de cuius situ dicam vobis postea, [Marginal note: Reditus eius per
Derbent.] quia transiui per eam in reditu. Et inter ista duo flumina in
illis terris per quas transiuimus habitabant Comani antequam Tartari
occuparent eas.
The same in English.
Of the dominion of Sartach, and of his Subiects. Chap. 16.
The region lying beyond Tanais, is a very goodly countrey, hauing store of
riuers and woods toward the North part thereof. There be mighty huge woods
which two sorts of people do inhabite. [Sidenote: The people of Moxel are
Pagans.] One of them is called Moxel, being meere Pagans, and without law.
They haue neither townes nor cities, but only cottages in the woods. Their
lord and a great part of themselues were put to the sword in high Germanie.
Whereupon they highly commend the braue courage of the Almans, hoping as
yet to be deliuered out of the bondage of the Tartars, by their meanes. If
any merchant come vnto them, he must prouide things necessary for him, with
whom he is first of all enterteined, all the time of his abode among them.
If any lieth with another mans wife, her husband, vnles he be an eiewitnes
therof, regardeth it not: for they are not ielous ouer their wiues. They
haue abundance of hogs, and great store of hony and waxe, and diuers sorts
of rich and costly skins, and plentie of falcons. [Sidenote: The people
called Merdui being Saracens.] Next vnto them are other people called
Merclas, which the Latines cal Merdui, and they are Saracens. Beyond them
is the riuer of Etilia or Volga, which is the mightiest riuer that euer I
saw. And it issueth from the North part of Bulgaria the greater, and so
trending along Southward, disimboqueth into a certain lake containing in
circuit the space of 4. moneths trauel, whereof I will speak hereafter.
[Sidenote: The circuite of the Caspian sea.] The two foresaid riuers,
namely Tanais and Etilia, otherwise called Volga, towards the Northren
regions through the which we traueiled, are not distant asunder aboue x.
daies iourney, but Southward they are diuided a great space one from
another. For Tanais descendeth into the sea of Pontus. Etitilia maketh the
foresaid sea or lake, with the help of many other riuers which fal therinto
out of Persia. [Sidenote: Kergis or Asa.] And we had to the South of vs
huge high mountains, vpon the sides wherof, towards the said desert, doe
the people called Cergis, and the Alani or Acas inhabit, who are as yet
Christians, and wage warre against the Tartars. [Sidenote: The Saracens
called Lesgi.] Beyond them, next vnto the sea or lake of Etilia, there are
certaine Saracens called Lesgi, who are in subiection vnto the Tartars.
Beyond these is Porta ferrea, or the yron gate, nowe called Derbent, which
Alexander built to exclude the barbarous nations out of Persia. [Sidenote:
He returneth by Derbent.] Concerning the situation whereof, your maiestie
shall vnderstand more about the end of this Treatise: for I trauailed in my
returne by the very same place. Betweene the two foresaid riuers, in the
regions through the which we passed did Comanians of olde time inhabite,
before they were ouerrun by the Tartars.
De Curia Sartach et de gloria eius. Cap. 17.
Inuenimus ergo Sartach prope Etiliam per tres dietas: cuius curia valde
magna videbatur nobis: quia habet sex vxores, et filius eius primogenitus
iuxta eum duas vel tres: et quælibet habet domum magnam et bigas forte
ducentas. [Sidenote: Coiat Nestorinus.] Accessit autem doctor noster ad
quendam Nestorinum Coiat nomine, qui est vnus de maioribus Curiæ suæ. Ille
fecit nos ire valde longe ad domini Iannam. Ita vocant illum qui habet
officium recipiendi nuncios. In sero præcepit nobis dictus Coiat vt
veniremus ad eum. Tunc incepit quærere ductor noster quid portaremus ei,
et coepit multum scandalizari, quum vidit quod nihil parabamus ad
portandum. Stetimus coram eo, et ipse sedebat in gloria sua et faciebat
sonare citharam et saltare coram se. Tunc dixi ei verba prædicta qualiter
veniremus ad dominum eius, rogans eum vt iuuaret nos vt Dominus eius
videret literas nostras. Excusaui etiam me quia monachus eram, non habens,
nec recipiens, nec tractans aurum vel argentum vel aliquid preciosum, solis
libris et capella in qua seruiebamus deo exceptis: vnde nullum xenium
afferebamus ei nec domino suo. Qui enim propria dimiseram, non poteram
portator esse alienorum. Tunc respondit satis mansuete, quod bene faciebam
ex quo eram monachus: sic seruarem votum meum, et non indigebat rebus
nostris; sed magis daret nobis de suis, si indigeremus: et fecit nos sedere
et bibere de lacte suo. Et post pauca rogauit vt diceremus benedictionem
pro eo, quod et fecimus. Quæsiuit et quis esset maior dominus inter
Francos. Dixi, Imperator, si haberet terram suam in pace. Non, inquit, sed
Rex Franciæ, Audiuerat enim de vobis a domino Baldewyno de Hannonia. Inueni
etiam ibi vnum de Socijs domus Domimicæ. qui fuerat in Cypro, qui
narrauerat omnia quæ viderat. Tunc reuersi sumus ad hospitium nostrum. In
crastino misi ei vnum flasconem de vino Muscato, quod optime se custodierat
in tam longa via; et cophinom plenum biscocto quod fuit ei gratissimum, et
retinuit illo sero famulos nostros secum. In crastino mandauit mihi quod
venirem ad curiam; afferens literas regis et capellam et libros mecum, quia
dominus suus vellet videre ea; quod et fecimus, onerantes vnam bigam libris
et capella, et aliam pane et vino et fructibus. Tunc fecit omnes libros et
vestes explicari, et circumstabant nos in equis multi Tartari et Christiani
et Saraceni: quibus inspectis, quæsiuit, si vellem ista omnia dare domino
suo, quo audito, expaui, et displicuit mihi verbum, dissimulans tamen
respondi, domine rogamus, quatenus dominus noster dignetur recipere panem
istum, vinum et fructus non pro xenio quia exiguum quid est, sed pro
benedictione, ne vacua manu veniamus coram eo. Ipse autem videbit literas
domini regis, et per eas sciet, qua de causa venimus ad eum: et tunc
stabimus mandato eius nos et omnes res nostræ. Vestes enim sanctæ sunt, et
non licet eas contingere nisi sacerdotibus. Tunc præcepit quod indueremus
nos ituri coram domino suo: quod et fecimus. Ego autem indutus
preciosioribus vestibus accepi in pectore puluinar, quod erat valde
pulchrum, et biblium quod dederatis mihi, psalterium pulcherrimum, quod
dederat mihi domina regina, in quo erant picturæ pulchræ. Socius meus
accepit missale et crucem, clericus indutus supercilicio accepit
thuribulum: sic accessimus ante dominum eius: et leuauerunt filtrum quod
pendebat ante ostium vt nos posset videre. Tunc fecerunt flectere genua ter
clerico et interpreti: à nobis non requisiuerunt. Tunc monuerant nos valde
diligenter, vt caueremus ingrediendo et egrediendo ne tangeremus limen
domus, et vt cantaremus aliquam benedictionem pro eo. Tunc ingressi sumus
cantando, Salue regina. In introitu, autem ostij stabat bancus cum cosmos
et cum ciphis. Et conuenerant omnes vxores eius: et ipsi Moal. Ingredientes
nobiscum comprimebant nos. Illic Coiac tulit ei thuribulum cum incenso,
quod ipse respexit, tenens in manu diligenter: postea tulit ei psalterium
quod valde respexit, et vxor eius sedens iuxta eum. Postea tulit biblium,
et ipse quæsiuit, si euangelium esset ibi. Dixi, etiam tota Scriptura
Sacra. Accepit etiam crucem in manu sua, et quæsiuit de imagine, vtrum
esset imago, Christi? Respondi quod sic. Ipsi Nestoriani et Armeni nunquam
faciunt super cruces suas figuram Christi. Vnde videntur male sentire de
passione, vel erubescunt eam. Postea fecit circumstantes nos retrahere se,
vt plenius posset videre ornamenta nostra. Tunc obtuli ei literas vestras
cum transcriptis in Arabico et Syriano. Feceram enim eas transferri in Acon
in vtraque litera et lingua. Et ibi erant sacerdotes Armeni, qui sciebant
Turcicum et Arabicum, et Ille Socius domus Domini qui sciebat Syrianum, et
Turcicum et Arabicum. Tunc exiuimus et deposuimus vestimenta nostra: et
venerunt scriptores et ille Coiac, et fecerunt literas interpretari. Quibus
auditis, fecit recipi panem et vinum et fructus: vestimenta et libros fecit
nos reportare ad hospitium. Hoc actum est in festo Sancti Pietri ad
vincula.
The same in English.
Of the Court of Sartach, and of the magnificence thereof. Chap. 17.
And we found Sartach lying within three daies iourney of the riuer Etilia:
whose Court seemed vnto vs to be very great. For he himselfe had sixe
wiues, and his eldest sonne also had three wiues: euery one of which women
hath a great house, and they haue ech one of them about 200. cartes.
[Sidenote: Coiat the historian.] Our guide went vnto a certaine Nestorian
named Coiat, who is a man of great authoritie in Sartachs Court. He made vs
to goe very farre vnto the Lordes gate. For so they call him, who hath the
office of enterteining Ambassadours. In the euening Coiac commanded vs to
come vnto him. Then our guide began to enquire what we would present him
withal, and was exceedingly offended, when he saw that we had nothing ready
to present. We stoode before him, and he sate maiestically, hauing musicke
and dauncing in his presence. Then I spake vnto him in the wordes before
recited, telling him, for what purpose I was come vnto his lorde, and
requesting so much fauour at his hands, as to bring our letters vnto the
sight of his Lord. I excused my selfe also, that I was a Monke, not hauing,
nor receiuing, nor vsing any golde, or siluer, or any other precious thing,
saue onely our bookes, and the vestiments wherein we serued God: and that
this was the cause why I brought no present vnto him, nor vnto his Lord.
For I that had abandoned mine owne goods, could not be a transporter of
things for other men. Then hee answered very courteously, that being a
Monke, and so doing, I did well: for so I should obserue my vowe: neither
did himselfe stande in neede of ought that we had, but rather was readie to
bestowe vpon vs such thinge as we our selues stood in neede of: and he
caused vs to sit downe, and to drinke of his milke. And presently after he
requested vs to say our deuotions for him: and we did so. He enquired also
who was the greatest Prince among the Franckes? And I saide, the Emperour,
if he could inioy his owne dominions in quiet. No (quoth he) but the king
of France. For he had heard of your Highnes by lord Baldwine of Henault. I
found there also one of the Knights of the temple, who had bene in Cyprus,
and had made report of all things which he sawe there. Then returned wee
vnto our lodging. And on the morow we sent him a flagon of Muscadel wine
(which had lasted very wel in so long a iourney) and a boxe full of bisket,
which was most acceptable vnto him and he kept our seruants with him for
that euening. The next morning he commanded me to come vnto the Court, and
to bring the kings letters and my vestiments and bookes with me: because
his Lorde was desirous to see them. Which we did accordingly, lading one
cart with our bookes and vestiments and another with bisket, wine, and
fruites. Then he caused all our bookes and vestiments to bee laide forth.
And there stoode rounde about vs many Tartars, Christians and Saracens on
horseback. At the sight whereof, he demanded whether I would bestow all
those things vpon his lord or no? Which saying made me to tremble, and
grieued me full sore. Howbeit, dissembling our griefe as well as we could,
we shaped him this answer: Sir, our humble request is, that our Lorde your
master would vouchsafe to accept our bread, wine, and fruits, not as a
present, because it is too meane, but as a benediction, least we should
come with an emptie hand before him. And he shall see the letters of my
souereigne Lord the king, and by them he shall vnderstand for what cause we
are come vnto him and then both our selues, and all that we haue, shall
stand to his curtesie: for our vestiments be holy, and it is vnlawfull for
any but Priests to touch them. Then he commaunded vs to inuest our selues
in the said garments, that we might goe before his Lord: and wee did so.
Then I my selfe putting on our most precious ornaments, tooke in mine armes
a very faire cushion, and the Bible which your Maiesty gaue me, and a most
beautifull Psalter, which the Queenes Grace bestowed vpon me, wherein there
were goodly pictures. Mine associate tooke a missal and a crosse: and the
clearke hauing put on his surplesse, tooke a censer in his hand. And so we
came vnto the presence of his Lord and they lifted vp the felt hanging
before his doore, that he might behold vs. Then they caused the clearke and
the interpreter thrise to bow the knee: but of vs they required no such
submission. And they diligently admonished vs to take heed, that in going
in, and in comming out, we touched not the threshold of the house, and
requested vs to sing a benediction for him. Then we entred in, singing
_Salue Regina_. And within the entrance of the doore, stood a bench with
cosmos, and drinking cups thereupon. And all his wiues were there
assembled. Also the Moals or rich Tartars thrusting in with vs pressed vs
sore. Then Coiat caried vnto his Lord the censer with incense, which he
beheld very diligently, holding it in his hand. Afterward hee caried the
Psalter vnto him, which he looked earnestly vpon, and his wife also that
sate beside him. After that he caried the Bible: then Sartach asked if the
Gospel were contained therein? Yea (said I) and all the holy scriptures
besides. He tooke the crosse also in his hand, and demanded concerning the
image, whether it were the image of Christ or no? I said it was. The
Nestorians and the Armenians do neuer make the figure of Christ vpon their
crosses. [Sidenote: No good consequence.] Wherefore either they seem not to
think wel of his passion, or els they are ashamed of it. Then he caused
them that stood about vs, to stand aside, that he might more fully behold
our ornaments. Afterward I deliuered vnto him your Maiesties letters, with
translation therof into the Arabike, and Syriake languages. For I caused
them to be translated at Acon into the character, and dialect of both the
saide tongues. And there were certain Armenian Priests, which had skil in
the Turkish and Arabian languages. The aforesaid knight also of the order
of the Temple had knowledge in the Syriake, Turkish, and Arabian tongues.
Then we departed forth, and put off our vestiments, and there came vnto vs
certaine Scribes together with the foresaid Coiat, and caused our letters
to be interpreted. Which letters being heard, he caused our bread, wine and
fruits to be receiued. And he permitted vs also to carie our vestiments and
bookes vnto our owne lodging. This was done vpon the feast of S. Peter ad
vincula.
Qualiter habuerunt in mandatis adire Baatu patrem Sartach. Cap. 18.
In crastino mane venit quidam sacerdos frater ipsius Coiac postulans
vasculum cum chrismate, quia Sartach volebat illud videre, vt dicebat, et
dedimus ei. Hora vespertina vocauit nos Coiac, dicens nobis: Dominus rex
scripsit bona verba Domino meo: Sed sunt in eis difficilia, de quibus nihil
auderet facere, sine consilio patris sui. Vnde oportet vos ire ad patrem
suum, et duas bigas quas adduxistis heri cum vestimentis et libris
dimittetis mihi, quia Dominus meus vult res diligentius videre. Ego statim
suspicatus sum malum de cupiditate eius, et dixi ei. Domine, non solum
illas sed etiam duas quas adhuc habemus relinquemus sub custodia vestra.
Non inquit, illas relinquetis, de alijs facietis velle vestrum. Dixi quod
hoc nullo modo posset fieri. Sed totam dimitteremus ei. Tunc quæsiuit si
vellemus morari in terra? Ego dixi, Si bene intellexistis literas domini
regis, potestis scire, quod sic. Tunc dixit, quod oporteret nos esse
patientes multum, et humiles. Sic discessimus ab eo illo sere. In crastino
mane misit vnum sacerdotem Nestorinum pro bigis, et nos duximus omnes
quatuor. Tunc occurrens nobis frater ipsius Coiacis, separauit omnia nostra
ab ipsis rebus quas tuleramus pridie ad curiam, et ilia accepit tanquam
sua, scilicet libros et vestimenta: et Coiac præceperat, quod ferremus
nobiscum vestimenta quibus induti fueramus coram Sartach vt illis
indueremur coram Baatu si expediret: quas ille sacerdos abstulit nobis vi,
dicens: Tu attulisti eas ad Sartach, modo vis ferre Baatu? Et cum vellem ei
reddere rationem, respondit mihi, Ne loquaris nimis, et vade viam tuam.
Tunc necessaria fuit patientia, quia apud Sartach, non patebat nobis
ingressus; nec aliquis erat, qui nobis exhiberet iusticiam. Timebam etiam
de interprete, ne ipse aliquid aliter dixissit, quam ego dixissem ei: quia
ipsi bene voluisset, quod de omnibus fecissemus xenium. Vnum erat mihi
solacium, quia quum persensi cupiditatem eorum, ego subtraxi de libris
Biblium et sententias, et alios libros quos magis diligebam. Psalterium
dominæ reginæ non fui ausus subtrahere, quia illud fuerat nimis notatum
propter aureas picturas quæ erant in eo. Sic ergo reuersi sumus cum duobus
residuis bigis ad hospitium nostrum. Tunc venit ille, qui debebat ducere
nos ad Baatu, volens cum festinatione arripere iter; cui dixi quod nulla
ratione ducerem bigas. Quod ipse retulit ad Coiac. Tunc præcepit Coiac quod
relinqueremus eas apud ipsum cum garcione nostro: quod et fecimus.
[Sidenote: Perueniunt ad Etiliam vel Volgam.] Sic ergo euntes versus Baatu
recta in Orientem, tertia die peruenimus ad Etiliam: cuius aquas cum vidi,
mirabar vnde ab Aquilone descenderunt tantæ aquæ. Antequam recederemus à
Sartach, dixit nobis supradictus Coiac cum alijs multis scriptoribus curiæ,
Nolite dicere quod dominus noster sit Christianus, sed Moal. Quia nomen
Christianitatis videtur eis nomen cuiusdam gentis. [Sidenote: Tartari
volunt vocari Moal.] In tantam superbiam sunt erecti, quod quamuis aliquid
forte credant de Christo, tamen nolunt dici Christiani volentes nomen suum,
hoc est, Moal exaltare super omne nomen. Nec volunt vocari Tartari: Tartari
enim fuerunt alia gens de quibus sic didici.