stayed thare, and also the Consoll of Gallippelo.[99] Beinge thare by
chance he came a borde us. This Consoll is a frier, and verrie fine
Jentlman.
AUGUSTE.
In the time that we stayed heare for a wynde, we wente many times a
shore, but what hapened, and what we saw at this time, I pass over.
But our Imbasador who was than at Constantinople, hearinge that our shipp
had layne longe thare for a wynde, he sente downe a Chirmagee[100] to
fetche up sartaine letters, and also for us that weare for the present;
in the Chirmagee came Mr. Thomas Glover,[101] Mr. Baylye of Saulsburie,
and a Jenisarie. From Constantinople to that place is neare aboute tow
hundrethe and fiftie myle.
The nexte morninge, being the fifte of Aguste, not only we that weare for
the presente, butt also Mr. Maye, our preatcher, and other Jentlmen that
wente to sarve the Imbassader, would needes leave the shipe and goo with
us, for it was thoughte by our fizitions that one of our sailores was
infeckted with the plague.
The Chirmagee would not carrie us all, but Mr. Glover did hier tow boates
more. We weare, in all, 16, with Mr. Glover and Mr. Baylye.
The sixte Daye we arived at Gallipilo, and cominge to the Ittallian
Consol’s house, who is a frier, he recaved us verrie kindly, but our
staye was so shorte that we had no time to se the Cittie. Haveing fayer
wynde, we made haste to sea againe. Aboute the mydle of the nyghte
followinge, haveinge no wynde at all, and our men wearie with rowinge,
we wente a shore, wheare we founde 3 or 4 wynde myls and the wales of an
ould Castele. Though it was verrie Darke, yeat some of our men rowed up
and downe till theye founde a litle cottage, wheare they gott some fiere.
Others broke downe an ould hedge; and so we made a greate fier under the
Castle wale. At Gallipilo, the daye before, at our goinge to sea, we
boughte halfe a mutton, and heare we boyled the one halfe, and rosted the
other. Thoughe it was but in a homly fashon, yeat we eat it bothe merrily
and sweetly. Our fier was so large that we hade hyghte (heat) enoughe.
Before the morninge we wente to sea againe. When it was Daye, the wynde
rose so greate that we weare forced to goo a shore, and to hale our
boates on lande at a greate Towne Called Relezea.[102] Thare we founde
wyne and breade greate plentie, but some of our Company did wake into the
feeldes, and entered into a vinyarde to gather grapes; but beinge pursued
by the Greekes that owed the vinyard, they weare not only in Dainger of
recavinge som hurte, but also of lousing theire garmentes. Cuthberte
Bull had loste his Cloake, and one that wente to be the Imbassaderes
Couke was pinyonede, his girdle and knyfes taken awaye; but one Mr.
Gonzale, a verrie stoute man, redemed those thinges againe, and made the
Greeks rune awaye, for he beate them wythe their owne weapons, but not
in theire owne grounde. Than the pore Greeks made a greate complainte
unto the governor of the towne, whoe was than in our company, and had
broughte us a sheepe for a presente. He quickly made us all frendes,
and Mr. Glover was verrie willinge to make the Greekes restetution for
the hurte was Done them. This governor, or Captaine of this towne, is
a verrie stoute and stronge man of his person, but actevitie he hade
none, for som in our company did prove him many wayes: he could nether
run, leape, wrastell, pitche the barr, the stone upon the hande, trowe
the sledge,[103] nether any defence with sorde or cudgell; but yf he
did catche a man in his armes fadem wyse,[104] he would so crushe him,
that he would make his harte ake, and reddie to stop his brethe. He
beinge askede the reason whye he could do none of these exercisis, he
Answered that Turkes would never pracktise the same that Christians did.
At this toune we stayed alnyghte. The nexte morninge, our captaine, Mr.
Glover, gave unto this governor or captaine, 2 or 3 peecis of goold caled
chickenes,[105] for his love and good company, for he was verrie willinge
to make us merry and lothe that we should departe.
The same daye, beinge the eighte daye, we touke our jurnaye by lande,
towinge our bootes by the shore ten myles.
In the after nowne we came to a towne called Hora,[106] for our boates
was not able to goo any further, the wynde was so hie and the sea so
roughe; thare we stayed alnyghte. At this towne, but espetialy at the
laste before, is great store of corne and vinyardes, verrie good; also
greate store of silke wormes, wyne a pottell[107] for one penye; but the
inhabytans of all these townes ar verrie pore, the Turks dothe kepe them
so under, levinge upon the frutes of these pore peoples labures. All this
contrie which we traveled through from over againste Troye, or the place
wheare we lefte our shipp, is Thratia, whearin Constantinople doth stande.
The nexte daye, beinge the nynthe daye, we lefte our boates at Horra,
and wente 3 myles farther to a towne caled Cannosea,[108] but farther we
could not goo anythinge neare to the sea, for it is so hillie and full
of woodes, a verrie wyldernes; so thare we stayed that daye and alnyghte
ever loukinge for our boates, but they could not com. Our captaine, Mr.
Glover, when we had well vewed the towne and se that the condetion of the
people was not to our lykinge, he made choyce of a house for us to lodge
in, that was next unto the sea. The towne stode upon a hill, and this
house upon the verrie brinke or end of the hill, beinge the heighte of
St. Paules Churche a bove the sea; and we weare to go up a ladder into a
gallarie, that was made at the end of the house, loukinge towardes the
sea, and thare was a litle dowre to go into the roume wheare we shoulde
lodge upon the bare bordes.
For, in all this time that we traveled, we never put of our clothis,
nether did we finde any beed to rest in. In this roume thare was not so
muche as a stoule or forme to sitt upon, nor anythinge in the house but
one shelfe, whereon stood tow pitcheres and tow earthen plateres; note
one wyndoe to give lyghte, but one litle hole throughe a stone wale.
We beinge at this towne before nowne, to pass awaye the time after we had
made a shorte diner, we walked downe to the wood sid, which is close to
the sea; a wildernes or desarte wood, which is put to no use, as we did
thinke, by the sighte of it. Thare we saw diverse sortes of varmen, which
we have not the like in Inglande.
Growinge towardes nyghte, and rememberinge whate hard lodginge we should
have in our new In, findinge a thicke softe weed, that growed by the wood
sid, everrie one of us that was thare gathered a bundle of it to laye
under our heades, when we should sleepe.
Nyghte beinge come, and our supper ended, everie man chalked out his
ristinge place upon the bare bordes; our jenisarie placed him selfe upon
a borde that laye louse upon the joistes. Everie man had his Sorde reddie
Drawne lyinge by his side; tow of our company had musketes. When we had
layne about halfe an houre, we that had our weeden pillowes weare sodonly
wonderfully tormented with a varmen that was in our pillowes, the which
did bite farr worss than fleaes, so that we weare glad to throw awaye
our pillowes, and swepe the house cleane; but we could not clense our
selves so sowne. Thus as we laye wakinge in a Darke uncomfortable house,
Mr. Glover tould us what strainge varmen and beastes he had sene in that
contrie, for he had lived longe thare. He spoake verrie muche of Aderes,
snaykes, and sarpentes, the defferance and the bignes of som which he had
sene.
Passinge awaye the time with such lyke talke, the moste parte of us fell
a sleepe, and som that could not sleepe laye still and sayd nothinge for
disquietinge of the reste, all beinge whyshte. Mr. Baylye had occasion
to goe to the dore to make water, the dore was verrie litle, and opened
very straitly into the gallarie, the wynde blowed marvalus strongly, and
made a greate noyse, for the house lay verrie open to the sea and wether.
Mr. Baylle, when he lay downe to sleepe, had untied his garters a litle,
so that when he came into the gallarie, the wynde blew his garter, that
was louse and trayled after him, rounde aboute the other legge; it was
a greate silke garter, and by the force of the wynde it fettered his
legges bothe faste together. Our talk a litle before, of Aders, snakes,
and sarpentes, was yeat in his rememberance, and the place was neare
wheare muche varmen was. He thoughte they had swarmed aboute him, but
aboute his legges he Thought he was sur of a sarpente, so that soddonly
he cried oute with all the voyce he hade: A sarpente! a sarpente! a
sarpente! and was so frighted that he could not finde the doore to gitt
in, but made a great buslinge and noyse in the gallarie. On the other
side, we that weare in the house, did thinke that he had saide: Assalted!
assalted! for before nyghte we doubted that some tritcherie would hapen
unto us in that towne, so that we thoughte the house had bene besett
with people to cutt our Throtes. Thare was 15 of us in the house, and it
was bute a litle house; everie man touke his sorde in hande, one reddie
to spoyle another, not any one knowinge the Cause. One that could not
finde his sorde, goot to the Chimnay, and offeringe to climbe up, Downe
fell a parte of the chimnaye tope upon his heade, and hurte him a litle;
another, that was sodonly awakede, strouke aboute him with his sorde, and
beate downe the shelfe and broke the pitcheres and plateres which stood
thar on; the roume being verrie darke, for it was a boute mydnyghte.
Otheres did thinke that they weare pullinge downe the house over our
heades. Our janisarie, who should have bene our garde, and have protecked
us from all Daingeres, he lykwyse doubtinge the people of the towne, and
hearinge suche a noyse sodonly, he touke up the louse borde wheare on he
laye, and sliped Downe into the valte. As we weare thus all amayzed, at
the laste Mr. Bayllye founde the waye in at the doore. When Mr. Glover
saw him com in, he sayd unto him: How now, man, what is the matter, who
do you se? Mr. Baylle was even bretheless with feare, cryinge out, and
with struglinge to gitt in at the doore, so thet he could not answer him
at the firste; at last he sayd: A sarpente! a sarpente! had trubled him.
When Mr. Glover harde him say so, than feare was gone, and he wente to
the Dore, and thare he founde Mr. Bayllis’ garter reddie to be carried
away with the wynde. After we a litle wondered at our greate amayzmente
for so smale a cause, Mr. Glover caled everie man by his name, to se yf
any man weare slayne or wounded; for thare was sixtene of us in all,
our weaperns all drawne, and the roume was but litle. Everie man beinge
caled, we weare all alive, and but smale hurtes done. At laste we founde
our janisarie wanting; who myghte well be ashamed to make it knowne
wheare he was; but Mr. Glover callinge him verrie earnestly, he answered
in the valte. He could not git out any way, but Mr. Gonzale Touke up
the borde that laye wheare he wente downe, and lyinge a longe upon the
floure, he could but hardly reatche him, to take him by the hande;
without muche adew theye puled him up. When he leaped into the valte,
beinge verrie sore frighted, he caste of his uper garmente, and lefte
it behind him in the valte, but no man could perswade him to goo downe
againe and fetche it, for the place was lothesom, and it should seme that
he was thare frighted with somthinge, in that kinde Mr. Baylye was; so
his garmente remayned there till the morninge, that he who oned the house
did fetche it.
The nexte morninge, Mr. Sharpe, Mr. Lamberte, and tow jentlmen more,
hiered mules, and touke theire jurnaye by lande to Stambole, or
Constantinople, the which was 3 dayes jurnaye.
The same Daye, when these 4 jentlmen weare gone, we returnede to Hora
againe, wheare we lefte our boates, and stayed thare alnyghte.
In the morninge we departede, and in the afternowne we wente ashore at
a towne caled Heragleza,[109] other wyse Rellinge. Betwyxte this towne
and the sea, upon a hill Dothe stande tow and twentie fayer wynde milns;
everie milne hathe six sayles. They stande upon a straighte lyne, and of
an equalle distance, so as theye made a verrie fayer shaw when we weare
upon the seae. We weare at this towne verrie Curtiusly entertained,
wheare we made merrie till mydnyghte, than Entringe our boates. In the
morninge, beinge the 14th Day, we came to Selabrea,[110] a faire and
large towne. We wente thare a shore for wyne and water, but we stayed not
so longe as to se all the towne. Heare I se greate abundance of moske
mylyons,[111] that weare as big as our sidrums or pumpions,[112] sould
for the vallue of one penye or 3 halfe penis a peece.
The 15th day, beinge Wednesday, we arived at Constantinople.
The 16th our shipp Came neare to the Seven Towers, which is the firste
porte that we com unto of the surralia (seraglio) which doth joyne close
to the Cittie. From that poynte or corner of the surralia unto the Cittie
it is almoste tow myles; thare our shipp cam to an anker, and the nexte
daye she begane to be new payntede.
The 17th we wente aborde our ship for the presente, and carried it to
our imbassaders house in the Cittie of Gallata, in the vines[113] of
Peara[114]; and because there was no roome heie enoughe to sett it up in
his house, he caused a roome to be made with all speed withoute the house
in the courte, to sett it up in, that it myghte there be made perfitt
before it should be carried to the surralia.
The twentethe daye, beinge Mondaye, we begane to louke into our worke;
but when we opened our chistes we founde that all glewinge worke was
clene Decayed, by reason that it hade layne above sixe monthes in the
hould of our ship, whicte was but newly bulte, so that the extremetie of
the heete in the hould of the shipe, with the workinge of the sea and the
hootnes of the cuntrie, was the cause that all glewinge fayled; lyke wyse
divers of my mettle pipes weare brused and broken.
When our Imbassader, Mr. Wyllyam Aldridge, and other jentlmen, se in what
case it was in, theye weare all amayzed, and sayde that it was not worthe
ii_d._ My answeare unto our Imbassader and to Mr. Aldridge, at this
time I will omitt; but when Mr. Alderidge harde what I sayede, he tould
me that yf I did make it perfitt he would give me, of his owne purss,
15_li._, so aboute my worke I wente.
The 23, the kinge of Ffess[115] cam to se my worke, and he satt by me
halfe a daye.
The 27, our ship cam nearer unto the surralia. The same daye the kinge of
Fess came againe to se our worke.
The 28, the Heckter, our ship, made hire salutation to the Great Turke,
thare called the Grande Sinyor, on the northe side of the Surralya, the
Grande Sinyor beinge in his Cuske (kiosk), upon the wale which is close
to the sea.
This salutation was verrie strange and wonderfull in the sighte of the
Great Turke and all other Turkes. She was, as I have saide before, new
paynted (upon everie topp an anshante,[116] viz., mayne top, fore top,
myssen top, sprid saile top, and at everie yardes arme a silke penante).
All her braurie[117] I cannot now relate; her faightes[118] was oute,
and in everie top as many men, with their musketes, as coulde stande
conveniently to descharge them.
Anker was wayed, the Daye verrie calme and fayere. Althinges beinge
reddie, our gonores gave fiere, and discharged eighte score great shotte,
and betwyxte everie greate shott a vallie of smale shott; it was done
with verrie good decorume and true time, and it myghte well desarve
commendations.
But one thinge I noteed, which perswaded my simple consaite that this
great triumpte and charge was verrie evile bestowed, beinge done unto
an infidell. Thare was one man sicke in the ship, who was the ship
carpinder, and wyth the reporte of the firste greate peece that was
discharged he died.
Lyke wyse at the verrie end of this sarvis an other man, who was one of
the stouteste saileres in the shipp, and all this whyle had plyed a great
peece in the beake heade of the shipe, as he was raminge in his cartridge
of pouder, som fier being lefte in the bretche of the peece, the pouder
touke fire and blew that man quite awaye in the smoke; aboute 3 dayes
after all his lower parte, from his waste downward, was founde tow myle
from that place, and his heade in an other place. When all was done the
Grande Sinyore sent tow men abord our shippe to se how many greate peecis
thare was, for he thoughte there hade bene four score, and there was but
27.
The 30th daye my worke was finished, and made perfitt at the imbassaderes
house.
SEPTEMBER.
The seconde day, the Grand Sinyor desieringe to take a better vewe of our
shipp, he came in his goulden kieke (caïque) upon the watter, and wente
round a boute the shipp; but he came so sodonly that his beinge there was
not knowne till 2 or 3 houres after.
One houre after him came the Sultana his mother, in the lyke maner.
The thirde Day, our imbassader Delivered a presente to the Vizeare Basha
at his house.
The 4 day the Grande Sinyores secritarie, caled the Cappagaw,[119] came
to se our instrament.
The 7th day the Gebustaniebashaw[120] came to se; lykwyse also the Heade
Patriarke was expeckted, but he came not, because som Turkes dined with
my lord that daye.
The 8 day, beinge Satterday, we began to take Downe our instramente, for
that day the Grand Sinyor went from the surralia som six myles by water
to an other surralia wheare the sultana his mother dothe live; for one
monthe in the yeare it is tolerable for him to goo to that place, ether
in Auguste or in September; at any other time he may not goo so farr
from his owne Surralia, excepte he be garded with a hunreth thousande men.
The 11th Daye, beinge Tusdaye, we Carried our instramente over the water
to the Grand Sinyors Courte, Called the surralya, and thare in his moste
statlyeste house I began to sett it up. This watere which we crosed from
Galletta to Surralia is a streame that comethe from the Blacke Sea, and
is called Hellisponte, which partethe Asia and Thratia, and as it comethe
Downe by Galletta, a creke of that rever[121] goethe up into the contrie
aboute sixe myles, which partethe the tow Cittis of Constantinople and
Galletta; they maye go betwyxte them by lande, but it is 12 myle, and to
cross the water it is but one myle. At everie gate of the surralia thare
alwayes sitethe a stoute Turke, abute the calinge or degre of a justis
of the peace, who is caled a chia; not withstandinge, the gates ar faste
shut, for thare pasethe none in or oute at ther owne pleasures.
Beinge entered within the firste gate, thare was placed righte againste
the gate five greate peecis of brass, with Christians armes upon them....
Than we passed throughe verrie Delitfull walkes and garthins; the walkes
ar, as it weare, hedged in with statly siprus tres, planted with an
equale Distance one from thother, betwyxte them and behinde them, smaler
tres that bearethe excelente frute; I thinke thare is none wanting that
is good. The garthenes I will omite to wryte of at this time. The waye
from the firste gate to the seconde wale is som thinge risinge up a hill,
betwyxte wales aboute a quarter of a myle and better. The gats of the
second wale was also shutt, but when we came to the gate, my Intarpreter
caled to those that kepte it within. Thoughe they had Knowledge of our
cominge, yeat would they not open the gates untill we had caled and tould
them our busines. These gates ar made all of massie iron; tow men, whom
they do cale jemeglans,[122] did open them.
Wythein the firste wales ar no housis but one, and that is the
bustanjebasha his house, who is captaine of a thousande jemeglanes, which
doo nothinge but kepe the garthens in good order; and I am perswaded
that thare is none so well kepte in the worlde. Within the seconde wales
tharis no gardens, but statly buildinges; many courtes paved with marble
and suche lyke stone. Everie ode[123] or by corner hath som exelente
frute tre or tres growing in them; allso thar is greate abundance of
sweete grapes, and of diveres sortes; thar a man may gather grapes everie
Daye in the yeare. In November, as I satt at diner, I se them gather
grapes upon the vines, and theye broughte them to me to eate. For the
space of a monthe I Dined everie day in the Surralia, and we had everie
day grapes after our meate; but moste sartain it is that grapes do grow
thare contenually.
Cominge into the house whear I was appoynted to sett up the presente or
instramente; it semed to be rether a churche than a dwellinge house; to
say the truthe, it was no dwellinge house, but a house of pleasur, and
lyke wyse a house of slaughter; for in that house was bulte one litle
house, verrie curius bothe within and witheout; for carvinge, gildinge,
good Collors and vernishe, I have not sene the lyke.[124] In this litle
house, that emperor that rained when I was thare, had nyntene brotheres
put to deathe in it, and it was bulte for no other use but for the
stranglinge of everie emperors bretherin.
This great house it selfe hathe in it tow rankes of marble pillors; the
pettestales (pedestals) of them ar made of brass, and double gilte. The
wales on 3 sides of the house ar waled but halfe waye to the eaves; the
other halfe is open; but yf any storme or great wynde should hapen,
they can sodonly Let fale suche hanginges made of cotten wolle for that
purpose as will kepe out all kindes of wethere, and sudenly they can open
them againe. The fourthe side of the house, which is close and joynethe
unto another house, the wale is made of purfeare (porphyry), or suche
kinde of stone as when a man walketh by it he maye se him selfe tharin.
Upon the grounde, not only in this house, but all other that I se in the
Surraliae, we treade upon ritch silke garpites, one of them as muche as
four or sixe men can carrie. Thare weare in this house nether stouls,
tables, or formes, only one coutche of estate. Thare is one side of it a
fishe ponde, that is full of fishe that be of divers collores.
The same Daye, our Imbassader sente Mr. Paule Pinder, who was then his
secritarie, with a presente to the Sultana, she being at hir garthen. The
presente was a Coatche of six hundrethe poundes vallue.[125] At that time
the Sultana did Take greate lykinge to Mr. Pinder, and after wardes she
sente for him to have his private companye, but there meetinge was croste.
The 15th, I finished my worke in the Surraliao, and I wente once everie
daye to se it, and dinede Thare almoste everie Daye for the space of a
monthe; which no Christian ever did in there memorie that wente awaye a
Christian.
The 18 daye (stayinge somthinge longe before I wente), the Coppagawe
(Capougee) who is the Grand Sinyor’s secritarie, sente for me that one
of his frendes myghte heare the instramente. Before I wente awaye, the
tow jemaglanes, who is keepers of that house, touke me in theire armes
and Kised me, and used many perswations to have me staye with the Grand
Sinyor, and sarve him.
The 21, at nyghte, it was a wonder to se what abundance of lampes thare
was burninge rounde aboute all the Toweres of the Churchis, bothe in
Constantinople and Galleta.
When we demanded the cause, they tould us that as that nyghte Mahamet,
theire Messies, was borne.[126]
The 24, at nyghte our ambassodor Caled me into his Chamber and gave me a
greate Charge to goo the next morninge betimes to the surralia and make
the instrumente as perfitt as possibly I could, for that daye, before
noune, the Grand Sinyor would se it, and he was to Deliver his imbassage
to the Grand Sinyor; after he hade given me that charge he toulde me
that he had but done his dutie in tellinge me of my dutie, and cothe he:
Because yow shall not take this unkindly, I will tell you all and what
you shall truste unto.
The Imbassadores spetche unto me in Love after he had given me my charge:—
Yow ar come hether wythe a presente from our gratious Quene, not to an
ordinarie prince or kinge, but to a myghtie monarke of the worlde, but
better had it bene for yow yf it had bene sente to any Christian prince,
for then should yow have bene sure to have receaved for yor paines a
greate rewarde; but yow muste consider what he is unto whom yow have
broughte this ritche presente, a monarke but an infidell, and the grande
Enymye to all Christians. Whate we or any other Christians can bringe
unto him he dothe thinke that we dow it in dutie or in feare of him, or
in hoppe of som greate favoure we expeckte at his handes. It was never
knowne that upon the receaving of any presente he gave any rewarde unto
any Christian, and tharfore yow muste louke for nothinge at his handes.
Yow would thinke that for yor longe and wearriesom voyege, with dainger
of lyfe, that yow weare worthie to have a litle sighte of him; but that
yow muste not loake for nether; for yow se wheat greate preparinge we
made and have bene aboute ever sense your cominge, for the credite of
our contrie, and for a Deliveringe of this presente and my imbassadge,
the which, by Godes helpe, to-morrow muste be performede. We cale it
kisinge of the Grand Sinyor’s hande; bute when I com to his gates I
shalbe taken of my horse and seartcht, and lede betwyxte tow men holdinge
my handes downe close to my sides, and so lede into the presence of the
Grand Sinyor, and I muste kiss his kne or his hanginge sleve. Havinge
deliverede my letteres unto the Coppagawe, I shalbe presently ledd awaye,
goinge backwardes as longe as I can se him, and in payne of my heade I
muste not turne my backe upon him, and therefore yow muste not louke to
have a sighte of him. I thoughte good to tell yow this, because yow shall
not heareafter blame me, or say that I myghte haue tould yow so muche;
lett not your worke be anythinge the more carlesly louked unto, and at
your cominge home our martchantes shall give yow thankes, yf it give the
Grand Sinyor contente this one daye. I car not yf it be non after the
nexte, yf it doo not please him at the firste sighte, and performe not
those thinges which it is Toulde him that it can Dow, he will cause it
to be puled downe that he may trample it under his feete. And than shall
we have no sute grantede, but all our charge will be loste.
After I had given my Lorde thankes for this frindly spetche, thoughe
smale comforte in it, I tould him that thus muche I understoode by our
martchantes before my cominge oute of London, and that he needed not to
Doubte that thare should be any faulte ether in me or my worke, for he
hade sene the triall of my care and skill in makinge that perfickte and
good which was thoughte to be uncurable, and in somthinges better than it
was when Her Maiestie sawe it in the banketinge house at Whyte Hale.
The nexte morninge, being the 25, I wente to the Surralia, and with me my
mate Harvie, who was the ingener, Mr. Rowland Buckett the paynter, and
Myghell Watson the joyner.
Aboute an houre or tow after my lorde was reddie, and sett forwarde
towardes the surralya, he did ride lyke unto a kinge, onlye that he
wanted a crowne.[127] Thare roode with him 22 jentlmen and martchantes,
all in clothe of goulde; ye jentlemen weare these: Mr. Humfrye Cunisbye,
Mr. Baylie of Salsburie, Mr. Paule Pinder,[128] Mr. Wyllyam Alderidg,
Mr. Jonas Aldridge, and Mr. Thomas Glover.[129] The other six weare
martchantes; these did ride in vestes of clothe of goulde, made after the
cuntrie fation; thare wente on foute 28 more in blew gounes made after
the Turkie fation, and everie man a silke grogren[130] cape, after the
Ittallian fation. My Livery was a faire clooke of a Franche greene, etc.
Now when I had sett all my worke in good order, the jemyglanes which
kepte that house espied the Grand Sinyor cominge upon the water in his
goulden Chieke (caïque), or boate, for he cam that morning six myles by
water; whear I stoode I saw when he sett foote on the shore.
Than the jemyglanes tould me that I muste avoyd the house, for the Grand
Sinyor would be thare presently. It was almoste halfe a myle betwyxte
the water and that house; but the Grand Sinyor, haveinge a desier to se
his presente, came thether wythe marvalus greate speed. I and my company
that was with me, beinge put forthe, and the Dore locked after us, I hard
another Dore open, and upon a sodon a wonderfull noyes of people; for a
litle space it should seme that at the Grand Sinyore’s coming into the
house the dore which I hard opene did sett at libertie four hundrethe
persons which weare locked up all the time of the Grand Sinyore’s
absence, and juste at his cominge in theye weare sett at libertie, and
at the firste sighte of the presente, with greate admyration did make a
wonderinge noyes.
The Grand Sinyor, beinge seated in his Chaire of estate, commanded
silence. All being quiett, and no noyes at all, the presente began to
salute the Grand Sinyor; for when I lefte it I did alow a quarter of an
houre for his cominge thether. Firste the clocke strouke 22; than The
chime of 16 bels went of, and played a songe of 4 partes. That beinge
done, tow personagis which stood upon to corners of the seconde storie,
houldinge tow silver trumpetes in there handes, did lifte them to theire
heades, and sounded a tantarra.[131] Than the muzicke went of, and the
orgon played a song of 5 partes twyse over. In the tope of the orgon,
being 16 foute hie, did stande a holly bushe full of blacke birds and
thrushis, which at the end of the musick did singe and shake theire
wynges. Divers other motions thare was which the Grand Sinyor wondered
at. Than the Grand Sinyor asked the Coppagawe[132] yf it would ever doo
the lyke againe. He answered that it would doo the lyke againe at the
next houre. Cothe he: I will se that. In the meane time, the Coppagaw,
being a wyse man, and doubted whether I hade so appoynted it or no, for
he knew that it would goo of it selfe but 4 times in 24 houres, so he
cam unto me, for I did stand under the house sid, wheare I myghte heare
the orgon goo, and he asked me yf it would goo againe at the end of the
nexte houre; but I tould him that it would not, for I did thinke the
Grand Sinyor would not have stayed so longe by it; but yf it would please
him, that when the clocke had strouk he would tuche a litle pin with his
finger, which before I had shewed him, it would goo at any time. Than he
sayde that he would be as good as his worde to the Grand Sinyor. When the
clocke began to strick againe, the Coppagaw went and stood by it; and
when the clocke had strouke 23, he tuched that pinn, and it did the lyke
as it did before. Than the Grand Sinyor sayed it was good. He satt verrie
neare vnto it, ryghte before the Keaes (keys), wheare a man should playe
on it by hande. He asked whye those keaes did move when the orgon wente
and nothinge did tuche them. He Tould him that by those thinges it myghte
be played on at any time. Than the Grande Sinyor asked him yf he did know
any man that could playe on it. He sayd no, but he that came with it
coulde, and he is heare without the dore. Fetche him hether, cothe the
Grand Sinyor, and lett me se how he dothe it. Than the Coppagaw opened
that Dore which I wente out at, for I stoode neare unto it. He came and
touke me by the hande, smylinge upon me; but I bid my drugaman aske him
what I should dow, or whither I shoulde goo. He answered that it was
the Grand Sinyore’s pleasur that I should lett him se me playe on the
orgon. So I wente with him. When I came within the Dore, That which I
did se was verrie wonderfull unto me. I cam in direcktly upon the Grand
Sinyore’s ryghte hande, som 16 of my passis (paces) from him, but he
would not turne his head to louke upon me. He satt in greate state, yeat
the sighte of him was nothinge in Comparrison of the traine that stood
behinde him, the sighte whearof did make me almoste to thinke that I was
in another worlde. The Grand Sinyor satt still, behouldinge the presente
which was befor him, and I stood daslinge my eyes with loukinge upon his
people that stood behinde him, the which was four hundrethe persons in
number. Tow hundrethe of them weare his princepall padgis, the yongest of
them 16 yeares of age, som 20, and som 30. They weare apparled in ritche
clothe of goulde made in gowns to the mydlegge; upon theire heades litle
caps of clothe of goulde, and som clothe of Tissue[133]; great peecis of
silke abowte theire wastes instead of girdls; upon their leges Cordivan
buskins,[134] reede. Theire heades wear all shaven, savinge that behinde
Their ears did hange a locke of hare like a squirel’s taile; theire
beardes shaven, all savinge theire uper lips. Those 200 weare all verrie
proper men, and Christians borne.
The thirde hundrethe weare Dum men, that could nether heare nor speake,
and theye weare likwyse in gouns of riche Clothe of gould and Cordivan
buskins; bute theire Caps weare of violett velvett, the croune of them
made like a lether bottell, the brims devided into five picked (peaked)
corneres. Som of them had haukes in theire fistes.
The fourthe hundrethe weare all dwarffs, bige-bodied men, but verrie low
of stature. Everie Dwarfe did weare a simmeterrie (scimitar) by his side,
and they weare also apareled in gowns of Clothe of gould.
I did moste of all wonder at those dumb men, for they lett me understande
by theire perfitt sins (signs) all thinges that they had sene the
presente dow by its motions.[135]
When I had stode almost one quarter of an houre behouldinge this wonder
full sighte, I harde the Grande Sinyore speake unto the Coppagaw, who
stood near unto him. Than the Coppagaw cam unto me, and touke my cloake
from aboute me, and laye it Doune upon the Carpites, and bid me go and
playe on the organ; but I refused to do so, because the Grand Sinyor satt
so neare the place wheare I should playe that I could not com at it,
but I muste needes turne my backe Towardes him and touche his Kne with
my britchis, which no man, in paine of deathe, myghte dow, savinge only
the Coppagaw. So he smyled, and lett me stande a litle. Than the Grand
Sinyor spoake againe, and the Coppagaw, with a merrie countenance, bid me
go with a good curridge, and thruste me on. When I cam verrie neare the
Grand Sinyor, I bowed my heade as low as my kne, not movinge my cape,
and turned my backe righte towardes him, and touched his kne with my
britchis.
He satt in a verrie ritche Chaire of estate, upon his thumbe a ringe with
a diamon in it halfe an inche square, a faire simeterie by his side, a
bow, and a quiver of Arros.
He satt so righte behinde me that he could not se what I did; tharfore he
stood up, and his Coppagaw removed his Chaire to one side, wher he myghte
se my handes; but, in his risinge from his chaire, he gave me a thruste
forwardes, which he could not otherwyse dow, he satt so neare me; but I
thought he had bene drawinge his sorde to cut of my heade.
I stood thar playinge suche thinge as I coulde untill the cloke stroucke,
and than I boued my heade as low as I coulde, and wente from him with
my backe towardes him. As I was taking of my cloake, the Coppagaw came
unto me and bid me stand still and lett my cloake lye; when I had stood
a litle whyle, the Coppagaw bid me goo and cover the Keaes of the organ;
then I wente Close to the Grand Sinyor againe, and bowed myselfe, and
then I wente backewardes to my Cloake. When the Company saw me do so
theye semed to be glad, and laughed. Than I saw the Grand Sinyor put his
hande behind him full of goulde, which the Coppagaw Receved, and broughte
unto me fortie and five peecis of gould called chickers,[136] and than
was I put out againe wheare I came in, beinge not a little joyfull of my
good suckses.
Beinge gotten oute of the surralia, I made all the spede I could to that
gate where the imbassador wente in, for he and all his Company stode all
these tow houres expecktinge the Grand Sinyors cominge to another place
whear he should deliver his imbassege and Letteres.
When I came to that greate gate I sawe our Imbassador takeinge horse to
begone. As I was making haste towardes him, he saw me, and came to me,
Askinge me yf the Grand Sinyor had sene the presente. I tould him yeas,
and that I had sene the Grand Sinyor, and that I had gould out of his
pockett; whearat he semed to be verrie glade.
As he was speakinge unto me thar cam towe brave Turkes ridinge to my
lord, bidinge him take his place and staye a litle; than my lord bid me
take my place awhyle, for he desiered to heare more of that good neues.
So, when everie man had taken his place, thare was a greate gate opened
on one side of the courte, and sodenly thar came oute at that gate five
hundreth men on horsbacke, whose habbittes wear strainge to us, and their
horsis wear verrie good.
Lykwyse thare came 500 jenisaris on foute, everie man havinge in his
hande a great cane like unto a beadles staffe, and theye wear also in a
strange habitt. This thousande men did but only cross the Courte for a
show; they beinge gone, thar came sixe brave Turkes, well mounted, to our
imbassador, and conducted him to the water side.
When my Lord was com to his owne house, he, with the 12 jentlmen, entred
into his Chamber, and than he sente for me to tell him in what maner the
Grand Sinyor had sene the presente, and how I came to se him. When I hade
tould them the discource of it, they weare all verrie glad that he did
so well like the presente; but my lorde sat still a good whyle, and said
nothinge untill one asked him what he did stodie, on seinge althinges
proved so well. My lord Answeared him, that he was sorye for onethinge,
the which was that he never had any thoughte of my cominge into the Grand
Sinyors presence, nether that any other would make it doubtful unto him,
for if he had but mystrusted it never so litle, he would have bestowed
30 or 40_li._ in apparell for me.
The laste of September I was sente for againe to the surralia to sett
som thinges in good order againe, which they had altered, and those tow
jemoglans which kepte that house made me verrie kindly welcom, and asked
me that I would be contented to stay with them always, and I should
not wante anythinge, but have all the contentt that I could desier. I
answered them that I had a wyfe and Childrin in Inglande, who did expecte
my returne. Than they asked me how long I had been married, and how many
children I hade. Thoughe in deede I had nether wyfe nor childrin, yeat to
excuse my selfe I made them that Answeare.
Than they toulde me that yf I would staye the Grand Sinyor would give
tow wyfes, ether tow of his Concubines or els tow virgins of the beste I
Could Chuse my selfe, in Cittie or contrie.
The same nyghte, as my Lorde was at supper, I tould him what talke we
had in the surralya, and whate they did offer me to staye thare, and he
bid me that by no meanes I should flatly denie them anythinge, but be as
merrie with them as I could, and tell them that yf it did please my Lorde
that I should stay, I should be the better contented to staye; by that
meanes they will not go about to staye you by force, and yow may finde a
time the better to goo awaye when you please.
OCTOBER.
The seconde of October my Lord Imbassader held a feaste abord our ship,
and invited the baylie of Venis and sartaine Turks.[137]
The 12, beinge Fridaye, I was sente for to the Courte, and also the
Sondaye and Monday folloinge, to no other end but to show me the Grand
Sinyors privie Chamberes, his gould and silver, his chairs of estate; and
he that showed me them would have me to sitt downe in one of them, and
than to draw that sord out of the sheathe with the which the Grand Sinyor
doth croune his kinge.
When he had showed me many other thinges which I wondered at, than
crossinge throughe a litle squar courte paved with marble, he poynted me
to goo to a graite in a wale, but made me a sine that he myghte not goo
thether him selfe. When I came to the grait the wale was verrie thicke,
and graited on bothe the sides with iron verrie strongly; but through
that graite I did se thirtie of the Grand Sinyor’s Concobines that weare
playinge with a bale in another courte. At the firste sighte of them I
thoughte they had bene yonge men, but when I saw the hare of their heades
hange doone on their backes, platted together with a tasle of smale
pearle hanginge in the lower end of it, and by other plaine tokens, I did
know them to be women, and verrie prettie ones in deede.
Theie wore upon theire heades nothinge bute a litle capp of clothe of
goulde, which did but cover the crowne of her heade; no bandes a boute
their neckes, nor anythinge but faire cheans of pearle and a juell
hanginge on their breste, and juels in their ears; their coats weare like
a souldier’s mandilyon,[138] som of reed sattan and som of blew, and som
of other collors, and girded like a lace of contraire collor; they wore
britchis of scamatie,[139] a fine clothe made of coton woll, as whyte
as snow and as fine as lane[140]; for I could desarne the skin of their
thies throughe it. These britchis cam doone to their mydlege; som of
them did weare fine cordevan buskins, and som had their leges naked,
with a goulde ringe on the smale of her legg; on her foute a velvett
panttoble[141] 4 or 5 inches hie. I stood so longe loukinge upon them
that he which had showed me all this kindnes began to be verrie angrie
with me. He made a wrye mouthe, and stamped with his foute to make me
give over looking; the which I was verrie lothe to dow, for that sighte
did please me wondrous well.
Than I wente awaye with this Jemoglane to the place wheare we lefte my
drugaman or intarpreter, and I tould my intarpreter that I had sene 30 of
the Grand Sinyores Concobines; but my intarpreter advised me that by no
meanes I should speake of it, whearby any Turke myghte hear of it; for if
it weare knowne to som Turks, it would presente deathe to him that showed
me them. He durste not louke upon them him selfe. Although I louked so
longe upon them, theie saw not me, nether all that whyle louked towards
that place. Yf they had sene me, they would all have come presently
thether to louke upon me, and have wondred as moche at me, or how I cam
thether, as I did to se them.
The nexte daye our shipp caled the Heckter, beinge reddie to departe, I
wente to carrie my beed and my Chiste aborde the shipp. Whyleste I was
aborde the shipp, thar came a jemoglane or a messenger from the surralia
to my lord imbassador, with an express comand that the shipp should not
departe, but muste stay the Grand Sinyores pleasur. When my lord hard
this messidge, with suche a comande, he begane to wonder what the Cause
should be. He thoughte that thare hade bene som forfitt made, or that som
of the chips company had done horte or given som greate offence unto som
greate person; but, what so ever it was, he knew that the Grand Sinyores
comande must be obayed; tharefore, when he had stodied longe what the
cause myghte be, and beinge verrie desirus to know the truthe, he wente
to the messenger and desiered him to tell him the cause whye the Grand
Sinyor had sente this comande, or whearfore it should be.
The messenger tould him that he did not know the cause whye, nether
whearfore, but he did hearde the chia say that yf the workman that sett
up the presente in the surralia would not be perswaded to stay be hind
the shipe, the ship muste staye untill he had removed the presente unto
another place.
When my lord had got thus muche out of him, he began to be somwhat
merrie, for he was muche greved before, thinkinge it had bene a greater
matter; for the martchantes was bound in 5 hundrethe pounde unto the
owneres of the shipe that she should departe that day, which was the
Thursday folloing, yf wynd and wether sarved; also for the time that she
stayed there her Chargis was everie day 20_li._
Than my Lorde inquiered for me and sente one to the ship whear I was, who
tould me that I muste com presently to my Lorde; so when I came to my
lorde I found with him another messinger, who broughte the sartaintie of
the matter that it was for no other cause but for my stainge to remove
the organ; but when my lord tould me that I muste be contented to staye
and Lette the ship goo, than was I in a wonderfull perplixatie, and in my
furie I tould my lorde that that was now com to pass which I ever feared,
and that was that he in the end would betray me, and turne me over into
the Turkes hands, whear I should Live a slavish Life, and never companie
againe with Christians, with many other suche-like words.
My Lord verrie patiently gave me leve to speake my mynde. Than he lay
his hand on my shoulder and tould that as he was a Christian him selfe,
and hooped tharby to be saved, it was no plote of his, nether did he
know of any suche matter as this till the messinger came. In the ende
cothe he: Be yow contented to staye, and let the ship goo; and it shall
coste me 5 hundrethe pound rether than yow shalbe Compeled to staye a
day Longer than yow are willinge your selfe after yow have removed the
presente; and yow shall stay heare as longe as yow will, and goo assoune
as yow will, or when yow will make choice of your company; and yow shall
wante nothinge, silver or gould, to carry yow by seae or Lande, and goo
muche safer and more for your pleasur ten times than yow could to go
with the shipe, for the ship goethe to Scanderoune, in the botem of the
straites, which is oute of her way homwardes, and thare will staye a
monthe at leaste to take in her loadinge; and the place is so corrupte
and unhe(lth)full that many of her men will thare grow sick and die, and
yow shall by this means be oute of that dainger.
My Lorde did speake this so frindly and nobly unto me, that upon a sodon
he had altered my mynde, and I tould him that I would yeld my selfe into
Godes hand and his.
Than said my Lorde: I thanke yow, I will send to the shipe for suche
thinges as yow desier to have lefte behinde, for yow muste goo presently
to the surralia to se the place wheare yow muste sett up the presente, or
els they thinke that yow mean not to com at all; so away wente I with my
drugaman or interpreter my ould way to the surralia gates, the which they
willingly opened, and bid me welcom when I came to that house wheare the
presente did stande. Those jemoglanes, my ould acquaintance which kept
that house, and had bene appointed by the Grand Sinyor to perswade me to
staye thare allwayes, as indeed theie had done diveres times and diveres
wayes, now they thoughte that I would staye in deed, theye imbraced me
verrie kindly, and kiste me many times. What my drugaman said to them I
know not, but I thinke he tould them that I would not staye, tharfore,
when I was gone oute of the house doune som 4 or 5 steps into a courte,
as I was puting on my pantabls, one of these jemoglanes cam behinde
me and touke me in his armes and Carried me up againe into the house,
and sett me doune at that dore wheare all the Grand Sinyore’s brothers
weare strangled that daye he was made Emprore. My interpreter folloed
apase. When he that carried me had sette me doune, I bid my drugaman
aske him why he did so, and he, seinge me louk merrely, he him selfe
laughed hartaly, and saide that he did so but to se how I would tak it
yf they should staye me by force. Than I bid my drugaman tell him that
they should not need to go aboute to staye me by force, for I did staye
willingly to doo the Grand Sinyor all the sarvis that I could.
Than these 2 jemoglanes wente with me to show me the house wheare unto
the presente should be removed.
The waye was verrie pleasante throughte the garthens, whear did grow
store of siprus trees and many orther good frute trees in verrie comly
and desent order. Beinge paste the gardens, we entred upon a faire grene,
wheare we founde som galland Turks ridinge horses on the easte sid of
that grene or plain upon the wale of the surralia. Close to the sea sid
Dothe stande a prittie fine litle buldinge which theye cale a Cuske
(kiosk), made for a bancketinge house; but espetially, as I persaved, it
is a place wheare the Grand Sinyor dothe use to meet his Congquebines
twyse in the weeke. It is finly covered with Leade, and bulded squear on
the topp; in the midle a litle square tour like a peramadease (pyramid?)
on a greate heighte, and on the top of that a litle turrett well gildede,
and on the side nexte to the sea a faire large gallarie wheare men may
stande and se bothe up and doune the rever of Hellisponte, and lik wyse
over it into Asia.
On the other 3 sids towards the grene ar verrie larg pentazis
(pent-houses), supported with fine marble pillers, the flore spred with
fair carpites, the roufe under the pentas verrie Curiusly wroughte withe
gould and collors; but cominge into it it is a litle wonder, I cannot
duly discrib it; but the roufe is a round hollo, verrie curiosly
[_A page is lost here._]
pipes and Laid them in order on the carpites. By chance I caled to my
drugaman and asked him the cause of theire runinge awaye; than he saide
the Grand Sinyor and his Conquebines weare cominge, we muste be gone in
paine of deathe; but they run all away and lefte me behinde, and before
I gott oute of the house they weare run over the grene quit out at the
gate, and I runn as faste as my leggss would carrie me aftere, and 4
neageres or blackamoors cam runinge towardes me with their semetaries
drawne; yf they could have catchte me theye would have hewed me all in
peecis with there semeteris. When I cam to the wickett or gate, thare
stood a great number of jemoglanes, praying that I myghte escape the
handes of those runninge wolves; when I was got out of the gate they
weare verrie joyfull that I had so well escaped their handes. I stayed
not thare, but touke boate and went presently to my Lord and tould him
how I had run for my life. Asoune as my drugaman came home, my lord made
him beleve that he would hange him for leaving me in that dainger; but
at laste granted him his Life, but forbid him to com to his any more. He
was a Turke, but a Cornishe man borne. Now, as I was runinge for my life,
I did se a litle of a brave show, which was the Grand Sinyor him selfe
on horsbacke, many of his conquebines, som ridinge and som on foute,
and brave fellowes in their kinde, that weare gelded men, and keepers of
the conquebines; neagers that weare as blacke as geate (jet), but verrie
brave; by their sides great semeteris; the scabertes semed to be all
goulde, etc.
The 21, my Lord would not suffer me to goo to worke, because it was our
Sabothe daye.
And that did louse me somthinge, for that daye the Grand Sinyor had
appointed to com and sitt by me to se how I put my worke together, and
was come upon the grene, which when the jemoglanes persaved, they run
to mete him, and tould him that I came not to worke that daye. Than he
returned againe, and thoughte that I had kepte my selfe awaye of purpse,
and tharefore he would not com any more.
The 24 my worke was finished.
The 25 I wente to that place againe with the Coppagaw, to show him
somethinges in the presente, and to se that I had lefte nothinge amise.
And than those jemoglanes was verrie earneste with me in perswation to
stay and live thare.
The Laste of October my Lord imbassader wente to the vizear’s house
with all his train of Inglish men; for that daye the vizear[142] had
appointed to end a contrivarcie which was betwixte him and the Franche
imbassader[143]; but the Franche imbassader seinge us go by his house
with a greater company than he could make, he would not com after us,
the which was litle for his credditt. The 2 imbassaders made sute bothe
for one thinge, and the vizear recaved great bribes of the Franche
imbassader.
NOVEMBER.
The 12th of November I wente to Andranople gate, that is the farthest
gate of Constantinople, towardes Andranople. Upon a goodly plaine
withoute that gate, I se a carravan of the Taleste (tallest) Camels that
ever I had sene in all my time. Than we returned into the Cittie to see
Diverse monymentes, the which I would not for anything but that I had
sene them. I have not time now to wryte them, but of force muste leave
them un named untill a time of better Leasur.
This daye, in the morninge, I put on a pare of new shoues, and wore them
quite oute before nyghte; but this daye I touke a great could with a
surfett, by means whearof I was sore trubled with a burninge fever, and
in great dainger of my Life. When I was somthinge recovered, by the helpe
of God and a good fisition, it hapened that thar was good Company reddie
to com for Inglande, suche as in 2 or 3 years I could not have had the
lik, if I had stayed behinde them, and they weare all desierus to have my
company. My Lord was verrie unwillinge that I should goo at that time,
because I was verrie wayke, not able to goo on foute one myle in a daye.
But I desiered my lord to give me leve, for I had rether die by the way
in doinge my good will to goo hom than staye to die thare, wheare I was
perswaded I could not live if I did staye behinde them.
OF OUR PASIGE BY SEE TO VOLA (VOLO) IN ROMALEA.
My lord Ambassador would have me to carrie may beed with me, and gave
order for the carreinge of it on ship borde, and also that when we came
to travell by lande that I should have one horse to carrie me, and
another to carrie my beed and my Clothes.
The 28 of November, beinge Weddensdaye, at 4 acloke in the after nowne,
we departed from the cittie of Constantinople and Gallata in a Turkishe
ship caled Carmesale,[144] in the which we had a discontented voyege, the
Mr. and sailer wear so barbarus.
The nexte daye we came to the tow Castles caled Sestoes and Abidose,
wheare som of our company wente ashore and touke in as good wyne as the
worlde yeldethe, but it was but for their owne provition.
DECEMBER.
The firste of December we departed from thence, and after 7 myles we came
to the ruins of Troy, and sailed behinde Tennidose, leavinge it on our
Lefte hande.
The wynde beinge tow Large for our waike (weak) shipp, we came to an
anker at the iland Lemnos the same daye.
At this place we weare in greate dainger of beinge caste awaye.
The sixte day we sett saile againe, havinge a faire wynde, but towardes
nyghte we weare becalmed.
The 7th daye, the wynde beinge contrarie, we came to an anker by the
shore of Romalea, the maine lande of Grece.
The 8 day, the wynde cominge faire, we sett saile, and entred the rever.
The nexte morninge, beinge Sunday, we arived at Vola, in Romalea, the
maine of Greece, not farr from Thessalonica.
The 10th we touke horsis, and began our jurnaye by land over the Confines
of Thessale.
The 12th daye, at nyghte, we came to a towne caled Zetoune.[145] Beinge
come to this towne, our horsis and mayls (mules) returned to Vola; and
heare we rested tow dayes. I may say rested, for I am sure we had no
reste in the nyghte, our lodginge was so bade, be side the greate feare
we wear in of haveinge our throtes cutt. The beste comoditie we had was
that we had good store of good wyne and good cheape (sheep).
Heare we hired freshe horsis and mayles (mules). We weare but 8 men,
yeat we had everie daye 12 horsis.... Four of them weare to carrie our
clothes, my beed, and wyne and vitell for 3 dayes. For some nyghtes we
weare like to ly without dors, and at som touns we could not gitt any
vitels. Whyle we weare in this toune we weare warned to keep close, for
thar weare som of the Grand Sinyor’s souldiers that weare cominge from
the wars.
The 14th we departed from Zetoun, and haveing rid 6 or 7 myles, we began
to climbe the hills of Parnassus, wheare we had all maner of ill wether,
as thundringe, lightninge, rayne, and snow, and our waye was so bad as I
thinke never did Christians travell the like. The mountains weare huge
and steepe, stony, and the wayes verrie narrow, so that if a horse should
have stumbled or slided, bothe horse and man had bene in greate dainger
of theire lives.
Also we weare doged, or followed, by 4 stout villans that weare Turkes.
They would have perswaded our drugaman, which was our gid (guide), to
have given his consente unto the Cuttinge of our throtes in the nyghte,
and he did verrie wysely Conseale it from us, and delayed the time with
them, not daringe to denye ther sute; and so theye followed us 4 dayes
over Parnassus; but our drugaman everie nyghte give us charge to keepe
good watche, espetialy this laste nyghte, for theye did purpose to goo no
farther after us, and our Turke, whome I cale our drugaman, had premeded
(permitted) them that that nyghte it should be don. Now, after he had
given us warninge to kepe good watche, he wente unto them and made them
drinke so muche wyne, or put somthinge in there wyne, that theye weare
not only drunke but also sicke, that they weare not able to attempte
anythinge againste us to hurt us, for the which we had verrie greate
cause to give hartie thanks unto Almyghtie God, who was our chefeste
savgaurd.
This nighte we Laye in a lytle village under a wonderfull heie rocke.
Thoughe that countrie be contenually could, yeate the wemen thare never
weare anythinge on their feete; they ar verrie well favored, but their
feete be blacke and broade.
This man that was sente with us to be our drugaman, or intarpreater, was
an Inglishe man, borne in Chorlaye in Lancashier; his name Finche. He was
also in religon a perfit Turke, but he was our trustie frende.
The nexte daye, beinge the 17th, we came to Lippanta,[146] wheare our
Turke revealed all this unto us, and these men we had sene, but never
more than one at once, and he never stayed longe in our companye, for he
came but to speake with our Turke aboute their vilanus plott.
This day we had bothe wynter and somer; in the morning we did tread upon
froste and snowe; before nowne we came to the bottem of the mountaine,
wheare did run a rever, so bige and stifly, beinge fulle of stons, so
that we durste not adventur to rid over it; but our Turke, ridinge up and
doune by the rever sid, espied tow stoute fellowes, the which wear naked
and more than halfe savidge or wyld; he caled them unto him, and they
unwilingly came. Than when he had talked with them, he comanded one of
them to take his horse by the bridle and leade him throughe the rever,
and so he did, havinge a greate stafe in his hand; than the other savige
man touke Mr. Paul Pinder’s horse by the heade and led him over, and than
Sir Humfray Conisby his horse, and so one after a other. This rever was
thicke and moddie, and was no other than mearly snow water, that dothe
desend from those hils wheare it dothe contenualy snow.
Longe before nyghte we came to Lippanta, whiche is a greate haven toune.
The people in it ar Turkes, Greekes, and Jues (Jews); but the greateste
parte be Jues, the second Turkes. This Lippanta is a good haven toone,
lyethe close to the sea, in the risinge of a hill, and upon that hill is
a castell, the which hathe 2 counter wales, etc.
In diverse partes of the toune are verrie fine Springs of exelente
watter, and som of them do drive myls, the which myls be verrie straingly
made, for only one water whele, withoute any cogwhele or anythinge els,
dothe turne the stone, and will grinde 30 bushils a daye and upwards.
To make the like I am able to giv direckion.
Aboute this toune theye make greate store of verrie pleasante wynes,
bothe whyte and reed.
Also heare dothe grow good store of Currante, greate plentie of orringis
and lemons, palm sidrons, palm garnetes (pomegranates), dates and almons,
and verrie good ayle (oil).
We lodged heare 3 nyghtes in the house of a Jew, who is by Inglishe men
caled the honeste Jew, for he is verrie lovinge unto Inglishe men.
The 20th daye we touke a boote and croste the Gulfe of Lippanta, and
the same nyghte came to Petras (Patras), in Morea. All our way thether
we weare in good hoope to have hade greate entertainmente thare by Mr.
Jonas Aldredge, an Inglish man who was Consoll thare; but he was gone 40
myles from home to hange a Jew. By misinge of him we weare constrained to
lodge at a Romain’s[147] house in suche maner as we (did) all our jurney;
for thouge we had house roum enoughe, yeat we laye in our clothes upon
the grounde, savinge at the Jewe’s house in Lippanta thare was tow bed
steades, Inglishe fation; but those would not sarve us all.
At this place Mr. Cunisbe was like to have cutt of a Jew’s heade, who
railed againste our Saviour; but Mr. Paull Pinder and the reste of our
Company, with muche at dow, prevented it.
This Petrace (Patras) is in Morea, ether adjoyninge or a parte of Greece.
Hear is a good porte for ships; but the towne is neare halfe a myle from
the sea, in the risinge of a hill. A litle a bove the towne is a castle,
but the towne and Castele ar but of smale strength.
Hear is indiferente store of Currante and ayle, and greate store of
corne, for theye doo sell som to other contris that wante; also good
store of goates and shepe and other catle. Because som of our companye
was sicke, we restede heare 3 dayes.
The 24, being Christmas Eeve, we proseded in our jurnaye throughe Morrea.
A bout nowne we came to a rever that we muste pass throughe; and,
determaninge thare to baite, for we ever had vitals reddie dreste for 3
dayes, we pitched and placed ourselves under the alder trees, to kepe us
from the son; for thoughe it was Christmas eve, yeat we thoughte it to be
as hoate wether as we have it in Inglande at Whitsontide, and swallowes
came fliinge a bout us. Our dinner ended, we croste the rever, and entred
into a foreste-like Cuntrie, wheare we saw nether towne nor villidge,
but somtime a shipheardes Hoote (hut). At nyghte we founde 3 litle pore
cottidges. In this wylde cuntrie, wheare we rested the moste part of the
nyght; and whyle 4 of us slepte, the other 4 did watche, for we touke the
place to be daingerus to sleepe it. I was one of the 4 that did watche
in the fore parte of the nyghte. Betwixte 11 and 12 of the clocke we saw
a bale of fierr, as bigge as a greate foot bale,[148] risinge out of the
easte, and did rise of a greate heighte, and did give a greate lighte;
than, faulinge towardes the weste, the lighte and fier bothe was less and
less. Mr. Conisbe was verrie sorie that he had not sene that fier bale.
At 4 a clocke in the morninge, beinge Christmas daye, we Sett forwardes.
This day we could not number the heardes of swine which we saw and paste
throughe, and also heardes of shepe and goates, and we weare verrie muche
trubled wethe shepheardes’ doggs, the which weare like to pluck us of our
horsis.
This cuntrie is a parte of the plains of Arcadia. Aboute (an) howre we
cam to a villidge, wheare we did thinke to have boughte som vittels, but
we could gitt nothinge but 8 egges.
When we weare a myle oute of this towne upon the plains, the day before
was verrie fair, but now thar fell a sodon shower of raine, the which
came downe as if it had bene powered downe with bouls, and no winde; but
our horsis stood stone still, and would not stur one foote. The shower
lasted not a bove halfe a quarter of an hour, and for a great parte of
that time for a myle round aboute us we could se no ground for water.
Upon a sodon it seaste, and the water was gone, all savinge som which
laye in hollow placis.
Pasinge throughe this plaine, upon our righte hande we myghte se the
seae, and upon the sandes an infinite company of wyld swans.[149] Upon
our lefte hande we sawe highe mountains.
At nyghte we came to a Castell, caled Castell Turneaes,[150] the which
dothe stand upon a verrie hie hill, posseste with a garreson of Turkes,
and is 3 myles from the seae. It is a Castele that may be kepte with a
verrie few men. The waye to it is so lade[151] that ordenance cannot be
broughte anythinge near it.
On St. Stevn’s Day we did thinke to have croste a parte of the sea to the
iland Zante, but the wynde was so hie that we could not.
On St. John’s Day, the wynde beinge somwhat abatted, we carried our
supportes[152] and other Lugedge to the seasid, wheare we weare in hoope
to find som boats. Cominge thether, we founde a great markett of swyne
and other cattell, and so thar is everie day, beinge faire weather. The
iland Zante hathe all theire provition of vittell from thence. From this
place it is but 12 or 18 myles by sea, yeate we had muche adow to hier a
hogge boate to carrie us to Zante. For our passage and carriege of our
stufe we payed seven Chickens (sequins), or 7 pecis of gould which weare
nyne shillinges a peece.
Heare, at the sea sid, we parted from our drugaman, or the Turke that was
our gidd from Constantinople. Thoughe he was a Turke, his righte name was
Finche, borne at Chorlaye in Longcashier.
OUR ENTERTAINMENT AT ZANTE.
Beinge come to Zante, we could not be permited to goe a shore,
because the governers of the toune did understand that we came from
Constantinople, or oute of Turkie. It (is) ther Custom to deale so with
all straingers that come out of Turkie, if they have not a letter of
health from some Venitian or Ittalian.
So by the judgimente of the Provodore and the tow Sinyors of Healthe, we
wear comited to the lazaretto, which is a prison for all suche travelers,
and thare to remaine for 10 dayes; and if, at the ende of 10 dais, any
man be founde sicke when the Sinyors of Healthe com to examon and se
them, than they muste remaine thare for 10 daies more.
JENNARIE.
By suche meanes as our martchantes who ar facktors thare did use, we had
poticke (pratique) the 6 of Jenuarie, but at our firste cominge we weare
in doubte to have laine thare longer in this prison, but we hade a greate
favor showede us, for we weare not put into the ordenarie preson, but
into a new house wheare never any bodie had dwelte, and it was cloce to
the seae. Also the water men which brought us from Castell Turneas[153]
was commited with us, because they broughte us in theire boote; and we
weare constrained to finde them vittals for 7 dayes; for than the Sinyors
of Healthe came unto us to se if any man weare sicke. Than Mr. Paule
Pinder desiered that they would releace the water men, and ease us of
that charge. So theye weare contented that the water men should have
proticke, or libertie, if theye would leape out at a window into the sea,
and washe them selues over heade with theyer clothis on; the which theye
weare verrie lothe to dow, but Mr. Connisbye drew his simmeterie, and
swore a greate othe that if they would not leape out quickly he would cut
of theier legges, and made them perforce leap oute; and so we weare rid
of them.
Many thinges which hapened in the time of our impresoment, for wante of
time I doo omit.
FEBRUARIE.
We stayed in the iland of Zante fortie and 6 dayes, ever expectinge som
ship to com in thare that would Carrie us to Venis, or els for Inglande,
but the firste that came war the Heckter, in the which I wente out of
Inglande; and we did thinke that she by that time had bene in Inglande.
When I saw her I was somwhat sorie, for I had a great desier to have gone
to Venis; but yeat I was glad againe, because I knew that in her was a
sur passidge, and emongste men that did know me.
The 26 of Februarie, in the morninge, we departed from Zante. The nexte
day we had ill wether and the wynd contrarie, so that we returned again,
and went in at Safflanee,[154] in Morea. In our company was the Edward
Boneventur[155] and the Swallow. In that harbur we founde the great
Susan[156] of London, a ship of 3 hundrethe tun; and thare was the Riall
Defence of Brstoll. The laste of this monthe cam in thare the martchante
Boniventur.
MARCHE 1599.
The firste of Marche came in a litle shipe caled the Diamon.
In this contrie is verrie good muscadine,[157] and thar is also som
Currante. This harbur is verrie good; what wether so ever blow, a ship is
without dainger thare. On the weste sid dothe stand a pretie toune caled
Luksere[158]; on the easte, a Castell. When we wente to sea from hence
we weare in Company eighte ships; beinge 4 or 5 leages at sea, the wynde
came contrarie, and like to be foule wether, so that we returned againe
to the same harber; in the morninge the wynde came fair againe, and we
sett saile againe.
The sixte daye we paste the Gulfe of Venis, the which daye the wynde came
all southe weste a smale gale, so that we could not keepe our course; but
as we weare turninge in the nighte, the wynde came faire at southe and
by easte, and contenued the nexte daye.
The 9th daye we descried Mount Etnaye, but thare it is caled
Muntabell,[159] the burninge mountaine in Cisillia. In the Afternoone we
came under the shore of the same lande; at the firste we did thinke to
com to an anker because the wynd was bad, yeate torninge up and downe by
the shore, we saw the watche toweres make lightes at the topp of theire
tours, to shew unto other watche toures how many ships they saw that
weare not theire frendes; for thare be of those touers round aboute the
iland, so that yf one Touer do show so many lightes one after another
as they se ships, it will goo round aboute the iland in a verrie shorte
time. Yf we had com to an anker we feared them note, but theye weare a
frayed of us; yeat doubtinge the wynde would be worse, or else no wynd at
all, we kept at sea. The next day we weare so neare the shore that we saw
a greate company of souldiers, bothe horse and foote, gathered together.
For all that, towardes eyghte we came to an anker neare the shore. When
the wynde came faire, everie ship sett saile before our Anker was upe
or wayed. The other 7 ships beinge under saile, they gave chase to a
Spainishe shipe which was goinge to Malta with wheate, and when she saw
so many Inglishe ships under saile she thoughte it better for her to
goo backe againe to Sesillia than to keepe her cource. Our shipe beinge
the hindmoste of all the 8, yeate we out wente them all, and touke that
prise. There was but 10 men in her; it was but a smale barke; she was
loden with wheate. When our sailers had pillidged her our Mr. gave the
ship and wheate to Captain Coke, a man of ware; we had out of her verrie
fine whyte breade and good Chese. In the nyghte folloinge thare rise a
myghtie storme, the wynde at weste, at which time we weare 30 leages from
Capp Passaro,[160] wheare we weare laste at Anker. This storme contenued
48 houres, that we weare not able to beare any saile; in this storm the
prise which we hade taken was Caste awaye.
The 13th day, beinge Weddensday, we weare in sighte of Cape Passaro
againe, beinge driven backe againe thre score Leagues, and thar came to
an Anker againe, wheare we founde a greate Flemishe shipe. That nyghte
the watche touers made lightes as they did before. The nexte morninge we
wayed Anker again, but we weare driven further backwardes. The second
nyghte after we recovered that place againe; this truble we touke to be a
punishmente for takinge of that prise. The nexte day, beinge Sundaye, and
the 16th daye of Marche, it was verrie calme and extreame hoote wether;
at 8 a clocke at nyghte we sett saile, for the wynde came faire at easte,
but a verrie smale gale; the next day we weare becalmed betwixte Malta
and Cesillia.
The 19th we mett with an Inglishe ship caled the John and Francis,
neare the coste of Cesillia, loaden with Turkes and Jues bounde for
Alicksandrea.
The 21, beinge Good Fridaye, the wynde came faire, and broughte us to
Panthaleara (Pantelaria).
One Easter day the wynd was direcktly againste us, and drive us backe.
The 25, beinge Tusdaye, we mett with the Rebeka of London and the Gren
Dragon of Bristoll.
The 29, the wynde beinge faire, we paste by Cape Bone; 10 leagues from
that we paste by a litle Ilande caled Simbre,[161] a verrie hie mountaine
also the same daye by Porta Farren,[162] the goinge into Tunis.
The firste daye of Aprill we Croste the Gulfe of Lions. Our vitals beinge
verrie badd, I was invited to diner with our marchantes in the great
Cabbin, and beinge at diner, we harde the crye of a mearmaide, like as
yf one had hailed our shipe; but our bootswane forbid any man to make
answeare or to louke oute.
The second daye the wynde came faire; the thirde day the wynde being
bade, we came to an anker at Firma[163] Teara, wheare our botes wente a
shore for freshe water and stores, not inhabeted, but with bannished men
thare. Neare unto a watche tower we founde a man lyinge deade withoute
a heade, for it had bene cut of by som Turks as we supposed. This Iland
is verrie neare a place or towne in Spaine caled Iverse.[164] Our ship
did rid but a litle from the toune and Castle, which Castell is verrie
stronge. The 6 daye, beinge Sondaye, in the morninge, as we weare wayinge
anker, Thare came a boate from that toune, and broughte our marchantes
for a presente tow gootes, oringis, Lemons, leekes, and Chibbals,[165]
and grene beans, indeco, lettes, and other earbs. The 7th daye we sailed
by Caldaroune[166] and by Alligante, which is an hondrethe Leagues within
the straites mouthe; thare we mett with tow Flemishe sale that came from
Talloune.[167] The 8 daye we weare becalmed before Alligante. The 9 daye
we paste by Cape Pale,[168] in the nyghte folloinge by Cape Degate[169];
in the morninge we weare becalmed before Alama,[170] a fair toune in
Spaine, as it is said, not moche inferrier to London. We weare in a maner
becalmed all that daye and the nyghte followinge.
This day we saw greate store of the spane (spawn) of whales, whearof they
make spermacetie; it did swym upon the water as the whale lefte it: upon
the water it showed reed; but when we touke upe som of it in a buckete,
it was whyte, and like grease.
Also this daye, beinge a verrie smale gale of wynde, a great fishe caled
a storke (shark?), of a marvalus length, did follow our ship, sid by sid,
with his eyes a bove water waytinge for a praye; for if a man had come
withe in his lengthe of the water, he would hardly have escaped him.
Our Mr. goner made reddie his harpinge iron, and, when the sutle fishe se
him reddie to pitche it at him, he staied and fell behinde the ship, and
came up on the other side, and sarved him so 2 or 3 times; but at laste
he hitt him a litle behinde the heade with a full blowe, but his skine
was so harde that the iron turned duble and would not enter anythinge at
all, only we myghte se a litle whyte spott wheare it lighte. Nether did
the fishe make any show of felinge it, but turned him a boute, and wente
awaye direcktly from the ship.
The 11th daye, the wynde beinge muche againste us, as we weare turninge
to gitt somthinge of the wynde, we came neare unto the Castell
Defeare[171] in Spaine, and verrie neare unto the shore, we loukinge
still when the Castell would shoute at us, but they would not. Than,
beinge com less than a league from the shore, we had no wynde at all,
and so it contenued all the nexte daye. By this meanes our fleete weare
scattered one a league from another, so that yf the Spainishe gallis had
come forthe they myghte have taken us one after another.
That daye it was strainge to se how the porposis did rune in greate
fleetes or scoles (shoals), in what maner it is credable to reporte, and
the noyes that they made.
The 13th we mett with a ship of Yarmouthe. The 15th we came neare to
Gibletore,[172] wheare we mett with 3 Inglishe men (or ships) and one
Flemin, which made our fleete 14 saile; but the wynde was so contrarie
that we coulde not com neare the narrow gutt of the straite’s mouthe,
but laye becalmed unto Budgrow,[173] also to Marvels,[174] and Grande
Malligan.
The 16th we weare becalmede. The nexte morninge we saw 2 greate whalis,
which wear so huge that we thoughte them to be tow gallis or frigates:
ite was an extreame hoote day.
The 17th, at 10 a clocke, the wynde came faire at northe-easte, so that
aboute a 11 of the clocke at nyght we entred into the narrow gutt,
which is 4 leagues in lengthe. At the son risinge we paste bye Cape
Sprott,[175] which is 10 leages withoute the straite’s mouthe, at which
time we had in our sighte 21 saile of ships.
The same daye, towardes nyghte, one shipe in our Companye, caled the
Rebecka, the which at that time was the moste speedie of saile, touke her
leve of us, with an intente to bringe the firste newes into Ingland of
our safe cominge homwardes.
The nexte morninge, beinge the 19th, we descried Mount Chegos,[176] a hie
lande in Spaine, 7 leagues from the Southe Cape.
The 20th, in the morninge, beinge Sundaye, verrie arlye, one in our
mayntope saw a saille Cominge towardes us direckly; and when we myghte
well desarne the hull of her, we did know her to be the Rebecka, the
same shipe that touke her leve of us tow dayes before to carrie newes
of our safe cominge homwards. The Cause of the returne of that ship was
for that tow galliouns of Spaine did give Chace unto her, yeate nothinge
so good of saile as she; but the Mr. of the Rebecka thoughte them to be
Carreks[177] Cominge from the Indies loden with greate welthe, whearin he
was muche desaved, for theye weare tow men-of-warr that did ly in wayte
for our ship, as afterwardes theie confesed. When they weare come neare
unto us, we did also thinke them to be but than cominge from the Indies.
One of them was a shipe of one thousande tow hundrethe tone, the other 8
hundrethe. Our Mr. was verrie unwillinge to feighte with them, but our
saylors was verrie desierus; so we presently wente to prayers, and than
our gonors made reddie their ordinance, feightes[178] oute, and everie
man his place appointed, and all thinges in reddines, we havinge the
wynde of the Spanishe ships. Our ship, caled the Heckter, laye sid by sid
to the greate gallioune, and an other Inglishe shipp Called the Greate
Susan laye close by the other, ever expectinge who would give the firste
shoute. All the other ships that weare before in our Companye weare gone
a league and more of from us, without dainger of any shott. Thare was
great odes betwixte our shipp, that ship was caled the Great Suzana
[_Here some pages are missing._][179]
unto him, and desiered him to give me and my mate Harve leve to go
a shore thare, and we would take poste horse, and make what speed we
Could to London; so at laste he granted me and 3 more leve to goo, upon
Condition that we would take the Spainishe Captaine with us, and bringe
him safe unto the marchantes, the which we promesed to doo.
Than we wente a shore at Dover, and our trompetes soundinge all the waye
before us into the towne, wheare we made our selves as merrie as Could,
beinge verrie glad that we weare once againe upon Inglishe ground. After
diner, thar Came into the toune a Franche imbasseter, beinge accompened
with divers knightes and jentlmen of Kente; so, at tow of the Clocke,
we touke poste horse to Canterburrie, and from thenc to Rochester that
nyghte, and the nexte day to London.
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