_Of the countrey and yle named Java, which is a mighty lande._
[Illustration]
AND there is also a great yle that men call Java & the kinge of that
countrey hath under hym seven kinges, for he is a full mightie prince.
In this yle groweth all maner of spyces more plenteously than in any
other place, as ginger, clowes, canell[1] nutmyge[2] and other, and ye
shall understande that the nutmyge beareth the maces, & of all thing
therein is plenty savinge wine. The King of this lande hath a riche
palace and the best that is in the worlde, for all the greces of his
hall and chambres are all made one of gold & another of silver, & all
the walls are plated with fine gold and silver, & on those plates are
written stories of knightes, and batayles, and the pavimente of the
hall and chambres is of golde and silver, and there is no man that
woulde beleve this riches that is there except hee had sene it, and
the Kynge of this yle is so mightie, that he hath many times overcom
the great Caane of Cathay which is the myghtiest Emperour that is in
all the worlde, for there is often warre amonge them, for the great
Caane would make hym hold his land of him.
[Footnote 1: Cinnamon.]
[Footnote 2: Nutmeg.]