most passynge fair in alle the world: of the whiche the walles ben in
circuyt more than 2 myle: and within the walles, it is alle fulle of other
palays. And in the gardyn of the grete palays, there is a gret hille, upon
the whiche there is another palays; and it is the most fair and the most
riche, that ony man may devyse. And all aboute the palays and the hille,
ben many trees, berynge many dyverse frutes. And alle aboute that hille,
ben dyches grete and depe: and besyde hem, ben grete vyneres, on that o
part and on that other. And there is a fulle fair brigge to passe over the
dyches. And in theise vyneres, ben so many wylde gees and gandres and wylde
dokes and swannes and heirouns, that it is with outen nombre. And alle
aboute theise dyches and vyneres, is the grete gardyn, fulle of wylde
bestes; so that, whan the gret Cane wil have ony desport on that, to taken
ony of tho wylde bestes or of the foules, he wil lete chace hem and taken
hem at the wyndowes, with outen goynge out of his chambre. This palays,
where his sege is, is bothe gret and passynge fair. And with in the palays,
in the halle, there ben 24 pyleres of fyn gold: and alle the walles ben
covered with inne, of rede skynnes of bestes, that men clepen panteres;
that ben faire bestes, and well smellyng: so that for the swete odour of
tho skynnes, non evylle ayr may entre in to the palays. Tho skynnes ben als
rede as blode, and thei schynen so brighte azen the sonne, that unethes no
man may beholden hem. And many folk worschipen tho bestes, whan thei meeten
hem first at morwe, for here gret vertue and for the gode smelle that thei
han: and tho skynnes thei preysen more than thoughe thei were plate of fyn
gold. And in the myddes of this palays is the mountour for the grete Cane,
that is alle wrought of gold and of precyous stones and grete perles: and
at 4 corneres of the mountour, been 4 serpentes of gold: and alle aboute
ther is y made large nettes of sylk, and gold and grete perles hangynge
alle aboute the mountour. And undre the mountour, ben condytes of beverage,
that thei drynken in the emperours court. And besyde the condytes, ben many
vesselles of gold, be the whiche, thei that ben of houshold, drynken at the
condyt. And the halle of the palays is fulle nobelyche arrayed, and fulle
merveylleousely atyred on all parteys, in alle thinges, that men apparayle
with ony halle. And first, at the chief of the halle, is the emperours
throne, fulle highe, where he syttethe at the mete: and that is of fyn
precyouse stones, bordured alle aboute with pured gold and precyous stones
and grete perles. And the grees, that he gothe up to the table, ben of
precyous stones, medled with gold. And at the left syde of the emperoures
sege, is the sege of his firste wif, o degree lowere than the emperour: and
it is of jaspere, bordured with gold and preciouse stones. And the sege of
his seconde wif is also another sege, more lowere than his firste wif: and
it is also of jaspere, bordured with gold, as that other is. And the sege
of the thridde wif is also more lowe, be a degree, than the seconde wif.
For he hathe alweys 3 wifes with him, where that evere he be. And aftre his
wyfes, on the same syde, sytten the ladyes of his lynage, zit lowere, aftre
that thei ben of estate. And alle tho that ben maryed, han a countrefete,
made lyche a mannes foot, upon here hedes, a cubyte long, alle wrought with
grete perles, fyne and oryent, and aboven, made with pecokes fedres and of
other schynynge fedres; and that stont upon here hedes, like a crest, in
tokene that thei ben undre mannes fote and undre subiectioun of man. And
thei that ben unmaryed, han none suche. And aftre, at the right syde of the
Emperour, first syttethe his eldest sone, that schalle regne aftre him: and
he syttethe also o degree lowere than the emperour, in suche manere of
seges, as don the emperesses. And aftre him, sytten other grete lordes of
his lynage, every of hem a Degree lowere than other, as thei ben of estate.
And the emperour hathe his table allone be him self, that is of gold, and
of precious stones, or of cristalle, bordured with gold, and fulle of
precious stones or of amatystes or of lignum aloes, that comethe out of
paradys, or of ivory, bounden or bordured with gold. And everyche of his
wyfes hathe also hire table be hire self. And his eldest sone, and the
other lordes also, and the ladyes, and alle that sitten with the emperour,
han tables allone be hem self, fulle riche. And there nys no table, but
that it is worthe an huge tresour of gode. And undre the emperoures table,
sitten 4 clerkes, that writen alle, that the emperour seythe, be it good,
be it evylle. For alle that he seythe, moste ben holden; for he may not
chaungen his word, ne revoke it. At grete solempne festes, before the
emperoures table, men bryngen grete tables of gold, and there on ben
pecokes of gold, and many other maner of dyverse foules, alle of gold, and
richely wrought and enameled; and men maken hem dauncen and syngen,
clappynge here wenges to gydere, and maken gret noyse: and where it be by
craft or be nygromancye, I wot nere; but it is a gode sight to beholde, and
a fair; and it is gret marvayle how it may be. But I have the lasse
marvaylle, be cause that thei ben the moste sotyle men in alle sciences and
in alle craftes, that ben in the world. For of sotyltee and of malice and
of fercastynge, thei passen alle men undre hevene. And therfore thei seyn
hem self, that thei seen with 2 eyen; and the Cristene men see but with on:
be cause that thei ben more sotylle than thei. For alle other naciouns,
thei seyn, ben but blynde in conynge and worchynge in comparisoun to hem. I
did gret besynesse, for to have lerned that craft: but the maistre tolde
me, that he had made a vow to his God, to teche it to no creature, but only
to his eldeste sone. Also above the emperours table and the othere tables,
and aboven a gret partie in the halle, is a vyne, made of fyn gold: and it
spredethe alle aboute the halle; and it hath many clustres of grapes, somme
white, somme grene, summe zalowe and somme rede and somme blake, alle of
precious stones: the white ben of cristalle and of berylle and of iris; the
zalowe ben of topazes; the rede ben of rubies, and of grenaz and of
alabraundynes; the grene ben of emeraudes, of perydos and of crisolytes;
and the blake ben of onichez and garantez. And thei ben alle so propurlyche
made, that it semethe a verry vyne, berynge kyndely grapes. And before the
emperoures table, stonden grete lordes, and riche barouns and othere, that
serven the emperour at the mete. And no man is so hardy, to speke a word,
but zif the emperour speke to him; but zif it be mynstrelles, that syngen
songes, and tellen gestes or other desportes, to solace with the emperour.
And alle the vesselle, that men ben served with, in the halle or in
chambres, ben of precious stones; and specially at grete tables; outher of
jaspre or of cristalle or of amatystez or of fyn gold. And the cuppes ben
of emeraudez and of saphires or of topazes, of perydoz, and of many other
precyouse stones. Vesselle of sylver is there non: for thei telle no prys
there of, to make no vesselle offe: but thei maken ther of grecynges and
pileres and pawmentes, to halles and chambres. And before the halle dore,
stonden manye barounes, and knyghtes clene armed, to kepe that no man
entre, but zif it be the wille or the commandement of the emperour, or but
zif thei ben servauntes or mynstralle of the houshold: and other non is not
so hardy, to neighen nye the halle dore.
CAPVT. 35.
De quatuor solennitatibus, quas Magnus Can celebrat in anno.
Sciatis quòd ego, meíque sodales, pro fama magnificentiæ huius Imperatoris,
tradidimus nos stipendiarios esse in guerris, contra Regem Mangi
prænominatum. Et fuimus apud ipsum 15. mensibus, et certè inuenimus multò
maiorem partem hominum, in mediam partem nobis non fuisse relatam: hominum
(exceptis custodibus bestiarum et volucrum,) qui intra palatium certa
gerunt ministeria est numerus decem cuman.
Nota. Traxi moram in Cambalu tribus annis: fratres nostri locum habent in
Curia sua specialiter, et festis diebus statutis dant benedictionem,
Odericus. Et quoniam Imperator habet satis plures quàm decem mille
Elephantes edomitos, et velut vltrà numerum alias bestias, (quarum quædam
tenentur in caueis, stabulis mirabilibus, vel catenis) nec non et aues
rapaces, et accipitres, falcones, ostrones, gryfandos gentiles, Laueroys,
et Satyros, sed et auiculas loquentes, et papingos, et similes, aliásque
cantantes: reputatur numerus hominum de istis curam et laborem gerentium,
vltrà sex cuman, et prætereà iugiter ad Curiam equites cum plenarijs
armaturis, quinque cuman, et de peditibus cum præliandi armaturis, cuman
decem. Sed et omnes de natione quacunque mundi venientes, qui petunt
describi pro Curia recipiuntur. Sic enim iussit Imperator.
Habet et medicos Paganos viginti, et totidem Physicos, atque sine his
Medicos Christianos ducentos, et totidem Physicos, quoniam iste Grand Can
maiorem gerit confidentiam in Medicis Christianis, quàm in suæ propriæ
nationis medicis.
Hoc ergò firmiter scias, quod de Curia Regis accipiunt necessaria sua
iugitèr vltrà triginta cuman hominum, præter expensas animalium et
volucrum, cùm tamen in festis maioribus sint homines propè in duplo tanti.
Nec valet hic dominus defectum vllum pati pecuniæ, eò quòd in terra sua non
currit moneta de argento, vel auro, alióue metallo, sed tantùm de corio vel
papyro: horum enim forma denariorum signo Imperatoris impressorum preciatur
minoris aut maioris valoris, secundum diuersitatem impressionis, qui per
visitationem, detriti vel rupti, cùm ad Regis thesaurarios deferuntur,
protinùs dantur pro illis noui.
Quatèr in anno celebrat Imperator festiuitates solennes.
Primam de die propriæ Natiuitatis.
Secundam de die suæ primæ præsentationis in eorum Templo, quod appellant
Moseath, vbi et fit ijs, nescio quod genus circumcisionis.
Tertiam in thronizatione sui Idoli in Templo.
Quartam de die quo Idolum cepit dare responsum, seu facere diabolica mira.
Plures enim in anno non tenet solennitates, nisi si quando nuptias filij
aut filiæ celebrat.
Itaque in istis solennitatibus est populi multitudo absque numero, omnes
tamen in ordine debito, et singuli intendentes proprio ministerio, nam ad
hoc ordinandum, et disponendum, electa sunt quatuor Baronum nobilium
genera, ex quibus nonnulli sunt Reges, et alij Equites potentes, Duces, et
Marchiones, omnes induti holosericis, quibus inserti cum certa
disseminatione sunt vbique preciosi lapides, miræ virtutis, et aurifigia
speciosa, vt si quis in his partibus vnum de talibus haberet mutatorijs,
dici non posset pauper imò prædiues. Et habet quodlibet millenariorum in
his vestibus colorem sibi proprium: primum viridem, secundum vermiculum,
tertium croceum, quartum purpureum, seu indicum. Ergo in die solenni, dum
de mane Maiestatis thronum conscenderit, veniunt se præsentari hoc modo
Regi.
Ante primum millenarium procedit copiosa symphonia dulcis chordarum, sicut
de violis, cytharis, lyris, et psalterijs, non autem de tubis aut tympanis:
et præcedunt Baronis per transuersum Aulæ coram residente Domino ordinatè
bini, et bini sub silentio, ferentes ambabus manibus ante pectus tabulam de
Iaspide, ebore, christallo, pyropo, vel Hæmatisto, et ante faciem throni
inclinant se Imperatori profundè.
Illísque pertranseuntibus, succedit simili modo millenarius secundus, et
tertius, atque quartus, nec auditur à quoquam vnicum verbum. Hac
præsentatione cum debita maturitate perfecta, resident in basso à latere
throni ad proprias mensas, multi Philosophi, seu Artistæ, sicut de
Astronomia, Geomantia, Pyromantia, Hydromantia, Chiromantia, Necromantia,
auguriis, ac aruspiciis, et huiusmodi, tenentes coram instrumenta suæ
artis, alii Astrolabium, et Sphæras de auro, alii in aureis vasis arenam,
prunas ardentes, aquam, vinum, oleum, et caluarias mortuorum, loquentes et
respondentes, nec non de auro horologia ad minùs duo: et ad cunctas horas
secundum cursum horologiorum innuunt Philosophi seruis sibi ad hoc
deputatis, vt faciant præstari auditum per aulam, quorum vnus aut duo
conscendentes scallum, alta voce proclamant, audite, auscultate, et omnibus
intendentibus dicit Philosophorum vnus: Quilibet nunc faciat reuerentiam
Imperatori, qui est filius Dei excelsi, Dominus et superior omnium
Dominorum Mundi, quia ecce hæc est hora. Et mox singuli in aula inclinato
corpore et capite se inclinant maiestati manentes accliui, donec idem
philosophus dicat, leuate. Atque protinùs super hoc factum, Musici suis
instrumentis, suauem personant melodiam.
Posteà ad aliquantam moram simili modo dicit alias philosophorum, minimus
digitus in aure: et ecce hoc omnes faciunt, donec dicat, sufficit: sic in
aliam horam, seu moram dicit, manus vestra super os, et posteà manus super
caput. Atque in hunc modum iuxta temporis cursum imponunt facienda signa
diuersa. Innuunt in eis latere magna mysteria, et quodlibet horum factorum
melodia terminat Musicorum. Et sciatis me quandoque in tempore opportuno ab
eis interrogasse de his signis, qui responderunt quòd inclinare caput
Domino ad illius horæ momentum, foret confirmatio omnibus diebus vitæ suæ,
ad obediendum ipsi et fidelitatem obseruandam imperio, nec posse corrumpi
promissionibus siue donis, quódque digitum in auricula imponere, obturatio
est auditus contra omnia Imperatori, et Imperio contraria. Et sic de
singulis factis singula mysteria confingentes decipiunt audientes: horum
itaque fraudulento ingenio, iste Grand Can festiuatus, non nisi ad talium
iudicium parari permittit cibaria, aut fieri indumenta pro suo corpore.
Dura autem est visum Curiæ gubernatoribus satis de prædictis auditum,
faciunt proclamatores silentium imperari, et incipit fieri offerenda
Imperatori hoc modo. Intrant omnes qui sunt de cognatione Imperatoris
Barones adornati nobilissimè pro cuiusque decentia balteis, et indumentis,
quorum primus cum resonante symphonia præmittit ad oblationem quotquot
valet de dextrarijs albis, et inclinans ante thronum pertransit, atque per
eundem modum singuli Baronum offerentes aliquid dignum iocale inclinant
transeuntes, silentio firmè seruato. Post hos intrantes simili modo prælati
et Abbates, de iurisdictionibus et religionibus Paganorum offerunt singuli
pro suo statu se reuerentèr inclinantes maiestati, et maior prælatorum
benedicit Regi, et suis ac Curiæ quadam suæ legis oratione.
Deinde introducuntur elephantes, leones, pardi, simiæ, marmotæ, et diuersæ
bestiæ, quarum ductores singuli transeuntes inclinant reuerenter, et
intentè. Postremò afferuntur aquilæ, struthiones, gryphandi, accipitres, et
papingi, cum diuersis auibus et auiculis, nec non serpentes ac pisces,
quorum portitores inclinant profundè, quoniam dicunt omnes terrenas
creaturas debere adorationem Imperatori Grand Can filio Dei excelsi: et his
perfectis,
Musicæ Camenæ persoluunt debita plenè.
Nos igitur intendamus hoc loco quæso quomodo veraciter Pagani in tenebris
ambulant: diabolica inuolutione mens eorum obtenebrata non videt quomodò,
cùm Imperator sit homo mortalis nuper natus, et similiter sicut illi
infirmitate circundatus, atque in breui cum ipsis moriturus, quem etiam non
dubitant sub Deo, clamant eum non Deum, sed Dei filium, vbi vtique prorsus
ignorant illum non esse laudandum, nec adorandum, sed eum non intendunt
alium filium, filium increatum et connaturalem, qui et ipsos et eum
creauit, solum superlaudabilem in secula.
Et hoc alto corde considerantes, laudemus, adoremus, glorificemus, et
superexaltemus totis viribus Deum, qui nos filios lucis esse voluit, et
salutis, nasci, baptizari, educari, erudiri sub sinceritate fidei
Christianæ, excluso schismate et errore, atque sub instituto sacrosanctæ
matris Ecclesiæ, in qua sola penè ab omni circumferentia orbis terræ fides,
quæ saluat, et per dilectionem operatur nunc remansit.
Et oremus instantèr pro ipsis Paganis, vt agnita veritatis luce videre
possint quò ambulant, vt perueniant ad Iesum Christuro coæqualem Dei
filium, atque in ipso, et per ipsum laudare et adorare solum vnum verum
Deum.
CAPVT. 36.
De ludis et præstigijs in suo festo, et de suo comitatu.
Celebrato post hoc prandio satis morosè, quia nunquam est vltrà semel
edendum in die, de quo et eius administratione nunc longum est scribere,
adsunt gesticulatores, mira visu, suauiáque auditu pedibus, manibus,
brachijs, humeris, capitibus, et toto corpore, ac ad singulos gestus,
correspondentes debito vocis sono. Et semper finem horum mirabilium
cantilena subsequitur musicorum. Ex hoc ioculatores præstò sunt, et Magi,
qui suis incantationibus præstant præstigia multa.
Imprimis faciunt videri Solem et Lunam, oriendo, descendendo consuetum diei
intra Basilicam peragere cursum, cum tanta nimietate splendoris, vt vix se
inuicem homines valeant recognoscere præ fulgore, dicentes et mentientes,
Solem et Lunam coeli hanc mittere reuerentiam Imperatori.
Hinc pari ludo comparent speciosæ puellæ ducere semitas et choreas, nobili
gestu nobilissimum ferre poculum lactis equarum in aureis vasis, de quo,
ponentes se in genibus, tradunt potum dominis et dominabus.
Tunc portantur et milites in equis, et armis quoque pleni atque parati, qui
feruentibus sonipedibus se inuicem cuspidibus ad fragorem magnum
configentes lanceas comminuunt, et fragmenta per mensas, et pauimenta
discurrunt. Ac deindè fantasticè venantur per aulam, cum canibus et
papionibus, ad ceruos, lupos, vrsos, et apros, ad lepores, et marmotas. Quæ
singula cùm ad horam pascant vana delectatione sensus corporeos, miseriam
tamen inserunt piæ menti, quòd tot et tanti homines, neglecta prorsus animi
salute, his diabolicis operationibus se dederunt in toto. Nam certò non ita
sine dæmonum consolatione et familiaritate præmissa confingi dicerem.
Nota: à Cambalu ad viginti dietas, est pulchrum nemus girans octo dietas in
circuitu, in quo sunt omnia genera animalium: custodes habet circa eum.
Triennio vel quadriennio visitat illud Imperator, et cum multa gente nemus
circumdat, canes emittuntur et aues, cum multo clamore, et feras congregant
in medio nemoris, ad planiciem sibi sitam. Tunc Imperator priùs iacit
quinque sagittas, posteà alij: tunc Imperator dicit, Eya, hoc est, mina
bestijs, et sicut quilibet capit sagittam suam signatam, percussam, aliis
recedentibus ad sua loca. Odericus.
Prætereà ante Imperatoris mensam eriguntur tabulæ latæ aureæ cum sculptis,
ac si viuerent, imaginibus gallorum, pauonum ac diuersarum volucrum
artificiosè, quas præstigiator facit pro libitu sine apprehensione manus
ire, tripudiare, chorizare, tremere, compugnare, bibere, manducare, sed et
cantare: quod quidem inter cætera mihi videbatur mirabilius et aspectu
delectabilius. Nullus istud plenè intueri potuit, nisi qui erat in throno
vel circa: et me oportet hoc loco fateri stultitiam propriam, quòd hac
delectatione tractus, magnam adhibui apud Artistam diligentiam, verbis
blandis, et quibuscunque munusculis, ac melioribus promissis, quod de tali
mihi traderet artem, qui sagax simul et fallax imprimis, spem meam trahebat
sponsionum funibus: sed at vltimum penitùs abscindebat, dicens se vouisse
Deo immortali, ne cuiquam doceret nisi proprio filio seniori, ac per hoc me
Deus ab illo malo conseruauit inuitum, et gratias nunc reddentem.
Certum est illic homines esse subtiles ad quasdam humanas artes, et
ingeniosos ad fraudes super omnes, quas noui mundi partes, vnde et inter se
dicunt prouerbium, se solos videre duobus oculis, et Christianos vno,
cæteros autem homines cæecos: sed mentitur iniquitas sibi, quoniam ipsi
vident solo oculo terrena et transitoria, et nos Christiani duobus, quia
cum terrenis videmus spiritualia, et mansura: percussit enim Naas,
[Marginal Note: I Sam. 11. 2.] id est, humani generis hostis cum illis
foedus, vt erueret omnibus oculos dextros, scilicet spirituales.
Cùm itaque narrata de præmissis debeant sufficere, quando Imperator Grand
Can de vno quatuor palatiorum ad aliud transire velit, vel fortè gratia
visitationis aut ardui negotii per Imperium de Regno ad Regnum tendit per
comitatus, quatuor exercitibus antè et retrò, et ex ambobus lateribus.
Primus exercitus præcedit personam Regis per vnam de suis dietis, vt semper
in hospitium de quo recessit exercitus Rex intret nocte sequenti, et est
hic primus comitatus descriptus, et statutus de numero quinquaginta cuman
virorum, hoc est, quingentorum millium, sempérque præuisum, et prouisum
est, vt inueniant necessaria in locis, vbi habent quiescere, vel tardare
siue in hospitiis, siue in tentoriis.
Secundus et tertius comitatus sunt eiusdem numeri virorum cum primo, quorum
vnus ad dextram tendit Imperatoris, alius ad sinistrum in distantia ab ipso
ad trium vel duarum leucarum.
Quartus autem qui maior est omnibus, subsequitur Imperatorem quasi ad
spatium iactus balistæ. Et ad hoc sciendum est, quòd personæ horum
comitatuum sunt sigillatim, et summatim omnes descriptæ, vt dum vna moritur
vel recedit, protinùs alia inscribatur, et numerus non minuatur. Ipse verò
Imperator tendit residens in cella seu camera ædificata super currum
grandem forma, fortem robore, nobilem in structura, est cella de ligno
Aloes optimi odoris, et parietes cellæ operti in quibusdam locis laminis
aureis, quæ et ipsæ distinguuntur gemmis variis, et margaritis.
Est autem currus quatuor rotarum duntaxat, quem trahunt quatuor Elephantes
ad hoc curiosè instructi, cum quatuor hippis albis equæ doctis et ipsi
cooperti ditissimis tegumentis, ac præter aurigas nobiliter indutos, qui
currum cautissimè ducunt, adsunt et quatuor de maioribus palatii Dominis,
indè ad vehiculum habentes iugem curam, de minatione eius, et ne vltimo
exercitu appropriet infra iactum (vt dixi) sagittæ. Ipse autem interdum pro
sodalitate iubet secum ascendere quam vult personam, sed minimè vltrà duos.
In cellæ quoque culmine, quod aperiri valet et claudi, astant in pertica
quatuor grifandi, vel ostiones. Odericus: duodecim Girfalcones, vt si fortè
Imperator in ære aquilam, vulturum, ardeam, vel collectorem cerneret, citò
dimitteret istorum duas aut plures ad aucupandum.
Nota, per Dromedarios, et cursores, et veloces, qui de hospitio ad
hospitium permutantur, scit de remotis noua. Cursor enim appropinquans
cornu sonat, et tunc alius præparat, et vlteriùs currit. Odericus.
Sciendumque tam primogenitum Regis, quàm singulas de tribus vxoribus ducere
similem apparatum in itinerando post ipsum; scilicet cum quatuor
comitatibus, antè, et retrò, et à lateribus, sed in valdè minori numero
personarum pro placito, et in singulis curribus sequentibus se inuicem per
vnam dietam.
Præmissa omnia sic fiunt, dum Imperatori tendendum est remotè, aliàs autem
minuuntur, et distinguuntur comitatus, iuxta quod decet, vt nonnunquam
omnes Imperatores etiam cum filio simul tendant, cum vna comitatuum
distinctione. Transeunte autem sic Imperatore per ciuitates et villas
quilibet ante fores proprias præparato igne iactat poluerem aromata
redolentem, stans genibus flexis ad reuerentiam illi. Et sciatis vbi propè
transitum illius habentur Christianæ Abbatiæ, quas olim constituit Dux
Ogerus, exeunt obuiam illi in processione cum vexillis, et sancta cruce, et
aqua benedicta, et thuribulo, hymnum, Veni Creator spiritus decantantes.
Nota: Ego semel cum Episcopo nostro, et alijs fratribus, uimus obuiam per
duas dietas, et portaui thuribulum. Odericus. Quos ipse à remotis videns,
consueuit ad se appellare, et ad crucem suum galeatum deponere, ac
reuerentèr nudo capite inclinare: et prælatus dicens super cum aliquam
orationem signat cruce, et aqua benedicta aspergit. Et quoniam necesse est,
vt quisque extraneus ante Regem apparens, offerat ei aliquid, prælatus in
disco præsentat ei fructus, et poma, vel pyra, et hoc in numero nouenario,
(ratio ponitur primo capitullo proximo, quod iste numerus est plus cæteris
acceptus,) de quibus Imperator vnum sibi sumens, reliqua tradit Dominis
præsentibus: quo facto habent relligiosi recedere citò, ne opprimantur
multitudine populi subsequentis.
Præfatum Domini galeatum, est ita intextum auro, diamantibus, gemmunculis,
et orientalibus margaritis, granellis, et dubletis, et prædiues in materia
et artificio, vt ei non sit æquandus magni in partibus istis Regis
thesaurus. Item sicut hæc fiunt transeunti Imperatori, fiunt et
Imperatricibus, et filio seniori.
The English Version.
And zee schulle undirstonde, that my felawes and I, with oure zomen, we
serveden this emperour, and weren his soudyoures, 15 monethes, azenst the
Kyng of Mancy, that held werre azenst him. And the cause was, for we hadden
gret lust to see his noblelesse and the estat of his court and alle his
governance, to write zif it were suche, as wee herde seye, that it was. And
treuly, we fond it more noble and more excellent and ricchere and more
marveyllous, than ever we herde speke offe; in so moche, that we wolde
never han leved it, had wee not seen it. For I trowe, that no man wolde
beleve the noblesse, the ricchesse, ne the multytude of folk that ben in
his court, but he had seen it. For it is not there, as it is here. For the
lordes here han folk of certeyn nombre, als thei may suffise: but the grete
Chane hathe every day folke at his costages and expenses, as with outen
nombre. But the ordynance, ne the expenses in mete and drynk, ne the
honestee ne the clennesse, is not so arrayed there, as it is here: for alle
the comouns there eten withouten clothe upon here knees; and thei eten alle
maner of flessche, and litylle of bred. And aftre mete, thei wypen here
hondes upon here skyrtes: and thei eten not but ones a day. But the estat
of lordes is fulle gret and riche and noble. And alle be it, that sum men
wil not trow me; but holden it for fable, to telle hem the noblesse of his
persone and of his estate and of his court and of the gret multytude of
folk, that he holt, natheles I schalle seye zou, a partye of him and of his
folk, aftre that I have seen, the manere and the ordynance, fulle many a
tyme. And whoso that wole, may leve me, zif he wille; and who so wille not,
may chuse. For I wot wel, zif ony man hathe ben in tho contrees bezonde,
thoughe he have not ben in the place, where the grete Chane duellethe, he
schalle here speke of him so meche merveylouse thing, that he schalle not
trowe it lightly: and treuly, no more did I my self, til I saughe it. And
tho that han ben in tho contrees and in the gret Canes houshold, knowen
wel, that I seye sothe. And therfore I wille not spare, for hem that knowe
not, ne beleve not, but that that thei seen, for to telle zou a partie of
him and of his estate, that he holt, whan he gothe from contree to contree,
and whan he makethe solempne festes.
CAPVT. 37.
Qua de causa dicitur Grand Gan.
Si placet audire, dicam cur hic Imperator sit appellatus Grand Can.
Audieram ego in partibus Ierosolymorum hunc esse sic dictum, à filio Noe,
Cham: sed in terra Cathay accepi et aliam, et meram huius rei veritatem.
Nam et scribendo hæc duo nomina habent differentiam, quòd filius Noe Cham
scribitur quatuor elementis, quorum vltimum est M. et iste Can tribus
tantùm, quorum vltimum est N.
Post annos Christi 1100. illa prima Tartaria (de qua suprà scripsi in prima
parte, capitulo quinto) fuit nimis oppressa seruitute sub Regibus
circumiacentium sibi nationum. Quandò autem Deo placuit, maiores illius
Tartariæ eleuauerunt de seipsis sibi Regem dictum Guis Can, cui et
promiserunt subiectissimam obedientiam.