the Sea Mediterane giuen all to whoredome sodometrie theft and all other most detestable vices lyuing onely of rouings spoyles pilling at the Seas and the Ilande beyng about them and with their practick art bryng dayly too Algera number of pore Christians which they sell vnto the Moores and other merchauntes of Barbarie for slaues who afterwarde transport them and sell them where they thinke good or els beating them miserably wyth staues doo imploy and constraine them too woorke in the fields and in all other vile and abiect occupations and seruitude almost intollerable And therfore it is not to be marueyled at though these poore Christian slaues made of it no scruple at all in putting of vs in danger to set themselues at libertie Without the Citie towardes the West are manye fayre and pleasaunte Gardens sette and adourned with diuers trees brynging foorth fruites of all sortes Amongest other thinges there bee milons of marueylous goodnesse and incomparable sweetnesse they haue also another frute called Pateque which the Italians call Anguries beeing like in bignesse and colour to our greene citrouilles in winter which they eate rawe wythout bread or salt and hath a tast so delicate sweete that it melteth in ones mouth giuing a water as it were sugred and serue greatly to refresh and digest About theyr Gardens are many Welles full of good water and the grounde there aboutes although it is mountaines and vallies is verie fertile for frutes and vines On the other part towards the East wythout the towne runneth into the Sea a small riuer called Sauo which serueth well aswell to drinke of as other commodities and also maketh many mylles to grynde The course of the Sea from the Cape of Marfuz where as yet are seene the foundations of the auncient citie Tipasa which in times paste was by the Emperours of Rome honoured in prayse of the countrie Latine doth bow wind lyke vnto a Crosbowlath and all along the riuer and the shoare the Moorishe women and mayden slaues of Alger doe goe too washe theyr lynnen being commonly whole naked sauing that they weare a peece of cotton cloath of some strange colour to couer their secrete partes which notwithstanding for a litle peece of money they will willinglie vncouer They weare also for an ornament about theyr necke armes and legges great collers or bracelets of latten set wyth certaine false stones But as for the wiues of the Turkes or Moores they are not seene goe vncouered for they weare a greate Bernuche made of a blanket of white blacke or violet colour which couereth theyr whole body and the head And to the end yee shoulde more easilye comprehende the maner of all theyr apparrel I haue thought good in the ende of this present Chapter liuelye too sette foorth vnto you a woman as shee goeth in the streete and a maiden Moore beeing a slaue The seconde daye after our arriuall at Alger I founde the meanes for moneye and withe fayre woordes too hyre a renyed Spaniarde too conducte and leade mee thorowe all places that I most desired too see So as by his meanes I saw and learned many things within iiii or v. dayes that we were there in quiet And namely brought me vpon a high mountaine being a myle from the towne to see behold the cituation of a very strong and great tower beeyng buylded vpon another mountaine there neere about gently enquiring of him what strength the tower might be of he declared vnto me that the bredth of the ditches about the same was xvij brases sauing about the gate entry into it towardes the North it was only seuen fadomes broade and twoo speare lengths deep Moreouer he saide vnto me that within the fortresse there were niene great cast pieces and xviij other as wel mynions as faw conets other and that in the middest of the tower there was a wel of very good water vpon the height therof standing a windemill and another standing without the gates And that xxx ordinary souldiers are committed within it to keep the same And to make shorte that this tower was made to none other intent as also others since haue confirmed then for the garding and keeping of the fountayne heads which from thence are brought and conueyed vnder the water into the citie A Woman Moorisque of Alger in Barbarie as she goeth in the streetes A Mayden Moorisque being a slaue in Alger By what meanes Cairadin Barberousse came to be king of Alger Chap. 9. ALger was long time vnder the dominion of the king of Telensin vntil such time as they of Bugie chose a newe Kyng vnto whom they gaue and rendred them selues as his tributaries because he was neerer vnto them then the king of Telensin and that he could sooner helpe them if need were But in processe of time perceiuing themselues to bee as it were free and out of al doubt armed certaine shippes too the sea wyth the which they became suche Coursaires or pirates that in short time they annoyed by their pyracies robberies on the Sea not onely the coast of Spayne but also all the Mediterane ylandes Whiche perceiuing Ferdinando the king Catholike sent to Alger a great army to assiege them for to keep them in most distresse caused with a marueilous readinesse a forte to be made in a smal yland which lyeth before the citie keeping them by that meanes so straightly besieged that in short time they were constrained to require a truce for ten yeeres Which was agreed vnto them vpon condition of a certayne tribute which they payed vntill the death of king Ferdinando for then they espying a conuenient tyme and meanes too breake the truce and to set them selues at liberty called vnto them Cairadin Barba-rousse who after the siege of Bone retired to the castle of Gegill standing in the coast of the Mediterane Sea vppon the toppe of a high rock 70. myles from Bugie who being by them chosen too be their chiefe captaine gaue many fierce assaults vnto the fortresse so as he put the Spaniards too flight and incontinent after caused it to be ruined and pulled downe euen to the foundation He then seyng so happy successe of his enterprise could no longer abyde to be as companion but in a bath traiterously slew a prince of Arabie called Selim who declared himself to be Lord of the Citie Afterwardes forsaking the name of a Captayne any longer caused himselfe to be called king and coyned money vnder his name and so wel guided his affayres that in short time after he brought all his neighbours about him to become contributory vnto him Such was the beginning of the magnificent estate of Cariedin Barbe-rousse after whose death his brother Hariadne succeeded him in the kingdome after him his sonne Cassam who reigned at the time we arriued there Of the further procession of our Nauigation Chap. x. TO returne to the discourse of our nauigation
yee see in the figure â—ollowing But the richer sort goe more brauely costly apparrelled for they weare their Doliman either of veluet satten or damaske on their head a long myter figured with flowers of diuers colours couered with a great cloake hanging downe behynde to the ground the men are apparrelled after the fashion of the other Graecians obseruing the same fayth and religion and obeye vnto the Patriarche of Constantinople A woman of Caramania Of Cilicia presently called Caramania Chap. 15. AS for the countrey of Caramania first called Cilicia of the name of Caelix the sonn of Agenor according to Herodote Hipachea is described by Ptolome in his fift booke as a prouince of little Asia hauing for her borders towardes the East the mount Aman presently called the blacke mountaine of the North the mount of Taur of the west side a part of Pamphilia and on the other part of the South the vttermost partes of the goulph Issique which now is called â—asse This region is enuyroned with high and sharpe mountaines from the whiche drop towardes the sea diuers riuers And of these mountaines the issues are very narrow and streight of the one other side enuironed high with mountains first called the ports of Armenia afterwards the mountains of Caspie presently of Silicia through which narrow streights Alexander the great going into the East parties with great perilles and daungerous hazard made his armie to passe The principall and Metropolitan citie of this couÌ„trie is Tharse vulgarely called Terrase being the place of birth and houshold of S. Paul which first was founded by the noble Perseus sonne of the faire Danae Although Solin and pope Pius attribute her first edification vnto Sardanapal the last sonne of Anacindaraxe and last king of the Assyrians through the midst of the same Countrie runneth the fayre riuer Cydne or Caâ—ne by the FreÌ„chmeÌ„ called the riuer of Salef which takes her spring from the mount of Taur and wherein was drowned the Emperour Frederike Barberosse Vitruuius in his eight book and third chapter saith that if they did wash their legs within this riuer Cydne that incontinent after they should finde them selues cleansed and healed of their disease The Tarsians were in times past so giuen to philosophie that they excelled the Athenians and Alexandrians notwithstanding that the Athenians were more famous and renowmed in straunge countries and that their Citie was more frequented with al sorts of people Neuerthelesse the Tarsians were in philosophy more excellent and of their citie tooke origin Antipater Archelaus Antenor Marcel Diogenes Artemidore Dionisius and Crates the Grammarian Besides Tarse the head citie of Cilicia there is another renowmed citie of the auncients called Coryce and of the modernes Curth of all sides enuironed with a haueÌ„ of the sea sauing of one side being very streight which ioyneth vnto the firme land Aboue this citie there is an Antherne a caue or denne which Pomponius Mela saith to be made by such singular artifice of nature that the admiration excellency and soueraigne beautie thereof carrieth those that enter into it out of their proper senses and memory and almost rauisheth and taketh awaye the spirites of those whiche vppon the sodaine enter intoo it But after they are come to themselues they cannot satisfie them of the pleasure which is there For for to come to the bottom of this heauenlike denne you doe discend by a faire stare about 3. quarters of a myle indelectable and shadowed where is heard a harmony more then humaine certaine sounds agreeing sounding like vnto symbals or other melodious instruments which greatly abasheth and seemeth marueilous to those that firste enter into it So as in times past the inhabitauntes of the countrie by superstitious opinion did thinke that this sounding caue was the sepulchrall bedde of the valiaunt Gyant Typhon In the playne fieldes which are about Coryce or Curth groweth abundance of very good saffron giuing more smel being more like vnto the colour of golde and more profitable in medicines then any other hath for the singularitie thereof by the ancients been called saffron of Coryce Tarse therefore and Coryce are two the most famous and renowmed Cities of Cilicia or Caramania although there be diuers others of good and antique name as Selimontis in the honour of the good Emperor Traian after his death consecrated in his name and called Traianopolis There is also Satalia cituated vpon the sea coast of Cilicia whereof hath taken the name the goulfe of Satalia aunciently called Issa and presently Iasse about this place Alexander the Macedonian vanquished and ouercame the great Darius kyng of the Persians by reason whereof the Citie was called Nicopolis which is to say towne of victory Moreouer in the same region is as yet resting the auncient towne of the Sun called Heliopolis or to say better Solos or Soloe for that Solon one of the seuen sages of Grecia was founder therof and afterwardes by the name of Pompe was called Pompeiopolis for that in the time of the triumphaunt Rome the Cicilians dwelling along the coast of the Mediteran sea a people beeing acquainted with the seas exercising the nauigation Pirates Coursaries and Skummers of the sea stood vp in so great number and so strong men giuen to piracie of vessels and ships necessarie for that purpose as Foysts and Brigantins that they possessed and kept the Sea side in such distresse that they did not onely let and anoy the merchaunts shippes and shippes of warre but likewise kept the portes and passages so shutte that they kept away the corne and victuals from all Italie whereby the Romane people were in danger of being famished Wherfore as Flore writeth in his Epitome Pompee was sent against them with an armie which through marueilous diligence and speede within fortie dayes ouercame them and chased them cleane out of the sea and in the ende hauing on the land taken them into mercie sent them into certaine townes and landes in Cilicia farre from the Sea there to dwell and liue and too the ende to purge the sea and namely assigned newe inhabitants in the towne then called Soloe and since vpon this reason Pompeiopolis The Cilicians were in times past called Tarses as Iosephus writeth theyr denomination hauing taken that name of Tarse nephewe vnto Iaphet who first gaue them the order too liue bearyng ouer them the principalitie and gouernement Likewise called after hys name theyr chiefe citie Tarse Nowe a dayes the whole Cilicia is as I haue sayde called Caramania a countrie reduced vnder the puissaunce and domination of the great Turke whiche before was a kingdome so puissaunt that the kinges of Caramania might haue brought intoo the fielde fortie thousande menne on horsebacke yea that Orcan Lorde of the Turkes sonne and successour of the firste Othoman who made himselfe chiefe of the Turkes and that first gaue the name of his noblenesse to their Emperors durst wel for
practised with diuers Persian gentlemeÌ„ which had giuen themselues into the seruice of the great Turk and spoken with them by interpreters and Dragomans as I haue likewise done with diuers merchants and artificers dwelling at Constantinople but to say truth I do finde them without comparison more noble more ciuil more liberall and of better spirite and iudgement then the Turkes are vnto whom what countenance soeuer they doe shew they are mortall enemies I thinke that I haue nowe sufficiently described the lawes customes religions and manner of liuing aswel of the Antique as Moderne Persians and resteth now to describe vnto you the cituation of their countrie whereunto to attaine fully I am deliberated as hereafter yee shall vnderstand to folow the most auncient famous and moderne Geographers Historians which are found to haue theereof written A Gentleman of Persia. Description of the kingdome of the Persians Chap. 7. THE kingdome of the Persians according to Ptolome is a region of Asia so named Persea after the name of Perseus the sonne of Iupiter and Danae which on the North parte bordereth with the Medes on the West with Susiana on the East with the two Carmanies and on the South with a part of the Persian sea or Goulphe In Persia are founde many auncient and moderne Cities whereof the most auncients are Babylon now called Baiadet Suse which is altogether ruined except the Castle whereof as yet a part standeth the great citie of Procopolis or Percepolis vppon the flood Araxes in times past destroyed by Alexander the great Likewise the Citie of Scyras whiche remaineth in her autiquitie conteyning in circuit with the suburbs twentie thousand paces Moreouer the Citie of Alexandria otherwise called Isia cituated vpon the riuer Syria and Arion lying all on the foote of the mount Caucase vppon the riuer Euprates whiche the Arabians call Aforat are the Cities of Ioppe and Nicephore the Castle of Isse where Darius was ouerthrowne and discomfited The Cities of Thesiphon and Carra where was broken the armie of Marcus Crassus in which place are as yet seene diuers sepulchres and antiquities whiche the Inhabitannts doe say to be of the Romane Senatours which dyed in the same ouerthrowe The Cities of Persogade Opine and others bordering vppon Armenia the greater being vnder the dominion of the Sophy In which Armenia vpon the riuer Euprates are many townes inhabited of Christians Georgians being meÌ„ valiant at armes The names of their cities are Tunis Masestan and Derbent lying vpon the Caspian sea or sea of Bachau there are likewise the Cities of Artassetta Asimosia and Micopoli As for the Moderne Cities of Persia the pincipallest where most often the Sophy dwelleth is the noble Citie of Thauris aunciently called Phasis or Terua and by the Persians vulgarly Teuris being notwithstaÌ„ding in Armenia within the same is vsed great trafficke of diuers marchandises of cloth of gold of siluer and of silke and of al sorts of fine stones an infiniâ—e number of merchaunts doe resort thither of al partes of the world as from the Indies from Baldac from Molsuc from Cremesol and from the countrey of the Latins the other are Bagadet wherof I haue spoken before and Cambalech a great city Basta Mulasia Vaâ—ta Drecherin and Saltamac All which cities are in the countrie of Chelmodate betwixt the riuer Euphrates and the Tigre vppon the side of the mount Cortestan called by the ancients the mount of Taur Vpon the said riuer of Euphrates lieth the citie of Adene and the castle of Bir. The Cities of Merchin Assanchef Sair Chesfen Vastian and Coy all being cituated on the toppe and about the mount Cortestan Gies also being a great city sixe dayes iourney distant from the goulph of Persia otherwise called the Misidan Sea vppon the which lye also the yle city of Ormus where greate trade of marchandise is vsed with the Portugals and whereas are fished great quantitie of Pearles Likewise the cities of Sultania Saban Cassan Come and Iex being all cities of great Persia wel traded with merchandize and whereas is made great quantitie of silke which is carryed throughout all Suria and into Bursia aunciently called Prusa being the principall citie of Bethinia cituated at the foote of the Mount Olimpe Vppon the borders of the flood Indus as yee goe too Calicut is the great citie of Querdy neare the Persian gulfe and vpon the riuer Bindamach the foure cities following to wit Vergan Maruth Sana and Nain and on the North side from the Sea Caspium vnto Thauris Coy Rey Sidau Billan Strana Barbariden Madranolan Samachi and the citie of Arben which hath gates of yron sometimes builded by Alexander the great And vpon the border of the same Sea is the fayre and rich citie of Bacach Moreouer towards Armenia the greater in Persia are the cities of AnsengaÌ„ Maluchia Sio Ere Meson These are the fairest most famous cities which at this present are vnder the dominion of the Sophy as for the riuers the most renowmed in al Persia is Bindmir of the auncients called Bragada whereupon is to be noted that the distance from the sea Maior vnto the Sea Caspium is Of the Persian women Chap. 8. IF amongest the women of the East partes the Persians haue of all auncestrie obtained the laud and prayse to be the most gentle and proper in their apparrel and cloathing so are they likewise no lessefull made in proportion of their bodies and naturall beautie namely and aboue al other those of the auncient and royall Citie of Sciras which are so praysed in their beautie whitenesse pleasant ciuilitie and shamefast grace that the Moores of an olde and common Prouet be will say that their Prophet Mahomet would not go to Scyras for feare that hee hauing once tasted of the pleasures of those women his soule after his death could neuer haue entred into Paradise we haue moreouer sufficient testimonie of the singular beautie of these Persian women by Alexander the great who keeping the daughters of the king Darius as his prisoners would neuer salute them but with his eyes looking downewards and besides so seldome as he could for the feare which hee had of beeing ouercome with their beautie and would saye sometimes vnto his familiar friendes that the daughters of the Persians did great harme vnto the eyes of those that looked vpon them The Persians in their habite goe very honourably clothed and like vntoo the Turkes and Grecians weare long gownes closed and buttoned before and attyre their heads with sundry bandes of diuers colours the endes whereof hang downe verye lowe before and behinde ouer their shoulders in the fourme and maner as the picture following doth shew vnto you which I haue naturally drawen out in Constantinople with the fauor of a Persian with whom I was entred in friendship but it was not without cost great difficultie and danger for that there is no nation in the worlde which are more loth to let their wiues be seene not
Bellon in his obseruation in number 5 or 6. thousand haue 23 or 24. monasteries al well fortified for that they shuld not be molested of the Coursaries and Pirates on the sea al these Caloieres liue vnder the obeysance of the Patriarch of Cōstantinople This mount Athos is so high that it passeth the skies so as diuers haue written that from thēce the sun shining the shadow doth extend to the yle of Lemnos being distant one from another 70. M. pases And neuertheles Xerxes the great king of the Persians going against the Graecians caused this mount to be cut through on the side that ioyneth vnto the firm land making the sea to passe vnderneath it in such sort that easily he made it round about nauigable The Thraces as Herodote in his 7 book writeth haue the way whereby Xerxes passed his army in such reuerence that neuer since that time they would till or sow the same Plutarch in the life of Alexander the great maketh mention of a certayne Stacicrates an ingenious maister who being sent for to come before the said Alexander proposed vnto him that if his pleasure were he would make to be cut in humain figure the mount of Athos with such art industry that with his left hand he should sustaine a Citie habitable for 10000. persons with the right hād shuld powre out a great riuer which should run down into the sea But Alexander taking it for a iest would not beleeue it As for the cities of Thracia the principallest and most ancientest are Bisia sometimes the fortresse of the kings of Thracia but odious vnto the swallowes for the detestable sinne of Thereus Phinolopis Curnubisance presently Pera or Galatha Bizance now Constantinople cituated vppon the Bosphore Thracian wherof I haue before made particular descriptiō Ye haue afterwards Opisime at the foot of the mount of Eme Valla Orcelis Tonsus Caliba Nicopoli Ostamphus Arsus Carpudemon Bergula presently Bergas Plotinopolis Drusipara Selimbria otherwise Selions or Solombria Perinthe or Heraclee About Propontide Praside Terta Penetropolis at the foot of the mount Rhodope and afterwards of his foundator Philippopoli and finally Adrianopolis which I cannot passe without description for that the great Lord keepeth oftentimes his residence there Of the Citie of Andrinopole Chap. 25. ADrianopolis which sometimes was called Stratomcie Odrysus and Trimuntium vulgarly Andernople Andernopoli or Andrinople was a city most ample and faire as by the auncient walles may be seene her cituation is in a playne but about it hath many fruitful hilles All the houses except the auncient churches of the Christians and the Mosquees and bathes of the Turkes are builded after the Turkie fashion of wood and earth Sultan Selim builded there for a dwelling place a fayre and sumptuous Sarail for that it was the place of his most residence as also is of Sultan Soliman that now reigneth namely in Winter for the commodity of hunting wherein hee greatly delighteth There is besides another Sarail for the lodging of the Azamoglans or Ianissaries but the fairest and most sumptuous building of all is the Mosquee of Sultan Amarat at one of the entries of the citie ye passe ouer a great bridge of stone of Marbre very high on the one side wherof as also alongst by the Sarail passeth the riuer Hebrus vulgarly called Matizza and on the other side the Tuns whiche riuers by the turning in their course haue made neere vnto the citie many faire prety yles no lesse pleasant then profitable as being trimmed and dressed into most faire orchardes full of all sortes of excellent fruitfull trees and delicious gardens The citie is peopled with a great number of Christians Greekes hauing there their Metropoli who hauing lost their liberty and seeing them selues destitute and dispossessed of all they hadde are retyred thither some to giue themselues to some trade of merchandise or handicrafte The other hauing yet left some meane to liue by go vp down thinking of their former estates and degrees There are likewise an infinite number of rich Iewes and great traders with merchandise ready monie to giue and deliuer out by grosse vpon excessiue vsury But the number of the Turkes is the greatest of all and specially of excellent woorkmen which is the occasion that the city doth abound of all sortes of merchaundises and faire works of saddels bridles al other furnitures for horses which there are made very faire and perfect likewise fine damaskened needles the faire maroquins and skins of al sorts of liuely colours straunge diuers aboue al other places in the world As for the manner of the garments of the inhabitaunts I haue hereafter presented in order the liuely drafts of a woman of estate of Graecia of a Turky woman of meane estate and of a mayden of ioy or a common woman or strumpet of whom not only the city but likewise the whole countrey is full And as for the men Turkes Iewes or Christians they goe apparrelled after the manner of those of Constantinople other cities of Thracia and Graecia To returne now to our first points of Geographie you haue also in this region Traianopoli Apri Bizanta now Rodesto or Rodeste but according to Pliny Macronticke Partyra Lysimachia which is cituated at the foote of the great chersonesse within the which is Gallipoli builded by C. Caligula Maditus presently Maythō aboūding of very good wines Ceste against Abide Cretee the port Cele where was foughten on the water the battaile betwixt the Athenians the Lacedemonians in whiche place are the markes of the ruines of Lacedemonia There is againe founde Cinosseme the sepulchre of Hecuba after that Helle being the end of Hellespont and likewise the place where Xerxes made a bridge to passe ouer his armie out of Asia into Grecia there is also the promontorie Mastuce and the flood Egee memorable because of the shipping of the Athenians Afterwardes returning into the lande Aphrodise Cipselle otherwise Capsilar whereas is founde great quantitie of fine allom Aen◠builded by Aeneas in the time of his fleeing after the ruine of Troy Sardique presently Triadisse Pergame Nicopolis Abdere or Polystilo wher Democritus the Philosopher was borne Ene a free Citie within which was erected the sepulchre of Polidore Fisique Dyme Marogne Pantalie Topicis Gazore Phillippi Oesine Neapolis whiche besides is called Cristopolis Stagira the natiue countrie of the great Aristotle Moreouer about the beginning of the bankes Pontick wheras the riuer Istre entreth into the sea are many fayre cities as Istropolis of the Melesians Ionie Celatin or Acernete Heraclee and Bizone which was swallowed vppe through an earthquake About the riuers Mela and Hebrus are the Cicones and more further the Dorisques whiche is the place where Xerxes not being able to number his armie measured the circuite of the grounde whiche they ouerspreade After that is the promontorie Serree in which place Orpheus through the sounde and harmonie of his
THE Nauigations peregrinations and voyages made into Turkie by Nicholas Nicholay Daulphinois Lord of Arfeuile Chamberlaine and Geographer ordinarie to the King of Fraunce conteining sundry singularities which the Author hath there seene and obserued Deuided into foure Bookes With threescore figures naturally set forth as well of men as women according to the diuersitie of nations their port intreatie apparrell lawes religion and maner of liuing aswel in time of warre as peace With diuers faire and memorable histories happened in our time Translated out of the French by T. Washington the younger ⧠Imprinted at London by Thomas Dawson 1585. To the Right Honorable Sir Henrie Sidney Knight of the noble order of the garter Lorde President of her Maiesties Councell in the Marches of Wales and the principality thereof and one of her Maiesties most honorable priuie Councel And to the Right Worshipfull Sir Phillip Sidney Knight Iohn Stell wisheth long life and happy daiâ—â— with increase of honour IT is a wise and not so wise as true a saying of a trauâ—â—led writer Right Honorable and Noble vttered vppon his owne experience that hee was alwaies of opinion and minde that the perfect prayse of wisedome and learning is not to be sought for in bookes but to be gotten by verie vse and practise They therfore that by continuall studie and incessaunt reading do vsurpe chalenge to themselues the title of knowledge are not alone to be iudged wise but they rather muche more are to be esteemed such who setting apart al other their priuate businesses and affaires though to them very aduauntageable are conuersant in this worlde as in a Theater of mans life and by due triall are taught the diuersities of countries the differences of peoples manners the examples of life and manifold thinges besides which Trauellers doe comprehend with their eie and compasse by their wit For what is more discommendable what more vnbeseeming a man that is studious specially being nobly borne than alwaies to aâ—ide at home like a snaile in the shel to waxe olde in vayne pleasure without praise and vnnecessary leysure without profit and not to meditate thinke that at one time or other it is meete to hoouer with the winges to leaue the nest and to flie abroade that they may aspire to the knowledge and attaine to the sight of great matters wherwith they shal neuer be acquainted otherwise than by the booke or the map which differ as much in mouing the imagination and other faculties of the mind as the representation of a thing in a glasse or a paynted table doth vary from the thing represented To vndertake trauelling the vtilitye which is not small springing from thence shoulde inuyte all liberall mindes and free natures And in truth none are so muche adorned and benefited by peregrination as Noble and Great men though doubtlesse it is not deniable that common men I meane not triobular mates men I say of base descent and linage haue thereby not only bin commended to the Honorable but also their owne experience and triall of occurrents in trauelling doth procure thus much more than ordinary vnto them that they are among men vntrauelled as Hesperus among the smaller starres For when wee eyther heare or reade of fruitefull countries of well gouerned common-wealthes of true religion and diuine worship of learned men of trayning vp youth of manners and behauiours c is it not sweete in euery ones eare is it not woorth the vnderstanding doth it not deserue diligent marking and remembring But yet much more pleasaunt and profitable is it to view the very things them selues to behold them and to see them with satietie as the Poet very aptly saith That which we heare with outwarde eare moues not the minde so much As that which beames of rowling eyes atteine vnto and touch A certaine Traueller but as maye bee suspected by the course of his writing superstitious according to his time speaking of a voyage of his owne saith thus Shoulde it grieue or repent me of my peregrination to Rome specially in the yeare of Iubile No in truth For such thinges as were doubtfull to me before vncertaine as a shadow are now by the infallible testimonie of mine eies assured vnto me with singular credite and haue raised vp in me an exceeding delectation astonishment They therfore at no hand deserue the hearing which being induced by an argument drawen from the greatnesse of the labors the dangerousnes of circumstances incident vnto trauelling suppose that the same is to be laide a â—â—eepe to be omitted not medled with at all But what think we may be obiected against those shelsnailes This truly that people are borne to paynes taking as birdes to flying Aristotle in his Ethicks requiring a capable hearer of his morall preceptes reiecteth infantes and olde men as insufficient which two degrees of age do seeme in some mens thinking vnfit for trauelling because the one by reason of their multiplied yeeres are to be released from the tediousnesse thereof the other also in respect of want in iudgement vnderstanding and strength are wholly to be sequestred from it But I do much mislike their opinion and the reasons likewise thereto annâ—â—ed For though infantes are vnfit for peregrination yet to exclude olde men as vnapt is in my poore coÌ„ceipt palpable erronâ—ous For in a matter nothing doubtfull to vse needlesse proofeâ— as Tullie neatly saith we haue an example of Iacob an old man ful of yeres who notwithstanding trauelled out of his ownâ— countrey into Aegypt partly by constraint of famine and â—artly also for hys sonne Iosephs sake whom naturally he loued Agayne if olde men are condemned as vnfit for peregrination then truely by the same comparison women much more whom the same Aristotle tearmeth vnperfect creatures But the Queene of the South hearing of Solomons wisedome glory and mightinesse left the territories of her owne dominions â—o see him wyth her eyes whose incomparable renowme had amazed her hearte So then by these instaunces the former reason seemeth too halte and the Authour thereof to haue saide somewhat but yet with little aduisement and to small purpose I might adde to these Hagiographicall examples other tâ—stimonies deduced and brought out of prophane Chronologies both auncient and moderne were it not that I feare the censure of some politike Hanniball and incurre deserued blame for talking fondly of a thing wherein I haue no practise as somtimes did foolified Phormio Onely this I say that the greatest commendation and praise of a traueller is not onelye to talke by knowledge roundly of such famous Cities Countries people and other straunge obiectes as he hath seene but also to speake their language redily to learne their manners desirously to know their religion perfectly their pollicie throughly their gouernment absolutely and all thinges els that hee may imploy himselfe about profitably as it is recorded of Vlisses whom Ascham out of Homer commendeth in these words All trauellers doe gladly
report great praise of Vlisses For that he knew many mens manners and saw many cities And as histories beare witnesse of Mithridates the King of Pontus whose peregrinations and expeditions into forreyne landes was so beneficiall that besides a number of vnnamed commoditities he had the exquisite vse of two and twenty sundry tongues But nowe Right honorable and Noble to stop this flowing streame of wordes I leaue to the leuell of your exact considerations the manifold vtilities of peregrination because you are completely furnished with knowledge and experience in that behalfe not seuered but vnited Beseeching you to accept at my handes with no lesse fauour and well liking than is presented with hearty goodwill and honest meaning a work extant in French published in Duitch now printed in English at my costes charges for the general profite pleasure of the studious and al such as delight in nouelties Wherin thinges no lesse straunge and true are remembred than eyther Christopherus Colonus noteth in his voyage to the Indies or Petrus Martyr de Angleria mentioneth of the West Ocean ylandes or Gonzalus Ferdinandus Ouiedus specifieth of the occidentall Indies or Ludouicus Wertomannus rehearseth of Arabia Aegypt Persia Syria Aethiopia c. or Maximilian Transiluan recordeth of the wonderfull nauigation of the Spaniards rounde about the worlde c. Hoping that your Honorable wisedomes wil esteeme of it as the commendable labours of an aduenturous and skilfull trauelled Gentleman doth requyre which is the vttermost and indeede all in all that I can wish sauing health and happye dayes to your Honors with the fulnesse of all vertue and perfect noblenesse Your Honors most humble to be commanded Iohn Stell The first Booke of the nauigations and peregrinations Orientals of Nicholas de Nicholaij of Daulphine Chamberlaine and Geographar Ordinarie of the King of Fraunce The departure and voyage of the Lorde of Aâ—amont Ambassadour for the King towardes the great Turke from Constantinople to returne into Fraunce Chap. 1. ABout the end of the yeere of our Lord 1550. The Lord of Aramont a wyse vertuous Gentleman after he had for many yeeres bin Ambassadour for the most Christian kings Frauncis the first of that name and Henrie the 2. towardes Soliman Emperour of the Turkes about certain affaires greatly importing his charge was by the said Soliman sent backe into Fraunce and departing froÌ„ the citie of Constantinople aunciently called Bizance and of the Turks Stambolda hauing trauayled through the countries of Thracia Macedonia Bulgaria and surmounted the height and sharpnesse of the mount Rhodope vulgarly called the mountes of siluer because of the siluer mynes that there are found and passed Morannia Bossina and Seruia whiche by the auncients was called Mysia differing from those whiche are in Asia came to Ragusa in times past called Epidauia a citie in Dalmatia most rich and famous cituated vpon the Sea Adriatique gouerned in common wealth as hereafter in his place shalbe declared From thence inbarking himselfe in a Brigantin passed along by the Goulphe Adriatique the coasts of Dalmatia Slauonia the Ile of Istria vnto the cytie of Venice afterwardes taking his iourney by land towardes Padoa Vincence Veronne Bresse other towns of the Seigniorie of Venice of the Grisons Switsers arriued in the end at Lyons and from thence to Roane where hee imbarked vppon the riuer of Loyre repayred to the king beyng in the citie of Blois where his maister did receyue hym with all royall humanitie and hauing well and at large vnderstanded the proceedinges in his charge and the cause of his comming often putting the same to the deliberation of his counsell his returne was finallye concluded and resolued and that for the more suretie of his voyage he shoulde returne by Sea To which intent and in consideration of his vertue and seruice hauing already honourably endued him with the estate of a Gentleman ordinarie of his chamber hee gaue vnto hym two Gallies of the best and best furnished that were within the haueÌ„ of Marseillie ordayned the knight of Seur a man of great experience and excellent iudgement to accompany him with his galliot well appointed and I for certaine causes was by his maiestie expressely commaunded to assist him in all places during his voyage The departure of the Lorde of Arramont from the Court to returne in his ambassadge into Leuant towardes the greate Turke Chap. iâ— THE sayde Lorde of Arramount thus beeyng dispatched with all thinges necessary for his voyage hauing taken his leaue of his maiestie and of all the Princes and Lordes of hys counsell we departed from Hoyron a house in Poytou moste faire and stately belonging vnto Monsieur de Boissij Knyght of the order and greate maister of his Maiesties horse about the last of May 1551. and in fewe dayes after beyng come to Lyons we embarked vpon the Rhone a riuer being one of the swiftest of al Europe to go downe into Auignion where my Lady of Aramount of most feruent desire and singuler affection was attending her husbande as hauing byn depriued of his presence more then tenne yeeres And there being arriued he was of her receyued wyth incredible ioye and contentation as also of the Gentlemen and Ladies dwelling within the Citie and thereaboutes his kinsmen and Allies who all came to visite and bidde him welcome Afterwardes about the ende of the fifteenth daye after wee had rested ourselues the Ambassadour being mindfully bent to his charge hauing sette an order in his housholde affaires and taken his leaue of all parties sent downe his traine by water himselfe went by land accompanied with his kinsfolke certain Gentlemen went to visit the countie of Tende gouernor Lieuetenant general for the king in Prouince at his house at Marignane the day folowing they both arriued at Marseillie were lodged in the kings lodging where within few dayes after the Ambassador was takeÌ„ with a grieuous sickenes which persecuted him so violeÌ„tly that men dispayred of his life NotwithstaÌ„ding he was so diligently tended succoured of God men that before the captain Coste his Lieuetenant had giuen order for the ful rigging of his gallies the knight de la Seure his Galliot he recouered his health so as the iiii day of the moneth of Iulie in the yeere before specified about euensong time the Ambassadour his coÌ„pany imbarked in his gallies The ankers being weied by force of oares we went to the yle of If distant froÌ„ Marseillye one mile at the fortresse wherof my Lord the county of Tende accompanied with the great prior of Rome the Lord of Carses the captain Marse captain Pier bon captain of the said fortresse diuers other captaines gentlemen souldiers with xv gallies there caused a supper to be prepared And after the table was takeÌ„ vp and leaue taken of both parties the said countie with his companie
which I left at the Cape Matafuz from whēce hauing soiourned there a night we departed in the morning the wind was so contrary that it forced vs to come to an anker neere to the cape Tedele at which place we saw within a great rocke a deep entrance being 2. flight shot long into the whiche the sea entreth euen to the very bottom where we entred with our skiffe euen to the halfe way of it and thinking to passe on further we founde so great a number of straunge myce that we were constrayned to turne back so were we persecuted And so for feare they should pisse on our heades their pisse being venimous we were forced to couer vs and to wrappe our selues in our cloakes This parte of the sea is very ful of mountaines and great rockes Approching the citie of Tedele are certayne valleyes very fertile of vines gardens and fruitful trees and we there lying at anker certaine of the citie for our money brought vnto vs sundry victuals fruits and melons In the euening we took in fresh water out of a wel being a little beyond our gallies in the morning with a fauourable winde hauing doubled the cape we passed along the towne of Tedele of which I shal make here a brief description Of the towne Teddel and of the Inhabitants thereof Chap. 11. TEddel is a citie conteining about 2000. harthsteeds cituated vpon the sea Mediterane 60. myles from Alger at the bottom of a mountaine on the hanging o◠a great rocke On the midst of the mountain is a litle castel from the which along goeth a wall stretching to that of the citie The Affricans first did edifie it and at this present is inhabited of a people very merry and pleasant For for the most part of them they are giuen to the exercise of the harpe and Lute Their principal craft and occupation is fishing and dying of wolles and cloth by reason of diuers small brookes very fit for their dyings which discending from the mountaines through diuers places of the towne issue into the Sea The inhabitants of the same place are vnder the same obeisance iustice that they of Alger are Leauing the coast and town of Teddele we bare roome to seawards had so good speed that the 24. of Iulie in the euening we discouered the citie of Gigeri but euen thinking to be neere it within a moment arose such a sodain Borasque or Flaa that if our marriners had not nimbly bestirred them selues in taking in of their sailes we had byn in great danger to haue been all drowned and immmediatly saw our frigat which was made fast to our gallie lost before our eyes because they hadde not quickly cut the halser but al our men were saued by swimming to our gallies These Borasques engendred of a wind called by the Gretians Typhon of Plinie Vertex or Vortex but vulgarly Tourbillon or whirlewinde proceed not ou◠of the West notwithstanding do often happen in Winter are very often dangerous all along the coast of Barbarie and as they come very sodainly so are agayne soone appeased The twentie fiue in the Euening we arryued at the porte of Bone where we being come to an anker the Ambassadour sent to salute the Caddy which keepeth the town vpon tribute vnder the king of Alger This Caddi was a renyed Christian notwithstanding shewed himselfe very curteous and liberal towards vs for ouer and aboue the refreshings of flesh bread and fruites which he gaue vs about supper time sent vnto the Ambassador two great platters of Macolique ful of their kind of meat dressed according to their fashion which was a kinde of Menudes made in paste with onions and fat poullets with certain sawces of verie good taste and sauour Of the citie of Bone aunciently called Hippon of which S. Augustine was Bishop Chap. 12. BOne aunciently called Hippon of which Saint Augustine hath beene Bishoppe in times past edified of the Romains vpon the Mediterane sea standeth of the one side vppon hygh and ragged rockes and there is a very faire and sumptuous Mosquee vnto which is adioyned the house of the Caddy but the other side of the towne towardes the South and the valley is cituated more lower and aswell within as without accommodated with welles and good fountaines The houses within it hauing been twise saccaged and spoyled by the Spaniardes are euil builded and this towne doth not now containe aboue 300. harthes Thee Emperour Charles the 5. after he had subdued the towne caused vpon a height of one side towardes the West a great castle too be builded which commaunded of all sides and did accommodate it with a number of cestarns to gather water in for that on this height there is neither well nor fountaine Notwithstanding shortly after it was rased by the Turks and Moores and the Spaniards driuen out of it without the city towards the East is seen a goodly large champion countrey inhabited tilled by a kind of people called Merdez which countrey besides the great quantity of corne that it bringeth foorth nourisheth pastoureth in the valley a great number of oxen kine sheep and other cattel so plentifully that with their mylke and butter not only the city of Bone is prouided and furnished but also Thunes the yle of Gerbes there are also about it many faire garden plats plentifully abounding with dates figs and sweet melonnes At the beginning of the valley passe two smal riuers whereof the next and greatest hath a bridge of stone vnder the which is a waye to an old ruined Church being between 2. rocks which the Moores do say too haue byn the Church of S. Augustine which made me the more desirous to go and see it Notwithstanding that a Iewe borne in Spaine being then with me vsed al the meanes he coulde to perswade me from it for the daungers which he sayd too be there of the theeues called Alerbes which there abouts do lye secretly hidde too entrappe them that came therabouts by which his remonstrances notwithstanding he could not disswade me but that needs he must accompany me and certainly there I found by experience and vppon the toppe of a high mountaine he shewed me a smal troupe of these Alerbes starke naked mounted on horsebacke with their darts in theyr handes after the fashion of those I saw in Alger In the hauen or roade which lyeth before the fortresse is found great quantity of very faire corall whiche Andree Doria then had in farm of the king of Alger for which he paide vnto him yeerely great summes of money By chaunce we found there a shippe of Marselie conducted by a coursarie to gather the same who presented vntoo the Ambassadour many faire and great braunches The next day being the 26. after sunne set waiyng our ankers we departed from Bone and passed from the gulf which contynueth about 18. miles to the cape of Rose
vs taking the aduantage of the streame which there is so extreem with suche force that there is no mariner so perfect but that it would sore trouble him not finding sufficiēt depth was so fiercelye caste thwart the nose of our gallie that it whollye burst the same in peeces Which the warders seing they came forthwith aboorde of vs with smal boats after they had seen the safe conduct of the ambassador vnderstood of him the newes of theyr army at sea they gaue him to vnderstand that it was not the custom that ambassadors shuld passe that streight without some presents giuē to the captaine other officers of the castle so as to cōtent their insatiable auarice he gaue to thē certaine ducates Afterwards hauing mended and newe couered a peece of our palliment our ankors beeing weighed wee went that day too come to an ankor at a great village called Maiton which lyeth on the side that the Seste is of inhabited with Gretians which are all spynners of wooll and cotten I say aswell men as women and of their threed they make Esclaunis which are couerlets with long hayre The village containeth about two or three hundred hearthsteds and is cituated vppon the hanging of a mountain neare the Sea side on the bending of it which is in the midst are seen the foūdatiōs of an old castle alōg the streets of the village corners of the houses are peeces of fair columnes other monuments with certaine figures broken which giueth an appearance that it hath in times past bin some renowmed city This place aboundeth of fayre and fruitful gardens and is a great countrey of vines producing great aboundance of good wines which they preserue in great earthen pitchers which they bury in the ground to the intent too keepe the same the longer good They haue also aboundance of pastures and good waters both of wels fountaines al along the sea side are seen 36. windmilles hauing euery one of them 10. wings and also there are diuers of them about the castle of Abyde The next day in the morning as we were lading of wines which we took in for our gallies there came a complaint vnto the Ambassadour of two Graecian marriners of the Patronne which the day before had stollen two gownes from one of the Inhabitants of that place Of which the one being taken hadde presently three stroppados at the yardes arme of the gally but the other being better aduised and swifter of his feet escaped After dinner we departed from this place and hauing a fore-winde sayling along by Graecia we passed the castle of widdows lying vpon the sea coast three myles from Mayton wherof nothing is seene but the ruines vnder which lieth a vallie very fertile of al things The Greeks do say that it was there where the Turks first passed out of Asia into Graecia by the meanes of two Geneuoises which carried them ouer in their ships for a duccat a peece being passed killed al the men that were within the castle which afterwardes gaue the occasion that it was called the castle of widdowes About 5. a clocke in the Euening we arriued before the Citie of Galliopoli beyng 30. miles beyonde the castle Of the citie of Galliopoli Chap. 11. GAlliopoli is an auncient city cituated vppon Cherenesse of Thracia at the point whiche looketh towardes Propontide neer vnto the city of Lamsacque which is in Asia the lesse some hold opinion that she was builded by C. Caligula and other say that she was in times past inhabited by Frenchmen for that this word Gallipoli signifieth City of the Gaules or Frenchmē and for that the Frenchmen do dwel in Gaule as Nicopoli and Philipopoli signifieth the city of Nicholas Phillip She cōteineth 600. housholds but the principal habitations are so ruined that scarce ther is any notable thing to be seen but that the hauen is very good and able too hold a good army of all sorts of ships◠neuertheles there is a castle which seemeth in tymes past too haue beene very strong but now is altogether ruyned and yet there is an ordinary watche kept there In this city are dyuers Windmilles and there are also twoo Amarathes whereof the one is at the going out of the towne towardes Constantinople which was builded by Sinan Bascha which was in the time of Mehemet the second which conquested Constantinople and the other of Sultan Baiaset which lieth buried there in a most sumptuous sepulture Very neere vnto it the great Turke hath caused to be made a very faire fountayne whiche springeth of very good waters through a conduit as bigge as a mans arme wherof the water is carryed too be sold throughout the Citie for two Aspres the burden for they haue none other water to drinke then well water which is neither good nor wholesome to drinke The other Amarathe is within the Citie they haue to them both belonging two faire Mosquees the Citie is not compassed wyth walles but is altogether open after the manner of a village there are within it many fair gardens and most frutefull trees of al sorts and very excellent vpon the cape whiche stretcheth intoo the sea is a high Theater made like vnto a Turret eight square about the cape are diuers windmilles There are paid two ordinari tributes for euery head as well for menne as women and children one of which which is an Aspre is called Piginte and hee that taketh it too farme payeth yeerely vntoo the great Turke 30000. Ducates and yet gayneth a great deale besides that which hee stealeth the other is called the Capitanat in which they pay two Aspres for euety head the farme wherof is worth to the great Turke 60000. duccats This city is peopled with Christians Greekes Iewes Turks which do vse their greate trades of marchaundise being a towne of great resort aswel from the firme land as the sea which is the occasiō that victuals there are cōmonly very deere The wind being verye good for vs we continued our voyage along the costs of Thracia towards Propontide passing by Macrotique which otherwise is called Longus murus afterwardes Byzante nowe Rodesto or Rodosto beeing vppon the middest of a gulph hauing 30. myles in bredth leauing the yles Proconese of the moderns called Mormora the Besbiques at thys day called Calanio on our right hand and from thence passed towards the city of Perinthe vulgarly called Heraclee which as the foundations do shew hath in times past bin very great She standeth vpon the point of a promontory which stretcheth far into the sea hauing one of the greatest and fayrest portes defensible against al winds as is or may be seen which at the entry hath certaine smal rockes and enter into it with a South wind The rest of the promontory is ful of ruines vnhabited except that which is in the streight and whereas now the Towne standeth which towardes
then three furlongs into the Sea of Egee This city according to the saying of many ancient authors was first builded by the LacedemoniaÌ„s vnder the conduct of theyr Duke Pausane which was about the yere of the world 3292. before the birth of Iesus Christ 663. which after they â—ad consulted with Apollo where they shuld plant settle theâ—â— abode dwelling place they were by an oracle aunswered that they shuld do it eueÌ„ hard by the blind which were the Meâ—ariaÌ„s for that after they were sailed into Thracia leauing the good and fruitfull coast where since Byzance was builded vnaduisedly went planted themselues either for the oppositioÌ„ most fruitful of the ground of Asia or for the vain hope they had for the fishing they builded there a citie which they called Calcedon But they found themselues greatly deceaâ—ed for the fishes being carried by the violence of the floud and tyde of the Euxine Sea into Propontide approching neer vnto the banks of Calcedon being frayed through the whitenesse of the rocks do retire streightwaies to the side of Byzance which gaue occasion vnto the valiant Pausanias to fortifie the city with good wals raÌ„pards changing the first name therof which as Pliny saith was Ligos called the same Bizance Notwithstanding that Diodore and Polibe do contrarily say that it was called Bizance by the name of a captayn which was the first founder therof Pausanias as Zonare writeth possessed the same 7. yeeres during which time Fortune shewing her selfe an enemy vntoo hys magnificence stuffed the hearte of the Athenians with such an insatiable ambition that they hauing brought thither their forces after a long siege diuers assaults did beare away the victory which the Lacedemonians seeing could not abyde but with their whole puissance took their weapons in hand wyth such pertinacie that the aduenture therof on the one side the other was very hazardous and variable being somtimes taken agayne by her first founders afterwards by her aggressors became in the end a pray vnto both the armies And after that Seuerus succeeding in the Romain empire the TyraÌ„t Pissinin her mortal enemy beyng in possession Bizance suborned the emperor to lay siege to the same who not hauing sufficient power to ouercome the same by assaults kept theÌ„ besieged the space of 3. whole yeres in the end through extreme famine constrained them to yeeld them selues vntoo the mercy of the Romaines which was such that after they had put to the sword al the men of warre that were within it killed the magistrats therof ruined cast down to the ground the wals of the city Seuerus afterwards to satisfy his cruelty spoiled the citizens of al their rights fraÌ„chises liberties giuing moreouer the land possessions vnto the Perinthiens And thus this most famous city remained in miserable calamity vntil such time as ConstaÌ„tine the great emperor did reedify the same in maner as foloweth The reedification of Bizance by Constantine the great Emperour Chap. 13. COnstantine the great Emperor of the Romains seeking to resist the courses robberies which the Parthes dayly vsed towards the Romains deliberated to transport the empyre into the East parts there too builde a large city which first he minded to haue builded in Sardique afterwards in Troiada a country of high Phrigia neere vntoo the cape Sigee in the place where somtimes stood the city of Troy which he began to reedify and to repaire the foundations therof But being by a reuelation in the night inspired to change the place caused to be recommenced the works of Calcedon where certain Eagles as Zonare writeth being flowen thither took in their bils the masons lines and crossing the streit let them fal neere vnto Bizance wherof the Emperor being aduertised taking the same for a good signe diuine instruction after he had taken view of the place called backe the maisters of his works from Calcidon caused the city to be repaired and amplified which according to his name he called Constantinople notwithstanding that at the first he had called the same new Rome as likewyse it was called Ethuse and Antonie but by the Grecians Stimboli and of the Turks Stampolda which signifieth a large City The Emperour now seyng his city builded and sufficiently peopled compassed the same with wals towres ditches building therin many sumptuous teÌ„ples adorning it with many magnifique buildings necessary works aswel publike as priuat and afterwards for the more beautifying thereof caused to be brought froÌ„ Rome diuers antiquities worthy of memory amongst others the Palladium of antieÌ„t Troy which he caused to be set in the place of Placote y e great columne of Porphyre which was set vp in the same place neere vnto which he caused to be erected a stature of brasse too the likenesse of Apollo of a maruellous bignesse in which place he ordayned his name too be set vppe but in the time of the Emperour Alexis Comine this stature through a great impetuous tempest was cast downe too the ground broken all to peeces This Emperor lyued there many yeres most prosperously in happy estate as likewise did many of his successors but not altogether exempt of diuers persecutions as well by warres fire pestileÌ„ce earthquakes as suÌ„dry other calamities vntil such time as god being beÌ„t to punish the people for their sinnes through negligence of emperors stirred vp Mehemet the 2. of that name the â— Emperour vntoo the Turks who being moued of an ardent desire to bring the christians vnto decay thereby to augment his empire being beyond measure â—elous too see this noble Citie so flourish before his eies went with a maruellous power both by sea and by land to giue a furious siege vnto the Citie The ende and issue wherof was such that after a long siege battery and diuers assaultes the Infidelles hauing gotten the walles with a greate hurlement and fury entred into the Citie where at the first entrye they made a maruellous slaughter of the poore assieged without sparyng anye age or degree The Emperour Constantine they kylled in the presse as hee thought too haue saued hym selfe and after they hadd cutte off hys heade in derision ignominie they carryed the same vpon the poynt of a speare round about the campe and Citye And afterwardes Mehemet not contenting himselfe wyth the violating and deflouring of the Emperor his wife his daughters other Ladies of honour by a more then inhumane rage caused theÌ„ in his presence to be dismembred cut in peeces during the time of the saccaging which continued 3. daies there was no kind of fornicatioÌ„ sodometry sacrilege nor cruelty by theÌ„ left vnexecuted they spoiled the incomparable temple of S. Sophia before by most marueâ—lous expences builded by the emperor IustiniaÌ„ of al ornameÌ„ts hallowed vessels made therof a stable
augmenting her estate pention accounteth her amongst the number of his wiues so as if shee be brought a bed of a māchild the same may by order course succeed in the Empyre But as for the other by whom hee can get no children he marryeth them vnto hys Spachis or other officers of his courte and is not permitted that any other but the great Lord and the Eunuches of the Sarail how greatly soeuer he be fauoured shal be permitted in any maner of wise to haue the sight of them And therefore to finde the meanes to represent vnto you the maner of their apparrel I fel familiarly acquainted with an Eunuche of the late Barbarousse called zaferaga of natiō a Ragusan being a mā of great discretiō a louer of vertue which frō his tender age had been brought vp within the Sarail who so soone as he had perceiued that I was desirous to see the fashion of the attyre and apparrell of these women to satisfie my mind caused to be be clothed two publique Turkish women with very rich apparrell which hee sent for the Bezestan whereas there is too be solde of all sortes by the which I made the draughtes and protractes heere represented vnto you A Gentlewoman of the Turks being within her house or Sarail A woman apparrelled after the Surian maner A Turkie woman apparrelled after the Moorish fashion Of the moste famous Temple of S. Sophia and other Mosquees of Constantinople Chap. 20. THe temple of S. Sophia in times past builded by Iustinian the 15. Emperour of the East parts was a work of bignesse building beauty and riches incomparable the middest wherof is made in form of a Hemisphere according to the proportion of the Panthee of Rome which is the Rotonde but a greate deale higher and larger There are 2. sorts of pillers of fine marbre very great and of compasse such as twoo men can not imbrace the same and afterwardes another ranke of lesse height and bignesse which are for the holding vpp of the Cube which within is most artificially made with Mosaique figures garnyshed with gold and Asur and the inner part of the temple is altogether plastered and couered with great tables of Porphyre Serpentines and marbres of diuers colours the cloysters about it are of the same stuffe making of a singular beauty largenes more thē ordinary but as forthe Images of Mosaique and other flat pictures the Turks haue scratched out their eies for that they wil not allow or permit any picture or image saying that we ought to worship one god only the Creator of heauen and earth and not the walles nor pictures which are but dead things in whom there is no sence or feeling The couering of this temple is of ledde and the gates being the fairest in the world of fine laten of Corinth in such sort that in the time of the Christian Emperors it might iustly haue been called the most perfect most rich and most sumptuous temple not onely of the parties orientall but likewise of the whole world For it had one hundreth gates and was in compasse more thē a mile within which also were comprehended the houses of the Chanons priests and was in reuenewes woorth more then 300. thousand duccats a yeere But incontinent after the takinge of the Citye the Turkes chaunged the same into a Mosquee and of the most part of the cloyster for that it was neare vnto the Sarail they made stables for horses Besides this magnificque temple of S. Sophia which is to say S. Sapience there are within Constantinople three other fayre Mosquees accompanyed with their Amarathes which are as hospitals fountaines and schooles to instruct the poore infants in their lawes The first of which Mosquees and Amarathes was founded by Sulttan Mehemet the second which tooke Constantinople The second by Baiazet his sonne and the thirde by Selim the father of Soliman which now reigneth and they are all three buryed within the same euery one in the place which he had founded But that of Mahemet is the fayrest richest being aninuated with 60000. ducates of rent in bignesse similitude beyng verie like vnto that of S. Sophia hath about it an hundred houses couered with leadd and round aboue made to lodge their Doctours and priestes of theyr lawes and to receyue all pylgrymes and straungers passingers of what nation or religion soeuer they be where they may refresh rest themselues their seruauntes and horses if they haue any for three daies there be lodged meated and theyr charges payde for as wel for thē selues as their trayne without paying of any pennie without the presinct of the Mosquee there are moreouer an 150. other tenementes for the poore of the citie vnto whome so many as do dwel within the same is giuen euery day an Aspree and as much bread as they need but they esteeme that kind of life so vnhappie that oftentimes the most parte of these tenements stand emptie and voide and is doubtlesse that in this Countrie are not to be found any companies of vagabonnds which do say thēselues to be diseased of the sicknes of S. Antonie S. Main or of S. Fiacre as there are in other our Christian Countries especially in France Spaine Italie for there they shuld not be well welcomed But if it shal so happen that if the moneye ordayned for the poore is not there bestowed the almes masters do sēd y ◠which resteth into the hospitals of the Leapers sicke folkes and mad men for as soone as they finde any one of these fooles doing harm within the city he is forth with taken vp by force brought into an hospitall therefore appointed and with stripes and buffetinges constrayne them to become wise But as for other sicke folkes they are gently intreated lacking nothing that may serue for their ease whether it be Apothecarie wares surgerie or any other necessary thing The other twoo Mosquees are almost like vnto them but that they are not so greate nor so riche There are foure other particular buyldinges founded by foure seuerall Baschas the first by Daat Bascha in the time of Mehemet the second the second by Mehemet Bascha the thirde by Haly Bascha and the laste by Mostafa whiche was in the time of Baiacet the seconde Of the Bathes and manners of washing of the Turkes Chap. 21. IN Constantinople as also in all the other cities Mahematised in Graecia Asia Africa are a great nūber of very faire baths aswell publike as priuate which according to the imitation of the auncient Graecians Romaines are constructed builded with industry sumptuousnesse expenses almost incredible aboue al others those of the Sarails of the great Turke his women his Baschas yea euen the moste parte of the common bathes are beautified and set out with pillers in crustures tables and pauements of diuers marbers rare in colour and beautye These bathes are
the chief of them are made keepers of the castles hauing euerye one of them like wages as before they had by reason wherof none of them can decay into such miserable pouerty but that by reason of their wages ordinary they alwayes haue good meanes to liue The figure following doth liuely represent vnto you the proportion of the Ianissary about the gates of the great Turke or at Constantinople The Ianissarie or Ianissarler being a souldier on foot and of the ordinary gard of the great Turk Of the Bolukz Bassis being captains of 100. Ianissaries Chap. 5. THe Bolucks Bassis are chiefs of a band or captains of a 100 Ianisâ—aries hauing a pension of 60. Aspres by the day mounted on horseback and apparrelled according to the manner presented by the figure following Like vnto which are also they whom they do cal Oda Bassis which are chiefe of the chaÌ„bers or tenthmen And although they are apparrelled after the fashion of the Bolucz Bassis yet haue they but 40. Aspres by the day Their number is 3. or 4. hundreth and their office that wheÌ„ the gret Lord goeth to the Mosquee or into the fields to sit vpoÌ„ faire horses wel and richly harnished and in very good order before the esquadre of the Ianissaries being in their handes a launce or light spere after their fashion and vppon their saddle bow their roundel the Busdeghan being the mase of armes and being thus mouÌ„ted and armed with their great tufts of feathers vpon their heads they seem in their appearance proude and hawty and feareful to those that do see them comming a farre off being of such a shew that the number of them which is about 400. sheweth more in sighte then a 1000 of our horses would do These Bolucz Bassis being growen into age and discharged for that they can serue no longer in the warres are committed as Captains to keepe the places fortes and castles with a recompence equiualent vnto their accustomed sallery wages Boluch Bassi Captaine of one hundreth Ianissaries Of the Ianissarie Aga being Captaine general of the Ianissaries Chap. 6. THe Captain general of the Ianessaries by the Turkes called Ianissarie Aga or simply Aga or Agach which in their language signifieth a staffe hath a 1000. Aspres in wages by y t day 6000. duccats of Timar which we do cal peÌ„sion is clothed 5. times in the yeere with good cloth of gold silk And moreouer is furnished of victuals all other thinges necessary for the supporting of his house estate he hath vnder him a Chechaia or Protegero which is as his LieuetenaÌ„t general ouer al the Ianissaries hauing for his wages 200. Aspres a day and 30000. Aspres of pension He hath vnder him also a Ianissairiazigi which is to say a Cleark of the Ianissaries which hath for his stipende a 100. Aspres by the day but no yeerely pension This Aga hath 2. or 3. hundreth slaues of his owne for his seruice is a man set in such estate dignity and authority that oftentimes it hapneth that he marrieth the daughters or the sisters of the great Turke And whensoeuer he keepeth his court and house open which he doth twise in the weeke he is bound to giue a breakefast or repast vnto the the Ianissairies cause theÌ„ to be serued with bread ryse mutton water they are bouÌ„d to present theÌ„selues euery morning at his house to know whether he wil command them any thing thereupoÌ„ proÌ„ptly too obey him and as often as the great Turke goeth into the countrie or too the Mosquee the Aga rydeth alone after the Esquadre of the Ianissaries mounted vpon some fayre Turkie or Barbarie horse the saddle and other furnitures wrought with goldsmithes workes and set with pretious stones hee being clothed in a long gown of cloth of gold frised or els of veluet or Crimson sattin as yee may see in the figure followinge which I haue onely represented on foote hoping in the thirde volume to set him foorth marching on horseback in his order as also all the other housholde officers of the great Turke Aga captaine generall of the Ianissaries Of the Solaquis archers and of the ordinarye garde of the greate Turke Chap. 7. THe Solaquis are 300. in number chosen and picked out of the most strongest and most excellent archers amongst the Ianissaries for the ordinary garde of the bodye of the greate Turke and are al clothed in one liuery of damaske or white satten wearing their garment long behind and before short and tucked vp with a large rich Turky girdle of golde and silke and vppon their head a high hat of white felt and set behynde a great plume of Estrige feathers of indifferent greate pryce They weare for their armes a Cemiterre and in their hande a bowe guilded being bent with an arrow ready to shoote and a quiuer vpon their backe And whensoeuer the Turk goeth into the fields or to the Mosquee they march in this order two and two about his person to wit a ranke on the right side whiche are lefthanded and another vpon the left being right handed obseruing this order because that if it shuld happen for necessitye or pleasure of the Lorde it should behooue them to loose their bowes they should not turne their backs towards him for that they take the same for a great vnreuerence shame and dispraise and vpon this occasion they are called Solaquis or Czolachers which is to say left handed men Now if that the Lord going through the countrey must passe through a Riuer or brook they must also wade through it but true it is that if the water do come vnto their knees the Lord giueth euerye one of them for a present fiftie Aspres and if it passe aboue the gyrdlesteed they haue a hundred Aspres and if they must wade deeper one hundred fifty But if the water be too furious deepe they passe through it on horsebacke and is to bee vnderstood that they haue not suche a present at euerye Ryuer whiche they doo passe but onelye at the firste and at the other nothing at al. Their wages are from twelue to fifteene Aspres a day and are cloathed and hoased twise a yeere as the other Ianissaries but are not subiect as the other are to watch or ward nor goe vnto the Sarail but when the great Lorde meaneth to ryde into the fieldes or to the Mosquee They haue two Captaynes called Solach Bassis which haue euery of them threescore Aspres a day their liueries and other necessaries as other Captaynes haue and goe on Horsebacke Solachi or Solacler archer ordinary and of the garde of the great Turke Of the Peicz or Laques of the gerat Turke Chap. 8. BEsides the number of these Solaquis the great Lord hath 40. Lackies being Persians called in their language Peicz or Peiclars euery one hauing eight or ten Aspres by the day and twise in the yeare new clothed
with garmentes of sattin or damaske figured of diuers colours vpon their heads they do weare a high Bonnet of fine siluer gilted called in their language Scuff set round about with diuers stones whereof some are fine and some false and in the toppe a great and high tufte of Eastrige fearhers set out with many diuers rare small feathers of byrdes About their bodie they are girded with a large girdle of Tissue or of silke and golde called Cochiach beeing verie fayre and of great value and of such length that it goeth three times about the hodie ouerthwart the same do weare a braue dagger by them called Biciach set with Iuorie or bones of fishes carrying in one of their handes an Anagiach being a small hatchet and in the other a handkercher full of Suger CaÌ„die which in running they do eate aswell for their sustenance and strength as to take away the faintnes These Peicz do run before the great Lord alwayes leaping on theyr toes without ceasing or rest and if it chaunce that in their course they com into any greene meddow or vpon any plaine way they sodainly turne their faces towarde their great Lord so do go backwarde a certeine space or so long as the fayre way dureth criyng loudly Alau Deicherin which is to say God maintain and preserue the Lord long time in such power and prosperitie The light running of these swift Peicz is also employed in seruices of more importance for if it happen y t the great Lord hath to send dispatch in hast any matter into any places of the Empire the same is committed vnto these who so soone as they haue receiued the same with great reuerence takeÌ„ their leaue they do speedily depart crying with a loud voice Sauli Sauli which is asmuch as beware beware vpon this readie departure they runne leaping amongest the people like vnto young rammes and trauailing both day and night without any rest or stay do dispatch more way then the best horse in Turkie coulde doe it is thought certainely that these light runners in their youth doe consume their mylte by a mean which they keepe so secret that for nothing in the worlde they will disclose vnto any person as for my part I referre me too that which it may be and will not otherwise assure it to bee true for that I haue not my selfe seen it notwithstanding that diuers at Constantinople haue affirmed vnto me the same be true accordingly hath written Iohn Antonio Menauino of Genua which as a yong slaue was brought vp within the Sarail in the time of Sultan Baiazet Peich or Peicler of nation a Persian one of the Lackies of the great Turk Of the apparrell custome and maner of liuing of the auncient Peicz or lackies of the Emperors of Turkie Chap. 9. IN times past and in the dayes of other Emperors of Turkie the Peicz whom we call lackies haue varyed much in their apparrell custome and maners from those which are nowe adayes for as some haue written they following the example and antiquitie of the Grecians and Asians trauailed and ranne barefooted without any shoes or any other thing on their feet sauing that the soles of their feete were shod like vnto horses the skin vnder the plant of their feet being so hard that easily they could forbeare the nailes irons being but light being a matter so hard that at the first I coulde scarcely beleeue it for that amongest al the Peicz I had not seene one after that sort but hauing curiously enquired of the very same partie by whom the liuely figure before set out was made hee did assure me the same to bee very true yea and that there were as yet some of his companions then absent from the gate and court of the Turke which caused themselues to bee shod wheerin to giue me a more faithfull testimonie he caused me to see one in Andrinople whose soale of his foote was so harde that with a bodkin how sharp soeuer it were ye could not easily peaâ—â—e it And being thus shod the better to counterfait the horses did wear in their mouth a bal of siluer perced made with holes in diuers places like vnto the bit of a bridle is for to keepe their mouth fresh the longer to sustain their breath Round about their girdle which was very large very wel wrought of leather they hung diuers cymbals or belles which by mouing shaking in their running made a very plesant and delectable noyce obseruing that manner as I beleeue of the Tartares as Marc Paule Venetian hath written saying that the foot postes or messengers of the greate Cham Cublay Emperour of the Tartares dyd likewyse in runnyng weare a Gyrdle houng full of Belles lyke as the Peichz nowe a dayes doe and in one hande carryed an Anagiach which is as muche as to say a litle hatchet damaskined and in the other hand a cruese or viall ful of sweete and smelling water to besprinkle suche as they doe meete in their way for to haue of them some peece of money Their cappes whiche they called Meulai were not of siluer as nowe adayes they are but onely couered with veluet or some light cloth of gold vpon the tops whereof they fastned certain common plumets of Eastrige seathers or of other birdes And these iollie lackies haue such an opinion of theÌ„selues that they do not thinke in the whole world to be any other persons that can runne with like force and swiftnesse whereat is not to bee maruailed for truly they do run so swiftly that the best horse in Turkie could not do the like so as beeing so required they trauel froÌ„ CoÌ„staÌ„tinople to Andrinople back again in 2. daies 2. nights as by som I haue been credibly informed which is as much as a good horse keeping his ordinarie pase could doe in foure dayes beeing distant from the one citie too the other fiue daies iourney of the Turkish iourneies being three or four daies trauell in England and the reason wherefore theyr iourneies are longer then ours is that they doe not goe or ryde froÌ„ the morning to the euening as we doe but froÌ„ the morning to high noone And being arriued at the place of their baite whether it be in town or village they take vp their lodging in a Caruasseras which is like vnto a barne or greate stable insteed of an Inn for that ther are none throughout the whole couÌ„trey of Leuant And if it happeÌ„ that the bayt be too long they stay at half way or neere vnto the baite in some faire medow neere vnto some riuer or fountain there alighting do let goe their horse to pasture set down themselues vnder the shadow of some tree or hedge vpon a carpet if they haue one or els vppon the fayre green grasse refreshing themselues with such victualles as they haue brought with them in their satchel but doe drink of
are they giuen vnto the abhominable sinne of luxurie against nature Thus thē they doe goe triumphing vppon their loue voluptuousnes and pleasure giuing thē selues betimes to wander throughout the coūtrey at their pleasure in such sort that vnder this colour they are called of some Turks the men of the religiō of loue as in effect they in very deed are so as if there were such an order and profession amongst vs I beleue that the most part of our youth would sooner giue themselues to the auowing and profession of such a religion then to that of chastity and obseruance Geomaler a religious Turke Of the seconde sect of the religious Turkes called Calenders Chap. 16. THE religion and maner of liuing of these Calenders is far different from the aforesaide religion of loue namely for that the religious and obseruatours of the same for the most part contrary to the Geomalers say themselues to be virgins making their boast and glory not of lasciuitie luxurie but of very streight abstinence and pure chastitie which if it be not holy is at the least fained they haue for their dwelling certain little churches which they call Techie ouer the gates whereof they doe wryte these or like wordes Caeda normas dil ersin cusciunge al cachec ciur whiche is to say in our language hee that wil enter into this religion must do the same works which they doe and obserue to wit in virginitie and abstinence lyke vnto them These Calenders are clothed with a little short coat without sleeues after the fashion of a hayre cloath made of wooll and horse haire and do not let thei◠haire growe long as the Geomalers doe but cause their haires to be cut couering their head with a felt hatte like vnto the priestes of Graecia about which they hang certaine stringes hanging downe the bredth of a hand being strong and rough being made of horse haire in their eares wearing great rings of yron likewise about their neck arms vnder their priuy members they do pearce the skin thrusting through the same a ring of yrō or siluer of an indifferent bignes waight to the intent that beyng thus buckled they can by no manner of meanes vse luxury althogh they would had therunto commodity These also goe reading of certain songs common rymes cōpounded by one of their order called Nerzimi whō they repute take amongst them to haue bin the first Saint of their religiō who for hauing spoken certaine words against the law of Mahomet was in Azamia which is Assyria flaide quicke and by these means the first martyr of their religion Calender a Religious Turke Of the thirde sect of the religious Turkes called Deruis Chap. 17. A Great deale more straunge and beastly is the life and maner of doings of the Deruis altogether diuers and other then that of the Geomailers and Calenders for these go bare headed and cause their hayre and beard to be cut with a raser and generally all the other partes of the bodie where as any haire groweth and moreouer burne and scauld their temples with a whot Iron or an old peece of cloath burnt hauing their eares pearced wherin they doe weare certaine great ringes of Iaspe of diuers colours and rare beautie All their cloathes are two sheepe or goates skinnes the haire therof being dried in the Sun putting on the one before and the other behind imbracing the bodie in forme of a girdle the other parts of their body are naked whether it be in Winter or Sommer they dwel without the cities in suburbes and villages in diuers partes of Turkie And all the Sommer long goe running throughout the Countries from one village to another doing vnder the colour of holinesse and religion infinite knaueries and robberies for they are all of them great theeues fornicatours spoylers making no conscience to rob kill murder if they find thēselues to be the stronger parties those whō they meet withal on the way with a smal hatchet which they beare vnder their gyrdles and with the same to assault and spoyle the straunge wayfaring men of what law or nation soeuer they be Besides which inhumanitie they are also full of diuers vnhappy vices for they are wonderfully giuen to the detestable sinne of Sodomitrie notwithstanding that for to couer their lothsome filthinesse to shadow their hypocrisie for to shew some godlinesse to be in thē they do going through the countrie eate of an hearb called Matslach the violent operation maketh them to become mad inraged out of their wits So as through a certayne furour they with a certain knife or rasour do cut their necke stomack thighes vntill they be full of most horrible woundes which for to heale they doe lay vpon them a certaine hearbe letting it lie vpon the hurt vntill it be altogeather consumed and become vnto ashes suffering in the mean space an extreem paine and that with marueilous patience And this they doe to shew themselues true immitatours of their Prophet Mahomet saying that during the time that he was within the caue or den through the great abstinences whiche hee vsed fell one day into such a furie that hee would haue cast himselfe downe headlong from the toppe therof and for this cause they haue fooles in great reuerence saying that they are acceptable vnto God These deuoute Deruis liue of almes as the other religious doe which they do beg with these wordes Sciai Merda nescine which is to say giue an almes in the honor of the valiant man Haly brother in law to Mahomet which was the first that exercised armes amongest vs. They haue moreouer in the Natolia the sepulchre of another Saint by them called Scidibattal which they say to bee he that hath conquested the most parte of Turkie and about the place of his sepulchre is an habitation and couent wher do dwel a great number of these Deruis and there once in the yeere they kept a generall chapter of assembly in which their Priour or Superiour is president whom they doe call Assambaba a name signifiyng father of fathers These good religious people are not very welcom at Cōstantinople for that a while agoe one of them durst take vpon him with a short Rapier which hee carried hidden vnder his arme to haue killed the great Turke Sultan Mehemet the second of that name notwithstanding because the Turkes haue aboue all thinges charitie in greate recommendation they doe not leaue to giue almes vnto them for God his sake Deruis a Religious Turke The fourth sect of the religious Turkes called Torlaquis Chap. 18. THe Torlaquis by others called Durmislars cloathe themselues with sheep and goat skinnes like vnto the Deruis aboue the same they wrap about them in maner of a cloke the skinne of a great Beare with the hayre made fast vppon their stomack with the legs vpō their heads they weare a high
amongst the countreyes of Sophy as being ennobled of his royall city of Tauris or Terua as Ptolome saith or els as it seemeth vnto some Hebrewes very well experimented in languages assieties of couÌ„tries the famous auncient citie of Susa. But as foâ— Armenia the lesser the most part therof is now vnder the yoke dominion of the great Turke and Armenia the greater vnder the puissance of Sophi king of the Persians A Merchant of Armenia Of the Ragusins Chap. 21. THe Ragusins generally are riche for that they are very couetous enclining their minde to nothing more then to the gayne of marchandise and to make ready money Besides this they are of nature so proud that they do not think to be more knowledge or noblenesse in any other nation then is in them And to speake trueth they do deserue great praise considering that the cituation of their towne being in such a sharpe place and so streightly extended by their onely vertue and industrye yea almost in despite of nature they haue opened the way to all coÌ„modities necessary The apparrel of the meÌ„ is such that some do cloth theÌ„selues after the Venetian others after another maner as ye may see by y t figures folowing to wit the merchaÌ„ts the foot posts as are the Fantes carrying of letters whom we do cal messeÌ„gers which carry y e ordinary dispatches froÌ„ Raguse to Constantinople and from Constantinople to Raguse aswell of the Ambassadours of Fraunce as of the hostages of the Venetians and Florentins Their common language is the Sclauonian speeche and doe also speake certaine broken Italian more lewdly then the Venetians doe Their women are not very fayre and apparrell themselues but homely wearing ordinarily on theyr head an high attyre made of fine linnen cloth but the nobler sort weare it of white silke hauing their hosen euen to the heeles they doe goe very seldome abrode out of their houses but do loue to be looking out at the windowes to beholde the goers by As for their daughters are kept so close shut in as they are not to be seen by no manner of wise Of the pollicie and gouernment of the Ragusins Chap. 22. THE politique estate of the Ragusins is Aristocratie or a common wealth gouerned by the Lordes out of which is created euery month a president which remaineth in the pallace and hath twelue counsailers by whom the congregation is called Pregai or Pregadi vnto which doe resort an hundreth or more of the auncients of the citie And besides these aforesaide they haue moreouer the great counsell vnto which are assistant all the nobles of the age of twentie yeeres and vpwardes They are tributaries vnto the great Turke of twelue thousand ducats which they are bound to send vnto him euerie yere with two Oratours to Constantinople or els where he shalbe A Merchant of Raguse Fante of Raguse or a carrier of letters Of the Citie of Raguse Chap. 23. RAguse which Ptolome calleth Epidaure is a citie very ancient noble although the same which presently is called Raguse is not the old for that was destroyed by y e Gothes but of the ruines therof the later Raguse was by the inhabitauntes builded ten thousand pases from the olde which for thâ— present is but litle inhabited but the new is so much the more â—requented better peopled edified in most faire cituation vpon the coast of the Adriatique sea beeing notwithstanding within the precinct of the Dalmatian The hauen is very little wrought with handes On the vpper part there is a mount of great highnesse and sharpnesse at the foote whereof the citye is founded she is very subiect vnto windes Earthquakes and also in Winter season is very colde There are diuers foâ—ntaines taking their beginning of the next mountains the water wherof is very sweet wholesome to drink About the distance of a myle from the city there is a faire delectable place called Grauosa set all along with houses builded by most fayre ingenious Architecture accompanied with diuers gardens and pleasaunces planted with Orenge trees citrons lemons other excellent fruitful trees of diuers sorts There are also seene many cleere fayre fountaines dyuinely wrought which thorow conduits pypes they make to come foorth where it pleaseth them And this faire place of Grauosa standeth on the edge of the sea which there maketh a goulph after the fashion of a port very pleasant and able to receiue a 100. Gallies Description of Thracia Chap. 24. THracia which first was called Perca and since Scithon is a prouince in Europe counted amongst the regions of Scithia most ample and of great compasse but of an yll temperature the ayre being vnwholesome not healthfull the ground also barren inough except it be in the places neere vnto the sea It was named Thracia after the name of Thiras the sonne of Iaphet or els as others say of Thrax the sonne of Mars by thys reason seeming to be the most apparant was by Euripides called the house of Mars at this present day is called Romaine is diuided in 2. partes the one wherof is called Thracia onely and the other Thracia Chersonese On the East part bordereth vpon the sea Exinum and Propontide on the south the Sea Aegeum the floud Strymon presently Redino the fields of Macedonia on the North the riuer Istre beeing the Danube or Danoe and on the West the mountains of Peonia a part of Pannonia the riuer of Saue as Plinie Strabo haue written who doe affirme Thracia to be diuided by the mount Eme and that the Triballes Dardanes a fierce proude people and the MysiaÌ„s inhabited Thracia but the Triballes possessed the part presently kept by the Rastians whom we do cal Seruians After the Triballes are the Bulgares from the East vnto the sea Euxinum dwel between Istre and the mount Eme extending towardes the south alongest the sea coast vnto Hellespontus and is that which presently is called Romanie The riuers of Thracia are Bathynia Athyras Arsus vulgarly Chiarelech Melas whereof taketh the name the gulph of Mela otherwise the gulfe of Caridia Hebrus now Matizza or Valisa Nesus or Neste StrimoÌ„ But the most famous are the three last Of the most renowmed mounts ye haue Eme which separateth the Thracians from the Triballes which by some hath byn called the chayne of the world Rhodope so called by Rhodope Queene of Thracia out of which do spring the riuers Neste Hebrus the mount Orbel much celebrated for the sacrifice of Bacchus through the congregation of the Menades vnder the conduct of the Poet Orpheus Amongst these mountaines Eme is of such a height that from the top therof which as Pliny reciteth is 6000. paces is seen the sea of Exinum there is moreouer the mount Athos of the Latines called Monte santo because it is altogether habited of the Caloeres Greeks which are as most curiously writeth M. Peter
whereof the do vaunt themselues to haue been they first inueÌ„tors those which dwelled in Asia did weare for their armes little shields couered with oxe hides with two hunters speares and on their heads hadde sallets of leather vppon the same hornes like vnto Oxen. Thus ye haue that which Herodote doth write in his seuenth booke Their language is like vnto that of the Scithians But at this present their speeche their garments religion manner of liuing miserable calamitie and seruitude is coÌ„forme like vnto the other Grecians which are vnder the same puissaunce and tyrannous obeysaunce of the Turke A woman Iewe of Andrinople A maiden Iewe of Andrinople The description of Grecia Chap. 29. GRecia amongest other countries in Europe is the most noble most famous and was first called Helles of one of the sonnes of Deucalion and Pirrha and afterwardes Grecia of a king whose name was Grecus and is so ample that shee exteÌ„deth ioyneth with the sea Mirtee so called of Myrtile the sonne of Mercurie drawing by great circulation from the North to the South from the East towardes the sea Egee and from the West to the sea Ionie vntil she commeth to ingulfe 5. miles within it so as it lacketh very little but that in the midst it is cut and deuided Then againe enlarging her sometimes of one side sometimes of another principally towards the sea Ionie and then agayne comming intoo a lesse breadth then where she taketh her beginning draweth in y e end to be almost an iland which aunciently was called Appie and Pelasgie and since Peloponese by reason of the gulfes and promontories wherewith they are parted and deuided But by the modernes is called Moree being in figure almost like to a plaÌ„tin leaf the circuit of the Peninsula according to Pliniâ— and Isidore is fiue hundreth seuentie and three paces but if all the creekes of all the gulfs and promontories should be reckoned woulde contein little lesse then twise as much notwithstanding according to Polibe besides the borders containeth about foure thousand stadias or paces and from the East to the West forty thousand and foure hundreth Ptolome bordereth the PelopoÌ„nesse of the North with the gulfe of Corinthe presently called the gulf of Lepanto and with Istine and from thence with the sea Creticque Towards the West and the South bordereth wyth the Adriaticque sea and on the East with the sea of Candia sometimes called Cretique The country of Macedonia first called Emathie of Emathias that was king thereof afterwards Macedonia of Macedon the sonne of Deucalion or according to Berose the sonne of Oâ—yris by valiant strength of the great Alexander obtained before the Empire Monarchie of the most part of the world habitable for hauing passed Asia Armenia Iberia Albania Capadocia Siria Egypt the mountaines of Taur Caucase subdued the Bactrians the Medes the Persians and in the end vanquished and ouercame all the East partes moreouer was victorious ouer the Indians The Macedonians doe say themselues to be come descended of Sethim the sonne of Iaon theyr prouinces are Thessalia which according to Pompone and Plinie was first called Emone of the king Aemon since Pelasgie and againe Hellade Myrmidone by reason whereof Homer gaue three sundry names vnto the Thessalians to wit Mirmidons Helenes Achees but at the last was called Thessalia of Thessale whiche possessed the kingdom The principall citie is Thessalonia vulgarely called Salonicke vntoo whiche people S. Paul the apostle of Iesus Christ wrote many godly Epistles This citie is as yet most ample rich inhabited of thre sundry sorts of people to wit Christian Greeks Iewesâ— Turkes but the number of Iewes being merchaÌ„ts very rich is the greatest and there are 80. synagogues their attire on their head is a yelow Tulbant safroned that of the Grecian christians is blew that of the Turks white for that through the same diuersitie of colors they should be known the one from the other are all clothed in long gownes as the other Orientals are In Thessalia is the mount Pernassus consecrated vnto the god Apollo vnto which the people retyred at the time of the deluge in this region in the riegne of Ducalion There is also the mount Pelion vpon the which was celebrated the mariage of â—he king Peleus with the Nymph Thetis Neare vnto Thessalia is Magnesia Moreouer Ethiotes Dorie Locre whereof the inhabitaÌ„ts were called Ozoles Phoce Beoce hauing taken that name as Plinie writeth of an oxe which there was sacrificed by Cadmus the sonne of Agenor In this prouince neare vnto the riuer Erimne are two fountaines of such vertue that the water of the one of them giueth increaseth memorie to those that drink of it the other taketh away the memorie Beoce stretching from the East to the West toucheth the sea Eboique and the gulfe Etanee famous through the goodly reuowme of the city of Thebes In this prouince is the mount Citharee the riuer of Ismenee the fountaines of Irce Aganippe was the place of birth of the Muses at the wood of Helicon the natiue countrie of Hercules of the father Bacchus who taught the Thebans to plant the vines the vsage of wine moreouer she was the productrice of the strong valiant Epimanondas As for the citie of Thebes so much renowmed by the auncients is at this present but a small castle of little estimation as likewise presently are the most part of the other Cities of Macedonia which are altogether desolated ruined In Macedonia is the fouÌ„tain of Susistige out of which issueth a poison being of such a strength that it will not be kept in any other thing theÌ„ in the hoof of a horse foot is thought of diuers that Alexander the great was poisoned with the same Ye haue moreouer Attique which took such a name of one of the sonnes of a king named Attis who after Cecrops succeeded in the kingdome or els of Athis the sonne of Cuba king of the Athenians but according to others Actique of the king Actron or of Arcte which signifieth a coast And likewise Megare a region so full of woods and mountains that the most part of the inhabitants are shepherds keepers of cattel Of all these prouinces Attike is the principallest most famous In Peloponese which somtimes was called Rocque the most noble prouince of Grecia are the regions of Argole Laconia which before was named Oebalia in the which is the citie of Amicle being the naturall countrie of Castor Pollux There is the cape Malee of the modernes called the cape of S. Ange being a great enemie vnto the seafaring meÌ„ as before I haue described in the first chapter of the second book There is moreouer Messenie which by the Sparthes was brought vnder seruitude for that oftentimes it was giueÌ„ to reuolting seditions which was the occasioÌ„ that they were more rudely intreated theÌ„
come vnto Istine being of a long and streight exteÌ„dure of the space of 5000. paces entreth into the sea Egeum and the sea Ionie There is the castle Cenchree the temple of Neptune and the famous games called Istmetiques instituted by Theseus vpon enuie of those which Hercules had instituted in Olimpe Corinthe which in time passed was so notable of riches first builded by a Brigand called Sisiphe the son of Eolus in the foure score yeare of the age of Moses and was called Corcyre or Certhyre and aâ—terwardes Ephire after that she was augmented was ruined and builded againe by Corinthus the sonne of Orestes or Iupiter which after his name called it Corinthe whiche signifieth administration or publicque safegarde and since was againe destroyed by the Romans and restored by Auguste Caesar within this citie of Corinthe there was somtimes a temple of great beautie excelleÌ„cieâ— dedicated vnto the Goddesse Venus to whom belonged aboue â— 1000. whores of renowne dedicated to this goddesse according too the Heathen custome which were common vnto all commers But now Corinthe is but a little village called CaraÌ„ tho In the region of Corinthe is a place nowe adayes called Sydrocapsa whereas be many fine mines of gold of which the Turk receiueth an inestimable riches This prouince bringeth foorth the most fine copper of all Europe whereof are made vessels verye excellent of great prise FroÌ„ the most high towre of the fortresse called Acrocorinthe are seene both the seas to wit of Ionie and Egee The mouth rinage of Peloponese is deuided with many gulfes promontories too wit towardes the East with Bucephalus Cherchonese Scilee towardes the South Malee Tenare Acâ—ite Ichtis towards the West Chelonate Arasse froÌ„ Istmus to Scilee do dwel the Epidaures famous renowmed for that they haue the temple of Esculape and the TrezeniaÌ„s Illustred for the faith which they alwaies obsâ—rued in the confederacies whiche they made with the Athenians Ther are the ports Saronique Scemte Pagone but as for the townes whiche are on the sea coastes Epidaure is cituated on the side of the gulfe Saxonique of nature beset and enuironed with high mountaines The sicke folkes which wentâ— vntoo the temple of Esculape for to bee healed slept there in the nyghte and said that Esculape in this manner did heale them in theire sleepe Troese and Hermione are also cituatid and placed on the border of the sea Betwixt Scilee and Malee is Argolique betwixte this Tenare is Laconique froÌ„ thence to Acrite Asinee froÌ„ theÌ„ce towards Ichtis Cyparissienne In Argolicque the riuers knowne are Erasine and Inaque the Castle of Lerne In Laconique Githie and Eurotas riuers but in Tenare is the temple of Neptune a caue or Antre like vnto the same of Pont called Acherusienne In Assine is the riuer Pamisse and in the Ciparissenne Alphee And euery one of these are called after the names of the Cities cituated vpoÌ„ the sea coast Cilene and Callipoli are vpon the riuer of Patras which aunciently was called Aroe in which place Saint Andrewe an apostle of Iesus Christ receiued the crowne of his martirdome In Epire sometimes called Molosse by reason of the people Molosses which somtimes haue reined there ther is nothing more singular then the gulfe Ambritien In this prouince are the townes Action Argy Amphiloche Ambratie and Buthroton vulgarelye Butrinto the royall citie of Aeacides and Pirrhus The Partheneans and Dessaretes vsed for their habitation the first countries amongest which the principall townes are Orique and Dirrachium by the auncients called Epidamne but the Romanes chaunged the name thereof for that it seemed vnto them almost à Malum AuguriuÌ„ an vnhappie encounter to them that went thither because that Damnum in their language signifieth damage Neere vnto Epidamne is Apollonie Salone Iadere Narone Tragure the gulfe Polatique and Pola sometimes as is sayd inhabited of the Colques But since as all thynges in the worlde are chaungeable and inconstant became the Colonie of the Romanes The riuers thereof are Eas and Nar and the Danube which is in that place and hauing chaunged or lost his name is called Ister Eas runneth alongest Apollonie Nar entreth the Pyreans and Lyburnians and Ister through the Istrians Tergiste lying beyond it in the middest of Adrie closeth and endeth the Illiricque Of the manner and auncient order of liuing of the Grecians Chap. 30. THe Graecians in their ancient maner of liuing were very vnciuil barbarous for they liued dwelled with the beasts in al idlenesse hauing no meate more daintier for their nourishment then the fruits of wild trees to wit acorns other mast But through long succession of time they became so to be framed ordered vnto al humain society good manners that amongst all other nations they were reputed to be the most ciuil wise valiant in al Europe Neuerthelesse for that in diuers countries of Graecia the men not thinking them selues sufficiently assured neither vppon the high wayes nor in the houses because of the feare they had of the Pirates rouers on the sea which in great number dwelled alongst the seaside weÌ„t alwaies armed according to the custome of the Barbarians for the defence conseruation of their goods their families persons The Athenians were the first that left off to go so armed framed themselues to leade a life more honest ciuil And true it is that for a certayne time the auncient men did cloth theÌ„selues most simply aboue all others the Lacedemonians who notwithstanding that at al times they had bin esteemed the most rich wealthy of al the Graecians did notwithstanding goe all apparrelled equally after one sort aswell the meaner as the richest sort haue byn the first that for the wrestling haue stripped themselues naked annointed their bodies with oile wheras they which vsed the like exerciâ—e in Olimpe couered the shame fastâ—members with small clothes And as yet presently the Barbaries Asians AffricaÌ„s being appointed to wrastle for the game do weare breeches of leather do annoint their bodies armes with oyle to the end their aduersaries shuld fasten the lesse hold vpon them euen as I haue before amply declared in the description of the ordinary Wrestlers of the great Turk Of Lycurgus lawes giuen vnto the Lacedemonians Chap. 31. LYcurgus perceiuing the Lacedemonians to liue without any honest form of pollicie was the first that instituted lawes vnto them hauing first abolished all the corrupted customes which they had before amongst them First he confirmed the people in the obeysance of their princes and the princes to the true iustice of the Empyres through the meane of a Senate of 28. Counsellers which he constituted as a barre and bulwarke vnto the popular temerity and againe to the contrary to foresee likewise that the Princes should not vsurpe vpon tyrannous force to diuide and equally part the lands possessioÌ„s to
all those which Dracon had made except certain touching murthering deathes of men for that they were too seuere rigorous for for all sorts of crime he had almost ordayned but one punishment only which was death so as if any had bin foūd in idlenes or if he had stollen fruits or hearbs out of a garden he was aswel condemned to death as if he had bin a murtherer or sacriledge which gaue occasion vnto Demades that the lawes of Dracon were rather written with blood then with ynke Secondly he ordained that the rich citizens shuld haue the offices of magistrates that the meaner sort of the people shuld haue their part in the authority gouernmēt of the city he made generally to be estimated the goods of euery one particularly putting into the first order those which were found aswel in grayn as fruits of yerely reuenues the quantity of 500. minots liquided and those he called Pentacosiomedimnes which is to say hauing 500. minotes of reuenue and those whiche had 300. and might maintaine a horse of seruice were put into the second degree were called knights those which had but 200 were put into the 3. rank and were called Zeugites but the other beyng vnder 200. were put vnto the fourth rank he called thē Theles as who would say mercionaries and wold not permit these to exercise any publike office nor yet to enioy the right of Burgesie but to haue voyces in the elections assemblies of the city and iudgements in which the people were soueraine iudges Notwithstanding the bettet to prouide for the weakenesse of the people he permitted vnto euery one that would to take in hand the quarrel of him that had bin wronged Aboue the counsel of the Areopages which he had established he set another second coūsel of 100 men for the matters of estate whiche he did choose out of euery degree wherof 4. were chosen to consult vpon matters before they were proponed vnto the people He willed moreouer that if any had married a rich yong heire that afterwards he was found not able to liue with her so fleshly as his youth required that thē it was permitted to the womā to choose to her helpe the neerest kinsemā of her husbād such as shuld plese her to couple her self with him so that the children which he shuld beget shuld at the least be of the blood and linage of her husbād Furthermore he took away the dowries of other marriages willing that the men should haue with their wiues three gownes only and certaine other small moueables of litle value thinking it a thing neither iust nor reasonable that marriage should be made a traffique to be gayned by as by other merchandises but wished that it should be done of a hearty loue towards the common children He forbad the speaking euil of the dead expresly not to wrong or iniury the citizens either in word or deed vpō pain of three dragmes the one to be giuen to him that shuld be offended the other two to be for the common purse he permitted vnto euery one to make a wil to take such an heire as he shuld thinke good so as he had no children He permitted also the killing of the Adulterer being found with the deed but only condemned him that took a womā of free cōdition by force in a 100 drachmas he forbad that none might sel his daughters or sisters except that being married they were foūd in adultery To those y t won the prise at y e Istmick games he ordained out of the cōmō purse 100. dragmas those that had wonne at the Olimpicke 500. and to him that brought in the head of a woolfe was giuen 5. dragmes and one dragme for the head of a she woolfe he wold not that the freedome of the Citie shuld be giuen vnto any strāger except he were banished his Countrey for euer he made many other goodly ordinances which I passe with silence referring vnto the reader to see that which Plutarch hath written of the life of the said Solon but will declare onely that after he had authorised the lawes for a 100. yeres he made them to be written in boords or roundelles of wood which roundels according to Aristotle were called Cyrbes and fayned that the Goddesse Minerua had inuēted the same afterwards hauing made the counsel common people to sweare the obseruation therof because of the opportunity which some dayly vsed to take away or mittigate some of them he tooke leaue of the Athenians for 10. yeres and by sea went into Egypt where he remayned a certaine space afterwards returning into Cypres in the end returned to Athens where he found such troubles seditions partialities amongst the inhabitants that in the end they opened the way vnto Phisistratus to vsurpe his tyranny to the great grief of the said Solon which notwithstanding lyued vnto the time that Hegestrate was prouost of Athens The armes of the Macedonians Chap. 34. THe Macedonians in times past were amōgst the other Graecians in feats of warre most valiant flourishing they had their Phalanguelike vnto a fouresquare battell of footmen ioyned togethet with their armes being long pykes called Sarisses of 18. foot long with the which they opened the battels of their enimies their headpeece was of a raw oxe hide their curasse cuilted with flaxe the shield of leather the iauelin sword short and thus were set out their Phalangue which as Vegece writeth were at the first but 8000. men but according to Dion of the life of Antonie Caracole euery Phalangue Macedonique in the time of Alexāder the great was 16. M. men did not set in order their legions as the Romains did which did make one rāge to enter within another but made only a souldier to enter in the place of him that was slain and by such warlike order dyd many high and memorable feats of armes But after the discōfiture of the Persians through the maruellous increase of their power they fell into such a vainglory arrogancy euen as at al times pride and presumption are accustōmed to accompanye great prosperities that in place of most honest gouernment which they had in their common wealth they gaue thēselues to a life disordered corrupted and ful of al villany and abhominable dissolution wherupon ensued that during the time of this monarchy the Graecians had between themselues many great long warres yea such as in the end this so noble Graecia was altogether ruined and destroyed for euery one attēpting vpon it of al sides was in the end giuen as a pray vnto all strangers By the figure following is to be seen what the maner of apparel is of the Macedonian women nowadayes A woman of Macedonia The auncient religion of the Grecians Chap. 35. THe same Graecians through their marueilous industry and subtlety of spirite were inuenters of many monstrous manners of superstition and idolatry for euery one of