knight de Villegaignon in his treaty which he hath made of the warres of Malta doth recyte a history no lesse lamentable then full of dispayre and vnnaturall crueltye and is of a Sicilian whiche in that place hadde dwelled of longe tyme and there married a wyfe by whom hee had twoo faire daughters then beyng in state to bee marryed who seeing his laste calamitye approching because he woulde not in hys presence see his wife and his daughters rauished and violated and to bee brought in shamefull seruitude and too deliuer them from all shame and bondage hauing called them intoo his house firste slewe wyth hys swoorde hys two daughters and afterwardes their mother And this doone wyth a Harquebuse and a Crossebow bent as cleane bereft of sences made towardes his enemies of whom he slewe twayne at the first encounter afterwardes fighting a while with his swoord beeing inuyroned wyth the multitude of the Turkes broughte him selfe too the end of his moste vnhappye life Beholde the summarye of the miseries happened through the Turkes in fewe dayes in the yles of Sicilia Malta and Goze After whiche thynges the Bascha caused his armye with the whole bootie and preye to imbarke and remooued the twenty seuenth of Iuly towards Barbary to assiege the castle of Tripoli the dinner being ended the Ambassador in presence of that noble assembly declared the zeale good wil which the most ChristiaÌ„ king his maister had alwaies borne to their religion the great displeasure he would take when he should vnderstand the great dammage which the Turks had done to that yle assuring them that if in time he had bin there arriued too haue his remonstrance vnto the Bassha he wold neither haue spared his pains nor yet the fauour of the king his maister to haue caused them to remoue Whervpon the great maister after his great thaÌ„ks said vnto him that there was yet time inough to pleasure them if that according to the good wil of the king offer which he had made it might please him to saile towards Tripoli which the Turkes were gone to besiege to the end too perswade them in so great necessity and before they should proceed further to remoue leaue the siege for he feared that the place being little and of smal force and moreouer for that by reason of the poore treasure of the religious as he affirmed coulde not haue bin fortified nor succoured and might not long hold out nor resist such a great army wherunto the Ambassadour did willingly consent although the charge of his voiage did commaund him to go another way And they of the religion hauing prepared a frigat to direct vs he assured theÌ„ that so soon as he could he would by the same giue them to vnderstand of al the newes we soiourned in the Ile of Malta onely two dayes aswel to make cleane our Gallies as too take in fresh water other things necessary And within this small time I indeuoured all paynes and study to see and vnderstand the things most notable and singular of this IlaÌ„d In which the knight of Villegaignon for the old acquaintance he had with me and the good wil he bare towardes me was a great helpe vnto me And therfore before I proceed any further I thought it not to vary from my purpose to make here a succinct description of the yland memorable things therof following therin as well the writings of the auncient and moderne Geographers Historiographers as that which with mine eies I haue seene Description of the Ile of Malta Chap. 16. MAlta which by the auncientes was called Melita is an yle in the Sea Mediterrane betweene Sicilia and Tripoli in Barbary which from the West to the East containeth in length two and twentie miles in breadth xi and in circuit threescore It is an Iland low and stonie and hath fiue faire large ports all issuyng at one mouth at the entrie of which Ile is the castle where the graund master keepeth by arte and nature almoste inexpugnable beeing furnished wyth good quantitie of ordiâ—nance and cituated vppon a high rocke of three parts enuironed with the Sea and on the side towardes Cande separated with a large chaÌ„nel from the Bourg which lyeth vnderneath it very great and well inhabited full of fayre houses and pallaces well builded euery one with a Cesterne for they â—aue neither there nor in the castle neyther wells nor fountains There be also many fayre Churches both Greek Latine and in the middest of the great place a great piller erected wher the malefactors are punished True it is that this Bourg is not defensible agaynst any great siege because it is enuironed with great hilles vnto which of all sides it is subiect shee is inhabited peopled with a great number of Commaunders Knights and Merchants of all nations and aboue all there is great aboundaunce of Curtisans both Greeke Italian Spaniards Moores and Maltez The common sort weare none other cloathyng because of the extremitie of the heate then a longe linnen whyte smocke gyrded vnder their breastes and ouer the same a fine whyte woollen mantle by the Moores called Barnuche as in the end of this chapter I haue liuely set foorth vnto you The citie is distaunt sixe myles from the castle cituated vppon the toppe of a mountaine enuironed on the three partes with great valleyesfull of grauel and large stones very painful too goe vpon On the South side about two miles from the Citie is a great fountain bringing forth such a marueilous number of Eeles that it is a matter hard to be beleeued which haue so sharpe teeth that there caÌ„not be a string so good but they wil bite it asunder so as such as wil take them are forced to strengthen their lines about the hooke with a silke or cotten threed as soone as they feele them taken be very redy to pul theÌ„ vp out of this fountain our gallies took their fresh water There are in this Iland 60. castles or villages all wel inhabited very abundant of Barlie Cunego which is a graine which they mingle amongst their corne to make bread Cotton Citronnes Oranges Melons other frutes of excellent goodnesse but for wheat wine they do furnish theÌ„selues out of Sicile there are bred very good mulers horses of the rase of Spaine The sir Villegaigon led me into a garden which the grand M Omede caused to be made beyond the port neare vnto the Bourg which garden is beautified with a goodly lodging conteining chaÌ„ber warderobe hal kitchin the court is pauid with Mosaique stone the fountaines very fresh good to drink the gardiners house chappell ponde for to water the horses all cut out by marueilous industrious art out of a great rocke which is of a very faire white stone and neere the entraunce of the gate out of the same rock
great losse vnto vs beyng a good Pilot and a very honest man The day before there died also two gallie slaues and foure in the patrone all whiche were cast into the sea to feede fishes Vppon the Sunday beeyng the 23. approching neere vnto Malta wee sent the frigate on before along the coast of Gosse to discouer whither the sea were cleere of gallies galliots and other vessels of the enemies For we something doubted the gallies of Genua after hauing long looked for their returne discouering theÌ„ a far off they gaue vs a signe that there was no daÌ„ger towards so sayling betwixt Goze the yle of Malta we arriued there very late the entrance of the hauen being shut the Ambassador sent his Lieuetenaunt with his skiffe towardes the grand maister to signifie vnto him our ariual to desire him to cause the hauen to be opened for vs and too giue him also to vnderstand that he had within his gallies the Gouernour and other knights of Tripoli But he vnderstanding of the taking of Trypoli was in such a rage and anger that he sent word back again that he would do nothing vntil the morning that he shuld haue all his counsel together to vnderstand of them what were too be done and afterwardes would let him vnderstande his pleasure The knight Parisot sent foorthwyth certayne refreshinges of bread wine and sweet water which were accepted in better parte then the answeare of the grand maister Vaillier other knights went to lye within the Bourge The next daye in the morning the hauen was opened into which we entred without any welcome bidden And neuerthelesse the grand maister sent Parisot and certaine other auncient knights to receiue the Ambassador who greatly disdayned at the message that in the euening before was sent vnto him which the knights would fayne haue cloaked and excused but could not with honesty doe it being come to the castle he was receiued of the grandmayster with smal countenance as a recompence for that he had at hys great charges and costs besides the losse of his men that were dead and diseased safely brought away the knightes and souldiers from Tripoli who if it had not byn for hym and his gifts had all remayned as Slaues to the Turkes wherein the grande maister could not be perswaded which against al right truth mainteined his opinion that without the good willes of the knights they would neuer haue Surrendred And as for the 30. Turkes being slaues which Vaillier vppon caution assuraunce of the Ambassadour had promised too bee redeliuered vnto the Bascha he would by no meanes thereuntoo consent The counsell of the religion were three times assembled where the ambassadour by good reasons spared not to reprooue the false opinion of the grand maister from the which he was by no manner of remonstrances to be perswaded But to the contrary maliciously suborned the spanish and Italian knight agaynst vs so farre that some sayde wee were come to Malta to espye and view the place to cause it to be brought vnder the Iurisdiction of the Turks other said that after we had caused Tripoli to be lost we would returne againe to the army And generally and aboue al that we were the very chiefe authors of all the mischiefes that were happened vnto them by the Turks Such was their vnthankfulnesse for all the good wil and seruices whiche the Ambassadour and his company had doone to them of the religion Departing from the castell he went to dine wyth the Knight Parisot where Vaillier was vnder arest attending that his processe should be declared against him all the rest of the day there was preparation made too dispatche and sende away the knight de Seure towardes the court too aduertise the king of al that which during our voyage was happened vnto vs. And in the mean space the graÌ„d maister sent away three frigats towarde Sicilie Affrique and Naples too aduertise them of the losse of Tripoli or rather as the coÌ„mon voyce was to aduertise Andre Doria which was tarrying for vs at the passage with 5 principal gallies of the day of our departure the course we meant to keep for we vsed al diligence to escape his hands Neuerthelesse we made some smal prouision for our gallies and with much difficulty got certain victuals and wood for our kitchin Moreouer we got a pilote being of the yle of Chio in place of him that was dead the knight de Seure did also no lesse diligence in preparing his galliot too returne into Fraunce being imbarked with him the Lords of S. Veran Montenard the knight of Magliane Vestrie Flamerin certain others who hauing heard that Andre Doria lay in wayte for vs at the passage woulde not put themselues in hazard to fight nor to fall into the handes of their enemies the 26. of August in the euening their ankers being weied hauing a good wind directed their course towardes Marseilie A woman Moore of Tripoli in Barbarie The second Booke of the Nauigations and peregrinations Orientalles of Nicholas de Nicholaij of Daulphine chamberlaine and Geographer ordinary to the king of Fraunce The depâ—rture of the Lorde of Arramont Ambassadour for Kinge Henrie the seconde towardes Soliman Emperour of the Turkes from the Ile of Malta to proceed on his voyage towards Leuant Chap. 1. THE Knight of Seure hauing with a very fauourable winde taken hys course towardes Marseille wee with our gallies after wee hadd taken in fresh water the rest of our men that were a shore about the beginning of the night beeing shot to the Seawards about 25. or 30. miles found the wind to be at Northwest which serued vs so wel that hauing set our course southeast we sayled that night 60. miles further following the same course we sayled so with that wind that vpon sunday being the last of August wee had on our left hande the sight of the Ilandes of Zefalonia aunciently called Zephalonia and Zante sometimes called Iacintha being both subiect vnto the Venetians and contributory vnto the Turke as I hope to declare in mine other treatie of our returne from Constantinople The same day about noone we descryed a great ship of CaÌ„dia laden with malmsies Muscadels and other marchadises being bouÌ„d for Venice And yet notwithstaÌ„ding wee had giuen them a shot of assurance yet left not to set vp a redde flagge in which were painted the armes of Candia and began to prepare themselues to the fight thinking we had bin Coursaries which the Ambassadour seing made them beleene that he was of Sicilia vpon which occasion they foorthwith stroke their sailes the maister with his barke came to salute the Ambassador whoÌ„ he straightwaies knew for that he had ofteÌ„times furnished him of wines at Constantinople and therfore presented him wyth a great barrell of muscadel a mutton diuers other pouncils citrons and oranges desiring him too helpe him with a barrell of
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
passing further towards the sight of the yles De la Galite des Symboles there flew a fish into our Gallie of the length colour and bignesse of a great sardin which before had twoo great wings and twoo lesse behynd hys head and mouth being great according to the proportion of the body thys fish is by the Moores called Indole And hauinge doubled the cape Bon the twenty and eyght daye wee arryued at the yle of Pantalaree where by reason of a contrary wind we were for that night constrayned to come to an anker to put vs to the disposition of the wind Of our arriuall in the yle of Pantalaree Chap. 13. THe other night following we came too an anker in another roade of that Iland about vj. miles from the city and in the morning one of the warders thinking we had bin of the Emperors party or of Malta came into our gallie too make a present vnto the Ambassador of a good quantitie of reysons figges which he brought in a goates skin vpon his backe This present being not so soon rewarded as it was taken our trumpetter was sent with this warder to demand of the Lieuetenant of the yland ii slaues of prouence which the day before were runne away out of the galliot of the knight de Seure For all we had deliuered them from the captiuity of Alger with such danger as before I haue recited vnto you whilest we renewed our beuerage out of certaine cesternes and towardes the euenyng the warder and our trumpeter returned without hauing heard any newes of our slaues but in the behalfe of the Lieuetenant told the Ambassadour that the Turkes army was at Malta and that she had saccaged the towne of Augusta in Sicilia and that Andree Doria meaning to haue passed from Sicilia towards the towne of Affricque to furnish the place with souldiers and munition did the vj. day of the same moneth of Iulie through euil conduct and lack of knowledge so beate against the yle of Lampedose that of xv gallies which were with him there were viii lost to wit his Capitainesse and two other being his own out of which he and a slaue only were saued and two which appertained to the Marques of Terre neuf the Patrone of Cigallela patrone of Monego and the galissa of Sicilia with all those that were within them Description of the Ile Chap. 14. THis Ile of Pantalaree which by the auntients was called Paconia is very hilly and full of great rockes There groweth great quantity of cotton capers figges melonnes and reysons and throughout the ylande is full of cestarnes There are also many small houses very aunciently builded within the grounde made like vnto caues made by the Moores in the time they possessed the Iland Along the sea side are founde stones being blacke and glistering like vnto fine iet and certaine rough stones They haue no horses but of oxen greate store with the which they do labour til the ground how wel there groweth no corne Of which they furnish them selues out of the yle of Sicilia vnto which they are subiect But well there groweth certaine other graine and hearbes of small estimation There groweth a smal tree like vnto Nerte which the Moores called Vero and the Sicilians Stinco bringing foorth a small round fruite which at the first is read and being ripe waxeth blacke Of which the Inhabitants of the Iland which are very poore make oyle which they vse aswell too burne in their lamps as to eate the women after hauing washed their heads do annoint their haire with it to make it grow long and faire Aswel the men as women are of nature good Swimmers as by experience we saw by a woman of the countrey bringing a great basket with fruit entred into the sea and swimming brought the same to sel in our gally This Iland conteineth xxx myles in length and in bredth about x. myles Of our departure from the yle Pantalaree towards Malta Chap. 15. THe 30. day of the same moneth of Iuly wee departed from Pantalaree with such a fauorable winde that the 1. day of August being passed the yle of Goze we arriued about the Euening in the road of Malta where incontinent we were visited by the knights Parisot Villegaignon of many others of diuers nations And after the Ambassador had giuen to vnderstand to the great maister his comming the chains of the hauē being opened with salutation accustomed of the one side other we entred into the hauen vppon the sides wherof were with the afore named diuers other knights come thither in the behalf of the grād maister of birth a Spaniard named Omede which receiued the ambassador presented vnto him a mulet on which he lighted accōpanied him to the great hal of the castle wher the grand maister with diuers knights attended him hauing done reuerence vnto him declared part of his auctorisation the night approching taking his leaue returned to his gallies The next day he was by the great maister bidden to a sumptuous dinner vnto the which al the ancient and notable knights of the religion were also bidden and assembled there was openly rehearsed how that certaine dayes before Sinan Bassha captain generall of the Turkes army hadd taken and saccaged the castle of the town of Augusta in Sicilia that he from thēce arriuing in a port of Malta called Mechetto neere vnto that of the castel put his men there on land to ouerrun rauish spoile all whatsoeuer they shuld find for their aduantage which they executed most cruelly as such barbarous people in like affaires are accustomed to do But a most valiant well aduised knight a Spaniard named Guimeran captaine of one of the gallies of the religion who could not abide such insolency secretly assembling certaine nūber of souldiers Insulans did by ambushes other means so distresse them that after hauing taken slaine such as fel into his laps made them to remoue from that place but notwithstāding did not desist of their enterprise for from thence they went to the Roade of S. Paul where they landed their ordinance to assiege the city wherof they got the suburbs framed their trenches too make the battry And forsomuch as they could not atchieue the end of their enterprise by reason as wel of the roughnesse of the place being ful of rocks as seing their mē faile them dying through extreme heat they resolued to remoue their siege to imbarke themselues with their ordinance hauing slaine taken and saccaged al that they met withal at aduantage From thence they went to the yle of Goze being very neere and subiect to the yle of Malta which they saccaged and by deceiptfull composition tooke the Castle leading the people both menne women and children as slaues into miserable captiuity being in number vj. thousand and three hundreth The
the sea side is not walled wee rested there one nighte but neuerthelesse came not a lande And in the morninge in the dawning of the daye beeyng with rowing gotten out of the porte wee founde a fresh wind which sayling brought vs before the goulph of Selimbrie which the modernes call Seliuree beyng an auncient city Trauishing this goulph a Northerly wynde came full in the face of vs and thought too haue made vs turne backe agayne but we laboured so that we passed the mouthes of the flouds Athiras which is also called Pidaras and presently Ponte Picciolo and Bathinias nowe vulgarly Ponte grande and from thence we went to come too an anker at a fayre Casal called Flora which is builded on the brinke of the Sea within a wood of Cypres and dyuers other trees From thence the Ambassadour sent a manne by land towards Constantinople too signifie his comming too his Secretary Phebus whom hee hadde left there as hys Agent which was vppon a Saterday beyng the nienteenth of September hauing agayne weighed our ankers wee recouered by force of oares the Casal of Saint Stephano which hath a very good port And there are seene certayne monumentes of olde walles beyng of great apparence The sayde Casal hath a small cape before which lye certayne small rockes and wee perceyuing the weather to be very close came to an anker in the Sea which wee hadde not so soone done but the raine ouertooke vs with such an impetuosity and violence that it semed that the skies would fall After supper the rayne beyng ceasâ—ed and the ankers weighed with strength of rowing we coasted along euen right ouer against the first corner of Constantinople in whiche place are seuen towres by the Turks called Iadicula within whiche the great Turks one after another haue kept their tresure for the keping wherof there are 500. meÌ„ ordinarily called Assarelis all beyng slaues vnto the great Turke and which haue bin his Ianissaries Their chiefe called Disdarga is a manne of great praise and authority From the said Casal S. Stephano vnto the 7. towers are seen diuers walles ruined and many faire mines whereof are taken great quantity of stone too builde the Mosquee of the great Turk other edifices of the city There came too visit vs in a boate a gray fryer of Calabria called brother Iohn with a certaine Grecian being both of the Ambassadors familie vnto whom they presented a letter from his Secretary Agent being very glad to heare good newes of his aâ—â—ayres and houshold we passed a good part of the night with talke making good cheer for the sayd Frater hadde brought with him a great bottle which the Grecians cal Ocalips ful of good muscadel with a quaÌ„titie of Plaisantin cheese certain sauceges and other good and acceptable refreshments to make vs mery with Aftarwards when euery one had prepared himselfe too goe to his rest about twelue of the clocke arose a fierce colde wynde wyth a sharpe showre of rayne whiche contynued vntyll the morning and so soone as it beganne too ceasse the Ambassadour returned the Gray Fryer and we hauing weighed our ankors rowed alongest by the Citie too recouer the poynt of the Sarail whiche is the seconde and moste eminent corner The wynde and the rayne tooke vs agayne wyth suche a furour and impetuosite that it euidentlye seemed heaueÌ„ earth wold haue gone together Notwithstanding the great desire which the Ambassador and his had to ioyne with a place so loÌ„g desired taking a good heart setting al feare aside we did vse such force that in despite of the rayne wind furye of the sea we gate the point of the Sarail but as wee thought to enter into the channel we found the streame that commeth froÌ„ Bosphore of Thracia so violent outragious besides that the wind was altogether contrary so as it was not possible for vs to enter but were constrayned not without great danger to passe ouer into Calcidonie and Natolie to passe along by the tower of the gard lying in the sea called the tower of â—anissaries to get aboue the streame working so forcibly with ores that wee entred into the port at the entring wherof were put out all the flags baÌ„ners streames gailliadets of our gallies our artyllery charged wherwith we saluted them before the Sarâ—il to be short thanks be giuen to God being the souerain pilot of al those that trust in him which in so long a voyage had safely coÌ„ducted vs being escaped out of many great dangers we went to take our harborowe on the side of Constantinople where the first Dragoman of the great Turk called Hebrahim a gentlemaÌ„ of Polonia of the Mahumet sect diuers other great personages Turks came to receiue the ambassadour assoone as he was landed accompanied with the Lord of Cotignac the yong Baron of Lodon S. Mary the yong Iueusse Serres me with certain others of his houshold hauing caused him to light on a faire horse which was brought for him was conducted vntoo the house of Rostan Bascha who receiued him with great couÌ„tenance of friendship And after being returned vnto the gally we crossed the channel to go towards Pera where he was also receiued with tokens of great ioy and gladnesse of all the christian inhabitaunts the most part of which accompanied him to his lodging which happened the 20 day of September anno 1551. being the 78. day after our departure from Marseille Of the foundation of Bizance now called Constantinople Chap. 12. BYzance called Constantinople is a citie moste famous by Strabo entituled Illustre and of Pliny and Iustin most noble cituated in Thracia now called Romaine a Region being one of the most fertil in al Europe vpoÌ„ the goulph of Poâ—thus which separateth Asia from Europe The forme therof is three square wherof the two sides are washed by the sea thâ—â—hyrd ioyneth vnto the firme land The soile therof is very deleâ—â—able bringing foorth all kinkes of good fruites necessary for sustenance of humane life the cituation wherof is so wel deâ—â—sed ordered that no shippe can enter nor go forth but with good wil of the Constantinopolitans being maisters of the sea Pontique which hauing 2. mouths the one coÌ„ming from Propontide the other froÌ„ the sea EuxinuÌ„ is by Ouid called tâ—â— port of 2. seas for the distance from Constantinople to Calcedon is but 14. furlongs the place which by the ancieÌ„ts is called Phane cituated in Asia wheras Iason returning from Calchos sacrificed vnto the 12. goddes hath in bredth but 10. furlonges But forsomuch as many great riuers of Asia and many more of Europe doe fall intoo the blacke and Euxine Sea 〈◊〉 commeth too passe that beeyng full she gusheth out through the mouth of her wyth great vyolence intoo the Sea Poâ—ticque and from thence through the streit of Hellesponthus beyng not much broader
hanging downe behind euen to the calfe of the legge but the widdowes weare the same coloured yeallow with saffron marching with great grauitie as ye may at large discerne by the three figures folowing A Gentlewoman of Pera Franque A Gretian woman of estate of Pera Franque A Mayden of estate of Pera. The thirde booke of the Nauigations and peregrinations orientall of N. De Nicolay of Daulphine Chamberlaine and Geographer ordinarie of the king of Fraunce Of the origin life and bringing vppe of the Azamoglans beeing children of tribute leuied vppon the Christians being Subiectes and tributaries too the great Turke The first Chapter AZamoglans are children which the Turk sendeth for to be leuied in forme of tribute frō 4. yeres to foure yeeres throughout al Grecia Albania Valaquia Seruia Bossina Trebisonda Mingrelia and all other prouinces of his Dominion of the Christians dwelling within the same taking away by tyranny more then barbarous of euery three male children one at the choise and will of the Cōmissarie and notwithstanding that all christians dwelling in these countries are not subiect vnto this kinde of tribute of soules yet are they so ouer charged with such excessiue Subsidies and exactions of money that oftentimes not hauing wherwith to pay him they are also constrained to giue deliuer their owne children into bodily seruitude eternall perdition of their soules a tyrannie I say again most cruell lamentable which ought too bee a great consideration compassion vnto all true christian princes for to stir prouoke thē vnto a good peace christian vnitie to apply their forces iointly to deliuer the children of their christiā brethren out of the miserable seruitude of these infidels which by outragious force rauish these most deare infants bodies free by nature from the lappes of their fathers mothers into a seruitude of enmity more then bestiall from baptisme to circumcision from the companie of the christian faith to seruitude Barbarous infidelity frō childly fatherly kindnes to mortal enmity towards their own blood for the executing of these lamentable leuyings are ordeined more then two hundred Commissaries which returning to Constantinople bring with them an incredible number of these chyldren amongest which the most fayrest are chosen to be put into the Sarail of the great Turke where they are nourished and brought vp in the law of Mahomet by diuers masters being Eunuches are instructed well to ride horses shooting and all other exercises of armes agilitie to the intent in processe of time to make them the more obeysant and apt too support all paines and trauailes of the warres or els they doe teach them to learne some art or occupation according to the capacitie of their spirit and such as amongst them are found to be the most grossest they are put some to carry water wood into the offices some other to make cleane the Sarail or in the winter too gather the snow which falleth from heauen for to carry the same vnder the grounde into a place called Carlich where it preserueth all the whole Sommer in hys accustomed nature and coldnesse without melting this being reserued in these colde places serueth in whotte weather too refreshe the great Turke his drinke the other are made gardiners or cookes or are put to serue the Ianissaries Spachis or captains vnto which degrees by succession time as fortune and vertue directeth thē they may attaine vnto themselues they haue for their wages two or three Aspres a day and are apparrelled and hosed twise a yeere with course blew cloth wearing on their heads a hygh yealow hatte made after the fashion of a suger loofe and are vnder a captaine called Agiander Agassi whiche hath for his prouision thyrtie Aspres a day clothed and apparrelled at the charges of the great Turke The finest of these Azamoglans are kept pretilie apparrelled according to their fashion And although they haue no skill of the art of musicke they do neuerthelesse giue themselues to play on diuers instrumentes and most commonly going in the steetes they doe sound vpon a thing very like vnto a Cittern which they call Tambora too which sound they do accord their voices with such an euill fauoured and vnpleasant harmonie that it were bad enough to make a Goat to daunce Of these instruments and of their apparrell yee may see the fourme naturally set forth as al the other are by the figure following Azamoglan or Iamoglan a childe of tribute Of the Azamoglans rustique Chap. 2. THE Deputies and Cōmissaries appointed for the leueing of the christian children after they haue put the fayrest pretiest of them into the Sarail of the great Turke send the other being the most rustique into the Natolie being little Asia towards Bursie and Caramanie to labour and till the ground and keepe the cattaile in the fieldes to the end to vse them to labour indurance in heat cold wether and to learne the turkish language And afterwardes at the end of 4 yeeres against which time others are leuied they are brought to Constantinople and deliuered to the Aga of the Azamoglans or Ianissairots which distributeth them in the seruice of the Ianisses or els causeth thē to be taught in som art or occupation seruing for the warres thus exercising in diuers places their apprentiships of Ianissairots are entertained brought vp as the others are at the charges of the great Turk except for the time y t they are in the Natolie wher they are nourished apparrelled at the charges of those whom they do serue Of these Azamoglans christian childrē Mahometised the venemous nature is so great mischieuous and pernitious that incontinent after they are taken from the lappes of their parents and instructed in the lawes of the Turkes they do declare themselues aswell by words as deedes mortal enemies vnto the Christians so as they practise nothing els then to doe vnto them all iniuries wrongs possible and how great or aged soeuer they become they wil neuer acknowledge theyr fathers mothers nor other friendes for by example I haue seene in Andrinople The great Turke being there a naturall vncle of the late Rostan first Bascha brother in lawe of the said Lorde which his poore vncle and certaine his nephewes christian men went openly a begging through the Citie without that the said Rostan beeing sprong vp of the rase of the Azamoglans wold vouchsafe once to know them and much lesse too doe them any good and yet some are found amongst them but very seldom that by their owne goodnesse vertue and noblenesse of hearte haue not so vnnaturally forgotten their blood natiue countrie nor humanitie and true religion but haue enclined finally returned vnto their naturall and primitiue vertue as of late the most valiant knight George Castriot by the Turkes called Scanderbegus which is to say the Lorde of Alexandria the most
new emperor succeeding they will neuer sweare fidelitie vnto him before he haue first granted vnto thē pardon for this kind of pillage in form of a gift or reward giuen vnto thē for a welcome this spoile made vpō y e Iewes christiās Being a custome certainly very barbarous cruel more then tyrannical whiche reasonably to consider aswel the time past present and too come is a true manifest token of the ruines threatned of this Oriental empire which by the same forces whereby nowe it is mainteyned shall one day be cleane ouerthrowen for euen as the Romaine Empire without comparison both greater and better ordered thē that of the Turks was ouerthrown in the end brought into decay from the time that the Caesars Antonines fayled the Pretorian legions which now adaies representeth the estate of these Ianissaries began to become rulers ouer their maisters vnder pretext of such a Militarie gift euen so by these means shal it happen vnto the Turkes for that was the beginning to make the empire vnto the world so odious that frō the election of the estate being come to a successiō inheritable was in the end made poison by the bands Pretorians other the legions Castrenses set at a price deliuered vnto him that offred most for it that vnder the title of a Militaire gift And also the emperor chosen by such corruptiō being once rid voyd of money those very same which had elected him slewe him for to haue a new one ful ready to giue with whō in few daies after they delt as with the former as also they did by y e old Iuliā with Partinax Maximiā Galba Otho Vitellius Caracola Heliogabulus diuers other wherby in the end the Romaine empire which before was the monarchy of the whole world cāe vnto ruine decay was ruled in diuers regiōs by sundry emperors tirants being chosen in euery place by their Legionaries who sold the title of the empire for a gift corrupted so finally fell in decay that of the greate name Emperiall in times past chiefe of the world there is almost nothing left then a shadow therof and that through an vsurped arrogancy vnder colour of a gift Military vsed by the Pretorians Captains souldiers And likewise according to the pleasure of this Monarque it shal happen vnto the empire of the Turks and that through the faction of these Ianissaries which one day shall choose a great Lorde to their owne wil to wit one that shal giue most vnto them suffer them to take al wherupon afterwardes they shall chase him out of the empire or rather kil him for a recompēce of his deserts therefore this warning pronosticated euidently founded vpon such pillage robbing of the merchants Iewes and christians may serue for all Princes that they do not suffer their people to be spoiled for whose defence they are chosen ordeined nor yet their subiects to be robbed through the licētious orders of the souldiers for fear least they by such custōable permissiō doe become arrogāt doe not ouermatch their chief be not the causers of his ruine as if he look not vnto it it cānot choose but must happen vnto the great Turke if he cut not his Ianissaries from such outragious pillage constraine them to content thēselues with their ordinary wages which are paid vnto thē from 3. moones to 3. moones as we might say from 3. moneths to 3. moneths for whereas wee reckon by the moneths the Turk counteth by the moons after the order of the greekes which called thē Neomenies which signifieth newe moones Of the Ianissaries going to the warres yee may see the naturall draught by the figure following The Ianissarie going to the warres Of the Ianissaries which are continually about the gates of the great Lord or at Constantinople Chap. 4. OF the Ianissaries some are married and some not married and for the dwelling and lodging of those which haue no wiues are ordayned 2. quarters within the city of Constantinople where they do dwel in time of quietnes peace and do ordinarily euery day and euery night by change and turnes to the number of fortie or fifty keepe watch and ward within the streets to the intent that no question or strife shoulde be mooued or any robbery be cōmitted within the citie bearing none other weapon then onely a long staffe of a cane of the Indies or of some other wood for that it is forbidden that none of what lawe estate or quality soeuer he be shal carry any weapōs about him The order in liuing of these Ianissaries is that they lay together a certain number of aspres by the day for their daily prouisiō which is prepared by a steward a cooke who do prouide their victuals as for the rest of their personall seruice those which amongst them haue the least wages do serue by bond for to get part of their expences by the other which haue more in this maner without any woman they do order their Economy The Ianissaries which are married doe abide dwell in the towns villages of Graecia and Natolie with their wiues liuing particularly by some kinde of meanes as they thinke good for the maintenance of their houshold And of both these estates of Ianissaries maried or vnmaried diuers of thē are sent abroad for the assistance seruice of strange Ambassadors of what law or natiō soeuer they be being come vnto the court of y e great Turk for any kind of busines so as euery Ambassadour hath 6. or 8. waiting on him for his gard conseruation or surety of his persō his house family so as to them or none of theirs be done any wrōg or iniury which if any shuld attempt to doe these Ianissaries haue full authority for to punishe suche by beating them with a staffe vpon their belly and buttocks yea sometime vnder the soles of their feet without that any dare withstande or resist them such is their greate authority And for this assured gard they haue of the Ambassadors aboue their ordinary wages 4. Aspres of pension by the day but vpon that they must fynde themselues and besides this they doe stand in hope that after they haue wel and truely serued the Ambassadors vnto whom they are set ouer as theyr gard by the approuing good report and laudable attestation of them for their merits and good seruice they may obtayne of the greate Turke augmentation of their wages or aduacement vnto a more higher degree to wit of Spachis Zainligelers Zagarzis or other more higher estates But when these men become to be olde so as they can serue no longer in the warres or that vpon any other occasion the great Lord wil haue them to be discharged of the states of Ianissaries they are sent as Assaries which is to say keepers of castles and towns whō we do cal dead payes
such drinke as their horses doe to wit faire and cleane water and so being gotten on horseback againe they proceed on their iourney Now to returne to our auncient Peicz the figure following setteth forth vnto you the manner of their going and forme of their apparrel The apparrel and auncient forme of the Peicz or Lackies of the great Turke Of the wrestlers of the great Turke called Gurelsis or Pleuianders Chap. 10. OF all the games anciently exercised in Asia and Grecia the Turke hath obserued the Palester of the Athletes which is too say the wrestling being very neare like vnto the old custom of the Greekes Asians Romans for the great Turks for one of his accustomed recreations entertaineth in wages o. men strong big set and full of flesh and sinewes which are of diuers nations but the most part Moores Indians or Tartares by the Turks called Peluianders or Guressis which signifieth wrestlers who at all times and as often as it shall please him to take therein his pleasure do wrastle before his person two and two with force of armes beeing bare on all their members sauing that they weare breaches of leather gathered made fast vnder the knee annointed with oyle as al the rest of their bodies likewise is according to the auncient custome of the Romans to the intent to giue or to take the lesse hold the one of the other by reason of the slipperous glyding of the oyle dropping vpon the dead leather or quick skinne whereby it commeth to passe that when they are wel chafed ofteÌ„times for lack of good hold with the hands they with their teeth do fasten vppon the flesh of the one other like vnto the fighting of the mastiffes with the Beares wild Buls in that order they doe bite and with their teeth nip one another in y e nose eares or any other part of the bodie sticking out or wher any hold is to be fastned on so as ofteÌ„times they do carry away a peece of the flesh with their teeth The wrestling being theÌ„ ended either through victorie or a signe of abstinence giuen and to wipe of the sweate they cast about their shoulders a cloath of blew cotteÌ„ checked according to their fashioÌ„ And such is their forme order apparrel and maner of their combat in wrestling but when they are wythout the barres and at common rest they are clothed with a long gowne which they do cal Dolyman girded with a large girdle of silke according to their maner their head being couered with a bonnet of blacke veluet or with the fur of a yong lamb which they cal Taquia haÌ„ging vpoÌ„ on of their shoulders after the fashion of the Georgians or the gentlemen of Polonia but that it is more euen straight they do say themselues too be impolluted of body obseruaÌ„ts of virginitie which in their opinion being not vnreasonable doeth the longer preserue maintaine their bodies in strength and what forces with their bodies abandoned soeuer they doe yet are they not therefore seruants or slaues but of free condition for their necessarie prouision haue of the great Lord ten or twelue Aspres a daye Of these like wrastlers strong big set men I haue seen a great many in Alger in Barbary which dayly about vhe going down of the Sun doe present themselues in the place neare vnto the hauen before the great Mosquee making place for al commers and there do wrastle after a fine strong maner for to make a shew pastime vnto the assembly beholders which therfore do giue vnto them a peece of money beeing fouresquare in the moorish speech called Giudith being worth about 4. deniers of our money The Prester â—an king of Ethyopia hath also of these wrastlers as lately hath written Francisco Aluarez in hys voyage of Ethyopia whereby is to be knowne that the people beyond the South East seas do as yet obserue the Palestres exercise of wrastling after the antiquitie of the Olmipicke games instituted by the valiant Hercules whiche in the same countrie of Mauritania and Afrike challenged and ouercame with wrastling the mighty Giant Antheus neuertheles Lactance firmian in his first booke doth attribute the first inuention of the Palestre vnto Mercurie as likewise he doth the playing on the fiddle In these figures following I haue liuely painted out vnto you these Peluianders as I haue seene them in Constantinople in the forme as they wrastle and in the other figure aswell of their making redie to the wrastlyng as after the game and finally of their ordinarie appparrell whiche they weare without the exercise Athletique and likewise haue represented vntoo you the draught of three drunkardes who after they haue well tippled themselues wyth their drinke which they call Sorbet or after they haue eaten of theyr pouder Opium goe howlyng about the streâ—tes like vnto Dogges and then it is euill for the Christians too bee neare them because of the perill they shoulde be in of being well beaten Pleuianders wrestling Pleuianders wrestlers The Drunkardes Of the Cookes and other officers of the Kitchin of the Great Turke and the ordinary maner of the eating of the Turkes Chap. 10. IT shall not be impertinent nor out of my purpose if I do speak and intreat of the estates officers duties wages seruices of Cooks other officers of the kitchin of the great Turke and therfore is to be vnderstood that ordinarily he keepeth within his Sarail 150. cooks aswel maisters as boies AzamoglaÌ„s amoÌ„gst which the best most expertest are chosen ordained for the priuy kitchin of the great Lord the other for the coÌ„mon sort The Maister cooks haue for their stipend 8. or 10. Aspres a day the boyes 3. clothed euery one of theÌ„ once in the yere those of the priuy kitchin haue their furnaces apart for to dresse and make ready the meat without smell of smoke which being sodden and dressed they lay into platters of purcelan and so deliuer it vnto the Cecigners whom we do cal caruers for to serue the same vnto the great Lord the tast beeing made in his presence the other cookes for the coÌ„mon sorte doe deliuer their meate vnto those whiche haue the charge of the distributing therof throughout the Sarail according to the order made by the officers therunto coÌ„mitted for ouer these two kitchins priuie common are set ordained foure superiours of whiche the first being in their language called Hargibassi is appointed to the charge keping therof to pay the cooks their wages hath for his pensioÌ„ 60. Aspres a day amounting to the valew of a ducat and euery yeere a gowne of silke The second is cal-Emimmutpagi whiche is to say chiefe kater ordeined for the disbursing of all the money charges of the kitchin and hath 50. Aspres a day a gowne such as it shall please the Turke to giue him vpon the day
Chapter XEnophon in his first booke of Cyropedie which is to saye of the life and institution of Cyrus speaking of the auncient custome of the Persians sayth that they had a certayne great place called the place of libertie whereas was the Pallace royall and other houses publike and that the same place was deuided into foure quarters The first being for the children the second for the young menne the thirde for men of perfect age and the fourth for the auncient and aged men vnfit for the warres Euery one of the aforesaide degrees were by the lawes constrayned to repayre at a time and houre appointed in his quarters To wit the children and perfect aged men at the point of the day the auncients at certaine dayes and houres for the affaires of the common wealth The charge of the young menne was in the euening to present themselues in armes and so to passe about the houses publike except those which were married which were not bound to appeare except they were thereunto specially commaunded Euerye one of these quarters hadde twelue Prouosts of the most wise and grauest that coulde bee chosen for that the nation of the Persians was deuided into twelue lynes Ouer the children were appointed certaine of the most auncient wyse and best aduised for to bring theÌ„ vp in vertue To the yong men well to instruct theÌ„ to the meÌ„ of perfect age others were coÌ„mitted deputed for to accustome and keepe them in â—re for the due obeysance towardes their Prince The auncients also had their superiours which admonished them in the perfection of their dutie vnto the Prouosts was giuen the charge and administration of iustice to doe right vnto euery man to condemne the offendours and false accusers but aboue all other vices ingratitude was most seuerely punished for that they knewe ingratitude to be the spring of al vices the enemie of nature poyson vnto sweetnesse and destruction of benignitie They did moreouer take great paines to make their children patient and obedient towardes their superiours and able too endure both hunger and thyrst They neuer went to take their repast without leaue and permission of their superiours and neuer dyd eate in the sight of their mothers but in presence of their masters hauing none other meate then bread and other small pulaunce and for their drinke nothing but cleare water their exercise was to cast the dart to shoot being thus brought vp from the age of 6. to 17. yeres and came vnto the degree of yong men vnder which they remained 10. yeres more passyng as I haue said in the nightes to goe about the streets houses aswel for the watch and surety of the towne as for to make theÌ„ strong and able to endure paynes and to withdraw them from vice and voluptuousnes In the day time they did represent theÌ„selues before the Gouernours to be imployed in the publike affayres as was commaunded vnto them and whensoeuer the king would goe on hunting as euery moneth he did he took the one halfe with him set out and furnished with bowes and arrowes a skayne with a buckler and two dartes to throwe at length and the other weapons to fight at hand And in this exercise they were instructed by the king as if it had beene in the warres so as he woulde not hunt himselfe alone but had also a carefull regarde that his menne should doe as he did saying and esteeming hunting to be a true exercise of thinges requisite for the discipline of warres as being an argument occasioÌ„ to vse men to ryse betimes to forbeare heate and cold hunger and thyrst and to trauaile and run a long while they also tooke their meate with them and dined not before the hunting was ended nor yet hadde they that which they had taken nor yet their Cartadanne which is to say their accustomed fee. As for the other halfe of the young menne that were left in the towne whilest these were a hunting exercised them selues in those thinges whiche in their infancie they hadde learned to wit to cast the dart and shoote in companies And if any occasion fel out to take theeues and robbers they were bounde to waite on the Maiestrate and to assist him in the watche Afterwardes hauing spent tenne yeres in this order of discipline they were put amongest the degre of the men perfect in age in which state they remained xxv yeeres more And if neede required to goe to the warres they carried no more arrowes nor dartes but all sorts of weapons to fight at hand as the corslet on his backe The shield in the the one hand and the sword in the other hand The Maiestrates were chosen and elected out of this degree except the gouernors that hadde the charge ouer the children who after they hadde thus liued and attained vnto the yeres of fiftie or aboue they resorted with the elders and were no more subiect to goe vnto the warres out of their countrie And might freely returne to their houses to Iudge of the affayres both common priuate giue sentences of death and to chose Maiestrates In those dayes the common wealth of the Persians conteined about sixe score thousande men of which none was excluded from comming to the said estate honour and dignitie for vnto euerie Persian it was lawfull to put his children to the schole of the lawes if he had wherewithall to maintaine and keepe them or els they brought them vp in the learning of some science or occupation The children that had beene brought vp in the lawes might haunt and frequent amongest the young men afterwards might also be acquinted with the perfect men and atchieue according to their vertue vnto honours and dignities And the men perfect accompany amongst the old men to be preferred vnto the gouernment of the common wealth so as they had passed their time yeeres without reprehension Of the religion and Ceremonies of the auncient Persians Chap. 2. AS for their religion and ceremonies they esteemed it for a great shame openly to spit blow the nose or to pisse or els to doe any other like thing in publike they called the heuen Iupiter worshipped the Sunne which they called Mitra and honoured the moone Venus the fire the earth the water and the wynde And bare suche a reuerence vnto â—he water that they would at no time bathe themselues in any riuer nor cast any carrion or dead thing into it They did sacrifice neere vnto some lake riuer or fountain making a hole in the ground within which was killed the beast that they would sacrifice taking a special heed that no drop of the bloud should fall into the water least the same shuld therby be polluted and vncleansed And after this oblation was cut in peeces dressed vnder some Bay tree or Lawrel Their Mages put the flesh into the fire by them made of smal branches or barks of trees after some imprecations made annoynted their sacrifice with oyle milk
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