The Principal Navigations, Voyages, Traffiques and Discoveries of the English Nation
Chapter 170 : De vrbe Constantinopoli, et reltquijs ibidem contentis.Constantinopolis pulchra est Ci

De vrbe Constantinopoli, et reltquijs ibidem contentis.

Constantinopolis pulchra est Ciuitas, et n.o.bilis, triangularis in forma, firmiterque murata, cuius duae partes includuntur mari h.e.l.lesponto, qud plurimi mod appellant brachium sanct Georgij, et aliqui Buke, Troia vetus. Versus loc.u.m vbi hoc brachium exit de mari est late terrae planities, in qua antiquitus stet.i.t Troia Ciuitas de qua apud Poetas mira leguntur sed nunc valde modica apparent vestigia Ciuitatis. In Constantinopoli habentur multa mirabilia, ac insuper multae sanctorum venerandae relliquaei, ac super omnia, preciosissimi Crux Christi, seu maior pars illius, et tunica inconsutilis, c.u.m spongia et arandine, et vno clauorum, et dimidia parte coronae spineae, cuius altera medietas seruatur in Capetla Regis Franciae, Parisijs. Nam et ego indignus ditigenter pluribus vicibus respexi partem vtramque: dabatur quoque mihi de illa Parisijs vnica spina, quam vsque nunc preciose conseruo, et est ipsa spina non lignea sed uelut de iuncis marinis rigida, et pungitiua. [Sidenote: Eclesia sanctae Sophiae] Ecclesia Constantinopolitana in honorem sanctae Sophiae, id est, ineffabilis Dei sapientiae dedicato dicitur, et n.o.bilissima vniuersarum mundi Ecclesiarum, tam in schemate artificiosi operis, quam in seruatis ibi sacrosanctis Relliquijs: [Sidenote: Regina Helena Britanna] nam et continet corpus sancte Annae matris nostrae Dominae translatum illuc per Reginam Helenam ab Hierosolymis: et corpus S. Lucae Euangelistae translatum de Bethania Iudeae; Et Corpus beati Ioannis Chrysostomi ipsius Ciuitatis Episcopi, c.u.m multis atlijs reliquijs preciosis; quoniam est ibi vas grande c.u.m huiusmodi reliquijs velut marmoreum de Petra Enhydros; quod iugiter de seipso desudans aquam semel, in anno inuenitur suo sudore repletum. [Sidenote: Imago Iustiniani.] Ante hanc Ecclesiam, super columnam marmoream habetur de aere aurato opere fuscrio, magna imago Iustiniani quondam Imperatoris super equum sedentis, fuit autem primitus in manu imaginis fabricata sphaera rotunda, quae iam diu e manu sua sibi cecidit, in signum qud Imperator muliarum terraram dominium perdidit. Namque solebat esse Dominus, Romanorum Graecorum, Asiae, Syriae, Iudeae, aegypti, Arabiae, et Persiae, at nunc solum retinet Greciam, c.u.m aliquibus terris Greciae adiacentibus, sicut Calistrum, Cholchos, Ortigo, Tylbriam, Minos, Flexon, Melos, Carpates, Lemnon, Thraciam, et Macedoniam totam: Suntque sub eo Caypoplij, et alti Pyntenardi, ac maxima pars Commannorum. Porr imago tenet manum eleuatam et extentam in orientem, velut in signum cominationis ad Orientales infideles.

De praedicta terra Thraciae fuit Philosophus Aristoteles oriundus in Ciuitate Stageres, et est ibi in loco tumba eius velut altare, vbi et singulis annis certo die celebratur a populo festum illius, ac si fuisset sanctus.

Temporibus erg magnorum consiliorum conueniunt illuc sapientes terrae, reputantes sibi per inspirationem immitti consilium optimum de agendis.

Item ad diuisionem Thraciae et Macedoniae sunt duo mirabiliter alti montes, vnus Olympus, alter Athos, cuius vltimi vmbra oriente sole apparet ad 76.

miliaria, vsque in insulam Lemnon. In horum cac.u.mine montium ventus non currit, nec aer mouetur, quod frequenter probatum est per ingenium Astronomorum, qui quandoque ascendentes scripserunt, literas in puluere, quas sequenti anno inuenerunt quasi recenter scriptas, et quia est ibi purus aer sine mixtione elementi aquae necesse est vt ascendentes habeant sec.u.m spongias aquae plenas pro adhelitus respiratione: In praedicta autem sanctae sophiae Ecclesia, (sicut ibidem dicitur,) voluit olim quidam Imperator corpus cuiusdam sui defuncti sepelire cognati: cuius c.u.m foderetur sepulchrum, ventum est ad mausoleum antiquum in quo super incineratum corpus iacebat discus auri puri, et erat sculptum in eo literis Graecis, Hebraicis, et Latinis sic. Iesus Christus nascetur de Virgine, et ego credo in eum. Et erat simul inscripta data defuncti secundum modum illius temporis quae continebat duo millia annorum ante incarnationem ipsius Christi de Maria Virgine. Seruatur quoque hodierno tempore eadem patina in Thesaurario eiusdem Ecclesiae, et dicitur illud corpus fuisse Hermetis sapientis. Omnes quidem, terrarum, regionum et insularum homines, qui isti Greco obediunt Imperatori sunt Christiani, et baptizati, tamen variant singuli in aliquo articulo fidem suam a nostra vera fide Catholica, et diuersificant in multis suos ritus a ritibus Romanae Ecclesiae, quia iamdiu omiserunt obedire Pontifici Romano, dicentes, quoniam beatus Petrus Apostolus habuit sedem in Antiochia, quamuis pa.s.sus fuit in Roma: [Sidenote: Patriarchae Antiocheni authoritas.] Idcirco patriarcha Antiochenus habet in illis Orientalibus partibus similem potestatem, quam Pontifex Roma.n.u.s in istis Occidentalibus. Imperator etiam Constantinopolita.n.u.s creat eorum patriarcham, et inst.i.tuit pro sua voluntate Archiepiscopos, et Episcopos, et confert dignitates, et beneficia, similiter inuenta occasione dest.i.tuit, deponit, et priuat.

The English Version.

And there dwellethe comounly the Emperour of Greece. And there is the most fayr chirche and the most n.o.ble of alle the world: and it is of Seynt Sophie. And before that chirche is the ymage of Justynyan the Emperour, covered with gold, and he sytt upon an hors y crowned. And he was wont to holden a round appelle of gold in his hond: but it is fallen out thereof.

And men seyn there, that it is a tokene, that the Emperour hathe y lost a gret partie of his londes, and of his lordschipes: for he was wont to be Emperour of Romayne and of Grece, of alle Asye the lesse, and of the lond of Surrye, of the lond of Judee, in the whiche is Jerusalem, and of the lond of Egypt, of Percye, of Arabye. But he hathe lost alle, but Grece; and that lond he holt alle only. And men wolden many tymes put the appulle into the ymages hond azen, but it wil not holde it. This appulle betokenethe the lordschipe, that he hadde over alle the worlde, that is round. And the tother hond he lifteth up azenst the est, in tokene to manace the mysdoeres. This ymage stont upon a pylere of marble at Constantyn.o.ble.

Of the Crosse and the Croune of oure Lord Jesu Crist.

[Sidenote: Cap. II.] At Costantyn.o.ble is the cros of our Lord Jesu Crist, and his cote withouten semes, that is clept _tunica inconsutilis_, and the spounge, and the reed, of the whiche the Jewes zaven oure Lord eyselle [Footnote: Vinegar] and galle, in the cros. And there is on of the nayles, that Crist was naylled with on the cros. And some men trowen, that half the cros, that Crist was don on, be in Cipres, in an abbey of monkes, that men callen the Hille of the Holy Cros; but it is not so: for that cros, that is in Cypre, is the cros, in the whiche Dysmas the G.o.de theef was honged onne.

But alle men knowen not that; and that is evylle y don. For profyte of the offrynge, thei seye, that it is the cros of oure Lord Jesu Crist. And zee schulle undrestonde, that the cros of oure Lord was made of 4 manere of trees, as it is conteyned in this vers,

In cruce fit palma, cedrus, cypressus, oliva.

For that pece, that went upright fro the erthe to the heved, [Footnote: Head.] was of cypresse; and the pece, that wente overthwart, to the whiche his honds wern nayled, was of palme; and the stock, that stode within the erthe, in the whiche was made the morteys, was of cedre; and the table aboven his heved, that was a fote and an half long, on the whiche the t.i.tle was writen, in Ebreu, Grece and Latyn, that was of olyve. And the Jewes maden the cros of theise 4 manere of trees: for thei trowed that oure Lord Jesu Crist scholde han honged on the cros, als longe as the cros myghten laste. And therfore made thei the foot of the cros of cedre. For cedre may not, in erthe ne in watre, rote. And therfore thei wolde, that it scholde have lasted longe. For thei trowed, that the body of Crist scholde have stonken; therfore thei made that pece, that went from the erthe upward, of cypres: for it is welle smellynge; so that the smelle of his body scholde not greve men, that wenten forby. And the overhwart pece was of palme: for in the Olde Testament, it was ordyned, that whan on overcomen, he scholde be crowned with palme: and for thei trowed, that thei hadden the victorye of Crist Jesus, therfore made thei the overthwart pece of palme. [Footnote: The reference is to the Olympic Games.] And the table of the tytle, thei maden of olyve; for olyve betokenethe pes. And the storye of Noe wytnessethe, whan that the culver [Footnote: Dove. Anglo-Saxon, _Cuifra_.]

broughte the braunche of olyve, that betokened pes made betwene G.o.d and man. And so trowed the Jewes for to have pes, when Crist was ded: for thei seyd, that he made discord and strif amonges hem. And zee schulle undirstonde, that oure Lord was y naylled on the cros lyggynge; and therfore he suffred the more peyne. And the Cristene men, that dwellen bezond the see, in Grece, seyn that the tree of the cros, that we callen cypresse, was of that tree, that Adam ete the appulle of: and that fynde thei writen. And thei seyn also, that here Scripture seythe, that Adam was seek, [Footnote: Sick] and seyed to his sone Sethe, that he scholde go to the Aungelle, that kepte paradys, that he wolde senden hym oyle of mercy, for to anoynte with his membres, that be myghte have hele. And Sethe wente.

But the aungelle wolde not late him come in; but seyd to him, that he myghte not have of the oyle of mercy. But he toke him three greynes of the same tree, that his fadre eet the appelle offe; and bad him, als sone as his fadre was ded, that he scholde putte theise three greynes undre his tonge, and grave him so: and he dide. And of theise three greynes sprang a tree, as the aungelle seyde, that it scholde, and bere a fruyt, thorghe the whiche fruyt Adam scholde be saved. And whan Sethe cam azen, he fonde his fadre nere ded. And whan he was ded he did with the greynes, as the aungelle bad him; of the whiche sp.r.o.ngen three trees, of the whiche the cros was made, that bare G.o.de froyt and blessed, oure Lord Jesu Crist; thorghe whom, Adam and alle that comen of him, scholde be saved and delyvered from drede of dethe withouten ende, but it be here own defaute.

This holy cros had the Jewes hydde in the erthe, undre a roche of the Mownt of Calvarie; and it lay there 200 zeer and more, into the tyme that Seynt Elyne, that was modre to Constantyn the Emperour of Rome. And sche was doughtre of Kyng Cool born in Colchestre, that was Kyng of Engelond, that was clept thanne, Brytayne the more; the whiche the Emperour Constance wedded to his wyf, for here bewtee, and gat upon hire Constantyn, that was aftre Emperour of Rome.

And zee schulle undirstonde, that the cros of oure Lord was eyght cubytes long, and the overthwart piece was of lengthe thre cubytes and an half. And a partie of the crowne of oure Lord, wherwith he was crowned, and on of the nayles, and the spere heed, and many other relikes ben in France, in the kinges chapelle. And the crowne lythe in a vesselle of cristalle richely dyghte. For a kyng of Fraunce boughte theise relikes somtyme of the Jewes; to whom the Emperour had leyde hem to wedde, for a gret summe of sylvre.

And zif alle it be so, that men seyn, that this croune is of thornes, zee schulle undirstonde, that it was of jonkes of the see, that is to sey, rushes of the see, that prykken als scharpely as thornes. For I have seen and beholden many tymes that of Parys and that of Costantyn.o.ble: for thei were bothe on, made of russches of the see. But men han departed hem in two parties: of the whiche, o part is at Parys, and the other part is at Costantyn.o.ble. And I have on of tho precyouse thornes, that semethe licke a white thorn; and that was zoven to me for gret specyaltee. For there are many of hem broken and fallen into the vesselle, that the croune lythe in: for thei breken for dryenesse, whan men meven hem, to schewen hem to grete lords, that comen thidre.

And zee schalle undirstonde, that oure Lord Jesu, in that nyghte that he was taken, he was y lad in to a gardyn; and there he was first examyned righte scharply; and there the Jewes scorned him, and maden him a crowne of the braunches of albespyne, that is white thorn, that grew in that same gardyn, and setten it on his heved, so faste and so sore, that the blood ran down be many places of his visage, and of his necke, and of his schuldres. And therfore hathe white thorn many vertues: for he that berethe a braunche on him thereoffe, no thondre ne no maner of tempest may dere him; ne in the hows, that it is inne, may non evylle gost entre ne come unto the place that it is inne. And in that same gardyn, Seynt Petre denyed our Lord thryes. Aftreward was oure Lord lad forthe before the bisschoppes and the maystres of the lawe, in to another gardyn of Anne; and there also he was examyned, repreved, and scorned, and crouned eft with a whyte thorn, that men clepethe barbarynes, that grew in that gardyn, and that hathe also manye vertues. And aftreward he was lad in to a gardyn of Cayphas, and there he was crouned with eglentier. And aftre he was lad in to the chambre of Pylate, and there he was examynd and crouned. And the Jewes setten him in a chayere and cladde him in a mantelle; and there made thei the croune of jonkes of the see; and there thei kneled to him, and skornede him, seyenge, _Ave, Rex Judeorum_, that is to seye, _Heyl, Kyng of Jewes_. And of this croune, half is at Parys, and the other half at Costantyn.o.ble. And this croune had Crist on his heved, whan he was don upon the cros: and therfore oughte men to worschipe it and holde it more worthi than ony of the othere.

And the spere schaft hathe the Emperour of Almayne: but the heved is at Parys. And natheles the Emperour of Costantyn.o.ble seythe that he hathe the spere heed: and I have often tyme seen it; but it is grettere than that at Parys.

Of the Cytee of Costantyn.o.ble, and of the Feithe of Grekis.

[Sidenote: Cap. III.] At Costantyn.o.ble lyethe Seynte Anne oure Ladyes modre, whom Seynte Elyne dede brynge fro Jerusalem. And there lyethe also the body of Iohn Crisostome, that was Erchebisschopp of Costantyn.o.ble. And there lythe also Seynt Luke the Evaungelist: for his bones werein broughte from Bethanye, where he was beryed. And many other relikes ben there. And there is the vesselle of ston, as it were of marbelle, that men clepen enydros, that evermore droppeth watre, and fillethe himself everiche zeer, til that it go over above, withouten that that men take fro withinne.

Costantyn.o.ble is a fulle fayr cytee, and a G.o.de and a wel walled, and it is three cornered. And there is an arm of the see h.e.l.lespont: and sum men callen it the mouthe of Costantyn.o.ble; and sum men callen it the brace of Seynt George: and that arm closethe the two partes of the cytee. And upward to the see, upon the watre, was wont to be the grete cytee of Troye, in a fulle fayr playn: but that cytee was destroyed by hem of Grece, and lytylle apperethe there of, be cause it so longe sithe it was destroyed.

Abouten Grece there ben many iles, as Calistre,[Footnote: Calliste, one of the Cyclades.] Calcas, [Footnote: Colchos.] Critige, [Footnote: Cerigo.]

Tesbria, [Footnote: Resorio.] Mynea, [Footnote: Mynia is a town in the Island of Amorgos.] Flaxon, [Footnote: Flexos.] Melo, [Footnote: Milo.]

Carpate, [Footnote: Carpathos, probably.] and Lempne. [Footnote: Lemnos.]

And in this ile is the Mount Athos, [Footnote: Athos is on the main land, on a promontory S.E. of Solonica.] that pa.s.seth the cloudes. And there ben many dyvers langages and many contreys, that ben obedyent to the Emperour; that is to seyn Turcople, Pyneynard, Cornange, and manye othere, at Trachye, [Footnote: Thrace.] and Macedoigne, of the whiche Alisandre was kyng. In this contree was Aristotle born, in a cytee that men clepen Stragera, a lytil fro the cytee of Trachaye. And at Stragera lythe Aristotle; and there is an awtier upon his toumbe: and there maken men grete festes of hym every zeer, as thoughe he were a seynt. And at his awtier, thei holden here grete conseilles and here a.s.sembleez: and thei hopen, that thorghe inspiracioun of G.o.d and of him, thei schulle have the better conseille. In this contree ben righte hyghe hilles, toward the ende of Macedonye. And there is a gret hille, that men clepen Olympus, [Footnote: The alt.i.tude is 9753 feet.] that departeth Macedonye and Trachye: and it is so highe, that it pa.s.seth the cloudes. And there is another hille, that is clept Athos, [Footnote: It is only 6678 feet. This is the old Greek verse: [Greek: Athoos kaluptei pleura lemnias boos.]] that is so highe, that the schadewe of hym rechethe to Lempne, that is an ile; and it is 76 myle betwene. And aboven at the cop of the hille is the eir so cleer, that men may fynde no wynd there. And therefore may no best lyve there; and so is the eyr drye. And men seye in theise contrees, that philosophres som tyme wenten upon theise hilles, and helden to here nose a spounge moysted with watre, for to have eyr; for the eyr above was so drye.

And aboven, in the dust and in the powder of the hilles, thei wroot lettres and figures with hire fingres: and at the zeres end thei comen azen, and founden the same lettres and figures, the whiche thei hadde writen the zeer before, withouten ony defaute. And therfore it semethe wel, that theise hilles pa.s.sen the clowdes and joynen to the pure eyr.

At Constantyn.o.ble is the palays of the Emperour, righte fair and wel dyghte: and therein is a fair place for justynges, or for other pleyes and desportes. And it is made with stages and hath degrees aboute, that every man may wel se, and non greve other. And undre theise stages ben stables wel y vowted [Footnote: Vaulted.] for the Emperours hors; and alle the pileres ben of Marbelle. And with in the chirche of Seynt Sophie, an emperour somtyme wolde have biryed the body of his fadre, whan he was ded; and as thei maden the grave, thei founden a body in the erthe, and upon the body lay a fyn plate of gold; and there on was writen, in Ebreu, Grece and Latyn, lettres that seyden thus, _Jesu Cristus nascetur de Virgine Maria, et ego credo in eum_: That is to seyne, _Jesu Crist schalle be born of the Virgyne Marie, and I trowe in hym_. And the date whan it was leyd in the erthe, was 2000 zeer before oure Lord was born. And zet is the plate of gold in the thresorye of the chirche. And men seyn, that it was Hermogene the wise man.

And zif alle it so be, that men of Grece ben Cristene, zit they varien from our feithe. For thei seyn, that the Holy Gost may not come of the Sone; but alle only of the Fadir. And thei are not obedyent to the Chirche of Rome, ne to the Pope. And thei seyn, that here patriark hathe as meche power over the see as the Pope hathe on this syde the see. And therefore Pope Johne the 22'd sende letters to hem, how Christene feithe scholde ben alle on; and that thei scholde ben obedyent to the Pope, that is G.o.ddis vacrie [Footnote: Vicar.] on erthe; to whom G.o.d zaf his pleyn power, for to bynde and to a.s.soille: and therfore thei scholde ben obedyent to him. And thei senten azen dyverse answeres; and amonges other, thei seyden thus: _Potentiam tuam summam, circa tuos subjectos firmiter credimus. Superbiam tuam summam tolerare non possumus. Avaritiam tuam summam satiare non intendimus. Dominus tec.u.m: quia Dominus n.o.bisc.u.m est_. That is to seye: _We trowe wel, that thi power is gret upon thi subgettes. We mai not suffre thi high pryde. We ben not in purpos to fulfille thi gret covetyse. Lord be with thi: for oure Lord is with us. Fare welle_. And other answere myghte he not have of hem. And also thei make here sacrement of the awteer of therf [Footnote: Unleavened. _Anglo-Saxon_, eorf ('peorf' in source text--KTH)] bred: for oure Lord made it of suche bred, whan he made his mawndee. [Footnote: Last Supper.] And on the Scherethors [Footnote: Shrove Thursday.] day make thei here therf bred, in tokene of the mawndee, and dryen it at the sonne, and kepen it alle the zeer, and zeven it to seke men, in stede of G.o.ddis body. And thei make but on unxioun, whan thei christene children. And thei annoynte not the seke men. And thei saye, that there nys no purgatorie, and the soules schulle not have nouther joye ne peyne, tille the day of doom. And thei seye, that fornicatioun is no synne dedly, but a thing that is kyndely: and the men and women scholde not wedde but ones; and whoso weddethe oftere than ones, here children ben b.a.s.t.a.r.dis and geten in synne. And here prestis also ben wedded. And thei saye also, that usure is no dedly synne. And they sellen benefices of Holy Chirche: and so don men in others places: G.o.d amende it, whan his wille is. And that is gret sclaundre. [Footnote: Scandal.] For now is symonye kyng crouned in Holy Chirche: G.o.d amende it for his mercy. And thei seyn, that in Lentone, men schulle nor faste, ne synge ma.s.se; but on the Satreday and on the Sonday. And thei faste not on the Satreday, no tyme of the zeer, but it be Cristema.s.se even on Estre even. And thei suffre not the Latines to syngen at here awteres: and zif thei done, be ony aventure, anon thei wa.s.schen the awteer with holy watre. And thei seyn, that there scholde be but o ma.s.se seyd at on awtier, upon o day. And thei seye also, that oure Lord ne eet nevere mete: but he made tokene etyng. And also thei seye, that wee synne dedly, in schavynge oure berdes. For the berd is tokene of a man, and zifte of oure Lord. And thei seye, that wee synne dedly, in etynge of bestes, that weren forboden in the Old Testament, and of the olde lawe; as swyn, hares, and othere bestes, that chewen not here code. And thei seyn, that wee synnen, when wee eten flessche on the dayes before a.s.sche Wednesday, and of that wee eten flessche the Wednesday, and egges and chese upon the Frydayes. And thei accursen alle tho, that absteynen hem to eten flessche the Satreday. Also the Emperour of Costantyn.o.ble makethe the patriarke, the erchebysschoppes and bisschoppes; and zevethe dygnytees and the benefices of chirches, and deprivethe hem that ben worthy, whan he fyndethe ony cause. And so is the lord bothe temperelle and spirituelle, in his contree, And zif zee wil wite [Footnote: Know.] of here A, B, C, what lettres thei ben, here zee may seen hem, with the names, that thei clepen hem there amonges them.

Alpha, Betha, Gamma, Deltha, Epsilon, Zeta, Eta, Theta, Iota, Kappa, Lambda, My,Ny, Xi, Omicron, Pi, Rho, Sigma, Tau, Upsilon, Phi, Chi, Psi, Omega. [Greek letters removed for pain-text edition--KTH]

And alle be it that theise thinges touchen not to o way, nevertheles thei touchen to that, that I have hight zou, to schewe zou a partie of custumes and maneres, and dyversitees of contrees. And for this is the first contree that is discordant in feythe and in beleeve, and variethe from our feythe, on this half the see, therefore I have sett it here, that zee may knowe the dyversitee that is betwene our feythe and theires. For many men han gret lykynge to here speke of straunge thinges of dyverse contreyes.

CAPVT. 4.

Via tam per terras quam per aquas a Constantinopoli vsque Acharon.

[Marginal note: Vel Achon.]

A Constantinopoli qui voluerit ire pedes, transibit statim nauigio Brachium Sancti Georgij quod satis est strictum, ibique ad Ruphinal quod est forte castrum, inde ad Puluereal, et hinc ad castrum Synopulum. Ex tunc intrat Cappadociam, terram latam sed plenam altis montibus, deinde Turciam ad portum Theueron, et ad Ciuitatem ita dictam, nunc munitam firmis turribus, ac muris, per quam transit fluuius Reglay. Postea transitur sub Alpibus Noyremont, et per valles de Mallenbrinis in districto Rupium, ac per villam Doronarum, et alias villas adiacentes fluuijs Reglay, et Granconiae, sicque peruenitur ad Antiochiam minorem super Reglay, quae vocatur n.o.bilior Ciuitas Syriae: Notandum autem qud Regnum olim dictum Syria, mod communiter vocatur Suria. [Sidenote: Antiochia.] Ista ver Antiochia, est magna, pulchra, ac firma, licet quandoque maior, pulchrior, ac firmior fuerit.

Tunc autem transitur per Ciuitates Laonsam, Gibellam, Tortusiam, Toruplam, et Berythum super mare vbi sanctus Georgius fertur occidisse Draconem. Hinc pergitur in Ciuitatem nunc dictam Acon, quondam Ptolomaidem, antiquitus Acharon, quae tempore quo eam vltim Christiani tenebant circa annum incarntionis Domini 1280. erat Ciuitas valde fortis, sed mod apparent eius magnae ruinae. Porr a Constantinopoli poterit peregrinus facilius versus Hierosolymorum partes per mare nauigare quam per terras peregrinare praedictas, si deus illi propitius fuerit, et mare fidem conseruauerit.

[Sidenote: Sio.] Qui erg a Constantinopoli iter transire nauigando disponit, tendat ad Ciuitatem [Marginal Note: Vel Smyrnam.] Myrnam vbi nunc ossa Sancti Nicholai venerantur, et sic procedendo per multa maritima loca veniet ad Insulam Sio vbi crescit gummi mastix lucidum: Inde ad Insulam Pathmos Sancti Ioannis Euangelistae, et ad Ephesum vbi idem noscitur sepultus: hanc totam minorem Asiam tenent nunc pessimi Turci, et eam appellant minorem Turciam. Post Ephesum nauigatur per plures Insulas vsque Pataram Ciuitatem, vnde oriundus fuit beatus Nicholaus, ac per Myrrheam vbi stet.i.t Ephesus, vbi nasc.u.n.tur fortia vina valde, deinde ad Insulam Cretae, hinc Coos postea Lango, vnde Hypocrates Medicus dicitur natus: [Sidenote: Rhodus Insula.] tuncque ad grandem Insulam Rhodum; et sciendum quod a Constantinopoli vsque Rhodum, per mare dic.u.n.tur ducentae octuaginta leucae.

Hanc insulam totam tenent, et gubernant Christiani Hospitalarij nunc temporis, quae quondam Colosse dicebatur: nam et multi Saracenorum adhuc eam sic appellant, vnde et Epistola, quam beatus Paulus ad habitatores huius Insulae scripsit, int.i.tulabatur ad Colossenses. Ab hoc loco nauigando in Cyprum, aspicitur absorptio Ciuitatis Sathaliae, quae sicut olim Sodoma dicitur perijsse, propter vnic.u.m crimen contra naturam a quodam Iuuene petulante commissum. [Sidenote: Cyprus Insula.] Sciendum quod a Rhodo ad Cyprum feruntur plene quingentae quinquaginta leucae: Cyprus magna, et pulchra est Insula habens Archiepiscopatum, c.u.m quinque Episcopatibus suffraganeis: Illuc Famagosta, est vnus de princ.i.p.alibus portibus mundi, in quo fere omnium mercatores conueniunt nationum, tam Christianorum, quam multorum Paganorom, et similiter apud portum Limechon. Est ibi et Abbatia ordinis sancti Benedicti, in monte sanctae Crucis, vbi dicitur saluati latronis seruari crux, qui in eadem cruce audiuit a Christo, Hodie mec.u.m eris in Paradiso. [Sidenote: Fortis Cypri vina.] Corpus etiam sancti Hylarionis seruatur ibi, in castro Damers quod Rex Cypri facit diligentissime custodiri: Vltra modum fortia vina nasc.u.n.tur in Cypro, quae primo rubra, post annum albesc.u.n.t, et quo vetustiora, eo albiora ac magis odorifera, ac fortia efficiuntur. Vlterius paucissimae villae, aut Ciuitates sunt Christianorum, sed fere omnia Saraceni possident infideles: et proh dolor, ab Anno 1200. incarnationis Domini aut circa, pacifice tenuerunt.

[Sidenote: Ioppa, vel Iaffe.] Qui autem a Cypro prospere legit s.p.a.cia maris, poterit in duobus naturalibus diebus peruenire in portum Ioppae, qui Iaffe nunc nuncupatur, et proximus est a Ireusalem, distans 16, tantum leucas, hoc est dieta c.u.m dimidia. [Sidenote: Portus Tyri, alias Sur.] Et sciendum quod circa medium, inter Cyprum, et Iaffe est portus Tyri quondam munitissimae Ciuitatis, hanc dum vltimo Saraceni a Christianis ceperunt turp.i.s.sime destruxerunt, custodientes iam curiose portum, timore Christianorum. Iste portus non vocatur modo Tyrus, sed Sur. Nam et ab illa parte est ibi introitus terrae Suriae. Ante istam Ciuitatem Tyrum habetur quidam lapis, super quem dominus noster Iesus Christus sedendo suis discipulis vel populis praedicauit. Vnde, et Christiani olim super hunc loc.u.m construxerunt Ecclesiam in nomine Saluatoris. Peregrinus vero qui ab hoc loco vult peregrinari, morose sciat, quod ad octo leucas a Tyro in orientem est Sarepta Sydoniorum, vbi olim Elias Propheta filium viduae suscitauit a morte. Itemque sciat, quod a Tyro in vnica dieta pergere potest in Achon, siue Acharon supra scripta. [Sidenote: Achon, olim Acharon. Mons Carmeli.] Circa Acon versus mare, ad 120. stadia, quorum 16.

leucam const.i.tuunt, est mons Carmeli, vbi morabatur praefatus Elias, et super alium montem Villa Saffra vbi sanctus Iacobus, et Ioannes germani Apostoli nascebantur, et in quorum natiuitatis loco pulchra habetur Ecclesia. [Sidenote: Fossa Beleon.] Item prope Acon ad ripam dictam Beleon, est fossa multum vtilis, et mirabilis quae dicitur fossa Mennon, haec est rotunda circ.u.mferentia, cuius diameter continet prope 100. cubitos, plena alba et resplendente arena, et mundi ex qua conficitur mundum et perlucidum vitrum. Pro hac arena venitur per aquas, et per terras, et exportatur manibus et vehiculis prope et procul, et quantumcunque de die exhauritur, repleta mane altero reperitur: Et est in fossa ventus grandis et iugis, qui mirabiliter arenam commouere videtur. Si quis autem vitrum de hac arena factum in fossa reponeret, conuerteretur iterum in arenam, et qui imponeret frustum metalli, verteretur in vitrum: nonnulli reputant hanc fossam esse spiraculum maris arenosi, de quo mari aliquid locuturus sum in sequentibus.

Ab Acon via versus Jerusalem bifurcatur: nam qui tenet vnum latus potest ire secus Iordanem fluuium, in Ciuitatem Damasc.u.m, qui ver aliud, ibit in tribus aut quatuor dietis Gazam, de qua olim fortis Samson asportauit nocte fores portarum: deinde in Caesaream Philippi, et Ascalonem, et Ioppam portum supradictum, Hincque in Rama, et Castellum Emaus, et sic in Ierusalem vrbem sacrosanctam.

CAPVT. 5.

Via a Francia aut Flandria per solas terras vsque Ierusalem.

Itineribus, quae per terras, et per mare a nostris partibus duc.u.n.t in terram promissionis descriptis, restat breuiter dicendum de alia via, per quam omnino mare transeundum non est, videlicet per Almaniam, per Bohemiam, per Prussiam, et hinc per terram Paganorum regni Lituaniae, et sic per longam, et pessimam terram primae Tartariae vsque in Indiam: Dico autem Tartariae primae, quoniam de hac exijt primus Imperator totius Tartariae, qui semper vocatur Grand Can, quo vix maiorem mundus habet terrenum Dominum, excepto Imperatore superioris Indiae, de quibus in secunda et tertia huius tractatus partibus, aliquanto est diffusius narrandum. Cuncti principes huius primae Tartariae, quorum summus semper vocatur Bachu, et moratur in Ciuitate Horda, [Marginal note: Horda est mult.i.tudo riuens in agris.] reddunt Imperatore Grand Can, magna tributa. [Sidenote: Mores Tartarorum.] Est autem haec prima Tartaria terra misera et sabulosa, et infructuosa: hoc enim scio, qud per aliquod tempus steti in ea, et perambulaui Insulas, regiones, et terras circ.u.miacentes, scilicet, Russiae, Inflau, Craco, Latton, Restau, et alias nonnullas: cresc.u.n.t namque in ista Tartaria modica blada, pauca vina, et fructuum, ac frugum parua copia, exceptis herbis pro pastu Bestiarum, quarum ibi est abundantia: nam carnibus illarum vesc.u.n.tur pro omnibus cibarijs, ius earum sorbentes, et pro potu bibentes lac de omni genere bestiarum. Quin etiam pauperiores manducant canes, lupos, catos, ratos, talpas, ac mures, ac huiusmodi bestiolas omnes: sed nec aliquis Princeps aut praelatus comedit vltra semel in die, et hoc parce, vel parcissime: et sunt homines valde immundi, quia non nisi bene diuites vtuntur mappis, linteaminibus, aut lineis indumentis: sed nec habent copiam lignorum, vnde et fimum boum, ac omnium bestiarum desiccatum ad solem accipiunt pro ignis materia, vbi se calefaciunt, et coquendo coquunt. Aestiuo tempore, cadunt ibi frequenter tempestates, tonitruorum, fulminum, et grandinum, quibus domus, arbores, bestiae, et homines, comburuntur, euelluntur, et occiduntur.

Nam et quandoque subrepente oritur ibi calor immoderatus, et improuiso frigus immoderatum. Denique c.u.m terra illa, se multum inclinet ad polum Septentrionalem, fortius ibi gelare solet, et frequentius, ac diutius quam ad partes nostras, vnde et quasi omnes habent ibi stupas, in quibus manducant, et operantur. [Sidenote: Hyeme praecipue iter faciunt per terram.] Nec valet a nostris partibus ingredi ad illam nisi tempore gelicidij, quod ad introitum eius sunt tres dictae, de via molli, aquatica, et profunda, in qua dum viator putaret se stare securum, profunderetur in lutum ad tibias, ad genua, ad femora vel ad renes: hoc ergo sciendum qud paucissimi tendunt per hanc viam in terram promissionis: Nam iter est graue, distortum, longum, et periculosum sicut audistis, im periculosius quam scribo.

CAPVT. 6.

Via de Cypro vel Ierusalem vsque in Babyloniam aegypti.

Descripto sicut potui tripliciter itinere in terram sanctam, restat videre de duabus alijs vijs, quae incidenter solent contingere peregrinis: Multi namque illorum ex speciali deuotione desiderant visitare ossa beatissimae Virginis Catharinae in monte Sinay: [Sidenote: Babylonia Aegypti.] c.u.m igitur ipsis sit necessarius Soldani Babyloniae conductus eo quod Imperator sit, et dominus omnium illarum terrarum, quidam postquam perueniunt in Cyprum tendunt prim in Babyloniam aegypti, pro impetrando conductu securo, atque inde pergentes in Sinay vadunt in Ierusalem. Quidam ver postquam perfecerunt peregrinationem Hierosolymitanam, pergunt per terras ad Soldanum pro conductu, et tum in Sinay, propter qud vtramque viam breuiter describo. [Sidenote: Damiata portus Aegypti.] De Cypro in aegyptum itur per mare relinquendo Hierosolymorum terram ad manum sinistram, et accipitur primus portus aegypti, dictus Damiata: ibi quondam fuit Ciuitas valde munita, sed quod Christiani illam, primi et altera vice ceperunt, Sarraceni vltim destruxerunt, et aliam remotius a mari eiusdem nominis Ciuitatem aedificauerunt: [Sidenote: Alexandria.] Hinc venitur in portum Alexandriae aegypti, quae est Ciuitas magna, pulchra, et fortis valde, sed absque aquis potabilibus. Adducit tamen sibi per longos ductus aquam Nili fluminis in cisternis ad potandum. Alexandria n.o.bilis, 30. stadia habet longitudinis decemque in latum. In ea restant adhuc plures Ecclesiae a tempore Christianorum, sed Sarraceni non sustinentes picturas Sanctorum omnes parietes albauerunt. De Alexandria per terras venitur in Babyloniam aegypti, quae etiam fundata iacet supra praedictum Nilum fluuium: Dicitur autem haec Babylonia minor ad differentiam magnae Babyloniae, siue Babel, vbi Deus linguas confudit olim, quae tendendo inter Orientem et Septentrionem distat ab ista dietas circiter 40. nec est sub potestate Soldani, sed Imperatoris Persarum, qui illam tenet in homagio ab Imperatore Cathay, dicto, Grand Can. [Sidenote: Cayr ciuitas.] Haec autem Babylonia aegypti est Ciuitas grandis et fortis, tamen valde prope eam est alia maior dicta Cayr, in qua vt saepius residet Solda.n.u.s, quanquam Babylonia nomen per seculum diffusius est cognitum: Altera autem via peregrinorum de Hierosolymis pro conducta tendentium ad Soldanum talis esse potest. [Sidenote: Abilech desertum.]

Prim tendant de Ierusalem in supra dictam Gazam Palestinorum, inde ad Castellum Dayre, atque ex tunc exitur de terra Syriae, et intratur a superiori parte in desertum longum arenosum, et sterile, prope ad septem dietas, quod lingua eorum vocatur Abilech; tamen per illud inueniantur plura hospitia, vbi haberi possunt ad victum nccessaria. Et qui in eundo r.e.c.t.u.m iter tenet, veniet in Ciuitatem dictam, Balbes, quae est ad finem Regni Halapiae: Sicque expleto Deserto, intratur terra aegypti, quam ipsi Canopat vocant, et aliqui Mersur, atque ex tunc in Babyloniam, et Cayr, praefatam: In ista ver Babylonia habetur pulchra Ecclesia Mariae virginis, in loco vbi morabatur c.u.m filio suo, et Ioseph tempore suae fugae, et creditur ibi contineri corpus Virginis Barbarae.

CAPVT. 7.

De Pallatio Soldani, ac numero, et nominibus praeteritorum Soldanorum.

Cayr ciuitas Imperialis et Regalis est valde munita, et grandis, decorata sede propria Sarracenorum Regni, vbi dominus eorum Solda.n.u.s communiter residere solet, in suo Calahelick, id est, castro forti, et lato, ac in euecta rupe statuto. Siquidem Solda.n.u.s eorum lingua sonat nomen similis maiestatis, quo nos in Latino dicimus Caesarem, aut Imperatorem. Pro custodia huius Castri sunt ibidem omni tempore morantes s.e.x millia personarum, et pro, seruiendo, dum ibi residet, ipsi Soldano, qui omnes de Curia eadem accipiunt necessaria, et donatiua. Iste Imperator Solda.n.u.s, est Rex, Dominusque quinque Regnoram magnorum: Canopat, hoc est, aegypti: totius Iudeae, sicut olim Dauid, et Salomon; Halapiae, in terra Machsyriae, cuius ciuitas Damascus olim erat princ.i.p.alis; Arabiae, quod est regnum valde protensum, et c.u.m his possidet dominatus omnium Caliphorum: ad quod sciendum, qud quaundoque fuerunt tres Caliphorum dominatus: Ex quibus primus Caliphus qui dicebatur Chaldaeorum, et Arab.u.m, cuius erat sedes in Ciuitate Baldac. Alter Barbarorum et Affricorum, cuius erat sedes in Maroco super Mare Hispaniae. Tertius Aegypti: [Sidenote: Caliphus quid sit.] Est autem Caliphus inter eos, velut inter nos Imperator, et Papa simul, scilicet, Dominus temporalium et spiritualium. [Sidenote: Series Soldanorum Aegypti.] Exactis igitur Caliphis circa annum incarnationis Christi 1150, primus Soldanorum fuit nominatus Saracon: secundus filius eius, Saladin, qui anno 1190. c.u.m Turcis totam fere terram promissionis abstulit a Christianis. Et sub quo Richardus Rex Angliae c.u.m alijs principibus Christianis custodiebat pa.s.sum Rupium, ne ille sicut proposuerat transire, profecisset vltra. Tertius Melachsala, a quo sanctus Ludouicus rex Franciae captiuabatur in bello. Quartus Turquenna, qui Regem praedictum redemi dimisit pro pecunia. Quintus Meleth. s.e.xtus Melethemes. Septimus Melec dayr, sub quo Edwardus Rex Angliae intrauit c.u.m nostris Syriam, d.a.m.nificans plurimum Sarracenos. [Sidenote: Edwardus princeps Angliae, Regis Hen. 3.

filius.] Octauus Melec salle. Nonus Elphi, qui Anno Incarnationis Domini 1289. destruxit in illis partibus enormiter Christianos, et penitus omnes inde fugauit, atque recepit Tripolim Ciuitatem. Decimus Meletha.s.seras: hic cepit Anno Domini 1291. in octaua paschae Accharon, fugatis vel occisis ex ea omnibus Christianis. Exinde amissis succedentium nominibus, s.e.xtus decimus dicebatur vel dicitur Melec Mandibron: sub isto steti ego per aliquod tempus stipendiarius in guerris suis contra Bedones, qui ei tunc temporis rebellabant. Horum etiam mores, et continentiam populorum, in sequentibus declarabo: sicut veraciter fateri possum, ipse ad filiam cuiusdam sui Principis me obtulit vxorare, et magnis dotari possessionibus, dummod Christianitati resigna.s.sem: Eumque dimisi Soldanum, quando de partibus illis recessi. [Sidenote: Potentia Soldani Aegypti.] Solda.n.u.s praeter homines ad sua castra seruanda deputatos, potest educere quoties velit in exercitum de hominibus de ipsius stipendijs viuentibus et ad eius iugiter mandata paratis, 20. millia armatorum, ex sola aegypto: Et ex Syria, et Turcia, et alijs terris, 50. millia exceptis ruralibus, et Ciuitatem comitatibus, qui sunt velut innumerabiles. Miles quidem stipendiarius recipit de Curia pro anni Tempore 121. aureos, et sub tali stipendio seruit c.u.m tribus equis et vno Camelo. Quadringenti vel Quingenti horum militum ordinati sunt sub vno rectore, que vocatur Admirabilis: Et ille solus recipit de curia tantum, sicut omnes sibi subditi: Notandum quod nunquam extraneus Nuncius ire permitt.i.tur ad Soldanum nisi auratis indutus vestibus, vel panno Tartarico aut camoleoto ad modum n.o.bilium Sarracenorum: [Sidenote: Reuerentia exhibita Soldano.] et oportet vt vbicunque primum nuncius Soldanum aspiciat, siue ad fenestras, siue alibi, vt cadat ad genua, vel protinus osculetur terram, quia talem reuerentiam facere, signum est qud ille desiderat ei loqui. Quamdiu autem tales loquuntur sibi, aut literas ostendunt, circ.u.mstant Apparitores extensis brachijs leuatos tenentes mucrones, gladios, gezas, et mackas ad feriendum, et occidendum, si quid dictum vel nunciatum fuerit, quod Imperatori displiceat, quam cit ille signauerit trucidari. Veruntamen sciendum est qud nullius hominis personaliter ab ipso quidquam petentis consueuit repellere preces rationabiles, et contra eorum leges aut mores non venientes. Porr ego in Curia manens, vidi circa Soldanum vnum venerabilem, et expertum medic.u.m, de nostris partibus oriundum: [Marginal note: Cuius nomen erat M. Ioannes ad Barbam.] solet namque circa se retinere diuersarum medicos nationum, et quos nominandae audierit esse famae: Nos tamen rar inuicem conuenimus ad colloquium, e qud meum seruitium c.u.m suo modic.u.m congruebat: longo autem postea tempore, et ab illo loco remote, videlicet in Leodij ciuitate, composui hortatu et adiutorio eiusdem venerabilis viri hunc tractatum, sicut in fine operis totius enarrabo. Itemque in Cayr ciuitate duc.u.n.tur ad forum communitur tam viri quam mulieres aliarum legum, et nationum venales, et ad modum bestiaram venduntur pro pecunia ad seruiendum in suis artificijs. [Sidenote: Mos oua furnis fouendi.] Habetur quoque ibi domus plena furnis paruis, in quibus per custodes domus tam hyeme quam aestate fouentur oua gallinarum, anatum, aucarum, et columbarum, vsque ad procreationem suorum pullorum, et hijs intendunt, pro certo pretio accipiendo a mulierculis illic oua ferentibus.

CAPVT. 8.

De Campo Balsami in Egypto.

[Sidenote: Balsamum.] Extra hanc ciuitatem Cayr, est Campus seu ager Balsami: circa quod sciendum, qud optimum totius mundi Balsamum in magno crescit Indiae deserto, vbi Alexander Magnus dicitur quondam locutus fuisse arboribus Solis et Lunae, de quo in sequentibus aliquid est scribendum. Illo itaque Indiae Balsamo duntaxat excepto, non est liquor in vniuerso orbe, qui huic creditur comparari. Has arbores seu arbusta Balsami fecit quondam quidam de Caliphis Aegypti de loco Engaddi inter mare mortuum, et Ierico, vbi Domino volente excreuerat, eradicari, et in argo praedicto plantari: est tamen hoc mirandum, quod vbicuncque alibi siue prope, siue remote plantantur, quamuis forte virent, et exurgant, non tamen fructificant. Et e contrario apparet hoc miraculosum, quod in hoc agro Cayr non se permittant coli per Sarracenos, sed solummod per Christianos, vel aliter non fructificarent: Et dic.u.n.t ipsi Sarraceni hoc saepius se tenta.s.se: sunt autem arbusta trium vel quatuor pedem alt.i.tudinis, velut vsque ad renes hominis, et lignum eorum aspiciendum, sicut vitis syluestris. Folia non marcesc.u.n.t, quin prius marcescant fructus, cernitur ad formam Cubebae, et gummi eorum est Balsamum. Ipsi appellant arbores Enochkalse, fructum Abebifau, et liquorum gribalse. Extrahitur ver gummi de arbusculis per hunc modem: De lapide acuto, vel de osse fracto dant scissuras per cortices in ligno, et ex vulneribus Balsamum lachrymatur, quod in vasculis suscipiunt, cauentes quout possunt, ne quid de illo labatur in terram: Nam se de ferro, vel alio metallo fieret incissura, liquor Balsami corrumperetur a sua virtute.

[Sidenote: Virtutes veri Balsami.] Veri Balsami virtutes sunt magnae quidem, et innumerosae: nam vix aliquis mortalium scire potuit omnes, quamuis inter Physicos quinquaginta scribantur. Rar vtique Sarraceni vendunt Christianis purum et verum Balsamum, quin prius commisceant, et falsificant sicut ego ipse frequenter vidi. Nam aliqui tertiam, seu quartam partem immiscent terrebynthinae. [Sidenote: Sophisticationes Balsami.] Alii ramusculos arbustarum, et fructus eorum coquunt in oleo, quod vendunt pro Balsamo: et quidam (quod pessimam est) nil Balsami habentes, distillant oleum, per clauos gariophillos, et spic.u.m nardum, et similes odoriferas species, hoc pro Balsamo exponentes, atque aliis pluribus modis deludunt ementes.

[Sidenote: Probatio veri Balsami.] Sed et Mercatores inuicem nonnunquam sophisticant altera vice: probatio autem veri Balsaml potest haberi pluribus modis, quorum aliquos hic describo. Est enim Citrini coloris, valde clarum, et purum, et fortissimum in odoris fragrantia: si erg apparet alterius quam Citrini coloris sciatur non simplicis, sed cuiuscunque commixtae substantiae, vel ita sp.i.s.sum, vt non possit fluere, scitote sophisticatum. Item si posueris modic.u.m veri Balsami in ma.n.u.s palma, non poteris sustinere eam linialiter in feruore splendentis Solis ad s.p.a.cium recitandae Dominicae orationis. Item si in clara flamma ignis vel candeliae cereae miseris punctum cultelli c.u.m gutta puri Balsami, ipsa gutta de facile comburetur. Item si in scutella munda c.u.m puro lacte caprino posueris modic.u.m veri Balsami, statim, miscebit se, et vnietur c.u.m lacte, ta vt Balsamum non cognoscetur. Item e contra, si posueris verum Balsamum c.u.m aqua Lympida, nunquam miscebit se aquae, etiamsi aquam moueris vehementer, im Balsamum semper tendit ad fundum vasis, nam est in sui quanitate valde ponderosam, et iuxta quod minus ponderosum inueneris, amplius falsificatum noueris.