of delices where a man shall find all manner of fruits in all times/ and waters and rivers running with milk and honey/ wine and fresh water/ and they shall have fair houses and good as they have deserved/ and those houses are made of precious stones gold and silver/ and every man shall have ten wives and all maidens/ and he shall every day ones have to do with them and shall evermore be maidens. Also they speak often and believe of the virgin Mary and say of the incarnation that Mary was learned of angels/ & that Gabryell said to her that she was chosen before all other fro the beginning of the world/ and that witnesseth well their book. And Gabryell told her of the incarnation of Ihesu christ/ and that she conceived and bore a child. And they say that christ was a holy prophet in word and deed/ and meek rightwise to all and without any wite. And they say that when the angel said her of th  yncarnacion she had great dread for she was right young. And there was one in that country that medeled with sorcery that men call takyna that with enchantments could make him like an angel and he went often and lay with maidens/ and therefore was Mary the more a feared for the angel and thought in her mind that it had been Takyna that went with the maidens/ and she couniured him that he should say unto her if he were the same Takyna & the angel bad her have no dread for he was certain a messenger of Ihesu christ. Also their book of Alcoran saith that she had child under a palm tree than was she greatly ashamed & said that she will be deed/ and as soon her child spoke & comforted her and said too Mary. Ne timeas maria. That is too say/ Be not adread Mary. And in many other places saith their beak Alcoran that Ihesu christ spoke as soon as he was borne/ and the book saith that Ihesu christ was sent fro god almighty too be ensample to all men/ and that god shall dame all men/ the good to heaven and wicked to hell/ and that Ihesu christ is the best prophet of all other and next to god and that he was very prophet that gave the blind sight and healed meselles/ and raised deed men & went all quick to heaven/ & if thry may find a book with gospels and namely (Missus est angelus)/ they do it great worship/ they fast a month in the ye year and they eat not but on the night/ and they keep them fro their wives/ but they that art sick are not constrained to that. And that book Alcoran speaketh of jews and saith they are wicked people/ for they will not believe that Ihesu christ is of god And they say that the jews lie on our lady and her son Ihesu christ saying that they died him not on the cross/ and for sarasyns believe so near our faith and they are lyghty converted when men preach the law of Ihesu christ/ and they say they wot well by their prophecies that their law of Machomet shall fail as doth the law of jews/ and that christian men's law shall last unto the worlds end. And if a man ask them wherein they believe/ and they say that they believe in god almighty that is maker of heaven & of earth and other things/ and without him is nothing done/ & at the day of doom when every man shall be rewarded after his deserving/ & that all thing is sooth that christ said through the mouths of his prophets.  

¶ Yet of Machomet. ca xlv.  
And there be also other men that men call Surryens & they holden half our faith and half that faith of the Greeks & they have long beards as the Greeks have.  
And there be other that men call Georgyens whom saint George converted/ and they do more worship to hallows of heaven than other do/ and they have their crowns shaven/ the clerks have round crowns and the lewd have crowns square/ & they hold the Greeks law. And there be other that men call christian of girding/ for as much as they were girdles underneath/ some other call Nestorynes/ some Aryens/ some Nubian/ some Gregours/ and some Indens that are of the land of preter johan and everichone of those have some articles of our believe. But each of them vary from other/ and of their variance were to much for to tell.   

¶ from to torn again on this side Galyle. ca xl.  
NOw sithen I have told you of many manners of men that dwell in countries before maundeuyll.  
said. Now will I torn again to my way for to torn upon this side/ now he that will torn fro the land of Galyle that I spoke of to come on this side he shall go through Damas' that is a fair city and full of good merchandises/ & it is three journeys from the see/ & five journeys fro/ Iherusalem/ but they carry merchandises upon camels/ mules/ horses & dromedaries & other manner of beasts. This city of Damas' founded Helyzeus that was Abraham's servant before Isaac was borne/ & he thought to have been Abraham's heir & therefore he called the city his name Damas.  
And in that place slow Cayn his brother Abel/ and beside Damas' is the mount of Syry/ and in that city is many a physician/ and that holy man saint Poule was a physycyen to save men's bodies in hele before that he was converted/ and after he was a physycyen of souls. And From Damas' men come by a place called our lady of Sardemarche that is five mile from Damas' and it is on a roche/ and there is a fair church and there dwell monks & nuns   hermaphrodites  

¶ Of the kingdom named Mancy & is the best kingdom of the world. ca lxiij.  
TO go fro this isle toward the east many journeys a man shall find a kingdom that is called Mancy & this is in Ynde the more/ & it is most delectable & plenty of goods of all the world. In this land dwell christian men & sarazens/ for it is a great land/ & therein is two M. great cities and many other towns. In this land no man goeth on begging for there is no poor man/ & the men have beards thin of here as it were cats. In this land are fair women/ & therefore some men call the land albany for the white folk/ & there is a city that men call Latorym & is more than Paris/ & in that land are birds twice greater than it be here/ & there is good cheap of all manner of victuals.  
In this country are white hens & they bear no feathers but will as sheep do in our land/ and women of that country that are wedded bear crowns up on their heeds that they may be known by. In this country they take a be'st that is called Loyres. & they ken it to go in to waters or vyvers/ and as soon he bringeth out of the water great fishes/ & thus they take fish as long as they will to that them needeth. from this city men go by many journeys to an other great city that is called Cassay that is the most city of the world/ & that city is thirty mile about/ & there is in the city more than twelve principal gates without. from thence within three mile is an other great city/ & within this city are more than twelve thousand bridges/ & upon each bridge is a strong tour where the keepers dwell too keep it again the great Chane for it marcheth on his land/ & on one side of the city runneth a great river/ & there dwell christian men and other/ for it is a good country & plenteous & there groweth right good wine/ this is a noble city where the king of Mancy was wont to dwell/ & there dwell religious men christian freres/ And men go upon the river till they come to an abbey of monks a little fro the city/ & in that abaye is a great garden & fair & therein is many manner of trees of divers fruits In that garden dwell many manner of beasts as baboynes/ apes/ marmosettes & other/ & when the covent hath eaten a monk taketh the relleef & bear it in to the garden/ & smytech ones with a bell of silver which he hold in his hand/ & anon come out these beasts that I spoke of & many more near iij. or four thousand/ & he giveth them to eat of fair vessels of silver/ & when they have eaten he smiteth the bell again & they go again their way. And the monk saith that those beasts are souls of men that are deed/ & those beasts that are fair are souls of lords & other rich men/ & those that are foul beasts are souls of other commons. And I asked them if it had not be better to give that relief to poor men & they said there is no poor man in the country & if there were yet it were more alms to give it to those soul's the suffer there their penance & may go no further to get their meet than to men that have wit & may travail for their meet. Than come men to a city that is called Chybens & there was the first siege of the king of Mancy. In this city are lx bridges of stone as fair a they may be.   

¶ Of the land of Pygmeen wherein dwelleth but small people of three span long. ca lxiiij  
When men pass fro the city of Chybens they pass over a great river of fresh water/ & it is near four mile broad/ & than men enter in too the land of the great Chane. This river gooth through the land of Pygmeens/ & there men are of little stature for they are but three span long & they are right fair both men & women though they be little/ and they are wedded when they are half a year old/ & they live but eight year & he that liveth eight year is holden right old/ and these small men are the best work men in silk & of cotton in all manner thing that are in the world. & these small men travail ne till no land/ but they have among them great men as we are to travail for them/ and they have great scorn of those great men as we would have of giants or of them if they were among us.   

Of the city of Menke where a great navy is. ca lxv  
ERo this land men go through many countries & cyters and towns till they come to a city that men call menke. In that city is a great navy of ships/ & they are as swyte as snow of kind of the wood that they are made of/ & they are made as it were great houses with halls & chambers & other esymentes.   

¶ Of the land named Cathay & the great richesses thereof. ca lxvi.  
ANd from thence men go upon a river that men call Ceremosan/ & this river gooth through Cathay & doth many times harm when it waxeth great. Caythay is a fair country & rich full of goods & merchandises/ thither come merchants every year for too fetch spices and other machaundyses more commonly than they do in to other countries. And ye shall understand that merchants that come from Venyce or fro Geene or from other places of Lombardy or of roman/ they go by se and land xi months & more or they may come to Caythay.   

¶ Of a great city named Cadon where in is the great Chanes palace & siege. ca lxvij  
IN the province of Caythay toward the east is an old city/ & beside that city the Tartarynes have made an other city that men call Cadon that hath twelve gates/ and ever between two gates is a great mile/ so that those two cities the old and the new is round about twenty mile. In this city is the palace and siege of the great Chane in a full fair place & great of which the walls about is two mile/ & within that are many fair places & in the garden of that palace is a right great hill on the which is an other palace/ and it is the fairest that may be found in any blade/ and all about the hill are many trees bearing divers fruits/ & about that hill is a great ditch/ and there near are many vyvers on each side/ and in those are many wild fowls that he may take & go not out of the palace: Within the hall of that palace are xxiv. pillars of gold/ and all the walls are covered with rich skins of beasts that men call pauters. Those are fair beasts and well smelling & of the smell of the skins none evil smell may come to the palace/ those skins are as read as blood/ & they shine so again the son that uneaths may men behold them/ and men praise those skins as much as it were cold. In mids of that palace is a place made that they call the mounture for the great Chane that is well made with precious stones & great pearls hanging about/ & at the four corners of that mountour are four nedders of gold/ & under that mountour & above are conduits of beverage that they drink in the emperors court. And the hall of that palace is richly dyghte & well/ And first at the over end of the hall is the throne of the Emperor right high where he sitteth at meet at a table that is well bordered with gold/ & that bordure is full of precious stones & great pearls/ and the greces on the which he gooth up are of diverse precious stones bordered with gold. At the left side of his throne is the siege of his wife a degree lower than he sitteth & that is of jasper bordered with gold/ & the siege of his second wife is a degree lower than the first & that is also of good jasper bordered with gold/ and the siege of the third wife is a degree lower than the second/ for alway he hath three wives with him where soever he is/ beside these wives on the same side sitteth other ladies of his kin eachone lower than other as they are of degree/ & all those that are wedded have a counterfeit of a man's foot upon their heads a cubit long & all made with precious stones/ and above they are made with shining feathers of peacocks or such other in tokening that they are subjection of man and under men foot/ and they that are not wedded have none such. And on the right side of the Emperor sitteth first his son that shall be Emperor after him/ and he sitteth also a degree lower than the Emperor in such manner of seges as the Emperor sitteth/ & by him sitteth other lords of his kin eachone lower than other as they are of degree. And the emperor hath his table by himself alone that is made of gold and precious stones or of white crystal or yellow bordered with gold/ and eachone of his wives hath a table by herself. And under the emperors table sitteth four clerks at his feet that writeth all the the Emperor saith be it good or ill. And at great feasts above the emperors table & all other tables in the hall is a vine made of fine gold that gooth all about the hall & it hath many branches of grapes like to grapes of the vine/ some are white/ some are yellow/ some reed/ some green/ and some black/ all the reed are of rubies of cremas or alabaunce/ the white are of crystal or byrall/ the yellow are of topaces/ the green are of emeralds & crysolytes/ & the black are of quyches & gerandes/ and this vine is made thus of precious stones so properly that it seemeth as it were a vine growing. And before the board of the Emperor standeth great lords/ & no man is so hardy to speak to him but it be minstrels for to solace th'emperor. And all the vessel that is served in his hall or chambers are of precious stones and namely at tables where great lords eat/ that is to say/ of jasper/ crystal/ amatyst/ or fine gold & the cups are of emeralds/ sapphires/ topaces/ and other many manner of stones/ & of silver have they no vessel for they praise silver but little to make vessel of/ but they make of silver greces pillars and pavymentes of halls & of chambers. And ye shall understand that my fellow & I was in soudy with him xvi months again the king of Mancy upon whom he made war/ & the cause was for we had so great desire to see the nobleye of his court if it were such as we heard speak of/ & forsooth we found it more richer & solemn than ever we heard speak of/ & we should never have by lewd it had we not seen it/ but ye shall understand that meet & drink is more honest among us than it is in those countries/ for all the commons eat upon skins of beasts on their knees & eat but flesh of all manner beasts/ & when they have all eaten they wipe their hands in their skirts & they eat but ones on the day & eat but little breed/ but the estate of the lords is full nobleye & full richly.   

¶ Wherefore that the Emperor of Cathay is called the great Chane. ca lxviij.  
ANd ye shall weet why he is called the great Chane/ ye wot well that all the world was destroyed with noah's flood but Noah & his wife & his children. No had three sons Sen Cham and japheth. I'm was he that saw his faders balockes naked when he slept & scorned it/ and therefore was he cursed/ and japheth covered it again. these three brethren had all the land. I'm took the best part eastward that is called Asia. Sem took africa/ & japheth to Europe. I'm was the mightiest & richest of his brethren/ & of him are come the paynim folk & divers manner of men of the isles/ some hedles'/ & other men disfigured/ & for this Cham the Emperor there called him Cham & lord of all. But ye shall understand that the Emperor of Cathay is called Chane & not Cham/ and for this cause it is not long gone that all Tartary was in subjection & thrall to other nations about/ & they were made herdsmen to keep beasts/ & among them was vij lineages or kinds/ the first was called Tartary that is the best/ the second lineage is called Tanghot/ the third Eurace/ the fourth Valayre/ the fifth Semoth/ the sixth Menchy/ the seventh Sobeth. these are all holding of the great Chane of Cathay. Now it befell so that in the first lineage was an old man & he was not rich & men call him Changyus. This man lay & slept on a night in his bed/ & there came to him a knight all white sitting upon a white horse & said to him. Chane sleepest thou/ god that is almighty sent me to thee/ & it is his will that thou say to the vij lineages that thou shalt be their Emperor/ for ye shall conquer all the lands that are about you & they shall be in your subjection as ye have be in theirs. And when morrow came he rose up & said it to the vij lineages/ and they scorned him & said he was a fool. And the night after the same knight came to the vij lineages & bad them of god's behalf to make Changyus their Emperor & they should be out of all subjection. And on the morrow they chose Changyus to Emperor & died him all worship that they might do & called him Chane as the white knight called him/ and they said they would do as he bad them. Than he made many statutes & laws the which he called Ysakan. The first statute was that they should be obedient to god almighty/ & believe that he should deliver them out of thraldom/ & that they should call on him in all their works. another statute was that all men that might bear arms should be numbered & to each ten should be a master & to an hundred a master/ & to a thousand a master. Than he commanded to all the greatest & pryncypalest of the vij lineages that they should forsake all that they had in heritage or lordship/ and that they should hold them paid of that he would give them of his grace/ and they died so And also he bad them that each man should bring his eldest son before him and slay his own son with his own hands and smite of their heeds and as soon they died his bidding. And when he saw they made no letting of that he bad them do/ than bad he them follow his banner/ & than he put in subjection all the lands about him.   

¶ How the great Chane was hid under a tree & so scaped his enemies by cause of a bird. ca lxix.  
ANd it befell on a day that the Chane road with a few men to see the land that he had won & he met with a great multitude of his enemies and there he was cast down of his horse and his horse slain. And when his men saw him at the earth they wend he had be deed/ & fled and the enemies followed after/ and when he saw his enemies were far he hid him in a bush. for the wood was thick there/ and when they were come again fro the chaffs they went to seek among the wood if any were hid there/ & they found many. And as they came to the place where he was they saw a hired sit upon a tree the which bird men call an owl/ & than said they that there was no man for that bird sat there & so went they away/ & thus was the Chane saved fro death/ & so he went away on a night to his own men which were glad of his coming. And fro that time hyderwardes men of that country have do great worship to that bird & for that cause they worship that bird above all the birds of the world And than he assembled all his men & road upon his enemies & destroyed them. And when he had won all the lands that were about him he held them in subjection. And when the Chane had won all the lands to mount Belyan/ the white knight come to him in a vision again & said unto him. Chane the will of god is that thou pass the mount Belyan and thou shalt win many lands/ & for thou shalt find no passage go thou to mount Belyan that is upon the see side & kneel ix. times thereon against the east in the worship of god & he shall show the a way how thou shalt pass/ & the Chane died so/ and anon the see that touched the hill withdrowe him and showed him a fair way of ix foot brood between the hill and the see/ and so he passed right well with all his men and than he wan the land of Cathay that is the most land and the greatest of all the world/ and for those ix kneelings & the ix foot of way the Chane and the men of Tartary have the number of ix in great worship.   

¶ Of the great Chanes' letters and the writing about his seal. ca lxx.  
ANd when he had won the land of Cathay he died & than reigned after Cytho to the eldest son of Chane/ and his other brothers went to win them lands in other countries/ & they wan the land of Pruysse & of Russy/ and they died call themselves Chane/ but he of Cathay is the great Chane and the greatest lord of all the world/ & so he called him in his letters & saith thus. Chan filius dei excelsi universam terram colencium summus impator & dns dominantium. That is to say. Chane gods son Emperor of all those that till all the land & lord of all lords. And the writing above his great seal is. Deus in celo et chan super terram eius fortitudo omni hoīm impatoris sigillum. That is to say God in heaven Chane upon earth his strength the seal of th'emperor of all men. And the writing about his privy seal is. Dei fortitudo omni hoīm inꝑatoris sigillum. That is to say. The strength of god seal of the Emperor of all men. And all if it be so that they be not christian yet th'emperor and the Tartaryns believe in god almighty.   

¶ Of the governance of the court of the great Chane. ca lxxi.  
NOw have I told you why he is called the great Chane. Now shall I tell you of the governing of his court when they make great feasts/ & he keeped four principal feasts in the year / the first is of his birth/ the second when he is borne to the Temple to be circumcised/ the third is of his idols when they begin to speak/ and the fourth when the idol beginneth first to do miracles/ & at those times he hath men well arrayed by thousands and by hondredes/ & eachone wot well what he shall do. For there is first ordained four thousand rich barons & mighty for to ordain the feast & to serve th'emperor/ & all these barons have crowns of gold well dight with precious stones & pearls/ and they are clad in clothes of gold and camathas as richly as they may be made/ & they may well have such clothes for they are there of less price than  cloth is here. And these four thousand barons are departed in four parties/ & each company is clad in diverse colour right richly/ & when the first thousand is passed & hath showed them/ than come the second thousand/ & than the third thousand/ and than the fourth & none of them speaketh a word. And on one side of th'emperors table sitteth many philosophers of many sciences/ some of astronomy/ nigromancy/ geometry/ pyromacy/ & other many sciences/ & some have before them astrolabes of gold or of precious stones full of sand or of coals brenning/ some have orloges well dight & richly & other many Instruments after their sciences/ & at a certain hour when they see time they say to men that stand before them make peas/ and than say those men with a loud voice to all the hall now be still a while/ & than saith one of the philosophers each man make reverence & incline to th'emperor that is gods son & lord of the world for now is time & hour/ & than all men incline to him & kneel on the earth/ and than biddeth the philosopher them rise up again/ & at an other hour an other philosopher biddeth them all put their finger in their ears & they do so/ and at an other hour an other philosopher biddeth that all men shall lay their hand on their heed & they do so/ & than he biddeth them take away & they do so/ and thus fro hour to hour they bid diverse things/ & I asked privily what this should mean and one of the masters said that the inclining & the kneeling on the earth at that time hath this token/ that all those men that kneeled so shall evermore be true to th'emperor/ that for no gift neheting they shall never be traitors ne falls to him And the putting of the finger in the ear hath this token/ that none of those shall here none ill be spoken of the Emperor or his counsel. And ye shall understand that men dight no thing/ clothes/ breed/ drink/ nor none such things to th'emperor but at certain hours that the philosophers tell & if any man raise war against that Emperor in what country so it be these phylophres wot it soon & tell the Emperor or his counsel/ and he sendeth men thither for he hath many men. And he hath many men to keep birds as garfaukons sperhaukes/ faucons/ gentles/ lanners/ sacres/ popinjays that are speaking & many other ten thousand elephants/ baboynes/ marmosettes & other/ & he hath ever about him many physicians more than two hundred that are christian men and twenty sarazens/ but trusteth more in christian men than in sarasyns. And there is in that country many barons & other servants that are ceysten & converted to the good faith thorough preaching of good christian men that dwell there/ but there are many that will not that men weet that they are christian.   

¶ Of the great richesse of this Emperor and of his dispending. ca lxxij.  
THis Emperor is a great lord for he may dispend what he will without number/ because he spended neither silver neither gold/ & he made no money but of leader or skins/ and this same money gooth thorough all his land/ and of the silver and gold builded he his palace. And he hath in his chamber a pillar of gold in the which is a Ruby and a carbuncle of a foot long the which lighteth all his chamber by night/ and he hath many other prycyous stones & rubies but this is the most. This Emperor dwelleth in the summer towards the North in a city that men call Saydus and there it is cold enough/ and in the winter he dwelleth in a city that men call Camalache and there it is right hot/ but for the most part is he to Cadon that is not far thence.   

¶ Of the ordinance of the lords of th'emperor when he rideth from one country to an other or to war. ca lxxiij.  
ANd when this great Chane shall ride from one country to an other they ordain four hosts of people/ of which the first goeth before a days journey/ for the host lieth at even where the Emperor shall lie on the morrow/ & there is plenty of victuals. And an other host cometh at the right side of him and an other at the lift side/ & in each host is moche folk. And than cometh the fourth host behind him a bow draught/ & there is more men in than in any of the other. And ye shall understand that the Emperor rideth on no horse but when he will go to any secret place with a prive main where he will not be known/ but he rideth in a chariot with four wheels/ & there upon is a chamber made of a tree that men call lignum aloes that cometh out of Paradyse terrestre & that chamber is covered with plates of fine gold and precious stones & pearls/ and four elephants & four oxen all white gone there in. And five or six great lords riden about him so that none other men shall come near him but if the Emperor call any. And in that same manner with chariot & such hosts rideth the Empress by an other side/ & the emperors eldest son on the same array/ and they have so moche people that it is a great marvel for to see.   

¶ How the Empire of the great Chane is departed in to twelve provinces/ and how that they do cast incense in the fire where the great Chane passeth thorough the cities and towns in worship of the Emperor. ca lxxiiij.  
THe land of the great Chane is departed in xii. provinces/ & each province hath more than two thousand cities & towns. Also when th'emperor rideth through the country/ & he passeth through cities & towns/ each man maketh a fire before his house & casteth therein incense and other things that give good smell to th'emperor. And if any men of religion that are christian dwell near as th'emperor cometh they meet him with procession with a cross & holy water/ & they sing Veni creator spiritus with a loud voice. And when he see them come he commandeth the lords that ride near him to make way that the religious men may come to him/ & when he see that cross he doth of his hat that is made of precious stones & great pearls/ & that hat is so rich that it is marvel to tell and than he inclined to the cross. And the prelate of the religious men saith orisons before him & giveth him the benison with the cross/ & he inclineth to the benison full devoutly/ & than the same prelate giveth him some fruit of the number of ix. in a plate of gold as peers or apples or other fruit/ & than the Emperor taketh one thereof & the other he giveth to his lords/ for the manner is such there that no strange man shall come before th'emperor, but he give him some what after the old law that saith. Non accedat in conspectu meo inanis. That is too say. No man come in to my sight idle. And than the Emperor biddeth these religious men that they shall go forth so that men of his host defoul them not. And those religious men that dwell where the Empress or the Emperors son cometh do in the same manner.   

¶ How that the great Chane is the mightiest lord of all the world. ca lxxv.  
THis great Chane is the mightiest lord of the world/ for prester johan is not so great a lord as he/ ne the Sultan of Babylon ne the Emperor of Persy. In his land a man hath an hundred wives/ & some xl some more some less/ & they take of their kin to wives all save their sisters of their moders/ but their sisters of their faders other wives they take also/ & they take also well their stepmother if their father be deed/ and men & women have all one manner of clothing so that they may not be known but the women that are wedded bear a token on their heeds/ and they dwell not with their husbands/ but he may lie by which that he will. They have plenty of all manner of beasts save swine & forsooth they will none & they believe well in god that made all thing & yet have they idols of gold & silver/ & to those idols they offer their first milk of their beasts.   

Yet of other manners of this country ca lxxvi.  
THis Emperor the great Chane hath three wives/ & the principal wife was prester Johan's daughter. And the people of this country begin too do all their things in the new moan/ and they worship much the son & the moan those men ride commonly without spurs/ and they hold it great sin too break a bone with an other & to cast milk on the earth or other liquor the men may drink. And the most sin that they may do is to piss in their houses there they dwell/ and he that pisseth in his house shall be slain/ and of those sins they shrive them to their priests/ and for their penance they shall give silver/ & the place where they have pissed shall be hallowed/ or else may no man come there. And when they have do their penance they shall pass through a fair fire or two too make them clean of their sins. And they have eaten they wipe their hands upon their skirts for they have no table clothes but it be right great lords/ & when they have all eaten they put their dishes or doublers not washen in the pot or cauldron with flesh that is left when they have eaten unto they will eat an other time/ and rich men drink milk of mares or asses or other beasts & other beverage that is made of milk & water together for they have neither wine ne ale. And when they go to war the war full wisely/ and each man of them beareth two or three bows & many arrows & a great hachet/ & gentlemen have short swords/ & he that fleeth in battle they slay him/ & they are ever in purpose to bring all lands in subjection to them/ for they say prophecies say that they shall be overcome by shot of archers & that they shall torn them to their law/ but they wot not what men they shall be/ & it is great peril to pursue the Tartaryns when they flee/ for they will shoot behind & flee men as well as before/ & they have small cyen as little birds/ & they are commonly false for they hold not that they promise. And when a man shall die among them they steke a spear in the earth beside him/ & when in draweth to the death they go out of the house till he be deed and than they put him in the earth in the field.   

¶ How the Emperor is brought unto his grave when he is deed. ca lxxvij  
AN when the Emperor is deed they set him in a chair in the mids of his tent/ and they set before him a table covered with a cloth and thereupon flesh and other meet and a cup full of milk of a mare/ and they set a mare with a colt by him and an horse saddled and bridled/ and the lay upon the horse gold & silver/ and all about him they make a great grave/ and with all these things they put him therein as the tent horse gold & silver & all that is a bout him/ ad they say when he cometh in to an other world he shall not be without an house ne horse ne silver ne gold/ & the mare shall give him milk & bring forth more horses till he be well stored in the other world and one of his chamberlains or servants is put with him in the earth for to do him service in the other world/ for they believe that when he is deed he shall go in to an other world & be a greater lord there than here. And when that he is laid in the earth noman shall be so hardy for to speak of him before his friends.   

¶ When the Emperor is deed how they cheese & make an other. ca lxxviij  
ANd than when the Emperor is deed the seven lineages gather them together & they touch his son or the next of his blood & they say thus/ we will and we ordain and we pray that thou be our lord & our Emperor. And he inquireth of them & saith if ye will that I regne upon you so must ye do all that I bid you to do. And if he bid that any he slain he shall be slain/ And they answer all with one voice/ all that ye bid shall be done. Than saith the Emperor fro now forth my words shall cut as my sword/ & than they set him in a chair & crown him/ and than all the good towns theraboute send to him presents so much that he shall have more than. C Camels laden with old & silver beside other jewels that he shall have of lords of precious stones & gold without number/ & horse & rich clothes of camacas & tartaryns and such other.   

¶ What countries & kingdoms lie next to the land of Cathay & the frontes thereof. ca lxxix.  
THis land of Cathay is in Asye the deep/ & this same land marcheth toward the west upon the kingdom of Sercy the which was sometime to one of the three kings that went to seek our lord in Bethleem/ and all those that come of his kin are christian. these men of Tartary drink no wine. In the land of Corosaym that is at the north side of Cathay is right great plenty of good but no wine/ the which hath at the east side a great wilderness that lasteth more than an hundred journeys/ and the best city of that land is called Corosaym & thereafter is the land so called/ and men of this land are good warryoures & hardy/ & thereby is the kingdom of Comayn/ this is the most & the greatest kingdom of the world/ but it is not all Inhabit/ for in one place of that land is so great cold that no man may dwell there for cold/ & in an other place is great heat that no man may dwell there/ & there are so many feyghes that a man wot not on what side he may torn him/ & in this land are but few trees bearing fruit. In this land men lie in tents & they burn dung of beasts for default of wood. This land descendeth toward Pruyse & Rossy/ and thorough this land runneth the river Echell that is one of the greatest rivers in the world/ & it is frozen so hard every year that men fight thereupon in great battles on horse/ and foot men more than hundred thousands at ones. And a little fro that river is the great see of Ocean that they call Maure/ and between this Maure & Caspye is a full straight passage too go toward Ynde & therefore king Alexander died make there a city that men call Alexander for to keep that passage/ so that no man may pass but if he have leave/ and now is that city called port de fear/ and the principal city of Comayn is called sarachies/ this is one of the three ways to go in to Ynde/ but through this way may not many men go but if it be in winter. and this passage is called Berbent. And an other way is for too go from the land of Turkescon through Persy/ & in this way are many journeys in wilderness. And the third way is that cometh fro Cosmane & gooth through the great city and through the kingdom of Abachare. And ye shall understand that all these kingdoms & lands unto Persy are holden of the great Chane of Cathay & many other/ & therefore he is a full gretelorde of men & of land.   

¶ Of other ways coming from Cathay to ward the Greeks see. And also of the Emperor of Persy. ca lxxxx  
NOw have I devised you the lands toward the north to come fro the lands of Cathay to the lands of Pruyse & Rossy where christian men dwell. Now shall I devise to you other lands and kingdoms in coming down from Cathay too the Greeks see where christian men dwell. And for as much as next the great Chane of Cathay the Emperor of Persy is the greatest lord/ therefore I shall speak of him/ and ye shall understand that he hath two kingdoms/ the one beginneth eastward and is the kingdom of Turkescon/ and it lasteth westward to the see of Caspye/ & southward to the land of Ynde/ & this land is good & plain and well manned/ good cities/ but two most principal of the cities are called Bacyryda & Sormagaunt. The other is the kingdom of Persy & lasteth fro the river of Physon unto the great Armony/ & northward unto the see of Caspy/ & southward to the land of Ynde/ & this is a full plenteous country & good/ and in this land are three principal cities. Nessabor. Saphan. and Sarmasse.   

¶ Of the land of Armony which is a good land & of the land of Myddy. ca lxxxi  
THan is the land of Armony in which was sometime three kingdoms/ this is a good land & plenteous. & it beginneth at Persy & lasteth westward to Turkey of length/ & in breed lasteth fro the city of Alexandre that now is called Port de fear unto the land of Myddy. In this Armony are many fair cities/ but Canryssy is most of name Than is the land of Myddy & is full long & not broad/ & beginneth eastward at the land of Persy/ and India the less & lasteth westward to the kingdom of Chaldee/ & northward to little Armony. In this Myddy are many great hills & little plain & there dwell Sarasyns & other manner of men that men call Cordyns & Kermen.   

¶ Of the kingdom of George & of Abcan & many marvels. ca lxxxij  
THan next is the kingdom of George that beginneth eastward at a great hill that men call Abyor/ this land lasteth fro Turkey too the great see & the land of Myddy and the great harmony. and in this land are two kings/ one of Abcan/ & an other of George/ but he of George is in subjection to the great Chane/ but he of Abcan hath a strong country and defendeth him well against his enemies/ And in this land of Abcan is a great marvel/ for there is a country in this land that is near three days long and about/ and it is called Hamfon/ and that country is all covered with darkness/ so that it hath no light that no man may see there/ & no man dare go in to that country for the darkness. And nevertheless men of the country thereby say that they may sometime here therein the voice of men & horse whining & cocks crow & they wot well that men dwell there/ but they wot not what manner of men/ and they say this darkness came through miracle of god that he died for christian men there. For there was a wicked Emperor that was of Poy/ & he was called Saures & he pursued sometime all christian men too destroy/ & died them make sacrifice to their false gods/ and in that country dwelled many christian men the which left all their goods & cattles & richesse & would go in to Grece/ & when they were all in a great plain that is called Megon the Emperor & his men came to slay the christian men/ and than the christian men all set them upon their knees & prayed to god/ & anon came a thick cloud & overlapped the Emperor & all his host/ so that he might not go away/ & so dwelled they in darkness/ & they came out never after/ & the christian went where as they would/ & therefore they might say thus/ Adno factum est istud & est mirabile in oculis nostris. That is to say? Of our lord is this done & it is wonderful in our eyen. Also out of this dark land cometh a river that men may see by good token that men dwell therein.   

¶ Of the land of Turkey and divers other countries & of the land of Mesopotamy. ca lxxxiij.  
THan next is the land of Turkey that marcheth to great Armony/ & therein are many countries as Capadoce. Saure. Bryke. Question Pytan & Geneth/ in eachone of these countries are many good cities/ & it is a plain loud and few hills and few rivers/ and than is the kingdom of mesopotamy that beginneth eastward at flom of Tiger at a city that men call mosel/ and it lasteth westward to the flom of Eufraten to a city that men call Rochaym/ & westward fro high Armony unto the wilderness of Ind the less/ & it is a good land & plain/ but there is few rivers & there is but two hills in that loud/ the one is called Symar/ & the other Lyson/ and it marcheth unto the land of Chaldee. And ye shall wete that the land of ethiop marcheth eastward to the great wilderness/ westward to the land of Nuby southward to the land of Marytan/ & northward to the reed see/ & than is Marytane that lasteth fro the hills of ethiop unto Lyby the high & the low that lasteth to the great see of Spain.   

¶ Of diverse countries & kingdoms & isles & marvels beyond the land of Cathay. ca lxxxiiij  
NOw have I said & spoken of many things on this side of the great kingdom of Cathay of whom many are obeisant to the great Chane/ Now shall I say of some lands & countries & isles that are beyond the land of Cathay. Who so gooth fro Cathay to Ynde. the high & the low he shall go through a kingdom that men call Cadissen & is a great land/ there groweth a manner of fruit as it were gourds/ & when it is ripe men cut it asunder & men find therein a be'st as it were of flesh of bone & blood as it were a little lamb without wool & men eat the be'st & the fruit also and that is a great marvel. Nevertheless I said to them that I held that for no marvel/ for I said that in my country are trees that bear fruit that become birds fleeing & they are good to eat/ & that that falleth in water lived/ & that that falleth on the earth died & they had great marvel of this. In this land & many other about there are trees that bear clowes and nutmegs & canell and many other spices. And there are wines that bear so great grapes that a strong man shall have enough to do to bear a cluster of the grapes. In that same land are the hills of Caspye that men call Vber/ and among those hills are the jews of the ten kinds enclosed within that men call Gog and Magog and they may not come out on no side. There was enclosed xxij kings with their folk that dwelled between the hills of Sych● and king Alexander chased them thither among those hills/ for he trusted for to have enclosed them there thorough working of m●n but he might not/ & when he saw that he might not he prayed to god that he would fulfil that he had begun/ & god heard his prayer & enclosed the hills together so that the jews dwell there as they weet locked in/ & there is hills all about them but at the one side/ & there is the see of Caspye. And some men might ask/ there is a see on one side why go they not out there/ for there to answer I that all if it be called a see it is no sea/ but a strange standing among hills/ and it is the greatest strange of all the world/ and if they went over the see they wot not where for too arrive/ for they can no speech but their own. And ye shall understand that the jews have no law of their own law in all the world/ but they that dwell in those hills/ and yet they pay tribute for their land to the queen of Armony. And sometime it is so that some of the jews go over the hills/ but many men may not pass there too guider for the hills are so great & high. Nevertheless men say in that country there by that in the time of antichrist they shall do moche harm to christian men & therefore all the jews that dwell in diverse parties of the world learn for too speak Hebrew/ for they hope that the jews that dwell among the hills aforesaid shall come out of the hills & they speak all Hebrew & not ell●…/ and than shall these jews speak Hebrew to them & lead them in to christendom for to destroy christian men. For these jews say they wot by their prophecies that those jews that are among those hills of Caspy shall come out & christian men shall be in their subjection as they be under christian men. And if ye will weet how they shall find the passage out as I have understand I shall tell you. In time of antichrist a fox shall make his den in the same place where king Alexander died make the gates & he shall dig in the earth so long till he pierce it thorough unto that he come among the jews. And when they see this fox they shall have great marvel of him/ for they saw never such be'st/ for other beasts have they among them many/ and they shall chase this fox & pursue him unto that he be fled again in to his hole that he came fro. And than shall they dig after as he went unto they come to the gates that Alexander died make of great stones well dight with syment/ & they shall break these gates & so shall they find the issue.   

¶ Of the land of Bactry and of many griffons and other beasts. ca lxxxv.  
FRom this land men shall go unto the land of Bactry where are many wicked men and fell. In that land are trees that bear wool as it were sheep of which they make cloth. In this land are many Ypotaynes that dwell sometime on land/ sometime on water & are half man and half horse/ & they eat not but men when they may get them. In this land are many griffons more than in other places/ & some say they have the body before as an agle & behind as a lion/ and they say sooth for they are made so/ but the griffon hath a body greater than eight lions and greater & stall worthier than an hundred eagles. For certainly he will bear to his nest fleeing an horse and a man upon his back or two oxen yocked samen as they go at plough/ for he hath long nails on his feet and great as it were horns of oxen/ and of those they make cups there to drink of/ and of his rib they make bows to shoot.   

¶ Of the way for to go to prester Johan's land which is Emperor of Ynde. ca lxxxvi.  
From this land of Bactry men go many a days journey to the land of prester john that is a great Emperor of Ynde/ and men call his land the isle of Pantoxore. This Emperor prester johan holdeth great land & many good cities & good towns in his kingdom/ many great isles & large. For this land of Ynde is all departed in isles by cause of great floods that come out of Paradyse/ & also in the see are many great isles The best city that is in the isle of Pantoxore is called Nyse/ for that is a noble city and rich. Prester johan hath under him many kings & many diverse people/ and his land is good and rich but not so rich as the land of the great Chane/ for merchants come not so much thither as they do in to the land of the great Chane for it is to long a way. And also they find in the isle of Cathay all that they have need of/ as spycery clothes of gold and other richesse. And all if they might have better cheap in the land of prester johan than in the land of Cathay and more finer/ nevertheless they would let it for the long way & great pevyls in the see/ for there are many places in the see where are great Roches of a stone that is called adamande/ the which of his own kind draweth to him iron/ and for as much that there should pass no ship that had nails of iron for it should draw it to him/ therefore they dare not wend in to that country with ships for dread of adamandes. I went once in that see and saw as long as it had been a great isle of trees and stocks and branches growing/ and the shipman said to me that those was of great ships that were dwelling there thorough the virtue of the adamandes and of things that were in the ships were those trees sprungen and waxed/ and such Roches are there many in diverse places of that see and therefore dare no shipman pass that way. And an other also that they dread the long way/ and therefore they go most all to Cathay and that is nearer unto them. And yet is it not so near but them behoveth fro venice or fro Geene be in see toward Cathay xi or twelve months. The land of prester john is long & merchants pass thither thorough the land of Persy and come unto a city that men call Hermes/ for a philosopher that men called hermes founded it/ & they pass an arm of the see & come to an other city that men call Saboth & there find they all merchandises & popinjays as great plenty as larks in our country. In this country is little wheat or barley and therefore they eat rise and milk & cheese and other fruits. This Emperor prester johan weddeth commonly the daughter of the great Chane and the great Chane his daughter. In the land of prester john is many diverse things & many precious stones so great & so large that they make of them vessels platters & cups and many other things of which it were to long to tell/ but somewhat of his law & of his faith shall I tell you.   

¶ Of the faith & believe of prester johan/ but he hath not all the full believe as we have. ca lxxxvij.  
THis Emperor prester johan is christian & a great part of his land also/ but they have not all the articles of our faith/ but they believe well in the father & the son and the holy ghost and they are full devout & true one to an other/ & they make no force of cattles/ and he hath under him lxxij provinces & countries and in eachone is a king/ & those kings have other kings under them. And in this land are many marvels/ for in that land is the gravelly see that is of sand & of gravel & no drop of water/ and it ebbeth and floweth with right great waves as an other see doth and it is never still ne never in rest & no man may pass that land beyond it. And all if it so be that there is no water in that see/ yet men may find there in right good fish & of other fashion and shape than is in any other sees/ and also they are of full good savour & sweet and good to eat. And at three journeys fro that see are great hills through which runneth a great flood that cometh fro Paradyse and it is full of precious stones and no drop of water/ & it runneth with great waves in to the gravelly see. And this flood runneth three days in the week so fast & steereth great stones of the roches with him that make moche noise/ & as soon as they come in to the gravelly see they are no more seen/ & in those three days when it runneth thus no man dare come in it/ but the other days men may go therein where they will. And also beyond the flood toward the wilderness is a great plain also sondy & gravelly among hills/ and in the plain grow trees that at the rising of the son each day begin to grow/ & so grew they to midday & bear fruits but no man dare eat of that fruit/ for it is a manner of iron/ and after midday it turned again in to the earth/ so that when the son gooth down it is no thing seen/ & so doth it every day And there is in that wilderness many wild men with horns on their heeds & right hideous/ and they speak not but grunt as swine. And in that country are many popinjays that they call in their language pystak & they speak through their own kind as apertly as a man/ & those that speak well have long tongues & large & on every foot five toes. there are some that have but three toes and though same speak nought or very little.   

¶ How the Emperor prester johan when he gooth to battle hath three crosses borne before him of fine gold. ca lxxxviij.  
THis Emperor prester johan when he gooth to battle he hath no banner borne before him/ but he hath born before him three crosses of fine gold & those are great and large and well dight with precious stones/ & for to keep each cross is ordained a thousand men of arms & more than an hundred thousand on foot in manner as men keep a standard in battle in other places & he hath men without number when he goth to any battle against any other lord. And when he hath no battle but rideth with privy company than doth he bear before him but a cross of tree not painted & without gold & precious stones & all plain in token that our lord Ihu christ suffered death on a cross of tree. And also he hath born before him a plate of gold full of earth in token that his lordship & nobleye shall torn to nought & his flesh shall torn to earth. And also he hath borne before him an other vessel full of jewels & gold and precious stones in token of his nobleye & his might.   

¶ Of the most dwelling place of prester johan in a city called Suse. ca lxxxix.  
ANd he dwelleth commonly at the city of Suse & there is his principal palace that is so rich that marvel is to tell/ & above the principal tour of the palace are two pommels of gold all round/ & each one of those hath two carbuncles great & large that shine right clear on the night And the principal gates of this palace are of precious stones that men call Sardyn/ & the borders of the bars are of ivory/ & the windows of the half & chambers are of crystal. And tables that they eat of some are of Emeralds some are of mastic/ some of gold & precious stones/ and the pillars that bear the tables are of such stones also & the greces on which the Emperor gooth to his see where he sitteth at meet one is of mastic an other of crystal an other of japhy green an other of dyasper an other of sardyn an other of cormlyn another of sempton/ and that he setteth his foot upon is of crysolytes & all these greces are bordered with fine gold and well dight with great pearls & other precious stones/ and the sides of his siege are Emeralds bordered with gold & with precious stones/ the pillars in his chamber are of fine gold with many carbuncles & other such stones that give great light on the night/ and all if the carbuncles give great light nevertheless there brenneth each night twelve great vessels of crystal full of bame to give good smell and to drive away wicked air. The form of his bed is all of sapphire well bound with gold to make him to sleep well & for to destroy lechery/ for he will not lie by his wives but thrice in the year after the sesons and all only for getting of children. And he hath also a fair palace at the city of Nyse where he dwelleth when he will but the air there is not so well tempered as it is at the city of Suse. And he hath every day in his court more that xxx thousand men without comers & goers/ but xxx thousand there & in the country of the great Chane spend not so much as twelve thousand in our country/ he hath evermore vij kings in his court to serve him/ & eachone of them serveth a month and with these kings serve alway lxxij dukes & CCC. Earls/ and every day eat in his court twelve archbishops and twenty bishops. The patriarch of saint Thomas is as he were a pope/ & archbishops & bishops & abbots all are kings in that country/ & some of the lords is master of the hall some of the chamber/ some misericord/ some marshal & some other officers & therefore he is full richly served & his land lasteth in breed four months journey/ and it is of length without measure.   

¶ Of a rich man in prester john's land named Catolonabes & of his garden. ca lxxxx.  
IN an isle of prester Johan's land that men call Myscorach & therein is great plenty of goods & moche riches and many precious stones In that land was a rich man not long agone that men called there Catolonabes/ he was full rich & he had a fair castle on an hill & strong/ and he had made a wall all about the hill right strong & fair within that he had a fair garden wherein were many trees bearing all mane● of fruits that he might find/ & he died plant therein all manner of herbs of good smell & that bare flowers/ & there was many fair wells and by them was made many fair halls & chambers well dight with gold & azure/ and he had made there diverse stories & beasts and birds that song & turned by engine and orbage as they had be all quick/ & he had in his garden that he might find to make a man solace & comfort/ and he had also there in that garden maidens within the age of xu year the fairest that he might find & men children of the same age/ & they were clad with clothes of gold & he said that the same were angels/ & he had do make three hills fair and good all enclosed about with precious stones of jaspye and crystal & well bound with gold and pearls & other manner of stones/ and he had made a conduit under the earth so that when he would the walls ran sometime with milk sometime with wine sometime with honey/ & this place is called Paradyse. And when any young bachelor of that country knight or squire cometh to him for solace & disport/ he leadeth him in to his Paradyse & showeth unto him all these diverse things/ & diverse songs of birds and also of his damosels and his wells/ and he died strike diverse Instruments of music in an high tour that might be seen & said those were angels of god/ and that place was Paradyse that god hath granted to those that believed when he said. Dabo vobis terram fluentem lac et mel. That is to say. I shall give you land flowing milk & honey. And than this rich man died these men drink a manner of drink of which they were drunken & he said to them if they would die for his sake that when they were deed they should come in to his Paradyse/ and they should be of the age of those maidens & should dwell alway with them/ and he should put them in a fair Paradyse where they should see god in his joy & in his majesty/ and than they granted to do what he would/ and he had them go & slay such a lord or a man of the country that he was wroth with/ & that they should have no dread of no man/ and if they were slain themself for his sake he should put them in his Paradyse when they were deed. And so went those bachelors to slay great lords of the country/ and were slain themself in hope to have that Paradyse/ & thus he was avenged of his enemies thorough his desert. And when rich men of the country perceived this malice and cautel & the will of this Catolonabes they gathered them together & assailed the castle and slew him and destroyed all his goods and his fair places & richesse that were in his Paradyse/ the place of the walls is there yet and some other things/ but the richesse is not there and it is not long ago sith he was destroyed.   

¶ Of a marvelous vale that is beside the river of Physon. ca lxxxxi.  
ANd a little fro that place on the lift side beside the river of Physon is a great marvel. There is a vale between two hills & that is four mile long/ and some men call it the valay enchanted/ some the valley of devils/ some the valley perilous/ & in that valley are many tempests and a great noise and hideous every day and night/ and sometime as it were a noise of Taburynes of nakers and of trumpets as it were at a great feast. This valley is all full of devils & hath been alway/ & men say there that it is an entry to hell. In this valley is moche gold and silver/ wherefore many christian men & other go thither for covetise of that gold & silver/ but few of them come out again for they are anon strangled with devils/ & in mids of that vale upon a roche is a visage & the heed of a fiend bodily right hideous & dreadful to see/ & there is no thing seen but the heed to the shoulders/ but there is no christian man in the world ne other so hardy that he ne should have great dread for to behold it/ for he beholdeth each man so sharply & so felly/ & his eyen are so steering & so sprenkeling as fire, and he changeth so often his countenance that no man dare come near for all the world/ and out of his mouth & his nose cometh great plenty of fire of diverse colours/ & sometime is the fire so stinking that no man may suffer it/ but alway a good christian man & that is stable in the faith may go there in without harm if they shrive them well and bliss them with the token of the cross than shall the devils have no power of them. And ye shall understand the when my fellows & I were in that valley we had full great thought if we should put our bodies in adventure to go through it/ & some of my fellows accorded thereto/ & some would not accord thereto/ & there was in our company two freres minors of Lombardy & they said if any of us would go in they would also/ as they had said so upon trust of them we said that we would go and we died sing a mass & we were shriven & houseled and we went in xiiij and when he came out we were but ten and we wist not whether our fellows were lost there or that they turned again but we saw no more of them/ other of our fellows that would not go in with us went about by an other way for to be before us & so they were/ & we went through the valley & saw there many marvelous things/ gold silver & precious stones & jewels great plenty on many sides as us thought/ whether it was as it seemed I wot not for I touched them not/ for the devils are so subtle & quaint that make many times a thing to seem that it is not for to deceive men/ & therefore I would touch no thing for dread of enemies that I saw in many likenesses what of deed bodies that I saw lie in the valley/ but I dare not say that they were not all bodies but they seemed bodies through making of devils/ & we were often casted down to the earth through wind & thunder & tempests/ but god helped as always & so passed we through the valley without peril & harm thanked be god almighty that kept us well.   

¶ Of an island where in dwelled people as great as giants of xxviij or xxx foot of length and other things. ca lxxxxij.  
ANd beyond that valley is a great isle where people are as great as giants of xxviij foot or xxx foot long/ & they have no clothing but beasts skins that hang on them/ & they eat no breed but flesh raw & drink milk/ & they have no houses & they eat gladlier flesh of men than of other/ & men said us that beyond that isle is one isle where are greater giants as of xlv or l foot long/ & some say of l cubits long but I saw not them/ & among those giants are great sheep as it were young oxen and they bear great wool/ these sheep have I seen many times. another isle is there northward where are many yil & fell women & they have precious stones in their eyen/ & they have such kind that if they behold any man with wrath they slay them of the beholding as the baselyske doth. another isle is there of fair folk & good where the custom is such that the first night that they are wedded they take a certain man that is ordained therefore & do him lie by their wives to have their maidenhead & they give him great reward for his travail/ & those men are called Gadlybyryem/ for men of the countr● hold it a great thing to make a woman no maiden/ & if it be so that the husband find her a maiden the next night after/ for peradventure he that lay by her was drunken or for any other cause the husband shall plain of him to the law that he hath not done his devour/ & he shall grievously be punished & chastised/ but after the first night they keep their wives well that they speak not with those men/ & I asked what was the cause why they had that custom/ & they said sometime men lay with their wives first & none other & their wives had serpents in their bodies & stonged their husband on their yard & their bodies & so was many man slain/ & therefore had they that custom to let other men have their maidenhead for dread of the death & thus they suffer them to assay the passage or they put them unto adventure.   

¶ Of women which make great sorrow as their children are borne and great joy when they are deed. ca lxxxxiii.  
ANd other isle there is where women make great sorrow when their children are born & when they are deed they make great joy & cast them in a great fire & bren them/ & they that love well their husbands when they are deed they cast them in a fire to burn also/ for they say that fire shall make them clean of all filth & vices & they shall be clean in an other wo●lde/ & the cause why they weep when their children are born & that they make joy at their death/ they say a child when he is borne cometh in to this world to have travail & sorrow & heaviness & when they are deed they go to paradise where rivers are of milk & honey and there is life & joy & plenty of goods without travail and sorrow. In this isle they make their kings by choosing/ and they cheese him not for his richesse ne his nobleye but him that is of good conditions & most rightwise & true that judged every man truly little & moche after their trespass/ & the king may judge no man to death without counsel of his barons & that all they assent. And if so b● that the king do a great trespass as slay a man o● such other he shall die also/ but he shall not be slain/ but they shall defend & forbid that no man be so hardy to make him company ne to speak with him ne give him meet ne drink & thus he shall die/ they spare no man that hath done trespass for love ne for lordship ne richesse nor nobleye but they do him right after that he hath deserved.   

¶ Of an island where a men wed their own● daughters & kynneswomen. ca lxxxxiiij.  
THere is an other isle where is great plenty of people/ & they eat never flesh of hares ne of hens ne of goose yet is there many of them but they eat gladly flesh of all other beasts & they drink milk. In this country they wed their own daughters & other of their kin as them liketh/ & if there be ten or twelve men in one house echo ne of their wives shall be comen to other/ and at night shall one have one of the wives & an other night an other/ & if she have any child she may give to which of them she will so that noman wot if it be his or not. In this land & many other places of Ynde are many cocodrylles that is a manner of a long serpent & on nights they dwell on water & on days they dwell on land and roches & they eat not in winter. these serpents slay men & eat them wypende & they have no tongue. In this country & many other men cast seed of cotton & sow it each year & it groweth as it were small trees and they berecotton. In Araby is many birds/ that some men call Gyrsantes that is a full fair be'st and is higher than a great courser or a stead but his neck is near .xx cubits long/ & his croupe and his tail is like an heart/ and he may look over an high house/ & there is many camylyons that is a little be'st & he eateth ne drinketh never/ and he changeth often his colour/ for sometime he is of one colour & sometime of an other/ & he may change him in to all colours that he will save black & reed. There are many wild swine of many colours and as great as oxen/ and they are spotted as it were small fawns/ & there are lions all white/ & there be other beasts as great as great steeds that men call Lonhorans & some men call them Tontes & their heed is black/ & three long horns in his front as cutting as sharp swords/ and he chaseth & will slay the olyfauntes. And there is many other manner of beasts of whom it were to long for too write all.   

¶ Of an other island where in dwelleth full good people and true. ca lxxxxv.  
THere is an other island good and great and plenteous where are good men and true & of goodly life after their faith/ and all if they be not christian. Nevertheless of kind they are full of good virtues & they i'll all vices and all sin and malice/ for they are not envious ne proud ne covetous ne lecherous ne gluttonous/ and they do not unto an other man but that they would he died too them/ & they fulfil the ten commandments/ and they make no force of richesse ne of having/ and they swear not but say ye & nay/ for they say he that sweareth he will deceive his neighbour/ and some men call this the isle of Bragamen/ & some call it the land of faith/ & thorough it runneth a great river that men call Thebes/ and generally all men in those isles & other thereby are truer and rightwiser than are in other countries. In this isle are no thieves ne murderers ne common woman ne beggars/ and for as much they are so true and so good that there is no tempest ne thunder ne war ne hunger ne other tribulations/ & thus it seemeth well that god loved them well & is well paid of their troth & their deeds/ and they believe in god that made all thing & him they worship & they live so ordinately in meet & drink that they live right long/ & many of them die without sickness that kind faileth them for age.   

¶ How king Alexander sent his men thither for to win that land. ca lxxxxvi  
ANd king Alexander sometime sent his men to win that land. And they sent him letters that said thus. What behoveth a man to have all the world that is not content there with/ thou shalt find not thing in us why thou shouldest make war upon us/ for we have no richesse ne treasure/ and all the goods & cattles of our country are commune/ our meats that we eat are our richesse. And in stead of treasure of gold & silver we make our treasure peace & accord of love/ and we have nought but a cloth upon our bodies/ our wives are not arrayed richly too pleasing/ for we hold it a great fooly a man to dig he his body to make it to seem fairer than god made it. We have been evermore in peace till now that thou wilt dysheryte us. We have a king among us not for need of the law ne to dame no man/ for there are no trespassers among us but all only/ 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 us to be obedient to him/ and so mayst thou not take from us but our good peace. And when king Alexander saw this letter/ him thought all thus that he should do to much harm if he troubled them & sent to them that they should keep well their good manners & have no dread of him.   

¶ Of an other island where also dwelleth good people in & is called Synople. ca lxxxxvij.  
THan is there an other island that is called Synople where in also are good people & true and full of good faith/ and they are moche like in their living to the men before said/ and they go all naked. And in to that island came king Alexander. And when that he saw their good faith and truth and their good believe/ he said that he should do to them no harm/ and bad them ask of him richesse and nought else and they should have it. And they answered that they had riches enough when they had meet and drink to sustain their bodies/ and they said also that richesse of this world is nought worth but if it were so that he might grant them that they should never die that would they pray him. And Alexander said that might he not do for he was deadly and should they as they should. Than said they why art thou so proud & would win all the world & have in thy subjection as it were a god & thou hast no term of thy life/ and thou wilt have all richesse of the world the which shall forsake the or thou forsake it/ & thou shalt bear no thing with thee/ but it shall dwell to other/ but as thou was borne naked so shalt thou be done in earth. And Alexander was greatly astonied of this answer/ & if it be so that they have not the articles of our faith/ nevertheless I believe that god loveth them well & their good intention & that he taketh their service to 'gree as he died of job that was a paynim the which he held for his true servant & many other. I believe well that god loveth all those that love him & serve him meekly & truly & that despise the vain glory of the world as these men do & as job died/ and therefore said our lord thorough the mouth of isaiah the prophet thus. Ponan cis multiplices leges meas. That is to say I shall put to them my laws in many manners/ & the gospel saith thus. Alias oves habeo que non sunt ex hoc ovili. That is to say. I have other sheep that are not of this fold/ and there to accordeth the vision that Saint Peter saw at Jaffa how the angel came fro heaven & brought with him of all manner of beasts as serpents & fowls in all manner and said to saint Peter. Take & eat. And saint Peter answered. I eat never of unclean best. And the angel said to him. Non ditas in. unda q deus mum davit. That is to say. call thou not those things unclean that god hath cleansed. This was done in token that men should not have many men in despite for their diverse laws/ for we wot never whom god loveth and whom god hateth.   

¶ Of other two isles that one is called Pytan wherein be little men that eat no meet/ and in that other isle are the men all rough of feathers. ca lxxxxviii.  
THere is an other isle that men callle Pytan men of this land till no land for they eat nought/ & they are small men but not so small as Pygmeens. these men live with smell of wild apples/ & when they go far out of the country they bear apples with them/ for anon as they lose the savour of apples they die/ they are not reasonable but as it were beasts. And there is an other isle where the people are all feathers but the face & the palms of their hands. these men go as well above these as on the land & they eat flesh & fish all raw. In this isle is a great river that is two mile broad & an half that men call Renemar.   

¶ Of the wilderness wherein that grow the trees of the son & of the moan. ca lxxxxix.  
ANd beyond that river is a great wilderness as men that have been there say. In this wilderness as men say are the trees of the son & of the moan that spoke to king Alexander & told him of his death/ & men say that folk that keep these trees & eat of the fruits of them they live four or five hundred year through virtue of the fruit/ & we would gladly have gone thither/ but I believe that an hundred thousand men of arms should not pass the wilderness for prete plenty of wild beasts as dragons & serpents that slay men when they have any. In this land is many olyfauntes all white & blue without number/ and unycornes and lions of many manners. Many other isles are in the land of priests johan that were to long to tell & much richesse and nobleye of precious stones in great plenty. I believe that we have herd say why this Emperors is called prester johan/ but for those that wot it not I shall say There was sometime an Emperor that was a noble prince & doughty/ and he had many christian knights with him/ and the Emperor thought he would see the manner of service in christian churches & than was churches of christendom in Turkey Surry & Tartary jerusalem Palestyn Araby & Alapy & all the lands of Egypt. And this Emperor came with a christian knight in to a church of Egypt & it was on a saturday after Wytsondaye when the bishop made ordres/ and he beheld the service & he asked of the knight what folk those should be that stood before the bishop/ & the knight said they should be priests/ & he said he would no more be called king ne Emperor but priest & he would have the name of him that came first out of the priests/ & he was called johan & so have all the emperors sithen be called prester johan. In that land are many christian men of good faith & good law/ and they have priests to sing mass and they make the sacrament as men of Grece do but they say not so many things as our priests do for they say not but that the apostles said as saint Peter & saint Thomas and other apostles when they sang mass & said Pater nr̄. And the words with the which gods body is sacred/ we have many additions of pope's that have been ordained of which men of those countries know not.   

¶ Of a great island and kingdom called Taprobane. ca C.  
Toward the east side of prester Johan's land is an isle that men call Taprobane/ & is right good & fructuous/ & there is a great king & a rich and he is obedient unto prester johan and the king is alway made by election. In this isle are two winters & two summer's/ and they shear corn twice in the year/ & all times in the year are gardens flourished. There dwelleth good people