THE Voyages and Travails of Sir John mandevile KNIGHT. Wherein is treated of the way towards Jerusalem, and of the marvels of Ind, with other Lands and Countries.   depiction of two ships or galleons in port 
LONDON: Printed by Thomas Este.   

The Preface. Hear beginneth a little treatise or book named john mandevile Knight, borne in England in the Town of S. Albone, and speaketh of the ways to Jerusalem, to Ind, and to the great khan, and also to Prestor john's land, and to many other countries, and also of many marvels that are in the holy land.  
FOrasmuch as the land over the Sea, that is to say, the holy land, that some call the land of Bihest, among all other lands is most worthy and sovereign, for it is blessed, hallowed and sacred of the precious blood of our Lord jesus Christ, in the which land it liked him to take flesh and blood of the Virgin Marie, and to environ that land with his own feet, and there he would do many miracles, preach and teach the faith and the law of christian men, as unto his children, and there he would suffer many reproves and scorns for us, and he that was king of heaven and hell, of earth, of air, of sea, and land, and of all things that are contained in them, would alonely be called king of that land, when he said, Rex sum judaeorum, I am King of the jews: For at that time it was the land of jews, and that land he chose before all other lands, as the best and most worthy of virtues of all the world. And as the Philosopher saith: Virtus rerum in medio consistit, that is to say, the virtue of things is in the midst: and in that land he would lead his life, and suffer passion and death of the jews for us, to save and deliver us from the pains of hell, and from death without end, the which was ordained to us for the sin of our father Adam, and our own sins also: for as for himself he had none evil done nor deserved, for he never thought ne did any evil, for he that was king of glory and of joy might best in that place suffer death. For he that will do any thing that he will have known openly, he will proclaim it openly, in the middle place of a town or of a City, so that it may be known to all parties of the city. So he that was king of glory and of all the world would suffer death for us at Jerusalem, which is the midst of the world, so that it might be known to all nations of the world, how dear he bought man, that he made him with his hands to his own likeness, for the great love that he had to us: Ah dear God, what love he had to his subjects, when he that had done no trespass would for his trespassers suffer death: for a more worthy cattle he might not have set for us, than his own blessed body, and his own precious blood the which he suffered for us, right well ought men to love, worship, dread and serve such a Lord, & praise such an holy land that brought forth a Lord of such fruit, through the which each man is saved, but if it be his own default. This is that land prepared for an heritage to us, and in that land would he die as seized, to leave it to his children. For the which each good christian man that may and hath wherewith, should strength him for to conquer our right heritage & purchase, out of the evil people's hands, for we are cleped christian men of Christ our father, and if we be the right children of Christ we ought to challenge the heritage that our father left us, & take it out of strange men's hands. But now Pride, Covetise, and Envy, hath so inflamed the hearts of the Lords of the world, that they are more busy to disherit their neighbours, then to challenge or conquer their right heritage aforesaid. And the common people that would put their bodies and their cattle for to conquer our heritage, they may not do it without lords: for assembling of the people without a chief Lord, is as a flock of sheep without a shepherd, the which depart asunder, and wots not whither they shall go. But would God the worldly Lords were at a good accord, & with other of their common people, would take this holy voyage over the sea, I trust well that within a little time our right heritage before said, should be reconciled and put into the hands of the right heirs of jesus Christ.  
And forasmuch as it is long time that there was any general passage over the sea, & that many men desire to hear speaking of the holy land, and have thereof great solace and comfort.  
Wherefore ye shall hear by me john mandevile Knight, which was borne in England, in the town of Saint Alban's, and passed the sea in the year of our Lord jesus Christ, a thousand iii. C. on the day of Saint Michael, and there remained long time, and went through many lands, & many provinces, kingdoms & Isles, and have passed through Turkey, and through Armony, the little & the great, through Tartary, Persia, Surry, Araby, Egypt the high and the low, through Libya, Chalde, and a great part of Ethiope, through Amazony, through Ind the less & the more, a great part, and through many other Isles which are about Ind, where many people dwelleth of divers laws and shapes. Of the men of which lands & Isles I shall speak more plainly: and I shall declare part of the things what they are when time shall be, after it may best come to my mind, and specially for them that will and are in purpose for to visit the holy city of Jerusalem, and the holy places that are thereabout, and I shall tell the way that they shall hold thither; for I have many times passed and ridden it with good company, and with many Lords.   

The Voyages and Travails of Sir john mandevile Knight.  

He that will go toward Jerusalem on horse, on foot, or by sea. Chap. j  
IN the name of God Almighty He that will travail to Jerusalem may go many ways, both by sea and by land, after the country that he cometh from: but think not I will tell all the Towns, Cities and castles that men shall go by, for than should I make too long a tale, but only the most principal countries, cities and towns that men shall go by and through, to go the right way.  
First, if a man come from the West side of the world, as England, Ireland, Wales, Scotland, and Norway, he may if he will go through Almain and throughout the kingdom of Hungary, which King is a great lord and a mighty, and holdeth many lands and great, for he holdeth the land of Hungary, Savoy, Camony, a great part of Bulgary, that men call the land of Bugres, and a great part of the kingdom of Russie, and that lasteth to the land of Milland, and marcheth on Cyprus, and men pass thus through the land of Hungary, and through the City that men call Cipanum, and through the castle of Nurburgh, & by the isle Torn, toward the end of Hungary, and so by the river of Danubie, that is a full great river and goeth into Almain, under the hills of Lombary, & it taketh into it forty other rivers, and it runneth throughout Hungary, and through Cresses and Crochie, and goeth into the sea, so strongly and with so great might that the water is fresh thirty miles within the sea, & afterward men go to Belgrave and entereth into the land of Bugres, and there men pass a bridge of stone that is over the river of Morack, & so men pass through the land of Pinseras and come to Gréece to the city of Stermisse, and to the city of Affinpane, that was sometime called Bradre the noble, and so the city of Constantinople that was sometime called Bessalneron, and there dwelled commonly the Emperor of Gréece.   depiction of a naked male figure wearing a crown, or the emperor Justinian, seated on a horse pointing at the sun 
At Constantinople is the best and the fairest Church of the world, and it is of Saint Steven. And before this Church is a guilt Image of justinian the Emperor and it is sitting upon a horse and crowned, and it was wont to hold a round apple in his hand, and men say there, that it is a token that the Emperor hath lost a part of his lands, for the apple is fallen out of the Images hand: and also he hath lost a great part of his Lordship For he was wont to be Emperor of Room, of Gréece, and of all Asia the less, of Surry, and of the land of judea, in the which is Jerusalem, and of the land of Egypt, of Percia and Arabia, but he hath lost all but Gréece, and that land he holdeth only, men would put the apple in the Images hand, but it will not hold it. This apple betokeneth the Lordship that he had over all the world, and the other hand he lifteth up against the East, in token to menasse misdoers. This Image standeth upon a pillar of marble.   depiction of four Passion relics of Jesus Christ: the rod and sponge of vinegar; the seamless garment; a nail; and the crown of thorns 
In Cruse sit Palma, Cedrus, & Cypressus, Oliua.   depiction of the cross of Jesus Christ 
For the piece that went right up from the earth unto the head was of Cyprus, and the piece that went overthwart to the which his hands were nailed, was of Palm, & the stock that stood within the earth in the which they had made a morteys, was of Cedar, and the table above his head was a foot and a half long, on which the title was written, that was of Olive, the jews made this cross of these four manner of trees, for they thought that our Lord should have hanged as long as the cross might last, therefore made they the foot of Cedar, for Cedar may not in the earth ne in water rot, they thought that the body of Christ should have stoncken, they made the piece that went from the earth upward of Cypress, so that the smell of his body should grieve no man that came by, and that overthwart was made of Palm, in signification of victory. And the table of the title was made of Olive, for it betokeneth peace, as the story of Noah witnesseth, when the Dove brought the branch of Olive, that betokened peace made between God and man.  
And also you shall understand that the Christian men that dwell over the Sea, say that the piece of the cross that we call Cipres, was of the tree that Adam eat the apple off, and so they find written, and they say also that their Scripture saith, that when Adam was sick he said to his son Seth, that he should go to Paradise, and pray the Angel that keepeth Paradise that he would send him oil of the tree of mercy, for to anoint him that he might have health, & Seth went, but the Angel would not let him come in at the gate, but said unto him, that he might not have of the oil of mercy, but he took him three carnels of the same tree that his father eat the apple off, and bade him as soon as his father was dead, that he should put these carnels under his tongue & bury him, and he did so, and of these three carnels sprang a tree as the Angel said, and when the tree bare fruit, than should Adam be made whole. And when Seth came again and found his father dead, he did with the carnels as the Angel commanded him, of the which came three trees, whereof a Cross was made that bare good fruit, that is to say, our Saviour jesus Christ, through whom Adam and all that came of him should be saved & delivered from everlasting death, but if it be their own default. This holy cross had the jews hid under the earth in the rock of the mount of calvary, and it lay there two hundred years and more, as they say, unto the time that Saint Elene found it, the which saint Elene, was the daughter of Coel king of England, that then was called Britain, and after married to Constantius, first, Consul, and after Emperor of Rome, who had by her issue Constantine the great, borne in England, and afterward Emperor of Rome, which Constantine turned the name of Bezansium into Constantinople, he réedified that City, & made it the monarcal seat of all Europa, and Asia Minor: also ye shall understand, that the Cross of our Lord was in length viii. cubits and the piece that went overthwart was three cubuites and a half.   depiction of three Passion relics of Jesus Christ: a nail; the spear-head; and part of the crown of thorns 
A part of the crown of our Lord jesus Christ wherewith he was crowned & one of the nails, & the spear head, and many other relics are in France at Paris in the chapel of the kings, and the crown lieth in a vessel of crystal well dight and richly, for the French king bought these relics sometime of the jews, to whom the Emperor had laid them to pledge for a great sum of gold. And although men say that this Crown was of thorns, ye shall understand that it was of joukes of the sea, which be white and pricketh as sharp as thorns, for I have seen and beheld many times that at Paris, and that at Constantinople, for they were both of one, & made of joukes of the Sea. But men have departed it in two parts, of the which one part is at Paris, and the other part at Constantinople, and I have a point thereof that seemeth a white thorn, and that was given me for a great friendship: For there are many of them broken & fallen into the vessel, when they show the crown to great men or Lords that come thither. And ye shall understand that our Lord in that night that he was taken, he was lead into a Garden, and there he was examined sharply, and there the jews crowned him with a Crown of Abbespine branches that grew in the same Garden, and set it on his head so fast, that the blood ran down by many places of his visage, neck and shoulders, and therefore hath the Abbespine many virtues, for he that beareth a branch of it about him, no thunder, nor no manner of tempest may hurt him, nor the house that it is in may no evil ghost come, nor in no place where it is. And in that same garden saint Peter denied our Lord thrice, and afterward was our Lord lead before the Bishop & Ministers of the Law into another garden of Anne, and there he was examined, scourged, and crowned oft with a swée Thorn, that men call Harbareus that grew in the same Garden, and that hath many virtues. And afterward he was lead to a garden of Caiaphas and there he was crowned again with Eglantine, & after that he was lead to a chamber of Pilate and there he was crowned, and the jews set him in a chair, and clad him in a mantel of purple. And then made they a crown of joukes of the sea, and there they kneeled to him & scorned him saying. ave rex judeorum. That is to say, hail king of jews. And of this crown, half is at Paris, and the other half at Constantinople, the which our saviour jesus Christ had on his head, when he was nailed on the cross. And the spears shaft hath the Emperor of Almain, but the head which was put in his side is at Paris, they say, in the holy chapel: and oft times saith the Emperor of Constantinople, that he hath the spears head, & I have seen it, but it is greater than that at Paris. Also at Constantinople lieth saint Anne our lady's mother, whom saint Elene caused to be brought from jerusalem, and there lieth also the body of saint john Chrisostome that was Bishop of Constantinople. There lieth also Saint Luke the Evangelist, for his bones were brought from Bethany where he was buried: and many other reliquys are there, and there is of the vessel of stone, as it were marble, which men call Hidrius, that evermore droppeth water, & filleth himself every year once. And ye shall wit that Constantinople is a fair city and well walled, and it is three cornered, and there is an arm of the sea that men call Hellespon, & some men call it the bunch of Constantinople, and some men call it the brach of saint George: and this water encloseth two parts of the city, & upward to the sea upon that water, was wont to be the great city of Troy in a fair plain, but that city was destroyed by the Greeks.   depiction of a mountain or Mount Athos reaching the clouds  

Of the islands of Greece. Chap. ij.  
ABout Gréece be many Isles that men call Calastre, Calcas, Settico, Thoysoria, Minona, Faxton, Molo, Carpate, and Lempne. And in this isle is mount Athoes that passeth the clouds, and there are divers speeches & many countries that are obedient to the Emperor of Constantinople, that is to say, Turcoply, Pincy, Narde, Comage, and many other, Thracy and Macedon, of which Alexander was King. In this country was Aristotle borne, in a City that men call Strageris, a little from the city of Tragie, and at Strageris is Aristotle buried, and there is an Altar on his tomb, and there make they a great feast every year as he were a Saint, and upon his altar the Lords hold their great counsels & assembles, & they think that through the inspiration of God and him, they should have the better counsel. In this Country are right high hills, there is an hill that men call Olimphus, that parteth Macedon and Thracia, and is as high as the clouds, and the other hill that men call Athoes is so high, that the shadow of him stretcheth unto Olimphus, and it is near lxxvij. mile between, and above that hill is the air so clear that men may feel no wind there, and therefore may no beast live there the air is so dry, and men say in the country that Philosophers sometime went up to these same hills and held to their noses a spounge wet with water for to have air, for the air was so dry there, and above in the powder of the hill they wrote letters with their fingers, and at the years end they came again and found those letters which they had written the year before without any default, & therefore it seemeth well that these hills pass the clouds to the pure air. At Constantinople is the emperors Palace which is fair and well dight, and therein is a place for justing, and it is made about with stages that each man may well see & none grieve other, and under these stages are stables vaunted for the emperors horses, & all the pillars of these stables are of marble. And within the Church of saint sophy, an Emperor would have laid the body of his Father when he was dead, and as they made the grave they found a body in the earth, and upon the body lay a great plate of fine gold, and thereupon was written in Hebrew, Greek and Latin letters, that said thus. jesus Christus nascetur de virgine Maria, & ego credo in eum: That is to say, jesus Christ shall be borne of the virgin Marie and I believe in him. And the date was that it lay in the earth two hundredth year before our Lord jesus Christ was borne, and yet is that plate in the treasury of the Church, & men say that it was Hermogenes the wise man And nevertheless, if it be so men of that Gréece be Christians, yet they vary from our faith, for they say that the holy Ghost cometh not out of the son, but all only of the father, and they are not obedient to the Church of Room, nor to the Pope, & they say, that their patriarchs have as much power over the sea, as the Pope hath on this side the sea. And therefore Pope john the xxij. sent letters to them, how Christian men should be all one, and that they should be obedient to a Pope that is Christ's Vicar on earth, to whom God gave plain power to bind and to assoil, and therefore they should be obedient to him. And they sent him divers answers, and among other they said thus. Potentiam tuam summam circa subiectos tuos firmiter credimus. Superbiam tuam summam tollerare non possimus. avaritiam tuam summam satiare non intendimus. Dominus tecum sit, Quia Dominus nobiscum est, Vale. That is to say. We believe well that thy power is great upon thy subjects. We may not suffer thy pride. We are not in purpose to fulfil thy covetise, our Lord be with thee, for our Lord is with us, Farewell. And other answer might be not have of them. And also they make their sacrament of the Altar of therf bread, for our Lord made it of therf bread, when he made his maund, & on sherthurs' day make they their bread in tokening of the maund, and they dry it at the Sun & keep it all the year, and give it to sick men in stead of God's body. And they make but one unction when they christian children, and they anoint no sick men, and they say there is no purgatory, and souls shall have neither joy nor pain until the day of doom.  
And they say that fornication is no deadly sin, but a kindly thing, and that men and women should wed but once, and who so weddeth more than once, their children are bastards & gotten in sin, and their priests also are wedded, and they say that usury or simony is no deadly sin, and they sell benefices of holy Church, and so did men of other places, & it is great slaughter, for now is simony king crowned in holy Church, God amend it when his will is. And they say that in lent men should not sing Mass but on the Saturday & on the Sunday, and they fast not the Saturday no time in the year, but if it be Christmas or Easter even. And they suffer no man that is on this side the Greek sea to sing at their Altars, and if it fall that they do through any hap, they wash their Altars as soon without tarrying with holy water, and they say that there should be but one mass said at one Altar in a day. And they say that our Lord did never eat meat, but he made a token of eating. And also they say that we sin deadly in shaving of our beards, for the beard is a token of a man, and a gift of our Lord, and they say that we sin in eating of beasts that were forbidden in the old Law, as Swine, Hares and other Beasts.  
And this they say, that we sin in eating of flesh on the days before Ash-wednesday, and in eating of flesh on the Wednesday, and when we eat cheese or eggs on the friday, and they curse all those that eat no flesh on the Saturday.  
Also the Emperor of Constantinople maketh the patriarchs, Archbishops and Bishops, and he giveth all the dignities of Churches, and depriveth them that are unworthy. Although it be so that these touch not each way, nevertheless they touch not that which I have behight to show a part of the custom, manners, and diversity of countries, and for this is the first country discordant from the faith, and letteth our faith on this side the sea, therefore have I set it here that ye may see the diversity between our faith and theirs, for many men have great liking to hear speak of strange things.   

¶ To come again to Constantinople for to go towards the holy land. Chap. iij.  
NOW come we again for to know the way from Constantinople. He that will go through Turkey, he goeth through the city of Nike, & passeth through the gate of Chivitot that is right high, and it is a mile and a half from Nyke, and who so will go by the brach of Saint George, and by the Greek sea there as Saint Nicholas lieth, and other places.   depiction of a tomb 
First men come to the isle of Silo, and in that I'll groweth mastic upon small trees, as Plumtrées, or Cheritrées. And then after men go through the isle of Pathmos, where Saint john the Evangelist wrote the apocalypse, and you shall understand that when our Lord jesus Christ died, Saint john the Evangelist was of the age of xxxij. years, and he lived after the passion of Christ lxiii. years, and then died. From Pathmos men go to Ephesim which is a fair City and near to the sea, and there died saint john, and he was buried behind the high Altar in a tomb, and there is a fair Church, for christian men were wont to hold that place, but in the tomb of Saint john is nothing but Manna, for his body was translated into paradise and the Turks hold now that city, and the Church, and all Asia the less, and therefore is Asia the less called Turkey, and ye shall understand that S. john did make his grave there in his life, and laid himself there all quick, and therefore some say he died not, but that he resteth there until the day of judgement, & therefore, truly there is a great marvel, for men may see there apertly the earth of the tomb many times stir and move as there were a quick thing under. And from Ephesim men go through many Isles in the sea, unto the city of Pateran where saint Nicholas was borne, and so to Marca where he by the grace of God was chosen Bishop, and there groweth right good wine and strong, that men call wine of Marca. From thence men go to the isle of crete, which the Emperor gave sometime to jonais. And then men pass through the Isles of Cophos and Lango, of the which Isles hippocras was Lord, and some say that in the isle of Lango is hippocras his Daughter in manner of a Dragon, which is an hundred foot long as men say, for I have not seen it, and they of the Isles call her the lady of the country, and she lieth in an old castle, and showeth herself thrice in the year, and she doth no man harm, and she is thus changed from a damsel to a Dragon through a Goddess that men call Diana, and men say that she shall dwell so unto the time that a knight come that is so hardy as to go to her and kiss her mouth, and then shall she turn again to her own kind and be a woman, and after that she shall not live long. And it is not long since a knight of the Rhodes that was hardy & valiant, said that he would kiss her, & when the dragon began to lift up her head against him, & he saw she was so hedious, he fled away, and the Dragon in her anger bore the knight to a rock and from that cast him into the sea, and so he was lost.   

Yet of the Dragon. Chap. iiij.  
 depiction of a mythical creature, a dragon with feminine facial features emerging from a doorway behind a knight in armour  
ALso a young man that witted not of the Dragon, went out of a ship & passed through the isle, till he came to the castle, & entered into a cave and went so long till he found a chamber, and then he saw a Damsel that combed her head, and looked in a Mirror, and she had much treasure about her, and he thought her to be a common woman that dwelled there, to keep men; and he abode the Damsel, and the damsel saw the shadow of him in the mirror, and she turned toward him and asked him what he would, and he said he would be her paramour or leman, and she asked him if he were a knight, & he said nay, & she said then might he not be her leman, but she had him go again to his fellows and make him knight and come again on the morrow and she would come out of the cave, & then he should kiss her on the mouth, and she bade him have no dread, for she would do him no harm, although she seemed hideous to him, she said it was done by enchantment, for she said she was such as he saw her then, and she said, that if he kissed her, he should have all the treasure, and be her Lord, and Lord of all those Iles. Then he departed from her and went to his fellows to the ship, and made him Knight, and came again on the morrow to kiss the Damsel, and when he saw her come out of the cave in form of a Dragon, he had so great dread that he fled to the ship, and she followed him, & when she saw that he turned not again, she began to cry as a thing that had much sorrow, and turned again, & soon after the knight died, and sithen hitherto might no knight see her but he died anon. But when a knight cometh that is so hardy to kiss her, he shall not die but shall turn that Damsel into her right shape, and shall be Lord of the country aforesaid. And from thence men go to the isle of Rhodes, the which the hospitalers held and governed, and that they took sometime from the Emperor, and it was wont to be called coles, and so yet the Turks call it coles: and Saint Paul in his Epistles writeth to them of the isle Collosenses. This I'll is near C.lxxx. mile from Constantinople. And from the isle of Rhodes men go into Cipres where are many vines, the first is red, and after a year they wax all white, and those vines that are most white, are most clear and best smelling, and as men pass that way by a place where was wont to be a great city that men call Sathalay, for all that country was lost through the folly of a young man, who had a fair Damsel that he loved well, and she died suddenly, and was buried in a grave of Marble, and for the great love he had to her, he went in a night to her tomb and opened it, and went and lay by her, and a while afterward returned home again, and when it came to the end of ix. months, a voice came to him and said in this manner, as in the next Chapter followeth.   

Of a young man and his leman. Chap. v.   depiction of a mythical creature, a monster with a bird-like head and a human face on its back, emerging from a tomb toward a young male figure 
GO unto the tomb of the same woman that thou hast lain by, and open it, behold well that which thou hast begotten on her, and if thou let it go, thou shalt have a great harm, and he went and opened the Tomb, and there flew out a monster right hideous for to see, the which monster flew about the city and country, and soon after the city and the country sanck down, and there are many perilous passages. From Rhodes to Cyprus is five hundred mile and more, but men may go to Cipres and come not to Rhodes. Cyprus is a good Isle and a great, & there are many good cities: there is an Archbishop at Nichosy, and four other Bishops in the land. And at Famagost is one of the best havens on the sea that is in the world, and there are Christian men and Saracens and men of all nations.  
In Cyprus is the hill of the holy cross, and there is the cross of the good thief Dismas, as I said before, and some think that there is half of the cross of our Lord, but it is not so, and they do wrong that make men to believe so. In Cyprus lieth Saint Simeon for whom the men of the country make great solemnity, and in the castle of Amours lieth the body of Saint hilarion, and men keep it worshipfully, and beside Famagost was Saint bernard borne.   

Of the manner of hunting in Cyprus. Chap. vi.  
 depiction of a papion or large spotted cat  
IN Cipres men hunt with Pampeons that be like to Leopards, and they hunt wild beasts right well and they are somewhat bigger than Lions, and they take more quickly wild beasts than hounds. In Cyprus is a custom that Lords and other men eat upon the earth, for they make ditches within the earth all about the hall deep to the knee, and they pave them, and when they will eat they go therein and sit there, this they do to be more fresh, for that land is hotter than it is here: and at great feasts and for strange men they set forms and boards as they do in this country, but they had leaver sit on the earth. From Cipres men go by Land and by Sea to Jerusalem, and in a day and in a night he that hath good wind may come to the haven of Tire that now is called Sur, and it is also at the entry of Surry, there was sometime a fair city of Christian men, but the Saracens have destroyed the most part thereof, and they keep the haven right well for dread that they have of Christian men. Men might go right to that haven, & come not to Cyprus, but they go gladly to Cypress to rest them on the land, or else to buy things that they have need of to their voyage. Upon the sea side men may find many rubies, and there is the well that holy writ speaketh of. Fons hortorum & puteus aquarum viventium. That is to say, The well of gardens and ditch of waters living. In the city of tire said the woman to our Lord Beatus venter qui te portavit & ubera quae succisti. That is as much to say, Blessed be the body that bore thee, and the pap of which thou suckest, and there our Lord jesus Christ forgave the woman of Canaan her sins, and there also in that place was the stone on the which our Lord sat & preached, & on the same stone was founded the church of saint Saviour. And upon that sea is the city of Saphen, Sarep, or Sodom, and there was the dwelling of Elias the Prophet, and there was raised by jonas the Prophet the widows son. And five mile from Saphen is the city of Sydon of the which City Dido (that was Aeneas wife after the destruction of Troy) was Queen, she founded the city of Carthage in Africa & now is called Didonsart. And in the city of tire rained Achilles, the father of Dido, and a mile from Sidon is Beruth, and from Beruth to Sardena, is three days journey, and from Sardena is five mile to Damas.   

Of the haven called Iaffe. Chap. seven.  
WHo so will go longer on the sea and come nearer to Jerusalem, you shall go from Cipres by sea to the port called Iaffe, for that is the next haven to Jerusalem, for from that Haven is but a days journey and a half to Jerusalem, and that Haven is called Iaffe, and the town Affe after one of noah's sons that men call japheth that founded it, and now it is called jops, and ye shall understand that it is the eldest town of the world, for it was made before noah's flood, and there be the bones of a Giants side that be xl. foot long.   

Of the Haven of tire. Chap. viii.  
ANd who arriveth at the first haven of tire or of Surrey before said, may go by land if he will to Jerusalem, and he goeth to the City of Acon in a day, that was called Tholomoda, and it was a city of Christian men sometime, but it is now destroyed, and it is in the sea. And it is from Venice to Acon by the sea two thousand and lxx. mile of Lombary, and from Calabre, or from Sicily it is to Acon a thousand three hundred miles of Lombary.   

Of the hill Carme. Chap. ix.  
ANd the isle of Gréece is right in the mid way, and beside this city of Acon toward the sea some viii hundred furlongs on the right hand toward the South is the hill Carme where Elias the prophet dwelled, & there was the order of Carmes first founded. This hill is not right great ne high, and at the foot of this hill was sometime a good city of christian men, that was called Caiphas, for Cayphas founded it, but it is now all wasted, & at the left side of the hill is a town that men call Saffre, & that is set upon another hill, there was Saint james and Saint john borne, & in worship of them is there a fair church made. And from Tholomoda that men now call Acon  depiction of a stream flowing into a pool inside a rock, in which sit vessels of various shapes, with a male figure nearby to a great hill that men call Ekale de Tyrees is an hundred fourlongs, and beside that city of Acon runneth a little river that men call Belion, and there near is the fossae of Minon all round that is an hundred cubits or shaftments broad, and it is all full of gravel clear shining, whereof men make white glass clear, and men come from far countries by ship, and by land, with carts to take of the gravel, and if there be never so much taken thereof on a day, on the morrow it is full again as ever it was, and that is great marvel, and there is always wind in the fossae, that striketh away the gravel & maketh it trouble. And if a man put therein any metal, as soon as it is therein it waxeth glass, the glass that is made of this gravel if it be done into the gravel turneth again into the gravel as it was before, and some say that it is a gulf of the sea gravel.   

How Samson slew the King and his enemies. Chap. x.  
ALso from Acon before said, men go three days journey to the City of Philisten, that now is called Gaza, that is a rich city, right fair and full of folk, and it is a little upon  depiction of a long-haired, bearded male figure or Samson pulling down a pillar on which sat a castle full of people; in the background a male figure blowing a horn the Sea, and from that City brought the strong Samson the gates of the City to an high hill, and was taken in the said City, and there he slew the king in his seat, and many thousands more with him, for he made an house to fall on them. And from thence shall men go to the city of Cesarien, and so to the castle of Pillerins, and then to Askalon, and so forth to japhat, and so unto the holy city Jerusalem.   

The way to Babylon whereas the soldan dwelleth. Chap. xj.  
AND who so will go through the land of Babylon where the soldan dwelleth, to have leave to go more securely through the churches and countries, and to go to mount Sinai before he come to Jerusalem, and then turn again by Jerusalem, he shall go from Gaza to the castle Dayr. And after a man cometh out of Surry, and goeth by the wilderness: where the way is full sandy, and the wilderness lasteth eight days journey, where men findeth all that them needeth of victuals, and men call that wilderness Archelleke, and when a man cometh out of this  depiction of a female figure opening her arms to a male figure with arms closed desert, he entereth into Egypt, and they call Egypt Canopat, and in an other language men call it Mersine, and the first good town that men find is called Beleth, and it is at the end of the kingdom of Alape, and from thence men come to Babylon, and to Kayre: and in Babylon is a fair Church of our Lady, where she dwelled seven year, when she was out of the land of the jews, for dread of king Herod. And there lieth the body of Saint Barbara virgin, and there dwelled joseph when he was sold of his brethren, and there caused Nabuchodonosor to put the children in fire, for they were of right truth, the which children men call Anania, Azaria, and misael (as the Psalm of Benedicite saith) but Nabuchodonosor called them thus, Sidrac, Misac and Abednago, that is to say, God glorious and victorious, God over all kingdoms, and that was for miracle, that he made God's son as he said, go with those children through the fire. There dwelleth the soldan, for there is a fair city, and a strong Castle, and it standeth upon a rock. In that Castle is always dwelling to keep the castle, and to serve the soldan, above eight thousand persons, that take all their necessaries of the soldan's Court. I well know it for I dwelled with him Soldier in his wars a great while against the Bedions', and he would have wedded me to a great prince's daughter right richly, if I would have forsaken my faith.   

Yet here followeth of the soldan and of his kingdoms that he hath conquered which he holdeth strongly with force. Chap. xii.  
ANd ye shall understand that the soldan is Lord of seven kingdoms, the which he hath conquered and gotten to him by strength, and these be they, the kingdom of Canopate, the kingdom of Egypt, the kingdom of Jerusalem, whereof David and Solomon were kings: the kingdom of Surry, of the which the city of Damas' was the chief: the kingdom of Alape in the land of Dameth, and the kingdom of Arabia, which was one of the three kings shalt made offering to our Lord when he was borne, and many other lands he holdeth in his hand, and also he holdeth Calaphas, that is a great thing to the soldan, that is to say, among them of Royes' Isle, and this vale is cold.   depiction of a crowned female figure with a halo or Saint Catherine of Alexandria with hands joined in prayer; behind her a male figure with a sword raised behind his head 
And then men go upon the mount of Saint Katherine and that is much higher than the mount Moses.  
And this saint Katherine was graven in no Church ne castle, ne other dwelling place, but there is an hill of stones gathered together, about the place where she was buried there was wont to be a chapel: but it is all cast down, and yet lieth there a great part of the stones.   depiction of three birds carrying olive branches in their mouths to a church; in the doorway stands a monk 
But under the foot of mout Sina is a monastery of Monks, and there is the Church of saint Katherine, wherein be many lamps burning and they have oil olive enough to eat and to burn, and that they have by miracle of God, there come certain of all manner of birds every year once like pilgrims, and each of them bringeth a branch of olive in token of offering, whereof they make much oil.   

For to return from Sina to Jerusalem. Chap. xiii.  
NOw sithen a man hath visited this holy place of saint Katherine, and he will turn to Jerusalem if he shall first take leave at the Monks, and recommend him specially to their prayers, than those said monks give with a good will to Pilgrims, victuals to pass with through the wilderness to Surry, and that lasteth well xiii. days journey. And in that wilderness dwell many Arabins that men call Bedions' and Ascoperds, these are folk that are full of all manner of ill conditions, and they have no houses but tents the which they make of beasts skins, as  depiction of a bearded figure or Bedouin, kneeling, turning a whole poultry-bird on a spit with his left hand and holding up a fish toward the sun in his right hand of Camels and other beasts the which they eat, and there under they lie, and they seek to dwell in places where they may find water, near the red sea, for in that wilderness is great default of water, and it falleth oft where a man findeth water one time, he findeth it not another time, and therefore make they no houses in those countries. These men that I speak of till not the Land, for they eat no bread, except it be such as dwell near a good town, and they roast their fishes and flesh upon hot stones against the Sun, and they are strong men and well fight, and they do nothing but chase wild beasts for their sustenance, and they set not by their lives, therefore they dread not the soldan, nor no Prince of the world. And they have great war with the soldan, and the same time that I was with the soldan they bore but a shield and a spear for to defend them with, and they use none other armour, but they wind their heads and necks in a great linen cloth, and they are men of full ill kind.  
 depiction of a male figure wearing a flowing head-dress, with a shield and spear   

As men are passed this wilderness again coming to Jerusalem. Chap. xiv.  
AND when men have passed this wilderness toward Jerusalem, they come to Barsabe that was sometime a fair and a rich town of Christian men, and yet is their some of the churches left, and in that town dwelled Abraham the Patriarch, this town of Barsabe founded Urias' wife of whom David begat Solomon the wise, that was king of Jerusalem, and of the xii. Tribes of Israel, and he reigned xl. year, and from thence men go the vale of Ebron, that is from thence near xii. mile, and some call it the vale of Mambre, & also it is called the vale of Tears, forasmuch as Adam in that vale bewailed an hundred year the death of his son Abel that Cain slew. And this Ebron was sometime the principal city of the Philistines, and there dwelled giants & there it was so free, that all that had done evil in other places were there saved. In Ebron josua and Caleb, and their company came first to espy how they might win the land of promise. In Ebron David reigned first viii. year and a half, and in Jerusalem he reigned xxxij. years and a half, and there be the graves of the patriarchs, Adam, Abraham, jacob, and their wives, Eve, Sara, Rebecca, and they lie in the side of the hill: and beside this hill is a right fair Church builded after the fashion and manner of a castle, which the Saracens keep right well, and they have the place in great worship for the holy patriarchs that lie there, and they suffer no christian men ne jews to come therein, except they have special grace of the soldan, for they hold christian men & jews but as hounds, that should come to the holy place, and they call the place Spelunke, or double cave, or double grave: or one lieth on an other: and the Saracens call it in their language Caryatherba, that is to say, the place of the patriarchs, and the jews call it Arboth, and in that same place was Abraham's house, and that was the same Abraham that sat in his door, and saw three persons & worshipped but one as holy writ witnesseth, saying: Tres vidit & unum adoravit. That is to say, He saw three and worshipped but one, and him took Abraham into his house.   

Here followeth a little of Adam and Eve, and other things. Chap. xv.  
 depiction of a naked male figure and female figure, or Adam and Eve, with fig leaves  
AND right near to that place is a cave in a rock where Adam and Eve dwelled when they were driven out of Paradise, and there got they their children. And in that same place was Adam made as some men say, for men called that place sometime the field of Damasse, for it was in the worship of Damasse, and from thence he was translated into Paradise, as they say, and afterward he was driven out of Paradise and put there again, for the same day that he was put into paradise, the same day he was driven out, for as soon he sinned. And there beginneth the isle of Ebron that lasteth near to Jerusalem, and the Angel bad Adam that he should dwell with his wife and there they begat Seth, of the which kindred jesus Christ was borne. And in that vale is the field where men draw out of the earth a thing the which men in that country call Camball, and they eat that in stead of spice, and they bear it to sell, and men cannot grave there so deep, nor so wide, but it is at the years end full again up to the sides through the grace of God, and two miles from Ebron is the grave of Lot that was Abraham's brother.   

Of the dry Tree. Chap. xuj.  
 depiction of a tree on top of a mountain  
THen a little from Ebron is the mount of Mambre, of the which Mount the dale took his name, and there is an oak tree that the Saracens call dypre, remaining since Abraham's time, that men call the dry tree, and they say that it hath been from the beginning of the world, and was sometime green and bare leaves, unto the time that our Lord died, and so did all the Trees of that kind in the world, and yet is there many of those in the world. And some prophecies say that a Lord or Prince of the West side of the world shall win the land of Promise, that is the holy land, with the help of christian men, and he shall worship God under that Tree, and the Tree shall wax green and bear fruit and leaves, and through that miracle many Saracens and jews shall be turned to the Christian Faith, and therefore they do great Worship thereto, and keep it right charily. And yet though it be dry it hath a great virtue, for certainly he that hath a little thereof about him, it healeth a sickness called the falling evil, and hath also many other virtues, and therefore it is holden right precious.   

From Ebron to Bethlehem. Chap. xvij.  
FRom Ebron men go to Bethlehem in half a day, for it is but five mile, and it is a fair way, and through Woods full pleasant. Bethlehem is but a little city long and narrow, and was walled and enclosed with a great ditch, and it was wont to be called Ephrata, as holy writ saith. Ecce audivimus eum in Ephrata, etc. That is to say, Lo we heard of the same at Ephrata. And toward the end of the city toward the East is a right fair and goodly Church: and it hath many towers, and pinnacles full strongly made, and within that Church is four and forty great pillars of marble, and not far from this Church is the field which flourished very strangely as ye shall hear.   

Of a fair maiden that should be put to death wrongfully. Chap. xviij.  
THe cause is, forasmuch as a fair maiden that was blamed with wrong, that she had done fornication, for the which cause she was deemed to die and to be brent in that place to the which she was lead. And as the wood began to burn about her, she made her prayer to our Lord, as she was not guilty of that thing, that he would help her, that it might be known to all men. And when she had thus said she entered the fire, and anon the fire went out, and those branches that were burning became red Roses, and those branches that were not kindled became white Rosiers, full of white Roses, and those were the first Roses and Rosiers that any man ever saw, and so was the maiden saved through the grace of God, and therefore is that field called the field of God flourished, for it was full of Roses. Also beside the Choir of that Church aforesaid, at the right side as men come downward xii. steps, is the place where our Lord was borne, that is now full well dight of marble, and full richly painted with gold, silver, and azure, and other colours. And a little thence by three paces is the crib of the Ox, and the Ass, and beside that is the place where the Star fell that lead the three kings, jasper, Melchisor and Balthasor, but men of Gréece call the kings thus, Galgalath, Saraphy, Galgalath, these three kings offered to our Lord, Incense, Gold and myrrh, and they came together through the miracle of God, for they met together in a city that men call Chasake, that is iiii days journey from Bethlehem, and there they were at Bethlehem the fourth day after they had seen the Star. And under the Cloister of this Church xviii degrees at the right side is a great pit where the bones of the Innocents lie, and by that place is the tomb of Saint Hierom, that was a Priest and a Cardinal that translated the Bible and the Psalter out of Hebrew into Latin, and beside that Church is a Church of Saint Nicholas where our Lady rested her when she was delivered of child, and forasmuch as she had so much milk in her paps that it grieved her, she milked it out upon the red stones or Marble, so that yet may the traces be seen white upon the stones. And ye shall understand that all that dwell in Bethlehem are Christians, and there are fair vines all about the City, and great plenty of wine, but their book that Mahomet betook them, the which they call Koran, and some call it Massap, and some call it Harm, forbiddeth them to drink any wine, for in that book Mahomet curseth all those that drink of that wine and all that sell it, and some men say, that he once slew a good hermit in his drunkenness whom he loved much, and therefore he cursed the wine and them that drunk wine, but his malice is turned to himself as holy writ saith. Et in verticem ipsius iniquitas eius discendit. That is to say in English. His wickedness shall descend on his own head. And also the Saracens breed no Geese ne they eat no swine's flesh, for they say it is brother to man, and that it was forbidden in the old law. Also in the land of Palistine and in the land of Egypt they eat little Veal and Beef, except it be so old that it may no more travail ne work, not that it is forbidden, but they keep them for tilling of their land. In this City of Bethlehem was king David borne, and he had forty wives, and three hundred Concubines.  
At Bethlehem toward the South side is a Church of saint Markerot that was Abbot there, for whom they made much sorrow when he died, and it is painted there how they made dole when he died, and it is a piteous thing to behold. From Bethlehem to Jerusalem is two mile, and in the way to Jerusalem half a mile from Bethlehem is a Church where the Angel told the Shepherds of the birth of Christ: in that way is the tomb of Rachel that was mother to joseph the Patriarch, and she died as soon as she had borne Benjamin, and there she was buried, and jacob her Husband set xii. great stones upon her, betokening that she had borne xii. children. In this way to Jerusalem are many Christian Churches by the way which men go to Jerusalem.   

Of the City Jerusalem. Chap. nineteen.  
FOr to speak of Jerusalem, ye shall understand that it standeth fair among hills, and there is neither river nor well: but water cometh by conduit from Ebron, and ye shall understand that men called it first jebus, and sithen it was called Salem unto the time of king David, and he set those two names together, and called it Jerusalem, and so it is called yet, and about Jerusalem is the kingdom of Surry, and thereby is the land of Palestine and Askalon, but Jerusalem is in the land of juda, and it is called juda for judas Machabeus was king of that land, and also it marcheth afterward on the kingdom of Araby, on the South side on the land of Egypt, on the west side on the great sea, on the North side on the kingdom of Surry, and the sea of Cyprus. About Jerusalem are these cities. Ebron at eight mile, jerico at six mile, Barsebe at eight mile, Askalon at eighteen mile, Iaffe at twenty and five mile, Ramatha at four mile.  
This Land of Jerusalem hath been in the hands of divers Nations, as jews, Canaanites, Assyrians, Persians, Masedonians, Greeks, Romans, and Christian men, also Saracens, Barbarians, Turks, and many other Nations. For Christ will not that it be long in the hands of traitors nor sinners, be they Christians or other. And now hath the misbelieving men holden that Land in their hands threescore years and more, but they shall not hold it long and if God will.   

Yet of this holy City Jerusalem. Chap. xx.  
AND ye shall understand that when men first come to Jerusalem they go first a pilgrimage to the church, where that the holy grave is, the which is out of the city on the north side: but it is now closed in with the wall of the town, and there is a full fair Church round, all open above, and well covered with lead, and on the west side is a fair Tower and a strong for bells: and in the midst of  depiction of a round tower with an oil lamp hanging to one side the church is a tabernacle made like a little house, in manner of half a Compass, right well and richly of gold and azure and other colours well dight and on the right side is the sepulchre of our Lord: and the tabernacle is viii. foot long and five foot wide, & xj. foot of height: and it is not long since the Sepulchre was all open, and men might then touch it: but because men that came thither, spoiled and also broke the stones in pieces to powder, therefore the soldan hath made a wall about the Sepulchre that no man may touch it. On the left side is a window, and therein is many lamps light, and there is a lamp that hangeth before the sepulchre light burning, and on the Friday it goeth out by it self, and lighteneth again by itself, at the hour as our Lord rose from death to life. And within that church upon that right side on the mount Calvary, where our Lord was crucified, and the cross was set in a morteys in the rock, that is white of colour, and mingled with a little red, and upon that rock dropped the blood of the wounds of our Lord when he was pained on the cross, and that is called Galgatha, and men go up to that Galgatha upon steps, and in that mortyes, was Adam's head found atter noah's Flood, in token that the sins of Adam should be redeemed in the same place, and above that rock made Abraham sacrifice to our Lord, and there is an altar, and before that altar lieth Godfray of Boleyn, Bawdewin, and other that were Christians & kings of Jerusalem. And there as our Lord was crucified is this written in Greek. O Theos, basilon ysmon, persemas, ergast, sothyas ayos. That is to say in Latin. Hic Deus, Rex noster ante secula operatus est salutem in medio terrae. That is to say. This God our king before worlds, hath wrought health in the midst of the earth. And also upon this rock where the Cross was fixed is written within the rock, Gros guyst basys tou pests thoy thesmosy. That is to say in Latin, Quod vides est fundamenta totius mundi & huius fidei. And it is to say, that thou seest is ground of all the word, and of this faith. And ye shall understand that our Lord when he died was thirty and two year old and three months, and the prophesy of David saith that he should live forty years, when he saith thus. Quadraginta annis proximus fui generationi huic. That is to say, Forty year was I neighbour to this kind, and thus should it seem that prophesy were not true, but it is. For in old time men called years of ten months, of the which March was the first, and December the last. But Caius Caesar that was Emperor of Room did set to these two Months january and February, and ordained the year of twelve months. That is to say, three hundred days without leap year the proper course of the Sun, and therefore after the accounting of ten months to the year he died in forty year, & after our years of twelve months it is thirty two year and three months.  
Also within mount calvary at the right side is there an altar where the pillar lieth that our Lord was bound to, when  depiction of four pillars, one with a rope wound around it, the other three with water drops falling off them he was scourged, and thereby are three other pillars, that always drop water, & some say that those pillars weep for our Lord's death, and near this altar in a place xlii. steps deep was found the very Cross by the assent of Saint Eleyne under a rock where the jews had hid it, and it was assayed, for they found three crosses, one of our Lord, and two of the thieves. And saint Eleine assayed them on a dead body, that rose as soon as the very cross of our Lord was laid upon him. And thereby in the vale is the place where the four nails of our Lord were hid, for he had two nails in his hands, and two in his feet, and with one of those nails the Emperor of Constantinople did make a bridle for his horse to bear him in battle, for by the virtue that it had, he overcame his enemies, and won all the land of Asia, Turkey, Damasse the more and the less, Surry and Jerusalem, Araby, Persia, and Mesopotamie, the kingdom of Alebe, Egypt the high and the low, and other kingdoms many, full nigh all unto ethiop the low, and also unto Ind the less, that then was christened: and there was in that time many good men and holy hermits, of whom the book of the Father's lives speaketh, and there are now in them paynim and Saracens, but when God will as these lands are lost through the sin of Christian men, so shall they be won again by christian men through the help of God. And in the midst of this Church is a compass, in the which joseph of Aramathia laid the body of our Lord when he had taken him oft the cross, and upon the same place did he wash the feet of our Lord, and that compass men say is the midst of the world.   

Of the Church of the holy Sepulchre. Chap. xxi.  
IN that Church by the Sepulchre, on the North side, is the place where our Lord was imprisoned, and there is a part of the chain with the which he was bound, and there he appeared first to Marie Magdalene when he was risen from death, and she thought he had been a gardener. In the Church of the Sepulchre was wont to be Cannons of saint Benet, and they had a Priourie, and the Patriarch was their Sovereign: and without the doors of the Church on the right side as men go up xviii. steps, our Lord said to his mother, Mulier, Ecce filius tuus. That is to say: Woman behold thy Son. Deinde dixit discipulo. Ecce matter tua. That is to say: Then said he to his Disciple. Behold thy mother. And these words he said when he hanged upon the Cross, and upon the steps went our Lord when he bore the Cross upon his shoulder, and under these stairs is a Chapel where the Priests sing. And near there is the stone where our Lord rested him when he was weary with bearing of the Cross. And ye shall understand that before the Church of the Sepulchre is the City most strong and the great plain that is between the City and the Church, on the East side without the walls of the City, is the vale of josophat that cometh to the walls.  
In this vale of josophat without the City is the Church of Saint Stephen where he was stoned to death, and thereby is the gate builded that may not be opened. Through this gate our Lord entered on Palm Sunday upon an Ass, and the gate opened unto him when he would go to the Temple, and yet are the steps of the Ass seen in three places, the which stand in full hard stones. Before the Church of the sepulchre two hundred paces is a great hospital of Saint john, in the which hospital are liv pillars made of stone. And to go  depiction of a male figure or Saint Stephen kneeling, while two other men, one wearing a helmet and the other wearing a crown, throw stones at him toward the East from the hospital is a right fair church that men call our Lady the great, and then is there another church by that, that men call our Lady of the Latin: and there it. was that Mary Cleophe, & Mary Magdalene rend their hair when our Lord was put to death,   

Of the temple of God. Chap. xxij.  
AND from the Church of the sepulchre, toward the East at xvii. paces is Templum Domini. That is a fair house and it is all round, and right high, and covered with lead, and it is well paved with white marble, but the Saracens will suffer no Christians ne jews to come therein, for they say, that so sinful men should not come into that holy place, but I was suffered to go in, and into other places where I would, for I had letters of the soldan, with his great seal, & commonly other men have but of his signet, and men bear his letter with his seal before them, hanging on a Spear, and men do great worship thereto, and kneel against it as it were against God's body, for those men that it is sent to, before they take it, they bow thereto, and then they take it and lay it upon their heads, and afterward they kiss it  depiction of a temple with a statue of a human figure on either side of the door, and a head above the door and then they read it all bowing with great worship, & then they proffer them to do all that the bringer will. And in this Templum Domini were wont to be canons regulars, and they had an Abbot to whom they were obedient. In this Temple was Charlemagne when the Angel brought him the Prepuis of our Lord when he was circumcised, and after king Charles brought it to Acon into our Lady's chaypell.   

Yet of the Temple of God. Chap. twenty-three.  
AND ye shall understand that this is not the temple that Solomon made, for that temple lasted but a thousand an hundred and two year. For Titus Vespasianus son, that was Emperor of Rome that laid siege about Jerusalem, for to discomfit the jews, for that they had put Christ to death without leave of the Emperor, when he had taken the City, he did burn the Temple, and cast it down, and took all the jews, and put to death eleven hundred thousand and the other he put in prison, & sold thirty. for a penny, for he said that they bought jesus Christ for thirty. pence. And since gave julian Apostatate leave to the jews to make the Temple of Jerusalem again, for he hated Christians, & yet he was a Christian, but he forsook his law. And when the jews had builded again the Temple then came an earthquake (as God would) & cast down all that they had made. Since that Adrian the Emperor who was of them of Troy made Jerusalem again, and the Temple in that same manner that Solomon made it, and commanded that no jew should dwell there but Christians, and although he himself was not a Christian, yet he loved the Christians more than other men, save men of his own faith. And this Emperor did enclose and wall the Church of the holy Sepulchre within the city, that before was far without the city, and he would have changed the name of Jerusalem and called it Heliam, but that name lasted not long. And ye shall understand that the Saracens do great worship in that Temple, and they say that place is right holy, and when they go therein they go bare foot and kneel many times down. And when I and my fellows came therein, we put off our harneise, and came bare foot into the Temple, and thought that we ought to do as much or more than they that were Infidels. And this Temple is threescore and three cubits in wideness, and as much in length, and thirty two cubits in height, and covered with lead, and it is within full of pillars of marble. And in the midst of the Temple is an alter of twenty and four steps of height, and good pillars all about. This place the jews called Sancta sanctorum. That is to say, holy of holiest, and in that place cometh none but their prelate that maketh their sacrifice, and the people stand all about in divers Seats, as they are of dignity and worship: and there be four entering into the Temple, and the doors are of Cyprus well dight, and within the East door our Lord said, here is Jerusalem. And on the North side within the door is a fountain but it runneth not: of the which holy writ speaketh and saith, Vidi aquam egredientem de templo. That is to say, I saw water coming out of the Temple. And upon the other side is a rock that men called some time Moryach (but after it was called Belet) and the ark of God, with the relics of the jews. This ark did Titus carry with him to Room, when he had discomfited all the jews. In that same ark were the ten commandments, and Aaron's rod, and Moses' rod, with which he parted the red sea, when the people of Israel passed through on dry foot, and with that rod he did many wonders, and there was the vessel of gold full of manna, and clothing and ornaments, and the tabernacle of Aaron, & a table square of Gold with twelve precious stones, and a box of jaspes graven with four fingers, and eight names of our Lord within, and seven candlesticks of Gold, and four censers of Gold, and an altar also of fine gold, and four Lions of gold, upon the which they had a Cherubin of Gold twelve spans long, and a Tabernacle of Gold, and also xii. trumpets of silver, and a table of silver, and seven Barley loaves, and all other relics that were before the nativity of jesus. Also upon this rock slept jacob when he saw Angels go up and down, and said. Vere locus iste sanctus est, & ego ignorabam. That is to say, Surely this place is holy, and I witted not. And there the Angel changed jacobs' name and called him Israel.  
And in that same place David saw the Angel that slew the people with a sword, and put it all bloody in the sheath. And in this rock was Saint Simeon when he received our Lord into the Temple, and on this rock he set him when the jews would have stoned him, and the rock rend in two, and in that rest he hide him, and after came down and gave him light.  
And on this rock sat our Lady and learned her Psalter. And there forgave our Lord the sins to the woman that was taken and found in Adultery, and there was our Lord jesus Christ circumcised, and there the Angel denounced to Zachary the Nativity of Saint john Baptist, and there offered first Melchisedech bread and wine & water to our Lord, in token of the Sacrament that was to come, and there fell David praying to our Lord for mercy, for him and for his people, when he saw the Angel slay his people, and our Lord anon heard his prayer, and therefore would he make the temple in that place, but our Lord jesus Christ forbade him by an Angel, for he had committed murder in consenting to the slaying of the good knight Urias, for to have his wife. And therefore all that he had ordained for to make the Temple, he betook it to Solomon his son, and he made it, and he prayed our Lord that all those that prayed in that place devoutly and with good heart, that he would hear their prayer, and grant that they asked right wisely, and our Lord granted it, and therefore salomon's son called it the Temple of counsel and help of God.  
Without the doors of that Temple is an altar where jews were wont to offer Doves and Turtilles, and in that Temple was Zachery slain, and on the pinnacle the jews set Saint james that was the first Bishop of Jerusalem. And a little from this Temple on the right side is a church covered with Lead, that is called the school of Solomon. And toward the South is the Temple of Salon that is a full fair and a great place, and in this place dwell Knights, who are called Templars, and they were the founders thereof and of their order, and in that Templum Domini dwelled Canons.  
From this Temple toward the East xxvi. paces in a corner of the City, is the  of our Lord, and this  was wont to go to Paradise, and beside is our ladies bed, and near there by is the Tomb of saint Simeon. And without the Cloister of the Temple toward the North is a right fair Church of Saint Anne our Lady's mother, and there was our Lady conceived, and before that Church is a great tree, which began to grow that same night. And as men go down from the Church xxij. steps, lieth joachim our ladies Father in a Tomb of stone, and there near was laid sometime Saint Anne, but Saint Eline did translate her to Constantinople. In this Church is a well in manner of a cistern, that is called (Probatica piscina) that hath five enterings, and in that cistern was wont an Angel to descend and stir the water, and what man that bathed him first therein after the stirring, was made whole that was sick, what sickness so ever he had: and there was the man of the Palsy made whole, that was sick xxxviii. year, and our Lord said to him in this manner of wise (Tolle grabatum tuum et ambula) That is to say, take up thy bed and walk. And there beside was the house of Pilate, and a little thence was the house of king Herode that did slay the Innocents.   

Of Herod the King. Chap. xxiv.  
THis king Herode was a full wicked man and a fell, for he did first and foremost slay his wife, whom he loved full well, and for the great love of her, he went out of his wit, and so was he a long time, and afterward he came again to himself. And after he slew his own children that he had begotten of the said wife, and commanded likewise his second wife to be slain, and a son that he had begotten of her, and after that he slew his own mother, and he would also have slain his own brother, but his brother died suddenly, and thus he did all the ill that he might. And then he fell sick, and when he saw that he should die, he sent for his sister & all the great Lords of the country, and when they were there, he did put all the Lords into a tower, and said to his sister, he witted well that the men of the country would make no sorrow for him when he was dead, and therefore he made her for to swear unto him that she should smite off the heads of the Lords every one after his death, and then would men of the Country make sorrow for his death, in regard of the Noble men's death, and then he made his last testament. But his sister fulfilled it not as pertaining unto the death of the Lords, for as soon as he was dead, she delivered the Lords out of the tower and sent every one home to their houses and told them what her Brother commanded her to do unto them. And ye shall understand that in that time was three Herodes of great name. This of whom I speak, was called Herode Ascolonite, and he that did smite of Saint john Baptists head, was called Herod Antipa, and the third was called Herod Agrippa, and he did slay Saint james, and put Saint Peter in prison.   

Of Saint Salvator's Church. Chap. xxv.   depiction of the disembodied, haloed head of Saint Stephen and the disembodied arm of Saint John Chrysostom with two fingers and thumb extended in blessing  depiction of a haloed male figure, or Saint James, kneeling with hands joined in prayer; behind him a male figure with a sword raised behind his head 
Also mount Zion is within the city, and it is a little higher than the other side of the city, and that City is stronger on that one side then on the other, for at the foot of mount Zion is a fair castle and strong which the soldan did cause to be made there.  
On mount Zion was king David buried and Solomon, and many other kings of Jerusalem, and there is the place where Saint Peter wept full tenderly, when he had denied our Lord: and a stones cast from that is another place where our Lord was judged, for at that time was Caiphas house there, and between the Temple of Solomon and mount Zion is the place where Christ raised the maiden from death to life. Under mount Zion toward the vale of josaphat is a well that men call Natatorie Silo, there was our Lord washed after he was baptized. And thereby is the tree on the which judas hanged himself for despair when he had sold & betrayed Christ.   depiction of a male figure or Judas Iscariot hanged in a tree, while a winged demon or devil removes the personification of his soul via his stomach 
And thereby is the Synagogue where the Bishops of the jews and Pharasies came to hold their counsel, and there judas cast the thirty. pence before them and said. Peccavi tradens sanguinem justum, That is to say, I have sinned in betraying the innocent blood.   

Of the field of Acheldemack which was bought with the thirty. pence. Chap. xxvi.  
ON the other side of mount Zion toward the South a stones cast, is the field that they bought with those thirty. pence for the which Christ was sold, that men call Acheldemack, that is to say, the field of blood, in that filled is many tombs of Christian men, for there be many pilgrims graven. And also in Jerusalem toward the West is a fair Church, where the tree grew of the which the cross was made, and thereby is a fair Church where our Lady met with Elizabeth when they were both with child, & Saint john stirred in his mother's womb, and made worship to our Lord his maker: and under the altar of this Church is a place where Saint john was borne, and thereby is the Castle of Emax.   

Of Mount joy.. Chap. xxvij.  
TWo mile from Jerusalem is the mount joy, that is a fair place and a liking, and there lieth Samuel the prophet in a fair tomb, and it is called mount joy, for there those that travail see first Jerusalem. And in the middle of the vale of josaphat is a little river that is called Torrens Cedron, and overthwart this, lay a tree of the which the Cross was made that men passed over. Also in this vale is a Church of our Lady, and there is the sepulchre of our Lady, and she was lxxij. years of age when she died, and there near is the place where our Lord forgave Saint Peter all his sins and misdeeds that he had done. And beside that, is a Chapel where judas kissed our Lord, that men call Gethsemaine, and he was taken of the jews, and there left Christ his Disciples before his passion, when he went to pray, and said. Pater si fieri potest transeat a me calix ista, that is to say in English. Father if it may be done, let this Cup pass from me. And thereby is a Chapel where our Lord sweat both blood and water, and there is the tomb of king josaphat, of whom the vale had the name, and on the side of that vale is the mount Olivet, and it is called so, for there groweth many Olive trees, and it is higher than Jerusalem, and therefore from that hill men may see into the streets of Jerusalem, and between the hill & the City is nothing but the vale of josaphat, and that is not very large, and upon that hill stood our Lord when he went into heaven, and yet seemeth there the step of his left foot in the stone, and there is an abbey of black Canons that was great sometime, but now is there but a Church. And a little thence xviij. paces is a Chapel, and there is the stone on the which our Lord God sat, when he preached and said thus. Beati pauperes spiritu, quoniam ipsorum est regnum coelorum, that is to say in English. Blessed be they that are poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven, and there he taught his Disciples their Pater noster. There also is a Church of that blessed woman Marry Egyptian, and there is she buried. And upon the other side toward the East three bow shoots from thence standeth Bethphage, where our Lord jesus Christ sent Saint Peter and Saint james for to fetch an Ass on Palm Sunday.   

Of the Castle of Bethania. Chap. xxviij.  
THere toward the East is a castle that men call Bethania, and there dwelled Simon the Leper that harboured our Lord and them that were baptized of his disciples, and he was called julian, and was made Bishop, and that is he that men call on for good harbour. In that same place our Lord forgave Mary Magdalene her sins, and there she washed his feet with tears and wiped them with her heir, and there was Lazarus raised, when he was four days dead.   

Of jericho and other things. Chap. xxix.  
IN the returning to mount Olivet, is the place where our Lord wept upon Jerusalem, and thereby our Lady appeared to Saint Thomas, after her assumption, and gave him her girdle, and thereby is the stone on the which our Lord sat often and preached, and thereon he shall sit at the day of judgement, as himself said. And there is mount Galilee, where the Apostles were gathered when Mary Magdalene told them of Christ's rising. Between mount Olivet and mount Galilee is a Church, where the Angel told our Lady when she should die.  
And from Bethany to jericho is five mile. jericho was sometime a little city but it was wasted and now it is but a little town, that town took josua through the miracle of God and bidding of the Angel, and destroyed it, and cursed all those that builded it again Of that city was Rahab that common woman, that received messengers of Israel, and kept them from many perils of death, and therefore she had a good reward as holy writ saith, Quando accipis Prophetam in nomine meo, mercedem Prophetae. etc. That is to say, he that taketh a Prophet in my name, he shall receive the reward of a Prophet.   

Of the holy place between Bethany and the river jordane, and other things. Chap. thirty.  
ALso from Bethany men go to the river of jordane through the wilderness, and it is near a days journey between. Toward the East is a great hill where our Lord fasted xl. days, and upon this hill was Christ tempted of the Devil, when he said to him Dic ut lapides isti panes fiunt. That is to say, Command that these stones be made bread: and there is an hermitage where dwelled a manner of Christians called Georgians, for saint George converted them, and upon that hill dwelled Abraham a great while, and as men go to jericho, sat many sick men crying jesus fili David, miserere nobis: that is to say, jesus the Son of David have mercy upon us. And two mile from jericho is the river jordane, & ye shall understand that the dead sea parteth the land of Ind & Araby, & the water of that sea is right bitter, and it casteth out a thing that men call Aspatum as great pieces as an horse, and Jerusalem is two hundred fourlongs from the sea, and it is called the dead sea, because it runneth not, neither may any man or beast live therein, and that hath been proved many times, for they have cast therein men that were judged to death: nor no man may drink of that water, and if men cast iron therein, it cometh up again: but if a man cast a feather therein it sinketh, which is against kind.   depiction of two fruit trees, one with leaves 
And thereabout grow Trees that bear fruit of fair colour and seem ripe, but when a man breaketh or cutteth them, he findeth nought in them, but coals or ashes, in token that through the vengeance of God these Cities were burnt with the fire of hell.  
And some men call that lake the lake of the Alphited, and some call it the pool of the devil, and some call it the stinking pool, for the water thereof stinketh. There sank these five cities through the wrath of God, that is to say, Sodom, Gomor, Aldema, Solome, and Segor, for the sin of Sodom that reigned in them, but Segor through the prayer of Lot was saved a great while, for it stood upon an hill, and yet appeareth much thereof above the water, and men may see the walls in clear weather, and in this city of Segor, Lot dwelled a great while, and there he was made drunk by his daughters and lay by them, and they thought that God would have destroyed all the world, as he did with noah's flood, and therefore they lay by their father, that men might be borne of them into the world: but if he had not been drunken he had not lain by them. And at the right side of this sea, standeth Lot's wife in a pillar of salt, because she looked back when the city sanck down.   

Of Abraham and his generation. Chap. xxxj.  
AND ye shall understand that Lot was Aaron's son, Abraham's brother, and Sara Abraham's wife was Lot's sister, and Sara was xc. year old when she bore Isaac, and Abraham had an other son named Ishmael that he had gotten of his maiden Agar, and he was xiv. years of age when Isaac was borne, and when Isaac was viii. days old he was circumcised, and his other son Ishmael was Circumcised the same day, and was xiv. years of age, therefore the Saracens that be of the generation of Ishmael, do circumcise them at xiv. years of age, and the jews that be of the generation of Isaac, do circumcise them the eight day of their age.  
And into that dead Sea aforesaid, runneth the river jordane, and maketh there an end, and this is within a mile of Saint john's Church, and a little beneath that same Church Westward, were the Christians wont to bathe them, and a mile thence is the river Loth, through which jacob went when he came from Mesopotamia.   

Of the river jordane. Chap. xxxij.  
THis river jordane is no great nor no deep river, but there is much good fish therein, and there cometh from Mount Lybany two Wells, that men call jor and Dane, and of them it taketh the name, and upon the one side of that river is mount Gelboe, and there is a fair plain. And on that other side men go by Mount Libany, to the desert of Pharaon. These hills part the Kingdom of Surry and the Country of Phenys. On that Hill grow Ceders that bear long apples which are as much as a man's head. This river jordane divideth Galilee, and the land of Idumea, and the land of Botron, and it runneth into a plain that men call Meldam in Saracens language, and in English fair, because oft times be there kept great  depiction of a fruit tree fairs, and in the plain is the tomb of job.  
In this river jordane our Lord was baptized, and there was the voice of the father heard, saying: Hic est filius meus dilectus, in quo acquiesco, ipsum audite. That is to say in English: This is my beloved son in whom I am well pleased, hear him. And the holy Ghost descended on him in likeness of a Dove, and so was there in this baptizing all the Trinity. And through the river jordane passed the children of Israel on dry foot, and they set stones in the midst of the water, in token of great miracle. And also in that River Naman the Assyrian bathed him, who was leprous, and he was made whole. And a little from thence is the City of Ay, the which josua assailed and took. And about the river jordane are many Churches where Christians dwell. Also by the River jordane is the Vale of Mambre, the which is a fair Vale and a plenteous.   

Of many other marvels. Chap. xxxiij.  
AND ye shall understand that as we go from the dead Sea afterward out of the march to the land of promise, is a strong Castle that men call Carran or Sermoys, that is to say in English, the King's hill. This Castle did a King of France make, whose name was Baudewin, who had conquered all the land, and put it into the hands of Christians to keep, and under that castle is a fair town that is called Sabaoth, and thereabout dwell many Christians under tribute.  
Then men go to Nazereth, of the which our Lord had his name, and from Nazareth unto Jerusalem is three days journey. Also men go through the province of Galilee, through Romatha, through Sophyn, and over the high hill of Effraine, where dwelled Anna that was the Prophet samuel's mother, and there was he borne, and after his death was buried at mount joy, as I have said before.  
And after men come to Sybula, where the ark of God was kept under Helie the Prophet. And there made the people of Israel their sacrifice unto our Lord, and there spoke our Lord first unto Samuel. There also ministered God the Sacrament. Near there by at the right side is Gabaon, Rama, and Benjamin, of the which holy Writ speaketh. After that men come to Sychem, that some men call Sycar, and this is in the province of the Samaritaines, & sometime there was a Church but it is all wasted, and it is a fair vale and plenteous, and there is a good City that men call Neople, and so from thence it is a days journey unto Jerusalem, and there is the well where our Lord spoke to the woman of Samaria, and Sychem is ten mile from Jerusalem, and it is called Neople, that is to say, the new town. And there is the Temple of joseph, jacobs' son that governed Egypt, from thence were his bones brought and laid in the Temple, and thither came Iewes often in pilgrimage with great devotion, and in that City was Diana jacobs' Daughter ravished, for whom her Brethren slew many men, and thereby is the City of Corasim where the Samaritaines make their sacrifice.   depiction of an angel holding the upraised sword arm of a male figure or Abraham; nearby the kneeling figure of a boy or Isaac; in the foreground a sheep or ram in a bush  

Of the Samaritaines. Chap. xxxiiij.   depiction of two male figures and a female figure with flowing head-dresses 
FRom Sebasten to Jerusalem is xii. mile, & among the hills of this country is a well that men call fons jocob. That is to say, Jacob's well, that changeth his colour four times in the year, for sometime it is red, sometime clear, sometime green, and sometime thick: and men that dwell there are called Samaritaines', and they were converted by the Apostles, and their law varieth from the law of Christians, and Saracens, as also from jews and paynim. They believe well in one God that all shall judge, and believe the Bible after the letter, and they lap their heads in red linen cloth that they may be known from others, for Saracens wrap their heads in white cloth, and Christians that dwell there in blue choth, and jews in yellow, and in this country dwell many jews paying tribute as christians do.  
And if ye will know the letters of the jews, they are these following, and are thus called. Alpha for a. death b. gymel c. he d. van e. zay f. ex g. ioth i. karph k. lamb l. men m. sameth o. ay p. phe q. lad r. cloth s. fir t. sound v. than x. lours y. Now you shall have the figures. D. li. xh. rz. S D S li. n h R f cc' h n d i k.   

Of Galilee. Chap. xxxv.  
FRom this country that I have spoken of, men go to the plain of Galilee, and leave the hill on the one side, and Galilee is in the Province of the Land of Promise, and in that province is the land of Naim, and Caparnaum and Corasim, and at Bethsaida was S. Peter and Saint Andrew borne: at Corasim shall Antichrist be borne, and as some men say he shall be borne in Babylon: therefore said the Prophet (De Babilonia coluber exiet qui totum mundum devorabit) That is to say. Of Babylon shall come a Serpent that shall devour all the world. And this Antichrist shall be nourished in Bethsaida, & shall reign in Corasim, therefore saith holy writ. Vae tibi Corasim, vae tibi Bethsaida, That is to say, Woe be to thee Corasim, woe be to thee Bethsaida: and the Cave of Galilee is four mile from Nazareth: of that City was the woman of Canaan, of whom the Gospel speaketh, and there our Lord did the first miracle at the wedding of the Archdecline, when he turned water into wine. And from thence men go unto Nazareth, that was sometime a great City, but now there is but a little Town and is not walled, and there was our Lady borne, but she was begotten at Jerusalem, and our Lord took his name of this City.  
At Nazareth joseph took our Lady to wife, when she was fourteen years of age, and there the Angel saluted her saying, ave gratia plena, Dominus tecum. That is to say. Hail full of grace, the Lord be with thee. And there was sometime a great church, and now is there but a little chapel to receive the offering of Pilgrims, and there is the Well of Gabriel, where our Lord was wont to bathe him in when he was little. At Nazareth was our Lord nourished, and Nazareth is to say flower of garden, and it may well be called so, for there was nourished the flower of life, even our Lord jesus Christ. About half a mile from Nazareth is the blood of our Lord, for the jews lead him upon an high rock to cast him down and slay him, but jesus Christ passed them and leapt on a rock where his steps be yet seen, and therefore some when they dread them of thieves or else of Enemies, say thus: jesus autem transiens per mediam illorum ibat: and they say also these verses of the Psalter three times. Irruat super eos formido, te pavor in magnitudine brachij. Domine fiant immobiles quasi lapis, donec pertranseat populus tuos Domine, & populus iste quem redemisti. And so when this is said, a man may go without any letting. Also ye shall understand and know that our blessed Lady bare her Child when she was xv. years of age, and she lived with him xxxij. year, and three months, and after his passion she lived xxij. years.   

The way of Nazareth to the mount or hill of Tabor. Chap. xxxuj.  
ANd from Nazareth to the mount Tabor is three mile, & there our Lord was transfigured before S. Peter, Saint john and saint james. And there they saw spiritually our Lord and Moses and Elias the Prophet. And therefore Saint Peter said, Bonum est nos hic esse, faciamus tria tabernac. etc. That is to say, It is good for us to be here, let us make three tabernacles. And our Lord jesus Christ bade them that they should tell it to no man, unto the time that he was risen from death to life. And upon the same hill shall four Angels sound their Trumpets, and raise all men that are dead to life, and then shall they come in body and Soul to the judgement, but the judgement shall be in the Vale of josaphat And also a mile from mount Tabor is the mount Hermon, and there was the City of Naim, before the gates of this City our Lord raised the son of the widow that had no more children.   

Of the Sea of Galilee. Chap xxxvij.  
ANd from thence men go to a City that is called Tyberias that butteth on the Sea of Galilee, & though it be called the Sea of Galilee, it is no Sea nor arm of the sea, for it is but a stream of fresh water, & it is more than an hundred forlongs long, and xl. broad, and therein is many good fishes, and by that same sea standeth many good cities: therefore this sea changeth often his name after the Cities that stand thereupon, but it is all one water or sea, and upon this sea our Lord walked and there said he to Peter when he came on the water, and was near drowned: O exigua fide praedite, quid dubitasti? That is to say, O Thou of little faith, why didst thou doubt?   

Of the table whereon Christ eat after his resurrection. Chap. xxxviij.  
IN this city of Tyberyas is the table that Christ eat on with his Disciples after his resurrection, & they knew him by breaking of bread, as holy writ saith: Et cognoverunt eum in fractione panis. That is to say. They knew him in breaking of bread, and about the hill of Tyberyas is a city where our Lord fed five thousand people with five Barley loaves and two fishes, and in that city did men cast in anger a firebrand or burning stick  depiction of a male haloed figure or Jesus Christ followed by another male figure; between them a tree growing from among flames after our Lord, but that same burning stick did fall on the earth, and incontinent grew out of the same stick a tree, and is waxen a big tree, and there groweth yet, and the scales of the tree be all black. ye shall understand that the River jordane beginneth under the hill of Labany, and there beginneth the Land of promise, and it lasteth unto Barsabe of length, and from the North part to the South, is nine score mile, and of breadth from jericho to Jaffa, it is forty mile, and ye shall understand that the land of promise beginneth at the kingdom of Surry, and lasteth unto the wilderness of Araby.   

Of strange manners and divers. Chap. xxxix.   depiction of a male figure releasing two birds or pigeons with letters tied to their necks 
AND in this country and in many other lands beyond the sea, it is a custom when they have war, that if a city or castle be besieged so strongly that they may send no messengers to any Lords for succour, than they writ their Letters, and bind them about the necks of Doves, & let them fly their ways, because the Dove is of that nature that he will return again to the place where he is bred, and thus they do commonly in that country. And ye shall understand that among the Saracens in many places dwell Christians under tribute, and they are of divers manners, and sundry sorts of monks, who have divers laws, though they be all Christians and believe all well in our Lord God, the Father, the Son and the holy Ghost, but yet they fail in the Articles of our saith and they are called jacobins.   depiction of a bearded male figure kneeling next to a fire above which is a cloud or avatar of God 
For Saint james converted them to the faith, and Saint john baptized them, and they say that men need only confess their sins unto God, and not unto man, for they say that God bade not man confess him unto another man. And therefore saith David in this manner. Confitebor tibi Domine in toto cord meo, That is to say, Lord I will confess myself unto thee in all my heart. And in another place he saith thus. Peccatum meum cognitum tibi feci: that is to say, my trespass I have made known unto thee. And in another place. Deus meus es tu, & confitebor tibi. That is to say, Thou art my God and I will confess myself unto thee. And in another place. Quoniam cogitatio hominis confitebitur tibi. that is to say, The thought of man shall be known unto thee: and they read often the Bible & Psalter, but they say it not in Latin, but in their own language, and they say that David and other Prophets have said it. But Saint Austen and Saint Gregory say. Qui scelera sua cogitat, & conversus fuerit veniam sibi credat. That is to say, Who so knoweth his sin, & turneth, he may believe to have forgiveness. And Saint Gregory saith thus. Dominus potius mentem quam verbum confiderat. That is to say, Our Lord taketh more heed to thought, then to word. And Saint hilarius saith Longorun temporum crimina ictu oculi perient si cord nata fuerit temptatio. That is to say, Sins that are done of old time perish in twinkling of an eye, if despising of them be borne in a man's heart. And therefore say they, by these authorities, that men shall confess them only to God, and this way the Apostles taught: but Popes that came since have ordained that men shall shrive them to priests and men as they are, and the cause is this. For they say that a man that hath sickness, men may give him no good medicines, except they know that kind of sickness, also they say a man may give no covenable penance, except he know the sin.   depiction of a female figure and a male figure wearing a long pointed hat 
For there is a manner of sin that is grievouser to one man than it is to another, and therefore it is needful that a man know and understand the kind of sin. And there be also other men that are called Surriens, and they hold half our faith, and half the faith of the Greeks, and they have long beards as the Greeks have.   depiction of two tonsured men, one holding a censer and the other a book  

For to return again on this side of Galilee. Chap. xl.  
NOw seeing I have told you of many manners of men that dwell in the country's aforesaid. Now will I turn again to my way for to turn upon this side, for he that will turn from the land of Galilee that I spoke of, to come on this side, he may go through Damas' that is a fair city, and full of good merchandises, & it is three days journey from the sea, & five from Jerusalem, but they carry merchandise upon Camels, Mules, Horses, Dromedaries and other manner of Beasts. This city of Damas' founded Helizeus that was Abraham's servant before Isaac was borne, and he should have been Abraham's heir, and there he named that city Damas', & in that place slew Cain his Brother Abel, and beside Damas' is the mount of Syry, in this city be many Physicians, and that holy man Saint Paul was a Physician to save men's bodies before that he was converted  depiction of a male figure or Cain holding a scythe over a prone male figure or Abel and after he was a Physician of souls. And from Damas' men go to a place called our Lady of Sardmarch, that is five mile from Damas', & it is on a rock, and there is a fair Church, and there dwell Christian Monks and Nuns in that Church. Between the city of Dark, & the city of Raphane is a River called Sabatory, for on the Saturday it runneth fast, and all the week else it standeth still and runneth not, or but a little. And there is another river that on the night freezeth fast, and upon the day no frost is seen. And so men go by a city that men call Berugh, and there those that will go to Cipres take ships, and they arrive at a haven of Sur or of Tyry, and then go men to Cypress, also men may go right from the haven of Tyry, and come not at Cyprus, but arrive at some haven of Gréece, and by these ways men come into the countries before spoken of.   

How a man may go furthest and longest in the countries that are here rehearsed. Chap. xli  
NOw have I told you of ways by the which men go furthest and longest, as by Babylon, and mount Sinai, and other places many, through the which men turn again to the land of promise. Now will I tell you the shortest way to Jerusalem, for many will not go the long way, some for want of company, and many other reasonable causes, and therefore I shall tell you shortly how a man may go with little cost and in short time.  
A man that cometh from the land of the West he goeth through France, Burgoyn, Lombary, and to Venice, or to Gene, or some other haven of those marches, and taketh there a ship and goeth to the isle of Griffe, & so arriveth he in Gréece, or else in port Myroch, or Valon, or Duras, or some other haven of those marches and go to land for to rest him, and goeth again to the sea, and arriveth in Cypress, and cometh not in the isle of Rhodes, but arriveth at Famagost, that is the chief haven of Cypress, or else at Lamaton, & then enter ship again, and pass beside the haven of tire and come not to land, and so passeth by all the havens of the coast till he come to Jaffa, that is the next haven to Jerusalem, for it is xxviij. mile between. And from jaffe men go to the city of Ramos, and that is but little thence, and it is a fair city, and beside Ramos is a fair Church of our Lady, where our Lord showed himself unto her in three shadows, betokening the Trinity, and there near is a Church of Saint George where his head was smitten off, and then to the Castle of Emear, and then to the mount joy, and from thence pilgrims see Jerusalem, & then to mount Modyn, and then go to Jerusalem. At mount Modin lieth the Prophet Malache & over Ramatha is the town of Donke, whereof Amos the Prophet was.   

Of other ways for to go by land to Jerusalem. Chap. xlij.  
FOrasmuch as many men may not suffer the savour of the sea, and better it is to go by land although it be more pain, and a man shall go to one of the havens of Lumberdy, as Venice or an other, and ye shall pass into Gréece to Port Myroch or an other, and ye shall go to Constantinople, and shall pass the water that is called the brath of S. George, that is an arm of the sea. And from thence ye shall come to Puluerall, and then to the castle of Synople, and so to Capadocia, which is a great Country, wherein is many great hills, and ye shall go through Turkey, and to the City of Nike, the which they won from the Emperor of Constantinople, and it is a fair City and well walled, and there is a river that is called the Lay, and then men go by the Alps of Mormaunt, and through the vales of Malebrynes', and the vale of Ernax, and so more easily to Antioch, which standeth richly on the River, and thereabout are many good hills and fair, and many fair woods and wild beasts. And he that will go an other way, he goeth by the Roman coast, & the Roman sea: on that coast is a fair castle that is called Florage, and when a man is out of the hills, he passeth through the city of Moryach, and Artose, where is a great bridge upon the river of fern, that men call Fassor, and it is a great river bearing ships: and beside the city of Damas' is a river that cometh from the mount of Libany, which is called Alban: at the passing of this river Saint Eustage lost his two Sons, when he had lost his wife, & it runneth through the plain of Archades, and to the red sea, and then men go to the City of Fermine, and so to the City of fern, and then to Antioch, and that is a fair city and well walled, and it is two mile long, and there is a bridge over the river, and hath at each pillar a good tower, and is the best City of the kingdom of Surrie. From Antioch men go to the city of Locuth, and so to Geble, and to Tortouse, & thereby is the land of Lambre, and a strong castle that men call Mambeke. And from Tortouse men go to Tripelle on the sea, and by this sea men go to Dacres and there is two ways, to Jerusalem, by the way on the left hand men come first unto Damas' by the river jordane, and on the right side men go through the land of Flagme, & so to the City Caiphas, in which City Caiphas was Lord, & some call it the castle Pellerins, and from thence is four days journey to Jerusalem, and they go through Cesary, Philip and Iaffe and Ramas, Eumaux, and so forth to Jerusalem.   

Yet an other way by land toward the land of Promise. Chap. xliij.  
NOW have I told you some ways by land & by water how men may go to Jerusalem. And if it be so that there be many other ways that men go by, after the countries that they come from, nevertheless they turn all to one end, yet is there a way all by land to Jerusalem, and pass no sea but to France or Flanders but that way is full long and perilous and of great travail, and therefore few go that way, but he that will go that way, must go by Almain and Pruse, and so to Tartary, this Tartary is holden of the great khan, of whom I shall speak afterward for thither lasteth his Lordship, and all the Lords of Tartary yield to him tribute. Tartary is a full evil land, sandy and a little fruit bearing, for there groweth but little corn or fruit, but Beasts are there great plenty, and therefore eat they flesh without bread, and they sup the broth, and they drink milk of all manner of Beasts, they eat cats and all manner of wild beasts, as rats & mice, and they have little wood, and therefore they dress their meat with horse dung, and other beast dung when it is dry. Princes and other Lords eat but once in the day, and that is very little, and they be foul folk, and of evil liking, and in Summer there is many tempests and thunders that slayeth many men and beasts, suddenly it is right cold, and again on the sudden it is right hot. The Prince that governeth that land they call Roco, and he dwelleth at a city that men call Orda, but very few men do desire to dwell in that Land, for it is good to sow thorns and weeds in, but other good there is none, as I heard say, for I was not that way, but I have been in other Countries marching thereon as in the land of Rossie and Nisland, and the kingdom of Grecon, and Lectow, and the kingdom of Grasten, and in many other places, but I went never that way to Jerusalem, and therefore I cannot well tell it, for I have understood that men may not well go that way but in Winter, when the waters and mires that be in that land be frozen and covered with snow, so that men may pass thereon, for were not the snow, there might no man go in that land but he were lost. And ye shall understand that a man must go three days journey from Pruse to pass this way, before he can come to the land of Saracens that men dwell in.  
And if by chance any Christians pass that way as once a year they do, they carry their victual with them, for they should find nothing there but a manner of thing that they call Syles, and they carry their victuals upon the Ice on sleds, and chariots without wheels, and as long as their victuals last they may dwell there but no longer. And when the spies of the countries see Christians come, they run to the towns and castles, and cry aloud, kara, kara, kara, and as soon as they have cried, then doth the people arm them. And ye shall understand that the Ice there is harder than it is here, and every man hath a stew in his house, and therein they eat and do all things that them needeth, and that is at the North part of the world, where it is commonly cold, for the Sun appeareth nor shineth but a little in that country, and that land is in some places so cold that there may no man dwell therein, and on the South side of the world it is in some places so hot that there can no man dwell, the Sun giveth so great heat in those countries.   

Of the faith of the Saracens, and of the book of their law named Alcoran. Chap. xliiij.  
IN as much as I have told you of the Saracens & of other Lands, I purpose to set down a part of their law and of their belief, after as their book saith, that they call Alcoran, and some call that book Mysap some call it Harm in diverse language of countries, which book Mahomet gave them, in the which book he wrote among other things as I have often read and seen, that they that are good shall go to Paradise, and the evil folks to hell, and that believe all Saracens. And if a man ask of what Paradise they mean, they say it is a place of delights, where a man shall find all manner of fruits at 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 maidens, and he shall every day once have to do with them, and yet shall they still be maidens. Also they speak often of the blessed virgin Mary, and tell of the incarnation, that Mary was learned of Angels, and that Gabryel said to her that she was chosen before all other from the beginning of the world, and that witnesseth well their book: and Gabriel told her the incarnation of jesus Christ, and that she should conceive and bear a child, and they say that Christ was a holy Prophet in word and deed, and also meek and right wise to all men, and one not any blame worthy: and they say that when the Angel told to her of the incarnation, she had great dread for she was very young, and there was one in that Country that practised sorcery who was called Takina, that with enchantments could make him like an Angel and he went often and lay with maidens, and therefore was Mary the more afraid of the Angel, and thought in her mind that it had been Takina who went to maidens, and she charged him in the name of God to tell her if he were the same Takina, and the Angel bade her have no dread, for he was for certain a true messenger of jesus Christ.  
Also their book of Alcoran saith that she had a child under a Palm tree, than was she greatly ashamed and wished herself dead, but as soon as her child was borne, he spoke and comforted her saying, Ne timeas Maria. That is to say. Be not afraid Mary. And in many other places saith their book Alcoran, that jesus Christ spoke as soon as he was borne, and the book saith that jesus Christ was sent of almighty God to be ensample to all men, and that God shall judge all men, the good to heaven, and the wicked to hell, & that jesus Christ is the best Prophet of all other, and next to God, and that he was a holy Prophet, for he gave to the blind their sight, and healed all diseases, he raised men and was taken quick into heaven, and if they may find a book with Gospels, namely, Missus est Angelus, they do it great worship, for they fast one month in the year, and eat only on the night, and they keep them from their wives, but they that are sick are not constrained to it. And their book Alcoran speaketh of jews and saith, they are wicked people, for they will not believe that jesus Christ is of God. Also they say that the jews speak falsely of our Lady and her son jesus Christ, saying that they did not hang him on the Cross, for Saracens believe so near our faith, that they are easily converted, when men preach the law of jesus Christ, and they say that they know right well by their Prophesite, that their law of Mahomet shall fail, as doth the Law of the jews, and that the law of Christians shall last to the world's end. And if a man ask them wherein they believe, they say that they believe in God Almighty, that is the maker of heaven and earth, and all other things, and without him is nothing done, and at the day of judgement every man shall be rewarded after his deserving, and that all things is truth that Christ said by the mouths of the Prophets.   

Yet further concerning Mahomet. Chap. xlv.  
ALso Mahomet had in his book Alcoran, that every man should have two wives or three or four, but now they have nine and as many lemans as them liketh, and if any of the wives do wrong to their husbands, he may drive her out of his house and take in an other, but he must give to her part of his goods. Moreover where men speak of the Father, and the Son and the holy Ghost, they say that they are three persons but not one God, for their book Alcoran speaketh not thereof, nor of the Trinity, but they say that God spoke or else he was dumb, & that God had a Ghost or else he was not alive, and they say God's word hath great strength, and so saith their Alcoran, and they say that Abraham and Moses were greatly in favour with God, for they spoke with him, and Mahomet was a right messenger of God, and they have many good articles of our faith, and some understand the Scriptures, Prophets, Gospels, and the Bible, for they have them written in their language, in their manner they know holy writ, but they understand if not but after the letter, and so do the jews, for they understand it not but after their letter spiritually, and therefore saith Saint Paul, Litera occidit spiritus autem vivificat. That is to say, the letter killeth but the spirit quickeneth, and the Saracens say that the jews are wicked, for they keep not the Law of Moses the which he took to them, and also Christians are evil, for they keep not the commandments of the Gospels, that jesus Christ sent unto them, and therefore I shall tell you what the soldan told me upon a day in his chamber shutting out all other men, as Lords, Knights and other: for he would speak with me in counsel, and then asked he me how Christians governed them in our country, and I answered him and said, right well thanks be to God, and he said secretly nay, for he said that our Priests made no force of God's service: for they should give good example to men to do well, and they give ill example, and therefore when the people should go on the holidays to Church to serve God, they go to the Tavern to sin in gluttony both day & night, and eat and drink as beasts that wots not when they have enough, and also Christians (he said) forced them to fight together, and one to beguile other, and they are so proud that they know not how they may clothe them, now short, now long, now straight, now wide, of all manner of fashions. They should be simple, meek and soft, and do their alms as jesus Christ did, in whom they believe, and he said they are so covetous, that for a little money they sell their children, their sisters, and their wives, and one taketh another man's wife and none keepeth his promise to another, therefore said he, for their sins God hath given these lands to our hands, and not through our strength, but all for your sins. For we wots well, that when that ye serve well your God, that he will help you, so that no men shall win of you if that ye serve your God as ye ought to do, but while they live so sinfully as they do, we have no dread on them, for their God shall not help them. And then I asked him how that he knew the state of Christians in that manner, and he said that he knew well both of Lords and commons, by his messengers which he sent through all the countries as it were merchants with precious stones and other merchandise to know the manner of every country. And then he did call again all the Lords into his chamber to us, and then showed he unto me three persons that were great Lords of that country, who showed unto me the manner of my country, and of all Christendom, as though they had been men borne in the same parties, and they spoke french right well and the soldan also, and then I had great marvel of this slander of our faith, and so they that should be turned by our good examples to the faith of jesus Christ, they are drawn away through our evil living, and therefore it is no wonder if that they call us evil, for they say truth, but the Saracens are true, for they keep truly the commandments of their Alcoran.   

Of the birth of Mahomet. Chap. xluj.   depiction of a male figure lying on the ground while another male figure holds a flame to his foot 
And it befell sometime that Christians became Saracens, either through poverty, simpleness or wickedness, and therefore their Archbishop when he received them said thus, Laelles ella Mahomet roses ella, that is to say: There is no God but one, and Mahomet his messenger. And sithen I have told you a part of their law and of their customs: Now I shall tell you of their letters, with their names.  
First, they have for a almoy, bethat for b. cathi c. ethoti e. for d delphoye. for f thy. garophing g. hecum h. iochi i. kathi k. lothun l. malach m. nahalht n. orthy o. thoziri p. zothij q. rucholat r. routhi s. salathy t. chotimus v. yrichom x. mazot z. zalepin &. ioheten con. these are the names. These four letters have they yet more for diversity of their language, forasmuch as they speak so in their throats, as we have in our language, and speak in England. Two letters may they then have in their A. B. C. That is to say y. &. the which are called throne and zowx.   

Of divers Isles and manner of people, and of marvelous Beasts. Chap. xlvij.  
AND sithen I have spoken before of the holy land and countries thereabout, & many ways thither, and to mount Synay, and to Babylon, and divers other places which I have spoken of. Now will I tell & speak of Isles & of divers beasts, and divers folk and countries that be parted by the floods that come out of Paradise terrestre. For Mesopotamia and the kingdom of Called and Araby, are between two floods, Tigree and Euphrates, and the kingdom of Media and Persia are between two floods, Tigree & Nilus, and the kingdom of Surry, Palestine and Femines are between Euphrates and the sea of Mediterani: it is of length from Marroch on the sea of Spain, unto the great Sea, and so lasteth it beyond Constantinople three hundred and twenty mile of Lombary and to the Ocean sea. In Ind is the kingdom of Sichem, that is all closed among hills, and beside Sichem is the land of Amazony, wherein dwell none but women.   depiction of a male figure holding a spear, next to a wild animal or dog biting into the back of a large spotted cat 
And thereby is the kingdom of Albany which is a great land, and it is called so, because that men are more white there them in other places, and in this country are great hounds and strong, so that they overcome Lions and slay them. And ye shall understand that in those countries are many Isles and lands of the which it were too long to tell, but of some I will speak more plainly afterward.   

Of the haven of Gene, for to go by sea into divers Countries. Chap. xlviij.  
NOw he that will go to Tartary, Persie, Chalde, or Ind, he taketh ship at Gene or at Venice, or at any other haven, and so he passeth by the sea and arriveth at Topasond, that is a good city, that sometime men called the haven of bridge, and there is the haven of Persia, of Medes and of other marches. In this city lieth Saint Athanasius, that was bishop of Alexandria, that made the Psalm Quicunque vult.  
This man was a great Doctor of Divinity, and of the Godhead, he was accused unto the Pope of Room, that he was an Heretic, and the Pope sent for him and put him in prison, and while he was in that prison, he made this Psalm and sent it unto the Pope, and said it that he were an Heretic, than was that Heresy, for that was his faith and his belief: and when the Pope saw that he had said therein was all our faith, then anon he did deliver him out of prison, and he commanded that Psalm to be said every day at the beginning of of service, & so he held Athanasius for a good Christian, but he would never after go to his Bishopric, because they accused him of Heresy. To pasond was sometime holden of the Emperor of Constantinople, but a great man that he sent to help the country against the Turks, did hold it to himself and called himself Emperor of Topasond.  
And from thence men go through little Armony, and in that country in an old Castle that is on a rock that men call the Castle of Sypris, and there men find an Hawk sitting upon a perch right well made, and a fair Lady of Fairy that keepeth it, and he that will watch this same Hawk seven days and seven nights, and some say that it is but three days and three nights alone without any company and without sleep: this fair Lady shall come unto him at the seven or at three days end, and shall grant unto him the first thing that he shall ask of worldly things, and that hath often been proved.   depiction of a female figure looking out from a castle window with a bird or hawk in another window; outside stands a male figure with hand outstretched 
And so upon a time it besel that a man who at that time was king of Armony, that was a right doughty man, watched upon a time, and at the seven days end, the Lady came to him and bade him ask what he would, for he had well done his duty, and the king answered and said, that he was a great Lord, and in good peace, & he was rich, so that he would ask nothing but only all the body of the fair Lady, or to have his will of her. Then this fair Lady answered, and said unto him, that he was a fool, for he witted not what he asked, for hèe might not have her, for he should have asked of her only worldly things, and she was not worldly. And the king said he would nought else, and she said, sith he would ask nought else, she would grant him and all that came after him, three things, and said unto him: Sir king, ye shall have war without peace, unto the ninth degree, and ye shall be in subjection unto your enemies, and ye shall have great need of good cattle, and since that time all the Kings of harmony have been in war and needful, and under tribute of the Saracens. Also a poor man's son as he watched on a time, and asked the Lady if that he might be rich and happy in merchandise, and the Lady granted him, but she said to him that he had asked his undoing, for great pride that he should have thereof. And this man became so great a merchant both by sea and land, that he was so rich that he knew not the thousand part of his goods. Also a knight of the templars watched likewise, and when the had done, he desired to have a purse full of gold, and whatsoever he took thereof, it should ever be full again: and the Lady granted it him, but she told him that he had desired his destruction, by the great misspending that he should have of the same purse, and so it befell. But he that shall wake hath great need to keep him from sleep, for if he sleep, he is lost, so that he shall never be seen after: but that is not the right way, but for the marvel. And from Tapasond men go to great Armony to a City that is called Artyron that was wont to be a good City, but that Turks have destroyed it, for there neither groweth wine nor yet fruit. From this Artyron men go to an hill that is called Sabissocoll, and there near is an other hill called Arath, but the jews call it Thano, where the Ark of Noah rested after the Deluge, and yet it is on that hill, a man may see it from far in clear weather, and the hills be xii. mile of height, and some say they have been there, and put their fingers in the holes where the fiend went out when Noah said in this manner, Benedicite. But I understand that for snow that is always upon the hill, both Winter and Summer, no man may go up since Noah was there: but only a Monk through the grace of God, who brought a plank that yet is in the Abbey at the hills foot, for he had great desire to go upon that hill, and when he was at the third part upward, he was so weary that he might go no further, and he rested him and slept, and when he was awake, he was down at the hills foot, and then prayed he to God devoutly that he would suffer him to go to the upper part of the hill, and the Angel said, that he should have his desire, and so be did, and since that time no man did ever come there. And therefore a man ought not to believe all things that are spoken of it.   depiction of a male figure standing beside a mountain with an axe or scythe raised behind his head  depiction of a heavily-laden grape-vine and a tall field of corn behind a fence  

Of the Country of job, and of the Kingdom of Called. Chap. xlix.  
ON the other side of the City of Carnaa men enter into the land of job, that is a good Land and great plenty of all fruits, and that Land is called Swear. In this Land is the City of Thomar. job was a Panim, and also he was Cofraas son, and he held that Land as the prince thereof, and he was so rich, that he knew not the hundred part of his goods, and after his poverty God made him richer than ever he was before, so that he was king of Idumea after the death of king Esau, and when he was king he was called joab, and in that kingdom he lived a C. and lxx. year, so that he was of age when he died CC. and xlviij. year, And in this land of job is no want of any thing that is needful to man's body. There are hills where men find manna, and manna is called Angels bread, that is a white thing right sweet, and much sweeter than sugar or honey, and that cometh of the dew of heaven that falleth on the herbs, and there is congealed and waxed white, and men put it in medicines for rich men.  
This land marcheth to the land of Called which is a great land and there is full fair men, and well appareled, and they go richly arrayed with cloth of Gold, and with Pearls and other precious stones. But the women are right soul & evil clad, and go bare foot, and bear an ill cote, large, wide, & short, unto their knees, and have long sleeves down to the foot, and  depiction of a female figure with very long hair and bare feet, and a male figure they have great black hair long hanging about their shoulders, and they are right foul for to look upon, but I will not tell it all, because that I am not worthy for to have any reward for my praising of them. In this land of Called aforesaid is a city that men call Hur, and in that city was Abraham the Patriarch borne.   

Of the kingdom of Amasony whereas dwell none but women. Chap. L.  
near the Land of Called is the Land of Amasony, wherein do dwell no men but all women, as men say, for they will suffer no man to live among them nor to have rule over them. For sometime there was a king and men dwelling in that Land, as they do in other Countries and had wives, and it befell that the king had great war with them of Sychy, this king was called Colopius and he was slain in battle and all the noble men of his land. And this Queen when she and other Ladies of the land heard that the king and the Lords were slain, they gathered them together and killed all the men that were left in  depiction of two female figures or Amazons, one holding a bow and an arrow, the other holding a pike and a shield their land among them. And when they will have any man to lie by them, they send for them into a Country that is near their land, and the men come and stay there eight days, or as the woman liketh, and then go they again, and if they have men children, they send them to their fathers when they can eat and go, if they have maid children they keep them, and if they be of noble blood they burn the left pap away for bearing of a shield, and if they be of base degree they burn the right pap away for shooting. For those women of that country are good warriors, and are often in pay with other Lords, and the Queen of that land governeth well the land, this land is environed with water. Beside Amazony is the land of Termagute, that is a good land and profitable, and for the goodness of that land king Alexander did make a city there, and called it Alexandria.   

Of the land of Ethiope. Chap. li.  
ON the other side of Chalde toward the South side is Ethiope a great land. In this land on the South are the folk right black. In that side is a well that on the day the water is so cold that no man may drink thereof, and on the night it is so hot that no man may abide to put his hand in it. In this land the rivers and all the waters are troubled and some deal salt for the great heat,  depiction of a naked male figure and a naked female figure, standing in the sun in the desert and men of that land are lightly drunken, and have little appetite to meat, and they have commonly the flux of body, and they live not long.  
 depiction of a mythical creature, a monopod, sciapod, or male figure lying on his back with a single enormous leg  
In Ethiope are such men that have but one foot, and they go so fast that it is a great marvel, and that is a large foot that the shadow thereof covereth the body from Sun or rain when they lie upon their backs, & when their children are first borne they look like russet, and when they wax old than they be all black. In Ethiope is the land of Saba, of the which one of the three kings that sought our Lord at Bethlehem was King.   

Of Ind the more and the less, and of Diamonds, and small people, and other things. Chap. lij.  
FRom Ethiope men go into Ind through many and divers countries, first through Ind the more, and it is parted into three parts, that is to say, Ind the more, which is a hot Land, and Ind the less, which is a temperate land, and the third part is toward the North, & there it is right cold, so that with great cold, frost, and Ise, the water becometh Crystal, & upon that groweth the good Diamonds that are of a troubled colour, that diamond is so hard that no man may break it. Other Diamonds men find in Araby that are not so good, for they are more soft, and there be some in Cypress: and in Macedony men find Diamonds also, but the best are in Ind, and some many times are found in amass in the mine where gold is gotten, when men break the mass in pieces: sometime men find some of greatness of a Pease, and some less, and those are as hard as those of Ind: sometime there are good Diamonds found in Ind upon the Rock of Crystal: and also upon the Rock of Adamand in the sea, and on other hills are found Diamonds that are as great as Hasell nuts, which are all square and pointed of their own kind, and they grow two together male and female, and are nourished with the dew of heaven, and they engender commonly and bring forth other small ones, which increase & grow all the year. I have many times tried, that if a man keep them with a little of the rock, and wet them with many dews sometime, they will grow every year, and the small will wax great, and if a man do bear that Diamond in his left side, than it is of more virtue, for the strength of their growiag is toward the North, that is on the left side as men of those countries say. To him that beareth the Diamond upon him it giveth hardiness, it keepeth the limbs of his body, also it giveth a man victory of his enemies if his cause be right, and it keepeth him that beareth it in good will from strife, from riot, ill dreams, sorceries and enchantments. Moreover no wild beast shall grieve him nor assail him. This Diamond should be given freely without covetousness or buying, for than it is of most virtue, it healeth him that is lunatic and he that is possessed with a Devil, and as soon as any venom or poison be brought near to the Diamond, it moisteneth and beginneth to sweat, and men may easily polish them, though some think that they may not be polished. But men may assay them well in this manner: first, cut them on precious stones, as sapphires or upon Crystal, and then take a stone that is called Adamand, and lay a needle before that Adamand, and if the Diamond be good and virtuous, the Adamand draweth not the needle to it, whiles the Diamond is there. And this is the proof that they make beyond the sea. But it chancheth sometime that the good Diamond looseth it virtue through him that beareth it, and therefore it is needful for to make it to recover his virtue again, or else it is little of value.  
 depiction of two mythical creatures, naked androgynous figures or hermaphrodites   

Of divers kingdoms and Isles in the land of Ind. Chap. liij.  
THere are in Ind many countries and divers kingdoms, and it taketh the name of a river that runneth through it, which is called Ind also, and there are many precious stones in the said River, and divers other strange things, as Eels of thirty foot long, and men that dwell near that river are of evil colour, yellow and green. In the land of Jude are more than five thousand Isles that are inhabited (beside divers that are uninhabited) and in each one of those is great plenty of Cities, and much people: for men of Ind are of that condition that commonly they pass not out of their land, for they dwell under the Planet Saturn, and that Planet maketh his course by the xii. Signs in thirty year, and the Moon passeth through the xii. Signs in a month, and for that Saturn is of so little stirring, therefore men that dwell under it, and in that Climate have no good will to stir much abroad. But in our country it is contrary, for we are in a Climate that is of the Moon, and of light stirring, and that is the Planets of way, and therefore it giveth us will to much moving and stirring, and to go into divers Countries of the world, for it goeth about the world more lightly than any other Planet doth. Also men pass through Ind to many countries by sea. And then they come to the isle of Hermes, where Merchants of Venice and of Gene and of other divers parts of Christendom come to buy their merchandise, but it is so warm there in that I'll that men's members hang down to their shanks for the great dissolving of the body. And men of that country that know that manner do bind them full strait and anoint them with ointments made therefore for to hold them up, or else they might not live.   depiction of a naked male figure and female figure standing in the sun  depiction of a male figure kneeling before a simulacre or idol with the body of a human and the head of an ox 
And also they have their reasons for other planets, and for fire also, for it is profitable and needful. And of Idols they say, that the Ox is the holiest that they may find here on earth, and more profitable than any other, for he doth much good, and none ill, and they know well that it may not be without the special grace of God, and therefore they make their God of an Ox the one half, and the other half a man, for man is the fairest and the best creature in the World. And they do worship to Serpents and other beasts that they first meet with in the morning, and namely those beasts that have good meeting after whom they speed well all the day after, the which they have proved of long time, and therefore they say that this meeting cometh of God's grace, and therefore they do make Images like unto these things that they may worship them before they meet any thing else.   depiction of two dogs or dog-sized rats 
And there are some Christians that say some Beasts are better for to meet then other, for Hares, Swine, and other beasts are ill to meet first as they say. In this isle of Cana is many wild beasts, and rats in that country are as great as hounds here, and they take them with mastises, for cats may not take them. From thence men come to a City that is called Sarchis, and it is a fair and good city, and there dwell many Christians of God's faith, and there be men of Religion. From thence men come to the Land of Lombe, and in that land groweth pepper in a forest that is called Tomber and it groweth in none other place more in all the world then in that forest, and that forest is fifty days journey, & there by the land of Lombe is the city of Polomes', and under that city is a hill that men call Polombe, and thereof taketh the city his name.  
And so at the foot of the same hill is a right fair and a clear well, that hath a full good and sweet savour, and it smelleth of all manner sorts of spices. And also at each hour of the day it changeth his savour diversly, and who so drinketh thrice in the day of that well, he is made whole of all manner sickness that he hath, I have sometime drunk of that well, and me thinketh yet that I far the better, some call it the Well of youth, for they that drink thereof seem to be young always, & live without much sickness, and they say this well cometh from Paradise terrestre, for it is so virtuous, and in this land groweth ginger, and thither come many rich merchants for spices. In this country men worship an Ox for his great simpleness and meekness, & the profit that is in him, for they make the Ox to travail vi. or seven. year, and then men do eat him. And the king of that land hath evermore one Ox with him, and he that keepeth him every day taketh his fees for the keeping. And also every day he gathereth his urine, and his dung in a vessel of gold, and beareth it to the prelate that they call Arched porta papaton, and the prelate beareth it to the king, and maketh thereupon a great blessing, and then the king putteth his hand therein, and they call it gall, and he anointeth his front, and his breast therewith, and they do it great worship, and say he shall be fulfilled with the virtue of the Ox before said, and that he is hallowed through virtue of those holy things as they say. And when the king hath thus done, than other Lords do it, and after them other men after their degree if they may have any of the remnant.  
In this country their Idols are half man and half Ox, as the figure in the second leaf before is showed, and out of these Idols the wicked Ghost speaketh unto them, and giveth them answer of what thing that they ask him, and before these Idols they many times slay their children, and sprinkle the blood on the Idols, and so make sacrifice. And if any man die in that country, they burn them in token of penance, that he should suffer no penance if he were laid in the earth by eating of worms. And if his wife have not children, than they burn her with him, and they say that it is good reason that she keep him company in the other world as she did in this, and if she have children she may live with them, if she will, and if the wife die before, she shall be burnt and her husband also if he will. In this country groweth good wine, and women drink wine and men none, and women shave their heads and not men.   

Of the kingdom of Mabaron. Chap. liiij.  
FRom this land men go many days journey to a country called Mabaron, and this is a great kingdom, therein is many fair Cities and Towns. In this land lieth Saint Thomas in a fair tomb in the city of Calamy, and the arm and the hand that he put in our Lord's side after his Resurrection, when  depiction of a hand emerging from a tomb Christ said unto him, Noli esse incredulus, sed fidelis: that is to say, be not of vain hope but believe, that same hand lieth yet without the tomb bare, and with this hand they give their domes in that country, to wit who saith right, and who doth not, for if any strife be between two parties, they writ their names, and put them into the hand, and then incontinently the hand casteth away the bill of him that doth wrong, and holdeth the other still that doth right, and therefore men come from far countries to have judgement of causes that are in doubt.  
In this Church of Saint Thomas is a great Image that is a simulacre and it is richly beset with precious stones and pearls, to that Image men come in pilgrimage from far countries with great devotion, and there come some pilgrims that bear sharp knives in their hands, and as they go by the way, they shear their shanks and thighs that the blood may come out for the love of that Idol, and they say that he is holy that will die for that Idols sake. And there is some that from the time that they go out of their houses at each third pace they kneel till that they come to this Idol, and when they come there, they have incense or such other thing to offer to the Idol. And there before that Minster or Church of this Idol is a river full of water, and in that river pilgrims cast Gold, Silver, pearls and other precious stones without number, instead of offerings, and therefore when as the minster hath any need of mending, than the master of the Minster goes unto that river, and takes out thereof as much as is needful for the mending of the Minster. And ye shall understand  depiction of a male figure with a sword or scimitar kneeling beside his hat in front of a cart containing a simulacre or idol of a male head that when any great feasts of that Idol come, as the dedication of the Church, or of the throning of the Idol, all the country thereabout assemble there together, and then men set this Idol with great reverence and worship in a chair well dressed with cloth of gold and other tapistry, and so they carry him with great reverence and worship round about the City, and before the chair goeth first in Procession all the maidens of the country, two and two together, and so after them go the pilgrims that are come from far countries of the which pilgrims some fall down before the Chair, and letteth all go over them, and so are they slain, and some have their arms & legs broken and they do it for love of the Idol, and they believe the more pain that they suffer here for their Idol, the more joy shall they have in the other world: but a man shall find few Christians that will suffer so much penance for our Lord's sake, as they do for their Idol. And nigh before the chair go all the minstrels of the Country, which are without number with many divers melodies.  
 depiction of male figure slicing himself with a knife in front of a simulacre or idol with a demonic head sitting on a tower pointing downward; nearby another male figure  
And when they are come again to the Church they set up the Idol again in his Throne, and for worship of the Idol two or three are willingly slain with sharp knives, and the men in that country think they have great worship, if that holy man which is slain be of their kindred: likewise they say that all those that are there slain are holy men and Saints and they are written in their lettany, and when they are thus dead their friends burn their bodies and they take the ashes, and those are kept as relics, and they say it is an holy thing, and that they have doubt of no peril when they have of those ashes.   

Of a great country called Lamory, where the people go all naked, and other things. Chap. lv.  
 depiction of a naked male figure and a naked female figure, standing in the sun in the desert  
FRom this country two and fifty days journey is a country that is called Lamory, and in that land is great heat, and it is the custom there that men and women go all naked, and they scorn all them that are clad, for they say that God made Adam and Eve all naked, and that men should have no shame of that God made, and they believe in the same God that made Adam and Eve, and all the world, and there is no woman married, but women are all common there, and they refuse no man. And they say that God commanded to Adam and Eve and all that come of him saying: Crescite et multiplicamini et repleti terram. Increase and multiply and fill the earth, no man there may say this is my wife, nor no woman may say this is my husband, and when they have children they give them to whom they will of them that have meddled with them.  
Also the Land is all common, for every man taketh what he will, for that one man hath now this year, an other man hath the next year. And all the goods, as Corn, Beasts, and all manner of things in that country is all common. For there is nothing under lock, and as rich is one man as another: but they have an evil custom in eating of flesh, for they eat more gladly man's flesh then other. Nevertheless, in that land is abundance of corn, of flesh, of fish, of gold of silver, and of all manner of goods. And thither do Merchants bring children  depiction of a male figure, naked apart from a helmet and sword, defending a shield, decorated with two keys crossed over a column, from another male figure with a sword for to sell, and those that are fat they eat, but those that be lean they keep till they be fat, and then are they eaten. And beside this isle of Lamory is another called Somober, the which is a good I'll, and there both men and women that are of the nobility are marked in the visage with an hot iron, that they may be known from other, for they think themselves the worthiest of the world, and they have evermore war with those men that are naked of whom I spoke before. And there are many other Isles and people, of the which it were overmuch for to speak here.   

Of the country and I'll named jana, which is a mighty Land. Chap. lvi.  
ANd there is also a great Isle that is called jana, and the king of the country hath under him seven kings, for he is a full mighty Prince. In this isle groweth all manner of spices more plenteously then in any other places, as Ginger, Cloves, Nutmegs and other, and ye shall understand that the Nutmeg beareth the Mace: also in that I'll is great plenty of  depiction of a fruit tree all things save wine. The king of this Land hath a rich Palace, and the best that is in the world, for all the stars of his hall and chambers are made one of gold, and another of silver, and all the walls are plated with fine gold and silver, and in those plates are written stories of knights, and battles, and the flowers of the hall and chambers are of gold and silver, so that no man would believe the great riches that are there except he had seen it, and the king of this isle is so mighty that he hath many times overcome the great khan of Cathay, which is the mightiest Emperor that is in all the world, there is often war between them, for the great khan would make him hold his land of him.   

Of the kingdom of Pathen or Salmasse, which is a goodly land. Chap. lvij.  
ANd for to go forth by the Sea, there is an isle that is called Pathen, and some call it Salmasse, for it is a great with many fair cities. In this land grows trees that bear meal, of which men make fair bread & while, & of good savour, & it seemeth like as it were wheat. And there be other trees which bear venom, against the which is no medicine  depiction of two fruit trees, one with leaves but only to take of the leaves of the same trees and stamp them, and temper them with water, and drink it, or else he shall die suddenly, for nothing else may help him. And if ye will know how these trees bear meal, I shall tell you, men hew with an hatchet about the root of the tree by the earth, & they pierce it in many places, and then cometh out a liquor the which they take in a vessel and set it in the Sun, and dry it, and when it is dry they carry it unto the mill to grind, and so it is fair meal and white. Also honey, wine and venom are drawn out of other trees in the same manner, and they put it in vessels, to keep. In that I'll is a dead sea, which is a water that hath no bottom, and if any thing fall therein, it shall never be found: beside that sea groweth great Canes, and under their roots men find a precious stone of great virtue, for he that beareth one of those stones about him, there may no Iron grieve him nor draw blood on him, and therefore they that have those stones fight full hardly, for there may no weapon that is of Iron grieve him, therefore they that know the manner, make their weapons without iron, and so they slay them.   

Of the kingdom of Talonach, the king whereof hath many wives, Chap lviij.  
THen is there another I'll that men call Talonach the same is a great land, and therein is great plenty of fish & other goods, as you shall hereafter hear.  
And they king of that land hath as many wives as he will, a thousand and more, and he never lieth but once by any one of them, also in that land is a great marvel, for all manner of fishes of the sea cometh thither once  depiction of a male figure with a sword or scimitar kneeling beside his hat in front of a cart containing a simulacre or idol of a male head a year one after another, and lieth near the land, sometime on the land, and so lie three days and men of that land come thither and take of them what they will, and then go those fishes away and an other sort cometh, and lieth also three days, & men take of them, and thus do all manner of fishes till all have been there, and men have taken what they will. But no man can tell the cause why it is so But they of that country say, that those fishes come so thither to do worship to their king, for they say he is the worthiest king of the world, for he hath  depiction of male figure taking a fish from the sea with his bare hands so many wives and getteth so many children of them. And that same king hath xiv. M. Elephants or more which be tame, and they be kept for his pleasure by the men of the country, so that he may have them ready at his hand when he hath any war against any King or Prince, and then he doth put upon their backs castles and men of war as the use of the land is, and likewise do other kings and princes thereabout.  
 depiction of an elephant with a castle on its back and a wild boar   

Of the Island called Raso, where men be hanged as soon as they are sick. Chap. lix.  
 depiction of a naked male figure bound to a tree surrounded by four birds  
AND from this isle men go to another I'll called Raso, and the men of this isle when their friends are sick, and that they believe surely that they shall die, they take them and hang them up quick on a tree, and say it is better that birds that are Angels of God eat them, than worms of the earth. From thence men go to an isle where the men are of an ill kind, for they nourish hounds for to strangle men And when their friends are sick that they hope they shall die, then do those hounds strangle them, for they will not that they die a kindly death, for than should they suffer too great pain, as they say, and when they are thus dead they eat their flesh for venison.   

Of the Island of Melke wherein dwelleth evil people. Chap. lx.  
FRom thence men go by sea through many Isles unto an isle called Melke, and there be full ill people, for they have none other delight but for to fight and slay men, for they drink gladly man's blood which  depiction of two armoured male figures with swords, one holding a cup blood they call good, and they that may slay most, is of most fame among them. And if there be two men at strife, and after be made at one, then must they drink either others blood, or else the accord is of no value. From this isle men go to an other I'll that is called Traconit where all men are as beasts,  depiction of a male figure biting the head off a snake, with two snakes on the ground nearby for they are unreasonable, and they dwell in caves for they have not wit to make houses, these men eat Adders and speak not, but make such a noise as Adders do one to another, and they make no force of riches, but of a stone that is of forty colours, and it is called Traconit after that I'll, they know not the virtue thereof, but they covet it for the great fairness.   

Of the Island named Macumeran, whereas the people have heads like hounds. Chap. lxi.  
 depiction of a mythical creature, a cynocephalus or male figure with a dog's head holding a spear and a shield standing before a simulacre or idol of an ox  
FRom that I'll men go to an other that is called Macumeran, which is a great Isle & a fair, and the men and women of that country have heads like hounds, they are reasonable, and worship an Ox for their God, they go all naked but a little cloth before their privy members, they are good men to fight, and they bear a great Target with which they cover all the body, and a spear in their hand, and if they take any man in battle, they send him to their king, which is a great Lord and devout in his faith, for he hath about his neck on a Cord three hundred Pearls great and orient, and as we say our Pater noster and other prayers, right so their king saith every day three hundred prayers to his God before he either eat or drink, and he beareth also about his neck a Ruby, orient, fine and good, that is near a foot and five fingers long. For when they choose their king they give to him that Ruby to bear in his hand, & then they lead him riding about the city, and then ever after are they subject to him, and therefore he beareth that Ruby always about his neck, for if he bear not the Ruby, they would no longer hold him for King. The great khan of Cathay hath much coveted this Ruby: but he might never have it, neither for war nor for other goods, and this king is a full true and  depiction of a giant lizard righteous man, for men may go safely & surely through his land, and bear all that he will, for there is no man so hardy to let them. And from thence men go to an isle that is called Silo, this isle is more than an hundred mile about, and therein be many Serpents which are great, with yealow-stripes, and they have four feet, with short legs, and great claws, some be five fathom of length, and some of eight, and some of ten, and some more, some less, and be called Cocodrils, and there are also many wild beasts and Elephants.  
Also in this isle and in many Isles thereabout are many wild geese with two heads, and there be also in that country white Lions, and many other divers marvelous beasts, and if I should tell all, it would be to long.  
 depiction of a mythical creature, a bird or goose with two heads   

Of a great Island called Dodyn, where are many men of evil conditions. Chap. lxij.   depiction of a female figure strangling a young male figure with a rope while a male figure holds an axe raised behind his head; in the background another male figure 
THen is there another I'll called Dodyn, and it is a great I'll. In the same I'll are many and divers sorts of men who have evil manners, for the father eateth the son, & the son the father, the husband his wife, and the wife her husband. And if it so be that the father be sick, or the mother, or any friend, the Son goes soon to the priest of the law, and prayeth him that he will ask of the Idol if his father shall die of that sickness or not. And then the priest and the son kneel down before the Idol devoutly and ask him, and he answereth to them, and if he say that he shall live, than they keep him well, and if he say that he shall die, then cometh the Priest with the son or with the wife, or any that is a friend unto him that is sick, and they lay their hands over his mouth to stop his breath, & so they slay him, and then they smite all the body into pieces, and prayeth all his friends for to come and eat of him that is dead, and they make a great feast thereof, and have many minstrels there, and eat him with great melody.  
And so when they have eaten all the flesh, than they take the bones and bury them all singing with great worship, and all those of his friends that were not there at the eating of him have great shame and reproof, so that they shall never more be taken as friends.   depiction of a mythical creature, a cyclops or naked male figure with one eye next to a fishpond  depiction of a mythical creature, a Blemmye or human figure with no head and a face in its chest  depiction of a mythical creature, a human figure with no nose  depiction of a mythical creature, a human figure with no nose  depiction of a naked male figure and female figure standing in the sun  

Of the kingdom of Mancy, which is a large kingdom of the world. Chap. lxiij.  
TO go from this isle toward the East, after many days a man shall come to a kingdom called Mancy, and this is in great Ind, and it is the most delectable and plentiful land in all the world. In this land dwell Christians & Saracens, for it is a great land, and therein are two thousand great Cities, and many other towns. In this land no man goeth a begging, for there is no poor man, and there men have beards as it were Cats. In this isle are fair women, and therefore some men call that land Albany, for the white folk, and there is a city that is called Latorim, and it is bigger than Paris, and in that land are Birds twice greater than they be here, and there is all manner of victuals good cheap. In this country are white hens, and they bear no feathers but wool, as sheep do in our  depiction of two mythical creatures, birds or hens covered in wool Land, and women of that Country that are wedded bear crowns upon their heads, that they may be known by. In this country they take a beast that is called a Loire, and they keep it to go into waters or rivers, & strait way he bringeth out of the water great fishes, and thus they take fish as much as them needeth.  
From this city men go many days journey to another City called Cassay, which is the fairest City of the world, and that city is fifty mile about, and there is in that City above xii. principal gates without. From thence within three mile is another great City, and within this City are more than twelve thousand bridges, & upon each bridge is a strong tower, where the keepers dwell to keep it against the great khan, for it boundeth on his land, and on each side of the city runneth a great river, and there dwell Christians and other, for it is a good and plenteous country, and there groweth right good wine, in this noble city the king of Mancy was wont to dwell and there dwell religious men, as friars. And men go upon the river till they come to an Abbey of Monks a little from the city, and in that Abbey is a great garden, and therein is many manner of trees of divers fruits, in that garden are divers kinds of beasts, as Baboynes, Apes, Marmozets, and other, and when the covent have eaten, a Monk taketh the relief and beareth it into the Garden, and smiteth once with a bell of silver, which he holdeth in his hand, and anon come out these beasts that I spoke of, and many more, near two or three thousand, and he giveth them meat in fair vessels of silver, and when they have eaten, he smiteth the bell again, and they go away, and the Monk saith that those beasts are souls of men that are dead, and those beasts that are fair, are souls of Lords and other rich men, and those that are foul beasts are souls of other commons, and I asked them if it had not been better to give that relief to poor men, and they said there is no poor men in that country, but if there were, yet were it more alms to give it to those souls that suffer there their penance, and may go no farther to get their meat, then to men that have wit, and may travail for their meat. Then men come to a City that is called Chibens, and there was the first siege of the king of Mancy. In this city are three score bridges of stone as fair as may be made.   

Of the Land of Pigmy, the people whereof are but three spans long. Chap. lxiiij.  
WHen men pass from that City of Chibens, they pass over a great river of fresh water, and it is near four mile broad, and then men enter into the land of the great khan. This river goeth through the land of Pigmy, and there men are of little stature, for they are but three spans long, and they are right fair both men and women, though they be little, and they are married when they are half a year old, and they live but eight year, for he that liveth eight year is holden right old, and these small men are the best workmen of silk and of cotton, and all manner of things that are in the world: and these men travail not nor till land but they have among them great men as we are, to travail for them, and 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. Chap. lxv.  
FRom this Land men go through many countries, cities, & towns, till they come to a city that men call Menke. In that city is a great Navy of ships and they are as white as snow of the kind of the wood that they are made of, and they are made as it were great houses with walls and chambers, and other easements.   

Of the land named Cathay and of the great riches thereof. Chap. lxuj.  
ANd from thence men go upon a river that men call Ceremolan, and this river goeth through Cathay and doth many time's harm when it waxeth great: Cathay is a fair country and rich, full of goods and merchandise: thither come merchants every year for to fetch spices and other merchandises more commonly than they do to other countries. And ye shall understand that Merchants that come from Venice, or from Gene, or from other places of Lomberdy, or of Italy, they go by sea and land xi. months and more or they come to Cathay.   

Of a great city named Cadon, therein is the great Caanes palace and siege. Chap. lxvij.  
IN the province of Cathay toward the East, is an old City, and beside that City the Tartarians have made another city that men call Cadon that hath xii. gates and between each two gates is a great mile, so those two cities the old and the new is round about xx. mile. In this city is the palace and siege of the great khan, it is a full fair place and great, of which the walls about be two mile, and within that are many fair places & in the garden of that palace is a right great hill on the which is another palace, and it is the fairest that may be found in any place, and all about the hill are many trees bearing divers fruits, and about this hill is a great ditch, and there near are many rivers on each side, and in those are many wild Fowls that he may take and 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 Panthera.  
Those are fair beasts and well smelling, and of the smell of those skins, none evil smell may come to the Palace: those skins are as red as blood, and they shine so against the Sun, that a man can scarcely behold them, and those skins are esteemed there as much as Gold. In the midst of the palace is a place made that they call the Mountour for the great khan, that is well made with precious stones and great, hanging about, & at the four corners of the Mountour are four nedders of gold, and under that Mountour and about are Conduits of Beverage that they drink in the Emperors Court. And the hall of that Palace is richly dight and well: and first at the upper end of the hall is the Throne of the Emperor right high, where he sitteth at meat, at a Table that is well bordered with gold, and that border is full of precious stones and great Parles, and the gréeces on which he goeth up are of divers precious stones bordered with gold.  
At the left side of his Throne is the seat of his wife, a degree lower than he sitteth, and that is of jasper, bordered with gold, and the seat of his second wife is a degree lower than the first, and that is also of good jasper, bordered with gold, and the seat of the third wife is a degree lower than the second, for always he hath three wives with him wheresoever he is: besides these wives, on the same side sitteth other Ladies of his kin, each one lower than other, as they are of degree, and all those that are married, have a counterfeit of a man's foot upon their heads a cubit long, and all made with Precious stones, and about they are made with shining feathers of Peacocks or such other, in tokening that they are in subjection of man, and under men's feet, and they that are not wedded have none such. And on the right side of the Emperor sitteth first his Son the which shall be Emperor after him, and he sitteth also a degree lower than the Emperor, in such manner of seats as the Emperor sitteth, and by him sitteth other Lords of his kin, each one 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 each one of his wives hath a table by herself.  
And under the emperors Table sitteth four Clarks at his feet, that writeth all that the Emperor saith, be it good or ill. And at great feasts about the emperors Table, and all other Tables in the hall is a Vine made of gold, that goeth all about the hall, and it hath many branches of Grapes, like to grapes of the Vine, some are white, some are yellow, some red, some green, and some black: all the red are of Rubies, of creames, or Allabonce, the white are of Crystal or Byrall, the yellow are of Topaces, the green are of Emeralds, and Crisolites, and the black are of Quicksand Gerandes, and this Vine is made thus of precious stones so properly, that it seemeth that it were a Vine growing. And before the Board of the Emperor standeth great Lords, and no man is so hardy to speak unto him, except it be Musicians for to solace the Emperor. And all the vessel that is served in his hall or chambers are of precious stones, and specially at the tables where great Lords eat, that is to say, of jasper, Crystal, Amethyst, or fine gold, and the cups are of Emeralds, sapphires, Topaces, and other, of many manner of stones and silver have they no vessel, for they esteem but little of silver to make vessel off, but they make of silver, gréeces, pillars and pavements of hals and chambers. And ye shall understand that my fellow and I were in wages with him xvi. months against the king of Mancy, upon whom he made war, and the cause was, we had so great desire to see the nobility of his Court, if it were such as we heard speak off, and forsooth we found it more richer, and of greater royalltie than ever we heard speak off, and we should never have believed it, had we not seen it, but ye shall understand the use of our eating and drinking is more civil among us then in those countries, for all the commons eat upon skins of beasts on their knees, and eat but flesh of all manner of beasts, & when they have all eat, they wipe their hands in their skirts, and they eat but once on the day, and eat but little bread, but the manner of the Lords is full noble.   

Wherefore the Emperor of Cathay is called the great khan. Chap. lxviij.  
ANd ye shall understand why he is called the great khan, ye know that all the world was destroyed with noah's flood, but No his wife and children: Noah had three sons, Sem, Cham and japheth, I'm when he saw his father's privities naked when he slept, he scorned it, and therefore he was 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 Afryke, and japheth took Europe. I'm was the mightiest and richest of his brethren, and of him are come the Panim folk, and divers manner of men of the Isles, some headless, and other men disfigured, for this Cham the Emperor there called him Cham and Lord of all. But ye shall understand that the Emperor of Cathay is called khan, and not Cham, and for this cause it is not long ago that all Tartary was in subjection and thrall to other nations about, and they were made herdmen, to keep beasts, and among them was seven. lineages or kinds, the first was called Tartary that is the best, the second lineage is called Tamahot, the third Furace, the fourth Valaire, the fift Semoth, the sixth Menchy, and the seventh Sobeth. These are all holding of the great khan of Cathay. Now it befell that the first lineage was an old man, and he was not rich, and men called him Chanius. This man lay and slept on a night in his bed, and there came to him a knight all white sitting upon a white horse, and said to him, khan sleepest thou, God that is almighty sent me to thee, and it is his will that thou say to the seven. lineages that thou shalt be their Emperor, for ye shall conquer all the land about you, and they shall be in your subjection as you have been in theirs, and when morrow came he rose up and said to the seven lineages, and they scorned him and said he was a fool, and the next night the same knight came to the seven. lineages, and bade them in God's behalf to make Chanius their Emperor, and they should be out of all subjection. And on the morrow they chose Chanius to be Emperor, and did him all worship that they might do, and called him Caane as the white knight called him, & they said they would do as he bade them. Then he made many statutes and laws, the which they called Isakan. The first statute was that they should be obedient to God almighty & believe that he should deliver them out of thraldom, and that they should call on him in all their works. Another statute was, that all men that might bear arms should be numbered, and to each ten should be a master, and to a hundred a master, and to a thousand a master. Then he commanded to all the greatest and principallest of the seven. 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, & they did so. And also he bade them that each man should bring his eldest son before him, and slay his own Son with his own hands, and smite off their heads, and as soon they did his bidding. And when he saw they made no letting of that he bade them, than bade he them follow his banner, and then he put in subjection all the lands about him.   

How the great khan was hid under a tree, and so escaped his enemies, because of a Bird. Chap. lxix.  
AND it befell on a day that the khan road with a few men to see the land that he had won, and he met with a great multitude of his enemies, and there he was cast down off his horse and his horse slain, and when his men saw him at the earth, they thought he had been dead, and fled, and the enemies followed after, and when he saw his enemies were far, he hide him in a bush, for the wood was thick there, and when they were come again from the chase, they went to seek him among the wood if any were hid there, and they found many, and as they came to the place where he was, they saw a bird sit on a tree, the which bird men call an Owl, & then said they, that there was no man for the bird sat there, and so went they away, and thus was the khan saved from death, and so he went away on a night to his own men which were glad of his coming: and from that time unto this day men of that Country have that Bird in great reverence, and for that cause they worship that bird above all other birds of the world.  
And incontinent he assembled all his men, and road upon his enemies and destroyed them, and when he had won all the lands that were about him, he held them in subjection: And when the khan had won all the Lords to mount Belyan, the white knight came to him in a vision again and said unto him, khan the will of God is that thou pass the mount Belyan, and thou shalt win many lands, and because thou shalt find no passage, go thou to the mount Belyan, that is upon the sea side, and kneel nine times thereon against the East in worship of God, and he shall show thee a way how thou shalt pass, & the khan did so, & anon the sea that touched the hill withdrew itself and showed him a fair way of nine foot broad between the hill and the sea, and so he passed right well with all his men, and then he won the land of Cathay that is the best land and the greatest of all the world, and for those ix. knéelings and the nine foot of way, the Caane and the men of Tartary have the number of nine in great worship.   

Of the great Caanes letters and the writing about his Seal. Chap. lxx.  
AND when he had won the land of Cathay he died, and then reigned after Cythoco the eldest Son of khan and his other brothers went to win them lands in other countries, and they won the land of Pruisse, & of Rusie, & they did call themselves Caanes, but he of Cathay is the greatest Lord of all the world, and so he called him in his letters and saith thus. Caane filius Dei excelsi universam terram colentium sumus imperator & Dominus Dominantium. That is to say: Caane God's son, Emperor of all those that till all the land, and Lord of Lords. And the writing about his great seal is. Deus in coelo, & Caane super terram eius fortitudo omnium hominum Imperatoris sigillum: That is to say, God in heaven, khan upon earth, his strength the seal of the Emperor of all men. And the writing about his privy seal is. Dei fortitudo omnium hominum imperatoris sigillum: That is, The strength of God, the seal of the Emperor of all men. And though it be so that they be not christians, yet the Emperor and the Tartarians believe God almighty.   

Of the governance of the country of the great khan. Chap. lxxj.  
NOw have I told you why he is called the great khan: Now shall I tell you of the governing of his Court when they make great feasts, and he keepeth four principal feasts in the year, the first is of his birth, the second when he was 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, and at those times he hath men well arrayed by thousands and by hundreds, and each one wots well what he shall do. For there is first ordained four thousand rich barons and mighty, for to ordain the feast and to serve the Emperor, and all these barons have crowns of Gold, well dight with precious stones and pearls, and they are clad in  of gold and camathas as richly as they may be made, and they may well have such clothes, for they are there of less price then  cloth is here. And those four thousand Barons are parted into four parts, and each company is clad in divers colours right richly, & when the first thousand is passed and hath showed themselves, then come the second thousand, and then the third thousand, and then the fourth, and none of them speaketh a word. And on the one side of the Emperor's table sitteth many Philosophers of many sciences, some of Astronomy, Necromancy, Geometry, Pyromacy, and many other sciences, and some have before them Astolabes of Gold or precious stones full of sand, or of coals burning, some have horologes well dight and richly, and other many instruments after their Sciences, and at a certain hour when they see time they say to men that stand before them make peace, and then say those men with a loud voice to all the hall now be still a while, and then saith one of the Philosophers each man make reverence and incline to the Emperor that is God's Son & Lord of the world, for now is time and hour, and then all men incline to him and kneel on the earth, and then the Philosopher biddeth them rise up again, and at another hour another Philosopher biddeth them put their finger in their ears and they do so, and at another hour another Philosopher biddeth that all men shall lay their hand on their heads, and they do so, and then he biddeth them take them away, and they do so, & thus from hour to hour they bid divers things, and I asked privily what it 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 the Emperor, that for no gift nor threatening they shall never be traitors nor false to him, and the putting of the finger in the ear hath this token, that none of those shall hear any ill spoken of the Emperor, or his counsel. And ye shall understand that men dight nothing, as clothes, bread, drink, nor no such things to the Emperor but at certain hours that the Philosophers tell, and if any man raise war against the Emperor in what country soever it be, these Philosophers know it soon, and tell the Emperor or his counsel, & he sendeth men thither, for he hath many men. Also he hath many men that keepeth birds, as gerfaukons, Sparhawks, Faukons, Gentiles, Laners, Sacres, popinjays that can speak, and many other: he hath ten thousand Eliphants, Baboynes, Marmozets and other, and he hath ever about him many Physicians more than two hundred that are christian men, and Saracens, but yet he trusteth more in christian men then in Saracens. And there is in that country many Saracens and other servants that are christians and converted to the faith, through preaching of good christian men that dwell there, but there are many that will not that men know that they are christians.   

Of the great riches of the Emperor, and of his dispending. Chap. lxxij.  
THis Emperor is a great Lord, for he may dispend what he will without number, because he spendeth neither silver nor gold, and maketh no money but of Leather or skins, and this same money goeth through 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 precious stones and Rubies, but this is the richest.  
This Emperor dwelleth in the fommer 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 Camalach, and there it is right hot, but for the most part is he at Cadon, that is not far thence.   

Of the ordinanance of the Lords of the Emperor when he rideth from one country to another to war. Chap. lxxiij.  
AND when the great khan shall ride from one Country to an other, they ordain four hosts of people, of which the first goeth before a days journey, for that Host lieth at even where the Emperor shall lie on the morrow, and there is plenty of victuals. And an other Host cometh at the right side of him, and an other at the left side, and in each Host is much Folk. And then cometh the fourth Host behind him a how draft, and there is more men in that, then 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 privy meinie, where he will not be known, than he rideth in a Chariot with four wheels, & thereupon is a chamber made of a tree that men call Lignum Aloes, that cometh out of Paradise terrestre, and that Chamber is covered with plates of fine gold, and precious stones and Pearls, and four Eliphants and four Oxen all white go therein, and five or six great Lords ride about him, so that none other men shall come nigh him, except the Emperor call any, and in the same manner with a Chariot & such hosts rideth the Empress by an other side, and the emperors eldest son in that same array, and they have so much people that it is a great marvel for to see.   

How the Empire of the great khan is divided into twelve Provinces, and how that they do cast incense in the fire where the great khan passeth though the cities and towns, in worship of the Emperor. Chap. lxxiiij.  
THE Land of the great khan is divided into twelve Provinces, and every province hath more than two thousand Cities and towns. And when the Emperor rideth through the country, as he passeth through cities and towns, each man maketh a fire before his house, and casteth therein Incense and other things that give good smell to the Emperor. And if any men of Religion that are christian men dwell near where the Emperor cometh they meet him with Procession, with Cross & holy water, and they sing Veni creator spiritus, with a loud voice, and when he seeth them coming he commandeth the Lords that they ride near to them to make way that the Religious men may come to him, and when he seeth the Cross he doth off his hat that is made of precious stones and great Pearls, & that hat is so rich that it is marvel to tell, and then he inclineth to the Cross, and the prelate of the religious men saith Orisons before him and giveth him the blessing with the cross, and he inclineth to the blessing full devoutly, and then the prelate giveth him some fruit to the number of ix. pears or apples or other fruit, in a platter of gold, and then the Emperor taketh one thereof, and the other he giveth to his Lords, for the manner is such there, that no strange men shall come before the Emperor, but he give him somewhat after the old Law that saith. Non accedit in conspectu meo inanis, that is to say. No man come into my sight idle. And then the Emperor biddeth these religious men that they go forth, so that men of his host defile them not, and those religious men that dwell where the Empress or the emperors son cometh, they do in the same manner.   

How the khan is the mightiest Lord of all the world. Chap. lxxv.  
THis great khan is the mightiest Lord of the world, for Prester john is not so great a Lord as he, nor the Sultan of Babylon, ne the Emperor of Persia. In this land a man hath an hundred wives, some xi. and some more, some less, and they take of their kin to wives, all save their sisters, their mothers and daughters, & they take also well their stepmother if their father be dead, and men and women have all one manner of clothing, so that they may not be known, but the women that are married bear a token in their heads, and they dwell not with their husbands, but he may lie by any as he will. They have plenty of all manner of beasts save swine, for they will keep none, and they believe well in God that made all things, and yet have they Idols of gold and silver, and to those Idols they offer their first milk of beasts.   

Yet of other manners of this country. Chap. lxxuj.  
THe Emperor the great khan hath three wives, and the principal wife was Prester john's daughter And the people of this Country begin to do all their things in the new Moon, and they worship much the Sun, and the Moon, those men ride commonly without spurs, for they hold it a great sin to break one bone with another, and to spill milk on the ground, or any other liquor that men may drink, and the most sin that they may do, is to piss in their houses where 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, and the place where they have pissed shall be hallowed, or else may no man come there. And when they have done their penance they shall pass through a fire or two to make them clean of their sins. When they have eaten they wipe their hands upon their skirts, for they have no Table clothes except it be right great Lords, and when they have all eaten, they put their dishes or platters not washed in the pot or cauldron with the flesh that is left when they have eaten, until they will eat another time, and rich men drinks milk of Mares, Asses, or other beasts, and other beverage, that is made of milk and water together, for they have neither beer nor wine. And when they go to war they war full wisely, and each man of them beareth two or three bows, and many arrows and a great hatchet, gentlemen have short sword, and he that flieth in battle they slay him, and they are ever in purpose to bring all the land in subjection to them, for they say, it is prophesied, that they shall be overcome by shot of archers, and that they shall turn them to their law, but they wots not what men they shall be, and it is great peril to pursue the Tartarians when they fly, for they will shoot behind and slay men as well as before, and they have small eyes as little birds, and they are commonly false, for they hold not their promise. And when a man shall die among them, they stick a spear in the earth beside him, and when he draweth to the death, they go out of the house till he be dead, than they put him in the earth in the field.   

How the Emperor is brought unto his grave when he is dead. Chap. lxxvij.  
ANd when the Emperor is dead, they set him into a cart in the midst of the tent, and then set before him a Table covered with a Cloth, and thereupon they set flesh and other meat, and a cup full of milk of a Mare, and they set a Mare with a colt by him, and a horse saddled and bridled, and they lay upon the horse gold and silver, and all about him they make a great grave, & with all the things they put him therein, as the tent, horse, gold and silver, and all that is about him, & they say, when he cometh into another world he shall not be without an house, nor horse, ne silver, nor gold, and the Mare shall give him milk, and bring forth more horses till he be well stored in an 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 dead he shall go to another world, and be a greater Lord there then here, and when he is laid in the earth, no man shall be so hardy for to speak of him before his friends.   

When the Emperor is dead, how they choose and make another. Chap. lxxviij.  
ANd then when the Emperor is dead the seven Lineages gather them together, and they touch his son, or the next of his blood, and they say thus, we will, and we ordain, and we pray thee that thou wilt be our Lord and Emperor, and he inquireth of them and saith, if ye will that I reign over you, then must ye do all that I bid you do. And if he bid that any shall be slain, he shall be slain, and they answer all with one voice, all that ye bid shall be done. Then said the Emperor, from hence forth my word shall cut as my sword, and then they set him in a chair and crown him, and then all the good towns thereabout send to him presents so much that he shall have more than C. Camels laden with gold and silver beside other jewels that he shall have or Lords, as precious stones and gold without number and horse, and rich clothes of Camacas and Tarius, and such other.   

What Countries and Kingdoms lie next to the land of Cathay, and the fronts thereof. Chap. lxxix.  
THis land of Cathay is in Asia the deep, and this same Land reacheth toward the West upon the Kingdom of Sercy, the which pertained sometime to one of the three kings that went to seek our Lord in Bethlem, & all those that come of his kin are christian men. 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 goods, but no wine, the which hath at the East side a great wilderness that lasteth more than an hundred days journey, and the best city of that land is called Corosaym, and alter the name of that city is the land called, and men of this land are good warriors and hardy, and thereby is the kingdom of Comayne, this is the most and the greatest kingdom of the World, but it is not all inhabited: for in one place of the Land is so great cold, that no man may dwell there for cold, and in another place is so great heat, that no man may dwell there, and there are so many faiths that a man cannot tell on what side he may turn him, and in this land are few trees bearing fruit. In this land men lie in tents, and they burn dung of Beasts for lack of wood. This Land descendeth toward Pruse & Russy, and through this land runneth the River Echel, that is one of the greatest rivers of the world, and it is frozen so hard every year that men fight thereupon in great battles on horse and footmen more than C.M. at once. And a little from the River is the great of Occian, that they call Maure, and between this Maure and Aspy is a full straight passage to go toward Ind, and therefore king Alexander did make there a city that men call Alexander, for to keep that passage, so that no man may pass unless he have leave, and now is that city called Port de Fear, and the principal city of Comaine is called Sarachis, that is one of the three ways to go to Ind, but through this way may not many men go but if it be in winter, and this passage is called Berbent. And another way is to go from the land of Turkescon through Persia, in this way are many days journeys in wilderness. And the third way is that cometh from Cosmane and goeth through the great city & through the kingdom of Abachare. And ye shall understand that all these kingdoms and Lords unto Persia are holden of the great khan, and many other, and therefore he is a great Lord of men and of land.   

Of other ways coming from Cathay toward the Greek Sea, and also of the Emperor of Persia. Chap. lxxx.  
NOW that I have showed you the lands towards the North, to come from the lands of Cathay to the lands of Pruse & Russy, where Christian men dwell. Now shall I show unto you of other lands and kingdoms, in coming down from Cathay to the Greeks Sea, where Christian men dwell, and forasmuch as next the great khan of Cathay, the Emperor of Persia is the greatest Lord, therefore I shall speak of him, and ye shall understand that he hath two kingdoms, the one beginneth Eastward, and it is the kingdom of Turkescon, and it lasteth Westward to the sea of Caspy, and Southward to the land of Ind. This land is great and plain and well manned with good cities, but two most principal, the which are called Bacirida, and Sormagaunt. The other is the kingdom of Persia, and lasteth from the River of Phison unto great Armony, and Northward unto the sea of Caspy, and Southward to the land of Ind, and this is a full plenteous country and a good: In this land are three principal cities, Nassabor, Saphen, and Sermesse.   

Of the land of Armony which is a good land, and of the land of Myddy. Chap. lxxxj.  
THen is the land of Armony, in the which was sometime three kingdoms, that is a good land and plenteous, and it beginneth at Persia, and lasteth westward to Turkey of length, and in breadth lasteth from the City of Alexander (that now is called Port de Fear) unto the land of Middy. In this Armony are many fair cities, but Canrissy is most of name. Then is the land of Middy, and it is full long and not broad, and beginneth Eastward at the land of Persia and Ind the less, and lasteth Westward to the kingdom of Chalde, and Northward to little Armony, in this Myddy are many great Hills and little Plains, and there dwell Saracens and other manner of men, that men call Cordines and Kermen.   

Of the kingdom of George and Abcan, and many marvels. Chap. lxxxij.  
THen next is the kingdom of George that beginneth Eastward at a great hill that men call Abior, this land lasteth from Turkey to the great Sea, and to the land of Middy, and great Armony, and in this Land are two Kingdoms, one to Abcan, and an other of George, but he of George is in subjection of the great khan, but he of Abcan hath a strong Country, and defendeth him well against his enemies, and of this land in Abcan is a great marvel, for there is a country in this land that is near three days journey in length, and is called Hamfon, and that country is all covered with darkness, so that it hath no light, that no man may see there, and no man dare go into that country for darkness. And nevertheless men of that country thereby say that they may sometime hear therein the voice of men & horse crying, and cocks crow, and they know well that men dwell there, but they know not what manner of men, & they say this darkness came through the miracle of God, that he did for Christian men there. For there was a wicked Emperor that was of Poy, and was called Saures, and he pursued sometime all christian men to destroy them, and did make them do sacrifice to their false gods, & in that country dwelled many christian men the which left all their goods and cattle, & riches, and would go to Gréece, and when they were all in a great plain that is called Mecon, the Emperor and his men came to slay the christian men, and then the christian men kneeled down and prayed to God, and anon came a thick cloud and covered the Emperor and all his hosts, so that he might not go away, and so dwelled they in darkness, and they never came out after: and the christian men went forward as they would, and therefore they say thus. A domino factum est istud, & est mirabile in oculis nostris, That is to say, of our Lord is this done, and it is marvelous in our eyes. Out of this land cometh a river whereby men may see by good tokens that men dwell therein.   

Of the land of Turkey, and divers other countries, and of the Land of Mesopotamia. Chap. lxxxiij.  
THen next is the land of Turkey, that reacheth to great Armony, and therein are many countries, as Caperdoce, Saure, Bryke, Ouetion, Patan and Geneth, in each one of these countries are many good cities, and it is a plain land with few hills and Rivers, and then is the kingdom of Mesopotamia, that beginneth Westward at the flume of Tiger at a City that men call mosel, and it lasteth Westward to the flume of Euphrate, to a City that men call Rochaim, and Westward from high Armony, unto the wilderness of Ind the less, and it is a good land and plain, but there is few rivers, and there is but two hills in that land, the one is called Simar, and the other Hison, and it reacheth unto the land of Called, and ye shall understand that the land of Ethiope reacheth Eastward to the great wilderness, Westward to the land of Nuby, Southward to the land of Maratan, and Northward to the red Sea, and then is the Maritan that lasteth from the hills of Ethiope unto Libya the high, and the low, that lasteth to the great sea of Spain.   

Of divers countries, kingdoms, and Isles, and marvels beyond the land of Cathay. Chap. lxxxiij.  
NOw have I said and spoken of many things on this side of the great kingdom of Cathay, of whom many are obeisant to the great khan. Now shall I tell of some lands, countries and Isles that are beyond the land of Cathay. Who so goeth from Cathay to Ind the high and the low, he shall go through a kingdom that men call Cadissen, and it is a great land, there groweth a manner of fruit as it were gourds, and when it is ripe, men cut it a sunder, and they find therein a beast as it were of flesh, and bone, & blood, as it were a little lamb without wool, and men eat the beast and fruit also, and sure it seemeth very strange. 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 flying & they are good to eat, and that that falleth on the water liveth, and that that falleth on the earth dieth, and they marveled much thereat. In this land and many other thereabout, are trees that bear cloves, and nutmegs, and channel, and many other spices, and there be vines that bear so great grapes that a strong man shall have enough to bear a cluster of grapes. In that same land are the hills of Caspy that men call Vber, and enclosed within those hills are the jews of the x. kinds that men call Gog and Magog, and they may come out on no side. There were enclosed xxij. kings, with their folk that dwelled  depiction of a heavily-laden grape-vine and a tall field of corn behind a fence between the hills of Syche: and king Alexander chased them thither among those hills, for he trusting to have enclosed them there through the working of men, but he might not, and when he saw he might not, he prayed to God that he would fulfil that which he had begun, God heard his prayer and enclosed the hills all about them but at the one side, and there is the sea of Caspy. Here some men might ask, if there be a sea on one side, why go they not out there, for thereto answer I that although it be called a sea, it is not a sea, but a pool standing among hills, and it is the greatest Pool of all the world, and though they go over that pool, yet they wots not where to arrive, for they can no speech but their own. And ye shall understand that these jews which dwell among the hills have no law among them, and yet they pay tribute for their land to the Queen of Armony: and sometime it is so that some of these jews go over the hills, but many may not pass there together for the hills are so great and high. Nevertheless, men say in that country thereby that in the time of Antichrist they shall do much harm to christian men, and therefore all the jews that dwell in divers parts of the world learn for to speak Hebrew, for they hope that these jews that dwell among the hills aforesaid shall come out of the hills and speak all Hebrew and nought else, and then shall these jews speak Hebrew to them and lead them into Christendom for to destroy Christian men. For these jews say they know by their Prophecies that those jews that are among those hills of Caspy shall come out, and christian men shall be in their subjection as they be under Christian men now. And if ye will know how they shall find the passage out, as I have understood I shall tell you. In the time of Antichrist a Fox shall make his den in the same place where King Alexander did make the Gates, and he shall dig in the earth so long till he pierce it through and come among the jews, and when they see the Fox, they shall have great marvel of him, for they never saw such a beast, but other Beasts have they among them many, and they shall chase this fox and pursue him until that he be fled again into his hole that he came from, and then shall they dig after him until they come to the gates that Alexander did make of great stones well dight with mortar, then shall they break these gates and they shall find the way forth.   

Of the land of Bactrie and of many Griffons and other beasts. Chap. lxxxv.  
FRom this land men shall go unto the land of Bactrie, where are many wicked men and fell, in that land are trees that bear will, as it were sheep, of which they make cloth. In this land are Ypotains that dwell sometime on land, sometime on water, and are half a man and half a horse, and they feed on men when they may get them. In this land are many Griffons more than in other places, and some say they have the body before as an Eagle, and behind as a Lion, and it is truth, for they be made so, but the Griffon hath a body greater than eight Lions and stronger than an hundred Eagles, for certainly he will bear to his nest flying a horse and a man upon his back, or two Oxen yoked together as they go at plough, for he hath long nails on his feet as great as it were horns of Oxen, and of those they make cups there to drink with, and of his ribs they make bows to shoot with.   

Of the way for to go to Prester john's land which is Emperor of Ind. Chap. lxxxuj.  
FRom this land of Bactrie men go many days journey, to the Land of Prester john, that is a great Emperor of Ind, and men call his land the isle of Pantrore. This Emperor Prester john holdeth a great land, and many good cities and good towns. In his kingdom are many great Isles and large, for this land of Ind is parted into Isles because of great floods that come out of Paradise: and also in the sea are many great Iles. The best city that is in the isle of Pantrore is called Nile that is a noble city and a rich. Prester john hath under him many kings and divers people, and his land is good and rich, but not so rich as the land of the great khan, for merchants come not so much thither as they do into the land of the great khan, for it is too long a journey. And also they find in the isle of Cathay all things that they have need of, as spicery, clothes of gold and other riches, and although they might have better cheap in the land of Prester john, then in the land of Cathay, and more fine, nevertheless they will not go thither by reason of the length of the journey, and great perils on the sea, for there are many places in the sea where are many rocks of a stone that is called Adamand, the which of his own kind draweth to him all manner of iron, and therefore there may no ships that have iron nails pass, but it draweth them to it, and therefore they dare not go into that country with ships for dread of the Adamand, I went once into that sea & saw as it had been a great I'll of trees, stocks & branches growing, and the shipmen told me that those were great ships that abode there through the virtue of the Adamands, and of things that were in the ships, whereof those trees sprung and waxed, and such rocks are there many in divers places of that sea, and therefore dare there no shipmen pass that way. And another thing also is, that they dread the long way, and therefore they go most to Cathay, and that is near unto them. And yet it is not so near, but that from Venice or Gene by Sea to Cathay is xi. or xii. months journey. The land of Prester john is long, and Merchants pass thither through the land of Persia, and come unto a City that men call Hermes, for a Philosopher that was called Hermes founded it, and then pass an arm of the Sea, & come to another City that men call Saboth, and there find they all merchandises, and popinjays as great plenty as larks in our country. In this Country is little wheat or barley, and therefore they eat rice, milk, and cheese, and other fruits. This Emperor Prester john weddeth commonly the daughter of the great khan, and the great khan his Daughter. In the land of Prester john is many divers things and many precious stones so great and so large that they make of them vessels, platters and cups, and many other things of which it were too long to tell, but somewhat of his law and of his faith I shall tell you.   

Of the faith and belief of Prester john, but he hath not all the full belief as we have. Chap. lxxxvij.  
THis Emperor Prester john is christened and 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 and true one to another, and they make no force of cattle. And he hath under him lxxii. Provinces and countries, and in each one is a king, and those kings have other kings under them. And in this land are many marvels, for in this land in the gavely sea that is of sand and gravaile and no drop of water, and it ebbeth and floweth with right great waves as an other sea doth, and it is never standing still, and never in rest, and no man may pass that land beyond it. And although there be no water in the sea, yet men may find therein right good fish, and of other fashion and shape then are in any other seas, and also they are of a full good savour and sweet and good to eat. And three days journey from that sea are many great hills, through which runneth a great flood that cometh from Paradise, and it is full of precious stones and no drop of water, and it runneth with great waves into the gravely Sea. And this flood runneth three days in the week so fast, and stirreth great stones of the rocks with him that make much noise, & as soon as they come into the gravely sea, they are no more seen, and in those three days when it runneth thus no man dare come in it, but the other days men go therein when they will. And so beyond that flood toward that wilderness is a great plain among hills all sandy and gravely, and in that plain grow trees that at the rising of the Sun each day begin to grow, and so grow they till midday, and bear fruit, but no man dare eat of that fruit, for it is a manner of iron, and after midday it turneth again to the earth, so that when the Sun goeth down it is nothing seen, and so doth it every day: and there is in that wilderness many wild men with horns on their heads right hedious, and they speak not but rout as swine, and in that country are many popinjays, that they call in their language Pistak, and they speak through their own kind partly as a man, and those that speak well have long tongues and large, and on every foot five toes, but there are some that have but three toes, but those speak nought or very ill.   

Of another Island where also dwelleth good people therein, and is called Sinople. Chap. lxxxviij.  
THen is there an other I'll that is called Synople, wherein also are good people and true, and full of good faith, and they are much like in their living to the man before said, and they go all naked. Into that Island came king Alexander and when he saw their good faith and troth and their good belief he said that he would do them no harm, and bade them ask of him riches or aught else, and they should have it. And they answered that they had riches enough, when they had meat and drink to sustain their bodies, and they said also that riches 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 mortal and should die as they should. Then said they, why art thou so proud and wouldst win all the world, and have it in thy subjection as it were a God and hast no term of thy life, and thou wilt have all riches of the world, the which shall forsake thee or thou forsake it, and thou shalt bear nothing with thee, but it shall remain to other, but as thou were borne naked, so shalt thou be done in earth. And Alexander was greatly astonished at this speech, and though it be so that they have not the Articles of our faith, nevertheless I believe that God liketh their service as he did of job that was a Panim, the which he held for his true servant and many other. I believe well that God loveth all those that love him and serve him meekly and truly, and that despise the vain glory of the wolrd as these men do, and as job did, and therefore said our Lord through the mouth of the holy Prophet Esay, Ponam eis multiplices leges meas, that is to say, I shall put laws to them in many manners, and the gospel saith thus. Alias oves habeo quae non sunt ex hoc ovili, that is, I have other sheep that are not of this fold: and thereto accordeth the vision that S. Peter saw at joppa, how the Angel came from heaven & brought with him of all manner of beasts, as serpents and divers fowls, saying to Saint Peter. Take and eat, and Saint Peter answered, I never eat of any unclean beast. And the Angel said to him, Non dicas immunda quae Deus mundavit. That is to say, Call thou not those things unclean that God hath cleansed. This was done in token that men should not have any man in disdain for their divers laws, for we wots not whom God loveth, and whom God hateth.   

Of two other Isles, the one is called Pitan, wherein be little men that can eat no meat, and in the other Isles are the men all rough of feathers. Chap. lxxxix.  
THere is another I'll that men call Pitan, the men of this land till no ground, for they eat nothing, and they are small, but not so small as Pigmen. These men live with smell of wild apples, and when they go far out of the country they bear Apples with them, for anon as they lose that savour of apples they die, they are not reasonable, but as wild beasts. And there is another I'll where the people are all feathers, but their face and the palms of their hands, these men go as well about the sea as on the land, and they eat flesh and fish all raw, in this isle is a River that is two mile and an half broad that men call Renemar.   

Of a rich man in Prester john's land, named Catolonapes, and of his garden. Chap. xc.  
IN an isle of Prester john's land, that men call Miscorach, there was a man that was called Catolonapes, he was rich and had a fair castle on a hill and strong, & he made a wall about the hill right strong and fair, within he had a fair garden wherein were many trees bearing all manner of fruits that he might find, and he had planted therein all manner of herbs of good smell and that bear flowers, and there were many fair wells & by them was made many hals and chambers well dight with gold and azure, and he had made there divers stories of beasts and birds that sung, and turned by engine or orbage as they had been quick, and he had in his garden all things that might be to man's solace and comfort, he had also in that garden maidens within the age of xv. year the fairest that he might find, and men children of the same age, and they were clothed with clothes of gold, & he said that they were Angels, and he caused to be made certain hills, and enclosed them about with precious stones of jaspy and crystal and set in gold and pearls and other manner of stones, and he made a conduit under the earth, so that when he would, the Wells ran sometime with milk, sometime with wine, sometime honey, and this place he called Paradise, and when any young bachelor of the country knight or squire cometh to him for solace or disport he leadeth him into his paradise, & showeth them these things, as the songs of birds, and his damsels, and wells, and he did strike divers instruments of music in a high tower that might be heard, and said they were Angels of God and that place was paradise, that God had granted to those that believed, when he saith thus. Dabo vobis terram fluentem lac & mel, That is to say, I shall give you land flowing milk and honey. And then this rich man did make these men drink a manner of drink of which they were drunken, and he said to them if they would die for his sake, when they were dead they should come to his Paradise, and they should be of the age of those maidens, and should dwell always with them, and he would put them in a fairer Paradise, where they should see God in his joy and in his majesty, and when they granted to do that he would, and he bade them go and slay such a Lord, or a man of the Country that he was wroth with, and that they should have no dread of any man, and if they were slain themselves for his sake, he should put them in his Paradise when they were dead. And so went those Bachelors to slay great Lords of the country, and were slain themselves in hope to have that Paradise, & thus he was avenged of his enemies through his deceit, and when rich men of the country perceived his cautel and malice and the will of this Catolonapes, they gathered themselves together and assailed the castle and slew him and destroyed all his goods and his fair places and riches that were in his Paradise, and the place of the walls are there yet, and some other things, but the riches are not, and it is not long ago since it was destroyed.   

Of a perilous valley that is beside the River of Pison. Chap. xcj  
AND a little from that place on the left side, beside the river of Pison is a great marvel. There is a valley between two hills and that is four mile long, and some men call it the valley enchanted, some the valley of Devils, some the valley perilous, and in that valley are many tempests, and a great noise very hideous both day and night, and sound as it were a noise of tabor and Trumpets as it were at a great feast. This valley is full of Devils and hath been always, and men say there is an entry to hell. In this valley is much gold and silver, wherefore many christian men and other go thither for covetise of that gold and silver, but few of them come out again, for they are anon strangled with Devils, and in the midst of that Valley on a Rock is a Visage, and the head of a flend bodily, right hideous and dreadful to see, and there is nothing seen but the head to the shoulders, but there is no Christian men nor other in the world so hardy, but that he would be greatly afraid to behold it, for he beholdeth each man so sharply and felly, and his eyes are so staring, and sparkling as fire, and he changeth so oft his countenance that no man dare come near for all the world, and out of his nose cometh great plenty of fire of divers colours, and sometime is the fire so stinking, that no man may suffer it, but always a good Christian man, and one that is steadfast in the faith may go therein without harm if they call to God only for forgiveness of their sins, then shall the Devils have no power over them. And ye shall understand that when my fellows and I were in that valley we had full great doubt if we should put our bodies in a venture to go through it, and some of my fellows agreed thereto and some would not, and there were in our company two Friars minours of Lombardie who 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 did make our prayers to God for our safeguard, and so we went in xiv. men, and when we came out we were but x. and we witted not whether our fellows were lost there, or that they turned again, but we saw no more of them, other of my fellows that would not go in with us, went about another way for to be before us and so they were, and we went through the valley and saw there many marvelous things, gold, silver, precious stones and jewels great plenty as we thought, whether it were so or no I know not, for devils are so subtle and false, that they make many times a thing to seem that it is not, for to deceive men, and therefore I would touch nothing for dread of enemies that I saw there in many liknesses, what of dead bodies that I saw lie in the valley, but I dare not say that they were all bodies, but they were bodily shapes through making of devils, and we were often cast down to the earth by wind, thunder and tempest, but God helped always, and so passed we through that valley without peril or harm thanks be to God.   

Of an Island wherein dwell people as great as Giants, of xxviij. or thirty. foot of length, and other things. Chap. xcij  
ANd beyond that valley is a great I'll, where be people as great as Giants of xxviii. foot long and they have no clothing but beasts skins that hang on them, and they eat no bread but flesh raw, and they drink milk, and they have no houses, and they eat gladlier flesh of men than other, and men say to us that beyond that I'll is an isle where are greater Giants, as xlv. or l. foot long, and some said l. cubits long, but I saw not them, and among those Giants are great sheep, as it were young Oxen, & they bear great will, these sheep have I seen many times. another I'll is there Northward where are many evil & fell women, and they have precious stones in their eyes, and they have such force that if they behold any man with wrath, they slay them with beholding as the Basalyke doth. another I'll is there of fairer folk and good, where the custom is such, the first night that they are wedded, they take a certain man that is ordained therefore, and let him lie by their wives to have their maidenhead, and they give him great reward for his travail, and those men are called Gadlybrien, for men of that country hold it a great thing to make a woman no maiden, and 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 complain of him to the Lawyers that he hath not done his devour, and he shall grievously be punished and chastised, but after the first night they keep their wives well, that they speak not with those men, and I asked what was the cause why they had that custom, and they said, heretofore men lay with their wives first and no other, and their wives had serpents in their bodies, & stung their husbands in the yard or on their bodies, and so was many men slain, and therefore had they that custom to let other men have their maidenhead, for dread of death, and thus they suffer them to assay the passage, or they adventure.   

Of women which make great sorrow as their children are borne, and great joy when they are dead. Chap. xciij.  
AN other I'll there is where women make great sorrow when their children be borne, and when they are dead they make great joy and cast them in a great fire and burn them, and they that love well their husbands when then are dead they cast them in a fire to burn them, for they say that fire shall make them clean of all filth and vices, & they shall be clean in an other world, and the cause why they weep when their children are borne, and that they joy at their death, they say a child when he is borne cometh into this world to have travail, sorrow and heaviness, & when they are dead they go to Paradise where Rivers are of Milk and Honey, and there is life and joy and plenty of goods without travail or sorrow. In this isle they elect their kings by voices, & they choose him not for his riches, and nobleness, but him that is of good conditions, and most righteous and true, that judgeth every man truly, little and much after their trespass, and the king may judge no man to death, without counsel of his Barons and that they all assent. And if it so be that their King do a great trespass, as stay a man, or such like, he shall die also, but he shall not be slain, but they shall charge and forbidden that no man be so hardy to bear him company, nor to speak to him, ne give him meat nor drink, & thus he shall die, for they spare no man that hath done a trespass, for love, lordship, riches nor nobleness, but they do him right after that he hath deserved.   

Of an Island where men wed their own daughters and kinswomen. Chap. xciiij.  
THere is an other I'll where is great plenty of people, and they never eat flesh of Hares nor of Hens, nor Geese, yet is there many of them, but they eat of all other beasts, and they drink milk in this country they wed their own daughters and other of their kin, as them liketh, and if there be ten or eleven men in one house, each one of their wives shall be common to other, and at night one have one of the wives, and an other night an other, and if she have any child she may give it to whom she will so that no man know it to be his. In this land and many other places of Ind are many Crocodrilles, that is a manner of long Serpent, and on nights they dwell on water, and on days they dwell on land and rocks, and they eat not in winter. These serpents slay men and eat them weeping, and they have no tongue.  
In this country and many other, men cast seed of cotton, and sow in each year, and it groweth as it were small trees, and they bear cotton. In Araby is a kind of beast that some men call Garsants, that is a fair beast, and he is higher than a great courser or steed but his neck is near xx. cubits long, and his tail like a Hart, and he may look over a high house,  depiction of a camel and there are many Chameleons that is a little beast, and he never eateth or drinketh, and he changeth his colour often, for sometime he is of one colour and sometime of another, and he may change him into all colours that he will, save black and red. There are many wild swine of many colours, and as great as Oxen, & they are spotted as it were small fawns, and there are Lions all white, and there be other Beasts, as great as steeds that men call Lanhorans, and some men call them Tonts, and their head is black, and three long horns in his front, as cutting as sharp swords, and he chaseth and will slay Eliphants. And there is many other manner of Beasts, of whom it were too long to write all.   

Of an Island wherein dwell full good people and true. Chap. xcv.  
THere is another Island good and great, and plenteous, where are good men and true and of godly life after their faith, and though they he not christians, nevertheless of kind they are full of good virtues, and they fly all vices, and all sin and malice for they are not envious, proud, covetous, lecherous, nor gluttonous, and they do not unto another man but that they would he did to them, and they fulfil the x. commandments and they make no force of riches nor of having, and they swear not, but they say yea and nay, for they say he that sweareth will deceive his nighbour, and some men call this isle the isle of Bragamen, and some call it the land of faith, and through it runneth a great river that men call Thebes, and generally all men in those Isles, and other thereby are truer and right wiser than in other countries, in this Isles are no thieves, murderers nor beggars. And forasmuch as they are so true and so good, there is no tempest nor thunder, war, hunger, nor tribulation, and thus it seemeth well that God loveth them well, and he is well pleased with their deeds, and they believe in God that made all things, and him they worship and they live so ordinately in meat and drink that they live right long, and many of them die without sickness, that kind faileth them for age.   

How king Alexander sent his men thither for to win that land. Chap. xcuj.  
AND king Alexander sometime sent his men to win that land. And they sent him letters that said thus. What behooveth a man to have all the world that is not content therewithal, thou shalt find nothing at all in us why shouldest thou make war upon us, for we have no riches or treasure, and all the cattle of our country are common, our meats that we eat are our riches, and in stead of gold and silver, we make our treasure peace and concord of love, and we have nought but a cloth upon our bodies, our wives are not arrayed richly to pleasing, for we hold it a great folly for a man to trim up his body with costly apparel to make it seem fairer than God made it We have been evermore in peace till now that thou wilt dishcrite us. We have a king among us, not for need of the law, nor to judge any man, for there are no trespassers among us, but all only to learn us to be obedient to him, and so mayest thou take from us but our good peace. And when king Alexander saw this letter he thought he should do too much harm if he troubled them, and sent to them, that they should keep well their good manners, and have no dread of him.   

How the Emperor Prester john when he goeth to battle, hath three crosses of fine gold borne before him. Chap. xcvij  
THis Emperor Prester john when he goeth to battle, hath no banner borne before him, but he hath borne before him three crosses of fine gold and those are large and great, and well set with precious stones, and for to keep each cross he ordained a thousand men of arms, in manner as men keep a standard in other countries, and he hath men without number, when he goeth in any battle against any other Prince. And when he hath no battle, but rideth with privy company, then hath he borne before him but a cross of tree not painted, and without gold or precious stones, and all plain, in token that our Lord jesus Christ suffered death on a cross of tree. And also he hath borne before him a vessel full of jewels and gold and precious stones, in token of his present nobleness and of his might, he hath borne before him likewise a platter of gold full of earth, in token that all lordship and nobleness shall turn to nought, and his flesh shall turn to earth.   

Of the most dwelling place of Prester john in a City called Suse. Chap. xcviij.  
ANd he dwelleth commonly at the city of Suse, and there is his principal palace that is so rich that it is strange to tell, and about the principal tower of the palace are two pommels of gold all round, and each one of those hath two carbuncles great and large, that shine right clear in the night, & the principal gates of this palace are of precious stones that men call Saraine, and the borders of the bars are of ivory, and windows of the hall and chambers are of crystal, and Tables that they eat off, some Emerandes, some of Mayk, some of gold and precious stones, and the pillars that bear the tables are of such stones also, and the steers on the which the Emperor goeth up to his table where he sitteth at meat, one is of mastic, another of crystal, and another of green japhy, another of Diasper, another of Serdin, another of Cornelin, another of Senton, and that he setteth his foot upon is of Chrisolits, and all these steers are bordered with fine gold, and well set with great pearls and other precious stones, and the side of his table are Emerauds' broidered with gold and with precious stones, the pillars in his chamber are of fine gold with many Carbuncles and other such stones that give great light in the night, and though the Carbuncles give great light, nevertheless there burneth xii. great vessels of crystal full of balm, to give good smell and to drive away evil air. The frame of his bed is all of sapphire well bound with gold to make him sleep well, and for to destroy Lechery, for he will not lie by his wives but thrice a year after the seasons, and that only for getting of children. And he hath also a fair palace in the city of Nise, where he dwelleth when he will, but the air there is not so well tempered as it is in the City of Suse. And he hath every day in his court more than thirty. thousand men, beside comers and goers, but thirty. thousand there, or in the court of the great khan, spendeth not so much as xii. thousand in our country. He hath evermore seven. kings in his court to serve him, and each one of them serveth a month, and with these kings serve always lxxii. Dukes, & CCC. Earls, and every day eat in his court xii. Archbishops, and xx. Bishops. The Patriarch of Saint Thomas is as it were a Pope, and Archbishops, Bishops and Abbots, all are kings in that country, and some of the Lords is Master of the hall, some of the chamber, some steward, some Marshal and other Officers, and therefore he is full richly served. And his Land lasteth in breadth four months journey, and it is of length without measure.   

Of the wilderness wherein groweth the trees of the Sun and the Moon. Chap. xcix  
AND beyond this place is a great wilderness as men that have been there say. In this wilderness as men say are the trees of the Sun, and of the Moon that spoke to king Alexander and told him of his death, and men say that folk that keep these trees and eat of the fruits of them, live four or five hundred year through virtue of the fruit, and we would gladly have gone thither, but I believe that an hundred thousand men of arms should not pass that wilderness for great plenty of wild beasts, as Dragons, and serpents that slay men when they pass that way. In this land are many Elephants, all white and blue without number, and Unicorns and Lions of many colours. Many other Isles are in the land of Prester john, that were too long to tell, and much riches and of precious stones is great plenty. I have heard say why this Emperor is called Prester john, and for those that know it not I will declare. Therefore sometime an Emperor that was a noble Prince, and doughty, and he had many Christian Knights with him, and the Emperor thought he would see the service in christian Churches, and then was Churches of Christendom in Turkey, Surry, and Tartary, Jerusalem, Palistine, Araby and Alapy, and all the Lords of Egypt. And this Emperor came with a Christian Knight into a Church of Egypt, and it was on a Saturday after Whitsunday when the Bishop gave Orders, and he beheld the Service and asked of the knight what folk those should be that stood before the Bishop, and the Knight said they should be Priests, and he said he would no more be called king ne Emperor, but Priest, and he would have the name of him that came first out of the Priests, and he was called john, and so have all the Emperors since been called Prester john. In this land are many Christian men of good faith and good law, and they have priests to sing service, and they receive the sacrament as men of Gréece do, and they say not otherwise, but as the Apostles said, as Saint Peter, and Saint Thomas, and other Apostles, when they sung and said Pater noster, and the words with the which the Communion is sacred: we have many additions of Popes that have been ordained, of which men of those countries know not.   

Of a great Island and Kingdom called Taprobane. Chap. c.  
TOward the East side of Prester john's Land is an isle that men call Taprobane, and it is right good and fruitful, and there is a great King and a rich, and he is obedient unto Prester john, & the King is always made by election. In this isle are two winters, and two Summers, and they reap corn twice in the year, and gardens flourish at all times in the year. There dwelleth good people and reasonable, and many christian men among them are full rich, and the water between the side of Prester john, and this isle is not very deep, for men may see the ground in many places.   

Of two other Isles, one is called oriel, and the other Argete where are many gold mines. Chap cj  
THere are more Eastward two other Isles, the one is called oriel, and the other Argete, of which all the land is full of mines of gold and silver. In those Isles many men see no Stars clear shining, but one Star that is called Canapos, and there many men see not the Moon but in the last quarter. In that I'll is a great hill of gold that Pismires keep, and they do the fine gold from other that is not fine gold, and the Pismires are as great as hounds, so that no man dare come there for dread of pismires that should assay them, so that men may not work in that gold nor get thereof, but by subtlety, and therefore when it is right hot the pismires hide themselves in the earth from morn to noon of the day, and then men of the country take Camels and Dromedaries and other beasts and go thither and charge them with gold, and go away fast or the pismires come out of the earth. And other times when it is not so hot, that the pismires hide them not, they take Mares that have soles, and they lay upon these mares two long vessels as it were two small barrels and the mouth upwards, and drive them thither and hold their fools at home, and when the pismires see these vessels they spring therein, for by kind they leave no hole nor pit open, and anon they fill these vessels with gold, and when men think that the vessels be full, they take the fools & bring them as near as they dare, and then they whine, and the mares hear them, and anon they come to their fools, and so they take the gold, for these pismires will suffer beasts to come among them, but no men.   

Of the dark country and hills and rocks of stone nigh to Paradise. Chap. cij.  
BEyond the Isles of the land of Prester john and his Lordship of wilderness to go right East, men shall find nothing but hills, great rocks and other dark land, where no man may see a day or night as men of the Country say, and this wilderness and dark land lasteth to Paradise terrestre, where Adam and Eve were set, but they were but a little while there, and that is toward the East at the beginning of the Earth, but that is not our East that we call, where the Sun riseth for when the Sun riseth there, than it is midnight in our country by reason of the roundness of the Earth, for our Lord made the earth all round in the midst of the firmament. Of Paradise can I not speak properly, for I have not been there, but that I have heard I shall tell you. Men say that Paradise terrestre is the highest land of all the world, and it is so high that it toucheth near to the circle of the Moon, for it is so high that noah's flood might not come thereto, which covered all the Earth about.   

A little of Paradise terrestre. Chap. ciij  
THis Paradise terrestre is enclosed all about with a wall, and that wall is all covered with moss as it seemeth, that men may see no stone nor nothing else whereof it is, and in the highest place of Paradise in the midst of it is a Well that casteth out the four floods that run through divers Lands. The first flood is called Pison or Ganges, and that runneth through Ind: in that River are many precious stones and much Lignum Aloes, and gravel of gold. An other is called Nilus or Giron, and that runneth through Ethiope and Egypt. The third is called Tigrée, and that runneth through Asiria and Armony the great. And the fourth is called Euphrates that runneth through Armony the less, and Persia, and men say that the sweet and fresh waters of the world take their springing of them. The first River is called Pison, that is to say, gathering of many Rivers together and falling into one, and some call it Ganges, of a king that was in Ind that men call Gangeras', for it runneth through his land, and this river is in some places clean, in some places troubled, in some place hot, in some place cold. The second river is called Nilus or Giron, for it is ever troubled, for Giron is to say, trouble. The third river is called Tigrée, that is to say fast running, for it runneth faster than any of the other, named so of a beast that men call Tigris, for he runneth fast. The fourth river is called Euphrates, that is to say, well bearing, for there groweth many good things upon that river. And ye shall understand that no man living may go unto that Paradise, for by land he may not go for wild beasts which are in the wilderness, and for hills and rocks where no man may pass. Neither by those Rivers may any man pass, for they come with so great course and so great waves that no ship may sail against them. Many great Lords have assayed many times to go by those Rivers to Paradise, but they might not speed on their way, for some died for weariness of rowing, some waxed blind and some deaf for noise of the waters, so no man may pass there but through special grace of God, I can tell you no more of that place, which I may speak of upon mine own sight.   

How Prester john's land lieth foot against foot to England. Chap. ciiij  
THese Isles of the land of Prester john, they are under the earth to us, & other Isles are there who so would pursue them for to compass the earth, having the grace of God to hold the way, he might come right to the same Countries that he were come of and come from, and go about the earth, but for that it asketh so long time, and also there are so many perils to pass, that few men assay to go so, and yet it might be done, for men come from those Isles to other Isles costing of the Lordship of Prester john, which men call Cassoy, and that country is near lx. days journey long, and more than fifty of breadth, and this Cassoy is the best land that is in those countries, save Cathay, and if merchants come thither as commonly as they do to Cathay, it would be better than Cathay, for it is so thick of cities & towns that when a man goeth out of a city he seeth an other at each side: there is great plenty of spices and other goods, the king of this isle is rich and mighty, and he holdeth his land of the great khan, for that is one of the xii. Princes that the great khan hath under him beside his own Land.   

Of the Kingdom of Ryboth. Chap. cv.  
FRom this isle men go to an other Kingdom that is called Ryboth, and that is also under the great khan, that is a good country and plenteous of corn, wine, and other things: men of this land have no houses, but they dwell in tents made of trees. And the principal city of the country is all black made of black stones and white, and all the streets are paved with such stones, and in the City is no man so hardy to spill blood of man ne beast, for worship of a mammet that is worshipped there. In that city dwelleth the Pope of their Law, that they call Lopasse and he giveth all dignities and benefices that fall to the mammet. And men of religion & men that have Churches in that country are obedient to him as men here to the King. In this isle they have a custom through all the Country that when a man's father is dead they will do him great worship, they send after all his friends, religious Priests, and many other, and they bear the body to an hill with great joy and mirth, and when it is there the greatest Prelate smiteth off his head, and layeth it upon a great plate of gold or silver, and giveth it to his Son, and the Son taketh it, and giveth it to other of his friends singing and saying many orisons, and then the priests and the religious men cut the flesh off the body in pieces and say orisons, and the birds of the country come thither, for they know well the custom, and they fly about them, as the Eagles and other birds that eat flesh, & the priests cast the pieces unto them, and they bear it away a little from thence and then they eat it, and as the Priests in our Country sing for souls, Subuenite sancti Dei, and forsooth so those priests there sing with high voice in their language in this manner wise. See and behold how good and gracious a man this was that the Angels of God come for to fetch him and bear him into Paradise. And then thinketh the son of the same man that he is greatly worshipped when birds have eaten his father, and when there are most plenty of birds, there is most worship. And then cometh the Son home with all his friends, and maketh them a great feast, then maketh he clean his father's scalp and giveth them drink therein, and the flesh of his father's head he cutteth off, and giveth it to his most special friends, some a little, and some a little for dainty. And in remembrance of this holy man that the Birds have eaten, the son keepeth his scalp for a cup, and therein drinketh he all his life, in remembrance of his father.   

Of a rich man that is neither King, Prince, Duke, nor Earl. Chap. cvj.  
AND from this place men go ten days journey through the land of the great khan, which is a full good Isle and a great kingdom, and the king is full mighty. And in this isle is a rich man which is neither king, Prince, Duke nor Earl, but he hath each year four thousand horses charged with rice and corn, and he liveth nobly and richly after the manner of the country, for he hath fifty damsels that serve him every day at his meat and bed, and do what he will. And when he sitteth at the table they bring him meat, and at each time five messes together, & they sing in the bringing a song, and they cut his meat and put it in his mouth, and he hath right long nails on his hands, that is great nobility in that country, and therefore they let their nails grow as long as they may, and some let them grow so long that they come about their hands, and that is great honour, and gentry, and the gentry of a woman is to have small feet, and therefore as soon as they are borne, they bind their feet so strait that they cannot wax half as they should. And he hath a full fair Palace and rich, where he dwelleth, of which the wall is two mile about, and there is many fair gardens, and all the pavements of the hall and chambers is of gold and silver, and in the midst of one of his gardens is a little hill, whereon is a place made with towers and pinnacles all of gold, and there he will sit often to take the air and disport, for it is made for nothing else. From this land men may go through the land of the great khan.   

How all the Lands, Isles and kingdoms, before rehearsed, have some Articles of our Faith. Chap. cvij  
AND ye shall understand that all these men and folk that have reason, that I have spoken of, have some articles of our faith, and though they be of divers laws and beliefs, yet they have some good points of our faith, and they believe in God as the prophesy saith. Et metuent cum omnes fines terrae. That is to say. And all the ends of the earth shall dread him. And in another place. Omnes gentes seruient ei. That is to say. All Nations shall serve him, but they cannot speak perfectly but as their natural wit teacheth them, neither of the Son nor of the holy Ghost, but they can well speak of the Bible, and specially of Genesis, and of the books of Moses. And they say that those creatures which they worship are no Gods, but they worship them for the great virtue that is in them, which may not be without the special grace of God: and of simulacres and Idols they say that all men have simulacres, whereby they mean the Papists, who have Images of our Lady and other, but they think that they worship the Images of stone and of wood, and not the Saints whom they do represent, for as the letter teacheth Clarks how they shall believe, so Images and Picture teacheth lay men, they say also that the Angel of God speaketh to them in their Idols and do miracles, and they say truth, but it is the evil Angel that doth miracles to maintain them in their Idolatry.   

How Sir john mandevile leaveth many marvels unwritten, and the cause wherefore. Chap. cviij.  
THere are many other Countries where I have not yet been nor seen, and therefore I cannot speak properly of them. Also in countries where I have been are many marvels that I speak not of, for it were too long a tale, and therefore hold you paid at this time with that I have said, for I will say no more of marvels that are there, so that other men that go thither may find enough for to say, that I have not told.   

What time Sir john mandevile departed out of England. Chap. cix.  
ANd I john mandevile went out of my country and passed the Sea, the year of our Lord 1332. and have passed through many Lands Isles and countries, and now am come to rest, I have compiled this book and writ it the year of our Lord. 1366. thirty two year after my departing from my Country. The rather for the pleasure of all such as delight to read of the strange and wonderful marvels of other foreign countries, as also for a direction to all such as shall desire to see either all, or some of these countries heretofore specified, and because some things herein spoken of may seem strange and scarcely credible, therefore I have thought good to make known unto all that will see more proof hereof, in the book called Mapa Mundy, there they shall find the most part of the same ratified and confirmed. And I pray all that shall read this book, and look for no further proof to judge favourably thereof, since they shall in conceit see as much at home without much pains, as I did after many weary and dangerous steps passed, and I pray to God of whom all grace cometh, that he will fulfil with his grace the readers and hearers hereof, and save them body and soul, and bring them to his joy that ever shall last. Amen.   
FINIS.   

THE TABLE.  

He that will go toward Jerusalem on horse, on foot or by sea. chap. 1  
Of the islands of Greece. chap. 2  
To come again to Constantinople to go to the holy land. chap. 3  
Of a terrible Dragon. chap. 4  
Of a young man and his leman. chap. 5  
Of the manner of hunting in Cypress. chap. 6  
Of the haven named Iaffe. chap. 7  
Of the haven of Tire. chap. 8  
Of the hill Carme. chap. 9  
How Samson slew the king and his enemies. chap. 10  
The way to Babylon whereas the soldan dwelleth. chap. 11  
Yet here followeth of the soldan and the kingdoms that he hath conquered, which he holdeth strongly with force. chap. 12  
For to return from Sinai to Jerusalem. chap. 13  
As men are passed this wilderness again coming to Hirusalem. chap. 14  
Here followeth a little of Adam and Eve and other things. chap. 15  
Of the dry tree. chap. 16  
From Ebron to Bethlehem. cha. 17  
Of a fair maiden that should be put to death wrongfully. chap. 18  
Of the city Jerusalem. chap. 19  
Yet of the holy city of Jerusalem. chap. 20  
Of the Church, and of the holy sepulchre. chap. 21  
Of the Temple of God. chap. 22  
Yet of the Temple of God. chap. 23  
Of king Herod. chap. 24  
Of saint Salvator's church. cha. 25  
The field of Acheldemack which was bought with the thirty. pence. chap. 26  
Of the mount joy.. chap. 27  
Of the castle of Bethania. chap. 28  
Of jericho & other things. cha. 29  
Of the holy place between Bethania and the river jordane, with other things. chap. 30  
Of Abraham and his generation. chap. 31  
Of the river jordane. chap. 32  
Of many other marvels. chap. 33  
Of the Samaritones. chap. 34  
Of Galilee. chap. 35  
Of the way of Nezareth to the mount or hill of Tabor. chap. 36  
Of the sea of Galilee. chap. 37  
Of the Table whereon Christ eat after his resurrection. chap. 38  
Of strange manners and divers. chap. 39  
For to turn again on this side of Galilee. chap. 40  
How a man may go furthest and longest in those Countries that are here rehearsed. chap. 41  
Of other ways for to go by land unto Jerusalem. chap. 42  
Yet of another way by land toward the land of Promise. chap. 43  
Of the faith of the Saracens, and of the book of their Law named Alcoran. chap. 44  
Yet it treateth more of Mahomet. chap. 45  
Of the birth of Mahomet. chap. 46  
Of the Isles, and divers manners of people, and of marvelous beasts. chap. 47  
Of the haven of Gene, for to go by the sea into divers countries. chap. 48  
Of the Country of job, and of the kingdom of Called. chap. 49  
Of the kingdom of Amazony where as dwelleth none but women. chap. 50  
Of the land of Ethiope. chap. 51  
Of Ind the more and the less, and of Diamonds, and of small people, and other things. chap. 52  
Of divers Kingdoms and Isles which are in the Land of Ind. chap. 53  
Of the kingdom of Mabaron. chap. 54  
Of a great Country called Lamory where the people go all naked chap. 55  
Of the country and I'll named jana, which is a mighty land. ch. 56  
Of the kingdom of Pathen or Salmas which is a goodly land. ch. 57  
Of the kingdom of Talonach, the king whereof hath many wives. chap. 58  
Of the Island called Raso, where men are hanged as soon as they are sick. chap. 59  
Of the Island of Melke wherein dwelleth evil people. chap. 60  
Of an Island named Mecumeran, whereas the people have heads like hounds. chap. 61  
Of a great Island called Dodin where are many men of evil conditions. chap. 62  
Of the kingdom named Mancy, the which is one of the best kingdoms of the world. chap. 63  
Of the land of Pigmen, the people whereof are but three spans long. chap. 64  
Of the city of Menke where a great Navy is kept. chap. 65  
Of the land named Cathay, and of the great riches thereof. chap. 66  
Of a great City named Cadon, wherein is the great Caanes palace and siege. chap. 67  
Wherefore that the Emperor of Cathay is called the great khan. chap. 68  
How the great khan was hid under a tree, and so escaped his enemies because of a bird. chap. 69  
Of the great Caanes letters, and the writing about his seal. chap. 70  
Of the governance of the country of the great khan. chap. 71  
Of the great riches of the emperor and of his descending. chap. 72  
Of the ordinance of the Lords of the Emperor when he rideth from one country to another to war. chap. 73  
How the empire of the great Caanc is parted into xii. provinces, and how that they do cast incense in the fire where the great khan passeth through the Cities and towns in worship of the Emperor. chap. 74  
How the great khan is the mightiest Lord of all the world. cha. 75  
Yet of other manners of his country. chap. 76  
How the emperor is brought unto his grave when he is dead. ch. 77  
When the Emperor is dead, how they choose & make another. ch. 78  
What countries and kingdoms lie next to the Land of Cathay, and the frontes thereof. chap. 79  
Of other ways to come from Cathay toward the Greek sea, and also of the Emperor of Persia. chap. 80  
Of the land of Armony which is a good Land, and of the Land of Middy. chap. 81  
Of the kingdom of George & Abcan, and many marvels. chap. 82  
Of the land of Turkey, and divers other countries, and of the land of Mesopotamia. chap. 83  
Of divers Countries, kingdoms and Isles, and marvels beyond the land of Cathay. chap. 84  
Of the land of Bactry, and of many Griffins and other Beasts. chap. 85  
Of the way for to go to Prester john's land, which is the Emperor of Ind. chap. 86  
Of the faith and belief of Prester john, but he hath not all the full belief as we have. chap. 87  
Of another Island, which is called Sinople, wherein dwelleth good people. chap 88  
Of two other Isles, the one is called Pitan, wherein be little men that eat no meat, and in another I'll are the men all rough with feathers. chap. 89  
Of a rich man in Prester john's land named Catolonapes, and of his garden. chap. 90  
Of a marvelous valley that is beside the river Phison. chap. 91  
Of an Island wherein dwell people as great as Giants of xxix. or of thirty. foot of length, and other things. chap. 92  
Of women which make great sorrow when as their children be borne, and great joy when they die. chap. 93  
Of an Island where men wed their own Daughters and kinsewomen. chap. 94  
Of another Island wherein dwell full good people & true. chap. 65  
How king Alexander sent his men thither for to win the land. ch. 96  
How the Emperor Prester john when he goeth to battle, hath three crosses of gold borne before him. chap. 97  
Of the most dwelling place of Prester john in a city called Suse. chap. 98  
Of the wilderness wherein groweth the trees of the Sun, and the Moon. chap. 99  
Of a great Island and kingdom called Taprobane. chap. 100  
Of two other Isles the one called oriel, & the other Argete, where are many gold mines. chap. 101  
Of the dark country, and hills and rocks of stone nigh to Paradise. chap. 102  
A little of Paradise terrestre. ch. 103  
How Prester john's land lieth foot against foot to England. cha. 104  
Of the kingdom of Riboth. ch. 105  
Of a rich man that is neither king, Prince, Duke nor Earl. cha. 106  
How all the lands, Isles and kingdoms before rehearsed have some of the articles of our faith. ch. 107  
How sir john mandevile leaveth many marvels unwritten, and the cause wherefore. chap. 108  
What time john mandevile departed out of England, chap. 109   
FINIS.