Classic Audiobook Collection - The Travels of Sir John Mandeville by Sir John Mandeville ~ Full Audiobook [history]

Episode Date: April 24, 2025

The Travels of Sir John Mandeville by Sir John Mandeville audiobook. Genre: history Written as the first-person account of an English knight, The Travels of Sir John Mandeville invites listeners into a medieval world where pilgrimage, curiosity, and rumor blur into a single road map to the edges of the known earth. Setting out from Western Europe, Sir John describes journeys through the Holy Land and onward into Asia, moving from sacred sites and bustling ports to deserts, empires, and distant islands. Along the way he catalogs customs, foods, religions, and laws, comparing them to the beliefs he carries with him, and measuring the unfamiliar against the moral and spiritual questions that drove so many travelers of his age. But the farther he goes, the more the route becomes a test: not only of endurance and faith, but of what can be trusted, what must be interpreted, and what a reader is willing to imagine. Part travel guide, part sermon, part compendium of marvels, this classic text captures the medieval appetite for geography and wonder, offering a portrait of a world both startlingly connected and thrillingly strange. For ad-free listening try our premium subscription Chapters (Approximate) (00:00:00) Chapter 00 (00:08:01) Chapter 01 (00:12:23) Chapter 02 (00:21:08) Chapter 03 (00:31:09) Chapter 04 (00:38:22) Chapter 05 (00:49:32) Chapter 06 (01:08:20) Chapter 07 (01:23:27) Chapter 08 (01:40:20) Chapter 09 (01:54:33) Chapter 10 (02:07:13) Chapter 11 (02:36:34) Chapter 12 (02:52:31) Chapter 13 (03:12:35) Chapter 14 (03:31:22) Chapter 15 (03:51:28) Chapter 16 (04:06:08) Chapter 17 (04:22:59) Chapter 18 (04:40:47) Chapter 19 (04:50:29) Chapter 20 (05:06:27) Chapter 21 (05:26:49) Chapter 22 (05:43:35) Chapter 23 (05:59:40) Chapter 24 (06:19:05) Chapter 25 (06:51:09) Chapter 26 (07:09:01) Chapter 27 (07:14:43) Chapter 28 (07:25:58) Chapter 29 (07:35:20) Chapter 30 (07:54:06) Chapter 31 (08:11:22) Chapter 32 (08:26:10) Chapter 33 (08:36:32) Chapter 34 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The Travels of Sir John Mandeville by Sir John Mandeville in the edition of A. W. Pollard, read by Daniel Davison. The prologue. For as much as the land beyond the sea, that is to say the holy land that men call the land of permission or of behest, passing all other lands is the most worthy land, most excellent and lady and sovereign of all other lands, and is blessed and hallowed, of the precious body and blood of our Lord Jesus Christ, in the which land it liked him to take flesh and blood of the Virgin Mary, to environ that holy land with his blessed feet, and there he would of his blessedness enumbrahim in the said blessed and glorious Virgin Mary, and become a man, and work many miracles,

and preach and teach the faith and the law of Christian men unto his children, and there it liked him to suffer many reprovings and scorns for us, and he that was king of heaven, of air, of earth, of sea, and of all things that be contained in them, would all only be clept king of that land when he said, Rexum, Eudorum, that is to say, I am king of Jews, and that land he chose before all other lands

has the best and most worthy land, and the most virtuous land of all the world, for it is the heart and the midst of all the world witnessing the philosopher that saith thus virtus rarum in medio consist it that is to say the virtue of things is in the midst and in the land he would lead his life and suffer passion and death of jews for us to buy and to deliver us from pains of hell and from death without end the witch was ordained for us for the sin of our former father adam and for our own sins also, for as for himself he had no evil deserved, for he thought never evil nor did evil, and that he was king of glory and of joy might best in that place suffer death, because he chose in that land rather than in any other land there to suffer his passion and death. For he that will publish anything to make it openly known, he will make it to

be cried and pronounced in the middle place of a town, so that the thing that is proclaimed and may evenly stretch to all parts. Right so he that was former of all the world would suffer for us at Jerusalem that is the midst of the world, to that end and intent that his passion and his death that was published there might be known evenly to all parts of the world. See now how dear he bought man that he made after his own image, and how dear he again bought us for the great love that he had to us, and we never deserved it to him. For more precious chattel, nay greater ransom, nay mighty put for us, than his blessed body, his precious blood,

and his holy life, that he thralled for us, and all he offered for us that never did sin. Ah, dear God, what love had he to us his subjects, when he that never trespassed would for trespassers suffer death. Right well ought us for to love and worship to dread and serve such a lord, and to worship and praise such an holy land that brought forth such fruit through the which every man is saved, but it be his own default. Well may that land be called delectable and fructuous land that was bled and moistered with the precious blood of our Lord Jesus Christ. The witch is the same land that our Lord behite us in heritage, and in that land he would die as sayest, to leave it to us his children, wherefore every good Christian man that is of power and hathware of should pain

him with all his strength for to conquer our right heritage, and chase out all the misbelieving men, for we be clept Christian men, after Christ our father, and if we be right children of Christ, we ought for to challenge the heritage that our father left us, and do it out of heathen men's hands. But now pride, covetous, and envy have so inflamed the hearts of lords of the world that they are more busy for to disheart their neighbours more than for to challenge or to conquer their right heritage before said. And the common people that would put their bodies and the chattels to conquer our heritage. They may not do it without the lords. For assembly of men without a chieftain, or a chif lord, is as a flock of sheep without a shepherd.

The witch departeth and dispirpleth, and wit never wither to go. But would God, that the temporal lords and all worldly lords were at good accord, and with the common people would take this holy voyage over the sea. Then I trow well that within a little time our right heritage before said should be reconciled and put in the hands of the right heirs of Jesus Christ. And for as much as it is long time past that there was no general passage ne' voyage over the sea, and many men desire for to hear speak of the holy land, and have thereof great solace and comfort, I, John Manderville, knight, albeit I be not worthy, that was born in England in the town of St. Albans,

and pass the sea in the year of our Lord Jesus Christ, 1322, in the day of St. Michael, and hitherto have been long time overseas, and have seen and gone through many diverse lands and many provinces and kingdoms and aisles, and have passed through Turkey, Armenia, the little and the great, through Tartary, Persia, Syria, Arabia, Egypt, the high and the low, through Libya, Caldaya, and a greater part of Ethiopia, through Amazonia, Ind, the less and the more, a great part, and throughout many other islands that be about Ind, where dwell many diverse folks and of diverse manners and laws and of diverse shapes of men, of which lands and aisles I shall speak more plainly hereafter, and I shall devise you of some parts of things that there be, when time shall be after, it may 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 often times passed and ridden that way, with good company of many lords. God be thanked, and you shall understand that I have put this book out of Latin into French, and translated it again out of French into English, that every man of me of me. my nation may understand it. But lords and knights, another noble and worthy men that con latin but little, and have been beyond the sea know and understand, if I say truth or no, and if I err in devising, for forgetting or else that they may redress it and amend it, for things passed out of long time from a man's mind or from his sight turn soon into forgetting, because that mind of man, may not be comprehended near withholding for the frailty of mankind.

End of the prologue. Chapter 1 of the travels of Sir John Mandeville by Sir John Mandeville in the edition of A.W. Pollard, read by Daniel Davison. This is a Libravox recording. All Libravox recordings are in the public domain. To teach you the way out of you. of England to Constantinople. In the name of God glorious and mighty, he that will pass over the sea, and come to land to go to the city of Jerusalem, he may wend many ways both on sea and land, after the country that he cometh from, for many of them come to one end, but draweth not that I will

tell you all the towns and cities and castles that men shall go by, for then should I make too long a tale, but all only countries and most principal steads that men shall go through to go the right way. First, if a man come from the west side of the world, as England, Ireland, Wales, Scotland, or Norway, he may, if that he will, go through Almagna and through the kingdom of Hungary, that marcheth to the land of Pondon and to the land of Pannonia, and so to Silesia. and the king of Hungary is a great lord and mighty and holdeth great lordships in much land in his hand, for he holdeth the kingdom of Hungary, Sclavonia and Comania, a great part, and of Bulgaria that men call the land of Bougier, and of the realm of Russia,

a great part whereof he hath made a duchy that lasteth unto the land of Nuflend and marcheth to Prussia. And men go through the land of this land. Lord, through a city that is klepsopron, and by the castle of Neasburg, and by the evil town that sitteth toward the end of Hungary, and there pass men the river of Danube. This river of Danube is a full great river, and it goeth into Almagna under the hills of Lombardy, and it receiveth into him forty other rivers, and it runneth through Hungary and through Greece, and through Thrace, and it entereth into the sea toward the east so rudely and so sharply that the water of the sea is fresh and holdeth his sweetness twenty mile within the sea and after go men to Belgrade and enter into the land of the bourgeois and there pass men a bridge of stone that is upon the river of Maroc and men pass to the land of pinzermats and come to Greece to the city of Nye and

to the city of Phinepapi, and after to the city of Dandranople, and after to Constantinople, that was wont to be clept Byzanson, and there dwelleth commonly the emperor of Greece, and there is the most fair church and the most noble of all the world, and it is of St. Sophie, and before that church is the image of Justinian the emperor, covered with gold, and he sitteth upon an horse a crown, and he was wont to hold a round apple of gold in his hand, but it is fallen out thereof. And men say there that it is a token that the emperor hath lost a great part of his lands and of his lordships, for he was wont to be emperor of Romania and of Greece, of all Eziatholese, and of the land of Syria, of the land of Judea, in the which is Jerusalem, and of the land of Egypt, of Persia and of

Arabia, but he hath lost all but Greece, and that land he holds all undy, and men would many times put the apple into the image's hand again, but it will not hold it. This apple betokeneth the lordship that he had over all the world that is round, and to other hand he lifteth up against the east, in token to menace the misdoers. This image stands upon a pillar of marble at Constantinople. End of Chapter 1 Chapter 2 of the travels of Sir John Manderville by Sir John Manderville in the edition of A.W. Pollard. This is a Librevox recording. All Libravox recordings are in the public domain. Of the cross and crown of our Lord Jesus Christ. At Constantinople is the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ

and his coat with seams that has kleptunica in and the sponge and the reed of the which the Jews gave our Lord Aesel and gall in the cross. And there is one of the nails that Christ was nailed with on the cross, and some men trow that half the cross that Christ was done on be in Cyprus in an abbey of monks that men call the hill of the Holy Cross. But it is not so, for that cross that is in Cyprus is the cross, in the which dismus the good thief was hanged on. But all men know not that, and that is evil done. For for profit of the offering they say that it is the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ. And you shall understand that the cross of our Lord was made of four manner of trees,

as it is contained in this verse, in Cruke-fit palma, Cadrus cupresus oliva. For that peace that went upright from the earth to the head was of Cyprus, and the piece that went over thwart to the which his hands were nailed was of palm, and the stock that stood within the earth in the which was made the mortis was of cedar, and the table above his head that was a foot and a half long, on the which the title was written in Hebrew, Greek, and Latin, that was of olive. And the Jews made the cross of these four manner of trees, for they trowed that our Lord Jesus Christ should have hanged on the cross,

as long as the cross might last, and therefore made they the foot of the cross of cedar, for cedar may not in earth nor water rot, and therefore they would that it should have lasted long. For they trod that the body of Chris should have stunken, they made that peace that went from the earth upwards of Cyprus, for it is well smelling, so that the smell of his body should not grieve men that went forby. And the overthwart piece was of palm, for in the Old Testament, It was ordained that when one was overcome he should be crowned with palm, and for they trowed that they had the victory of Christ Jesus, therefore made they the overthwart peace

of palm, and the table of the title they made of olive, for olive betokeneth peace as the story of Noah witnesseth. When that the culver brought the branch of olive, they betoken peace made between God and man. and so proud the Jews for to have peace when Christ was dead, for they said that he made discord and strife amongst them, and you shall understand that our Lord was anailed on the cross line, and therefore he suffered the more pain. And the Christian men that dwell beyond the sea in Greece say that the tree of the cross that we call Cyprus was of that tree that Adam ate the apple off, and that fine they written, and they say also, that their scripture saith that Adam was sick and said to his son Seth that he should go to the angel that kept paradise that he would send him oil of mercy for to anoint with his members that he might have health and Seth went but the angel would not let him come in but said to him that he might not have of the oil of mercy but he took him three grains of the same tree that his father ate the apple off and bad him

as soon as his father was dead, that he should put these three grains under his tongue and grave him so. And so he did, and of these three grains sprang a tree as the angels said that it should, and bear fruit through the witch fruit Adam should be saved. And when Seth came again he found his father near dead, and when he was dead he did with the grains as the angel bade him. Of the which sprung three trees, of the which the cross was made, bear good fruit and blessed our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom Adam and all that come of him

should be saved and delivered from dread of death without end, but it be their own default. This Holy Cross had the Jews hid in the earth under a rock of the Mount of Calvary, and it lay there two hundred year and more into the time that St. Helen, that was mother to Constantine the Emperor of Rome, and she was daughter of King Coral, born in Colchester, that was King of England, that was clept, then Britain the more, the which the Emperor Constance wedded to his wife for her beauty and gat upon her Constantine, that was after Emperor of Rome and King of England. And ye shall understand that the cross of our Lord was eight cubits long, and the overthwet peace was of length three cubits and a half, and one part of the crown of our Lord, where we

he was crown, and one of the nails, and the spear-head, and many other relics be in France in the king's chapel, and the crown lieth in a vessel of crystal richly dight. For king of France bought these relics some time of the Jews, to whom the emperor had laid them in wed for a great sum of silver, and if all it be so that men say that this crown is of thorns, ye shall understand that it was of Yonkes of the sea, that is to say rushes of the sea, that prick as sharply as thorns, for I have seen and beholden many times that of Peres and that of Constantinople, for they were both one made of rushes of the sea, but men have departed them in two parts of the which, one part is at Perth's, and the other part is at Constantinople, and I have one of those precious thorns

that seemeth like a white thorn, and that was given to me for great specialty, for there are many of them broken and fallen into the vessel that the crown lieeth in, for they break for dryness when men move them to show them to great lords that come thither, and ye shall understand that our Lord Yezou, in that night that he was taken, he was led into a garden, and there he was first examined right sharply, and there the Jews scorned him, and made him a crown of the branches of alberspine that is white thorn that grew in that same garden and set it on his head so fast and so sore that the blood ran down by many places of his visage and of his neck and of his shoulders and therefore hath the white thorn many virtues for he that beareth a branch on him thereof no thunder nay no manner of tempest may dare him nor in the house that it is is in, may no evil ghost enter nor come unto the place that it is in. And in that same garden,

St. Peter denied our Lord thrice. After word was our Lord led forth before the bishops and the masters of the law into another garden of anus, and there also he was examined, reproved and scorned, and crowned eft with a sweet thorn that men clepeth barbarines that grew in that garden, and that hath also many virtues, and afterward he was led into a garden of Caiaphas, and there he was crowned with Eglinthine, and after he was led into the chamber of Pilate, and there he was examined and crowned, and the Jews set him in a chair and clad him in a mantle, and there made they the crown of Yonkis of the sea, and there they kneeled to him and scorned him, saying, Averyx, eudaorum, that is to say hail, king of Jews, and of this crown,

is at Paris and the other half at Constantinople, and this crown had crested on his head, when he was done upon the cross, and therefore ought men to worship it, and hold it more worthy than any of the others. And the spear shaft hath the emperor of Almagna, but the head is at Paris, and neither the emperor of Constantinople saith he hath the spearhead, and I have often times seen it, but it is greater than that at Paris. End of Chapter 2. Chapter 3 of the travels of Sir John Manderville by Sir John Manderville in the edition of A.W. Pollard.

This Libavox recording is in the public domain. Chapter 3 Of the city of Constantinople and of the faith of Greeks. At Constantinople lieeth St. Anne, our lady's mother, whom St. Helen let bring from Jerusalem, And there lieth also the body of John Chrysostom, that was Archbishop of Constantinople, and there lieth also St. Luke, the Evangelus, for his bones were brought from Bethany, where he was buried, and many other relics be there. And there's the vessel of stone, as it were of marble, that men clepe anudros,

that evermore droppeth water, and filleth himself every year, till that it go over above. Without that that men take from within. Constantinople is a full fair city and a good, and well walled, and it is three-cornered, and there's an arm of the sea of Hellespont, and some men call it the mouth of Constantinople, and some men call it the brace of St. George, and that arm closeth the two parts of the city, and upward to the city upon the water was wont, to be the great city of Troy in a full fair plain, But that city was destroyed by them of Greece, and little appearth thereof because it is so long as it was destroyed. About Greece there be many isles as Calistay, Calcus, Oethegé, Tesbria, Munya, Flaxen, Melo, Carpate and Lemnos.

And in this is the Mount Athos that passeth the clouds, and there be many diverse languages in many countries that be obedient to the emperor, that is to say, Tocopoli, Pinsonard, Comanche, and many other as Thrace and Macedonia, of the which Alexander was king. In this country was Aristotle born in a city that men Clepe Stagora, a little from the city of Thrace, and at Stagora lieth Aristotle, and there is an altar upon his tomb, and there make men great feasts for him every year, as though he were saint, and at his altar they holden their great councils. and their assemblies, and they hope that through inspiration of God and of Him, they shall have the better counsel. In this country be right high hills toward the end of Macedonia, and there's a great hill that men Clepe, Olympus, that departeth Macedonia and Thrace, and it is so high

that it passeth the clouds, and there's another hill that is cleptathos, that is so high that the shadow of him reacheth to Lemne, that is an isle, and it is seven, and it is seven, and it is 76 mile between, and above at the cop of the hill is the air so clear that men may find no wind there, and therefore may no beast live there, so is the air dry. And men say in these countries that philosophers some time went upon these hills, and held to their nose a sponge, moistered with water, for to have air, for the air above was so dry, and above in the dust and in the powder of those hills, they wrote letters and figures with their fingers, and at the year's end they came again, and found the same letters and figures, the which they had written the year

before, without any default, and therefore it seemeth well that these hills pass the clouds and join to the pure air. At Constantinople is the palace of the emperor, right fair and well dight, and therein is a fair place for joustings or for other plays into sports, and it is made with stages and hath degrees about it, that every man may well see and none grieve other, and under these stages be stables well vaulted for the emperor's horses, and all the pillars be of marble, and within the church of St. Sophia, an emperor some time would have buried 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 fine plate of gold, and thereon was written in Hebrew, Greek and Latin letters that said thus,

Jesus Christus, nascetor de virgine Maria, and I go credo in eum. That is to say, Jesus Christ shall be born of the Virgin Mary, and I trow in him, and the date when it was laid in the earth was two thousand year before our Lord was born, and yet is the plate of gold in the treasury of the church, and men say that it was homogenes the wise man, and if all it so be that men of Greece be Christian, yet they vary from our faith, for they say that the Holy Ghost may not come of the Son, but all one of the Father, and they are not obedient to the Church of Rome, nay to the Pope, and they say that their patriarch hath as much power over the sea as the Pope hath on this side the sea. And therefore Pope John the 22nd sent letters to them how Christian faith should be all one,

and that they should be obedient to the Pope, that is God's vicar on earth, to whom God gave his plan power for to bind into a soil, and therefore they should be obedient to him. And they sent again diverse answers, and among others they said, us, potentium tuam, sumum, CERcae tuos, fermetor, credimus, Superbeam tuom sumum, sumum, tolerer, non possumus,

Avarietiom tuum sumum satiare, non intendimus, Domenus tecum, That is to say, we trow well that thy power is great upon thy subjects, We may not suffer thine high pride, We be not in purpose to be in purpose to be in purpose to be, fulfil thy great covetous. Lord be with thee, for our Lord is with us, farewell, and other answer might he not have of them. And also they make their sacrament of the altar of theft bread,

for our Lord made it of such bread when he made his mondi. And on the sherry Thursday make they their theft bread in token of the mondi, and dry it at the sun, and keep it all the year, and give it to sick men instead of God's body. And they make but one unction when they christened children, and they anoint not the sick men. And they say that there is no purgatory, and that soul shall not have neither joy and a pain till the day of doom. And they say that fornication is no sin deadly,

but a thing that is kindly, and that men and women should not wed but once, and whoso wreateth oftener than once their children be bastards and gotten, in sin, and their priests also be wedded, and they say also that usury is no deadly sin, and they sell benefices of Holy Church, and so do men in other places. God amend it when his will is, and that is great sclondra, for now is simony king crowned in Holy Church. God amend it for his mercy, and they say that in Lent, men shall not fasten a sing mass, but on Saturday and on Sunday, and they fast not on the Saturday, no time of the year, but it be Christmas even, or Easter even,

and they suffer not the Latins to sing at their altars, and if they do by any adventure, and on they wash the altar with holy water, and they say that there should be but one mass said at one altar upon one day, and they say also that our Lord ne't never meet, but he made token of eating, And also they say that we sin deadly in shaving our beards, for the beard is token of a man and gift of our Lord. And they say that we sin deadly in eating the beasts that were forbidden in the Old Testament, and of the old law, as swine, hairs and other beasts that chew not their cud. And they say that we sin when we eat flesh on the days before Ash Wednesday, and of that that we eat flesh the Wednesday, and eggs and cheese upon the fire.

Fridays, and they accuse all those that abstain them to eat flesh the Saturday. Also the Emperor of Constantinople maketh the patriarch, the Archbishops and the Bishops, and giveth the dignities and the benefices of churches, and depriveth them that be unworthy when he findeth any cause, and so is he lord both temporal and spiritual in his country. And if you will wit of their ABC, what letters they be, you may see them with the names that they clepe them there amongst them. Alpha, beta, gamma, delta, A longer, A brevis, Epilmon, Thetha, Yota, capta, lapta, me, knee, chi, obrevis, Pe, cough, Ro, suma, tau, V, Fee, Chi, C, Othomaga, Diakosan. And albeit that these things touch not to one way, nevertheless, they

touched to that, that I have hiked you to show you a part of customs and manners and diversities of countries. And for this is the first country that is discordant in faith and in belief, and varies from our faith on this half the sea. Therefore I have said it here, that ye may know the diversity that is between our faiths and theirs, for many men have great liking to hear speak of strange things of diverse countries. End of Chapter 3 Chapter 4 of the travels of Sir John Mandeville by Sir John Manderville in the edition of A.W. Pollard

This Libervox recording is in the public domain. Chapter 4 Of the way from Constantinople to Jerusalem, of St. John the Evangelist, and of the hypocris' daughter, transformed from a woman to a dragon. Now return I again for to teach you the way from Constantinople to Jerusalem. He that will through Turkey,

he goeth toward the city of Niki, and he passeth through the gate of Shienitut, and all ways men see before them the hill of Shienitut, that is right high, and it is a mile and a half from Niki. And whoso will go by water, by the brace of St. George, and by the sea where St. Nicholas lieth, and toward many other places, Thus men go to an island that is clept silo.

In that isle groweth mastic on small trees, and out of them cometh gum, as it were, of plum trees or of cherry trees. And after go men through the isle of Patmos, and there wrote St. John the Evangelist the Apocalypse, and you shall understand that St. John was of age 32 year, when our Lord suffered his passion. And after his passion, he lived 67 year, And in the hundredth year of his age he died.

From Patmos men go unto Ephesus, a fair city and eye to the sea. And there died St. John and was buried behind the high altar in a tomb. And there's a fair church, for Christian men were wont to hold in that place always. And in the tomb of St. John is naught but manor that is clept angels meet, for his body was translated into paradise. And Turks hold now all that place, and that place. the city and the church, and all Aziah the less is eclipped Turkey, and ye shall understand that St. John let make his grave there in his life, and laid him there in all quick, and therefore

some men say that he did not die, but that he resteth there till the day of doom. And forsooth there is a great marvel, for men may see there the earth of the tomb, apparently many times stir and move, as there were quick things under. And from Ephesus' men go through many isles in the sea unto the city of patera where st nicholas was born and so to martha where he was chosen to be bishop and there goeth right good wine and strong and that men call wine of martha and from thence go men to the isle of crete that the emperor gave some time to the genoes and then men pass through the isles of colchus and of lago of the which isle upacrus was lord of. And some men say that in the Isle of Lango is yet the daughter of Uppercross, in form and likeness of a great dragon that is a hundred fathom of length, as men say, for I have not seen her, and they of the aisles call her Lady of the Land, and she lieth in an old castle, in a cave, and showeth twice or thrice in the year,

and she doth no harm to no man, but if men do her harm, and she was thus changed and transformed from a fair damsel into likeness of a dragon by a goddess that was clept Diana, and men say that she shall so endure in that form of a dragon unto the time that a knight come that is so hardy that dare come to her and kiss her on the mouth, and then shall she turn again to her own kind and be a woman again, but after that she shall not live long, And it is not long sithin that a knight of Rhodes that was hardy and doughty in arms Said that he would kiss her and when he was upon his courser and went to the castle and entered into the cave the dragon lift up her head against him And when the knight saw her in that form so hideous and so horrible he fled away

And the dragon bear the knight upon a rock Morgre his head and from that rock she cast him into the sea and so was lost both horse and man. And also a young man that wist not of the dragon went out of a ship, and went through the aisle till that he came to the castle, and came into the cave, and went so long till that he found a chamber, and there he saw a damozel that combed her head and looked in a mirror, and she had much treasure about her, and he trod that she had been a common woman that dwelt there to receive men to folly, and he abhorred till the amazel saw the shadow of him in the mirror, and she turned her toward him, and asked him what he would, and he said he would be her layman or paramour, and she asked him, if that he were night, and he said,

nay, and then she said that he might not be her layman, but she bade him go again unto his fellows, and make him knight, and come again upon the morrow, and she should come out of the cave before him, and then come and kiss her on the mouth, and have no dread, for I should, do thee no manner of harm, albeit that thou see me in likeness of a dragon. For though thou thou see me hideous and horrible to look on, I do thee to wit that it is made by enchantment. For without doubt I am none other than thou seest now, a woman, and therefore dread thee not. And if thou kiss me, thou should have all this treasure, and be my lord, and lord also of all the isle and he departed from her and went to his fellows to ship and let make him knight and came again upon the morrow for to kiss

this damozel and when he saw her come out of the cave in form of a dragon so hideous and so horrible he had so great dread that he fled again to the ship and she followed him and when she saw that he turned not again she began to cry as a thing that had much sorrow and then she turned again into her cave and anon the knight died, And sithen hitherward might no knight see her, But that he died anon. But when a knight cometh that is so hardy to kiss her, He shall not die, But he shall turn the damozel into her right form,

And kindly shape, And he shall be lord of all the countries and isles above said. And from thence men come to the Isle of Rhodes, The witch-isle-hospitalers holden and governed, And that took they some time from the emperor, and it was wont to be clept Colos, and so calleth the Turks yet, and St. Paul in his epistle writeth to them of that isle, add Colosenses. This is nigh eight hundred mile long from Constantinople. End of Chapter 4. Chapter 5 of the travels of Sir John Manderville by Sir John Mandeville in the edition of A. W. Pollard.

This Librevox recording is in the public domain. Chapter 5. Of diversities in Cyprus, of the road from Cyprus to Jerusalem, and of the marvel of a foss full of sand. And from this isle of roads, men go to Cyprus, where be many vines, that first be red, and after one year they become white, and those wines that be most white be most clear and best of smell, and men pass by that way, by a place that was wont to be a great city and a great land, and the city was clept Cathelier, the witch city and land was lost through folly of a young man, for he had a fair damozel that he loved well to his paramour, and she died suddenly, and was done in a tomb of marble, and for the great lust that he had to her, he went in the

night unto her tomb and opened it and went in and lay by her and went his way and when it came to the end of nine months there came a voice to him and said go to the tomb of that woman and open it and behold what thou hast begotten on her and if thou let go thou shalt have a great harm and he hid and opened the tomb and there flew out an adder right hideous to see the witch as swift air flew about the city and the country, and soon after the city sank down, and there be many perilous passages without fail. From roads to Cyprus be 500 mile and more, but men may go to Cyprus and come not at roads. Cyprus is right a good isle, an affair and a great, and it hath four principal cities within him, and there is an archbishop of Nicosia, and four other bishops in that land, and at Famagost is one of principal havens of the sea that is in the world, and there arrive Christian men and Saracens and men of all nations. In Cyprus is the hill of the Holy Cross, and there is an abbey of monks black, and there is the cross of Dismas, the good thief, as I have said before, and

some men trow that there is half the cross of our Lord, but it is not so, and they do evil that make men to believe so. In Cyprus, lieeth saints anonymous, of whom men of that country make great solemnity, and in the castle of Amours lieeth the body of St. Helerion, and men keep it right worshipfully. And beside from August was St. Bonobus the Apostle born. In Cyprus men hunt with papayons, that be like leopards, and they take wild beasts right well, and they be somewhat more than lions, and they take more sharply the beasts, and more deliver than do hounds.

in Cyprus is the manner of lords and all are the men all to eat on the earth for they make ditches in the earth all about in the hall deep to the knee and they do pave them and when they will eat they go there and sit there and the skill is for they may be the more fresh for the land is much more hotter than it is here and at great feasts and for strangers they set forms and tables as men do in this country but they had laver sit in in the earth. From Cyprus men go to the land of Jerusalem by the sea, and in a day and in a night he that hath good wind may come to the haven of Tyre, that is now Clepsurier. There was some time a great city and a good of Christian men, but Saracens have destroyed it a great part, and they keep that haven right well, for dread of Christian men. Men might go more right to that haven and come not in Cyprus, but they go gladly to Cyprus to rest them on the land, or else to buy things, that they have need to their living. On the seaside men may find many rubies, and there is the well

of the which holy writ speaketh of and saith, Fons, O torum, et Puteus Aquarum Viventium, that is to say, the well of gardens and the ditch of living waters. In the city of Tyre, said the woman to our Lord, beatus venta qui te portavit, and uberra ke sochiste, that is to say, Blessed be the body that bear thee, and the paps that thou suckest. And there our Lord forgave the woman of Canaan her sins, and before Tyre was wont to be the stone on the which our lord sat and preached, and on that stone was founded the church of Saint-Savur, and eight mile from Tyre toward the east, Upon the sea is the city of Sarfen, in Sarrepta of Sedonians, and there was wontful to dwell Elijah the prophet,

and there raised He Jonas the widow's son from death to life. And five mile from Sarfan is the city of Sidon, of the which city Dido was lady that was Aeneas's wife, after the destruction of Troy, and that founded the city of Carthage in Africa, and now is clept Sedon Siety. And in the city of Tyre reigned Agonore, the father of Dido, and 16 mile from Saidan is Beirut,

and from Beirut to Sardinare is three journeys, and from Sardinare is five mile to Damascus. And whoso will go long time on the sea and come near to Jerusalem, he shall go from Cyprus by sea to Port Jaffa, for that is the next haven, Jerusalem, for from that haven is not but one day journey and a half to Jerusalem, and the town is called Jaffa, for one of the sons of Noah that Height Japheth founded it, and now it is Klet Joppa, and ye shall understand that it is one of the oldest towns of the world, for it was founded before

Noah's flood, and yet there showeth in the rock, there as the iron chains were fastened, that Andromeda, a great giant was bounden with, and put in prison before Noah's flood, of the witch giant is a rib of side that is forty foot long, and whoso will arrive at the port of Tyre, or of Sorriere, that I have spoken of before, may go by land, if he will, to Jerusalem. And men go from Suryeh unto the city of Akon in a day, and it was clep some time tolemais, and it was some time a city of Christian men full fare, but it is now destroyed, and it stands upon the sea. And from Venice to Arcon by sea is 2,04 miles of Lombardy. And from Calabria or from Sicily to Arcon by sea is at 1300 miles of Lombardy,

and the Isle of Crete is right in the midway. And beside the city of Arcon, toward the sea, six-score. furlongs on the right side toward the south is the hill of Carmel where Elijah the prophet dwelt and there was first the order of friars Carmelites founded this hill is not right great nor full high and at the foot of this hill was some time a good city of Christian men that men clept Caifa for Caiaphas first founded it but it is now all wasted and on the left side of the hill of Carmel is a town that men clepe Safre and that is set on another hill.

There St. James and St. John were born, and in worship of them there is a fair church. And from Ptolemais that men clep in our Acon, unto a great hill that is clep's calais of tyre, is one hundred furlongs. And beside the city of Acon runneth a little river that is clept Bailon. And there nigh is the foss of Menon that is all round, and it is one hundred cubits of largeness,

and it is all full of gravel, shining bright of the which men make fair verres and clear, and men come from far by water in ships, and by land with carts for to fetch of that gravel. And though there be never so much taken away thereof in the day, admore it is as full again as ever it was, and that is a great marvel, and there is ever more great wind in that foss

that stirth evermore the gravel, and maketh it trouble. And if any man do therein any manner metal, it turneth anon to glass. And the glass that is made of that gravel, if it be done again into the gravel, it turneth anon into gravel as it was first, and therefore some men say

that it is a swallow of the gravelly sea. Also from Akon above said go men forth four journeys to the city of Palestine, that was of the Philistines, that now is clept Gaza, that is a gay city and a rich, and it is right fair and full of folk, and it is a little from the sea, and from this city brought Samson the strong the gates upon an island, when he was taken in that city, and there he slew in a place the king and himself, and great number of the best of the Philistines, the witch had put out his iron and shaved his head,

and imprisoned him by treason of Dalida his paramour, and therefore he made fall upon them a great hall when they were at meat. And from thence go men to the city of Caesarea, and so to the castle of pilgrims, and so to Ascalon, and then to Jopha, and so to Jerusalem. And whoso will go by land through the land of Babylon, where the Sultan dwelleth commonly, he must get grace of him and leave to go more,

sicker through those lands and countries, and for to go to the Mount of Sinai, before that men go to Jerusalem, they shall go from Gaza to the castle of Dairy, and after that men come out of Syria and enter into the wilderness, and there the way is full sandy, and that wilderness and desert lasteth eight journeys, but always men find good inns, and all that they need of victuals, and men clepe that wilderness, that wilderness Achalek. And when a man cometh out of that desert, he entereth into Egypt, that men clepe Egypt Canopac, and after other language men clepe it Morson, and their first men find a good town that is clept Belethy, and it is at the end of the kingdom of Aleppo, and from thence men go to Babylon and to Cairo. End of Chapter 5.

Chapter 6 of the travels of Sir John Mandeville by Sir John Manderville in the edition of A.W. Pollard. This Libervox recording is in the public domain. Chapter 6 Of many names of Saldans and of the Tower of Babylon. At Babylon there is a fair church of Our Lady, where she dwelt seven years when she fled out of the land of Judea for dread of King Herod, and there lieth the body of St. Barbara, the virgin and martyr, and there dwelt Joseph when he was sold of his brethren,

and there made Nebuchadnezzar the king put three children into the furnace of fire, for they were in the right truth of belief, the which children men clept Ananaya Azariah, Mishael, as the Psalm of Benedict de saith, but Nebuchadnezzar clept them otherwise, Shadrach, Meishach, and Abednego, that is to say, God glorious, God victorious, and God over all things and realms. And that was for the miracle that he saw God's son go with the children through the fire, as he said. There dwelleth the Sultan in his calah heluke, for there's commonly his seat,

in a fair castle, strong and great, and well set upon a rock. In that castle dwell all way to keep it and to serve the Saldan, more than 6,000 persons that take all the necessaries off the Soudan's court. I ought right well to know it, for I dwelt with him as soldier in his wars a great while against the Bedouins, and he would have married me full highly to a great prince's daughter if I would have forsaken my law and my belief, but I thank God I had no will to do it, for nothing that he behite me.

And ye shall understand that the Sultan is lord of five kingdoms, that he hath conquered and appropried to him by strength. And these be the names, the kingdom of Kanapak, that is Egypt, and the kingdom of Jerusalem, where that David and Solomon were kings, and the kingdom of Syria, of which the city of Damascus was chief. and the kingdom of Aleppo in the land of Mathi and the kingdom of Arabia, that was to one of the three kings that made offering to our Lord when he was born, and many other lands he holdeth in his hand, and therewithal he holdeth caliphs.

That is a full great thing in their language, and it is as much to say as king. And there were wont to be five sultan's, but now there is no more but he of Egypt, and the first Suldan was Zarakon that was of Media, as was father to Saladin that took the Caliph of Egypt and slew him, and was made Sultan by strength. After that was Sultan Saladin, in whose time the king of England, Richard I, with many other kept the passage that Saladin ne might not pass. After Saladin reigned his son Borodin, and after him his nephew. After that, the Comanians that were in servage in Egypt felt themselves that they were of great power. They chose them a Sultan amongst them, the which made him to be clept Melech Salan, and in his time entered into the country of the kings of France St. Louis and fought with him.

And the Sultan took him and imprisoned him, and this Sultan was slain by his own servants. and after they chose another to be Sultan that they clept Timpeerman, and he let deliver St. Louis out of prison for a certain ransom, and after one of these Comanians reigned that Heikachas and slew Timpeerman for to be Sultan, and made him be clept Melechmenes. And after another that had to name Bendoch Dari, that slew Melechmenes for to be Sultan, and clept himself Melechdaree in his time entered the good king Edward of England into Syria and did great harm to the Sarasms. And after was this Saldan empoisoned at Damascus?

And his son thought to reign after him by heritage and made him to be clept Melechzake. But another that had to name Elfi chased him out to the country and made him Zoldan. This man took the city of Tripoli and destroyed many of the Christian men the year of grace 1289, and after was he imprisoned of another that would be Sultan, but he was an unslain. After that was the son of Elfi chosen to be Sultan and clept himself Malek Saraf, and he took the city of Akon and chased out the Christian men, and this was also impoisoned, and then was his brother made Saldan and was clept Melech Nasser. And after, one that was clept Goetoga, took him and put him in prison in the castle of Montroyal,

and made him Saldon by strength and clapped him Melech Adel, and he was of tartary, but the Comanians chased him out to the country, and did him much sorrow, and made one of them Saldan, that had to name Lachin, and he made him to be clept Melech Manser. The witch on a day played at the chess, and his sword lay beside him, and so befell that one rafted him, and with his own proper sword he was slain. And after that they were at great discord for to make a sultan, and finally they accorded to Melech Nasser that Goetaga had put him in prison at Mount Royal.

And this reigned long and governed wisely, so that he had been, his eldest son was chosen after him, Melech Mader, the which his brother let's lay privily for to have the lordship, made him to be clept, Melech Medabaron, and he was sultan when I departed from those countries. And whiche well, that the sultan may lead out of Egypt more than twenty thousand men of arms, and out of Syria, and out of Turkey, and out of other countries that he holds, he may arrear more than fifty thousand, and all those be at his wages, and they be always at him, without the folk of his country, that is without number, and every each of them hath by year

the mountains of six score florins, but it behoveth that every of them hold three horses and a camel, and by the cities and by towns be admirals that have the governance of the people, one hath to govern four, and another hath to govern five, another more and another well more, and as many taketh the admiral by him alone, as all the other soldiers have under him, and therefore when the Saldan will advance any worthy knight, he maketh him an admiral, and when it is any dearth, the knights be right poor,

and then they sow both their horses and their harness. And the Saldan hath four wives, one Christian and three Saracens, of the which one dwelleth at Jerusalem, and another at Damascus, and another at Ascalon, and when them list, they remove to other cities, and when the Soudan will he may go to visit them, and he hath as many paramours as him liketh, for he maketh to come before him the fairest and the noblest of birth, and the gentlest damazels of his country, and he maketh them to be kept and served full honourably,

and when he will have one to lie with him, he maketh them all to come before, him, and he beholdeth in all which of them is most to his pleasure, and to her anon he sendeth or casteth a ring from his finger, and then anon she shall be bathed and richly attired and anointed with delicate things of sweet smell, and then led to the Saldun's chamber, and thus he doth as often as him lest, when he will have any of them. and before the sultan cometh no stranger but if he be clothed in cloth of gold or of tartary or of kamaka in the serrason's guise and as the saracens use and it behoveth that anon at the first sight that men see the sultan, be it in window or in what place else, that men kneel to him and kiss the earth, for that is the manner to do reverence to the sultan of them that speak with him. And when the messengers of strange countries come before him, there many of the Suldan,

when the strangers speak to him, they be about the Suldan, with swords drawn and gis arms and axes, their arms lifted up in high with those weapons for to smite upon them if they say any word that is displeasance to the Saldan. And also no stranger cometh before him, but that he maketh him some promise and grant of that, stranger asketh reasonably, by so it be not against his law. And so do other princes beyond, for they say that no man shall come before no prince, but that he be better, and shall be more gladder in departing from his presence than he was at the coming before him. And understandeth that that Babylon that I have spoken of, whether that the Sultan dwelleth, is not that great Babylon where the diversity of languages was first made for vengeance by the miracle of God when the great tower of Babel was begun to be made,

of the which the walls were 64 furlongs of height, that is, in the great desert of Arabia, upon the way as men go toward the kingdom of Keldaya, but it is full long since that any man does nigh to the tower, for it is all desert and full of dragons and great serpents, full of diverse venomous beasts all about. That tower, with the city, was of 25 mile in circuit of the walls, as they of the country say, and as men may deem by estimation, after that men tell of the country, and though it be clep the Tower of Babylon, yet nevertheless there were ordained within many mansions and many great-dwelling places in length and breadth, and that tower contained great country and circuit for the tower alone contained ten miles square. That tower founded King Nimrod that was king of that country and he was the first king of the world and he let make an image

in the likeness of his father and constrained all his subjects for to worship it and anon began other lords to do the same and so began the idols and the Semulacres first. The town and the city were full well set in a fair country and a plain that men Clepe the country of Samar, of the which the walls of the city were 200 cubits in height and 50 cubits of deepness, and the river of Euphrates ran throughout the city and about the tower also.

But Cyrus the king of Persia took from them the river and destroyed all the city and the tower also, or he departed that river in 360 small, rivers, because that he had sworn that he would put the river in such point that a woman might well pass there without casting off of her clothes, for as much as he had lost many worthy men that trow'd to pass that river by swimming. And from Babylon whether soul done dwelleth, to go right between the Orient and the Septentrian toward the great Babylon is forty journeys to pass by desert. But it is not the great Babylon in the land and in the power of the said

soul-man, but it is in the power and the lordship of Persia, but he holdeth it of the great can. That is the greatest emperor and the most sovereign lord of all the parts beyond, and he is lord of the Isles of Cathay, and of many other Isles and of a great part of Ind, and his land marcheth unto Presta John's land, and he holdeth so much land that he knoweth not the end, and he is more mighty and greater Lord without comparison than is the Soudan. Of his royal estate and of his might, I shall speak more plenely, when I shall speak of the land and of the country of Ind. Also the city of Mecca, where Muhammad lieth is of the great deserts of Arabia,

and there lieth the body of him full honourably in their temple that the seracens clep'in musketh. And it is from Babylon the less where the Soudan dwelleth, unto Mecca above said, into a thirty-two journeys. And wit well that the realm of Arabia is a full great country, but therein is over much desert, and no man may dwell there in that desert for default of water, for the land is all gravelly and full of sand, and it is dry and no thing fruitful because that it hath no moisture and therefore is there so much desert and if it had rivers and wells and the land also were as it is in other parts it should be as full of people and as full inhabited with folk as in other places for there's full great multitude of people whereas the land is inhabited Arabia dureth from the ends of the realm of Keldaya unto the last end of Africa, and marcheth to the land of Edjumaya towards the end of Botron, and in Keldaya the chief city is Baghdad,

and of Africa the chief city is Carthage, that dido that was Aeneas's wife founded, the witch Aeneas was of the city of Troy, and after was king of Italy. Mesopotamia stretcheth also unto the deserts of Iran, Arabia, and it is a great country. In this country is a city of Haran, where Abraham's father dwelt, and from whence Abraham departed by commandment of the angel. And of that city was Ephraim that was a great clerk and a great doctor, and Theophilus was of that city also,

that our ladies saved from our enemy, and Mesopotamia dureth from the river of Euphrates unto the river of Tigris, for it is between those two rivers, and beyond the River of Tigris's Caldea, that is a full great kingdom. In that realm that Baghdad above said was wont to dwell the caliph, that was wont to be both as emperor and pope of the Arabians, so that he was lord spiritual and temporal, and he was successor to Muhammad and of his generation. That city of Baghdad was wont to be kleptutis, and Nebuchadnezzar founded it,

and there'd were the Holy Prophet Daniel, and there he saw visions of heaven, and there he made the exposition of dreams. And in old time there was wont to be three caliphs, he of Arabia and of Keldaya dwelt in the city of Baghdad above said, and at Cairo beside Babylon dwelt the caliph of Egypt, and at Morocco upon the West Sea dwelt the Caliph of the people of Barbary and of Africans. And now is there none of the Caliphs, nor not have been since the time of the Soldan Saladin, for from that time hither the Soldan clepeth himself Caliph, and so have the Caliphs lost their name.

Also witeth well that Babylon the less where the Sultan dwelleth, and at the city of Cairo that is nigh beside it be great huge cities many and fair, and that one sitteth nigh that other. Babylon sitteth upon the river of Gisonne, sometimes clept Nile, that cometh out of paradise terrestrial. That river of Nile, all the year when the sun entereth into the sign of cancer, it beginneth to wax, and it waxeth always, as long as the sun is a sun is a, in cancer and in the sign of the lion. And it waxeth in such manner that it is sometime so great

that it is twenty cubits or more of deepness, and then it doth great harm to the goods that be upon the land. For then may no man travail to plough the lands for the great moisture, and therefore is their dear time in that country. And also when it waxeth little, it is dear time in that country, for default of moisture, and when the sun is in the sign of Virgo, then beginneth the river for to wane and to decrease little and little, so that when the sun is entered into the sign of Libra, then they enter between these rivers. This river cometh running from paradise to estriel, between the deserts of Ind, and after it smiteth unto land and runneth long time many great countries under earth, and after it goeth out under an high hill that men clippe aluthe that is between ind and

Ethiopia the mountaineance of five months journeys from the entry of Ethiopia and after it environeth all Ethiopia and Mauritania and goeth all along from the land of Egypt unto the city of Alexandria to the end of Egypt and there it falleth into the sea about this river be many birds and fowls as sicken ears that they clep in ibis. End of chapter six. Chapter 7 of the travels of Sir John Mandeville by Sir John Mandeville in the addition of A.W. Pollard. This Librevox recording is in the public domain. Chapter 7

Of the country of Egypt, of the bird phoenix of Arabia, of the city of Cairo, of the cunning to know balm and to prove it, and of the garner's of Joseph. Egypt is a long country, but it is straight, that is to say, narrow, for they may not enlarge it toward the desert for default of water, and the country is set along upon the river of Nile, by as much as that river may serve by floods or otherwise, that when it floweth, it may spread abroad through the country. So is the country large of length, for there it reigneth not,

but little in that country, and for that cause they have no water, but if it be of that flood of that river. And for as much as it ne'er reigneth in that country, but the air is all way pure and clear, therefore in that country be the good astronomers, for they find there no clouds to let in them. Also the city of Cairo is right great and more huge than that of Babylon the less, and it sitteth above toward the desert of Syria, a little above, the river above said. In Egypt there be two parts, the height that is toward Ethiopia and the lower that is toward Arabia. In Egypt is the land of Ranzes and the land of Goshen. Egypt is a strong country for it hath many shrewd havens because of the great rocks that be strong and dangerous

to pass by. And at Egypt toward the east is the Red Sea that dureth on to the city of Koston, and toward the west is the country of Libya that is a full dry land and little of fruit for it is overmuch plenty of heat and that land is clept foiste and toward the part meridional is Ethiopia and toward the north is the desert that dureth unto Syria and so is the country strong on all sides and it is well of fifteen journeys of length and more than two so much of desert and it is but two journeys in the largeness, and between Egypt and Nobia, it hath well a twelve journeys of desert, and men of Nobia be Christian, but they be black as the Moors for great heat of the sun. In Egypt there be five provinces, that one is Sahothae, the other Damascia, another raceth, that is an island in the Nile, another Alexandria, and another the land of Damieta. That city was wont to be right strong, but it was twice one of the Christian men, and therefore,

after that the Saracens beat down the walls, and with the walls and the tower thereof, the Saracens made another city more far from the sea, and clept it the new Damieta, so that now no man dwelleth at the Rother town of Damieta. At that city of Damieta is one of the havens of Egypt, and at Alexandria is that other. That is a full strong city but there is no water to drink but if it come by conduit from Nile that entereth into their cisterns, and who so stop that water from them they might not endure there. In Egypt there be but few forcilets or castles because that the country is so strong of himself. At the deserts of Egypt was a worthy man that was an holy hermit,

and there met with him a monster, that is to say, a monster is a thing, formid against kind, both of man and of beast or of anything else, and that is clept a monster. And this monster that met with this holy hermit was as it had been a man that had two horns trenchant on his forehead, and he had a body like a man unto the naval, and beneath he had the body like a goat, and the hermit asked him what he was, and the monster answered him and said he was a deadly creature, such as God had formed, and dwelt in those deserts and purchasing his sustenance, and he besought the hermit that he would pray God for him, the witch that came from heaven for to save all mankind as was born of a maiden and suffered passion

and death, as we well know, and by whom we live and be, and yet is the head with the two horns of that monster at Alexandria for marvel. In Egypt is the city of Heliopolis, that is to say, the city of the sun. In that city there is a temple made around after the, the shape of the temple of Jerusalem. The priests of that temple have all their writings under the date of the fow that is clept phoenix, and there is none but one in all the world, and he cometh to burn himself upon the altar of that temple at the end of five hundred year, for so long he liveth. And at the five hundred years' end, the priests array their altar honestly, and put thereupon spices and sulfur vif and other things that will burn lightly. And then the bird

phoenix cometh and burneth himself to ashes. And the first day next after men find in the ashes a worm. And the second day next after men find a bird quick and perfect. And the third day next after he flieth his way. And so there is no more birds of that kind in all the world but it alone. And truly that is a great miracle of God. And men may well liken that burden to God, because that their ne is no God but one, and also that our Lord arose from death to life the third day. The bird men see often time fly in those countries, and he is not mickle more than an eagle, and he hath a crest of feathers upon his head more great than the peacock hath, and his neck is yellow after colour of an oriel that is a stone well

shining, and his beak is coloured blue as end, and his wings be of purple, and his neck is yellow, colour, and his tail is barred, overthwatt, with green and yellow and red, and he is a full fair bird to look upon against the sun, for he shineth full gloriously and nobly. Also in Egypt be gardens that have trees and herbs, the witch bear fruit seven times in the year, and in that land men find many fair emeralds and enough, and therefore they be greater cheap. Also, when it raineth, once in the summer in the land of egypt, then is all the country full of great mires. Also at Cairo that I spake of before, sell men commonly both men and women of other laws, as we do here, beasts in the market.

And there is a common house in that city that is all full of small furnaces, and thither bring women of the town their iron of hens, of geese, and of ducks. and they that keep that house cover them with heat of horse dung without hen goose or duck or any other fowl and at the end of three weeks or of a month they come again and take their chickens and nourish them and bring them forth so that all the country is full of them and so men do there both winter and summer also in that country and in others also men find long apples to sell in their season and men clepe them apples of paradise and they be right sweet and a good savour, and though ye cut them in never so many gobbets or parts, overthwought or end long, evermore ye shall find in the midst the figure of the Holy Cross of our Lord Jesusu. But they will rot within eight days,

and for that cause men may not carry of those apples to know for our countries. Of them men find the mountains of a hundred in a basket, and they have great loaves of a foot and a half of length, and they be convenably large. And men find there also the apple tree of Adam that have a bite at one of the sides, and there be also fig trees that bear no leaves, but figs upon the small branches, and men clepe them figs of fero. Also beside Cairo without that city is the field where balm groweth, and it cometh out on small trees that be none of,

higher than to a man's breeks girdle, and they seem as wood that is of the wild vine, and in that field be seven wells that our Lord Jesus Christ made with one of his feet when he went to play with other children. That field is not so well closed, but that men may enter at their own list, but in that season that the balm is growing, men put their too good keeping, that no man dare be hardy to enter. This balm groweth in no place but only there. And though that men bring of the plants, for to plant in other countries, they grow well and fair, but they bring forth no fructuous thing,

and the leaves of balm fall not. And men cut the branches with a sharp flintstone, or with a sharp bone, when men will go to cut them, for who so cut them with iron, it would destroy his virtue and his nature. and the serasons clepe they would enoch balce and the fruit the witches as cubabs they clepe abe bismam and the liquor that droppeth from the branches they clepe gae balsa and men make all ways that balm to be tilled of the christian men, or else it would not fructify as a serseyssen say of themselves, or it hath been often time proved.

Men say also that the balm groweth in end the more, in that desert where Alexander spake to the trees of the sun and of the moon, that I have not seen it, for I have not been so far above upward, because that there be too many perilous passages, and which ye will, that a man ought to take good keep for to buy balm, but if he can know it right well, or he may write lightly be deceived, for men sell a gum that men clepe turpentine instead of balm, and they put thereto a little balm for to give good odour,

and some put wax in oil of the wood of the fruit of the balm, and say that it is balm, and some distil cloves of gilofre and of spike-nard of Spain, and of other spices that be well smelling, and the liquor that goeth out thereof they clepe it balm, and they think that they have balm, and they have none. For the Saracens counterfeit it by subtlety of craft for to deceive the Christian men, as I have seen full many a time, and after them the merchants, and the merchants, the apotheca is counterfeited, Eft swans, and then it is less worth, and a great deal worse. But if it like you, I shall show how ye shall know and prove, to the end that ye shall not be

deceived, for ye shall well know that the natural balm is full clear, and of citron colour, and strongly smelling, and if it be thick, or red or black, it is sophisticate, that is to say, counterfeited and made like it for deceit, and understand that if ye will put a little balm in the palm of your hand against the sun, and if it be fine and good, ye ne shall not suffer your hand against the heat of the sun. Also, take a little balm with a point of a knife, and touch it to the fire, and if it burn it is a good sign. After take also a drop of balm, and put it in a dish, or in a cup with milk of a goat, and if it be natural balm anon it will take and be clippe the milk, or put a drop of balm in clear water in a cup of silver

or in a clear basin and stir it well with the clear water. And if the balm be fine and of his own kind, the water shall never trouble. And if the bomb be sophisticated, that is to say, counterfeited, the water shall become anon trouble, and also if the bomb be fine it shall fall to the bottom of the bottom of, the vessel as though it were quicksilver, for the fine balm is more heavy twice than is the balm that is sophisticated and counterfeited. Now I have spoken of balm. And now also I shall speak of another thing that is beyond Babylon, above the flood of the Nile, toward the desert between Africa

and Egypt, that is to say of the garneres of Joseph that he let make, for to keep the grains, for the peril of the deer years, and they be made of stone, full well made of mason's craft, of the which two be marvellously great and high, and that other ne'er be not so great, and every garner hath a gate, for to enter within, a little high from the earth, for the land is wasted and fallen since the garner's were made, and within they be all full of serpents, and above the garner's without be many scriptures of diverse languages, and some men say that they be sepultures of great lords that were some time, but that is not true, for all the common rumour and speech is of all the people there both far near, that they be the garners of Joseph, and so find they in their scriptures

and in the chronicles. On the other part, if they were sepultures, they should not be void within, nay they should have no gates for to enter within, for ye may well know that tombs and sepultures be not made of such greatness, nor of such highness, wherefore it is not to believe that they be tombs or sepulchres. In Egypt also there be diverse languages and diverse letters, and of other manner and condition than there be in other parts. As I shall devise you such as they be, and the names how they clepe them, to such intent that you may know the difference of the, them and of others.

Athoemis. Bimchee. Chonok. Duram. Eni. Fin. Gomor. Hecate.

Jani. Karakta. Luzan. Miche. Naron. Oldach. Pilon. Kine.

Uron. Sichen. Thola. Irmran. Uffan-Zarm. Toot. End of Chav. Chapter 7. Chapter 8 of the travels of Sir John Manderville by Sir John Manderville in the edition of A.W. Pollard.

This Librevox recording is in the public domain. Chapter 8 Of the Isle of Sicily, of the way from Babylon to the Mount Sinai, of the Church of St. Catherine, and of all the marvels there. Now will I return again, now I proceed any further, for to declare to you the other ways that draw toward Babylon where the Sultan himself dwelleth, that is at the entry of Egypt. For as much as many folk go thither first and after that to the Mount Sinai, and after return to Jerusalem, as I have said you here before, for they fulfil first the more long pilgrimage,

and after return again by the next ways, because that the more nigh way is the more worthy, and that is Jerusalem, for no other pilgrimage is not like in comparison to it. for to fulfil their pilgrimages more easily and more zickily, men go first the longer way rather than the near way. But whoso will go to Babylon by another way, more short from the countries of the West that I have rehearsed before, or from other countries next to them, then men go by France, by Burgundy, and by Lombardy. It needeth not to tell you the names of the cities, nor of the towns that be in that way, for the way is common, and it is known of many nations,

many havens where men take the sea. Some men take the sea at Genoa, some at Venice, and pass by the sea Adriatic that is clept the Gulf of Venice, that departeth Italy and Greece on that side. And some go to Naples, some to Rome, and from Rome to Brindisi, and there they take the sea, and in many other places where the havens be. And men go by Tuscany, by Campania, by Calabria, by Apulea, and by the hills of Italy, by Corsica, by Sardinia, and by Sicily, that is a great isle and a good. In that Isle of Sicily, there is a manner of a garden, in the which be many diverse fruits, and the garden is always green and flourishing, all the seasons of the year as well in winter as in summer. That aisle holds in compass,

about 350 French miles. And between Sicily and Italy there is not but a little arm of the sea that men Clepe the Farda of Messina, and Sicily is between the sea Adriatic and the sea of Lombardy, and from Sicily into Calabria is but eight miles of Lombody. And in Sicily there is a manner of serpent by the which men assay and prove whether their children be bastards or not. know, or of lawful marriage. For if they be born in right marriage, the serpents go about them and do them no harm. And if they be born in avatry, the serpents bite them and envenom them, and thus many wedded men prove if the children be their own. Also in that is the Mount

Etna, that men clippey, Mount Gubalay, and the volcanoes that be evermore burning. And there be seven places that burn and that can. cast out diverse flames and diverse colour, and by the changing of those flames, men of that country know when it shall be dearth, or good time, or cold or hot, or moist, or dry, or in all other manners how the time shall be governed. And from Italy unto the volcanoes nears but twenty-five mile, men say that the volcanoes be ways of hell. And who so goeth by Pisa, if that men list to go that way, there is an arm of the sea, where that men go

to other havens in those marches. And then men pass by the Isle of Graef that is at Genoa. And after men arrive in Greece at the haven of the city of Mirac, or at the haven of Valoney, or at the city of Duras.

And there is a duke at Duras, or at other havens in those marches, and so men go to Constantinople, and after go men by water, to the Isle of Crete and to the Isle of Rhodes, and so to Cyprus, and so to Athens, and from thence to Constantinople. To hold the more right way by sea, it is well a thousand eight hundred and fourscore mile of Lombardy, and after from Cyprus men go by sea, and leave Jerusalem and all the country on the left hand unto Egypt, and arrive at the city of Damieta that was wont to be full strong,

and it sits at the entry of Egypt. And from Damieta go men to the city of Alexandria, that sits also upon the sea. In that city was St. Catherine beheaded, and there was St. Mark the evangelist martyred and buried, but the Emperor Leo made his bones to be brought to Venice. And yet there is at Alexandria Fair Church, all white without painters, and so be all the other churches that were of the Christian men,

all white within, for the Pernemes and the Saracens made them white, for too fordo the images of saints that were painted on the walls. That city of Alexandria is well thirty furlongs in length, but it is but ten on largeness, and it is a full noble city and affair. At the city entereth the river of Nile into the sea, as I to you have said before. In that river men find many precious stones, and much also of lignum allows. And it is a manner of wood that cometh out of paradise terrestrial, the which is good for many diverse medicines, and it is right, dearworth.

And from Alexandria men go to Babylon where the Sultan dwelleth, that sits also upon the river of Nile, and this way is the most short for to go straight unto Babylon. Now shall I say you also the way that goeth from Babylon to the Mount of Sinai, where St. Catherine lieth. He must pass by the deserts of Arabia, by the which deserts Moses led the people of Israel, and then pass men by the well that Moses made with his hand in the deserts when the people groucht, for they found nothing to drink, and then pass men by the well of Mara, of the which the water was first bitter, but the children of Israel put there in a tree, and anon the water was sweet and good for to drink, and then go men by desert unto the vale of Elim, in the which vale be twelve wells, and there be seventy-two trees of palm

that bear the dates, the which Moses found with the children of Israel, and from that valley is but a good journey to the Mount of Sinai. And whoso will go by another way from Babylon, then men go by the Red Sea, that is an arm of the sea ocean, and there passed Moses with the children of Israel, overthwept the sea all dry, when Pharaoh the king of Egypt chased them, and that sea as well as six mile of largeness in length, and in that sea was Pharaoh drowned, and all his host that he led. that sea is not more red than another sea but in some place thereof is the gravel red and therefore men clepate the red sea that sea runneth to the ends of arabia and of palestine that sea lasteth more than of four journeys and then go men by desert unto the vale of elim and from thence to the mount of sinai and ye may well understand that by this desert no man may go on horseback because that the nays neither meat for the horse ne'er water to drink, and for that cause men pass that desert with camels,

for the camel finds all way meat in trees and on bushes that he feedeth him with, and he may well fast from drink two days or three, and that may no horse do. And wit well that from Babylon to the Mount Sinai is well a twelve good journeys, and some men make them more, and some men hasten them, and pain them, and therefore they may make them less. And always men find Latiners to go with them in the countries, and further beyond, into time that men conned the language, and it behoveth men to bear victuals with them, that shall dure them in those deserts, and other necessaries for to live by. And the mount of Sinai has clept the desert of sin, that is for to say the bush burning, because there Moses saw

our Lord God many times in the form of fire burning upon that hill, and also in a bush burning and spake to him. And that was at the foot of the hill. There is an abbey of monks well-builded and well-closed with gates of iron for dread of the wild beasts, and the monks be Arabians or men of Greece, and there is a great convent, and all they be as hermits, and they drink no wine but if it be on principal feasts, and they be full devout men and live poorly and simply with jorts and with dates, and they do great abstinence and penances. There is the Church of St. Catherine, in the which be many lamps burning, for they have of oil of olives enough, both for to burn in their lamps and to eat also, and that plenty have they,

by the miracle of God, for the ravens and the crows and the hoofs, and the other fowls of the country, assemble them there every year once, and fly thither as in pilgrimage, and ever rich of them bringeth a branch of the bays or of olive in their bakes instead of offering, and leave them there, of which the monks make great plenty of oil, and this is a great marvel. And sith that fowls that have no kindly wit or reason go thither to seek the glorious virgin, well more ought men then to seek her and to worship her. Also behind the altar of that church is the place where Moses saw our Lord God in a burning bush, and when the monks enter into that place they do off, both hosen and shoo-en, or boots always,

because that our lord saith to Moses, do off thy hosin and thy shun, for the place that thou stand us on is land holy and blessed. and the monks clepe that place dozolele that is to say the shadow of god and beside the high altar three degrees of height is the feldra of alabaster where the bones of st catherine lie and the prelator the monks showeth the relics to the pilgrims and with an instrument of silver he frotteth the bones and then there goeth out a little oil as though it were a manner sweating that is neither like to oil nait a balm but it is full sweet of smell, and of that they give a little to the pilgrims, for there goeth out but little quantity of the liquor, and after that they show the head of St. Catherine, and the cloth that she was wrapped in, that is yet all bloody, and in that same cloth so wrapped, the angels bear her

body to the Mount Sinai, and there they buried her with it. And then they show the bush that burned and wasted not, in the which our Lord spake to Moses, and other relics enough, Also, when the prelate of the Abbey is dead, I have understood by information that his lamp quencheth. And when they choose another prelate, if he be a good man, and worthy to be prelate, His lamp shall light, with the grace of God without touching of any man. For ever rich of them hath a lamp by himself, and by their lamps they know well when any of them shall die. For when any shall die The light Beginneth to change

And to wax dim And if he be chosen to be prelate And is not worthy, his lamp quencheth anon And other men have told me That he that singeth the mass For the prelate that is dead He shall find upon the altar The name written of him

That shall be prelate chosen And so upon a day I asked of the monks Both one and other How this befell But they would not tell me nothing into the time that I said that they should not hide the grace that God did them, but that they should publish it to make the people have them all devotion, and that they did sin

to hide God's miracle, as me seemed. For the miracle that God hath done, and yet doth every day be the witness of his might and of his marvels, as David saith in the Salter, Mirabilia testimonia to a dominie, that is to say, Lord, thy marvels be thy witness. And then they told me both one and other how it befell full many a time, but more I might not have of them. In that abbey ne'ereth not no fly, nay toads, nay noots, nay such foul venomous beasts, nay lice, nay fleas, by the miracle of God and of our lady, for there were wont to be so many such manner of filths that the monks were in will to leave the place in the abbey, and were gone from thence upon the mountain above to eschew that place,

and our lady came to them and bade them turn again and from thence forwards never entered such filth in that place amongst them nay never shall enter hereafter also before the gate is the well where moses smote the stone of the which the water came out plenteously from that abbey men go up the mountain of moses by many degrees and there men find first a church of our lady where that she met the monks when they fled away the vermin above said, and more high upon that mountain is the chapel of Elijah the prophet, and that place they clepe, Horeb, whereof holy ritz speaketh, et ambulavit in fortitude in a kibi iliosusque ad montem o'reb, that is to say, and he went in strength of that meat unto the hill of God Horeb, and there nigh is the vine that St. John the

evangelist planted, that men clepe raisins of staphis, and a little above is the chapel of Moses, and the rock where Moses fled to for dread when he saw our Lord face to face, and in that rock is printed the form of his body,

for he smote so strongly and so hard himself in that rock that all his body was dolevin within through the miracle of God, and there beside is the place where our Lord took to Moses the Ten Commandments of the Law, and there is the cave under the rock where Moses dwelt, when he fasted 40 days and 40 nights, but he died in the land of permission, and no man knoweth where he was buried, and from that mountain men pass a great valley for to go to another mountain where St. Catherine

was buried of the angels of the Lord, and in that valley is a church of 40 Mart, and there sing the monks of the abbey often time and that valley is right cold and after men go up the mountain of st catherine that is more high than the mountain of moses and there where st catherine was buried is neither church nor chapel nor other dwelling place but there's an heap of stones about the place where the body of her was put of the angels there was wont to be a chapel but it was cast down and yet lie the stones there And albeit that the collect of St. Catherine says, that it is the place where our Lord betought the Ten Commandments to Moses, and there where the Blessed Virgin St. Catherine was buried, that is to understand in one country or in one place bearing one name, for both that one and that other is clep the Mount of Sinai. But it is a great way from that one to that other, and a great deep valley between them. Chapter 9 of the travels of Sir John Manderville by Sir John Manderville in the edition of A.W. Pollard.

This Liebervox recording is in the public domain. Chapter 9 Of the deserts between the Church of St. Catherine and Jerusalem, of the dry tree, and how roses came first into the world. Now after that men have visited those holy places, then will they turn toward Jerusalem, and then will they take leave of the monks and recommend themselves to their prayers, and then they give the pilgrims of their victuals for to pass with the deserts towards Syria, and those deserts duray well a thirteen journeys.

In that desert dwell many of Arabians, that men clepe bedwens and Ascapards, and they be folk full of all evil conditions, and they have non-houses but tents, that they may, of skins of beasts, as of camels and of other beasts that they ate, and there beneath these they couch them and dwell in places where they may find water, as on the Red Sea or elsewhere, for in that desert is full great default of water, and often time it falleth, that where men find water at one time in a place, it faileth another time. And for that skill they make none habitations there.

These folk that I speak of, They till not the land, And they labour not, For they ate no bread, But if it be any that dwell nigh a good town That go thither and eat bread some time, And they roast their flesh and their fish Upon the hot stones against the sun,

And they be strong men and well-fighting, And so is much multitude of that folk that they be without number, And they ne'erack of nothing, Nay do not but chase after beasts, to eat them. And they wreck nothing of their life, and therefore they fear not the Sultan, nay no other prince, but they dare well war with them, if they do anything that is grievance to them. And they have oftentimes war with the Sultan, namely that time that I was with them, and they bear but one shield and one spear without other arms,

and they wrap their heads and their necks with a great quantity of white linen cloth, and they be right feloness and foul, and of cursed kind. And when men pass this desert, in coming toward Jerusalem they come to Bershab, Bersheba, that was wont to be a full fair town and a delectable of Christian men, and yet there be some of their churches. In that town dwelt Abraham the patriarch a long time. That town of Bersabe founded Bershab, Bathsheba, the wife of Sir Yerob.

the knight on the witch king david gat solomon the wise that was king after david upon the twelve kindreds of jerusalem and reigned forty year and from thence go men to the city of hebron that is the mountains of twelve good mile and it was clept some time the veil of mamri and some time it was clept the veil of tears because that adam wept there an hundred year for the death of abe his son that Cain slew. Hebron was wont to be the principal city of the Philistines, and there dwelt some time the giants. That city was also sacerdotal, that is to say, sanctuary of the tribe of Judah, and it was so free that men received their all manner of fugitives of other places for their evil deeds. In Hebron Joshua, Caleb and their company came first to a spy, they might win the land of behest. In Hebron reign the first King David seven year and a half, and in Jerusalem he reigned 33 year and a half. And in Hebron be all the sepultures of the

patriarchs, Adam, Abraham, Isaac, and of Jacob, and of their wives, Eve, Sarah and Rebecca, and of Leia. The witch sepultures the Saracens keep full curiously, and have the place in great reverence for the Holy Fathers, the patriarchs that lie there. And they suffer no Christian men to enter into that place, but if it be of special grace of the Sultan, or they hold Christian men and Jews as dogs, and they say that they should not enter into so holy place. And men clepe that place where they lie double spilunk,

or double cave, or double ditch, for as much as that one lieth above the other, and the Ceresans clepe that place in their language, Kerikarba, that is to say the place of patriarchs. And the Jews clepe the place are both, and in that same place was Abraham's house, and there he sat and saw three persons and worshipped but one, as holy writ saith,

trace videt et unum adoravit, that is to say he saw three and worshipped one, and of those same received Abraham the angels, into his house. Right fast by that place is a cave in the rock, where Adam and Eve dwelt when they were put out of paradise, and there got they their children, and in the same place was Adam formed and made,

after that some men say, for men were wont for to Clepe that place, the field of Damascus, because that it was in the lordship of Damascus, and from thence was he translated into paradise of delights, as they say, and after that he was driven out of paradise, he was there left, and the same day that he was put in paradise, the same day he was put out, for none he sinned, there beginneth the veil of Hebron that dureth nigh to Jerusalem. There the angel commanded Adam that he should dwell

with his wife Eve, of the which he gat saith, of which tribe that is to say, kindred Yeesu-Christ, was born. In that valley is a field where men draw out of the earth a thing that men clepe cambilly, and they eat it instead of spices, and they bear it to sell, and men may not make the hole or the cave, where it is taken out of the earth so deep or so wide, but that it is at the year's end full again up to the sides, through the grace of God. And two mile from Hebron is the grave of Lot, that was Abraham's brother, and a little from Hebron, and a little from Hebron is the mount of Mamre, of the which the valley taketh his name. And there's a tree of oak that the seracens clepe dirpe, that is of Abraham's time, the witch-men clepe, the dry tree.

And they say that it hath been there since the beginning of the world, and was some time green and bare leaves unto the time that our lord died on the cross, and then it dried, and so did all the trees that were then in the world. And some say by their prophecies, that a lord a prince of the west side of the world shall win the land of permission, that is the holy land with help of Christian men, and he shall do sing a mass under that dry tree, and then the tree shall wax green and bear both throat and leaves, and through that miracle many Saracens and Jews shall be turned to Christian faith,

and therefore they do great worship there too, and keep it full busily. And albeit so, that it be dry, neither less yet he beareth great virtue for certainly he that hath a little thereof upon him it healeth him of the falling evil and his horse shall not be a-founded and many other virtues it hath whereof men hold it full precious from hebron men go to bethlehem in half a day for it is but five mile and it is full fair way by plains and woods full delectable bethlehem is a little city long and now and well walled, and in each side enclosed with good ditches, and it was wont to be clipped Ephrata, as holy writs saith, Eke, Odevimoseum, in Ephrata, that is to say lo, we heard him in Ephrata, and toward the east end of the city is a full fair church and a gracious, and it hath many towers, pinnacles and corners, full strong and curiously made, and within that church be forty-four

pillars of marble, great and fair. And between the city and the church is the field floridus, that is to say the field flourished, for as much as a fair maiden was blamed with wrong and slandered that she had done fornication, for which cause she was demned to death, and to be burnt in that place to the which she was led, and as the fire began to burn about her, she made her prayers to our Lord, that is wisely as she was not guilty of that sin, that he would help her and make it to be known to all men of his merciful grace. And when she had thus said she entered into the fire, and anon the fire quenched and out,

and the brands that were burning became red rose-trees, and the brands that were not kindled became white rose-trees full of roses. These were the first rose-trees and roses, both white and red, that ever any man saw, and thus was this maiden saved by the grace of God, and therefore is that field clep, the field of God flourished, for it was full of roses. Also beside the choir of the church at the right side, as men come downward 16 degrees, is the place where our Lord was born that is full well-dite of marble,

and full richly painted with gold, silver, azure, and other colours. And three paces beside is the crib of the ox and the ass, and beside that is a place where the star fell that led the three kings, Jasper, Melchior, and Balthasar. But men of Greece clepe them thus, Galgallath, Malgalath, and Seraphiae, and the Jews clepe them in this manner in Hebrew, Appellius, Amarius, and Damasus. These three kings offered to our Lord gold, incense, and myrrh, and they met together through miracle of God, for they met together in a city and ined that Menclepe Kasak, that is of 53 journeys from Bethlehem, and they were at Bethlehem

the 13th day, and that was the fourth day after that they had seen the star when they met in that city, and thus they were nine days from that city at Bethlehem, and that was great miracle. Also under the cloister of the church by 18 degrees at the right side is a charnel house of the innocence where their bones lie, and before the place, where our Lord was born is the tomb of St. Jerome, that was a priest and a cardinal, that translated the Bible and the Psalter from Hebrew into Latin, and without the minister is the chair that he sat in when he translated it, and fast by that church, a sixty fathom, is a church of St. Nicholas, where our lady rested her after she was lighted of our Lord, and for as much as she had too much milk in her

paps that grieved her, she milked them on the red stones of marble, so that the traces may yet be seen in the stones, all white, and ye shall understand that all that dwell in Bethlehem be Christian men, and there be fair vines about the city and great plenty of wine that the Christian men have do let make, but the sercens nay till not no vines, nay they drink no wine, for the books of their law that Muhammad betook them, which they clepe their Al-Quran, and some clepe it mesaph, and in another language it is clept Harme, and the same book forbiddeth them to drink wine. For in that book Muhammad cursed, all those that drink wine, and all of them that sell it, for some men say that he slew once an hermit in his drunkenness, that he loved full well, and therefore he cursed

wine, and then that drink it. But his curse be turned on to his own head, as holy rich sayeth, yet in verticum epsius eniquitaseus deus destended that is for to say his wickedness shall turn and fall in his own head nor so the saracens bring forth no pigs nor they ate no swine's flesh for they say it his brother to man and it was forbidden by the old law and they hold him all a curse that eat thereof also in the land of Palestine and in the land of Egypt, they eat but little or none of flesh or veal or of beef, but if be so old that he may no more travel for old, for it is forbidden, and for because they have but few of them, therefore they nourish them for to Ere their lands. In this city of Bethlehem was David the king born, and he had sixty wives, and the first wife was called Mikal, and also he had

three hundred laymen's, and for Bethlehem under Jerusalem is but two mile, and in the way to Jerusalem, half a mile from Bethlehem is a church where the angels said to the shepherds of the birth of Christ, and in that way is the tomb of Rachel, that was Joseph's mother, the patriarch, and she died anon after that she was delivered of her son, Benjamin, and there she was buried of Jacob her husband, and he let set twelve great stones on her, in token that she had born twelve children. In the Same way, half mile from Jerusalem appeared the star to the three kings. In that way also be many churches of Christian men, by the which men go towards the city of Jerusalem.

End of Chapter 9 Chapter 10 of the travels of Sir John Manderville by Sir John Manderville in the edition of A.W. Pollard. This Libervox recording is in the public domain. Chapter 10 of the pilgrimages in Jerusalem and of the holy places thereabout. After, for to speak of Jerusalem the holy city, ye shall understand that it stands forefair between hills,

and there be no rivers ne'er wells but water cometh by conduit from Hebron. And ye shall understand that Jerusalem of old time unto the time of Melchizedek was Klep Jabus, and after it was clept Salam, unto the time. of King David that put these two names together and clept it Jabus Salam. And after that King Solomon clept it Jerosolomei, and after that men clept it Jerusalem, and so it has clept yet. And about Jerusalem is the kingdom of Syria. And there beside is the land of Palestine, and beside it is Ascalon, and beside that is the land

of Maritaine. But Jerusalem is in the land of Judea. and is clept Judea, for that Judas Maccabeyus was king of that country, and it marcheth eastward to the kingdom of Arabia. On the south side to the land of Egypt, and on the west side to the great sea, on the north side towards the kingdom of Syria, and to the sea of Cyprus.

In Jerusalem was wont to be a patriarch, and archbishops and bishops about in the country. About Jerusalem be these cities, Hebron at seven mile, Jericho at six mile, Bersheba at eight mile, Ascalon at 17 mile, Jaffa at 16 mile, Ramath at three mile, and Bethlehem at two mile. And a two mile from Bethlehem toward the south is the church of St. Caratote that was abbot there for whom they made much dull amongst the monks when he should die, and yet they be in mourning in the wise that they made their lamentation, for him the first time, and it is full great pity to behold. This country and land of Jerusalem hath been in many diverse nations' hands, and often, therefore,

hath the country suffered much tribulation for the sin of the people that dwell there. For that country hath been in the hands of all nations, that is to say, of Jews, of Canaanites, Assyrians, Persians, Medes, Macedonians, of Greeks, Romans, and Christians. Christian men, of Saracens, barbarians, Turks, Tartars, and of many other diverse nations. For God will not, that it be long in the hands of traitors, nay of sinners, be they Christian or other. And now have the heathen men held that land in their hands forty year and more, but they shall not hold it long if God will. And ye shall understand that when men come to Jerusalem their first pilgrimage is to the Church of the Holy Sepulchre,

where our Lord was buried, that is without the city on the north side, but it is now enclosed in with the town wall, and there is a full fair church all round and open above, and covered with lead, and on the west side is a fair tower, and a high for bells strongly made. And in the midst of the church is a tabernacle, as it were a little house made with a low little door,

and that tabernacle is made in manner of half a compass, right curiously and richly made of gold and azure, and other rich colours full nobly made, and in the right side of that tabernacle is a sepulture of our lord, and the tabernacle is eight foot long and five foot wide, and eleven foot in height, and it is not long since the sepulture was all open that men might kiss it and touch it, but for pilgrims that came thither pained them to break the stone in pieces or in powder, therefore the Saldan hath do make a wall about the sepulture that no man may touch it, but in the left side of the wall of the tabernacle is,

will the height of a man, a great stone to the quantity of a man's head that was of the holy sepulture, and that stone kissed the pilgrims that come thither. In that tabernacle be no windows, but it is all made light with lamps that hang before the sepulture, and there is a lamp that hangeth before the sepulture that burneth light, and on the Good Friday it goeth out by himself, and lighteth again by himself at that hour that our Lord arose from death to life. Also within the church at the right side, beside the choir of the church is the mount of Calvary,

where our Lord was put on the cross, and it is a rock of white colour, and a little meddled with red. And the cross was set in a mortis in the same rock, And on that rock dropped the wounds of our Lord when he was pined on the cross, and that has clept Golgotha, and men go up to that Golgotha by degrees, and in the place of that mortis was Adam's head found after Noah's flood, in token that the sins of Adam should be bought in that same place, and upon that rock made Abraham's sacrifice to our Lord, and there is an altar, and before that altar lie God-Afray de Bouillon, and Baldwin and other Christian kings of Jerusalem.

And there, nigh where our Lord was crucified, is this written in Greek. Chotheos Pazaleus Chemaon, proeononon, ergasato, suterian, en meso te's gase. That is to say in Latin, deus rex noster ante secular operatos es salutam, in medio terrai. That is to say, Disguard our king before the worlds hath wrought health in midst of the earth. And also on that rock where the cross was set is written within the rock these words, Choedais est basis, tis, pisteos, cholese, to cosmos, tautu. That is to say in Latin, quodvides, est fundamentalum toteous fiducius.

That is to say that thou seest is the ground of all the faith of this world. And ye shall understand that when our Lord was done upon the cross, he was 33 year and three months of old, and the prophecy of David saith thus, Quadra ginta anis proximus fui generationi heik. That is to say, Forty year was I neighbor to this kindred. And thus should it seem that the prophecies were not true,

But they be both true, for an old time men made a year of ten months, of the which March was the first, and December was the last. But Gaius that was emperor of Rome put these two months there too, January and February, and ordained the year of twelve months, that is to say, 365 days, without leap year, after the proper course of the sun. And therefore after counting of ten months of the year, he died in the 40th year. as the prophet said, and after the year of twelve months, he was of age 33 year and three months. Also within the Mount of Cavalry, on the right side is an altar, where the pillar lieth that our Lord Yeesu was bounden to when he was scourged, and there beside be four pillars of stone that always drop water, and some men say that they weep for our Lord's death, and nigh that altar

is a place under earth, forty-two degrees of deepness. where the Holy Cross was found by the wit of St. Helen, under a rock where the Jews had hid it, and that was the very cross assayed, for they found three crosses, one of our Lord and two of the two thieves, and St. Helen proved them by a dead body that arose from death to life, when that it was laid on it, that our Lord died on, and thereby in the wall is the place where the four nails of our Lord were hid, for he had two in his hands and two in his feet. And of one of these, the emperor of Constantinople made a bridle to his horse to bear him in battle, and through virtue thereof he overcame his enemies, and won all the land of Aziah the less,

that is to say Turkey, Armenia, the less and the more, and from Syria to Jerusalem, from Arabia to Persia, from Mesopotamia to the kingdom of Aleppo, from Egypt the high and the low, and all the other kingdoms unto the depth of Ethiopia, in to end the less that then was Christian. And there were in that time many good holy men and holy hermits, of whom the Book of Father's lives speaketh, and they be now in Pianemes and Saracen's hands, but when God Almighty will write as the lands were lost through sin of Christian men, so shall they be won again by Christian men through help of God. And in the midst of that church as a compass, in the which Joseph of Veramethaea laid the body of our Lord when he had taken him down

off the cross, and there he washed the wounds of our Lord, and that compass, say, amen, is the midst of the world. And in the church of the sepulture, on the north side is the place where our Lord was put in prison, for he was in prison in many places, and there's a part of the chain that he was bounden with, and there he appeared first to Mary Magdalene, when he was risen, and she when that he had been a gardener. In the Church of St. Sepulcher was wont to be canons of the order of St. Augustine, and had a prior,

but the patriarch was there sovereign. And without the doors of the church, on the right side, as men go upward, 18 gris, said our Lord to his mother, Mouillier, Eché phileus, that is to say, Woman, lo, thy son. And after that he said to John, his disciple,

Eke Matertour, that is to say lo, behold thy mother, and these words he said on the cross, and on these grees went our lord when he bear the cross on his shoulder, and under these gris is a chapel, and in the chapel sing priests, Indians, that is to say, priests of Hind, not after our law, but after theirs, and all ways they make the sacrament of the altar, saying paternoster, and other prayers therewith, with the which prayers they say the words that the sacrament is made, of, for they ne'er know not the additions that many popes have made, but they sing with good devotion,

and there near is the place where that our Lord rested him when he was weary for burying of the cross. And ye shall understand that before the church of the sepultures the city more feeble than in any other part, for the great plain that is between the church and the city, and toward the east side without the walls of the city is the veil of Jehoshaphat that toucheth to the walls as though it were large ditch, and above that veil of Jehoshaphat, out of the city, is the church of St. Stephen, where he was stone to death, and there beside is the golden gate that may not be opened, by the which gate our lord entered on Palm Sunday upon an ass, and the gate opened against him when he would go unto the temple, and yet appear the steps of the ass's feet

in three places of the degrees that be a full hard stone. And before the church of Saint's Sepulchre, toward the south at 200 paces, is the great hospital of St. John, of which the hospitalers had their foundation, and within the palace of the sick men of that hospital be one hundred and twenty-four pillars of stone, and in the walls of the house without the number of above said there be 54 pillars that bear up the house, and from the hospital to go toward the east is a full fair church, that is clep Notre Dame Le Grand, and then is there another church right nigh that is clipped, Notre Dame de Latin, and there were Mary Cleophis and Mary Magdalene, and tore their hair when our Lord was pained in the cross.

End of Chapter 10 Chapter 11 of the Travels of Sir John Manderville by Sir John Manderville in the edition of A.W. Pollard. This Libervox recording is in the public domain. Chapter 11 Of the Temple of Our Lord. of King Herod, of the Mount Scion, of Probatica Piscina, and of Natatorium Silouye. And from the Church of the Sepulchre, toward the east, at eight score paces is Templum Dominie. It is right a fair house, and it is all round and high and covered with lead, and it is well

paved with white marble, but the Saracens will not suffer no Christian man nay jewels to come therein, for they say that none so foul, sinful men, should not come in so holy place. But I came in there, and in other places there I would, for I had letters of the Saldan, with his great seal, and commonly other men have but his signet, in the which letters he commanded of his special grace to all his subjects to let me see all the places, and to inform me plainly all the mysteries of every place, and to conduct me from city to city to city. if it were need, and boxomely to receive me and my company, and for to obey to all my requests reasonable if they were not greatly against the royal power and dignity of the Saldan or of his law.

And to others that ask him grace such as have served him, he nay giveth not but his signet, the which they make to be born before them hanging on a spear, and the folk of the country do great worship and reverence to his signet, or seal, and kneel their to their to their to, as slowly as we do to Corpus Domini, and yet men do full greater reverence to his letters, for the Admiral and all are the lords that they be showed to, before or they receive them, they kneel down, and then they take them and put them on their heads, and after they kiss them, and then they read them, kneeling with great reverence, and then they offer them to do all that the bear asketh.

And in this Templum, Domene, were some time canons raised, and they had an abbot to whom they were obedient. And in this temple was Charlemagne, when that the angel brought him the prepuce of our Lord Jesus Christ, of his circumcision, and after King Charles let bring it to Paris into his chapel, and after that he let bring it to Peter, and after that to Chart.

And ye shall understand that this is not the temple that Solomon made, for that temple durade not, but one thousand, one hundred and two year, for Titus Vespasian son, emperor of Rome, had laid siege about Jerusalem for to discomfit the Jews, for they put our Lord to death without leave of the emperor, and when he had won the city he burnt the temple and beat it down, and all the city, and took the Jews and did them to death, one million one hundred thousand, and the others he put in prison and sold them to salvage, thirty for one penny. said they bought Yezou for thirty pennies, and he made of them better cheap when he gave them

thirty for one penny. And after that time, Julian the apostate that was emperor, gave leave to the Jews to make the temple of Jerusalem, for he hated Christian men, yet he was christened, but he forsook his law, and became a renegade. And when the Jews had made the temple, came an earth-quaking, and cast it down as God would, and destroyed all that they had made. and after that adrian that was emperor of rome and of the lineage of troy made jerusalem again and the temple in the same manner as solomon made it and he would not suffer no jews to dwell there but only christian men for although it was so that he was not christened yet he loved christian men more than any other nation save his own this emperor let enclose the church of st sepulture and walled it within the city that before was without the city long time before and he would have changed the name of Jerusalem and have clept it Aealia, but that name lasted not long. Also ye shall understand that the sermons do much reverence to that temple, and they say that that place

is right holy, and when they go in they go barefoot and kneel many times, and when my fellows and I saw that, when we came in, we did off our shoes and came in barefoot, and thought that we should do as much worship and reverence thereto as any of the misbehaving men should, and as great compunction in heart to have. This temple is 64 cubits of wideness, and as many in length, and of height it is six-score cubits, and it is within all about, made with pillars of marble, and in the middle place of the temple be many high stages, of fourteen degrees of height, made with good pillars all about, and this place the Jews call

sancta sanctorum, that is to say holy of hallows. And in that place cometh no man, save only their prelate, that maketh their sacrifice, and the folks stand all about in diverse stages after they be of dignity or of worship, so that they all may see the sacrifice,

and in that temple be four entries, and the gates be of Cyprus, well made and curiously dight, and within the east gate our Lord said, Here is Jerusalem, And in the north side of that temple, Within the gate, there is a will, But it runeth not,

Of the which holy writ speaketh of, and saith, Vidi a quam, Eredientum de temple, That is to say, I saw water come out of the temple. And on that other side of the temple, there is a rock that men clepe Moriah,

but after it was clep Bethel, where the ark of God with relics of Jews were wont to be put. That ark or hutch with the relics Titus led with him to Rome when he had discomfited all the Jews. In that ark were the Ten Commandments and Averne's Yard, and Moses' yard with the which he made the Red Sea depart, as it had been a war, on the right side and on the left side, whilst that the people of Israel passed the sea dry foot.

And with the yard he smote the rock, and the water came out of it, and with that yard he did many wonders, and therein was a vessel of gold, full of manor, and clothing and ornaments, and the tabernacle of Aaron, and the tabernacle square of gold, with twelve precious stones, and a box of Jasper Green with four figures, and eight names of our lord, and seven candlesticks of gold, and twelve pots of gold, and four censers of gold, and an altar of gold and full lions of gold upon the which they bear cherubine of gold,

twelve span long, and the circle of swans of heaven with a tabernacle of gold and a table of silver, and two trumps of silver, and seven barley loaves, and all the other relics that were before the birth of our lord Jesus Christ. And upon that rock was Jacob sleeping, when he saw the angels go up and down by a ladder, and he said, Verelukas isste santucese, that is to say forsooth, this place is holy, and I wist it not.

And there an angel held Jacob still, and turned his name and clapped him Israel. And in that same place David saw the angel that smote the folk with a sword and put it up bloody in the sheath. And in that same rock was sent Simeon when he received our lord into the temple. and in this rock he set him when the Jews would have stoned him, and a star came down and gave him light,

and upon that rock preached our Lord often time to the people, and out that said temple our lord drove out the buyers and the sellers, and upon that rock our lord set him when the Jews would have stoned him, and the rock clave in two, and in that cleaving was our lord hid, and there came down a star and gave light, and served him with clarity. And upon that rock sat our lady and learned her salter, and there our Lord forgave the woman her sins that was found in avowtree. And there was our Lord circumcised. And there the angels showed tidings to Zacharias of the birth of St. Baptist, his son. And there offered first Melchesadeh bread and wine to our Lord in token of the sacrament that was to come. And there fell David praying to our Lord and to the angel.

that smote the people, that he would have mercy on him and on the people. And our Lord heard his prayer, and therefore would he make the temple in that place. But our Lord forbade him by an angel, for he had done treason when he let slay Uriah the worthy knight, for to have Bathsheba his wife. And therefore all the purveyance that he had ordained to make the temple with, he took it Solomon his son, and he made it. And he prayed our Lord that all those who prayed, to him in that place with good heart that he would hear their prayer and granted to them if they

asked it rightfully. And our Lord granted at him, and therefore Solomon clept that temple, the temple of counsel and of help of God. And without the gate of that temple is an altar, where the Jews were in want to offer doves and tuttles, and between the temple and that altar was Zacharias slain. And upon the pinnacle of that temple was our Lord brought for to be tempted of the enemy, the fiend. And on the height of that pinnacle, the Jews set St. James, and cast him down to the earth that first was Bishop of Jerusalem. And at the entry of that temple, toward the west is the gate that is clept Porta Speciosa.

And nigh beside the temple upon the right side is a church covered with lead that is clept Solomon's school. And from that temple towards the south, right nigh, is the temple of Solomon that is right, fair, and well polished. And in that temple dwell the knights of the temple that were wont to be clept, Templars, and that was the foundation of their order, so that the dwelled knights, and in temple dominie, cannons regular. From that temple toward the east, a six-score paces, in the corner of the city is the bath of our lord, and in that bath was wont to come water from paradise, and yet it dropeth, and there beside is our lady's bed, and fast by is the temple of St. Simeon, and without the cloister of the temple toward the north is a full fair church of St. Anne, our lady's mother, and there was our

lady conceived, and before that church is a great tree that began to grow the same night, and under that church in going down, by twenty-two degrees, lieth Yoacham, our lady's father, in a fair tomb of stone, and there beside lay some time St. Anne his wife, but St. Helen let translate her to Constantinople, and in that church is a well, in a manner of a cistern that is clept, Probatica Piscina, that have five entries, into that well angels were wont to come from heaven and bathe them within, and what man that first bathed him after the moving of the water was made whole of what manner of sickness that he had. And there our Lord healed a man of the palsy that lay 38 year, and our Lord said to him, Tole grabatum toum et amula, that is to say, take thy bed and go, and there beside was Pilate's house.

And fast by is King Herod's house that let slay the innocence. This Herod was over much cursed and cruel. For first he let slay his wife that he loved right well, and for the passing love that he had to her. When he saw her dead, he fell in a rage, and out of his wit a great while. And sithin he came again to his wit, and after he let slay his two sons that he had of that wife, and after that he let slay another of his wives,

and a son that he had with her, and after that he let slay his own mother, and he would have slain his brother too, but he died suddenly. And after that, he did all the harm that he could or might, and after he fell into sickness, and when he felt that he should die, he sent after his sister and after all the lords of his land. And when they were come, he let command them to prison. And then he said to his sister, he wist will that men of the country would make no sorrow for his death,

and therefore he made his sister swear that she should let smite off all the heads, of the Lords when he were dead. And then should all the land make sorrow for his death and else not. And thus he made his testament. But his sister fulfilled not his will. For as soon as he was dead

she delivered all the lords out of prison and let them go, each lord to his own, and told them all the purpose of her brother's ordinance. And so with his cursed king never made sorrow for as he supposed for to have been. And ye shall

understand that in that time there were three Herods of great name and fame for the cruelty. This Herod of which I have spoken of was Herod Ascalonite, and he that let behead St. John the Baptist was Herod Antipus, and he that let smite off St. James Head was Herod Agrippa, and he put St. Peter in prison. Also, furthermore in the city is the church of St. Saviour, and there's the left arm of John Chrysostom, and the more part of the head of St. Stephen, and on that other side in the street toward the south, as men go to Mount Zion,

is a church of St. James, where he was beheaded. And from that church a six-score paces is the Mount Zion. And there is a fair church of our lady where she dwelt, and there she died, and there was wont to be an abbot of Cannons regular, and from thence was she born of the apostles unto the veil of Jehoshaphat, and there is the stone that the angel brought to our lord from the Mount of Sinai, and it is of that colour that the rock is of St. Catherine, and there beside is the gate where through our lady went,

when she was with child, when she went to Bethlehem. Also at the entry of the Mount Zion is a chapel, and in that chapel is the stone, great and large with which the sepulture was covered with when Joseph of Arimathea had put our Lord therein. The witch stone the three Mary's saw turn upward when they came to the sepulture the day of his resurrection, and there found an angel that told them of our Lord's uprising from death to life. And there also is a stone in the war beside the gate of the pillar that our Lord was scourged

at. And there was Anas's house that was Bishop of the Jews in that time. and there was our Lord examined in the night, and scourged and smitten and villainous entreated. And in that same place, St. Peter forsook our Lord thrice, or the cock crew. And there's a part of the table that he made his supper on, when he made his monday with his disciples, when he gave them his flesh and his blood in form of bread and wine. And under that chapel 32 degrees is the place where our Lord washed his disciples' feet,

and yet is the vessel where the water was, and there beside that same vessel was St. Stephen buried. And there is the altar, where our lady heard the angels sing mass, and there appeared first our Lord to his disciples, after his resurrection the gates enclosed, and said to them, Pax Wobis, that is to say peace to you, and on that mount appeared Christ to St. Thomas the Apostle

and bade him assay his wounds, and then believed he first and said, Dominus Meus et deus meus, that is to say, my lord and my God. In that same church, beside the altar, were all the apostles on with Sunday, when the Holy Ghost descended on them in lightness of fire, and there made our Lord His paschay with his disciples, and there slept St. John the evangelist upon the breast of our Lord Jesus Christ,

and saw sleeping many heavenly privities. Mount Zion is within the city, and it is a little higher than the other side of the city, and the city is stronger on that side than on that other side, for at the foot of the Mount Zion is a fair castle and a strong that the Solan let make. In the Mount Zion were buried King David and King Solomon, and many other kings, Jews of Jerusalem,

and there's the place where the Jews would have cast up the body of our lives, when the apostles bear the body to be buried in the veil of Jehoshaphat. And there is a place where St. Peter wept full tenderly, after that he had forsaken our Lord. And as stones cast from that chapel is another chapel, where our Lord was judged, for that time was their Caiaphas' house. From that chapel, to go toward the east at seven score paces is a deep cave under the rock that is clept the Galilee of our Lord, where St. Peter hid him, when St. Peter hid him, he had forsaken our Lord.

Etym, between the Mount Zion and the Temple of Solomon is the place where our Lord raised the maiden in her father's house. Under the Mount Zion, toward the veil of Jehoshaphat, as a whale that is clept Natatorium Siloui, and there was our Lord washed after his baptism, and there made our Lord the blind man to see, and there was a buried Isaiah the prophet. Also straight from the Natatorium Siloui is an image of

stone and of old ancient work that Absalom let make, and because thereof, men clippe it the hand of Absalom, and fast by is yet the tree of elder that Judas hanged himself upon, for despair that he had when he sold and betrayed our lord, and there beside was a synagogue where the bishops of Jews and the Pharisees came together and held their counsel, and there cast Judas the thirty pence before them and said that he had sinned between our Lord. And then I was the house of the apostles Philip and Jacob Al-Fei. And on that other side of Mount Zion, toward the south, beyond the veil as stones cast, is Akhaldama, that is to say, the field of blood that was bought for the 30 pence that our Lord was sold for. And in that field be many tombs of Christian men, for there be many pilgrims

graven, and there be many oratoys, chapels and hermitages, where hummots were wont to dwell. And toward the east and hundred paces is the charnel of the hospital of St. John, where men were wont to put the bones of dead men. Also from Jerusalem toward the west is a fair church, where the tree of the cross grew, and to mile from thence is a fair church where our lady met with Elizabeth when they were both with child, and St. John stirred in his mother's womb and made reverend, to our Creator that he saw not. And under the altar of that church

is the place where St. John was born, and from that church is a mile to the castle of Emaeus. And there also our Lord showed him to two of his disciples after his resurrection. Also on that other side, 200 paces from Jerusalem, is a church where was wont to be the cave of the lion. And under the church, at 30 degrees of deepness,

were interred 12,000 martyrs in the time of King Costroy. that the lion met with all in a night by the will of God. Also from Jerusalem to mile is the Mount Joy, a full fair place and a delicious, and there lieeth Samuel the prophet in a fair tomb, and men clept at Mount Joy, for it giveth joy to pilgrim's hearts,

because that their men see first Jerusalem. Also, between Jerusalem and the Mount of Olivet is the veil of Jehoshaphat, under the walls of the city, as I have said before. and in the midst of the vale is a little river that men clepe torrentske drawn, and above it overthwate lay a tree that the cross was made of, that men ye'e over on. And fast by it is a little pit in the earth where the foot are the pillars yet interred, and there was our lord first scourged, for he was scourged and villainously entreated in many places.

Also in the middle place of the vale of Jehoshaphat is the church of our lady, and it is of 43 degrees under the earth unto the sepulture of our lady. And our lady was of age when she died 72 year, and beside the sepulture of our lady is an altar where our lord forgave said Peter all his sins. And from thence toward the west under an altar is a will that cometh out of the river of paradise. And wit well that that church is full low in the earth and some is all within the earth. but I suppose well that it was not so founded, but for because that Jerusalem hath often time been destroyed, and the walls abated and beaten down and tumbled into the veil, and that they have been so filled again the ground enhanced,

and for that skill is the church so low within the earth. And neitherless men say there commonly that the earth hath so been clovence at the time that our lady was there buried, and yet men say there that it waxeth and groweth every day without doubt, in that church were wont to be monks black that had their abbot. And beside that church is a chapel, beside the rock that hiked Gisemone, and there was our Lord kissed of Judas, and there was he taken of the Jews. And there left our Lord his disciples when he went to pray before his passion, when he prayed and said,

Pater, Sifieri, protest, transseata me calyxiste, that is to say, father, if it may be, do let this chalice go from me. And when he came again to his disciples, he found them sleeping. And in the rock within the chapel, yet appear the fingers of our lord's hand, when he put them in the rock, when the Jews would have taken him. And from then, sir stones cast towards the south is another chapel where our lord's sweat-drops of blood, and there right nigh is the tomb of King Jehoshaphat, of whom the veil beareth the name. This Jehoshaphat was king of that country and was converted by an hermit that was a worthy man and did much good. And from then Sir Bo draft, towards the south is the church where St. James and Zachariah the prophet were buried.

And above the vale is the mount of Olivet, and it is clepso for the plenty of olives that grow there. That mount is more high than the city of Jerobu. is, and therefore may men, upon that mount, see many of the streets of the city. And between that mount and the city is not but the veil of Jehoshaphat that is not full large, and from the mount stied our Lord Jesus Christ to heaven upon ascension day, and yet there shoth the shape of his left foot in the stone, and there's a church where was wont to be an abbot and cannons regular, and a little thence twenty-eight paces is a chapel,

and therein is the stone on the which our Lord sat when he preached the eight blessings and said thus, Beiate palperi spiritu, and there he taught his disciples the paternoster, and wrote with his finger in a stone, and there nigh is a church of St. Mary Egyptian, and there she lieth in a tomb. And from thence toward the east a three bow-shot is Bethfajé, to the which our Lord sent St. Peter and St. James, for to seek the ass upon Palm Sunday, and rode upon that ass to Jerusalem. And in coming down from the Mount of Olivet, toward the east, is a castle that is clept Bethany.

And there dwelt Simon Leprous, and there harbored our Lord, and after he was baptized of the apostles and was clept Julian, and was made bishop, and this is the same Julian, that men clepe too for good harbourage, for our Lord harboured with him in his house. and in that house our Lord forgave Mary Magdalene her sins

There she washed his feet with her tears and wiped them with her hair And there serve St. Martha our Lord, there our Lord raised Lazarus from death to life That was dead four days and stank That was brother to Mary Magdalene and to Martha And there dwelt also Mary Cleophis That castle is well a mile long from Jerusalem Also in coming down from the Mount of Orchus, Olivet is the place where our Lord wept upon Jerusalem.

And there beside is the place where our lady appeared to St. Thomas the Apostle after her assumption and gave him her girdle. And right nigh is the stone where our Lord often time sat upon when he preached, and upon that same he shall sit at the day of doom, right as himself said. Also after the Mount of Olivet is the Mount of Galilee. There assembled the apostles when Mary Magdalene came and told, them of Christ's uprising, and there, between the Mount Olivet and the Mount Galilee is a church where the angel said to our lady of her death. Also from Bethany to Jericho was some time a little

city, but it is now all destroyed and now is there but a little village. That city took Joshua by miracle of God and commandment of the angel, and destroyed it and cursed it and all them that bigged it again. Of that city was Zachius, the dwarf, that clomb up into the sycamore tree, for to see our lord, because he was so little he might not see him for the people. And of that city was Rahab, the common woman that escaped alone with them of her lineage, and she often time refreshed and fed the messengers of Israel, and kept them from any great perils of death, and therefore she had good reward as holy writ saith, Quie accipet promenemetre mede, mercadem prophetae accipiet.

That is to say, he that taketh a prophet in my name, he shall take mead of the prophet, and so had she. For she prophesied to the messengers saying, Novi quad dominus tradet verbis teram hunk, That is to say I wot well, That our lord shall betake you this land, and so he did. And after Solomon, Neosan's son wedded her, and from that time was she a worthy woman, and served God well. Also from Bethany go men to flom, Jordan by a mountain, and through desert.

And it is nigh a day journey from Bethany, toward the east, to a great hill where our Lord fasted forty days. Upon that hill the enemy of hell, bear our Lord and tempted him, and said, dike ought lepidesis de pannes fiant. That is to say say that these stones be made loaves. In that place upon the hill was wont to be a fair church, but it is all destroyed, so that there is now but an hermitage that a manner of Christian men hold that be clept Georgians, for St. George converted them. Upon that hill dwelt Abraham a great while, and therefore men clepe it, Abraham's garden, and between the hill and this garden runneth a little brook of water that was wont to be bitter,

but by the blessing of Elisha the prophet it became sweet and good to drink, and at the foot of this hill toward the plain is a great well that entereth into Flom Jordan. From that hill to Jericho that I speak of before is but a mile in going toward Flom Jordan. Also as men go to Jericho sat the blind man crying, Jesus Philly David, miserere me, that is to say, Jesus David's son, have mercy on me, and anon he had his sight. Also two mile from Jericho is flum Jordan, and an half mile more nigh is a fair church of St. John the Baptist, where he baptised our Lord,

and there beside is the house of Jeremiah the prophet. End of Chapter 11 Chapter 12 of the Travels of Sir John Manderville by Sir John Manderville in the edition of A.W. Pollard This Librevox recording is in the public domain. Chapter 12 Of the Dead Sea and of the Flomere Jordan, of the head of St. John the Baptist,

and of the usages of the Samaritans. And from Jerichoa three mile is the Dead Sea, About that sea groweth much alum and of Alcatran. Between Jericho and the sea is the land of Ingedy, And there was wont to grow the balm. But men make draw the branches thereof and bear them to be grafted at Babylon, And yet men clepe them vines of Gedi. At a coast of that sea, as men go from Arabia,

Is the Mount of the Moabites, Where there is a cave that men clepe Karua. Upon that hill led Balibia. the son of Beor, Balam the priest, for to curse the people of Israel. The Dead Sea part of the land of Ind and of Arabia, and that sea lasteth from Soara unto Arabia. The water of that sea is full bitter and salt, and if the earth were made moist and wet with that water, it would never bear fruit. And the earth and the land changeth often his colour, and it casteth out of the water a thing that men clippey ask for the earth. also great pieces as the greatness of an horse every day and on all sides and from Jerusalem to the sea is two hundred furlongs that sea is in length five hundred and four score furlongs and in breadth on hundred and fifty furlongs

and it is clept the dead sea forth runneth not but is ever unmovable and neither man ne'e beast nay nothing that beareth life in him nay may not die in that sea and that hath been improved many times by men that have deserved to be dead that have been cast therein, and left therein three days or four, and they ne might never die therein, for it receiveth no thing within him that beareth life, and no man may drink of the water for bitterness, and if a man cast iron therein, it will float above, and if man cast a feather therein, it will sink to the bottom, and these be things against kind. And also the cities there were lost because of sin, and there beside grow trees that bear full fair apples, and fair of colour to behold. But whoso breaketh them or cutteth them in two, he shall find within them coals and cinders, in token that by wrath of God the cities and the land were bunt and sunken into hell. Some men clepe that see the lake of Delphedy, some the flome of devils, and some the flomé that is ever stinking, and into that sea sunk the five cities by wrath of God, that is to say

Sodom, Gomorah, Aldama, Zaboyim, and Zohar, for the abominable sin of Sodomy that reigned in them. But Zohar, by the prayer of Lot, was saved and kept a great while, for it was set upon a hill, and yet showeth there of some part above the water, and men may see the walls when it is fair weather and clear. In that city Lot dwelt a little while, and there was he made drunk of his daughters, and lay with him and engendered of them, Moab and Amon. And the cause why his daughters made him drunk, and for to lie by him was this,

because they saw no man about them but only their father, and therefore they trowed that God had destroyed all the world as he had done the cities, as he had done before by Noah's flood, And therefore they would lie by with their father for to have issue, and for to replenish the world again with people, to restore the world again by them, for they trod that there had been no more men in all the world, and if their father had not been drunk, he had not lain with them. And the hill above Zawar, men clepid it then Edom, and after men clepid it, Seir, and after Edumea. Also at the right side of that dead sea dwelleth yet the wife of lot in likeness of a salt stone, for that she looked behind her when the city sunk into hell. This lot was Haran's son, that was brother to Abraham,

and Sarah, Abraham's wife, and Milka, Nehor's wife, were sisters to the said lot. And the same sir was of eld fourscore and ten years when Isaac her son was gotten on her, and Abraham had another son, Ishmael, that he gat upon Hegar, his chamberer. And when Isaac his son was eight days old, Abraham, his father let him be circumcised, and Ishmael with him that was fourteen-year-old, wherefore the Jews that come of Isaac's line be circumcised the eighth day, and the Saracens that come of Ishmael's line be circumcised when they be fourteen year of age. And you shall understand that within the dead sea,

the Flom Jordan, and there it dieth, Fort Runneth no furthermore, and that is a place that is a mile from the Church of St. John the Baptist toward the west, a little beneath the place where the Christian men bathe them commonly. And a mile from Flom Jordan is the river of Jabok, the which Jacob passed over when he came from Mesopotamia. This Flom Jordan is no great river, but it is plenteous of good fish, and it cometh out of the hill of Lebanon by two wells that be clept Jor and Dan, and of the two wells hath it the name, and it passeth by a lake that is clept Maron, and after it passeth by the

sea of Tiberius, and passeth under the hills of Gilboa, and there is a full fair veil, both on that one side and on that other of the same river, and men go on the hills of Lebanon, all in length unto the deserts of Faran, and those hills part, the kingdom of Syria and the country of Phoenicia. And upon those hills grow trees of cedar that be full high, and they bear long apples, and as great as a man's head. And also this flong Jordan departeth the land of Galilee, and the land of Edumea, and the land of Betron.

And that runneth under the earth a great way unto a fair plain and a great that is clept Meldan in Sarmois, that is to say fair or market in their land. because that there is often fares in that plain, and there becometh the water great and large, in that plain as the tomb of Job. And in that florn, Jordan above said, was our Lord baptized of St. John, and the voice of God the father was heard saying, Hikest, Philius, meus, delectus, etc. That is to say, this is my beloved son, in the which I am well pleased, hear him.

and the Holy Ghost alighted upon him in likeness of a cova, and so at his baptizing was all the whole Trinity. And through that Flomé passed the children of Israel all dry feet, and they put stones there in the middle place, in token of the miracle that the water withdrew him so. Also, in that Flomé Jordan, Naaman of Syria bathed him that was full rich, but he was messel, and thereon he took his health. About the Flomé Jordan be many churches where that many Christian men dwelled, and nigh there too is the city of I that Joshua sailed and took. Also beyond the Flomé Jordan is the Vale of Mamry, and that is a full fair veil. Also upon the hill that I speak of before, where our Lord fasted forty days,

are two mile long from Galilee, is a fair hill and unhigh, where the enemy the fiend bear our Lord the third time to tempt him, showed him all the regions of the world and said, Haikomneatibidabo, see cadence adoravis me, that is to say, all this shall I give thee, if thou fall and worship me. Also from the dead sea to go eastward, out of the marches of the holy land that has clept the land of permission, is a strong castle and affair in an hill that is clipped Carrack in Samois.

That is to say royally, but castle let us. make King Baldwin, that was King of France, when he had conquered that land and put it into Christian men's hands for to keep that country, and for that cause was it clep the Mount Royal. And under there's a town that height, Sobach, and there also about dwell Christian men under tribute. From thence men go to Nazareth, on the which our Lord Bereth the sun-aid, and from thence there's three journeys to Jerusalem, and men go by the province of the province of the city. Galilee by Ramaph, by Sothim, and by the high hill of Ephraim, where Elkanah and Hannah,

the mother of Samuel the prophet, dwelt. There was born this prophet, and after his death he was buried at Mount Joy, as I have said you before. And then go men to Shiloh, where the ark of God with the relics were kept long time under Eli the prophet. There made the people of Hebron's sacrifice to our Lord, and they yielded up their vow. and there spake god first to Samuel and showed him the mutation of order of priesthood and the mystery of the sacrament and right nigh on the left side is Gibbyon and Rama and Benjamin of the which holy wits speaketh and after men go to Sihem some time clep Sihar and that is in the province of Samaritans and there's a full fair veil and a fructuous and there is a city fair and and a good that men clepe neopoli and from thence is a journey to jerusalem there's the well where our lord spake to the woman of samaritan and there was wont to be a church but it is beaten down beside that well king rehoboam led make two calves of gold and made them to be worshipped and but that one at dan and that other at bethel and a mile from sechah is the city of luz and in that city

dwelt Abraham a certain time. Sycham is a ten mile from Jerusalem, and it is clept Neopoli, that is to say, the new city. And nigh beside is the tomb of Joseph, the son of Jacob, that governed Egypt. For the Jews bear his bones from Egypt, and they buried them there, and thither go the Jews often time in pilgrimage with great devotion. In that city was diner, Jacob's daughter ravished, for whom her brethren slew many persons, and did many harms to the city. And there beside is the hill of Gerezim,

where the Samaritans make their sacrifice. In that hill, would Abraham have sacrificed his son Isaac? And there beside is the veil of Dotaeum. And there's the sister and where Joseph was cast in of his brethren, which they sold, and that is two mile from Sechar. From thence go men to Samaria, that men Clepenao, Sebast. And that is the chief city of that country.

and it sits between the hill of Agnes as Jerusalem doth. In that city was a sitting of the twelve tribes of Israel, but the city is not now so great as it was wont to be. There was buried St. John the Baptist between two prophets, Elisha and Abdon, but he was beheaded in the castle of Mecharen, beside the Dead Sea, and after he was translated of his disciples and buried at Samaria. And there let Julianus Apostata,

dig him up and let burn his bones, for he was at that time Emperor, and let winnow the ashes in the wind. But the finger that showed our Lord St. Eke Agnus Day, that is to say lo, the Lamb of God, that would never burn but as all whole, that finger let St. Thicler, the holy virgin, be born into the hill of Sabast, and there make men great feast. In that place was wont to be a fair church, and many hours, other there were, but they be all bitten down. There was wont to be the head of St. John Baptist enclosed in the war, but the Emperor Theodosius let draw it out, and found it wrapped in a little cloth all bloody, and so he let it be born to Constantinople. And yet at Constantinople is the hinder part of the head, and the fore part of the head, till under the chin is at Rome, under

the Church of St. Sevester, will be nuns of an hundred orders. And it is a few part of the is yet all broilie, as though it were half burnt. For the Emperor Julianus above said of his Cursedness and malice let burn that pot with the other bones, and yet it showeth. And this thing have been proved, both by popes and by emperors, and the jaws beneath that hold to the chin. And a part of the ashes and the platter that the head was laid in when it was smitten off, is at Genoa, and the Genoes make of it great feast, and so do the Saracens also. And some men say that the head of St. John is at Amiens in Picardy, and other men say that it is the head of St. John the bishop? I what never, but God knoweth, but in what wise that men

worship it the blessed St. John holds him a paid. From the city of Sebastian to Jerusalem is twelve mile. And between the hill of that country there is a will that four cities in the year changeth his colour, some time green, some time red, some time clear, and some time trouble. And men clepe that well, Job, and the folk of that country that men clepe Samaritans were converted and baptised by the apostles. But they hold not well their doctrine, and all ways they hold laws by themselves, varying from Christian men, from Saracens, Jews and Penemes. And the Samaritans liveth well in one God,

and they say well that there is but only one God, that all formed and all shall doom. And they hold the Bible after the letter, and they use a salt as the Jews do, and they say that they be the right sons of God, and among all other folk they say that they be best beloved of God, and that to them belongeth the heritage that God behite to his beloved children. and they have also diverse clothing and shape to look on than other folk have,

for they wrap their heads in red linen cloth in difference from others, and the Saracens wrap their heads in white linen cloth, and the Christian men that dwell in the country wrap them in blue a wind, and the Jews in yellow cloth. In that country dwell many of the Jews paying tribute as Christian men do, and if ye will know the letters that the Jews use, they be such, and the names be as the clepeth them written above in manner of the ABC. Aleph, Bet, Gimel, Deleth, He, Vau, Zay, Heth, Thet, Yot, Kaffo, Kaffo, Lamped, Mim, Nome, Sameth,

A, Fae, Sade, Koff, Resch, Son, Tau. End of Chapter 12 Chapter 13 of the travels of Sir John Mandeville By Sir John Mandeville in the edition of A.W. Pollard. This Libervox recording is in the public domain. Chapter 13 Of the provinces of Galilee and where Antichrist shall be born, of Nazareth, of the age of our lady, of the day of doom,

and of the customs of the Jacobites, Syrians, and of the use of, of Georgians. From this country of the Samaritans that I have spoken of, before go men to the plains of Galilee, and men leave the hills on that one part. And Galilee is one of the provinces of the Holy Land, and in that province is the city of Neen, and Caponeum, and Chorazen, and Bethsaida. In this Bessaida, Peter and St. Andrew were born, and thence a four mile is Chorazen, and five mile from Chorazen is the city of Cedar, whereof the Salter speaketh. It habitawi, cum habitantibus Cedar, that is to say, and I have dwelt with the dwelling

men in Cedar. In Chorazin shall Antichrist be born, as some men say, and other men say he shall be born in Babylon, for the prophet saith, de Babylonia, coluber exiate, quitotum mundum, de That is to say, out of Babylon shall come a worm that shall devour all the world. This Antichrist shall be nourished in Bethsaida, and he shall reign in Caponeum, and therefore saith holy writ, way to be Horatzin, way to be Bethsaida, way to be Capernaeum. That is to say, wo be to thee, Horazen, wo to thee Bethsaida, wo to thee, cappernaeum. and all these towns be in the land of Galilee, and also the Cana of Galilee is four mile from Nazareth,

of the which city was Simon Chananeus, and his wife Caney, of the which the holy evangelist speaketh. There did our Lord the first miracle at the wedding when he turned water into wine, and in the end of Galilee at the hills was the ark of God taken, and on that other side is the Mount Endor of Hermon. And thereabout goeth the brook of Torens Kishon, And there beside Barak, that was Abimelech's son with Deborah the prophetess, Overcame the host of Edumea, when Cicera, the king was slain of Jarl, the wife of Haber, And chased beyond the Flomé Jordan by strength of sword,

Zeb and Zeba and Zalmona, and there he slew them. Also a five mile from Nain is the city of Jezirazirai. that some time was clept zahrim of the which city jezebel the cursed queen was lady and queen that took away the vine of naboth by her strength fast by that city is the field megido in the which the king joram was slain of the king of samaria and after was translated and buried in the mount and a mile from jezariah be the hills of gilboa where saul and jonathan that were so fair died wherefore david curse them as holy wreath saith montes gilboi necrus nec pluvia etc that is to say ye hills of gilboa neither do ney rain come upon you and a mile from the hills of gilboa toward the east is a city of chiropolis that was clept before bethchian and upon the walls of that city was the head of Saul hanged. After go men by the hill beside the plains of Galilee unto Nazareth,

where was wont to be a great city and a fair, but now there is not but a little village, and houses abroad here and there, and it is not walled, and it sits in a little valley and there be hills all about. There was our lady born, but she was gotten at Jerusalem, and because that our lady was born at Nazareth, therefore bear our Lord his surname of that town. There took Joseph our lady to wife when she was fourteen year of age,

and there Gabriel greeted our lady, say, nave gratia plainer, dominus tecum, that is to say, hail full of grace, our lord is with thee. And this salutation was done in a place of a great altar, of a fair church that was wont to be some time, but it is now all done down, and men have made a little receipt beside a pillar of that church to receive offerings of pilgrims.

And the Saracens keep that place full dearly for the prophet that they have thereof, and they be full wicked Saracens and cruel, and more despiteful than in any other place, and have destroyed all the churches. There nigh is Gabriel's well, where our Lord was wont to bathe him when he was young, and from that well bear he water oftentimes to his mother, and in that well she washed oftentimes the clouts of her son, Jesus Christ.

And from Jerusalem unto thither is three journeys, and Nazareth was our Lord nourished. Nazareth is as much to say as flower of the garden, and by good skill may it be clept flower, for the world. there was nourished the flower of life that was Christy Jesusu. And two mile from Nazareth is the city of Sephor, by the way that goeth from Nazareth to Akon. And a half mile from Nazareth is the leap of our lord, for the Jews led him upon an high rock

for to make him leap down and have slain him. But Yezu passed among them and leapt upon another rock, and yet be the steps of his feet seen in the rock where he alighted, and therefore say some men, when they dread themselves of thieves in any way or of enemies, Jesus outum transience, permedium illoram ebought, that is to say Jesus forsooth, passing by the midst of them, he went, in token and mind that our Lord passed through, out the Jews' cruelty, and escaped safely from them. So surely may men pass, the pearl of thieves. And then say men two verses of the Salter three Scythes, Iruad supereus formido and power, in magnitude in Ebrachiae tuai domine,

fient immobiles quasi lapis, do nech per transeat populus tous domine, do nech per transeate populus tuus iste, whom posidisti, and then may men pass without pearl, and ye shall understand that our lady had child when she was fifteen year old and she was conversant with her son thirty-three year and three months and after the passion of our lord she lived twenty-four year Also from Nazareth men go to the Mount Tabor, and that is a four mile, and it is a full fair hill and well high, where was wont to be a town in many churches, but they be all destroyed. But yet there is a place that men Clepe, the school of God, where he was wont to teach his disciples and told them the privities of heaven. And at the foot of that hill, Mechazadeh, that was king of Salem, in the turning of that hill met Abraham, in coming again from. the battle when he had slain Abimelech. And this Melchizedek was both king and priest of Salem

that now is clept Jerusalem. In that hill Tabor, our Lord transfigured him before St. Peter, St. John and St. Jean. And there they saw ghostly, Moses and Elias, the prophets beside them. And therefore saith St. Peter, Dominé Bonames's Noc, Hic Ese, Fiaciarmus, Hic tria tabernacula. That is to say, Lord, it is good for us to be here. Make we hear three dwelling places,

and there heard they a voice of the father that say, He cast Phileus meus delectus, Inquo me he benae, complacui. And our Lord defended them that they should not tell that a vision, till that he were risen from death to life. In that hill and in that same place at the day of doom, Four angels with four trumpets shall blow and raise all men that had suffered death, Sith that the world was formed, from death to life,

and shall come in body and soul in judgment, before the face of our Lord in the veil of Jehoshaphat, and the doom shall be on Easter day, such time as our Lord arose, and the doom shall begin, such hours our Lord descended to hell and despoiled it, for at such hour shall he despoil the world and lead his chosen to bliss, and the other shall he condemn to perpetual pains, and then shall every man have after his desert, either good or evil, but if the mercy of God pass his righteousness.

Also a mile from Mount Tabor is the Mount Hermon. There was a city of Nain. Before the gate of that city raised our Lord the widow's son, that had no more children. Also three miles from Nazareth is the castle Safra, of the which the sons of Zebedee and the sons of Alpheus were.

Also a seven mile from Nazareth is the Mount Cain, and under that is a well. And beside that well, Lameh, Noah's father slew Cain with an arrow, for this Cain went through briars and bushes as a wild beast, and he had lived from the time of Adam his father

unto the time of Noah, and so he lived nigh two thousand year, and this lamech was all blind for eld. From Safra men go to the sea of Galilee, and to the city of Tiberius, that sits upon the same sea, and albeit that men clepe at a sea, yet is it neither see ne'eram of the sea, for it is but a tank of fresh water that is in length 100 furlongs And of breadth Forty furlongs And hath within him

Great plenty of good fish And runneth into Flom-Jordan The city is not full great But it hath good baths Within him And there's the Flomé Jordan Parteth from the sea of Galilee Is a great bridge

Where men pass from the land of permission To the land of King Bishan And the land of Ganeseret That be about the Flom-Jorat and the beginning of the sea of Tiberius. And from thence may men go to Damascus in three days by the kingdom of Triconatus, the which kingdom lasteth from Mount Hermon to the sea of Galilee, or to the sea of Tiberius, or to the sea of Ganeserat. And all is one sea, and this the tank that I have told you, but it changeth thus the name for the names of the

cities that sit beside him. Upon that sea, when that sea, our Lord dry feet. And there he took up St. Peter, when he began to drench within the sea, and said to him, Mordecae Fidei, Quare dubitaste, and after his resurrection, our Lord appeared on that sea to his disciples, and bad them fish, and filled all the net full of great fishes. In that sea rode our lord oftentimes, and there he called to him, St. Peter, St. Andrew, St. James and St. John the sons of Zebedee. In that city of Tiberius is the table upon the which our Lord ate upon with his disciples after his resurrection, and they knew him in breaking of bread, as the gospel saith,

Eit cognorant Eom infractione Pannis, and nigh that city of Tiberius is the hill where our Lord fed five thousand persons with five barley loaves and two fishes. In that city a man cast a bunning dart, in wrath after our lord, and the head smote into the earth and waxed green, and it growed to a great tree, and yet it groweth, and the bark thereof is all like coals. Also in the head of that sea of Galilee, toward the Septentrion is a strong castle and an high,

that height Sapphor, and fast beside it is Capernaum. Within the land of Promission is not so strong a castle, and there's a good town beneath that has clept also Sapphor. In that castle St. Anne, our lady's mother was born, there beneath was Centurio's house, that country is clept the Galilee of folk that were taken to tribute of Zebulon and Naftali, and in again coming from that castle a thirty mile is the city of dan that some time was clept bellinus or caesaria philippi that sits at the foot of the mount of lebanon where the flamme jordan begineth there beginneth the land of permission and durrith unto biersheba in length in going toward the north into the south and it containeth well a nine score miles and of breath that is to seeba say from Jericho unto Jaffa and that containeth a forty mile of Lombardy or of our country that be also little miles. These be not miles of Gascany, nay of the province of Alamene, where be great miles. And which ye well that the land of permission is in Syria, for the realm of Syria dureth, from the deserts of Arabian to Cilicia, and that is Armenia the great, that is to say,

from the south to the north, and from the east to the west it dureth, from the great deserts of Arabia, on to the west sea. But in that realm of Syria is the kingdom of Judea and many other provinces as Palestine, Galilee, Little Silicia, and many others. In that country and other countries beyond, they have a custom, when they shall use war, and when men hold siege about city or castle, and they within dare not send out messengers with letters from lord to lord, for to ask succour. They make their letters and bind them to the neck of a culver, and let the culver flee, and the culvers be so taught that they flee with those letters to the very place that men would send them to. For the culvers be nourished in those places where they be sent to, and they send them thus, for to bear their letters,

and the covers return again, where as they be nourished, and so they do commonly. And ye shall understand that amongst the Saracens, one part and other, dwell many Christian men of many manners and diverse names, and all be baptized, and have diverse laws and diverse customs, but all believe in God, the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Ghost, but always fail they in some articles of our faith. Some of these be clefts, Jacobites, for St. James converted them and St. John baptize them. They say that a man shall make his confession only to God, and not to a man. For only to him should man yield him guilty of all that he hath misdone. Nay, God ordain not, nay, never devised, nay the prophet, neither, that a man should

drive him to another, as they say, but only to God. As Moses writeeth in the Bible, and as David's sayeth in the Salter book, Confitabor Tibi, Domene, in toto corde meo, and delictum meum tiby cognitum feci, and deus meus es tu, et confetebor tiby, and, quiniam cogitatio hominus confitabur tib, etc. For they know all the Bible in the Salter,

and therefore allege they so the letter, but they allege not the authorities thus in Latin, but in their language fall appurately, and say well that David and other prophets say it. Neither the less St. Augustine and St. Gregory say thus, Augustinus, who, scelera's suhout and conversus fuerroth, veniam siebby credat. Gregorius, dominus potius mentum whom verba respicit, and St. Hilary sayeth, longurum temporum crimina, in itu oculae, peraeun. see cordes nota fuerat compuncio and for such authorities they say that only to god shall a man knowledge his defaults yielding himself guilty and crying him mercy and behooting to him to amend himself and therefore when they will shrive them they take fire and set it beside them and cast therein powder of frankincense and in the smoke thereof they shrive them to god and cry him mercy

But sooth it is that this confession was first and kindly, but St. Peter the Apostle, and they that came after him, have ordained to make their confession to man, and by good reason, for they perceived well that no sickness was curable, ne good medicine to lay there too. But if men knew the nature of the malady, and also no man may give conveyable medicine, but if he know the quality of the deed, for one sin may be greater in one man than in another, and in one place, and in one time, then in another, and therefore it behoveth him, that he know the kind of the deed, and thereupon to give him penance. There'll be other that be clept Syrians, and they hold the belief amongst us, and of them of Greece, and they use all beards as men of Greece too, and they make the sacrament of theft-bred. And in the language they use letters of Saracens, but after the mystery of the Holy Church, use letters of Greece, and they make their confession right as the Jacobites do. There be other that men Clepe Georgians, that St. George converted, and him they worship more than any other saint,

and to him they cry for help, and they came out of the realm of Georgia. These folk use crowns shaven, the clerks have round crowns, and the lewd men have crowns all square, and they hold Christian law, as do they of Greece, of whom I have spoken of before. Other there be that men clepe Christian men of girding, for they be all girt above, and there be other that men clepe Nestorians, and some Aryans, some Nubians, some of Greece, some of Ind, and some of Prestor, land, and all these have many articles of our faith, and to other they be variant, and of their variants were too long to tell, and so I will leave, as for the time, without more speaking of them.

End of Chapter 13. Chapter 14 of the Travels of Sir John Manderville by Sir John Manderville in the edition of A.W. Pollard. This Librevox recording is in the public domain. of the city of Damascus, of three ways to Jerusalem, one by land and by sea, another more by land and by sea, and the third way to Jerusalem, all by land. Now after that I have told you some part of folk in the countries before, now will I turn again to my way, for to turn again on this half. Then whoso will go from the land of Galilee, of that that I have spoke for, to come again on this half. Men come again by Damascus, that is a full fair city and full noble, and full of merchandise, and a three days journey long from the sea, and a five journeys from Jerusalem.

But upon camels, mules, horses, dromedaries, and other beasts, men carry their merchandise thither, and thither come the merchants with merchandise by sea from India, Persia, Keldaya, Armenia, and of many other kingdoms. This city founded Elyetzer, Damascus, that was yeoman and dispenser of Abraham before that Isaac was born, for he thought for to have been Abraham's heir, and he named the town after his surname Damascus. And in that place where Damascus was founded, Kane slew Abel his brother, and beside Damascus, is the Mount Ser. In that city of Damascus there is great plenty of wells, and within the city and without be many fair gardens and of diverse fruits.

None of the city is not like in comparison to it of fair gardens and of fair despots. The city is great and full of people and well walled with double walls, and there be many physicians, and St. Paul himself was their physician, for to keep men's bodies in health, before he was converted, and after that he was physician of souls. And St. Luke the Evangelist was disciple of St. Paul for to learn physics and many other, for St. Paul held then school of physic, and near beside Damascus was he converted, and after his conversion ne dwelt in that city three days without sight and without meat or drink,

and in those three days he was ravished to heaven, and there he saw many privities of our Lord, and fast beside Damascus is the castle of Arches that is both fair and strong. From Damascus men come again by our lady of Sardinac. That is a five mile on this half Damascus, and it sitteth upon a rock, and it is a full fair place, and it seemeth a castle, for there was wont to be a castle, but it is now a full fair church, and there within be monks and nuns Christian, and there is a vault under the church, where that Christian men may be, dwell also and they have many good vines and in the church behind the high altar in the wall is a table of black wood on the which some time was depainted an image of our lady that turneth into flesh but now the image showeth but little but all way by the grace of god that table evermore drops oil as it were of olive and there's a vessel of marble under the table to receive the oil thereof they give to pilgrims

for it heals of many sicknesses, and men say that if it be kept well seven year, afterwards it turns into flesh and blood. From Sardinac, men come through the veil of Bohar, the witch is a fair veil, and a plenteous of all manner of fruit, and it is amongst hills, and there are there in fair rivers and great meadows,

and noble pastures for beasts, and men go by the mounts of Lebanus, which lasts from Armenia the more, towards the north unto Dan, the which is the end of the land of repromission, toward the north, as I said before. The hills are right fruitful, and there are many farewells and cedars and cypresses, and many other trees of diverse kinds. There are also many good towns toward the head of their hills, full of folk. Between the city of Arquez and the city of Raffinay is a river that is called sabbatore, for on the Saturday it runs fast and all the weak else it stands still and runs not, or else but fairly. Between the

foresaid hills also is another water that on nights freezes hard, and on days there's no frost seen thereon. And as men come again from those hills is a hill higher than any of the other, and they call it there the high hill. There's a great city and a fair, the which is called Tripoli, in the which are many good Christian men. Eamon the same. same rights and customs that we use. From thence men come by a city that is called Beirut, where St. George slew the dragon, and it is a good town, and a fair castle therein, and it is three journeys from the foresaid city of Sardinac. At the one side of Beirut, 16 miles to come hitherward is the city of Sidon. At Beirut enters pilgrims into the sea

that will come to Cyprus, and they arrive at the port of Surrey or of Tyre, and so they come to cyprus in a little space or men may come from the port of tyre and come not at cyprus and arrive at some haven of greece and so come to these parts as i said before i have told you now of the way by which men go farthest and longest to jerusalem as by babylon and mount sinai and many other places which he heard me tell of and also by which ways men shall turn again to the land of repromission now will i tell you the rightest way and the shortest to Jerusalem. For some men will not go the other, some for they have not spending enough, some for they have no good

company, and some for they may not endure the long travel, some for they dread them of many perils of deserts, some for they will haste them homeward, desiring to see their wives and their children or for some other reasonable cause that they have to turn soon

home. And therefore I will show how men may pass Titus stand in shortest time, make their pilgrimage to Jerusalem. A man that comes from the lands of the West, he go through France, Burgogne, and Lombardy, and so to Venice or Genoa some other haven, and ships there and wends by sea to the Isle of Greff, that which pertains to the Genoans. And soon are he arrives in Greece at Port Meroc, or at Valoon, or at Duras, or at some other haven of that country, and rests him there and buys him victuals and ships again,

and sails to Cyprus, and arrives there at Famagost, and comes not at the Isle of Rhodes. Famagost is the chief haven of Cyprus, and there he refreshes him, and pervays him of victuals. And then he goes to ship, and comes no more on land, if he will, before he comes at Port Jaffa. That is the next haven to Jerusalem, for it is but a day journey and a half from Jerusalem, that is to say, 36 mile.

From the Port Jaffa men go to the city of Rames, the which is but a little thence, and it is a fair city and a good and mickle folk therein. And without that city toward the south, there's a kirk of our lady, where our Lord showed him to her in three clouds, the which betokened the Trinity. And a little thence is another city that men call dispelous, but it heights some time Lida, a fair city and a well inhabited. There is a Kirk of St. George where he was headed. From thence men go to the castle of Emeus, and so to Mount Joy.

There may pilgrims first see Jerusalem. At Mount Joy lies Samuel the prophet. From thence men go to Jerusalem. Besides their ways is the city of Ramatha and the Mount Modin, and there of was Matathias, Judas Maccabaeus father, and there are the graves of the Maccabees. Beyond Ramatha is the town of Tequah, where of Amos the prophet was, and there is his grave.

I have told you before the holy places that are Jerusalem and about it, and therefore I will speak no more of them at this time. But I will turn again and show you other ways a man may pass more by land, and namely for them that may not suffer the savor of the sea, but is leifer to go by land, if all it be the more, pain. From a man be entered into the sea he shall pass till one of the havens of Lombardy, for there is the best making of purveyance of victuals, or he may pass to Genoa, or Venice, or some other, and he shall pass by sea into Greece, to Port Mirrock, or to Valoon, or to

Duras, or some other haven of that country, and from thence he shall go by land to Constantinople, and he shall pass the water that is called Brace St. George, the witch is one arm of the sea, and from thence he shall by land go to Refinel, where a good castle is and a strong, and from therein he shall go to Pulual, and sunna to the castle of Sinepe, and from thence to Capodokia, that is a great country where are many great hills, and he shall go through Turkey to the port of Chiotok, and to the city of Nicaea, that is but seven miles thence. That city won the turrets, that city won the from the emperor of Constantinople, and it is a fair city and well walled on the one side, and on the other side is a great lake and a great river, the which is called lay.

From thence men go by the hills of Neermont, and by the veils of maelbruns, and straight fells, and by the town of Ormanks, or by the towns that are Nriclea and Stancon, the which are great rivers and noble, and so to Antioch the less, is set on the river Rickley, and thereabouts are many good hills and fair, and many fair woods, and great plenty of wild beasts for to hunt at. And he that will go another way he shall go by the plains of Romany, coasting the Roman sea. On that coast is a fair castle that men call Flora'ach, and it is right a strong place, and up a moor amongst the mountains is a fair city that is called Tarsus, and the city of Longhamath.

and the city of Asseri and the city of Marmistri. And when a man has passed those mountains and those fills, he goes by the city of Marioch and by our toys. Where is a great bridge upon the river of Farnay, that is called Farfar, and it is a great river bearing ships, and it runs right fast out of the mountains to the city of Damascus. And beside the city of Damascus is another great river

that comes from the hills of Liban, which men call Abana at the passing of this river St. Eustace that some time was called Placidus, lost his wife and his two children. The river runs through the plains of Archdez, and so to the Red Sea. From thence men go to the city of Fenike, where are hot wells and hot baths, and then men go to the city of Ferne, and between Fenike and Ferne are ten mile, and there are many fair woods, and then men come to Antioch, which is ten mile thence, and it is a fair city, and well walled about with many fair towers, and it is a great city, but it was some time greater than it is now,

for it was some time two mile on length and on breadth of a half-mile, and through the midst of that city ran the water, a far far, and a great bridge over it, and there was some time in the walls about the city three, hundred and fifty towers and at each pillar of the bridge was a stone. This is the chief city of the kingdom of Syria, and ten mile from this city is the port of Saint Simeon, and there goes the water of far far into the sea. From Antioch men go to a city that is called Lacuth, and then to Gebel, and then to Tortos. And there near is the land of Charnel, and there is a strong castle that is called Malbec. From Tautos, pass men to Tripoli by sea, or else by land through the streets of the mountains and fells, and there is a city that is called Ghibelet. From Tripoli go men to Akre, and from thence are two ways to Jerusalem, the one on the left half, and the other on the right half. By the left way men go by Damascus, and by the Flom Jordan. By the right way men go by Maron, and by the land of Flagrami, and near the mountain,

into the city of Caifus that some men call the castle of pilgrims. And from thence to Jerusalem, our three-day journey, in the which men shall go through Caesarea Philippi, and so to Jaffa and Rames and the castle of Amaeus, and so to Jerusalem. Now have I told you some ways by land and by water that men may go by the holy land after the countries that they come from. Nevertheless they come all to one end, yet is there another way to Jerusalem all by land and pass not the sea from France to Flanders, but that way is full long and perilous and of great travel, and therefore few go that way. He that shall go that way, he shall go through Almanya and Prussia, and so to Tartary.

This tartary is holden to the great can of Cathay, of whom I think to speak afterward. This is a full ill land, and sandy and little fruit-bearing, for there grows no corn, nay wine, nay beans, nay, peas, nay none of the fruit, convenable to man for to live with. But there are beasts in great plenty, and therefore, they eat but flesh without bread and sup the broth, and they drink milk of all manner of beasts. They eat hounds, cats, ratons, and all other wild beasts, and they have no wood, or else little, and therefore they warm and seethe their meat with horse dung and cow dung, and of other beasts, dried against the sun, and princes and other eat not, but once in the day, and that but little,

and they be right foul folk and of evil kind. And in summer, by all the countries fall many tempests and many hideous thunders and lates, and slay much people and beasts also full, often time. And suddenly is their passing heat, and suddenly also passing cold, and it is the foulest country, and the most cursed and the poorest that men know. And their prince that governeth that country, that the country, that the, they clepe batho dwelleth at the city of order and truly no good man should not dwell in that country for the land and the country is not worthy hounds to dwell in it were good country to sow in thistle and briars and broom and thorns and briars and for no other thing is it not good

neither less there's good land in some place but it is pure little as men say i have not been in that country nor by those ways but i have been at other lands that march to those countries as in the land of russia as in the land of nuflin and in the realm of krakow and of leto and in the realm of darristan and in many other places that march to the coasts but I would never by that way to Jerusalem, wherefore I may not well tell you the manner. But if this matter please to any worthy man that hath gone by that way, he may tell it if him like, to that intent that those that will go by that way, and make their voyage by those coasts may know what way is there. For no man may pass by that way goodly, but in time of winter, for the perilous waters and wicked mares that be in those countries, that no man may pass, but if it be strong frost and snow above.

For the snow, nay were not, men might not go upon the ice, nay horse, ne'-car neither, and it is well a three journeys of such way to pass from Prussia to the land of Saracens habitable, and it behoveth to the Christian men that shall war against them every year to bear their victuals with them, for they shall find their no good, Then must they let carry their victual upon the ice with cars, that have no wheels, that they clepe slays. And as long as their victuals last they may abide there, but no longer, and there shall they find no white that will sow them any victual or anything.

And when the spies see any Christian men come upon them, they run to the towns and cry with a loud voice, Kerah, Kerah, Kerah! then anon they arm them and assemble them together and ye shall understand that it freeseth more strongly in those countries than on this half and therefore hath every man stores in his house and in those stores they eat and do their occupations all that they may for that is at the north parts that men clepe the septent rional where it is all only cold for the sun is but little or none toward those countries and therefore is that the Septentrion that is very north is the land so cold that no man may dwell there and in the contrary toward the south it is so hot that no man may dwell there because that the sun when he is upon the south casteth his beams all straight upon that part end of chapter fourteen Chapter 15 of the travels of Sir John Manderville by Sir John Manderville in the edition of A.W. Pollard. This Librivox recording is in the public domain.

Chapter 15 Of the customs of Saracens and of their law, and how the Sultan reasoned me, author of this book, and of the beginning of Muhammad. Now because that I have spoken of Saracens and of their country, now if ye will know a part of their law and of their belief, I shall tell you after that their book that is Klepd al-Kharon telleth, and some men clepe that book, Meshef, and some men clepe it harme, after the diverse languages of the country, the which book Muhammad took them, in the which book, among other things, is written as I have oftentimes seen and read, that the good shall go to paradise and the evil to hell, and that believe all Saracens. And if a man ask them what paradise they mean, they say to paradise that is a place of delights,

where men shall find all manner of fruits in all seasons and rivers running of milk and honey, and of wine, and of sweet water, and that they shall have fair houses and noble. Every man after his desert made of precious stones and of gold and of silver, and that every man shall have four score wives all maidens, and he shall have ado every day with them, and yet he shall find them always maidens. Also they believe and speak gladly of the Virgin Mary and of the incarnation, and they say that Mary was taught of the angel,

and that Gabriel said to her that she was forechosen from the beginning of the world, and that he showed to her the incarnation of Jesus Christ, and that she conceived and bare child maiden, and that witnesseth their book. And they say also that Jesus Christ speak as soon as he was born, and that he was an holy prophet, and a true in word and deed, and meek and piteous, and rightful and without any vice.

And they say also that when the angel showed the incarnation of Christ unto Mary, she was young and had great dread, for there was then an enchanter in the country that doubt with witchcraft that men clept Tachnia, that by his enchantments could make him in likeness of an angel, and went often times, and lay with maidens, and therefore Mary dreaded, lest it had been Tachnia, that came for to deceive the maidens, and therefore she conjured the angel,

that he should tell her if it were he or no, and the angel answered and said that she should have no dread of him, for he was very messenger of Jesus Christ. Also their book saith, that when that she had childed under palm tree, she had great shame that she had a child, and she greet and said that she would that she had been dead, and anon the child spoke to her, and comforted her, and said, Mother Nedis, may they not, for God hath hid in the,

thee his privates for the salvation of the world. And in other many places sayeth the Al-Coron that Jesus Christ spake as soon as he was born. And that book saith also that Jesus was sent from God Almighty for to be mirror and example and token to all men. And the Al-Coron sayeth also of the day of doom how God shall come to doom all manner of folk. And the good he shall draw all his side and put them into bliss and the wicked he shall condemn to the pains of hell. And among all prophets, Jesus was the most excellent and the most worthy next God, and that he made the Gospels in the Witch's good doctrine and healthful, full of clarity and soothfastness, and true preaching to them that believe in God,

and that he was a very prophet, and more than a prophet, and lived without sin, and gave sight to the blind and healed the lepers and raised dead men and styred to heaven. And when they may hold the book of the Gospels of our Lord written, and namely Misos Eccles Estangeloos Gabriel, that gospel they say those that be lettered often times in their horizons, and they kiss it and worship it with great devotion. They fast an whole month in the year and eat not but by night, and they keep them from their wives all that month,

but the sick men be not constrained to that fast. Also this book speaketh of Jews, and saith that they be cursed, for they would not believe that Jesus Christ was come of God, and that they lied falsely on Mary and on her son Jesus Christ, saying that they had crucified Jesus the son of Mary, for he was never crucified, as they say, but that God made him to stye up to him without death and without annoy. But he transfigured his likeness into Judas Ascariot,

and him crucified the Jews, and weaned that it had been Jesus. But Jesus died to heaven all quick, and therefore they say that the Christian men err, and have no good knowledge of this, and that they believe fallily and falsely that Jesus Christ was crucist, And they say yet that, and he had been crucified, that God had done against his righteousness for to suffer Jesus Christ that was innocent to be put upon the cross without guilt. And in this article they say that we fail, and that the great righteousness of God might not suffer so great a wrong, and in this faileth their faith. For they knowledge well that the works of Jesus Christ be good,

and his words and his deeds and his doctrine by his gospels were true, and his miracles also true, and the blessed Virgin Mary is good, and holy maiden before and after the birth of Jesus Christ, and that all those that believe perfectly in God shall be saved. And because that they go so nigh our faith, they be lightly converted to Christian law, when men preach them and show them distinctly the law of Jesus Christ and when they tell them of the prophecies.

And also they say that they know well by the prophecies that the law of Muhammad shall fail, as the law of the Jews did, and that the law of Christian people shall last to the day of doom. And if any man ask them, what is their belief? They answer thus and in this form. We believe God, former of heaven and of earth, and of all other things that he made, and without him is nothing made, and we believe of the day of doom,

and that every man shall have his merit after he hath deserved, and we believe it forsooth, all that God hath said by the mouths of his prophets. Also Muhammad commanded in his al-Qaran, that every man should have two wives, or three or four, but now they take unto nine and of laymen's as many as he may sustain and if any of their wives misbear them against their husband he may cast her out of his house and depart from her and take another but he shall depart with her his goods also when men speak to them of the father and of the son and of the holy ghost they say that they be three persons but not one god for the al-coran speaketh not of the true but they say well that God hath speech and else were he dumb and God hath also a spirit they know well for else they say he were not alive

And when men speak to them of the incarnation, how that by the word of the angel God sent his wisdom into earth, and ennobred him in the Virgin Mary, and by the word of God shall the dead be raised at the day of doom, they say that it is sooth, and that the word of God hath great strength. And they say that whoso knew not the word of God, he should not know God. And they say also that Jesus Christ is the word of God, and so saith their outcome. whereon, where it saith, that the angels spake to Mary and said, Mary, God shall preach thee the gospel by the word of his mouth, and his name shall be clept Yeus Christ.

And they say also that Abraham was friend to God, and that Moses was familiar speaker with God, and Jesus Christ was the word and the spirit of God, and that Muhammad was right messenger of God. And they say that of these four, Jesus was the most worthy and the most excellent, and the most great. So that they have many good articles of our faith,

albeit that they have no perfect law and faith as Christian men have, and therefore be they lightly converted, and namely those that understand the scriptures and the prophecies, for they have the gospels and the prophecies of the Bible written in their language, wherefore they ken much of holy writ, but they understand it not but after the letter. And so do the Jews, for they understand, not the letter ghostly but bodily, and therefore be they reproved of the wise that ghostly

understand it, and therefore say St. Paul Littor Ocidet, Spiritus outum vivicat. Also the Saracens say that the Jews be cursed, for they have befouled the law that God sent them by Moses, and the Christian be cursed also, as they say, for they keep not the commandments and the precepts of the gospel that Jesus Christ taught. them, and therefore I shall tell you what the Suldan told me upon a day in his chamber. He let void out of his chamber, all manner of men, lords and others, for he would speak with me in council, and there he asked me how the Christian men governed them in our country, and I said him right well, thank me God, and he said me truly nay, for ye Christian men ne'erick,

write not how untrually to serve God, ye should give ensemble to the lewd people for to do well and you give them ensemble to do evil for the commons upon festival days when they should go to church to serve God then go they to taverns

and be there in gluttony all the day and all night and eat and drink as beasts that have no reason and wit not when they have enough And also the Christian men enforce themselves in all manners that they may, for to fight and for to deceive that one that other, and therewith all they be so proud that they know not how to be clothed,

now long, now short, now straight, now large, now swarded, now daggered, and in all manner guises, they should be simple, meek and true, and full of alms' deeds, as Jesus was, in whom they trow, but they be all the contrary, and ever inclined to the evil and to do evil. And they be so covetous that for little silver they sell their daughters, their sisters and their own wives to put them to lechery, and one withdraweth the wife of another, and none of them holdeth faith to another. But they defal their law that Jesus Christ betook them to keep for their salvation,

and thus for their sins have they lost all this land that we hold. For, for their sins their God hath taken them into our hands, not only by strength of ourself, but for their sins, for we know well in very sooth that when ye serve God, God will help you, and when he is with you no man may be against you. And that know we well by our prophecies that Christian men shall win again this land out of our hands, then they serve God more devoutly, but as long as they be of foul and of unclean living as they be now, we have no dread of them in no kind, for their God will not help them in no ways.

And then I asked him how he knew the state of Christian men, and he answered me that he knew all the state of all courts of Christian kings and princes and the state of the commons also by his messengers that he sent to all lands, in manner as they were merchants of precious stones, of cloths of gold, and of other things, for to know the manner of every country amongst Christian men. And then he let Clepe in all the lords that he made void first out of his chamber, and there he showed me four that were great lords in the country, that told me of my country and of many other Christian countries,

as well as they had been of the same country, they spake French right well, and the sultan also? Where have I had great marvel? Alas, that it is great slander to our faith and to our law, when folk that be without law shall reprove us and undermine us of our sins, and they that should be converted to Christ and to the law of Jesus by our good ensembles, and by our acceptable life to God, and so converted to the law of Jesus Christ, be,

through our wickedness and evil living, far from us and strangers from the holy and very belief, shall thus appeal us and hold us for wicked livers and cursed? And truly they say sooth for the Saracens be good and faithful, for they keep entirely the commandment of the holy book Al-Kurran that God sent them by his messenger, Muhammad, to the which, as they say, Saint Gabriel the angel oftentimes, told the will of God. And ye shall understand that Muhammad was born in Arabia,

that was first a poor knave that kept camels, that went with merchants for merchandise, and so befell, that he went with the merchants into Egypt, and they were then Christian in those parts, and at the deserts of Arabia he went into a chapel,

where a hermit dwelt. And when he entered into the chapel that was but a little and a low thing, and had but a little door, and aloe. Then the entry began to wax so great and so large and so high, as though it had been of a great minster or the gate of a palace. And this was the first miracle, the Saracen say, that Muhammad did in his youth. After began he for to wax wise and rich, and he was a great astronomer, and after he was governor and prince of the land of Cazroddenay, and he governed it full wisely in such manner

that when the prince was dead, he took the lady for wife that height Gadrigae, and Muhammad fell often in the great sickness that men call the falling evil, wherefore the lady was full sorry that ever she took him to husband. But Muhammad made her to believe that all times when he fell so, Gabriel the angel came for to speak with him, and for the great light and brightness of the angel he might not sustain him from falling, and therefore the Saracens say that Gabriel came often to speak with him. This Muhammad reigned in Arabia the year of our Lord Jesusuch, Christ, 610,

and was of the generation of Ishmael, that was Abraham's son, that he gat upon Hagar, his chamberer. And therefore there be Saracens that be clept Ishmaelites, and some Hagarines of Hagar, and the other properly be clipped Saracens of Sarah, and some beclept Moabites and some Ammonites for the two sons of Lot, Moab and Amon, that he begat on his daughters that were afterward great earthly princes. And also Muhammad loved well a good hermit that dwelt in the deserts a mile from Mount Sinai,

in the way that men go from Arabia toward Keldaya and toward end. One day's journey from the sea, for the merchants of Venice come often for merchandise. and so often went Muhammad to this hermit that all his men were wroth for he would gladly hear this hermit preach and make his men wake all night and therefore his men thought to pot the hermit to death and so it befell upon a night that Muhammad was drunken of good wine and he fell on sleep and his men took Muhammad's sword out of his sheath whilst he slept and therewith they slew this hermit and pot his sword and pot his sword out of his sheath whilst he slept and therewith they slew this hermit and pot his sword sword all bloody in his sheath again. And at morrow when he found the hermit dead, he was full sorry and wroth, and would have done his men to death. But they all with one accord said that he himself had slain him when he was drunken and showed him his sword all bloody, and he trowed that they had

said sooth, and then he cursed the wine and all those that drink it, and therefore Saracens that be devout, drink never no wine. But some drink in privily, for if they drunk it openly, they should be reproved. But they drink good beverage and sweet and nourishing that is made of gallamel, and that is that men make sugar of, that is of right good savour, and it is good for the breast. Also it befalleth some time that Christian men become Saracens, either for poverty or for simpleness, or else for their own wickedness, and therefore the arch-flamen, or the flamen as our archbishop or bishop, when he receiveth then, saith thus, la Eccullosilla, Mahomete Reresala, that is to say there is no God but one, and Muhammad his messenger.

Now I have told you a part of their law and of their customs, I shall say you of their letters that they have with their names and the manner of their figures what they be. Almoi, beethetheth, Kathy, Fote, Delphoi, Fothi, Gerothi, Hachum, Iyoteiote, Eyotthi, and garrothi hechum iotee cithee lotham malach nabaloth o'rthi hesey ooth hoth hulath rothiothi sallath thalamus urthum ayyot arrochi yotepin ichatus and these be the names for the a b c now shall ye know the figures ellipsis and four letters they have more than other for diversity of their language and speech, for as much as they speak in their throats, and we in England have in our language and speech two letters more than they have in their ABC, and that is Thorn and Yuch, which be clept Thorn and Yuch.

End of Chapter 15 Chapter 16 of the Travels of Sir John Mandeville by Sir John Mandeville in the edition of A. W. Pollard. This Libavox recording is in the public domain. Chapter 16 Of the lands of Albania and of Libya, of the wishings for watching of the sparrow hawk, and of Noah's ship.

Now, Sith, I have told you before of the holy land and of that land about, and of many ways for to go to that land and to the Mount Sinai, and of Babylon, the more and the less, and to other places that I have spoken before, Now is time if it like you, for to tell you of the marchers and aisles and diverse beasts and of diverse folk beyond these marches. For in those countries beyond be many diverse countries and many great kingdoms that be departed by the four floods that come from paradise terrestrial. For Mesopotamia and the kingdom of Keldaya and Arabia be between the two rivers of Tigris and. of Euphrates, and the kingdom of Media and of Persia is between the rivers of Nile and of Tigris,

and the kingdom of Syria, whereof I have spoken before, and Palestine and Phoenicia, be between Euphrates and the sea Mediterranean, the which sea durroth in length, from Morocco upon the sea of Spain, unto the great sea, so that it lasteth beyond Constantinople, 3,040 miles of Lombardy. And toward the sea ocean in Ind is the kingdom of Scythia, that is all closed with hills, and after under Scythia, and from the sea of Caspian unto the flam Thene, is Amazonia,

that is the land of Femonea, where that no man is but only all women. And after is Albania, a full great realm, and it is clept Albania because that the folk be whiter there than in other marches thereabout, and in that country be so great hounds and so strong that they assail lions and slay them. And then after is Hercania, Bactria, Heberia, and many other kingdoms. And between the Red Sea and the sea ocean toward the south is the kingdom of Ethiopia and of Libya, the higher, the which land of Libya, that is to say Libya the low, that beginneth at the sea of Spain,

from thence where the pillars of Hercules be, and endereth unto anent Egypt and toward Ethiopia. In that country of Libya is the sea more high than the land, and it seemeth that it would cover the earth, and neither the less yet it passeth not his marks. And men see in that country a mountain, to the which no man cometh. In this land of Libya who so turneth toward the east, the shadow of himself is on the right side, and here in our country the shadow is on the left side. In that sea of Libya is no fish, for they may not live ne'-dure for the great heat of the sun, because that the water is ever more boiling for the great heat, and many other lands there be that it were too long to tell or to number, but of some parts I shall speak more plainly hereafter.

Whoso will then go toward Tartary, toward Persia, toward Caldea, and toward Ind. He must enter the sea at Genoa, or at Venice, or at some other haven that I have told you before, and then men pass the sea, and arrive at Trebizond, that is a good city, and it was wont to be the haven of Pontus. is the haven of Persians and of Medians and of the marches there beyond. In that city lath St. Athanasius that was bishop of Alexandria that made the psalm quikunquay walt. This Athanasius was a great doctor of divinity, and because that he preached and spake so deeply of divinity and of the godhead, he was accused to the Pope of Rome that he was

an heretic, wherefore the Pope sent after him and put him in prison. And while he was in prison, he made that psalm and sent it to the Pope and said that if he was an heretic, then was that heresy. For that he said was his belief. And when the Pope saw it and had examined it, that it was perfect and good, and verily our faith and our belief, he made him to be delivered out of prison and commanded that psalm to be said every day at prime. And so he held Athanasius a good man, but he would never go to his bishopric again because that they accused him of heresy.

Trebizond was wont to be holden of the emperor of Constantinople, but a great man that he sent for to keep the country against the Turks usurped the land and held it to himself and clept him emperor of Trebeson. And from thence men go through little Armenia, and in that country is an old castle that stands upon a rock, the which is clipped, the castle of the sparrowhawk, that is beyond the city of Leis, beside the town of Farsipi, that belongeth to the lordship of Croc, that is a rich lord and a good Christian man. There men find a sparrowhawk, upon a perch, right fair, and right well made. and a fair lady of fairy that keepeth it, and who that will watch that sparrowhawk seven days and seven nights, and as some men say three days and three nights, without company and without sleep, that fair lady shall give him, when he hath done the first wish that he will wish of earthly things, and that hath been proved oftentimes.

and one time befell that a king of Armenia that was a worthy knight and doughty man and a noble prince watched that hawk sometime and at the end of seven days and seven nights the lady came to him and bade him wish for he had well deserved it and he answered that he was great lord enough and well in peace and had enough of worldly riches

and therefore he would wish none other thing but the body of that fair lady to have it at his will. And she answered him that he knew not what he asked, and said that he was a fool to desire that he might not have, for she said that he should not ask, but earthly thing, for she was none earthly thing, but a ghostly thing. And the king said that he ne'er would ask none of the thing, and the lady answered,

Seth that I may not withdraw you from your lewd corot. I shall give you without wishing, and to all them that shall come of you. Sir King, ye shall have war without peace, and always to the nine degree, ye shall be in subjection of your enemies, and ye shall be needy of all goods. And never since neither the king of Armenia nor the country were never in peace, nay they had never sith plenty of goods, and they have been sithethetheth always under tribute of the Saracens. Also the son of a poor man watched that hawk

and wished that he might cheave well, and to be happy to merchandise, and the lady granted him. And he became the most rich and the most famous merchant that might be on sea or on earth. And he became so rich that he knew not the thousand part of that he had. And he was wiser and wishing than was the king. also a knight of the temple watched there and wished a purse evermore full of gold.

And the lady granted him, but she said him that he had asked the destruction of their order for the trust and the affiance of that purse, and for the great pride that they should have. And so it was, and therefore look he keep him well that shall wake, for if he sleep he is lost, that never man shall see him more. not the right way for to go to the parts that I have named before, but for to see the marvel that I have spoken of. And therefore whoso will go right way. Men go from Trebizond, toward Armenia the great, unto a city that is clept Erzharom, that was wont to be a good city, and aplentious, but the Turks have greatly wasted it. Thereabout groweth no wine nor fruit, but little, or else none.

In this land is the earth more high than in any other, and that maketh great cold, and there be many good waters and good wells that come under earth from the flam of paradise, that is cleptuphrates, that is a journey beside that city, and that river cometh towards end under earth, and restoreth into the land of Altazar. And so pass men by this Armenia, and enter the sea of earth. of Persia. From that city of Erzharum go men to an hill that is clept Sabasoccoli, and there beside is another hill that men clepe Ehrarat, but the Jews clepe it Tenees, where no ship rested and yet is upon that mountain. And men may see it afar in clear weather, and that mountain

is well as seven mile high, and some men say that they have seen and touched the ship, and put their fingers in the parts where the fiend went out when that Noah said benedicte but they that say such words say their will for man may not go up the mountain for great plenty of snow that is always on that mountain neither summer nor winter so that no man may go up there nay never man did since the time of Noah save a monk that by the grace of God brought one of the planks down that yet is in the minster at the foot of the mountains. And beside is the city of Dane that Noah founded, and fast by is the city of Annie, in the which were wont to be a thousand churches. But upon that mountain to go up, this monk had great desire, and so upon a day he went up, and when he was upward, the three part of the mountain, he was so weary that he might know further, and so he rested him and fell asleep. And when he awoke he, he was, he awoke, he, found himself lying at the foot of the mountain, and then he prayed devoutly to God that he would vouchsafe to suffer him to go up, and an angel came to him and said that he should go up,

and so he did, and sith that time never none, wherefore men should not believe such words. From that mountain go men to the city of Thaurysal, that was wont to be clept taxes, that is a full fair city and a great, and one of the best that is in the world for merchandise. Thither come all merchants for to buy avois to Poir, and it is in the land of the emperor of Persia, and men say that the emperor taketh more good in that city for custom of merchandise, then doth the richest Christian king of all his realm that liveth. For the toll and the custom of his merchants is without estimation to be none, Beside that city is a hill of salt, and of that salt every man taketh what he will for to salt with to his need.

There dwelleth many Christian men under tribute of Saracens, and from that city men pass by many towns and castles in going toward Ind, unto the city of Sedonia, that is a ten journeys from Thauryso, and it is a full noble city and agreed, and there dwelleth the Emperor of Persia in summer, for the country is cold enough, and there be good rivers bearing ships. After go men the way toward end, by many journeys and by many countries, unto the city that is clept, Cossack, and that is a full noble city, and a plenteous of corns and wines, and of all other goods. This is the city where the three kings met together when they were sent,

to seek our lord in Bethlehem to worship him and to present him with gold, incense, and mur. And it is from that city to Bethlehem 53 journeys. From that city men go to another city that is clept Gethe. That is a journey from the sea that men clepe the gravelly sea. That is the best city that the emperor Persia hath in all his land. And they clepe the flesh their daba, and the wine vapa and the panes say that no christian men may not long dwell ne endure with the life in that city but die within short time and no man knoweth not the cause

aftergo men by many cities and towns and great countries that it were too long to tell unto the city of cornaa that was wont to be so great that the walls about hold twenty-five mile about the walls show ye it but it is not all inhabited from cornoa go men by many lands and many cities and towns unto the land of job and there endeth the land of the emperor of persia and if you will know the letters of persians and what names they have they be such as i last devised you but not in sounding of their words end of chapter sixteen chapter seventeen of the travel's of Sir John Mandeville by Sir John Mandeville in the edition of A. W. Pollard. The Cibovac's recording is in the public domain. Chapter 17 Of the land of Job and of his age, of the array of men of Keldaya, of the land where women dwell without company of men,

of the knowledge and virtues of the very diamond. After the departing from Kornah, men enter into the land of Job, that is a full fair country and a plenteous of all good things, and men clepe that land, the land of Susiana, in that land is the city of Thaman. Job was a peyneem, and he was Aram of Gosway, his son, and held that land as prince of that country, and he was so rich that he knew not the hundred part of his goods.

And although he were a peinim, nevertheless he served well God after his world, law, and our Lord took his service to his plazun, and when he fell in poverty he was 78 year of age, and after when God had proved his patience and that it was so great, he brought him again to riches, and to higher estate than he was before, and after that he was king of Idumea after king Issa, and when he was king, he was clept Jobab, and in that kingdom he lived after 170 year, and so he was of age when he died 248 year. In that land of Job, there ney is no default of no thing that is needful to man's body.

The be hills where men get great plenty of manor in greater abundance than in any other country. This manor is clipped bread of angels, and it is a white thing that is full sweet and right delicious, and more sweet than honey or sugar, and it cometh of the dew. of heaven that falleth upon the herbs in that country, and it congealeth, and becometh all white and sweet, and men put it in medicines for rich men to make the womb lax, and to purge evil blood, for it cleanseth the blood and putteth out melancholy. This land of Job marcheth to the kingdom of Caldea, this land of Caldea's full great, and the language of that country is more great and sounding than it is in other parts,

beyond the sea. Men pass to go beyond by the Tower of Babylon the Great, of the which I have told you before, where that all the languages were first changed, and that is of all journeys from Caldea. In that realm be fair men, and they go full nobly arrayed in clothes of gold, or frayed, and apparelled, with great pearls and precious stones full nobly, and the women be right foul and evil arrayed, and they go all barefoot, enclosed in evil garments large and wide, but they be short to the knees and long sleeves down to the feet like a monk's frock, and their sleeves be hanging about their shoulders, and they be black women foul and hideous, and truly as foul as they be, as evil they be.

In that kingdom of Caldea, in a city that is clept o'er, dwelt Tara, Abraham's father, and there was Abraham born, and that was in that time that Ninos was king of Babylon, of Arabia, and of Egypt. This Ninnus made the city of Nineveh, the witch that Noah had begun before, and because that Ninos performed it, he clepted Nineveh after his own name. There lieth Tobit, the prophet, of whom holy writ speaketh of, and from that city of O'r, Abraham departed, by the commandment of God from God, from thence after the death of his father, and led with him Sarah his wife and lot his brother's son, because that he had no child. And they went to dwell in the land of Canaan in a place that is

clept, Shechem, and this lot was he that was saved, when Sodom and Gomorrah, and the other cities were bunt and sunken down to hell, where the dead sea is now, as I have told you before. In that land of Caldea they have their proper languages and their proper letters, such as ye may see hereafter. Beside the land of Caldea is the land of Amazonia, that is the land of Femonea, and in that realm is all women and no man. Not as some men say that men may not live there, but for because that the women will not suffer no men amongst them to be their sovereigns. For some time there was a king in that country,

men married, as in other countries, and so befell that the king had war with them of Cythia, the witch-king, Haid, Colopius, that was slain in battle, and all the good blood of his realm. And when the queen and all the other noble ladies saw that they were all widows, and that all the royal blood was lost, they armed them, and as creatures out of wit, they slew all the men of the country that were left, for they would that all the women were widows. as the queen and they were. And from that time hitherwards they never would suffer man

to dwell amongst them longer than seven days and seven nights. Nay that no child that were male should dwell amongst them longer than he were nourished, and then sent to his father. And when they will have any company of man, then they draw them towards the lands

marching next to them. And then they have loves that use them, and they dwell with them. and they dwell with them an eight days or ten, and then go home again. And if they have any knave child, they keep it a certain time, and then send it to the father when he can go alone and eat by himself, or else they slay it. And if it be a female, they do away that one pap with an hot iron.

And if it be a woman of great lineage, they do away the left pap, that they may the better bear a shield. And if it be a woman on foot, they do away the way. the right, Pap, for to shoot with bow turkeys, for they shoot well with bows. In that land they have a queen, that governeth all that land, and all they be obeisance to her, and always they make her queen by election that is most worthy in arms, for they be right good warriors and orpt, and wise, noble and worthy, and they go often time in soldier to help of other kings in their wars, for gold and silver as other soldiers do, and they maintain themselves right vigorously.

This land of Amazonia is an isle, all environed with a sea, save in two places where be two entries, and beyond that water dwell the men that be their paramours and their loves, where they go to solace them when they will. Beside Amazonia is the land of Tarmagite, that is a great country and a full delectable, and for the goodness of the country, King Alexander let first make there the city of Alexandria, and yet he made twelve cities of the same name, but that city is now clept Calcet. And from that other coast of Caldea toward the south is Ethiopia, a great country that stretcheth to the end of Egypt. Ethiopia has departed in two parts principle, and that is in the east part, and in the meridional part, the witch part meridional, is clept Mauritania, and the folk of that

country be black enough, and more black than in t'other part, and they be clept moors. In that part is a well, that in the day it is so cold, that no man may drink thereof, and in the night it is so hot that no man may suffer his hand therein, and beyond that part toward the south to pass by the sea ocean is a great land and a great country, but men may not dwell there for the fervent burning of the sun, so is it passing hot in that country. In Ethiopia all the rivers and all the waters be trouble, and they be some deal salt for the great heat that is there, and the folk of that country be lightly drunken, and have but little appetite to meet, and they have commonly the flux of the womb, and they live not long. In Ethiopia be many diverse folk, and Ethiopia is clept

Cursus. In that country be folk that have but one foot, and they go so blevy that it is marvel, and the foot is so large, that it shadoweth all the body against the sun when they will lie and rest them. In Ethiopia, when the children be young and little, they be all yellow, and when that they wax of age, that yellowness tunneth to be all black. In Ethiopia's the city of Sabah, and the land of the which, one of the three kings that presented our lord in Bethlehem, was king of. From Ethiopia men go into Ind by many diverse countries, and men clepe the high end Emlac, and Ind is divided in three principal parts, that is, the more that is a full heart, country and ind the less that is a full a tempera country that stretcheth to the land of media and the three part toward the septentrion is full cold so that for pure cold and continual frost the water

becometh crystal and upon those rocks of crystal grow the good diamonds that be of trouble colour yellow crystal draweth colour like oil and they be so hard that no man may polish them, and men clepe them diamonds in that country, and Hamasay in another country. Other diamonds men find in Arabia that be not so good, and they be more brown and more tender, and other diamonds also men find in the Isle of Cyprus that be yet more tender, and them men may well polish, and in the land of Macedonia men find diamonds also, but the best and the most precious be an end. and men find many times hard diamonds in a mass that cometh out of gold when men pure it and refine it out of the mine when men break that mass in small pieces and some time it happens that men find some as great as a peas and some less and they be as hard as those of end and albeit that men find good diamonds in end yet nevertheless men find them more commonly upon the rocks in the sea and upon hills where the mine of gold is.

And they grow many together, one little, another great, and there be some of the greatness of a bean, and some as great as an hazelnut. And they be square and pointed of their own kind, both above and beneath, without working of man's hand. And they grow together male and female, and they be nourished with the dew of heaven, and they engender commonly and bring forth small children,

that multiply and grow all the year. I have oftentimes a sade that if a man keep them with a little of the rock and wet them with may do oft-sithes, they shall grow every year, and the small will wax great. For right as the fine pearl congealeth and waxeth great of the dew of heaven, right so doth the very diamond, and right as the pearl of his own kind, taketh roundness, right so the diamond, by virtue of God, taketh squareness. And men shall bear the diamond

on his left side, for it is of greater virtue then than on the right side, for the strength of their growing is toward the north, that is the left side of the world, and the left part of man is when he turneth his face toward the east. And if you like to know the virtues of the diamond, as men may find in the lapidary that many men know not, I shall tell you, as they beyond the sea say and affirm, of whom all science and all philosophy cometh from, he that beareth the diamond upon him, it giveth him hardiness and manhood, and it keepeth the limbs of his body whole. It giveth him victory of his enemies in plea and in war, if his cause be rightful, and it keepeth him that beareth it in good wit, and it keepeth him from strife and riot,

from evil swavons, from sorrows, and from enchantments, and from fantasies and illusions, of wicked spirits, and if any cusset witch or enchanter would bewitch him that beareth the diamond, all that sorrow and mischance shall turn to himself through virtue of that stone, and also no wild beast dare se, assail the man that beareth it on him. Also the diamond should be given freely without coveting and without buying, and then it is of greater virtue, and it maketh a man more strong and more sad against his enemies, and it healeth him that is lunatic, and then that the fiend pursueth, or traveleth, and if venom or poison be brought in presence of the diamond, anon it beginneth

to wax moist and full to sweat. there be also diamonds in ind that be clept velastres for their colours like violet or more brown than violets that be full hard and full precious but yet some men love not them so well as the other but in sooth to me i would love them as much as the other for i have seen them a seed also there is another manner of diamonds that be as white as crystal but they be a little more trouble and they be good and of great virtue, and all they be square and pointed of their own kind. And some be six squared, some four squared, and some three as nature shapeth them. And therefore when great lords and knights go to seek worship in arms, they bear gladly the diamond upon them. I shall speak a little more of the diamonds,

although I tarry my matter for a time, to the end, that they that know them not, be not deceived, by gabbers that go by the country that sell them. For whoso will buy the diamond it is needful to him that he know them, because that men counterfeit them often of crystal that is yellow, and of sapphires of citron colour that is yellow also, and of the sapphire loop, and of many other stones. But I tell you these counterfeits be not so hard,

and also the points will break lightly, and men may easily polish them, but some workmen for malice will not polish them to that intent to make men believe that they may not be polished but men may assay them in this manner first shear with them or write with them in sapphires in crystal or in other precious stones after that men take the adamant that is the shipman's stone that draweth the needle to him and men lay the diamond upon the adamant and lay the needle before the adamant and if the diamond be good and virtuous the adamant draweth not the needle to him while the diamond is there present and this is the proof that they beyond the sea make nevertheless it befalleth often time that the good diamond looseth his virtue by sin and for incontinence of him that beareth it and then it is needful to make it to recover his virtue again or else it is of little value end of chapter seventeen chapter eighteen of the travels of sir john mandeville by sir john mandeville in the edition of a w pollard this libavoc's recording is in the public domain chapter eighteen of the customs of isles about end of the difference between idols and simulacres of three manner growing of pepper upon one tree of the will that changeth his odour and simulacres of three manor growing of pepper upon one tree of the will that changeth his odour

every hour of the day, and that is marvel. In Ind be full many diverse countries, and it is clept in for a flam that runneth throughout the country that is clept in. In that flam, men find eels of thirty foot long and more, and the folk that dwell nigh that water be of evil colour, green and yellow. In end and about end be more than five thousand aisles, good and green, that men dwell in without those that be inhabitable and without other small isles. In every isle is great plenty of cities and of towns and of folk without number.

For men of ind have this condition of kind, that they never go out of their own country, and therefore is their great multitude of people, but they be not sterile, nay, movable, because that they be in the first climate, that is of Saturn, and Saturn is slow and little moving, for he tarrieth to make his turn by the twelfth signs thirty year, and the moon passeth through the twelve signs in one month. And because that Saturn is of so late stirring, therefore the people of that country that be under his climate,

have of kind no will for to move nay stir to seek strange paces, and in our country is all the contrary, for we be in the seventh climate that is of the moon, and the moon is of lightly moving, and the moon is planet of way, and for that skill it giveth us will of kind, for to move lightly and for to go diverse ways, and to seek strange things, and other diversities of the world, for the moon environeth the earth more hastily than any other planet. Also men go through Ind by many diverse countries to the great, sea ocean, and after men find there an aisle that is clipped, cruis, and thither come merchants of

Venice and Genoa, and other marches fought to buy merchandisers, but there's so great heat in those marches, and namely in that aisle, that for the great distress of the heat, men's ballacks hang down to their knees for the great dissolution of the body, and men of that country that know the manner let bind them up, or else might they not live, and anoint them with ointments made therefore to hold them up. In that country and in Ethiopia, and in many other countries, the folk lie all naked in rivers and waters, men and women together, from under another day till it be past the noon, and they lie all in the water save the visage, for the great heat that there is, and the women have no shame of the men, but lie altogether side to side, to the heat be passed.

There may men see many foul figure assembled, and namely nigh the good towns, in that I'll be ships without nails of iron or bonds, for the rocks of the adamants, for they be all full thereabout in that sea that it is marvel to speak of. And if a ship passed by those marches That had either iron bounds or iron nails Anon he should be perished For the adamant of his kind Draweth the iron to him

And so would it draw to him the ship Because of the iron That he should never depart from it Nay never go thence From that isle, men go by sea To another is clept, Khanna, where is great plenty of corn and wine and it was wont to be a great isle and a great haven and a good,

but the sea hath greatly wasted it and overcome it. The king of that country was wont to be so strong and so mighty that he held war against King Alexander. The folk of that country have a diverse law, for some of them worship the sun, some the moon, some the fire, some trees, some serpents, or the first thing that they meet at morrow. And some worship simulacres and some idols,

but between simulacres and idols is a great difference. For simulacres be images made after likeness of men or of women, or of the sun, or of the moon, or of any beast, or of any kindly thing. And idols is an image made of lewd will of man, that man may not find among kindly things, as an image that hath four heads, one of a man, another of an horse, or of an ox, or of some other beasts that no man hath seen after kindly disposition. And they that worshiped Simulacres, they worship them for some worthy man that was some time, as Hercules, and many other that did many marvels in their time. for they say well that they be not gods, for they know well that there is a god of kind that made all things, the witch is in heaven. But they know well that this may not do the marvels that he made, but if it had been by the special gift of God,

and therefore they say that he was well with God, and for because that he was so well with God, therefore they worship him. And so say they of the sun, because that he changeth the time, and giveth heat, and nourisheth all things upon earth. And for it is of so great prophet, they know well that that might not be, but that God loveth it more than any other thing, and for that skill God hath given it more great virtue in the world. Therefore it is good reason, as they say to do it worship and irreverence. and so say they, and make their reasons of other planets, and of the fire also, because it is so profitable. And of idols they say also that the ox is the most holy beast that is in earth, and most patient and more profitable than any other, for he doth good enough, and he doth no evil, and they know well that it may not be without special grace of God,

and therefore make they their god of an ox, the one part, and the one part, other half of a man, because that man is the most noble creature in earth, and also for he hath lordship above all beasts, therefore make they the halvindel of idle of a man upwards, and the other half of an ox downwards, and of serpents, and of other beasts, and diverse things that they worship, that they meet first at morrow, and they worship also specially all those that they have good meeting of, and when they speed well in their journey, after their meeting, and namely such as they have proved and assayed by experience of long time, for they say that thilk good meeting may not come but of the grace of God, and therefore they make images like to

those things that they have belief in, for to behold them and worship them first at morning, or they meet any contrarious things. And there be also some Christian men, they say, that some beasts have good meeting, that is to say for to meet with them first at morrow, and some beasts wicked meeting, and that they have proved oft time that the hare hath full evil meeting,

and swine and many other beasts. And the sparrowhawk or other fowls of ravine, when they fly after the prey, and take it before men of arms, it is a good sign, and if he fail of taking his prey, it is an evil sign, and also to such folk it is an evil meeting of ravens. In these things and in such other, there be many folk that believe, because it happeneth so often time to fall after their fantasies, and also there be men enough that have no belief in them, and, sith that Christian men have such belief

that be informed and taught all day by holy doctrine, wherein they should believe, it is no marvel then that the penims that have no good doctrine, but only of their nature, believe more largely for their simplest. And truly I have seen of penims and Saracens that men clepe augurs, that when we ride in arms in diverse countries upon our enemies, by the flying of fowls they would tell us the prognostications of things that fell after, and so they did fall oftentimes, and preferred their heads to wedy,

but if it would fall as they said, but neither the less therefore should not a man put his belief in such things, but always have full trust and belief in God our sovereign Lord. This isle of Khana, the Saracens have won and hold. In that isle be many lions and many other wild beasts, and there be rats in that isle as great as hounds here, and men take them with great mastiffs, for cats may not take them.

In this isle and many other men bury not no dead men, for the heat is there so great that in a little time the flesh will consume from the bones. from thence men go by sea toward end the more to a city that men clepe sarca that is a fair city and good and there dwell many christian men of good faith and there be many religious men and namely of mendicants after go men by sea to the land of lom in that land groweth the pepper in the forest that men clepe combar and it groweth nowhere else in all the world but in that forest and that endureth well and eighteen journeys in length. In the forest be two good cities that one height fladrenay, and the other Zinglants, and in every of them dwell Christian men and Jews, great plenty, for it is a good country and a plentiful, but there is over much passing heat, and ye shall understand that the pepper groweth, in manner as doth a wild vine that is planted fast

by the trees of that wood, for to sustain it by, as doth the vine, and the fruit thereof hangeth in manner as raisins. And the tree is so thick-charged, that it seemeth that it would break, and when it is ripe, it is all green, as it were ivy berries, and then men cut them as men do the vines, and then they put it upon an oven, and there it waxeth black and crisp. and there's three manner of pepper all upon one tree long pepper black pepper and white pepper the long pepper men clepe sorbotin and the black pepper is clept fulfula and the white pepper is clept bano the long pepper cometh first when the leaf beginneth to come and it is like the cats of hazel that cometh before the leaf and it hangeth low and after cometh the black with the leaf leaf, in manner of clusters of raisins all green, and when men have gathered it, then cometh the white that is some day less than the black, and of that men bring but little into this country, for they beyond withhold it for themselves, because it is better and more tempera in kind than the black, and therefore is there not so great plenty as of the black. in that country be many manner of serpents and of other vermin for the great heat of the country and of the pepper.

And some men say that when they will gather the pepper, they make fire, and burn about to make the serpents and the cockadrills to flee. But save their grace of all that say so, for if they burnt about the trees that bear, the pepper should be burnt, and it would dry up all the virtue as of any other thing, and then they did themselves much harm, and they should never quench the fire. But thus they do. They anoint their hands and their feet with a juice, made of snails, and of other things made, therefore,

of the which the serpents and the venomous beasts hate and dread the savor, and that maketh them flee before them, because of the smell, and then they gather it, surely enough. Also toward the head of that forest is the city of Pollyam Bay, and above the city is a great mountain that is also clept Pallum Bay, and of that mount the city hath his name. And at the foot of that mount is a farewell and a great that hath odour and savor of all spices, and at every hour of the day he changeth his odour and his savor diversely, and whoso drinketh three times, fasting of that water of that well he is whole of all manner sickness that he hath and they that dwell there and drink often of that well they never have sickness and they seem always young i have drunken thereof three or four scythe's and yet me thinketh i fare the better some men clepe it the well of youth for they that often drink thereof seem always ways young-like and live without sickness. And men say that that well cometh out of paradise,

and therefore it is so virtuous. By all that country groweth good ginger, and therefore thither go the merchants for spicery. In that land, men worship the ox for his simpleness and for his meekness, and for the prophet that cometh of him, and they say that he is the holiest beast in earth. For them seemeth that whatsoever be meek and patient, he is holy and profitable. For then they say, he hath all virtues in him. They make the ox to labour six year or seven, and then they eat him. And the king of the country hath all weigh an ox with him. and he that keepeth him hath every day great fees, and keepeth every day his dung and his urine in two vessels of gold,

and bring it before their prelate, that they clepe archipotopaton, and he beareth it before the king, and maketh thereover a great blessing, and then the king wetth his hands there, in that they clepe goll, and anointeth his front and his breast, and after he frotteth him with the dung, and with the urine with great reverence, for to be fulfilled of virtues of the ox, and made holy by the virtue of that holy thing that naught is worth. And when the king hath done, then do the lords, and after them their ministers and other men, if they may have any reminent. In that country they make idols, half man, half-up, and in those idols evil spirits speak and give answer to men of what is asked them. Before these idols men slay their children many times and spring the blood upon the idols, and so they make their sacrifice. And when any man dieth in that country they ban his body in name of penance, to that intent that he suffer no pain in earth to be eaten of worms.

and if his wife have no child they burn her with him and say that it is a reason that she make him company in that other world as she did in this but when she have children with him they let her live with them to bring them up if she will and if that she love more to live with her children than for to die with her husband men hold her for false and cursed nay she shall never be loved nay trusted of the people and if the woman die before the husband, men burn him with her, if that he will, and if he will not, no man constraineth him thereto, but he may wed another time without blame or reproof. In that country grow many strong vines, and the women drink wine and men not, and the women shave their beards, and the men not. End of Chapter 18 Chapter 19 of the Travels of Sir John Mandeville by Sir John Manderville in the edition of A.W. Pollard.

This Libervox recording is in the public domain. Chapter 19 Of the dooms made by St. Thomas's hand, of devotion and sacrifice made to idols there in the city of Calamaya, and of the procession in going about the city, from that country men pass by many marches toward a country a ten journeys thence that is clept maboron and it is a great kingdom and it hath many fair cities and towns in that kingdom lieth the body of st thomas the apostle in flesh and bone in a fair tomb in the city of calamia for there he was martyred and buried and men of assyria bear his body in his body in to Mesopotamia into the city of Odessa, and after he was brought thither again.

And the arm and the hand that he put in our lord's side, when he appeared to him after his resurrection, and said to him, noly assay incredulous, said Fidelis, is yet lying in a vessel without the tomb. And by that hand they make all their judgments in the country, Whoso hath right or wrong. For when there's any dissension between two parties, and every of them maintaineth his cause, and sayeth that his cause is rightful, and that other sayeth the contrary,

then both parties write their causes in two bills, and put them in the hand of St. Thomas. And anon he casteth away the bill of the wrong cause, and holdeth still the bill with the right cause, and therefore men come from far countries to have judgment of doubtable causes, and other judgment use they none there. Also the church where St. Thomas Lyeth is both great and fair, and all full of great simulacres, and those be great images that they clepe their gods,

of the which the least is as great as two men. And amongst these other there's a great image more than any of the other that is all covered, with fine gold and precious stones and rich pearls, and that idol is the god of false Christians that have reneied their faith, and it sitteth in a chair of gold, full nobly arrayed, and he hath about his neck large girdles wrought of gold and precious stones and parles, and this church is full rightly wrought, and all over guilt within. And to that idol go men on pilgrimage, as commonly and with a great devotion as Christian men go to St. James or other holy pilgrimages. And many folk that come from far lands to seek that idol for the great devotion that they have, they look never upward and ever more down to the earth,

for dread to see anything about them that should let them of their devotion. and some there be that go on pilgrimage to this idol, that bear knives in their hands, that be made full keen and sharp, and always as they go they smite themselves in their arms, and in their legs, and in their thighs with many hideous wounds. And so they shed their blood for love of that idol, and they say that he is blessed and holy, that dieth so for love of his God, and other there be that lead their children for to slay to make sacrifice to that idol, and after they have slain them they spring the blood upon the idol, and some there be that come from far, and in going toward this idol at every third pace that they go from their house they kneel,

and so continue till they come thither, and when they come there they take incense and other aromatic things of noble smell, and sense the idol, as we would do here God's precious body. And so come folk to worship this idol, some from an hundred mile, and some from many more. And before the minister of this idol is a vivary, in manner of a great lake full of water, and therein pilgrims cast gold and silver, pearls and precious stones, without number, instead of offerings. And when the ministers of that church need to make any reparation of the church or of any of the idols,

they take gold and silver, pearls and precious stones out of the vivary to quit the costage of such thing as they make or repair, so that nothing is faulty but anon it shall be amended. And ye shall understand that when there be great feasts and solemnities of that idol, as the dedication of the church and the throning of the idol all the country about meet there together

and they set this idol upon a car with great reverence well arrayed with cloths of gold of rich cloths of tartary of kamika and other precious cloths and they lead him about the city with great solemnity and before the car go first in procession

all the maidens of the country Two and two together fall ordinately, and after those maidens go the pilgrims, and some of them fall down under the wheels of the car, and let the car go over them, so that they be dead anon, and some have their arms and their limbs all to broken, and some the sides. And all this do they for love of their God in great devotion, and then thinketh that the more pain and the more tribulation that they suffer for, love of their God, the more joy they shall have in another world. And shortly to say you, they suffer so

great pains and so hard martyrdoms for love of their idol that a Christian man I trow does not take upon him the tenth part the pain for the love of our Lord Jesus Christ. And after I say you, before the car go all the minstrels of the country without number, with diverse instruments, and they make all the the melody that they can. And when they have gone all about the city, then they return again to the Minster and put the idol again into his place. And then for the love and in worship of that idol and for the reverence of the feast, they slay themselves a war hundred or three hundred persons with sharp knives of the which they bring the bodies before the idol. And then they say that those be saints because that they slew themselves of their own good will for love of their idol.

And as men here that Haddon Holy Saint of his kin would think that it were to them and high worship, right so them thinketh there. And as men here devoutly would write Holy Saints' lives and their miracles and sue for the canonizations, right so do they there for them that slay themselves willfully for love of their idol, and say that they be glorious, martyrs and saints, and put them in their writings and in their litanies, and avaunt them greatly one to another of the holy kinsmen that so becomes saints, and say, I have more holy saints in my kindred than thou in thine. And the custom also there is this, that when they that

have such devotion and intent, for to slay himself for love of his God, they send for all their friends and have great plenty of minstrels, and they go before the idol leading him that will slay himself for such devotion between them, with great reverence, and he, all naked, hath a full sharp knife in his hand, and he cutteth a great piece of his flesh, and casteth it in the face of his idol, saying his orisons recommending him to his God, and then he smiteth himself, and maketh great wounds and deep, here and there, till he fall down dead, and then his friends present his body to the idol, and then they say, singing,

Holy God, behold what thy true servant hath done for thee. He hath forsaken his wife and his children, and his riches, and all the goods of the world, and his own life for the love of thee, and to make thee sacrifice of his flesh, and of his blood, wherefore holy God put him among thy best beloved saints in thy bliss of paradise, for he hath well deserved it, and then they make a great fire and burn the body, and then ever rich of his friends take a quantity of the ashes and keep them instead of relics,

and say that it is holy thing, and they have no dread of no peril whilst they have those holy ashes upon them, and they put his name in their litanies as a saint. End of Chapter 19. Chapter 20 of the travels of Sir John Mandeville by Sir John Mandeville in the edition of A.W. Pollard. This Libavox recording is in the public domain. Chapter 20. Of the evil customs used in the Isle of Lamoury, and how the earth and the sea be of round form and shape,

by proof of the star that is clept Antarctic that is fixed in the south. From that country go men by the sea ocean, and by many diverse isles and by many countries that were too long for to tell of. And of 52 journeys from this land that I have spoken of, there is another land that is full great that men clepe lammery. In that land is full great heat, and the custom there is such that men and women go all naked, and they scorn when they see any strange folk go in clothed,

and they say that God made Adam and Eve all naked, and that no man should shame him to show him such as God made him, for nothing is foul that is of kindly nature, and they say that they that be clothed be folk of another world, or they be folk that trow not in God, They say that they believe in God that formed the world, and that made Adam and Eve and all other things, and they wed there no wives, for all the women there be common, for they forsake no man, and they say they sin if they refuse any man.

And so God commanded to Adam and Eve, and to all that come of them, when he said, Cresquite, et multiplicamini at replete terram. And therefore may no man in that country say, this is my wife, nay no woman may say this my husband, and when they have children they may give them to what man they will that hath accompanied with them, and also all the land is common, for all that a man holdeth one year, another man hath it another year, and every man taketh what part that him liketh, and also all the goods of the land be common, corns, and all other things, for nothing there is kept in close, nay nothing there is under lock, and every man there taketh what he will, without any contradiction, and as rich is one man there as is another, but in that country there is a cursed custom, for they ate more gladly man's flesh than any other flesh, and yet is that country abundant of flesh, of fish, of corns, of gold and silver, and of all other goods.

Thither go merchants and bring with them children to sell to them of the country, and they buy them, and if they be fat, they eat them anon, and if they be lean, they feed them till they be fat, and then they eat them, and they say that it is the best flesh and the sweetest of all the world. in that land ne'en many other beyond that no man may see the star transmontaine that is clept the star of the sea that is unmovable and that is toward the north that we clepe the lodestar but men see another star the contrary to him that is toward the south that is clept antarctic and right as the shipmen take their advice here and govern them by the lord star right so do shipmen beyond the sea-men beyond the sea-men beyond the landerick and right so do shipmen beyond the sea-men be on the sea-o'-o'-shipmen be on the sea-s. those parts by the star of the south, the which star appareth not to us, and this star that is toward the north, that we clepe the lord star, nay, appareth not to them, for which cause men may well perceive, that the land and the sea be of round shape and form, for the part of the firmament showeth in one country that

showeth not in another country, and men may well prove by experience and subtle compassment of wit, that if a man found passages by ships that would go to search the world, men might go by ship all about the world and above and beneath, the which thing I prove thus after that I have seen, for I have been toward the parts of Brabant, and behold in the astrolab that the star that is clipped, the Transmonton is 53 degrees high, and more further in Albania and Bohemia, it hath 58 degrees, and more further, toward the part septentrional, it is 62 degrees of height and certain minutes, for I myself have measured it by the astrolabe. Now shall ye know that against the Transmonton is the other star that is clipped Antarctic,

as I have said before, and those two stars ne'er move never and by them turneth all the firmament right as doth a wheel that tunneth by his axle tree so that those stars bear the firmament into equal parts so that it hath as much above as it hath beneath After this I have gone toward the parts meridional, that is toward the south, and I have found that in Libya men see first the star Antarctic. And so far I have gone more further in those countries that I have found that star more high, so that toward the high Libya it is 18 degrees of height and certain minutes, of the which 60 minutes make a degree. after going by sea and by land toward this country of that I have spoken, and to other aisles and lands beyond that country, I have found the star Antarctic of 33 degrees of height and more minutes. And if I had had company and shipping for to go more beyond I trow well in Sutton that we should have seen all the roundness of the firmament all about. For as I have said to

you before, the half of the firmament is between those two stars, the which Halvindel I have seen, and of that other Halvindel I have seen toward the north under the Transmontane, 62 degrees and ten minutes, and toward the part meridional, I have seen under the Antarctic, 33 degrees and 16 minutes. And then the halvindel of the firmament in all holdeth not but nine score degrees, And of those nine score I have seen 62 on that one part, and 33 on that other part, that be 95 degrees and nigh the halvindel of a degree. And so, their nay faileth but that I have seen all the firmament save four score and four degrees and the halvindel of a degree. And that is not the fourth part of the firmament. for the fourth part of the roundness of the firmament holds four score and ten degrees so there faileth but five degrees and an half of the fourth part and also i have seen the three parts of all the roundness of the firmament and more yet five degrees and a half

by the which i say you certainly that men may environ all the earth of all the world as well under as above and turn again to his country that had company and ship and conduct, and always he should find men, lands, and aisles as well as in this country, for ye wit well, that they that be toward the Antarctic, they be straight, feet against feet of them that dwell under the transmontane, also well as we and they that dwell under us be feet against feet, for all the parts of the sea and of the land have their opposites, habitable or And they of this half and beyond half, and wit will that after that that I may perceive and comprehend the lands of Presta John, Emperor of End, beyond us. For in going from Scotland or from England toward Jerusalem, men go upward always, for our land is in the lower part of the earth

toward the west, and the land of Presta John is in the low part of the earth toward the east, and they have there the day when we have the night, and also high to the contrary, they have the night when we have the day. For the earth and the sea be of round form and shape, as I have said before, and that that men go upward to one coast, men go downward to another coast. Also ye have heard me say that Jerusalem is in the midst of the world, and that may men prove, and show thereby a spear that is pite into the earth, upon the hour of midday when it is equinox that showeth no shadow on no side and that it should be in the midst of the world david witnesseth in the salter where he saith deus operatosest salutem in midiotae then they that part from those parts of the west for to go toward jerusalem as many journeys as they go upward for to go thither in as many journeys may they go from jerusalem unto other finds of the superficiality of the earth beyond. And when men go beyond those journeys toward end, and to the foreign isles all is environing the roundness of the earth and of the sea under

our countries on this half. And therefore hath it be fallen many times of one thing that I have heard counted when I was young, how a worthy man departed some time from our countries for to go such the world. And so he passed. end, and the isles beyond end, where be more than five thousand isles, and so long he went by sea and land, and so environed the world by many seasons, that he found an aisle where he heard speak his own language, calling on oxen in the plough, such words as men speak to beasts in his own country, whereof he had great marvel, for he knew not how it might be, but I say, that he had gone so long by land and by sea, that he had environed all the earth,

that he was come again environing, that is to say, going about unto his own marches, and if he would have passed further, till he had found his country and his own knowledge, but he turned again from thence, from whence he was come from, and so he lost much painful labour, as himself said, a great while after that he, was come home, for it befell after that he went into Norway, and there tempest of the sea took him, and he arrived in an isle, and when he was in that isle, he knew well that it was the isle, where he had heard speak his own language before, and the calling of oxen at the plough, and that was possible thing. But how it seemeth to simple men unlearned that men nay may not go

under the earth, and also that men should fall toward the heaven from under, but that may not be, upon less than we may fall toward heaven from the earth where we be. For from what part of the earth that men dwell, either above or beneath, it seemeth always to them that dwell that they go more right than any other folk,

and right as it seemeth to us that they be under us, right so it seemeth to them that we be under them. for if a man might fall from the earth unto the firmament by great reason the earth and the sea that be so great and so heavy should fall to the firmament but that may not be and thenceforth saith our lord god non to meus may ques suspend e taram ex nihilo and albeit that it be possible thing that men may so environ all the world netherless of a thousand person one nay might not happen to return to into his country. For, for the greatness of the earth and of the sea, men may go by a thousand and a thousand other ways, that no man could ready him perfectly toward the parts that he came from, but if it were by adventure and hap, or by the grace of God, for the earth is full large and full great, and holds in roundness and about environs by above and by beneath,

twenty thousand four hundred twenty-five miles after the opinion of old wise astronomers and their sayings i reprove not but after my little wit it seemeth to me saving the reverence that it is more and for to have better understanding i say thus be there imagined a figure that hath a great compass and about the point of the great compass that has clept the centre be made another little compass, then after be the great compass devised by lines in many parts, and that all the lines meet at the centre, so that in as many parts as the great compass shall be departed, in as many shall be departed the little, that is about the centre, albeit that the spaces be less. Now then, be the great compass represented for the firmament and the little compass represented for the earth. Now then, the firmament is devised by astronomers in twelve signs, and every sign is devised in 30 degrees, that is 360 degrees that the firmament hath above, also be the earth devised in as many

parts as the firmament, and let every part answer to a degree of the firmament, and wit it well that, after the authors of astronomy, 700 furlongs of earth, answers to a degree of the firmament, and those be eighty-seven miles and four furlongs. Now be that here multiplied by 360s, and then they be 31,500 miles every of eight furlongs after miles of our country. So much hath the earth in roundness, and of height in Viren, after mine opinion and mine understanding, and ye shall understand that after the opinion of old wise philosophers and astronomers, our country, nay Ireland, nay Wales, nay Scotland, nay Norway, nay other aisles coast into them, nay be not in the superficiality counted above the earth,

as it showeth by all the books of astronomy, for the superficiality of the earth is parted in seven parts for the seven planets, and the Those parts be clept climates, and our parts be not of the seven climates, for they be descending toward the west, drawing towards the roundness of the world, and also these isles of end, which be even against us, be not reckoned in the climates, for they be against us that be in the low country, and the seven climates stretch them environing the world. Chapter 21 of The Travels of Sir John Mandeville by Sir John Mandeville in the edition of A.W. Pollard. This Libervox recording is in the public domain.

Chapter 21 Of the palace of the kings of the Isle of Java, of the trees that bear meal, honey, wine, and venom, and of other marvels and customs used in the Isles marching thereabouts. beside that isle that I have spoken of there is another isle that is clept sumabore that is a great isle and the king thereof is right mighty the folk of that isle make them always to be marked

in the visage with an hot iron both men and women for great nobles for to be known from other folk for they hold themselves most noble and most worthy of all the world and they have war always with the folk that go all naked. And fast by is another isle

that is clept Betemga, That is a good isle and a plentious, And many other aisles there be thereabout, Where there be many of diverse folk, Of the which it were too long to speak of all. But fast beside that isle, For to pass by sea is a great isle and a great country That men clepe, Java.

And it is nigh two thousand mile in circuit, and the king of that country is a full great lord and a rich and a mighty and hath under him seven other kings of seven other isles about him this isle well inhabited and full well manned there grow all manner of spicery most plenteously than in any other country as of ginger clovis gilofrey canel seed war nutmegs and maces and which ye will that the knot-meg beareth the masers for right as the knot of the hazel hath an husk without that the knot is closed in till it be ripe and that after falleth out right so it is of the nutmeg and of the masers many other spices and many other goods grow in that isle for of all things is there plenty save only of wine but there is gold and silver great plenty and the king of that country hath a palace full noble and full marvellous, and more rich than any in the world, for all the degrees to go up into halls and chambers be one of gold, another of silver. And also the pavements of halls and chambers be all square, of gold one and another of silver, and all the walls within be covered with gold and silver in fine plates,

and in those plates be stories and battles of knights in Laved, and the crowns and the circles about their heads be made of precious stones, and rich pearls and great, and the halls and the chambers of the palace be all covered within with gold and silver, so that no man would trow the riches of that palace, but he had seen it, and wit well that the king of that is so mighty, that he hath many times overcome the great Khan, of Cathay in battle.

That is the most great emperor that is under the firmament either beyond the sea or on this hearth. For they have had often time war between them because that the great Khan would constrain him to hold his land of him. But that other at all times defendeth him well against him.

After that isle in going by sea, men find another isle good and great that men clepe, Pothin, that is a great kingdom full of fair cities and full of towns. In that land grow trees that bear meal, whereof men make good bread and white and of good savor, and it seemeth as it were of wheat, but it is not a linges of such savor. And there be other trees that bear honey, good and sweet, and other trees that bear venom, against the which there is no medicine, but one, and that is to take their proper leaves and stump them and temper them with water,

and then drink it, and else he shall die, for triacle will not avail nay none other medicine. Of this venom the Jews had let seek of one of their friends for to empoison, all Christianity, as I have heard them say in their confession before they're dying. But, thank to be, almighty God they failed of their power. purpose, but always they make great mortality of people. And other trees there be also that bear wine of noble sentiment, and if you like to hear how the mule cometh out of the trees, I shall say you. Menhue the trees with a hatchet, all about the foot of the tree, to that the bark be parted in many parts, and then cometh out thereof a thick liqueur, the which they receive in vessels,

and dry it at the heat of the sun, and then they have it to a mill to grind, and it become a fair meal and white, and the honey and the wine and the venom be drawn out of other trees in the same manner and put in vessels for to keep. In that is a dead sea, that is a lake that hath no ground,

and if anything fall into that lake, it shall never come up again. In that lake, grow reeds, be canes that they clepe thabee that be thirty fathoms long and of these canes men make fair houses and there be other canes that be not so long that grow near the land and have so long roots that endure well for quarters of a furlong or more and at the knots of those roots men find precious stones that have great virtues and he that beareth any of them upon him iron nay steel may not hurt him, nay draw no blood upon him, and therefore they that have those stones upon them fight full-hardily both on sea and land, for men may not harm them on no part, and therefore they that know the manner, and shall fight with them, they shoot to them arrows and quarrels without iron or steel, and so they hurt them and slay them. And also of those canes they make houses and ships and other things, as we have, here making houses and ships of oak or of any other trees and deem no man that i say it but for trifle for i have seen of the canes with mine own eyes full many times lying upon the river of the lake of the which twenty of our fellows ne might not lift up nay bear one to the earth after this is isle-men go by sea to another isle that is clept calunac and it is a fair land and a plenteous of goods and the king of that country hath as many wives as he will, for he maketh search all the country to get him the fairest maidens that may be found, and maketh them to be brought before him, and he taketh one night, and another another night, and so forth continually suing, so that he hath a thousand wives or more, and he lieth never but one night with one of them, and another night with another, but if that one happen to be more lusty to his pleasance than another,

and therefore the king geteth full many children, some time an hundred, some time a two hundred, and some time more, and he hath also into a fourteen thousand elephants or more that he maketh, for to be brought up amongst his villains by all his towns, for in case that he had any war against any other king about him, then he maketh certain men of arms for to go up into the castles of tree, made for the war that craftily be set upon the elephant's backs for to fight against their enemies. And so do other kings thereabout, for the manner of war is not there as it is here, or in other countries, nay the ordinances of war neither, and men clepe the elephants, war-keys. And in that is a great marvel more to speak of than in any other part of the world,

for all manner of fishes that be there in the sea about them come once in the year each manner of diverse fishes one manner of kind after another and they cast themselves to the sea-bank of that isle so great plenty and multitude that no man may a ne'er they see but fish and there they abide three days and every man of the country taketh of them as many as him liketh and after that manner of the country taketh and after that manner of fish after the third day departeth and goeth into the sea, and after them come another multitude of fish of another kind, and do in the same manner as the first did, other three days, and after them another, till all the diverse manner of fishers have been there, and that men have taken of them, that them liketh, and no man knoweth the cause wherefore it may be, But they of the country say that it is for to do reverence to their king, that is the most worthy king, that is in the world, as they say, because that he fulfilleth the commandment that God bade Adam and Eve, when God said, Creschite at multiplicamini et replete herm.

And for because that he multiplieth so the world with children, therefore God sendeth him so the fishes of diverse kinds, of all that be in the sea to take at his will for him and all his people. And therefore all the fissures of the sea come to make him homage, as the most noble and excellent king of the world, and that is best beloved with God as they say. I know not the reason why it is, but God knoweth. But this may seemeth is the most marvel that ever I saw, for this marvel is against kind, and not with kind,

that the fishes that have freedom to environ all the coasts of the sea at their own list come of their own will to proffer them to the death without constraining of man and therefore i am zicker that this may not be without a great token there be also in that country a kind of snails that be so great that many persons may lodge them in their shells as men would do in a little house, and other snails there be that be for great but not so huge as the other, and of these snails and of great white worms that have black heads, that be as great as a man's thigh, and some less as great worms, that men find there in woods, men make ve'n and royal for the king and for other great lords. And if a man that has married die in that country, men bury his wife with him, quick, for men say there that it is reason that she make him company in that other world,

as she did in this. From that country, men go by the sea ocean, by an isle that is clept Caffalos. Men of that country, when their friends be sick, they hang them up on trees, and say that it is better that birds that be angels of God ate them than the foul worms of the earth. From that isle men go to another isle where the folk be of full cursed kind, for they nourish great dogs and teach them to strangle their friends when they be sick, for they will not that they die of kindly death, for they say that they should suffer too great pain if they abide to die by themselves as nature would.

And when they be thus in strangled, they ate their flesh instead of venison. afterward men go by many isles by sea unto an isle that men clippe milke and there is a full cursed people for they delight in nothing more than for to fight and to slay men and they drink gladliest men's blood the which they clippe deal and the more men that a man may slay the more worship he hath amongst them and if two persons be at debate and peradventure be accorded by their friends or by some of their alliance, it behoveth that every of them that shall be accorded drink of others' blood, and else the accord, nay the alliance is not worth, nay it shall not be no proof to him to break the alliance and the accord, but if every of them drink of others' blood. And from that isle men go by sea, from isle to isle unto an isle that isle that is clept, Cracoda, where the folk of that country be as beasts, and unreasonable, and dwell in caves that they make in the earth,

for they have no wit to make them houses, and when they see any man passing through their countries, they hide them in their caves, and they ate flesh of serpents, and they ate but little, and they speak not, but they hiss, as serpents do, and they set no price by no aviouard near riches, but only of precious stone that is amongst them that is of sixty colours and for the name of the isle they clepe it trachodon and they love more that stone than anything else and yet they know not the virtue thereof but they covet it and love it only for the beauty after that isle men go by the sea-ocean by many isles unto an isle that is clept nakomera that is a great isle and a good and fair and it is in compass about more than a thousand mile, and all the men and women of that isle have hounds heads, and they be clept Kuno Kefales,

and they be full reasonable and of good understanding, save that they worship an ox for their god, and also every one of them barroth an ox of gold or of silver in his forehead in token, that they love well their god, and they go all naked, save a little clout that they can, cover with their knees and the members. They be great folk and well-fighting, and they have a great targ that covereth all the body, and a spear in the hand to fight with. And if they take any man in battle, anon they ate him. The king of that is full, rich and full mighty, and right devout

after his law, and he hath about his neck, three hundred pearls orient, good and great, and knotted as paternosters hear of amber. And in manner as we say are paternoster and Ave Maria, counting the paternosters right so this king saith every day devoutly, three hundred prayers to his god, or that he ate, and he beareth also about his neck a ruby orient, noble and fine, that is a foot of length and five fingers large. And when they choose their king, they take him that ruby to bear in his hand, and so they lead him riding all about the city, and from thence fromward they be all obeisance to him, and that ruby he shall bear always about his neck, for if he had not that ruby upon him, men would not hold him for king.

The great cun of Cathay hath greatly coveted that ruby, but he might never have it for war, nay for no manner of goods. This king is so rightful and of equity in his dooms, that men may go zickerly throughout his country, and bear with them what them list, that no man shall be hardy to rob them, and if he were, the king would justify anon. From this land men go to another is clept, Silha,

and it is well eight hundred miles about. In that land is full much waste, for it is full of serpents, of dragons and of cockaderels that no man dare dwell there. These cockaderels be serpents yellow and arrayed above, and have four feet and short thighs and great nails as claws or talons. And there be some that have five fathoms in length, and some of six and of eight and of ten. and when they go by places that be gravelly, it seemeth as though men had drawn a great tree through the gravelly place, and there be also many wild beasts, and namely of elephants. In that is a great mountain, and in the midplace of the mount is a great lake in a full fair plain, and there is great plenty of water, and they of the country say that Adam and Eve wept,

upon that mountain hundred year and when they were driven of paradise and that water they say is of their tears for so much water they whipped that made the foresaid lake and in the bottom of that lake men find many precious stones and great pearls in that lake grow many reeds and great canes and there within be many cockadrilles and serpents and great water leeches and the king of that country once every year giveth leave to poor men to go into the lake to gather them precious stones and pearls by way of alms for the love of god that made adam and all the year men find enough and for the vermin that is within they anoint their arms and their thighs and legs with anointment made of a thing that is clipped lemons that is a manner of fruit like small peas and then they have no dread of no cockadrills, nay of none of the venomous vermin. This water runneth flowing and ebbing by a side of the mountain, and in that river men find precious stones and pearls great plenty,

and men of that isles say commonly that the serpents and the wild beasts of that country will not do no harm any touch with evil, no strange man that entereth into that country, but only to men that be born of the same country. In that country and others thereabouts there be wild geese that have two heads, and there be lions all white and as great as oxen, and many other diverse beasts and fowls also that be not seen among us. And wit well that in that country and in other isles thereabout, the sea is so high that it seemeth,

as though it hung at the clouds, and that it would cover all the world, and that is great marvel that it might be so, save only the will of God, that the air sustaineth it, and therefore saith David in the Salter, Marabeles elationes Maris. End of chapter 21. Chapter 22, the travels of Sir John Manderville. This is a Librebox recording. LibraVox recordings are in the public domain. For more information or to volunteer, please visit

Libravox.org. Read by Beeswax Candle. The travels of Sir John Manderville by John Mandeville in the A.W. Pollard edition. Chapter 22. How men know by the idol, if the sick shall die or not. A folk of diverse shape and marvelously disfigured, and of the monks that gave their relief to baboons, apes and marmasets, and to other beasts. From that isle, in going by sea toward the south, is another great isle that is eclipped Dondon. In that isle be folk of diverse kinds, so that the father eateth the son, the son, the father, the husband, the wife, and the wife the husband. And if it's so before that the father or mother or any of their friends be sick, anon the son goeth to the priest of their law and prayeth, and

ask the idol if his father or mother or friend should die on that evil or not. And then the priest and the son go together before the idol, and kneel full devoutly and ask of the idol their demand. And if the devil that is within answer that he shall live, they keep him well. And if he say that he shall die, then the priest goeth with the son, with the wife of whom that is sick, and they put their hands upon his mouth and stop his breath, and so they slay him.

And after that, they chop all the body in small pieces And pray all his friends to come and eat of him that is dead And they send for all the minstrels of the country Make a solemn feast And when they have eaten the flesh They take the bones and bury them And sing and make great melody And all those that be of his kin

Or pretend them to be his friends And they come not to that feast They be reproved forever more in shame And make great dull For never after shall they beholden his friend And they say also that men eat their flesh for to deliver them out of pain, for if the worms of the earth eat them, the soul should suffer great pain, as they say. And namely, when the flesh is tender and meagre, then say their friends,

that they do great sin to let them have so long languor to suffer so much pain without reason. And when they find the flesh fat, then they say that it is well done to send them soon to paradise, that they have not suffered him too long to endure in pain. The king of this isle is a full great lord and a mighty, and hath under him fifty-four great isles that give tribute to him. And an average of these isles, he is the king crowned, and all be obeisance to that king, and he hath in those isles many diverse folk.

In one of these isles be folk of great stature as giants, and they be hideous for to look upon, and they have but one iron that is in the middle of the front, and they eat nothing but raw flesh and raw fish. In another isle toward the south dwell folk of foul stature and of cursed kind that have no heads, and their iron be in their shoulders. And in another aisle be folk that have the face all flat or plain without nose and without mouth, but they have two small holes all round instead of their eyes, and their mouth is plait also without lips.

In another aisle be folk of foul fashion and shape that have the lip above the mouth so great that when they sleep in the sun they cover all the face with that lip. And in another aisle there be little folk as dwarfs. And they be too so much as the pygmies. And they have no mouth, but instead of their mouth they have a little round hole, and when they shall eat or drink they take through a pipe or a pen or such a thing and suck it in, for they have no tongue, and therefore they speak not. but they make a manner of hissing as an adder doth. They make signs one to another as monks do,

by the which every one of them understandeth the other. And in another I'll be folk that have great ears and long that hang down to their knees. And another I'll be folk that have horses' feet, and they be strong and mighty and swift runners, for they take wild beasts with running and eat them. And another I'll be folk that go upon their hands and their feet as beasts, and they be all skinned and feathered, and they will leap as lightly into trees, and from tree to trees, if it were squirrels or apes. And in another aisle be folk that be both man and woman, and they have kind.

Of that one, and of that other. And they have but one pap on one side, and on that other, none. And they have members of generation of man and woman, and they use both when they list. Once the one, another time, that other. they get children when they use the member of man, and they bear children when they use the member of woman. And in another aisle be folk that go always upon their knees fall marvellously, and at every pace they go it seems that they would fall, and they have in every foot eight toes. Many other diverse folk of diverse natures be there in other aisles about,

of the which it were too long to tell, and therefore I pass over shortly. from these aisles and passing by the sea ocean toward the east by many journeys men find a great country and a great kingdom that men clep manse and that is in ind the moor and it is the best land and one of the fairest that may be in all the world and the most delectable and the most plenties of all goods that is in the power of man in that land dwell many christian men and saracens for it is a good country and a great and there be therein more than two thousand great cities and rich, without other great towns, and there is more plenty of people there than in any other part of Ind for the bounty of the country. In that country is no needy man, ne'er none that goeth on begging, and they be full fair folk, but they be all pale, and the men have thin beards and few hairs, but they be long, but aneth hath any man passing fifty hairs in his beard, and one hair sits here and another there as the beard of a leopard or a cat. In that land be many fairer women than in any other country beyond the sea, and therefore men clep that land Albany, because that folk be white.

And the chief city of that country is clept Latourin, and it is a journey from the sea, and is much more than Paris. in that city is a great river bearing ships that go to all the coasts in the sea. No city of the world are so well stored of ships as is that, and all those are the city and of the country worship idols. In that country be double-siths, more birds than be here. There be white geese, red about the neck, and they have a great crest as a coxcomb upon their heads, and there be much more there than they be here,

and men buy them, they're all quick, right, great, cheap. and there is great plenty of adders of whom men make great feasts and eat them at great solemnities and he that maketh there a feast be it never so costly and he hath no adders he hath no thank for his travail many good cities there be in that country and men have great plenty and great cheap of all wines and vittles in that country be many churches of religious men and their law and in those churches be idols as great as giants and through these idols they give to eat at great festival days in this manner. They bring before them meat, all sodden, as hot as they come from the fire, and they let the smoke go up towards the idols,

then they say that the idols have eaten, and then the religious men eat the meat afterwards. In that country be white hens without feathers, but they bear white wool as sheep do here. In that country, women that be unmarried they have tokens on their heads like coronals, to be known for unmarried. Also in that country there be beasts

taught of men to go into waters, into rivers, into deep stanks for to take fish. The which beast is but little, and men clap them loas. And when men cast them into the water, anon, they bring up great fishes, as many as men will.

And if men will have more, they cast them in again, and they bring up as many as men list to have. And from that city, passing many journeys, is another city, one of the greatest of the world, that men clep cassay, that is to say, the city of heaven. That city is well a fifty mile about, and it is strongly inhabited with people, insomuch that in one house men make ten households. In that city be twelve principal gates,

and before every gate a three mile or a four mile in length is a great town or a great city. That city sits upon a great lake On the sea is doth of Venice And in that city be more than 12,000 bridges And upon every bridge be strong towers and good In the which dwell the wardens For to keep the city from the great chan And on that one part of their city

Runneth a great river all along the city And there dwell Christian men And many merchants and other folk of diverse nations Because that the land is so good and so plentists and there groweth full good wine that men clap begone, that is full mighty and gentle and drinking. This is a city royal where the king of Mancy was wont to dwell, and there dwell many religious men, as it were of the order of friars, for they be mandicants. From that city men go by water, solacing, desporting them, till they come to an abbey of monks that is fast by, that be good religious men after their faith and law. In that abbey is a great garden, an affair, where be many trees of diverse manners of fruits.

And in this garden is a little hill full of delectable trees. In that hill, and in that garden be many diverse beasts as of apes, marmaset's baboons, and many other diverse beasts. And every day, when the convent of this abbey hath eaten, the almoner let bear the relief to the garden, and he smiteth on the garden gate with a cliquet of silver that he holdeth in his hand, and anon all the beasts of the hill and of diverse places of the garden come out to three thousand or a four thousand, and they come in the guise of poor men, and men give them the relief and fair vessels of silver clean over guilt. And when they have eaten, the monks smiteers' theft soons of the garden gate with the clicket, and then anon all the beasts return again to their places that they come from.

And they say that these beasts be souls of worthy men that resemble in likeness of those beasts that be fair, and therefore they give them meat for the love of God. And the other beasts that be foul, they say, be souls or poor men and of rude commons. And thus they believe, and no man may put them out of this opinion. These beasts above said they let take when they be young, and nourish them so with arms as many as they may find. And I asked them if it had not been better to give that relief to poor men rather than to those beasts. And they answered me and said that they had no poor men amongst them in that.

country, and though it had been so that poor men had been among them, yet were it greater arms to give to those souls that do there their penance. Many other marvels be in that sitting in the country thereabout that were too long to tell you. From that city go man by the country a six journeys to another city that men clap Chilenefo, of the which city the walls be twenty mile about. In that city be sixty bridges of the city be sixty bridges and of stone, so fair that no man may see fairer. In that city was the first siege of the king of Manci, for it was a fair and plenteous of all goods. After past men overthwart a great river that men clip Delay, and that is the greatest river of fresh water that is in the world,

for there, as it is most narrow, it is more than four mile of breadth, and then enter men again into the land of the great chan. That river goeth through the land of pygmies, where that the folk be of little stature, that be but three span long, and they be right, fair, and gentle, after their quantities, both the men and the women.

And they marry them when they be half-year of age and get children, and they live not but six year or seven at the most, and he that liveth eight-year, men hold him their right-passing old. These men be the best workers of gold, silver, cotton, silken, of all such things, of any other that be in the world. And they have oftentimes war with the birds of the country that they take and eat. This little folk, neither labour in lands, ne'er in vines,

but they have great men amongst them of our stature that till the land and labour amongst the vines for them. And of those men of our stature have they as great scorn and wonder as we would have among us of giants if they were amongst us. There is a good city, amongst others, where there is dwelling great plenty of these little folk, and it is a great city and a fair, and the men be great that dwell amongst them. But when they get any children, they be as little as the pygmies, and therefore they be, all for the most part, all pygmies, for the nature of the land is such.

The great chan let keep the city full well, for it is his, And albeit that the pygmies be little, Yet they be full reasonable after their age, And can both wit and good and malice enough. From that city go men by the country, By many cities and many towns, Into a city that men clep Yomche. And it is a noble city,

And a rich, and of great profit to the Lord, And thither go men to seek merchandise of all manner of thing. That city is full, much worth, yearly to the Lord of the country. for he hath every year to rent of that city, as they of the city say, fifty thousand cumments of florence of gold, for there they count all by cumments, and every cumont is ten thousand florins of gold. Now may men well reckon how much that it amounteth.

The king of that country is full mighty, and yet he is under the great chum, and the great chum hath under him twelve such provinces. In that country in the good towns is a good custom, for whoso shall make a feast to any of his friends, there be certain inns in every good town, and he that will make the feast will say to the hostiler, array for me to-morrow a good dinner for so many folk,

and dealteth him the number, and deviseth him the viands, and he saith also, thus much will I dispend, and no more. And anon the hostler arrayeth for him so fair, so well and so honestly that there shall lack nothing, and it shall be done sooner, and with less cost than an man made it in his own house. And a five mile from that city, toward the head of the River of Dallay, is another city that men clep Menker. In that city a strong navy of ships, and all be wiped as snow of the kind of trees that they be made of, and they be full great ships and fair, and well-ordained.

and made with halls and chambers and other easements as though it were on the land. From thence go man by many towns and many cities through the country unto a city that men clep landerain, and it is in eight journeys from the city above said, This city sits upon a fair river, great and broad, that man clep Caramaron. This river passes through Cathay, and it doth often time harm, and that full grate when it is over great. End of Chapter 22. Chapter 23 of the travels of Sir John Mandeville. This is a Libravox recording.

All Libravox recordings are in the public domain. For more information or to volunteer, please visit Librivox.org. The Travels of Sir John Mandeville by John Mandeville, A.W. Pollard edition. Chapter 23 Of the great Khan of Cathay Of the royalty of his palace And how he sits at meat And of the great number of officers

That serve him Cathay is a great country and fair Noble and rich and full of merchants Dither go merchants All years for to seek spices And all manner of merchandises more commonly than in any other part. And ye shall understand that merchants that come from Genoa,

or from Venice, or from Romania, or other parts of Lombardy, they go by sea and buy land eleven months or twelve, or more some kind, ere they may come to the Isle of Cathay, that is the principal region of all parts beyond, and it is of the great calm. From Cathay go men toward the east by many journeys.

And then men find a good city between these others that men cleep Sugar Mago. That city is one of the best stored of silk and other merchandise that is in the world. After go men yet to another old city toward the east, and it is in the province of Cathay. And beside that city the men of tartary have let make another city that is Debt, Kedon. And it hath twelve gates, and between the two gates there is always a great mile. So that the two cities, that is to say, the old and the new, have in circuit more than 20 mile. in this city is the siege of the great Khan in a full great palace and the most passing fair in all the world of the which the walls be in circuit more than two mile and within the walls it is all full of other palaces and in the garden of the great palace there is a great hill upon the which there is another palace and it is the most fair and most rich that any man made devise. And all about the palace and the hill be many trees bearing many diverse fruits. And all about

that hill be ditches great and deep, and beside them be great viviries on the one part and on that other. And there is a full fair bridge to pass over the ditches. And in these viviries be so many wild geese and ganders and wild ducks and swans and herons, that it is without number. And all about these ditches and vivaries is the great garden full of wild beasts, so that when the great Khan will have any disport on that, to take any of the wild beasts or of the fowls, he will let chase them and take them at the windows without going out of his chamber. The palace where his siege is

Is both great in passing fair And within the palace in the hall There be 24 pillars of fine gold And all the walls be covered Within of red skins of beasts That men cleep Panthers That be fair beasts and well-smelling So that for the sweet odour of those skins

no evil air may enter into the palace. Those skins be as red as blood, and they shine so bright against the sun, that unneth no man may behold them. And many folk worship those beasts, when they meet them first at morning, for their great virtue and for the good smell that they have. And those skins they prize more than though they were plate of fine men.

gold. And in the midst of this palace is the montour of the great Khan, that is all wrought of gold and of precious stones and great pearls, and at four corners of the montour before serpents of gold. And all about there is he made large nets of silk and gold and great pearls hanging all about the montour. the Montour be conduits of beverage that they drink in the Empress Court, and beside the conduits be many vessels of gold, by the which they that be of household drink at the conduit. And the hall of the palace is full nobly arrayed, and full marvellously attired on all parts in all things that men apparel with any hall. and first at the chief of the hall is the emperor's throne full high where he sitteth at the meat and that is of fine precious stones bordered all about with pured gold and precious stones and great pearls and the greys that he goeth up to the table be of precious stones mingled with gold

and at the left side of the emperor's siege is the siege of his first wife, one degree lower than the emperor, and it is of Jasper bordered with gold and precious stones. And the siege of his second wife is also another siege, more lower than his first wife. And it is also of Jasper, bordered with gold as that other is. the siege of the third wife is also more low by a degree than the second wife, for he hath always three wives with him, where that ever he be, and after his wives on the same side sit the ladies of his lineage yet lower, after they be of estate, and all those that be married have a count of it, made like a man's foot upon their heads, a cubit lung, all wrought with great pearls, fine and orient,

and above made with peacock's feathers, and of other shining feathers, and that stands upon their heads like a crest, in token that they be under man's foot and under subjection of man, and they they'd be unmarried have not such. and after at the right side of the emperor first sitteth his eldest son that shall reign after him and he sitteth also one degree lower than the emperor in such manner of sieges as do the empresses

and after him sit other great lords of his lineage every of them a degree lower than the other as they be of estate And the Emperor hath his table alone by himself, that is of gold and of precious stones, or of crystal bordered with gold, and full of precious stones or of amethysts, or of lignam allows that cometh out of paradise, or of ivory bound or bordered with gold, and every one of his wives hath also her table by herself. And his eldest son and the other lords also, and the ladies, and all that sit with the emperor, have tables alone by themselves for rich.

And there is nay is no table, but that it is worth an huge treasure of goods. And under the emperor's table sit four clerks that write all that the emperor saith. Be it good, be it evil. for all he saith must be holden, for he may not change his word, nay revoke it. And at great solemn feast before the Empress table, men bring great tables of gold,

and thereon be peacocks of gold, and many other manner of diverse fowls, all of gold and richly wrought and enameled. And men make them dance and sing, clapping their wings together and make great noise. And whether it be by craft or by necromancy, I what never. But it is a good sight to behold an affair, and it is great marvel how it may be.

But I have the less marvel, because that they be the most subtle men in all sciences and in all crafts that be in the world, for of subtlety and of malice and of far casting they pass all men under heaven and therefore they say themselves that they see with two eyes and the Christian men see but with one because that they be more subtle than they for all other nations they say be but blind in cunning and working in comparison to them I did great business for to have learned that craft, but the master told me that he had made a vow to his God

to teach it to no creature, but only to his eldest son. Also above the Empress table and the other tables, and above a great part in the hall, is a vine made of fine gold, and it spreadeth all about the hall, and it hath many clusters of great, some white, some green, some yellow, and some red and some black, all of precious stones. The white be of crystal and of beryl and of iris. The yellow be of topazes, the red be of rubies and of granaz,

and of alabrantines. The green be of emeralds, of peridose and of chrysolites, and the black be of onex and garantes. And they be all. so properly made that it seemeth a very vine bearing kindly grapes. And before the emperor's table stand great lords and rich barons, and other that serve the emperor at the meet. And no man is so hardy to speak a word, but if the emperor speak to him. But if it be minstrels that sing songs and tell jests and other disports, to solace with the emperor.

And all the vessels that men be served within the hall or in chambers be of precious stones, and especially at great tables, either of jasper or of crystal, or of amethysts, or of fine gold. And the cups be of emeralds and of sapphires, or of topazes, of peridogues, and of many other precious stones. vessels of silver is their non for they tell no price thereof to make no vessels of but they make thereof greckings and pillars and pavements to halls and chambers and before the hall door stand many barons and knights clean armed to keep that no man enter but if it be the will or the commandment of the emperor or but if they be servants or men of the household, and other non is not so hardy, to ne'an nigh the whole door. And ye shall understand that my fellows and I, with our yeoman, we served this emperor, and were his soldiers fifteen months against the king of Mancy that held against him.

And the cause was, for we had great lust to see his nobles, and the estate of his court and all his governance, to wit if it were such as we heard say that it was. And truly we found it more noble and more excellent and richer and more marvellous than ever we heard speak of, insomuch that we would never have believed it had we not seen it. And I tro that no man would believe the nobles, the riches, nay the multitude of folk, that be in his court, but he had seen it, for it is not there as it is here. For the lords here have folk of certain number, as they may suffice, but the great Khan hath every day folk at his costage and expense as without number.

But the ordinance, nay the expenses in meat and drink, nay the honesty, nay the cleanness, is not so arrayed there as, it is here, for all the commons there eat without cloth upon their knees, and they eat all manner of flesh and little of bread, and after meat they wipe their hands upon their skirts, and they eat not but once a day, but the estate of lords is full great, and rich and noble. And albeit that some men will not trough me, but hold it for fable to tell them the noblest of his person and of his estate and of his court and of the great multitude of folk that he holds. Nevertheless, I shall say you a part of him and of his folk, after that I have seen the manner and

the ordinance for many a time. And whoso that will may leave me if he will, and whoso will not may leave also. For I what well, if any man hath been in those countries beyond, though he have not been in the place where the great Khan dwelleth, he shall hear speak of him so much marvellous thing that he shall not throw it lightly. And truly, no more did I myself till I saw it. And those that have been in those countries and in the great Khan's household, know well that I say sooth and therefore I will not spare for them that know not nay believe not but that they see for to tell you a part of him and of his estate that he holdeth when he goeth

from country to country and when he maketh solemn feasts end of chapter 23 Chapter 24 of the Travels of Sir John Mandeville This is a Librevox recording All Libravox recordings are in the public domain For more information or to volunteer Please visit Librivox.org The Travels of Sir John Manderville By John Manderville

A.W Pollard edition Chapter 24 Wherefore He is Clept the Great Car of the style of his letters and of the superscription about his great seal and his privy seal. First I shall say, you, why he was clept the great car. Ye shall understand that all the world was destroyed by Noah's flood, save only Noah and his wife and his children. Noah had three sons, Shem, Ham and Japheth.

This ham was he. that saw his father's privy members naked when he slept and scorn them and showed them with his finger to his brethren in scorning wise and therefore he was cursed of God and Jaffet turned his face away and covered them these three brethren had seizing in all the land and this ham for his cruelty took the greater and the best part toward the east that is cleptain Asia and Shem took Africa and Jephardt took Europe and therefore is all the earth parted in these three parts by these three brethren Ham was the greatest and the most mighty and of him came more generations than of the other and of his son whose was engendered Nimrod the giant that was

the first king that ever was in the world and he began the foundation of the Tower of Babylon. And that time the fiends of hell came many times and lay with the women of his generation and engendered on them diverse folk. As monsters and folk disfigured, some without heads, some with great ears, some with one eye, some giants, some with horses' feet, and many other diverse shape against kind. And of that generation of Ham become the panins and divers folks that be in Isles of the Sea by all India. And for as much as he was the most mighty,

and no man might withstand him, he clept himself the son of God and sovereign of all the world. And for this ham, this emperor clepeth him ham and sovereign of all the world. and of the generation of Shem become the Saracens, and of the generation of Japheth has come the people of Israel. And though that we dwell in Europe, this is the opinion that the Syrians and the Samaritans have amongst them,

and that they told me before that I went towards India, but I found it otherwise. Nowethaleth, the truth is this, the tartars and they that dwell in the great Asia, they came of ham, but the emperor of Cathay clepeth him not ham, but can, and I shall tell you how. It is but little more than eight score years that all tartary was in subjection and in servage to other nations about, for they were but bestial folk and did nothing but kept beasts,

beasts and led them to pastures. But among them they had seven principal nations that were sovereigns of them all, of the which the first nation or lineage was clept tartar, and that is the most noble and the most prize. The second lineage is clept tangot, the third Eureche, the fourth Valé, the fifth Semoke, the sixth Megli, the seventh, Koboga. Now befell it so that of the first lineage succeeded an old worthy man that was not rich, that had to name Changgoy's. This man lay upon a knight in his bed, and he saw in a vision that they came before him a knight all in white. And he sat upon a white horse and said to him, can, sleepest thou? The immortal God

hath sent me to thee, and it is his will, that thou go to the seven lineages, and say to them that thou shalt be their emperor, for thou shalt conquer the lands and the countries that be about, and they that march upon you shall be under your subjection, as ye have been under theirs, for that is God's will immortal. And when he came at morrow, Changoy's rose and went to seven lineages and told them how the white knight had said. And they scorned him and said that he was a fool.

And so he departed from them all ashamed. And the night ensuing, this white knight came to the seven lineages and commanded them on God's behalf immortal. that they should make this changui as their emperor, and they should be out of subjection, and they should hold all other regions about them in their servage, as they had been to them before.

And on the morrow they chose him to be their emperor, and they set him upon a black fetre, and after that they lift him up with great solemnity, and they set him in a chair of gold, and did him all manner of reverence and they clept him khan as the white knight called him and when he was thus chosen he would say if he might trust in them or no and whether they would be abasant to him or no and then he made many statutes and ordinances that they cleep ishya khan the first statute was that they should be believe and obey in God immortal, that is Almighty, that would cast them out of servage, and in all times cleaved to him for help in time of need.

The Tother statute was that all manner of men that might bear arms should be numbered, and to every ten should be a master, and to every hundred a master, and to every thousand a master, and to every 10,000 of Astor. After he commanded to the principles of the seven lineages, that they should leave and forsake all that they had in goods and heritage, and from thenceforth to hold them paid of that that he would give them of his grace. And they did so anon. After he commanded to the principles of the seven lineages,

that every one of them should bring his eldest son before him, and with his own hands smite off their heads with their tarry. And anon his commandment was performed. And when the Khan saw that they made non-obstacle to perform his commandment, then he thought well that he might trust in them, and commanded them anon to make them ready and to sue his banner. And after this, Khan put in subjection all the land. about him. Afterward it befell upon a day that the Khan rode with a few

Mione for to behold the strength of the country that he had won and so befell that a great multitude of enemies met with him and for to give good example of hardiness to his people he was the first that fought and in the midst of his enemies encountered and there he was cast from his horse and his horse slain. And when his folk saw him at the earth, they were all abashed, and weened he had been dead, and flew every one, and there enemies after and chased them.

But they wist not that the emperor was there. And when the enemies were far pursuing the chase, the emperor hid him in a thick wood, and wet, they were come again from the chase. they went and sought the woods if any of them had been hid in the thick of the woods and many they found and slew them anon

so it happened that as they went searching toward the place that the emperor was they saw an owl sitting upon a tree above him and they said among themselves that there was no man because they saw that bird there and so they went their way and thus escaped the emperor from me.

death. And then he went privily all by night, till he came to his folk that will full glad of his coming, and made great thankings to God immortal, and to their bird by whom their lord was saved. And therefore, principally, above all fowls of the world, they worship the owl. And when they have any of their feathers, they keep them full preciously instead of relics, and bear them upon their heads with great reverence, and they hold themselves blessed and safe from all perils, while they have them upon them, and therefore they bear their feathers upon their heads.

After all this, the Khan ordained him, and assembled his people, and went upon them that had assailed him before, and destroyed them and put them in subjection and servage. And when he had won and put all the lands and countries on this half the Mount Bellion in subjection, the white knight came to him again in his sleep and said to him, Khan,

the will of God immortal is that thou pass the Mount Bellion. And thou shalt win the land, and thou shalt put many nations in service, subjection. And for thou shall find no good passage for to go toward that country, go to the Mount Bellion that is upon the sea, and kneel there nine times toward the east in the worship of God immortal, and he shall show the way to pass by. And the Khan did so. And anon, the sea that touched and was fast to the mound, began to withdraw him, and showed Féphemy, and showed away of nine foot breadth large and so he passed with his folk and won the land of Cathay

that is the greatest kingdom of the world and for the nine kneelings and for the nine feet of way the Khan and all the men of tartary have the number of nine in great reverence and therefore who that will make the Khan any present be it of horses be it of bird or of arrows or bows or of fruit or of any other thing, always he must make it the number of nine. And so then be the presence of greater pleasure to him. And more benignly he will receive them, though he were presented within a hundred or two hundred.

For him seemeth the number of nine so holy, because the messenger of God immortal devised it. Also, when the Khan of Cathay had won the country of Cathay, and put in subjection and underfoot, many countries about, he fell sick. And when he felt well that he should die, he said to his twelve sons, that every of them should bring him one of his arrows, and so they did an arm. and then he commanded that men should bind them together in three places, and then he took them to his eldest son, and bid him break them all together, and he enforced him with all his might to break them,

but he nay might not. And then the Khan bid his second son to break them, and so shortly each after other, but none of them might break them, And then he bade the youngest son, Deceiver every one from other, and break average by himself, and so he did. And then said the car to his eldest son, and to all the others, wherefore might ye not break them? And they answered that they might not, because that they were bound together. And wherefore was he, hath your little youngest brother broken them?

because, quoth they, that they were parted each from other. And then said the Khan, my son, squawthee, truly thus will it fare for you. For as long as ye be bound together in three places, that is to say, in love, in truth, and in good accord, no man shall be of power to grieve you. But and ye be severed from the, these three places that you are one help not the other ye shall be destroyed and brought the nought and if each of you love other and help other ye shall be lords and sovereigns of all others and when he had made his ordinances he died and then after him reigned et chetcha khan his eldest son

and his other brethren went to win their many countries and kingdoms unto the land of Prussia and of Russia and made themselves to be clept Khan but they were all abasant to their elder brother and therefore was he clept the great Khan after Ekecha reigned Goyo Khan and after him Mango Khan that was a good Christian man and baptized

and gave letters of perpetual peace to all Christian men and sent his brother Halain with great multitude of folk for to win the holy land and for to put it in Christian men's hands and for to destroy Mohammed's law and for to take the Caliph of Baghdad that was emperor and lord of all the Saracens

and when this caliph was taken men found him of so high worship that in all the remnant of the world, nay might a man find a more reverend man, nay higher in worship. And then Hallan made him come before him And said to him, Why quoth he, Hats thou not taken with thee More soldiers and men enough For a little quantity of treasure

For to defend thee and thy country That art so abundant of treasure And so high in all worship And the Caliph answered him For he well trod That he had enough of his own proper men then said Halleyan Thou wert as a god

of the Saracens and it is convenient for a god to eat no meat that is mortal and therefore thou shalt not eat but precious stones rich pearls and treasures that thou love is so much

and then he commanded him to prison and all his treasure about him and so he died for hunger and thirst and then after this Helian won all the land of permission and put it into Christian men's hands but the great Khan his brother died

and that was great sorrow and loss to all Christian men after Mango Khan reigned Kubla Khan that was also a Christian man and he reigned 42 year he founded the great city Izanga in Perthai that is a great deal more than Rome the Tother great Khan that came after him

became a pain in and all the others after him The kingdom of Cathay is the greatest realm of the world And also the great Khan is the most mighty emperor of the world And the greatest lord under the firmament And so he clepeth him in his letters write thus Khan Phileas dey exkelsy omnium universum teram coelentium sumus imperator and dominumumum

and the letter of his great seal written about is this dais in koelo khan superteram aeus fortitudo omnium hominum imperatis sigillum and the superscription about his little seal is this day fortitudo Omnium hominum imperatorius Sigillum, And albeit that they be not christened, Yet nevertheless the emperor and all the tartars believe in God immortal. And when they will menace any man, Then they say,

God knoweth well that I shall do thee such a thing, And tell us his menace. And thus have ye heard why he is clept the great Khan. End of Chapter 24. Chapter 25 of the Travels of Sir John Mandeville. This is a Librevox recording. All Libravox recordings are in the public domain. For more information or to volunteer, please visit Librivox.org. The Travels of Sir John Manderville by John Manderville, A.W Pollard edition. chapter twenty five of the governance of the great khan's court and when he maketh solemn feasts of his philosophers and of his array when he rideth by the country

now shall i tell you the governance of the court of the great khan when he maketh solemn feasts and that is principally four times in the year the first feast is of his first feast is of his own birth, that other is of his presentation in their temple, that they cleep their mosaic, where they make a manner of circumcision, and the t'other two feasts be of his idols. The first feast of the idol is when he is first put into their temple and thrown. The Tother feast is when the idle beginneth first to speak or to work miracles. More be there not of solemn feasts, but if he marry any of his children. Now understand that every of these feasts he hath great multitudes of people, well ordained and well arrayed, by thousands, by hundreds and by tens. and every man knoweth well what service he shall do,

and every man giveth so good heed and so good attendance to his service, that no man findeth no default. And there be first ordained four thousand barons, mighty and rich, for to govern and make ordinance for the feast, and for to serve the emperor. And these solemn feasts be made, without in halls and tents made of cloths of gold and of tartries, full nobly. And all these barons have crowns of gold upon their heads, full noble and rich, full of precious

stones and great pearls orient. And they be all clothed in cloths of gold or of tartries, or of kamakas, so richly and so perfectly, that no man in the world can amend it, nay better devise it. And all these robes be all afraid all about, and dobed full of precious stones and of great orient pearls full richly. And they may well do so, for cloths of gold and of silk, be great a cheap there a great deal than be cloths of wool. And these four thousand barons be devised in four companies and each thousand is clothed in cloths all of one colour and that so will arrayed and so richly that it is marvel to behold the first thousand that is of dukes of earls of marquises and of admirals all clothed in cloths of gold with tissues of green silk and boarded with gold full of precious

stones in manner as I have said before the second thousand is all clothed in cloths diaper of red silk all wrought with gold and the a phrase said full of great pearl and precious stones full nobly wrought the third thousand is clothed in cloths of silk of purple or of India and the four thousand is in cloths of yellow and all their clothes be so nobly and so richly wrought with gold and precious stones and rich pearls, that if a man of this country had but only one of their robes, he might well say that he should never be for. For the gold and the precious stones and the great Orienne pearls be of greater value on this half the sea than they be beyond the sea in those countries. And when they be thus apparel, they go two and two together full ordinately before the emperor without speech of any word save only inclining to him. And every one of them beareth a tablet of jasper or of ivory or of crystal.

And the menstrual's going before them, sounding their instruments of diverse melody. And when the first thousand is thus passed and hath made his mind, muster, he withdraweth him on that one side, and then entereth that other second thousand, and doth right so, in the same manner of arrayant countenance as did the first, and after the third, and then the fourth, and none of them saith not one word. And on one side of the Empress table, sit many philosophers, that be proved for wise men in many diverse sciences, as of astronomy, necromancy, geomancy, pyromancy, hydromancy, of augury, and of many other sciences. And average of them have before them astrolabes of gold, some spheres, some the

brain pan of a dead man. Some vessels of gold full of gravel or sand. Some vessels of gold full of coals burning. Some vessels of gold full of water and of wine and of oil. And some horologues of gold made full nobly and richly wrought and many other manner of instruments after their sciences. And at certain hours when them thinking, time, they say to certain officers that stand before them, ordained for the time to fulfill their

commandments. Make peace. And then say the officers, now peace. Listen. And after that saith another of the philosophers, every man do reverence and inclined to the emperor, that is God's son and sovereign lord of all the world, for now is time, and then every man boweth his head toward the earth, and then commandeth the same philosopher again, stand up, and they do so. And at another hour, sayeth another philosopher, put your little finger in your ears, and anon they do so. And at another hour, say it another philosopher, put your hand before your mouth, and anon they do so. And at another hour, saith another philosopher, put your hand upon your head, and after that he biddeth them to do their hand away, and they do so.

And so from hour to hour they command certain things, and they say that those things have diverse significations, and I ask them privily what those things betokened. And one of the masters told me that the bowing of the head at that hour betokened this, that all those who bowed their heads should ever more after be obeisance and true to the emperor, and never for gifts, nay for promise in no kind, to be false, nay, trait, unto him for good nor evil and the putting of the little finger in the ear betokeneth as they say that none of them nay shall not hear speak no contrarious thing to the emperor but that he shall tell it anon to his counsel or discover it to some men that will make relation to the emperor though he were his father or brother or son and so forth of all other things that is done by the philosophers, they told me the causes of many diverse things. And trust right well in certain that no man does nothing to the emperor

that belongeth unto him, neither clothing, nay bread, nay wine, nay bath, nay none are the thing that lungeth to him, but at certain hours that his philosophers will devise. And if therefore war on any side to the emperor, anon the philosophers come and say their advice after their calculations, and counsel the emperor of their advice by their sciences, so that the emperor doth nothing without their counsel. And when the philosophers have done and performed their commandments, then the minstrels begin to do their minstrelry,

average in their instruments, each after other, with all the melody that they can devise. And when they have done a good while, one of the officers of the emperor goeth up on a high stage, wrought full curiously, and crieth and saith with loud voice, make peace, and then every man is still. and then anon after all the Lord that be of the Emperor's lineage, nobly arrayed in rich cloths of gold, and royally apparelled on white steeds, as many as may well sue him at that time, be ready to make their presence to the Emperor.

And then saith the steward of the court to the Lord's by name, N of N, and nameeth first the most noble and the worthiest by name, and Seth, be ye ready with such a number of white horses, for to serve the emperor, your sovereign lord, and to another lord he saith, N of N, be ye ready with such a number to serve your sovereign lord. And to another, right so, and to all the lords of the emperor's lineage, each after other as they be of estate and when they be all clipped they enter each after other and present the white horses to the emperor and then go their way and then after all the other barons every of them give him presents or jewels or some of the

thing after that they be of estate and then after them all the prelates of the their law and religious men and others, and every man giveth him something, and when that all men have thus presented the emperor, the greatest of dignity of the prelates, giveth him a blessing, saying an orison of their law, and then begin the minstrels to make their minstrelsy in divers instruments with all the melody that they can devise. And when they have done, their craft then they bring before the emperor lions leopards and other diverse beasts and eagles and vultures and other divers fowls and fishes and serpents for to do him reverence and then come jugglers and enchanters that do many marvels, for they make to come in the air by seeming the sun and the moon to carry

every man's sight, and after they make the night so dark that no man may see nothing, and after they make the day to come again, fair and pleasant with bright sun, to every man's sight. And then they bring in dances of the fairest damsels of the world and richest arrayed And after they make to come in other damsels Bringing cups of gold full of milk of divers beasts And give drink to lords and to ladies And then they make knights to joust in arms full lustily And they run together a great random

And they frush together full fiercely fall fiercely, and they break their spear so rudely that the truncheons fly in sprouts and pieces all about the hall. And then they make to come in hunting for the heart and for the boer, with hounds running with open mouth, and many other things they do by craft of their enchantments, that it is marvel for to see. And such plays of disport they make till the taking up of the boards. This great Khan hath full great people for to serve him, as I have told you before. For he hath of minstrels the number of thirteen kumans, but they abide not always with him. For all the minstrels that come before him, of what nation that they be, they be withholding with him

as of his household, and entered in his books as for his own men. After that, where ever they go, evermore they claim for minstrels of the great Khan. And under that title, all kings and lords cherish them more, with gifts and all things. And therefore he hath so great multitude of them. And he hath of certain men as though they were yeoman that keep birds as ostriches, go falcons, sparrowhawks, falcons, gentle, lads. Sakers, saccharates, popinjays, well speaking, and birds singing, and also of wild beasts as of elephants, tame another, baboons, apes, marmasettes, and other diverse beasts, the mountains of fifteen cooments of human. And of physicians Christiane have two hundred, and of leeches that be Christiane have two ten, and of leeches and of leeches and physicians and physicians,

that be Saracens 20, but he trusteth more in the Christian leeches than in the Saracen. And his other common household is without number, and they all have all necessaries, and all that them needeth of the Empress court, and he hath in his court many barons of servitors, that be Christian and converted to good faith by the preaching of religious Christian men, the dwell with him, but there be many more that will not that men know that they be Christian. This emperor may dispend as much as he will without estimation, for he not dispendeth, nay maketh no money, but of leather imprinted or of paper, and of that money is some of greater price and sum of less price after the diversity of his statutes. And when that money hath run so long

that it beginneth to waste, then men bear it to the emperor's treasury, and then they take new money for the old. And that money goeth throughout all the country, and throughout all his provinces, for there and beyond them they make no money, neither of gold nor of silver, and therefore he may dispend enough and outrageously. And of gold and silver that men buried his country, he maketh kilos, pillars and pavements in his palace, and other diverse things what he liketh. This emperor ath in his chamber,

in one of the pillars of gold, a ruby and a carbuncle of half a foot long, that in the night giveth sort of, great clearness and shining, that it is as light as day, and he hath many other precious stones, and many other rubies and carbuncles, but those be the greatest and the most precious. The emperor dwelleth in summer, in a city that is toward the north that is clept Sadouz, and there is cold enough, and in winter he dwelleth in a city that is clept Kamaliki. and that is an hot country.

But the country where he dwelleth in most commonly is in Gado or in John. That is a good country and a temperate. After that the country is there. But to men of this country it were too passing hot. And when this emperor will ride from one country to another, he ordaineth four hosts of his folk, Of the which The first host

Goeth before him At day's journey For that host Shall be lodged the night Where the emperor Shall lie upon the morrow And there shall every man Have all manner

Of vitil and necessaries That be needful Of the emperor's Costage And in this first host Is the number of people 50 cumans what of horse, what a foot, of the which every coument amounteth ten thousand, as I have told you before.

And another host goeth in the right side of the emperor, nigh half a journey from him, and another goeth on the left side of him, in the same wise. And in every host is as much multitude of people as in the first host, and then after cometh the fourth host that is much more than any of the others, and that goeth behind him, the mountains of a bow draft. And every host hath his journeys ordained in certain places, where they shall be lodged at night, and there they shall have all that them needeth.

And if it befall that any of the host die, an none they put another in his place, so that the number shall evermore be whole, and ye shall understand that the emperor in his proper person rideth not as other great lords do beyond, but if he list to go privily with few men, for to be unknown, and else he rides in a chariot with four wheels,

upon the which is made a fair chamber, and it is made of a certain wood, that cometh out of paradise terrestrial, that men cleep lignam allows, that the floods of paradise bring out at divers seasons, as I have told you here before. And this chamber is full well smelling, because of the wood that it is made of. And all this chamber is covered within, off plate of fine gold, dubbed with precious stones and great pearls. And four elephants and four great destriars, all white and covered with rich coveratures, leading the chariot. And four or five or six of the greatest lords ride about this chariot, full richly arrayed and full nobly,

so that no man shall neath the chariot but only those lords. But if that the emperor call any man to him, that him live. to speak with all. And above the chamber of this chariot that the emperor sitteth in, beset upon a perch four or five or six, Gervalkans, to that intent, that when the emperor seeth any wild fowl, that he may take it at his own list, and have the disport and the play of the flight, first with one and after with another. And so he taketh his dayeth his disport passing by the country. And no man rideth before him of his company, but all after him. And no man dare not come neither chariot by a bow-draft, but those lords only that be about him,

and all the host cometh fairly after him in great multitude. And also such another chariot, with such hosts ordained and array Go with the empress upon another side Everidge by himself With four hosts Right as the emperor did But not with so great multitude of people And his eldest son

Goeth by another way In another chariot In the same manner So that there is between them So great multitudes of folk That it is marvel to tell it and no man should throw the number, but he had seen it. And some time it happeth, that when he will not go far,

and that it like him to have the empress and his children with him, then they go altogether, and their folk be all mingled in fear, and divided in four parties only. And ye shall understand that the empire of this great Khan is divided into twelve provinces, and every province hath more than two thousand cities, and of towns without number.

This country is full great, for it hath twelve principal kings in twelve provinces, and every of those kings have many kings under them, and all they be obeisant to the great Khan, and his land and his lordship dureth so far, that a man may not go from one head to another, neither by sea nay land, the space of seven year. And through the deserts of his lordship, there as men may find no towns, there be inns ordained by every journey, to receive both man and horse, in the which they shall find plenty of vittle,

and all things that they need for to go by the country. And there is a marvelous custom in that country, but it is profitable, that if any contrarious thing that should be prejudice or grievance to the emperor in any kind, anon, the emperor hath tidings thereof and full knowledge in a day, though it be three or four journeys from him or more. For his ambassadors take their dromedaries or their horses, and they prick in all that ever they may toward one of the inns.

And when they come there, anon they blow an horn. And anon they of the horn know well enough that there be tidings to warn the emperor of some rebellion against him. And then anon they make other men ready in all haste they may

to bear letters and prick in all that ever they may till they come to the other inns with their letters. And then they make fresh men ready to prick forth with the letters toward the emperor, while that the last bringer rest him and bait his dromedary or his horse, and so from in to in till it come to the emperor.

And thus anon hath he hasty tidinges of anything that beareth charge by his couriers that run so hastily throughout all the country. And also when the emperor sendeth his couriers hastily throughout his land, every one of them hath a large throng full of small bells, and when they ne near to the inns of other couriers,

that be also ordained by the journey, they ring their bells, and anon the other couriers make them ready, and run their way unto aneworth. another in, and thus runneth one to another, full speedily and swiftly, till the emperor's intent be served in all haste. And these couriers be clept, chidedo, after their language, that is to say, a messenger. Also, when the emperor goeth from one country to another, as I have told you here before, and he passed through cities and towns,

every man maketh a fire before his door, and puteth there in powder of good gums that be sweet smelling, for to make good savour to the emperor, and all the people kneel down against him, and do him great reverence, and there, where religious Christian men dwell, as they do in many cities in the land, They go before him with procession, with cross and holy water,

and they sing, Weenicreatus Spiritus, with a high voice, and go towards him. And when he heareth them, he commandeth to his lords to ride beside him, that the religious men may come to him. And when they benign him with the cross, then he doth adown his galleat, that sits on his head in manner of a chaplet, that he is made of gold and precious stones and great pearls, and it is so rich that men prize it to the value of a realm in that country, and then he kneeleth to the cross,

and then the prelate of the religious men, saith before him certain orisons, and giveth him a blessing with the cross, and he inclineth the blessing for the blessing, devoutly. And then the prelate giveth him some manner fruit to the number of nine in a platter of silver, with pears or apples, or other man of fruit, and he taketh one, and then men give to the other lord that be about him. For the custom is such that no stranger shall come before him, but if he give him some man a thing, after the old lord said,

Namo Akkadat in conspect to Mayo Vakos. And then the emperor say it to the religious men, that they withdraw them again, that they be neither hurt nor harm of the great multitude of horses that come behind him. And also in the same manner do the religious men that dwell there to the empresses that pass them by

and to his eldest son. And to every of them they present fruit and ye shall understand that the people that he hath so many hosts of about him and about his wives and his soil they dwell not continually with him but always when him liketh they be sent for and after when they have done they return to their own households save only they that be dwelling with him in household for to certain of him and his wives and his sons for to govern his household and albeit that the others be departed from him after that they have performed their service yet there abideth continually with him in court fifty thousand men at horse and two hundred thousand men afoot without menstruals or those who keep

wild beasts and divers birds of the which i have told you the number before. Under the firmament is not so great a Lord, nay so mighty, nay so rich as is the great Khan, not Presta John, that he is emperor of the high India, nay the Sultan of Babylon, nay the emperor of Persia. All these may be not in comparison to the great Khan, neither of might, nay of nobles, nay of royalty, nay of riches, for in all these he passeth all earthly princes. Wherefore it is great harm that he believeth not faithfully in God, and neither the less he will gladly hear speak of God, and he suffereth well that Christian men dwell in his lordship, and that men of his faith be made Christian men if they will, throughout all his country, for he defendeth no man to hold no law other than him liketh.

In that country some men hath an hundred wives, some sixty, some more, some less. And they take the next of their kin to their wives, save only that they outtake their mothers, their daughters, and their sisters of the mother's side, but their sisters on the father's side of another woman, they may well take, and their brothers' wives also after their death, and their stepmothers also in the same wives. End of chapter 25.

Chapter 26 of the travels of Sir John at Mandeville. This is the Librevox recording. all Librivox recordings are in the public domain. For more information or to volunteer, please visit Librivox.org The Travels of Sir John Mandeville by John Manderville, A.W. Pollard edition Chapter 26 of the Law and the Customs of Tartarians dwelling in Cathay and how that men do when the emperor shall die and how he shall be chosen. The folk of that country use all long clothes without furs,

and they be clothed with precious cloths of tartary and of cloths of gold, and their clothes be slit at the side, and they be fastened with laces of silk, and they clothe themselves also with pilches and the hide without. and they use neither cape, nay hood. And in the same manner as the men go, the women go, so that no man may uneth know the men from the women, save only those women that be married,

that bear the token upon their heads of a man's foot, in sign that they be under man's foot and under subjection of man. And their wives, nay, dwell not together, But every one of them by herself, And the husband may lie with whom of them that he liketh. Everidge hath his house, both man and woman, And their houses be made round of staves, And it hath a round window above that giveth them light,

And also that serveth for deliverance of smoke. and the hailing of their houses and the walls and the doors be all of wood. And when they go to war, they lead their houses with them upon chariots, as men do tents or pavilions, and they make their fire in the midst of their houses. And they have great multitudes of all manner of beasts, save only of swine, for they bring none. forth. And they believe well one God that made and formed all things. And neither the less yet have the idols of gold and of silver and of tree and of cloth. And to those idols they offer always their first milk of their beasts and also of their meats and of their drinks before they eat. And they

offer oftentimes horses and beasts, and they cleep the god of kind Eroga, and their emperor also, what name that ever he hath, they put evermore there too, Khan, and when I was there, their emperor had to name Teot, so that he was clept Teot Khan, and his eldest son was clept Tosu, and when he shall be emperor he shall be clept Tosu Khan And at that time the emperor had 12 sons without him That were named Kunki Ordee Kandahay

Burin Nagu no cab Cadoo Sibhan Qutan Balaki Babylon and Garagin And of his three wives

the first in principle that was Presti John's daughter, had to name Syrioki Khan, and the Tother Barak Khan, and the Tadha Karanka Khan. The folk of that country begin all their things in the new moon, and they worship much the moon and the sun, and oftentimes kneel against them, and all the folk of the country ride commonly without spurs, but they bear always a little whip in their hands for to chase with their horses. And they have great conscience and hold it for a great sin to cast a knife in the fire, and for to draw flesh out of a pot with a knife, and for to smite and horse with the handle of a whip,

or to smite an horse with a bridle, or to break one bone with another, or for to cast milk or any liquor that men may drink upon the earth, or for to take and slay little children. And the most sin that any man may do is to piss in their houses that they dwell in, and whoso that may be found with that sin, sickily they slay him. And of every each of these sins, it behoveth them to be shriven of their priests, and to pay great sum of silver for their penance. And it behoveth also that the place that men have pissed in be hallowed again, and else dare no man enter their inn. And when they have paid their penance, men make them pass through a fire or through two, for to dare to behover to.

cleanse them of their sins. And also when any messenger cometh and bringeth letters or any present to the emperor, it behoveth him that he, with the thing that he bringeth, pass through two burning fires for to purge them, that he bring no poison, nay venom, nay no wicked thing that might be grievance to the Lord. And also if any man or woman be taken in avutri or fornication, anon they slay him. And who that stealeth anything, anon they slay him. Men of that country be all good archers and shoot right well. Both men and women, as well on horseback, pricking as on foot running. and the women make all things and all manner mysteries and crafts as of clothes, boots and other things

and they drive carts, ploughs and wanes and chariots and they make houses and all manner misstairs out taken bows and arrows and armour that men make and all the women wear breeches as well as men all the folk of that country be full of base into their sovereigns nay they fight not, nay chide not with one another. And there be neither thieves, nay robbers in that country, and every man worshippeth other.

But no man there doth no reverence to no strangers, but if they be great princes. And they eat hounds, lions, leopards, mares and foals, asses, rats and mice, and all manner of beasts great and small, save only swine and beasts that were defended by the old law. And they eat all beasts without and within, without casting away of anything, save only the filth.

And they eat but little bread, but if it be in courts of great lords. And they have not in many places, neither peas, nay beans, nay none other potter, but the broth of the flesh for little eat they anything but flesh and the broth and when they have eaten they wipe their hands upon their skirts for they use no napery nay towels but if it be before great lords but the common people hath none and when they have eaten they put their dishes unwashen into the pot or cauldron with remnant of the flesh and of the broth, till they will eat again. And the rich men drink milk of mares or of camels or of asses, or of other beasts. And they will be lightly drunken of milk,

and of another drink that is made of honey and of water sardoned together. For in that country is neither wine nay ale. They live full wretchedly, and they eat but once in the, day and that but little neither in courts nay in other places and in sooth one man alone in this country will eat more in a day than one of them will eat in three days and if any strange messenger come there to a lord men make him to eat but once a day and that full little and when they wore they wore full wisely and always do their business to destroy their enemies. Every man there beareth two bows or three, and of arrows great plenty, and a great axe. And the gentles have short spears and large and full

trenchant on that one side. And they have plates and helms made of cure boil, and there are horses, coveratures of the same. And whosovo, and whoso fleeth from the battle they slay him and when they hold any siege about castle or town that is walled and defensible they behoat to them that be within to do all the profit and good that it is marvel to hear and they grant also to them that be within all that they will ask them and after that they be yellen anon they slain them all and cut off their ears and sows them in vinegar and thereof they make great service for lords all their lust and all their imagination is for to put all lands under their subjection and they say that they know well by their prophecies that they shall be overcome by arches and by strength of them

but they know not of what nation nay of what law they shall be of that shall overcome them and therefore they suffer that folk of all laws may peaceably dwell amongst them Also, when they will make their idols or an image of any of their friends, for to have remembrance of him, they make always the image all naked without any manner of clothing. For they say that in good love should be no covering, that man should not love for the fair clothing, nay for the rich array, but only for the body, such as God hath made it, and for the good virtues that the body is endowed with of nature, not only for fair clothing, that is not of kindly nature. And ye shall understand that it is great dread for to pursue the tartars if they flee in battle, for in fleeing they shoot behind them and slay both men and horses.

And when they will fight, they will shock them together in a plump, so that if there be twenty thousand men men shall not wean that there be scarce ten thousand and they can well win land of strangers but they cannot keep it for they have greater lust to lie in tents without than for to lie in castle or in towns and they prize nothing the wit of other nations and amongst them oil of olive is full dear, for they hold it for full noble medicine. And all the tartars have small iron and little of beard, and not thick-haired but sheer, and they be false and traitors, and they last nought that they be haught. They be full hardy folk, and much pain and woe may suffer and disease, more than any other folk, for they be full hardy folk, and much pain and woe, may suffer and more than any other folk, for they be taught there too in their own country of youth,

and therefore they spend as Husseth, write nought. And when any man shall die, men set a spear beside him, and when he draweth towards the death, every man fleeth out of the house till he be dead. And after that they bury him in the field. and when the emperor dieth men set him in a chair in midst the place of his tent and men set a table before him clean covered with a cloth and thereupon flesh and diverse vines and a cup full of mare's milk and men put a mare beside him with her foe and an horse saddled and bridled and they lay upon the horse gold and silver great quantity

and they put about him great plenty of straw and then men make a great pit and a lodge and with a tent and all these other things they put him in earth and they say that when he shall come into another world he shall not be without an house nay without horse nay without gold and silver

and the mayor shall give him milk and bring him forth more horses till he be well stored in the t'other world. And they trove that after their death they shall be eating and drinking in that other world and solacing them with their wives, as they did here. And after time that the emperor is thus interred, no man shall be so hardy to speak of him. before his friends, and yet, nay the less, some time falleth of many, that they make him to be interred privily by night in wild places, and put again the grass over the pit for to grow, or else men cover the pit with gravel and sand, that no man shall perceive where, nay, no where the pit is,

to that intent that never after none of his friends shall have mind, nay remembrance of him. And then they say that he is ravished into another world, where he is a greater lord than he was here. And then after the death of the emperor, the seven lineages assemble them together, and choose his eldest son or the next after him of his blood. And thus they say to him, We will and we pray and ordain that ye be our Lord and our Emperor. And then he answereth, If he will that I reign over you as Lord,

Do average of you that I shall command him, Either to abide or to go, and whomesoever that I command to be slain, that an arm he be slain. And they answer all with one voice, whatsoever ye command it shall be done. Then saith the emperor, now understand well that my word from henceforth is sharp and biting as a sword. After men that set him upon a black steed, and so men bring him to a church, share full richly arrayed, and there they crown him. And then all the cities and good towns send him rich presents. And so at that journey he shall have more than 60 chariots

charged with gold silver, without jewels of gold and precious stones, that lords gave him, that be without estimation, and without horses, and clasps of gold, and, and clots of gold, and of Kamkas and Tatarins that be without number. End of Chapter 26. Chapter 27 of the travels of Sir John Mandeville. This is Librivox recording. All Librivox recordings are in the public domain. For more information or to volunteer, please visit Librivox.org.

The Travels of Sir John Mandeville by John Manderville A.W. Pollard edition Chapter 27 Of the realm of Thas and the lands and kingdoms towards the septentrionial parts in coming down from the land of Cathay. This land of Cathay is in Aisha the Deep and after on this half is Aisha the Moor. The kingdom of Cothay

marcheth toward the west unto the kingdom of Thars, the which was one of the kings that came to present our Lord in Bethlehem. And they that be of the lineage of that king are some Christian. In Thas they eat no flesh, nay they drink no wine. And on this half toward the west is the kingdom of Turkestan that stretches him toward the west to the kingdom of Perkins. and toward the septentrionial to the kingdom of Khorasan. In the country of Turkestan be but few good cities, but the best city of that land height

Akhtara. There be great pastures but few corns, and therefore the most part they be all herdsmen, and they lie in tents, and they drink a manna ale made of honey. And after, on this half, is the kingdom of Corasan. That is a good land, neplenthius, without wine. And it hath a desert toward the east that lasteth more than a hundred journeys. And the best city of that country is clept Corosan, and of that city beareth the country his name. The folk of that country be hardy warriors. And on this half is the kingdom of Comania. whereof the Comanians that dwelleth in Greece, some time were chased out. This is one of the greatest kingdoms of the world, but it is not all inhabited.

For at one of the parts there is so great cold that no man may dwell there, and in another part there is so great heat that no man may endure it. And also there be so many flies that no man may know on what side he may turn him. him. In that country is but little arboree, nay trees that bear fruit, nay other. They lie in tents, and they burn the dung of beasts for default of wood. This kingdom descendeth on this half toward us, and toward Prussia, and toward Russia. And through that country runneth the river of Ethel, that is one of the greatest rivers of the world. And it freezes. And it freezes, so strongly all years that many times men have fought upon the ice with great hosts,

both parties on foot and their horses voided for the time, and what on horse and on foot, more than twenty thousand persons on every side. And between that river and the Great Sea Ocean, they that cleep the sea more lie all these realms. realms and toward the head beneath in that realm is the Mount Cotas that is the highest mount of the world and it is between the Sea Moor and the Sea Caspian there is full straight and dangerous passage for to go toward End and therefore King Alexander let make there a strong city that men clep

Alexandria for to keep the country that no man should pass without his leave. And now men cleep that city, the gate of hell. And the principal city of Comania is clept Sarac. That is one of the three ways for to go into Ind. But by that way, nay may not pass no great multitude of people, but if it be in winter. and that passage men cleep the derbent The t'other way is for to go from the city of Turkestan by Persia And by that way be many journeys by desert And the third way is that cometh from Kamania

And then to go by the great sea And by the kingdom of Abkhaz And ye shall understand that all these kingdoms and all these lands above. Said unto Prussia and to Russia, be all obeisance to the great Khan of Cathay and many other countries that marched to other coasts. Wherefore, his power and his lordship

is full great and full mighty. End of chapter 27. Chapter 28 of the travels of Sir John Mandeville. This is Aliburvax recording. Libravox recordings are in the public domain. For more information or to volunteer, please visit Libravox.org. Read by Betty B. The Travels of Sir John Mandeville by John Mandeville, A.W. Pollard edition.

Of the Emperor of Persia and of the Land of Darkness and of other kingdoms that belong to the great Chan of Cathay and other lands of his unto the Sea of Greece. Now, since I have devised you the lands and the kingdoms toward the parts septetronials in coming down from the land of Cathay, unto the lands of the Christian, towards Prussia and Russia, now shall I devise you of other lands and kingdoms coming down by other coasts, toward the right side, unto the sea of Greece, toward the land of Christian men. and therefore that after end and after Cathay, the emperor of Persia is the greatest Lord. Therefore, I shall tell you of the kingdom of Persia.

First, where he hath two kingdoms, the first kingdom begineth toward the east, toward the kingdom of Turkestan, and it stretches toward the west unto the river of Pison. That is one of the four rivers that come out of paradise. And on another side, it stretches toward the Septentrian. under the sea of Caspian and also toward the south under the desert of inn. And this country is good and plain and full of people. And there be many good cities. But the two principal cities be these, Boitura and Sjornaghan,

that some men cleep Sarmaghan. The Tother kingdom of Persia stretches toward the river of Paisan and the parts of the west under the kingdom of media. and from the great Armenia and toward the Septentreon to the city of Caspian and toward the south to the land of End. That is also a good land and a plenteous, and it have three great principal cities, Mesabor, Safon, and Sarmasan. And then after is Armenia, in the which we want to be four kingdoms, that is a noble country and full of goods, and it beginneth at Persia and stretcheth toward the west in length unto Turkey. And in largeness it dureth to the city of Alexandria,

that now is Cleep the gate of hell, that I spake of before under the kingdom of media. In this Armenia be full many good cities, but Torizo is most of name. After this is the kingdom of media, that is full long, but it is not full large, that beginneth toward the east to the land of Persia and to end the less, and it stretches toward the west, toward the kingdom of Chaldea, and toward the Septentreon,

descending toward the little Armenia. In that kingdom of media, there be many great hills and little of plain earth. There dwell Saracens and another manner of folk that men cleave cordines. The best two cities of that kingdom be Saras and Karaman. After that is the kingdom of Georgia that beginneth toward the east to the great mountain that is cleep Absor, where that dwell many diverse folk of diverse nations, and men cleep the country, Alamo. This kingdom stretches him towards Turkey and toward the great sea, and toward the south it marcheth to the great Armenia. And there be two kingdoms in that country, that one is the kingdom of Georgia, and that other is the kingdom of Abchaz.

and always in that country be two kings, and they be both Christian. But the king of Georgia is in subjection to the great Chan, and the king of Abshaz hath the more strong country, and he always vigorously defendeth his country against all those that assail him, so that no man may make him in subjection to no man. In that kingdom of Abhshazz is a great marvel, for a province of the country that hath well in circuit three journeys, that men cleave Hanneson is all covered with darkness without any brightness or light so that no man may see, nay hear, nay no man dare enter into him.

And Natheles, they of the country, say that sometimes men hear voice of folk and horses neighing and cocks crowing, and men wit well that men dwell there, but they know not what men. and they say that the darkness befell by miracle of God, for a cursed emperor of Persia, that Height Soros pursued all Christian men to destroy them and to compel them to make sacrifice to his idols, and rode with great host in all that ever be might, for to confound the Christian men. And then in that country dwelt many good Christian men, the witch that left their goods and would have fled into Greece. and when they were in a plain that height Megan, Anon this cursed emperor met with them with his host, for to have slain them and hewn them to pieces.

And Anon, the Christian men kneeled to the ground and made their prayers to God to succor them. And Anon, a great thick cloud came and covered the emperor and all his host. And so they endure in that manner that they nay may not go out on no side, and so shall they evermore abide in that darkness till the day of doom, by the miracle of God. And then the Christian men went where them liked best at their own pleasance without letting of any creature,

and their enemies enclosed and confounded in darkness without any stroke. Wherefore we may well say with David, A domino factum est istu, and est mirabile in aculus nostris. And that was a great miracle that God made for them. Wherefore me thinketh that Christian men should be more devout to serve out Lord God than any other men of any other sect. For without any dread, nay, were not cursedness and sin of Christian men, they should be lords of all the world.

For the banner of Hesu Christ is always displayed and ready on all sides to the help of his true loving servants. in so much that one good Christian man in good belief should overcome and outchase a thousand cursed misbelieving men, as David saith in the Psalter. Quonium persecuabattur, unis-mils, a duo fugarent dechem milia, a cadent a latere two mili, a dextrous tui. and how that it might be that one should chase a thousand, David himself saith following. Quia menus dominie facet heek omnia,

and our Lord himself saith by the prophet's mouth. See in vias mes ambula veritas, supertribulantes vos misisim, manum meam, so that we may see appurately that if we will be good men, no enemy may not endure against us. Also, you shall understand that out of that land of darkness goeth out a great river that sheweth well that there be folk dwelling by many ready tokens, but no man dare not enter into it. And wit well that in the kingdoms of Georgia,

of Abhshaz, and of the little Armenia be good Christian men and devout, for they shrive them and hassle them evermore once or twice in the week. And there is, be many of them that house of them every day. And so do not we, on this half, albeit that St. Paul, commandeth it saying, Omnibus, daubus, dominici, ad communikandum, Hortor. They keep that commandment, but we nay, keep it not. Also after, on this half, is Turkey that marcheth to the great Armenia, and there be many provinces as Cappadocia, Soar, Brick, Cesitone, Pytan, and, and, and, and and Gometh, and in every one of these be many good cities. This turkey stretcheth unto the city of Sachala that sitteth upon the sea of Greece, and so it marcheth to Syria. Syria is a great country

and a good, as I have told you before, and also it hath above toward end the kingdom of Chaldea, that stretcheth from the mountains of Chaldea toward the east unto the city of Nineveh, that sitteth upon the river of Tigris, and in largeness it beginneth toward the north to the city of Marga, and it stretches toward the south unto the sea ocean. Inchaldea is a plain country and few hills and few rivers. After is the kingdom of Mesopotamia, that beginneth toward the east to the flam of Tigris, unto a city that is Klipe, Mosul, and it stretchesth toward the west to the flam of Euphrates, unto a city that is clep roweons, and in length it goeth to the Mount of Armenia unto the desert of End the Less. This is a good country and a plain, but it hath few rivers.

It hath but two mountains in that country of the which one height, Simar and the other lichen, and this land marcheth to the kingdom of Chaldea. Yet there is toward the parts, meridianals, many countries and many regions, as the land. of Ethiopia that marcheth toward the east to the great deserts, toward the west to the kingdom of Nubia, toward the south to the kingdom of Moraton, and toward the north to the Red Sea. After is Moraton that dureth from the mountains of Ethiopia unto Libya the high, and that country lieth along from the sea ocean toward the south and toward the north. It marches to Nubia and to the high Libya. These men of Nubia be Christian, and it

marcheth from the lands above said to the deserts of Egypt, and that is the Egypt that I have spoken of before. And after is Libya the high and Libya the low that descendeth down low toward the great sea of Spain, in the which country be many kingdoms and many diverse folk. Now I have devised you many countries on this half the kingdom of Cathay, of the which many be obeisance to the great Chen. End of Chapter 28. Chapter 29 of the Travels of Sir John Mandeville. This is a Libra Vox recording. All LibraVox recordings are in the public domain.

For more information or to volunteer, please visit Libravox.org. Read by Betty B. The Travels of Sir John Mandivil by John Mandeville, A.W. Pollard Edition. Of the countries and aisles that be beyond the land of Cathay. and of the fruits there, and of 22 kings enclosed within the mountains. Now shall I say you, suingly, of countries and aisles that be beyond the countries that I have spoken of. Wherefore I say you, in passing by the land of Cathay, toward the high end, and toward Bacaria, men pass by a kingdom that men cleep, Caldehi, that is a full, fair country.

and there groweth a manner of fruit as though it were gourds, and when they be ripe, Ben cut them a two, and men find within a little beast, in flesh in bone and blood, as though it were a little lamb without wool, and men eat both the fruit and the beast, and that is a great marvel. Of that fruit I have eaten, although it were wonderful, but that I know well that God is marvelous in his works, and the fellas, I told them of as great a marvel to them, that is among us, and that was of the Bernakis, for I told them in our country were trees that bear fruit that become birds flying, and those that fell in the water live, and they that fall on the earth die anon,

and they be right good to man's meat, and hereof had they as great marvel that some of them trod it were an impossible thing to be. In that country, be long apples of good savor, whereof be more than a hundred in a cluster, and as many in another, and they have great long leaves and large of two foot long or more, and in that country, and in other countries thereabout grow many trees that bear clove, gilephous, and nut makes, and great nuts of end, and of canel, and of many other spices, and there be vines that bear so great grapes that a strong man should have enough to do for to bear one cluster with all the grapes. In the same region be the mountains of Caspian that men cleep Uber in the country. Between those mountains the Jews of 10 lineages

be enclosed, that men cleep goth and Magoth and they may not go out on no side. There were enclosed 22 kings with their people that dwelt between the mountains of Scythia. There King Alexander chased them between those mountains, and there he thought for to enclose them through work of his men. But when he saw that he might not do it, nay, bring it to an end, he prayed to God of nature that he would perform that that he had begun. And all were it so that he was a pain him and not worthy to be heard. yet God of His grace close the mountains together so that they dwell there all fast-locked and enclosed with high mountains all about, save only on one side, and on that side is the Sea of Caspian. Now may some men ask, since that the sea is on that one side, wherefore go they not out on the seaside, for to go where that them liketh? but to this question i shall answer the sea of caspian goeth out by land under the mountains and runneth by the desert at one side of the country and after it stretcheth unto the ends of persia and although it be cleaped a sea it is no sea nay it toucheth none other sea but it is a lake the greatest of the world and though they would put them into that sea they knew wist never where that they should arrive

and also they can know language but only their own, that no man knoweth but they, and therefore may they not go out. And also ye shall understand that the Jews have no proper land of their own for to dwell in in all the world, but only that land between the mountains, and yet they yield tribute for that land to the queen of Amazonia, the which that maketh them to be kept in close, full diligently, that they shall not go out on no side but by the coast of their land, for their land marcheth to those mountains. And often it hath be fallen that some of the Jews have gone up the mountains and availed down to the valleys. But great number of folk, nay, may not do so, for the mountains be so high and so straight up that they must abide there, maugre their might, for they may not go out,

but by a little issue that was made by strength of men, and it lasteth well a four great mile. And after, is there yet a land all desert where men may find no water, neither for digging, nay for none other thing? Wherefore men may not dwell in that place, so is it full of dragons, of serpents, and of other venomous beasts, that no man dare not pass, but if it be strong winter? And that straight passage men cleep in that country, Clyron. And that is the passage that the queen of Amazonia makeeth to be kept. And though it happened, some of them by fortune to go out, they could no manner of language but Hebrew, so that they cannot speak to the people. And yet, Nathelus, men say they shall go out in the time of Antichrist, and that they shall

make great slaughter of Christian men. And therefore, all the Jews that dwell in all lands learn always to speak Hebrew, in hope that when the other Jews shall go out, that they may understand their speech and to lead them into Christendom for to destroy the Christian people. For the Jews say that they know well by their prophecies that they of Caspia shall go out and spread throughout all the world and that the Christian men shall be under their subjection, as long as they have been in subjection of them. And if that you will wit, how that they shall find their way, after that I have heard say, I shall tell you. In the time of Antichrist, a fox shall make there his train, and mine a hole where King Alexander let make the gates,

and so long he shall mine and pierce the earth, till that he shall pass through towards that folk, and when they see the fox they shall have great marvel of him, because that they never saw such a beast, for of all other beasts they have enclosed amongst them, save only the fox, and then they shall chase him and pursue him so straight till that he come to the same, place that he came from, and then they shall dig and mine so strongly, till that they find the gates that King Alexander let make of great stones, and passing huge, well cemented, and made strong for the mastery, and those gates they shall break, and so go out by finding of that issue. From that land go men toward the land of Bacaria, where be full evil folk and full cruel. In that land be trees that

bear wool, as though it were of sheep, where of men make clothes and all things that may be made of wool. In that country, be many hippotanus that dwell sometime in the water and sometime on the land, and they be half man and half horse, as I have said before, and they eat men when they may take them, and there be rivers of waters that be full bitter, three siths more than is the water of the sea. in that country be many griffins more plenty than in any other country some men say that they have the body upward as an eagle and beneath as a lion and truly they say sooth that they be of that shape but one griffin hath the body more great and is more strong than eight lions of such lions as beyond this half and more great and stronger than a hundred eagles such as we have amongst us for one griffin there will bear flying to his nest a great horse, if he may find him at the point, or two oxen yoke together as they go at the plough, for he hath his talons so long and so large and great upon his feet, as though they were horns of great oxen, or of bugles, or of kind, so that men make cups of them

to drink of, and of their ribs and of the pens of their wings, men make bows, full strong, to shoot with arrows and quarrels. From thence go men by men, journeys through the land of Preser John, the great emperor of End, and man cleep his realm, the isle of Pentexwar. End of chapter 29. Chapter 30 of the travels of Sir John Mandiville. This is a Librivox recording. All Librivox recordings are in the public domain. For more information or to volunteer, please visit librivox.org. The Travels of Sir John Mandeville by John Mandiville, A. W. Pollard edition. Chapter 30. Of the royal estate of Prestor John, and of a rich man that made a marvelous castle

and clept at paradise, and of his subtlety. This emperor, Prestor John, holds full great land, and has many full noble cities and good towns in his realm, and many great doth. Ivers isles and large. For all the country of India is devised in Isles for the great floods that come from paradise, that depart all the land in many parts. And also in the sea he has full many aisles, and the best city in the Isle of Pentexwar is Naisa, that is a full royal city, and a noble and full rich. This prester John hath under him many kings and many Isles. and many diverse folk of diverse conditions and this land is full good and rich but not so rich as is the land of the great chan for the merchants come not thither so commonly for to buy merchandises as they do in the land of the great chan for it is too far to travel to and on that other part in the isle of cathay men find all manner thing that is need to man

cloths of gold of silk of spicery and of all manner averdipois and therefore albeit that men have greater cheap in the isle of prester john nevertheless men dread the long way and the great perils in the sea in those parts for in many places of the sea be great rocks of stones of the adamant that of his proper nature draweth iron to him and therefore there pass no ships that have either bonds or nails of iron within them. And if there do, anon the rocks of the adamants draw them to them, that never they may go thence. I myself have seen afar in that sea, as though it had been a great aisle, full of tree and buscale, full of thorns and briars, great plenty. And the shipmen told us that all that was of ships that were drawn thither by the adamants, for the iron that was in them, and of the rottenness and other thing that was within the ships grew such bouxtal and thorns and briars and green grass and such manner of thing and of the masts and the sail-yards it seemed a great wood or a grove and such rocks be in many places thereabout and therefore dare not the merchants pass there but if they know well the passages or else that they have good loadsman

and also they dread the long way and therefore they go to cathay for it is more nigh and yet it is not so nigh but that men must be travelling by sea and land eleven months or twelve from genoa or from venice where he come to cathay and yet is the land of prester john more far by many dreadful journeys and the merchants pass by the kingdom of persia and go to a city that is clept hermes for hermes the philosopher founded it and after that they pass an arm of the sea and then they go to another city that is clept go baffi and there they find merchandises and if popinjays as great plenty as men find here of geese and if they will pass further they may go sickerly enough in that country is but little wheat or barley and therefore they eat rice and honey and milk and cheese and fruit this emperor prester john taketh always to his wife wife, the daughter of the great Chan, and the great Chan also, in the same wise, the daughter of Prestor John, for these two be the greatest lords under the firmament. In the land of Prestor John be many diverse things, and many precious stones, so great and so large that men make of them vessels as platters, dishes, and cups. And many other marvels be

there, that it were too cumbrous and too long to put it in scripture of books, but of the principal isles and of his estate and of his law i shall tell you some part this emperor prester john is christian and a great part of his country also but yet they have not all the articles of our faith as we have they believe well in the father in the son and in the holy ghost and they be full devout and write true one to another and they set not by no barrets they by caughts nor of no deceiters nor of no deceiters nor of no deceit or of no seats. And he hath under him 72 provinces, and in every province is a king, and these kings have kings under them, and all be tributaries to Prestor John, and he hath in his lordships many great marvels. For in his country is the sea that men cleep the gravelly sea, that is all gravel and sand without any drop of water, and it ebeth and floweth in great waves as other seas do, and it is never still, they in peace in no manner season. And no man may pass that sea by navy,

ne by no manner of craft, and therefore may no man know what land is beyond that sea. And albeit that it have no water, yet men find therein and on the banks full good fish of other manner of kind and shape than men find in any other sea, and they be of right good taste and delicious to man's meat. And a three journeys long from that sea be great mountains, out of the which goeth a great flood that cometh out of paradise, and it is full of precious stones without any drop of water, and it runneth through the desert on that one side, so that it maketh the sea gravely, and it beareth into that sea, and there it endeth. and that flome runneth also three days in the week and bringeth with him great stones and the rocks also therewith and that great plenty and anon as they be entered into the gravelly sea they be seen no more but lost for evermore

and in those three days that the river runneth no man dare enter into it but in the other days men dare enter well enough also beyond that flom more upward to the desert is a great plain all gravelly between the mountains, and in that plain every day at the sunrising begin to grow small trees, and they grow till midday bearing fruit. But no man dare take of that fruit, for it is a thing of fairy. And after midday they decrease and enter again into the earth so that at the going down of the sun they appear no more. And so they do every day, and that is a great marvel. In that desert be many wild men that be hideous to look on, for they be horned, and they speak naught, but they grunt as pigs, and there is also great plenty of wild hounds, and there be many popinjays that they cleat Psytakis in their language, and they speak of their proper nature,

and salute men that go through the deserts, and speak to them as effortly as though it were a man, and they that speak well have a large tongue and have five toes upon a foot and there be also of another manner that have but three toes upon a foot and they speak not or but little for they cannot but cry this emperor prester john when he goeth into battle against any other lord he hath no banners born before him but he hath three crosses of gold fine great and high full of precious stones and every of those crosses be set in a chariot, full richly arrayed. And for to keep every cross be ordained 10,000 men of arms, and more than 100,000 men on foot, in manner as men would keep a standard in our countries, when that we be in land of war. And this number of folk is without the principal host, and without wings ordained for the battle. And when he hath no war, but righteth with a privy mani,

Then he hath borne before him but one cross of tree, without painting, and without gold, or silver, or precious stones, in remembrance that Jesus Christ suffered death upon a cross of tree. And he hath born before him also a platter of gold full of earth, in token that his noblest and his might and his flesh shall turn to earth. And he hath born before him also, a vessel of silver, full of noble jewels of gold, full rich, and of precious stones, in token of his lordship, and of his noblest, and of his might.

He dwelleth commonly in the city of Susa, and there is his principal palace, that is so rich and so noble, that no man will trot by estimation, but he had seen it, and above the chief tower of the palace be two round pommels of gold, and in every of them be two carbure, great and large, that shine full bright upon the night. And the principal gates of his palace be of precious stone that men cleep sardonyx, and the border and the bars be of ivory. And the windows of the halls and chambers be of crystal. And the tables whereon men eat, some be of emeralds, some of amethyst, and some of gold, full of precious stones. And the pillars that bear up the tables be of the same precious stone.

and the degrees to go up to his throne where he sitteth at the meat one is of onyx another is of crystal and another of jasper green another of amethyst another of sardine another of cornelian and the seventh that he setteth on his feet is of chrysolite and all these degrees be bordered with fine gold with its other precious stones set with great pearls orient and the sides of the sides of the the siege of his throne be of emeralds, and bordered with gold full nobly, and dubbed with other precious stones and great pearls, and all the pillars in his chamber be of fine gold with precious stones, and with many carbuncles that give great light upon the night to all people. And albeit that the carbuncles give light right enough, nevertheless at all times burneth a vessel of crystal full of balm for to give good smell and odor to the emperor, and to void away all wicked heirs and corruptions. And the form of his bed is of fine sapphires, bended with gold, for to make him sleep well,

and to refrain him from lechery, for he will not lie with his wives but four sides in the year, after the four seasons, and that is only for to engender children. He hath also a full fair palace and a noble at the city of Nizam, where, that he dwelleth when him best liketh, but the air is not so a temper as it is at the city of Susa. And you shall understand that in all his country, nor in the countries they are all about, many eat not but once in the day, as they do in the court of the Great Chan. And so they eat every day in his court more than 30,000 persons without goers and comers. But the 30,000 persons of his country, now of the country of the Great Chan, and they spend not so much good as to 12,000 of our

country. This emperor Prestor John hath evermore seven kings with him to serve him, and they depart their service by certain months. And with these kings serve always 72 dukes and 360 earls, and all the days of the year, they're eat in his household and in his court, 12 archbishops, and 20 bishops. And the patriarch of St. Thomas is there, as is the Pope here. And the archbishops and the bishops and the abbots in that country be all kings. And every of these great lords know well enough the attendance of their service. The one is master of his household. Another is chamberlain. Another serveeth him of a dish. Another of the cup. Another is steward. Another is marshal, another is prince of his arms, and thus he is full nobly and royally served,

and his land dureth in very breadth four months journeys, and in length out of measure, that is to say, all isles under earth that we supposed to be under us. Beside the Isle of Pentexroar, that is the land of Prestor John, is an eat aisle, long and broad, that men cleat Misterak, and it is in the Lord'shawar. ship of prester john in that isle is great plenty of goods there was dwelling sometime a rich man and it is not long since and men clept him gathelanabes and he was full of caudels and of subtle deceits and he had a full fair castle and strong in a mountain so strong and so noble that no man could devise a fairer and a stronger and he had let mirror all the mountain about with a strong wall and a fair and a fair and and within those walls he had the fairest garden that any man might behold and therein were trees bearing all manner of fruits that any man could devise and therein were also all manner virtuous herbs of good smell and all other herbs also that bear fair flowers and he had also in that garden many fair wells and beside those wells he had let make fair halls and fair chambers to paint it all with gold and azure and there were in that place many diverse things and many diverse stories and of beasts and of birds that sung full delectively and moved by craft that it seemed that they were quick

and he had also in his garden all manner of fowls and of beasts that any man might think on for to have play or sport to behold them and he had also in that place the fairest damsels that might be found under the age of fifteen years and the fairest young striplings that that men might get of that same age, and all they were clothed in cloths of gold full richly, and he said that those were angels. And he had also let make three wells, fair and noble, and all environed with stone of jasper, of crystal, diapered with gold, and set with precious stones and great orient pearls. And he had made a conduit under earth, so that the three wells, at his list one should run milk, another wine, and another honey, and that place he clapped paradise. And when that any good knight that was hearty and noble came to see this royalty, he would lead him into his paradise and show him these wonderful things to his disport,

and the marvelous and delicious song of diverse birds, and the fair damsels, and the farewells of milk, of wine, and of honey, plentiously running. and he would let make diverse instruments of music to sound in a high tower, so merrily that it was joy for to hear, and no man should see the craft thereof. And those, he said, were angels of God, and that place was paradise, that God had behit to his friends, saying, Dabo wobis terram fluentem, lacte, et mele. And then would he make them to drink of certain drink, where of anon they should be drunk. and then would them think greater delight than they had had before. And then would he say to them that if they would die for him and for his love, that after their death they should come to his paradise,

and they should be of the age of those damsels, and they should play with him and yet be maidens. And after that yet should he put them in a fairer paradise, where that they should see God, of nature visibly, in his majesty and in his bliss. then would he show them his intent, and say them that if they would go slay such a Lord, or such a man that was his enemy, or contrarious to his list, that they should not dread to do it and for to be slain therefore themselves.

For after their death he would put them into another paradise, there was a hundredfold fairer than any of the other, and there they should dwell with the most fairest amsels that might be, and play with them evermore. and thus went many diverse lusty bachelors for to slay great lords in diverse countries there were his enemies and made themselves to be slain in hope to have that paradise and thus oftentimes he was revenged of his enemies by his subtle deceits and false cautals and when the worthy men of the country had perceived this subtle falsehood of this

Gathalanabes, they assembled them with force, and assailed his castle and slew him, and destroyed all the fair places and all the nobilities of that paradise. The place of the wells and of the walls, and of many other things be yet apertly seen, but the riches is voided clean, and it is not long gone since that place was destroyed. End of Chapter 30, read by John R. Moore, Albertville, Alabama. December 2022. Chapter 31 of The Travels of Sir John Mandiville. This is a Librivox recording.

All LibriVox recordings are in the public domain. For more information or to volunteer, please visit LibriVox.org. The Travels of Sir John Mandiville by John Mandiville, A.W. Pollard edition. Chapter 31 Of the Devil's Head in the Valley Paralus and of the customs of folk in diverse aisles that be about in the lordship of Prestor John. Beside that isle of Misterak,

upon the left side nigh to the river of Pison, is a marvelous thing. There is a veil between the mountains that dureth nigh a four mile, and some men cleep at the veil enchanted, some cleep at the veil of devils, and some cleep it the veil perilous. In that veil hear men oftentimes great tempests and thunders

and great murmurs and noises all days and nights and great noise as it were sound of Tabor's and of Nakers and of trumps as though it were of a great feast. This veil is all full of devils and has been always, and men say there that it is one of the entries of hell. In that veil is great plenty of gold, and silver, wherefore many misbelieving men, and many Christian men also, go in, oftentimes, for to have of the treasure that there is, but few come again, and namely of the

misbelieving men, neither, for anon they be strangled of devils. And in midplace of that veil, under a rock, is an head and the visage of a devil bodily, full, horrible, and dreadful to see, and it showeth not but the head. to the shoulders. But there is no man in the world so hearty, Christian man ne'other, but that he would be a dread to behold it, and that it would seem him to die for dread, so is it hideous for to behold. For he beholdeth every man so sharply with dreadful ion that be evermore moving and sparkling his fire, and changeth and stirreth so often in diverse manner, with so horrible countenance, that no man dare not nion towards him.

and from him cometh out smoke and stinking fire and so much abomination that anitha no man may there endure but the good christian men that be stable in the faith enter well without peril for they will first shrive them and mark them with the token of the holy cross so that the fiends ne have no power over them but albeit that they be without peril yet nevertheless ne be they not without dread when that they see the devil's visibly and bodily all about them, that make full many diverse assaults and menaces in air and in earth, and aghast them with strokes of thunderblasts and of tempests, and the most dread is that God will take vengeance then of that men have misdone against His will. And ye shall understand that when my fellows and I were in that veil, we were in great thought, whether that we durst put our bodies in adventure to go in or not, in the protection of God. And some of our fellows accorded to enter, and some not. So there were with us two worthy men,

friars, miners, that were of Lombardy, that said that if any man would enter, they would go in with us. And when they had said so, upon the gracious trust of God and of them, we let sing mass, and made every man to be shriven and housled. And then we entered fourteen persons, but at our going out we were but nine. And so we wist never whether that our fellows were lost or else turned again for dread, but we saw them never after, and those were two men of Greece and three of Spain. And our other fellows that would not go in with us, they went by another coast to be before us, and so they were. And thus we passed that perilous veil, and found therein gold and silver and precious stones and rich jewels great plenty, both here and there, as us seemed.

But whether that it was, as us seemed, I want never, for I touched none, because that the devils be so subtle to make a thing to seem otherwise than it is, for to deceive mankind. And therefore I touched none, and also because that I would not be put out of my devotion, for I was more devout then than ever I was before or after, and all for the dread of fiends that I saw in diverse figures, and also for the great multitude of dead bodies that I saw there lying by the way, by all the veil, as though there had been a battle between two kings and the mightiest of the country, and that the greater part had been discomfited and slain. And I trove that anithee should any country have so much people within him as lay slain

in that veil as thus thought, the witch was an hideous sight to see. And I marvelled much that there were so many, and the bodies all whole without rotting. But I tro that fiends made them seem to be so whole without rotting. But that might not be to mine advice that so many should have entered so newly, knee so many newly slain, without stinking and rotting. And many of them were in habit of Christian men, but I trow well that it were such that went in for covetous of the treasure that was there, and had over much feebleness in the faith, so that their hearts ne might not endure in the belief for dread, and therefore were we the more devout a great deal, and yet we were cast down, and beaten down many times to the hard earth by winds and thunders and tempests,

but evermore God of His grace help us, and so we passed to that perilous veil, without peril, and without encumbrance, thanked be Almighty God. After this, beyond the veil, is a great aisle, where the folk be great giants of 28 foot long or of 30 foot long, and they have no clothing but of skins of beasts that they hang upon them. And they eat no bread, but all raw flesh, and they drink milk of beasts, for they have plenty of all beastile, and they have no houses to lie in, and they eat more gladly men's flesh than any other flesh. Into that aisle dare no man gladly enter, and if they see a ship and men therein anon they enter into the sea for to take them and men said us that in an aisle beyond that were giants of greater statue some of forty-five foot or fifty foot long and as some men say some of fifty cubits long but i saw none of those for i had no lust to go to those parts because that no man cometh neither into that aisle in the end of the other but if he be devoured anon and among those giants be sheep as great as oxen here and they bear great wool and rough of the sheep i have seen many times and men have seen many times those giants take men in the sea out of their ships and brought them to land two in one hand and two in another eating them going all raw and all quick

another is there toward the north in the sea ocean where that be full cruel and full evil women of nature and they have precious stones in their ion and they be of that kind that if they behold any man with wrath they slay him anon with the beholding as doth the basilisk another is there full fair and good and great and full of people where the custom is such that the first night that they be married they make another man to lie by their wives for to have their maiden aid and therefore they take a great hire and great thank and there be certain men in every town that serve of none other thing and they cleep them catabaries that is to say the fools of wanhope for they of the country hold it so great a thing and so perilous for to have the maidenhead of a woman, that them seemeth that they that have first the maidenhead putteth him in adventure of his life. And if the husband find his wife maiden that other next night, after that she should have been lain by of the man that is assigned there for, peradventure for drunkenness or for some other cause,

the husband shall plain upon him that he hath not done his devour in such cruel wise as though the officers would have slain, him. But after the first night that they be lain by, they keep them so straightly that they be not so hardy to speak with no man. And I asked them the cause, why that they held such custom, and they said me that of old time men had been dead for deflowering of maidens, that had serpents in their bodies that stung men upon their yards, that they died anon. And therefore they held the customs to make other men ordained therefore to lie by their wives for dread of death. For dread of death, and to assay the passage by another rather than for to put them in that adventure.

After that is another aisle, where that women make great sorrow when their children be born. And when they die, they make great feast and great joy and revel, and then they cast them into a great fire burning. And those that love well their husbands, if their husbands be dead, they cast them also into the fire with their children and burn them. and they say that the fire shall cleanse them of all filths and of all vices, and they shall go pured and clean into another world to their husbands, and they shall leave their children with them. And the cause why that they weep when the children be born is this,

for when they come into this world, they come to labor, sorrow, and heaviness, and why they make joy and gladness that they're dying is because that, as they say, then they go to paradise, where the rivers run, milk and honey, where that men see them in joy and in abundance of goods without sorrow and labor. In that isle, men make their king evermore by election, and they need choose him not for no no bless, nor for no riches, but such one as is of good manners and of good conditions, and therewithal rightful, and also that he be of great age and that he have no children. In that aisle, men be full rightful, and they do rightful judgments in every cause, both of rich and poor, small and great,

after the quantity of the trespass that is misdone. And the king may not doom no man to death without a cent of his barons and other men wise of counsel, and that all the court accord there too. And if the king himself do any homicide or any crime as to slay a man, or any such case, he shall die therefore. But he shall not be slain as another man, but men shall defend, in pain of death, that no man be so hardy to make him company, need to speak with him, need that no man give him, nay sell him, nay serve him, neither of meat, nay of drink, and so shall he die in mischief. They spare no man that hath trespassed, neither for love, need for favor, need for riches, knee for no bless, but that he shall have after that he hath done.

Beyond that is another aisle, where is great multitude of folk, and they will not, for no thing, eat flesh of hares, knee of hens, knee of geese, and yet they bring forth enough for to see them and to behold them only, but they eat flesh of all other beasts and drink milk. In that country they take their daughters and their sisters to their wives, and their other kinswomen. And if there be ten men or twelve men or more dwelling in a house,

the wife of every of them shall be common to them all that dwell in that house, so that every man may lie with whom he will of them on one night, and with another another night. And if she have any child, she may give it to what man that she list, that hath accompanied with her, so that no man knoweth there whether the child be his or another's. and if any man say to them that they nourish other men's children they answer that so do other men theirs in that country and by all india be great plenty of cockadrills that is a manner of a long serpent as i have said before

and in the night they dwell in the water and on the day upon the land in rocks and in caves and they eat no meat in all the winter but they lie as in a dream as do the serpents these serpents these serpents slay men, and they eat them weeping, and when they eat they move the over jaw and not the nether jaw, and they have no tongue. In that country, and in many other beyond that, and also in many on this half, men put in work the seed of cotton, and they sow it every year, and then groweth it in small trees that bear cotton, and so do men every year, so that there is plenty of cotton at all times. item in this isle and in many other there is a manner of wood hard and strong whoso covereth the coals of that wood under the ashes thereof the coals will dwell and abide all quick a year or more and that tree hath many leaves as the juniper hath and there be also many trees that of nature they will never burn may rot in no manner and there be nut trees that bear nuts as great as a man's head there also be many beasts that be clept orifice in arabia they be clept garthons that is a beast pommely or spotted that is but a little more high than is a steed

but he hath the neck a twenty cubits long and his croup and his tail is as of a heart and he may look over a great high house and there be also in that country many camels that is a little beast as a goat that is wild and he liveth by the air, and eateth not, and he drinketh not at no time. And he changeth his color oftentimes, for men see him often size now in one color, and now in another color, and he may change him into all manner colors that him lists, save only into red and white. There be also in that country passing great serpents, some of six-score foot long, and they be of diverse colors, as raid, red, green and yellow, blue and black, and all speckled. And there be others that have crests upon their heads, and they go upon their feet upright, and they be well a forefathom great or more, and they dwell always in rocks or in mountains, and they have always the throat

open of whence they drop venom always. And there be also wild swine of many colors, as great as be oxen in our country, and they be all spotted as be young fawns, and there be also urchins, as great as wild swine here, we cleep them porks des spine, and there be lions all white, great and mighty, and there be also of other beasts, as great and more greater than is a destroyer, and men cleep them lower ranks, and some men cleep them odenthos, and they have a black head and three long horns trenchant in the front, sharp as a sword, and the body is slender, and he is a full felonious beast, and he chaseth and slayeth the elephant. There be also many other beasts, full wicked and cruel, that be not mickle more than a bear,

and they have the head like a boar, and they have six feet, and on every foot two large claws, trenchant, and the body is like a bear, and the tail as a lion, and there be also mice as great as hounds, and yellow mice as great as ravens, and there be geese, all red, three sides more great than ours here, and they have the head, the neck, and the breast, all black. And many other diverse beasts be in those countries, and elsewhere thereabout, and many diverse birds also, of the which it were too long for to tell you, and therefore I pass over at this time. End of Chapter 31, read by John R. Moore, Albertville, Alabama, December 2002. Chapter 32 of The Travels of Sir John Mandeville.

This is a Libri-Vox recording. All Libri-Vox recordings are in the public domain. For more information or to volunteer, please visit LibriVox.org. The Travels of Sir John Mandeville by John Mandiville, A. W. Pollard edition Chapter 32. Of the goodness of the folk of the Isle of Braggman, of King Alexander, and wherefore the Emperor of India is clept, Prestor John. And beyond that is another isle, great and good and plenteous, where that be good folk and true, and of good living after their belief, and of good faith,

and albeit that they be not christened, nay have no perfect law, yet, nevertheless, of kindly law they be full of all virtue, and they eschew all vices and all malices and all sins. For they be not proud, ne covetous, ne envyous, nay wrathful, ne gluttones, ne letcherous, nay they do to any man otherwise than they would that other men did to them and in this point they fulfill the ten commandments of god and give no charge of avois knee of riches and they lie not nay they swear not for none occasion but they say simply yea and ane for they say he that sweareth will deceive his neighbor and therefore all that they do they do it without oath and men cleep that isle the isle of bragman and some men cleep it the land of faith and through that land runneth a great river that is clept thiebe and in general all the men of those isles and of all the marches thereabout be more true than in any other countries thereabout and more rightful than others and all things in that is no thief nay murderer nay common woman nay poor beggar ne never was man slain in that country. And they be so chaste and lead so good life as that they were religious men, and they fast all days. And because they be so true and so rightful, and so full of all good

conditions, they were never grieved with tempests, ne' with thunder, ne with light, knee with hail, ne with pestilence, ne with war, ne with hunger, ne with none other tribulation as we be many times amongst us for our sins. Wherefore it seemeth well that God loveth them and is pleased with their crayons for their good deeds. They believe well in God that made all things, and him they worship. And they prize none earthly riches, and so they be all rightful. And they live full ordinately, and so soberly in meat and drink, that they live right long, and the most part of them die without sickness when nature faileth them for eld. and it befell in king alexander's time that he purposed him to conquer that isle and to make them to hold of him and when they of the country heard it they sent messengers to him with letters that said thus

what may be enough to that man to whom all the world is insufficient thou shalt find nothing in us that may cause thee to war against us for we have no riches ne none we covet and all the goods of our country be in common our meat that we sustain with all our bodies is our riches and instead of treasure of gold and silver we make our treasure of accord and peace and for to love every man other and for to apparel with our bodies we use a silly little clout for to wrap in our carrion our wives need be not arrayed for to make no man pleasance but only convenable array for to eschew folly when men pain them to array the body for to make it seem fair than God made it, they do great sin. For man should not devise ne'es greater beauty than God hath ordained man to be at his birth. The earth ministereth to us two things, our livelihood that cometh of the earth that we live by, and our sepulture, after our death. We have been in perpetual peace till now, that thou come to disinherit us. and also we have a king not only for to do justice to every man for he shall find no forfeit among us but for to keep no bliss and for to show that we be obeisance we have a king for justice neath not among us no place for we do to no man otherwise than we desire that men do to us so that righteousness and vengeance have not to do among us so that nothing thou may take from us but our good peace that always hath dured

among us. And when King Alexander had read these letters, he thought that he should do great sin for to trouble them, and then he sent them sureties that they should not be afeard of him, and that they should keep their good manners and their good peace, as they had used before of custom, and so he let them alone. Another aisle there is that Mencleep oxidrate, and another aisle that men cleave ghanosophy, where there is also good folk, and full of good faith, and they hold for the most part the good conditions and customs and good manners, as men of the country above said, but they go all naked. Into that aisle entered King Alexander to see the manner, and when he saw their great faith

and their truth that was amongst them, he said that he would not grieve them, and bade them ask of him what they would have of him, riches or anything else, and they should have it, with good will. And they answered that he was rich enough that had meat and drink to sustain the body with, for the riches of this world that is transitory is not worth. But if it were in his power to make them immortal, thereof would they pray him and thank him? And Alexander answered them that it was not in his power to do it, because he was mortal as they were. And then they asked him why he was so proud and so fierce and so busy for to put all the world under his subjection, right as thou were a God, and hast not to know.

term of this life, neither day, any hour, and willest to have all the world at thy commandment that shall leave thee without fail, or thou leave it, and right as it hath been to other men before thee, right, so it shall be to other after thee, and from hence shall thou bear nothing, but as thou were born naked, right so all naked shall thy body be turned into earth that thou were made of. Wherefore thou shouldstst think and impress it in thy mind that nothing is immortal but only god that made the thing by the which answer Alexander was greatly astonished and abashed and all confused and departed from them and albeit that these folk have not the articles of our faith as we have nevertheless for their good faith natural and for their good

intent i tro fully that god loveth them and that god take their service to right as he did of Job, that was appain him, and held him for his true servant. And therefore, albeit that there be many diverse laws in the world, yet I trod that God loveth always them that love him, and serve him meekly in truth, and namely them that despise the vain glory of this world, as this folk do, and as Job did also. And therefore said our Lord by the mouth of Hosea the prophet, ponem eis multiplicis leges meas and also in another place quitotum orbem subdit suis legibus and also our lord saith in the gospel alias oves habio

that is to say that he had other servants than those that be under christian law and to that accordeth the a vision that st peter saw at jaffir how the angel came from heaven and brought before him diverse beasts as serpents and other creeping beasts of the earth and of other also great plenty and bade him take and eat and st peter answered i eat never quoth he of unclean beasts and then said the angel non dikes imunda quiddeos mundawit and that was in token that no man should have in despite none earthly man for their diverse laws, for we know not of God loveth, ne whom God hateeth. And for that example, when men say de profundis, they say it in common and in general with the Christian, pro animabus omnium defunctorum, pro quibus sit orandum. And therefore say I of this folk, that be so true and so faithful, that God loveth them, for he hath amongst them many of the prophets, and always hath had.

And in those aisles they prophesied the incarnation of Lord Jesus Christ, how he should be born of a maiden, 3,000 year or more, or our Lord was born of the Virgin Mary. And they believe well it, the incarnation, and that fool perfectly, but they know not the manner how he suffered his passion and death for us. and beyond these aisles there is another isle that is clept pitan the folk of that country ne till not ne labor not the earth for they eat no man or thing and they be of good color and of fair shape after their greatness but the small be as dwarfs but not so little as be the pygmies these men live by the smell of wild apples and when they go any far away they bear the apples with them for if they had lost the savor of the apples they should die anon. They may be not full reasonable, but they be simple and bestial. After that is another isle, where the folk be all skinned rough hair, as a rough beast, save only the

face on the palm of the hand. These folk go as well under the water of the sea as they do above the land all dry, and they eat both flesh and fish all raw. In this is a great river that is well a two-mile and a half of breath that is clept Bomari. And from that river of 15 journeys in length, going by the deserts of the tether side of the river, whoso might go it, for I was not there, but it was told us of them of the country, that within those deserts were the trees of the sun and of the moon

that spake to King Alexander and warned him of his death. And men say that the folk that keep those trees, and eat of the fruit and of the balm that groweth there, live well four hundred year or five hundred year, by virtue of the fruit and of the balm. For men say that balm groweth there in great plenty, and nowhere else, save only at Babylon, as I have told you before. We would have gone toward the trees full gladly if we had might, but I trod that one hundred thousand men of arms might not pass those deserts safely, for the great multitude of wild beasts and of great dragons and of great serpents that there be, that slay and devour all that come an anthem.

In that country be many white elephants without number, and of unicorns and of lions of many manners, and many of such beasts that I have told before, and of many other hideous beasts without number. Many other isles there be in the land of Prestor John, and many great marvels, that were too long to tell all, both of his riches, and of his noblesse, and of the great plenty also of precious stones that he hath. I trove that ye know well enough, and have heard say, wherefore this emperor is clept, prester John, but nevertheless for them that know not, I shall say you the cause. It was some time an emperor there that was a worthy and a full noble prince that had Christian knights in his company, as he hath that is now. So it befell that he had great list for to see the service in the church

among Christian men, and then endured Christendom beyond the sea, all Turkey, Syria, Tartary, Jerusalem, Palestine, Arabia, Aleppo, and all the land of Egypt. And so it befell that this emperor came with a Christian knight with him into a church in Egypt. And it was the Saturday in Whitson week, and the bishop made orders. And he beheld, and listened the service full tentatively. And he asked the Christian knight what men of degree they should be that the prelate had before him. And the knight answered and said that they should be priests. And then the emperor said that he would no longer be clept king, nay emperor, but priest. And that he would have the name of the first priest that went out of the church, and his name was John. and so evermore Scythens he has clept Prestor John.

In his land be many Christian men of good faith and of good law, and namely of them of the same country, and have commonly their priests that sing the Mass, and make the sacrament of the altar, of bread, right as the Greeks do. But they say not so many things that the Mass as men do here, for they say not, but only that the apostles said, as our Lord taught them, right as Saint-Pathes. Peter and St. Thomas and the other apostles sung the Mass, saying the Potter Noster and the

words of the sacrament, but we have many more additions the diverse popes have made that they nay know not of. End of Chapter 32, read by John R. Moore, Albertville, Alabama, December 2002. Chapter 33 of The Travels of Sir John Mandiville. This is a a Librivox recording. All Librivox recordings are in the public domain. For more information, or to volunteer, please visit Librivox.org. The Travels of Sir John Mandiville, by John Mandival, A. W. Pollard edition. Chapter 33, of the hills of gold that Pismires keep, and of the four floods that come from paradise terrestrial. Toward the east part of Prestor John's land is an isle good and great that men cleep taprobane

that is full noble and full fructuous, and the king thereof is full rich, and is under the obeisance of Prestor John, and always there they make their king by election. In that aisle be two summers and two winters, and men harvest the corn twice a year. and in all the seasons of the year be the gardens flourished there dwell good folk and reasonable and many christian men amongst them that be so rich that they wit not what to do with their goods of old time when men passed from the land of prester john unto that isle men made ordinance for to pass by ship twenty-three days or more but now men pass by ship in seven days and men may see the bottom of the sea in many places for it is not full deep. Beside that isle toward the east be two other aisles, and men cleep that one oril, and that other argite, of which all the land is mine of gold and silver, and those aisles be right where that the Red Sea departeth from the sea ocean, and in those

aisles men see there no stars so clearly as in other places, for there appear no stars, but only one clear star that men cleaped canopus, and there is not the moon seen in all the lunation, save only the second quarter. In the isle also of this taprobane be great hills of gold that Pismires keep full diligently, and they find the Purid gold, and cast away the unpurid,

and these Pismires be great as hounds, so that no man dare come to those hills, for the Pismires would assail them and devour them anonethe. so that no man may get of that gold but by great slight and therefore when it is great heat the pismires rest them in the earth from prime of the day into noon and then the folk of the country take camels dromedaries and horses and other beasts and go thither and charge them in all haste that they may and after that they flee away in all haste that the beasts may go or the pismires come out of the earth and in other times when it is not so hot and that the pismires ne rest them not in the earth then they get gold by this subtlety they take mares that have young colts or foals and lay upon the mares void vessels made therefore and they be all open above and hanging low to the earth and then they sent forth those mares for to pasture about those hills and withhold the foals with them at home and when the pismayers see those vessels they leap in anon and they have this kind that they let nothing be empty among them but anon they fill it be it what manner of thing that it be and so they fill those vessels with gold and when that the folks suppose that the vessels be full they put forth anon the young foals and make them to neigh after their dams

and then anon the mayors return toward their foals with their charges of gold and then men discharges them and get gold enough by this subtlety for the pismires will suffer beasts to go and pasture amongst them but no man in no wise. And beyond the land and the aisles and the deserts of Preser John's lordship, in going straight toward the east, men find nothing but mountains and rocks, full great. And there is the dark region, where no man may see, neither by day, nay by night, as they of the country say. And that desert and that place of darkness dur from this coast unto paradise terrestrial, where that Adam, our foremost father, and Eve were put, that dwelt there but little while, and that is towards the east at the beginning of the earth. But that is not that east that we cleep our east on this half where the sun riseth to us. For when the sun is east in those parts towards paradise terrestrial,

it is then midnight in our parts on this half, for the roundness of the earth, of the which I have touched to you of before. For our Lord God may the earth all round in the mid-place of the firmament. And there, as mountains and hills be, and valleys, that is not but only of Noah's flood, that wasted the soft ground and the tender, and fell down into valleys, and the hard earth and the rocks abide mountains, when the soft earth and tender waxed nesh through the water, and fell and became valleys. Of paradise, nay can I not speak properly, for I was not there. It is far beyond, and that forethinketh me, and also I was not worthy.

But as I have heard say of wise men beyond, I shall tell you with good will. Paradise terrestrial, as wise men say, is the highest place of earth that is in all the world, and it is so high that it toucheth nigh to the circle of the moon, there as the moon maketh her turn, for she is so high that the flood of Noah may might not come to her, that would have covered all the earth of the world all about and above and beneath save paradise only alone and this paradise is enclosed all about with a wall and men wit not whereof it is for the walls be covered all over with moss as it seemeth and it seemeth not that the wall is stone of nature nay of none other thing that the wall is and that wall stretches from the south to the north and it hath not but one entry that is closed with fire burning so that no man that is mortal ne'er not enter and in the most high place of paradise even in the middle place is a well that casteth out the four floods that run by diverse lands of the witch the first is clept pison or ganges that is all one and it runneth through india or emlac in the witch river be many precious stones and much of lignam allows and much gravel of

of gold. And that other river is clept Nylas, or Gisan, that goeth by Ethiopia and after by Egypt. And that other is clept Tigris that runneth by Assyria and by Armenia the Great. And that other is clept Euphrates, that runneth also by Media and Armenia and by Persia. And men there beyond say that all the sweet waters of the world above and beneath take their beginning of the well of paradise and out of that well all waters come and go the first rivers clept pison that is to say in their language assembly for many other rivers meet them there and go into that river and some men clep at ganges for a king that was in india that height ganges and that it ran throughout his land and that water is in some place clear and in some place troubled in some place hot

hot and in some place cold. The second river is clept Nylas or Gieson, for it is always trouble, and Gisan, in the language of Ethiopia, is to say trouble, and in the language of Egypt also. The third river that is clept Tigris is as much for to say as fast running, for he runeth more fast than any of the tether, and also there is a beast that is clept Tigris that is fast running. the fourth river is clept euphrates that is to say well bearing for there grow many goods upon that river as corns fruits and other goods enough plenty and ye shall understand that no man that is mortal they may not approach to that paradise for by land no man may go for wild beasts that be in the deserts and for the high mountains and great huge rocks that no man may pass by for the dark places that be there

and that many, and by the rivers may no man go, for the water runneth so rudely and so sharply, because that it cometh down so outrageously from the high places above, that it runneth in so great waves that no ship may not row, nay sail against it, and the water roareth so, and maketh so huge noise, and so great tempest, that no man may hear other in the ship, though he cried with all the craft that he could in the highest voice that he might many great lords have assayed with great will many times for to pass by those rivers towards paradise with full great companies but they might not speed in their voyage and many died for weariness of rowing against those strong waves and many of them became blind and many death for the noise of the water and some were perished and lost within the waves

so that no mortal man may approach to that place without special grace of God, so that of that place I can say you no more, and therefore I shall hold me still and return to that that I have seen. End of Section 33, read by John R. Moore, Albertville, Alabama, February, 2003. Chapter 34 of The Travels of Sir John Mandeville This is a Librivox recording. All Librivox recordings are in the public domain.

For more information or to volunteer, please visit Librivox.org. The Travels of Sir John Mandiville by John Mandiville, A.W. Pollard Edition. Chapter 34. Of the customs of kings and other that dwell in the aisles coasting to prester john's land and of the worship that the son doth to the father when he is dead from those isles that i have spoken of before in the land of prester john that be under earth as to us that be on this half and of other isles that be more further beyond who so will pursue them for to come again right to the parts that he came from and so environ all earth but what for the isles what for the sea and what for strong rowing, few folk I say for to pass that passage, albeit that men might do it well, that might be of power to dress them there too, as I have said you before. And therefore men return from those aisles above said by other aisles coasting from the land of Prestor John.

And then come men in returning to an aisle that is clept Casson, and that isle hath well sixty journeys in length, and more than fifty in breadth. This is a little. This is the best is the best kingdom that is in all those parts outtaken Cathay. And if the merchants used as much that country as they do Cathay, it would be better than Cathay in a short while. This country is full well inhabited, and so full of cities and of good towns inhabited with people, that when a man goeth out of one city, men see another city even before them. And that is what part that a man go in all that country.

that is great plenty of all goods for to live with and all manner of spices and there be great forests of chestnuts the king of that is full rich and full mighty and nevertheless he holds his land of the great chan and is obeisance to him for it is one of the twelve provinces that the great chan hath under him without his proper land and without other less isles that he hath for he hath full many from that kingdom come men in returning to another is clep ribothi and it is also under the great chan that is a full good country and full plenteous of all goods and of wines and fruit and all other riches and the folk of that country have no houses but they dwell and lie all under tents made of black fern by all the country and the principal city and the most royal is all walled with black stone and white and all the streets also be padd of the same stones. In that city is no man so hardy to shed blood of any man, nay of no beast, for the reverence of an idol that is worshipped there.

And in that isleth the pope of their law, that they cleep Lobasi. This Lobasi giveth all the benefices, and all other dignities, and all other things that belong to the idol, and all those that hold anything of their churches, religious and other, obey to him, as men do here to the Pope of Rome. In that isle, they have accustomed by all the country, that when the father is dead of any man,

and the son listed to do great worship to his father, he sendeth to all his friends, and to all his kin, and for religious men and priests, and for minstrels also, great plenty. And then men bear the dead body unto a great hill with great joy and solemnity, and when they have brought it thither, the chief prelates smitheth off the head, and layeth it upon a great platter of gold and of silver, if so he be a rich man. And then he taketh the head to the sun, and then the son and his other kin sing and say many orisons. And then the priests and the religious men smite all the body of the dead man in pieces, and then they say certain orisons.

And the fowls of ravine of all the country about know that, the custom of long time before, and come flying above in the air, as eagles, gleads, ravens, and other fowls of ravine that eat flesh. And then the priests cast the gobbets of the flesh, and then the fowls, each of them, taketh that he may, and goeth a little thence, and eateth it, and so they do whilst any peace lasteth of the dead body. And after that, as priests amongst us sing for the dead, Subvinite Sancti Dei, etc. Right so the priests sing with high voice in their language. Behold how so worthy a man and how good a man this was,

that the angels of God come for to seek him and for to bring him into paradise. And then seemeth it to the son that he is highly worshipped, when that many birds and fowls and ravens come and eat his father, and he that hath most number of fowls is most worshipped. And then the son bringeth home with him all his kin and his friends and all the others to his house, and maketh them a great feast. And then all his friends make their vaunt and their dallions. How the fowls came thither, here five, here six, here ten, and their twenty, and so forth,

and they rejoiced them hugely for to speak thereof. And when they be at meat, the son let bring forth the head of his father, and thereof he giveth of the flesh to his most special friends, instead of Entramas or a Sukkark, and of the brain-pan he leteth make a cup, and thereof drinketh he and his other friends also, with great devotion, in remembrance of the holy man that the angels of God have eaten, and that cup the son shall keep to drink of all his lifetime in remembrance of his father. From that land in returning by ten journeys throughout the land of the Great Chan is another

good isle and a great kingdom, where the king is full rich and mighty. And amongst the rich men of his country is a passing rich man that is no prince, nay duke, nay earl, but he hath more that hold of him lands and other lordships, for he is more rich. For he hath every year, of annual rent three hundred thousand horses, charged with corn of diverse grains, and of rice. And so he leadeth a full noble life and a delicate after the custom of the country for he hath every day fifty fair damsels all maidens that serve him evermore at his meat and for to lie by him a night and for to do with them that is his pleasance and when he is at table they bring him his meat at every time five and five together and in bringing their service they sing a song and after that they cut his meat and put it in his mouth for he touches nothing nay handleth naught, but holdeth evermore his hands before him upon the table. For he hath so long nails that he may take nothing, nay handle nothing. For the nobless of that country is to have long nails,

and to make them grow always to be as long as men may. And there be many in that country that have their nails so long that they envirn all the hand, and that is a great noblesse. And the noblesse of the women is for to have small feet and little, and therefore anon as they be born they let bind their feet so straight that they may not grow half as nature would and this is the nobless of the women there to have small feet and little and always these damsels that i spake of before sing all the time that this rich man eateth and when that he eateth no more of his first course then other five and five of fair damsels bring him his second course always singing as they did before and so they do continually every day to the end of his meat, and in this manner he leadeth his life. And so did they before him that were his ancestors, and so shall they that come after him, without doing of any deeds of arms, but live evermore thus in ease, as a swine that is

fed in stye for to be made fat. He hath a full fair palace, and full rich, where that he dwelleth in, of the which the walls be in circuit two mile, and he hath within, many fair gardens, and many fair halls and chambers, and the pavement of his halls and chambers be of gold and silver. And in the midplace of one of his gardens is a little mountain, where there is a little meadow, and in that meadow is a little toot hill, with towers and pinnacles all of gold. And in that little teut hill will he sit oftentimes for to take the air and to disport him, for the place is made for nothing else, but only for his disport. From that country men come by the land of the great Chan also that I have spoken of before. And ye shall understand that of all these countries,

and of all these isles, and of all the diverse folk that I have spoken of before, and of diverse laws, and of diverse beliefs that they have, yet there is none of them all, but that they have some reason within them and understanding, but if it be the fewer, and that have certain articles of our faith and some good points of our belief, and that they believe in God that formed all things and made the world, and clep Him God of nature, after that the prophet saith, and metuant aeum omnes fines terai, and also in another place, ones gentes serviente, that is to say, all folk shall serve him.

But yet they cannot speak perfectly, for there is, no man to teach them, but only that they can devise by their natural wit, for they have no knowledge of the Son, nay of the Holy Ghost. But they can all speak of the Bible, and namely of Genesis, of the prophets saws, and of the books of Moses. And they say, well, that the creatures that they worship may be no gods, but they worship them for the virtue that is in them, that may not be, but only by the grace of God. And of simulacres, and of idols, they say, that there be no folk but that they have simulacres.

And that they say, for we Christian men have images, as of our lady and of other saints that we worship. Not the images of tree or of stone, but the saints in whose name they be made after. For write as the books and the scripture of them teach the clerks how, and in what manner they shall believe, Right so the images and the paintings teach the lewd folk to worship the saints and to have them in their mind in whose names that the images be made after. They say also that the angels of God speak to them in those idols and that they do many great miracles.

And they say sooth that there is an angel within them, for there be two manner of angels, a good and an evil, as the Greeks say, Kacho and Kalo. This Kacho is the wicked angel, and Kalo. is the good angel. But the tether is not the good angel, but the wicked angel that is within the idols to deceive them, and for to maintain them in their error. There be many other diverse countries and many other marvels beyond that I have not seen, wherefore of them I cannot speak properly to tell you the manner of them. And also in the countries where I have been, be many more diversities of many wonderful things that I make mention of, for it were too long thing to devise you

the manner. And therefore, that that I have devised you of certain countries that I have spoken of before, I beseech your worthy and excellent nobles that it suffice to you at this time. For if that I devised you all that is beyond the sea, another man per adventure that would pain him and travail his body for to go into those marches, for to insert those countries, might be blamed by my words in rehearsing many strange things, for he might not say nothing of new, in the which the hearers might have either solace, or disport, or lust, or liking in the hearing. For men say always that new things and new tidings be pleasant to hear.

Wherefore I will hold me still, without any more rehearsing of diversities or of marvels that be beyond, to that intent and end that whoso will go into those countries, he shall find enough to speak of that I have not touched of in no wise. And you shall understand, if it like you, that at mine homecoming I came to Rome and showed my life to our Holy Father the Pope, and was the soiled of all that lay in my conscience, of many a diverse grievous point,

as men must needs that be in company, dwelling amongst so many a diverse folk of diverse sect and of belief as I have been. And amongst all I should, showed him this treatise that I had made after information of men that knew of things that I had not seen myself, and also of marvels and customs that I had seen myself as far as God would give me grace, and besought His Holy Fatherhood that my book might be examined and corrected by advice of his wise and discreet counsel, and our Holy Father, of His special grace, remitted my book to be examined

and proved by the advice of his said counsel. By the which my book was proved for true, insomuch that they showed me a book that my book was examined by, they comprehended full much more by an hundred part, by the which the Mapa Mundi was made after. And so my book, albeit that many men may list not to give credence to nothing but to that that they see with their eye,

may be the author and nay the person never so true, is affirmed and proved by our Holy Father in manner and form, as I have said. And I, John Mandel, Knight, above said, although I be unworthy, that departed from our countries and passed the sea, the Year of Grace, 1,322, that have passed many lands and many aisles and countries, and searched many full strange places, and have been in many a full good, honorable company, it many a fair deed of arms, albeit that I did none myself, for mine unable insufficence, now I am come home, mauger myself, to rest for gout's artitikes that me distrain, that define the end of my labor against my will. God knoweth.

And thus, taking solace in my wretched rest, recording the time past, I have fulfilled these things and put them written in this book, as it would come into my mind, the Year of Grace, 1,356, in the 34th year that I departed from our countries. Wherefore I pray to all the readers and hearers of this book, if it pleased them, that they would pray to God for me, and I shall pray for them. And all those that say for me a paternoster, with an Ave Maria, that God forgive me my sins, I make them partners and grant them part of all the good pilgrimages, and of all the good pilgrimages, and of all the good deeds that I have done, if any, be to his pleasance,

and not only of those, but of all that ever I shall do unto my life's end. And I beseech Almighty God, from whom all goodness and grace cometh from, that he vouchsafed of his excellent mercy and abundant grace to fulfill their souls with inspiration of the Holy Ghost, in making defense of all their ghostly enemies here in earth to their salvation both of body and soul. to worship and thinking of him that is three and one without beginning and without ending, that is without quality, good, without quantity, great,

that in all places is present and all things containing, the which that no goodness may amend, nay none evil impair, that in perfect Trinity liveth and reigneth God by all worlds and by all times. Amen, amen, amen. End of Section 34, read by John R. Moore, Albertville, Alabama, February, 2003. End of The Travels of Sir John Mandiville by John Mandiville, A. W. Pollard edition.