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R Hakluyt, The Principal Navigations 1
R Hakluyt, The Principal Navigations 1
by
Richard Hakluyt
1 Part 1 out of 4
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** Transcriber's Notes **
The printed edition from which this e-text has been produced retains the
spelling and abreviations of Hakluyt's 16th-century original. In this
version, the spelling has been retained, but the following manuscript
abbreviations have been silently expanded:
This edition contains footnotes and two types of sidenotes. Most footnotes
are added by the editor. They follow modern (19th-century) spelling
conventions. Those that don't are Hakluyt's (and are not always
systematically marked as such by the editor). The sidenotes are Hakluyt's
own. Summarizing sidenotes are labelled [Sidenote: ] and placed before the
sentence to which they apply. Sidenotes that are keyed with a symbol are
labeled [Marginal note: ] and placed at the point of the symbol, except in
poetry, where they are moved to the nearest convenient break in the text.
THE PRINCIPAL
Navigations, Voyages, Traffiques,
AND
Discoveries
OF
The English Nation.
Collected by
RICHARD HAKLUYT, PREACHER,
AND
Edited by
EDMUND GOLDSMID, F.R.H.S.
VOL. II.
Part I.
TARTARY.
THE PRINCIPAL
Navigations, Voyages, Traffiques,
AND
Discoveries
OF
The English Nation.
Collected by
RICHARD HAKLUYT, PREACHER,
AND
Edited by
EDMUND GOLDSMID, F.R.H.S.
Howbeit, their spials in the meane time discrying from the top of an highe
mountaine the Duke of Austria, the king of Bohemia, the Patriarch of
Aquileia, the Duke of Carinthia, and (as some report) the Earle of Baden,
with a mightie power, and in battell aray, approching towards them, that
accursed crew immediately vanished, and all those Tartarian vagabonds
retired themselues into the distressed and vanquished land of Hungarie who
as they came suddenly, so they departed also on the sudden which their
celeritie caused all men to stand in horrour and astonishment of them. But
of the sayd fugitiues the prince of Dalmatia tooke eight, one of which
number the Duke of Austria knew to be an English man, who was perpetually
banished out of the Realme of England, in regard of certaine notorious
crimes by him committed. This fellow, on the behalfe of the most
tyrannicall king of the Tartars, had bene twise, as a messenger and
interpreter, with the king of Hungarie, menacing and plainely foretelling
those mischiefes which afterward happened, vnlesse he would submit himselfe
and his kingdome vnto the Tartars yoke. Well, being allured by our Princes
to confesse the trueth, he made such oathes and protestations, as (I
thinke) the deuill himselfe would haue beene trusted for. First therefore
he reported of himselfe, that presently after the time of his banishment,
namely about the 30. yere of his age, hauing lost all that he had in the
citie of Acon at Dice, euen in the midst of Winter, being compelled by
ignominious hunger, wearing nothing about him but a shirt of sacke, a paire
of shooes, and a haire cappe onely, being shauen like a foole, and vttering
an vncoth noise as if he had bene dumbe, he tooke his iourney, and and so
traueiling many countreyes, and finding in diuers places friendly
entertainment, he prolonged his life in this maner for a season, albeit
euery day by rashnesse of speech, and inconstancie of heart, he endangered
himselfe to the deuill. At length, by reason of extreame trauaile, and
continuall change of aire and of meats in Caldea, he fell into a greuious
sicknesse, insomuch that he was wearie of his life. Not being able
therefore to go forward or backeward, and staying there a while to refreshe
himselfe, he began (being somewhat learned) to commend to writing those
wordes which hee heard spoken, and within a short space, so aptly to
pronounce, and to vtter them himselfe, that he was reputed for a natiue
member of that countrey: and by the same dexteritie he attained to manie
languages. This man the Tartars hauing intelligence of by their spies, drew
him perforce into their societie and being admonished by an oracle or
vision, to challenge dominion ouer the whole earth, they allured him by
many rewards to their faithfull seruice, by reason that they wanted
interpreters. But concerning their maners and superstitions, of the
disposition and stature of their bodies, of their countrey and maner of
fighting &c, he protested the particulars following to be true: namely,
that they were aboue all men, couetous, hasty, deceitfull, and mercilesse:
notwithstanding, by reason of the rigour and extremitie of punishments to
be inflicted vpon them by their superiours, they are restreined from
brawlings, and from mutuall strife and contention. The ancient founders and
fathers of their tribes, they call by the name of gods, and at certaine set
times they doe celebrate solemne feasts vnto them, many of them being
particular, & but foure onely generall. They thinke that all things are
created for themselues alone. They esteeme it none offence to exercise
cruelty against rebels. They be hardie and strong in the breast, leane and
pale-faced, rough and huf-shouldered, hauing flatte and short noses, long
and sharpe chinnes, their vpper iawes are low and declining, their teeth
long and thinne, their eyebrowes extending from their fore-heads downe to
their noses, their eies inconstant and blacke, their countenances writhen
and terrible, their extreame ioynts strong with bones and sinewes, hauing
thicke and great thighes, and short legs, and yet being equall vnto vs in
stature: for that length which is wanting in their legs is supplied in the
vpper parts of their bodies. Their countrey in olde time was a land vtterly
desert and waste, situated far beyond Chaldea, from whence they haue
expelled Lions, Beares, & such like vntamed beasts with their bowes, and
other engines. Of the hides of beasts being tanned, they vse to shape for
themselues light, but yet impenetrable armour. They ride fast bound to
their horses, which are not very great in stature, but exceedingly strong,
and mainteined with little prouender. They vse to fight constantly and
valiantly with iauelines, maces, battle axes, and swords. But specially
they are excellent archers, and cunning warriers with their bowes. Their
backs are slightly armed, that they may not flee. They withdraw not
themselues from the combate, till they see the chiefe Standerd of their
Generall giue backe. Vanquished, they aske no fauour and vanquishing, they
shew no compassion. They all persist in their purpose of subduing the whole
world vnder their owne subiection, as if they were but one man, and yet
they are moe then millions in number. They haue 60000. Courriers, who being
sent before vpon light horses to prepare a place for the armie to incampe
in, will in the space of one night gallop three days iourney. And suddenly
diffusing themselues ouer an whole prouince, and surprising all the people
thereof vnarmed, vnprouided, dispersed, they make such horrible slaughters
that the king or prince of the land inuaded, cannot finde people sufficient
to wage battell against them, and to withstand them. They delude all people
and princes of regions in time of peace, pretending that for a cause which
indeed is no cause. Sometimes they say, that they will make a voyage to
Colen, to fetch home the three wise kings into their owne countrey;
sometimes to punish the auarice and pride of the Romans, who oppressed them
in times past, some times to conquere barbarous and Northren nations;
sometimes to moderate the furie of the Germans with their owne meeke
mildnesse; sometimes to learne warlike feats and stratagems of the French;
sometimes for the finding out of fertile ground to suffice their huge
multitudes; sometimes again in derision they say, that they intend to goe
on pilgrimage to S. Iames of Galicia. In regard of which sleights and
collusions certaine vndiscreet gouernors concluding a league with them,
haue granted them free passage thorow their territories, which leagues
notwithstanding being violated, were an occasion of ruine and destruction
vnto the foresayd gouernours, &c.
*****
Terrarum nomina quas vicerunt sunt hac. Kytai, Naymani, Solangi, Kara
Kytai, siue nigri Kytai, Comania, Tumat, Vourat, Caraniti, Huyur, Soboal,
Merkiti, Meniti, Baryhryur, Gosmit, Saraceni, Bisermini, Turcomani, Byleri
magna Bulgaria, Baschare, magna Hungaria, Kergis, Colona, Thorati,
Buritabeth, Parossiti, Sassi, Iacobiti, Alani, siue Assi, Obesi siue
Georgiani, Nestoriani, Armeni, Cangiti, Comani Brutachi, qui sunt Iudai,
Mordui, Torci, Gazari, Samogedi [Sidenote: Samogedi aquilonares.], Perses,
Thoas, India minor siue Athiopia, Yrchasi, Rutheni, Baldach, Sarthi: Alia
terra sunt plures, sed earum nomina ignoramus. Vidimus etiam viros et
mulieres fere de omnibus terris supra nominatis. Hac autem sunt nomina
Terrarum qua eis viriliter restiterunt, nec sunt adhuc subdita eis, India
magna, Mangia; [Sidenote: Mangia.] Quadam pars Alanorum, Quadam pars
Kytaorum, Sayi. Quandam enim ciuitatem Sayorum pradictorum obsederunt et
debellare tentauerunt. At ipsi fecerunt machinas contra machinas eorum, et
Tartarorum machinas omnes fregerunt, nec ciuitati appropinquare poterant ad
pugnam contra machinas et balistas. Tandem vnam viam sub terra fecerunt, et
prosiluerunt in ciuitatem, et alij tentabant incendere ciuitatem, alij
pugnabant. Homines autem ciuitatis vnam partem populi ad extinguendum ignem
posuerunt, et alia pars fortiter pugnabat cum hijs qui intrauerunt
ciuitatem, et multos occiderunt ex eis, et alios vulnerauerunt,
compellentes eos ad suos redire. At ipsi videntes quod nihil possent
facere, et multi homines morerentur, recesserunt ab eis. In terra
Saracenorum et aliorum vbi sunt quasi inter eos domini, accipiunt omnes
artifices meliores, et in omnibus operibus suis ponunt. Alij autem
artifices dant eis de opere suo tributum. Segetes omnes condunt in horreis
dominorum: et vnicuique vnum pondus satis modicum dant in die: nihil aliud
nisi ter in septimana modicum quid de carnibus eis prebent. Et illi hoc
tantum artificibus faciunt qui in ciuitatibus commorantur. Item quando
dominis placet iuuenes omnes accipiunt, et post se cum omnibus famulis suis
ire cogunt: qui de catero certo sunt numero Tartarorum; immo potius de
numero captiuorum: quia etsi inter ipsos sunt numerati, non tamen habentur
in reuerentia sicut Tartari; sed habentur pro seruis, et ad omnia pericula
vt alij captiui mittuntur. Ipsi enim in bello sunt primi: Etiam si debet
palus vel aqua periculosa transiri, eos oportet primo vadum tentare. Ipsos
est etiam necesse operari omnia qua sunt facienda. Ipsi etiam si in aliquo
offendunt, vel si non obediunt ad nutum, vt asmi verberantur. Et vt
breuiter dicam, modicum quid manducant, et etiam modicum bibunt, et pessime
induuntur; nisi forte aliquid possunt lucrari, nisi sunt aurifabri et alij
artifices boni. Sed aliqui tam malos dominos habent, quod nihil eis
dimittunt, nec hadent tempus pra multitudine operum dominorum, vt sibi
aliquid operentur, nisi furentur sibi tempus, quando forsitan debent
quiescere vel dormire. Et hoc si vxores vel propriam stationem permittuntur
habere. Alij autem qui tenentur in domo pro seruis omni miseria sunt
repleti. Vidi enim eos ire in bracis sapissime, et toto corpore nudos in
maximo solis ardore. Et in hyeme patiuntur maximum frigus. Vidimus etiam
aliquos pedicas et digitos manuuni de magno frigore perdidisse. Audiuimus
etiam alios esse mortuos, vel etiam de magno algore quasi in omnibus
membris inutiles esse, factos.
*****
The long and wonderful voyage of Frier Iohn de Plano Carpini, sent
ambassadour by Pope Innocentius the iiii. An. Do. 1246. to the great
CAN of Tartaria; wherin he passed through Bohemia, Polonia, Russia,
and so to the citie of Kiow vpon Boristhenes, and from thence rode
continually post for the space of sixe moneths through Comania, ouer
the mighty and famous riuers of Tanais, Volga, and Iaic, and through
the countries of the people called Kangitta, Bisermini, Kara-Kitay,
Naimani, and so to the natiue countrie of the Mongals or Tartars,
situate in the extreme Northeasterne partes of all Asia: and thence
backe againe the same way to Russia, and Polonia, and so to Rome;
spending in the whole voyage among the sayd Tartars one whole yeere
and aboue foure moneths. Taken out of the 32. booke of Vincentius
Beluacensis his Speculum historiale.
LIBRI XXXII.
[Sidenote: Ascelinus.] Hoc etiam tempore misit Innocentius IIII. Papa Fr.
Ascelinum de ordine Pradicatorum cum tribus alijs Fratribus, auctoritate,
qua fungebantur, de diuersis ordinis sui conuentibus sibi associatis, cum
literis Apostolicis ad exercitum Tartarorum, in quibus hortabatur eos, vt
ab hominum strage desisterent, et fidei veritatem reciperent. [Marginal
note: Vide Mechouium lib. I cap. 5.] [Sidenote: Simon Sanquintinianus.] Et
ego quidem ab vno Fratrum Pradicatorum, videlicet a Fr. Simone de S.
Quintino, iam ib illo itinere regresso, gesta Tartarorum accepi, illa
duntaxat, qua superius per diuersa loca iuxta congruentiam temporum huic
operi inserui. [Sidenote: Ioannes de Plano Carpini.] Siquidem et eo tempore
quidam Frater ordinis Minorum, videlicet Fr. Iohannes de Plano Carpini, cum
quibusdam alijs missus fuit ad Tartaros, qui etiam, vt ipse testatur, per
annum et quatuor menses et amplius cum eis mansit, et inter eos ambulauit.
[Sidenote: Benedictus Polonus.] A summo namque Pontifice mandatum, vt
omnia, qua apud eos erant, diligenter scrutaretur, acceperat, tam ipse,
quam Fr. Bendictus Polonus eiusdem ordinis, qui sua tribulationis particeps
et socius erat. [Sidenote: Libellus historialis Iohannis de Plano Carpini.]
Et hic ergo Fr Ioannes de his, qua apud Tartaros vel oculis proprijs vidit,
vel a Christianis fide dignis, qui inter illos captiui erant, audiunt,
libellum historialem conscripsit qui et ipse ad manus nostras peruenit. De
quo etiam hic quasi per epilogum inserere libet aliqua, videlicet ad
supplementum eorum, qua desunt in pradicta Fr Simoms historia.
Of the first sending of certaine Friers Pradicants and Minorites vnto the
Tartars, taken out of the 32 Booke of Vincentius Beluacensis [Footnote:
Vincentius Belvacensis, or of Beauvais who died in 1264 was a favourite
of Louis IX of France, who supplied him with whatever books he required.
He thus obtained plenty of material for his _Speculum Majus_ (printed at
Douay in 1624, 10 vols. in 4, folio), a badly chosen and ill-arranged
collection of extracts of all kinds. It is in four parts the first called
_Speculum naturale_ the second, _Speculum doctrinale_, the third
_Speculum morale_ and the fourth _Speculum Historiale_.] his Speculum
Historiale beginning at the second Chapter.
The Mongols or Tartars, in outward shape, are vnlike, to all other people.
[Sidenote: The shape of the Tartars.] For they are broader betweene the
eyes and the balles of their cheekes, then men of other nations bee. They
haue flat and small noses, litle eyes and eye liddes standing streight
vpright, they are shauen on the crownes like priests. They weare their
haire somewhat longer about their eares, then vpon their foreheads: but
behinde they let it growe long like womans haire, whereof they braide two
lockes binding eche of them behind either eare. They haue short feet also.
[Sidenote: Their habite.] The garments, as well of their men, as of their
women are all of one fashion. They vse neither cloakes, hattes, nor cappes.
But they weare Iackets framed after a strange manner, of buckeram, skarlet,
or Baldakines. [Sidenote: Like vnto Frobishers men.] Their shoubes or
gownes are hayrie on the outside, and open behinde, with tailes hanging
downe to their hammes. They vse not to washe their garments, neither will
in any wise suffer them to bee washed, especially in the time of thunder.
[Sidenote: Their tabernacles.] Their habitations bee rounde and cunningly
made with wickers and staues in manner of a tent. But in the middest of the
toppes thereof, they haue a window open to conuey the light in and the
smoake out. For their fire is alwayes in the middest. Their walles bee
couered with felt. Their doores are made of felte also. Some of these
Tabernacles may quickely be taken asunder, and set together againe, and are
caried vpon beastes backes. Other some cannot be taken insunder, but are
stowed vpon carts. And whithersoeuer they goe, be it either to warre, or to
any other place, they transport their tabernacles with them. [Sidenote:
Their cattell.] They are very rich in cattel, as in camels, oxen, sheep,
and goats. And I thinke they haue more horses and mares then all the world
besides. But they haue no swine nor other beasts. Their Emperors, Dukes,
and other of their nobles doe abound with silk, gold, siluer, and precious
stones. [Sidenote: Their victuals.] Their victuals are al things that may
be eaten: for we saw some of them eat lice. They drinke milke in great
quantitie, but especially mares milke, if they haue it: They seeth Mill
also in water, making it so thinne, that they may drinke thereof. Euery one
of them drinkes off a cup full or two in a morning, and sometime they eate
nought else all the day long. But in the euening each man hath a little
flesh, giuen him to eate, and they drinke the broath thereof. Howbeit in
summer time; when they haue mares milk enough, they seldome eate flesh,
vnles perhaps it be giuen them, or they take some beast or bird in hunting.