Book: The Principal Navigations, Voyages, Traffiques, and Discoveries

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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:

- vowels with macrons = vowel + 'n' or 'm'
- q; = -que (in the Latin)
- y[e] = the; y[t] = that; w[t] = with

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.

** End Transcriber's Notes **

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.

NORTHEASTERN EUROPE, AND ADJACENT COUNTRIES.

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.

EASTERN EUROPE AND THE MUSCOVY COMPANY.




Navigations, Voyages, Traffiques, and Discoveries in EASTERN EUROPE


Part of an Epistle written by one Yuo of Narbona vnto the Archbishop of
Burdeaux, containing the confession of an Englishman as touching the
barbarous demeanour of the Tartars, which had liued long among them, and
was drawen along perforce with them in their expedition against Hungarie:
Recorded by Mathew Paris in the yere of your Lord 1243.

The Lord therefore being prouoked to indignation, by reason of this and
other sinnes committed among vs Christians, is become, as it were, a
destroying enemie, and a dreadful auenger. This I may iustly affirme to be
true, because an huge nation, and a barbarous and inhumane people, whose
law is lawlesse, whose wrath is furious, euen the rod of Gods anger,
ouerrunneth, and vtterly wasteth infinite countreyes, cruelly abolishing
all things where they come, with fire and sword. And this present Summer,
the foresayd nation, being called Tartars, departing out of Hungarie, which
they had surprised by treason, layd siege vnto the very same towne, wherein
I my selfe abode, with many thousands of souldiers: neither were in the
sayd towne on our part aboue 50. men of warre, whom, together with 20.
cros-bowes, the captaine had left in garrison. All these, out of certeine
high places, beholding the enemies vaste armie, and abhorring the beastly
crueltie of Antichrist his complices, signified foorthwith vnto their
gouernour, the hideous lamentations of his Christian subiects, who suddenly
being surprised in all the prouince adioyning, without any difference or
respect of condition, fortune, sexe, or age, were by manifolde cruelties,
all of them destroyed with whose carkeises, the Tartarian chieftains, and
their brutish and sauage followers, glutting themselues, as with delicious
cates, left nothing for vultures but the bare bones. And a strange thing it
is to consider, that the greedie and rauenous vultures disdeined to praye
vpon any of the reliques, which remained. Olde, and deformed women they
gaue, as it were for dayly sustenance, vnto their Canibals; the beautifull
deuoured they not, but smothered them lamenting and scritching, with forced
and vnnaturall rauishments. Like barbarous miscreants, they quelled virgins
vnto death, and cutting off their tender paps to present for deinties vnto
their magistrates, they engorged themselues with their bodies.

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.

* * * * *

Libellus historicus Ioannis de Plano Carpini, qui missus est Legatus ad
Tartaros anno Domini 1246. ab Innocentio quarto Pontifice maximo. Incipit
Prologus in librum Tartarorum.


Omnibus Christi fidelibus ad quos prasens scriptum peruenerit, frater
Ioannes de Plano Carpini ordinis fratrum minorum, Apostolica sedis Legatus,
nuncius ad Tartaros et nationes alias Orientis, Dei gratiam in prasenti, et
gloriam in futuro, et de inimicis suis gloriam triumphalem. Cum ex mandato
sedis apostolica iremus ad Tartaros et nationes alias Orientis, et sciremus
Domini Papa et venerabilium Cardinalium voluntatem, eligimus prius ad
Tartaros profiscisci. Timebamus enimne per eos in proximo ecclesia Dei
periculum immineret. Et quamuis a Tartaris et alijs nationibus timeremus
occidi, vel perpetuo captiuari, vel fame, siti, algore, astu, contumelia,
et laboribus nimijs, et quasi vltra vires affligi (qua omnia multo plusquam
prius credidimus, excepta morte vel captiuitate perpetua nobis
multipliciter euenerunt) non tamen pepercimus nobis ipsis, vt voluntatem
Dei secundum Domini papa mandatum adimplere possemus, et vt proficeremus in
aliquo Christianis, vt saltem scita veraciter voluntate et intentione
ipsorum, possemus illam patefacere Christianis, ne forte subito irruentes
inuenirent eos imparatos, sicut peccatis hominum exigentibus alia vice
contigit: et fecerunt magnam stragem in populo Christiano. [Sidenote: Annus
& 4 menses & amplius.] Vnde quacunque pro vestra vtilitate vobis scribimus
ad cautelam, tanto securius credere debetis, quanto nos cuncta vel ipsi
vidimus oculis nostris, qui per annum et quatuor menses et amplius,
ambulauimus per ipsos et cum ipsis, ac fuimus, inter eos, vel audiuimus a
Christianis qui sunt inter eos captiui, et vt credimus fide dignis.
Mandatum etiam a supremo pontifice habebamus, vt cuncta, perscrutaremur et
videremus omnia diligenter. [Sidenote: Frater Benedictus Polonus comes
Ioannis de Plano Carpini.] Quod tam nos quam frater Benedictus eiusdem
ordinis qui nostra tribulationis fuit socius et interpres fecimus studiose.


De terra Tartarorum, situ, qualitate & dispositione aeris in eadem. Cap. 1.

Volentes igitur facta scribere Tartaroram, vt lectores facilius valeant
inuenire, hoc modo per capitula describemus. Primo quidem dicemus de terra.
Secundo de hominibus. Tertio de ritu. Quarto de moribus. Quinto de ipsorum
imperio. Sexto de bellis. Septimo de terris quas eorum dominio
subiugauerant. Octauo quomodo bello occurratur eisdem. De terra possumus
hoc modo tractare. In principio quidem dicemus de situ ipsius: secundo de
qualitate: tertio de dispositione aeris in eadem. Terra vero pradicta est
in ea posita parte Orientis in qua oriens sicut credimus coniungitur
Aquiloni. [Sidenote: Al. Solanganorum. Oceauns ab Aquilone.] Ab Oriente
autem est terra posita. Kyraiorum et etiam Solangorum: a meridie sunt terra
Saracenorum inter Occidentem et Meridiem Huyrorum. Ab Occidente prouincia
Naymanorum; ab Aquilone mari oceano circundatur. Hac vero in parte aliqua
est nimium montuosa, et in aliqua est campestris, sed fere tota adimxta
glarea, raro argillosa, plurimum est arenosa. In aliqua parte terne sunt
aliqua modica silua: alia vero est sine lignis omnino. Cibaria autem sua
decoquunt et sedent tam imperator quam principes et alij ad ignem factum de
boum stercoribus et equorum. Terra autem pradicta non est in parte
centesima fructuosa: nec etiam potest fructum portare nisi aquis
fluuialibus irrigetur. Sed aqua et riui ibidem sunt pauci: flumina vero
rarissima vnde ibidem villa sunt pauca; nec aliqua ciuitates excepta vna,
qua esse dicitur satis bona; [Sidenote: Syra orda, curia maior
imperatoris.] nos autem non vidimus illam, sed fuimus prope ad dimidium
diem, cum apud Syram ordam essemus, qua curia est maior imperatoris eorum.
Et licet alias infructuosa sit, quamuis non multum tamen competenter est
alendis pecoribus apta. Aer in ipsa est mirabiliter inordinatus. In media
etiam astate quando in alijs partibus solet calor maximus abundare; ibi
sunt tonitrua magna et fulgura, ex quibus homines quam plurimi occiduntur.
[Sidenote: Maxima niues in astate in Tartaria.] Cadunt etiam ibi eodem
tempore maxima niues. Ibi sunt etiam frigidissimorum ventorum tam maximes
tempestates, quod cum labore vix possunt homines aliquando equitare. Vnde
cum essemus apud ordam (sic enim stationes imperatoris apud eos et
principum appellantur) iacebamus in terra pra magnitudine venti prostrati,
et propter pulueris multitudinem videre minime poteramus. In ea etiam in
hyeme nusquam pluit, sed in astate: et tam modicum, quod vix potest
aliquando puluerem et radices graminum madidare. [Sidenote: Grando maxima.]
Grando etiam ibi sape maxiina cadit. [Sidenote: Maxima inundatio exubita
grandinis resolutione.] Vnde eo tempore quando fuit electus, et in sede
regni poni debuit imperator, nobis in curia existentibus, tanta cecidit
grando, quod ex subita resolutione sicut plenius intelleximus, plusquam
centum et quadraginta homines in eadem curia fuerunt submersi. Res autem et
habitacula plura deducta fuerunt. Ibi est etiam in astate subito magnus
calor, et repente maximum frigus. In hyeme vero in aliqua parte cadunt
maxima niues, in alia autem parua. [Sidenote: Iter quinque mensium et
dinudij.] Et vt breuiter de terra concludam, magna est, sed aliter, sicut
vidimus oculis nostris, (quia per ipsam circuendam quinque mensibus et
dimidium ambulauimus) multo vilior est, quam dicere valeamus.


De formis Tartarorum, de coniugio, vestibus et habitaculis eorum. Cap. 2.

Dicto de terra, de hominibus est dicendum. Primo quidem formas describemus
personarum. Secundo de ipsorum coniugio supponemus. Tertio de vestibus.
Quarto de habitaculis. Quinto de rebus eorum. Forma personarum ab hominibus
alijs est remota. Inter oculos enim et genas plusquam alij homines sunt
lati. Gena etiam satis prominent a maxillis. Graciles sunt generaliter in
cingulo exceptis quibusdam paucis. Pene omnes sunt mediocris statura. Barba
fere omnibus minime crescit. Aliqui tamen in inferiori labio et in barba
modicos habent crines, quos minime tondent. Super verticem capitis in modum
clericorum habent coronas, et ab aure vna vsque ad aliam, ad latitudinem
trium digitorum similiter omnes radunt. Qua rasura corona pradicta
iunguntur. Super frontem etiam ad latitudinem duorum digitorum similiter
omnes radunt. Illos autem capillos qui sunt inter coronam et prataxatam
rasuram crescere vsque ad supercilia sinunt. Et ex vtraque parte frontis
tondendo plusquam in medio crines faciunt longos: reliquos vero crines
permittunt crescere vt mulieres. De quibus faciunt duas cordas, et ligant
vnamquamque post aurem. Pedes etiam modicos habent. Vxores vero habet
vnusquisque quot potest tenere. Aliquis centum, aliquis quinquaginta,
aliquis decem, aliquis plures vel pauciores: et omnibus parentibus
generaliter iunguntur, excepta matre, filia, vel sorore ex eadem matre,
sororibus etiam ex patre: tamen et vxores patris post mortem ducere
possunt. Vxorem etiam fratris alter frater iunior post mortem vel alius de
parentela iunior ducere tenetur. Reliquas mulieres omnes sine vlla
differentia ducunt in vxores, et emunt eas valde pretiose a parentibus
suis. Post mortem maritorum de facili ad secunda coniugia non migrant, nisi
quis velit suam nouercam ducere in vxorem. [Sidenote: Vestes.] Vestes autem
tam virorum quam mulierum sunt vno modo formata. Pallijs, cappis vel
capputijs vel pellibus non vtuntur. Tunicas vero portant de Bukeramo,
purpura, vel Baldaquino in hunc modum formatas. A supremo vsque deorsum
sunt scissa, quia ante pectus dupticantur. A latere vero sinistro vna, et
in dextris tribus ligaturis nectuntur, et in latere et in sinistro vsque ad
brachiale sunt scissa. Pellicia cuiuscunque sunt generis in eundem modum
formantur: superius tamen pellicium exterius habet pilum, sed a
posterioribus est apertum. Habet autem caudulam vnam vsque ad genua retro.
Mulieres vero qua sunt maritata habent tunicam valde amplam et vsque ad
terram ante scissam. Super caput vero habent vnum quid rotundum de
viminibus vel de cortice factum, quod in longum protenditur ad vnam vlnam,
et in summitate desinit in quadrum: et ab imo vsque ad summum in
amplitudine semper crescit, et in summitate habet virgulam vnam longam et
gracilem de auro vel de argento seu de ligno, vel etiam pennam: et est
assutum super vnum pileolum, quod protenditur vsque ad humeros.
Instrumentum pradictum est tectum de buccaramo, siue purpura vel
baldaquino: sine quo instrumento coram hominibus nunquam vadunt, et per hoc
ab alijs mulieribus cognoscuntur. Virgines autem et iuuenes mulieres cum
magna difficultate a viris suis possunt discerni: quum per omnia vestiuntur
vt viri. Pileola habent alia quam alia nationes, quorum formam
intelligibiliter describere non valemus. [Sidenote: Tabernacula.] Stationes
rotundas habent in modum tentorij praparatas, de virgis et baculis
subtiliter factas. Supra vero in medio rotundam habent fenestram vnde lumen
ingreditur, et vt possit fumus exire: quia semper in medio ignem faciunt.
Parietes autem et tecta filtro sunt cooperta. Ostia etiam de filtro sunt
facta. Quadam stationes sunt magna, quadam parua, secundum dignitatem et
hominum paruitatem. Quadam soluuntur subito et reparantur et super somarios
deferuntur. Quadam dissolui non possunt, sed in curribus deferuntur.
Minoribus autem in curru ad deferendum vnus bos; maioribus tres vel
quatuor, vel etiam plures, vel quod est magis, sufficiunt ad portandum.
[Sidenote: Opes in pecore.] Quocunque vadunt siue ad bellum, siue alias,
semper illas deferunt secum. In animalibus sunt diuites valde: in camelis,
bobus, ouibus, capris, et equis. Iumentorum tantam habent multitudinem,
quantam non credimus habere totum mundum. Porcos et alias bestias minime
habent.


De cultu et de hijs qua credunt esse peccata, et de diuinationibus et ritu
funeris eorum, et de purgationibus suorum peccatorum. Cap. 3.

Dicto de hominibus, dicendum est de ritu: de quo tractabimus in hunc modum.
Primo de cultu: secundo de hijs qua credunt esse peccata: tertio de
diuinationibus, et purgationibus peccatorum: quarto de ritu funeris. Vnum
Deum credunt, quem credunt esse factorem omnium visibilium et inuisibilium.
Et credunt eum tam bonorum in hoc mundo quam panarum esse factorem: non
tamen orationibus vel laudibus, aut ritu aliquo ipsum colunt. Nihilommus
habent idola quadam de filtro ad imaginem hominis facta; et illa ponunt et
vtraque parte ostij stationis, et subtus illa ponunt quiddam de filtro in
modum vberis factum, et illa credunt esse pecorum custodes, et eis
beneficium lactis et pullorum prastare. Alia vero faciunt de pannis
sericis, et illa multum honorant. Quidam ponunt illa in pulchro curru tecto
ante ostium stationis: et quicunque aliquid de illo curru furatur, sine
vlla miseratione occiditur. Duces, millenarij, et centenarij vnum semper
habent in medio stationis. Pradictis idolis offerunt primum lac omnis
pecoris et iumenti. Et cum primo comedere et bibere incipiunt, primo
offerunt eis de cibarijs et potu. Et cum bestiam aliquam occidunt, offerunt
cor Idolo quod est in curru in aliquo cypho, et dimittunt vsque mane, et
tunc auferunt de prasentia eius et decoquunt et manducant. Primo etiam
imperatori faciunt idolum, quod ponunt in curru, ante quam stationem
honorifice, sicut vidimus ante ordam imperatoris istius offerunt munera
multa. Equos etiam offerunt ei, quos nullus audet ascendere vsque ad
mortem. Alia etiam animalia eidem offerunt. Qua vero occidunt ad
manducandum, nullum os ex eis confringunt, sed igni comburunt. Et etiam ad
meridiem tanquam Deo inclinant, et inclinare faciunt alios nobiles, qui se
reddunt eisdem. Vnde nuper contigit quod Michael, qui fuit vnus de magnis
ducibus Russia, cum iuisset ad se reddendum Bati, fecerunt eum prius inter
duos ignes transire: Post hoc dixerunt, quod ad meridiem Cyngis inclinaret.
Qui respondit, quod Bati et seruis suis inclinaret libenter, sed imagini
hominis mortui non inclinaret, quia non licet hoc facere Christianis. Et
cum sape diceretur, quod inclinaret, et nollet, mandauit ei pradictus per
filium Ieroslai, quod occideretur si non inclinaret. [Sidenote: Martyrium
Michaelis ducis Russia.] Qui respondit, quod potius vellet mori, quam hoc
faceret, quia non liceret. At ille satellitem vnum misit, qui tam diu
contra cor eum in ventre calce percussit, quousque deficeret. Tunc quidam
de suis militibus quia astabat confortans eum dixit: Esto robustus quia hac
poena non diu tibi durabit, et statim sequetur gaudium sempiternum: post
hoc fuit caput eius cultello pracisum. Militi vero pradicto fuit caput
etiam cultello amputatum. Solem igitur lumina et ignem venerantur et
adorant, et aquam et terram, eis cibonim et potus primitias offerentes, et
mane potissime antequam comedant et bibant: quia de cultu Dei nullam legem
obseruant. Neminem cogunt suam fidem vel legem negare. Accidit tamen dum
adhuc nuper essemus in terra quod Andreas dux de Saruogle [Marginal note:
Vel, Sciruogle. Andreas dux Russia.] qua est in Russia fuit apud Bati
accusatus, quod educeret equos Tartarorum de terra et venderet alias, et
cum tamen non esset probatum fuit, occisus: quod audiens iunior frater
eius, venit cum vxore occisi ad ducem pradictum Bati, volens supplicare, ne
terra tolleretur eisdem. Qui dixit par esse, quod vxorem fratris carnalis
pradicti duceret in vxorem: et mulieri pracepit ducere illum in virum
secundum consuetudinem Tartarorum. Qui respondit, quod prius vellet occidi,
quam faceret contra legem. At ille, nihilominous tradidit eam illi, quamuis
renuerat quantum posset: et duxerunt ambo in lecto, et posuerunt puerum
super illam plorantem et clamantem et cogerunt eos commisceri coactione non
conditionali, sed absoluta. [Sidenote: De superstitiosis traditionibus
eorum. [Greek: Ethelothraeskeia.]] Quamuis de iustitia facienda, vel
peccato, cauendo nullam habeant legem, nihilominus tamen habent aliquas
traditiones, quas dicunt esse peccata: quas confinxerunt ipsi et patres
eorum. Vnum est, cultellum figere in igne, vel etiam quocunque modo tangere
cum cultello: vel cum cultello extrahere carnes de caldario: iuxta ignem
etiam incidere cum securi. Credunt etiam quod sic auferri caput debeat
igni. Item appodiare se ad flagellum, cum quo percutitur equus: Ipsi enim
calcaribus non vtuntur. Item tangere flagellis sagittas. Item iuuenes aues
occidere, vel accipere: cum froeno equum percutere, Item os cum osse alio
frangere. Item lac vel aliquem potum vel cibum super terram effundere. In
statione mingere, sed si voluntarie facit occiditur: si autem aliter,
oportet quod pecunia soluatur incantatori, qui purificet eos: faciat etiam
stationem et ea qua in ipsa sunt inter duos ignes transire. Sed antequam
sic purificetur nullus audet intrare vel aliquid de ipsa portare. Item si
alicui morsus imponitur, et deglutire non potest, et de ore suo eijcit eum,
fit foramen sub statione, et extrahunt per illud foramen, et sine vlla
misericordia occiditur. [Sidenote: [Greek: atheotaes].] Item si aliquis
calcat limen stationis alicuius ducis interficitur eodem modo. Et multa
habent similia, de quibus longum est narrare. Sed homines occidere, aliorum
terras inuadere, res aliorum accipere, quocunque iniusto modo fornicari,
alijs hominibus iniunari, facere contra Dei prohibitiones et Dei pracepta,
nullum est peccatum apud eos. De vita aterna et damnatione perpetua, nihil
sciunt. Credunt tamen quod post mortem in alio seculo viuant, greges
multiplicent, comedant, bibant, et alia faciant, qua in hoc seculo a
viuentibus hominibus fiunt. Diuinationibus, augurijs, aruspicijs,
veneficijs, incantationibus multum intendunt. Et cum a damonibus ipsis
respondetur, credunt quod Deus ipsis loquatur, quem Deum vocant Itoga: sed
Comani Cham, id est, imperatorem ipsum appellant, quem mirabiliter timent
et reuerentur: ac oblationes offerunt multas, et primitias cibi et potus.
Secundum autem responsa ipsius faciunt vniuersa. [Sidenote: Cultus luna.]
In principio etiam lunationis vel plenilunio incipiunt quicquid noui agere
volunt. Vnde illam magnum imperatorem appellant, eique genua flectunt et
deprecantur. Solem dicunt esse matrem luna, eo quod lumen a sole recipiat.
Et vt breuiter dicam per ignem credunt omnia purificari. Vnde cum nuncij
veniunt ad eos, vel principes, vel qualescunque persona, oportet ipsos et
munera qua portant per duos ignes transire, vt purificentur. Item si cadit
ignis de coelo super pecora, vel super homines, quod ibidem sape contingit,
siue aliquid talium euenerit eis, per quod immundos seu infortunatos se
reputant, oportet similiter per incantatores mundari. Et quasi omnem spem
suam in talibus posuerunt. [Sidenote: Ritus funebris.] Quando aliquis eorum
infirmatur, ponitur in statione eius vna hasta, et contra illam filtrum
circumuoluitur nigrum: et ex tunc nullus audet alienus postes stationum
intrare. Et quando incipit agonizare, omnes recedunt ab eo; quoniam nullus
de ijs qui morti eius assistunt, potest ordam alicuius ducis vel
imperatoris vsque ad nouam lunationem intrare. Cum autem mortuus est, si
est de maioribus, sepelitur occulte in campo vbi placuerit: sepelitur autem
cum statione sedendo in medio eius, et ponunt mensam ante eum, et alueum
carnibus plenum, et cyphum lactis iumentini: Sepelitur autem cum eo vnum
iumentum cum pullo, et equus cum frano et sella: et alium equum comedunt et
stramine corium implent, et super duo vel quatuor ligna altius ponunt, vt
habeat in alio mundo stationem vbi moretur, et iumentum de quo lac habeat,
et, possit sibi equos multiplicare, et equos etiam in quibus valeat
equitare. Aurum et argentum sepeliunt eodem modo cum ipso. Currus in quo
ducitur frangitur, et statio sua destruitur, nec nomen proprium eius vsque
ad tertium generationem audet aliquis nominare. Alius etiam est modus
sepeliendi quosdam maiores. Vaditur in campo occulte, et ibi gramma
remouent cum radicibus et faciunt foueam magnam, et in latere illius fouea
faciunt vnam sub terra, et illum seruum quem habet dilectum ponunt sub eo,
qui iacet tam diu sub eo donec incipit agonizare, deinde extrahunt eum vt
valeat respirare, et sic faciunt ter. Et si euadet, postea est liber, et
facit quicquid ei placuerit, et est magnus in statione, ac inter parentes
illius. [Sidenote: Idem mos sepeliendi fere in Florida.] Mortuum autem
ponunt in foueam, qua est in latere facta cum his qua superius dicta sunt.
Deinde replent foueam qua est ante foueam suam, et desuper gramina ponunt,
vt fuerant prius, ad hoc, ne locus vlterius vileat inueniri. Alia faciunt
vt dictum est. In terra eorum sunt coemeteria duo. Vnum in quo sepeliuntur
imperatores, duces et nobiles omnes: et vbicunque moriuntur, si congrue
fieri potest, illuc deferuntur. Sepelitur autem cum eis aurum et argentum
multum. Aliud est in quo sepeliuntur illi qui in Hungaria interfecti
fuerunt: multi enim ibidem occisi fuerunt. Ad illa coemeteria nullus audet
accedere prater custodes, qui ad custodiendum positi sunt ibidem. Et si
aliquis accesserit, capitur, spoliatur et verberatur, et valde male
tractatur. Vnde nos ipsi nescientes intrauimus termmos coemeterij eorum qui
in Hungaria occisi fuerunt, et venerunt super nos sagitta volantes: sed
quia eramus nuncij consuetudinem terra nescientes, nos liberos dimiserunt
abire. [Sidenote: Lustrationes ritus.] Parentes autem et omnes alij qui
morantur in stationibus suis oportet purificari per ignem: qua purificatio
fit hoc modo. Faciunt duos ignes et duas hastas ponunt iuxta ignes et vnam
cordam in summitate hastarum: et ligant super cordam illam quasdam
scissuras de buccharamo: sub qua corda et ligaturis inter illos duos ignes
transeunt homines, bestia et stationes: Et sunt dua mulieres, vna hinc, et
alia inde aquam projicientes, et quadam carmina recitantes. Et si aliqui
currus ibi franguntur, vel etiam res ibi cadunt aliqus, incantatores
accipiunt. Et si aliquis occiditur a tonitruo, omnes illos homines qui
morantur in stationibus illis, oportet pradicto modo ignes transire.
Statio, lectus, filtra, currus, vestes, et quicquid talium habuerint, a
nullo tanguntur, sed tanquam immunda ab omnibus respuuntur.

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