Chapter II: Part 2

_Busca_ having all this time been raising new Forces, was commanded from the Emperour again to invade _Transilvania,_ which being one of the fruitfullest and strongest Countries in those Parts, was now rather a Desart, or the very Spectacle of Desolation; their Fruits and Fields overgrown with Weeds, their Churches and battered Palaces, and best Buildings, as for fear, hid with Moss and Ivy; being the very Bulwark and Rampire of a great part of _Europe,_ most fit by all _Christians_ to have been supplied and maintained, was thus brought to ruin by them, it most concerned to support it. But alas, what is it, when the Power of Majesty pampered in all delights of pleasant Vanity, neither knowing, nor considering the labour of the Plough-man, the hazard of the Merchant, the oppression of Statesmen, nor feeling the piercing Torments of broken Limbs, and inveterate Wounds, the toilsome Marches, the bad Lodging, the hungry Diet, and the extream misery that Soldiers endure to secure all those Estates, and yet by the spight of malicious detraction, starves for want of their Reward and Recompences, whilst the politique Courtier, that commonly aims more at his own Honours and Ends, than his Countries good, or his Princes Glory, Honour, or Security, as this worthy Prince too well could testifie. But the Emperor being certified how weak and desperate his Estate was, sent _Busca_ again with a great Army, to try his fortune once more in _Transilvania._ The Prince considering how his Country and Subjects were consumed, the small means he had any longer to defend his Estate, both against the cruelty of the _Turk,_ and the power of the Emperor, and the small care the _Polanders_ had in Supplying him, as they had promised, sent to _Busca_ to have truce, till Messengers might be sent to the Emperour for some better agreement, wherewith _Busca_ was contented. The Ambassadors so prevailed, that the Emperour re-assured unto them the conditions he had promised the Prince at their confederacy for the Lands in _Silesia,_ with 60000 Ducats presently in hand, and 50000 Ducats yearly as a Pension. When this conclusion was known to _Moyses,_ his Lieutenant then in the Field with the Army, that would do any thing, rather than come in subjection to the _Germans,_ he encouraged his Soldiers, and without any more ado, marched to encounter _Busca,_ {MN} whom he found much better provided than he expected; so that betwixt them, in six or seven hours, more than five or six thousand, on both sides, lay dead in the field. _Moyses_ thus overthrown, fled to the _Turks_ at _Temesware,_ and his Scattered Troops, some one way, some another.

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{MN} _Busca_ in _Transilvania_ overthroweth _Moyses._

The Prince understanding of this so sudden and unexpected Accident, only accompanied with an hundred of his Gentry and Nobility, went into the Camp to _Busca,_ to let him know how ignorant he was of his Lieutenants error, that he had done it without his direction or knowledge, freely offering to perform what was concluded by his Ambassadors with the Emperor; {MN} and so causing all his Garrisons to come out of their strong Holds, he delivered all to _Busca_ for the Emperor, and so went to _Prague,_ where he was honourably received, and established in his Possessions, as his Imperial Majesty had promised. _Busca_ assembling all the Nobility, took their Oaths of Allegiance and Fidelity, and thus their Prince being gone _Transilvania_ became again subject to the Emperor.

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{MN} _Sigismundis_ yieldeth his country to _Busca._

{MN} Now after the Death of _Michael,_ Vavoid of _Wallachia,_ the _Turk_ Sent one _Jeremy_ to be their Vavoid or Prince; whose insulting Tyranny caused the People to take Arms against him, so that he was forced to flie into the Confines of _Moldavia;_ and _Busca_ in the behalf of the Emperor, proclaimed the Lord _Rodol_ in his stead. But _Jeremy_ having assembled an Army of forty thousand _Turks, Tartars,_ and _Moldavians,_ returned into _Wallachia. Rodol_ not yet able to raise such a power, fled into _Transilvania_ to _Busca,_ his ancient Friend; who considering well of the matter, and how good it would be for his own Security, to have _Wallachia_ subject to the Emperor, or at least such an Employment for the remainders of the old Regiments of _Sigismundus,_ (of whose Greatness and true Affection he was very suspicious) sent them with _Rodol_ to recover _Wallachia,_ conducted by the Valiant Captains, the Earl _Meldritch,_ Earl _Veltus,_ Earl _Nederspolt,_ Earl _Zarvana,_ the Lord _Becklefield_ the Lord _Budendorfe,_ with their Regiments, and divers others of great rank and quality, the greatest Friends and Alliances the Prince had; who with Thirty thousand, marched along by the River _Altus,_ to the Streights of _Rebrink,_ where they entred _Wallachia,_ encamping at _Raza; Jeremy_ lying at _Argish,_ drew his Army into his old Camp, in the Plains of _Peteske,_ and with his best diligence fortified it, intending to defend himself, till more power came to him from the _Crim-Tartar._ Many small Parties that came to his Camp, _Rodol_ cut off, and in the nights would cause their Heads to be thrown up and down before the Trenches. Seven of their Porters were taken, whom _Jeremy_ commanded to be flayed quick, and after hung their Skins upon Poles, and their Carcases and Heads on Stakes by them.

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{MN} _Busca_ assisteth _Rodol_ in _Wallachia._

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CHAP. X.

_The Battle of_ Rottenton; _a pretty Stratagem of Fire-works by_ Smith.

_Rodol_ not knowing how to draw the Enemy to Battel, raised his Army, burning and spoiling all where he came, and returned again towards _Rebrink_ in the night, as if he had fled upon the general rumour of the _Crim-Tartars_ coming, which so inflamed the _Turks_ of a happy Victory, they urged _Jeremy_ against his Will to follow them. _Rodol_ seeing his Plot fell out as he desired, so ordered the matter, that having regained the Streights, he put his Army in order, that had been near two days pursued with continual Skirmishes in his Rear, {MN-1} which now making Head against the Enemy, that followed with their whole Army in the best manner they could, was furiously charged with six thousand _Heydukes, Wallachians,_ and _Moldavians,_ led by three Colonels, _Oversall, Dubras_, and _Calab,_ to entertain the time till the rest came up; _Veltus_ and _Nederspolt_ with their Regiments, entertained them with the like courage, till the Zanzacke _Hamesbeg,_ with six thousand more, came with a fresh charge, which _Meldritch_ and _Budendorfe,_ rather like enraged Lions, than Men, so bravely encountred, as if in them only had consisted the Victory; _Meldritch's_ Horse being slain under him, the _Turks_ pressed what they could to have taken him Prisoner, but being remounted, it was thought with his own hand he slew the valiant Zanzacke, whereupon his Troops retiring, the two proud _Bashawes, Aladin,_ and _Zizimmus,_ brought up the front of the body of their Battle. _Veltus,_ and _Nederspolt_ having breathed, and joyning their Troops with _Becklefield_ and _Zarvana,_ with such an incredible courage, charged the left flank of _Zizimmus,_ as put them all in disorder, where _Zizimmus_ the _Bashaw_ was taken Prisoner, but died presently upon his Wounds. _Jeremy_ seeing now the main Battel of _Rodol_ advance, being thus constrained, like a Valiant Prince in his front of the Vangard, by his example so bravely encouraged his Soldiers, that _Rodol_ found no great assurance of the Victory. Thus being joyned in this bloody Massacre, that there was Scarce Ground to stand upon, but upon the dead Carcases, which in less than an hour, were So mingled, as if each Regiment had singled out other. The admired _Aladin_ that day did leave behind him a glorious name for his Valour, whose Death, many of his Enemies did lament after the Victory, which at that instant fell to _Rodol._ It was reported, _Jeremy_ was also slain; but it Was not so, but fled with the remainder of his Army to _Moldavia,_ leaving five and twenty thousand dead in the Field, of both Armies. {MN-2} And thus _Rodol_ was seated again in his Soveraignty, and _Wallachia_ became subject to the Emperour.

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{MN-1} A battle betwixt _Rodol_ and _Jeremy._

{MN-2} _Wallachia_ subjected to the Emperour.

But long he rested not to settle his new Estate, but there came News, that certain Regiments of stragling _Tartars,_ were foraging those Parts towards _Moldavia. Meldritch_ with thirteen thousand Men was sent against them, but when they heard it was the _Crim-Tartar,_ and his two Sons, with an Army of thirty thousand; and _Jeremy,_ that had escaped with fourteen or fifteen thousand, lay in ambush for them about _Langanaw,_ he retired towards _Rottenton,_ a strong Garrison for _Rodol;_ but they were so invironed with these hellish numbers, they could make no great hast for skirmishing with their Scouts, Foragers, and small Parties that still encountred them. But one night amongst the rest, having made a passage through a Wood, with an incredible expedition, cutting Trees thwart each other to hinder their passage, in a thick Fogg, early in the Morning, unexpectedly they met two thousand loaded with Pillage, and two or three hundred Horse and Cattel; the most of them were slain and taken Prisoners, who told them where _Jeremy_ lay in the passage, expecting the _Crim-Tartar_ that was not far from him. _Meldritch_ intending to make his passage by force, was advised of a pretty Stratagem, by the English _Smith,_ which presently he thus accomplished; for having accommodated two or three hundred Trunks with wild-fire, upon the Heads of Lances, and charging the Enemy in the night, gave fire to the Trunks, which blazed forth such Flames and Sparkles, that it so amazed not only their Horses, but their Foot also; that by the means of this flaming Encounter, their own Horses turned Tails with such fury, as by their violence overthrew _Jeremy_ and his Army, without any loss at all to speak of to _Meldritch._ But of this Victory, long they triumphed not; for being within three Leagues of _Rottenton,_ the _Tartar,_ with near forty thousand so beset them, that they must either fight, or be cut in pieces flying. Here _Busca,_ and the Emperour had their desire; for the Sun no sooner displayed his Beams, than the _Tartar_ his Colours; where at mid-day he stayed a while, to see the Passage of a tyrannical and treacherous imposture, till the Earth did blush with the blood of Honesty, that the Sun for shame did hide himself, from so monstrous sight of a cowardly Calamity. It was a most brave sight to see the Banners and Ensigns streaming in the Air, the glittering of Armour, the variety of Colours, the motion of Plumes, the forests of Lances, and the thickness of shorter Weapons, till the silent Expedition of the bloody blast from the murdering Ordnance, whose roaring Voice is not so soon heard, as felt by the aimed at Object, which made among them a most lamentable slaughter.

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CHAP. XI.

_The names of the_ English _that were slain in the Battel of_ Rottenton;
_and how Captain_ Smith _was taken Prisoner, and sold for a Slave._

In the valley of _Veristhorne,_ betwixt the River of _Altus,_ and the Mountain of _Rottenton,_ was this bloody Encounter, where the most of the dearest Friends of the noble Prince Sigismundus perished. _Meldritch_ having ordered his Eleven thousand in the best manner he could, at the Foot of the Mountain upon his Flanks, and before his front, he had pitched sharp Stakes, their Heads hardned in the fire, and bent against the Enemy, as three Battalion of Pikes, amongst the which also, there was digged many small holes. {MN-1} Amongst those Stakes was ranged his foot-men, that upon the charge was to retire, as there was occasion. The _Tartar_ having ordered his 40000 for his best advantage, appointed _Mustapha Bashaw_ to begin the Battel, with a general Shout, all their Ensigns displaying, Drums beating, Trumpets and Haut-boys sounding. _Nederspolt_ and _Mavazo_ with their Regiments of Horse most valiantly encountred, and forced them to retire; the _Tartar Begoli_ with his Squadrons, darkning the Skies with their flights of numberless Arrows, who was as bravely encountred by _Veltus_ and _Oberwin,_ which bloody slaughter continued more than an hour, till the matchless multitude of the _Tartars_ so increased, that they retired within their Squadrons of Stakes, as was directed. The bloody _Tartar,_ as scorning he should stay so long for the Victory, with his massie Troops prosecuted the Charge: But it was a wonder to see how Horse and Man came to the Ground among the Stakes, whose disordered Troops were there so mangled, that the _Christians_ with a loud Shout cried _Victoria;_ and with five or six field Pieces, planted upon the rising of the Mountain, did much hurt to the Enemy that still continued the Battel with that fury, that _Meldritch_ seeing there was no possibility long to prevail, joyned his small Troops in one body, resolved directly to make his passage, or die in the conclusion; and thus in gross gave a general charge, and for more than half an hour, made his way plain before him, till the main Battle of the _Crim-Tartar,_ with two Regiments of _Turks_ and _Jaizaries_ so overmatched them, that they were overthrown. The night approaching, the Earl with some thirteen or fourteen hundred Horse, swam the River, some were drowned, all the rest slain or taken Prisoners: And thus in this bloody Field, near 30000 lay, some Headless, Armless and Legless, all cut and mangled; where breathing their last, they gave this knowledge to the World, that for the lives of so few, the _Crim-Tartar_ never paid dearer. {MN-2} But now the Countries of _Transilvania_ and _Wallachia_ (subjected to the Emperor) and _Sigismundus,_ that brave Prince, his Subject and Pensioner, the most of his Nobility, brave Captains and Soldiers, became a prey to the cruel devouring _Turk:_ where, had the Emperour been as ready to have assisted him, and those three Armies led by three such worthy Captains, as _Michael, Busca,_ and Himself, and had those three Armies joyned together against the _Turk,_ let all Men judge, how happy it might have been for all Christendom: and have either regained _Bulgaria,_ or at least have beat him out of _Hungaria,_ where he hath taken much more from the Emperour, than hath the Emperour from _Transilvania._

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{MN-1} _the Battle of_ Rottenton.

{MN-2} _Extracted out of a book, instituted, the Wars of_ Hungaria, Wallachia, _and_ Moldavia, _written by_ Francisco Ferneza, _a learned Italian, the Princes Secretary, and translated by Mr._ Purchas.

In this dismal Battel, where _Nederspolt, Veltus, Zarvana, Mavazo, Bavel,_ and many other Earls, Barons, Colonels, Captains, brave Gentlemen, and Soldiers were slain, give me leave to remember the names of our own Country-men, {MN} with him in those Exploits, that as resolutely as the best in the defence of Christ and his Gospel, ended their days, as _Bakersfield, Hardwick, Thomas Milemer, Robert Mollineux, Thomas Bishop, Francis Compton, George Davison, Nicholas Williams_ and one _John_ a Scot, did what Men could do, and when they could do no more, left there their Bodies in Testimony of their minds; only Ensign _Charleton,_ and Sergeant _Robinson_ escaped: But _Smith,_ among the slaughtered dead Bodies, and many a gasping Soul, with toil and Wounds lay groaning among the rest, till being found by the Pillagers, he was able to live, and perceiving by his Armour and Habit, his ransom might be better to them than his Death, they led him Prisoner with many others; well they used him till his Wounds were cured, and at _Axopolis_ they were all sold for Slaves, like Beasts in a Market-place, where every Merchant, viewing their Limbs and Wounds, caused other Slaves to struggle with them, to try their strength, he fell to the share of _Bashaw Bogal,_ who sent him forthwith to _Adrianopolis,_ so for _Constantinople_ to his fair Mistriss for a Slave. By twenty and twenty chained by the Necks, they marched in file to this great City, where they were delivered to their several Masters, and he to the young _Charaza Tragabigzanda._

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{MN} _The English Men in this Battel._

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CHAP. XII.

_How Captain_ Smith _was sent Prisoner thorow the_ Black _and_
Dissabacca _Sea in_ Tartaria; _the Description of those seas, and his
usage._

This Noble Gentlewoman took sometime occasion to shew him to some Friends, or rather to speak with him, because she could speak Italian, would feign her self sick when she should go to the _Bannians,_ or weep over the Graves, to know how _Bogal_ took him Prisoner; and if he were as the _Bashaw_ writ to her, a _Bohemian_ Lord conquered by his Hand, as he had many others, which ere long he would present her, whose Ransomes should adorn her with the glory of his Conquests.

But when she heard him protest he knew no such matter, nor ever saw _Bogal,_ till he bought him at _Axopolis,_ and that he was an _English-man,_ only by his Adventures made a Captain in those Countries. To try the truth, she found means to find out many who could speak _English, French, Dutch,_ and _Italian,_ to whom relating most part of these former Passages she thought necessary, which they so honestly reported to her, she took (as it seemed) much compassion on him; but having no use for him, lest her Mother should sell him, she sent him to her Brother, the _Timor Bashaw_ of _Nalbrits,_ In the Country of _Cambia,_ a Province in _Tartaria._

{MN-1} Here now let us remember his passing, in this speculative course from _Constantinople_ by _Sander, Screw, Panassa, Musa, Lastilla,_ to _Varna,_ an ancient City upon the _Black Sea._ In all which Journey, having little more liberty, than his eyes judgment, since his Captivity, he might see the Towns with their short Towers, and a most plain, fertile, and delicate Country, especially that most admired place of _Greece,_ now called _Romania,_ but from _Varna,_ nothing but the _Black Sea_ Water, till he came to the two Capes of _Taur_ and _Pergilos,_ where he passed the Streight of _Niger,_ which (as he conjectured) is some ten Leagues long, and three broad, betwixt two Low-lands, the Channel is deep, {MN-2} but at the entrance of the Sea _Dissabacca,_ there are many great Osie-shaulds, and many great black Rocks, which the _Turks_ said were Trees, Weeds, and Mud, thrown from the In-land Countries, by the Inundations and violence of the Current, and cast there by the Eddy. They Sailed by many low Isles, and saw many more of those muddy Rocks, and nothing else, but salt Water, till they came betwixt _Sufax_ and _Curuske,_ only two white Towns at the entrance of the River _Bruapo_ appeared: In six or seven days Sail, he saw four or five seeming strong Castles of Stone, with flat tops and Battlements about them, but arriving at _Cambia,_ he was (according to their custom) well used. The River was there more than half a Mile broad. The Castle was of a large Circumference, fourteen or fifteen foot thick, in the Foundation some six foot from the Wall, is a _Pallizado,_ and then a Ditch of about forty foot broad full of Water. On the West side of it, is a Town, all of low flat Houses, which as he conceived, could be of no great strength, yet it keeps all them barbarous Countreys about it in admiration and subjection. After he had stayed there three days; it was two days more before his Guides brought him to _Nalbrits,_ where the _Tymor_ was then resident, in a great vast Stone Castle, with many great Courts about it, invironed with high Stone Walls, where was quartered their Arms, when they first subjected those Countries, which only live to labour for those Tyrannical _Turks._

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{MN-1} _How he was sent into_ Tartaria.

{MN-2} _The Description of the_ Dissabacca _Sea._

{MN} To her unkind Brother, this kind Lady writ so much for his good usage, that he half expected, as much as she intended; for she told him, he should there but sojourn to learn the Language, and what it was to be a _Turk,_ till time made her Master of her self. But the _Tymor,_ her Brother, diverted all this to the worst of Cruelty; for within an hour after his arrival, he caused his _Drubman_ to strip him naked, and shave his Head and Beard so bare as his Hand, a great Ring of Iron, with a long stalk bowed like a Sickle, revitted about his Neck, and a Coat made of _Ulgries_ Hair, guarded about with a piece of an undrest Skin. There were many more Christian Slaves, and near an hundred _Forsados_ of _Turks_ and _Moors,_ and he being the last, was slave of Slaves to them all. Among these slavish Fortunes, there was no great choice; for the best was so bad, a Dog could hardly have lived to endure, and yet for all their pains and labours, no more regarded than a Beast.

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{MN} Smith's _usage in_ Tartaria.

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CHAP. XIII.

_The_ Turks _diet; the Slaves diet; the attire of the_ Tartars; _and
manner of Wars and Religions, &c._

{MN-1} The _Tymor_ and his Friends fed upon Pillaw, which is, boiled Rice and Garnances with little bits of Mutton or Buckones, which is Roasted pieces of Horse, Bull, Ulgrie, or any Beasts. Samboyses and Muselbit are great Dainties, and yet but round Pies, full of all sorts of Flesh, they can get chopped with variety of Herbs. Their best Drink is Coffee, of a grain they call _Coava,_ boiled with Water; and _Sherbeck,_ which is only Honey and Water; Mares Milk, or the Milk of any Beast, they hold restorative: but all the Commonalty drink pure Water. {MN-2} Their Bread is made of this _Coava,_ which is a kind of black Wheat, and Cuskus a small white Seed, like _Millia_ in _Biskay:_ But our common Victuals, the entrails of Horse and Ulgries; of this cut in small pieces, they will fill a great Cauldron, and being boiled with _Cuskus,_ and put in great Bowls in the form of Chaffing-dishes, they sit round about it on the Ground, after they have raked it thorow, so oft as they please with their foul Fists, the remainder was for the _Christian_ Slaves. Some of this Broth, they would temper with _Cuskus_ pounded, and putting the Fire off from the Hearth, pour there a Bowl full, then cover it with Coals till it be baked, which stewed with the remainder of the Broth, and some small pieces of Flesh, was an extraordinary Dainty.

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{MN-1} _The_ Tymor's _Diet of_ Cambia, _is as the_ Turks.

{MN-2} _The Slaves Diet._

{MN} The better sort are attired like _Turks,_ but the plain _Tartar_ hath a black Sheeps-skin over his back, and two of the Legs tied about his Neck; the other two about his middle, with another over his Belly, and the Legs tied in like manner behind him: Then two more, made like a pair of Bases, serveth him for Breeches; with a little close Cap to his Skull of black Felt, and they use exceeding much of this Felt for Carpets, for Bedding, for Coats, and Idols. Their Houses are much worse than your _Irish,_ but the In-land Countries have none but Carts and Tents, which they ever remove from Countrey to Countrey, as they see occasion, driving with them infinite Troops of black Sheep, Cattel and Ulgries, eating all up before them as they go.

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{MN} _The attire of those_ Tartars.

{MN} For the _Tartars_ of _Nagi,_ they have neither Town, nor House, Corn, nor Drink, but Flesh and Milk. The Milk they keep in great Skins like _Burracho's,_ which though it be never so sower, it agreeth well with their strong Stomachs. They live all in _Hordias,_ as doth the _Crim-Tartars,_ three or four hundred in a Company, in great Carts fifteen or sixteen foot broad, which are covered with small Rods, wattled together in the form of a Bird's Nest, turned upwards, and with the Ashes of Bones, temper'd with Oil, Camels Hair, and a Clay they have, they loam them so well, that no Weather can pierce them, and yet very light. Each _Hordia_ hath a _Murse,_ which they obey as their King. Their Gods are infinite. One or two thousand of those glittering white Carts drawn with Camels, Deer, Bulls, and Ulgries, they bring round in a Ring, where they pitch their Camp; and the _Murse,_ with his chief Alliances, are placed in the midst. They do much hurt, when they can get any _Stroggs,_ which are great Boats used up on the River _Volga,_ (which they call _Edle_) to them that dwell in the Countrey of _Perolog,_ and would do much more, were it not for the _Muscovites_ Garrisons that there Inhabit.

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{MN} _The_ Tartars _of_ Nagi _and their manners._

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CHAP. XIIII.

_The Description of the_ Crim-Tartars; _their Houses and Carts, their
Idolatry in their Lodgings_

{MN-1} Now you are to understand, _Tartary_ and _Scythia_ are all one, but so large and spacious, few, or none, could ever perfectly describe it, nor all the several kinds of those most barbarous People that inhabit it. Those we call the _Crim-Tartars,_ border upon _Moldavia, Podolia, Lithuania,_ and _Russia,_ are much more regular than the interior parts of _Scythia._ This Great _Tartarian_ Prince, that hath so troubled all his Neighbours, they always call _Chan,_ which signifieth Emperour; but we, the _Crim-Tartar._ He liveth for the most part in the best Champion Plains of many Provinces; and his removing Court is like a great City of Houses and Tents, drawn on Carts, all so orderly placed East and West, on the right and left hand of the Prince's House, which is always in the midst towards the South, before which, none may pitch their Houses, every one knowing their Order and Quarter, as in an Army. {MN-2} The Princes Houses are very artificially wrought, both the Foundation, Sides, and Roof of Wickers, ascending round to the top like a Dove coat; this they cover with white Salt, or white Earth, temper'd with the Powder of Bones, that it may shine the whiter; sometimes with black Felt, curiously painted with Vines, Trees, Birds, and Beasts; the breadth of the Carts are eighteen or twenty Foot, but the house stretcheth four or five Foot over each side, and is drawn with ten or twelve, or for more state, twenty Camels and Oxen. {MN-3} They have also great Baskets, made of smaller Wickers, like great Chests, with a covering of the same, all covered over with black Felt, rubbed over with Tallow and Sheep's Milk, to keep out the Rain; prettily bedecked with Painting or Feathers; in those they put their Houshold Stuff and Treasure, drawn upon other Carts for that purpose. When they take down their Houses, they set the door always towards the South, and their Carts thirty or forty Foot distant on each side, East and West, as if they were two Walls: The Women also have most curious Carts; every one of his Wives hath a great one for her self, and so many other for her Attendants, that they seem as many Courts as he hath Wives. One great _Tartar_ or Nobleman, will have for his particular, more than an hundred of those Houses and Carts, for his several Offices and Uses, but set so far from each other, they will seem like a great Village. {MN-4} Having taken their Houses from the Carts, they place the Master always towards the North; over whose head is always an Image like a Puppet, made of Felt, which they call his Brother; the Women on his left hand, and over the chief Mistriss her Head, such another Brother, and between them a little one, which is the keeper of the House; at the good Wives Beds-feet is a Kids Skin, stuffed with Wooll, and near it a Puppet looking towards the Maids; next the door another, with a dried Cows Udder, for the Women that Milk the Kine, because only the Men Milk Mares; {MN-5} every Morning those Images in their orders, they besprinkle with that they drink, be it Cossmos, or whatsoever, but all the white Mares Milk is reserved for the Prince. Then without the door, thrice to the South, every one bowing his knee in honour of the Fire; then the like to the East, in honour of the Air; then to the West, in honour of the Water; and lastly to the North, in behalf of the dead. After the Servant hath done this duty to the four quarters of the World, he returns into the House, where his Fellows stand waiting, ready with two Cups, and two Basons, to give their Master, and his Wife that lay with him that Night, to wash and drink, who must keep him company all the day following, and all his other Wives come thither to drink, where he keeps his House that day; and all the Gifts presented him till night, are laid up in her Chests; and at the door a Bench full of Cups, and drink for any of them to make merry.

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{MN-1} _The description of the_ Crim-Tartar's _Court._

{MN-2} _His Houses and Carts._

{MN-3} _Baskets._

{MN-4} _Their Idolatry in their Lodgings._

{MN-5} _Cosmos is Mares Milk._

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CHAP. XV.

_Their Feasts, common Diet, Princes Estate, Buildings, Tributes, Laws,
Slaves, Entertainment of Ambassadors._

{MN} For their Feasts, they have all sorts of Beasts, Birds, Fish, Fruits, and Herbs they can get, but the more variety of wild ones is the best; to which they have excellent Drink made of Rice, Millet, and Honey, like Wine; they have also Wine, but in Summer they drink most Cossmos, that standeth ready always at the entrance of the door, and by it a Fidler; when the Master of the House beginneth to drink, they all cry, ha, ha, and the Fidler plays, then they all clap their Hands and dance, the Men before their Masters, the Women before their Mistresses; and ever when he drinks, they cry as before; then the Fidler stayeth till they drink all round; sometimes they will drink for the Victory; and to provoke one to drink, they will pull him by the Ears, and lug and draw him, to stretch and beat him, clapping their Hands, stamping with their Feet, and dancing before the Champions, offering them Cups, then draw them back again to increase their Appetite; and thus continue till they be drunk, or their drink done, which they hold an honour, and no Infirmity.

* * * * *

{MN} _Their Feasts._

{MN} Though the Ground be fertile, they sow little Corn, yet the Gentlemen have Bread and Honey-wine; Grapes they have plenty, and Wine privately, and good Flesh and Fish; but the common sort stamped Millet, mingled with Milk and Water. They call Cassa for Meat, and drink any thing; also any Beast unprofitable for service they kill, when they are like to die, or however they die, they will eat them, Guts, Liver and all; but the most fleshy parts they cut in thin slices, and hang it up in the Sun and Wind without salting, where it will dry so hard, it will not putrifie in a long time. A Ramm they esteem a great Feast among forty or fifty, which they cut in pieces boiled or roasted, puts it in a great Bowl, with Salt and Water, for other Sawce they have none; the Master of the Feast giveth every one a piece, which he eateth by himself, or carrieth away with him. {MN-2} Thus their hard fare makes them so infinite in Cattel, and their great number of Captive Women to breed upon, makes them so populous. But near the Christian Frontiers, the baser sort make little Cottages of Wood, called _Vlusi,_ daubed over with dirt, and Beasts dung covered with sedge; yet in Summer they leave them, beginning their Progress in _April,_ with their Wives, Children, and Slaves, in their Carted Houses, scarce convenient for four or five Persons; driving their Flocks towards _Precopia,_ and sometimes into _Taurica,_ or _Osow,_ a Town upon the River _Tanais,_ which is great and swift, where the _Turk_ hath a Garrison; and in _October_ return again to their Cottages. Their Clothes are the Skins of Dogs, Goats, and Sheep, lined with Cotton Cloath, made of their finest Wooll, for of their worst they make their Felt, which they use in abundance, as well for Shooes and Caps, as Houses, Beds, and Idols; also of the coarse Wooll mingled with Horse hair, they make all their Cordage. {MN-3} Notwithstanding this wandring life, their Princes sit in great State upon Beds, or Carpets, and with great reverence are attended both by Men and Women, and richly served in Plates and great Silver Cups, delivered upon the Knee, attired in rich Furrs, lined with Plush, or Taffity, or Robes of Tissue. These _Tartars_ possess many large and goodly Plains, wherein feed innumerable Herds of Horse and Cattel, as well wild as tame; which are Elkes, Bisons, Horses, Deer, Sheep, Goats, Swine, Bears, and divers others.

* * * * *

{MN-1} _Their common diet._

{MN-2} _How they become populous._

{MN-3} _Their Princes State._

{MN-1} In those Countries are the Ruins of many fair Monasteries, Castles, and Cities, as _Bacasaray, Salutium, Almassary, Precopia, Cremum, Sedacom, Capha,_ and divers others by the Sea, but all kept with strong Garrisons for the Great _Turk,_ {MN-2} who yearly by Trade or Traffick, receiveth the chief Commodities those fertile Countries afford, as Bezoar, Rice, Furs, Hides, Butter, Salt, Cattel, and Slaves, yet by the spoils they get from the secure and idle Christians, they maintain themselves in this Pomp. Also their Wives, of whom they have as many as they will, very costly, yet in a constant custom with decency.

* * * * *

{MN-1} _Ancient Buildings._

{MN-2} _Commodities for tribute to the_ Turk.

{MN} They are _Mahometans,_ as are the _Turks,_ from whom they also have their Laws, but no Lawyers, nor Attornies, only Judges, and Justices in every Village, or Hordia; but Capital Criminals, or matters of moment, before the Chan himself, or Privy Councils, of whom they are always heard, and speedily discharged; for any may have access at any time to them, before whom they appear with great Reverence, adoring their Princes as Gods, and their Spiritual Judges as Saints; for Justice is with such integrity and Expedition Executed, without Covetousness, Bribery, Partiality, and Brawling, that in six Months they have sometimes scarce six Causes to hear. About the Princes Court, none but his Guard wear any Weapon, but abroad they go very strong, because there are many Bandittos, and Thieves.

* * * * *

{MN} _Good Laws, yet no Lawyers._

{MN} They use the _Hungarians, Russians, Wallachians,_ and _Moldavian_ Slaves (whereof they have plenty) as Beasts to every work; and those _Tartars_ that serve the Chan, or Noblemen, have only Victuals and Apparel, the rest are generally nastly, and idle, naturally miserable, and in their Wars better Thieves than Soldiers.

* * * * *

{MN} _Their Slaves._

{MN} This Chan hath yearly a Donative from the King of _Poland,_ the Dukes of _Lithuania, Moldavia,_ and _Nagayon Tartars;_ their Messengers commonly he useth bountifully, and very nobly, but sometimes most cruelly; when any of them do bring their Presents, by his Houshold Officers, they are entertained in a plain Field, with a moderate proportion of Flesh, Bread and Wine, for once; but when they come before him, the _Sultans, Tuians, Vlans, Marhies,_ his chief Officers and Councellors attend, one Man only bringeth the Ambassadour to the Court Gate, but to the Chan he is led between two Councellors; where saluting him upon their bended knees, declaring their message, are admitted to eat with him, and presented with a great Silver Cup full of Mead from his own hand, but they drink it upon their Knees: when they are dispatched, he invites them again, the Feast ended, they go back a little from the Palace door, and rewarded with Silk Vestures, wrought with Gold down to their Anckles, with an Horse or two, and sometimes a Slave of their own Nation; in them Robes presently they come to him again, to give him thanks, take their leave, and so depart.

* * * * *

{MN} _His Entertainment of Ambassadours._

* * * * *

CHAP. XVI.

_How he levieth an Army; their Arms and Provision; how he divideth the
Spoil, and his Service to the Great Turk._

{MN} When he intends any Wars, he must first have leave of the Great _Turk,_ whom he is bound to assist when he commandeth, receiving daily for himself and chief of his Nobility, Pensions from the _Turk,_ that holds all Kings but Slaves, that pay Tribute, or are subject to any: signifying his intent to all his Subjects, within a Month commonly he raiseth his Army, and every Man is to furnish himself for three Months Victuals, which is parched Millet, or ground to Meal, which they ordinarily mingle with Water (as is said) hard Cheese or Curds dried, and beaten to powder, a little will make much Water like Milk, and dried Flesh, this they put also up in Sacks; The Chan and his Nobles have some Bread and _Aquavitae,_ and quick Cattel to kill when they please, wherewith very sparingly they are contented. Being provided with expert Guides, and got into the Country he intends to Invade, he sends forth his Scouts to bring in what Prisoners they can, from whom he will wrest the utmost of their Knowledge fit for his purpose; having advised with his Council, what is most fit to be done, the Nobility, according to their Antiquity, doth march; then moves he with his whole Army: if he find there is no Enemy to oppose him, he adviseth how far they shall Invade, commanding every Man (upon pain of his Life) to kill all the obvious Rusticks; but not to hurt any Women, or Children.

* * * * *

{MN} _How he levieth an Army._

{MN} Ten, or fifteen thousand, he commonly placeth, where he findeth most convenient for his standing Camp; the rest of his Army he divides in several Troops, bearing ten or twelve Miles square before them, and ever within three or four days return to their Camp, putting all to Fire and Sword, but that they carry with them back to their Camp; and in this scattering manner he will invade a Country, and be gone with his Prey, with an incredible Expedition. But if he understand of an Enemy, he will either fight in Ambuscado, or flie; for he will never fight any Battel if he can chuse, but upon treble advantage; yet by his innumerable flights of Arrows, I have seen flie from his flying Troops, we could not well judge, whether his fighting or flying was most dangerous, so good is his Horse, and so expert his Bow-men; but if they be so intangled they must fight, there is none can be more hardy, or resolute in their defences.

* * * * *

{MN} _The manner of his Wars._

{MN} Regaining his own Borders, he takes the tenth of the principal Captives, Man, Woman, Child, or Beast (but his Captains that take them, will accept of some particular Person they best like for themselves) the rest are divided amongst the whole Army, according to every Mans Desert and Quality; that they keep them, or sell them to who will give most; but they will not forget to use all the means they can, to know their Estates, Friends, and Quality, and the better they find you, the worse they will use you, till you do agree to pay such a Ransom, as they will impose upon you; therefore many great Persons have endured much misery to conceal themselves, because their Ransoms are so intolerable: their best hope is of some Christian Agent, that many times cometh to redeem Slaves, either with Money, or Man for Man; those Agents knowing so well the extream covetousness of the _Tartars,_ do use to bribe some Jew or Merchant, that feigning they will sell them again to some other Nation, are oft redeemed for a very small Ransom.

* * * * *

{MN} _How he divideth the spoil._

{MN} But to this _Tartarian_ Army, when the _Turk,_ commands, he goeth with some small Artillery; and the _Nagayans, Precopens, Crims, Osovens,_ and _Circassians,_ are his Tributaries; but the _Perigorves, Oczaconians, Bialogordens,_ and _Dobrucen Tartars,_ the _Turk_ by Covenant commands to follow him, so that from all those _Tartars_ he hath had an Army of an hundred and twenty thousand excellent, swift, stomackfull _Tartarian_ Horse for foot they have none. Now the Chan, his Sultans and Nobility, use _Turkiso, Caramanian, Arabian, Parthian,_ and other strange _Tartarian_ Horses; the swiftest they esteem the best; seldom they feed any more at home, than they have present use for; but upon their Plains is a short Wood-like Heath, in some Countries like Gail, full of Berries, much better than any Grass.

* * * * *

{MN} _How the Chan doth serve the Great_ Turk.

{MN} Their Arms are such, as they have surprised or got from the _Christians_ or _Persians,_ both Brest-plates, Swords, Scimitars, and Helmets; Bows and Arrows they make most themselves, also their Bridles and Saddles are indifferent, but the Nobility are very handsome, and well armed like the _Turks,_ in whom consisteth their greatest Glory; the ordinary sort have little Armour, some a plain young Pole unshaven, headed with a piece of Iron for a Lance; some an old _Christian_ Pike, or a _Turks_ Cavarine, yet those Tattertimallions will have two or three Horses, some four or five, as well for service, as for to eat; which makes their Armies seem thrice so many as there are Soldiers. The Chan himself hath about his Person, Ten thousand chosen _Tartars_ and _Janizaries,_ some small Ordnance, and a white Mares Tail, with a piece of green Taffity on a great Pike, is carried before him for a Standard; because they hold no Beast so precious as a white Mare, whose Milk is only for the King and Nobility, and to Sacrifice to their Idols; but the rest have Ensigns of divers Colours.

* * * * *

{MN} _Their Arms._

For all this miserable Knowledge, Furniture, and Equipage, the mischief they do in _Christendom_ is wonderful, by reason of their hardness of Life and Constitution, Obedience, Agility, and their Emperours Bounty, Honours, Grace, and Dignities he ever bestoweth upon those, that have done him any memorable Service in the face of his Enemies.

{MN} The Caspian Sea, most Men agree that have passed it, to be in length about 200 Leagues, and in breadth an hundred and fifty, environed to the East, with the great Desarts of the _Tartars_ of _Turkomania;_ to the West, by the _Circasses,_ and the Mountain _Caucasus;_ to the North, by the River _Volga,_ and the Land of _Nagay;_ and to the South, by _Media,_ and _Persia:_ This Sea is fresh Water in many places, in others as salt as the great Ocean; it hath many great Rivers which fall into it, as the mighty River of _Volga,_ which is like a Sea, running near Two thousand Miles, through many great and large Countries, that send into it many other great Rivers; also out of _Saberia, Yaick,_ and _Yem,_ out of the great Mountain _Caucasus,_ the River _Sirus, Arash,_ and divers others, yet no Sea nearer it than the black Sea, which is at least an hundred Leagues distant: In which Country live the _Georgians,_ now part _Armenians,_ part _Nestorians;_ it is neither found to increase or diminish, or empty it self any way, except it be under Ground, and in some places they can find no Ground at Two hundred fathom.

* * * * *

{MN} _A Description of the_ Caspian _Sea._

Many other most strange and wonderful things are in the Land of _Cathay,_ towards the North-east, and China towards the South-east, where are many of the most famous Kingdoms in the World, where most Arts, Plenty, and Curiosities are in such abundance, as might seem incredible, which hereafter I will relate, as I have briefly gathered from such Authors as have lived there.

* * * * *

CHAP. XVII.

_How Captain_ Smith _escaped his Captivity; slew the_ Bashaw _of_
Nalbrits _in_ Cambia; _his Passage to_ Russia, Transilvania, _and
the middest of_ Europe _to_ Africa.

{MN-1} All the hope he had ever to be delivered from this Thraldom, was Only the love of _Tragabigzanda,_ who surely was ignorant of his bad usage; for although he had often debated the matter with some Christians, that had been there a long time Slaves, they could not find how to make an escape, by any reason or possibility; but God beyond Man's Expectation or Imagination helpeth his Servants, when they least think of help, as it hapned to him. So long he lived in this miserable Estate, as he became a Thresher at a grange in a great Field, more than a League from the _Timor's_ House; the _Bashaw,_ as he oft used to visit his Granges, visited him, and took occasion so to beat, spurn, and revile him, that forgetting all reason, he beat out the _Timor's_ Brains with his Threshing Bat, for they have no Flails; and seeing his Estate could be no worse than it was, clothed himself in his Clothes, hid his Body under the Straw, filled his Knapsack with Corn, shut the doors, mounted his Horse, and ran into the Desart at all adventure; two or three days, thus fearfully wandring he knew not whither, and well it was, he met not any to ask the way; being even as taking leave of this miserable World, {MN-2} God did direct him to the great way or Castragan, as they call it, which doth cross these large Territories, and generally known among them by these marks.

* * * * *

{MN-1} _How_ Smith _escaped his Captivity._

{MN-2} _Their Guides in those Countries._

In every crossing of this great way is planted a Post, and in it so many bobs with broad ends, as there be ways, and every bob the Figure painted on it, that demonstrateth to what part that way leadeth; as that which pointeth towards the _Crim's_ Country, is marked with a half Moon, if towards the _Georgians_ and _Persia,_ a black Man, full of white spots, if towards _China,_ the Picture of the Sun, if towards _Muscovia,_ the Sign of a Cross, if towards the Habitation of any other Prince, the Figure whereby his Standard is known. To his dying Spirits thus God added some comfort in this melancholy Journey, wherein if he had met any of that vile Generation, they had made him their Slave, or knowing the Figure Engraven in the Iron about his Neck, (as all Slaves have) he had been sent back again to his Master; sixteen days he travelled in this fear and torment, after the Cross, till he arrived at _AEcopolis,_ upon the River _Don,_ a Garrison of the _Muscovites._ The Governour after due Examination of those his hard events, took off his Irons, and so kindly used him, he thought himself new risen from the Dead, and the good Lady _Calamata,_ largely Supplied all his wants.

{MN-1} This is as much as he could learn of those wild Countries, that the Country of _Cambia_ is two days Journey from the Head of the great River _Bruapo,_ which springeth from many places of the Mountains of _Innagachi,_ that joyn themselves together in the Pool _Kerkas_ which they account for the Head, and falleth into the Sea _Dissabacca,_ called by some the Lake _Maeotas,_ which receiveth also the River _Tanais,_ and all the Rivers that fall from the great Countries of the _Circassi,_ the _Cartaches,_ and many from the _Tauricaes, Precopes, Cummani, Cossunka,_ and the _Crim;_ through which Sea he Sailed, and up the River _Bruapo_ to _Nalbrits,_ and thence through the Desarts of _Circassi_ to _AEcopolis,_ as is related; where he stayed with the Governour, till the Convoy went to _Caragnaw;_ then with his Certificate how he found him, and had examined with his friendly Letters, sent him by _Zumalack_ to _Caragnaw,_ whose Governour in like manner so kindly used him, that by this means he went with a safe conduct to _Lesch,_ and _Donko,_ in _Cologoske,_ and thence to _Berniske_, and _Newgrod_ in _Siberia,_ by _Rezechica,_ upon the River _Nieper,_ in the confines of _Lithuania;_ from whence with as much kindness, he was convoyed in like manner by _Coroski, Duberesko, Duzihell, Drohobus,_ and _Ostroge_ in _Volonia; Saslaw,_ and _Lasco_ in _Podolia; Halico_ and _Collonia_ in _Polonia;_ and so to _Hermonstat_ in _Transilvania._ In all this his life, he seldom met with more Respect, Mirth, Content and Entertainment; and not any Governour where he came, but gave him somewhat as a Present, besides his Charges; seeing themselves as subject to the like Calamity. {MN-2} Through those poor continually Foraged Countries, there is no passage, but with the Caravans or Convoys; for they are Countries rather to be pitied than envied; and it is a wonder any should make Wars for them. The Villages are only here and there, a few Houses of streight Firr Trees, laid heads and points above one another, made fast by notches at the ends, more than a Man's heighth, and with broad split Boards, pinned together with woodden Pins, as thatched for coverture. In ten Villages you shall scarce find ten Iron Nails, except it be in some extraordinary Man's House. For their Towns, _AEcopolis, Letch,_ and _Donko,_ have Rampires made of that woodden Walled fashion, double, and betwixt them Earth and Stones, but so latched with cross Timber, they are very strong against any thing but Fire; and about them a deep Ditch, and a Palizado of young Firr Trees; but most of the rest have only a great Ditch cast about them, and the Ditches Earth, is all their Rampire; but round, well environed with Palizadoes. Some have some few small pieces of small Ordnance, and Slings, Calievers, and Muskets, but their generallest Weapons are the _Russe_ Bows and Arrows; you shall find Pavements over Bogs, only of young Firr-Trees, laid cross one over another, for two or three hours Journey, or as the Passage requires, and yet in two days Travel, you shall scarce see six Habitations. Notwithstanding to see how their Lords, Governours, and Captains are civilized, well attired and accoutred with Jewels, Sables, and Horses, and after their manner with curious Furniture, it is wonderful; but they are all Lords or Slaves, which makes them so subject to every Invasion.

* * * * *

{MN-1} _The description of_ Cambia, _and his passage to_ Russia.

{MN-2} _His Observations in his Journey to_ Transilvania, _through the midst of_ Europe.

In _Transilvania,_ he found so many good Friends, that but to see, and rejoyce himself (after all those Encounters) in his Native Country, he would ever hardly have left them, though the mirrour of vertue their Prince was absent. Being thus glutted with content, and near drowned with Joy, he parted high _Hungaria_ by _Fileck, Tocka, Cassovia,_ and _Underorowoay,_ by _Ulmicht_ in _Moravia,_ to _Prague_ in _Bohemia;_ at last he found the most gracious Prince _Sigismundus,_ with his Colonel at _Lipswick_ in _Misenland,_ who gave him his Pass, intimating the service he had done, and the Honours he had received, with fifteen hundred Ducats of Gold to repair his Losses: With this he spent some time to visit the fair Cities and Countries of _Dresden_ in _Saxony, Magdeburgh_ and _Brunswick; Cassel_ in _Hessen; Wittenberg, Vilum,_ and _Minekin_ in _Bavaria; Augsburg,_ and her Universities; _Hama, Frankford, Mentz,_ the _Palatinate; Worms, Spires,_ and _Straburg;_ passing _Nancie_ in _Lorain,_ and _France_ by _Paris_ to _Orleans,_ he went down the River of _Loyer,_ to _Angiers,_ and imbarked himself at _Nantz_ in _Britain,_ for _Bilbao_ in _Biskay_ to see _Burgos-Valladolid,_ the admired Monastery of the _Escurial, Madrid, Toledo, Corduba, Cuedyrial, Sivil, Cheries, Cales,_ and St. _Lucas_ in _Spain._

* * * * *

CHAP. XVIII.

_The Observations of Captain_ Smith; _Mr._ Henry Archer, _and others in_
Barbary.