THE TRAVELS OF SIR JOHN MANDEVILLE

CHAPTER XXXI

OF THE DEVIL'S HEAD IN THE VALLEY PERILOUS. AND OF THE CUSTOMS OF

FOLK IN DIVERSE ISLES THAT BE ABOUT IN THE LORDSHIP OF PRESTER JOHN

BESIDE that Isle of Mistorak upon the left side nigh to the river

of Pison is a marvellous thing. There is a vale between the

mountains, that dureth nigh a four mile. And some men clepe it the

Vale Enchanted, some clepe it the Vale of Devils, and some clepe it

the Vale Perilous. In that vale hear men often-time great tempests

and thunders, and great murmurs and noises, all days and nights,

and great noise, as it were sound of tabors and of nakers and of

trumps, as though it were of a great feast. This vale is all full

of devils, and hath been always. And men say there, that it is one

of the entries of hell. In that vale is great plenty of gold and

silver. Wherefore many misbelieving men, and many Christian men

also, go in oftentime for to have of the treasure that there is;

but few come again, and namely of the misbelieving men, ne of the

Christian men neither, for anon they be strangled of devils.

And in mid place of that vale, under a rock, is an head and the

visage of a devil bodily, full horrible and dreadful to see, and it

sheweth not but the head, to the shoulders. But there is no man in

the world so hardy, Christian man ne other, but that he would be

adread to behold it, and that it would seem him to die for dread,

so is it hideous for to behold. For he beholdeth every man so

sharply with dreadful eyen, that be evermore moving and sparkling

as fire, and changeth and stirreth so often in diverse manner, with

so horrible countenance, that no man dare not neighen towards him.

And from him cometh out smoke and stinking fire and so much

abomination, that unnethe no man may there endure.

But the good Christian men, that be stable in the faith, enter well

without peril. For they will first shrive them and mark them with

the token of the holy cross, so that the fiends ne have no power

over them. But albeit that they be without peril, yet, natheles,

ne be they not without dread, when that they see the devils visibly

and bodily all about them, that make full many diverse assaults and

menaces, in air and in earth, and aghast them with strokes of

thunder-blasts and of tempests. And the most dread is, that God

will take vengeance then of that that men have misdone against his

will.

And ye shall understand, that when my fellows and I were in that

vale, we were in great thought, whether that we durst put our

bodies in adventure, to go in or not, in the protection of God.

And some of our fellows accorded to enter, and some not. So there

were with us two worthy men, friars minors, that were of Lombardy,

that said, that if any man would enter they would go in with us.

And when they had said so, upon the gracious trust of God and of

them, we let sing mass, and made every man to be shriven and

houseled. And then we entered fourteen persons; but at our going

out we were but nine. And so we wist never, whether that our

fellows were lost, or else turned again for dread. But we saw them

never after; and those were two men of Greece, and three of Spain.

And our other fellows that would not go in with us, they went by

another coast to be before us; and so they were.

And thus we passed that perilous vale, and found therein gold and

silver, and precious stones and rich jewels, great plenty, both

here and there, as us seemed. But whether that it was, as us

seemed, I wot never. For I touched none, because that the devils

be so subtle to make a thing to seem otherwise than it is, for to

deceive mankind. And therefore I touched none, and also because

that I would not be put out of my devotion; for I was more devout

then, than ever I was before or after, and all for the dread of

fiends that I saw in diverse figures, and also for the great

multitude of dead bodies, that I saw there lying by the way, by all

the vale, as though there had been a battle between two kings, and

the mightiest of the country, and that the greater part had been

discomfited and slain. And I trow, that unnethe should any country

have so much people within him, as lay slain in that vale as us

thought, the which was an hideous sight to see. And I marvelled

much, that there were so many, and the bodies all whole without

rotting. But I trow, that fiends made them seem to be so whole

without rotting. But that might not be to mine advice that so many

should have entered so newly, ne so many newly slain, with out

stinking and rotting. And many of them were in habit of Christian

men, but I trow well, that it were of such that went in for

covetise of the treasure that was there, and had overmuch

feebleness in the faith; so that their hearts ne might not endure

in the belief for dread. And therefore were we the more devout a

great deal. And yet we were cast down, and beaten down many times

to the hard earth by winds and thunders and tempests. But evermore

God of his grace holp us. And so we passed that perilous vale

without peril and without encumbrance, thanked be Almighty God.

After this, beyond the vale, is a great isle, where the folk be

great giants of twenty-eight foot long, or of thirty foot long.

And they have no clothing but of skins of beasts that they hang

upon them. And they eat no bread, but all raw flesh; and they

drink milk of beasts, for they have plenty of all bestial. And

they have no houses to lie in. And they eat more gladly man's

flesh than any other flesh. Into that isle dare no man gladly

enter. And if they see a ship and men therein, anon they enter

into the sea for to take them.

And men said us, that in an isle beyond that were giants of greater

stature, some of forty-five foot, or of fifty foot long, and, as

some men say, some of fifty cubits long. But I saw none of those,

for I had no lust to go to those parts, because that no man cometh

neither into that isle ne into the other, but if he be devoured

anon. And among those giants be sheep as great as oxen here, and

they bear great wool and rough. Of the sheep I have seen many

times. And men have seen, many times, those giants take men in the

sea out of their ships, and brought them to land, two in one hand

and two in another, eating them going, all raw and all quick.

Another isle is there toward the north, in the sea Ocean, where

that be full cruel and full evil women of nature. And they have

precious stones in their eyen. And they be of that kind, that if

they behold any man with wrath, they slay him anon with the

beholding, as doth the basilisk.

Another isle is there, full fair and good and great, and full of

people, where the custom is such, that the first night that they be

married, they make another man to lie by their wives for to have

their maidenhead: and therefore they take great hire and great

thank. And there be certain men in every town that serve of none

other thing; and they clepe them cadeberiz, that is to say, the

fools of wanhope. For they of the country hold it so great a thing

and so perilous for to have the maidenhead of a woman, that them

seemeth that they that have first the maidenhead putteth him in

adventure of his life. And if the husband find his wife maiden

that other next night after that she should have been lain by of

the man that is assigned therefore, peradventure for drunkenness or

for some other cause, the husband shall plain upon him that he hath

not done his devoir, in such cruel wise as though the officers

would have slain him. But after the first night that they be lain

by, they keep them so straitly that they be not so hardy to speak

with no man. And I asked them the cause why that they held such

custom: and they said me, that of old time men had been dead for

deflowering of maidens, that had serpents in their bodies that

stung men upon their yards, that they died anon: and therefore

they held that customs to make other men ordained therefore to lie

by their wives, for dread of death, and to assay the passage by

another [rather] than for to put them in that adventure.

After that is another isle where that women make great sorrow when

their children be y-born. And when they die, they make great feast

and great joy and revel, and then they cast them into a great fire

burning. And those that love well their husbands, if their

husbands be dead, they cast them also in the fire with their

children, and burn them. And they say that the fire shall cleanse

them of all filths and of all vices, and they shall go pured and

clean into another world to their husbands, and they shall lead

their children with them. And the cause why that they weep, when

their children be born is this; for when they come into this world,

they come to labour, sorrow and heaviness. And why they make joy

and gladness at their dying is because that, as they say, then they

go to Paradise where the rivers run milk and honey, where that men

see them in joy and in abundance of goods, without sorrow and

labour.

In that isle men make their king evermore by election, and they ne

choose him not for no noblesse nor for no riches, but such one as

is of good manners and of good conditions, and therewithal

rightfull, and also that he be of great age, and that he have no

children. In that isle men be full rightfull and they do rightfull

judgments in every cause both of rich and poor, small and great,

after the quantity of the trespass that is mis-done. And the king

may not doom no man to death without assent of his barons and other

men wise of counsel, and that all the court accord thereto. And if

the king himself do any homicide or any crime, as to slay a man, or

any such case, he shall die there for. But he shall not be slain

as another man; but men shall defend, in pain of death, that no man

be so hardy to make him company ne to speak with him, ne that no

man give him, ne sell him, ne serve him, neither of meat ne of

drink; and so shall he die in mischief. They spare no man that

hath trespassed, neither for love, ne for favour ne for riches, ne

for noblesse; but that he shall have after that he hath done.

Beyond that isle is another isle, where is great multitude of folk.

And they will not, for no thing, eat flesh of hares, ne of hens, ne

of geese; and yet they bring forth enough, for to see them and to

behold them only; but they eat flesh of all other beasts, and drink

milk. In that country they take their daughters and their sisters

to their wives, and their other kinswomen. And if there be ten men

or twelve men or more dwelling in an house, the wife of everych of

them shall be common to them all that dwell in that house; so that

every man may lie with whom he will of them on one night, and with

another, another night. And if she have any child, she may give it

to what man that she list, that hath companied with her, so that no

man knoweth there whether the child be his or another's. And if

any man say to them, that they nourish other men's children, they

answer that so do over men theirs.

In that country and by all Ind be great plenty of cockodrills, that

is a manner of a long serpent, as I have said before. And in the

night they dwell in the water, and on the day upon the land, in

rocks and in caves. And they eat no meat in all the winter, but

they lie as in a dream, as do the serpents. These serpents slay

men, and they eat them weeping; and when they eat they move the

over jaw, and not the nether jaw, and they have no tongue.

In that country and in many other beyond that, and also in many on

this half, men put in work the seed of cotton, and they sow it

every year. And then groweth it in small trees, that bear cotton.

And so do men every year, so that there is plenty of cotton at all

times. Item; in this isle and in many other, there is a manner of

wood, hard and strong. Whoso covereth the coals of that wood under

the ashes thereof, the coals will dwell and abide all quick, a year

or more. And that tree hath many leaves, as the juniper hath. And

there be also many trees, that of nature they will never burn, ne

rot in no manner. And there be nut trees, that bear nuts as great

as a man's head.

There also be many beasts, that be clept orafles. In Arabia, they

be clept gerfaunts. That is a beast, pomely or spotted, that is

but a little more high than is a steed, but he hath the neck a

twenty cubits long; and his croup and his tail is as of an hart;

and he may look over a great high house. And there be also in that

country many camles; that is a little beast as a goat, that is

wild, and he liveth by the air and eateth nought, ne drinketh

nought, at no time. And he changeth his colour often-time, for men

see him often sithes, now in one colour and now in another colour;

and he may change him into all manner colours that him list, save

only into red and white. There be also in that country passing

great serpents, some of six score foot long, and they be of diverse

colours, as rayed, red, green, and yellow, blue and black, and all

speckled. And there be others that have crests upon their heads,

and they go upon their feet, upright, and they be well a four

fathom great, or more, and they dwell always in rocks or in

mountains, and they have alway the throat open, of whence they drop

venom always. And there be also wild swine of many colours, as

great as be oxen in our country, and they be all spotted, as be

young fawns. And there be also urchins, as great as wild swine

here; we clepe them Porcz de Spine. And there be lions all white,

great and mighty. And there be also of other beasts, as great and

more greater than is a destrier, and men clepe them Loerancs; and

some men clepe them odenthos; and they have a black head and three

long horns trenchant in the front, sharp as a sword, and the body

is slender; and he is a full felonious beast, and he chaseth and

slayeth the elephant. There be also many other beasts, full wicked

and cruel, that be not mickle more than a bear, and they have the

head like a boar, and they have six feet, and on every foot two

large claws, trenchant; and the body is like a bear, and the tail

as a lion. And there be also mice as great as hounds, and yellow

mice as great as ravens. And there be geese, all red, three sithes

more great than ours here, and they have the head, the neck and the

breast all black.

And many other diverse beasts be in those countries, and elsewhere

there-about, and many diverse birds also, of the which it were too

long for to tell you. And therefore, I pass over at this time.

CHAPTER XXXII

OF THE GOODNESS OF THE FOLK OF THE ISLE OF BRAGMAN. OF KING

ALEXANDER. AND WHEREFORE THE EMPEROR OF IND IS CLEPT PRESTER JOHN

AND beyond that isle is another isle, great and good and plenteous,

where that be good folk and true, and of good living after their

belief and of good faith. And albeit that they be not christened,

ne have no perfect law, yet, natheles, of kindly law they be full

of all virtue, and they eschew all vices and all malices and all

sins. For they be not proud, ne covetous, ne envious, ne wrathful,

ne gluttons, ne lecherous. Ne they do to any man otherwise than

they would that other men did to them, and in this point they

fulfil the ten commandments of God, and give no charge of avoir, ne

of riches. And they lie not, ne they swear not for none occasion,

but they say simply, yea and nay; for they say, he that sweareth

will deceive his neighbour, and therefore, all that they do, they

do it without oath.

And men clepe that isle the Isle of Bragman, and some men clepe it

the Land of Faith. And through that land runneth a great river

that is clept Thebe. And, in general, all the men of those isles

and of all the marches thereabout be more true than in any other

countries thereabout, and more rightfull than others in all things.

In that isle, is no thief, ne murderer, ne common woman, ne poor

beggar, ne never was man slain in that country. And they be so

chaste, and lead so good life, as that they were religious men, and

they fast all days. And because they be so true and so rightfull,

and so full of all good conditions, they were never grieved with

tempests, ne with thunder, ne with light, ne with hail, ne with

pestilence, ne with war, ne with hunger, ne with none other

tribulation, as we be, many times, amongst us, for our sins.

Wherefore, it seemeth well, that God loveth them and is pleased

with their creaunce for their good deeds. They believe well in

God, that made all things, and him they worship. And they prize

none earthly riches; and so they be all rightfull. And they live

full ordinately, and so soberly in meat and drink, that they live

right long. And the most part of them die without sickness, when

nature faileth them, for eld.

And it befell in King Alexander's time, that he purposed him to

conquer that isle and to make them to hold of him. And when they

of the country heard it, they sent messengers to him with letters,

that said thus; What may be enough to that man to whom all the

world is insufficient? Thou shalt find nothing in us, that may

cause thee to war against us. For we have no riches, ne none we

covet, and all the goods of our country be in common. Our meat,

that we sustain withal our bodies, is our riches. And, instead of

treasure of gold and silver, we make our treasure of accord and

peace, and for to love every man other. And for to apparel with

our bodies we use a silly little clout for to wrap in our carrion.

Our wives ne be not arrayed for to make no man pleasance, but only

convenable array for to eschew folly. When men pain them to array

the body for to make it seem fairer than God made it, they do great

sin. For man should not devise ne ask greater beauty, than God

hath ordained man to be at his birth. The earth ministereth to us

two things, - our livelihood, that cometh of the earth that we live

by, and our sepulture after our death. We have been in perpetual

peace till now, that thou come to disinherit us. And also we have

a king, not only for to do justice to every man, for he shall find

no forfeit among us; but for to keep noblesse, and for to shew that

we be obeissant, we have a king. For justice ne hath not among us

no place, for we do to no man otherwise than we desire that men do

to us. So that righteousness ne vengeance have nought to do among

us. So that nothing thou may take from us, but our good peace,

that always hath dured among us.

And when King Alexander had read these letters, he thought that he

should do great sin, for to trouble them. And then he sent them

sureties, that they should not be afeard of him, and that they

should keep their good manners and their good peace, as they had

used before, of custom. And so he let them alone.

Another isle there is, that men clepe Oxidrate, and another isle,

that men clepe Gynosophe, where there is also good folk, and full

of good faith. And they hold, for the most part, the good

conditions and customs and good manners, as men of the country

abovesaid; but they go all naked.

Into that isle entered King Alexander, to see the manner. And when

he saw their great faith, and their truth that was amongst them, he

said that he would not grieve them, and bade them ask of him what

that they would have of him, riches or anything else, and they

should have it, with good will. And they answered, that he was

rich enough that had meat and drink to sustain the body with, for

the riches of this world, that is transitory, is not worth; but if

it were in his power to make them immortal, thereof would they pray

him, and thank him. And Alexander answered them that it was not in

his power to do it, because he was mortal, as they were. And then

they asked him why he was so proud and so fierce, and so busy for

to put all the world under his subjection, right as thou were a

God, and hast no term of this life, neither day ne hour, and

willest to have all the world at thy commandment, that shall leave

thee without fail, or thou leave it. And right as it hath been to

other men before thee, right so it shall be to other after thee.

And from hence shalt thou bear nothing; but as thou were born

naked, right so all naked shall thy body be turned into earth that

thou were made of. Wherefore thou shouldest think and impress it

in thy mind, that nothing is immortal, but only God, that made the

thing. By the which answer Alexander was greatly astonished and

abashed, and all confused and departed from them.

And albeit that these folk have not the articles of our faith as we

have, natheles, for their good faith natural, and for their good

intent, I trow fully, that God loveth them, and that God take their

service to gree, right as he did of Job, that was a paynim, and

held him for his true servant. And therefore, albeit that there be

many diverse laws in the world, yet I trow, that God loveth always

them that love him, and serve him meekly in truth, and namely them

that despise the vain glory of this world, as this folk do and as

Job did also.

And therefore said our Lord by the mouth of Hosea the prophet,

PONAM EIS MULTIPLICES LEGES MEAS; and also in another place, QUI

TOTUM ORBEM SUBDIT SUIS LEGIBUS. And also our Lord saith in the

Gospel, ALIAS OVES HABEO, QUE NON SUNT EX HOC OVILI, that is to

say, that he had other servants than those that be under Christian

law. And to that accordeth the avision that Saint Peter saw at

Jaffa, how the angel came from heaven, and brought before him

diverse beasts, as serpents and other creeping beasts of the earth,

and of other also, great plenty, and bade him take and eat. And

Saint Peter answered; I eat never, quoth he, of unclean beasts.

And then said the angel, NON DICAS IMMUNDA, QUE DEUS MUNDAVIT. And

that was in token that no man should have in despite none earthly

man for their diverse laws, for we know not whom God loveth, ne

whom God hateth. And for that example, when men say, DE PROFUNDIS,

they say it in common and in general, with the Christian, PRO

ANIMABUS OMNIUM DEFUNCTORUM, PRO QUIBUS SIT ORANDUM.

And therefore say I of this folk, that be so true and so faithful,

that God loveth them. For he hath amongst them many of the

prophets, and alway hath had. And in those isles, they prophesied

the Incarnation of Lord Jesu Christ, how he should be born of a

maiden, three thousand year or more or our Lord was born of the

Virgin Mary. And they believe well it, the Incarnation, and that

full perfectly, but they know not the manner, how he suffered his

passion and death for us.

And beyond these isles there is another isle that is clept Pytan.

The folk of that country ne till not, ne labour not the earth, for

they eat no manner thing. And they be of good colour and of fair

shape, after their greatness. But the small be as dwarfs, but not

so little as be the Pigmies. These men live by the smell of wild

apples. And when they go any far way, they bear the apples with

them; for if they had lost the savour of the apples, they should

die anon. They ne be not full reasonable, but they be simple and

bestial.

After that is another isle, where the folk be all skinned rough

hair, as a rough beast, save only the face and the palm of the

hand. These folk go as well under the water of the sea, as they do

above the land all dry. And they eat both flesh and fish all raw.

In this isle is a great river that is well a two mile and an half

of breadth that is clept Beaumare.

And from that river a fifteen journeys in length, going by the

deserts of the tother side of the river - whoso might go it, for I

was not there, but it was told us of them of the country, that

within those deserts were the trees of the sun and of the moon,

that spake to King Alexander, and warned him of his death. And men

say that the folk that keep those trees, and eat of the fruit and

of the balm that groweth there, live well four hundred year or five

hundred year, by virtue of the fruit and of the balm. For men say

that balm groweth there in great plenty and nowhere else, save only

at Babylon, as I have told you before. We would have gone toward

the trees full gladly if we had might. But I trow that 100,000 men

of arms might not pass those deserts safely, for the great

multitude of wild beasts and of great dragons and of great serpents

that there be, that slay and devour all that come anent them. In

that country be many white elephants without number, and of

unicorns and of lions of many manners, and many of such beasts that

I have told before, and of many other hideous beasts without

number.

Many other isles there be in the land of Prester John, and many

great marvels, that were too long to tell all, both of his riches

and of his noblesse and of the great plenty also of precious stones

that he hath. I trow that ye know well enough, and have heard say,

wherefore this emperor is clept Prester John. But, natheles, for

them that know not, I shall say you the cause.

It was sometime an emperor there, that was a worthy and a full

noble prince, that had Christian knights in his company, as he hath

that is now. So it befell, that he had great list for to see the

service in the church among Christian men. And then dured

Christendom beyond the sea, all Turkey, Syria, Tartary, Jerusalem,

Palestine, Arabia, Aleppo and all the land of Egypt. And so it

befell that this emperor came with a Christian knight with him into

a church in Egypt. And it was the Saturday in Whitsun-week. And

the bishop made orders. And he beheld, and listened the service

full tentively. And he asked the Christian knight what men of

degree they should be that the prelate had before him. And the

knight answered and said that they should be priests. And then the

emperor said that he would no longer be clept king ne emperor, but

priest, and that he would have the name of the first priest that

went out of the church, and his name was John. And so ever-more

sithens, he is clept Prester John.

In his land be many Christian men of good faith and of good law,

and namely of them of the same country, and have commonly their

priests, that sing the Mass, and make the sacrament of the altar,

of bread, right as the Greeks do; but they say not so many things

at the Mass as men do here. For they say not but only that that

the apostles said, as our Lord taught them, right as Saint Peter

and Saint Thomas and the other apostles sung the Mass, saying the

PATER NOSTER and the words of the sacrament. But we have many more

additions that divers popes have made, that they ne know not of.

CHAPTER XXXIII

OF THE HILLS OF GOLD THAT PISMIRES KEEP. AND OF THE FOUR FLOODS

THAT COME FROM PARADISE TERRESTRIAL

TOWARD the east part of Prester John's land is an isle good and

great, that men clepe Taprobane, that is full noble and full

fructuous. And the king thereof is full rich, and is under the

obeissance of Prester John. And always there they make their king

by election. In that isle be two summers and two winters, and men

harvest the corn twice a year. And in all the seasons of the year

be the gardens flourished. There dwell good folk and reasonable,

and many Christian men amongst them, that be so rich that they wit

not what to do with their goods. Of old time, when men passed from

the land of Prester John unto that isle, men made ordinance for to

pass by ship, twenty-three days, or more; but now men pass by ship

in seven days. And men may see the bottom of the sea in many

places, for it is not full deep.

Beside that isle, toward the east, be two other isles. And men

clepe that one Orille, and that other Argyte, of the which all the

land is mine of gold and silver. And those isles be right where

that the Red Sea departeth from the sea ocean. And in those isles

men see there no stars so clearly as in other places. For there

appear no stars, but only one clear star that men clepe Canapos.

And there is not the moon seen in all the lunation, save only the

second quarter.

In the isle also of this Taprobane be great hills of gold, that

pismires keep full diligently. And they fine the pured gold, and

cast away the un-pured. And these pismires be great as hounds, so

that no man dare come to those hills for the pismires would assail

them and devour them anon. So that no man may get of that gold,

but by great sleight. And therefore when it is great heat, the

pismires rest them in the earth, from prime of the day into noon.

And then the folk of the country take camels, dromedaries, and

horses and other beasts, and go thither, and charge them in all

haste that they may; and after that, they flee away in all haste

that the beasts may go, or the pismires come out of the earth. And

in other times, when it is not so hot, and that the pismires ne

rest them not in the earth, then they get gold by this subtlety.

They take mares that have young colts or foals, and lay upon the

mares void vessels made there-for; and they be all open above, and

hanging low to the earth. And then they send forth those mares for

to pasture about those hills, and with-hold the foals with them at

home. And when the pismires see those vessels, they leap in anon:

and they have this kind that they let nothing be empty among them,

but anon they fill it, be it what manner of thing that it be; and

so they fill those vessels with gold. And when that the folk

suppose that the vessels be full, they put forth anon the young

foals, and make them to neigh after their dams. And then anon the

mares return towards their foals with their charges of gold. And

then men discharges them, and get gold enough by this subtlety.

For the pismires will suffer beasts to go and pasture amongst them,

but no man in no wise.

And beyond the land and the isles and the deserts of Prester John's

lordship, in going straight toward the east, men find nothing but

mountains and rocks, full great. And there is the dark region,

where no man may see, neither by day ne by night, as they of the

country say. And that desert and that place of darkness dure from

this coast unto Paradise terrestrial, where that Adam, our formest

father, and Eve were put, that dwelled there but little while: and

that is towards the east at the beginning of the earth. But that

is not that east that we clepe our east, on this half, where the

sun riseth to us. For when the sun is east in those parts towards

Paradise terrestrial, it is then midnight in our parts on this

half, for the roundness of the earth, of the which I have touched

to you of before. For our Lord God made the earth all round in the

mid place of the firmament. And there as mountains and hills be

and valleys, that is not but only of Noah's flood, that wasted the

soft ground and the tender, and fell down into valleys, and the

hard earth and the rocks abide mountains, when the soft earth and

tender waxed nesh through the water, and fell and became valleys.

Of Paradise ne can I not speak properly. For I was not there. It

is far beyond. And that forthinketh me. And also I was not

worthy. But as I have heard say of wise men beyond, I shall tell

you with good will.

Paradise terrestrial, as wise men say, is the highest place of

earth, that is in all the world. And it is so high that it

toucheth nigh to the circle of the moon, there as the moon maketh

her turn; for she is so high that the flood of Noah ne might not

come to her, that would have covered all the earth of the world all

about and above and beneath, save Paradise only alone. And this

Paradise is enclosed all about with a wall, and men wit not whereof

it is; for the walls be covered all over with moss, as it seemeth.

And it seemeth not that the wall is stone of nature, ne of none

other thing that the wall is. And that wall stretcheth from the

south to the north, and it hath not but one entry that is closed

with fire, burning; so that no man that is mortal ne dare not

enter.

And in the most high place of Paradise, even in the middle place,

is a well that casteth out the four floods that run by divers

lands. Of the which, the first is clept Pison, or Ganges, that is

all one; and it runneth throughout Ind or Emlak, in the which river

be many precious stones, and much of lignum aloes and much gravel

of gold. And that other river is clept Nilus or Gison, that goeth

by Ethiopia and after by Egypt. And that other is clept Tigris,

that runneth by Assyria and by Armenia the great. And that other

is clept Euphrates, that runneth also by Media and Armenia and by

Persia. And men there beyond say, that all the sweet waters of the

world, above and beneath, take their beginning of the well of

Paradise, and out of that well all waters come and go.

The first river is clept Pison, that is to say in their language

Assembly; for many other rivers meet them there, and go into that

river. And some men clepe it Ganges, for a king that was in Ind,

that hight Gangeres, and that it ran throughout his land. And that

water [is] in some place clear, and in some place troubled, in some

place hot, and in some place cold.

The second river is clept Nilus or Gison; for it is always trouble;

and Gison, in the language of Ethiopia, is to say, trouble, and in

the language of Egypt also.

The third river, that is dept Tigris, is as much for to say as,

fast-running; for he runneth more fast than any of the tother; and

also there is a beast, that is clept tigris, that is fast-running.

The fourth river is clept Euphrates, that is to say, well-bearing;

for there grow many goods upon that river, as corns, fruits and

other goods enough plenty.

And ye shall understand that no man that is mortal ne may not

approach to that Paradise. For by land no man may go for wild

beasts that be in the deserts, and for the high mountains and great

huge rocks that no man may pass by, for the dark places that be

there, and that many. And by the rivers may no man go. For the

water runneth so rudely and so sharply, because that it cometh down

so outrageously from the high places above, that it runneth in so

great waves, that no ship may not row ne sail against it. And the

water roareth so, and maketh so huge noise and so great tempest,

that no man may hear other in the ship, though he cried with all

the craft that he could in the highest voice that he might. Many

great lords have assayed with great will, many times, for to pass

by those rivers towards Paradise, with full great companies. But

they might not speed in their voyage. And many died for weariness

of rowing against those strong waves. And many of them became

blind, and many deaf, for the noise of the water. And some were

perished and lost within the waves. So that no mortal man may

approach to that place, without special grace of God, so that of

that place I can say you no more; and therefore, I shall hold me

still, and return to that, that I have seen.

CHAPTER XXXIV

OF THE CUSTOMS OF KINGS AND OTHER THAT DWELL IN THE ISLES COASTING

TO PRESTER JOHN'S LAND. AND OF THE WORSHIP THAT THE SON DOTH TO

THE FATHER WHEN HE IS DEAD

FROM those isles that I have spoken of before, in the Land of

Prester John, that be under earth as to us that be on this half,

and of other isles that be more further beyond, whoso will, pursue

them for to come again right to the parts that he came from, and so

environ all earth. But what for the isles, what for the sea, and

what for strong rowing, few folk assay for to pass that passage;

albeit that men might do it well, that might be of power to dress

them thereto, as I have said you before. And therefore men return

from those isles abovesaid by other isles, coasting from the land

of Prester John.

And then come men in returning to an isle that is clept Casson.

And that isle hath well sixty journeys in length, and more than

fifty in breadth. This is the best isle and the best kingdom that

is in all those parts, out-taken Cathay. And if the merchants used

as much that country as they do Cathay, it would be better than

Cathay in a short while. This country is full well inhabited, and

so full of cities and of good towns inhabited with people, that

when a man goeth out of one city, men see another city even before

them; and that is what part that a man go, in all that country. In

that isle is great plenty of all goods for to live with, and of all

manner of spices. And there be great forests of chestnuts. The

king of that isle is full rich and full mighty, and, natheles, he

holds his land of the great Chan, and is obeissant to him. For it

is one of the twelve provinces that the great Chan hath under him

without his proper land, and without other less isles that he hath;

for he hath full many.

From that kingdom come men, in returning, to another isle that is

clept Rybothe, and it is also under the great Chan. That is a full

good country, and full plenteous of all goods and of wines and

fruit and all other riches. And the folk of that country have no

houses, but they dwell and lie all under tents made of black fern,

by all the country. And the principal city and the most royal is

all walled with black stone and white. And all the streets also be

pathed of the same stones. In that city is no man so hardy to shed

blood of any man, ne of no beast, for the reverence of an idol that

is worshipped there. And in that isle dwelleth the pope of their

law, that they clepe Lobassy. This Lobassy giveth all the

benefices, and all other dignities and all other things that belong

to the idol. And all those that hold anything of their churches,

religious and other, obey to him, as men do here to the Pope of

Rome.

In that isle they have a custom by all the country, that when the

father is dead of any man, and the son list to do great worship to

his father, he sendeth to all his friends and to all his kin, and

for religious men and priests, and for minstrels also, great

plenty. And then men bear the dead body unto a great hill with

great joy and solemnity. And when they have brought it thither,

the chief prelate smiteth off the head, and layeth it upon a great

platter of gold and of silver, if so [he] be a rich man. And then

he taketh the head to the son. And then the son and his other kin

sing and say many orisons. And then the priests and the religious

men smite all the body of the dead man in pieces. And then they

say certain orisons. And the fowls of ravine of all the country

about know the custom of long time before, [and] come flying above

in the air; as eagles, gledes, ravens and other fowls of ravine,

that eat flesh. And then the priests cast the gobbets of the flesh

and then the fowls, each of them, taketh that he may, and goeth a

little thence and eateth it; and so they do whilst any piece

lasteth of the dead body.

And after that, as priests amongst us sing for the dead, SUBVENITE

SANCTI DEI, ETC., right so the priests sing with high voice in

their language; Behold how so worthy a man and how good a man this

was, that the angels of God come for to seek him and for to bring

him into Paradise. And then seemeth it to the son, that he is

highly worshipped, when that many birds and fowls and ravens come

and eat his father; and he that hath most number of fowls is most

worshipped.

And then the son bringeth home with him all his kin, and his

friends, and all the others to his house, and maketh them a great

feast. And then all his friends make their vaunt and their

dalliance, how the fowls came thither, here five, here six, here

ten, and there twenty, and so forth; and they rejoice them hugely

for to speak thereof. And when they be at meat, the son let bring

forth the head of his father, and thereof he giveth of the flesh to

his most special friends, instead of ENTRE MESSE, or a SUKKARKE.

And of the brain pan, he letteth make a cup, and thereof drinketh

he and his other friends also, with great devotion, in remembrance

of the holy man, that the angels of God have eaten. And that cup

the son shall keep to drink of all his life-time, in remembrance of

his father.

From that land, in returning by ten journeys throughout the land of

the great Chan, is another good isle and a great kingdom, where the

king is full rich and mighty.

And amongst the rich men of his country is a passing rich man, that

is no prince, ne duke, ne earl, but he hath more that hold of him

lands and other lordships, for he is more rich. For he hath, every

year, of annual rent 300,000 horses charged with corn of diverse

grains and of rice. And so he leadeth a full noble life and a

delicate, after the custom of the country. For he hath, every day,

fifty fair damosels, all maidens, that serve him evermore at his

meat, and for to lie by him o' night, and for to do with them that

is to his pleasance. And when he is at table, they bring him his

meat at every time, five and five together; and in bringing their

service they sing a song. And after that, they cut his meat, and

put it in his mouth; for he toucheth nothing, ne handleth nought,

but holdeth evermore his hands before him upon the table. For he

hath so long nails, that he may take nothing, ne handle nothing.

For the noblesse of that country is to have long nails, and to make

them grow always to be as long as men may. And there be many in

that country, that have their nails so long, that they environ all

the hand. And that is a great noblesse. And the noblesse of the

women is for to have small feet and little. And therefore anon as

they be born, they let bind their feet so strait, that they may not

grow half as nature would. And this is the noblesse of the women

there to have small feet and little. And always these damosels,

that I spake of before, sing all the time that this rich man

eateth. And when that he eateth no more of his first course, then

other five and five of fair damsels bring him his second course,

always singing as they did before. And so they do continually

every day to the end of his meat. And in this manner he leadeth

his life. And so did they before him, that were his ancestors.

And so shall they that come after him, without doing of any deeds

of arms, but live evermore thus in ease, as a. swine that is fed in

sty for to be made fat. He hath a full fair palace and full rich,

where that he dwelleth in, of the which the walls be, in circuit,

two mile. And he hath within many fair gardens, and many fair

halls and chambers; and the pavement of his halls and chambers be

of gold and silver. And in the mid place of one of his gardens is

a little mountain, where there is a little meadow. And in that

meadow is a little toothill with towers and pinnacles, all of gold.

And in that little toothill will he sit often-time, for to take the

air and to disport him. For the place is made for nothing else,

but only for his disport.

From that country men come by the land of the great Chan also, that

I have spoken of before.

And ye shall understand, that of all these countries, and of all

these isles, and of all the diverse folk, that I have spoken of

before, and of diverse laws, and of diverse beliefs that they have,

yet is there none of them all but that they have some reason within

them and understanding, but if it be the fewer, and that have

certain articles of our faith and some good points of our belief,

and that they believe in God, that formed all things and made the

world, and clepe him God of Nature; after that the prophet saith,

ET METUENT EUM OMNES FINES TERRAE, and also in another place, OMNES

GENTES SERVIENT EI, that is to say, 'All folk shall serve him.'

But yet they cannot speak perfectly (for there is no man to teach

them), but only that they can devise by their natural wit. For

they have no knowledge of the Son, ne of the Holy Ghost. But they

can all speak of the Bible, and namely of Genesis, of the prophet's

saws and of the books of Moses. And they say well, that the

creatures that they worship ne be no gods; but they worship them

for the virtue that is in them, that may not be but only by the

grace of God. And of simulacres and of idols, they say, that there

be no folk, but that they have simulacres. And that they say, for

we Christian men have images, as of our Lady and of other saints

that we worship; not the images of tree or of stone, but the

saints, in whose name they be made after. For right as the books

and the scripture of them teach the clerks how and in what manner

they shall believe, right so the images and the paintings teach the

lewd folk to worship the saints and to have them in their mind, in

whose names that the images be made after. They say also, that the

angels of God speak to them in those idols, and that they do many

great miracles. And they say sooth, that there is an angel within

them. For there be two manner of angels, a good and an evil, as

the Greeks say, Cacho and Calo. This Cacho is the wicked angel,

and Calo is the good angel. But the tother is not the good angel,

but the wicked angel that is within the idols to deceive them and

for to maintain them in their error.

There be many other divers countries and many other marvels beyond,

that I have not seen. Wherefore, of them I cannot speak properly

to tell you the manner of them. And also in the countries where I

have been, be many more diversities of many wonderful things than I

make mention of; for it were too long thing to devise you the

manner. And therefore, that that I have devised you of certain

countries, that I have spoken of before, I beseech your worthy and

excellent noblesse, that it suffice to you at this time. For if

that I devised you all that is beyond the sea, another man,

peradventure, that would pain him and travail his body for to go

into those marches for to ensearch those countries, might be blamed

by my words in rehearsing many strange things; for he might not say

nothing of new, in the which the hearers might have either solace,

or disport, or lust, or liking in the hearing. For men say always,

that new things and new tidings be pleasant to hear. Wherefore I

will hold me still, without any more rehearsing of diversities or

of marvels that be beyond, to that intent and end, that whoso will

go into those countries, he shall find enough to speak of, that I

have not touched of in no wise.

And ye shall understand, if it like you, that at mine home-coming,

I came to Rome, and shewed my life to our holy father the pope, and

was assoiled of all that lay in my conscience, of many a diverse

grievous point; as men must needs that be in company, dwelling

amongst so many a diverse folk of diverse sect and of belief, as I

have been.

And amongst all I shewed him this treatise, that I had made after

information of men that knew of things that I had not seen myself,

and also of marvels and customs that I had seen myself, as far as

God would give me grace; and besought his holy fatherhood, that my

book might be examined and corrected by advice of his wise and

discreet council. And our holy father, of his special grace,

remitted my book to be examined and proved by the advice of his

said counsel. By the which my book was proved for true, insomuch,

that they shewed me a book, that my book was examined by, that

comprehended full much more, by an hundred part, by the which the

MAPPA MUNDI was made after. And so my book (albeit that many men

ne list not to give credence to nothing, but to that that they see

with their eye, ne be the author ne the person never so true) is

affirmed and proved by our holy father, in manner and form as I

have said.

And I, John Mandevile, knight, abovesaid (although I be unworthy),

that departed from our countries and passed the sea, the year of

grace a thousand three hundred and twenty two, that have passed

many lands and many isles and countries, and searched many full

strange places, and have been in many a full good honourable

company, and at many a fair deed of arms (albeit that I did none

myself, for mine unable insuffisance), now I am come home, maugre

myself, to rest, for gouts artetykes that me distrain, that define

the end of my labour; against my will (God knoweth).

And thus, taking solace in my wretched rest, recording the time

passed, I have fulfilled these things, and put them written in this

book, as it would come into my mind, the year of grace a thousand

three hundred and fifty six, in the thirty-fourth year, that I

departed from our countries.

Wherefore, I pray to all the readers and hearers of this book, if

it please them, that they would pray to God for me; and I shall

pray for them. And all those that say for me a PATER NOSTER, with

an AVE MARIA, that God forgive me my sins, I make them partners,

and grant them part of all the good pilgrimages and of all the good

deeds that I have done, if any be to his pleasance; and not only of

those, but of all that ever I shall do unto my life's end. And I

beseech Almighty God, from whom all goodness and grace cometh from,

that he vouchsafe of his excellent mercy and abundant grace, to

fulfil their souls with inspiration of the Holy Ghost, in making

defence of all their ghostly enemies here in earth, to their

salvation both of body and soul; to worship and thanking of him,

that is three and one, without beginning and without ending; that

is without quality, good, without quantity, great; that in all

places is present, and all things containing; the which that no

goodness may amend, ne none evil impair; that in perfect Trinity

liveth and reigneth God, by all worlds, and by all times!

AMEN! AMEN! AMEN!

[HERE ENDETH THE BOOK OF JOHN MANDEVILLE.]