Hier begynneth the booke callyd the Myrrour of the worlde ...

¶Here after bygynneth the seconde partye of this present book. and declareth how therthe is deuyded and what partie she is enhabyted / Capitulo primo.

SYth that the erthe is so lytyl as ye haue herd here to fore deuysed lytyl maye we preyse the goodes therof vnto the regard of heuen. lasse than men do donge a∣yenst fin gold. or ayenst precyous stones / how wel that in thende that one and that other shal be of no walewe. but for somoche as we beyng in this world vs semeth that the erthe is moche grete we haue declared to you as wel the roūdenesse as the gretenes to our power & that shortly. syth we haue vnderstande how the erthe is rounde on alle partes as an apple. Neuertheles it is not enhabyted in all parties whiche is well knowen. of no people of the world / And it is not enhabyted but in one quarter only lyke as the philo∣sophers haue enserched / whiche put for to knowe it grete trauayll & estudye and therfore we shal deuyse it al abou¦te in foure parties / of whiche ye may take ensample by an apple / whiche shal be parted by the myddle in foure parties right of lengthe & of brede by the core / and pare a quarter. & stratche the parell for to se & vnderstōde the facion in playn erthe or in your hande /

[illustration]

ANd in y^e ende of this lyne / Lyke as she gooth right by lyne / We may see a cyte whi¦che is callyd Aron it is sette in y^e myd∣dle of y^e world. and was made all roūde ther was foūdē first astronomye by gre∣te studye / by grete maistrye / & by grete dylygēce / This pla∣ce Aaron is named y^e right mydday as she that is sette in y^e myddle of y^e world that other heed of this lyne. whiche gooth right toward the lyfte syde. is cal∣lyd septentrion that is to saye north and taketh his name

of the vij sterres / and torneth toward another sterre that ledeth the maronners by the see / In that other lyne that is y^e myddle / whiche the south cutteth in the ende toward the eest as the auctours saye is paradis terrestre. where adam was in somtyme This place is callyd oryent that is to saye eest For fro thens cometh the sonne whiche maketh the day a∣boute y^e world. And that other heed is callyd occydent that is to saye weste. For there the day faylleth and wexith der¦ke whan the sonne goth doun there. thus and by this reson

[illustration]

be nam••d the foure parties of the world of whiche the first cōteineth the eest. The secon¦de the west The therde the south. And the fourthe the north. & this that we ens••ygne you ye may see by this figure to fore on that other syde

THyse foure partyes that I haue declared to yow. whiche ben sette in a quarter of alle the erthe of the world ought to haue a rounde fourme / For rayson and nature gyue that alle the worlde be rounde / ¶And therfore vnderstande ye of this quarter as it were alle rounde ¶ Now make we thenne of this quarter

[illustration]

a cercle that is al round & al h••ol / & late vs sette in y^e middle of th∣is lyne y^t she¦weth y^e eest & y^e west for to sette the parti¦es in her rig∣ht as this pre¦sēte figure y^t here is repre∣sēteth sheweth to you plainli

AFter late eche partye be torned toward his name in therthe / of whiche eche shal be the fourth parte / & this

[illustration]

present fygu∣re is enseyg∣nement and demonstraūce certayne and trewe wyth∣out ony vary¦acyon ne dou¦btaunce.

¶What par¦te of therthe is in hahyted Capl^o. ij^o.

[illustration]

ALle the erthe y^t is the world enhabyted is deuided in thre parties. and therfor it beho¦ueth by this reson to ma∣ke an other dyuysion. Of whiche y^e par∣tie toward ori¦ent is callyd Asia y^e grete And taketh the name of a quene that somtyme was lady of this regyon and was callyd asia this partie named asia

[illustration]

holdeth and conteyneth as moche space as doethe o∣ther tweyne. And therfor it is callyd Asia the gre¦te and dureth fro the north vnto y^e south like as this fygure she∣wyth /

That other part is called europe. & taketh his name of akynge callyd europes / the whiche was lord of this contre / & therfor it was so callyd. And it endureth fro the weste vnto the north. & marcheth vnto Asie the grete / that other parte is affryque whiche stratcheth fro the south vnto y^e west & affryque hath his name of helbe / & is as moche to saye as born away lyke as this figure deuyseth in iij. par∣tyes of whiche figure this is the demonstrance /

OF these thre partyes of the world here tofore named holden euerych many regyons & many coutreees / of whiche or at the leste of y^e most noble partie we shal declare the names / & how the bestes that ben there ben most comyn¦ly called. Thus we shal saye to you the condycions & four¦mes of somme / & in especial of them that ben most seen by men / And first we shal speke of the people of the contrees / And after of the bestes and fisshes lyke as the book dyuy∣seth to vs out of whiche is drawen this Mappe mundi /

¶First of paradis terrestre. and of the foure grete flodes that departe fro thens / ¶Capitulo / iij^o.

THe fyrst regyon of Asia the grete is paradys ter∣restre. This is a place whiche is full of solace / of playsances and of delyces / so that none that is therin may be greuyd ne haue none euyll in no maner of the worlde. In this paradys is the tree of lyf / and who that had eten of the fruyt. he shold not deye as longe as the world en∣dureth. But noman lyuyng may come theder / but yf our lord god or his angele conduyted and brought hym theder. For alle round aboute / it is enclosed wyw fyre brennyng the whiche goth flammyng vnto y^e clowdes Ther wythin∣ne sourdeth and spryngeth a fontayne or welle whiche is deuyded in to four flodes / Of whom that one is called

vngages that renneth a longe thurgh the royame of Inde And departeth in to many armes or braces. It sourdeth of the mount that is called Ortobares / the whiche is toward thorient / and falleth in to the see Occyan / The seconde of y^e four flodes is named gyon. or nylus / Whiche entreth in to therthe by an hool. and renneth vnder the erthe so ferre that it resourdeth in to the longe see / whiche enuyronneth alle Ethiope so that it departeth in to vij partyes / and goth ren∣nyng by egypte so longe that it cometh and falleth in to y^e grete see / The other two flodes of whiche that one is callid Tygris. and that other eufrates sourden in hermenye nygh vnto amoche grete montayne whiche is named partheacus And thyse two flodes trauerse many grete contrees so lon tyl they mete in the see moyen where bothe two falle inne ly¦ke as their nature requyreth On this side paradys terres∣tre alle aboute ben ••••ny dyuerse places wythout ony resor¦te For none may dwelle there ne fynde place to lyue in / But there be plente of euyll beestis whiche ben fiers and crymynel and of many guyses ther ben. Ther ben geaūtes rowh and heery whiche deuoure and ete alle thyng as wul¦ues don. And many other wylde beestes.

¶Here speketh of ynde & of thynges that be found therin / Capitulo iiij^o.

AFter comen the contrees of Inde whiche take their name of a water that is called Inde / whiche sourdeth in the north. The Indes ben closed wyth the grete see that enuyronneth them round aboute. In Inde is an yle named Probane wherin ben founded ten cytees and plente of other townes. where as euery yere ben two somers & two wyn∣ters / And ben so attemprid that there is alway verdure / & vpon the trees ben contynuelly flowres l••euis and fruyt

And it is moche plentuous of gold and syluer and moche fertyle of other thynges / There be the grete montaynes of gold and of precyous stones and other richesses plente / but noman dar approche it for the dragons and for the gryf∣fons wylde whiche haue bodyes of lyons / fleyng whiche easily bere a man away armed and syttyng vpon his hors Whan he may sease him wyth his clawes and vngles ther ben yet plente of other places so delectable so swete and so spirituel that yf a man were ther in / he shold saye / that it we∣re a very paradys /

¶Here foloweth the dyuersitees beyng in y^e lande of Inde Capitulo / v^o.

THere is in the lande of Inde a right grete montayne that men calle mount capyen / and it is a moche gret¦te regyon / Ther ben a maner of people wythout wytte and wythout discrescyon / Whiche the kynge Alysander enclo∣sed therin / And ben named goths and magoths or gog or magog / they ete flessh all rawe be it men or wymyn or beestes as men wood / mad or demonyacks / This Inde of whiche I yow reheree conteyneth xiiij regyons / and in eue∣rich of thise regyons ben moche people / And also ther is therin grete trees and so hye that they towche the cloudes / And there dwelleth people that ben horned / and ar but two cubites hye / And they goon to gydre in grete companyes For ofte they fighte ayenst the cranes / whiche them assayl¦le / But wyth in vij yere they become aged & olde that they deye for age / This people is callyd pygmans / and ben as lytyl as dwarfes / right nygh vnto this contree groweth pepre alle whytte / But the vermyne is there so grete that whan thyy wold gadre & take it they muste sette fyre ther¦in for to dryue away the vermyne / And whan it is so

brent / the pepre is founden al blacke soorchid and crispe / ye ben there other people whiche ben callyd groyne and brag∣man whiche ben fayrer than they to fore named / that for to saue anothers lyf. wyll put them in to a brennyng fyre / There is yet another maner of peple / y^e whiche whan their faders and moders or their other frendes ben passyng olde & eaged. they slee them & sacryfye them / be it wrong or right and eten their flesshe and holde them for meschaūt and ny∣gardis that so doo not to their frendes / For they holde this maner emong them for grete wele grete worship / and for grete largesse / And therfore eche of them vse it / Toward y^e ••est is another maner of people that worshippe the sonne only and taketh it for their god for the grete goodes that come ther by. And by cause that in alle the world they see none so fayre a thyng to their semyng / they byleue in it as their god. Yet ben ther other people that ben all rough / whi¦che eten fysshe all rawe and drynke water of the salt see / Toward this same contre is a maner of people that ben half beestes and half men / yet ben ther in that partye other people whiche haue on one foot viij toes. In thyse contrees is grete nombre of beestes right dredfull and terryble / whi¦che haue bodyes of men and heedes of dogges. And haue so grete vngles or clawes that areste alle that they can hol¦de and clothe them wyth the hydes and skynnes of bestes. And haue suche maner of voys as barkyng of dogges. Yet ben ther other callyd Cyclopyens whiche passe by ren∣nyng the wynde. & haue only but one fote / of whiche the plā¦te is so right longe and so brode. that they couere them ther wyth fro the shadowe. whan the hete cometh ouer sharp on them / Another maner people ther is / whiche haue only but one eye. & that standeth right in the myddys of the fronte or

forhede whiche is so reed and so clere that it semeth properly fyre brennyng. And there also ben founde another maner of p••ople that haue the vysage & the mouth in the myddle of their breste / and haue one eye in euery sholdre. and their nose hangeth doun to their mouth / And haue brestles a∣boute their mosell lyke swyne. yet ben ther founden toward the ryuer of ganges a maner of strange people and cur∣toys. whiche haue the right fygure of a man. whiche lyue only by the odour and smellyng of an apple only / And yf they goo ferre in to ony place. they haue nede to ha¦ue the apple wyth them / For yf they fele ony stenche euyll & stynekyng & haue not thapple / they deye incontynent /

¶Of the serpentes & of the beestes of Inde / Ca. vj^o.

IN Inde ben plente of serpentes. whiche ben of suche force and myght / that they deuoure & take by streng∣the the hertes and buckes. Yet ther is another maner beeste whiche is callyd Centyoore whiche hath y^e horne of an herte in the myddle of his face / And hath the breste and thyes lyke a lyon / and hath grete ••eris & feet lyke an hors / And hath a round mouth / his mosel is lyke the heed of a Bere And his eyen ben nyghe that one that other / and his voys is moche lyke the voys of a man / Another beeste men fyn∣de there moche fyers. whiche hath the body of an hors / the heed of a wylde boor. and the tayll of an Olyphaunt. And he hath two hornes whiche eueriche is as lōge as a cubyte Of whiche he sette that one vpon his back whyles he figh∣teth wyth that other. he is black and a moche terryble beeste and meruyellous delyuere / And is both in watre & on the londe / There ben also seen bollys whiche ben al whyte / They haue grete hedes. & their throte is as wyde & brode that it en¦dureth from that one eere to that other & haue hornes that

remeue aboute hym so that nomā may tame ne daūte them Another maner of beestes ther is in Inde that ben callyd mantycora / and hath visage of a man / & thre huge grete teeth in his throte / he hath eyen lyke a goot & body of a lyon tayll of a Scorpyon and voys of a serpente in suche wyse that by his swete songe he draweth to hym the people and deuoureth them / And is more delyuerer to goo / than is a fowle to flee / Ther is also a maner of Oxen or buefs that haue their feet all round and haue in the myddle of their fronte iij hornes / Yet is ther auother beeste of moche fayr corsage or shappe of body whiche is called monotheres / whiche hath the body of an hors / and feet of an Olyfant / heed of an herte and voys clere and hye and a grete tayle / And hath but one horne / whiche is in the myddle of his forhede. whiche is four foot longe right and sharpe lyke a sw••rd and cuttyng lyke a rasour / And alle that he attey∣neth to fore hym and towcheth is broken & cutte / for trouthe this beeste is of suche condicion that by what someuer en∣gyne he is taken / of grete desdayn he suffreth to be slayn and deyd / But he may not be taken but by a pure vyrgyne whi∣che is sette to fore hym where as he shal passe / the whiche muste be well and gentely arayed / Thenne cometh the beest vnto the mayde moche symply / and slepeth in her lappe / and so he is taken slepyng / In Inde ben ther other beestes grete and fyers whiche ben of blew colowr / & haue clere spottes on the body / and ben so right stronge and crymynel that no men dar approche them / and ben named tygris. & they ren∣ne so swyftly. and by so grete myght that the hunters may not escape fro them in no wyse. but yf they take myrrours of glasse and caste them in the waye where they shal renne

For the tygris ben of suche nature / that whā they see their semblaunce they wene that it be their fawnes thēne goon they aboute the myrrours so longe tyl they breke the glasse and see nomore. in whiche whyle the hunters escape fro them that ben there. And somtyme it happeth so of thyse tygres that they thynke so longe and beholde their fygures that otherwhile they ben taken so lokyng all quick and ly∣uyng Yet ben ther other beestes whiche ben called castours which haue this nature in them. y^t whā they ben honted for to be taken. they byte wyth their teeth their owne geny∣tours or ballocks / and lete them falle / and thus they ghel∣de them self / For they wel knowe. that for none other thin¦ge they be hunted. Also the•• groweth another beest lyke a Mous / and hath a lytyl mouthe and is named muske or muskaliet / In this contree ben the drye trees that spake to Alysa undre the puyssaunt kynge / Another beeste ther is that men calle Salemandre whiche is fedde & nourysshed in the fyre / This Salemandre bereth wulle / of whiche is made cloth and gyrdles that may not brenne in the fyre Ther ben yet myes the whiche ben as grete as cattes and also swyft in rennyng / Toward thoryent ben the lyons whiche haue more strength and myght. in their brestes to fore and in all their membres than ony other beeste haue. And they come to fede their fawnes the iij day after they haue fawned. as they that were deed and ben as reysed a∣gain from deth & whan they slepe they holde their eyen open & whan the hunters hunte them they couer the traas of their feet wyth their taylle / They shal neuer do harme ne grief to man / but yf they ben angred / And whan they be assaylled they deffende them / And whan he that kepeth them bete and chastyseth a lytyl dogge to fore them / they fere and doubte

hym lyke as they knewe hym well and the lyonesse hath the first yere fyue fawnes and euery yere after folowyng one lasse vnto her ende so declynyng. Ther is another beeste whiche is lytyl / and is so terryble and redoubted. that no bes¦te dar approche it. and by nature the Lyon doubteth and fleeth from it / For of it sleeth the lyon / ¶In this partye conuerseth and repayreth another beste whiche is of dyuer∣se colours by spottes whytte black. grene. blewe. and Ielow lyke as it were paynted / and is moche propre and is called Panthere / and ther cometh out of his mouth so swete a sa¦uour and breeth / that the beestes goo folowyng after it for the swetenes of his body / sauf the serpent. to whom the swe¦te smelle greueth in suche wyse that ofte the serpent deyeth / and whan this beeste is otherwhyle so fylled and full of venyson that he hath taken and eten / He slepeth iij dayes hool wythout a wakyng / And whan he awaketh. he gy∣ueth out of his mouth so swete a sauour and smelle / that anon the bestes that fele it seche hym / This beest hath but ones yong fawnes / And whan she shal fawne. she hath suche destresse and anguyssh that she breketh wyth her nay∣les and renteth her matryce in suche wyse that her fawnes come out. And neuer after whan the matryce is rente and broken they engendre ne brenge forth fawnes. Ther is a maner of mares that conceyue of the wynde / and ben in a contre that is named Capydoce / but they endure not but iij yere / In this contre ben the Olyphaunts whiche is a beest grete stronge and fyghtyng. And whan the see their blod¦shedde to fore them. they be most corageous & most stron∣ge and fyght in alle places and alle bataylles vpon this olyphaunts were wonte to fyghte the people of Inde and of perse / For an olyphaunt berett, wel a tour of woode vpō

his back fulle of men of armes whan it is wel sette on & fermely / And they haue to fore them in maner of boyell grete and large / whiche they ete. by whiche they renne on men / & haue anon deuoured them. kynge alysandre whiche was a good clerke and prynce of grete recommendacion & that wente in to many contrees for to serche and enquyre y^e aduentures more than he dyde to conquere thenne whan he shold fyght ayenst them that had taught and lerned tholy∣fauntes to fyghte in playn londe / he dyde do make vessels of copper in fourme of men / and dyde do fylle them wyth fyre brennyng / and sette them to fore hym to fyght ayenst them that were vpon tholyfauntes / And whan tholyphauntes caste their boyel by whiche they slewe the people vpon the men of copper / feelyng that they were so hoot that they bren∣ned them / Thenne they that were so taught wolde nomore approche tho men for doubte of the fyre / For they thoughte / that all men had ben as hoot. as they were of copper. whiche were full of fyre / And thus kynge Alysander as a sage prynce eschewed the paryll and daunger of thyse olyphaun∣tes. And conquerd this wylde people / & in suche wyse domp∣ted tholy^ophauntes that they durst do nomore harme vnto the men. The olyphauntes goo moche symply & accordyng∣ly to gydre. And whan they mete and encountre eche other They bowe their hedes that one to that other lyke as they entresalewed eche other. They be right colde of nature / wher∣of it is so that whan one putteth vpon the tooth of yuorye a lynnen cloth and brennyng cooles ther vpon the lynnen cloth shal not brenne / for assone as the coole feleth the cold he quencheth the yuorye is so coold. the tooth of an olyfant is yuorye / Tholyphaunts haue neuer yong fawnes but o∣nes in longe tyme / and they bere them two yere in their

flankes / an olyphaunt lyueth ••CC yere / He doubteth & fereth the wesel & the culeuure & dredeth vermyne / yf the cu¦leuure clyue & be on y^e olyphaūt. it departeth not tyl it hath slayn hym. she fawneth her fawnes & hydeth them where is no woode & fawneth in the water / For yf she laye on ther∣the she shold neuer aryse ne releue / for as moche their bones ben al hool wythout Ioyntes from the bely vnto the feet / & whan tholyphaunt wylle slepe / he leneth vnto a tree & there slepeth stondyng / And hunters that seche them and kno∣we the trees to whiche they lene whan they slepe / Thenne whan they haue founden them / they sawe them lowe by the ground almost a sondre / that whan the olyphaunt cometh and knoweth nothyng therof and wold slepe and leneth to the tree. and anon he falleth wyth the tree vnto the groūde and may not releue hym self / Thenne he begynneth for to braye crye and waylle. that somtyme ther come many oly∣phauntes to hym for to helpe hym / And whā they may not redresse and reyse hym they crye and braye and make a mer¦ueyllous sorowe / And they that ben most lytyl and smale goo aboute for to lyfte and reyse hym to their power in su∣che wyse that other while they lyfte and reyse hym vp / but whan they may not reyse ne releue hym. they go on their way wayllyng and makyng grete sorowe and leue hym / And the honters that ben embusshed by. come and by their engyns that they haue propyce for the same take him thus by this subtylte ben tholyphaunts taken / wythin the ryuer & flode of Inde named Ganges goon the eeles by grete ren¦ges whiche ben CCC feet long & ben good mete to ete at nede Many other bestes peryllous & terryble ben ther in inde as dragons serpentes & other dyuerse beestes whiche haue feet heedes / and taylles dyuerse / Ther ben the basylycocks

whiche haue the fyght so venymous that they slee all men And in lyke wyse doo they all fowles & bestes. he hath the heed lyke a cocke and body of a serpent / he is kynge of alle serpents. lyke as the lyon is kynge aboue all beestes. he is whytte rayed here and there. Ther is neyther herbe ne fruyt on the erthe wherby he shal passe / ne the trees y^t ben plāted but they shal perisshe. yf he haue byte or slayn beeste or other thynge. Neuer other beste dar approche it / Ther is in this regyon another maner of serpents that haue hornes lyke a shepe / Ther groweth a beest named aspis that may not be deceyuyd ne taken but by charmyng / for he heeryth gladly y^• sowne / But assone as he heeryth the charme he putteth his tayll in his one eere / and that other leyeth to the gronude doubtyng to be deceyuyd by y^e charme / Other serpentes ther be named Tygrys whiche ben taken alle quyck by force of engyns. And of them men make triacle / Whyche deffe∣teth and taketh away other venym / ¶Other wormes ther growe there whiche haue two armes so longe and so dyuerse that they bete and slee the Olyphaunts ¶This worme lyueth ryght longe / And whan he is olde and feleth hym feble / he consumeth hym self by fastynge / And suffreth to be enfamyned so ouer moche that lytyl abydeth of his body / ¶Thenne he goth in to a lytyll hooll of somme stone whiche is wel strayt and thenne he putteth hym self out wyth so ryght grete distresse / that his shynne remayneth all hooll. ¶And ther groweth and cometh on hym another skynne / And thus reneweth his age as a wyse beeste that he is / There ben plente of other serpents that haue many precyous stones in the hedes and in the eyen / the whiche ben of right grete vertue for them that myght haue them and ••ere them / Now we shal deuyse

to yow of stones that growe in Inde & ben there founden /

¶Here foloweth of precious stones and of their vertue whiche growe in Inde / Capitulo vij

IN Inde groweth the admond stone / whiche is a sto∣ne charged wyth many grete vertues / she by her natu¦re draweth to her yron and maketh it to cleue to it so fast that it may vnneth be taken fro it for the vertu that is in it The dyamond groweth also in Inde al hool / & it may not be brokē in pieces ne vsed / but it be by y^e vertue of the blod of a ghoot alle hoot / yet growe there other stones of many diuerse facions & vertues the whiche ben of moche noble re¦comendacion renōmee and of moche fayr vertue / & first I shal speke of the Emerawde whiche is so playsaunt to the eye / that it reconforteth all the sight of hym that it beholdeth In lyke wyse groweth in Inde an other stone the whiche is callyd carboncle. the whiche by nyght or yf it be in derke place & obscure / it shyneth as a cole brennyng / Also ther growe Saphyres whiche by their vertue take away the swellyng & redenes of the eyen / Ther groweth also a stone callyd topace whiche is of colour lyke vnto fyn golde and also is of hye vertue / yet also ther growe there rubyes / whi¦che is a stone moche preysed and loued emong the people / & is also of right more grete valewre and vertue than is the topace / he reioyceth the sight and conforteth it moche and specyally to them that bere it yet ben ther also in Inde plen∣te of other maner stones whiche haue in them moche fair vertues and bountes / And who that wyl more knowe of their vertues & bountes maye rede in the book called lapy∣dare in whiche he shal knowe the names & vertues / For now at this tyme we shal make an ende of this mater / for to recoūte yow the contrees & roy^oames of Inde /

¶Here foloweth of the contrees and Royames of Inde Capitulo / viij^o.

IN Inde is plente of grete contres merueyllously. whi¦che ben peopled wyth dyuerse maners of people and of grete plente of bestes of many dyuerse facions and con∣dicions / Emonge all other ther is a contree named Perse and conteyneth xxxiij regyons of whiche the first is the royame of Perse. where as a science called. Nygromancye was first founden whiche science constrayneth the enemye the fende to be taken and holde prisoner / In this contree gro∣weth a pese whiche is so hoot it skaldeth the handes of them that holde it / and it growyth wyth encresyng of the mone and wyth wanyng is descreceth at eche tyme of his ••ours / It helpeth wel to them that ben nygromancyers After this royame is another whiche is called Mesopotamye / wherin Nynyue a cyte of grete seynourye and myghty is sette and establysshid whiche is iij dayes Iourneyes of lengthe and is moche large & brood. In babylone is a tour that somty∣me was made by grete pryde of whiche the wallys ben mer¦uayllously grete stronge / and hye and is called the tour of babell / It is of heyght round aboute .iiij.M. paas vnto the hyest / In the regyon of Caldee was first founden Astro∣nomye / In this regyon is the lande of Saba / and therby is the regyon of tharse / And after is that of Arabie of thyse iij Regyons were lordes and prynces the thre kyn¦ges that offryd to our lord sauyour Ihesu Cryste gold / encence / and Myrre / That tyme whan he laye in the Cryb∣be after his blessyd Natyuyte as he that was the sone of god. And this knewe they by their grete wytte and vn∣derstandyng of Astronomye in whiche they were endowed and founded. ¶In this regyon of Arabe groweth

thencence and the myrre / And ther ben therin many peo∣les and dyuerse folke / Ther is also in Egypte a Regyon whiche is called assyrye / And the regyon of fenyce is the∣re whiche taketh his name of a byrde callyd fenyx / of whi∣che in alle the world is on this day but only one a lyue. & whan he deyeth anone groweth another of hym self. He is grete and moche fair of Corsage and hath a creste on his heed / lyke as the pecok hath. The breste and the gorge of hym shyneth and draweth toward the propre colour of fyn golde / And he is alonge the back also reed as a rose / And toward the tayll he is of the colour of asure lyke vn∣to the heuen whan it is pure and clere / and whan he is olde & eaged he wythdraweth hym vnto an hye & merueyllous fair place / or montaygne where as sourdeth a fontayne ry∣ght grete and large. and the water fair and clere. and ouer the welle groweth a fair tree and grete / whiche may be seen fro ferce. & he maketh vpon this tree his neste and his se∣pulture right in the myddle of the tree / But he maketh it of spices of so right grete odour that ther may be foūden no bet¦ter / And after he adressyth hym in his neste whan he hath all perfourmed it. he thenne begynneth to meue and to bete his wynges ayenst the sonne so faste & so longe / that a gre¦te hete cometh in his fethers in suche wyse that it quykeneth of fire and brenneth al rounde aboute his body that he is on a clere fyre / And thus the fyre brenneth and consumeth hym alle in to asshes / and out of theyse asshes and poulder groweth agayn another byrde all lyuyng semblable to him ¶After this regyon of fenyce is the royame of Damas where as goode truytes growe / And after Damas is founden the regyon of Anthyoche where as be founden grete plente of Camels / ¶After cometh the contree of

Palatyne / & after that Samarye. thenne sebaste. & thenne Pentapolye where somtyme were founded two myghty cy¦tees that one callyd Sodome and that other Gomor / the whiche god wold they shold perysshe for the grete and enor∣me synnes that they commysed / on this parteis the dede see in whiche is nothyng that bereth lyf / there is a contree that men calle Ismaelyte / whiche is enhabyted by xij maner of people. & after this thenne is Egypte the grete where it ne∣uer reyneth & conteyneth xxiiij peoples / another regyon ther is y^t whiche cometh toward the north in whiche ther dwel∣leth noman / but wymmen whiche ben as fyers as lyons / And whan nede is they fyghte frely ayenst the men They go armed as knyghtes in bataylle / & brynge doun their ene∣myes wythout sparynge / they haue fair tresses of their heer whiche hange doun byhynde them / And they be garnysshed wyth grete prouesses in all their werkes & affayres / And ben called Amazones / But they haue men nyghe to their contre dwellyng / Whom they euery yere fetche for to be in their companye viij or xv dayes longe and suffre them to knowe them carnelly so longe that they suppose that they haue conceyuyd / and thenne departe the men fro that contre And goon agayn thedyr that they come fro / and whan thyse wymmen haue childed. yf it be a doughter they reteyne her wyth them / And yf it be a sone they nourysshe it fyue or syxe yere / and after sende it out of the contree yet in other places ben many fayr ladyes whiche in bataylles / & in estowes vse alle their Armes of syluer for lacke of yron and of steell. of whiche they haue not. In the woodes of Inde ben other wymmen the whiche haue their berdes so longe that they come doun to their pappes / They lyue by wylde beestys / and clothe them wyth the skynnes of the

wyld beestis / & clothe them wyth the skynnes of the same beestis / And ther ben men and wymmen alle naked and also rowhe as beeres & ben dwellyng in caues in the erthe. And whan they see other men they hyde them in the caues so that they appere not oute / Other people ther ben that ben also rowhe as swyne and whynyng / And ther ben other wymmen rowh also lyke vnto the men / but they ben moche bestyall & whyte as snowe / their teeth ben more lyke vnto houndes than to other & dwelle & abyde wel in the water / Another grete regyon ther is in whiche dwelle xliij peo∣ples. ther ben the byrdes whiche ben ful of deduyte / of whom the pennes shyne by nyght like vnto fyre. There ben popen gayes which ben grene & shynyng lyke pecoks whiche ben but lytyl more than a Iaye / of whom as men saye. they that haue on eche foot fyue clawes ben gentyl & the vylayns ha∣ue but thre. he hath a tayl lenger than a foot / & abecke cour∣bed & a grete tongue & forked / who that myght haue one he myght wel lerne hym to speke in the space of ij yere / Ano∣ther byrde ther is in this contre is named pellycane / and all hoor whan he leueth his chekens and cometh agayn to fyn∣de them as is of nede / hym semeth that they ben alle deed / thenne he smyteth hym self wyth his bylle in his breste tyll that the blood springe out. wherof he reyseth agayn to lyf his byrdes / In armenye is a maner of people that haue al their heer whytte. In thyse partyes is a moche hye mon∣tayne where vpon the arke of Noe abood and rested after the flood was passed / After cometh the prouynce of Inde the lasse whiche is alle enuyronned wyth the see wherin ben many regions of whom for this present tyme we wyl not declare the names / In this prouynce of Asie is the Re∣gyon of dardane. And the contre of ffrygye in to whiche parys whan he had rauisshed helayne brought her to wher∣for

the puyssaunte cyte of Troye the grete was at them∣pryse of the grekes destroyed by fyre and glayue / This cyte was sette at one of thendes of grece / In thise partye is set¦te the noble cyte of lychaonye / And nyghe to the same ston¦deth another Cyte callyd Cayer by whiche renneth the gre∣te flood name herme of whiche the grauel is of gold alle shynyng / Fro this parte toward thende of egypte cometh to vs the payllole whiche is of fyn golde. Ther is toward thoryent on that other syde a maner of people that somtyme descended fro the Iewes. and ben people of their condycion vyle. fowl / and stynkyng. they haue no wyues wedded ne holde no concubynes ne other for as moche as they may not byleue that wymmen may holde them to one man only wythout to double them wyth other / And therfore they set∣te no store by wymmen / but only y^t they may haue genera∣cion / Another maner of peoole ther ben in this prouynce whiche ben callyd barbaryns / & ben also called Iacobyns. For Iacob was aūcyenly their maystre & ben Cristen men corrumped by the maryages & alyaūces that they doo & ma∣ke wyth the sarasyns whiche on that one syde marche on them / Thyse barbaryns pourpryse wel xl. royames / In no wyse they byleue that confession be vayllable to shewe it to ony man sauf to god only / whan they cōfesse them to god they sette by them fyre and encence. And they wene cer∣taynly that their thoughtes goo vp vnto our lord in this fumee but it is not so as they byleue / but they mysbyleue saynt Iohan baptyste the whiche first baptysed them / For to fore all thynges they behoued to saye their ••ynnes to him self / And after they receyued of hym baptesme / For seynt Iohan baptest sayth hym self that whan one telleth his sin¦nes to another that may be a synner as he is / this shame

that he hath to saye his synnes is torned to hym in stede of penytence. and is to hym allegeance of his synnes / and him ought by reson the sonner to absteyne hym fro synnyng / seen that he muste shewe them to another man / By whiche he may ha••e of our lorde remyssyon and pardon of his syn∣nes and inyquitees / this wytnesseth to vs saynt Iohan baptist / the whiche by the holy and blessyd sacrament of bap¦tisme rendreth vs quyte ayenst our lord god of our syn∣nes / And that we may be purged by very confessyon / good contricion and full satisfaction euerich after his power / therfor thyse Iacobyns ben grettely deceyued / For they haue euyl reteyned the holsome doctryne that seynt Iohn baptist taught them / In this regyon is another maner of people Crysten that byleue a lytyl better in god and ben stronge & myghty in bataylle / The sarasyns doubte them moche And dar not mysdoo them / but ben to them swete and amyable. thyse people be named Georgyens / and ben good crysten men. And ben enclosed round aboute wyth feloun & mysby¦leuyd people. And they ben called as a fo••e is sayd georgy∣ens. by cause they crye alway on seynt george in batayll in estours and in recountres ayenst the sarasyns. And also they worshipe and loue hym aboue alle other seyntes / They haue alle crownes shauen on their heedes / But the clerkes haue them roūde / & the laye people haue them square / whan they go to Iherusalem for to worshipe the holly sepulture of our lord Ihesus / The sarrasyns dar not take of them o∣ny tolle ne nothyng hurte them by cause they doubte that whan they come and repayre agayn they sholde abye it dere / The gentyl ladyes of the contree / Arme them & ryde vpon good horses rennyng and swyfte. and fyghte asprely in the companye of the knyghtes of Georgye ayenst y^e sarasyns

They vse lyke lawes / and lyke termes of speche as doon the grekes /

¶Hier speketh of the fysshes that be founden in Inde. Capitulo / ix^o.

IN the see of Inde is a maner of fysshes that on their skynnes growe heer so longe that the people make therof robes mantellis and other vestimentys whiche they were whan they haue taken and made them. Yet ther is a∣nother maner of fysshe in this see whiche ben named escimuz whiche ben no lengre that a foot longe / but they haue suche strēgthe that in contynēt that they touche a ship one of them only reteyneth hym stylle that he may not goo forward ne afterward / Ther is also another maner of fysshe that be co∣mynly callyd dolphins. they haue acustome that whā they fele that the tempest shal come. and that the shippes ben in daūger for to be lost and perisshid / they warne them out of the watre and shewe and playe on the wawes of the see in suche wyse that somtyme they be playnly seen In this see of Inde is another fysshe so huge and grete that on his bac¦ke growrth erthe and grasse. And semeth proprely that it is a grete Ile / wherof it happeth somtyme that the maron∣ners sayllyng by this see ben gretly deceyued and abused / For they wene certaynly that it be ferme londe. Wherfor they goo out of their shippes theron / and whan they haue made their preparacions and their logys theron and lygh∣ted their fyre and made it to brenne after their nede wenyng to be on a ferme londe. but incontynent as this merueyl∣lous fysshe feleth the hete of the fyre. he meueth hym sodenly and deualeth doun in to the water as depe as he may / And thus alle that is vpon hym is lost in the see And by this moyen. many shippes ben drowned and perisshid. and the

people. whan they supposed to haue be in sauete / Ther is in this see plente of other fysshe the whiche haue heedes and bodyes lyke vnto a mayde / & haue fayr tresses made of their heer / the shapp of their bodies vnto y^e nauel is lyke a may∣de And the remenaunt is lyke the body & tayll of a fysshe And somme haue wynges lyke fowles / And their son¦ge is so swete & so melodyous that it is meruaylle to here & they be called seraynes or mermaydens. Of whom som∣me saye that they be fisshes & other saye that they be fowles whiche flee by the see. But take it a worth. For at this tyme I shal deporte to speke more of this mater For to telle & recoūte to yow of y^e meruayllous trees that growe in Inde / of whiche ben many dyuerse and bere sondrely fruyt / as here after al a longe shall be declared to yow /

¶Here foloweth of the trees that ben in Inde & of their fruytes / Capitulo / x^o.

IN Inde groweth a tree moche grete & right fayr / and is moche swete smellyng & is called palmyer / and be∣reth dates / This fruyt is good and holsom / Ther ben also applet••••es the whiche ben full of longe apples / whiche ben of merueyllous good sauour /

¶And they entretiene & cleue to gydre wel an hondred in a clustre / & the leues that growe on this apple trees ben wel two fote longe / & a foot brode / Other apples ther gro∣we moche grete / wherin appiereth the bytte of a man wyth his teeth / And ben called thapples of Adam by cause of y^e bytte that apiereth in them / ther ben other trees whiche bere apples / that ben right fair wythout forth / And wythin it is as it were asshes. The vygnes bere there grapes / of whi¦che wyn̄ is maade. they ben so habondaunt of fruyt / And y^e clustres of grapes ben so grete & so ful of muste. that two

men ben gretly charged to bere one of them only vpon aco∣lestaf / Also ther growe lytyl smale trees that be remeuyd euery yere the whiche bere cotoun. also ther growe in many places canes grete and longe whiche ben wythin forth ful of sugre. so moche and especiall that ther growe none lyke in alle the worlde / At one of the heedes of the Royame of babylone groweth the bame whiche is moche dere / and cris∣ten men that ben prysonners there delue and laboure the er∣the / And sarasyns saye that they hane ofte preuyd it / that whan they doo delue and laboure that erthe wyth people of other nacions than crysten men that it bereth no fruyt ne bame that yere / And vpon the felde where the bame gro∣weth / some saye that there spryngeth a fontayne where the blessyd vyrgyne Marie bayned her sone Ihesus / And with the watre of this fontayne is the bame watred. and of this water may not be employed ne born in to other place / For in substaunce it doth nomore than other water. In this contre ben other trees the whiche in stede of leues bere wulle / of whiche is made cloth right fayr and subtyll / of whiche thynhabytauns of the contree make them robes & mantellis for their weryng / Yet ben ther other trees that bere a fruyt right swete smellyng / But this tree taketh his fruyt by nyght in hym / and in the mornyng it cometh out agayn when the sonne is rysen / Ther growe there plente of other trees / Of whom the cooles whan they ben a fyre duryn in their asshes an hool yere wythout goyng out / or quenchyng or mynnyssyng / Also ther growe plente of Ce∣dres and of lybans / the whiche as men saye may not rote / other trees there growe moche gloryous & right good whi¦che bere clowes / And other that bere notemygges / And of the rynde and scorce is the canell or synamon / And also

ther groweth gynger / In this partye growe the g••ode espy∣ces of all maner haboundantly / Also there growe notes grete plente / whiche ben also grete as grete apples. And other that ben as grete as the hede of a man. To the regard of the trees that ben in paradys terrestre we knowe not what fruyt they brynge forth But it is wel knowen of y^e tree / that / Eue had so grete desyre to ete aboue the comman¦dement of our lord god / & of whiche she deceyued Adam our first fader and in lyke wyse is there the tree of lyf / of whiche we haue spoken to fore more largely. Ther ben in this noble paradis so many other tres bering fruit so good and so delicyous that it semeth that the glorye of our lord be therin ouerall / But ther is a meruayllous watche and kepar / ¶For the Angele of god is kepar of thentre wyth a nakyd swerde in his honde contynuelly brennyng to thende that nomen ne bestes ne euyll spirytes ap∣proche ne Auaūce them for to take in ony wyse there their delytes and playsaunces. and taccomplissh them ther with∣in / And here wyth we make an ende of this prupoos for to speke of the contrees of europe and of the condicions /

Now foloweth of Europe and of his contrees. Ca. xj^o.

SYth we haue deuysed to you of Asye and of his contrees and regyons / I shal saye to yow of Euro∣pe and his condicions shortly / For as moche as we may ofte here speke therof / The first partye of Europe is romanye and a parte of Constantynoble / Trapesonde / ma¦cedone / Thesalye / Boheme. Saxonye / Pyrre / and a moche holsom contre named Archade. In this contre sourdeth & springeth a fontayne in whiche men may not quenche brē∣nyng brondes / ne cooles on fire and brennyng / In archade is a stone which in no wyse may be quenchyd after it is

sette a fyre tyl it be all brent in to asshes. After archade is the Royame of denmarke. and thenne Hongrye. and sythe hosterich And thenne foloweth germanye whiche we cal¦le Almayne whiche conteyneth a grete pourprys toward thocciden. In whiche pourprys ben many grete and puys∣saunt Royames / In Allemayne sourdeth a grete flood and ryuere named dunoe. the whiche stratcheth vnto in Con∣stantynople. and there entreth in to the see / But erst it tra¦uerseth vij grete floodes by his radour and rennyng / And as I haue herd saye the hede of this dunoe begynneth on o∣ne syde of a montayne. and that other side of the same mon¦tayne sourdeth another gtete ryuer / Whiche is named the Ryn and renneth thurgh almayne by Basyle. strasburgh Magounce / Couelence Coleyn / and nemyng / where fast by it departeth in to iiij ryuers and renneth thurgh the londes of Cleue. ghelres. and holande and so in to the see. And yet er this ryuer entre in to to see. he entreth in to another ryuer named the Mase. and than loseth he his name. and is called the mase / and xl myle longe in the see / In europe is also swauen. basse Almayn. Fraunce / Englonde / scotland and Irlonde. And aboue thise many other contrees whiche endure vnto the mount Ius. and thus moche space holdeth the partye of Europe. Now shal we deuyse to yow how moche Affryke conteyneth.

¶ Here foloweth of affryke and of his regyons and con¦trees. Capitulo xij^o.

AFter europe is Affryke of which the regyon of lybe is the firste / This is a londe moche riche. wel pepled & strongly garnysshid. After cometh the royamme of Sur∣rye. Iherusalem and the contrey aboute. This is the holy londe where our lord Ihu Cryst receyuyd our humanyte &

passyon. & where he roos fro deth to lyf. after thoppynyon of somme is that this holy londe longeth to asye / After thēne cometh grece. cypres. cecyle / toscane / naples. lombardye. gas¦coyen / spayne. cateloyne / galyce. nauarre. portyngal. & aragō And how be it that the auctour of this book saye that thi∣se contrees ben in Affryke / yet as I vnderstonde all thise ben wythin the lymytes & boūdes of europe / Also ther ben somme of thyse regyons & contrees that take their name of somme beestes that dwelle in the same londes / & the cy∣tees haue taken the fourmes / as rome hath the fourme of a lyon / And troye the grete of an hors &c. All barbarye is in affryke & alysandre / & ethiope stratcheth vnto thende of affryke / In this contre of ethyope the people ben black for hete of the sonne. For it is so hoot in this contre. that it se∣meth that the erthe shold brenne. beyonde ethyope is no lon¦de but deserte / and londe wythout bryngyng forth of ony fruyt / but it is ful of serpentes of vermyne and of wylde beestis whiche londe endeth at the grete see /

¶Here shal we speke of dyuerse Iles of the see / Ca / xiij

SYth we haue descryuid and uydesed the londe. It is reson that we enqure of the Iles of the see. And in especial of them that we knowe the names of whi∣che ther ben plente in the see. Ther is a moche grete yle cal∣led andos whiche is toward europe / & syth is the yle of col∣chos. where the flyes of gold was foūd lyke as to vs reher∣seth thystorye of Iason / Ther is another yle called Maron In this yle was born the holy man seynt denys whiche re∣ceyuid martirdom in fraūce / Toward asye the grete ben the nombre of xliiij. There is one yle named delos / this yle ap∣piered first after noes flood / Ther is another whiche is cal¦led meloth. & it is so called for the right grete melodye that

is herd therin of swete songe of byrdes that ben in this yle contynuelly in this Ile groweth plente of whyte marble / Ther is another yle in this contre that is called psalmos in whiche the quene sebylle was born / the whiche prophecyed of many thinges of our lord Ihu cryst longe tyme byfore he was born of the virgyne Marie / and she prophecyed thise thynges at rome / where she was sent fore. In this yle was first foūden the maner to make pottes of erthe / whiche ben yet vsed in many contrees / In this yle was born a grete phy¦losophre & a good clercke named pictogoras / the whiche by his grete entendement fonde the poyntes and the difference or musyque. In affryke is also an yle in the see whiche is callyd sardayne. where an herbe groweth whiche is of suche vertue that yf one ete of it he deyeth anon forth wyth all la¦whing. Another yle ther is named bosut wherin is no ser∣pent ne vermyne / And ther is another whiche is called co¦lombyne. where as is grete plente & foyson of vermyne & meruayllous serpentes / Yet ther is another yle that is mo∣che longe & right brode that is called alleares / In this yle was first founden the maner of meltyng of metals / Also ther is the yle of Meroes the whiche at the myddle of the day hath no shadowe. yet ther is a pytte in this yle that by right nombre and mesure is vij foot brode and an hondred foot depe / And the sonne shineth in to the bottom. Also ther is another yle whiche is called Cylla where the Cy∣clopyens were somtyme. Another yle is in this contree so grete as the wyse plato wytnesseth the whiche in his tyme was a clercke of right grete renomme / whiche hath more of purpris and space than all europe & affryke conteynen / But sith the tyme of plato it was in suche wyse destroyed and broken lyke as it ples••d our lord / that it sanke doun in

to Abisme for the grete synnes that they commysed that were dwellers & habytaūts therin / & is now the see right that is called bethee. Another yle is there the whiche may not be seen whan men wold goo therto / but some goo the∣der as men saye / & it is called the yle loste / This yle fonde seynt Brandon the whiche beyng therin on ferme londe sa∣we & fonde many meruaylles lyke as his legende contey∣neth / and who that wyl knowe it maye vysite his legende & rede it / In the marches hetherward ben foūde many goode yles / The yle of Cypre & of secyle ther ben and other plente that be founden in the see / of whiche I now speke not / And be not admeruaylled of suche thynges as ye haue founden w••eton in this boocke / the whiche may seme to yow moche strange dyuerse and moche dyffycyle to byleue / for our lord god whiche is almyghty maker and creatour of all thyn∣ges And in whom alle goodes and vertues ben. hath made by his only wylle and playsir in the erthe many meruayl¦les and many werkes to be meruaylled on by cause that noman knoweth by no waye the resons wherfore / & therfor we ought not to mysbyleue in no wyse that we here redde ne tolde of the meruaylles of the world vnto the tyme we knowe it be so or no. For y^e werkes of our lord ben so hye and to the men so diffycile & hard that euery man may re∣porte hym to that / that it is / how wel that a man doth not moche amys somtime to gyue no byleue to somme thinges whā he knoweth not the trouthe so that it be not in erryng ayenst the fayth / For it is a good and proffytable thyng to euery man to vnderstande and reteyne to thende that he may lerne / of whiche he be not abasshed whan he hereth speke of suche thynges. and can answere to the trouthe / For in lyke wyse as to vs seme grete meruaylle of thynges that

I here reherce In lyke wyse semeth it to them that ben fer fro vs. that those thynges of thyse contrees ben moche dyuerse & strange / & meruaylle gretly by cause they haue lytyl seen of it. And therfore a man ought not to meruaylle yf he be∣re somtyme ony thyng though he can not vnderstonde the reason / for alleway a man ought to lerne /

¶And ther is noman that knoweth all sanf onli god whiche all seeth and alle knoweth / The geaunts that ben in som place haue right grete meruaylle of this that we be so lytyl ayenst them / Lyke as we meruaylle of them that ben half lasse than we be / As it is tofore sayd / & they ben y^e Pygmans whiche ben but iij foot longe. And in lyke wy∣se meruaylle they of vs▪ of that we ben so grete / and repute vs also for geaunts / They that haue but one eye and one foot. haue grete meruaylle that we haue tweyue / lyke as we doo of them that haue but one / And also as we deuyse their bestis & name them by their names in lyke wyse deuy¦se they oures / by theires / bothe of body & of membres / Yf the centyoore haue an foot of an hors / In lyke wyse hath the hors the foot of a centyoore / Also we may wel saye that y^e hors hath the body of monotheros. For they ben lyke corsay¦ge. And thus their bestes resemble vnto oures whiche ben dyuerse of hedes of bodyes and of membres / as oures ben contrarye to theires /

¶Of dyuersitees that ben in europe & in affryke / ca. xiiij

WE haue in thise partyes many thynges that they of Asye & of affryke haue none. Ther is toward Irlon¦de on the one syde a maner of byrdes that flee & they growē on trees & on olde shippe sides by the bylles / & whan they be nygh rype / they that falle in the water lyue. & the other not they ben callyd bernacles. Irlād is a grete Ilonde in which

is no serpent ne venymous beeste / & who that bereth with hym the erthe of this yle in to another contre & leyeth it whe¦re as venymous vermyne is. there anon it deyeth / another ylonde is in Irlonde whiche stondeth ferre in the see / where no wymmen may dwelle / & also the byrdes that ben femal∣les may not abyde there / Ther is another yle wherin nomā may dye in no tyme of the world. but whan they ben so ol¦de & feble that their membres faylle & ake & lyue wyth pay¦ne that they may not helpe ne susteyne them self / and that they had leuer dye than lyue. they doo them to be born in to another yle & ouer the water for to dye. & the trees that ben in this yle kepe their leues greue & in verdure alle tymes wynter & somer. In another yle in Islonde the nyght endu∣reth vj monethes. & thenne cometh the daye that dureth o∣ther vj monethes shynyng fair & clere. Another place is in the same ylonde whiche brenneth nyght & day. Ther is also in Irlonde a place called seynt Patryks purgatorye / whiche place is perillous yf ony men goon therin & be not confessed and repentaūt of their synnes / They be anon ra∣uysshid and loste in suche wyse that noman can telle whe∣re they be come / And yf they be confessyd and repentaūt / & that they haue doon satisfaction and penaunce for their syn¦nes wythout that all be clensed and ful satisfyed therafter shal they suffre payne and greef the tormentis in passyng this crymynel passage / And whan he is retorned agayn fro this purgatorye / Neuer shal no thyng in this world plese hym that he shal see ner he shal neuer be Ioyous ne glad ne shal not be seen lawhe. but shal be contynuelly in wayllynges & wepynges for the synnes that he hath com∣mysed. hit may wel be that of auncyent tyme it hath ben thus as afore is wreton as the storye of Tundale & other

witnesse / but I haue spokē with dyuerse men that haue ben therin / And that one of them was an hye chanon of wa∣terford whiche told me that he had ben therin v. or vj times & he sawe ne suffred no suche thynges he sayth that wyth processyon the relygyous men that ben there brynge hym in to the hool and shette the dore after hym. & than he wal∣keth groping in to it where as he said ben places & maner of cowches to reste on / And there he was all the nyght in cō∣templacion & prayer / and also slepte there / & on the morn he cam out agayn / other while in their slepe sōme men haue meruayllous dremes & other thynge sawe he not / And in lyke wyse tolde to me a worshipful knyght of brudgis na¦med sir Iohn / de banste that he had ben therin in lyke wyse & see none other thyng but as afore is sayd / In brytaygne that now is called Englond as is sayd is a fontaygne & a pyller or a perron therby / And whan men take water of this welle & caste it vpon the perron / anon it begynneth to rayne & blowe / thondre & lyghtne meruayllously Also in fraūce hath ben seen somtyme a maner of peple that haue be horned / toward the moūtes of moūt Ius / ye shal fynde plen¦te of wymmen y^t haue botches vnder the chyn̄ whiche hāge doun of some doun to the pappes. & they that haue grettest ben holden for fairest / Other folke ther ben that haue botches on their backes & ben croked as crochettes. & they that see all thise thynges ofte meruaylle but lytyl / also it is ofte seen that in this contre ben born children deef & dombe. & also of them that haue bothe nature of man & woman yet ben ther ofte seen sōme children comen in to this world somme wythout handes and somme wythout armes /

¶Of the maner & condycion of beestes of thyse contrees / Capitulo. xv^o.

THe fox is of suche a condicion that whan he depar∣teth fro the woode and gooth in to the feldes / there he lyeth doun and stratcheth hym on the grounde as he were deed for to take byrdes / Whan the herte wylle renue his age he eteth of som venymous beeste / Yf the tode Crapault or spyn•••••• byte a man or woman / they be in daunger for to dye / It hath be ofte seen / The spyttle of a man fastynge sleeth comynly the spyncoppe and the tode yf it touche them yf a wulf and a man see that one that other fro ferre / He that is first seen becometh anon a ferd / the wulf bereth the sheep wythout hurtynge or greuyng of hym doubtyng that he wold crye / and that he shold not be folowed / And after deuoureth hym whan he hath brought hym to the wode / and yf he be constrayned to leue hym in his berynge He destrayneth hym wyth all his myght at his departyng The spyther or spyncop of his propre nature spynneth & weueth of his entraylles the threde / of whiche he maketh his nettes for to take flyes whiche he eteth / whan the she ape hath two whelpes or fawnes she loueth that one mo∣che better than that other / She beryth hym that she loueth best in her armes / and that other she leteth goo / whiche whā she is hunted lepeth on the moders backe and holdeth her faste / And that other that she bereth in her armes / she le∣teth falle and is ofte constrayned to saue her self / Also it is so that the hounde kepeth the goodes of his lorde and maystre. And ben by hym warantes ayenst men and bes∣tes. And aboue alle other he knoweth his lord & maystre by his smellyng. & loueth hym of so right good loue that ofte it happeth be it ryght or wronge he wyl not forsake / his maystre vnto the deth. And also he is so sorowful for the deth of his maystre / that other whyle he loseth his lyff

In englond in som place is ther a maner of houndes that go on and seche out the theuys. and bryngē them fro thens where they fonde them / The muskele is a right lytyl beeste and sleeth the basylycock / and in longe fyghtyng byteth hym out of mesure / She of her nature remeueth so ofte her fawnes fro one place to another that wyth grete payne they may vnnethe be founden / The hyrchon whan he fyn∣deth apples beten or blowen doun of a tree / he waloweth on them tyl he. be chargyd and laden wyth the fruyt styckyng on his pryckes / And whan he feleth hym self laden as moche as he may bere he gooth his way wyth them syn∣gyng and make his deduyt / And yf he mete ony beeste that wold doo hym harme. he reduyseth hym self as rounde as a bowle / and hydeth his groyne and his feet / & armeth hym wyth his pryckes aboute his skynne in suche wyse that no beeste dar approche hym doubtyng his pryckes The lambe whiche neuer sawe wulf / of his propre nature doub∣teth and fleeth hym / But he doubteth nothyng other bestes but gooth hardyly emonge them /

¶Of the maner of byrdes of thyse forsayd contrees Capitulo / xvj^o.

THe Egle of his nature taketh his byrdes by the vngles or clawes wyth his bylle. And hym that holdeth fastest he loueth beste and kepeth them next by him / And them that holden but febly / he leteth hem goo / and taketh none hede of them / whan the Egle is moche aged he fleeth so hye that he passeth the clowdes / And holdeth there his syght so longe ayenst the sonne / that he hath all loste it and brente alle his fethers / Thenne he falleth doun on a montayn in the water that he hath to fore chosen / and

in this manere he reneweth his byl / And whā his bylle is ouer longe he breketh and bruseth it ayenst an hard sto∣ne and sharpeth it whan the Turtle hath loste her make whom she hath first knowen / Neuer after wyl she haue make ne sytte vpon grene tree. But fleeth emonge the trees contynuelly bewayllyng her loue. The hostryche by his nature eteth well yron. and greueth hym not / whan the heyron seeth the tempest come / he fleeth vp so hye tyl he be aboue the clowdes for teschewe the rayn and tempeste / The Chowe whan she fyndeth gold or syluer of her nature she hydeth and bereth it away. ¶And who somtyme heereth her voys. It semeth proprely that she speketh / The crowe weneth that he is the fayrest byrde of alle other / and the beste syngyng / Yf her byrdes be whyte in ony parte / she wyll neuer doo them good tyl they be all black. The pecok whan he byholdeth his fethers he setteth vp his tayll as Rounde as a wheell all aboute hym / by cause his beaulte sholde be alowed and preysed / and is moche prowde of his fayr fethrrs and plumage / But whan he beholdeth toward his feet / whiche ben fowl to loke on / thenne he leteth his tayll falle wenyng to couer his feet. The goshawke and sperhawk taken their prayes by the ryuers / But they that ben tame and reclaymed brynge that they take to theyr lord whiche hath so taught them. The culuuer or the downe is a symple byrde / and of her nature nourysshith well the pigeons of another douue / And apperceyuyth well in the water by the shadowe and seeth therin whan the hawke wold take her / The huppe or lapwynche is a byrde crested / whiche is moche in mareys and fylthes / and abydeth leuer therin than out therof / who someuer ennoynteth hym self wyth the blode of the huppe. and happe that after leyde hym

doun to slepe hym shold seme anon in his slepe dreming that alle the deuyllys of helle shold come to hym and wold strā∣gle hym / The nyghtyngal of her propre nature syngyth wel and louge and otherwhyle so longe that she deyeth syn∣gyng / And the larke lyke wyse deyeth ofte syngeng / The swanne syngeth ofte to fore her deth / In lyke wyse doo of∣to many men / Of thyse thynges and of many other. Moche people meruaylle that neuer herde of suche thynges to fore. ne knowe not therof as we doo here that dayly. fynde it. For in this booke we fynde many thynges and resons / wherof men meruaylle strongly that neuer haue seen lerned ne herd of them /

¶Of dyuersytes of somme comyne thynges / Capl^o. xvij

PLente and many thynges ther ben at eye / of whiche the resons ben conuert and hyd fro vs / of whiche the people meruaylle but lytil / by cause they see it so ofte / The quick syluer is of suche nature & manere that it susteyneth a stone vpon it where as water & oyle may not. for the sto∣ne in them goth to the bottom. the lyme or brent chal••e / in colde water anon it chauffeth & is hoot that nomā may suf¦fre his hand on it / The rayes of the sonne make the heer of a man abourne or bloūde / and it maketh the flessh of a man broun or black / And it whyteth the lynnen cloth / And the erthe that is moyst and softe. maketh drye and hard. and waxe that is drye / jt relenteth and maketh softe. Also it maketh cold water in a vessel warme Also oute of a gla•• ayenst the sonne men make fyre / and out of Crystal in lyke wyse also wyth smytyng of a stone ayenst yron co∣meth fyre and flammeth / The breeth of a man whiche is hoot coleth hoot thing / And it chauffeth colde / and ayer / by

me••yng. The erthe whiche is peysant and right heuy by na¦ture holdeth hit in the myddle of thayer wythout pyler and foundement only but by nature. And therfore he is a fooll that merueylleth of thynges that god maketh / For no cre¦ature hath y^e power to shewe reson whefore they ben or not For ther is nothyng how lytyl it be that the glose may be knowen vnto the trouthe sauf only that whiche pleseth to our lord god / For to be wel founded in clergye may men knowe and vnderstande the reson of somme thinges / and also by nature suche thynge as by reson can not be compre∣hended. Thawh a man enquyre neuer so longe of that is wrought in therthe by nature / he shal not mowe come to y^e knowelege wherfore ne how they be made. This may no∣man certaynly knowe / sauf god only whiche knoweth the reson and vnderstandeth it /

¶For to knowe where helle stondeth. and what thyng it is Capitulo / xviij^o.

WE haue declared to yow and deuysed the erthe wyth∣out forth the best wyse that we can / But now it is expedyent after that this that is sayd to knowe and enquy¦re what places and what mansyons ther may be wythin therthe / and whether it be paradys. helle purgatorye. lymbo or other thynge / And whiche of them is best / and whiche of them alle is worste / As to the regard of me and as me semeth that / that whiche is enformed and closed in the erthe is helle. I saye this for as moche as helle may in no wyse be in thayer whiche is one so noble a place. Also I may fre¦ly mayntene that it is not in heuen. For that place is so right excellent pure and net / that helle may not endure the∣re / For as moche as helle is so horryble stynkyng fowl / and obscure / Also it is more poysaunt & heuy than ony thing

may be / wherfor it may be clerly vnderstanden that helle is beyng in the most lowest place. most derke / and most vyle of the erthe / And as I haue here sayd to yow the causes why / In trouthe it may not be in thayer. and yet lasse in heuen for it is in alle poyntes contrarye to heuen aboue. for as moche as these two ben contrarye one to another of whi¦che places in that one is founden but alle glorye and con∣solacion / that is heuen. In that other is nothing but of all trybulacyon. that is helle / And therfore it is wythdrawen alle vnder fro that other as ferre as it may. and that is in the myddle of therthe. I saye not that helle is not in none other place where it be / For after the deth he hath payne & sorowe that hath deserued it / And whan suche one shal ha¦ue his payne aboue / so moche hath he the worse. Alle thus as it shold be of somme man that had a grete maladye so moche that he shold deye. And that he were brought in to a fayr place and plesaunt for to haue Ioye and solace / of so moche shold he be more heuy and sorowful whan he sawe that he coude ne myght helpe hym self ne take therby noo spoort ne releef / In lyke wyse shal it be of thyse vnhappy caytifs that ben by their demerytes dampned in helle / whe∣rof we shal now herafter to yow more ample and largely declare / for to fynysshe the bettre our booke / Now yf ye wille take hede and vnderstonde. we shal deuyse how helle is in the myddle of therthe / and of what nature it is of / And of the inestymable tormentis whiche they haue that ben therin put and condempned. ye haue wel vndestanden how by na∣ture the iiij elementes holde them that one wythin that other so that therthe is in the myddle and holdeth hym in the myd¦dle of the firmamēt all in lyke wyse is ther in the myddle of therthe a place whiche is called Abisme or swolowe / &

erthe of perdycion / Thus moche saye I to yow of this pla¦ce that it is ful of fyre and of brennyng sulfre / And it is ouer hydows stynkyng ful of ordure and of alle euyll ad¦uenture. hit is moche large wythin. & bynethe it is strayt. Alle that falleth therin anon the sulph••e contynuelly brē∣neth destroyeth and consumeth / And that thyng that co∣meth therin shal neuer fynysshe ne haue ende. but alleway shal brenne wythout ende / Alleway it brennth. and alle∣way reneweth / And alle that come therin may neuer deye For this place is of suche nature that the more it brenneth the lenger it endureth. This place of helle hath wythin hym alle the euylles of his partye / There deth holdeth his standard. whiche sendeth out thurgh all the world for to fetche them that ben his / Who that hath Ioye of heuynesse Thyder come all euylles and all the euyll aportes / this place is called the erthe of deth / For the sowles that ben brought thyder / they abyde and dwelle there wythout ende / Certaynly they deye lyuyng / And alleway lyue deyeng / The deth is there their lyf and their vyande and mete The deth holdeth them there at his commandement / This is the right pytte of fyre that brennyth. And all in lyke wyse as the stone is drewned in the see whan it is throwen and sonken / and neuer shal be after seen right so ben the sowles sonken in to the bottom whiche contynuelly brenne and be drowned ther / but for al that they dymynysshe not ne haue ende. But in suche myserye abye their folyes nyght and day. and so shal endure perpetuelly and wythout ende. For what someuer thyng that is spyrituel may neuer dye in suche wyse that it be alle deed / but the deth wold they ha∣ue and weesshe after it incessauntly / the sowle may neuer deye after that it is out of the body. But whan it is there /

It shal alleway languysshe / And euer after that it is in helle it shal haue nothyng but euyl / this is the contre & the londe of oblyuyon and forgetyng. For alle they that ben there shal be forgoten. Lyke as they forgate in this world their maker whiche is ful of pyte and of mysericorde / ¶ And therfore he hath leyd them there in forgetyng where they shal neuer haue mercy ne pardon in this londe so tenebrouse hydouse and full of all stenche / and of soro∣wes. anguysshes. heuynes / hungre. and thyrste shal neuer creature haue gladnesse ne Ioye thise ben the terryble gehy∣nes stynknyge / And there is fyre so ouer moche ardaunt hote and anguysshous that our fyre and the hete is nomore vnto the regard of that fyre of helle than a fyre paynted on a walle is in conparyson and to the regard of our fyre / There ben the flodes perylla••us whiche ben of fyre and of yee so hydows / horryble / ful of venyme and of fowle beestes that make so grete noyse and so grete grief payne & ennoye vnto the dolorouse soules that ben in the sayd abysme / that nys creature that can or may recounte or telle the hondred parte / In this contre ther is plente of other places whiche ben peryllous and horryble. And of them ben somme in the see as wel as wythin therthe / In many yles that ben by the see is terryble stenche of sulphre ardaūt in grete fyre whiche is moche paynfull. Ther ben many grete montaynes of sulphre that brenne nyght and daye where as many sow∣les ben encombred & brenne contynuelly for to purge their synnes and inyquitees / This may thenne well suffyse as touchynge to speke ony more of this matere. For ther is no creature that can telle the grete tormētes and inesty∣mable paynes that a man of euyll lyf receyueth for his de∣meryte whan he is departed fro this world. For he gooth

euyl to werse here we shal cesse for this present tyme / and now saye no more herof / And seen that we haue spoken wel a longe of one of the foure Elementis whiche is ther¦the / we shal now speke of the seconde / and that is of the wa¦ter that alway renneth. And after we shal speke of thayer and after of the fyre euerych in his right ordre /

¶How the watre renneth by & thurghe therthe / Ca xix^o.

THe water that is the depe see the whiche enuyronneth and goth round aboute the world / and of this see / me¦uen alle the flodes and ryuers that renne thurgh the erthe / And renne so ferre their cours / and that they retorne and come agayn thedyr from whens they departed / and that is the see / And thus goth the see contynuelly tornyng and makyng his cours that for so moche as the water is more lyght than the erthe / so moche is it aboue and is most next to therthe / She departeth and deuydeth the contrees / and she spredeth her thurgh out alle therthe. she falleth agayn in to the see / And spredeth agayn by the flodes and ryuers and goth sourdyng and spryngyng in the erthe from one place to another by vaynes / alle in lyke wyse as the blood of a man goth and rennth by the vaynes of the body. and goth out and yssueth in somme place / alle in lyke wyse renneth the water by the vaynes of therthe and sourdeth and sprin¦geth out by the fontaynes and welles / fro whiche it gooth al aboute. that whan one delueth in therthe depe in medowe or in montaygne or in valeye men fynde water salte or swe¦te or of somme other maner /

¶How the water swete or salte / hoot or enuenymed sour¦deth out of the erthe. Capitulo xx^o.

ALle watres come of the see as wel the swete as the salt. what someuer they be / alle come out of the see. & theder agayn alle retorne. vherupon somme may demaūde / syth the see is salt. how is it that somme water is fresshe & swete / Herto answerth one of thauctours and sayth that the water that hath his cours by the swete erthe is fresshe & swete / & becometh swete by the swetenes of therthe. whiche taketh away from it his saltnes and his bytternes by her nature. For the water whiche is salt and bytter whan it renneth thurgh the swete erthe. The swetnes of therthe re¦ceyneth his bytternes and saltnes / And thus becometh the water swete and fresshe whiche to fore was salt and byttre Other waters sourden and spryngen bytter & black. whi∣che somme men drynke for to be heled of their maladyes in∣stede of poyson / the whiche oftymes make grete purgaciōs to somme people / This is a water that spryngeth black & clere and renneth in therthe whiche is bytter and black / & it is ful of moche fylthe / wherfore men haue grete meruayl¦le / how it may be holsom to the body of a man. In another place sourdeth water whiche is hoot. and that ther myght be scal••ed therin a pygge or a ghoos / whiche ben called bathes or baynes naturell. Of suche maner bathes ben ther in al∣mayne in the cyte of Acon. and in Englond at bathe / In lorayne another atte thabbay of plounners / and at Ays in Gascoygne another / ¶This procedeth for as moche as wythin therthe ben many caues whiche ben hoot and bren∣nyng as fyre / And therthe hath plente of vaynes whiche ben alle full of sulphre / And ther cometh other whyle a wynde grete and stronge the whiche cometh by the water that sourdeth. And that it put forth so strongly that the sulphre catcheth fyre and brenneth. lyke as a fornayce alle

brennyng shold doo / And the water that hath his cours by thyse vaynes become also hoot as fyre / And yf it happed that the water ryght there shold sprynge out of erthe / It shold yssue sourdyng alle enflammed and alle boylyng as it were on a fyre / But fro as feere as his cours renneth fro thens so moche wexeth it lasse brennyng. and it may renne so longe & so ferre that in thende it becometh agayn alle colde / For ther is nothyng so hoot but that it koleth / sauf only the fyre of helle whiche contynuelly brenneth / & shal brenne wythout ende wythin therthe is plente of other places whiche ben ful of fowle bestes and venymous in suche wyse that the water that renneth therby is alle en∣feeted and sourdeth in somme places on therthe. But who that drynketh therof secheth his deth /

¶Of dyuerse fontaynes and welles that sourde on therthe / Capitulo / xxj

THer ben plente of fontaynes in other places that mo¦che ofte chaunge their colour And other of whom co¦me myracles / but it is not wel knowen wherof this procedeth / In the londe of Samarye is a wel that chaun∣geth and differenceth his colour four tymes in a yere. Hit is first grene / and after it chaungeth in to Sangwyne and after it becometh trowble / And after alle this it beco∣meth clere nette / and right fyne. in suche wyse that men de∣lyte them in beholdyng of it / but no persone dar drynke of it In this partye is yet another fontayne whiche springeth thre or four dayes the weke good and holsomme / And the other thre dayes it springeth not / but is alle drye / Ther is also a grete Ryuer that renneth syxe dayes duryng in the weke / And on the sabotte daye it renneth not / For assone

as the sabbotte day approcheth / he rebouteth and goth into therthe agayn / By acres the Cyte is founden a maner of sande. And there is founden also of the glayre of the see / Whiche ben medled to gydre / And of thyse two myxtyons is made good glasse and clere / In Egypte is the rede see / where the children of Israhel passed ouer drye foote for to come in to the londe of byheste. This see taketh his name of therthe / For therthe is alle rede in the bottom and on the sydes in suche wyse that the water of this see semed alle reed / In perse is a ryuer longe and brode whiche in the nyght is so hard frozen. that people may goo ouer a foot & trauerse it / And on daye tyme it is cleer and rennyng / ther is in Espyre a welle of whiche the nature is meruayllous y^t whiche quencheth brondes of fyre all brennyng / & after it setteth them a fyre agayn In ethyope is another whiche by nyght hath so grete hete that no creature may thenne dryn∣ke therof / And alle the daye it is so colde that it is frorn alle harde / In lorayne nygh vnto metm the cyte is a wa∣ter that renneth there / the whiche is soden in grete payelles of copper. and it becometh falt fayr and good / And this water furnyssheth alle the contre of salt / And this water sourdeth of a pitte whiche is the pitte of Dauyd / In this contre ben other fontaynes that ben so hoot that it brenneth alle that is toucheth / In the same place sourde & sprynge other that ben as colde as yce. There ben baynes wel attem¦pryd and medlyd wyth colde water and hoot / And they that bayne them in thyse baynes / their scables and soores become all hool. Yet ther be of other fontaynes right black whiche ben holden right holsom / and people drynke of them in stede of medecynes / And they make oftyme grete pur∣gacyons / and gretter than of a medycyne or a laxatysf /

Another fontayne ther is toward the Oryent wherof is made fyre grekyssh wyth other myxtyons that is put ther∣to the whiche fyre whan it is taken and lyght is so hoot / that it can not be quenchid wyth water / But wyth aysel / vryne. or wyth sonde only. The sarasyns selle this water right dere and derrer than they doo good wyne. Other fon∣taynes sourden in many other places that hele sore eyen & many soores and woundes / Other fontaynes ther be that rendre to a man his mynde and memorye. Other make men to forgete Other that refrayne people fro lecherye. other that meue them therto. Other ther be that make wymmen to conceyue and bere children. And other that make them bareyne and may bere none / Ther ben somme ryuers that make sheep black / And other that make them whyte as the lylye. On that other syde the•• ben many pondes or stag¦nes in whiche may nothyng swymme man ne hounde ne other beste but anon it synketh doun to the bottom / Ther ben other in whiche nothyng may synke. but contynuelly flote aboue / Ther ben yet other fontaynes hoot. that blynde the theues whan they forswere them of the trespaas that they haue commysed touchyng their thefte. And yf they be charged and born wrongly on honde wythout reson and thenne drynke of this water. certaynly they shal haue bet∣ter sight than tofore ¶Of alle thyse thynges can noman rendre the reson / but that we ought to vnderstonde that alle this procedeth by myracle / Yet ben ther other fontaynes whi¦che ben styll and clere / Whiche that whan men pleye ouer them wyth harpe or other instrumentis that resowne in maner of consolacion by their sowne / The water of those wellys sprynge vp wyth grete bobles and sprynge ouer in the waye / Other fontaynes ben in other places whiche

ben right peryllous / But for this present we shal reste her wyth all. For to telle of this that cometh by the waters. whiche holde their cours wythin therthe and also aboue. of whiche it happeth other while so grete a quauyng that the erthe meueth so strongly / that it behoueth to falle alle that whiche is theron thaugh it were a massyue tour /

¶Wherfor and how the erthe quaueth and trembleth Capitulo xxij^o.

NOw vnderstande ye thenne / what it is of the me∣uyng of the erthe / And how the erthe quaueth and shaketh that somme people calle an erthe quaue / by cau¦se they fele therthe meue and quaue vnder theyr feet. And oftymes it quaueth so terrybly and meueth that somtyme Cytees ben sonken in to therthe that neuer after be seen / And this cometh of the grete waters that come wythin therthe. so that by the puttyng out of the grete flodes and waters growe somme tyme cauernes vnder therthe / And the ayer that is shette fast wythin / the whiche is enclosed in grete distresse. Yf therthe be there feble so that it may not reteyne it all wythin. thenne is it constrayned to opene & cleue. For ayer enforceth to yssue out / wherof it happeth ofte that townes cytees and castellys ben sonken doun in∣to the abysme. And yf therthe be of suche force and streng∣the that it openeth not ne cleueth by the shouynge or heuynge of the wyndes that ben wythin / Thenne therthe meueth & quaueth so meruayllously that the grete walles and hye towres that ben theron falle doun so sodenly in therthe that it destroyeth and sleeth the people that ben therin whiche ben not aduysed ne pourueyed of suche daungers. Whiche is a grete sorowe for the pour peple that dwelle where suche

meschief happeth / whan they be not aduertysed at what ty∣me suche tempeste shal come for teschewe it. But wyse men that doubte for to deye arme them and make them redy ayenst the deth / And gyue alle dylygence for to seche to ha¦ue accordaunce vnto the souerayn Iudge / of their synnes and defaultes after their lawe and byleue that they haue / as they that haue none houre ne space to lyue where as / they ben hool and wel at ease / Thus the water and the wynde maken the right meuyng and quauyng by whiche the erthe cleueth and quaueth /

¶How the water of the see becometh salt. Capitulo. xxiij

NOw I wyl recounte and telle to yow how the water of the see becometh salt. whiche is so bittre that no per¦sone may drynke ne the bestys in lyke wyse hit cometh by the sonne on hye / For it maketh so grete hete in somme pla¦ce / that the see is chauffed so strongly that therthe whiche is vnder draweth to hym a moysture byttre / which taketh away alle sauour / For in the see ben right grete and hye montaynes and depe valeyes whiche ben ful of bitternesses greuous and infected / And the erthe whiche is in the bot∣tom of thyse valeyes scumeth for the heete of the sonne vp¦ward / Whiche medleth wyth the water in the depe in suche wyse that it draweth the saltnes vp by the hete of the sonne so longe tyl it be medlyd wyth that other / And thus is the water of the see salt wyth that other / Thenne we shall here fynysshe to speke ony more of the watres fressh or salt / And shal recounte to yow of the Ayer whiche is one of the iiij Elementis and of his propretees /

¶Here foloweth of Ayer and of his nature / Ca xxiiij

THe Ayer is sette aboue the water / & is moche more subtyl than the water or the erthe / and enuyronneth therthe on alle partyes / and domyneth also hye as the clow¦des moūte / This ayer which enuyronneth vs on all sydes is moche thycke / But we lyue therby in lyke wyse as the fysshe lyueth by the water. whiche he draweth in and after casteth it out agayn. In suche maner the ayer prouffyteth to vs / For we drawe it in / and after we put it out agayn And thus it holdeth the lyf wythin the body / For a man shold sonner deye wythout ayer than a fysshe shold doo wyth out water to whom the lyf is sone fynysshid whan it is out of the water / Thayer maynteneth in vs the lyf by the moys∣ture that is in hym / And by the thycknes that is in hym he susteyneth the byrdes fleeyng that so playe wyth their wyn¦ges and meue them so moche al aboute therin that they dis∣porte them ledyng their Ioye therin and their deduyt▪ Thus goon the byrdes by thayer fleyng / syngyng and preysyng their maker and creatour / lyke as the fysshes that goon swymmyng in the water / And ye may apperceyue in this maner. take a rodde and meue it in thayer / and yf ye meue it fast and roydly it shal bowe anon / And yf it fonde not thayer thycke it shold not bowe ne ploye / but shold holde him strayght and right / how faste someuer ye meued it. of this Ayer the euyl esperytes take their habyte / and their bodyes whiche in somtyme put them in the semblaunce of somme thynges as whan they may appere in som place for to de∣ceyue som persone man or woman. or for to make them to yssue out of their mynde / wherof they haue sōtyme y^u might Or whan by the arte of nygromancye he putteth hym in

somme semblaunce or in suche a fygure as he wylle / But this is a science that who that gyueth hym therto to doo euyl. hit gyueth hym the deth. For yf he taketh not hede the∣rof. he shal be dampned body and sowle. But we shal en∣quyre here after what cometh fro thayer in to therthe.

¶How the clowdes & rayn come comynly. Ca. xxv

NOw we shal speke of the clowdes for to knowe what it is and of the rayne also. The sonne is the foundement of alle hete and of alle tyme. all in suche wyse as the herte of a man is the foūdement by his valour that is in hym of all natural hete. For by hym he hath lyf. & all lyueth by hym that groweth on therthe as it pleseth to our lord / as here after shal be declared yf ye wyl here and well reteyne the mater and substaunce of this present beoke / for the sonne maketh the clowdes to mounte on hye. and after it maketh the rayne and to auale doun. And I shal shewe to yow how it is doon & shortly / by his force / and vnderstan¦de ye in what manere whan the sonne spredeth his rayes vpon therthe & vpon the mareys. he dreyeth them strongely And draweth vp the moysture whiche he enhaunseth on hye / But this is a moysture subtyl whiche appereth but ly¦tyl and is named vapour / and it mounteth vnto the myd∣dle of thayer & there is assembled and cometh to gydre and abydeth there / And lytyl & lytyl it encreceth that it cometh thycke & derke in suche wyse that it taketh fro vs the syght of the sonne / And this thynge is the clowde / But it hath not so moche obscurete that it taketh fro vs the clerenes of the day / And whan it groweth ouer thycke it becometh water whiche falleth on the erthe / and the clowde abydeth whyte. thenne shyneth the sonne / whiche is on hye thurgh

the clowde / Yf it be not ouer black. lyke as thurgh aglasse / Also lyke a candel wythin a lanterne. whiche gyueth vs lyght wythout forth. and yet we see not the candel / Thus shyneth the sonne thurgh the clowde whiche is vnder hym and rendreth to vs the clerenesse of the day / as longe as he maketh his tourne aboue therthe. And the clowde that al∣waye so longe abydeth and taketh more moysture / so longe after / that it becometh black and moyste / Thenne yssueth out the water whiche cometh to therthe / and thus groweth the rayne. And whan it is alle fallen to therthe. and the gre∣te moysture is staunched the clowde hath lost his broun co∣lour that he byfore helde and the derkenesse of whiche she em∣pesshid the day. Thenne aperith the clowde clere and whyte whiche thenne is lyght and mounteth on hye somoche that in thende she falleth and is deffeted by the hete of the sonne on hye whiche al dreyeth vp / Thenne thayer wexeth agayn pure and clere / and the heuen as blew as azure / Of therthe groweth the rayn and the clowdes also / as of cloth that is weet / and shold be dreyed by the fyre. thēne yssueth therof a moysture lyke a smoke or fumee and gooth vpward. who thenne helde his hande ouer the fumee / he shold fele a va∣pour whiche shold make his hande moyst and weet / Yf it dured longe he shold appertly knowe that his hande were al¦le weet / and that water shold droppe and falle therof / And thus I saye to yow that in this maner growe ofte the clo∣wdes and raynes / and our lord god multyplyeth wel them whan it pleseth hym for to make the seedes and fruytes growe that ben on therthe /

¶Of frostes and snowes / Capitulo. xxvj

THe grete snowes and the grete frostes comen by the grete coldes of thayer whiche is colde in the myddle

more than it is on ony other parte. lyke as ye may see of the montaynes whiche ben in hye place. lyke as the mon∣taynes of sauoye. of pyemont or in wales. & in thise other montaynes. where ther is of custome more snowe. than is in places that ben in playn groūde. Alle this cometh of y^e coldnes of thayer. whiche hath lasse hete aboue. than benethe by cause it is more subtyl / than that whiche is bynethe / and whan the more subtyl is on hye so moche reteyneth he las∣se of hete. But the more that thayer is thycke somoche more it chauffeth. and the sonner where the sonne may come / ¶ Of whiche cometh that yron and steel wexe more hoot by the sonne than dooth the stone. For of so moche as the thynge is more hard and of more thyck mater / so moche taketh it the fyre more asprely & sonner than they that ben of lasse force / Thus saye I to yow of thayer that is aboue on hye. whiche is more c••lde than this is bynethe / For as moche as it is not so thycke as that is whiche is nyghe therthe / And for the wynde that ofte gro∣weth. Whiche maketh it ofte to be in meuyng / For the wa¦ter that renneth faste eschausfeth lasse than that doth that holdeth hym stylle / So doth thayer whiche is an hye / And therby groweth the colde that freseth this moysture anon as it is goon vp on hye / And falleth doun agayn y frorn /

¶Of haylle and of tempestes / Capitulo. xxvij

BY this manere comen in the somer the grete haylles^o. and the grete tempestes / For in thayer they growe / wherof oftyme cometh grete colde so that the moysture that is in thayer brought vp / is drawen to be frorn. And it is in thayer assembled and amassed / For the hete that cha∣ceth after it / And the sonne causeth it to lose and to falle on therthe / But it falleth not so grete to the grounde as it is frorn aboue an hye / For it cometh doun brekyng and

amenuysyng in the fallyng / And this is the tempest whi¦che falleth ofte in the somer / the whiche is greuous and ennoyous to many thynges /

¶Of lyghtnynges and of thondres / Capitulo / xxviij^o.

IN thayer happen many thinges of whiche the people speke not gladly / For they retche not moche of suche thynges of whiche they can not wel come to the knowle∣che / This that maketh therthe to quaue. And this that maketh the clowdes to thondre / that whiche maketh the erthe to opene / And this that maketh the clowdes to spar¦kle and lyghtne whan the thondre is herde / For thondres and lyghtnynges ben deboutemens and brekyng out of wyndes that mete aboue the clowdes so asprely and shdrp¦ly / that in theyr comyng groweth ofte a grete fyre in tha∣yer / And this thondre that falleth in many places whiche the wyndes constrayne so terrybly that the clowdes cleue and breke and maketh to thondre and lyghtne & falleth doun in so grete rage by the wynde that destrayneth it so asprely that it confoundeth alle that it atteyneth in suche wyse that nothyng endureth ayenst it / And it is of so heuy nature that somtyme it perseth therthe vnto the myd∣dle. And somtyme it quencheth er it cometh to the grounde after that it is of poyse / and that is not of ouer stronge nature. For whan the clowde is moche derke / and thycke and that ther is grete plente of water / the fyre passeth not so soone. but it is quenchid in the clowde by the grete quā∣tyte of the water that is therin byfore it may perse thurgh so that it may not approche therthe / but in the straynyng & brekyng that hit maketh thenne in the clowde. groweth a sowne so grete and stronge / that it is meruayllous to here I declare to you for certayn that this is the thondre. whiche

is moche to be doubted & drad / In lyke wyse as of an hoot & brennyng yron that is put in a tubbe of water therof gro¦weth a noyse & a grete sowne & also whan cooles ben quen∣chid / But the lyghtnyng of the thondre appereth and is seen er ye here the voys or sowne. for as moche as the sight of a man is more subtyl than the heeryng lyke as men see fro ferre ouer a water betyng of clothes or smytyng of mar¦teaulx or hamers / the strokes ben seen of them that smyte. or the soun be herde of the stroke. Alle in lyke wyse may I saye to yow of the thondre / the whiche men see to fore and er they here it / and so moche the ferther it is aboue vs. so moche the ferther is the soun of the lyghtnyng after it is seen / er the soun be herd / & the sonner after the lyghtnyng is seen & the yons herd somoche is the thondre more nygh vnto vs /

¶For to knowe how the wyndes growe & come. ca. xxix^o

OF the wyndes may men enquire reson of them that vse the sees / And the wyndes renne round aboue therthe oftymes / and entrecounte and mete in som place so asprely / that they ryse vpon heyght in suche wyse that they lyft vp thayer on hye And thayer that is so lyft and taken fro his place / remeueth other ayer in suche facion that it re∣torneth as it were afterward and gooth cryeng and bra∣yeng as water rennyng / For wynde is none other thyng but ayer that is meuyd so longe tyl his force be beten doun wyth the stroke / Thus come ofte clowdes ray••es thon∣dres and lyghtnynges / and the thynges tofo•••• sayd / Ther ben yet other resons how these werkes comen / But thyse that beste serue to knowelege and lyghtly to be vnder∣stonde we haue drawen out shortly. and now we shal cesse of this mater for to speke of the fyre whiche is aboue the ayer on hye /

¶Of the fyre and of the sterres that seme to falle / Capitulo. xxx^o.

YE ought to knowe that aboue thayer is the fyre / this is an ayer whiche is of moche grete resplendour and shynyng and of moche grete noblesse / & by his right grete subtylte he hath no moysture in hym. And is moche more clere than the fyre that we vse / and of more subtyl na∣ture / than thayer is ayenst y^e water, or also the water ayenst the erthe / This ayer in whiche is no maner moysture / It stratcheth vnto the mone / And ther is seen ofte vnder this ayer somme sparkles of fyre / and seme that they were ster∣res of whiche men saye they be sterres. whiche goon ren∣nyng / and that they remeue fro their places. But they be none / but it is a maner of fyre that groweth in thayer of somme drye vapour. whiche▪ hath no moysture wythin it / whiche is of therthe and therof groweth by the sonne whi∣che draweth it vpon hye / & whan it is ouer hye it falleth & is sette a fyre lyke as a candel brennyng as vs semeth. & after falleth in thayer moyste and ther is quenchid by the moystnes of thayer / And whan it is grete & the ayer drye it cometh al brennyng vnto therthe / wherof it happeth ofte that they that saylle by the see or they that goon by londe ha∣ue many tymes founden and seen them al shynyng & bren∣nyng falle vnto therthe. & whan they come where it is fallen they fynde none other thyng but a lytyl ass••es or like thing or lyke som leef of a tree roten. that were weet / Thenne ap∣perceyue they well and byleue that it is no sterre. For the sterres may not falle / but they muste alle in their cercle meue ordynatly and contynuelly nyght & day egally /

¶Of the pure Ayer and how the seuen planetes ben sette / Capitulo. xxxj^o.

THe pure ayer is aboue the fire whiche purpryseth & taketh his place vnto the heuen / In this ayer is no obscurte ne derknes / For it was made of clere purete it re∣splendissheth & shyneth so clerly that it may to nothyng be compared / in this ayer ben vij sterres whiche make their cours al aboute therthe / The whiche be muche clene & clere & be named y^e vij planetes / of whome that one is sette aboue that other & in suche wyse ordeyned that ther is more space

[illustration]

fro that one to y^e other / Than ther is frō the erthe to the mone whi¦che is ferther fyf∣ten tymes than all the erthe is grete and euerich renneth by myra¦cle on the firma∣ment & maketh his cercle that o∣ne grete & that other lytyl after that it is & sitteth more lowe / For af somoche that it maketh his cours more nyghe therthe / so moche is it more short / & sonner hath per∣fourmed his cours / than that whiche is ferthest / that is to saye that who that made a poynt in a walle and wyth a compaas made dyuerse cercles aboute. alway that one mo∣re large than another / That whiche shold be next y^e poynt shold be lest of the other & lasse shold be his cours / for he shold sonner haue don his cours than the grettest / so that they wente both egally as ye may see by this fygure to fore /

THus we may vnderstande of the vij planetes of whiche I haue spoken that / that one is vnder that other / in suche wyse that she that is lowest of alle the other is leest of all and that is the mone / but by cause that it is next to therthe / it semeth grettest and most apparaunt of alle the other. and for thapprochement of therthe and by¦cause it goth so nygh. it hath not pure clerenes that cometh of hym self proprely by cause therthe is so obscure / but the clernes & lyght that it rendreth to vs / she taketh alway of the sonne / lyke as shold a myrrour whan the rayes of y^e son∣ne smyteth therin and of the reflexyon the myrrour smyteth on the walle and shyneth theron as longe as the rayes of the sonne endure in the glasse / In lyke maner sheweth & lyghteth to vs the lyght of the mone / & in the mone is a bo¦dy polysshyd & fayr lyke a pommell right wel burnysshed. Whiche reflaumbeth and rendryth lyght and clerenes whā the rayes of the sonne smyteth therin / The lytyl clowdes or derkenes that is seen therin. somme saye that it is therthe that appereth wythin / And that whiche is water appereth whyte lyke as ayenst a myrrour whiche receyueth dyuerse colours / whan she is torned therto. other thynke other wyse & saye that it happed & byfelle whā adam was deceyued by thapple that he ete. whiche greued alle humanye lygnage / And that thenne the mone was empesshed and his clere∣nesse lassed and mynuysshed. Of thyse vij sterres or plane∣tes that ben there and make their cours on the firma∣ment of whom we haue here to fore spoken. First were no moo knowen but the tweyne / that is to wete the sonne & the mone. thr other were not knowen but by Astronomye / Neuertheles yet shal I name them for as we haue spoken of them to yow / of thyse ther ben tweyne aboue the mone &

byneth the sonne and that one aboue that other of whom eche hath on therthe propre vertues / And they named mer¦curye & venus / Thenne aboue the mone and thyse tweyne. is the sonne / whiche is so clere fayr & pure / that it rendreth lyght & clerenesse vnto alle the world and the sonne is set¦te so hye aboue / that his cercle is gretter & more spacyouse thā the cercle of the mone. whiche maketh his cours in xxx dayes xij sithes so moche / For the sonne whiche gooth mo¦re ferther fro the erthe than the mone maketh his cours / hath CCClxv dayes. this is xij tyme somoche & more o∣uer as the calender enseigneth / & yet more the fourth part of a day / that be vj houres. but for this that the yere hath dyuersly his begynnyng that one begynneth on the daye and another on the nyght whiche is grete ennoye to moche people this part of a day is sette by cause alleway in iiij ye¦re is a daye cōsumed whiche is aboue in that space the whi¦che yere is named bysexte or lepe yere whiche in iiij yere falleth ones / & so is sette fro foure yere to foure yere alway more a daye. & thēne is the sonne comen agayn in his first poynt / And that is in the myd marche / whan the newe ty¦me recomenceth / & that all thynges drawe to loue by the vertu of the retorne of the sonne / for in this season had the world first his begynnyng / & therfore thenne alle thyng re¦neweth and cometh in verdure by right nature / of the ty∣me and none otherwyse / Aboue the sonne ther be thre ster¦res clere and shynyng / and one aboue another / That is to wete mars iupiter & saturnus / Saturne is hyest of the seuen whiche hath in his cours xxx yere er he hath all goon his cercle / & thyse iij sterres reteyne their vertues in thyn∣ges here bynethe & ye may see yf ye beholde this figure how they be in ordre eche aboue other whiche fygure sheweth it well /

¶How the vij planetes gyue the names to the vij dayes / Capitulo / xxxij^o.

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Thise vij pla¦netes ben suche that they ha¦ue power on thin¦ges that growe on therthe & haboū¦de their vertues more than all the other that ben on y^e firmamēt & mo¦re appertli werke lyke as thaūciēt sage philosophers haue enserched by their wyttes of thyse vij planetes taken the dayes of the weke their names as ye shal here / The mo¦ne hath the monday / & mars the tewsday / mercurye the wed¦nesday / Iupiter the thursday. venus the fryday saturnus y^e saterday. & the holy sonday hath his name of the sonne / whi¦che is the most fayr. & therfor the sonday is better than ony of the other dayes of the weke / For this day is sette & reser¦uyd from alle payne & labour / And on this day shold men doo thyngis that shold playse our lord / but syth in this cha¦pytre we haue touched of the firmament we shal speke after of somme caas that come on the heuen and therthe. The son¦day is as moche to saye as the daye of pees and of praysin∣ge / For the creatour of alle thynges cessed this day / the whiche made and created all /

¶Of the meuyng and goyng aboute of the firmament & of the sterres that ben therin / Capitulo. xxxii••^o.

ABoue saturne whiche is the last planete / and hyest from vs of alle the vij planetes is the heuen that men see so full of sterres as it were sowen. whan it is cle∣re tyme and weder / This heuen that is so sterryd is the firmament whiche meueth and goth round of whiche me∣uyng is so grete Ioye so grete melodye and so swete / that ther is nomā that yf he myght here it that neuer after shold haue talente ne wylle to do thynge that were contrarye vn¦to our lord in ony thinge that myght be. so moche shold he desire to come theder where he myght alleway here so swete melodyes and be alway wyth them wherrof somme were somtyme that saide that lytyl yonge children herde this me∣lodye whan they lawghed in their slepe / For it is said that thenne they here the angels of our lord in heuen synge whe∣rof they haue suche Ioye in their slepe / But herof knoweth noman the trouthe sauf god that knoweth all / Whiche setted the sterres on the heuen and made them to haue suche power. For ther is nothinge wythin the erthe ne wythin the see / how dyuerse it be. but it is on the heuen fygured and compassed by the sterres. of whiche none knoweth y^e nom∣bre sauf god only / whiche at his playsir nombreth them & knoweth the name of eueriche of them as he that alle kno¦weth and alle created by good reason at the regard of the sterres that may be seen they may be wel nombred and en∣quyred by Astronomye. but it is a moche maystryse. For ther ne is sterre so lytyl. But that it hath in hym hole his vertue / In herbe. in flour / or in fruyt be it in facion / in colour or otherwyse / Ther is nothing in erth that ought to be. ne therin hath growyng but somme sterre hath strengthe and puyssaunce by nature / is it good or otherwyse suche as god

hath gyuen to it / And for the firmament and for the pla∣netes take this fygure to fore on that other syde / and ye shal see therin the sytuacyon of them /

BVt syth we haue descriued and spoken of the firma∣ment in this second partye of this volume / we shal speke of somme caases that come and happen on hye and also lowe. And shal speke of the mesure of the firmament. For to vnder stande the better the facion and how it is ma¦de and proporcioned and of that whiche is aboue / And al∣so we shal speke of heuen /

¶Thus fynyssheth the seconde partie of this present volume /