The voyages & travels of Sir John Mandevile, Knight wherein is set down the way to the Holy Land, and to Hierusalem, as also to the lands of the great Caan, and of Prestor John, to Inde, and divers other countries : together with many strange marvels therein.

THE PREFACE.

Here beginneth a short Treatise of Sir John Mandevile, Knight (who was born in England, in the Town of Saint Albans) that speaketh of the Ways to Hierusalem, to Inde, and to the great Caan, and Prestor John's Land, and to many other Countries, and also of many marvels that are in the Holy Land.

FOrasmuch as the Land beyond the Sea, that is, the Holy Land, which some call the Land of Behest, or Promise, a∣mong all other Lands is most worthy. In that Land it pleased our Lord to take flesh and blood of the Virgin Mary, and to traverse that Land, with his own feet, and there he did many Miracles, Preach and Teach the Faith, and the Law of Christian men, as unto his Children, and there did suffer many reproofs and scorns for us: and he that was King of Heaven and Earth, and of all things that are contained in them, would only be called King of that Land, when he said, I am King of the Jews: For at that time it was the Land of the Jews: and that Land he chose before all other Lands, as the most worthy part of all the World. And as the Philosopher saith, Virtus rerum in medio consistet; that is, the vertue of things is in the midst. In that Land he led his life, and suffered death of the Jews for us, to save and deliver us from the pains of Hell, and from death without end, the which was ordained to us for the sin of our Father Adam, and our own sins also. For he that will do any thing, to have it known openly, will proclaim it in the middle place of a Town or City, so that it may be known to all parties of the City: So he that was King of Glory, and of all the World, would suffer death for us at Hierusalem, which is the midst of the World; that it might be known to all Nations of the World how dear he bought man. Ah dear God! what love had He to his Subjects, that when he had done no trespass, would for his Tres∣passors suffer death? Right well ought men to love, worship, and serve such a Lord, and praise such an Holy Land that brought forth a Lord of such Fruit, through the which each man is saved if it be not his own fault. This is that Land prepared for in Heritage to us: and in that Land would he die as ••••••fed, to leave it to his Chil∣dren. For the which each good Christian man that may and hath

wherewith, should strengthen him for to conquer his right Heri∣tage, and purchase it out of evil peoples hands; for we are called Christian men of Christ our Father, and if we be the right Children of Christ, we ought to challenge the Heritage that our Father left us, and take it out of strange mens hands. But now Pride, Cove∣tousness, and Envy, have so enflamed the hearts of the Lords of the World, that they are more busie to disinherit their Neighbours, than to challenge or conquer their right Heritage aforesaid. And the common people that would put their bodies for to conquer this Heritage, they may not do it without Lords: for assembling of the people without a chief Lord, is as a Flock of Sheep without a Shep∣herd, the which depart asunder, and wot not whether they do go. But would God the worldly Lords were at a good accord, and with other of their common people would take this Holy Voyage over Sea, I trust well, that within a little time our right Heritage beforesaid would be recovered and put into the hands of the right Heirs of Jesus Christ.

Now forasmuch as it is a long time since there was any general Passage thither, and that many men desire to hear the description of the Holy Land, I will declare it.

I, John Mandevile, Knight, who was born in England in the Town of St. Albanes, passed the Sea in the year One thousand three hundred thirty two on Saint Michaels day; and there remain∣ed long time, and went through many Lands, and many Provin∣ces, Kingdoms, and Isles, and have passed through Turkie, and through Armony the Little and Great, through Tartary, Sury, Araby, Egypt the High and the Low, through Liby, Chalde, and a great part of AEthiope, through Amazony, through Inde the Less and the More, and through many other Isles which are about Inde, where many people dwell of divers shapes. Of the men of which Lands and Isles, I shall speak plainly, and shall declare part of the the things I have seen.

For them that will visit the holy City of Hierusalem, and the places that are thereabout, I will tell the right way that they shall hold thither; for I have ridden it, and passed it with good obser∣vation.

Farewell.