The works of the famous Mr. Francis Rabelais, doctor in physick treating of the lives, heroick deeds, and sayings of Gargantua and his son Pantagruel : to which is newly added the life of the author / written originally in French, and translated into English by Sr. Thomas Urchard.

CHAP. XXIII. (Book 23)

How Pantagruel departed from Paris, hearing newes, that the Dipsodes had invaded the Land of the Amaurots: and the cause wherefore the leagues are so short in France. (Book 23)

A Little while after Pantagruel heard newes that his father Gargantua had been translated into the land of the Fairies by Morgue, as heretofore were Oger and Arthur together, and that the report of his transla∣tion being spread abroad, the Dipsodes had is∣sued out beyond their borders, with inrodes had wasted a great part of Utopia, and at that very time had besieged the great City of the Amaurots; whereupon departing from Paris, without bidding any man farewel, for the businesse required diligence, he came to Rowen.

Now Pantagruel in his journey, seeing that the leagues of that little territory about Pa∣ris called France, were very short in regard of those of other Countreys, demanded the cause and reason of it from Panurge, who told him a story which Marotus set down of the lac Monachus, in the acts of the Kings of Ca∣narre,

saying, that in old times Countreys were not distinguished into leagues, miles, furlongs, nor parasanges, until that King Pharamond divided them, which was done in manner as followeth. The said King chose at Paris a hundred faire, gallant, lustie, briske young men, all resolute and bold adventu∣rers in Cupids duels, together with a hundred comely, pretty, handsome, lovely and well complexioned wenches of Picardie, all which he caused to be well entertained, and highly fed for the space of eight dayes; then having called for them, he delivered to every one of the young men his wench, with store of money to defray their charges, and this in∣junction besides, to go unto divers places here and there, and wheresoever they should biscot and thrum their wenches, that thy setting a stone there, it should be accounted for a league: thus went away those brave fel∣lows and sprightly blades most merrily, and because they were fresh, and had been at rest, they very often jum'd and fanfreluched almost at every sields end, and this is the cause why the leagues about Paris are so short; but when they had gone a great way, and were now as weary as poor devils, all the oile in their lamps being almost spent, they did not chink and dufle so often, but content∣ed themselves, (I mean for the mens part,) with one scurvie paultry bout in a day, and

this is that which makes the leagues in Bri∣tany, Delanes, Germany, and other more remote Countreys so long: other men give other reasons for it, but this seems to me of all other the best. To which Panta∣gruel willingly adhered. Parting from Rowen, they arrived at Honfleur, where they took shipping, Pantagruel, Panurge, Epistemon, Eust∣henes and Carpalim.

In which place, waiting for a favourable winde, and caulking their ship, he received from a Lady of Paris (which I had former∣ly kept, and entertained a good long time,) a letter directed on the out-side thus, To the best beloved of the faire women, and least loyal of the valiant men, PNTGRL.