The trauels of certaine Englishmen into Africa, Asia, Troy, Bythinia, Thracia, and to the Blacke Sea And into Syria, Cilicia, Pisidia, Mesopotamia, Damascus, Canaan, Galile, Samaria, Iudea, Palestina, Ierusalem, Iericho, and to the Red Sea: and to sundry other places. Begunne in the yeare of iubile 1600. and by some of them finished in this yeere 1608. The others not yet returned. Very profitable to the help of trauellers, and no lesse delightfull to all persons who take pleasure to heare of the manners, gouernement, religion, and customes of forraine and heathen countries.

A LETTER SENT from Constantinople, to a learned Gen∣tleman in England, wherein the Author discourseth of his voiage from England thither, and of such famous places, and memorable matters as hee saw in the way thither.

WOrshipfull, and my worthy good friend, in most kind and curteous manner I salute you: wishing vn∣to you all ioyes internall, externall, and Eternall. Being now (by the prouidence of God) after long and tedious trauell, arriued in safety at Constantinople: and calling to mind your continuall kindnesse towards me since our first acquaintance, and your earnest request vnto me at my departure out of England, which was, to acquaint you with such occurrences as in my voyage should offer themselues vnto my viewe; I could not without some note of ingratitude (which I would not willingly incur) refuse to impart vnto you what me∣morable matters and famous places I haue seene and obserued in my voyage.

May it please you therefore to vnderstand, that after our depar∣ture from the coast of England, wee saw no land vntill wee came

neere vnto the coast of Spaine: and then appeared first of all in sight vnto vs a towne in Spaine called Territh or Tenerith, which was discerned first by a red sandy path on a mountaine neere vn∣to it. And shortly after, wee saw lubraltore on Europe side, and Abshi•• (commonly called Ape hill) on Affrica side, betwixt which 2. places we entred in at the straights mouth, with a swift currant and a good wind, commonly called the straights of leubraltore, be∣twixt which place and Porungal, wee saw many Whales in the bay or G••lph of Portingal. And in three dayes sailing from the straights,* 1.1 we arriued at Argier in Barbary, where we staied three daies, and were kindly intreated both by Ally Bashaw king of Ar∣gier,* 1.2 and also by Amurath Rayse, commonly called Morat Rayse. This citie is in forme like vnto a top-saile, broad below, and nar∣row aboue. It is situated on the side of an hill, walled about, and a strong Castle neere vnto the water side. It was first called Mesgana, secondly, Iol, the royall seate of IVBA, the noble king of Mauritania. who in the time of the ciuil warre betwixt Caesar and Pompey, valiantly defended Pompeyes part. By the Moores and Turkes at this day it is called Iezaier, but by the Spaniards it is called Algier. The people of this place, and the Spaniards are bitter enemies, and annoy one another oftentimes.

About 300. leagues from Argier wee saw Teddel, a citie in Affrica, and cape Bonne, which was formerly called Hyppo, where S. Augustine was Bishop, and Tunis, neere whereunto the anci∣ent citie Carthage stood, built by Queene Dido, whereof some ru∣mes are yet to bee seene.

Tunis is in Libia, and Morocus and Fesse in Numidia.

About these parts we saw flying fishes,* 1.3 as big an Hearing, with two great sinnes like vnto wings before, and two lesse be∣hind; who being chased by Dolphines and Bonitaes, fly as long as their wings are wet, which is not farre, but oft agables length. Porpisces and many other strange and deformed fishes we saw in our voiage, the names whereof we knew not. We saw also sword fishes and threshers: which two kind of fishes are deadly enemies vnto the Whale. The sword fish swimmeth vnder him and pric∣keth him vp, and then the Thresher, when hee hath him vp, bela∣boureth

him with his flayle or extraordinary long taile, and ma∣keth him roare.

On the other side, ouer against Barbary in the Spanish sea, we saw two Iles called Baleares, which are also called Ma••orque Minorque, thirty miles distant the one from the other. And o∣ther 2. Iles in the Balearique sea, called Ieuis & Ebusus betweene Sardinia and Africa, the earth whereof will suffer no venemous thing to liue: we saw also an Ile called now Pantalarea, but of old it was called Paconia. It is very full of hils and rockes: there groweth great quantity of Cotton, Capers, Figs, Melons and Reisings. The Iland is full of cesternes. They say, that not onely the men of that Iland, but the women also are natu∣rally good swimmers, but whether they be all so or not, I know not: but sure I am, we saw one woman come swimming from thence to our ship (being becalmed) with a basket of fruite to sell. The Ile is but thirtie miles in length, and ten miles in breadth.

The day following, we saw Sicilia, a famous Iland in the Tyrrhen sea,* 1.4 618. miles about. The Iland is most pleasant, and no lesse fertile. In this Iland is Aetna, an high hill, burning continnally with brimstone: it is now called Mons Gibelli; out of this hill riseth most horrible smoake, and flames of fire, and sometimes burning stones in great number. I haue heard that in this Ile there is a water whereinto if a dog be cast, he will die presently, but being taken out and cast into another water neere vnto it, he liueth againe, but this I haue not seene, and there∣fore referre it to others which haue seene it. Messana, common∣ly called Missina, is the chiefest citie in Sicilie, neere the Promon∣tory Pelorus. In the sea néere vnto this Iland, there is a dan∣gerous rocke called Scylla, and ouer against this dangerous rocke, there is a gulfe of the sea called Charibdis, commonly at this day called the Kirbies. It is a very dangerous place, by rea∣son of streames flowing contrary each to other. It is ouer a∣gainst Scylla: Marriners which saile betwixt these two, are carefull to keepe an euen course, lest, whiles they seeke to shun the one, they rush vpon the other, according to that verse,

Incidit in Scyllam cupiens vitare Charib dim.

that is,

Seeking to auoid one danger, they fall into another.

And in the Terrhen sea by Sicilie there is another Ile called Strongyle or Stromboly, which burneth in like sort as Aetna doeth, it is ouer against Naples. Sicilia is 50. leagues in length, that is 150. miles, accounting three leagues to a mile.

Ouer against cape Passera (which is a marke for Marriners at the Eastward end of Sicilia) there is an Iland called Malta,* 1.5 where (vpon some occasion) we touched. It is that Iland men∣tioned Act. 28. 1, 2. where the viper came on Pauls hand. It was then called Melita, but now Malta. The inhabitants were then Barbarians, yet shewed Paul no little kindnesse, for they kindled a fire, and receiued him and his companie, because of the present colde, &c. But now they are such Barbarous people which inhabit it, that rather then they will receiue Paul and his companions (I mean Protestants or any good Christians) to the fire in kindnes to warme them, they will rather in cru∣eltie cast them into the fire to burne them. Then a viper came on Pauls hand, and hee shooke him off without hurt: but now there are so manie viperous people there, who vse so strict In∣quistion when strangers come, that it is impossible for a good man to shake them off without harme either to his soule, if hee dissemble,* 1.6 or to his body, if he professe the trueth. The inha∣bitants are Renegadoes and Bandidoes of sundry nations,* 1.7 es∣pecially, Greekes, Italians, Spaniards, Moores and Maltezes: There are many Souldiers there, who are in pay vnder the Spaniards, and their Captaines are called Knights of Malta. The common sort weare no other clothing (because of the ex∣treamitie of the heat) then a linnen or white shirt girded vnder their brests, and ouer the same a fine white woollen mantle, called by the Moores a Barnuse. There are in this Iland 60. Castles, & as many villages, all well inhabited. There grow∣eth great store of Cottons, Pomegranates, Cytrons, Orenges, Melons, and other exellent fruits; but for wheat & wine, they doe furnish themselues out of Sicilia.

Tripoly in Barbary is a City situated on the maine land, vpon the coast of the Mediterranian Sea. It was builded by the Romans, and afterward subdued by the Gothes, which posses∣sed the same vnto the time of Homer.

The next places of any note, which wée saw,* 1.8 were two Ilands in Graecia, namely, Zephalonia and Zante, betwixt which two our Ship passed. Both of them are inhabited by Greekes, but gouerned by the Signiory of Venice, who every third yéere send Prouidores with other Officers to rule there. They are both very fruitfull Ilands, yéelding great store of currance, oliues, pomecitrons, oringes, and lemmons, but small store of corne, which they continually fetch from other Countries. If through extremity of wether, or danger of Pi∣rates, or cursares, corne be not duly brought vnto them, in short time they are ready to famish.

Zephalonia was of old called Ithaca, where Vlysses the sonne of Laertes was King, who excelled all other Greeks in eloquence and subtilty of wit. He is commended by ancient Writers, for a famous Traueller: but if he were liuing in these daies, his trauels would be counted nothing, in respect of the trauels of many other now liuing: for he trauelled but betwixt Venice and Egypt which is now a common voyage.

Zante,* 1.9 of old was called Zacynthus, it was somtimes a wooddy Ile in the sea Ionium, on the West of Peloponesus. But there is now very little wood in it. It is hilly round about, but the middle of it is a plaine and fruitfull valley, yéelding great store of Currance, which are brought from thence into England. The Greekes wonder what we vse to doe with so many Currance, and aske sometimes whether we vse to dye with them, or feed Hogges with them. They were a very poore kind of people, when our English Marchants vsed traffique there first: but now they are growen rich and proud.

There is also a citie in that Ile called Zante by the name of the Iland, which citie was built by Zacynthus sonne to Dardanus, who raigned there. We staied ten dayes in the rode of this city before we could get Pratticke, that is: leaue to come amongst

them, or to vse traffique with them, for their custome is not to giue present Pratticke vnto any strangers, vnlesse they bring a letter of health from the place whence they come, which we had not. And therefore some of our companie who had businesse there, we sent to the Lazaretta, which is a place like vnto the pest house in More-fields, where, though they be in health, yet there they must stay so long as it pleaseth the Signiors of health, which is sometime twenty, and sometimes forty dayes: and in the meane time, if any of their companie fall sicke, though it be at the end of fortie daies, yet must they stay forty daies lon∣ger. So long as they are kept without Pratticke, they haue a Guardian set to watch them that they come into no companie, neither any man into theirs: yet may their friends come to vi∣sit them, and standing farre off, may speake with them, but if they come too neere them, the Guardian will cry out vnto them, Alargo, alargo, that is: Stand backe. And whosoeuer cōmeth so néere them as to touch them, looseth his owne Pratticke, and must kéepe them companie during their continuance there. If they bring any letters for any Merchants in the Citie, the Gu∣ardiā wil open them & aire them at the fice before he wil deliuer them. But if the letter be sowed (or if there bee any thread a∣bout them) they must not be deliuered vntill they that brought them haue Prattick. And this they doe vnder pretence of auoi∣ding sicknesse: but they haue a further meaning therein, viz. partly to get money and bribes; and partly to bee acquainted with the businesse of all commers, and what commodities they bring. And whosoeuer presumeth to come on shoare without Pratticke, is in danger of hanging, or hauing the strappado. And though they haue a certificate that there is health in the place from whence they came, yet must they not come on shoare be∣fore they haue shewed their Fede, or Neate patent vnto three officers, called Signiors of health.

Zante is very much subiect vnto earthquakes. There is no yeere passeth without many earthquakes, especially in the mo∣neths of September and October, in which moneths I haue knowen two or three earthquakes in one weeke. In regard

whereof they build houses very lowe, lest they should bee ouerthrowen by earthquakes. And when they feele the earth∣quakes beginne (whether it be by day or by night) the Greekes vse presently to ring their bels to stir vp the people unto Praier.

In Zante there is a very strong Castle standing on an high hill, it is also very large, halfe as big as the Citie of Zante, and therein dwelleth the Prouidatore who gouerneth the Iland, and many other: and there is the place of iudgement where all causes both Criminall and Iudiciall are decided by the Pro∣uidatore & his Counselliers: ouer which place these two Lattin verses are written on the walle in letters of gold.

Hic locus odit, amat, punit, conseruat, honorat: Nequitiam, pacem, crimina, iura, probos.

which may be Englished thus,

This place doeth hate vnthrif••ines, Loue peace, and punish wickednes; Maintaineth right and equity, And honoureth good men worthily.

Ouer against Zante is the maine land of Graecia, called now Morea, but of old Peloponnesus, almost enuironed with the sea, hauing on the West and South, the sea Adriaticum; on the east the sea of Creete: And in the middle of Peloponnesus is a Coun∣try called Arcadia, so called of Arcas sonne to Jupiter by Calistho, who raigned there. Arcadia is famous for shepheards: There are great store of shéepe continually feeding, and good pasture for them. In the narrow strait, going into Peloponnesus, was Corinth, that famous City in Achaia, situated, but now vtter∣ly destroied.

From Zante wée set saile towards Venice, and touched by the way at many places; and first of all, at a Port néere vnto Corphu, called Madonn•• de Gazopo, where there is a Church dedicated vnto the Virgin Mary, whereunto there is great re∣sort of such as haue escaped dangers by sea, or sicknesse, or other dangers by land, to offer something to Madonna de Gazopo, for their deliuerance. And amongst many others, it was told vs by our consort the master of a Venice ship in our company, that

an Italian ship being in great distresse by extremity of wether in the gulfe of Venice, when all hope of helpe by worldly meanes was past, euery man fell to praier (like the Mariners in Ionas ship) and euery man called vpon his god, some to Neptune, some to S. Nicolas, some to one Saint, some to another: But the master of the ship praied to Madonna de Gazopo, in this manner: O blessed Virgin, deliuer me out of this danger, and J will offer vnto thee (if I come safely to Gazopo) a candle as bigge as the maine maste of my ship. One of his mates hearing him, plucked him by the shoulders, and said, O master, what doe you meane to dally with our blessed Lady in this extremitie? For it is impossible you should performe it. Whereunto he re∣plied, Hold thy peace foole, it concerneth vs to speake faire now we are in danger, and to make large promises: but if she deliuer vs, I will make her content with a candle of seuen or eight in the pound. Not much vnlike vnto another desperate Mariner whom I haue heard of, who in a dangerous storme, séeing eue∣ry man fall to his praiers, and prepare themselues to die, he fell on his knées, and praied in this manner: O Lord, I am no com∣mon begger; I doe not trouble thee euery day; for I neuer praied to thee before; and if it please thee to deliuer me this once, I will neuer pray to thee againe as long as I liue. So true is that old saying, Qui nescit orare, discat nauigare: that is, He that know∣eth not how to pray, let him goe downe to sea. For great dangers by sea do driue them to praier who neuer praied before, though none pray effectually, but the faithfull who pray feruently.

From Madonna de Gazopo we sailed along by Albania, and were driuen with a crosse winde to Ottronto in Calabria, at the entrance into the gulfe of Venice, where we staied two daies. And then we had a good winde, which brought vs to Ragouza, an ancient City in Dalmatia, which is a part of Jllyrium, or Illyricum (as others call it) bordering vpon Liburnia Eastward. But at this day, that which of old was called Illyris or Illyricum, is now called Sclauonia or Wendenlande; hauing on the North, Pannonia; on the West, Jstria; on the East, Mysia superior; on the South, the Adriaticke Sea. It was so called of Illyrius son

to Polyphemus. From thence we sailed along the Illyrian shoare in the gulph of Venice, and came to an hauen towne in Istria called Rauina ouer against Rauenna on the coast of Calabria: which Rauenna is an ancient Citie in Italy, by the Adri••tticke Sea. At Rauina we tooke in a Pilot to direct vs to Venice. Istria is a part of Italy ioyning to Illyricum, and is now called Scla∣uonia.

From Rauina in one dayes sayling we arriued at Leo néere vn∣to Venice,* 1.10 which is a most famous Citie, so well knowen vnto all men by report, that I néed not to spend any time in descri∣bing it, lest I should rather obscure it, then any way (by my barren stile) illustrate the same, onely this I note, that there is both a countrey called Venetia, and a Citie called also by the same name.

The countrey of Venice ioyneth to the Adriaticke Sea on the one side, and hath the Alpes on the other side. Therein are these Cities, Verona, Vincentia, Patauium, and Venice the head citie of the rest.

Patauium is the Citie and Vniuersitie of Padua by Padus. This Padus is the riuer Po in Italy, which riseth out of Vesulus, the highest hill of the Alpes, and runneth by the marches of Li∣guria, into the Adriaticke Sea. One arme of Padus called Pa∣dusa stretcheth to Rauenna.

The Citie Venice standeth in the Adriatticke sea, not far from the countrey of Venice. We stayed in Venice 17. daies, and ha∣uing ended our businesse there, wee returned to Zante, where, after we had staied thrée daies, we set saile for Constantinople.

The chiefest places of note which we saw betwixt Zante and Constantinople, are these: First, not farre from Zante, wée passed by two Iles on the West side of Peloponnesus, in the sea Jonium, called of old Strophades or Plotae, but vulgarly at this day, Striuales, whereof one of them is vninhabited, the other inhabited only by certaine of their religious men, whom they call Coloires, about thirty in number, who weare long haire, and neuer eat flesh, and very seldome fish, but at certaine sea∣sons of the yéere, but liue of hearbes, oliues, oile, and wine, and such like things. They neuer come out of that Ile, neither euer,

vpon any occasion admit any women to come amongst them: for they may not marry, but liue single and solitary al the daies of their life. A Coloire hath his etymologie of 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 & 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉▪ calos hiereus, that is, bonus Sacerdos, a good Priest.

From thence wée sailed along in sight of the maine land of Graecia, which amongst all other Countries in Europe, hath béene accounted the most noble and most famous. It was first called Helles, of one of the sonnes of Deucalion and Pyrrha, And afterwards it was called Graecia, of a King whose name was Graecus.

Peloponnesus is a Prouince in Greece, now called Morea. Macedonia is also a large Country in Europe, or Prouince in Graecia, now called Romnelli: It hath on the East, the Sea Aegaeum; on the West, the Sea Ionium; on the South, Epirus; on the North, Dalmatia. It was first called Emathia, of Ema∣thias, who was King thereof. Afterwards, Macedonia, of Ma∣cedon the sonne of Deucalion. The Macedonians descended of Sethim, sonne of Iaon. The Prouinces of Macedonia are these: first, Thessalia; secondly, Hellade; thirdly, Myrmidone: By reason whereof, Homer gaue thrée sundry names vnto the Thes∣salians, vz. Myrmadons, Helenes, and Achees. But at the last it was called Thessalia, of Thessale which possessed that King∣dome. The principal Citie in Macedonia is Thessalonica, which at this day is called Salonica by corruption. In this part of Grae∣cia is Parnassus, a mountaine hauing two tops, whereon the nine Muses did dwell.

Athens is still inhabited: it is situated betwéene Macedonia and Achaia on the sea coast; first built by Cecrops, and called Cecropia; lastly called Athens, of Minerua, who in Greece was called Athene. This City was the mother and nurce of all li∣berall Arts and Sciences: but now there is nothing but Athe∣isme and Barbarisme there: for it is gouerned by Turkes, and inhabited by ignorant Greekes. Some ruines of ancient buil∣dings are there yet to be séene. Thebes was a famous Citie in Macedonia; but now a small Castle of little account.

After we came as high as the Iland Creta, which is now cal∣led Candie, we left the way towards Egypt, and entred into

the Arches (called Archipellago) betwixt Cerigo and Cerigotta. Cerigo is an Iland at the entrance into the Arches, subiect to the Venetians, but inhabited by Greekes. This Ile was first called Scothera, and after (as Aristotle saith) Porpheris for the beautifull marbles which are there. Plinie, and diuers others doe call it Citherea, by the name of Cithere the sonne of Phaenis, and is now called Cerigo▪ where Venus made her first habitati∣on, and therein is a Temple erected for her. The ruines of that Temple of Venus are to bee séene there to this day. A little be∣low this Temple of Venus, vpon the same mountaine, was the Castle of Menalaus husband to Helene, who was king of Sparta. and Lord of this Ile. Departing from Cerigo, we came amongst the Cyclades, which are 53. Iles in the sea Aegaeum, called also by some Sporades, but vulgerly, the Arches or Archipelago. But more properly C••clade, and not vnfitly Sparades, althogh Sporades are taken especially for certaine scattered Ilands in the Carpathian Sea, about Creete or Candia, which is not farre from the Cyclades, or Iles in the Arches. Onely this is the difference, that all the Ilands betwixt Cic••••••, and Candia are in the Ionian sea. But Cerigo and all the Ilands in Archipel∣lago are in the Aegean sea. On a cléere day a man may sée twen∣ty Ilands at one time in these Arches. It is a dangerous place for shipping in a storme, by reason that the Ilands are so néere together, whereof some are inhabited, and some not.

About twenty leagues from Cerigo, we touched at an Iland called at this day Milo,* 1.11 but of old, Miletum, mentioned in S. Pauls voyage, Act. 20. 15. This Ile is inhabited by Greekes, and yéeldeth great store of milstones and dymmety, which are there both good and good cheape. Whiles our ship staied at Mi∣lo, we tooke boat to saile to sée another Iland not farre from Mi∣lo, called of old, Delos, where sometimes was the famous Temple aud Oracle of Apollo: But at this day it is called Sdi∣les, and is a very small and poore Iland.

About twenty miles from Delos there is another Ile called of old,* 1.12 Seriphus, by an inhabitant whereof Themistocles was vpbraided, that the commendation and fame he gat, was for his Countries sake, because hée was borne an Atheman. But

Themistocles answered the Seriphian, that neither had himselfe béene worse, if hée had beene borne in Seirphus, nor the other better, if he had béene borne at Athens. But this Iland com∣monly is called Serigo.

But the most famous and fruitfull Iland in all the Arches at this day is Chios (as it was formerly called,* 1.13 Act. 20. 15.) so cal∣led, because it resembleth the Gréeke letter Chi in forme and fa∣shion: As also Delta, an Ile by Nilus, not farre from Alexan∣dria is so called, because it representeth the figure of the letter Delta. But Chios is now called commonly Syo. Chios is an Iland in the sea Aegeum, betwixt Lesbos and Samos. It is di∣stant from Delos an hundred miles: it is in circuit nine hun∣dred furlongs. It was first called Ethalie by Ephodore. But by Methrodorus, Chio, of the Nymph Chione; and (as others say) Macrine or Pythiosa; but at this day called Syo.

This Iland is inhabited chiefly by Gréekes, but gouerned by Turkes. It is full of gardens, oringes, lemmons, citrons, figs, peares, apples, pruans, apricocks, dates, and oliues: and likewise of all sorts of hearbes, swéet flowers, good and holesome waters. There is also great store of mastick in this Iland, which is gathered of certaine trées like vnto Lentiscos trées, in this manner: About the beginning of the moneths of Iuly and Au∣gust, the husbandmen with a sharpe pointed iron, doe rent and cut the barke of the trées in diuers places, and out of these inci∣sions and cuts procéedeth the masticke by drops, as it were gumme, which they gather in the moneth of September fol∣lowing.

In this Iland are also great store of Partriges, which both in colour and quality doe much differ from ours. Their colour is somewhat red, and they are as tame as though they were chickens or hens. In certaine villages of this Iland, the coun∣try people doe féed them by great flocks, driuing them in the day time to grase in the mountaines; and towards night, the boyes or girles (which doe kéepe them) doe call them together by a whistle or song. And these Partriges being accustomed to such calls, presently euery flocke (which sometimes are two or thrée hundred) gather to their conducter, which bringeth them home

to their village and dwelling, as though they were hens, or tame géese. They goe also a feeding by small flocks in the stréets of the City.

This Iland is one of the seuen which contended for Homers birth. And they say that Homer was buried in this Iland, and that his sepulcher is to be séene to this day vpon the Mount He∣lias, within an old Castle in this Iland, but I haue not séene it.

The maine land of Asia is in sight ouer against Chios, and therein Smyrna, Ephesus, and Thyatira, called now Tyria, with the rest of the seuen Churches of Asia, to whom S. Iohn wrote, which are mentioned Reuel. 1. 11. And Pathmos the Ile where Iohn was put into a hot tunne of oile, Reuel. 1. 9.

After we had staied ten daies in Chios, which (as I haue said) is now vulgarly called Sio or Scio, we sailed towards Constantinople, by Mitilene an Iland in the Aegean sea. It was first called, Lesbos; secondly, Issa; thirdly, Pelasgie; fourthly, Mitilene and Mytais; and lastly, Metelyn, of Milet the sonne of Phoebus, which builded the City, and named it Mytelene. Of this City was Pythagoras, Alceus the Poet, and his brother Antimenides, Theophrastus, and Phanius, and Arion that skil∣full plaier on the harpe, and Tersander that famous Musitian. Sapho a woman well learned in Poetry, was also a Lesbian, being called the tenth Muse. She inuented the verses which (after her name) were called Saphicke Verses.

This Mytilenes was formerly called Bythinia, which is a Country in Asia, opposite to Thracia, néere Troy. It was first called Bebricia; after, Mygdonia; and then Bythinia: but at this day it is called Lesbos, néere vnto Lemnos, from whence commeth the terra sigillata, otherwise called terra Lemnia, which is said to be a remedy against poison, the bloody flixe, and the plague.

From Mittelyn we sailed by Tenedos,* 1.14 an Ile betwixt Lesbos and Hellespont, néere Troy, whereof Virgill speaketh, Aeneid. 2.

Est in conspectu Tenedos, notissima fama Insula, &c.

There is an Ile in sight of Troy, And Tenedos it hight:

A wealthy land while Priamus state And kingdome stood vpright.

The best and most excellent wines in all Graecia are made at Chios and Tenedos. There is also a City in the same Ile called Tenedos, built by Tenes. In this Iland was the Temple of Neptune.

Ouer against Tenedos is Troy, which is also called Troas or Troada,* 1.15 whereof I can speake no more but this that hath béene long since written:

Iam seges est vbi Troia fuit:

That is,

Waste lie the wals that were so good, And corne now growes where Troy towne stood.

And againe, as Virgill speaketh:

—fuit Ilium, & ingens Gloria Teucrorum.—

That is,

The City of Troy (called Ilium, of Ilus who enlarged the same) did florish, and the glory of the Troians was great.

And finally,

O iam periere ruinae:

The very ruines of it are come to ruine.

The Sea betwéene Moeotis and Tenedos is called Pontus.

A little beyond Troy, we entered the strait of Hellespont, which is a narrow sea, called Hellespontus, of Helle. It lieth betwéene the Aegean Sea and Propontis, and parteth Europe from Asia, It is not now called by the name of Hellespont, but it is called now The Castles; for there are still two Castles, which were of old called Sestos and Abydos, one on the one side of the Helispont, the other on the other side, erected in memory of the loue of Leander and Hera, ouer which narrow sea he of∣ten swomme vnto her, and was in the end drowned. The riuer Scamander runneth by the Castles.

Mayto is still a towne ouer against Abydos,* 1.16 but on the same side as Seste. There is made great store of good wine, which is red in colour, & in taste like claret wine and sugar, and yet they put no sugar into it, for it is pleasant of it selfe. Héere our Mer∣chants ships vsually take in wine for their prouision. There

are very many wind milles there, hauing ten wings a piece.

The strength of Constantinople consistet chiefly in these two Castles; for these Castles are well fortified with muniti∣on, and are to examine all shippes that passe by, from whence they came, and whither they would: and there they are to pay a tribute to the King. If any Ships refuse to stay from the Castles, they will shoote them through. But if these Castles were battered down, Constantinople and all the countrey there∣abouts might be easily wonne. Notwithstanding, these Ca∣stles, a small flight to kéepe the narrow seas betwixt Chios and the Castles, might in short time famish all that countrey, for the greatest part of their prouision, for Rice and other Corne, commeth from Alexandria, and those parts, with the Gazenda of the great Turk: but I leaue this to martiall men, and marri∣ners.

Gallipolis is a great & ancient Citie 20. miles distant from the Castles (which are at this day called the Castles of Gallipoly, in the way to Constantinople situated vpon Cherenes of Thra∣cia, at the point which looketh towards Propontis, which is all the sea from the straites of Hellespont to Bosphorus Thraicus. Some hold opinion that it was built by Caius Caligula. And others say that it was in times past inhabited by French men, for that this word Gallipoly▪ signifieth the Citie of the Gaules or Frenchmen, and for that the French men do dwell in Gaule, as Nicopolis and Phillipopolis signifie the City of Nicolas and Philip.

Not far from Gallipoly was that famous City Nice, where the Generall Councell was held in Bythinia. And néere vnto Constantinople is C••alcedon or Chalcedonia ouer against By∣zantium, which was a famous City in Bythinia, where another Generall Councell was held. But it is now no City, but onely a plaine field, hauing héere and there an house yet standing. At the point of Chalcedon we first beheld the prospect of Constan••i∣nople.* 1.17 which is most pleasant to behold, being like vnto a City in a wood, or a wood in a City, hauing firre trées, Cyprus trées, and other pleasant trées in gardens adioining to their houses. It is also adorned with many stately Towers, Chur∣ches,

and high Stéeples. The forme of the City is like vnto a Triangle, whereof two squares are by the water side, the other adioineth to the Land. After our Ship had saluted the Port, we went ouer to the other side, and anchored at Fundac••ee, and went on shore at Gallata, to salute the honourable Sir Henrie Lello, Lord Ambassadour for Quéene Elizabeth of famous me∣morie, and to visit our English Merchants resident there.

Our ship hauing discharged her goods at Fundacle, remoued from thence, and anchored further from shoare, betwixt Tapa∣nau and Bezetash, expecting a good winde to depart. Constan∣tiople is on the other side the water in Thracia, which is also cal∣led the countrey Romania in Europe, hauing on the west, Mace∣donia, on the North, Isther, on the East, Pontus, on the South, the Sea Aegeum.

As yet, I haue not beene farre in Constantinople, where∣fore I forbeare to write any thing thereof at this time, purposing hereafter when I haue thorowly viewed it, to describe it vn∣to you at large. In this Interim I humbly take my leaue, and leaue you to him, who neuer leaueth his.

Your Worships euer in the Lord wholly to bee commanded. WILLIAM BIDDVLPH.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Argier.
• * 1.2

  Rayse, signi∣fieth a Cap∣taine.
• * 1.3

  Flying Fishes.
• * 1.4

  Sicilia.
• * 1.5

  Malta.
• * 1.6

  Renegadoes of denying the faith.
• * 1.7

  Bandidoes are banished men
• * 1.8

  Zephalonia.
• * 1.9

  Zante▪
• * 1.10

  Venice.
• * 1.11

  Milo.
• * 1.12

  Delos.
• * 1.13

  Chios.
• * 1.14

  Tenedos.
• * 1.15

  Troy.
• * 1.16

  Mayto.
• * 1.17

  Constanti∣nople.