NICHOLAS AND ANTONIO ZENO a.d. 



1380. 

 sundry nations and learne their languages, whereby 

 afterwards upon occasions he might be the better able 

 to doe service to his countrey, and purchase to him- 

 selfe credite and honour. Wherefore he caused a ship 

 to be made, and having furnished her at his proper 

 charges (as he was very wealthy) he departed out of 

 our seas, and passing the straites of Gibraltar, he sailed 

 for certaine dayes upon the Ocean, keeping his course 

 still to the Northwards, with intent to see England 

 and Flanders. Where being assalted in those Seas by 

 a terrible tempest, he was so tossed for the space of 

 many dayes with the sea and winde, that he knew not 

 where he was, till at length he discovered land, and 

 not being able any longer to susteine the violence of 

 the tempest the ship was cast away upon the Isle of The ship of 

 Friseland. The men were saved, and most part of the M. N. Zeno 

 goods that were in the ship. And this was in the yere upon Z p%/ a „j 

 1380. The inhabitants of the Island came running in in Anno 

 great multitudes with weapons to set upon M. Nicolo i3 8 °- 

 and his men, who being sore weather-beaten and over- 

 laboured at sea, and not knowing in what part of the 

 world they were, were not able to make any resistance 

 at all, much lesse to defend themselves couragiously, as 

 it behooved them in such a dangerous case. And they 

 should have bene doubtlesse very discourteously intreated 

 and cruelly handled, if by good hap there had not beene Afirreme 

 hard by the place a prince with armed people. Who p ^ tnVrif- 

 understanding that there was even at that present a / an d with 

 great ship cast away upon the Island, came runing at armed men, 

 the noyse and outcryes that they made against our when M. Zeno 

 poore Mariners, and dryving away the inhabitants, su f eie k A^" 

 spake in Latine and asked them what they were and came unt0 ^ m 

 from whence they came, and perceiving that they came and spake 

 from Italy and that they were men of the said Countrey, Latine. 

 he was surprised with marvelous great joy. Wherefore 

 promising them all, that they should receive no dis- 

 courtesie, and that they were come into a place where 

 they should be well used and very welcome, he tooke 



447 



