AD. THE ENGLISH VOYAGES 



1330- 



fifteene Thuman, and the physicians for the emperours 

 body, were foure hundred ; the Christians also were eight 

 in number, together with one Saracen. At my being 

 there, all the foresayd number of persons had all kind 

 of necessaries both for apparell and victuals out of the 

 emperors court. Moreover, when he will make his 

 progresse from one countrey to another, hee hath foure 

 troupes of horsemen, one being appointed to goe a dayes 

 journey before, and another to come a dayes journey after 

 him, the third to march on his right hand, and the 

 fourth on his left, in the maner of a crosse, he himselfe 

 being in the midst, and so every particular troupe have 

 their daily journeys limited unto them, to the ende 

 they may provide sufficient victuals without defect. 

 Nowe the great Can himselfe is caried in maner follow- 

 ing; hee rideth in a chariot with two wheeles, upon 

 which a majesticall throne is built of the wood of Aloe, 

 being adorned with gold and great pearles, and precious 

 stones, and foure elephants bravely furnished doe drawe 

 the sayd chariot, before which elephants foure great 

 horses richly trapped and covered doe lead the way. 

 Hard by the chariot on both sides thereof, are foure 

 Barons laying hold and attending thereupon, to keepe all 

 persons from approching neere unto their emperour. 

 Upon the chariot also two milke-white Jer-falcons doe 

 sit, and seeing any game which hee would take, hee 

 letteth them flie, and so they take it, and after this maner 

 doeth hee solace himselfe as hee rideth. Moreover, no 

 man dare come within a stones cast of the chariot, but 

 such as are appointed. The number of his owne fol- 

 lowers, of his wives attendants, and of the traine of 

 his first begotten sonne and heire apparant, would seeme 

 incredible unto any man, unlesse hee had scene it with 

 his owne eyes. The foresayd great Can hath devided his 

 Empire into twelve partes or Provinces, and one of the 

 sayd provinces hath two thousand great cities within the 

 precincts thereof. Whereupon his empire is of that 

 length and breadth, that unto whatsoever part thereof he 



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