THE PILGRIMAGE TO MECCA a.d. 



c. 1580. 

 maybe given to such as deserve the same. These knaves 

 cast offendours downe, turning up the soles of their feete 

 made fast to a staffe, giving them a perpetuall remem- 

 brance for them & the beholders. This Chaus is as the 

 Captaine of the foreward, which commandeth lights to be 

 carried before when they travell in the night. Also there 

 go in this foreward 6 Santones with red turbants upon 

 their heads, & these eat and ride at the cost of the Cap- 

 taine of the Carovan. These Santones when the Carovan 

 arriveth at any good lodging, suddenly after they have 

 escried the place, cry with an horrible voyce saying, good 

 cheare, good cheare, we are neere to the wished lodging. 

 For which good newes the chiefe of the company bestow 

 their benevolence upon them. In this foreward goeth very 

 neere the third part of the people of the Carovan, behind 

 whom go alwayes 25 Spachi armed with swords, bowes & 

 arrowes to defend them from thieves. Next unto the [II. i. 205.] 

 foreward, within a quarter of a mile, followeth the maine 

 battell, and before the same are drawen the sayd sixe 

 pieces of ordinance, with their gunners, and fifteene 

 Spachi Archers. And next unto these commeth the chiefe 

 physicion, who is an olde man of authoritie, having with 

 him many medicines, oyntments, salves, and other like 

 refreshings for the sicke, having also camels with him for 

 the sicke to ride on, which have no horse nor beast. 

 Next unto him goeth one Camell alone, the fairest that 

 can be found : for with great industrie is sought the 

 greatest and fairest which may be found within the 

 dominions of the Grand Signior. This camell also is 

 decked with cloth of golde and silke, and carieth a litle 

 chest made of pure Legmame made in likenesse of the 

 arke of the olde Testament : but, as is abovesayd, made 

 of pure Legmame, without golde or any other thing of 

 cost. Within this chest is the Alcoran all written with 

 great letters of golde, bound between e two tables of 

 massie golde, and the chest during their voyage is 

 covered with Silke, but at their entring into Mecca it is 

 all covered with cloth of golde, adorned with jewels, and 



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