THE TARTARS ad. 



1243- 

 above all men, covetous, hasty, deceitfull, and mercilesse : 

 notwithstanding, by reason of the rigour and extremitie of 

 punishments to be inflicted upon them by their superiours, 

 they are restreined from brawlings, and from mutuall 

 strife and contention. The ancient founders and fathers 

 of their tribes, they call by the name of gods, and at 

 certaine set times they doe celebrate solemne feasts unto 

 them, many of them being particular, & but foure onely 

 generall. They thinke that all things are created for 

 themselves alone. They esteeme it none offence to exer- 

 cise cruelty against rebels. They be hardie and strong in 

 the breast, leane and pale-faced, rough and huf-shouldred, 

 having flatte and short noses, long and sharpe chinnes, 

 their upper jawes are low and declining, their teeth long 

 and thinne, their eye-browes extending from their fore- 

 heads downe to their noses, their eies inconstant and 

 blacke, their countenances writhen and terrible, their 

 extreame joynts strong with bones and sinewes, having 

 thicke and great thighes, and short legs, and yet being 

 equall unto us in stature : for that length which is wanting 

 in their legs, is supplied in the upper parts of their bodies. 

 Their countrey in olde time was a land utterly desert and 

 waste, situated far beyond Chaldea, from whence they 

 have expelled Lions, Beares, & such like untamed beasts, 

 with their bowes, and other engines. Of the hides of 

 beasts being tanned, they use to shape for themselves light, 

 but yet impenetrable armour. They ride fast bound unto 

 their horses, which are not very great in stature, but 

 exceedingly strong, and mainteined with little provender. 

 They use to fight constantly and valiantly with javelins, 

 maces, battle-axes, and swords. But specially they are 

 excellent archers, and cunning warriers with their bowes. 

 Their backs are slightly armed, that they may not flee. 

 They withdraw not themselves from the combate, till they 

 see the chiefs Standerd of their Generall give backe. 

 Vanquished, they aske no favour, and vanquishing, they 

 shew no compassion. They all persist in their purpose of 

 subduing the whole world under their owne subjection, as 



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