A.D. 

 1246. 



Their 

 courtesie. 



Their 

 chastity. 



Their 

 insokncie 

 against 

 strangers. 



THE ENGLISH VOYAGES 



found, and therefore the tabernacles and cartes of them 

 that have any treasures are not strengthened with lockes 

 or barres. If any beast goe astray, the finder thereof 

 either lets it goe, or driveth it to them that are put 

 in office for the same purpose, at whose handes the 

 owner of the said beast demaundeth it, and without any 

 difficultie receiveth it againe. One of them honoureth 

 another exceedingly, and bestoweth banquets very 

 familiarly and liberally, notwithstanding that good victuals 

 are daintie and scarce among them. They are also very 

 hardie, and when they have fasted a day or two without 

 any maner of sustenance, they sing and are merry as if 

 they had eaten their bellies full. In riding, they endure 

 much cold and extreme heat. There be, in a maner, no 

 contentions among them, and although they use commonly 

 to be drunken, yet doe they not quarell in their 

 drunkennes. Noe one of them despiseth another but 

 helpeth and furthereth him, as much as conveniently 

 he can. Their women are chaste, neither is there so much 

 as a word uttered concerning their dishonestie. Some of 

 them will notwithstanding speake filthy and immodest 

 words. But towards other people, the said Tartars be 

 most insolent, and they scorne and set nought by all other 

 noble and ignoble persons whatsoever. For we saw in 

 the Emperours court the great duke of Russia, the kings 

 Sonne of Georgia, and many great Soldanes receiving no 

 due honour and estimation among them. So that even 

 the very Tartars assigned to give attendance unto them, 

 were they never so base, would alwaies goe before them, 

 and take the upper hand of them, yea, and sometimes 

 would constraine them to sit behinde their backes. More- 

 over they are angrie and of a disdainefull nature unto 

 other people, and beyond all measure deceitfull, and 

 treacherous towards them. They speake fayre in the 

 beginning, but in conclusion, they sting like scorpions. 

 For craftie they are, and full of falshood, circumventing 

 all men whom they are able, by their sleights. Whatso- 

 ever mischiefe they entend to practise against a man, they 



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