A.D. 

 1246. 



THE ENGLISH VOYAGES 



unto the said thongs, with other small and slender 

 thongs, drawen through the holes aforesayd, and in the 

 upper part, on each side therof, they fasten one small 

 doubled thong unto another, that the plates may 

 iirmely be knit together. These they make, as well for 

 their horses caparisons, as for the armour of their men : 

 And they skowre them so bright that a man may 

 behold his face in them. Some of them upon the 

 necke of their launce have an hooke, wherewithall they 

 attempt to pull men out of their saddles. The heads of 

 their arrowes are exceedingly sharpe cutting both wayes 

 like a two edged sworde, and they alwaies carie a file 

 in their quivers to whet their arrowheads. They have 

 targets made of wickers, or of small roddes. Howbeit 

 they doe not (as we suppose) accustome to carrie them, 

 but onely about the tents, or in the Emperours or 

 dukes guardes, & that only in the night season. They 

 are most politique in warres, having bene exercised 

 experience l5 therein with other nations for the space of these 42. 

 yeres. When they come at any rivers, the chiefe men 

 of the company have a round and light piece of 

 leather, about the borders whereof making many loopes, 

 they put a rope into them to drawe it together like a 

 purse, and so bring it into the rounde forme of a ball, 

 which leather they fill with their garments and other 

 necessaries, trussing it up most strongly. But upon the 

 midst of the upper parte thereof, they lay their saddles 

 and other hard things, there also doe the men them- 

 selves sit. This their boate they tye unto an horse 

 tayle, causing a man to swimme before, & to guide 

 over the horse, or sometime they have two oares to row 

 themselves over. The first horse therefore being driven 

 into the water, all the other horses of the company 

 followe him, and so they passe through the river. But the 

 poorer sort of common souldiers have every man his leather 

 bag or sachell well sowen together, wherin he packs up all 

 his trinkets, and strongly trussing it up hangs it at his 

 horses tayle, and so passeth over, in maner aforesaid. 



156 



Their 



cunning in 

 warres. 



Their maner 

 of passing otei 

 rivers. 



