u 



AD. THE ENGLISH VOYAGES 



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rubbed it with their fingers, and put it unto their noses, 

 to try by the smell whether it were copper or no. Neither 

 did they allow us any foode but cowes milke onely which 

 was very sowre & filthy. There was one thing most 

 necessary greatly wanting unto us. For the water was so 

 foule and muddy by reason of their horses, that it was not 

 meete to be drunk. And but for certaine bisket, which 

 was by the goodnes of God remaining unto us, we had 

 undoubtedly perished. 



Of a Saracen which said that he would be bap- 

 tized : and of certaine men which seemed 

 to be lepers. Chap. 14. 



Ton the day of Pentecost there came unto us a 

 certain Saracen, unto whome, as hee talked with 

 us, we expounded the Christian faith. Who (hearing 

 of Gods benefits exhibited unto mankind by the in- 

 carnation of our Saviour Christ, and the resurrection 

 of the dead, & the judgement to come, & that in 

 baptisme was a washing away of sinnes) sayd, that hee 

 would be baptized. But when we prepared our selves 

 to the baptizing of him, he suddenly mounted on 

 horsebacke, saying that he would goe home and consult 

 with his wife what were best to be done. And on the 

 morrow after he told us, that he durst in no case receive 

 baptisme, because then he should drinke no more Cos- 

 mos. For the Christians of that place affirme that no 

 true Christians ought to drinke thereof: and that with- 

 out the said liquor he could not live in that desert. 

 From which opinion, I could not for my life remove 

 him. Wherefore be it knowen of a certainty unto 

 your highnes, that they are much estranged from the 

 Christian faith by reason of that opinion which hath 

 bin broached & confirmed among them by the Russians, 

 of whom there is a great multitude in that place. The 

 same day Scacatay the captaine aforesayd gave us one 

 man to conduct us to Sartach, and two other to guide 

 us unto the next lodging, which was distant from that 



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