AD. THE ENGLISH VOYAGES 



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ing almost every day (according to mine estimation) as 

 farre, as from Paris to Orleans, and sometimes farther, as 

 we were provided of poste horses : for some dayes we had 

 change of horses twise or thrise in a day. Sometimes we 

 travailed two or three daies together, not finding any 

 people, and then we were constrained not to ride so fast. 

 Of 20. or 30. horses we had alwayes the woorst, because 

 wee were strangers. For every one tooke their choice of 

 the best horses before us. They provided mee alwaies of 

 a strong horse, because I was very corpulent & heavy : 

 but whether he ambled a gentle pase or no, I durst not 

 make any question. Neither yet durst I complaine, 

 although he trotted full sore. But every man must be 

 contented with his lot as it fell. Whereupon wee were 

 exceedingly troubled : for oftentimes our horses were tired 

 before we could come at any people. And then wee were 

 constrained to beate and whip on our horses, and to lay 

 our garments upon other emptie horses : yea and some- 

 times two of us to ride upon one horse. 



Of the hunger, and thirst, and other miseries, 



which wtt sustained in our journey. 



Chap. 24. 



OF hunger and thirst, colde and wearinesse, there was 

 no end. For they gave us no victuals, but onely in 

 the evening. In the morning they used to give us a little 

 drinke, or some sodden Millet to sup off. In the evening 

 they bestowed flesh upon us, as namely, a shoulder and 

 breast of rams mutton, and every man a measured 

 quantitie of broath to drinke. When we had sufficient of 

 the flesh-broath, we were marvellously wel refreshed. 

 And it seemed to me most pleasant, and most nourishing 

 drinke. Every Saterday I remained fasting until night, 

 without eating or drinking of ought. And when night 

 came, I was constrained, to my great grief and sorow, to 

 eat flesh. Sometimes we were faine to eate flesh halfe 

 sodden, or almost rawe, and all for want of fewel to seethe 

 it withal : especially when we lay in the fields, or were 



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