exporting corn. [Rot. pat. prim. 9 Edw, 111, mm. 37, 38.] That for ale 

 contains, I believe, the earliefl notice of the exportation of that ar- 

 ticle. 



We are indebted to Balducci Pegoletti, an Italian writer, for the fol- 

 lowing itinerary, or route, of the merchants, who traveled from Tana, 

 or Azof, at the head of the Palus Moeotis, to Gamalecco, Cambalek, or 

 Pekin, in China, as the journey was performed at this time *. 



To Gintarchan (Aflracan) with waggojis drawn by oxen - days 25 

 (When horfes were employed, the journey was fooner performed.) 

 to Sara by the river _____ i 



to Saracanco by water (the north coaft of the Cafpian fea) - 8 

 to Organci (fuppofed Urgentz on Lake Aral) with camels - 20 



This place is noted for the expeditious fale of goods. 

 to Oltrarra (or Otrar on the Sihon or Sir) with camels - 35 or 40 

 to Armalecco (or Almaleg in Turkeflan) with affes - 45 



to Camexu, with afles - - - - 70 



to a river called Kara-Morin (or Hoang-ho) with horfes - 50 



to CalTai, where there is good fale for merchandize, and the 1 



merchants exchange their filver for the paper money of >- blank 

 China _____ j 



to Gamalecco, the capital of Cattai or Cathay (North China) ' 30 



1336, July 4'^ — King Edward, intent upon his great project of mak- 

 ing himfelf king of France, had already taken a crowd of the princes of 

 Germany into his fervice ; and being exceedingly defirous of gaining 

 the favour of the Genoefe, whofe naval power he viewed with defire 

 and apprehenfion, he addrefled a conciliatory letter to the podefla and 

 community of that ftate, wherein he acknowleged, that a large Genoefe 

 fhip or coch f , loaded with Oriental goods and other pretious merchan- 

 dize to the value of above 14,300 marks flerling, bound to England, 

 and provided with his father's letters of fafe condudl, had been unjuflly 

 taken in the Downs by Hugh Defpenfer, then commander of a fleet in 

 his father's fervice. Though no part of the plunder had ever come to 

 his father's, or his own, hands, he offered, if they would engage that no 

 other claim fhould ever be made on account of that capture, to aflign, 

 as a compenfation to the parties aggrieved, 8,000 marks, to be allowed 

 out of the cufloms payable upon merchandize to be imported or ex- 

 ported by merchants of Genoa in any port of England. Being further 

 defirous of gratifying the Genoefe, that they might be the readier to 

 ferve him upon occalion, he offered them free entrance for their vef- 



* Not having pofTeffion of Pegoletti's book, I /i/h tranjlatkn : and I have alfo followred him in che 

 have extrafted this curious route from Forjler^s European, or famih'ar, names of the places. 

 Vayages and difcotjerks in the North, p. 1^0 nf Eng- f The fame kind of vefTcl which is elfewhere 



called a cog. 



Vol. L 3 T 



