Travels of Captaine John Smith Volume II - Pages 131-154



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Chapter VIII.
Georgio Busca an Albane his ingratitude to Prince Sigismundus; Prince 
Moyses, his Lieutenant, is overthrowne by Busca, Generall for the Emperour 
Rodolphus; Sigismundus yeeldeth his Countrey to Rodolphus; Busca assisteth 
Prince Rodoll in Wallachia.

THis good successe gave such great encouragement to the whole Armie, that 
with a guard of six thousand, three spare horses, before each a Turkes 
head upon a Lance, he was conducted to the Generalls Pavillion with his 
Presents. Moyses received both him and them with as much respect as the 
occasion deserved, embracing him in his armes, gave him a faire Horse 
richly furnished, a Semitere and belt worth three hundred ducats; and 
Meldritch made him Sergeant major of his Regiment. But now to the siege, 
having mounted six and twenty peeces of Ordnance fifty or sixty foot above 
the Plaine, made them so plainly tell his meaning, that within fifteene 
dayes two breaches were made, which the Turkes as valiantly defended as 
men could; that day was made a darksome night, but by the light that 
proceeded from the murdering Muskets, and peacemaking Canon, whilest their 
slothfull Governour lay in a Castle on the top of a high mountaine, and 
like a valiant Prince asketh what's the matter, when horrour and death 
stood amazed each at other, to see who should prevaile to make him 
victorious: Moyses commanding a generall assault upon the sloping front of 
the high Promontory, where the Barons of Budendorfe and Oberwin lost neere 
halfe their Regiments, by logs, bags of powder, and such like, tumbling 
downe the hill, they were to mount ere they could come to the breach; 
notwithstanding with an

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incredible courage they advanced to the push of the Pike with the 
defendants, that with the like courage repulsed, till the Earle Meldritch, 
Becklefield and Zarvana, with their fresh Regiments seconded them with 
that fury, that the Turks retired and fled into the Castle, from whence by 
a flag of truce they desired composition. The Earle remembring his fathers 
death, battered it with all the Ordnance in the Towne, and the next day 
tooke it; all he found could beare Armes he put to the sword, and set 
their heads upon stakes round about the walles, in the same manner they 
had used the Christians, when they tooke it. Moyses having repaired the 
Rampiers, and throwne downe the worke in his Campe, he put in it a strong 
Garrison, though the pillage he had gotten in the Towne was much, having 
beene for a long time an impregnable den of theeves; yet the losse of the 
Armie so intermingled the sowre with the sweet, as forced Moyses to seek a 
further revenge, that he sacked Veratio, Solmos, and Kupronka, and with 
two thousand prisoners, most women and children, came to Esenberg, not 
farre from the Princes Palace, where he there Encamped.

Sigismundus comming to view his Armie, was presented with the Prisoners, 
and six and thirtie Ensignes; where celebrating thankes to Almightie God 
in triumph of those victories, hee was made acquainted with the service 
Smith had done at Olumpagh, Stowle-Wesenburg and Regall, for which with 
great honour hee gave him three Turkes heads in a Shield for his Armes, by 
Patent, under his hand and Seale, with an Oath ever to weare them in his 
Colours, his Picture in Gould, and three hundred Ducats, yearely for a 
Pension.

The Patent.

SIgismundus Bathori, Dei gratia Dux Transilvaniæ, Wallachiæ, et 
Vandalorum; Comes Anchard, Salford, Growenda; Cunctis his literis 
significamus qui eas lecturi aut audituri sunt, concessam licentiam aut 
facultatem Johanni Smith, natione Anglo Generoso, 250. militum Capitaneo 
sub Illustrissimi et Gravissimi Henrici Volda,

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Comitis de Meldri, Salmariæ, et Peldoiæ primario, et 1000 equitibus et 
1500. peditibus bello Ungarico conductione in Provincias suprascriptas sub 
Authoritate nostra: cui servituti omni laude, perpetuaque memoria dignum 
præbuit sese erga nos, ut virum strenuum pugnantem pro aris et focis 
decet. Quare e favore nostro militario ipsum ordine condonavimus, et in 
Sigillum illius tria Turcia Capita designare et deprimere concessimus, quæ 
ipse gladio suo ad Urbem Regalem in singulari proeliovicit, mactavit, 
atque decollavit in Transilvaniæ Provincia: Sed fortuna cum variabilis 
ancepsque sit idem forte fortuito in Wallachia Provincia, Anno Domini 
1602. die Mensis Novembris 18.(*) cum multis aliis etiam Nobilibus et 
aliis quibusdam militibus captus est à Domino Bascha electo ex Cambia 
regionis Tartariæ, cujus severitate adductus salutem quantam potuit 
quesivit, tantumque effecit, Deo omnipotente adjuvante, ut deliberavit se, 
et ad suos Commilitones revertit; ex quibus ipsum liberavimus, et hæc 
nobis testimonia habuit ut majori licentia frueretur qua dignus esset, jam 
tendet in patriam suam dulcissimam: Rogamus ergo omnes nostros 
charissimos, confinitimos, Duces, Principes,

(* Augusti 8vo.)

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Comites, Barones, Gubernatores Urbium et Navium in eadem Regione et 
coeterarum Provinciarum in quibus ille residere conatus fuerit ut idem 
permittatur Capitaneus libere sine obstaculo omni versari. Hæc facientes 
pergraium nobis feceritis. Signatum Lesprizia in Misnia die Mensis 
Decembris 9. Anno Domini 1603.

Sigismundus Bathori.

Cum Privilegio propriæ Majestatis.

UNiversis, et singulis, cujuscunque loci, status, gradus, ordinis, ac 
conditionis ad quos hos præsens scriptum pervenerit, Guilielmus Segar 
Eques auratus alias dictus(*) Garterus Principalis Rex Armorum Anglicorum, 
Salutem. Sciatis, quod Ego prædictus Gerterus, notum, testatumque facio, 
quod Patentem suprascriptum,(**), cum manu propria prædicti Ducis 
Transilvaniæ, subsignatum, et Sigillo suo affixum, Vidi: et Copiam veram 
ejusdem (in perpetuam rei memoriam) transcripsi, et recordavi in Archivis, 
et Registris Officii Armorum. Datum Londini 19. die Augusti, Anno Domini 
1625. Annoque Regni Domini nostri Caroli Dei gratia Magnæ Britanniæ, 
Franciæ, et Hiberniæ Regis, Fidei Defensoris, &c. Primo.

Guilielmus Segar, Garterus.

(* dominus.)
(** superaddem.)

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The same in English.

SIgismundus Bathor, by the Grace of God, Duke of Transilvania, Wallachia, 
and Moldavia, Earle of Anchard, Salford and Growenda; to whom this Writing 
may come or appeare. Know that We have given leave and licence to John 
Smith an English Gentleman, Captaine of 250. Souldiers, under the most 
Generous and Honourable Henry Volda, Earle of Meldritch, Salmaria, and 
Peldoia, Colonell of a thousand horse, and fifteene hundred foot, in the 
warres of Hungary and in the Provinces aforesaid under our authority; 
whose service doth deserve all praise and perpetuall memory towards us, as 
a man that did for God and his Country overcome his enemies: Wherefore out 
of Our love and favour, according to the law of Armes, We have ordained 
and given him in his shield of Armes, the figure and description of three 
Turks heads, which with his sword, before the towne of Regall, in single 
combat he did overcome, kill, and cut off, in the Province of 
Transilvania. But fortune, as she is very variable, so it chanced and 
happened to him in the Province of Wallachia, in the yeare of our Lord, 
1602. the 18. day of November, with many others, as well Noble men, as 
also divers other Souldiers, were taken prisoners by the Lord Bashaw of 
Cambia, a Country of Tartaria: whose cruelty brought him such good 
fortune, by the helpe and power of Almighty God, that hee delivered 
himselfe, and returned againe to his company and fellow souldiers, of whom 
We doe discharge him, and this hee hath in witnesse thereof, being much 
more worthy of a better reward; and now intends to returne to his owne 
sweet Country. We desire therefore all our loving and kinde kinsmen, 
Dukes, Princes, Earles, Barons, Governours of Townes, Cities, or Ships, in 
this Kingdome, or any other Provinces he shall come in, that you freely 
let passe this the aforesaid Captaine, without any hinderance or 
molestation: and this doing, with all kindnesse we are alwayes ready to 
doe the like for you.

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Sealed at Lipswick in Misenland, the ninth of December, in the yeare of 
our Lord, 1603.

Sigismundus Bathor.

With the proper privilege of his Majestie.

TO all and singular, in what place, state, degree, order, or condition 
whatsoever, to whom this present writing shall come: I William Segar 
Knight, otherwise Garter, and principall King of Armes of England, wish 
health. Know that I the aforesaid Garter, do witnesse and approve, that 
this aforesaid Patent, I have seene, signed and sealed under the proper 
hand and Seale Manual of the said Duke of Transilvania; and a true coppy 
of the same, as a thing for perpetuall memory, I have subscribed and 
recorded in the Register and office of the Heralds of Armes. Dated at 
London the nineteenth day of August, in the yeare of our Lord 1625. and in 
the first yeare of our Soveraigne Lord Charles by the grace of God, King 
of great Britaine, France, and Ireland, Defender of the faith, &c.

William Segar.



Chapter IX.
Sigismundus sends Ambassadours unto the Emperour; the conditions re-
assured, He yeeldeth up all to Busca, and returneth to Prague.

BUsca having all this time beene raising new forces, was commanded from 
the Emperour againe to invade Transilvania, which being one of the 
fruitfullest and strongest Countries in those parts, was now rather a 
desart, or the very spectacle of desolation; their fruits and fields 
overgrowne with weeds, their Churches and battered Palaces and best 
buildings, as for feare, hid with Mosse and Ivy: being the very Bulwarke 
and Rampire of a

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great part of Europe, most fit by all Christians to have beene supplyed 
and maintained, was thus brought to ruine by them it most concerned to 
support it. But alas, what is it, when the power of Majestie pampered in 
all delights of pleasant vanity, neither knowing nor considering the 
labour of the Ploughman, the hazard of the Merchant, the oppression of 
Statesmen; nor feeling the piercing torments of broken limbes, and 
inveterated wounds, the toilsome marches, the bad lodging, the hungry 
diet, and the extreme misery that Souldiers endure to secure all those 
estates, and yet by the spight of malicious detraction, starves for want 
of their reward and recompences; whilst the politique Courtier, that 
commonly aimes more at his owne honors & ends than his Countries good, or 
his Princes glory, honour, or security, as this worthy Prince too well 
could testifie. But the Emperor being certified how weak and desperate his 
estate was, sent Busca againe with a great Army, to trie his fortune once 
more in Transilvania. The Prince considering how his Country & subjects 
were consumed; the small means he had any longer to defend his estate, 
both against the cruelty of the Turke, & the power of the Emperor, & the 
small care the Polanders had in supplying him, as they had promised, sent 
to Busca to have truce, till messengers might be sent to the Emperour for 
some better agreement, wherewith Busca was contented. The Ambassadours so 
prevailed, that the Emperour re-assured unto them the conditions he had 
promised the Prince at their confederacie, for the lands in Silesia, with 
60000. ducats presently in hand, and 50000. ducats yearely as a pension. 
When this conclusion was knowne to Moyses his Lieftenant then in the field 
with the Army, that would doe anything rather than come in subjection to 
the Germans, he encouraged his Souldiers, and without any more adoe 
marched to encounter Busca, whom he found much better provided than he 
expected; so that betwixt them in six or seven houres, more than five or 
six thousand on both sides lay dead in the field. Moyses thus overthrowne, 

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fled to the Turks at Temesware, and his scattered troopes some one way, 
some another.

The Prince understanding of this so sudden and unexpected accident, onely 
accompanied with an hundred of his Gentry and Nobility, went into the 
campe to Busca, to let him know, how ignorant he was of his Lieftenants 
errour, that had done it without his direction or knowledge, freely 
offering to performe what was concluded by his Ambassadours with the 
Emperour; and so causing all his Garrisons to come out of their strong 
holds, he delivered all to Busca for the Emperour, and so went to Prague, 
where he was honourably received, and established in his possessions, as 
his Emperiall Majestie had promised. Busca assembling all the Nobility, 
tooke their oaths of allegeance and fidelity, and thus their Prince being 
gone, Transilvania became againe subject to the Emperour.

Sigismundus yeeldeth his country to Busca. Busca assisteth Rodoll in 
Wallachia.

Now after the death of Michael, Vavoyd of Wallachia, the Turke sent one 
Jeremie to be their Vavoyd or Prince; whose insulting tyranny caused the 
people to take Armes against him, so that he was forced to flie into the 
confines of Moldavia; and Busca in the behalfe of the Emperour, proclaimed 
the Lord Rodoll in his stead. But Jeremy having assembled an Army of forty 
thousand Turks, Tartars, and Moldavians, returned into Wallachia. Rodoll 
not yet able to raise such a power, fled into Transilvania to Busca, his 
ancient friend; who considering well of the matter, and how good it would 
be for his owne security to have Wallachia subject to the Emperour, or at 
least such an employment for the remainders of the old Regiments of 
Sigismundus, (of whose greatnesse and true affection hee was very 
suspitious,) sent them with Rodoll to recover Wallachia, conducted by the 
valiant Captaines, the Earle Meldritch, Earle Veltus, Earle Nederspolt, 
Earle Zarvana, the Lord Bechlefield, the Lord Budendorfe, with their 
Regiments, and divers others of great ranke and quality, the greatest 
friends and alliances the Prince had; who with thirty thousand, marched 
along

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by the river Altus, to the streights of Rebrinke, where they entred 
Wallachia, encamping at Raza; Jeremie lying at Argish, drew his Army into 
his old campe, in the plaines of Peteske, and with his best diligence 
fortified it, intending to defend himselfe till more power came to him 
from the Crym-Tartar. Many small parties that came to his campe, Rodoll 
cut off; and in the nights would cause their heads to be throwne up and 
downe before the trenches. Seven of their Porters were taken, whom Jeremie 
commanded to be flayed quicke; and after hung their skinnes upon poles, 
and their carkasses and heads on stakes by them.



Chapter X.
The battell of Rotenton; a pretty stratagem of fire-works by Smith.

A battell betwixt Rodoll and Jeremie.

ROdoll not knowing how to draw the enemie to battell, raised his Armie, 
burning and spoyling all where he came, and returned againe towards 
Rebrinke in the night, as if he had fled upon the generall rumour of the 
Crym-Tartars comming; which so inflamed the Turkes of a happy victory, 
they urged Jeremy against his will to follow them. Rodoll seeing his plot 
fell out as he desired, so ordered the matter, that having regained the 
streights, he put his Army in order, that had beene neere two dayes 
pursued, with continuall skirmishes in his Reare, which now making head 
against the enemie, that followed with their whole Armie in the best 
manner they could, was furiously charged with six thousand Hydukes, 
Wallachians, and Moldavians, led by three Colonells, Oversall, Dubras, and 
Calab, to entertaine the time till the rest came up; Veltus and Nederspolt 
with their Regiments, entertained them with the like courage, till the 
Zanzacke Hamesbeg, with six thousand more, came with a fresh charge, which 
Meldritch and Budendorfe,

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rather like enraged lions, than men, so bravely encountred, as if in them 
only had consisted the victory; Meldritchs horse being slaine under him, 
the Turks pressed what they could to have taken him prisoner, but being 
remounted, it was thought with his owne hand he slew the valiant Zanzacke, 
whereupon his troopes retyring, the two proud Bashawes, Aladin and 
Zizimmus, brought up the front of the body of their battell. Veltus and 
Nederspolt having breathed, and joyning their troopes with Becklefield and 
Zarvana, with such an incredible courage charged the left flancke of 
Zizimmus, as put them all in disorder; where Zizimmus the Bashaw was taken 
prisoner, but died presently upon his wounds. Jeremie seeing now the maine 
battell of Rodoll advance, being thus constrained, like a valiant Prince 
in his front of the Vantgard, by his example so bravely encouraged his 
souldiers, that Rodoll found no great assurance of the victorie. Thus 
being joyned in this bloudy massacre, that there was scarce ground to 
stand upon, but upon the dead carkasses, which in lesse than an hower were 
so mingled, as if each Regiment had singled out other. The admired Aladin 
that day did leave behinde him a glorious name for his valour, whose death 
many of his enemies did lament after the victory, which at that instant 
fell to Rodoll. It was reported Jeremie was also slaine, but it was not 
so, but fled with the remainder of his Armie to Moldavia, leaving five and 
twenty thousand dead in the field, of both Armies.

Wallachia subjected to the Emperour.

And thus Rodoll was seated againe in his Soveraignty, and Wallachia became 
subject to the Emperour.

But long he rested not to settle his new estate, but there came newes, 
that certaine Regiments of stragling Tartars, were forraging those parts 
towards Moldavia. Meldritch with thirteene thousand men was sent against 
them, but when they heard it was the Crym-Tartar and his two sonnes, with 
an Armie of thirty thousand; and Jeremie, that had escaped with fourteene 
or fifteene thousand, lay in ambush for them about Langanaw, he

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retired towards Rottenton, a strong garrison for Rodoll: but they were so 
invironed with these hellish numbers, they could make no great haste, for 
skirmishing with their scouts, forragers, and small parties that still 
encountred them. But one night amongst the rest, having made a passage 
through a wood, with an incredible expedition, cutting trees thwart each 
other to hinder their passage, in a thicke fogge early in the morning, 
unexpectedly they met two thousand loaded with pillage, and two or three 
hundred horse and cattell; the most of them were slaine and taken 
prisoners, who told them where Jeremie lay in the passage, expecting the 
CrymTartar that was not farre from him. Meldritch intending to make his 
passage perforce, was advised of a pretty stratagem by the English Smith, 
which presently he thus accomplished; for having accommodated two or three 
hundred truncks with wilde fire, upon the heads of lances, and charging 
the enemie in the night, gave fire to the truncks, which blazed forth such 
flames and sparkles, that it so amazed not onely their horses, but their 
foot also; that by the meanes of this flaming encounter, their owne horses 
turned tailes with such fury, as by their violence overthrew Jeremy & his 
Army, without any losse at all to speak of to Meldritch. But of this 
victory long they triumphed not; for being within three leagues of 
Rottenton, the Tartar with neere forty thousand so beset them, that they 
must either fight, or be cut in peeces flying. Here Busca and the Emperour 
had their desire; for the Sunne no sooner displayed his beames, than the 
Tartar his colours; where at midday he stayed a while, to see the passage 
of a tyrannicall and treacherous imposture, till the earth did blush with 
the bloud of honesty, that the Sunne for shame did hide himselfe from so 
monstrous sight of a cowardly calamity. It was a most brave sight to see 
the banners and ensignes streaming in the aire, the glittering of Armour, 
the variety of colours, the motion of plumes, the forrests of lances, and 
the thicknesse of shorter weapons, till the silent expedition

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of the bloudy blast from the murdering Ordnance, whose roaring voice is 
not so soone heard as felt by the aymed at object, which made among them a 
most lamentable slaughter.



Chapter XI.
The names of the English that were slaine in the battell of Rottenton; and 
how Captaine Smith is taken prisoner; and sold for a slave.

The battell of Rottenton.

IN the valley of Veristhorne, betwixt the river of Altus, and the 
mountaine of Rottenton, was this bloudy encounter, where the most of the 
dearest friends of the noble Prince Sigismundus perished. Meldritch having 
ordered his eleven thousand in the best manner he could: at the foot of 
the mountaine upon his flancks, and before his front, he had pitched 
sharpe stakes, their heads hardned in the fire, and bent against the 
enemie, as three battalion of Pikes, amongst the which also there was 
digged many small holes. Amongst those stakes was ranged his footmen, that 
upon the charge was to retire, as there was occasion. The Tartar having 
ordered his 40000. for his best advantage, appointed Mustapha Bashaw to 
beginne the battell, with a generall shout, all their Ensignes displaying, 
Drummes beating, Trumpets and Howboyes sounding. Nederspolt and Mavazo 
with their Regiments of horse most valiantly encountred, and forced them 
to retire; the Tartar Begolgi with his Squadrons, darkening the skies with 
their flights of numberles arrowes, who was as bravely encountred by 
Veltus and Oberwin, which bloudie slaughter continued more than an houre, 
till the matchlesse multitude of the Tartars so increased, that they 
retired within their Squadrons of stakes, as was directed. The bloudy 
Tartar, as scorning he should stay so long for the victorie, with his 
massie troopes prosecuted the charge: but it was a wonder to see how horse 
and

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man came to the ground among the stakes, whose disordered troopes were 
there so mangled, that the Christians with a loud shout cryed Victoria; 
and with five or six field peeces, planted upon the rising of the 
mountaine, did much hurt to the enemy that still continued the battell 
with that furie, that Meldritch seeing there was no possibilitie long to 
prevaile, joyned his small troopes in one body, resolved directly to make 
his passage or die in the conclusion; and thus in grosse gave a generall 
charge, and for more than halfe an houre made his way plaine before him, 
till the maine battel of the Crym-Tartar with two Regiments of Turkes and 
Janizaries so overmatched them, that they were overthrowen. The night 
approaching, the Earle with some thirteene or foureteene hundred horse, 
swamme the River, some were drowned, all the rest slaine or taken 
prisoners: And thus in this bloudy field, neere 30000. lay, some 
headlesse, armlesse, and leglesse, all cut and mangled: where breathing 
their last, they gave this knowledge to the world, that for the lives of 
so few, the Crym-Tartar never paid dearer. But now the Countreyes of 
Transilvania and Wallachia, (subjected to the Emperour) and Sigismundus 
that brave Prince his Subject and Pensioner, the most of his Nobilitie, 
brave Captaines and Souldiers, became a prey to the cruell devouring 
Turke: where had the Emperor been as ready to have assisted him, and those 
three Armies led by three such worthy Captaines, as Michael, Busca, and 
Himselfe, and had those three Armies joyned together against the Turke, 
let all men judge, how happie it might have beene for all Christendome: 
and have either regained Bulgaria, or at least have beat him out of 
Hungaria, where hee hath taken much more from the Emperour, than hath the 
Emperour from Transilvania.

Extracted out of a Booke intituled, The warres of Hungary, Wallachia, and 
Moldavia, written by Francisco Ferneza, a learned Italian, the Princes 
Secretarie, and translated by Master Purchas. The English men in this 
Battell.

In this dismall battell, where Nederspolt, Veltus, Zarvana, Mavazo, 
Bavell, and many other Earles, Barons, Colonels, Captaines, brave 
Gentlemen and Souldiers were slaine, Give mee leave to remember the names 
of our owne Country-men with him in those

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exploits, that as resolutely as the best, in the defence of Christ and his 
Gospell, ended their dayes, as Baskerfield, Hardwicke, Thomas Milemer, 
Robert Mullineux, Thomas Bishop, Francis Compton, George Davison, Nicholas 
Williams, and one John a Scot, did what men could doe, and when they could 
doe no more, left there their bodies, in testimonie of their mindes; only 
Ensigne Carleton, and Sergeant Robinson escaped: but Smith among the 
slaughtered dead bodies, and many a gasping soule, with toile and wounds 
lay groaning among the rest, till being found by the Pillagers hee was 
able to live, and perceiving by his armor & habit, his ransome might be 
better to them, than his death, they led him prisoner with many others; 
well they used him till his wounds were cured, and at Axopolis they were 
all sold for slaves, like beasts in a market-place, where everie Merchant, 
viewing their limbs and wounds, caused other slaves to struggle with them, 
to trie their strength, hee fell to the share of Bashaw Bogall, who sent 
him forthwith to Adrinopolis, so for Constantinople to his faire Mistresse 
for a slave. By twentie and twentie chained by the neckes, they marched in 
the to this great Citie, where they were delivered to their severall 
Masters, and he to the young Charatza Tragabigzanda.



Chapter XII.
How Captaine Smith was sent prisoner thorow the Blacke and Dissabacca Sea 
in Tartaria; the description of those Seas, and his usage.

THis Noble Gentlewoman tooke sometime occasion to shew him to some 
friends, or rather to speake with him, because shee could speake Italian, 
would feigne her selfe sick when she should goe to the Banians, or weepe 
over the graves, to know how Bogall tooke him prisoner; and if he were, as 
the Bashaw writ to her, a Bohemian

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Lord conquered by his hand, as hee had many others, which ere long hee 
would present her, whose ransomes should adorne her with the glorie of his 
conquests.

But when she heard him protest he knew no such matter, nor ever saw Bogall 
till he bought him at Axopolis, and that hee was an English-man, onely by 
his adventures made a Captaine in those Countreyes. To trie the truth, 
shee found meanes to finde out many could speake English, French, Dutch, 
and Italian, to whom relating most part of these former passages he 
thought necessarie, which they so honestly reported to her, she tooke (as 
it seemed) much compassion on him; but having no use for him, lest her 
mother should sell him, she sent him to her brother, the Tymor Bashaw of 
Nalbrits, in the Countrey of Cambia, a Province in Tartaria.

How he was sent into Tartaria.

Here now let us remember his passing in this speculative course from 
Constantinople by Sander, Screwe, Panassa, Musa, Lastilla, to Varna, an 
ancient Citie upon the Blacke Sea. In all which journey, having little 
more libertie than his eyes judgement since his captivitie, he might see 
the Townes with their short Towers, and a most plaine, fertile, and 
delicate Countrey, especially that most admired place of Greece, now 
called Romania, but from Varna nothing but the Blacke Sea water, till he 
came to the two Capes of Taur and Pergilos, where hee passed the Straight 
of Niger, which (as he conjectured) is some ten leagues long, and three 
broad, betwixt two low lands, the Channell is deepe, but at the entrance 
of the Sea Dissabacca, their are many great Osie-shoulds, and many great 
blacke rockes, which the Turkes said were trees, weeds, and mud, throwen 
from the in-land Countryes, by the inundations and violence of the 
Current; and cast there by the Eddy. They sayled by many low Iles, and saw 
many more of those muddy rockes, and nothing else but salt water, till 
they came betwixt Susax and Curuske, only two white townes at the entrance 
of the river Bruapo appeared: In six or seven dayes saile, he saw foure or 
five seeming strong castles of stone, with flat tops and

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battlements about them, but arriving at Cambia, he was (according to their 
custome) well used. The river was there more than halfe a mile broad. The 
Castle was of a large circumference, fourteene or fifteene foot thicke, in 
the foundation some six foot from the wall, is a Paliizado, and then a 
Ditch of about fortie foot broad full of water. On the west side of it, is 
a Towne all of low flat houses; which as he conceived could bee of no 
great strength, yet it keepes all them barbarous Countreyes about it in 
admiration and subjection. After he had stayed there three dayes; it was 
two dayes more before his guides brought him to Nalbrits, where the Tymor 
then was resident, in a great vast stonie Castle with many great Courts 
about it, invironed with high stone wals, where was quartered their Armes, 
when they first subjected those Countreyes, which onely live to labour for 
those tyrannicall Turkes.

Smith his usage in Tartaria.

To her unkinde brother, this kinde Ladie writ so much for his good usage, 
that hee halfe suspected, as much as she intended; for shee told him, he 
should there but sojourne to learne the language, and what it was to be a 
Turke, till time made her Master of her selfe. But the Tymor, her brother, 
diverted all this to the worst of crueltie, for within an houre after his 
arrivall, he caused his Drub-man to strip him naked, and shave his head 
and beard so bare as his hand, a great ring of iron, with a long stalke 
bowed like a sickle, rivetted about his necke, and a coat made of Ulgries 
haire, guarded about with a peece of an undrest skinne. There were many 
more Christian slaves, and neere an hundred Forsados of Turkes and Moores; 
and he being the last, was slave of slaves to them all. Among these 
slavish fortunes there was no great choice; for the best was so bad, a dog 
could hardly have lived to endure: and yet for all their paines and 
labours no more regarded than a beast.



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Chapter XIII.
The Turkes diet; the Slaves diet; the attire of the Tartars; and manner of 
Warres and Religions, &c.

The Tymors diet of Cambia is as the Turkes. The Slaves diet.

THe Tymor and his friends fed upon Pillaw, which is boiled Rice and 
Garnances, with little bits of mutton or Buckones (which is rosted peeces 
of Horse, Bull, Ulgrie, or any beasts). Samboyses and Muselbits are great 
dainties, and yet but round pies, full of all sorts of flesh they can get 
chopped with varietie of herbs. Their best drinke is Coffa, of a graine 
they call Coava, boiled with water; and Sherbecke which is only honey and 
water; Mares milke, or the milke of any beast, they hold restorative; but 
all the Comminaltie drinke pure water. Their bread is made of this Coava, 
which is a kinde of blacke wheat, and Cuskus a small white seed like 
Millya in Biskay: but our common victuall, the entrailes of Horse and 
Ulgries. Of this, cut in small peeces, they will fill a great Cauldron, 
and being boiled with Cuskus, and put in great bowles in the forme of 
chaffing-dishes, they sit round about it on the ground, after they have 
raked it thorow so oft as they please with their foule fists, the 
remainder was for the Christian slaves. Some of this broth they would 
temper with Cuskus pounded, and putting the fire off from the hearth, 
powre there a bowle full, then cover it with coales till it be baked; 
which stewed with the remainder of the broth, and some small peeces of 
flesh, was an extraordinarie daintie.

The Attire of those Tartars.

The better sort are attired like Turkes, but the plaine Tartar hath a 
blacke sheepe skinne over his backe, and two of the legs tied about his 
necke; the other two about his middle, with another over his belly, and 
the legs tied in the like manner behinde him: then two more made like a 
paire of bases, serveth him for breeches; with a

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little close cap to his skull, of blacke felt, and they use exceeding much 
of this felt, for carpets, for bedding, for Coats, and Idols. Their houses 
are much worse than your Irish, but the In-land Countreyes have none but 
Carts and Tents, which they ever remove from Countrey to Countrey, as they 
see occasion, driving with them infinite troopes of blacke sheepe, Cattell 
and Ulgries, eating all up before them as they goe.

The Tartars of Nagi and their manners.

For the Tartars of Nagi, they have neither Towne, nor house, corne, nor 
drinke; but flesh and milke. The milke they keepe in great skinnes like 
Burracho's, which though it be never so sower, it agreeth well with their 
strong stomackes. They live all in Hordias, as doth the Crim-Tartars, 
three or foure hundred in a company, in great Carts fifteene or sixteene 
foot broad, which is covered with small rods, wattled together in the 
forme of a birds nest turned upwards, and with the ashes of bones tempered 
with oile, Camels haire, and a clay they have: they lome them so well, 
that no weather will pierce them, and yet verie light.

Each Hordia hath a Murse, which they obey as their King. Their Gods are 
infinite. One or two thousand of those glittering white Carts drawen with 
Camels, Deere, Buls, and Ulgries, they bring round in a ring, where they 
pitch their Campe; and the Murse, with his chiefe alliances, are placed in 
the midst. They doe much hurt when they can get any Stroggs, which are 
great boats used upon the river Volga, (which they call Edle) to them that 
dwell in the Countrey of Perolog; and would doe much more, were it not for 
the Muscovites Garrisons that there inhabit.



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Chapter XIIII.
The description of the Crym-Tartars; their houses and carts; their 
Idolatry in their lodgings.

The description of the Crym-Tartars Court.

NOw you are to understand, Tartary and Scythia are all one, but so large 
and spacious, few or none could ever perfectly describe it, nor all the 
severall kinds of those most barbarous people that inhabit it. Those we 
call the Crym-Tartars, border upon Moldavia, Podolia, Lituania, and 
Russia, are much more regular than the interior parts of Scythia. This 
great Tartarian Prince, that hath so troubled all his neighbours, they 
alwayes call Chan, which signifieth Emperour, but we, the Crym-Tartar. He 
liveth for most part in the best champion plaines of many Provinces; and 
his removing Court is like a great Citie of houses and tents, drawne on 
Carts, all so orderly placed East and West, on the right and left hand of 
the Prince his house, which is alwayes in the midst towards the South, 
before which none may pitch their houses, every one knowing their order 
and quarter, as in an Armie. The Princes houses are very artificially 
wrought, both the foundation, sides, and roofe of wickers, ascending round 
to the top like a Dove-coat; this they cover with white felt, or white 
earth tempered with the powder of bones, that it may shine the whiter; 
sometimes with blacke felt, curiously painted with vines, trees, birds, 
and beasts; the breadth of the Carts are eighteene or twenty foot, but the 
house stretcheth foure or five foot over each side, and is drawne with ten 
or twelve, or for more state, twenty Camels and Oxen. They have also great 
baskets, made of smaller wickers like great chests, with a covering of the 
same, all covered over with blacke felt, rubbed over with tallow and 
sheeps milke to keepe out the raine: prettily bedecked with painting or 
feathers; in those they

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put their household stuffe and treasure, drawne upon other carts for that 
purpose. When they take downe their houses, they set the doore alwayes 
towards the South, and their carts thirtie or fortie foot distant on each 
side, East and West, as if they were two walls: the women also have most 
curious carts; every one of his wives hath a great one for herselfe, and 
so many other for her attendants, that they seeme as many Courts, as he 
hath wives. One great Tartar or Nobleman, will have for his particular, 
more than an hundred of those houses and carts, for his severall offices 
and uses; but set so farre from each other, they will seeme like a great 
village. Having taken their houses from the carts, they place the Master 
alwayes towards the North; over whose head is alwayes an Image like a 
Puppet, made of felt, which they call his brother; the women on his left 
hand, and over the chiefe Mistris her head, such another brother; and 
betweene them a little one, which is the keeper of the house; at the good 
wives beds-feet is a kids skinne, stuffed with wooll, and neere it a 
Puppet looking towards the Maids; next the doore another, with a dried 
cowes udder, for the women that milke the kine, because only the men milke 
mares; every morning, those Images in their orders they besprinkle with 
that they drinke, bee it Cossmos, or whatsoever, but all the white mares 
milke is reserved for the Prince. Then without the doore, thrice to the 
South, every one bowing his knee in honour of the fire; then the like to 
the East, in honour of the aire; then to the West, in honour of the water; 
and lastly to the North, in behalfe of the dead. After the servant hath 
done this duty to the foure quarters of the world, he returnes into the 
house; where his fellowes stand waiting, ready with two cups and two 
basons to give their master, and his wife that lay with him that night, to 
wash and drinke, who must keepe him company all the day following; and all 
his other wives come thither to drinke, where hee keepes his house that 
day; and all the gifts presented him till night, are laid up in her chests;

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and at the doore a bench full of cups, and drinke for any of them to make 
merry.



Chapter XV.
Their feasts; common diet; Princes estate; buildings; tributes; lawes; 
slaves; entertainment of Ambassadours.

Their feasts.

FOr their feasts they have all sorts of beasts, birds, fish, fruits, and 
hearbs they can get, but the more variety of wilde ones is the best; to 
which they have excellent drinke made of rice, millit, and honey, like 
wine; they have also wine, but in Summer they drinke most Cossmos, that 
standeth ready alwayes at the entrance of the doore, and by it a fidler; 
when the master of the house beginneth to drinke, they all cry, ha, ha, 
and the fidler playes, then they all clap their hands and dance, the men 
before their Masters, the women before their Mistresses; and ever when he 
drinks, they cry as before; then the fidler stayeth till they drinke all 
round; sometimes they will drinke for the victory; and to provoke one to 
drinke, they will pull him by the ears, and lugge and draw him, to stretch 
and heat him, clapping their hands, stamping with their feet, and dancing 
before the champions, offering them cups, then draw them backe againe to 
increase their appetite: and thus continue till they be drunke, or their 
drinke done, which they hold an honour, and no infirmity.

Their common diet.

Though the ground be fertile, they sow little corne, yet the Gentlemen 
have bread and hony-wine; grapes they have plenty, and wine privately, and 
good flesh and fish; but the common sort stamped millit, mingled with 
milke and water. They call Cassa for meat, and drinke any thing; also any 
beast unprofitable for service they kill, when they are like to die, or 
however they die, they will eat them, guts liver and all; but the most 
fleshy parts they cut in thinne slices, and hang it up in the

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Sunne and wind without salting, where it will dry so hard, it will not 
putrifie in a long time. A Ramme they esteeme a great feast among forty or 
fiftie, which they cut in peeces boiled or roast, puts it in a great bowle 
with salt and water, for other sauce they have none; the master of the 
feast giveth every one a peece, which he eateth by himselfe, or carrieth 
away with him. Thus their hard fare makes them so infinite in Cattell; and 
their great number of captived women to breed upon, makes them so 
populous. But neere the Christian frontiers, the baser sort make little 
cottages of wood, called Ulusi, daubed over with durt and beasts dung, 
covered with sedge; yet in Summer they leave them, beginning their 
progresse in Aprill, with their wives, children, and slaves, in their 
carted houses, scarce convenient for foure or five persons; driving their 
flocks towards Perecopya, and sometimes into Taurica, or Osow, a towne 
upon the river Tanais, which is great and swift, where the Turke hath a 
garrison; and in October returne againe to their Cottages. Their Clothes 
are the skinnes of dogges, goats, and sheepe, lined with cotten cloath, 
made of their finest wooll, for of their worst they make their felt, which 
they use in aboundance, as well for shooes and caps, as houses, beds, and 
Idolls; also of the coarse wooll mingled with horse haire, they make all 
their cordage. Notwithstanding this wandring life, their Princes sit in 
great state upon beds, or carpits, and with great reverence are attended 
both by men and women, and richly served in plate, and great silver cups, 
delivered upon the knee, attired in rich furres, lined with plush, or 
taffity, or robes of tissue. These Tartars possesse many large and goodly 
plaines, wherein feed innumerable herds of horse and cattell, as well 
wilde as tame; which are Elkes, Bisones, Horses, Deere, Sheepe, Goates, 
Swine, Beares, and divers others.

Their Princes state. Ancient buildings.

In those countries are the ruines of many faire Monasteries, Castles, and 
Cities, as Bacasaray, Salutium, Almassary, Perecopya, Cremum, Sedacom, 
Capha, and

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divers others by the Sea, but all kept with strong garrisons for the great 
Turke, who yearely by trade or trafficke, receiveth the chiefe commodities 
those fertile countries afford, as Bezer, Rice, Furres, Hides, Butter, 
Salt, Cattell, and Slaves; yet by the spoiles they get from the secure and 
idle Christians, they maintaine themselves in this Pompe. Also their 
wives, of whom they have as many as they will, very costly, yet in a 
constant custome With decency.

Commodities for tribute to the Turke. Good lawes yet no lawyers.

They are Mahometans, as are the Turks, from whom also they have their 
Lawes, but no Lawyers, nor Attournies, onely Judges, and Justices in every 
Village, or Hordia: but capitall criminalls, or matters of moment, before 
the Chart himselfe, or Privie Counsells, of whom they are alwayes heard, 
and speedily discharged; for any may have accesse at any time to them, 
before whom they appeare with great reverence, adoring their Princes as 
Gods, and their spirituall Judges as Saints; for Justice is with such 
integrity and expedition executed, without covetousnesse, bribery, 
partiality, and brawling, that in six moneths they have sometimes scarce 
six causes to heare. About the Princes court none but his guard weares any 
weapon; but abroad they goe very strong, because there are many bandytos, 
and Theeves.

Their slaves.

They use the Hungarians, Russians, Wallachians, and Moldavian slaves 
(whereof they have plenty) as beasts to every worke: and those Tartars 
that serve the Chan, or noblemen, have only victuall and apparell, the 
rest are generally nasty, and idle, naturally miserable, and in their 
warres, better theeves than souldiers.

His entertainment of Ambassadours.

This Chan hath yeerely a Donative from the King of Poland, the Dukes of 
Lituania, Moldavia, and Nagagon Tartars; their Messengers commonly he 
useth bountifully, and verie nobly, but sometimes most cruelly; when any 
of them doth bring their Presents, by his houshold Officers they are 
entertained in a plaine field, with a moderate proportion of flesh, bread 
and wine, for once; but when they come before him, the Sultaines, Tuians,

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Ulans, Markies, his chiefe Officers and Councellors attend, one man only 
bringeth the Ambassadour to the Court gate, but to the Chan he is led 
betweene two Councellors; where saluting him upon their bended knees, 
declaring their message, are admitted to eat with him, and presented with 
a great silver cup full of Mead from his owne hand, but they drinke it 
upon their knees: when they are dispatched, he invites them againe, the 
feast ended, they go backe a little from the Palace doore, and rewarded 
with silke vestures wrought with gold downe to their anckles, with an 
horse or two, and sometimes a slave of their owne Nation.

In their robes presently they come to him againe, to give him thankes, 
take their leave, and so depart.