Emperor

’ much as to say in our tongue ’The City of the But the Great Kaan... caused the present city to be built beside the old one, with only a river between them. … As regards the size of this (new) city you must know that it has a compa of 24 miles, for each side of it hath a length of and it is four-square. And it is all walled round with 6 miles, walls of earth which have a thickne of full ten paces at bottom, and a height of more than 10 paces; but they are not so thick at top, for they diminish in thickne as they rise, so that at top they are only about 3 paces thick. And they are provided throughout with loop-holed battlements, which are all whitewashed. There are 12 gates, and over each gate there is a great and handsome palace, so that there are on each side of the square three gates and five palaces; for (I ought to mention) there is at each angle also a great and handsome palace. In these palaces are vast halls in which are kept the arms of the city garrison. The streets are so straight and wide that you can see right along them from end to end and from one gate to the other. And up and down the city there are beautiful palaces, and many great and fine hostelries, and fine houses in great numbers. Moreover the established guard at each gate of the city is 1000 armed men; not that you are to imagine this guard is kept up... for fear of any attack, but only as a guard of honor for the Sovereign, who resides there, and to prevent thieves from doing You must know that the city of Cambaluc hath such a multitude of houses, and such a vast population inside the walls and outside, that it seems quite past mischief in the town.... There is a suburb outside each of the gates, all po ibility. which are twelve in number; and these suburbs are so great that they contain more people than the city itself. … To this city also are brought articles of greater cost and rarity, and in greater abundance of all kinds, than to any other city in the For people of every description, and from every region, world. bring things (including all the costly wares of India, as well as the fine and precious wares of Cathay itself with its provinces), some for the sovereign, some for the court, some for the city which is so great, some for the crowds of Barons and Knights, some for the great hosts of the Emperor which are quartered round about; and thus between court and city the quantity brought in is endle . As a sample, I tell you, no day in the year pa es that there do not enter the city 1000 cart-loads of silk alone, from which are made quantities of cloth of silk and And this is not to be wondered at; gold, and of other goods. for in all the countries round about there is no flax, so that everything has to be made of silk. It is true, indeed, that in some parts of the country there is cotton and hemp, but not This, however, is not of much consesufficient for their wants. quence, because silk is so abundant and cheap, and is a more valuable substance than either flax or cotton. Round about this great city of Cambaluc there are some 200 other cities at various distances, from which traders come to sell their goods and buy others for their lords; and all find means to make their sales and (Pp. purchases, so that the traffic of the city is pa ing great.” 374-415.) “You must know that for three months of the year, the Great Kaan resides in the capital city of Cathay, which is called Cambaluc (and which is at the north-eastern extremity... of the country). I In that city stands his great Palace, and now It is enclosed all round by a great will tell you what it is like. wall forming a square, each side of which a mile in length; is compa thereof is four miles. This you may depend on; it is also very thick, and a good ten paces At each angle in height, whitewashed and loop-holed all round. Also midway of the wall there is a very fine and rich palace. that is to say, the whole... between every two of these Corner Palaces there is another of the like.... Inside of this wall there is a second... This. enclosure also has eight palaces corresponding to those of the outer wall. … In the middle of the second enclosure is the Lord’s Great Palace, and I will tell you what it is like. You must know that it is the greatest palace that ever was. The roof is very lofty, and the walls of the Palace all covered with gold and silver. They are also adorned with representations of dragons (sculptured and gilt), beasts and birds, knights and idols, and sundry other objects. And on the ceiling too you see nothing but gold and silver and painting. The Hall of the Palace is so large that it could easily dine 6000 people; and it is quite a marvel to see how many rooms there are besides. The building is altogether so vast, so rich and so beautiful, that no man on earth could design anything superior to it. The outside of the roof also is all colored with vermilion and yellow and green and blue and other hues, which are fixed with a varnish so fine and exquisite that they shine like crystal, and lend a resplendent lustre to the Palace as seen for a great way round. More,........ over on the north side of the Palace, about a bow-shot of if, there is a hill which has been made by art,.. paces in height and a mile in compa .. it is This a good hundred hill is entirely covered with trees that never lose their leaves but remain ever green. And I a ure you that wherever a beautiful tree may exist, and the Emperor gets news of it, he sends for it and has it transplanted bodily with all its roots and the earth attached to them, and planted on that hill of his. No matter how big the tree may be, he gets it carried by his elephants; and in this way he has got together the most beautiful collection of trees in all the world. And he has also caused the whole hill to be covered with the ore of azure, which is very green. And thus not only are the trees all green, but the hill itself is all green likewise; and there is nothing to be seen on it that is not green; and hence it is called the Green Mount; and in good sooth ’tis named well. On the top of the hill again there is a fine big palace which is all green inside and out; and thus the hill, and the trees, and the palace form together a charming spectacle; and it is marvellous Everybody who sees them And the Great Kaan has caused this beautiful to see their uniformity of color! is delighted. prospect to be formed for the comfort and solace and delectation of his heart.” (Pp. 362-6.) is Milton’s description of Cathaia, or Cambalu, in Moscovia taken from the relations of those Ru ian travelers whom he commends in the Preface. Their report follows: “From this white Citie, or Castle, to the greatest Citie of all Cataya, called Catay, is two dales journey, where the King himselfe dwelleth. It is a very great Citie, built of white stone, foure square, and in compa e it is foure days journey; upon every corner thereof Towres high built, and white, and alongst the wall are very faire and high Towres, likewise white and intermingled with Blue or Azure, upon the Gates, Wall, and Towres; are very great the Loop-holes or Windowes are well furnished with Ordnance, and a strong Watch. In the midst of this white Citie standeth a Castle built of Magnet, or Loadstone, wherein the King himselfe dwelleth, called Tambun; this Castle standeth so in the midst of this Citie, that every way you have halfe a dayes going to it from the Gates, through the streets which hath stone shoppes on both sides with all manner of Merchandizes; upon their shops they have their houses built of stone, cunningly painted more than the former Cities. The Castle of Magnets is curiously set forth with all manner of artificiall and precious devices, in the middest whereof standeth the Kings Palace, the top whereof is all gilt over with Gold. The Citie of Catay, where the King dwelleth, is built upon an even plaine ground, and is in compa ed round about with a River called Youga, which falleth into the blacke Sea, which is from the Citie Catay seven dayes travell, so that there come no ships neerer the City Catay, then seven dayes travell off, but all things are transported in small Ve els and ship boats. The Merchandizes the King doth send into all parts of his Dominions of Catay, and from thence are carried over the borders, into the Land of Mugalla, to the King Altine, to the blacke Kollmakes, to the Iron King, into Boghar and other Dominions. Their Patriarkes and Friers travell with the commodities, as Velvets, Sattens, Damaskes, Silver, Leopard Skinnes, Turke es, and blacke Zenders, for which they buy Horses and bring them into Catay, for in Catay are but few horses, and Cloth they have none. The people are very faire but not warlike, timorous and most their endeavor is in great and rich traffick.” {Pilgrimes 3. 801.) A friar who had travelled to Pekm from India by sea writes: ” Pequin may be called the Mother Citie of the Worlds Monarchie......... government, greatne e, justice, provisions. It it contayneth thirtie leagues, ten in length, and five in bredth, in circuit all which space is environed with two Walls, and innumerable Towers and Bulwarkes.” {Pilgrimes 3. 272.) for the wealth, stands in the height of 41 degrees to the North;. Cambria. 1... See Wales. Cambridge (Cant a brig i a, Grant brig, University). Carrier Sonnet 11. 14; Eleg. 2. Title; Apology 3. 264; Bucer: 8; Divorce (Test.) 4. Brit. (4) 5. 156; (5) 5. 203, (thrice), 292; (Pari.) 218; (6) 5. 250; 2 Defens. 6. 284 4. 298; Hist. (twice), 287; Epist. Fam. (3) 7. 372; (4) 7. 373. The seat of the University of Cambridge, in Cambridge shire. Thomas Fuller describes it as follows: “Cambridge is the chief credit of the county, as the University is of ch080.xhtml c 83