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Extracts of Captaine Smiths Transylvanian Acts,
out of Fr. Fer. his Storie.
After the losse of Caniza, the Turkes with twentie thousand besieged the
strong Towne of Olimpach,
and hope of succour, till John Smith an English Gentleman, acquainted
Baron Kizell, Generall of the Arch-Dukes Artillerie, that he had taught the
him know any thing he intended, and have his Answere; would they bring him
but to some place, where he might make the flame of a Torch seene to the
Towne. Kizell inflamed with this strange invention; Smith made it so plaine,
that forth-with he gave him Guides, who in the darke night brought him to a
Mountaine, where he shewed three Torches equi-distant from each other, which
plainly appearing to the Towne, the Governour presently apprehended: and
answered againe with three other fires in like manner, each thus knowing the
others being and intent. Smith, though distant seven miles, signified to him
these words. On Thursday at night I will charge on the East, at the
Alarme sally you: Eberspaught answered he would. And thus it was
done, First, he writ his Message, as briefe you see, as could be; then divided
the Alphabet in two parts thus: A B C D E F G H I K L with one Light,
the other Letters following with two, M N O P Q R S T V W X Y Z.
The first part from A to L is signified by shewing and hiding one Linke so oft
as there is Letters from A to that Letter, you meane; the other part from M to
Z, is mentioned by two Lights in like manner; the end of a word is signified
by shewing of three Lights, ever staying your Light at that Letter, you meane,
till the other may write it in a Paper, and answere by his signall, which is one
Light. It is done, beginning to account the Letters, by the Lights every time from
A or M: by this meanes, also the other returned his Answere, thereby each
understanding other. The Guides all this time, having well viewed the Campe,
returned to Kizell, who doubting of his power, being but twentie thousand,
was animated by the Guides which related that the Turkes were so divided by
the River in two parts, that they could not easily second each other. To which
Smith added this conclusion, that two or three thousand pieces of Match,
fastened to divers small Lines of two hundred fathome in length, beeing armed
with Powder, might all bee fired and stretched at one instant, before the Alarme,
upon the Plaine of Eysnaburge, supported betweene two staves, at each Lines
end: in that manner, would seeme as if they were so many Musketiers: which
was so put in practice, as being discovered by the Turkes, they prepared to
encounter these false fires, thinking there had bin some great Armie, whilst
Kizell with his Forces entred the Turkes quarter. They now ranne up and
downe as men amazed, and it was not long ere Eberspaught was pell mell
Turkes that besieged that side towards Konbrucke were slaine, many of
the rest drowned, and fled: the other part of the Armie was so busied to resist
the false fires, that Kizell before the morning had put in two thousand good
Souldiers into the Towne, and with small losse was retyred: the Garrison was
also well relieved with that which they found in the Turkes Quarter: Which
caused the Turkes to rayse their Siege, and returne to Caniza, and Kizell
with much honour was received at Kerment: and occasioned the Author a
good reward and preferment, to bee Captaine of two hundred and fiftie Souldiers,
under the conduct of Colonell Meldrich.
.
A generall Rumour of a generall Peace,
now spread it selfe all over theface of those tormented Countries: but the Turke intended no such matter,
but levied Souldiers from all parts he could, and the Emperour also by the
assistance of the Christian Princes, provided three Armies: the one led by the
Arch-duke Matthias, the Emperours Brother, and his Lieftenant Duke Mercurie
to defend low Hungarie; the second by Ferdinando the Arch-duke of
Stiria and the Duke of Mantua his Leiftenant to regaine Caniza: the third
by Don GonsagoGovernour of high Hungarie to joyne with Basta, to
make an absolute Conquest of Transilvania.
Duke Mercurie with an Armie of thirtie thousand (whereof neere ten
thousand were French) besieged Stolewisenburg, otherwise called Alba
Regalis, a place so strong by art and nature that it was thought impregnable.
There hapened many a bloudie sally, strange stratagems and valiant Exploits
on both sides by severall Nations; but in briefe, Earle Meldritch by the
information of three or foure Christians escaped out of the Towne.
Alarme, to put in practice the fierie Dragons, which hee had demonstrated him
and the Earle Von Sults at Comora, which he thus performed. After hee
had prepared fortie or fiftie Earthen round bellied Pots, prepared with mixtures,
Powder and Bullets, as experiences had taught him (though with exceeding
danger) he so fitly placed them in slings, graduated so neere as they could to
these Assemblies, and other places of advantage, that at mid-night upon the
Alarme, it was a fearefull sight to see the short flaming course of their flight in
the Ayre: but presently after the fall, the lamentable noyse of the miserable
slaughtered Turkes was most terrible; besides, they fired that strong Suburbe,
at the Port of Buda, in two or three places, which so troubled the Turkes
to quench, that had there beene any meanes to have assaulted them, they could
hardly have resisted the fire and their Enemies.
This Citie being taken by the incredible Adventures of the Duke,
theEarle Roseworme with the other Colonell and Captaines, which had beene in
possession of the Turkes, more then fiftie yeares: the ∥ Turke sent presently
Asan Bassa with threescore thousand, if it were possible to re-gaine it: the
Duke understanding this, with twentie thousand met him: where five or sixe
thousand were slaine, with the Bassa of Buda, and foure or five Zanzackes.
Duke Mercurie
dividing his Armie, sent the Earle Meldrich (ofwhose Company was Captaine Smith in this encounter) to assist the Lord
Basta, Generall for the Emperor Rudolph, against Sigismundus Bathur,
the Prince of Transilvania: who was beyond all mens beliefe, newly returned
from Polonia: and established in his Estate; the Earle neither finding pay,
nor such regard as he expected, perswaded his Troupes rather to serve the Prince
with these paylesse Travels, upon hope to make Bootie of what they could get
from the Turke, were easily perswaded to follow him wheresoever: especially
to helpe to re-gaine or ransacke his Fathers Country then possessed by the Turkes, which (they heard) notwithstanding those Warres, were rich and unspoyled.
The Prince glad of so brave a Commander, and so many expert and
ancient Souldiers, made him Campe-master of his Armie, gave him all
necessaries else hee could, and what freedome they desired to ransacke the
Turkes.
The Earle having made many incursions into the Land of Zarkain,
amongst the rockie Mountaines, where the people were some Turkes, some Tartars, some Jewes, but most Banditos, Renegadoes, and such like,
which sometimes he forced into the Plaines of Regall: where is a Citie, not
only of men and Fortifications, strong of it selfe; but so environed with Mountaines,
and the passage so difficult, that in all those warres, no attempt had
beene made upon it to any purpose. Having satisfied himselfe with the situation
and those passages, amongst which he had many a sharpe encounter: at last,
with eight thousand he pitched his Campe before it. The Inhabitants scorning
so small a number, sallied in such abundance, that about one hundred and fiftie
were slaine on both sides, and the Turkes chased so neere the Ports, that the
Towers small shot and Ordnance caused the Earle to retyre.
The next day Zachell Moyzes, Lieutenant Generall to the Prince, came
with foure thousand Foote and Horse, and foure and twentie Peeces of Ordnance,
but in regard of the situation of the place, they did more feare then hurt
which slow proceeding the Turkes daily derided, and as fearing least they
should depart erethey assaulted the Citie, sent this challenge to any Captaine in
their Armie: That to delight the Ladies who did long to see some Courtlike
pastime, the Lord Turbashaw did defie any Captaine that had the command
of a Companie, which durst cumbat with him for his head. The matter being
discussed, was accepted. But so many questions grew for the undertaking, that
it was decided by lots, and the lot fell upon Captaine Smith, before spoken of.
Truce being taken for that time, the Rampiers all beset with faire Dames, and
men in Armes, the Christians in Batalia; Turbashaw, with a voice of
Hoboyes entred the field, well mounted and armed: on his shoulders were fixed
two paire of great wings, richly garnished with gold, silver, and precious
stones, a Janisarie before him, bearing his Launce; on each side, another
leading his Horse; where long he stayed not before Smith with a noise of
Trumpets (onely a Page bearing his Lance) passing by him, with a curteous
salute, tooke his ground with such good successe, that at the sound of the charge
he passed the Turke thorowthe sight of his beaver, face, head, and all, that hee
fell dead to the ground; where alighting, unbracing his Helmet, he tooke off his
head, leaving the Turkes his body, and so returned without any hurt at all. The
head he presented to the Lord Moyzes the Generall, who kindly accepted it,
and with joy to the whole Armie, he was generally welcome.
The death of this Captaine, so swelled in the heart of one Grualgo his
vowed friend, as rather inraged with madnesse then choller, he directed a particular
Challenge to the Conquerour, to regaine his friends head, or lose his
owne, with his Horse and Armour for advantage: which, according to his
desire, was the next day undertaken, as before. Upon the sound of the Trumpets
neere unhorsed: their Pistols were the next, which marked Smith upon the
Placket; but the next shot, the Turke was so wounded in the left arme, that
not able to rule his Horse, and defend himselfe, he was throwne to the ground,
and so bruised with the fall, that he lost his head, as his friend before him, with
his Horse and Armour; but his bodie and his rich apparell, was sent backe to
the Towne.
Every day the Turkes made some sallies, but few skirmishes would they
indure to any purpose, our workes and approaches being not yet advanced to that
height, and effect as necessitie required. To delude time, Smith with many incontradictable
perswading reasons, obtained leave, that the Ladies might know
he was not so much enamored with their Servants heads, but if any Turke of
their ranke would come to the place of Combat to redeeme them, hee should have
his also upon the like conditions, if they could winne it. The Challenge
presently was accepted by Bony Molgro. The next day both the Champions
entring the field, as before, each discharging their Pistols, having no Launces,
but such martiall weapons as the Defendant had appointed, no hurt was done.
Their Battle-axes were the next, whose piercing bils made sometimes the one,
sometimes the other, to have scarce sence to keepe their Saddles: especially the
Christian received such a wound, that he lost his Battle-axe, and failed not
much to have fallen after it: whereat the supposing conquering Turke had a
great shout from the Rampiers. The Turke prosecuted his advantage to the
uttermost of his power: yet the other, what by the readinesse of his Horse, and
his judgement and dexteritie in such a businesse beyond all mens expectation, by
Gods assistance, not onely avoyded the Turkes violent blowes, but having
drawne his Faulchion, pierced the Turke so under the ∥ Cullets through backe
and body, that although he alighted from his Horse, hee stood not long erehee
lost his head, as the rest had done.
This good successe
gave such incouragement to the Armie, that with aguard of sixe thousand, three spare Horses, before each, a Turkes head upon
Launces, hee was conducted to the Generals Pavilions with his presents.
Moyses received both him and them with as much respect as the occasion
deserved, imbracing him in his armes, gave him a faire Horse richly furnished,
a Cymiter and Belt worth three hundred Ducats, and Meldrich made him
Sergeant Major of his Regiment. The Towne with an incredible trouble and
danger was assaulted, and at last taken perforce, where the Earle remembring
his Fathers death, caused all he could find beare Armes to be put to the Sword,
and their heads to bee set upon stakes, round about the walls, in the same
manner as they had served the Christians when they tooke it. Then he sacked
Den of Theeves, leaving five thousand dead (though he lost neere as many, yet)
with all the spoyle and two thousand prisoners (most women and children) he
returned to Esenberge, not farre from the Princes Pallace, where hee incamped.
The Prince comming to view the Armie, presented with the Prisoners,
and sixe and thirtie Ensignes (after his accustomed manner, having given
thankes to God) he was acquainted what service Smith had done at Olimpach,
Stolewisenberge, and Regall; for which, with great honor and solemnitie,
he gave him three Turkes heads in a Shield for Armes, with an oath ever to
weare them in his Colours, his picture in gold, and three hundred Duckats
yeerely for a pension.
During all this time, Basta and the Prince being capitulating of a peace,
the Emperour had raised new forces for Basta to invade Transilvania; which
caused the Prince to condescend to the Articles propounded him: which when Moyses understood, then in field with the whole Armie (that hated the Germans
as ill as Turkes) he gave battell to Basta. betwixt them in sixe or
seven houres, more then sixe or seven thousand on both sides were slaine. Moyses thus overthrowne fled to the Turkes, and his scattered Troopes, some
one way, some another. The Prince excused himselfe of this unexpected accident,
made composition for his dispersed Troopes, yeelded himselfe to Basta; and all
his Countrey and Subjects to the Emperours obedience.
Basta thus possessed of Transilvania, drew all the Christians of those
old Regiments of Sigismundus, of whose greatnesse and true affections, he
was most suspitious, under the conduct of Rodoll Voyvad of Walachia,
forced out by Jeremy, put in by the Turke. In this Armie of thirtie thousand,
Captaine Smith was one,
places he had before) had many severall imployments in every dangerous incounter,
which would be too voluminous particularly to relate, before they could
draw Prince Jeremy, to battaile, where (as it is recorded) two thousand on
both sides, lay dead in the fields; but Jeremy fled, and Rodol had the victorie,
and thereby againe his Soveraigntie.
Meldrich not long after with thirteene thousand, was sent against the
stragling escaped Troopes of Jeremy, which joyning with some Tartars, for-
raged the frontiers towards Moldavia; but when they heard it was the Crimme
Tartar and his two sonnes, with thirtie thousand, and that Jeremy which had
escaped, lay with fifteene thousand in Ambuscado for him, about Langanow,
so invironed with these hellish numbers, that they could make no great haste for
skirmishing with their Scoutes and Forragers: Yet by getting through a wood
in a thick Fog, meeting two thousand loaden with pillage, and two or three
hundred Horse and Cattell, the most of them were slaine or taken prisoners,
who told Meldrich where Jeremy lay, expecting the Crimme Tartar.
Meldrich intending to make by him his passage by force, was advised of a
pretie stratagem by Captaine Smith, which presently so accommodated two or
three hundred Trunkes, with wild-fire upon the heads of Launces, charging the
enemie in the night, gave fire to the Trunkes, which blasted forth such flames
and sparkles, amazing not onely the Horse but also the Foot, that by the meanes
of this flaming incounter, their owne Horses turned tailes with such furie, as
by their violence overthrew Jeremy and his Armie, without any losse at all to
Meldrich. But of this victorie they not long triumphed; for, being within
three leagues of Rotenton, in the Valley of Verest Horne; the Tartar with
fortie thousand had so beset him, that they were forced to fight with this matchlesse
number, where neere thirtie thousand were slaine. The Earle, with some
fifteene hundred escaped, but the rest were all slaine or taken prisoners: as the
Historie at large will plainly shew, the times, place, chiefe Commanders,
with the manner and order of their battels, and fights, to
which I referre you.
II.
Divers valiant English-men in this battell.
Captaine Smith taken, sold, sent into Turkie,
and over the Black Sea to Tartaria.
His admirable escape and other travels
in divers parts of Christendome.
IN this dismall battell, Nederspol, Veltus, Zarnava, Mavazo, Bavell,
and many other Earles, Barons, Colonels, Captaines, brave Gentlemen
and Souldiers were slaine. Give me leave to remember the
names, and honor the memories of our owne Country-men in those
exploits, which as resolutely as the best, in the defence of Christ ∥ and
his Gospell ended their daies,
Nicholas Williams, and one John the Scot. These all did what men
could doe, and when they could doe no more, left there their martyred
bodies, in testimonie of their Martiall minds, onely Ensigne
Carlton, and Sergeant Robinson escaped. But Smith amongst the
slaughtered dead bodies, with toyle and wounds lay groning, till
being found by the Pillagers that he was able to live, and perceiving
by his Armour and habit, that his ransome might be better to them
then his death, they led him Prisoner with divers other. Well they
used him till his wounds were cured, and at Axopolis they were all
brought into the Market place and stripped, that the Merchants
might see their limbs and wounds, (who had Servants upon purpose
to try their strengths) and there sold like beasts. Smith fell to the share
of Basha Bogall, who sent him forth-with to Andrinopolis, and so for
Constantinople to his faire Mistris for a Slave. By twentie and twentie
chained by the necke, they marched in Fyle to this great Citie, where
they were delivered to their severall Masters, and he to his young
Charatza Tragabigzanda.
This Noble Gentlewoman tooke sometimes occasion to shew
him to some friends, or rather to speake with him, and because she
could speake Italian, would faine her selfe sicke when shee should goe
to the Banias, or weepe over the graves, to know how Bogall tooke
him Prisoner, and if he were, as Bogall writ to her, a Bohemian Lord
conquered by his hand, with many more which he had with him,
whom hee would present her erelong, whose ransomes should adorne
her with the glory of his Conquests. But when shee heard him protest
he knew no such matter, nor had ever seene Bogall till hee bought
him at Axopolis, and that hee was an English-man, onely by his adventures
made a Captaine in those Countries: to try the truth, shee found
meanes to find out many which could speak English, French, Dutch,
and Italian; to whom he relating the most part of those former
passages, (which they honestly reported to her) shee tooke as it
seemed, much compassion on him. But having no use for him, least
her mother should sell him, she sent him to her Brother the Tymor
Bashaw of Nalbrits, in the Country of Cambrya in Tartaria.
But let us remember his passing notes in the speculative course
an ancient Citie upon the blacke Sea, where having little more
libertie then his eies judgement, he might see the Townes with their
short Towers, in a most excellent plaine, pleasant, and fertile Countrey,
full of Villages, and dispersed faire buildings, as well in Sagovia
as Romania. But from Varna, nothing but the blacke Sea, till he came
to the two Capes of Taur and Pergillo, which are two muddy Promontories,
at the entrance of the Straight Niger, which hatha very
deepe Channell; and as he conjectured, ten leagues long, and three
broad. At the entrance of the Disabachi Sea, are a great many of high
blacke Rocks on each side the Channell to ones thinking, which they
said were onely Trees, Weedes, and Muds, throwne from the in-land
Countries by the inundations, and by the violence of the Currant
cast there by the Eddy: of which as they sayled, they saw many without
sight of Land, seeming like high Rockes on low Hands, which are
onely great flats of Osie Quagmires, where infinite heapes of Trees
doe sticke; and by their waight, time, and multitudes, though the
boughes rot, the bodies they say, have made many of those Osie Flats
firme Land in many places: Thus sayling this Dissabachi Sea, till hee
came betwixt Susack and Curaske, onely two visible Townes appeared
at the entrance of the River Bruago. In sixe or seven daies sayle, hee
Battlements about them; but ariving at Cambria, he was according
to their custome, well used. The Castle was of a large circomference,
ten or twelve foote thicke in the foundation. Some sixe foote from it
a Palizado, and then a ditch round about, fortie foot broad, full of
water: on the one side of it a Towne all of low flat houses, but no
great matter as it seemed; yet it keeps all that Country in admirable
awe and subjection. Three daies he rested there, then it was two daies
journey to Nalbrits, the Timors habitation, a place not of much lesse
strength then Cambria, where sometimes resideth this Tymor Nalbrits,
Brother to the Ladie Tragabigzando. To her unkind Brother this kind
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, and perverted
all this to the worst of crueltie: for within an houre after his
arrivall, hee caused his Drugman to strip him naked, and shave his
head and beard as bare as his hand, a great Ring of Iron with a long
stalke bowing like a Sickle about his neck, and a coate made of
Ulgrayes haire, much like Haire-cloath, guarded about with a piece
of an undressed skinne. There were many other Christian Slaves, but
more then two hundred Forsados, and he being the last, was Slave
of Slaves to them all. Among those slavish fortunes, there was no
great choise, for the best was so bad, a Dog could hardly have lived
to indure: and yet for all their paines and labour, no more regarded
then a Beast. The Tymor and his friends fed upon Pillow, which is
boyled Rice and Garnancis, with little bits of Mutton or Buckones,
which is rost pieces of Horse, Ulgry, or any Beast. Samboses and Musel-
bits are great dainties, and yet but round pies full of all sorts of flesh
chopped, with ∥ varietie of Hearbs. Their best drinke is Coffa, made
onely Hony 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 kind of blacke Wheate, and
Cuscus a small white Seed like Millet in Biskany. Our common victuall,
was the Intrals and Offall of Horses and Ulgryes; of this cut in small
pieces, they will fill a great Cauldron; which being boyled, and with
Cuscus put in great bowles in the manner of Chafing-dishes, they sit
about it on the ground; after they have raked it through as oft as they
please with their fowle fists, the remainder was for the Christian
Slaves. Some of this broth they would temper with Cuscus, like Butter
for Fritters, and putting the fire off from the hearth, powre there a
bowle full, then cover it with coales till it be baked, which stued with
the remainder of the broath, and small pieces of flesh, was an extraordinary
daintie. The better sort are attired like Turkes, but the
plaine Tartar weareth halfe a blacke Sheepes skinne over his backe,
two of the legges tyed about his necke, the other two about his middle;
with another over his belly, and his legges tyed in like manner behind
him: then two skinnes more made like a paire of Bases, serve him for
Breeches, with a little Cap close to his skull of course blacke Felt, and
they use exceeding much of this Felt for Carpets, for Bedding, for
Coates, and Idols. Their houses are much worse then your Irish: but
the In-land Countrey hathnone but Carts and Tents, which they
ever remove from Countrey to Countrey, as they see occasion, driving
with them infinite troups of blacke Sheepe, Cattle, and Ulgryes,
eating up all before them as they goe.
For the Tartars of Nagi, they have neither Towne nor House,
Corne nor Drinke, but Flesh and Milke;
three or foure thousand of them in a company, all living in great
Carts, fifteene or sixteene foot broad, which is covered over with
small Rods, wattled together in the forme of a Birds-nest turned upwards,
and with the Ashes of bones, tempered with Oyle, and a Clay
they have, and Camels haire, they loome them so wel, that no
weather wil pierce them, and yet they are very light. Each Hordia
hatha Murse, which they obey as King. Their gods are infinite, but
the Crimme Tartar and the Tauricks, obey Murtissalla Mahomets chiefe
Prophet. One thousand or two thousand of those glittering white
Carts drawne with Camels, Deere, Bulls, and Ulgryes, they bring
round in a Ring, where they pitch their Campe, and the Murse with
when they get any Strogs, which are great Boats, used upon the Edle
a River we call Volga, to them that dwell in the Countrey of Poronlog,
and would doe much more, were it not for the Muscovits Garisons
that there inhabite.
All the hope
he had ever to be delivered from this thraldome,was onely the love of Tragabigzanda, who surely was ignorant of his
bad usage: for although he had oft debated the matter with some
Christians, which had beene there long Slaves, they could not find
how to make any escape, by any reason or possibilitie. But God
beyond Mans expectation or imagination, helpeth his Servants when
they least thinke of helpe, as it hapned to him. In this miserable
estate, he became a Thrasher at a Grange in a great field, more then
a league from the Tymors house. The Bassa as he oft used to visite his
grounds, visited him, and tooke occasion so to beate, spurne and
revile him, that Smith forgetting all reason, beate out his braines with
his bat: and seeing his estate could not be worse then it was, he
cloathed himselfe in his cloathes, hid his body under the Straw, filled
his Knapsacke with Corne, shut the doores, mounted his Horse, and
ranne into the Desart at all adventure: Two or three daies thus fearefully
wandring he knew not whither, and well it was hee met not any
to aske the way. Thus being even as one taking leave of this miserable
they call it, which doth crosse those large Territories, and is generally
knowne among them by these markes.
In every crossing of this great way, is planted a Poste, and in it
so many bolts with broad ends, as there are waies, and every bolt
haththe figure painted over it, that demonstrateth to what part that
way leadeth, as that which pointeth towards the Crimmes Countrey,
is marked with a halfe Moone: if towards the China, the picture of the
Sunne; if towards the Georgians and Persia, a blacke man full of white
spots; if towards Muscovy, the signe of a Crosse; if towards the habitation
of any other Prince, the figure whereby his Standard is
knowne. To his dying spirits thus God added some comfort in this
melancholy journey, wherein if he had met any of that vild generation,
they had made him their Slave, or sent him backe againe to
his Master. Sixteene daies he travelled in this feare and torment after
that crosse, till hee arrived at Axopolis, upon the River Don, a Garrison
of the Muscovits. The Governor after due examination of those hard
events, tooke off his Irons, and so kindly used him, that he thought
himselfe newly risen from death.
The most he could learne of these wild Countries was this, that
the Countrey of Cambria is two dayes Journey from the head of the
great River Bruapo, which springeth from many places of the Mountaynes
of Inagachi, that joyne themselves together in the Poole Kerkas,
which they account for the head, and falleth into the Sea Dissabach:
which receiveth also the River Don, and all the Rivers that fall from
the great Countrey of the Circassi, the Caitaches, the Tau- ∥ ricaces,
Pricopes, Cumania, Cossunka, and the Crymme, through which See hee
sayled, and up the River Bruapo to Nalbrits, and thence through the
Deserts of Circassi to Exopolis, as is related, where he stayed with the
Governour, till the Convoy went to Coragnaw, then with his Certificate
how he found him, and had examined him, with his friendly
Letters he sent him by Zumalacke to Coragnaw,
like manner so kindly used him, that by this means, he went with the
safe conduct to Letch and Donka, in Cologosk, and thence to Birniske,
and Newgrade, in Seberya, by Rezachica upon the River Niper, in the
Confines of Littuania. From whence with as much kindnesse he was
conveyed in like manner by Coroskie, Duberosko, Duzihell, Drohobus,
and Ostroge in Volonia. Shaslaw and Laxco in Podolia, Halico and Collonia
in Polonia, and so to Hermonstat in Transilvania. In all his life he
seldome met with more respect, mirth, content and entertaynment,
and not any Governour where he came, but gave him somewhat as
a Present besides his charges, seeing themselves subject to the like
Europe, I have here presented Hondius his Map of Europe.
Through those poore continually forraged Countries there is no
passage, but with the Caravans or Convoyes; for they are Countries
rather to bee pittied then envyed, and it is a wonder any should make
Warres for them. The Villages are here and there a few Houses of
streight Firre-trees, laid heads and points above one another made
fast by notches at the ends, more then a mans height, and with broad
split boards pinned together with woodden pinnes thatched for
coverture: in ten Villages you shall scarce find ten Iron Nayles,
except it bee in some extraordinarie mans House. For their Townes,
Exopolis, Lech, and Donka have Rampiers made of that woodden
walled-fashion, double, and betwixt them Earth and Stones, but so
latched with crosse Timber, they are very strong against any thing
but fire, and about them a deepe Ditch, and a Pallizado of young
∥ them, and the Ditches Earth is all their Rampier, and the toppe on
it round, well environed with Palizadoes; Some have some few small
Peeces of small Ordnance and Slings, Curriours and Muskets; but
their generallest Weapons are the Russe Bow and Arrowes. In their
wayes you shall find pavements over Bogges, only of young Firre-trees
laid crosse over one another for two or three houres Journey, or
as the passage requires, and yet in two dayes travell, you shall scarce
see sixe Habitations. Notwithstanding, to see how their Lords,
Governours, and Captaines are civilized, well attyred and accoultred
with Jewels, Sables, Horses, and after their manner with curious
Furniture, it is wonderfull; but they are all Lords or Slaves, which
makes them so subject to every Invasion.
In Transilvania he found so many good friends, that but to see
and rejoyce himselfe after all those Encounters to see his Native
Countrey, he would ever hardly have left them, though the Miracle
of Vertue, their Prince was absent. Being thus glutted with content,
and neere drowned with joy; he passed high Hungaria, by Fylecke,
Tocka, Cassovia, and Unaderawa, by Ulmitch in Moravia, to Prague in
Bohemia: at last he found the most generous Prince Sigismundus with
his Colonell at Lipswicke in Misenland, who gave him his passe,
intimating the service hee had done, and the honours he had received
with fifteene hundred Duckets of Gold to repaire his losses. With this
he spent sometime, to visit the faire Cities and Countries of Dresden
in Saxonie, Mandabourge, and Brunswicke Castle in Hessen, Wittenberge,
Ulme and Minikin in Bavaria, Ausburge and her Universitie, Hanna,
Franckford, Mets, the Palatinate, Wormes, Spire, and Strawsburge. Passing
the Cardinalship to Nancey in Loraine, and the Kingdome of France,
by Paris to Orleance, he went downe the River of Loyer, to Angers, and
imbarked himselfe at Nants in Britania for Bilbow in Biskanie, to see
Burgos, Valiodolid, Squeriall, Madrill, Toledo, Cordua, Cuede Ryall, Sivill,
Cherges, Cales, and Saint Lucars
Then understanding that the Warres of Mully Shash and Mully
Sedan,
was animated by some friends) were concluded in peace, he imbarked
himselfe for England with one thousand Duckets in his Purse,
dangers in the West Indies, and the unknowne parts of uncivilized
America, where how he discovered and inhabited Virginia, how hee
was taken Prisoner by Powhatan, their Emperor 1607. and delivered,
how hee tooke the King of Paspahegh, Prisoner in single Combate,
and the King of Pamaunke Prisoner in the middest of his Armie, and
brought thirtie of their pettie Kings, and all their people in subjection
to the English: How since hee hathsearched, and caused a
new England, and was taken Prisoner by French Pirats, and escaped:
You shall after heare in fitter place.
1. Note that "True" is omitted in this version, and that the more realistic year 1596
is used rather than the unlikely 1593 of the True Travels.
2. Purchas's curtailment of the end of the narrative almost implies that Smith did
not go to Africa (see below, p. 1370; cf. the True Travels, 34).
3. This brief phrase replaces chap. 1 of the True Travels (pp. 1–2). Chap. 2 (p. 3)
begins: "Thus when France. ..."
4. At this point one line is added in the True Travels, 3; hereafter only substantial
alterations will be noted.
6. For "Currianver," spelled "Curzianvere" in the True Travels, 3, and other names
following, see ibid., 3nn.
7. This spelling points clearly to Mortain in Normandy; the True Travel has
"Mortaigne" (see p. 3n).
9. The True Travels adds "of him"; in other words, Smith was glad to turn the
wounded Cursell over to the "Inhabitants."
1. The True Travels, 4, adds a significant clause about "Scanderone." There may
have been health problems there at the time (see ibid., 4n).
2. The True Travels, 5, inserts three lines regarding the Bertie brothers in Tuscany,
which may well have been in the original manuscript but were omitted by Purchas.
3. We may suspect Purchas's editorial scissors here. A single phrase replaces 180
words of the True Travels, 5–6.
4. "Tubliano" is an error for "Lubliano" ("Lubbiano" in the True Travels, 6);
correctly, Ljubljana, Slovenia (Yugoslavia).
5. The True Travels has "an English man, and an Irish Jesuite" (ibid.). Dr. Franz
Pichler (see p. 1364n, below) has supplied the names of several English and Scottish
Jesuits, but this involves an over-literal interpretation, given Purchas's habit of cutting
texts erratically. Let us merely say that one or more Jesuits "acquainted" Smith with
"Lord Ebersbaught" (of uncertain identity), whom Smith somehow impressed, and that
consequently Smith was presented to "Baron Kizell." "Kizell" in real life was Hanns
Jacob Khissl, baron of Kaltenbrunn, court war councillor and lieutenant colonel of the
Styrian arsenal under Archduke Ferdinand of Styria, cousin of the emperor. Smith had
accidentally arrived soon after the surrender to the Turks of the important frontier fort
of Kanizsa (in present-day Hungary). The Turkish army was at the time once more
pushing toward Styria, after a defeat at Sisak to the SW (in present-day Yugoslavia).
6. This passage is less clear in the True Travels, 6: Smith showed Ebersbaught what
he could do, in order to win favor. This is reflected at the top of p. 1364, below.
7. The clause "hee made him ... Souldiers" should be deleted. It is repeated near
the middle of p. 1364, and was incorrectly inserted here.
8. Reference to this book is omitted in the True Travels, 6, but supplied toward the
bottom of p. 22 as a marginal note. For a discussion of Ferneza and his "Storie," see the
editor's introduction to this fragment.
9. This subtitle is omitted in the True Travels, where the long quotation from "Fr.
Fer." (in italics) is called "this ensuing Discourse" (p. 6), and is replaced by "Chap[ter]
IV" and a new subtitle extolling Smith. Purchas's use of italics here has been mentioned
in the editor's introduction to this fragment.
1. According to the 16th-century historian Wolfgang Lazius, the German place-name
Limbach was "[Latin] Olimacum with the 'o' cut off by barbarians" (quoted in
Philip L. Barbour, The Three Worlds of Captain John Smith [Boston, 1964], 407, n. 6).
"Olimpach" (True Travels, "Olumpagh") thus seems to be someone's attempt to get back
to Latin. The entire military situation in the region has been explained by Günther
Cerwinka in his monograph "Die Eroberung der Festung Kanizsa durch die Türken im
Jahre 1600" (The conquest of the Kanizsa fort by the Turks in 1600), with a comprehensive
map showing the military maneuvers, in Alexander Novotny and Berthold
Sutter, eds., Innerösterreich 1564–1619 (Graz, [1968]), 409–511.
2. Ebersbaught was the governor, not a general (True Travels, 6n). In the editor's
Three Worlds the suggestion has been made that he was possibly Sigismund Eibiswald
(d. 1607), who had many family connections in the area (see pp. 405–406, n. 5), among
them the Paradeiser family, at least one branch of which was Protestant (J. Franz
Pichler, "Captain John Smith in the Light of Styrian Sources," Virginia Magazine of
History and Biography, LXV [1957], 332–354). The editor wishes here to acknowledge the
particular help of Dr. Pichler, chief archivist of the Steiermärkisches Landesarchiv, Graz,
who has dug deep into all available source material.
4. "Eysnaburge" is closer to the German name Eisenburg (Hungarian, Vasvar,
"Iron-town") than "Hysnaburg" in the True Travels, 7. The town, long since county
seat, is c. 65 air km. (40 mi.) NE of Lendava on the S border of a large plain N of the Raab
River, 15 km. (9 mi.) downstream from Körmend (see n, below).
5. "Knousbruck" in the True Travels, 7. Although "Knousbruck" could be a distortion
of "Gnasbruck," and "Konbrucke" possibly of "Hohenbrugg," the former is
over 40 air km. (25 mi.) WNW of Lendava, and the latter the same distance due N. A
modern bridge over the Črnac River (Most and Črncu), which the editor noticed a few
kilometers S of Lendava, seems to correspond better with Smith's narrative.
6. Körmend (German, Kermend) was at the time the "center of the system of
fortresses" in the defense line N of Kanizsa; it would otherwise "not have been important
enough" for Smith to have known about it "without personal experience" (Pichler,
"Smith in Styrian Sources," VMHB, LXV [1957], 352).
7. In the True Travels Smith inserted the earl of Meldritch's family name, Voldo
(p. 7), and his given name, Henry (pp. 15–16). This is the first significant example of
what appear to be fictional names, a number of which are scattered through the following
pages.
8. Tentative moves toward peace began in 1599 (see the editor's introduction), and
some progress had been made when the grand vizier Ibrahim Pasha died, July 10, 1601.
The fall of Szekesfehervar, described next, ended all immediate hopes.
9. Gen. Giorgio Basta was an Italian of Albanian descent (see Barbour, Three
Worlds, 409, n. 3, and the Biographical Directory). In the absence of an impartial study,
it may be hazarded that Basta was a strictly military man, and that he had no patience
with, or understanding of, that epitome of Balkandom, the principality of Transylvania,
or its hereditary but unstable prince, Zsigmond Báthory. Basta's "mission," to use
modern military jargon, was to oust Báthory (suspected of connivance with the Turks)
and to "save" the country for Rudolph II of Habsburg.
1. Cf. the True Travels, 8. After the semicolon and the phrase "but in briefe," a
passage seems to have been omitted. The sense requires something to the effect that
Meldritch heard from escaped Christians about gatherings of crowds in the public
squares whenever there was an alarm, and that he remembered that Smith had demonstrated
his "fiery dragons" in Komarom to both him and the chief of artillery, von Sultz.
He then suggested that Smith put the idea into practice, "which he thus performed."
Cf. the "fire-pots" described in The Pirotechnia of Vannoccio Biringuccio (Venice, 1540),
trans. Cyril Stanley Smith and Martha Teach Gnudi (New York, 1942), 434–435.
2. Karl Ludwig Graf von Sultz was chief of artillery in the imperial army at the
time (Pichler, "Smith in Styrian Sources," VMHB, LXV [1957], 353–354). This detail
virtually attests Smith's presence in person. For "Comora" (Komarom), see the True
Travels, 8n; it may have been chosen for winter quarters because of a hoped-for peace
(cf. Richard Knolles, The Turkish History, from the original of that nation to the growth of the
Ottoman Empire..., 6th ed. [London, 1687–1700 (orig. publ. 1603)], I, 793a; and
Gustav Bayerle, Ottoman Diplomacy in Hungary: Letters from the Pashas of Buda, 1590–1593
[Bloomington, Ind., 1972]).
4. Turkish sancak; originally a lance with a horse's tail as an emblem of authority,
an ensign (Martti Räsänen, Versuch eines etymologischen Wörterbuchs der Türksprachen [Helsinki,
1969], 400b, s. v. "sanč"; and see the True Travels, 10n).
5. This paragraph is again a bare outline of what is narrated in the True Travels,
from the last paragraph of p. 10 to the last paragraph of p. 11.
6. A partly conjectural note may be added here. Basta was named commander in
chief of the emperor's troops in Transylvania on Jan. 20, 1602 (N.S.), with headquarters
at Bistrita in NE Transylvania. Soon after, Zsigmond Báthory made a move toward
conciliation (how sincere, we cannot know), and the Hungarian and Saxon nobles and
bourgeoisie for the most part backed him, even though he had Turkish and Tatar
military help (i.e., anti-Christian). Basta stormed out of the country, ravaging the valley
of the Somes (Hungarian, Szamos) River toward Satu-Mare (Hungarian, Szatmár) and
the NE extension of the great Hungarian plain (László Makkai, Histoire de Transylvanie
[Paris, 1946], 203). It must have been about this time that Smith turned up at or near
Bistrita, only to be diverted by the movement in favor of Zsigmond Báthory.
7. Smith's use of the name "Turke(s)" is confusing. He is referring to a polyglot
array of more or less lawless bands of haiduks (freebooters), Turkish and Tatar bandits,
and Walloons, Frenchmen, and (possibly) Italians and Spaniards. At that time, neither
Zsigmond, Basta, nor the grand vizier controlled the unhappy land.
8. There is some slight difference in import here between the Purchas version and
the True Travels. Let us remember that the Sublime Porte did not rule any part of Transylvania,
but Turkish troops did occupy the part of Hungary that was just beyond its W
frontier.
9. "The Land of Zarkain" (True Travels, "Zarkam") most likely refers to Zarand
in Transylvania, comprising roughly the modern Rumanian range of mountains called
Zarandului (Hungarian, Zaránd-Vármegye; German, Zarander Gespannschaft). This
identification seems sound not only phonetically (with a minor mishearing), but also
with the region described by Smith.
1. On "the Plaines of Regall" (and the "Citie"), see the editor's Introduction to
the True Travels, wherein it is submitted that the entire concept of "Regall" is the result
of a mistranslation. As to the people he met, Smith's description should not be taken
literally.
2. The True Travels, 12, contains more detail, and gives early spring as an approximate
time of year (top of page).
3. The 150 casualties became 1,500 in the True Travels, 12. Below, "Towers" should
probably read "Townes," since the True Travels has "Cities."
4. Pertinent references to Hungarian sources broadly corroborating Smith's subsequent
narrative are to be found in Bradford Smith, Captain John Smith: His Life and
Legend (Philadelphia, 1953), Appendix I, by Laura Polanyi Striker, 328–329, and in Dr.
Striker's "The Hungarian Historian, Lewis L. Kropf, on Captain John Smith's True
Travels: A Reappraisal," VMHB, LXVI (1958), 37–38. In no source known to the
editor, however, is there any specific mention of the events "on the way to the royal city."
Of course! Duels and tournaments were mere practices "to delude the time."
5. The Purchas version has, "it was devided by lots," but the misprint has been
corrected to "decided" on the basis of the True Travels, 12. Indeed, the passage from here
to the top of the next page is repeated with minor changes in the True Travels, 12–13.
Since moot points are involved, the editor's analysis is set forth here and not in the True
Travels: The names of the Turks seem distorted, or made up, yet there are hints of
Turkish elements. "Turbashaw" could be for Türk başi (Turkish captain); "Grualgo"
seems to contain an echo of Turkish -oğlu or -oğlan (son, boy, youth); "Bonny Mulgro"
might contain Turkish benim (my) plus the same suffix — all wildly hypothetical. Furthermore,
the words may not have been names at all. More likely they were exclamations
Smith heard at the time. On more solid ground, the English phrase "fair dame(s)" was
popular in Smith's day (cf. Shakespeare); "in bat(t)alia" was borrowed from Italian in
battaglia (in battle array); and the Janissaries (Turkish yeni çeri, new militia) formed the
Turkish professional army.
6. Pierre Belon, a French naturalist and explorer who visited Istanbul c. May–
July 1547, wrote that the "formal regalia of the Janissaries" included ostrich plumes and
"great wings made of beautiful feathers attached to their shoulders like those who play
the parts of angels in morality plays in Europe" (cited in Clarence Dana Rouillard, The
Turk in French History, Thought, and Literature (1520–1660) [Paris, 1941], 201).
8. This paragraph, considerably expanded, forms the first part of chap. 8 of the
True Travels, 14–15. Note that Purchas apparently made a cut after "... when they
tooke it." Here five lines of the True Travels have been transferred or deleted, so that
whereas it was Székely who was forced "to seek a further revenge," such "that he sacked
Veratio, Solmos, and Kupronka ...," the Purchas version reads as if it were Meldritch
who acted as avenging angel (cf. the True Travels, 14n).
9. Smith's "Shield for Armes" and its substantiating patent follow immediately in
the True Travels, 15–18. It should be noted that the shield and patent were not recorded
in London until Aug. 19, 1625, after Purchas's Pilgrimes was in print. Although Smith
may have shown the originals to Purchas (indeed, most likely did show them), the
process of recording was time-consuming and Purchas surely hesitated to print an unofficial
grant of arms.
10. This was the battle of Teius (Hungarian, Tövis), 17 km. (10. 5 mi.) by road NE
of Alba-Iulia, fought on July 2, 1602 (N. S.). Zsigmond Báthory was then in Deva (see
the True Travels, 19n). The following two paragraphs to the end of the quotation from
Ferneza were greatly expanded in the True Travels, 19–22.
1. This sentence reads as if Purchas had done some editorial cutting. The account
in the True Travels, 19, is longer, but still does not supply a clear relation.
4. At this point, the Purchas version reverts to roman type, indicating that this is
the end of the "Extracts ... out of Fr[ancisco] Fer[neza] his Storie" (see top of p. 1364,
above). The implication of the concluding sentence is that Ferneza's book contained
more material. Smith may have used it for the True Travels (unless it was lost when
Purchas died in 1626), or he may have drawn on his own recollections, aided by an
imaginative pen, to compose the vivid chap. 10 (True Travels, 20–21 and nn).
5. Of these 9 fellow English mercenaries, Thomas Mildmay may well have been a
descendant of Thomas Mildmay, yeoman of Essex county, forebear of Sir Humphrey
Mildmay, who befriended John Smith in the autumn of 1630 (Advertisements, 25).
Although the True Travels, 22, last line, makes the surname "Milemer," the editor has
been unable to locate anyone of the period with that name.
6. Since Smith himself called his route "speculative," the editor can only speculate
on the identity of the place-names mentioned (in Pieter van der Aa's Dutch translation
of Smith's "Adventurous Journeys" [Naaukeurige versameling der gedenk-waardigste zee en
land reysen na Oost en West-Indien, LXXIII (Leiden, 1706)] these place-names are solemnly
posted on an illustrative map). Accordingly, these notes are given here rather than in the
notes to the True Travels. Smith was led first to "Sander," which possibly refers to the
Sandal Bedesteni, the cloth market adjacent to the Great Bazaar, not over a 15-minute
walk from the church/mosque of Aya Sofia (Santa Sophia; see Ali Saim Ülgen, Con-
stantinople during the Era of Mohammed the Conqueror, 1453–1481 [Ankara, 1939], 29, and
city plan; also Fernand Braudel, The Mediterranean and the Mediterranean World in the Age
of Philip II, trans. Siân Reynolds [New York, 1972 (rev. ed. orig. publ. Paris, 1966)],
313). Next, "Pelus," which appears as "Screwe" in the True Travels, 23, and was possibly
correctly identified as Saray, 121 km. (76 mi.) W of Istanbul, by Arber (Edward Arber,
ed., Captain John Smith ... Works, 1608–1631, The English Scholar's Library Edition,
No. 16 [Birmingham, 1884], xxvii). Then, "Panassamusa" is an error for "Panassa" and
"Musa," the first of which may be Pinarhisar, 46 km. farther W, or it may refer to the
classical river Panysus to the N. Musa, in any case, seems still unidentifiable. Finally,
"Lastilla" appears on contemporary maps as "Lastillo" and "Lascillo," very roughly 45
km. (25 mi.) SW of Varna (now Stalin), Bulgaria (cf. Philip L. Barbour, "Captain John
Smith's Route through Turkey and Russia," William and Mary Quarterly, 3d Ser., XIV
[1957], 361–363, and Barbour, "Fact and Fiction in Captain John Smith's True Travels,"
Bulletin of the New York Public Library, LXVII [1963], 526–527, reprinted in Literature as
a Mode of Travel: Five Essays and a Postscript [New York, 1963], 101–114).
7. The passage "full of Villages ... as Romania" is altered in the True Travels, 24.
"Sagovia" is obviously an error for "Sagora" (Slavic [Bulgarian?] Zagora, "beyond the
mountain[s]"; see Gerardus Mercator, Atlas sive cosmographicae meditationes de fabrica mundi
et fabricati figura [Duisburg, 1595], "Walachia, Servia, Bulgaria, Romania").
8. There are minor differences between this version and the True Travels in what
follows, but none of major consequence. Although an attempt has been made in the
editor's "Smith's Route through Turkey and Russia," WMQ, 3d Ser., XIV (1957),
363–364, to explain some of the names, a few brief notes may be added here. "Taur" is
evidently from Taurica, the old name for Crimea. "Pergilos" remains an inexplicable
distortion of Phanagoria, now called Taman. The Latin name for the Black Sea was
Mare Nigrum, from which Smith's "Straight Niger" must have been derived.
9. The editor's latest studies have convinced him that the "River Bruago"
("Bruapo" in the True Travels, 24) could not have been the Don, but may have been the
Manych (see p. 1369, below, and the introduction to this fragment). In any case, Smith,
unable to learn the name of the river, apparently consulted Purchas and his Welsh friend
the engraver Robert Vaughan (see the Biographical Directory) and came up with
Bruago (from Brouage in W France, where he was nearly drowned), and Cambia (or
Cambria, Wales) from Cumania (on some contemporary maps). Seen in this light,
"Susax" and "Curaske" likely were distortions of Azak (the Turkish name for Azov) and
some form of the tribal name Circassian (Turkish, Çerkez), a people who lived around
and S of Azov. Curiously, George Borrow (1803–1881) wrote in his Celtic Bards, Chiefs
and Kings ..., ed. Herbert G. Wright (London, 1928) that the Welsh people left their
name "Cymry" in Cambria (Cambia), "which is two days journey from the head of the
great river Bruapo" (obviously quoting Smith; see Barbour, "Smith's Route through
Turkey and Russia," WMQ, 3d Ser., XIV [1957], 364).
10. After "low flat houses," the True Travels, 24, has "which as he conceived could
bee of no great strength."
1. Galley slaves; the earliest recorded borrowing of Spanish forzados, possibly
learned and borrowed from the forzados themselves. Note that two Spaniards "that were
taken captives at the Goletta [Tunis]" were rescued by Christopher Burrough on the
Caspian Sea (just E of where Smith must have been) in 1581 and taken to London,
where they were freed (Richard Hakluyt, The Principal Navigations, Voyages, Traffiques and
Discoveries of the English Nation [London, 1598–1600], I, 427). Such pertinent details are
hard to find, but they do corroborate the broad veracity of what "Ferneza" or Smith
reported.
2. The True Travels, 25, has "like Millya in Biskay." "Millya" obviously represents
Spanish millo or mijo (millet), and Purchas's "Biskany" was a name for the Basque country
in northern Spain that is mentioned again on p. 1370, below.
5. The passage on the "Crimme Tartar" is confused and was omitted in the True
Travels, 25; "Murtissala" is unidentified.
6. At this point, the True Travels, 26, has an insert of six folio pages, comprising
chaps. 14–16.
9. From here to Smith's account of his arrival at a Muscovite outpost (two paragraphs
below) we can offer only informed guesses by way of footnotes. Smith evidently
never knew exactly where he was, and what place-names he heard he could not jot down
and therefore forgot. Furthermore, maps at his disposal in London years later would
have added confusion born of hearsay, for their place-names belong largely in the same
category as Smith's fantaisiste names for fellow soldiers. Since recent Russian studies,
however, support earlier evidence of a trade route, or "track," along the Polish-Lithuanian-Russian
side of the Black Sea to the Don River and on to Sarkél (Bélaya
Vézha), W of Volgograd on the Volga, we may begin from this factual foundation.
Sarkél and Volgograd were separated by about 100 km. (60-odd mi.) of wilderness
traversed by a well-known route, at least ever since the Turks considered cutting a canal
between the two rivers. At Volgograd (then called Tsaritsyn) another trade route offered
connections S to Astrakhan and N to Saratov, Kazan, and the route to China, etc. (for
trade routes dating back to the 10th and 11th centuries, see the folding map in M. V.
Levchenko, Ocherki po istorii russko-vizantĭiskikh otnosheniĭ [Notes for a history of Russo-Byzantine
relations] [Moscow, 1956]).
If Smith's timar was on or near the Manych River somewhere in the neighborhood
of the modern Volgograd-Krasnodar railroad bridge, the undefined Turkish-Muscovite
frontier would have been not far to the N; consequently, Smith met nobody. The Don
River would have paralleled the Manych some 100 km. to the N, and since it must have
been late summer the generally shallow Don would have offered fordable spots. Then,
just beyond it the trade route, or a branch of it, led from Razdory (the last Muscovite
outpost toward Turkish-held Azov) to the E and N. Smith could have reached this track
in this neighborhood in two or three days. Following it N, and W toward Poland, he
could have arrived at a Muscovite outpost in 16 days on horseback. This may have been
either Tsaryov Borisov (toward Crimea), or Valuiki, or Izyum — the last two suggested
by the editor some years ago.
1. "Coragnaw" is patently modern Chernava, while the "Zumalacke" may be the
Izyumskii Shlyakh (see Barbour, "Fact and Fiction in Smith's True Travels," Bulletin of
the New York Public Library, LXVII [1963], 527). The subsequent names are all listed in
the True Travels, 32–33nn.
2. The Hondius map is typical of the time and well illustrates the difficulties Smith
faced when he attempted to write about where he was in Tatary and Muscovy.
4. This peroration may soundly be attributed to Samuel Purchas. It is impossible
to know how much of chaps. 18–20 of the True Travels, 34–41, was in Purchas's hands
at the time, but we may conjecture logically that he had at least most of it. At the same
time, we know that Purchas here and there cut off a story in medias res without any real
reason. Here we may guess that he stopped Smith's narrative because (1) he had more
material on Turkey at hand ready for the press, (2) this account added little to his
material on Africa (where it belonged), and (3) he would soon draw on Smith again
extensively in Pilgrimes, volume IV.
5. The "one thousand Duckets" Smith still had according to this correspond remarkably
well with the £500 he said he had spent on Virginia (New Englands Trials
[1620], sig. B4v): 1,000 Austrian gold ducats were then valued at £466 13s. 4d.
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