The Principal Navigations, Voyages, Traffiques and Discoveries of the English Nation — Volume 02Hakluyt, Richard
History
The Principal Navigations, Voyages, Traffiques and Discoveries of the English Nation — Volume 02
Hakluyt, Richard
Discoveries in geography -- English; Voyages and travels
+ Et præclarè Aristoteles Politic. lib. 3. cap. 12. in hanc sententiam: Qui
legem præesse vult, is velle videtur Deum ac leges imperare: qui autem
vult hominem, is etiam belluam adiungit, cum præsertim tale quid sit
cupiditas et iracundia: et magistratus et optimus quisque à recta via
detorqueantur &c. Adde quæ è Chrysippo adducuntur ff. li. i. tit. 3. 1.
2.
The same in English.
Of his age and demeanour, and of his seale. Chap. 28.
This Emperour, when hee was exalted vnto his gouernment, seemed to bee
about the age of fourty or fourty fiue yeeres. He was of a meane stature,
very wise and politike, and passing serious and graue in all his demeanour.
A rare thing it was, for a man to see him laugh or behaue himself lightly,
as those Christians report, which abode continually with him. [Sidenote:
His inclination to Christianitie.] Certaine Christians of his familie
earnestly and strongly affirmed vnto vs, that he himselfe was about to
become a Christian. A token and argument whereof was, that hee reteined
diuers Cleargie men of the Christians. Hee had likewise at all times a
Chappell of Christians, neere vnto his great Tent, where the Clearkes (like
vnto other Christians, and according to the custome of the Græcians) doe
sing publiquely and openly, and ring belles at certaine houres, bee there
neuer so great a multitude of Tartars, or of other people in presence. And
yet none of their Dukes doe the like. [Sidenote: His maiestie.] It is the
manner of the Emperour neuer to talke his owne selfe with a stranger,
though he be neuer so great, but heareth and answeareth by a speaker. And
when any of his subiects (howe great soeuer they bee) are in propounding
anie matter of importaunce vnto him, or in hearing his answeare, they
continue kneeling vpon their knees vnto the ende of their conference.
Neither is it lawfull for any man to speake of any affaires, after they
haue beene determined of by the Emperour. The sayde Emperour, hath in his
affaires both publike and priuate, an Agent, and Secretary of estate, with
Scribes and all other Officials, except aduocates. [Sidenote: A lawlesse
authoritie.] For, without the noyse of pleading, or sentence giuing, all
things are done according to the Emperours will and pleasure. Other
Tartarian princes do the like in those things which belong vnto them.
[Sidenote: Warre intended against all Christians.] But, be it known vnto al
men, that whilest we remained at the said Emperours court, which hath bin
ordained and kept for these many yeeres, the sayde Cuyne being Emperour new
elect, together with al his princes, erected a flag of defiance against the
Church of God, and Romane empire, and against al Christian kingdomes and
nationes of the West, vnlesse peraduenture (which God forbid) they will
condescend vnto those things, which he hath inioined vnto our lord the
pope, and to all potentates and people of the Christians, namely, that they
wil become obedient vnto him.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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