CENTRE
for
REFORMATION
and
RENAISSANCE
I STUDIES 1
VICTORIA
UNIVERSITY
R N
Coryat s Crudities
In Two Volumes
Volume I
GLASGOW
PRINTED AT THE UNIVERSITY PRESS BY
ROBERT MACLEHOSE & COMPANY LTD. FOR
JAMES MACLEHOSE AND SONS, PUBLISHERS
TO THE UNIVERSITY OF GLASGOW
MACMILLAN AND CO. LTD. LONDON
THE MACMILLAN CO. NEW YORK
SIMPKIN, HAMILTON AND CO. LONDON
MACMILLAN AND BOWES CAMBRIDGE
DOUGLAS AND FOULIS EDINBURGH
MCMV
One thousand copies of this book have been printed
for sale in Great Britain and Ireland, of which one
hundred copies are on hand-made paper
Coryat s Crudities
Hastily gobled up in five Moneths travells in
France, Savoy, Italy, Rhetia commonly called
the Orisons country, Helvetia alias Switzerland,
some parts of high Germany and the Nether
lands ; Newly digested in the hungry aire of
Odcombe in the County of Somerset, and now
dispersed to the nourishment of the travelling
Members of this Kingdome
By
THOMAS CORYAT
VOLUME I
Glasgow
James MacLehose and Sons
Publishers to the University
MCMV
REF. & REN.
THE TABLE
PAGE
Publishers Note, . . . . . . i*
An Explication of the Emblemes of the Frontis-
pice, ...... xv
The Epistle Dedicatorie to Henry Prince of
Wales, ...... i
The Epistle to the Reader,
A Character of the Authour, . .16
A Characterisme Acrostick, .... 19
An Introduction to the Ensuing Verses, . . 20
Panegyricke Verses upon the Author and his
Booke, ....... 22
An Oration made by Hermannus Kirchnerus in
Praise of Travel, . . . . .122
Mr. Laurence Whitaker s Elogie of the Booke, . 149
Observations of France, . . . .152
Observations of Amiens, . . . . .161
Observations of Paris, . . . . .170
THE TABLE
PAGE
Observations of Fountaine Beleau, . . . 187
Observations of the City of Nevers called in
Latin Niverna, . . . . .198
Observations of Lyons, .... 203
Observations of Savoy, . . . . .215
Observations of Italy, ..... 227
Observations of Turin, ..... 229
Observations of Milan, ..... 240
Observations of Cremona, ..... 257
Observations of Mantua, ..... 262
Observations of Padua, . . . . .270
The Number of Miles betwixt Odcombe in Somer
setshire and Venice, . . . .301
Observations of the Most Glorious, Peerlesse and
Mayden Citie of Venice, . . .301
VI
ILLUSTRATIONS
PAGE
Facsimile of the Engraved Title Page, 1 6 1 1 , . x
Facsimile of the Printed Title Page, 1611,. . \x
Crest of Henry Prince of Wales, ... 8
Coryat s Shoes, in which he had walked from
Venice to London, . . . . .113
II Signior Tomaso Odcombiano. Margarita Emil-
iana bella Cortesana di Venetia, . . 408
Vll
PUBLISHERS NOTE
THOMAS CORYAT, son of the Rev. George Coryat, Rector
of Odcombe, was born in the Parsonage house at
Odcombe in Somersetshire about 1577. In the begin
ning of the year 1596 he became a commoner of
Gloucester Hall, Oxford, where continuing about three
years he attained, by the help of a great memory, to
some competency in logic, but more by far in the
Greek tongue, and in humane learning. Afterwards he
was taken home for a time, then went to London and
was received into the family of Henry, Prince of
Wales. 1 On the I4th May 1608 he sailed from Dover
on the journey of which an account is given in the
4 Crudities. On his return home he proposed to publish
his book of travels, but finding it difficult to induce any
bookseller to undertake its publication he applied to
many of the eminent men of his day to write pane-
gyricke verses upon the Authour and his booke. By
the help of Prince Henry, who seems to have had a
certain liking for him, Coryat s Crudities was published
in 1 6 1 1 with the Panegyricke Verses prefixed as an
Introduction ; the volume being printed by W. S.
(William Stansby). Two appendixes, Coryats Crambe,
1 Anthony a Wood^thenae Oxonienses, Ed. Bliss, 181 5, Vol. II. Col. 208.
ix
PUBLISHERS NOTE
or his Colwort twise sodden and now served in with
other Macaronicke dishes as the second course to his
Crudities, printed by William Stansby, and The Od-
combian Banquet dished foorth by T. the Coriat and
served in by a number of Noble Wits in prayse of his
Crudities and Crambe too. Imprinted for T. Thorp,
also appeared in 1 6 1 1 .
In 1612 Coryat set out again, this time for the East,
but before doing so he went to Odcombe and hung
up in the parish church the shoes in which he had
walked from Venice. These shoes, of which an illus
tration is given on page 113, were still hanging in
Odcombe Church at the beginning of the eighteenth
century. Starting on his Eastern journey on the 2Oth
October 1612 he sailed to Zante, where he arrived on
the i jth January 1613 ; he then proceeded to Troy and
on to Constantinople. From Constantinople he appears
to have proceeded to Smyrna, from Smyrna to Alexandria
and thence to Cairo. Returning to Alexandria he sailed
to Joppa and from there went to Jerusalem. From
Jerusalem he went to Sidon and sailed to Scanderoon
or Alexandretta ; he then went to Aleppo and joined
a caravan for Persia, passing through Ecbatana, Kazvin,
and Ispahan where he remained two months. From
Ispahan he journeyed with a caravan to Lahore, meeting
on the frontier of India Sir Robert Sherley, who was
travelling from f the court of the Mogul to the King
of Persia s court. From Lahore Coryat proceeded to
Agra and thence to Ajmere, where he remained for
eight months. At Ajmere he learned Persian, Turkish,
and Arabian, and became so proficient in the Indostan
or more vulgar Language, that, as the Rev. Edward
PUBLISHERS NOTE
Terry 1 tells us, there was a woman, a Landress, belong
ing to my Lord Embassador s house, who had such a
freedome and liberty of speech that she would sometimes
scould, brawl, and rail from the Sun-rising to Sun-set ;
one day he undertook her in her own language, and
by eight of the clock in the morning so silenced her,
that she had not one word more to speak. During
his stay at Ajmere he sent home a number of letters,
which were published in 1616 with the title Thomas
Coriate Traveller for the English Wits : Greeting.
From the Court of the Great Mogul, Resident at the
Towne of Asmere in Easterne India. From Ajmere
he went to Surat, but there being over-kindly used
by some of the English who gave him Sack, which
they had brought from England, he calling for it as
soon as he first heard of it and crying, " Sack,
Sack, Is there such thing as Sack ? I pray give me
some Sack " and drinking of it, though, I conceive,
moderately (for he was a very temperate man) it in
creased his Flux which he had then upon him ; and
this caused him within a few daies after his very
tedious and troublesome Travels (for he went most on
foot) at this place to come to his Journies end ; for
here he overtook Death in the Month of December,
1617. and was buried (as aforesaid) under a little
Monument, like one of those are usually made in our
Church yards. 2
It is greatly to be regretted that no complete journal
1 A Voyage to East India observed by Edward Terry (then chaplain to
the Right Honorable Sr Thomas Row Knight, Lord Ambassadour to the
Great Mogol). London. 1655.
x
PUBLISHERS NOTE
of Coryat s Eastern travels is in existence. From his
Letters from Ajmere and from the few fragments of
his Journal printed in Purchas His Pilgrimes it is
clear that had Coryat lived to publish his complete
journal it would have made a worthy sequel to the
Crudities.
This edition of the Crudities is a reprint of the
original edition of 1 6 1 1 , but side-notes have been in
serted, and references to the pages of the original text
have been given in the margin. The foot-notes are
Coryat s. The letters i, j, u and v have been altered
to conform to modern usage, and ordinary printers errors,
both of spelling and punctuation, have been corrected.
Coryat s original index was much condensed, and it has
been replaced by a fuller one in this Edition.
GLASGOW,
February, 1905.
THE FIRST VOLUME
OF
Coryat s Crudities
Containing his Observations of France, Amiens,
Paris, Fountaine Beleau, Nevers, Lyons,
Savoy, Italy, Turin, Milan, Cremona,
Mantua, Padua and the Most
Glorious, Peerlesse and
Mayden Citie
of Venice
xin
CERTAINE
Opening and Drawing Distiches,
TO BE APPLYED
as mollifying Cataplasmes to the Tumors, Car-
nosities, or difficult Pimples, full of matter,
appearing in the Authors front, conflated of
Stiptike and Glutinous Vapours arising out of
the Crudities : The heads whereof are par
ticularly pricked and pointed out by
letters for the Readers better
understanding.
First, th Author here glutteth Sea, Haddocke and
Whiting
With spuing, and after the world with his writing.
Or,
Yee Haddocks twixt Dover and Calais,* speake Greeke;
For Tom fild your mawes with it in Whitsun J weeke.
T
B
I Hough our Author for s Venerie felt no whips smart,
Yet see here he rides in a Picardie Cart.
* Imperat. J Viz. anno 1608, when he beganne to travel].
xv
AN EXPLICATION OF THE
C
THis Horse pictur d showes, that out *Tatter-de-
mallian
Did ride the French Hackneyes, and lye with th Italian.
Or,
Our Author in France rode on Horse without stirrop,
And in Italic bathed himselfe in their syrrop.
Or,
His love to strange horses he sorteth out prettilie,
He rides them in France, and lies with them in Italic.
D
HE hath crost 1 Sea and 2 Land, now the cloudes
(saith the text)
Of th Ayre 3 he is climbing ; ware Tom, 4 Fire is next.
E
HEre to his Land-Friggat he s ferried by Charon,
He bords her ; a service a hot and a rare one.
Or,
Here to a Tutch-hole he s row d by his Gondelier,
That fires his Linstocke, and empties his Bandolier.
F
HEre his Friggat shootes egs at him empty of
Chickens,
Because shee had made his purse empty of Chicquins.
Or,
Here shee pelts him with egges, he saith, of Rose water,
But trust him not Reader, twas some other matter.
* A word that in the Helvetian tongue signifieth a ragged traveller.
1234 The f our e Elements.
J That is, the beauty of her countenance, and sweet smatches of
her lips did enflame his tongue with a divine & fierye enthusiasme,
and emptyed the Bandolier of his conceipts, & inventions, for that
time.
xvi
EMBLEMES OF THE FRONTISPICE
G
IN vaine here doth Coryate pipe and dispute,
His wench was, Jewes will not be caught with his
flute.
Or,
Thy Cortizan clipt thee, ware Tom, I advise thee,
And flie from the Jewes, lest they circumcise thee.
H
H
E longs for sweet grapes, but going to steale em,
He findeth soure graspes and gripes from a Dutch
*Skelum.
Or,
Here is the combat our Author may glorie at,
With Halberd the Boore lays on, and with Greeke
Coryat.
H
Ere is his Trophee victoriously dight
With case, shoes, and stockings, and lice put to
flight.
Or,
See here his poore case, his shoes clowted with cunning,
His stockings strong-smelling, and lice away running.
Or,
See our louse-bitten Travellers ragged device,
Of case, shoes, and stockings, and Canniball lice.
Or,
This Gibbet the false case and hose doth requite,
That harbour d the Vermine that their Maister did bite.
*A Rascall in Dutch
xvii
T
AN EXPLICATION OF THE
K
IHis should be his picture, tis rather his Embleme,
For by (K) it notes him, though t little J re
semble him.
Or,
This picture unlike him, showes hee s not come home as
He went, but chang d, and turn d travelling Thomas.
Or,
This picture unlike him, showes hee s not himselfe,
But chang d since he proved a Travelling Elfe.
Or,
Know Reader, the notes and contents of this booke,
Are not to be ghessed by th Authors carv d looke.
THese be the three countries with their Cornu-copia,
That make him as famous, as Moore his Utopia.
Or,
Here France gives him scabs, Venice a hot Sunne,
And Germanic spewes on him out of her Tunne.
M
THe horse he bestrid till he mounted his chaire
Doth kindly bestride him at Bergamo faire.
Or,
He courted a wench, but pennance for his game 6
He doth by lying with horses at Bergamo.
As being the first letter of his name in Greeke.
J But you differ in opinion (Mr. Laurence) from all my other
friendes that have compared together the counterfaited and the
living figure.
xvni
EMBLEMES OF THE FRONTISPICE
Or,
The Italian horse more then French his love feeles,
For he rode on the one, and lay at th others heeles.
M
N
Ost Politicke Thomas, now thou art no * fol I see,
For wanting no money, thou beggest in Policie.
LAURENCE WHITAKER.
Here follow certaine other Verses, as Charmes
to unlocke the mystery of the Crudities.
A
Ere, like Arion, our Coryate doth draw
All sorts of Fish with Musicke of his maw.
B
Ere, not up Holdborne, but downe a steepe hill,
Hee s carried twixt Montrell and Abbeville.
H
H
A
Horse here is sadled, but no Tom him to backe,
It should rather have bene Tom that a horse did
lack.
D
HEre up the Alpes (not so plaine as to Dunstable)
Hee s carried like a Cripple, from Constable to
Constable.
E
APunke here pelts him with egs. How so ?
For he did but kisse her, and so let her go.
R
Eligiously here he bids, row from the stewes,
He will expiate this sinne with converting the Jewes.
* The French word for a Foole.
xix
EMBLEMES OF THE FRONTISPICE
_
A
Nd there, while he gives the zealous Bravado,
A Rabbin confutes him with the Bastinado.
H
Ere, by a Boore too, hee s like to be beaten,
For Grapes he had gather d before they were eaten.
I
Ld Hat here, torne Hose, with Shoes full of gravell,
And louse-dropping Case, are the Armes of his
travell.
K
HEre, finer then comming from his Punke you him
see,
*F. shews what he was, K. what he will bee.
H
O
H
A
B
L
Ere France, and Italy both to him shed
Their homes, and Germany pukes on his head.
M
Nd here he disdain d not, in a forraine land,
To lie at Livory, while the Horses did stand.
N
Ut here, neither trusting his hands, nor his legs,
Beeing in feare to be rob d, he most learnedly begs.
BEN JONSON.
*Not meaning by F. and K. as the vulgar may peevishly and wit
tingly mistake, but that he was then comming from his Courtesan a
Freshman, and now having seen their fashions, and written a description
of them, he will shortly be reputed a knowing, proper, and well traveld
scholer, as by his starch d beard and printed ruffe may be as properly
insinuated.
xx
THT(EE
CRVDE VEINES
ARE PRESENTED IN
This B o o K E following (beficles the fore-
faid C a v D i T i E s) no lefle flowing in the
body of the B o o K E , then the CRVDITIES
tbtwfelucs 3 two 0/Rhetorickeand one
Of P O H S I E.
That is co fay, a mod elegant Oration, firft written
in the Latine tongue byHERMANsvs KIRCUNERVS, a
Ciuill Lawyer , Oratour^ Cjefare&n Poet , andprofetfor of Eh-
qtience and Antiquities in the famous Vniucrfitie
of M A R p v R G in the Langrauiat of Hafsia , in
praife of Trauell in general).
Now diftilledintoEnglifh Spirit through the ODCOMBIAN
Limbecke. This precedetb the C R VD 1 T 1 E S. Another 4fo com-
pofed by the Author of the former, in praife ofTraucll of Germanic
in particular, fttbltnted and brought ottsr the Helm fin
the Stillitorie of the-faid Trauclling TH o M A s:
This about the Center or NaufKofthc
CRUDITIES.
Then in the Poftcrne of them looke , and thoit fhalt find the
Poftbume Poems of the Authors Father , comming at neerc
Kinfcmen to the worke,being next of blood to the
Booke , and yonger brothers to the
Author himielfe.
LONDON,
Trintedby W. S. dnno Domini
16 n.
TO THE HIGH AND MIGHTY PRINCE
Henry, Prince of Wales, Duke of Cornwall
and Rothsay, Earle of Chester, Knight
of the most noble Order of the
Garter, &c.
Hough I am very confidently perswaded The Epistle
(most gracious Prince the Orient Pearle
of the Christian world) that I shall expose
my selfe to the severe censure at the least,
if not the scandalous calumniations of
divers carping criticks, for presuming to
dedicate to your Highnesse the greene
fruits of my short travels, especially since I am no schollar,
but a man altogether unworthy to be dignified with so
laudable a title : yet there are some few reasons that have
emboldned and encouraged me to present these my silly
Observations unto your Highnesse, whereof these two
are the chiefest. First, that if your Highnesse will deigne
to protect them with your favourable and gracious
Patronage, as it were with the seven-fold shield of Ajax,
or the segis of Pallas (a favour that I most humbly crave
at your Highnesse hands) against the envious cavillations
of such criticall Momi as are wont to traduce the labours
of other men ; it may perhaps yeeld some little encourage
ment to many noble and generose yong Gallants that
follow your Highnesse Court, and give attendance upon
your Peerlesse person, to travell into forraine countries,
and inrich themselves partly with the observations, and
partly with the languages of outlandish regions, the
principall meanes (in my poore opinion) to grace and
c.c. i A
CORYAT S CRUDITIES
The Epistle adorne those courtly Gentlemen, whose noble parentage,
Deduatone. m g enuous education, and vertuous conversation have
made worthy to be admitted into your Highnesse Court :
seeing thereby they will be made fit to doe your Highnesse
and their Country the better service when opportunity
shall require. For the description of many beautifull
Cities, magnificent Palaces, and other memorable matters
that I have observed in my travels, may infuse (I hope)
a desire to them to travel into transmarine nations, and
to garnish their understanding with the experience of
other countries. Secondly, because amongst other things
that I exhibite in this my Journall to your Princelie view,
that most glorious, renowned, and Virgin Citie of Venice,
the Queene of the Christian world, that Diamond set in
the ring of the Adriatique gulfe, and the most resplendent
mirrour of Europe, I have more particularly described,
then it hath been ever done before in our English tongue.
The description of which famous Citie (were it done with
such a curious and elegant stile as it doth deserve) I dare
boldly say is a subject worthy for the greatest Monarch
in the world to reade over. But for mine owne part I am
no schollar (as I have already said) and therefore unable
to delineate & paint out the singular beauty thereof in
her genuine colours with such an exquisite pensill as an
eloquent historiographer ought to doe. Notwithstanding
those Observations that I gathered thereof during the time
of my aboade there (which was about the space of sixe
weekes) I have written though not as eloquently as a
learned traveller would have done, yet as faithfully and
truly as any man whatsoever ; Being often holpen both
by the discourse of learned men, and certaine Latin
bookes that I found in Italic, wherehence (I confesse) I
derived many principall notes, with which I have beautified
the description of many other Italian Cities.
But me thinks I seeme to heare some Momus objecting
unto me now I speake thus of Venice, that this is Crambe
bis cocta, as it is in the proverbe. For we have the
historic of Venice (he will perhaps say) already translated
THE EPISTLE DEDICATORIE
out of Italian into English. Therefore what neede we The Epistle
more descriptions of that Citie? Truly I confesse that
Cardinall Contarens Commonwealth of Venice hath beene
so elegantly translated into English, that any judicious
Reader may by the reading thereof much instruct himselfe
with the forme of the Venetian governement. But that
booke reporteth not halfe so many remarkable matters as
mine doth (absit dicto invidia) of the antiquities and
monuments of that famous Citie, together with the
description of Palaces, Churches, the Piazza of S. Marke,
which is one of the most beautifull places (I beleeve) that
ever was built in any Citie whatsoever of the whole
world, and other memorable things of no meane import
ance. Howbeit were this true that the historie of Venice
hath been more then once divulged in our mother tongue,
yet I hope your Highnesse will not miscensure me for
communicating to my country new notes of this noble
City, with a corollarie of Observations that (I am sure)
were never before printed in England, seeing (according
to the old speech) ^/? KCU Tpis TO. KaXa.
Howsoever, if the curious Reader that is wholy
addicted unto novelties, will not so well accept my notes
of Venice, for that the historie of the Venetian common
wealth hath beene already printed in our language : never-
thelesse I conceive some hope that the descriptions of other
Cities which I survayed in divers countries in my travels,
as in France, Italic, Switzerland, and some parts of high
Germanic, will yeeld more matter of newes unto him,
because none of these Cities have beene described in our
language that I could ever heare of. And whereas I
have written more copiously of the Italian, Helveticall,
and German Cities, then of the French, that is to be
attributed partly to my Industrie (whatsoever the same
was) which I used more in Italic, Switzerland, and
Germany by many degrees then in France ; being often
disswaded by some of my fellow travellers from gathering
any Observations at all till I came into Italic : and partly
to the helpes of bookes which I found in Italic and
CORYAT S CRUDITIES
The Epistle Germanic, wherewith I have something inlarged the
Dedicating, descriptions of those Cities. For seeing I made very
short aboade in divers faire Italian Cities, as Cremona,
Mantua, &c. (where I desired to have observed al the
principal! matters thereof) and thereby was barred of
opportunity to note such things at large as were most
memorable ; I held it expedient to borrow some few
notes from a certaine Latin booke printed in Italie, rather
then to write so briefly of the same, as the shortnesse of
time would not otherwise permit me. The like I did
in Germanic, being sometimes beholding to Munster
for some speciall matter which neither by my owne
Observations, nor by the discourse of learned men I
could attaine unto, especially about the institution of the
Bishopricks of certaine Cities through the which I
passed.
I meant to have digressed into the praise of the
excellency of travell into forraine countries, the more to
stirre up yong Gentlemen and every good spirit that
favours learning, to so worthy an exercise ; had I not
prevented my selfe by translating those two elegant
Orations out of Latin into English, that were made by
that learned German Hermannus Kirchnerus of Marpurg ;
which I have inserted into my Booke ; the one in com
mendation of travell in generall, the other of Germanie
in particular ; which are seasoned with such savourie
Attick conceits, and adorned with those flosculi & pig-
menta eloquentiae, that I may fitly apply unto them that
prety Distiche of the Poet Lucilius :
Quam lepide lexeis compostae, ut tesserulae, omnes
Arte pavimento, atque emblemate vermiculato.
And surely for my owne part I will say I never read any
orations in all my life composed with a more terse and
polished stile (Tullies only excepted) though I have in
my daies perused some part of the Orations of learned
Melancthon, the Phoenix of Germanie, Antonie Muretus,
my owne Rhetoricall countryman Robert Turner, &c.
4
THE EPISTLE DEDICATORIE
Therefore since these two Orations do yeeld stronger The Epistle
motives, and more forceable arguments to animate the
learned to travel! into outlandish regions, then my poore
invention can affoord : I have thought fit to turne them
into our mother tongue, according to my simple skill,
and to present them also to your Highnesse, together with
the Observations of my travels ; both because I hope
they will be very delectable to every Reader that loveth
to heare of forraine affaires, and also for that they agree
with the argument of my booke.
As for these my Observations in forraine countries, I
was so farre from presuming to dedicate them to your
Highnesse before the consummation of my future travels,
that I resolved rather to conceale them from the world,
and to bury them for a time in oblivion, if the importunity
of some of my deare friends had not prevailed with me
for divulging the same : whereof one amongst the rest,
namely that right worshipfull Gentleman my most sincere
and entire friend, M. Lionel Cranfield was the originall
and principall animator of me ; and another of my
friends, even learned M. Laurence Whitaker, that elegant
Linguist and worthy traveller, now Secretarie to my
illustrious Mecoenas Sir Edward Philips, Master of
the Rolles, hath often urged unto me that proverbiall
verse :
IloXXa /AeTa^u Tre Xet KvXi/co? /cat ^etXeo9 axpov*
By which he signified that many sinister accidents might
happen unto me betwixt the time of my next going out
of England, and my arrivall againe in my country ; and
so consequently my friends and country might be deprived
of the fruits of my past travels, and of those to come : by
these and such like perswasions of my friends I was
animated to publish the Observations of my travels much
sooner then I thought to have done, and to addresse them
to your excellent Highnesse ; not that I hold them
worthy to undergoe your Highnesse censure, seeing many
* Many things doe often slip twixt cup and lip.
5
CORYAT S CRUDITIES
The Epistle o f them deserve rather ad salsamantarios amandari, as
Dedtcatorte. i earnec j Adrian Turnebus* writeth of his Adversaria, and
(as Horace saith :)
Deferri in vicum vendentem thus & odores,
Et piper, & quicquid chartis amicitur ineptis.H
But because they shall be an introduction (if your High-
nesse will vouchsafe to Patronize them with your Princely
protection) to farre more memorable matters that I
determine by God s gracious indulgence to observe
hereafter in most of the famous Cities and Princes Courts
of Germanic and Italic : as also in Constantinople, with
divers ancient Cities of Greece, and the holy Land, as
Jerusalem, Jericho, Samaria, and other sacred places
mentioned in the Scriptures, and celebrated for the miracles
done therein by our blessed Saviour. Of which Cities
(if God shall grant me a prosperous issue to my designe-
ments) I hope to write after a more particular manner
then any of our English travellers have done before me.
Wherefore most humbly beseeching your Highnesse to
pardon my presumption, I recommend your Highnesse
to the mercifull clientele of him whose throne is the
heaven, whose foote-stoole is the earth.
By him
That travelleth no lesse in all humble and
dutifull observance to your Highnesse
then he did to Venice and the
parts above mentioned,
Your Highnesse poore Observer,
THOMAS CORYATE,
Peregrine of Odcombe.
* In Epistola ad Hen. Memium. \\Horat. z lib. Epist.
The Epistle to the Reader.
Aving lately considered in my serious The Epistle to
meditations (candid Reader) the un- thc
measurable abundance of bookes of all
artes, sciences, and arguments whatsoever
that are printed in this learned age where
in we now breathe, in so much that me
thinks we want rather readers for bookes
than bookes for readers ; my thoughts beganne to be
much distracted like those of ^neas, of whom Virgil
speaketh thus :
Atque anirnum, nunc hue celerem, nunc dividit illuc,
In partesque rapit varias, perque omnia versat.*
Yea I was plunged in an Ocean of doubts, whether it were
best that my Observations gathered in forraine countries
should be continually confined within the bounds of my
poore studie, and so at length squalere situ, & cum tineis
ac blattis rixari ; or be presented to the view of my
country, being (I confesse) by so much the more doubtfull
to evulge the same, by how much the more I am no
schollar, but only a superficiall smatterer in learning, and
therefore most unwilling to incurre the censure of such
severe Aristarches as are wont o/3eA)e<i/ and with their
censorious rods doe use to chastise the lucubrations of
most kinde of writers. But at length post varias cogita-
tionum fluctuationes, by the counsell of certaine of my
deare friendes I put on a constant resolution, and
determined to expose the abortive fruits of my travels
CORYAT S CRUDITIES
The Epistle to to the sight of the world (after they had for the space of
the Reader.
two w h o i e y eares l ur ked in a kinde of Cimmerian
darkenesse) which if they cannot endure, but will be
dazeled with the least glimpse thereof, I wish the same
of them that elegant Angelus Politianus * did of his
Latin translation of Homer, even that I might aut
Thetidi aut Veneris largiri marito.
Since then I have thus farre ventured with them, I
will take occasion to speake a little of the thing which
begat and produced these my observations, even of travell
into forraine countries, whereby I may the better encourage
Gentlemen and lovers of travell to undertake journeys
beyond the seas. Of all the pleasures in the world travell
is (in my opinion) the sweetest and most delightfull. For
what can be more pleasant then to see passing variety of
beautifull Cities, Kings and Princes Courts, gorgeous
Palaces, impregnable Castles and Fortresses, Towers
piercing in a manner up to the cloudes, fertill territories
replenished with a very Cornucopia of all manner of
commodities as it were with the home of Amalthea,
tending both to pleasure and profit, that the heart of man
can wish for : flourishing Universities (whereof only
Germany yeeldeth no lesse than three and twenty)
furnished with store of learned men of all faculties, by
whose conversation a learned traveller may much infbrme
and augment his knowledge. What a singular and
incomparable comfort is it to conferre with those learned
men in forraine Universities and noble Cities, whose
excellent workes we reade in our private studies at home,
as with Isaac Casaubonus the pearle of Paris : Paulus
^Emylius in Padua : Rodolphus Hospinianus, Gasper
Waserus, Henricus Bullingerus in Zurich : Amandus
Polanus, Joannes Jacobus Gryneus in Basil : Janus
Gruterus, David Pareus, Dionysius Gothofredus at
Heidelberg : Joannes Piscator at Herborne : Bonaventura
Vulcanius at Leyden ? Most of whom it was my good
hap not only to see in my travels, but also to my
* In Epistola ad Jacobum Cardinalem Papiensem.
8
THE EPISTLE TO THE READER
unspeakable solace to enjoy very copious and fruitfull The Epistle to
discourse with them. Againe, what a contentment is it er
to a holy and religious Christian to visit the monuments
and tombes of some of the ancient Saints and Fathers of
the primitive Church ; as of S. Augustine in Pavie, S.
Ambrose in Milan ? &c. Also the epenria and ruines of
the houses wherein those famous men lived, as Cicero,
Varro, Virgil, Livie, &c. that are to this day shewed in
sundry places of Italic, strike no small impression in the
heart of an observative traveller. Likewise the places
wherein divers famous battels have beene fought, so much
celebrated partly by the ancient Roman historiographers,
and partly by other neotericke authors (many of which I
exactly observed in my short voyage) when they are
survayed by a curious traveller, doe seeme to present to the
eyes of his mind a certaine Idea of the bloudy skirmishes
themselves. Yea such is the exuberancie and superfluity
of these exoticke pleasures, that for my owne part I will
most truly affirme, I reaped more entire and sweet comfort
in five moneths travels of those seven countries mentioned
in the front of my booke, then I did all the dayes of my
life before in England, which contayned two and thirty
yeares. Moreover the knowledge of forraine languages
(which the shortnesse of time did not affoord me) acquired
by industrious travell, yeeldeth an ornament beyond all
comparison the most precious and excellent that can be
incident to a Gentleman. For if the learning of two
languages be commended by Ovid, who said :
Nee levis ingenuas pectus coluisse per artes
Cura sit, & linguas edidicisse duas.
Much more praise doth he deserve that by travelling in
France, Italic, Spaine, Alemannie, and the Netherlands,
doth learne the five languages of those noble countries,
which being added to his owne mother tongue and the
Latin, do answere the number of the seven liberall sciences.
These certainly, and more, have been learned by famous
travellers, as by Gulielmus Postellus a Frenchman of
9
CORYAT S CRUDITIES
The Epistle to excellent learning, who spake twelve languages. Julius
the Reader. XS3Lf Scaliger that incomparable schollar, nine. Joseph
Scaliger that died not long since in Leyden a University
of Holland, spake ten. Caspar Waserus that ornament
of Zurich, my kind friend, speaketh eight. These are
meanes that adde much more grace and honour to an
ingenuous Gentleman, then he can purchase unto himselfe
by all the exterior gifts of fortune. For though gentility
be of it selfe gracious, yet it is much more excellent when
it is adorned with the experience of forraine countries.
Even as a gold ringe of it selfe is faire and beautifull, but
much more resplendent when it is decked with a rich
Diamond or some other precious stone. I will also
illustrate this matter by some famous examples that I
have noted in my poore readings. The Patriarch Jacob
travelled in his old age with his children out of the land
of Canaan into ^Egypt. Very memorable is the travell
of the Queene of the South mentioned in the holy
Scripture, who travelled out of her country of Saba (which
is a part of Arabia) to Hierusalem, to the end to heare
Salomons wisedome. Pherecydes the Master of Pytha
goras was a traveller. Also Pythagoras himselfe travelled
out of his country of Samos into Italic. Polybius that
excellent historiographer travelled into many countries
with Scipio Africanus whom he instructed in learning.
Apollonius Tyaneus that famous Pythagorean Philo
sopher, whose life Philostratus hath described in eight
bookes, travelled for learning sake into .ZEgypt, Persia,
India, Greece. Dionysius Areopagita an Athenian borne
into ^Egypt also, and divers other countries. Likewise
Plinie the Naturalist, and Cornelius Tacitus the historio
grapher spent some time in travell. The like did S.
Hierome one of the foure Doctors of the west Church.
The Emperour Adrian travelled over most of the
Provinces of the Roman Empire, and for a time made
his residence in Athens for learning of knowledge. Him
did the Emperour Antoninus Bassianus Caracalla imitate
in the like action, though not with so good successe.
10
THE EPISTLE TO THE READER
Also that eloquent orator Hermannus Kirchnerus in his The Epistle to
two orations of travell which I have rudely translated the
out of Latin into English, and inserted into my observa
tions, mentioneth these notable examples of travelling,
namely Euclide, Plato, Aristotle, Anacharsis, Zamolxis,
Lycurgus, Hippocrates, Cicero, Galen, and Dioscorides.
Moreover Vincentius Gonzaga Duke of Mantua then
travelled in divers parts of Germanic when I was abroade.
All which from the first to the last (Jacob only excepted,
who travelled for other causes) aymed at this maine scope
in their travels, as it were their Helice and Cynosura, to
purchase experience and wisdome ; that they might be
the better able to benefit their country and commonweale.
In which they differed much from many of our English
travellers, to whom I may very truly apply that memorable
speech of ^Eschines, in his Oration against Timarchus,
ou rov rpOTTOv a\\d rov TOTTOV novov /j.eTri\\aav* But I Will
proceede no further in this point, seeing the foresaid
elegant Orations of Kirchnerus doe more artificially paint
out the fruits of travell in their naturall colours then I am
able to doe.
But now I will descend to speake something of my
own travels. It hath bene oftentimes objected unto me
since my comming home, by certaine Gentlemen of
eminent note, and as it were laid in my dish as a choaking
peare, that for the short time that I was abroade I
observed more solid matters then any English man did
in the like space this long time. For I copied out more
inscriptions and epitaphes (said a certaine Knight that
shall passe namelesse) that are written upon solid peeces
of stone, then any judicious traveller would have done
in many yeares. For which cause he branded me with
the note of a tombe-stone traveller. Whereas it had
beene much more laudable (said he) to have observed the
governement of common-weales, and affaires of state. I
answere him, that because I am a private man and no
*This is answerable unto that in Horace. Ccelum non animum mutant
qui trans mare currunt.
ii
CORYAT S CRUDITIES
The Epistle to statist, matters of policie are impertinent unto me. For
the Reader. j observe that memO rable distich :
Vive tibi, quantumque potes praelustria vita,
Saevum praelustri fulmen ab arce venit.
Besides I have observed that in some places it is dangerous
to prie very curiously into State matters, as divers travellers
have observed by their deare experience ; a most tragical
example whereof I heard to have beene shewed in the
City of Strasbourg not long before my arrivall there.
Moreover I hope that every gentle Reader that shall with
a milde censure peruse my observations, will say it was
impossible for me in the space of five months to observe
all these matters in descriptions of Cities that I have
handled ; and politique affaires also. But because this
objection shall not justly take hold upon me, that I am
a tombestone traveller, if God shall grant me happy suc-
cesse in my next journey, I will so farre wade into a few
matters of policie for the better satisfaction of the Reader,
as I may with security of my life attaine unto. Surely
I doe not a little wonder that the observing of inscriptions
and epitaphes should be objected unto me by way of
disgrace. For who that * TQV e -y/ce^aXoi/ ei> rot? /cpora ^ot? (to
use that sentence of Demosthenes) KOI /J.YI ev rats Trrepvais
KaraTreTraTwevov (popel, will deeme it a vanity to write out
those sweet elegancies that many epitaphes doe present to
the reader, whereof some few for example sake I will briefly
recite. The epitaph of Pope Lucius the third, which I
have mentioned in my notes of Verona, is so pretty, that I
thinke it cannot but affect every learned Reader.
Luca dedit lucem tibi Luci, Pontificatum
Ostia, Papatum Roma, Verona mori.
lino Verona dedit tibi vere vivere, Roma
Exilium, curas Ostia, Luca mori.
Also this witty epitaph that was given me by a learned
* In Oratione de Haloneso, that is, who that hath his wit in his
head, and not in his heeles, &c.
12
THE EPISTLE TO THE READER
man in my travels, was written upon the tombe of a The Epistle to
Grammarian in the City of Gaunt. the Reader
Grammaticam scivi, multos docuique per annos,
Declinare tamen non potui tumulum.
Who will not applaud that upon learned Joannes Picus
Earle of Mirandula in the City of Florence?
Joannes jacet hie Mirandula, caetera norunt
Et Tagus, & Ganges, forsan & Antipodes.
And that upon Rodolphus Agricola in Heidelberg,
composed by famous Hermolaus Barbarus, as I have
mentioned in my notes of that City.
Invida clauserunt hoc marmore fata Rodolphum
Agricolam, Frisii spemque decusque soli.
Scilicet hoc uno meruit Germania laudis
Quicquid habet Latium, Graecia quicquid habet.
Let them therefore reprehend me as long as they list for
the collection of those epitaphes and inscriptions in my
booke. For mine owne part I am so farre from thinking
my selfe worthy of taxation for the same, that I rather
feare I have ministred just cause of reprehension to the
learned for omitting so many notable epitaphes as I might
have found in divers famous Cities of my travels,
especially Paris, Milan, and Padua.
I suppose that divers which will reade my observations,
will blame me for that I have not translated the Latin
verses of Julius Caesar Scaliger, which I have prefixed
before the description of certaine of the nobler Cities,
and the epitaphes and inscriptions, into English. Because
many men that cannot understand them in Latin, would
take some pleasure to reade them in English. To this I
answere, that if I should have turned them into English,
many of them would have lost part of their grace by my
improper translation. Because the Latin tongue hath
certaine proper and peculiar elegancies, which when they
are translated into another language, seeme to leese
13
CORYAT S CRUDITIES
The Epistle to something of that genuina venustas that it hath in her
the Reader. O wne originall no otherwise then certaine plants that being
removed from their naturall soile to a strange place, will
not prosper as well as they did before. Therefore I
thought good to labour but little in this businesse of trans
lation, saving only in those two memorable things which I
have translated for the benefit of the unlearned Reader,
the one, S. Bernards Epistle to the Bishop of Spira. The
other the historic of the three Kings of Colen. Also
whereas I understand that some have objected against me,
that I deserve to be taxed for reporting certaine things
which I received only by tradition and report of other
men, not by my owne certaine experience ; I would have
them know, that I am not the first that hath grounded
much of his matter upon the speeches of other men ;
For I have observed that Herodotus, Diodorus Siculus,
Justin, Quintus Curtius, and divers other ancient his
torians, as well amongst the Greeks as Latines, have
done the like, as they may easily observe that peruse
their workes. But I am sure I doe very seldome depend
upon the report of others, and when I trust to the
tradition of them, they are men of such learning from
whom I derive those matters, that I thinke a man neede
not doubt to alleage them for authentike authours. As
in Zurich learned Hospinian told me that their City was
founded in the time of Abraham. And the like notes
I received from other learned men, whose testimonies I
approve as much as the written authority of grave
authours.
It remaineth now that I am to make one instant request
unto thee (curteous Reader) and with the same will shut
up my Epistle : Even to desire thee whatsoever thou art
(if thou shouldest intend to translate my booke into Latin
in my absence, when I shall be abroade in my next
travels) manum de tabula tollere. Intermeddle not I
intreate thee (gentle Reader) with my booke, neither
thrust thy sickle into my harvest, except thou shalt
certainly understand by credible report that I have
14
THE EPISTLE TO THE READER
miscarried in my voyage. For if God shall grant me The Epistle to
happy successe in my next travels, and a safe arrivall in the Rea "
my country, I determine (Oeov StSovroi) to translate both
these and my future observations into Latin for the benefit
not only of my owne country, but also of those countries
where I have already travelled, and hereafter resolve to
travell. Though truly I doe ingenuously confesse my
Latin stile is so barren and penurious, that it were much
fitter for another man to pertorme it then my selfe. As
for these Observations which I now exhibite unto thy
gentle censure, take them I pray thee in good part till
I present better unto thee after my next travels, consider
ing that it is not in my power to yeeld unto thee such
exquisite notes of travell as great schollars gather in the
course of their travels, since I neither professe my selfe
a schollar, nor acknowledge myselfe worthy to be ranked
amongst schollars of meane learning, but only wish to be
accounted a poore well-wilier of the Muses. Notwith
standing though my beggarly learning can not ayme at
such weighty matters as are fit to be searched for by a
learned traveller, yet I will promise thee (if thou wilt
only winke at some light matters inserted into these my
Observations) to impart many such memorable things
unto thee after the end of my next journey, as are often
times omitted by travellers of that learning, that I am
not worthy to loose their shoe-lachet, yea such as doe as
farre excel! me,
Ante alios quantum Pegasus ibat equos.
Therefore in the meane time joyne with me in thy best
wishes for happy successe in my future travels ; and so I
commend thee to him whom I beseech to blesse thee at
home, and me abroade.
Thy benevolent itinerating friend,
T. C.
The Odcombian Legge-stretcher.
15
THE CHARACTER
OF THE
Famous Odcombian, or rather Polyptopian
THOMAS the CORYATE
Traveller, and Gentleman Author of these
Quinque-mestriall Crudities
Done by a charitable Friend, that thinks it
necessary, by this time, you should
understand the Maker, as well
as the worke
Ben Jonson s T TE is an Engine, wholly consisting of extremes,
Character of J_ J_ a Head, Fingers, and Toes. For what his
industrious Toes have trod, his ready Fingers have
written, his subtle head dictating. He was set a going
for Venice the fourteenth of May, anno 1608. and
returned home (of himselfe) the third of October
following, being wound up for five moneths, or
thereabouts : his paises two for one. Since, by vertue
of those weights he hath bene conveniently able to visite
Town and Countrie, Fayres and Mercats, to all places,
and all societies a Spectacle gratefull, above that of
Niniveh, or the Citie of Norwich ; and he is now become
the better Motion, by having this his Booke his Inter
preter : which yet hath exprest his purse more then him,
16
A CHARACTER OF THE AUTHOUR
as we the rest of his Commenders have don, so unmerci- Ben Jonsotfs
fully charging the Presse with his prayse. But to that c ^ ctei J
r- i u * 11 i TT -n i / u- u the Author.
Gale, he sets up all sayles. He will beare paper (which
is cloth) enough. He hath ever since the first designe
of printing hereof, bene a Deliciis to the Court ; but
served there in his owne cloathes, and at his owne costs :
where he hath not bene costive of acquaintance to any,
from the Palatine to the Plebeian ; which popularity of
his (it is thought by some of his Odcombians) may hurt
him. But he free from all other Symptomes of aspiring,
will easily outcary that ; it being a motlie and no perfect
ambition : the rather, because when he should have been
taken up for the place (though he hastily prevented it
with a tender of himselfe) hee conditioned to have no
office of charge or neerenesse cast upon him, as a
Remora of his future travaile ; for to that he is
irrecoverably addicted. The word Travaile affectes him
in a Waine-oxe, or a Packe-horse. A Carrier will carry
him from any company that hath not been abroad,
because he is a Species of a Traveller. But a Dutch-
Post doth ravish him. The mere superscription of a
letter from Zurich sets him up like a top : Basil or
Heidelberg makes him spinne. And at seeing the word
Frankford, or Venice, though but on the title of a Booke,
he is readie to breake doublet, cracke elbowes, and
overflowe the roome with his murmure. Hee is a mad
Greeke, no lesse than a merry : and will buy his * Egges,
his Puddings, his Ginger-bread, yea cobble his shoes in
the Atticke dialect : and would make it a matter of
Conscience to speake other, were he trusted alone in a
roome with an Andiron of state. The greatest Politick
that advances into Paules he will quit, to go talke with
the Grecian that begs there ; such is his humility ; and
doth grieve inwardly he was not borne that countryman
for that purpose. You shall perceive a veine or
* I meane when he travelled. A thing, that I know he scorned
to do since he came home.
Not to beg, but to talke Greeke the better with the natural Grecians.
C. C. 17 B
CORYAT S CRUDITIES
Ben Jonson s thread of Greeke runne through his whole discourse,
and another of Latine, but that is the courser. He is
a great and bold Carpenter of words, or (to expresse him
in one like his owne) a Logodsedale : which voyce, when
he heares, tis doubtfull whether he will more love at the
first, or envy after, that it was not his owne. All his
Phrase is the same with his manners and haviour, such
as if they were studied to make Mourners merry : but
the body of his discourse able to breake Impostumes,
remove the stone, open the passage from the Bladder,
and undoe the very knots of the Gout ; to cure even
where Physick hath turned her back, and Nature hung
downe her head for shame ; being not only the Antidote
to resist sadnes, but the Preservative to keepe you in
mirth, a life and a day. A man might undo the Colledge
that would practise with onely him. And there is no
man but to enjoy his company, would neglect any thing
but businesse. It is thought he lives more by letting*
out of ayre, then drawing in ; and feared, his belly wil
exhibite a Bill in Chauncery against his Mouth for talking
away his meales. He is alwaies Tongue-Major of the
company, and if ever the perpetuall motion be to be
hoped for, it is from thence. He will aske, How you
doe? Where you have bene? How is it? If yow have
travelled? How yow like his booke? with, what newes?
and be guilty of a thousand such curteous impertinences
in an howre, rather then want the humanity of vexing
you. To conclude this ample Traveller in some bounds
you shall best know him by this : he is frequent at all sorts
of free tables, where though he might sit as a Guest, hee
will rather be served in as a Dish, and is loth to have
any thing of himselfe kept cold against the next day.
To give the Non-ultra of him in a word, he is so
substantive an Author as will stand by himselfe without
the neede of his Booke to bee joyned with him.
Here endeth the Character, attended with a
Characterisme Acrostich.
* I meane in the fore parts, not the hinder.
18
A CHARACTER OF THE AUTHOUR
To the Right Noble Tom, Tell-Troth, of his Ben
Travailes, The Coryate of Odcombe, and his A <* c
_. > the Author.
Booke now going to travell.
T rie and trust Roger, was the word, but now
H onest Tom Tell-Troth puts down Roger, How?
O f travell he discourseth so at large,
M arry he sets it out at his owne charge ;
A nd therein (which is worth his valour too)
S hews he dares more then Paules Church-yard durst do.
C ome forth thou bonnie bouncing booke then, daughter
O f Tom of Odcombe that odde Joviall Author,
R ather his sonne I should have cal d thee, why?
Y es thou wert borne out of his travelling thigh
A s well as from his braines, and claimest thereby
T o be his Bacchus as his Palks : bee
E ver his thighes Male then, and his braines Shee.
Ben. Jonson.
An Introduction to the ensuing Verses.
An Introduc
tion to the
Panegyric
Verses.
Here present unto thee (gentle Reader)
the encomiastick and panegyrick Verses
of some of the worthyest spirits of this
Kingdome, composed by persons of
eminent quality and marke, as well for
dignity as excellence of wit ; such as
have vouchsafed to descend so low as to
dignifie and illustrate my lucubrations without any
demerit of theirs* (I do ingenuously confesse) with the
singular fruits of their elegant inventions, which they
have expressed in the best and most learned languages of
the world, two only excepted, which are the f Welch
and Irish. But in that I exhibite unto thy view such a
great multitude of Verses as no booke whatsoever printed
in England these hundred yeares, had the like written
in praise thereof ; ascribe it not I intreate thee to any
ambitious humour of me, as that I should crave to obtrude
so many to the world in praise of my booke. For I
can assure thee I sollicited not halfe those worthy Wights
for these verses that I now divulge ; a great part of them
being sent unto me voluntarily from divers of my friends,
from whom I expected no such courtesie. At last when
I saw the multitude of them to increase to so great a
number, I resolved to put above a thousand of them into
an Index expurgatorius, and to detain them from the
presse. Whereupon the Princes Highnesse (who hath
* Mistake me not Reader. I referre this word to the word
Lucubrations. j Ironia.
20
AN INTRODUCTION
most graciously deigned to be the * Hyperaspist and ^ n
Moecenas of my booke) understanding that I meant to p anes r - lc
suppresse so many, gave me a strict and expresse com- v eri es.
mandement to print all those verses which I had read to
his Highnesse. Since then that inevitable necessity hath
been imposed upon me, I have here communicated that
copious rhapsodie of poems to the world that my learned
friends have bountifully bestowed upon me ; wherein
many of them are disposed to glance at me with their
free and mery jests, for which I desire thee (courteous
Reader) to suspend thy censure of me till thou hast read
over my whole booke.
* You shall understand the meaning of this word in a marginal
note upon the verses imediately ensuing.
[Panegyricke Verses
21
PANEGTRICKE FERSES UPON THE
AUTHOR AND HIS BOOKS.
Incipit
|Ordings, full well I hope you know
I never shot in Phoebus bow,
Or clim d Parnassus hill :
Yet must I needes in dogrell rime
/- & r
Crave your sweet patience for a time,
Full sore against my will.
I am not now to tell a tale
Of George a Greene, or Jacke a Vale,
Or yet of Chittiface :
But I must be the Chanti-cleere
Of one that is withouten peere,
A home replete with grace.
For he at Odcombe was y-bore,
Whereas the fates were heard to score
The fortunes of his birth :
Goe pretty dandy-prat to schoole
(Said they) thou shalt no little foole
Be counted for thy mirth.
The child in time was waxen great,
And all the Sophists he did threat
Their problemes to confound ;
Grammarians sore did stand in feare
The coynage of his words to heare,
So uncouth was their sound.
For by a naturall instinct
The Graces to his lips were linkt,
(Forsooth his lips were faire.)
His mouth did open ere he spake,
22
PANEGYRICK VERSES
And swifter farre then Ducke and Drake
His words flew through the ayre.
The stony hearts that could not bide
A Church-Ale at a Whitsontide,
He suppled with his speech :
And like a Captaine bold and stout
He did advance his Eagles snowt,
Faire thrive it I beseech.
Not Mahound, no nor Termagaunt
Could ever make halfe their avant
Of deedes so sterne and fell,
As can this child Sir Thopas Squire,
Inspired with a sparke of fire
Stolne out of wisdomes cell.
He hammers words upon his teeth
(Rime thereunto I can unneeth)
Yet still I will proceede ;
Like as a Beare doth licke her whelpe,
Their roughnesse so his tongue doth helpe,
When polishing is neede.
Now Lordings mercy doe I aske,
That since I under-went this taske
His name I have conceald ;
He keepes the Magazine of wit,
And beares the privy key of it,
Which may not be reveal d.
Yet in despite of bread and ale,
Unbuckled now shall be the male,
Betide what may betide :
His name is Coryate I wis,
But whether he be flesh or fish,
I cannot yet decide.
For like the errant Knight Ulysses,
Through the Seas amongst the fishes
He lanched forth his hulke :
The sides whereof were heard to groane
No lesse than twenty miles and one
Under his grievous bulke.
23
CORYAT S CRUDITIES
Then either without scrippe or bagge
. -
He usde his ten-toes tor a nagge
From Venice for to hie.
Thorough thicke, and thorough thinne
Untill he came unto his Inne,
His winged heeles did flie.
He travaild North, he travaild South
With * Hyperaspist in his mouth
A word of his devising.
For nature letters pattents gave
To him the priviledge to have
Of words naturalizing.
To trees and steeples as he went
He did his homage verament,
And salu-ed them each one.
He registred their names alwaies ;
Contrary if that any saies,
The booke is to be showne.
A Cortizan then lycoras
More sweet in Venice towne there was,
That wisht him for her owne :
But shee could never him hand fast ;
For as a Gelding he was chast,
Though Gelding he were none.
The Barcarvola appetite
His Gondola directed right
Unto a female Elfe ;
Yet would he not play Cupids Ape,
In Chaucers jest lest he should shape
* A word that the author once used in an Oration to the Prince,
metaphorically signifying (as being derived from these two Greeke
wordes virep, that signifieth above, and WCTTTIS, a shield, that is, one
that opposeth his shield in the defence of his friend against the blow
of an enemie) a Patron or Protector. Which word by a kind of
conversion may be not improperly applied (as a certaine conceited
Gentleman lately said) to the authour himselfe. Hyperaspist quasi
hy per hor spist, that is, one upon whom never Asses pist, but Horses once
pist on him, as when he lay upon straw at their heeles in Bergomo a
Citie of Lombardie.
24
PANEGYRICK VERSES
A Pigsnye like himselfe.
This wandring Squire full oft I heard
The circle of his beard had squard,
And skowred every haire ;
That sweeter then the Eglentine,
And then the purple Columbine
He did appeare more faire.
He had a kind of simple blush
That kept him still from being flush,
When Ladies did him wooe :
Though they did smile, he seem d to scowle,
As doth the faire broade-faced fowle,
That sings To whit to whooe.
It was no crochet of his braine
That put his legs to so great paine
In passing to and fro :
But sure it was the quintessence
Of study, that beyond all sence
Had made his wits to crow.
With Latin he doth rule the roast,
And spowteth Greeke in every coast,
Ne r may his well-spring fade :
He over-speakes the English tongue,
And picketh gold out of the dongue
That ancient Poets made.
If any Zoilus will carpe,
Or take upon him for to harpe
Upon his learned strings :
On foote to Venice let him goe,
And then at his returning show
What fruite from thence he brings.
For had our Coryate beene a Jade,
In halfe the journey that he made
He had beene foundered cleane :
But now by foote, by cart, and saile,
Tom Coryate is come from Itaile,
From Italie I meane.
The squeazie humour of his braine
25
CORYAT S CRUDITIES
Before he parted from this maine,
Neare perished his skull :
Now since the Sunne beganne to sup,
And drinke those grosser vapours up,
He is no more a Gull.
Oh let the fardels of his leaves
Be held more pretious then the sheaves
Pitched up in harvest time ;
Ne ever any man alive
May see them sayling from Queene-hive
Now Muse stay heere thy rime.
Explicit AT
Incipit Henricus Nevill de Abergevenny.
Henry Nevill. /^lOldilockt God that doest on Parnasse dwell,
Vj" O thou that sweetly playest on a fiddle
To sisters Nine, that Aganippes Well
Do much frequent, there bathing to the middle ;
Lend me thy notes, that I may sweeter sing
Of Tom of Odcombe then doth Odcombe ring.
Oh that some errant Knight could now be scene,
That he might dubbe thee ; crying, Up Sir Thomas :
Their dangers and adventures lesse have beene
That erst did wander to the land of promise.
Thou mak st Sir Bevis and sir Guy a fable,
With all the daring knights of the round table.
Unto thy shoes, thy shirt, thy fustian case,
That hang at Odcombe, trophees of thy travailes,
Joyne this fayre book of thine, which makes thee passe
Great Merlin Cockay in recounting marveiles.
Whilst pendant scutchins others tombes adorne,
O re thine these faire atchivements shall be borne.
Explicit Henricus Nevill de Abergevenny.
26
PANEGYRICK VERSES
Incipit Joannes Harrington de Bathe.
THou glorious Goose that kept st the Capitoll,
Afford one quill, that I may write one storie yet
Of this my new-come Odcombe-friend Tom Coryet,
Whose praise so worthy wits and pens inroll
As (with good cause) his custome is to glory it :
So farre am I from judging his a sory wit,
Above earth, seas, ayre, fire, He it extoll
To Cinthias spheare, the next beneath the starres.
Where his vast wit, and courage so audacious
Of equall worth in times of peace, and warres,
(As Rolands erst) encombring roomes capacious
Lie stored some in hogsheads, some in jarres.
This makes the learn d of late in forren parts
Finde Phcebes face so full of wennes and warts.
Explicit Joannes Harrington de Bathe.
Incipit Ludovicus Lewknor.
OLd wormy age that in thy mustie writs
Of former rooles records the present wits,
Tell us no more the tale of Apuleius Asse,
Nor Mydas eares, nor lo eating grasse.
This worke of Toms so farre them all exceeds,
As Phoebus fiddle did Pans squeaking reeds.
He writes not of a gnat, nor frogge, nor woodcocks
bill,
Of steeples, townes, and towers, entreats his gooses
quill
Among the rest hee of a wondrous tub doth tell,
The wine whereof more Poets made then Tempes Well.
In Odcomb d Toms regard the * Cyclops heards were thin,
Our Tom quicke cattell fed whole legions on his skinne.
So did poore bare Philosophers in former times,
And so do Poets now that make the lowzy rimes.
* Homer. F irgiL
27
John Harring
ton.
LudovicLewk-
nor.
CORYAT S CRUDITIES
LudovicLewk- Five months with this in child-birth lay Toms labring
Muse,
In all which time he seldome chang d his shirt or shoes.
The care and toyle was his, thine are the gaines,
Cracke then the nut, and take the kernell for thy paines.
Explicit Ludovicus Lewknor.
Henry
Goodier.
Incipit Henricus Goodier.
IF in an evennesse all wisedome lie,
Tom thou art wise, thou dost all evenly.
Once thou didst wench, and thou wert carted once,
Once thou didst * steale, & once they beate thy bones.
Once didst thou beg, and if thou then didst get
Nothing by begging, thou art even yet.
What onely he saw he onely writes, if than
He only reade it, hee s an even man.
Our spies write home no ill of him ; he went,
He staid, he came an even Innocent.
The Jesuites could not shake him : for he would not
Take orders, but remaine an II Idiote.
If any thinke him dull or heavy, know
The Court and cities mirth cannot be so.
Who thinks him light, aske them who had the taske
To beare him in a trunke unto the maske,
He is so equall, that if he were laid
Into those scales whereby the proofe is made,
Whether the woman or the plume prevaile,
He and his booke would hardly turne the scale.
Explicit Henricus Goodier.
* Viz. grapes.
A harmelesse man.
|| A lay man, or private man, as being derived from the Greeke
word tSwTT/s, which signifieth a private man.
28
PANEGYRICK VERSES
Incipit Joannes Payton junior.
MAgnifique Caesar that in worth surpasses John Payton\
The greatest of our greatest Turkish Basses, junior.
All the long night oft times did waking tarry,
And made the night the day his Secretary :
Yet if in little volumes you revoke it,
His worke of many yeares lies in your pockit.
But thou 6 Coryate mak st Caesar but a *Javell,
And writest huge volumes of twise ten weekes travell :
Twise twenty weekes a dwarfish birth will aske,
Thou in twise ten brought st forth this mighty taske ;
Then if abortive birth had not prevented,
What Atlas would thy Gyant-braine invented ?
Sith seven such countries none so soone could passe
As thou the learned Coryate Thomas.
Yet thy large writings wonder more I at,
Thou Odcombs only Grace Tom Coryat,
For of the twaine much rather would I misse his
That wrote the ten yeares travels of Ulysses :
For who considers well, he quickly finde should
That thou wrotest perfect, seeing Homer blind-fold.
Explicit Joannes Payton Junior.
Incipit Henricus Poole.
DOn Coryate once I saw, but his booke never, Henry Poole.
Yet meane I to commend them both together :
Him for his booke, his booke for him I praise :
The workman s fame the workmanship doth raise
To great esteeme, no foule tongue can defile it,
The work s of worth, for Coryate did compile it.
The goods wherewith this westerne barge is fraught,
Thou gentle Reader shalt enjoy for nought ;
They cost thee nothing but a thankfull minde,
Which this our author hopes in thee to finde :
* In Prisciano vapulaiite.
29
CORYAT S CRUDITIES
Henry Poole. Who in his travell hath observed more,
Then ever any wyzard did before ;
And what he hath observed, with his pen
He here presenteth to his country-men :
That he whom five moneths travell made so witty,
Should live obscure at home, were it not pitty?
Then Coryate feede thy Muse in forraine parts,
Swallow their secrets, and devoure their arts ;
Whereof when thou saturitie shalt gaine,
Come home, and then disgorge thy selfe againe.
Explicit Henricus Poole.
Incipit Robertus Phillips.
Robert OInce every pen is press d to praise
Phillips. ^ Thee travelling Wonder of our daies,
My Muse would chide, should she not sing
The praise of thee most wandring thing,
Who with thy restlesse feete and painefull wit
A booke of wonders now hast writ ;
In which thy worke we plaine do see
How well thy feete and wit agree.
What others thought too heavy and too high,
As Tombes, Steeples, with the Butter-flie,
Thou hast brought home, though not in solid stuffe :
For which let not our carping Criticks huffe :
For thou the substance wouldest not bring
Of ought which might be termed a * solid thing.
Alas poore Tom, they do mistake thy age
Who thinke thou art not past the making sage ;
Or that thy journey had some other ends
Then to delight and recreate thy friends.
And if perhaps some man may call thee foole
For this thy end, good Tom pull out thy toole,
* If you meane solid stones, you are in the right Sir. If solid
Observations, I referre my selfe to the Readers censure after he hath
thoroughly perused my booke, whether I have brought home any
solid thing or no.
30
PANEGYRICK VERSES
Thy booke I mean, demaund if that an Asse Robert
Could have observed so much as he did passe : ?*
Or could have got such praise in rime
As thou shalt shew to future time ;
By which thou shalt so lively pourtrayed bee,
As that the *Asse himselfe himselfe may see.
Thy danger with the Boore, thy hazard with the Jewes,
Thy scabs at Turin, and solace in the stewes,
Let others chaunt, I list not tell them over,
Nor of thy liquid case twixt France and Dover ;
Though there thou madest so great a savour,
& ..... ~ &
That few received it for a favour.
I onely will commend thy constant nature,
Who didst returne the f simple creature
That thou wentst forth, and having trudg d
Much ground, at length art judged
By the full praise of every Muse,
Which ushereth in thy booke of newes :
Therefore brave Champion of the Whitson-ale,
Let thy fayre journall to the presse hoise saile,
That after ages too may know thee,
As well as we that now enjoy thee.
Who to the end that gratefull we may seeme,
Thee of the JMarrot worthy doe we deeme.
Explicit Robertus Phillips.
Incipit Dudleus Digges upon the Author
and his paynes.
OUr Author will not let me rest, he sayes, Dudley
Till I write somewhat in his labours praise ;
I thinking straight upon Deliverie,
Protest his labour such a Prodigie,
* I meane any critical! carper that shall taxe thee for thy Booke.
t Not composed of the vices of those countries through which thou
traveld st, which doth often happen to many of our English men that
returne home corrupted in manners and much worse then they went
forth.
| That is, the Lawrell, so called from one Marrot a French Poet.
CORYAT S CRUDITIES
Dudley As may a Mountebanke Man-midwife gravell
To see a man that was five mon ths in travell,
So fairly brought abed, and of a birth
*So but of that judge by these gossips mirth.
Joy to the glad Dad, who such fondnes shewes,
That by a hundred markes the wise child knowes
Who twas, and can in print already call,
Coryate the kind Father, and the Naturall.
In genium liber iste tuum Coriate sepultum
Continet, inde petat qui caret ingenio.
Explicit Dudleus Digges.
Incipit Rowlandus Cotton.
Rowland /^iQlumbus, Magelan, and Drakes brave story
Cotton. vet remem bred unto their glory.
But thy high deeds with theirs when I compare,
I say thy travels have with theirs no share.
I wonder then this writing age hath fail d
To tell ere this how farre Tom Coryate sail d
In five mon ths time, and most or all on foote.
What man alive that ever else did do t?
It cannot be but that the world did looke
That thou thy selfe hereof shouldst write a booke,
What good acceptance such a booke shall finde,
Thou need st not doubt, there s no man so unkind
That will make scruple for to be thy halfe
Since thou the heifer art that beares the calfe.
Tis thy first borne Tom, I pray thee love it ;
And whosoever shall thy issue covet,
I wish there may befall him this one curse,
To treade thy steps againe, and with thy purse.
Yet one thing Tom I do dislike in sooth,
Thou dost not spare thy selfe to tell a truth.
As that in the first ^Enei. of Virgil. Quos ego.
This is that which the Latines call Indulgentia, the Grecians
32
PANEGYRJCK VERSES
What need st thou in thy storie be so nice, Rowland
To tell thy child of all thy nits and lice?
Yet it becomes thee well, and much the rather,
The sonne, I thinke, will prove so like the father.
But pardon Tom, if I no Further tell
Those gifts which in thee do by nature dwell.
Who tels the Asse that he hath two long eares,
Or Chanti-cleare that he a coxcombe weares?
Why, all the world doth know as well as I
That never any did as much descrie,
So many nations, manners, and so soone,
Except alone the man that s in the moone.
Let other wits that with a nimbler wing
Do cut the emptie ayre, thy prayses sing ;
My Muse intreats thee to resume thy penne,
And to relate unto thy countrey-men
Whether thy father Joviall were or sad,
And what complexion thy faire mother had
When they were linked in wedlocks lovely band,
And whether of them had the upper hand :
How many mon ths thy mother did intombe
Thy tender body in her fruitfull wombe :
What milder planet governed in the skie
In the horoscope of thy nativity,
Thy mothers midwife, and thy nurses name,
The shire and houshold whence thy linage came.
Who trained up thy youth, and in what place,
Whether where Isis hides her dewie face,
Or where the silver streames of Chame do glide,
Shaddowed with willowes upon either side ;
That other men may learne to get a sonne
To see those countries which thy selfe hast done.
This calculation yet would breed a danger,
And twere not fit to teach it every stranger ;
Lest when the world thy learned booke should view,
A foole might get as wise a child as you.
Explicit Rowlandus Cotton.
[Incipit Robertus
c. c. 33 c
CORYAT S CRUDITIES
Incipit Robertas Yaxley.
Robert TF the Author had a curious coate
Taxley. With cap of costly die,
And crowne of cocke for crest thereon,
With whetstone hanging by,
Then might he tell of travellers,
And all the thriftlesse traine,
Which proudly forth on Asses pricke,
Twixt Italy and Spaine.
For Thomas is by travell tri d,
And truth of him to tell,
Ther s few of them that now go forth
Returne home halfe so well.
Then buy this booke ye Brittons bold,
But read it at your leisure :
For it and he, and he and it,
Were made to shew you pleasure.
Explicit Robertus Yaxley.
Incipit Joannes Strangwayes.
John Strong- r I ^Hou crav st my verse, yet do not thank me for it,
wayes. J_ j? or w hat rimes can praise enough Tom Coryate?
Kemp yet doth live, and only lives for this
Much famous, that he did dance the Morris
From London unto Norwich. But thou much more
Doest merit praise. For though his feete were sore,
Whilst sweaty he with antick skips did hop it,
His treadings were but friscals of a poppet.
Or that at once I may expresse it all,
Like to the Jacks of jumbled virginall.
But thou through heats and colds, through punks and
trunks,
Through hils and dales hast stretcht thy weary stumps,
Feeding on hedge-row fruits, and not on plum-trees,
Onely through zeale to visite many countries.
But stay a while, and make a stand my Muse,
34
PANEGYRICK VERSES
To think upon his everlasting shoe s. 3ohn Strang-
Come to my helpe some old-shod pilgrime wight,
That I of you may tread the way aright
Which leads unto his fame, whilst I do stile
How he did go at least nine hundred mile
With one poore paire of shooes, saving alone-a
He onely once did sole them at * Verona.
So that it grew a question whether
Thy shoes or feete were of more lasting leather.
Which at that time did stand thee in most use,
When as the Jewes would cut off thy prepuce ;
But thou that time like many an errant Knight,
Didst save thy selfe by vertue of thy flight.
Whence now in great request this Adage stands ;
One paire of legges is worth two paire of hands.
Explicit Joannes Strangwayes.
c
Incipit Gulielmus Clavel.
Clavel.
Oryats travels doe bewitch my pen,
Worke miracles, making the dumbe to speake :
My dumbe-borne Muse yet never knowne to men
Doth by his charmes her silent custome breake.
For if his worthy actes had not beene such,
The world could not have drawen from me thus much.
They only force from me both praise and wonder,
Who past beliefe have conquerd many dangers :
It can not be describ d what he brought J under,
Leaving the skars of his renowne with strangers.
Then frolicke man and in thy country rowse thee,
Although abroade thou scornd st not to be lowsie.
Send out thy copious booke to common view,
Make many laugh, some scorne, move most to pitty.
Those that travell, (as no man hath his due)
* You should have said Zurich.
| You meane some merry matter Sir.
35
CORYAT S CRUDITIES
William s na n still confesse with shame thy booke is witty ;
x~ //
And after ages will admire no doubt
O
This Gog-Magog thy Gyant-wit brings out.
Explicit Gulielmus Clavel.
Incipit Joannes Scory,
John Scory. npHat thou a traveller mayst called bee,
A Thanks to thy braines that travell, not to thee ;
That thou a rare read-schollar clepyd art,
Give more thanks to thy tongue, then to thy arte.
Yet have thy feete in five moneths pass d more Cities,
Then ere thy Poetrie will make good ditties.
Ballets unfit to stand before thy booke,
Wherein who so with judgments eies will looke,
May see a monster of five moneths begetting.
More rare than that of thy own Sires begetting.
Some say, when thou wert borne (O wondrous hap)
First time thou pist thy clouts, thou drew st a map.
But that thou spakest as soone as thou wert borne,
There is no doubt. For else how couldst thou learne
In so short time to talke so long and much,
And to such purpose. Yet I heare no Dutch,
Nor French, nor Spanish, nor the Italian tongue ;
So mightst thou do thy Greeke and Latin wrong ;
Of which thou utterst such abundant store,
That thy full braines can now containe no more.
Well Tom, since Europe thou hast scene in part,
Now into Asia and Africke make a start.
Boldly encounter all the monsters there :
For seeing thee they needs must flie for feare.
But still be sure thy buckler be thy booke,
Medusaes shield had ne re so grim a looke.
Explicit Joannes Scory.
PANEGYRICK VERSES
Incipit Joannes Donne.
OH to what heigth will love of greatnesse drive John Donne.
Thy leavened spirit, Sesqui-superlative ?
Venice vast lake thou hadst scene, wouldst seeke than
Some vaster thing, and foundst a Cortizan.
That inland Sea having discovered well,
A Cellar-gulfe, where one might saile to hell
From Heydelberg, thou longdst to see ; And thou
This Booke, greater than all, producest now,
Infinite worke, which doth so farre extend,
That none can study it to any end.
Tis no one thing ; it is not fruite, nor roote ;
Nor poorely limited with head or foote.
If man be therefore man, because he can
Reason, and laugh, thy booke doth halfe make man.
One halfe being made, thy modesty was such,
That thou on th other halfe wouldst never touch.
When wilt thou be at full, great Lunatique?
Not till thou exceed the world ? Canst thou be like
A prosperous nose-borne wenne, which sometime growes
To be farre greater than the Mother-nose?
Goe then ; and as to thee, when thou didst goe,
Munster did Townes, and Gesner Authors show,
Mount now to Gallo-belgicus ; Appeare
As deepe a States-man, as a Gazettier.
Homely and familiarly, when thou commest backe,
Talke of Will Conqueror, and Prester Jacke.
Goe bashfull man, lest here thou blush to looke
Upon the progresse of thy glorious booke.
To which both Indies sacrifices send ;
The west sent gold, which thou didst freely spend,
(Meaning to see t no more) upon the presse.
The east sends hither her deliciousnesse ;
And thy leav s must embrace what comes from thence,
The Myrrhe, the Pepper, and the Frankinsence.
This magnifies thy leav s ; but if they stoope
To neighbour wares, when Merchants doe unhoope
37
CORYAT S CRUDITIES
John Donne. Voluminous barrels, if thy leav s doe then
Convay these wares in parcels unto men,
If for vaste Tomes of Currans, and of Figs,
Of Medcinall, and Aromatique twigs,
Thy leav s a better methode doe provide,
Divide to Pounds, and Ounces subdivide ;
If they stoope lower yet, and vent our wares,
Home-manufactures, to thicke popular faires,
If omniprEegnant there, upon warm stals
They hatch all wares for which the buyer cals,
Then thus thy leav s we justly may commend,
That they all kinde of matter comprehend.
Thus thou, by meanes which th Ancients never tooke,
A Pandect makest, and Universall Booke.
The bravest Heroes, for publique good
Scattred in divers lands, their limmes and blood.
Worst malefactors, to whom men are prize,
Doe publique good, cut in Anatomies ;
So will thy Booke in peeces : For a Lord
Which casts at Portescues, and all the board,
Provide whole Books ; Each leafe enough will be
For friends to passe time, and keepe companie.
Can all carouse up thee ? No : thou must fit
Measures ; and fill out for the half-pinte wit.
Some shal wrap pils, and save a friends life so,
Some shall stop muskets, and so kill a foe.
Thou shalt not ease the Critiques of next age
So much, at once their hunger to asswage.
Nor shall wit-pyrats hope to finde thee lie
All in one bottome, in one Librarie.
Some leav s may paste strings there in other books,
And so one may, which on another looks,
Pilfer, alas, a little wit from you,
But hardly * much ; and yet, I thinke this true ;
As Sybils was, your booke is misticall,
For every peece is as much worth as all.
* I meane from one page which shall paste strings in a booke.
38
PANEGYRICK VERSES
Therefore mine impotency I confesse ; John Donne.
The healths which my braine beares, must be farre lesse ;
Thy Gyant wit o erthrowes me, I am gone ;
And rather then reade all, I would reade none.
In eundem Macaronicon.
QUot, dos haec, LINGUISTS perfetti, Disticha fairont,
Tot cuerdos STATES-MEN, hie liure fara tuus.
Es sat A MY 1 honneur estre hie inteso : Car i LEAVE
L honra, de personne nestre creduto, tibi.
Explicit Joannes Donne.
Incipit Richardus Martin.
To my friend that by lying at the signe of the Richard
Fox doth prove himselfe no Goose, Thomas
Coryate, the Traveller, a Sonet.
OFor a bonny blith and bounsing ballet
To praise this Odcomb d Chanti-cleere that hatched
These Crudities which (with his shoes) he patched,
All hitting right as it were with a mallet,
Before us here he sets both bag and wallet,
Where met are many scraps (you see) unmatched :
His feete, hands, head (daies and nights) walkt, wrote,
watched :
And hardly did he lie on any pallet.
Much oyle he sav d both from his shoes and sallats,
Which thriftily he ate while they were cobled ;
Then (for his fruite) these Crudities he gobled,
Which since he season d hath for sundry palats.
To him therefore vaile travellers your bonnets,
Of him write Poets all your Songs and Sonnets.
Explicit Richardus Martin.
[Incipit Laurentius
39
CORYAT S CRUDITIES
Incipit Laurentius Whitakerus.
Laurence Ad Lectorem bipedem de Authore *Polypode,
deque proverbio ipsi usitato, eque Demos-
thene citato, scil. rot/ eyKecpaXov ev rot/? Trrepvai?,
KOI M ev TCI? KporafyoiS (popelv,
Qv /H.OVQV ev Kporddtois, aXX ei TTTepvat?
AeiKWcriv e epywv vovv enroot] /u.ov e ^eiv
A.y%ivo)<s ra^ecos re TOCT ovpea <TK\^pa TT
Ta? r ayopas, 7rpo(3o\a9, KOi\aas, ySe
Ev /JiV 6^0) OaTTWf OVK ?}V TToSctS O)KU? A)(t
Me/oj^a /xj/^ ayro? ypd/u.fJ.aT e-jraivov e^et.
Ttoi/ TTTeovcov i/ooi e^fbaivova i Tropecai,
Kat rou r)v KpoTa<p(Joi> SeiKeXov ecrrJ f3l(3\os,
Ad Odcombiam (nimium, bona si sua norit,
fcelicem) de indigena ipsius celeberrimo,
Pedite celerrimo, -fPugile acerrimo, JVigile
macerrimo, Tomo compacto Coriaceo, Thoma
Coriato.
ERige turrigerum praerupta Odcombia collem,
E gremio Monstrum prosilit ecce tuo.
Prosilit historicus, vates, rhetor, peregrinans,
Cui non dant foetum Punica regna parem.
Bisque biceps author prolem dat Tea-<rapajui.op(pov,
Historiis, miris, rhetoris arte, metris.
Neu Monstri nomen laevum quis dixerit, audi ;
Rectius hos dici nil potuisse scias.
Monstrum a monstrando Criticus denominat, ecquis
Tot vel tanta alius quae tibi monstret, habet?
Te mundo monstrat, notam facit, & tibi mundum ;
Subjiciens oculis extera mira tuis.
* Vel quia Polypodis instar crebra loci mutatione multos passus pro-
fectus, vel quia multipedum animalculorum multos morsus perpessus est.
f Ob validam ipsius cum Judaeo Veneto, & Vangione rustico luctam.
| Ob maciem ex nocturna lucubratione, hodaeporetica monitione, &
Cruditatum molitione contractam.
40
PANEGYRICK VERSES
Visere sed vatis terras magis usque remotas Laurence
Pluraque fert animus mira referre tui. Whitaker,
Hunc post emensos tantos, Odcombia, cursus
Exceptum gremio, chara, foveto tuo.
Semper ut hoc cunctis Portentum nobile monstres,
Visere qui cupient Theseos ora tui.
To the most peerelesse Poetical Prose-writer, the
most Transcendent, Tramontane Traveller,
and the most single-soled, single-souled, and
single-shirted Observer, the Odcombian Gallo-
belgicus.
WOnder of worlds, that with one fustian case,
One payre of shoes, hast done Odcombe the grace
To make her name knowen past the Alpine hils,
And home return d hast worne out many quils
In writing faire thy large red-lin d Rehearsall
Of what thou saw st with sharpe eyes which did pearce all
Stone Tombes, great gates, and manners of the people,
Besides the height of many a * Tower and Steeple,
^nailes, 2 Butterflies, black 3 sheep, 4 black hogs, & 5 Storks
And the neate use of eating meate with 6 forkes :
And, that of stuffe thou might st leave out no odd piece
To raise thy worke, th hast writ o th Switzers 7 Cod
piece :
Thou saw st the Venice 8 Donna s, & didst quarrell
With the Dutch JBoore, thou saw st the monstrous
t barrel :
But O thy temper! seldome wast thou drunke,
Nor hadst but one night s solace with thy punke :
Nor in thy pilgrimage wert much a sinner,
But when thou didst listeale bread to save a dinner.
*P P . 113, 183, 451.
!P. 68. 2 P. 76. 3 P. 68. 4 Ibid. 5 P. 41. 6 P. 90.
7 P. 386. 8 P 261. | P. 524. fP. 486.
[The references are to the pages of the original text.]
41
CORYAT S CRUDITIES
Laurence Thou in all sorts of travell hadst thy part,
Whitaker. g ut most on f ootej an d sometimes in a cart.f
Nor didst thou scorne for all spruce Criticks mockings,
T accept of gift a Prussians aged stockings.
Thow sawst the field of many a famous battell,
And home thou cam st well furnisht with quicke cattell ;
Yet must I say thy fortune therein was ill,
For thou wentst nak t to wash thy shirt at Basil ;
And having seene Cloysters, and many a Monke,
Becam st thy selfe a Recluse in a trunke.
But Il e not write thy labours Inventory,
Pie say but this of thee, and of thy story,
Thou well describ st the marvels thou didst see,
And this thy booke as well describeth thee.
SONNET compose en rime a la *Marotte, accommode
au style de 1 Autheur du liure ; faict en loiiange de cet
Heroique Geant Odcombien, nomme non Pantagruel,
mais Pantagrue, c est a dire, ny Oye, ny Oison, ains
tout Grue, accoustre icy en Hochepot, Hachis, ou
Cabirotade, pour tenir son rang en la Librairie de
1 Abbaye St. Victor a Paris, entre le liure de Mar-
moretus de baboinis & cingis, & celuy de Tirepetanus
de optimitate triparum ; & pour porter le nom de la
Cabirotade de Coryat, ou, de 1 Apodemistichopezologie
de 1 Odcombeuili Somerseti (Soti) en, &c.
SI de ce pais le pourpris spatieux,
(D ou est sorti ce Badin precieux)
Ou bien la Suisse, ou mesme PAlemagne
Pouroit fournir quelque douce compagne
D esprit pareil, & de condition
Semblable a luy, le vieil Deucalion
|| Beleeve him not reader, he brings this in onely to make up the
rime.
tP. 9-
* A scavoir seloa le style de Clement Marot vieil Poete Francois.
Cest a dire, Voyageur du mot Grec,
42
PANEGYRICK VERSES
Et Pyrrhe en eux seroient resuscitez :
Car ne nasquit de leurs cailloux iettez,
Que tas de gens, & un monde nouueau :
Ainsi des pierres, ou nostre II Blaireau
Alette 1 oeil (fut-ce aux Fonts, ou Potences,
Clochers, Statues, qui tiennent balances)
Est ne soudain un grand hideux volume
De beau discours, qui s est rendu 1 enclume
De nos esprits, un monde de fadeze,
Dont le goutteux se resiouir soit aise.
Tay toy Rablais, rabbaisse soit 1 orgueil
De tes Endouilles, qui d un bel accueil
Receurent ton * Geant en la f Farouche,
A ce Geant d Odcombe pierre & souche
Park, fournit des comptes, Pentretint
Le muguetta, voire & son sens maintint
En ce travail : Mais scais-tu bien pour quoy ?
Son Chef Creste luy donna ceste loy,
Que des hommes du lieu ne scachant le language,
Parmy troncs & cailloux il passeroit sa rage.
Explicit Laurentius Whitakerus.
Incipit Hugo Holland.
In persona & laudem authoris.
Ov Tro\v/j.r)Tis e yco, TroSa? aXXa /mev COKV? O owcreu?, Hugo
/3Ae\j/-a9 TrXavovirXeov e lKotri Keivov,
a -rra ypa<^>u> ^eVo? o<p6a\ju.6iiTiv e/ma
, yaiaoe evi iraTpiSi "Xepari.
|| Un certain animal, qui a la veue fort percante.
* Pantagruel.
t Une Isle ainsi appellee par Rablais.
[Sonetto
43
CORYAT S CRUDITIES
Sonetto.
H U S (~\ Ui P uo niirar ognun, chi non e cieco,
Holland. V^J 1 Un gallant huomo ch in Italia e stato :
Ma del parlare ha mai motto imparato,
Troppo pecan te era por tarsi seco.
Egli pur bravamente parlal Graeco,
Havendo mai la Graecia caminato :
Ma quel viaggio, di ch ei n ha parlato,
Gli a piu gran stento, e piu gran lode ceco.
E per vedere i lidi del Leuante ;
El signor Turco, e l messer prete Gianni :
Donde tornando un Paladin errante,
Con qualche spesa di quatrini e d anni :
Ne contera, fra cose tali e tante,
II Turco un pantalon, e l prete un Zanni.
To Topographicall Typographicall Thomas.
I Sing the man, I sing the wofull case,
The shirt, the shoes, the shanks that serv d to trace
Seven Countries wide, the greater was his paine,
That two to one he ever came againe,
Yet two for one he came : O Muse, O Maid,
(If Maid or Muse) say what hath so beraid
This silly *soule, and drove him to such labours,
As had his hide bene onely made for tabours?
Recount my Girle, what did he with the French,
Before he courted the Venetian wench?
How could he leave his well-boyl d beere, & scape,
To drinke the raw bloud of the Germane grape?
Wherewith his watrie teeth being set on edge,
He nigh had lost of teeth his double hedge.
At home much did he suffer, much abroad,
And never once (poore f Asse) did cast his load,
Yet further went then Scaracalasino,
* Iniignem pietate virum. eya/cos oSovrwv. Horn.
f Note reader that a traveller must have the backe of an Asse, the
mouth of a sow, the eye of a hawke, a merchants eare, &c.
44
PANEGYRICK VERSES
And after litter d lay at Bergomo. Hugo
This usage did he beare abroad uncivil!, Holland.
At home too was he borne not farre from Evill.
In Odcombe parish yet famous with his cradle,
A chicke he hatcht was of an egge unaddle.
Whence a yong Cockrel he was sent for knowledge
To Winchester, and planted in the Colledge :
Not there to prove a goose (for he is none)
But that he might with other Cocks come on.
Where loe a dwarfe in stature he so pliant
Grew in the Greeke, that he became a Giant,
Pronouncing then Demosthenes each letter
More plaine, and reading all then Homer better,
This Prince of Poets, that of Rhetoritians.
His Latine too deserves more praise then Priscians,
For Coryate lives, and Priscian he is dead,
No marvaile ; Coryate brake so oft his head.
Now when in Greeke and Latin he could gravell
His schoole fellowes, forsooth he needs will travell ;
Not for bare language, but (his charges earning
On the by) on the maine, for reall learning.
Be Basil proofe and Zurich too, and Frankfort,
As thou in print maist see, if thou him thanke for t.
What would he with more tongues? he hath enough,
That which he hath is fine neat-leather tough :
And yet at Calais to confound the Masse
Some say he spake the tongue of Balaams Asse.
And others, that with Sampsons Asses jawbone.
He slew whole hoasts : so is he rough and rawbone.
T were but a frump to name the Asses backe,
Each common traveller beares thereon his packe :
I therefore leave the Asse for feare he doubt,
Or others for him, that I should him flout.
But as the Serpent (not the goose) that hisses,
So is he wise, and equald with Ulysses ;
Who townes of many men hath seene & manners :
The more was he beholding to the tanners.
If he had but one onely paire of shoes.
45
CORYAT S CRUDITIES
Hugo Then how much leather thinke ye could he loose?
Holland. He hath scene Paris garden and the Lions,
And Paris Garden of all France, and Lyons,
With all the townes that lye twixt this and Venice,
Where (howbeit some say he played at tennis)
He more prevaild against the xcoriate Jewes,
Then Broughton could, or twenty more such Hughs,
And yet but for one petty poore misprision,
He was nigh made one of the Circumcision.
But holla, that s a part that must be privy ;
Now go we to the towne of learned Livy.
Where being before Licentiat, he proceeded
To beg like a poore Paduan, when he needed.
Then through Vicenza and Brescia doth he goe
Among the Cogleons, those of Bergomo.
Who made him lye in litter like a Villan :
Then viewes he, in his case of fustaine, Milan.
(Not Milan fustaine though) yet such a trophae
As might become a Soldan or a Sophe.
Which in his frontispice he doth extoll,
Like those of Marius in Romes Capitoll.
And well the case was lin d with poudred Ermin.
Though others thinke it was some stranger vermin.
Now should I tell his travels with the Dutch,
But that my Muse doth feare to drinke too much.
For, if the water of poore Hippocrene
Doth make her drunke, what wil the wine of Rhene?
Both Heidelberg I passe, and the great hogshead,
Which he bestrid him selfe, like a great hogs-head.
Who list the paines or pleasure take to looke,
Shall this and more finde printed in the booke.
Whose merits here I will no further raise :
That were my friend to sell, and not to praise.
Perhaps I know some that have seene the Turke,
Yet would be whipt ere they wrote such a worke.
But what a volume here will rise anone,
When he hath seene both Turke and Prester John?
Enough : yet in his Crudities behoofe,
46
PANEGYRICK VERSES
This will I say : It is a booke of proofe. Hugo
Wherein himselfe appeares (I will be plaine) Hoi/and.
No foole in print, nor yet a knave in graine.
A Parallell betweene Don Ulysses of Ithaca and
Don Coryate of Odcombe.
The Preamble to the Parallell.
IF morall Plutarch had done nothing else,
Yet would we praise him for his parallels ;
Where he with every Greeke doth match a Roman.
I that would be his Ape, can fancie no man,
(Though learned Hackluyt hath set many forth)
Amongst our English, who for wit and worth
May be compared with the Ithacan,
Unlesse that Brute the brave Odcombian.
What do you tell me of your Drakes or Candishes ;
We never were beholding to their standishes.
This man hath manners seene, and men outlandish ;
And writ the same : so did not Drake nor Candish.
If Drake be famous because he did wander
About the Seas, Tom may be well a Gander,
That ravisheth with his harmonious quill
More eares than any Swan on Parnasse hill.
The Parallell it selfe.
ULysses was a merry Greeke they say,
So Tom is, and the Greeker of the tway.
Ulysses left at home an aged Syre,
And Tom an aged mother by the fyre.
Ulysses was an Islander I trow,
How then? I pray you is not Coryate so?
Perhaps Ulysses did in wit excell,
Our Coryate though doth of more learning smell.
Ulysses had a ship of no great bulke,
And Coryate went to Calais in a hulke.
Ulysses in the Trojan horse was hid,
The Heidelbergian barrell Tom bestrid.
47
CORYAT S CRUDITIES
Hugo Good harnesse did Ulysses guarde and grace,
Holland. Where Coryate nought had but a fustian case.
Ulysses hardly from his Circe sluncke,
As hardly Tom from his Venetian Puncke.
By land Ulysses in a Chariot rode,
And Coryate in a Cart, the greater lode.
Ulysses with sterne Ajax had to doe,
With the Dutch Boore so had poore Coryate too.
At home left Ulix store of beasts and chattell,
And Coryate home came guarded with more cattell.
Ulysses us d to drinke the ^Ethiop wine,
With whitson-ale his cap doth Coryate line.
Just twenty yeares Ulysses with his Greeks
Did wander : Coryate just as many weeks.
Ulysses all that while had but one carvell,
Tom but one paire of shoes, the greater marvell.
Minerva holpe Ulysses at a lift,
And Pacience Coryate, for there was no * shift.
Ulysses heard no Syren sing : nor Coryate
The Jew, least his praepuce might prove excoriate.
Ulysses had a wife to lust unprone,
But Coryate had a chaster, having none.
Ulysses seem d a beggar all to torne,
So Coryate did ; and was I dare be sworne.
Ulysses in his travell builded Flushing,
Where Coryate ending, or e the Sea came brushing.
One Homer only sung Ulysses praise,
But Coryats all the Poets of our daies.
The Epilogue of the Parallel.
TAke Reader with a laughing looke
This Odcome new-come well-come booke.
Looke with the like thou take these parallels,
In sober sadnesse we shall marre all else.
For Coryate with us both will quarrell,
And teare himselfe out of his parell.
* Because he came from Venice with one shirt.
48
PANEGYRICK VERSES
In each point though they doe not jumpe, Hugo
I trust they doe yet in the lumpe.
Nor would I joyne them head and feete ;
Lines parallel! doe never meete.
Yet one day meete may thou and I,
And laugh with Coryate ere we die.
Englyn un-odl inion.
YNod y mourglod ae am arglwydh mawr,
* Hwuad-mor cyfarwydh :
Dymma nawr DWM un arwydh,
Ond thydan gwaithlhwdwn gwydh?
Ad Janum Harringtonum Badensem, Equitem ;
non Equitem Badensem, sed auratum.
These Latin verses following were written to be sent to
the worthy and learned Knight above-named, by the
Author of the former, for the obtayning of his
encomiasticks upon my booke : but though they never
came to that worthy Knights hands, I have thought
good to insert them here, because it was the authors
pleasure to have them printed with the rest of his
Panegyricks.
OBone, cui translatus olet miserabilis Ajax,
Qui sat es ingenio & carmine notus eques.
Inficiat furui vis ne fumosa Tobacci,
Neu piper attactu mordeat acre suo :
Ne scombros metuant (metuunt quoque carmina scombros)
Thusue gravi piceum condat odore rogum.
His concede precor folliis, ferventer f solentis
Sub Clypeo Ajacis posse latere tui.
Explicit Hugo Holland,
Cambro-Britannus.
* Sir Francis Drake.
f Itane amicum tuum perstringes (mi Hollande) cum tuis Mephiticis
& graveolentibus facetiis ? num tu Stercutio dedicabis, quas alii mei
amici Musis & Palladi consecrant ? absit, absit.
c. c. 49 D
CORYAT S CRUDITIES
Incipit Robertas Riccomontanus.
Robert Rich- s~*\ Oryate, thou Coryphoeus of Odcombe Whitson-Ale,
v_>< Who since art our Choregus o er many a hill and
dale :
Thy skill in Artes and Armes doe to us evenly show,
As thou art borne to Mars, so to Mercurio.
Others write bookes prophane, and others that are holy,
But thine a Dosis is against all Melancholy :
A worke of worth, that doth all other workes out-pace
A furlong at the least, thou needst not bate an ace.
A booke of price twill be, if ever there were any,
A hundred Sowses is thy due, thou shalt not bate a peny.
The mayor of Hartlepoole upon a day,
Hearing King Harry was to come that way,
Put on s considering cap, and Kendall gowne,
Consulting with his brethren of the Towne,
What gift they should present as he came by :
A Skatefish (quoth his Councell) sweet and dry :
Nay (quoth the Mayor) weele give him halfe one more :
Soft (quoth another) now your mouth runnes or e :
" As there Masse Mayor, who could not doe but ore-doe,
" So Coryate here, who tels us all, and more * too :
Of mounts, of founts, of rockes, of stockes, of stones,
Of Boores, of whoores, of tombes, of dead mens bones,
Of bowers, of towers, and many a stately steeple,
Helvetians, Rhetians, and many an uncouth people :
Nothing escapes his note, that s worth due observation,
The Gallowes scapes him not without due salutation.
Speake O thou clocke at Strasbourg, and stones at Foun-
tainebeleau,
If Coryate you forget, and not your wonders shew :
Weepe Rhenish drops O Palsgraves Tun, if thou be here
forgotten,
No, no, he hath thee hoopt so well, thy ribbes will n ere
be rotten.
* Not more than truth, but more then other travellers.
For the Author hath written of some of speciall note in his booke.
5
PANEGYRICK VERSES
The Ladyes of Lubricity that live in the Bordello Robert
Are painted in their proper hew by him that is sans mond -
fellow :
He lively them decyphereth, he doth them nought for-
beare,
He strips them to their petticotes, he hits them to a haire.
Who to refresh his graver Muse did often walke per
spasso,
Sometimes to heare the Ciarlatans, and sometimes to the
Ciasso.
And yet herein my ventrous Sir, ywis yee were too curious,
Such places oftentimes doe make most temperate men
most furious.
And who dare sweare for you, I pray, that went for satis
faction,
(You say your selfe) and so may be evicted of the action ?
So that by your confession, sans verdict of a Jurie,
In each place else you shew your wit, but there you shew d
your fury.
Say what you list, sweare and protest, for all this great
Bravado,
It will be said, at least be guest, you were the Puncks
Privado,
And so you l lose great store of those, whose verse may
give you glory,
Especially the female frye, the learned Signiorie.
You le have none such to praise you much : they will
suspect the wench
Hath turn d your Greeke and Latin both into a perfect
French.
Change then thy word (to satisfie) being all one with
Sfogare,
And then thy worke Pie dignifie, to be ad omnia quare.
For who could say so much as thou (whereof thine be the
thankes)
Or of the refractary Jew, or of the Mounte-bankes ?
The stubborne Jew (if it be true) was by thee catechized
At Venice : which at Rome is since by Bellarmine baptized.
CORYAT S CRUDITIES
Rolen Rich- For sure that Tew from Venice came, we finde it so
recorded,
In late Gazettas : which or lies, or trifles ne er afforded.
In which great act to doome aright, and not as partials,
The greater share is Coryats, the lesse the Cardinals.
Now, who shal reade thy worthy work, and heare thy large
discourses
Will sweare thou knowst the Mountebanks, and tracest al
their courses.
Thou hitst the naile in all things else aright : But O the
Boore,
That caytif kerne, so stout, so sterne, ill thrive he ever
more,
That capt thee for a bunch of grapes : ten tousand Tivels
supplant him.
I see well science hath no foeman nisi ignorantem.
Hadst thou had courage to thy skill, and with this Gyant
coped,
(But 6 such skill and courage both in one can not be
hoped.)
Thou mightst with Guy and Bevis bold, in martial praise
have shared,
And Odcombe might with Hampton, & with Warwick
have compared.
Oh then my Muse a higher pitch had flowen, and had
thee set
All pari to Sir Lancelot tho, before Sir Dagonnet.
Yet brave I grant is thy revenge for that his grosse abuse,
Thy poynant pen hath stab d him in, O piercing launce of
Goose :
Record we in the rolle of fame the Goose and Oxe
together,
Whose shoes did beare him hence, and home, O ever
lasting leather.
Some newes yee shoes, for you did use with Coryate still
to be,
And might us give (if you could speake) some notes as
well as he.
52
PANEGYRICK VERSES
Twere meete that now from shoes I go, to socks & slippers Robert Rich-
next,
And yet its fit I them omit, I finde them not ith Text :
And one bare word of one bare shirt I hope shall be
enoughe,
He loves the naked truth too well, such shifting to
approve :
For nought feares he back-biters nips, in doublet or in
canyons,
He holds them ever as they are, the travellers com
panions,
Couragious Coryate, for one Dutchman that thee sore
assayled,
Thou hast a hundred Picquardes slaine, and to the table
nayled.
Some men may think that this is strange : well he that list
may cavell,
Wise Coryate thinks no luggage light for him that meanes
to travel!.
Leave we the baggage then behinde, and to our matter
turne us,
As Coryate did, who left at home his socks and his
cothurnoes.
For now of wonders must I treate, wast not thinke you a
wonder,
To goe two thousand miles at least, in five months space,
not under?
And of strange notes, foure hundred leaves, twenty
thousand lines to write,
This farre surpasseth Hercules his fifty in a night.
Besides, rare man he tell you can the manners of each
stranger,
Yet, t understand one word they speake, he never was in
danger.
Then lanch thee forth (thou man of worth) when this thy
worke is done
According to thy great designe, as far as shines the
Sunne.
S3
CORYAT S CRUDITIES
Robert Rich- And bring us notes of all the world, when thou hast past
it thorow,
Weele have a caske to put them in, shall put downe
Heydelborow.
Explicit Robertus Riccomontanus.
Incipit Gualterus Quin.
In lode del 1 Autore.
La Cornamusa di Gualtero Quin.
Walter Quin. OE 1 gran guerrier, chi tanto fece & scrisse,
O Se stesso, e 1 mondo insieme ingarbugliando,
Per commandar a tutti, mentre ei visse,
De suoi gran vanti andava trionfando ;
Ben e ragion Tom-asino galante,
Ch altiero e bravo tu ti pavoneggi,
Poiche nel far, e scriver stravagante.
Vinci il gran Giulio, non che lo pareggi,
Di quel ch egli hebbe in parecchi anni oprato
Con schiere armate, scrisse un libriccivolo :
Ma dal cervello tuo un libraccio e nato
Di quel, c hai fatto in pochi mesi solo :
Latino & Greco sapeva esso assai ;
Ma del 1 Inglese era affatto ignorante :
To 1 vinci in questo, e pur jd avanzo sai
Greco e Latino, per far un Pedante.
Un gran rumor e terribil fracasso
Fece ei, per metter sotto sopra il mondo :
Di dar da rider con solazzo & spasso
A tutti, fu de tuoi dissegni il fondo.
Molte migliaia di schiere nemiche
Morir ei fe con lancie, dardi, e stocchi :
Mai non ti piacquer Archibugi, 6 Piche,
Ne Morte alcuna, fuor che de pidocchi :
Quei chi scamparon 1 unghie tue prigioni
Portasti addosso : come quel guerriero
Di squadre morte i Prencipi & padroni
54
PANEGYRICK VERSES
Menossi avanti trionsante e altiero. Walter Quin.
Ei vincitor ascese in Campidoglio,
Con pompa e boria, in carro trionfale :
Contadinesco carro senza orgoglio
Per trionfar ti piacque ; manco male.
Colui mostrando, come andava ratto
Nel vincer, scrisse, lo venni, viddi, vinsi :
L hai detto meglio tu vincendo il patto,
Che ti fe scorrer e quinci, e costinci.
Francia, Lamagna, Italia, Helvetia, Rhetia
Non scorse gia senza armi quel bravaccio ;
Come scorresti tu ratto a Venetia,
E indietro a casa tua con poco impaccio.
Solo un Vilan Tedesco, imbriaco, e tristo,
Con bastonate ben ti pesto gli ossi :
Forse ch ei sceso dal vecchio Ariovisto
Di casa Giulia penso che tu fossi.
Ma per disgratia se n valor attivo
A Giulio alcun soprate desse il vanto ;
Egli e pur forza ch in valor passive
Voto e sentenza egli dia dal tuo canto.
Ne suoi viaggi gran fatica ei prese,
Non pero senza Cavai, Muli, & Cocchi :
Tu sempre andavi a pie, mal in arnese.
Vincendo i cingani, staffieri, & scrocchi.
Elquel ch a schivo hauria per morbidezza,
Bastotti un par di scarpe in quel viaggio,
Che rattoppasti spesso con destrezza ;
Di Lesinesca industria vero saggio.
Questa lode anc hai di buon Lesinante
(Di che quel prodigo non fu mai degno)
Ch una camiscia & veste, da buon fante :
Sola portasti allhor senza aschio, 6 sdegno,
Parsa a lui peste faria la tua rogna,
Che nel grattarla dandoti solazzo,
Ballar ti fe come al suon di sampogna,
O Violin di quel francese pazzo.
L haurian ucciso i tuoi stenti, & disagi
55
Walter Quit!.
Christopher
Brooke.
CORYAT S CRUDITIES
Nel mangiar, bever, dormir, appiccarti
Pulci, pidocchi, & cimici malvagi,
Guastar le gambe, e 1 culo scorticarti :
Nel travagliar col corpo il capo ancora,
Quindi il cervello ogn hora lambicando ;
Per ciascun passo, che pria facesti, ora
Righe altretante dal cervel stillando.
S ei quest! affanni mai sofferti haurebbe,
Manco gl affronti, ente, & scorni, ch omai
Non senti sordo & cieco, soffrirebbe ;
Trastullo a te si fan pur questi guai.
Poiche in oprar, dungue, en patir 1 agguagli,
Anzi lo vinci, Tom-asino invitto,
Qual Cornamusa si gonfi, & travagli,
Chi uvol cantarti con decoro & dritto.
Explicit Gualterus Quin.
Incipit Christophorus Brooke Eboracensis.
As for these titles that follow, bestowed upon me by
this worthy Gentleman, I would have thee know (reader)
that as I acknowledge my selfe utterly unworthy of them,
so I meant to have suppressed and concealed them, but
that it is the Authors pleasure to prefixe them before his
verses. Therefore for obeying of his will I have thought
good, much against mine owne will, to expresse them in
this place, even these.
To the no lesse learned, then wise and discreete
Gentleman, Mr. THOMAS CORYATE,
In some few moneths travell borne & brought up to
what you see viz. :
To be the delight of a world of noble wits,
To be a shame to all Authors, as the Gout and Quartan
Feaver have bene to all Physitians.
This plaine song sendeth CHRISTOPHER BROOKE,
his poore friend, to attend the
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PANEGYRICK VERSES
descant of his famous booke, through all Hands, Christopher
Tongues, Arts, Trades, Mysteries, and
Occupations whatsoever.
THe subtle Greeke Ulysses needs must travell,
Ten years, forsooth, over much sand and gravell,
And many Cities see, and manners know,
Before there could be writ a booke or two
Of his adventures : and he travel d still
(Else there are lyars) sore against his will :
But this rare English-Latine-Grecian,
Of Orators and Authors the blacke Swan,
A voluntarie journey undertooke
Of scarce sixe moneths, and yet hath writ a booke
Bigger than Homers, and (though writ in prose)
As full of poetry, spite of Homers nose.
If he liv d now that in Darius Casket
Plac d the poore Iliad s, he had bought a Basket
Of richer stuffe to intombe thy volume large,
Which thou (O noble Tom) at thine own charge
Art pleas d to print. But thou needst not repent
Of this thy bitter cost ; for thy brave Precedent
Great Caesar is, who penned his owne gestes,
And (as some write) recited them at feastes.
And at s owne charge had printed them they say,
If printing had bene used at that day.
The Presse hath spent the three for one you got
At your returne : whats that ? poore thing God wot.
Manure this land still with such bookes my friend,
And you shall be paid for it in the end.
For I (me thinkes) see how men strive to carry
This Joviall Journal! into each Library.
And we ere long shall well perceive your wit,
(Grave learned Bodley) by your placing it.
Therefore lanch forth great booke like Ship of fame.
Th Hopewell of Odcombe thou shalt have to name.
Explicit Christophorus Brooke Eboracensis.
57
John Hoikins.
CORYAT S CRUDITIES
Incipit Joannes Hoskins.
Cabalistical Verses, which by Transposition of Words,
Syllables, and Letters, make excellent Sense, otherwise
none.
In laudem Authoris.
EVen as the waves of brainlesse butter d fish,
With bugle home writ in the Hebrew tongue,
Fuming up flounders like a chafing-dish,
That looks asquint upon a Three-mans song :
Or as your equinoctiall pasticrust
Projecting out a purple chariot wheele,
Doth squeeze the spheares, and intimate the dust,
The dust which force of argument doth feele :
Even so this Author, this *Gymnosophist,
Whom no delight of travels toyle dismaies,
Shall sympathize (thinke reader what thou list)
Crownd with a quinsill tipt with marble praise.
-VV--VV-VV
-VV--VV-VV
-VV--V-V-V
-vv-v-v-v
Encomiological Antispasticks,
Consisting of Epitrits, the fourth in the first
syzugie, which the vulgar call Phaleuciac
hendecasyllables ; trimeters Catalectics with
Antispastic Asclepiads, trimeters Acatalectics
consisting of two dactylicall commaes of some
learned named Choriambicks, both together
dicoli distrophi, rythmicall and hyperrythmi-
call, amphibologicall, dedicated to the un
declinable memory of the autarkesticall
Coryate, the only true travelling Porcupen
of England.
* This word Gymnosophist is derived from two
yv/zvos and cro^tcmjs, which signifie a naked sophister.
Greeke words
, . And he there
fore cals the Author so, because one day he went without a shirt at
Basil, while it was washing.
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PANEGYRICK VERSES
Also there is this tune added to the verses, and pricked John Hosklns.
according to the forme of Musicke to be sung by those
that are so disposed.
n
-N i
N h
1
Jf \j ,
I
z
1J
m
m
f> .
J z
rJ
Admired Coryate, who like a Porcupen, Dost
shew prodigious things to thy countrimen.
ADmired Coryate, who like a Porcupen
Dost shew prodigious things to thy countrimen.
As that beast when he kils doth use his owne darts,
So doe thy prettie quils make holes in our hearts.
That beast lives of other company destitute,
So wentest thou alone every way absolute.
That beast creepeth afoote, nee absque pennis,
So didst thou trot a journey hence to Venice.
Live long foe to thy foe fierce as a Porcupen,
Live long friend to thy friend kinde as a Porcupen.
Henceforth adde to thy crest an armed Histrix,
Since thy carriage hath resembled his tricks.
The same in Latin.
SE jaculo, sese pharetra, sese utitur arcu,*
In reliquas Histrix dum parat arma feras.
Se comite ad Venetam tendens Coriatius urbem,
Se duce, se curru, se fuit, usus equo.
Et decantat iter se nunc authore stupendum,
Nee minus a reditu se quoque teste sapit.
Ergo non immerito peregrinans dicitur Histrix,
Et laudes a se, non aliunde capit.
* Claudian ad Stymphalum.
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CORYAT S CRUDITIES
John Hoskins. IVT^ more but so, I heard the crie,
-L l And like an old hound in came I
To make it fuller, though I finde
My mouth decayes much in this kind.
The cry was this, they cri de by millions,
Messengers, Curriers, and Postillians,
Now out alas we are undone
To heare of Coryats payre of sho ne ;
There is no newes we are more sorry at
Then this strange newes of *Rawbone Coryate.
Who like a Unicorne went to Venice,
And drinking neither Sack nor Rhenish,
Home in one payre of shoes did trample,
A fearefull and a strange example.
But whats the newes of learned people
In Pauls Churchyard & neere Pauls steeple?
Hang up his shoes on top of Powles,
Tyed to his name in parchment rowles,
That may be read most legibly
In Tuttlefields and Finsbury.
Fame is but winde, thence winde may blow it
So farre that all the world may know it :
From Mexico and from Peru
To China and to Cambalu :
If the wind serve, it may have lucke
To passe by South to the bird Rucke.
Greater then the Stymphalides
That hid the Sunne from Hercules.
And if fames wings chance not to freeze,
It may passe North ninetie degrees,
Beyond Meta incognita,
Where though there be no hpllyday,
Nor Christen people for to tell it,
Horrible Beares and Whales may smell it.
Thence may it on the Northern seas,
On foote walke to the Antipodes,
* A great Gyant swift on foote, of whom mention is in Poly-
chronicon.
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PANEGYRICK VERSES
Whose feete against our feete do pace J hn Hoskms.
To keepe the centre in his place.
But when those fellowes that do wonder
As we at them, how we go under
From clime to clime, and tongue to tongue,
Throughout their hemispheare along,
Have tost these words as bals at tennis,
Tom Coryate went on foote from Venice.
This travelling fame, this walking sound
Must needs come home in coming round,
So that we shall cry out upon him,
His fame in travell hath outgone him.
When all have talked, and time hath tried him,
Yet Coryate will be semper idem.
SCilicet haud animum coeli mutatio mutat,
Et patriam fugiens se quoque nemo fugit.
Thersites Phrygiis Thersites perstat in oris,
Nee Plato in j^Egypto desinit esse Plato.
Nee Thomas * Tomyris visis remigrabit ab Indis,
Nee f Cordatus erit qui Coriatus erat.
When all have talked, and time hath tri de him,
Yet Coryate will be semper idem.
Explicit Joannes Hoskins.
* Nee vir peregrinans faemina, nee Anglus Romanus fiet.
1 1 meane egregi cordatus homo Catus ./Elius Sextus.
[Incipit Joannes
61
CORYAT S CRUDITIES
Incipit Joannes Pawlet de George Henton.
John Pawlet. These ensuing verses lately sent unto me by my right
worshipful and generose countryman and neighbour
in Somersetshire, Mr. John Pawlet of George Henton,
had such a glorious title prefixed before them, that I
ment to have excluded it out of my booke, because I
am altogether unworthy of those Panegyricke termes.
But because this worthy Gentleman doth crave to have
it placed before his lines, I doe with his elegant verses
present the same also unto thee, viz.
To the Darling of the MUSES and Minion
of the GRACES,
My deare Country-man and friend,
M. THOMAS CORYATE, of Odcombe,
Ome call thee Homer by comparison ;
Comparisons are odious, I will none :
But call thee (as thou art) Tom Coryate,
That is ; the Man the World doth wonder at.
Whose Braine-pan hath more Pan then Braine by ods,
To make thee all Pan with the semi-gods.
Which pan, when thy fleete wits a wandring goe,
Is *rung to keepe the swarme together so.
So (recollected) thou with them did st flie
To the worlds Gardens, France and Italic,
Where (like a Bee, from every honeyed floure)
The f oddest sweets did st sucke ; which makes thee scowre
At home for life : where, in a II Combe as odde
Thou squirtst it, to feede those that flie abrode.
Explicit Joannes Pawlet.
* Discretion beates upon his braine-pan to keepe wits together.
t That is, choisest.
|| Odcombe, the place of his birth ; the hungry aire whereof first
digested his Crudities, as he himselfe affirmes in his Title-page of this
present worke.
62
S
PANEGYRICK VERSES
Incipit Lionel Cranfield.
GReat laude deserves the Author of this worke, Lionel Cran-
Who saw the French, Dutch, Lombard, Jew, &
Turke ;
But speakes not any of their tongues as yet,
For who in five months can attaine to it ?
Short was his time, although his booke be long,
Which shewes much wit, and memory more strong :
An yron memory ; for who but he
Could glew together such a rhapsodic
Of pretious things? as towers, steeples, rocks,
Tombes, theaters, the gallowes, bels, and clocks,
Mules, Asses, Arsenals, Churches, gates, Townes,
Th alpine mountaines, Cortezans and Dutch clownes.
What man before hath writ so punctually
To his eternall fame his journeys story ?
And as he is the first that I can finde,
So will he be the last of this rare kinde,
Me thinks when on his booke I cast my eies,
I see a shop repleate with merchandize,
And how the owner jelous of his fame,
With pretious matter garnisheth the same.
Many good parts he hath, no man too much
Can them commend, some few Pie only touch.
He Greeke and Latin speakes with greater ease
Then hogs eat akornes, or tame pigeons pease :
His ferret eies doe plod so on his booke,
As makes his lookes worse than a testie cooke.
His tongue and feete are swifter then a flight,
Yet both are glad when day resignes to night.
He is not proud, his nature soft and milde,
His complements are long, his lookes are wilde :
Patient enough, but oh his action
Of great effect to move and stirre up passion.
Odcombe be proude of thy odde Coryate,
Borne to be great, and gracious with the State ;
63
CORYAT S CRUDITIES
Lionel Cran- How much I him well wish let this suffice,
field. j_j- s b 00 k. e kegj. s hewes that he is deeply wise.
Explicit Lionel Cranfield.
Incipit Joannes Sutclin.
John Sutclin. T T T^Hether I thee shall either praise or pitty,
VV My senses at a great Dilemma are :
For when I thinke how thou hast travaild farre.
Canst Greeke and Latin speake, art curteous, witty,
I these in thee and thee for them commend ;
But when I thinke how thou false friends to keepe
Dost weare thy body, and dost leese thy sleepe,
I thee then pity and doe discommend.
Thy feete have gone a painfull pilgrimage,
Thou many nights dost wrong thy hands and eyes
In writing of thy long Apologies ;
Thy tongue is all the day thy restlesse page.
For shame intreate them better, I this crave,
So they more ease, and thou more wit shalt have.
Explicit Joannes Sutclin.
Incipit Inigo Jones. All Mol. Mag.
Tho. Cor.
Inigo Jones. /^\Dde is the * Combe from whence this Cocke did come,
\J That Crowed in Venice gainst the skinlesse Jewes,
Who gave him th entertainment of Tom Drum ;
Yet he undaunted slipt into the stewes
For learnings cause ; and in his Atticke rage
JTrod a tough hen of thirty yeares of age.
Enough of this ; all pens in this doe travell
To tracke thy steps, who Proteus like dost varie
* This is a figure called by the Grecians r/^cris, that is, a division,
when the word is so divided asunder as here : Odde is the Combe for
Odcombe is the place from whence &c. as in Ennius, saxo cere com-
minuit brum, for cerebrum.
I Beleeve him not Reader. Reade my Apologie in my discourse
of the Venetian Cortezans, p. 270.
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PANEGYRICK VERSES
Thy shape to place, the home-borne Muse to gravell. Iai ff> Jones -
For though in Venice thou not long didst tarrie,
Yet thou the Italian soule so soone couldst steale,
As in that time thou eat st but one good meale.
For France alas how soone (but that thou scornedst)
Couldst thou have starch d thy beard, ruffl d thy hose?
Worne a foule shirt twelve weekes, and as thou journedst,
Sung Falaliro s through thy Persian nose ?
For faces, cringes, and a saltlesse jest,
And beene as scab d a Monsieur as the best.
Next to the sober Dutch I turn my tale,
Who doe in earnest write thee Latin letters,
And thou in good pot paper ne re didst faile
To answere them ; so are you neither debters.
But sympathize in all, save when thou drink st
Thou mak st a * crab-tree face, shak st head, and wink st.
Last, to thy booke the Cordiail of sad mindes,
Or rather Cullis of our Od-combe Cocke
Sodden in travell, which the Critique findes
The best restorer next your Venice smocke.
This booke who scornes to buy, or on it looke,
May he at Sessions crave, and want his booke.
Explicit Inigo Jones.
Incipit Georgius Sydenham
Brimptoniensis.
Upon the cloying Crudities, chewed in the braines of the George Syden-
Author, and cast up in the presse of the Printer, by the
sole travell and proper charge of CORDATE CORYATE,
my conceited Country-man and Neighbour.
COuld any one have done this but thy selfe,
O thou most peerlesse most renowned elfe ?
Regardlesse of thy stockings and of thy shoes,
Afoote to wander through a vale of woes ;
* The modesty of the Author being such, and his temperance in
drinking, that he sometimes frowneth when a healthe is drunke unto him.
C. C. 65 E
CORYAT S CRUDITIES
George Sy den- Where though thou venturd st for to walke alone
Like Hercules ; so tis of Coryate knowne,
That he did n ere in all his journey flie once
From Dogs, from Beares, from Buls, nor yet from
Lyons.
In France I heard thou meeting with a Boare,
(I doe but tell it as twas told before
