Part 1
The Totall Discourse
of
THE RARE ADVENTURES
&
PAINEFULL PEREGRINATIONS
of long Nineteene Yeares Travayles from Scotland to the most famous Kingdomes in Europe, Asia and Affrica
By
WILLIAM LITHGOW
Glasgow James MacLehose and Sons Publishers to the University
MCMVI
THE TABLE
PAGE
Publishers' Note, ix The Epistle Dedicatory, xvii The Prologue to the Reader, xxi Panegyricke Verses upon the Author and his Booke, xxv The Author to his Booke, xxxi The First Part, 1 The Second Part, 40 The Third Part, 70 The Fourth Part, 118 The Fifth Part, 153 The Sixth Part, 212 The Seaventh Part, 265 The Eight Part, etc., 299 The Ninth Part, 333 The Tenth Part, 370 Index, 440
ILLUSTRATIONS
PAGE
The Author's Portracture, Frontispiece Facsimile of the Title Page of the Edition of 1632, xxvii The Author's Portracture, 110 The Author in his Turkish Dress, 128 From The Pilgrimes Farewell to his Native Countrey of Scotland. The Armes of Jerusalem, 252 King James his foure Crownes, 252 The Model of the Great Seale of the Guardians of the Holy Grave, 254 The Modell of the Great City of Fez, 322 The Author in the Libyan Desart, 328 The Author beset with Six Murderers in Moldavia, 364 The Author in Irons in the Governour's Palace at Malaga, 396 The Author in the Racke at Malaga, 402
PUBLISHERS' NOTE
William Lithgow was born in Lanark about 1582. The actual date of his birth is uncertain, but he states (page 377) that he was thirty-three in 1615, and in 'The present Surveigh of London' 'past threescore years' in April, 1643. He was the eldest son of James Lithgow, Burgess of Lanark, and Alison Grahame, his wife. He was educated at Lanark Grammar School, and, according to Sir Walter Scott, [1] was 'bred a tailor.' Scott does not, however, give his authority for this statement. Lithgow seems to have started his travels at a very early age, having 'a large infusion of the wandering spirit common to his country-men.' [2] He says himself that 'neither ambition, too much curiosity, nor any reputation I ever sought did expose me to such long peregrinations and dangerous adventures past'--but 'that undeserved Dalida wrong.' What this mysterious 'Dalida wrong' was is unknown, but family tradition has it that the four brothers, 'foure blood-shedding wolves,' of a certain Miss Lockhart, finding their sister with Lithgow, set upon him and cut off his ears, and from this arose his local nickname of '"Cutlugged" or "Lugless" Will.' Be this as it may, by 1609, Lithgow had made 'two voyages to the Orcadian and Zetlandian Isles, in the stripling age of mine adolescency, and there after surveighing all Germany, Bohemia, Helvetia, and the Low-Countreys from end to end; I visited Paris, where I remained ten moneths.'
From Paris, on March 7th, 1609, Lithgow set out on the first of the three journeys of which he gives an account in his 'Totall Discourse,' where he claims that his 'paynefull feet traced over (beside my passages of Seas and Rivers) thirty-six thousand and odde miles, which draweth neare to twice the circumference of the whole Earth.'
It was on the third of these journeys, when passing through Spain with the intention of seeing 'Great Prester Jehan and his Empire,' that he was thrown into prison in Malaga as a spy and severely tortured. He was released by the intervention of the English Consul there and the English Ambassador at Madrid, backed by a division of King James' Navy which, under the command of Sir Robert Maunsell, happened opportunely to be lying in Malaga Roads, on its return from the expedition against Algiers.
On his arrival at Dartford, fifty days after leaving Malaga, Lithgow was carried to the Court at Theobalds, and exhibited his 'martyrd anatomy' to the whole Court, 'even from the King to the Kitchin.' At the King's expense he was sent twice to Bath, where he recovered his health, although his left arm and crushed bones were incurable. Early in 1622 he was sent to the Marshalsea prison for a long period [3] for assaulting, in the presence chamber, the Spanish Ambassador Gondomar, whose empty promises of redress for his sufferings at Malaga had exasperated Lithgow beyond endurance.
In 1624 Lithgow preferred a Bill of Grievance to the House of Lords, which he daily followed for seventeen weeks, but 'the house breaking up abruptly their order for my suite could take none effect as then, nor yet since, in regard it was no Session Parliament.' In the spring of 1627 he left the Court for Scotland; he traversed the Western Isles, and was 'kindly intertayned' in Brodick Castle by James, Marquess of Hamilton.
In 1632 Lithgow published the first collected edition [4] of his Travels, under the title of 'The Totall Discourse Of the Rare Aduentures and painefull Peregrinations of long nineteene Yeares Trauayles, from Scotland, to the most Famous Kingdomes in Europe, Asia, and Affrica.... Imprinted at London by Nicholas Okes.' The publication seems to have got him immediately into trouble, probably owing to the Spanish influence at Court, as there is a petition extant [5] from him in which he states that he 'had no satisfaction for his grievous torments sustained in Malaga, and having in the description of his foreign travels succinctly avouched the woeful memory of such disastrous accidents, had been this long time committed close prisoner to the Gatehouse, when he had contracted great sickness to the danger of his life. The printer in whom only the reprehension was, is long ago "decarcerat," but he is retained in severe punishment.' He protests that he will never 'meddle any more with the Spaniard however his lamentable wrongs remain unrepaired.'
On the 16th May, 1637, Lithgow, mounted on a 'Gallowegian nagge,' left Scotland, where he had been the guest of the Earl of Galloway, intending to embark at London for Russia, but shipping failing, and summer being over, he resolved to go instead to Breda, and on his return published 'A True and Experimentall Discourse, upon the beginning, proceeding and Victorious event of this last Siege of Breda ... London: Printed by J. Okes for J. Rothwel ... 1637.'
On 24th August, 1643, Lithgow again left Scotland, embarking at Prestonpans for London, 'In all which deserted way, betweene Forth and Gravesend, wee found onely three ships, two Scotsmen and a Noruegian, and one of the royall whelps lying at anker in Aermouth road, which made the sea resemble a wildernesse.' As the result of this visit, he published 'The present Surveigh of London and England's State ... London, Printed by J. O. 1643.' In this book Lithgow gives an interesting account of the fortifications raised by the citizens for defence against the Royalist army. The last work known to have been published by him is 'An Experimental and Exact Relation upon that famous and renowned Siege of Newcastle ... Edinburgh, printed by Robert Bryson 1645.' From this date all trace of him is lost; the date of his death and the place of his burial are unknown, though there is a tradition that he died in Lanark, and lies buried in the churchyard of St. Kentigern there.
Editions of 'The Totall Discourse' were published in London in 1640 and 1682, and in Edinburgh in 1770 and 1814, while a volume of the 'Poetical Remains of William Lithgow,' containing valuable 'Prefatory Remarks,' was collected and published by Dr. James Maidment in Edinburgh in 1863.
The text of 'The Totall Discourse' now published is a reprint of the editio princeps of 1632. References to the pages of the original edition are given in the margin. The letters i, j, u, and v have been altered to conform to modern usage, and obvious printers' errors both of spelling and punctuation have been corrected. The index of the original text has been replaced by a fuller one in this edition.
Glasgow, September, 1906.
THE TOTALL DISCOURSE of the Rare Adventures and Painefull Peregrinations of long Nineteene Yeares Travayles from Scotland to the most famous Kingdomes in Europe, Asia and Affrica
To the High and mighty Monarch, CHARLES, By the Grace of GOD, King of Great Britaine, France, and Ireland, &c.
GRACIOUS SIR;
If Loyall Duty may bee counted presumption? then doubtlesse the best of my meanest worth must beg pardon, for clayming so Royall a Patronage: Yet to whom should I prostrate my Pen and Pilgrimage? if not unto your Sacred Majesty: Nay, none so able to Receive it, none so powerfull to Protect it; and none so justly to claime it, as your Soveraigne Selfe. The Subject treateth of my tedious and curious Travailes, in the best and worst parts of the world; which being begunne in Your hopefull Infancy, are now finally accomplished in the fulnesse of Your thrice blessed Majority.
The generall Discourse it selfe, is most fixed upon the Lawes, Religion, Manners, Policies, and Government of Kings, Kingdomes, People, Principalities and Powers; and therefore so much the more fit for your Majesty. The defect resting onely in me, the worthlesse Author, in handling a rare and plentifull Subject, with a homely and familiar Stile; no wayes fit for Soveraignity to peruse.
Yet (Royall Sir) vouchsafe to remember how thankefully Alexander, received a small Cup of Water; and what a high Value was set upon the Widdowes Mite. If I have made use of my poore Talent, the profit redoundeth unto my Country; which being shaddowed under your auspicuous Favour, shall leave a greater stampe to the Worke, and a deeper impression, of future knowledge, to the curious Understanders. And how often wont your ever blessed Father, graciously to peruse Lines of mine, of far lesser note then these be: Yea, and (viva voce) the punctuall Discourse of all my three Voyages, which are now layd open to the Vulgar World; and therefore I dare humbly expect a greater favour for a larger and more serious Taske.
So likewise your owne Princely adventures beyond Seas, in measuring large Kingdomes, & the glassie face of the great Ocean: have invited me to lay prostrate my painefull peregrinations, at your Sacred feete. Humbly beseeching your Regall goodnesse, to remarke the matter and manner of this Worke; howsoever the Gift, & the Giver bee deficient. And questionlesse as the Bee, gathereth sweetest Hony out of sowrest Flowers, your Royall understanding may finde something, to underprope the Defects of my nothing; and my soule to exult in the smallest sparke of your Gracious Clemency. And lastly, the grievous Sufferings, tortures, and torments, I sustayned in Malaga, being taken as a Spye for your Late Fathers Fleete, exposed agaynst Algier: and condemned to death by their bloody Inquisition for the Gospells sake. These (I prostrate say) doe command me to present the perfect passage thereof, unto your Royall & Religious consideration. Sufficient Certificates, and infallible approbations are annexed to the Tragicall discourse it selfe; and it also humbly bequeathing all, unto your Princely piety and pitty, to Commiserate both my case and cause. Wherefore (and as duty bindeth) I shall ever beseech God to preserve your Royall Raigne from wicked Achitophells, to guard your Sacred person with Heavenly Angels, and to guide your Monarchicke State, with faithful and Religious Counsellours.
AMEN.
Your Majesties most humble, and most obedient Subject, and Servant: William Lithgow.
THE PROLOGUE TO THE READER
Judicious Lector; if good Bookes may be tearmed wise guides, then certainely true Histories, may be tearmed perfite Oracles, secret Counsellours, private Schoolemasters, familiar friends to cherish knowledge, and the best Intelligencers, for all intendements; being duely pondered, and rightly used. This laborious worke then of mine, depending on this preamble, is onely composed of mine owne eye sight, and occular experience; (pluris est occulatus testis unus, quam auriti decem) being the perfit mirrour, and lively Portraicture of true understanding, excelling far all inventions whatsoever, Poeticque, or Theoricque. And now to shun Ingratitude, which I disdaine as Hell, I thought it best to exhibit the profit of my paynefull travailes to the desirous world; for two respects, the one a naturall obligation, the other a generall request: for as my dangerous adventures, have bene wrought out from the infinit variety of variable sights, innumerable toyles, pleasures, and inevitable sorrowes; so doth it also best simpathize with reason, and most fitting, that I should generally dispose of the same, to the temperate judgements of the better sort, the sound and absolute opinions of the Judicious; and to the variable censures of calumnious Critticks, who run at random, in the fields of other mens labours, but can not find the home-bred way in their owne close grounds: And therefore the different disposition of the good and bad, doe best concurre with the interchangeable occurrences of the matter.
Neverthelesse, for thy more easier understanding I have divided this History, in ten severall parts, and they also in three Bookes; which being seriously perused, doubtlesse thy labour shall receave both profit and pleasure: Accept them therefore with the same love, that I offer them to thee, since they cost thee nothing but the reading, how deare soever they are to mee: But understand me better, I scorne to draw my pen to the ignorant foole, neither shall it stoop to the proud Knave, for I contemne both: To the wise I know it will be welcome, to the profound Historian, yeeld knowledge, contemplation, and direction, and to the understanding Gentleman, insight, instruction, and recreation; and to the true-bred Poet fraternall love, both in meane and manner. Now as touching the hissing of snakish Papists; a tush for that snarling Crew; for as this worke, being fensed with experience, and garnished with trueth, is more than able to batter downe the stinging venome of their despightfull waspishnes: so also they may clearely see therein, as in a Mirrour, their owne blindnes, and the damnable errours of their blind Guiders, Deceavers, and Idolaters: And above all the cruell infliction imposed upon me, by the mercilesse Inquisition of their profession in Malaga: which for Christs sake I constantly suffered, in tortures, tormentes, and hunger: And lastly they may perceave Gods miraculous mercy, in discovering and delivering me from such a concealed and inhumane murder. And now referring the well set Reader to the History it selfe, where satisfaction lyeth ready to receave him, and expectation desirous of deserved thanks; I come to talke with the scelerate Companion: If thou beest a Villane, a Ruffian, a Momus, a Knave, a Carper, a Crittick, a Bubo, a Buffon, a stupid Asse, and a gnawing worme with envious lips; I bequeath thee to a Carnificiall reward: where a flaxing rope will soone dispatch thy snarling slander, and free my toylsome travells, and now paynefull labours, from the deadly poyson of thy sharpe edged calumnies: and so go hang thy selfe, for I neither will respect thy love, nor regard thy malice: And shall ever and alwayes remayne;
To the Courteous still observant, and to the Critticall Knave as he deserveth, William Lithgow.
PANEGYRICKE VERSES UPON THE AUTHOR AND HIS BOOKE
To his singular Friend Maister Lithgow.
The double travell (Lithgow) thou hast tane, One of thy Feete, the other of thy Brane, Thee, with thy selfe; doe make for to contend, Whether the earth, thou'st better pac'd or pend. Would Malagaes sweet liquor had thee crownd, And not its trechery made thy joynts unsound, For Christ, King, Countrey, what thou there indur'd Not them alone, but therein all injur'd: Their tort'ring Rack, arresting of thy pace Hath barr'd our hope, of the worlds other face: Who is it sees this side so well exprest, That with desire, doth not long for the rest. Thy travell'd Countreyes so described be, As Readers thinke, they doe each Region see, Thy well compacted matter, ornat stile, Doth them oft, in quicke sliding Time beguile, Like as a Mayde, wandring in Floraes Boures Confind to small time, of few flitting houres, Rapt with delight, of her eye-pleasing treasure, Now culling this, now that Flower, takes such pleasure; That the strict time, whereto she was confin'd Is all expir'd: whiles she thought halfe behind, Or more remayn'd: So each attracting line Makes them forget the time, they doe not tyne: But since sweet future travell, is cut short, Yet loose no time, now with the Muses sport; That reading of thee, after times may tell, In Travell, Prose, and Verse, thou didst excell.
Patrick Hannay.
To his dearely respected friend William Lithgow.
Shall Homer sing of stray'd Ulysses toyle? From Greece to Memphis, in parch'd Ægypts soyle: Flank'd with old Piramides, and melting Nyle, Which was the furthest, he attayn'd the while: A length of no such course, by ten to one, Which thou thy selfe pedestrially hast gone: Then may thy latter dayes out-strip old times, That now hast seene, Earths circulary Climes: And far beyond Ulysses, reach'd without him, Both East and West, yea, North and South about him: Which here exactly, thou hast sweetly sung In ornat style, in our quick-flowing tongue; Of Lawes, Religion, customes, manners, rites Of Kings and people: life-sublimest sprits In policies and government: Earths spaces From soyle to soyle, in thy long wandring traces. But what my soule applaudes! and must admire Which ev'ry zealous Christian, should desire To learne and know; is this, Spaines tortring Racke And torments sharpe, which for the Gospells sake Thou constantly didst beare: O joyfull payne! Whilst Grace in those sad pangs, did thee sustaine, With love and patience: O blest lively faith! That for Christs cause, condemned was to death. Live then (O living Martyr!) still renown'd Mongst Gods elect; whose constancy hath crown'd Reformd Religion: And let Heavens thy mind Blesse with moe joyes, than thou didst torments find.
Walter Lyndesay.
To my deare Friend, Countreyman and Condisciple, William Lithgow.
Rest Noble Spirits in your Native Soyles, Whose high bred thoughts on deare bought sights are bent Renowned Lithgow by his brave attempt Hath eas'd your bodies of a world of toyles.
Not like to some who wrongfully retayne Gods rarest gifts, within themselves ingrost, But what thou hast attain'd with care and cost. Thou yeelds it gratis, to the world againe.
Upon the bankes of wonder-breeding Clide, To these designes thy heart did first assent One way, indeed, to give thy selfe content, But more to satisfie a world beside.
Thy first attempt in excellence of worth, Beyond the reach of my conceit's confinde, But this thy second Pilgrimage of minde, Where all thy paynes are to the world set forth; In Subject, Frame, in Methode, Phrase, and Stile, May match the most unmatched in this Ile: But this renownes thee most, t'have still possest, A constant Heart, within a wandring Brest.
Robert Allen.
To his kind friend and Countreyman W. Lithgow.
Thy well adventur'd Pilgrimage I prayse, Although perform'd with perrill and with paine, Which thou hast pen'd, in more than vulgar phrase So curiously, so sweetly, smooth, and plaine, Yet whilst I wondring call to minde againe. That thou durst goe, like no man else that lives; By Sea and land, alone, in cold and raine, Through Bandits, Pirats, and Arabian Theeves, I doe admire thee; yet a good event Absolves a rash designe: So hardest things, (When humane reason cannot give consent T' attempt) attain'd; the greater glory brings. Then Friend, though praise & paines rest both with thee, The use redounds unto the world, and mee.
John Murray.
In commendation of the Author William Lithgow.
Come curious eyes, that pierce the highest scopes Of sublime stiles: come satisfie your hopes And best desires; in this prompe Pilgrimes paines Whose deepe experience, all this worke sustaines With solid substance, of a Subject deare And pregnant Method; laid before you heare In open bonds: Come take your hearts delight In all the colours, of the worlds great sight. Come thanke his travells; praise his painfull Pen That sends this light, to live, mongst living men; To teach your children, when he, and you are laid As low as dust; how scepterd Crownes are swaid; Most Kingdomes government: How ruld with Lawes The South world is: their rites, Religious sawes: Townes Topographick view, and Rivers courses, Fonts, Forts, and Cittadales: scorch'd Asiaes sources: All you may see, and much more, than I name Seal'd in the Authors, never-dying fame.
Eleazar Robertson.
In Commendation of this History.
Thou art not hatch'd, forth from anothers braine, Nor yet Collect'd, from others toiles thy sight, The selfe-same Man, that bred Thee beares the paine Of thy long birth: O weary wandring Wight! It's carefull he, by Knowledge gives thee light, And deepe experience to adorne thy name; Both Pilgrime, Pen-man, so thy Maister right; Who best can judge, in what concernes the same: Then free-borne toile, flee forth with winged Fame Thy Countries Virgin, thou the first penn'd Booke That in his Soile, did ever Pilgrime frame Of curious Travailes; whereon the Learned looke: Then Knit thy Maiden brow, with Garlands greene, The first of times, the last this Age hath Seene.
Alexander Boyde.
THE AUTHOR TO HIS BOOKE
Go painefull Booke, go plead thy owne Defence, Walke with undaunted Courage, stop the Breath Of carping tongues; who count it small offence To bulge Thee up, within the jawes of Death: Go lively charg'd, with stout Historian Faith, And trample downe, base Crittickes in the Dust: Make Trueth thy sword, to batter down their wrath So shall thy Grave discourse, triumph as just: Who yeeld Thee Credite, and deserving trust, There prostrate fal, give them their hearts content: Point forth the Wise, and Court them as thou must, Give them insight, as I give Argument: Instruct the Curious, inlarge the Servile Mind, Illuminate misunderstandings blinde: Sound Knowledge in their eares, deigne to approove me, Since Friends and Foes, the World and I, must love thee.
THE RARE ADVENTURES
and
PAINEFULL PEREGRINATIONS
of
WILLIAM LITHGOW