Mandeville Translations

WORD FOR WORD TRANSLATION

From this Iʃle men go to another that is called Macumeran, which a great Iʃle and fair; and the men and

From this isle men go to another that is called Macumeran, which a great Isle and fair; and the men and

Women of that Country have heads like hounds; they are reaʃonable, and worship an Ox for their God; they go

Women of that country have heads like hounds; they are reasonable, and worship an ox for their God; they go

all naked, but a little Cloth before their privy members; they are good men to fight, and bear a great Target, with

all naked, but a little cloth before their privy members; they are good men to fight, and bear a great target; with

which they cover all their Body, and a ʃpear in their hand. And if they take any man in Battle, they ʃend him

which they cover all their body, and a spear in their hand. And if they take any man in battle, they send him

to their King, which is a great Lord and devout in his Faith: For he hath about his Neck a Chain three hundred

to their King, which is a great lord and devotee in his Faith: For he has about his Neck a Chain three hundred

great Pearls; and as the Papiʃts ʃay their Pater-Noʃter, and other Prayers, ʃo their King ʃaith every Day

great Pearls; and as the Papists say their Pater-Noster, and other prayers. So their King says every day.

three hundred Prayers to his God, before ne either eat or drink; and he beareth alʃo about his Neck a Ruby,

three hundred prayers to his God, before no either eat or drink; and he bears also about his Neck a Ruby,

Orient fine and good, that is near a foot and five fingers long. For when they chuʃe their King, they give to him

Orient fine and good, that is near a foot and five fingers long. For when chose their King, they give to him

that Ruby to bear in his Hand, and then they lead him riding about the City, and then ever after they are

that Ruby to hold in his hand, and then they led him riding around the City, and then for ever after they will be

subject to him, and therefore he beareth that Ruby always about his Neck; for if he bear not the Ruby,

subject to him, and therefore he wears that Ruby always around his Neck; Because if he didn´t wear the Ruby,

they would no longer hold him for their King. The great Caan of Cathay hath much coveted this Ruby:

they would no longer accept him as their King. The great Caan of Cathay has much coveted(desired) this Ruby

But he might never have it neither by War nor other means.

But he will never have it neither by War nor by other means.

FREE TRANSLATION

From this Isle men go to another that is called Macumeran, which is a great and fair place, and the men and women of that Country have heads like hounds; they are rational, and worship an ox for their God; they go all naked, but with a little clothes before close members; they are good men fighting, and bear a great shield, with which they protect all their body, and a spear in their hand. If they take any man in battle, they send him to their King, whois a great lord and also devotee in his faith. He has a chain with three hundred great pearls about his neck; and as the papists say their Pater-Noster and other prayers, their King says everyday three hundred prayers to his God, without eating or drinking before; and he bears also an orient fine and good ruby about his neck, that is near a foot and five fingers long. When they chose their King, they gave him that Ruby to holde in his hand, and then they led him riding around the city, and then they will be subject to him for ever after, and therefore he always wears that Ruby around his neck; Because if he didn´t wear the Ruby, they would no longer accept him as their King. The Great Caan of Cathay has coveted very much this Ruby: But he will never get it neither by war nor by any other means.

Translation by José Manuel Martín Corvillo, José Monfort Vidrier and Clive Pertegàs Alexander.

Thomas Usk Translation

Text 76- From Thomas Usk’s Appeal, 1384(i)

I, Thomas Usk acknowledge these words and wrote them with my own hands. The day that Sir Nichol Brembre was chosen mayor, John Northampton came to John More’s house immediately after lunch, and there came Richard Norbury and William Essex. It was decided that Mayor, John Northampton, should send for the people who at that time, were in the common council of crafts and after the warden of crafts, so that they should come to the Goldsmith Hall the following day, and there the Mayor would speak with them to see and to ordain how the election of Sir Nichol Brembre might be avoided and had it, not being for the dread of our Lord the King. I really think that every man would have been in conflict with each other. And then he sent Richard Norbury, Robert Rysby and me, Thomas Usk, to the Neyte, to the Duke of Lancaster, to inform him this way:” Sir, we have gone today to the election of the Mayor in God’s peace and the King’s, then there came a horrible mob of people shouting, using nothing but strength and chose Sir Nichol Brembre as Mayor, against our way of having elections previously. Therefore, we pray you if we might have the King’s writ to hold a new election”. And the Duke said: “Nay, you shall not have such a writ, bear it in mind”. And then, I appealed to John Northampton, John Mores, Richard Norbury and William Essex.

Text 77- From Thomas Usk’s Appeal, 1384 (ii)

Also, at Goldsmith’s Hall, when everybody was assembled, the Mayor, John Northampton, spoke as evilly as he could about the elections on the previous day and said this truly: “Sirs, thus you are likely to be overrun, and that,” said he, “I will not suffer it; let us rather die than suffer such a villainy”. Then the common people were moved into action by these words and said truly that they would have another election and they would not suffer this if they all die for it together there and then. The Mayor, John Northampton, told every men to go home and come quickly again in strength with all their crafts. I think there were about thirty crafts and they would have assembled in Cheapside to go to a new election if the aldermen had not come to entreat them and made John Northampton asked the people to go home, they would have had a new election, and in the heat of the moment, they would have slain anyone who would have prevented it, if they had had the power, and then I appeal John Northampton.

A translation made by José Manuel Martín Corvillo, José Monfort Vidrier and Clive Pertegàs Alexander.