Of this Chronicle in the
Modena Library, and runs as follows: -
"The matters which follow, concerning the magnificence of the Tartar
Emperors, whom in their language they call Cham as we have said, are
related by Marcus Paulus the Venetian in a certain Book of his which has
been translated by me into Latin out of the Lombardic Vernacular. Having
gained the notice of the Emperor himself and become attached to his
service, he passed nearly 27 years in the Tartar countries."[5]
Again we have that mention of Marco by Friar Jacopo d'Acqui, which we have
quoted in connection with his capture by the Genoese, at p. 54.[6] And the
Florentine historian GIOVANNI VILLANI,[7] when alluding to the Tartars,
says: -
"Let him who would make full acquaintance with their history examine the
book of Friar Hayton, Lord of Colcos in Armenia, which he made at the
instance of Pope Clement V., and also the Book called Milione which
was made by Messer Marco Polo of Venice, who tells much about their
power and dominion, having spent a long time among them. And so let us
quit the Tartars and return to our subject, the History of Florence."[8]
[Sidenote: Further contemporary references.]
77. Lastly, we learn from a curious passage in a medical work by PIETRO OF
ABANO, a celebrated physician and philosopher, and a man of Polo's own
generation, that he was personally acquainted with the Traveller. In a
discussion on the old notion of the non-habitability of the Equatorial
regions, which Pietro controverts, he says:[9]
[Illustration: Star at the Antarctic as sketched by Marco Polo[10].]
"In the country of the ZINGHI there is seen a star as big as a sack. I
know a man who has seen it, and he told me it had a faint light like a
piece of a cloud, and is always in the south.[11] I have been told of
this and other matters by MARCO the Venetian, the most extensive
traveller and the most diligent inquirer whom I have ever known. He saw
this same star under the Antarctic; he described it as having a great
tail, and drew a figure of it thus. He also told me that he saw the
Antarctic Pole at an altitude above the earth apparently equal to the
length of a soldier's lance, whilst the Arctic Pole was as much below
the horizon. 'Tis from that place, he says, that they export to us
camphor, lign-aloes, and brazil. He says the heat there is intense, and
the habitations few. And these things he witnessed in a certain island
at which he arrived by Sea. He tells me also that there are (wild?) men
there, and also certain very great rams that have very coarse and stiff
wool just like the bristles of our pigs."[12]
In addition to these five I know no other contemporary references to Polo,
nor indeed any other within the 14th century, though such there must
surely be, excepting in a Chronicle written after the middle of that
century by JOHN of YPRES, Abbot of St. Bertin, otherwise known as Friar
John the Long, and himself a person of very high merit in the history of
Travel, as a precursor of the Ramusios, Hakluyts and Purchases, for he
collected together and translated (when needful) into French all of the
most valuable works of Eastern Travel and Geography produced in the age
immediately preceding his own.[13] In his Chronicle the Abbot speaks at
some length of the adventures of the Polo Family, concluding with a
passage to which we have already had occasion to refer:
"And so Messers Nicolaus and Maffeus, with certain Tartars, were sent a
second time to these parts; but Marcus Pauli was retained by the Emperor
and employed in his military service, abiding with him for a space of 27
years. And the Cham, on account of his ability despatched him upon
affairs of his to various parts of Tartary and India and the Islands, on
which journeys he beheld many of the marvels of those regions. And
concerning these he afterwards composed a book in the French vernacular,
which said Book of Marvels, with others of the same kind, we do
possess." (Thesaur. Nov. Anecdot. III. 747.)
[Sidenote: Curious borrowings from Polo in the Romance of Bauduin de
Sebourc.]
78. There is, however, a notable work which is ascribed to a rather early
date in the 14th century, and which, though it contains no reference to
Polo by name, shows a thorough acquaintance with his book, and borrows
themes largely from it This is the poetical Romance of Bauduin de Sebourc,
an exceedingly clever and vivacious production, partaking largely of that
bantering, half-mocking spirit which is, I believe, characteristic of many
of the later mediaeval French Romances.[14] Bauduin is a knight who, after
a very wild and loose youth, goes through an extraordinary series of
adventures, displaying great faith and courage, and eventually becomes
King of Jerusalem. I will cite some of the traits evidently derived from
our Traveller, which I have met with in a short examination of this
curious work.
Bauduin, embarked on a dromond in the Indian Sea, is wrecked in the
territory of Baudas, and near a city called Falise, which stands on the
River of Baudas. The people of this city were an unbelieving race.
"Il ne creoient Dieu, Mahon, ne Tervogant,
Ydole, cruchefis, deable, ne tirant." P. 300.
Their only belief was this, that when a man died a great fire should be
made beside his tomb, in which should be burned all his clothes, arms, and
necessary furniture, whilst his horse and servant should be put to death,
and then the dead man would have the benefit of all these useful
properties in the other world.[15] Moreover, if it was the king that
died -
"Se li rois de la terre i aloit trespassant,
* * * * *
Si fasoit-on tuer, .viij.
