scitur, confestim in campis, et cum lancea sepelitur.


The English Version.

And zee schulle undirstonde, that the empire of this gret Chane is devyded
in 12 provynces; and every provynce hathe mo than 2000 cytees; and of
townes with outen nombre. This contree is fulle gret. For it hathe 12
pryncypalle kynges, in 12 provynces. And every of tho kynges han many
kynges undre hem; and alle thei ben obeyssant to the gret Chane. And his
lond and his lordschipe durethe so ferre that a man may not gon from on hed
to another, nouther be see ne lond, the space of 7 zeer. And thorghe the
desertes of his lordschipe, there as men may fynde no townes, there ben
innes ordeyned be every iorneye, to resceyve bothe man and hors; in the
whiche thei schalle fynde plentee of vytaylle, and of alle thing, that hem
nedethe, for to go be the contree.

And there is a marveylouse custom in that contree, (but is profitable) that
zif ony contrarious thing, that scholde ben preiudice or grevance to the
Emperour, in ony kynde, anon the Emperour hathe tydynges there of and fulle
knowleche in a day, thoughe it be 3 or 4 iorneys fro him or more. For his
ambassedours taken here dromedaries or hire hors, and thei priken in alle
that evere thei may toward on of the innes: and whan thei comen there, anon
thei blowen an horne; and anon thei of the in knowen wel y now that there
ben tydynges to warnen the Emperour of sum rebellyoun azenst him. And
thanne anon thei maken other men redy, in alle haste that thei may, to
beren lettres, and pryken in alle that evere thei may, tille thei come to
the other innes with here lettres: and thanne thei maken fressche men redy,
to pryke forthe with the lettres, toward the Emperour; whille that the
laste bryngere reste him, and bayte his dromedarie or his hors. And so fro