Thomas Coryate

, Son of George Coryate, mentioned under the year 1606. was born in the Parsonage house at Odcombe in Somersetshire, became a Commoner of Gloucester hall in the beginning of the year 1596. aged 19. where continuing about three years, he attained, by the help of a great memory, to some competency in Logick, 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. At which time falling into the company of the Wits, who found him little better than a Fool in many respects, made him their Whetstone, and so became notus nimis omnibus. In the beginning of the year 1608. he took a Voyage into France, Italy, Germany, &c. and at his return published his travels under this title.

Crudities hastily gobled up in five Months travels in France, Savoy, Italy, Rhetia, Helvetia, some parts of High Germany and the Netherlands. Lond. 1611. qu. Which book was then usher’d into the world by an Odcombian banquet, consisting of near 60 copies of excellent verses made by the Poets of that time: (which did very much advantage the Sale of the book) Among them were Ben. Johnson, Sir Jo. Harrington of Kelston near Bathe, Dudl. Digges afterwards Master of the Rolls, Rich. Martin Recorder of London, Laur. Whittaker, Hugh Holland the traveller, Jo. Hoskyns Sen. Inigo Jones, the surveyour, Christop. Brook, Rich. Corbet of Ch. Ch. Joh. Chapman, Thom. Campian Dr. of Phys. Jo. Owen the Epigrammatist, Sam. Page of C. C. C. Tho. Bastard of New coll. Tho. Farnaby sometimes of Mert. coll. Jo. Donne, Mich. Drayton, Joh. Davys of Hereford, Hen. Peacham, &c. In the year following (1612) after he had taken leave of his Countrymen by an oration spoken at the Cross in Odcombe, he took a long and large journey, with intentions not to return to his native Country, till he had spent 10 years in travelling to and fro. The first place he went to (a)(a) See in Edward Terry’s Voyage into East-India, printed at Lond. 1655. in oct. p. 60. &c. was Constantinople, where he took special notice of all things there observable. In which place he found very great respect and encouragement from Sir Paul Pindar then and there Embassadour. Being there for some time he took his opportunities to view divers parts in Greece; and in the Helespont he took special notice of those two Castles directly opposed each to other, called Sestos and Abydot, which stand on the several banks that bound that very narrow Sea. Which places Mus [••] u makes famous in his very antient Poem of Hero and Leander. He saw Smyrna famous at that time for trade, but not religion, and what then remain’d of the ruins of sometimes great Troy, but the very ruins of that place were almost all gone to ruine. From Smyrna he found a passage to Alexandria in Egypt, and there, near Grand Catro (antiently called Memphis) he observed what remain’d of the once famous Pyramids. Returning thence back to Alexandria he found a passage by Sea to Joppa, and travelling thence 20 English miles, he arrived at Jerusalem, but found it a very solitary, rocky and uncomfortable way, full of danger, by reason of the wild Arabs, who keep about those passages, to make poor travellers their prey and spoil. In Jerusalem he saw Mount Calvery (where our Saviour suffered) then enclosed within the Walls, Bethlem where he was born, about 5 English miles from Jerusalem; and Mount Olivet, whence he ascended. From Jerusalem he took his way to make a view of the Dead Sea, the place where Sodom and Gomorrah, and Admah and Zeboim once stood. Thence he went to have a sight of the River Jordan, which dischargeth it self into that most uncomfortable Lake, and from thence he journied north-east through the Ten Tribes, till he came to Mount Libanus. Thence back to Sidon, where he got a passage by Sea unto Alexandretta, now called Scanderoon, which is one of the most unwholesome places in the world. Thence he took his way to Aleppo in Syria, about 70. miles distant from Scanderoon, where he was kindly received by the English Consul, and tarried with him till he could get the benefit of a Caravan, which consists of a great multitude of people from divers parts, which get and keep together travelling in those parts, for fear of the incursions and violences by Thieves and Murderers, which they would undoubtedly meet withal, if they travelled single, or but few together. With these, he after set forward towards, and to that City anciently called Nineveh in Assyria, which we find in the Prophecy of Jonah was sometimes a great and excellent City of three days journey, but then so exceedingly lessen’d and lodg’d in obscurity, that passengers could not say this was Nineveh. From thence he journied to Babylon in Chaldea, situated upon the River Euphrates, once likewise so great, that Aristotle called it a Country, not a City, but now very much contracted. From this place he proceeded through both the Armenia [•] s, and either did, or else he was made to, believe, that he saw the very mountain Ararat, whereon the ark of Noah tested after the flood. From thence he went forward towards the Kingdom of Persia, and there to Vspahan the usual place of residence for the great King. Thence to Seras, antiently called Shushan, where the great King. Ahasuerus kept his Royal and most Magnificent Court. Afterwards to Candahor, the first Province north-east, under the subjection of the Great Mogul, and so to Lahore the chiefest City but one, belonging to that great Empire, of very great trade, wealth, and delight. From Lahore he went to Agra, which is 400 English miles, planted with great Trees on both sides, which are all the year cloathed with leaves, exceeding beneficial unto travellers for the shade they afford them in those hot climes. At Agra he made an halt, being there lovingly received in the English Factory, where he staid till he had gotten to the Turkish, and Morisco or Arabian Languages, some good knowledge in the Persian and Indostan Tongues, in which study he was always very apt, and in little time shewed much proficiency. The first of those two, the Persian, is the more quaint; the other, the Indostan, is the vulgar Language spoken in East India. In both these he suddenly got such a knowledge and mastery, that it did exceedingly afterwards advantage him in his travels up and down the Moguls Territories, he wearing always the habit of that Nation, and speaking their Language. In the first of these, the Persian Tongue, he made afterwards an Oration to the Great Mogul, as I shall tell you anon, and in the Indostan he had so great a command, that he undertook a Landry-woman (belonging to the English Embassador in that Country) who had such a liberty and freedom of speech that she would sometimes scould, braul and rail from Sun-rising to Sun-set: I say that Tom Coryate undertaking her in her own Language he did so silence her by eight of the clock in the morning, that she had not one word more to speak, to the great wonder and mirth of those present. After he had visited several places in that Country and had been courteously received by Sir Tho. Roe Embassador there for the K. of England, he went at length to Surat, lying on the banks of Swally Road, which is in E. India under the Empire of the Gr. Mogul, where he ended his days as I shall tell you anon. He was a man of a very coveting Eye that could never be satisfied with seeing, tho he had seen very much, and yet he took as much content in seeing, as many others in the enjoying of great and rare things. He had got (besides the Latine and Greek) the mastery of many hard Languages, in which, if he had obtained wisdom to husband and manage them, as he had skill to speak them, he had deserved more same in his generation. But his knowledge and high attainments in several Languages made him not a little ignorant of himself, he being so covetous and ambitious of praise, that he would hear and endure more of it than he could in any measure deserve; being like a Ship that hath too much sail, and too little ballast. However had he not fallen into the smart hands of the Wits of those times, wherein he lived, he might have passed better. That itch of fame which engaged this man to the undertaking of those very hard, long, and dangerous travels, hath put thousands more (and therefore he was not alone in this) into strange attempts, only to be talked of. ’Twas fame, without doubt, that stirred up this man unto these voluntary, but hard undertakings, and the hope of that glory which he should reap after he had finished his long travels, made him not at all to take notice of the hardship he found in them. That hope of name and repute for the time to come did even feed and feast him for the time present. And therefore any thing, that did in any measure ecclips him in those high conceivings of his own worth, did too too much trouble him; which you may collect from these following instances. Upon a time (b)(b) Ibid. p. 73. one Mr. Rich. Steel a Merchant, and servant to the East-India company, came to Sir Tho. Roe the Embassador at Mandoa, the place then of the Moguls residence, at which time our author Tho. Coryate was there. This Merchant had not long before travelled over land from E. India, through Persia, and so for Constantinople, and so for England, who in his travels homeward had met with T. Coryate as he was journying towards E. India. Mr. Steel then told him, that when he was in England, K. James (then living) enquired after him, and when he had certified the King of his meeting him on the way, the K. replied is that fool living? which when our Pilgrim Coryate heard, it seemed to trouble him very much, because the K. spake no more nor no better of him; saying that Kings would speak of poor men what they pleased. At another time when he was ready to depart from Mandoa, Sir Th. Roe the Embassador gave him a Letter, and in that a Bill to receive ten pounds at Aleppo when he should return thither. The Letter was directed to Mr. Libbeus Chapman there Consul at that time, in which, that which concern’d our traveller was thus. Mr. Chapman when you shall hand these Letters, I desire you to receive the bearer of them Mr. Tho. Co [•] yate, with courtesie, for you shall find him a very honest poor wretch; and further I must intreat you to furnish him with ten pounds, which shall be repayed, &c. Our Pilgrim liked the gift well, but the language by which he should have received it, did not at all content him, telling his Chamber-fellow Mr. Terry, that my Lord Embassador had even spoyled his courtesie in the carriage thereof; so that if he had been a very fool indeed, he could have said very little less of him than he did, honest poor wretch! and to say no more of him, was to say as much as nothing. Furthermore also he told him that when he was formerly undertaking his journey to Venice, a person of honour, wrote thus in his behalf to Sir Hen. Wotton then and there Embassador, My Lord, good wine needs no Bush, neither a worthy mans Letter commendatory, because whethersoever he comes, he is his own Epistle, &c. This did so much please the Pilgrim, that there (said he) was some language in my behalf, but now for my Lord to write nothing of me by way of commendation, but honest poor wretch, is rather to trouble me, than to please me with his favour. And therefore afterwards his letter was phras’d up to his mind, but he never lived to receive the money. By which his old acquaintance might see how tender the poor man was to be touched in any thing that might in the least measure disparage him. O what pains he took to make himself a subject for present and after discouse! being troubled at nothing for the present, unless with the fear of not living to reap that fruit, he was so ambitious of in all his undertakings. And certainly he was surprized with some such thoughts and fears (as he afterwards told the company) when upon a time he being at Mandoa with the English, and there standing in a room against a stone-pillar, where the Embassador was, upon a sudden he fell into such a swoon, that they had very much ado to recover him out of it, but at last he came to himself, and told them, that some sad thoughts had immediately before presented themselves to his fancy, which, as he conceived, put him into that distemper; like Fannius—Ne moriere mori. For he told them that there was great expectation in England of the large accounts he should give of his travels after his return home, and that he was now shortly to leave them, and he being at present not very well, if he should dye in his way towards Surat, whether he was then intending to go (which place he had not yet seen) he might be buried in obscurity, and none of his friends ever know what became of him, travelling then, as usually he did, alone. Upon which the Embassador willed him to stay longer with him, but he then thankfully refused that offer, and turned his face presently after towards Surat, which was 300. miles distant from the place where the Embassador was, and he lived to come safely thither. But there being over-kindly used by some of the English, who gave him Sack, which they had brought from England, he calling for, as soon as he first heard of, it, and crying Sack, Sack, is there such a thing as Sack? I pray give me some Sack, and drinking of it moderately (for he was very temperate) it increased his flux which he had then upon him: and this caused him within few days after his very tedious and troublesome travels, for he went most on foot) at that place to come to his journeys end, as I shall anon tell you. What became of his notes and observations, which he had made in his long journeys, I know not, only these following which he sent to his friends in England, who printed them in his absence.

Letters from Asmere, the Court of the Great Mogul, to several persons of quality in England, concerning the Emperor and his Country of E. India. Lond. 1616. qu. In the title of which is our authors Picture, riding on an Elephant. The first letter is written to Sir Edw. Philips of Montag [•] e in Somersetshire Kt. Master of the Rolls.

A Letter to his Mother Gertrude, dated from Agra in E. India, ult. oct. 1616. containing a speech that he spoke to the Gr. Mogul in the Persian Language—See in the Pilgrimages of Sam. Purchase, part 1. book 4. chap. 17. and also at the end of his Letters from Asmere before mentioned. ’Tis reported (c)(c) [〈…〉] that in an Oration which our author Coryate did speak to the said Mogul he brought in that story of the Queen of Sheba, 1 Kings 10. (in which parts of that sacred History the Ma [•] umetans have some knowledge) and told him that as the Queen of Sheba having heard of the fame of K. Solomon, came from far to visit him; which when she had done, she confessed that tho she had heard very much of him, and many things beyond her belief, yet now seeing what she did, acknowledged that she had not heard half of that which she now saw concerning the wisdom, and greatness, and revenue, and riches of Solomon: So our Orator Coryate told the Mogul, that he had heard very much of him before he had the honour to see him (when he was very far off in his own Country) but now what he beheld did exceedingly surmount all these former reports of him, which came to his Ears at such a distance from him. Then larding his short speech with some other piece of Flattery, which the Mogul liked well, concluded. Afterwards the Mogul gave him one hundred Roopus, which amounts to value of 12l. 10s. of our English money, looking upon him as a Derveese, or Votary, or Pilgrim, (for so he called him) and such that bear that name in that Country seem not much to care for money, and that was the reason (I conceive) that he gave him not a more plentiful reward.

Certain observations from the Moguls Court and E. India.—See in Purchase before-mention’d.

Travels to, and observations in, Constantinople and other places in the way thither, and in his journey thence to Aleppo, Damasco and Jerusalem. Ibid. part, 2. lib. 10. cap. 12.

His Oration, purus putus Coriatus; quintessence of Coryate—Spoken extempore when Mr. Rob. Rugg dub’d him a Knight on the ruins of Troy, by the name of Thomas Croyate the first English Knight of Troy. Ib. cap. 12.

Observations of Constantinople abridged. Ib. cap. 12.

Divers Lat. and Greek Epistles to learned men beyond the Seas.—Some of which are in his Crudities, as those to Gasp. Waserus, Radolp. Hospinian, Hen. Bullinger, descended from the famous Henry Bullinger, Marc. Buellerus, &c. At length our author Coryate giving way to fate, occasion’d by a Flux, at Surat in E. India before-mention’d, in the month of December in sixteen hundred and seventeen, 1617 was buried there under a little Monument, like to one of those that are usually made in one of our Chyards. Sic exit Coryatus: (Hence he went off the Stage, and so must all after him, how long soever their parts seem to be. For if one should go to the extremest part of the world East, another West, another North, and another South, they must all meet at last together in the field of Bones, wherein our traveller hath now taken up his lodging, and where) I leave him, to make way for the next, as eminent almost for the Law, as he for his Travels.