ed licence of the emperor so to doe, except his iesters and
stage-players, who are appointed of purpose to solace their lord. Neither
yet dare they attempt to doe ought, but onely according to the pleasure of
their emperor, and as hee inioineth them by lawe. About the palace gate
stand certaine Barons to keepe all men from treading vpon the threshold of
the sayd gate. When it pleassth the great Can to solemnize a feast, he hath
about him 14000. Barons, carying wreathes and litle crownes vpon their
heads, and giuing attendance vpon their lord, and euery one of them weareth
a garment of gold and precious stones, which is woorth ten thousand
Florens. His court is kept in very good order, by gouernours of tens,
gouernours of hundreds, and gouernours of thousands, insomuch that euery
one in his place performeth his duetie committed vnto him, neither is there
any defect to bee found. I Frier Odoricus was there present in person for
the space of three yeeres, and was often at the sayd banquets; for we
friers Minorites haue a place of aboad appointed out for vs in the emperors
court, and are enioined to goe and to bestow our blessing vpon him. And I
enquired of certaine Courtiers concerning the number of persons pertaining
to the emperors court? And they answered mee that of stage-players,
musicians, and such like, there were eighteene Thuman at the least, and
that the keepers of dogs, beasts and foules were fifteene Thuman, and the
physicians for the emperours body were foure hundred; the Christians also
were eight in number, together with one Saracen. At my being there, all the
foresayd number of persons had all kind of necessaries both for apparell
and victuals out of the emperors court. Moreouer, when he will make his
progresse from one countrey to another, hee hath foure troupes of horsemen,
one being appointed to goe a dayes iourney before, and another to come a
dayes iourney after him, the third to march on his right hand, and the
fourth on his left, in the manner of a crosse, he himselfe being in the
midst, and so euery particular troupe haue their daily iourneys limited
vnto them, to the ende they may prouide sufficient victuals without defect.
Nowe the great Can himselfe is caried in maner following; hee rideth in a
chariot with two wheeles, vpon which a maiesticall throne is built of the
wood of Aloe, being adorned with gold and great pearles, and precious
stones, and foure elephants brauely furnished doe drawe the sayd