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CLAUDE DELAVAL COBHAM
Exerpta Cypria
page 63

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minds. They told ine they wore resolved to go right through ou foot, aud that they wonld rather buy drink with what it would cost them to take a mule. Alas ! they would have been very glad about midnight to have had one apiece, for they knew not where they were going, they had no guide, there were only four of them, and they lost their way. 1 commended them to God, and left with my muleteer as Γ said. We hurried on so fast that my guide was bathed iu sweat, thinking to overtake the main body of my companions. But it was all for nothing, the two of ns had to travel all night alone because I had tarried so long. We found the country pretty level, and passed by a large village, where there is a great castle : it is five miles from Famagosse, and called Sinore. We met, my muleteer and t, more than a hundred persons on the read, for iu this season on account of the heat of the sun men go to their fields by night only, and even sheep and other animals go out to feed at night. I was often afraid, for many of those whom we met stopped to chat with my muleteer. But I rude un, and if t had heard any of them tum back with him 1 was determined to get off my mule and hide in some bush, for there are many such by the way side. However God be praised, no one asked of me anything. Good order must be kept there. In two or three other villages we found the people sleeping in their courtyards to enjoy the cool of the night ; they had just a few branches over them. We rede on till we saw the day and reached Nicossia about half an hour after the sun ruse. I was much rejoiced and paid anon the twenty gros. So on Saturday, September 2,1 arrived in the city of Nicossia. It is very large, and I knew not where to address myself to find a lodging, for the townspeople understand neither French nor Flemish nor Latin. I found a priest and thought he would understand Latin. But he was no more good tu me than if I had called to a dog; he was a Greek. I began to feel tired, for 1 did not know what was the Greek for a lodging, and I had my wallets containing my shirts, and îuy two sheets which I had brought to get washed, and a couple of bottles, and I was all in a fuss, fur my muleteer had left me at the gate. Ï went till 1 found a saddler, and asked for the inn. He showed me a house. 1 hurried in and found there the four buglers of oui' ship. You may be sure I was glad. I asked them where was the large party who came on by night : they told ine they had breakfasted, nnd were gone to the great church to find a cool place and sleep their fill. Then I breakfasted very well, thanks be tu God, and then went to rest in the great church called S. Sophia, which is a very beautiful little church. There is the finest possible beginning of a bell tower of well cut sandstone, and already there are five porches, three of which open a way under the said tower before one enters the chnrch, and at the two ends uf the transept there are two beautiful little doorways uf fine stone, and the chnrch is vaulted throughout. The singing is in Latin, after our rite. Many pilgrims have made their marks aud set their names on the walls; I saw the name of Jehan Potiez of lions near une of the entrances. After I had been there a long while I went tu a little Greek church close by; it is dedicated to oui* Lady. It was a pleasure to be there, for there was one uf the innesta who was at least seventy years old and chanted HO loudly that it was a wonder. After vespers said hi Greek large loaves were brought, one of which was cut into large pieces, a piece was given to each of us, and then some good wine to drink. Then I returned to iny lodging, and was told that our hostess was brought to bed while we were in the church. I should have liked well to be the godfather, bnt they told me they would wait a month to baptise the child. Then they brought us supper. The next morning, September 4, I heard talk of the body of a saint which was in a chnrch of the Scalzi, and went there with several other pilgrims to hear mass. We found it a long walk, for the town, as I said, is very large. Near the convent is a great space of garden ground watered from a well. A horse turns a big wheel, and many earthen pots 51! EXCERPTA CYPRIA.

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