Embassy to Tamerlane, 1403-1406 / translated from the Spanish by Guy Le Strange with an introduction.
- Ruy González de Clavijo
- Date:
- [1928]
Licence: Public Domain Mark
Credit: Embassy to Tamerlane, 1403-1406 / translated from the Spanish by Guy Le Strange with an introduction. Source: Wellcome Collection.
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![sea-shore and face each other as though to guard the áfrait, which parting these islands is very narrow and dangerous of navigation. This passage here is known as the Mouths or Strait of Bonifacio. Tuesday, the next day we sailed near an island that is [off the mainland of Italy, and] called Ponza, which now is uninhabited, though formerly people lived on it; for there used to be here two monasteries, besides many magnificent buildings which are attributed to the poet Virgil. On the mainland, to the left as we passed down leaving the island on the right hand, we saw a high mountain range and this goes by the name of Monte Cassino. Here is seen the caftle called San Felice which belongs to king Ladislas [of Naples]. Beyond this passing south we saw another mountain range by the coaSt, and at its foot next appeared the town of Terracina, which same is in the territory of Rome being but twelve leagues distant from that capital. Occupying the land between the houses of the city of Terracina and the sea beach were many orchards, and among some high trees appeared the buildings of a nunnery, but the nuns had all been carried off captive by the Barbary Moors. Wednesday our voyage was continued and on the following day Thursday which was the [28 th] of June we had reached by nightfall the port of Gaeta. Here we found we could anchor so close to the shore that it was possible to lay a gangway to the city wall by which to land. On coming ashore we ambassadors took lodgings in a hoáfel near by the church of San Francisco outside the town, the carrack remaining here for sixteen days following, while the captain was discharging cargo consigned to certain merchants of the port, and next taking aboard olive-oil in its room. The city of Gaeta and its harbour both are very fine, though of the latter the entrance is narrow, but it broadens out within. All round the city are high hills](https://iiif.wellcomecollection.org/image/b31354932_0050.jp2/full/800%2C/0/default.jpg)
