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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![on which are built many caálles and beautiful houses, all ¿landing within their orchards. On the left hand as one enters the port is seen a lofty hill, crowning the summit of which is a ca¿lle, that is a watch-tower, and this they say was built by [the Paladin] Roland, and hence it goes by the name of Orlando’s Tower.0 Running back from this hill is another adjoining it on which the houses of the town are built, these ¿landing down one below the other to the waters of the harbour. Thence houses extend all along the sea beach, with the town wall beyond, again¿l which dash the waves of the sea. [Above the entrance to the harbour, and where on either hand] the wall ends, rise up two towers, the foundations of which ¿land in the water, and from one tower to the other may be counted as the di¿lance that a catapult can ca¿l its bolt. From the one tower to the other, when necessary, they ¿Iretch a chain, behind which the galleys and other ships may lie safely in time of war. On the height, that passes between the hill on which the houses of the city are built and the neighbouring hill of Orlando’s Tower, has been ere&ed another tower with many tall turrets and battlements set along a curtain that joins it to the walls of Orlando’s Tower. By this fortification the city is protected on its hill slope, while thereby the hill of Orlando’s Tower is also safe-guarded from attack. Gaeta from the sea is likewise well protected, for the waters enclose the promontory on both sides; and they have no fear in war time, for from the heights within the town they can spy enemy ships and prevent them coming into port. Adjoining the fortifications of the town another wall has been built which extends for some di¿lance along the sea front, enclosing within its circuit a high hill, and the same on two sides thus faces the waters of the sea. This hill is covered with vineyards and orchards and olive-yards. Beside and within the wall connecting this hill with the town](https://iiif.wellcomecollection.org/image/b31354932_0051.jp2/full/800%2C/0/default.jpg)
