back in the saddle again, so to speak, and let me start with a little excerpt from Fynes Moryson, that is from his rather merry recounting of his travels across Europe and Turkey, in this framgnet he is telling us his observations about Polish Kingdom and the inhabitants, i.e., Polonians -
Shakespeare’s
Europe. Unpublished chapters of Fynes Moryson’s Itinerary Being a
Survey of the Condition of Europe at the end of the 16th Century.
edited by Charles Hughes, London 1903. p 83.
The Polonians are a warlike nation, valiant, and actiue, but
all their strength consists in their horse, whereof they haue so
great number, as some affirme they can bring a hundred thou-
sand horse into the feild, and one Prouince of Lituania, can
bring 70 thousand, and king Stephen in the last age had 40.
thousandmin his Army. Of these horsmen, some are called
Hussari,mwho are armed with long speares, a sheild, a Carbine
or short gunn, and two short swords, one by the horsmans syde,
the other fastned vnder the left syde of his sadle. The light
horsmen called Cosachi are armed with short swords, Jauelin,
bowes and arrowes, and a Coat of maile and the whole Country
of Poland being playne, this great body of horsmen must needs
be a powerfull strength to the kingdome. The horses are of
small stature, but of no lesse agility, then those of the Turkes
and singuler in boldnes for any seruice of warr. Yet are they
all made Gueldens; And the gentlemen are not prouder of any
thing, then of their horses and horsmanshipp professing to
weare long garments, as Commodious for horsmen, that they
may cast their vpper garment vppon their horses when they
are heated with running. And for this Cause many haue their
bridles (Which are alwayes snafles by Which the horses are
easily turned) sett with studds of gold or siluer, sometymes
having gold Chaynes, and like ornaments at the cares of their
horses, and Commonly paynting the mayne and taile yea the
whole body, excepting the back of their horses with light
Coulors, as Carnation and the like, therein seeming ridiculous,
that whereas art imitates nature, these Coulors are such as are
most vnnaturall for horses. They haue guilded stirropps as
also spurrs which are some handfull long at the heele. Not
only soldiers but Ambassadors and their gentlemen, haue the
hinder part of their horse couered with the wings of an Eagle,
or skinn of a Tyger, or leopard or some like ornament, either
for beauty, or to seeme more terrible, as in generall all haue
them couered, some lesse, some more richly. The Polonian
horsmen restraine the incursions of the feirce Tartars, and
seeme so bold to the Turkes, as they haue no hart to invade
Poland;
Neither can the Moscouites indure their assault, how-
soeuer for feare of their Tyrant, they must be prodigall of their
bloud. The Polonians haue no care to fortify Cittyes professing
nothing more to be disgracefull then to fly from their enemyes,
and vaunting to defend their Country with their owne brests,
not with walled Townes which they lesse desyre to fortify lest
their kings should vsurpe power ouer them by giving the
keepingnof such places to their deuoted seruants.
Fynes Moryson, An Itinerary Containing His Ten Yeeres Travell through the Twelve Dominions of Germany, Bohmerland, Sweitzerland, Netherland, Denmarke, Poland, Italy, Turky, France, England, Scotland & Ireland. edited by Charles Hugher. Glasgow 1908. v.4, p. 68.
Poland aboundeth with beasts, aswell wild as tame, and yeeldeth excellent horses, not great, but quicke and stirring. Neither doe the Gentlemen more delight in any thing, then in their horses, so as they hang gold chaines and Jewels at their eares, and paint them halfe over with exquisite colours, but in that uncomely, that they are not naturall for horses, as the Carnatian colour, and their hinder parts they adorne with rich Furres and skinnes of Lions and Leopards and the like, aswell to terrifie their enemies, as to adorne and beautifie their horses.
...
enjoy
ps
original spelling as in the Moryson's writings
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