Page:The Six Voyages of John Baptista Tavernier.djvu/14

parts of his body, in several Streets of the City, and boyling Lead pour'd into the raw wounds; after which he was broken alive upon the wheel, at the publick place of Execution.

Being upon my departure from Ratisbone, I met with Father Joseph, Resident there for the King of France, who knowing me in Paris, propos'd to me to go along with the Monsieur, the Abbot of Chapes, Brother of the Marshal de Aumont, and Monsieur St. Liebau, who were then intending for Constantinople, and so for Palestine. I lik'd the proposition well, and immediately put my self into the Society of those two Gentlemen, from whom I never separated 'till they departed for Syria from Constantinople.

But before we left Germany, we resolv'd to see the Court of Savony, whither we got in a few days. By the way we pass'd through Freybergh, a small City, but well worth seeing, for the beauty of the Electors Tombs, and most splendid and magnificent both for Materials and Workmanship in all Europe. From thence we went and view'd the stately Castle of Augustburgh, seated upon a high Mountain, wherein among other things there is a great Hall, adorn'd from top to bottom with nothing but Horns fasten'd to the Wall; among the rest is the Head of a Hare with two Horns, sent the Elector by the King of Denmark for a great Rarity. In one of the Courts of the Palace stands a Tree so large in Body, and spreading out the Branches at so wide a distance, that they will cover three hundred sixty five Tables with their shade. And that which makes this Tree more wonderful is, that it is only Birch, that rarely grows to that immensity.

Dresde is the Residence of the Elector, a little City, but a very neat one, and well fortify'd; with a Stone Bridge over the Elbe, that parts the Old and New Town. The Palace is one of the largest and fairest in Germany. But it wants a Piazza before it, the principal Gate standing just at the bottom of a narrow Lane.

From Dresde we went to Prague, which was a third time that I saw that great and fair City, or rather three Cities together, only separated by the Molda, that throws it self into the Elbe, some five or six Leagues below.

Having travers'd Bohemia, and touch'd upon the corner of Moravia, we enter'd Austria, and came to Vienna, resolving there to Embark with all speed, because the Winter came on.

We stay'd one day at Presburgh to see the great Church, and some Relicks which they shew'd us, and from thence fell down to Altenburgh.

Altenburgh is a City and Province belonging to the Count of Arach. It was the Childs part of one of the Queens of Hungary, who upon her death-bed bequeathed it to one of the Lords of her Court, upon condition that he and his Successors should always keep such a number of Peacocks; for defect whereof, the Territory should revert to the Crown.

Thence we came to Signet, from whence I took a little Boat and hasted to Raab, where I did my Devoirs to the Viceroy, who was glad to see me, and gave noble entertainment to the Messieurs de Chapes, and de St. Liebau. Here we stay'd eight or ten days for the Basha of Buda's Answer, whether he would give liberty to two French Gentlemen, to pass with their Train through his Garrison or no; which being return'dsuch