Laurence Aldersey facts for kids

Laurence Aldersey (1546–1597/8) was an English explorer. He made two important trips to a region called the Levant. This area includes countries like Syria, Lebanon, and Israel today. His travel stories were written down by himself. They are kept in a famous book called Principall Navigations by Richard Hakluyt.

Laurence was born in a place called Aldersey Hall in Spurstow, Cheshire. He was the sixth child of Thomas Aldersey and Cecilia Garnet. His father was a sheriff and mayor in Chester. Laurence Aldersey was also related to Thomas Aldersey, a well-known merchant and politician from London.

Laurence Aldersey's First Trip

Overland to Jerusalem

Laurence Aldersey began his first big adventure on April 1, 1581. He traveled by land through Holland and Germany. His journey took him to Venice, a famous city in Italy. From Venice, he got on a ship heading to Cyprus.

After reaching Cyprus, he sailed in a small boat. He landed at a place called Joppa (today known as Jaffa). Finally, on August 12, he reached his main goal: Jerusalem. He spent ten days exploring Jerusalem and the areas nearby. Then, he started his journey back home. He traveled through cities like Nuremberg and Antwerp. His entire trip to Jerusalem and back took nine months and five days.

Laurence Aldersey's Second Trip

Sea Voyage and Surprising Encounters

Laurence Aldersey's second journey was made by sea. He started from Bristol, England, on February 21, 1586. He sailed on a ship named Hercules. The ship passed through the Straits of Gibraltar. His first stop was at Goletta, near Tunis.

From Tunis, the Hercules sailed to Zante and then to Patras in the Morea (modern-day Greece). Here, Laurence and his crew were welcomed by the local leader, called a cadi. This was because they had twenty Turkish people on board. These Turks had been set free by Sir Francis Drake in the West Indies. The cadi was very surprised and impressed. He was amazed that the Queen of England, a woman, had so much power and fame.

Exploring the Mediterranean

After Patras, Laurence Aldersey visited many islands in the Grecian Archipelago. He made a second visit to Cyprus. Then, he landed at Tripolis in Syria. From there, he took a small boat and finally reached Alexandria, Egypt, on July 28. The only Englishman who met him there was Thomas Rickman. Thomas was the captain of a ship called Tyger. He was a great guide for Laurence in Alexandria.

Laurence spent fourteen days exploring Alexandria and Cairo. He saw all the interesting sights. After that, he traveled to Argiers (which is now Algiers). He left Algiers on January 7. He landed back in England at Dartmouth on February 1. Seven days later, he arrived in London. He was very thankful to God for his safe return.

Laurence Aldersey wrote down his thoughts about the people and cities he visited. These observations are very interesting, especially for his time. For example, his notes on Cologne, Augsburg, Venice, and Alexandria are quite special. His comments about the Doge (the leader of Venice) and the Jewish people in Venice are also worth reading. Laurence Aldersey described himself as a merchant from London.