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ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A30860	The late travels of S. Giacomo Baratti, an Italian gentleman, into the remote countries of the Abissins, or of Ethiopia interior wherein you shall find an exact account of the laws, government, religion, discipline, customs, &c. of the Christian people that do inhabit there with many observations which some may improve to the advantage and increase of Trade with them : together with a confirmation of this relation drawn from the writings of Damianus de Goes and Jo. Scaliger, who agree with the author in many particulars / translated by G.D.	Baratti, Giacomo.; G. D.; Góis, Damião de, 1502-1574.; Scaliger, Joseph Juste, 1540-1609.	1670 (1670)	Wing B677; ESTC R11736	63,785	282

and he governs the people keeps all things in order assists the Bikir and all his inferiour Officers in the execution of their Offices when they are requir'd for that purpose they have so many men ready upon all occasions to obey their orders these receive a continual salary from the Emperour although they are otherwise employed in several Trades At the least summons they assemble at the Rendezvous and follow their Leaders who by this means keep all the Country in awe and appease the tumults and disorders that may happen amongst a mixed multitude In the time of the Wars these Lieutenants of distinct places gather their men together at the place appointed and then march with them according to order usually to the place where the great Neguz is himself to guard and defend his Person They carry with them their Provisions and Victuals proportionable to the time appointed for them to stay in Arms. These officers have places allotted to them for their maintenance by the Emperour who is Lord and sole owner of all the Land within his great Empire All the people are but his slaves their substance and goods are his when he will require them unto persons more eminent than the rest he appoints certain Lands and places for to recompence them for the pains they take in his service All the people pay the tenth part of all fruits to the King that Revenue belongs to the Crown they always pay the tribute and taxes in the Commodities of the Country in Salt Gold Silver Corn Hides Elephants Teeth the horn of the Rhinocerot slaves and such like Now this manner of Government is only in the Territories more immediately subject to the Neguz the others where tributary Kings do Reign are not thus subject to his power the Kings give no account of their actions to him or to his Officers but play the soveraigns in all their jurisdictions causing money to be stamp'd in their names tributes and customs to be levyed according to the publick wants disposing of all offices and places within their territories at their will Of late they have brought in stamped Coin which before was not known in this Empire The name and titles of the Neguez is Printed in one side and a large Cross on the other with some Characters signifying that he is a defender of the Cross There are yet some little pieces of Gold Brass and Iron with Pepper and all other Merchandises that serve instead of Coin in the places far from the Imperial Court and where Coin cannot so easily be obtained nor made Those that are found guilty of crimes are not ordinarily punished with death they use to deprive them for their offences of some of their Limbs of their eyes hands or feet forcing them to a continual sufferance the rest of their days If any commit sacriledge he is burnt without mercy in the fire and those that murder by their Law are to lose their lives unless the Prince will mitigate the punishment by a perpetual prison or banishment In the Manda are several penal Statutes amongst the rest that if a Priest be guilty of any crime as of murder of perjury adultery c. he is to be punished in the same manner as the rest of the people that he is to be called before the common Judge after that the Bishop hath notice of the fact and that both together are to pronounce the sentence that he deserves without any mercy It is commanded in that book that all both Secular and Ecclesiastick persons are to abstain from all carnal Copulation during the space of twenty four hours next immediately before they enter into the Churches There is in it a very wholsome Law that concerns the good of the publick It is that two times every year there shall be an Assembly called of the most Reverend and Eminent Persons of the Nation to consult of the Affairs of the Church and establish Laws according to the occasions and times That then the Abuna shall sit as President with the Emperours chief Judge and that of the Clergy and Fryers there shall be called out of all parts to make Decrees for the good of the Empire Adulterers are punished with death in this manner The Man and the Woman are stript naked and ty'd up by the legs to some high tree where they are to remain to feed the Fowl of the air until their bones and flesh fall to the ground It is no less than death to touch them or to offer to shew favour to their dead Carkasses By this exemplary punishment of these offenders men grow more wary how they venture to defile their Neighbours Bed and Women are not so free of their Tailes as amongst our jealous Italians Men in this Country pretend not so much Courtship and Gallantry and Women dare not countenance the declarations or passion of a secret Lover Custom here teaches women as much privacy as in any other place but not with that strictness that might render them ridiculous but they abuse it not as other people do the better to hide their foul actions and the meetings of their Gallants There is more innocency in the behaviour of the women as much modesty but less craft and subtilty as much freedom but little debauchery Murder is no less hateful in this place it hath a punishment allotted to it no less grievous The murderer that knew how to destroy others is forced to destroy himself also in this manner a Sword is put into his hands and he is laid upon a large piece of Iron flat as long and as broad as a mans body it is supported with four feet under it a gentle flame is entertained that heats it and puts him by degrees to cruel torments the pain rage forces him to thrust the weapon into his own bowels by that means to deliver himself from the unmerciful fury of the fire and abridge his tortures This kind of death is practised in Tigremahon and Angote in other places the murder is executed in another manner they flea him alive and cut his eye lids and then they expose him to the Sun in that raw condition in some eminent place rubbing him over with honey to invite the Bees and Wasps to feed upon him This kind of death is the most inhumane that I ever beheld The pain is both grievous and tedious death creeps upon them by degrees and suffers them not to die till they have endured a world of misery The Noblemen and Grandees of the Court that offend the Neguz or commit any other crime worthy of death are not executed in the common manner nor in the usual places appointed for that purpose There is in the Kingdom of Damut a high Mountain naturally well fortified with a steep ridge of hills on every side a narrow passage leads up to the top where a Castle is erected kept by the Souldiers of the Neguz guard There all noble men are brought that venture to break the Laws of

in the middle of a large mountain called Amarak where a stately Castle is built encompassed with the River Borohr and fortified with a strong wall There they are kept with the other precious things belonging to the Emperour they never go out unless it be in the Gardens and places of Recreation with which this territory is abundantly furnished and then they never loose the sight of their governours and guard when the Father is dead the chief Officers of the Empire come to this place and unless the eldest be uncapable of the honour they take him to succeed in his Fathers room If there be no Sons the eldest Daughter takes the Scepter During their Fathers life they are kept here as in a Seraglio to learn all exercises proper to their Sex and age They are taught the Hebrew and Arabick tongues humane Philosophy and the Principles of Christian Religion Here is for that purpose a large Library of above ten thousand Volums all in Manuscripts some told me that they had there the most ancient Books of the world written by the Aegyptian Sages in the time of Moses by Phaenicians afterwards and by the Learned of all Ages I saw some in the Library into which I had the leave to enter that were made of the Aegyptian leaf called Papyrus and others made of old Parchment that did bear the marks of antiquity I ask'd the Subdi an Officer that led me in to see the curiosities how they did to preserve the Books so many years from consuming he told me that they do usually transcribe them when the leaves are worn or likely to decay and that for that intent there are twenty three Persons appointed with a good maintenance for them by the former Emperours their imployment is only to transcribe and copy out the books that age threatens to spoil they have not the excellent use of Printing for want of communication with their European brethren Hither are also sent the chief Noblemens sons of the Empire to keep company with the Royal bloud and to receive with them the instructions which this place only affords for here is maintained a Learned Bishop with several inferiour Priests that have the charge of instructing and tutering the Children that are committed to their custody The Bishop is Governor of the Castle and Overseer of the Diocess o● Kingdom of Amara here is his Palace and place of abode he seldom stirs to Court The Emperour visits this place oncea year with his Wives When he is chosen then all his brethren accompany him to his Coronation a great solemnity in this place as well as amongst our Christian Princes afterwards the Males are sent to govern Provinces the Maids are disposed of in Mariage to Noblemen who commonly expect this time as an opportunity to advance themselves by such an alliance The Emperour is first crowned with thorns before he puts on the Imperial Diadem in imitation of our Saviour or to express the troublesome employment that he is to undertake The Abuna puts both upon his head in the place appointed for the devotions of the people in the presence of all the Nobility of the Country At that time the Prisons are opened a thousand slaves are released at the Emperours charge and the poor are relieved actions that become a Christian Emperour besides a great Feast is kept several days with all the splendor that becomes so great a Prince and s● large a Fortune and great Revenue The present Emperou● name is Abraham he is a young man about thirty years of age his Meen is comely and pleasant his body is streight and tall the features of his face are very wel● proportioned so that he passet● for a great Beauty amongst them his eyes are quick and large he i● much delighted with the sport o● hunting the wild Beasts for tha● intent he keeps excellent Horse and great Mastives that are fetch● out of Indostan and Arabia th● chief Officers that are near his Person are his Bishur the Lieutenant General of his Armies the Zoroah the Treasurer and superintendant of his revenues the Bikir the grand Marshal of the Kingdom who is also the supream Judge of Affairs of consequence the Huloh the Secretary of State Diriharvah Neguz the Captain of the Guard or preserver of the great Emperours Person Satyrhab is the Chamberlain of his Houshold the Grashun is the keeper of his Horses several other Officers are in his Court whose names I omit when they come to their Emperour they bow their knee three times to the ground The Embassadours of the Infidels do never receive the honour of speaking to him but they are dealt with by the mediation of some appointed for that purpose The Abuna is much respected at Court what he speaks is received by all as a Law The former Emperour was a man of War but this is a Peace-maker to his own prejudice and that of his Subjects He hath this good quality that he is severe against all vices against Swearing and Drunkenness c. He is fitter to sit upon a peaceable Throne than to govern one that hath so many watchful enemies about it as his hath He is very inquisitive into all Affairs he suffers none to be dispatcht without his knowledge He is not easily over-ruled by Councel but sticks fast to his own opinion and resolution sometimes to his prejudice he is very Religious and a great observer of the Ceremonies of his Church hating all things that appear with the face of Innovation by this means it happens that all about him look so serious in their Religious duties and shew less profaness in their Practises their Princes example encourages them If any be named debauch'd he is certain to be disgrac'd as soon as the fame hath reach'd his Masters ear A great favourite of the Emperour one that attended on him continually was suspected to have some familiarity with anothers Wife the suspicion was blown by some envious persons into the Emperours ear who presently sent for him and dismissed him his service This good severity causeth his Laws to be well obeyed Did this Emperour know as well how to deal with his enemies as he doth know how to govern his Subjects he would be as much feared abroad as he is reverenced at home and all his Neighbours would stand in aw of him I doubt not but the Empire of Ethiopia would be again restored to its former Greatness could he but as well manage a Sword as a Scepter But that weakness is to be attributed to the manner and place of his Education he hath been shut within the narrow limits of a little Territory unto which he did confine his ambition when he was produced in the world his larger fortune did not increase his pretentions but being content to what he then enjoyed the increase was look'd upon as a super fluity besides this manner of Education weakens the spirits that should have a compass and a larger scope to act than a narrow

and Bloud of Christ in the Sacrament since I am come into Portugal neither do I know wherefore I am esteemed amongst my Christian brethren as a Heathen and an excommunicated person which hath caused me much grief but to him that sees and Judges all things I remit my cause I am not sent by my most mighty Lord the Emperour of Ethiopia to the Bishop of Rome and the most Serene Prince John King of Portugal only to entertain them with disputations but to conclude a firm league and open a correspondency between them not to discourse about humane traditions but to inquire about the errours of Arrius the Prince of Hereticks and know whether the Christians of Europe do joyn with us in opposing his opinions and further that I might know whether it be the custom of the European Christians to assemble in Counsel twice every year about Matters of faith as the Apostles have commanded in their Synodial book the first assembly they order to be met on the day of Pentecosts the second on the tenth of October Besides I am come to know how we agree about the errours of Macedonius of Nestorius and of Eutiches about the last the Council of Calcedone assembled but the Bishops broke up the assembly before any Conclusion retaining their own opinions My Lord the most Mighty Emperour hath-all the books of the General Councel's and is much grieved so are all his subjects for the discords and errours these Tares that the Devil hath sown in the Lords field the Bishop of Rome we have always est comedus the first and most powerful Bishop of the world and were it not for the Mahumetans whose Country being between us do hinder our passage for the great distance of places we should send to his Court very often King Emanuel of blessed Memory did first open a way to us from the Red sea c. Having spoken of these things I will say something of our Emperour of our Patriarch You must know first that our Patriarch is thus solemnly elected by and out of our Monks of Jerusalem that there do dwell at the Sepulchre of our Lord. When the old Patriarch is dead the Emperour dispatches away with all speed an express to the Monks that live at Jerusalem as soon as they have received the news of the death of the Abuna with the Presents that the Emperour sends to our Saviours Sepulchre they proceed to the election of another Abuna whom they chuse by the plurality of voices It is not lawful to pitch upon another for that office but only upon an Inhabitant of Alexandria and upon one whose life is irreproachable When they have chosen him they give unto him his dispatches with the messenger that came to give them notice of the former Abuna's death They go together to Grand Cairo to meet the Egyptian Patriarch that hath there his ordinary residence to the end that he may be acquainted with the election The Patriarch when he approves of the sufficiency of the person for so eminent an office he sends him into Ethiopia with the messenger who must always be according to the ancient custom a Monk of the Order of St. Anthony the Hermite with him this messenger hasten● towards Ethiopia wherewith all expressions of joy and honour they are received of all men Sometimes a year or two passes before this business can be dispatched In the mean while the Neguz disposes of the great Revenue of the Abuna according to his pleasure Now the chief office of an Abuna is to confer Holy Orders none but he can give them or ought to take them away or degrade the Priests He never affects to meddle with the giving of Bishopricks or of Benefices that do belong to the Precious ●iam who may do with them according to his pleasure And when the Patriarch or Abuna is dead the Emperour is the Heir of his Estate which is very great It belongs also to the Patriarch to excommunicate contumacious offenders He never grants any Indulgencies of those penalties that are imposed for grievous faults The Sacraments of the Church are never prohibited to any unless it be for the crime of Murder Our Patriarch is called in our language Abuna he that is at present in this place is called at his baptism Mark a man aged of about 100 years Moreover it is to be noted that we begin the year the first of September which is with us the Eve of St. John Baptists day the rest of the Feast days we keep at the same time that they are kept by the Church of Rome We must not omit that St. Philip the Apostle came into our Country and did there preach the Gospel of our Saviour Christ You must further know the name of our Emperour that it is Precious John or ●iam and no● Priest John as here it is falsly reported for it is written in our language ●iam Belul that is Precius or high John in the Chaldaique Language it is written John E●coe which hath the same interpretation Precious or excellent John He is not to be named Emperour of the Abyssins as Matth. hath written but of the Ethiopians He being an Armenian could not know our affairs perfectly especially those that concern our Religion for that reason he declared many things to King Emanuel of happy Memory which are not so amongst us not out of any design of deceiving him for ●e was a good man but because ●e was well acquainted with our Religion The Empire many times doth ●ot fall to the share of the Eldest Son of the Emperour but to him ●nto whom the Father will give ●● He that now governs is the ●hird Son of the last Emperour ●e hath deserved that honour by ●is piety and respect which he had ●or his Father for when he was ●pon his death-bed he commanded all his Sons one after another ●o sit upon the Imperial Throne which they did he only excepted Far be it from me said he that I ●hould ascend to the Seat of my Lord and Father which pious mo●esty procured him the Empire ●●om his Father his name is David his Empire is very large and contains both Christians and Heathens In it are many Kings and Princes Earls Barons Grandees and much Nobility that is mo 〈…〉 obedient to him Gold and Silver are given and exchanged by weight Amongst us are many Towns and Cities but not such as I have seen in Portugal because Precious Giam doth always live i● a flying Camp and in Tents This Custom is observed that the Nobility might exercise themselves continually in Military Actions for we are surrounded on all with sides the enemies of our faith with whom we have often many Conflicts always or for the most part with success through the goodness of God This is the account Zaga Za●i gives of his own Country his Relation may be consulted by those that desire more satisfaction for brevity sake much of it is omitted Scaliger in the eighth Book