Years continually till it was Finished The Glory and Magnificency thereof you may read in the Scripture The Temple of the Sepulchre at the first Building was highly Reverenced by the Christians of those parts and even until this Day it is much resorted to both by Pilgrims from all parts of the Romish Church and by divers Gentlemen of the Reformed Churches partly for curiosity and partly for Antiquity of the place It is Farmed from the Turk and kept by the Popes Creatures whosoever is admitted to the sight of this Sepulchre payeth nine Crowns to the Turkish Officers so that this Tribute is worth to the Grand Seignior Eight Thousand Ducats Yearly And thus much briefly for the Description of the Holy Land or Land of Promise A Strange and True ACCOUNT Of the Late TRAVELS OF TWO English Pilgrims And what Admirable Accidents befell them in their Journey to Ierusalem Grand Cairo Alexandria c. 1. Christs Sepulchre 3 Dives House 2 Davids House 4. v. Marys House Page But now to my journey toward the desart of Arabia which I was of necessity to pass before I could come to the Holy Land we departed from the Town Philbits travelling all night in company with the Caravan of Damasco and the 14th at 9 of the clock we pitched our tents at Baharo in the land of Gozan From thence we departed that night and the 15 at night we pitched at Salbia which is to the eastward of the land of Gozan and stands on the borders of the Arabian Desart there we stayed two days for fear of the wild Arabes and parted thence 17. We passed that night over a great bridg under which the salt water standeth This water comes out of the Sea from the parts of Damietta and by mens hands was cut out of that place some 150 miles into the main Land by Ptolomoeus King of Egypt who purposed to join the Red sea and the Mediterranean but when he foresaw that if he had gone through all his Country had been quite drowned he gave it over and built a bridge there to pasâ— over This place parteth Arabia and Egypt and no sooner had we past this bridg but we were set upon by the wild Arabes and notwithstanding we were more than 1000 persons yet a Camel laden with Callicoes was taken from us 4 of our men hurt and one mortally wounded and the Arabes ran away with the prey we being unable to help it because it was night The next day we pitched by a well of brackish water But I forgot to tell you that my fellow Pilgrim Mr. John Burrel escaped very narrowly in the last nights bickering there we rested our selves till 3 of the Clock in the afternoon which they call Lasara for the Arabians and Egyptians divide the day into four parts we departed the next morning to a Castle in the desart called Carga which is one of the three Castles which the Turks keep in the desarts to deâ—end all travellers from the wild Arabes Therefore there we paid a certain tax which was sixâ—y pieces of silver of two pence a piece value for each man or boy and seventy six pieces for a Camel laden and fourteen â—or a Mule Having paid this imposition we departed and pitched again the 19. at another brackish well from whence setting onward we pitched the 20. of March at the second Castle called Arris kâ—pt also by the Turks in the said desarts where our tax was but twenty pieces of silver for each passenger and thirty for a Camel From thence we were guided by many Soldiers to the third Castle called Rachael making one long Journey of 24 hours together Here it is said that the Kings of Egypt and Judea fought many great Battles which to me seemed very unlikely because there is nothing to relieve an army withal except sand and salt water There we paid ten pieces every passenger and 20 for a beast So departing thence the 22. in the morning we came to Gaza in Paâ—estine a goodly fruitful Country and there â—e were quitted of all the desarts In this town â— saw the place where as they told us Sampâ—â—n pull'd down the two Pillars and slew the â—hilistins and surely it appears to be the same town by reason of the situation of the Country There we paid 22 pieces for each beast and ten each passenger From thence we went to a place called in Arabian Canuie but by the Christians Bersheba being upon the borders of Judea where we paid but 2 pieces of silver each one and four for a beast Departing thence the 23. in the morning we pitched our Tents upon a Green close under the walls of Ramoth in Gilead there I stayed all day and wrote eight letters for England by the Caravan which went for Damasco to be conveyed to Constantinople and so for England next day being the 24 in the morning I with other Christians set toward Jerusalem and the great Caravan went for Damasco but we pitched short that night at a place call'd in Arabian Cudechelanib being 16 miles from Hebron where the Sepulchre of our father Abraham is and 5 little miles from Jerusalem From thence departing in the morning being our Lady day in Lent and 9 before-noon I saw the City of Jerusalem when kneeling down and saying the Lords Prayer I gave God most hearty Thanks for conducting me thither to behold so holy a placâ— with my eyes whereof I had read so ofteâ— before Coming within a furlong of thâ— gates I with my Companion Mr. Johâ— Burral went singing and praising Goâ— till we came to the West Gate of the City and there we stayed because it is not lawful for a Christian to enter unadmitted My companion advised me to say I was a Greek only to avoid going to Mass but I not having the Greek tongue refused so to do telling him even at the entry of the Gate that I would neither deny my Country nor Religion whereupon being demanded who we were Mr. Iohn Burrel answering in the Greek tongue told them that he was a Greek And I an Englishman This gave him admittance to the Greek Patriark but I was seized on and cast into Prison before I had stayed a full hour at the Gate for the Turks absolutely denied that they had ever heard either of my Queen or Country or that she paid them any Tribute The Pater Guardian who is the defender of all Christian Pilgrims and the principal procurer of my imprisonment because I did not offer my self under his protection but confidently stood to be rather protected under the Turk than the Pope made the Turk so much my enemy that I was reputed to be a spy and so by no means could I be released from the Dungeon Now give me leave to tell you how it pleased God that very day to deliver me and grant me pass as a Protestant without yielding to any other ceremony then carrying a Wax-candle onely far beyond my expectation Here let me remember you
with their Horrible and Muâ—derous Hands and finally Wishing that his Innocent Bloud should be on them and their Children Which accordingly soon after happened to the utter Desolation of their Countrey the Romans laying waste and levelling to the Ground the Magnificent Structures and Buildings thereof so that herein was verified the Prophecy of Christ while he was upon the Earth That one Stone should not be left upon another And as for the People Divine Vengeance did continually pursue them till the most part were destroyed and the rest Dispersed throughout out the World even to this Day For first the Inhabitants of Caesarea slew of the Jews in one Day about 20000. and such as fled were taken and Imprisoned by Florus the Lieutenant of Judea To Revenge this Slaughter the Jews set upon the Syrians in which Skirmish 13000 of them were slain The People of Alexandria put 50000 to the Sword They of Damascus 10000. and Antonius a Roman Captain â—lew in Ascalon 10000 and Cestius another Captain â—lew 80040 Persons And now to come to the Wars managed here by Vespasian This Vespasian in the Seige of Aphaca slew and took Prisoners Seventeen Thousand one Hundred and Thirty Persons in Samaria 11600 and in Iosepata 42200 Persons In Joppa so many Killed and Drowned themselves that the Sea threw up four Thousand two Hundred and the rest so totally perished that there remained none to carry tidings to Jerusalem of the loss of the Town In the City of Tarichea were Slain and made Captives Forty five Thousand besides those which were given to King Agrippa In Gamala there perished Ninety Thousand and none left alive but only two Women In Gascala Five Thousand Men died by the Sword In the City of Gadara were slain Thirty two Thousand two Hundred besideâ— an infinite number that Dâ—owned themselves In Jerusalem it self there died Eleven Hundred Thousand Jews partly by Sword and Famine the worse Enemy of the two there were found 2000 in Privies and Sinks and Ninety Seven Thousand were taken prisoners in so much that 30 Jews were sold for a Penny Now that Ierusalem was able to contain such a number of People is evident in that when Cestius was Lieutenant of Jury the High Priest at his Request numbered the People which came to Eat of the Paschal Lamb and found them to be two Millions and Seven Hundred Thousand living Souls all sound and Purified And when Titus laid Siege to the City it was at the Feast of the Passover when most of the People were there assembled God as it were thus Imprisoning them All these Massacres besides divers others Omitted and infinite Numbers slain in the Fields and Villages which drowned themselves and were privately made away Amounting to almost two Millions of People happened in the compass of four Years beginning in the twelfth of Nero and ending in the second of Vespasian Yet was not the whole Nation Rooted out till 136. For then this Miserable People having stirred two notable Rebellions First under Trajan and afterward under Adrian the Emperours they were all banished their Native Country and never again suffered to inhabit it but as Strangers After this Desolation the Jews were dispersed over the World and especially in Spain where Adrian Commanded many of them to dwell yet found every where so little Favour that having divers time been put â—o grievous Mulcts and Ransoms they were at last quite thrust out of Europe The first Christian Prince that expelled the Jews out of his Territories was that Heroick King Edward 1. who was such a sore Scourge also to the Scots and it is thought divers Families of those Banished Jews fled then to Scotland where they have propagated since in great Numbers Witness the Aversion this Nation hath above others to Hogs-Flesh Nor was this their Extermination for their Religion but for their notorious Crimes as poisoning of Wells Counterfeiting of Coins falsifying of Seals and Crucifying of Christian Children with other Villanies This happened in the Year 1291. And 16 Years after France followed our Example It was near 200 Years after that Ferdinand turned them out of Spain and five years after him Emanuel of Portugal did the like But the Countreys from whence they werâ— Last expelled were Naples and Sicily in the Year 1539. In other parts of Christendom they reside yet in great numbers as in Germany High and Low Bohemia Lituania Poland and Russia In Italy also they are found but in no Countrey subject to the King of Spain They live very quietly at Rome under the Popes nose and St. Mark makes no scruple to entertain them at Venice In sundry places of the Ottoman Empire they are very numerous so that it is thought Constantinople and Thessalonica only have near twenty thousand Asia is full of them as Aleppo Tripoly Damascus Rhodes and indeed all places of commerce and traffique There are numbers also in Persia Arabia and about Cranganor in India In Africk they have their Synagogues and Lumbards as in Alexandria Grand Cairo Fesse Trimesen and divers places in the Kingdom of Morocco there are about 100 Families left in Jerusalem But the place where they are most unmingled is Tiberias which the Turks gave to Mendez the Jew for some signal services thither they oft bring or send the bones of their dead friends who have left large Legacies to be there interred from other places The City of Jerusalem was afterward redified by Elius Adrianus and given to the Christians from whom it was taken by Cosroes and the Persians in the Year 615. and from them forcibly wrested by Haumar and the Saracens in 637. Next it fell into the power of Cutlu Moses and the Turks in 1009. under whose oppressions when it had long groaned Peter the Hermite stirred up the Western Princes to relieve the distressed Christians whose designs attained their wished effect under the Banner of the Victorious Prince Godfrey of Bullen in the Year 1099. This Godfrey for his merits was to have been invested with the Royal Wreath of Majesty which he denied thinking it unfit to wear a Crown of Gold where his Saviour had worn a Crown of Thorns yet for the common good he accepted the Title after whom reigned these Christian Princes Baldwin the 1. Baldwin the 2. Fulk Earl of Anjou Baldwin the 3. Almerick Baldwin the 4. Baldwin the 5. Guy of Lusignan the last King of Jerusalem during whose time Saladine the Sultan of Egypt won the Kingdom which his Successours defended against all invasions till the Year 1517. when Selinus the first Emperour of the Turks added the Holy Land together with Egypt to his Empire And so the whole Countrey of Palestine with the City of Jerusalem are under the dominion of the Turks to this day and is inhabited by some Christians who make a great benefit of shewing the Sepulchre of Christ and of late years also by Moors Arabians Greeks Latins Turks Jews nay I may say with People of all Nations The whole
left hand whence they told me Simon Sirenus was coming toward the Dolorus way when the Souldiers seeing him called him and compelled him against his will presently to help our Saviour to carry his Cross. Then they told me that in that same place the people wept when Christ answering said unto them Oh Daughters of Ierusalem weep not for me c. Next they shewed the Church where the Virgin Mary fell into an agony when Christ passed by carrying his Cross. Afterward they brought me to Pilates Palace which though it be all ruinated yet is there an old Arch of Stone which is still maintained by the Christians and standing full in the high way we passed under it upon that Arch is a Gallery which admitteth passage over our heads from one side of the street to the other for Pilates Palace extendeth over the high way on both sides and Pilate had two great Windows in the same Gallery to gaze out both ways into the street Into this Gallery was our Saviour brought when he was shewn unto the Jews and they standing below in the street heard the words Ecce Homo Behold the man A little from this place is the foot of the stairs where our Saviour did first take up his Cross. Then they brought me to the place where the Virgin Mary was Conceived and born which is the Church of St. Anna and no Turkish Church Next they shewed the Pool where Christ cleansed the Leapers and then guiding me to St. Stevens Gate a little within it upon the left hand they shewed the stone wherewith St. Steven was stoned From hence I saw the stairs going up to Port Area at which Port there are divers Reliques to be seen it was the East Gate of the Temple which Solomon built upon Mount Moria in which Temple was the place of Sanctum Sanctorum but now in that place is builded a goodly great Church belonging to the Turks Thus spent I the second day being the 26. day of March all within the Gates of Ierusalem except my going to see the stone wherewith Saint Steven was stoned The next day being the 27. having done our Duty to God and the Pater Guardian we hired Asses for the Friars and the Trouchman to ride on and going forth the City Gates we mounted and rode directly towards Bythinia By the way as we rode they shewed the place of the fruitless Fig-tree which Christ cursed next the Castle of Lazarus that Lazarus whom Christ loved so well for his house or Castle was in Bythinia but it was utterly ruinated and nothing to be seen but the two sides of the Wall In the same Town they shewed the House of Mary Magdalen but so ruinated that nothing is left of it but a piece of a Wall there I saw likewise Martha's House consisting of 3 pieces of Wall and thence they brought me to the Stone where the two Sisters told Christ that Lazarus was dead from whence passing on they shewed the place where our Saviour raised Lazarus from death after he had layen three days in the ground and where he was buried afterward when he died This place hath been notably kept from the beginning and is repaired still by the Christians but yet in poor and very bare sort And this is all that I saw in Bythinia From hence we rode to Mount Olivet and passing by Bethphage they brought me to the place where our Saviour took the Ass and Colt when he rode to Ierusalem upon Palm Sunday Riding from Bethphage directly North we came to the foot of Mount Olivet where they shewed the place Benedicta of the Virgin Maries Annunciation and ascending to the top of the mount we saw the place of our Saviours Ascension At the sight whereof we said our Prayers and were commanded to say 5 Pater Nosters and 5 Ave Maries but we said the Lords Prayer took notice of the place and departed This is the highest part of Mount Olivet and hence may be discerned many notable places as first West from it is the prospect of the new City of Ierusalem South-west the prospect of Mount Sion which is adjoyning to new Ierusalem also in the valley between Sion and the Mount whereon I stood I saw the Brook Cedron the Pool Silo the Garden wherein our Saviour Prayed the place where he was betrayed and divers other notable things in this valley of Gethsemanie as the Tomb of Absolom King Davids son the Tomb of Iehoshaphat and others Full South from Mount Olivet I could see the places we came last from as all Bythinia and Bethphage also East North-east from this Mount may be seen the River of Iordan which is 15 Miles off and Iericho which is not far because West-ward of Iordan From Mount Olivet East and East-Southeast may be seen the Lake of Sodom and Gomorrah which is some 100 Miles long and 8 Miles over all these places I set with the Compass when I was on Mount Olivet for I stayed on the top of it some two hours and a half having a little Compass about me Descending hence toward the foot West-ward we came to a place where the Friars told me that a woman called St. Pelagia did Pennance in the habit of a Friar whereat I smiling they demanding why I did so I answered that to believe Pelagia was a Saint stood out of the Compass of the Creed they told me when I came home at night they would shew me sufficent Authors for it but when I came home I had so much to do in writing my notes out of my table book that I had not leisure to urge their Authors for St. Pelagia By this time they brought us to the place where our Saviour did foretell the judgment then where he made the Pater Noster or Lords Prayer and then where the Apostles made the Creed From hence we came to the place where Christ wept for Ierusalem and from thence to the place where the Virgin Mary gave the Girdle to St. Thomas and then where she Prayed for St. Steven All these last were coming down Mount Olivet toward the Valley of Gethsemanie where by the way we came to our Ladies Church wherein is her Sepulchre and the Sepulchre of her Husband Ioseph with the Sepulchre of Anna and many others This Church standeth at the foot of Mount Olivet and was built as they say by Helena the mother of Constantine the Great Here the Friars went into the Virgin Maries Sepulchre and there either said Mass or Prayers while we in the mean time went to Dinner In this Church is a Fountain of exceeding fine Water in regard we went down into a Vault as it were it giveth a marvellous loud eccho or sound Hence we came to the Cave whither Iudas came to betray Christ when he was at Prayer and thence to the Garden where our Saviour left his Disciples commanding them to Watch and Pray but found them sleeping at his return then they brought me to the Garden where Christ
I was informed before I came that it was all ruinated though I found it otherwise having a little Compass about me to set such places as I could easily come by The very heart of the old City was seated on Mount Sion and Mount Moria On the North part whereof was Mount Calvary without the Gates of the old City about a stones cast and no further But now I find this new City situated so far in the North part that it is almost quite off Mount Sion but yet not off Mount Moria which was between Mount Sion and Mount Calvary so that now undoubtedly the South Wall of the City are plackd on the N. foot of the Hill of Sion The East Walls which confronts Mount Olivet is a great part of the Ancient Wall from the S. E. angle North a quarter of a mile behind Mount Calvary so that Mount Calvary which was formerly a stones cast without the City and the appointed place for ordinary execution I find â—o be now seated in the middle of the new City This Mount Calvary is not so high as to be called a Mount but rather a piked or spired Rock For I noted the Situation both when I was at the top and when I came to the Sepulchre being distant from the foot of it 173 foot as I measured it Whereupon I conclude that the place of Burial which Ioseph of Arimathea made for himself was from the foot of Mount Calvary 173 foot West in which place is the Sepulchre of our Saviour which is two foot and a half high eight foot in length and four foot broad wanting three inches covered with a fair white stone Over the Sepulchre is a Chappel the North Wall whereof is joyned close with the North side of the Sepulchre And of like stone as the Sepulchre is consisting of fifteen foot in breadth five and twenty foot in length and above forty foot in height In this Chappel are always burning thirty or forty Lamps but upon Festival days more maintained by Gifts given at the death of Christians in Spain Florence and other parts to be kept continually burning and the givers of these Lamps have their names ingraven about the upper edges of them in Letters of Gold standing in a band of Gold or Silver This Chappel is inclosed with a Church and yet not that only but therewith is circled in all the forenamed holy places viz. where Christ was whipt Where he was in Prison Where his Garments were divided Where the Cross was found Where he was Crowned with Thorns Where he was Nailed on the Cross Where the Cross stood when he suffered Where the Vail of the Temple rent Where the three Maries Anointed him Where he appeared to Mary Magdalen And in brief all the notable things either about Mount Calvary or Iosâ—phs field of Arimathea are inclosed within the compass of this Church which was built by Q. Helena Mother to Constantine the Great she being as I have read in some Authors an English Woman and Daughter to King Coel that built Colchester Whâ—ch being urged to them they denyed it I measured this Church within and found it to be 422 Fathoms about The one side of it likewise I found to be 130 Fathoms Thus much for Mount Calvary now in the midst of the City From the North-east angle to the North-west is the shortest way of the City and from the North-west angle to the South-west is as far as from the South-east to the North-east But from the South-west to the South-east which is the South-wall that standeth on the foot of Mount Sion I measured and found it to be 3775 foot which is about three quarters of a mile Upon this South side of the City is a great Iron Gate about which are laid 17 Pieces of Brass Ordinance This Gate is as great as the West Gate of the Tower of London and exceeding strong the Walls being very thick and on the South side 50 or 60 foot high The North Wall is not altogether so long but much stronger for on the North side it hath been often surprised but on the South-side never and on the East-side it is impregnable by reason of the edge of the Hill which it standeth on which is five times as high as the Wall On the North side are 25 Pieces of Brass Ordinance near the Gate which is of Iron also but what are in other places as at the corners or angles I could not come to see and inquire I durst not The East Wall containing the Gate where St. Stephen was stoned a little without and to this day called St. Stephens Gate I saw but five Pieces of Ordinance there and they were between the Gate and the ruins of Port Aurea which is to the South the West side of the City at the Gate whereof I entred at my first Arrival it is very strong likewise and hath fifteen Pieces of Ordnance lying together and all of Brass This Gate is also of Iron and this West Wall is as long as the East Wall But standeth upon the higher ground So that coming from the West to the West Wall you can see nothing but the bare Wall but upon Mount Olivet coming towards the City from the East you havâ— a very goodly prospect by reason the City standeth all on the edge of the Hill To conclude Ierusalem is the strongest of all the Cities that I have yet seen in my Journey since I departed from Grand Cairo But the rest of the Country is very easy to be surprised Yet in Ierusalem are three Christians for one Turk and many Christians in the Country round about who all live poorly under the Turk Now how the Country about Ierusalem lyeth for your more easy understanding I will familiarly compare several places with some of our Native English Towns and Villages according to such true estimation as I have made of them Imagine I begin with London I mean about that distance The City of Bethlehem where our Saviour was born is from Ierusalem as Wansworth is from London I mean much that distance The plain of Mamre is from Ierusalem as Guilford is from London In which place or near to it is the City of Hebron where our Father Abraham lyeth buryed Beersheba is from Ierusalem as Alton is from London Ramoth Gilead is from Ierusalem as Reading is from London Gaza which is the South west part of Palestine is from Ierusalem as Salisbury is from London Ascalon is from Gaza North-east Ioppa is from Ierusalem as Alisbury is from London Samaria is from Ierusalem as Royston is from London The City of Nazareth is from Ierusalem as Norwich is from London From Nazareth to Mount Tabor and Hermon is five Miles North-east These two stand very near together Tabor being the greater From Tabor to the Sea Tiberias is eight Miles North-east From Ierusalem to Mount Sania is ten days Journey and North-east thence These places last spoken of beginning at Samaria I was not in but the
other five Englishmen that met me in Ierusalem from Galilee came through them of whom I had this Description they received of me likewise the Description of my Journey through Palestine The place where Christ fasted 40 days and 40 nights called Quarranto is from Ierusalem as Chelmsford is from London The River Iordan the very nearest part thereof is from Ierusalem as Epping is from London Iericho the nearest part of the plain thereof is from Ierusalem as Lowton Hall Sr. Robert Wroths house is from London The Lake of Sodom and Gomorrah is from Ierusalem as Gravesend is from Lon-don The River Iordan runneth into the Lake and there is swallâ—wed up which is one of the greatest secrets in my mind in the World that a fresh water should run continually into this salt Lake and have no issue out but there is lost And the Lake continuing still so salt as no weight of any reasonable substance will sink into it but floateth upon it so that a Man or dead Beast will never go down And further note that what fifth soever was brought into it by the River Iordan or any other substance it swims continually upon the water and being tossed thereon by the Weather in time it becometh a congealed froth which being cast upon the Banks and there dryed by the extream heat of the Sun becomes black like Pitch which in that Country is called Bitumen whereof I have brought some with me from thence This Lake is about eight or nine Miles broad and about a 100 Miles long from the North where the River Iordan falleth into it to the South-ward and hath no farther issue The fields where the Angels brought Tydings to the Shepherds lye from Ierusalem as Greenwich from London Mount Olivet lyeth from Ierusalem as Bow from London Bethania is from Ierusalem as Black-wall from London Bethphage is from Ierusalem as Mile-end from London The Valley Gethsemany is from Ierusalem as Ratcliff Fields lye from London Brook Cedron is from Ierusalem as the Ditch without Algate from London Mount Sion is near adjoyning to Ierusalem as Southwark to London Thus have I described the City of Ierusalem as it is now built with all the notable places therein and near the same and the Country about it By which comparisons you may well understand the situation of most places near it And thereby you may perceive that it was but a small Country and a very little plat of ground which the Israelites possessed in the Land of Canaan and is now very barren For within fifteen Miles from Ierusalem it is wholly barren full of Rocks and stony And unless it be about the Plain of Iericho I know not any part of the Country at present fruitful What is hath been in time past I refer you to the Holy Scriptures My opinion is that when it was fruitful and a Land that flowed with Milk and Hony in those days God Blessed it and that then they followed his Commandments but now being inhabited by Infidels that prophane the name of Christ and live in a filthy and beastly manner God cursed it and it is made so barren that I could get no bread when I came near it For one night as I lodged short of Ierusalem at a place called in the Arabian Tongue Cuda Chenaleb I sent my Moor to a house not far from the place where we had pitched our Tents to get some bread and he brought word there was none to be had and that the man of that house did never â—at bread in all his life but only dryed Dates nor any of his houshold whereby you may partly perceive the barrenness of the Country at this day only as I suppose by the curse that God laid upon the same For they use the sin of Sodom and Gomorrah very much in that Country so that the poor Christians there are glad to marry their Daughters at twelve years of Age unto Christians lest the Turks should ravish them And to conclude there is not that sin in the World but it is used amongst those Infidels who now inhabit therein and yet it is called Terra Sancta and in the Arabian Tongue Cuthea which is the Holy Land bearing the name only and no more For all holiness is banished from thence by those Thieves filthy Turks and Infidels that inhabit the same Having my Certificate sealed by the Quadrian and a Letter delivered me to shew that I had washed my self in the River of Iordan I departed from Ierusalem in the company of the Moor that helpt to get me out of Prison leaving Edward Abbot Ieffery Kerbie Iohn Elkins Iasper Tymme and Mr. Bedle the Preacher whom I met there by chance behind me in Ierusalem and which grieved me most the Gentleman of Middleborough Mr. Iohn Burrel that I met with at Grand Cairo who had born me company thence to Ierusalem forsook me there and stayed with the other five Englishmen and so was I left alone to the mercy of my Moor that never left me till I came to Grand Cairo Now what happened to me in my Travelling from Ierusalem to Cairo and from thence to Alexandria where my ship lay I will hereafter declare Departing from Ierusalem we got safe to Rama and from thence to Ascalon and so to Gaza which lyeth upon the Borders of the Desarts of Arabia At one of those two places I hoped to have some passage by Water either to Alexandria or to Damietta but failing thereof I was in a maze and knew not whether I were best go back again to Ierusalem or put my self desperately into the hands of the Wild Arabians to be by them conducted to Grand Cairo One of those courses I must take there was no hope of passage and yet I hoped I should find it at Ioppa And for that cause stayed at Gaza and sent my Moor to Ioppa to seek for passage but there was none to be had At last considering with my self that my haste into Egypt was great for I had left my man Waldred in Cairo with my stock of 1200 l. and my ship lay in the Road of Aleâ—andria with sixty men in her and whether they would depart without me or no I knew not For when I went from them to go up to the River of Nilus to Cairo I had no intent to go for Ierusalem I was forced in this extremity to make away all the mony I had about me and to put my self into the hands of two wild Arabians who undertook to carry me and my Moor without whom I durst not go to the City of Cairo in four days if I would pay them 24 Sultans of Gold when I came to the Materia near Cairo and upon that Condition they would deliver me safely there otherwise would carry me Prisoner with them or cut my Throat And so agreeing with them by my Moor who spâ—ke for me and withal warranted me to go safely swearing that he would not leave me by any means the two Wild
Gardens is an ill contrived Castle where a few Villains inhabit to whom we paid one Liver per Man for leave to go into the Grot where the Springs are that feed the City and the Cisterns it is large and hath three Springs and a large passage cut through the Rock toward the Cisterns passable by a Man but we went not to the end of it We mounted our Horses to proceed on our Journey leaving the Castle on the Right Hand and at a distance we saw St. Georges Church where the Fathers say the Chains remain wherewith St. George was bound which will presently cure a Mad-man if he be bound therewith After an hour and a halfs Riding we came near to Bethlehem where passing through a narrow Lane the Guard consisting of four or five Musquâ—tiers received five Livers of every one of us and our Druggerman that went with us received three and arriving at the Convent we paid one for our entrance and after our being welcomed by the Fathers we took our repose till five of the Clock in the Evening and then we prepared to go in Procession to the Holy Places in the same manner as we did at the Temple in Ierusalem the Places we Visited were these 1. The Place where our Saviour was Born 2. The Tomb of St. Ioseph to whom the Virgin Mary was espoused 3. St. Innocents Tomb. 4. The place where St. Ierom lived when he translated the Bible into Latin 5. St. Ieroms Praying place 6. St. Ieroms Tomb. 7. St. Pauls Tomb. 8. St. Eustachias her Daughter 9. The Sâ—pulchre of St. Eusebius Abbot of Bethlehem 10. We return to the Chappel of St. Catherena built by St. Paula Next is the great Church without the Convent which hath 48 Pillars of Marble about three Yards long all in one Piece At Evening we went to visit the place of our Saviours Birth formerly belonging to the Latines till the Greeks bought it out of their Handâ— so that now the Latines when they go their Procession Pray at that Door by which they formerly entred The Precipio hath two Doors one over against the other which are well lined with Carved Iron and strengthned with Iron Spikes We went in bare-foot on the Right hand in the entrance is the place they say where our Saviour was Born which is lined with Marble and in the middle of the Room there is a little place covered with Silver by which they set a Dish to receive your Charity On the left Hand is the Manger where the Virgin Mary laid our Saviour which is Lined with Marble and at the end of the Manger on the Right Hand is the Picture of St. Ierom naturally in the Marble which the Fathers esteem as a Miracle Over â—gainst this Manger is the place where the three wise Men stood when they came to Worship our Saviour at the end of this place in a corner is a hole made up with Marble wherein they say the Virgin Mary put the Water when she had washed her hands Over which a Lamp Burns continually and a great many in other places Over this Precipio in the great Church is the Altar of Circumcision where our Saviour was Circumcised Having seen what was Rare at Bethlehem May 31. early in the Morning we rose to proceed in our Journey in which we saw these Places following 1. The Grot where the Virgin Mary hid her self when she was warned to Fly into Egypt and her Milk running out of her Breasts there made the Earth turn White which Earth the Catholicks do very much esteem 2. Davids Cisterns 3. The Grot wherein the Virgin Mary and Ioseph lived before they could get a House 4. The Tomb of Rachel Iacobs Wife which the Turks do also much esteem 5. The Field of Sennacherib where the Angel of the Lord slew in one Night One hundred eighty five thousand of the Syrians in this Place is a Village which is called Botechelle where the Fathers affirm no Turk can live 6. The place where the Pillars of the Convent of Ramah were built 7. The Vineyard whence the Spyes of the Land of Canaan took the Cluster of Grapes to shew the fruitfulness of it also the Fountain where Philip Baptized the Q. of Sheba's Eunuch 8. The Desarts of Iohn Baptist and after an hours Riding we came to Iohn â—aptists Fountain where was his Chamber and a Rock wherein there was a place cut out like a Bench for his Bed to break off any bit of this Rock is Worthy Excommunication 9. Zacharias House where the Virgin Mary came to salute her Cousen Elizabeth for the Angel that told her she should conceive told her also that her Cousen was with Child and upon her salutation the Child leaped in the Womb Near this is House a Fountain with two Cisterns which is called Elizabâ—ths Fountain 10. A Stone where Iohn Baptist Preached which the Fathers say the Turks have endeavoured to break in pieces but could not 11. The place where Iohn Baptist was Born now a Stable but formerly a Church where the Fathers upon Iohn Baptists day carry their Organs thither and Adorn the place for their Prayers 12. The Tombs of the Maccabees which we saw at a distance and being ruinated appear as so many Arches 13. We passed by a Village where the Men are all Turks and the Women Christians for the people being poor the Turks were very severe with them for their Harach who not being able to pay all at once turned Turks c. 14. We came to the Mountain Crupil where part of the Wood whereof our Saviours Cross was made was cut down and over the place where they say the Tree stood is a stately Church in the possession of the Greeks the just place whâ—re the Tree grew is inlaid with Silver by which they set a Dâ—sh for Charity The Floor of this Church is well Wrought with Mosaick Work and painted with Scripture Stories and instead of a Bell they knock upon a board that hangs up which sounds somewhat like a Bell. And now we go forward to the Convent at Ierusalem passing by Mâ—unt Gihon where Solomon was Anoinâ—ed King and about night we came to our Lodgings having made two days journey to see the Holy places and Traverse the Mountains of Iudea we slept very well that night but still we have mere Pilgrimages June 1. We lay still to recover our selves of our Bethlehem Journey But Father Tomasa out of his Zeal is very importunate with us to be walking to see other places which is very Meritorious in the Roman Church and had we been of their Religion it had been impossible to have mist Heaven for we had received indulgences for all our Lives which fancy I wish do not deceive too many June 2. We began to search for the Holy places which are these following 1. The Immolation of Isaac near the Temple called Mount Moriah inlaid with Silver and a dish set by for your Offering 2. Peters Prison still made a
was taken these last three were in the Valley Gethsemanie Riding into the Town whereof the Valley bears the Name on the left hand I saw the before remembred Sepulchres of Absolom and Iehoshaphat and on the right the Brook Cedron which at my being there had not one drop of water in it for indeed it is but a ditch to convey the water to Mount Olivet and Mount Sion when store of Rain falleth And this ditch or brook Cedron is in the Valley between both those Hills Hard by they shewed me a stone marked with the Feet and Elbows of Christ in their throwing of him down when they took him and ever since say they have those prints remained there From thence we rode to the place where St. Iames the younger hid himself and afterward was buried there there also they shewed where Zechariah the Son of Barachiab was buried and brought me to another place where they say the Virgin Mary used often to Pray Then came we to the pool of Silo wherein Mr. Burrel and I washed our selves and hence we were shewn the place where the Prophet Esay was sawn in pieces thence they guided us to an exceeding deep Well where the Jews as they say hid the holy fire in the rime of Nebuchadnezzar Here we ascended from the Valley to a hill side which lyeth just South from Mount Sion but there is a great Valley between called Gehemion and there they shewed the places where the Apostles hid themselves being a Cave in a Rock Ascending higher they brought me to the field or rather to the Rock where the common burial place is for strangers being the very same as they say which was bought with the 30 pieces of silver that Iudas received as the price of his Master which place is called Aceldama and is fashioned as followeth It hath 3 holes above and on the side there is a vent at the upper holes they use to let down the dead bodies to the depth of about some fifty foot In this place I saw two bodies new or very lately let down and looking down for by reason of the three great holes above where the dead bodies lie it is very light I received such a savour into my head as made me very sick so that I entreated the Friars to go no further but return home to the City Then we went through the valley of Gehemion and at the foot of Mount Sion having a little bottle of water which I brought from the Pool Silo I drank and rested an hour eating a few Raisins and Olives which we brought with us from Ierusalem After I had rested and refreshed my self we began to ascend Mount Sion and a little way up the hill they shewed me the place where Peter having denied Christ and hearing the Cock-crow went out and wept Ascending higher they shewed the house where the Virgin Mary dwelt which was near the Temple then they brought me to the place where the Jews setting on the blessed Virgin Mary to take her she was conveyed away by miracle Hence we went to the house of Cajaphas which was somewhat higher upon Mount Sion and therein I saw the Prison wherein our Saviour was detained Passing on still higher they guided me to a little Chappel which is kept by the Armenians whereinto entring at the high Altar they shewed the Stone which was upon our Saviours Sepulchre as they say it is near the place where Peter denied Christ for there they shewed me the Pillar whereon the Cock stood when he crowed Hence was I brought to the place where our Saviour made his last Supper and thence came where the Holy Ghost descended upon the Apostles whence passing on they shewed me the place where Christ appeared to his Disciples the eighth day after his Resurrection where St. Thomas desired to see his wounds Near this place upon Mount Sion the Virgin Mary died and hard by they shewed a place bought by the Pope of the Turks for the burial of the European Christians because he would not have them cast into Aceldama They told us the year before five Englishmen were buried in that place whether by the Fryars poysoning them or how else it happened but we thought it strange that all five should die in one week Thence came we to the house of Annas the high Priest now only two very old walls at the side of one is an old Olive-tree whereto they told me our Saviour was bound and demanding the reason they said that when he was brought unto his house Annas being asleep his people would not awake him so during their stay they bound him to that Olive-tree and when he awaked then he was brought in and examined Departing hence toward the South Gate of the City which standeth likewise upon Mount Sion we alighted from our Asses and entring I noted it well for I had seen three of the four Gates And being desirous to see the North-Gate also they brought me to the Church of St. Thomas which is within the Wall all ruinated then to the Church of St. Mark where Peter came being delivered out of Prison by the Angel that brake open the Gate Then they shewed me the house of Zebedeus whence we came to a place kept by the Abassines and there ascending first by a dark way led on by a line or Cord we attained to a high place near to the Sepulchra Sancta where I paid two pieces of silver to go in and being entred I demanded what place it was the same quoth they where Abraham would have sacrificed his son Isaac Thence went we to the Prison whence St. Peter and St. Iohn were being the next door to the prison wherein I was put before which made me the sorrier that it was not my fortune to have gone into it being so near it Hence we came to the North-gate being on Mount Calvary side where having well viewed the Gate and perceiving it grew late we went directly home this was my third days work in and about Ierusalem wearied not a little with often alighting to pray for at each several place before recounted we dismounted and said the Lords Prayer on our knees On the morrow being the 28th day early in the morning we took our Asses riding forth at the West Gate through which I first entred and passing South we left mount Sion on the left hand at the foot whereof they shewed the house of Uriah and the Fountain where Bathsheba washed her self when King David espied her out of his Turret Thence went we to the place where the Angel took up Habakkuk by the hair of the head to carry meat to Daniel in the Lions Den. Next came we to the place where the wise men found the Star when it was lost and then where the Virgin Mary rested her self under a tree as she came from Bethlehem to Ierusalem which tree they still repair by setting another close to the root of it Hence rode we to the house of Elias
the Prophet where they shewed his usual place of sleeping and his house standeth so upon a hill as from thence I saw Bethlehem afar off Thence we went to an old ruinated house which they told me was Iacobs which may the better appear to be so for in the field thereto adjoining is the tomb of Rachel Iacobs Wife and some two Miles from this tomb is a Town in the same field called Bethesula the Inhabitants whereof are all Christians In this great field being between Ierusalem and Bethlehem did lie the camp of Senacherib when he besieged Ierusalem From hence we rode to the field where the Angels brought Tydings of great joy to the Shepherds which is two Miles from Bethlehem and thence we rode to Bethlehem to the Mâ—nastery wherein were about ten Friars who welcomed me very kindly and brought me first into a great Church then into a large Entry wherein I saw the name of Mr. Hugo Stapers twice set one above another and between them both I set my name Then they guided me down the stairs into a Vault where was a Chappel built in the place of our Saviours Nativity enclosing both it and the Manger wherein Christ was laid and also the place whâ—re he was presented with gifts by the wisemen Over thiâ— Chappel is a great Church â—uilt by Queen Helena mother to Constantine â—he Great as they say and further I saw diâ—ers Tombs of holy men and others Going up to the top of the Church I saw upon the â—eads the name of Mr. Hugo Stapers again inâ—raven which made me look the more earâ—estly for some other Englishmâ—ns names but â—inding none I graved my name and came â—way then went we in and dined with the â—riars After Dinner they brought me to a â—lace where the Virgin Mary hid her self â—hen search was made to kill the Children â—o taking my leave of Bethlehem giving the â—riars three pieces of Gold for my Dinner â—nd my company with me being Eight in â—umber mounting our Asses we rode to the â—ell where King Davids three Captains â—etched water for him through the whole â—ost of the Philistines which standeth a little â—ay from Bethlehem towards Ierusalem â—nd hath three places to draw water up Hence went we presently back to Ierusalem entring the gate at four a clock afternoon and at five the Turks let us into the Sepulchra Sancta each of us paying nine pieces of Gold for our entrance No sooner were we in but they locked the Gates so there I stayed till 11 of the clock the next day and then came we forth Now follows what I saw in Sepulchra Sancta First I observed hanging without the Gate at least 100 lines or strings and in the Gate is a great hole whereat a little Child may easily creep in whereof demanding the reason they told me that the hole served to give victuals at for them which lie within the Church which are above 300 persons men and women all Christians and there they live continually night and day and can have no passage in or out but when the Turks open the Gate for some Pilgrim which happeneth not sometimes in 14 days Wherefore these Christian Lodgers in the Church have their whole houshold there and boarded lodgings built for them The strings hanging at the Gate have each one a Bell fastned at the lodgings and when their servants which are without bring them any meat each rings the Bell belonging to his houshold and so come accordingly each knowing hiâ— own Bell for the receipt of his food The several sorts of Christians which I saw in this Church I will in order describe 1. The Romans who bear the greatest sway 2. The Greeks for they be next in number to the Romans yet little better then slaves to the Turk 3. The Armenians who have been so long Servants to the Turk that having forgot their own Language they use all their Ceremonies in the Arabian Tongue The 4th sort of Christians are Nestorians who are likewise slaves to the Turk and have no other Language than the Arabian The 5th Abassines being People of the Land of Prestor Iohn The sixth Iacobites that are Circumcised Christians but slaves likewise to the Turk All these Christians in name have bought their several places in the Church and by-rooms for ease being never fewer of all these six sorts than 250 or 300 continually there lying and Praying after their manner The places where they ordinarily go to their Devotions are thus as the Roman Friars brought me to them 1. The Pillar whereat our Saviour was whipped 2. The place where he was imprisoned while they were preparing or making his Cross. 3. Where the Souldiers divided his Garments 4. Where the Cross was found by Q. Helena which is at the foot of Mount Calvary and hard by that is the Chappel of the Queen 5. The place where Chrisâ— was Crowned with Thorns which I could not see till I give the Abassines that kept it two pieces of Silver 6. The place where the Cross being laid on the ground our Saviour was nailed unto it 7. The place on the top of Mount Calvary where the Cross stood when he suffered 8. The Rock that rent at his crucifying which is worth observation for it is slit like as if cleft with Wedges and Beetles from the top to the two third parts downwards as it were through the brow and breast of the Rocks The rent is so great in some places that a Man might hide himself in it and grows downward less and less 9. The place where the three Maries Anointed Christ after he was dead 10. Where he appeared to Mary Magdelen like a Gardiner And thence we came to the Sepulchre it self which is the last place where they use Prayers From whence I went to see the Tombâ— of Baldwin and Godfrey of Bulloigne Anâ— returning back to the Sepulcher I measureâ— the distance between place and place froâ— five of the Clock before night until next daâ— at Eleven at my coming forth writing dowâ— all things I thought worth notice My Coâ—panion Mr. Iohn Burrel and I went thence 〈◊〉 the Pater Guardian to Dinner where we hearâ— that five English-men were arrived at the City Gates travelling towards Aleppo their names were Mr. William Bedle Preacher to the English Merchants at Aleppo Mr. Edward Abbot Servant to Sir Iohn Spencer Mr. Ieffery Kerbie Servant to Mr. P. Banning and Leigiers for them in Aleppo with two other young men Iohn Elkins and Iasper Tymme These five hearing of my being there came all to the House and though they saw not my Imprisonment nor were with me at the sight of those things in and about Ierusalem can witness that they were acquainted therewith at the Gates and with other truths beside These with my Companion Mr. Iohn Burrel I left behind in Ierusalem departing thence to see other places in the Country of Palestine But let me first tell what I observed in the Cities Situation because
days Treatment bâ— the Consul for Englâ—sh French and Dutch 〈◊〉 with extraordinary Civility about four of thâ— Clock in the Afternoon we set forward foâ— Mount Lebanon and two hours Riding froâ— Triâ—poly we pitched our Tent at the Villagâ— Coffersinue the Inhabitants are Christians anâ— â—ive in Houses made of Reeds and covered with Bushes the Rode to this Village is veâ—y pleasant through a Forest of Olive Trees and in the Valleys are Gardens of Mulberâ—ies with which they fâ—ed their Silk-worms Friday May 14 we departed from Coffersinue â—bout four in the morning passing in a good Rode and through Plains sowed wiâ—â— Wheat â—bout six of the Clock we passed over seveâ—al Mountains resembling Marble if not realâ—y so from which we had a fine Prospect of the â—ruitfulness of the Valleys between these Mountains upon the ascent of an Hill we â—ame to a Fountain where we break fasted â—t seven we rose from the Fountain and haâ—ing passed a very dangerous ragged Mounâ—ain about nine of the Clock we came to Eden a small Village and very pleasantly seatâ—d being surrounded with Mulberries Walâ—uts and other sorts of Trees Walnus esâ—ecially we found very common in this Mount we went to the Bishops House a most miseraâ—le ruinated Cottage who coming to bid us â—elcom appeared more like a Dunghill-raker â—han a Bishop We enquired whence this Vilâ—â—ge had its name the Mâ—ronites who inhabit â—he Mountains say this was the place where Adam committed the sin of Eating the Forâ—idden Fruit but the Bishop told us it was in Heaven where were three Trees Adam being forbidden to eat of one of them which was the fig-tree but having eaten he felâ— down from Heaven among those Cedars 〈◊〉 which are some two hours riding from thâ— Bishops House and there he began to till thâ— Ground But the Bishop being very Ignoranâ— of these things we forbare to enquire farther The Bishop have great respect shewed him 〈◊〉 every one Kissing his hand on their knees bareâ— headed in his House he hath a ruinate Church 〈◊〉 with an Altar in it and a little beyond is 〈◊〉 little Chappel near the head of the Rivuleâ— that feeds his House with Water where wâ— found many men with Frank names whicâ— had continued there from the Year 1611. Mid-day coming the Bishop made whaâ— Preparation his House would afford for Dinner killing two Kids and a Goat and givinâ— us the best Wine the Mountain did afford 〈◊〉 being a well relished Red and White Winâ— Night coming after Supper we kissed 〈◊〉 Hand and the next morning being now 〈◊〉 twelve in Company went to take our leavâ—â— and made him a Present of Livers besidâ— something to the Servants as is usual 〈◊〉 Pilgrims that take this Voyage two of 〈◊〉 Company waiting our return at Trippolâ— Saturday May the 15. about five a Cloâ—â— in the Morning we rose from thence and about eight of the Clock we came to the Cedars all that remain of them being in a very small compass We spent some time in cutting sticks and setting our Names on the great Trees At this place came to us the Captain of a Village called Upshara an hours riding from the Cedars In our way as we returned he invited us to Dinner at his Village which we accepted of and after Dinner made him a Present This man is a Maronite and takes Caeffar or Toll of the Turks which pass that way with their Sheep and Oxen he hath a hundred Souldiers under his Command who are all Christians About two a Clock we mounted and after three hours riding we came to a mighty deep Descent winding in and out which is the way to the Patriark of the Maronites House called Caunibene â—t is a very good Convent and lies under the Rock they have a Bell in the Church as in Euâ—ope and go to their Devotions Morning and Evening After we had kissed the Patriarks Hand we demanded what was to be seen â—nd the Druggarman carryed us to see St. Marren's Cross of whom they recount this Story That a Venetian in the time that the Franks had the Country came with his Wiâ—e and one Daughter to live there and after some years his Wife dying he was resolved to go into the Convent and live a Religious Life and would therefore have his Daughter to leave him but his perswasions could not prevail with her but rather than leave her Father she would put on mans Apparel and live a Devoted Life with him also which at last though unwillingly he assented to she being young and handsom there they lived very strictly for several years afterward her Father dyed And the Lay Brothers and Fathers going out as usually to till the Ground She seldom went with them the Chief of the Convent keeping her at home being much taken with such a handsom young man as he thought whereupon they began to grumble that St. Marrena did not go with them so that at last to satisfy the Fratres he was sent out to work among them near the Village Tursa presently after one of the young Virgins of that Village proving with Child she came to the Convent and laid it to the charge of St. Marrena who was thereupon presently Excommunicated and lived a Religious Life in the Grot near the Convent for the space of 7 years and being then again admitted into the Convent and still continuing to live a very strict Life he at length dyed and the Fathers coming according to their Custom to anoint the Body found that he was a Woman whereupon they began to Cross themselves and to beg Pardon for excommunicating her and have built an altar in the Grot and call it by the Name of St. Marrena as they have also in several Grots thereabouts in remembrance of the Religious Relicks of those that dwelt therein and when they carry any Body to see them they presently fall down to prayers About a League from the Convent are two French men that live a Hermits Life having Bread and Wine allowed them by the Patriark Night coming on we went to Supper with the Patriark the B. of Aleppo and two other Bishops with what the Place afforded At Supper they brought out a great Glass which held near two Quarts with which the Old Man soon made himself merry it being their custom to drink freely He telling us that that Glass had belonged to the Convent more than one hundred Years and that the Turks coming once to Ransack the Convent seeing this Glass told one of the Fratres if he could drink off that full of pure Wine he would save the Convent which one of them doing the Turks went away admiring what sort of People they were May 16. We took our leave of the Patriarks and presented him with some Livers as also to the poor Fratres and others belonging to the Convent and so took our Journey to Trippoly having had a review of those Mountains and the Country adjacent over-spread with many fair Villages and fruitful
Prison by the Turks at the end of which is a hole in the Wall where they say the Chain was fasten'd with which St. Peter was Chained little remembring how oft Jerusalem hath been destroyed and the stones of that Old Wall are now probably as far under Ground as these are above 3. The Monastery of the Knights of Malta a very fair Building one Room hath several Partitions for Beds with a hole in the middle that if any of them are Sick or Fluxitive they are laid there to which the water being Bad and the Air unwholesome doth very much incline them 4. Solomons Temple which if any Christian go into or but up the stairs he must Turn Turk or be burnt The Rarity of which I shall give you an Account of when I come to a Prospect 5. St. Hellen's Hospital where there are seven great Caldrons in which she used to have Proivsions dressed for the Poor where we pay one Liver for entrancâ— 6. The Judgment Gate at which our Saviour was brought in and near the Gate is the place where he was Condemned 7. The Dolorous Way which Christ went when he went to be Crucified and in the way is the House of St. Veronica who gave our Saviour a Napkin to wipe his Face as he passed by there is also Lazarus's House and the House of the Rich Glutton and the place where our Saviour Fainted as they say and Simon took up the Cross and near that is the Church where the Virgin Mary stood to see him pass by and swounded with Grief now called the Virgin Maries Church 8. Herods Palace now ruinated and is now the Bashah's Seraglio in one Room is the place where they Clothed our Saviour with Purple 9. Pilates House where they shew the place where our Saviour was Crowned with Thorns and the Pillar to which he was bound which was brought from thence and put into the Temple next we enter the Hall where Pilate washed his Hands and declared himself Innocent of our Saviours Blood out of which place we had a fair Prospect of Solomons Temple which is built within the middle of a spacious Yard very well Paved there are several Arches good Walks and Buildings about it The Temple is Wrought with Mosaick Work and by the Turks râ—port is very Rich within it being one of thâ—â—r Mosques and though they have a Halt Moon upon all their Temples or Mosques yet this only hath a Cross through the middle The Fathers reportiâ—g it would not stand till the Cross was made 10. The place where Christ was Scourged now a Shâ—p for Linnen Cloth but the Pillar to which oÌ„ur Saviour was bound is brought thence and put into the Temple 11. The House of Annas where our Saviour being hurried with Violence down a steep place to prevent falling he laid hold of the corner of a Wall where there is a place in one of the Stones fit for a Mans Hand which the Fathers account a great Miracle 12. Simon the Pharisees House where there is a Stone with the print of a Foot which they said our Saviour made when he stood to pardon Mary Magdaleâ— her Sins The Fathers say the Turks havâ— endeavoured oft times to remove thiâ— Stone but still it comes into the same placâ— again 13. The House of Joakim and Annaâ— a fair high Building and in an Under Room cut out of the Rock is the placâ— where they say the Virgin Mary was Borâ— 14. The Pool of Bethesda where the Sicâ— lay to be healed the Angel coming to trouble the Water and he that entred in first was healed but it is now dry and half filled with Earth 15. Sâ— Stephens Gate and a little out of the City is the place where Stephen was Stoned and the Fathers fancy that there is the print of his hands Face and and Knees when he fell down 16. The Valley of Jehosaphat at the bottom of the Hill between the Mountain on which Jerusalem stands and Mount Olivet 17. The Place vvhere the Virgin Mary is Buried vvhere going dovvn a great many stone steps you come into a large Vault vvhere all the Christians have their Altars apart all being of several Opinions and the Turks and Christians both burn Lamps over her Grave here vve pay One Liver for entrance and 48 Stone Steps upvvard is Josephs Tomb and against that the Tombs of Joakim and Anna. 18. The place vvhere Christ svvate Bloud and the Angel appeared to Comfort him is near the bottom of Mount Olivet 19. The place vvhere our Saviour Prayed that This Cup might pass from him and near that place is the Rock on vvhich his Disciples sate vvhen he vvent to Prayer betvveen vvhich tvvo places he vvas taken it is novv bordering on the Garden of Gethsemana but might formerly be part of the Garden and is on the Ascent of the Mount Olivet vvhere the Multitude going to Carry our Saviour avvay Peter smote off Malchus his Ear. 20. The Place vvhere they say the Virgin Mary Prayed for St. Stephen vvhile he vvas stoning 21. The place vvhere Christ Wept over Jerusalem it is almost at the Top of Mount Olivet 22. The Place vvhence our Saviour Ascended into Heaven having as they say left the Print of his Foot on a stone it hath novv a Chappel built over it vvith 14 Marble Pillars it is at the Top of Mount Olivet and a little vvay off is the Place vvhere the Men of Galilee stood vvhen the Angel asked them Why stand ye gazing up 23. The Place vvhere the Angel told the Virgin she should be Raised in three Days 24. Pelagius his Grot whence vve savv Bethphage vvhere the Asses Colt vvas tied 25. The Tree under vvhich our Saviour stood vvhen he Preached the Judgment Sermon 26. The place vvhere he made the Lords Prayer 27. The Place vvhere the Apostles made the Creed being a Grot of tvvelve Arches 28. The Sepulchres of the Prophets 47 in Number cut out of the Rock and entring in at a Door vve came into a large Grot vvhere there vvere several places to cut out fit to contain a Coffin here vve paid one Liver 29. The Tree vvhere Judas Hanged himself 30. The Sepulchre vvhich Jehosaphat intended for himself but being a King he vvas buried in the Sepulchre of the Kings 31. Absoloms Pillar or Sepulchre vvhich is cut out of the Rock and about the bigness of a small Chamber vvith Pillars round about like a Room built for some single Person it is of a good Height and hath some Carving about it 32. They say hereby is the Print of Christs Feet for vvhen he vvas Carried to Jerusalem he stopped at the Brook Cedron and desired to Drink This Brook is novv but a small Channel and had no Water but in the Winter time the Water comes dovvn from the Hills and makes a small Current 33. Next is the place vvhere Sâ— James hid himself three days and three Nights it is a place cut out of the Rock vvhich must
the sixth Millenary 426. And if we number from the Birth of Christ we have after two years the number of the Beast viz. 666. If any should say This wants Solidity I Answer This suits with my Purpose viz. The expectation of the Jews Call ere long For the occasion of this Calculation was that he undertook to praedict as with a Prophetick Spirit that within two years a very great change would befall the Jews for good or for ill And being asked whence he did collect this In answer to my question he shewed me the said place of Isa. 34.8 and made upon it the aforesaid Calculation And thus I have brought the Reader down from 1650 to the brink of 1665 giving him all along some Glimpses of the approaching call of the Jews how near we cannot positively say As for the present year 1665 within 5 days now expiring I have not medled with the occurrences thereof because of them Mens Pockets are full of Letters their Hands full of Gazets their Ears full of Reports and Tidings and their Eyes sufficiently perceive the Jews cease Trading pack up and are marching Upon the consideration of the whole I conclude with Daniel in relation to Israels Call Ch. 12.10 The wise shall be purified and shall understand But the Wicked shall do wickedly and none of them shall understand Therefore I bid thee Reader Farewell with this Be not DECEIVED one lately did advise Beware say I Christs Day doth none SURPRIZE Postscript AS by the preceding Account we may observe what thoughts and expectations divers well meaning Christians had of the call and return of the Jews in the year 1666. and particularly of the noise that was made in the World by the pretended Messiah Sabatai Sevi who just about that time impudently assumed to himself that title and declared that he was come to deliver the Jews from slavery and carry them to Jerusalem there to reign over them so the following Relation gives a Clear and Impartial Account of the actions and death of that vain Impostor and the Scandal which the Jews brought upon themselves by their fond and easy Credulity and it may likewise serve as a remembrance to all sober men that secret things belong only to God and Revealed to man that we may keep his Laws The Author hereof is an English Gentleman of Quality and a Person who was in that Station as to be capable of throughly informing himself of the truth of all Particulars and it may therefore Challenge the Credit of the most Captious Reader THE Counterfeit Messiah OR False Christ OF THE JEWS AT SMYRNA In the year 1666. written by an English Person of Quality there Resident ACcording to the Predictions of several Christian Writers especially of such who Comment on the Apocalyps or Revelations this Year 1666 was to prove a Year of Wonders and strange Revolutions in the World and particularly of Blessings to the Iews either in respect of their Conversion to the Christian Faith or of their Restoration to their Temporal Kingdoms This Opinion was so dilated and fixt in the Countreys of the Reformed Religion as to the downfall of the Pope and Antichrist and the greatness of the Iews in so much that this subtle People judged this Year the time to stir and to fit their Motion according to the season of the Modern Prophecies whereupon strange Reports flew from place to place of the March of Multitudes of People from unknown parts into the remote Desarts of Arabia supposed to be the Ten Tribes and half lost for so many Ages That a Ship was arrived in the Northern parts of Scotland with her Sails and Cordage of Silk Navigated by Mariners who spake nothing but Hebrew with this Motto on their Sails The Twelves Tribes of Israel These Reports agreeing thus near to former Predictions put the wild sort of the World into an expectation of strange Accidents this year should produce in reference to the Iewish Monarchy In this manner Millions of People were possessed when Sabatai Sevi first appear'd at Smyrna and published himself to the Iews for their Messiah relating the greatness of their approaching Kingdom the strong hand whereby God would free from bondage and gather them from all parts of the World It was strange to see how the fancy took and how fast the report of Sabatai and his Doctrine flew through all parts where Turks and Iews inhabited the latter of which were so deeply Possessed with a belief of their new Kingdom and Riches and many of them with promotion to Offices of Government Renown and Greatness that in all parts from Constantinople to Buda which it was my fortune that year to Travel I perceived a strange transport in the Iews none of them attending to any business unless to wind up former negotiations and to prepare themselves and Families for a Journey to Ierusalem All their Discourses their Dreams and disposal of their Affairs tended to no other Design but a re-establishment in the Land of Promise to Greatness Glory Wisdom and Doctrine of the Messiah whose Original Birth and Education are first to be recounted Sabatai Sevi was Son of Mordechai Sevi an Inhabitant and Natural of Smyrna who gained his Livelihood by being Broaker to an English Merchant in that place a person who before his death was very decrepit in his Body and full of the Gout and other Infirmities but his Son Sabatai Sevi addicting himself to Study became a notable Proficient in the Hebrew and Metaphysicks and arrived to that point of Sophistry in Divinity and Metaphysicks that he vented a New Doctrine in their Law drawing to the Profession of it so many Disciples as raised one day a Tumult in the Synagogue for which afterwards he was by a Censure of the Chochams who are Expounders of the Law banished the City During the time of his Exile he Travelled to Thessalonica now called Salonica where he Married a very handsome Woman but either not having that part of Oeconomy as to govern a Wife or being Impotent towards Women as was pretended or that she found not favour in his Eyes she was divorced from him Again he took a second Wife more beautiful than the former but the same causes of discontent raising a difference between them he obtained another Divorce from this VVife also And being now free from the Incumbrances of a Family his wandring head mov'd him to Travel through the Morea thence to Trippoly in Syria Gaza and Ierusalem and by the way picked up a Ligorness Lady whom he made his third Wife the Daughter of some Polonian or German her Original and Parentage not being very well known And being now at Ierusalem he began to Reform the Law of the Iews and Abolish the Fast of Tamuz which they keep in the Month of Iune and there meeting with a certain Iew called Nathan a proper Instrument to promote his Design he communicated to him his Condition his Course of Life and Intentions to Proclaim himself
Town there to remain in farther expectation of the Viziers sentence The Iews were not at all discouraged at this ill treatment of their Prophet but rather confirmed in their belief of him as being the accomplishment of the prophesie of those things which ought to precede his glory and dominion which consideration induc'd the chiefest persons amongst the Iews to make their visits and addresses to him with the same ceremony and respect in the Dungeon as they would have done had he then sat exalted on the throne of Israel several of them with one Anacago by name a man of great esteem amongst the Jews attended a whole day beâ—ore him with their Eyes cast down their Bodies bending forward and Hands crost before them which are postures of humility and service in the Eastern Countreys the undecency of the place and present subjection not having in the least abated their high thoughts and reverence towards his person The Jews in Constantinople were now become as mad and distracted as they were in other places all trade and traffique forbidden and those who owed money in no manner careful how to satisfie it amongst which wild crew some were indebted to our Merchants at Galata who not knowing the way to receive their money partly for their interest and partly for curiosity thought fit to visit this Sabatai complaining that such particular Iews upon his coming took upon them the boldness to defraud them of their right desired he would signifie to these his Subjects his pleasure to have satisfaction given whereupon Sabatai with much affectation took Pen and Paper and wrote to this effect TO you of the Nation of the Iews who expect the appearance of the Messiah and the Salvation of Israel Peace without end Whereas we are informed that you are indebted to several of the English Nation It seemeth right unto us to enorder you to make satisfaction to these your just debts which if you refuse to do and not obey us herein Know you that then you are not to enter with us into our Joys and Dominions In this manner Sabatai Sevi remained a Prisoner at Constantinople for the space of two Months at the end of which the Vizier having designed his expedition for Candia and considering the rumor and disturbance the presence of Sabatai had made already at Constantinople thought it not secure to suffer him to remain in the Imperial City whil'st both the Grand Signior and himself were absent and therefore changes his Prison to the Dardanelli otherwise called the Castle of Abydos being on the Europe side of the Hellespont opposite to Sestos places famous in Greek Poetry This removal of Sabatai from a worse Prison to one of a better air confirmed the Jews with greater confidence of his being the Messiah supposing that had it been in the power of the Vizier or other Officers of the Tâ—rks to have destroyed his person they would never have permitted him to have lived to that time in regard their Maxims enforce them to quit all jealousies and suspicions of ruine to their state by the death of the party feared which much rather they ought to execute on Sabatai who had not only declared himself the King of Israel but also published Prophesies fatal to the Grand Signior and his Kingdoms With this consideration and others preceding the Jews flock in great number to the Castle where he was imprisoned not only from the neighbouring parts but also from Polana Germany Legorn Vâ—nice Amsterdam and other places where the Jews reside on all whom as a reward of the expence and labours of their pilgrimage Sabatai bestowed plenty of his benedictions promising encrease of their store and enlargement of their Possessions in the Holy-Land And so great was the confluence of the Jews to this place that the Turks thought it requiâ—ite to make their advantage thereof and so not only raised the price of their Provision Lodgings and other Necessaries but also denied to admit any to the presence of Sabatai unless for money setting the price sometimes at five sometimes at ten Dollars or more or less aâ—cording as they guessed at their abilities or zeal of the person by which gam and advantage to the Turks no complaints or advices were carried to Adrianople either of the concourse of people or arguments amongst the Jews in that place but rather all civilities and liberty indulged unto them which served as a farther Argument to ensnare this poor people in the belief of their Messiah During this time of confinement Sabatai had leisure to compose and institute a new method of Worship for the Jews and principally the manner of the celebration of the day of his Nativity which he prescribed in this manner BRethren and my People men of Religion inhabiting the City of Smyrna the renowned where live men and women and families Peace be unto you from the Lord of Peace and from me his beloved Son King Salomon I command you that the ninth day of the Month of Ab which according to our account answered that year to the Month of June next to come you make a day of Invitation and of great joy celebrating it with choice meats and pleasing drinks with many Candles and Lamps with Muâ—ick and Songs because it is the day of the Birth of Sabatai Sevi the high King above all Kings of the Earth And as to matters of labour and other things of like nature do as becomes you upon a day of Festival adorned with your finest Garments As to your Prayers let the same order be used as upon Festivals To converse with Christians on that day is unlawful though your Discourse be matters indifferent all labour is forbidden but to sound instruments is lawful This shall be the method and substance of your Prayers on this day of Festival After you have said Blessed be thou O holy God! then proceed and say thou hast chosen us before all people and hast loved us and hast been delighted with us and hast humbled us more than all other Nations and hast sanctified us with thy Precepts and hast brought us near to thy service and the service of our King Thy holy great and terrible Name thou hast published amongst us and hast given us O Lord God according to thy love times of joy of Festivals and times of Mirth and this day of Consolation for a solemn Convocation of Holiness for the Birth of our King the Messiah Sabatai Sevi thy servant and first born son in love through whom we commemorate our coming out of Egypt And then you shall read for your lessons 1 2 and 3. Chapters of Deut. to the 17. verse appointing for the reading thereof five men in a perfect and uncorrupted Bible adding thereunto the Blessings of the Morning as are prescribed for days of Festival and for the Lesson out of the Prophets usually read in the Synagogue every Sâ—â—bath you shall read the 31 Chapter of Ieremiah To your Prayer called Mustas used in the Synagogue every