Passeouer Pentecost or Whitsuntide the Feast of Tabernacles These were chiefe to which were added the Feast of Trumpets of Expiation and of the Great Congregation To these we may reckon the seuenth yeeres Sabbath and the yeere of Iubilee These Feasts GOD had prescribed to them commanding that in those three principall Feasts euery male as the Iewes interpreted it that were cleane and sound and from twenty yeeres of their age to fiftie should appeare there where the Tabernacle or Temple was with their offerings as one great Parish Deut. 16. hereby to retaine an vnitie in diuine worship and a greater solemnitie with increase of ioy and charitie being better confirmed in that Truth which they here saw to be the same which at home they had learned and also better strengthened against the errors of the Heathen and Idolatrous feasts of Diuels To these were after added vpon occasions by the Church of the Iewes their foure Feasts in memory of their calamities receiued from the Chaldeans their Feast of Lots of Dedication and others as shall follow in their order They began to celebrate their Feasts at Euen so Moses is commanded From Euen to Euen shall yee celebrate your Sabbath imitated in the Christian Euen-songs on holy Euens yet the Christian Sabbath is by some supposed to begin in the morning because Christ did rise at that time As for the causes of Feasts many they are and great That the time it selfe should in the reuolution thereof be a place of Argument to our dulnesse This is the day which the Lord hath made let vs reioyce and be glad in it And what else is a festiuall day but a witnesse of times light of truth life of memory mistresse of life A token of publike thankfulnesse for greatest benefits passed a spurre to the imitation of our Noble Ancestrie the Christian Worthies a visible word to the Ethnicke and ignorant which thus by what we doe may learne what we beleeue a visible heauen to the spirituall man that in festiuall ioyes doth as it were open the vayle and here fides is turned into a vides whiles in the best exercises of Grace he tasteth the first fruits of Glory and with his Te Deums and Halleluiahs begins that blessed Song of the Lamb whiles time it selfe puts on her festiuall attire and acting the passed admonish the present ages teacheth by example quickneth our Faith strengthneth hope inciteth charitie and in this glimpse and dawning is the day-starre to that Sunne of Eternitie when time shall be no longer but the Feast shall last for euerlasting These the true causes of festiuall Times CHAP. V. Of the Festiuall dayes instituted by God in the Law AS they were enioyned to offer a Lambe in the morning and another in the Euening euery day with other Prayers Prayses and Rites so had the SABBATH a double honour in that kinde and was wholly sequestred and sanctified to religious duties Which howsoeuer it was ceremoniall in regard of that seuenth day designed of the Rites therein prescribed of that rigid and strait obseruation exacted of the particular workes prohibited and of the deadly penaltie annexed yet are we to thinke that the Eternall Lord who hath all times in his hand had before this selected some time proper to his seruice which in the abrogation of Ceremonies Legall is in Morall and Christian duety to be obserued to the end of the World euen as from the beginning of the World he had sanctified the seuenth day to himselfe and in the Morall Law giuen not by Moses to the Iewes but by GOD himselfe as to all creotures is the remembrance of that sanctification vrged Friuolous are their reasons who would renue the Iewish Sabbath amongst Christians tying and tyring vs in a more then Iewish seruitude to obserue both the last and first dayes of the weeke as some haue preached and of the Aethiopian Churches is practised Neither can I subscribe to those who are so farre from paying two that they acknowledge not the debt of one vpon diuine right but onely in Ecclesiasticall courtesie and in regard of the Churches meere constitution and haue thereupon obtruded on many other dayes as Religious respects or more then on this which yet the Apostles entituled in name and practice The Lords day with the same spirit whereby they haue equalled traditions to the holy Scriptures Thus Cardinal Tolet alowes on the Lords day iourneying hunting working buying selling Fayres Fencing and other priuate and publike workes by him mentioned and saith a man is tyed to sanctifie the Sabbath but not to sanctifie it well a new kinde of distinction the one is in hearing Masse and ceasing from seruile workes the well-doing it in spirituall contemplations c. Another Cardinall is as fast as he is loose affirming That other holy daies also binde the Conscience euen in cases voide of contempt and scandall as being truely more holy then other daies and a part of diuine worship and not onely in respect of order and politie But to returne to our Iewish Sabbath Plutarch thought that the Sabbath was deriued of 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 which signifieth to keepe Reuell-rout as was vsed in their Bacchanals of 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 which is interpreted Bacchus or the sonne of Bacchus as Coelius Rhodiginus sheweth out of Amphithaeus and Mnaseas who is therefore of opinion That Plutarch thought the Iewes on their Sabbaths worshipped Bacchus because they did vse on that day to drinke somewhat more largely a Sabbatizing too much by too many Christians imitated which celebrate the same rather as a day of Bacchus then the Lords day Bacchus his Priests were called Sabbi of this their reuelling and misse-rule Such wide coniectures we finde in others whereas the Hebrewes call it Sabbath of 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 which signifieth To rest because of their vacation to Diuine Offices and not for idlenesse or worse imployments And for this cause all the festiuall solemnities in the Scripture are stiled with this generall title and appellation as times of rest from their wonted bodily seruices Likewise their seuenth yeere was Sabbathicall because of the rest from the labors of Tyllage In those feasts also which consisted of many daies solemnitie the first and last were Sabbaths in regard of the strictnesse of those daies rest Luke hath an obscure place which hath much troubled Interpreters with the difficulty thereof 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 our English reades it The second Sabbath after the first Isidore saith it was so called of the Pascha and Azyma comming together Chrysostome thinkes as Sigonius cytes him it was when the New-Moone fell on the Sabbath and made a double Festiuall Sigonius when they kept their Passeouer in the second Moneth Stella takes it for Manipulus frugum alledging Iosephus his Author Ambrose for the Sabbath next after the first day of the Easter Solemnitie Hospinian for the Octaues or last
fire where were twentie three thousand Iewes Fortie dayes sayling from thence was the Kingdome of Sinne from which to Gingalan was fifteene dayes there were ten thousand Israelites Thence I went to Ethiopian India which they call Baghdaan in which were high mountaynes and in them many Israelites subiect to none which warred on the Hamaghtani that is the Libyans From thence to Azzan was twentie daies iourney through the wildernesse Sebor the King whereof was Sultan Alhabas an Ismaelite Twelue dayes thence is Hhalauan where were three hundred Iewes from which they passe in troupes through the desartal-Tsahaca into Zeuila in the tract of Geena or Ginaea where they encounter showres of sands This Region is in the land of Chus and is called Alhhabas towards the West Thirteene dayes iourney from Hhaluan is Kits the beginning of Egypt And fiue from thence Pium once Pithon where were twentie Iewes and many monuments of our fathers to be seene Thence to Misraim is foure iourneyes where were two thousand Iewes in two Synagogues which differed in their distribution of the Lectures of their Law the Babylonians finishing it in a yeere as in Spaine the Israelites in three But twice a yeere they assembled together in Prayers on the feast Laetitia Legis and on the feast Latae Legis Nathaneel was chiefe ouer all the Vniuersities or Synagogues of Egypt and appointed Masters and Aeditui He was familiar with the King Amir Almumanin Eli sonne of Abitalib At Alexandria were three thousand Israelites But for his trauels in Egypt and the Synagogues which there he found as also backe againe into Sicilia Germany Boheme Prussia c. because there are yet knowne Synagogues of them I surcease relation And much may I feare I haue too much wearied the Reader in so long a Iewish Pilgrimage but seeing Authors of best note Scaliger Drusius Lipsius c. cite him and Arias Mont. hath taken the paines to translate him and his trauels are such ample testimonies of this our present subiect of Iewish dispersions I haue beene bold to annex these things If any list not to beleeue such multitudes of Iewes I will not vrge him howsoeuer that deluge of Tartars in all those Asian Regions soone after Beniamins dayes brought a new face of all things in these Easterly parts as a Iew and relating these things to Iewes and by Iewes passing to vs it is like he reported and we haue receiued with the most For his Geographie some of his names are easily reconciled to the present some hardly which I leaue to the Readers industrie §. VI. Of some Iewes lately found in China and of their late Accidents in Germany AFter these relations of Beniamin I thought it not vnfit to insert out of Ricci Trigautius Iesuites lately residing in China somewhat appertaining to these Iewish affaires It is but few yeeres since the Iesuites could settle themselues at Paquin the Royall Citie of China Thither did a certaine Iew moued with report of these strangers hauing an imagination that they were Iewes resort vnto them This Iew was borne at Chaifamfu the mother-Citie of the Prouince Honan his name was Ngai his countenance not resembling the Chinois he neglecting Iudaisme had addicted himselfe to the China studies and now came to Paquin to the Examination in hope of proceeding Doctor There did he enter the Iesuites house professing that he was of their Law and Religion Ricci leades him into the Chappell where on the Altar stood the Image of the Virgin Iesus and Iohn Baptist kneeling which hee taking to be the Image of Rebecca and her twinnes did worship vnto them contrarie he said vnto their custome The Images of the Euangelists he supposed to be so many of Iacobs sonnes But vpon further questioning the Iesuite perceiued that he was a professor of the Law of Moses he confessed himselfe an Israelite and knew not the name of Iew so that it seemed the dispersion of the ten Tribes had pierced thus farre Seeing the Hebrew Bible hee knew the Letters but could not reade them He told them that in Caifamfu were ten or twelue Families of Israelites and a faire Synagogue which had lately cost them ten thousand Crownes therein the Pentateuch in rolles which had beene with great veneration preserued fiue or six hundred yeeres In Hamcheu the chiefe Citie of Chequian he affirmed were many more Families with their Synagogue many also in other places but without Synagogues and by degrees wearing out His pronunciation of Hebrew names differed from ours as Herusoloim Moscia for Messia Ierusalem His brother he said was skilfull in the Hebrew which hee in affection to the China preferment had neglected and therefore was hardly censured by the Ruler of the Synagogue To this Citie did Ricci send one of his to enquire who found these reports true which also copied the beginnings and endings of their bookes which they compared and found to agree with their owne Pentateuch sauing that they wanted pricks or points He writ also in China Characters to the Ruler of their Synagogue that he had the rest of the bookes of the old Testament and other bookes of the New which contained the acts of the Messias being already come The Ruler doubted saying that he would not come till ten thousand yeeres were expired He also promised that because he had heard much good of him if he would come thither and abstaine from Swines-flesh they would make him Ruler of their Synagogue After this three Iewes came from thence to Paquin and were almost perswaded to become Christians These complained that through ignorance of the Hebrew their Religion decayed and that they were likely all of them in a short time to become Saracens or Ethnikes The old Archisynagogue was now dead his sonne a young man succeeded in place but ignorant of their Law And that their Iewish Religion was indeede languishing appeared by this that they both worshipped the Popish Images and complained that in their Synagogue and priuate houses they had none They were offended that they were forbidden the eating of any creature which themselues had not killed which had they obserued in this iourney had cost them their liues Their wiues and neighbours esteemed Circumcision of their infants on the eight day a cruell thing which they could be willing to altar with acceptation of the Christian Law nor would much stand about Swines-flesh They told them of certaine Christians also or worshippers of the Crosse in China which with the Iewes and Saracens were all called by the Chinois Hoei adding some distinction from their differing Rites calling the Saracens Hoei which refused Swines flesh The Iewes Hoei which abstaine from the sinew the Crosse-worshippers Hoei which abstaine from round-footed beasts whereas the Iewes Saracens and Chinois eate the flesh of horses asses and the like This Historie I haue added to shew how the Iewes haue bin dispersed into the furthest parts and how time the deuourer of all things hath almost eaten them out
175 CHAP. XIIII OF the Iewish opinions of the Creation their Ceremonies about the birth of a Childe of their Circumcision Purification and Redemption of the first borne and Education of their Children pag. 177 § I. Of their Exposition of Scripture a taste in Gen. 1.1 ibid. § II. Their Dreames of Adam pag. 178 § III. Of their Iewesses conception and trauell and of Lilith ibid. § IIII. Of the Iewish manner of Circumcision p. 179 § V. Of the Iewish Purification Redemption and Education pag. 181 CHAP. XV. OF their Morning Prayer with their Fringes Phylacteries and other Ceremonies thereof pag. 183 § I. Of their behauiour before they goe to the Synagogue ibid. § II. Of their Zizis and Tephillim and holy Vestments pag. 184 Of their Schoole or Synagogue Rites and their Mattins pag. 185 CHAP. XVI OF their Ceremonies at home after their returne at their meales and otherwise and of their Euening Prayer pag. 188 CHAP. XVII THeir weekly obseruations of Times viz. Their Mundayes and Thursdayes and Sabbaths pag. 190 § I. Of their Mundayes and Thursdayes ibid. § II. Of their Law Lectures pag. 191 § III. Of the Iewish Sabbath pag. 192 CHAP. XVIII THe Iewish Passeouer as they now obserue it and other their Feasts and Fasts pag. 194 § I. Of their Passeouer ibid. § II. Of Pentecost pag. 195 § III. Of the Feast of Tabernacles 196 § IIII. Of their new Moones and New yeeres day ibid. § V. Of their Lent Penance and Reconciliation Fast pag. 197. § VI. Of their other Feasts pag. 199 CHAP. XIX OF their Cookerie Butcherie Mariages Punishments and Funerals pag. 200 § I. Of their Cookerie ibid. § II. Of their Butcherie pag. 201 § III. Of their Espousals and Mariages ibid. § IIII. Of Coniugall duties pag. 203 § V. Of Diuorce and other Marriage obseruations pag. 204 § VI. Of the Iewish beggers Diseases and Penances pag. 205 § VII Of their Visitation of the sicke and Funerall Rites pag. 206 CHAP. XX. THe Iewes Faith and Hope touching their Messias pag. 207 § I. Of the Signes of the comming of their Messias ibid. § II. Iewish Tales of monstrous Birds Beasts Fishes and Men. pag 210 § III. Their Messias his Feast pag. 211 CHAP. XXI OF the hopes and hinderances of the Iewes conuersion pag. 212 CHAP. XXII THe later Inhabitants of Palestina and the parts adioyning since the dispersion of the Iewes till this day pag. 214 § I. Of the Christian times before the Saracens ibid. § II. Of the Saracens and Turkes in Palestina pag. 215 § III. Of the exploits of the Frankes and other Westerne Christians in Palestina pag. 214 § IIII. Of the Azopart and Assysine pag. 218 § V. Of the Dogzijn and Drusians and other Pagans there pag. 220 § VI. Of the vnchristian Christians pag. 222 THE THIRD BOOKE Of the Arabians Saracens Turkes and of the ancient Inhabitants of ASIA MINOR and of their Religions CHAP. I. OF Arabia and of the ancient Religions Rites and Customes thereof pag. 223 CHAP. II. OF the Saracene Name Nation and proceeding in Armes and the succession of their Chalifaes pag. 229 § I. Of the Saracens before Mahomets dayes ibid. § II. Of the Saracenicall beginnings and proceedings vnder Mahomet and his Successors of the Maraunian Race pag. 232 § III. Of the Abasian Chalifaes their Citie Bagadet with many Persian Indian and other occurrences vnder them pag. 236 § IIII. Of their Titles Greatnesse and Learning pag. 240 CHAP. III. THe life of Mahumet Mohammed or Muhammed the Saracen Law-giuer pag. 241 § I. Mahumets life after the Histories of Christians ibid. § II. The Saracen Storie of Mahomets life pag. 244 CHAP. IIII. OF the Alcoran or Alfurcan contayning the Mahumetan Law the summe and contents thereof pag. 248 § I. Of the composition of the Alcoran ibid. § II. The doctrine of the Alcoran brought into common places pag. 251 § III. The Saracens opinion of their Alcoran pag. 258 CHAP. V. OTher Mahumetical speculations and explanations of their Law collected out of their owne Commentaries of that Argument p. 259 CHAP. VI. OF the Pilgrimage to Mecca pag. 267 CHAP. VII OF the Successors of Mahomet of their different Sects and of the dispersing of that Religion through the World pag. 274. CHAP. VIII OF the Turkish Nation their originall and proceedings pag. 278 § I. Of the Turkish name and first original ibid. § II. Of the Turkish Kingdome in Persia and their other Conquests pag. 279 § III. Of the Ottoman Turkes their originall and proceedings pag. 281 CHAP. IX A Continuation of the Turkish Warres and affaires together with the succession of the Great Turks till this present yeere 1616. p. 284 § I. Of Solyman the Magnificent ibid. § II. Of Selim the Second and Amurath the Third pag. 285 § III. Of Mahomet the Third pag. 287 § IIII. Of Achmet which now reigneth pag. 288 § V. Of Sultan Achmets Person Family Gouernment and greatnesse of State pag. 291 § VI. An Appendix touching the Succession of Mustapha twice and of Osmans murder and other ciuill vnciuill late Combustions pag. 293 CHAP. X. OF the opinions holden by the Turkes in their Religion and of their Manners and Customes pag. 297 § I. Of their eight Commandements ibid. § II. Of other their opinions and practices in Religion pag. 300 § III. Of the Turkish manners their ciuill and morall behauiour pag. 303 CHAP. XI OF the religious places amongst the Turks their Meschits Hospitals and Monasteries with ther Lyturgie and Circumcision pag. 306 § I. Of their Temples a description of Saint Sophies ibid. § II. Of their Hospitals and Monasteries pag. 308 § III. Of their publike Prayers and Church-rites ibid. § IIII. Of their Sabbaths and of their Lent and Easter pag. 310 § V. Of the Turkish Circumcision pag. 311 CHAP. XII OF the Sepulchres Funerall Rites and opinions touching the dead among the Turkes pag. 312 CHAP. XIII OF the religious Votaries amongst the Turkes and of their Saints Sects Miracles and hypocriticall holinesse pag. 314 CHAP. XIIII OF their Priests and Hierarchie with a digression touching the Hierarchie and miserie of Christians subiect to the Turke p. 319 A digression touching the Hierarchie and miseries of Christians vnder the Turke p. 322 CHAP. XV. OF the Regions and Religions of Asia Minor since called Natolia and Turkey pag. 325 CHAP. XVI OF Asia proprie dicta now called Sarcum pag. 330 CHAP. XVII OF Ionia and other Countries in that Chersonesus pag. 336 THE FOVRTH BOOKE Of the Armenians Medes Persians Parthians Scythians Tartarians Chinois and of their Religions CHAP. I. OF Armenia Maior and Georgia and the neighbouring Nations p. 343 § I. Of the Armenians and Turcomanians ibid. § II. Of Iberia pag. 346 § III. Of Albania ibid. § IIII. Of Colchis or Mengrelia pag. 347 § V. Of the present Mengrelians and Georgians ibid. § VI. Of the Circassians pag. 348 § VII Of the Curdi pag. 349 CHAP. II. OF the Medes pag. 349 CHAP. III. OF the Parthians
agreeth the iudgement of Aquinas Praeceptum de sanctificatione Sabbathi ponitur inter praecepta Decalogi in quantum est praeceptum morale non in quantum est ceremoniale The Precept of sanctifying the Sabbath is set amongst the Precepts of the Decalogue as it is a morall not as a ceremoniall Precept It hath pleased him saith M. Hooker as of the rest so of Times to exact some parts by way of perpetuall homage neuer to bee dispensed withall nor remitted The Morall law requiring therefore a seuenth part throughout the age of the whole world to bee that way employed although with vs the day bee changed in regard of a new reuolution begun by our Sauiour Christ yet the same proportion of time continueth which was before because in reference to the benefite of Creation and now much more of renouation thereunto added by him which was Prince of the world to come wee are bound to account the sanstification of one day in seauen a dutie which Gods immutable Law doth exact for euer Thus farre Hooker This indeed in the Sabbath was Iewish and Ceremoniall to obserue onely that last and seuenth day of the weeke and that as a figure and lastly with those appointed Ceremonies and that manner of obseruation Thus saith Aquinas Habere aliquod tempus deputatum ad vacandum diuinis cadit sub praecepto morali Sed in quantum c. To haue some set time for the seruice of God is morall but so farre this Precept is ceremoniall as in it is determined a speciall time in signe of the Creation of the World Likewise it is ceremoniall according to the Allegoricall signification in as much as it was a signe of the Rest of Christ in the graue which was the seuenth day And likewise according to the morall signification as it signifieth a ceasing from euery act of sinne and the Rest of the mind in God Likewise according to the Anagogicall signification as it prefigureth the Rest of the fruition of God which shall be in our Countrey To these obseruations of Thomas we may adde that strictnesse of the obseruation That they might not kindle a fire on the Sabbath and such like And howsoeuer some testimonies of the Fathers be alledged against this truth and to prooue that the Sabbath was born at Mount Sinai as of Tertullian Iustin Martyr Eusebius Cyprian Augustine which deny the Sabbatizing of the Patriarkes before that time and account it typicall Why may not we interpret them of that Sabbath of the Iewes which we haue thus distinguished from the Morall Sabbath by those former notes of difference Broughton in his Concent alleadgeth the Concent of Rabbins as of Ramban on Gen. 26. and Aben Ezra vpon Exod. 10. That the Fathers obserued the Sabbath before Moses And Moses himselfe no sooner commeth to a seuenth day but he sheweth that God rested blessed sanctified the sume It resteth therefore that a time of rest from bodily labour was sanctified vnto spirituall deuotions from the beginning of the world and that a seuenth dayes rest began not with the Mosaicall Ceremonies in the Wildernesse as some men will haue it but with Adam in Paradise That which is morall say some is eternall and must not giue place I answer That the Commandements are eternall but yet subordinate There is a first of all the Commandements and there is a second like to this like in qualitie not in equalitie and in euery Commandement the Soule of obedience which is the obedience of the soule taketh place of that body of obedience which is performed by the body Mercie is preferred before sacrifice and charitie before outward worship Paul staieth his preaching to heale Eutychus Christ patronizeth his Disciples plucking the eares of Corne and affirmeth That the Sabbath was made for Man and not Man for the Sabbath Although therefore both rest and workes of the Sabbath giue place to such duties which the present occasion presenteth as more weightie and necessary to that time yet doth it not follow that the Sabbath is not morall no more then the Commandement of Almes is not morall because as Barnard obserueth the prohibitiue Commandement of stealing is of greater force and more bindeth And in a word the Negatiue Precepts are of more force and more vniuersally bind then the affirmatiue A man must hate his Father and Mother for Christs sake and breake the Sabbaths rest for his Neighbour in cases of necessitie And therefore such scrupulous fancies as some obtrude vnder the name of the Sabbath esteeming it a greater sinne to violate this holy Rest then to commit Murther cannot be defended Pardon this long Discourse whereunto the longer Discourses of others haue brought me But now me thinkes I heare thee say And what is all this to Adams integrity Doubtlesse Adam had his particular calling to till the ground his generall calling also to serue GOD which as he was spiritually to performe in all things so being a body he was to haue time and place set apart for the bodily performance thereof And what example could hee better follow then of his Lord and Creator But some obiect This is to slacken him running rather then to incite and prouoke him to bind and not to loose him cannot be a spurre but a bridle to his deuotion But they should consider that we doe not tie Adam to the seuenth day onely but to the seuenth especially wherein to performe set publique and solemne worship Neither did Daniel that prayed thrice a day or Dauid in his seuen times or Saint Paul in his iniunction of praying continually conceiue that the Sabbath would hinder men and not rather further them in these workes Neither was Adams state so excellent as that he needed no helps which wofull experience in his fall hath taught God gaue him power to liue yea with euerlasting life and should not Adam therefore haue eaten yea and haue had conuenient times for food and sleep and other naturall necessities How much more in this perfect yet flexible and variable condition of his Soule did he need meanes of establishment although euen in his outward calling he did not forget nor was forgotten Which outward workes though they were not irkesome and tedious as sinne hath made them to vs yet did they detaine his body and somewhat distract his mind from that full and entire seruice which the Sabbath might exact of him Neither doe they shew any strong reason for their opinion which hold the sanctification of the Sabbath Genes 2. to be set downe by way of anticipation or as a preparatiue to the Iewish Sabbath ordained 2453. yeares after If any shall aske Why the same seuenth day is not still obserued of Christians I answer This was figuratiue and is abolished but a seuenth day still remaineth Lex naturalis est coniunctam habens ceremonialem designationem diei saith Iunius The Law is naturall hauing adioyned thereto the ceremoniall
by mans industrie forced to yeeld to the match as Plinie sayth for that purpose emptied Babylon of her Inhabitants and inherited her name also with her people It was from Babylon ninetie miles or as some reade it fortie inhabited with sixe hundred thousand Citizens To spoile the spoiler the Parthians built Ctesiphon three miles from thence and failing of their purpose Vologesus built another Towne by called Vologesocerta Yet did Babylon it selfe remaine but not it selfe in the time of Ammianus Marcellinus and after Ortelius thinketh that Bagdat was called Babylon as Seleucia before had beene because it stood neere to the place where Babylon had stood For that old Babylon in Pausanias time had nothing left standing but the Temple of Bel and the walls sometimes sayth he the greatest Citie that euer the Sunne saw In Ieromes time within those walls were kept beasts for the Kings game It was after inhabited with many thousands of Iewes and was laid euen with the ground as Ios. Scaliger affirmeth in the yeere after the Iewish account 4797. and after the Christian 1037. Master Fox hath a little lengthned the date and fate thereof shewing that Almaricus King of Ierusalem rased and ruined it and that it was neuer after inhabited Ann. 1170. But in Beniamin Tudelensis his dayes which seemeth to be somewhat before Almaricus this Citie was vtterly subuerted as in his Itinerarie is related in these words One dayes iourney from Gehiagan anciently called Resen is old Babel containing thritie miles space now vtterly ruined in which the ruines of Nabuchodonosors palace are yet seene not accessible for diuers hurtfull kinds of Serpents and Dragons there breeding There now remaineth nothing but the small part of that great Tower either of ornament or of greatnesse or of place inhabited Before that time was Bagdet built by Bugiafar as Barrius calleth him or after Scaliger Abugephar Elmantzur who beganne to reigne in the one hundred thirtie and sixe and died in the one hundred fiftie and eight yeere of their Aegeira Scaliger and Lydyate agree of this place which in their Emendations of Time disagree so eagerly that it was Seleucia or built in the place and of the ruines thereof an opinion not so improbable as theirs altogether which thinke the present Bagded to be the old Babylon The storie of this Bagded or Baldach and her Chalifs ye may reade in our Saracenicall Historie Authors agree that Haalon the Tartar sacked it about the yeere one thousand two hundred and threescore Mustratzem being then Chalipha the foure and fiftieth and last of those Saracenicall Popes Hee found a miserable death where others with miserablenesse seeke a blessed life being shut vp and starued amidst those Treasures whereof he had store which niggardise forbade him to disburse in his owne defence There is yet a bone left of this Calipha's carkasse or some ghost and shadow of that great and mightie bodie I meane that ancient name and power of the Calipha's which magnificent Solyman the Turkish Emperour in his conquest 1534. would seeme to acknowledge in accepting the royall ensignes of that new conquered state at the hands of their Calipha a ceremonie which the Soldans in Egypt and Persia vsed more for forme then necessitie this Assyrian and that Egyptian Caliph hauing but gesture and vesture the Soldans themselues enioying both bodie and soule of this authoritie In the yeere one thousand one hundred fiftie nine the Riuer Tygris ouer-flowed Bagded and desolated many Cities Barrius affirmeth out of the Arabian and Persian Tarigh which he saith he had seene that Bagded was built by the counsell of an Astrologer a Gentile named Nobach and hath for ascendent Sagittarius was finished in foure yeeres and cost eighteene millions of gold These studies of Astrologie did there flourish One Richardus a Frier Preacher sayth That here was a Vniuersitie the Students whereof were maintained at publique charge of which number himselfe was one That Caliph that founded it for the preuenting of sects banished Philosophie out of these Schooles and accounted him a bad Saracen which was a good Philosopher The reason whereof grew from some which in reading Aristotle and Plato relinquished Mahomet Marco Palo or Paulus the Venetian saith that they studied here in his time the Law of Mahomet Necromancie Geomancie Phisiognomie Physicke and Astronomie And that it was then a great Staple of the Indian Commodities This was within few yeeres after the Tartar had wonne it He addeth that there were many Christians in these parts and that in the yeere one thousand two hundred twentie and fiue in derision of the Gospell the Caliph commanding by a day that the Christians should remoue a mountaine in testimonie of their faith according to the words of Christ or else to abide the perill this was effected by a Shoomaker and the day in remembrance thereof yeerely solemnized with fasting the Euen The Iewes goe still to visite the Denne which is there shewed as the place of Daniels imprisonment with his terrible Gaolers or fellow-prisoners as Master Allen told me A certaine Merchant the Discourse of whose voyage Ramusius hath published speaketh of Orpha a towne in the way from Byr to Babylon wherein the people foolishly suppose that Abraham offered Isaac at which time say they there sprang a fountaine which watereth their Countrey and driueth their Mils Here was a Christian Temple called Saint Abraham after turned into a Mahumetane Moschee and now called Abrahams Well into which if any enter so many times they haue a set number with deuotion hee is freed of any feuer The fishes which are many haue taken Sanctuarie in these waters and none dare take them but hold them holy Sixe miles from hence is a Well holden in like sacred account which cureth Leprosies Nisibis Carrae and Edessa were chiefe Cities of Mesopotamia at Edessa reigned Abagarus betwixt whom and our Sauiour passed if we may beleeue it those Epistles yet extant At Carrhae there was a Temple of the Moone in which they which sacrificed to the goddesse Luna were subiect to the gouernment of their wiues they which sacrificed to the god Lunus were accounted their wiues Masters As for this difference of sexe ancient Idolatrie scarce obserued it For wee reade of the god Venus which the Cyprians sayth Macrobius accounted both male and female and so doth Trismegistus mystically say of God himselfe So is Baal in the Scripture sometimes masculine sometimes feminine Hee sayth that the Babylonians allowed marriages of parents and children Cafe is two dayes iourney from Bagdet religious for the buriall of Hali and his sonnes Hassan and Ossain whereunto is resort of Pilgrims from Persia whose Kings were wont here to bee crowned But this Citie Curio calleth Cufa assigneth it to Arabia and sayth that of this accident it was called Massadale or the house of Ali slaine here by Muani his Competitor Mesopotamia is now called
name of this Citie call vs backe againe too much to those Assyrian Relations before dilated as much as concerneth our purpose let vs see what can be said of their Religion here Of this wee find little but as before is shewed of the Babylonians Nisroch was the Idoll in whose Temple Senacherib was slaine by his owne sonnes But what this Nisroch was I cannot find Certaine it is that hee which had vpbraided confidence in the true GOD finds his Idoll euen in the place and time of his worship his Traytor and he which had blasphemed the GOD of heauen finds Heauen and Earth and his owne Bowels against him Venus Vrania is reckoned among the Assyrian deuotions and Adad was their chiefe god which they interpret One and Macrobius the Sunne which as before is said they worshipped and may well agree with that Latine Etymologie Sol quasi solus and Atargatis the Earth Belus also was here worshipped as witnesse Dion Eusebius and Cyrillus Lucian sayth That the Assyrians sacrificed to a Doue the touching of which Fowle required much ceremonie for expiation Whereto accordeth the fable that Semiramis was turned into a Doue Concerning Adad and Atargatis Macrobius sayth That the Assyrians ascribe all power to these two The Image of Adad shined with rayes or beames downwards designing the Sunnes force That of Atargatis with beames vpwards as it were ascribing to the heauenly influence all her plentie vnder the same Image were the shapes of Lions as also the Phrygians fained the Mother of the gods that is the Earth to be borne on Lions But of this Atargatis more in the next Chapter Ionas was sent to preach to the great Citie of Niniue as some thinke in the dayes of Sardanapalus his next Predecessor Broughton with some other thinketh in the dayes of Pul or Phul-assur Their repentance staid that iudgement Nahum after denounced the like iudgement which accordingly came to passe Phraortes King of the Medes mentioned in the former chapter besieged it His sonne Cyaxares succeeded in the kingdome and in this siege After that the Scythians inuaded Media and held it eight and twentie yeeres according to the Prophecie of Ieremie 49.34 and in the same Expedition obtained Niniue But Cyaxares after preuailed against the Scythians and Astyages his Sonne ouer-turned and destroyed Niniue that it should no more bee a receptacle or encouragement to the Assyrians to rebell against the Medes Nahum threatned opening of the gates of the Riuer and destruction to the Temple as Tremellius readeth it noting thereon the casting downe of the Forts on Tygris and amongst them the Temple of Belus there erected out of whose notes on the first Chapter of Nahum I inserted the former Relation Herodotus in the Historie hereof sayth That Phraortes there perished in the siege with most part of his armie Cyaxares to reuenge his Fathers death renewed the siege but was not able to hold his owne against the Scythians vntill after eight and twentie yeeres that the Scythians had enioyed the Empire of Asia vnder pretence of feasting being entertained in a banquet the most of them in their drunkennesse were slaine by the Medes and so the Scythians losing what before they had gotten Cyaxares recouered the Empire and destroyed Niniue Thus was that Citie destroyed whose Riches Beautie Antiquitie Largenesse and Puissance the Scripture so often mentioneth A man may compare Ecbatana of the Medes Babylon on Euphrates and Niniue on Tygris to the Triumviri at Rome So did they both emulate and share the Easterne Empire as each could make her selfe strongest now Babylon another while Niniue and sometime Ecbatana preuailing which is the cause of no small difficultie in these Histories Mr Cartwright an eye-witnesse hath beheld he sayth the ruines of this Citie and agreeth with Diodorus in the equalitie of the sides two of which contained an hundred and fitie furlongs the two other but fourescore and ten on a side Mosul is supposed to be Niniue haply for the neerenesse or for that as a posthume issue it hath sprung from the former The ashes yet haue not yeelded such a Phoenix as the former was rather a witnesse of the others mightinesse saith St. Anthony Sherley and GODS iudgement then of any magnificence in it selfe Mosul is in fame for Cloth of Gold and Silke for fertilitie and for the Patriarchall Sea of the Nestorian Christians whose authoritie stretched to Cathay and India Merdin a towne on the same Riuer is also a Patriarchall Sea of the Chaldees or Mahumetane Sect In Paulus Venetus his daies they were in the Prouince of Mosul partly Mahumetans partly Christians and in the Mountaines dwelt the Curdi that were Participles or Mungrels in Religion professing partly Christ partly Mahumet in practice robbers and wicked The Christian Patriarch hath Archbishops and Bishops vnder him as the Romane Pope The Mahumetans are called Aratrie Assyria saith Magmus is now called by Niger Adrinsa by Giraua Azemia by Pinetus Mosul by Mercator Sarh and of Castaldus Arzerum It sometime contained the Prouinces Arapachite Adiabena and Sittacene now called after some Botan Sarca and Rabia Boemus b telleth of a strange fashion anciently vsed in Assyria That the maids which were marriageable were yeerely brought foorth in publike and set to sale to such as would marrie them The monie which was giuen for the fairest was giuen to the more deformed for their portion in marriage The Assyrian vsed to wash themselues daily but chiefly after carnall companie As for the Saracenicall Religion we shall more fitly handle the same by it selfe then tediously repeat the same things For this therefore and other Countries subiect to Turkish or Persian seruitude the Reader may reade of their superstitions in their due place when we speake of the Saracens Turkes and Persians The relation of their Christian Rites belong to another Tome But let vs come out of Assyria into Syria the Histories of which are not a little as is said confounded together and many Rites were common to them both and to all these parts from the Persian gulfe to Asia the lesse as being so often subiect to one Empire or rather still parts of that one Empire which receiued often alterations vnder the Assyrians Babylonians Medes Persians Macedonians Scythians Parthians c. CHAP. XV. Of Syria and the ancient Religions there Of the Syrian Goddesse and her Rites at Hierapolis Of the Daphnean and other Syrian Superstitions SYRIA is called in Scripture Aram of Aram the sonne of Shem as before is said And Strabo calleth the Syrians Arammaei Hence also his c Arimi are deriued and Arami lib. 13. It is diuersly bounded by diuers Authors some confounding the names of Syria and Assyria Eustathius doth reckon these fiue parts thereof Commagena Seleucide Coelesyria Phoenicia and Iudea Mela extendeth it further and Plinie nameth as part of Syria Palaestina Iudea Coele Phoenice Damascena Babylonia Mesopotamia Sophene Commagene Adiabene
Capitolinus writeth that Verus a voluptuous Emperour spent foure Summers here and wintered in Laodicea and Antioch Seuerus more truly answering his name did to death certaine Tribunes by whose negligence the Souldiers here were suffered to riot The Oracles added renowne to the place which were deliuered out of these Daphnaean waters by a certaine wind or breath Adrian the Emperour is reported to haue hence receiued the facultie of Diuining by dipping a Cypresse leafe in the Fountaine Iulian resorted hither often for that purpose But his elder brother Gallus whom Constantius had called to be Caesar and after sayth Ammianus for his outrages executed had in the time of his abode at Antioch remoued the bones of Babylas their Bishop and other holy Martyrs his companions in suffering to this place where also he built a Church Now when as Iulian in his Persian expedition had sent others to visite all the other Oracles in the Roman Empire himselfe here consulted with Apollo an Apostata Emperour with an Apostata Angell about the successe of those warres But all his sacrifices obtained no other answere then that he could not answere by the countermand of a more diuine power there liuing in those dead bones Hereupon Iulian command the Christians to remoue those ill neighbours which they did sayth Theodoret with a solemne procession singing the Psalmes and dancing with the heart of Dauid making this the burthen and foot of each verse Confounded bee all they that worship grauen Images wherewith Iulian enraged persecuted the Christians Euagrius affirmeth that hee built a Temple in honour of Babylas how truely I knew not But the true God confounded both the Idoll and Idolater shortly after calling the one to giue account of his ill employed stewardship vncertaine whether by diuine or humane hand and for the other his Temple was consumed with fire from aboue together with the Image one pillar whereof remained in Chrysostomes dayes The Pagans attributed this fire to the Christians and no maruell for what did not that fire of blind Idolatrie kindled with zeale attribute to the innocent Christians herein testifying that it came from hell and must to hell againe by that hellish Character and impression of so great fire and as great darkenesse Such is Hell and such is ignorant Zeale a fire but no light Apollo's Priest by no torments could be forced to confesse any author thereof and the officers of the Temple affirmed it was fire from heauen which certaine Countrey-people confirmed by their owne sight Iulian to satisfie his rage caused some Temples of the Christians to be burned Nicephorus telleth of the continuance of this Daphnaean groue honoured with buildings and spectacles by Mammianus and Chosroes Apollo's Image was made of wood couered ouer with gold Theodosius forbad the cutting of any of those Cypresses Orontes is a Riuer which ariseth in Coelesyria and payeth tribute to all the three brethren it visiteth Pluto's Palace running with a long tract vnder the Earth and then heauing vp his head maketh his gladsom homage to Iupiter and after his custome payed to the Antiochians in fine powreth himselfe into ahe lappe of Neptune entring the Sea neere to Seleucia It was called Typhon vntill Orontes building a bridge ouer it caused it to be called by his name They had here a tale of Typhon a huge Dragon which diuided the earth as hee went seeking to hide himselfe and perished by the stroke of a thunderbolt Thus did he indent a passage for this Riuer Not farre hence was a sacred Caue called Nymphoeum also Mount Casius and Anticasius and Heraclia and nigh thereto the Temple of Minerua In Laodicea was this goddesse honoured to whom they offered in yeerely sacrifice in old time a maid after that in stead thereof a Hart. I may here mention also that which Tacitus reporteth of the Mount Carmel as hee placeth it betwixt Iudea and Syria where they worshipped a god of that name with Ethnicke rites They had not any Temple or Statue to this god and Altar onely and Reuerence was here seene Vespasian did in this place offer sacrifice where Basilides the Priest viewing the entrals foretold him of his good successe Damascius in the life of Isidorus mentioneth a Syrian goddesse named Babia of whom infants newly borne were by the Syrians especially at Damascus called also Babia perhaps they were esteemed vnder her tutelage and our English word Babes may hence borrow the originall CHAP. XVI Of the Syrian Kings and alteration in Gouernment and Religion in those Countries SYRIA quickly grew into Peoples and Kingdomes although Time hath long since deuoured both them and their memories Of Menon the husband of Semiramis mentioned by Diodorus is spoken before Adadezer was in Dauids time King of Aram Zoba which some take for Chobal in Syria some for Sophene in Armenia and some for the Nubei whatsoeuer they were Dauid made them tributarie Anno mundi 2903. Benhadad Hazael and others the Scripture also mentioneth but certaine succession we find not recorded of these Syrian Kings till the time of Alexander which conquering all from Macedonia to India by his inexpected death left his huge Empire to bee shared among his chiefe followers Seleucus the sonne of Antiochus a Macedonian first master of the Elephants then Tribune after that Deputie of the Babylonians at last obtained the Kingdome of Asia Anno Mundi 3638 of whom Appianus thus writeth The first King of Syria after Alexander was Seleucus called Nicator because he was of very great stature and as a wild bull had in a sacrifice of Alexander broken loose hee held him with both his hands Hee built sixteene Cities called by the name Antiochia of his father Antiochus and sixe Laodicea's in memorie of his mother Laodice nine Seleucia's of his owne name three Apamea's and one Stratonicea after the names of his two wiues He prospered in his warres tooke Babylon subdued the Bactrians pierced to the Indians which had slaine Alexanders Gouernours placed amongst them after Alexanders death He slew Lysimachus and seuen Moneths after was circumuented and slaine of Ptolomei whose sister Lysimachus had married being seuentie three yeeres old To him succeeded his sonne Antiochus sur-named Soter Anno 3667. who had obtayned Stratonice his mother in law of his father moued thereunto by his sonnes violent loue and his Physicians subtile perswasion His sonne Antiochus Theos was contrarie to his name poysoned by his wife whose sonnes Seleucus Callinicus and Antiochus succeeded and after them Antiochus Magnus the sonne of Callinicus who much enlarged his Empire adding thereto Babylonia Egypt and Iudea but inuading Graecia prouoked the Romans against him with whom he compounded on base and meane conditions Hee did yet comfort himselfe for his losse among his friends saying that he was beholding to the Romans that eased him of so weightie a burthen and lessened his cares of gouernment for they had cooped him in a corner of his Kingdome
interprete but others in order not of the Elders alone but of the inferiour rankes also if any thing were reuealed to them which Tradition of theirs Saint Paul saith hee applied to the Christian Assemblies of those times They vsed to pray in their Synagogues standing as did also the Primitiue Christians Besides these Temples and Houses consecrated to God Ambition the Ape of deuotion founded some of other nature Herod the Great erected a sumptuous Temple and Citie in the honour of Caesar which sometime had beene called Stratonis turris and after Caesarea The Temple of Caesar was conspicuous to them which sailed farre off in the Sea and therein were two Statues one of Rome the other of Caesar The sumptuousnesse of Herods ambition in this Citie Temple Theater and Amphitheater c. Iosephus amply describeth He built another Temple at Panium the fountaine of Iordan in honour of Caesar and lest this should stirre vp the peoples hearts against him to see him thus deuoutely prophane and prophanely deuout he remitted to them the third part of the tributes Hee consecrated Games after the like Heathenish solemnitie in honour of Caesar to be celebrated euery fifth yeere at Caesarea He built also the Pythian Temple at Rhodes of his owne cost Hee gaue yeerely reuenue to the Olympyian Games for maintenance of the Sacrifices and solemnity thereof Quis in rapacitate auarior Quis in largitione effusior He robbed his owne to enrich or rather vainely to lauish out on others He spared not the Sepulchers of the dead For the Sepulchre of Dauid had lent before to Hyrcanus three thousand talentts of siluer which filled him with hope of the like spoyle and entring it with his choise friends hee found no money but precious clothes and whiles he in a couetous curiositie searched further he lost two of his company by flame as fame went breaking out vpon them Herevpon he left the place and in recompence in the entry of the Sepulchre built a monument of white Marble He built also Sebaste in the Region of Samaria wherein hee erected a Temple and dedicated a Court of three furlongs and a halfe of ground before it to Caesar Thus Caesar was made a God by him who would not allow Christ a place among men but that hee might kill him spared not the infants of Bethleem no not his owne sonne amongst the rest as this his god ieasted of him saying That hee had rather bee Herods Swine then his Sonne For his Iewish deuotion prohibited him to deale with Swine but not Religion not Reason not Nature could protect those Innocents from slaughter CHAP. IIII. Of the Iewish computation of time and of their festiuall daies THE day amongst the Iewes was as amongst vs Naturall and Artificiall this from Sunne-rising to Sunne-setting to which is opposed Night the time of the Sunnes absence from our Hemisphere that comprehended both these called of the Greekes 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 containing one whole reuolution of the Sunnes motion to the same point of the Horizon or Meridian in twenty foure houres This Naturall day the Babylonians began at the rising of the Sunne the Athenians at the setting the Vmbrians as the Astrologians at Noone the Egyptians and Romane Priests at Midnight The Iewes agreed in their reckoning with the Athenians as did the Galli in Caesars time reporting Pluto to be the author of their Nation and some relickes hereof is in our naming of time by a seuen-night and a fort-night although otherwise wee reckon the day betweene two midnights The most naturall computation of this naturall day is to follow that order of Nature wherein darkenesse had the prioritie of time and the euening and the morning were made one day or the first day which saith Hospinian the Italian and Bohemian Clockes doe yet obserue The day was not diuided of the first Hebrewes before the Babylonian captiuity into houres but was distinguished by Vigiliae or Watches of which they had foure the first began at euening the second at mid-night the third in the morning the fourth at noone Neither is there any Hebrew word signifying an houre although some interpret the degrees of the Dyall of Ahaz to be houres some as Tremell halfe houres Afterwards it was diuided into houres twelue in the night and as many in the day not equall as ours but longer or shorter according to so many equall portions of the day or night so that with them the first second third fourth fift sixt seuenth eighth ninth tenth eleuenth and twelfth houre was answerable with our houres of seuen eight nine ten eleuen twelue one two three foure fiue and sixe if we consider them in the Equinoctiall otherwise they differed from our equall houres more or lesse according to the vnequall lengthening or shortning of the daies but so that an easie capacitie may conceiue the proportion These houres sometimes they reduced into foure the first containing the first second and third or with vs the seuenth eighth and ninth houres the second the fourth fift and sixt or after our reckoning ten eleuen and twelue of the clock and so forwards This was the Ecclesiasticall Computation according to the times of Prayers and Sacrifices imitated still in the Church of Rome in their Canonicall houres Thus is Marke reconciled to the other Euangelists in relating the time of Christs passion the first calling it the third houre when they crucified him or led him to be crucified whereas Iohn saith That it was about the sixt houre when Pilate deliuered him Thus may the parable of the Labourers in the Vine-yard bee vnderstood Matth. 20. and other places of Scripture The night also was diuided into foure Watches each containing three houres accordingly They had three houres of Prayer the third the sixt the ninth as both the Iewish and Euangelicall Writers mention the first of which they say Abraham instituted the second Isaac it began when it was halfe an houre past the sixt houre and continued till halfe an houre after the ninth at this houre the Disciples of the Wisemen tooke their meate which before this Prayer tasted nothing the third began when the former left and continued till the Euening And this was obserued both for their publike and priuate Prayers although it bee not likely that the whole time was that way spent especially in priuate deuotions for then their particular callings had beene frustrate and cancelled by this exercise of the generall Seuen daies were a weeke whereof the seuenth was called the Sabbath others had no particular name but were called the first day of the weeke or the first day of or after the Sabbath and so of the rest The Christians called them Feriae as the first second or third Feria for Sunday Munday Tuesday the reason whereof was the keeping of Easter weeke holy For that being made in their Calender the first weeke of the yeere and by Law being wholly feriata
therefore enioyne thee to desist from these attempts otherwise be thou cast out from all Israel But he proceeded neuertheles till Zinaldin a Turkish King subiect to the Persian corrupted his Father in Law with ten thousand peeces of Gold who accordingly with a Sword slew him in his bed And thus ended Dauid but not his designes for the Iewes in Persia were forced by many talents af gold to buy their peace with the King About the same time Rambam tells of another which tooke him to bee the Messenger of the Messias which should direct his way before him preaching that the Messias would appeare in the South To him resorted many Iewes and Arabians whom hee led alongst the Mountaines professing to go meete the Messias who had sent him Our Brethren in the South countrey wrote to me a long Letter hereof declaring the innouations he made in their Prayers and his preachings amongst them asking my aduice And I writ a booke saith Rambam for their sakes touching the signes of the comming of the Messias This Seducer was taken after a yeeres space and brought before one of the Kings of the Arabians which examined him of his courses who answered that he had so done at the commandement of GOD in witnesse whereof he bad him cut off his head and he would rise againe and reuiue which the King caused to be done without any such miraculous effect ensuing The like telleth Isaac Leuita of one Lemlen a Iew in the yeere 1500. as also of R. Dauid which about the same time was burned for like cause The Iewes haue Legends as that of Eldad translated by Genebrard of multitudes of Iewes in Aethiopia whom when wee come thither we will visit But alas it is small comfort being burned in the fire to make themselues merry with smoke Of their miseries sustained in all places of their abode all histories make mention And yet their superstition is more lamentable then their dispersion as also their pertinacie and stubbornenesse in their superstition And certainely me thinks that euen to him that will walke by sight and not by faith not oblieging his credit to meete authoritie as the case standeth betwixt vs and the Scriptures but will be drawne by the cords of Reason onely and Sense euen to such a one me thinks this Historie of the Iewes may be a visible demonstration of the Truth of Christian Religion Not onely because the truth of the Prophesies of Iaacob of Moses of Esay and other the Prophets is fulfilled in them and because Gods iustice still exacteth the punishment of the betraying and murthering that iust one but especially in this that the bitterest enemies cruellest persecutors and wilfullest Haters that euer were of the Christian truth are dispersed into so many parts of the World as witnesses of the same Truth holding and maintayning to death the Scriptures of Moses and the Prophets then which euen Reason being Iudge as is said before we will not desire sounder and fuller proofes of our profession Neither is our Gospell wherein we differ from them any other then the fulfilling of their Law and Christ came not to destroy the Law but to fulfill the same the same truth being deliuered in both veyled in the one and reuealed in the other In him the Promises in him the figures in him the righteousnesse of the Law righteousnesse in Doctrine righteousnesse in practice righteousnesse of Doing righteousnesse of Suffering to satisfie the debt to merit the inheritance are the witnesses that in him they are all yea and Amen haue receiued their perfect being and accomplishment But the vayle is ouer their hearts eyes they haue and see not eares and heare not They hold out to vs the light of Scripture themselues walking in darkenes and reserued to darkenesse like to a Lampe Lanthorne or Candlesticke communicating light to others whereof themselues are not capable nor can make any vse §. IIII. Of the Miserable Dispersions of the Iewes WE haue shewed how they were vtterly cast out of their countrey And Italie and the Empire was filled with Iewish slaues Nor was this their first dispersion but as the Assyrians had carried away the other ten Tribes So the Babylonians carried away the two Tribes remayning which might haue returned vnder the Persian Monarchie but many remained in those Countries till the dissolution of that Iewish state and after They had there diuers famous Vniuersities and that at Bagdet endured till the yeere of Christ one thousand three hundred so writeth Boterus At which time they fleeing the persecutions of the Arabians dispersed themselues into India where many are found at this day These through continuall conuersing with the Gentiles and Christians haue small knowledge of the Law and lesse would haue but for other Iewes that resort thither out of Egypt Before that time also if we beleeue the Ethiopian History twelue thousand Iewes of each Tribe a thousand went with the Queene of Sabaes Sonne which they say she had by Salomon into that Country and there remaine their posteritie to this day Thus is ASIA and AFRIKE fraught with them but EVROPE much more Adrian banished fiue hundred thousand into Spayne where they multiplied infinitely and founded an Vniuersitie at Corduba about the yeere of our Lord one thousand And at Toledo was a Schoole of twelue thousand Iewes about the yeere of our Lord one thousand two hundred thirty and sixe as writeth Rabbi Mosche Mikkatzi from hence it seemeth they swarmed into England and France Anno 1096. innumerable numbers of men and women of diuers Nations according to the zeale of those times trauelling to Ierusalem compelled the Iewes in places whereby they passed to be baptized euery where making terrible massacre and slaughter of such as refused may of the Iewes also killing themselues in zeale of their Law At Mentz they slew of them 1014. of both sexes and fired the greatest part of the Citie The rest rested not long in their imposed Christianitie but willingly renounced that which against their wils they had accepted Auentinus numbreth 12000. Iewes slaine in Germanie in this irreligious quarrell Otto Frisingensis attributes these Iewish slaughters to the zealous preaching of Rodolph a Monke which furie was appeased by the preaching and authoritie of Saint BERNARD These Pilgrims saith Albertus Aquensis which then liued being a gallimaufry of all Nations in pretence of this holy quarrell against the Turkes gaue themselues to all vnholy and filthy courses amongst themselues and against the Christians where they passed may whoores attending and following the Campe to which they added excesse in dyet robberies especially all cruelties against the Iewes chiefly in the kingdome of Lorraine thus beginning the rudiments of that war against the enemies of the Faith First they destroyed them and their Synagogues in Collen and taking two hundred of them flying by night to Nuis they slue and robbed them all At Mentz the Iewes committed
venire facias was sex probos legales homines sex legales Iudaeos as often appeares What Oath was giuen them I finde not but R. Moses Mikkotxi that liued in the time of Hen. 3. writes in praec. affirmat 123. that holding the booke of the Pentateuch betweene their Armes they called to witnesse the God of Israel which is mercifull c. Vpon their conuersion their goods were confiscate which was it seemes after such time as the Domus Conuersorum that which is now the Rolles was in 17. Hen. 3. built for them where they might liue sub quadam honesta viuendi Regula certum haberent in tota vita sua domioilium tutum refugium sufficiens vitae sustentamentum sine seruili labore foenoris emolumento as the words of Mat. Paris are In 52. Hen. 3. Iospin ben Salomon a Iew of Marleborow shewes to the Court of the Iustices of the Iewes that one Ioicets his sister was married to one Salon the sonne of Lombard of Kirklade quod ipsa habuit in arca Cyrograph Merlebrigie vnum Cyrograph xxxij marcarum which vpon her conuersion became the Kings as the Roll saith and quod hoc totum sit verum obligat omnia bona sua c. Which all were confiscate for not prosecuting the sute But in the time of E. 1. it was granted that the house should haue one halfe of the goods of the Conuert and that he himselfe should haue the other halfe So placit 9. Ed 1. Io. de Sancto Dionys custos domus conuersorum hath a writ for the moity of the goods of Beleager Huccoth Iewesses of Oxford late Conuerts c. the other halfe allowed to them One cruell and to speake the properest phrase Iewish crime was vsuall amongst them euery yeere towards Easter though it were not alwayes knowne see Mat. Paris in 39. H. 3. to steale a young boy circumcise him and after a solemne iudgement making one of their owne Nation a Pilate to crucifie him out of their diuellish malice to Christ and Christians For their circumcising alone take this record inter Placita 18. H. 3. Rot. 21. Norff. Benedictus physicus appellat Iacobum de Norwico Iudaeum quod cum Odoardius filius suus puer aetatis 5. annorum iuit ludendo c. that foure yeeres before that Iames the Iew had taken his sonne Ed. as he was playing in the streete and carrying him to his house circumcised him and there detayned him one day and night till by force of Christians hee recouered him hauing his circumcised member then swollen c. The childe being examined confessed that they tooke and carried him to the house of Iames aforesaid where while one held him and couered his eyes another circumcised him with a knife the peece cut off they put in a bason of sand in quodam vacino cum sabelone quaesierunt peciam illam cum paruis suffletis and there they with small puffes of wind out of their mouthes sought it and the Iew which first found it was called Iurnepin and therefore they gaue the same name to the childe calling him Iurnepin The Archdeacons Officiall came to testifie this with a great companie of Priests all in the word of GOD saying as aforesaid that they saw his members swolne and the Coroners of Norwich with thirtie six of the Citizens testified as much Hereupon the Iewes were all put in prison and found accessories except Mossy the sonne of Salomon Order was taken that because the case was strange and they had no precedent of the like it should first be enquired of by the Ecclesiasticall Ordinary and that he should certifie to the King The Iewes after procured the boy to be seene and his member was found couered But this is not repugnant to the former testimonie seeing by Chyrurgery the skinne may bee drawne forth to an vncircumcision In the yeere following of Hen. 3. Mat. Paris reports such a deede of the Iewes of Norwich and in 24. H. 3. that they circumcised a Christian childe and called him Iurnin and meant to haue crucified him All the Iewes of the Citie were questioned about it and when they would haue referred themselues to Lay authoritie William de Ralegh the Bishop sayes Haec ad Ecclesiam spectant non ad regalem curiam cum de circumcisione de fidei laesione quaestio ventiletur Foure Iewes conuicted hereof were drawne at Horses tayles and hanged on a gibbet In 39. H. 3. the case of Hugh Lincolne crucified is in the same Author and for it eighteene Iewes were at once drawne and hanged This Hugh is reckoned as a Saint in Chaucers Prioresses tale By reason of their exactions and vsuries they were all banisht their moueables allowed them but Walsingham sayes only their expences for passage in 18. Ed. 1. Math. Westm numbers them one hundred and sixty thousand fiue hundred and eleuen The house of Conuerts in Pat. 51. Ed. 3. memb 20. is giuen to the Master of the Rolles By the Statute Iudaisme they were to weare euery one being past seuen yeeres olde a cognisance of yellow vpon their vpper garment thereby to be knowne some such distinction had beene generally enioyned in the Councell of Lateran see the Statute cap. de Iud. 6. R. 1. Rog. de Houeden fol. 424. They were forbidden to build new Synagogues made subiect to the payment of Tithes and were to weare on their vpper garment on the brest two peeces of wollen cloth of another colour plainly to be discerned each of them two fingers broade and foure in length by the Prouinciall Councell of Oxford vnder Stephan Archbishop of Canterbury in 8. Hen. 3. CHAP. XI A Chronologie of the Iewish Historie from the beginning of the World briefly collected THe Floud happened as Moses reckoneth the Parcels in the Ages of the Patriarchs in the yeere of the World 1656. which are thus accounted Adam at the hundred and thirtie yeere begat Seth Seth at a hundred and fiue begat Enos Enos at ninetie Kainan he at seuenty Mahalaleel who at sixty fiue begat Iared Iared being one hundred sixtie two yeeres olde begat Henoch who at sixtie fiue begat Methuselah and hee at a hundred eighty seuen begat Lamech who in his hundred eightie two yeere begat Noah in the sixe hundreth yeere of whose life the Floud came Whereof euery Nation almost in the World hath some tradition howsoeuer as Censorinus citeth out of Varro from the beginning of the world to that first deluge is called 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 or vnknowne as from thence to the first Olympiade was 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 or fabulous onely that deserueth the title of 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 from the Olympiads forwards if we regard humane Historie But the Diuine hath made the former more cleere then the later Some difference is in what part of the yeere the World was created which is supposed to be Autumne because the trees were then in those parts of Eden laden with fruits
beene mustered from the Easterne and Westerne Babel and the like manner of their confusion hath almost made mee forget the Historie and my selfe but neuer a whit the Truth And this will be further manifested in the rest of this Booke where their Superstitious Deuotion is related As for those Testimonies of the Iewes against themselues besides the Scriptures which in regard of the true sense the veile ouer their hearts will not suffer them to reade but it is a sealed Booke vnto them and they left the riches thereof vnto vnto vs as the Aramites left their Tents with their Horses and Treasure to the pined Israelites Their other Authours are so plaine and plentifull in the Mysteries of our Religion as I know not whether it cause greater pleasure to reade their Writings or astonishment and wonder at the Nation so stricken with madnesse and with blindnesse and with astonishment of heart since they haue shut their eyes against the Sunne of Righteousnesse on whom that threatned plague is come Thou shalt groape at Noone-dayes as the Blind doth groape in darknesse For out of their Talmud-Authors is plainly deliuered the mystery of the Trinitie the Incarnation of the Sonne of GOD his two Natures his Birth of a Virgin his spiriuall Kingdome the time of his Comming the truth of his Prophesies and power of his Miracles the Redemption of Mankind by his Death his Crucifying Descent Resurrection and Ascension and that their Nation was to be reiected the old Law to cease New to succeed c. All which as they agree vnto that sweet and blessed Name and Person of Iesus which name and that of Emanuel is also found in their Writings so doe they argue the seueritie of GODS Iudgements when men will not beleeue the Truth that by the efficacie of errour they shall haue eyes and see not eares and heare not neither ours nor their owne as Paul and CHRIST himselfe often told them But those particulars as rather appertayning to Disputation then Historie and therefore too much impertinent to our purpose the desirous Readers may at large find in Morney and Galatinus not to mention others The witnesse of Iosephus being one whose name we oftten vse in this Historie may iustly challenge me if I should omit him especially seeing hee liued in the very dayes of the Apostles who as he witnesseth of Iohn Baptist and of many other things mentioned in the Gospell fully agreeing therewith so concerning our Lord and Sauiour hath this Testimonie In the time of Tiberius there was one Iesus a wise Man if at least-wise he was to be called a man who was a worker of great Miracles and a Teacher of such as loue the Truth and had many followers as well of Iewes as of Gentiles This was Christ Neuerthelesse being accused vnto Pilate by the chiefe of the Iewes hee was crucified But yet for all that those which had loued Him from the beginning ceased not to continue still For hee shewed himselfe aliue vnto them three dayes after his Death as the Prophets had foretold of him both this and diuers other things And euen vnto this day doe those continue still which after his name are called Christians Thus much Iosephus Thus did the Truth force him to confesse whose Historie of the destruction of his Nation what is it but as a Commentary on Iesus Prophesie thereof and their fearefull Imprecation His bloud be vpon vs and our children shewing that the wrath of God was come vpon them to the vtmost From Mount Oliuet where Iesus was first apprehended and where last those blessed feet touched the Earth as if there Mercie had left a print of Iustice was Ierusalem besieged and at their Feast of Passeouer when they had crucified Christ they were cooped vp as it were assembled by Diuine Iustice from all quarters to destructron together with that their Citie where they had slaine the Lord But of this before It will not bee vnsauourie to the Reader obseruing herein Diuine vengeance to relate as vnsauourie a Tale as euer was deuised which their Talmud telleth in derogation of Christs Miracles in which I know not whether to call them beasts or Deuils so witlesse and withall so wicked is their blasphemie Forsooth in Salomons Temple there was say they a certayne stoue of very rare vertue wherein Salomon by his singular Wisedome had engrauen the very true Name of GOD which it was lawfull for euery man to reade but not to conne by heart nor to write out And at the Temple doore were two Lyons tyed at two Chaines which rored terribly that the feare thereof made him to forget the name that had committed the same to memorie and him to burst asunder in the middest that had put it in writing But IESVS the Sonne of Mary say they regarding neither the Curse annexed to the Prohibition nor the roaring of the Lyons writ it out in a Bill and went his way with it ioyfully And lest he might be taken with the thing about him hee had a little opened the skinne of his legge and put it in there and afterwards wrought his miracles by the vertue of that name I should be almost as absurd as they if I should dispute against it seeing in this and most of their brain-sicke Dreames the very recitation is sufficient refutation It cannot be denyed that there haue beene many Rabbines very Learned as R. Moses Aegyptius Abben Tibbon which translated Euclide and other Authours out of Arabicke into Hebrew and some parts also of Aristotle translated into Hebrew are accounted his doing many others of them writ in Philosophie likewise and for Physicke who haue beene more famous But he which will haue notice of the RR. and their workes let him reade Buxdorfius his Bibliotheca Rabbinica printed 1613. yet euen the best of them haue much Chaffe which needs much fanning from the Corne Many wise Sentences and Prouerbs haue beene by Drusius and others gathered out of some of their workes which would haue beautified this Discourse as these for a taste Vowes are the hedge or wall of defence to holinesse Tithes are the same to Riches he which increaseth his flesh encreaseth Wormes Who is wise he which learneth of euery one Who is valiant hee which brideleth his affections Who is rich he which is content with his portion If I care not for my selfe who shall care for me And if I what am I and if not now when The day is short and the worke much and the Labourers slow and the wages great and the Housholder calleth vpon vs But me thinkes you call vpon me to proceed But of these and such like Sayings there is a whole Treatise called Pirke Auoth which is as it were their Medulla Patrum or Flores Doctorum gathered by R. Nathan Babylonius set forth by Fagius and since by Drusius yet hauing spoken thus much of their Learned men I thinke it would to some louers of Learning not be
agonie tooke his knife so left and thrust into his heart This their grace is long containing a commemoration of the benefits vouchsafed their fore-fathers and a prayer for regranting the same to send Elias and the Messias and that they may not be brought to begge or borrow of the Christians and for his blessing vpon all that house c. whereunto is answered with a loud voyce Amen and they say to themselues Feare the Lord yee his Saints for they that feare him haue no want the Lions lacke and suffer hunger but they which seeke the Lord shall want nothing that is good and while this is said there must not a crumme bee left in their mouthes The prayers must bee in that place where they haue eaten or else they shall lose the benefit of buriall and a certaine deuout Iew in the field remembring that he had forgotten his grace returned backe to the house and there performing his dutie had miraculously sent vnto him a doue of gold In Cities where are Synagogues about fiue in the afternoone their Clerke or some such officer goeth about and with knocking at their doores giues them notice of Euening prayer thither being come they sit downe and say this prayer of the first word called Aschre Blessed are they which dwell in thy house praising thee continually Selah Blessed are the people that are thus blessed are the people whose God is the Lord I will magnifie thee O God my King c. all that 145. Psalme throughout hee which saith this Psalme thrice a day shall haue his portion in eternall life Then the chiefe Chorister or Chanter singeth halfe their prayer called Kaddesch and then all say those eighteene prayses mentioned in Morning Prayer Then goeth their Chorister out of his Pulpit and kneeleth downe vpon the steps before the Arke and falleth downe with his face on his left hand all the people doing likewise saying O mercifull and gracious God I haue sinned in thy sight but thou art full of mercy be mercifull vnto me and receiue my prayer proceeding from an humble heart Reproue mee not O Lord in thy wrath nor correct mee in thine anger and so proceedeth through that whole sixt Psalme his countenance couered and inclined to the ground This is done in imitation of Ioshua Then the Praecentor or chiefe Chorister againe rising vp saith And we know not what to doe but that wee direct our eyes vnto thee And then they say vp the other halfe of their Kaddesch and so endeth their Euensong Now should they goe home and after supper returne to performe their Night-deuotions but because a full belly would rather be at rest and might easily forget his dutie after some pawse and stay they proceed before they goe to their other taske and in that time of pawsing betweene their vespers and nocturnes if there bee any strife betweene any and reconciliation cannot be made then hee which cannot reconcile his neighbour goeth to the common prayer-booke and shutting it knocketh thereon with his hand saying anikelao I conclude the businesse as if he should say I conclude praying till mine aduersarie be reconciled to me vntill which thing be effected they may not pray further and so sometimes their prayers are intermitted then and diuers dayes together if one partie will be stubborne These prayers are for substance much like the former as against the Christians and for their owne restitution by their Messias They depart out of the Synagogue with repetition of those sentences mentioned in the former Chapter At Supper they behaue themselues as at Dinner Going to bed they put off the left shooe before the right their shirt they put off when they are couered in their beds for feare of the walls beholding their nakednesse Hee that maketh water naked in his chamber shall be a poore man and the prayer Heare Israel must be his last words on his bed and sleeping on the same as in Psal. 4.5 Speake in your heart on your bed and bee silent Selah If hee cannot by and by sleepe he must repeat it till hee can and so his sleepe shall prooue good to him The bed must be pure for how else should they thinke on the name of GOD And it must be so placed that they must lye with their heads to the South their feet toward the North for by this meanes they shall bee fruitfull in Male children They haue also their Chamber Morals instructing of duties betwixt the Man and Wife vnmeet for sober and chaste eares T is time for our Pen to sleepe with them and end this Chapter CHAP. XVII Their weekely obseruation of Times viz. Their Mundayes and Thursdayes and Sabbath §. I. Of their Mundayes and Thursdayes HItherto haue wee heard of their prayers euery day obserued They haue also their times designed to the reading of the Law In the Talmud is reported that Ezra in the Babylonian Captiuitie was Author vnto the Iewes of ten Commandements First that on the Sabbath secondly on Munday and Thursday with singular solemnitie some part of the Law should bee read thirdly that Thursday should be Court or Law-day for deciding controuersies fourthly that it should bee a day of washing sweeping and cleansing in honour of the Sabbath fiftly that men should then eate Leekes the sixt that women should arise and bake their Bread so earely that at Sunne rising they might giue a poore man a piece of bread the seuenth that they should for modesties sake gird their Linnen to them the eighth that in the Bathes they should combe and part their haires verie carefully the ninth about selling their commodities to Marchants and buying womanly ornaments for the honour of their feasts and pleasing their husbands the last is of cleansing after vncleane issues Their learned men confirme this institution of Ezra by authoritie of Scripture They went three dayes in the desart and found no waters By waters they vnderstand the Law For so it is said Esay 55.1 Come yee to the waters that is to the Law and therefore they ought not to let three dayes passe without some solemne reading of the Law Munday and Thursday are chosen to bee the dayes because on Thursday Moses went the second time into the Mount and returned with the two Tables on the Munday on which day also the Temple was destroyed and the Law burnt This their deuotion is as ancient as that Pharisee Luke 18. I fast twice in the weeke that which the most deuout amongst them doe to this day obserue Yea it seemeth the deuouter sort fast foure dayes saith another on Munday Tuesday Wednesday and Thursday the first for Mariners and trauellers by Sea the next for such as passe thorow desart places the third for Children which are troubled with the Squinancie of this Elias Leuita testifieth that after the beginning of the World it first assayled children and after that men so that sometimes when they neezed their spirit fled
of those which haue since succeeded them in habitation in sinne in iudgement And where might wee better stay or what part of the world can yeeld such varietie and multiplicitie of obiects to both the eyes of the minde Curiositie and Deuotion No where such manifold alterations and diuisions of state so diuersified a Map of Nature so multiplied rites of Religion in such differing sects of Heathens Hebrewes Mahumetans Christians No where Antiquitie shewing a grauer countenance no where the Monuments of such mercies the spectacles of such iudgements such consolations such desolations such ambition of Potentates and forraine sutors from the East the West the North the South such Miracles such Oracles such confluence of Pilgrims looking as farre opposite as Sampsons Foxes with as fierie diuisions whether in differing heresies of one or differing names of diuers Deuotions both Catholike and Hereticall Iewes Saracens and Christians concurring in visiting adorning adoring these places with Titles and Rites of Holinesse How often hath this country emtied our Westerne world with Armes and Armies to recouer it and the Easterne in like manner to retaine it How often hath it brought Armies of Angelicall spirits out of the highest Heauens to couer these Hilles with Chariots and Horses of fire round about the holy men of GOD How oft But what speake I of Men or Angels GOD himselfe loued the gates of Sion more then all the dwellings of the world and IESVS CHRIST the Angell of the Couenant true GOD and perfect MAM here was borne here liued practised died ascended and hence he sent his Apostles to bee Fathers of men that the sonnes of men might bee made the heires of GOD co-heires with himselfe After the Iewes for reiecting him were reiected out of both the heauenly and earthly Canaan this countrey was inhabited partly by Roman Colonies there planted for securitie of the countrey by the Roman Emperours partly by such Syrians as submitted themselues peaceably to the Roman Empire both that Ethnike before Constantine and after in farre more flourishing estate vnder the Christian Emperours till the daies of un-vn-christian Phocas This was the murtherer of Mauritius his Lord the vsurper of the Empire the exalter of the Roman See vnto the Ecclesiasticall Supremacie with as good right as himselfe had to the state a monster of mankinde vnder whom the Empire was neere an vtter ouerthrow as by the Hunnes Auares and other Nations in the West so especially by the Persians in the East whose Emperour Chosroes ouerthrew that Armie which had conspired against Mauricius and in the fourth yeere of Phocas ouer-ranne Mesopotamia and Syria in the next yeere after carried much prey and many captiues out of all Syria Palestina and Phoenicia in the seuenth yeere of his raigne possessed Armenia Galatia Paphlagonia and spoiled all as farre as Chalcedon Yet saith Cedrenus Phocas did more harme at home then the enemy in the field At the same time the Iewes made a commotion at Antioch and slew besides many other Citizens Anastasius the Patriarch in despight also putting his priuitiues in his mouth But the Iewes paid much bloud for this butcherie and Phocas also himselfe the chiefe Butcher was most mercilesly butchered presently after by Heraclius his successour They tell of a Reuelation to a certaine Holy man that GOD had made Phocas Emperour because hee could not finde a worse man by whom to punish that people which I mention that the world might see what a good Mid-wife Rome then in trauel had to helpe her babe Antichrist into the world But to returne to the Storie Heraclius could not withstand the Persian insolence but lost in his first yeere Apamea and Edessa and in the next Caesarea from whence they carried many thousands into captiuitie in the fourth Damascus was taken and in the fifth Ierusalem where by reason of the Iewish crueltie who bought all the Christians they could to slaughter them there were slaine ninetie thousand Zacharias the Patriarch together with the holy Crosse and exceeding store of captiues and spoile were carried into captiuitie The next yeere they ouercame Egypt Africa and Ethiopia Chosroes neglects all ouertures of peace made to him by Heraclius except they would deny their crucified God and worship the Sunne He also caused the Christians in his dominion to become Nestorians the cause perhaps why almost all the farre Easterne Christians to this day are or at least are called Nestorians Against him Heraclius continued a six yeeres expedition in which hee ouerranne his countries ouerthrew his Armies sacked his Cities Castles and Palaces and at last assisted his eldest sonne Siroes whom Chosroes sought to dis-herit against him who tooke him and hauing before exposed him to all contumelious insultations and almost starued him in a darke prison and slaine all his other children in his sight with abominable tyrannie shot his tyrannicall father to death So died Chosroes a successour of Sennacherib in the dominion of many the same countries subiection to the like blasphemous impietie and reward by like parricide Heraclius in the ninteenth yeere of his raigne visiteth Ierusalem restoring the captiued crosse and Patriarch by restitution of Siroes He banished thence all the Iewes prohibiting by Edict that none should come neere it by three miles §. II. Of the Saracens and Turkes in Palestina THe Saracens had done good seruice in rhese wars against the Persians which in the time of Heraclius began a new Religion and Empire vnder Mahomet the founder of both the second after whom Omar ouerthrew Theodorus the brother of Heraclius in battell and after him another Theodorus and Boanes his Generals forced the Emperour to abandon Syria carrying the holy crosse from Ierusalem to Constantinople In the 26. of Heraclius hee entred Ierusalem hypocritically and pseudoprophetically clothed in a homely garment of Camels haire and sought out the place of Salomons Temple there to erect another subduing soone after the whole Persian State and a great part of the Roman Anno Dom. 641. did Homar build his Temple at Ierusalem with incredible costs in matter and workmanship enriching the same with many and large possessions and reuenues in the Musaike worke of the inner and outward part thereof expressing in Arabike letters the Author time and charges of the building The forme whereof is thus described by William Archbishop of Tyrus The Church-yard was square about a bow-shot in length and bredth compassed with a high wall hauing on the West square two gates one on the North and another on the East on the South was the Palace On euery of these gates and on the corners were high steeples on which at certaine houres the Priests after the Saracenicall manner called them to prayers In this compasse none were suffered to dwell nor to enter but with bare and washed feet Porters being assigned to that purpose In the midst of this square was another somewhat higher whereto they ascended by staires in two places on the West
is a place of Heretikes for so the Saracens deemed them Beniamin Tudelensis aboue foure and fortie yeeres agoe hath written that these Hhasissin neere Baalgad vnder Libanus followed not the doctrine of the Ismaelites but of one whom they esteemed a Prophet whose word they obeyed whether to liue or die Him they call Hheich all Hhassissin he is their Senator at whose command all the Mountaines goe out and in His seate is in the Citie called Karmos which was sometime the biginning of the Country of Sehon And they haue a Religion amongst themselues according to the doctrine of their Senator They are a terrour to all men for they kill euen Kings with the Sawe Their Dominion continues eight dayes iourney They hold warre with the Christians called Frankes and with the King of Tripolis of the Region of Saam Damascus wherein hapned not long since an Earth-quake whereby were slaine in that Region many both Iewes and Gentises and in the Land of Israel twenty thousand Thus farre out of the Iew. Iacobus de Vitriaco Bishop of Acon in his Easterne Storie accounts it no small grace of GOD that in the siege of Damiata where himselfe was present An. 1219. their chiefe men escaped these Assasines they being after that murther by the Templaries committed on their Legate for the most part enemies vnto them Yet one he mentioneth the sonne of the Earle of Tripolis being at his deuotions in the Church of our Lady at Carchusa slaine by them as he was kneeling before the Altar Whereupon the Templers warred on them and forced them to the Tribute of three thousand Byzantines In his first Booke he telleth their customes at large The place of their first originall whence they came into Syria he placeth neere Baldac or Bagdet in the confines of Persia they willingly and cheerefully obey all the commands of their Abbat Master or OLD MAN of the Mountaines in all things absolutely esteeming it meritorious who also bringeth vp children of purpose in secret and pleasant places and in diuers languages where they neuer see any but their Masters till their Lord send them thence for hatred of his enemies or at request of his friends or for reward and price giuing them a sharpe knife or blade for such exploits If they dye they are accounted Martyrs and reuerenced as Saints their Parents rewarded with gifts and if they were bond with freedome Hence it is that they take vpon them so cheerefully this deadly Legacie with no lesse warinesse and subtile in Protean insinuations and fashion-imitations then vehemencie of desire and resolution studious to effect the same sometimes in the habit of the Clergie men or Monkes sometimes like marchants alwayes applying themseluer to others fashions that it is impossible to preuent them inferiour persons they disdaine to deale with but mightier Potentates must either purchase their securitie or alwayes be strongly garded Vitriacus affirmeth that they were imagined to bee descended from the ancient Esses and that they still retained the Iewish writing hauing letters mixed of the Hebrew and Chaldee which perhaps may bee the Samaritan Letters Marinus Sanutus Torsellus about three hundred yeeres since wrote a large booke entituled Secreta fidelium Crucis touching the recouerie of the Holy Land in which he mentions these Assasines or as he cals them Arsasidae of whom besides other things hee relates this Storie An. 1194. Boamund Prince of Antiochia sends for Leuuon Lord of Armenia his vassall so great where then the Christian affaires to come to him which he at first refused because he had in like manner sent for his brother Rupinus and made him prisoner but after vpon condition he came with such an Ambuscado that when Boamund would contrarie to Couenant haue taken him himselfe was taken and carried prisoner into Armenia from whence he was deliuered by meditation of Henry then Gouernour of the Holy-Land vnder Q. Isabell at whose hands the said Lord of Armenia desired and receiued the Title and Crowne of a King And this was the beginning of that Royall Title to those Kings of Armenia But this Henry in his returne visited according to his request the King of the Arsasidae so he calles him who brought him to a Castle where was a very high Tower and in each corner thereof stood two men clothed in white Then said the King to his ghest Your Subiects will not obey you in like manner as mine will me and withall gaue a humane or spetting token and presently two of those white ones cast themselues downe and with the fall died instantly Then did hee offer the like experiment in the rest but Henry refused as hauing more proofe then he desired of this more then Votarie obedience He offred him also that if he had any enemie he would procure him to bee slaine by these his seruants I stay the longer on these cursed Assassines that the Reader may make comparison and obserue their resemblance with the latter Iesuiticall brood in totall and simple obedience the opinion that it is tolerable nay lawfull commendable meritorious of heauen to kill and treacherously to murther the Princes of the earth and the glorious martyrdome of such as are therefore executed §. V. Of the Dogzijn and Drusians and other Pagans there ANother like both People and Sect Brethren in euill were the Dogzijn of whom Beniamin thus writeth About ten miles from Sidon there is a certaine people which holds warre with the Sidonians called in their language Dogzijn of others called Pagans of no Religion or Sect They dwell in the Mountaines in Caues and holes of Rocks obeying no King or Gouernor but liue at randome in the highest Hills and steepest Rockes three dayes iourney vnto the Hill Hermon They are infamously incestuous the Fathers polluting their owne Daughters And in a solemnitie which they yeerely celebrate all both men and women come to a common Feast where they change Wiues with each other They hold that the soule when it departeth out of the body of a good man passeth into some Infant then begotten but of a bad man into a Dog or other Beast Their knowledge is according to their life There are no Iewes amongst them but sometimes Artificers and diuers come vnto them for Marchandize and goe away againe and the Iewes are gently entertained of them This people is very swift in running vp and downe those hills and not to bee vanquished of other men Thus farre Tudelensis Martin a Baumgarten relateth that the Venetian Consull told him of a Sect not farre from Tripoli which vse at certaine times promiscuous lusts the Father with the Daughter the Mother with the Sonne and each with his next Mate The issue thereof if Male to be killed with needles as sacrificing their bloud the Females preserued Hee names them not But it is likely to be the posteritie of those Dogzijn perhaps that of killing their Males being added by such as make bad things worse and yet
or Lord Ioseph which in the Mountaines holds out against the Turke he tells also of one Asan Bashaw which ruleth like a King in an ancient Citie called Achilles paying duties to the Turke successiuely from his predecessours of the house as it is sayd of Sanballat and is called Eben Sumboloc and his Kindred call one another Amiogli for they account themselues Ammonites This Bashaw is old and referreth matters of gouernement to his kinsman Vseph Beg. It should seeme they are some relickes of the Cutheans or Samaritans which perhaps ioyne with the Drusians in many things There are also in these parts of Palaestina many Arabians which it seemes haue pestered those places euer since the inuasion of Homar if not before and these still vse to prey vpon the Pilgrims that trauell to Ierusalem notwithstanding the conduct of Ianizaries Of these Arabians one Sect is called Beduines which imagining the day of euery mans death fatally destined neuer goe armed to battell vsing onely Speares and Swords disdaining Bowes and Arrowes as tokens of cowardise These are false alike to Christians and Saracens easily betraying either alway addicting themselues to the strongest dwell in Tents goe cloathed with skinnes wander vp and downe in Tribes still seeking fresh pastures feed on Milke and commit the care of all businesses to their wiues Some of the Easterne people worship to the East which they say they learned of their fathers that were Christians themselues being Mahumetans yet account other Saracens hereticall and some esteeme the Sunne to bee the chiefe God Thus Vitriacus §. VI. Of the vnchristian Christians SVch are and haue beene the vnholy Inhabitants of the Holy Land since the Iewes expulsion neither can wee say much better of their conquerours the Persians Arabians Turkes Tartars Mamalukes and after these the Turkes in the Ottoman Dynastie no nor can wee commend the Christians for much Christianitie whether the natiue Surians some of which haue passed through all these changes without any great change either to the Saracenicall or Westerne Rites from their Greekish or their inuaders and conquerours For these soone degenerated into an vnchristian Christianitie and were called Pulam successors of the places not the conditions of those which passed thither with Duke Godfrey They gaue themselues to effeminate delicacies to excesse in dyet and apparell full of intestine discords and ciuill contentions coozners and false addicted to Witch-crafts and Diuinations contumeliously abusing Pilgrims whom deuotion had brought from farre Countries thither or which came to helpe them against the Saracens calling them in scorne the sonnes of Hernaud The Maronite Christians were in times past sixtie thousand but now are few neither is this a fit place for discourse of that and other Sects of Christians liuing in or frequenting these holy places Nestorians Iacobites Abassens Armenians Georgians Greekes and others But the conditions of the Inhabitants at that time wee mention as the cause of the losse of that Countrey to the Saracens the Clergie minding more as a Clergie man of their owne expresseth the Churches goods then her good to fleece then to feed their flockes the Regulars enriched with possessions religion brought foorth wealth and the daughter ate vp the mother The Natiue Laytie melted in lusts and pleasures grew more fearefull then women except they were assisted with the Frankes English or other Westerne people strengthning themselues in the strength of their contentions against their Christian brethren with Saracenicall assistance Their wiues they mewed vp very close from the sight almost of brethren and neerest kindred scarce suffering them to visit the Church once in a yeere some of the greater ones erecting Altars in their wiues bed-chambers whereon some sillie Priest might mumble his Parrot mumsimus They the more enraged vsed all meanes with womens wiles and deuillish wils by Sorceries or any other meanes to effect their filthy purposes It was also made a refuge and receptacle of the most disordered persons in these Westerne parts Theeues Robbers Periured Adulterers Traytors Murtherers Parricides Pyrats Apostate Monks and Nunnes which became common harlots and other monsters in shapes of men and women passing the Sea to this Land entituled Holy wher 's Coelum non animum changing soyle not soule they practised the like villanies with lesse shame being further from their friends And easily might they escape after greatest mischiefes either running as Rennegadoes to the Saracens or escaping by ship to some neere Iland or to such priuiledged Sanctuaries as euery Religious house afforded to the preiudice of iustice and Religion Some also which in Europe had beene condemned for some crimes by mediation of friends obtained this exchange of punishment to bee sent hither where they became harbourers of Whores Gamers Murtherers and for further impunitie were at a yeerely fee with the great ones Neither could the feare of humane Iustice or diuine Iudgements reclaime them many terrible Earthquakes happening amongst them by one of which Tyrus was almost vtterly together with the Inhabitants destroyed shake their earthie hardned hearts or mooue them to relent No maruell if the Land could no longer brooke such Inhabitants but exposed them to the sword of the Saracens and then againe for so the father when hee hath chastened his children casts the rod into the fire to the Tartars and from one to another till the Turke now Lords it amongst them in sort as you haue heard And euen still the wickednesse of the people in vnnaturall lusts and namelesse filthinesse is such that I abhorre further to write of it so is this paradise of the world both in bodily and spirituall pleasures and fruitfulnesse now become a desolate wildernesse for the one and disconsolate in the other whiles one is loath to sow for another to reape Iustus es Domine Iusta sunt iudicia tua OF THE ARABIANS SARACENS TVRKES AND OF THE ANCIENT INHABITANTS OF ASIA MINOR AND OF THEIR RELIGIONS The Second Booke CHAP. I. Of Arabia and of the ancient Religions Rites and Customes thereof ARABIA is a very large Region lying betweene two Bayes or Gulfes of the Sea the Persian on the East and that which hereof is called the Arabian on the West On the South is the Ocean on the North is Syria and Euphrates Plinie sets downe the Northerne Limits the Hill Amanus ouer against Cilicia and Commagena many Colonies of them being there planted by Tigranes the Great it thence sayth hee declineth to our Sea and the Aegyptian shore and to the heart of Syria to Mount Libanus By a certaine workemanship of Nature it much resembleth the forme and site of Italy Arabia signifieth Holy as Solinus affirmeth But in the Scripture 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Harabi signifieth both a robber by the way and an Arabian So Ier. 3.2 In the wayes thou hast sate for them as the Arabian in the Wildernesse in the vulgar Latine is translated Expectans eos quasi latro insidians in solitudine Saint
Red because either the ground or the sand or the water thereof is Red as Bellonius hath obserued for none of them are so The people thereabouts take care for no other houses then the boughes of Palme-trees to keepe them from the heat of the Sunne for raine they haue but seldome the cattell are lesse there then in Egypt In the ascent of Mount Sinai are steps cut out in the Rocke they beganne to ascend it at breake of day and it was afternoone before they could get to the Monasterie of Maronite Christians which is on the top thereof There is also a Meschit there for the Arabians and Turkes who resort thither on pilgrimage as well as the Christians There is a Church also on the top of Mount Horeb and another Monasterie at the foot of the Hill besides other Monasteries wherein liue religious people called Caloieri obseruing the Greeke Rites who shew all and more then all the places renowmed in Scriptures and Antiquities to Pilgrims They eate neither flesh nor white meates They allow food vnto strangers such as it is rice wheat beanes and such like which they set on the floore without a cloth in a woodden dish and the people compose themselues to eate the same after the Arabian manner which is to sit vpon their heeles touching the ground with their toes whereas the Turkes sit crosse-legged like Taylors There is extant an Epistle of Eugenius Bishop of M. Sinai written 1569. to Charles the Arch-duke wherein hee complaineth that the Great Turke had caused all the reuenues of the Churches and Monasteries to bee sold whereby they were forced to pledge there Holy Vessels and to borrow on Vsurie Arabia Foelix trendeth from hence Southwards hauing on all parts of the Sea against which it doth abutt the space of three thousand fiue hundreth and foure miles Virgil calls it Panchaea now Ayaman or Giamen This seemeth to bee the Countrie wherein Saba stood chiefe Citie of the Sabaeans whose Queene visited Salomon for so the Iewes reckon howsoeuer the Abassines challenge her to themselues Aben Ezra on Dan. 11. calls this Saba Aliman or Alieman and Salmanticensis Ieman which is all one for all is but the Article signifying the South as the Scriptures also call her Queene of the South For so it was situate not to Iudaea alone but to the Petraean and Desart Arabia The name Seba or Saba agreeth also with the name of Sheba Gen. 10.7 As for Sheba the Nephew of Abraham by Ketura it is like he was founder of the other Seba or Saba in Arabia Deserta the elder posteritie of Chush hauing before seated themselues in the more fertile Southerne countrie and because both peoples these in Arabia and those in Africa were comprehended vnder one generall name of Aethiopia hence might those of Africa take occasion to vsurpe the Antiquities of the other Yea it is more likely that these Abassens in Africa a thousand yeeres after that the Queene was buried were seated in Arabia and thence passed in later ages into Africa subduing those Countries to them For so hath Stephanus 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 The Abassens so we now call those Aethiopians in the Empire of Presbyter Iohn are Nation of Arabia beyond the Sabaeans and the Nubian Geographer diuers times mentions Salomons wife in Arabia which I cannot interpret but of that Queene so that out of Arabia they carried this Tradition with them as it is likely into Africa where want of learning and plentie of superstition had so increased their Legend of this Queene as we shall after heare Beniamin Tudelensis writeth likewise that the Region of Seba is now called the Land of Aliman and that it extendeth sixteene dayes iourneys alongst the Hills in all which Region there were of those Arabians which had no certaine dwellings but wandred vp and downe in Tents robbing the neighbour Nations as is also reported of the Saracens neere Mecca which gouernment of Mecca both Beniamin and Salmanticensis adioyne to that of Aliman or the Kingdome of Saba for so saith he the Iewes in those parts still call the chiefe Citie of that Kingdome It hath store of Riuers Lakes Townes Cities Cattell fruits of many sorts The chiefe Cities are Medina Mecca Ziden Zebit Aden Beniamin addeth Theima or Theman a Citie walled fifteene miles square enclosing ground for tillage in the walls Tilmaas also Chibar and others There is store of siluer gold and varietie of gemmes There are also wilde beasts of diuers kindes As for the Phoenix because I and not I alone thinke it a fable as neither agreeing to reason nor likelihood and plainely disagreeing to the Historie of the Creation and of Noahs Arke in both which God made all Male and Female and cōmanded them to increase and multiply I thinke it not worthy recitall One wonder of Nature done in Abis a Citie of this Region will not I thinke bee distastfull cited by Photius out of Diodorus Siculus written in some part of his workes which is now wanting One Diophantus a Macedonian being married to an Arabian woman in that Citie Abis had by her a daughter called Herais which in ripe age was married to one Samiades who hauing liued a yeere with her did after trauell into farre Countries In the meane time his wife was troubled with an vncouth and strange disease A swelling arose about the bottome of her belly which on the seuenth day breaking there proceeded thence those parts whereby Nature distinguisheth men from the other sexe which secrets shee kept secret notwithstanding continuing her womans habit till the returne of her husband Who then demanding the companie and dutie of his wife was repelled by her father for which he sued him before the Iudges where Herais was forced to shew that which before her modestie had forbidden her to tell and afterwards naming himselfe Diophantus serued the King in his warres with the habite and heart of a man and leauing her feminine weaknesse as it seemed to her husband who in the impatience of his loue slue himselfe Our Author addeth also that by the helpe of the Physicians such perfection was added to this worke of Nature that nothing remained to testifie hee had beene a woman he annexeth also like examples in some others Ludouicus Vertomannus or Barthema as Ramusius nameth him tells at large his iourney through all this threefold Arabia he trauelled from Damasco to Mecca Anno 1503. with the Carauan of Pilgrimes and Marchants being often by the way set vpon by Armies of those Theeuish and Beggerly Arabians This iourney is of fortie dayes trauell trauelling two and twentie houres and resting two for their repast After many dayes they came to a Mountaine inhabited with Iewes ten or twelue miles in circuit which went naked and were of small stature about fiue or sixe spannes high black of colour circumcised speaking with a wominish voice And if they get a Moore in their power they flay
tell his Disciples the Historie of the Arke Who told them that by the weight of the Ordure the Arke leaned on the one side whereupon Noe consulting with GOD was bidden bring the Elephant thither out of whose dung mixed with mans came forth a Hog which wrooted in that mire with his snout and by the stinke thereof was produced out of his nose a Mouse which gnawed the boords of the Arke Noe fearing this danger was bidden to strike the Lion on the forehead and by the Lions breath was a Cat engendred mortall enemie to the Mouse But to returne from this stinking tale to refresh our selues with the like sweets of this Paradise He addeth that there they haue the wiues that here they had and other Concubines whom how when wheresoeuer they will Abd. But why is Wine lawfull there and here vnlawfull Mah. The Angels Arot and Marot were sometime sent to instruct and gouerne the world forbidding men Wine iniustice and murther But a woman hauing whereof to accuse her husband inuited them to dinner and made them drunke They inflamed with a double heat of Wine and Lust could not obtaine that their desire of their faire Hostesse except one would teach her the word of ascending to heauen and the other of descending Thus she mounted vp to heauen And vpon enquirie of the matter shee was made the Morning-Sarre and they put to their choice whether they would bee punished in this world or in the world to come they accepting their punishment in this are hanged by chaines with their heads in a pit of Babel till the day of Iudgement Hell saith Mahomet there hath the floore of Brimstone smoakie pitchy with stinking flames with deepe pits of scalding Pitch and sulphurous flames wherein the damned are punished daily the trees beare most loasome fruits which they eate The day of Iudgement shall be in this sort In that day GOD will command the Angel of Death to kill euery Creature which being done hee shall aske him if nothing bee aliue Adreiel the Angell of Death shall answere Nothing but my selfe Then goe thy waies betwixt Paradise and Hell and last of all kill thy selfe Thus he folded in his wings prostrate on the earth shall strangle himselfe with such a bellowing noise as would terrifie the verie Angels if they were aliue Thus the world shall bee emptie fortie yeeres Then shall GOD hold the Heauen and Earth in his fist and say Where are now the mightie men the Kings and Princes of the World Tell mee if yee be true whose is the Kingdome and Empire and Power Repeating these words three times he shall rise vp Seraphiel and say Take this Trumpet and goe to Ierusalem and sound This Trumpet is of fiue hundred yeeres iourney At that sound all Soules shall come forth and disperse themselues vnto their owne bodies and their bones shall be gathered together Fortie yeeres after hee shall sound againe and then the bones shall resume flesh and sinewes After fortie yeeres the third sound shall warne the Soules to re-possesse their bodies and a fire from the West shall driue euery creature to Ierusalem When they haue here swum fortie yeeres in their owne sweat they shall with much vexation come to Adam and say Father Adam Father Adam Why hast thou begotten vs to these miseries and torments Why sufferest thou vs to hang betweene hope and feare Pray to GOD that hee will finish his determination of vs between Paradise and Hell Adam shall excuse his vnworthinesse for his disobedience and send them to Noe Noe will post them to Abraham Abraham to Moses He shall send them to Iesus Christ To him they shall come and say The Spirit Word and Power of GOD let thy pitie moue thee to make intercession for vs He shall answer them That which you aske you haue lost I was indeed sent vnto you in the power of GOD and Word of Truth but yee haue erred and haue made me GOD more then euer I preached to you and haue therefore lost my benefit But goe to the last of the Prophets meaning him with whom thou now talkest Abdia Then shall they turne to him and say O faithfull Messenger and friend of GOD we haue sinned heare vs holy Prophet our only hope c. Then shall Gabriel present himselfe to helpe his friend and they shall goe to the Throne of GOD. And GOD shall say I know why you are come Farre be it that I should not heare the prayer of my faithfull one Then shall a bridge be made ouer Hell and on the top of the bridge shall bee set a ballance wherein euery mans workes shall bee weighed and those which are saued shall passe ouer the bridge the other shall fall into Hell Abd. How many bands of men shall there be in that day Mahom. An hundred and twentie of which three only shall be found faithfull and euery Band or troupe of men shall be in length the iourney of a thousand yeeres in breadth fiue hundred Abd. What shall become of Death Mah. He shall be transformed into a Ram and they shall bring him betweene Paradise and Hell Then shall arise much dissentions betweene these two peoples through feare of the one and hope of the other But the people of Paradise shall preuaile and shall slay Death betweene Paradise and Hell Abd. Thou O Mahomet hast ouercome and I beleeue that there is but one GOD Almightie and thou art his Messenger and Prophet In this long and tedious Summarie of that longer and more tedious Dialogue compared with the former Iewish opinions touching their Behemoth Leuiathan Ziz Ierusalem Swines flesh the Angell of Death and other their superstitious opinions it may appeare that the Iewes were forward Mint-masters in this new-coyned Religion of Mahomet In the beginning of this Dialogue are mentioned their fiue Prayers and their Ramadam or Ramazan Of which that Arabian Noble-man in confutation of the Alcoran writeth thus He which hath fulfilled these fiue Prayers shall bee praised in this world and in the next They are as follow Two kneelings in the morning after-noone foure at Vespers or a little before Sun-set foure after Sun-set foure at their beginning of supper two and after supper when it is darke two in all eighteene kneelings in a day Their Lent or Fast of the Moneth Ramazan is thus In the day time they must fast from Meate Drinke and Venerie till the Sunne bee downe then is Riot permitted them till a white threed may be discerned from a blacke But if any be sicke or in iourneying he may pay at another time the same number of dayes Sampsates Isphacanes a Persian in a letter written to one Meletius which had conuerted to Christianitie and fled to Constantinople to reduce him to his former vomit alleageth this saying of GOD to Mahomet I haue made all things for thee and thee for mee obiecteth to Christians the worship of three Persons the Father Mother and Sonne the worship of many gods And
they march forward on their way From Cairo to Mecca is fortie daies iourney trauelling from two a clocke in the morning till the Sun-rising and then hauing rested till noone they set forward so continuing till night obseruing this order till the end of their voyage without change except at some places where in respect of water they rest sometimes a day and a halfe to refresh themselues The Carouan is diuided into three parts the fore-ward the maine battell and the rere-ward The fore-ward containeth about the third part of the people and amongst these the eight Pilots a Chausi and foure knaues with bulls sinewes which punish offendors on the soles of their feet In the night time they haue foure or fiue men goe before with pieces of drie wood which giue light they follow the Starre as the Mariners Within a quarter of a mile followeth the maine Battell with their Ordnance Gunners and fifteene Archers Spachi The chiefe Physician with his Ointments and Medicines for the sicke and Camels for them to ride on Next goeth the fairest Camell that may be found in the Turkes Dominion decked with cloth of gold and silke and carrieth a little chest made of pure Legmame in forme of the Israelitish Arke containing in it the Alcoran all written with great letters of gold bound betweene two tables of Massie gold This chest is couered with silke during the voyage but at their entring into Mecca and Medina it is couered with cloth of gold adorned with Iewels This Camell is compassed about with Arabian Singers and Musicians singing alway and playing vpon Instruments After this follow fifteene other most faire Camels euery one carrying one of the abouesaid vestures being couered from top to toe with silke Behinde these goe the twentie Camels which carry the Captaines money and prouision After followeth the Standard of the great Signior accompanied with Musicians and Souldiers and behinde these lesse then a mile followeth the rere-ward the greatest part Pilgrimes the Merchants for securitie going before for in this voyage it is needfull and vsuall that the Captaines bestow Presents Garments and Turbants vpon the chiefe Arabians to giue him free passage receiuing sometimes by pilferings some damage notwithstanding They passe by certaine weake Castles in the way Agerut Nachel Acba Biritem betweene which two last is the Riuer of Iethro and the Ponds of Midian where Moses sate down At Iebhir the first Towne subiect to the Seriffo of Mecca they are receiued with much ioy and well refreshed with the plentie which that place yeeldeth They finde other filthy Commodities also more then plentie which fact they hold purgeth them from a multitude of sinnes and encreaseth their deuotion to prosecute the voyage The next day they goe towards Bedrihonem in which place groweth shrubs whereout issueth balme Hereby they lodge one night in memory of a victory here obtained against the Christians at the earnest prayers of their Prophet dreaming of Drums heere still founded by Angels as they passe The next morning by Sun-rising they arriue at Bedrihonem where euery one washed himselfe from top to toe couering their priuities with a cloth and their shoulders with another white one and they which can goe in this habite to Mecca merit more they which cannot make a vow to offer a Ram at the Mountaine of Pardons After this washing it is not lawfull for any man or woman to kill a Flea or Lowse with their hands or nailes till they haue accomplished their Vowes at that Mountaine This night they come within two miles of Mecca The next morning they march on and the Seriffo meeting them resigneth his gouernment to the Captaine during his abode there and the Captaine giueth h m a garment of cloth of gold with other Iewels After this hauing eaten together vpon Carpets and Hides they take with them the gate and garment abouesaid and goe attended but with few to the Mosquita and there cause the old to bee pulled downe and put the new couerture on the house of Abraham and the old vesture is the Eunuches which serue in the said Mosquita which sell it deare to the Pilgrimes euery little piece being accounted a most holy Relique And well may it be so for can you doubt of it putting the same vnder the head of a man at his death all his sinnes must by vertue heereof be pardoned They take away the old doore which is the Seriffoes fee and set in place the new Thus after some Orisons the Captaine returneth to his pauilion the Seriffo remaineth in the Citie That you may be the better acquainted with this Mosquita house of Abraham you are to know that in the middest of the Citie is the great Mosquita built they say in the time when their Prophet liued It is foure-square euery square halfe a mile being in all the circuit two miles in manner of a Cloyster The galleries round about are in manner of foure streets these streets being separated from each other with Pillars of Marble some and some of Lime and Stone In the middest of all separate from the rest is the house of Abraham This Mosquita hath fourescore and nineteene gates and fiue steeples from whence the Talismani call the people to their deuotion And the Pilgrimes which are not prouided of Tents resort hither men and women lying together their House of Prayer becomming a den of Theeues Barthema saith that this Temple is round like the Coliseo at Rome That at euerie entrance is a descent of ten or twelue steps on both sides wherof stand Iewellers which sell gems onely Within it is vaulted gilded and odoriferous beyond what can be spoken for there are foure or fiue hundred men which sell powders to preserue dead corpses and other sweets It seemeth that since his time the temple and house of Abraham are altered This house is foure-square made of speckled stone twentie paces high and fortie in circuit And vpon one side of this house within the wall there is a stone of a span long and halfe a span broad which stone they say fell downe from heauen a voice from heauen at the same fall being heard that wheresoeuer this stone fell there should be built the house of GOD wherein hee will heare the praiers of sinners Then was the Stone as white as snow but now through the kisses of sinners it is become so blacke as it is The entrance into this house is small and high There are without this house one and thirtie pillars of brasse vpon square stones sustaining a threed of Copper reaching from one to another on which are fastened many burning Lampes The founder of these was Solyman Being entred into this house through that difficult passage there stand two pillars of Marble at the entrance in the middest are three of Aloes-wood couered with tyles of India of a thousand colours which serue to vnder-prop the Terratza or roofe It is so darke that they can hardly see within for
reported to me they haue a superstitious custome at Cairo of carrying the leg of Mahomets Camell as they affirme in a Coach the women in zeale of their blinde deuotion hurling their Shashes to receiue thence some holy and blessed touch for their Mahumeticall edification as the Papists ascribe no small holinesse to the touch of our Ladies Image at Loretto with their beades or other implements of their superstition as my friend Mr. Barkley an eye-witnesse hath told me Maruell much we may that the Souldiers which crucified Christ and parted his garments by lot and Iudas which kissed him and the Deuill also which carried his bodie out of the wildernesse and set it on a pinacle of the Temple did not from such holy touches acquire much holinesse But here a good intent was wanting which though the Mahumetans haue yet a Camels leg is not so holy as our Ladies Image Grant it but they pretend Tradition and Deuotion no lesse then these and otherwise there is as little warrant for that house and Image of our Ladie that they are true as of the other Blessed VIRGIN whom all generations call blessed and iustly admire for that holinesse which with thankefulnesse to God and charitie to man wee are to imitate then these stones and blockes should thus vsurpe thy name and in a worse sacriledge diuine worship yea more then those holies of diuine institution which were so farre from conueying holinesse by touching that being themselues touched by any vncleane thing they receiued thence infection of vncleannesse And if Christ himselfe should thus be honoured where in all the Christian world are such Vowes Pilgrimages and Deuotions in his name as here to the supposed Ladie of Loretto As if they would rather be Mariani then Christiani in their Religion But who brought vs now to Loretto Nay who can but in reading the one thinke of the other both being frequented so generally in Pilgrimages Offerings and I know not what superstitions Only in this is Loretto worse that it abuseth more holy names of God and his Saints to like vnholy holies But of this subiect that Reuerend and learned Deane Dr. Sutcliffe hath largely and learnedly written both in confutation of that impious Pamphlet of Giffords Caluino-Turcismus and plainely paraleling the Mahumetans and Turkes in verie many points of their Religions To him I referre the industrious Reader Yea the verie Narration of the Saracenicall and Turkish Rites by vs in this Booke shall bee sufficient to them which know the Popish in many things to discerne and acknowledge the Kindred and like hellish descent both like Sampsons Foxes hauing their tayles knit together with fire-brands which both fill and emptie the world with their flames howsoeuer their heads looke contrarie one toward Christ the other toward Mahomet That which I speake of Popish I vnderstand of that which our Aduersaries maintaine by authoritie not from Scriptures or the ancient Councels and Fathers but from the Popes pretended Supremacie and visible Monarchie as Head and Vice-God in the Church the Alcoran whereof is his Decretals Extrauagants Consistorie Constitutions and such Canons as their holy Ghost sent from Rome in a boxe lately thundered at Trent besides and against the Canonicall Scripture which holy men of God writ as they were moued by the holy Ghost But let vs backe to Medina On the other side of the Citie are Tombes of the holy Mahumetans Abubachar Ottoman Omar which Bartema saith were buried in the same Temple with Mahumet and all vnder the earth A daies iourney from Medina is a steepe mountaine hauing no passage but one narrow path which was made by Hali who fleeing from the pursuing Christians and hauing no way of escape drew out his sword and diuided this mountaine and so saued his life The Captaine at his returne to Cairo is with a sumptuous Feast receiued of the Basha and presented with a garment of cloth of gold he againe presenteth the Alcoran out of the chest to the Basha to kisse and then it is laid vp againe By this time your pilgrimage hath more then wearied you I haue made bold to trouble you a little longer with this argument of Mahomets Meccan Pilgrimage out of the Maronites collection from Arabike Authors Mecca chiefe Citie of Arabia Deserta is called also in the Alcoran Becca the holy Citie of the Moslemans both for Mahomeds reuelations there had and for the Temple especially called by them Kabe or The Square House which they fable was first built by Angels and often visited by Adam himselfe and lest it should bee destroied by the Floud was lifted vp to the sixth Heauen called Dar-assalem The habitation of peace after the Floud Abraham built another house like to the former by the shadow thereof sent from heauen to him Thus writeth Iacub Ben-Sidi Aali This is a Chappell not very large of square figure open with foure Gates by one of which the Ministers haue accesse the other are opened but once in the yeere It glittereth all with Gold and is couered with vests of Gold an encompassed with elegant Iron-worke to keepe off neere commers No man may enter it but certaine Elders which haue long beards to their breasts and remaine there night and day Neere to this Chappel is a large marble Floore adorned about with eight huge Lights and sixe and thirtie Lamps of Gold perpetually burning Three pathes leade thereto whereon men and women goe bare-foot to the Chappel which they compasse seuen times with great reuerence mumbling their deuotions kisse the corners sigh and implore the aide of Abraham and Mohamed Round about all this space is a stately building of very elegant structure as it were a wall in which are numbred sixteene principall Gates to goe in and out where hang innumerable Lamps and Lights of incredible greatnesse Within this space betwixt the rewes of Pillars are Shops of Sellers of Gemmes Spices Silkes in incredible store from India Arabia Aethiopia that it seemes rather the Mart of the World then a Temple Here doe men kisse and embrace with great zeale a certaine stone which they call Hagiar Alasuad or The Blacke stone which they say is a Margarite of Paradise the light whereof gaue lustre to all the Territorie of Mecca Before this saith Iacub Ben-Sidi Aali Mohamed commanded to weepe to aske God pardon for sinnes and to crie with sighs and teares for ayde against their enemies After they haue visited that Chappel and the Stone they goe to another large Chappel within the Temple where is the Well called Zam Zam which is saith the said Author the Well which flowed from the feet of Ismael when hee was thirstie and wept which Hagar first seeing cried out Zam Zam in the Coptite or old Aegyptian Tongue that is Stay stay There are many which draw water thence and giue to the Pilgrimes who are commanded to wash therewith their bodie and head three times to drinke thereof and if they can to carrie some of
writ seuen bookes reconciling these Sect ries and the Lawyers together which reconciliation continued till the comming of the Tartars and Asia and Afrike was full of these Reformers of their Law In old time none but learned men might be admitted Professors hereof but within these last hundred yeeres euery ignorant Idiot professeth it saying That learning is not necessary but the holy Spirit doth reueale to them which haue cleane hearts the knowledge of the truth These contrary to the Alcoran sing loue-songs and dances with some phantasticall extasies affirming themselues to be rauished of diuine loue These are great gluttons they may not marry but are reputed Sodomites The same our Author writeth of some which teach that by good workes fasting and abstinence a man may attaine a Nature Angelicall hauing his minde so purified that he cannot sinne although he would But he must first passe through fifty degrees of Discipline And although he sinne before hee be past these fifty degrees yet GOD doth not impute it to him These obserue strange and inestimable Fasts at the first after they liue in all pleasures of the world Their rule was written in foure volumes by a learned and eloquent man Esschrauar and by Ibnul-farid another Author in exact and most learned Verse That the Spheres Elements Planets and Starres are one God and that no Faith nor Law can be erroneous because that all men in their mindes intend to worship that which is to bee worshipped And they beleeue that the knowledge of GOD is contained in one man who is called Elcorb elected and partaker of GOD and in knowledge as GOD. There are other forty men amongst them called Elauted that is Dunces because of their lesse knowledge When the Elcorb or Elcoth dyeth his Successour is chosen out of these and into that vacant place of the fortie they chuse one out of another number of seuentie They haue a third inferiour number of a hundred threescore and fiue their Title I remember not out of which they chuse when any of the threescore and tenne die Their Law or Rule enioyneth them to wander through the World in manner of Fooles or of great Sinners or of the vilest amongst men And vnder this cloke many are most wicked men going naked without hiding their shame and haue to deale with women in the open and common streets like beasts Of this base sort are many in Tunis and farre more in Egypt and most of all in Cairo I my selfe saith our Author in Cairo in the street called Bain Elcasraim saw one of them with mine eyes take a beautifull Dame comming out of the Bath and laid her downe in the middest of the street and carnally knew her and presently when hee had left the woman all the people ranne to touch her clothes because a holy man had touched them And they said that this Saint seemed to doe a sinne but that hee did it not Her husband knowing of it reckoned it a rare fauour and blessing of GOD and made solemne feasting and gaue almes for that cause But the Iudges which would haue punished him for the same were like to bee slaine of the rude multitude who haue them in great reputation of sanctitie and euery day giue them gifts and presents There are another sort that may be termed Caballists which fast strangely not doe they eate the flesh of any creature but haue certaine meates ordained and appointed for euery houre of the day and night and certain particular praiers according to the dayes and months numbring their said Prayers and vse to carry vpon them some square things painted with Characters and Numbers They affirme that the good Spirits appeare and acquaint them with the affayres of the world An excellent Doctor named Boni framed their rule and prayers and how to make their squares and it seemeth to me who haue seene the worke to be more Magicall then Cabalasticall One booke sheweth their prayers and fastings the second their square the third the vertue of the fourescore and ninteene names of GOD which I saw in the hand of a Venetian Iew at Rome There is another rule in these Sects called Suuach of certaine Hermites which liue in Woods and solitary places feeding on nothing but hearbs and wilde fruites and none can particularly know their life because of this solitarinesse Thus farre Leo. Beniamin Tudelensis telleth of a Nation neere to Mount Libanus which hee calleth Hhassissin which varied from the ordinary sort of Ismalites and followed a peculiar Prophet of their owne whose word they obeyed whether for life or for death They called him Hheich al Hhassissin his abode was at Karmos They were a terror to all about them sawing asunder euen the Kings if they tooke any They warred with the Frankes the Christians which then held Ierusalem and the King of Tripolis Their dominion extended eight dayes iourney Zachuth mentioneth one Baba which about the 630. yeere of the Hegira fained himselfe a Prophet sent of God vnder which colour hee gathered together a great Armie wherewith he filled all Asia with slaughter and spoile slaying Christians and Ismaelits without difference till Giatheddin King of Gunia ouerthrew and destroyed him and his Host Besides the former they haue other Heremites of another sort one is mentioned by Leo who had fiue hundred Horse a hundred thousand Sheepe two hundred Beeues and of offerings and almes betwixt foure and fiue thousand Duckets his fame great in Asia and Afrike his Disciples many and fiue hundred people dwelling with him at his charges to whom he enioyneth not penance nor any thing but giueth them certaine names of God and biddeth them with the same to pray vnto him so many times a day When they haue learned this they returne home he hath a hundred Tents for strangers his Cattell and Family hee hath foure wiues besides slaues and by them many children sumptuously apparrelled His fame is such that the King of Telensin is afraide of him and he payeth nothing to any such veneration haue they towards him reputing him a Saint Leo saith hee spake with him and that this Heremite shewed him Magick-bookes and he thought that this his great estimation did come by false working of the true science so the Heremite termed Magicke But these Heremites we cannot so well reckon a Sect as a Religious Order of which sort there are diuers in these Mahumetane Nations as in our ensuing discourse shall appeare To returne therefore to the consideration of the meanes vsed to preuent the varietie of Sects among them The Caliphs sought to remedie these inconueniences by their best policie Moaui about the yeere of our Lord 770. assembled a generall Councell of their learned men to consult about an Vniformity but they disagreeing among themselues hee chose six men of the most learned and shut them vp in a house together with their Scriptures commanding them that out of those Copies disagreeing as you haue heard they should
Christians more vnnatural against his brother but most most vnnatural and monstrous against his sonne Selym. His conquests were in Cilicia Caramania and Peloponnesus Selym not content to haue thrust his father out of the Throne aspired to a further effect of aspiring ambition depriuing him of life from whom himselfe had receiued it To this end he corrupted a Iew Baiazets Physician whom Knolles calleth Hamon but Menauino an eye-witnesse nameth him Vstarabi who with the powder of beaten Diamonds poysoned him and for reward when hee claymed Selyms promise had his head stricken off in the Tyrants presence So much did he hate the Traytor whose treason he so much loued The body of Baiazet was embalmed and interred at Constantinople in a beautifull Sepulchre neere to the Meschit which himselfe had built and Priests were appointed which should euery day pray for his soule Two of his Pages did Selym put to death for wearing blacke and mourning apparell for their Masters death and three others whereof Menauino was one hardly by intreatie of Selyms daughters and some Bassaes escaped This Viper that spared not his father proceeded with bloudie hands to make an end of the rest of his Ottoman-kindred beginning with fiue sonnes of his brethren and adding the remnant as hee could bring them into his power And hauing thus founded his Throne in bloudie cruelties of his owne at home no maruell if abroad his proceedings were no lesse cruell and bloudie towards his enemies Of whom the first which offered himselfe after his domesticall warres appeased was Ismael the Sophie who with thirtie thousand Persian Horse-men gaue battell to Selym notwithstanding his three hundred thousand Turks where was fought in Armenia neere Coy a terrible and mortall battell betwixt them the Turkes at last very hardly preuailing by helpe of their great Ordnance but so little cause had they to reioyce of their victorie that this is reckoned among the dismall and disastrous dayes termed by the Turkes The onely day of Doome The next yeere he entred againe into the Persian Confines and there tooke Ciamassum ouerthrew Aladeules the Mountaine King who raigned in Taurus and Antitaurus and slew him But his most fortunate attempts were against Campson Gaurus the Egyptian Soldan and his forces of Mamalukes whom by his multitudes notwithstanding their fame and valour not inferiour to any Souldiors of the world hee ouercame the Soldan himselfe being left dead in the place August 7. 1516. Neither had Tomumbeius his Successor any better successe but succeeded as wel in his fortune as to his Scepter who by treason of his owne and power of his enemy lost both his life and Kingdome all Egypt and Syria therby accrewing to the Ottoman Selym from thenceforth purposing to turne his forces from the Sunne-rising against the Christians in the West came to his owne Sunne-set the period of his raigne and life a miserable disease as an angrie Pursuiuant exacting and redemanding his bloudie cruell spirit an implacable officer of that implacable Tyrant to Tyrants and Prince of Princes Death who at last conquered this Conquerour or rather if his Epitaph written on his Tombe say true conueied him hence to seeke new Conquests His disease was a Canker in the backe eating out a passage for his viperous soule which made him rot while he liued and become a stinking burthen to himselfe and others He died in September 1520. hauing before bequeathed bloudshed and desolation to the Christians and ordained Solyman his sonne and heire executour of that his hellish Testament And further to excite him thereunto had left him the liuely counterfeit of himselfe with sundrie bloudie Precepts annexed His title therein written was Sultan Selym Othoman King of Kings Lord of all Lords Prince of all Princes Sonne and Nephew of God Wee may adde Heire apparant to the Deuill that breathed his last in bloud resembling him that was a Murtherer from the beginning CHAP. IX A Continuation of the Turkish Warres and Affaires together with the succession of the Great Turkes till this present yeere 1616. §. I. Of SOLYMAN the Magnificent SOLYMAN sir-named the Magnificent succeeded his Father Selym in place and surmounted him exceedingly in exploits Belgrade which ominous name did presage happinesse vnto him in his Warres and proceedings was the beginning of his Conquests wonne by the Turkes August 29. 1521. Rhodes receiueth him on Christmasse day 1522. but withall exileth both Cheere Christmasse and Christians Hee inuadeth Hungarie and in the field discomfiteth and killeth Lewes and slayeth or captiueth two hundred thousand Hungarians in that expedition 1526. Hee entereth Hungarie the second time 1529. and after some butcheries therein marcheth to Vienna in Austria where he lost fourescore thousand of his Turkes and then with shame anger returned In the yeere 1532. he returneth with an Armie of fiue hundred thousand men to whom Charles the fifth opposed himselfe and the Christian forces in greater numbers then hath in many ages been seene mustering in his Armie at Vienna two hundred and threescore thousand men whereof fourescore and ten thousand Foot-men and thirtie thousand Horse-men were old Souldiers to whom Solyman did not nor durst not bid battell Poore Hungarie rues in meane while whether he getteth or loseth in Austria being made his thorow-fare as he went and came After this he trieth his successe against the Persian where hee taketh Tauris and Babylon with the Countries of Assyria and Media Anno 1534. each of which had sometimes beene Ladie of the World At incredible costs he prepared a Fleet in the Red Sea 1537. and taking Aden and Zibyth two petie Kingdomes in Arabia by his forces besieged Dium a Castle of the Portugals in the East-Indies but without his wished successe For the Portugals still retaine their Indian-Seas and Traffique and not onely freed that their Castle from Turkish bondage but had meanes to fortifie it better by the Ordnance which the Turkes in their hastie flight had left behinde A more dangerous plot did Solyman meane while contriue against Christendome preparing his forces to inuade Italy and to that end was come to Aulona an Hauen in Macedonia with two hundred thousand Souldiers where Barbarussa and Lutzis Bassa his great Admirall met him with his Fleet to transport his Armie But Solyman first employed these Sea-forces on the coast of Italy and tooke Castrum his Horse-men which he had sent ouer in great Palendars carried away the people cattell and substance betwixt Brundusium and Tarentum fortie miles space all the countrey of Otranto terrified with feare of a greater tempest But the Venetians turned it from the rest of Italy vpon themselues notwithstanding their league by vnseasonable exacting of that Sea-courtesie the vayling of the bonnets or top sayles of some Turkish Gallies vnto them as Lords of that Sea for which neglect some of them were sunke Auria also the Emperours Admirall had surprised some of the Turkes stragling Fleet and
the Ianizaries of Aleppo and Damasco but death stayed him not his rebellion which a younger brother of his prosecuted against whom Hassan Bassa was sent but lost himselfe and his Armie The Rebels besieged Angole and forced them to giue two hundred thousand Duckets to buy their peace Meane while the Ianizaries after their insolent manner in a mutinie forced Mahomet to commit the Capi-Aga one of his greatest Officers and some others to whom the successe of these Rebels was imputed to their cruell execution The Rebels sacked Burze one of the chiefe Cities the Turkes Store-house for his Warres and and Treasurie for his reuenues and the great Shaugh of Persia had taken Corberie also from the Turkes The Gouernour of Babylon inclined now also to the Rebels Mahomet not able with force to preuaile by faire meanes sought to winne them and gaue them their demands making Zellalie one of their Chiefetaines Bassa of Bosna Whereupon his men of warre entered into a resolution to depriue him of the State and to inuest therewith Mahomet his eldest sonne about which an Astrologian being consulted promised all happie successe vnhappie foole that knew not his owne approching ruine which Mahomet executed on him together with young Mahomet the Prince and fiftie other conspirators He sent forth a Fleet of gallies against the King of Fesse which hauing encountred with a tempest was forced with a great losse to retire to their former Port. The chiefe rebel making shew he would come into Europe as Zellaly had done Mahomet sent certain gallies to receiue him but hee receiued them and possessing himselfe of the gallies slew the men and mocked the Sultan Hassan a great Bassa ioyned himselfe also vnto them about such time as Tauris was againe recouered by the Persian All these disasters draue Mahomet to his deuotions for refuge accounting these crosses to be inflicted for his sinnes and therefore appointed publike Prayers in all the Mosques of his dominion and sent two Priests bare-headed and bare-footed to Mecca on pilgrimage to pray for him But not Mahomet either had no eares to heare this or else was so farre entreated as to be better acquainted with this great Sultan in the place of his eternall residence whither about the yeere 1603. Mahomet the Turke was by death soone after sent His sonne Achmat succeeded for his eldest was strangled in his sight He was buried in a faire Chappell by himselfe for that purpose built about fiftie foot square with foure Turrets or Steeples in the middest is his Sepulchre in a great Coffin of white Marble his Turbant at his head two exceeding great Candles of white Waxe standing but neuer burning the one at his head the other at his feet The floore is couered with Mats and faire Carpets on them Round about are like Tombes for his wiues and children but not so great and faire Diuers such Chappels there are neere to the Temple of Sophia as of his father Amurath with his fiue and fortie children entombed about him and of the other great Sultans two Selyms Solyman Baiazet Mahomet each hauing a faire Hospitall for the reliefe of the poore adioyning Some of the great Bassaes imitate the same No other Turkes are buried in the Cities but in the fields with stones laid ouer or set vpright fashioned with some resemblance of the head which beareth ensigne of his dignitie whether it be a man or woman with letters engrauen further to testifie the same §. IIII. Of ACHMET ACHMAT set a sure guard about his brother and to preuent the insolencie of the Ianizaries and Souldiers distributed amongst them two millions and a halfe and being fifteene yeeres old was crowned Emperour He is said in behauiour and resemblance much to resemble Mahomet the Great first Conquerour of Constantinople At the same time the warres in Transyluania had procured such famine that rootes herbes leaues of trees were their food yea a mother is said to haue brought backe into her wombe by vnnaturall meanes satisfying Nature her six children two men to eate their mother others to cut downe malefactors from the gallowes and eate them Horses Dogs Cats and such like were rarities to the poore and dainties beyond their reach And if the State can be made worse theeues by robberies and Souldiers by continuall spoyles in taking away their goods adde to their miseries Cicala Bassa is sent against the Asian Rebels and receiueth an ouerthrow the second time he reneweth his forces with renewing his fortunes namely the losse of thirtie thousand of his men The Persian recouered the Countrie of Sirvan and the Citie of Arusta with the Countrie thereabouts and all that from the daies of Solyman had beene taken from them except two or three places Hassan Bassa is sent against the Christians in Hungarie assisted with the Tartars alwayes readie to helpe the Turkes both because they are linked in marriages like in conditions and that huge Empire for want of heires male of the Ottomans is entailed to the Tartar Cham pay and spoile are no small motiues also to fetch them into these Expeditions Cicala Bassa is sent against the Persians but defeated with all his power by the Persian In Hungarie they doe more with their money to maintaine rebellions then with open force In the yeere 1605. a tumult arose among the Ianizaries in Constantinople and fiue hundred shops and ware-houses with two hundred Iewes and other persons to whom they belonged were burnt the Ianizaries enriched themselues with the spoile The Iewes haue made them Vaults made fire-free to preuent the like danger from the Ianizaries who are thought purposely to fire them sometimes and alway haue the office to quench it or pull downe houses in neere danger which they willingly protract or performe in places fittest for pillage Ignis ruina extinguitur the remedie no lesse then the disease Hungarie is at once vexed with forraine and ciuill warres the mutinous Christians doing more harme then the Turkes and the people flee into Polonia or the Mountaines for refuge The Rebels take great Townes yea they spoyle Stiria and Austria The German name growes odious to the Hungarian Botscay chiefe of the Rebels is assisted by the Turkes and called Prince of Transyluania all Hungarie in manner following his ensignes But the Rebels in Asia and the Persian exploits detained the Turkes from making vse of these occasions else likely to haue swallowed Hungarie and Austria both yet Pesth was before taken by them and now Strigonium Cicala Bassa is againe ouerthrowne by the Persian and with three hundred flieth to Adena The Bassa of Trebezond is sent to succour him but is discomfited and almost all his Armie slaine Achmat enraged causeth Cicala Bassaes house at Constantinople full of wealth and treasure to bee rifled Adena is yeelded to the Persian The Bassaes of Damasco and Aleppo had before fallen out taken armes Damasco had ouerthrown Aleppo in the field besieged him and forced him to composition Now
And this they doe foure or fiue times according to the order of their seruice After this they all kneele and prostrate themselues on the ground the Meizin obseruing a long Ceremonie in which with a loud voyce hee prayeth GOD to inspire the Christians Iewes Greekes and generally all Infidels to turne to their Law This being said euery man lifteth his hand to heauen crying aloud Amin Amin and then they touch their eyes to wipe them with their hands which is as crossing among the Papists a blessing of themselues bringing their hands ouer their face and so they depart In the English Treatise of the Turkish Policie these things are related with some other Ceremonies as that they say together with the Priest the first Azoara or Chapter of the Alcoran c. Bartholomaeus Georgiouitz saith that onely the chiefe sort are bound to assemble to the daily deuotions which they obserue fiue times a day others which cannot spare the times are not tyed On their Sabbaths it is otherwise §. IIII. Of their Sabbaths and of their Lent and Easter THE women enter not their Mesquitas but on Fridayes at nine a clocke or at Easter and then they are in a Gallery or Terasse apart where they may see and not bee seene and this is not common to all but the wiues and mothers of the chiefe of the place And as we haue said of the Priest so it is to be vnderstood that all the men and women there doe the same without failing in any point They suffer not a Christian to enter therein and yet will they enter into the Churches of the Christians to heare the Church-musicke The women abide in their Churches from nine of the clocke to midnight continually praying with certaine motions and strange cries continuing so long in this act that they fall vpon the ground as in a swoune through wearinesse and if any feele her selfe at that time to bee with childe the Turkes hold that they are conceiued by the holy Ghost and presently vow that childe to God and call such Nefecs Ogli that is sonnes of the holy Ghost And on Friday at nine or ten of the clocke the Priest vseth to preach to the people and these their discourses last aboue two houres That which is said is not verie manifest yet they say that he preacheth the miracles of Mahomet sometime exalting their faith sometime commending obedience and sometime rehearsing fabulous tales to terrifie the bad as that such mens soules are carried of certaine Camels there being some sixe thousand flying about in the ayre for this purpose into the Sepulchres of wicked Christians and that the good Christians are put in their emptie Sepulchres inueighing against the blasphemers of Mahomet Christ and the Saints exhorting to Almes rehearsing their commandements of the law And if they preach scandalous doctrine the Mufti and the Cadlilescher depriue them and correct them as Heretikes yea some of them for preferring Christ before Mahomet are put to death of which one Ibraim Schec a Priest of Constantinople reported to haue wrought miracles amongst the Turkes in the dayes of Soliman was stoned to death his head cut off and his bodie burned of his Disciples some were beheaded others thrust into the Gallies for preferring Christ and denying Mahomet And were it not for the terrour of the sword there would be more innouations of religion and some haue perswaded the Grand Signior not to suffer the Alcoran to bee so common to be read and interpreted of euerie one guiltie of the absurdities therein contained But to returne After this preaching ended two young Clerkes goe vp to him and sing certaine prayers which ended the Priest againe beginneth to sing with the people in a base voyce with wrigling euery way for the space of halfe an houre saying nothing but Lailla illellah that is there is but one God And these Ceremonies are done onely on their Lenten Fridayes Their Lent is one Moone or Moneth in the yeere which if this yeere it be Iuly the next it shall bee August and so in order that in twelue yeeres they haue fasted all times of the yeere making no other difference of meates then at other times but eating onely in the night They prepare themselues by diminishing their fare not as the Christians at Shrouetide that they may the better endure it for on the day in which they fast they will not so much as taste a cup of water or wash their mouthes therewith till the Starres appeare And eight or ten dayes after it beginneth some Officers ride about the towne crying Such a day beginneth the Fast prepare yee prepare yee and when it is begun the Cadi and Subassi if they finde any shops open or any body eating in the day set him on an Asse backwards with the tayle in his hand as Adulterers are punished and to drinke wine at this time is death Neither will they suffer Iewes or Christians to scandalize their Turkes this way And when their Lent is neere the end they goe all to the Baths and plucke off all their haires but of the head and beard with an oyntment for that purpose they colour their nayles red with an enduring colour called Chua with which they dye also the tayles and feet of their horses and the women their hands feet and priuie parts This they doe in honour of their solemnitie which lasteth three daies with great feasting in which nothing else but meates and drinkes may be sold They goe to the Sepulchres of the dead there to eate full of gladnesse and salute each other saying Baaram glutiotzong that is God giue you a good Feast and if they meete with a Iew or a Christian woe vnto them On the first day of their Bairam the Sultan rideth to S. Sophia with all pompe and then did we see saith Master Sandys a sight full of horror many mourne with age yet dead before death and reuolting from their Christianitie therefore throwing away their bonets and lifting vp their fore fingers to which the Tyrant bowed himselfe as glorying in such conuersions The Turks keepe another Easter especially in Mecca more solemne to the Tartars Moores and Arabians then to the Turkes except the Pilgrims which resort thither §. V. Of the Turkish Circumcision THE Turkes say they are circumcised because they are the sonnes of Ismael and because they may be cleane when they goe to their Temples no filth lying hid vnder the skinne At seuen or eight yeeres of age or later this Ceremonie is performed The first thing they doe is to inuite many thither both Turkes Iewes and Christians besides the friends and kindred to make the greater gaine euery one giuing somewhat according to his abilitie When the day is come they which are inuited mount on horse-backe for else it is no solemnitie and goe to the house of the childe who being mounted on a faire horse richly clothed with a great Tulipant on his head
vp the fountaines of teares Euen he which writ the Historie of these things quorum pars magna fuit George Phranza Counseller and great Chancellor to the Emperour might much moue vs with his owne particular himselfe sold to one his wife to another his daughter richly espoused now married to the Seraâ—le-slauerie his sonne slaine with the Sultans owne hand for not being obsequious to his beastly lust if particular and priuate cases could finde any proper place in publike calamities and if the Emperours owne Historie were not as some haue told it more tragicall O Sunne how could thy brightnesse endure to see such hideous spectacles but clouds of shot dust and smoake hid them from thee O Earth which otherwhiles at that time of the yeere deckest thy selfe with thy fairest roabes embroidered with varietie of flowers how wast thou then couered with dead carkasses and furrowed with rills of bloud O GOD that the sinnes of man should thus prouoke thy iustice by vniust and sinfull instruments to punish iniustice and sinne and to chastise thy Christian seruants by Antichristian and deuillish enemies Iust art thou O Lord and iust are thy iudgements which in iudgement remembrest mercy which sauest the soules of thine in and by the affliction of their bodies but wilt cast this Rod of thy wrath into a fire that neuer shall be quenched But mee thinkes I heare some excepting at this long digression and quarrelling at this Tragedie in stead of the proceeding Historie Shall I craue pardon Or shall I rather desire the Reader a little to consider with mee in this narration of Constantinople as the Map and Epitome of Easterne Christendome the miserable and perplexed estate of all Easterne Christians by like meanes brought and trampled vnder the feet of the Ottoman Horse The larger storie of their rites and opinions is reserued to another taske this I haue propounded as the glasse of their miseries that being now to take leaue of the Turkes wee might not so much honour them with this peale of Rhetorical Ordnance as by this mirror of miserie be touched with feare in our selues for like punishments if in time we meet not God with repentance and remembring the afflictions of Ioseph to pray for those our brethren that God would haue mercy on them and giue them patience and in his time deliuerance They which would take more view of the miseries of Christians vnder the Turke may in Viues Georgiouitz Septemcastrensis and others read them for mee the parallels of the Turkish and Christian Hirarchy was some occasion of this digression touching which let mee borrow a few words with our Reader Mahomet the Conqueror for the repeopling of the Citie pretended great fauour to the Christians gaue them licence to elect a new Patriarch whom he honoured with the wonted rites and solemnities and vouchsafed to conferre with him about the Christian mysteries for his mother was a Christian and he himselfe addicted to studies of learning being skilfull in the Greeke Chaldee Persian Latin Arabike besides his Turkish languages professing knowledge also in Astrologie and receiued at the hands of this Patriarch his name was Gennadius a large treatise thereof yet extant in Greeke and Turkish and gaue him diuers priuiledges But things fained cannot continue and partly through his owne couetousnesse partly through the ambition and disagreeing of the Clergie heauie fines were imposed on them and the Seat receiued in his time nine successions and eight in the raigne of Baiazet his sonne and so groneth vnder that burthen to this day And howsoeuer the Patriarch enioyeth Spirituall and Ecclesiasticall respect amongst the Christians yet is hee contemned of the Turkes some of them vpbraiding both him and other Christians with the names of dogs Ethnicks vnbeleeuers and the like zealous Rhetorick nor is he admitted a roome amongst the Bassaes except when he brings his tribute of 4000. duckets with almost as much besides to the Bassaes and other officers In his Monastery and Patriarchiall Church and Palace are no Bishops or great Prelates nourished but a few Monks and some Lay-officers and Counsellors Hee sometimes but seldome preacheth on some chiefe Feasts at the Consecration of some Bishop or Archbishop and very little preaching they haue amongst them and that which is in the old pure Greeke which very few of them vnderstand thinking it sufficient if two or three of their audience conceiue them and very few can preach They haue not the Scriptures in the vulgar Greeke The reuenue of the Patriarch is about 20000. Dollers They gather much in their Churches and hee sendeth his Collector to gather abroad and the other Prelates pay an annuitie to him To preuent abuses from Turkes he hath a Ianizarie or two at the Church-doore in the time of the Lyturgie They reade in their Churches great Legends of the lies of Saints as well as the Papists Their Religion is almost altogether in rites like the other The difference betweene new and old Rome was one principall occasion of the losse of Constantinople as appeareth by the Emperour Iohn his going to Rome to sollicite ayde which had been giuen him but for refusing a Papall ceremonie and the proceedings of the Councell of Florence The Patriarkes of Alexandria Antiochia and Ierusalem acknowledge this of Constantinople Oecumenicall and his iurisdiction extendeth through Asia Minor the Archipelago Greece Mysia Walachia Moldavia Dalmatia Russia and Muscouia The Calogeri or Monkes haue their Gardens and Vineyards which they till and dresse with their owne hands to sustaine themselues The other Patriarchs also pay a yeerely tribute to the Turke The Priests are poore and liue of Almes and the prices of their holies which are most gainefull in exequies The Laitie is no lesse miserable for the most part of spare diet but giuen to drinking Both Iewes and Christians pay for themselues and euery of their Children aboue twelue yeeres old a Ducket by the poll and much more for the maintenance of the Nauie besides their tribute-children for Ianizaries The Greekes are ignorant and vnlearned and haue exiled in a blinde zeale Poeticall and Philosophicall Authors for feare of pollution to their studies And as Simeon Cabasilas writ to Crusias they haue about seuentie Dialects of the Moderne Greeke tongue the purest of which is at Constantinople the most barbarous of all O Times at Athens O ATHENS before called 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 The Greece of Greece and that which the sight is in the eye that which the minde is in the soule such was Athens in Greece Seat of the Muses Graces Empire Arts O ATHENS but I am forced silence Let Zygomal an eye-witnesse speake There now saith hee remaines no more but the skin thereof her selfe is long since dead the True Athens and Helicon are come into our Westene parts And how can any of them labour in learning which must labour to liue Necessitie hath no law no learning Euen we here now behold a
the Mountayne and left a spacious way by which they with all their substance passed Westward Hence it is that the Tartars ascribe some happinesse to the number of nine and hee that will offer a present to any Tartarian Signor must offer nine things which custome they vse in their tributes vnto this day as Master Ienkinson found by experience to his cost Cangius after many aduentures and many lawes which of him were called Iasack Cangis Can hauing first perswaded his twelue sons wherein I thinke his nephewes were also reckoned to concord bidding each of them to bring him an arrow which together none of them ; asunder the least of them might easily breake hee dyed This Historie of Cingis or Cangius I haue thus fully related for knowledge both of the beginnings of their State and Religion and if these Visions seeme fabulous yet might Cingis in his subtilty deale with them as Mahomet with his Arabians or Numa with the Romans the one making Gabriel the other Aegeria Authors of their policies and what hee in part pretended might by Fame and Time be augmented Although I see not but that this History of Cingis may as well be credited as that of Alexander in Iosephus to whom appeared one in the habite of the Iewish High Priest commanding him to vndertake that enterprise with promise of assistance for which cause he whom the World worshipped as a King and as a God did worship himselfe prostrate before Iaddus the High Priest And the same Author also saith that the Pamphylian Sea diuided it selfe to giue way vnto his Macedonian Souldiers hauing no other way to destroy the Empire of the Persians To returne to our Fryer with whom we began he reporteth that Cingis after his victorie against the Naimani warred vpon the Kythayans where hee was ouerthrowne and all the Nobles except seuen slaine Hauing breathed himselfe a while at home hee inuaded the Huyri a Christian people of the Nestorian Sect whom they ouer-came and receiued of them Letters of which before they were ignorant After them he subdued the Saroyur Karanites and Hudirat This done he waged Warre against the Kythayans or Cathayans whose Emperour he shut vp into his chiefe Citie where Cingis besieged him till that Victuall fayling in his Campe he commanded that they should eate euery tenth man of the Armie They of the Citie fought valiantly with Engines Darts Arrowes and when Stones wanted they threw Siluer especially molten siluer But by vnder-mining the Tartars made way from the Armie into the middest of the Citie where they issued vp and opened the gates by force and slew the Citizens This is the first time that the Emperour of the Kathayans being vanquished Cingis Cham obtayned the Empire The men of Kaytay are Pagans hauing a speciall kinde of writing by themselues and as it is reported the Scriptures of the Old and New Testament They haue also recorded in Histories the liues of their fore-fathers and they haue Eremites and certayne houses made after the maner of our Churches which in those dayes they greatly resorted vnto They say that they haue diuers Saints also and they worship one God They adore and reuerence Christ Iesus our Lord and beleeue the Article of eternall life but are not baptized They doe also honorably esteeme and reuerence our Scriptures They loue Christians and bestow much almes and are a very courteous and gentle people They haue no beards and they agree partly with the Mongals in the disposition of their countenance There are not better Artificers in the world Their Countrey is exceeding rich in Corne Wine Gold Silke and other commodities Of their writing Fryer Bacon from the Relations of W. Rubruquis which liued in his time and Rubruquis himselfe as in the Manuscript thereof appeareth testifie that it was done with pencils and in characters as the Chinois and Iaponites still vse The Iugres write from the top to the bottome of the page and from the left hand to the right the men of Tebeth as wee doe those of Tangat from the right hand to the left but multiply their lines vpwards The Cathayans saith Rubruquis are little men and speake thorow the nose They are good artificers the sonne succeeding in the fathers trade Their Physitians deale with hearbes but not with vrines There were amongst them Nestorians who had a Bishop residing in Segni Their bookes were in Syriake themselues ignorant of that tongue They were drunkards vsurers and some of them had many wiues They washed their lower parts when they entred their Churches they feast and eat flesh on Fridayes as the Saracens Their Bishop visits them scarce once in fiftie yeeres And then all their Males euen infants also are ordred Priests The Idolaters amongst them are more moderate some of which weare yellow broad cowles some are Eremites and leade an austere life in woods and hills Cathaya had not then any vines but they made drinke of Rise wherewith they also tooke a kinde of Apes which would drinke themselues drunken with that pleasant liquor out of whose neckes they tooke the bloud wherewith they died purple After the conquest of Cathay Cyngis sent his sonne Thossut Can for so they termed him also against the people of Comania whom hee vanquished Another sonne he sent against the Indians who subdued India Minor These Indians are the blacke Saracens which are also called Aethiopians Thence hee marched to fight against Christians dwelling in India Maior whose King was commonly called Presbyter Iohn who by a stratageme repelled them out of his dominion In trauelling homewards the said Armie of the Mongals came vnto the Land of Buirthabeth the inhabitants whereof are Pagans and conquered the people in battaile This people haue a strange custome When any mans father dieth hee assembleth all his kindred and they eat him They haue no beards but with an iron instrument plucke out the haires if any grow Cyngis himselfe went vnto the Land of Kergis which they then conquered not And in his returne home his people suffered extreme famine and by chance finding the fresh entrailes of a beast they cast away the dung sod it and brought it before Cyngis and did eate thereof Heereupon Cyngis enacted That neither the bloud nor the entrailes nor any other part of a beast which might bee eaten should be cast away saue onely the dung Hee was afterward slaine by a thunderclap leauing behind him foure sonnes the first Occoday the second Thossut Can the third Thiaday the name of the fourth is not knowne §. III. Of OCCODAY the next Emperour and CVINE CAN. CYNGIS being dead Occoday was chosen Emperour He sent Duke Bathy his nephew the sonne of Thossut Can against the Countrey of Altisoldan and the people called Bisermini who were Saracens but spake the Language of Comania whom hee subdued Thence they marched against Orna a Port Towne on the Riuer Don where were many Gazarians Alanians Russians and Saracens which he drowned
in his Seale ingrauen words of like effect as is alreadie shewed Mandeuill hath the same report Will. de Rubruquis saith that they haue diuided Scythia amongst them from Danubius to the Sunne rising euery Captaine knowing the bounds of his pastures which they feede in the Winter descending Southwards ascending in the Summer Northwards Their houses are moueable remoued on great Carts which containe twentie foot betweene the wheeles their houses on each side ouer-reaching fiue foot drawne by aboue twenty Oxen. When they take them downe they turne the doore alwaies to the South Ouer the Masters head is an Image of Felt called the Masters brother and another ouer the head of the good wife or Mistres called her brother fastened to the wall and betwixt both of them is a little leane one which is the keeper of the whole house Shee hath also at her beds feet a Kids skin filled with wooll and a little Image looking towards the Maidens and Women Next to the doore on the Womens side which is the East as the mans side is on the West there is an Image with a Cowes Vdder for the Women whose office it is to milke the Kine on the other side another with a Mares Vdder for the Men. When they make merrie they sprinkle their drinke vpon these Images in order beginning at the Masters Then goeth a seruant out of the house with a cup full of drinke sprinkling thrice toward the South and bowing the knee at euery time and this is done for the honour of the Fire Then performeth he the like superstition toward the East for the honour of the Ayre next to the West for the honour of Water and lastly to the North in the behalfe of the Dead When the Master holdeth a cup in his hand to drinke before he tasteth thereof hee poureth his part vpon the ground if he drinketh sitting on horse-backe hee first poureth part thereof on the Mane of the Horse After the seruant aforesaid hath discharged his cups to the foure quarters of the world hee returneth to the house and two other seruants stand readie with two cups and two Basons to carry drinke vnto their Maister and that Wife which lay with him the last night sitting together on a bedde Their Sooth-sayers or Inchanters are their Priests To this may bee added out of the Manuscript aboue mentioned their Diuination by three bones thorough which being first burned blacke the Diuinor lookes and if the sight passeth straight and right it is a good token but if it be inwardly crooked or broken hee then vpon this euill presage ceaseth from his enterprise Master Ienkinson trauelled with certaine Tartars which diuined by the blade-bones of sheepe sod and then burnt to powder which being mingled with the bloud of the sheep they writ therewith certaine Characters with diuers words and Ceremonies and thence diuined of their successe which they found true to their cost They vsed Diuination also by foure swords Mangu Can desired a conference betwixt the Christians Saracens and Idolaters to see which of them could make best proofe of his Religion The Moal Tartars professed to beleeue one onely GOD the Author of life and death but as the hand which is one hath diuers fingers so thought he and they that this one GOD was pleased with diuers waies of deuotion Their Priests were diuiners they were many but had one Captaine or chiefe Bishop who alwaies placed his house or tent before that of the great Can about a stones cast distant Hee had charge of the Waine which carried the Idols the other Priests had their places appointed them Some of them were Astrologers specially that High-Priest which foretold the Ecclipses of the Moone All the people prouided them their meat that they might not go out of their Tents When an Ecclipse happens they sound their Organs and Timbrels and make a great noyse and when it is past they make great feasting drinking and mirth They foretell Holy-daies and those which are vnluckie for enterprises No warres are begun or made without their word They cause all presents which are sent to the Can to passe through the fire they purifie the houshold of the dead by the like rite which before may not bee touched On the ninth day of May they assemble all the white Mares and hallow them at which the Christians must be present with their Censors They then cast on the ground new Cosmos and make a great feast They foretell the destinies of Infants newly borne and when one is sicke they diuine by charmes whether the disease bee naturall or proceed of Sorcerie They are themselues Witches Sorcerers Inuokers of the Deuill this they doe in the night setting flesh in the midst of the house readie boiled vsing charmes Timbrells and falling into mad fits are bound Then comes the Deuill and giues them answeres Thus much Rubruquis M. Paulus thus reporteth of their Religion They say that there is a GOD on high in heauen of whom lifting vp their hands smiting their teeth three times together euery day with Censer and Incense they desire health and vnderstanding They place a Table aloft in the wall of their house in the which is written a name that representeth this god They haue another which they call Natigay or Itogay of Felt or other stuffe in euerie house They make him a wife and children and set his wife on the left hand and his children before him which seeme to doe him reuerence This they call the God of earthly things which keepeth their children beasts and corne and when they eat they annoint his mouth with the fat and the mouthes of his wife children and then cast out the broth out of the doore vnto other spirits And when their God hath had his part they take theirs Of this Natigay they with like Ceremonies of lifting vp their hands and smiting of their teeth desire temperature of the ayre fruits of the earth children and such like Their wiues are exceeding chaste and obseruant and though they bee many yet can Rachel and Leah yea ten or twentie of them agree with a maruellous vnion intent vnto their houshold and other businesse whereby they are gainefull and not chargeable to their Husbands When they marry the Husband couenanteth with the Father of the Maide who hauing giuen him power to take her wheresoeuer hee shall finde her hee seeketh her among some of her friends where shee hath then of purpose hidden her selfe and by a kinde of force carrieth her away They marry with any except their owne Mother and Sister Their Widdowe 's seldome marry because of their seruice to their former Husbands in another world except the sonne marrie his fathers wiues or the brother his brothers because they can there in the next world bee content to resigne them to their former Husbands againe The women buy sell and prouide all necessaries into the house the men intending nothing but their Armes
haue heard before in the eight Chapter of this Booke These three sorts of Tartars which we haue hitherto mentioned are all for the most part Mahumetans There are some yet as Michouius affirmeth neere the Caspian Sea which are not Mahumetans nor shaue their haire off their heads after the Tartarian manner and therefore they call them Calmuch or Pagans §. IIII. Of the Cathayan and Mogol Tartars c. THE fourth are those which in greatnesse are first namely the Cathayans called Carabas that is Black-heads of their Turbants as the former Ieselbas But of their Religion further then that which hath beene before expressed we can say little And it seemeth by the relations mentioned in the former Chapters that they are Gentiles or Christians and not of Mahomets errour Chaggi Memet a Persian Merchant related as in part is said before to Ramusius that he had beene at Campion Damir Can then raigning and that vnto Camul the Westerly part of Tanguth they were Idolaters and Ethnikes from thence Westwards Musulmans or Saracens In the Epistle of Carualius the Iesuite it is reported by a Mahumetane Merchant that they were Christians for those reasons is seemes yee haue heard before By Benedictus Goes his obseruations yee haue seen them so deuoted to Mahomet that a tender Lady of the weaker sexe in the strength of sect from the remote parts of Cascar bordering on China visited Mecca in Pilgrimage And their zeale or pretence thereof put him into often perils for his faith shall I say or his goods yet doth he make a difference between the Saracens and the Tartars these it seemes professing robbery and little minding any religion They worship in those parts to the West for that way stands Mecca The fifth and last forme of our Tartars are those which abide in those places whence the Tartars first issued to ouer-whelme all Asia with their Armies of which is related at large in the eleuenth Chapter of which for want of probable intelligence I can say little more Our Maps place there the Hords of the Danites Nephthalites Ciremissians Turbites and other which some deriue from the dispersion as is said of the ten Tribes Here is Tabor also whose King was by Charles the fifth Emperour in the yeere 1540. as before is said burned at Mantua for soliciting to Iuduisme Pope Innocent King Lewes of France by meanes of William de Rubruquis and the King of Armenia solicited as you haue partly heard both the great Can and his chiefe Princes to become Christians and it is likely that the Tartars might if diligence had beene vsed and some Superstitions had not darkened the Christian profession haue thereunto beene perswaded which many also of them were as appeareth in Haiton Mat. Westmonast and Vincentius But the Saracens which had before polluted those Countries where the Mahumetan Tartars now abide by that sutablenesse of their Law to their lawlesse lusts of Rapine and Poligamie preuailed as Michouius reporteth with Bathi and those other Tartars to embrace Mahumet and refuse Christ They say Eissa Rocholla that is Iesus is the Spirit of the Lord Mahomet Rossollai that is Mahomet is the Iustice of GOD. They obey saith hee the Pentateuch of Moses are circumcised obserue the legall Ceremonies they haue no Bels but euery day crie La illo illo loh which signifieth that there is but one GOD. They professe themselues Ismaelites the Christians they call Dzintzis that is Pagans and Gaur Infidels They obserue three Feasts the first Kuiram to which they prepare themselues with their thirtie dayes Lent and in that Feast offer Rammes Birdes c. The second they celebrate for All Soules for which they fast a moneth visit the graues and doe workes of mercie The third they keepe for themselues and their owne saluation and fast twelue dayes Iosafa Barbaro a Venetian which liued among the Tartars about the yeere 1437. saith That they embraced not the faith of Mahomet generally but as euery man liked vntill about that time in the dayes of Hedighi a Captaine vnder Sidahameth Can who first compelled them thereunto being before free vnto their Idolatries if they pleased And of the other Tartars neere the Zagathayans he saith That many of them were Idolaters and carried Idols in the Carts yea some of them vsed to worship whatsoeuer Beast they first met with after they went abroad in the morning This Docter Fletcher reporteth of the Mordiuit Tartars adding that they vse to sweare by it all that day whether it bee Horse Dog or whatsoeuer else And when his friend dieth hee killeth his best Horse and flaying off the skin carrieth it on high vpon a long Pole before the corps to the place of buriall The Moxij at a certaine time in the yeere take a horse which they set in the field with his foure legges tyed to foure posts and his head to another post fastened in the ground This done one of them standing in a conuenient distance shooteth him to the heart Afterwards they flay him and obseruing certaine ceremonies about the flesh eate the same The skin they fill with chaffe and in each of his legges thrust a straight stick that hee may stand vpright as if hee were aliue Lastly they goe to a great Tree and loppe there from as many boughes as they thinke good and make a Roome or Sollar in that tree where they set this horse on his feet and worship him offering vnto him Foxes and diuers Beasts which beare rich Furres of which offerings the Trees hang full Master Ienkinson mentioneth a Nation liuing among the Tartars called Kings which are also Gentiles as are also the Kirgessen of whom wee haue spoken and the Colmackes which worship the Sunne as they doe also a redde Cloth fastened to the toppe of a Pole and eate Serpents Wormes and other filth Neere to which hee placeth in his Mappe of Russia certaine Statues or Pillars of Stone which sometime were Hords of Men and Beasts feeding transformed by diuine power if it bee not humaine errour into this stonie substance retayning their pristine shape These Nations are eyther Tartars or in manner of life like vnto them and may therefore passe vnder that generall appellation And this may suffice touching the Tartarian Nation and Religion which in the West and South parts of their abode is Mahumetane in the more Northerly and Easterly partly Heathenish partly Iewish or Moorish or mixed or as may best aduantage them and most please them wandring in opinion in like sort as in their habitation Doctor Fletcher reckons these things as generall to all the Hords of Tartars First to obey their Magistrates whatsoeuer they command about the publike seruice Secondly Except for the pulique behoofe euery man to bee free and out of controlement Thirdly No priuate man to possesse any Lands but the whole Countrey to bee common Fourthly To neglect all daintinesse and varietie of meates and to content themselues with that which commeth next to
hand Fifthly To weare any base attire and to patch their clothes whether there bee any need or not Sixthly to take or steale from any stranger whatsoeuer they can get Seuenthly Towards their owne to bee true in word and deede Eightly To suffer no stranger to come within their Dominion but the same to bee slaue to the first taker except they haue a Pasport But by this time I thinke the Reader will wish mee their pasport to bee gone from them who haue shewed my selfe no Tartarian whilest I dwell so long on this Tartarian discourse happily herein as tedious to him as staying in one place would be to the Tartar a thing so abominable as in anger he wisheth it as a Curse Would GOD thou mayest abide in one place as the Christian till thou smell thine owne dung Indeed this Historie not throughly handled before by any one drew me along and I hope will purchase pardon to this prolixitie CHAP. XVI Of the Nations which liued in or neere to those parts now possessed by the Tartars and their Religions and Customes FRom those Countries inhabited by the Persians and Zagathayan Tartars Eastward we cannot see with M. Paulus his eyes the best guides wee can get for this way any Religion but the Saracen till we come to Bascia a Prouince somewhat bending to the South the people whereof are Idolaters and Magicians cruell and deceitfull liuing on Flesh and Rice Seuen dayes iourney from hence is Chesmur wickedly cunning in their deuillish Art by which they cause the dumbe Idols to speake the day to growe darke and other maruellous things being the wel-spring of Idols and Idolatrie in those parts They haue Heremites after their Law which abide in their Monasteries are very abstinent in eating and drinking containe their bodies in straight chastitie and are very carefull to abstaine from such sinnes wherewith they thinke their Idols offended and liue long There are of them many Monasteries They are obserued of the people with great reuerence The people of that Nation shed no bloud nor kill any flesh but if they will eate any they get the Saracens which liue amongst them to kill it for them North-eastward from hence is Vochan a Saracenicall Nation and after many dayes iourney ouer mountaines so high that no kind of birds are seene thereon is Beloro inhabited with Idolaters Cascar the next Countrey is Mahumetan beyond which are many Nestorian Christians in Carchan There are also Moores or Mahumetanes which haue defiled with like superstition the Countâ—ies of Cotam and Peym where the women may marrie new husbands if the former be absent aboue twenty dayes and the men likewise and of Ciarcian and Lop. From Lop they crosse a Desart which asketh thirtie dayes and must carrie their victuals with them Here they say spirits call men by their names and cause them to stray from their companie and perish with famine When they are passed this Desart they enter into Sachion the first Citie of Tanguth an Idolatrous Prouince subiect to the Great Can there are also some Nestorians and Saracens where they haue had the Art of Printing these thousand yeeres They haue Monasteries replenished with Idols of diuers sorts to which they sacrifice and when they haue a male child borne they commend it to some Idoll in whose honour they nourish a Ramme in their house that yeere and after on their Idols festiuall they bring it together with their Sonne before the Idoll and sacrifice the Ramme and dressing the flesh let it stand till they haue finished their prayers for their childs health in which space they say their Idoll hath sucked out the principall substance of the meate which they then carrie home to their house and assembling their kinsfolke eate it with great reuerence and reioycing sauing the bones in goodly vessels The Priests haue for their fee the head feet inwards skinne and some part of the flesh When any of great place dieth they assemble the Astrologers and tell the houre of his natiuitie that they may by their Art finde a Planet fitting to the burning of the corps which sometime in this respect attendeth this fiery constellation a weeke a moneth or halfe a yeere in all which time they set before the corps a Table furnished with bread wine and other viands leauing them there so long as one might conueniently eate them the Spirit there present in their opinion refreshing himselfe with the odour of this prouision If any euill happen to any of the house the Astrologers ascribe it to the angry soule for neglect of his due houre agreeing to that of his Natiuitie They make many stayes by the way wherein they present this departed soule with such cates to hearten it against the bodies burning They paint many papers made of the barkes of trees with pictures of Men Women Horsâ—s Camels Money and Rayment which they burne together with the Body that the Dead may haue to serue him in the next World And all this while of burning is the Musike of the Citie present playing CHAMVL the next Prouince is Idolatrous or Heathenish for so we distinguish them from Saracens Iewes and Christians which I would were not as guilty of Idolatrie as the former in so many their forbidden Rites although these haue all and the other part of the Scriptures whereof those Heathens and Idolaters are vtterly ignorant Here they not onely permit but account it a great honour to haue their wiues and sisters at the pleasure of such strangers as they entertaine themselues departing the while and suffering all things to be at their guests will for so are their Idols serued who therefore for this hospitalitie they thinke will prosper all that they haue And when as Mangu Can forbad them this beastly practice they abstained three yeeres but then sent a pitifull Embassage to him with request That they might continue their former custome for since they left it they could not thrine who ouercome by their fond importunitie granted their request which they with ioy accepted and doe still obserue In the same Prouince of Tanguth is Succuir whose Mountaines are clothed with Rheubarbe from whence it is by Merchants conueyed through the World Campion is the mother Citie of the Countrey inhabited by Idolaters with some of the Arabian and Christian Nations The Christians had there in the time of M. Paulo three faire Churches The Idolaters had many Monasteries abounding with Idols of wood earth and stone couered with gold and artificially made some great ten paces in length lying along with other little ones about them which seeme as their Disciples to doe them reuerence Their religions persons liue in their opinion more honestly then other Idolaters although their honestie is such as that they thinke it no sinne to lie with a woman which shall seeke it at their hands but if the man first make loue it is sinfull They haue also their Fasting-dayes three foure or fiue in a moneeh in
storie is not yet because I haue done thus in other Nations and haue so worthy a patterne in this as the Worthy of our Age Iosephus Scaliger pardon mee to trouble thee with this Chronicle of their Kings The first was Vitey a Gyant-like man a great Astrologer and Inuenter of Sciences hee reigned an hundred yeeres They name after him an hundred and sixteene Kings whose names our Author omitteth all which reigned two thousand two hundred fiftie and seuen yeeres all these were of his linage and so was Tzintzon the maker of that huge wall of China which killed many of the Chinois of whom hee tooke euery third man to this worke For which cause they slue him when he had reigned fortie yeeres with his sonne Aguizi They ordained King in his stead Auchosau who reigned twelue yeeres his sonne Futey succeeded and reigned seuen yeeres his wife eighteene his sonne three and twentie then followed Guntey foure and fiftie Guntey the second thirteene Ochantey fiue and twentie Coantey thirteene Tzentzey sixe and twentie and foure moneths Anthoy sixe Pintatcy fiue Tzintzumey three and seuen moneths Huy Hannon sixe Cuoum two and thirtie Bemthey eighteene Vnthey thirteene Othey seuenteene Yanthey eight moneths Antey nineteene yeeres Tantey three moneths Chitey one yeere Linthey two and twentie yeeres Yanthey one and thirtie yeeres Laupy one and fortie yeeres Cuythey fiue and twntie yeeres Fontey seuenteene yeeres Fifteene other Kings reigned in all one hundred seuentie and sixe yeeres The last of which was Quioutey whom Tzobu deposed who with seuen of his linage reigned threescore and two yeeres Cotey foure and twentie yeeres Dian sixe and fiftie yeeres Tym one and thirtie yeeres Tzuyn seuen and thirtie yeeres Tauco with his linage which were one and twentie reigned two hundred ninetie and foure yeres Bausa a Nunne wife of the last of them whom she slue one and fortie yeeres Tautzon slue her and reigned with his posteritie which were seuen Kings one hundred and thirtie yeeres Dian eighteene yeeres Outon fifteene yeeres Outzim nine yeeres and three moneths Tozon foure yeeres Auchin ten yeeres Zaytzon and seuenteene of his race three hundred and twentie yeeres Tepyna the last was dispossessed by Vzon the Tartar vnder whom and eight of his Tartarian successours China endured subiection ninetie and three yeeres Gombu or Hum-vu expelled Tzintzoum the last of them He with thirteene successours haue reigned about two hundred and fortie yeeres There computation of times is more prodigious then that of the Chaldaeans after which this present yeere of our Lord 1614. is in their account from the Creation 884793. CHAP. XIX Of the Religion vsed in China §. I. Of their Gods and Idols in former times HOw much the greater things are reported of this so large a Countrey and mightie a Kingdome so much the more compassion may it prouoke in Christian hearts that amongst so many people there is scarce a Christian who amongst so ample reuenues which that King possesseth payeth either heart or name vnto the King of Heauen till that in so huge a Vintage the Iesuites of late haue gleaned a few handfulls to this profession Before wee come to the Narration of their gods I thinke it fit to deliuer what our ancienter Authors haue obserued of their Religion and then to come to the Moderne They were before the Tartarian Conquest giuen to Astrologie and obserued Natiuities and gaue directions in all matters of weight These Astrologers or Magicians told Farfur the King of China or Mangi that his Kingdome should neuer be taken from him but by one which had a hundred eyes And such in name was Chinsanbaian the Tartarian Captaine which dispossessed him of his state and conquered it to the great Can about 1269. This Farfur liued in great delicacie nor did euer feare to meet with such an Argus He brought vp yeerely two hundred thousand Infants which their Parents could not prouide for and euery yeere on certaine of his Idoll-holy-dayes feasted his principall Magistrates and all the wealthiest Citizens of Quinsay ten thousand persons at once ten or twelue dayes together There were then some few Nestorian Christians one Church at Quinsay two at Cinghianfu and a few others They had many Idoll-Monasteries They burned their dead the kinsmen of the dead accompanied the corps clothed in Canuas with Musicke and Hymnes to their Idols and when they came to the fire they cast therein many papers wherein they had painted Slaues Horses Camels c. as of the Cathayans is before reported to serue him in the next world They returne after their Funerall Rites are finished with like harmony of Instruments and Voyces in honor of their Idols which haue receiued the soule of the deceased They had many Hospitals for the poore where idle persons were compelled to worke and poore impotents relieued Odoricus affirmeth that at Kaitan or Zaiton hee found two Couents of Minorite-Fryers and many Monasteries of Idolaters in one whereof hee was in which as it was told him were three thousand Votaries and eleuen thousand Idols One of those Idols lesse then some others was as big as the Popish Christopher These Idols they feed euery day with the smoake of hot meates set before them but the meate they eate themselues At Quinsay a Chinian conuert led him into a certaine Monastery where hee called to a Religious person and said This Raban Francus that is this Religious French-man commeth from the Sunne-setting and is now going to Cambaleth to pray for the life of the great Can and therefore you must shew him some strange sight Then the said Religious person tooke two great baskets full of broken reliques and led mee into a little walled Parke and vnlocked the doore We entred into a faire greene wherein was a Mount in forme of a steeple replenished with Hearbs and Trees Then did hee ring with a Bell at the sound whereof many Creatures like Apes Cats and Monkeyes came downe the Mount and some had faces like men to the number of some thousand and two hundred putting themselues in good order before whom he set a platter and gaue them those fragments Which when they had eaten he rung the second time and they all returned to their former places I wondred at the sight and demanded what creatures they were They are quoth he the soules of Noble-men which we here feed for the loue of GOD who gouerneth the World And as a man was honourable in his life so his soule entereth after death into the body of some excellent beast but the soules of simple and rusticall people possesse the bodies of more vile and brutish creatures Neither could I disswade him from the opinion or perswade him that any soule might remaine without a body Nic. di Conti saith that when they rise in the morning they turne their faces to the East and with their hands ioyned say God in Trinitie keepe vs in his Law §. II. Of their present Gods and Idols THeir Religion
Men departed doe most of all enter into these beasts They haue many bookes of their superstition neere the Augurall discipline of the Hetrurians and fond fables of the Graecians and diligently conceale the same from vulgar knowledge except some Bramene Proselyte doe detect those mysteries They beleeue one God maker of Heauen and Earth but adde that he could haue no pleasure in so weighty a charge of gouerning the world and therefore hath delegated the same to the Deuill to reward euery man according to his workes Him they call Deumo they name GOD Tamerani The King hath in his Palace the Chappell of Deumo carued full of Deuils and in the middest sitteth this Image of metall in a Throne of the same matter with a triple Crowne like the Popes and foure hornes with teeth eyes and mouth wide and terrible hooked hands and feet like a Cocke In each corner of this square Chappell is a Deuill set in a fiery Throne wherein are many Soules the Deuill putting one with his right hand into his mouth and taking another from vnder him with his left hand This Idoll is washed by the Bramenes with sweet water incensed and worshipped euery morning Somtime in the weeke they sacrifice on this manner They haue an Altar strewed with flowers on which they put the bloud of a Cocke and coales of fire in a siluer Chafing-dish with much perfumes incensing about the Altar and often ringing with a little Bell of siluer They hold in their hands a siluer Knife with which the Cocke was killed which they dip in the bloud and put into the fire with many Apish gestures All the bloud is thus burned many Waxe-candles burning meane-while The Priest hath on his wrists and legs as it were Morrice-bels which make a great noise a certaine Table hanging at his necke and when he hath ended his Sacrifice he taketh his hands full of Wheat goeth backward from the Altar on which hee alwaies fixeth his eies to a certaine Tree and then hurleth the Corne vp ouer his head as high as he can after which he returneth and vnfurnisheth the Altar The King of Calicut eateth no meate before foure principall Bramenes haue first offered thereof to the Deuill which they do lifting both their hands ouer their heads and shutting their fists draw back the same with their thumbe presenting of that meate to the Idoll and then carrie it to the King on a great Leafe in a Treene Platter The King sitteth on the ground at his meate without any thing vnder him attended with Bramenes standing foure paces off with their hands before their mouthes in great reuerence And after the King hath eaten those Priests carry the Relikes into the Court where they clap thrice with their hands whereat presently certaine Crowes resort thither to eate the Kings leauings which Crowes are hereunto accustomed and may not bee hurt of any When the King marrieth a wife one of the principall Bramenes hath the first nights lodging with hee for which he hath assigned him by the King foure hundred or fiue hundred Ducats The King and his Gentlemen or Nayros eate not flesh without license of the Bramenes The King committeth the custodie of his Wife to the Bramenes when he trauelleth any whither and taketh in too honest part their dishonest familiaritie But for this cause the Kings Sonne succeedeth not in the Crowne but his sisters Sonne as being certainly of his blood These sisters of the King choose what Gentleman they please on whom to bestow their Virginitie and if they proue not in a certaine time to be with child they betake them go these Bramene-stallions The Gentlemen and Merchants haue a custome to exchange Wiues in token of great friendship Some women amongst them haue sixe or seuen Husbands fathering her children on which of them shee best pleaseth The Men when they marry get others to vse them if they bee Virgins fifteene or twentie dayes before they themselues will bed them This Author affirmeth that there were a thousand Families of Christians in Calicut at the time of his being there a hundred and twentie yeeres since If a Debtor breake day with his Creditor and often disapoint him hee goeth to the principall of the Bramenes and receiueth of him a Rod with which he approcheth to the Debter and making a Circle about him chargeth him in the name of the King and the said Bramene not to depart thence till he hath satisfied the Debt which if he do not he must starue in the place for if he depart the King will cause him to be executed The new King for one yeeres space eateth neither Fish nor Flesh nor cutteth his Haire or Nailes vseth certaine Prayers daily eateth but one meale and that after he hath washed neither may hee looke on any man till he hath ended his repast At the yeeres end hee maketh a great Feast to which resort aboue ten thousand persons to confirme the Prince and his Officers and then much Almes is giuen Hee entertaineth tenne thousand Women in diuers Offices in his Palace These make to the King after his fasting yeere is out a Candlemasse Feast each of them carrying diuers lights from the Temple where they first obserue many Idoll idle Ceremonies vnto the Palace with great Musicke and other iollitie §. II. Of the King of Calicut OF the election and erection of the Zamoryn we haue spoken in the beginning of the Chapter let vs here adde out of Castaneda concerning his deuotion Hee saith that this King of Calicut is a Bramene as his Predecessors also And for that it is a custome that all the Kings die in one Pagode or Idoll Temple hee is elected for that cause For alwaies there is and must be in that House a King to serue those Idols and when hee that serueth there dieth then must the King that then raigneth leaue his Empire and goe serue in that place as the other did another being elected to succeed him in the Kingdome And if any refuseth to forsake his Court for the Pagode they enforce him thereunto The Kings of Malabar be browne men and goe naked from the girdle vpward and from thence downward they are couered with cloth of Silke and of Cotton adorned with Iewels For their Children the Sonnes inherit not but the Brother or if there bee none the Sisters Sonne When their Daughers are ten yeeres old they send out of the Kingdome for a Nayro and presenting him with gifts request him to take her Virginitie which hauing done hee tieth a Iewell about her necke which she weareth during her life as a token that from thenceforth she hath free power of her bodie to doe what she will which before she might not After their death these Kings are carried forth into a plaine Field and their burned with sweet wood very costly their kindred and all the Nobilitie of the Countrey being present which done and the ashes buried they shaue themselues without leauing
second of fresh the third of Honey the fourth of Milke the lift of Tair which is Creame beginning to sowre the sixt of Sugar the seuenth of Butter that the Earth had nine corners whereby it was borne vp by the Heauen Others dissented and said that the Earth was borne vp by seuen Elephants the Elephants feete stood on Tortoises and they were borne by they know not what When the Naicho of Tangaor died 375. of his Concubines willingly offered themselues to the fire to honour his Funerall so much can Custome harden so delicate and soft-hearted a nature The Temples in the Countrey haue great reuenues which in some places are encreased by the deuotion of women which prostitute themselues to gaine for their Idols and many young Girles are brought vp for this purpose Many are in these parts of the Sect of the Guzzarates which kill no quicke thing as is spoken Some haue a stone hanging about their necks as bigge as an Egge with certaine lines drawne thorow the middle thereof and this they worship and call it Tambarane they keepe euery Friday holi-day The Kingdome of Orissa hath on the Sea-coast 350. miles betwixt the richer Kingdomes of Bengala and Bisnagar poore of Ports and Traffique Frederike writes that before the King of Patane had conquered Orissa there was great Trade for Oile of Zerzeline Lacca Long Pepper Ginger Mirabolans and cloth made of herbs which grow with a bowle as bigge as an Orange yeelding silke The Countrey was so safe that a man might haue trauelled with his Gold in his hand The King was a Gentile and resided in the Citie Catecha sixe dayes Iourney within Land The King of Patane was soone after subdued by the Mogoll The Inhabitants except a few Moores are Gentiles little or nothing that I can learne differing in Rites from their Neighbours of which yee haue heard Some ascribe to the Citie Orissa as the name so the Principalitie of the other Cities of this Kingdome In these parts is the Citie of Saint Thomas or Malepur where they say Saint Thomas after he had preached the Gospell to the Indians was martyred and burned The Legend which some report of his death were too tedious to recite and as little likelihood of truth is in that long tale of the miraculous Crucifixes heere found related by Osorius who likewise declareth the Rites of those Saint Thomas-Christians of their Chaldean-Pope Cardinals Patriarches and Bishops of which in a another place we shall more fitly speake On the first day of Iuly Saint Thomas Holiday is celebrated as well by the Pagans as Christians and his Sepulchre is had in deuout estimation both of the Moores Gentiles and Christians each pretending the right of his owne Religion to the Church where this Saint lieth interred to which the Indian Christians goe on Pilgrimage carrying with them a little of that earth for a great Relique A Moore had the keeping of the Church which was built after our fashion and begged of the commers for maintenance of it and of a light continually burning therein The Portugals now inhabit this Towne almost desolate the Iesuites also haue heere a Residence The Church doores by the Superstition of some are almost cut in pieces and carried away to set in Gold and Siluer and to weare about their neckes as a holy relike the Portugals herein being exceedingly vaine and attributing hereunto many Miracles verifying that Prouerbe which the Spaniards vse affirming the Portugals to be Pocos sotos deuotâ—s One sent Linschoten a whole Bead-roll or paire of Beads thereof the bringer affirming that those Beades had calmed a Tempest miraculously by the way The Inhabitants in this respect haue driuen their Church-doores full of nailes but Saint Thomas bones are now remoued to Goa Those doores are of such renowned holinesse because they were made of that wood which Saint Thomas drew with his girdle out of the Hauen which it choaked and could not before this Miracle by any meanes be remoued One thing I thought not to omit that there bee whole Villages and Kindreds of people in other things like to other men but are borne with one of their legs and one foot from the knee downwards as thicke as an Elephants legge which the common people imagine to be a curse by Diuine Iustice inflicted vpon the whole Generation for that their Progenitors murthered Saint Thomas Linschoten saith he hath seene and spoken with them and could learne no other cause thereof It is to them a deformitie but no let or impediment otherwise The Gouernour of Musulipatan being of Mahomets posteritie had agreed for custome to take foure per centum and exacted twelue Offering the English there diuers wrongs Here the Gentiles haue in those parts a Feast when the New Moone comes vpon Munday and then both Sexes wash themselues in the Sea as a matter of much Indulgence for their sinnes And then after much indignitie the Cape-Merchant Floris performed a worthy exploit deseruing still to flourish though he be dead The Gouernours Sonne being set ouer the Custome and at the Custome-house guarded with his Souldiers Floris entred alone as it were for businesse and as he had plotted a few English followed by diuers wayes which seized on the weapons of the Guard at the Custome-house doore and Floris laid hold of the Gouernours Sonne Wencatadra by name which was suddenly conueyed into their Boat three thousand people presently running to the shoare But being vnder their ships protection they both secured themselues and for redemption of his Sonne forced the Father to pay all debts by him detained with satisfaction for wrongs offered Yet such was his Superstition that he almost first starued a shipboord rather then he would eate or drinke with the English Thus from the foure and twentieth of Nouember till the thirtieth he kept a strict Bramene Fast the English pittying his misery and willing therefore to take pledges in his roome But after that weeke of cleane Lent without eating or drinking he was redeemed the debts being paid by his Father And hence let the Reader iudge of bodily exercise and opus operatum without true faith how little it auaileth In Narsapur Peta a place not farre hence where they Careened the Globe happened in August that yeere such ouerflowings of water that many thousands of men and cattell were drowned Townes Fields of Rice and Salt-hils ouerflowne foure thousand houses washed away and two Stone Bridges ouer the Riuer one of nineteene the other of fifteene Arches comparable to Rochester Bridge standing three fadome aboue water Many Portugals also liue in the parts of Bengala adioyning like Wildmen and Iaric speakes of 1200. which thus obserue not Christianitie and therefore may be reckoned amongst these Heathens And thus haue we finished our perambulation of the Continent of Asia Some perhaps will maruell why I haue not handled the Muscouites and Russians in this Asian Discourse to whom I answere That
for now he had found this signe thereof the Sabbaticall Riuer shewing this Sand in proofe thereof Credit Iudaeus Apella the Iewes beleeue quickly all but the truth especially in Portugall whither he came with this report Many thousand moued by his words remoued their dwellings and selling their substance would needs goe into these parts of Persia by the Sabbaticall Riuer to fixe their habitation there wayting for their promised Messias One and a chiefe of this superstitious Expedition was Amatus Lusitanus a Physician of great note accounted one of the most learned of his Profession and a Writer therein and Iohn Micas a Merchant of great wealth They passed through France Germany Hungary their company like a Snow-ball encreasing as they went with the addition of other Iewes of like credulity When they came to Constantinople there were of them in many Bands or Companies thirty thousand Cabasomi Bassa the Turkish Commander thought to gaine by this occasion and would not suffer them to passe ouer the water into Asia without many hundred thousands of Duckets except they would passe on horse-backe This example was soone both spred and followed of the other Bassaes and Commanders in Asia as they went their wealth and substance being euery where so fleeced that they came into Syria much lessened in numbers in estate miserable and beggerly new Officers euery where as new hungry Flyes lighting on these wretched carkasses so I may call them some they whipped some they empaled some they hanged and burned others Thus were these miserable Pilgrimes wasted and Don Iohn Baltasar was present when Amato aforesaid being dead with this affliction his Physicke bookes were in an Out-cry to be sold at Damasco and because they were in Latine no man would buy them till at last another Iew became Chapman Micas one of the wealthiest men which Europe held dyed poore in an Hospitall at Constantinople And this was the issue of their Pilgrimage to the Sabbaticall streame which they supposed to finde in this Persian Gulfe where wee haue too long holden you the Spectators of this Iewish Tragedie And yet let me intreate your patience a litle longer in considering the occasion of this error We haue elsewhere mentioned this Sabbaticall Riuer now you shall vnderstand that the Iewes generally haue drowned their wits therein Rambam cals it Gozan Genebrard alleageth many R. R. testimonies of it but of all and of all let Eldad Danius his tale which Genebrard hath translated find some fauourable entertainment the rather because one of our Apocryphall Authors seemes to weaue the same webbe which as the worthier person deserueth first examination Esdras therefore so wee suppose him and this is not all his Iewish Fables reporteth that the ten Tribes which Salmanasar led captiue tooke counsell among themselues to leaue the multitude of the Heathen and goe forth into a further Countrey where neuer Mankind dwelt that they might there keepe their statutes which they neuer kept in their owne Lord And they entred into Euphrates by the narrow passages of the Riuer For the most High then shewed signes for them and held still the floud till they were passed ouer For through that Countrey there was a great way to goe namely of a yeere and a halfe and the same Region is called Arsareth Then dwelt they there vntill the latter time And now when they shall begin to come the Highest shall stay the Springs of the streame againe c. Here you see no lesse Miracle then in Iordan or the Red Sea for their passage which seeing it was through Euphrates yee will pardon our Iew for searching it neere this Persian Gulfe especially seeing his good Masters the Rabbins had increased this Tale with the Inclosure of these Iewes from passing againe into our World not by the continuall course of Euphrates as Esdras insinuateth but by the Sabbatising of the Sabbaticall streame which by Eldads description is two hundred cubits ouer full of sands and stones without water making a noyse like thunder as it floweth which by night is heard halfe a dayes Iourney from it On the Sabbath it is continually quiet and still but all that while ariseth thence a flame that none dare enter or come neere by halfe a mile Thus the fire if not the Religion of the Sabbath then detaynes them no lesse then the stony streame on the weeke dayes and what stony heart can refuse them credit Yet doth not hee and Esdras agree of the Inhabitants both deriuing them from the tenne Tribes but Eldad challengeth no lesse antiquitie then from Ieroboam who contending with Rehoboam the godly Catholike Israelites refusing to fight against the house of Dauid chose rather to attempt this Pilgrimage and so passing the Riuer Physon for the Scriptures had forbidden them to meddle with Egypt Ammon or Amalck they went and they went til they came into Ethiopia There did the foure Tribes of Dan Nepthali Gad Aser settle themselues which continually war vpon the seuen Kingdoms of Tusiga Kamtua Koha Mathugia Tacul Bacma and Kacua fie on the simplicity of our Geographers which know not one of these no better then Esdras his Arsareth they haue a King whose name is Huziel Mathiel vnder whom they fight each Tribe three moneths by course The Tribe also of Moses for they imagine his children claue to their Mothers Religion which was a Madianite or Ethiopian is turned to their truth and they all obserue the Talmud the Hebrew Tongue the Ordinances of the Elders and suffer nothing vncleane amongst them Yea no Vtopian State comparable to theirs He tels the like tales of the other Tribes But how came he thence to tell this newes Truely I wonder no lesse then you yet he saith he goe to the Sea forgetting that before he had compassed his Countrey with the Sabbaticall streame and there was taken captiue and by his leanenesse escaping the Canibals else our fat Storie had beene deuoured was sold to a Iew of whom perhaps this forged Tale procured his redemption Howsoeuer the Tradition holds both for these inclosed Iewes and that Sabbaticall streame that it should be sought here-a-wayes or found no where The reciting is sufficient refuting to a reasonable vnderstanding and yet the Iewes are not onely besotted with these their inclosed brethren imagining their Messias may bee amongst them although they know not whether to ascribe this transportation to Salmanaser or to Alexander the Great or to the dayes of Ieroboam but Christians also tell of them about the Pole and they know not where And I haue seene a printed Pamphlet of their comming out of those their Inclosures in our times with the numbers of each Tribe Yea Postellus Boterus and many other deriue the Tartars from them which dreame they which please may reade at large confuted by Master Brerewood It was about the yeere 1238. when Eldad came from thence into Spaine If any lust to haue another Guide for the Sabbaticall streame Master Fullers
DIODORVS and others §. I. The names of Aegypt and of the Riuer Nilus AFter our generall view of Africa Egypt may justly challenge the principall place in our African discourse as being both in situation next to Asia whence we are lately come and consequently from thence first peopled besides that Religion our Load-Starre hath heere found the soonest and solemnest entertainment And not in Religion alone but in Policie Philosophie and Artes the Grecians which would seeme the first Fathers of these things haue beene Disciples to the Egyptians as Am. Marcellinus and D. Siculus Plutarch and many others affirme Hence Orpheus Musaus and Homer fetched their Theologie Lycurgus and Solon their Lawes Pythagoras Plato Anaxagoras Eudoxus Democritus Daedalus here borrowed that knowledge for which the World hath euer since admired them Let it not then be imputed to me as a tedious officiousnesse If I longer detaine the Reader otherwise delighted with the view of those rils which hence haue flowed among the Greeke and Latine Poets and Philosophers in Surueighing these Aegyptian Fountaines and Well-springs whence haue issued especially a deluge of Superstition that in elder times drowned all the neighbouring parts of the World Nor let it be tedious vnto vs to behold in this Historicall Theater those Egyptian Rarities the sight whereof hath drawne not Philosophers alone but great Princes too and mightie Emperors to the vndertaking of long and dangerous journeyes As Seuerus who though hee forbad Iudaisme and Christianite yet went this Pilgrimage in honour of Serapis and for the strange sights of Memphis Memnon the Pyramides Labyrinth c. Vespasian also and others did the like The name of Egypt saith Iosephus is Mesre of Misraim the sonne of Cham as the Egyptians themselues are called Mesrai So the Arabians at this day call it as Leo affirmeth but the Inhabitants they call Chibth This Chibth they say was he which first ruled this Countrey and built houses therein The Inhabitants also doe now call themselues thus yet are there not now left any true Egyptians saue a few Christians the Mahumetans hauing mingled themselues with the Arabians and Africans These Christians are hereupon called Cophti of their Nation as Master Brerewood obserueth not of their Religion which is the same with the Iacobites And the Egyptians in some ancient Monuments are tearmed Aegophti and the name Aegyptus which some deriue from Aegyptus brother of Danaus is likelier to come of that Chibth or this Aegophti and all these names may seeme to borrow their originall from Koptus a chiefe Citie in Egypt as both Scaliger and Lidyat are of opinion quasi Ai Koptus the Land of Koptus so is Aethiops of Ai and Thebeth or Thebais Ignatius the Patriarch of Antioch in an Arabicke Epistle written to Scaliger calleth Egypt the Land of Kopti where he speaketh of Aera Kopti or the computation of yeeres by those Koptite Christians reckoned from the nineteenth yeere of Dioclesian at which time hee destroyed the Christian Churches and slue an hundred and forty foure thousand Martyrs in Egypt and other seuen hundred thousand exiled The Turkes call both the Countrey it selfe and principall City Cairo by the name of Misir Thus singeth an olde Pilgrime in written Rimes without name of the Authour In Egypt is a Citie faire That height Massar or else Kare Egypt was before called if wee may beleeue Stephanus and others Aeria and otherwise also by the names of Aeria Potamia Ogygya Melambolos Haephestia Ethiopia Some adde Hepia as Nilus was also called Melas of the blacknesse The Riuer was first called Oceanus then Egyptus and after that Nilus and Triton Egypt hath on the East the Gulfe and some part of Arabia on the South the fals and Mountaynes of Aethiopia on the West the Desarts of Libya on the North the Mediterranean Sea all which Nature hath set not only as limits but as fortifications also to this Countrey Nilus is by Ouid called aduena for his forreine Springs by Tibullus fertilis which supplyeth the place of showres to Egypt whereupon Claudian sings Egyptus sine nube ferax imbresque serenos Sola tenet secura poli non indiga venti and Lucan Terra suis contenta bonis non indiga mercis Aut Iouis in solo tanta est fiducia Nilo Egypt no raines nor Merchandise doth need Nilus doth all her wealth and plenty breed Hereupon the Romanes accounted it their Granary and the Turke Selym when he conquered it said he had now taken a Farme that would feed his Gemoglans without it the earth is sand perhaps had not beene earth nor is there aboue one Well of sweet springing water nor brackish in all Egypt The water of Nilus is sweet wholesome and yeelds no mystie vapours This Riuer runneth through the midst thereof sixty miles from Cairo making by diuision of himselfe that Delta to which some appropriated the name of Egypt refuted by Iupiter Ammon whose Oracle sayth Herodotus reckoned all that Egypt which Nilus ouerflowed Ptolemaus numbreth three of those Deltas Touching the head of Nilus Bredenbachius affirmeth that many Soldans haue sent men on purpose furnished with skill and prouision for the Discouery who after two or three yeeres returning affirmed that they could find no head of this Riuer nor could tell any certainty but that it came from the East and places not inhabited both of like truth And before the Soldans Sesostris Cambyses Alexander Nero are reported to haue made search for the head of this Riuer Neros men by the helpe of the Aethiopians passed farre vp to large vnpassable Marishes full of weeds the extents vnknowne Later Geographers relate that Nilus ariseth out of a Lake in twelue degrees of Southerly latitude out of which not onely this Riuer runneth Northwards into the Mediterranean but Zaire also Westward Zuama and Spirito Sancto Eastward into the Ocean as is said all ouerflowing their Territories in the same time and from the same cause What this cause should be many both old and later Writers haue laboured to search Herodotus Diedorus Pliny and Solinus haue lent vs the coniectures of Antiquity herein Fracastorus and Rhamusius haue bestowed their Discourses on this Subiect as Goropius also and others of later yeeres haue done The most probable cause is the raines which Goropius in his Niloscopium deriueth from a double cause For the Sunne in places neere the Line doth shew more mighty effects of his fiery presence exhaling abundance of vapours which in terrible showers he daily repayeth except some naturall obstacle doe hinder as in some places of Peru where it seldome or neuer raineth And hence it is that the Indians both East and West and the Africans reckon their Summer and Winter otherwise then in these parts of the World for this time of the Sunnes neere presence with them they call Winter in regard of these daily stormes which hee seemes to
by some is ascribed to them but falsely Adam Caine Noah and others were in this before them Astronomie also is not their inuention but taught them by Abraham Geometrie is more like to bee theirs driuen to seeke out this Art by Nilus ouer-flowing Idolatrie to the Starres was first heere practised saith Lactantius for lying on the roofes of their houses as yet they doe without any other Canopie then the Azure skie first they beheld then studied lastly adored them Gaudentius Brixiensis applyeth the destroying of the Aegyptian first-borne to the perishing of Idolatrie through the light of the Gospell the Egyptians saith hee being the first which worshipped the Images of dead men Magicke is also ascribed to them of whose timely professours Iannes and Iambres are an instance Physicke is fetched also from hence and Writing both after the vulgar sort as also that of the Priests Hieroglyphicall whereof Horopollo an Egyptian Pierius Goropius Michael Mayerus Curio Schualenberg besides Mercerus and Hoeschelius with others haue written Aelianus accounteth Mercurie the first inuenter of their Lawes The Women in Egypt did performe the offices which belonged to the Men buying selling and other businesse abroad the men Spinning and performing houshold-taske Claud Duret hath expressed besides a Discourse of their Region and Learning two Egyptian Alphabets if any desire to see the forme of their Letters which some thinke that the Phenicians borrowed from Egypt and lent by Cadmus to the Graecians But I am not of their minde This Elogie or commendation is giuen them by Martial Niliacis primum puer hic nascatur in oris Nequitias tellus scit dare nulla magis From Aegypt sure the boyes birth may proceed For no Land else such knauerie can breed And Propertius Noxia Alexandria dolis aptissima tellus The place where Alexandria doth stand Is noysome and a Conie-catching land Wee may heere adde out of Flauius Vopiscus a testimonie of the qualities of the Aegyptians They are saith hee inconstant furious braggarts injurious also vaine licentious desirous of nouelties euen vnto common Songs and Ballads Verfifiers Epigrammatists Mathematicians Wizards Physicians both for Christians and Samaritanes and alway things present with an vnbridled libertie are distastefull to them Hee bringeth also for witnesse of this assertion Aelius Adrianus who in an Epistle to Seruianus affirmeth thus I haue learned all Aegypt to bee light wauering and turning with euery blast of fame They which worship Serapis are Christians and euen they which call themselues Bishops of Christ are deuoted to Serapis No Ruler is there of the Iewish Synagogue no Samaritan no Christian Priest which is not a Mathematician a Wizard a Chirurgion or anointer of Champions This kinde of men is most seditious most vaine most injurious the Citie Alexandria rich wealthie fruitfull in which none liues idle Goutie men haue somewhat to doe Blinde men haue somewhat to doe or haue somewhat which they may make nor are the goutie-fingred idle They haue One GOD him doe the Christians him doe the Iewes him doe they all worship I wish them nothing else but that they may bee fedde with their owne Pullen which how they make fruitfull I am ashamed to tell Thus much Adrianus The Pullen hee speaketh of it seemeth are such as euen to this day they vse to hatch not vnder the Henne but in Furnaces of dung and ashes wherein thousands of Egges are layd for that purpose That which hee speaketh of the Christians is either of some Heretickes or luke-warme Time-seruers to bee vnderstood or else remember that it was Adrian an Ethnike whose intelligence was from such as himselfe in those times hating the Christians of whom through blinde zeale of their Idolatry what did they What did they not faine and deuise Euen more odious then here is expressed as Ecclesiasticall Histories shew The Iewes had giuen Adrian cause by their Treasons to hate them and flatterers opportunitie to belie them Let him that loues mee tell my tale But a man would maruell to heare Adrian blame the Aegyptians so much for that for which himselfe in Authors is so much blamed namely Superstition and Sorcerie For hee made Images of Antinous which he erected almost in all the world saith Dion This Antinous was in high estimation with him some thinke his Minion Hee dyed in Aegypt either drowned in Nilus as Adrian writeth or which is the truth was sacrificed For whereas Adrian was exceeding curious and addicted to Diuinations and Magicall Arts of all kindes in the hellish rites whereof was required the soule of such a one as would die voluntarily Antinous refused it not and therefore was thus honoured and had a Citie in Aegypt newly repaired from the ruines and dedicated in his Name Yea hee reported he saw a new Starre which forsooth was the soule of this Antinous The Greekes made a God of him and a giuer of Oracles whereof Prudentius singeth Quid loquar Antinoum coelesti sede locatum c. Adrianique dei Ganimedem Cumque suo in Templis vota exaudire Marito And Iustin Martyr Antinoum qui modo extitit omnes metu coacti pro deo colere cum quis vnde esset scirent Hee caused money to bee coyned with the picture of the Temple of Antinous which Adrian had erected and a Crocodile vnder it Choul expresseth diuers formes of these Antinoan Coines and one with inscription of Marcellus the Priest of Antinous Ammianus Marcellinus ascribeth to the Egyptians a contentious humour addicted to lawing and quarrels Assuetudine perplexius litigandi semper laetissimum Their vanitie and superstition may further appeare by that which Diophantes recordeth of one Syrophanes a rich Egyptian who doting on his Sonne yet liuing dedicated an Image in his house vnto him to which the seruants at any time when they had displeased their Master betooke themselues adorning the same with Flowers and Garlands so recouering their Masters fauour Some make the Egyptians first inuenters of Wine which they say was first made in the Egyptian Citie Plinthis and of Beere to which end they first made Mault of Barley for such places as wanted Grapes When a man proued more in shew then in substance as hypocrites whom the Truth it selfe calleth Whited Tombes the Prouerbe termed him an Egyptian Temple because those buildings were sumptuous and magnificent for matter and forme to the view but the Deitie therein worshipped was a Cat Dogge or such other contemptible creature The naturall furie and crueltie vsed amongst the Egyptians hath made them infamous among Authors both Prophane and Diuine And Stephanus Bizantinus saith that they which practised close subtile craftie couzenages were said 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 to play the Aegyptians Aeschylus also the Greeke Poet makes them Mint-masters therein and perhaps those Rogues which wander ouer so many Countries and liue by their wits and thefts were therefore called Egyptians rather then for the
weapon then a sword in that case Scarce in seuenteene yeeres could Italy shake off this burthen till Scipio by new policie warred against Hannibal not in Italy where he was but in Africke and Carthage whence his force was thereby procuring Annibals returne as the outward members are forced to yeeld their bloud to succour any sudden oppression of the heart But how is my heart oppressed with sudden passion thus to transport the Reader with my selfe from Africke into Spaine France Italy there to behold this Tragedie Let the matter it selfe answere and now we are returned to Carthage and finde the Tragedie heere For in the third Punike warre the Romans sayth Florus rather fought with the Citie it selfe then with Men. And alas what could that Hermophrodite-armie doe wherein were fiue and twentie thousand armed Women Yet had women then the greater courage Hasdrubal the King yeelded His wife with her two children and much people burned themselues in the Temple of Aesculapius that could not cure this disease of his Citie and suppliants the like fate befalling the first and last Queenes of Carthage Seuenteene dayes together did Carthage burne seuen hundred yeeres after the first building In this last warre after they had deliuered vp their Nauie and weapons being commanded to remoue ten miles from thence Anger kindled new forces and taught them to supply the want of Iron with Siluer and Gold in making weapons with pulling downe their houses to build a Nauie the Matrons giuing their haire the feminine Ornament to make bands for their manly and warlike Engines their priuate glory for publike necessitie all which serued but to augment the pompe of this funerall of Carthage Caesar did after restore it with a Ronian Colonie neuer attayning the Tyrian glory afflicted with Vandals and Gothes and by the Saracens made desolate vntill the time of Elmahdi an hereticall Calipha who procured the inhabiting hereof But not aboue the twentieth part was inhabited The rest remayneth as scattered ruines dispersed bones of the carkasse of old Carthage Master Pountesse a friend of mine told me That hee hath beene rowed in his Boat ouer the walls of Carthage or their ruines the Sea hauing made the last conquest by eating into the Land The Conduits are whole saith Leo which bring water from a Hill thirtie miles from Carthage twelue miles vnder the Earth the rest aboue And now saith he are not aboue fiue and twentie shops and fiue hundred houses therein one faire Temple one Colledge but without Schollers the inhabitants poore proud and superstitious Master Euesham saith That this Citie is now ruinated and destroyed Hee mentioneth those Arches wherein water was hither conueyed and one street three miles long As for the Sea-discoueries attempted by the Carthaginians Hanno compassed all Africa from the Spanish to the Arabian Straits and committed his discoueries to writing Himilco at the same time was employed in the search of Europe Diodorus Siculus writeth a whole Chapter of their discouery of a pleasant and fertile Iland Westward in the Ocean which cannot more fitly agree with any other Region then some part of the West-Indies as may seeme at the first view But a man shall haue much to doe to finde that Iland a harder discouery now then it was then to the finders at least as the Storie lies And some thinke that the Indians of America were a Colonie of the Carthaginians Aristotle hath also the like Relation in his Booke De admirandis Auditionib In the beginning of the Warre they had three hundred Cities in Libya and seuen hundred thousand persons in their Citie The Carthaginians as all acknowledged and their very name Paeni doth prooue were Phaenicians which Countrey wee haue before shewed to bee famous as for many other things so for the first letters and the first that is the Hebrew language The letters which the Hebrewes since the Babilonian Captiuitie haue vsed Postellus would haue to bee the first but secret till those times and then by Ezra made common but others more probably hold the Phoenician or Samaritan the first and that the present Hebrew were the Assyrian or Chaldaean Characters which the Iewes brought thence with them Now for proofe that their ancient Language was Phoenician and consequently Hebrew Dido is but the feminine saith Scaliger to Dauid and Elisa is the Hebrew Elisha Iosephus relateth out of Theophrastus that the Tyrians and Sydonians might not vse other but their owne Countrey oathes of which hee reckoneth Corban which the Scriptures also mention And Scaliger saith that the Punike Scene in Plantus his Penolus although they had then much declined from the Hebrew puritie is neerer the Hebrew then the Syriake and that hee could for the most part restore it to the right Punike which also hath happily beene attempted by Master Selden in his Dis Syris and by Bernardo Aldrete a Spaniard in his Varias Antiquedades de Espaūa Africa YOtras prouincias lib. 2. cap. 2. Where he in a large Catalogue compareth the Hebrew Syriake Phoenician and Punike termes together Of their Baalsamen and other notes of this language we haue spoken before in our first Booke The name Carthago as Genebrard and Aldrete obserue in Syriake signifies the middle Citie Kartha a Citie Go , middle Solinus saith New Citie Wee haue alledged the testimonie of Procopius for the Chanaanites fleeing before Ioshua and the Punikes sayth Augustine called themselues euen in his time Chanani Salust ascribeth to the Phaenicians Hippo Hadrumetus Leptis and other Cities on the Sea-coast besides Carthage which they built either to enlarge their Empire or to preuent a fulnesse at home Concerning the Religion of the Africans in Ancient times Leo saith That they worshipped the Fire and the Sunne as did the Persians erecting in honour of each of these faire and sumptuous Temples in which the Fire was continually kept burning as in the Temple of Vesta at Rome The Numidians and Libyans sacrificed to the Planets And some of the Negroes worshipped Guighimo which signifieth the LORD of Heauen These afterward hee sayth were of the Iewish Religion and after that of the Christian till the 268. yeere of the Hegira that some Negro Kingdomes became Mahumetane although there remaine some Christians to this day those which were Iewish both by the Christians and Mahumetanes were vtterly destroyed But those of Barbarie whereof wee especially entreat remained saith hee Idolaters till two hundred and fiftie yeeres before Mahomets birth when they became Christians This must be interpreted of the vniuersall and publike profession about the time of Constantine For otherwise Africke had in it Christians before Dorothaeus in Synopsi saith That Epaeneius one of the seuentie Disciples was a Bishop of Carthage and that Simon the Apostle preached in Mauritania and among the Africans as Matthias also in Aethiopia But the Gothes soone corrupted Christian Religion with Arrianisme the forerunner of Mahumetanisme
ruines testifieth her sometime proud buildings Hospitals Innes and Temples In Thagia is visited the Sepulchre of a holy Man which liued in the time of Habdul Mumen the Calif or Patriarch who wrought great miracles against the Lyons wherwith the Towne is much molested Ettedle a Mahumetane Doctor wrote a Legend of his miracles which Leo saith hee had read and supposed that they were done either by Naturall or Diuellish Magicke The Fessans after their Easter yeerely resort to his Tombe with such numbers of Men Women and Children and their Tents that they seeme an Armie It standeth from Fez an hundred and twentie miles so that their going and returning in this Pilgrimage lasteth fifteene dayes My Father carried mee yeerely thither when I was a Childe and since I haue beene there many times by reason of many vowes which I made being in danger of Lyons Where Zarfa stood the Arabians now sow Corne The Territorie of Fez hath on the West the Riuer Buragard the East Inaven on the North Subu and Atlas on the South Sella was built by the Romans sacked by the Gothes subiect since to Fez The buildings are of Mosaike worke supported with Marble Pillars euen the Shops are vnder faire and large Porches and there are arches to part Occupations All the Temples are beautifull In this Towne the Genowaies English Flemings and Venetians vsed to trade The Spaniards tooke it in the 670 of the Hegira but lost it againe within ten dayes Fanzara was destroyed by Sahid who with certaine Arabians besieged Fez seuen yeeres together and destroyed all the Villages in the Countrey about Mahmora was made famous by the slaughter of the Portugals whose bloud dyed the Sea three dayes together blushing to see the barbarous Barbarian spill so much Christian bloud Leo was there present and numbreth the slaine Christians at ten thousand besides the losse of their Ships and Ordnance whereof the Moores tooke vp foure hundred great Brasse Peeces out of the Sea in the yeere of the Heg. 921. HONDIVS his Map of the Kingdome of Fez FESSAE REGNUM §. II. Of the Citie of Fez as it was in LEO's dayes and the Customes of the Inhabitants THe Citie Fez or Fesse was built in the time of Aron the Caliph in the 185. yeere of the Hegira or Mahumeticall computation It had this golden Title because on the first day of the Foundation there was found some quantitie of Gold Gasper Varerius and Aldrete are of opinion That the Riuer Phut so called of the sonne of Cham before mentioned is this Riuer of Fez by the Arabians thus altered and that this Riuer gaue Name to the Region and the Citie which opinion is also recited by Leo. The Founder was named Idris Arons neere kinsman to whom the Caliphaship was more due For he was nephew of Hali Mahumets cousin who married Falerna daughter of Mahumet and therefore both by Father and Mother of that kindred whereas Aron was but in the halfe-blood being nephew to Habbus the vncle of Mahumet Howbeit both these Families were depriued of the Caliphate and Aron by deceit vsurped For Arons Grandfather fained himselfe willing to transferre that dignitie to Hali and caused the house of Vmene to lose it and Habdulla Seffec became the first Caliph who persecuted the House of Hals openly chasing some into Asia and some into India But one of them remayned in Elmadina of whom because hee was old and religious he had no great feare His two Sonnes grew in such fauour with the people that they were forced to flee and one being taken and strangled the other which was this Idris escaped into Mauritania where hee grew in such reputation that in short time he got both Swords into his hand and dwelt in the Hill Zaron thirtie miles from Fez and all Mauritania payed him tribute Hee dyed without issue onely hee left his slaue with Child she was a Goth become Mahumetan and had a sonne which after his father was called Idris Hee succeeded in the Principalitie and was brought vp vnder the discipline of a valiant Captaine named Rasid and began to shew great prowesse at fifteen yeeres He afterwards encreasing in power built on the East side of the Riuer a small Citie of three thousand Families After his death one of his sonnes built another Citie on the West side both which Cities so encreased that there was small distance betweene them And a hundred and eighty yeeres after there arose ciuill Warres betwixt those two Cities which continued a hundred yeeres And as Aesops Kite serued the Mouse and Frog so Ioseph of the Luntune Family apprehending this aduantage tooke both their Lords and slew them and thirty thousand of the Citizens He brake downe the walls which parted the two Cities and caused many Bridges to be made and brought them both to be one Citie which he diuided into twelue Wards The Citie is now or at least in Leos time was both great and strong It seemes that Nature and Art haue played the Wantons and haue brought forth this Citie the fruit of their dalliance Or else they seeme Corriuals both by all kind Offices seeking to winne her loue So doth the Earth seeme to dance in little Hillocks and pretie Vallies diuersifying the Soyle so doth the Riuer disperse it selfe into manifold Chanels no sooner entring the Citie but it is diuided into two Armes wherewith it embraceth this louely Nymph and these subdiuided as it were into many Fingers in variety of Water-courses insinuating it selfe vnto euery Street and Member thereof and not contented thus in publike to testifie affection findes meanes of secret intelligence with his Loue by Conduit-pipes closely visiting euery Temple Colledge Inne Hospitall the speciall Chambers of his Spouse Yea and almost euery priuate house from whence with an officious seruice he carrieth the filth that might offend either sight or sent of his Bride which still enjoying he wooeth and euer wooing enjoyeth Only in hot Seasons he hath a cold suit for the Riuer is dry but then he hath six hundred Fountaynes to speake for him in his absence Neither is Art behind in his proffered courtesies but still presents her with Mosaike workes as Chaynes and Iewels to adorne her with fine Brickes and stones framed into most artificiall Fabricks both louely for delight and stately for admiration The roofes of their houses are adorned with Gold Azure and other excellent colours which are made flat for the Inhabitants vse and pleasure whose Houses are richly furnished euery Chamber with a Presse curiously paynted and varnished And who can tell the exquisitenesse of the Portals Pillars Cisternes and other parts of this Cities furniture Which if they be not now so excellent as when Leo liued here yet it is worth the sight to looke vpon it with his eyes as then it flourished before the Court was remoued thence to Marocco or the deuouring bellies of Time and Warre had impaired her Beauties Once let the Temples therein a
doores But here is no prouision of Bed or Boord for Strangers The Inne-keepers of Fez in Leo's dayes were all of one Family called Elchena attyred like women shaue their beards become womanish in their speech yea degenerate euen to the Wheele and Spindle They are so odious except to base villaines that resort thither that the better sort of people will not speake to them and may not enter the Temple Burse or Bath nor into those Innes next the great Temple where Merchants are entertained There are thousands of Mills all almost pertaining to the Temples and Colledges reuenew Each Trade in Fez hath a peculiar place allotted thereto the principall whereof are next the great Temple as Scriueners Booke-sellers c. euery Trade by themselues The Christian captiues rest only vpon Fridayes and eight other dayes in the yeere Festiual to the Moores There are six hundred Fountaines walled about the waters whereof are conueyed by Conduits to the Temples or other places because the Riuer is sometimes dry They haue in Fez a Iudge for Criminal Causes and another for Questions of Religion a third that deales in Matrimoniall Cases From these there lyeth an Appeale to the high Aduocate The Iudges of Mahomets Law in matters of conscience haue no allowance for the same Their Marriages are thus When the Father of the Maide hath espoused her to her Louer they goe with their friends to Church and haue with them two Notaries which draw the Couenants agreed betwixt them into writing The Father bestowes a Dowrie or Portion of Money Apparell and such like seldome of Land When the Bridegroome fetcheth her home she is set in a Cabinet couered with silke and carried by Porters accompanied with her kinsfolkes and much Minstrelsie and the Bridegroomes friends goe before with Torches and her kinsmen after toward the great Church Then hee hasteth home expecting his Bride in his Chamber whom her Father Brother and Vncle bring and deliuer to his Mother and he setting his foot on hers shues the Chamber doore at which a woman standeth and receiueth of him a Napkin stayned which she sheweth to the Assembly as a testimony of the Brides Virginitie But if shee bee not found a Maide shee is returned to hee Friends with shame and the guests goe home without their Feast They hold great feasting also at the Circumcision of their male-children which is the seuenth day after they are borne The Barber or Circumciser is presented with gifts of all the inuited guests Then followeth mirth and iollity They vse dancings but the women apart by themselues without men There is a remaynder of Holidayes instituted by the Christians which themselues vnderstand not On Christmas Euen they eat a Sallet made of diuers herbes and seethe all kinds of Pulse which they feed vpon On New-yeeres day the children goe with Maskes on their faces to the houses of Gentlemen and haue Fruits giuen them for singing certaine Songs On the Feast of Saint Iohn Baptist they vse to make Bone-fires They make a Feast called Dentista when their childrens teeth begin to grow vnto other children When a man dyes the women put on Sack-cloth and defile their faces with dirt They call to them those wicked men in womens attire which haue foure-square Drummes to the sound whereof they sing mournfull Ditties in prayse of the dead party At the end of euery Verse the women vtter most hideous shrikes and out-cries tearing their haire and beating their brests and cheekes till they be all embrued with bloud And thus they continue seuen dayes and then intermit their mourning forty dayes after which space they resume the same for three dayes as before But the better sort behaue themselues more modestly At this time all the Widdowes friends come about her to comfort her and send her diuers kindes of meats for in the mourning-house they may dresse no meate at all till the dead be carried out The woman which loseth her Father Brother or Husband neuer goes forth with the Funerall At some Festiuals the Youths of one Street will fight with Clubs against the Boyes of another Street and sometimes betake them to other Weapons and kill one another Sometimes they vse these bloudy Frayes without the City the Officers forcing them to better order There are many Poets which pen amorous Sonets and on Mahomets Birth-day make Verses in his commendation resorting early to the Palace and there ascending the Tribunall reade their Verses to the people and he whose Verses are best is pronounced that yeere Prince of Poets The Marin King on that day vsed to entertaine the learned men and to reward the best Poet with a hundred Ducats a Horse a Woman-slaue and the Kings Robes which hee wore that day In Fez are two hundred Grammar Schooles built like great Hals Euery day they learne one lesson of the Alcoran They reade and write not in Bookes but in great Tables In seuen yeeres they learne the whole Alcoran by heart And then the Father inuiteth his sonnes Schoole-fellowes to a Banquet and his Sonne rides through the street in costly apparell both which are lent by the Gouernour The other Boyes ride and sing Songs in prayse of God and Mahumet On Mahumets Birth-day euery Boy must carry a Torch to Schoole curiously wrought some weighing thirty pound which they light before day and let them burne till Sun-rising singing all the while the prayses of Mahumet The Schoolemasters haue the remnant of the Waxe which sometimes they sell for a hundred Ducats They are free Schooles anciently built In the Schooles and also in the Colledges they haue two dayes of recreation euery weeke wherein they neither teach nor studie §. III. Of their Diuiners and Sects and other parts of the Fezan Territorie THere be three kinds of Fortune-tellers or Diuiners One of which vseth Geomanticall figures others powre a drop of Oyle into a glasse of water which becommeth cleere as a Seeing-glasse in which they say they see strange sights rankes of Deuils like Armies some trauelling some passing ouer a Riuer c. When the Diuiner seeth them quiet he demandeth such questions of them as he will and the Deuils with gestures returne answere The third sort are Women-witches which make the people beleeue that they are acquainted with Deuils of diuers sorts red white blacke and when they will tell any mans fortune they perfume themselues with certaine Odours whereby as they say the Deuill entreth into them and their voyce is presently altered as if the Deuill spake within them And then they that come to enquire aske their questions and so hauing left their present for the Deuill depart These women vse vnlawfull lusts betweene themselues in mutuall filthinesse if faire women come to them they wil demand the Deuils fee that they may haue such dealing with them Yea some addicting themselues to these abominable practices will faine themselues sicke and send to one of these Witches which will affirme That shee
circumcised Both sexes are circumcised at eight dayes old and the males fortie dayes after the females fourescore vnlesse sicknesse hasten the same are baptized As for the rites of their Christianitie it belongeth not to this place to expresse Their circumcision Zabo saith is not obserued as if it made them more worthy then other Christians for they thinke to bee saued onely by Faith They vse this and distinctions of meates and Mosaicall rites yet so as he that eateth should not despise him that eateth not and not condemning others that refuse them but yet thinking that neither Christ nor the Apostles nor the Primitiue Church had disannulled them interpreting also the Scriptures to their purpose Of their agreeing with other Churches in the most points of substance the Author of the Catholike Traditions hath written and when I make a Christian Visitation of these parts it shall bee further discouered The succession is not tyed to the eldest but to him whom the father appointeth For Dauid which sent his Embassage to Portugall was the third sonne in order and for modestie in refusing to sit in his fathers Throne which in the same triall his other brethren had accepted was preferred to that which he had refused the other reiected for their forward acceptation The King offered the King of Portugall an hundred thousand drammes of gold and as many Souldiers towards the subduing of the Moores besides other things meete for the warre It seemes the difference of the Ethiopian and Popish superstition was the chiefe hinderance in this businesse neither partie being able if willing to reconcile their long-receiued differences from each other and the truth Eugenius the Pope and the King then named The Seed of Iacob had written to each other and Aluarez yeelded obedience to the Pope in the name of the Prete at Bologna in the presence of Pope Clement the seuenth and Charles the fift But all this sorted to none effect For Pope Paul the fourth sent an Ambassage to Claudius then the Abassine Emperour employing in the same thirteene Iesuites one of which was made Patriarke and two Bishops in their hopefull Ethiopian Hierarchie Ignatius the Founder of the Iesuites wrote a long Letter also which Maffaeus and Iarric haue inserted at large Thus in the yeere 1555. Iohn the third King of Portugall vndertooke the charges to conuey them thither and sent Consaluus Roterigius to prepare them way by a former Ambassage to Claudius whose eares hee found fast closed to such motions Whereupon the new Patriarke stayed at Goa and Ouiedus one of the Bishops with a Priest or two went thither where when they came they found Claudius slaine and his brother Adamas a cruell man and an Apostata sometimes from his Faith in the Throne Hee cast the new Bishop into bands and drew him into the warres with him where the Emperour was discomfited and he taken and stripped of all and at last miserably dyed and with him the hope of Romish Abassia Iohn Nounius Barretus the designed Patriarke refused as Maffaeus saith the Archbishoprick of Goa where his brother was Vice-roy and remayned subiect to the Iesuiticall Societie to his death In the yeere 1559. Ioannes Bermudesius returned to Lisbone He wrote a discourse of his Ambassage from the Ethiopian Emperour to Iohn the third King of Portugall and of his aduentures in those parts befallen him In which he relateth that Abuna Marcos being at the point of death An. 1535. the Emperour willed him to nominate his Successor whereupon hee appointed this Bermudez and ordered him with all sacred Orders which hee accepted vpon condition of the Popes confirmation whereto the Emperour consented desiring him to goe to Rome to giue obedience to the Pope and from thence to Portugall to conclude Tagazano so he calleth him his Ambassage Paul the third confirmed him Patriarke of Alexandria Hee apprehended Tagazano as Onadinguel enioyned and clapt Irons on him His Emperours request was a marriage to be had with the Kings sonne of Portugall the Ethiopian succession to remayne his Dowrie also to send men against Zeila and Pioners to cut thorow a Hill thereby to bring Nilus to annoy Egypt Foure hundred and fiftie were sent accordingly by Garcia of Noronya But Onadinguel was dead and Gradeus was Emperour who ouer-threw the Moores and slue the Kings of Zeila and of Aden This Emperour fell out with the Portugals and sent to Alexandria for another Abuna whose name was Ioseph so that none acknowledged Bermudez but the Portugals Sabellicus saith hee had conference with some Ethiopians which said that their Lord ruled ouer threescore and two Kings They called him Gyam which signifieth Mightie They wondered why the Italians called him a Priest seeing hee neuer receiued Orders onely he bestowed Benefices and is neither called Iohn nor Ianes but Gyam Some report of him things incredible as one Web an English man in his Tales of his Trauels Hee hath gold enough shut vp in a Caue to buy the moytie of the world as L. Regius affirmeth and can rayse an Armie of ten hundred thousand saith Sabellicus Yet the Pesants are not employed in militarie seruice but onely the Cauas which are men brought vp thereto They warre not in the Lent except against themselues with extremitie of fasting so weakning their bodies that the Moores make that their Haruest of Abissine captiues Of this their fasting Aluares saith that they begin their Lent ten dayes before vs and after Candlemasse fast three dayes in remembrance of Niniuehs repentance many Friars in that space eating nothing and some women refusing to suckle their children aboue once a day Their generall fast is bread and water for fish is not easily had they being farre from Sea and ignorant to take it Some Friars eate no bread all Lent long for deuotion some not in a whole yeere or in their whole life but feede on herbes without oile or salt that I speake not of their girdles of Iron and other their hardships which my pen would willingly expresse if my method forbade mee not This fasting as exposing their State to hostile inuasions and insolencies may finde place and mention here Their Friars and Priests in Lent eate but once in two dayes and that in the night Queene Helena that sent her Ambassadour to King Emanuel was reported to eate but three times a weeke on Tuesday Thursday and Saturday On Sundayes they fast not In Tigray and Tigremahon they fast neither Saturday nor Sunday and they marry because they haue two moneths priuiledge from fasting on Thursday before our Shrouetide They that are rich may there marry three wiues and the Iustice forbids them not onely they are excommunicated from entring the Church Some affirme that the Princes of Egypt haue time out of minde payed to Prester Iohn a great tribute continued by the Turkes which Luys saith is three hundred thousand Zequis euery Zequi being sixteene
Abassens and that these are more lately planted or ingrafted into the Ethiopian stock or stemme Yea for their Christianitie also howsoeuer the Eunuch of Candace was conuerted and the Apostolicall labours in Ecclesiasticall Histories mentioned might sort to good effect in this Ethiopian Haruest yet it seemeth the conuersion of this Nation was not generall till the dayes of Iustinian For so Nicephorus Callistus writeth That Dauid the King of the Axumite Indians why he calls them Indians you haue heard warring vpon the Homerites which professed the Iewish Religion vowed to the God of the Christians to become one of his followers if hee obtayned the victorie which accordingly he did For taking Danmus the Homerite King aliue he sent to Iustinian to further him in the performance of his vow who sent thither a holy Bishop which baptized the whole Nation It might be that the Ethiopians had before receiued the Gospell after which time the Abassens out of Arabia might conquer them and retayning their heathenish superstitions vpon occasion of this warre might bee conuerted as we reade of Clodoueus the first christned King of France and of the French notwithstanding the Galli had long before receiued Christianitie which might also bee paralleld in the Britans and Saxons inhabitants of this Land Howsoeuer it is likely that euer since this Nation hath continued Christian Of Hellesthaeus you haue seene before Procopius his testimonie As for their owne reports of themselues Zaga Zabo tells one tale Aluares another Friar Luys a third that we neede none other testimonie against them Their exceeding store of zeale and defect of learning with the good intents of piae fraudes to whet deuotion by any meanes and that selfe-loue which each both Person and Nation beares to it selfe haue made no doubt readie Inuenters and Receiuers of fables ascribing to themselues the stories of both the Queenes mentioned in the Old and New Testament the Sabaean and Ethiopian Antiquities and a world of other fancies which neuer in the world were done whereto the names of later Workes Cities Temples Orders and other occurrents haue beene applyed But it is time for our Pilgrim to passe further where yet he is like to speed worse and to find little truth of Ciuilitie or Religion CHAP. VII Of other Countries betweene the Red Sea and Benomotapa §. I. Of Adel Adea Zanzibar and Melinde EThiopia Exterior or Inferior is that Southerly Tract of Africa which to Ptolemey and the Ancients was vnknowne It comprehendeth all that great wedge of Land such is the forme which beginning in the West at the Countries aboue Zaire stretcheth to fiue and thirtie degrees of Southerly latitude and from thence Northwards to the entrance or mouth of the Arabian Gulfe all this way besieged and enuironed with the Ocean Maginus diuideth it into fiue parts Aian Zanguebar Benomoptapa Cafraria and Congo but Congo is here taken in a very large sense Aian after the Arabians account contayneth all that Region which lyeth betweene the mouth of the Red Sea and Quilimanci being for the most part on the Sea-coast inhabited by the said Arabians but in the In-land parts thereof are people which are a blacke heathenish Nation It comprehendeth two Kingdomes Adel and Adea the former of which extendeth from that mouth of the Sea before mentioned to the Cape Guardafu by Ptolemey called Aromata South and West it bordereth vpon the Dominions of Prete Ianni about the Kingdome of Fatigar The chiefe Citie is Arar Zeila also before spoken of and Berbora pertayne to this Kingdome Cities without the Streit on the Sea much frequented with Merchants Zeila is situate in eleuen degrees where Ptolemey placeth the Aualites It is stored with varietie of merchandize and yeeldeth some representation of Antiquitie in the buildings thereof consisting of lime and stone The King is a Moore and esteemed a Saint among the superstitious Mahumetans for his continuall warres with the Christian Abassines whence he transporteth innumerable slaues to the Arabians and Turkes receiuing in exchange armour and other helpes for his warres Anno 1541. Gradaameth the King before mentioned or Gradagna by the helpe of some Portugals which Claudius the Abassine had in his warres was slaine and his Armie ouerthrown but his successor An. 1559. slue Claudius in battaile and got as Iohn de Castro affirmeth the greatest treasure of the world the Moore acknowledging diuine assistance in this victorie triumphed on an Asse Zeila was burnt and sacked by the Portugals An. 1516. as Andrea Corsali who was then present in the action testifieth Adea is situate betweene Adel Abassia and the Sea The Inhabitants are Moores descended of the Arabians who many hundred yeeres agoe partly by their rich traffique and especially by force of armes became Lords not onely of Aian but of all the Sea-coast to Cape dos Corrientes which is somewhat to the South of the Southerly Tropicke In all which space before the Portugall Discoueries that part of the Cities which lay open to the Sea was open and vnfortified but toward the Land were walled for feare of the In-land people Adea payeth tribute to the Abassian In this Kingdome is Magadazzo being it selfe a petite Kingdome of the Moores which are of an oliue colour Braua was a free Towne which with Pate and Gogia were taken by the Portugals vnder Tristan de Cugna All the Countries adioyning to Prester Iohn as Dauid the Emperor in his Letter to King Emanuel relateth are either Moores or Gentiles of which some worship wood and fire some the Sunne others Serpents c. Zanzibar or Zanguebar is a name by the Arabians and Persians giuen to that Tract extending from the Riuer Qualimanci which Ptolemey calls Raptus to the borders of Benomotapa Some in a larger extent include Benomotapa and Cafraria Sanutus affirmeth That it is a lowe fenny and woody Countrie with many Riuers which by extremitie of moysture cause the ayre to bee intemperate From the waste vpwards they goe naked Herein are contayned the Territories of Melinde Mombaza Quiloa Mosambique and others Melinde is the name of a Kingdome and of the chiefe Citie thereof the Inhabitants especially neere to the Sea are Moores and build their houses after the manner of Europe The women are white and the men of colour inclining to white notwithstanding the situation vnder the Line They haue black people also which are Heathens for the most part Of like condition is Mombaza which is said to haue some resemblance with Rhodes but enemie to the Christians and was ruinated by Thomas Cotigno in the yeere 1589. for receiuing Alebech the Turke as Ampaza in the same Coast by Alphonso Mello a yeere or two before §. II. The Portugals exploits in Mombaza and of the Imbij THis Expedition deserues mention because it giues light to the knowledge of other parts adioyning The Portugals holding in manner all these Nations which inhabit from the Cape of Good Hope hitherto either in termes of
which I haue obserued in this long and tedious Pilgrimage there is some sparke left of Religion euen in the acknowledgement of a Deuill and of eternall rewards and punishments §. II. Of their Priests or Magicians THis is further confirmed by that which is written of certaine Magicians or Priests amongst them which perswade the people that they haue dealings with Spirits that by their meanes they haue their Roots and sustinance and may by them haue fortitude I saith Lerius was present at one of their Assemblies where sixe hundred were gathered together which diuided themselues into three parts the men went into one house the women into a second the children into a third The Cariabes forbade the women and children to depart their houses but to attend diligently to singing and we saith he were commanded to abide with the women Anon the men in one house fell to singing He He He answered by the women in the other with the same They howled it out for a quarter of an houre shaking their brests and foming at the mouth and as if they had had the falling sicknesse some falling downe in a swoune the Deuill in seeming entring into them The children also followed in the same harsh deuotions After this the men sung pleasantly which caused me to goe thither where I found them singing and dancing in three seuerall Rings in the middest of each three or foure Caraibes adorned with Hats and Garments of Feathers euery one hauing a Maraca or Rattle in both his hands These Rattles are made of a fruit bigger then an Ostriches Egge out of which they said that the Spirit would speake and they continually shooke them for the due consecration These Caraibes danced to and fro and blowed the smoke of Petum on the standers by saying Receiue yee all the Spirit of Fortitude whereby yee may ouercome your Enemies This they did often the solemnitie continued two houres the men ignorant of Musicke and yet rauishing my spirit with the delight I conceiued in their Song Their words sounded this that they were grieued for the losse of their Progenitors but were comforted in the hope that they should one day visit them beyond the Hils and then threatned the Ouetacates which dwell not far from them and are at enmitie with all their Neighbours as swift as Harts wearing their haire to the buttockes eating raw flesh and differing from all others in Rites and Language and now prophesied their destruction at hand Somewhat also they added in their Song of the floud that once had drowned all the World but their Ancestors which escaped by climbing high trees That day they feasted with great cheere This solemnitie is celebrated euery third yeere and then the Caraibes appoint in euery Family three or foure Maraca to bee adorned with the best Feathers and sticked in the ground with meate and drinke set before them and the people beleeue they eate it They minister vnto their Maraca fifteene dayes after which in a superstitious conceit they think that a Spirit speakes to them while they rattle their Maraca They were exceedingly offended if any tooke away any of this Prouision as the French sometimes did for which and denying other the Caraibes lyes those Priests hated them exceedingly Yet doe they not adore their Maraca or any thing else Peter Carder saith he could obserue no Religion amongst them but the worship of the Moone specially the New Moone whereat they reioyced leaping singing and clapping of hands Stadius tels as you heard that they ascribed his taking to the prediction of Maraca Hee tels of their consecration that the Paygi so hee cals them enioyne that euery one should carry their Tamaraka to the house where they should receiue the faculty of speech Euery ones Rattle is pitched in the ground by the steele or stalke and all of them offer to the Wizard which hath the chiefe place Arrowes Feathers and Eare-rings he that breathes Petum on euery Rattle puts it to his mouth shakes it and saith Nec Kora that is Speake if thou be within anon followeth a squeaking voyce which I saith Stadius thought the Wizard did but the people ascribed it to the Tamaraka Then those Wizards perswade them to make warres saying that those spirits long to feed on the flesh of Captiues This done euery one takes his Rattle and builds vp a Roome for it to keepe it in where he sets victuals requireth and asketh all necessaries thereof as we doe of God and these as Stadius affirmeth are their Gods These Paygi doe initiate Women vnto Witchcraft by such Ceremonies of smoke dancing c. till shee fall as in the Falling sicknesse and then hee sayth hee will reuiue her and make her able to foretell things to come and therefore when they goe to the Warre they will consult with these Women which pretend conference with Spirits Andrew Theuet which was in this Antarctike France with Villagagnon agreeth in many of the former Reports he addeth that for feare of Aignan they will not goe out but they will carry fire with them which they thinke forceable against him He writes that they acknowledge a Prophet called Toupan which they say makes it thunder and raine but they assigne no time nor place to his worship They tell of a Prophet which taught them to plant their Hetich or Root which they cut in pieces and plant in the Earth and is their chiefe food of which they haue two kinds The first Discouerers they much honoured as Caraibes or Prophets and as much haue distasted the Christians since calling them Mahira the name of an ancient Prophet detested by them But Toupan they say goeth about and reuealeth secrets to their Caraibes Theuet addes that they obserue Dreames and their Payges or Caraibes professe the interpretation of them which are also esteemed as Witches which conferre with Spirits and vse to hurt others with the poyson called Ahouay a kind of Nut. They doe a kind of worship to these Payages and will pray them that they may not bee sicke and will kill them if they promise falsly In their consultations they will prouide a new lodging for the Wizard with a cleane white bed and store of Cahouin which is their ordinary drinke made by a Virgin of ten or twelue yeeres old and of their Root-food into the which they conuey him being before washed hauing abstained nine dayes from his Wife Then doth he lye on that Bed and inuocate none being with him in the House and rayseth his Spirit called Hauioulsira which sometimes as some Christians affirmed to our Authour appeareth so as all the people may heare though they see him not And then they question him of their successe in their enterprises They beleeue the soules Immortality which they call Cherepiconare with rewards to the valiant Man-eaters in goodly Paradises and Agnans punishments to others But his boldnesse makes me the lesse bold in following him in these and other things which I
the Day which the Lord hath made wee will reioyce and bee glad in it And now I see a better sight then all my Pilgrimage could yeeld Christian Churches without Heathenish Iewish or Antichristian pollutions a Royall King truely entituled Defender of the Faith a Learned Clergie wise and Honourable Counsellers peaceable and loyall Commons in a word England presents it selfe to mine eyes representing to my mind a Map of Heauen and Earth in the freedome of Bodie and Soule yea where our subiection and seruice is Freedome which I haue not else-where found in all my Perambulation of the World I feele my selfe herewith rauished and in a ioyfull extasie cannot but crie out It is good for vs to bee heere in the true Church and Suburbs of the true Heauen Heere then Reader let me rest me till I see whether thy kind acceptation of this will make mee willing to accept another and neerer but harder European Pilgrimage Trin-vni Deo gloria TWO RELATIONS ONE OF THE NORTHEASTERNE PARTS EXTRACTED OVT OF SIR IEROME HORSEY KNIGHT HIS many yeeres obseruations and experience in his frequent and Honourable Employments to and from the Muscouite Emperours and the adioyning PRINCES THE OTHER OF THE SOVTHEASTERNE Parts viz. GOLCHONDA and other adiacent Kingdomes within the Bay of Bengala Written by Mr. William Methold MOLLIA CVM DVRIS LONDON Printed by William Stansby for Henry Fetherstone and are to bee sold at his shop in Pauls Church-yard at the signe of the Rose 1626. To the Reader REader I here present vnto thee in a later seruice that which deserued a fitter place in another Worke and which I had sought with much industrie before without successe I am ashamed againe to tell thee with what little effect my Russian labours for Intelligence were seconded but since my PILGRIMES published Sir Ierome Horseys kindnesse offered me without seeking better Intelligence then any others could haue giuen for the times of Iuan and Feodore with the politike preparations of Boris vnto the Muscouian Empire a Story whereof I was so much more desirous to publish because our Age if euer so short a time in any Age or any State can hardly parallel the like practises of humane Policies to couetous cruell ambitious ends ended in the Authours and Actors owne Tragedies God taking the wise in their craftinesse and iustly spoyling the vniust spoylers of their spoyles liues states yea rooting out their whole Families the greatnesse and glory whereof they had sought to aduance by such wicked courses and withall punishing the wickednes of the people by so frequent forreigne Inuasions and intestine Combustions that wee may out of others euils learne this good Discite iustitiam moniti the true vse of all Historie I had out of Alexander Gwagninus Paulus Oderbornius and others collected some Relations of Iuan Vasiliwich and his Sonnes but those could see but the out-sides of things and giue vs but huskes shels and rumours which often are vncertaine sometimes false but here wee present an Eye-witnesse which tooke not vp Newes on trust by wonted Bils and Tales of Exchange but was admitted vnto the Mysteries of that State in the Historie of the Imperiall Acts written in their Records and in his owne personall and honourable Employments betwixt Queene Elizabeth of glorious Memory and the Russian Emperours And indeed want of the Languages of remote Regions hath hatched many imperfect Histories the blind leading the blind into errour wherein as I haue euer loued truth so was I glad to rectifie our Russian Relations by opportunitie of so worthy a Guide whose Papers had before furnished Doctor Fletcher with the best peeces of his Intelligence Euen here also I was straitned in time the Presse pursuing me so fast that I had not leisure to transcribe at large the Authours Danish Polish and Germane Relations nor to adde forme or beauty from Arte and perhaps this natiue nakednesse in a Iournall or Trauelling Method will be to some most acceptable The Author and matter addes better lustre to the Worke then my words can the one so full of varietie and weight the other an experienced and Religious Knight employed in many and honourable Seruices of State and honouring the Name and Family of the Horseys with his Acts Arts and good Parts Who had long since also dedicated this Worke to that Honourable Patriote Sir Francis Walsingham Now for Master Methold I had spared some of Frederikes Balbies and Fitches Relations if these had comne in time which so many times I had both by messages and in person sought and by reason of the Authours absence or businesses was frustrate But the Reader will finde his labour and cost recompensed in the Rarities of matter and stile also trauelling beyond the wonted pace of a Merchant-Traueller The Relation is correspondent to the Subiect it entreates of a Mine of Diamants and is a Mine of Diamants it selfe Gemmes may bee put on after the whole bodie so I call my former large Worke is attired and after that full repast as Indian Drugs vsed in second Seruices it will second thee with a new and refresh thee with a fresh Indian appetite and present vnto thee like Spectacles after great Feasts such a muster of Indian Elements affaires men arts Religions customes and other varieties as before we were not able to bring on our Stage Vale fruere EXTRACTS OVT OF SIR IEROME HORSEYS OBSERVATIONS IN SEVENTEENE YEERES TRAVELS AND EXPERIENCE IN RVSSIA AND OTHER COVNTRIES ADIOYNING Hauing before seene FRANCE and the Low Countries by Sir EDWARD HORSEYS meanes and in the company and charge of Master William Mericke Agent for the Company I Arriued in Muscouia A. 1573. and hauing some smack in the Greeke by affinity thereof in short space attained the ready knowledge of their vulgar speech the Sclauonian Tongue the most copious elegant Language of the World with some small difference of Dialect comming neere the Polish Lettois and Transyluanian and all those Countries adiacent being vsed by Merchants in Turkie also Persia in India I read their Chronicles written and kept in secret by a great Prince of that Country Knez Misthislofskie who out of his loue and fauour imparted vnto mee many secrets obserued in the memory of his fourescore yeeres time of the nature and gouernment of that State To omit things of former ages Vasily Andreowich hauing enlarged his Dominions vpon the Pole and Swethen and specially on the Crimme Tartars left his people strong and rich his Countries diuided into foure parts and two Sonnes the eldest of fiue yeeres called Volica Knez Iuan Vasilliwich which reigned after him the other of two yeeres Duke of Vaga Iuan grew vp comely in person indued with excellent gifts At twelue yeeres age he married Nastacia Romanoua which became so wise and vertuous that she was much loued and feared a long time carrying the whole sway Her Husband being young and riotous she ruled with admirable wisdome so that he
such extreame want and famine in most of it that Parents haue brought thousands of their young children to the Sea side selling there a child for fiue Fanums worth of Rice transported from thence into other parts of India and sold againe to good aduantage if the gaines be good that ariseth from the sale of Soules In this Kingdome lyeth the Towne of Saint Thome inhabited and gouerned by Portugals who notwithstanding must acknowledge some dependency from the Naicke that holds that part of the Countrey of whom after some siege endured by them they were enforced about three yeeres since to buy their peace with a summe of money for their Towne is onely fortified towards the Sea but to Landwards no otherwise then with their houses which are built strong close and defensible Not farre from Saint Thome lyeth Pallecat a badde Neighbour to the Portugall since the Dutch possessed their Castle in that place for with shipping great and smal which they constantly kept vpon that Coast they so scowre it that a Portugall Frigat stirre not but in the confidence of her better sayling nor dares anchor before the Towne for feare of being fetcht from thence but if they escape at Sea either vnseene or by their speed they presently vnlade haling their Ships on shoare close vnder the wall from whence it followeth the trade of that place is so much decayed that the Portugall Inhabitants are become much impouerished wherein it is worth the obseruation to consider their malice punished in the effect of it for the Hollanders after some experience of the trade in India finding Commodities of Saint Thome and that Coast to be very vendible and to good profit in the Moluecoes Banda Amboyna Iaua Sumatra and other those Easterne parts procured from the last King of Bisnagar free Commerce in his Countrey and to that purpose setled at first a Factory in Pallecut where they left sixe or seuen Hollanders to negotiate their Affaires but the Portugals of Saint Thome not brooking any Christian Corriuall so neere them in the same course of trade came downe with their whole power of Frigats and landing at Pallecut they assaulted the Dutch House which was for a time resolutely defended vntill some being slaine the rest yeelded after promise of life and good quarter but were carried Prisoners to Saint Thome from whence with much difficulty some escaped and amongst them the chiefe Factor from whose Relation I insert this Discourse The King vpon knowledge of this assault and the Hollanders instant Suite to bee better secured permitted them to build a Fort conditionally that the one halfe of the Souldiers should be of his Subiects which tooke place and the Fort being finished It was deuided and halued betwixt the Gentiles and Hollanders vntill many differences arising amongst so different Cohabitants the King called away his people leauing the Fort wholy in the Dutches power which since they haue enlarged and strengthened and now call it Gueldrea wherein since the Treaty of 1619 our Nation for the moyetie of an oppressed trade haue borne the vttermost charge of halfe the Garrison without participation of such benefits as in equity ought to ensue but my affection to that Nation and the condition of the times forbids me to aggrauate or adde to our iust quarrell for their vniust and cruell proceedings in Amboyna So that now the Portugals in place of Neighbouring Merchants whom they disturbed are galled with a Garrison of profest Enemies whom they cannot remooue for their owne power is not sufficient and assistance from the Vice-roy they shall not haue if their present ruines were in question because they neither assist in person or contribution the generall Affaires of India but are with their consorts the Portugals inhabiting Bengala accounted Leuantadoes del Rey exempted from their Princes protection Onely they haue to their power incensed some of the Naickes against the Hollanders who about foure yeares since with sixe thousand men besieged Pallecut but at such distance and with so little aduantage that an easie composition raysed the siege and little of that giuen by the Hollanders but from the Natiues subsisting vnder their protection ouer whom they pretend no Souereignetie exact no Duties nor prescribe no Lawes contenting themselues in confronting the Portugall and negotiating their Affaires of Merchandizing In sixteene degrees and a halfe lyeth Musulipatnam the chiefe Port of the Kingdome of Golchonda where the Right Worshipfull East Indian Company haue their Agent and seuerall Factories in that place and Petapoley first protected and setled by Peter Willemson Floris and Lucas Anthonison who in the employment of English Aduenturers arriued there about thirteene yeares since in the Globe of London since which time Commerce hath beene continued in those parts and amongst other their Seruants my selfe receiued their employment and from almost fiue yeares residence in that place at the request of the Authour of this laborious Volume am emboldened to publish such remarkable things as haue falne within the compasse of my obseruation It is a small Towne but populous vnwalled ill built and worse situated within all the Spring are brackish and without ouer-flowed with euery high Sea for almost halfe a mile about It was first a poore Fisher Towne from whence it tooke the name it yet retaynes afterwards the conueniencie of the Road made it a fit Residence for Merchants and so continueth with increase of Trade since our and the Dutch Nation frequented this Coast The Climate is very healthfull and the yeere deuided in their account into three different seasons whereof March Aprill May and Iune they call the hote season and not without good cause for the Sunne being returned into their Hemisphere doth not alone scortch the Earth with his piercing beames but euen the winde which should asswage his fury addes greater fire and yeerely about mid May with a strong Westerly gale brings off the Land a sensible heat as when a house is on fire such as are neere to Leeward can hardly endure and this so penetrateth that the doores and windowes being shut the houses are notwithstanding so warmed that the chaires and stooles admit hardly the vses they were made for without cooling them and the place where we abide by often sprinkling of water but the extremity hereof neyther lasteth long nor commeth often onely fiue or seuen dayes in a yeere and then but from nine or ten a clocke in the forenoone vntill foure or fiue in the afternoone at which time a coole breeze from off the Sea qualifies againe this intollerable heat wherein many of the natiues are in their trauell suffocated and perish And of Christians a Dutchman as hee was carried in his Palamkeene and an Englishman walking but from the Towne to the Barre little aboue an English mile dyed both in the way The rest of these foure moneths are very hote farre exceeding the hottest day in our Climate and would so continue but that in Iuly
Otsman Sonne of Affan first couered it with a Carpet This yeere also was fought the Battell of Chaibar and M. tooke many Forts and possessed their Riches Hee straitly besieged two Castles Watitia and Selalima that they were forced to sue to him to spare their lines and to let them remayne in their Countrey which he granted on condition to pay yeerely halfe their Dates and to be at his pleasure cast forth The Inhabitants of Badra hearing this concluded on like conditions to which he yeelded The Iewes also remayned vnder the same league vntill the Raigne of Omar Sonne of Alchittabi who after that he vnderstood that M. of glorious memory had said in his sicknesse that two Religions might not concurre in Arabia he cast them thence The same yeere Zeinaba Daughter of Alharit a Iewesse brought him a poysoned Sheepe of which eating he said this ioynt tels me that it is poysoned In the eight yeere he tooke Mecca For the Coraisites had broken their league and M. went against them with ten thousand Muslims til he came to Marwuttahran and his Vncle Abbas Sonne of Abdulmutalib came to him with Abusofian Sonne of Harith and beleeued And he said He which shall enter the house of Abusofian shall be secure and he which shall shut his doore shall be safe And he entred Mecca without Battell and all the people thereof beleeued except a few which he slue It was taken the one and twentieth of Ramadan The Battell of Honania a famous Valley was fought this yeere For when the Hawazines had vnderstood that Mecca was taken they assembled to Melic Sonne of Auf the Tekifians adioyning themselues with their wiues and goods M. went out against them with twelue thousand men and the victorie at first was with the Infidels but after the Muslims preuailed which put them to flight and spoyled their goods which were sixe thousand Kine foure and twenty thousand Goats forty thousand Sheepe and foure thousand ounces of Siluer 90. of the Tsekifians were slaine and but foure Muslims The captiues and spoiles were gathered together at Giaran whither hauing besieged Taijfa and left it he came and was sought to by the Embassadors of the Hawazines for the restitution of their wiues saying they were his Ants whereupon he gaue them the choise of their wiues and children and of their wealth They chose their wiues and children which hee deliuered The same yeere Melic Sonne of Auf came to him to Giaran and beleeued whereupon hee restored him his goods He set ouer Mecca Gaiat Sonne of Ased In the ninth yeere was fought the battell of Tebuc and M. made peace with the Prince of Dauma and the Prince of Eila on condition to pay him tribute Hauing staid ten dayes at Tebuc he departed to Medina in the moneth Regieb And that was his last warre in which Otsman Sonne of Affan bestowed a thousand pieces of Gold on his Army This yeere the Taijfians embraced Islamisme ouer whom he set Otsman Sonne of Abulafi and he sent Abusofian to destroy their warlike prouisions In the tenth yeere the Arabs came to him very frequent and men embraced Islamisme and his word was confirmed The same yeere Musuleima the false Prophet rebelled which said he was his fellow Prophet and was followed by his friends the children of Hanifa of Iamama The same yeere M. of glorious memory went on Pilgrimage to Mecca into which he entred the tenth day of Dulhiggia and when he had taught men and instructed them in Religion he returned to Medina In the eleuenth yeere appeared the false Prophet Aswad the Absite in Arabia Foelix and said he was a Prophet and tooke Sanaa Nazran and the Countrey of Taijf and when he grew famous Fir Dailam slue him in his house The same yeere Muhammed of glorious memory dyed For hauing returned from his Pilgrimage to Mecca and stayed at Medina till the eight and twentieth day of the moneth Safar he began to be sicke and he commanded Abubecr to pray with the people and they prayed seuenteene Prayers He dyed on Munday the twelfth of the former Rab aged sixty three yeeres or after others sixty fiue Hee was of very good wit of a pleasant voice visiting and intertaining his which visited and entertained him liberall to the poore lauding the Great men conuersing with the meane and not repelling any Sutor without his request or a kind answere His Scribes were Otsman Sonne of Affan and Ali Sonne of Abutalib Sometimes also Vbaharat Sonne of Caab and Zeid Sonne of Thebith writ for him Muauias also Chalid Alan and Chantal Abdalla Sonne of Abusierh writ likewise for him which Apostated from Islamisme to the Infidels but Otsman in time of victory sued for his pardon which M. granted hauing before determined to shed his bloud Zubeir Sonne of Awan and Giehem Sonne of Safwan writ downe his Almes Hadikas Son of Semal his store of Dates Mugiras Son of Soicab and Husein Son of Iaman his Iudicials and Imperials Abdalla Sonne of Arkam answered to the Letters of Princes Iudges in his time were ouer the oath Ali Son of Abutalib Maab Son of Habal of Medina and Abumousa the Asiarite ouer the Pardon Anis Son of Melic ouer his Guard Cais Son of Said of Medina His Banner was white his lesse Standard black it was ingrauen with his Scale FOR DOVBLE TESTIMONIE His Porter was Bilal Gouernours when he dyed Gaiat at Mecca Alan at Bahrain Otsman at Taijf Omar at Sanaa and Giened Chalid Sonne of Said ouer the Villages of Arabia Foelix Abusofian at Giuresia and Ali Sonne of Mina in a tract of Arabia Foelix Muhammed dyed according to the Arabian computation in the yeere of the Sunne from Adam 6123. nine moneths and fourteene dayes ten yeeres of the Hegira reckoned according to the course of the Moone and seuenty dayes being past that is nine yeeres of the Sunnes course eleuen moneths one day lesse 3614. dayes in all the first of which was Thursday the last Munday The Histories of the Christians write that he was gentle toward Christians and when some of them had comne to him and desired security hee imposed tribute on them blessed them receiued them into his tuition and commanded Omar to say to them we haue their soules in the same account that we haue our owne soules and their riches as our riches and their chances as ours The Author of the Booke Almuhaddib writeth this and from him the famous man Abuhanifa citeth it treating of a Muslim killing a Christian And when a certaine great man a Christian came to him he arose and did him reuerence and answered to one questioning it When any principall man of any people come to you honour him Hee said also Doe good to the Cophtis of Egypt for they are of kinne to you He which oppresseth a Christian shall haue him his Aduersary in the Day of Iudgement And hee which hurteth a Christian hurteth me In the first yeere of the
or 298. dayes Abdulmelic was inaugurated the same day holding the Mushaf in his bosome The same sixty fifth yeere he enlarged the Temple at Ierusalem and men began to goe thither in Pilgrimage and hee forbade Pilgrimage to Mecca because of Abdalla Sonne of Zubeir Hee would haue perswaded the Christians of Damascus to yeeld him the house next the Cathedrall Church but they shewed the Charter of Walid whereupon he offered them much money and liberty to build another like it where they would but they refused he left them A. 66. arose Muchtar Sonne of Abuobeid at Cufa requiring the bloud of Husein to whom the Citizens sware and besieged Obeidalla who obtayned security of Muchtar pretending that hee would call to the Empire Muhammed Sonne of Hanifa of happy memory intending indeed to draw it to himselfe hauing before done much spoyle on the Citizens The same yeere the horsemen of Muchtar and Obeidalla had a cruell battell and Obeidallas men ranne away Then Muchtar sent to Ainwerd seuen thousand horse vnder Ibrahim against Obeidalla after whose departure the people of Cufa mutined against Muchtar and had well neere slaine him insomuch that he sent backe for Ibrahim who set vpon them with his Army and slue two hundred and fifty of them which had warred vpon Husein and persecuted the rest with death and exile The same yeere Abdalla Sonne of Zubeir cast Muhammed Sonne of Hanifa with seuenteene of his house into Prison and threatned to put them to death except they sware to him in such a space Muhammed meane while sent to Muchtar who sent him 150. horsemen which entred Mecca crying reuenge of Husein and came to the Well Zemzem They brake the Prison and brought forth Muhammed and receiued new supplies from Muchtar and terrified the Sonne of Zubeir whom Muhammeds company being foure thousand would haue assaulted but hee permitted them not An. 67. Muchtar sent Ibrahim with seuenty thousand against Obeidalla which slue 10300. of Obeidallas men and tooke Singiar Nasibin and Dara Masab Son of Zubeir in his brothers name Gouernour of Basra went that yeere with a great Army to Cufa against Muchtar and after a great battell put him to flight and destroyed him and his in the moneth Ramadan Masab hauing thus obayned Irac inuited Ibrahim to obedience which hee performed Hee set Mahleb Sonne of Abusafia ouer Mausil Mesopotamia Aderbigiana and Armenia An. 68. the Azrakaeans came out of Persia into Irac a Charisaean Nation entred Medaijn tooke Ahwaz and the Countrey subiect to it But Masab sent Mahleb which slue many of them and after that Omar which fought with them at Naisabur and ouerthrew them and they went backe to Isfahan and to Carmania whence with encreased forces they returned but were forced backe by Omar hauing before slaine the women and children Anno 69. Abdulmelic Sonne of Merwan went from Damascus to make warre vpon Abdalla Sonne of Zubeir and substituted Omar Sonne of Saad at Damascus in his place which presently rebelled and fortified himselfe whereupon Abdulmelic returned and besieged Damascus Omar sent to him and obtayned security but when he came to him he slue him and quieted his partakers with distribution of money Anno 71. Masab was slaine by Abdulmelic in battell and he entred Cufa and his Empire was established in Irac Syria and Egypt only Higiaz remayned in the hand of Abdalla Sonne of Zubeir whom Hagiagi Son of Ioseph soone after besieged and slue at Mecca which hee also tooke after seuen moneths siege and battered Caab the fortification of Abdalla with Engines and threw into it balls of Pitch and fire to destroy the houses When Abdalla feared the house or Temple lest it should fall he entred his owne house his mother encouraged him to goe forth if hee died he should die a Martyr he answered O mother I feare not death but dismembring A sheepe said she when shee is killed feeleth not the flaying Hee is said to haue drunke a pound of Muske and then going forth to be slaine and his head fastned on the gate and his crucified body smelled of Muske many dayes The same yeere Abdulmelic made his brother Muhammed Sonne of Merwan Gouernour of Aderbigiana Mesopotamia and Armenia who sent a hundred thousand against the Harari which were all slaine Muhammed much mooued went with forty thousand and ouerthrew the Harari and burned them in their Temples He sent also Muslima to the Gate of Gates where he besieged eighty thousand Harari of whom he slue many and the rest beleeued The Azrakeans did and suffered much harme and change Anno. 74. Hagiagi was made Gouernour of Medina who went to Mecca and destroyed all the fortification of Caab and Anno 75. was set ouer Irac He came to Cufa and sent helpe to Mahleb against the Azrakeans and chased them Anno 76. Salih Sonne of Margi and Siabib Charisaeans conspired Salih was called Emperour of the faithfull by his followers They spoyled Mesopotamia and increased in power and often ouerthrew the Armies of Hagiagi hauing but small forces With a thousand hee went to Cufa and ouerthrew Hagiagi which came against him with fiftie thousand and had the spoyle of his Tents But in a Sea fight Sahibs ship sunke and he said When God disposeth any thing it commeth to passe and rising againe out of the water he said This is the power of the strong and wise God He was drawne out with Nets and his head sent to Hagiagi his heart they cut in sunder and found it hard and compact like a stone Mahleb went against the Azrakaeans which withstood Catris their Gouernour and slue many of them Catris fled to Tabristan whose King was Ashid a Magus that is of the old Persian Religion and obtained leaue to enter his countrey which hauing obtained and setled his affaires hee sent to Ashid demanding that either he would embrace Islamisme or pay tribute which he refused Whereupon he made warre on him and chased Ashid to Raija who got helpe of the Muslims and Catris was slaine The same yeere Coines of Gold and Staters were stamped with Arabike Letters for before the Letters were Roman and the Staters also Persian the inscription was God is the Lord Anno 81. Muhammed Son of Hanifa of happy memory died But many of the vulgar beleeue that he still liueth in the Mount Radwa and will one day appeare and fill the Earth with Iustice as it is now filled with iniquity Of this Sect was D. Hamiraeus which after met with a true man who instructed him of the vanity thereof Anno 82. Hagiagi had sent Abdurrahman Sonne of Muhammed against Zentil King of Turkes with a small power secretly animating the Turke against him purposing to destroy him which he reuealed to his followers who thereupon deposed Hagiagi and sware to him He compounded with the Turke and returned to warre on Hagiagi Hee obtained aide of Ahdulmelic out of Syria Basra and Cufa sware to
the Chalif dyed hauing enioyed that place foure and twenty yeeres three moneths He loued learned men forbad wrongs was eloquent and much in Almes A Note of the Authours Parentage IN the time of Biamrilla one Tijb a Syrian Merchant a Christian came into Egypt and abode at Alcahir His Sonne Carwijn was a Notarie and followed the Court got a Sonne which he called Abultijb which also proued a Notary of note at Elcahir and serued the Arabike Senate He had fiue Sonnes of which foure were made Bishops but Abulmecarim the youngest delighted in Husbandry and breeding of cattell and had aboue a thousand Hiues of Bees Hee married the Sister of Simeon a Notary which serued Ioseph Saladine Anno 569. and after betooke him to a Monasterie in the mids whereof he inclosed himselfe in a place which he had builded and therein liued aboue thirty yeeres Macarim had three Sonnes the second of which Abuliaser Elamid was the Father of the Chronicle Writer Macarem succeeded Simeon when he became an Heremite in his Notaries place in the Court vnder King Abubecr Elaadil Seiffuddin Sonne of Iob and dyed Anno 636 God rest all their soules A continuation of the former Storie out of Mirkond the Persian and Abraham Zacuth a Iew to the end of the Chalifa's IN Mustafirs time Bagdad was ruined by the ouerflowing of Tigris whereupon it was remoued and new builded on the East side of the Riuer where it stands more commodiously then before It is remarkable of fiue and twenty Chalifas since the foundation that none dyed therein The Astrologers had threatned saith Zacuth a floud next to that of Noah then said one of them there were seuen Planets in coniunction with Piscis now but sixe whereupon they feared the low situation of Bagdad and stopped the water-passages Also the Ismaelites which went on Pilgrimage on deuotion to their Sanctuary were most of them drowned The Chalifa honoured that Astrologer with Royall Vests Toledo Sicilia and some Cities of Africa were recouered from the Saracens by the Christians Mustcali King of Egypt dyed Elamir Bahachan fiue yeeres old succeeded Aphtzala the Visir gouerning Musterasched Sonne of Mustetaher succeeded his Father in the Chalifate Anno Hegira 512. He made warre with Masud Saliuaui King of Korasan and was by him taken and slaine An. 529. Raschid or Rached succeeded in the Chalifate quarrell and successe Masud came to Bagdad and made Almoctafy Billa Chalifa who after Masuds death warred on the Persian Prouinces where he recouered much with little labour Noradin got Halep and the parts adioyning on Antioch Elaphit succeeded Elamir his Father in Egypt after him Ettaphar who being slaine Elphais a child of fiue yeeres whom the Wisir enthronized Noradin tooke Damascus An. 552. great Earthquakes in Syria An. 554. great inundation at Bagdad and other Cities Anno 555. Muktaphi the Chalifa dyed Musteneged or Almostanget Billa Issuf his Sonne succeeded Elphaiz King of Egypt dyed and his Sonne Etzar ledin illuhi last of the Phetinaeans succeeded Asareddin Schirachocz succeeded one of the Curdi Noradin sent his Wisir and subdued Egypt Yet Iusuph Asar Eddius brothers Sonne was constituted King of Egypt by the Chalifa Baharon succeeded Masud in Korasan a learned man which writ Bookes in Philosophy He was martiall also and made some enterprizes in India and Persia Kozrao his Sonne followed but by reason of some broyles went to Lahor in India and there dyed Anno 555. His Sonne Kozrao Melic succeeded in Lahor In him the Sabutiquis ended Anno 563. The Chalipha dyed suffocated in a bath Anno 566. His Sonne Mustetzi succeeded in whose time the Chaliphas of Bagdad were restored in Egypt which the Phetimaeans had before abolished He dyed Anno 575. Natzar his Sonne succeeded Saladine recouered Ierusalem A. Hegira 586. and conquered all the Cities of Mesopotamia to Nisibis He dyed Anno 589. His Kingdome was diuided amongst his three Sonnes Elaphatzal had Damascus and Palaestina Elachiz Egypt Taher Giazi Halep The Tartars made prey of Turon and Agem Natzar dyed Anno 622. and Taher his Sonne enioyed the place nine moneths In this time flourished in Egypt Rabbenu Mose Sonne of Maimon of Corduba Mustenatzer succeeded a iust Prince and Almesgiuer which built many Schooles The Tartars ouerranne Asia Russia Polonia and vexed Germany another Army inuaded Syria Baba professed himselfe a Prophet sent of God and gathering rude multitudes to him filled Asia with slaughter and emptinesse till hee was slaine by Gyatheddin King of Gunia The Chaliph dyed Anno 640. and his Sonne Musteatzem succeeded the last of the Chaliphas of Bagdad slaine by Halocho the Tartar Anno 655. Elmutam King of Egypt by the Turkes conspiracie was driuen into a Towre which they set on fire to auoyde which hee leaped into the water vnderneath and was both scorched and drowned Thence forwards the Slaues Mamalukes tuled in Egypt At the conquest of Bagdad the Tartars are said to haue slaine in those parts 1600000. persons A briefe continuation of the Saracens in Spaine out of Rodericus Toletanus and others to the failing of the Ommian Race and Empire THe Saracens did not so extirpate Christianitie in their Conquests but that such as would bee subiect to their Tributes and Exactions might enioy their consciences whereupon not only Asia remayned in great part Christian till the Tartarian Deluge and some also till this day in Nestorian Armenian Iacobite and other Sects but euen in Africa where blacke darknesse most preuailed on mens bodies and soules some Christians continued and doe to this day thorow so many Saracenicall Generations In Marocco in the times of Ferdinand the holy and of Iohn the first diuers Christian Families were found and in Tunis also when Charles the fift in the former age conquered it aboue eight hundred yeeres after the first conquest by Muhammedans Their course as is in Turkie now is by degrees with discountenance disgrace and oppression of their persons and exaltation of their owne which rather vnrippeth then renteth asunder and vntieth then with Sword of extremest Persecuion choppeth in sunder that knot of Christian Religion herein the Westerne Antichrist being the more dangerous enemy to Christian veritie as more in shew pretending but more eagerly and irreconciliably with open warres tumultuous Massacres and direct-indirect workings and vnderminings seeking to extirpate the contrary profession Brethren falne out are the most implacable enemies In Spaine also so few Arabians could not people so large a Countrey but a deluge of African Grashoppers leaped ouer that Sea with them and although 700000. are said to haue beene slaine in that first Spanish Inuasion yet the rest enioyed their Churches and Deuotions still with Tributes In Toledo they had seuen Christian Churches left them with Iudges of their owne Nation and Religion These Christians were called Musarabes of Musa the first Conquerour and Arab-African Commander which sent Taric thither whose Lyturgie is
a Iewish Dreame of her 160 Rebellions at Cufa 1022 Reconciliation-Fast 112. 197 198 Rechabites 125 Red Sea or Arabian Gulfe 582 seq Ilands therein ibidem Red Sea why so called 775. seq The chiefe Townes and Ilands in the Red Sea 777 sequitur Reisbuti or Rasboots a people subiect to the Mogoll 534. Their Countrey Religion and Rites 535. 536 Religion whence the word deriued 17. 18. How differing from Superstition called Ean-fastnesse 18. Described ibidem The vse thereof 26. It is naturall to men ibid. It is not policie nor by policie can bee abolished 27. True Religion can bee but one 27. 28 Men will rather be of false then no Religion ibidem 301 391 Religion the most mortall Make-bate 75. What was the Religion of the World before the Floud 28. 29. Whom the Heathens cal-Religious 46. Peruerters of Religion 55. 70. 75. Times religius obserued in China 47 Religions of Christians Moores and Ethnicks compared for store of followers 320 Reliques of the Arke 35. Of Mahumetans 281. Of an Apes Tooth 295. Of the Ship Argo 320. Of Adams foot-print 381 Repentance 257 Resurection denyed by the Sadduces 138. By the Samaritans ibid. Confessed by the Ancient Pharisees 126. Their three opinions thereof ibid. Denyed to Vsurers 257. Of women in male sexe 261. Resurrection of Birds and Beasts 314. Turkish opinion of the Resurrection 313 Rhameses an Aegyptian King 632 Rheubarb plentifull 413 Rhinoceros of Bengala 509 Rhinoceros of the Aire a Fowle 742. And of the Sea ibid. Rice plenteous in Pegu 498. 499 Rich Carpet 1019 Riphath and Riphaean Hils 37 Rimmon an Idoll of the Syrians 74 Rings worne in Eares Nose and Lips 873 Riuers worshipped 509. 510 Riuers of Paradise 18. Of Adonis 78. Of Iordan 90 Sabbaticall 109. Of the Hircans 361 Riuers running vnder ground 65 Riuer in Laos running backwards two moneths 489 Riuers made by hand many and great in China 455 Riuers loosing themselues in Sands 579. Great Riuers in America 793. Abassian Riuers 840. The Riuer Plate and Countries adioyning 920 Riuer-horse 623. 714 Rhodes the description thereof 584 Rhodians 39 Rihi a Sauage people 1032 Roundnesse of the World 9 Rowland a name frequent with the Colchians 348 Ruck a fabulous Bird 780 Russian Obseruations 973. sequitur Russes conuerted to Christianitie 1038 S SA Scha Saha Shaugh Xa Persian titles 365. 366 Saads cruelty 1015 Saba and Queene of Saba 225 330. 331. 332. 753. The Citie Saba described 748. 753. 754 Sabaea Regio thurifera 37 Sabbaticus a Riuer in Syria 109 A Discourse of the Sabbaticall Riuer 581. 582. A tale of a Iew that thought hee had met with the Sabbaticall Riuer 580 Sabbatha a City in Arabie Foelix 37 Sabbatharians 123 Sabbaticall yeere 99 Sabbaticall yeere of the Iewes and Samaritans 109 Sabbatary Soule of the Iewes 193 Sabbaticall Superstition of the Iewes 107. 108. 127. 192. 193 Sabbath why so called 106. A generall name ibid. Sabbath why called the Lords Day 20 Sabbath how farre Moral and Ceremoniall 15. 20. 108. Obiections answered 19. 20. 21 Sabbath of Christians 20. 21. Of Iewes 106. 109. 174. 192. Of Aethiopians 111. Of Turks 310 311. Of Peguans on Munday 507. In Iaua arbitrary in Guinea on Tuesday 718. 719. So likewise in Paucora 813 Sabbetha and his Posteritie 37 Sabtlieca and Sechalitae 37 Sabyrians 439 Sacrament of the Rain-bow 36 37 Sacrifices of Cain and Abell 27 28. Kinds of Sacrifices 28 Sacrifices consumed by fire from Heauen ibid. Sacrifice but the Apparell of Diuine worship 30 Sacrifices of the Cyrenians and Iewes 110. 115. Of Mahumemetans 273. 274. Phaenician Sacrifices 81 Sacrifices to Moloch 86. Of Arabians 227. Of Taurica 234 Galatians 329. Of Meander 337. Araxes 345. Armenians 344. Albanians 346. Scythians 397. Aegyptians at Idythya 402. Busiris 594. At Heliopolis 599. Of the Carthaginians 672. Of the Blemmies 683. Aethiopians 745. Falsly supposed of Virginians 775. In Florida 846. Panuco 853 Zaclota 920. Tezcuco 932 Of Mexicans how begunne 871 Increased 872. To their Goddesses ibid. The strange fashion of their Sacrificing 871. The Rites of humane Sacrifice 872 Sacrifices of the Iewes of eight sorts and their rites 115 Sacrifices of the Persians 373. Daily ibid. Rites of their Sacrificing 374. 375. 376. Of the Philippinas 603. Selfe-sacrificing of the Banians 240 241. Of the Nayros 553. Narsinga 580. Amouchi 638 At Quilacare 890. Iapanders 595. Humane Sacrifices at Peru 945 Sacae their Habitation and rites 399 Sacriledge how punished 120 Sachoniatho 76 Sagadana 579 Saga 350 Sabatius Saga 351 Sagada hoc riuer 683 Saddai a name of God what it signifieth 4 Sadducees the History of them 129. 130. Their crueltie ibid. Difference betwixt them and the Samaritans 138 Sanhedrin vide Elders Saints in Turkie 316. 317. 318 In Aegypt vide Nafissa Saladine 657 Salmanasar 136 Saints of Pagans 999 Salomons building the Temple 102 Salamander 565 Salsette and the Rites there 545 Salt-hill 84 Salt deare sold 722. How made ibid. Saltnesse cause of motion in the Sea 573. 574 Samarcheneth a Citie 149 Samarchand the Citie of the great Tamerlane 425 Samaria how situate 93. 136 Samaritan Sect 136. sequitur The hatred betweene them and the Iewes 137. Difference from the Sadducees 138 Samaritan Chronicle 138 Samaritan Letters and Temple 138 Samosata Lucians Birth place 68 Samoits or Samoeds 431. Their Rites 432. sequitur Their hardship and manner of trauell 432. 433. Their Images Religion Persons ibid. Samiel Semixas names of Deuils 32 Samatra the Historie thereof 612 613. The King thereof a Fisherman how hee came to the Crowne 613. 614. His Admirall Attendants Women c. ibid. The present King attended by Boyes and women ibid. His entertainments to the English 613. His letter to our King 614. His cruelties 615 Samsaeins or Sunners 133. 134 Sanballat 136. 137 Sanctuary at Tauium 325. At Ephesus 336. Canopus and other places 362 Sandars three sortes thereof 570 Sopores King of Persia his reigne 361. 362 Sangene tocoro in Iapon 586 Sangius Draconis 779 Saraca the name of an Arabian Citie 230 Saracens who and why so called 215. 229. 230. 657. Their Ancient Rites ibidem Their Religion 230. 231. Their Warres vnder Mahumet and his Successors 232. sequitur Diuisions 233. Their Califes and exploits 234. 236. sequitur Their learning and learned men 240. 241. Their Story of Mahomets life 244. 245. sequitur Their opinion of the Alcoran 258. 259. The Saracenicall Conquest and Schisme in Persia 378. 379. What Countrey of the East they possessed 657. More Saracens then Christians ibid. Captaine Saris his trauels and commendation 589. 590 Sardanapalus his Conquests 61 His destruction 61. 62. His Monument ibidem How much goods perished with him ibid. Sardis Mother Citie of Lydia 339 Sarmatians 37. 407 Sasquesahanockes a Giantly people in Virginia 842. Their Rites 843. 844 Saturni who so called 45 Saturnus the same with Cain 45 Saturne of the Phaenicians 77 His other names 80 Satourioua his Acts
should finde that and bee forced to burne it That which they finde they curiously couer lest some Mouse by carrying it should make them haue new worke and for this cause suppe also in a corner with great care that nothing fall to the ground When hee hath ended his search Whatsoeuer Leauen saith hee is vnder mine hands which I haue not seene let it bee tossed too and fro like the dust of the earth In the morning they make their vnleauened Cakes of meale grownd three dayes at least The kneading-trough must bee lined with Linnen lest some of the leauened Meale should cleaue thereto the goodman himselfe must draw the liquor that it is kneaded with and that at Sunne-setting The Cakes are made with as much scruple round and pricked full of holes in a cold place c. to keepe them from leauening They eate little and the first-borne nothing till night that then they may haue the better Paschall-stomacke At the Eeuen-song they obserue much-what the same ceremonies as at the Sabbath They make at home the fairest shew of their plate and riches and seate themselues on Chaires as it were of State and account now of themselues as great Lords triumphing ouer their late Aegyptian seruitude at their returne from the Synagogue they haue a Dish with three Cakes set before them representing the high Priest the Tribe of Leui and the people of Israel another Dish hath in it a loine of Lambe or Kidde with a hard Egge another containeth a Gallimawfrey of Apples Nuts Figges Almonds c. dressed with Wine in Bricke-fashion with Cinamon strewed on it in remembrance of the Aegyptian Fornace They haue also a Sallet of hearbs and a Sawcer of Vineger set on the Table Then sit they downe and euery one to the child in the Cradle hath his cup filled with wine And here with a carowse after a blessing begins the feast with a scrupulous vse of these things mentioned then followeth the supper it selfe with much riot till midnight with such cheere as they haue with diuers ceremonies cursing their enemies calling for Elias praying for the reedifying of the Temple vsing many Diuine Attributes as Mercifull God Great God Bountifull God High God Faire God Sweet God Mightie God and God of the Iewes now build thy Temple shortly very soone very soone in our dayes very soone very soone Now build now build now build now build now build thy Temple quickly Strong God liuing God c. ouer and ouer with such bartologies This night they thinke themselus secure against men and Diuels they leaue their doores open all night to entertaine Elias and one to their solace playeth Elias in a white linnen garment Each man drinketh foure cups full of the blessed wine in regard of foure deliuerances which the Rabbins finde in Exod. 6. ver 6 7. The ceremonies of Moses they are not yet tyed to forsooth because they are not in Canaan In the morning they visit the Synagogue with their Sabbath-rites They bring two Bookes out of the Arke and call forth fiue men and if this feast be on the Sabbath seuen to reade out of the same Nice are their determinations what workes they may doe on this day and what not they may dresse no more meat then is this day eaten If they beate spice the morter must lie side-wise for distinctions sake of the day c. fasting and weeping must be auoided if any farse a Hen the needle must be threeded the day before and the threed must be burned not bitten or broken asunder In such trifles the Schoole of Schammai licenseth to eate the same day an Egge laide on a festiuall day Hillel denies it and betwixt them they haue set the Rabbins by the eares in this such profane questions Their Eeuen-song hath a short dispatch and then the next day they reiterate the same ceremonies and that for certaintie because they doubt of the first day of the moneth and therefore obserue two The foure daies following are halfe-holy daies Some workes may be done in them not some what they do to make a difference must be done otherwise as writing crooked c. that which cannot without losse be deferred may now be done The seuenth day they obserue in more complete holinesse and the eight too for the reason before alledged to be more secure of the true day After the feast ended they satisfie with fasting their feasting-riots and that on two Mundaies and one Thursday vnto the three and thirtieth day after they are sad heauy in remembrance of R. Akiba of whose Disciples foure twenty thousand died in that space and were buried by women in the night and therefore after Sunne-set all this while the women lay aside their worke on the three and thirtie day the men bath them and shaue their beards and are merrie because then his Disciples ceased dying §. II. Of Pentecost FRom the second night of their Pisach they number to their Pentecost fifty dayes inclusiuely and say Blessed be thou c. which hast sanctified vs by thy precepts and commanded vs to number the dayes before haruest of which this is the first or second c. they number the same standing praying withall for the restitution of Ierusalem They let not bloud on the Eeuen of the Pentecost because of a supposed winde Tabbach which should haue slaine all the Israelites if they had refused next day to accept of the Law They keepe it two dayes for the former doubt They take the Booke twice out of the Arke and reade there-out the precepts concerning this Feasts sacrifices now that they cannot performe the things In remembrance of receiuing the Law they strew the pauement of their houses streets and Synagogues with grasse They eate meates made of milke and cakes One Cake they make seuen times folded in thicknesse in remembrance of the seuen Heauens by which GOD descended to Mount Sinai Now they must haue good cheere because at this time the King married his daughter that is the Law vnto them §. III. Of the Feast of Tabernacles THe Feast of Tabernacles is obserued eight dayes the two first and two last more solemnely the middle foure are halfe holy They mutter ouer their prayers with such haste that hee is the perfectest who speakes most with a breath They make them Tabernacles with boughes of foure kinds of Trees more scrupulous then the Law in which they sup but doe not lodge The Praecentor in the Synagogue taketh a bundle of boughes and blesseth and shaketh them for it is written The trees shall clap their hands and mooueth them three times to the East and as often to the West and to the North and South and then vp and downe like a Fencer and then shaketh them againe as hauing now put the Diuell to flight Then one taketh out the booke and layeth it on the Pulpit which they all with their boughes compasse seuen times a day during
the Feast in hope of like destruction to the Christians as befell Iericho and then renew the shaking of their boughes The seuenth day is most solemne called by them Hoschana rabba the great Hosanna as if one should say the great feast of saluation or helpe because then they pray for the saluation of all the people and for a prosperous new-yeere and all the prayers of this Feast haue in them the words of sauing as O God saue vs and O God of our saluation and as thou hast saued the Israelites and such like the prayers are therefore called Hosannoth Then they produce seuen bookes and in euery of their seuen compassings lay vp one againe This night they know their fortunes by the Moone for stretching out their armes if they see not the shadow of their head by Moone-light they must dye that yeere if a finger wanteth hee loseth a friend if the shadow yeeld him not a hand hee loseth a sonne the want of the left hand portendeth losse of a daughter if no shadow no life shall abide with him for it is written Their shadow is departed from them Some Iewes goe yeerely into Spaine to prouide Pome-citrons and other necessaries for the furnishing this feast which they sell in Germany other places to the Iewes at excessiue prices They keepe their Tabernacles in all weathers except a very vehement storme driue them with a heauie countenance into their houses Their wiues and seruants are not so strictly tyed hereto §. IIII. Of their New Moones and New-yeeres day THe New-Moones are at this day but halfe festiuall to the Iewes accounting themselues free to worke or not in them but the women keepe it intirely festiuall because they denyed their Eare-rings to the molten Calfe which after they bestowed willingly on their Tabernacle The deuouter Iewes fast the day before Their Mattins is with more prayers their dinner with more cheere then on other dayes and a great part of the day after they sit at Cardes or telling of Tales That day when the Moone is eclipsed they fast When they may first see the New-Moone they assemble and the chiefe Rabbi pronounceth a long Prayer the rest saying after him The Iewes beleeuing that GOD created the world in September or Tisri conceit also that at the reuolution of the same time yeerely hee sitteth in iugdement and out of the bookes taketh reckoning of euery mans life and pronounceth sentence accordingly That day which their great Sanhedrin ordayned the New-yeeres festiuall God receiuing thereof intelligence by his Angels sent thither to know the same causeth the same day a Senate of Angels to bee assembled as it is written Daniel 12. All things prouided in the solemnest manner the three bookes are opened one of the most Wicked who are presently registred into the Booke of Death the second of the Iust who are inrolled into the Booke of Life and the third of the meane sort whose Iudgement is demurred vntill the day of Reconciliation the tenth of Tisri that if in the meane time they seriously repent them so that their good may exceed their euill then are they entred into the Booke of Life if otherwise they are recorded into the Blacke Bill of Death Their Scripture is produced by R. Aben Let them bee blotted out of the Booke of the liuing and not bee written with the Iust Blotting points you to the Booke of Death Liuing that of Life and not writing with the Iust is the third Booke of Indifferents All the workes which a man hath done through the yeere are this day examined The good workes are put in one ballance the bad in the other what helpe a siluer Chalice or such heauie metall could affoord in this case you may finde by experience in Saint Francis Legend who when the bad deeds of a great man lately dead out-weighed the good at a dead lift cast in a siluer Chalice which the dead partie had sometime bestowed on Franciscan deuotion and weighed vp the other side and so the Diuels lost their prey GOD say they pronounceth sentence of punishment or reward sometime in this life to bee executed sometime in the other In respect hereof their Rabbines ordaine the moneth before to be spent in penance and morning and Eeuening to sound a Trumpet of a Rams-horne as Aue Marie Bell to warne them of this Iudgement that they may thinke of their sinnes and besides to befoole the Diuell that with this often sounding being perplexed hee may not know when this New-yeeres day shall bee to come into the Court to giue euidence against them The day before they rise sooner in the morning to mutter ouer their prayers for remission and when they haue done in the Synagogue they goe to the graues in the Church-yard testifying that if GOD doe not pardon them they are like to the dead and praying that for the good workes of the Saints the iust Iewes there buried hee will pitty them and there they giue large almes After noone they shaue adorne and bathe themselues that they may be pure the next day for some Angels soyled with impuritie heere below are faine to purge themselues in the fierie brooke Dinor before they can prayse GOD how much more they and in the water they make confession of their sins the confession containeth two and twentie words the number of their Alphabet and at the pronouncing of euery word giue a knocke on their brest and then diue wholly vnder water The Feast it selfe they begin with a cup of Wine and New-yeere Salutations and on their Table haue a Rammes head in remembrance of That Ramme which was offered in Isaacks stead and for this cause are their Trumpets of Rams-horne Fish they eate to signifie the multiplication of their good workes they eate sweet fruits of all sorts and make themselues merry as assured of forgiuenesse of their sinnes and after meat all of all sorts resort to some bridge to hurle their sinnes into the water as it is written Hee shall cast all our sinnes into the bottome of the Sea And if they there espie any fish they leape for ioy these seruing to them as the scape-goate to carrie away their sinnes At night they renew their cheere and end this feast §. V. Of their Lent Penance and Reconciliation Fast. FRom this day to the tenth day is a time of Penance or Lent wherein they fast and pray for the cause aforesaid and that if they haue beene written in the Booke of Death yet God seeing their good works may repent and write them in the Life-Booke Thrice a day very earely they confesse three houres before day and surcease suits at Law c. And on the ninth day very earely they resort to the Synagogue and at their returne euery male taketh a Cocke and euery female a Henne if she be with childe both and the housholder saying out of the hundred and fift Psalme verses 17 18 19
great Cities which are also rich and fortified hauing Printing Ordinance and other ciuill Arts as in China may appeare by the Persian Chaggi Memet his iourney into these Countries related by himselfe to Ramusio Goes from Camul in nine daies came to the Northerne parts those famous walls of China but Memet trauelled from Camul fifteene daies to Succuir fiue daies further to Gauta and then sixe to Campion not mentioning any wall or impediment from the Chinois These Cities hee placeth in Tanguth which Paulus also doth more Northerly the China or Cathay both of them mentioning the plentie of Rheubarb which draweth Merchants thither from farre Marcus Paulus calleth Tanguth a great Prouince containing many Prouinces and Cities himselfe hauing liued at Campion a whole yeere The Emperour raigning about seuentie yeeres since Memet cals Daimircan this last syllable vsually being annexed to all Princes names in those parts and cals him the Grand Can affirming that Succuir and Campion were but the beginning of his Estate and his frontire Townes towards the Mahumetans his people being Idolaters Now Tanguth was neuer that I know by any reckoned either to Cathay in proper signification or China And therefore still wee may beleeue that there is a Great Can though little in comparison of those times when all Asia was in manner subiect to them still holding some Northerly and worse parts of Cathay with Tanguth and other better Countries and perhaps another Cambula too this being a name appellatiue though the King of China bee Lord of the best parts of Cathay of the world which will bee more apparant by the Relation of this ensuing iourney through a great part of the Tartarian Prouinces on the West of China here for the studious Geographie inserted out of Ricci and Trigautius their Relations of China published Ann. 1615. touched before out of the Iesuites Epistles §. III. The long and dangerous Iourney from LAHOR a Citie of the Great MOGOL to CHINA by BENEDICTVS GOES VPon the Relations of that Mahometan before mentioned out of Xauerius his Letter Pimenta the Father Visitor of the Iesuites sent notice thereof into Europe to the Pope and Spaniard They hearing of so mightie a Nation Christian the Viceroy of India was commanded to follow Pimenta's directions who employed Benedictus Goes a Portugall Iesuite in that Expedition furnished as an Armenian Merchant changing his name to Abdula Isai this later appellation signifying a Christian Thus obtaining the Great Mogol Achabar his Letters Patents to his Viceroyes and neighbour Princes accompanied with one Isaac an Armenian he departed from Lahor the sixth of Ianuary 1603. Euerie yeere there is a Carrauan of Merchants which passe out of these parts into the Kingdome of Cascar about fiue hundred together for their better defence against Robbers With these adioyning himselfe in a moneths trauell hee came to Athee in the same Prouince of Lahor After passage of a riuer and some stay hee came after two moneths to Passaur thence trauelling to a small Towne they met with a certaine Heremite who told them that thirtie daies thence was the Citie Capherstam in which no Saracen was permitted entrance but Ethnikes may enter except in to their Temples Hee tasted also of their wine of which the countrie is fertile They goe to their Temples in blacke Here where they met this Heremite they stayed twentie daies and were faine to hire foure hundred Souldiers of the Gouernour for their defence In twentie fiue daies they trauelled from hence to Ghideli the Merchants trauelling armed on the toppe of hilles the carriages at the bottome to preuent theeues which vse from those toppes to stone the Trauellers They were yet assaulted and many wounded by these Robbers After twenty dayes more they came to Cabul where they stayed eight moneths At this place there hapned into their company the sister of Mahamet Can King of Cascar by whose countrey they were to passe towards Cathay Shee was called Agehane Age being an honourable title annexed to her name for her Pilgrimage to Mecca from which place shee had now returned who being in some want borrowed sixe hundred Ducats in Merchandize of Goes which shee repayed after in most fitting Marchandize for Cathay namely a kind of Marble they call it Iasper the Chinois Tusce which is of two sorts one taken out of the bottome of the Riuer Cotan by such as Diue for it as they doe for Pearles it is like to great Flintes the other meaner drawne forth of the Mountaine called Consangui Cascio The solitarinesse of the place distant from Catan twentie dayes and the hardnesse of the stone which they mollifie with fires ouer the place make it costly the Merchants which buy this Priuiledge of the King carrying with them a yeeres prouision for their Labourers From Cabul they went to Ciarcar where the Mogors Patents which had made him hitherto tribute-free were neglected by the vnruly borderers from thence to Parua the last towne in the Mogors subiection After fiue dayes stay they passed in twentie dayes ouer exceeding high mountaines to the Region of Aingharan and fifteene dayes after to Calcia where the people resemble the Hollanders Ten dayes being past they came to Gialalabath where the Bramenes exact custome granted them by King Bruarate Fifteene dayes after they came to Talhan where by ciuill broyles they were stayed a moneth the Calcians being in rebellion Thence they trauelled to Cheman vnder Abdulahan King of Samarhan Burgauia and Bacharate and other confining Kingdomes where the Calcians robbed them of great part of their goods In eight dayes troublesome trauell they came to Badascian where they were againe fleeced neyther were they free at Ciarciunar their next resting from whence in ten dayes they came to Serpanill a desart place and twentie dayes after to Sarcil a countrey full of villages Two dayes iourney from this place they came to Ciecialith a hill couered with snow where in sixe dayes trauell many of the company perished with cold Thence they attained to Tanghetar in the Kingdome of Cascar and in fifteene dayes more to Iaconich which iourney was so irkesome that Goes lost fixe horses He went from hence to Hiarchan the royall City of Cascar in Nouember 1603. a Mart famous for concourse of Merchants and variety of Marchandize He presented the King with a Watch a looking glasse and other Europaean gifts obtayning his letters patents for furtherance of his iourney From hence hee went with the Carauan Bassa or Captaine which buyes this place at a deare rate of the King about the middest of Nouember 1604. to Iolci Hancialix alceghet Hagabateth , Egriar Mesetelec Thalec Horma Thoantac Mingrieda Capetalcol Zilan Sarc Guebedall Canbasci Aconsersec Ciacor Acsu in twentie fiue dayes a very tedious way by stones and sands In this Iourney they passed the desart of Caracathay Thence they trauelled to Oitograch Gazo Casciani Dellai Saregabedal Vgan and Cucia And after a moneths stay here in twentie fiue dayes more
to Cialis gouerned by the King of Cascars base sonne with whom at first he had some difference about Religion which with a gift was pacified And in a disputation with the Mahumetan Doctors before him the Viceroy tooke part with Goes affirming that the Christians were the true Misermans and that their Ancesters professed that law a thing worthy by the way to bee obserued Here hee met with some Merchants returning from Cathay which could tell him of Ricci and the other Iesuites at Paquin as before you heard out of Pantogia And here first did he learne that China was Cathay At his departing from Cialis the Viceroy gaue him his letters of passe and inscribed him a Christian according to his desire whereat a Mahumetan Priest much wondered affirming that theirs with the Region shifted also their Religion In twenty dayes they came to Pucian thence to Turphan a fortified Citie thence to Aramuth and so to Camul the last City of this Kingdome of Cialis In nine dayes they passed from Camul to the Northerne walles of China where they stayed twenty fiue dayes expecting the Viceroyes answere for their admission at a place called Chiaicuon And then being entred the walles they came in one dayes iourney to the Citie Socieù All the space betweene Cialis and the borders of China is subiect to the out-rodes of the Tartars the cause that Merchants trauell in great feare in the day time looking not whether the coast be cleare and trauelling the night with great silence and secresie They found many Saracens slaine in the way The countrey people they seldome kill but rob of their cattell as for corne and rice they hold it food for beasts and not for men feeding on flesh and liuing aboue an hundred yeeres The Saracens in these parts are effeminate and might easily bee subdued by the Chinois if they would On the West parts of China is that Wall before mentioned to exclude the Tartars and two fortified Cities with strong Garrisons hauing their proper Viceroy and other Magistrates Canceu the head City of the Prouince Scensi and Soceù which is diuided into two parts one of which is inhabited by Saracens which trade here for Merchandize the other by Chinois whom the Saracens heere call Cathayans Euery night the Saracens are enclosed in their owne Citie in other things as the Chinois subiect to the same Lawes and Magistrates Neyther may any forreyner returne into his countrey which hath stayed there nine yeeres Euerie sixth yeere seuenty two Legates come after an olde custome to pay a kind of tribute to the King this but a shew the intent being to inrich themselues as is sayd with Marchandize being maintained in respect of that pretence at the Kings Charge Into Soceù Goes came at the end of the yeere 1605. and here met with other Saracens returning from Paquin which told him of the Iesuites there residing adding that the King did not tell but powred out of a measure a dayly allowance of money to them which I mention to shew that a man must bee sparing of credite to Saracen Trauellers and Merchants But Goes could not a long time certifie these his fellowes of his arriuall being ignorant of their China names and it was foure monethes iourney to Paquin from Soceu the force of Winter is there very great yet did they send in that vnseasonable season one of their Conuerts a Chinois called Ioannes Ferdinandus who after a tedious iourney found Goes then lying on his death-bed when hee brought him the letters from the Society Eleuen dayes after he dyed not without suspition of poyson giuen him by the Saracens who had also before deuised by the way many shifts to make themselues Masters of his goods they haue likewise a custome that if any dye by the way his goods are shared amongst the rest Here did the Saracens offer to seize all into their hands but Ferdinandus professed himselfe his Nephew borne of a China Mother and with much a doe eating Swines flesh together with the Armenian in token they were not Saracens obtayned that little which was left of Goes his substance scarcely enough to pay charges yet this and all the other tedious circumstances of this long Narration I haue thus largely related for the instruction of Geographers and Merchants of these parts desirous to know or trade those Countryes the knowledge whereof I thinke no Europaean else hath learned by experience in some hundreths of yeeres last past His Companion the Armenian was sent from Paquin to Macao and thence to India and being taken by Hollanders in the way at Sincapura was redeemed by the Portugals and returned to Ciaul where he yet liues as Trigautius our Authour affirmeth But it is high time for vs to take view of our Tartarian Religion CHAP. XIII Of the Religion of the Tartars and Cathayans IOANNES DE PLANO CARPINI thus writeth of their Religion They beleeue that there is one GOD the maker of all things visible and inuisible the Authour of good things and punishments yet do they not worship him with prayers prayses or any certaine rites They haue also Idols of Felt in the fashion of a man and the same they set on both sides of their Tent-doores and vnder them they put a thing of Felt fashioned like a Dugge These they account the keepers of their Cattell Authors of their Milke and young store Others they make of Silke and doe them much honour Some place them in a faire Chariot couered before the doore of their station and whosoeuer stealeth any thing out of that Chariot is slaine without all pitty Their Captaines haue one alway in the middest of their Tent. To these Idols they offer the first fruits of their Milke and the first morsels of their meate and first draught of their drinke at meales And when they kill a beast they offer the heart to their Idoll leauing it before him till the morning and then they take and eate it They make an Idoll also to their chiefe Emperour and offer thereunto with great solemnitie as well other creatures as horses which none after dare ride on till death They breake not a bone of the beasts which they kill for meate but burne them with fire They bend themselues to this Idoll towards the South as to a God They worship the Sunne Lights and Fire Water also and the Earth offering thereunto the first of their meates and drinkes and in the morning before they eate or drinke They haue no set rites prescribed by Law nor doe they compell any to deny their Religion simply although in some of their customes they are very rigorous Thus they martyred Michael Duke of Russia because he refused to doe reuerence to the Image of Cingis Can which had beene their first Emperour and compelled the younger brother of Andrew Duke of Saruogle in Russia to marrie his said brothers wife according to their custome after that they had slaine her former Husband They haue certaine traditions