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church_n	captive_n	christian_a	good_a	15	3	2.1334	3	false

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ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A05331	A geographical historie of Africa, written in Arabicke and Italian by Iohn Leo a More, borne in Granada, and brought vp in Barbarie. Wherein he hath at large described, not onely the qualities, situations, and true distances of the regions, cities, townes, mountaines, riuers, and other places throughout all the north and principall partes of Africa; but also the descents and families of their kings ... gathered partly out of his owne diligent obseruations, and partly out of the ancient records and chronicles of the Arabians and Mores. Before which, out of the best ancient and moderne writers, is prefixed a generall description of Africa, and also a particular treatise of all the maine lands and isles vndescribed by Iohn Leo. ... Translated and collected by Iohn Pory, lately of Goneuill and Caius College in Cambridge; Della descrittione dell'Africa. English	Leo, Africanus, ca. 1492-ca. 1550.; Pory, John, 1572-1636.	1600 (1600)	STC 15481; ESTC S108481	490,359	493

redeeme first all the religious and priests and after them those of the yoonger sort first the king of Spaines subiects and then others They alwaies leaue one religious man in Alger and another in Fez who informe themselues of the state qualitie of the slaues with their necessitie to make the better way for their libertie the yeere following The king of Spaine whom it most concerneth furthereth this so charitable a worke with a bountifull and liberall hand For ordinarily he giueth as much more as the foresaid orders haue gathered and collected by way of almes For this is so good an enterprise that by the ancient canons no other is so much fauoured and allowed of Yea S. Ambrose and other holy men haue pawned for the deliuerie of Christian captiues the chalices and siluer vessels of their churches And Saint Paulinus for the same end and purpose solde his owne selfe For all other actions of charitie are some spirituall and others corporall but this in a very eminent degree is both spirituall and corporall togither For among corporall miseries the seruitude of infidels is most grieuous among spirituall calamities the danger of apostasie is of all others the greatest but those slaues so redeemed are set free both from the one and from the other Whereupon there are very few borne in Spain who dying leaue not some almes behinde them for the ransoming of slaues The 〈◊〉 of redemption haue gone also many times to Constantinople where in the yeere 1583. by the order of Pope Gregorie the thirteenth they redeemed fiue hundred persons The brotherhood also of the Confalone in Rome labour verie diligently in this point who in Sixtus Quintus time redeemed a great number of captiues Of whom many also vrged partly by the hardnes of seruitude partly by the sweetenes of libertie free themselues either by that which they gaine ouer aboue their masters due or by their good demeanour or else by flight And they flie awaie sometimes by repairing speedily to such fortresses as the king of Spaine hath in Africke and in Barbarie and otherwhiles they seaze on some shipping or on the selfe same galleies wherein they are chained Many also retire themselues to the Princes of Brisch c. who willingly receiue and arme them vsing their assistance in the warre which they continually make with the Turkes of Alger FINIS * Read pag. 58. of places vndescribed by Iohn Leo. Tull. Acad quaest lib. The varietie of this emperours names read in a marginall note Pag. 12. of places vndescribed by Iohn Leo. * Or Xeriso or Serifo Africa otherwise called Libya The greater part of Africa vnknowen in 〈◊〉 ages When Africa was sailed round about * And since also by the English French and Dutch * 〈◊〉 Dias doubled the cape besore but returned fearefuily without proceeding any farther The 〈◊〉 or 〈◊〉 of this worde Africa Why 〈◊〉 was called Libya The situation and shape of Africa A comparison betweene Africa and Europe The causes why Africa is so slenderly inhabited Sandie seas in Africa The position of Africa according to the heauens The boundes of Africa The mountaines of Africa Mount Atlas * The prouinces of 〈◊〉 Alger Bugia Constantina and Tunis Extreme cold fountaines Mountaines called Os Picos 〈◊〉 that is to say sharpe pointed Iohn 〈◊〉 Dec. 1. lib. 8. cap. 4. Lunae montes The lake of Zembre which by some others is placed vnder the Equinoctiall The riuers of Africa Nilus Niger These two riuers of Senaga and Gambra are not certainly known whether they be maine riuers of themselues or branches and mouthes of Niger The isle of Elephants These two riuers of Cuama and Magnice according to Philippo Pigafetta spring both out of the great lake and are not branches of one riuer The promontories or capes of Africa Cabo de buena esperanza Cabo 〈◊〉 Cabo de los corrientes The inhabitants of Africa The diuersitie of religions in Africa The ancient diuision of Africa by Ptolemey and a comparison of the ancient with the moderne names Mauritania Tingitana being all one with the kingdomes of Maroco and Fez. Mauritania Caesariensis called at this present Tremizen and Aiger Numidia the ancient contayning Bugia Constantina Bona Mezzab c. Africa 〈◊〉 all one with the kingdome of Tunis Cyrene now called Mesrata Marmarica comprehended in the desert of Barcha Libya propria called Sarra AEthiopia now called Abassia This isle I take to be Babelmandel Suez called of olde Heroum ciuitas and Hazion Geber Arsenale signifieth a store-house for munition and for all necessaries to build repaire and furnish a fleete Troglodytae were a people that liued in caues vnder the earth to auoide the extrem heat being deriued 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 A great part of Barnagasso subdued by the Turke Dangala the head citie of Nubia * Or AEthiopia the higher * Commonly called in Latine writers Presbiter Iohannes by the Moores Asiclabassi and by the Abassins his owne subiects Acegue that is Emperour Neguz which importeth a king and Belul also being all one with Encoe in the Chaldean toong both which wordes signifie pretious or high * Or Barnagasso Most rich gold-mines * And by the late writers 〈◊〉 * Sinus Barbaricus a mightie gulfe on the backeside of Africa stretching as some will haue it from 4. degrees of northerly to 17. of southerly latitude Of these Beteneguz read Francis Aluarez cap. 42. * Or yardes for Braccia signifieth both * Or yardes for Braccia signifieth both Of Melich read more at large in Francisco Aluarez cap. 37. and cap. 138. * Or 〈◊〉 The Moores called Dobas * Barnagaez Out of this lake also the riuer of Zeila runneth eastward into the Red sea * 〈◊〉 in the Abassin toong signifieth the Sea and Neguz a king so that Barnagaez or Barnagasso is as much as king of the sea or Lord high admirall All persons of the Abassin blood royall enclosed within a mightie roundel of mountaines Francis Aluarez cap. 57 58 59 60 61 c. The mountaine of death Of these Amazones read more in the discourse of Monomotapa following This stile is taken out of a letter written by Dauid the Emperour of AEthiopia 1524. * 1526. Philippo 〈◊〉 will haue 〈◊〉 to spring out of one great lake onely which is to the south of Goiame The true cause of the increase of Nilus Oyle strayned out of an herbe Their manner of Iustice. Their maner of swearing The ceremonies 〈◊〉 in their Churches Their musicall instruments The riuer of Quilimanci in nine degrees of northerly latitude Adel the first generall part of Aian * Or Arar Ptol. geog lib. 4. cap. 7. Adea the second part of Aian The kingdome and citie of Magadazo Melinde the first part of Zanguebar Mombaza the second portion of Zanguebar Quiloathe third part of 〈◊〉 Mozambique the fourth part of Zanguebar * Or Moghincats Angoscia Sofala the fift part of Zanguebar Some will haue Magnice and Cuama to be two branches of one mightie

beeing destitute of inhabitants and nothing at that time to be there seene but onely the nests of rauens and of other birds All this I saw in the 920. yeere of the Hegeira Of Teculeth a towne of Hea. VPon the foote of an hill eighteene miles Eastwarde from Tednest stands a towne called by the Africans Teculeth and containing about one thousand housholdes Hard by this towne runneth a certaine riuer on both sides whereof are most pleasant gardens and all kindes of trees Within the walles of the saide towne are many pits or wels whereout they draw most cleere and pleasant water Here also is to be seene a most stately and beautifull temple as likewise fower hospitals and a monasterie of religious persons The inhabitants of this towne are farre wealthier then they of Tednest for they haue a most famous port vpon the Ocean sea commonly called by merchants Goz. They haue likewise great abundance of corne and pulse which grow in the fruitfull fields adiacent These also of Teculeth send waxe into Portugall to be solde and they are verie curious in their apparell and about the furniture of their 〈◊〉 When I my selfe was at Teculeth I found there a certaine nobleman who was the president or chiefe of their senate this noblemans duety was both to procure tribute which was yeerely to be payed vnto the Arabians and also to make attonement and reconciliation betweene them when they were at ods This man had gathered great riches vnto himselfe which he imployed rather to purchase friends then to fill his coffers most liberall he was vnto the poore most bountifull and fauourable vnto all his citizens insomuch that all men did reuerence and honour vnto him as vnto their father and best protectour Of whose curtesie I my selfe also made triall and being not meanely but verie sumptuously entertained by him I remained with him for a certaine time and read in his house diuers histories of African matters This good man togither with his sonne was slaine in a skirmish against the Portugals which was done according to our computation in the yeere of the Hegeira 923. that is to say in the yeere of our Lord 1514. After which misfortune we heard that the citie was razed that the people were part of them put to flight part lead captiue and the residue 〈◊〉 by the enimy all which particulars we haue declared more at large in that Booke which is now lately printed and published concerning African affaires Of Hadecchis a towne of Hea. THE citie of Hadecchis being situate vpon a plaine standeth eight miles Southward of Teculeth it containeth seauen hundred families and the wals churches and houses throughout this whole citie are all built of free stone Through the midst of the towne runneth a large and faire streame hauing many vines galleries on both sides thereof There be many Iewes artificers in this citie The citizens here go somewhat decently apparelled their horses are good most of them exercise merchandize also they stampe a kinde of coine and they haue certaine yeerely faires or martes whereunto the nations adioining do vsually resort Here is to be sold great store of cattell of butter oyle yron and cloath and their said mart lasteth fifteene dayes Their women are very beautifull white of colour fat comely and trim But the men beare a most sauage minde being so extremely possessed with ielousie that whomsoeuer they finde but talking with their wiues they presently goe about to murther them They haue no iudges nor learned men among them nor any which can assigne vnto the citizens any functions and magistracies according to their worthines so that hee rules like a king that excelleth the residue in wealth For matters of religion they haue certaine Mahumetan priests to administer them Who neither pay tribute nor yeerely custome euen as they whom we last before mentioned Heere I was entertained by a certaine curteous and liberall minded priest who was exceedingly delighted with Arabian Poetrie Wherefore being so louingly entertained I read vnto him a certaine briefe treatise as touching the same argument which he accepted so kindly at my hands that he would not suffer mee to depart without great and bountifull rewards From hence I trauelled vnto Maroco And afterward I heard that this towne also in the yeere of the Hegeira 922. was sacked by the Portugals and that the inhabitants were all fled into the next mountaines and the verie same yeere I returned home to visit my natiue countrey which was in the yeere of our Lord 1513. Of Ileusugaghen a towne of Hea. THis towne is situate vpon the top of a certaine high mountaine which is distant eight miles to the South of Hadecchis it consisteth of about two hundred families and by the foote of the hill runneth a small riuer Heere are no gardens at all nor yet any trees which beare fruit the reason whereof is as I suppose because the inhabitants are such slothfull and grosse people that they regard nothing but their barley and their oyle They are at continuall warre with their next neighbours which is performed with such monstrous bloodshed and manslaughter that they deserue rather the name of beasts then of men They haue neither iudges priests nor lawyers to prescribe any forme of liuing among them or to gouerne their common-wealth wherefore iustice and honestie is quite banished out of their habitations Those mountaines are altogither destitute of fruits howbe it they abound greatly with honie which serueth the inhabitants both for food and for merchandize to sell in the neighbour-countries And because they know not what seruice to put their waxe vnto they cast it foorth togither with the other excrements of honie The saide towne of Ileusugaghen hath a verie small and narrow chappell which will scarce containe a hundred persons whither notwithstanding the people doe so slowly resort that they need not to haue any greater so much do they neglect religion and pietie Whensoeuer they goe abroad they carrie a dagger or a iauelin about with them and you shall often heare of the slaughter of some one or other of their citizens No people vnder heauen can be more wicked trecherous or lewdly addicted then this people is I remember that I my selfe went once thither with a Seriffo or Mahumetan priest who made chalenge vnto the gouernment of Hea to the ende that we might arbitrate certaine strifes and contentions for it were incredible to report what cruell warres partly for murthers and partly for robberies were practised among them But because the Seriffo had brought no lawyers with him nor any iudges to decide controuersies he would needes that I should take that office vpon me Immediately the townsmen come flocking about vs one complaines that his neighbour hath slaine eight of his kinred and family his neighbour on the contrarie alleageth that the former had slaine ten of his familie wherefore according to the auncient custome he demaundeth to haue a summe of money giuen

getting of their 〈◊〉 that they are free from those violent passions of lust Infants that die before baptisme they name halfe christians because being sanctified onely by the faith of 〈◊〉 parents they are not as yet by baptisme throughly engraffed into the church From meates which the law of Moses accounted vncleane they also do abstaine The heresies of Arrius Macedonius and Nestorius they reiect and condemne The whole church of Ethiopia is gouerned by a patriark called in the Ethiopick language Abuna which signifieth A Father This patriark of theirs is first solemnely created at Ierurasem by the voices of those monkes which keepe the sepulchre of our Lord. Afterward hee is confirmed and sent into Ethiopia by the patriarke of Alexandria The emperour Prete Ianni so often as there is need of a new patriark sendeth an ambassage with many gifts to Ierusalem and requireth a patriark from thence Which patriarke together with a monke of the order of Saint Antony the Hermite being come into Ethiopia is according to an ancient custome receiued with the generall consent congratulation applause and reioycing of all degrees and estates of people To this high function is singled out some one man of singular piety grauity 〈◊〉 and of more ancient yeeres then the rest His speciall duties are to giue holy orders to administer church-discipline and to excommunicate contumaces or obstinate offenders which are for their stubbornnes famished to death But the authoritie of giuing Bishopricks and spirituall benefices the Emperour reserueth to himselfe In Ethiopia there are infinit numbers of priests and of monkes Francis Aluarez saw at one time ordained by the Patriarke two thousand three hundred fiftie sixe priests And the like manner of ordaining or instalment they haue euerie yeere twise It seemeth that those which are chosen into that order are men destitute of learning and liberall artes Vnto their priesthood none is admitted before he be full thirtie yeeres of age It falleth out likewise that during the vacation of the Patriarkship the church hath great want of priests Which vacation is often times prolonged by reason of the continuall wars betweene the Christians and the bordering Mahumetans and Gentiles whereby all passage from Ethiopia to the monks of Ierusalem is quite cut off Hence proceedeth great desolation in that church But with monks all places in this Abassin empire do mightily swarme These do not onely confine themselues in monasteries wherof here are great numbers but also take vpon them offices in the court and intangle themselues in militarie affaires and in buying and selling of merchandize Neither are there anie kinde of people in those easterne parts more conuersant in trade of merchandize then priests 〈◊〉 monkes So that the old said sawe is most truelie verified What ere the world doth put in vre The Monke will intermeddle sure It is 〈◊〉 to be noted that the priests monkes and other ministers of 〈◊〉 Ethiopian church are not maintained by tithes and almes as they are in Europe They haue onelie certaine fieldes and gardens which must be manured by the monkes and clergie themselues To beg ought of the common people they are in no wise permitted vnlesse perhaps some man will of his owne accorde bestowe somewhat in their churches for the exequies of the dead or for some other sacred vses These Ethiopians haue a certaine booke which they suppose to haue beene written by all the Apostles when they were assembled at Ierusalem This booke in their language they call Manda and Abetilis and do beleeue that all thinges therein contained are to be holden for gospel In it amongst other matters are contained certaine penal statutes as for example If a priest be conuicted of Adultery Man-slaughter Robberie or periurie he is to receiue like punishment with other malefactors Likewise that aswell ecclesiasticall as secular persons are to abstaine from comming to church for the space of fower and twentie howers after carnall copulation Some lawes also there are concerning the purification of women after their moneths and their child-birth which bicause we can make but little vse of them I do heere passe ouer in silence One thing there is in this booke very well prouided namely that twise euery yeere there be a Synod assembled in the church of Christ for the handling and discussing of all matters ecclesiasticall These are the principall points of the religion faith and ceremonies of the Ethiopicke church vnder Prete Ianni which hitherto haue come to our knowledge A good part whereofis agreeable vnto the scriptures of the old and new testament And such in very deed they are as represent vnto vs the acknowledgement of one true God and the faith and worship of our onely Lord and Sauiour Iesus Christ. But as neuer any church vpon earth was quite voide of blemish so neither is this of Ethiopia free from all staines of errour Which notwithstanding may seeme the lesse strange bicause in Ethiopia there are no schooles nor Seminaries of liberall artes saue only that the priests themselues according to their simple skill traine vp their sonnes vnto such learning as may in time make them capable of priesthood Neither was there euer any man yet that reformed their errors Francis Aluarez reporteth that the Patriarke of this Ethiopick church in a certaine priuate conference did grieuously complaine of all such errours as were there maintained and was most earnestly desirous of a reformation Which desire of his as it is most holy cōmendable so is it by al christiās to be approoued God almightie grant that the Ethiopians may one daie attaine to the accomplishment of this his compassionate well-wishing and may haue a happie reformation of their church For this to desire and praie for is farre more conuenient and Christian-like then to disgrace them with reprochfull words and to bereaue them of the name of Christians Which harde and vnchristian measure Zagazabo the Ethiopian ambassadour reporteth with griefe that he found among the Popish priests of Portugall by whom he was quite restrained from the vse and communion of the 〈◊〉 supper as ifhe had beene a meere Gentile or Anathema It is indeed an errour or rather a great infirmitie that they do as yet retaine and vse some of the Iewish ceremonies But we are 〈◊〉 to impute it to their ignorance of Christian liberty And wheras they permit mariage to their priests it is neither repugnant to the sacred word of God nor to the institution of the Apostles Wherefore it ought not to be disallowed of any Christians Vnlesse they will preferre the decrees of the Pope before the commandement of God established by Christ and his apostles Wherby it may plainly appeere how impiously and sauagely the Priests of Portugall dealt in that especially for this cause they so sharpely inneied against the Ethiopick ambassadour and so vnciuilly entreated him Their yeerely renewing ofbaptisme was at the first brought in by errour and since by ancient vse and tradition hath growen authenticall For in

very deed so great is the force of antiquitie and custome that where they once take roote they can hardly be remooued And it is a woonder that the Ethiopians do so often repeat baptisme when as they cannot be circumcised any more then once But in regard of all these defects what can we better deuise to do then in our daily praiers to wish them mindes better informed and the puritie and integritie of faith which is agreeable vnto gods worde The Ethiopians conceiued exceeding ioy at the first arriuall of the Portugals in their countrie hoping that their mutuall acquaintance and familiaritie would breed a similitude and coniunction as well of their religions as of their affections and mindes But I am verily afraid least the reprochfull and sterne carriage of the Popish priests and monkes towards the Ethiopick ambassadours before mentioned hath more then euer in times past estranged the mindes of that nation from the Christians of Europe Howbeit the singular care and industrie of those two renowmed Princes Iohn the second and Emanuel kings of Portugall is most highly to be extolled and celebrated who by infinit charges emploied vpon their nauigations to The east Indies and to these parts haue opened a way for the European Christians to the southerne church of Ethiopia and for the Ethiopians to this westerne church of Europe Which had not these two woorthie Princes brought to effect we should not so much as haue knowne the name of a Christian church in Ethiopia For thither by the way of Arabia and Egypt in regard of the Arabians and Mahumetans most deadly enmitie to the Christian faith it is so dangerous and difficult to trauell as it seemeth to be quite barred and shut vp Vnlesse therefore ouer the Atlantike Ethiopick and Indian seas the Portugals had thither found a passage by nauigation it had almost beene impossible for any ambassadours or other persons to haue come out of Ethiopia into these westerne parts Thus 〈◊〉 Matthew Dresserus An ambassage sent from Pope Paule the fourth to Claudius the Emperour of Abassia or the higher Ethiopia for planting of the religion and ceremonies of the church of Rome in his dominions which ambassage tooke none effect at all IN the yeere 1555 Iohn the third king of Portugal determined to leaue no meanes vnattempted for the absolute reconciliation of Prete Ianni vnto the church of Rome For though Dauids ambassador had performed obedience to Pope Clement the seuenth on his emperours behalfe yet doubted the king of Portugal as true it was that for want of speedie prosecution those forward beginnings would proue but altogether fruitlesse in that for all this they still embraced the heresies of Dioscorus and Eutiches and depended on the authoritie of the Patriark of Alexandria receiuing their Abuna from him who is the sole arbitrator of all their matters ecclesiasticall the administrer of their sacraments the giuer of orders ouer all Ethiopia master of their ceremonies and Instructer of their faith Whereupon he supposed that he could not do any thing more profitable or necessarie then to send thither a Patriark appointed at Rome who might exercise spirituall authority ouer them as also with him some priests of singular integrity and learning who with their sermons disputations discourses both publike and priuate might reduce those people from their errors and heresies to the trueth and might confirme and strengthen them in the same And vnto this it seemed a wide gate was already open because not many yeeres before Claudius the emperour of Ethiopia receiued great succours from the Portugals against Graadamet king of Zeila who had brought him to an hard point and in a letter written from him to Stephen Gama he called Christopher Gama his brother who died in this war by the reuerend name of a Martyr The king of Portugal therefore hauing imparted this his resolution first with Pope Iulius the third and then with Paul the fourth it was by them concluded to send into Ethiopia thirteene priests men of principall estimation and account aboue others of their qualitie Iohn Nunnes Barretto was made Patriark and there were ioyned vnto him two assisting Bishops Melchior Carnero and Andrea Oiuedo vnder title of the Bishops of Nicea and Hierapolis King Iohn set forth this ambassage not onely with whatsoeuer the voiage it selfe necessarily required but further with all royall preparation and rich presents for Prete Ianni Neuerthelesse the better to lay open an entrance for the Patriarke there was by the kings appointment sent before from the city of Goa Iago Dias and with him Gonsaluo Rodrigo into Ethiopia to discouer the minde of the Neguz and the disposition of his people These two being admitted to the presence of that Prince shewed him the letters of king Iohn wherein he congratulated with him on the behalfe of all Christians for that following the example of his grandfather and father he had embraced the Christian faith and vnion Whereat Claudius was amazed ' as at a thing neuer before thought of And it being demaunded why he had written to the king of Portugal to that effect he excused himselfe by the writer and interpreter of his letter adding thereunto that though hee esteemed that king as his very good brother yet was he neuer minded to swerue one iot from the faith of his predecessors Roderigo for all this was no whit daunted but wrought all meanes to bring Claudius to his opinion But the greatest difficultie against this his busie enterprise was the ignorance of the emperour and the princes of Ethiopia in all the generall Councels and ancient Histories Afterwards perceiuing that the Neguz did not willingly admit him to audience he wrote and diuulged a booke in the Chaldean toong wherein confuting the opinions of the the Abassins he laboured mightily to aduance the authoritie of the Romaine church Which booke raised so great a tumult that the emperour to auoide woorse inconueniences which were likely to ensue was faine quickly to suppresse it Iago Dias perceiuing that he did but loose time the terme of his returne approching tooke his leaue of the Neguz And hauing made knowne in Goa how matters stood it was not thought requisite that the Patriarke should expose his owne person togither with the reputation of the Romaine church vnto so great hazard But rather not wholy to abandon the enterprise they determined to send thither Andrew Ouiedo newe elect bishop of Hierapolis with two or three assistants who with greater authoritie might debate of that which Roderigo alreadie had so vnfruitfully treated of Ouiedo most willingly vndertaking this attempt put himselfe on the voiage with father Emanuel Fernandez and some fewe others When he was come into Abassia he stood in more need of patience then disputation For king Claudius within a fewe moneths after being vanquished and slaine Adamas his brother succeeded who was a great enimie to the sea of Rome This man drew 〈◊〉 and his assistants to the warres with him and

intreated them most barbarously as also those Abassins whom they had conuerted He likewise was afterwards ouerthrowne in battaile by the Turkes who stripped Ouiedo and his companions of all things that they had Whereupon they grew into such pouertie and miserie as all helpe failing them they were enforced to get their liuing with the plough and spade till they all died one after another This Ethiopian Christianitie is brought at this day to an hard point by the inuasions of the Turkes and Mores as is before declared Notwithstanding their religious men affirme that they haue prophesies of the comming of a Christian nation to their Ports from farre countries with whom they shall go to the destruction of the Mores and these they hold to bee Portugals They haue farther certaine presagements of Saint Sinoda who was an Egyptain Hermite of the ruine of Meca the recouerie of the holy sepulcher and the taking of Egypt and Cairo by the Abassins vnited with the Latines Of the Christians of the isle of Socotera VIcinitie of place and conformitie of customes inuite me to crosse the sea and to visite the Christians of Socotera This island is sixtie miles long and fiue and twentie in bredth It is situate ouer against the Red sea The people thereof receiued the faith from Saint Thomas the Apostle for they affirme that heere he suffred shipwracke and that of the broken and battered ship he built a church which is as yet extant They imitate for the most part the rites customes and fashions of the Abassins but with great ignorance and errour for being separated from all commerce with the Christians of these parts they remaine depriued of that spirituall helpe which the westerne church by communication might impart vnto them They retaine circumcision and some other Moisaicall ceremonies Also they pray for the dead and obserue ordinarie fasts hauing prefixed howers for praier and bearing great reuerence to their religion in honour whereof they build chappels wherein assembling togither with an high and loude voice they make supplications and praiers in the Hebrew toong But their farre distance as I said from these parts of Christendome the sterilitie of the island and the pouertie of the people are occasions that the little light of truth which they haue is in a manner quite eclipsed by multitudes of errors Vnto other things may be added the tyrannie of the king of Fartac a Mahumetan who subdued them about the yeere of our Lord 1482. and partly by dominion partly by affinitie and kinred and partly also by conuersation brought in amongst them the deadly poison of Mahumet From this seruitude they were deliuered by Tristan d' Acunna one of the king of Portugals captaines sixe and twentie yeeres after they fell into the same And for their better securitie he repaired the fortresse leauing therein a Portugall garrison But bicause the charges farre surmounted any benefite that came of the island not long after the said fortresse was ruinated and the island abandoned by the Portugals Iohn the third king of Portugall had a great desire to assist and free them from the tyrannie of the Turkes whereunto after the taking of Aden they were subiect But for feare of prouoking the great Turke or giuing him occasion to disturbe and molest those seas with his fleetes as also for the dispatching of other affaires he had in hand he neuer went about that enterprise Of the Christians of Nubia FRantis Aluarez in his Aethiopicke relation writeth that he being at the court of Prete Ianni there arriued certaine ambassadors frō Nubia to make 〈◊〉 vnto that prince for some priests and ministers of the Gospell and sacraments by whom they might be instructed in the Christian faith But Prete Ianni answered them that he had not enough for his owne countrey whereupon they returned home very discōtent so that hauing no helpe from the Christians on the otherside being daily sollicited by the Mahumetans vpon whom they border on many sides it is thought that at this present they remaine in a manner without any religion at all Notwithstanding at this day there are more then an hundred and fiftie churches standing with diuers other notes and signes of Christianitie Their language partaketh much with the Egyptain and no lesse with the Chaldean and Arabick Of the Christians in the king dome of Congo HItherto we haue described that little which remaineth of the ancient Christianity of Africk It now resteth that we giue some notice of that which hath beene brought in of late Congo is a kingdome about the bignes of France situate as is before said beyond the equinoctiall betweene Cabo da Catherina and Bahia das vacas It was conuerted to Christian religion by the meanes of Don Iohn the second king of Portugal in manner following Don Diego Cano a captaine of that king by his commission coasting along Africa after a great nauigation arriued at length in the great riuer of Zaire and 〈◊〉 to saile vp into it he discouered along the banks thereof many townes where he found much more affability in the inhabitants then in those of other countries which before he had discouered And that he might be able to giue the more faithfull aduertisement thereof to his king his hart moued him to go to the court of that kingdome Whither bein̄g come and courteously brought to the kings presence he shewed them the vanity of their Idolatry the high reuerence of christian faith And he found in that Prince so good a disposition as returning into Portugal besides an ambassador he was permitted to carry with him certaine youths of noble parentage to the end they might learne the Christian doctrine and be well instructed therein and being baptized also might afterwards be sent back with Portugall priests to preache the gospel and to plant the Christian faith in that kingdome These youthes remained in Portugal two yeeres and were there liberally entertained and with all diligence instructed in matters of religion and were at length with great solemnity baptized When they came to riper yeeres king Iohn sent them backe againe into their owne countrey with an honorable ambassage in whose company went for teachers and instructers of that nation three Dominick-Fryers reputed for men of exquisit learning and holy life Being arriued in Congo they first cōuerted Mani-Sogno the kings vncle with one of his sonnes After that ensued the baptisme of the king and Queene for which cause in short time there was a goodly Church erected vnder the name and title of Santa Cruz. And in the meane while there were infinit Idols burnt The king was called Iohn the Queene Leonora and his eldest sonne Alonso This Alonso was a singular good man who not being satisfied in his owne conuersion laboured also with a kind of Apostolicall zeale for the conuersion of his subiects But let no man thinke that the planting of religion can euer passe without some labour and trouble These Dominick-Fryers besides the intemperature of

is recorded to be the brother of Chus and the sonne of Cham. Chibith The towne of Pharao The 〈◊〉 of Ioseph Extreme pestilence The French maladie most rife in Egypt The increase of Nilus Ancient traffique of the 〈◊〉 vnto Alexandria Alexandria surprised and sacked by the king of Cyprus The water of Nilus brought by a sluce into Alexandria Certaine Christians called Iacobites Iohn Leo was at Rasid the same time 〈◊〉 Selim the great Turke passed that way The fruits called Mose Sugar Great abundance of Sugar * 1526. Delicate drinks made of all kind of fruits 〈◊〉 Ghauri A stately 〈◊〉 These asses are somewhat like to Banks his curtall that plaid his prizes all England ouer Soothsaying birds Saint 〈◊〉 The place where balme groweth The manner of measuring the increase of Nilus This piller is called by Plinie Niloscopium The attire of the women of Cairo The libertie of the women of Cairo Birds hatched after a strange manner in Egypt The reward of new and ingenious deuises Fower seuer all sects of the Mahumetan religion permitted in the citie of Cairo An horrible kind of execution The nauel being cut is present death Women 〈◊〉 Iohn Leo was thrise in Egypt The 〈◊〉 The originall of the Mamaluks * There is such an officer in the court of England called The Maister of the Reuells The 〈◊〉 The citie of 〈◊〉 Egyptian 〈◊〉 Store of the graine called Sesama Most excellent hempe Crocodiles The place where Ioseph was buried * It is otherwise read in the x. chap. of Genesis verse 6. * Dubium Emralds Antonio Galuano maketh large mention of this citie The hauen of Chossir Suachen * Bugiha are those which in 〈◊〉 time were called Troglodytae The great trauels of Iohn Leo. * Or 〈◊〉 * Or Muluia A riuer of hot and salt water * Or Guartguessen Sundry opinions concerning 〈◊〉 The manner of taking elephants in 〈◊〉 * Here is a word wanting in the originall * In all parts of the world which the author at that 〈◊〉 knew The African 〈◊〉 are the best Three kinds of camels Camels of a woonderfull swiftnes otherwise called Dromedaries The camels great abstinence from drinke How the Camels of 〈◊〉 learne to dance Morses fedde with camels milke Targets made of a skin The manner of gathering ciuet Amber A medicine for the leprosie The craft of the Crocodile in taking both men and beasts Little birds flying into the crocodiles mouth to picke wormes from betweene their teeth The manner of taking the crocodile How the camelion killeth the serpent A strange narration A strange 〈◊〉 * Or fathomes * That is in Barbarie Numidia Libya the lande of Negros and Egypt * Of this mountaine read in the discourse before the beginning of Leo. 〈◊〉 most 〈◊〉 in gold The kings armes A 〈◊〉 course A recrely 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 of 〈◊〉 fire from the 〈◊〉 to his 〈◊〉 princes * Described by Leo in his fifth booke vnder the name of Lharais * Or Miramonin The maner how the Xeriffos aspired to the kingdomes of Maroco Sus and Fez. * Or the kingdomes of Maroco and Fez. * Or Abnet * Or Azaphi Artillerie cast by French Renegados Caruuen the principall Mahumetan temple in Fez being a mile and an 〈◊〉 about Read Leo lib. 3. These are a militarie order like vnto them which hold land 〈◊〉 vs vnder the 〈◊〉 of knights seruice * Mine author heere much mistaketh the matter * Or Emina * Or Haly. G. B. B. Rel. vn part 1. lib. 2. dell ' Asia With this frier Ascelline was sent Iohannes de Plano Carpini whose voiage is put downe in the first volume of the 〈◊〉 voiages Or Olouchali * Or Coptitae * As the church in all the hither parts of Europe hath beene called the western and that of Greece and Asia the 〈◊〉 church * Whātsoeuer Dresserus think eth yet diuers other authors of good note do hold the dominions of Prete Ianni to be nothing so large * These Mores are called Dobas Acts of the Apost cap. 8. verse 26. Matthew the first ambassador sent from Aethiopia to Portugall * This ambassage was at the first vndertaken by Odoardo Galuano who dying at the isle of 〈◊〉 in the Red sea it was performed by Rodrigo de Lima. Zagazabo the second ambassador sent from AEthiopia to Portugall * Whereas the Iewes circumcised the males 〈◊〉 * Yet in the time of Pope Paule the 4. were sent certaine priests with a new created Patriarke and two 〈◊〉 who notwithstanding when they went 〈◊〉 about to bring in the 〈◊〉 religion and the supremacie of the Pope were crossed by the Emperour in all their proceedings The Emperour of Ethiopia wil by no meanes admit the supremacie and religion of the Romish church Adamas a new Emperour of Ethiopia Fartac a countrey of Arabia Felix the king whereof subdued the isle of Zocotera 1482. * So are the inhabitants of Congo called * So called by Osorius lib. 3. de Reb. Gest. Eman. But by Phil. Pigafetta lib. 2. Cap. 2. Mani-Pango * Osorius de Reb. Gest. Eman. lib. 3. * Called by Philippo Pigafetto 〈◊〉 Concerning these Giacchi otherwise called Agag read the discourse of Mohenemugi before the beginning of Iohn Leo. * Not Mazagan vpon the coast of Barbarie