Anatolia could vnderstand and speake the Greeke tongue but most of the inland people also both by reason of the great traffique which those rich Countries had for the most part with Grecians and for that on all sides the East onely excepted they were inuironed with them Yet neuerthelesse it is worthy obseruing that albeit the Greeke tongue preuailed so farre in the Regions of Anatolia as to be in a manner generall yet for all that it neuer became vulgar nor extinguished the vulgar languages of those CouÌ„tries For it is not onely particularly obserued of the Galatians by Hierome HieroÌ„ in Pâ—oem l. â— com Epist. ad Galat. Strab. l. 14. that beside the Greeke tongue they had also their peculiar language like that of Trier and of the Carians by Strabo that in their language were found many Greeke words which doth manifestly import it to haue beene a seuerall tongue but it is directly recorded by * Lib. citato loÌ„g post med et Plin. l. 6. c. 1. Strabo out of Ephorus that of sixteene seuerall nations inhabiting that tract onely three were Grecians and all the rest whose names are there registred barbarous and yet are omitted the Cappadocians Galatians Lydians Maeonians Cataonians no smal prouinces of that Region Euen as it is also obserued by Plinie and others that the 22. languages wherof Mithridates king of Pontus Plin. l. 7. c. 24. Val. Max. l. â— c 7 Gell. l. 17. c. 17. is remembred to haue bene so skilfull as to speake them without an interpreter were the languages of so many nations subiect to himselfe whose dominion yet we know to haue bene contained for the greatest part within Anatolia And although all these bee euident testimonies that the Greeke tongue was not the vulgar or natiue language of those parts yet among all none is more effectuall then that remembrance in the second Chapter of the Acts Act. 2.9 1â— where diuers of those Regions as Cappadocia Pontus Asia Phrygia and Pamphylia are brought in for instances of differing languages Fiftly Of the greatest part of the maritime coast of Thrace not onely from Hellespont to Byzantium which was * Dousa Iâ—in Constantinopolit pag. 24. that part of Constantinople in the East corner of the Citie where the Serraile of the Great Turke now standeth but aboue it all along to the out-lets of Danubius And yet beyond them also I finde many Greeke Citties to haue beene planted along that coast Scylax Carimand in Periple Iornand de Reb. Getic c. 5 Scylax of Carianda is my Author with some others as far as the Strait of Caffa and specially in Taurica Yea and beyond that strait also Eastward along all the sea coast of Circassia and Mengrelia to the riuer of Phasis thence compassing to Trebizond I finde mention of many scattered Greeke Cities that is to speake briefly in all the circumference of the Euxine Sea Sixtly from the East and North to turne toward the West it was the language of al the West and South Ilands that lie along the coast of Greece from Candie to Corfu which also was one of them and withall of that fertile Sicilie in which one Iland I haue obserued in good histories aboue 30. Greeke Colonies to haue beene planted and some of them goodly cities Scrab L. 6. in mediâ— specially Agrigentum and Syracusa which later Strabo hath recorded to haue beene 180. furlongs that is of our miles 22. and ½ in circuit Seuenthly Not onely of all the maritime coast of Italy that lyeth on the Tyrrhene Sea from the riuer Garigliano Liris it was formerly called to Leucopetra the most Southerly point of Italie for all that shoare being neere about 240. miles was inhabited with Greeke colonies And thence forward of all that end of Italie that lieth towards the Ionian sea about the great baies of Squilacci and Taranto which was so thicke set with great and goodly Citties of Grecians that it gained the name of Magna Graecia but beyond that also of a great part of Apulia lying towards the Adriatique sea Neither did these maritime parts onely but as it seemeth the Inland people also towards that end of Italie speake the Greeke tongue For I haue seene a few olde coines of the Brutians and more may be seene in Goltzius hauing Greeke inscriptions wherein I obserue they are named 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Goltz in Numâ—smat Magnae Greciae Tab. 24. with an ae and two tt and not as the Romane writers terme them Brutij And I haue seene one peece also of Pandosia an inlaÌ„d Citie of those parts with the like Neither was the vulgare vse of the Greeke tongue vtterly extinct in some of those parts of Italie Galat in descriptione Callipolis till of late for Galateus a learned man of that Country hath left written that when he was a boy and he liued about 120. yeares agoe they spake Greeke in Callipollis a Cittie on the East shore of the Bay of Taranto But yet it continued in Ecclesiasticall vse in some other parts of that region of Italie much later Bar. lib. 5. de Antiquit. Calabriae for Gabriel Barrius that liued but about 40. yeares since hath left recorded that the Church of Rossano an Archiepiscopall Cittie in the vpper Calabria retained the Greeke tongue and ceremony till his time and then became Latine Rocca Tract de Dialectis in Italica liâ—gua Nay to descend yet a little neerer the present time Angelus Rocca that writ but about 20. yeares agoe hath obserued that he found in some parts of Calabria and Apulia some remainders of the Greeke speech to be still retained Eightly and Lastly that shoare of Fraunce that lieth towards the mediterraine sea from Rodanus to Italie was possessed with Grecians for * Strab. l. 4. non long a princip Thuscid l 1. Massilia was a Colonie of the Phoceans and from it many other Colonies were deriued and * Strab. loco citato Plin. L. 3. C. 5. placed along that shore as farre as Nicaea in the beginning of Italie which also was one of them And yet beside all these forenamed I could recken vp verie manie other dispersed Colonies of the Greekes both in Europe and Asia and some in Afrique for although I remember not that I haue read in any history any Colonies of the Grecians to haue beene planted in Afrique any where from the greater Syrtis Westward except one in Cirta a Cittie of Numidia placed there by Micipsa the son of Masinissa as is mentioned in Strabo yet thence Eastward it is certaine some were Strab. L. 17. for the great Citties of Cyrene and Alexandria were both Greeke And it is euident not onely in * Loco iam citato PtoloÌ„ Tab. 3. Africae Mela. l. 1. C. 8. Strabo and Ptolemie but in Mela and other Latine writers that most of the Citties of that part carried Greeke names And Lastly Hierome hath directly recorded that Libia which is properly that
Antonin in Itinerario Plin. Iun. in Epist. l. 8. ad Caâ—â—â—â— I answere that both * Plin. Sec. Histor nat l. 5. c. 4. Hippo wherof Augustine was Bishop and Velleius l. 1. Appian l. de Bel. Punicis is fine Carthage wherof Cyprian was Archbishop were Romane Colonies consisting for the most part of the progenie of Romanes for which sort of Citties there was speciall reason Although neither in the Colonies themselues as it seemeth the Romane tong was altogether vncorrupt both for that which I alleadged before out of Spartianus of Seuerus his sister dwelling at Leptis and for that which I remembred out of Augustine for Hippo where they spake * Enarâ— Psal. 138. Ossum * â— 2. de doc Christ c. 13. Floriet and * Tract 7. â—â— Ioannem Dolus for Os and Florehit and dolor yet were both Leptis Hippo Romane Colonies And yet it appeareth further by Augustine that in their translations of the Scriptures and in the Psalms sung in their Churches they had these corruptions where yet as it is like their most corrupt and vulgar latine had not place To the third I answere that two reasons of it may be assigned One that learned men would rather write in the learned and grammaticall then in the vulgar and prouinciall latine Another that the workes of vnlearned men would hardly continue till our times seeing euen of the learned ancieÌ„t writings but few of infinite haue remained Furthermore it is obserued of the Germane tongue by Tschudas and of the French by Genebrard Tschud Des. â—â—pt Alpinae cap. 36. Genebr l. 4. Chron. Secul 11. that it is very little aboue 400. yeares since bookes began to be written in both those languages and yet it is out of all doubt that the tongues are much ancienter To the fourth I say that there is no language which of ordinary course is not subiect to change although there were no forraine occasion at all which the very fancies of men weary of old words as of old things is able enough to worke which may be wel proued by obseruations and instances of former changes in this very tongue the latine whereof I now dispute Quintâ—â— Iust Orator l. 1. ca. 6. For Quintilian recordeth that the verses of the Salij which were saide to bee composed by Numa could hardly bee vnderstood of their Priests in the latter time of the common wealth Fest. in DictioÌ„ Latine loqui for the absolutenesse of the speech And Festus in his booke de verborum significatione who liued in Augustus Caesars time hath left in obseruation that the Latine speech which saith he is so named of Latium was then in such manner changed that scarslie any part of it remained in knowledge The lawes also of the Romane Kings and of the Decemuiri Fulu Visin not ad Anton. August de Lâ—gâ—h et Senâ—tusconsult called the Lawes of the twelue Tables collected and published in their owne wordes by Fuluius Vrsinus are no lesse euident testimonies if they be compared with the later latin of the great alteration of that language Furthermore Polyb. l. 3. Polybius hath also recorded that the articles of league betwixt the people of Rome of Carthage made presently after the expulsion of the Kings from Rome could very hardly in his time be vnderstood by reason of the old forsaken words by any of the best skilled antiquaries in Rome In which time notwithstanding they receiued very few strangers into their Cittie which mixture might cause such alteration and the difference of time was but about 350. yeares And yet to adde one instance more of a shorter reuolution of time and a cleerer euidence of the change that the Roman tongue was subiect to and that when no forraine cause thereof can bee alleadged There remaineth at this day as it is certainly * Vid. Paul Merul. Cosin par 2. l. â— c. 18 et Celsu Câ—â—tad in Tractâ— de Orig. ling. Vulgaris Ital Cap. 7. c. recorded in the Capitoll at Rome though much defaced by the iniury of time a piller they call it Columnam rostratam that is decked with beakes of ships dedicated to the memory of Duillius a Roman Consull vpon a nauale victory obtained againg the Carthaginians in the first punicke war not past 150. yeares before Ciceroes time when the Roman tongue ascended to the highest flourish of Elegancie that euer it obtained And thus the words of the Pillar are those that may be read as I find theÌ„ obserued with the later latine vnder theÌ„ Exemet Leciones Macistratos Castreis Exfociont Exemit Legiones Magistratus Castris Effugiunt Pucnandod Cepet Enque Nauebos Marid Consol. Pugnando Cepit Inque Nauibus Mari. Consul Primos Ornauet Nauebous Claseis Paenicas Sumas Primus Ornauit Nauibus Classes Punicas Summas Cartaciniensis Dictatored Altod. Socieis Triresmos Carthaginiensis Dictatore Alto. Socijs Triremes Naueis Captom Numei Naualed Praedad Poplo c. Naues Captum Nummi Nauali Praeda. Populo c. Where you see in many words e for i c. for g o for u and somtime for e and d superfluously added to the end of many words But to let forrain toungs passe of the great alteration that time is wont to worke in languages our owne tongue may afford vs examples euident enough wherein since the times neere after and about the Conquest the change hath beene so great as I my selfe haue seen some euidences made in the time of King Henrie the first whereof I was able to vnderstand but few words To which purpose also a certaine remembrance is to bee found in Holinsheds Chronicle in the end of the Conquerours raigne in a Charter giuen by him to the Citie of London Of the ancient Languages of Italie Spaine Fraunce and Afrique CHAP. VII BVt if the discourse of these points of Antiquitie in handling whereof I haue declared that while the Roman Empire flourished it neuer abolished the vulgar languages in Fraunce or Spaine or Afrique howsoeuer in Italie If that discourse I say mooue in you perhaps a desire to know what the ancient vulgar languages of these parts were I will also in that point out of my reading and search into Antiquitie giue you the best satisfaction that I can And first for Italie Certaine it is that many were the ancient tongues in the seuerall Prouinces of it tongues I say not dialects for they were many more In Apulia the Mesapian tongue In Tuscanie and Vmbria the Hetruscan both of them vtterly perished Inscript ver pag. 143.144.145.146 Yet in the booke of ancient Inscriptions set forth by Gruter and Scaliger there be some few monuments registred of these languages but not vnderstood now of any man In Calabria both the higher and lower and farre along the maritime coast of the Tyrrhene sea the Greeke In Latium now Campagna di Roma The Latine In Lombardie and Liguria the old tongue of Fraunce whatsoeuer it was
towne of all those parts was the place where they had their trade commerce with those Aramites But when the Phoenician tongue began to degenerate into Chaldee then the name of 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 was conuerted into Tur the letter 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 beeing turned into 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 in sound made 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 As * Vid. Scaliger as Fest. in dictione Sarra et Guidon Fabric in Grammatic Chaldaea c. they that obserue the differences of the Hebrew and the Chaldee and the transitions of the first into the latter know to be ordinary Roman writers and it is also acknowledged by * Strab. l. 1 post med Burchard descr terrae Sanctae Vitriacus Niger Postell and others that the place of Tyre for the city was vtterlie ruined three hundred yeares ago is still called the port of Sur Hieron in lib. de Nominib Hebraicis Plin. l. 5. c. 19. which name it seemeth to haue obtained either because it was built on a Rocke for so Burchardus that viewed the place hath obserued which 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 in the Phoenician toung signifies or else as Hierome deriues it of the straitnesse and scarcenes of roome as being seated in a smal Iland but 19. miles in circuit as Plinie noteth a small Territory for such a City or perhaps because it was the strongest fortres for that also 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 importeth of all those Regions as being founded on a rocke enuironed with the sea for it was before * Q Curt. l. 4. Alexanders time * Plin. loc citabo 700. paces distant from the firme land mightily strengthened by fortifications of Art populous as beeing the Metropolis of Phoenicia and exceeding rich as sometime the Cittie of greatest traffique in the World Of this city then both the region and inhabitants of Suria obtained their names but Melchitae as I saide they were termed meerely in respect of their religion wherein namely they altogether followed the examples and decrees of the Emperours For whereas after the Councell of Chalcedon infinite perplexity and trouble began to arise in the East parts principally about the opinion of Eutyches and Dioscorus of one only nature in Christ which that councel had condemned but notwithstanding found many that maintained it and reiected the Councell in those Easterne countries And thereupon the Emperour Leo began to exact as diuers other of his Successours afterward did the suffrages and subscriptions of the Easterne Bishops for the better establishment of the Councel Niceph. Callist Histor. Ecclesiast l. 18. c. 52. Then began they that embraced and approued the authority of that Councell because they followed the Emperours decrees made in behalfe of it to be termed by their aduersaries Melchitae of Melchi saith Nicephorus rather 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 which in the speech of Syria signifieth a King as one would say of the Kings Religion whereas they that opposed themselues to the Councell were distracted into no lesse then twelue seueral sects and not long after into many more as the same * Lib. 18. c. 45. Nicephorus hath recorded Now although the Syrians or Melchites are for their religion meerely of the Grecians opinions As 1. That the Holy Ghost proceedeth only from the father 1.2.3.4.5 Iacob a Vitriaco Hist. Orient ca. 75. 2. That they celebrate diuine seruice as solemnly on the Sabbath as on the Lords day 3. That they keepe that day festiuall eating therein flesh and fast no Saturday in the yeare but Easter Eue. 4 Villamont â—n voyag l. 2. c. 22. 4. That their Priests and Deacons contract not marriage being already in Orders but yet retaine their wiues before married 5. That the fourth Matrimony is vtterlie vnlawfull 6.7.8. Villamont loco citato 6. That they communicate the Eucharist in both kinds 7. That they acknowledge not Purgatory 8. That they obserue foure Lents in the yeare c. And in a word although they be meerely * Vitriac loco iam citato Saligniciâ— Itiner Tom. 8. c. 1 Bamugart Peregrin l. 2. c. 9. 〈◊〉 Alij of the same Religion communion with the Grecians yet are they not of the iurisdiction of the Patriarch of Constantinople but of the Archbishop of Damascus by the title of the Patriarch of Antiochia For Antiochia it selfe where yet the name of Christians was first heard in the world was long knowne by the name of 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 lying at this present in a manner wast or broken and dispersed into small villages of which onely one of about 60 houses with a smal Temple belongeth to Christians * Bellon obâ—eru l. c. Chitrae de stat Ecclesiar pag. 5. the Patriarchall seat was translated thence to Damascus where as is reported are Boteâ— Relat. pa. 3. l. 2. c. de Maroâ—â—ti Cruâ— Turâ—o grar l. 4 p. 296. ex relatione Gerlachij aboue 1000 houses of Christians and there remaineth For although * Boter loco 〈◊〉 citato the Patriachs of the Maronites and of the Iacobites whereof the former keepeth residence in Libanus and the later in Mesopotamia intitle themselues Patriarchs of Antiochia and by the Christians of their owne sects bee so acknowledged yet do the Melchites who retaine the auncient religion of Syria acknowledge none for patriarche but the Archbishop of Damascus reputing both the other for schismaticks as hauing departed from the obedience and communion of the true Patriarch And yet beside all these a fourth there is of the Popes designation that vsurpeth the title of the Patriarche of Antiochia For * Boter Relat. p. 3. l. 1. ca. del Patriarcha latino dâ— Constantinopoli euer since the Latines surprised Constantinople which was about the yeare 1200 held the possession of the east Empire about 70. yeares al which time the Patriarchs of Constantinople were consecrated by the Pope As also since the holy Land and the Prouinces about it were in the hands of the Christian Princes of the West which began to bee about An. 1100. And so continued about 80. yeares during which season the Patriarchs of Antiochia also and of Ierusalem were of the Popes consecration Euer since then I say the Church of Rome hath and doth still create successiuely imaginary or titular Patriarchs without iurisdiction of Constantinople Antiochia Ierusalem and Alexandria so loth is the Pope to loose the remembrance of any superiority or title that hee hath once compassed Of the Georgians Circassians and Mengrellians CHAP. XVII THe Georgians inhabite the Country that was anciently named Iberia betwixt the Euxine and the Caspian Seas inclosed with Sheruan Media East with Mengrelia Colchis West with Turcomania Armenia the greater South * Volaterran l. 11. c. de Sect. Syriae Prateo l. de Sectis Haeâ—et in Verbo Georgiani Alij And with Albania Zuiria North. The vulgar opinion of Historians is that they haue obtained the name of Georgians
Medio or new Babilon my obseruations in Geographie and historie will not suffer mee to approoue First because Seleucia is remembred by Strabo to be 300 furlongs 37 miles and one or two Plinie saith Strabo l. 16. Plin. l. 6. c. 26. a great deale more distant from Babilon whereas Bagdet is built close by the ruines of it SecoÌ„dly because I finde the positioÌ„ of Seleucia in Ptolomie to bee two third parts of a degree Ptolom Geog. l 6. c. 18 20. Dion Histor. l. 10. Plin. l. 6. c. 26. more North then that of Babilon whereas Bagdet is more South Thirdly because in Dion and others Seleucia is named for a Citie of Mesopotamia which Bagded is not but in the prouince of Babilon as being beneath the confluence of Tigris and Euphrates The Bishop of Muzal then is Patriarch of the Nestorians But yet at this present if the * Boter Relat. par 3. l. 2. c. de Nestoriani Thom. a Ies. de conâ—ers genâ— l. 7 〈…〉 c â— relations of these times be true there is a distraction of that sect which began about 60 yeares agoe in the time of Pope Iulius the third the Nestorians in the North part of Mesopotamia about the Citie of Caramit submitting themselues to another Patriarch of the Popes erecting that reuolting from the Bishop of Muzal taking also on him the title of the Patriarch of Muzal which the Pope bestowed on him hauing first rendred and professed obedience to the Sea of Rome in which obedience it is said that those Nestorians about Caramit doe still continue Now touching the specialties of these Nestorians religion in relation to the Roman they beleeue First 1 Vtriac Hist Orient c. 78. that there are two persons in our Sauiour as well as two natures but yet confesse that Christ from the first instant of his conception was perfect God and perfect man Th. a. Ies. Ibid. Secondly 2 Id. loco citatâ— that the blessed Virgin ought not to be termed 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 which yet now in some sort they * Boâ—er Relat pa. 3. l. 2. c. de Nestoriani Thom. a Ies de conu gent. l. 7. c. 2. qualifie confessing hir to be the Mother of God the Sonne but yet refusing to terme her the Mother of God Thirdly 3 Boter loco proxim citat that Nestorians condemned in the third and fourth generall councels and Diodorus Tar sensis and Theodorus Mopsuestensis condemned for Nestorianisme in the fifth were holy men Reiecting for their sake the third generall councell held at Ephesus and all other councels after it and specially detesting the mall of Nestorianisme Cyrill of Alexandria Th. a. Ies. Ibid. 4 Vitriac Histor Orient 78. Villamont en voyages l. 2. c. 23. 4. They celebrate the Sacrament of the Eucharist with leauened bread 5. They communicate in both kinds 6. They vse not auricular confession Villam loc citat 7. Nor confirmation 6 Et. 7. Sulak NestoriaÌ„ profess Tom. 4. Biblioth Vet Patrum pag. 1054. 8. They contract marriage in the second degree of consanguinity Th. a Ies. Ibid. 9. Their Priests after the death of their first wiues haue the liberty of the second or third or oftner marriage Th. a. Ies. Ibib. 8 Gulielm de Rubric Itiner Tartar C. 17. 10. They haue not the Image of the Crucifix on their crosses Of the Indians or Christians of S t. Thomas CHAP. XX. THe Christians of India vulgarly named the Christians of S. Thomas because by his preaching they are supposed to haue beene conuerted to Christian Religion and his bodie as is thought remaineth among theÌ„ buried in the citie of Maliapar on the coast of Choromandel inhabite in the neerer part of India namely in that great Promontory whose base lying betweene the outlets of the riuers Indus Ganges stretcheth out the sides far toward the South well nigh 1000. miles till meeting in the point of Comori they make together with the base line forementioned betwixt Cambaia and Bengala the figure almost of an equilateral Triangle In the more southerly part of this great promontory I say neerer to Cape Comori about the cities of Coulan and Cranganor on the west side and about Maliapur and Negapatan on the East side doe these Christians of Saint Thomas dwell being esteemed afore the Portugals frequeÌ„ted those parts about * Sommar â— popoli OrieÌ„â—ap Ramus Vol l. de Vâ—aggâ— p. 332. 15000. or * Barbosa eod vol. pag. 312. 16000. families or after anothers account * Boter Rei p. 3. l. 2. c. della noua Christianita d'India 70000. persons but on the west coast the farre greater number of them is found and especially their habitation is thickest about Angamale 15. miles from the citie Cochin northward where their Archbishop keepeth residence Now as touching their gouernement Their Archbishop till 20. yeares since or little more acknowledged obedieÌ„ce to the Patriarch of Mozal * Boter Relat. p. 3. l. 2. c. dellâ— vecchia Christiâ—n 〈◊〉 d'India Th. a Ies de conu Gâ—nt l. 7 pa. l. c. 4. by the name of the Patriarch of Babilon as by those Christians of India he is still tearmed and certainly * Pausan. in Atticiâ—ante med that the Patriarch of Mozal * For Mozal as I said afore is either Seleucia or succeeded into the dignity of it And Seleucia is recorded to haue beene inhabited by the cittizens of Babilon whereof it was a Colony And such a Colony as in short time it * Th. a Ies. de conu gent. l. 7. part 1. c. 4. exhausted Babilon it selfe of all the Inhabitans passing by reason of the more coÌ„modious situation to dwell at Seleucia So that Seleucia beeing inhabited by the Babilonians and so becomming in stead of Babilon the principall citty of the Prouinces of Babilonia and Assyria the citty * Plin. loco proxim citato obtained the name of Babilon of her inhabitants as well as Seleucia of her founder as Plinie hath recorded And the Patriarch of it the title of the Patriarch of Babilon And although * Apud Ramus vol. 1. de viaggi p. 313. Barbosa note that subordination of the christians of India to be to the Patriarch of Armenia which no doubt he receiued from the Indians relation among whom he was yet certaine it is that hee meaneth no other then this patriarch of Mozal because those Armenians which he meaneth are by himselfe obserued to haue for their vulgar language the Arabique tongue to celebrate their diuine seruice in the Chaldee both which agree with the Christians of Mozal but neither of both with those of Armenia whose language both in the vulgar and sacred vse is knowne to bee no other then the Armenian tongue As also because the Indians are known to haue bin Nestorians to which heresie the Armenians were most opposite as beeing in a manner Iacobites But as it seemeth that Patriarch is saide to
and the Person they dare not say there be in Christ two Natures for feare they should slip into Nestorius heresie of two Persons Which heresie of one onely Nature in our Sauiour beginning with Eutyches although after dispersing it selfe into many branches hath euer since the time of the Counsell of Chalcedon by which Eutychianisme was condemned and for it the Patriarch of Alexandria * Concil Chalced. Action 3. Dioscorus deposed beene nourished and maintayned as by other Christians of the East so specially by the Aegyptians Insomuch that not onely sundry Patriarchs of Alexandria and Antiochia but specially of Alexandria together with many other Bishops of the East parts their Suffragans and adherents are recorded to haue maintained and aduanced Euagr. l 3. c. 5.6.22.30.33 c. Leont de Sect. Action 5. Niceph. l. 16. c. 2.4 5. l. 18. c. 45. sequent that heresie of Eutyches but we finde moreouer manie Synodes of those parts registred or remembred in Euagrius Leontius Nicephorus and the booke called * Synod 97.101.103 108 109 c. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 brought to light by Pappus c. wherin in the behalfe of that heresie the decrees of the Councell of Chalcedon were condemned In which counsell although we reade of the greatest Confluence of Bishops that euer mette about the Establishment of any point in Christian religion and yet beside the 630 Bishops present in that Councell there are extant in the * Ad sin Concil Chalcedon Tom. 2. Concil Binij Booke of Councels the suffrages of about 30 prouinciall Synodes that by their Epistles to the Emperour Leo confirmed it together with all the Bishops of the West by whom it was likewise receiued yet notwithstanding all this that heresie so preuailed in the East parts and specially in Aegypt wherof we now entreat that from that time to this it was neuer cleared of it But as there was neuer heresie that so grieuously wounded the Church of God as that of Eutyches except perhaps Arrianisme so was no part of the Church so deepely and deadly wounded by it as that of Aegypt So that euen at this day although the wound be in some sort healed yet the wemme or scarre still remaineth For it is not many yeares since by certaine lesuits Agents for the Bishop of Rome some conferences were had with the Patriarch of Alexandria and his Synode Boter Relat. pa. 3. l. 3. c. de Christiani de Egitto wherein although they confessed if true relation be made of that conference that Christ is true God and true Man yet did they purposely refraine from mentioning two natures in Christ lest they should by little and little slippe into the heresie of two persons Now as touching their Ecclesiastical gouernment they are subiect to the Patriarch of Alexandria * Chitrae de â—at Ecclesiar pag. 21. whose Patriarchall seat is at this present translated and so long hath beene to the Citie of Caire in * Legatio Alexâ—ndrin ap Baâ—on Tom. â— in fine either of which Cities Caire and Alexandria there remaine at this day but three Christian temples a peece Whereas Burchardus recordeth of his time about 320 years agoe that in one of them Caire there were aboue 40. Burch descr ter sanct par 2. c. 3. But yet to the Iurisdiction of this Patriarch belong not onely the natiue Christians of Aegypt who are but very few considering the exceeding populousnesse of that Nation for they are esteemed as I sayd before not to passe 50000 which in Burchardus his time are by him recorded to haue beene aboue 300000. Id. pa. 2. c. 3. together with the small Remainder of Christians that are found about the Bay of Arabia and in Mount Sinai Eastward or in Afrique as farre as the greater Syrtis Westward but the Christians likewise of Aethiopia acknowledge obedience to him 〈…〉 cap. 1â—5 For although Aluarez in his storie of Aethiopia haue related as he doth also some other matters touching the ancienter condition of the Church too grossely and boldly that the Christians of Nubia till their defection from Christianity were of the Popes dependance and Iurisdiction and receiued their Bishops by his consecration and say nothing of the Patriarch of Alexandria yet certainely that they were not so is manifest for besides that Saligniacus himselfe the Popes protonotary and whose trauaile had taught him some knowledge of the East parts directly denieth the Nubians professing of obedience to the Bishop of Rome obseruing that they were gouerned by a Prelate of their owne whom they termed the Priest of the law Itiner Tom. 8. c. 2. Beside that direct testimonie of his I say there be other Euidences First because there cannot be produced any Instance out of any Ecclesiasticall history either ancient or moderne as I am certainely perswaded to that effect Secondly because the fathers of the Nicene counsell as we finde in * Nicen. Concil l. 3. c. 36. Gelasius Cizicenus are knowen to haue assigned Aethiopia whereof Nubia is a part to the Patriarch of Alexandria his Iurisdiction Thirdly because the Patriarchship of Alexandria lyeth directly betweene Nubia and Rome as being immediately at the backe of Aegypt Fourthly because the Nubians were in religion Iacobites as a Roman Cardinal Vitriacus Brocardus and others haue recorded Vitriac histor â—rient c. 76. Brocard deâ—â—ript Terre sanct and as their baptising with fire remembred by Burchardus and Saligniacus did manifestly import Burch descr terr sanct pa. 2. c. 3. § 7. Saligniac Itin. Tom 8. c. 2. of which sect the Patriarch of Alexandria is knowen to be which had the Pope the assignement or confirmation of their prelates it is vtterly vnlike they should haue been Fiftly because in time of their necessitie being left destitute of Bishops and Ministers if they had pertained to the Bishop of Rome his Iurisdiction they would rather haue had recourse to him for repaire of the decayed and ruinous state of their Church who both plentifully could and no doubt readily would haue relieued them rather then suffered them to depart as they haue done from the Christian faith To him I say they would rather haue resorted for supply then to the K. of Habassia * Aluarez loâ—o prox citato as they did being of another patriarchall Iurisdiction Certaine therefore it seemeth that Nubia while it was Christian belonged not to Rome but to Alexandria By whom if the Nubians in their distresses were not relieued no man can wonder that knoweth the great want and misery of the Church of Aegypt Of the Habassines CHAP. XXIII NOW touching the Habassines or midland Aethiopians whether they haue obtained that name by reason of their habitations in houses which the Aegyptians called Auases Strab. l. 2. et l. as Strabo hath obserued for the ancient books haâ—e 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 not 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 in difference from them which dwelling neerer the Bay of Arabia were called Trogloditae 〈◊〉
haue cheifely their aboade and therefore to make it a more compleate worke it will not be amisse compendiously to declare their multitudes amplenesse and seuerall habitations in this Europaean world To begin with the remotest partes hereof Eastward in the kingdome of Polonia as it is this present confining on the West at the riuers of Warta and Odera with the Marchesates of Silesia and Brandeburge on the East at the riuers of Nieper and Bresnia with Moscouia on the South at the Riuer of Niester with Moldauia at the g Ne commemorem ditâ—onis amplitudinem inquit Erasmus de Regno Poloniae loquens complectentis Russos etiam Aâ—bos Lâ—tuanos quibus omnibus latissimè imperat a vistula flumine ad Tauricam Cheronâ—sum a mari Balthico ad Caparthum montem Sigismundus Rex Eras epist ad Polo Seâ—r tar praefix expo in orat do Caparthian mountaines with Hungarie on the North with the Baltique sea hauing vnder its dominion Polonia Lituania Liuonia Podolia Russia the lesse Volhimia Masouia Prussia which vnited as it were within one roundish inclosure are in circuit about 2600. miles and of no lesse space then Spaine and France layd together in this so large and ample kingdome the Protestants in great numbers are diffused through all quarters thereof hauing in euery Prouince their publicke Churches and congregations orderly seuered and bounded with Diocesses whence are sent some of the cheefest amd most principall men of worth vnto their Generall Synods which within these few yeares they haue frequently held with great celebritie and with no lesse Christian prudence and piety For whereas there are diuers sorts of these Polonicke Protestants some embracing the Waldensian or the Bohemick others the Augustane and some the Heluetian confession and so doe differ in some outward circumstances of Discipline and ceremony yet knowing well that a kingdome diuided cannot stand and that the one God whom all of them worship in spirit is the God of peace and concord they iointly meet at one Generall Synode and their first Act alway is a religious and solemne profession of their vnfained consent in the substantiall points of Christian Faith necessary to saluation Thus in Generall Synodes at a Anno. 1570. Sendomire b 1573. Cracouia c 1578. Petricoue d 1â—â—3 Wlodislaue e 1â—95 See the Acts of the Synods themselues Torune vnto which resorted in great troops Christians of all Orders States and degrees out of all Prouinces of this most potent kingdome they declared the Bohemicke Helueticke and Augustane confessions seuerally receiued amongst them to agree in the principall heads of Faith touching the holy Scripture the sacred Trinitie the Person of the sonne of God God and man the prouidence of God Sinne Freewil the Law the Gospel Iustification by Christ Faith in his name Regeneration the catholike Church and Supreame head thereof Christ the Sacraments their number and vse the state of soules after death the resurrection life eternal they decreed that wheras in the forenamed confessions there is some difference in phrases and formes of speech concerning Christs presence in his holy supper which might breed dissention all disputations touching the manner of Christs presence should bee cut off seeing all of them doe beleeue the presence it selfe and that the Eucharisticall elements are not naked and empty signes but doe truely performe to the faithfull receiuer that which they signifie and represent and to preuent future occasions of violating this sacred consent they ordained that no man should be called to the sacred ministery without subscription thereunto and when any person shal be excluded by excommunication from the congregation of one conâ—ession that he may not be receiued by the congregation of another Lastly forasmuch as they accord in the substantiall verity of Christian doctrine they professe themselues content to tolerate diuersitie of ceremonies according to the diuerse practise of their particular Churches and to remoue the least suspition of rebelling and sedition wherewith their malitious and calumniating aduersaries might blemish the Gospell although they are subiect vnto many greeuous pressures from the adherents of Antichrist yet they carnestly export one another to follow that worthy and Christian admonition of Lactantius Defendenda Religio est non occidendo sed moriendo non saeuitia sed patientia non scelere sed fide illa enim bonorum sunt haec malorum This is the state of the professors of the Gospell in the electiue Monarchy of Polonia who in the adioyning countries on the South Transiluania and Hungarie are also exceedingly multiplied In the former by the fauor Gabriel Bartorius now Prince of that Region who not many yeares since hath expulsed thence all such as are of the Papall faction in a manner the whole body of the Inhabitants except some few rotten and putred limmes of Arrians Antitrinnitarians Ebionites Socinians Anabaptists who heere as also in Polonia Lituania Borussia haue some publicke Assemblies are professed Protestants in the later a greater part specially beeing compared onely with such as are there addicted to the Romish superstition But hence Eastward in the kingdom of Bohemia consisting of 32. thousand parishes now become in a manner hereditary to the house of Austria as likewise the kingdome of Hungary and its appurtenances the Marchesates of Lusatia Morauia the Dukedome of Silesia all which iointly in circuit containe 770. miles the Protestants are esteemed two third parts in Austria it selfe and the countries of Goritia Tirolis Cilia the principalities of Sueuia Alsatia Brisgoia Constans now annexed thereunto the most part of the people and especially of the a Nobiles fere omnes qui in subditos suâ—s et clientes iudicia exerceÌ„t eorumque nonnulli vitae et necis â—â—â—ent potâ—staâ—e â—â—â—mouarum opininum veneno inflecti sunt Thesau polit Apot. 6. Nobility are the same way affected and are in regard of their number so potent that they are fearefull vnto their malignant opposites And almost they are of the same number and strength in the neighbour countries of the Arch-Duke of Gratzden a branch of the house of Austria namely in Stiria Carinthia Carniola saue since the yeare 1598. they haue not had in these countries the publicke exercise of their Religion by the importunate and clandestine solicitations of the Iesuites who notwithstanding in respect of the number and potencie of the a Illustres domini Ordinarij necnon prouinciahum pars maxima nihil non agit vt manere nobis ministris Euangelâ—â— liceret sed Iesuitam instigationes quam totius prouinciae supplicationes plus poterant Histo. persecut Grae. carâ—â—s Nobility on the Protestant partie euen in Gratts the prime City of Styria could not effect their desires vntill in the yeare forementioned vnder pretence of conducting the Arch-Dukes sister into Spaine to bee wife vnto the now Philip the third sundry Embassadors from the Princes of Italy the Pope the King of Spaine attended with many souldiers
That the lawes whereby their Church is to bee gouerned are onely the Canons of the more ancient Councels and their owne Nationall Decrees and not the Decretals of the Bishops of Rome That the Councell of Constance assembled by Sigismund the Emperour with a concurrent consent of other Christian Princes decreeing a Generall Synode to be superiours vnto the Pope and correcting many enormious abuses in the Roman Church which yet remaine in practise was a true oecumenicall Councell and so likewise the Councell of Basill That the Assembly of Trent was no lawfull Councell and the Canons thereof are rather to be esteemed the Decrees of the Popes who called and continued it then the Decrees of the Councell it selfe because in this Assembly Bishops onely contrary to the practise of the Councell of Basill had decisiue voyces and the greatest parts of Bishops were Italian the Popes vassals and besides nothing was then determined that was not at Rome fore-determined by the Pope That the Sacrament of the Lords Supper ought to be administred vnder both kinds and at the least a great part of diuine seruice is to be performed in their vulgar tongues Thus are the greater number of Lawyers and learned men in France affected and those who are throughly popish are for the most part men of the basest sort wholy leauened with the bitter slanders and calumniations of malicious Friers Now if to all the forenamed kingdomes Principalities Dukedomes States Citties abounding with professors of the trueth we adde the Monarchies of Greate Britannie Denmarke Sweden wholy in a manner Protestant wee shall finde them not much inferiour in number and amplitude to the Romish partie especially if we consider that the very bulke and body hereof Italy and Spaine are by a kinde of violence and necessity rather then out of any free choice and iudgement deteined in their superstition namely by the iealousie crueltie and tyrannous vigilancy of the inquisition and their owne ignorance being a Vide indiceÌ„ libro prohi edâ—t iussu Clem. 8. Et Azou lin 8. Morel Insâ—t cap. 26. by Clement the 8. vtterly debarred from all reading of the Sacred Scriptures whereby they might come to the knowledge of the Truth And if any shall except that the Protestants in diuerse Countries before mentioned cannot bee reputed as one body and of one Church by reason of many differences and hot contentions amongest them let such remember that howsoeuer some priuate men in this holy society rather then of it preferring their nouell and passionate fancies before the peace of the Church purchased with Christs precious bloud and the publicke weale of Christian Monarchies vnnaturall toward their owne deere Mother rending that wombe wherein they were new borne by the lauer of Regeneration forgetfull of their heauenly embassage which is not onely to reconcile men vnto God but men with men so farre neglecting their owne eternall saluation as to be vnmindfull of that most vndoubted truth He that is not in charity is in death trampling vnder foote that glorious legacie of their Lord and Maister My peace I giue vnto you my peace I leaue with you haue in heat of contention and bitternesse of their soules strained and racked their weake vnderstandings to make differences betweene themselues euen in the maine Articles of Faith and branded one another with blasphemy and heresie yet these vnchristian and vncharitable dissensions are not to be imputed to the whole sacred community of Orthodox Churches whose harmony and agreement in necessary points of Faith are onely to be esteemed by their confessions which by publicke authority they haue diuulged vnto the world How many are the differences both in doctrine and discipline betweene the Proctors for the Papall faction touching Discipline some teach their cheefetaine the Pope may erre others that he cannot some that he is subiect vnto a Generall Councell others that hee is aboue it some that all Ecclesiasticall authority is immediately in the Prelates of the Church others that it is onely in the Pope and from him deriued vnto inferiour Bishops some that he hath temporall authorities ouer Princes others not concerning doctrine some at firme that predestination both by grace and glory is meerely from Gods free pleasure others from foreseene desert and merit some that all the bookes or part of them belonging vnto the old Testament which were not in the Canon of the Iewish Church are Apocriphall others canonicall euen in the matters of Faith some that there is no originall sinne inherent in vs but only imputed others that it is both inherent and imputed some that wee are most freely iustified by the meanes of Faith Hope c. others by the value and merit of these vertues some that faith is onely a generall assent vnto diuine truths others that it is a speciall perswasion touching the remission of our sinnes through Christ some that wee appeare righteous in Gods sight partly through imputed partly through inherent righteousnesse others onely by inherent some that eternall life is due vnto our works onely by vertue of Gods free and gratious promise others through the merit of the worke done some that all the morall good works of Infidels and Ethnicks are sinnes others that they are without sinne some that the B. Virgin was conceiued without originall sinne others the contrary and that with such eagernesse that the one condemne the other of heresie yet because these contentions are betweene priuate men and they all in Spaine and Italie but not in France as hath beene hewed accord in the cheefe points of doctrine publiquely established in the Councell of Trent they boast much of their vnity Although then some priuate men vnworthy to take the word of peace and reconciliation into their virulent and contentious mouthes led more by passion and their owne selfe-pleasing conceipt then by the sacred rules of truth and piety haue laboured to sow the tares of dissention in the vineyard of the Lord and heereby haue made crooked some few branches cleauing vnto them yet the generall societies of Orthodox Churches in the publicke confessions of their faith doe so agree that there is a most sacred harmony betweene them in the more substantiall points of Christian Religion necessary to saluation This is manifest out of the confessions themselues which are these the Anglicane the Scotiane French Heluctian former and later the Belgie Polonie Argentine Augustane Saxonicke Wirtenbergicke Palatine Bohemicke or Weldensian confession for there is none of the Churches formerly pointed out in diuers places of Europe which doth not embrace one of these confessions and all of them harmoniously conspire in the principall Articles of Faith and which neerest concerne our eternall saluation as in the infallible verity and full sufficiency of the Scriptures diuine essence and vnitie of the euerlasting Godhead the sacred Trinitie of the three glorious persons the blessed incarnation of Christ the omnipotent prouidence of God the absolute supreame head of the Church Christ iustification by
tongue for the Spaniards call it Arauiga which all the other remnants of the Mores in the plainer region had vtterly forgotten and receiued the Castilian till their late expulsion out of Spaine for their vulgar language The like whereof is also to be seene in the old Epirotique speech and nation which yet continueth in the mountainous part of Epirus being for the tongue vtterly extinguished in all the Country beside And to let forraine instances goe in the Brittaines or Welsh-men in the hillie part of our owne Country What the reason thereof may be I will not stand now curiously to enquire whether that being inured to labour to watching to sundry distemperatures of the aire and much other hardnesse for otherwise their liuing will not be gotten of such barren ground they prooue vpon occcasion good and able souldiers Or that the craggie rockes and hilles like fortresses of natures owne erecting are easily defended from forraine inuaders Or that their vnpleasant and fruitlesse soile hath nothing to inuite strangers to desire it Or that wanting richesse they want also the ordinary companions of richesse that is proud and audacious hearts to prouoke with their iniuries other nations to be reuenged on them either by the conquest or desolation of their Countries But whatsoeuer the cause may be certainely in effect so it is that the most ancient Nations and Languages are for the most part to be found in such vnpleasant and fruitlesse regions Insomuch that the Biscaynes who gaue me occasion of this digression vaunt of themselues among the Spanyards that they are the right Hidalgos that is gentlemen as some also report of the Welsh-men heere in Brittaine to say of themselues which yet I that am their neighbour to confesse a truth neuer heard them say Now lastly touching the Punique tongue as I am not of Galateus his opinion Galat. de 〈…〉 that it was vtterly extinguished by the Romanes So neither can I bee of the phantasie for it is no better that * Gâ—sner in Mithridate iâ— Ling. Afric Arab. Roccha de dialect in Ling. Arabica Postell de Ling. 12 in ling. Arab. Mas. in Gram Syriaca prop. Init. Bibliand de ration Linguar Schidler in Lex Pontaglotto in voce 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Mart. Galeott de doctr promiscua cap. 6. alij multi manie other learned men are namely that it was the Arabique that is to say the same language that is vulgar in Afrique at this day For it is well knowen to the skilfull in histories that the Puniques were of another off-spring not of Arabian race and that it is not yet a thousand yeares since that tongue was by the Arabians together with their victories brought into Afrique And as certaine also it is that the remnants of the Africans progenie as * Leo Afric l. 1. Descrip. Afr. cap. de Ling. Africae Flo. in Epitom Liu l. 51. Strab. l. 17. Leo Africanus hath recorded haue a different language from the Arabique But the Punique tongue seemeth to me out of question to haue beene the Chananitish or old Hebrew language though I doubt not somwhat altered from the original pronuntiation as is wont in tract of time to befall Colonies planted among strangers farre from home For first Carthage it selfe the Queene of the Cities of Afrique and well might she be termed so that contained in circuit 24 miles as Florus in his abridgement of Liuie hath recorded and by the vtter wall 360 furlongs that is 45 miles as it is in Strabo And held out in emulation with Rome as is noted by Plinie 120 yeare and to conclude before the second Punique warre had in subiection all the coast of the mediterrane sea Plin. l. 15. c. 18. from the bottome of the greater Syrtis in Afrique to the riuer Ebro Iberus in Spain which is about 2000. miles of length that the same Carthage I say and diuers other Cities of Afrique of which Plinie nameth Vtica and Leptis as being the printipall were Colonies of the Phoenicians and namely of the Tyrians is not onely by Strabo Strab. lib. citato Mela. l. 1. c. â— Liu. lib. 33. Plin. l. 5. c. 19. Appian l. de Bel. Punâ—cis in principio Curtius l. 4. et Aâ—â— plures Mela Liuie Plinie Appian and many other certaine Authors acknowledged and by none denied but also the very names of Poeni and Punici beeing but variations or mutilations of the name Phoenicij import so much and lastly their language assureth it For Hierome writing that their language was growne somewhat different from the Phoenician tongue doth manifestly in those words imply it had bene the same And what were the Phoenicians but Chanaanites The Phoenicians I say of whose exceeding merchaÌ„dizing we reade so much in ancient histories what were they but Chanaanites whose very 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 name signifieth merchants for the very same nation that the Graecians called Phoenicians 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and the Romanes in imitation of that name Poenos Punicos for the exceeding store of good Palmes 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 in the Greeke signifieth the Palme for as touching the deduction of the name Phoenicia either from 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 by Montanus or from 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 by Postellus signifying the delicacy of the inhabitants by the first and their obseruation or adoration of the fire by the second they are but late sprung fantasies and haue not any grouÌ„d of reason at all for as much as in al the Hebrew writings of the Bible that country is neuer termed by any name sounding toward Phoenicia but in the Greeke onely But in many olde coynes that I haue seen I haue noted the Palme tree as the speciall cognisance of Phoenicia as I haue also the Oliue branch and Conies to be of Spain the Horse of Mauritania the Elephant or the spoile of the ElephaÌ„t of Afrique the Camell of Arabia the Crocodile or the bird Ibis of Aegypt and diuers other specialties for other countries And namely I haue seene sundrie olde coynes of the Emperour Vespatian of seuerall deuises and imagerie stamped for a memoriall of his conquest of Iudaea and taking of Ierusalem for the inscription is in euery of them Iudaea capta and in each of them I specially obserued a woman sitting in a sad and mournefull fashion with her back to a Palme tree wherein I make no doubt but the desolate woman signifieth Iudaea and the Palme Phoenicia euen as Phoenicia is immediately toward the north at the backe of Iudaea wherwith that country abouÌ„ded Arias Mont. lib. Chanaan â—a 3. Postel in deserio Syriae c. de Syriae Noâ—inib Insomuch that in monuments of antiquitie the Palme tree is obserued for the Ensigne of Phoenicia the same nation I say called theÌ„selues by the Israelites their next neighbours were called Chanaanites And that they were indeed no other I am able easily to prooue For first the same woman that in Mathew is named a
that inlarged his dominion so far in the northe east of Asia till hee was driuen into Afrique by the Tartars hath neither any foundation at all in historie nor probability in reason Namely that a King in Afrique should subdue the most distant parts of all Asia from him and there hould residence al the regions betwixt belonging to other Princes Moreouer it is certainly known of Presbyter Iohn of Asia that hee was a Nestorian whereas hee of Habassia was and still is a Iacobite Besides it hath bene recorded from time to time of the Christians of Habassia that they were circumcised which of those of the East was neuer reported by any c. by the ancieÌ„ter historians named Presbyter Iohn howsoeuer the mistaking fantasies of many haue traÌ„sported it out of Asia into Africk and by errour bestowed it on the K. of Habassia except that Prouince of TeÌ„duc I say whereof * Paul Venâ—t l. 1. ca. 64. Marcus Paulus coÌ„fesseth the greater part to haue professed the ChristiaÌ„ religion at his being in Tartary the rest of the inhabitaÌ„ts being partly Mahumetans * Vtriae Histor Orient c. 78. Otho Phrisingen s. l. 7. c. 33. Alij and partly Idolaters in all the other prouinces of those parts beside that hee obserueth the Christians to bee but few as namely in the kingdomes of * L. 1. c. 45. Tanguth of * L. 1. c. 47. Chinchintales of * L. 1. c. 48. Succhuir of * L. 2. c. 39. Caraiam of * L. 1. c. 38. Cassar of * L. 1. c. 40. Carcham of * L. 1. c. 62. Ergimuli of * L. 1. c. 63. Cerguth of Egrigaia and in the other regions of Tartary mentioning no Christians at al. Two cities onely I finde in him excepted the one was * L. 2. c. 61. Cingiangifu in Mangi that is China where he noteth that many Christians dwelt and the other * L. 2. c. 64. Quinsay in which later yet although the greatest city in the world he hath recorded to be found but one Church of Christians But these places excepted before mentioned I can finde no certaine relation neither in Paul Venetus nor anie other of any Christians of the natiue inhabitants in all the East of Asia but Idolatrie keepeth still her ould possession and ouerspreadethall But yet indeede in the more Southerly partes of Asia especially in those where Christianity was first planted and had taken deepest roote as Natolia Syria Palestine Chaldaea Assyria Mesopotamia Armenia Media Persia the North part of Arabia and the South of India Christians are not onely to be found but in certaine of those regions as in Natolia Armenia Syria Mesopotamia somewhat thicke mingled with Mahumâ—tans as they are also in the South of India not farre from the Promontorie of Comorijn in some reasonable number in the kingdome of Contan of Cranganor and of Choromandeb but mingled with Idolaters But yet is not this mixture of Christians with them of other religions in any part of Asia after the proportioÌ„ of their mixture in Europe where I obserued the Christians to make the preuailing number but they are farre inferiour to the multitude of the Mahumetans and of the Idolaters among whom they are mingled and yet touching their number decrease euerie day in all the parts aforesaid India onely excepted Where since the Portugales held Goa which they haue erected into an Archbishopricke and intertained Malabar and some other parts of India what with commerce and what with amitie the number of Christians is greatly multiplied in sundrie places of that region but yet not so as to compare in any sort with the Mahumetans and much lesse with the Idolaters among whom they liue Thus it is with Christians in the firme Land of Asia but in the Islands about Asia Christianitie is as yet but a tender plant for although it hath made some entrance into the Isles called Philippinas namely into 30 of them for so manie onely of 11000 termed by that name are subiect to the King of Spaine Th. Ies. de Conu gent. l. 1. c. 1. by the industrie of the Castilians as also by the preaching of the Portugales into Ormuz in the Bay of Persia and into Câ—ilan in the Sea of India and some few other of the infinite multitude of Islands dispersed in that Easterne sea yet hath it hetherto found in all those places rather some faire beginning then any great proceeding Onely in Iaponia Christianity hath obtained notwithstanding many hinderances and oppositions more prosperous successe Insomuch that many yeares since there were recorded to haue beene by estimation about * Plat. de Bono Stat Religiosi l. 2. c. 30. 200000 Christians in Iaponia Lastly in America there be foure large regions and those of the most fruitefull and populous part of it possessed and gouerned by the Spaniards that is Nuâ—ua Espana Castilla del Oro otherwise termed Nuâ—bo Reino Peru and part of Brasile the first three by the Castilians and the fourth by the Portugales all which together may by estimation make a region as large as Europe In which as also in the Islands specially in the greater Islands of Hispaniola Cuba Iamaica and Puerto rico the Christian religion is so largely spred that * Amand. Ziriean Chron. circ An. 1519. one hath presumed to equall in a manner the Christians of America to those of the Latine Church in Europe And * Surius in Chron. ad An Christ. 1558. another hath left recorded that within a few yeares after the entrance of the Gospell among them there were no lesse then seuen Millions or as others reported fourteene Millions that in the sacrament of baptisme had giuen their names to Christ. But especially in the kingdome of Mexico or Nueua Espanna Christian Religion obtained that plentifull and prosperous successe that we finde recorded of sundrie of the Preachers employed about the conuersion of that people that they baptised ech one of them Vid. epist. Petri Gaudens in Comment Sedulij ad vitam S. Francisci pa. 229. et Epist. Martin 2 Valentia Ibid pag. 232. et Epist. Episcopi Mexicani pag. 235. aboue 100000. and that in few yeares Insomuch that as is storied by Surius It is to be found among the records of Charles the fift that some old Priest hath baptised 700000. another 300000 and certaine others verie great multitudes But yet what maner of Christians manie of those proselytes were I am loth to remember or report and it may be by this time they are better affected and instructed then they were for certainely Ouiedo and Benzo men that had long liued and were well experienced in those parts haue left recorded the first of * Ouied Hiftor Ind. Occidental l. 17. c. 4. Cuba that there was scare any one or but very few that willingly became Christians Benzo histor Nou. Orbis l. 2. c. 19. and both Ouiedo of them and Benzo of the Christians of Nueua Espanna that
be not to bee found at this time an hundred housholds of Iewes Boter Relat pa. â— l. 2. c. de Gindei Onely of all the townes of Palestina Tiberias which Amurath the great Turke gaue to Aluarez Mendez a Iew and Staffâ—letto are somewhat peopled with them Neither haue they at this present for any thing that is certainly knowen any other region in the world seuerall to themselues Yet because there be some prouinces wherein they are obserued specially to abound as others also whence they are excluded and banished I will consider a little of their present condition The first Country of Christendome whence the Iewes were expelled with out hope of returne was our Country of England whence they were banished Anno 1290 by King Edward the first Not long after they were likewise banished France An. 1307. by Philippus Pulcher Onely of all the Countryes of France in the Iurisdiction of Auignon the Popes state some are remaining Out of Spaine An. 1492 by Ferdinand and shortly after out of Portugall An 1497 by Emanuel Out of the Kingdome of Naples and Sicilie An. 1539. by Charles the 5. In other regions of Europe they are found and in some of them in great numbers as in Germanie Bohem Polonia Lituania Russia and part of Italie specially Venice and Rome In Greece also a great multitude wherein two Citties beside all them of other places Constantinople and Thessalonica are esteemed to be about 160000 Iewes As also they are to be found by plentifull numbers in many parts of the Turks dominion both in Asia and Afrique And for Asia specially in Aleppo in Tripoli in Damascus in Rhodes and almost in euery City of great trade and traffique in the Turkâ—sh Empire As likewise in diuers parts of the Persian gouernment in Arabia also lastly in India namely about Cranganor and in some other more remote regions And to come to Afrique they are not only foundin the Cities of Alexandria and Cair in Aegypt but as in many other regions places of Afrique so principally in the Cities of Fess and Tremisen and specially in the Hilles of Sensaua and Demen in the Kingdome of Maroccho many of which last are by Leo Africanus specially noted to be of that Sect Leo African l. 2. c. 36. c. which the Iewes name * For of the Iewes as touching their religion there bee in these times three fects The first which is the greatest of them is named 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 who beside the holy scriptures imbrace the Talmud also for Authenticall and for that cause they are also termed 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 The second are called 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 which receiue onely the scriptures And the Third 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 that is the Samaritans at this day but very few which of all the holy Scriptures admit onely the Pentateuch or bookes of Moses Karraim and by the other Iewes of Afrique are reputed no better then heretiques But yet beside these and such like dispersions of the Iewish Nation that may be elsewhere in the world there is a phantasie of many learned men not vnwoorthy some diligent consideration that the Tartars of Scythia who about the yeare 1200 or a little before became first knowen abroad in the world by that name and hold at this day a great part of Asia in subiection That those Tartars I say are of the * Postell Descript Syriae cap. 1. Genebrad Chron. l. 1. Boteâ— Relat. pa. 1. l. 2. c. vlâ—ima parte della Tartaria pa. 3. l. 2. c. de Gindei Israelites progeny Namely of the ten Tribes which by Salmanazar and some of his predecessours were carried captiue into Assyria Which although it be as I said no other then a vain and cappriccious phantasie yet hath it not onely found acceptance and entertainement with sundrie learned and vnderstanding men but reason and authority are produced or pretended to establish it for a truth For first It is alleaged that the word Tatari or Totari for so indeed they are rightly called as * Leunclau in Pandect Hist. Turcic 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Heb. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Syr. learned men obserue and not Tartari signifieth in the Syriaque and Hebrew tongues a Residue or Remainder such as these Tartars are supposed to bee of the Ten Tribes Secondly because as the Patrons of this phantasie say they haue alwaies embraced the ancient character of Iudaisme Circumcision And thirdly 2 Esdras 13. v. 41.42.43.44.45 the authority of supposed Esdras the very spring I take it whence hath flowed this streame of opinion is alleaged Namely that the Tenne Tribes tooke this course to themselues that they would leaue the multitude of the heathen and goe foorth into a farther Country where neuer mankinde dwelt That they might there keepe their statutes which they neuer kept in their owne land And that they entred in at the narrow passages of the Riuer Euphrates The most high shewing them signes and staying the Springs of the floud till they were passed ouer And that their Iourney was great euen of a yeare and a halfe and the region is called Arsareth But to the first of these arguments I may answere that the Tartars obtained that name neither from Hebrew nor Syriaque originall and appellation but from the riuer Tartar saith Leunclauius Leunclau in Pand. histor Turcic §. 3. and * Boem de Morib gent. l. 2. c. 10. Haitti lib. de Tartaris cap. 16. others Or else from the Region as sayth Haitho where the principall of them anciently dwelled Secondly that the name 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 or 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 in the Hebrew or Syriaque signification importing a residue or remainder can but full ill as it seemes be applied to the Tartars in relation of the Israelites whom they exceedingly surpasse in multitude as ouerspreading halfe the vast continent of Asia or thereabout For all the Nations of Asia from the great riuers of Wolgha and Oby Eastward and from the Caspian sea the riuer Oxus the Countryes of India and China northward are contained vnder the Appellation of Tartars and yet without these bounds many Tartars there are both toward the West and South And what if the innumerable people of so many Nations as are knowen to inhabite and ouerspread the huge continent of America be also of the same of-spring Certainely if I bee not greatly deceiued they are no other For first that their originall must bee deriued from Asia is apparent because as he that readeth the relations and histories of those Countryes of America may easily obserue they haue no rellish nor resemblance at all of the Arts or learning or ciuility of Europe And their colour restifieth they are not of the Africans progenie there being not found in all that large Continent any blacke men except a few about the Riuer of S. Martha in a small Countrey called Quarequa which by force and violence of some tempest are
the water for which equalitie it hath obtained the name of Aequer Aqua * Varro l. â— de Ling. Latina Isidor Origiâ— l. 3. c. 12 Alij as Grammarians say And touching the second if the earth were vnequallie poysed on opposite sides of the center then must it follow that the least and lighter masse of the earth should presse downe as forciblie as the greater and weightier because it attaineth the center as well as it But if it be graunted which reason doth inforce that the weightier part of the earth should presse downeward with greater force and with more right challenge the center then the lighter part it must follow that the lighter masse or side of the earth must yeelde and giue place to the weightier so farre till the center of that whole masse of the earth take possession of the center of the world for till then one side will be still heauier then the other and so the opposite halfes of the earth in respect of heauinesse be brought on all sides about the center vnto a perfect equilibration And secondly by the Philosophers knowne rule that the earth is equally poised on both sides of her owne center And the third may be established by manifest demonstration Because a clod of earth suffered to fall from any point of the aire wheresoeuer on the face of the sea the same doth water falling on euen plaine land when all is calme and the aire not troubled with windes nor the sea with waues will descend by a perpendicular line on the face of the water In such sort I say that the line by which it falleth maketh exactly equall and right angles on all sides with the face of the water whereon it falleth Therefore it is manifest that the earth so falling teÌ„deth directly to the center of the water Because no straight line insisteth perpendicularly on the face or circumference of any special body as the water is except only those that proceede directly to the center of the sphaire But certaine it is that the earth is withal directly carried toward it own center therefore there is but one common center of the water and of the earth And thirdly that the center of the earth of the water are all one both of theÌ„ being indeede no other theÌ„ the center of the world which though some phantastical heads haue called into question yet no sound philosopher euer doubted of It followeth thereupon that the earth should in answerable measure and proportion lift it selfe and appeare aboue the face of the sea on the south side of the line as it doth on the north And consequently that what is wanting in the South parts of the two foresaid continents towards the counteruailing of the North parts which is about three fiue parts of both the other continents laied together must of necessitie be supplied in the continents of the South And yet I omit all the land that may be about the Arctique Pole beyond the Scythian or Sarmatian sea which must be also counterpoysed in that Antarchtique continent for nothing comes within the compasse of my vnderstanding to bee hereto replied except any would perhaps imagine that either the sea on the South side of the equator is verie shallow or that the land of that coÌ„tineÌ„t may be much higher aboue the face of the sea theÌ„ the land of the other two so equal in masse though lesse in circuit or that the earth on the south side of the Equator should be of a more ponderous disposition theÌ„ on the North in which cases some coÌ„pensation of weightines may be made for the want of extention But of these three the experience of sailers euidently refelleth the first who in equall distance from the land obserue an equall deepenesse of the sea in both South and North latitude And neither is there any experience nor good reason that can be alleadged to establish either of the later which but that I haue alreadie too much offended by digressions I could prooue I doubt not against all exception But this for a conclusion to this discourse I dare pronounce touching that South coÌ„tinent that it wil certainely be fouÌ„d in the after times when it shall be better discouered much larger then any globe or map hitherto extant hath represented it Such therfore as I haue declared is the general state of Christianity at this present in the world the proportion of it to other religions But because you require yet further to be specially informed of the diuers sorts and sects of Christians that are abroad in the world and withall of their diuers regions and religions at least of those principall characters of their religion wherin they specially differ each from other I will here set downe my second period touching the generall differences of religions and of the seuerall parts of the world where they are maintained and will now proceed to that particular consideration touching the sects of Christianity and indeuour to giue you the best satisfaction that my poore reading and obseruation may inable me to performe Of the dinerse sorts or sects of Christians in the world and of their seuerall regions And first of the Grecians CHAP. XV. THE sects therefore of Christians that carrie name report at this present in the World beside the Protestants and Romans in the West of whom I will bee silent because you know their condition better then my selfe are 1 the Grecians 2 Melchites or Syrians 3 Georgians 4 Moscouites Russians 5 Nestorians 6 Indians termed the Christians of S t. Thomas 7 Iacobites 8 Cophites 9 Armenians 10 Habassines and 11 Maronites Of which eleuen sects there be three Principall namely the Grecians Iacobites and Nestorians with which the rest haue for the most part either some dependance and deriuation or neerer conuenience and agreement The Grecians acknowledge obedience to the Patriarch of Constantinople vnder whose Iurisdiction are in Asia Bellon Obseruation l. 1. c. 35. the Christians of Natolia excepting Armenia the lesse and Cilicia of Circassia of Mengrelia and of Russia As in Europe also the Christians of Greece Macedon Epirus Thrace Bulgaria Rascia Seruia Bosina Walachia Moldauia Podolia and Moscouia together with all the Islands of the Aegean sea and others about Greece as farre as Corfu beside a good part of the large dominion of Polonia and those parts of Dalmatia and of Croatia that are subiect to the Turkish dominion Of which great extendment of the Greeke Patriarchs iurisdiction if you demand the reason I haue obserued sundry occasions from whence it hath proceeded For first his originall or Primitiue authority assigned or rather confirmed to him as Bishop of the Jmperiall citie by the couÌ„cell of Chalcedon contained all the Prouinces of Thrace Concil Chalcedoneâ—s can 23. and of Anatolia Isauria and Cilicia onelie excepted which belonged to the Patriarch of Antiochia and they were in all no lesse then 28. Romane Prouinces Secondly
the voluntary submission of the Grecians vpon their separation from the latin Church greatly increased it for thereby not onely Greece Macedon â—spirus Candie and the Isles about Greece in all seuen Prouinces came vnder his obedience but also Sicilâ—e and the East point of Italie named Calabria reuolted from the Bishop of Rome and for a long time pertained to the Patriarch of Constantinople Nouell Leon. De ordine Metropolitan in Lib. 2. Toâ—ri Lâ—uris as appeareth in the Nouell of Leo Sophus touching the order and precedence of Metropolitans belonging to that Patriarchie And by the like ordination set downe by Andronicus Paloeologus in Curopalates Orientalis Curopalat de Official Palat. ConstaÌ„tinop prope sinem where wee find the Metropolitans of Syracusa and Catana in Sicilie of Rhegium Seueriana Rosia and Hydruntum in Calabria registred among the Metropolitans of that Iurisdiction Thirdly it was inlarged by the conuersion of the north regions to Christian Religion performed by his Suffragans and ministers euen from Thrace to * Cromer de script Polon L. 1. Herdenst de Bell. Mosc l. 1. Guâ—guin Descriptâ—on Moscou c. 2. Russia and the Scythian Sea the like whereof was the principall cause that so farre inlarged the Bishop of Rome his Iurisdiction in the west parts of Europe And fourthly by the Turks conquests made vpon the Westerne countries subiect before to the Bishop of Rome all which while partly the former Bishops and Pastors fled to auoid the Turks oppression like the hireling that forsaketh the flocke when he seeth the wolfe comming and partly while the Patriarch of Constantinople to supply that default was faine to prouide them of new ministers they haue beene by little and little brought trained to the Greeke religion Now as touching the proper characters of their religion I must for the better designing and remembring of them set before me some instance or patterne to compare it and other sects of Religion withall And that is most fit to be the Romane Church both because their differences with that Church specially are in writers most obserued So that by that meanes my discourse may be the shorter and yet no lesse perspicuous to you that know the opinions of the Romane Church so well The principall characters then of the Grecians religion for none but the principall you require and to mention euery slender difference of ceremonies would be but tedious and fruitlesse and is beside without my compasse are these that follow 1. 1 Concil Florent Sess. 18. sequentib Ierem. Patriarch CoÌ„stant in Resp. 1. ad Germanos cap. 1. That the holy Ghost proceedeth from the father onely not from the sonne 2. 2 CoÌ„cil Florentin prope Initium Respons Graecer ad cardinal Guisan Quest. 9. That there is no purgatory fire 3. 3 Resp. cad Graecor Q. 5. Ierem. Patr. Resp. 1. cap. 1. That they celebrate the Sacrament of the Eucharist in both kinds 4. 4 Ierem. Resp. cad c. 10. 21 And in leauened bread and thinke it cannot be effectually consecrated in bread vnleauened 5. 5 Posseuin de Rebus Mosco uiae pag. 43. That they reiect extreame vnction 6. 6 Id. lib. citat pag. 40. And confirmation 7. 7 Ierem. Respons cap. 21. That they deny the soules of holy men to enioy the blissefull vision of God or the soules of wicked men to be tormented in hel before the day of iudgement Th. a Ies. de Conu gent. l. 6. c. 1. 8. 8 Tom. vnionis inter nouel Constantin Porphyrogen in Tomo 1 Tur. Orientalis lib. 2. Zonar Annal. Tom. 3. in Im pe Leon's philosophi That they admit Priests marriages namely so that they may keepe their wiues married before their ordination but must not marry after ordination 9. 9 Resp. Graecor ad Guisan Quest 8. Posseâ—iâ— de reb Moscou That they prohibite vtterly the fourth marriage as a thing intolerable Insomuch that as we find recorded their Patriarchs haue for that cause excommunicated some of their Emperours although they had no issue left of their three former marriages 10 Posseu lâ—b 〈◊〉 pag. 41 et 2. â—â—llamont on â—oyag l 2. c 21 10. That they reiect the religious vse of massie images or statues admitting yet pictures or plaine images in their Churches 11 Vilâ—am on Voâ—ag l. 2. c. 21 â—t Alij 11. That they solemnize Saturday the old sabbath festiually and eat therin flesh forbidding as vnlawfull to fast any Saturday in the yeare except Easter Eue. 12 Posseuin l. 〈◊〉 p. 42. 12. That they obserue foure lents in the yeare 13 Nâ—lus Episcop Thesâ—al de Primatu Papae Barlaam de primatu Papae et Alij Leo. 9. epist. 1. 〈◊〉 Episcop ConstaÌ„tinop 13. That they eate not of any thing strangled nor of bloud 14 Acrican et in pluribus 〈◊〉 Sâ—â—â—bert in Châ—onico ad An. â—â—5â— Possen de Reb Mosco p 38. 〈…〉 14. And lastly that they deny the Bishop of Romes primacy and reputing him his Church for schismaticks exclude them from their communion And so haue done as I finde in Leo the ninth his Epistles and in Sigebert aboue these 500. years And if you desire to see more differences of the Greeke and Romane Church you may see them but they are of lesse importance then those I haue related in Posseuines booke of the matters of Moscouia Of the Syrians or Melchites CHAP. XVI SYrians are the same that in some Histories are termed Melchites beeing esteemed for their number the * Botar Relat. pa. 3. l. 2. ca. de Melchiti greatest sect of Christians in the Orient The first * Postel in Descript. Syriae pag. 30. being properly the name of their nation And the second noting the property of their religion Surians they were named to let vaine fancies go of the Citty of Tyre which in the ancient language of the Phoenicians Gellius l. 14. c. 6. Festus in Dâ—â—ctione sarra was called 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and certainelie that Tyre was ancieÌ„tly called Sarra is recorded by the * For Posâ—els phantasie deriuing Suria from 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 is meerelie vaine beeing neuer so named in the Hebrew tongue but alwaies 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 by which name also it seemeth ancieÌ„tly to haue bene knowne euen among the Grecians for 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 mentioned in Homer are no other as Possidonius in * Strad l. 26. in fine Strabo expounds him then the Syrians Strabo himselfe also recording in other places that the Syrians * Vitria histor Oriental c. 43 Niger in commentaâ— 4. Asiae Postell in descrip Syriae pag. 50. were called 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 in his time And that the * Strad l. 13. non long ante fine naturall inhabitants of Syria so called themselues Yet neuerthelesse they were vulgarly knowne by the name of 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 among the Grecians because the Citie of 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 beeing the maine mart
vsuall in the Apostles time either in consonants or vowels or both which could not bee the alteration of any short course of time Of the Iacobites CHAP. XXI THe Iacobites obtained that appellation as Damascene and Nicephorus haue recorded Damas. l. de hâ—eresib post med Niceph. Hist. Eccles 〈◊〉 l. 18. c. 52. of one Iacobus surnamed Zanzalus of Syria who liuing about Anno. 530. was in his time a mighty inlarger of Eutiches sect and maintainer of his opinion touching the vnity of nature in our Sauiour And his followers are at this day in great numbers knowne by the name of Iacobites in Syria in Cyprus in Mesopotamia in Babilon and in Palestine For the Patriarch of Ierusalem who keepeth his residence still in Ierusalem in which city there yet remaine * Chitrae de stat Ecclesiaâ— pag. 25. tenne or more Churches of Christians is also a Iacobite But although in al these forementioned regions these Iacobites are found where they bee esteemed to make about * Namely 15. Crus in Turcoâ—raeâ— l. 4. p. 297. 160000. families or rather 50000. as Leonard the Bishop of Sidon * Boteâ— Relat. pa 3 l. 2. c. de Gâ—â—kobiti the Popes visiter in those parts hath recorded ap Th. a Ies. l. 7. p. 1. ca. 14. yet chiefly they inhabit in Aleppo of Syria and in Caramit and the mountaine Tur of Mesopotamia But yet their religion vnder other titles is extended much farther in so much that it is recorded to be spread abroad in some * Breitenbach Peregrin c. de Iacobitâ—â— Vitria hist. Orient c. 76. 40. kingdomes All which Iacobites of the places before specified haue and long haue had a Patriarch of their owne religion for I finde the * Paul DiacoÌ„ Hist. Miscell l. 18. Patriarch of the Iacobites spoken of Zonar Annal. Tom. 3. in Heraclio in the Emperour Heraclius his time to whom they render obedience The Patriarchall Church of which sect is in the * Mirae in Notitia episcopor Orb. pag. 35. Boter Relat. pa. 3. l. 2. c de Giacobiti Monasterie of Saphran neere to the citie of Merdin in the North part of Mesopotamia But the Patriarch himselfe keepeth ordinarie residence in the citie of Caramit the ancient Metropolis of Mesopotamia and which at this day consisteth for the greatest part of Christians for that Caramit is the same citie which the auncient writers called Amida Caramit is Kara Amida that is in the Turkish toung black Amida because it was walled with blacke stone Sabellicus Sabellâ—c Supplem Histor. l. 18. and others haue left obserued and Amida to haue beene anciently the Metropolis of Mesopotamia I finde in the subscriptions of the auncient councels plainely recorded * Concil Chalced. Action 1 c. But till Eutichianisme so mightely preuailed in those parts as to worke in them a detestation of the councell of Chalcedon and a departure withall from their auncient obedience They belonged till then I say to the Iurisdiction of the Patriarch of Antiochia as being * Notitia prouinciar prouinces of the dioces of the Orient which wee finde in the * Concil Constantinop 1. prim Con. 2. second Generall councell to be the circuit and limitation of that Patriarchs authoritie which is the reason that the Patriarch of the Iacobites keeping euer the name of Ignatius intitleth himselfe Patriarch of Antiochia And that the * Mirae Notit epâ—scop Orbis pâ—â— 36. Patriarch of Ierusalem who is also as I said a Iacobite acknowledgeth him as some record for superior Hauing therein if it be so but in some sort returned to the auncient obedience wherein the Bishops of Ierusalem stood to the Patriarchs of Antiochâ—a euen till the time of the councell of Chalcedon for then began Ierusalem to be erected into a Patriachship And as we reade in the * Co 〈…〉 Aâ—â—â—â—on 7. actions of that Councell with the consent and allowance of the Patriarch of Antiochia the three prouinces of Palestina which till then An. 451. belonged to Antiochia were withdrawne from it and assigned to the Bishop of Ierusalem for his Patriarchall Iurisdiction Now as touching the Characters of their Religion 1. They acknowledge but one nature 1.2.3 4. Iacob a Vitriaco Histor. Oriental c. 76. Villamont l. 2. c. 22. and but one will and one operation ex catechism Iacobitar ap Th. a Ies. l. 7. pa. 1. ca. 15. in Christ as there is but one person and in token of that they make the signe of the Crosse with one finger onely which the other ChristiaÌ„s of the East do with two 2. They signe their Children before baptisme many in the face 2. Bucebing Hist. Eccles. part 2. pa. 33â— Sali 〈◊〉 Iâ—ner Toâ— 8. c. 1. some in the arme with the signe of the Crosse imprinted with a burning Iron 3. They vse Circumcision Saligniac Itin. Tom. 8. c. 1. euen of both sexes Vitriac vt ibi 4. They confesse their sinnes to God onely nor to the priest Thâ—a Ieâ—â— pa. 1. c 14.4 Bucebing loco citato Alâ— honsâ— Castro l. 4. conuâ— Heâ—es T it Confeslie Baungar Itiner 2. c. 9. as others record but verie seldom so that many communicate without auricular confession Leonam Sidon ap Th. a Ies. l. 7. pa. 1. c. 14. 5. They admit not of purgatorie nor of praiers for the dead Th. a Ies. l. 7. pa. 1. c. 23. 6. They consecrate the Eucharist in vnleauened bread Salign Itin. Hieros Tom. 8. c. 1. They minister the Sacrament of the Eucharist in both kindes 7. The priests are married 8. They beleeue all the soules of iust men to remaine in the earth till the day of Iudgement expecting Christs second comming ex Catechism Iaâ—obit 9. They affirme the Angels to consist of two substances fire and light ex Catechism Iacobit 10. They honour Dioscorus and Iacobus Syrus as Saintes but yet condemne Eutyches as an Heretique Patriarch Iacobit ap Th. a Ies. l. 7 pa. 1. c. 14. These are the Properties that I finde registred of the Iacobites religion namely of them that are properly so called and still retaine the auncient opinions of Iacobus Syrus But it seemeth that their principall errour and which occasioned their first schisme and separation from the Church Namely the heresie of Eutiches touching one nature in Christ is for the most part long since abolished for as Vitriacus hath long agoe recorded Vitriac Histor Orient c. 76. they denied to him then the Popes legate in those parts and demaunding the question that they beleeued one onely nature in Christ And being further asked why then making the crosse they signed themselues onely with one finger their answer was that they did it in acknowledgement of one diuine Nature as also they did it in three seuerall places in acknowledgement of three persons in that one nature And beside of late time Leonard another legate of Pope Gregories the 13 in those parts hath recorded of the Patriarchs profession made
or Ponds Concerning which first and last points namely of their circumcision and annuall baptismes I haue somwhat to obserue Namely first touching their circuÌ„cision that they obserue it not so much perhaps of religion as of an auncient custome of their nation For although their circumcising on the eight day seemeth to imply that they receiued it from the Iewes yet their circumcising of both sexes as certainely argueth that they did not so And if the Habassines bee of the race of the ancient Aethiopians the doubt may bee the lesse because Herodotus and others haue recorded it Herodot l 2. par a Mâ—dâ—o for an ancient ceremony of that nation Or if they be not of the Aethiopian race Stephanus Pyâ—ant 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 in dictione 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 but of the progenie of the Arabians as by Vranius in Stephanus Byzantius it should appeare recording them for a nation of the Arabians neere to the * Which seemeth to bee true both because in the * Liturg. Aethiop in â—om 6 8 blâ—â—thecae Veâ— pat p. 59. Aethiopian Liturgie they terme their owne kingdome the kingdome of Sheba and also because the KK of Habassia * Zag Zabo de Morib Aethâ—op apud Damiâ—â— deduce lineally their discent from the Q. of Sheba that came to see Salomon which Sheba is to the skilfull certainly known to be in Arabia and either the same that wee call Arabia foelix or some part of it And certainely it is obserued by learned men that Arabia foelix in the easterne tongue is named 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 as Arabia deserta 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and Arabia Petraea 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 or 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Sabaeans euen in this case also the occasion and originall of circumcising among the Abassines will bee discerned well enough namelie because it is specially storied to haue bene a very ancieÌ„t ceremony among the Arabians among whom it might haue beginning by reason of the descent of manie of the Arabians from Ismael and from the other sonnes of Abraham by Keturah planted in Arabia of which Sheba is by name recorded for one Genes 25.3 But yet if the Abassines obserue circumcision not as an ancient nationall custome Shindler iâ— Dâ—ctionar Penâ— â—â—lot in 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 but in any sort for religion sake then it may bee excused in such manner as * one of their owne Bishops hath professed namely that it is done onely in remembrance and loue and imitation of our Sauiour because he was circumcised and not for any other opinion of holinesse at all And secondly touching their annual baptisings in the feast of the Epiphanie which they with many auncients of the Church suppose to be the day of our Sauiours baptisme it is declared by the * De Religion Aethiop â—ong an t med Aethiopian bishop aboue mentioned to bee practised among them not as any sacrament or any conceate of sanctification to be obtained by it but onely as a memoriall of Christs baptisme because as on that day hee was baptised in Iordan Euen as the * Posseuin de Reb. Moscou pag. 6. Moscouites also doe the like on the same day in riuers and for the same reason which appeareth the more euidently to bee so because this yearely baptising is no auncient ceremonie of the Habassins but a fashion of late taken vp among them as Aluarez that liued long in those parts hath related as being namely the institution of * Aluarez histor Aethiop cap. 95. his grandfather that then reigned in Habassia being about 100 yeares agoe Of the Armenians CHAP. XXIIII THe Armenians for traffique to which they are exceedingly addicted are to bee found in multitudes in most cities of great trade specially in those of the Turkish Empire obtaining more fauour and priuiledge among the Turkes and other Mahumetans * Vid. Postel lib. de re Linguis Tit. de Lingua Armenica by a patent graunted that nation vnder Mahumets owne hand then any other sect of Christians Insomuch that no nation seemeth more giuen to Marchandize nor is for that cause more dispersed abroade then the Armenians except the Iewes But yet the natiue regions of the Armenians and where they are stil fouÌ„d in the greatest multitude their religion is most supported are Armenia the greater named since the Turkes first possession of it Turcomania beyond Euphrates and Armenia the lesse on this side Euphrates and Cilicia now termed Carmania Now the Armenians touching their Ecclesiasticall gouernement were aunciently of the Iurisdiction of the Patriarch of Constantinople as being * Notitia proâ—â—nciar Orient prouinces of the dioces called Pontica which together with the prouinces of the dioces Asiana and of Thrace three of the thirteene dioceses into which the whole Empire was diuided were by the councell of Chalcedon Concil ChalcedoÌ„ Can. 28. assigned or else confirmed to the Patriarch of Constantinople for his iurisdiction But at this day and verie long since euen before Photius his time as is euident by his circular Epistle the Armenians are departed Photij episte encyâ—lica apâ—d Baron Tom. 10. Annal. Anno 863. both from the gouernement of that Patriarch and from the commuon of the Grecians whom at this present they haue in more detestation then any other sect of Christians and that principally for the very same occasion for which the Iacobites of Syria withdrew their obedience from the Patriarch of Antiochia namely the heresie of one onely nature in Christ. And euer since that departure they acknowledge obedience without any further or higher dependence to two Patriarchs of their owne whom they terme Catholiques Namely one of the greater Armenia the families vnder whose iurisdiction exceede the number of 150000 beside verie manie Monasteries Leonard Sidon episc ap Th. a Ies. l. 7. pa. 1 c. 19 who at this present * Mirae Notiâ— Episcop Orb. pag. 36. Boter Relation pa. 3. l. 2 c. de Dioscoriani keepeth residence in the monasterie of Ecmeazin by the citie c. Leonard Si don episc ap Tho. a Ies. loc citato by the citie of Eruan in Persia being translated thether by occasion of the late warres betwixt the Persians and the Turkes but his auncient seate was Sebastia the Metropolis of Armenia the greater And the other Patriarch of Armenia the lesse the families of whose iurisdiction are esteemed about 20000. Leonard Sidon vbi supra who aunciently kept at ** Concil Chalced Action 1 in subscrâ—ption b. Melitene the Metropolis of that prouince but now is resident in the citie of Sis not farre from Tarsus in Cilicia the middle limit on Interstitium of those two Patriarchs Iurisdictions being the riuer Euphrates Such at this present is the state of the Armenian Church and the iurisdiction of their Patriarchs But it should seeme by that I finde recorded by Otho Phrisingensis Otho Phrising l. â— c. 32. vpoÌ„ the report of the Legates of Armenia