among the Europeans for her Letters sent to Emanuel the First King of Portugal of which we shall hereafter speak more at large David at the beginning of his Reign very prosperous in his Undertakings for he had won several Victories from the Adelans after his Grandmothers Decease as if he had now the Curb in his teeth giving himself up to Luxury and the love of Women was very Unfortunate toward the end of his days For being driven out of all his Kingdoms and Territories he was forc'd to betake himself with some few Soldiers to the Rock Damo where he dy'd in the Forty sixth year of his Age. In this the more unhappy that during his Reign the Nation of the Gallans the Scourge of Habessinia made their first Incursions out of Bali He had four Sons of whom the first Victor dy'd before the Father of the other three we shall have occasion to speak in due place He was very well vers'd in Holy Writ and in the three first Councils as may be understood by his Discourses with Alvarez Claudius by his other Name call'd Atznaff-Saghed the Son of David came to a Kingdom miserably shatter'd and over-burthen'd with Calamity and lurking in the utmost Confines of his Dominions there attended some miraculous assistance from Heaven which soon after answer'd his Expectation John the Second King of Portugal sending him Succour under the Conduct of that most Valiant and Noble Portuguese Christopher Gamas who with a small Band of Four hundred Portuguese Foot Soldiers overthrew vast Armies of the Barbarians and laid the Foundations of regaining the Habessinian Empire Claudius was a man of a most Princely Port. For besides the outward Grace of his Person he was endu'd with many Virtues of the Mind which made him judg'd by all worthy of the Royal Dignity The Fathers of the Society applauded him for a most Prudent Prince though otherwise not so well pleased with him because he had not shew'd that Affection to the Roman See as they requir'd though he did not prohibit the Divine Worship of the Latin Church nor hinder'd the Roman Priests from the free Exercise of their Religion He was also Learned and well instructed in Ecclesiastical Antiquity So that as Tellezius witnesses his Teachers seem'd illiterate in comparison of their Scholar For in Disputes with the Fathers of the Society he himself for the most part would argue with so much vehemence that sometimes he put them hard to it to make him an Answer And when he observ'd that the Habessines were blam'd for retaining certain Judaic Rights contrary to the Christian Laws he put into Writing a succinct Confession of Faith by which he clear'd all Objections and excus'd himself and his Subjects That Confession we formerly (f) In England Anno 1667. It is also added to our Ethiopic Lexicon and Grammar set forth and shall publish again in our Commentary So that the Fathers of the Society could object nothing but Schism against so great and famous a Monarch He reign'd Eighteen years and some Months with great toil and trouble by reason of his continual Wars with the Adelans who mindful of the overthrows they had receiv'd frequently attempted Revenge The King stout of hand and indefatigable never refus'd Battel till at last in the Month of March 1559. fighting against Nurus the Captain of the Adelans his Army being vanquish'd guarded only with Eighteen Portugueses and Combating more furiously than warily he fell by an Immature but not unrevenged Death He left no Children behind him whence it came to pass that the Right of Succession being very ambiguous in Ethiopia the Contention was long dubious between his Brother Menas and Tascar the Natural Son of Jacob the second Brother deceased For this claim'd the Kingdom in right of his Father while he liv'd the Elder Brother the other alledg'd himself to be the nearer in Blood than he who was Illegitimate The Controversie being decided by the Sword Tascar was taken in the Battel and thrown headlong down a Rock Menas otherwise (g) Erroneous here some Historians ignorant that the word signifies a Gem call him Adam Adamas-Saghed having obtain'd the Kingdom by Arms being of a Cruel Disposition degenerated altogether from the Lenity Sincerity and Piety of the Habessines as if he had learnt the savageness of the Tvrks and Arabians among whom he had been long a Captive For he hated the Portugueses as minding their own Affairs and forbid the use of the Roman Religion not suffering any of the Habessines to go into the Latin Churches He also revok'd the Liberty which his Predecessor Claudius had granted to the Wives and Families of the Portugueses to frequent the Roman Chappels which caus'd many to wish again for the Clemency of Claudius with which they were not contented however before He despis'd the Romish Bishop Andrew Oviedo who in the Reign of Claudius was sent to make way for the new Patriarch and for some Months kept him in Prison Nor was he much more kind to his own Subjects For which reason out of an aversion to his Proceedings they revolted from him in several Parts Among the rest Isaac Bahrnagassus a man in great Power and skill'd in Military Discipline calling the Turks to his Assistance upon the Twentieth of April 1562. overcame the King in Battel and slew him to the great detriment of Habessinia For ever since that time the Turks have been Masters of the Coast of the Red Sea He left three Sons Sarza-Denghel Lesanax and Tazcar Of which the last dy'd without Children Sarza-Denghel taking the Government upon him call'd himself Malac-Saghed and was Inaugurated after the ancient manner at Axuma His Fortune was equal to his Vertues for he was stout of Hand and wise in Counsel And first he drave the Turks who were Masters of Dobarva the Metropolis of the Maritime Province out of Tigra He would also have driven them out of the Port of Arkiko and the Isle of Matzua had he not been recall'd to defend his Upland Dominions from the Incursions of the Galans These People by the Rapines and Plunder of five and twenty years while the Habessines were busied in so many other Wars increased to that power that now they over-ran Habessinia not with scattering Troops but with compleat Armies So that all the time of his Reign though otherwise prosperous in War he was forc'd to struggle with them However he subdu'd Enarea and caus'd the Prince thereof to turn Christian For he carefully observ'd the Christian Religion according to the Constitutions of the Church of Alexandria The Latin Rites he left indifferent And for the Fathers of the Society he often commended their Conversation of Life and their Studies but despised their Doctrine saying That their Manners and not their Doctrine was to be imitated Certainly Manners and Doctrine do not always accord And therefore sometimes the Doctrine is to be approv'd where the Manners are not Correspondent and sometimes the Manners are to be imitated
eager to come to a Field decision before the King should gather Strength In the mean time the Enemies of the new Religion Rendevouz'd together from all Parts and among the rest Abuna Peter the Alexandrian Metropolitan and chief Head of the Rebellion who by an unheard of President in Ethiopia contrary to the Laws of God and Man absolv'd the Rebels from the tye of their Oaths which they had Sworn to their lawful Prince which they themselves had already broke by virtue of a detestable Excommunication of his Prince Thus more and more embold'nd and contemning the Majesty of the King they turn'd their Veneration into Hatred And so with mutual Animosity they joyn Battel The Portugueses who fought in the right wing maintain'd their ground a long time believing the Kings and the Cause of Religion to be their own But in the left Wing of which the King himself took charge all things went to rack for many fled over to the Enemy many look'd on without striking a stroke resolv'd to follow the Fortune of the Day Thus the King forsaken by his own fought bravely for a long time till Laeca-Marjam and the rest of his Guard being slain he was himself struck down from his Horse with the sling of a Lance. After that getting up again to renew the Fight he was stuck through the body and slain with several Darts thrown at a distance reverence of his person not permitting them to come near to hurt him The third day after the Fight he was taken up and buried without any Funeral Pomp in a little Chappel hard by the Field of the Battel Such was the end of the short Life and Reign of this Famous and Lawful King of Ethiopia A doleful Warning to admonish us that the Cause of Religion ought to be moderately and prudently handled And that it behoves a Prince not to thrust himself rashly into a Battel especially when there is no certain Successor For proof whereof the fatal Example of Sebastian King of Portugal may serve among the rest CHAP. VII Of the Kings of this Centurie To our Times Susneus aspires to the Crown acknowledg'd by Ras-Athanasius He requests the same from Zaslac Who refuses at first then submits But Jacob appearing he takes his part So does Ras-Athanasius Jacob again made King He desires an agreement with Susneus but in vain They take Arms. Zaslac beaten he goes over to Susneus A new War Jacob and Abuna slain The Victor's Clemency Zaslac imprison'd he escapes invades Waleka and Gojam Kill'd by the Pagans Ras-Athanasius dyes Susneus kind to the Portugals and Jesuits He submits to the Pope A Counterfeit Jacob but dares not stand the coming of Susneus An Impostor of the same kind comes into France His Conditions his Epitaph Alibi boasts himself the Son of Arzo Susneus's Nativity Conditions Vertues Vices and Death His Son Basilides drives the Jesuits out of Ethiopia He kills his Brothers A General Table of the last Kings of Habessinia KIng Zadenghel being thus slain the War indeed ceas'd yet Peace did not presently ensue For the Rebels not dreaming of such a speedy Victory had not consider'd of a Successor Wherefore as it were stupid with Emulation Ras-Athanasius departs for Gojam and Zaslac for Dembea without ever holding any common Consultation Thereupon Susneus hearing of the King's death and believing that the Kingdom was now fallen to Him as being the Son of Basilides the Nephew of Jacob and Grandchild of David and then being also a Young man train'd up in the Gallan Wars belov'd and surrounded with the choicest of the Military Bands he conceiv'd no small hopes of his design First therefore he sends before one of the Faithfullest of his Friends to Ras-Athanasius with instructions to declare to him in short That whereas the Kingdom belong'd to him by right of Inheritance he should come presently and joyn Forces with his In the mean time Susneus not expecting an Answer follows the Messenger with the nimblest of his Army and writes to Athanasius as if already made King That he was at hand and that therefore he should come to meet him and pay him the accustom'd honours due to him Athanasius amaz'd at the unexpected approach of Susneus void of Counsel the Danger being Equal on both sides either to refuse or admit him at length finding all assistance far distant and no hopes of delay to give him time to consult with Zaslac he rather chose to be before-hand with the new King's Favours than to hazard the uncertain Fortune of a Battel So that Susneus being honourably receiv'd into the Camp was saluted King Which done he presently writes to Zaslac That by the Providence of God he had recovered the Throne of his Ancestors and was now marching for Dembea therefore he should take Care that there might be Forces there ready to receive him and those deserved Favours which he was ready to bestow upon them But he tho astonish'd at the suddain News was unwilling to acknowledg him for King whom he had not made himself and therefore consulting with his Friends return'd for answer That he would then obey him if Jacob to whom he had already by Message offer'd the Kingdom did not come before June and therefore begg'd that short delay Susneus no way pleas'd with the Condition wrote back to him again That he was King already and therefore would give place neither to Jacob once before adjudg'd unworthy nor to his Father Malec-Saghed though he should return from the other World Zaslac having receiv'd this surly Answer equally mettlesom and diligent turns his Arms upon him and comes on briskly to meet him Susneus finding himself prevented with the speedy March of his Adversary and perceiving himself over-match'd and which was worse not well in health retir'd to the Craggy Mountains of Amhara Ras-Athanasius also whose precipitancy Zaslac had upbraided retreated into other Fastnesses to avoid the Fury of his Associate In the mean time there being no News of Jacob the other Captains and Commanders of the Army began to scatterwords of discontent That they would not be without a King that if Jacob would not come there was no Person fitter than Susneus neither would he be at rest till he had obtain'd by force what they would not give him by fair means Zaslac fearing the Inconstancy of his own People and consequently a Revolt orders Commissioners to be sent and by them surrenders the Scepter to Susneus who presently sent a Person to whom Allegiance should be sworn in his Name Which being done Ten of the chiefest Peers ride forth to meet the new King and to conduct him with a Pomp befitting into the Camp And now Shouts and Acclamations are to be every where heard Neither were Banquets wanting with all other Solemnities usual at the Inaugurations of their Kings when on a sudden new Commissioners from Jacob quite disturb'd their mirth with such a suddain alteration as with which Fortune never more odly mock'd before the hopes of those that
After that misfortune the King came up sad for the loss of Gomez whom he desired most earnestly to have beheld with his Eyes Nor were they less sad to whose assistance he came as well for the loss they had receiv'd as because he had brought so few Forces with him Therefore they lay still three or four months till they could raise more They being come the Portugals who were now reduc'd to a hundred and twenty and yet zealous to revenge the death of their Captain were very urgent with the King to fight giving him great hopes of Victory For they had intelligence that the Turks were return'd home leaving only two hundred behind them whether by Command of their Bassha or taking it ill that Gomez was not deliver'd to them The King though he had not above Eight thousand Foot and Five hundred Horse resolv'd to follow the Inclinations of the Portugals And first in a slight skirmish he routed some of the Barbarian Forces that marched before Then sets upon Grainus himself who led an Army of 13000 men and vanquish'd him Grainus himself the Terror of Habessinia for so many years was shot with a Musket Bullet by a Portugueze who reveng'd the death of his Captain All the Turks but fourteen were slain The head of Grainus was exposed to the view of the People in several Provinces and Kingdoms of Habessinia to the great comfort of the beholders For upon the sight of it the Abissines recover'd Vigour and Courage They congratulated their Kings Success and they who had revolted return'd to their duty pretending necessity for the fault committed The King considering the condition of those times thought it convenient to pardon all to confirm the wavering to win the hearts of his People by Clemency to rally his scatter'd Forces and to do all those things which were necessary for the re-establishment of his Kingdom Onely one of the principal Commanders to whom the King had granted his pardon the Portuguezes put to death as laying to his charge the Murder of Gomez His perfidiousness was thought to have deserv'd death and so justice prevail'd without any further notice being taken of it In the mean time the Gallans till then an obscure Nation were neglected tho they had invaded many Provinces already laid wast by the Adelans not being look'd upon as such as would have encreas'd so much to the future dammage of the Kingdom There was still a greater fear of the Adelans who having in time repair'd their Losses onely waited an Opportunity to make a New Invasion Soon after their Spies returning with intelligence that the Habessines were grown secure and consequently careless under Nurus their Captain they again broke into Habessinia with a mighty Force overthrew Claudius who advanc'd to oppose them and slew him After his Death Menas obtain'd the Crown hated by the People for his Cruelty From thence Intestine Wars ensuing the Turks being call'd into the Kingdom overthrew the King in Battel and slew him which gave them an easie advantage to make themselves Masters of the Port of Arkiko and the Iland of Matzua His Son Zerza-Denghel much more fortunate than his Father perform'd many brave Atchievements and beat the Turks of Tigra but could not regain Arkiko nor the Iland of Matzua He raign'd Thirty Years continually vex'd with the Gallans or harrass'd with Intestine Broyls After his Death Civil Dissensions and deadly Strifes between the Royal Off-spring about the Crown so weakn'd the Habessines tormented at the same time with the Gallans that from that time to this day they could never Master that Potent Enemy As to their Wars about Religion that arose in the time of the Fathers of the Society we shall speak more hereafter CHAP. XVI Of the Leagues and Embassies of the Habessinians To the Portugueses Helena sent Matthew an Armenian and wherefore After a long stay in India he Arrives in Portugal Suspected From Portugal Odoardus Galvan sent Ambassador To whom Roderic Linaeus Succeeds Alvarez his Priest He after six years dismis'd with Tzagazaabus to the Pope Which Letters Alvarez carried to Rome Read at Bononia and with what effect Vpon receiving the Portugueze Succour they do not refuse the Latin Religion Whence hopes of their Embracing the Roman Faith Letters sent to the Pope An Ambassie appointed without Effect Commerce with the Europeans interrupted nor admitted unless try'd by Matrimony Embassies rare in Habessinia unless to Constantinople or to Batavia Embassadors Forrainers A League with the Persians AT what time the Portugueses making several Voyages into India made War upon several Nations their fame reach'd the Abessinians also who glad that the Power of the Saracens was brought low and that Egypt and their Patriarch of Alexandria was restor'd to freedom were in hopes that the Passage to Jerusalem would be open At the same time also was Peter Covillian among the Habessines who had given them more certain Relations concerning the Portugueses Therefore Helena the Grandmother of David and Governess of the Kingdom as we have said sent an Embassador into Portugal one Matthew an Armenian skilful in Foraign Affairs and one that understood the Arabic Language joyning with him a Young Nobleman of Habessinia She was willing to employ a Forraigner either because she could find none among her own People that were fit for such an Employment or that she believ'd none of that Nation could get safely into Portugal that Kingdom being hated by the Neighbouring Nations by reason of the Pyracies of the Saracens Mattheus was certainly in danger and sometimes detain'd a Prisoner among the Arabians out of whose hands he us'd many devices to escape and at length got safe to God to Albuquerquez Vice-Roy of India together with his Colleague By whom tho he were nobly there entertain'd yet he question'd the sending him into Portugal Because such an Embassie seem'd no way Correspondent to the Dignity and Grandeur of the famous Presbyter John And therefore he resolv'd first to expect the Kings Pleasure Thereupon Matthew being detain'd Three Years in India at length in the Year 1513. he arriv'd in Portugal The (z) They are to be found after the Preface of Alvarez's Itinerary as also in the Treatise of Damianus a Goez concerning the Great Emperour of the Indians to Emanuel King of Portugal first printed at Dordrecht But Tellezius forgot himself when he writes That Matthew brought David's Epistle full of Titles for that is to be attributed to Alvarez or Tragazaabus Letters which he brought from Helena being written with the Ethiopic plainness without any bombast of gaudy Titles seem'd to contain more than they that sent them were able to perform For they freely offer'd safe Conduct and a Thousand other necessary Conveniences for Ships which was look'd upon as a piece of boasting Vanity by the Portugals who perhaps thought the Queen had spoken of the Indian Vessels of those Nations that lay upon the Red Sea Matthew himself an ordinary Merchant without any Magnificence of Train
where the Doctrine is not to be follow'd But tho he were Prosperous in his Affairs of Government and War yet in his Marriage he was unfortunate for his Wife Mariamsena brought him many Daughters but not one Son He had two Natural Sons of which one was call'd Za-Marjam and the other Jacob but they could not succeed by the Laws of the (h) Tellezius tells us l. 3. c. 14. that the Ethiopian Laws will not allow Bastards to succeed Which nevertheless is not agreeable with what he says in another place l. 3. c. 29. Kingdom And therefore it fell out with him as with many others who are more addicted to illicit Concubinage than lawful Matrimony that they want Successors from their own Loins and frequently expose their Kingdoms to War and Bloodshed upon Disputes of Succession First therefore he shew'd to the Nobility Za-Denghel his Brother Lecanax's Son as the Son of a Prince adorn'd in Royal Habit. Then again some few Months before his Death he began to change his mind either envying a greater Adoration to the Rising than the Setting Sun or whether it were that Za-Denghel himself certain of the Succession gave the less respect to his Uncle or whether his Disposition were not grateful to the Nobility However it were Jacob a Child of Seven years of Age never seen before to the King came to Court which was no obscure intimation that he would be preferr'd before Za-Denghel as being of the King 's own Blood The Grandees whether they durst not admonish the King or whether they had an intention to usurp the Government under pretence of being Guardians to the Minor consented to the King But soon after they taught us to understand how uncertain the Tranquillity of Kingdoms is where the Right of Succession is uncertain or that there are no Rules but that the grand Affairs of a Kingdom are at the disposal of Courtiers intent upon their own Interest Nevertheless most wonderful to relate when the King upon his return from the War with the Gallans fell sick and found himself near his end Right and Justice more prevail'd with him than Hatred against his Brother's Son or love to his own Illegitimate and therefore calling before him the chief of his Nobility he is reported to have spoken thus Seeing that the end of my life Approaches I thought that next the Care of my Soul that of my Kingdom was the chiefest the safety of which I have always held no less dear to me than the Salvation of my own Soul True it is that having none Legitimate I always lov'd Jacob as my own And I have observ'd in him Endowments of Mind not unworthy so fair an Inheritance so that I could not have had any reason to repent had I Establish'd him my Successor nor you had you yielded him Obedience But now I prefer the Love of my Country and the Laws of the Kingdom before my private Affection Therefore it is that I recommend to your Allegiance Za-Denghel my Brother's Son my nearest Kinsman stout in War Mature in years conspicuous for his virtues and one that by those virtues Merits the high Dignity which is due to him by Birth Having thus said in a short while after he expir'd An. 1596 But as it was a thing absolutely unexpected by the Nobility that the King would change his Mind so the Management of Affairs among themselves during the Minority of the King was that which they had already deeply fix'd in their minds nay more they had under-hand already divided the great Offices of the Kingdom And therefore repining to find the Power thus as it were ravish'd out of their hands they perfidiously enter into a Conspiracy To which purpose they conceal the Death of the King and sending away some few Bands of Soldiers drawn together in hast they cause Za-Denghel to be apprehended and carry'd away into the Island of Udeka lying in the Tzanic Lake and then changing his Imprisonment from Rock to Rock carry'd him up and down to prevent his Conspiring with the Neighbouring People The same Trap was lay'd for Susneus for that they fear'd least he being youthful and brave seeing the Order of the Succession so disturb'd should put in for a share and assert his Claim as afterwards he did But he escap'd in good time to the Gallans where he fix'd himself among them against the threatning Danger resolving if need requir'd to make use of their Assistance The Chiefs of the Faction were Ras-Athanasius a man of high Authority and Keflawahed Viceroy of Tigra who having cajol'd into the Conspiracy the Queen Dowager his Mother-in-Law covetous of preserving her Power by means of her Son's nonage as it were under colour of lawful Power they presently set the Crown upon the head of Jacob then a Child of Seven years of Age and therefore call'd the Infant King reserving the management of Affairs to themselves A trium-virate unusual with a Woman and therefore not like to endure long For seven years after Jacob coming to be of Age impatient of so many Tutors assum'd the Reins of Government into his own hands perhaps more imperiously than might become a Lad of 15 years of Age. The Guardians therefore taking it ill to be so soon depriv'd of their Power seeing their Obedience would immediately follow chose rather to obey their lawful King and render themselves deserving of his new Favours Therefore before Jacob could fix himself in his Throne as it were induc'd out of Repentance that they had preferr'd an Infant and Illegitimate before a lawful Successor and of ripe Age they recall Za-Denghel then lurking in the most remote Mountains of the Kingdom and salute him King by the Name of Asnaff-Saghed which they did the sooner and that with the more speed that they might have the less reason to give an Accompt of what was done to the new King Jacob with only Eight of his Guard for the rest had deserted him with his Fortune hastens to Samena to his Mothers Kindred but being known in his flight and taken he was brought back to Za-Denghel who shewing the Effects of a strange Compassion receiv'd his Rival with a singular Affection and Clemency and trusting to his own Right would never incur the censure of being Cruel in cutting off his Nose and Eyes which was usually done to others in the same Condition and to which he himself was advis'd For he scorn'd to pollute himself with a Crime after the manner of Tyrants who distrustful of their own Right or the Peoples Affections count it a piece of Policy to cut off their Rivals in Empire how innocent soever imputing to them before-hand the future Crimes that may happen to be committed not by them but any Promoters of Sedition However he sent the degraded King into Enarea the most remote Kingdom of Habessinia under a strict Guard in a short time to be restored to the Kingdom to his own Ruin Za-Denghel for Grace of Utterance and Majesty of Countenance
friendship cannot long remain in one and the same Brest and that the fruit of Treason being reap'd there is no farther need of the Traitor the King commanded him to be apprehended and carried away into the steep Mountain of Gueman in the Kingdom of Gojam He would not put him to death as not believing it became a noble Prince to take away a mans life for fear of a future crime But he making his Escape about a year after invaded Waleka where having gather'd together some Troops of Vagabonds and dissolute Persons he supported himself by Robbery and Rapine till at last making his Incursions into Gojam he was there slain by the Pagans His head being brought to the King was fix'd upon a Lance and set up before the Royal Pavillion to be view'd by all the World no man pitying his misfortune in regard that all people knew his advancement had cost the loss of so many innocent lives Not so inglorious was the end of Ras-Athanasius and yet sufficiently miserable For he every day losing more and more of the Kings favour was at length the contempt of all men Insomuch that his wife the daughter of Malec-Saghed unaccustom'd to brook indignities forsook his bed Thus once the next to Supream authority now the next to most dejected misery not able to o'recome the anguish of his mind he fell into a Fever of which he dy'd But Susneus to establish himself in his Dominion by all ways courted the friendship of the Portugueses as being skilful in the art of Gunnery and Fire-arms the chiefest terror of those Nations hoping that not without reason by their assistance to defend himself as well against his own Subjects too much addicted to Tumults and Seditions as the Kindred and Friends of the slain Kings And not only so but to render himself formidable to the Gallans To that purpose he kindly receiv'd the Fathers of the Society then living in Dembea He sent for Peter-Pays and most courteously gave ear to him and treated him as his familiar Friend And as he was favourable and bountiful to them so did he dayly afford many testimonies of his kindness to the rest of the Portugueses and the more to oblige them he set up the Latin Religion nothing terrify'd by the example of Za-denghel And indeed the Fathers had such a power over him that at length he surrender'd himself to the Pope and together with his Son sware obedience to him as Universal Bishop and Vicar of Christ abrogating the Religion of Alexandria Which was afterwards the occasion of horrid uproars bloody wars and the slaughter of many great Personages But the possession of a Kingdom won by the Sword seldom enjoys a perfect tranquility especially when the death of the Predecessor comes be in question For presently that is to say the very next year up starts a counterfeit Jacob who alarum'd all Habessinia with the fear of a new War Some there were that acknowledg'd they both knew and saw the dead body of King Jacob after the blood was wip'd away but no man durst assert himself to be the Person that kill'd him The Counterfeit therefore addresses himself to the Monks of the famous Monastery of Bizan in the prefecture of Bahrnagassus where he remain'd and to hide the fraud as if his face had bin disfigur'd with his wounds went always vail'd Nor was it long before his Story was believ'd Not so much out of respect to his own Person as out of malice to Susneus whom they hated as a Person that was unknown to them and by his exilement inur'd to the Savage Customs of the Gallans Neither were they pleas'd with Raas-Seelech his brother by the Mother's side whom he had made Viceroy of Tigra whom they look'd upon also as a forraigner So that he not being able himself to quell the Disturbances the King was forc'd to advance himself But the Rebels having intelligence of his coming fled several ways to avoyd fighting Their Captain with only four of his Associates and some few Goats which he carry'd with him for their milks sake secur'd themselves by a painful Pilgrimage through the most wild and uncouth concealments of Nature that the Rocks could afford him where it was impossible to trace him So that the King dispairing after a tedious search to find him out return'd to Dembea and having solemniz'd his Inauguration at Axuma after the ancient Custom of the Country he made Ansalax Governor of Tigra in the room of his Brother who afterwards by the help of two Noblemen that counterfeited themselves their friends having apprehended the Rebels put them to death But what was more strange our Europe it self could not some time after discern an Aethiopian Counterfeit of the same name For in the Year 1631. a certain Impudent Counterfeit by the names of (i) For so the Ethiopic word Tzaga Christos is pronounced There is a Relation of this Person extant Entitl'd The Strange Accidents of the Travels of His Highness Prince Zaga-Christ of Ethiopia c. very absurd and full of Fables Tzagax assuming to himself to be the Son of Jacob came into France and producing several Recommendatory Letters and Certificates from the Credulous Monks of Palestine was taken for a Great Prince and expell'd Heir to the Kingdom of Ethiopia and Entertain'd with a large Pension from the King after the Example of some of the Princes of Italy which is to consider what may be Correspondent with their Munificence toward an Exile of so great Dignity rather then to enquire who he really is Which was to be admir'd For that both at Rome and in Portugal there were at that time extant several annual Relations by which it was apparent that Jacob was slain in Battel Young and never marry'd above Twenty years before But that which added to the Credit of the Impostor was his graceful Presence with a Countenance wherein Seriousness and Frankness were wonderfully intermix'd that while he kept company with other Princes as Bochart himself told me he seem'd to excel them all both for beauty of form and sweetness of disposition and particularly that his Majestick Aspect strook all his beholders with admiration Whether that Beauty were really in his Person or whether the Novelty of the thing or the Opinion that he was of the Race of Salomon byass'd their Judgments Tho otherwise no reason could be given why he acted the part of the Son of an Ethiopian King unless it were to contend with (k) Relating to the Daughters of Thespius Hercules or (l) See Suetonius in Claud. Juvenal Sat. 6. Tacit. Annal. l. XI Plin. X. 23. Messalina for the prize of most enormous Lust And indeed it may be thought that fearing his Imposture should be discover'd he rather chose to bring himself to his end by the pleasing debaushes of Luxury than to fall under the Hangman Being dead he was branded with this Epitaph Cy gist le Roy d'Ethiopie L'Original ou la Copie Here lyes the King
That being most graciously and kindly entertain'd by the King he dy'd in Habessinia Others that being honourably dismiss'd by the King he was murder'd by certain Arabian Thieves As for the Patriarch after a long Captivity and very bad Usage from the Turks he was at length set at Liberty after he had pay'd for himself and his Companions a Ransom of 4000 German Dolars and so at length got safe to Goa Where tho he were advis'd to go himself into Portugual and give an accompt of the afflicted State of Ethiopia he thought it the better way to send Jeronymo Lobo with order to desire the Aid of a sufficient Military Power to restore him to his lost See Thereupon the diligent Jesuit not only went into Portugal but also to Mantua to Philip the Fourth and from thence to Rome But all his Negotiations prov'd ineffectual whether it were that they did not think it at that instant so Apostolical a way to propagate the Gospel by force of Arms or whether it were that they did not like the Charge of an Expedition from whence they could hope for little good there being no considerable Party in the Kingdom to give them footing and the encouragement of Assistance For the King watchful over all casualties put all to Death that favour'd the Roman Fathers Which occasion'd the Ruin of many of the Nobility among the rest Tecla-Selax and several Priests that had taken Roman Orders and all the Fathers except Bernard Nogueyra whom the Patriarch had created his Vicar For tho the Patriarch attempted afterwards to send several other Fathers yet all their Endeavours were in vain so that for a long time he could learn no News concerning the State of Ecclesiastical Affairs in Habessinia For the King fearing lest the Portugueses should invade his Dominions in revenge of the Fathers had brib'd the Turkish Basha's of Suaqena and Matzua willing enough to that of themselves not to admit entrance to any of the Franks The News of which coming to Rome the Minds of men were variously affected The greatest part were sorry that all their fair hopes of retaining Ethiopia in Pontifical Obedience were quite cut off Others blam'd the Fathers of the Society that through their Arrogance and Imprudence in managing the Temper and Disposition of the Habessines they had ruin'd both themselves and the Roman Religion whereas they ought to have made it their Business to have acted chiefly and in the first place for the Majesty and Authority of the Pope over the Universal Church and willingly to have suffer'd all Miseries and Martyrdoms rather than have quitted their Station Tellez involves these particulars in a general Relation saying That several Malevolent Reports were spread about in Rome and some there were who gave out That the Fathers out of meer detestation of their Persons and hatred of the whole Nation of Portugal were ejected out of Habessinia and that if other Preachers were sent the Habessines would willingly embrace both them and their Doctrine Which was a thing to be done with much less Expence and more probable to come to effect than Lobo's Project of sending an Army Therefore the Congregation for propagating the Faith took another Course and sent Six Capuchin Fryers all Frenchmen with Letters of Recommendation and safe Conduct from the Emperor of the Turks himself with Orders to try what they could do in Habessinia Two of these going by Sea landed at Magadoso seated upon the Eastern Coast of Africa but before they could get many Leagues up into the Countrey they were knock't o' the head by the Cafers Two of them got as far as the Confines of Habessinia but being discover'd they were presently Commanded either to return back or make Profession of the Alexandrian Religion and upon their refusal to do either were presently ston'd to Death Of which when the other two that stay'd at Matzua had notice they rather chose to return home again than suffer Martyrdom to no purpose Book 3. Chap. 14. P 369 Three Capuchins beheaded in the yeare 1648 by the Comand of Basilides King of the Habessines 1 The Citie and Iland of Suaqin 2. The red Sea 3. The Turkish Basha Gouernour of the Iland 4. F. Felix de S. Severino 5. F. Antonio de Patra Pagana 6. F. Joseph Tortulano from the Italian Originall At length also Bernard Nogueira was apprehended the last of all the Fathers and fairly Hang'd As for the Patriarch Mendez he liv'd in India till the year 1656. Where in the 22d of his Exile and the 77th of his Age he dy'd upon the 29 day of January He was endu'd with most accomplish'd gifts both of Body and Mind very Tall and of a firm Constitution of Body well read both in the Greek and Latin and every way fitted for his Employment Neither had he wanted Prudence had not the King's Favour and Success which oftentimes intoxicate the Wisest of Men transported him out of the way to act with that violence and severity where gentleness and caution were so requisite By which means instead of gaining he was forc'd to suffer the shameful detriment of that Authority which he had too far extended Others as Gregory told me excus'd him for that upon his arrival he found things so far driven on by the Missionaries that he could not with Honour recede from what they had done Since the Death of the Patriarch we have had no certain Relations out of Habessinia In the year 1652. a new Metropolitan was sent into Ethiopia who had bin seen by many Europeans in Egypt and was succeeded afterwards by several others as we have gather'd from certain Relation From whence we may infer That the report of Tellez was a thing fram'd out of Envy as if the King of the Habessines had sent his Ambassadors into Arabia to desire thence Mahometan Doctors with an intention to embrace Turcism which no man can think probable from what has bin already related For how is it likely that he who could not Protect the splendid Religion of the Romish Church and the specious Doctrines of the Fathers because they were thought by the Habessines to be repugnant to Scripture and the Decrees of the Primitive Church should be able to admit of the Vanity and Absurdity of Mahumetism the Original and Progress of which is so well known to the Habessines already A Religion that did not prevail by suffering and well-doing like the Christian Religion but by force of Arms was obtruded upon Barbarous and Discording Nations The Clergy and Monks so wedded to their Alexandrian Religion would no more endure it than they did the superstition of Susneus So that should the King and his Peers be so vain as to attempt a thing so detestable to his People he could not expect but to be more vigorously and generally oppos'd than ever his Father was But lastly the King's Letters of the last Date to the Governor of Batavia beginning with a Christian Preface sufficiently demonstrate that he was
caus'd large Pitts to be digg'd and then commanded the Christians to be burnt therein in heaps as it were for quicker dispatch Three hundred and forty perish'd in this manner in the City of (x) Negra by Niceph. Cullisto l. 18. c. 6. by others Najram Nagra together with St. Areta entomb'd in Fire Caleb being admonish'd by the Patriarch would not endure so much barbarous Cruelty but with an Army of a Hundred and twenty thousand Men and a Navy of 423 Vessels he cross'd over into Arabia and having vanquish'd Dunawas he he utterly destroy'd the Kingdom of the Homerites restor'd Nagra to the Christians and made St. Areta's Son Governor of the place To Dunawas succeeded Abreha Elasbram Jacsum F. Masruk F. but their Kingdom remain'd Seventy two years under the Yoke of the Habessines After these Saif-ibn-Di-Jazan of the race of the Homerites by the assistance of Anusherwan King of the Persians recover'd the Throne of his Ancestors but was soon after slain by the Abessines However the Persians at that time prevalent set up over the Sabeans other Kings whom the Abessines oppos'd and some they slew And thus this Kingdom harrass'd with continual Wars between the Persians and the Habessines at length when the Saracens began to grow powerful under Bazen the last King became tributarie to Mahomet And by this perhaps we are to understand what Abdelbachides writes concerning a Nagash of the Abessines whom he calls Atzhama as if he had revolted to Islamisin at the invitation of Mahomet But these things are confused and imperfectly delivered by the Arabes Greehes and Latins and besides that the diversity of names adds obscurity to the History For as to those Acts which Procopius attributes to Hellesthiaeus King of Ethiopia as if he having slain the King of the Homerites of which many were Jews set up another in his place Emsiphaeus by name and a Christian those things are proper to none but Caleb in regard that Kingdom being destroy'd by Caleb could not be again subverted by Ellesthiaeus But as for those things which are reported by Cedrenus and Nicephorus of Adad or David a certain Ethnic King of the Indian Axumites who demolish'd the Kingdom of the Homerites and by occasion of a former vow became a Christian they are altogether false For that there is no other History than that which we have related of Caleb to this purpose we shall hereafter declare when we came to discourse of the Original Christianity in Ethiopia For that the corrupt names of Damian of Damnus from Dunaam or Dunawas and other Circumstances demonstrate But 't is no wonder the History of the Homerites should be so confus'd among Strangers when the Arabians themselves complain that among all other Histories that of the Homerites is the most imperfect Our Poet before cited thus praises Caleb in the following Lines Peace be to Caleb who with the Lawrel wreath'd Behind him left such Monuments of his Power To Salem he his Royal Crown bequeath'd An Offering to his dreaded Saviour For he great Hero from his mighty deeds Vain glory scorn'd that proud ambition feeds The dismal Slaughter of Sabean Host So dismal that not one alive remain'd Swell'd not his thoughts of Victory to boast Yet glad to see his Sword so nobly stain'd Glad that by him the Homerites enslav'd Martyrs were now reveng'd and Christians sav'd Concerning the Martyrs of Nagra the same Poet goes on thus Your beauteous Starrs of Nagra I salute Such Themes would force loud Language from the Mute You brightly shine before the Mercy-Seat And like rich Gemms the world illuminate Oh may your Lustre reconcile my Sin Before the Judge of what my Crimes have bin Shew him your blood which you for him have spilt And beg Pacification for my Guilt To Caleb succeeded Gebra-Meskel or the Servant of the Cross so nam'd at his Baptism whom the Poet thus honours Peace to thee also King of high renown That in the Strength of God so much hast won Yet with thanksgiving to thy heavenly Lord Didst still ascribe the Trophies of thy Sword Concord and Peace adorn'd thy happy daies Thy reign resounded only Hymns of praise Glory to God thy Pious Cares oblieged And Peace on Earth from fear of thee proceeded The next to him in the Ethiopian Liturgy are Constantine and Fresenna or the good Fruit. Then followed an Interruption or discontinuance of this Line in the time of Delnoad who reigned about the year of Christ 960. But then the Scepter was usurp'd by another Race of which we are next to discourse CHAP. V. Of the Zagaean Line and the Kings that descended from that Race The Zagaean Line originally from the wickedness of a woman the Successors uncertain yet some of them very Famous UPon the Death of Delnoad the Zagean Family invaded the Kingdom and enjoy'd it Three Hundred and Forty years They first obtain'd it by the devices of a wicked Woman (b) The word signifies Fire Essat by Name Stigmatiz'd for Unchastity Sacriledge and Avarice in the highest degree Her Successors are uncertain and the Names which Marianus Victor produces together with the several years of their Reigns are very much to be suspected to omit what Tellezius learnedly writes That the Queens are never inserted in the Catalogues of those that Reign Nevertheless Victorius nominates one Tredda-Gadez who Murder'd all the Posterity of the Salomonean Family that he might Establish the Kingdom to his Son Yet in the mid'st of the Slaughter there was one young Lad of the Royal Blood who making his Escape to the Lords of the Kingdom of Shewa most passionately zealous for the Salomonean Line was there privately preserv'd The Kings of this Line are very enviously traduc'd by Tellezius as unjust and unworthy to be remember'd tho it has honour'd Ethiopia with many Renowned Monarchs of whom there is still a happy Memorial both in the Ethiopic Liturgy and among the Encomiums of my Poet as Degna Michael and Newaja-Christos or the Wealth of Christ who never appears in Victorius's Catalogue However he is thus Praised by the Poet. Peace to Newaja from whose Royal Loins Illustrious Princes born for high designs Ennobling more their high Descent his Praise Advanc'd and thence their own Renown did raise No wonder he dy'd Poor his Zeal was such He stript himself his Temple to enrich Himself had built the House of God and scorn'd To leave God's House behind him unadorn'd But the most famous and most renowned for his Magnificent Structures was (c) Alvarez makes mention of him c. 54. and 55. where he relates the same Story of the swarm of Bees Lalibala whose future Greatness was portended by a Swarm of Bees that while he was an Infant newly born lighted upon his tender Body without doing him the least prejudice Of him the Poet thus sings To mighty Lalibala Peace Who stately Structures rear'd And to adorn the Pompous piles For no Expences spar'd By vast Expence and hideous pains The Rock a
Church became The Roof the Floor the squared Sides All one continu'd Frame No stones in blended Mortar lay'd The solid parts divide Nature has carved all without Within the Workman's Pride But newly born and hardly swath'd The tender Infant lay When strait a Wonder that portends The Honour of that day A Swarm of Bees Prophetic swarm His Princely Head surround Thus Jove himself on Ida Mount The Martial Insect Crown'd It was their Errand thus to shew The grandeur of the Child That he should Conquer and Command And yet be wondrous mild That done as if by sight the face Of Majesty they knew With such a fear as aw'd their stings Away again they flew This great Monarch when he came to Rule sent for Artists out of Egypt and after a wonderful and unheard of manner of Building to that day he did not cement Stones or Bricks together with Lime or Lome nor joyn the Roof together with Rafters but hollow'd whole solid Rocks leaving Pillars for Ornament where Pillars were requisite the Arches and Walls being all of the same Stone Nor do the Rocks of Ethiopia withstand that kind of Structure for that most of them advance equilaterally toward the Sky as if they had bin squar'd by Art and besides the Stone is so soft and tender that the Tools of the Artists easily make their way Alvarez gives an accompt of Ten Temples fram'd after this wonderful manner which were Four and twenty years finishing He saw them all and gives you a draught of them in Picture and lest any one should doubt of the Truth of what he says he confirms his Relation with an Oath This Magnificent King reign'd Forty years and after him his Son Imra rul'd as many The last of this Race was Naacueto-Laab Of him the Poet thus Hail Naacueto-Laab thy Renown I sing and all the Glories of thy Crown In Peace and Love which thou didst love thy Raign Concord and Peace did mutually sustain And thnt no fear of Death might him dismay God plac'd him where there is no end of Day CHAP. VI. Of the Salomonean Line restor'd again by Icon-an-lac The Salomonean Family restor'd The Successors of Icon-Im lac Etana-Denghel preferred before his Elder Brother Helena a Woman of a great Spirit David's various Fortune Claudius succeeds him who restores his ruin'd Kingdom by the Assistance of the Portugueses His Encomium and miserable Death The Succession decided by Arms. Menas succeeds his Cruelty Bahrnagassus revolts Malac-Seghed succeeds better than his Father Prosperous in War not in Marriage He designs his Brother his Successor but repents and Prefers his Natural Son Jacob He recommends his lawful Son to the Nobility upon his Death-Bed but they Imprison him Susneus in the same Danger but Escapes They make Jacob a Child King afterwards Depose him and place Za-Dengel in his room his Mildness and Fortitude a bold act of his His Kindness to Pays and the Latins cause him to be hated A Conspiracy against him he Consults the Portugueses despised the Counsel of Pays He loses the Day and dies in the Field THE Zagean Family being thus Extinct about the year of Christ 1300. The Nobility of Shewa restor'd Icon-Imlac a Prince of the Salomonean Race to the Scepter of his Ancestors whose Posterity have continu'd in Habessinia to our time Tellezius reckons up Sixteen Kings to Zar-a-Jacob (d) In his Accompt of Sacred Times L. VI. Vlt. Success c. 44. which we shall insert out of Vecchietti adding the Ethiopic Names of them which we have found mention'd in the Liturgy or elsewhere Icon-amlac or as the Ethiopians write him 1. Aycuna-amiac 2. Jagrea-Tzegon 3. Bahar Sarda 4. Esbraad 5. Cadem-Saghed 6. Zen-Saghed 7. Vdimrad 8. Amde Tzegon 9. Scifaarad 10. Udmaasfan 11. David 12. Theodorus Of whom the Poet thus makes mention in his 29 Encomium June 3. Hail Theodore wide Ethiopia's King Thee by thy Name Anbasa must I sing For thee thy Mother Tzejon-Mogusa T' adorn thy great Inauguration Day Whole Heards of Sheep and fatted Oxen stew And not she only for the Clouds to shew Themselves contributary to thy Feast Rain'd Fish from Heaven to supply the rest 13. Isaac 14. Andreas 15. Hesbinaani whose Son was 26. Amde-Jesus To him succeeded Zar-a-Jacob by the Name of his Inauguration Constantine An Emperor of great Renown and inquisitive after Foreign Affairs for he sent his Ambassadors to the Council of Florence of which more in due place Baeda-Marjam as I Collect out of Alvarez came to the Crown about the year 1465. and dy'd Ten years after leaving his Widow Helena behind him of whom more anon Alexander ascended the Throne about the year 1475. and dy'd in the year 1491. At what time Peter Covillian found the way into Ethiopia the first Portuguese that did so Amda-Tzejon (e) This Succession is taken out of Tellez and agrees with the vulgar Order of the Ethiopic Kings which Gregory himself did not contradict Alvarez here err'd very muth or else forgot himself for he apparently leaves out Ambda-Tzeon c. 59. and makes Alexander the Father of Naod c. 98. and 89. when he was really his Brother He also calls Helena the Mother of David when she was his Grandmother but only look'd upon as his Mother in respect of her care Neither is Tellezius without his Mistakes for L. 2. c. 4. He omits Ambda-Tzion and writes that Helena never had any Children his Son reign'd but a short time and dying without Male Issue made way for his Uncle Naod The Son of Baeda-Marjam who while his Brother Alexander possess'd the Government was shut up in the Rock Gheshen but the Male Issue failing he was call'd forth by the Nobility and reign'd Thirteen years He dy'd about the year 1505. Etana Dengel or Lebna-Denghel call'd afterwards David by his Inauguration Name Some few years expir'd he assum'd a third Name Wanag-Saghed which Tzagazab interprets Enkua-Saged or the Precious Gem. He was the second Son of Naod by his Wife Mogesa the Nephew of Baeda-Marjam For the Eldest whom Naod begat in the Rock of Amhanira Helena and Marcus the Metropolitan who had then the Government in their hands did not think worthy to Rule by reason of his Pride and Cruelty adding That he was born when his Father was but in a private Capacity before he came to the Crown unless it were that they thought that they should carry a greater sway during the Minority of the young Prince For then was David but Eleven years of Age as he himself declares in his Letter to King Emanuel Helena therefore his Grandmother took upon her the Management of Affairs as his Tut'ress being preferr'd before the Mother in regard the Junior Queens always give place to the Senior and then too she is always look'd upon as the King's Mother A Woman of great Prudence and Courage that has left a great Fame behind her still in Ethiopia insomuch that King Susneus would often praise her for her Virtue and Moderation She is famous
of Ethiopie Th' Original or else the Copie Gregory being question'd concerning him made answer That the Report of him reach'd Egypt and the Countries next adjoyning and he had heard from the Governess of Ruma being a Woman of noble descent that Tzagax came to her and told her he was the Son of Arzo who was the Brother of Zadenghel the Son of Lesana and Grandchild to Menas The same thing he affirm'd to his Countrymen in Egypt and to those that liv'd at Jerusalem For to them he did not dare to counterfeit himself the Son of Jacob in regard they well knew that Jacob was slain in the Eighteenth year of his Age or thereabout without any legitimate off-spring But for Arzo he liv'd an obscure life and whether he had any Children or no there was no body knew Let us now therefore return to Susneus Susneus descended from the Royal Line bigg tall and strong Limb'd and in such a Body a large Soul His Countenance affable and pleasing with a high Nose and thin Lips nothing different from the Europeans but only in colour He was Prudent Courteous and Liberal and well read in the Ethiopic Books and which is most necessary to him that will ruffle for a Crown he was Warlike Patient of Labour and had among the Gallans learnt to be Content with any sort of Dyet However he was unhappy during his Reign by reason of his continual Wars and the frequent Rebellions of his Subjects whom he sent to compel by force to submit to what he thought convenient to enjoyn them He swore obedience to the Pope before he had weigh'd what benefit he might get by it And therefore toward his latter End he was forc'd to indulge that Liberty for the maintaining of which many Thousands had already lost their Lives He dy'd in September in the Year 1632. leaving several Sons and Daughters behind him Basilides by his Inauguration name Seltan Saghed after the Death of Marc his Eldest Brother succeeded the Father Who to quiet the Minds of his Subjects Exterminated the Jesuits together with their Patriarch out of all his Dominions so that he would not permit the Portugals a Priest to say Mass which the severity of Menas allow'd them All the rest of his Brothers if the Fidelity of Tellezius do not here give way to his Passion he put to death upon bare allegation of Crimes committed Neither do we know any thing more of certainty concerning him he refusing any farther Commerce with the Europeans for fear of the Forces for which he heard the Fathers were solliciting both at Rome and in Portugal to revenge the Indignities he had put upon them After this I saw certain Letters which the King of Abysinia Af-Saghed the Son of Alam Saghed sent to the Governour of Batavia written in Arabic of which we shall have occasion to say more in another place for I am not certain whether or no Basilides did not make use of a double Sirname nor whether he were the Father of that same Af-Saghed I have here inserted a Genealogic Table of the Last Kings of Habessinia which I had from Gregory but now more Corrected out of Tellezius A GENEALOGIC TABLE of the Kings of Habessinia from BAEDA-MARJAM Son of Zara-Jacob Grandchild of Amda-Jesu who liv'd about the year of Christ 1460. to the Reign of Basilides 1632 c. BAEDA-Marjam Son of Zara-Jacob otherwise Amda Jesu Born about the year 1465. whose Second Wife was Helena 1. ALEXANDER came to the Crown about the year 1475 and dyed without Children 1490. 2. AMDA-SION dy'd in the year 1491. after he had Reign'd Six Months 3. Naod fetch'd from the Rock of Amhara to the Crown dy'd in the year 1504. leaving his Widow Moghesa behind 1. N.N. The Eldest born in the Rock Amhara before his Father came to the Crown therefore forc'd to yield to the Second Brother 2. David Sirnam'd Etana-Denghel Lebna-Denghel and Wanag-Denghel Born about the year 1492. made King 1504. dy'd 1540. leaving his Widow Kabelo-Wanghel behind 3. Romana Warck wife 1. to N. N. 2. to Abucher 4. N. N. who Escap'd from the Rock of Amhara 1. Victor in the Field Slain before his Father's Death 2. Claudius Sirnam'd Atnaf-Saghed Born toward the end of 1522 made King 1540. Slain March 1559. in a Battel against the Adelans 3. Jacob dy'd before his Brother Claudius 4. Menas Sirnam'd Adamaes-Saghed made King 1559. Slain in Battel April 20. 1562. 5. N. 6. N. 7. N. three Daughters of whom Alvarez c. 61. Tascar's Natural Son made King by the Rebels in Opposition to his Uncle taken in Fight July 1561. and thrown Head-long from a Rock 2. Basilides Slain in a Battel against the Gallans His Wife was Hamel-Mala the Viceroy of Amhara's Widow who had Three Sons Rasselach Afach and Almanach 3. Zertza-Denghel otherwise Malech-Saghed made King 1562 and dy'd 1579. His Wife was Marjam-Sena AQUIETER ABALE Lecanaxos Susneus Sirnam'd Malech Saghed then Seltan Saghed Born 1571. made King Jacob being slain March 10. 1607. dy'd Sept. 1632. He had many Wives but dismissed all except the First N. N. The Wife of Ras-Athanasius Jacob a Natural Son Born 1589. Made King at 7 years of Age call'd the Infant King depos'd 1603 Recall'd 1604. Slain March 10. 1607. Za-Marjam another Natural Son Za-Denghel alias Atznaf-Saghed Born 1577 Slain in Battel by his own Son Octob. 13. 1604. Arzo whose Son Tzaga-Christos called himself Lecanaxos Marcus These two Deceas'd before their Father Malacotawit Wife of Elias Viceroy of Tigra-Basilides sirnam'd Seltan-Saghed then Alam-Saghed Born 1607. made King 1632. Claudius Basilides Brother by the Father's side Canafraxos Jacobus Justus Za-Denghel Za-Marjam Lebna-Denghel and others For as Tellez writes he left 25 Sons and many Daughters behind him as Wanghelawit the Wife of Tecla George Viceroy of Tigra N. Wife of Za-Marjam Viceroy of Bagemdra N. Wife of Anda Michael Bahrnagash 1. Constantine dy'd before his Father 2. Justus 3. David 4. John 5. Becuerta-Christos Wife to the Viceroy of Tigra with others whose Names are not known Place this Table in the Second Book between Folio 192 193. CHAP. VIII Of the Royal Succession and the Imprisonment of the Kings Children in the Rock Geshen now quite out of use Certain Succession the Safety of Kingdoms Two Bonds of Government How far Prudence how far Nobility and Power prevail Election not alwayes to be preferr'd before Succession more agreeable to Liberty The Males only succeed in Abassia Their Claim dubious hence Wars The Inconveniencies of Hereditary Kingdoms The ill Events of uncertain Succession The Imprisonment of the Kings Children Tellezius's Relation of it The Custom for 300 Years abrogated by Naod Alvarez's Relation it disagrees with Tellezius reconcil'd No president for half a Century The pleasantness of those Rocks fabulous The severe usage of those Princes there The severity of the Governour displeasing to the Prince pleas'd him when King FRom what has bin said it appears that the Succession of the Kings of Habessinia is uncertain
word to say And thus a second Victory being won from the Primate of Ethiopia himself a more severe Edict concerning the two Natures was publish'd by the Cryer making it Death for any Person to deny the contrary By this so sharp a Decree as if it had bin the loud signal to Battel it is incredible to think how the minds of the People were incens'd As for the Controversie it self they did not think it of so high a Concernment as to engage divided Parties in Blood and Massacre about it In regard that all acknowledg'd both Divinity and Humanity in Christ so that the Question was only about a word But let the Question be what it would such a severe way of proceeding was never heard of before in Ethiopia as being altogether contradictory to the mildness of Christ and his Apostles and the Lenity of the Primitive times So then if Men were to be scourg'd and whipp'd because they could not apprehend two Natures in Christ what must they expect if other Questions should be started about Innovations of greater difficulty in the Doctrine and Ceremonies of the Fathers Exasperated with these fair pretences Simeon the Metropolitan together with several of the Nobility and among the rest Jamanaxus alias Emana Christos another of the King's Brothers by the Mothers side and lastly almost all the Interested Clergy and Monks met and held Consultations together to prevent the threatning Mischiefs and lastly combin'd to live and dye for the Defence of their ancient and settled Religion To this end Simeon under pretence of incumbent Duty which was to be watchful over the Preservation of the Constantinopolitan Religion fix'd an Excommunication Publickly upon the Dores of the great Church belonging to the Camp against all that embrac'd the Religion of the Franks or ventur'd to Dispute concerning it The King tho highly offended with this unexpected boldness of the Metropolitan durst not adventure to revenge himself However he Publish'd another Edict whereby Liberty was granted to every Person that so pleas'd to embrace and exercise the Fathers Religion already establish'd by fair Disputes and Arguments on their side Which so little terrify'd the undaunted Metropolitan that he thunder'd out his Anathema's against all that maintain'd two Natures in Christ. The Moderate Party bewail'd these Paper Skirmishes which they foresaw would break forth and end in Slaughter and Misery and that the King's Decrees would never be establish'd without the effusion of much Blood Sensible of these Fears several of the great Personages of the Kingdom together with the King's Mother Ite-Hamelmala most earnestly besought the King to desist from what he had begun and not to raise up implacable Seditions to the Ruin of himself and his Kingdom After which the Metropolitan with many Monks and Nuns came to the Camp and implor'd the King not to innovate any thing in Religion otherwise that they were prepar'd to lay down their lives for the Religion of their Ancestors At last the King referr'd the whole Business to another Colloquie which continu'd for Six days one after another but without any Success A clear Testimony that Controversies in Religion are not to be decided by Disputes After that all the Clergy throw themselves at the King's Feet and with Sighs and Tears beseech him Not to change a Religion so quietly Establish'd in Ethiopia for so many Ages by so many of their Emperors But nothing would prevail the King remain'd inexorable and immoveable so that the Petitioners departed full freighted with Exasperation and Rebellion Immediately all hopes of Concord and Agreement being lay'd aside the Sword was next unsheath'd whence follow'd those terrible Commotions and Bloody Wars that have almost ruin'd the most flourishing part of Ethiopia The Chief of the Conspirators were Jamanaxus Aelius the King's Son in Law Viceroy of Tigra the Eunuch Caflo and several others But to give the better Colour to their Rebellion and Design of Killing the King the Metropolitan caus'd a new and more severe Excommunication to be fix'd upon the Chief Church in the Camp by which all the partakers of the Latin Religion were Anathematiz'd In the mean time the Fathers of the Society relying upon the King's Favour hasten'd to get all things ready that might be of advantage to Establish their Doctrine To that end they translated Maldonatus upon the Four Evangelists Toletus upon St. Paul's Epistle to the Romans Ribera upon the Hebrews and some others into the Ethiopic Language which some esteem'd others by reason of the intermixture of Amharic words contemn'd as full of Barbarisms and Soloecisms But as for the Lord's Prayer and the Salutation of Mary being nothing but the Latin written in Ethiopic Characters they abhorr'd 'em as looking upon them to be nothing but Magic Spells On the other side the Alexandrians fell upon the Fathers with all the bitterest Invectives that might be those Paper Skirmishes being generally the fore-runners of more Bloody disputes In pursuance of which Aelius by an Edict Commands all the Franks to depart out of Tigra and the Alexandrians to follow him by which means having muster'd up a compleat Army he openly Rebels Simeon Curses the Franks but loads Aelius with his Blessings upon which he no doubt relying resolv'd to fight his Father in Law then upon his March against him with a strong Force notwithstanding all the Perswasions of his Wife to the contrary Fierce therefore and in the heat of his young Blood and over-confident of his own Faction not staying so much as to take his Breakfast but as it were Drunk with Fury and Rage only with a small Troop about him he leaps his Horse into his Father's Camp asking Where the King was and so what between the astonishment of some and the wonder of others what the Matter should be he rode up without any hurt to the King's Pavilion where at length the Alarum being taken he was soon surrounded Ston'd and Stabb'd to Death and so dearly paid for his rashness The Captain thus Slain the Soldiers betake themselves to their heels Simeon between the Fugitives and the Pursuers stood alone by himself like a man stupifyed whether not at first observ'd or neglected as a Clergy-man but at length being known he was Slain among the Crowd Both their Heads were sent about the Kingdom and expos'd as a Public Spectacle The Eunuch Caflo had his Head struck off Jamanaxus was pardon'd Thus the Kindred of Kings for the most part escape the Punishment of those Rebellions to which they themselves have given Life and Encouragement The King who was never fearful now more emboldened by his Victory now questions other Heads of Religion and soon after by Public Edict prohibits the Observation of the Sabbath as Judaical and Repugnant to Christianity In answer to this Edict some Person without a Name had written contemptuously of the Roman Religion reflecting severely upon the Fathers of the Society whom he call'd the Kindred of Pilate as being a Roman and withal sharply menacing
but only by a Tacit Connivance and that in the mean time there should be a Cessation of all Penalties and Mulcts Upon this the King intending a Third Expedition against the Lasteneers to make his Soldiers the more stedfast and obedient he put forth an Edict by which in general words an Indulgence was granted for the Exercise of all ancient Ceremonies not repugnant to Faith Thus every Person being left to his particular Liberty the Alexandrian Worship was again to the great Satisfaction of the People freely exercis'd but to the great grief of the Portugueses especially the Patriarch who presently wrote to the King complaining That contrary to his advice a Lay Prince should publish an Edict of that Nature in reference to spiritual Affairs for that it belong'd to him to set forth such Decrees putting him in mind of the words of Azariah the High-Priest to King Uzziah and of the Punishment that follow'd and admonishing him to amend that Fault by publishing some other Edict which should be propos'd by the assistance of some one of the Fathers of the Society The King obey'd and propounded an Edict which contain'd Three Articles 1. That the Ancient Liturgy but Corrected should be read in the Mass 2. That the Festivals should be observ'd according to the ancient Computation of Time except Easter and those other Festivals that depended upon it 3. That whosoever pleas'd instead of the Sabbath might fast upon the fourth Holyday And then as for answer to the Patriarchs Complaints he made this reply That the Roman Religion was not introduc'd into his Dominions by the Preaching or Miracles of the Fathers but meerly by his Edicts and Commands not by the assent of his People but of his own free will because he thought it better then the Alexandrian Therefore the Patriarch had no reason to Complain But these Concessions not being sufficient and coming too late prov'd altogether ineffectual not serving in the least to pacifie the Lasteneers or any other of the Discontented Parties CHAP. XII Of the Decrease of the Roman Religion and the Restoration of the Alexandrinian The Fathers ill Success The King prepares to restore the Alexandrian Religion Over-perswaded by the Queen and his Son The Decrees resolv'd on in Council The Patriarch makes a grave Speech to the contrary Vpbraids him with his Victories and threatens him At length he Supplicates but in vain The Edict passes Signify'd to the Patriarch who proposes a Medium The Edict publish'd to the great Satisfaction of the People The Ancient Ceremonies us'd An Invective Satyr against the Fathers The sudden Change censur'd WEE have hitherto seen the great Progress of the Roman Religion in Ethiopia the Authority of the Patriarch advanc'd to the utmost extent the King and his Brothers together with a great many of the Nobility some sincerely some feignedly favouring the Jesuits For the Latin Worship was with great diligence impos'd and exercis'd all over several Provinces of the Kingdom Many of the Habessine Priests were Ordain'd by the Patriarch and great diligence was us'd for the building of Churches and Colleges Already besides the Patriarch they had increas'd their Number to One and twenty Companions that is to say Nineteen Fathers and Two Brothers of the Society distributed into Thirteen Residencies Nor could the Fathers but be well pleas'd with so many Thousands of Baptized and Converted People for certainly the gaining of so many lost Souls by Baptism was not to be despised When on a suddain behold a suddain Change upon which the Banishment of the Fathers and the Subversion of the Roman Religion ensu'd For the Fathers believing that the opportunity of the time was not to be neglected made it their Business to abrogate all the Alexandrian Rites even those which were formerly tolerated under the Roman Bishops on the other side the Common People Wedded to their Old Customs but more especially the Monks and Clergy the chief Supporters of the old Religion most stoutly oppos'd their Proceedings Besides them several of the Nobility either out of Hatred of the Romans or out of Ambition frequently revolted and through the strength of their unaccessible Rocks easily eluded the King 's more mighty Power A most remarkable Lesson to teach us That that sort of Worship to which the People are averse is not easily to be introduc'd by the Prince and that it is no piece of Prudence or Policy to attempt the Liberty of those who are well defended by the Situation of their Country Therefore the King tho otherwise most addicted to the Fathers wearied with so many Exclamations of his own People growing in years utterly disliking the present posture of Affairs and fearful of what might ensue tormented with the continual Importunities of his Friends his Jealousie of his Brother the Contumacy of the Lasteneers the Diminution of his Prerogative and the dread of losing his Kingdom at length began to think of abrogating the Roman and restoring the ancient Alexandrian Worship And which was more to be admir'd a prosperous Fight with the Lasteneers was that which settled his wavering Thoughts For making a fourth Expedition against them he came upon them so unlook'd for that he gave them a Total tout Killing eight Thousand upon the place with several of the Leaders of the Faction and chief Deserters of their King and Country The Portugueses rejoyc'd at the News believing the Rebellion quietted by this Victory and that for the future nothing would presume so much as to hiss against the Roman Religion But it fell out quite otherwise For they who favour'd the the Alexandrian Religion the next day carry'd the King to view the Field of the Battel and shewing him the multitude of the Slain thus bespake him Neither Ethnics nor Mahumetans were these in whose Slaughter we might have some reason to rejoyce No Sir they were Christians once your Subjects and our dear Countrymen and partly to your self partly to us related in Blood How much more laudable would it have bin for these couragious Breasts to have bin oppos'd against the most deadly of your Enemies This is no Victory because obtain'd against your own Subjects With the same Sword wherewith you Slaughter them you Stab your own Bowels Certainly they bare no hatred to us whom we make War upon so cruelly Only they are a verse to that Worship to which you would compel them How many have we already kill'd upon this Change of Ceremonies How many remain behind reserv'd for the same Slaughter When will these Bloody Conflicts end Forbear we beseech your Majesty to constrain them to Novelties and Innovations lest they renounce their Allegiance otherwise we shall never behold the Face of Peace again We are hated even by the Gallans and Ethnicks for abandoning our ancient Ceremonies and are therefore by them call'd Apostates For it seems that the King of Adel having apprehended and put to Death two of the Fathers travelling into Habessinia thorow his Country in the accompt which he
reason by Argument you can never subdue the Will Eighthly That the Devil had put it into the Heads of several Catholicks to make a corresponding Agreement between the Catholick and the Alexandrinian Religion asserting all to be Christians as well Alexandrians as Romans That all believe in Christ That Christ saves all That there is little Difference between both Religions That both have Conveniencies and Inconveniencies their Truths and their Errors but that the Wheat was to be separated from the Cockle Ninthly That the Ecclesiastical Censures seem'd very heavy to the Habessines especially when they heard the Patriarch name Dathan and Abiram in the Excommunication CHAP. XIII Of the Expulsion of the Patriarch and the Exilement of the Fathers of the Society The Alexandrians quarrel with the Fathers who are accurs'd Their Churches taken from them Susneus Dyes Ras-Seelax renouncing the Alexandrian Religion is Overthrown and Banish'd Others put to Death The Fathers Dispossessed of their Goods Sent to Fremona The Patriarch by Letters Demands of the King the Causes of his Banishment and a New Dispute The King's Answer The Fathers depart for Fremona Afterwards quite thrown out of the Kingdom AFter the Publication of the King's Edict the Alexandrians being now absolute Victors endeavour'd with all their industry to be quit with the Fathers and expel them quite out of Habessinia To which purpose they omitted no occasion of daily quarrel and contention First accusing the Patriarch for endeavouring by Seditious Sermons to stir up the People to Sedition and to turn them from the Alexandrian Religion for that he had openly exhorted his Hearers to Constancy But understanding that Basilides was displeas'd and gave out threatning words they thought it requisite to act more moderately Soon after the Fathers Churches were taken from them believing that would be a means to put a stop to the Roman Worship And first they were constrain'd to quit their Cathedral at Gorgora a stately Structure after the European manner At their departure they carry'd with them all their Sacred Furniture brake all the Sculpture and spoil'd the Pictures that they might not leave them to be the sport of their Adversaries doing that themselves which they thought the Habessines would do And this Example they follow'd in all other places from whence they were expell'd In the mid'st of these Transactions Susnèus's Distemper increasing and more and more augmented by his continual anguish of Mind he ended this Life the 16th day of Decemb. 1632. The King being Dead the Fathers Adversaries set upon Ras-Seelax in the first place as the Principal Favourer and Protector of the Roman Religion and first of all they promise him all his former Dignities all his Possessions and Goods upon Condition he would return to the Alexandrian Religion Upon his refusal they bring him bound in Chains before the King and pronounce him guilty of Death But the King declaring that he would not pollute his hands with the Blood of his Uncle commanded him to be carry'd to a certain remote Place near to Samenar and sequester'd his Goods And as he was great so was he attended in his fall by several others as Atzai-Tino Secretary of State and the King's Historiographer Walata Georgissa the Queens Cousin In short whoever had favour'd the Fathers were all sent into Exile and some put to Death perhaps because they had bin more bitter in their Expressions than others against the Alexandrian Religion For some had call'd it a Religion for Dogs After all this the Enemies of the Fathers still insisted That nothing was yet done so long as the Patriarch and the Fathers were suffer'd to abide within the Confines of the Kingdom Neither would the Lastaneers be quiet till they heard the Fathers were all thrown out of Ethiopia but would look upon all things transacted for the re-establishment of the Alexandrian Religion as fictitious Stories There needed not many words to press him that was already willing First of all therefore their Goods and Possessions were taken from them then all their Arms especially their Musquets and Fire-Arms But before that they were sent to Fremona where as we have already declar'd Oviedo the Patriarch resided for some time But before their Departure the Patriarch wrote a certain Letter to the King to this Effect I did not adventure to come into Habessinia with my Companions of my own accord but by the Command of the Roman Pontiff and the King of Portugal at the request of your Father where having taken the King's Oath of Obedience I officiated the Office of Patriarch in the Name of the Roman Pontiff and the King of Portugal Now because you Command me to depart my humble request is that your Majesty would set down the Causes of my Exilement in Writing subscrib'd with your own and the hands of some of your Counsellors and Peers that all the World may know whether I am compell'd to suffer for my Life and Conversation or for the sake of my Doctrine I granted the Ceremonies desired by your Father except the Communion under both Kinds which only the Pope himself can dispute with The same also I again offer so that you and your Subjects will yield Obedience to the Church of Rome as the head of all other Churches My last request is That as the Matter was Debated at first so it may be referr'd to another Dispute by which means the Truth of the whole affair will more manifestly appear To this Writing the King thus reply'd Whatever was done by me before was done by the Command of my Father whom I was in Duty bound to Obey so that I was forc'd to wage War under his Conduct both with Kindred and Subjects But after the last Battel of Wainadega the Learned and Unlearned Clergy and Layety Civil and Military young and old all sorts of Persons made their Addresses to my Father Crying out How long shall we be perplexed and wearied with unprofitable things How long shall we encounter Brethren and Kindred cutting off the right hand with the left How long shall we thrust our Swords into our own Bowels Especially since we learn nothing from the Roman Religion but what we knew before For what the Romans call the two Natures in Christ his Divinity and his Humanity that we knew from the beginning to this time For we all believe that our Lord Christ is perfect God and perfect Man perfect God in his Divinity and perfect Man in his Humanity But in regard those Natures are not separated nor divided for neither of them subsist of its self but both of them conjoyn'd the one with the other therefore we do not say that they are two things For one is made two yet so as the Natures are not mix'd in their Subsistence This Controversie therefore among us is of little moment neither was it for this that there has bin so much Bloodshed among us but chiefly because the Blood was deny'd to the Layety whereas Christ has said in his Gospel Unless
ye eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink his blood ye shall not have life everlasting and when he instituted the Holy Supper he did not say The Blood is in my Body which I have given to you alone but take and drink and partake all From that time the Disciples did as they were commanded The Intermission of the Fast of the fourth Holyday which is nevertheless enjoyn'd by the Canons of the Holy Apostles as also a various manner of Fasting in the Time of Lent Besides by altering the Order of the whole Ecclesiastical Computation in reference to the Annual Festivals and the Permission of all Persons to enter into the Church without any distinction of clean or unclean these are the things that gave offence to our People But they detested nothing more than the reiteration of Baptism as if we had bin Heathens before we had bin Baptiz'd by the Fathers They re-ordain'd our Priests and Deacons they burnt the wooden Chests of our Altars and Consecrated some Altars of their own as if ours had not bin Consecrated before The Monks also complain'd that their Institutions were abrogated These and others of the same Nature were the true Causes that we abandon'd the Roman Faith tho it was not we who gave it Protection but our Father And therefore because the Alexandrian Abuna is now upon his Journey hither and hath sent us word that he cannot live or joyntly act in the same Kingdom with the Roman Patriarch and the Fathers we command you to hasten to Fremona Those things are offer'd now too late which might have bin easily at first allow'd For now there is no returning to that which all the whole Nation abhors and detests for which reason all farther Colloquies and Disputes will be in vain The Patriarch relates in his Epistle to the King of Spain That that same Metropolitan of whom the King makes mention came some years before into Ethiopia but lay privately conceal'd in Enarea where hearing of the disowning and casting off the Patriarch he brake out into this farther Expression to the King That he could not officiate in his Office unless the Patriarch and the Fathers were either put to Death or Banish'd to perpetuity So that the Patriarch and the Fathers were forc'd to obey the King's Command not without a long Dispute about their Guns which they would willingly have kept for their own Preservation but they were forc'd to deliver them up that they might be of no use to the Portugals who were coming as it was fear'd and reported to their assistance Thus the Patriarch with all the Fathers that were then in the Country were constrain'd to leave their warm Seats after an Enjoyment of Eight years standing In their return they met with various Misfortunes and were frequently infested with Thieves before they could get to Fremona But because they foresaw that would be no abiding place for 'em of any long continuance they presently resolv'd to send away some of the Fathers before into India to give the Vice-Roy an accompt of the state of their affairs and to desire some remedy that is to say a good sufficient strength of Portuguesis But before they could obtain that they receiv'd fresh Commands from the King who 't is very probable smelt their Design to remove from Fremona and be gon But they sang loath to depart a great while and to spin out time privately retir'd to one John Akay formerly an Enemy to the King who not being able to defend them they were pull'd out thence by the Ears and in May 1634. deliver'd to the Turks and first carry'd to Arkiko and Matzua after that to Suaqena and brought beore the Turkish Basha And indeed there was nothing more that provok'd the Habessines as Gregory told me then that they should require aid of the Military Power from India to establish their Religion They might said he have shaken the dust from their shoes at their departure as the Apostles were commanded but they were for settling Religion with Swords and Guns Which was not done so secretly but it came to the Ears of the Habessines for it seems that some of their Train vext at some Misfortune or other had imprudently threaten'd it Which was one reason among others that their Churches built of Stone and Morter and their Guns were taken from them CHAP. XIV Of what happen'd after the Departure of the Patriarch and the Fathers out of Ethiopia The Condition of the Bishop and his Associates privately left behind The Patriarchs misery among the Turks Peter Heyling a German Disputes with him Peter entertain'd by the King of Habessinia Various reports concerning his Death The Patriarch redeems himself He sends Hierom Lobo for Assistance who cannot speed The favourers of the Fathers put to Death in Ethiopia Now admitted into Habessinia Six Capuchins sent again their ill success Three more sent after them their sad Misfortune Nogueira Hang'd Mendez dyes in India After that no News from Habessinia NOtwithstanding the King's Commands to all in general the Patriarch left behind privately in several places Apollinaris Almeyda Hiacynthos Francisco Ludovigo Cordeyra Bruno Bruni and some others who after they had liv'd miserably for some time lurking up and down at last were most of them Hang'd In the mean time he himself spent almost a whole year in great Vexation and full of sorrow among the Barbarous Turks in Suaqena almost melted by the Sun But nothing more increas'd the anguish of his Mind than the News of the New Metropolitan's arrival out of Egypt and that it should be his misfortune to be constrain'd to behold him as he pass'd by He had in his Train a certain German whose Name was Peter Heyling a Native of Lubeck a young Gentleman eminent for Probity and Learning a Professor of the Augustan or Lutheran Religion and generally call'd by the Title of Muallim that is in Arabic Doctor Peter He being desirous to see the world and learn the Arabic Language was arriv'd about that time in Egypt and was very much esteem'd for his Piety and Modesty by the Coptites and hearing that the Metropolitan was going for Ethiopia he obtain'd leave to go in his Train and by that means met the Patriarch Alphonsus at Suaqene Presently he undertook to encounter him opposing several Opinions and Tenents of the Roman Church and expounding in Arabic to the standers by whatever was said on both sides The Patriarch in a heat desir'd him to forbear that Explanation because he did not understand the Arabic To which the other answer'd That he Disputed for others to hear as well as himself The Disputation being ended The Patriarch turning to his Companions sighing told them That if that Doctor went into Habessinia he would precipitate the whole Country into Heresie He was no sooner arriv'd there but he became very acceptable to the King who gave him a Tent and all things necessary Concerning his Death various Reports were spread abroad For some said
before they Trim and Comb themselves They not only curl their Hair which makes it grow the streighter but also anoint it not with fragrant Balsoms or Oyles of Amber or Musk but with Butter not considering that they who are forc'd to turn their Noses from the stench of their Locks have not the opportunity to admire the lustre of their Matted Tresses yet lest an Ornament so slick and glittering should be rumpl'd or squeez'd in the Night they by means of a most exquisite Invention preserve it resting their Necks in a forked stick that so their Heads may hang at liberty preferring their Pride before Pain and Torture Nor does their Poverty less appear in their Houses for they that belong to the Camp live all either in Tents or in Hurts made up of Reeds and Rubbish daub'd over with Clay or Lome and cover'd with Straw or Sedge which they leave behind them when they remove their Camp with no dammage or condoling for the loss of their Tenement when they can as easily build another at the same rate Not much better are their Villages scarce secure against the Incursions of the Beasts of Prey The Cafers like Wild Beasts lye without any other Curtains or Canopie than that of Heaven in the open Field where Night constrains them to rest The Kings Houses are of two Fashions the Longer which are call'd Sakala and the Rounder which if they be bigger then ordinary are call'd Beta Negus tho Kings Houses They bewail their Dead after a most doleful manner for no sooner do they hear of the Death of any great Personage or any near Friend but they prostrate themselves upon the Ground where they lye knocking and bruising their Heads against it with a cruelty very injurious to their Sculls The Funeral of Susneus as being most Remarkable I shall here set down to shew their solemnities in burying their Kings The Body being wrapt up and covered with a most rich and costly Garment was carryed from Dancaza where the Camp then lay to the Church call'd Ganeta Jesus Before the Hearse the Banners and Ensignes were born not Revers'd as among us but upright and display'd without any Impreses or Motto's but only adorn'd with various Colours the Drums beat slow and mournfully after them followed Three of the best Horses which the King us'd to Ride Magnificently caparison'd as if it had been for some Triumphal Pomp next to them follow'd several of the Noblemens Sons carrying the Kings Royal Robes and Ensigns of Regality as his Diadem his Sword his Belt his Spear his Buckler c. taking their turns and by their gestures and postures using all means to excite the People to Tears and Lamentation To the same End the Queen her self following at a good distance wore upon her Head her Husbands particular Diadem accompanied with her Daughters and all the Ladies and Virgins of Noble Extraction all riding upon Mules and having their Tresses cut off after them followed the Kings Son and Successor with his Brothers and all the Nobility some on Horseback and some on Foot in old tatter'd Habits instead of Mourning no Torches or Flambeaus lighted them along in their Procession no Tapers burning in the Church nor was any thing to be heard from one end to the other of it but Groans and Lamentations till the Body was laid in the Tomb only some few Monks standing before the Doors of the Church read some few of the Psalms of David Next day they return'd to Dancaza and then so soon as they came in sight of the place another sort of Pomp was order'd For the Hearse being brought back again empty was carry'd first by which rode a certain Horseman adorn'd with the Emperours Habit and Robes and before him rode another upon a Horse richly caparison'd and arm'd with Helmet and Spear in which manner after they had proceeded a little way some certain Bands of Armed Soldiers March'd forth of the Camp to meet them testifying their Sorrow by their bitter Lamentations and Howlings Then the Princes of the Kingdome and chiefest Lords of the Court entring the new Kings Pavillion renewed their Moans with all expressions of Sorrow and concluded the Solemnity at length with congratulations and well-wishes for his happy Government and prosperous success in all his undertakings CHAP. V. Of their Mechanic Arts and Trades Very few Handicrafts The Jews Weavers and Smiths No Societies of Trades-men Certain Families of Trumpeters Architecture formerly known now forgotten compar'd with the Ancient Germans Churches and Colledges built by the Fathers of the Societie The Kings Palace Built after the European manner admir'd They are covetous of Learning and Sciences What the King of Ethiopia chiefly wants ALL this while there is nothing of which they stand more in need then of Handicraft Trades for thereby they are destitute of so many conveniencies of Human Life as we abound in by the help of our Arts and Sciences The Jews are almost the only persons that employ themselves among them in weaving of Cotton they also make the Heads of their Spears and several other pieces of Workmanship in Iron for they are excellent Smiths a sort of Trade otherwise abhorr'd by the Habessines which Gregory confirm'd with a smile saying That the silly vulgar people could not endure Smiths as being a sort of Mortals that spit fire and were bred up in Hell As for other things every one takes Care to supply his own wants either by his own or the pains of his Servants which it is no hard matter to do considering how little they have to use And for the great Men they have particular men for all their particular Employments therefore there are no Guilds or Fraternities of Trades-men among them which are so frequent in all our Cities who have their By-laws contriv'd by themselves more for the good of themselves than for the benefit of the Commonweale for amongst us the skilful and unskilfull the just dealer and unjust are all alike as being all under the same By-laws and they exercise a kind of Monopolie of their Trade so that their fellow Citizens are as it were Forraigners among them and compell'd to obey their Injunctions But in Habessinia what ever Art any one Professes that he teaches his Children The Trumpeters and Horn-winders are all of the same Families and have their particular Country and Mansions by themselves Formerly Architecture as it was in request so it was an Art well known among them as is evident by the Ruines of the City of Axuma and the Structures of Magnificent Temples cut out of the Live Stone Rocks but the Imperial Seat being removed into Amhara it grew out of date For the Kings having deserted Axuma by reason of their long and frequent Marches being accustomed to their Camps rather chose to abide in Tents and Pavillions Besides that after the havocks of the Adelan Wars and the Invasions of the Gallans found that the Caverns and Recesses of their Inaccessible Mountains were far more safe