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

whither no kings nor princes can bring armies to subdue them These kindes of beasts are to be seene in all parts of the worlde to wit in Asia Africa and Europe And they are vsed in Asia by the Tartars the Curdians the Dalemians and the Turcomans In Europe the Turkes vse them to carrie burthens vpon as likewise do all the Arabians in Africa and the inhabitants of the Lybian deserts yea kings in their armies vse camels also to conueigh their victuals and carriages howbeit the African camels farre excell them of Asia for trauailing fortie or fiftie daies togither without any prouender at all they are vnladen in the euening and turned loose into the next fieldes where they feede vpon grasse brambles and the boughes of trees which hardnes the camels of Asia cannot endure but when they set foorth any iourney they must be well pampered and full of flesh Experience hath taught that our camels hauing trauailed laden fiftie daies togither without any prouender haue so wasted first the flesh of their bunches secondly of their bellies and lastly of their hips that they haue scarce beene able to carrie the weight of 100. pounds But the merchants of Asia giue their camels prouender halfe of them being laden with wares and the other halfe with prouender and so their whole carouan of camels goeth foorth and returneth home laden by which meanes they keepe them in good plight and reape double gaines by their labour Contrariwise the African merchants trauailing with merchandise into Ethiopia bicause they returne emptie and bring backe with them things of no great weight so soone as they arriue with their leane and galled camels in Ethiopia they sell them halfe for nought vnto the inhabitants of the deserts And they that returne into Barbarie or Numidia need very fewe camels namely for themselues to ride vpon for to carrie their victuals their money and other light commodities Of camels there are three kinds whereof the first being called Hugiun are grosse and of a tall stature and most fit to carrie burthens but ere fower yeeres end they grow vnprofitable after which time euery camell but of meane stature will carrie a thousand pounds of Italian weight When any of the saide camels is to be laden being beaten vpon his knees and necke with a wande he kneeleth downe and when he feeleth his load sufficient he riseth vp againe And the Africans vse to gelde their camels which they keepe for the burthen putting but one male camell among ten femals The second kinde of camels called Becheti and hauing a double bunch are fit both to carrie burthens and to ride vpon and these are bred onely in Asia The thirde kinde called Raguahill are camels of a slender and low stature which albeit they are vnfit to carry burthens yet do they so excell the two other kindes in swiftnes that in the space of one day they will trauell an hundred miles and will so continue ouer the deserts for eight or ten daies togither with very little prouender and these doe the principal Arabians of Numidia and the Moores of Libya vsually ride vpon When the king of Tombuto is desirous to sende any message of importance vnto the Numidian merchants with great celeritie his post or messenger riding vpon one of these camels will runne from Tombuto to Darha or Segelmesse being nine hundred miles distant in the space of eight daies at the farthest but such as trauell must be expert in the way through the deserts neither will they demaund lesse then fiue hundred ducates for euery iourney The saide camels about the beginning of the spring inclining to their lust and venerie do not onely hurt one another but also will deadly wound such persons as haue done them any iniury in times past not forgetting light and easie stripes and whomsoeuer they lay holde on with their teeth they lift him vp on high and cast him downe againe trampling vpon him with their feete and in this madde moode they continue fortie daies togither Neither are they so patient of hunger as of thirst for they will abstaine from drinke without any inconuenience for fifteene daies togither and if their guides water them once in three daies they doe them great hurt for they are not vsually watred but once in fiue or nine daies or at an vrgent necessitie once in fifteene daies Moreouer the saide camels are of a gentle disposition and are indued as it were with a kinde of humaine reason for when as betweene Ethiopia and Barbarie they haue a daies iourney to trauell more then their woont their masters cannot driue them on being so tired with whips but are faine to sing certaine songs vnto them wherewith being exceedingly delighted they performe their iourney with such swiftnes that their saide masters are scarce able to follow them At my being in Cairo I sawe a camell dance which arte of dancing howe he learned of his master I will heere in fewe words report They take a yoong camell and put him for halfe an hower togither into a place like a bath-stoue prepared for the same purpose the floore whereof is het with fire then play they without vpon a drum whereat the camell not so much in regard of the noise as of the hot pauement which offendeth his feete lifteth vp one legge after another in maner of a dance and hauing beene accustomed vnto this exercise for the space of a yeere or ten moneths they then present him vnto the publike view of the people when as hearing the noise of a drum and remembring the time when he trode vpon the hot floore he presently falleth a dancing and leaping and so vse being turned into a kind of nature he perpetually obserueth the same custome I could here report other matters concerning the same beast which for breuities sake I omit Of the horse of Barbarie THis name is giuen vnto the Barbarie horses throughout Italy and all Europe bicause they come foorth of Barbarie and are a kinde of horses that are bred in those regions but they which so thinke are deceiued for the horses of Barbarie differ not in any respect from other horses but horses of the same swiftnes agilitie are in the Arabian toong called throughout all Egypt Syria Asia Arabia Felix and Deserta by the name of Arabian horses and the Historiographers affirme that this kinde of wilde horses ranging vp and downe the Arabian deserts and being broken and managed by the Arabians euer since the time of Ismael haue so exceedingly multiplied and increased that they haue replenished the most part of Africa which opinion sauoureth of truth for euen at this present there are great store of wilde horses founde both in the African and Arabian deserts And I my selfe sawe in the Numidian desert a wilde colte of a white colour and 〈◊〉 a curled maine The most certaine triall of these horses is when they can ouertake the beast called Lant or the Ostrich in a race

but whereupon this dissension of theirs should arise I cannot well determine Their gentlemens wiues neuer goe foorth of the doores but onely in the night season and then also they must be so vailed and muffeled that no man may see them so great is the ielousie of this people This towne is so durtie in the spring-time that it would irke a man to walke the streetes Of a towne called Gemiha Elchmen THis ancient towne standeth on a plaine neere vnto certaine baths being distant southward of Mecnase fifteene miles westard of Fez thirtie and from Atlas about ten miles By this towne lieth the common high way from Fez to Tedle The fielde of this towne was possessed by certaine Arabians and the towne it selfe vtterly destroied in the war of Sahid Howbeit in certaine places the walles are yet remaining and diuers towers and temples standing without roofes Of the towne called Cannis Metgara THis towne was built by certaine Africans in the field of Zuaga almost fifteene miles westward from Fez. Without this towne for two miles together were most pleasant and fruitfull gardens but by the cruell warre of Sahid all was laide waste and the place it selfe remained void of inhabitauts an hundred and twenty yeeres Howbeit when part of the people of Granada came ouer into Africa this region began to be inhabited anew And whereas the Granatines are great merchants of silke they caused for the breeding of silkewormes great store of white mulberrie trees to be brought hither Here likewise they planted abundance of sugar-canes which prosper not so well in this place as in the prouince of Andaluzia In times past the inhabitants of this place were very ciuill people but in our time they haue not beene so by reason that all of them exercise husbandrie Of the towne of Banibasil THis towne was built by the Africans vpon a certaine small riuer iust in the mid way betweene Mecnase and Fez being distant from Fez about eighteene miles westward Out of their fields many riuers take their originall which fieldes are by the Arabians sowen all ouer with barlie and hempe neither indeed will the soile yeeld any other commoditie both by reason of the barrennes and also for that it is for the most part ouerflowed with water Whatsoeuer commoditie ariseth out of this place redoundeth to the priestes of the principall Mahumetan temple in Fez and it amounteth almost yeerely to twenty thousand duckats Here also in times past were most large pleasant and fruitfull gardens as appeereth by the monuments and reliques thereof howbeit they were like other places laide waste by the war of Sahid The towne it selfe remained destitute of inhabitants an hundred and ten yeeres but as the king of Fez returned home from Duccala he commanded part of his people to inhabite the same albeit their inciuilitie made them loth so to doe Of Fez the principall citie of all Barbarie and of the founders thereof FEz was built in the time of one Aron a Mahumetan patriarke in the yeere of the Hegeira 185. and in the yeere of our Lord 786. by a certaine heretike against the religion of Mahumet But why it should so be called some are of opinion because when the first foundations thereof were digged there was found some quantitie of golde which mettall in the Arabian language is called Fez. Which etymologie seemeth to me not improbable albeit some would haue it so called from a certaine riuer of that name But howsoeuer it be we leaue that to be discussed by others affirming for an vndoubted truth that the founder of this citie was one Idris being the foresaid Aron his neere kinsman This Idris ought rather to haue beene Mahumetan patriarke because he was nephew vnto Hali the cozen-german of Mahumet who married Falerna Mahumets owne daughter so that Idris both by father and mother was of Mahumets linage but Aron being nephew vnto one Habbus the vncle of Mahumet was of kinred onely by the fathers side Howbeit both of them were excluded from the said patriarkship for certaine causes mentioned in the African chronicles although Aron vsurped the same by deceit For Arons vncle being a most cunning and craftie man and faining himselfe to beare greatest fauour vnto the familie of Hali and to bee most desirous that the patriarkship should light thereon sent his ambassadours almost throughout the whole world Whereupon the dignitie was translated from Vmeve to Habdulla Seffec the first patriarke Which Vmeve being informed of waged warre against the familie of Hali and so preuailed that some of them he chased into Asia and some into India Howbeit an ancient religious man of the same familie remained still aliue at Elmadina who being very olde no whit regarded the dignitie But this ancient sire left behinde him two sonnes who when they were come to mans estate grew into so great fauour with the people of Elmadin that they were chased thence by their enemies the one being taken hanged and the other whose name was Idris escaping into Mauritania This Idris dwelling vpon mount Zaron about thirtie miles from Fez gouerned not onely the commonwealth but matters of religion also and all the region adiacent paid him tribute At length Idris deceasing without lawfull issue left one of his maides big with childe which had beene turned from the Gothes religion to the Moores Being deliuered of her sonne they called him after his fathers name Idris This childe the inhabitants chusing for their prince caused him to be most carefully brought vp and as he grew in yeeres to the end they might traine him vp in feates of chiualrie they appointed one Rasid a most valiant and skilfull captaine to instruct him Insomuch that while he was but fifteene yeeres of age he grew famous for his valiant actes and stratagems and began woonderfully to inlarge his dominions Wherefore his troupes and familie increasing euery day more and more he set his minde vpon building of a citie and changing of his habitation And so he sent for cunning builders into all nations who hauing diligently perused all places in the region at last made choise of that where the citie of Fez now standeth For here they found great store of fountaines and a faire riuer which springing foorth of a plaine not far of runneth pleasantly almost eight miles amidst the little hils till at length it casteth itselfe vpon another plaine Southward of the place they found a wood which they knew would be right commodious for the towne Here therefore vpon the east banke of the said riuer they built a towne containing three thousand families neither omitted they ought at al which might be required in a flourishing commonwealth After the decease of Idris his sonne erected another towne directly ouer against the foresaid on the other side of the riuer But in processe of time either towne so encreased that there was but a small distance betweene them for the gouernours of each laboured might and maine to augment their owne

bicause it was discouered vpon the day of all saints in the yeere 1428. It containeth in compasse fifteene miles and aboundeth with oxen wilde swine and honie and yeeldeth wheat sufficient for the vse of the inhabitants Heere groweth a fruite in bignes and shape like vnto a cherry but of a yellow colour The tree that 〈◊〉 this fruit being cut neere the roote with certaine strokes of an hatcher putteth foorth the yeere following a kinde of gum which is called Sanguis Draconis The generation of one shee-cony bigge with yoong brought hither out of Portugale at the first inhabiting of this isle did in short time so exceedingly increase that the inhabitants were quite out of hope euer to repaire the ruine and waste which they committed At this present there is a small isle neere vnto Puerto santo which breedeth nothing but conies Vnto all these might be added such isles as lie neere the African coast within the streights of Gibraltar the principall whereof as namely Pennon or The little rocke ouer against Velles de Gumera with the isle of Gerbi c. bicause they are largely described by Iohn Leo I hold it a matter meerely vaine and superfluous in this place to stande vpon them An approbation of the historie ensuing by me RICHARD HAKLVYT BEing mooued to publish mine opinion as touching this present Historie of Iohn Leo I do hold and affirme it to be the verie best the most particular and methodicall that euer was written or at least that hath come to light concerning the countries peoples and affaires of Africa For which cause and knowing well the sufficiencie of the translator my selfe was the first and onely man that perswaded him to take it in hand Wherein how diligently and faithfully he hath done his part and how he hath enlarged and graced this Geographicall historie out of others the best ancient and moderne writers by adding a description of all those African maine lands and isles and other matters verie notable which Iohn Leo himselfe hath omitted I referre to the consideration of all iudiciall and indifferent Readers Richard Hakluyt VNto this approbation of master Richard Hakluyt I holde it not altogither amisse to adioine the testimonies of certaine moderne writers the most approoued and famous for their skill in Geographie and historie which they haue also purposely set downe in commendation of this author of ours Iohn Leo. First therefore master Iohn Baptista Ramusius Secretarie to the State of Venice and a man of singular iudgement and diligence in these matters in his epistle Dedicatorie before the third edition of his first volume of voiages speaking of the manifold difficulties which he vnderwent to bring the important discourses therein to light writteth vnto learned Fracastorius in manner following Oltra che gli essemplari che mi son venute alle mani c. MOreouer saith he those copies which haue come to my hands haue beene extremely fowle and vncorrect a matter sufficient to discourage the minde of any man though neuer so forward and resolute were it not sustained by considering what vnspeakable delight these discourses will breed vnto all those that are studious in Geography and most especially this of Africa written by Iohn Leo. Concerning which part of the world euen till these our daies we haue had no knowledge in a manner out of any other authour or at leastwise neuer any information so large and of so vndoubted truth But what do I heere speake of the delight which those that are learned and studious shall reape heereby As though it were not a matter which will affoord also very much satisfaction vnto the greatest Lords and Princes Whom it concerneth more then any other to know the secrets and particularities of this African part of the world togither with the situations of all the regions prouinces and cities thereof and the dependences which the princes and people haue one towards another For albeit they may haue some aduertisements instructions from others that haue personally trauailed these countries may think their writings discourses to be very large yet am I well assured that hauing once read this booke of Iohn Leo and throughly considered the matters therein contained and declared they will esteeme the relations of all others in comparison of this to be but briefe vnperfect and of little moment so great will be the fruit which to their exceeding contentment all readers shall reape heereby c. Thus farre Ramusius Abraham Ortelius before his generall mappe of Africa hath these wordes Ex recentioribus c. AMong the late writers for your more perfect knowledge of Africa you must read Aloisius Cadamosta Vasco da Gama and Francis Aluarez who trauailed Ethiopia Sed omnium accuratissime c. but of all others you haue it most exactly described by Iohn Leo. Also the same author before his map of Barbary and Biledulgerid BVt saith he concerning these regions and people you shall finde a most exquisite description in the Historie of Iohn Leo c. The opinion of IOHN BODIN in the fourth chapter of his method of reading Histories concerning this our author Ita quoque Leo Afer genere Maurus c. SO likewise Leo Afer by descent a More borne in Spaine in religion a Mahumetan and afterward a Christian hauing by continuall iournies trauelled almost ouer all Africa as also ouer Asia minor and a good part of Europe was taken by certaine pirates and presented vnto pope Leo the tenth vnder whom he translated into Italian all those things which with incredible studie and diligence he had written in the Arabick toong concerning Africa the manners lawes and customes of the African people and the situation and true description of the whole countrey Their militarie discipline he lightly passeth ouer and briefly mentioneth the conflicts and victories of famous warrious without any orations or ornaments of speech rather like a Geographer then a Chronicler and with a perpetuall delight of new and strange things he doth as it were perforce detaine his Reader c. And a little after he addeth Profecto vnus est ex omnibus c. Certes of all others this is the onely man by whom Africa which for a thousand yeeres before had lien buried in the barbarous and grosse ignorance of our people is now plainly discouered and laide open to the view of all beholders Antonius Posseuinus de historicis sect 7. cap. 2. Sed perdigna est lectu c. ALso the Historie of Leo Afer the Geographer is most worthie to be read bicause it containeth an exact description of all the regions and people of Africa and it hath beene published in Italian and French IOHN LEO HIS FIRST BOOKE OF the description of Africa and of the memorable things contained therein VVhy this part of the worlde was named Africa AFRICA is called in the Arabian toong 〈◊〉 of the word Faraca which signifieth in the said language to diuide but why it should be so called there

of digestion consisting of bread melons grapes or milke but in winter they haue sodden flesh together with a kinde of meate called Cuscusu which being made of a lumpe of dowe is set first vpon the fire in certaine vessels full of holes and afterwarde is tempered with butter and pottage Some also vse often to haue roste-meat And thus you see after what sort both the gentlemen common people lead their liues albeit the 〈◊〉 fare somewhat more daintily but if you compare them with the noblemen and gentlemen of Europe they may seeme to be miserable and base fellowes not for any want or scarcitie of victuals but for want of good manners and cleanlines The table whereat they sit is lowe vncouered and filthie seats they haue none but the bare ground neither kniues or 〈◊〉 but only their ten talons The said Cuscusu is set before them all in one only platter whereout as well gentlemen as others take it not with spoones but with their clawes fiue The meat pottage is putal in one dish out of which euery one raketh with his greasie fists what he thinkes good you shall neuer see knife vpon the table but they teare and greedily deuoure their meate like hungrie dogs Neither doth any of them desire to drinke before he hath well stuffed his panch and then will he sup off a cup of cold water as big as a milke-bowle The doctors indeede are somewhat more orderly at meales but to tell you the very truth in all Italie there is no gentleman so meane which for fine diet and stately furniture excelleth not the greatest potentates and lords of all Africa The manner of solemnizing mariages AS touching their mariages they obserue these courses following So soone as the maides father hath espoused her vnto her louer they goe foorthwith like bride and bridegroome to church accompanied with their parents and kinsfolkes and call likewise two notaries with them to make record before all that are present of the couenants and dowrie The meaner sort of people vsually giue for their daughters dowrie thirtie duckats and a woman-slaue of fifteene duckats price as likewise a partie-coloured garment embrodered with silke and certaine other silke skarfs or iags to weare vpon her head in stead of a hood or vaile then a paire of fine shooes and two excellent paire of startups and lastly many pretie knackes curiously made of siluer and other metals as namely combes perfuming-pans bellowes and such other trinkets as women haue in estimation Which being done all the guests present are inuited to a banket whereunto for great dainties is brought a kinde of bread fried and tempered with honie which wee haue before described then they bring roste-meate to the boord all this being at the bridegroomes cost afterward the brides father maketh a banket in like sort Who if he bestow on his daughter some apparell besides her dowrie it is accounted a point of liberalitie And albeit the father promiseth but thirtie duckats onely for a dowrie yet will he sometimes bestow in apparell and other ornaments belonging to women two hundred yea sometimes three hundred duckats besides But they seldome giue an house a vineyarde or a field for a dowrie Moreouer vpon the bride they bestowe three gownes made of costly cloth and three others of silke chamlet or of some other excellent stuffe They giue her smockes likewise curiously wrought with fine vailes and other embrodered vestures as also pillowes and cushions of the best sort And besides all the former giftes they bestow eight carpets or couerlets on the bride fower whereof are onely for seemelines to spread vpon their presses and cupboords two of the courser they vse for their beds and the other two of leather to lay vpon the floore of their bed-chambers Also they haue certaine rugs of about twenty elles compasse or length as likewise three quilts being made of linnen and woollen on the one side and stuffed with flockes on the other side which they vse in the night in manner following With the one halfe they couer themselues and the other halfe they lay vnder them which they may easily doe when as they are both waies about ten elles long Vnto the former they adde as many couerlets of silke very curiously embrodered on the vpperside and beneath lined double with linnen and cotton They bestow likewise white couerlets to vse in summer-time onely and lastly they bestow a woollen hanging diuided into many partes and finely wrought as namely with certaine peeces of gilt leather whereupon they sowe iags of partie-coloured silke and vpon euery iag a little ball or button of silke whereby the saide hanging may for ornaments sake be fastened vnto a wall Here you see what be the appurtenances of their dowries wherein some doe striue so much to excell others that oftentimes many gentlemen haue brought themselues vnto pouertie thereby Some Italians thinke that the husband bestowes a dowrie vpon his wife but they altogether mistake the matter The bridegroome being ready to carrie home his bride causeth her to be placed in a woodden cage or cabinet eight-square couered with silke in which she is carried by porters her parents and kinsfolkes following with a great noise of trumpets pipes and drums and with a number of torches the bridegroomes kinsmen goe before with torches and the brides kinsfolkes followe after and so they goe vnto the great market place and hauing passed by the temple the bridegroome takes his leaue of his father in lawe and the rest hying him home with all speed and in his chamber expecting the presence of his spouse The father brother and vncle of the bride lead her vnto the chamber-doore and there deliuer her with one consent vnto the mother of the bridegroome who as soone as she is entred toucheth her foote with his and foorthwith they depart into a seuerall roome by themselues In the meane season the banket is comming foorth and a certaine woman standeth before the 〈◊〉 doore expecting till the bridegroome hauing defloured his bride reacheth her a napkin stained with blood which napkin she carrieth incontinent and sheweth to the guestes proclaiming with a lowd voice that the bride was euer till that time an vnspotted and pure virgine This woman together with other women her companions first the parents of the bridegroome and then of the bride doe honourably entertaine But if the bride be found not to be a virgine the mariage is made frustrate and she with great disgrace is turned home to her parents At complete mariages they make for the most part three bankets the first the same day when the bridegroome and bride are ioined in wedlocke the second the day following for women onely and the third seuen daies after whereat all the kinsfolks and friends of the bride are present and this day the brides father according to his abilitie sendes great store of daintie dishes vnto his sonne in lawe but so soone as the new married man goeth foorth

heretiks howbeit the greatest part of the common people reuerence them as if they were gods notwithstanding they commit many things vnlawfull and forbidden by the Mahumetan lawe as namely whereas the said lawe forbiddeth any loue-matters to be expressed in any musicall ditties or songs these moralists affirme the contrarie In the foresaid Mahumetan religion are a great number of rules or sectes euery of which hath most learned patrones and protectours The foresaid sect sprang vp fowerscore yeeres after Mahumet the first author thereof being called Elhesen Ibnu Abilhasen and being borne in the towne of Basora this man taught his disciples followers certaine precepts but writings he left none behinde him About an hundred yeeres after there came another notable doctor of that sect from Bagaded called Elharit Ibnu Esed who left volumes of writings vnto his disciples Afterward those that were found to be his followers were all condemned by the Mahumetan patriarks and lawyers Howbeit 80. yeeres after that sect began to reuiue againe vnder a certaine famous professour who drew after him many disciples vnto whom he published his doctrine This man at length and all his followers were by the patriarke and lawyers condemned to die Which he vnderstanding wrote foorthwith vnto the patriarke requesting that hee might be licenced to dispute with the lawyers as touching his doctrine of whom if he were conuinced he would most willingly suffer death otherwise that it would be against all equitie that so many innocents should perish vpon an vniust accusation The patriarke thinking his demand to be reasonable condescended wholy thereunto But when the matter came to disputation the partie condemned soone put all the lawyers to silence Which when the patriarke perceiued he reuoked the sentence as vniust and caused many colleges and monasteries to be erected for the said partie and his followers After which time this sect continued about an hundred yeeres till the emperour Malicsach of the Turkish race came thither out of Asia the greater and destroied all the maintainers thereof Whereupon some of them fled vnto Cairo and the rest into Arabia being dispersed here and there for the space of twenty yeeres till in the raigne of Caselsah nephew vnto Malicsach Nidam Elmule one of his counsellers and a man of an high spirit being addicted vnto the said sect so restored erected and confirmed the same that by the helpe of one Elgazzuli a most learned man who had written of the same argument a notable worke diuided into seuen partes he reconciled the lawyers with the disciples of this sect conditionally that the lawyers should be called Conseruers of the prophet Mahumet his lawes the sectaries Reformers of the same This concord lasted betweene them til Bagaded was sacked by the Tartars which befell in the yeere of the Hegeira 656. at what time those sectaries so increased that they swarmed almost ouer all Africa and Asia Neither would they admit any into their societie but such as were very learned and trained vp in all kinde of liberall sciences to the end they might the better defend their owne opinions and confute their aduersaries but now adaies they admit all kinde of rude and ignorant persons affirming all sortes of learning to be needlesse for the holy spirit say they reuealeth the knowledge of the truth vnto such as are of a cleane hart and they alleage many reasons for the confirmation of this their opinion though not very forcible Wherefore despising their ancesters rites and the strict obseruations of the law they addict themselues to nought else but delights and pleasures feasting often singing lasciuious songs Sometimes they will rend their garments either alluding thereby to the verses that they sing or being mooued thereunto by their corrupt and vile disposition saying falsly that they are then rauished with a fit of diuine loue but I rather impute it to their abundance of meat and gluttonie For each one of them will deuoure as much meate as may well suffice three Or which is more likely they vtter those passionate clamours and out-cries bicause they are inflamed with vnlawfull and filthie lust For sometimes it happeneth that some one of the principall of them with all his scholers and disciples is 〈◊〉 to the mariage of some gentleman and at the beginning of the banket they will rehearse their deuout orizons and songs but so soone as they are risen from the table the elder of the companie being about to daunce teare their garments and if any one in the middest of their dauncing that hath drunke immoderately chaunceth to fall downe he is taken vp foorthwith by one of the scholers and to too lasciuiously kissed Whereupon this prouerbe grew among the people of Fez The heremites banket Which they vse in reproch of those masters that make their scholers their minions Of diuers other rules and sectes and of the superstitious credulitie of many AMongst these sectes there are some that haue not onely a diuers law but also a different beleefe from the residue whereupon by some others they are called heretikes Some there are also which hold that a man by good works by fasting and abstinence may attaine vnto the nature of an angell which good works fastings c. doe say they so purge and free the minde from all contagion of euill that by no meanes it can sinne any more though it would neuer so faine Howbeit they thinke themselues not capable of this felicitie before they haue ascended thereunto by the degrees of fiftie disciplines or sciences and although they fall into sinne before they be come to the fiftith degree yet they say that God will not impute that sinne vnto them These fellowes indeed in the beginning leade a most strict life and doe euen macerate and consume themselues with fasting but afterward they giue themselues to al licentiousnes and pleasure They haue also a most seuere forme of liuing set downe in fower bookes by a certaine learned man of their faction called Essehrauar de Sehrauard and borne in the citie of Corasan Likewise there was another author called Ibnul Farid that described all their religion in wittie verses which being fraught with allegories seemed to intreate of nought but loue wherefore one Elfargani expounded the said verses with a commentarie and thereout gathered the canons and orders of the sect and shewed the degrees to the attainment of felicitie Moreouer the said verses are so sweet and elegant that the maintainers of this sect will sing and repeate none other in their bankets for these three hundred yeeres no author hath so adorned their language as the said Ibnul These sectaries take the heauens the elements the planets and the fixed starres to be one god and that no law nor religion is erronious for euery man say they may lawfully worship that which his mind is most addicted to worship They thinke that all the knowledge of God was infused into one man whom they call in their language Elcorb

but the greater part are clad in sheeps skinnes and those which are more honourable in the skins of Lyons Tigres and Ounces They haue all kindes of our domesticall creatures as hennes geese and such like as also abundance of kine and wild swine harts goates hares but no conies besides panthers lyons Ounces and elephants To conclude there cannot be a countrie more apt then this for the generation and increase of all plants and creatures True it is that it hath little helpe or furtherance by the industrie of the inhabitants because they are of a sloathfull dul nature and capacitie They haue flaxe and yet can make no cloath sugar canes and know not the arte of getting the sugar thereout yron and haue no vse thereof but take all smithes to be negromancers They haue riuers and waters and know not how to better their possessions by them They conceaue not greatly of hunting or fishing whereupon the fieldes are full of birdes and wild beastes and the riuers and lakes of fish An other reason of their slacknes and negligence is the euill intreatie of the communaltie by those of the mightier sort for the poore seeing euery thing taken from them that they haue sow no more then verie necessity vrgeth them vnto Their speech also is without any rule or prescription and to write a letter requireth a great assembly of men and many dayes to deliberate thereon The nobles cittizens and peasants liue distinctly and apart and any of these may purchase nobility by some famous or worthie act The first borne inherite all things There is not in all the countrie a castel or fortified place for they thinke as the Spartanes did that a country should be mayntained and defended by force of armes and not with rampires of earth or stone They dwell for the most part dispersed in townes and villages Their trade of marchandise is performed by exchanging one thing for an other supplying the ouerplus of their prises with wheat or salt pepper incense myrrhe salt they sell for the waight in gold In their bargaines they vse gold also but by waight siluer is not ordinary among them Their greatest city is the Princes court which is neuer firme and resident in one place but remoueth here there and remaineth in the open fieldes vnder tentes This courte comprehendeth ten or more miles in compasse His Gouernment PRete Ianni his gouernment is very absolute for he holdeth his subiects in most base seruitude and no lesse the noble and great then those of meaner qualitie and condition intreating them rather like slaues then subiects and the better to doe this he maintaineth him selfe amongst them in the reputation of a sacred and diuine person Al men bow at the name of the Prince and touch the earth with their hand they reuerence the tent wherein he lyeth and that when he is absent also The Pretes in times past were wonte to be seene of the people but onely once in three yeeres space and afterwardes they shewed themselues thrice in a yeere that is on Christmas and Easter daye as also on holy Rood day in September Panufius who now raigneth albeit he is growen more familiar then his predecessors yet when any commission commeth from him the partie to whom it is directed heareth the wordes thereof naked from the girdle vpward neither putteth he on his apparrell but when the king permitteth him The people thought they bind it with an oath yet do they seldome speake truth but when they sweare by the kinges life who giueth and taketh away what great signiorie soeuer it pleaseth him neither may he from whom it is taken so much as shew him selfe agreeued therewith Except the giuing of holy orders and the administration of the sacraments he disposeth as well of the religious as of the laye sort and of their goodes On the way he rideth enuironed with high and long red curtaynes which compasse him on euery side He weareth vsually vpon his head a crowne halfe gold halfe siluer and a crosse of siluer in his hand his face is couered with a peece of blew taffata which he lifteth vp or letteth downe more or lesse according as he fauoreth them that he treateth withall and sometimes he only sheweth the end of his foot which he putteth forth from vnder the said curtaines They that carrie and returne ambassages come not to his curtaine but with long time diuers ceremonies and sundry obseruations None hath slaues but himselfe to whome euery yeere his subiects come to do homage This prince as the Abassins report descendeth from a sonne of Salomon the Queen of Saba called Meilech they receiued the faith vnder Queene Candaces in whose time the familie of Gaspar began to raigne and flourish in Ethiopia and from him after thirteene generations came Iohn called the holie This man about the time of Constantinus the Emperor because he had no children leauing the kingdome to his brother Caius eldest sonne inuested Baltasar and Melchior younger brothers one in the kingdome of Fatigar and the other in Giomedi whereupon the royall blood grew to be deuided into three families namely that of Baltafar that of Gaspar and the third of Melchior ordayning that the Empire aboue all others should be giuen by election to some one of the foresaid families soe it were not to the eldest borne For these first borne there were particular kingdomes appointed And to auoide scandale and tumult hee decreed that the Emperours brothers with his neerest kindred should be enclosed as in a strong castell within mount Amara where he would also haue the Emperours sonnes to be put who cannot succeed in the Empire nor haue any State at all for which cause the Emperour ordinarily marrieth not His forces both in reuenues and people HE hath two kindes of reuenues for one consisteth in the fruits of his possessions which he causeth to be manured by his slaues and oxen These slaues multiplie continuallie for they marrie among themselues and their sonnes remaine in the condition of their progenitors An other great reuenue cōmeth of his tributes which are brought vnto him from all those that hold dominion vnder him And of these some giue horses some oxen some gold some cotton and others other thinges It is thought he hath great treasure as well of cloaths and iewels as of gold and also that he hath treasuries and large magazins of the same riches so that writing once to the king of Portugal he offered to giue for the maintenance of war against the Infidels an hundred thousand drams of gold with infinite store of men and victuall They say that he putteth ordinarilie euerie yeere into the castel of Amara the value of three millions of ducates It is true that before the dayes of King Alexander they layde not vp so much golde because they knew not how to purifie it but rather iewels and wedges of gold Also his commings-in may be said to bee of three sorts for some he raiseth

the arguments and signes of the grace and fauour of God they easily fell into Apostasie whereunto the impietie of Arrius and other heretikes opened the way who for long tract of time estranging themselues more and more from the Euangelicall truth fell in the end into Atheisme as we see hath fallen out in the course of some moderne enormities But to returne from whence we haue digressed in progresse of time there grew great differences betweene the Mahumetans for their sect being no lesse sottish and foolish then wicked and perfidious the mainteiners of it were driuen to fetch reasons farre off for defence of the same But the Arabians not contented in Africa to haue subiugated with armes and with false doctrine to haue pestered Barbarie Numidia Libya and the countrey of Negroes they further on the other side assailed the lower Ethiopia both by sea and land By lande entred thereinto in the yeere 1067. Faiaia the sonne of Abubequer and by meanes of certaine Alsachi he dispersed that pestilence into Nubia and the neighbour prouinces On the other side passing the Red sea they first tooke knowledge of the coast of Ethiopia euen to Cabo de los corrientes by their continuall traffike thither and afterwards being encouraged by the weakenes of the naturall inhabitants they erected the kingdomes of Magadazo Melinde Mombazza Quiloa Mozambique and seazed on some ports of the island of Saint Laurence and gathering force by little and little they enlarged their empire within the land and established therein the kingdomes of Dangali and Adel. So that on the one side they haue spred their sect from the Red sea to the Atlantike Ocean and from the Mediterran sea to the riuer Niger and farther and on the other haue taken into their hands all the easterne coast of Africk from Suez to Cape Guardafú and from this euen to that De los corrientes and the adioining islands In which places though the people be not altogither Mahumetans yet haue the Mahumetans the weapons dominion in their hands the which how much it importeth for the bringing in of sects we may easily conceiue To conclude they haue often assailed the Prete Ianni sometimes the Turkes who haue taken from him the ports of the Red sea and otherwhiles the Moores vnder the conduct of the king of Adel who hath and doth molest them greatly leading into captituitie a great number of Abassins where they become for the most part Mahumetans Of the Christians of Africa NOw that we haue declared the miseries and darknes of Affrick it remaineth that we set downe that little light of true religion which there is the which I can not passe ouer without exceeding glorie to the Portugall nation In that they with inestimable charge and infinite trauaile haue first sought to open the way to Ethiopia and to bring the great Negus of Abassia called by vs Prete Ianni to the vnion of the christian church of Europe performing whatsoeuer after this for the conuersion of the princes of Guinia and Meleghette to the faith and yet more happily of the king of Congo and the Princes of Angola and likewise with diuers colonies sent to the ilands of the Atlantick Ocean they haue no lesse aduāced the honor of their owne nation then the propagating of the christian faith And finally passing beyond Cabo de buena esperança they haue resisted the Mahumetan sect which had now extended it selfe on the backside of Africa as far as Cabo de los corrientes Of the Christians in Egypt THe Christians of Egypt are partly strangers partlie home-borne in the country strangers come thither in regarde of traffick which there flourisheth aboue measure especiallie in the cities of Alexandria and Cairo by reason that this kingdome being most commodiously situate betweene the Red and Mediterran seas vniteth the west parts of the world with the east by meane of an infinite traffick and therefore is it as it were a ladder whereby the wealth of India and of the Eoan Ocean passeth into the lesser Asia into Africke and Europe Whereupon not onely the Venetians Florentines and Ragusians come thither in great numbers but also the French and English The naturall Christians of Egypt remaining after the spoiles and hauock of the Barbarians and the crueltie of the Saracens Mamalucks and Turkes exceed not the number of fiftie thousand persons and these dwell dispersed here and there but principallie in the cities of Cairo Messia Monfalatto Bucco and Elchiasa all placed vpon the bankes of Nilus There are also many in the prouince of Minia in which quarter appeare diuers monasteries But among the monasteries of Egypt those of Saint Anthonie Saint Paul and Saint Macarius are the principal The first lieth in Troglodytica right ouer against Sa it vpon a hill where Saint Anthony was said to be beaten by diuels the second is seated not far from this in the middest of a desert the third standeth in the wildernes to the west of Bulac This is the monasterie which in some histories is called Nitria as I thinke bicause in that quarter the waters of Nilus being thickned by the heate of the sun in low places are conuerted into salt and niter Georgia stood vpon Nilus six miles from the city of Munsia a rich and magnificent Conuent so called after the name of Saint George There were in the same more then two hundred monkes to the notable benefite and ease of pilgrimes strangers who were there curteously lodged But they dying all of the plague about some hundred and fiftie yeeres sithence the place was abandoned Now to deliuer somewhat concerning the estates of these Christians They are called by some Cofti and by others Christians from the girdle vpward for albeit they be baptized as we are yet do they circumcise themselues like to the Iewes so as a man may say their Christianitie comes no lower then the girdle-stead But that which is woorse they haue for these 1000. yeers followed the heresie of Eutiches which alloweth but of one nature in Christ by which heresie they also separate and dismember themselues from the vnion of the Church of Europe The occasion of this separation and 〈◊〉 was the Ephesine councell assembled by Dioscorus in defence of Eutiches who was now condemned in the Calcedon counsell by sixe hundred and thirtie fathers congregated togither by the authoritie of Leo the first For the Cofti fearing that to attribute two natures vnto Christ might be all one as if they had assigned him two hypostases or persons to auoid the heresie of the Nestorians they became Eutichians They say their diuine seruice in the Chaldean toong oftentimes repeating Alleluia They read the Gospell first in Chaldean and then in Arabick When the priest saieth Pax vobis the yoongest amongst them laieth his hand vpon all the people that are present After consecration they giue a simple peece of bread to the standers by a ceremonie vsed also in Greece They exercise their function in the

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