that the citie being destitute of aide 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 king of Fez was in warres against the rebels of Mecnase would soone yeeld it selfe But contrarie to the Portugals expectation the Fessan king concluding a sudden truce with them of Mecnase sent his counsellour with an armie who encountring the Portugals made a great slaughter of them and amongst the rest slue their generall whom he caused to be caried in a case or sacke vnto new Fez and there to be set vpon an high place where all men might behold him Afterward the king of Portugall sent a new supply who suddenly assailing the citie in the night were most of them slaine and the residue enforced to flee But that which the Portugall-king could not bring to passe with those two Armadas he atchieued at length as is aforesaid with small forces and little disaduantage In my time 〈◊〉 king of Fez left no meanes vnattempted for the recouerie of this citie but so great alwaies was the valour of the Portugals that he had euer ill successe These things were done in the yeere of the Hegeira 917 which was in the yeere of our Lord 1508. Of the towne called Casar Ezzaghir that is the little palace THis towne was built by Mansor the king and Patriarke of Maroco vpon the Ocean sea shore about twelue miles from Tangia and from Septa eighteene miles It was built they say by Mansor because euerie yeere when he passed into the Prouince of Granada hee was constrained with his whole armie to march ouer the rough and ragged mountaines of Septa before he could come vnto the sea shore It standeth in an open and pleasant place ouer against the coast of Granada It was well peopled in times past part of the inhabitants beeing weauers and merchants and the rest mariners that vsed to transport the wares of 〈◊〉 into Europe This towne the king of Portugall tooke by a sudden surprise And the Fessan king hath laboured by all meanes to recouer it but euer with ill successe These things were done in the yeere of the Hegeira 863. Of the great citie of Septa SEpta called by the Latines Ciuitas and by the Portugals Seupta was according to our most approoued Authors built by the Romanes vpon the streits of Gibraltar being in olde time the head citie of all Mauritania wherefore the Romanes made great account thereof insomuch that it became verie ciuill and was throughly inhabited Afterward it was woone by the Gothes who appointed a gouernour there and it continued in their possession 〈◊〉 the Mahumetans inuading Mauritania surprised it also The occasion whereof was one Iulian Earle of Septa who being greatly iniuried by Roderigo king of the Gothes and of Spaine ioyned with the infidels conducted them into Granada and caused Roderigo to loose both his life and his kingdome The Mahumetans therefore hauing taken Septa kept possession thereof on the behalfe of one Elgualid sonne of Habdulmalic their Patriarke who then was resident at Damasco in the yeere of the Hegeira 92. From thencefoorth till within these fewe yeeres this citie grew so ciuill and so well stored with inhabitants that it prooued the most worthie and famous citie of all Mauritania It contained many temples and colledges of students with great numbers of artizans and men of learning and of high spirite Their artizans excelled especially in workes of brasse as namely in making of candlesticks basons standishes and such like commodities which were as pleasant to the eie as if they had beene made of siluer or gold The Italians haue great cunning in making of the like but their workmanship is nothing comparable to theirs of Septa Without the citie are diuers faire villages and granges especially in that place which for the abundance of vines is called The vineyards howbeit the fields are verie barren and fruitles for which cause their corne is exceeding deere Both without and within the citie there is a pleasant and beautifull prospect to the shore of Granada vpon the streits of Gibraltar from whence you may discerne liuing creatures the distance being but 12. miles Howbeit this famous citie not many yeeres since was greatly afflicted by Habdulmumen the king and patriarke who hauing surprised it razed the buildings and banished the principal inhabitants thereof And not long after it sustained as great damage by the king of Granada who besides the foresaide harmes carried the nobles and chiefe citizens captiues into Granada And lastly in the yeere of Mahumet his Hegeira 818. being taken by a Portugall-armada all the citizens did abandon it Abu Sahid being then king of Fez. and a man of no valour neglected the recouerie thereof but in the midst of his dauncing and disport being aduertised that it was lost he would not so much as interrupt his vaine pastime wherefore by gods iust iudgement both himselfe and his sixe sonnes were all slaine in one night by his Secretarie in whom he reposed singular trust because hee would haue defloured the said Secretaries wife These things came to passe in the yeere of the Hegeira 824. Afterward the kingdome of Fez being eight yeeres destitute of a king a sonne of the murthered king whom he begot of a Christian woman and who the same night that his father was slaine fled vnto Tunis succeeded in the gouernment this was Habdulac the last king of the Marin family who likewise as is aforesaide was slaine by the people Of the towne of Tetteguin now called Tetuan THis towne being built by the ancient Africans eighteene miles from the streits of Gibraltar and sixe miles from the maine Ocean was taken by the Mahumetans at the same time when they woon Septa from the Gothes It is reported that the Gothes bestowed the gouernment of this towne vpon a woman with one eie who weekly repairing thither to receiue tribute the inhabitants named the towne 〈◊〉 which signifieth in their language an eie Afterward being often assayled and encountered by the Portugals the inhabitants forsooke it and it remained fowerscore and fifteene yeeres desolate which time being expired it was reedified and replanted a new with inhabitants by a certaine captaine of Granada who together with his king being expelled thence by Ferdinando king of Castile departed vnto Fez. This famous captaine that shewed himselfe so valiant in the warres of Granada was called by the Portugals Almandali Who hauing obtained the gouernment of this towne and gotten licence to repaire it enuironed the same with new wals and built an impregnable castle therein compassed with a deepe ditch Afterward making continuall warre against the Portugals he extremely molested and endamaged their townes of Septa Casar and Tangia for with three hundred valiant horsemen of Granada he made daily incursions and inroades vpon the Christians and those that he tooke he put to continuall labour and toile about the building of his forts Vpon a time I my selfe trauelling this way saw three thousand Christian captiues who being clad in
1595. that those seas are at sometimes not onely free from stormie tempests but most pleasant also to saile vpon with faire and gentle weather And as the Spaniards for a long time that they might discourage all other nations from attempting nauigation vpon The south sea beyond America blinded all Christendome with a report that the streights of Magellan were vnrepasable so perhaps the Portugals to terrifie all others from sailing to the east Indies and to keepe the gaine and secrets of that rich trade entire vnto themselues haue in their writings and relations made the doubling of the cape of Buena Esperança and the crossing ouer those seas a matter of farre greater difficultie and danger then it is of late manifestly found to be The name of Buena esperança or good hope was giuen vnto this promontory by Iohn the second king of Portugall bicause that when his fleetes had once doubled this cape either outward or homeward they then stedfastly hoped in good time to performe the residue of their voiage otherwise not In the midst of this cape lieth a plot of ground of that beautie and delight as that without any humane industrie it may compare with the most artificiall gardens of Europe On the top of this place nature minding as it were to excell her-selfe hath framed a great plaine which for beautifull situation fruitfulnes of herbes varietie of flowers and flourishing verdure of all things seemeth to resemble a terrestriall paradise The Portugals terme it 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 vnfitly The table of the cape And to the end they might not faile of the meanes to enioy so pleasant a place there is close vnder it a very good harbour which is called The port of Conception The people of this place called in the Arabian toong Cafri Cafres or Cafates that is to say lawlesse or outlawes are for the most part exceeding blacke of colour which very thing may be a sufficient argument that the sunne is not the sole or chiefe cause of their blacknes for in diuers other countries where the heate thereof is farre more scorching and intolerable there are tawnie browne yellowish ash-coloured and white people so that the cause there of seemeth rather to be an hereditarie qualitie transfused from the parents then the intemperature of an hot climate though it also may be some furtherance thereunto The Hollanders in the yeere 1595. entering the harbour of Saint Bras somewhat to the east of Cabo das Agulhas had conuersation truck with some of these Cafres whom they found to be a stoute and valiant people but very base and contemptible in their behauiour and apparell being clad in oxe and sheeps skins wrapped about their shoulders with the hairie sides inward in forme of a mantle Their weapons are a kinde of small slender dartes or pikes some whereof are headed with some kinde of mettall the residue being vnheaded and hardened onely at the points with fire They couer their priuie parts with a sheepes tayle which is bound vp before and behinde with a girdle Their horne-beasts are like those of Spaine verie well limmed and proportioned Their sheepe are great and faire not hauing any wooll on their backes but a kinde of harsh haire like goates Other particulars by them obserued for breuities sake I omit Now that we may proceede in describing the residue of Cafraria hauing sayled about the cape of Buena esperança westward albeit the coast in regard of the greatnes thereof may seem to ly directly north yet for the space of seuenteene degrees till you come to Cabo Negro the farthest Northwesterne bound of this fift part of the lower Ethiopia it trendeth somewhat to the west along which coast somewhat within the lande appeareth a mighty ranke or ridge of mountaines called by the Portugales Os picos fragosos that is the ragged points or spires being besides their excessiue height craggie rough and steepe lying bare desolate and vtterly voide of all succour and seruing for no other end but for an obiect to the windes and a mark for the tempests The residue of the coast till you come to Cabo Negro sometimes lying lowe and sometimes high sometimes shooting into the sea and sometimes again gently retiring containeth many plaines hils vallies and places most fertile and delightful some of them being alwaies of so fresh and pleasant view as they seeme to represent a continuall spring The sixt and last part of the lower or extreme Ethiopia containing the kingdome of Congo whereunto in times past were tributarie and subiect the kingdomes of Matama and Angola to the south the kingdomes of Quisama and Pangelungos to the east and to the north the kingdome of Anzicana inhabited by the Anzichi and Loango peopled by the Bramas FIrst therefore according to our proposed order that we may begin with the most southerly parts The kingdome of Matama so called after the name of the king thereof who being a Gentile ruleth ouer diuers prouinces named Quimbebe bordereth north vpon the first great lake whereout Nilus springeth and vpon the south frontiers of Angola east it abutteth vpon the western banke of the riuer Bagamidri and stretcheth south as far as the riuer Brauagul which springeth out of the mountains of the moone This coūtrey standeth in a good holesome aire aboundeth with mines of cristall other metals hath victuals great plenty And although the people thereof their neighbour-borderers doe traffike togither yet the king of Matama and the king of Angola wage war oftentimes one against another also the said riuer Bagamidri deuideth this kingdome of Matama from the great empire of Monomotapa before described which lieth to the east thereof Next followeth Angola a kingdome subiect in times past to the king of Congo the gouernour whereof not verie many yeeres ago growing exceedingly rich mightie rebelled against his soueraigne by diuers attempts shaking off the yoke of superioritie became himselfe an absolute prince This countrey by reason that the people are suffered to haue as many wiues as they list is a place most woonderfully populous They goe whole millions of them to the warres not leauing any men of seruice behinde but for want of victuals they are often constrained to leaue their enterprises halfe vndone Vpon this king Paulo Diaz who remained gouernour in these parts for the king of Portugall waged warre the reason was bicause certaine Portugall merchants and others going by way of traffike to Cabaza a towne situate an hundred and fiftie miles from the sea where the king of Angola vsually resideth they were by order from this king the same yeere that king Sebastian died in Barbarie sodainly spoiled of their goods and part of them slaine it being alleaged that they were all spies and came to vndermine the present state Whereupon Paulo Diaz prouided himselfe and with two galeots did many notable exploits on both sides of the riuer Coanza Finally hauing built a forte in a very commodious and hillie ground
and distressed life differing much in this regard from those Africans whom wee affirmed to dwell in Libya Howbeit they are farre more valiant then the said Africans and vse commonly to exchange camels in the lande of Negros they haue likewise great store of horses which in Europe they cal horses of Barbarie They take woonderfull delight in hunting and pursuing of deere of wilde asses of ostriches and such like Neither is it here to be omitted that the greater part of Arabians which inhabite Numidia are very wittie and conceited in penning of verses wherein each man will decipher his loue his hunting his combates and other his woorthie actes and this is done for the most part in ryme after the Italians manner And albe it they are most liberally minded yet dare they not by bountifull giuing make any shew of wealth for they are daily oppressed with manifold inconueniences They are apparelled after the Numidians fashion sauing that their women differ somewhat from the women of Numidia Those deserts which they doe now enioy were woont to be possessed by Africans but rhe Arabians with their armie inuading that part of Africa draue out the naturall Numidians and reserued the deserts adioining vpon The land of dates vnto themselues but the Numidians began to inhabite those deserts which border vpon the land of Negros The Arabians which dwell betweene mount Atlas and the Mediterran sea are far wealthier then these which we now speake of both for costlines of apparell for good horse-meate and for the statelines and beautie of their tents Their horses also are of better shape and more corpulent but not so swift as the horses of the Numidian desert They exercise husbandrie and haue great increase of corne Their droues and flockes of cattell be innumerable insomuch that they cannot inhabite one by another for want of pasture They are somewhat more vile and barbarous then those which inhabite the deserts and yet they are not altogether destitute of liberalitie part of them which dwell in the territorie of Fez are subiect vnto the king of Fez. Those which remaine in Marocco and Duccala haue continued this long time free from all exaction and tribute but so soone as the king of Portugall began to beare rule ouer Azafi and Azamor there began also among them strife and ciuill warre Wherefore being assailed by the king of Portugall on the one side and by the king of Fez on the other and being oppressed also with the extreme famine and scarcitie of that yeere they were brought vnto such miserie that they freely offered themselues as slaues vnto the Portugals submitting themselues to any man that was willing to releeue their intolerable hunger and by this meanes scarce one of them was left in all Duccala Moreouer those which possesse the deserts bordering vpon the kingdomes of Tremizen and Tunis may all of them in regard of the rest be called noblemen and gentlemen For their gouernours receiuing euery yeere great reuenues from the king of Tunis diuide the same afterward among their people to the end they may auoid all discord and by this meanes all dissension is eschewed and peace is kept firme and inuiolable among them They haue notable dexteritie and cunning both in making of tents and in bringing vp and keeping of horses In summer time they vsually come neere vnto Tunis to the end that each man may prouide himselfe of bread armour and other necessaries all which they carrie with them into the deserts remaining there the whole winter In the spring of the yeere they applie themselues to hunting insomuch that no beast can escape their pursuit My selfe I remember was once at their tents to my no little danger and inconuenience where I sawe greater quantitie of cloth brasse yron and copper then a man shall oftentimes finde in the most rich warehouses of some cities Howbeit no trust is to be giuen vnto them for if occasion serue they will play the theeues most slyly and cunningly notwithstanding they seeme to carrie some shewe of ciuilitie They take great delight in poetrie and will pen most excellent verses their language being very pure and elegant If any woorthie poet be found among them he is accepted by their gouernours with great honour and liberalitie neither would any man easily beleeue what wit and decencie is in their verses Their women according to the guise of that countrie goe very gorgeously attired they weare linnen gownes died black with exceeding wide sleeues ouer which sometimes they cast a mantle of the same colour or of blew the corners of which mantle are very artificially fastened about their shoulders with a fine siluer claspe Likewise they haue rings hanging at their eares which for the most part are made of siluer they weare many rings also vpon their fingers Moreouer they vsually weare about their thighes and ankles certaine scarfes and rings after the fashion of the Africans They couer their faces with certaine maskes hauing onely two holes for their eies to peepe out at If any man chance to meete with them they presently hide their faces passing by him with silence except it be some of their allies or kinsfolks for vnto them they alwaies discouer their faces neither is there any vse of the said maske so long as they be in presence These Arabians when they trauell any iourney as they oftentimes doe they set their women vpon certaine saddles made handsomely of wicker for the same purpose and fastened to their camels backes neither be they any thing too wide but fit onely for a woman to sit in When they goe to the warres each man carries his wife with him to the end that she may cheere vp her good man and giue him encouragement Their damsels which are vnmarried doe vsually paint their faces brests armes hands and fingers with a kinde of counterfeit colour which is accounted a most decent custome among them But this fashion was first brought in by those Arabians which before we called Africans what time they began first of all to inhabite that region for before then they neuer vsed any false or glozing colours The women of Barbarie vse not this fond kind of painting but contenting themselues only with their naturall hiew they regarde not such fained ornaments howbeit sometimes they will temper a certaine colour with hens-dung and safron wherewithall they paint a little round spot on the bals of their cheeks about the bredth of a French crowne Likewise betweene their eie-browes they make a triangle and paint vpon their chinnes a patch like vnto an oliue leafe Some of them also doe paint their eie-browes and this custome is very highly esteemed of by the Arabian poets and by the gentlemen of that countrie Howbeit they will not vse these fantasticall ornaments aboue two or three daies together all which time they will not be seene to any of their friends except it be to their husbands and children for these paintings seeme to bee great allurements
they say is to diuide one occupation frō another And to say all in a word here is nothing wanting which may be required either in a most honourable citie or in a flourishing commonwealth Moreouer hither resort all kinde of merchants both Christians and others Here the Genowaies Venetians English and lowe Dutch vsed to traffique In the 670. yeere of the Hegeira this towne was surprized by a certaine Castilian captaine the inhabitants being put to flight and the Christians enioying the citie And when they had kept it ten daies being on the sudden assailed by Iacob the first king of the Marin-familie who could not they thought surcease his warre against Tremizen they were put to the woorst the greater part being slaine and the residue put to flight From thencefoorth that prince fauoured of all his subiects enioyed the kingdome after whom lineally succeeded those of his owne race and blood And albeit this towne was in so few daies recouered from the enemie yet a worlde it was to see what a woonderfull alteration both of the houses and of the state of gouernment happened Many houses of this towne are left desolate especially neere the towne-walles which albeit they are most stately and curiously built yet no man there is that will inhabit them The grounds adioyning vpon this towne are sandie neither are they fit for corne but for cotton-wooll in diuers places very profitable The inhabitants diuers of them doe weaue most excellent cotton Here likewise are made very fine combes which are sold in all the kingdome of Fez for the region thereabout yeeldeth great plenty of box and of other wood fit for the same purpose Their gouernment is very orderly and discreet euen vntill this day for they haue most learned iudges vmpires and deciders of doubtfull cases in lawe This towne is frequented by many rich merchants of Genoa whom the king hath alwaies had in great regarde because he gaineth much yeerely by their traffique The said merchants haue their aboad and diet partly here at Sella and partly at Fez from both which towns they mutually helpe the traffique one of another These Genowaies I found in their affaires of merchandize to be exceeding liberall for they will spend frankly to get a courtiers fauour not so much for their owne priuate gaine as to be esteemed bountifull by strangers In my time there was an honorable gentlemā of Genoa in the king of Fez his court called Messer Thomaso di Marino a man both learned wise highly reputed of by the king This man hauing continued almost thirtie yeeres in the Fessan court hee there deceased and requesting on his death-bed to haue his corpes interred at Genoa the king commanded the same to be transported thither After his decease he left many sonnes in the Fessan kings court who all of them prooued rich and were greatly fauoured by the king Of the towne called Fanzara THis towne being not very large was built by a certaine king of the familie called Muachidin on a beautiful plaine almost ten miles from Sella The soile there abouts yeeldeth corne in great plenty Without the towne walles are very many cleere fountaines ' and wels which Albuchesen the king of Fez caused there to be digged In the time of Abusaid the last king of the Marin-familie his cozen called Sahid was taken by Habdilla the king of Granada whereupon by letters he requested his cozen the king of Fez to send him a certaine summe of money required by the king of Granada for his ransome Which when the 〈◊〉 king refused to yeeld vnto Habdilla restored his prisoner to libertie and sent him towardes Fez to destroy both the citie and the king Afterward Sahid with the helpe of certaine wilde Arabians besieged Fez for seuen yeeres together in which space most of the townes villages and hamlets throughout the whole kingdome were destroied But at length such a pestilence inuaded Sahids forces that himselfe with a great part of his armie in the 918. yeere of the Hegeira died thereof Howbeit those desolate townes neuer receiued from thencefoorth any new inhabitants especially Fanzara which was giuen to certaine Arabian captaines that came to assist Sahid Of the towne of Mahmora THis towne was built vpon the mouth of the great riuer Subu by a certaine king of the Muachidin-familie being almost halfe a mile distant from the sea and about twelue miles from Sella The places neere vnto it are sandie and barren It was built they say of purpose to keepe the enemies from entring the mouth of the said riuer Not farre from this towne standeth a mighty wood the trees whereof beare a kinde of nuts or acornes about the bignes of Damascen-plums being sweeter in taste then chestnuts Of which nuts certaine Arabians dwelling neer vnto the place conuey great plenty vnto the citie of Fez and reape much gaine thereby howbeit in going to gather this fruit vnles they take good heede vnto themselues they are in great danger of the most cruell and deuouring lions in all Africa which there oftentimes doe seaze vpon them This towne a hundred and twenty yeeres agoe was razed in the foresaid warre of Sahid against the king of Fez nothing but a few ruines thereof remaining whereby it appeereth to haue beene of no great bignes In the 921. yeere of the Hegeira the king of Portugal sent an armie to build a forte in the foresaid riuers mouth which they accordingly attempted to doe But hauing laide the foundations and reared the walles a good height the king of Fez his brother so defeated them of their purpose that he slue of them in one night almost three thousand in maner following on a certaine morning before sun-rise three thousand Portugals marching towards the king of Fez his campe determined to bring thence all the ordinance and field-peeces vnto their new-erected for t howbeit most rashly and inconsiderately themselues being but three thousand and the kings armie containing fiftie thousand footemen and fower thousand horsemen And yet the Portugals hoped so slyly and closely to performe this attempt that before the Moores were ready to pursue them they should conuey all their ordinance vnto the forte which was two miles distant The Moores which kept the ordinance being seuen thousand men were all asleepe when the Portugals came whereupon the Portugals had so good successe that they had carried the ordinance almost a mile before the enemie was aware thereof But at last some rumour or alarme being giuen in the Moores campe they all betooke themselues to armes and fiercely pursued the Portugals who likewise arranged their whole companie into battell-array And albeit the enemie enuironed them on all sides yet they made such stout and valiant resistance that they had all escaped to their forte in safetie had not certaine villains in the king of Fez his armie cried out amaine in the Portugall toong Hold your hands fellow soldiers and throw downe your weapons for
are farre more fruitfull This towne is distant from Fez almost threescore and ten miles and containeth to the number of fiue hundred families out of the territorie whereof there is the summe of tenne thousand ducates yeerely gathered for tribute with which tribute the gouernour of the same towne is bound to maintaine on the kings behalfe fower hundred horsemen for the defence of the whole region For they are often molested with inuasions of the Portugals who proceed wasting and spoiling the countrey sometimes fortie and sometimes fiftie miles Here is but little ciuility to be found neither are the people but homely apparelled though they be verie rich They haue a priuilege granted them by the ancient kings of Fez to drinke wine which is otherwise forbidden by the law of Mahumet and yet none of them all will abstaine from drinking it Of the towne called Bani Teude THis ancient towne was built also by the Africans on a large plaine by the riuer of Guarga fiue and fortie miles from the citie of Fez. In the prosperitie thereof it contained to the number of eight thousand families but afterward it was so destroied by the wars of the 〈◊〉 of Cairaoan that now the towne wall is only remaining At my being there I sawe diuers monuments and sepulchres of noblemen and certaine conducts curiously built of excellent marble From this towne mount Gumera is almost fowerteene miles distant the fieldes adiacent being good arable and very fruitfull Of the towne of Mergo MErgo standing vpon the toppe of a mountaine is from Bani Teude about ten miles distant Some thinke that the Romans were founders of this towne bicause there are found vpon the ancient ruines certaine Latine letters ingrauen But now it is quite destitute of inhabitants howbeit vpon the side of the same mountaine standeth another small towne inhabited with weauers of course cloth from whence you may behold the riuer Subu to the south and the riuer Guarga to the north from which riuers the saide towne is fiue miles distant The inhabitants loue to bee accounted gentlemen albeit they are couetous ignorant and destitute of all goodnes Of the towne of Tansor TAnsor standeth vpon a little hill almost ten miles from Mergo and containeth three hundreth families but very fewe artificers The inhabitants are rude and barbarous people hauing neither vineyardes nor gardens but onely exercising husbandry and possessing abundance of cattle This towne standeth in the midde way between Fez and mount Gumera which I thinke is the occasion that the inhabitants are so couetous and void of humanitie Of the towne of Agla THis ancient towne was built by the Africans vpon the banke of the riuer Guarga The fruitfull fields thereof are manured by the Arabians but the towne it selfe hath beene so wasted with warre that nowe there is nothing to be seene but in a few places the ruines of houses wals certaine pits In the suburbes there is euery weeke a great market wherunto the next Arabians vsually resort and so do some merchants of Fez likewise to buie oxe-hides wooll and waxe which are the principall commodities of that place Hereabouts keepe great store of lions but they are by nature so fearefull that they will flee at the voice of a childe hence com meth the prouerbe so rife in Fez A lion of Agla which they applie vnto such a one as maketh great brags and is but a meere dastard Of the castle of Narangia THe castle of Narangia built by the Africans vpon a little hill not farre from the riuer Luccus is almost ten miles distant from Ezaggen It hath most fruitfull corn-fields but no plaines belonging vnto it Along the riuers side are huge deserts wherein grow great store of wilde fruits especially cherries such as the Italians call Ciriegie marine This castle was surprised and sacked by the Portugals in the yeere of the Hegeira 895. which was in the yeere of our Lord 1486. Of the Isle of Gesira THe Isle of Gesira lying not farre from the mouth of the riuer Luccus is distant from the sea about ten and from Fez about an hundreth miles There was in times past a little ancient towne vpon this Island which was abandoned when the Portugals first made warres vpon Barbarie About the saide riuer are many deserts but very fewe corn-fields In the yeere of the Hegeira 894. the king of Portugall sent hither a great armie which being landed on the Isle the generall of the field built a strong fort thereupon by meanes whereof he hoped to be free from the enimies inuasion and to enioy the fields adiacent But the king of Fez namely his father that nowe reigneth foreseeing the damage that he shoulde sustaine if he permitted the saide fort to be finished leuied a mightie armie to withstand the Portugals proceedings Howbeit so great was the force of their ordinance that the Moores durst not approch within two miles of the Portugal campe Wherefore the Fessan king being almost out of hope was perswaded by some that were about him to stoppe vp the riuer with postes and raftes two miles from the Island by which meanes the Moores being defended and hauing cut downe all the woodes adioining the Portugals perceiued the passage of the riuer in short time to be choaked and stopped vp with great trees and that there was no possibilitie for them to depart Then the king hoping easily to ouercome the Portugales determined to assaile their fort but considering he could not do it without great slaughter of his people he couenanted with the Portugall generall that besides a great summe of money paide vnto him the saide generall shoulde obtaine of the Portugall king to haue certaine daughters of the king of Fez his gouernour which were at that time prisoners in Portugall to be restored and that then he would freely dismisse him and his companie which being done the Portugall armie returned home Of the towne of Basra THis towne containing almost two thousand families was built by Mahumet the sonne of Idris which was the founder of Fez vpon a certaine plaine betweene two mountaines being distant from Fez about fowerscore and from Casar southward almost twentie miles And it was named Basra for the memorie of a citie in Arabia Foelix called by that name where Hali the fourth Mahumetan patriarke after Mahumet and great grandfather vnto Idris was slaine It was in times past enuironed with most high and impregnable wals and so long as it was gouerned by the posteritie of Idris the people were verie ciuill for Idris his successours vsed alwaies to remaine there in sommer time by reason of the pleasant situation of the place the hils and valleies being beautified with sweete gardens and yeelding corne in abundance and that both by reason of the vicinitie of the towne and of the neighbour-hood of the riuer Luccus Moreouer in old time this towne was verie populous being adorned with many faire temples and inhabited with most ciuill people but the
family of Idris decaying it became a pray vnto the enemie At this present the ruines of the wals are onely to be seene and certaine forlorne gardens which because the ground is not manured bring foorth naught but wilde fruits Of the towne called Homar THis towne was built by one Hali a disciple of the foresaid Mahumet vpon a little hill and by a riuers side being situate about fourteene miles to the north of Casar and sixteen miles to the south of Arzilla which although it be but a small towne yet is it well fortified and fairely built and enuironed with fruitfull fieldes vineyardes and gardens replenished with woonderfull varietie of fruits The inhabitants being most of them linnen-weauers gather and prouide great store of flaxe But euer since the Portugals woon Arzilla this towne hath remained desolate A description of the 〈◊〉 of 〈◊〉 THe great citie of Arzilla called by the Africans Azella was built by the Romans vpon the Ocean sea shore about seuentie miles from the streits of Gibraltar and an hundred and fortie miles from Fez. It was in times past subiect vnto the prince of Septa or Ceuta who was tributarie to the Romans and was afterward taken by the Goths who established the said prince in his former gouernment but the Mahumetans wan it in the yeere of the Hegeira 94. and helde the same for two hundred and twenty yeeres till such time as the English at the persuasion of the Goths besieged it with an huge armie and albeit the Goths were enemies to the English because themselues were Christians and the English worshippers of idols yet the Goths 〈◊〉 them to this attempt hoping by that meanes to draw the Mahumetans out of Europe The English hauing good successe tooke the citie and so wasted it with fire and sword that scarce one citizen escaped so that it remained almost thirtie yeeres voide of inhabitants But afterward when the Mahumetan patriarks of Cordoua were lords of Mauritania it was againe reedified and by all meanes augmented enriched and fortified The inhabitants were rich learned and valiant The fields adiacent yeeld graine and pulse of all sorts in great abundance but because the towne standeth almost ten miles from the mountaines it sustaineth great want of wood howbeit they haue coales brought them from Harais as is aforesaid In the yeere of the Hegeira 882. this citie was suddenly surprised and taken by the Portugalles and all the inhabitants carried prisoners into Portugall amongst whom was Mahumet the king of Fez that now is who together with his sister being both children of seuen yeeres old were taken and led captiue For the father of this Mahumet seeing the prouince of Habatreuolt from him went and dwelt at Arzilla the very same time when Esserif a great citizen of Fez hauing slaine Habdulac the last king of the Marin-familie was by the fauour of the people aduanced vnto the Fessan kingdome Afterward one Saic Abra being pricked forward with ambition went about to conquer the citie of Fez and to make himselfe king howbeit Esserif by the aduise of a certaine counsellour of his being couzin vnto Saic vanquished and put to flight the saide Saic to his great disgrace Moreouer while Esserif had sent his said counsellour to Temesna to pacifie the people of that prouince being about to rebell Saic returned and hauing for one whole yeere besieged new Fez with eight thousand men at length by treason of the townesmen he easily wan it and compelled Esserif with all his familie to flee vnto the kingdome of Tunis The same time therefore that Saic besieged Fez the king of Portugall as is aforesaid sending a fleete into Africa tooke Arzilla and then was the king of Fez that now is with his yoong sister caried captiue into Portugall where he remained seuen yeeres in which space he learned the Portugall-language most exactly At length with a great summe of money his father ransomed him out of Portugall who afterward being aduanced to the kingdome was by reason of his long continuance in Portugall called king Mahumet the Portugall This king afterward attempted very often to be auenged of the Portugals and to recouer Arzilla Wherefore suddenly encountring the said citie he beat down a great part of the wall and entring the breach set all the captiue-Moores at libertie The Christians retired into the castle promising within two daies to yeeld vnto the king But Pedro Nauarro comming in the meane season with a great fleet they compelled the king with continuall discharging of their ordinance not onely to relinquish the citie but also to depart quite away with his whole armie afterward it was so fortified on all sides by the Portugals that the said king attempting often the recouerie thereof had alwaies the repulse I my selfe seruing the king in the foresaid expedition could find but fiue hundred of our companie slaine But the warre against Arzilla continued from the yeere of the Hegeira 914. to the yeere 921. Of the citie of Tangia THe great and ancient citie of Tangia called by the Portugals Tangiara according to the fond opinion of some historiographers was founded by one Sedded the sonne of Had who as they say was emperour ouer the whole world This man say they determined to build a citie which for beautie might match the earthly paradise Wherefore he compassed the same with walles of brasse and the roofes of the houses he couered with gold and siluer for the building whereof he exacted great tributes of all the cities in the world But the classicall and approoued authors affirme that it was built by the Romanes vpon the Ocean sea shore at the same time when they subdued the kingdome of Granada From the streites of Gibraltar it is distant almost thirtie and from Fez an hundred and fiftie miles And from the time that the Goths were first lordes of Granada this citie was subiect vnto Septa or Ceuta vntill it and Arzilla were woon by the Mahumetans It hath alwaies beene a ciuill famous and well-peopled towne and very stately and sumptuously built The field thereto belonging is not very fertill nor apt for tilth howbeit not far off are certaine vallies continually watred with fountaines which furnish the said citie with all kinde of fruits in abundance Without the citie also growe certaine vines albeit vpon a sandie soile It was well stored with inhabitants till such time as Arzilla was surprized by the Portugals for then the inhabitants being dismaied with rumours of warres tooke vp their bag and baggage and fled vnto Fez. Whereupon the king of Portugall his deputie at Arzilla sent one of his captaines thither who kept it so long vnder the obedience of the king till the king of Fez sent one of his kinsmen also to defend a region of great importance neere vnto the mountaines of Gumera being enemie to the Christians Twentie fiue yeeres before the Portugall king wan this citie he sent foorth an armada against it hoping
course sacke-cloth were constrained in the night to lye fettered in deepe dungeons This captaine was exceeding liberall vnto all African and Mahumetan strangers that passed by howbeit within these few yeeres one of his eies being thrust out with a dagger and the other waxing dim with age he deceased leauing the towne after his death vnto his nephew who was a most valiant man Of the mountaines of Habat A Mongst the mountaines of Habat there be eight more famous then the rest all which are inhabited by the people of Gumera who vse one generall forme and custome of liuing for all of them maintaine Mahumets religion albeit they drinke wine contrarie to his precept They are proper men of personage and much addicted to industrie labour but for the wars they are verie vnsit Subiect they are vnto the king of Fez who imposeth such heauie tribute vpon them so that besides a few of whom we will speake hereafter the residue are scarce able to finde themselues apparell Of mount Rahona THis mountaine being neere vnto Ezaggen containeth in length thirtie miles and in breadth twelue miles It aboundeth with oyle hony and vines The inhabitants are principally imployed about making of sope and trying of waxe Wines they haue great store both browne and white They pay vnto the king of Fez for yeerely tribute three thousand ducates which being allowed vnto the gouernour of Ezaggen he maintaineth fower hundred horsemen in the kings seruice Of the mountaine called Beni-Fenescare THis mountaine of Fenescare adioyning vnto mount Rahon is about fiue and twentie miles long and eight miles broad It is better peopled then Rahon hauing many leather-dressers and weauers of course cloth and yeelding great abundance of waxe Euery saturday they haue a great market where you may finde all kinde of chapmen and of wares insomuch that the Genoueses come hither to buy oxe-hides and waxe which they conuey into Portugall and Italy Out of this mountaine is yeerely collected for tribute the summe of sixe thousand ducates three thousand whereof are allowed vnto the gouernour of Ezaggen the residue being payd into the kings exchequer Of the mountaine called Beni-Haros THis mountaine standing neer vnto Casar extendeth northward eight and westward 20 miles It containeth but sixe miles only in bredth It was wont to be well peopled and inhabited with gentlemen who when the Portugals woon Arzilla cruelly vsurping ouer the people compelled them to flee and leaue the mountaine desolate There are at this present certaine cottages vpon the mountaine but all the residue lyeth wast While this mountaine continued in good estate it allowed yeerely vnto the gouernor of Casar three thousand ducates Of mount Chebib VPon this mountaine are sixe or seuen castles inhabited with ciuill and honest people for when the Portugals wan Tangia the citizens fled vnto this mountaine beeing but twentie miles distant The inhabitants are perpetually molested with the Portugals inuasions the tributes of this mountaine being halfe diminished since the losse of Tangia waxe euery day woorse and woorse because the garrison is thirtie miles distant and cannot come to succour them so often as the Portugals come to waste and spoyle their territories Of the mountaine called Beni Chessen THis mountaine is of an exceeding height and very hard to be encountred for besides the naturall fortification thereof it is inhabited with most valiant people These inhabitants being oppressed with the tyrannie of their gouernours rose vp at length in armes against them brought them to great miserie and distresse Whereupon a yoong gentleman one of their said gouernours disdaining to submit himselfe vnto the yoke of his inferiours went to serue in the king of Granada his warres where being trained vp a long time in martiall discipline against the Christians he prooued an expert warriour and so at length returning vnto one of his natiue mountaines he gathered a certaine troupe of horsemen and valiantly defended the said mountaine from the Portugals inuasions whereof the king of Fez being aduertised sent him an hundred and fiftie crossebowes which he imploied to the subduing of that mountaine and to the conquest of the mountaines of his enemies But after he began to vsurpe the kings tribute in the same mountaine the king waxing wroth sent foorth an huge armie against him Howbeit vpon his repentant submission the king pardoned him and ordained him gouernour of Seusauon and of all the region adiacent After him succeeded in the same gouernment one of the linage of Mahumet and of Idris the founder of Fez. This man became very famous among the Portugals and by reason of his nobilitie for he was of the familie called Helibenres he grew vnto great renowme Of mount Angera IT standeth southward of Casar the lesse almost eight miles being tenne miles long and three miles broad The soile thereof is exceeding fruitful and in times past greatly abounded with woods which being cut downe by the inhabitants were sent to Casar for the building of ships which at that time had a great fleete belonging thereunto This mountaine likewise yeelded abundance of flaxe and the inhabitants were partly weauers and partly mariners Howbeit when the foresaid towne of Casar was woon by the Portugals this mountaine also was forsaken by the inhabitants and yet at this day all the houses stand still as if the inhabitants had not forsaken it at all Of mount Quadres THis high mountaine standing in the midst betweene Septa and Tetteguin is inhabited with most valiant and warlike people whose valour sufficiently appeered in the warres betweene the king of Granada and the Spanyards where the inhabitants onely of this mountaine preuailed more then all the armed Moores beside Vpon the said mountaine was borne one called by them Hellul this Hellul atchieued many woorthie exploits against the Spanyards the historie whereof is set downe partly in verse and partly in prose and is as rife in Africa and Granada as is the storie of Orlando in Italie But at length in the Spanish warre wherein Ioseph Enesir king and patriarke of Maroco was vanquished this Hellul was slaine in a castle of Catalonia called by the Moores The castle of the eagle In the same battell were slaine threescore thousand Moores so that none of them escaped saue the king and a few of his nobles This was done in the yeere of the Hegeira 609 which was in the yeere of our Lord 1160. From thenceforth the Spanyards had alwaies good successe in their warres so that they recouered all those cities which the Moores had before taken from them And from that time till the yeere wherein king Ferdinando conquered Granada there passed according to the Arabians account 285. yeeres Of the mountaine called Beni Guedarfeth THis mountaine standing not farre from Tetteguin although it be not very large is well fraught with inhabitants The people are very warlike being in pay vnder the gouernour of Tetteguin whom they greatly honour and attend vpon him in all his attempts against the Christians
rich men he bestoweth vpon them some gouernment or charge with prouision Wherefore for feare of confiscation after death euery one coueteth to 〈◊〉 his wealth or to remoue far from the court and the kings sight For which cause the citie of Fez commeth far short of hir ancient glorie Besides his reuenues haue beene augmented of late yeeres by mightie sums of gold which he fetcheth from Tombuto and Gago in the lande of Negros which gold according to the report of some may yeerely amount to three millions of ducates His Forces THe Xeriffo hath not any Fortresses of great importance but only vpon the sea-coast as Cabo de Guer Larache and Tetuan for as the Turks and Persians do so he placeth the strength of his state in armed men but especially in horse And for this cause he standeth not much vpon his artillerie although hee hath very great store which his predecessors tooke from the Portugals and others in Fez Maroco Tarodant and in the foresaide 〈◊〉 causing also more to bee cast when neede requireth for he wanteth not masters of Europe in this Science He hath an house of munition in Maroco where they make ordinarily six and fortie quintals of powder euery moneth as likewise also caliuers and steele-bowes In the yeere of our Lord 1569. a fire tooke hold on these houses with such furie that a great part of the citie was destroied therewith But for the Xeriffoes forces they are of two sorts the first is of two thousand seuen hundred horse and two thousand harquibuziers which he hath partly in Fez but most in Maroco where he is resident being as it were of his daily guard The second is of a roiall squadron of sixe thousand gentlemen being all of noble parentage and of great account These men are mounted vpon excellent horses with furniture and armes for varietie of colour most beautifull and for riches of ornament beyonde measure estimable for euery thing about them shineth with gold siluer pearle iewels and whatsoeuer else may please the eie or satisfie the curiositie of beholders These men besides prouision of corne oile butter and flesh for themselues their wiues children and seruants receiue further in wages from seuentie to an hundred ounces of siluer a man The third sort of forces which he hath consisteth of his * Timariotti for the Xeriffo granteth to all his sons and brothers and other persons of account or authoritie among the people of Africke or to the princes of the Arabians the benefite of great Lordships tenures for sustentation of his Cauallarie and the Alchaides themselues till the fields and afterwardes reape rice oile barly butter sheepe hens and monie and distribute the same monethly to the souldiers according to the seuerall qualitie of their persons They also giue them cloth linnen and silke to apparell themselues armes of offence and defence and horses with which they serue in the warres and if they die or be killed they allow them other A thing which was also vsed in Rome towards them that serued on publike horses Euerie one of these leaders contendeth to bring his people into the fielde well ordred for armes apparell and horses besides this they haue betweene fower and twentie and thirtie ounces of siluer wages euery yeere His fourth militarie forces are the Arabians who liue continually in their Auari for so they call their habitations each one of them consisting of an hundred or two hundred 〈◊〉 gouerned by diuers Alchaides to the end they may be readie in time of need These serue on horse-backe but they are rather to be accounted theeues then true soldiers His fift kinde of forces militarie are somewhat like vnto the trained soldiers of Christian princes and among these the inhabitants of cities and villages of the kingdome and of the mountaines are enrolled It is true that the king makes but little account of them very seldome puts armes into their hands for feare of insurrections and rebellions except in the warres against the Christians for then he cannot conueniently forbid them For it being written in their law that if à Moore kil a Christian or is slaine by him he goeth directly into Paradise a diabolicall inuention men women and those of euery age and degree run to the warres hand ouer head that at least they may there be slaine and by this meanes according to their foolish opinion gaine heauen No lesse zeale to our confusion may we perceiue in the Turks especially for defence of their sect for one would thinke they went to a marriage and not to the warre scarcely being able with patience to attend their prefixed time of going thither They repute them holy and happie that die with armes in hand against their enimies as on the contrarie those men vnhappie and of little woorth that die at home amidst the lamentation of children and outcries of women By the things aboue set downe we may easily comprehend what numbers of men the Xeriffo can bring into the field but yet we may learne better by experience For Mullei Abdala in the yeere 1562. besieged Mazagan with two hundred thousand men choaking the ditch with a mountaine of earth and beating downe the walles thereof with his Artillerie but for all this he was enforced by the valour of the Portugals and the damage which he receiued by their mines to giue ouer his siege Besides this Prince can not continue a great war aboue two or three moneths and the reason hereof is because his forces liuing on that prouision which he hath daylie comming in as well for sustenance as for aparrell and not being able to haue all this conducted thither where the war requireth it followeth of necessitie that in short time they must needs returne home for their maintenance of life and further it is an euident thing that no man can protract a war at length except he be rich in treasure Molucco who ouerthrew Sebastian king of Portugal had in pay vnder his ensignes fortie thousand horse and eight thousand foote besides Arabians and aduenturers But it is thought he could haue brought into the field seuentie thousand horse and more foot then he did Of the dominions and fortresses which the king of Spaine hath vpon the Isles and maine landes of Africa and of the great quantity of treasure and other commodities which are brought from thence BEsides Oran Mersalquibir Melilla and Pennon which the king of Spaine possesseth within the streights as likewise çeuta Tanger and Arzil which by the title of Portugal he holdeth very neere the streights of Gibraltar and Mazagan in like sort without the streights mouth twentie miles to the southward of Arzil he hath along the coast of Affrick from Cape de Guer to that of Guardafu two sorts of states for some are immedidiately vnder him and others are as it were his adherents The Ilands of Madera Puerto Santo the Canaries the Isles of Arguin of Cabo Verde the isle Del Principe with that of Sant
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
the aire and vnusuall heat which consumed them were also euilly entreated by the Moci-Congi For although they shewed themselues docible and tractable enough while they were instructed onely about ceremonies and diuine mysteries because they thought that the higher those matters were aboue humaine capacity the more they sorted and were agreable to the maiestie of God neuerthelesse when they began to entreate seriously of Temperance continence restitution of other mens goods forgiuing of iniuries and other heades of Christian pietie they found not onely great hinderance and difficultie but euen plaine resistance and opposition The king himselfe who had from the beginning shewed notable zeale was now somewhat cooled who because he was loth to abandon his soothsaiers and fortune tellers but aboue all the multitude of his concubines this being a generall difficultie among the Barbarians would by no meanes giue eare vnto the Preachers Also the women who were now reiected one after another not enduring so suddenly to be banished from their husbandes brought the court and roiall citie of Saint Saluador into a great vproare Paulo Aquitino second sonne to the king put tow to this fire who would by no meanes be baptized for which cause there grew great enmity betwixt him and Alonso his elder brother who with all his power furthered the proceedings and maintained the grouth of the Christian religion During these troubles the old king died and the two brothers fought a battell which had this successe that Alonso the true heire with sixe and thirtie soldiers calling vpon the name of Iesus discomfited the huge armie of his heathenish brother who was himselfe also taken aliue and died prisoner in this his rebellion God fauoured Alonso in this warre with manifest miracles For first they affirme that being readie to enter into battaile he saw a light so cleere and resplendent that he and his companie which beheld it remained for a good while with their eies declined and their mindes so full and replenished with ioy and a kind of tender affection that cannot easily be expressed And then lifting vp their eies vnto heauen they sawe fiue shining swords which the king tooke afterwards for his armes and his successors vse the same at this day Hauing obteined this victorie he assembled all his nobles and streightly enioined them to bring all the idols of his countrey to an appointed place and so vpon an high hill he caused them all to be burned This Alonso raigned prosperously for fiftie yeeres togither in which space he exceedingly furthered by authoritie and example as also by preaching and doctrine the new-planted Christianitie Neither did Don Emanuell the King of Portugall giue ouer this enterprise for he sent from thence to Congo twelue of those Fryers which the Portugals call Azzurri of whom Fryer Iohn Mariano was head with architects and smiths for the building and seruice of Churches and with rich furniture for the same After king Alonso succeeded Don Pedro his sonne in whose time there was a Bishop appointed ouer the isle of Saint Thomas who had also committed vnto him the administration of Congo Where at the citie of Saint Saluador was instituted a colledge of eight and twentie Canons in the Church of Santa Cruz. The second bishop was of the bloud roiall of Congo who trauailed to Rome and died in his returne homeward Don Francisco succeeded Don Pedro who continued but a small space Don Diego his neere kinsman was after his decease aduanced to the crowne In whose time Iohn the third king of Portugall vnderstanding that neither the king himselfe cared greatly for religion and that the merchants and priests of Europe furthered not but rather with their bad life scandalized the people new conuerted he sent thither fower Iesuits to renew and reestablish matters of religion These men arriuing first at the isle of Saint Thomas and then at Congo were courteously receiued by the king and presently going about the busines they came for one of them tooke vpon him to teach sixe hundred yoong children the principles of christian religion and the other dispersed themselues ouer the whole countrie to preach But all of them one after another falling into tedious and long diseases they were enforced to returne into Europe At this time there was appointed ouer Congo a third bishop of the Portugall nation who through the contumacie of the Canons and clergie found trouble enough In the meane while Don Diego dying there arose great tumults touching the succession by meanes whereof all the Portugals in a manner that were in Saint Saluador except priests were slaine In the end Henrie brother to Don Diego obteined the crowne and after him for he quicklie died in the warres of the Anzichi Don Aluaro his son in law This man reconciled vnto himselfe the Portugall nation caused all the religious and lay sort dispersed heere and there throughout the kingdome to be gathered togither and wrote for his discharge to the king and to the Bishop of Saint Thomas The bishop hauing perused the letters passed himselfe into Congo and giuing some order for the discipline of the clergie he returned to Saint Thomas where hee ended his daies It so fell out that what for the absence and what for the want of Bishoppes the progression of religion was much hindred For one Don Francisco a man for bloud and wealth of no small authoritie began freely to say that it was a vaine thing to cleaue to one wife onely and afterwardes in the end he fell altogither from the faith and was an occasion that the king grew woonderfully cold They affirme that this Francisco dying and being buried in the church of Santa Cruz the diuels vncouered a part of that churches roofe and with terrible noise drew his dead carcase out of the tombe and carried it quite away a matter that made the king exceedingly amazed but yet another accident that ensued withall strooke him neerer to the hart For the Giacchi leauing their owne habitations entred like Locusts into the kingdome of Congo and comming to battaile against Don Aluaro the king put him to flight who not being secure in the head citie abandoned his kingdome and togither with the Portugall priests and his owne princes retired himselfe vnto an island of the riuer Zaire called The isle of horses Thus seeing himselfe brought to such extremitie for besides the losse of his kingdome his people died of famine and miserie and for maintenance of life sold themselues one to another and to the Portugals also at a base price for reparation of his state and religion he had recourse to Don Sebastian king of Portugall and obteined of him sixe hundred soldiers by whose valour he draue his enimies out of the kingdome and within a yeere and an halfe reestablished himselfe in his throne In his time Antonio di Glioun à Spaniard was made bishop of Saint Thomas who after much molestation procured him by the captaine of that island went at
riuer springing out of the great lake which being so they must quite separate Monomotapa from the same lake * This place both in regard of the name and situation may seeme to haue been Agysimba mentioned by Ptolemey * Mine author here setteth downe too great a number G. B. B. Rel. vn dell Afr. Part. 1. lib. 2. Os Picos fragosos The kingdome of Matama Angola The siluer-mines of Cabambe Quizama Bahia das 〈◊〉 or the baye of Cowes The six prouinces of Congo S. Saluador the chiefe citie of Congo The great 〈◊〉 of Zaire Crocodiles Water-horses The Zabra The elephant The isle and hauen of Loanda Loango Anzichi Of this long pepper read Ramusius vol. 1. fol. 115. pag. 2. The prouinces of Temian Dauma and 〈◊〉 Grana Paradisi The 〈◊〉 of Mina * Pliny calleth them 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Sierra 〈◊〉 A factorie of the Portugals The isle of elephants A mightie cataract or fall of Senaga 〈◊〉 vol. 1. fol. 99. 〈◊〉 The isle of Camaran Dalaqua Mua 〈◊〉 The isle hauen and citie of Suaquen * Or vermillion Two townes of the Portugales in Socotora The two sisters Isles which are not inhabited Concerning the isles of Mōbaça Quiloa Moçambique read more at large in the discourse of Zanguebar before set downe whereas 〈◊〉 thought it 〈◊〉 to intreat of them being as it were certaine fragments of the maine hauing large territories therof subiect vnto them Plentie of Ambergrise The isles of Ascension * Concerning this isle read more at large in the description of Congo * Or perhaps Pouaçaon which as I coniecture may be all one with Poblacion in Spanish which signifieth a Colonie or towne Seuentie Ingenios in San Tomé This towne was taken by sir Francis Drake 1585. and by sir 〈◊〉 Sherley 1596. * This isle with the principall towne and castles was sacked by the Hollanders in 〈◊〉 Anno 1599. The Pike of Tenerif Madera in Spanish signifieth wood or timber Puerto santo the principall 〈◊〉 whereof was taken by sir Amias Preston 1596. The 〈◊〉 increase of one shee 〈◊〉 * Others diuide it from Asia by the red sea * Non. * 〈◊〉 The 〈◊〉 of Niger * Aethiopia * Habat * Chauz * Tremizen * Iohn 〈◊〉 ouer 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 of the 〈◊〉 of Negros * Cairo * About the yeere 1526. * Fortè Asia minor * Genesis the 10. v. the 6. Mezraim is accounted the 〈◊〉 of Chus * Gen. 10. 7. * Guadalhabit Tremizen called by the ancient Cosmographers Caesaria or Mauritania Caesariensis Who were the founders of Maroco Aquel Amarig * 〈◊〉 * 〈◊〉 * Cairaoan * Tunis * 〈◊〉 * The Moores of Granada * A 〈◊〉 patriarke Gehoar a slaue by condition conquered all Barbarie Numidia Egypt and Syria Gehoar the first 〈◊〉 of Cairo Ten tribes of Arabians 〈◊〉 Africa 〈◊〉 Rachu a 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 1526. * 〈◊〉 Traffique to Tombuto * Alger * The Arabians called 〈◊〉 and 〈◊〉 descended from Ismael the base sonne of Abraham The Arabians called 〈◊〉 descended of Saba The people of Numidia Wooll growing vpon the Palme tree 〈◊〉 and 〈◊〉 vsed 〈◊〉 victuals Where the Barbarie horses are bred Arabian poems and verses The Arabians offer themselues slaues to any that would releeue their extreme hunger The Arabians of Barca lay their sonnes to pawne vnto the Sicilians for corne The 〈◊〉 and death of the Ring of Tunis his sonne * Trenizen * Maroco and Fez A booke written by Iohn Leo concerning the Mahumetan religion The Africans vsed in times past none other kind of letters but the Roman letters * Perhaps he meaneth the histories of Salust 〈◊〉 Liuius and others The Mahumetan Calisas caused all the bookes of the Persians to be burned The mountaines of Atlas exceeding cold Most woonderfull and terrible snowes The extreme danger of snow which Iohn Leo himselfe escaped * Agadez A strange remedie vsed by the African merchants to quench their thirst A merchant constrained by extreme thirst gaue ten thousand duckats for a cup of water The fruit called Goron Cocos 〈◊〉 Onions The oliues of Africa Raine signifying plentie or 〈◊〉 The pesants and vnlearned people of Africa cunning in Astrologie The yeere of the Arabians and Africans The yeere diuided into two seasons onély vpon the mounain es of Atlas The increase of the riuers of Niger Nilu The French disease When and by what meanes the French 〈◊〉 was brought into Africa Hernia or the disease called 〈◊〉 or the rupture Earth of 〈◊〉 The Moores are a people of great fidelitie The author of this worke his Apologie for the former relation The fruit 〈◊〉 Arga. 〈◊〉 Cauterizing Their manner of entertaining strangers at Tednest Tednest left desolate 〈◊〉 Teculeth destroyed by the Portugals 1514. Hadecchis sacked by the Portugals 1513. Teijeut destroyed by the Portugals The curtesie of the citizens of Tesegdelt towards strangers 〈◊〉 A pestiferous Mahumetan preacher A treatise written by 〈◊〉 Leo concerning the Mahumetan religion A punishment of murther 〈◊〉 of yron Dates which will last but one yeere Great store of whales A whales rib of incredible greatnes Amber Store of sugar Cordouan leather of Maroco Good sale for cloth Gartguessem surprised by the Portugals Store of sugar and of woad Mines of siluer The 〈◊〉 of Homar Essuef * Sidi signifieth a Saint in the Arabian toong The first founder of Maroco Maroco in times past contained aboue 100000. families Mansor the king of Maroco * Obscurum Great store of bookes in olde time to be sold in Maroco The miserable death of Abraham king of Maroco and of 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Three golden sphears A great college Excellent spotted marble This king called Mansor was he vnto whom Rasis that famous 〈◊〉 dedicated his Booke The huge dominions of king Mansor The Christians happie 〈◊〉 against the Moores Ibnu Abdul Abdul Malich Ariuer running vnder the ground to Maroco The desolation of Agmet Iohn Leo student at Fez. The 〈◊〉 of 〈◊〉 Iohn Leo constrained to play the iudge * Or Elmaheli 〈◊〉 and copper 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 wars 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Free entertainment for merchants The occasion of the prince of Azafilin his death The prince of Azafi slaine as he was hearing of a Mahumetan sermon 〈◊〉 woon by the Portugals Iohn Leo ten yeeres old at the winning of 〈◊〉 The citie of Tit tributarie vnto the King of Portugall Elmedina left desolate Corne preserued 100. yeers * Or 〈◊〉 Azamur woon by the Portugals The fruit called by the Italians Frutto Africano Great plentic of fish Iohn Leo sent ambassadour from the King of Fez vnto Maroco By what means the townes of Elmadin and 〈◊〉 became subiect vnto the King of Fez. Grapes of maruellous bignes White honey The vncle of 〈◊〉 Leo sent ambassadour to the king of Tombuto The excellent wit towardlinesse of Iohn Leo at 16. yeers of age A most stately and rich present * Read of this Abraham before in the description of the citie of Maroco Ilbernus A notable and effectuall practise to wring more money out of
the 〈◊〉 purses * Or 〈◊〉 being a kinde of garment * Ilbernus These people liue like the Tartars * Or Salt-peter * Habat * Chauz or Cheuz A dangerous seducer The horrible desolation of Temesne English traffique Anfa destroied by the Portugals Iron-mines Why king Mansor built the towne of Rebat vpon the seashore Where king Mansor was buried Iron-mines Lyons and leopards * Or Sidi * Or 〈◊〉 English traffique Sela woon by a captaine of Castilia and recouered forthwith by the king of Fez. A merchant of Genoa The occasion of the bloody wars mooued by Sahid The citie of Fez besieged for seuen yeeres together * This number as I take it should rather be 819. Most cruell and 〈◊〉 lions The Portugals attempting to build a forte within the mouth of the riuer Subu defeated of their purpose and slaine A lamentable slaughter Iohn Leo his 〈◊〉 to 〈◊〉 Fierce lions Mecnase reduced vnder 〈◊〉 by the king of Fez. Idris the first founder of Fe Idris his 〈◊〉 valour at fifteene yeeres of age * 1526. The number and 〈◊〉 of the Mahumetan 〈◊〉 in Fez. The principall temple of Fez 〈◊〉 Caruven The reuenues of the great temple and how they are bestowed The 〈◊〉 of learning and learned men a principall cause of disorderly base gouernment Iohn Leo in his youth a notarie of an hospitall for two yeeres together * Like vnto our horse-mils The porters of Fez. * 〈◊〉 in his Italian 〈◊〉 calleth it Baioco The gouernour of the shambles in Fez. * In the Italian copie they are called Baiochi * Or 〈◊〉 A 〈◊〉 vsed in Africa how to keepe the princes tribute and merchants goods in securitie Iohn Leo was at Tauris in Persia. The punishment of malefactors in Fez. * Or Baiochi * Or 〈◊〉 A kinde of 〈◊〉 called Cuscusu The marriage of widowes The circumcision of their children 〈◊〉 Christian ceremonies 〈◊〉 among the 〈◊〉 Their funerals Rewards for poets in Fez. Three sorts of diuiners in Fez. An Arabian grammar written by Iohn Leo. Diuination and soothsaying forbidden by the lawe of 〈◊〉 Diuers Mahumetan sects 〈◊〉 sacked by the Tartars 72. principall sectes in the religion of Mahumet A booke written by Iohn 〈◊〉 of the liues of the Arabian philosophers The habitation of lepers in Fez and their gouernour * Or Aburinan The founder of new Fez. * Orturbant Engins for the conueiance of water The manner of choosing officers in the court of Fez. The king of Fez his guard How the king of Fez rideth on progresse * Or kines folkes The king of Fez his 〈◊〉 of warfare A 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Hunting of lions vsed by the king of Fez. Tame 〈◊〉 Tame lions A pleasant discourse how king Mansor was entertained by a fisher Read Osorius lib. 2. de rebus gestis Eman. 〈◊〉 this towne The 〈◊〉 of a prouerbe An attempt and defeate of the Portugals * 1562. The taking of Arzilla by the English Arzilla taken by the Portugals Habdulac the last king of the Marin family Read Osorius lib. 5. de rebus gestis Eman. Iohn Leo serued the king of Fez in his wars against Arzilla * Or Boetica Casar Ezzaghir taken by the king of Portugall The entrance of the Moores into Granada * Or çeuta The streits of Gibraltar from Septa but 12. miles broad Septa taken by the Portugals Abu Sahid king of Fez and his sixe sonnes slaine all in one night Threescore thousand Moores slaine * Here seemeth to be an error in the originall Zibibbo A caue or hole that perpetually casteth vp fire Wine that will last fifteene yeeres 〈◊〉 enioyed and reedified by the Spaniards Chasasa taken by the Spaniards Yron-mines * Or Tremisen The great curtesie of Mahumet toward strangers * 1526. Iron-mines Lions leopards and apes A woonderful bridge Porcellan * The beast called Dabah 〈◊〉 and tame serpents * Or Tremizen * Or Oran * Or Mersalcabir 〈◊〉 king of Tremizen restored to his kingdome by the emperour Charles the fift * 1526 Great store of ostriches A ship of great 〈◊〉 The king of Telensin taken prisoner and beheaded * Or Turbant A passage from Europe to Acthiopia through the kingdome of Tremizen Mines of 〈◊〉 A 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Oran taken by the Spaniards Mersalcabir surprised by the Spaniards * Perhaps 〈◊〉 Alger become tributarie to the king of Spaine A voyage performed by Iohn 〈◊〉 The citie of Bugia taken by Pedro de Nauarra The hard successe of the king of Tunis his three sonnes Hot baths A fond and senseles 〈◊〉 S. Augustine in times past bishop of Hippo. Great store of corall The fish called 〈◊〉 or 〈◊〉 * 1526 The building of Cairaoan Tunis subiect vnto Abdul-Mumen and other kings of Maroco * Or perhaps Andaluzia A strange kind of spinning Doble Sugar-Canes * El Mahdia The isle of Sicilie subdued by the gouernour 〈◊〉 The fruit called Habhaziz A riuer 〈◊〉 hot water The lake of lepers The armie of don Ferdinando defeated Gerbi made tributarie vnto Charles the fift by meanes of a knight of the Rhodes Plentie of dates 〈◊〉 taken by a fleete of 〈◊〉 Tripolis surprized by Pedro de Nauarra Iron-mines Most 〈◊〉 saffron The Arabians of Barca most cruell and bloodie theeues * Error The beast called 〈◊〉 The port of Gart 〈◊〉 Copper-mines The strange propertie of the palme or date-tree Indico The flesh of the Ostrich Infinit numbers of Scorpions Mines of lead and antimonie An iron-mine Deadly scorpions Great store of Manna 〈◊〉 mines A whole carouan conducted by a blinde guide who lead them by sent onely as at 〈◊〉 present the Carouans of Maroco are conducted ouer the Libyan deserts to Tombuto The Negros subiect vnto Ioseph king of Maroco Abuacre Izchia This round and white pulse is called Maiz in the west Indies The naturall commodities of Ghinea The Prince of Ghinea kept prisoner by Izchia The prince of Mâ—lli subdued by Izchia Tombuto was conquered by the king of Maroco 1589. from whencâ— he hath for yeerly tribute mightie summes of gold The king of Tombuto his daughters married vnto two rich merchants * 1526. Great scarcitie of salt in Tombuto which commoditie might be supplied by our English merchants to their vnspeakable gaine Reuerence vsed before the king of Tombuto Poysoned arrowes Shels vsed for coine like as in the kingdome of Congo Rich sale for cloth Their maner of sowing 〈◊〉 at the 〈◊〉 of Niger The 〈◊〉 of Guber slaine by Izchia Zingani Agadez tributarie to the king of Tombuto The kings of Zegzeg of Casena and of Cano subdued by Izchia the king of Tombuto Izchia Izchia The king of Zanfara slaine by Izchia and the people made tributarie Gold Izchia The desert of Seu. Fifteene or twentie 〈◊〉 exchanged for one horse A Negro-slaue who hauing slaine his Lord grew to great might and authoritie The riuer of Nilus not naeuigable betweene Nubia and Egypt The rich commodities of Nubia Most strong poyson Zingani Prete 〈◊〉 Bugiha 〈◊〉 450. miles long Gen. 10. 6. * Mesraim
camels backs At this towne of Suez they haue no fresh water but all their water is brought them from a place sixe miles distant vpon camels backs being notwithstanding brackish and bitter The western shore of the Red sea is inhabited with people called in old time Troglodytae which at this present do all of them yeelde obedience to the great Turke who considering that the fleets of the Portugales entered very often into the Red sea and were there receiued by the subiects of Prete Gianni and did him great domage hath thereupon taken occasion not onely to conquer the Troglodytae but also to wast and subdue a great part of Barnagasso the most Northerlie prouince of the said Prete So that the audacious attempts of the Portugales in those partes haue bred two most dangerous and bad effects the one is that the Arabians haue most strongly fortified all their sea-townes which before lay naked and without fortification the other for that the Turke also hath bin occasioned thereby to make warre against the Prete Wherefore they ought not to haue vndertaken any such enterprise but with full resolution and sufficient forces to accomplish the same for lesser attempts serue to no other end but onely to rouze and arme the enimie which was before secure and quiet Neither is it heere to be omitted that in the foresaide sea a man can saile in no ships nor barks but only those of the great Turke or at least with his licence paying vnto him for tribute a good part of the fraight For this purpose he hath certaine Magazines or store-houses of timber which is brought partly from the gulfe of Satalia and partly from Nicomedia and other places vpon the Euxin sea vnto Rosetto and Alexandria from whence it is afterward transported to Cairo and thence to Suez This sea is called the Red sea not in regard that the waters thereofbe all red but as some thinke from certaine red rushes which growe vpon the shore and as others are of opinion from a kinde of red earth which in sundry places it hath at the bottome which earth dieth not the very substance of the water red but by transparence causeth it especially neere the shore to appeere of that colour Africa Troglodytica THat sandie barren and desert part of Africa which lieth betweene Nilus and the Red sea especially to the south of the tropike was in old times inhabited by the Troglodytae a people so called bicause of their dwelling in caues vnder the ground Along this westerne coast of the Red sea runneth a ridge of mountaines which being an occasion that the inland riuers can not fall into the saide sea they are forced to discharge themselues into Nilus The foresaide mountaines and sea coast are now inhabited by Mahumetans being partly Arabians and partly Turkes which not many yeeres ago haue attempted to saile that sea and to inuade the regions adioining The naturall inhabitants are a rude barbarous people and very poore and beggerly The chiefe places of habitation are Corondol a speciall good porte Alcosser a place well knowne bicause that neere vnto it the saide mountaines open themselues and giue passage to the bringing in of the fruits and commodities of Abassia Suachen esteemed one of the principall ports in all the streights and being made by an island Here resideth the Bassa of the great Turke which is called the gouernour of Abassia with three thousand soldiers or thereabout Next followeth Ercoco the onely hauen towne of the Prete lying ouer against the little isle of Mazua and heere the mountaines make an other opening or passage for transporting of victuals out of the lande of the saide Prete Ianni From hence almost to the very entrance of the Red sea the coast is at this present vninhabited forlorne and desert Likewise from Suachen to Mazua is a continuall woode the trees whereof are but of small woorth Iust within the saide entrance standeth the towne and port of Vela vnder the iurisdiction of the king of Dancali a Moore Vpon all this west shore of the Red sea as likewise vpon the contrary east shore scarcitie of water is the cause why there are so fewe and so small places of habitation and the people runne and flocke togither where they may finde any pit or fountaine of water Some curious reader might here expect because I haue nowe passed so neere the frontiers of Egypt that I should make an exact description of that most famous and fruitefull prouince and likewise of the great city of Alcair and of the inundation and decrease of Nilus all which because they are expressed in most orient liuelie colours by our author Iohn Leo I should shew my selfe both iniurious to him and tedious to all iudiciall readers in anticipating and forestalling that before the beginning of his booke which he so neere the end doth in such large and particular wise intreate of Now therefore let vs proceed to the vpper or inner Ethiopia beginning with the first and most northerly prouince thereof called Nubia Nubia PAssing therefore westward from the Island of Siene you enter into the prouince of Nubia bordering on the west vpon Gaoga eastward vpon the riuer Nilus towards the North vpon Egypt and southward vpon the desert of Goran The inhabitants thereof called by Strabo 〈◊〉 liue at this present as Francisco Aluarez reporteth a most miserable and wretched kinde of life for hauing lost the sinceritie and light of the gospel they do embrace infinite corruptions of the Iewish and Mahumetan religions At the same time when the foresaid Aluarez was in Abassia there came certaine messengers out of Nubia to make suit vnto the Prete that he would send them priests and such persons as might preach and administer the sacraments vnto them But he returned answere that he coulde not in regard of the scarcitie of great cler-giemen in his dominions The said messengers reported that the Nubians had sent often to Rome for a bishop but being afterward by the inuasions of the Moores and the calamitie of warre cut short of that assistance they fell for want of teachers and ministers into extreme ignorance of Christian religion and by little and little were infected with the impious and abominable sects of the Iewes and Mahumetans Some Portugals trauailing to those parts sawe many churches destroied by the handes of the Arabians and in some places the pictures of saints painted vpon the wals They are gouerned by women and call their Queene Gaua Their principall citie called Dangala and consisting of about ten thousand housholds is a place of great traffike bicause it is so neere vnto Egypt and the riuer Nilus All their other habitations are villages and base cottages Their houses are built of claie and couered with strawe The chiefe commodities of this region are rice stone-sugar sanders iuorie for they take many elephants as likewise abundance of ciuet and golde in great plentie The countrey is for the most part sandie howbeit there
leaue his citie to the sacke and spoile of his enimies who found therein a good quantitie of gold siluer and pearle and likewise cloth of cotton of silke and of gold with great numbers of slaues such other commodities Howbeit they remained not there any long time but were inforced to abandon the place in regard of the most vnholesome and infectious aire This kingdome is tributarie to the great empire of Mohenemugi The kingdome of Quiloa situate in nine degrees towarde the pole Antarticke and like the last before mentioned taking the denomination thereof from a certaine isle and citie both called by the name of Quiloa may be accounted for the third portion of the lande of Zanguebar This island hath a very fresh and coole aire and is replenished with trees alwaies greene and with plentie of all kinde of victuals It is situate at the mouth of the great riuer Coauo which springeth out of the same lake from whence Nilus floweth and is called also by some Quiloa and by others Tahiua and runneth from the saide lake eastward for the space of sixe hundred miles till it approcheth neere the sea where the streame thereof is so forcible that at the very mouth or out-let dispersing it selfe into two branches it shapeth out a great island to the west where of vpon the coast you may behold the little isle and the citie of Quiloa being separated from the maine by a very narrow arme of the sea This isle as also the great isle before named is inhabited by Mahumetans who are of colour whitish Their women are comely and rich in their attire Their houses are fairely builte of lime and stone and haue within them very gallant and costly furniture and without they are enuironed with gardens and orchards full of sundry delicate fruits and herbes Of this island the whole kingdome as is aforesaide tooke the name which vpon the coast extendeth it selfe to Cabo Delgado or the slender Cape being the limite betweene Moçambique and this kingdome of Quiloa from thence it stretcheth vnto the foresaid riuer of Coauo In old time this kingdome of Quiloa was the chiefest of all the principalities there adioining for the Arabians which were masters thereof had inlarged their dominions for the space of nine hundred miles so that all the sea-coast and the islands as farre as Cabo de los Corrientes situate in fower and twentie degrees of southerly latitude were tributarie and subiect thereunto Whereupon when the Portugals arriued in those countries the king of this place trusted so much to himselfe that he thought he was able with his owne forces not onely to make a defensiue warre against them but also to driue them from those places which they had already surprized Howbeit quite contrarie to his expectation he was by the Portugals vtterly vanquished and put to flight Who seazing vpon the isle and citie enriched themselues with the great booties spoiles that they found therein Thus the mightie king of Quiloa who before the Portugals arriuall in those parts enioied also the chiefe commoditie of the rich gold mines of Sofala became atlength by a composition made with Don Pedro Cabral tributarie to the crowne of Portugall paying for tribute at the first fiue hundred and afterward fifteene hundred peeces of gold Vpon the foresaid isle the Portugals erected a fortresse which their king afterward commanded them to deface considering that there were other forts sufficient enough for that coast Betweene the two mightie riuers of Coauo and Cuama both which spring out of one lake with Nilus among the kingdomes of Mombara Mozimba Maeuas and Embeoe which are not as yet perfectly discouered lieth the kingdome of Moçambique so called of three small islets situate in the mouth of the riuer Meghincate in fowerteene and a halfe or fifteene degrees of southerly latitude which kingdome in ancient time by Ptolemey was called Promontorium 〈◊〉 In the principall of the three foresaide isles there is a very commodious and secure hauen capable of all kinde of vessels and there also the Portugals haue built a very strong forte where albeit in regard of the lownes and moisture of the soile being full of bogges and fens the aire be most vnholsome and in manner pestilent yet the oportunitie of the place and the plentie of victuals haue made it one of the most famous and frequented hauens in all that Ocean For which cause the fleetes which saile from Portugall to the east Indies when they are out of hope to performe their voiage in summer do vsually resort to spend the whole winter at Moçambique and those Portugale ships also which come from the Indies toward Europe must of necessitie touch at this place to furnish themselues with victuals Along these coasts do saile certaine Moores in vessels sowed or fastened togither with thongs of lether the sailes whereof they make of Palme-leaues and in stead of pitch and tallow they calke them with gumme which they gather in the woods Vnto this kingdome of Moçambique belongeth the prouince of Angoscia so called from certaine isles of that name lying directly ouer against it which prouince stretcheth to the riuer of Cuama It is inhabited by Mahumetans and Gentiles who are for the greatest part merchants and do trafficke along that coast with the same wares and commodities wherewith the people of Sofala do trade Sofala or Sefala the fift and last general part of Zanguebar is a small kingdome lying vpon the sea-coast between the riuers of Cuama and Magnice being so called after the name of a riuer running through it in which riuer lyeth an Island which is the head and principal place of the whole countrie On this Island the Portugales 〈◊〉 built a most strong forte by meanes whereof they are become Lordes of the richest trade in all those parts For to say nothing of the Iuorie Amber and slaues which are hither brought all the gold in a manner that is taken out of those manifolde and endlesse mines of Sofala and all the Inland-countries thereabouts is here exchanged vnto the Portugales for cotton-cloth silkes and other commodities of Cambaia all which is thought yeerely to amount vnto the summe of two millions of gold This golden trade was first in the power of the Moores of Magadazo and afterward it befell to them of Quiloa The inhabitants of Sofala are Mahumetans being gouerned by a king of the same sect who yeeldeth obedience to the crowne of Portugale because hee will not be subiect to the empire of Monomotapa Neither is it heere to bee omitted that in these parts vnder the name of Iuorie are bartered not onely elephants teeth but also the teeth of sea-horses which creatures are commonly found in the riuers of Nilus Niger Coauo Cuama Magnice and all other the great riuers of Africa The empire of Mohenemugi the third generall part of the lower Ethiopia THis mightie empire bordering south vpon the kingdome of Moçambique and the empire of
of artificers and merchants Vpon this mountaine dwelleth one called Sidi Heli Berrased being lord ouer many mountaines This Sidi Heli brought some ciuilitie into this mountaine rebelled against the king of Fez and maintained continuall warre against the Portugals The inhabitants of the villages of this and the foresaid mountaines are free from all taxation and tribute bicause 〈◊〉 serue vnder their captaine as well for horsemen as for 〈◊〉 Come heere groweth small store but great plentie of flaxe There are 〈◊〉 woods and many fountaines vpon this hill and the inhabitants go all 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Of mount Beni Gebara THis mountaine is very steepe and of a woonderfull height out of the foote whereof spring certaine riuers Vines and figges here are great store but no corne at all and the inhabitants weare most base attire They haue abundance of goats oxen of so little a stature that a man would take them to be calues of halfe a yeere olde Euery weeke they haue a market being furnished with very few commodities Hither doe the merchants of Fez resort and the muletters or carriers which conueie fruits out of this mountaine vnto Fez. In times past it was subiect vnto a certaine prince of the king of Fez his kinred and there were collected out of this mountaine almost two thousand ducates of yeerely tribute Of mount Beni Ierso THis mountaine in times past was exceedingly well peopled Heere was likewise a faire colledge built wherein the Mahumetan lawe was publikely taught for which cause the inhabitants were freed from all tributes and exactions Afterward a certaine tirant being assisted by the king of Fez made this mountaine to become tributarie vnto him but first he put the inhabitants to flight and then destroied the colledge wherein were founde bookes woorth more then fowre thousand ducates and the learned and famous men he cruelly put to the sword This was done in the 918. yeere of the Hegeira which was in the yeere of our Lord 1509. Of mount Tezarin THis mountaine called by the inhabitants Tezarin standeth neer vnto the foresaid Beni Ierso aboundeth greatly with fountaines deserts vineyards Vpon the top thereof stand diuers ancient buildings which so farre foorth as I can coniecture were erected by the Romains And here as is before signified certaine fond people continually search in caues and holes of the earth for the Romains treasure All the inhabitants of this mountaine are most ignorant people and greatly oppressed with exactions Of mount Beni Busibet THis is a most cold mountaine and therefore it yeeldeth neither corne nor cattell both by reason of the extreme coldnes and the barrennes thereof Moreouer the leaues of the trees are not fit for goates to feede vpon They haue so great plentie of nuts that they abundantly furnish the citie of Fez and all other neighbour cities and townes therewith All their grapes are blacke whereof they make a certaine pleasant meate called Zibibbo They make likewise great store of must and wine They are clad in certaine woollen clokes or mantles such as are vsed in Italy these mantles haue certaine hoods which couer their heads and visages so that you can scarce discerne them to be men and they are particoloured with blacke and white spots In winter the merchants that resort vnto this mountaine to carrie away nuts and raisins vnto Fez can scarce finde any meate to eate for there is neither corne nor flesh but onely onions and certaine salt fishes which are extreme deere They vse likewise to eate sodden must and beanes dressed after their manner and this is the daintiest fare that this mountaine can affoord and their sodden must they eate with much bread Of mount Beni Gualid IT is an exceeding high and steepe hill and the inhabitants are very rich for of their blacke grapes they make the foresaid meate called Zibibbo Almonds figges and oliues they haue in great abundance neither pay they any tribute vnto the king of Fez but onely each family one fourth part of a ducate to the end they may haue free libertie to buie and sell in Fez market And if any citizen of Fez doth them any wrong when they take him or anie of his kinred in their mountaine they will not suffer him to returne home to Fez till sufficient recompence be made These people go decently apparelled and they haue a priuilege granted that whatsoeuer persons are banished out of Fez may freely remaine in their mountaine yea they will bestow their liuing gratìs vpon such banished persons so long as they continue amongst them And doubtles if this mountaine were subiect vnto the king of Fez it would affoord him yeerely for tribute sixe thousand ducates for it containeth mo then sixe hundreth rich families Of mount Merniza THis mountaine standèth iust by the former the inhabitants being endued with the same nobilitie libertie and wealth that the people of the former are endued with The women of this mountaine for any light iniurie offered by their husbands leauing foorthwith their saide husbands and children will depart vnto some other mountaine and seeke them newe paramours fit for their humor For which cause they are at continuall warre one with another neither will they be reconciled till he that is last possessed of the woman pay her former husband all such money as he spent in the solemnizing of her marriage and for this purpose they haue certaine iudges that make their poore clients spend almost all their whole substance Of mount Haugustian IT is an exceeding high and a cold mountaine containing great store of springs and abundance of vines bearing blacke grapes togither with plentie of figs of honie and of quinces howbeit the sweetest and fairest quinces grow vpon a plaine at the foote of the hill Likewise they are well stored with oile and are free from all tribute and yet there is not one of them but in token of a thankefull minde will sende great gifts vnto the king of Fez hence it is that they may freely and securely traffique with the people of Fez of whom they buie great store of corne wooll and cloth They are most ciuilly and decently apparelled especially such as dwell vpon the principall part of this mountaine who are most of them either merchants or artificers and a great many of them gentlemen Of Mount Beni Iedir THis is a great and well peopled mountaine but it yeeldeth nought but grapes whereof they vse to make the foresaid Zibibbo and wines The inhabitants were in times past free from all tribute howbeit in regard of their daily robberies and outrages committed against other people the gouernour of Bedis being aided with some souldiers of Fez subdued them all and depriued them of their libertie in this mountaine there are about fiftie farmes or granges which scarcely pay fower hundred ducates for tribute Of Mount Lucai THis mountaine is of a wonderfull height and verie difficult to ascend The inhabitants are exceeding rich hauing great abundance of raisins figs almonds oyle
Thomas and others neere adioining are immediately vnder his dominion These islands are maintained with their owne victuall and prouision and yet they haue also some out of Europe as in like manner they send some thither especially sugars and fruits wherewith the isle of Madera woonderfully aboundeth as also with wine And the iland of Sant Thomas likewise hath great abundance of sugars These States haue no incumbrance but by the English and French men of warre which for all that go not beyond Cape Verde At the ilands of Arguin and at Sant George de la Mina the Portugals haue planted factories in forme of fortresses by meanes of which they trade with the bordering people of Guinie and Libya and get into their hands the gold of Mandinga and other places neere about Among the adherent Princes the richest and most honorable is the king of Congo in that his kingdome is one of the most flourishing and plentifull countries in all Ethiopia The Portugals haue there two Colonies one in the citie of S. Saluador and an other in the island Loanda They haue diuers rich commodities from this kingdome but the most important is euery yeere about 5000. slaues which they transport from thence and sell them at good round prizes in all the isles and maine lands of the west Indies and for the head of euerie slaue so taken vp there is a good taxe paid to the crowne of Portugall From this kingdome one might easily go to the countrie of Prete Ianni for it is not thought to be very farre off and it doth so abound with Elephants victuall and all other necessarie things as would bring singular ease and commodity to such an enterprise Vpon the kingdome of Congo confineth Angola with whose prince of late yeeres Paulo Dias a Portugall captaine made war And the principall occasion of this warre are certaine mines of siluer in the mountaines of Cabambe no whit inferior to those of Potossi but by so much are they better as fine siluer goeth beyond that which is base and course And out of doubt if the Portugals had esteemed so well of things neere at hand as they did of those farther off and remote and had thither bent their forces wherewith they passed Capo de buena esperança and went to India Malaca and the Malucoes they had more easily and with lesse charge found greater wealth for there are no countries in the world richer in gold and siluer then the kingdomes of Mandinga Ethiopia Congo Angola Butua Toroa Maticuo Boro Quiticui Monomotapa Cafati and Mohenemugi But humane auarice esteemeth more of an other mans then his owne and things remote appeere greater then those neere at hand Betweene Cabo de buena esperança and Cape Guardafu the Portugals haue the fortresses of Sena Cephala and Mozambique And by these they continue masters of the trade with the bordering nations all which abound in gold and iuorie By these fortresses they haue speciall commoditie for their nauigation to the Indies bicause their fleetes sometimes winter and otherwhiles victuall and refresh themselues there In these parts the king of Melinde is their greatest friend and those of Quiloa and other neighbour-islands are their tributaries The Portugals want nothing but men For besides other islands which they leaue in a manner abandoned there is that of Saint Laurence one of the greatest in all the world being a thousand two hundred miles long and fower hundred and fower-score broad the which though it be not well tilled yet for the goodnes of the soile it is apt and fit to be manured nature hauing distinguished it with riuers harbours most commodious baies These States belonging to the crowne of Portugall feare no other but such sea-forces as may be brought thither by the Turkes But the daily going to and fro of the Portugall fleetes which coast along vp and downe those seas altogither secureth them In the yeere 1589. they tooke neere vnto Mombaza fower gallies and a galliot belonging to the Turkes who were so bold as to come euen thither The dominions of the great Turke in Africa THe great Turk possesseth in Africa all the sea-coast from Velez de Gumera or as some hold opinion from the riuer Muluia which is the easterne limite of the kingdome of Fez euen to the Arabian gulfe or Red sea except some few places as namely Mersalcabir Melilla Oran and Pennon which the king of Spaine holdeth In which space before mentioned are situate sundrie of the most famous cities and kingdomes in all Barbarie that is to say Tremizen Alger Tenez Bugia Constantina Tunis Tripolis and all the countrey of Egypt from Alexandria to the citie of Asna called of old Siene togither with some part of Arabia Troglodytica from the towne of Suez to that of Suachen Also in Africa the grand Signor hath fiue viceroies called by the names of Beglerbegs or Bassas namely at Alger Tunis Tripolis at Missir for all Egypt and at Suachen for those places which are chalenged by the great Turke in the dominions of Prete Ianni Finally in this part at Suez in the bottome of the Arabian gulfe is one of his fower principall Arsenals or places for the building repairing docking and harbouring of his warlike gallies which may lie heere vnder couert to the number of fiue and twentie bottomes A summarie discourse of the manifold Religions professed in Africa and first of the Gentiles AFrica containeth fower sorts of people different in religion that is to say Gentiles Iewes Mahumetans and Christians The Gentiles extend themselues along the shoare of the Ocean in a manner from Cabo Blanco or the white Cape euen to the northren borders of Congo as likewise from the southerly bounds of the same kingdome euen to Capo de buena Esperança from thence to that De los Corrientes and within the land they spred out from the Ethiopick Ocean euen vnto Nilus and beyond Nilus also from the Ethiopick to the Arabian sea These Gentiles are of diuers sorts for some of them haue no light of God or religion neither they are gouerned by any rule or law Wherupon the Arabians call them Cafri that is to say lawlesse or without law They haue but fewe habitations and they liue for the most part in caues of mountaines or in woods wherein they finde some harbour from winde and raine The ciuilest among them who haue some vnderstanding and light of diuinitie and religion obey the Monomotapa whose dominion extendeth with a great circuite from the confines of Matama to the riuer Cuama but the noblest part thereof is comprehended betweene the mightie riuer of Magnice or Spirito Sancto and that of 〈◊〉 for the space of sixe hundred leagues They haue no idols and beleeue in one only God called by them Mozimo Little differing from these we may esteeme the subiects of Mohenemugi But among all the Cafri the people called Agag or Giacchi are reputed most brutish inhabiting in woods and dens and being deuourers of
while sundry Portugals came out of India to the court of the Prete not so much to visite and salute him as to declare the good will and kinde affection of their king towards him Whereupon Queene Helena which was then protectresse of the Ethiopian or Abassin empire to requite the king of Portugal with like friendship sent vnto him in the company of the foresaid Portugals an ambassador or messenger of hers called Matthew who was a merchant borne in Armenia being a man skilfull in sundry languages and in many other matters This Matthew shee not onely furnished with letters requisite for such an ambassage but enioined him also to declare by word of mouth vnto the king of Portugal the principall heads of their doctrine or beleefe together with their rites and customes and the present state of the whole church of Ethiopia Moreouer shee presented him with a little crosse made as they suppose of a piece of that very crosse whereon our sauiour Christ was crucified with many other tokens and pledges of mutuall christian amity Thus Matthew being dismissed tooke his iourney to the east Indies from whence he was conducted by sea into Portugal where arriuing in the yeere 1513 he did his message according to Queene Helenas directions vnto the king Don Emanuel The king taking wonderfull delight at this message and at these guiftes which were sent him from a Christian prince so far remote not long after prepared a new ambassage with letters and presents of exceeding value in which ambassage the pietie and vertue of Francis Aluarez a Portugal priest extraordinarily appeered For he remaining sixe whole yeeres in the court and countrie of Ethiopia tooke there most diligent notice of all matters worthie the obseruation And he had often and familiar conference not onely with the emperour himselfe but also with the patriarke concerning the whole state of their religion and of matters ecclesiasticall as also he was a most curious obseruer of all their rites and ceremonies Who in the yeere of Christ 1526. being dismissed by Prete Ianni was accompanied into Portugall by another Ethiopian or Abassin ambassadour called Zagazabo and brought letters also to Pope Clement the seuenth with a golden crosse of a pound weight It seemeth likewise that the said ambassadour of Prete Ianni was a very honest vpright and godly man who by reason of their continuall warres was detained in Portugall till the yeere of our Lord 1539. The letters of Prete Ianni to the Pope were by Francis Aluarez deliuered at Bononia in the yeere of Christ 1533. Where in the presence of Charles the Emperour and before a mightie assembly of people they were read and approoued with great ioy and acclamation Both which letters as well to the Pope as to the king Don Emanuel were full of Christian pietie and loue wherein first that mightie Emperour though therein he was deceiued with singular reuerence and dutie submitted himselfe vnto the Pope of Rome as to the head of all the church offering by the said Francis most humble obedience after the manner of other Christian princes As likewise he profered vnto them both the offices of beneuolence charity and true friendship intending to ioine a firme league of amitie with them and signifying that his dominions were free and open to all Christians that would by sea or land frequent the same Also he plainly seemed to detest the mutuall discords of Christians exhorting them to bandy their forces against the Mahumetans and promising his roiall assistance and most earnest endeuour for the vanquishing of Christs enimies and their conuersion to the truth Lastly he required that men of learning and of skill in the holy Scriptures as likewise diligent Printers and all sorts of artificers might be sent him to be emploied in the seruice of his church and common wealth Signifying that he would not violently detaine any man in his dominions but would dismisse him into his owne countrey with honour and liberall rewards And that he might testifie his louing and kind affection to the king of Portugall by a most woorthie monument he sent him the crowne off his owne head as the present of 〈◊〉 dutifull sonne to his most deere father Wherefore by this most admirable diligence and industrie of the Portugals Ethiopia in these last times hath beene discouered and made knowne vnto vs. Neither is there any thing in the Ethiopians religion so hidden and vnreuealed which hath not either beene found out by Francis Aluarez or most largely declared by Zagazabo the Ethiopian ambassadour Out of the relations therefore of these two woorthy authors as out of a fountaine we will deriue the whole substance of our speech The ground of the Ethiopicke religion is the profession of one true God and of his sonne Iesus Christ which of all Christians is the peculiar and proper marke whereby onely they are to be named Christians Concerning this maine point the Ethiopians faith stands most firme and entire for they togither with vs do confesse and adore one God and three persons of the deitie God the father God the sonne begotten of his father from euerlasting who for vs men was incarnate died and rose againe and God the holy Ghost proceeding from the father and the sonne In this article they follow the holy creed of the Apostles and the Nicene creed Saue that they hold that Christ descended into hell for his owne soule and for the soule of Adam which he receiued of the virgine Marie For this opinion they do most stedfastly embrace saying that it came by most ancient tradition from Christ himselfe to his Apostles The old testament they so conioine with the new as they allow and receiue both Iewish Christian ceremonies Vpon the eight day after their birth they circumcise all children both male and female And vnlesse sicknes vrgeth them to make the more haste they defer the baptisme of their male children till they be fortie and of their females til they be eightie daies old Circumcision they say they receiued from Queene Maqueda which went to heare the wisedome of Salomon and baptisme from Saint Philip and from the Eunuch which Philip baptized Yet do they stedfastly hold that not by circumcision but by faith in Iesus Christ they attaine vnto true felicitie Their baptisme they 〈◊〉 euerie yeere for vpon the day of the three Sages otherwise called Epiphanie whereon Christ was baptised in Iordan they meet in great assemblies and enter naked into the water where the priest layeth his hand vpon them dippeth them thrise and pronounceth the words of baptisme saying I baptise thee in the name of the father the sonne and the holy ghost adding thereto the signe of the crosse This custome receiued from their predecessors they doe most carefully obserue not thereby to abase or extenuate their first baptisme but that euerie yeere they may receiue a new absolution from their sinnes Also vnto their infants vpon the verie day of their baptisme they giue
length into Congo with two friers and fower priests and ordered matters reasonablie well In the meane while Don Aluaro died and his sonne of the same name succeeded him who failed not to sollicite both Don Sebastian and Don Henrie kings of Portugall and the king of Spaine also that they would send him some competent number of preachers and ecclesiasticall persons for the augmentation of the Christian faith in his kingdome and amidst these determinations he died and a sonne of his called also Don Aluaro succeeded him During these tumults certaine other Portugall Priests went into Congo labouring to prune that vine which had beene long time giuen ouer and forsaken These men haue built them an house in the island of Loanda where do remaine sixe or seauen of their companie that are readie to goe sometimes hither and sometimes thither as neede requireth In the yeere of our Lord 1587. king Aluaro who bicause hee was not borne of lawfull matrimonie was but little esteemed by his people would needes haue one of these priests about him by whose meanes and authoritie he came to reputation and credite And God himselfe fauoured his proceedings for meeting a sister of his by the fathers side and one of her brothers with a great armie in the fielde he gaue him battaile and bore himselfe therein with such valour as he did not onely ouerthrow the forces of his enime but further slew the ring-leader and generall thereof and in the place where he was slaine he would needs build a church to the honour of Christianitie And the more by his owne example to mooue others himselfe was the very first man that put hand to this worke and likewise with edicts and fauourable proclamations he furthered and doth still aduance the preaching of the Gospell and the propagation of religion Who so is desirous to be more fully instructed concerning the Christianitie of this kingdome let him read the third and eight bookes of Osorius de Reb. gest Eman. the second booke of Philippo Pigafetta his story of Congo most properly and decently translated by the iudicious master ABRAHAM HARTWELL Of the Christian religion in the kingdome of Angola THose Portugal priests that remaine in the Iland Loanda as aboue we declared bend themselues more to the conuersion of Angola then of Congo The reason is as I suppose because the enterprise is new and more neerely concerneth the Portugals who there make war vnder the conduct of Paulo Diaz to get possession of the mountaines of Cabambe which abound with rich mines of very fine siluer It seemeth that god hath fauoured the amplification of his holy name in those parts with some myraculous victories For first in the yeere 1582 a fewe Portugals in an excursion that they made put to flight an innumerable companie of the Angolans And by this victory they brought in a manner the halfe of that kingdome into their handes and many Princes and nobles of the land vpon this were moued to request and make suit to be baptized Among whom was Songa prince of Banza the kinges Father in law whose brother and children were baptized already Tondella also the second person of Angola was conuerted many Idols were throwne to the ground and insteede thereof they erected crosses and built some churches And within this little while all the Prouince of Corimba is in a manner conuerted Also in the yeere 1584 an hundred and fiftie Portugals together with such succors as were conducted by Paule Prince of Angola who was not long before conuerted discomfited more then a million of Ethiopians In an other place we declared the readie meanes and oportunities that the Princes of Ethiopia and of India haue to assemble and bring togither such infinite armies They say that certaine Ethiopians being demaunded by a Portugal how it came to passe that so great a multitude turned their backes to so few men they answered that the Portugals strength did it not which with a blast they would haue confounded but a woman of incomparable beawty apparelled in shining light and brightnes and an old man that kept her company with a flaming sword in his hand who went aloft in the ayre before the Portugals and ouerthrew the squadrons of the Angolans putting them to flight and destruction In the yeere 1588 were conuerted Don Paulo Prince of Mocumba and with him a thousand persons more The Christian religion of Monomotapa IN the dominions of the Monomotapa the light of the faith being with incredible ease kindled was also as suddenly 〈◊〉 by the deuises of the Mahumetans For some Portugals going to the court of that monarche and giuing himselfe with some of his Princes and vassals a taste of the gospel were an occasion afterwards that Gonsaluo de Sylua a man no lesse famous for the integrity of his life then for his bloud and parentage went ouer thither from Goa in the yeere 1570. This man arriuing with a prosperous voiage in the kingdome of Inambane conuerted and baptized the king his wife children and sister with his Barons and nobility and the greatest part of his people Through whose perswasion Gonsaluo left his companions prosecuting his voiage towards the Monomotapa onely with sixe Portugals Thus hauing passed Mozambique and the mouth of the riuer Mafuta and of Colimane they came to Mengoaxano king of Quiloa where they were courteously receiued entertained And though they had licence in this place to preach the gospell yet would not Gonsaluo here stay iudging that vpon the cōuersion of the Monomotapa that of the neighbor kings would follow without delaie Embarking themselues therefore vpon the riuer Cuama they sailed along the coast of Africa eight daies till they came to Sena a very populous village where Gonsaluo baptized about fiue hundred slaues belonging to the Portugal merchants and prepared for the receiuing of the gospel the king of Inamor one of the Monomotapaes vassals In the ende Antonio Caiado a Portugall gentleman came from the court to guide Gonsaluo towardes the same place Whither being in short time come he was presently visited on the emperours behalfe and bountifullie presented with a great summe of gold and many oxen But he returning back these presents gaue the Monomotapa to vnderstand that he should know of Caiado what he desired The emperour was astonished at this his magnanimity receiued him afterwards with the greatest honor that could possibly be deuised And causing him to sit vpon the same carpet whereon also his owne mother sate he presently demaunded how many women how much ground and how many oxen thinges mightily esteemed of in those countries he would haue Gonsaluo answered that he would haue no other thing but himselfe Whereupon the emperour turning to Caiado who was their interpreter said that surely it could not be otherwise but that he who made so little account of thinges so highly valued by others was no ordinary man and so with much courtesie he sent him back to his lodging Not long time after
the emperour let Gonsaluo to vnderstand that he and his mother were resolued to become Christians and that therefore he should come to baptize them But he to instruct them better in the faith deferred it off for some daies Finally fiue and twentie daies after his arriuall with vnspeakeable 〈◊〉 and preparation he gaue the water of baptisme to the king and to his mother He was called Sebastian and shee Maria. And presently after about three hundred of the principall in this emperours court were baptized Gonsaluo for his wonderfull abstinence charity wisedome and for many other his singular vertues was so reuerenced and esteemed by those people as if he had come downe from heauen among them Now as matters proceeded thus prosperously and with so desireable successe behold an horrible tempest arose which drowned the ship There were in the court fower Mahumetans most deere vnto the king These men finding out some occasion suggested vnto him that Gonsaluo was a Magioian who by witchcraftes and 〈◊〉 could turne kingdomes topsie turuie and that he was come to prie into his estate and to stir vp his people to rebellion and so by this meanes to bring his kingdome vnder subiection to the Portugals With these and such like suggestions they brought the king who was but a young man to determine the death of Gonsaluo The effect whereof was that after long praier reposing himselfe a little he was by eight of the kings seruants slaine and his body throwne into the riuer Mensigine Neere vnto the same place were with like violence put to death fiftie new-conuerted Christians This rage and furie being ouer the king was aduertised by the Principall of his kingdome and then by the Portugals of the excesse and outrage he had therein committed He excused himselfe the best he could causing those Mahumetans to be slaine who had seduced him and he sought out some others also who lay hid to put them to death Whereupon it seemed that by the death of father Gonsaluo the conuersion of this great king and of his empire should haue bin furthered and no whit hindered if the Portugals would rather haue preuailed by the word of God then by force of armes The which I say bicause insteed of sending new preachers into those countries to preserue that which was alreadie gotten and to make new conuersions they resolued to reuenge themselues by warre There departed therefore out of Portugall a good fleete with a great number of noble Portugals therein conducted by Francisco Barretto At the fame of this warre mooued against him the Monomotapa full of feare sent to demaund peace of Barretto But he aspiring to the infinite mines of gold in that kingdome contemned all conditions offered him The effect of this enterprise was that this armie which was so terrible to a mightie Monarke was in fewe daies consumed by the intemperature of the aire which is there insupportable to the people of Europe Of the fortresses and colonies maintained by the Spaniards and Portugals vpon the maine of Africa by meanes whereof the Christian religion hath there some small footing VVhich albeit in other respects they haue beene mentioned before yet heere also in this one regard it seemeth not from our purpose briefely to remember them TO the propagation of Christianity those fortresses colonies woonderfully helpe which the Castilians but much more the Portugals haue planted on the coast of Africa For they serue very fitly either to conuert infidels vpon diuers occasions or by getting an habite of their languages and customes to make a more easie way to their conuersion For those who are not sufficient to preach serue for interpreters to the preachers And thus God hath oftentimes beene well serued and with excellent fruit and effect by the indeuour of some soldiers On the coast of Africa vpon the Mediterran sea the Spaniards haue Oran Mersalchibir Melilla c. and the Portugals Tanger and çeuta and without the streights of Gibraltar Arzilla and Mazagan and in Ethiopia Saint George de la mina They haue also a setled habitation in the citie of Saint Saluador the Metropolitan of the kingdome of Congo and in Cumbiba a countrie of Angola Beyond the cape de Buena esperança they hold the fortresses and colonies of Sena Cefala and Mozambiche Heere besides their secular clergie is a conuent of Dominicans who indeuour themselues to instruct the Portugals and the Pagans also which there inhabite and do trafficke thither Of the Islands of the Atlanticke Ocean where the Spaniards and Portugals haue planted religion THe Christian name is also augmented and doth still increase in the Atlantick Ocean by meanes of the colonies conducted thither partly by the Spaniards and partly by the Portugals The Spaniards vndertooke the enterprize of the Canaries in the yeere of our Lord 1405. vsing therein the assistance of Iohn Betancort a French gentleman who subdued Lançarota Fuerteuentura They were taken againe certaine yeeres after and were first subdued by force of armes afterwards by the establishment of religion so that at this present all the inhabitants are Christians Also the Portugals haue assaied to inhabite certaine other islands of that Ocean especially Madera which was discouered in the yeere 1420. This at the first was all ouer a thicke and mightie wood but now it is one of the best manured islands that is knowne There is in the same the citie of Funcial being the seate of a bishop Puerto santo which is fortie miles distant from Madera was found out in the yeere 1428. and this also began presently to be inhabited The isles of Arguin being sixe or seauen and all but little ones came to the knowledge of the Portugals in the yeere 1443. Heere the king hath a fortresse for the traffike of those countries The islands of Cabo Verde were discouered in the yeere 1440. by Antonio di Nolli a Genoway or as others affirme in the yeere 1455. by Aloizius Cadamosto These be nine in number the principall of them is Sant Iago being seuentie miles in length where the Portugals haue a towne situate vpon a most pleasant riuer called Ribera grande which consisteth at 〈◊〉 least of fiue hundred families The isle of Saint Thomas being somewhat greater then Madera was the last island discouered by the Portugals before they doubled the cape De buena Esperança They haue heere a colonie called Pouasaon with a bishop who is also the bishop of Congo and it conteineth seuen hundred families Vnder the gouernment of Saint Thomas are the neighbour islands of Fernando Pó and that del Principe which are as it were boroughs belonging to the same The island Loanda though it be vnder the king of Congo yet is a great part thereof inhabited by the Portugals For heere is the famous port of Mazagan whither the ships of Portugall and Brasile do resort Heere the fleetes are harboured and the soldiers refreshed and heere they haue their hospitall As also heere the Portugall