When the Doctors and Instructers see them sit to be Graduates, they goe with them
to the Monkes of Alleluya, and of Plurimanos, who with a Monkes Cowle, of
Hood, and other Doctorall Ensignes, doe inuest and inaugurate them in that De∣gree.
They are great Herbarists. They make
Mummia otherwise then in other
parts, where it is either made of bodies buried in the Sands, or taken out of auncient
Sepulchres, where they had beene layd, being embaulmed with Spices. For they take
a captiue Moore, of the best complexion, and after long dieting and medicining of
him, cut off his head in his sleepe, and gashing his bodie full of wounds, put therein
all the best Spices, and then wrap him vp in Hay, being before couered with a Scare∣cloth;
after which, they burie him in a moist place, couering the bodie with earth.
Fiue dayes being passed, they take him vp againe, and remouing the Seare-cloth and
Hay, hang him vp in the Sunne, whereby the bodie resolueth and droppeth a sub∣stance
like pure Baulme, which liquor is of great price. The fragrant sent is such,
while it hangeth in the Sunne, that it may be smelt (he sayth) a league off. The pri∣uiledges
of Physicians are, that they are freed from the common custome of giuing
one in three of their sonnes for the Emperours Warres, that they may ride on Ele∣phants
in the Cities, which is allowed onely to the Emperours, Prelats, and Priests,
that are Virgins: They may also weare Miniuer-Hoods, and are free from Subsidies
and Payments. Theologie and the Chaldee Tongue is taught onely among their
Priests and Ecclesiasticall persons in their Churches and Monasteries. They read Di∣uinitie
in their natiue Tongue: the Text is the foure first generall Councels: the Scrip∣ture
they reade in Chaldee, which is with them as Latine with vs. They handle not
questions as the Schoolemen, in Logicall Disputations and Arguings, but copiously
and eloquently interprete the Scriptures.
Because we haue mentioned their Cities Saba and Zambra, let vs take some briese
view of them, and so leaue this Spaniard, whose Discourse hath (I hope, not without
some delight and profit) thus long holden you. Besides these two Cities, none haue
aboue three thousand houses in them. But these are populous and magnificent, with
Towers, Temples, triumphant Arches, Obeliskes, Pyramides, and the like tokens of
Industrie, Antiquitie, and Maiestie. Saba was founded by that Queene which visited
Salomon, and was the mother-Citie of the Empire. It hath fiue thousand houses, great
and sumptuous, the streets spacious, with Portalls, or Penthouses, that men may walke
safe from the Sunnes violence. It hath foure chiefe Gates, all of Alabaster and Iasper,
wrought with Antique-workes; the gate-dores of Cedar curiously carued. The waies
that lead to these Gates, for the space of two leagues, are set with Palmes, Planes, O∣ranges,
Cedars, Cypresses, and other Trees on both sides, for shade and fruit: the foure
high streets goe through the Citie acrosse, and where they meet, is an Arch or Vault
erected on high Pillars, fairely wrought and gilded, with the brazen Image of S. Ma∣thew,
their supposed Patron, as bigge as a Gyant, gilded also; the worke of Architects
sent by Francis, Duke of Florence. Neere to this Citie are Mines of Gold, Gardens,
and other places of pleasure and profit.
Zambra is greater, containing thirtie thousand houses, and innumerable concourse
of people. It stands in the Kingdome of Cafates, and high that great Lake, which
hereof is called Zambra: where the Emperour leauing his wonted manner of remo∣uing
vp and downe in Tents, hath fixed his Court royall: and yet without the Citie
are many Tents that belong to the court. Here the Prete liueth, with two and fortie
sonnes of Kings, and with his Great Councell, and the Latine. Alexander the third
built the Pallace here 1570, with the Duke of Florence his workmen.