Purchas his pilgrimage. Or Relations of the vvorld and the religions obserued in all ages and places discouered, from the Creation vnto this present In foure partes. This first containeth a theologicall and geographicall historie of Asia, Africa, and America, with the ilands adiacent. Declaring the ancient religions before the Floud ... With briefe descriptions of the countries, nations, states, discoueries, priuate and publike customes, and the most remarkable rarities of nature, or humane industrie, in the same. By Samuel Purchas, minister at Estwood in Essex.

RELATIONS OF THE REGIONS AND RELIGI∣ONS IN AFRICA. OF AeTHIOPIA, AND THE AFRICAN ILANDS; AND OF THEIR RELIGIONS. (Book 7)

THE SEVENTH BOOKE. (Book 7)

CHAP. I.

Of Aethiopia Superior, and the Antiquities thereof.

OVT of Nubia we needed neither Palinurus helpe, nor Char••n, to set vs on the Aethiopian Territorie: the Sea is farre distant, and the Riuer Nilus which parteth them, (whether loth to mixe his fresh wa∣ters, with the Seas saltnesse, or fearing to fall downe those dreadfull * 1.1 Cataracts, or dreading the mul∣titude of pits, which the Aegyptians make in his way to intrap him) here sheweth his vnwillingnesse to passe further forward, and distracted with these passions, hath almost lost his channell, diffusing himselfe in such lingring and heartlesse manner, as man and beast dare here insult on his waters, and I also haue aduentured to take the aduantage of these shallowes, and wade ouer into this anciently renowned Aethiopia. The name Aethiopia came from Aethiops, a 1.2 the sonne of Vulcan: before, it had beene called Aetheria, and after that Atlantia. b 1.3 Lydiat deriueth Aethiopia of Ai, and Thebets, the land of, or beyond Thebais, which was called Aegyptus Superior, next to Aethiopia. Chytraeus saith, it is deriued of 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 splendeo, and •••••• visus; of the Sunnes burning presence. Two Aethiopia's are found in Afrikes as Pl••ie c 1.4 witnesseth out of Homer (so ancient is the diuision) the Easterne and Westerne. And this partition is by some still followed, as namely by d 1.5 Osorius. Others

diuide the same into the Asiatike and African: Author here of is Heredotus e 1.6 in his Po∣lymnis, which reckoneth two sorts of Aethiopians in Xerxes huge Armie; the Easterne, mustered vnder the Indian Standards; the other, of Africa by themselues, differing from the former in language, and their curled haire. Eusebius f 1.7 mentioneth Aethio∣pians neare the Riuer Indus. And to let passe Pausanias g 1.8 his search among the Seres, or Philostratus h 1.9 at Ganges, for some Asian Aethiopians; the Scriptures seeme to mention an Aethiopia in Asia. For Cush, the Sonne of Cham, (of whom Iosephus i 1.10 saith the Aethiopians called themselues, and were called by others, Chusaei) was Author, not only of the Ethiopians in Africa, but of many peoples of Arabia also in Asia, as Moses k 1.11 relateth. And hence perhaps it was that Miriam l 1.12 and Aaron contended with Moses for his wife Zippora, because shee was an Ethiopian. And yet was shee a Midianite: but called an Ethiopian, in respect of the Neighbour-hood which Mi∣dian had to Aethiopia Orientalis, as m 1.13 Vatablus obserueth out of the Iewish writers, or for that Midian is also assigned to Ethiopia, taken in larger sense, as saith * 1.14 Genebrard. Iunius saith, because the Midianites dwelt in that Region which was assigned to Cush.

Saint Augustine n 1.15 affirmeth, that the Region Northwards from the red Sea, and so euen to India was called Aethiopia Orientalis. This distinction is still acknow∣ledged by later o 1.16 Writers. And therefore it is needlesse to fetch Moses a Wife out of Ethiopia beneath Egypt, to interprete that place. For so Iosephus p 1.17 , as we shall after see, telleth of a Wife which Moses in his prosperitie, before his flight, married from thence.

This obseruation is very necessary, because the Scriptures often mention Ethio∣pia, when no part of Africa can be vnderstood q 1.18 , as Genes. 2. 13. where one of the Riuers of Paradise is sayd to compasse the whole land of Cush, or Ethiopia. And so in other places, Cush, or Aethiopia. Learned Iunius r 1.19 obserueth, that Cush is either a proper name as Genes. 10. or common to the people that came of him: It is also a name attributed to the three Arabia's, to the two (African) Ethiopia's, and to all the Southerne tract by the Persian Gulfe.

Leauing now that Asian Ethiopia, which alreadie wee haue handled vnder other names, wee will now proceede in our African iourney, where wee finde in Ptolomie s 1.20 not so exact description thereof, as in later Geographers, being then in the greatest part vnknowne. Maginus t 1.21 maketh Ethiopia to containe two of those seuen parts, whereinto he diuideth Africa: one of which he calleth Aethiopia Superior, and Inte∣rior, which for the most part is subiect vnto the Christian Prince, called in Europe Priest or Prester Iohn: the other, Inferior and Exterior, is all that Southerly part of A∣frica, which was not knowne to the Ancients.

This doth not altogether agree with Homers u 1.22 diuision, (whose Geographi•• Strabo x 1.23 hath so largely trauersed and admired.) For how could Homer, or any in his time attaine to the knowledge of those remote parts? Neyther yet may we reiect that renowned Poet, seeing this partition may serue vs now in the better discouerie of places, where wee may reckon all that to the Westerly Ethiopia, which from Guinea stretcheth to the Cape of Good hope: and thence to the Red Sea Northwards, to the Easterly; Nilus, and a line from the head thereof vnto the aforesaid Cape, being the Arbiter in this diuision. But to let passe this curiositie in caruing, when all is like to be eaten, we will beginne at Ethiopia vnder Egypt, and so take the Country in our way, going from the Red Sea, till hauing doubled the Cape, we come from the Abas∣sine Christians to those of Congo on the Ethiopian Ocean. Aethiopia sub Aegypto, (so the Geographers y 1.24 call this part) hath on the North, Egypt; on the West, Libya Interior; on the South, Aethiopia Agisimba; on the East, the Red and Barbarian Seas, to the Promontory Raeptum, which Ortelius z 1.25 placeth about Quiloa, Porie a 1.26 calls it Quili∣manci: Mercater b 1.27 interpretes Magala. The Abissine Empire, is by our late Writers entended further, receiuing for the Southerne limits, the mountaines of the Moone; and for the Westerne, the Kingdome of Congo, the Riuer Niger, and Nubia: and therefore containeth Aethiopia sub Aegypt••, and besides Trogloditica, Cinnamomi∣fera Regio, and part of the inner Libya.

True it is, that the Great Neguz his titles comprehend thus much, yet rather (say some) as a monument of what hee hath had, then an euidence of what he hath: The Turkes in the North, the Moores on the West, and others otherwhere circumcising this circumcised Abissine: and now according to c 1.28 Boterus and Barrius, the Lake Bar∣cena is the center of his Dominion. But euen still Friar d 1.29 Luys de Vrreta, giues him both all before named and more. The name Abissine or Abassine, which is giuen to this Region, Niger e 1.30 deriueth from the Egyptian word Abases, which (Strabo f 1.31 repor∣teth) they gaue to all inhabited places compassed with great Deserts, and situate there∣in, in manner as the Ilands in the Sea: three of which Abases, he saith, were subiect to the Egyptians.

To take now some exacter view of these parts; leauing g 1.32 those Iewish monstrous fables of Monsters of threescore and ten cubits, & their great lies of the little Pigmey∣Christians, with such other stuffe, fit for them to write, who are iustly credulous of h 1.33 lies because they beleeued not the Truth: let vs see what others haue written, both of the people and place, and first of the first, and most ancient Relations.

The Cataracts or falls of Nilus, which separate Aethiopia from Egypt, are by the most Authors reckoned two, the greater & the lesse: Stephanus addeth a third at Bon∣chis, an Aethiopian Citie. These are Mountaines which encroch vpon the Riuer, and with their lostie loobes and vndermining trecherie, hauing drawne vp the earth, which should afford him a channell, into their swelling and ioynt conspiracie, as with a mixt passion of feare and disdaine, make the waters in their hast and strife ouerthrow them∣selues downe those steepe passages: the billowes bellowing and roaring so terribly with the fall, that the inhabitants (as some i 1.34 affirme) which dwell neare, are thereby made deafe: and the Riuer amazed and dizzie, whirles it selfe about, forgetting his tribute to Neptune, till forced by his owne following waters, he sets, or rather is set forward on his iourney.

They are k 1.35 now called Catadhi, which signifieth Noise, of those dreadfull and hi∣deous out-cries which there are caused. Betwixt these falls and Meroe, Strabo l 1.36 pla∣ceth the Troglodytae, of which we haue alreadie spoken: and the Blemmyes, Nubae, and Megabari. They are Nomades, without Towne or habitation, and addicted to robbery. Procopius m 1.37 testifieth, that these were accustomed to doe much damage on the Roman consines: and therefore Dioclesian brought them out of their barren Ter∣ritories, and gaue them Elephantina, and the Region adioyning for habitation, com∣municating to them the Roman rites and superstitions, and built the City Philas, in hope of future friendship. Caelum non animum; they changed the soile not the soule, but were no lesse iniurious to Oasis, and other the Roman subiects. They worshipped some Gods, borrowed of the Grecians; Isis, and Os••is, of the Egyptians; and Priapus. The Blemmyes also offered humane sacrifices, with cruell inhumanity, to the Sunne, till Iustinians time, who tooke away those bloudy deuotions. As for the tale that those Blemmyes wanted heads, and had their eyes and mouths in their breasts, the Authors had either no eyes to see the truth, or more head then they should to deuise lyes: as we may say of other shapelesse and monstrous shapes of people, which n 1.38 Plinie and So∣linus, out of other Authors report, to inhabite these vnknowne parts: some wanting lips, some nostrills, some tongues, or mouthes, &c. indeede all wanting truth. Rather would I counsaile the studious of Geographie, to learne the names of the Peoples and Nations of these Regions, of Plinie and Solinus: which because we haue but names of them, I forbeare to name.

Meroe doth inuite me to a longer entertainement, being an Iland which Nilus with louely embraces claspeth about, according to Iosephus and Cedrenus, sometimes called Saba, as now also the Abissines name it; the Egyptians call it Naule Babe; the inhabitants, Neube; our Maps, Guegere; to which Theuet addeth more o 1.39 , if not more then truth. The Iland, after p 1.40 Heliodorus (the Bishop of Tricca) his description, is three square, each of which triangle limits are made by three Riuers, Astaboras, and Asasoba; (Strabo calls it Astapus, & Astosabus) this from the South, that from the East) drowning their names & waters with Nilus; it is in length 3000. furlōgs, in bredth 1000

plentifull of Elephants, Lyons, Rhinocerotes, Corne, and Trees, besides her hidden treasures, and mines of yron, brasse, siluer, gold, and salt. It hath also Heben wood, as Lucan q 1.41 singeth, Laetacomis Hebeni. It receiued that name r 1.42 of Meroe, sister of Cambyses, or after s 1.43 Eusebius, of Merida, the mother of Chenphris, King of Egypt. They worshipped a Barbarian God, and besides Pan, Hercules. and Isis. t 1.44 They cast their dead into the Riuer, others reserued them at home in glasse shrines, others in ear∣then receptacles buried them neare to their Temples. They esteemed them for Gods, and sware by them. They ordayned him King, who excelled in strength, or in person, or in husbandrie of cattell, or in wealth. Their Priests enioyed the chiefe ranke of ho∣nour, who sending their Herald or Messenger, enioyned the King his death, and set vp an other in his roome. At length a certaine King abolished this custome, and rush∣ing with his armed Souldiers into their Temple, where was a golden Chappell, slew all those Priests. This was at Meroe the head City of the Iland, where (Pausanias u 1.45 saith) they shewed the Table of the Sunne, and that they were the iustest men of all the Aethiopians.

Concerning that Table, and the expedition of Cambyses into these parts, Herodotus x 1.46 relateth: He affirmeth, that Cambyses designed at once three inuasions; against the Carthaginians, the Ammonians, and Macrobians (all in Africa.) These last haue their names of their long liues, which they draw forth farre beyond the vsuall course. Hee placeth them on the South shores of Africa, but Mela y 1.47 in Meroe: Seneca, Plinie, and Solinus beyond. That Table of the Sunne, Herodotus and Mela, thus describe. Neare to the Citie was a place alwaies furnished with variety of rosted meates, there set in the night by the Magistrates, and eaten on the day by such as listed, and therefore of this open feasting, called the Sunnes table: whom the ignorant people also thought to be the Cater of these dainties. Cambyses sent an Embassage vnto the King with presents, but principally to espie the Country: whom the Aethiopian requited with a Bow, and bad that the Persians should then inuade the Macrobians, when they were able to shoote in such bowes: thanking GOD that hee was contented with his owne. And because he had sent him golden chaines, hee asked to what vse they were, they said, for ornaments; he answered with smiling, thinking them to bee chaines for pu∣nishment, That he had stronger fetters then those. The like account hee made of his purple Robes, ointments, and wine: and asked further what the Persians eate, and when they told him bread made of wheat, (the nature whereof they declared) and withall, that the oldest Persians exceeded not fourescore yeares; hee said, that it was no maruell of their short life, that fed vpon dung: neither could they liue so long, were it not for that drinke of wine which they vsed; It was not extraordinarie z 1.48 there to attayne to a hundred and twentie yeares, their meat was boiled flesh, and their drinke milke. He brought them to a Fountaine, wherein being bathed they smelled as of Violets, it was so subtle that nothing could swimme thereon, not wood, or other ligh∣ter matter: this water was supposed to lengthen their liues. He brought them also to the Prisons, where they saw many manacled and bound with chaines of gold.

Lastly, he shewed them their Sepulchres made of glasse, in this manner. After they haue embalmed the dead corps, they annoynt it with a kinde of pargetting mortar, and then put it in a case or coffin of glasse, through which it shineth, and is apparant without any ill sauour. This they keepe one yeare in the house, offering thereto Sa∣crifices, and the first fruits of all thinges: and then carrie it out of the Citie. Thus farre Herodotus.

Wherein, that which some penny-father would most admire, their golden fetters, how common and rife is it in an other sort with vs? euery couetous miser, manacling, fettering, strangling himselfe with his gold, in shew his ornament, in affect his God, in effect his Deuill, Iaylour, chaines, and hell. The Macrobiy (Mela addeth) vsed brasse for honour, gold for punishments.

Of the table of the Sunne before mentioned, thus writeth Frier Luys de Vrreta, a 1.49 in that his large historie, which he hath composed in Spanish, of Aethiopia: that the King in a curious brauerie & sumptuous vanitie, caused there to be set by night in a certaine

field store of white bread, and the choisest wines, hanged also on the trees; great varie∣tie of Fowles, rost and boiled, and set on the ground, Mutton, Lamb, Veale, Beefe, with many other dainties ready dressed. Trauellers and hungrie persons which came hither and found this abundance, seeing no body which prepared, or which kept the same, ascribed it to Iupiter Hospitalis his bountie & hospitality, shewing himselfe a Protector of poore trauellers: and called this field the Table of the Sunne. The report hereof pas∣sed through the world, and brought many Pilgrims from farre Countries, to visit the same. King Cambyses sent his Embassadors to see it: Plato, the Prince of Philosophers hauing trauelled through Asia as farre as Caucasus, and gone also to the Brachmanes, to see and heare Hiarchas in a Throne of gold, amongst a few Disciples, disputing of Natures mysteries, and discoursing of the Starres and Planets, & returned by the Per∣sians, Babylonians, Arabians, and other Nations, entred into Aethiopia, led with de∣sire to see this renowned Table, and to eate of those delicacies. The Aethiopians, since their Christianitie in zealous detestation of Idolatrie, will not so much as name this field, and these ancient rites, and giue in charge to the Priests at this day, that they handle not, or treat of the like vanities, because they were inuentions of Idolaters. Cae∣lius b 1.50 Rhodiginus affirmeth, That this Table of the Sunne grew into a prouerbe to signi∣fie a house well furnished and prouided. Thus farre Frier Luys.

Of the Pillar of Semiramis is before spoken out of the relation of Xenophon de Ae∣quivocis: concerning which, and his other Companions, and Brethren, howsoeuer Posseninus, Goropius, and others, doe reproue Annius for abusing the world with those glorious Titles c 1.51 and ancient names, and proue them to be counterfait: yet, in my minde that of Xenophon seemeth to sauour of some true antiquitie, and that more then others of the same edition. In that pillar, consecrated to the memorie of Ninus, the inscription testifieth, that Cush or Cuz was the Aethiopian Saturne; as Cham, the E∣gyptian; and Nimrod, the Babylonian. When Cush was dead d 1.52 , they say, Regma his sonne succeeded in the Aethiopian Kingdome, and after him Dodan: after whose time is no record of certaine succession. Diodorus saith, they chose him which was most comely of Personage for their King. Memnon is chanted by Homer and the Poets, which lost his life at Troy in defence of Priamus and was (some say) King of Aethio∣pia. Of the speaking image of Memnon, yee haue seene in our Egyptian relations. As for the wife of Moses. whereof Iosephus e 1.53 saith, that the Aethiopians hauing o∣uer-runne, and almost subdued Egypt, and none daring to make head against them, Moses (whom Thermutis, Pharaeohs Daughter, had brought vp) was chosen Generall of the Egyptian Armie, which he conducted into Aethiopia, and cōming to the siege of Saba, Tharbis the Aethiopian Kings, daughter fell in loue with him, and sent her seruants to entreat of a marriage with him: which he accepted, vpon condition of de∣liuering the Towne vnto him; and that being done, married her: all this seemeth ra∣ther to be a Iewish fable, thinking hereby to credit their Law-giuer, then agreeing to Moses, the Truth, and Scripture; and might happily arise from that speech, that Moses f 1.54 his wife was an Aethiopian; of which we haue spoken alreadie. Neither is it likely that Moses would accept of Treason for the dowrie with his wife, sealed with the bloud and ouerthrow of her Countrey and Citizens. And yet from hence doe some deriue the originall of their Nation. After the father of this supposed Thar∣bis, Derianus is said to raigne, who valiantly withstood Bacchus (which is thought to be Osiris, the Aegyptian King, and after, their God) when he inuaded Aegypt with an Armie. Diodorus mentioneth Actisanes, a King of Aethiopia. Cepheus also is numbred in that royall Catalogue: but of all, Ganges g 1.55 was most famous, who with his Aethiopian Armie passed into Asia, and conquered all as farre as the Riuer Gan∣ges, to which he left that name, being h 1.56 before called Chliaros. He conquered as farre also to the West, vnto the Atlantike Ocean, and gaue name to the Countrey of Gui∣nea; which name, some i 1.57 say, is corrupted of Gangina, the name it had receiued of Ganges. These things are written by some, and I will not sweare for the truth, as safe∣ly we may doe for that which the Scripture mentioneth of some of their Kings, in the daies of Asa and Hozekiab, Kings of Iuda: whose puissance then was such, that k 1.58 Zerah

brought into the field a million of men: and Tirrha••a was corriuall vnto proude and l 1.59 blasphemous Sennacherib, in sute for the Monarchie of the world. Before that time the Aethiopians had warred vnder Shishak King of Egypt, whom some^m take for Se∣sostris. The Babylonians in Nabuckodonosors time conquered Egypt and Aethiopia, as m 1.60 some expound the prophecie of Ezechiel. And the Persian Empire extended from India to Aethiopia. Of the historie of the Queene of Saba, we shall haue more cause to speake afterwards. Some thinke n 1.61 that shee came from Arabia where the Sabeans inhabite: Others o 1.62 bring her from hence, and say, that shee was an Aethiopian. The mention of her and of Candace (which name Plinie p 1.63 saith continued to the Aethio∣pian Queenes in many successions) hath made some q 1.64 thinke (as it seemeth) that Aethiopia was gouerned only by Queenes. But let vs obserue further concerning their rites and ancient customes, as diuers Authors haue related the same.

CHAP. II.

A continuation of the Aethiopian Antiquities, and of the Queene of Saba.

HELIODORVS in his Historie (which although for the substance it be fained, as a loue-discourse, yet must hold resemblance with thinges done) and for the variety and conceit thereof, commended by that learned a 1.65 German Philip, and by our English b 1.66 Philip (the soule of Poesie) mitated in his Arcadia, telleth of Hydaspes his Aethiopian King, that after his victorie at Syene, and hauing there performed his deuotions, and seene their Niloscopium (like to that at Memphis, and now at Cairo) and enquired the originalls of their feasts, and holy rites done in honour of that Riuer: when c 1.67 he came to the Cataracts, he sacrificed to Nilus, and the Gods of the Borders. He then sent messengers to the Wise••••••en, whom he calleth Gymnosophists, which are the Kings Counsellours, at Meroe, to certifie them of his victory, and to call a publike assembly wherein to gratifie the Gods for the same with sacrifices & solemne pomps, in the field consecrated to the Sunne, the Moone, and Bacchus. Persina, the Queene, deliuered those letters to the Gymnosophists, who dwelt by themselues in a Groue, con∣secrated to Pan; and before they would giue answere, consulted with the Gods by praier, and then Sisimures the chiefe of them promised all should be fulfilled. The Sa∣crifices were to bee done to the Sunne and Moone. and therefore, except Persina the Queene, which was Luna's Priest, no woman for feare of contaminating the Holies of those Pure and Bright Deities, might bee present. Hydaspes was Priest of the Sunne. Much preparation was made of Beasts for their Hecatombe's, and much concourse of people crossing the Riuer in those boats of Canes or Reedes. There was presented the Images of their Gods, Memnon, Perseus and Andromeda: and nigh to them sete the Gymnosophistae. Three Altars were erected; two ioyntly to the Sunne and Moone; a third to Bacchus by himselfe, to him they offered all sorts of Beasts; to Sol, white Chariot-horses; to the Moone, a yoke of Oxen. And when all things were ready, the people with shouts demanded the sacrifice, which vsually was accustomed for the health of their Nation. That was, some of the strangers taken in the warres, to be of∣fered: First, triall d 1.68 was made by spits of gold, heated with fire, brought out of the Temple, whether the captiues had euer knowne carnall copulation: for treading on the same with their bare feet, such as were pure Virgins receiued no harme, others were scorched. These were offered in sacrifice to Bacchus; the other, to those purer Deities. These thinges haue I here inserted, not as done, but as like to such thinges, which among the Meroites vsed to be done, and agreeing with the generall deuotions of those Ethiopians. Philostratus e 1.69 reporteth like matters of their Gymnosophits and of the Groue where they kept their generall consultations: otherwise, each of them by themselues a-part, obseruing their studies and holies. They worshipped Nilus. inten∣ding

in their mysticall interpretation the Earth & the Water. They entertained stran∣gers in the open aire. Thespesion was then (in Apollonius his time) chiefe of their society. At his command, an Elme did speake. They held the immortality of the soule. The Aethiopians sacrificed to Memnon and to the Sunne.

Lucian, after his scoffing manner gratulates the Aethiopians that fauour, which Iu∣piter vouchsafed them, in going on feasting, accompanied with the rest of the Gods, and that twelue daies together, if Homer f 1.70 reckoned truly. But more g 1.71 seriously else∣where he vnsoldeth that mysterie, shewing that the Aethiopians were inuenters of A∣strologie, helped therein by the clearnesse of the skie in that Region, and like tempera∣ture of the seasons. Of them the Egyptians learned, and furthered that science. In his Treatise h 1.72 of Dancing, he affirmeth, that the Aethiopians vsed their haire in steed of a quiver, and neuer drew arrow from thence to shoot in battell, but with a dancing iesture.

Diodorus i 1.73 Siculus telleth, that the Ethiopians were accounted most ancient of all other men: and that not only Humanitie, but Diuinitie, was borne and bred amongst them: solemnities, pompes, holies, and religious rites, were their inuention. And therefore (saith he) Homer brings in Iupiter, feasting with the Ethiopians. The reward of their piety, was the immunitie of their region from forraine conquests. k 1.74 Macro∣bius interprereth Iupiters banket with the Ethiopians of that Ocean, which Antiquitie imagined to be vnder all the Torrid Zone, that the fiery bodies of the srarres, supposed to be nourished with moisture, might there quench their thirst. So would those good men drowne a great part of the African and American world, in hospitality to the Starres, by their imagined middle-earth Ocean: which experience hath now suffici∣ently confuted.

Cambyses attempted and lost his Armie; and Semiranits entred, but soone retur∣ned: Hercules and Dionysisus ouer-ranne the rest of the World, the Ethiopians either for their deuotion they would not, or, for their strength, could not conquere. The Egyptians, some say, were Colonies from hence; yea, Egypt it selfe the dregs of that soile, which Nilus carryeth out of Ethiopia.

The Egyptians borrowed of the Ethiopians, to esteeme their Kings as Gods, and to haue such care of their Funeralls, the vse of Statues, and their Hieroglyphicali letters. Pierius l 1.75 , and others, haue written thereof •••• large. Their best men they chose for their Priests: and hee among them, who, when the God is carried about, shall bee pos∣sessed with some Bacchanal furie, is chosen King as by diuine appointment, and is of them worshipped as a God. His gouernement is gouerned by Lawes. They doe not put a Malefactor to death, but an Officer is sent to him with the signe of death m 1.76 , whereupon hee goeth home and slayeth himselfe. One would haue sled out of his Country; but the mother of the malefactor killed him, because he would not after his Country manner kill himselfe.

The Priests in Meroe exercised this authority (as it before said) ouer their Kings, and would send them word that the Oracles of the Gods commanded them to dye, neither might they reiect the diuine dispensation: and thus with arguments, not with armes, they perswaded them to a voluntarie death. But in the time of Ptolemaeus Secundus, King of Egypt, King Ergamenes well skilled in the Greeke sciences, and Phi∣losophie, reiected that superstition. They say, that the custome yet (till Drodorus time) remaineth, that if the King be maimed, or by some accident want any member, his Courtiers also will depriue themselues of the same. Yea, when the King died, his friends thought it good fellowship to die with him, esteeming that death glorious, and the surest testimony of friendship.

The Ethiopians n 1.77 dwelling nearer to Arabia, armed their women in their wars, till they attained to a certaine age: the most of which ware a ring of brasse in their lip. They which dwelt further vp into the Country, were diuersly conceited of the Gods. for some they thinke immortall, as the Sunne, Moone, & the World: some mortall, as Pan, Hercules, Iupiter, for their vertues exalted to that dignitie. Strabo telles it in the singular number, that they thought that God to be immortall, which is the cause of all

things. Their mortall God was vncertaine, and wanted name: but they most common∣ly esteemed their Kings, and Benefactors, for Gods. Some that inhabite nearer the Line worshipped no Gods: and were much offended with the Sunne, and hiding themselues in the Fennes, cursed him when he did rise. These things you may reade gathered out of Diodorus, and Strabo, o 1.78 in Coruinus, Boemus, Draudius, and Thamara, with some o∣ther additions. Sardus saith, p 1.79 that the Aethiopians were circumcised: as were also (besides the Iewes, Aegyptians, and Arabians,) the Trogloditae, Macrones, Creo∣phagi, and inhabitants of Thermodoon. As wee haue shewed of the Macrobij, or long∣liued Aethiopians, so there were others called Brachobij, of their shorter liues, wher∣of were reckoned two sorts: the Sidonij, neere to the Red Sea, and the Erembi, which some q 1.80 take for the Troglodytae. They liue not aboue fortie yeares. Plutarch r 1.81 out of As∣clepiades reporteth the like, saying that they were olde men at thirtie yeares. The same authour s 1.82 telleth, that they and the Arabians could not endure myce: and that the Per∣sian Magi did likewise, esteeming them creatures odious to God. Alexander t 1.83 ab Alex∣andro writeth, concerning the education of their Children, that, the Aethiopians feared their new-borne Infants in the foreheads, to preuent the distillations of Rheumes from the braine. And when they are somewhat growne, they make triall of their forward∣nes, by setting them on the backes of certaine Foules, on which if they sit in their fly∣ing, without feare, they bring them vp very carefully: but if they shrinke and quake with feare, they expose them as a degenerate issue, vnworthy education. Their Letters they wrote not side-waies, after the Greeke or Hebrew manner, but after the present Chinian custome, downewards. They had seuen Characters, euery of which had foure significations. What manner of writing they now vse appeareth in u 1.84 Damianus a Goex, or of Zaga Zabo rather, an Aethiopian Bishop, in his Treatise of their Religi∣on, done into Latine by Damianus: but more fully in Iosephus x 1.85 Scaliger de Emenda∣tione Temporum, who hath lent vs a long Tractate in that language and writing, with the same words expressed in Hebrew and Latine Characters, and the interpretation of them also into Latine, in foure seuerall Columnes. He that listeth to reade some Phi∣losophicall speculations of Nature in these Aethiopians, wherein they differ, & where∣fore, from others: let him reade Coelius y 1.86 Rhodiginus of that Argument: he saith that they were expert in Naturall Magike. Nicephorus z 1.87 writes, that Alexander the Great sent Assyrian Colonies into Aethiopia, which many ages after kept their owne lan∣guage, and, like enough, their Religion. The Nations of Aethiopia, which are farre distant from Nilus, are * 1.88 said to liue a miserable life. Their life is beastly, not discerning in their lust, Mother, Daughter, or any other name of kindred. Of their auncient ex∣ploites, we haue no continued History.

About the time of Christ, it appeareth, that Candace was Queene of Aethiopia.Sho was a manly Virago, as Strabo testifieth, who liued at the same time, and followed Ae∣lius Gallus in this expedition. He forced Candace to send her Embassadours to Augu∣stus for peace, which shee obtained. Sextus a 1.89 Victor mentioneth this Aethiopian Embassage. Dioclesian relinquished that part of Aethiopia, which the Romans held be∣yond Egypt, as not able to beare the charges. Iustinian b 1.90 sent his Embassadours vnto Hellisthaeus, the Aethiopian King, and to Esimiphaeus King of the Homerites, his Arabi∣an neighbour, to aide him against the Persian. This Hellisthaeus had warred against the Homerites, for quarrel of Religion, because they were many of them Iewes, and others Gentiles, himselfe being a Christian: and because they made many forrages into the Christian Countreys. He so farre preuailed, as he made that Esimiphaeus, a Christian, their King: whose yoke they shooke off soone after: and Abram, a slaue, vsurped the State. He had beene seruant to a Romane at Adulis, a Citie of Aethiopia, worthy men∣tion especially in this matter, for the ominous prosperitie of seruants. For the Citie it selfe was built by fugitiue seruants, which ranne from their Aegyptian Maisters: and this Abram a seruant there, obtained to be a King: neither could the Aethiopian with all his might depose him. The like c 1.91 embassage to Archetas king of Ethiopia was sent by Instinus for aid against the Persian: both which I mention, to shew the greatnes at that time of his state, nothing comparable notwithstanding to that which after besel them. A∣mong

the Ethiopian Antiquities, Plato testifies, as Orosius d 1.92 cites him, that many plagues and vncouth diseases infested, & almost altogether destroyed Ethiopia, about that time that Bacchus in uaded India. If any delight himself in such Legendary draffe as the coū∣terfet Abdias, e 1.93 set forth by Wolfgangus Lazius, hath in it, touching the Magicians and Enchantments, and some other ceremonies of Ethiopia, I am loth to blot my paper with them: not because we are not certain of the truth (for in others we may be deceiued) but because we are certaine of the errors, so grosse that they may be seene and felt. Maruell that f 1.94 Lazius, an historian, would with his Notes illustrate such a hotchpotch of darknes. And yet our countryman g 1.95 Harding, leauing the cleare waters of truth, hath swallowed the same swill, as the Iewell of our Church hath taught him. The Eunuch of Candace was the first Ethiopian Christian, as Luke Act. 8. and Eusebius h 1.96 do shew.

But before we come to their christian conuersion, we are first to declare their conuer∣sion to Iudaisme (if it be true the Ethiopians write) in the time of Salomon. The Ethiopi∣ans hauing liued before a vagrant life, like the Nemades of old; & the Arabians, & other Libyan nations, not far from them in Asia & Africa at this day; Arue the Ethiopian king first fixed a setled abode at Axvms, & made it the royall city, i 1.97 after whom followed A∣gab, & in the third place, Ghedur or Sabanut, which subdued al Ethiopia, & left the king∣dom to his daughter Makedae that reigned 80 yeres. An. 50 of her reigne she visited Sa∣lomon. After her they reckon these kings til Christs time, Melic, Andedo, Auda, Gigasio, Zangua, Guasio, Antet, Bahara, Canada, Chanze, Endur, Gnaza, Endrath, Chaales, Setija, Aglaba, Anscua, Breguas, Guase, Beseclugna, Baazena, in whose time they say CHRIST was borne. Genebrard setts downe the times of their reigne, which he confesseth, and it self conuineeth to be false. This Queen of Saba before mentioned, is by k 1.98 Iosephius called Nicaule, the Queen (saith he) of Ethiopia & Egipt. But Zaga Zabo l 1.99 in the Ethiopian hi∣story which he writ, & caused to be done into latine by Damianus a Goes, calls her Ma∣queda, whose history the Ethiopians haue written in a book as big as all Pauls Epistles. The summe of his report is this; She was a worshipper of Idols, as her auncesters had bin, when as Fame filled her ears with the renowne of Salomons name: & then sent a messen∣ger to Ierusalem, to learn the truth, who at his return confirming those former reports, she went her self to visit him. Of him, besides many other things, she learned the Law, & the Prophets. By him she conceiued also a son, of whom she was deliuered in her iourney homewards, & named him Meilech. After 20. yeres education in Ethiopia, she sent him to Salomon his father, to be instructed of him in wisdome, desiring him to consecrate her sonne king of Ethiopia, before the Arke of the Couenant; she ordained also that women should not henceforth inherit, as before had bin accustomed. Salomon did this, & chan∣ged his name to Dauid: & after long instruction, sent him backe to his mother, attended with many noble companions, among whom was Azarias the son of Zadock the priest. This Azarias caused tables to be made like to those in the Ark, & pretending to sacrifice for the good succes of his iourny, went in & stole the tables of the Law, leauing in their roome these later counterfets, which he reuealed not to any, till he came to the borders of Ethiopia. Then Dauid being made acquainted with the fact, daunced for ioy, as his grandfather Dauid had done before the Arke wherin the Tables were inclosed, his peo∣ple making great ioy. His mother resigned to him the Empire, & from that time to this, the kingdome hath passed in a right line, from m 1.100 male to male: circumcision also with the law of Moses hath bin obserued. The Officers which Salomon appointed his son, are still cōtinued in the same families & order; nor may the Emperor chuse thē out of any other stocke then these of the Iews. This long Legend I report, not for the truth, but for that religious conceit wherewith it is accepted in Ethiopia. For who knowes not, that none but the high Priest, & that but once a yere, entred into that holy place, where the Ark was, and Nadabs and Abihu's fire, with other diuine iudgements; Vzzahs touching; and the Bethshemites viewing the Arke at so deare a rate; could not but make dreadfull so dam∣nable an attempt. Besides, we should haue looked for our blessed Sauior out of Ethiopia, where Salomons ••oires still reigne (if these say true) & not go to Salathiel and Zorobabel, descended of another brother, and therfore further off from the throne of their father Da∣uid, on which Christ was to sit, & to which he was borne, next and apparant heire, euen according to the flesh. And yet doth Genebrard credit these reports, & Baronins also in part

as Luys de Vrreta reporteth, This Luys hath written 3. large books in Spanish, collected (as he saith) out of Don Iuan de Baltasar an Ethiopian of great accompt, who had beene Embassador frō his M^r. Alexander 3. the great Negus, into Persia & other places, & came into Spaine with his licence to imprint his Ethiopian history. Out of him Luys reporteth that the former book, whence Zaga Zabo the Bishop, Embassador to the King of Portu∣gall, had taken those things, is Apocripha: yet so, as that it is true cōcerning that report of Maquedas conception, & the royall descent from thence till these times. The stealing of the tables he denieth; & affirmeth, that the truth was, that Salomon had bestowed on the Queen of Saba a fragment of the tables, which Moses brake in his zeale for the Israelits idolatry with the golden Calfe. For that conception by Salomon, he proueth it by, the E∣thiopian Records, the title of their King, & his armes; which are the same, which the tribe of Iuda gaue, viz. a Lyon rampant, crowned, in a field Or, with this inscription, The Lyon of the Tribe of Iuda hath ouercome. Since they were Christians they haue added to these armes a cros••e, which the Lyon holdeth in his right foot. And in this right they lay chal∣lenge to Ierusalem for their inheritance. Now for the fragment of the table which Mo∣ses brake, it is receiued for a truth throughout Ethiopia, & it is still preserued in the hill Amara, as the greatest Iewell in the world. Baltasar had often seene and handled it. It seemeth to be of the Chalcedonie stone, shining, & transparent, and is a corner of a square table, the broken edges yet being manifest, with the letters, some broken, some whole, much differing frō the common Hebrew (which Genebrard saith the Iewes in∣uented, thereby to differ from the schismaticall kingdome of the Israelites, of the ten tribes; the Samaritans still retaining the former, as both he and Scaliger affirme.) But these letters cannot be read; for he brought a learned n 1.101 Iew, skilful in all the Eastern lan∣guages, Persian, Arabike, Indian, Chinois, &c. yet knew thē not. This relique is with such deuotiō admired of the Iewes, that when they passe but within sight of that hill Amara, they prostrate thēselues on the ground with much reuerēce, & for this cause make much of the Ethiopians (whersoeuer they meet them) as a people beloued of God, to whō he hath imparted such a Relique. They o 1.102 tell also a tale (I think) of the Queene of Saba, that in her iourney homewards she had a reuelation concerning a peece of wood which she saw, that it should be the same wheron Christ should after die for mankind: wherefore adoring the same with much deuotion & teares, she writ to Salomon thereof, who hid it in the earth 4 Stades, * 1.103 where the poole of Bethesda was made afterwards, & by vertue therof wrought miracles. But the Ethiopian superstitiō hath fables enough of her own, & needs not the officious help of Romish Saints in this kind. As for that successiō of Iewish officers; Luys denies it, & saith the Iews are no where more hated thē in Ethiopia: & A∣lexander the 3. late Emperor among them, banished all Iewes & Mores out of all his do∣minions. The officers of the Emperor are the sons of the tributary kings his vassals, and the noblest of his subjects. And for the Iews which came with Meilech, or Meilolec, (af∣ter called Dauid) his next successor Iosua (so he cals him) becomming an Apostata, redu∣ced idolatry: & wheras David his father had giuen them one of the Temples dedicated to the Sunne in Mount Amata, to make it an house of Prayer to the God of Israel, casting forth the Idols therin; now in this Iosues daies, some of them returned to Ierusalem, or to other prouinces of Africa, & some inhabited the vtmost parts of Africa, nere the Cape of Good Hope, & Deserts not before inhabited And the said Don Iuan de Baltasar, be∣ing sent by the Emperor into the lāds of Monopopata (so he cals it) & of Galofes, of Bar∣bizin, of Mandinga, & of Zape, which are inhabited of idolatrous Gentiles, hee found a∣mong them some of these Iewes descended of that exiled stocke (as themselues also hold) which had forgotten their Iudaisme, & all knowledge of the scriptures, onely had retained some reliques of it, & abstinence from swines flesh, differing also from those Gentils, in worshipping one God, wheras the other acknowledge One great God, whom they cal Caramus, but worship also Tigers, Lions, Flies, Spiders, Snakes, Lizards, & whatsoeuer first meete them in the morning. These Gentils p 1.104 call the Iewes Tabayqueres, and will not admit them to purchase houses, or inheritance, but either vse them as interpre∣ters or factors for Marchants (which is the highest step they can attaine to) or else em∣ploy them in base drudgeries, to be their Porters, slaughter-men, and such like, that they seeme rather slaues to those barbarous Nations, then to enioy any liberty of free-men.

Rightly may those Nations bee called Barbarous, which seeme rather to barke then to speake, & yet they scorne that any should abase them, with the basest of Titles in their opinion to call them Tabayquero, and reuenge it with the death of the wrong doer. * 1.105

CHAP. III.

Of Presbyter Iohn: and of the Priest-Iohns in Asia: whether that descended of these.

HAuing now declared the Antiquities of Aethiopia, drawne out of anci∣ent Authors, let vs neerer hand behold, what neerer out times, Authors haue reported thereof. Wherin first we will here insert out of a 1.106 Scaligers Annotations, vpon the Aethiopian Ecclefiasticall Calendar or Compu∣tation of times, somewhat remarkable, and fitting to our present pur∣pose. The name (saith hee) of the Christian Aethiopians is not now first made knowne to vs. For their Church not onely at Hierusalem and Constantinople, but at Rome also and Venice, hath had libertie a good while to vse their owne rites. The Portugales, and Francis Aluares haue further discouered them: Before wee onely heard the name of Aethiopia. A wonder it is, that some ages since, b 1.107 their Emperors name was made knowne to vs out of Asia, rather then out of Aethiopia it selfe. Three hundred yeares agoe, the Ethiopian Kings reigned in Asia, especially in Drangiana, the borders of Susiana, India & China, vntill the Tartars dispossessed them of the Asian Empire. For Cingis first, the first Tartar King, slew Vncam, the Aethiopian Emperour: & his posteritie chased the Abissines out of Moin and China, and forced them to flee into Africa. Often haue I maruelled that a people of no knowledge in these times of sea affaires, could at∣chieue so mighty exploits, as to propagate their Empire, from Aethiopia to China. Since that time the knowledge of that Emperour hath come to vs in the name of Prestegiano: which in the Persian tongue (as much now of reckoning in Asia, as the Latine in the West) signifierh, c 1.108 Apostolike, inferring thereby that hee is a Christian King of the right faith. For Prestegan signifieth Apostles, and Prestegani Apostolicall; Padeschaprestegiani, the King Apostolicall, in Arabian Melich ressuli, in Aethiopian Negusch Chawariawi. Of this greatnes of their Empire, in Asia are witnesses those Aethiopian crosses, which are seene in Giapan, China, and other places. Yea, the Temple of Thomas the Apostle in the Region of d 1.109 Malabar, hath nothing in it but is Aethiopian, the crosses, building, and name it selfe. It is called; e 1.110 Hanariya, which in Aethiopian is as much to say, as, Apostle: which Marcus Paulus falsely expoundeth, a Holy-man. (This name in the Author see∣meth to be giuen not to the Church, but to the Apostles himself) Paulus addeth that the remainder of the Christians subiect to Prestegian abode in Tenduch. The neighbou∣ring Arabians call them now Habassi, and we from thence Abissines, or Abassenes: they call themselues Chaldaeans: for their ancient and elegant language, in which their bookes are written, is neere to the Chaldaean and Assyrian. Moreouer, the Eccesiasticall Historie testifieth, and out of the same Nicophorus l.9.c.18, that many Colonies vvere sent out of Assyria into Aethiopia. They are there called Axumitae, of their chiefe citie but by themselues as Aluares affirmeth Chaschumo. More may we say hereafter of their rites and other things worthy of knowledge, in the Institutions f 1.111 of that tongue which we haue diligently, and methodically written. These words of Scaliger haue made me take some paines in the search of the premisses; for he differeth from the opinion of o∣thers which haue written any thing of Presbyter, or Priest Iohn (as they terme him) in Asia, whom the Tartars subdued. Ortelius g 1.112 maketh a Presbyter Iohn in Asia, and an other in Africa, if I vnderstand him. As for that Vncam, William de Rubruquis, which trauelled those parts in the morning of the Targar-greatnes, An. 1523. reporteth that one Con Can reigned in Kara-Catay, or blacke Catay, after whose death a certaine Ne∣storian Shepheard (a mighty Gouernour of the people called Yayman, which were Ne∣storian-Christians) exalted himselfe to the Kingdome, and they called him King Iohn, reporting of him ten times more then was true, as is the Nestorians wont. h 1.113 For not∣withstanding all their great boasts of this man, when I trauelled along by his territories, there was none that knew any thing of him, but onely a few Nestorians. This Iohn had a brother, a mighty shepheard called Vut, which inhabited three weeks iourny beyond

him: he was Lord of a Village called Cara Carum, his subiects, called Crit or Mer∣kies, were also Nestorians. But their Lord abandoning Christianitie, embraced Idols and reteined with him Priests of the said Idols. Ten or fifteene daies iourney be∣yond his pastures, were the Pastures of Moal, a beggerly Nation, and neere them the Tartars. Iohn dying, this Vut became his Heyte, and was called Vut Can (whom others call Vnc Can) and his droues and stockes ranged vnto the Pastures of Moal. About the same time one Cyngis a Black-Smith in Moal, stole many of Vut i 1.114 Cans Cattell: who in reuenge with his forces spoiled the Moals and Tartars. They aggreeued, made Cyngis their Captaine, who suddenly brake in vpon Vut, and chased him into Cataya; tooke his Daughter and married her, and had by her Mangu, that was then the Great Can when our Author wrote this. These relations sauour not any such Monarchy as should extend from Aethiopia, to those parts of Asia.

M. k 1.115 Paulus telleth that the Tartars were tributaries to this Vmcan (so hee calles him) which, saith he, after some mens opinion signifieth in our language Priest Iohn, but through his tyranny prouoked to rebellion, they vnder the conduct of Cingis, slew Vn∣cam. And afterward he saith that l 1.116 Tenduc was vnder the subiection of Priest Iohn: but all the Priests Iohns that there reigned after Umcan, were tributarie to the Great Can and in his time reigned one George, who was a Priest and a christian, as were the inhabi∣tants. But he held not so much as the m 1.117 Priests Iohns had done: & the great Cans did still ioine in affinitie with this family, marrying their daughters vnto these Kings. This George was the fourth after Priest Iohn, and was holden a great Signior. He ruled ouer two Na∣tions, called by some Gog and Magog. by the inhabitants, Vng n 1.118 & Mongul, where some were Mahumetans; some Heathens, other Christians. It appeareth by their Histories, that Scaliger was deceiued, to thinke that this Priest Iohn had so large an Empire, see∣ing Rubruquis in the same Age, or sonne after q 1.119 could in his own countrey heare so little of him: and his posteritie in M. Paulus his time, continued tributarie Kings vnder the Tartar. The name Priest was giuen them of that function, which he testifieth, George receiued, and Iohn perhaps of that first Shepheard that vsurped Con Cans estate. To let passe therefore that Presbyter Iohn in the Northeast, we slumble on an other midway be∣twixt that & Aethiopia. For so Ioannes o 1.120 deplano Carpini (sent Embassadour to the great Can, from Pope Innocent. An. 1246.) and Vincentius p 1.121 in his Speculum, tell of the King of India Major, called Presbyter Iohn, being inuaded by the Tartars vnder the leading of Tossut Can, sonne of Cingis, who before had subdued India Minor: Hee by a stratageme acquired his Realme of them. For making mens images of Copper, he set each of them vpon a saddle on horse-back, and put fire within them, placing a man with a paire of bellowes on the horse-backe behinde euery Image. And so with many images & horses in such fort furnished, they marched against the Tartars: and when they were ready to ioyne, by kindling a fire in each Image, they made such a smoke that the Indians wounded & slew many Tartars, who could not see to require them through the smoke: but were forced to leaue that countrey, & neuer after returned. Here now we meet with a new Presbyter Iohn in India Major, which whether he were the same with the Aethi∣opian, let vs a little examine. India is by M. q 1.122 Paulus diuided into three parts, the Lesser, Greater, & Middle; the first of them he boundeth from Ciamba to Mursili, & saith, it had in it eight Kingdomes; the Middle called Abascia, had in it seuen Kingdomes, three whereof were Saraceus, therest Christians. Six of them were subiect to the seuenth. It was told me, saith he, that after their baptisme with water, they vsed another Baptisme with fire, branding three markes on their forehead & both their cheekes. The Saracens vsed one brand from the forehead to the middle of their nose: They warre with the Soldan of Aden, & with the inhabitants of Nubia, & are reputed the best warriours in India. The greater r 1.123 India extendeth from Malabar, to the Kingdome of Chesmacoran, and had in it thirteene Kingdomes. This Abascia by the bordering enemies of Nubia & Aden is apparant to be this Aethiopia where we now are: euen by their brands we may know them: And this the Ancients called India. For Sidonius s 1.124 calleth the Aethiopian Memnones Indians: and Aeltanus t 1.125 placeth Indians at Astaboras, one of the Riuers of Meroe: u 1.126 Virgil also brimgeth Nilus out of India. Vsg.. Coloratis, animis denexus ab Indus: which must needs be meant of Aethiopia. Nicephorus x 1.127 reckoneth the Sabeans and Ho••merites

people of Arabia vnto India. Sabellicus y 1.128 complaineth of the confounding of these names India, and Ethiopia, saying, that most men did thinke Ethiopia next to E∣gypt, to be that India, where Alexander ouerthrew Porus. This confusion of names, I thinke, did first grow from confusion of Nations. For as is before obserued out of Eusebi∣us, the Ethiopians arose from the Riuer Indus, & setled their habitation neere to Egypt. Perhaps they brought the Indian name also to these parts. Or else the ignorance of those remote countries might doe it: in which respect, not onely a third part of the olde world, but another new-found world, is named India. Therefore Acosta z 1.129 esteemeth In∣dia to be a generall name to all countries which are far off, and strange to vs, although it be properly attributed to the East Indies. Now if any wonder at such an extrauagant discourse of India here, let him know that in our search for Presbyter Iohn, which then was knowne to withstand the Tartarts in Asia, I cannot see how he can be the Abissine or Ethiopian: but rather thinke that when a mighty Christian Prince was found in E∣thiopia, they did imagine him to be that Presbyter Iohn, of which they had heard in Asia; being furthered in this errour by the name, India, which, as is said, did generally compre∣hend both the true India, & this, more truly called Ethiopia. Now for that Presbyter Iohn in India, I take him for some Christian King: for at that time there were many Christi∣ans, as appeareth by Venetes, in manner dispersed throughout Asia: and some, called S. Thomas Christians, remaine in India to this day. Why I thinke it not to agree to the A∣bissine, my reasons besides the former are, the distance of place: all that huge tract of A∣rabia, with the wide seas on each side, separating India from Ethiopia: the vnpassable Deserts by land: No mention in history who should dispossesse them of that India Ma∣ior, where the Tartar had neuer any great power: the Histories a 1.130 which wee haue of those Indian Princes, the Kings of Malabar, of Decamo, the Samorin, &c. are against it: the difference of Religion; for those Indian Christians of S. Thomas are not branded with hote irons, nor circumcised, not agree in other rites with the Ethio∣pian: the Ethio∣pian History challengeth no such large extents to their Empire, except in Africa, where they seate them in a continuall descent, from the time of Salomon, till now, whereas those Presbyter-Iohns had their dwelling and abode in Asia, as their Stories signifie. And further, the name b 1.131 Priest-Iohn is a name vnknowne in Ethiopia, and by ignorant mi∣staking of the Europaeans, applied to that Ethiopian Emperour when first they heard of him, as saith Zaga c 1.132 Zabo his Embassadour to the King of Portugall, who reproueth the men of these parts d 1.133 saying that he is named of them Belul, which signifieth Excel∣cellent, or precious, and in the Chaldaean tongue, Ioannes Encoe; which signifieth the same. Sabellieus saith, the Ethiopians called him Gyan; Linschoten affirmeth, Bel Gyan: (Bel signifieth the highest, and Gyan, Lord. But Frier Luys out of Baltasar the Ethiopi∣an, sheweth that in the hill Amara are ancient records, which testifie that from the time of that Queene that came to Salomon, the Emperours haue been called Beldigian, the signification whereof is, a precious stone, or a thing of great value: which Title hath continued to those Emperours, as Pharao to the Egyptians, and Caesar to the Romans, Some also of the Royall bloud (which are vsually kept, as after shall appeare, in the hill Amara) when they are elected to the Empire, if there bee many of that Imperiall issue; take orders & become Priests, not procreating any Children. Such saith he in our times haue beene Daniel the second, Paphnutius, that succeeded to Naum, and Alexander the third his succes••our, all which were both Priestes and Kings; and therefore by the Aethiopians which resort to the Holy Sepulcher at Ierusalem, & vsed to speake Greek, were called Priest Beldigian. This by corruption of the name by Merchants, and such as knew not the signification, and also for breuities sake, was pronounced Priest Gian or Iohn. Now for the Priest Iohn in Asia, he tels that when S. Thomas was martyred in In∣dia, the three e 1.134 Magi, who had visited Christ by the leading of a Starre in his Infancie, and had after beene consecrated Bishops ouer their seuerall Kingdomes (you must not deny their royalty) by the Apostle; chose one amongst themselues to be Priest & King, who was called Priest Iohn. If you beleeue not Peter de Natalibus, out of whom the Frier cites this, I should be too much troubled in perswading you. Hee telleth also out of Otho Frisingensis, that about the yeare 1145. one Iohn a Christian, both King and Priest.

Priest, reigning in the furthest parts of the East, warred vpon, and ouercame the Medes, Assyrians. & Persians, and had intended to free Ierusalem out of Saracenicall seruitude, but not finding passage ouer Tigris, was forced to returne. This is like to hee that Pres∣byter Iohn, whose posterity vsed that Stratageme before mentioned against the Tartars. And to him I thinke might fitly agree that Title of Prestegian (easily deflected and alte∣red to Priest. Iohn) whereof you haue heard out of Ioseph Scaliger. I haue seene a Manu∣script f 1.135 in old French, pretended to be a Letter from Prester Iohn, to the Emperor Fre∣derike, wherin is discoursed of the site, greatnes, puissance, wealth, and other rarities of his estate: but finding so many monsters, and vncouth relations therin, I could not be so prodigall of faith or penurious of iudgement, as to value his authoritie at any high rate: wherin Sir Iohn Mandeuill seemes to haue been a lender or borrower, so iustly doe they agree, in disagreeing from both probabilitie and possibilitie of truth: yet both in the one and the other, we may obserue the like situation of Prester Iohns dwelling in these parts of Asia, neere Persia: and that such a multitude of Fables could not but haue some truth for their ground. My conclusion is, that for that name of Prestegian, I like vvell Scaligers interpretation, and thinke that it may agree either to this, or some other Christian Prince at those times in India, which is far neerer to Persia, and from whence the Indians borrowed their Royal titles, both in those times & since, as, Garciasab Her∣to g 1.136 and Linschoten shewe. Idalham or Adelham, the Title of the King of h 1.137 Goa, and the countries about, commonly called Idalcan, is not a proper name, but a Title of ho∣nour, (signifying (as Adonizeack Iosh. 10.1. •••• ord) or King of Iustice: Nisamaluco, the speare of the Kingdome; and such like: Ismael the Sophi (which name also is by some in∣terpreted Elect, because they pretended to be or doe so, and others, the reprobate follo∣wers of a reprobate Religion) added the Title of Xa or Sha, to such as embraced his new sect, as Nisomoxa, &c. If the borrowing of names from the Persian language (so gene∣rall in those parts) bee still obserued: no maruell if some Christian King in those times might Stile himselfe Prestegian, or Apostolicall, (which others not vnderstanding called Priest Iohn, or Prete Iannt) as beeing compassed with so many Saracens the enemies of the Apostles, besides Heretikes, and Heathens. At Mosul is yet a Patriarch, who in Paulus i 1.138 time was of farre greater iurisdiction, and as an Easterne Pope ordained Archbishops and Bishops, through all the parts of India, besides Cairo, and Baldach: and therefore no maruell if in India there were some Great Carishan Prince, able to make head a∣gainst the Tartars in those times: For euen in Cranganor k 1.139 are yet supposed to bee 70000. Christians: besides a great number in Negapatan, and in Matipur: and very many in Angamale, and 15000. on the North of Cochin, where the Archbishop that dependeth on the Patriatch of Babylon, or Mosul, resideth: All which haue no com∣munion with the Greek, Roman, or Ethiopian Churches. And for the Ethiopian names or crosses, either their Marchants when their state was great, or slaues, which taken from them are euen in these times sold deerest of any other, and mount to great preserments of warre, vnder these Lords, might leaue such impressions: or, some other, which as they professed One Christ, so might haue some words and ceremonies common with the Ethiopian: although I must needs acknowledge, that many of those crosses haue not crossed my way, nor any other Ethiopian foote-prints.

Pardon me gentle Reader, if I seeme tedious in this dispute, seeing it is necessary both for the vnderstanding of the extent of the power and Religion of this Precious or Priest Iohn: and Scaliger hauing ascribed such large bounds to his Empire, I could not but exa∣mine the same, otherwise professing my selfe (sinon magts amtca veritas) euen willing, if I must needs erre, to erre with him, who hath in many tongues, and Artes, shewed him∣selfe perhaps the worthiest Generall, and generallest Worthy, against Errour that euer we haue had, the Alpha of learned men in our Age, as our learned l 1.140 Morton testifieth of him, and a great light of learning, acknowledged by Royall m 1.141 testimonie. His autho∣ritie I would not seeme to contemne, and therefore haue entred this long search: con∣tented, if any like better to follow the opinion of Sealiger in this, as I haue done in ma∣ny things else, that he take his choise.

CHAP. IIII.

Of the Aethiopian Empire.

TO come now to the Aethiopian Greatnes, of this great Aethiopian; his Title would be a sufficient Text for a more sufficient glosse, then we can giue. In a Letter a 1.142 to King Emannell, after diuers words concerning the Trinitie follow; These Letters sendeth Atani Tinghill, that is, the Frankincense of the Virgin, which was his name in Baptisme, but at the beginning of his Reigne, b 1.143 hee tooke to name Dauid, the beloued of God, Pillar of the faith, descended of the Tribe of Iuda, Sonne of Dauid, Sonne of Salomon, Sonne of the Pillar of Sion, Sonne of the seede of Iacob, Sonne of the band of Mary, Sonne of Nahu c 1.144 according to the flesh, Emperour of the Greater and Higher Aethiopia, and of vost large Kingdomes, Territories, and Iurisdictions, the King of Xoa, Casfate, Fatigar, Angote, Baru, Baaliganze, Adea, Vangue, and Goiame, where Nilus springeth; Of Damaraa, Vaguemedri, Ambeaa, Vagne, Tigri-Mahon; Of Sabaym, the Countrey of the Queene of Saba, of Barnagasso, and Lord as farre as Nubia, which consineth vpon Egypt. Here are names enough to skarre a weake braine, a great part whereof are now his (as some say) in Title onely. For at this present, if Barros and Botero bee beleeued, his Neighbours haue much encroched vpon him: as a little before wee haue shewed; (a thing wholly denied by the later Relations of Frier Luys de Vrre∣ta). d 1.145 Yet seeing wee are to trauell through all these Countries, wee will leaue the question of dominion to him and his neighbours, to try it with the sword: Our pen shall peace∣ably point out the places, and after that, the conditions. Barnagasso e 1.146 is the nighest to vs, at least, by his neere situation to the red Sea, nighest to our knowledge. It stretch∣eth from Suachen almost to the mouth of the Streyt, and hath Abagni, or Astapus, on the South. It hath no other Port on the Red Sea but Ercocco. Neither hath the Preto any other Port but this in all his Dominion, being land-locked on all sides. Anno 1558. f 1.147 The Turkes committed heere great spoile: They haue since taken from the Prete, all on the Sea side, and specially that port of Ercocco, and the other of Suachen or Suaquem, and forced the Gouernour or vnder-King of this Prouince, to compound for a yearely summe of a thousand ounces of Gold: besides his Tribute to the Act hio∣pian To him are also subiect the gouernments of Dafila, and Cansia. And the Turke hath a B•••••• g 1.148 at Suaquem, called by Prolomey, Sebasticum. Tigri-M••hon heth be∣tweene Nilus, Marabo, two Riuers, Angote, and the Sea. Tigrai hath in it Cazumo, which is supposed the seate Royall of that great Queene, which visited Salomen. An∣gote is betweene Tigre-Mahon and Amara. Heere in Amara h 1.149 is a steepe Hill, dilating it selfe in a round forme, fifteene dayes iourney in compasse, enuironing with the steepe ••••••les, and impossible tops thereof, many fruitfull and pleasant Vallies, wherein the kin∣dred of the Prete are surely kept, for the auoiding of all tumults & seditions. Xoa hath store of corne and cattell: Goiame hath plenty of gold: as, Baguamedr•• hath Siluer. In Fatigar is a Lake on the top of a High mountaine, twelue miles compasse, aboun∣ding with great varietie of fish; and thence runne many Riuers, stored with the same fish.

Damut is ennobled with slauerie. For the slaues that are hence carried Captiues, in Arabia, Persia, and Aegypt, proue good Souldiours. The greater part of this King∣dome are Gentiles, and the residue Christians. Gueguere was sometimes called M••roe: the inhabitants are consederate with the Turkes and Mores, against the Abissines. Dau∣cali and Dobas, are neere the Red Sea, inhabited with Mores.

Many of these Countries are diuersly placed by diuers: through ignorance of the exact situations: which Aluarez i 1.150 in his so many yeares trauell in those parts might well haue acquainted vs with, if he had first acquainted himselfe with rules of Art, to haue obserued by instruments the true fire and distances.

Let vs now come vnto the Court of their Emperour, which was alway mouing, k 1.151 and yet the greatest towne that his whole Empire containeth. For there are few which haue in them one thousand and six hundred Families, whereas this moueable Citie hath fiue thousand, or six thousand tents, and Mules for cariages about fifty thousand. In his march from one place to another, if they passe by a Church, he and all his compa∣ny alight, and walke on foote, till they be past. There is also carried before him a con∣secrated stone or Altar, vpon the shoulders of certaine Priests appointed to that office. They call him Acegue, which signifieth Emperour, and Negus, that is, King.

By commandement of the Queene Maqueda, which visited Salomon, women l 1.152 are Circumcised: both Sexes are circumcised at eight daies olde: and the Males forty daies after; the Females, fourescore; (vnlesse sicknes hasten the same) are baptized. As for the rites of their Christianitie, it belongeth not to this place to expresse. Their circum∣cision Zabo saith, is not obserued, as if it made them more worthy then other Christi∣ans, for they thinke to be saue ••onely by faith. They vse this and distinctions of meates, and Mosaicall rites, yet so as hee that eateth. should not despise him that eatest not, and not condemning others that refuse them: but yet thinking that neither Christ, nor the Apostles, nor the Primitiue Church had disannulled them, interpreting also the Scriptures to their purpose. Of their agreeing with other Churches in the most points of substance, the Authour of the m 1.153 Catholike Traditions hath written: and when I make a Christian Visitation of these parts, it shall be further discouered.

The succession is not tied to the eldest, but to him n 1.154 whom the Father appointeth. For Dauid which sent this Ambassage to Portugall, was the third sonne in order, and for modestie in refusing to sit in his Fathers Throne, which in the same triall his o∣ther Brethren had accepted, was preferred to that which hee had refused: the other reiected for their forward acceptation. The King offered o 1.155 the King of Portugall an hundred thousand drammes of Gold, and as many Souldiours towards the subduing of the Mores, besides other things meete for the warre. It seemes the difference of the Aethiopian, and Popish Superstition was the cheese hinderance in this businesse: neither partie beeing able (if willing) to reconcile their long-receiued differences from each other, and the truth. Eugenius the Pope, and the Aegyptian King, then named The seeds of Iacob, p 1.156 had written to each other: and Aluarez yeelded q 1.157 obedience to the Pope, in the name of the Prete, at Bologna, in the presence of Pope Clement the seuenth, and Charles the fist. But all this sorted to none effect. For Pope Paul the fourth sent an Embassage to Claudius, then the Abassine Emperour, employing in the same thirteene Iesuites, one of which was made Patriarch, and two Bishops, in their hopefull Aethiopian Hierarchie. Ignatius, the founder of the Ies••••tes, wrote a long Letter also, which Maffaeus r 1.158 hath inserted at large. Thus in the yeare 1555. Iohn the third, King of Portugall, vndertooke the charges to con∣uey them thither: and sent s 1.159 Consaluus Roterigius, to prepare them way by a for∣mer Embassage to Claudius, whose eares hee found fast closed to such motions. Wherevpon, the New Patriarch stayed at Goa, and one of the Bishops vvith a Priest or two went thither, where when they came, they found Claudius slaine, and his brother t 1.160 Adamas, a cruell man, and an Apostata sometimes from his saith, in the Throne. He cast the new Bishop into bands, and drew him into the warres with him, where the Emperour was discomfited, and hee taken and strip∣ped of all, and at last miserably died, and with him the hope of Roman Abassia. Sabellieus u 1.161 saith hee had conference with some Aethiopians, which said that their Lord ruled ouer threescore and two Kings. They called him Gyam, which signi∣fieth mighty. They wondred why the Italians called him a Priest, seeing he neuer receiued Orders, onely hee bestowed Benefices: and is neither called Iohn or Ianes, but Gyam. Some report of him things incredible, as one Webbe x 1.162 an Eng∣lish man in his Tales of his Trauels. He hath Golde enough shut vp in a Caue, to buy the moitie of the world, as L. y 1.163 Regius affirmeth, and can raise an Armie of ten hundred thousand, (saith Sabellicus.) Yet the Peasants are not emploied in milita∣rie seruice: but onely the Cauas, which are men brought vp thereto. They warre

not in the Len••, z 1.164 except against themselues with extremity of fasting, so weakening their bodies, that the Moores a 1.165 make that their harvest of Abissine captiues. Of this their fasting Aluares saith, that they beginne their Lent ten dayes before vs: and after Candlemasse, fast three dayes, in remembrance of Niniuehs repentance; many Friers in that space eating nothing: and some women refusing to suckle their children aboue once a day. Their generall fast is bread and water, for fish is not easily had, being igno∣rant to take it. Some Friers eate no bread all Lent long for deuotion; some, not in a whole yeare, or in their whole life, but feede on hearbs, without oyle or salt: that I speake not of their girdles of yron, and other their hardships, which my Penne would willingly expresse, if my Method forbade me not. This fasting (as exposing their State to hostile inuasions and insolencies) may finde place and mention heere. Their Friers and Priests in Lent eate but once in two daies, and that in the night. Queene b 1.166 Helena, that sent her Ambassadour to King Emanuel, was reported to eate but three times a weeke, on Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday. On Sundayes they fast not. In Tigray and Tigremahon they fast neither Saturday nor Sunday: and they marry (because they haue two moneths priuiledge from fasting) on Thursday before our Shrouetide. They that are rich, may there marry three wiues, and the Iustice forbids them not; only c 1.167 they are excommunicated from entring the Church.

In the kingdome of Angole, yron, and salt is currant money. The Moores of Dobas haue a law, prohibiting marriage to any, that hath not first slaine twelue Christians. The diuorces d 1.168 and marrying the wiues of their brethren deceased, is heere in vse much like as with the Iewes.

In Bernagasso, Alvarez and his company, in their trauel, were incountred with ma∣ny great Apes as bigge as Weathers, their fore-parts hairie like Lions, which went not lesse then two or three hundred in a company: they would climbe any rockes: they digged the earth, that it seemed as it had beene tilled.

In the Countrey of the Giannamori, e 1.169 as they trauelled, they crossed a certaine brook or riuer, that came downe from the mountaines, and finding a pleasant place, shaded with the Sallowes, there they reposed themselues at noone: the water of the brooke was not sufficient to driue a Mill. And whiles the company stood, some on one side the brooke, some on the other, they heard a thunder, which seemed a farre off, but saw no likelihood of raine or winde; when the thunder was done, they put their stuffe in or∣der to be gone, and had taken vp the Tent, in which they dined, when one of the com∣pany going by the brooke about his busines, sodainely cried out, Looke to your selues: whereupon turning about, they saw the water come downe a speares deapth with gret fury, which carried away part of their stuffe: and had they not (by good hap) taken vp their tent, they together with it had bin carried away with the streame. Many of them were forced to clime vp the Sallowes. Such was the noise of the water, and the ratling of the stones, which came tumbling downe the mountaines together, that the earth trem∣bled, and the Skie seemed to threaten a downe fall. Sodainely it came, and sodainely it passed. For the same day they passed ouer, and sawe very many and great stones ioy∣ned to those which they had seene there before.

In the kingdome of Goyame, f 1.170 the riuer Nilus springeth, it is there called Gion, and comes from two lakes, which for their greatnesse may seeme to be Seas, in which (report goeth) that Mermaides, Tritons, or Men-fishes are seene, and some haue told me (saith Alvarez) that they haue seene it. Peter Covilian a Portugall, which had li∣ued a great part of his life in those parts, tolde me, that hee had beene in that kingdome by order from Queene Helena, to build there an Altar in a Church built by her, where she was buried. Beyond that kingdome, I was told, there were Iewes.

The houses of the Ethiopians g 1.171 are round, all of earth, flatte roofed, couered with thatch, compassed with yards. They sleepe vpon oxe-hides. They haue neither Tables nor Table-clothes, but haue their meate serued in on plaine woodden platters. Some eate flesh raw; others broyle it. Artillery they had not vntill they bought some of the Turkes. Writing is little (and scarce a little) vsed amongst them: the Officers dispatch matters of Iustice by Messengers, and word of mouth. There is no wine made of the

grape (but by stealth) except in the Pretes and h 1.172 Abunas: others vse wine made of Rai∣sins, steeped tenne dayes in water, and sirained, which is cordiall and strong. They haue plenty and want of mettalles; Golde, Siluer, &c. the soile yieldeth, but they haue not Art to take it. They haue no coine of golde or siluer; salt is the most currant money. Sugar canes they haue, but want skill to vse them. The mountaines and woods are full of basil and other odoriserous plants. They haue store of bees and honey: but their Hiues are placed in Chambers, where making a little hole in the wall the bees goe in and out. There are some places very cold. The Commons are miserably oppres∣sed by their superiours. No man may kill an Oxe though it be his owne, without li∣cence from the Gouernours: there were no Shambles but at the Court. The common people seldome speake truth, no not vpon an oath, except they are compelled to sweare by the head of the king; they exceedingly seare excommunication. Their oathes are in this fort: The party to be deposed goeth with two Priests, carrying with them fire and and incense to the Church-doore, whereon hee layeth his hand. Then the Priest ad∣iures him, saying; If thou shalt sweare falsly, as the Lion deuoureth the beasts of the forrest, so let the Deuill deuoure thy soule: and as corne is growned vnder the mil-stone, so let him grinde thy bones: and as the fire burneth vp the wood, so letthy sou'e burne in hell: (the partie answereth to euery to these clauses, Amen.) But if thou speake truth, let thy life be prolonged with honour, and thy soule enter into Paradise with the Bles∣sed, Amen. Then doth hee giue his testimonie. They haue Bookes written in Parch∣ment.

Some i 1.173 affirme that the Princes of Egypt haue time out of minde payed to Prester Iohn a great tribute, (continued by the Turkes, which Luys saith is three hundred thou∣sand Zequis, euery Zequibeing sixeteene ryalls, and with vs eight pence) for that by him the furious spirit of Nilus is stoked and cooled, being detained in the way by many sluces, for that purpose made. The great Turke denying this, k 1.174 the Abissine caused those dammes to be broken, and by drowning Egypt in vncouth manner, forced that great Monarch to composition. Alvarez denies both the mountaines of Luna, and the mel∣ting of snow, which is supposed the cause of this riuers hastinesse; and ascribeth the o∣uerflowing or Nilus to the extreame raines in Ethiopia, whose Fountaines diuers Por∣tugalles haue seene (he saith) in Goyame. The Turke notwithstanding hath (by war∣ring vpon him) erected a new B-glerbeg-ship in his Dominions. Alvarez liued there six yeeres, and was once within thirtie miles of Nilus, but in all his trauells neuer sawe that riuer. So little accesse haue the Ethiopians (barred out by vnpassable passages) v∣sually to the same.

Andrea l 1.175 Corsali r••porteth that the Prete Dauid, was of Oliue colour, but shewed his face but once in the yeere, hauing at other times his face couered for greater stare, and therefore also spake to none, but by an interpreter. The Inhabitants are branded with fire, which they vse, not for Baptisme, but in obseruation of a Custome of Salomon, who so marked his slaues, as they affirme. Frier Luys giueth a more probable reason thereof, saying that when the world groned vnder Arrianisme: the Abiss••••e Emperor caused his subiects to brand themselues with a three-fold marke or stampe in the fore∣head, to testisie their faith of and in the Trinitie: which now since their commerce with the Roman Christians is in mannet wholly left, except in the ruder and more vnciuill parts of Barnagasso, the borders of the Empire. The same Author m 1.176 saith, that in Ae∣thiopia are Elephants, the Rhinoceros, and (besides other beasts) the Vnicorne in the Kingdome of Goyame, and in the hilles of the Moone, but seldome seene, onely the horne is found, which hee casteth in maner as the Harr. There are also (he saith) birds of Paradise: and such store and varietie of flowers ail the yeare long, that their Eu∣nuches are alwaie decked with them. There is one Flower not anywhere else knowne, called Ghoyahula, much resembling a Mary-gold, but exceeding faire in varietie and excellencie of colours, fragrant smell, abundance of leaues in the Flower, and with a more rare qualitie; beginning to open at noone, and so by little and little opening more and more tiil midnight, alway the sent encreasing with the opening: after mid∣night it shuts by little and little, till noone: denying by the same degrees her pleasing

offices to both senses, of sent, and sight. He mentioneth n 1.177 also a bird, called the Rhi∣nocerot of the aire, much bigger then an Eagle, and hauing a bowe-fashioned bill or beake foure foot long, and a horne betweene the eies, with a blacke line alongst it. It is a cruell sowle, and attends on battells and campes. The Portugalls had sight of one at the red Sea, when Solyman the Eunuch had his nauy in the red Sea. The horne is of the same propertie with that of the Vnicorne and Rhinoceros. There are fishes also called Rhinocerotes of the Sea; many of which are payd the Prete for tribute.

CHAP. V.

Of the Hill Amara: and the rarities therein.

THe hill Amara hath already beene often mentioned, and nothing indeed in all Ethiopia more deserueth mention, whether wee respect the natu∣rall site, or the employment thereof. Somewhat is written thereof by Geographers, and Historians, especially by Alvarez, b 1.178 whome wee haue chiefly followed in the former relations of this Countrey, as an ••••••∣witnesse of the most things reported; but neither they, nor he haue a∣ny thing but by relation, sauing that hee passed two dayes iourney along by the said hill, and that also had almost cost him his life. But Iohn de Baltasar liued in the same a long time, and therein serued Alexander which was afterwards Emperour, and was often by commaundement of the same man, when he was Emperor, sent thither: out of his relations, Frier b 1.179 Luys saith, he hath borrowed that which here were offer you. And here we offer you no small fauour, to conduct you into, and about this place, where none may come but an Ethiopian, and that by expresse licence, vnder paine of leauing his hands, feet, and eies behind, in price for his curiositie; and not much lesse is the dan∣ger of such as offer to escape from thence; Alvares himselfe being an eie-witnes of some such cruell executions insticted for that offence. This hil is situate as the nauil of that E∣thiopian body, and centre of their Empire, vnder the Equinoctiall line, where the sunne may take his best view thereof, as not encountring in all his long iourney with the like Theatre; wherein the Graces and Muses are Actors (no place more graced with Na∣tures store, or furnished with such a store-house of books) the Sunne himselfe so in loue with the sight, that the first and last thing he vieweth in all those parts, is this hill, and where Antiquitie consecrated vnto him a stately Temple: the Gods (if ye beleeue Ho∣mer, c 1.180 that they feasted in Ethiopia) could not there, nor in the world find a fitter place for entertainement, all of them contributing their best store (if I may so speake) to the banquet, Bacchus, Iuno, Venus, Pomona Ceres, and the rest, with store of fruits, whole∣some aire, pleasant aspect and prospect; secured by Mars, left any sinister accident should interrupt their delights, if his garrisons of souldiers were needefull, where Na∣ture had so strongly fortified before; onely Neptune with his ruder Sea-Deities, and Pluto with his blacke-Guard of barking Cerberus, and the rest of that dreadfull traine (whose vnwelcome presence would trouble all that are present) are al, saue Charon, who attends on euery feast, yea hath now ferried away those supposed Deities with himselfe, perpetually exiled from this place. Once, Heauen and Earth, Nature and Industry haue all beene corriualls to it, all presenting their best presents, to make it of this so louely presence, some taking this for the place of our Fore-fathers Paradise. And yet, though thus admired of others, as a Paradise, it is made a prison to some, on whom Nature had bestowed the greatest freedome, if their freedome had not bin eclipsed d 1.181 with greatnes, and (though goodly starres, yet by the Sunnes brightnes, are forced to hide their light, when grosse and earthly bodies are seene) their noblenesse making them prisoners, that one Sun onely may shine in that Ethiopian throne. It is situate in a great Plaine, largely extending it selfe euery way, without other bill in the same for the space of 30, leagues, the forme thereof round and circular, the height such, that it is a dayes worke to ascend from the soot to the top; round about, the rocke is cut so smooth, and euen, without any

vnequall swellings, that it seemeth to him that stands beneath, like a high wall, whereon the heauen is as it were propped: & at the top it is ouer-hanged with rocks, jutting forth of the sides the space of a mile, bearing out like mushromes, so that it is impossible to as∣cend it, or by ramming with earth, battering with canon, scaling, or otherwise to winne it. It is aboue twenty leagues in circuit, compassed with a wall on the top, wel wrought, that neither man not beast in chase may fall downe. The top is a plaine field, only toward the South is a rising hill, beautifying this plaine, as it were with a watch-tower, not ser∣uing alone to the eie, but yeelding also a pleasant spring, which passeth through all that Plaine, paying his tributes to euery garden that will exact it, and making a lake, whence issueth a riuer, which hauing from these tops espied Nilus, neuer leaues seeking to find him, whom he cannot leaue both to seek and find, that by his direction & conueiance he may, together with him, present himselfe before the Father and great King of Waters, the Sea. The way vp to it is cut out within the rocke, not with staires, but ascending by little and little, that one may ride vp with ease; it hath also holes cut to let in light, and at the foot of this ascending place, a faire gate, with a Corps du Guarde. Halfe way vp is a faire and spacious Hall cut out of the same rocke, with three windowes verie large vp∣wards: the ascent is about the length of a launce and a halfe: and at the toppe is a Gate with another guard. The aire aboue is wholesome and delectable; and they liue there very long, and without sickenesse. There are no Cities on the top, but palaces, standing by themselues, in number foure and thirtie, spacious, sumptuous, and beautifull, where the Princes of the royall bloud haue their abode with their families. The souldiers that guard the place dwell in tents. There are two Temples, built before the reigne of the Queene of Saba, one in honour of the Sunne, the other of the Moone, the most mag∣nificent in all Ethiopia, which by Candace, when shee was conuerted to the Christan Faith, were consecrated in the name of the Holy Ghost, and of the Crosse. At that time, (they tell) Candace ascending with the Eunuch (whose proper name was Indica) to baptise all of the roiall bloud, which were there kept, Zachary the eldest of them, was in his baptisme named Philip, in remembrance of Philips conuerting the Eunuch, which caused all the Emperors to be called by that name, til Iohn the Saint, who would be cal∣led Iohn, because he was crowned on S. Iohns day: & while they were busie in that holy worke of baptising the Princes, a Doue in fiery forme came fleeing with beams of light, & lighted on the highest Temple dedicated to the Sunne, whereupon it was afterwards consecrated to the Holy Ghost by Saint Mathew the Apostle, when hee preached in Ethiopia. Those two Temples were after that giuen to the Monasticall Knights of the Militarie Order of Saint Anthonie, by Philip the seuenth, with two great and spacious Couents built for them. I should loose both you and my selfe, if I should leade you in∣to their sweet, flourishing and fruitfull gardens, whereof there are store in this Plaine, curiously made, and plentifully furnished with fruits both of Europe plants there, as peares, pippins, and such like; and of their owne, as oranges, citrous, limons, and the rest; with cedars, palme trees, with other trees, and variety of hearbs, and floures, to satisfie the sight, taste and sent. But I would intertaine you, only with rarities, no where else to be found; and such is the Cubayo tree, pleasant, beyond all comparison, in taste, and whereunto for the vertue is imputed the health and long life of the Inhabitants; and the balme tree, whereof there is great store here: and hence it is thought e 1.182 the Queene of Saba carried and gaue to Salomon, who planted them in Iudaea, from whence they were transplanted at Cayro long after. The plenty of graines and corne there growing. the charmes of birds, alluring the eares with their warbling Notes, and fixing their eies on their colours, ioyntly agreeing in beauty, by their disagreeing varietie, and other creatures that adorne this Paradise, might make me glut you (as sweet meates vsually doe) with too much store. Let vs therefore take view of some other things worthy our admiration in this admired hill.

The stately building of the two Churches aforesaid, with their Monasteries, with the pillars and roofes of stone, richly and cunningly wrought, the matter and the workman∣ship conspiring magnificence; that of Iaspar, Alabaster, Marble, Prophyry; this with painting, gilding, and much curiostitie, with the two Monasteries, containing each of

them 1500, religious Knights and Monkes: each monasterie hath two Abbats; one of the militarie Knights, the other spirituall, of the monkes, inferior to the former. In the monastery of the Holy Crosse are two rare peeces, whereon Wonder may iustly fasten both her eies: the Treasury and Library f 1.183 of the Emperour, neither of which is thought to be matchable in the world. That Librarie of Constantinople g 1.184 wherein were 120000 bookes nor the Alexandrian Library, wherein Gellius h 1.185 numbreth 700000, had the fire not bin admitted (too hastie a Student) to consume them, yet had they come short, if re∣port ouer-reach not, this whereof we speake; their number is in a maner innumerable, their price inestimable. The Queene of Saba (they say) procured Bookes hither from all parts, besides many which Salomon gaue her, and from that time to this, their Emperors haue succeeded in like care and diligence. There are three great Halls, each aboue two hundred paces large, with Bookes of all Sciences, written in fine parchment, with much curiositie of golden letters, and other workes, and cost in the writing, binding, and co∣uers: some on the floore, some on shelues about the sides: there are few of paper: which is but a new thing in Ethiopia. There are the writings of Enoch copied out of the stones wherein they were engrauen, which intreate of Philosophie, of the Heauens and Ele∣ments Others goe vnder the name of Noe, the subiect whereof is Cosmographie, Ma∣thematikes ceremonies and prayers: some of Abraham, which he composed when he dwelt the valley of Mamre, and there read publikely Philosophie and the Mathema∣tikes There is very much of Salomon, a great number passing vnder his name: many a∣scribed to Iob, which he writ after the recouery of his prosperity: many of Esdras, the Prophets, and high Priests. And besides the foure canonicall Gospels, many others ascribed to Bartholomew, Thomas, Andrew, and many others: much of the Sibylles, in verse and prose: the workes of the Queene of Saba: the Greeke Fathers, all that haue written, of which, many are not extant which vs: the Writers i 1.186 of Syria, Egypt, Africa, and the Latine Fathers translated, with others innumerable in the Greeke, Hebrew, A∣rabike, Abissine, Egyptian, Syrian, Chaldee, far more Authors, and more of them then we haue; few in Latin; yet T. Liui••s is there whole, which with vs is imperfect; and some of the workes of Thomas Aquinas: Saint Augustines workes are in Arabike: Poets, Phi∣losophers, Physicians, Rabbines, Talmudists, Cabalists, Hierogliphikes, and others would be too tedious to relate. When Ierusalem was destroyed by Titus; when the Saracens ouer-ranne the Christian world; many Bookes were conueyed out of the Easterne parts into Ethiopia; when Ferdinand and Isabella expelled the Iewes out of Spaine, many of them entred into Ethiopia, and for doing this without licence, enriched the Pretes Li∣brary with their bookes: when Charles 5. restored Muleasses to his kingdome, the Prete hearing that there was at Tunis a great Library, sent & bought more then 3000 books of diuers Arts. There are aboue 200 Monkes, whose office is to looke to the Librarie, to keepe them cleane and sound; each appointed to the Books of that language which hee vnderstandeth: the Abbot hath streight charge from the Emperor, to haue care thereof; he esteeming this Library more then his treasure. And yet his treasure is such, k 1.187 as leauestall others of all Princes in the world behind, quite out of sight: It is a Sea, that euery yeare receiueth new riuers, neuer running out: the Emperours, euen from the time of the Queene of Saba, laying vp part of their reuenue here. And therefore l 1.188 Dauid the Prete, in Letters to King Iohn the second of Portugall, said, that hee had golde as the sands of the Sea, and the Starres in the Skie. The first that coyned money, was Alexander the third, which died in the yeare of our Lord 1603, stamping in the one side, the figure of Saint Mathew the Ethiopian Patron, and on the other, the Lion and Crosse, which is the Armes of Ethiopia. His Iewels, here kept, are incomparable; Topazes, Amethists, Saphires, Diamonds, and others. He hath one Iewell which was found in the riuer Ni∣ger, (that brings forth more gemmes then any riuer in the world) which is one peece of stone or rocke diuersifed with a thousand varieties of stones: it is square, about two palmes and a halfe, and thicke withall: there are in it a hundred and sixty Diamonds, one as large as the palme of ones hand, others of one, two or three fingers, and some lesse: it hath aboue 300 Emeraldes, Rubies the greatest in the world; aboue fifty Saphires, Tur∣queses, Balazes, Amethists, Ipinels, Topazes, Iacinths, Crysolites, and all other kinds. Na∣ture

heere playing the leweller, and representing a Map of the worlds gemmes in one Iewell, without and infinitly beyond all Art of man. Being set in the Sun, it seems a com∣bined marriage of heauenly & earthly Excellence, that no mortall eie hath seeue the like, not is able to endure the sight of this. When Bernardo Vecheti a Ieweller was sent thi∣ther by Francis de Medices Duke of Florence, he accounted it beyond all estimation or valew. The Emperour keepes it in a box of gold. By the perswasion of that Bernardo he hath made him tables set with thousands of stones in them. Corrall is more esteemed in Ethiopia then gold, and therefore frier Luys denies that coralls in the bottome of the red sea, make it red, as some affirme: and that which Barros m 1.189 saith hath beene found there, is vnperfect.

But greater Iewels then those are kept in Amara, the princes of the bloud roial, which are sent to this hill at eight yeres old, and neuer returne thence, except they bee chosen Emperours. The first Author of this custome was Iosue the nephew of Salomon, and son of Meilet or Melilec, to remoue all occasions of ciuill wars about succession. And their continued succession in one line, without alienation, is imputed to this. Some Empe∣rours for a time had left it, til Abraham being Emperour had, or pretended to haue a re∣uelation, to renue that custome, if he would continue the Scepter in the linage of Dauid. The Princes which liue there, are six, eight, twelve, & sometimes more: Anno 1608 they were six; euery of which liues by himselfe, and that in great estate and maiesty in royall palaces with spacious halls richly hanged, remouing to another palace at pleasure: they meet all together when they will play, hunt, walke, and on holidayes to diuine Seruice: they take place according to their age; ech hath his ten seruants for ordinary attendance, which are the sons, or descended of the tributary kings: for baser Offices, the great M^r or military Abbot employeth the soldiers that guard at the foot of the hill, which with∣out licence may not ascend. They haue other graue persons to instruct them in virtue & learning. Euery city, that is, euery habitation of a thousand houses, is at their own charge to send thither three men, a gentleman, a citizen, and a plebeian, for the guard of the hill, which make vp the number of 7500, there being 2500 cities in the Empire. The milita∣ry Abbats order them in their seueral wards, the baser at the foot of the hill, the citizens at the middle, and the gentlemen at the top; their capitains changed at euery two months end. Besides the souldiers tents, are many other of Merchants and Officers. No woman may ascend, nor hath done since Queene Candace was here baptized by her Eunuch: the the Princes liue single, and marry nor, as Aluares hath vntruely affirmed of them.

CHAP. VI.

Of the Election of the Emperors: of their Scholes, Vniuersities, and royall Cities.

WHen the Emperor is dead, many solemne ceremonies are obserued, both religious and ciuill about the election of another, which is in the autho∣rity of the 2 military Abbots of S. Anthonies order in the mount. Oaths are taken both of the Electors and Elected, the first, to vse sincerity, the other to reigne iustly, obseruing, and causing in his Empire to be obser∣ued, the laws of God, Christian religion, the soure first Councels, of Nice, Ephesus, Chal∣cedon, & Constautinople: and (if the a 1.190 Frier reach not, for in their holy Fathers case Ire∣lie not much on their holines) to acknowledge the Florentine Counsell, and the Popes Supremacie, and lastly, the Constitutions of Iohn the Saint, and Philip the seuenth, an∣ciēt Emperors: which done, in solemne Procession of all estates they goe to the Church, and hauing set the Emperour in his throne, the Princes of the bloud are brought out of the Pallace, where in the time of the election they had beene enclosed, to kisse his hand, and sweare sidelity, clothed in the habite of the Knights of Saint Anthony: the same oath is giuen also by the Kings, his vassalls (foure of which are present at the electi∣on) the Counsellers, Prelates, and others, according to their place. After this, fires are made on the towers of the Mount, to giue notice of this election, which being seene by

the neerer Cities, they also by the like fires (as it were) proclaime the same in a mo∣ment through all the Empire: which is confirmed by Posts sent thence on Dromeda∣ries, by the Abbat of the Abbey of the Holy-Ghost, one of the Electors, and the Coun∣cell, vnto the Citie of Saba, and the mother of the New-Elect, if she be liuing, and to his neere kindred, to come and reioyce with him. The next day the Emperour goeth in blacke habite to the Palace where the Princes are, and saluteth them with kinde embracements, one by one, with his bonnet in his hand: which is done in the next place by the Prelats, whome in honour of their Ecclesiasticall dignities the Princes re∣salute standing, with their heads vncouered. The tributarie Kings follow, not with embracements, but kissing their hands, rendering their salutations, and after them the Embassadors. The Emperour, hauing remained some time in priuat talke with them, goeth to the Abbey of the Holy-Ghost, and putting off his blacke habite, is clothed in Scarlet; and being on horsebacke, attended with his Familie, the Abbats, and Coun∣cellors, passeth to the Abbey of the Holy Crosse, where the two Abbats of that Abbey meet him; and after oath giuen to preserue the auncient Customes, present him with the Keyes of the Treasurie and Librarie: the Emperour bestowing as much of the said Treasure as he pleaseth. After all other ceremonies, the Councellors of the Court come to the Hill with twelue thousand Knights of S. Antonies Order (which are the Empe∣rours guard) and the eldest sonnes of the King, to conuey him solemnly to Zambra the Citie, where the Court and Councell reside, where with all solemnitie & magnificence he is likewise receiued, and conducted into the Palace, and placed on his Throne of twelue steppes, with acclamations of long life and happinesse on all hands. Fiue daies festiuall being here passed in all publike reioicings, he goeth to Saba to take the oathes of all his subiect Kings in person (whereof onely foure had been present at the Electi∣on) and one holding the Crowne, another the Scutchion of the Armes of that tributa∣rie King, he sweareth on the Scepter (which is a golden Crosse) true sidelitie and obe∣dience, and the Emperour puts on the Crowne againe on his head: and the said Scut∣chion, with his Armes, he giueth into his hand, & licenseth him to depart to his Pauilli∣on without the Citie. These Kings are truely Kings, & succeed in the inheritāce of their fathers, receiuing tribute of the subiects of their seuerall Kingdomes, and are not De∣puties, or Vice-royes, at the meere pleasure of the Emperour: but if one be vpon iust cause displaced, his sonne succeedeth: and therefore the Prete is called King of Kings. The eldest sonne of euery of these Kings attend alwayes on the Emperour, and haue attending on them ten seruants of the sonnes of the Nobles of their Kingdomes. The Emperour is bound by auncient custome to take a wife of the posteritie of those three Magi which adored CHRIST in his infancie, whome the Aethiopian and Romane Traditions calleth Kings, by the names of Gaspar, Melchior, Balthasar; of which, the Aethiopians say, that Melchior was of Arabia, and Balthasar of Persia, which being forced by persecution of Arians b 1.191 , came into Aethiopia, in the time of Iohn the Saint, which reigned after Philip the seuenth, and receiued of his hands the Kingdomes of Fatigar and Soa, the former giuen to the posteritie of Balthasar, the other to the linage of Melchior. The F••••er addeth, That all the legitimate descendents of these three Fami∣lies are borne with a starre on one of their sides; and that at the Iubilee, in the time of Gregorie the thirteenth, 1575, there were three of those three Families at Rome, with that naturall ensigne of the supernaturall and miraculous starre. Yea, the legitimate Mahumetanes in Arabia and Persia, remaining of those kindreds, haue the same signe, as Don Iohn sware to him, that he had seene. The Councell gouerneth according to the 127 Statutes made by the first Philips, and Iohn the Saint. Nothing is punished with death but Treason, vnder which name they also comprehend Murther and Adulterie: of this mortall sentence the Lions are the executioners, which in euery Citie are kept for that purpose. Some Italians had beene found guiltie of the sinne against Nature, a thing for which the Aethiopians (as some of the Ancients c 1.192 for Parricide) had no law, as not thinking any would so farre degenerate; and therefore knew not how to punish them: but it was comitted to the Latin Councell, which adiudged them to be burned; a punishment not known before in those parts, yet fitting to those vnnaturall burning

The fault and the punishment being of equall strangenesse, the Emperour would not haue it executed there, but sent them to Goa to the Portugall Viceroy for that purpose. Heresie and Apostasie are likewise punished with death. That Latine Councell was instituted by Alexander the third, for Causes and Persons of Europe to be tryed and iudged by Iudges of their owne, resident at the Court (as the Grand Councell is) and chosen of each Nation two, of the Venetians, Florentines, and Portugalls: the two former come thither by the way of Cayro. Andrew Oniedo a Iesuite, sent thither by the Pope with the title of Bishop of Hierapolis, was Author and Councellour to the Emperour of this Institution, and by him made President of the same. This man ( d 1.193 Bo∣tero, Maffaus, and others say) had miserable entertainment, with the residue of his Societie: but Frier Luys (from the relation of Don Iohn) tells, That he had liued and died in great honour amongst them, as he doth elsewhere magnifie exceedingly their respect to the Romane Papacie and Religion. Credat Iudaus Apella. Cui bono e 1.194 is the rule of my Faith to Friers and Iesuites in their Relations: in Naturall and Morall Hi∣stories, which serue not to the building of Babylons Tower, I receiue them with at∣tention, with thankes, and if need be, with admiration in some things: but when they come with Slime instead of Mortar, and would get Rome a name, I remember their Vowes & Profession, and yeeld no further attendance. That Claudius which was then Emperor, and his successor Adamas, were of schismaticall and tyrannicall qualities, as other Historians affirme, Frier Luys not only denies, but extolleth their good parts.

He which now is Emperor, was elected An. 1606, and called himselfe Zaraschau∣reat, asprout or budde of the linage of Dauid, assister of S. Peter and S. Paul. He is a man haughtie and valorous, and was therefore chosen, because the Turkish Empire was so full of seditions, and the Sophi had sent his Embassadour to them, to chuse a fit warri∣or, that they might with ioint forces assault the Ottoman.

There are in all the Cities of Aethiopia two Schooles or Colleges for the instructi∣on of youth; one for the male sexe, the other for the female: each diuided into three parts; the first, for the Gentlemens children; the second, for Citizens; the third, for the baser vulgar, with their seuerall Instructers, and without communion, medling, or conuersing of the one with the other. The Seminarie of College of boyes is a quar∣ter of a league without the Citie, the other within. There are they taught Letters and Religion. All, euen the Kings themselues, are bound to send their children thither to be instructed: and the Priests resort theither for Confession, and ministring the Sacra∣ment to them. They may resort home at festiuall times: otherwise they are there de∣tained; the Virgins, from tenne to twentie; the other, from tenne to sixteene yeares of their age. They haue not onely this order in their well-ordered Schooles, but in their disordered misorderly Stewes, the Deuils worke-houses, and suburbes of Hell, which yet in Rome and places of that Religion are permitted and admitted the Ci∣ties, and his Holinesse selfe is not a little enriched with (that which GOD prohibi∣ted) f 1.195 the price of the Dogge, and of the Whore. The Aethiopians permit not any to be strange women, but strangers of other Countries, which may not enter into their Cities: Nor may the Nobles enter into the common houses which belong to the Citizens, or these to those of the Plebeians, nor any but to those peculiarly desig∣ned their state, vnder paine of death, as Adulterers, to be cast to the Lions. These women are hyred by certaine Officers at a common price, and are not to take any thing of particular men: They goe in pale-coloured Garments, and if they distast and forsake that beastly Trade, they send them to some places subiect vnto the Portugalls, not admitting them to conuerse with their women, for feare of in∣fection.

But to leaue these Beasts, the Aethiopians giue great respect to their Physicians, which are onely of their Gentrie, and that not all that will, but onely such as certaine Officers shall chuse, of euery Citie to be sent to their generall Vniuersities (of which there are seuen in Aethiopia) there to be taught Naturall Philosophie (Logick, & other Arts they know not) together with Physicke, & the Arts of the Apothecarie and Chi∣rurgian. They are there maintained at the publike charge of the Cities that send them.

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 g 1.196 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.

CHAP. VII.

Of other Countries betweene the Redde Sea and Benomotapa.

AEthiopia Exterior, or Inferior, is that Southerly Tract of Africa, which to Ptolomey and the Auncients was vnknowne. It comprehendeth all that great wedge of Land (such is the forme) which beginning in the West, at the Countries aboue Zaire, stretcheth to fiue and thirtie de∣grees of Southerly latitude, and from thence, Northwards, to the en∣trance or mouth of the Arabian Gulse; all this way besieged and en∣uironed with the Ocean a 1.197 Maginus diuideth it into fiue parts, Aian, Zanguebar, Benomotapa, Cafraria, and Congo: but Congo is here taken in a very large sence. Aian, after the Arabians account, containeth all that Region which lyeth betweene the mouth of the Redde Sea, and Quilimanci; being, for the most part, on the Sea∣Coast inhabited by the said Arabians: but the in-land parts thereof are peopled with a blacke Heathenish Nation. It comprehendeth two Kingdomes, Adel, and Adea; the former of which extendeth from that mouth of the Sea before mentioned, to the Cape Guardafu, by b 1.198 Ptolomey called Aromata. South and West it bordereth vpon the dominions of Prete Ianns, about the Kingdome of Fatigar. The chiefe Citie is Arar. Zelia also and Barbora pertaine to this Kingdome, Cities without the Strait, on the Sea, much frequented with Merchants. Zeila is situate in eleuen degrees, where Pto∣lomey placeth the Avalites. It is stored with varietie of Merchandise, and yeeldeth some representation of Antiquitie in the buildings thereof, consisting of Lime and Stone. The King is a Moore, and esteemed a Saint among the superstitious Mahu∣metans, for his continuall Warres with the Christian Abassines, whence he transpor∣teth innumerable slaues to the Arabians and Turkes, receiuing in exchange Armour and other helpes for his Warres. Anno 1541 Guad tameth the King hauing before done much harme, by the helpe of some Portugalls which Claudius the Abassine had in his warres, was slaine, and his Armie ouerthrowne: but his successour, Anno 1559, slew Claudius in battaile, and the Moore acknowledging diuine assistance in this victorie, triumphed on an Asse. Zeila was burnt and sacked by the Portugalls, Anno 1516: as Andrea c 1.199 Corsali, who was then present in the Action, testi∣fieth.

Adea is situate betweene Adel, Abassia, and the Sea. The inhabitants are Moores, descended of the Arabians, who many hundred yeares agoe, partly by their rich Traf∣fique, and especially by force of Armes, became Lords, not onely of A••an, but of all the Sea-Coast, to Cape dos corrientes, which is somewhat to the South of the Souther∣ly Tropicke. In all which space, before the Portugall Discoueries, that part of the Ci∣ties which lay open to the Sea, was open and vnfortified, but toward the Land were walled, for feare of the in-land people. Adea payeth tribute to the Abassian. In this Kingdome is Magadazzo, being it selfe a pettie Kingdome of the Moores, which are of an Oliue colour. d 1.200 Brava was a free Towne, which, with Pate and Gogia, were ta∣ken by the Portugalls, vnder Tristan de Cugna.

Zanzibar, or Zanguebar, is a name by the Arabians and Persians giuen to that Tract, extending from the Riuer Qualimanci, which Ptolomey calls Raptus, to the borders of Benomotapa. Some, in a larger extent, include Benomotapa and Cafraria. Sanutus affirmeth, That it is a low, fennie, and wooddie Countrey, with many Riuers, which by extremitie of moisture cause the ayre to be intemperate. From the waste vpwards they goe naked. Herein are contained the Territories of Melinde, Mom∣baza, Quiloa, Mosambique, and others. Melinde e 1.201 is the name of a Kingdome, and of the chiefe Citie thereof: The inhabitants, especially neere to the Sea, are Moores, and build their houses after the manner of Europe. The women are white, and

the men, of colour inclining to white, notwithstanding the situation vnder the Line. They haue blacke people also, which are Heathens for the most part. Of like condi∣tion is Mombaza^f f 1.202 (which is said to haue some resemblance with Rhodes) but enemie to the Christians, and was ruinated by Thomas Cotigno, in the yeare 1589, for recei∣uing Alebech the Turke; as Ampazi in the same Coast, by Alfonso Mello the yeare before.

Quiloa stands nine degrees to the South of the Line: the name of a Citie and Island, which is a Kingdome of the Moores, and extendeth her dominion faire in the Coastg. g 1.203 The King grew mightie by the Trade of Sofala; but it was made tributa∣rie to Portugall by Vascus Gamma, Anna 1500. In the yeare 1505 the Portugalls for deniali of that tribute, depriued Abrahem, the Arabian Ring, of his Scepter, and built a Fort there; which the Moores soone after destroyed, together with the new King, made by the Portugalls. The people are whitish, their women comely, rich in attire: their houses faire built, and richly furnished.

Betweene Coava and Cuama, two Riuers which spring out of the same Lake with Nilus, are the Kingdomes of Mombara, Mozimba, Macuas, Embcoe, and against them the Promontorie Prassum. Here is Mosambique h 1.204 , by which name is signified a Kingdome in the Continent, and an Island also, with a safe Harbour, which with two other Islands are in the mouth of the Riuer Moghincats, in fifteene degrees South. Mosambique is inhabited by Portugalls, which haue there a strong Castle: here the Portugall shippes Winter. In this Island are Sheepe, with tayles of fiue and twentie pound weight (a Beast common in Africa:) Hennes blacke both in feathers, flesh, and bone, and sodden, looke like Inke, yet sweeter then other in taste: Porke very good, but for the decre sauce. There are some Mahumetans, as they were all, before the Portugalls arriuall there. They haue Trade in the Continent, in Sena, Ma∣curva, Sofala, Cuama, a people for the most part differing in speech and behauiour, each Village fighting with her neighbour, captiuing them: and some (as at Macurva) eat them. Their chiefest •••••••••• is by Hunting, and by flesh of Elephants. In euerie Village is a new King. The Captaine of Mosambique, in his three yeares Gouern∣ment, maketh thre•• hundred thousand duckats gaine, especially by Gold, from Sofala.

Vp further wi••••nin Land t••e people goe almost naked, and were so simple when first the Portug••is traded •••• ••ther i 1.205 , that Ludonico Barthema, or Vertomannus, for his shirt; and an••ther, for a ••••sor, and a little Bell; bought fifteene Cowes of them; and then were ••eadie to fall together by the eares among themselues for the Bell, who should haue it. But they could not enioy their purchase, being driuen to their heeles by three female Elephants, which hauing young ones, were very fierce, and made them leaue their Ki•••• to saue themselues. In these Seas the Moores sayle in Vessells fow•••••••••••• Lea••••r, the sayles of Palme-tree leaues, calked with Gumme, gathered off •••••• T•••••••• in •••••• Woods.

S•••• •••••• betweene Cuama and Magnice, two Riuers. Here the Portugals haue on a little ••••nd (whence the whole Kingdome hath this name) a Fort and Factorie of •••••• rich Trade, the people bringing great quantitie of Gold (whereof they haue plentifull Mines) for their Cloth and other commodities: it is supposed that it a∣mounteth to two millions yearely. Ortelius k 1.206 is of opinion, That this Cephala, or Sophala, is that which in Salomons time l 1.207 was called Ophor, from whence so great quantitie of Gold was brought by his Nauie. Iosephus m 1.208 seekes for it in India: Eu∣polemus n 1.209 in the Redde Sea, imagining it to be an Island there placed. Dom, o 1.210 Ni∣ger Tremellus and Iunius, in Aurea Chersonesus, where Malacca standeth (al∣though wee reade not of any great quantitie of Gold found in that soyle.) p 1.211 Gaspar Varerius is of the same minde, but reckoneth to the Chersonesus both Pegu and Sa∣motta, with all that lyeth betweene them. Vatablas q 1.212 with lesse reason applyeth it to Spagniola, discouered by Columbus. and by Columbus himselfe so called. Arias r 1.213 Mon∣tanus. Philip Morn••y. Post••lls, Geropi••s, would by their authoritie much moue vs to thinke with them, that Ophir is Peru, if the ignorance of the Load-stone, and those

huge Seas, esteemed by Antiquitie vnnauigable, did not detaine vs from consent: And where should Peru yeeld him Ivorie, where neuer was yet seene an Elephant? Iosephus s 1.214 Acosta taketh Ophir and Tharsis to signifie no certaine places, but com∣monly to be taken in a generall sence, as the word India is now with vs; a name gi∣uen to all remote Countries, East and West. Hee thinketh, that Salomons Gold, Ivorie, &c. came from the East Indies.

But some reasons doe yeeld great cause of co••iecture for Sofala, both because of the plentie of the commodities which Salomons seruants are said to bring with them, and because of auncient buildings of Stone-worke, which the t 1.215 inhabitants call, the worke of Deuills; supposing it impossible for men (guessing of others by their owne ignorance) to haue built: Which also haue strange Letters, that the Moores (though learned) could not reade: (And why might they not be the olde Hebrew Letters, which the Phoenicians of old, and Samaritans to this day obserue, as elsewhere we haue shewed?)

And further, Thomas u 1.216 Lopez telleth, That certaine Moores related vnto them of the riches of those Mines; that Shippes from Mecca and Zidem vsed to trade there; and that yearely there were taken forth of the Mines two millions of Mitti∣galls, euery Mittigall being a Duckat of Gold, and a third part: That the Warres in those Countries at that time had ceased the Traffique: and that they had Bookes and auncient Writings, which testified, That these were the Mines whence Salomon, in his three yeares Voyages, fetched his Gold, and that the Queene of Saba was na∣turall of the parts of India.

As for India, yee haue x 1.217 euen now read, that it was a name giuen to many Nati∣ons, and among the rest, to Aethiopia. And if a man consider the small skill which that Age of the world had in marine affaires, still as much as might be holding their course within fight of Land, he can scarce thinke, that long Nauigations could then be performed. Barrius accounteth all Sofala to the Empire of Benomotapa, of which wee shall speake anone: wee haue now mentioned the same, by reason of the Isle which is subiect to the Portugalls. These, beside Gold, here haue great Trade for Ivorie, of which Barrius sayth, That in Benomotapa are yearely slaine foure or fiue thousands, and of Water-horses (whose teeth are accounted Ivorie also) all the great Riuers in Africa are full. These feede sometimes on the Medowes, where the Mari∣ners haue chased them, as Lopez y 1.218 reporteth: and after long chasing by Land, they haue taken the water; where, in reuenge, they haue assaulted the Mariners in their Boates, and bitten chippes of the same, being, by the thicknesse of their Hides, ar∣med against their Pikes, and haue made them afraid, that they would ouer-whelme the Boat.

Within the Land, behind these parts, is the Kingdome of Monoemugi, which is rich in Gold: their vnfortunate warres with Monomotapa haue made them knowne. Nilus is their Westerne border, and Abassia on the North. They haue little redde Balls made of a kinde of Clay in Cambaya, and resembling Glasse, which they weare for ornament, and vse for money. This King warreth with the Benomota∣pa, and hath terrible souldiours, called Giacqui, or Agab, or Ag••g, who inha∣bite betweene the Lakes, whence Nilus and Zaire take their beginnings; which liue a wandering life, like the Nomades, in Cottages, which they make in the Fields. They are of stature tall, and of countenance terrible, making lines vpon their cheekes with certaine yron Instruments, and turning their eye-lids backward, eating their enemies.

These not long since (as z 1.219 some say) inuaded the Kingdome of Congo, and forced the King to keepe in a small Isle, where himselfe was taken with a Drop∣sie, and his people famished, as after shall follow in due place. The Amazones of Monomotapa are euery way equall vnto them in prowesse. Little is knowne of the Religion of these Heathenish Nations, nor of other Kingdomes, where∣of we haue little but the names to relate, Goroua, Col••a, Anzuga, Moneulo, Ba∣duis.

Now for those Moores which inhabited the Sea-coasts, as wee haue said, they are not all a 1.220 Catholike Mahumetans, especially such of them as haue conuersed, and ta∣ken their habitations further within Land. And the first Moores or Arabians that came to inhabit those coasts, were banished persons, called as in the Chronicles of Quiloa is reported, Emozaidin, of Zaide, the nephew of Hocem the sonne of Hali, whose Do∣ctrine they followed in some opinions, contrary to the Alcoran, and therefore estee∣med Heretikes.

Long after them came three shippes with great multitudes of Arabians, that fled from the King of Laza their enemie, vnder the conduct of seuen brethren, which built Magadazzo, and after that, Braua; which, in manner of a Common-wealth, was till the Portugals time gouerned by twelue Aldermen, or chiefe Gouernours, that descen∣ded of the seuen brethren.

These Moores and the former differing from each other in their superstitions, could not agree, and therefore the Emozaidin were forced vp higher into the Countrey, and there by mariages mixed themselues with the Cafers (so the Arabians call all Heathen people) and became Mungrels in a galli-maufrey of deuotions, whom therefore the Sea-cost-Moores called by a generall name, b 1.221 Baduini: which in Arabia and Egypt, is the title of the people that liue in the Champaine, and Inland countries: and those that liue neere the Sea-coast are called Arabians, &c. They make no difference of meats. The Heathens in those parts are giuen to Auguries and Witcher••es: & in their highest attempts and greatest resolutions, yet will leaue off, if any of these phantasies bode vn∣luckinesse. The fruits, birds, beasts, and seeds, are in manner like to the people, all wilde. The aire is vnholesome. But what vnhealthsomenesse can there bee found, where gold is found? which makes men commit themselues (no maruell what they commit with others) to the most scorching heats, to contagious aires, to tempestuous seas, and the darkest prisons of the disembowelled Earth.

CHAP. VIII.

Of Benomotapa, and the parts adioyning.

BEnomotapa, called also Benomotaxa, and Monomotapa, is a large Em∣pire, so entituled after the name of the Prince thereof (for Benomotapa is with them a title, as Caesar or Emperour with vs) extendeth after some mens reckoning almost a thousand leagues in compasse, between the great Lake, whence Nilus springeth on the North-east, Magnice and Toroa on the South, and the Sea-coast of Sofala on the East. It is betweene the sea and the fresh waters, accounted a huge Iland. Betweene Cuama and Corrientes it is pleasant, holesome, and fruitfull: And from the Cape Corrientes to Magnice, it a∣bounds with beasts; but it is cold. Their principall Cities are Zimbas (happily the same which Ptolomey a 1.222 calls Agisymba) and Benamataza; that one and twentie, this fifteene dayes iourney, from Sofala. Of the abundance of Elephants in Benomotapa is said before; whereof Aethiopia is euery where stored with manifold herdes: b 1.223 al∣though I dare not subscribe to their opinion, that esteeme Elephants as common there, as heere we haue Oxen. It is a creature nine cubites high (in their largest sta∣ture) and fiue cubits thicke: with long and broad eares, little eyes, short tailes, and great bellies. Of their disposition is spoken alreadie.

The Mines neerest to Sofala, are those of Manica, which are in wide Champaines compassed with mountaines, ninety miles in circuit. The places where the gold is, ap∣peare and are knowne by the drinesse and barrennesse of the soile, as if Nature it selfe could not hord vp gold in her spacious chests, but she must needs proue bare and bar∣ren of her wonted good workes; and how much lesse vnnaturall and degenerate man∣kinde? The Prouince is called Matuca, the people Botonghi, which (although they

are betweene the Line and the Tropike) yet in Winter haue such snowes in the moun∣taines, that if any abide there, they die frozen in them; and in Summer-time the aire in the tops of those hills is so cleare and pure, that some of our men, which were then there, saw the new Moone, the same day that she had kissed her bright and bountifull brother.

And who can now charge the bright eye of the world, with the obscure darkenesse of this Peoples hue, which so cold Winters, nor pure Summers, can lessen or lighten? Yea euen in the cold Countries neere the Cape of Good-hope, the Aethiopians haue no hope or happe of better colour; whereas the hotter Countries of Libya, and in manner all America (notwithstanding the Sunnes strait looking, and neerenesse, not allowing them a shadow to attend them in the greatest height of his bounty) know not this blacke tincture in the naturalls thereof.

But to returne (and who will not returne?) to the Mines: There are other Mines in the Prouinces of Boro and Quiticui, in which, and in the riuers, is found gold not so pure. The people are carelesse and negligent to get, and the Moores which traded with them, were faine to giue their wares in trust, with promise by such a time to pay them in gold, and the people would not faile in their word.

Other Mines are in Toroa, wherein are those buildings which Barrius attributeth to some forren c 1.224 Prince, and I, for the reasons before alledged, to Salomon. It is a square fortresse, of stone; the stones of marueilous greatnesse, without any signe of morter or other matter to ••oyne them. The wall fiue and twenty spannes thicke, the height not holding proportion. Ouer the gates are letters, which learned Moores could nei∣ther reade nor know what letters they were. There are other buildings besides, of like fashion. The people call them the Court; for an officer keepes it for the Benomo∣tapa, and hath charge of some of his women, that are there kept. They esteeme them beyond humane power to build, and therefore account them the workes of Diuels; and the Moores which saw them, said the Portugals Castles were no way to be com∣pared to them. They are fiue hundred and ten miles from Sofala, Westward, in one and twentie degrees of South••ly Latitude: in all which space is not found one buil∣ding ancient or later; the people are rude, and dwell in cottages of timber.

All the people of this Region is of curled haire, and more ingenious then those which are against Mosambique, Quiloa and Mclinde, among whom are many that eat mans flesh, and let their kine bloud to satisfie their thirst. These seeme prone to receiue the Faith: for they beleeue in One GOD, whom they call Moz••••o and haue no Idols, not worship other thing: They punish nothing more seuerely then Witchcraft, whereun∣to other Negros are exceedingly addicted; no such person escapeth death. The like detestation they conceiue against Adultery and Theft. Euery one may haue as many wiues as they will: but the first is principall, the other serue her; and her children are heires. A woman is not marriageable with them, till her Naturall purgation testifie for her abilitie to Conception: and therefore they entertaine the first fluxe therof with a great Feast.

In two things they are religious; in Obseruation of dayes, and Rites concerning their dead. Of dayes, they obserued the first day of the Moone, the sixt, the seuenth, the eleuenth, the sixteenth, the seuenteenth, the twentieth, and the eight and twen∣tieth, because in that day their King was borne. The religion is in the first, sixt, and seuenth, all the rest are repetitions, aboue ten. When any is dead, after his bodie is eaten, his neere kindred, or his wife which hath had most children by him, keepe the bones, with some signes whereby to know, whose they were: and eue∣ry seuenth day they obserue Exequies in the same place where they are kept: They spread many cloaths, and set thereon tables furnished with bread and sodden flesh, which they offer to the dead with prayers and supplications. And the principall thing they request of them, is, the good successe of their Kings affaires. These prayers they make, being cloathed in white garments: after which, the good-man and his family eat their offerings. The Benomotapa must weare cloathes of the same Countrey, for feare of infection; others may weare forren cloath. He is serued on the knee, and

when he drinketh or cougheth, all they which are about him make a shout, that all the Towne may know. None may cough in his presence: also, euery one must sit in token of reuerence; to stand, is a signe of dignitie, which he affordeth the Portugals and Moores, and is the chiefe honor can be yeelded any. The second honor is to sit on a cloath in his house: the third, that a man may haue a doore in his house, which is the dignity of great Lords. For meaner persons, they need not feare to haue any thing stolne out of their open houses, seeling the seueritie of Iustice doth secure them. Doores are not for necessitie, but for honor. Their houses are of pyramidall or steeple forme, all the timbers meeting in the middest at the toppe: couered with earth and straw. Some of them are made of timbers, as long and bigge as a great shippes mast: the grea∣ter they are, the more honorable.

The Benomotapa hath musike whither so euer he goeth, with singers: and more then fiue hundred iesters, which haue their captaine or master of Mis-rule. The royall en∣signe is a little plow-share, with an iuory point, which he carrieth always at his girdle; by which is signified peace, and husbanding of the ground. He beareth likewise one or two d 1.225 swords in token of Iustice, and defence of his people. The Countrey is free; and giues him no other payments, but presents, when they come to speake with him: and certaine dayes seruice. No inferiour comes before his superiour without some pre∣sent, in token of obedience and courtesie. The Captaines of warre with all theirs be∣stow seuen dayes in thirtie in his husbandry or other businesse. He must confirme all sentences of Iudgement in his owne person: there needs no prison, for matters are pre∣sently dispatched, according to the allegations and testimonies that are brought. And if there be not sufficient testimonies, then the matter is tried by oath, in this manner. They beat the barke of a certaine tree, and cast the powder thereof in water; e 1.226 which the partie drinketh, and if he doe not vomit, he is cleared; if he vomit, he is condem∣ned. And if the accuser, when the accused partie vomiteth not, will drinke of the same, and doth not vomit, he is then acquitted, and the matter dispatched. If any sue to him, he speedeth not, but by mediation of a third person, which also sets downe the summe that the King must haue, sometime at so deare rate, that the suter rather refu∣seth the Kings grant. They haue no horse, and therefore warre on foot: The spoiles are generally shared amongst all. When he marcheth, in the place where he is to lodge they make a new house of wood, and therein must continuall fire be kept, without euer going out; saying, that in the ashes might be wrought some witcheries to the inda∣magement of his person. And when they go to the warres, they neuer wash their hands nor faces, till they haue obtained victory. They haue their wiues with them, which are so loued and respected, that if the Kings sonne meet with one of them in the street, he giues her way. Benomotapa hath more then a thousand women; but the first is Princi∣pall, although she be inferiour in bloud, and her sonne succeeds. And in seed-time and haruest, the Queene goeth to the field and ouer-seeth the stuffe, esteeming it a great honor. Thus farre out of Barrius.

Iohannes Boterus f 1.227 tells, That his chiefe warriours are women, namely, cer∣taine Amazones, which feare off their left pappes, as Odoardo g 1.228 Lopez reporteth, least they should hinder their shooting, after the manner of the auncient Ama∣zones: they are quicke, bold, couragious, and constant in battell, and most constant in inconstancie: for when they make shew of flight, they will returne (espying their aduantage) with the greatest fury. They dwell in certaine countries by themselues, and at certaine times haue men to accompany with them for generation, to whom they send their males; reseruing all the female children which they haue. Thus we finde Amazons, which the Ancients reported in Asia, and Diodorus Libya, now in these times, if this report be true, in Aethiopia: and Huldericus h 1.229 Shmidel hath told of the like in America.

In the yeare 1560. Consalvus i 1.230 Silueria, with two other Iesuites, went from Goa to the Kingdomes of Inhamban, and Monomotapa: and coming to Inhamban, they went to Tonge, the Citie royall, where they baptised the King and all his people in a short space, naming the King, Constantine, the Queene, Mary. Thence went Consalvus

to Monomotapa, and so preuailed with his Images, Preaching, and Contempt of the world, that he wanne the King and his mother, with multitudes of others to Baptisme. But soone after the King, by suggestion of the Moores, slew him. Schastian in reuenge raised an armie of sixteene hundred, k 1.231 most of them being Gentlemen, which he sent vnder the conduct of Francis Barretto. The Benomotapa fearing the Portugals forces, offered reasonable conditions, which Barretto refusing, was discomfited, not by the Negro, but by the aire; the malignitie whereof (the sowre sauce of all these golden Countries in Africa) consumed his people. There are other Kingdomes adioyning to Monomotapa, and the mountaines of the Moone, Matana, Melemba, Quinbebe, Ber∣teca, Bauagul, of which I can giue you but the names.

Caphraria, or the Land of the Caphars is next to be considered, which Maginus boundeth betweene Rio di spirito sancto, and Cape Negro, extending to the Cape of good hope Southwards. Why hee should call this part the Caphars, I know not: for the Arabians, of whom this word is borrowed, giue that name to all the Heathen people in Africa: yea both the Arabians, and all of their religion, call all such as re∣ceiue not that superstition, Caphars, euen Christians also, as Master Ienkinson l 1.232 long since told vs. And for the Heathens in Africa, Barrius affirmeth, that it is by the Moores giuen to them all: signifying, Without Law, or lawlesse people. Zanguebar is in this respect called Cafraria. It should seeme it is appropriated to these the Sou∣therliest Nations of Africa; for want of other the more true proper names which were vnknowne. With the names of the Capes, and other places of note, Master Po∣ry m 1.233 hath already acquainted his English Reader: Onely that notable and famous Cape of good hope (so named n 1.234 by Iohn the second, King of Portugal, for that hope which hee conceiued of a way to the Indies, when it was first discouered) deserueth some mention. It hath three head-lands, the Westermost whereof beareth name of Good hope, the middlemost, Cabo fals••, because they haue sometimes, in their returne from the Indies, mistaken this for the former: betweene which two Capes runneth in∣to the Sea a mightie Riuer, called by the Portugals, Rio dul••e, which springeth out of a Lake called Gale, situate among the mountaines of the Moone, so much celebrated by the ancient Geographers: The third and Eastermost, is that of Agulhas or Needles, about fiue and twenty leagues from the first: both which seeme as two hornes, where∣with it threatens the Ocean, which in these parts is found oftentimes o 1.235 tempestuous, and when it cannot preuaile against this rough-faced and horned Promontory, it wrekes the whole malice vpon the shippes, whose ribbes, in the enraged fits, it would breake if they were of iron; as Lins••hoen p 1.236 testisieth of his owne experience. True it is, that sometimes it is passed with more ease; but not so vsually: and Lins••hoten tells, that at his returne from India, the Saint Thomas, a new Carrick, was heere cast away, q 1.237 and their shippe, wherein he sailed, in such danger, that one while they prayed, another while murmured, another time would returne backe, and the Captaine pro∣fessed no small maruell why our LORD suffered such good Catholikes to endure such torments, and the English Heretikes, and blasphemers to passe so easily. The waues there (saith he) strike against a shippe, as if they stroke against a hill, that if it were of stone it would at last be broken. Heere Captaine r 1.238 Lancaster traded with the people, and for two kniues bought an oxe, for one, a sheepe, &c. in good quantitie. Their sheepe are great, with great tailes, but hairy, not woolled. Their oxen great, not fat, but well fleshed. The Captaine killed there an Antelope as bigge as a Colt. There were diuers great beasts vnknowne to them. When they had passed this Cape, they lost their Admirall Captaine Raimond, and neuer saw them, or heard of them more. And foure dayes after they found as terrible an enemie from aboue, and encountered with a thunder-clap, which slew foure of their men out-right, their neckes being wrung asunder: And of fourescore and fourteene men there was not one vntouched, but some were blinde, others bruised in their legges and armes, or brests, others drawne out, as if they had beene racked; which all yet, GOD be thanked, did after recouer.

The Hollanders in the yeare 1595. traffiked with the Cafres, which were valiant,

but base in apparell, couered with Oxe or sheepe-skinnes wrapped about their shoul∣ders, with the hairy side inward, in forme of a mantle: their priuy-parts couered with a sheepes taile, fastened before and behinde with a girdle. But now we see it made a daily matter to the Portugal, English, and Dutch, so capable of hope of Good, that the Cape of Good hope is nothing feared: although at home many haue no good hope of publike good, and wish that they would carry out of Europe lesse money, and bring home more men. For my part, I wish so well to Nauigation and discoueries, that I could wish such complaints to be but calumnies, and to be the knauigations of false discouerers. I cannot omit, f 1.239 that vpon the toppe of this Promontory, Nature hath as it were framed her selfe a delightfull bower, heere to sit and contemplate the great Seas, which from the South, East and West bea•• vpon this shore: and therefore hath heere formed a great plaine, pleasant in situation, which with the fragrant herbes, va∣rietie of flowers, and flourishing verdure of all things, seemes a terrestriall Paradise. It is called the table of the Cape. That which from hence lieth to Cape Negro, hath not to our purpose any thing notable. This also deserueth mention, that notwithstan∣ding all the damages of this dreadfull Promontory, and the seas on this side and be∣yond, t 1.240 Iames Botellius a Portugal, to recouer the fauour of his Prince, Iohn the third, by the first bringing newes of a happy accident that then befell in India, in a little boat or vessell scarse eighteene foot long, and six broad, sailed from Cochin to Dabul, and from thence alongst the Arabian and African shores, doubling this Terrible Cape, and missing Saint Helena, came yet safe to Lisbone, worthily welcomed both for his mes∣sage, and the messenger, that durst aduenture to encounter Neptunes strongest forces, notwithstanding so weake furniture.

The Hollanders u 1.241 at the Cape of Good hope, had of the inhabitants two kine for two rustie kniues, and one much greater for a new one: two fat bulls and three sheepe for a barre of iron, weighing threescore and ten pounds. The people make much account of iron: they are of short stature: darkish colour: their armes are adorned with copper and iuory, their fingers with rings of gold, and with beads of bone and wood. They brand their bodies with diuers markes. And because they alway annoint themselues with grease and fat, they yeeld a ranke smell. If we killed a beast for our vse, they would aske the inwards, and eat them raw, the filth being not well cleansed from them. At their Feasts they would seeth a beast in his hide, fastned on foure stickes with fire vnderneath. They liued miserably, yet for gallantry ware bones and peeces of dried flesh about their neckes. Neere this Cape are weeds growing in the sea fiue and twentie fathome long.

The Ascension x 1.242 built their Pinnesse Anno 1608. at Soldania, about fifteene or six∣teene leagues from the Cape of Good Hope, and there tooke in for their prouision a∣bout foure hundred head of cattell, as Oxen, Steeres, Sheepe, and Lambes, together with fowles and fresh water. They filled their boat with Seales at the Ile Pengwin, a little from thence. Such was the brutish nature of the inhabitants, that when the Eng∣lish had cast out of their shippe one of those Seales, and the same had lien fourteene dayes, and now swarmed with crawling Maggots, they would take them vp and eate them; as they would also doe the guts, garbage, and panch of the beasts. They more esteemed iron, then gold or siluer. Heere the first night after they weighed anchor, The Ascension lost the Vnson and the Good Hope, their Pinnesse (so neere the Cape of Good Hope) which, me thinkes, obseruing what after besell them, seemes an ommous presage, written in these names, of their other losses which followed, concluded with the losse of their shippe on the coast of Cambaya. It is morally true, that ascending and aspiring mindes lose Vnion ( y 1.243 for onely by pride doth man make Contention) Vnion being gone, Good Hope followeth, Qn•••• concordia cres••nnt discordia & res & spes pe∣reunt: and so it befell in this their tragedie, after the losse of those vessels which bare such names. The shippe was lost by the Masters indiscretion, but yet hath the honor (suruiuing her fates) that she was the first English shippe that euer sailed on those seas. The people were saued, and trauelled from Surrat to Brainport, a Citie bigger then London, of great trading, and so passed till they came to the Great Mogors Court at

Agra, where they saw the beginning of a goodly Monument, which he hath beene nine yeares in building, for his father, with fiue thousand work-men continually: the matter is fine marble, the forme nine-square, two English miles about, and nine stories in height, whereon the Mogor said (as a Frier there reported) that he would bestow an hundred millions of treasure. From thence some of them passed by land to Bucker and Sucker, (as he calls them) and thence through Persia to Baydat, and so to Aleppo, from whence they came for England: which land-trauell through three so mightie States of the Great Mogor, Soph••, and Turke, had deserued mention elsewhere in more proper place, if then it had come to my hands. But let vs returne(left this Ascension or extension of our Discourse bring it to the like shipwrack) vnto the Aethiopian Cafres.

Modesty had almost forbidden me to recite that, which may with some easily ob∣taine a Plaudite, in the last Act and finishing of this Chapter, concerning the Caffares. Linschoten z 1.244 shall recite it for me. They liue, saith he, like beasts (he speaketh of those which liue neere Mosambique, and those especially more within the Land) they are blacke as pitch, with flat noses, thicke lippes, some haue holes both aboue and vnder in their lippes, and, as it were, other mouthes in their cheekes, wherein they thruft small bones to beautifie themselues: for which cause they rase and seare their bodies with irons. If they will make a diuellish forme and picture, they represent a white man in his apparell, as thinking nothing more vgly. Some also file their teeth as sharpe as needles. They haue Villages wherein they dwell together, and in euery Village a Lord or King, to whom they are subiect. Religion and Faith are vnknowne to them. They vse mutuall warres, and some eat mans flesh. When they take prisoners in war, or kill their enemies, they obserue a more then beastly testimony of their great valour, which is after this manner. They cut off their priuy members (to depriue them of all hope of generation) and then drie them well for preseruation: after which, they come before the King with great reuerence, in the presence of the principall men of the Vil∣lages, and there take these members, so dried, one by one in their mouthes, and spit them on the ground at the Kings feet, which the King with great thankes accepteth; and the more to honor them, causeth them all to be taken vp, and giuen to them a∣gaine, which is from thenceforth an ensigne of their Knight-hood. For they take all those members, and tie them on a string like a bracelet or chaine; and at all solemne meetings, as when they marry, or goe to a Wedding or Feast, the Bride, or wiues of these Knights, doe weare that chaine about their neckes, being, saith our Author, a∣mong them as great an honor as the Golden Fleece, or the renowned Garter with vs, and their wiues as proud, as if some Crowne or Scepter had befallen them.

CHAP. IX.

Of the Kingdome of Congo, and the other Kingdomes and Nations adioyning.

THe Kingdome a 1.245 of Congo (vnderstanding so much by the name, as in times past hath beene subiect thereto) hath on the West, the Occan; on the South, the Caphars, and mountaines of the Moone; on the East, those hills from which the Riuers issue and runne into the foun∣taines of Nilus; and on the North, the Kingdome of Benin. Of these Countries, Pig••••fetta b 1.246 from the relation of Odoardo Lopez, a Portu∣gal, hath written two bookes, out of whom P.du larric, Boter•• and others, haue taken most of their reports.

And in this we will beginne with the most Southerly parts; in which we first come into the Kingdome of Matama (this is the Kings proper name) who being a Gentile, ruleth ouer ••uers Prouinces, named Quimbebe. This is a Kingdome c 1.247 great and mightie, extending from Brauagal to Bagamidri: the aire thereof is holesome, the earth••

outwardly furnished with store of fruits, in wardly with mines of Cristall and other mettals. The Segniories towards the Sea-coast are very meane, and want Hauens. Angola sometime a Prouince of the Kingdome of Congo, is now a great Kingdome i•• selfe, and very populous. They speake the same language, with small difference of dialect, that is vsed in Congo, whose yoake they cast off since the Congois became Christians. Diego d 1.248 Can first discouered these parts for the Portugals, An.1486. And the Portugals vsed to trade quietly with the Angolans: but some of them trading as high into the Country as Cabazza, the royall City, which is an hundred and fifty miles from the Ocean, were there by order from the King put to the sword, vnder pretence of intended treason. This was done 1578. Panlo Dias (to whom the King Sebastian had giuen the gouernment of these parts, with licence to conquer three and thirty leagues alongst the coast to him and his heires) to reuenge himselfe for this despight done to his people, armed such Portugals as he had, and with two Gallies and other vessels, which he kept in the Riuer Coanza, he went on both sides the Riuer, conque∣ring and subduing many Lords vnto him. The King of Angola raised a mighty armie of a million of men, e 1.249 as is supposed. For they vse to leaue none at home that is fit to carry a weapon: and make no preparation for victuall, but such, as haue any, carrie it vpon the shoulders of their seruants, and therefore no maruell if their food being soone consumed, their Campes be soone dissolued. Small likewise is their prouision of armour for offence, and for defence much lesse. Diaz sent to the King of Congo for aid, who sent him sixty thousand men: with which, and his owne Nation, he made his party good, against the confused rabbles of the Angolans. The trade of Angola is yet continued, and from thence the Portugals buy and carry to Brasil and other parts yearely, a world of slaues, which are bought within the Land, and are captiues taken in their warres. One Thomas f 1.250 Turner that had liued a long time in Brasil, and had also beene at Angola, told me, that it was supposed eight and twenty thousand slaues were yearely shipped from Angola and Congo, at the Hauen of Loanda. He named to me a rich Portugal in Brasil, which had ten thousand of his owne, working in his Inge∣nios (of which he had eighteene) and in his other employments. His name was Iohn de Paus, exiled from Portugal, and thus enriched in Brasil. A thousand of his slaues, at one time, entered into conspiracy with nine thousand other slaues in the Countrey, and barricadoed themselues for their best defence against their Masters, who had much adoe to reduce some of them into their former seruitude.

To returne to Angola, we may adde the report of another of our Countrey-men, g 1.251 Andrew Battell (my neere neighbour, dwelling at Leigh in Essex) who serued vnder Manuel Silnera Pèrera, Gouernor vnder the King of Spaine, at his Citie of Saint Paul: and with him went farre into the Countrey of Angola, their army being eight hundred Portugals, and fifty thousand Naturals. This Andrew Battell telleth that they are all Heathens in Angola. They had their Idols of wood in the middest of their townes, fa∣shioned like a Negro, and at the foot thereof was a great heape of Elephants teeth, containing three or foure tunnes of them: these were piled in the earth, and vpon them were set the skulls of dead-men, which they had slaine in the watres, in monument of their victory. The Idoll they call Mokisso, and some of them haue houses built ouer them. If any be sicke, he accounteth it Mokisso's hand, and sendeth to appease his angry god, with powring wine (which they haue of the Palme-tree) at his feet. They haue pro¦per names of distinction for their Mokissos, as Kissung••, Kal••kete, &c. and vse to sweare by them, Kissungowy, that is, by Kissango. They haue another more solemne oath, intri∣all of controuersies: h 1.252 for which purpose they lay a kinde of hatchet, which they haue, in the fire, and the Ganga-Mokisso, or Mokissos Priest taketh the same redde hot, and draweth it neere to the skinne of the accused partie; and if there be two, hee causeth their legges to be set neere together, and draweth this hot iron without touching be∣tweene them; if it burnes, that partie is condemned as guiltie, otherwise he is freed.

For the ceremonies about the dead, they first wash him, then paint him, thirdly apparell him in new clothes, and then bring him to his graue, which is made like a vault, after it is digged a little way down, vndermined, and made spacious within, and

there set him on a seat of earth, with his beads (which they vse in chaines and brace∣lets for ornament) and the most part of his goods, with him in his lasting home. They kill Goats, and shed the bloud in the graues, and powre wine there, in memoriall of the dead.

They are much giuen i 1.253 to diuination by birds. If a bird flie on their left hand, or cry in some manner which they interpret ominous and vnluckie, they will cease from the enterprises which they haue in hand. Their Priests are k 1.254 called Gange, and so highly re∣puted, that the people thinke it in their power to send plenty or scarsity, life or death. They are skilfull in Medicinall herbes, and in poysons; and by familiarity with the Di∣uell foretell things to come.

In Angola cuery man taketh as many wiues as he will. There are mines of siluer, and of most excellent copper. They haue many kine, but loue dogges better then any other flesh, and sat them to the shambles. Andrew Battell told me, that the dogges in those Countries are all of one sort, prick-eared curres of a meane bignes, which they vse al∣so to hant with, but they open not; (for because they cannot barke) and therefore they hang clappers made of little boords about their neckes. He hath seene a mastiffe sold for three slaues. Lopez affirmeth that a great dog was exchanged for two and twenty slaues; which might happen vpon some extraordinary occasion. The money in Angola is glasse-beads, which they vse also, as is said, for ornament. The King of Angola hath seemed willing to become Christian, and hath sent to the King of Congo for that pur∣pose, but could not obtaine any Priests in that scarcity to instruct him.

This Kingdome hath many Lord-ships subiect thereto, as farre on the Sea-coast as C. Negro. Towards a Lake, called Aquelunda, lieth a Countrey called Quizama, the Inhabitants whereof being gouerned after the manner of a Common-wealth, haue shewed themselues friendly to the Portugals, and helped them in their warres against Angola. The houses in Angola are made in fashion like a Bee-hiue. The women at the first sight of the new Moone, turne vp their bummes, in despight, as offended with their menstruous courses which they ascribe vnto her. The men sometimes in a valo∣rous resolution, will deuote themselues vnto some haughty attempt in the warres: and taking leaue of the King, will vow neuer to returne, till they bring him a horse-head, or some other thing very dangerous in the enterprise, and will either doe it or die. Horse-tailes are great iewels, and two slaues will be giuen for one taile, which com∣monly they bring from the Riuer of Plate, where horses are exceedingly encreased and growne wilde. They will, by fiering the grasse round about, hemme the horses a∣bout with a fiery circle, the fire still streightning and approching neerer, till they haue aduantage enough to kill them: Thus haue the Europaean cattell of horse and kine so encreased in that other world, as they spare not to kill the one for their hides, and the other for their tailes.

Next to Angola Northwards, l 1.255 is the Kingdome of Congo, the Westerne line whereof Lopez extendeth three hundred threescore and fifteene miles; the Northerne, fiue hundred and forty; the Easterne, fiue hundred; and the Southerne, three hundred and threescore. The bredth thereof from the mouth of Zaire, crossing ouer the moun∣taines of the Sunne, and the mountaines of Crystall, is six hundred miles. And yet is it much streightned of the ancient bounds, only the title except, which still holdeth the old stile: Don Aluaro King of Congo, and of Abundos, and of Matama, and of Quiza∣ma, and of Angola, and of Cacongo, and of the seuen Kingdomes of Congere Amo∣laza, and of the Langelungos, and Lord of the Riuer Zaire, and of the Anziquos, and Anziquana, and of Loango. The present Kingdome is diuided into six Prouinces, Bamba, Songo, Sundi, Pango, Batta, Pemba. Bamba is the chiefe for greatnesse and riches, then gouerned by Don Sebastian Mani-Bamba: the word Mani is a title of ho∣nor, and signifieth a Prince or Lord: when need requireth, the Mani-Bamba may haue in campe foure hundred thousand men of warre. Therein are mines of siluer: and on the Sea-coast, a kinde of shells which they vse for money, for siluer and gold is not vsed for money amongst them. In this Prounce are yearely bought by the Portugals aboue fiue thousand Negros. There are among them very mightie men, that will

cleaue a slaue in the middest, or cut off a bulls head at one blow. Yea one of them did beare on his arme a vessell of wine, containing the fourth part of a Butt, and might weigh three hundred and fiue and twenty pound, vntill it was cleane emptied. There are certaine creatures as big as Rammes, and haue wings like Dragons, with long tailes and chappes, and diuers rowes of teeth, and feed vpon raw flesh. Their colour is blew and greene, their skinne be-painted like scales, and they haue but two feet. These the Pagan Negro's doe worship for gods, and at this day many of them are kept for a mi∣racle. And because they are very rare, the chiefe Lords doe curiously preserue them, and suffer the people to worship them, in regard of the profit which accreweth to them by the offerings which the people make vnto them. Other Creatures of these parts are mentioned in the first Chapter of this booke. Peacockes are not common, and are very deare, their seathers being vsed for royall ensignes. The King of Angola bring∣eth vp some in an inclosed wood, and suffereth none to keepe them but himselfe. To speake at large of the other fiue Prouinces, would be tedious to the Reader, and Ma∣ster m 1.256 Hartwell hath taught Lopez to speake English, of whom such as are desirous, may be further satisfied. Ouer-against the Ile Loanda, where the shell-money is ga∣thered, is vpon the Continent the Towne of Saint Paul, inhabited with Portugals and their wiues.

The Riuers of Congo are many, Bengo, Coanza, Dande, Lembe, Ozone, Loze, Anibriz, and the greatest of all, Zaire: all which haue some, either affinity in mutuall marriages of their streames, or consanguinity in the fountaines from whence they flow, which are certaine Lakes, the first of which is Zembre, the other Aquelunda. In all these Riuers are common the rarities of Nilus, the ouer-flowing of the waters, Ri∣uer-horses, Crocodiles, and such like. Andrew Battell told me of a huge Crocodile, which was reported to haue eaten a whole Alibamba, that is, a company of eight or nine slaues chained together, and at last paid for his greedinesse: the chaine holding him slaue, as before it had the Negroes, and by his vndigestible nature deuouring the deuourer; remaining in the belly of him after he was found, in testimony of this victo∣rie. He hath seene them watch and take their prey, hailing a Gennet, man, or other creature into the waters. A souldiour thus drawne in by a Crocodile, in shallower wa∣ters, with his knife wounded him in the belly, and slew him. In their summer it rai∣neth not, and then the places in their winter (the time of the Sunnes neerest presence, attended with daily raines) couered with water, doe grow thicke, and matted with a∣bundance of little trees, herbes and plants, with the fatned wombe of that moist soile, conceiueth by the directer beames of the Sunne, which the ouer-flowing waters in the winter carry away, as it were small n 1.257 Ilands, lifting them vp together with the rootes and soile, the yong trees and deere standing and growing thereon, carried captiue vn∣to Neptunes eternall prisons. In Bengo and Coanza they are forced to set vp, for a time, houses vpon cratches, their other houses being taken vp for the Riuers lodgings. Zaire is of such force, that no shippe can get in against the current, but neere to the shore: yea it preuailes against the Oceans saltness threescore, and as some say, fourescore miles, within the Sea, before his proud waues yeeld their full homage, and receiue that salt temper in token of subiection. Such is the haughtie spirit of that streame, which ouer-running the low Countries as it passeth, and swollen with conceit of dai∣ly conquests, and daily supplies, which in armies of showers are by the clouds sent to his succour, runnes now in a furious rage, thinking euen to swallow the Ocean, which before he neuer saw, with his mouth wide gaping, eight and twentie miles, as Lopez affirmeth, in the opening; but meeting with a more Giant-like enemie, which lies lurking vnder the cliffes to receiue his assault, is presently swallowed in that wider wombe; yet so, as alwayes being conquered, he neuer giues ouer, but in an eternall quarrell, with deepe indented srownes in his angrie face, foming with disdaine, and filling the aire with noise, (with fresh helpe) supplies those forces which the salt-sea hath consumed. In this Riuer is a Fish called Ambize, Angulo, or Hog-fish, that hath, as it were, two hands, and a taile like a Target, which eateth like Porke, and whereof they make Larde, and hath not the sauour or taste of fish. It seedeth on

the grasse that groweth on the bankes of the Riuer, and neuer goeth out: it hath a mouth like the mozell of an Oxe: there are of them that weigh fiue hundred pound a peece.

About the yeare 1490. Iohn the second, King of Portugal, sent Consalno di Sosa, with three shippes, and Priests in them, to bring the King and people of Congo to Christian Religion, o 1.258 which was effected; and although hence arose ciuill warres amongst them, yet the matter was at last ended to the aduancement of the Christian Religion (such as the Portugals taught, and no doubt infinitely better then their Pa∣gan superstition, howsoeuer spotted with many Romish staines) And from that time to this, now an hundred and twentie yeares, hath Congo continued Christian, vn∣der Iohn, Alfonso, Piedro, and the rest of their Kings.

When the first Bishoppe of Saint Thomas went into Congo, to take possession of his Pastorall charge there (for the Kingdome of Congo was annexed to the Bishop∣rike of Saint Thomas) from the Sea-side to the Citie, which is an hundred and fiftie miles, King Piedro caused the wayes to bee made smooth and trimme, and couered ouer with mattes, that the Bishoppe should not set his feet vpon any part of the ground, not adorned: all the wayes, trees, and higher places swarming with people, offering Lambes, Kiddes, Chickins, Partriches, Venison, Fish, and other necessaries, to testifie their zeale. And at last arriuing at the Citie of Saint Sauiours (before called Banza, which signifieth a Court, and is commonly attributed to all the chiefe Cities, where the King of any of those Countries holdeth his residence) hee was there recei∣ued by the King and his Nobles, and ordained the Church there to be the Cathedrall Church of his See, which had belonging to it eight and twentie Canons, with other Officers, and ornaments vsuall.

After Don Piedro succeeded Francisco, and after him, Diego: who being dead, his sonne and two other Competitours of the Kingdome were slaine, and Henrico, brother to Diego, was made King, and after his death, Aluar••, whom the Giacchi draue out of his Kingdome, till King Sebastian sent Francesco di Gone•• to expell them.

The greatest, and most zealous Prince for Christian Religion, was Alphonso, who, on paine of death, forbad to all his subiects the hauing, or worshipping of Idols, which he commanded should be all brought, and deliuered to the Lieutenants of the Countrey, together with their Characters and Witcheries. For before euery p 1.259 man adored that which best liked him: some, those Dragons before spoken of; others, Ser∣pents, which they nourished with their daintiest prouisions. Some worshipped the greatest Goats they could get; some, Tigres; and the more vncouth and deformed any beasts were, the more in their beastly and deformed superstition were they obserued. Battes, Owles, and Scritch-owles, birds of darknesse, were the obiects of their dar∣kened Deuotions; Snakes and Adders enuenomed their soules, with a more deadly poyson, then they could doe their bodies. Beasts, Birds, Herbes, Trees, Characters, and the formes of those things painted and grauen, yea the skinnes of them, being dead, bring stuffed with straw, had their shares in this diffused varietie, and confused masse of irreligious Religion. The ceremonies they vsed to them, were, kneeling on their knees, casting themselues groueling on the earth, defiling their faces with dust, verball prayers, reall offerings. They had their Witches, which made the people be∣leeue that their Idols could speake: and if any man had recouered of any sicknesse, af∣ter he had recommended himsefe to them, they would affirme that the angry Idol was now appeased. All these Idols King Alphonso caused to be burned in one heape in stead whereof the Portugals gaue them Images of Saints, and Crucifixes to worship. This may seeme an exchange rather, then a ceasing from superstition, were not some fundamentall and especiall substrance of Truth communicated, besides those blinde shadowes, wherewith (no doubt) GOD draweth some out of darkenesse, this dark∣nesse notwithstanding, in a true and sauing, though a dimme and shadowed light; wherewith as farre going before vs in affection, as we before them in knowledge; I dare not but in the hope of the saluation of some, thanke GOD for this glimse of

heauenly light, rather then rashly to censure and sentence them to a totall and hellish darkenesse.

Emanuel q 1.260 since sent supplies of religious persons, to confirme them in their Chri∣stianitie, and his sonne, Iohn the third, sent also Iesuites to that purpose, who ere∣cted Schooles among them: and they also send their sonnes into Portugal to learne the Sciences and knowledge of Europe. GOD Almighty grant that those fountaines may be clea••••ed of all popish mire, that thence more holesome waters may flow, to the watering of this Aethiopian Vineyard.

They vse in Congo r 1.261 to make cloathes of the Enzanda tree, (of which some write the same things that are reported of the Indian Fig-tree, that it sends forth a hairy substance from the branches, which no sooner touch the ground, but they take roote and grow vp, in such sort, that one tree would multiply it selfe into a wood, if Nature set not some obstacle.) The inner-most barke of the Inzanda, by beating, is made excellent cloath. Other trees there are, which the Tides couer, and are disco∣uered by the Ebbes, laden at the roote with Oisters. But more admirable is that huge tree called Alicunde, of which my friend Andrew Battell s 1.262 supposeth some are as bigge (besides their wonderfull tallnesse) as twelue men can fathome. It spreads like an Oake. Some of them are hollow, and the liberall clowdes into those Natu∣rall Caskes dispense such plentie of water, that one time three or foure thousand of them in that hote region, continued foure and twentie houres at one of those trees, which yeelded them all drinke of her watery store, and was not emptied. Their Ne∣gros climbed vp with pegges (for the tree is smooth, and therefore not otherwise to be climbed, and so soft, that it easily receiued pegges of a harder wood, driuen into her yeelding substance with a stone) and dipped the water, as it had beene, out of a Well. He supposed that there is fortie tunne of water in some one of them. It yeel∣deth them good opportunitie for hony, to which end the countrey-people make a kinde of Chest, with one hole into the same, and hang it vpon one of these trees; which they take downe once a yeare, and with fire and smoake chasing or killing the Bees, take thence a large quantitie of hony. Neither is it liberall alone to the hungrie and thirstie appetite, but very bountifully it cloathes their backes, with the barke thereof, which being taken from the yonger Alicundes and beaten, one fathome which they cut out of the tree, will by this meanes extend it selfe into twentie, and presently is cloath fit for t 1.263 wearing; though not so fine as that which the Inzanda∣tree yeeldeth. It serues them also for boats, one of which cut out in proportion of a Scute, will hold hundreths of men.

Of their Palme-trees, which they keepe with watering and cutting euery yeare, they make Veluets, Sattens, Taffatas, Damaskes, Sarcenets, and such like, out of the cleansed and purged leaues thereof drawing long and euen threeds for that pur∣pose.

And for their Palme-wiues, which they draw out of the toppe of a kinde of Palme, which at first is strong and inebriating wine, and in time declineth to a sowre and holesome vineger: of the stone of the fruit, which is like an Almond, they also make bread, of the shale of the fruit, Oyle, which also serueth them for Butter: Lopez distinguisheth this tree from the Coco tree, which is there also growing: and another Palme that beareth Dates; other that beare Cola, like a Pine-apple, excel∣lent for the stomacke, and for the liuer most admirable: it being supposed, that the li∣uer of a Henne or other bird, putrified, sprinkled with this matter, recouereth the for∣mer freshnesse and soundnesse. Other sorts of Palmes yeeld other fruits, and of their leaues they make mattes, wherewith they couer their houses. Lopez saw a Pomeci∣tron, the kirnell whereof left within the rinde, yeelded a pretie tall sprigge in foure dayes.

Of stones they haue such store to build with, that in some places they may cut out a Church of one peece. There are whole mountaines of Porphyrie, of Iasper, of white Marble, and other Marbles: One especiall, that yeeldeth faire Iacinthes, that are good Iewels, straked like as it were with naturall veines.

The Port and Ile of Loanda lying ouer-against the Portugall Towne of Saint Paul, famous for many things, deserueth especiall mention for this, that it yeel∣deth, in lesse then halfe a yard digging, waters very sweet; but of so contrary a Na∣ture to the Sea, her mightie neighbour, that when the Sea ebbeth, the water is salt, and when it floweth, the same is sweete and fresh: as if the Sea imparted that which it selfe hath not, or rather enuied that which it hath, and therefore alway at his com∣ming, re-demandeth that saltnesse from those springs, to attend vpon their Ocean-mother. So doe wee see the siluer Lampes of Heauen in the Sunnes absence to lighten the World, which yet want light, when it is most plentifull, to shew them∣selues. Euen nature sealeth and confirmeth Monopolies to her principall Cour∣tiers, alwayes prouided, that it thereby better serueth for the common good, and therefore no precedent to such dropsie and splen-like Monopolies, Monie-pollings, with which some exorbitant members burthen themselues, and make others by ligh∣ting, heauie: worthily therefore by the Sunne of our Great Britaine, at the first ri∣sing of his morning brightnesse, dispersed from our Horizon. But how farre is Loan∣da from Britaine? And yet our scope is to bring Loanda and all the world else in∣to our Britaine, that our Britaines might see the in and out-side of the same. Loan∣da is reported (as some affirme of Egypt and Nilus) to bee the issue of the Oceans sand, and Coanza's mire, which in processe of time brought forth in their disagreeing agreement, this Iland.

In Congo the King is Lord supreme: and none hath power to bequeath his goods to his kindred, but the King is heire generall to all men.

CHAP. X.

Of Loango, the Anzichi, Giachi, and the great Lakes in those parts of the World.

IT followeth in the course of our Discouery, to set you on shore in Loango, the Northerly neighbour of Congo, right vnder the Line, a 1.264 whose Countrey stretcheth two hundred miles within Land. The people are called Bramas, the King, Mani Loango; sometimes, as report goeth, subiect to the King of Congo. They are Circumcised after the manner of the Hebrewes, like as also the rest of the Nations of those Countries vse to be. They haue abundance of Elephants, and weare clothes of the Palme. Andrew b 1.265 Battell liued amongst them two yeares and a halfe. They are, saith hee, Heathens, and obserue many superstitions. They haue their Mo∣kisso's or Images, to which they offer according to the proportion of their sorts and suites: The Fisher offereth Fish, when he sueth for his helpe in his fishing; the Coun∣trey-man, Wheat; the Weauer, Alibungo's, peeces of cloath: other bring bottels of Wine: all wanting that they would haue, and bringing what they want, furnish∣ing their Mokisso with those things, whereof they complaine themselues to bee dis∣furnished.

Their Ceremonies for the dead are diuers. They bring Goats and let them bleed at the Mokisso's foot, which they after consume in a Feasting memoriall of the decea∣sed partie: which is continued foure or fiue dayes together, and that foure or fiue se∣uerall times in the yeare, by all of his friends and kindred. The dayes are knowne, and though they dwell twentie miles thence, yet they will resort to these memoriall-Exequies, and beginning in the night, will sing dolefull and funerall songs till day, and then kill, as aforesaid, and make merry. The hope of this, maketh such as haue store of friends to contemne death; and the want of friends to bewaile him, makes a man conceiue a more dreadfull apprehension of Death. Their conceit is so rauished

with superstition, that many die of none other death. Kin is the name of vnlaw∣full and prohibited meate, which, according to each kindreds deuotion, to some Familie is some kinde of Fish; to another, a Henne; to another, a Buffe; and so of the rest: in which, they obserue their vowed abstinence so strictly, that if any should (though at vnawares) eate of his Kin, he would die of conceit, alway pre∣senting to his accusing conscience the breach of his vow, and the anger of Mo∣kisso. He hath knowne diuerse thus to haue died, and sometimes would, when some of them had eaten with him, make them beleeue, that they had eaten of their Kin, till hauing sported himselfe with their superstitious agonie, hee would affirme the contrarie. They vse to set in their Fields, and places where Corne or Fruits grow, a Basket with Goates-hornes, Parrats feathers, and other trash: This is the Mokisso's Ensigne, or token that it is commended to his custodie; and therefore the people, very much addicted to theft, dare not meddle, or take any thing. Likewise, if a man, wearied with his burthen, lay it downe in the high way, and knit a knot of Grasse, and lay thereon; or leaue any other note (knowne to them) to testifie, that hee hath left it there in the name of his Idoll, it is secured from the lime-singers of any passenger. Conceit would kill the man that should transgresse in this kinde.

In the Banza, or chiefe Citie, the chiefe Idoll is named Chekoke. Euery day they haue there a Market, and the Chekoke is brought forth by the Ganga, or Priest, to keepe good rule, and is set in the Market place, to preuent stealing. Moreouer, the King hath a Bell c 1.266 the strokes whereof found such terrour into the heart of the fearefull theefe, that none dare keepe any stollen goods after the sound of that Bell. Our Author inhabited in a little Reede house, after the Lcango manner, and had hanging by the walls, in a Cloth case, his Peece, wherewith he vsed to shoote Fowles for the King, which, more for loue of the Cloth, then for the Peece, was stollen. Vpon complaint, this Bell (in forme like a Cow-bell) was carried about and rung, with proclamation to make restitution; and hee had his Peece the next morning set at his dore. The like another found, in a bagge of Beades of a hundred pound weight, stollen from him, and recouered by the sound of this Bell.

They haue a dreadfull and deadly kinde of tryall in controuersies, after this man∣ner. d 1.267 There is a little Tree, or Shrubbe, with a small Root (it is called Imbunda a∣bout the bignesse of ones thumbe, halfe a foot long, like a white Carrot. Now when any listeth to accuse a Man, or Familie, or whole Street, of the death of any of his friends, saying, That such a man bewitched him, the Ganga assembleth the accused parties, and scrapes that Root, the scrapings whereof he mixeth with water, which makes it as bitter as gall (he tasted of it:) one Root will serue for the tryall of hun∣dred men. The Ganga brewes the same together in Gourds, and with Plantaine stalkes hitteth euery one, after they haue drunke, with certaine wordes. Those that haue receiued the drinke, walke by, till they can make Vrine, and then they are there∣by freed. Others abide till either Vrine frees them, or dizzinesse takes them: which the people no sooner perceiue, but they cry, Vndoke, Vndoke, that is, naughtie Witch: and he is no sooner fallen by his dizzinesse, but they knocke him on the head, and dragging him away, hurle him ouer the Cliffe. In euery Libertie they haue such Tryalls, which they make in cases of Theft, and Death of any person. Euerie weeke it falls out that some or other vndergoes this Tryall, which cosumeth multi∣tudes of people.

There be certaine persons called Dunda, which are borne of Negro-Parents, and yet are, by some vnknowne cause, white. They are very rare, and when such happen to be borne, they are brought to the King, & become great Witches: They are his Coun∣cellors, and aduise him of luckie and vnluckie dayes for execution of his enterprises. When the King goes any whither, the Dundas goe with him, and beat the ground round about with certaine Exorcismes, before the King sits downe, and then sit

downe by him. They will take any thing in the Market, none daring to contra∣dict them.

Kenga is the landing place of Loanga. They haue there an Idoll called Gum∣biri and a holy House, called Munsa Gumbiri, kept and inhabited by an old wo∣man; where once a yeare is a solemne Feast, which they celebrate with Drummes, Daunces, and Palme-wines: and then they say he speaketh vnder the ground. The people call him Mokissa Cola, or a strong Mokisso, and say, That hee comes to stay with Chekoke, the Idoll of the Banza. That Chekoke is a Negro-Image, made sitting on a stoole: a little house is there made him: they annoint him with Toc∣cola, which is a redde colour made of a certaine Wood e 1.268 ground on a stone, and mixed with water, wherewith they daily paint themselues, from the waste vpwards, esteeming it great beautie: otherwise they account not themselues readie. It is for like purpose carried from hence to Angola.

Sometimes it falls out, that some man or boy is taken with some sudden Enthu∣siasme, or rauishment, becomming madde, and making a whooping and great cla∣mours. They call them Mokisso-Moquat, that is, taken of the Mokisso. They cloth them very handsome, and whatsoeuer they bid in that fit (for it lasteth not very long) they execute as the Mokissos charge.

Morumba is thirtie Leagues Northwards from hence, in the Mani-Loango's Dominion; where he liued nine moneths. There is a House, and in it a great Bas∣ket, proportioned like to a Hiue, wherei•• is an Image called Morumba, whose Reli∣gion extendeth farre. They are sworne to this Religion at tenne or twelue yeares old: but for probation are first put in a House, where they haue hard diet, and must be mute for nine or tenne dayes, any prouocation to speake notwithstanding. Then doe they bring him before Morumba, and prescribe him his Kin, or perpetuall absti∣nence from some certaine meat. They make a cut in his shoulder like to an halfe Moone, and sprinkle the bloud at Morumbas feete, and sweare him to that Religi∣on. In the wound they put a certaine white powder, in token of his late ad∣mission; which, so long as it continueth, doth priuiledge him to take his meat and drinke with whomsoeuer hee pleaseth, none denying him the same, at free cost. They also haue their fatall Tryalls before this Image, where the ac∣cused partie kneeling downe, and clasping the Hiue, sayth, Mene quesa ca bamba Morumba, signifying, That hee comes thither to make tryall of his in∣nocence; and if he be guiltie, hee falls downe dead; being free, hee is freed. Andrew Battell sayth he knew sixe or seuen, in his beeing there, that made this tryall.

Beyond the Countrey of Loango are the Anzignes f 1.269 , the cruellest Canni∣balls which the Sunne looketh on. For in other places they eate their enemies, or their dead; but here they take and eate their Kinsfolkes and Countrey-folkes. They keepe Shambles of Mans flesh, as with vs of Beefe and Muttons. They cate their enemies: Their slaues (if cut out, they will yeeld them more in the seuerall Ioynts, or Peeces, then to be sold aliue) they kill, though it be but to saue a halfe-penny. Some of them for wearinesse of life, and some (oh crueltie of vaine-glory) euen for valour of courage, in contempt of Death, and estee∣ming it an honourable proofe of their fidelitie and manhood, will offer them∣selues to the Butcherie, as faithfull subiects vnto their Princes, of them to bee consumed and eaten, that with their death, and after their death, they may doe them seruice.

These Anzichi stretch from Zaire to Nubia. They haue many Mines of Cop∣per, and great quantitie of Sanders, redde and gray; wherewith (mixed with the Oyle of Palme-tree) they annoint themselues. The Portugalls temper it with Vi∣neger, for the healing of the French Pokes: by the smoake thereof they driue away the head-ache. It is incredible, or at least would so seeme to vs, which Lopez reporteth, That they carrying their arrowes (which are short and slender,

of a very hard wood) in the Bowe hand, will shoot off eight and twentie (so many they hold at once) before the first of them fall to ground; and with a short Hatchet, with a sudden whirling themselues about, breake the force of the enemies arrowes, and then hanging this Hatchet on their shoulder, discharge their owne arrowes. They are of great simplicitie, loyaltie, and fidelitie, and the Portugalls more trust them then any other slaues. They are yet sauage and beastly, and there is no conuer∣sing with them: but they bring slaues of their owne Nation, and out of Nubi••••o Con∣go to sell; for which they recarrie Salt, and Shells, which they vse for Mon••, Silkes, Linnen, Glasses, and such like.

They g 1.270 circumcise themselues, and besides that, both men and women, both of the Nobilitie and Comminaltie, from their childhood marke their faces with sundry sla∣shes made with a knife. I asked (sayth h 1.271 Lopez) of their Religion, and it was told me that they were Gentiles; which was all I could learne of them. They worship the Sunne for the greatest God, as though it were a man; and the Moone next, as though it were a woman. Otherwise euery man chuseth to himselfe his owne Idoll, and wor∣ships it after his owne pleasure. The Anzichi i 1.272 haue one King principall, which hath many Princes vnder him.

Of Ambus and Medera, Northerne Regions, little besides the names is knowne. Biafar is inhabited with people much addicted to Enchauntments, Witchcrafts, and all abhominable Sorceries. Of the Giacchi wee haue made often mention, and of their incursions into Congo. These, in their owne Language, are called Agag, as Lopez k 1.273 testifieth, and liue on both sides of Nilus, in the borders of the Empire of Mohenhe-Muge. They vse to marke themselues about the lippe, vpon their cheekes, with certaine lines which they make with yron Instruments, and with fire. More∣ouer, they haue a custome to turne their eye-lids backwards, so that their blacke skinnes, white eyes, and cauterized markes seeme to conspire a dreadfull and gastly deformitie in their faces. They hold warre with the l 1.274 Amazones; and of late yeares haue inuaded the neighbour Nations. Their weapons are Darts, their food humane flesh, without all humanitie deuoured.

Andrew Battell m 1.275 liued amongst them sixteene moneths. He sayth, they are cal∣led Iagges by the Portugall, by themselues Imbangolas, and came from Sierra Lio∣na. This either is not the former Nation, but so called of like condition in man∣ners, and inuasion of Countries, or else these reports agree not. Howsoeuer, he af∣firmeth, That they are exceeding deuourers of mans flesh, for which, they refuse Beefe and Goates, whereof they take plentie. They haue no setled habitation, but wander in an vnsetled course. They rise in Haruest, and inuading some Countrey, there stay as long as they find the Palmes, or other sufficient meanes of maintenance, and then seeke new aduentures. For they neither Plant nor Sowe, nor breed vp Cat∣tell: and which is more strange, they nourish vp none of their owne children, al∣though they haue ten or twentie wiues a man, of the properest and comeliest slaues they can take. But when they are in trauaile, they digge a hole in the Earth, which presently receiueth, in that darke prison of death, the new-borne creature, not yet made happie with the light of life. Their reason is, that they will not bee troubled with education, nor in their flitting wanderings be troubled with such cumbersome burthens. Once, a secret prouidence both punisheth the fathers wickednesse, and preuenteth a Viperous generation: if that may be a preuention, where there is a suc∣cession without generation: and as Plinie n 1.276 sayth of the Esseni; Gens aelerna est in qua nemo nascitur. For of the conquered Nations they preserue the boyes from ten to twentie yeares of age, and bring them vp, as the hope of their succession, like Negro-Azimogli o 1.277 , with education fitting their designes. These weare a Collar about their necke, in token of slauerie, vntill they bring an enemies head slaine in battaile; and then are they vncollared, freed, and dignified with the title of Souldi∣ors. If one of them runnes away, he is killed and eaten. So that hemmed in betwixt hope and feare, they grow very resolute and aduenturous, their Collars breeding shame, disdaine, & desperate furie, till they redeeme their freedome, as you haue heard.

Elembe the great Iagge brought with him twelue thousand of these cruell monsters from Sierra Liona, and after much mischiefe and spoyle setled himselfe in Benguele, twelue degrees from the Line Southwards, and there breedeth and groweth into a Nation. But Kelandula, sometime his page, proceeds in that beastly life before men∣tioned, and the people of Elembe by great troupes runne to him, and follow his Campe, in hope of spoyle. They haue no Fetisso's, or Idols. The Great Iagge, or Prince, is master of all their Ceremonies, and is a great Witch. I haue seene this Ke∣landula (sayth our Author) continue a Sacrifice from Sunne to Sunne; the Rites where of were these: Himselfe sat on a stoole in great Pompe, with a Cappe adorned with Peacockes feathers (which Fowles, in one Countrey called Shelambanza, are found wilde) and in one place empaled, about the graue of the King, are fiftie kept, and fedde by an olde woman, and are called Ingilla Mokisso, that is, Birds of Mokisso. Now about him thus set, attended fortie or fiftie women, each of them wearing con∣tinually a Zebras tayle in their hands: There were also certaine Gangas, Priests, or Witches. Behind them were many with Drummes and Pipes, and Pungas (certaine Instruments made of Elephants teeth, made hollow a yard and halfe, and with a hole like a Flute, which yeeld a loud and harsh sound, that may be heard a myle off.) These strike, and sound, and sing, and the women weaue (as is said) till the Sunne be al∣most downe. Then they bring forth a Pot, which is set on the fire, with Leaues, and Rootes, and Water therein: and with a kinde of white powder, the Witches, or Gan∣gas, spot themselues, one on the one cheeke, the other on the other; and likewise their foreheads, temples, breasts, shoulders, and bellies, vsing many inchaunting tearmes, which are holden to be prayers for victorie. At Sunne-set a Ganga brings his Kissen∣gula, or Warre-Hatchet, to the Prince (this weapon they vse to weare at their girdles) and putting the same in his hand, biddes him be strong, their God goes with him, and he shall haue victorie. After this they bring him foure or fiue Negros, of which, with a terrible countenance, the Great Iagge with his Hatchet kills two, and other two are killed without the Fort. Likewise, fiue Kine are slaine within, and other fiue without the Fort; and as many Goates, and as many Dogges, after the same manner. This is their Sacrifice, at the end whereof all the flesh is in a Feast consumed. Andrew Battell was commaunded to depart when the slaughter began, for their Deuill, or Mo∣kisso (as they said) would then appeare and speake to them. This Sacrifice is called Kissembula; which they solemnize when they attempt any great enterprise. There were few left of the naturall Iagges, but of this vnnaturall broode the present succes∣sion was raysed.

Now that we haue thus discoursed of these former Nations, let vs take view of the more in-land and Easterly borders, which abutte on Congo: where we shall find the great Lake Aquilunda, which with her many Riuers aforesaid watereth all that great Countrey, assisted therein by a farre greater Lake, called Zembre, great Mother and chiefe Ladie of the Waters in Africa. As for the Mountaines of the Moone, now cal∣led Toroa, there is a Lake called Gale, of no great quantitie, whence issueth a Riuer, named Camissa, and by the Portugalls, the sweet Riuer, disemboquing at the False Cape, an Arme whereof had before entred the Sea (in 32.40.) of Infante p 1.278 , one of Dias his companions, in the first Discouerie of those parts, called Infante because he there went first on Land. But from those Hills of the Moone, the Lake whence Nilus sprin∣geth hath no helpe. Neither are there two Lakes, East and West, distant from each o∣ther about foure hundred and fiftie myles, as Ptolomey describeth; for then the one should be in the confines of Congo and Angola, the other about Sofala and Mono∣motapa: where is found but one Lake (for Aquilunde is no tributarie to Nilus.) This Lake is betweene Angola and Monomotapa, and containeth in Diameter 195. myles. There is indeede another Lake which Nilus maketh in his course, but standeth North∣ward from the first Lake Zembre, and not in East or West parallel. Neither doth Nilus (as some affirme) hide it selfe vnder the ground, and after rise againe, but it runneth through monstrous and desart Valleyes, without any setled Channell, and where no people inhabiteth, from whence that fabulous opinion did grow.

This Lake is situate in twelue degrees of Southerly latitude, and is compassed about like a vault with exceeding high Mountaines, the greatest whereof are called Cafates, vpon the East; and the Hills of Sal-Nitrum, and the Hills of Siluer on another side, and on the other side with diuerse other Mountaines. The Riuer Nilus runneth North∣wards foure hundred myles, and then entreth into another great Lake, which the in∣habitants doe call a Sea. It is much bigger then the first, and containeth in bredth two hundred and twentie myles, tight vnder the Equinoctiall Line. Of this second Lake, the Anzichi giue certaine and perfect intelligence: for they traffique into those parts. And they report, That in this second Lake there is a people that sayleth in great ships, and can write, and vseth number, weight, and measure, which they haue not in the parts of Congo; that they build their houses with Lime and Stone, and for their fashi∣ons and qualities may be compared with the Portugalls. This seemeth to be in Go∣iame, where the Abassine entituleth himselfe King, and in his title (as before q 1.279 you haue read) calls it the Fountaine of Nilus: which Alvares r 1.280 also mentioneth, that Peter Covilian saw. He affirmeth, That there are Iewes about those parts, which perhaps are the people that the Anzichi speake of. From this second Lake in Goiame, the Riuer which is there called Gihon, passeth through the Pretes Dominion to Meroe, and so to Aegypt, as elsewhere is shewed. In these two great Lakes are diuerse Islands, that we speake not of the Tritons, and other I know not what monsters, there reported to be found. The Lake Zembre yeeldeth not Nilus alone, but Zaire, a farre more spacious Riuer in widenesse, and more violent in force then Nilus, or any other Riuer in Afri∣ca, Europe, or Asia, of which we lately related. And besides her Northerne and We∣sterne tributes, carried by those two Riuers to the Mediterranean and Ocean Seas, she sendeth her great streames of Magnice, Coava, and Cuama, into the inner or Ea∣sterne Ocean.

Magnice s 1.281 springing out of Zembre, receiueth in his voyage to the Sea three other Riuers; Nagoa, called S. Christophers; and Margues, which both spring out of the Mountaines of the Moone, by the people there called Toroa: the third is Arroe, which besides his waters, payeth to Neptune, which neither needes, nor heedes it, a great quantitie of Gold, which it washeth from the Mountaines of Monomotapa (a Coun∣trey extending it selfe betweene Magnice and Cuama) whose seuen mouthes seeke to swallow vp many Islands which they hold in their iawes, but through greedinesse loose that which greedinesse makes them seeke, not able to swallow so great morsels, which therefore remaine and are inhabited with Pagans. Boterus t 1.282 sayth, That this Ri∣uer runnes out of that Lake, a great space in one channell, and then is diuided into two; the one called Spirito santo, running into the Sea, vnder the Cape Couenti; the other Cuama, receiueth the Riuers Panami, Luangua, Arruia, Mangiono, Inadire, Rui∣na, and is sayled more then seuen hundred myles.

Coava is also a great Riuer. The inhabitants within Land, about these Riuers, are (as you haue heard) Pagans and rude people. Let me now haue leaue to conuey my selfe downe this Riuer Coava into the Ocean, and there take view of the many Islands with which Nature hath adorned this African world, as with many Brooches and Iew∣els set and hanged about the fringes of her garments: and first learning what we can by heare-say of the Islands in and from the Redde Sea hither, we will in some Portu∣gall Carricke sayle round about the African Coast, and acquaint you with what wee shall finde worthiest obseruation: and then not willing as yet to set foot in Lisbone, as we meet with the fleet of Spaine sayling to the New-found World, will passe with them for further Discoueries. For, to goe into the Mediterranean, to discouer the A∣frican Islands there, will scarce be worth the while. To heare a little of those few may content vs.

CHAP. XI.

Of the Seas and Islands about Africa: The auncient and moderne Obseruations, Nauigations, and Discoueries.

AFter this long and tedious iourney ouer Land, where the steepe and Snowie Mountains, the myrie and vnholsome Valleyes, the vnpasiable Wildernesses, swift Riuers, still Lakes thicke Woods, and varietie of the Continent-obseruations, haue thus long whiled vs; let vs now, by a swifter course, take view of the African Seas, and those Islands which they hold alway besieged, but neuer conquer. In the first place presents it selfe to our Discouerie that Sea, which separateth (after the moderne reckoning) A∣frica and Asia asunder. This is called the Redde Sea; which name (sayeth a 1.283 Plinie) the Grecians call Erythraeum (this word signifieth Redde) and is ascribed by some to a King named Erythras; by others, to the repercussion of the Sunne-beames; by others, to the colour of the Sand and Earth (in the bottome;) and by others to the nature of the water it selfe. Solinus b 1.284 affirmeth, it is called Erythraeum, of King Erythrus, the sonne of Perseus and Andromade, and not onely of the colour, alledging c 1.285 Varro, that learned Roman, for his author: who also mentioneth a Fountaine on the shore there∣of, which changeth the colour of the Sheepes fleeces which drinke there, into a dus∣kish and darker colour. Strabo d 1.286 citeth the testimonie of Nearchus and Orthagoras, concerning the Isle Tyrina, two thousand furlongs from Carmania, in which the Se∣pulchre of Erythras is shewed, being a great Hill, planted with Trees: and that he reig∣ned in those parts, and left his name thereunto: which they learned of Mithropastes, who flying from Darius, had liued in that Island. Barrius e 1.287 writeth, that Alfonso Dalboquerque (that victorious Portugall, who subdued so many Islands, Seas, and Kingdomes to that Crowne) in a Letter to King Emanuel affirmeth, That it may be called the Redde Sea, of certaine redde spots, or staynes, which are seene therein: and when he entred into the Straits, he encountred a great veine of redde water, exten∣ding it selfe from Aden as farre as they could see from the Shippes toppes. These redde veines of water the Moores ascribed to the ebbing and flowing of that Sea. Iohn di Castro g 1.288 (afterwards Viceroy of India) sayled to the bottome of the Strait, as farre as Suez, and much laboured to finde the cause, why it should be called the h 1.289 Redde Sea. He, in his Mappe of these parts, sayth, That he saw therein many such redde spaces of water, but taking vp the water in a Vessell, out of the Sea, it seemed clearer and more christalline then that without the Straits: Hee caused also some to diue, which did bring him out of the sandie bottome a redde matter, braunched like Corall, and some like Oranges. In other places where were greene spots in the Sea, were taken out greene braunches: and where the Sea was white, the sand there-vnder was very white: and though the depth in some places amounted to twentie fathome, yet the puritie of the christalline waters caused this transparent colour. Neere to Sua∣chen he found most of those spots, and from thence to Alcocer, the space of foure hun∣dred myles. But neerer the bottome, towards Suez in a great space he saw none. Fur∣ther, without the Strait, he saw such redde i 1.290 spots or veines of water at Cape Fartach, as if Oxen had beene slaine there, yet the water taken vp in a vessell seemed cleare; and he supposed that this rednesse proceeded of the Whales bringing forth their young. Barrius misliketh that coniecture, and those other of antiquitie, in searching the cause of this name of Redde, and is of opinion, That the violent currents of the Tides, assisted with some tempestuous windes, raise vp from the bottome that redde floore, whereof we haue spoken, and cause, by the motion of the same vnder the water, that rednesse in the vpper face thereof: which is in more spacious quantitie neere the Straits, where there is greatest force of the Tides; and the threeds or straines of this rednesse are lesse in the greater and more spacious Sea-roome. The Portugall Pilots first thought, that

the winds brought out red dust from the drie soile of Arabia, which no mans experi∣ence hath confirmed. Andrea k 1.291 Corsali, which sayled and warred vnder the Portugals in these Seas, An. 1516. saith, he knowes not why it should be called red, for the water is coloured as in other Seas: which seemeth to crosse the former reports: and may ei∣ther bee construed of the water generally not discoloured, or perhaps while hee was there, the tides and winds did not conspire so boisterously, as at some other times they doe, against the yeelding and weaker soile in the bottome thereof. How euer it be for, this rednesse, many deceiue themselues in streitning this name to the Arabian Gulfe, which the Ancients l 1.292 gaue vnto all the Seas from Egypt to India: and reckon the Per∣sian and Arabian Gulfs, armes of the red Sea. Yea Arrianus, (not he that writ m 1.293 Alex∣anders life, who yet in the report of Nearchus his voyage from Indus, to the Riuer Ti∣gris, calls it the Red Sea: but an other of that name) in his n 1.294 Periplus of the Erythr∣ean Sea; (translated into Italian by Ramusius, and set forth by Ortelius in a peculiar Map: thereof) comprehendeth in the title of the Red Sea, all from Arsinoe & Egypt, to Ma∣lacca, or the Chorsonesus aurea. Hauing now troubled you with the name, why, and how farre, the name extendeth: we may view the Isands therein situate: which if any would more fully know, let him reade Arrianus and Barrius, and the voyage of Soly∣man Bassa, 1538. vnto Din, written by o 1.295 Damianus in Latin, and by a Venetian in Ra∣musius, who was present in the action: I must but touch the principall. Sues is the be∣ginning of this Sea, which some suppose to bee that which the Ancients call Arsinoe, after others Heroum, is the place where the Turke hath his Arsenall, and Gallies, for those Seas, the matter whereof is brought out of Caramania, by Sea, by Nilus, and by Camels ouer Land the rest of the way, at incredible charges. Here in old times was a channell which conueied the waters of Nilus to this place, where they had Cisternes to receiue it; all destroied by the Mahumetans: and now the Inhabitants fetch the wa∣ter, which they vse, six miles off. Some thinke that Pharaoh was here drowned: which passage other set downe at Tor where the Sea is straitned, and is not aboue nine miles ouer. It seemeth that the prints of the Chariot wheeles, which Orosius p 1.296 affirmeth, still remained as testimonies of Pharaohs ouer-whelming vnder those waues, and could not by any industrie of man be done out, but by the mightie hand of God were soone re∣stored in the same forme, are not now there to be found: for they would soone end the controuersie.

Asion-Gaber q 1.297 was a Port hereabouts, whence Salomon sent his Naule to Ophir•• and after him Iehoshaphat r 1.298 , but not with like successe: which (Iosephus s 1.299 saith) was Berenice, not farre from Elana. Hierom calls it Essia. Berenice t 1.300 was the Port of the Red Sea, where the Indian drugs and spices in the time of the Roman Empire was vn∣laden and landed, to be carried thence to Alexandria, the whole course whereof Plini•• describeth * 1.301 . The whole length of this Arabian Gulfe,Botero u 1.302 reckons 1200. miles, in bredth 100. for the most part. Comito x 1.303 Venetiano in Ramusius, which saith, it accoun∣teth 1400. in length, in breadth 200. and in some places more: so full of sholds, that if they keepe not the channell in the midst, there is no sayling, but by day-light. Out∣wards bound, they keepe the middle, and haue Pilots for that purpose, homewards they haue other Pilots, which direct the ship within the shallowes: and are taken in at Babelmandel, called y 1.304 by Ptolomie, Insuia Diodori an Ile in the entrie or strait of the Gulfe, which Strabo saith, the ancient Kings of Egypt chained to keepe the passage. Zi∣dem is 12. leagues from Meca, where the ships haue vsed to vnlade their spiceries, as before at Berenice: without this Towne is a Moschee, which the Moores say is the Se∣pulchre of Eua. Their water is raine water, reserued in Cisternes. Passing by the Ile Mehun, the Ile Camaran is famous by the diuers spoiles there made by the Portugals: it is in 15. deg. This Iland (saith Corsali) is the hotest place that euer I saw: not one of vs, but had our secret parts chased and flaied with heat: and many of our companie died. Dalaccia is an Iland where they gather pearles. Suachen is the best harbour in all the gulfe, which the Turks haue taken from the Abissine: it stands in 19. deg. & a third. Mazzua is an Iland which makes Ercocco a good hauen. But of the hauen & Ports on both sides the Gulfe, Barrius z 1.305 relateth more largely. Of the Iles Achafas and Tuicce

we haue but names: likewise of others; whereof Ptolomie a 1.306 doth number a great mul∣titude. The people of these parts are Mahumetans, and many Baduins, Hereticall and theeuish Moores. Many Iewes are in Adom, the chiefe Towne of merchandise in these parts: the King whereof (after much kinde gratulation) Soliman Bassa hung vp at the yards arme: and at his returne dealt the like dole to the King of Zibit, subiecting their States vnder treacherous pretences to his great Master. Scaliger b 1.307 tells of Samaritans dwelling in an Iland of the Red Sea, which, when any man landed there, would religi∣ously forbid to touch them: as we haue before mentioned. The Ascension c 1.308 ascended into the Red Sea, An. 1608. to Moha, which is a Citie of great trade. In the Ocean with out the strait, neare to the African shore, are not many Ilands mentioned by the Anci∣ents. Arrianus in his Periplus speakes of seuen Ilands, called Pyralaon: and of an other great Iland neare to them, called Menuthesias or Menuthias, now called Madagascar, and S.Laurence: some take it for the Iland of Iambolus, whereof Diodorus d 1.309 hath large∣ly related, and Ramusius e 1.310 hath discoursed thereon: other seeke for that Iland in Soma∣tra. That Iambolus was a Merchant, which trading in Arabia for spices, was taken by theeues, and made a shepheard: after carried away by Aethiopians, who tooke these forrainers according to their rites, to expiate their Countrie. For they were enioyned by Oracle to make such expiation once in 600. yeares, with two men that were for∣rainers. For the fulfilling whereof they were put in a boat, fit for two men, with six moneths victuaile: and commanded to sayle Southwards, and they should come to a happy Iland, where the men liued a blessed life. And if they came safe thither, their Countrie should enioy prosperitie 600. yeares: if they turned back, they should bring vpon them much trouble. The Aethiopians meane while kept holy daies, and offered Sacrifices for their good voiage, which in foure moneths they atchieued: and were ex∣ceeding courteously vsed and entertained of the Ilanders. These were foure cubites higher then other men, very nimble and strong. The reports of this his voyage sa∣uour more of an f 1.311 Vtopia, and Plato's g 1.312 common-wealth, then of true historie. Yet is it thought (as Ramusius discourseth) not altogether fabulous, but that he was indeed in some remote Iland, to which he applied such fancies, as Diodorus reporteth. To leaue there the certaine fictions, & vncertaine coniectures of Antiquitie: and come to more certaine relations; the only Iland of name without the streit is, Socotera, in 13. deg. Corsali h 1.313 thinks it vnknowne to Ptolomie, (which others suppose to be his Insula Dios∣coridis) he saith, that it was inhabited of Christian shepheards, which liued on milke, and butter: their bread was of dates: like to the people of Prester Iohn, but their haire was longer, clothed with one only peece of cloth about their priuities; The Land bar∣ren, as in all Arabia Foelix, and the Sea-coasts gouerned by the Arabians. Hence com∣meth and is named the Aloe Socotrina i 1.314 . They are Iacobits, and haue Churches with Altars, & obserue the Crosse with great reuerence: they enter not their Churches, but stand in the Church-yard, or Porch. Their Abuna, or Priest, ruleth them. Other Go∣uernour they haue none of their owne. The Portugalls haue two Townes there, Coro and Benin. They k 1.315 hold opinion that S. Thomas here suffered ship wrack: and that of his ship was built an ancient Church, which is yet to be seene, walled about with three partitions, and three dores. They liue for the most part in cabbins of boughs, or in Caues: their women are as good Souldiers as the men. They are much addicted to Magick, and bring to passe matters incredible, although the Bishop excommunicate such as vse it. They will with cōtrarie wind hinder men that in damage them, from fai∣ling away. Conceited they are exceedingly of their owne excellence. Two small Iles lie to the North of Socotera, called the two Sisters; the Inhabitants of an Oliue colour, without law among themselues or commerce with others. There l 1.316 are also those two Iles, the one, of men; the other, of women; which we mentioned in our fift booke, * 1.317 A matter, how true I know not, but very strange. They are Christians, subiect to the Bishop of Socotera, and he to the Zatoia in Ba••dach.

Many other Ilands there bee of no great name in that Sea, called Sinus Barba∣ricus: as of Don Garcia: the three and the seuen brethren, of S. Brandon, S. Fran∣cis, Mascarentia, De Natal, C••m••r••, and many other: besides those of Quisoa.

Mosambique, and some other for their vicinitie to the Land before handled. The Ile m 1.318 of S^t. Laurence (so called by the Portugalls; by themselues, Madagascar) is mee∣test in all those parts, to entertaine the Readers obseruation, as being one of the grea∣test Ilands of the World. It contayneth in breadth foure hundred and fourescore miles, in length a thousand and two hundred, in compasse foure thousand miles. M. Polo n 1.319 saith, the Inhabitants were Saracens, and were gouerned vnder foure Lords, eate Camells flesh, vse merchandise or arts. Thus farre did the great Can stretch his Tartarian Dominion: and sent hither to spie the Land. That which Polo saith, he heard of a Bird in this Iland, called Rush, so bigge as it could take vp an Elephant, hath no likelihood of truth. He calls it Magascar. It is situate from seuenteene to six and twentie ½. of Southerly Latitude o 1.320 . Only vpon the coast they are Mahumetans: with in Land Idolaters, black, and like the Cafres: the soile yeeldeth Cloues, Ginger, and Siluer. It deserueth to haue better Inhabitants, if Linschoten p 1.321 iudge rightly, hauing many faire and fresh Riuers, safe harbours, plenty of fruits and cattell; therein are foure gouernements, each fighting against other. They vse not themselues to trade with others, nor suffer others to traffique with them. The Portugalls haue some trade with them, but goe not on Land. In the first discouery of them q 1.322 by the Portugalls, 1506. they shewed themselues in hospitall and treacherous, rewarding receiued kindnesse, in their Canoas or Boats, made of the body of a Tree, with shot. There r 1.323 are said to be some white people, supposed to be of Chinian off-spring.

Of the people of Madagascar the Hollanders report s 1.324 that they are of colour black, strong, and well made: they couer their priulties with cotton: they haue large holes in their eares in which they weare round sticks. They acknowledge one Creatour, and obserue Circumcision, but know nothing of praying or keeping festiualls. They haue no proper names, whereby to distinguish one day from another: neither doe they number Weekes, Moneths, or Yeares. Nor doe they number aboue ten. They are exceedingly afraid of the Deuill, (whom they call Tainuaddei) because he vseth often to afflict them. They liue most-what on fishing. They marrie but one wife: their time of marriage is, for the men, at twelue; the women, at ten yeares of age. Adulterie and Theft are punished with death. The men vse to hunt abroade, the women spinne their Cottons at home, whereof they haue Trees yeelding plentie. If any man kill a∣ny of his Kine, all his Neighbours may challenge part. In S^t. Marie, an Iland by Mada∣gascar, they met with the King, which was obserued of his Subiects with great reue∣rence. Here they buried one of their dead men, the Ilanders being present, who signi∣fied by signes that his soule was gone to heauen: & would haue had them to cut off his legges by the knees. The Ile of Cerne, they called Manrich Iland. They found excel∣lent Eben Trees there, the wood where of is as black as pitch, and as smooth as Iuorie, inclosed with a thick barke. They found of the same kinde some red, some yellow. There were Palme-Trees like the Cocos. They found store of Birds, whereof they might take some in their nests with their hands. There were no people inha∣biting. In the channell between the firme Land, & Madagascar, are many Ilands t 1.325 great & small, all inhabited by Mahumentans: the chiefe of which is S^t. Christopher, more Northwards against Mombaza, and Melinde, are three Ilands, Momfid. Zanzibar, & Pemba: inhabited with Mahumetans of white colour. In the time of M. u 1.326 Polo, Zenzibar was Hea∣thenish: the Inhabitants, he saith, very grosse and deformed; and likewise the women. Neare the Cape of Good hope are the Iles of Don Aluares and Tristan d'Acunnha: but, of no great note. The deepnesse of these Seas, make them vncapable of many Ilands.

CHAP. 12.

Of the Ilands of Africa, from the Cape hitherwards.

ON this side the the Cape a 1.327 is the Iland of S^t. Helena, in 16. degrees and 1/4. of Southerly Latitude. It is very high and hilly: the name was giuen of the Saint, on whose day it was discouered. It hath in it store of Goates, Hogs, Hens, and other creatures, which the Portugalls haue there left to multi∣ply:

for before there was none of them: there also they haue planted Figs, Oranges, Limons, and such like, whereof the Vallies are full: that it seemeth an earrhly Para∣dise, the fruit growing all the yeare long. They haue great store of fish, of which with crooked nailes they take great plentie: the Rocks yeeld salt for the furthering of their prouision. It seemes God hath planted it in conuenient place, for the long and dange∣rous. Indian Nauigations. There the Portugalls leaue their sick, which stay till other ships come the next year to take them. It was neuer inhabited: only an Heremite dwelt there, who vnder pretence of mortifying his flesh by penance, butchered the flesh of the Goats and Bucks so fast for their skinnes, that the King sent for him home, & will suffer none to dwell there. Abraham Kendall put in there about the yeare 1591. and left on shore one Segar a sicke man, whom a 1.328 Edmund Barker 18. moneths after found there in good plight; but their vnexpected comming, as it seemeth, so rauished his weake spirits with ioy, that it distracted him, and being otherwise of bodily constitu∣tion very well, he died eight daies after. The like I haue read of a Portugall in the same place. North-west from hence are the Iles of Ascension, not inhabited. Of Loanda, nigh to, or rather a peece of Congo, is already spoken. Ouer against the Cape of Lopo Gon∣salues, is the Ile of Nobon: and not farre from thence b 1.329 S^t. Thomas, 180. miles from the shore, and so much also in compasse, right vnder the line. At the first discouerie it was a wood: now inhabited by Portugalls and Negro's. These line 100. yeares: but few borne in Europe exceede 50. It is vnholsome, through exceeding heat, vnto Europae∣ans especially, which in December, Ianuarie, and Februarie * 1.330 , can scarsly walke vp and downe for saintnesse. In the midst is a woodie Mountaine, continually ouershadowed with a thick cloude, which so moistens the Trees that grow in great abundance there∣on, that from hence droppeth water sufficient for the watering of all their fields of Su∣gar Canes. They haue 70. Ingenios or Sugar houses, each of which hath two or three hundred slaues belonging thereto; wheat, here sowne, becommeth all blade, without ripening any corne. No fruit which hath a stone in it will here prosper. The Towne which hath about 700. Families, and the Castle, was taken by the Hollanders, 1599.

The Ile Del Principe c 1.331 , was so called, because the reuennues thereof were in times past allowed to the Prince of Portugal. It standeth in three degrees Northerly latitude: I••lian Clerchagen tooke the same 1598. The Iles of S^t. Mathew, Santa Cruz, S^t.Paul, and Conceptio•• yeeld small matter of historie. Next to Cape Verde stand seuen Ilands, full of Birds, emptie of Inhabitants, called Barbacen••. But those that are called the Iles of C. Verde are nine, situate betweene the Greene and White Capes: Linschoten reckons ten. They were first discouered by Antonio di Nolli, a Genoway, 1440. None of them are inhabited, but the Iles of Iago, & Del Fogo: both which were taken, 1596. by Sr Antonie d 1.332 S••erly: who had one night a shower of ashes from that Iland of Fogo or Fuego, or of Fire, so called, because it continually burneth, which fell so thick on their ship that you might write your name with your finger vpon the vpper deck. S^t. Iago was taken and burnt by Sir Francis e 1.333 Drake, 1585. Braua and Buena Vista, haue brauer and goodlier names then nature. Maio yeelds salt in a Lake of two leagues long, the Sunne congealing and turning the waters into salt. From thence is passed into the Sea, called Sargasso f 1.334 , because it is couered with hearbs, like to the hearbe Sargasso in the Portugall Wells, like to Sarrper, yellow of colour, with emptie Berries like Goose∣berries: which beginneth at 20. degrees, & continueth till 34. farre off in the Sea: for the ships in their going to India keeping neare the shore meet not with any. The Sea seemeth as a greene field, so thick that a man cannot see the water, and hindreth the ships passage, except they haue a strong winde. The coast of Africa is 400. miles di∣stant, neither is any Iland neare: saue that these weeds seeme to make many Ilands. Thus doe men in ships behold the wonders of the Lord in the deepe, no Land being nigh, nor no ground to be found, although it is thought to come from the ground. And in∣deede all those Seas are full of wonders, as they passe along the coast toward the In∣dies. Tho. g 1.335 Steuens complaineth of the continuall thunders, lightnings, and vnhol∣some raines which there they met: the raine water, if it stands a litle, conuerting pre∣sently to wormes, and filling the meat, hanged vp, with wormes. An hearbe also

swamme vpon the face of the waters like a Cocks-combe, so venimous, that it can scarse be touched without perill: Fishes, called Sharks, most rauenous deuourers, which had other six or seuen smaller fishes, guarded with blew and greene, attending like Seruing-men. Fishes also (as bigge as a Hering) with wings, which doe not so much helpe them by flying to escape an other greater fish, that pursueth them by Sea, as endanger them to a Sea-Fowle, which waits that opportunitie. Neither can it flie high or farre, or longer then the wings are wet: not swimme fast, hauing exchanged finnes for wings. So haue I seene men thriue worse that haue two trades, then such as haue been skillfull & thriftie in one. Lerius h 1.336 addeth the like wonder of certaine Birds, so tame that they would light vpon the Hatches, and suffer themselues to bee taken. These are the same Birds which pursue those flying fishes, wiser to hunt them, then to saue themselues: as bigge as Crowes in fethers, in flesh little bigger then a Sparrow, and farre lesse then the fish which they take and deuoure. To returne to our discouerie from Iago where wee left: here the Negro's i 1.337 were wont to bring slaues to fell to the Portugalls for beads, and other trifles, and cottons, with other base commodities: and them not such alone as they tooke in war, but their fathers and mothers, thinking they did them a benefit, to cause them thus to bee conuayed into better Countries: they brought them naked. The Iles of Arguin are six or seuen, inhabited by the Azanhagi, where the King of Spaine hath a Fortresse: concerning the trade wherof you may reade the letter of Melchior k 1.338 Petoney. Further into the Sea are the Canaries: which are com∣monly reckoned seuen; Canaria, Teneriff, Palma, Gomera, Hierro, Lansarotte, & Fuerte, Ventura: Theuet l 1.339 ads 3; others, more; L••bos, R••ca, Gratiosa: S^t, Clara, Alegranca, & In∣fierno. The Inhabitants were so grosse before they were discouered, that they knew not the vse of fire. They beleeued in one Creator of the world, who punished the euill, and rewarded the good: herein they all consented, in other things disagreed: their wea∣pons were stones and staues. They shaued their heads with sharpe stones like flints. Yron they had not: gold they respected not. The women nursed not their children, but commonly committed that office to their Goats. They as much delighted in dan∣cing, as the Birds m 1.340 which beare their name, in singing. They were vnknowne from the times of the Roman Empire n 1.341 at which time they were called Fortunatae till either an English or French ship by misfortune lighted on them. An. 1405. Io Bentacor con∣quered them, & after him 1444. Henrie, the Infanta of Portugall, that day-starre, which by his industrie made way to the present Sun-shine of discoueries, whereby the world in her last daies hath fullest view of her selfe. Galuano o 1.342 calleth that Frenchman Io. Be∣ttancourt, & saith, he was sent by Iohn the second of Castile, An. 1417. who being slaine in the action, his son sold them to Perter Barba a Spaniard, & he to Don Henrie. He saith the people were Idolaters, and did eate their flesh raw for want of fire: they tilled the ground with Oxe & Goats-hornes. They had many wiues, but deliuered them to the Superiors to lie with them, before they lay with them. Don Henrie conquered the rest which Batancourt had not possessed. Their former gouernement was by 190. persons, which ruled also in matters of religion, prescribing to the people their faith, and wor∣ship. They had in higher name of authority a King, and a Duke. To flay a beast was e∣steemed the basest office in the world, & therefore committed to their prisoners: they which did this, liued separate from the people: Thus was it in the Gran Canaria. In Gomera p 1.343 , they vsed for hospitality to let their friends lie with their wiues, and recei∣uing theirs in like courtesie: and therfore, as in India, the Sisters sonne inherited.

In Tenarise they had two Kings, one dead, an other aliue: when a new King was crowned some man to honor his entrance, offered himselfe to voluntarie death: when the King was buried, the noblest men carried him on their shoulders, and putting him into the graue, said, Depart in peace O blessed soule. Theuet q 1.344 affirmeth, that the Cana∣ries are so called of the Canes and Reedes that grow there: that they worshipped the Sunne, Moone, and Planets. Of these Ilands, Thomas Nichols r 1.345 an English man, hath composed a Treatise extant, in Master Hakluyts voyages, To••.2. Part.2. Hee saith they dwelt in Caues, supposed to descend of such, as the Romans in Africa had exiled, and cut their tongues out for blasphemie against their Gods.

The pike or high Hill of Tenarise, is after Theuets measure foure and fiftie miles.Tho∣mas Byam, s 1.346 a friend of mine, told me, that he hath seene it eight and forty leagues in∣to the Sea, in cleare weather. Here before the conquest were seuen Kings, which with their people dwelt in Caues. Their buriall was, to be set vpon his feet naked in a Caue, propped against the wall: and if he were a man of authority, he had a staffe in his hand, and a vessell of Milke standing by him. I haue seene, saith Nichols, three hun∣dred of these corpses together, the flesh dried vp, the body light as Parchment. I my selfe saw two of those bodies in London.

Canaria, Tenerif, and Palma, haue one Bishop, who hath twelue thousand Du∣cats reuennue: which place was not long since possessed by Melchior t 1.347 Canus, a great Writer in defence of the falling Babylon. They pay to the King fiftie thousand Ducats. Hierro, or the Iland of yron, is by the multitudes of Authors u 1.348 affirmed to haue in it no fresh water, but what falleth from the leaues of a certaine Tree, which is alwaies greene, and couered with cloudes, and vnder-neath the same is a Cisterne to receiue the water, for the vse both of Men and Beasts, throughout that Iland: a whole wood of such Trees we mentioned in Saint Thomas Iland, which yeeld from their dropping leaues Rills of water downe all sides of the Hill, where they grow. In this Iland here is but one: and that very ancient. It is in seuen and twentie degrees. This, and Gomera, and Lancarota, are in the handes of priuate men.

Madera standeth in two and thirtie degrees, it is the greatest of all the Atlantike Iles x 1.349 . It was discouered by one Macham an English man: who arriued there by tempest, Anno 1344. together with a Woman, whom hee there buried, and on her Tombe did write his comming, and the cause thereof, with his and her names, and was occasion to the King of Spaine to discouer that and the Canaries. It was called Madera, of the wildernesses of Trees there growing; Here is a City called Fouchal. The Ile containeth in compasse a hun∣dred and fortie miles. The woods y 1.350 which gaue name to the Iland were fiered, and burnt so furiously, that the people for a time were forced to goe some space into the Sea, from the violent heat, which caused such fat∣nesse to the soile, that at first it yeelded threescore fold: since, halfe so much. The ex∣cellent Wines were of Vines, first brought from Candie. They bring forth more grapes (saith he) then leaues, and clusters of two, three, and foure * 1.351 spannes long. At first, the Pidgeons suffered themselues to bee taken, not knowing, and therefore not fearing a man.

Fortie miles to the Ile of Madera is the Ile of Puerto, or Porto Santo, called of all Saints day, in which it was first discouered, Anno 1428. It was taken by Sir Amias z 1.352 Preston, 1596. Here are such store of Conies, bred of one shee-Conie, brought hi∣ther great with yong, that the Ilanders were out of hope almost to withstand and a∣mend their damages by them sustayned. A litle Iland, neare to this, breedeth nothing else. And now we can accompany our Portugalls no further. A word of that which remayneth.

Within the Streights are no great Ilands belonging to Africa. Pennon, or the Rock against Velles de Gumera, the Ile of Gerbi, and some others. Malta, is the most famous, where in old time was the Temple of Iuno. spoiled by a 1.353 Verres, supposed to be that Melita, where Paul suffered b 1.354 shipwrack: although there be an other Melita in the A∣driatike Sea, ••eare to Dalmatia: Polybius c 1.355 calls it Melytusa, as Volateranus d 1.356 writeth. Ptolomie and Cicero name Melita, now called Malta, in this Ile of Malta. Some e 1.357 a∣scribe Pauls shipwrack to Melita in the Adriatike, neare to Dalmatia, whom Beza f 1.358 learnedly confuteth: and proueth it to be that Malta, which now the Knights hold a∣gainst the Turke: whose valour in successe, in resisting that mightie Aduersarie g 1.359 Curio, and Io. Antonius Viperanus, in their books of that Argument, Knolles in his Turkish Hi∣storie, Ri. Carre, and others, reiate at large. It was 1565. That which deceiueth those men in Malta, is the name of the Adriatike Sea, which now is giuen to the Gulfe of Venice, but then, as Beza and Aretius shew out of Strabo.lib. 3. was giuen to the Ionian Sea also, and further Southwards, Where Malta standeth: and Ortelius out of h 1.360 Ouid, and others, proueth the same.

Now a word of the ancient Nauigations about Africa. Hanno his voyage, sent * 1.361 forth by the Carthaginians, seemed fabulous, but Ramusius Sheweth euery place by him mentioned, to agree with the later discoueries of the portugalls, and thinketh (guided by a Portugall Pilot, skillfull of those Seas, which skanned this Nauigation of Hanno) that he went as farre as S^t. Thome. Long before this, Homer reporteth of * 1.362 Menelaeus, compassing the Aethiopians from Aegypt, which some interpret of sai∣ling by the Cape of Good hope, as the Portugalls. Of this minde Strabo citeth Ari∣stonichus. Of Salomon and Iehoshaphat is sayd before. Herodotus affirmeth the Phae∣nicians * 1.363 failing in the Red Sea in Cambyses time: but, this was vsuall and yearely, as Plinie sheweth, lib. 6. cap.23. The same Plinie alleageth out of Cornelius Nepos, the * 1.364 sayling of Eudoxus out of the Red Sea, round about Africa to Cales. The like may be shewed in some other instances, of which reade M. Hakl. his Epistle Dedicatorie Tom: I. and Ramus. Part. I. Pag. III. and Galvanus in his Discoueries of the World. Which I mention, not to disparage or weaken the Portugalls praises, but to giue Antiquitie their due; which, I thinke, could not ordinarily compasse so long a Nauiga∣tion for want of the compasse: yet we should iniurie our Authors if we should not beleeue somewhat: although not so much as they report.

That of Eudoxus is the most credible: but not without suspition in so long a voyage, of a priuate man.

Notes

• * 1.1

  The falls of Nilus downe from steepe Rocks.
• a 1.2

  Aethiopia di∣cta à Coryneta, Aethiope Vulca∣ni, F.N. Com. l. 2.
• b 1.3

  Lidyat.in e∣mend. Temp.
• c 1.4

  Plim. l.5.c.8.
• d 1.5

  Osor.de rebut gest.Emanuelis.lib 4.
• e 1.6

  Herodot.l.7.
• f 1.7

  Euseb. Chron. in A. hl. 3580.
• g 1.8

  Pausan. l.6.in fine.
• h 1.9

  Philostrat.l.3. devit. Ap.
• i 1.10

  Ioseph. Antiq.I.c.6
• k 1.11

  Gen. 10 Vide Annot. Tremel. & Iun.••
• l 1.12

  Num.12.& Exod.2.
• m 1.13

  F. Vatablus. in Num. 12.
• * 1.14

  Genebr. Chron. Pag. 71.
• n 1.15

  Aug. de Mi∣rabil.sac.Scri∣pture.l.1.
• o 1.16

  F Ribera.•••• in sophon.c.3. Lira n Postill. Calui•• in Cō∣ment. Num. 12. Chiraeus in Ono∣viastico.
• p 1.17

  Iosep.Ant.l.2
• q 1.18

  Gibbins. in Gen. 2.q.6. v.5.
• r 1.19

  Iun.in Gen.2 Praelectionib.
• s 1.20

  Ptol.l.4.c.6.& 7.
• t 1.21

  Maginus.
• u 1.22

  Hom.Odys. in initio.
• x 1.23

  Strabo.l.1.Pertotum.
• y 1.24

  Ptol.l.4.c.7. Dom. Niger. Aphric.com.4.
• z 1.25

  Ortel. Thesau.
• a 1.26

  Mercat.Tab.Vniuersalis. Porie before Leo.
• b 1.27

  Ortel. Theat. Moginus. Description of the World.
• c 1.28

  G.Bo.Ben.Io.di Barros.
• d 1.29

  F.I.••ys. hist.or. de Etiopia.
• e 1.30

  D••••.Niger.
• f 1.31

  Strabo.l.17.
• g 1.32

  Vide Mun∣ster. in fine 6.lib.
• h 1.33

  2.Thes.2.12.
• i 1.34

  This reporateth Cicero in So•• scip. & cals these falls Ca∣tadupe.
• k 1.35

  Iean. Bermu∣desius in Legat. Aethiopica.
• l 1.36

  Strabo.l.17.
• m 1.37

  Procop.de Bello Persico.l.1
• n 1.38

  Plin.l.5.c.8.& 6.c.29. Solinus, cap.39.
• o 1.39

  Iovy, Girave, •••••• &c. Opiniones: ege•••••• pad O••tilium in Thes••••••
• p 1.40

  Helindor.hist.Aethiopica, l.10.Porie describes this Hād in his notes before Leo.
• q 1.41

  Luca••us
• r 1.42

  Niger. com. Aph.••.
• s 1.43

  Eusebius
• t 1.44

  Strabo l.17. It was before called Saba, ••••••••th Ioseph. Ant. l.2.
• u 1.45

  Pusanias.l.1
• x 1.46

  Herod-Tha∣lia. l.3.
• y 1.47

  Pomp.Mel. l.3.c.10.
• z 1.48

  Valer. Max.l.3.c.14.
• a 1.49

  Luys de Vr.Hist. de la E∣tiopiae.l.prime.c.2.
• b 1.50

  Cael. Rhod.l.10.
• c 1.51

  Beros.Metasthencs. Cato, Mar.c••••••,&c.
• d 1.52

  F.Luys l.x.c.3
• e 1.53

  Ios.Ant.l.2. Zon.Annal.to.1.
• f 1.54

  Num.12.1.
• g 1.55

  Suidas.
• h 1.56

  Plut.de Flum.
• i 1.57

  F. Luys.
• k 1.58

  2. Chron. 14.9••
• l 1.59

  2.King.19.
• m 1.60

  Lauat.in Ez. 300 Est.8.
• n 1.61

  P.Mart in ••. R.g.
• o 1.62

  Iosep. G••••ssa, comestor, Iu∣nis, &c.
• p 1.63

  Plin.l.6.c.29.
• q 1.64

  Mat Drisse.••atio Lipsie bauita.
• a 1.65

  Phil. Melanct. in Epist.cd Ope∣rinum.
• b 1.66

  S^r Ph.Sidney.
• c 1.67

  Heliod.histor. Aethiop.l.9 et 10
• d 1.68

  Our English and the Ger∣man Histories mention the like clearing of adulterie, by going with bare feete on burning plow∣share. Bale.
• e 1.69

  Philo••t.de••∣vta Apaltonu.l.6.c.4.
• f 1.70

  Hom.Iliad.& Luciā.de sacrif.
• g 1.71

  Idem de A∣strologia.
• h 1.72

  Idem de Sul∣tatione.
• i 1.73

  D.Si••.l.4.c.1.
• k 1.74

  Macrob.in S••mn.Scip. l.2. cap.10.
• l 1.75

  Pier. Hiero∣glyphica.
• m 1.76

  The like is vsed in Japan.
• n 1.77

  Diod.Sit.Strabo.l.17.
• o 1.78

  Laurentij Cor∣uini Geograp. lo Bocmus de morib. gentium. Draudus in So∣linum. Fr. Tha∣mara de las Co∣stumbras de to∣das las gentes.
• p 1.79

  Sardus demorib. gentium. l.t.c.10.
• q 1.80

  Raph. Vola∣terianus Geo∣graph. l.12.
• r 1.81

  Plutarcide placitis Philoso∣phorum.
• s 1.82

  Id. de non iras∣cendo.
• t 1.83

  Gen. dierum l.2.25. C.30.
• u 1.84

  Dam a Goes. Zaga Zabo de fide Aethiopum.
• x 1.85

  Iof. Scaliger de Emend.l.7.
• y 1.86

  Cal.R.l.16 c.15.l.9.23.
• z 1.87

  Niceph.Hist. Eccles.l.9.c.18.
• * 1.88

  Dom.Niger.
• a 1.89

  Sexti. Vict. Augustus.
• b 1.90

  Procop. de Bello Persico.l.1.
• c 1.91

  Pauli Dia∣coni Iustinus.
• d 1.92

  Oros.lib.t.c.
• e 1.93

  Abdias Bab. Apostolice hist. libr. 7.
• f 1.94

  Wolfg. Lazius.
• g 1.95

  Jewell and Harding.
• h 1.96

  Eusch.Ec.bist.libr. •••••• Pappus speakes of Thomas, Ma∣th••••••, and Ma∣thias preaching in Ethiopia.
• i 1.97

  Genebr. chron. pag.118.
• k 1.98

  Ios. Antiquit libr.8.ca.2.
• l 1.99

  Zaga Zabo E∣piscopus Ethiop.
• m 1.100

  Candace was the name of diuers Ethio∣pian Queens, contrarie to this report.
• n 1.101

  R. Sedechias from Mecca.
• o 1.102

  Vincent Fer∣rer, a Popish Saint.
• * 1.103

  Foure times the height of a man.
• p 1.104

  Gods curse and mans fol∣low the Iewes euery¦where, as the shadow the body.
• * 1.105

  In these re∣ports, though there be many things falle yet may some be probably true: let the Reader Iudge.
• a 1.106

  I. Scal de E∣mend. Temp. l.7.
• b 1.107

  Castaneda seemeth al. o to hold that the N••gas is that Presbyter Iohn of Asia; though not of his race.l.1.c.1
• c 1.108

  So with vs, the French King is called Christianissmus; the Spaniard, Catholieus: the English, Defē∣der of the faith
• d 1.109

  Maltapur. see our Historie. l.5.
• e 1.110

  In Ramusius copie it is And∣via, in the La∣tine Auarij. Mar. Polo. l.2. Cap. 27. Ram.20
• f 1.111

  Scaligers Ae∣thiopian Grammar.
• g 1.112

  Ortelli Theat. in the Mappe of Tartaria. P. Bertius & ddil Geograph.
• h 1.113

  Willi.de Ru∣bruquis ••tinera∣rium ap. Hak. to.1.Cap.19.
• i 1.114

  This Vut or vncam was cal∣led Prete or Priest as Bote∣rus coniectu∣reth, because he had the crosse borne before him he is said, with no great likeli∣hood of truth, to haue ruled 7••. Kingdomes
• k 1.115

  •••• Paul.l.1.c.24.
• l 1.116

  C.52. The Latine Copie wants these things.
• m 1.117

  Sir Io'm Mandeuiles sto∣rie of Presbyter Iohn, is fabu∣lous.
• n 1.118

  Happily the Prince before mentioned was cal∣led Vncam of Vng, and Can: for Can signifi∣eth a diumour or ruler.
• q 1.119

  M.P.l.3.c.37
• o 1.120

  Josi••. de Pl. Carp. ••inerar um ca.5.
• p 1.121

  Vincentij Bel∣uacensis Spic. historiale l.32. c.10.
• q 1.122

  M.P.l.3.c.37
• r 1.123

  Abdias nomi∣nat Indian quae in Aethiopiam vergit. 1.8.
• s 1.124

  Sidonius ap. Ortel. in The∣sauro.
• t 1.125

  Aelionus l.17. animalium.
• u 1.126

  Virg. Georg.4.
• x 1.127

  Sabellicus Aenead. 10.l.8.
• y 1.128

  Sabell. Aen. 10.lib.8.
• z 1.129

  Ios. Acost. hist. Ind. l.1.c.14.
• a 1.130

  Of these In∣dian Histories touching the same times See Linschoten l.1.ca.12. & 27. & G.B.B.
• b 1.131

  Odoardo Lo∣pez. l.2.vlt.
• c 1.132

  Zaga Zabode 33. Fide Ethio∣pu••••••.
• d 1.133

  Luys de Vrre∣ta Hist. Eiiop. L 1.c.7.
• e 1.134

  Mat. 2.l.
• f 1.135

  Communica∣ted to me, by that industri∣ous and lear∣ned Gentle∣man, Maister Selden, of the inner Temple.
• g 1.136

  Garc. ab Hor. l.2.c 28. Linschoten l.1. c. 27.
• h 1.137

  Goa is the seate of the Portugall Vice••roy.
• i 1.138

  M. Paul.l.1.c.6.
• k 1.139

  G. Bot Ben. part 3.l.2.
• l 1.140

  D. Morton a∣gainst Brerely.
• m 1.141

  Iunius & Scal.duo magna literarum lumi∣na.Rex lacobus in Declarat. contra Vorst.
• a 1.142

  Liter •••••• ad Eman.Reg.
• b 1.143

  The Kings of Aethiopia change their names, as the Popes vse to doe.
• c 1.144

  In a Letter to the Pope is ad∣ded, ionne or the Holy Apo∣stles, Peter and Pani, accor∣ding o grace.
• d 1.145

  Luys de Vrreta •••••• ••.bef. •••••• ••olut. Apost 34.make, Prester •••••••• the greatest Prince in the world, except the •••••• Spaine.
• e 1.146

  G Botero.Be∣nese.p.1.Pory his description of place ••••••described. Leo. A. Maginus.
• f 1.147

  G.••••B.parte.••l••.
• g 1.148

  He is called The Bada, of Abassia •••••• Bassa or Beglerbeg, of the Turk in Africa, omitted by R••••lles.
• h 1.149

  Fr. Aluares.
• i 1.150

  F. A••••luares.
• k 1.151

  Alua••es spea∣keth a, it was in his time: it is now other∣wise as you shall after reade.
• l 1.152

  Strabo l.18. tels of circum∣cised women in these parts. Quemadmo∣dum viri p••epu∣tium babent, mulieres e•••••• habent quandam glanduloram cernem quam Nympham ••••cant, on meptam accipie••do Characteri cir∣cumcisionis. Any one man may Circum∣cise, and it is done without solemnitie, or ceremonie.
• m 1.153

  Catholike Traditions.
• n 1.154

  F.Luys saith he is elected, as elsewhere is shewed.
• o 1.155

  L•••••• ad Eman.
• p 1.156

  Lit••rae ad Papam.
• q 1.157

  Obedienza del Prete launi &c. apud Ramusium.
• r 1.158

  P. Muff••.••istor.Indie.l.16.
• s 1.159

  Eman. Acosta in Communario reum in oriente gestarum.
• t 1.160

  Ouiedo R. of Hierapolis.
• u 1.161

  Sabel. Aen. 10.l.8.
• x 1.162

  Webs Trauels
• y 1.163

  L Le Roy.l.9.
• z 1.164

  Alvarez cap 113.
• a 1.165

  The Moores also vse to giue assaults on the Saturdayes & Sundayes, be∣cause (of a Iew∣ish superstiti∣on) then they refuse to fight.
• b 1.166

  Lit. Helen. ad & in. Reg. Por∣tug.
• c 1.167

  Alvarez.
• d 1.168

  Alvar.c.2••.
• e 1.169

  Ca.50.
• f 1.170

  C.135.see.c.12 Some draw Nilus from certain moun∣taines, which are named Mountaines of the Moone: but it comes first from the lake Zembre, or Zaire: and passeth by this where it is en∣creased.
• g 1.171

  C.159.
• h 1.172

  Abuna is their Patt-arch.
• i 1.173

  F. Inys histor. Et.l br. 1.c.28. Brieie des rip∣tion of the whole world.
• k 1.174

  Alfons. Albu∣querque deui¦sed to diuert Nilus into the red Sea.
• l 1.175

  Andrea Cor∣sali liter••. at R.
• m 1.176

  Luys de Vr∣••••••st de la Ethiopia libr. 1. pag 247. & d.
• n 1.177

  Pag 344. In their language alico∣meinus.
• b 1.178

  F. Alvarez •••• Cap.58.ad 62.
• b 1.179

  Luys de Vr∣reta de la histo∣ria de la Ethio∣pia lib. mim. c. 8. & deiucept.
• c 1.180

  Hom. ll. ••••••
• d 1.181

  Iam nacet esse Deum. Ou••.
• e 1.182

  Ioseph. Ant. libr. 8.ca.2.
• f 1.183

  The Library of the P••••te.
• g 1.184

  Zuta••••••. An. to 3
• h 1.185

  Gill h.6.c.17
• i 1.186

  Fr-Lays hath a very large catalogue of them l.1.c.9 taken out (as he saith) of an Index, which Anthary Gricus and L Cremo∣nes made of them, being sent thither by the Pope Gre∣gorie 13. at the instance of Cardinall ••ar∣l••, which sawe and admired the varietie of them, as did many others then in their company.
• k 1.187

  The Treasu∣ry of the Prete.
• l 1.188

  Literae Dauid.
• m 1.189

  Barros dec. 2 lib. 8.ca.1.
• a 1.190

  F. Luys de vr∣ret.hist.Ethiop.
• b 1.191

  When were the Arians of such power in Arabia, but especially in Persia?
• c 1.192

  Ci•• ••••••
• d 1.193

  G. Bot. part. 3. l.2. Mess.Hist.Ind.l.16. ••ma••.A.osta.
• e 1.194

  Cic. pro Mi∣lone.
• f 1.195

  Deut. 23.18.
• g 1.196

  Making of Mummie.
• a 1.197

  Bot.Ben.part.1.l.2. maginus. Pory before Leo.
• b 1.198

  Ptol.l.A.c.7.
• c 1.199

  Andrea Corsa∣li
• d 1.200

  Lud. Roma∣••••••, l.7.
• e 1.201

  ••o.di Barros, Dec.1.l.4.c.6. •••••• faith, At Me∣linde G••nma receiued kinde entertaine∣ment, and Pi∣lots to conuey hun to India, when it was first discoue∣red by the Portugalls.
• f 1.202

  Vascus Gamma 1500, subducd Mombaza, and Almeida fiue yeares after, and, after Non∣••ius, Acuna. Osor. dereb. Eman.
• g 1.203

  Ma••••. hist. indic. l 2. Arthus bist. ind. c.2.o.
• h 1.204

  See Linschot l •••• c.4. Paludanus ibid.
• i 1.205

  L Romanus, l. g.
• k 1.206

  Ortel, Thesaur.
• l 1.207

  ••••eg 9.28. 2. chron.9.21.
• m 1.208

  ••••••seph. Antiq.
• n 1.209

  Euseb. deprap. l.9 ••
• o 1.210

  Niger Geog. Tremd & Iun. A••not.
• p 1.211

  Gaspar Var. d•• Ophyra.
• q 1.212

  Vatin i.r.••.9. F.Mart. de••.I.l.3.
• r 1.213

  Ar. Mont. Mo••n. •• verit. I o••••••llus. G••rep. Hispania.
• s 1.214

  ••Ios. Acosta, l.I.6.14.
• t 1.215

  Io.di Barros Dec.i.l.10.c.1.
• u 1.216

  Nauigationi di Thome Lopez ap. Ramusium.
• x 1.217

  Cap. sup.
• y 1.218

  Th. Lopez.
• z 1.219

  Od. Lopez, I.2.C.5.
• a 1.220

  Io. di Barros, Dec.I.lib.8.c.4.
• b 1.221

  Boter••.
• a 1.222

  Ptol. Geogr•• lib.4.cap.9.
• b 1.223

  lo. di Barros, Dec.I.l.10.c.1.
• c 1.224

  As the Por∣tugals haue •••• eir Castles Mina, Sofa∣la, &c. so some Prince, Master fometimes of those Mines.
• d 1.225

  Porta vna •••• due Zagaie. Bot•••••••• saith, vna Zapoa, •••• due dardi: a mattocke and two darts.
• e 1.226

  Of such like water, see the next Chapter.
• f 1.227

  Gi.Bot.B••••.pag.I.
• g 1.228

  Od. Lopes Co••go hist.lib.••.cap.9.
• h 1.229

  Shmidel histo∣ria Nautgat. in Am.cap.37.
• i 1.230

  Eman. Acosta Rerum in oriente gest. Comment.
• k 1.231

  R••ter•• part.2. lib.3.
• l 1.232

  A. Ienkinson in Hakl. tom.••. pag 327.
• m 1.233

  Pory before ••.c••.
• n 1.234

  Osor. de reb. ••m. lib.I. This was An. 1487. The discouerie therof is lage∣ly related by Io.di Barros in his first Decade of Asia lib.3.
• o 1.235

  'Bartholom•••• Dias, who first discouered this Cape, called it Ca. Tormeut••s, in regard of the troubles and dangers he there sustained.
• p 1.236

  Linscot.lib.I. cap.93. Nauig. Verbussi.
• q 1.237

  They found it there in A∣prill as cold as with vs in Winter, when it freezeth not: and yet the people are blacke.
• r 1.238

  Sir Iames Lancaster. Hakl.tom.2. part.2.
• f 1.239

  Botero.
• t 1.240

  Moff••us hist. Ind.l.II.1535.
• u 1.241

  De Bry Iad. Or. part.3.
• x 1.242

  Cap.Rob.Co∣uert.
• y 1.243

  Prou.13.10.
• z 1.244

  Linschot.c.41.
• a 1.245

  Maginus. Gi. Botero Ben.part.I.
• b 1.246

  Od.Lop.per Pigafet. trans∣lated by A.H.P.du Iarric. hist. Ind. Orient. part.3.
• c 1.247

  Od.Lopez lib.I.cap.7.
• d 1.248

  Barr. Dec. ••. lib. 2. cap. 3. Od. Lopez ibid.
• e 1.249

  P.Diaz (as some report) sent a present to Spaine, of two buts of Negros noses, which were slaine. A.B.
• f 1.250

  Thom.Turner.
• g 1.251

  Andrew Bat∣tell was taken by the Portu∣gals on the coast of Brasil, and shipped o∣uer to Congo, where (and in the Countries adiacent) he liued very ma∣ny yeares, and was Sergeant of a Band, &c.
• h 1.252

  This triall is called Motam∣ba.
• i 1.253

  Od. Lopez.
• k 1.254

  Gi.Bot.B••••.part.I.lib.3.
• l 1.255

  Od. Lopez.
• m 1.256

  History of Congo trans∣lated by Abra∣ham Hartwell.
• n 1.257

  They call these patches of ground thus carried in Zaire, Balsa's.
• o 1.258

  Of the con∣uersion of Congo, reade 10. di Batros. Dec.3.l.3.c.10. and Osorius de reb. Emanuelis, lib 3. and Maffaeus. hist. ind. lib.i. and Lo∣pez. lib. 2. and Got.Arthus hist. Ind. Orientalis, lib. 14.15.16.17.
• p 1.259

  Lopez.
• q 1.260

  Ma••••••us hist. Ind.lib. 3.& 15.
• r 1.261

  Arthus ca.15.Linschot.lib.2. Andrew Ba'tell saith, that the tree which thus strangely multiplieth it selfe, is called the Manga tree.
• s 1.262

  And. Battell.
• t 1.263

  Linschot.lib.••.Lopez. These Boats, saith Andrew Battell, are made of ano∣ther tree, for the A••••cunde is of too spun∣gie a suostance for that pur∣pose.
• a 1.264

  Lopez l.I.c.5.
• b 1.265

  Andrew Bat.
• c 1.266

  Recouerie of stollen goods.
• d 1.267

  Triall of sus∣pected persons
• e 1.268

  This seemeth to be Red San∣ders. A. Bat. sayth it is Log∣••ood.
• f 1.269

  Od.Lopez.l.1.••5,
• g 1.270

  All the Hea¦then Nations in these parts of Africa are circumcised.
• h 1.271

  Cap.10.
• i 1.272

  G.Bot.Ben. part.1.l.3.
• k 1.273

  Lopez.l.1.13. & l.2.c.9.
• l 1.274

  These Ama∣zones are (as we haue obser∣ued) doubted of in other pla∣ces: and Andr.Battell, which trauelled neere to those parts, denieth this report of Lopez as vntrue.
• m 1.275

  Andr. Battell liued (by occa∣sion of the Portugalls tre∣chery) with the lagges a lon∣ger time then euer any Chri∣stian, or white man had done: and serued thē with his Mus∣ket in their warres: neither could Lopez (saith he) haue true intelli∣gence whence they came. For the Christians at that time had but vncer∣tain cōiectures of them: nei∣ther after had the Portugalls any cōuersing, but by way of commerce: but he being be∣trayed, fled to thē for his life, and after, by stealth escaped from them: the only European that euer liued in their campe.
• n 1.276

  Plin l.5.c.17.
• o 1.277

  Azimogli are the children of Christians ta•••••••• frō the parents by the Turke, the spawne of their lanizaries
• p 1.278

  Io.di Barros Dec.1.l.3.c.4. Od. Lopez.l.2.c.8 & Pigafctta.
• q 1.279

  Cap.3.
• r 1.280

  F. Alvares, c.135.
• s 1.281

  Od.Lopez. l.2.c.9.
• t 1.282

  G.Bot. B•••• part.1.l.3.
• a 1.283

  Plin.l.6.c.23.
• b 1.284

  Solin.c.42.
• c 1.285

  M. Varro.
• d 1.286

  Strab. l.16.
• e 1.287

  To.d: Borros, Dec. 2.l.8.c.1. Al, Alboquerke.
• g 1.288

  Ioh. di Castro.
• h 1.289

  The Scrip∣ture often mentioneth this Sea: but calls it, as Tre∣mel. and Iun. translate, mare algosum, or, af∣ter Vatablus, Carectosum; of the weedes plentifully growing there∣in. Exod. 10.18.&c.
• i 1.290

  Luys de Vrreta saith, That the sands on the shore, and that the Mountains are red, which the Sunne shines on, and by reflection of the beames causeth that rednesse. Hist. Eth••op. l.1.c.11.
• k 1.291

  A. Corsali let. 2.
• l 1.292

  Liv.l.45.Plm.l.6.c.24.
• m 1.293

  Arrian.de reb. Alexan.1.8.
• n 1.294

  Arriani Pe∣riplus Ortesius. Tepidum Ru∣benti Tigrim immiscet freto. Senec. T••o••••:
• o 1.295

  Dam.a Goes. op.Diensix vtaggio di vn. Venet. Camito alla acta di Diu.Ramus.part.1.
• p 1.296

  Oros l.1.c.10
• q 1.297

  1.Reg.9.26.
• r 1.298

  1. Reg:22.48.
• s 1.299

  Ios.antiq.l 8.
• t 1.300

  adrich p.118.
• * 1.301

  Lib.6.cap.23
• u 1.302

  G.B.B.
• x 1.303

  Comito.Venet. Ramus.part.1. sol.274.
• y 1.304

  Ptol.l.4.c.I.
• z 1.305

  Bar.D••c.2.l.••
• a 1.306

  Ptol.l.4.c.8
• b 1.307

  Ios.Scalig. Can.Is.
• c 1.308

  R.Couerte.
• d 1.309

  Dio.Sic.l.3.cap.13.
• e 1.310

  Ramus.part.1
• f 1.311

  Sir Thom. Mores Vtopia, Faining a coūtrie and com∣mon-wealth in manner too good to bee true.
• g 1.312

  Plato.de Repub.
• h 1.313

  A.Corsali. let. 2. was at Soquotera. An. 1516.
• i 1.314

  Maginus.
• k 1.315

  Porie.before •••• co, cap de In∣sulu.
• l 1.316

  M. Pola l.3. Cap. 33.34.
• * 1.317

  Cap.••3.pag 438.
• m 1.318

  Alaginus.
• n 1.319

  M. Polo.l.3. cap.35.
• o 1.320

  Maffaeus.hist.ind.l.3.
• p 1.321

  Linschot.l.1.c.3.& l.2. Paludanus.
• q 1.322

  Osor.l.4.
• r 1.323

  Ph.Pigafetta. Congo.l.2.c.9.
• s 1.324

  De Bry.part.3 Ind.Or.,
• t 1.325

  G.B.B.del Isole.
• u 1.326

  M. Polo l.3.c.36.
• a 1.327

  Linschot.l.1.94.Hist. of Chi∣na.part.3.c.vlt.
• a 1.328

  Edm.Barker. Hak lo.2 part.2
• b 1.329

  Nauigat •••• all ••iola di S. •••••• part. 1.f.116.
• * 1.330

  The windes which at other times refresh them, then by nature impri∣soned in their homes.
• c 1.331

  Holl.Na••ig.
• d 1.332

  Sr. ••••••. Sher. •••••• ••••••.3. pag 600.
• e 1.333

  S^r F^r. Drake.
• f 1.334

  ••inschot.lib.1 cap 95.
• g 1.335

  Th. Steuens. Hak lo.2. part.2
• h 1.336

  La ij na. in Brasil.c.3.
• i 1.337

  Nau.all Is di S. T••ome.
• k 1.338

  Mel. Peton. Hak. part.2.
• l 1.339

  A.Theuet.c.5.
• m 1.340

  Canari•• Birds.
• n 1.341

  G.B.B. part.1 Vol.2. Bar.Dec.1.l.1.
• o 1.342

  A. Galuano Discoueries. Luys Orda, An∣no 1334. assailed Go∣mera, but in vaine. And 1393. the Spa∣niards com∣mitted great spoiles in this Iland. Descrip. Canar. cap. Caluetonem.
• p 1.343

  Cadamosto.
• q 1.344

  A.Theuet. New-found World. cap.5.
• r 1.345

  The. Nichols.
• s 1.346

  Th. Byam. Some say it may be seene two hundred and fiftie Deser.can. Caluet.
• t 1.347

  M. Canus. Loc. Theolog.lib.12.
• u 1.348

  Beuzo.&c.
• x 1.349

  A. Galuano.
• y 1.350

  A. Cadamosto.
• * 1.351

  Palmi.
• z 1.352

  Sir Am. Pre∣ston Hak.
• a 1.353

  Cic.in Vert.6.
• b 1.354

  Act.28.1.
• c 1.355

  Polybius.
• d 1.356

  Volaterran.
• e 1.357

  Ortel. in Thc∣saur.
• f 1.358

  Beza. Annot. Aret. in Arta.
• g 1.359

  Curio Bellum.Melitense. Viperanus. Knolles, pag.796
• h 1.360

  Ouid. Fast. 4. Philostrat. l.4.
• * 1.361

  Hanno.ap.R.
• * 1.362

  Homer. Odys. 8.
• * 1.363

  Herod.l.4.
• * 1.364

  Plin. l.2.c.67.