The manners, lauues, and customes of all nations collected out of the best vvriters by Ioannes Boemus ... ; with many other things of the same argument, gathered out of the historie of Nicholas Damascen ; the like also out of the history of America, or Brasill, written by Iohn Lerius ; the faith, religion and manners of the Aethiopians, and the deploration of the people of Lappia, compiled by Damianus a ̀Goes ; with a short discourse of the Aethiopians, taken out of Ioseph Scaliger his seuenth booke de emendatione temporum ; written in Latin, and now newly translated into English, by Ed. Aston.

Of Aethiopia, and the ancient customes of that Country. CAP. 4.

EThiopia is deuided into two regi∣ons, whereof one lyeth in Asia, the other in Affricke: That in Asia is now called India, and is washed on the East with the red and Barbarian Sea, and lieth Northward next vn∣to Libia and Aegipt, vpon the west it hath the inner Libia, and vpon the south it ioyneth to the other Aethiopia, which is big∣ger and more southward. This Aethiopia in Affrick, is so called of Aethiops the sonne of Vulcan, who gouerned there (as Plinie is of opinion) or else of the Greeke word (aitho) which signifieth to burne, and (ops) which is the countenance, because that country is parched and burned, by reason of the neerenesse of the sunne: for the heat there is exceeding great and continuall, as being directly vnder the Meridian line. Towards the west it is mountanous, full of sand and grauell in the middle, and desert in the east. It containeth many sorts of people of diuerse and mon∣strous countenances, and horrible shapes. They were thought to bee the first people that liued, and that they being in that country naturally bred, continued free-men, and were neuer subiect to slauery: the gods were there first honoured, and sacred ceremonies ordained: they had a double vse of letters, for some letters were called holy, and were only known to the Priests, & the other serued for the common people, nor were there formes of letters such as thereof could sillables bee framed, but either like some

liuing creature, or the outward parts of mens bodies or resembling sundry instruments of worke-men, and euery figure or forme of letter had his proper signification, as by the Hawke was signified swiftnesse, mischiefe and craft by the Crocadile, watchfulnesse by the eye, and so like-wise of other things. Who-so-euer of their Priests was most troubled with vaine visions, him they accounted the most holiest, and creating him for their King adored him as though he were either a God, or at the least giuen them by diuine prouidence, and yet his supreame authority ex∣empted him not from the obedience of their lawes, but that hee was to doe all things according to their ancient customes, and not to reward or punish any man himselfe, but vpon whome soeuer he intended to take punishment, to him hee sent the executioner, to present him with the signe of death, which was no sooner viewed by him to whome it was sent, but forthwith (who euer he were) hee would goe home to his owne house, and there procure his owne death: for so great honour and affection did the subiect beare to his soueraigne, that if it happened at any time by an accident the King to bee weakned or faint in any one part of his body, all his friends and followers would of their owne accord weaken that part in them∣selues, accounting it an odious thing, that their King should be lame or blind of one eye, and all his friends not to bee in like manner blind and lame also.

Their custome was also (as is reported) that their King being dead, all his friends would willingly depriue them∣selues of life, accounting that death most glorious, and the surest testimony of true frindshippe: The people by reason of the neerenesse of the heauens went for the most party naked, couering onely their priuities with sheeps

tayles, and some few clothed them-selues with skinnes, some of them also wore breeches made of haire: their greatest imployments were about their Cattell: their sheepe bee very little and of a hard and rough fleese: their Dogges bee little likewise, but very sharpe and eager: Millet and Barley are their cheefest graines, which serueth them both for bread and drinke, and they haue no kinde of fruites vnlesse it be Dates, and those be very rare also: Many of them liued with hearbes and the slender rootes of reedes, they eate also flesh, milke and cheese: The Isle of Meroê was once the head of the kingdome, the forme thereof is like vnto a sheeld, and it lyeth along by the riuer of Nylus, for the space of three thousand stadia.

The Sheapheards that Inhabited that Ile were great huntsmen, and the husbandmen had mines of gold: Herodotus saith, that those people of Aethiopia, which be called Macrobij, esteemed more of brasse than of golde, for their gold they put to such base and vile vses, as the Embassadors of Cambyses King of Persia, being sent the∣ther, saw diuerse offenders fettered in prison in chaines of gold. Some of them sowe their ground with a kinde of pulse, and some others plant the Lote tree, they haue He∣bon wood and Pepper in great aboundance, Elephants they hunt and eate, they haue also Lyons, Rhinocerots, (which bee enemies to the Elephant) Basilisks, Libbards, and Dragons, which winding and intangling themselues about the Elephants, destroy them by sucking out their bloud. There is found the Iacint stone, and the Chriso∣phrasus, (which is a greene stone mixt with a golden brightnesse) there is Cynamon gathered likewise: Their weapons were bowes made of wood that was parched in

the fire, and foure cubits in length; their women were good warriors, the most of them hauing their lips thrust through with a ring of brasse. Some of the Aethiopians worship∣ped the Sunne at his rising, and inueighed bitterly against him at his going downe; many of them cast their dead bodies into riuers, some other put them into earthen ves∣sels or glasse vessels, and kept them in their houses for the space of a yeare; during which time they reuerenced them very religiously, offering vnto them the first fruits of their increase.

Some say, that thee that did most excell others in comlinesse of body, skill in breeding cattell, strength and riches, him they elected for their King. And that they had an ancient lawe, that the Priests of Memphis, might when they pleased, depriue the King of his life (by sending vnto him the messenger that caryed the signe of death) and or∣daine an other to raigne in his steed. They beleeued that there was one immortall God, and that hee was maker of the world, and gouernor of all things, any other God they esteemed mortall, who was their vncertaine King, as is said. And hee that best deserued of their citty, him next vnto their King they reuerenced as God. And such was the state of Aethiopia at the beginning, and for a long continu∣ance, these their customes and manners of their nation. But at this day, as Marcus Antonius Sabellicus; (out of whose history wee haue taken most matters, which wee treate of both in this and the bookes following) saith, that hee had intelligence from some that were borne in those countries, that the King of Aethiopia (whome wee call Pretoian or Presbiter Ioan, or Ioan, and they Gyam, which in their language signifieth mighty,) is so potent a Prince, that hee is sayd to haue vnder him as his vassalls

three-score and two Kings. And that all their great Bishops and states of all those kingdomes, are wholy guided by him, at whose hands the order of Priesthood is obtained, which authority was by the Pope of Rome giuen and an∣nexed to the Maiesty of their Kings, and yet hee himselfe is no Priest, nor neuer entred into any holy orders. There be a great number of Archbishops, and euery one of them, (who euer hath the least) hath twenty Bishops vn∣der his iurisdiction. The Princes and other Bishops of great dignity, when they goe abroad haue carried before them, a crosse, and a golden vessell filled with earth, that the sight of the one may put them in minde of their mor∣tality, and the other of our Sauiours passion.

Their Priests are suffered to mary for procreations sake, but if they bury one wife, it is vtterly vnlawfull for them to mary an other. Their Temples are very large, and farre ri∣cher then ours, and for the most part builded vp to the topp arch-wise. They haue many religious houses and fa∣milies of holy orders, as Antonians, Dominicks, Cala∣guritans, Augustines, and Macarians, who be all arrayed by permission of their Archbishops, with apparell of one coulour: Next vnto Almighty God, and his Mother the blessed Virgin Mary, Saint Thomas surnamed Didimus, is chiefly honoured in that country. They hold an opi∣nion, that their great King whom they call Gyam, was in∣gendred of King Dauid, and that the race of that one fa∣mily hath continued euer since, hee is not black as most of the Aethiopians are, but rather white. The citty Ga∣rama is now the Kings seate, which consisteth not of Bul∣warkes and houses with strong wals, but of tents or taber∣nacles made of fine flaxe or silke, imbrodered with pur∣ple, and placed in decent and seemely order.

The King according to his custome, liueth for the most part abroade, not contayning himselfe within the circuite of the Citty, aboue two daies together, ether because they account it absurde and effeminate, or that they are prohi∣bited by some lawe.

They haue in redinesse vpon any little occasion tenne hundred thousand men, well instructed in feates of armes, fiue hundred Elephants, besides an infinit number of Horses and Camels.

There be also throughout the whole kingdome certaine stipendary families, the issue whereof haue a gentle inci∣sion made in their skinne, and bee marked with a hot iron with the signe of the Crosse. In warres they vse bowes, speares, cotes of male, and helmets: the order of Priest∣hood is in greatest dignity, next vnto whome are the sages or wizards, whom they call Balsamati and Tenquati. They esteeme much also of innocency and honesty, accounting them the first step to wisdome, the Nobility are the third in honor and dignity and the stipendary the last: the Iudges discerne of causes of life and death: but referre the decree to the Praefect of the citty, who is called Licomagia, who al∣waies representes the person of the King: written lawes they haue none, but iudge according to equity and right. If any man bee convicted of adultery hee shall pay for his punishment the fortith part of his goods, but the adul∣teresse shal receiue a domesticall reuenge by her husband, for he shall punish her whome it doth most concerne. The husbands assigne dowers for their wiues, requiring noe portion with them. There women are attired with gold (wherof that country doth much abound) pearles also, and silke, both men and women weare garments downe to the

feete, with sleeues, and not open in any place, all colours are alike vnto them, except blacke, which is there vsed onely for mourning garments.

They bewaile the dead for the space of forty dayes. The second courses in their greatest banquets consist of raw flesh, which beeing finely minced into small peeces, and strawed ouer with sweete spices, they feed vpon most hun∣gerly: wollen cloath they haue none, insteed wherof they are clothed either with silke or flax: they vse not all one language, but diuers, and distinguished by diuers names. They exercise them-selues eyther in husbandry or about cattle, they haue euery yeare two haruests & two summers. All the people of Lybia from this Aethiopia or India, to the vtmost part of the west, honour the impiety of Maho∣met, and liue in the same kinde of religion, that those Bar∣barians practise, which are now in Aegipt, and bee called Moores (as it is thought) of their wandring or straying a∣broad: for that country of Libia also was no lesse hatefull than the Sarasins, in those accursed times, wherein was the greatest alteration in humaine matters, the manners of people, loue of deuotion, and names of all Nations, being for the most part changed.

Notes

• Two Aethio∣pias.
• One Aethiopia is now called India.
• The qualitie of Aethiopia.
• The Aethiopi∣ans were the first people.
• The gods first worshipped in in Aethiopia.
• VVhat letters the Aethiopi∣ans vsed.
• The election of their Kings.
• The obedience of the Ethio∣pians.
• The apparell of the Ethiopians
• Their exer∣cise.
• Meroê was once the Kings seate.
• Gold accoun∣ted baser then brasse.
• The Aethio∣pian armor.
• The religion of the Ethio∣pians.
• The authority of the Priests.
• Their gods.
• The new cu∣stomes of the Aethiopians or Indians.
• Prestor Iohn King of that Aethiopia which is in Asia.
• Their Priests marry once and no more.
• Saint Thomas held in great reuerence.
• The power of the Ethiopian Kings.
• VVhat wea∣pons be vsed in their wars.
• The punish∣ment for adul∣tery.
• Husbands as∣signe dowers for their wiues
• Mahomet worshipped in Libia.