The preachers trauels Wherein is set downe a true iournall to the confines of the East Indies, through the great countreyes of Syria, Mesopotamia, Armenia, Media, Hircania and Parthia. With the authors returne by the way of Persia, Susiana, Assiria, Chaldæa, and Arabia. Containing a full suruew of the knigdom [sic] of Persia: and in what termes the Persian stands with the Great Turke at this day: also a true relation of Sir Anthonie Sherleys entertainment there: and the estate that his brother, M. Robert Sherley liued in after his departure for Christendome. With the description of a port in the Persian gulf, commodious for our East Indian merchants; and a briefe rehearsall of some grosse absudities [sic] in the Turkish Alcoran. Penned by I.C. sometimes student in Magdalen Colledge in Oxford.

The Arke of Noah rested on the toppe of the Gordaean Mountaines.

ON the top of this Mountaine did the Arke of Noah rest, as both Iewes, Turks, and Armenians affirmed. Berosus who registred the affaires and acts of the Chaldae∣ans, setteth downe diuers things both concerning Noah and the resting of the Arke in this place. Concerning Noah he writeth, that (the flood ceasing) Noah with his family descending out of the Arke from Mount Gordaeus▪ (called by Manasseus Damascenus, Baris, and by other A∣raxis) into the plaine adioyning full of dead karcasses, which they call M••ry Adam, that is, of dead men, wrote in a stone (for a monument) what was done. The inhabi∣tants to this day, especially the Armenians, doe call this place where Noah descended, Aprobaterion, that is, des∣cent, or Egressorium Noe, The going out of Noah. Hee furder setteth downe how that the eldest of all, father Noah did in the same place first teach his children Theologie and holy Writs, and afterwards humane wisdome, committing to writing many secrets of naturall things, which the Ar∣menians and Scythians, did commit only to the Priests, to whom only it was lawfull, both to reade, to teach, and to looke into those writings, rites, and ceremonies left by Noah.

And as for the resting of the Arke, he setteth downe di∣uers occurrences of the flood on this manner. Some (saith he) affirme that a certaine part of the Arke is yet in Arme∣nia, neere to the mountaine of the Gordaeans, and that some men haue brought from thence, some part of the pitch wherewith it was calked, which the people of that place were wont to vse as a soueraigne preseruatiue against in∣chantments. So Hierome the Aegyptian (who wrote the Antiquities of the Phoenitians) doe make mention of the same matter; and also Nanesius with diuers others. Ni∣cholas Damascene speaketh thus: aboue the region of the

Minaeans, there is a great mountaine in Armenia called Baris, in which mountaine it is reported that diuers peo∣ple retired themselues for safety during the time of the deluge, and there escaped; and that a certaine man (mea∣ning Noah) arriued in an Arke on the highest toppe of the said mountaine, and that certaine plankes and timbers of the bottome of that Vessell was kept there a long while after. To verifie which, some Friers of S^t. Gregories Mo∣nastery told vs, that euen at this day some part of the Arke is yet to bee seene on the toppe of this mountaine, if ••ny could ascend thither; but the way (as they say) is kept by Angels, so that whosoeuer shall presume to goe vp (as once a Brother of that Monastery did) shall be brought downe in the night season, from the place which hee had gained by his trauaile in the day time before. But to leaue this fable to the first inuentor, it sufficeth vs that here amongst these mountaines the Arke rested, since the Scriptures tell vs, that none were saued, but Noah and his Wife, with his three Sonnes, and their three Wiues, euen eight persons in the whole, in the Arke; and that the said Arke after the waters had preuailed vpon the earth an hundred and fifty dayes rested in the seauenth Moneth, in the seauenteenth day of the Mo∣neth vpon the Mountaines of Arraret, which is expoun∣ded by all Writers to be in Armenia.

From the foote of this mountaine, w••e spent a dayes iourney farther towards Chiulfall, which day wee trauel∣led through very many narrow lanes in those mountaines, and very deepe vallies, wherein the Riuer Araxis with most outragious turnings and windings, and his many rushing downefals amongst the Rocks, doth euen be∣dease a mans eares, and with his most violent roaming in and out, doth drowne and ouerwhelme, whosoeuer by miserable chance falleth downe head-long from the toppe of those narrow passages, which are vpon the mountaines. And vpon the crests of the said mountaines,

on the side of the said narrow passages, there growe most hideous Woods and antique Forrests, full of Bee∣ches: Trees like Poplers carrying mast fit for Hogges, and Pine-trees; where the horrour of darkenesse, and silence which is oftentimes interrupted, only by the whistling winds, or by the cry of some wild beasts, doe make the poore passengers most terribly afraide.

Notes

• Berosu••.
• Manasseus Da∣masce••.
• Noah wrote bookes.
• Hierome the Ae∣gyptian.
• Nicholas Da∣mascene.
• The Riuer Araxis.