The estates, empires, & principallities of the world Represented by ye description of countries, maners of inhabitants, riches of prouinces, forces, gouernment, religion; and the princes that haue gouerned in euery estate. With the begin[n]ing of all militarie and religious orders. Translated out of French by Edw: Grimstone, sargeant at armes.

The Estate of the Empire of Presbiter John.

[ A] [ B] ❧ A DISCOVRSE OF THE EMPIRE OF PRESBITER IOHN.

The Contents.

[ C] 1 THe opinion of diuers Geographers touching the length, bredth, and limits of the empire of Presbiter Iohn. 2. Titles and qualities which this prince giues him∣selfe. 3. Description of the prouinces subiect to Presbiter Iohn, and first of Bar∣nagas, the extent, limits of this countrie, and scituation of the chiefe towne cal∣led Beroe or Barue: and of other Cities, Islands, Lakes, Ports, and famous Promontories. 4. Ano∣ther description of the countrie which he holds vpon the firme land, and of his principall aboad, and citie of Beimalechi, where he keepes his Court. 5. Fertilitie of this countrie, abounding in Barley, Millet, Pease, Beanes, and other vnknowne pulses: Sugar, Wine, Oranges, Citrons, Ly∣mons, Oyle of Goue, Honie, Wax, Flax, and Cotton: foure footed beasts, and fowle of all sorts, Camells, Elephants, Lyons, Tygres (except Beares, Conies, and Goldfinches) Apes, Patridges, Geese, and Hares: mynes of gold, siluer, yron, and brasse. This countrie is also remarkable for that it hath two Winters, and two Sommers in the yeare. 6. The beginning of these Aethi••pi∣ans, inuenters of the ceremonies of sacrifices, and of the Hieroglyficall letters: Idolaters to their kings, esteeming gold little in regard of Copper: worshipping the Sunne rising, and cursing the setting: putting their dead bodies in vessells of glasse, and beleeuing two deities, the one immor∣tall, the other mortall. 7. Description of Presbiter Iohns Court, his lodging commonly vnder tents, his apparrell, and baggage when he trauells. 8. Of the disposition, complection, garments, and manner of building of the moderne inhabitants of this empire: their ordinarie meat, and their custome of feasting vpon carpets, without table cloth, vpon the ground. Their drinke made of the fruit of Tamerins. Their language, characters, and letters: Their ceremonies in mourning: Their nauigation. 9. Their riches rising from mynes of gold, siluer, copper, yron, sugar, cotton, &c. And what his reuenues be. 10. The forces of this emperour, what numbers of men he may arme, and with what princes he confines, his allies, and his neighbour enemies. 11. His rigorous and imperious manner of gouernement, whom his subiects honour and respect as God. His begin∣ning and extraction from one of Salomans sonnes, and the Queene of Saba. Of the succession to the crowne. Of Ecclesiasticall benefices, and administration of the sacraments. Of common wo∣men and strumpets. Of the many officers of the crowne, diuided into three rankes. Of the punish∣ment of adulterous women. 12. Two sorts of religion brought into the dominions of Presbiter Iohn, the Christian, and Mahometisme, and after what sort the Christian faith hath crept into those countries. 13. Of the errour and false beliefe of the Abyssins retayning circumcision. Their parishes made like Conuents. The forme of their Churches, into the which it is not lawfull to enter with shooes, nor to spit in them: Of their Churchyard, Baptisme, Sacramentall confessions, and marriages. Of the austere penance of the religious of the order S. Anthonie, and of another

order called Cestifanes; and their ceremonies in the celebration of the holie Weeke: and of two [ A] notable prophesies importing that the Francs should ioyne with them. 14. Embassages for the 〈◊〉〈◊〉 of the Abyssins, and Presbiter Iohn, with the Church of Rome.

[ I] IN a maner all that haue made any mention heretofore of that which 〈◊〉〈◊〉 ••••narch holds, haue spoken according to the auncient great∣nesse of his predecessours, and not according to the extent of his Estate that now raignes; to whose empire they all giue diuers bounds. Some stretch it from the one vnto the other Tropick, gi∣uing it neere fiftie degrees, or at the least seuen and fortie in lati∣tude, [ B] which would make one thousand and foure hundred French ••••agues, and this should be the length: and on the other side, they will haue the bredth, go from East to West, that is, from the Red Sea to the Aethiopian. And these, to shew more plainely the bounds, say, That this empire confines vpon the North with Aegypt, which lyes towards Nubia; to the East, with the Red Sea & a part of that of the Indies, the gulfe called Barbarico, vnto the countrie of Melinda; towards the South, the moun∣taines of Luna, or the Moone, which serue as a naturall wall; and vpon the West, the ri∣uer of Nyger, or Senega, and the realmes of Nubia, and Manicongo, and the riuer of Nyle which waters it. And these are the limits which Belforest and Mercator haue set downe after other Geographers. Others confine it almost after the like manner, giuing [ C] it for bounds vpon the North, Nubia, and Bugia, which are neere to Aegypt; vpon the South, the mountaines of the Moone; to the East, the Red Sea, and the Barbarian gulfe, with the countries of Ajana, and Dancale, which belong to the exterior Aethiopia; and vpon the West, the realmes of Manicongo, and Nubia, with the riuers of Nyle, and Se∣nega. This is the opinion of Magin, and some others. Hugh of Linscot, in his nauigati∣ons faith, That this empire stretcheth from the entrie of the Red Sea vnto the Island of Sye••••a, vnder the Tropick of Cancer, except the side of this gulfe, which the Turke hath held seuentie yeares: so as (in his opinion) Presbiter Iohn should haue vpon the East, the Red Sea, towards the North, Aegypt, and the desarts of Nubia; and to the South, the realme of Monoemugi; so as this Emperour should haue about foure hundred Italian miles vnder his commaund.

[ II] But Iohn de Baros, being followed by Boterus, saith, That at this day the lake of Barce∣na is the center of his Estate, which extends vpon the East, by the Red sea vnto Suaquem, for the space of one hundred twentie two leagues: but betwixt the Sea and his domini∣ons, there is a ridge of mountaines inhabited by Moores, which commaund also vpon the Sea coast, except it be in the port of Ercocco, which belongs to Presbiter Iohn. Vp∣on the West, there is another ranke of mountaines along the current of Nyle, inhabited by Idolaters which pay him tribute: we must make the bounds of this empire vpon the North, by an imaginarie line drawne from Suaquem vnto the beginning of the Island of Mero••, called in ourtime Nobe, which shall extend for the space of one hundred twentie fiue leagues. Then must you make a bow, but not much bent towards the South, vnto the realme of Adea, (from the mountaines whereof, flowes the riuer which Ptolome calls Ratto, and falls into the Sea beneath Melinda) for the space of two hundred fiftie nine leagues, there bordering vpon it certaine idolatrous blacke Moores, with curled haire: from thence it turnes and ends at the realme of Adel, whereof Arar is the chiefe towne, and is in the ninth degree of altitude: so as all this empire should not haue in circuit aboue six hundred seuentie two leagues.

This prince, who sayes that he is issued from Dauid, giues himselfe the titles of empe∣rour of high and base Aethiopia, king of Goe, of the Caffoetes, Fatigar, Angola, Barn, and Baliguaze, of Adea, Vangue, Goyame, (where the springs of Nyle are) of Amare, Baguamodri, Ambea, Vanguci, Tygremahon, Sabaim, the countrie of the Queene of Saba, and also of Barnagas, and Lord vnto the towne of Nubia, which doth extend to∣wards Aegypt.

[ III] But ta••ing his empire as it is at this day, we will describe the prouinces with as much

[ A] breuitie, and as exactly as we can. Among all the prouinces subiect to Presbiter Iohn, there is not any one better knowne vnto vs, than that which they call Barnagas, by reason of the neighbourhood of the red sea, right against the which, it extends from Suaquem al∣most vnto the entrie of the strait: yet it hath not any port vpon the sea but that of Er∣cocco. The chiefe towne of this countrie is called Beroe or Barue, and stands vpon a very pleasant riuer. Not many yeares since, the Turkes made a great spoile in this countrie, rui∣ning many places, & carrying away a great number of prisoners; but in the end he made an accord with the Bassa (which they call of Abassia, who makes his residence at Sua∣quem) paying him a thousand ounces of gold.

[ B] In the most Westerne part of the prouince of Barnagas, there is a mountaine which being spacious in the beginning, growes straight by little and little, and then it enlar∣geth it selfe againe like vnto a Mushrom, being a little league in circuit. Vpon t••e ••op thereof, there are royall buildings, a Church, a Monasterie, and two very great cesterns, with a large peece of ground which may easily entertaine fiue hundred men. There is no passage vp but one, and that only to a certaine marke, beyond the which they cannot ascend, but with cords and baskets: and to conclude, this place is such, as it cannot be ta∣ken by force, by reason of the heigth, nor by famine, for that they haue prou••sion gro••∣ing there. Leauing Barnagas, they encounter betwixt the East and South with the moun∣taines of Mandafo, Ofale, and Grare, which diuide Pesbiter Iohns Estate, from the realm of Adel.

[ C] In the prouince of Dafila which is subiect to the realme of Barnagas, besides the town of Ercocco, whereof we haue made mention, they do also reckon those of Sautar, Gia∣bel, Laccari, and Abarach. After that the gulfe of Ercocco goes, bending to a place cal∣led by the auncients Adulite, the which without doubt is the point of Ercocco, which extends vnto Bebul, with a nooke which the sea makes towards Arabia, vpon the begin∣ning of the strait, by the which they come out of the Arabian gulfe, or the red sea, the which in this place is very narrow, and the water shallow, and ful of Islands.

Hauing past the towne of Ercocco, which hath opposit vnto it the Island of Mazua, they come to Zagnani and Zama, which are of the prouince of Lacca, then vnto the port of Velle, sometimes Antifila. Beyond the point of Ercocco, there are two lakes where crocodiles liue as in Nile, and beyond it, they come vnto the port and promonto∣rie called sometimes Mosylon, and now the Cape of Docono, which is in the realm and countrie of Dangali. In this place of Dangali and Docono, the sea makes a little gulfe, and sodenly it straitens it selfe againe; so as the channell cannot be aboue ten or twelue good leagues broad: and vpon this channell are fiue or six Islands which hinder the pas∣sage, so as sailors must haue good experience to auoid the rockes which lie neere vnto these Islands.

Next vnto the countrie of Dangali, they come vnto the port of Zeiloi, or Zeila, and then to Daphne, an auncient port, whereas the towne of Barbara stands, neere to Mount Fellez, after which is the Cape or Promontorie of Guarda Funi, whereas the towne of Mette (in former times called Acanne) is scituated: here they double the cape, and from the East, they turne along the coast towards the South, and the inward Aethiopia. Vpon this coast they first find Carfur, sometimes called Opene, and the cape of Zin∣gi, and running along this gulfe, they find a bending of the sea towards Azun and Zazel∣••••, in old time Essina and Tonica: then they come to Magadazo, wehreas the Portugals trafficke, and after that to the last maritime prouine, which is Barris, comprehended in the titles of Presbiter Iohn, hauing vpon the sea, the two townes of Pate and Braue, whose lands diuide the countries of the king of great Aethiopia, and of the king of Melinde: but hauing thus run along the coast, and it may be surueied more places than was needful, for the description of the Empire of Presbiter Iohn, let vs take some view of that which he holds on the firme land.

The realme of Tigremahon lies betwixt the riuers of Marabo, Nile, the red sea, and the realme of Angote. They put this realme among the countries subiect to Presbiter Iohn, for that their king is his tributarie. The realme of Tygri hath the good towne of

Caxumo, ••he which they say, was the aboad of the queene of Saba, who as the Aethio∣pian•• [ A] 〈…〉〈…〉, was called Maqueda, and had by Saloman a sonne whose name was Meilec. T•••• 〈…〉〈…〉 was also the place of residence for queene Candace.

〈◊〉〈◊〉 realme of Angote is set 〈◊〉〈◊〉 the realmes of Tygremahon, and Amaran. The p••ouinces of Abug••ne, 〈◊〉〈◊〉, and others, are in this realme. There stand also vpon the riuer of Saba 〈…〉〈…〉 of Angotine, Bachle, Corcore, and Betmaria, and vp∣on the riuer of 〈…〉〈…〉 the chiefe town of Angote, neere to the which stands another towne, whi•••• 〈…〉〈…〉 name of S. Peter.

The 〈◊〉〈◊〉 of A••ara hath for bounds vpon the North, the realmes of Angote; to the 〈…〉〈…〉 Xoa; and vpon the South, that of Damut; and towards the West, it ex∣te•••••• 〈…〉〈…〉 to the riuer of Nile. The realme of Xoa lies betwixt the realmes of [ B] 〈…〉〈…〉 Damut, and Fatigar.

〈…〉〈…〉 is greater than any other of this Aethiopia, for that 〈…〉〈…〉 the cour•••• o•• the riuer of Nile, it extends it selfe from of the realme Gayame, 〈…〉〈…〉 Island of Gueguere, in old time called Meroe, and this tract of countrie con∣tai••e•• 〈…〉〈…〉 hundred miles.

〈…〉〈…〉 of Meroe, or of Gueguere, is not subiect to Presbiter Iohn, as some thinke, 〈…〉〈…〉 inhabited by Mahometans, who are sworne enemies to the Abyssins.

Th•• realme of Fatigar lies betwixt the realmes of Adel and Xoa; and that of Damut is neere vnto Xoa, and enclosed betwixt the lake of Barcena, and the countrie of Zan∣q••••bara. Some others hold that the realme of Damut lies beyond the realme of Van∣g••••, [ C] and of Goyame, towards the West, the which I find more probale.

This is all that can be said concerning this Empire, in the description whereof, the greatest part of Cosmographers speake by coniectures; for that the reports which haue 〈…〉〈…〉 by the Abyssins, which haue left their countries, are full of 〈…〉〈…〉, as the most patient man in the world would find them distastfull. Finally, they tha•• haue appointed the chiefe aboad of this Emperor in the towne of 〈…〉〈…〉 for that it is most certaine, according to the report of them of the 〈…〉〈…〉 he makes his ordinarie, and in a manner his continuall aboad in the towne of 〈◊〉〈◊〉, as Hugh of Linscot (who hath run along all the coast of Aethiopia, and [ D] who could not be deceiued by the Abyssins in that point) reports.

¶The Qualitie.

THe whole Estate of this great Monarch, to speake in generall, is very fertile: for al∣though it yeelds little wheat, yet it hath store of barley, millet, pease, beanes, and other pulses, whereof some are vnknowne to vs. It yeelds also aboundance of sugar: but the Abyssins know not the manner how to boile it, nor to refine it. They haue great store of vn••••••s, and there growes such aboundance of oranges, cytrons, and lymons, as it almost exceeds beliefe: but they haue no melons, rootes, nor oliues; yet they make oile [ E] of a certain fruit, which the inhabitants call Goue. Finally, they haue aboundance of ho∣••••e for that the bees are kept euen in those places whereas the men remaine: by reason whereof they haue such store of wax, as they of the countrie haue sufficient to make 〈…〉〈…〉 without any vse of ••allow. This countrie doth also beare flax, but the 〈…〉〈…〉 not the art to make any linnen cloth, the which they make most commonly of cotton, whereof they haue great aboundance.

Moreouer, this countrie hath in a maner all sorts of foure footed beasts, and all foule that we haue in Europe or elsewhere, as oxen, sheepe, asses, horses, cammells, and besides 〈◊〉〈◊〉 elephants, lions, tygres, o••ces, and stags: but they haue no beares, cunnies, nor 〈◊〉〈◊〉. These countries haue this inconuenience, that there comes sometimes such [ F] ••••••••dance of grashoppers, as they darken the aire with their multitudes, & spoile 〈…〉〈…〉 prouince, sometimes another, deuouring all their haruest, and eating the leaues 〈…〉〈…〉 of trees.

The 〈◊〉〈◊〉 of the countrie are small, but they haue many races of Arabia and Aegypt,

[ A] and they cause their colts to sucke kyne three or foure daies after they are foaled. They haue great Apes, which are exceeding furious.

These countries want no mynes of gold, siluer, yron, and brasse: but the inhabitants know not how to draw it. In the realme of Zagamedra, they find mynes of verie pure siluer, the which they cannot draw but by fire, the which doth make it run like long rods. Goyama abounds in gold, and in the realme of Damut they draw it, and refine it some∣thing better.

Their fields are full of partridges, geese, and hares, for that the Abyssins neuer hunt. To conclude, there is no countrie fitter for the generation and multiplication of beasts, [ B] fowles, and plants, than this: but the inhabitants know not how to vse this happinesse, nor the bountie of their countrie, which might make them liue with as much ease as any people on the earth.

The inhabitants of these countries haue two Sommers, and two Winters, which they doe not distinguish by the heat or cold, but by the continuall showers, or by the faire weather, and cleere skie.

¶ The manners of the Auncients.

THe Auncients haue beleeued, that the Aethiopians came not from any other place to [ VI] [ C] inhabit that countrie, and that they were the first that instituted the seruice of the gods, and the ceremonies of sacrifices. They vsed two kinds of letters, whereof the one which they called sacred, were vnknowne to all men but the priests; and the other were common to all the people: yet the figures of their letters were not such, as they might frame any Syllables, but did resemble the shapes of some beasts, or the extremities of mans bodie, with many instruments of handicrafts men, and euerie figure had his significa∣tion; as the Sparrow-hawke did signifie swiftnesse, the Crocadile, euill, the Eye, a care∣full regard, and so of the rest.

They did hold him most holie among their priests, that did run as if he were franticke: And when they had chosen their king, they did worship him as if he had some diuinitie in him, or at the least that he was giuen them by the diuine prouidence; and he that was ad∣uaunced to this dignitie, was bound to liue according to the lawes, and to doe all things after the custome of the countrie. He might not recompence nor punish any one that was vnder his power: but whenas he desired to haue any one punished for some offence, or crime, he sent a Sargeant, who carried him the marke or signe of his death, and present∣ly he to whom it was brought, vpon the sight thereof, was the executioner of his owne death.

They did so honour their king, as if by chaunce he were blind of one of his eyes, or lame, or had any other imperfection or disabilitie of bodie, they put out one of their eyes, or brake a legge, or some other part of the bodie, thinking they should performe their du∣ties verie ill, if they should remaine in good estate, whenas their king was mayhemed in any part or member. They hold also, that they which were beloued of the king, killed themselues at his death, beleeuing that this death would bring them glorie, and that it was a certaine testimonie of true friendship.

The Island of Meroe was in auncient time the place of residence or aboad of the kings of Aethiopia, and it was inhabited by shepheards, which gaue themselues to hunting, & by labourers which manured the ground. Herodotus writes, That the Aethiopian Macrouies did more esteeme brasse than gold, the which was held for vile among them, as the em∣bassadors of Cambises, going into that countrie, saw fountains all enuironed, & as it were bound with chaines of gold; others say, that it was Latten. The women practised armes, and went to the warre, and making holes in their lips, they put in hoopes of brasse.

Some did worship the Sunne rising, and did curse the setting thereof with a thousand imprecations. Some did cast their dead bodies into riuers, others did put them into ves∣sels of earth, and some layed them in glasse, where they kept them a yeare in their hou∣ses▪ and did worship them with verie great deuotion, offering the first fruits vnto them.

Some hold that they declared him king which did exceed the rest in beautie, and in [ A] knowle•••••• to feed cattell, that was the strongest, and richest: They say also, that they be∣lee•••••• ••n immortall God, Creator of all things, and King of all the world; and another m••rtall, and vncertaine. He that was their king, was honoured by them as a God, and in like manner, he that next the king was knowne to be of greatest merit.

¶ The manners at this day.

[ VII] THe Em••••••••r of the Abyssins, whom the Arabians call Aticlabassa, and some of his 〈◊〉〈◊〉 him the name of Bel, or Belul Gian, which is as much to say, as powerful [ B] 〈…〉〈…〉 from thence by corruption of language we haue giuen him the name of 〈◊〉〈◊〉 or Presbiter Iohn) and others call them Acegue, which signifies Emperour, or 〈◊〉〈◊〉 which is to say, King, according to an auncient custome, hath no certaine aboad; •••••• re••••ines sometimes in one place, sometimes in another, and he liues most common∣•••• in the open fields vnder Tents, which they carrie with him to the number of 6000, so as his Court containes ten or twelue miles in compasse, when euerie man is lodged.

He hath great store of vessell of gold and siluer, and other rich moueables. Some say, that he is not blacke, like vnto the other Aethiopians, but inclining something to white. His ordinarie daies journey when he trauells, as also his subjects, is twelue miles. When he trauells the countrie, he is compassed about with certaine red curtaines, which are ve∣rie [ C] high behind him, and of either side. He carries vpon his hand a crowne halfe gold, and halfe siluer, and in his hand a Crosse of siluer. His face is couered with a peece of blew ta••••ata, the which he lifts vp or pulls downe more or lesse, as he fauours them that haue to deale with him.

The inhabitants of these countries are blacke, ignorant, and without all knowledge of lear•••••••• as some report; yet that great scholler Escala, who hath left vs so great cause to commend him, doth witnesse, in his booke of the Correction of times, That they are not so ignorant, as some hold them. They haue no vse of physicke. Their ordinarie garments are of beasts ski••••, or of cloth made of cotton: but the better and richer sort weare sheepe skins, and they that are in greatest dignitie, Lyons, Tygres, and Onces. [ D]

Their houses are low, and of no worth, for they are built of chalke, and of straw, & they remaine in the lowest roome. Their doores are alwaies open, but not any one enters into another mans house. They neither haue tables, nor tablecloths, and when they eat, they sit on the ground vpon carpets, or some other cloth: There are many among them that eat fresh beefe raw. They vse no manner of coyne, but in stead thereof, they giue gold by weight. They vse trucking or changing in all things, and that whereof they make grea∣test vse therein, is salt and pepper. They are not much giuen to hunting nor fishing, and there are few handicrafts men among them. They call all the people of Europe, Francs, for that the French haue in former times extended their names ouer all the world, especi∣ally in the conquest of the Holie land. But they call all other people that be white, Ghli∣betes. [ E] Although they haue vines, yet there is no wine made but in the kings house, and the Patriarchs, whom they call Abuna: but in stead of wine, they make a certaine beue∣rige of the fruit of Tamariske, which is somewhat sharpe.

They are for the most part dull witted, and exceeding slow, for they haue flax, and can make no cloth: They haue canes of sugar, and cannot draw it: yron, and haue not the wit to worke it, yea they hold smiths to be sorcerers and wicked men.

Great men intreat the poorer sort verie roughly, so as they sow but what will serue their necessities; for that the mightier take it from them. Their language is without rule, and to write a letter, they must haue many daies: yet they haue goodly characters, much more pleasing than the Arabians and Turkes; as we may see in the booke of the Correction of [ F] ••••mes, written by Ioseph Escala, and in the Onomasticke of Turnerus. The Noblemen, Bur∣••••••••••, and Common people, haue their dwellings distinct, and the meanest may purchase hi••••e••••e the title of a gentleman, by some famous exploit.

There is no towne in all the Abyssins countrie that hath aboue 2000 housholds, and

[ A] there are few of that sort. They remaine for the most part dispersed here and there in hamlets. They giue salt for the weight of gold. The people neuer sweare but by the life of their king, wherein the Spaniards doe imitate them. They doe commonly vse mules to beare their burthens, and to trauell on, and horses to fight on. They doe ne∣uer weare any apparell which is blacke, but when they mourne, for that they hold this colour to be a true sing of sorrow and heauinesse. They lament the death of their friends for the space of fortie daies. Whenas they make any great and stately feast, the second seruice is raw flesh, the which they eat with much spices, and find that it is one of their daintiest dishes.

[ B] They are much giuen to nauigation, and in a manner all that are of a free condition at the East Indies are marriners, and well practised in that trade, so as they are imploied in the merchants ships of Goa, China, Bengala, and other places.

They serue in this trade for little money, and they are readie for all kind of drudgeries, enduring whipping, and other outrages very patiently, differing very little from slaues. They haue for the most part their families in these ships, and they seeme properly borne to be slaues. If any one suffers that which he carries vpon his head to fall into the sea, or any other thing of lesse price, yea when their ships are vnder saile, there is one amongst them that casts himselfe into the sea, and swimming recouers the thing that was lost. They sing in a manner continually when they trauell. And when they haue nothing [ C] else to doe, (especially in the Portugals ships) they drinke drunke with their wiues and children, repeating a thousand songs in the middest of their excesse. Their wiues doe also weare long breeches, after the marriners fashion, at the East Indies, like vnto the Arabians and Mahometans.

¶ The Riches.

THe gold and siluer which is found in this countrie, will sufficiently proue that there [ IX] is infinit wealth, besides brasse, yron, and especially sugar, whereof there is great aboundance, and might yeeld them much money, if the inhabitants had as well wit, and [ D] curiositie to refine it, as they haue good hap to gather it plentifully.

This prince hath three sorts of reuenues: the first consists in the fruits of his land and demeanes, the which he causeth to be tilled and manured by oxen and slaues, which multiplie continually, for that they marrie among themselues, and the children are of their fathers condition: the second kind of his reuenues, grow from his subiects, who pay him so much for euery fire, and the tenth part of all the mineralls which are drawne by any other than himselfe: the latter sort comes from princes which are his subiects, whereof some giue him horses, others oxen, and some send him cotton, or other things▪ and these giue him the reuenues of one of their townes; so as it be not that whereas they make their ordinarie aboad.

[ E] Some hold that he hath great treasures, as well of cloth and pretious stones, as of gold, and that he hath great places full, the which may easily be coniectured by a letter writ∣ten to the king of Portugal, by the which he offered to giue, towards a warre against the Infidell, one hundred thousand drachmas of gold, with great store of men and victualls. Some holds that he laies vp yearely three millions of gold in the Castle of Amara. It is true, that before the time of king Alexander, they did not lay vp so much gold, for that they knew not how to purge it, and refine it: but in recompence, they laid vp great store of p••••tious stones, and peeces of gold. The viceroy of Barnagas giues yearely to Presbi∣••en Iohn one hundred and fiftie good horses, with great store of silkes wrought. The king of Tygrema on sends him yearely two hundred Arabian horses, with many peeces of silke [ F] and cotton, and a great quantitie of gold: and others send him that whereof they haue aboundance, or can easily recouer.

¶ The Forces. [ A]

[ X] THe people subiect to this Monarch are not very valiant, both for that he holds them as slaues, as also by reason they want the generositie of courage which makes men apt to armes, and hardie, and resolute in daungers; so as they seeme to haue their hands continually bound by the respect they beare vnto their prince, and the feare they haue of him: as also for that they haue no defensiue armes, but some paltrie headpeeces, and shirts of maile, wherewith the Portugals haue furnisht them. We must adde here∣unto the great want of forts, for that these people hauing neither strong places to re∣tire [ B] themselues vnto, nor armes wherewithall they should defend themselues, remaine a pray to their enemies. Their offensiue armes are arrowes without feathers, and the zagay, or launce like a pike. Moreouer, they haue a Lent of fiftie daies, which doth so extenuat and weaken them, by reason of their great abstinence during that time, as they haue not force to go nor moue for many daies after. This makes the Moores to watch their opportunitie, and to assaile them with great aduantage. And for that, as we haue said, there are no places of note found in all Presbiter Iohns countrie, in regard of their strength or otherwise, the Portugals discoursing sometimes with the Abyssins, haue told them, that it were better) to auoid the great spoiles which the Mahometans and some other Idolaters do continually make in those countries, carrying away both goods [ C] and men (that their prince should build townes and castles, and fortifie them with ditches, walles, and other things necessarie to make a place defensiue: whereunto they haue aunswered, that the power of their Neguz doth not consist in walles of stone, but in the armes of his people. Francis Aluares doth write, that this Monarch may raise a great many hundred thousands of men: yet it hath not beene seene in his greatest necessitie, that he hath drawne together such great numbers. He hath a militarie religi∣on, vnder the protection of Saint Anthonie, to the which euery father of a familie that is a gentleman must appoint one of his sonnes if he haue three, but not the el∣dest; and of these they make about the number of twelue thousand horse, the which are appointed for the kings guard. The end of this religion, is to defend the frontires [ D] of this Empire, and to make head against the enemies of the faith. Finally, Presbiter Iohn confines with three potent and mightie princes, whereof the one is the king of Bourne, the other the Turke, and the third the king of Adel. The king of Bourne doth commaund in that countrie, the which doth extend from Guangale towards the East about fiue hundred miles, betwixt the desarts of Set and Barca, the which countrie is vnequally diuided into plaines and mountaines. The king of Bourne hath a great number of subiects, the which he doth charge with no other impositions than the tenth of their fruits. Their trade is to steale, and robbe their neighbours, and to make them slaues, and then to exchange them for horses with the merchants of Barbarie. He hath vnder him many kingdomes, and doth much annoy the Abyssins, taking all that [ E] he finds in their mines, and carrying away the men captiues. These people fight alto∣gether on horsebacke à la genette, with short stirrops: they vse lances with two heads, zagays, and arrowes, and they enuade the countrie sodenly, sometimes of one side, som∣times of another; but these may rather be called theeues and muderers, than enemies.

The Turke which confines with the Abyssins vpon the East, and the king of Adel which enuirons their countrie betwixt the East and the South, infest Presbiter Iohn much, and haue restrained the bounds of his Empire, and reduced this countrie to great miserie: fo•• besides that the Turkes haue spoiled a part of Barnagas, whereas they entred in the ye••re 1558, and were repulsed, yet they haue taken from Presbiter Iohn, all that he held along the coast, and especially, the ports of Suaquem, and Ercocco, at which two pla∣ces, [ F] the mountaines which lie betwixt the Abyssins countrie, and the Red sea, open to make passage for trafficke betwixt the Abyssins & Arabians: and not long since, the king of Ba••nagas was forced to make an accord with the Turke, and to purchase a peace of him, paying a yearely tribute of a thousand ounces of gold. But he receiues no lesse

[ A] losse by the king of Adel, who confines with the realme of Fatigar, and commaunds vn∣to the Red Sea, where he hath Assam, Salir, Met, Barbora, Bidar, and Zelle. There ar∣riue at Barbora, many vessells from Aden, and Cambaia, with their merchandise to ex∣change, for the which they receiue store of flesh, and victualls, honie, and wax for Aden: much gold, juorie, and other things for Cambaia: and they also draw much victualls from Zeila, for that there is aboundance of honie, and wax, store of graine, and diuers fruits which they lade to carrie to Aden, and other places of Arabia; then cattell, especi∣ally certaine sheepe, whose tailes weigh fiue and twentie pounds or more, hauing the head and necke blacke, and all the rest white, and certaine others which are all white, ha∣uing [ B] long tailes, and crooked like vnto the stocke of a vine, with a necke hanging downe like vnto a bull. There are certaine kyne which haue hornes branched like vnto a stagge. There are some blacke, and others redd, hauing one horne in the forehead, a foot and a halfe long, bending backward. The chiefe towne of this realme is Arar, eight and thirtie leagues from Zeila, lying South-East. The king of this countrie, who is a Mahometan, by a perpetuall vow to make warre against the Christians of Presbiter Iohns countries, hath purchased himselfe the name of Holie among the Barbarians. He attends vntill the Abyssins are growne weake and consumed, by that long and strict fast of fiftie daies; and whenas they are scarce able to doe any necessarie businesse in their houses, he enters the countrie, spoyles the villages, carries away many Abyssins captiues, and commits a thou∣sand outrages. The Abyssin slaues are of great profit out of their countrie: wherefore [ C] princes doe much esteeme them, and among others, these slaues, by meanes of their indu∣strious seruice, are growne free and rich in Arabia, Cambaia, Bengala, and Sumatra: for that the Mahometan princes of the East, being all tyrans, of the realmes vsurped from idolaters, cannot trust their subjects, when they seeke to assure their Estates, but they make themselues strong by the multitude of slaues that be strangers, to whom they com∣mit the guard of their persons, and the gouernement of the realme. Among all the sorts of slaues, the Abyssins are most esteemed, by reason of their great fidelitie, and their good complection. And for that the king of Adel, by the great number of prisoners which he tooke in the countries of Presbiter Iohn, did fill Aegypt and Arabia with slaues [ D] of that nation, receiuing in exchange, armes, munition, and souldiers, from the Turke, and princes of Arabia: Claudius, king of the Abyssins, finding himselfe prest, in the yeare of our Lord God 1550, by Gradaamed king of Adel, who had much annoyed him by the space of foureteene yeares, by his continuall incursions; and seeing himselfe forced to abandon the frontiers, and to retire into the heart of his Estates, he demaunded succours of Stephen de Gama, Lieutenant to Iohn the third, king of Portugall, at the Indies, who was then in the Red Sea, with a good armie. Gama sent Christopher his brother vnto him with foure hundred Portugalls, and a good number of Harquebuzes, and other armes. With these he defeated his enemie twice, by reason of the aduauntage of his shot: but in the third battaile, the king of Adel hauing receiued a thousand Turkish Harquebuziers, [ E] from the Gouernor of Zebit, with ten pieces of ordnance, the Abyssins were put to rout, and many of the Portugals slaine vpon the place. But the king of Adel hauing sent backe his Turkes, he was sodenly set vpon neere vnto the riuer of Zeila, and to Mount Sanal by king Claudius, who had sixtie thousand foot, fiue thousand Abyssin horses, and the Portu∣gals which remayned of the last defeat, whereof one of them wounded Gradaamed verie ••ore. But in the yeare of our Redemption 1559, king Claudius comming to fight with the Moores, was slaine vpon the field, and the king of his enemies did triumph vpon an Asse. He had for successour Adamas his brother, against whom (for that he was halfe a Mahometan) a great part of the Abyssin nobilitie reuolted; so as the viceroy of Barna∣gas defeated him, in the yeare of our Lord God 1562: but the affaires of Aethiopia wa∣uering [ F] thus for a time, they were soone after restored vnder Alexander, by the helpe of the Portugals, who brought them offensiue and defensiue armes, and stirred vp the spirits and courages of the Abyssins by their example in the warre: for all they that remained of the defeat of Christopher de Gama, and many others which haue come since, are setled and married there: so as they haue brought in our order and discipline of warre, the vse of

armes, and the manner how to fortifie the countrie, and places of importance. Some [ A] Florentines haue also trauelled into this countrie, partly through curiositie, and partly for traffique.

The Emperour of the Abyssins doth vse to cherish and giue kind entertainement to the Francs (so they call all the people of Europe) and will hardly suffer them to go out of his countrie, when they are once entred. Presbiter Iohn hath many enemies, besides those of whom we haue made mention; as the king of Dancali, to whom belongs the port of Suela, vpon the Red Sea. Moreouer, the Moores, which are in the prouince of Dobe, diuided into foureteene Seigneuries, doe much annoy him: for although they remaine within the confines of Fresbiter Iohns countrie, yet they reuolt often. There [ B] is a law among them, that no man may marrie vntill he hath slaine twelue Christians. In our time, this great prince tooke the king of Mozambique in battaile. He put to rout the Queene of Bersaga, at the Cape of good Hope; defeated Termides prince of the Ne∣gros, towards the West; and vanquished the king of Manicongo, which is right against the Island of S. Thomas, vnder the Equinoctiall lyne; and afterwards, one of his Cap∣taines put Azamur, Basha to the great Turke at Suaquem, thrice to rout, and in the third, he tooke his sonne prisoner, and cut off his head, taking from him many peeces of ordnance.

He holds Aegypt in great feare, and many Arabian princes, by reason of the water which he may take from them, for the which they pay him tribute. He may famish [ C] Aegypt, as Pope Pius the second and other Authours write, taking from it the riuer of Nile: the which the Abyssins know well; but they say, they forbeare to doe it, least the Turkes should ruine the Holie Sepulchre of our Lord and Sauiour Christ. To con∣clude all in a word, there is no doubt-but if Presbiter Iohn had men out of Europe, which could fortifie his countries in diuers places, fill it with armes after our manner, and in∣struct the Abyssins, and traine them in our kind of fighting; he should not onely be able to chase the Turke out of all the countries which his predecessours held in old time, but also to giue a law to all his neighbours that assaile him; considering the great aboun∣dance of gold, and siluer, that he hath, and also the great numbers of men that liue in his kingdomes and territories. [ D]

¶ The Gouernement.

[ XI] THis monarch keepes all his subjects both great and small in wonderfull awe, and doth intreat them more like slaues than subjects, and the better to entertaine them in this estate, he maintaines himselfe in such reputation amongst them, as they hold him for a sacred and diuine person: All bend themselues hearing the name of their prince, and in honour thereof, touch the ground with their hands: They doe reuerence to his Tent, although he be not in it. The kings of the Abyssins had a custome to shew them∣selues but once a yeare to their subjects: Then he appeared thrice, that is to say, vpon [ E] Christmas day, Easter day, and of the Holie Crosse in September: but since they are growne more familiar.

The king takes away and giues Seigneuries to whom he pleaseth, and it is not lawfull for him that is depriued, to shew any discontent. He disposeth both of religious and lay men, and of their goods, of the collation of holie orders, and the administration of Sa∣craments. There is not any one among them that hath vassalls, but the King himselfe, to whom the kings that are his subjects come euerie yeare to doe their homage, and to promise obedience.

This prince descends (as they hold opinion) from a sonne of Saloman, called Meilech, and the Queene of Saba, and these people receiued the Christian faith vnder Queene [ F] Canda••es, in whose time the house of Gaspar began to raigne in Aethiopia, and from him there descended thirteene generations. Iohn the Holie, about the time of the Emperour Constans hauing no children, left the empire to the eldest sonne of Caie his brother, and he inuested Baltazar in the realme of Fatigar, and Melchior in that of Goyame: by rea∣son

[ A] whereof, the bloud royall was diuided into three families, of Gaspar, Melchior, and Baltazar. He ordained that the Empire should be giuen by election to one of those three families, although he were not the eldest, for that the particular realmes remained to the eldest. And to auoid all troubles, he ordained that the Emperours brethren, and his nee∣rest kinsfolkes should be shut vp in the castle of Mount Amara, and carefully kept; wil∣ling also that the Emperors sonnes should be put there, except the eldest, in whose place, if he dies, the next is alwaies drawne forth.

This Monarch giues and takes away benefices at his pleasure, and makes no difference betwixt the Clergie and Laymen, but the administration of sacraments belongs to the [ B] Abuna, the which is their Patriarch. Incontinent women which make profession of that lewd life, liue without bourroughs and townes, and are paid by the communalties. It is not lawfull for them to enter into any towne, and they must of necessitie beattired in yellow.

The eldest succeed in the fathers goods, according to the lawes of the countrie. It is ordained by an auncient law, that the king shall not keepe himselfe retired aboue two daies, for that if he should stay longer in one place, there would be great want of victualls, considering the infinit number of noblemen, officers, and others which follow the court.

The first ranke of dignitie, and the greatest is that of Bishops, and the Clergie; the se∣cond, [ C] is of sages and learned men, which they call Balsamates, and Tenquares; and the nobilitie holds the third: the last are those which receiue pay, to what estate soeuer they are called.

Although that Iudges take knowledge of crimes worthie of death, yet they are bound to make their report to the gouernour of the place where they remaine, who carries the title, and is in effect the kings lieutenant, and represents his person. They haue no written law, but all things are decided according vnto naturall reason.

If a woman be accused of adulterie, the punishment belongs to them that are interes∣sed, and find themselues as it were wronged in their honour. The viceroy of Batnagas remaines in the towne of Barue, and hath vnder him the gouernments of Danfile, and [ D] Canfile, which are vpon the frontires of Aegypt.

¶ The Religion.

THe subiects of Presbiter Iohn are for the most part Christians, who remaine very obe∣dient, and well affected to their prince. There are also some Mahometans which are his tributaries; but these continually seeke meanes to reuolt. But to speake of them that follow the Christian religion, and to disconrse of their beliefe, which differs something from ours, although we all ackowledge one Sauiour, it shal be fit in my opinion to relate after what manner the faith crept into these countries.

The Abyssins in the beginning receiued Iudaisme, which extended vnto the neigh∣bour [ E] countries, by the meanes of Meilech the sonne of Saloman, of queene Maqueda his mother, and of the Iewes which accompanie him. At the least, the Abyssins say, that this is found in an old chronicle, the which is kept in the towne of Caxume. They recei∣ued the Christian faith by the meanes of queene Candaces eunuch, who was baptised by Philip, as we read in the Acts of the Apostles. The first place which was conuerted to the faith, was that of Tygia, and at this day, they make all their publicke instruments and wri∣tings in the Tygian tongue. They fell afterwards with the Cosites of Aegypt into the er∣ror of Eutiches, for that they depend of the Patriarch of Alexandria, whom they acknow∣ledge for their head, and from whom they receiue their Abuna or Patriarch: for this people following the authoritie of this Patriarch of Alexandria, and his doctrine, came [ F] 〈◊〉〈◊〉 corrupted: for that the brooke must of necessitie sauour like the spring; especially 〈◊〉〈◊〉 ••hat the Abyssins could haue no entercourse with them of Rome, but by the meanes 〈◊〉〈◊〉 ••••••xandria and Aegypt.

〈◊〉〈◊〉 that the mischiefe doth still encrease, the Abyssins hold with the errors of the

Cosites, many other impertinencies. Their ignorance and error augments by the com∣merce [ A] and conuersation they haue with idolates and Mahometans which enuiron them round about; yea there are many idolaters which liue in the middest of the Abyssins, as in the realmes of Damur, Corague, and Agaos.

[ XIII] But to let you vnderstand their beliefe, you must know that the Abyssins hold circum∣cision obstinatly, and not onely the men are circumcised, but also the women, I know not after what manner; the which the Iewes did not vse. Moreouer, following the law of Moy∣ses, they eat not any beast that is not clouen footed; and for this cause they abhor hares, geese, and duckes. They do reuerence Saturday more than Sunday, following therein the Iewes, who were so zealous in the obseruation of the Sabbath day. [ B]

Lay men weare their haire long, and shaue the chin and vpper lip, wearing a little crosse about their necks. Contrariwise the priests shaue their heads, and weare their beards long, hauing a crosse in their hands, (the which is not allowed among the Laytie, but only with the Lords) and a vessell of holie water, to giue vnto those that shall require it, with a blessing; and they are accustomed to cast of this holie water into the meat they eat, and into their drinke.

King Iohn ordained that there should be but foure parishes in euery towne. These pa∣rishes are made like vnto conuents, and in either of them there are thirteene priests to say Masse: and these judge of ciuile causes, as the Iudges do of criminall in the kings name. Of all the number of priests, they chuse twelue canons, the which do continually assist [ C] the Bishop, who is chosen out of that number, as the Archbishop is taken out of the num∣ber of the Bishops, and the eldest Bishop is made Archbishop.

The Monkes weare a long garment vnto the ground, the which for the most part is yellow and very hairie: Nuns vse also a long gowne, their heads are shauen, and they are gyrt with a leather belt. They are not shut vp in the Monasteries, but in certaine villages, vnder the obedience of the neerest Conuent.

Their Churches haue two curtaines, the one neere vnto the Altar; and no man enters into this place but the priests: the other in the middest where the clerkes remaine, at the least, they that haue the meanest orders: wherefore many seeke to be admitted, to the end they may haue accesse vnto this place. [ D]

Euery Church hath but one Altar, on which they say but one Masse a day. The walles of these Churches are couered with the pictures of our Lady, and of Saints, especially, of S. George on horsebacke. They haue no grauen images, and some thinke the onely rea∣son is for that they haue not wit enough to make them. They will not allow any to paint Iesus Christ crucified, saying, that they are not worthie to see him in that passion and torment.

They make the bread and wine, which the priests doe afterwards consecrat at Masse, with wonderfull care & ceremonie. They put off their shooes when they enter into their Churches, and they spit not in them, neither do they suffer any beasts to enter into them. If any one passeth on horsebacke before a Church, he lights, to witnesse the honour he [ E] beares vnto it. Their Church-yards are enuironed with high walls, to the end no beasts may enter into them. They haue bells of stone which are long and thinne, whereon they strike with a staffe: they haue some also of yron, with a clapper of the same mettall, and vse to carrie some in their processions, which they found.

They do not baptise their male children but fortie daies after their birth, and females after sixtie; and if any die in the meane time without baptisme, they say that the mothers receiuing of the communion during the time of her being with child suffiseth: they bap∣tise not but vpon Saturday and Sunday, and they presently giue the Eucharist to them that are baptised. In remembrance of our Sauiours baptisme, then cause themselues to bebaptised euery yere vpon Twelfth day: and to this end, there are pooles, and little lakes, [ F] whether they transport themselues.

They confesse themselues standing, and they keepe not much secret in their confession. They communicate vnder both kinds, and they consecrate bread without leauen. They go to the communion with their hands open, and lifted vp before their shoulders, and

[ A] they receiue standing. They neuer say Masse without Incense, nor without three persons, that is, the Priest, the Deacon, and Subdeacon.

Mariages are made by the meanes of priests, but they are not firme. Priests may ma∣rie, but they can haue but one wife, and if she dies, they may marie no more, or if they doe, they become lay men (the which is practised also among the Muscouites) euen as if they had layen with another woman. All the religious men are of the order of S. Antho∣nie. It is true, that from this there is another sprung, called Cestifanez, which is rather held for Iewish than Christian.

There raignes an heresie in this empire, which holds, that they ought not to worship [ B] any other Crosse, than that whereon Iesus Christ was crucified. They giue not the ex∣treame vnction to them that are neere death, but they cast Incense vpon the dead, wash them, wrap them vp, say the office for them, and carrie them to the ground, with a Crosse, Incense, and Holie water. They keepe Lent strictly, and with great abstinence. Their best meats at that time are hearbes, dried raysins, and some fish; which notwith∣standing they vse in few places. But many Priests, Monkes, and Nunnes, eat nothing but hearbes, either during the whole Lent, or euerie two daies: yet in the realmes of Barna∣gas, and Tygremaon, they eat flesh on Saturday, and Sunday.

Their Monkes and Nunnes do verie austere penances, as to weare a girdle of yron vp∣on their flesh; to passe the whole Lent, and neuer sit; to remaine in the coldest weather [ C] vp to the necke in water, or else in woods, vallies, or caues, farre from all companie. All Clarkes fast from Whitsuntide vntill Christmas, except Saturday, and Sunday, and lay men from Trinitie Sunday vnto Aduent, Wednesdaies, and Fridayes. Priests may not marie after they haue taken orders: but they may be receiued being married, vnlesse they haue had two wiues.

In the Holie weeke they neuer say Masse, but on Thursday and Saturday, and during all this weeke, the Abyssins salute not one another, and if they meet, they passe by, and lift not vp their eyes: and men of qualitie, go attired in blacke or blew, and they light no candles in their Churches. Vpon Maundie Thursday they vse the ceremonie to wash the poores feet. On good Friday they doe acts so full of pietie, and giue such testimonies [ D] of sorrow, as it is almost incredible. They beat one another with their fists and rodds: And they doe willingly receiue so many stripes or blowes from their priest, as the bloud runs downe their bodies. During the time that our Sauiours bodie lay in the graue, they attire themselues in mourning, and they eat not any thing, neither doe they go out of their Churches.

They hold seuen Churches to be most auncient, for that (say they) they were built whenas they receiued the Gospell. They will haue that of Caxumo vnder the name of S. Mary of Syon, to be the first, for that the first stone of the Altar was sent them from this mountaine. There are one hundred and fiftie Channons, and as many Monkes. Women enter not into their Churches, vnlesse it be at the towne of Bazua, where there are two, one for men, vnder the name of S. Michael, and the other for women, vnder the [ E] title of S. Peter, and S. Paule. There are verie many Monasteries: twelue miles from Chaxune, there is one, among the rest, which is called Alleluya; for that (as they say) a religious man being attentiue at his ordinarie prayers, heard the Angells sing Alleluya in the place.

Monkes may not marie, and women may not enter into the cloysters of men, nor any beast of that sex. There are many among them that marie two wiues, yea more, at one time, which are not punished: yet it is not lawfull for them to enter into the Church, but they may be diuorced. They feare excommunication wonderfully, and they are so de∣uout, as many come yearely to the holie Sepulchre.

They confesse and hold the Church of Rome to be the first in the world, and the Pope [ F] for the greatest man that is, and for the Vicar of Iesus Christ, and the successour of S. Peter, and their seat, which they call of Dauid, from whom they say they are descended, the second. They haue prophesies which import, that they should not haue aboue one hundred Abunes, that is to say, Patriarchs, from the Church of Alexandria, and that he

which they had in the yeare of our Lord God 1520, was the last, after which they had a [ A] new Rector or head from the Church of Rome. They haue the prophesies of two holie Hermits, which say, That the Francs shall joyne themselues with them, and ruine T or, Ziden, and Mecca, and take Aegypt; at what time the way to vnite them vnto the Chri∣stians in these parts, shall be open: And the Moores haue a prophesie, which saith, That Mecca, whereas the Prophet Mahomet hath his Sepulchre, shall be ruined by the Aethi∣opians. They haue not the heresie of the Monothelites amongst them, but they hold two natures in Iesus Christ, as we doe: the which appeares in their Aethiopian Masse, translated into Latine.

[ XIIII] Presbiter Iohn saith, in a letter sent vnto the Pope, that it is written in the life of S. Victor, [ B] and in the Bookes of the holie fathers, That a great Christian Lord should make a strict league with the king of Aethiopia.

Now that we haue set downe the Abyssins Estate touching spirituall matters, it shall be fit to make some mention of that which hath beene done in our time touching their reconciliation with the Church of Rome, and first we will begin with a famous embas∣sage. A little before our time, David king of the Abyssins, being yet but young, and vn∣der the gouernement of Hellen his grandmother, moued with the same of the happie suc∣cesse of the Portugals at the Indies, sent one called Mathew, an Armenian by nation, with an Abyssin Lord, to Alphonso of Albuquerque, viceroy at the Indies, to contract friendship with king D. Emanuel, to whom they brought letters from their prince in a little pipe of gold, and among other things, they presented vnto him a peece of the true [ C] Crosse in a box of gold.

These being afterwards returned from Portugall to the Indies, were ten yeares after their departure conducted to Ercocco, by Sequeira Generall of the Portugals: And there, by the meanes of the kind reception they gaue vnto Mathew, and of the joy that the Abyssins did shew for his returne, the Portugals were assured of that whereof they doubted, that he was embassadour vnto the great Neguz. With this occasion, Sequeira contracted a league, and made a pepetuall peace, in his kings name, with this monarch, in whose name the viceroy of Barnagas sware the league.

At the same time, Sequeira sent Roderick de Lima Embassadour to this Princes Court, [ D] with whom went Francis Aluares, who afterwards writ all this Historie. He returned from his embassage six yeres after his departure, that is to say, in the yeare of Christ 1526; bringing with him Zagazabe, an embassadour sent by Presbiter Iohn to the king of Portu∣gal, and Francis Aluares with presents and letters which he sent vnto the Pope. The letters were presented at Bolonia, at the coronation of the Emperour Charles the fift. The em∣perour of the Abyssins made mention in his letters, of Pope Eugenius the fourth, who had sent the Councell of Florence to his predecessours, and he remembred the vnion of the Easterne Church with the Roman.

In the yeare of our Redemption 1555, Iohn the third, king of Portugal, had a dessigne to trie all possible meanes to reconcile Presbiter Iohn wholy to the Church of Rome: for [ E] although that Davids Embassadour had done his obedience to Clement the seuenth in his kings name, yet they doubted (as it was likely) that for want of spiritual helpe, it would be vnprofitable; seeing they still followed the heresies of Eutiches and Dioscores, and de∣pended of the authoritie of the Patriarchs of Alexandria, and receiued the Abuna from him which was the arbitratour of Ecclesiasticall things, and administratour of the Sacra∣ments, who gaue orders throughout all Aethiopia, and was maister of the ceremonies, and Doctor of the faith. Whereupon, they thought they could not doe any thing more profitable, nor more necessarie than to send a lawfull Patriarch from Rome, to gouerne those soules, and with him certaine Priests of good life, and great learning, to conuert and maintaine those people in the true faith, by disputation, preaching, publique and pri∣uat [ F] discourses.

It seemed there was a good ouerture for this effect, for that Claude, king of the Abyssins had some yeares before receiued important succours from the Portugals against Gradaa∣met king of Adel, who had reduced him to extremitie, and in a letter written to Stephen

[ A] de Gama gouernor at the Indies, he had called his brother Christopher de Gama Martyr, for that he died in that war. Hauing therefore imparted this desseigne, first to Pope Iulio the third, and then to Pope Paul the fourth; they concluded to send thirteene Iesuite Priests into Aethiopia, men held to be of great pietie & learning. Iohn Nugnez Barette was made Patriarch, and they gaue him two Bishops for coadiutors, Melchior Carnee, and Andrew Oueido, with the titles of Bishops of Nicea, and Hierapolis. King Iohn did furnish this Em∣bassage not only with things necessarie for their voiage, but with all that might be dest∣red concerning sacred things, and with rich presents for Pesbiter Iohn.

But to make the matter more easie, they sent Iames Diaz before, from the town of Goa, [ B] into Aethiopia, by commaundement from the king of Portugal, and with him Gonsaluo Rodrigues to discouer the humor and disposition of the great Neguz, and of his subiects. They hauing ••ad audience of this prince, they deliuered him king Iohns letter, by which he did congratulat with him in the name of all Christians, for that following the exam∣ple of his father and grandfather, he had embraced the faith and Catholicke religion: whereat this Monarch was amazed, as a matter he had neuer dreamt of; and hauing ex∣amined why the king of Portugal had written those words, he excused himselfe vpon his secretaries, or the interpreter of the letters; adding, that although he did much esteeme this king, as his good brother, yet he had neuer any desseigne to stray from the faith of his auncestors. Rodrigues did not faint, but first of all did what he could to draw Claude to the [ C] truth, and the greatest difficultie he found, was the ignorance of Councells, and of all ec∣clesiasticall Histories, which was in the king, and in all the princes of Aethiopia.

Seeing then that the great Neguz gaue him no willing audience, he composed and published a booke in the Chaldean tongue, wherein confuting plainely the errors of the Abyssins, he shewed the soueraigne authorie of the Church of Rome; and this bred a great rumour, so as the king was forced to suppresse it cunningly, to free himsele from daunger.

Iames Diaz seeing that he lost his labour, and that the time of his returne grew neere, tooke leaue of Presbiter Iohn, and hauing giuen an account at Goa, in what estate he had left the businesse, it was not thought conuenient, that the Patriarch should with his per∣son [ D] put the reputation of the Holie See to compromise. But they resolued (for that they would not quite abandon so holie an enterprise) to send the Bishop of Hierapolis with two or three of his companions, to treat with more authoritie of that which father Rodri∣gues had treated of with so small fruit. This Bishop hauing embraced this enterprise with much content, went on his way with father Emanuell Fernandes, and some few others. Be∣ing come into the Abyssins countrie, he had more subiect to suffer, than to dispute, for that king Claude hauing been vanquished and slaine, he had for successor Adamas his bro∣ther, a sworne enemie to the holie See. This prince drew the bishop and his companions after him to the wars, and entreated them very cruelly, vsing no lesse rigour to the Abys∣sins that were conuerted. He was afterwards defeated in battaile by the Turkes, who stript the Bishop and his companions of all they had: so as they fell into so great miserie [ E] and pouertie, as all succours fayling them, they were forced to get their liuing by dig∣ging of the ground, vntill they all died there except one, who continued there, and gouerned about fiue hundred Catholickes, whereof some were Portugals, and some Abyssins conuerted, with wonderfull patience.