Cosmographie in four bookes : containing the chorographie and historie of the whole vvorld, and all the principall kingdomes, provinces, seas and isles thereof / by Peter Heylyn.

15. BARVS.

ON the South East of Adea lieth the Province of BARVS, extended Eastward to some part of Sinus Barbaricus; and touching at the Western point upon that of Fatigar. The soyl and People much of the same condition with the rest of Aethiopia. Mahometans upon the Shores, but Christians for the generality in the mid-land parts. Those Christians subject (as the rest) to the A∣bassine Emperour; but he hath neither place of strength, or consideration in all the Country; those of most note, viz. 1 Brava, once a Free Town, and governed after the manner of a Common-wealth by twelve Aldermen or Common Counsellors, descended from the seven Arabian Brethren by whom first built; the founders of Magadora also, as before was said. But now, together with 2 Pate, and 3 Gogia, all upon the Sea, made subject to the Portugals; by whom taken under the Conduct of Tristran de Cugna.

Besides these, there are many other Kingdoms mustered in the Stile Imperial, (the swelling vanity whereof we shall see anon) but of so little observation in the course of business, and so obscure in the esteem of such as have spoken of them, that it is enough to tell you where to finde their names: and having found their names, to bid you not to seek for more, there being nothing else in them which is worth the knowing.

As for the body aggregated of these several Members, it was first planted, as is noted and proved elswhere, by Ludim the son of Mizraim and the Nephew of Cham: from whence this Nation in the Scripture have the name of Ludim. A nation not much taken notice of in the first Ages of time, but by an Errour of Josephus: who giving too much credit to some Talmudical Tales, or willing to ad∣vance the reputation of the Jews to the highest pitch, telleth us a story how the Aethiopians invaded and endangered Egypt, how they were beaten back by Moses; the City of Meroe besieged and taken by him, or rather delivered to his hands by Tharbis the daughter of the King who had fallen in love with him, and on the betraying of the City was married to him. All this not only questio∣ned but rejected by discerning men as a Jewish Fable that hath no ground to stand upon in true An∣tiquity. With little better fortune, and as little truth do the Aethiopians tell the story of their own Original. By whom we are informed that Chus the son of Cham first reigned in this Aethiopia, to whom succeeded his son Regma, and next after Dedan: that from the death of Dedan till the reign of Aruch (the certain time whereof they tell not) the People lived in Caves and holes digged un∣der the ground, as did the Troglodites an ancient Nation of this Country in the times long after: that Arac first built the City of Aruma, and by that pattern taught them the use of Towns and Ci∣ties. But the main part of the Legend is the story of Maqueda a Queen hereof, and the fourth from Aruch, whom they will have to be the Queen of Sheba, famous in both Testaments, for the Royal Visit which she bestowed upon Solomon. Of whom they tell us, that being got with childe by Solo∣mon when she was in his Court, she was delivered of a Son, whom she caused to be called Melech, or Melilech, and at the age of 20 years to be sent to his Father. By whom instructed in the Law, and circumcised, and called by the name of David, he was returned into his Country, with Azarias the son of Zadok the Priest, who had stollen the two Tables of the Law and carried them with him into Aethiopia; where the old Queen resigned the Empire to her son. His Successors afterwards called David, till Indion (as they call him) the Eunuch of Queen Candace returning home baptized the young Prince by the name of Philip. This is the substance of the Legend, as related by them in their own Chronicles (but we know that they are no Gospel.) That Chus planted in Arabia, hath been shewn already, as also what absurdities must needs arise from supposing the Land of Chus to be this Aethiopia. Therefore most probable it is that this Countrey was first peopled by the children of Ludim, as before was said. To whom the Abassenes coming out of Arabia Felix, might be after added: and in some tract of time be of such great power, as to put their name upon the Countrey. For that the Abassenes were originally an Arabian People, appeareth by Stephanus one of the old Chorographers, who out of Vranius (An ancienter Author then himself) hath told us this, 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉. Another Stephanus, and he a very learned Grammarian and Lexicographer, hath as he thinks decided the controversie, by making Sheba the son of Chus the Progenitor of the Arabians; and Sheba the son of Regma the Father of the Aethiopians; and for this cause hath fit∣ted us with this pretty Criticism, that Sheba when it is written with 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 Samech must be rendred AE∣thiopia; and Arabia when writ with 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 Shin. But this by no means will be found to agree the con∣troversie: it being evidently clear that both Sheba the son of Chus, and Sheba the son of Regma were originally setled in Arabia, as there hath been shewn; though I deny not but that some of the Posterity of Chus in those elder time, (before the coming over of the Abasine nations) might either out of too much populosity or desire of change, cross over the Arabian Gulf and take up such parts of this Countrey as the Ludims had not fully peopled, with whom conjunct at last, both in name and go∣vernment. And as for Maynedu (supposing that to be her name) she was doubtless Queen of the Sabaeans in Arabia Felix; not of the Aethiopians, in the waste of Africk. For besides the longsom∣ness of the way, too much for a Woman and a Queen to travel, it is very probable that the Son of Solomon by this Lady would never have suffered Egypt to have layen in quiet, whilest Sesac the King

thereof made war upon Rehoboam, the Son of Solomon also, and so by consequence his half Brother: But to leave these uncertain Fables, the first action of moment which we meet with in unquestioned Story, touching these Aethiopians, is that which hapned betwixt them and Cambyses the Persian Monarch; who having by force of Arms united Egypt to Persia, conceived it to be worth his labour to unite Ethiopia unto Aegypt also: Upon this Resolution he sent Ambassadors to that King, to search into the passages of his Country, and discover his strengths; and by them sent a Tun of wine, some Bracelets, a Purple habit, and a Box of sweet ointments to present him with. Which Presents be∣ing tendred to him, he looked upon the Unguents and the Purple Robe as too slight and effeminate: the Bracelets he conceived to be bonds or fetters, and openly laught at them, as too weak to hold in a Prisoner: but with the Wine he was very well pleased, and sorrowed that his Country yielded no such liquour. But understanding well enough what this visit aimed at, he gave the Ambassadors at their parting (amongst other gifts) an Aethiopian Bow of great length and strength, requiring them to tell their Master, that untill every Persian could bend that Bow (the Aethiopian Bows being a foot longer then the Persian, as before was noted) it would be no safe warring upon his Domini∣ons; and that he had good cause to thank the Gods for giving the Aethiopians so contented mindes, as not to think of conquering their Neighbours kingdoms. Lying far off, and parted from Egypt by vast mountains, we finde then not looked after by the Macedonians. Nor had the Romans medled with them, had they not been provoked by Candace, the Queen hereof, during the Empire of Au∣gustus: who having made a War on Egypt, was by Petronius, Governour of that Province, brought to such conformity, that she was fain to sue for peace, and to purchase it with the loss of some part of her Country. To keep them quiet for the future, Philae an Aethiopian City, but on the borders of Egypt, is made a Garrison by the Romans, and the seat of their Deputy for these parts: held by them till the Empire of Dicclesian, and by him abandoned, because the charge of keeping it did ex∣ceed the profit. After this, growing into power and reputation, the Aethopian Kings were recko∣ned of as friends to the Roman Empire; in so much as Justinian sent unto Helistheus, as Justin his Successour did unto Archetas, the then Kings of this Country, to crave their brotherly assistance against the Persians.

Of their Conversion to the Faith in the reign of a second Candace (unless as Plinie thinketh, Can∣dace was the general name of all their Queens) we have spoke already. To which the Aethiopians adde, that after the baptizing of their first Philip (the son of that Candace) by the hands of the Eunuch, the Emperours succeeding had the name of Philip. Till the religious life of John, a Co∣temporary of the Emperour Constans, honoured as a Saint after his decease, made them take his name. Some building upon this Tradition, have to the name of John prefixed that of Presbyter, be∣cause (as they affirm) he executeth as well the Sacerdotall as the Regall Office; Rex idem hominum Divumque Sacerdos; the very Anius of the Poet: And this so commonly received, that he is vul∣garly called by the name of Prester John, and his estate the Empire of Prester John; with no truth at all. Others more probably conceive, that this vulgar name of Prester-John, is but a corruption or mistake for Praetegian or Precious John; and that the word Prete (by which his Subjects call him) importeth no less. And yet I more incline to those, who finding that the word Prestegan signifieth an Apostle, in the Persian tongue, and Prestigani, an Apostlical man: do thereupon infer•• that the title of Padescha Prestigiani, an Apostolick King, was given unto him for the Orthodoxie of his belief, which not being understood by some, instead of Preste-gian, they have made Priest John, in Latine Presbyter Johannes; as by a like mistake, one Pregent (or Pragian as the French pronounce it) commander of some Gallies under Lewis the 12. was by the English of those times called Prior John. Prestegian then, not Priest-John, is his proper adjunct; contractedly, but commonly called the Prete by the Modern French who usually leave out s before a consonant. Their Empire greater heretofore, then it is at the present, shrewdly impaired of late times by the Turks and Arabians: of which the first have taken from him all his Countries from the Isle of Meroe unto Egypt; with all the Sea-coasts of Barnagasso; the later as much encroaching on them on the rest of the Maritine parts of his Dominions. But from none have they suffred more then the Kings of Adel, who have divers times laid waste their Country, discomfited some of them in the open Field, and in the year 1558. slain their King in bat∣tell. Not cured of those wounds to this very day. For Adam, who succeeded Claudius that was slain in battell, was so far from being able to revenge the death of his Predecessour, that being sus∣pected to incline to Mahometanism, he was defeated by the under king of Barnagasso. Since which time they have so languished by intestine dissentions, that though Alexander the third (if there were ever such a King, which I finde much doubted) is said to have setled his affa••rs by the aide of the Portugals; and that some strange successes have been since reported of a later Emperour; yet the truth is, that the estate hereof hath been so imbroiled in civil Wars, and so many of their Empe∣rours successively murdered, that the power and reputation of it is exceedingly weakened, and the Countrey made a prey to impuissant Enemies. For in the year, Anno 1603. the Emperour Melech Gogad, succeeding in the throne by the deposition and imprisonment of his Predecessour (under colour of Bastardie) was not long after slain by one Zezelezeus, and James or Jacob advanced unto the Empire: James not long after vanquished and slain by one Sazinosius; and he so terribly dis∣quieted with Treasons and Conspiracies, that in the year 1607 he was fain to sue for aide to the King of Spain, and tender a submission of the Abossine Churches to the Pope of Rome. But the spirit of Rebellion being conjured up, could not so easily be laid down (though there followed a

long calm between) but that it brake out again within few yeers past (that is to say, about the year 1648) more violently then it did before: a powerfull Rebell starting up, who dispossessed the Prete of almost all his Kingdoms, and reduced the issue of the war unto one Town only, in which he had besieged his person. And in all probability he had got that too, and with that the Empire had not a French man then living in the Country, found means to put himself into it; who training the people of the place to the use of Arms (according to the way of Europe) made a fally out upon the Enemy, routed him, and so raised the siege, and by that means preserved the Emperour and the Empire from most certain ruine.

Yet notwithstanding these disasters, these later Emperors have still preserved their majesty amongst their Subjects, whom they hold in servitude enough, though they keep not such a distance as in former Ages, when the Prete was honoured as a God, and used to shew himself but thrice in a year, viz. on Christmas, Easter, and Holirood day: by which retiredness it was thought that he made his presence more acceptable; some holding nothing to be more derogatory from the Majesty of a King, then to make himself too common an object for the eye of the vulgar. The like kind of state was once kept by those Kings of France of the first Merovignian line; who withdrawing themselves from all pub∣like affairs; used only to shew themselves (as we have already said) on May-day. A greater retired∣ness then this, was that which Valleda Queen of the Tencteri (a people of the Rhene) is reported by Tacitus to have used; for when the rest of the Germans then in arms, sent Ambassadors to her to in∣form her of their victory against the Romans, they were prohibited either to speak to her or to see her; Arcebantur aspectu, quo venerationis plus inesset. Such a keeping of state, the politick Prince Tiberius used, when the German legions mutined; for he daigned not himself to see them pacified, but sent his son; the reason was, quia majestati major è longinquo reverentia And no doubt the same keep∣ing of distance swayed much with him, when he forsook Rome, and kept Court privately at Caprea: though I deny not, but a propension to follow his unnatural pleasures the more securely, together with his deformities on his face, had also their powers upon his resolutior.

The title of this great and mighty Emperour, (but neither so great or mighty in power as in title) runneth thus: N. N. Supreme of his Kingdoms, and the Beloved of GOD, the Pillar of Faith, sprung from the stock of Judah, the son of David, the son of Solomon, the son of the Column of Sion, the son of the seed of Jacob, the son of the hand of Mary, the son of Nahu after the flesh, the son of S. Peter and Paul after the spirit; Emperour of the higher and lesser Aethiopia, and of the most mighty Kingdoms, Domi∣nions, and Countries of Xoa, Goa, Caffares, Fatigar, Angotae, Balignazo, Adea, Vangne, Goyami, where are the fountains of Nile, Amara, Banguamedron, Ambea, Vangucum, Tigremaon, Sabaim, the birth∣place of the Queen of Saba, Bernagassum; and Lord of all the Regions unto the confines of Egypt.

It seemeth by this title, that these Aethiopian Emperours, however the truth of story goeth, con∣ceive themselves to be sprung from Salomon, & Maqueda (or Nizaule as Ioseph nameth her) the Queen of the South. For better confirmation whereof, it is by some reported, that the Arms of this Kingdom are the same with those of the Tribe of Iudae, which are a Lyon rampant in a field Or: and that the Motto of them is to this effect, viz. The Lyon of the Tribe of Judah shall overcome. But Bara, an expert Herauld, giveth this Prince no such Coat-armour; his Arms, according to him, being Luna, a cross portate Mars, charged with a crucifix Sol, between two scourges of the second. And yet not altogether to discredit the old Tradition, so generally received amongst them, it may be probable enough, that when the Abassens came into Aethiopia, some of the Sabaeans their next neigh∣bours came along for company, and amongst them some of the Royal race of the Queen of Sheba; with some of which, by reason of their great Nobility, some of the Abassine Emperours might think fit to match. Nor is it any matter of impossibility, but that Solomon (considering his course of life) might get a son upon the body of that Queen, from whom the Aethiopian Princes might be thus descended.

As for the Government of these Emperors, it is absolutely Regal, or to say better, perfectly Despo∣tical: the people being treated by them more like slaves then subjects; taking away Sign••uries, and giving them unto whom he pleaseth, the deprived party not daring to express the least discontent. By them so reverenced, that it was antiently a custom, if the King were blind, or lame, or maimed, for the Subject to inflict on his own body the like impression: still had in so much honour by the greatest Subject, that at his bare name they bow their bodies, and touch the ground with one of their fingers; and reverence his Pavilion as they pass by, though he be not in it. He on the other side seldom ap∣peareth to his Subjects but with his Crown upon his head, and a Silver Crucifix in his hand; his face then covered with a peece of Watchet-Taffata, which he lifteth up and putteth down, according as he is minded to grace the party with whom he talketh.

As for his Forces and Revenues, some of our late Observations speak nothing but wonders. Some say his Empire reacheth from the Red Sea to the Atlantick Occan, and from one Tropick to the other: Some, that he is of so great Riches, that he is able to purchase a moyetie of all the world, if it were to be sol; others, that he is able to raise for any present service a million of men; And he himself is said to have offered to the Portugals one million of money, and another of men, if they would im∣ploy it in a war against the Infidels. But notwithstanding these great brags, I cannot think this Em∣perour to be such a Miracle as some of these Reports have made of him: For they that speak most knowingly of his Revenues, affirm that the ordinary expences of his Court and Army being discharged, he coffereth up but three millions of Crowns per annum, which is no great matter; and upon extra∣ordinary emergencies of war and trouble, will be easily wasted, or brought into a narrower compass.

And yet to make up this Revenue, besides the Crown Lands or Demain Imperial. he laieth some Tax or other upon every house, receiveth the tenth of all that is digged out of their Mines, and levieth on the great Lords the Revenue of any one of their Towns, which he pleaseth to choose, so it be not that in which the Lords themselves inhabit.

This, though it be no great Intrado, considering the large extent of his Dominions, and form of his Government, yet it is greater in proportion then his Forces are. For notwithstanding the report of Alvarez, and his own great brag of raising a million of men for present service; it is well known that he was never able to advance half that number in his greatest necessity; and amongst those whom he can raise, there are but few who can deserve the name of Souldiers: for the people being poor and beggerly, and brought up in a servile and base condition, are naturally destitute of that courage and alacrity of spirit which should be in men professing Arms, or fit for noble undertakings; and are besides, on certain jealousies of State, so di••used from war, that they know not how to use their weapons when there is occasion. So that for my part I consider him as a weak and impuissant Prince, of no authority or influence out of his Dominions; nor able to defend himself from the continual incursions of his neighbours (some of them mean and petit Princes) which lie neerest to him. Land-locked on every side from traffick and commerce with the Seas, incroached upon Northward by the Turks; confronted on the West by the King of Borneo, who possesseth not a tenth part of the Land of Negroes; on the East continually bearded and baffled by the King of Adel, sometimes a Vassal of his own; and on the South with the Gallae a barbarous Nation of the other Aethiopia, who lay all waste before them wheresoever they come; and finally in these later times by his own Subjects also. Injuries not to be indured, had he power to help it.

But the chief Stay of this Estate, is an Order of Knighthood entituled by the name of S. Antony, to which every Father that is of the Degree of a Gentleman is to destinate one of his sons, if he have above two, but not the eldest. And out of these they cull about 12000 Horse, which are to be the standing Guard of the Emperours person: their Oath is, To defend the Frontiers of the Empire, to preserve Religion, and to make head against the Enemies of the Faith. The Abbats of this Order (for it is partly Religious, partly Military) live in the Mountain of Amara; where they have two Mona∣steries, as well for the training up of these Knights in the time of their youth, as their retirement when grown old and discharged from service.