Purchas his pilgrimes. part 1 In fiue bookes. The first, contayning the voyages and peregrinations made by ancient kings, patriarkes, apostles, philosophers, and others, to and thorow the remoter parts of the knowne world: enquiries also of languages and religions, especially of the moderne diuersified professions of Christianitie. The second, a description of all the circum-nauigations of the globe. The third, nauigations and voyages of English-men, alongst the coasts of Africa ... The fourth, English voyages beyond the East Indies, to the ilands of Iapan, China, Cauchinchina, the Philippinæ with others ... The fifth, nauigations, voyages, traffiques, discoueries, of the English nation in the easterne parts of the world ... The first part.

[ 30]

§. VII. Of Ezion Geber, Eloth, and the Red Sea: that of Edom it receiued that name, and communicated it to the Indian Ocean, by the Phoenician Nauigations frequent in those times to India.

ANd King Salomon made a Nauie of Ships in Ezion Geber, which is beside Eloth, on the shoare of the Red Sea in the Land of Edom, &c.* 1.1

This is the first and best testimonie of a holy Nauie. Noah had by Diuine Wisdome [ 40] and Precept built a Ship, which preserued the remainders of the Old, and beginnings of the New World, a figure of that Baptisme which now saueth vs by the resurrection of Iesus Christ. The Temple, a later and liuelier figure of Heauen and Saluation it selfe,* 1.2 must bee furnished with due materialls by a whole Fleet of Ships, which shall not saue alone from dangers, but crowne with fulnesse of ioy and glory; this typically then renewed by Salomon for new supplies euery Trinitie of yeares; but there the Eternall Trinitie shall at once bee the Temple, the Sunne,* 1.3 the excee∣ding great reward, and all in all for euer. No passage was found for Israel out of Egypt to the Wil∣dernesse (a type of the life by Faith) nor for abundance of the Temples riches the shadow of glo∣ry, but by the Red Sea; so meritorious is the blood of our Redeemer, which, by bloody sweat, whippings, and a thorny Crowne, welled Springs of the water of life out of all parts of his body; [ 50] out of his hands and feet yeelded the foure Riuers which watered the Paradise of God; out of his pierced side and heart flowed a sea, a Red Sea of water and bloud to saue, to enrich vs, to purchase our Iustification by Grace, and beginnings of Sanctification growing vnto perfect Glory.

But as all faire things are farre from easie possession, so is it with Heauen, and all her myste∣ries, so is it with vs in this Voyage of Salomon, to know where this Ezion-geber was, from whence he set sayle, and to come to that Ophir, where he made his Voyage: touching both which, things otherwise enough difficult are made the harder by those mysts, which disagreeing opinions haue raised in our way. The Text giueth three markes to know the first, that it was beside Eloth, on the shoare of the Red Sea, and in the Land of Edom. This third marke of Ezion-geber is delinea∣ted by Moses, Deut. 2.8. and before in Num. 33.35. made the two and thirtieth Station of the Is∣raelites [ 60] remouing, or march in the Wilde••nesse. And heerein our Maps of that Chapiter, were in the former Bibles much to blame, which are in that and other respects much amended, in the Map of the Holy Land added to the last Translation. Now that it was on the shoare of the Red Sea, and not on the Mediterranean, this Text proueth:* 1.4 and the conceite of Goropius in this kinde that denieth Idu••••aea to extend to the Red Sea, and auerreth that this Fleet was set forth from the

dumaean Mediterranaean shoare, it is as many other disputations of his, more full of industry then wit, of wit then learning, of learning then iudgement. Strange are his conceptions, and strong his disceptations▪ but hauing weake foundations (grounded commonly on names and wordes buried vnder succession of rubbishes) they proue in the end (as Ioseph Scaliger speaketh) but Doctae nugae, more wordy then worthy guides,* 1.5 which doe but verba dare. Againe, that Iosephus placeth Esion∣geber at Berenice, is either a marginall note of some nouice Geographer crept into the Text, or else an old error; for Bere••ice is on the Aegyptian shore, Esiongeber on the Arabian, Iosephus placeth it neere Elana: and in the Text Eloth is set a guide to Esiongeber. Now Eloth being writ∣ten in the holy tongue 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 and 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 was by transmigration shifted and remoued to diuers pronuntiations, a thing vsuall in Ebrew names, both of places and persons. Hee that seeth how [ 10] Iohn or Iames are transported in such vnlike sounds from the Originall, in Greeke, Latine, French, Dutch, Spanish, Italian, English, and other languages, in all so vnlike and diuersified, would scarcely acknowledge them brothers, or to haue any kindred either to the mother tongue, or in th••se many sister languages: and so is it commonly with other names.

Strabo calls it 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, Iosephus 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, the Latins Elana, and the Gulfe or Bay neere to it is termed Elaniticus.* 1.6 O•• this place how it lieth▪ and how the Ancients were deceiued, you haue the Relations of Don Iohn Di Castro, from his owne eyes and learned iudgement, supposed to bee the same which is now called El Tor,* 1.7 or Toro. Yea the Red Sea is likeliest to haue receiued that name from Edom, as the Pamphilian, Ionian, Tyrrhene, Brittish, and other Seas are ordinarily so named of the Principall shoares they wash.* 1.8 Castro hath better examined the rednesse then any [ 20] man, and compared the Moderne and Ancient opinions with his owne eyes. And for a Booke-traueller, I must needs applaud Master Fuller, Our Country-man, who in the last Chapiter of the fourth Book of his Miscellanea Sacra▪ hath mustered the testimonies of the Ancients together, and ascribeth the name of Red-sea to Edom,* 1.9 of whom Idumaea tooke name, and of him and it, this Sea. For Ptolemey's Idumea is farre short o•• the Ancient, which contained also Nabathaea and their Citie Petra,* 1.10 whence Arabia Petrea receiued the name; Esaus Sword, (of which his Father had prophes••ed) conquering to both Seas.

This Edom or Esa•• was that Erythras, which the Grecians mention to haue giuen name to that Sea,* 1.11 by translating Edom into Erythras or Erythraeus, as Cephas into Petrus. Postellus had stumbled on this Note, which Fuller more fully and learnedly hath opened, as other things also pertaining to our purpose. That there is a rednesse in some parts of that Sea, by reason of the cleerenesse of [ 30] the water, and abundance of a kind of red Corrall, branching it selfe on the transparant bottoms, Castro hath made euident, but that in a small part of that Sea; the like whereof happneth in other Seas of cleerest waters, which show white from sands, greene from weeds, particoloured with pleasant diuersified hue, as Pineda citeth the testimony of Ferandez obserued neere to Carthagena in America, euery Stone, Shell, or whatsoeuer else was in the bottom, in those liquid waues yeelding so pleasant and various a tincture,* 1.12 as his many Nauigations had no where else obserued; an•• Captaine Saris in this Sea, called anciently Erythraean (which name, besides the Arabike and Persian Gulfes, contained the Indian Ocean, so named as it seemeth, from the frequent Nauigati∣ons out of Eloth and Esion Geber in Edom vnto India) was one night almost terrified with a glare [ 40] yeelding light to discerne Letters,* 1.13 suspected to bee some breach, and proued nothing but Cuttle Fish in the bottome.

But to returne to our Red Sea, Agatharchides in Photius his Bibliotheca, saith it is not called Red of the colour, but 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 of some man which there ruled. The Scriptures call it Siph, Suph, or Souph, translated algosum, caricosum, iuncosum, (to which accordeth Martialls Verse; Quicquid Erythraea niger inuenit Indus in alga) it seemes of the abundance of Rushes and Weeds there growing. The Moores, Turkes, and Traders thereof in later times call it the Sea of Mecca: Mela mentioneth the colour, and the King Eryhras there reigning; Plinie addes for the name, The Sunnes repercussion from the Sand and Land; Strabo cites the same out of Eratosthenes, with a tale of Ctesias of a Fountaine emptying his red-okerie waters thereinto, and the Relation of Boxus a Persian, that Erythras a Persian planted a Persian Colonie in an Iland thereof. Ouranius [ 50] in Stephanus tells of the red adioyning Mountaines: the Poets haue their Perseus, and others their other conceits and deceits, which I leaue to their Authors, as also Pinedas * 1.14 later deuice. The na∣ture of that Sea is better deliuered in the voyages of Castro, Midleton, Saris, Dounton, Haines, and others in these our Nauigations. But for Eloth and Esiongeber, Master Fuller is of opinion that Salomon in his great Wisdome, wanting fit Mariners, sent to Hiram for Tyrians and Phaenicians, and that a large Colonie was sent by Hiram to inhabit those parts, then subiect to King Salomon, by which meanes Solomon and Hiram enter into societie for the Indian traff••ck by that Sea of Edom, so to get the riches of the East in possession. This Colonie numerous and strong he placeth at Esiongeber the Arsenal, or fittest place of building Ships, and at Eloth the fittest Port, Mart, and Staple for the Indian merchandise. Thus hee, and very probably: adding that the Hebrew Aelath [ 60] in the singular▪ and Aeloth in the plurall number, was by the Phenicians turned into Ailath, whose singular is Aila, and plurall Ailan: thence the Greekes Ailae, Ailana, Eilane, Elana, and the Lati••s Aelana, and by inuersion Laeana. This Phaenician Colonie hee obserueth to haue beene of most

name of all other the Inhabitants thereof. For the Iewish yoke was soone shaken off by the Edo∣mites themselues, after Iehoshaphats death, Iehoram rebelling against God,* 1.15 and the Edomites against him. After that Azariah recouered Elath and built it. It continued not long, but Rezin King of Sy∣ria recouered Elath to Syria, and draue the Iewes from Elath, and * 1.16 the Syrians came to Elath, and dwelt there to this day. Thus the Iewes which were the Lords, and receiued the Customes, were expelled; but the Idumaean Natiues and Phaenicians, which might bee vsefull to the conquerours remained, the Tyrians being Syrophaenicians, and speaking the Syrian language, and by their mer∣chandising so profitable to their Kings.

This Elath was after called Albu•• Pagus, by Strabo called the chiefe Mart of the Nabataeans, whence the Indian and Arabian Merchandise was carried to Petra, thence to Rhinoculur•• in [ 10] Phaenicia neere Egypt, and thence dispersed to other places. Thus in the times before the Ptole∣meys. But in Salomons time, and whiles the Iewes ruled there,* 1.17 they were brought to Ierusalem and to Tyrus; and after that to Myos Hormos and Berenice, Aegyptian Ports on the other side of the Red Sea, to be thence conuayed to Alexandria.* 1.18 Arrianus in his time mentioneth the Gar∣rison at Albus Pagus and Custome there taken, the transporting of wares thence to Petra, not∣withstanding the Egyptian flourishing. Saint Ierom also placeth Ailat In extremis finibus Palesti∣nae, adioyning to the Wildernesse and the Red Sea:* 1.19 Vnde ex Aegypto in Indiam & inde ad Aegyp∣tum nauigatur. Sedet-autem ibi legio Romana cognomento Decima; Et olim quidem Ailat à veteribus dicebatur, nunc vero appellatur Aila.

[ 20] Ptolemey placeth Phaenicum oppidum, not far from Elana;* 1.20 the Ile Astarte is a Phaenician memorial also; Plinie mentioneth Gens Tyra, and Herodotus the Syrians on the Red Sea shoare; that I pursue no other Antiquities. These Tyrians it seemeth first began the sailing of the Indian Seas, and Habi∣tation on the Arabian shoares, instructed by the Wisdome, and procured by the Friendship of Sa∣lomon with Hiram: which they continued vnder many State-changes, till the Mahumetan times, the Staple of those Indian Merchandises being altered after the Iewish times, with the chiefe Mo∣narchies, Assyrian, Babylonian, Persian, Ptolemaean, Roman.* 1.21 And this is the onely Phoenix-neast made of sweet Spices, in Nature false (for God made all Fowles at first, and after brought to, and out of the Arke, in both sexes, male and female) but true in this Alegory, the Phaenicians of all the Nations known, being the only skilful Mariners in the Arabian and Indian seas, and from the one, [ 30] by the other, bringing the Spices and Riches of the East into the West, that skill being euer com∣municated not by Generation, but by Industry;* 1.22 which made Tyru•• (as Ezekiel describeth it) the Phoenix indeed of all Cities of Trade in the World. Master Fuller learnedly addeth the Fables of Bacchus and Hercules their Indian Expeditions, to this of Salomon and Hiram,* 1.23 Hercules being adored of the one, and Iehoua of the other, which name by Heathens was peruerted to 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 and 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 names of Bacchus in Hesychius; which agreeth to Plutarchs conceit, that the Iewes worshipped Bacchus on their Sabbaths, and deriueth the name Sabbatum from 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉,* 1.24 and 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, a name of Bacchus, as his Priests were termed 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉. Now for that Gulfe in which Strabo placeth Elana, and calls it therefore Elaniticus, and another towardes Egypt, I referre you to Castros following relations, which better knew those parts then Strabo could; Gaza by Stra∣bo [ 40] and Plinies reckoning seemeth to bee about one hundred and fiftie of our miles or more from thence. Salomon went in Progresse to take care of this his Ophirian Fleet from Ierusalem to Esi∣on-geber, almost as farre as from London to Yorke.

Asion Geber in Saint Ieroms interpretation signifieth ligna viri, aut lignationes viri, aut dolationes hominis, 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉;* 1.25 whence some gather that much Timber grew there vsefull for building of Ships: perhaps, and I rather beleeue, for the Timbers brought thither as to an arsenall or store-yard for that purpose. For as Woods agree not with Moses his Wildernesse, so I find little men∣tion of Wood in all the Arabike shoare; at lest, later times haue knowne none there. And Soli∣man the Great Turke, A. 1538. is said to haue brought the materialls of the great Fleet which hee built at Sues in the Red Sea, to inuade Dium and expell the Portugalls out of India, from re∣mote Regions, Materiam ex longinquis colligi iussit (Damianus à Goes is our Author) illam{que} sump∣tu inaestimabili ad mare rubrum vebi curauit. Comito Venetiano, who with other Venetians were [ 50] forced to that seruice out of their Ships at Alexandria to goe to Cairo and Sues,* 1.26 more particular∣ly rela••eth that Sues is in a Desert place where no Hearb of any sort groweth, where the Arma∣da for India was made, and all the Timbers, Ironworkes, Tackling, Munitions were brought from Satalia and Constantinople by Sea to Alexandria, and thence carried on the Nile by Zerme (Boats, or Rafts) to Cairo, and thence on Camells to Sues. This Voyage is eightie miles▪ in which is nei∣ther habitation, nor water, nor any thing for life: they carry Nilus water on Camells when the Carouans goe thither. In the Pagans times, it was a great Citie and full of Cisternes, and had a trench from Nilus which filled all their Cisternes, destroyed by the Mahumetans▪ so that now they fetch their water sixe miles off from brackish Wells. There the Turke built a Fleet of seuen∣tie [ 60] six Vessells of all sorts, &c.

Don Iohn di Castro speakes of this Fleet of Salomon, and sayth, the Timber whereof it was made was brought from Libanon and Antilibanon (so little signe saw hee, or heard of any Trees or Wood•• in these parts) and saith, that from Toro all the Coast is West, and without any Port

[illustration]

HONDIVS his Map of the Deserts and Israels Pere∣grination therein.

but Sues, and that therefore Cleopatras Fleet was brought by Land from Nilus, to Sues ouer the Isthmos. This is in 29. degrees 45. minutes, supposed Arsino•• of the Ancients, Some say, Ciuitas Heroum; and said to be the Turkes Arsenale for his Armada, for those Seas, the Materials being brought from Caramania: which at Castros being there, consisted of one and forty great Gallies and nine great Ships. It seemeth by Sir Henry Middletons Story following, that their strength in those Seas is weake in later times. As that whole Wildernesse yeelded nothing for mans life, but their food was Manna from Heauen, and their apparell was by heauenly power preserued, so here Salomons wisdome is freely giuen, and his Materials for an Ophirian Fleet, and Temple stru∣cture must be not naturally there growing. His Mariners also must be borrowed, to shew that [ 50] the iust liue by faith, and in matters of grace, wee haue nothing which wee haue not receiued, not growing out of the naturall powers of free will,* 1.27 but framed out of the will freed by diuine grace, agreeing to which Mystery nothing of the Temple was framed in Moriah, nor the noyse of a Hammer once heard; the Tabernacle before built also of Egyptian spoyles; and Israel inheri∣ted Cities which they builded not, and Vineyards planted by them: and lastly, Christ himselfe was crucified without the gate, that neither Iew nor Ierusalem may challenge either Monopoly or Merit, but all may bee ascribed to meere mercie and free grace, Non nobis domine, not to vs Lord, not to vs but to thy Name be giuen the glory.

[ 60]

Notes

• * 1.1

  1. Reg. 9.26.
• * 1.2

  1. Pet. 3.21.
• * 1.3

  Apoc. 21.22, 23. Gen. 15.1. 1. Cor. 15.
• * 1.4

  I. G••rop Bec••••. Hispanic▪ l. 5.
• * 1.5

  Iosep· Antiq. l. 8. c. 2.
• * 1.6

  Str. l. 16.
• * 1.7

  See li 7. c. 6 §. 4.5▪ lib. 8. c. 13.
• * 1.8

  See li. 7. c. 6. in fine.
• * 1.9

  Ge. 25.25, 30.
• * 1.10

  〈1 paragraph〉〈1 paragraph〉
• * 1.11

  P••st. de Origini∣••us.
• * 1.12

  See Satis his voyage l. 4. c. 1. §. 3.
• * 1.13

  Phot. Bib. Co. 1322. & seq. Mela de siti•• orbis 3.7. P••in. l. 6. c. 23. Strab. 16
• * 1.14

  Pineda de reb. Salom. li. 4. c. 10. thinketh this Red Sea to be so named of Red Weeds growing there∣in, so ioyning Suph and Ery∣thraeum in one speculation. But those red Herbs are his creatures: or neither he ci∣teth, not can I find any au∣thentike Au∣thor for them. Agatharchides in Phot••us hath 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉.
• * 1.15

  2. Chron▪ 21.8. 2 Re••. 14.22. 2 Reg. 16.6.
• * 1.16

  The Editiō of Brix••••nus hath Idumae: & Syri venerunt, &c. to which a Manuscript of M. Fuller a∣greeth.
• * 1.17

  S••r. l▪ 16.
• * 1.18

  Arriani Peripl••••
• * 1.19

  Hier. de loc. Heb.
• * 1.20

  He which will see more of these Antiqui∣ties let him read M. Fuller.
• * 1.21

  Mystery of the Phoenix.
• * 1.22

  Ezek. 27. & 28.
• * 1.23

  Originall of the ••ables of Bacchus and Hercules.
• * 1.24

  Take away the Greeke ter∣mination and it is euident. P••ut. Symp••s l. ••▪ One makes it 157. & a halfe, the other 150.
• * 1.25

  Hieron. Epist. ad Fabiol.
• * 1.26

  Co••. Venet. Ram. To. 1. See inf. l. 8. c. 1•• of th••se De∣serts and of Sues. Satalia is in Pamphil••a and another (some say) in Cilici••▪
• * 1.27

  1. Cor. 7.4.