Purchas his pilgrimes. part 2 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.

§. I.

MATTHEW the Ambassadour of PRETE IANNI, is conducted by the Portugals vnto the Hauen of Maczua in the red Sea, and what hapned to his death.

WHereas I said that I went with Edward Galuano (whom God pardon) true it is that * 1.1 I did so, and he died in Comoran, an Ile of the red Sea, neither tooke his Ambassage [ 30] any effect, during the time that Lopez Suarez was Captaine generall of the Indies. Diego Lopez de Sequeira succeeding Suarez in the gouernment of India, effected that which Lopez Suarez would neuer execute, to wit, the conducting of Matthew (who was sent Ambassadour from Prete Ianni to the King of Portugall) to the Hauen of Maczua, neere vnto Ercoco, being a Port-towne of Prete Ianni. This Diego Lopez prepared a goodly and great Fleet, wherewith we sailed into the red Sea, and arriued at the said Iland of Maczua on Mun∣day in the Octaues of Easter, the sixteenth of the moneth of Aprill, in the yeere 1520. which Iland we found abandoned and forsaken by the Inhabitants, because that fiue or sixe dayes be∣fore they had knowledge of our comming. This Ile is distant from the Continent about two Crosbow-shots, whither the Moores of the said Iland were fled with their goods. Our Fleet [ 40] therefore riding betweene the Continent and the Iland. The Tuesday following, there came vnto vs one Christian and a Moore from the Towne of Ercoco. The Christian said that the Towne of Ercoco belonged to the Christians, and was vnder the Iurisdiction of a great Lord, called Bar∣nagasso, being subiect vnto Prete Ianni; and that the Inhabitants of this Ile of Maczua, and of Ercoco, when the Turkes came thither, fled all into the Mountaines; but at this present they would not flee away, hauing vnderstood that wee were Christians. Our Generall hauing heard thus much, gaue thankes to God, that he was come to the happie knowledge of Chri∣stians; and this procured great fauour vnto Matthew, which before that time was little ac∣counted of.

2. The day following being Wednesday, the Captaine of the said Towne of Ercoco came to [ 50] speake with our Generall, and presented foure Oxen vnto him, and the Generall gaue him ve∣ry courteous and honourable entertainment.

Twentie or foure and twentie miles from this place standeth a very high Mountaine, with * 1.2 a famous Monasterie thereupon, which Matthew oftentimes made mention of, being called the Monasterie of Bisan, that is, Of the Vision. The Friars of this Monasterie hauing knowledge of vs, came seuen of them the Thursday after the Octaues, to visite vs; whom our Generall and all his people went on shoare to meet, with great ioy and gladnesse: and they seemed to re∣ioyce no lesse; and said, that they had long time looked for Christians, because they had certaine Prophesies in their written Booke, which foretold that Christians should arriue at this Hauen, * 1.3 and that a pit should there be digged, after the opening whereof, no more Moores should dwell in that [ 60] place: with many other Speeches tending to the like purpose. At all these things the Ambas∣sadour Matthew was present, whom the foresaid Friars did greatly honour, kissing his hands and his shoulders, according to their manner; and he, on the other side, tooke great delight in them also. These Friars said that they obserued then the Feast of Easter, and eight dayes next en∣suing,

and that during those eight dayes they vsed neither to trauell, nor to doe any other work; but so soone as they heard say that Christians were arriued at that Hauen (a thing which they * 1.4 so earnestly desired) they craued licence of their Superiour to vndertake this iourney for the seruice of God, and that Barnagasso was likewise informed of our arriuall, but that he would not set forward out of his house till eight dayes after Easter.

3. These Friars vse to carrie Crosses in their hands, and other people weare them about their neckes, made of blacke wood, and all our companie bought of the same Crosses which they weare about their neckes, because it was a new thing, and not vsuall amongst vs. While these Friars abode with vs, the Generall commanded one Fernando Diaz, which vnderstood the Arabike Tongue, to goe and view their Monasterie. [ 10]

4. On Tuesday the foure and twentieth of Aprill, Barnagasso came to the Towne of Er∣coco, * 1.5 and gaue vs aduertisement of his arriuall. Order was taken, that they should meet one an∣other in the mid-way. Barnagasso came thither first, but he would not come to the place which * 1.6 was prepared for him. The Generall being lighted, seing that he would not come thither, cau∣sed the preparatiues to be carried before neere vnto the place where he stood: which againe, to maintayne his grandure and reputation, would not once stirre with his people to come vnto the place prepared, so that the said Anthonie de Saldanza and Matthew the Ambassadour, were con∣strained to returne againe, which in the end resolued, that both of them at one instant, should set forward, that is to say, the Generall and Barnagasso, and so they did, meeting together and * 1.7 conferring in a large champaine field, as they sate on the ground vpon certaine Carpets. And [ 20] among many discourses that they had together, giuing thankes to God for this their enteruiew. Barnagasso taking a Crosse of Siluer in his hand (which was there readie for the same purpose) said, that he sware vpon the signe of the Crosse, vpon which our Lord suffered his Passion, in the Name of Prete Ianni his Master, that he would alwaies fauour and aide the people and af∣faires of the King of Portugals, and also assist his Captaines which should arriue at that Hauen, or in any other Hauens or Lands, where it lay in him to aide and assist them, and likewise that he would take into his protection the Ambassadour Matthew, and other Ambassadours, which it pleased the Generall to send into the Kingdomes and Dominions of Prete Ianni, with all such people and goods as they should carrie with them.

The Generall sware, on the other part, to doe the like for the Subiects and Affaires of Prete * 1.8 Ianni, and of Barnagasso, there and in euery place where he should find them, and that the rest [ 30] of the Captaines and Lords of the King of Portugall should doe the like. The Generall gaue vn∣to Barnagasso a faire Armour, and certaine pieces of cloth of Silke; and Barnagasso gaue vnto the Generall a faire Horse and a Mule: and so they departed glad and contented on either part.

This Barnagasso had in his traine two hundred persons mounted vpon Horses and Mules, and two thousand Footmen. Our Gentlemen and Captaines seeing these so good newes which God had sent vs, and that a doore was opened to exalt the Catholike Faith, whereof afore wee had small hope of any successe, all men holding this Matthew for no true Ambassadour, but for a false man and a Counterfeit, whereupon they were onely of opinion to put him on Land, and let him goe his way, when they had seene these things (as wee haue said before) they all rouzed vp [ 40] themselues, requesting the Generall of his fauour, that hee would suffer them to goe with the said Matthew to Prete Ianni, in that Ambassage; considering that by that which they had seene, it was perfectly knowne that the said Matthew was a true Ambassadour. And albeit, many re∣quested this charge, yet was it granted to Roderigo de Lima: and the Generall appointed cer∣taine * 1.9 that should goe with him, which were these, George de Breu, Lopez de Gama, Iohn Scolaro Secretarie of the Ambassage, Iohn Gonsaluez Interpretor and Factor of the same Ambassage, E∣munuel de Mares an Organist, Pedro Lopez, Master Iohn the Physician, Gaspar Pereira, Stephen Pagliarte, both Kinsmen of Don Roderigo, Iohn Fernandez, Lazarus de Andrada Painter, Alfonso Menzdez, and my selfe, Francis Aluarez Priest, though vnworthy. All we before mentioned * 1.10 went in the company of Don Roderigo, and likewise, three Portugals accompanied Matthew, [ 50] of whom, the one was named Magaglianes, another Aluarenga, the third, Diego Fernandez, Pre∣sents also were prouided.

We went to Ercoco, where we were appointed by Barnagasso, which caused vs to lodge two or three Crosse-bow-shoots, distant from the Towne in a certaine Plaine, which is at the foot of a Mountaine, whither immediately hee sent vs of free gift an Oxe, and Bread and Wine of the Countrie. We stayed there, because in that place they were to prouide vs of Horses and Camels to carrie our goods. This was vpon a Friday, and because in this Countrey they ob∣serue the old and the new Law, we rested the Saturday and the Sunday to keepe both those dayes holy. * 1.11

In this meane space, the Ambassador Matthew, dealt very effectually with Don Rodorigo, and [ 60] with vs all, not to stay with Barnagasso, although hee were a great Lord, but that it was farre better to goe vnto the Monastery of the Vision, where wee should haue farre better dispatch. Whereupon, giuing him to vnderstand, that wee were not to stay with him, hee departed and went his way, neuerthelesse hee gaue vs fourteene Horses and tenne Camels to carrie our goods.

6. We departed out of this Plaine, neere vnto the Towne of Ercoco; on Munday, the thirtieth of Aprill, wee trauelled not aboue two miles from that place, but that wee rested about noone, * 1.12 neere vnto a Riuer which was dryed vp, which had no water sauing in certaine small Pits. And because the Countrey through which we were to trauell, was dry and barren, and the heate ex∣treame; each of vs carried with him his Vessels and Bottles of Leather full of water. Vpon the bankes of this Riuer grew many trees of diuers sorts, among which were Sallowes, and trees of bearing the fruit, called Iuiuba, with other fruitlesse trees. While we rested by this Riuer, about * 1.13 noone there came a Gentleman vnto vs, named Framasgual, which in our Language signifieth, The Seruant of the Crosse, who in his blacknesse was so faire, that he seemed to be a Gentleman * 1.14 indeed, and they said that he was allyed to Barnagasso, that is to say, his Wiues Brother. Before [ 10] he came at vs, he lighted from his Horse, because this is their custome, and they vse it also for a courtesie. The Ambassadour Matthew, hearing of his comming, said he was a Thiefe, and came to rob vs, and that we should all betake vs to our Weapons; and Matthew himselfe caught vp * 1.15 his Sword, and put on his Head-piece. Framasqual hearing this noyse, sent to craue leaue to come vnto vs, and though he could not obtaine it of Matthew, yet neuerthelesse; he came vn∣to vs as a man well brought vp and very courteous, and as one that had beene conuersant at the Court. This Gentleman had a very good Horse before him, and a faire Mule whereon hee rode, and foure men which went by him on foot.

7. From this Lodging we departed all together, and the said Gentleman riding vpon his Mule with his Horse before him, accosted our Ambassadour, Don Roderigo with his Interpreter, and they rode a great while conferring and deuising together. Hee was in his conference and in his [ 20] answeres very gentle, and courteous, and the Ambassadour tooke singular delight in him. Wee * 1.16 found a Carauan of Camels and people, which came from Ercoco, because they trauell not but in Carauans for feare of theeues. Wee lodged all in a Wood where there was water, being an ordinary place for Carauans to lodge in, and the foresaid Framasqual remayned with vs, where we and those of the Carauan kept watch all night for feare of wild beasts. The next morning, * 1.17 we departed from this place, alwayes trauelling ouer dry Riuers and Brookes, most huge Moun∣taines standing on both sides of the way, with great Woods and Trees of diuers sorts, most beautifull and tall, the greatest part whereof were without fruit, and among them were some [ 30] which I my selfe knew, being called Tamarindi, which beare clusters of fruit like vnto Grapes, * 1.18 which being pressed are somewhat blacke, because they make Wine of them, some quantitie whereof they carrie vnto all their Faires, as they vse to make of Raisins. The Riuers and wayes whereby we passed, seemed to be high and ragged, which commeth to passe through the fury of * 1.19 the water of stormes and tempests mingled with Thunder, which waters hinder not the way, according as they told vs, and as we saw our selues in other places like vnto these. The remedie was at the time of these stormes to stay vpon the side of some Hill, the space of two houres, vntill the force of these stormes be runne downe. And how great and terrible soeuer these Ri∣uers became through the foresaid showres, the water is no sooner falne from the said Moun∣taines, [ 40] * 1.20 and come into the Plaine, but it is dispersed and soked vp, and neuer commeth vnto the Sea: neither could we learne that any Riuer of Aethiopia ente••••th into the Red Sea, but that all of them haue their ending, as soone as they come to the low and plaine fields.

Vpon these Mountaines and Rockes, are many beasts of diuers kinds, as we our selues saw, to * 1.21 wit, Elephants, Lions, Tygres, Buffes, Badgers, Ante, Deere without number, and other beasts of all sorts, sauing two, which I neither saw, nor heard to be in those parts, that is to say, Beares, and Conies. There are likewise all kind of singing Birds, which may be imagined, and also Par∣tridges, Quailes, wild Hens, Doues, and Turtles, in such incredible numbers, that they couered the Sunne, of all those sorts which are in our parts, sauing that I saw no Pyes, nor Cuckoes. All along these Riuers and Rockes I saw great plentie of sweet Herbes, which I knew not, sa∣uing * 1.22 onely Basill, whereof there was exceeding store, which yeelded a fragrant and sweet smell, [ 50] and had leaues of diuers sorts.

8. The time of resting our selues being come, Matthew determined to cause vs a-new to leaue the high way, and to trauel with him toward the Monasterie of the Vision, through Mountaines and Woods exceeding full of high Trees.

We departed from this Lodging, and trauelled through a more rough and craggie Countrey, * 1.23 and through farre greater and thicker Woods, being our selues on foot, and our Mules before vs, which were not able to trauell. The Camels yelled out as though they had beene possessed with Deuils. It seemed, to vs all, that Matthew had brought vs into this way, eyther to make vs lose our liues or our goods, for in that place we could doe no other but call vpon God to helpe vs; and the Woods were so darke and fearefull, that Spirits would haue beene afraid to passe [ 60] them. We saw many sauage and cruell beasts at noone-dayes, passing this way and that way, without being any whit afraid of vs. For all this we went forward, and began to find people of the Countrey, which kept their fields that were sowne with Millet, and came farre off to sow * 1.24 it vpon these high and craggie Mountaynes. We saw likewise many Herds of goodly Oxen, * 1.25 and Goats feeding. The said people which we found there, were all naked, and ••••d in a manner,

no part of their bodies. They were very blacke, and were said to be Christians. They had their Wiues with them, which couered their Priuities with a ragge of cloth halfe torne. These wo∣men weare vpon their heads a kind of attyre, made after the fashion of a Crowne, as blacke as Pitch, and their haire bound vp in round wreathes like Kandles of Tallow: the blacknesse of these attyres, with these Lockes of haire fastned vnto them, seemed a very strange thing to be∣hold. The men weare a piece of skinne before their Priuities.

Thus trauelling forward through many other Woods which could hardly be passed, and wee our selues lighting on foot, and vnlading our Camels there met vs tenne or twelue Friers of the Monasterie of the Vision, among whom, there was foure or fiue very aged, and one older then the rest, whom all the rest did reuerence, and kissed his hands; and our selues did the like, be∣cause [ 10] Matthew told vs that he was their Bishop, but afterward we knew that he was no Bishop; * 1.26 but that he had the Title of Dauid, which signifieth, a Warden; & that in the Monasterie there was another aboue him, whom they call Abba, which signifieth a Father, beeing like vnto a Prō∣uinciall, and in regard of their age and drynesse (for they were as dry as a stocke) they seemed to be men of a holy life at the first blast. The foresaid Friers trauelled through the Woods to gather their Millet which they had sowed, as also to gather vp their Roots, which are payed vnto them by such as sow Corne in those Mountaines and Woods. Their apparell was made of dressed Goat-skinnes, others weare apparell made of old yellow Cotton, and went bare-foot. From hence we departed not till our Camels had rested a little: afterward, within the space of halfe a mile, we came to the foot of a very rough and cragged Mountaine, vpon the which our Camels [ 20] * 1.27 could not ascend, and hardly the Mules without their burthens, and heere wee rested our selues at the foot of a Tree.

9. The next day the Ambassador Matthew commanded his goods to be laden vpon the backs of Negroes, to carry them into a small Monasterie, halfe a league distant from vs, called Saint Michael de Is••o. Here Framasqual departed from vs, and wee came vnto the Monasterie halfe dead, as well for the roughnesse and steepnesse of the way, as also because of the great heat. * 1.28

While we aboad there, the said Matthew came vnto vs with a counter-mand, and said vnto vs, that he had written vnto the Court of Prete Ianni, and to Queene Helena, and to Marke the Patriarke, and that the answere could not bee returned in lesse then fortie dayes, and that without the same we could not depart, because from that place they were to furnish vs, and to [ 30] haue Mules for vs, and for our goods; neither was he well assured of the performance of this, but said that Winter began to approach, which lasted about the space of three monethes, wherein we could not trauell, and that therefore it was needfull, that wee should prouide victuals for our selues: for three monethes in the Winter they trauell not in these Countries, to wit, from the midst of Iune to the midst of September, which is their ordinarie Winter. Within a * 1.29 short space after our arriuall here, our people as well Portugals as slaues fell so sick, that few or none escaped vntouched, and many were sicke to the point of death, insomuch that they stood in need often to be let bloud and to be purged. Among the first, Master Iohn our Physician fell sicke, which was all our humane helpe, yet it pleased God that he recouered, and from that time forward he laboured for vs with all his power. [ 40]

Among these, Matthew the Ambassadour fell sicke also, which had many Medicines mini∣stred vnto him, and when he seemed to be very well recouered and strong, he rose vp and com∣manded his goods to be carryed to a Towne belonging to the Monasterie of the Vision, where he yeelded vp his spirit vnto our Lord, which was the foure and twentieth of May, Anno Dom. * 1.30 1520. and I confessed him, and ministred the Communion vnto him, and he made his will in the Portugall Tongue, but it was also made in the Abassin Tongue, by a Frier of the said Monastery. We caused the corps to bee buried very honorably in the said Monastery, where wee said Ser∣uice and Masse for him according to our custome, and the Friers did the like according to theirs.

10. Wee determined, to send to request Barnagasso, that hee would giue vs some meanes to returne into our Countrey, to the end wee might not perish in that place. The Friers vn∣derstanding [ 50] this, tooke it in very ill part, and calling Don Roderigo aside, perswaded him not to send thither, praying him to attend the comming of the Prouinciall, which would bee within * 1.31 ten dayes, and if he come not, they would furnish vs with necessaries for our iournies. And because they are people of small trust themselues, they gaue no credit vnto vs, although the Ambassadour had promised them to doe so, but sought to minister an Oath vnto each of vs vpon a Crucifixe, that we would stay during those tenne dayes, and they likewise tooke an Oath to performe that which they had promised. [ 60]

Notes

• * 1.1

  The Chapters, as they are di∣uided in Ramu∣sio, are expres∣sed by the fi∣gures in the beginnings of the lines: which method I haue reduced to our wonted forme of Para∣graphs lost so many diuisions should make the Booke to swell ouer∣much. Maczua or Mazua. Ercoco. 1520. Earnagasso. Matthew the Ambassadour of the Abassine.
• * 1.2

  The Monaste∣rie of Bisan.
• * 1.3

  Prophesies.
• * 1.4

  Easter Rites by Monkes.
• * 1.5

  Comming of Barnagasso.
• * 1.6

  State obserued
• * 1.7

  League confir∣med by Oath.
• * 1.8

  Mutuall gifts.
• * 1.9

  Roderigo de Lima, sent to the Prete in Embassage.
• * 1.10

  The vse of a Painter in dis∣coueries.
• * 1.11

  Saturday and Sunday Sab∣baths.
• * 1.12

  Drought, heat, barrennesse.
• * 1.13

  Giuggiole.
• * 1.14

  A Gentleman.
• * 1.15

  Matthew suspi∣cious.
• * 1.16

  A Carauan.
• * 1.17

  Dry Riuers. Mountaines and Woods.
• * 1.18

  Tamarinds.
• * 1.19

  Furious storms and thunders.
• * 1.20

  Strange sud∣dennesse of showres.
• * 1.21

  Many beasts. Ante a kind of beast. No Beares nox Conies.
• * 1.22

  Store of Basill and sweet Herbs.
• * 1.23

  Matthews per∣uersenesse to lead them way-less•• wayes: con∣trary to Fra∣masquals liking Wild beasts.
• * 1.24

  Millet.
• * 1.25

  Naked people.
• * 1.26

  Matthew false. Dauid & Abba.
• * 1.27

  Inaccessible Mountaine.
• * 1.28

  S. Michael de Is••o.
• * 1.29

  Their Winter from Iune to September. They fall sicke.
• * 1.30

  Matthew dieth. The death of Matthew, the Abassine Am∣bassadour.
• * 1.31

  Abassines vn∣trustie, and therefore mi∣strustfull.