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.

A Copie of the Letter which Prete Ianni writ to Don Diego Lopez de Sequiera, which was deliuered to Lopez Vaz of Saint Paul, his Successour in the gouernment of the Indies.

IN the Name of God the Father, which hath beene alwayes, who hath no beginning; In the Name [ 40] of his onely begotten Sonne, which is like vnto him, before the light of the Starres was seene, and be fore the foundation of the Ocean Sea was laid, who was conceiued at another time in the Virgins wombe, without the Seede of Man, and without Marriages, for after this sort was the vnderstanding of his Office: in the Name of the Holy Ghost the Comforter, which knoweth all secrets, whatsoeuer they bee, that is to say, of all the heighths of the Heauen, which is sustayned without any pillars or props, and hath amplifieth the Earth, which before was neither created nor knowne, from the East vnto the West, and from the North vnto the South. And of these three Persons, none is afore or after another, but is a Trinitie, contayned in one eternall Creator of all things, by one sole Counsell, and one onely Word eternally. Amen.

These Letters and Ambassages are sent from mee Atani Tingil, that is by interpretation, The [ 50] Incense of the Uirgin (for so was I named at the day of my Christning) but now am called Dauid, the Head of my Kingdomes of the higher and larger Ethiopia, the beloued of God, the Pillar of the Faith, descended of the Stocke of Iuda, the Sonne of Dauid, the Sonne of Salomon, the Sonne of the pillar of Sion, the Sonne of the Seede of Iacob, the Sonne of the Hand of Mary, the Sonne of Nahu, according to the flesh; To Diego Lopez de Sequeira, Grand Captaine of the Indies. I haue vnderstood, that albeit you are subiect vnto a King, yet neuerthelesse, that you are a Conquerour in all enterprizes, which are committed to you, and are not afraid of the innumerable forces of the Moores, hauing subdued For∣tune, with the Armes of the holy Faith, and that you cannot be vanquished of any secret things, being armed with the Truth of the Gospell, and resting your selfe vpon the Speare, which carrieth the Banner of the Crosse, for which cause the Lord be alwayes blessed, which hath fulfilled our ioy for the loue of our [ 60] Lord Iesus Christ.

Upon your comming into these parts, you certified vs of the ambassage of the King your Lord, Don Emanuel, and of the Presents which you haue preserued with so great trauell in your ships, hauing indured great Windes and Stormes, as well by Sea as by Land, wherein you haue come from so farre

Countreyes to subdue the Moores and Pagans, conducting and gouerning your Ships whither soeuer you thinke good, which is wonderfull to consider: and aboue all things, that you haue beene two whole yeeres in Warre vpon the Seas, enduring so great trauell, taking rest neither day nor night; considering, that the actions of Man, according to the vsuall custome, are done in the day-time, as to buy, to sell, to trauell by the way, and the night is made to sleepe, and to take rest, as the Scripture saith; The day is * 1.1 made for Men to doe their businesse, from the morning vnto the euening, and the Lions roaring after their prey, doe seeke their meate at God; and when the Sunne ariseth, they get them a∣way together, and lay them downe in their Dens: and so both Men and Beasts are wont to take their rests: yet neither sleepe hath ouercome you, nor the night, nor the day, when the Sunne ariseth, for the loue which you beare vnto our holy Faith, as Saint Paul saith; Who shall separate vs from the * 1.2 [ 10] loue of Christ? Shall tribulation, or anguish, or persecution, or famine, or nakednesse, or perill, or sword. And the Apostle Saint Iames saith: Blessed is the man that endureth temptation; for when he is tried he shall receiue the Crowne of Life, which the Lord hath promised to them that loue him. God fulfill your desires, and giue you prosperitie, and bring you safe and sound vnto King Don Emanuel, your Lord, and remooue the Moores out of your sight, which you haue vanquish∣ed, because they beleeue not in the Faith of our Lord Iesus Christ: and blessed be your men of Warre al∣so; for surely, they be Martyrs for our Lord Iesus Christs sake, for they die for hunger, for cold, and for heate, for his holy Names sake. Honorable Sir, when I vnderstood of your comming into our Coun∣tries, I greatly reioyced there at, and afterward vnderstanding of your sudden departure, I was not a little grieued. I reioyced also, when I was informed, that you had sent an Ambassadour vnto mee, and [ 20] praised the Name of God the Father, and of his Sonne Iesus Christ our Lord, especially for the good re∣port of you, which resoundeth on all sides, and because you were desirous to enter in〈…〉〈…〉 friendship with vs. And because (as I conceiue) your goodwill is such, I wish that you would vouch safe to fulfill the same, in sending vs Artificers which can worke in gold and siluer, and can make Swords, and Armour of Iron, and Head-peeces; and also Masons to build Houses, and men that are skilfull to plant and trim Vines after your manner, and to dresse Gardens, and are skilfull in all other Artes, which are best and most necessarie for the life of man, and also Worke-men to cast sheets of Lead for the couering of Churches, and Tile-makers for our houses, for we couer them with Grasse, and of these we stand in very great need, and for want of them we are alwaies in disquiet. I haue built a great Church, which is named the Tri∣nitie, wherein the body of my Father is buried, for his soule is in the hand of God, and the walls there∣of [ 30] (as your Ambassadour can declare vnto you) are good, and I would couer the same as soone as I could possibly, and would take away the Grasse which at this present is vpon it. For Gods sake, send mee of these Artificers, twelue at the least in euery Art: and yet for this you shall neuer want Crafts-men. And if they will stay with vs, they shall stay, and if they will depart, they shall depart, and I will pay them very bountifull for their paines, &c. This Towne of Zeila is the Hauen, whither all the Victuals doe come, which are transported into Aden, and so through all Arabia, and other Kingdomes and Coun∣tries, which cannot be furnished but onely with such Victuals as come from Zeila and Maczua, which are brought thither from our Kingdomes, and the Kingdomes of the Moores. And if you doe this, which I perswade you, you shall bring vnder your subiection the whole Kingdome of Aden, and all Ara∣bia, and other Kingdomes adioyning, without warre, or the death of any of your people, for taking vic∣tuals [ 40] from them, they will remaine besieged, and hunger-starued. And when you will wage warre against the Moores, acquaint mee with whatsoeuer you want; for I will send you great troopes of Horse-men and Archers, Victuals and Gold, and will come my selfe in person, and I and you will defeat the Moores and Pagans, for the aduancement of the holy Christian Faith.

Father Don Francisco is worthy of double reward, because hee is an holy man, and of an vpright conscience, and exceeding honest for the loue of God. Being fully acquainted with his good disposition, I haue giuen him a Iurisdiction, a Crosse, and a Staffe in his hand, which is a signe of authoritie, and haue made him an Abbot in our Dominions, and I would wish you to increase his honour, and to make him Bishop of Maczua, and of Zeila, and of all the Ilands of the Red Sea, and head of our Countries, because he is sufficient, and deserueth the like, or a greater office, &c. [ 50]

143. Wee departed from Ormuz in the fleet of Lopez Uaz of Saint Paul, the Grand Cap∣taine, * 1.3 because Don Hector de Siluiera was gone toward the Red Sea, to encounter the Ships of Mecca, which wintered in the Citie of Aden, as I said before: and being come out of the streit of Ormuz, we found that the Winter of India was past, and that wee might sayle without any Tempest, and we sailed to a Fortresse of the King our Lord, in the Countrey of Chaul, which * 1.4 is very pleasant, and aboundeth with Corne, which commeth from Cambaia, and of Oxen, Sheepe, Hennes, and infinite store of Fish, and many fruits of India, and Herbs of Gardens, made by our Portugals. Within few daies after, Don Hector de Siluiera returned, and brought * 1.5 with him three Ships of Mecca, which he had taken, with great riches of Gold, because as yet they had not brought their merchandize, and came to buy them in India, and all the Moores [ 60] which were young and lustie, that were taken in the said ships, they thrust into the Kings Gal∣lies, selling them at ten Duckets a man, which is the Kings ordinary price. The rest which were old and weake, were likewise sold for ten duckets a piece. Departing from thence, wee came vnto the Citie of Goa, the fiue and twentieth of Nouember, on Saint Katherines Euen. * 1.6

We departed from thence, and came to Cananor, where we stayed sixe daies, then wee went to * 1.7 Go••••in, where wee found Antonie Galuano, the Sonne of Edward Galuano, the Ambassadour, whose bones I brought with me from Camaran, to whom I declared the whole matter, and hee * 1.8 exceedingly reioyced thereat, and would needs come and fetch them from the ship, with all the Priests and ••riers of the Citie, and with an infinite number of Waxe-Candles, and so hee was carried to the Monasterie of Saint Antonie. And because the Mariners will not carrie dead Corpses in their ships, therefore the said Antonie caused a Graue to bee made behind the high Altar, and made as though he had put the Coffin therein, but secretly caused the same to bee car∣ried to his ship, whereof he was Captaine.

145. Being come to an Anker in the Riuer of Lisbon, ouer against the Kings house, incon∣tinently * 1.9 [ 10] came Boats vnto vs to receiue our stuffe, and carried them to Saint Arrem, where we rested sixe daies, and bought vs Mules and apparell, after the manner of Portugall. From hence we departed in a greater heate, then euer I felt in the, Countrey of Prete Ianni, or in the Indies. The Ambassadour of Prete Ianni with-drew himselfe out of the way to the Towne of Azinaga, being himselfe and all his Company almost smothered with heate. The Kings Commissary conducted me to Ponte de Anonda, where I thought verily that I should haue ended my daies for extreame heate, and if I had not beene succoured with coole Water, I had presently beene sti∣fled. While we stayed in this place, Don Roderigo came thither, riding as fast as he could, and crying, Helpe, helpe for the loue of God, for the Moores, the Kings Pilots, and my Slaues, are dead for heate. Straight-way foure Mulettiers ranne with foure Mules, and brought them thi∣ther, * 1.10 whereof one dyed immediatly, and another within two daies after: and so we indured a [ 20] great extremitie of heate. And vpon the death of these two Moores, there was some suspici∣on of the plague, but the Kings Commissarie gaue sufficient Testimony of the truth, that is to say, That they dyed with extreame heate; because that albeit they came out of hot Countries, yet were they not wont to goe clad and shod, but onely with a cloath from the girdle downe∣ward: and now in this extreame heat which happened, being cloathed in apparell, they were vtterly stifled. And truly, all the time that I was in the Indies, and in Ethiopia, I neuer felt so great a heat; and it was told me for a certaintie, that the selfe-same day, there were very many that dyed of heate. The next day we trauailed by night, and came to Zarnache, where we re∣ceiued order from the King, to stay there till he sent for vs.

146. Hauing stayed thirtie daies at Zarnache, with as much pleasure as might be, Diego Lo∣pez [ 30] de Sequeira, Surueyer of the Nauie, came vnto vs, who was the man that brought vs with his Fleet into the Country of Prete Ianni, to fetch vs vnto the Citie of Coimbra, where the King lay. After two daies came many Bishops, the Deane of the Chappell, and sundry Chaplaines, to fetch the Ambassadour of-Prete Ianni, and all of vs which were with him from his lodging, and they brought vs to the Kings Palace, where the said Ambassadour presented to his Highnesse a Crowne of Gold and Siluer, which was square in foure pieces, and euery one was two spannes high, and very rich, which the Prete Ianni sent, and two Letters made in quaternians of Parch∣ment, said; King Dauid my Lord, sent this Crowne, and these Letters to the King your Father, which is in glorie, and sent him word, that neuer Crowne was sent by the Sonne vnto the Father, but that [ 40] they were wont to come from the Father to the Sonne: and that by the signe of this Crowne King Da∣uid himselfe was knowne, loued, feared, and obeyed in all his Kingdomes and Signiories, and hee being his Sonne, sent vnto the King his Father the said Crowne, to assure him, that all his Kingdomes, Signiories, and people, were readie to doe whatsoeuer his Highnesse should command. And afterward, hauing beene enformed of the death of King Don Emanuel, hee said; Let the Crowne and Letters, which I sent vnto the King Don Emanuel, my Father, be sent vnto the King Don Iohn, my Brother, with other Letters which I will write vnto him.

This being done, the said Ambassadour and I presented two bagges of Embroydered Cloath, with two Letters, and a little Crosse of Gold, which the Prete Ianni had sent to the Popes Ho∣linesse, which things he requested to bee presented vnto him by me, Francis Aluarez. His Ma∣iestie [ 50] receiuing the Crosse, kissed the same, and afterward gaue it to Antonie Carniero, together with the Letters, and said, that he thanked the Diuine Maiestie, for that hee had guided in an happy way, the things which were begunne by the King his Lord and Father, and that hee would finish them accordingly, to the honour and glory of our Lord Iesus Christ.

In the yeare 1529, a good Benefice being fallen void in the Arch-bishopricke of Braga, his Maiestie bestowed the same of me, and commanded me to goe and present my selfe to my Lord Arch-bishop, Don Diego de Sousa, that hee might confirme me in the same: which when I had done, his Lordship asked me many things concerning the Countrey of Prete Ianni, which hee wished me to put downe in writing.

When the Prete trauelleth with all his Court, the Altar of the consecrated stone, whereupon [ 60] Masse is said, is carried by Priests vpon their shoulders, and the said stones are laid vpon a little beare of Wood, and the Priests are alwaies eight, that is to say, Foure and foure to carrie them by turnes, and before them goeth a Clerke with a censer, and a Bell which he ringeth, and eue∣ry man remoueth out of the way, and they which are on horse-backe do light, and doe their re∣uerence.

In all this Countrey there is no Towne, that hath in it aboue sixteene hundred houses, and there are but few that are so bigge. Neither is there any walled Towne or Castle. Their Vil∣lages are without number, and they haue an infinite multitude of people. Their Houses are made in a round forme, all of Earth couered with Flagges, or with a certaine kind of Straw, which lasteth a mans life, with yards about them. There are no stone Bridges vpon their Riuers, but Bridges of Wood. They lye commonly vpon Oxe-hides, or in beds made of the thongs of the said Hides. They haue no kind of Table to eate vpon, but feed vpon certaine flat Platters of wood, which are very broad, without Towels or Napkins. They haue * 1.11 certaine great Platters like Basons of blacke Earth, as bright as blacke Amber, and Vessels like Cups to drinke water, and the Wine of the said Countrey. Many eate raw flesh, others broyle [ 10] it vpon the coles or burning embers: also there are Countries so destitute of wood, that they broyle their meate vpon fire made with Oxe-dung.

The cause why Nilus ouerfloweth Egypt, is this, that whereas the generall Winter beginneth * 1.12 in Aethiopia, in the midst of Iune, and ••a••••eth vntill the midst of September, by reason of the exceeding great raines, which continue there all that season; Nilus groweth great and ouer∣floweth Egypt.

Prete, and all his receits and expenses are onely put in writing. The Prete Ianni hath two names of honour, that is to say, Aregue, which signifieth an Emperour, and Neguz, a King.

Wine of Grapes is made openly but in two places, that is to say, in the house of Prete Ianni, and of Abuna Marke, and if they make it else-where, they doe it secretly. The Wine which * 1.13 [ 20] they vse at the Communion, is made in this manner. In the Monasteries and Churches they keepe Grapes as it were halfe dryed in their Vestries, and sleepe them ten dayes in water, when they be swolne, they dry them, and then they presse them in a Wine-presse, and with that Wine they say Masse.

There is infinite plentie of Sugar-canes, but they know not how to boyle and refine the same, * 1.14 onely they eate them raw.

There is no Mountaine in the Countrey whereon Snow is seene, neither doth it snow, al∣though * 1.15 there be verie great Frosts, and specially in the plaine Countries.

There is exceeding great quantitie of Honey in all this Countrey, and the Bee-hiues are pla∣ced after our manner, without the principall house, but they set them in the Chambers where [ 30] the Husbandmen remayne, and set them against the wall, wherein they make a little hole, whereby they goe out into the fields. They also flie about the Chambers, and yet the people will stay within, for they vse to goe in and out. They bring vp great store of these Bees, espe∣cially in the Monasteries, because they are a great foundation of their sustenance. There are also Bees in the Woods and Mountaines, by whom they set wholsome barkes of Trees, and when they be full of Honey, they carrie them home. They gather great store of Waxe, and make * 1.16 Candles thereof, because they vse no Tallow-candles.

They haue no Oyle of Oliues, but of a certaine kind, which they call Hena, and the Herbe whereof they make it is like vnto little Vine-leaues: this Oyle hath no smell at all, but is as faire and yellow as Gold. There groweth Flaxe also, but they know not how to dresse it to make * 1.17 [ 40] Cloth thereof. There is great store of Cotton-wooll, whereof they make Cloth of diuers co∣lours. There is also a certaine Countrey that is so cold, that they are forced to goe apparelled in course Cloth like a darke tawnie.

In no Towne where I haue beene, haue I seene any shambles of flesh, sauing in the Court? and in other places no man may kill an Oxe, although it be his owne, without asking licence of the Lord of the Towne.

Touching their ordinarie Iustice, it is not their manner to put any man to death, but they * 1.18 beat him, according to the qualitie of his fault, and also they put out his eyes, and cut off his hands and feete, howbeit, I saw one man burnt, because hee was found to haue robbed a Church. [ 50]

The common people seldome speake the truth, although an Oath bee ministred vnto them, vnlesse they be bound to sweare by the head of the King. They greatly stand in feare of Ex∣communication, and if they be commanded to doe any thing which is greatly to their preiudice, they doe it for feare of Excommunication. An Oath is ministred after this manner. They goe to * 1.19 the Church gate with two Priests, which carrie Incense and Fire with them: And hee which is to sweare, layeth his hand vpon the Church gate, and the Priests will him to tell the truth, saying, If thou sweare falsly, as the Lion deuoureth the sheepe in the Forrest, so let the Deuill deuoure thy soule; and as the Corne is grinded vnder the Mil-stone, so let the Deuill grind thy bones; and as the fire burneth the wood, so let thy soule be burnt i•• Hell fire. And hee which sweareth, answereth Amen, to each of these Sentences. But if thou shal•• ••ell the truth, let thy [ 60] life be prolonged with honour, and thy soule goe to Paradise with the Blessed: and hee saith, Amen. Which Ceremonie being done, they cause him to giue like testimonie.

Whereas I haue said, that they sit not in their Churches, therefore I tell you, that without the gates of the same, there are alwayes placed a great number of woodden Crouches, like those

wherewith lame men doe helpe themselues, and euery man taketh his owne, and leaneth vpon it vntill Seruice be done. All their Bookes, which are many, are written in Parchment, for they haue no Paper, and the writing is in the Language of Tigia, which is the Abassine Tongue, that is the Language of that Countrey wherein they became first Christians.

All the Churches haue two Curtanies, one by the high Altar with Bels, and within this Cur∣taine * 1.20 none doe enter but the Priests: then there is another Curtaine in the midst of the Church: and none doe enter into the Church, but such as haue receiued holy Orders, and many Gentle∣men and Honourable persons doe receiue Orders, that they may be admitted into the Church.

The greatest part of the Monasteries are seated vpon high Mountaines, or in some deepe Val∣ley. They haue great Reuenues and Iurisdictions, and in many of them, they eate no flesh all [ 10] the yeare long. They eate also very little fish, because they know not how to take them.

Vpon all the wals of the Churches are Pictures of Christ and of our Ladie, and of the Apostles, the Prophets, and Angels, and in euery one of them is the Picture of Saint George. They haue * 1.21 no grauen nor carued Images; neither will they suffer Christ crucified to bee painted in the wals, because, they say, they be not worthy to see him in that Passion. All their Friers, Priests, and Noblemen, continually carrie a Crosse in their hand; the people weare Crosses about their neckes. Euery Priest alwayes carryeth with him a Cornet of Brasse, full of holy water, and wheresoe∣uer they goe, the people alwayes pray them to bestow holy water, and their blessing vpon them, which they giue vnto them, And before they eate; they cast a little holy water vpon their meat, and likewise into the Cup where they drinke.

The moueable Feasts, as Easter, the Ascension and Whitsuntide, are kept on the very same [ 20] * 1.22 dayes and seasons, wherein wee obserue them. Touching Christmas, the Circumoision, and Twelfe-tide, and other Feasts of Saints they likewise agree with vs; in other Feasts they doe not.

Their yeare and their first moneth beginneth the sixe and twentieth of August, which is the beheading of Saint Iohn. And their yeare consisteth of twelue moneths, and their moneth of * 1.23 thirtie dayes and when the yeare is ended they adde fiue dayes▪ which they call Pagomen, that is to say, the ending of the yeare. And in the Leape yeere 〈◊〉〈◊〉 adde sixe dayes, and so they a∣gree with vs.

They haue Cymbals like ours, and certaine great Basons 〈◊〉〈◊〉 they ring. Flutes they [ 30] haue, and certaine square Instruments with st〈…〉〈…〉gs like 〈◊◊〉〈◊◊〉 which they call Dauid M〈…〉〈…〉∣quo, * 1.24 that is to say, Dauid•• Harpe, and they play vpon these before the Prete Ianni, but some∣what rudely.

The naturall Horses of the Countrey are infinite, but are not very good, but are like vnto Hackneies, but those which come from Arabia and Egypt, are very excellent and faire, and the great Lords haue Races of these Horses, and as soone as they bee foled, they suffer them not to sucke their Dams aboue three dayes, whom they will presently trauell on, and taking the Colt•• from their Dams, they put them to be suckled of Kine, and they become exceeding faire.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Psal. 104. v. 20. 21. 22.
• * 1.2

  Rom. 〈◊〉〈◊〉. 35. Iames 1. 12.
• * 1.3

  Ormuz.
• * 1.4

  Chaul.
• * 1.5

  Three rich ships of Mecca taken.
• * 1.6

  Goa,
• * 1.7

  Cananor.
• * 1.8

  Antonie Galua∣no Captaine of a Garracke.
• * 1.9

  Greatheate. 〈◊〉〈◊〉
• * 1.10

  Two Moores dyed in Por∣tugall for heat.
• * 1.11

  Their manner of feeding.
• * 1.12

  The cause of the increase of Nilus.
• * 1.13

  Small store of Wine made in this Countrey.
• * 1.14

  Sugar-canes.
• * 1.15

  No snow is seene in Ae∣thiopia▪ Abundance of Honey.
• * 1.16

  Waxe.
• * 1.17

  Flaxe. Cotton-wooll.
• * 1.18

  Their ordinary manner of Iu∣stice.
• * 1.19

  Their manner of ministring an Oath.
• * 1.20

  Of the Chur∣ches.
• * 1.21

  No painted Crucifixes.
• * 1.22

  Their princi∣pall Feasts.
• * 1.23

  When their yeare begin∣neth.
• * 1.24

  Their Musicall Instruments.