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.

§. II.

Of the manner and situation of the Monasteries, and of their holy Rites, Times, Places, and Things: And first of this of Saint MICHAEL.

11. FIrst, this Monasterie is situate vpon the cragge of a Mountaine, which is very wild, seated at the foot of another huge Mountaine, vpon the which no man can ascend. The stone of these Rockes is of the colour and graine of the stone, wherewith the wall of the Cities of Portugall are built, and the stones are verie [ 10] great. All the ground except these stones is couered with many great Woods, and the greatest part are wild Oliue Trees, and great store of Herbs grow among them, and the most part is Ba∣sill. The Trees which were not Oliues, were not knowne of vs, and all of them were without fruit. In certaine narrow Vallies, which belong to this Monasterie, were Groues of Orange∣trees, Limons, Cedars, Vines, and Figs of all sorts, as well of those which are found in Portu∣gall, as those of India, and Peaches: there were also Cabbages, Corianders, Cressis, Worme∣wood, * 1.1 Mirtles, and many other kindes of Herbes fragrant and medicinall: and all was ill husbanded, because they are people of no industrie; and the Earth bringeth forth the things aforesaid, as it bringeth forth wild things, and would bring forth much better, all they should plant or sow. The House of the Monasterie seemeth, indeed, to bee a Church-building beeing [ 20] made like vnto ours: it hath about it a circuit like to a Cloyster, and the couering aboue is fastned to the couering of the Church. It hath three gates, as ours haue, to wit, one chiefe gate in the fore-front, and one on each side in the midst. The couering of the Church, and of the circuit is made of wild Reed, which lasteth the life of a man.

The body of the Church is made with Iles, very well wrought, and the Arches are very well stored, it seemeth all to be made like a Vault: It hath a little Quire behind the great Altar, with a Crosse afore it, whereupon hang Curtaines which goe from one side to another; and likewise, * 1.2 there are other Curtaines before the Gates, passing from one Wall to another, and they are of [ 30] Silke, and the entrie by these Curtaines is at three places, and are fastned against the Walls: and at these three entrances or gates, are little Bels fastned to the Curtaines, about the bignesse of Saint Anthonies Bels; and a man cannot enter in at the gates, but these Bels will ring. There is but one Altar belonging to the whole Church, which standeth in the great Chappell. Aboue the Altar is a Cloath of Gold borne vp with foure pillars, and the Altar toucheth all these foure Pillars, and the said Cloath of Gold is hollow like a Vault, it hath his Super-Altare, or conse∣crated stone, which they call Tabuto, and vpon this stone standeth a very great Bason of Cop∣per, and it is flat in the bottome, and is low brimmed, which reacheth vnto all the foure Pillars of the Altar, because the Pillars are set in a square, and in the said Bason is set another lesser Ba∣son, and on euery side of this cloth of Gold, that is to say, behind and on both sides a Curtaine [ 40] hangeth downe which couereth the whole Altar downe to the ground, sauing that it is open before. * 1.3

Their Bels are of stone, that is to say, long and thin stones, hanged vp with Cords, and they beat them on the inside with a piece of wood, and they make a very strange sound, like to the sound of broken Bels when they are heard afarre off. And likewise on Festiuall dayes, they take * 1.4 Basons, and strike them with certaine small stickes, which make them sound very loud. They haue likewise Bels of Iron, which are not fully round, but haue two sides like vnto the Iacket of a Muletier, whereof the one part couereth him before, and the other behind; they haue a clap∣per which beateth the same first on the one side, and then on the other, and it maketh a sound like vnto a man that diggeth Vines. They haue also other Bels ill-fauouredly made, which they [ 50] carrie in their hands when they go on Procession, and ring them altogether vpon Festiuall dayes, * 1.5 on other dayes they vse their Bels of stone, and of Iron; they ring to Mattens two houres be∣fore day, and they say them by heart without light: onely there hangs a Lampe before the Al∣tar, wherein they burne Butter, for they haue no Oyle.

They sing and say with a loud and harsh voice, as of one that cryeth, without any art of sing∣ing: they say no Verses, but their speech is as it were in Prose, and yet they are Psalmes, and * 1.6 on their Holidayes, besides their Psalmes, they say Prose, and according to the Feasts so is their Prose, and alwayes they stand on their feet in the Church. They say not aboue one Lesson at their Mattens, with a harsh, disordered and vntuneable voice, and like vnto that wherein wee pronounce the words of the Iewes, in representing the Passion of our Sauiour Christ. And al∣though [ 60] their voice be so harsh, yet they speake it running, as fast as the tongue of a man can * 1.7 wagge, and a Clerke or a Frier saith the same; and this Lesson is read before the principall gate.

Which being ended on Saturday and Sundayes, they goe on Procession with foure or fiue cros∣ses, being carryed vpon certaine staues not very high; and they carrie the same in their left hands, because in their right hand they carrie a Censer, and alwayes there are so many Censers

as there be Crosses. They weare certaine Copes of Silke, but rudely made, for they be no broa∣der * 1.8 then the breadth of a piece of Damaske, or of any other piece of Silke from the vpper part to the neather part; and on the breast before, they haue a trauerse; and on both sides they sewe a piece of other Cloth of what colour soeuer, although it agree not with the principall; and of the principall Cloth they let a traine hang downe vpon the ground. They make this Procession in their Circuit, which is like vnto a Cloister. Which being ended on Saturdayes, and Sundayes, and Festiuall dayes, he which is to say Masse, with two others, enter into the Chappell, and take * 1.9 out an Image of our Ladie, which they haue in an old Cell (for in all Churches they haue of their * 1.10 Cells) and they put it on a Crozier, turning the face toward the principall gate, and this Image holdeth her hand before her breast, and they which stand on both sides of it hold lighted Can∣dles [ 10] in their hands, and then they which are before it beginne to sing in manner of prose, and * 1.11 they goe all crying and dancing as if they were in a Towne-dance. And going before this I∣mage with this their song or prose, they ring their little Bells and Cymbals with the like sound, and as often as any chanceth to passe before this Image they doe great reuerence to it, which seemeth to the beholder to be done with great desire of deuotion: and so they carrie in this Feast Crosses and Censers, as they did in their Procession.

When this is ended, which continueth for a long space, they salute the Image, and then they goe vnto a certaine closet, which standeth toward the North; and that part where the Gospell is said, according to our Masse, is without the circuit, wherein they make the Host, which they call Corbon, and they carrie Crosses, Censers, and Bells with them, and from hence they * 1.12 bring a Cake of Wheat-flowre vnleauened, newly made, very white and very faire, of the big∣nesse [ 20] and roundnesse of a great Paten, because there are but a few people in this Monasterie: but in other Monasteries and Churches (whereof there be many) they make this Cake great or small according to the number of the people, for all doe communicate, and according to the breadth so they make the thicknesse, either halfe a finger, or a whole finger, or a thumbe thicke: and they carrie this Cake in the little Bason which is one of them that belong to the Altar co∣uered with a cloth, with a Crosse and Censer, and a Bell ringing afore them. Behind the Church where that Quire is, which they hold as a Cloister, no man may stand which is not in holy Or∣ders * 1.13, but all of them must stand before the principall gate, where there is another great cir∣cuit which all Churches haue, but it is not couered, and there may stand any man that list. [ 30]

When they goe in Procession with this Cake, all they which stand in the Church and in the circuit, when they heare the little Bell, bow downe their heads vntill the Bell cease, which is, when they set it vpon the Altar in the lesser Bason which is set (as I said before) in the greater Bason, and they couer it with a blacke Cloth like vnto a Corporall. This Monasterie hath a Cha∣lice of Siluer, and likewise in all principall Churches and Monasteries they haue Chalices of Sil∣uer, and in some they haue Chalices of Gold. In the Churches of the poorer people (which they call the Churches of the Balgues, that is to say, of the Husbandmen) they haue brazen Chalices. These vessels are more wide then ours are, but euill made; but they haue no couers. They powre into the Chalice, wine made of Raisins in great quantitie; for, as many as receiue the Bodie, re∣ceiue also the Bloud.

Hee that is to say this Masse, beginneth, saying, Halleluia, with a lowd voyce, rather squea∣king [ 40] then singing, and all the companie answere him; and then he holdeth his peace, and begin∣neth to blesse them with a little Crosse which he carrieth in his hand; and as well they that are about, as those which are within beginne to sing, vntill a certaine time, when as one of them two that stand at the Altar take a Booke, and receiueth blessing of him that sayeth Masse, and the other taketh a Crosse, and a Bell, and goeth ringing the same toward the principall gate, where all the people standeth in that circuit; and there he readeth the Epistle running very fast * 1.14 with his tongue, and afterwards singing returneth backe to the Altar: suddenly he which sin∣geth the Masse taketh a Booke from the Altar, kissing the same, and giueth it to him which is [ 50] to say the Gospell, which boweth downe his head, and asketh him blessing; which when hee * 1.15 hath receiued, as many as stand at the Altar doe kisse the same, a candle is borne with this Booke, and he which reads the Gospell, readeth it as the Epistle was read, very hastily, and with as high a sound as his tongue can vtter, and his voyce can beare: and returning to the Altar, on the way he beginneth likewise another song, and those which goe with him follow him: and when they be come to the Altar, they giue the Booke to kisse to him that sayeth Masse, and so they put it in his place.

And suddenly, he which sayeth Masse, taketh a Censer, and censeth the vpper part of the Al∣tar, * 1.16 and they goe often about it and cense the same. When they haue done these censings, he turneth to the Altar, and blesseth it very often with the Crosse, and then hee vncouereth the Cake which he had couered in stead of the Sacrament, and taketh it vp in both his hands, and [ 60] * 1.17 lifting vp his right hand the Cake remayneth in his left hand, and with his thumbe he maketh fiue signes like prickes, that is to say, one in the top, another in the midst, another in the bot∣tome, * 1.18 and the other two on both sides; and therewithall he consecrateth it in his owne Lan∣guage, with the very words that we vse, and he vseth no eleuation. The very same he doth ouer

the Cup, and lifteth it not vp, he sayth ouer the same, the very words that wee vse in his owne Tongue, and he couereth it, and taketh the Sacrament of the Bread in his hands, and breaketh it in twaine, and of the part that is in his left hand, hee breaketh a little Morsell of the top of the same, and the other two pieces hee layeth the one vpon the other. The Priest taketh this little Morsell for himselfe, and likewise taketh part of the Sacrament of the bloud, and after∣ward he taketh the Bason with the couered Sacrament, and giueth it to him which hath said the Gospell, and likewise he taketh the Chalice with the Sacrament, and giueth it to him which read the Epistle: and suddenly they giue the Communion to the Priests which stand at the Al∣tar, receiuing a small piece of Sacrament out of the Bason, which a Deacon holdeth in his right * 1.19 hand; and while the Deacon giueth the same, a Sub-Deacon taketh of the bloud in a spoone of Gold, of Siluer, or of Copper, according to the abiltie of the Church, and giueth it vnto [ 10] him which receiueth the Sacrament of the body in very small quantitie: and on the other side, standeth another Priest with a little Vessell of holy Water, and powreth into the palme of his hand, which receiued the Communion, a litle of that water, wherewith he washeth his mouth, and afterward swalloweth it vp.

This being done, they all goe to the Altar with this Sacrament, before the first Curtaine, and in this sort they giue the Communion to them which stand there, and afterward to all those of the other Curtaine, and lastly, to the Secular people which stand at the principall gate, as well men as women, if the Church be such that women may bee suffered to come thither: at the giuing of the Communion, and at all other diuine Seruices all stand vpon their feet: and when * 1.20 they goe to receiue the Communion, all of them come with their hands lifted vp before their [ 20] shoulders, with the palmes of their hands spread abroad before them: and when any man recei∣ueth the Sacrament of the bloud, he receiueth of that Holy Water, as I said before. And also * 1.21 generally al such as are to receiue the Communion before the Masse, vse to wash their hands with water, which is placed in all Churches and Monasteries for this purpose. The Priest which saith the Masse, and they which stood with him at the Altar (the Communion being ended) returne vnto the Altar, and wash the Bason wherein the Sacrament was put with the water remayning in the Vessell, which they say is Holy Water: this Water is put into the Chalice, and he which said Masse drinketh it vp all. This done, one of the Ministers of the Altar taketh a Crosse and a sacring Bell, and beginning a little Song, goeth to the principall gate where the Epistle and Gospell were read, and where they ceased to giue the Communion, and all they which are [ 30] in the Church, and without the Church, incline their heads and take their leaues, saying, That this is the blessing, and that without this no man may depart. On Saturdaies and Sundaies, * 1.22 and Feastiuall daies, in all Churches and Monasteries, they vse to giue holy Bread. The forme of Ceremonies which this little Monasterie vseth (which hath not aboue twentie or fiue and twentie Friers) is obserued in all other Monasteries and Churches. The seruice of the Masse, (except the Processions) is very short, because the Masse in the weeke daies, is ended almost as soone as it is begun.

12. The manner how they make the Cake aforesaid, is this: The house where they make * 1.23 it in all Churches & Monasteries, is placed (as is said before) toward that part where the Gospel [ 40] is said without the Church, and the couered circuit, which is as a Cloyster in all Churches and Monasteries: and they vse the other circuit which is without and not couered, as a Church∣yard. This house is as bigge as the Quire behind the great Altar, and somewhat bigger, and in all Churches and Monasteries they haue nothing else in that house, but that which serueth for * 1.24 this businesse; to wit, a Staffe to beate the corne out of the eares, and an Instrument to grinde the Meale, because they make it very white, as is conuenient for such a purpose: because they make not the said Sacrament with Meale or Wheate, wherein Women haue put their hands. They haue Earthen Platters, wherein they knead the Meale, and they make the Dow harder * 1.25 then we make it, they make a little Ouen like a Still to Still Water, and vpon the same a plate of Iron, (and some Churches haue it of Brasse, and some others of Bricke) which is round, with a large compasse, and they put the fire vnderneath it, and when it is hot, they make it [ 50] cleane with a course cloath, and then lay a good piece of this Dow vpon it, and spread it abroad with a Woodden Knife, as broad as they will haue it, and make it very round, and when the Cake is baked they take it away, lay it aside, and make another after the same fashion; and this second Cake after it is likewise ready, they take the former, and lay it thereupon, to wit, that side which was vppermost they turne downe-ward, and so both these two Cakes are laid together, as they were one Cake, and they doe nothing all the while but turne and tosse them vpon this Plate, vntill they bee baked beneath and aboue, and on euery side, and so they make as many as they will. In the same house are also the Raisins where-with they make their * 1.26 Wine, and the Instrument where-with they presse the same. In these houses also is the Holy Bread made, which is distributed on the Saturdaies and Sundaies, and other Feastiuall dayes, [ 60] and when their great Feasts are held, as Christmas, Easter, and our Lady of August, they fetch out this Sacrament of Bread with a Vestment, * 1.27 Bels and Crosses, very deuoutly, and before they enter into the church therwith, they go once about the circuit, which is like vnto a Cloyster, but

when it is not Holy day they go strait into the Church. The Saturday before Ascension day when we vse to say our Letanies, these Friers made a Procession, and because we were strangers in the * 1.28 Countrey, it seemed a goodly sight vnto vs, and it was on this wise: they tooke Crosses and a consecrated stone of the Altar with great reuerence, couered with cloth of Silk, & a Frier which carryed it on his head, was likewise wholly couered with the like cloth of Silke: they carryed also Bookes, Bels, Censers, and holy water, and went into certaine fields sowed with Millet, and there they made their Deuotions, with cryes after the manner of Letanies, and with this Pro∣cession they returned vnto the Monasterie. And when we asked them wherefore they did this, they said, because the Wormes doe eate their Corne, therefore they went to sprinkle them with Holy Water, and pray to God to take them away. He which saith Masse, hath no other difference [ 10] * 1.29 in his apparell from a Deacon and Sub-deacon, sauing a long Stole slit in the midst, so that hee may thrust his head through it, and behind and before it reacheth downe to the ground. The Friers which say Masse weare their haires long, and the Priests weare it not, but are shorne, and so they say Masse, and are alwayes bare-footed, and no man may come shod into the Church, and * 1.30 for this purpose they alleage that which God said vnto Moses, Put off thy shooes, for the place where thou standest is holy ground.

13. In this Monasterie of Saint Michael, where we were, we said Masse euery day, not in the Monasterie, but in the circuit which is like a Cloyster: because in this Countrey they say but one Masse a day in euery Church or Monasterie. The Friers came vnto our Masse with great de∣uotiou, * 1.31 as they seemed, and supplyed our want with Censers and Incense, because wee had [ 20] brought none with vs: and they thinke it an ill thing to say Masse without Incense, and they said that all things seemed well vnto them, sauing that they thought it not commendable for one Priest alone to say Masse, because among them they vse not to say Masse, except they bee three, or fiue, or sixe, and all these stand at the Altar. Also, they misliked that we went with * 1.32 our shooes into the Church, and much more when we did spit in the Church. But wee excused our selues, saying; That this was the fashion in our Countrey. And so wee said Masse euery day vntill Trinitie Sunday, and when the Munday after the said Trinitie Sunday came, then they would suffer vs to say no more Masse in the morning, and we marueiling thereat, and not well pleased, and hauing at that instant no Interpreter to learne wherefore they would not suffer vs to say Masse, at length we vnderstood, that which by experience afterward we saw, to wit; [ 30] that they obserue the Old Testament in their fasting; for they fast very straitly in the Lent, which they begin the Munday after the Sunday of Sexagesima, which are ten dayes before our Shrouetide, and so they make their Lent of fiftie dayes, and say that they take those dayes be∣fore, for the Saturdayes on which they doe not fast: and their Fast is to eate at euen-tide, and e∣uery day they receiue the Communion, and therefore they say not Masse but in the euening, and when Masse is done, they receiue the Communion and then goe to supper. And like as they haue these fiftie dayes of fast, so they take as many dayes after Easter and Whitsontide, where∣in they fast not at all; and when it is not fasting day, they say Masse in the morning, and all those dayes they eate flesh without obseruing any one of them, and say Masse in the mornings, and strait way goe to dinner because they fast not. [ 40]

When this time is ended, and Trinitie Sunday past, all the Clerkes and Friers are bound to fast euery day sauing Saturdayes, Sundayes, and this Fast continueth vntill Christmasse day. And because they fast all, they say Masse at night, alleaging for proofe hereof the Supper of Christ, how that it was fasting time, and almost night when he consecrated his Bodie. But com∣monly, the Lay-people as well men as women are bound to fast weekly on Wednesdayes and Fridayes, from Trinitie Sunday vntill Aduent: and from Christmasse day till the Purification of * 1.33 the Virgin Marie (which they call the Feast of Saint Simeon) they fast not at all. The three dayes after the Purification being not Saturday nor Sunday, are an exceeding strait Fast for the Clerkes, Friers, and Lay-people, for they say that they eate but once in all these three dayes, and they call it the Fast of Niniue. These three dayes being ended, vntill the beginning of Lent, [ 50] they fast againe as they did before, vntill the Feast of the holy Trinitie. In the Aduent and all the Lent the Clearkes, the Friers, the Laitie, the men and women, small and great, sound and sicke doe all fast. And likewise, from Easter vnto Trinitie Sunday, and from Christmasse vnto the Purification, the Masse is said in the morning because there is no Fast, all the rest of the yeare it is said in the euening because they fast.

The Monasterie where we buried Matthew, is distant from this wherein we aboad three miles space of very bad way, & it is called, The Monastery of the Vision of Iesus. It is seated vpon the point * 1.34 of a Rocke exceeding high, and from euery part as a man looketh downward, there is a Valley which seemeth to be as deepe as Hell. The Church of the Monasterie is very great of bodie, & greater in reuenues, and is very well disposed and gouerned. It is built with three great allies [ 60] or walkes, which are very finely made with their Arches and their Vaults, which seeme to bee made of wood, because they are all painted ouer, so that a man cannot perceiue whether the Church be built of stone, or of wood. It hath two walking places in forme of a Cloyster about the bodie of the Church, which are both couered and painted with the Pictures of the Apostles,

and Patriarkes, and with the storie of all the Old Testament; and with Sa〈…〉〈…〉 George on Horse-backe, which is to be seene in all their Churches. And likewise, there is in the same a great Piece * 1.35 of Arras, wherein is wouen a Crucifixe, our 〈◊〉〈◊〉, the Apostles, the Patriarkes, and Prophets, and euery one hath his title or name in Latine, which sheweth that the same worke was nor made in those Countries. There are also many ancient Images, which stand not vpon the Altars, because it is not their fashion, but they keepe them in a Vestry lapped vp with many Bookes, and they bring them not forth but on Holy-dayes.

In this Monasterie there is a great Kitchin, with all things thereto appertayning, with a great roome to dine in, where they fate altogether, and they eat three and three in a Treen dish which is not very deepe, but plaine like vnto a wooden Platter. Their Dyet is very homely; their * 1.36 Bread is made of Millet and of Barley, and of another Seed which they call Tafo, which is [ 10] small and blacke. This Bread they make round; about the bignesse of an Apple of Adam, and they giue three of these to each one, and vnto the No〈…〉〈…〉es they giue three of them be∣tweene * 1.37 two, and I wonder greatly to thinke how they can liue with so little a quantitie. Like∣wise, they giue each of them a little fresh fish without Oyle or Salt. Of the selfe-same Dyet, they send so many aged and honorable Friers; towards whom they vse great reuerence, which * 1.38 come not vnto the dining hall. And if any man aske me how I know this, I answere, that besides that which I saw when we buried Matthew, the greatest part of the sixe yeares which wee a∣boad in Aethiopia, our Lodging was not farre from the said Monastery, so that I departed often∣times from our house vpon my Mule, and came in the euening to the Monasterie, and for the most part I went to passe the time with the Friers, and principally at their Festiuall times, and [ 20] I learned many things of them concerning their Affaires, Reuenues, Vsages, and Customes. An hundred Friers are commonly in this Monasterie, and the most part of them are very aged, and as dry as a stocke, few of them are young. There are also many little children, of eight yeares old and vpward, which they bring vp, and many of them are Iame and blind. This Monasterie is walled round about, and hath no entrie but by two gates which are alwayes shut.

14. This Monasterie is the head of sixe Monasteries, which stand about the same among these * 1.39 Mountaines, and that which is farthest, is not past nine and twentie or thirtie miles off, and all of them are subiect and yeeld obedience vnto this Monasterie. In euery one of them there is a Dauid, that is to say, a Warden placed by the Abbot or Prouinciall, and that Monasteries which hath a Dauid, that is to say, a Warden is subiect to the Abbot, which is as Pro〈…〉〈…〉 〈◊〉〈◊〉 I al∣wayes [ 30] heard reported, that there were about three thousand Friers in this Monasterie, and be∣cause I doubted much thereof, I came once to their Feast of our Ladie in August, to see how many were assembled there together: and surely, I tooke pleasure when I beheld the riches of this place, in a certaine Procession which they made, and in my iudgement, the Friers were not a∣boue three hundred, and the greatest part of them were old men. I saw a great circuit, which this Monasterie hath about two places, which are like to Cloysters, which circuit is open; but at that time it was all couered ouer with great and small Clothes of Gold, Veluets of Mecca, all long pieces sewed one vnto another, to hang round about that circuit, through which they made a goodly Procession, all clad in Copes of the said Cloth of Gold, but made ill-fauouredly, as I haue said before. They carried fiftie Crosses of Siluer, small and badly made, and as many [ 40] Brazen Censers, when they said Masse I saw a great Chalice of Gold, and a Spoone of Gold, * 1.40 wherewith they gaue the Communion. And of the three hundred which were assembled in this Monastery, there were very few of mine acquaintance: I enquired of certaine of my friends, wherefore seeing so many Friers belonged to this Monastery, as they said, so few were present at so great a Solemnitie: they answered me, that the number was greater then they looked for, because they are diuided in other Monasteries, Churches, and Faires to earne their liuing as long as they be yong: for they cannot be maintayned in the Monastery, but by their owne industrie, and when they are so old that they cannot trauell, they come to end their dayes at this Monaste∣ry. This day I saw seuenteene yong men taken into Orders.

In this Monastery is the buriall of an Abbot or Prouinciall, called Philip, and his workes of * 1.41 [ 50] Holinesse were very great: for they say, that there was once a King or Prete Ianni, which or∣dained that they should not keepe the Saturday holy throughout all his Kingdomes and Domi∣nions. And this Philip repaired immediately vnto him with his Brethren and with many Bookes, and shewed him how God had commanded that the Sabbath Day should bee obserued, and that whosoeuer obserued it not should be stoned. This man disputed this question before all the religious men of Aethiopia, and was commended before the King: and therefore they take him to bee a Saint, and they obserue an Holy-day vnto him euery yeare in the moneth of Iuly, which they call the Fascar of Philip, which sinifieth the Testament or Memorie of Saint Philip. * 1.42 And therefore the Inhabitants of this Countrey and Monasterie are more infected with this Iewish Heresie, then any other part of the Dominions of Prete Ianni, although all of them bee in [ 60] part infected: but these are more then any others. I haue seene them with mine eyes seethe fish on the Sabbath, and bake bread also: and on the Sabbath in this Monastery, they make no fire at * 1.43 all▪ on the Sunday following, they make readie all things needfull for their Dyet, and I came

twiceto this Fascar of Philip, at which times they receiued me with great honour. And at this Feast yearely, they kill many Oxen, and at one of them I saw them kill thirtie, and at another * 1.44 eight and twentie, which were offered by the Inhabitants their Neighbours, for deuotion vnto this Philip, and they giue this flesh raw to all the people, that come to the Fascar without any bread at all. The Friers eate no kind of flesh.

They sent me yearely two great and fat quarters of beefe, with much bread and wine of Ho∣ney, which likewise the Friers drinke not in the Monastery, but when they are abroad with vs * 1.45 Portugals, they drinke wine and eate flesh if they be but one alone, but if they be two, they doe it not, for feare the one of the other. This Monastery and all the rest which are subiect to it, obserue an order, that no women may enter into it, nor shee Mules, nor Kine, nor Hens, nor any [ 10] other beast of the female kind. This I both learned and saw my selfe; for when I came thither a Crosse-bow shoot distant from the Monastery, they came to take my Mule, not suffering mee to come with her to the Monastery, and they sent her to a house of theirs, called Giangargara, where Matthew died. They kill their Kine and Hens, a certaine distance from the Monasterie. I saw but one Cocke in the Monastery with two bels at his legs, without Hennes, and they said, that they kept him to crow at the time of their Mattens. If any women come into the house, they know it, for oftentimes I asked certaine children which were brought vp there, whose Sonnes they were, and they named vnto me, the Friers for their Fathers, and so I know the yong Friers to be called the Sonnes of all the old Friers.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Orchards. The Abassine not industrious The building of the Mona∣sterie.
• * 1.2

  Little Bels.
• * 1.3

  Bels of stone.
• * 1.4

  Basons vsed for Bels. Iron Bels.
• * 1.5

  Darke Mat∣tens. Butter vsed for Oyle.
• * 1.6

  They stand al∣way in the Church.
• * 1.7

  Vndeuour de∣uotions. Procession. Censers and Crosses.
• * 1.8

  Copes and o∣ther holy Vest∣ments.
• * 1.9

  Image of our-Lady.
• * 1.10

  Ancone.
• * 1.11

  Candles.
• * 1.12

  The manner of ministring the Communion among the Ethiopians. Great vnlea∣uened Cake,
• * 1.13

  An order sometimes so strictly obser∣ued, that Saint Amb. sent The∣odosius to re∣moue, &c. Procession with the Host, Chalices of Gold, Siluer, Brasse. Wine of Rai∣sins. Communion in both kinds. Rather spea∣king then sin.
• * 1.14

  The Epistle.
• * 1.15

  The Gospell. Kissing the Booke.
• * 1.16

  Censing.
• * 1.17

  Blessing with crossing.
• * 1.18

  Consecration in the vulgar Tongue. No eleuation.
• * 1.19

  Deacon and Sub-deacon. The Wine ad∣ministred with a spoone. Holy Water.
• * 1.20

  Standing.
• * 1.21

  Washing.
• * 1.22

  No man may depart without the blessing. Short Masse.
• * 1.23

  Manner of ma∣king the Cake.
• * 1.24

  House of pur∣pose for it.
• * 1.25

  No women may touch the Meale. The Ouen.
• * 1.26

  The Raisins. Holy Bread.
• * 1.27

  Palio.
• * 1.28

  Rogation, or ganging Pro∣cession.
• * 1.29

  Sprinkling Wormes with Holy Water to kill them.
• * 1.30

  Bare-footed in imitation of Moses.
• * 1.31

  But one Masse a day.
• * 1.32

  Many Priests necessary to our Masse. Shooes and spitting in Churches mis∣liked. The great fasts which these Religious men vse. In Fasts, no ea∣ting till Sunne be downe.
• * 1.33

  A Fast from Trinitie Sun∣day till Christ∣masse. Lay Fast till Aduent. Fast of Nin••ue.
• * 1.34

  The situation and forme of the Monasterie intituled, The Uision of Iesus. Dreadfull Val∣ley. Forme of the Church.
• * 1.35

  Saint George on horse-backe in all their Churches. Saints in Arras Images in a Vestry.
• * 1.36

  Hard Dyet.
• * 1.37

  Nouices.
• * 1.38

  They aboad six yeares in Ae∣thiopia.
• * 1.39

  Six other Cels subiect to this Monastery of the Vision, as in times past 〈◊〉〈◊〉. Albans and o∣ther great Ab∣beyes here had Three thou∣sand Friers. Three hundred Friers, most old men. Their riches. Abassines, bad Artificers.
• * 1.40

  Yong Friers earne their liuing.
• * 1.41

  Philip, an Erro∣neous Saint.
• * 1.42

  Holy day to him.
• * 1.43

  Difference of Rites.
• * 1.44

  Oxen offered to Philips feast.
• * 1.45

  Friers eate no flesh. Wine of Ho∣ney, or Mead. No woman. nor beast of the female sexe may come neere this Monastery.