A Iewes prophesy, or, newes from Rome: Of two mightie armies, aswell footemen as horsmen: the first of the great Sophy, the other of an Hebrew people, till this time not discouered, comming from the mountaines of Caspij, who pretend their warre is to recouer the land of promise, & expell the Turks out of Christendome. Translated out of Italian into English, by W.W. 1607.

The description of the first Armie, conducted by Zoroam a Iew, Captaine generall of the Armies.

FIrst of all a Iew of verie great stature, of a fleshlie colour, more red then otherwise, with broad eyes, called Zoroam, is Captaine generall of all the Ar∣mies, hee leadeth vnder his Ensigne twelue thousand horse, and twenty thousand footmen. The horse-men are armed after a light sort, but very good Harnes, al∣most aftet our fashion: they carrie Launces of longe Reedes, very hard and light, yet so sharpe pointed, that they passe thorowe a thing with incredible lightnesse: they carry also shields or targets of bone, and in steede of swords, they vse certaine Courtilaxes.

They are apparrelled with the colour of their En∣signe, and all clothed with silke: the foote-men carrie Pikes of the same sort, with Helmet and Habergin: their Ensigne is of blacke silke and blewe, with a Dog following a Hart, or Bucke, and a saying written in it, which is in our language thus: Either quick or dead.

2. Of the Armie of Don Phares.

THere is one called Phares, which is an Carle, yong and valiant, not regarding this present life: this man hath vnder his commaund fifteene hundred Horsemen armed lightly, onely on the fore-part and head-peece: yet this Armour is so well tempered and wrought, that it keepeth out a Launce and Harque∣bush shot.

This manner of arming themselues, is to the in∣tent they may neuer turne their backe to runne away: they haue also fierce and light horses: they are eigh∣teene thousand footemen, apparrelled with a kinde of sodden leather, made of the skinne of a certaine Beast, so that no pike nor Harquebush can pearse it. These men are beastly people, and wil neuer flie for any thing, they are very obedient and subiect vnto their Prince, and their ordinary apparrel is Silke. The Ensigne that they beare, is a falcon pecking or billing with an∣other Byrde, with a sentence that faith, Either thine or mine shall breake.

3 Of the Marquesse of Galair.

There is a Marquesse of Galair called Goes, this man leadeth fifteen hūdred men of armes, which be all exceeding well armed and stout, strong, and rebust men: their horses be moriskes, the greatest, the strongest, the fairest, and the best that be in the world: there are also seuenteene thousand souldiors, very wel appointed with Launce and harquebush: theyr En∣signe or armes is a redde field, with a maide clothed in greene, holding a Lion in her hand, with these words, I hope to subdue a greater thing.

4 Of the Duke of Falach.

THere is a Duke of Falach, called Obeth, who hath vnder his conduct xx. thousand footmen, armed with a certaine mettall like yron, but it is light and hard, they haue many good swords, launces, and other force, harquebushes, and wiflers: their Ensigne or armes, is a mermaid in a blacke field, and the deuise thus, My singing shall not cease vntill the end.

The description of the Armie conducted by Captaine Nauison:

THere is a captaine called Nauison, which hath vn∣der him xx. thousand men, appointed and armed with the skin of a serpent, most hard & stiffe, they haue Axes, pollaxes, pikes, harquebushes, and other kind of weapons: their Ensigne or armes, is a white snaile in a blacke sielde, with a deuise about it, By litle and little men go very farre.

Of the tribe of Simeon there is a Prince of Arsay, whose name is not yet known, but they say he is a de∣uill, great, grosse, & thicke beyond measure, with a flat nose, and both he and his men are of the stature of Gi∣ants: he leadeth with him xx. thousand footemen, al∣most all Alfiers, which are also so swift & nimble, that they will take horses running: they make a meruai∣lous noise, such as no people vse: their Ensigne is, an Eute in a blacke field, and haue for their posye, Such is my gouernment.

6 Of the Duke of Barsalda.

THere is a duke of Barsalda, and he is the conductes of xiii. thousand footmen, which are all Harque∣bushers, & carry no fire matches, but strike it with a stone: they are apparrelled & armed with such a hard kinde of leather, and so enchaunted, that no yron wea∣pon in the world is able to perse it thorow. They bee also very swift and light: their Ensigne or armes, is a dry tree in a blew field, and their deuise thus, I hope to spread, and be greene againe.

7 Of the Armie of the Duke Pasill.

THere is a duke of Pasill called Abia, he hath vnder his conduct a thousand footemen, very cruell, ha∣uing all kind of weapons to push or pricke far off,

and to strike night, but farre different from ours, they are very expert in artificiall fire, and make the greatest and most dreadfull thinges with all y^t a man can ima∣gin: they do it either by arte or enchauntmen, so that it seemeth that it raigneth fire vpon their enemies, and yet notwithstanding hurteth not themselues at all, by reason they are apparrelled with a certaine Serpents skin which preserueth them. Their Ensigne is a Lat holding a Rat in her paw in a blacke fielde, and their posy thus, Euen so hapneth it to him that is not gouerned.

8 Of the Army conducted by the Earle of Albary.

THere is an Earle of Albary caled Orut, which hath vnder his gouernaunce a thousand Horse-men with Crosse-bowes, some of them weare certaine light armour of a kind of hard mettall, with Rapyers and daggers after theyr manner, they fight alwayes running, and their horses are so swift that it is won∣derfull. This man also hath xx. thousand horses bar∣bed with very fine leather. Some cary pikes and Par∣tisans, & such like weapons. Their Ensigne or armes is a man in chaines, in a field parted halfe with greene and Purple, and this deuise withall, My chaines shall bind another man.

9 Of the Marquesse of Vorio.

THere is a Marques of Vorio called Manasses, who hath vnder his conduct xvii. thousand footemen, Armed with a very hard & strong leather, which men beleeue to be enchaunted, because that no meapon nor harquebush is able to perse it thorowe, yet it is as

light as Linneu cloth, and a thing very fayre to see to. These now haue all sorts of weapons that an Armie may haue: and they are diuided and set in a very faire, comely, and decent order: their Ensigne is an old man in a chariot, in a blacke fielde, saying thus, After a long iourney I shall be happy.