Gama after having strictly Survey'd it judged it the best way to make an Assault upon all the Entries at once and accordingly charged Francis Velho and Manoel da Cunha with the First and John de Fanseca and Francis d' Abrew with the Second who had each of them Three Field-Pieces taking the Third which was by much the strongest to himself In the Night he ordered several false Attacks to be made on purpose to make the Enemy spend their Arrows which they did in great showers without Killing or Wounding one of the Portugueses who having performed their Devotions and received the Patriarch's Blessing advanced so soon as it was Day with their Artillery with which having plaid for some time upon the Entry they afterwards fell palmall upon those that Guarded them by whom they were warmly received and repulsed twice Gama who little expected to have met with such a stout Resistance was much concerned to see his Men beat off so nevertheless resolving since he had begun it either to carry his Point The strong Mountain of Amba Canet is stormed by Gama or to lose his Life in the Enterprise he made a Third Attack in which after a long struggle he obliged the Enemy to leave the Pass and Retreat with a great loss of Men to the top of the Mountain The other two Passes were likewise opened by his Men much about the same time but the Garison after this was so far from offering to Capitulate that they disputed every Inch of the top of the Mountain with the Portugueses fighting it out to the last man Of the Porrugueses there were but 7 Killed and 40 wounded in all this Action Gama so soon as he was absolute Master of the Place sent down one to wish the Empress Joy of it and to desire her to do her Mountain Amba Camet the honour to visit it assuring her that she might now safely do it there being not one Mahometan left alive upon it the Empress was over-joy'd at the News and having magnified the Portuguese Valour and Conduct beyond measure she returned her Thanks to Gama for the great Service he had done her Son in reducing such a strong Place but desired to be excused from visiting of it For besides that it was very steep she had not courage enough to behold the Carcasses it must be covered withal He sent likewise to the Patriarch to come up and Consecrate the Mosque which he did The Church that had been turned into a Mosque is consecrated the by Abunâ— Dedicating it to our Lady of Victory in which after he heard Mass and Buried his Dead he went down to wait upon the Empress who received him with the greatest Joy and Respect imaginable extolling his Courage and Conduct to the Skies She gave the Government of the Mountain to a Captain that was in her train whose Ancestors had formerly been Governors of it The Camp continued near this Mountain all the Month of February for the sake of the wounded men during which time Gama received a Message brought by two Portugueses from Manuel de Vasconselho who had been sent by the Viceroy with Five Ships to learn where the Turkish Galleys were and with a fresh Supply of Arms and Ammunition Upon this advice Gama sent Francisco Velho with a Guard of 40 Portugueses well armed and mounted to Matzua where Vasconselho was with his Fleet with an Order to receive the Arms and Ammunition that was sent to him by his Brother to whom he gave a full account by Letter of the State of Affairs in Ethiopia and of all that he had done in it Having dispatched this business and their wounded men being all either dead or cured the Empress and Gama marched into a fertile Countrey whose Prince was a Christian by whom they were joyfully entertained wanting for nothing that was necessary for their Camp But they had not been many days in these good Quarters before Gama received Letters from the Emperor desiring him to march towards him with all the haste he could he being informed that Granhe had resolved to get betwixt them with an Army which neither of them alone could be able to deal with Upon this Advice Gama made long Marches to have got to the Emperor Gama is intercepted in his March towards the Emperor by Granhe but was notwithstanding that intercepted by Granhe from whom upon Palm-Sunday he received a Message telling him That he wondred at his having the Impudence to come as he did into his Kingdom with a Handful of men A Huffing Message with a ridiculous Present is sent to Gama by Granhe for which tho he well deserved to be chastised to discourage others from making such mad Adventures yet considering he was but a Boy and had been wheedled into it by the Empress who was certainly the falsest Woman in the world he was ready not only to pardon him but to convey him and his men safe back to their Ships desiring him withal to accept of the Present he had sent him which was a Monk's Cowl and a Rosary of Beads as much more proper for him than a Sword and Armour Gama treated the Messenger civilly presenting him with a Silk Vest and a Medal bidding him tell his Master That he should have an Answer from him in a day or two A Council of War having been called thereupon it was agreed that Gama should return the following Answer to Granhe That he was sent into Ethiopia by the great Lyon of the Sea and the most powerful Lord of the Earth whose custom it was to succor all that are in distress and who having been informed that the most Christian Emperor of Ethiopia his Brother in Arms was conquered and in a manner driven out of his Empire by Infidels and the Enemies of the holy Catholick Faith had sent him with some Troops to restore him to his Empire which tho they were but few in number yet he did not doubt but they were enough to fight the greatest Armies of one who had been so wicked as without any reason or colour of Justice to dispossess a Prince of his Empire and that not with his own strength but because the true God was pleased to permit it to be so for the chastisement of the Sins of the Habassins whose Wrath he hoped was now abundantly satisfied with what they had already suffered so that he would now in his great mercy restore them again to their Ancient Liberties and give them the Lands of their Forefathers of which he had so unjustly robbed them With this Answer he sent him a large Looking-glass with a pair of Pinchers such as Women use Gama returns Granhe a Message with a Present no less huffing than ridiculous Granhe though desperate mad at this Answer and Present yet could not forbear saying That Captains who had the courage to fight Armies with handfuls of men deserved to have great honours done them by all Princes But perceiving the Portugueses were
with one that had ever heard of them before The Observances prescribed in those Books are as followeth 1. That we are to fast upon all Wednesdays in memory of its having been decreed by the Jewish Council upon that day That Christ should be put to death We are commanded likewise to fast upon all Fridays because Christ was crucify'd and died for our Sins on that day upon which two days we are commanded to eat nothing till Sun-set During the 40 days of Lent we are commanded to fast with Bread and Water and to be employed seven hours in the day in Divine Service by the same Edicts we are commanded to Administer the Sacraments in the Evenings of Wednesdays and Fridays because our Saviour expired at that time on the Cross We are furthermore commanded to assemble together unanimously on the Lord's Day in the Church three hours after Sun-rising to read and hear the Books of the Prophets and afterwards to preach the Gospel and Administer the Sacrament they have furthermore appointed Nine days to be observed as Festivities in honour of Christ to wit the Annunciation the Nativity the Circumcision the Purification or Day of Candles of Baptism of Transfiguration Palm-Sunday until the Octaves of Good-Friday which are twelve days of the Ascension and Pentecost with their Festivities according to these Books We are without exception to eat Flesh every day from Easter to Pentecost neither are we bound to fast till after the Octaves of Pentecost which is observed for the greater honour and veneration of the Resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ they command us likewise to celebrate the Days of the Death and Assumption of the Virgin Mary with great honour But besides the Precepts of the Apostles a certain Precious John whose name was Zara Jacob ordained 33 days in every year to be kept in honour of the said Blessed Virgin and a day in every Month in honour of Christ's Nativity which is always the 25th of the Month and a day likewise in every Month to be observed in honour of St. Michael Furthermore in obedience to the said Synod of the Apostles we do celebrate the day of St. Stephen and other Martyrs and are bound by the Institution of the Apostles to observe two days to wit the Sabbath and Lord's-Day on which it is not lawful for us to do any work no not the least on the sabbath-Sabbath-Day because God after he had finished the Creation of the World rested thereon Which Day as God would have it called the Holy of Holies so the not celebrating thereof with great honour and devotion seems to be plainly contrary to God's Will and Precept who will suffer Heaven and Earth to pass away sooner than his Word and that especially since Christ came not to dissolve the Law but to fulfil it It is not therefore in imitation of the Jews but in obedience to Christ and his holy Apostles that we observe that Day the favour that was shewed herein to the Jews being transferred to us Christians so that excepting Lent we eat Flesh every Saturday in the Year but in the Kingdoms of Barnagaus Tigre and Mahon the Christians according to ancient custome do eat Flesh on all Saturdays and Sundays even in Lent We do observe the Lord's-Day after the manner of all other Christians in memory of Christ's Resurrection But as we are sensible that we have the observation of the Sabbath-Day from the Books of the Law and not from those of the Gospel A Falsehood so we are not ignorant that the Gospel is the end of the Law and the Prophets On those forementioned Days we believe the Souls of the Just departed this Life not to be tormented in Purgatory which ease will be granted by God to them upon those two most holy Days until the term of their suffering for their Sins is expired and they are entirely delivered to the shortning and mitigating of which Torments we believe the Alms that are given for the relief of the Souls in Purgatory do contribute much towards the remission of which Souls the Patriarch grants no Indulgences The Abuna never grants any Indulgences which we believe belongs to God only and that he only constitutes the time of their punishment neither does the Patriarch grant Indulgences on any occasion The Gospel obligeth us to observe only the Six Precepts which Christ with his own mouth has explained as follows I was hungry and you gave me meat I was thirsty and you gave me drink I was a stranger and you entertained me naked and you covered me sick and you visited me in prison and you came unto me which are all words that will be spoke by Christ at the Day of Judgment For the Law as St. Paul says sheweth us our sins which Law without Christ The Habassins believe Original Sin none is able to keep Paul witnesseth likewise that we are all born in sin by reason of the Transgression and Curse of our Mother Eve Paul saith furthermore that we died thorough Adam and do live thorough Christ who of his infinite mercy gave us these Six Precepts that when he comes in Majesty to judge the Quick and Dead we may be saved With which Words and Precepts he will on the Tremendous Day of Judgment allot everlasting Glory to the Righteous and to the Wicked Fire and Everlasting Damnation We do reckon only five mortal Sins as they call them which are gathered out of the last Chapter of the Revelations where it is said Without are dogs and witches and unclean persons and murtherers and idolaters and every one who loveth and maketh a lye It is constituted by the holy Apostles Clerks may marry in the Book of Synods that it is lawful for Clerks to marry and that even after they have some knowledge of Divine Matters who after they are married are received into the Order of Presbyter to which none are admitted before they are 30 years of Age neither are Bastards ever admitted to it Holy Orders are conferred by none but the Patriarch and after the death of their first Wives neither Bishops nor Presbyters are permitted to marry a second time unless the Patriarch shall think fit to dispence with them which he does sometimes to eminent Persons and when it is for the Publick good Neither are they suffered to keep Concubines unless they do voluntarily give over officiating after which they must no more meddle with holy things and this is so strictly observed that the Presbyters who marry a second time must not presume so much as to take a consecrated Candle in their hands and if any Bishop or Clerk is found to have had a Bastard he is deprived of his Orders and all his Ecclesiastical Benefices and his Goods if he dies without Children lawfully begotten do all go to Precious John and not to the Patriarch That it is lawful for Presbyters to have Wives we have received from St. Paul who would rather have both Clergy and Laity
Peterburgh Dr. John Lightfoot's Works in two Vol. Rushworth's Historical Collections 1st Vol. Idem 2d Part in 2 Vol. Idem 3d. Part in 2 Vol. The Laws of the Kingdom of Scotland at large with Skene de Verborum significatione Dr. Towerson's Explication of the Apostles Creed Ten Commandmandments Lord's Prayer and Sacraments in 4 Vol. QUARTO DR Pet. Allix's Remarks upon the Ecclesiastical History of the ancient Churches of Piedmont and Albigenses in 2 Parts Bishop Burnet's Collection of Tracts relating both to Church and State from 1678. to 1694. in 3 Vol. Dr. Cresner of the Judgments of God upon the Roman Cath. Church Camdeni Illustrium Virorum ad Camdenum Epistola Disqusitiones Critica de variis Bibliorum Editionibus The London Divines Examination of Bellarmins's 15 Notes of the Church with Tables Examination of the Texts which the Papists cite for proof of their Religion with Tables Dr. Patrick now Lord Bishop of Ely his Parable of the Pilgrim His Commentary on Genesis His eight Sermons upon several Occasions Usserii Historia Dogmatica de Scripturis Sacris Vernaculis Warren's Geologia Or a Discourse of the Earth before the Deluge in answer to the Theory of the Earth Dr. Wake 's eleven Treatises against Popery in 2 Vol. Dr. Tennison now Lord Archbishop of Canterbury his account of the Conference with Pulton the Jesuit His nine Sermons upon several Occasions The secret Consults Negotiations and Intrigues of the Romish Party in Ireland from 1660 to 1689 for settlement of Pepery in that Kingdom With several other Treatises and Papers relating to those Affairs An Impartial History of the Wars in Ireland in two Parts with Copper Sculptures By Mr. Story present in the same OCTAVO LOrd Bacen's Genuine Remains with an account of his Works By Dr. Tennison Dr. Burton's Discourses or Sermons in 2 Vol. with Archbishop Tillotson's Preface Dr. John Conant's Sermons The Letters of Father Paul Councellor to the State of Venice with an account of the same in a large Preface Tullies Discourse of the Government of the Thoughts The Jesuits Memorial for the intended Reformation of England found in King James's Closet The Indian Prince or Self-taught Philosopher A Discourse of Simony by Mr. Metford The present State of Germany by Edmund Bohun Esq The Unreasonableness of the Romanists Bishop Wilkins's Principles of Natural Religion Dr. Wake 's Sermons and Discourses Dr. Salmen's Supplement to his London Dispensatory Bishop Patrick's Answer to the Touchstone of the Reformed Gospel Exposition of the Ten Commandments Prayers for several extraordinary Occasions Considerations of Eternity by Drexelius 12o. Bishop Wettenhall's Method and Order of private Devotion Lately Printed DAwson of the Origin of all Laws Fol. Archbishop Cranmer's Memorials Fol. The Present State of England by Dr. Chamberlane 8 vo 1694. The History of the Troubles and Tryal of Archbishop Laud wrote by himself published by Hen. Wharton Fol. Whartoni Historis de Episcopis Decanis Londinensibus Assaventsibus 8 vo Archbishop Tillotson's Sermons of Sincerity and Constancy in the Faith and Profession of the True Religion published from the Originals by his Chaplain Dr. Barker 8 vo 1695. His 16 Sermons on several Occasions being a 2d. Volume published from the Original by Dr. Barker 8 vo 1696. Remarks on Mr. Hill's Vindication of the Primitive Fathers against Bishop Burnet Animadversions on Mr. Hill's Vindication of the Primitive Fathers against Bishop Burnet Dr. Williams's Sermons of Divine Revelation preached at the Lecture founded by Robert Boyle Esq for the Year 1695. His Vindication of Archbishop Tillotsons's Sermons against the Socinians and of the Bishop of Worcester's Sermon of the Mysteries of the Christian Religion To which is annexed a Letter from the Bishop of Salisbury to the Author in Vindication of his Discourse of the Divinity of our Saviour 4 to Reflections on a Libel lately printed entituled The Charge of Secianism against Dr. Tillotson considered c. 4 to Dr. Salmon upon the London Dispensatory The 6th Edit 8 vo 1696. A Discourse of the Power and Efficacy of Charity By Mr. John Whitesoot Senior of Norwich A Discourse concerning Coining the New Money lighter In Answer to Mr. Lock 's Considerations about Raising the Value of Money By Nicholas Barbon Esq ADVERTISEMENT HEylin's Cosmography with very large Additions throughout the whole made by Edmund Behun Esq is fitted for the Press and will in short time be begun to be printed by Subscription THE Church-History OF Habassia or Ethiopia Alta. HABASSIA The Climate of Ethiopia or Ethiopia Alta or Ethiopia super Egyptum which are all the same according to the Newest and best Accounts we have of it is 9 Degrees in length reaching from Bergamo in the 8th Degree of Northern Latitude to Focay which is in the 17th Degree of the same Latitude and about 140 Leagues in Breadth taking it from the Shoar of the Red Sea to the Banks of Nile The King or Emperor of Habassia The true Title of the Emperor of Ethiopia is called the Naggasi that is the Lord or Ruler and not Prester Presbyter nor Preto John which Title was first given him by the Portugueses upon their imagining him when they first discovered this Empire to have been the great Christian Prester John who had been so much talked of and so little known in Europe not considering that all that had spoke of that Great Prince had placed his Empire in Asia to the North of China and not in Africa And as to Zaga Zabi calling him in his Relation published at Lisbon Precious John in that he play'd the Embassador rather than the Historian not caring to undeceive Europe at the expence of a Title which made his Master's Name much greater in it than it would have been otherwise Now though our Geographers have in their Maps been very liberal to this Emperor having extended his Empire 30 or 40 Degrees from South to North his Neighbours have not been so kind to him who within these 100 years have very much contracted it The Countries he is at present in possession of are Tigre The Provinces of Ethiopia Gojam Amhara Dembya Bagemeder Enarea part of Zoa Mazaga Salem Ogara Abergal Holcait Salgade Cemen Saloa Ozeca and Doba The Countries that have been taken from him are Anget Doaro Ogge Balli Adea Alam-ale Oxela Ganz Betazamora Gurague Sugama Baharguma Catrbut Boxa Gumer Couch Damota Mora-Aura Habera Oyfal Guedem Marabet Manz Beramo with all the Ports he had formerly on the Coast of the Red Sea Tigre which is the chief Kingdom in the Habassian Empire begins at Matzua a small Island not far from Arkiko a Sea-port Town in the 15th Degree of the Northern Latitude it is 90 Leagues in length and 50 in breadth and is by much the most Fertil and Trading Countrey in Ethiopia for which reason the Jesuits fixed their first and greatest residence in a Town called Maegoga or Fremona which stands near the middle of it The Kingdom of Bagemder lieth
little respect to the most Potent Precious John and his Subjects as to load them with Reproaches calling us Jews and Mahometans because we circumcise and sanctify the Sabbath after the manner of the Jews and do continue our Fasts till Sunset as the Mahometans do They do likewise object to us with great bitterness That our Priests do marry after the manner of the Lay-men and that mistrusting our first Baptism we are baptized yearly and that we circumcise not only Males but Females also which the Jews never did lastly that we observe a distinction of Meats with great strictness and that we call Children Half-Christians before they are baptized To which things I was obliged to return an Answer to vindicate our people from the Calumnies that are cast upon them and to render the Roman Doctors more affable to us who how piously I will not say have ever since I came into Portugal which is now Seven Years deny'd me the Sacrament so that I cannot speak it but with extreme Grief and Tears I am treated by my Christian Brethren as a Heathen and an Anathema He that enliveneth all things to whom I commit it does take notice of these matters I was not sent by the most Potent Lord the Emperor of Ethiopia to the Roman Pontiff and to the most Serene John King of Portugal to brangle and dispute but to contract a Friendship and Alliance betwixt them not to increase or diminish Human Traditions but to enquire diligently into the Errors of Arius the Prince of Hereticks and to learn whether the European Christians do agree with us in confuting his Opinions upon account of whose Errors a Council of Three hundred and eighteen Bishops were assembled at Nice under Pope Julius And that I might learn likewise whether what the Apostles have commanded in their Book of Synods was observed among the European Christians to wit That Two Councils be celebrated every Year in the Christian Church to treat concerning Matters of Faith the first whereof they ordered to be assembled at the Feast of Pentecost and the second on the 10th of October And to learn also how it stood betwixt us as to the Errors of Macedonius upon whose account a Council of an Hundred and Fifty Bishops was assembled at Constantinople under Pope Damasus And also the Errors of Nestorius against whom a Council of Two hundred were assembled at Ephesus under Pope Celestine And lastly That I might be informed of the Fourth and Great Council of Chalcedon assembled upon the account of the Errors of Eutyches at the time when St. Leo was Bishop of Rome from which Council after having had hot Disputes the Bishops returned without having concluded any thing for the Peace of the Church both Parties maintaining their own Opinions The Books of which Synods and of divers others that were afterwards celebrated my Lord the Emperor of Ethiopia hath by him who is very much troubled as are also all his Christian Subjects at the Tares which the Devil the Enemy of Truth has sown among Christians Our people from the beginning have acknowledged the Roman Pontiff to be the first Bishop to whom as the Vicar of Christ we do at this time submit our selves and in whose Court we would be frequently were it not for the great distance we are at from it and our being denied a free passage through the Mahometan Kingdoms which lye betwixt us insomuch that many times after having exposed our Persons to great dangers we are not able to get thither The most Prudent and Invincible King Emanuel of happy memory was the first that by Divine Direction opened a Passage by his Navigation to the East-Indies which for the future gives us great hopes of a commodious Correspondence Emanuel made himself Master of the Red Sea with his Fleets not being discouraged from doing it by the greatness of the Charge that so he might augment the Faith of Christ and open a Passage for us to correspond with him and to make use of each other's assistance by which means we do hope with our united Forces to drive all the Mahometans and Heathens not only from the Coasts of the Red-Sea but also out of Arabia Persia and India And as we do not in the least doubt but that we shall be able to do this so we do wish that all European Christians were in Peace with one another that so they might join together The design of this Habossin Embassy in order to expel the Enemies of the Cross of Christ out of the Mediterranean Countries and Pontus and other Provinces that according to the Word of Christ there may be but one Law one Shepherd and one Pastor upon the face of the whole earth of which we have two Prophecies one in the Prophecies of St. Ficator and another of St. Synoda a Hermit born among the Rocks in the extremities of Egypt both which Prophecies do agree in this matter For which reason we have reckoned the Events of those Prophecies to be drawing near ever since my most Potent Lord had Ambassadors sent to him by the Serene and Wise King Emanuel And it is certain that ever since that time my Prince hath thought of nothing so much as of destroying the Mahometans from off the Face of the earth for the advancing of which design and of some other matters which I have laid before the most Serene King John the Son of Emanuel I was sent hither by my most Potent Lord and not to engage in frivolous and empty Disputations I do wish the great God may bring the Intentions and Endeavours of my Prince which I was sent hither to promote to an happy Issue so as to be for his Glory Amen Having given some Account of these things I will now with great Brevity say something of the state of our Patriarch and Empire When our Patriarch dies Precious John our Emperor immediately dispatcheth a Messenger to the Monks that live at Jerusalem A false account of the Election of the Abuna who having received notice and the Presents that are sent to the Holy Sepulchre by the Emperor do straightways chuse a Patriarch by a Majority of Voices who must always be an Alexandrian Monk of an unblameable life When they have chosen a Patriarch they seal up their Votes and transmit them by the Emperor's Messenger to the Patriarch of Alexandria residing at Grand Cairo who immediately consecrates the Monk that is chosen to that great Dignity and sends him with the Messenger into Ethiopia The Person elected according to ancient custom must be a Monk of the Order of St. Anthony the Hermit and who when he arrives in Ethiopia is there received with great Joy and Honour This Affair is not sometimes finished under a Year or two during which Vacancy all the Rents of the Patriarch are paid to Precious John The chief business of the Patriarch is to confer Holy Orders which none besides him can either give or take away He collates to no