Ropes Formerly those miserable Ethiopic Princes were here cag'd up in wild places in low Cottages among Shrubs and wild Cedars starv'd from all things else but Air and Earth as if they who were descended from a high Parentage were to be confind in a high and lofty Exile In Gojam as (y) In Mulurgia sua Univers T. 3. l. 9. c. 6. where instead of Iches Fays read Petrus Pays Kercher tells us from the Relation of Peter Pays there is a certain Rock so curiously hollow'd by Nature that afar off it resembles a Looking-Glass and over against it another on the top of which there is nothing that can be so softly whisper'd but may be heard a great way off and the reverberation of the sound is like the encouraging Ho up of Mariners Between these Mountains are immense Gulphs and dreadful Profundities which because the Sight cannot fathom Fancy takes them for Abysses whose bottoms Tellezius will have to be the Center of the Earth Nor did Gregory describe them otherwise than as places most dreadful and formidable to the Eye Levels are very rare the largest Plain is that in Dembea near the Lake Tzanicus about twenty Portugal Leagues in length and four or five broad A Region so Mountainous and so like to Switzerland may be look'd upon justly by all people as a most rude and unhusbanded Country but they that consider the benefits which the Habessines receive thereby will from the same reasons be drawn to an admiring Contemplation of Divine Providence For that stupendious height of their Mountains contemns the scorching heat which renders their Country the more inhabitable in those high places where the people breath a more serene Air. In the next place Heaven has thereby provided for their security so many inaccessible Mountains being like so many Castles which afford them not only Habitation but a safe defence against their Enemies For had it not been for those Fortresses of Nature they had been ruin'd long e're this by the Adelenses and the Gallans Moreover thorough all those Mountains you shall find most pleasant Springs of Water which are wanting in the Levels of the torrid Zone The reason of which we shall give you in another place CHAP. VII Of Metals and Minerals Abassia abounds in Metals and Minerals especially Gold which is found in the Sand of the Rivers and in Damota and Enarrea upon the Superficies of the Earth Silver they have not and yet not without Lead They neither know nor care to know what belongs to Metals Salt plentifully digg'd out of the Earth Gems they want They more esteem black Lead with which they colour their Eye-brows THat so many and so vast Mountains afford plenty of Metals and Minerals the Fathers of the Society attest And certainly 't is a thing easily credible that that part of the Earth lying under the fiercest and most maturing heat of the Sun cannot be without Metals and more especially Gold which is found in the shallows of Rivers polish'd and pure in great quantities about the bigness of a Tare or Vetch Whence it is conjectur'd that the Gold is brought to perfection in the neighbouring Mountains and carry'd away together with the Sand by the forces of the Stream Pliny affirms that sort of Gold to be the finest and most perfect Damota but more especially Enarrea enjoy this advantage it being the chiefest Tribute which they pay They are destitute of Silver whether it be that Nature denies them that benefit or that they know not how to dig it out and refine it For they have Lead which is said to be the Mother of Silver But they are altogether ignorant of the Minery Trade For the digging of Wells boaring of Mountains supporting of Mines with massy Timber hewing of Stones or forcing Rocks with Gunpowder or Fire to live in the dark sometimes hours sometimes days together and to be half strangled with Smoke and Damps to (z) Thus Pliny discourses concerning Minerals search the Vains of the Earth and examin the Secrets of Rocks are things altogether unsuitable to the Genius of the Habessines Rather they count it a piece of folly to pine after Minerals and heap up Riches to encourage the Turk to make War upon them They think themselves far more safe in Iron as being that with which Gold may be won And for Iron they have no occasion to delve for it in regard they find it in great plenty upon the Superficies of the Earth as P. Antonio Fernandez testifies Moreover in the Confines of Tigra and Angora from a place call'd the Land of Salt there (a) Concerning such kind of Salt see Pliny l. 31. c. 7. are natural Mountains of Salt from whence they supply themselves with inexhaustible quantities cutting it out of the sides of the Mountains in great pieces of a white and solid Substance In the Mountain it is soft and sliver'd off with little labour but in the Air it hardens From thence it is fetch'd by great numbers of Merchants who conveigh it away in Caravans which are call'd Cafila and vended through all the neighbouring Nations and Countries where it is a scarce Commodity Alphonsus Mendez the Patriarch writes That there is in another place a Mountain of Red Salt very useful in Physic So propitiously has Heaven compensated their want of Money with plenty of Salt which by virtue whereof as with ready Coyn in other places they purchase other necessaries Thus they abound in Salt which the Life of Man cannot want but they are destitute of other things that less conduce to the happiness of Human Being Nor do they desire those things of whose dazling Beauties and glittering Colours they are ignorant I mean Gems and Jewels rarely yet seen in Ethiopia whatever that same Trifler Valentinian Romances The Royal Diadem it self glitters only with counterfeit Jewels thinking it not worth their while to send their Salt or Gold to foreign and barbarous Nations to purchase true ones and admiring at our imprudence for expending our Money so idly They much more esteem those Minerals that conduce to the health and preservation of the Body chiefly among the rest Stibium or Black Lead which they in their Language call (b) A word well known in all the Eastern Languages from the Hebrew word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 which signifies Stibium from 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Fucavit or besmear'd with Fucus and whence the Greek word Collyrium as it were Cohollyrium seems deriv'd The Arabic word Elcohol still remains in the Spanish Language wherein there is a Proverb Elpolve de las ovejas Elcohol es para el Lobo The Dust which the Sheep raise is a Collyrium to quicken the Wolf's sight Cuehel or Cohol and believe it to be a great preserver of the Sight nor do they less esteem it for Ornament and to beautifie their Faces with it For being powder'd they mix it with Soot moisten'd and with a small Pencil which they call Blen besmear their Eye-brows
(r) So the Mahometans call themselves Muslims Wherefore Merwan Captain of the Saracens upon promise of mitigating his severity besought the Patriarch of Alexandria to perswade the King to desist from his design which he did and stopp'd the Progress of the King till he (s) Elmacinus Hist of the Saracens l. c. 17. heard that the Christians were better us'd Which tho it be reported of the King of Nubia yet several Authors attribute the same to the King of the Abissines in regard that by the Nubian Geographer Nubia (t) Bochapts Sacred Geography l. 2. c. 23. However most certainly Cyriacus had another name extended to the Fountains of Nile Gregory also affirm'd the same and that the History was to be seen in his Country But when the Saracens grew stronger and had invaded the Neighbouring Kingdoms the Abissines relinquishing Axuma and turning the force of their Arms against the more upland parts of Africa enlarg'd their Empire by the Overthrow of several weak and effeminate Nations no more regarding forraign Countries or the subduing of far distant Regions which was the reason that after that they perform'd nothing that was memorable abroad However they were Potent at home and had under them several petty-Princes that were their Tributaries And in this Greatness they flourish'd in the time of Helena and David till it was not only shaken by that Dreadful Warr with the Adelans but so overturn'd that it never could recover it self afterwards For about that time the Gallans also breaking out and never after that subdu'd layd wast and harrass'd the most Opulent and most Noble Provinces of the Empire and still to this day every year gain upon the rest with their continual Incursions However that Power which yet remains is so considerable that if they would but make use of the Arts and Arms of the Europeans they might not onely subdue those Barbarians but also recover their Lost Dominions For a Kingdom well order'd within under such a Monarch where the People are under so much subjection so large a liberty to do well or ill if Concord and Unity attended these Opportunities together with a constant method of Counsels it is impossible but that they must soon prevail over a wandring Nation divided among themselves into so many Tribes and Factions All their truculent and savage fury would be in vain if the streights of the Mountains were but well fortify'd and guarded with Field-Pieces They should also send forth several Colonies and give them a tast of the Blessings of Peace by which the wildest of Nations oft-times grow tame But which is more than all and which the Habessines most earnestly desire Towns should be built and replenish'd with people and an increase of Wealth be permitted by the Encouragement of Arts and Arms. Lastly if the Kng would remit something of his Prerogative which he has over the Estates of the Subject and reserving those Lands which are already till'd to himself would distribute to his Souldiers and the rest of his People such Lands as should be won from the Enemy every one his proportion and grant them an irrevocable Inheritance of such Lands settling also Dukedoms and Earldoms in fee-simple out of the Conquer'd Countries upon his Nobility and best deserving Captains no doubt but in a short time it would prove the most flourishing Kingdom in Asia greatly to the propagation of the Christian Religion And it seems but reason that in the settling and ordering his Kingdom the Habessinian Prince should be advis'd and assisted by the European Princes not onely out of Christian Charity and hopes of propagating Christianity over Africa but also to lessen the Power of the Turk which would follow were the Dominion of the Red Sea but wrested out of his hands and the Commerce of Egypt spoyl'd Ah! what pity it is that we should be so ill affected towards other Christian Nations that unless they are of the same Opinion with us in all points of Divinity or unless they promise us large Rewards or an ample share of their Profits we can patiently look on and see them perish while the most inveterate Enemies of the Christian Faith are enrich'd with the spoyls of their Wealth not considering that in the end the mischief will redound to our selves and that we shall one day unless God in mercy prevent it dearly pay for our Dissensions Thus we forbore to assist the Grecian Emperours and several of the Eastern Princes till they became at last a prey to the Ottomans Thus while none of Us lay'd it to heart Egypt was reduc'd under the Power of the Turk a vast addition to their Empire as if it were a Crime to breed up Doggs to hunt the Wolves Now the reason why the Abissines do not court with greater ardour the Alliances of the Europeans is plain for it is to be attributed either to their ignorance or their difference in Opinion from the Latines Moreover they fail very much in this that they permit the Turk to be Masters of the Ports and Ilands of the Red Sea whereby it is absolutely at their pleasure what Persons or Commodities shall pass in and out But they understand not that there is no Nation can be truly Powerful and Great that does not Command some Sea-Towns As for the Revenues of the King they are not paid in ready money but in the natural Productions of the Countries the most equal sort of Tribute For some Provinces afford Gold others Horses Cattel Sheep Corn and Ox Hides and some few where Weavers live send him Garments They bring their Gold rough and unrefin'd as they gather it up among the Sands of the Rivers or digg it out under the Roots of Trees or else with less Labour find it loose upon the Earth For they know not how to coyn money but after the ancient manner weigh their Mettal wherein they are many times gull'd by forraign Merchants who frequently deny the Gold to be pure and therefore change it for the meanest of their Commodities How much better might the King provide for himself and his Subjects should he with Money of his own Coyn buy up all the Gold in his Kingdom to his own and the great advantage of his People Enarea (u) 15000 Patachs of Portugal or German Dollars pays a Thousand and five hundred Ounces of Gold formerly much more To Susneus it pay'd but a Thousand and sometimes but Five hundred when the Enareans were either at Wars with the Gallans or else embroyl'd one with another Gojam pays every Year Eleven hundred Ounces and some Garments to the value of 3000 German Dollars together with Two hundred Fustian Tapestries very broad and close woven Formerly they also pay'd a Tribute of Horses but Malec-Saghed remitted that to the end they might be the better able to withstand the Gallans Out of Tigra he receives Five and twenty thousand Patachs Out of Dembea Five thousand As much out of other Kingdoms or sometimes less There are also
retain never pester'd with confusion either marching or sitting still The constant disposal and largeness of the Camp may be understood from hence that the same Dialect and the same words continue in the same Streets and Quarters in other Quarters another sort of words and a different Dialect as for Dala a word used in the Front of the Camp which signifies to put in the Vulgar in the Rear Quarter say Tshammara Of old before the Gallans conquer'd it the Camp was pitch'd in Shewa a fertile and most plentiful Countrey But for the most part in December and that for three or four years together in one place In the beginning of Susneus's Reign in the year 1607 they pitch'd at Coga Thence they remov'd to Gorgora in the year 1612 from thence to Dancaza and lastly to Guendra which place Bernier because he had heard perhaps that it was the Residence of the King calls the Metropolis of Ethiopia of which perhaps in a few years there will be nothing to be seen These Camps take up a vast deal of room as well in the Summer as in the Winter for they do not onely contain the Souldiers but their Wives and their Children whose work it is to bake their Bread and make their Hydromel So that the weak and helpless multitude far exceeds the number of the Souldiery Nor are they without Merchants and Tradesmen of all sorts besides Slaves and Lackeys necessary for such a Multitude So that the Camp looks more like an Ambulatory City and moving Houses then a Martial Camp So many Tents and Pavilions seeming a far off to represent the Prospect of some great Town But less wonderful is that which is reported out of India That near the Island of Sumatra there are certain Cities if they may be so call'd which are always swimming and yet great Markets and Fairs are kept therein and many People live there who have no other Country or Habitation Now for the Camp masters whom the Ethiopians call Sebea Catine they carry a great sway in managing the Succession of the Kings and affairs of greatest moment The Kings also themselves are guided by them in making and abrogating Laws and generally they are the first springs of Faction and Sedition And as formerly the Pretorean Bands gave Laws to Prince and People so among the Habessines the effect of all Consultations good or bad derive themselves from the Camp CHAP. XIV Of the Military Affairs of the Habessines Continual war The Winter causes a Truce The Habessines good Soldiers Strong and active They serve without pay They plunder the Countries as they march The Gallans secur'd by their Poverty The Habessines ignorant in Fire-Arms Few Muskets and fewer Musketeteers Their Armies consist most of Foot Light Armour Drumms us'd by the Horse Their Weapons Bad Discipline because they count it no shame to flie Their Onsets furious Their Rocks are their Fortresses The King Commands in chief Theives unpunish'd THat the Habessines are a Warlike People and continually exercis'd in War we have already declar'd neither is there any respit but what is caus'd by the Winter at what time by reason of the Inundations of the Rivers they are forc'd to be quiet For they have neither Ships nor Boats neither do they know how to make Bridges to command a passage over their violent Streams Concerning which Gregory wrote to me in these words There is no making War in Ethiopia in the Winter time neither does the Enemy attack us nor we them by reason of the great falls of Rain and the Inundations of the Rivers Tellezius also further testifies That the Habessines are good Souldiers They ride and manage a Horse well and readily take Arms as well in obedience to their Soveraign as for other causes already mention'd They are strong They endure hunger and thrist beyond belief and with little sustenance can brook any unseasonable sort of weather They serve without pay contented with honour and applause and such Lands as the King after the Roman Custom bestows upon the well deserving Therefore they must certainly be thought to sight much more generously and faithfully in the defence of their Countrey then Hirelings They expect no part of the Enemies Booty nor no redemption and therefore never serve them in the Field and because they know not the art of protracting a War therefore they never are sparing of themselves to return home rich However the Poverty of the Souldiers impoverishes the Countries through which they march For in regard it is a difficult thing to carry Provisions over such steep and rugged Mountains and long wayes they take by force what is not freely given them and by that means lay wast their own Countries no less then their Enemies whereby the poor Countrey people are constrain'd to turn Souldiers and so taught to deal by others as they were dealt with themselves For which reason they neither can vanquish nor make any long pursuit after the Gallans who being retir'd with their Droves the Pursuers find nothing left behind but Lands untill'd and empty Cottages So invincible a Fortress is Poverty to withstand the stoutest Enemy But as we have said already Those Gallans might easily be vanquish'd did but the Habessines know the use of Muskets Tellezius writes that they have among them about fifteen hundred Musquets but not above four Musqueteers and they but very bad Fire-men neither neither do the Commanders know how to place and order them to the best advantage and therefore after they have once discharg'd the Enemy rushes on so furiously before they can charge again that they they are forc'd to to throw their Musquets away and then another thing is they have but very little Powder The biggest Army which the King brings now into the Field hardly amounts to Forty thousand Men among which he has not above Four or Five thousand Horse the rest are all Foot Their horses are couragious and mettlesome but they never get upon their backs till they are ready to charge the Enemy at other times they ride their Mules and lead their Horses They are slightly arm'd after the manner of the antient Velites and tho their Stirrups are no bigger then onely to thrust in their great Toes least if the Horse should fall their feet should be hung in the Stirup yet they sit very fast Their Weapons are Swords and Darts as also Launces and short Javelins with which they fight at a distance after which they dispute it hand to hand with their Swords or Launces and Bucklers Their War like Musick for the Horse are Drums much bigger then ours and the King 's which are the biggest go by the name of the Bear and the Lyon Besides which several Hornes and Fifes march before Him They for the most part are arm'd with two Spears of which they dart away the one at a distance and maintain a close fight with the other defending themselves with their Bucklers The Horse never fight a foot nor the Foot a
the King contracted into Baleganz The eighteenth Gedm bordering upon Dawaro toward the East The nineteenth Gojam (e) Erroneously Goyame in the Mapps Worse Goroma by Godignus Lib. 1. cap. 4. pag. 15. pronounce it with the French Gojam A Kingdom wonderful for its situation and famous for the Fountains of Nile therein now discovered For the River Nile almost surrounds it in manner of a Peninsula But that it cannot possibly be the Island of Meroe as Tellezius believes we shall prove in our Commentary Godignus affirms that it contains twenty Provinces but conceals their Names The twentieth Kingdom is Gombo The one and twentieth Gonga The two and twentieth Guraghe The three and twentieth Ifat adjoyning to Shewa toward the East The twenty fourth is Samen by Tellezius called Cemen and numbred among the Provinces The twenty fifth Set whose Inhabitants are Pagans The twenty sixth Sewa in the Amharec Dialect Shewa as the Portugals call it Xoa or Xaoa a very large and most opulent Kingdom formerly much frequented by the Abessine Kings and then more famous than Amhara It is distinguished into the Upper and the Lower there are in it several Monasteries and some Towns as may be seen in our Mapp Dabra Libanos the seat of Jeeghi chief Overseer of all the Monks was formerly in this Kingdom The twenty seventh is Shat in Portugueze Xat The twenty eighth is Tegre or Tigra one of the principal Kingdoms and the first as you enter into Ethiopia The Native Country of the former Kings who kept their Courts at Axuma The most noble part of it lyes toward the Red Sea and is called Bahr the Sea or Medra-Bahr the Land of the Sea or a Maritim Province comprehending under it three Toparchies The Governour Bahr-Nagash resides in Dobarwa (f) In the Mapps of Dobarua Erroneously Barva worse Barna The Prefectures belonging to Tegre are 1 Abargale 2 Acsum or the Prefecture of Axuma the ancient Residence of the Kings 3 Adet 4 Afa-macuonen 5 Agamja 6 Amba-Sanet (g) By Tellez called Ambacanet Pag. 119. 7 Bora 8 Upper-Bura 9 Lower-Bura 10 Beta-Abba Garima 11 Doba near Angora inhabited by Pagans 12 Enderta 13 Garalta 14 Hagarai 15 Memberta 16 Nader 17 Sahart 18 Salawa 19 Sanafe 20 Sire 21 Taderar 22 Tamben 23 Torat 24 Tzam-a 25 Tzerae 26 Wag 27 Wajrat All which are inhabited by several Nations and People But there are not so many Governours as Prefectures For that sometimes two or three Prefectures are under one Governour For Bora Salawa and Wag are all under one Tetrarch The Prefectures under Bahrnagas are 1 Bakla whose Inhabitants are all Graziers and change their habitations abiding in the Summer in one place all the Winter-time in another 2 Egala 3 Hamacen It consists of three Towns which are subject to the King of the Habessines however they choose their own Magistrates and are Governed by their own Laws like a Petty Common-wealth and often give Protection to Exiles and Fugitives 4 Marjan 5 Marata 6 Sarawe 7 Zangaren The twenty ninth Kingdom is Walaka in the Portugueeze Language Oleca or Holeca The thirtieth Wed by the Portugals called Ogge These are the Kingdoms which Gregory numbred up to me and left the Names of them written down in the Ethiopic Characters to the end I might pronounce them genuinely and express them as adaptly as could be done in conformity to the Latin Letters Tellezius reckons more which nevertheless he does not distinguish in his Mapps by great Letters as he does the other Kingdoms that is to say 1 Alamale 2 Aura 3 Bahargamo 4 Betezamora 5 Boxa which nevertheless he says is a Country of Enarea l. 1. c. 8. Guniar Manz Marrabet Mota On the other side some Kingdoms he omits some of which however he has inserted in his Geographical Mapp and of some he makes mention in his History l. 1. c. 13. as Fatagar Gafat Gajghe Ganibo Ganga Set Shat The most remarkable Provinces which have their peculiar Governours are 1 Emfras between Bagemdra and Dembea 2 Mazaga 3 Mugar near to Sewa 4 Tzagade 5 Wagara 6 Walkajit The rest you shall meet with in our Geographick Tables Now of all these Kingdoms and Provinces the King of the Abessines enjoys at present 1 Amhara 2 Bajemdra 3 Cambata 4 Damota 5 Dembea 6 Enarea 7 Gojam 8 Samen 9 Part of Sewa with some other Kingdoms of lesser note And for Provinces those of 1 Emfras 2 Mazaga 3 Tzagade 4 Wagara 5 Walkajit Which Kingdoms and Provinces comprehend the best part indeed but not the half of the ancient Habessia The rest the Galans have either subdued or else utterly laid wast as we shall relate in due place CHAP. IV. Of the Vulgar Chorographic Table or Mapp of Habessinia and the Author 's new one The New Mapp of the Habessines The new one found fault with as Erroneous Look'd on as ridiculous by Gregory by reason of the ill writing and because of the ill understood Names of Barnagassus Tigremahon Ambiancantiva which are explained The ambiguous powers of Letters Advice to concert a certain Geographical Alphabet The Authors contest about his own Mapps BUT to the End that all things may the more clearly appear we shall produce a new Chorographical Mapp of Habessinia the old one that goes begging about the World for an Author being altogether uncertain I was not a little asham'd to hear the sedulous Ethiopian Gregory upbraiding as he did the vanity and carelesness of our People to obtrude such absurdities upon the Commonweal of Learning and to defile otherwise most (h) As those of Ortelius Jansonius the Atlas's of Gerand Mercator Bleau and others beautiful Pieces of Geography with such fabulous impertinencies While they made public to the World Mapps of such consequence without any sufficient Authority or any light by what Pen of what Nation or in what Language they were first written as if they designed on purpose to deceive the Reader that so he might not be in a Capacity to judge of the Truth which if it were their aim they did not miss of their intentions in regard they led several persons otherwise eminent and of great judgment into foul mistakes who cryed up the Empire of the Habessines for the largest in the World as being little less than all Europe too unwarily trusting to their fictions When I first shewed the vulgar Mapps to Gregory sometimes I made him laugh sometimes I made him angry For before I call'd to mind that the Latin Letters were to be pronounced after the Portugal mannet I asked him concerning the Kingdoms of Xoa Gojam and other Regions from whence the Portuguezes had either taken away or to which they had added the Latin Letters a d do as being their Articles of declension (i) As Abugno for Bugna Barua worse Barua for Dobarua Amara for Amhara Ambadora for Ambadarho c. without any regard to the Letter h. But when I expected an Answer he knew not what I meant till I
according to the frequent and ancient custom of the Orientals CHAP. VIII Of the Rivers of Habessinia more especially of Nile its Fountains and Course as also of the Lake Tzana Many Rivers there more precious than Metals The Fountains originally from Rain-water An Encomium of Nilus In Scripture it is call'd The River 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and Schichor or Niger By some of the ancients Astapus and Astaboras In the Amharic Dialect call'd Abawi or the Patent of Rivers it flows not in Paradise as some of the Fathers thought Admiration caus'd the desire of knowing its Original that the Ancients plac'd in the Mountains of the Moon The Portugals discover'd the true Fountains their description from Peter Pays not different from Gregories It rises in Sicut it has five Heads It mixes with the Lake in Dembea It passes by the principal Kingdoms of Habassia encircles Gojam runs through Egypt and so into the Sea Gregories Ethiopic Description He alledges That all the Rivers of Africa fall into Nile He limits that assertion Some fall into the Sea The true causes of the overflowing of Nile Jovius blam'd A double Channel of Nile Niger the other Channel The old Relation in Herodotus explain'd Whether the King of Hebessynia can divert the Course of Nile Rivers suckt up in the Sand. Zebeus falls into the Indian Sea The Habessines unskill'd in Navigation The Tzanic Lake with its Islands BUT much more excelling and far more precious Gifts of Nature than those of Metals flow from the Mountains of Habessinia that is to say several remarkable Rivers more profitable to the Natives and the neighbouring Nations than Gold it self so much the Subject of human Avarice For the Rain-water soaking through the pores of the Earth and the clefts of the Rocks is receiv'd and as it were cistern'd up in the hidden Caverns of the Mountains where after it has pass'd through many secret conveyances of Nature at length it meets with some hollow place and breaks forth Sometimes oppress'd by its own weight it reascends and seeks for passage at the tops of the Mountains themselves which is the reason that in Countries where there is little or no Rain there are few or no Fountains but where there are frequent Rains the Rivers are large and swelling The Effect demonstrating the Cause (c) No truer opinion concerning the Original of Rivers Aristotle quotes it in his Meteorologies l. 1. s 4. c. 1. but without reason dissents Most Neoterics defend it See Isaac Vossius De Origine Nili Fluminum c. v. But Nilus owing to Habassia for its source for plenty of Water for sweetness wholsomness and fertility of the same excells all other Rivers of the World In sacred Writ by reason of its Excellency it is sometimes call'd Isa 23.3 The River absolutely and particularly 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 from its black Colour and by the Greeks for the same reason 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 because it runs with black a muddy Water Some of the Ancients tell us Plin. 5.9 7.3 that it was then by the Ethiopians call'd Astapus and that the left Channel of it about Meroe was nam'd Astabora which others have understood concerning other Rivers that flow into Nile But this we let pass as obscure and doubtful whether meant of Nilus and our Ethiopians or no for the Habessines in their vulgar Language have no other name for Nile than that of Abawi And that as some think from the word Ab which signifies a Parent as if Nilus were the Parent of all other Rivers But this derivation neither suits with Grammar neither does (d) It is in the form of an Adjective Heavenly Golden So Abawi signifies Paternal Abawi simply signifie a Parent neither if you rightly consider it is it agreeable to Sense for Nilus does not send forth from his own Bowels but receives the Tribute of all other Rivers So that he may be rather said to be their Captain and Prince than the Father of them And therefore the Egyptians out of a vain Superstition call'd him their Preserver their Sun and their God and sometimes Poetically Parent In our Ethiopic or the Language of the Books this River is call'd Gejon or Gewon by an ancient mistake from the (e) For in the time of the 70 Interpreters it was so called who render'd Shichor Jer 2.18 where the Prophet speaks positively of Nile 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Gihon The same you shall find in the Book of Syras Greek word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Geon and that from the Hebrew word Gihon because it seem'd to agree with the Description Gen. 2.13 which encompasses the Land of Ethiopia whereas it only encircles Gojam but only glides and passes by all the other Kingdoms of Ethiopia If you object That Gihon had its source in the Terrestrial Paradise 't is twenty to one but that they extol their own Country for Paradise For you must understand that many of the Fathers of the (f) Theodoret in c. 2. Gen. 9.19 Austin l. 8. de gen c. 7. Abulens in c. 2. Gen. 9.15 26.9.2 Church were of the same opinion which that they might defend they brought the River Nile under Ground and under the Sea into Egypt well knowing that no body would follow them thither leaving their Readers to find out the way Certainly the Ancients never inquir'd so curiously into the Nature or Source of any River as they did in that of Nile neither were they ever so deceiv'd for it was a thing altogether unusual for any other Rivers in the World to overflow in the most sultry Season of the year an Inundation so wholsom and profitable to Egypt So that the ignorance of the cause of it fill'd the minds of the Ancients with so much admiration that both Princes and private Persons desired nothing more than to know the Head of that River which was the Original of their Happiness in so much that there were some Emperours and Kings who sent great Armies in quest of the satisfaction of their Curiosity tho with all success (g) As Cambyses Alexander Ptol. Philadelph J. Caesar Nero c. Most of the ancient Geographers by meer conjecture plac'd the Fountains of this River beyond the Equinoctial Line in I know not what Mountains of the Moon to the end they might deduce the cause of its swelling from the Winter Rains of those Regions For they could not persuade themselves that the Sun being in the Northern Signs so much Winter or Rain could be so near to cause so great an increase of the Flood tho there were (h) So Pliny l. 17. c. 18. wherever Summer Rains are not as in India and Ethiopia some who made it out plainly enough but that Credit would not be given to them (i) Photin in Bibl. n. 249. in the Life of Pythag. Agatharchides Strabo and others See Vossius d. l. c. 20. But by the Travels of the Portugals into Habessinia and the sedulity of the Fathers
view taken from the Saracenic History In those days that is in the days of Michael the Patriarch Nilus fail'd extreamly Mustansir therefore a Mahumetan Prince of Egypt sent him to the Country of the Habessines with costly Gifts and other things of high value Whereupon the King of the Country came forth to meet him whom the Patriarch reverenc'd publicly After that the King demanded of him the cause of his coming Then the Patriarch made known to the King how that the Waters of Nile fail'd in Egypt to the unspeakable detriment of the Land and Inhabitants Thereupon in favour of the Patriarch the King commanded the Channel to be open'd through which the Water ran into Egypt which was then stopp'd up Which being done Nilus encreas'd three yards in one night and the River was so fill'd that the Fields of Egypt were water'd and sown So that the Patriarch return'd with great Honour into Egypt I could wish to hear the opinions of those that deny this place The words are clear of themselves that the King commanded the Channel that was stopp'd to be open'd The Historian himself is accounted a credible Author bred and born in Egypt as also Secretary to the Mahometan Princes of that Country So that he could not possibly be ignorant of such an accident and besides he wrote his History above a hundred and twenty years after the thing happen'd And therefore had it been an untruth he durst not have mention'd it for fear of being contradicted which he might easily have been But it may be objected That the Historian does not mention by whom the Channel was obstructed or whether it happen'd as many times it does naturally when the course of a Stream is damm'd up by trunks of Trees Mud and Stones driven by force and heap'd together in the narrow passages of the Water But this Objection does not resolve the doubt for such remarkable stops rarely or never happen in such large or violent Rivers Or if Nature could effect so much what might not be accomplish'd by Art Athanasius Kircher a person not only generally vers'd in the Affair of Egypt but more particularly in what related to the River Nile in his Catalogue of the Patriarchs of Egypt relates That one (t) In Supplement Prod. and Lexic Capt. p. 524. c. 2. This Michael was the 68th Patriarch of the Jacobites and dy'd about the year 1110. Michael was sent into Ethiopia for the restoring of Nile to its Channel from whence the Ethiopians had directed the Course of its Waters tho it be the fault of that learned Man to write much rather than accurately nor does he always commend his Authors The Question being put to Gregory he did not remember the Story of Michael but that he had heard from persons of great Credit That not far from the Cataracts of Nile all the Land toward the East lies level and unless it were for one Mountain that stands in the way Nile would rather flow that way than into Egypt or the Northern Sea So that if that Mountain were digg'd through a thing to be done with pains and difficulty the Course of the River might be turn'd and carry'd into the Red-Sea which is well known to the Turks and many of the Portugals And for this reason have the Emperours of Ethiopia obtain'd those advantagious Conditions from the Saracens Nay it is said That once one of the Ethiopian Emperours had an intention to have done it and had commanded his Subjects to undertake the Work but that he was prevail'd upon to desist at the entreaty of the Egyptian Christians I must confess this thing has very much perplex'd my thoughts nor are the Reasons that are brought against it to be contemn'd For either to raise a Mole or Dam of Stones and then to remove it again are things requiring so much toyl and labour that the Task does no way agree with the nature of the Abessines And it seems somewhat unlikely that so vast a River so long accustom'd to a declining and headlong Course should be diverted and compell'd to change its Channel I consider'd also with my self that if the King of Habessinia had the River Nile so much in his Power he might have all Egypt easily at his Devotion and that the Turk could deny him nothing whatever he demanded Nor would he ever suffer the Christians of his own Religion and the Patriarch who is the Head of his Church to groan under such a miserable Bondage Lastly I did not a little wonder that the Jesuits did not insinuate it into the heads of the Abessines to make use of that Power which Nature had put into their hands and that they did not use Threats rather than Intreaties and Bribes to obtain those conveniencies which they enjoy by the favour of the Turkish Basha who commands the Ports of the Red-Sea But all things consider'd and rejecting the History of Elmacine we may answer Tellez from the Relation of Gregory which is That a new Channel may be carry'd on not from those parts of Abessinia which lie upon the Nile and are so many Leagues distant from the Sea but from that part which is near the Cataracts and formerly perhaps belong'd to Nubia My first Opinion was That the Channel of Nile could no where be so easily alter'd as in that place where it divides it self into two Channels for that there by the direction of Nature her self it seem'd that the whole might be more easily turn'd another way where a part turns naturally without compulsion For tho other Rivers empty themselves into Nile beyond this separation and flow into Egypt yet are they not enough to make the Inundation so great as necessity requires which would not only be the ruin of Egypt but a great diminution of the Turkish Power But however it be this I believe to be certain That the King of Habessinia is now no more Lord of those places where the River Nile ever was or ever can be diverted from Nile nor are the Princes of those places now at his Devotion neither are they indeed Christians but unhappily revolted to Paganism So that whatever formerly might have been done cannot now be brought to pass not that the nature of the place obstructs the design but that the Prince of the Country wants Power or else has no inclination to the Project Otherwise I should not think it either absurd or improbable that some Rivers that make their way through the high Fields of Habessinia might be convey'd another way by the descents of the Hill through the sandy Levels that lye below to a vast diminution of the Egyptian Stream provided that skilful Artists were employ'd to survey the declivities of the places and the places most proper to carry off the Water For though it be a difficult thing to alter the Course and Limits of Rivers which Nature has settl'd yet Examples are not wanting We read in Herodotus L. 1. call'd Clio. That Nitocres King of the Babylonians
Turks as the Gallans have taken an occasion continually to vex them with Wars and wastful Inroades And first the Turks after they had possest themselves of Egypt and slain the King of the Mamalukes sent a Fleet into the Red Sea to secure the Indian Navigation which is vastly profitable to Egypt for that the Portuguesses to the intent they might enjoy the sole Trade of India took all the Ships of the Saracens they could meet with pretending a hatred of their Religion The Turks therefore to shut up all the Ports of that Sea made themselves Masters of Suaqena and Matzua Islands that formerly belong'd to the Habessines which they might the more easily do in regard the Habessines having their handsful by Land took no care of their Sea Affairs But soon after they became sensible how vast an Inconvenience it was to have so Powerful a Neighbour finding what Potent Succours of Men and Fire-arms the Turks sent to assist their Enemies and those that revolted from them Nor are they less frequently sensible of it to this day in regard that neither Men nor Merchandize can be admitted into the Gulph unless they request it from the Basha or his Deputies with vast Expenses of rich Presents But the Fierceness and Cruelty of the Gallans is much more Formidable For they having Subdu'd many Kingdoms Provinces thirst after all the rest whence 't is very probable what Tellezius writes That unless they had fallen into Factions among themselves or that the Habessines were not so Invincibly secur'd within their own Rocks they had been e're this utterly destroy'd Therefore it seems but requisite that I should here give an Accompt of the Original and Customs of these People which I shall do as well from Tellezius as from the Lips of our Gregory himself What time Etana-Denghel sirnamed David was entangled in that fatal War with the Adelenses that other Plague brake forth about the Year One thousand five hundred thirty seven from the Kingdom of Bali A certain number of Servants being cruelly handl'd by one Matthew a Noble-man Revolted and despairing of Pardon associated to themselves all the Fugitives and Criminals that fled from the Punishment of their Mis-deeds and liv'd upon Publick Spoil and Plunder which they did with more success in regard the Inhabitants of Bali were not able to oppose 'em And for the Habessines they being involv'd in Wars with the Adelans contemn'd those inconsiderable Robbers Tellez affirms them a particular Nation and the same that Inhabited the Eastern Coast of Africa and the Places adjoyning to the Indian Sea perhaps those Servants of whom Gregory makes mention belong'd to that Neighbouring Nation and flying to their own Country-men for Aid discover'd Habessinia and those Countries which were by their Servitude well known to them And now the Gallans puft up with their success and rich Plunder and increas'd in their number having Subdu'd Bali over-ran the neighbouring Kingdoms But when they saw that what was won by Force must be defended by Force they began to make Laws among themselves very advantageous for the Enlargement of their detestable Dominion and the preservation of their untam'd and barbarous fierceness They are not so unlimited as to despise Matrimony like the Garamants nor do they live commonly with their Women but they have as many Wives as they please The young Men are not permitted to cut their Hair before they have kill'd an Enemy in the Field or some wild Beast an encouragement of boldness and hardiness to adventure that by such a conspicuous Mark the sluggish and cow-hearted should be distinguished from the bold and daring .. In their Banquets and Feasts the best Bit is alway set in the middle and he that takes it must be the first in any Perilous undertaking nor is there any long consideration every one prepares to win that Honour to himself Ambition stimulating their Fortitude but then there is a necessity of bringing some proof of an Enemy Slain first they bring the Head as the most modest part of the Body but if there be any doubt of the Sex for want of a Beard they cut off the most Obscene Parts of the Slain a thing foul to relate these they number and heap up before the Army as if their barbarous Fortitude could not be made appear without such kind of Testimony However by those parts it is not manifest whether he be a Friend or an Enemy that is Slain and therefore the Head decides that Question But their most prevailing encouragement in Battle is that because no man should be thought to Fight for base hire or out of servile Obedience for another man's honour but only for his own Reputation the Plunder is equally divided among them all They go to War as if they had devoted themselves for Victory with a certain Resolution either to Overcome or Dye from whence proceeds great obstinacy in Combat They use but few Weapons at a distance they fight with Lances or Darts hand to hand with Clubs or Stakes burnt at the end relying more upon their Courage than their Hands They make their Shield of the skins of Oxen or wild Bufalo's formerly they fought for the most part afoot now more frequently a Horse-back And though the Abessines are generally more in Number and better Arm'd as also more skilful Horse-men yet are they not able to withstand the violence of their furious Onsets But how they may be Subdu'd we shall then declare when we come to the Chapter concerning the Power of the Kings of Habessinia Being thus bred up to War they abhor all peaceful Callings believing it much better to ravish wealth then get it by honest Labour they willingly eat the Bread which they find among the Abessines but do not love to grind the Corn for they neither till nor sow their Lands never minding Agriculture but only grazing of Cattle their Herds they drive before 'em as well in War as in Peace through the most fertile Pastures upon the raw Flesh of which they generally feed without Bread and then drink their Milk using the same sort of Food and Drink both at home and in the field They never cumber themselves with any Baggage not so much as Kitchin Utensils only wooden Cups to drink their Milk in Such wild Nations are generally a Terror to civiliz'd People whom Aboundance renders slothful and Riches effeminate Thus the Cimbrians Goths Vandals and Normans over-ran the more civiliz'd Kingdoms of Europe Thus the Oriental Tartars formerly Invaded China The Gallans if at any time overcome by the Habessines retire with their Herds into remote Corners Opposing only wild Deserts and Solitudes for their Enemies to Encounter Every Eight Years they chuse one amongst them for their Leader as it were a kind of Master of the Horse whom they call Luva and him all the rest of the Captains obey but that is only in time of War his first Enterprize is to Muster the People together and Invade Habessinia for
When the War with the Adelenses was ended and Grainus slain having certain Lands and Possessions granted them by Claudius they chose themselves Wives got Children and being furnish'd after the manner of the Country with Mules and Servants and other necessaries began to live comfortably for while the success of their assistance was fresh in memory they were courted and every where kindly entertained and had the free liberty of their Religion but these Priviledges were abridg'd by Menas successor to Claudius They impatiently brook'd to see their kindness so ungratefully retalliated it being the nature of Soldiers rather to do than receive injuries However their Lands were taken away for jealousie began to Rule or else exchang'd for worse and those bordering upon the Enemy so that at length the Kings of Portugal were forc'd to allow them Twelve hundred Patacks a year to maintain them In this last Century while the Fathers of the Society flourish'd they wanted for nothing but liv'd in great Prosperity but the Fathers losing their Credit they were again reduc'd to the extremity of Misery So that it was the fear of Mendez lest in that miserable Poverty forgetful of their Native Language and their Ancestors they should revolt to the Religion and Customs of the Habessines The End of the First Book CONCERNING Their Political Government BOOK II. CHAP. I. Of the Kings of the Abessines their Various Titles their Names and Arms. The King of the Abessines why called Prester John The King of Portugal sends to discover the Indian Trade and to find out Prester John One of them not finding him in India causes a false Report in Europe The true Presbyter John in Asia Why so call'd Ridiculous Expositions of his Name The true Title of the Kings of Abessinia They have a double Name relating to their Baptism and the Government sometimes treble which renders the Story uncertain Their Arms. Their Titles The Queens Title retain'd during Life The Title of the Noble Women THE King of the Habessines has been hitherto known to the Europeans by no other Title than that of Presbyter John which was first given him by the Portugueses The Occasion thus Peter the Son of Peter Prince of Portugal returning home from Venice carried along with him a Treatise of Paulus Venetus being a Discourse of the Affairs of India Itiner c. 52. wherein many things were more especially and magnificently written concerning Presbyter John which as the Portuguese Chronicles witness was the chief Motive to prosecute the Design of the Indian Navigation that Henry the Son of John the First had begun He being induc'd into a certain belief that there might a Compass be fetch'd about Africa by which means the Passage would be open into India as having read in the Relations of the Ancients that Hanno the Carthaginian sailing out of the Streights of Gibraltar came at length through the Ocean into the Red Sea and sent a Navy into the unknown Atlantic Sea to discover the Shore of Africa Whose Design John the Second pursuing to bring the Discovery to Perfection sent two Portugueses Skilful in the Arabic Language Peter Covillian and Alphonsus Payva to try what they could do among other things giving them more especially in charge to find out that so much celebrated Presbyter John that most wealthy King as he was reputed either in Asia or India hoping easily to obtain a League and Friendship with him as a Christian Prince They Travell'd through Egypt several ways into India and after a long and vain Search for Prester John Payva came home but Peter more inquisitive at length in some of the Ports of the Red Sea heard much talk of a most Potent Christian King of the Abessines that us'd to carry a Cross in his Hands as also of his Subjects who were great Favourers if not Followers of the Christian Religion Believing it therefore to be of little moment whether this famous Monarch liv'd in Asia or in Africa he certainly perswaded himself as being Ignorant both in History and Geography that this was the Prince so much sought after and thereupon gave Intelligence thereof to his own King while he himself continu'd his Journey into Ethiopia with a resolution to take a view of this Celebrated Presbyter Emperor who was look't upon as another Pope These glad Tidings the Portugals sooner believ'd than consider'd and so spread the News all over Europe for real Truth Credulity gaining easily upon those that are ignorant of Foreign Affairs and Kingdoms And now the Learned Men began to enquire into the Cause and Original of this same Appellation As it is the Custom generally to search for true Originals of feigned Names and wrest them after a strange manner to make good their own Opinions We find among the most Eminent Historians that formerly there was a certain Christian Prince that reign'd in the utmost Parts of Asia not far from the Kingdom of Tenduc toward (a) The most Skilful Geographers teach us That Cataya is no peculiar Kingdom but a Part of North China See Newhostus's China Embassy Cataya who being of great Power and Fame was by the Neighbouring Persians to signifie his remarkable Sanctity call'd Prester-Chan or Prince of the Adorers that is to say Christians or as Scaliger will have it Fristegiani the Apostolic Prince However the Name is to be pronounc'd we shall not contend but this is certain that the unskilful Vulgar having learnt the Name from the Italians who at that time were great Traders into the East call'd him by the Italian Name of Preste or Pretegianni or Giovanni after which the same Name prevail'd with all the People of Europe Thus his Name and his Fame continued for some Ages though under much obscurity For few understood that that same Asiatic Prester Chan was (b) Scal. in his Notes ad Comp. Ethiop but by what Authority he writes that the Ethiopians were beaten out of Asia by the Tartars I cannot apprehend driven out of his Kingdom by Cenchi or Cynges King of the Tartars Therefore for this reason because the Portugueses were greatly mistaken first in the Name and secondly in the thing it self that Name was given to this African King which belong'd to a King reigning some Ages since in Asia some Thousands of Miles distance Now after this Sir-name prevail'd among the Habessinians and yet there could be found no Cause or Signification of the same they began to find out (c) In the Itineracie of Hierome Wolsus words Foreign and altogether from the purpose to uphold their own Vanity as Gian-Belul Beldigian Tarasta Gian one among the rest super-exquisitely Critical perswading himself that Prete-Janni was faulty would have it to be Pretious-John as a Title more becoming the Person of a King This Epithete the Pope once assum'd and that he might not be thought to be in an Error many there were that obstinately maintain'd it l. 2. c. 2. so that Tellezius had much ado to instruct them better It
due Priviledges His Prerogative in Ecclesiastical Affairs was most apparently made manifest by the making of that severe Decree for the abrogating the Latin Worship and restoring that of Alexandria Moreover the King summons the Synods of the Clergy as often as need requires he sends for the Metropolitan out of Egypt exercising plenary Jurisdiction over him and all the rest of his Clergy and punishing them according to the nature of their Offences which the Examples recited by Alvarez sufficiently demonstrate In one thing however he differs from our European Kings that he never nominates to Ecclesiastical Benefices For the Patriarch of Alexandria sends a Metropolitan at the request of the King indeed but he knows not who or what he is He also admitted the Patriarch whom the Pope sent tho not he but the King of Portugal nam'd him Neither are there in Ethiopia any other Ecclesiastical Dignities and therefore the Prerogative of nominating Bishops and Archbishops signifies little or nothing In Seculars he acknowledges no positive Laws And well it were that he did not think himself also altogether free from the Fundamental Laws of his Realm upon which the Safety of the Kingdom depends For Naod dispenc'd with the wholesome Constitutions of his Ancestors by vertue of which the Kings Children were sent to the Rock of Amhara And Malec-Saghed would have preferr'd his natural Son Jacob before his Brothers Legitimate Son Zadenghel both which prov'd very disadvantagious presidents to the whole Nation But such things frequently come to pass where the Kingdome is without Estates For they are the most Trusty Guardians of the Law and the true Bulwarks of the Peoples Liberty against the Encroachments of the Ambitious For they have a more vigilant eye and tender care over the Common-weal of which they are themselves Members than the Friends of Princes whose Fortunes hardly descend to their Heirs so that a man may admire at their Counsels who taking away the Priviledges of Estates endeavour to assume the whole Power into their own hands as deeming every slight bond of the Law to themselves heavy and intollerable So that they are forc'd to distribute those Favours and Kindnesses which are due to their fellow Citizens among the Souldiery whose fidelity is brittle and inconstant not caring who are poor so they be rich and many times the Souldiers turn those Arms which were put into their hands for the defence of their Prince against him being put upon the ferment either by the Ambition or the Wealth of some particular person Which in Habessinia as in all other absolute Goverments frequently happens to the destruction of those that bear the sway He has also the sole disposal of Peace or Warr and indeed all the Prerogatives that a King can claim both the greater and the lesser Regalia are solely at his devotion tho he makes no use of many of them merely because he is ignorant of them as the Prerogative in reference to Metals Coyning of Money and the like As for the liberty of Hunting he grants it to all in regard there are such multitudes of Wild Beasts that breed up and down in the over-grown Woods and high Mountains that it is not onely troublesome but dangerous to find out their haunts by which means that which in other Countries is a Pleasure to the Abessines becomes a Toyl and Detriment One thing is much to be admir'd and rare ev'n among the Turks which is that no private person whether Peasant or Lord except some few can call any thing his own All the Lands and Farms in the Country belong to the King and are held by the Subjects onely at the Kings pleasure so that no man takes it amiss if the King takes away their Lands and bestowes them upon another as he pleases himself and that not onely after two or three years but also the same year they were given So that it often happens that one man ploughs and another man sowes Whence it comes to pass that they are more submissive to their Kings then a Servant to his Master or a Vassal to his Lord they serve him in Peace and War and bring him Presents according to their Ability in hopes of obtaining new Farms or for fear of losing those they have For being commanded out of possession they never grumble but presently obey without the least distast against the King or envy to the person that succeeds in their Room Custome and long use prevailing while they see the same happening to others However there are some ancient and Illustrious Families especially in Tigra who enjoy by right of Inheritance not only Lands and Possessions purchas'd by their Ancestors but some certain Prefectures also retaining their ancient Title as Bahr-Nagash Shum Serawè Sirè Temben and others as also Cantiba in Dembea over whom the King claims no other Authority than to confer the public Employments every two year or yearly or as he pleases upon others yet so as that they be of the same Family CHAP. X. Of the Power and Revenues of the Habessine Kings The Power of the Habessine Kings formerly great Formidable to their Neighbours it fail'd after the Saracens came in Play Yet strong at home till the Adelan War and Incursions of the Gallans Easie to be restor'd The wayes and means Our Princes unkind to Forraign Christians Demonstrated by Examples They took no care of their Sea Ports The Kings Revenues the Natural Commodities of the Country what they are His Tribute Farms Herds the Prices of things low The King has enough to supply him both in Peace and War SO great and so absolute a Power and so uncontroulable a Dominion over their Subjects one would think should render the Kings of Ethiopia vastly Potent and so no doubt it would if other things were correspondent Certainly of old it was vastly great when they kept their Courts at (o) Nonnosus in Bibliothec. Phot. n. 3. calls the Ethiopians the Homerites and Saracens 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the stoutest of the Nations at that time Axuma for there was no considerable Empire near then to withstand their Fortune and for that cause the adjoyning petty-Princes were all at the devotion of the Habessinian Kings But as to what several have written through mistake or misapplication of the name (p) Scal. in his notes ad Comp. Eccl. Ethiop but I know not by what Authority of their Expeditions into the North parts of Asia they are all meer fables and figments Yet this cannot be deny'd but that formerly they were very terrible to the neighbouring Nations for they made several Expeditions into (q) The Arabians wont to use this Computation From the Invasions of the Abessines For so Altcodajus They computed their years from the Arabians invading Abessina Arabia We have already mention'd the Famous and Successful War with Caleb made against the Homerites With no less Renown King Cyriacus hearing of the Christian Persecution in Egypt led a very numerous Army against the
several Tolls pay'd but generally granted to the Nobility for their subsistance except those of the high Mountain Lamalmona over which all the Merchants and Merchandize must pass from the Red Sea into Habessinia which the King reserves to himself He also has his Lands and Farms from whence he is serv'd with Provisions for his Table ten or twelve Horse-Loads at a time Lastly Dembea Gojam and Bagemdra find him Corn and Flesh That which he receives out of Dembea is distributed among the Souldiers which have no Land or else among the Poor But his chief Tribute is from the Graziers who are bound to pay him every Tenth Oxe or Cow every Three Years which is as much as if they should pay the 30th every Year And the whole Empire is so divided that every Year he has his certain Tribute of Cows and Oxen. Besides every Year every Christian Weaver pays him a Fustian Garment Every Mahumetan a Drim or Patach which amounts to a Thousand Imperials every Year Most certainly the Revenues of this Empire seem to be very small if we consider the Extent of so many Large Provinces But on the other side we are to observe That the Prices of all things are very low A huge Oxe may be bought for half a Dollar The Souldiers live upon Flesh and Fish without bread and Servants Wages are paid in necessary Commodities not in money Again if we consider the plenty of all things the Abissine Emperour has enough and to spare not that his Diadem glisters with Gemms or Pearls or that his Treasuries are full of Money or that his Cupboards shine with Silver and Gold Plate or that his Table is spread with Forraign Banquets while his Subjects are in want his Courtiers poor and his Souldiers under penury But he has that which suffices to afford him moderate Dyet and slender Cloathing Then for his Souldiers and his Warlike Subjects that is to say his poor People they detain'd at home by no delicacies are ready still to gird on their Swords Which they who dexterously and courageously know how to weild in a good Cause need never want Gold nor Silver nor what ever Mortals esteem pretious and desireable CHAP. XI Of the Royal City of Axuma and the Inauguration of the King Axuma the Metropolis of Habessinia formerly Now more like a Village Thus the West forsak'n by the Greek Emperours The Situation good The King there formerly Crown'd The Ceremonies of Inauguration Some other Towns of Habessinia They live in Villages No Forts nor Castles They wonder great Cities can last THe Royal City of the Abissines and formerly the Metropolis of the whole Empire is by the (x) Of which Nonnosus in Bibliothec Phot. n 3. p. m. 2. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Auxuma is a very great City and as it were the Metropolis of all Ethiopia erroneously Chaxumo in Alvarez c. 17. Habissines call'd Ascum from whence as we have already observ'd they were formerly call'd Axumites Of old this City was adorn'd with most beautiful Structures a fair Palace and a Cathedral proudly vaunting her Obelisks Sculptures and several sumptuous Edifices Some of the Pillars are still to be seen with Inscriptions of unknown Letters remaining arguments of their Antiquity now demolish'd by the Wars or defac'd with Age. The City it self now totally ruin'd looks more like a Village than a Town of Note so fading and inconstant are those things which men account most durable How many Cities how many Monuments now lye in ashes whose Founders are well known and how many are yet in being whose Founders are unknown As for this it began to fall to decay by degrees presently after that the Kings of Habessinia relinquish'd it and remov'd their Court from thence as being depriv'd of those advantages that attend the abodes of Princes Thus the Seat of the Empire being Translated to Byzantium the West was neglected And the same Fate no doubt had certainly befallen Rome had it not bin sustain'd by the Care of the Bishops now the Roman Pontiffs In the time of the Adelan Warr the Revolt of the Vice-Roy of Tigra in the Raign of King Menas and lastly when the Turks invaded that Country it was totally lay'd wast and now can scarcely shelter a hundred Inhabitants onely the Ruines still remain to testifie that once it was great and populous It is Seated in the Fourteenth degree and a half of Northern Latitude Encircled with pleasant and fertile Fields which afford a Prospect becoming a Royal Mansion It lies distant from the Red-Sea Five and forty Portugal Leagues or six or Seaven tiresom days Journey by reason of the Mountains that lye between The antient things of Ethiopia were wont to be here inaugurated nor would Susneus admit of his Coronation in any other place though when he related the particulars of the Ceremonies to the Commander of the Portugueses he could not but laugh at them as ridiculous himself For many things are to be done by Princes to please the Vulgar which to others may seem superfluous Such as were for the most part the Solemn Ceremonies of the Antients invented by mean Capacities but retain'd by the more prudent Tellezius thus sets them down When Susneus was to be Crown'd first the Masters of the Ceremonies read to the King out of their Memorandums how and in what order every thing was to be perform'd The Army being drawn up the Foot march'd first then follow'd the Horse with their Trappings after them the Courtiers Comb'd and neatly habited presently appear'd the Emperour himself upon a stately Prauncer clad with a close Purple Damascene Tunic and over that a magnificent Attalic Vestment with narrow Sleeves hanging down to the ground When they came to a great Stone engraven with Forraign Characters not far from the Church of Axuma near to which the Solemnities of the Inauguration us'd to be perform'd the Emperour with all the Courtiers alighting from their Horses stood upon the Ground that was spread with rich Carpets At what time the Virgins of Axuma holding a Silken Cord cross the Street stopp'd the Way and as the King press'd to go forwards they hindred him and ask'd him Who he was who answering I am the King of the Israelites They reply'd Surely thou art not our King Which said he retir'd smiling At length being ask'd a third time he reply'd I am the King of Sion and drawing forth his Cimitar cut the Cord which done the Virgin cry'd out Of a certainty thou art our King of Sion Presently all the Guns they have are fir'd and the neighbouring Mountains rang with loud Acclamations the Drums beat to the noise of the Flutes and the Trumpets fill'd the Air with harmonious Levets Which done the Metropolitan Simeon accompany'd with all the Ecclesiastical Orders of Clerks Monks and Canons singing several Songs and Hymns conducted the King to the first Porch of the Church and there set the Diadem upon his Head The King being crown'd if it may be so call'd
against him finding himself Inferior in Force he betook himself to the inaccessible Rocks of Shewa from whence at last by the Craft of a certain well-brib'd Gallan he was allur'd to come forth who feigning himself to be highly offended with Ras-Seelax came to the unwary young Prince and promis'd him the Assistance of all his Friends which while he was inveagled out to expect in a neighbouring Wood he was there surrounded by a select Party of the Enemy and pay'd for his rash belief with the loss of his Life CHAP. XI Of the Coming of the Roman Patriarch into Habessinia and how he Managed his Affairs there Alphonsus Mendez made Patriarch of Ethiopia His Inauguration and Journey to Goa c. Their miserable Reception at first His difficult Passage by Land Met by the Jesuits He comes to Fremona thence to the King The King swears Obedience to the Pope So does the Court Ras-Seelax's behaviour blam'd The Solemnity concluded with an Anathema New Edicts in favour of the Romish Worship The Women Commanded to swear The Patriarchal See New Disturbances occasion'd by the new Computation Baptism and Ordination reiterated Sermons Visitation and Confirmation A Countryman 's Joke A Seminary Tecla-George Revolts Suppress'd and Hang'd The Captain of the Guards excommunicated upon a slight Occasion by the Patriarch but Pardon'd at the King's intercession Their Courtiers offended Their Indignation increases and why A Witch imprison'd by Command of the Patriarch Which alienates the King's Affection from him His Authority decreases through private Grudges and an Act of Ras Seelax The Agawi Revolt The King 's ill Success Ras-Seelax more Prosperous against Luca-Marjam Kebax kill'd and Teker-Egzi These Mischiefs attributed to the Romans Melcax takes upon him the Regal Power Ras Seelax accus'd His Goods confiscated The Fathers render'd odious to the King Their Indulgencies laugh'd at Serthax's unhappy Revolt A New Expedition against the Lasti Prosperous at first at last Vnfortunate The Fathers tax'd The King indulges the Old Ceremonies The Patriarch offended Another more mild Edict but too late OF These prosperous Successes the Fathers wrote presently to Rome and into Portugal But very prudently there was nothing rashly decreed at first lest the Design of another Patriarch like that of Nonius Barret should come to nothing But when King Susneus himself had by his own Letters requested a Patriarch and had made publick Profession of the Romish Religion the Conclave then thought it not expedient to make any longer delays And therefore as if they had bin to send into some Portuguese Province upon the Nomination of Philip the Fourth then King of Portugal as well as Spain Alphonsus Mendez a Person of great Eminency by Nativity a Portuguese a Doctor in Theology and of the Society of Jesus which claim'd Ethiopia peculiarly to it self as a Province by them wholly converted to the Faith was created Patriarch Besides that it might have occasion'd great Emulation had a Person bin chosen out of any other Nation or Society Being inaugurated with the usual Ceremonies at Lisbon in the Month of May 1624. he set Sail and arriv'd at Goa where understanding that all things succeeded to the wishes of the Fathers he prepar'd for his farther Journey In November of the same year he arriv'd at Dios hoping there to find some of the Bannian Vessels to carry him into the Red-Sea But they being the year before over-burthen'd by the covetous Exactions of the Turks and fearing the Arabian Pirates had left off Trading into those Parts While he stay'd at Dio he was seasonably forewarn'd by the King's Letters by no means to come near Suaqena or Matzua but to make to rights for Baylur a Port of Dancala There he arriv'd the Third of April following with six Companions four Fathers and two Friers The Fathers were 1. John Velasco Castellano 2. Hierome Lobo or Wolph Which Name lest the Ethiopians should take an occasion to turn to an ill Omen they made a shift to change for another 3. Bruno de Santa Cruce 4. Francesco Marquese The Friers were Emanuel Luis Steward John Martin Attendants he had Thirteen One Servant Five Musicians Three Habessines Two Bricklayers and their Apprentices for the Building of Churches and Houses which the Ethiopic Fathers had desir'd him to bring with him The King had recommended him to the care of the Viceroy of Dancala a Mahometan but in Friendship with the Habessines But the recommendation was so early and he came so late that the Viceroy had forgot it So that his Reception there was very lamentable there being little or no Provision so much as of Necessaries made for him And their Hosts where they Lodg'd were so poor and covetous that instead of receiving any Kindnesses from them they were forc'd to purchase their sorry Convenience with the continual Supplies of their Avarice They could not get Mules or Horses anow to carry themselves and their Luggage so that most of them were forc'd to travel over the rugged and parch'd Earth in continual conflict with hunger thirst and intolerable heat Neither were they much better entertain'd for Sixteen days in the Court of the Viceroy himself all their Presents not sufficing to gratifie the impatient Appetite of his Avarice Parting from thence at the Mercy of those wicked and covetous Varlets that were their Guides and Owners of their Carriage-Horses they travel'd as they were led in daily fear of the Gallans over places where Battels had bin fought as it were Pav'd with the Skulls and Bones of the Slain till at last all these Difficulties and Dangers overcome they were met by Emanuel Barradas with some other Portugueses and Habessines upon the Confines of Tigra who furnish'd them with Provisions Carriages and all other things necessary Upon the strength of which Refreshments they began to ascend the towring Mountains of Abassia and the Fifth day after through more gladsom and verdant Fields and more grateful opportunities of resting themselves they arriv'd at Fremona where they stay'd not only all the Winter but all October and November being both unhealthy Months In December they arriv'd at Gorgora where upon a day appointed with a Noble Attendance and great Applause the Patriarch enter'd the Camp and after Mass said was conducted into the King's Pavillion and there by the King Commanded to sit down by him in a little Chair equal to his own In which great Pomp and State at length the Patriarch came to the point and agreed with the King that upon the XI day of February 1626. he should publickly swear Obedience to the Pope Upon which day together with the King and his Eldest Son Basilides appear'd the King's Brothers the Viceroys and Governors of Provinces and all others that were conspicuous for their Dignity and Quality In the Room were two little Chairs but very rich set one by the other upon which the King sate down on the right hand and the Patriarch in his Pontifical habit upon the left Being so sate the Patriarch
no other answer than this How can this be done I am now no more Lord of my own Kingdom So they were forc'd to depart as they came Presently the Drums beat the Trumpets sounded and Proclamation was made by the Voice of the Cryer O yez O yez In the first place we propounded to ye the Roman Religion esteeming it the best But an innumerable multitude of Men have perish'd through dislike of it with Aelius Cabriel Tecla-George Sertzac and lastly with the Rustick Lastaneers And therefore we grant you the free Exercise of the Religion of your Ancestors It shall be lawful for you henceforward to frequent your own Churches make use of your own Eucharistic Arks and to read the Liturgies after the old Custom So farewell and Rejoyce It is a thing almost impossible to be believ'd with what an Universal Joy this Edict was receiv'd among the People The whole Camp as if they had had some great Deliverance from the Enemy rang with Shouts and Acclamations The Monks and Clergy who had felt the greatest weight of the Fathers Hatred lifted up their Thankful voices to Heaven The promiscuous Multitude of Men and Women danc'd and caper'd The Soldiers wish'd all happiness to their Commanders They brake to pieces their own and the Rosaries of all they met and some they burnt Crying out that it was sufficient for them to believe That Christ was true God and true Man without the unnecessary Disputes concerning the two Natures From thenceforward the old Ceremonies were made use of in the Communion Grapestone Liquor instead of Wine And the Holy Name of Jesus forbidden to be so frequent in their Mouths after the Roman manner and some that did not observe this Caution they ran through with their Lances Some few days after a general Circumcision was appointed not minding the pain of such a piece of Vanity so they might not be thought to have neglected any thing of their ancient Rites in favour of the Fathers Some there were also that us'd the ancient manner of washing themselves upon the Festival of the Epiphany believing themselves thereby purify'd from the guilt of having admitted the Roman Religion Others ran about Singing for joy that Ethiopia was deliver'd from the Western Lyons Chanting forth the following Lines At length the Sheep of Ethiopia free'd From the Bold Lyons of the West Securely in their Pastures feed St. Mark and Cyril's Doctrine have o'recome The Folly's of the Church of Rome Rejoyce rejoyce Sing Hallelujahs all No more the Western Wolves Our Ethiopia shall enthrall And thus fell the whole Fabrick of the Roman Religion that had bin so long rearing with so much Labour and Expence and which had cost the Effusion of so much Blood to pull it down So vast and haughty Tow'rs that have bin long time Built if once you undermine the Foundation tumble in a moment Some there were who accus'd the Fathers of the Society as if they had ruin'd the fair Progress they had made by double Diligence and over-hasty Zeal For most of the Portugueses and many of the Habessines themselves that were well affected to the Roman Religion took it ill that things should be so suddainly chang'd which might have bin longer let alone without the least injury done to fundamental Faith For as tall Trees that have taken deep root are not easily Eradicated so inveterated Opinions which we have as it were suck't in with our Mother's Milk are not to be overcome but by length of time great Lenity and much Patience For Humane understanding if compell'd puts on Obstinacy as it were in revenge of injur'd Liberty Nor did some that were the Fathers great Friends make any Question that had they left some things indifferent which the Pope himself many times freely tolerates so it be acknowledg'd as the Act of his Benignity and Dispensation as the Computations of the holy Times the Communion under both Kinds and some other things which the Primitive Church without any Scandal tolerated and permitted as the Marriage of Priests the Fast of the fourth Holyday the Observation of the Sabbath and some other things which depended meerly upon Custom and not upon Divine Precept and had only minded in the mean time the Business of Conversion and Preaching they had gain'd not only the Habessines but the Pagans themselves and working by degrees had brought their design at length to perfection But they relying wholly upon the Favour and Successes of the King were presently for compelling the Habessines to conform of a suddain in all things to a strange and uncouth Innovation The Latin Tongue must be us'd in their Publick Sacred Worship and their daily Prayers the Angelical Salutation the Lord's Prayer and the Apostolic Creed must be said in Latin written in the Ethiopic Characters in which Eve Maria grazia Plena c. sounded strangely and odly to the Habessinian Pronunciation Which by degrees so alienated the Affections of the Habessinians from such a sort of aukward Devotion so that at length all the Wars Seditions Pests of Locusts Famine and all the Calamities that follow'd and the severe Penalties that were inflicted upon the Alexandrians were lay'd upon the Fathers which begat them Hatred instead of Reverence and Banishment in the room of Favour and Affection From what has bin said Men of Prudence will easily find the causes of so great a Mutation Nevertheless it will not be improper to add those other which Tellez has assign'd First he says That the strict Tyes and Laws of Matrimony according to the Catholic Faith were not so well brook'd by the Habessinians being allow'd by the Alexandrian Religion to Marry one or more and to Divorce as they saw good Secondly That besides Incontinency Avarice Ambition Envy Hatred had got a head among them especially against Ras-Seelax whose Power they could find no better way to pull down than by Persecuting the Fathers for whom he had so indear'd a Kindness Thirdly That many were possess'd of the Church Lands of which they were unwilling to make restitution Fourthly That the Secular Judges complain'd that the Patriarch summon'd all Matrimonial Causes to his Tribunal Fifthly That others were enrag'd to see Churches built with Lime and Stone for they call'd them Castles not Churches built by Ras-Seelax to the end he might make himself Master of Ethiopia Sixthly That the Monks were incens'd to see the Fathers only in Esteem and themselves formerly so highly reverenc'd afterwards contemn'd and slighted so that as the other grew great they should become nothing at all Seventhly That the Habessines always appeal'd to the Manners and Rites of their Ancestors not believing it to be just to condemn them of Error who had bin accompted Holy Men for so many Ages or to hear and follow Innovations neglecting the Laws and Customs of their Fore-fathers For through the vitiousness of Humane Malignity saith Quintilian Old things are always applauded Novelties held to be loathsome So that although you overcome the