Selected quad for the lemma: religion_n

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
religion_n	king_n	prince_n	subject_n	3,995	5	6.4954	4	false

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A30860	The late travels of S. Giacomo Baratti, an Italian gentleman, into the remote countries of the Abissins, or of Ethiopia interior wherein you shall find an exact account of the laws, government, religion, discipline, customs, &c. of the Christian people that do inhabit there with many observations which some may improve to the advantage and increase of Trade with them : together with a confirmation of this relation drawn from the writings of Damianus de Goes and Jo. Scaliger, who agree with the author in many particulars / translated by G.D.	Baratti, Giacomo.; G. D.; Góis, Damião de, 1502-1574.; Scaliger, Joseph Juste, 1540-1609.	1670 (1670)	Wing B677; ESTC R11736	63,785	282

least with two Crops of every thing that is sown or planted unless it be in those places that want the benefit of water we met here with some flying parts of the Turks Army riding apace after the main body for they were pursued by several troops of the Abyssins Those thieves had adventured almost near the Imperial Tents without resistance not without considerable plunder able to reward them for their labours we proceeded on our way about two leagues before we came to meet with the inhabitants of the Country the first were a party of horse-men very well mounted pursuing their enemies they complained unto the Embassadour of the Turks violences we were afraid that they would have violated the Law of Nations upon him they received us with that rage the presence of the Abuna hindred them from offering injury to his Person Him they received with all expressions of honour and kindness and suffered some of them to return back to guard him the rest continued on their way They overtook the Turks at the ford of a little River very busie to get over their Captives and Goods we heard that they fell upon them with a wonderful fury and recovered much of the spoils killing great numbers of them They returned afterwards in triumph with much honour having so successefully encountred with their enemies In the mean whiles we proceeded in our journey towards the Emperour of Abassia who hearing of the Abuna's arrival sent some of his Court to Complement him and bid him welcome where ever he passed the Clergy people came to receive him with more signs of kindness than pomp the processions of the people came to meet us at the entrance of the towns and when we came within sight of the Emperours tents he sent all the Court to receive the Abuna I did carefully observe all the ceremonies of Reception and Instalment The Abuna as soon as he came within the tents went to kiss the Emperours Girdle He was standing in a stately tent erected in the middle of the rest about it was a large place much like to a Market where the Courtiers are accustomed to walk at the right hand is another very beautiful where the Emperours Wives and Concubines dwell at the top of the Princes tent is a Golden Cross with an Angel holding it in his left hand with a drawn Cymeter in the right The Abuna went to change his habit and put on another according to the Abyssin custom It is a very singular one none but the High-Priest hath the liberty to wear it for it is the badge or character by which he is distinguished from the other Papa's or Bishops of that Country and from the rest of the Clergy he was conducted next to pay his respects to the Emperour he was in the Kingdom of Beleguaze near a town very well peopled and scituated in a pleasant plain called Ikroah about six leagues distant from the River Tagassi I had the satisfaction to accompany the Abuna for he was a man of a very mild and kind spirit very pleasant in company yet grave and serious he was led by the Master of the Ceremonies into the Inner room where the Emperour lay upon a curious Bed of White Cotton Bed with a large fringe of Gold behind him stood his naked Sword and round about were the Lords of his Privy Councel above was a Canopy of cloath of Gold with green silk interwoven the room it self was hung with the same stuffe assoon as the Abuna enter'd the room he kneel'd three times on the ground and then ascended the steps to the Bed to perform his respects In the mean whiles the Emperour rose from his couch and half up embraced the Abuna wishing him much felicity in his Empire they discoursed some time together and then he was dismist with all honour and civility the Emperour was pleased to take notice of his retinue and particularly of my self I was also admitted to the honour of kissing his Girdle a ceremony only due to the Prince I followed the Abuna who received me into his own lodgings and would not suffer me whiles I was in that Country to be obliged to any other place for my retreat Now I have brought my Reader into the Imperial tents of Abassia it is convenient that we should take a view as from a high place of all the inferiour orders of men and of all particulars which his curiosity may be inquisitive And first Of the Emperour THe Emperour of the Abyssins is a Prince highly honored of his subjects because they fancy him to be lineally descended from that noble and Religious King that first planted the Christian Religion amongst them and as they are extreamly devoted to it so much that they appear almost extravagant in many of their practises they have no small respect to his Posterity who first brought them the advantage of the Christian Faith None hath access to him of his subjects unless it be upon solemn occasions but the chief Officers of his Crown when he rides or is carryed abroad in a Royal Throne all his people fall upon their knees and adore him this throne is a kind of Sedan but far more stately with steps ascending to it made of wood gilt over covered with Gold it is carryed upon mens shoulders or between four Horses the Emperour appears in it with much state and with more glory than in any other thing that I have seen He never stirs out of his tents but 600 men do follow him at his heels they are his daily guard they wear a Livery and a Habit distinct from all other people on their head a Scarlet bonnet with three white plumes fastned behind with a blew cross on their shoulders they have a very convenient Coat that comes down to their middle with a Girdle or Sash over it a Roman Mantle hangs more proper for State than action the colour is green it is not very long nor troublesome when they are obliged to make use of their hands sometimes they ride sometimes they go afoot as the Emperours occasion requires for that purpose he hath always ready in his Stables great numbers of Horses The Emperours Person is whiter than any of his Kingdom for the Abyssins are tawny a colour drawing near to black I never saw any others of his Relations or kindred but I hear they are all of the same colour The people interpret this to his advantage that God by this distinction hath singled out that Family that is to Reign amongst them out of which they always chuse their Emperour their custom is that he should never marry until he be crowned then with the consent of his Nobles he chuseth two Wives out of his Kingdom he entertains besides as many Concubines as he pleaseth They are always with him in his tents with all their Attendants The first Male-child usually succeeds the Father in his Kingdom Assoon as the children are named they are carryed to a very delicious place

a displeasure Victor Bishop of Rome with one thunderbolt of the Vatican was resolved to cast all the Eastern Churches from the hopes of arriving to Heaven The Bishops of Constantinople Excommunicated those of Alexandria and they excommunicated them of Constantinople and in the same City these thunder-bolts of Excommunication were heard against several factions meer scar-crows when ill applyed when Excommunication is abused to promote our secular interests it is like the 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 of the Heathens or the Canonisation of the Papists a Chimera a vain and frivolous action if that may be so named that profanes or disgraces one of the most sacred parts of Religion and misapply that divine power with which Christ hath intrusted the Rulers of his Church Let them take heed how and upon whom for the future they employ this holy weapon for they may by the abuse of it bring a contempt upon themselves and Religion that all their policy and severity will never be able to remove I pray God to grant unto those amongst us such Christian wisdom and moderation that piety may be cherished and the profaneness discouraged that peace and unity may Reign amongst us and that they may advance the interest of Christianity as well as of this or of that faction The Abyssins never burn an excommunicated person nor do they use any violence against his Person or Goods unless he offers to break the publick peace or to pronounce something to the prejudice of the Government then they lay hold of him and secure him in a convenient Prison They never make use of excommunication but in cases that concern the customs and manners of a man and never then unless he continues in his evil practises after admonition when they restore a man to his former privileges at his repentance they do not impose any pecuniary or corporal penalty as we do in Rome but he is admitted after the Bishop hath been acquainted with it only by declaring it unto the Congregation with the signs of his repentance for as much as I could learn they do not think that our purses or our bodily punishments can further our Reception into Gods favour unless the soul be really humbled and contrite The flagellations and macerations of the body usual in many of our Cities of Spain and Italy were never seen amongst them unless it be upon the borders of their Kingdoms amongst the Mahumetans and Gentiles whose Religions do recommend unto the Professors of them voluntary penances as high expressions of devotion but this kind of devotion is not in practice amongst these Christians of Abassia therefore they know nothing of indulgencies and pardons granted by the Rulers of the Church This trade was never introduced amongst them They have an excellen order amongst them in the Church The Abuna is the chief he is as the Pope in Rome or as the Archbishop his power is to command over all the Kingdoms subject to the Neguz in matters of Religion and to see that the Orders or Decrees of the assembly that meets every other year be obeyed under him Bishops are appointed in the several Kingdoms but they do not receive any into holy Orders That Office belongs to the Abuna but these Bishops have the power of excommunication and of reproving the Clergy 〈…〉 er them that behave themselves not well in their function every Bishop is usually seated in the most considerable place of the Kingdom where he hath so much Land belonging to him and his office as is able to maintain him in that degree of honour The rest of the Priests owe nothing to him out of their allowance he officiates as the rest and is no otherwise distinguished from them but by his habit that is not the same with theirs and by the respect that every one pays to his gravity for never any young men are admitted to that honourable place in the Church only merit assisted by the esteem the people and their Prince have for them when they come to such an age that all their youthful inclinations are past d 〈…〉 I se them to the Episcopal Chair The Abuna hath some dependency upon the Patriarch of Alexandria Resident at Grand Cairo When he is dead the Emperour sends to the Monks of Jerusalem of the Order of St. Anthony the Hermite they immediately proceed to the chusing of one fit for so great an employ when he is pitcht upon and sent away he passeth by Grand Cairo salutes the Patriarch in Egypt and then Marches on his journey to the Imperial Court where the Emperour and all the Nobles do welcome him with all expressions of respect and honour He seldom remains in one place but often Visits the Kingdoms of the Emperours dominions to see and provide to all disorders that do daily happen The rest of the Bishops are placed or displaced by him but with the Emperours consent and appointment unto whom they may appeal in case injury is done unto them When there is any vacancy the Emperour grants the Lands and the Office to whom he pleaseth the Abuna must afterwards approve of the choice all the degrees of the Clergy are distinguished from one another and from the people by some badge or habit which signifies the office that they have undertaken The Translator THis Relation is agreeable to the account that we have formerly received of the Abyssins written by Damianus Deo Ges a Portuguese and received from Zaga Zabo the Abyssin Embassadour sent from the Neguz into Portugal to King John about the year 1526. Damianus de Goes contracted a Friendship with this Embassadour and obliged him to discover unto him the customs and Religion of the Christians in Abassia both Relations do agree in many things I conceive that De Goes doth favour the interest of the Roman Religion in many particulars but in others he declares how the Abyssins are different from the Papists the Reader may consult the Author a piece of it is here translated for puklick satisfaction Zagazabo the Emperour of Abassias Ambassadour in Portugal AFter that I was come into Portugal I had often many disputes with certain Doctors especially Didacus Ortifius Bishop of the Isle of St. Thomas and Dean of the Kings Chappel and with Peter Margalho about the choice of Meats It will not therefore be amiss to speak now something about it First you must know that according to the Old Testament were observed the Rules for to chuse our Meats which was commanded by Gods Word that did afterwards take flesh of the Virgin Mary he did walk and converse amongst his Apostles This word of God is alwayes the fame and ever living never subject to change therefore what he commanded should not be eaten because of its uncleanness he never gave leave afterwards in his Gospel to eat it It is true he tells us that what enters in by the mouth doth not defile the man but that which proceeds from the mouth but he doth not say it that he might

and Bloud of Christ in the Sacrament since I am come into Portugal neither do I know wherefore I am esteemed amongst my Christian brethren as a Heathen and an excommunicated person which hath caused me much grief but to him that sees and Judges all things I remit my cause I am not sent by my most mighty Lord the Emperour of Ethiopia to the Bishop of Rome and the most Serene Prince John King of Portugal only to entertain them with disputations but to conclude a firm league and open a correspondency between them not to discourse about humane traditions but to inquire about the errours of Arrius the Prince of Hereticks and know whether the Christians of Europe do joyn with us in opposing his opinions and further that I might know whether it be the custom of the European Christians to assemble in Counsel twice every year about Matters of faith as the Apostles have commanded in their Synodial book the first assembly they order to be met on the day of Pentecosts the second on the tenth of October Besides I am come to know how we agree about the errours of Macedonius of Nestorius and of Eutiches about the last the Council of Calcedone assembled but the Bishops broke up the assembly before any Conclusion retaining their own opinions My Lord the most Mighty Emperour hath-all the books of the General Councel's and is much grieved so are all his subjects for the discords and errours these Tares that the Devil hath sown in the Lords field the Bishop of Rome we have always est comedus the first and most powerful Bishop of the world and were it not for the Mahumetans whose Country being between us do hinder our passage for the great distance of places we should send to his Court very often King Emanuel of blessed Memory did first open a way to us from the Red sea c. Having spoken of these things I will say something of our Emperour of our Patriarch You must know first that our Patriarch is thus solemnly elected by and out of our Monks of Jerusalem that there do dwell at the Sepulchre of our Lord. When the old Patriarch is dead the Emperour dispatches away with all speed an express to the Monks that live at Jerusalem as soon as they have received the news of the death of the Abuna with the Presents that the Emperour sends to our Saviours Sepulchre they proceed to the election of another Abuna whom they chuse by the plurality of voices It is not lawful to pitch upon another for that office but only upon an Inhabitant of Alexandria and upon one whose life is irreproachable When they have chosen him they give unto him his dispatches with the messenger that came to give them notice of the former Abuna's death They go together to Grand Cairo to meet the Egyptian Patriarch that hath there his ordinary residence to the end that he may be acquainted with the election The Patriarch when he approves of the sufficiency of the person for so eminent an office he sends him into Ethiopia with the messenger who must always be according to the ancient custom a Monk of the Order of St. Anthony the Hermite with him this messenger hasten● towards Ethiopia wherewith all expressions of joy and honour they are received of all men Sometimes a year or two passes before this business can be dispatched In the mean while the Neguz disposes of the great Revenue of the Abuna according to his pleasure Now the chief office of an Abuna is to confer Holy Orders none but he can give them or ought to take them away or degrade the Priests He never affects to meddle with the giving of Bishopricks or of Benefices that do belong to the Precious ●iam who may do with them according to his pleasure And when the Patriarch or Abuna is dead the Emperour is the Heir of his Estate which is very great It belongs also to the Patriarch to excommunicate contumacious offenders He never grants any Indulgencies of those penalties that are imposed for grievous faults The Sacraments of the Church are never prohibited to any unless it be for the crime of Murder Our Patriarch is called in our language Abuna he that is at present in this place is called at his baptism Mark a man aged of about 100 years Moreover it is to be noted that we begin the year the first of September which is with us the Eve of St. John Baptists day the rest of the Feast days we keep at the same time that they are kept by the Church of Rome We must not omit that St. Philip the Apostle came into our Country and did there preach the Gospel of our Saviour Christ You must further know the name of our Emperour that it is Precious John or ●iam and no● Priest John as here it is falsly reported for it is written in our language ●iam Belul that is Precius or high John in the Chaldaique Language it is written John E●coe which hath the same interpretation Precious or excellent John He is not to be named Emperour of the Abyssins as Matth. hath written but of the Ethiopians He being an Armenian could not know our affairs perfectly especially those that concern our Religion for that reason he declared many things to King Emanuel of happy Memory which are not so amongst us not out of any design of deceiving him for ●e was a good man but because ●e was well acquainted with our Religion The Empire many times doth ●ot fall to the share of the Eldest Son of the Emperour but to him ●nto whom the Father will give ●● He that now governs is the ●hird Son of the last Emperour ●e hath deserved that honour by ●is piety and respect which he had ●or his Father for when he was ●pon his death-bed he commanded all his Sons one after another ●o sit upon the Imperial Throne which they did he only excepted Far be it from me said he that I ●hould ascend to the Seat of my Lord and Father which pious mo●esty procured him the Empire ●●om his Father his name is David his Empire is very large and contains both Christians and Heathens In it are many Kings and Princes Earls Barons Grandees and much Nobility that is mo 〈…〉 obedient to him Gold and Silver are given and exchanged by weight Amongst us are many Towns and Cities but not such as I have seen in Portugal because Precious Giam doth always live i● a flying Camp and in Tents This Custom is observed that the Nobility might exercise themselves continually in Military Actions for we are surrounded on all with sides the enemies of our faith with whom we have often many Conflicts always or for the most part with success through the goodness of God This is the account Zaga Za●i gives of his own Country his Relation may be consulted by those that desire more satisfaction for brevity sake much of it is omitted Scaliger in the eighth Book

Neighbours to send Presents to him but when he was forty years old he grew amorous and wanton so that his new conquered subjects took advantage of him in a Battel where he lost all that he had conquered with his life his successour laboured to revenge this affront but in vain until the days of David the first none ever did recover the vast dominions that did formerly own the Ethiop Scepter This Prince was wise and very politick sufficiently qualified to fit at the Helm of State but he was no Warrior for want of Courage to manage the affairs in desperate occasions he appointed a General Zecharia a stout man that did perform the Office of his Prince in this particular He was very successful against all our Neighbours especially against the Blacks that inhabit beyond the sands their Princes came to do homage unto our mighty Emperour and to pay their yearly tribute they continued in their obedience many years until the Reign of Joseph the third a Prince that was given to all manner of debauchery he Reigned ten years and was afterwards killed by his chief Officers who were willing to preserve the State from total ruine which would have happened had he continued longer upon the Throne for he did not only permit but also invite the enemies of the Empire to enter into his dominions that they might revenge him of those Princes that he did not love and that he did not dare to punish himself therefore he made use of the strangers weapons to vex them that he could not otherwise overcome From that time we have nothing remarkable until Christs death at Jerusalem for all the Princes that did rule until that time were neither good nor bad they contented themselves with their own limits and if they did lose any part of their possessions they never made any great noise by raising their Armies to retake them Queen Candace was a most pious and Religious Woman her Eunuch of the Race of Black a-Moors did follow her steps he made his Pilgrimage to Jerusalem every five years from that place he brought the Christian faith that did daily increase insomuch that not one was found opposing it within two hundred years after The eldest Son of Candace for whom she did govern was Shediahr a mostvertuous man he encouraged Christian Religion in his dominions but would never suffer the old ceremonies to be abolished so that since the Jewish and Christian are mingled together he pull'd down many Idol Temples upon the borders which caused the revolt of some of his most superstitious subjects but one battel brought them under his command again His Son was Adreschek he succeeded his father when he was but sixteen years of Age. A certain Heathen Priest had crept into his favour so much that for his sake he did labour to oppose the success of the Christian and the continuance of the Jewish Religion in Ethiopia His Princes could not suffer him long they conspired against him and placed his young brother in his place but him they sent into the Kingdom of Damut into a close Prison that hath always been in those parts he did afterwards escape out of it and fled to the Blacks who did come against Ethiopia with a strong Army but they were vanquished and forced to suffer their Fugitive Prince to become a Prisoner again The eldest Son of this King was an accomplished Prince so that his Uncle had some jealousie of him therfore clapt him in a close prison with his Father but when he was dead the Grandees fetcht him out of his confinement and raised him to the Throne during the life of his Father who consented to the promotion of his Son After him Absalom was a famous Prince renowned for his careful provision against the enemies incursions for he caused certain Forts to be built in convenient places to bridle them in They were afterwards neglected and ruinated by the Wars He first began to encourage Shipping by offering great advantages to the Mariners and men that did study the Art of Navigation This good policy caused all the idle persons to render themselves excellent in the Sea affairs and laid the Foundation to that greatness unto which the Ethiopian Empire did afterwards rise Benjamin Reigned forty years about the year 600 after Christ from his time we have a good account of all our Kings but before none are named but those that have been excellent for some vertue or infamous by their notable vices This Prince was full of piety he reformed the disorders of the Clergy and put them in that form of Government in which they are at present before the persons that did wait upon the Worship of God had no setled allowance the people gave them what they pleased so that unless they did work as other people for their livings they were reduced to great necessities which nevertheless did happen in many places for he that depends upon his peoples kindness shall be enentertain'd with course Diet unto this great evil that entroduces many others in a Nation this Religious Prince did bring a Remedy As he was the sole Lord of all the Lands of his Empire and that none enjoyed them but from him he caused such a quantity of ground to be set apart for the maintenance of the Priests and Bishops as might entertain them with the yearly Revenue and caused this Land to be separated from the rest by granting unto it the priviledge of immunity from all saxes and Imposts so that they depend no longer upon the Crown This liberality redeemed the Clergy from contempt and raised them in the esteem of the people that usually treats them not according to their desert but according to that State that they maintain After the good Prince his second Son Hechakiah did Reign he followed his Fathers footsteps therefore he was blessed with a prosperous Reign his greatest enemies did respect him he continued in the Throne about thirty five years and a few moneths His Brother Abraham the first succeeded he held the Scepter ten years and then left it to his Son with all the Wealth his Brother had gotten His Sons name was Haroahki a Warlike Prince he began to leave the Cities and to pass his time in Tents for in the beginning of his Reign all the Nations subject to the Neguz began to revolt from him he could not appease the tumult so soon he was therefore forced to live in the Camp and to be in continual action all the time of his Reign He caused it to be enacted for the security of the State that the Ethiopian Emperour should never spend above six days in a Walled Town at a time but should live in the open Field All the Nobility that doth follow the Princes custom imitates him in this particular They look upon it as a great expression of weakness and fear to run into a fortified place This hath caused them to neglect such places and suffer them to be dismantled by time