Pilgrimage, Book 6 · Chapter 5
CHAP. V.
Of the manifold alterations of State and Religion in Aegypt by the Persians, Graecians, Romans, Christians, Saracens, and Turkes: with the Aegyptian Chronologie, since the beginning of that Nation till our Times.
THe last Aegyptian Pharao was Psamminitus, vanquished by Cambyses, sonne of Cyrus the Persian, who quite extinguished that Aegyptian Gouernment, and much eclipsed their superstitious solemnities. For aHerod.l.3.Cambyses proclaimed desiance, not to the persons onelyonly of the Aegyptians, but to their Gods also: yea, he set their sacred Beasts in the forefront of his battaile, that being thus shielded by their owne deuotion, he might easily ruinate the Kingdome. Such a disaduantage is Superstition to her followers, being indeede but a life-lesse carkasse of true Religion, which alway breedeth true Fortitude; as Ptolomey and the Romanes vsed the like stratageme against the Iewes on their Sabbath, which (in it selfe a diuine Commaundement) they construed to a superstitious Rest, a Sacrifice without MercieMercy, wherein they might helpe their Beasts, but suffer themselues, like Beasts, to be ledde to the slaughter.
Cambyses hauing pulled downe their Temples in Aegypt, intended bIustin. l.1.as much to the Oracle of Iupiter Ammon, in which Exploit he employed fiftie thousand men, which (as the Ammonians report) were ouer-whelmed with a tempest of Sand. Other newes of them was neuer heard. Himselfe meane-while, meanely prouided of victuall for such an Enterprise, made an Expedition against the Aethiopians; in which, Famine making her selfe Purueyor for the Armie, fedde them with the flesh of each other; eueryevery tenth man being allotted to this bloudie seruice.
Thus with a double discomfiture altogether discomforted, he retyreth to Memphis, where he found them obseruing their festiuall solemnitie of the New-found Apis, and interpreting this ioy to hauehave proceeded from his losse, hee slew the Magistrates, whipped the Priests, commaunded to kill the Citizens that were found feasting, and wounded their Apis with his Sword, vntounto death. Hee practised no lesse hostilitie vponupon their Obeliskes, Scpulchres, and Temples: The Sepulchres they esteemed Sacred, as their eternall Habitations: (and no greater securitie could any Aegyptian giuegive vntounto his Creditour, then the dead bodies of their Parents:) The Temples cStrab.l.17. describeth the forme of their Temples., eueryevery where accounted holy, here were many, and those magnificent.
At Memphis they had the Temples of Serapis, Apis, Venus, and the most antient of them all, of Vulcan, with the Pigmcy-Image of Vulcan in it, which Cambyses derided: of Serapis at Canopus, where Pilgrims by dreames receiued Oracles: at Heraclium, Sai, and Butis, to Latona; at Mendes to Pan; at Momemphis to Venus; at Necropolis, Nicopolis, and other places, to other supposed Deities. Cambyses also burned the Images of the Cabyrians, and the Temple of Anubis at Heliopolis, whose stately building and spacious circuit Strabo describeth, as likewise at Thebes. They write, That after, as he was taking Horse, his sword, falling out of the Scabberd, wounded him in the thigh (where he before had wounded Apis) and slew him. dThucidol. 1.In the time while the Persians enioyed Aegypt, the Athenians, by instigation of Inarus, King of Libya, inuaded Aegypt, wonne Nilus and Memphis: but after six yeares lost all againe.
Ochus, one of his successours (called of the Aegyptians, Asse) killed their Apis, and placed an Asse in his roome, which kindled such indignation in Bagoas an Aegyptian (one of his Eunuches) that he murthered Ochus, whome hee hurled to bee rent and torne of Cats, that this Beast, sacred to Isis, might reuenge the indignitie offered to Apis. But this Eclipse of the Aegyptian Superstition, caused by this Persian interposition, had an end, together with that Monarchie. For Alexander eCurt.l.4. Arrian.l.3.did not onelyonly leaue them to their wonted Rites, himselfe fAdrichom. Theat. T.San.sacrificing to their Apis, and solemnizing Games in his honour, but added further glorie to their Countrey, by erection of that famous Citie, named of himselfe Alexandria (where, as some gLydyat. Em. Temp.thinke, the Citie No had before stood, destroyed by Nabuchodonosor) second in reputation to Rome, the hHerodian.l.7.receptacle of Iewish, Graecian, and Aegyptian Religions, adorned with many Temples and Pallaces, his Successours, Ptolomaus Lagi (of whome the following Kings were all called Ptolomai and iLagidarum imperium & r…gum series: Strab.lib.17. Niceph. patrl… l.6 & 7.Lagidae) Philadelphus, Euergetes, Philopator, Epiphanes, Philomator, Euergetes the second, Physcon, Lathurus, Auletes the father of Cleopatra, whome Iulius Caesar made Queene of Aegypt (the price of her honestie) and Anthonie his wife, whome, together with her selfe, her ambition ouerthrew, adding to the greatnesse of Alexandria. As for the deuotion there kRuff. l.2.c.23. Theod.l.5.c.22.practised, wee may reade in Russinus of the Temple and Image of Serapis, in his time destroyed by Theophilus, successour to Athanasius, Bishop of Alexandria.
This Temple was borne vp with Vault-worke, with great lights and secret passages, the space of an hundred steppes: on the toppe whereof, round about, were loftie Roomes, in which the keepers of the Temple, and they which made themselues chaste (…) remained. Within these were Galleries, or Cloysters, in squared rankes, and in the middest of all was the Temple, lifted vp on costly Pillars, and built of Marble. Post Capitolium nihil orbis terrarum cernit ambitiosius, sayth lAm. Marcell. l.22. Inter Serapidis templa celeberrimum apud Alexand. Vetustiss, Memphi. boc fanum subire nec hospitib. nec sacerdotib. licet priusqua… Apin sepelierint. Pausan At.another: Except the Capitoll, the world hath not a statelier Peece. Here was the Image of Serapis, reaching with his right hand to the wall on one side, with his left hand vntounto the other, being framed of all kindes of Wood and Mettalls. It had on the East a little window so fitted, that when on a solemne day the Image of the Sunne was admitted to salute this Serapis, the iuggling Priests so obserued the time, that euen then the Sunne-beames, through this window, should seeme to kisse Serapis. They had also another tricke, by a Load-stone placed in the Roofe, to draw vp the yron Image of the Sunne, as if it did then bidde Serapis Farewell.
The superstitious Ethnickes had a Tradition among them, That if euer mans hand did offer violence to that Image, the Earth should presently returne, and resolue it selfe into the first Chaos, and the Heauens would suddainely fall. All this notwithstanding, a Christian souldior dismembred the same, and burned Serapis openly, the Mice running out of his diuided trunke.
Some (sayth Russinus) esteemed this Serapis to be Iupiter, and that hee ware a Measure (Modius) on his head, as hee which gouerned all thinges in measure, or else, did liberally feede men with the Fruites of the Earth. Others coniectured him to be Nilus; others, Ioseph mOros.l.1.c.8. affirmeth, that of Iosephs act Aegypt is still witnesse vntounto his time, continuing the payment of the fist part of their profits to the King., that fedde Aegypt in the seuen deare yeares.
Others thought him to be one Apis, (a King in Memphis) who in the time of famine, with his owne store, supplyed the peoples want: for which benefit they built a Temple to him after his death, wherein they nourished an Oxe, in remembrance of him, whose Husbandrie and Tillage had nourished them. This Beast they called also Apis.
He *Storie of Yrannus, Saturnes Priest.mentioneth the Temple of Saturne, whose Priest called Tyrannus (vnderunder pretence of Saturnes commaundement) would demaund the companie of what Ladie he liked, to beare the God companie at night: which the husband did not much sticke at, esteeming it an honour to hauehave a God his corrìuall. But Tyrannus shutting the woman into the Temple, by secret passages conueyed himselfe thither, into the hollow Image of Saturne, in which he held conference a while with the woman, and after by a deuife putting out the lights, satisfied his lust in committing those workes of darknesse, which after being brought to light, caused the Temples destruction.
They had Breast-plates of Serapis in eueryevery house, in the Walls, Entries, Posts, Windowes; in stead whereof they after fastened Crosses. The Crosse in the Aegyptian Mysteries signified life to come. They had a tradition, That their Religion should continue, till there came a Signe, in which was Life. nSocrat. l. 5.c.16.And by this occasion many of their Priests were conuerted. Sozomen oSor. l.7.c.15.reporteth the same, That in purging of Serapis Temple at Alexandria, the Crosse, being found among other their Hicroglyphickes, was occasion of the conuersion of many vntounto the Christian Faith. This pNiceph. l.12.26. Theodor.l.5.22.Hist.trip.l.10.c.29.Temple, and the Temple of Bacchiu, were turned into Christian Churches.
Olympius a Philosopher, with a companie of seditious Ethnickes, fortified themselues in Serapis Temple, and caused many by force to sacrifice: and when the Christians burned their Images, he answered, That the Images were but corruptible matter, but the Vertues, or Diuine Powers, which inhabited them, were fled to Heauen. This I thought to mention for their sakes, who to their Image-worship hauehave borrowed the like Heathenish playster.
Ruffinus addeth, That in destroying the Temples, they found Reliques of their bloudie Superstition, the heads of infants cut off, with the lippes gilded. The deuotion of Canopus was not inferior to that of Alexandria. Here, through the subtletie of the Priest, the Chaldaeans were vanquished. For whereas they challenged their God Fire to be the strongest, as deuouring other Woodden and Mettall-Gods, he conueyed an Earthen pot full of holes, which he had stopped with Waxe, and filled with water, into the Image: and when the Chaldaeans made their fierie tryall hereof, the Waxe melting, the water issued, and quenched the fire. Hence it is, that they made the Image of Canopus with feet and necke short, and a Belly like a Barrell, or water-Vessell.
Tacitus qCor.Tac.l.4. c.35.reporteth certaine miracles wrought at Alexandria by the instigation of Serapis: the curing of a lame and blinde man, whom that God had moued to seeke this helpe at Vespasians hand; which hee also perfourmed. Hee consulting with this Oracle, saw sodainely behinde him in the Temple one Basilides, whom by present enquirie he found to lie sicke foure score miles thence in his bed. The name yet was an ominous signe to him of the whole Empire, as deriued of … The originall of this God (saith he) is by some imputed to Ptolomoeus Lagi, who hauing in Alexandria erected Temples, and instituted religious rites, seemed in his sleepe to see a tall young man, warning him to send into Pontus, to fetch thence his Image, sodainely after vanishing in a flame of fire. When the Aegyptian Priests could not satisfie him in the interpretation of these things, Timotheus an Athenian, whome hee had sent for to be chiefe Maister of Ceremonies, willed him to send to Sinope, wherein was an ancient Temple of Pluto, hauing in it the Image of Proserpina. Ptolomey neglecting this; and with a second Vision terrified, sent to Scydrothemis King of Sinope for the same; being (in the way) further hereunto incouraged by the Delphian Oracle. Scydrothemis protracting the businesse was by diseases and manifest anger of the Gods, enforced to assemble and persuade his people to suffer the carrying away of their God. But whiles they resisted this enterprise, the ambitious Idole, without once taking leaue, conueied himselfe into the shippe, which also, together with himselfe, he made to arriue at Alexandria in three dayes, where was this Temple built to him, in the place wherein sometime had stood I sis Chappell. Some rAthen l.5.ca.5.6.esteemed him Aesculapius for his cures, some O sir is, some Iupiter, some Pluto, but Serapis was his Aegyptian appellation. Ptolomeus fOf Ph…la. selphus incredible pomp, and Philopators shippe read … 5.….5.6.Philadelphus, his sonne, bestowed cost in that famous Librarie at Alexandria containing seuen hundred thousand volumes, and amongst the rest he caused the Law, as Iosephus saith, as other hold, the Old Testament, wholly to be translated into Greeke by the threescore and twelue Interpreters. This Library was by *A. Gel.….6.17.Ad….…Caesars Souldiers casually burned. Cornelius Tacitus t… Tac. A…2. Of Memmo… image see … in expedit. Alexandri Mag.telleth no lesse miracle of Memnous stonie Image at Thebes, or as others say, at Abidus, which being stricken with the Sunne-beame at the Sun-rising yeelded a vocall sound. This Image was halfe cut off by Cambyses: Pausanias uFausan Attir.saith that he saw it, & largely describeth it. Augustus, hauing destroied Antonie and Cleopatra, brought xSex. Aur Vitler. Sucton. Trait. Aug.Egypt into a Prouince, and scowred all the Trenches of Nilus. He caused the body *This body to…om. tooke from Pe…d…ccas and buried it Alexandria in a golden tombe. Strab. 17.of great Alexander to be brought forth, which he crowned with a Crowne of Gold, and strewing with flowers, worshipped it. He built Nicopolis in memory of his Actian victory: instituted there Quinquenniall games: enlarged Apollos Temple: and consecrated the place where he had pitched his tents, to Neptune and Mars, adorning it with spoiles.
Onias, y…os.Ant.13.6.one of the Iewish Priests (according to the Iewish manner) literally interpreting Esais zIsa 19 19.prophecy of the altar in Egypt, built a Temple at Bubastis in fashion of that at Ierusalem, but lesse, by the permission of Philometor, and furnished it with Priests and Leuites after the Iewish Religion. At a… ans …. 2.Alexandria also the Iewes were free and had their Synagogues, as at Leontopolis likewise and other places. bProcop.de bello Persico li.1.Procopius saith, that Dioclesian the Emperour bestowed Elephantina and the parts adioining on the Blemi and Nobatae, whose Religion was a mungrell of the Greekish, Aegyptian, and their owne: but the caused them to cease humane sacrifices which they vsed to offer to the Sun. And thus was the state of religion in Egypt during the cōquests of the Persians, Greeks, and Romans, each rather seeking to settle heere their Empires then opinions. But when the Sunne of Right consnes the Sonne of GOD, the Sauiour of man, appeared to the World, he honoured Egypt with his infancie, as after with a Religious conquest, by weapons (not carnall) casting downe the holds which these hellish spirits had heere so long possessed; thus fulfilling truely what Esay had prophecied and Mercurie foretold. Alexandria became a Patriarchall Sea (the first Bishop whereof was Saint Marke) enioying in Lybia, Pentapolis, and Egypt, the same power that the Roman Bishop had in Italy, by decree of the cCon.Nic. Can.6.first Nicene Councel. Heere also liued the first Heremites (the dHist. Tripar. 1.c.11. Paul. Diacol. 8.first & cheese of which was Antony, an Egyptian, inuenter of this order) in the sandy Deserts, by occasion on of those bloudy persecutions wherein many thousands lost their liues. Of these Eremites read Io. Cassianus and Severus Sulpitius de vita Martin. l.3. But when as the Mahumetan Religion and armes began first to peepe into the World, Egypt eVincent Spec.li.24.was made a slaue to those superstitions vnderunder which it groneth till this day.
These Saracens diuided Egypt into three parts; Errif, from Cairo to Rosetto; Satrid, from Cairo to Bugia; Matemma, as Nilus runneth to Damiata. It was fLeo Afric. l.8.subdued vnderunder the conduct of Hamrus the sonne of Hasi, Generall of the Arabian forces to Homar or Aumar the second Caliph. He onelyonly exacted tribute, permitting freedom of their conscience to all. He built vponupon the bankes of Nilus a Towne called by the Arabians Fisstato i. Tabernacle, because that in the desert places, through which he passed, he was constrained to lie in tents. The common people call this Towne Mesre Haticht, the antient Citie: for so it is in respect of Cairo, gThe Arabians & Turkes doe call Cairo, Misz…r: the reuenue whereof amounteth to aboue a million, and runneth into the Hasnad or priuate Treasure of the great Turke, and not into the publike Treasurie. Lazaro Soranzo.which was after built, two miles from hence, by one Gehoar, who of a Dalmatian slaue had been aduanced to be a Counsellour vntounto Elcain the Mahumetan Calipha, and was Generall of his Armie about the foure hundred yeare of their Hegeira. He called it Elchahira, which signifieth an imperious mistresse. hHe hath vnderunder him therefore 16 banzackes & 100000 Timariots, or horse mens fees, to maintaine so many horse for thoHe walled it round, and built in it that famous Temple called Gemih Hashare, as Hamrus had done before at Fustato. In this Towne of Fustato standeth the Sepulcher of a famous Saint of their Sect, called Nasissa, of the line of Mahomet, whose beautifull shrine the Schismaticall Patriarches of Egypt adorned with siluer lampes, carpets of silke and other precious ornaments. No Mahumetan commeth to Cairo Turkes warres at their owne charge. Kn…lles. either by Water or Land but he adoreth this Sepulcher, and offereth thereat, insomuch that the yearely oblations and almes heere offered for the releese of the poore kindred of Mahomet, and maintenance of the Priests that keepe it, (which want not their counterfeit miracles to delude the peoples zeale) amount to one hundred thousand Sarassi. And when Zelim conquered Cairo, the lanisaries risling this Sepulcher, found in it fiue hundred thousand Sarassi in ready coyne besides other riches. Some report that this Nafissa being a dame of honour, yeelded her body, without reward, to any that required the same, iPilgrim to Mecca apud Hak.bestowing (as she said) this almes for the louelove of the Prophet Mahomet. I ettuce sutable to such lippes: Like Prophet, like Saint. But Leo would hauehave you thinke her an honester woman. Fustato is reckoned as as suburb to Cairo, containing (in Leo's time one thousand fiue hundred twentie six) fiue thousand families: besides many Sepulchers adored of the fond people, which couer the pauement with rich carpets. Hither resort eueryevery Friday great multitudes for deuotion, and bestow liberall almes: kP. Mart. Leg. Bab.l.3.They heere sprinkle cold water with sweete herbes and leauie boughs.
Bulach is another Suburb of Cairo vponupon the bankes of Nilus, of like distance, and hath in it foure thousand families with stately Temples and Colleges. Beb Eiloch standeth a mile from Cairo, and hath about three thousand families. Gemeh Tailon was adorned by Tailon sometime gouernour of Egypt with a sumptuous Temple and Pallace. Beb Zuaila, another Suburb, containeth twelue thousand families. Cairo, it selfe within the Walls hath not aboue eight thousand families, and is full of stately and magnificent Temples. Heere is an Hospitall built by Piperis, the first Soldan of the Mamalukes race: the yearely reuenues whereof amount to two hundred thousand Saraffi, or as some reckon, fiue hundred ducats a day. It is open to all sicke and diseased persons, and heire to all that die there. The Plague is sometime so hotte at Cairo, that there die twelue thousand persons daily. This was the state of Cairo in Leo's time. Salomon lSal. Schu.Schuveigher affirmeth that at his being in Cairo An. a thousand fiue hundred eightie one, there died daily betweene seuen and ten thousand; nor is any place more plagued with the French disease. Besides that Hospitall, and Nasissas Sepulcher, are three other famous, Zavia della Iunachari, Imamsciafij, and Giamalazar. This is the generall Vniuersitie of all Egypt. mHak. pilgrim. to Mecca.In this place, An. one thousand fiue hundred threescore and six, in the monethmonth of Ianuarie, by misfortune of fire were burned nine thousand written bookes of great value, wrought with gold, worth three or foure hundred ducats a peece one with an other. This was interpreted as an ominous token of their ruine. They thinke also that Mecca will in short time be conquered by the Christians, and her deuotions shall be remoued to Rosetto. Neander nNeon. Or. Te…. Par.3.his conceit is ridiculous, that Cairo should hold as much people as all Italy, and that there are two & twentie thousand Temples. Iohn Evesham out of their owne registers numbreth but two thousand foure hundred: and though Cairo considered together with these suburbes is great, yet is it not all the way continued with houses and buildings, oP.Mart.but hath Gardens also and Orchards betweene.
Alexandria is very vnholesome, as the graue of that Alexandria we before mentioned. VnderUnder the foundations are great habitations, as if they were two Alexandria's built one vponupon another. VnderUnder the houses of the Citie are cisterns sustained with mighty Arches to receiue the inundation of Nilus. When the Saracens had spoyled it, it remained long desolate vntill a subtle Caliph proclaimed that Mahomet had left great indulgences to such as would heere inhabit. And thus hee replenished the Citie with inhabitants, building houses for them, as hee did colleges for the Students, and Monasteries for the Religious. Heere yet remaineth a little Chappell, wherein they say that the high prophet, and King Alexander the great, lie buried: to which resort many Pilgrims that adore the same, and bestow there their Almes. Thebes, that sometime was so famous a Citie, containeth not now aboue three hundred families: and still retayneth some bones of the carkasse of old Thebes, many Pillars, Walls, inscriptions in Latin, Greeke, and Egyptian characters. Memphis, her next successour, is vtterly ruinate. The Mahumetans entred Egypt about Anno six hundred thirtie seuen. After, their state sinking vnderunder the weight of it selfe (which is the ordinarie sicknes of greatnes) they grew to dissentions and sects, as is said in our Saracen Historie. For the seate of the Saracenicall Caliphas beeing by Macamat remoued to Bagdat, which he had builded, there arose new Caliphs in Damasco; in Egypt (whose seate was after at Cairo:) in Cairoan, to whom the Africans yeelded subiection, and after at Marocco. The first succession of the Egyptian Celisas vncertaineBut in Elcains time, while he sought to win the East from the Caliph of Bagdat, his Lieutenant rebelled against him, a. d hee was saine to liue in Egypt, where Gehoar had built Cairo. The Sect of Hali had before also preuailed in Egypt, for which cause Nasissas father was forced to flee the Countrey, yet this Sect after was restored by Asmulinus, and Solinus his sonne, first Caliph of Egypt. But when the Westerne forces, vnderunder Godfrey of Bullen, grew terrible to the East, pCar Chronl. 4.10.11.53.the Egyptians paied tribute to the Christians, which Dargan the Sultan detaining was by Almericus King of Ierusalem ouerthrowne in battell. qKnolics T.H.Noradine of Damasco sent Saracon his sonne to helpe Sanar the Sultan against this Dargan, which Saracon was by the Caliph appointed Sultan, who before had slaine the Sultan, and Saladine his successor slew the Caliph, and rooted out his posteritie to settle his owne. This Historie is diuersly reported. Peu…erus rT…eue Car. Chro.maketh the Egyptian Chaliphs to bee Schismaticall from their first entrance, which was (as he saith) in Anno, 703. which raigned in Egypt, foure hundred fortie and seuen yeares, of the profession of Hali. Curio writeth otherwise, as sRead.l.3.c.2.in their Historie wee hauehave shewed. So also doth Leo diffenting from …em both, a man learned in his owne Religion. Hee saith that the Caliph of Cairo had continued two hundred and thirtie yeares, when as Saladine slew him and subiected himselfe to the Caliph of Bagdet…, the onelyonly Caliph then remaining. This Saladine was Nephew to Saracon, who chased the Christians out of Syria. His Children reigned after him, of which Melechsala was last, who first inuented the order of the Mama'ukes, which were Circassian slaues, bought in their youth, and trained vp to Armes, Artes, and Religion of the Saracens, whom hee made of his guard. But they slew their Maister, and vsurped the Kingdome to themselues, alwaies electing one of their company, the first of which Mamaluke Kings was Turquemenius, who was slaine of his fellow Cothus, and he of Bendocader, who was also poisoned &c. Leo saith, that Saladines Family reigned a hundred and fiftie yeares, and Piperis was (saith he) the first-Mamaluke King. Gampson Gaurus, and Tomumbeius, the last of these Kings were ouerthrowne by Zelim the Turke. Anno 1517. whose successors still hold Egypt, and hauehave a Bassa resident at Cairo, from whence vvas carried by water many ornaments to Constantinople. The Caliph as at Bagdet, so here retained some spirituall preheminence. So saith P. Mart. tLeg. Bab.3.that the Caliph sells the Soldan this dignitie at a price, and ascending the Throne, doth giuegive vntounto the Soldan, there standing on foote, the absolute power of life and death, and then descending disrobeth himselfe, attiring the Soldan with the same robes. So it appeareth, that the name & power of the Caliph, all the time of the Mamalukes (as the Ghost of it selfe) had some almost breathlesse shadow left: the life & substance being in the Soldan. There is (saith Leo) in Cairo, & in all Egypt 4 Sects, differing frō each other in Canon & Ciuill aws, all Mahumetans. He which professeth one of these sects, cannot at his pleasure betake him to another, except being learned bee shew reasons therefore. Each of these Sects hath his peculiar Iudge, from whom yet lieth an appeale to a higher Iudge, being gouernour of the Sect called Essafichia. Whosoeuer attempteth ought against the precepts of his owne Sect, is secretly punished by the iudge thereof: And although the Priests of these seuerall Sectes vse differing Liturgies and rites, uExample for Christians, in ending Controuersies of Religion.yet doe they not take one the other for enemies, with hatred or mutinies: but if any question arise, learned men by conference debate the same. No man vponupon paine of grieuous punishment may reproch any of the foure Doctors, first authors of those foure sects. There is one Sect of religious men in Cairo, called Chenesia, which liue vponupon horse-flesh: therfore are lame Iades bought & set vp a fatting, & sold to these Chenesians, which sect is rise in all Asia. There goe certaine women vp & down the citie crying, whose office is to excise or circumcise the women, which is obserued in Egypt and Syria, both by the Mabumetans and Iacobite Christians. Neither hauehave the Turkes (although in superstition by themselues acknowledged short of the Arabians and Aegyptians) beene altogether idle in their deu…tion, which they testifie by their Pilgrimages, and xGood works among Turkes.Almesworkes. Bellonius telleth of one Turke that caused water to be brought daily on Camels backes for the case of Trauellers in that Desert space betweene Alexandria and Rosetto. Egypt hath in it many Iewish Synagogues, who speake the Spanish, Italian, Turkish, Arabian, and Greeke languages, and are great Marchants. Wee hauehave had amongst vsus Vagabonds, which call themselues Aegyptians, the dregges of mankinde. Of these Aegypt it selfe hath, no lesse forreine to them then to vsus. They wander (saith Bellonius) through all the Turkish Empire, and are cunning in Iron-workes. They seeme to be Christians of Wallachia. Thus wee see the iudgements of God by the Persians, Graecians, and Romans for their pristine Idolatrie: and a greater iudgement for their haeresie, hatched by Arrius, punished by a Saracenicall Apostasie.
Among the differing Sects of the Mahumetans, (of which wee hauehave spoken in the third booke) Africa, and specially Egypt, and herein Cairo most of all is pesteredy with them, which may be called the naked, or the wicked Sect, roguing vp and downe naked, and practising their fleshly villany, in the open sight of the people, who yet hold them for Saints.yLeo l.3.
The inst hand of diuine iustice, that when men forsake God, not Religion and Truth alone, but reason, but sense shall also forsake them. As for the Christians in Egypt, ye may reade in the Histories zHist.Sar.G.Tyr. Foxe Act. & Mon.of the Holy-land-warres, what attempts were often made by the Westerne Christians against these vnbeleeuers. Concerning the present state of Christianitie there, Leo, Boterus, aG.Bot.Ben. Pory in Leon. Chytr. Chron.and Maister Pory in his additions to his Englished Leo, may acquaint you. Besides, the forraine Christians, which resort to these parts for traffique there, are thought to bee fiftie thousand Natiue of the countrey, which hauehave Churches, and Monasteries, whereof there are three Christian Churches at Alexandria. They are called Cofti, and Christians from the Girdle, because of their Circumcision, which together with Baptisme they admit. In their Liturgie they vse the Chaldean language. But they reade the Gospell againe, in the Arabian. They are accounted of Entiches haeresie. Their Patriarchall Sea is Alexandria: bAbdias Fab. Dorotheus. Baron. t.6.white 55.2.which from Saint Marke to this day hath had a continued succession, as appeareth by the late Letters of Gabriel to the Pope, calling himselfe the fourescore and seuenteenth of the Patriarches from Saint Marke. How Christian Religion was first planted in Egypt by Saint Marke, and the Apostles, and their successors, and how persecuted by the Ethnikes: after by the Arrians; and how Ethnike Religion was againe by Valens permitted to all that would embrace it, the fore-named Ecclesiasticall Histories make mention: how it was persecuted by the Persian inuasions, and after by the Saracens in time brought to this present passe, and how it now continueth, wee may reade in many both c…aron. annal. Pappus, Enagr. Pantalcon. &c.olde and new Authors. Zaga Zabo an Aethiopian Bishop saith, that the Patriarke of Alexandria resideth at Cairo: Where their Aethiopian Metropolitane dDam.a Goes.Fran.Aluares c…98. Hemingii …atcchismus in fine. Catholi… Tradit.receiueth of him his confirmation. And in their Aethiopian Liturgie, they mention them both in this sort. Pray for our Prince, the Prince of our Archbishops, the Lord Gabriel, and the chiefe of the Church of Alexandria, and for the chiefe of our Countrey, our venerable Archbishop Marke, &c. And thus much of this Aegyptian Prelate, as a taste of that which is to be declared in our Christian Relations. Adrianu Romanus, eTheat. Vrbium.in his Theatrum Vrbium saith, that besides the Patriarch of the Coptites, here is also a Patriarch of the Greekes and Arabians, which hauehave their Liturgie in Greeke, but scarse vnderstand the same.