A Collection of Curious Travels and Voyages, Volume 1 · Part 3 · Chapter 19
CHAP. XIX.
Of the Latiniſts or Papiſts.
THE Latinists or Papists, living at Jeruſalem in the often before-named Temple, are Friers of the Order of the Leſſer Franciſcans; they chiefly poſſeſs the Holy Sepulcher of our Lord Jeſus Christ, which they keep in very good order, and read their Hora's diligently, wherefore their Father ſtileth himſelf Guardian of the Holy Sepulcher, and Mount Sion. Beſides this, they are poſſeſſed of more Holy Places, as at Bethlehem the Stable, wherein our dear Lord Christ did lye in the Manger with the Ox and the Aſs: In the Mountains of Judea, the Temple of St. John the Baptist: In Bethania, the Sepulcher wherein Lazarus had lain four days, when Christ raiſed him from the Dead, and here and there many others. Theſe, as all know, are diſperſed in a great many places and Kingdoms; nay, almoſt through all the World. Their Head is the Pope of Rome, who pretends to be the Vicegerent of Christ, and taketh upon himſelf ſo much Power, as to preſcribe to all Men Laws according to his own pleaſure, which Christendom finds every day to its great grief. Wherefore in the mean while they are grown into ſo many Diviſions, Idolatry, and Ceremonies, that they out-do quite all the before-named Nations. But being that they are in theſe our times ſo very well deſcribed, that (thanks to God) they are very well known to every body, therefore I forbear to write more of them, and will only, before I conclude, make mention of theſe Brethren that live at Jeruſalem, only in a few Points, and ſay that theſe that live in the Monaſtery at Jeruſalem are about 20 in number more or leſs, according as they go and come, and among them are Spaniards, Italians, French-men and Germans, &c. that commonly are ſent thither by Kings and Princes; but being that they have more Churches and places in and without Jeruſalem to provide for, their Father Guardian diſtributeth them, ſends ſome to Bethlehem to look after the Manger of Chriſt, others upon the Hills of Judea; to the Mount of Olives, and towards Bethania, &c. but before all others, always two and two into the Temple of Mount Calvaria, to ſtay there for 14 days together. But being that the Temple is always Lock'd up, that the Prieſts that are within it may not want for Food, as well as others that are with them, therefore three holes, one bigger than the other, are made in the great Door of the Church, that through them all Neceſſaries of Meat and Drink may be conveyed to them. Theſe that are thus Locked up in the Temple, do but look diligently after the Holy Sepulchre, and Read their Hora's, with Singing and Praying, and to look after the Lamps; but chiefly thoſe that hang in the Sepulchre of Christ to illuminate it. There are about twenty of theſe Lamps, one better and clearer than the other; they belong for the moſt part to great Perſons, as Kings and Princes, whereof they have their Yearly Revenue, that is ſent them by their Brethren; but chiefly from Italy and the Italian Princes, and the moſt Catholick King of Spain. But from Germany, England, and alſo now Cyprus the Iſle, ſince it hath been taken by the Turks, they complain they have nothing as they had in former Ages; and the Moſt Christian King of France, doth alſo already begin to forget them, which they have found ſome years ſince; and the number of the Pilgrims doth alſo decreaſe, which formerly uſed to flock thither in great numbers, and ſometimes to reward them, beſides Meat and Drink, very Nobly, which they find very prejudicial to them, ſeeing they have no Revenues of any other Lands, or the like.
They receive the Pilgrims, that come in to them, very kindly, and treat them very well with Meat and Drink, and ſhew them all the Holy Places, and keep them ſo long until they have ſeen every thing to their ſatisfaction, and are willing to depart.
They are but very meanly Clothed, like unto Poor Mendicants; they live very privately, and keep their concerns very cloſe, becauſe of the Arabian Horſe-men or Beduins, that fall upon them daily, and Ravage theſe Countries continually, wherefore they are in great danger. When they come, you muſt at leaſt give them Meat and Drink, if not other Booty, as I ſaw my own ſelf at Bethlehem when I firſt arrived there, that twelve Horſe-men, with Guns, Arrows, and Darts, very well Armed, came to the Gates of the Temple, and they were forced to ſatisfie them, before they would leave them, and to give them good words beſides. So that they are not only ſufficiently plagued by them, but alſo by the Sangiachs, and Cadis, the Turkiſh Magiſtrates at Jeruſalem, who have continually their Eyes over them that are well to paſs, for Covetouſneſs is ſo great with them, that if they can but hear of one that hath Money, they ſtudy Night and Day, how (if poſſible they can) they may right or wrong make him puniſhable. So they lately accuſed the Eaſtern Chriſtians falſely, and puniſhed them in ſome hundred Ducats; whereat the Baſſaw of Damaſcus (under whoſe Command Jeruſalem is) did wink, in hopes to have a great ſnack out of it.