Egypt

Sources from old books

1635. Historia mundi: or Mercator's atlas. London. by Gerhard Mercator.

AEGYPT is a noble ancient Country, which was first inhabited by Misraim the Sonne of Chus, Nephew to Cham, and Nephew once remoov'd to Noah. Wherefore in Osiris sacred rights, it was called from Cham Chemia, in stead of Chamia, as from the other Misraim, for the Arabians doe still call it Mesre. The Turkes call it Elquibet or Elchebit. The bounds of it on the West beyond Nilus are the Desarts of Barch, Libya, and Numidia, with the Kingdome of Nubia. On the South it is enclosed with the Bugiensian Country, and Nilus, where Nilus bendeth his course from the West Eastward. Pliny doth bounder it with the Citty Syene, which is now called Asna. On the East it hath the Desarts of Arabia, which lye betweene Aegypt and the red Sea. On the North it is enclosed with the Mediterranean Sea, which is there called the Aegyptian Sea. It seldome raineth in Aegypt, and Plato saith that it was never seene to raine in Aegypt, so that the ayre is continually serene and cleare, whence happily it was formerly called A•ria. The Country is wonderfull fruitfull, being full of men, and all kinde of creatures. The River Nilus, which runneth thorow the middle of it, and doth overflow it every yeere, doth so moisten, and fatten it, so that it is wonderfull fertile, and fruitfull.* 1.1 Writers have left many Elogies in praise of the fruitfulnesse of this Country. Iustine affirmeth that there is no Country more fruitfull than it. For (saith he) there is in Aegypt great store of Wheate, Pulse, Barly, Oates, Beanes, and other kinde of Graine; and also excellent Wine. It hath also pleasant Pastures, but hath but little Oyle and Wood. Besides wilde beasts, of which this Country hath abundance, it doth breed great store of tame Cattell, as Buffes, Oxen, Camels,* 1.2 Horses, Asses, Rammes, and Goates, all which are of a great size, as B•l••i•s witnesseth, in regard of the temper of the ayre, the abundance of Fother, and the sweet Grasse which groweth there, by the overflowing of Nilus: among the rest there are very fatt great Rams, which have a great thick taile that hangeth downe to the very ground, and dewe lappes hanging downe under their neck as Oxen have and their wooll is black. Moreover all Aegypt did heretofore flourish under divers Kings of divers names, even to the Ptolemies: for there were few Pha••es. But the Ptolemies raigned a long time, even to the Romane Empire, which declining, Aegypt was governd by the Agarenes of Arab a felix, the Prince whereof was called the Sultan, and those that followed him were also called Sultanes, being all Mahometans, they raigned many yeeres untill they were expulsed by the Turkes. But now Soliman the great Turke doth possesse all Aegypt, and leaveth there a President, who is called the B•xa of Aegypt. Alexander of Macedon did devide it into Praefectureships of Townes, whereof Herod•tus reckoneth 18. Strabo one more, and Ptolemy 46. Pliny 50. who also addeth that some of them had changed their names, so that it is not to be imagined that there were heretofore so many Praefectureships of Aegypt as are nominated in Historians, seeing there might bee many names of one and the same Praefectureship. Leo Africanus saith, that the Mahometans did devide it into three Provinces. Sahid the higher, or Theb••s, from the borders of Bugia, even to Cairus: Errifia which is the Westerne part from Cairus to Rosettus: and Maremina which i• the Easterne part. It is supposed that there were 20000. Citties of Aegypt under Amasides. Diadorus witnesseth that in his time there were •000. The most famous were Syene, Thebes, which was also called D••p•lis, Ten•yra, Heliopolis, Memphis, Babylon, Alexandria, Pelusium, and 〈◊〉 which is now called Asna. Thebes was built by King Busiris, being in compasse 140. Furlongs, as Herodotus reporteth, it had 100. Gates with o•her publike and private Buildings, but now it is ruinated▪ 〈◊〉: was so called and denominated from the Iland of Nilus: the Inhabitants are called •entiritae, who by nature are enemies to the Crocodile: concerning which you may see more in Strabo and Pliny. Heliopolis was heretofore the Citty where the Priests dwelt, and the place where Strabo the great Astronomer and Philosopher lived. Memphis heretofore called Arsinoe, was a royall Citty, where Nilus first devideth it selfe into two parts, and maketh the forme of the Greeke letter Delta. They call it now Cairum, or Alcair. This Citty is built in a triangular or three-cornerd forme, being above 8. miles in compasse. The Turkes, the Aegyptians, the Arabians, the Hebrewes and others doe inhabit it. Bellonius placeth Babylon a little above Cairus, and the ruine of many famous Buildings are yet remaining. It is now a little Towne of the Christians. Alexandria was heretofore a noble faire Citty built by Alexander the great, upon the Mediterranean Sea-coast, and seated pleasantly. The Turkes doe call it Scanderia. Pelusium is called now Damiatum, which is a potent rich Citty, famous for the conveniency of the Haven, wherein many Ships may ride, being at the Pelusiacian mouth of the River Nilus. This Country is devided, watered, and made fruitfull by the River Nilus, which is the fairest River in all the world.

1638. The merchants mappe of commerce wherein by Lewes Roberts.

Of AEGYPT, and the Provinces thereof.

EGYPT on the East is bounded with the red Sea, on the West with Cyrene, on the North with the mediterranean Sea, and on the South with Habasia: this Country is watered by the fruitfull River Nilus, which for the more benefit of the spreading plaines divides it selfe into seven channels, and begins about the fifteenth of Iune to rise and swell above his bankes, and for fortie dayes doth so continue, and within fortie dayes againe collecteth it selfe into its owne limits: all the Townes here are seated on the tops of hills, which during this floud appeares to the strangers like Ilands; intercourse and commerce being all this time preserved by boats, skiffs, and lighters, insteed of camells and horses;. this river is in length 3000 miles, and when it is found not to swell, it portendeth some fatall accident either to Countrey or Soveraigne.

In this Country are found these famous Townes for traffique, Alexandria, built by Alexander the Great, the most eminent Seaport of all Aegypt, and whither before the discoverie of the Indies was the Scale of all those commodities which since we find to come thence, and then most frequented by the Uenetians, who had almost the sole trade of the commodities of India and Aegypt in their owne hands, and from them dispersed and transported through Europe, and who to this day yet keepe a Consull there for the protection of their Merchants.

The next is Damiata, seated at the entrance of one of the channels of Nilus, the command whereof cost much bloud in the dayes of those warres in the Holy land by the Westerne Christians.

The next is Sues, a haven of consequence standing at the north end of the red Sea, wherein the great Turke keepes a Station for his Gallies, commonly built in Cairo, and afterward carried thi•…her by Camells to command his Dominions in those parts.

The next is Rossetta, seated on the principall channell of Nilus, and in a triangle from the two above-named Cities of Alexandria •…nd Cairo, serving for a Scale for both.

The last and most principall is Cairo, the chiefe of this Countrey, containing 18000 streets, and each street being every night locked up and barred, which makes the Citie impregnable, of which more hereafter. I finde some Authors to have left for a remembrance behind them, a touch of the trade of this Countrey in times past practised by the commodiousnesse of the red Seas, which entreth into the heart of this Country, and because that Galuano relateth the beginning, continuance, and period of this trade, I will briefly follow his words. Ptol: Philadelphus then 277 yeares before the Incarnation, was the first that gave beginning, and set afoot this Navigation, bringing the spices, drugges, and commodities of Arabia and India through the red Sea into Aegypt to the port of Alexandria, where the Venetians as then the onely famous Merchants of Christendome, brought up the same, and were the first that this way dispersed it through Europe, Africa and Asia. Casir being then the principall haven Towne in the red Sea, whence their voyage to India was set forth and begun, and where the same afterward was ended, and from thence by land these commodities were conveyed to Coptus, a towne now altogether inhabited by Iacobite Christians, and so thence downe the River Nile to Alexandria in the mediterranean Sea, by which traffique this Citie became so rich and eminent, that the Customehouse there yeelded to Ptol: Aalates 7½ millions of gold: and afterward when the Romans came to be Lords of Aegypt, they found it to yeeld them fifteene millions. These last augmented this trade, and sent into India every yeare by the testimony of Pliny an hundred and twenty sayle of ships, whose lading was outward bound worth 120000 Crownes, and it produced in profit at the returne homeward, for every Crowne, a hundred. But when the Vandalls, Lombards, Gothes and Moores had rent asunder the Romane Empire, all commerce in these parts betweene these Nations began to cease, but when the inconvenience and discommoditie thereof was sensibly discerned and perceived, it was begun againe and set afoot anew by other Princes that coveted this rich trade, conveying the Indian commodities afterward with great difficultie, partly by land, and partly by water to Capha in the blacke Sea, as then belonging to the Genoes; but this by reason of the long way and dangerous passage, being found too tedious and prejudiciall, Trade (which is ever found to have a secret Genious and hidden course of it selfe) was removed, for these and other causes to Trabesond, which was then conceived the fittest Mart Towne, then Sarmachand in Zagethai had it, where the Indian, Persian and Turkish Merchants met to barter, their commodities; the Turkes thence conveying the same to Damasco, Baruti and Aleppo, from which last place the Venetians againe transported these commodities to Venice, making that Citie thereby the common Emporium of Christendome; and lastly in Anno 1300, the Soltans of Aegypt restored the passage by the red Sea, and the Venetians resetled their Factors in Alexandria, which continued for two hundred yeares, untill the Portugalls, Spanyards, English, and lastly the Dutch, found a new way by the backe side of Africa, to convey the same to their owne homes, whereby the great trade which the Aegyptians, and principally the Venetians had to themselves for many yeares, came thus to nothing, and the traffique of Alexandria and red Sea thereby is now decayed, and become altogether unfrequented, as at this day wee find it, subsisting onely by the native commodities thereof, in which nature it is fittest I should now survay the same.

1652. Cosmographie in four bookes by Peter Heylyn.

EGYPT is bounded on the East with Idumaea, and the Bay of Arabia; on the West with Barbary, Numidia, and part of Libya; on the North with the Mediterranean Sea; on the South with Aethiopia Superior, or the Abassine Empire.

This Country in the holy Scriptures is called Misraim, from Misraim the son of Chus, and grandson of Cham, by whom first planted after the flood; the footsteps of which name do remain amongst the Arabians, who still call it Misre. Named in the same regard in the Book of Psalms, the Land of Ham; a name retained in some of the sacred offices of the old Egyptians, where (as Plutarch witnesseth) it was called Chemia, for Chamia no doubt, as that from Cham or Ham, the first stock of their nation. In Prophane Authors it hath had the several names of, 1. Aeria, from the serenity of the Aire, which is never clouded; 2. Potamia, from the propinquitie of the Sea, washing two sides of it; 3. Ogygia, from Ogyges a supposed king thereof; 4. Melampodus, from the black colour of the soil; 5. Osiria, from their God Osiris, here in high esteem; and finally, 6. Aegyptus, which in the end prevailed over all the rest, either from Aegyptus the Brother of Danaus once King hereof, (in the stories of this Nation better known by the name of Rameses) or from Aegyptus the old name of the River Nilus, by whose annual overflowings made both rich and famous; and of the soil and rubbish which that River brought with it from the higher Countries, it was by some supposed to have been raised into firm land and gained out of the sea; Called therefore in some Writers by the name of Nili donum, or the gift of Nilus. Yet some there be who would have it called Aegyptus for Aigupthus, and that derived from Ai, and Coptus, which signifieth the Land or Country of Coptus, that being supposed to have been antiently the chief City of it. And some again will have the name derived from Chioth, by which the Aegyptians call themselves to this very day.

It conteineth in length from the Mediterranean to the City of Asna, or Sy••e, bordering on Aethiopia, 562 Italian miles; in breadth (exclusively of Cyrene and Libya) from Rosetta unto Damiata, or from the most Westerly Branch of Nilus to the farthest East, 160 of the same miles; to which the adding of those two Provinces make a great accession: Situate under the second and fi•t Climates, so that the longest day in Summer is but 13 houres and an half.

By reason of this Southernly situation of it, the Air is here very hot and offensive, so that to avoid the insupportable heats thereof, and to have the benefit of some fresh wind, the Inhabitants are accustomed to build high Towers in all their Towns, on which they use to solace and refresh themselves.

The soyl made fruitfull by the overflowings of Nilus, (whereof more anon) is so exceeding plentifull of all sorts of Grain, that it was called Horreum populi Romani, the Granarie or Store-house of the People of Rome: which Citie it did annually furnish with four moneths provision; insomuch that it was said by Plinie, that the greatness of the Roman Empire could not long continue without the corn and wealth of Egypt, the plenty or famine of that City depending wholly on this Country. It abounds also with rich Pastures, in which they feed great store of Camels, Horses, Asses, Oxen, Sheep, and Goats, greater of growth then usually in most places else; and by reason of the moorishness of the Country, they have great store of Fowls: Of Poultrie they have also good numbers about their houses, hatched in a different manner from all other Countries, not by the sitting of the Hen, but the heat of Furnaces, or Ovens; in which their eggs are orderly laid in dung, and by a gentle heat brought to animation. It is also liberally furnished with great plenty of Mettals, some precious Stones, good Wines, and the choicest Fruits, as Limons, Orenges, Pomgranats, Citrons, Figs, Cherries, and such as these, excellent both for taste and colour; and of Palm-trees a great abundance; of which though we have spoke before, yet we shall here more fully declare the nature and strange properties of them: They grow in couples, Male and Female, both thrust forth Gods full of seed, but the Female is only fruitfull, and that not except growing by the Male, and having his seeds mixt with hers. The pith of these Trees is an excellent Sallad, better then an Hartichoke, which in taste it very much resembleth. Of the branches they make Bedsteds, Latices, &c. of the leaves, Baskets, Mats, Fans, &c. of the outward husk of the Cod, Cordage; of the inner, Brushes. The fruit it bears, best known by the name of Dates, are in taste like Figs: and finally, it is said to yield whatsoever is necessary to the life of Man. It is the nature of this Tree, though never so ponderous a weight were put upon it, not to yield to the burden, but still to resist the heaviness of it, and to endeavour to lift and raise it self the more upwards. For this cause planted in Church-yards in the Eastern Countries, as an Embleme of the Resurrection: instead whereof we use the Ewe-tree in these cold Regions. For the same reason, given to Conquerours as a token of Victory; it being the Embleme of Hieroglyphick of a Souldiers life. Hence figuratively used for precedency; as, Huic equidem consilio palmam do, in Terence; sometimes for the Victory it self; as, Non auferent tamen hanc palmam, in Plinic, & plurimarum palmarum homo, for a man that had won many prizes in the Fence-School, as in Tully, pro Roscio; more naturally for the sign of Victory, as in that of Horace,

—Palmaque nobilis,Terrarum Dominos evehit ad Deos.

That is to say,

The Palm, of victory a signe,Equal's men to the Powers Divine.

The People, though the Countrie lie in the same Clime with Barbarie, are not black, but tawnie, or Olive-coloured; affirmed by Pomponius Mela to weep and mourn over the bodies of their dead, daubed over with dung; to have held it a great impiety to burn or bury them, but having imbalmed them to lay them in some inward room of their Houses: the men to keep themselves at home, for the houshold businesses, the women to follow merchandise and affairs abroad; the men to carry burdens upon their heads, and the women theirs upon their shoulders: Antipodes in these last to most other Nations. But certainly they were a witty and ingenious People, the first Inventers of Geomotry, Arithm•tick, Physick, as also of Astronomy, Necromancy, and Sorcery. They first taught the use of Letters to the neighbouring Phoenicians, by them imparted to the Greeks. Accustomed at the first to express their conceits in the shape of Birds, Beasts, Trees, &c. which they termed Hieroglyphicks; of which two or three Examples out of Orus, will not be impertinent. For Eternity they painted the Sun and Moon, as things which they believed to have had no beginning, nor were likely to have any end: for a Year, they painted a snake, with his tail in his mouth, to shew how one year succeeding another, kept the World still in an endless circle. For a moneth, they painted a Palm-tree, because at every new Moon, it sendeth forth a new branch. For God, they painted a Falcon; as well for that he soared so high, as that he governeth the lesser birds. For integrity of life, they painted fire and water, both because these Elements are in themselves most pure, and because all other things are purified by them. For any thing that was abominable to the Gods, they painted a Fish, because in their Sacrifices the Priests never used them; and the like. From this manner of expressing ones self, the invention of Letters is thought to have had its original (though learnt by them no question of the children of Israel, when they lived amongst them:) the History whereof, take briefly and word for word, out of Tacitus. Primi per formas animalium Aegyptii, &c. The Egyptians first of all expressed the conceptions of the minde, by the shapes of beasts; and the most ancient monuments of mans memory, are seen graven in stones; and they say, that they are the first inventers of Letters. Then the Phoenicians, because they were strong at Sea, brought them into Gr•ece; and so they had the glory of that, which they received from others: For there goeth a report, that Cadmus sailing thither in a Phoenician ship, was the Inventer of that Art among the Greeks, when they were yet unexpert and rude. Some report that Cecrops the Athenian, or Livius the Theban, and Palamedes the Graecian, did finde out sixteen Characters at the time of the Trojan War; and that afterward Simonides added the rest. But in Italy the Etrurians learned them of Demaratus the Corinthian; and the Aborigines, of Evander the Arcadian. So far Tacitus. That the Phoenicians were the first inventers of Letters, I dare not affirm; and as backward am I to refer the glory hereof to the Egyptians; for certainly the Hebrews were herein skilled before either: yet that the Phoenicians were herein School-masters to the Greeks, I think I may with safety maintain, having Lucan in consent with Tacitus.

Phoenices primi (fama si creditur) ausiMansuram rudibus vocem signare figuris. Phoenicians first (if fame may credit have)Dar'd in rude Characters our words ingrave.

Of this minde also is Isidore of Sevill in the first book of Originations, who also addeth, that for that cause the Fronts of Books, and the Titles of Chapters were written in red letters, as it is by some still in use. Hinc est quod & Phoeniceo colore librorum capita describantur, quia ab ipsis literae initium habuere, cap. 3. As for these less vulgar Letters which the Latines call Cyphrae, and whereof every exercised Statesman have peculiar to himself; they were first invented by Julius Caesar, when he first began to think of the Roman Monarchy; and were used by him in his Letters to his more private and tryed friends, that if by misfortune they should be intercepted, the contents of them should not be understood; 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, ne obvia literarum lectio cuivis esset. Augustus one of the greatest Politicians of the World had another kinde of obscure writing; for in his Letters of more secrecy and importance, he always used 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, to put the letter immediatly following in the order of the Alphabet, for that which in ordinary writing he should have used. As for Brachygraphie, or the Art of writing by short Characters, so usefull for the taking of a Speech or Sermon as it is spoken: I finde in Dion, that Moecenas that great favorite of Augustus Caesar, and favourer of Learning, did first invent them, ad celeritatem scribendi, for the speedier dispatch of writing: 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 (they are the very words of my Author) 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉. Isidor in the second Chapter of his book above mentioned, ascribeth it to Aquila the Libertus or freed man of this Moecenas: and to Tertius Persannius, and Philargius, who added to this invention. Yet had all they their chief light in it from Tullius Tito, a freed-man of Cicero's who had undertaken and compassed it in the Prepositions, but went no further. At the last it was perfected by Seneca, who brought this Art into order and method; the whole volume of his contractions consisting of 5000 words. Deinde Seneca contracto omnium, digestóque & aucto numero, opus effecit in quinque millia. But now I make haste to take a survey of these Egyptians as they stand at the present, much differing from the ingenuity and abilities of their Predecessors.

For such as have observed the nature of the Modern Egyptians, affirm them to have much degenerated from the worth of their Ancestors, prone to innovations devoted to luxury, cowardly, cruel, addicted naturally to cavill, and to detract from whatsoever is good and eminent. In their dealing with other men more observant then faithfull, of a wit much inclining to craftiness, and very eager on their profit: Of person, of a mean stature, tawnie of complexion, and spare of body, but active and quick of foot. Such as inhabit in the Cities apply themselves to merchandise; grow rich by Trading; reasonably well habited, and not much differing from the Turks in their dress and Fashion. Those in the Country who betake themselves to Husbandry, affirmed to be a savage and nasty People, crusted over with dirt, and stinking of smoak; sit company for none but those of their own condition. Nothing now left amongst them of the Arts of their Ancestors but an affectation which they have unto Divinations; to Fortune-telling great pretenders, by which, and by some cheatingtricks in which very well practised, great numbers of them wander from one place to another, and so get their livelyhood: occasioning the vagabonds and straglers of other Nations, who pretend unto the same false Arts, to assume their names. The whole body of the Inhabitants now an Hochpot or medley of many Nations, Moors, Arabians, Turks; the natural Egyptian making up the least part of the reckoning.

The Women of the same complexion with the men, but well formed and featured, did they not too much affect a seeming corpulency; which if they cannot get in flesh, they will have in cloaths. Very fruitfull in child bearing, and quick of dispatch when they are in labour: some of them having three or four children at a Birth; those that are born in the eighth moneth living to good Age, and not in danger of death, as in other Countries. Such of them as dwell in Cities, cover their faces with black Cypres bespotted with red; their armes, and ancles, garnished with bracelets and hoops of gold, silver, or some other Mettal. Those in the Country, for a vail use some dirty clout, having holes onely for their eyes, which little is too much to see and abstain from loathing. Both in the City and the Country, contrary to the custom in all places else, the women use to make water standing, and the men couring on their knees.

The old Egyptians were so eminent in Arts and Learning, that from them Pythagoras and Democritus learnt their Philosophy; Lycurgus, Solon, and Plato their Forms of Government. Orpheus and Homer their Poetical fictions of the Gods. Particularly, here •lourished Aristarchus that famous and learned Grammari•n, 2. Herodian, a diligent Student and searcher into curious •rts, 3. Ammonius, the Master of Plotinus, 4. Didymus, surnamed Chalcenteros, for his indefatigable industry in several Sciences, 5. Manethon, an old Historian, of whom we have nothing but some fragments, 6. Appianus, an Historian of a later date, whose works are extant, 7. Didymus the Grammarian, 8. Cl. Ptolomaeus, the Geographer; 9 Achilles Statius the Poet; 10. And before all, the profound Philosopher Mercurius, •••named Trismegistus. And after their conversion to the faith of Christ, 1. Pantaenus, the first Reader of Diviniti• in the Schools of Alexandria; 2. Origen, and 3. Clemens Alexandrinus, both sk•lled in the universality of Learning; 4. Dionysius; 5. Athanasius, and 6. Cyril; all three Bishops of Alexandria, and the glories of their severall times. Now nothing but ignorance and Barbarism to be found amongst them.

The Christian faith was first here planted by S. Mark, whom all Antiquity maketh the first Bishop of Alexandria. His successors, till the time of Heraclus and Dionysius, chosen continually out of the Presbyterie or Cathedral. Clergie; afterwards out of the Clergie at large. Their Jurisdiction setled by a •anon of the Council of Nice, over all the Churches in the whole Diocese of Egypt, (taking the word Diocese in the Civil notion) containing Libya, Pentapolis, and Egypt specially so called; to which, though Epiphanius addes Thebais, Maraeotica, and Ammoniaca, yet he addes nothing in effect. Thebais and Maraeotica being parts of Egypt, as Ammoniaca was of Libya. Afterwards the Aethiopian or Abassine Churches became subject to this Patriarch also, and do acknowledge to this day some relation to him. By the coming in of the Saracens, and the sub•ugation of this Country, Christianity fell here into great decay; languishing so sensibly since those times, especially since the conquest of it by the Turks, that whereas Brochardus in his time reckoned three hundred thousand Christians, in the last estimate which was made of them, they were found to be but fifty thousand. This small remainder of them, commonly called Cophti, either from the Greek word 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, scindo, because they retained the use of Circumcision with their Christianity, or from Coptus a chief Town in Egypt, in which many of them did reside; or finally by abbreviation from Aegop•to, corrupted from Aegyptii, their own National name. They are all Jacobites in Sect, from whom they differ notwithstanding in some particulars, in some from all other Christian Churches, in many from the Church of Rome. The points most proper to them, 1. Using Circumcision with their Baptism, but rather as a National then Religious custome; though in that sense also laid aside, as is said by some, by the perswasion of some Legates from the Pope of Rome, in a Synod held in Caire, An. 1583. 2. Conferring all sacred Orders under the Priesthood, on Infants immediately after haptism; their Parents, till they come to sixteen years of age, performing what they promised in their behalf, viz. Chastitie, fasting on Wednesday and Friday, and the four Lents of the year. 3. Reputing Baptism not to be of any efficacie, except ministred by the Priest, in the open Church, in what extremity soever. 4. And yet not baptizing any Children till the sortieth day, though they die in the interim. 5. Giving to Infants the Sacrament of the Eucharist, assoon as Christened. 6. Contracting marriages even in the second Degree of Consanguinitie, without dispensation. 7. Observing not the Lords day, nor any of the Festivials, except only in Cities. 8. And in their Liturgies, reading the Gospel written by Nicodemus. The points wherein they differ from the Church of Rome, 1. Administring the Sacrament of the Lords Supper under both kinds. 2. Administring in leavened bread. 3. Admitting neither Extreme unction, nor the use of the Eucharist to those that are sick. 4. Nor Purgatory, nor Prayer for the dead 5. Not using Elevation in the act of Administring. And 6. Reckoning the Roman Church for Heretical and esteeming no better of the Latines then they do of the Jewes. In these opinions they continue hitherto against all Opponents and perswasions: For though Baronius in the end of the sixth Tome of his Annals, hath registred an Ambassage from Marcus the then Patriarch of Alexandria, to Pope Clement the 8. wherein he is said to have submitted himself and the Churches of Egypt to the Pope of Rome; yet upon further search made, it was found but a Cheat, devised to hold up the reputation of a sinking cause. The Patriarch of Alexandria still adhereth to his own Authority; though many of late, by the practise and solicitation of some busie Friars, have been drawn to be of the Religion of the Church of Rome, and to use her Liturgies.

What their Religion was before Christianity, is obvious to the eye of a vulgar Reader; even the worst of Gentilism; these People not only worshipping the Sun, Moon, and the Stars of Heaven, creatures of greatest use and glory; nor only sacrificing to Jupiter, Hercules, Apollo, and the rest of the Gods, (many of whom were Authors in their severall times of some publike benefit to mankind) as did other Gentiles; but attributing Divine honours to Crocodiles, Snakes, Serpents, Garlick. Leeks and Onions. For which, as worthily condemned by the Christian Fathers, so most deserved•y exposed unto publike scorn, by the pens of the Poets.

Porrum & caepe nesas violare, & laedere morsu.Felices populi, quibus haec nascuntur in HortisNumina.—Quis nescit qualia demensAegyptus portenta col•t, &c.

Which may be rendred to this purpose.

To bite an Onion or a Leek, is moreThen deadly sinne. The Numen they adoreGrowes in their Gardens. And who doth not knowWhat monstro•s Shapes for Gods in Egypt go?

But the God most esteemed by them, and by all sorts of the Egyptians the most adored, was Apis, a coal black Oxe, with a white star in his forehead, the Effigies of an Eagle on his back, and two hairs only in his tail. But it seemeth his Godship was not so much respected by Strangers. For Cambyses when he conquered Egypt, ran him with his sword thorow the thigh and caused all his Priests to be scourged: And Augustus being here, would not vouchsafe to see him, saying, 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, that the Gods and not the Oxen of Egypt were the object of his devotions. A speech most truly worthy so brave an Emperour.

Amongst the Rarities of this Country, some were the works of nature, and some of industry and magnificence. Of this last kinde, I reckon the Labyrinth, the Pyramides, and the Ph•ros; all of them admirable in their several kindes, the envy of the Ages past, and the astonishment of the present. Of the Labyrinth we shall speak anon, in the course of our business. Look we now on the Pyramides, many in number, three most celebrated and one the principal of all, situate on the South of the City of Memphis, and on the Western banks of Nilus. This last, the chief of the Worlds seven Wonders, square at the bottom, is supposed to take up eight acres of ground. Every square 300. single paces in length, ascended by 255. steps, each step above three Foot high, and a breadth proportionable; growing by degrees narrower and narrower till we come to the top, and at the top consisting but of three stones onely, yet large enough for 60. men to stand upon. No stone so little in the whole as to be drawn by any of our Carriages, yet brought thither from the Arabian Mountains. How brought, and by what Engine mounted, is an equal wonder. Built for the Sepulchre of Cheops, an Egyptian King (as were the rest for others of those mighty Princes) who imployed in it day by day twenty yeers together, no fewer then 366000. men continually working on it. The charges which they put him to, in no other food then Garlick, Radishes, and Onions, being computed at a thousand and eight hundred Talents. The next to this in bulk and beauty, is said to be the work of a daughter of Cheops, enabled (as Herodotus writeth) both to finish her Fathers undertaking, and raise her own unto the height, by the prostitution of her body, requiring but one stone towards the work from each one of her Customers; but the tale unlikely. Nor is it of a greater Truth. though affirmed by Josephus, and supposed by many good Divines, that the drudgery put upon the Israelites did concern these Pyramides: the Materials of these works being stone; their imployment, brick: But past all doubt, advanced by those considerate Princes upon good advice, and not for ostentation only of their power and glories. For by this means they did not only eternize their memory to succeeding Ages, but for the present kept the Subject from sloth and idleness; who being a People prone unto Innovations, were otherwise like enough to have fed that sin in the change of Government, if not thus prudently diverted.

Next these Pyramides, I place the Isle and Tower of Pharos, the Island opposite unto Alexandria, once a mile distant from the Land, but joyned to the Continent by Cleopatra on this occasion. The Rh•dians then Lords of the Sea, used to exact some tribute or acknowledgement out of every Island within those Seas; and consequently out of this. Their Ambassadors sent unto Cleopatra to demand this tribute, she detained with her seven days, under colour of celebrating some solemn Festivals; and in the mean time, by making huge dams and banks in the Sea, with incredible both charge and speed, united the Island to the shore. Which finished, she sent the Rhodians away empty-handed, with this witty jeere telling them that they were to take Toll of the Islands, and not of the Continent. A work of great rarity and magnificence, both for the bigness of it, taking up seven Furlongs of ground, and for that cause called Heptastadium, and that incredible speed wherewith it was finished. As for the Watch Tower, called in Greek and Latine Pharos, by the name of the Island, it was built by Ptolomy Philadelphus for the benefit of Sailors (the Seas upon that coast being very unsafe and full of Flats) to guide them over the Bar of Alexandria. Deservedly esteemed another of the Worlds seven Wonders: the other five being 1. the Mausolaeum, 2. the Temple of Ephesus, 3. the Walls of Babylon, 4. the Colossus of Rhodes, and 5. the Statue of Jupiter Olympicus. This Watch-tower, or Pharos, was of wonderfull height, ascended by degrees, and having many Lanthorns at the top, wherein lights burned nightly, as a direction to such as sailed by Sea. The Materials were white marble the chief Architect, Sostratus of G•idos, who ingraved on the work this inscription, Sostratus of Gnidos, the son of Dexiphanes, to the Gods protectors, for the safeguard of Sailers. This inscription he covered with plaister, and thereon ingraved the name and title of the King the Founder: to the end that the Kings name being soon wasted and washed away, his own which was written in marble, might be eternized to posterity, as the Founder of it. Nigh unto this Pharos, Caesar pursuing Pompey into Egyp•, and having discontented the King thereof, by demanding pay for his Souldiers, had his Navy which here lay at anchor assaulted by Achilles, one of young Ptolomies servants, Caesar himself being then in Alexandria. Hearing of the skirmish he hasted to the Pharos, meaning to succour his Navy in person: but the Egyptians making towards him on all sides, he was compelled to leap into the Sea, and swim for his life. And though to avoid their Darts he sometimes ducked: yet held he still his left hand above the water, and in it divers Books, which he carried safe unto his ships; and animating his men, got the victory. It is said that Egypt hath only two doors; the one by land, which is the strong Town of Peleusium, or Damiata; the other by water, which is this Pharus: Tota Aegyptus maritimo accessu, Pharo; pedestre verò, Pelusio, velut claustris munita existimatur, saith Oppius.

Amongst the rarities of Nature, we may reckon those strange Beasts and Fishes, proper almost unto this Country, i e. the Crocodile, the Ichneumon, the Hippopotamus (or Sea-horse) the Ibis, the Aspe, and many severall sorts of Serpents. To speak of which particularly were a work more proper to a Natural History, then a Geographical. And yet the Crocodile, more proper unto Egypt then all the rest, cannot be parted with in silence: A creature of a strange nature, hatched of an egg no bigger then that of a Turkie; and yet increasing to the length of thirty foot: his tail as long as all the rest of his body, with which he is accustomed to intail his prey, and draw it into the River: His feet armed with claws, and his back with impenetrable scales; his mouth so wide (of which he moveth only the upper jaw) that he is able to swallow a whole Heifer: equally used to both Elements, but better sighted in the water, then on the land: Cowardly, though a Creature of prey, and such as usually flies from those which dare set upon him; and easily vanquished by the Dolphin, who swimming under the water woundeth him in the belly, where assaultable only. Whether so easily destroyed by the Ichncumon (a kinde of Water-Rat) skipping into his mouth, and gnawing his way out again, as old Writers say, hath of late been questioned. That which I look on as a rarity of the greatest moment, if not rather to be accounted supernatural) is that, about five miles from the City of Caire, there is a place in which on every Good Friday yeerly, there appear the heads, legs and arms of men rising out of the ground, to a very great number: which if a man draw near unto them, or touch any of them, will shrink again into the earth. Supposed by some to be an Imposture of some Water-men only, who stick them over-night in the sands, and keeping them secret to themselves, obtain thereby the Ferrying over of many thousands of People, to behold the sight. But Stephen Dupleis, a sober and discerning man, in the opinion of Goulartius, who reports it from him, conceived otherwise of it, affirming surely that he was an eye-witness of the wonder, that he had touched divers of these rising Members, and that as he was once so doing to the head of a childe, a man of Caire cried out unto him, Kali, Kali ante materasde, that is to say, Hold, hold, you know not what you do. A strange Fore-runner (if it be of undoubted credit) of the Resurrection of the whole Body, presented yearly in the rising of these several parts.

Of less dispute, but not less rarity in nature, are these that follow. 1. That in all this Country it never raineth; or if a cloud do sometimes happen to dissolve upon them, it bringeth on their bodies innumerable sores, and strange diseases. 2. The annual overflowing of the River Nilus, and the many memorable things which are said to follow on the same. Of which it is thus said by Lucan;

Terra suis contenta bonis, non indiga mercis,Aut Jovis; in solo tanta est fiducia Nilo: The earth content with its own wealth, doth craveNo Forreign Mart, nor Jove himself; they haveTheir hopes alone in Nilus fruitfull wave.

This Nilus hath his head, not in the Mountains of the Moon, as the Ancients thought, but in the Lake Zembre, in Aethiopia Interior: and running in one continual Channel (excepting where it brancheth into little Islands, as it sometimes doth) till it washeth the mid-land of Egypt, is before its influx into the Sea, divided into seven great streams, opening into the Sea with so many mouths, namely, 1. Heracleoticum, 2. Bolviticum, 3. Schaniticum, 4. Patinicum, 5. Mendesium, 6. Caniticum, 7. Pelusaicum. The first and last of these currents (which are the only two now left) being far distant from other, and growing into one, at the first point of the Rivers division, make that part of Egypt which is called Delta, because to such as come to this Country out of Greece, Italy, or Anatolia, it resembleth the Greek letter Δ. The other part is called Thebais, from Thebe, the chief City of it.

This Nilus from the 15. day of June, swelleth above his banks, for the space of 40. days; and in as many more, gathereth his waters again to their proper bounds. If it flow not to the height of fifteen Cubits, then the earth is deficient in her abundance of increase, for want of moisture: and if the waters surmount the superficies of the Earth, more than seventeen Cubits, then, like a drunken man, it cannot produce its natural operation, as having his stomack (as it were) over-laid, and surcharged with too much liquor: but if the mean be granted, there is no Country which can brag of the like Fertility; the Corn being all housed before the 20. of May. During this Inundation, they keep their beasts and cattel on the tops of such little hils, which either the Providence of Nature or the industry of man hath prepared for them; where they abide till the decrease of the Waters; and on these hills also stand the most of their Towns and Villages, appearing in the time of the Flood, like so many Islands, and holding a commerce and continual traffick by the entercourse of Boats and Shallops, by which they do transport their marketable commodities from one place to another. And if it chance at any time that the River doth not thus over-flow the Country, it is not only the Forerunner to a following dearth, but prognosticateth some ensuing mischief to the Prince and State. Confirmed by the testimony of good and creditable Authors; who have told us that in the 10. and 11. years of Cleopatra, the River increased not at all: that it was noted as a Foreteller of the Fall of those two great, but unfortunate Princes, Cleopatra & her Sweetheart Antonius. A second commodity which ariseth from the over-flowings of Nilus, is the health which it bringeth with it in most parts of the Country; the Plague which oftentimes miserably rageth upon the first day of the flood, abating instantly: insomuch that whereas 500. may die of that disease in the City of Caire but the day before, there dieth not one of it on the day following. A third wonder in this River, is, that keeping its waters united in a body together after it falleth into the Sea; it changeth the colour of the Mediterranean further then any part of it can be seen from the shore. Add unto these the many living creatures which the slime thereof engendreth on the withdrawing of the River to its natural channel: whereof Ovid thus, Sic ubi deseruit madidos septemfluus agrosNilus, & antiquo sua flumina reddidit alveo,Plurima Cultores versis Animalia glebisInveniunt.

Which I English thus.

So when the Seven-mouth'd Nile the fields forsakes,And to his ancient Channel him betakes,The Plough-men many living Creatures find,By turning up the mud that's left behind.

Amongst which Creatures so ingendered, are said to be such innumerable heaps of Frogs, that if Nature, or Divine Providence rather, did not furnish this Country with a proportionable number of Storks, by whom they are greedily devoured, the Plague of Frogs would come a second time upon them to their utter destruction. Now because Nilus runneth in its certain Channels, and that the People have no other water to make use of for all necessities, there are many By-trenches and deep Ditches cut in convenient places, (by the care and munificence of their Kings) to receive its waters, and to communicate them to the People, who know almost no other drink then the waters hereof, and indeed they need not, the water of this River being of such excellent both taste and vertue, that when Pescominus Niger saw his Souldiers murmure for want of Wine, What (said he) do you grumble for wine, having the waters of Nile to drink?

On the banks of the River stood that famous Labyrinth built by Psamniticus, which we have touched upon before; situate on the South of the Pyramides, and North of Arsinoe, or the City of Crocodiles. It contained within the compasse of one continued wall, a thousand houses, and twelve Royal Palaces, all covered with Marble, and had only one entrance, but innumerable turnings and returnings, sometimes one over another, and all in a manner invious to such as were not well acquainted with them: The building more under the ground, then above; the Marble stones laid with such art, that neither Wood nor Cement was imployed in any part of the Fabrick; the Chambers so disposed, that the Doors upon their opening did give a report no lesse terrible then a crack of Thunder; the main Entrance all of White-marble, adorned with stately Columns, and most curious Imagerie: The end at length being attained, a pair of Stairs of 90 steps conducted into a gallant Portice, supported with Pillars of Theban stone; which was the entrance into a fair and spacious Hall, (the place of their generall Conventions) all of polished Marble, set out with the Statues of their Gods. A work which afterwards was imitated by Daedalus in the Cretane Labyrinth; though that fell as short of the glories of this, as Minos was inferior unto Psamniticus in power and riches.

On the Banks of this River also grew those sedgie Weeds called Papyri, of which Paper was made in former times: They divided it into thin flakes, (into which it naturally parteth) then laying them on a Table, and moyst'ning them with the glutinous waters of the River, they prested them together, and after dryed them in the Sun. By means of this Invention, Books being easier to be transcribed and reserved then formerly, Ptolomie Philadelphus made his excellent Library at Alexandria: and understanding how Attalus King of Pergamus, by the benefit of this Egyptian Paper, strived to exceed him in that kind of magnificence, prohibited the carrying of it out of Egypt. Hereupon Attalus invented the use of Parchments, made of the skins of Calves and Sheep; from the materials called Membranae, and Pergamena from the place where they were invented. The convenience whereof was the cause that in short time the Egyptian Paper was worn out of use; in place whereof succeeded our Paper made of Rags, the Authors of which excellent Invention our Progenitors have forgotten to commit to memory. Before the use of these Papers and Parchments were first made known, I observe three wayes of writing amongst the Antients, (I hope I shall be pardoned this short digression.) 1. On the inward side of the Bark of a Tree, which is in Latine called Liber, and whence Books have the name of Libri. 2. On Tables framed out of the main body of a Tree, which being called Caudex, gave the Latines occasion to call a Book Codex. 3. They used to cover their Tables over with Wax, and thereon to write what they had to signifie, from whence a Letter-carrier was named Tabellarius. The Instrument wherewith they wrote, was a sharp-pointed Iron, which they called Stylus, a word now signifying (the Original derived from hence) the peculiar kind of Phrase which any man useth; as, Negligens stylus, in Quintilian; and Exercitatus stylus, in Cicero. I should have also noted, that they used sometimes to write in Leaves; That the Sibyls Oracles being so written and scattered abroad, had the name of Sibyllae Folia, and that from thence we have the phrase of a Leaf of Paper. But of this Argument enough.

Having thus done with the Rarities concerning Nilus, and that great increase of wealth which accrued thereby to all the Country, in the improvement of the natural commodities of the Earth: let us next look on the Red-Sea, and the great Riches which that brought unto this Kingdom, in the way of Trading. A Sea whereof we have spoke already, as to the reason of the name, the extent thereof, and the several Islands contained in it; and therefore shall not need to repeat it here. That which is proper to this Country, and to this alone, is the fame it hath for the miraculous passage of the Israelites through it as upon dry-land, and the drowning of Pharaohs Cenchres and all his people, at large commemorated in the books of Holy Scriptures: as also for that through it the Spices of India and Arabia were brought to Alexandria, and thence by the Venetians dispersed through all Europe, Africa, and Asia. I suppose I shall not do amisse to set down historically out of Galuano, a relation of the beginning, continuance, and period of the Traffick through this Sea, by which all Europe formerly received so great commodity. Know then (saith he) that Ptolomie Philadelphus, 277 years before the Incarnation was the first that set on foot this Navigation: Cosir (of old called Myos-Hormos) on the sea-side, being the ordinary Haven, out of which they hoysed sail for India; and into which they returned, full fraught with their commodities. From hence they were by land conveighed to Coptus, and so down the Nile to Alexandria: by which Traffick the City grew exceeding rich; insomuch that the Custom-house there yielded Ptol-Auletes 7 millions and an half of gold yearly. The Romans being Lords of Egypt, enhansed the Customs to double that sum: they sent into India every year (as Plinie witnesseth) 120 ships, whose lading was worth 1200000 Crowns; and there was made in return of every Crown, 100. When the Vandals, Lombards, Goths, and Moors had torn in peeces the Roman Empire, all commerce between Nations began to cease. At last perceiving the inconvenience, they began anew: conveighing the Indian commodities, partly by land, partly by water, unto Capha in Taurica Chersonesus, belonging to the Genoese: Next Trabezond was made the Mart-town, then Sarmachand in Zagatate, where the Indian, Turkish, and Persian Merchants met to barter wares: the Turks conveighing their merchandise to Damascus, Baratti, and Aleppo; from whence the Venetians transported it to Venice, making that the common Emporium of Christendome. Once again, viz. Anno 1300. the Soldans of Egypt restored the passage by the Red-Sea; which having continued more then 200 years, is now discontinued by the Portugals, Spaniards, English and Dutch, which bring them to their several homes by the back side of Africk: So that not only the Traffick of Alexandria is almost decayed, and the Riches of the Venetians much diminished; but the Drugs and Spices have lost much of their vertue, as impaired by too much moisture. So much saith he, touching the course and alteration of this Trading: to which I shall take leave to adde, That for the better and more quick return of such Commodities as were usually brought into this Sea, some of the Kings of Egypt attempted formerly to cut a main Channel from it, to the River Nilus, passable by Ships of greatest burden; the marks of whose proud attempts are remaining still. Sesostris was the first who designed the work, having before with good successe cut many Trenches from the River, and some Navigable, into many places of the Country; by which unprofitable Marishes were drained, the Country strengthened, Trade made easie, and the People better furnished with water then in former times. Darius the great Persian Monarch, seconded the same Project; so did one of the Ptolomies; The like is said of a Capricious Portugal in these later times. But they all gave it over on the same consideration, which was a fear lest by letting in the Red-Sea they might drown the Country, and perhaps make a second Deluge in the parts of Greece and Asia Minor which lay nearest to them; that Sea being found to be much higher then the Mediterranean, and the flats of Egypt.

But here we are to understand, that all which hitherto hath been spoken concerning Egypt, relates to Egypt strictly and specially so called, containing only so much of the Country of Egypt as lieth upon the Banks and Channels of the River Nilus; and not to all that tract of ground which lay betwixt the Red-Sea and the borders of Libya, which was reckoned in the compasse of the kingdom of Egypt; much lesse as comprehending Libya and Cyrene also, though now accounted Members of that great Body, and antiently parts or Provinces of the Diocese of it. For Egypt, in the largest sense and acception of the word, may be, and generally is divided into these three parts, viz. 1. Egypt, in the general notion, or the Kingdom of Egypt, extended on the Mediterranean from the borders of Idumaea to the the Roman Libya or Marmarica, lying Westward of the mouth of Nilus, called Heracleoticum, and on the borders of Aethiopia Superior, from the said Red-Sea, to the Country of Libya Interior. 2. Libya, or Marmarica, lying betwixt Egypt properly so called, and the Province of Cyrene, or Pentapolis. And 3. Cyrene or Pentapolis, reaching from that Libya to the greater Syrtis, where it bordered with that part of the African Diocese, which is now called the Kingdom of Tunis. And in this first acception of it we shall now proceed to a Survey of the Mountains, and chief Cities; which done, we shall describe the other in their proper places; and then unite them all in the Generall Story.

As for the Mountains of this Country, there are very many: there were no living else for the people in the time of the overflowings of the River. The principal of these, 1. Those called Montes Libyei, lying in a long chain on the West of Nilus; 2. Alabastrinus; 3. Porphyritus; 4. Troigus; 5. Basanitus on the East thereof. Betwixt these Hils the course of the River is so hemmed in on both sides, that at the upper part of the stream where it first entreth into Egypt, the space betwixt the Mountains is not above four miles broad, enlarging afterwards to eight, then about Caire to thirty seven; thence opening wider and wider, till we come to the breaches of the Delta, as the Country doth increase in breadth. On these and other of the Mountains and lesser Hils, stand most part of the Towns, the receptacles of the Country-people in the time of the Flood, rising when least, to fifteen cubits, or seven yards and an half.

Rivers of note here are none but Nilus, nor indeed any one but that; that being sufficient of it self to enrich this Country, which otherwise would be nothing but a Sandy Desart. But what they want in Rivers, is supplied with Lakes and Trenches, which serve for watering their Cattel, tempering of mortar for their buildings, and other such inferior uses; sometimes perhaps for drink for the poorer sort, who cannot be conveniently furnished with the waters of Nile. Amongst the Trenches (which were many, as before was said) those of most estimation were the Works of Ptolomie and the Emperor Trajan: the first falling into that branch of the Nile, which maketh the Isle called Heracleotis; the other into the main body of it, not far from Caire. These two, by reason of the many fresh springs which fall into them, have the name of Rivers in old Authors; and betwixt these was seated the Land of Goshen, extending from Nilus to the Red-Sea, on the East and West. The chief of note amongst the Lakes, were those called, 1. Mareotis, not far from Alexandria, by Plinie called Arapotes, Maria by Ptolomie; all which names are now lost, and changed into that of Lagodi Antacon, from a Town of that name near unto it. 2. Laccus, supposed to be the same which in the book of Maccabees is called Asphar, lib. 1. cap. 9. And 3. Moeris, now called Buchaira, more memorable then the rest, in compasse 3500 furlongs, 50 fathom deep, in the midst whereof were two Pyramides 50 fathoms above the water, and as much beneath it: the Fish of this Lake, for one fix moneths in the year, said to be worth twenty of their pounds a day to the Kings Exchequer; for the other six, each day a Talent. 4. The Lakes called Amari, into which the Trench or River called Ptolomaeus, doth discharge its waters, conveyed from thence into the Red-Sea.

The whole divided antiently into two parts only, 1. That called Delta, betwixt the two extreme branches of the River Nilus, the form of which letter it resembleth to him who standing on the Seashore could take a view of it. 2. That called Thebais, from Thebe the principal City of it, comprehending all the rest of the course of that River, shut up on both sides with the Mountains spoken of before. But this Division leaving out all those parts hereof which lie on the East-side towards the Arabian Golfs, and on the West as far as to the borders of Libya Marmarica: the Macedonians laying it all together, divided it into 18 Cantreds or Districts, by them called Nomi, increased in the time of Ptolomie the Geographer to 46. Ortelius out of divers Authors hath found 20 more. When conquered by the Romans, and made a Diocese of the Empire, it was divided into four Provinces, (not reckoning Marmarica, and Cyrene into the accompt:) that is to say, 1. Aegyptus specially so called, containing all the Delta, and the District or Nomus of Mareotica, bordering on Marmarica, 2. Augustanica, so called from Augustus Caesar, on the East of the Delta, betwixt it and Arabia Petraea. 3. Arcadia, so called from the Emperor Arcadius, in whose time it was taken out of Thebais, lying on both sides of the River, from the Delta to the City of Antinous. 4. Thebais, extending on both sides of the River from the borders of Libya Marmarica to the Red-Sea, (as the other doth) unto Aethiopia. Divided otherwise by some, into Superiorem, reaching from Aethiopia to the City of Antinous; Mediam, stretching thence to the point of the Delta; and Inferiorem, which comprehendeth all the rest. But at this time, that part hereof which lieth on the South and East of Caire, is called Saud, or Salud, honoured heretofore with the dwelling of the antient Pharaohs, because nearest unto Aethiopia their most puissant neighbour. 2. That betwixt Caire, Rosetta, and Alexandria, hath the name of Errifia, wherein the Ptolomaean Princes did most reside, because most convenient for receiving supplies of men from the States of Greece. And finally, that from Caire to Tenese and Damiata, is now called Maremna, in which the Turks and Mamalucks made the seat of their Empire, because more neighbouring to the Christians, whom they stood in fear of, as likewise to invade them upon that side. In the whole Country there was reckoned in the time of Amasis the 2^d. no fewer then 20000 Cities: but if the Towns and Villages be not reckoned in, I should much doubt of the accompt. By Diodorus Siculus it is said that there were 3000 in his time: but Ortelius, on a diligent search, finds 300 only.

Those of most note in the Province of Augustanica, 1. Pelusium, the most Eastern City of Egypt towards Idumaea, situate on the most Eastern channel of Nilus, called hence Pelusiacum; by Ammianus said to be the work of Peleus the Father of Achilles, commanded by the Gods to purge himself in the Lake adjoyning, for the murder of his brother Phocus. Accounted for the chief door of Egypt towards the Land, as Pharos was to those who came thither by Sea; the Metropolis of the Province of Augustanica, the birth-place of Ptolomie the Geographer, and the Episcopal See of S. Isidore, sirnamed Pelusiotes, whose eloquent and pious Epistles are still extant. Out of the ruines hereof (if not the same under another title) arose, 2. Damiata, memorable for the often Sieges laid unto it by the Christian Armies; for none more then that under John de Brenne the titulary King of Jerusalem, and the Princes of Europe, An. 1220. During which (being of 18 moneths continuance) the Famine and the Pestilence so extremely raged, that the Town in a manner was dispeopled, before the Besiegers knew any thing of their condition: till in the end two venturous Souldiers, admiring the silence and solitude of so great a City, in a Bravado scaled the walls, but found no man to make resistance: the next day the whole Army entred, where they found in every house and every corner of the streets whole heaps of dead bodies, none to give them burial; A lamentable and ruthful spectacle! 3. Heros, or Civitas Heroum, in the Arabian Isthmus, at the very bottom of the Golf; remarkable for the first interview betwixt Jacob and Joseph, after his coming into Egypt. 4. Heliopolis, or the City of the Sun, now called Betsames, in the Scriptures On, of which Potiphar the Father of Asenath (whom Pharaoh married unto Ioseph) was priest or Prince, as is said Gen. 41. 45. Given (as Iosephus telleth us) for an habitation to the sons of Iacob; by consequence one of the chief Cities of the Land Rameses or Goshen; and memorable in times succeeding for a publike Temple built for the Iewes with the consent of Ptolomie sirnamed Philadelphus, by Onias the High-Priest, then dispossessed of his authority and office by the power of Antiochus: a Temple much esteemed by the Hellinists or Grecizing Iews; and though Schismatical at the best in its first original, yet not Schismatical and Idolatrous, as was that of Mount Garizim. 5. Bubustis, somwhat more North then Heliopolis, by some of the Antients called Avaris, by the Scriptures Pibeseth, another City of that tract, now better known by the name of Zioth, supposed to be the same which the Notitia calleth Castra Iudaeorum; memorable in times of Paganisme for a famous Temple of Diana. 6. Arsinoe, on the shore of the Red Sea, so called in honour of Arsinoe sister of Philadelphus, and wife to Lysimachus King of Thrace; afterwards called Cleopatris, in honour of Queen Cleopatra: now better known by the name of Sues; Of great commerce and trading in the time of the Ptolomies: Now almost abandoned, and would be utterly deserted, were it not made the station of the Turkish Gallies, that command the Gulfe: which being framed at Caire of such Timber as is brought thither by sea from the Woods of Cilicia, and sometimes from the Shores of the Euxine Sea, are again taken in peeces, carried from Caire unto this City on the backs of Camels, and here joyned together. Conceived to be the same which in former times was called Baal Zephon (of which see Exod. 14. 9.) the last incamping-place of the Tribes of Israel, who from hence passed through the Red Sea, as upon dry land. 7. Gleba Rubra, by the Greeks called Hiera Bolus, and sometimes Erythra Bolus also more neer the Latine; the redness of the soyl giving name unto it: situate on the River or Trench of Tralan: more memorable for a misfortune that befell it then for any thing else; purposely burnt by Amenophis the fift, upon this occasion: Being blinde, he was assured by some of his Wizards that if he washed his eyes with the Urine of a Woman which had never known any but her own husband, he should be restored unto his sight. After a long search and many vain tryals, he met with one whose water cured him; whom he took to wife: and causing all the rest whom he had made tryal of, to be brought together to this Town, he set sire on the Ci•y, and burnt both it and all the women there assembled; which tale, if true, is little to the credit of the Dames of Egypt.

Places of most note and observation in the Province of Egypt strictly and specially so called, are 1. Alexandria situate Westward of the Delta, over against the Isle of Pharos; and built upon a Promontory thrusting it self into the Sea; with which on the one side, and the Lake Mareotis on the other, it is exceeding well defended: the Work of Alexander the Great, and by him peopled with Greeks immediatly after his conquest of Egypt. The Regal Seat of the Ptolomies, whilst Egypt did maintain the State of a Kingdom: and afterwards the Metropolis of it, when a Roman Diocese; Adorned with many stately buildings; of which most memorable the Serapium (or Temple of their God Separis) for sumptuous workmanship, and the magnificence of the Fabrick, inferiour to none but the Roman Capitol: and next to that, the Library erected by Philadelphus, who had stored it with 700000. Volumes; unfortunately burnt in the War against Julius Caesar; a City of great trading, and infinite Riches; 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, the greatest Empory of the World, as is said by Strabo. Wanton with which, the Citizens so abounded in all licentiousness both of life and speech▪ that they spared not the Emperour himself, if he came in their way. But they paid dearly for their folly. For Caracalla not so patient of a Contumely as some wiser Princes, having felt the lashes of their tongues, when he was amongst them, assembled all the youth of the City, as if out of them he would have chosen some to attend his Person; and suddenly gave command to his Souldiers, to put them all to the sword. A slaughter so great and universall, that the River Nilus coloured with the blood of the slain, might not improperly at that time be called a Red Sea. In this City, Anno 180. Gantenus read here both Divinity and Philosophy to all such as would come to hear him: which as it is conceived to give the first hint to the instituting of Vniversities in the rest of Christendom; so from that small beginning the Schools of Alexandria grew so great and eminent, that Nazianzen calleth them 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, the shop, or work-house, as it were, of all kinds of Learning. Much short of what it was even in point of trading, especially since the diversion of the Trading from the Bay of Arabia; and utterly divested of those beauties which once it had. Inhabited at the present by a mixture of Nations, Moors, Jews, Turks, Greeks, and Christian Cophtives; more for some little gain which they reap by Traffick, then any pleasure in the place; Now called Scanderia by the Turks, remarkable only for the house of the Patriarch (though he dwell for the most part in Caire) and a Church in which S. Mark their first Bishop was said to be buried. 2. Canopus, situate east of Alexandria, and on the principal branch of the Nile, called Heracleoticum, so called from Canopus the Pilot of Menelaus, who having suffered shipwrack upon this coast, was there interred by his Master: A Town so branded in old times for varieties of all kinde of beastliness and luxury, that as Seneca very well observed, he that avoided the viciousness and debauchery of it, could not scape the infamy: the very place administring matter for suspicion. 3. Rosetta, on the same branch of the River, and not far from Canopus, out of whose ruines it arose; built by a Slave of one of the Egyptian Caliphs, unwalled and destitute of all Fortifications, but plentifully accommodated with all sorts of commodities, and well frequented by the Merchant. 4. Nicopolis, now called Munia, the Monument of some eminent Victory, and probably of the conquest of Egypt by the Macedonians; the name being Greek, and the Town standing within 30. Fu•longs of Alexandria. 5. Aphrodites and Aphroditopolis, so called from Venus who was here worshipped: situate betwixt the two middle branches of the Nile. 6. Sais, betwixt the same branches of the River also; whence that Nomus or Division had the name of Saites. It is now called Sibnit, or Signiti. 7. Plinthine, on the Sea-side; and 8. Hierax, more within the land: the chief Towns of the Region called Maraeotica.

In Arcadia, called also Heptanomus, because it contained seven of the Nomi or Divisions into which Egypt was distributed by the Macedonians, the Places of most note were and are 1. Memph••▪ on the Western bank of Nile, not far from the sharp point of the Delta, where the River first beginneth to divide it self; the Regal City of the old Egyptian Pharaohs, by one of which who removed the Seat Royal from Thebo hither, it is said to be built; and called thus by the name of his daughter. In compass, when it flourished, about 20. miles; Great, populous, and adorned with a world of Antiquities; amongst others with the Temples of Apis, Venus, and Scrapis, beset with Sphyr•••▪ now nothing left of the Ruines of it, but the Statues of some monstrous Resemblances, sufficient to •hew what it hath been formerly. The Pyramides before described, stood not far from hence; to which the Poet relateth, saying,

Barbara Pyramidum sileat miracula Memphis.

Let barbarous Memphisbrag no moreOf her Pyramides, as before.

2. Babylon, called for distinctions sake, Babylon Aegyptiorum, built on the other side of the River, and somewhat more unto the North: said to be founded by Cambyses the Persian Monarch, the first that made this Kingdom stoop to the yoke of a forreiner; and by him peopled with some Babylonians or Chaldaeans, transplanted hither. Great, as appeareth by the ruines; amongst which many of the Christian Temples and Monasteries do lie there in rubbish; the Castle whereof served long after for the Garrison of the three Legions, appointed to defend this Country in the time of the Romans. This, thought by some to be the Babylon mentioned by S. Peter in his 1 Epistle cap. ult. which the following words, and Mark my son, (S. Mark being the first Bishop of the Alexandrians, and the Apostle of Egypt) may make somwhat probable: but the truth and reality hereof, I dispute not now. Out of the ruines of this City arose, 3. Caire, now, and for many Ages past the chief of this Country: raised from the ashes of old Babylon by the Chaliphs of Egypt, and by the Mamalucks made the Seat-Royal of their Kingdom. In compasse not above eight miles, but full of Streets, the number of which said to be 18000. every one of them fortified with a Gate at each end; which being well barred, made every several street an impregnable fortresse. Found so by Selymus the first, when he conquered Egypt, who spent three dayes in forcing his way through it with his numerous Army. The private buildings very mean; the publique, specially the Mosques, beyond thought magnificent. Visited every seventh year with a dreadful Pestilence; yet still so populous, that it is conveived to be in good health▪ if there die not above a thousand in a day, or 300000 within that year. Adorned with many delicate Orchards both within the City, and without; full of variety of contentments, and neighboured by a pleasant Lake, but made more pleasant by the company which meet there in Boats, for their mutual solace and delights. Fortified at the South end with a stately Castle (the Palace of the Mamaluck Sultans) situate on the top of a Mountain, overlooking the City, and a great part of the Country also. So large, that it seemeth a City of it self, immured with high walls, divided into many partitions or several Courts, in times past the places of exercise; and entred by dores of iron. Destroyed for the most part, by Selimus, for fear of giving opportunity to some rebellion; or envying the Mamalucks the glory of having been the Masters of so brave a Mansion: that which is left, now serving for the habitation of the Turkish Bassa, who hath the Government of this Kingdom 4. Matared, or Matarea, not far from Caire; the soile whereof is said to be so rich and fertile, that the People are fain to cover it with sand or gravel, so moderating the extreme ranknesse of it. 5. Arsinoe, on the West side of the Nile, and somwhat South of the famous Labyrinth before described; called also (to difference it from another of the same name on the shores of the Red-Sea) the City of Crocodiles, in regard of the divine honours there done that Monster. 6. Nilopolis, or Nili Civitas, in the Island called Heracleotis, made by the imbracements of the River: most memorable for being the Episcopal See of Cheraemon, a right godly Prelate; of whom see Eusebius in the 6 Book and 34 Chap. of his Ecclesiastical History. 7. Troia, on the Eastern stream which makes that Island, not much observable but for giving name to the Montes Troici lying neer unto it, out of which were digged the stones which made the Pyramides. 8. Cynopolis, in a little Island up the water. 9. Hermopolis, or the City of Mercurie, called also Hermopolis magna, to difference it from another of that name not far from Alexandria; to which they give the Adjunct of Parva. 10. Antinous, now Antius, founded by Adrian the Emperor, in honour of Antinous his especial favourite; the most Southern City of this Province, on the banks of the Nile. 11. Dionysias, or the City of Bacchus, situate on the Southern end of the Lake of Moeris, in the Nomus or Division called Oasis parva. 12. Clysma, upon the shores of the Golf, a Roman Garrison. Cities of most note in the Province of Thebais, 1. Panopolis, the Panos of Antoninus, one of the greatest of this part. 2. Ptolomais, the foundation of one of the Ptolomies, and the goodliest City of this Province, succeeding unto Thebe both in power and greatnesse. 3. Saiet, a fair and large Town, six dayes journy from Caire, going up the water; but by what name called amongst the Antients, I do nowhere find. Affirmed (erroneously, I think) to be the dwelling-place of Joseph and Mary, when they fled with CHRIST our Saviour from the fury of Herod. Beautified with a goodly Temple, but now somwhat ruinous; of the foundation of Helena the mother of Constantine. The City much resorted to (on the strength of this Tradition only) by many aged Christian Cophties, who desire to die there. 4. Diospolis, or the City of Jupiter; all of them on the banks of the River. 5. Tentyra, in a little Isle so called, made by the circlings of the Nile: The inhabitants whereof were the onely men who durst encounter the Crocodile; A creature of a terrible name, but a cowardly nature; of which it is said by Ammianus Marcellinus, that it assaulteth those which flie from it, and flieth from those who do assault it; In that point very like the Devil, of whom it is said by the Apostle James, 4, 7. that if he be resisted, he will flie from us. Or as the good old Poet hath it, Est Leo, si fugias; si stas, quasi Musca recedit.

Give ground, a Lyon he will be;Stand to it, and away flies he.

6. Coptos, upon the head of a Trench or water-course which falleth into the Nilus, on the South of Tentyra, but on the other side of the River; in old times a most noted Emporie for Indian and Arabian wares; from whence not only the Christians of this Country are thought to have the name of Cophties, but the whole Country to be originally called Aegyptus, from Ai-Coptus, or the land of Coptus. 7. Thebe, the residence and foundation of that great Tyrant Busiris, in compass 140 furlongs, or 17 miles and an half; called also Hecatompylae, from the number of an hundred Gates which were said to be in it. So beautified with Colosses, Temples, Palaces, the Sepulchres of the old Egyptian Pharaohs, and other Ornaments of State, that it was thought 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, to be the Nonesuch of the world. Decayed on the removing of the Court to Memphis, it became a ruine so long since, that there was nothing left of it in the time of Iuvenal; as he telleth us, saying,

Atque vetus Thebe centum jacet obruta portis.

Old Thebe, yielding to the Fates,Lies buried with its hundred Gates.

8. Abydus, now called Abutick, once the seat-royal of Memnon, from thence called Memnonium, renowned for the Temple of Osiris; more for the Statue of Memnon, which though made of stone▪ did at the rising of the sun yield a vocal sound. 9. Elephantis, on the banks of Nile, neighboured by Crophi and Mophi, two sharp Rocks, betwixt which the River falling-down with a violent current, makes the Lesser Cataract; of which, and of the greater, we shall speak more fully in Aethiopia. The City seated in an Island of the River Nile, on the borders of Aethiopia sub Aegypto, (as the Antients called it) known unto Ptolomie by the name of Elephantina, but to our Ecclesiastical writers by the name of Tabenna. Memorable in times of Heathenism for the Town and Temple of Onuphis, wherein stood the Nilometrium or standing-pillar, by which they did observe the increase of the River; removed since to the Castle of Michias, two miles from Caire: in times of Christianity, for the dwellings of infinite numbers of Monks and Hermits, called from this place Tabenisiotae. 10. Syene, (now Asna) a little North of Elephantis, situate directly under the Tropick of Cancer, and memorable for a deep Well there digged by some Astronomers; which when the Sun entred into that Sign, was wholly enlightened with his beams, without any shadow; so perpendiculary did the body of it stand over the pit. This the last City of Egypt towards Aethiopia.

And now I should proceed, according to my Method in other places, to the Storie of Egypt: but being that Libya and Cyrene are now accompted Members of it, the fortunes whereof they have also followed in all or most of the mutations of State & Government, I shall first take a view of them as the limbs of this body, and shew you how they were united under that one Head, by which now directed.

The Pharaohs or Kings of Egypt, of Egyptian Race.

• A. M.
• 1. Mizraim, the son of Cham, by the Gricians called Osiris, in whose time Abraham went into Egypt.
• 2 Typhon, an Usurper.
• 3 Orus, the son of Osiris, restored unto the Kingdom by his Uncle Lehabim: the Advancer of Ioseph.
• 2207. 4 Amasis Themosis, or Amos, in whose time Iacob went down into Egypt. 25.
• 2233. 5 Chebron. 12.
• 2245. 6 Amenophis, or Amenophthis, 21.
• 2266. 7 Amarsis, the sister of Amenophthis, 22.
• 2288. 8 Mephres.
• 2300. 9 Mespharmuthesis. 25.
• 2325. 10 Thamosis, or Thuthmosis, 10.
• 2335. 11 Amenophthis II. supposed to be Memnon, and the Vocal Statue, 31.
• 2366. 12 Orus II. the Busiris of the Grecians, a bloody Tyrant, who commanded the male-children of Israel to be slain, 37.
• 2403. 13 Acencheres, by some called Thermutis, the daughter of Amenophthis the second, and afterwards the wife of Orus, who preserved Moses, 12.
• 2416. 14 Rathosis the son of Orus, 6.
• 2422. 15 Acencherus, 12.
• 2449. 16 Cenchres, by some called Arenasis, Bocchoris by others; drowned in the Red-Sea with his horse and chariots, 16.
• 2453. 17 Acherres, 8.
• 2462. 18 Cherres, 10.
• 1472. 19 Armais by the Grecians called Danaus, whose 50. daughters being married to the 50. sons of his brother Egyptos, murdered their husbands: for which cause Danaus being forced out of Egypt, passed into Greece, where attaining to the Kingdom of Argos, he gave unto the Grecians the name of Danai.
• 1575. 20 Rameses, surnamed Egyptus, the brother of Danaus.
• 1550. 21 Amenophthis, III.
• 2590. 22 Sethos, or Sesothis 55.
• 2645. 23 Rhapsaces or Ranses, 66.
• 2711. 24 Amenophthis, IV. 40.
• 2751. 25 Rameses, II. 26.
• 2777. 26 Thuoris 7. After whose death succeeded a Race of twelve Kings, called the Diospolitani, who held the Kingdom for the space of 177 yeares; their names we find not but that one of the latest of them, whose daughter Solomon married, was called Vaphra; and perhaps Ogdoos who removed the Royal Seat from Thebes to Memphis, might be another, and the eighth, as his name importeth.
• 2961. 39 Smendes, the Sisac of the Scriptures, who made War upon Rehoboam the son of Solomon; conceived to be the Sesostris of Herodotus and others of the ancient Writers. Of whom it is reported, that being a king of great wealth and puissance, he had brought under subjection all his neighbouring Princes: whom he compelled in turns to draw his Chariot. It hapned that one of these unfortunate Princes, cast his eye many times on the Coach wheels: and being by Sesostris demanded the cause of his so doing, he replyed, that the falling of that spoke lowest, which but just before was in the height of the wheel, put him in minde of the instability of Fortune. The King deeply weighing the parable, would never after be so drawn in his Chariot. He also was the first that encountred the Scythians in battel; having already in conceit conquered them, before he led his Army against them. The Scythians much marvelled that a King of so great Revenues would wage War against a Nation so poor; with whom the fight would be doubtful, the Victory unprofitable; but to be vanquished a perpetual infamy and disgrace. For their parts they resolved to meet him, as an Enemy, whose overthrow would enrich them. When the Armies came to joyn, the Egyptians were discomfited, and pursued even to their own doors by the Enemy. But the Scythians could not enter the Countrey, because of the •ens, with whose passage they were unacquainted; and so they returned.
• 2987. 40 Pseusenes, conceived to be the Cheops of Herodotus. founder of the vast Pyramis before described, 41.
• 3028. 41 Nepher-Cherres. 4.
• 3032. 42 Amnoiphtis, V.
• 3041. 43 Opsochon, the Asychis of Herodotus.
• 3047. 44 Psamuchos, 9.
• 3056. 45 Psusennes, II. 14.
• 3070. 46 Sesonchis, 21.
• 3091. 47 Vsorthon, 15.
• 3106. 48 Takellotis, 13.
• 3119. 49 Patubastis, 40.
• 3159. 50 Osorchon, the second Hercules Aegyptius, as some will have it, 8.
• 3167. 51 Psamnis, 15.
• 3185. 52 Bochoris, called So, 2 King. 17. 4. taken and burnt by Sabacon the King of Ethiopia. 44.
• 3229. 53 Sabacon King of Ethiopia, 8.
• 3238. 54 Sevachus son of Sabacon. 14.
• 3252. 55 Tarachon, falsly supposed to be the Therah of the Scriptures. 18.
• 3270. 56 Stephinates, 7.
• 3277. 57 Niclupses, 6.
• 3288. 58 Psamniticus, who first made the Grecians acquainted with Egypt, 54.
• 3335. 59 Necho, who slew Josiah at the battel of Megiddo, 25.
• 3360. 60 Psamnis II. 6.
• 3366. 61 Aprios, called Hophra, Ier. 44.subdued by Nebuchadnezzar, and deposed by Amasis. 25.
• 3391. 62 Amasis II. 44.
• 3435. 63 Psamnites, or Psamniticus II. a King of six moneths only; vanquished by Cambyses, the second Monarch of Persia, who united Egypt to that Empire, under which it continued till the time of Darius the sixth King of the Medes and Persians, in the II. year of whose reign it revolted from him, and became a kingdom of it self, as in former times.
• 3555. 64 Amyrtaeus, the first King after the Revolt, 6.
• 3561. 65 Nepherites, 6.
• 3567. 66 Achoris, 12.
• 3579. 67 Psamnites III, 1.
• 3580. 68 Nepherites II. a King of two moneths only.
• 69 Nectanebos, 18.
• 3598. 70 Teos, 2.
• 3600. 71 Nectanebos II. the last King of the natural Egyptian race, that ever governed Egypt, by the name or a King. For in the 18 of the reign of this King, Egypt waa again recovered by the valour of Ochus the eighth Emperor of Persia. And when Alexander had overthrown Darius. he came & without blows won this fertile kingdom; which yielded him, during his life, the yearly value of 6000 talents. After his death, this kingdom fell to the share of Ptolomeus the son of Lagus, from whom all the subsequent Kings of Egypt were called Ptolomies,

The Ptolomean Kings of Egypt.

• A. M.
• 3641. 1 Ptolomie, one of Alexanders Captains, reputed the son of Lagus, but supposed to be the son of Philip of Macedon, and half-brother to Alexander. 40.
• 3681. 2 Ptol. Philadelphus, who filled the Library of Alexandria with 700000 Volumes, and caused the 72 Interpreters to translate the Bible.
• 3717. 3 Ptol Euergetes, the son of Philadelphus, vanquished Seleucus Callinicus, and probably had subdued that kingdome, if not called back by domestick dissentions. 26.
• 3743 4 Ptol. Philopater, a cruel, voluptuous, and incestuous Prince; cruelly slew Cleomenes the last king of Sparta, who had sled to his father for relief in the time of his exile. 17
• 3760. 5 Ptol. Epiphanes, at the age of five years succeeded his father; protected by the Romans against Antiochus the Great of Syria, who had an aim upon his kingdom. 28.
• 3784. 6 Ptol. Philometor, the son of Epiphanes, by Cleopatra the daughter of the great Antiochus; protected in his nonage by the Romans also: caused himself to be crowned king of Syria, but again relinquished it. 35.
• 3829. 7 Ptol. Euergetes II. for his desormity called Physcon, the brother of Ptol. Philometor: A wicked Prince, and one that spent the greatest part of his reign in a causeless war against Cleopatra his wife and sister. 29.
• 38•8. 8 Ptol. Lathurus, reigned 16 years with Cleopatra his mother, by whom dispossed of his estate for the space of ten years; after her death was sole Lord of Egypt. His brother Alexander being taken by the Queen-mother as her Associate in the time of his deprivation, and passing in the Accompt of the Kings of Egypt.
• 3892 9 Ptol. Auletes, the son of Lathurus, sirnamed also Dionysius, whose Brother being setled by him in the Isle of Cyprus, was most unjustly suipped by the power of the Romans, and he himself outed of Egypt by his own subjects, but restored by the a•d & love of Pompey.
• 3922. 10 Ptol. Dionysius called also Junior, or the younger, together with Cleopatra his wife and sister, succeeded Auletes in the throne, which they held together by the space of three years. In the last of which, Pompey was barbarously slain on the shores of Egypt, by the command of Achilles the young Kings Governour; and the young King himself unfortunately slain in the Alexandrian Tumult against Julius Caesar.
• 3925. 11 Cleopatra, the wife and sister of Dionysius, restored to the Crown of Egypt by the bounty of Caesar, of whom exceedingly beloved for her wit and beauty. After which she governed Egypt 19 years in her own sole right, with great pomp and splendor: when being imbarqued in the bed and fortunes of Marc. Antonie, she killed her self not long after his fatal overthrow at the battel of A••um, that she might not be •ed in triumph through Rome.

These Ptolomean Princes of Egypt, were for the most part in wars with the Kings of Syria, in which they were by turns victorious, and vanquished; neither Prince having cause to boast of his bargain. After the death of Cleopatra, whose life and love with Marcus Antunius I will not now relate; this Country fell to the share of the Roman Emperours, and was by them highly prized, and warily looked into. The Governour hereof was but a Gentleman of Rome; no Senator being permitted to come into it; it being a maxim of State, not to suffer men of great houses to come into that Country, whose revolt may endanger the whole Empire. Of this nature was Egypt. For besides the natural situation of the place very defensible; and besides the abundance of money, with which it was stored; this Country alone furnished the City of Rome with Corn, for four moneths yearly. Whence Vespasian being chosen Emperor by the Syrian Legions, and hearing of the defeat of his concurrent Vitellius, hastened hither; to this end only, that detaining the ordinary provision of victuals, he might by famine compell the City of Rome to stand at his devotion: Vt urbem quoque externe opis indigam •ame urgeret• as the Historian hath observed. When made a Province of that Empire, it was counted as the Emperors sole Peculiar: afterwards made (as well it might) an entire Diocese of it self, subordinate to the Praefectus Praetorio Orientis. In the division of the Empire allotted to the Constantinopolitans, whose Government being thought to be insupportable by this wanton People, they called in the Saracens, by whom the Greek Garrisons were cast out, and the Country made subject to Haumar the third of the Caliphs. Afterwards, weary of them also, they would have a Caliph of their own revolting totally from the Caliph of Bagdat. So that from this time forwards we shall meet with two Caliphs at a time, the one residing at Caire in Egypt, to whom the Saracens or Moors of Spain and Africk did submit themselves; the other at Bagdat, who Lorded it over all the rest, at least as to the •upr•me title and some chief Prerogatives, though the main power was cantonned and disposed of among their Sultans.

The Caliphs of Egypt.

• A. Ch. A. H.
• 870 247. 1 Achmades, or Achmat. 10.
• 88• 257. 2 Tolen. 3.
• 883. 260. 3 Hamaria. 29.
• 903. 280. 4 Abarun, slain by Muctaphi, the Caliph of Babylon.
• 940. 317. 5 Achid Muhamid, the son of Tangi. 3.
• 943. 320. 6 Abigud, the son of Achid. 27.
• 970. 347. 7 Meaz Ledin, Illahi, of the race of Phatime and Hali. 5.
• 975. 352. 8 Aziz, the son of Meaz. 21.
• 996. 373. 9 Elhachain. 23.
• 1019. 396. 10 Etaber Leazizdin Illah•. 16.
• 1035. 412. 11 Musteratzer Billahi. 60.
• 1096. 472. 12 Musteale. 5.
• 1100. 477. 13 Elamir Bahacan Illahi. 35
• 1135. 512. 14 Elhapit Ladin Illahi.
• 15 Etzahar.
• 16 Elphaiz.
• 17 Etzar Ledin Illahi, the the son of Elphaiz the last Caliph, or King of Egypt, of the race of Phatime: the Turks succeeding after his death in this opulent kingdome. Concerning which we are to know, that Elphaiz the father of Etzar, being over-power'd by Almericus King of Hierusalem craved aid of Norradine the Turkish Sultan of Damascus, which he received under the conduct of Sarracon, or Shirachoch, a right valiant and stout Commander; who taking his advantages, not only cleared the Country of Almericus, but got the whole kingdom to himself; dashing out the brains of Elphaiz with his horsemans-mace. And though Etzar his son assumed for a while the title of Caliph; yet the destruction of himself, and the whole Phatimean family, rooted out by Sarracon, soon put an end to that claim, and left the kingdom in the peaceable possession of the Turkish Sultans.

The fourth Dynastie, or the Race of the Turkish Kings or Caliphs of Egypt.

• 1163. 1 Asereddin, sirnamed Shirachoch, called Sarracon by the Christian writers; the first of the Turks which reigned in Egypt; of the Noble family of Alub.
• 1186. 2 Zeli-heddin, called Saladine by the Christian writers, the son (or as some say, the nephew) of Sarracon or Shirachoch; confirmed in his estate by the Caliph of Bagdet, under whose jurisdiction he reduced the Egyptian Schismaticks; He obtained also the kingdom of Damascus, conquered Mesopotamia, Palestine, and in the year 1190 regained the City of Hierusalem. A Prince who wanted nothing to commend him to succeeding Ages, nor to glorifie him in the kingdom of Heaven, but the saving knowledge of CHRIST JESUS.
• 1199. 3 Elaziz, the second son of Saladine, succeeded in the Realm of Egypt, which he exchanged afterwards with his brother Eladel for the kingdom of Damascus.
• 4 Eladel, or El-Aphtzel, by the Christian writers called Meledine, succeeded upon this exchange, in the kingdom of Egypt: and overcame the Christians, without the losse of a man, at the siege of Caire, by letting loose the Sluces of Nilus, which drowned their Army, and forced them to covenant with him at his own pleasure.
• 1210. 5 Elchamul.
• 1237. 6 Melech Essalach, by the Christian writers called Melechsala, the son of Elchamul, who overcame Lewis the 9. of France; and going with that King towards Damiata, was slain by the souldiers of his guard, called Mamalucks.
• 1242. 7 Elmutan, the son of Melech Essalach, succeeded for a time in his Fathers throne; But the Mamalucks being resolved to obtain the kingdom for themselves, inforced him to flie to a Tower of Wood, which they set on fire; & the poor Prince, half burned, leaping into a River (which ran close by it) was there drowned: & the Mamalucks setled in the kingdom, An. 1245.

These Mamalucks were the ofspring of a People on the banks of the Euxine Sea, vulgarly called the Circassians: whom Melechsala either bought of their Parents, or (at the second hand; of the Tartars, then newly Masters of those Countries, to supply the want of valour in the idle and effeminate People of Egypt: and out of them selected a choise Band of men for the guard of his person. Knowing their strength, and finding their opportunity, they treacherously slew Melechsala their Lord and Master; appointing one Azeddin Ibek, a Turco-man by nation, and therefore by most Christian writers called Turquimeneius, (one of their own number) a man of great spirit and valour, to succeed in the Throne. Unwilling to re-give the Supreme Authority into the hands of the Egyptians; and not permitting their own sons to enjoy the name and privilege of Mamalucks, they bought yearly certain numbers of Circassian slaves, whom they committed to the keeping of the Egyptians, by them to be instructed in the Egyptian language, and the Law of Mahomet. Being thus fitted for imployment, they were taught the Discipline of War, and by degrees advanced unto the highest Offices of power and trust; as now the Janizaries are in the Turkish Empire: in choice and ordering of whom, as the Ottoman Turks were Precedented by those of Egypt; so it is possible enough that the Janizaries may make as great a Change in the Turkish Empire, as the Mamalucks did in the Egyptian. So unsafe a thing it is for a Prince to commit the sole guard of his person, or the defence of his Dominions, to the hands of such, whom not the sense of natural duty, but the hopes of profit or preferment may make useful to him. For thus we find, that Constantius a King of the Britains was murdered by his Guard of Picts: most of the Roman Emperours, by the hands of those whom they intrusted either with the guard of their persons, or the command of their Armies: And I think no man can be ignorant how many times the Princes and Estates of Italy have been brought into the extremest dangers, by trusting too much to the honesty of mercena•ie Souldiers and Commanders. Take we for instance the proceedings of Giacopo Picinino, who with his Followers first took Pay of Ferdinand the first of Naples; left him, to fight for his vowed Enemy Iohn Duke of Calabria the son of Renè Duke of Anjou; whom also he forsook in his greatest need. The like we find of Francisco Sforza, first entertained by the Duke of Millain, from whom he revolted to the Florentines, from them to the Venetians; and being again received into the Pay of the State of Millain, made use of their own Army to subdue that City. Nor can I speak better of the Switzers or their dealing in this kind with the French Kings, the Sforza's Dukes of Millain; and with whom not (to say the truth) that ever trusted or employed them.

Now as it is unsafe for a Prince to commit the custody of his person, or the defence of his Estates to the faith of Forreiners; so is it dangerous to him to call in such aids, and to commit his fortunes either wholly or principally unto their fidelity. A moderate supply of men, money, or munition, from a confederate King, is, I confesse, in most cases convenient, in some necessary: as well to save their Natives from the sword; as to trie a friend, and interest an Allie in the same cause. But to invite so great a number of Succours, as from Helpers may become Masters, and oppresse the people whom they came to defend; is that Rock on which many Realms have suffered shipwrack, and which a good Pilot of the State should with all care avoid. For as in the sickness of the body natural, it is hurtful to a mans health and life, to take more physick then it may (after the effect thereof be wrought) either digest, or put out again: so in the body politick, it is a perilous matter to receive more succours, then what (after they have done the deed they were sent for) we may either with conveniencie reward and settle with us, or at liberty expell. Of all Surfeits, this of Forraign supplies is most uncurable: and Ne quid nimis, if in nothing else true, is in this case, oracle. There is no Kingdom (I am verily perswaded) under the Sun, which hath not been by this means conquered; no Common-wealth, which hath not been by this means ruined. To relate all examples, were infinite and tedious; to inferre some, pleasing to the Reader; and to illustrate the point, not unnecessary. To begin with former times: Philip of Macedon, called into Greece to assist the Thebans against the Phocians, brought all that Country, in a manner, under his command. The Romans, by aiding the Sicilians against the Carthaginians, possessed themselves of that flourishing Island; by assisting the Hedui against the Sequani, mastered France; by succouring Androgeus against Cassibelan, seised on Britain; by siding with the Aetolians against Perseus, united to their Empire all the Kingdom of Macedon; and by the same course what not? In after-ages, the Britains called in the Saxons, and were by them th•st out of all; the Irish called in the English, by whom they were in process of time totally subdued; and the Indians called in the Mogul-Tartars, who now Lord it over them. These forrein supplies are invited or let into a Country, commonly in four cases. First, when some one man upon discontent or desire of revenge, openeth them a way to a Country: upon which motives, Narses invited the Lombards into Italy; and Count Julian brought the Moors into Spain: the one to be revenged on the Empresse Sophia, who had despitefully reviled him; the other to revenge himself on King Rodorick, who had ravished his daughter. Secondly, when a weaker Faction makes way for them, to maintain their cause against a stronger: On which ground the Duke of Burgundy being oppressed by the faction of Orleans, made way for Henry the fifth to passe into France; and the Leaguers drew the Spaniards in, to hold up their declining cause against Henry the 4th. Thirdly, when an ambitious Prince makes use of a forrein power, to usurp upon the rights of another man: And for that cause Ludowick Sforze perswaded Charles the 8. to undertake the Conquest of the Realm of Naples, that by the countenance of his Arms he might appropriate to himself the Dukedom of Millain. Fourthly, when a King overburthened by a forrein or domestick force, which he is not able to resist, requires the help of a forrein friend: in which case, Plus à medico quam a morbo mali, the Physick proves many times worse then the Disease: for thus the Kings of Naples of the house of Aragon, being in danger of the French, drew in the Aids of Ferdinand the Catholique, the Cousin-German once removed of the King then being: And the Caliphs of Egypt, not able to withstand the forces of Almericus, craved aid of the Turks; by which meane both those kingdoms were made a prey to their forrein friends, and by avoiding Scylla fled into Charybdis. Nay many times it so happeneth, that these forrein succours joyn in design with those against whom they were called, and divide the conquered State between them: And so we find that the Burgundians being called by Stilico into Gaul, to prevent the breaking in of the Franks or French, joyned with them in a common league against the Romans, whom they dispossessed at last of all that Country. Onely amongst so many examples to this purpose, we find the Low-Country-men to have prospered by these forrein aids; who by the assistance of the English, ransomed themselves from that yoke of bondage which was intended to be put upon them by the King of Spain. This I acknowledge to be true, and look upon it as a great Argument of the integrity and honesty of the English Nation; although it be as true withall, that the English never had such an Army there, as to be able to subdue them. But give me such another instance, I will quit the cause: for the same Low-Country-men found it otherwise with the Duke of Anjou, Brother to Henry the 3. of France, whom they created Duke of Brabant, and their Governour-Generall; permitting him to bring in as many of the French, as either his authority or their own monies were able to raise: who was no sooner setled in that command, but he made it his chief business to seize upon their strongest Holds, and to be a more absolute Prince amongst them, then ever the Spaniards or Burgundians had been before. So that I think I may conclude, that these forrein Succours are the last to be tryed, and the least to be trusted, of any remedies in State. But it's now more then time to return to the Mamalucks; and in them to

The third Dynastie of the Egyptian Kings, or the Race of the Mamalucks.

• A. Ch.
• 1255. 1 Turquimeneius, who being promoted to the kingdom, released King Lewis, whom Melechsala his predecessor had taken prisoner; but performed not half of the conditions agreed upon.
• 2 Clothes (by some called Elmutahaz) taking advantage of the miseries of the Turks then distressed by the Tartars, seised on the greatest part of Syria and Palestine.
• 1260. 3 Bandocader perfected the begunconquests of Clothes, and took from the Christians the strong City of Antioch, carrying on his Armies as far as Armenia, where he did much spoil.
• 4 Melechsait, or Melechsares, restored the power of the Mamalucks in Syria and Palestine; where it had been much impaired by Edward the son of Henry the 3. of England, and Henry Duke of Mecklenburgh, &c.
• 1289. 5 Elpis, or Alphix, recovered from the dissenting Christians, the strong Cities of Tripolis, Berytus, Tyre, and Sidon; all which he razed to the ground, that they might not be any more serviceable to the affairs of the Christians.
• 1291. 6 Araphus, or Eustrephus, by birth a German, released Henry Duke of Mecklebourg, after he had been prisoner 26 years. He rooted the Christians out of Syria, took Ptolomais the last Town they there held, and so razed it, that he made it fit to be ploughed.
• 7 Melechnesar, when he was Lieutenant to Arapbus, was discomfited by Cassanes, a great Prince of the Tartars, with the loss of 40000 Egyptians: but Cassanes being departed, he recovered again all Syria, and destroyed Hierusalem; for which service he was afterward made Sultan of Egypt.
• 8 Melechadel, whom I suppose to be that Sultan that governed Egypt, when Tamberlane with unresistable violence conquered it; but of this I am not certain; neither can I meet with any constant and continued series (which I dare relie on) of his successors in this kingdom, till I come to
• 9 Melechella, or Melechnaser, who in the year 1423. subdued the Isle of Cyprus, and made the Kings thereof to be from thenceforth Tributaries to the Mamaluck Sultans.
• 1465. 10 Cathbeyus, who much reformed the State of Egypt, and was a professed enemy of Bajazet 2. the 8^th King of the Ottomans.
• 1498. 11 Mahomet the son of Cathbeyus, deposed by the Mamalucks, for fear the kingdom might by him be made hereditary; it being against their usual custome, that the son should succeed his father in the name and privileges of a Mamaluck.
• 1499. 12 Campson Chiarsesius, succeeded on the deposing of Mahomet.
• 13 Zanballat, who dethroned Campson, and not long after was deposed by
• 1500. 14 Tonombeius; outed of his Estate by the joynt-consent of the Mamalucks, so to make way for Campson Gaurus.
• 1501. 15 Campson II. sirnamed Gaurus, reformed the disordered and factious estate both of Court and Country, and for the space of 16 years governed very prosperously: But siding at the last with Hysmael the Persian Sophie against Selimus the first of that name, the 3. Emperor and ninth King of the Ottoman family, he drew his Kingdom into a war, in which his Armies were overthrown, and himselfe slain in battel.
• 1517. 16 Tonombeius II. succeeded Campson Gaurus both in his Kingdom and misfortunes: vanquished in his first year by the said Selimus the first, An. 1517. Who having conquered this rich Kingdom, was used to say, That he had gotten a Farm to feed his Gomoglans, or young Souldiers. So Egypt became a Province of the Turkish Empire, as it still continueth.

What the Revenues of it were in the time of the Pharaohs, I am not able to affirm. Great they must be, beyond the proportion of belief, or else they could never have been Masters of sufficient Treasure to finish those vast Structures which they undertook. Twelve thousand and five hundred Talents they amounted Annually unto in the time of the Ptolomies, which of our money makes the summe of Two Millions and 347750 pounds. Which summe, Augustus Caesar (appropriating this Province to himself) is said to have doubled: But whether he had it all in Money, or part hereof in Money, and the rest in Corn, I determine not. Certain it is, that there was yearly shipped hence for Rome, in the time of that Emperour, Two hundred thousand Measures of Wheat, every Measure weighing Twenty pound weight; which cometh to Seven Millions and an hundred forty thousand of our English Bushels: Sold by him, or distributed gratis amongst the Poor, as he saw occasion. So that there might be very well some abatement in Money, considering that the Corn amounted to so great a summe. Nor were they much lesse, if ought at all, when the Mamalucks ruled in this Country. For Campson Gaurus, at his coming to the Throne, gave no lesse then Ten millions of Ducats, at one clap, amongst his Souldiers. But the Turks at this day, partly through their Tyrannical government, and partly through the discontinuance of the usual Traffick through the Red-Sea, receive no more then Three Millions; one of which is hoorded in his own Coffers; the second is appropriated unto his Vicegerent Bashaw, for support of his charge; the third is distributed among his Garrison-souldiers, and such of them as by land guard his own Million to Constantinople; for by sea he dareth not venture it, for fear of the Florentine, who with a few ships Lordeth it in the Mediterranean.

And so much for EGYPT.

1682. Cosmography and geography in two parts by Richard Blome.

EGYPT may be divided into three Parts, and then

• The first shall contain the Twelve Cassilifs or Governments within EGYPT; as
  • In the Higher EGYPT, the Cassilifs of
    • GIRGIO,
      • Asna,
      • Barbanda,
      • Girgio,
      • ••id,
      • Chiana,
    • MANFE•OUT,
      • Ma•••o••,
      • A••otha.
    • AEBENSUEF,
      • Fium,
      • M•ni•,
      • Benisuaifa.
    • MINIO,
      • Assuana,
      • Chana,
      • Minio,
      • Ichmina.
    • CHERK•FFI,
      • Almona,
      • Paulicella;
      • Anthium.
    • FIUM,
      • Fium,
      • Cosora.
    • GIZA, — Gez•.
    • CAIRO,
      • Cairo,
      • Sues,
      • Elmena,
      • Larnabula,
      • Ant••li,
      • Emelcocena.
  • In the Lower EGYPT, the Cassilifs of
    • MANSOURA,
      • Heroa,
      • Mansoura,
      • Belbesa,
      • Sahidum,
      • Ber•lies,
      • Mesela,
      • Elboera,
      • Te•exa,
      • Faramida,
      • Cassia.
    • GARBIA,
      • Damiata,
      • Petra,
      • Bourles,
      • Beltina,
      • Mig••,
      • Eli•ala,
      • Demanohoura.
    • MENUFIA, — Menufia.
    • BASBEIH, or CALIOUBIEH, with the Territory of ERRIF, or ALEXANDRIA,
      • Tureta,
      • Zuga,
      • Euo•,
      • Sebennets,
      • Alexandria,
      • Tur•is,
      • Bochira,
      • Arabum,
      • Rosetto,
      • Atacona,
      • Tunia,
      • Turamania,
      • Alhaman,
      • Democuria,
• The Second Part shall contain the Cities seated on the RED SEA; among which are those of
  • Buge,
  • •ibid,
  • Sa•,
  • Cosur,
  • Ficte,
  • Dacati,
  • Suguam,
  • Libelezaita.
  • Azirut,
  • Grodol.
• The Third shall be the Cassilif or Government of BONHERA, or BAERA, without the True EGYPT, and in LIBYA, but under its Jurisdiction; whose chief places may be considered as as they lie
  • On the Sea, among which are those of
    • Ripaealba,
    • Roxa,
    • Lagoseium,
    • Albertonus portus,
    • Solona,
    • Musulomara,
    • Trabochus portus,
    • Patriarcha portus,
    • Salinae,
    • Favara,
    • Forcella,
    • Bon Andreas,
    • Doera,
    • Laaneum,
    • Zadra,
    • Tolome•a,
    • Taochara,
    • Berzebona,
    • Ber•ichum,
    • Careora,
    • Camera,
    • Av•um portus;
    • Salinae.
  • Within Land; as
    • Cayroan,
    • Barca,
    • Solue.
    • Altahune,
    • Nachel,
    • Maghar Alacquin.

OF all the parts of Africa, EGYPT is the nearest, and only contiguous to Asia, and this Neighbourhood hath perswaded some Authors, both Ancient and Modern, to esteem Egypt either in whole, or in part, in Asia. At present we hold it all in Africa, and give for its bounds the Red Sea,* 1.1 and the Isthmus which is between the Red Sea and the Mediterranean, on the East; the Desarts of Barca on the West, Nubia on the South, and the Mediterranean Sea on the North. The Nile alone washes this Region through its whole length, which is from its Cataracts to the Sea, about 20 Leagues or more; its breadth not being above half so much, and of that breadth, that which is between the Mountains, which incloses the Valley of Nile on the East, and the Coast of the Red Sea, is but Desart; there being nothing inhabited but the Valley, which lies on both sides the Nile, inclosed with Mountains, and very narrow in the higher part of Egypt, but enlarging it self much more as it approaches the Sea. Of this Figure which the Country makes, the Ancients have taken occasion first to divide it into high and low;* 1.2 after into high, middle, and low: Higher, which they called Thebais, by reason of Thebes, at present Saida: Middle, which they called Heptanomos, by reason of the 7 Nomi, Provostships or Governments it contained, at present Bechria, or Demesor: Lower, and more particularly Egypt, and sometimes Delta, the best part of the lower having the form of a Greek △, the two sides of which were inclosed by the branches of the Nile, and the third by the Sea, and this part is now called Errif. The Romans changed something in the number, and in the names of these Provinces, which we shall now omit.

At present Egypt is divided into 12 principal Cassilifs, Sangiacats or Governments, of which five answer to the Higher Egypt, viz. Girgio, Manfelout, and Aebensuef, on the left hand of the Nile; Minio and Cherkeffi on the right, still descending the Nile; two, with the Territory of Cairo, answer to the Middle Egypt, viz. the Cassilifs of Fium and Giza on the left, and Cairo with its Territory on the right hand of the Nile: then four others answer to the Lower, viz. Mansoura, Garbia, Menoufia, Callioubech, or Basbieh, with Alexandria and its Territory: for the Cassilif of Bonhera, or Baera, is out of the limits of the ancient and true Egypt, and in Libya, which passes commonly under the name of the Kingdom of Barca.

EGYPT is very famous in that they would make us believe, that the first Men were here formed; and as there are yet formed a great number of Creatures, which appears when the Inundation of the Nile diminished; saying, that the Gods, after them the Heroes, and in fine, Men have reigned for almost an incredible number of years. Of these Gods there are three degrees, of which Pan was the most ancient of the eight first, Hercules of the 12 second, and Denis of the 〈◊〉 third. They divide the times of their men Kings by Dynasties, that is, Dominations of divers Families; and give so great a number to their Kings, and so great a time to their Reigns, that they must have beginning long before the Creation of the World; and likewise by their account, their Gods and Hero's had reigned before Men the space of 20 or 25000 years: They attribute the foundation of most of their Cities to their Gods, Hero's, and Kings; and these they make, and build many Labyrinths, Pyramids, Obelisques, Colosses, &c. not knowing how to expend their Treasures, or employ their People.

In the History of the Kings of Egypt, one Sesostris or Seostris, subdued all Europe and Asia, if we will believe them. Joseph an Hebrew servant, and after master of the House of Potipher, from the prison, rose to such favour with the King, that he alone had almost the whole Government of the Kingdom, established his brothers in Egypt; and their descendants multiplied so that in the end, the Kings of Egypt became jealous and fearful, lest they should make themselves masters of the Kingdom, another Sesostris subdued Syria, Assyria, Media, the Isles of Cyprus, &c. and was esteemed as much▪ or more then any of his predecessors. Mephres or Memnon it was that dedicated his Statue to the Sun, which it saluted at its rising, and shewed some signe of Joy, so artificial was it made. Busiris treated the Hebrews so ill, that he left him the name of an infamous Tyrant. Cenchres was the Pharaoh who was drown'd in the Red Sea. Proteus gave occasion to say that he turned himself into a Lion, sometimes into a Bull or Dragon, &c. by reason of his different arming his head, or possibly for his different actions. Rempsis had no other care but to keep up riches. Chemnis caused to be built the first and greatest Pyramid, imploying therein three hundred sixty thousand men, for the space of twenty years, of which more anon. Sesac or Sesouchis, armed four hundred thousand Foot, sixty thousand Horse, and One thousand two hundred Chariots against Rehoboam; took and pillaged Jerusalem and its Temple. Bocchoris though weak of body, was so prudent, that he gave Laws to the Egyptians. This was he that leagued himself with Hosea against Salmanazar King of the Babylonians. Sevecho or Sebeko reigning in Egypt, Sennacherib King of the Assyrians being come to assault him, an infinite number of Wild Rats, knawed in one night the Arrows in the Quivers, and the Strings or Cords of the Bows, and the Thongs of the Assyrians Armes, which caused on the morrow both their flight, and overthrow. Necao or Necaus began the Channel between the Nile, and the Red Sea, passed by the Meridional or Aethiopian Ocean, by the Occidental or Atlantick Ocean, reentred by the streight of Gibraltar, and returned into Egypt, at the end of three years; he vanquished Josias King of Judea, and was also vanquished by Nebuchodonozar. Apryes happy in his beginnings, was in the end defeated by those of Cyrene in Libya; and saw all Egypt revolt, who chose for their King Amasis, under whose reign there were counted twenty thousand Cities in Egypt, as Pliny saith. Under this Amasis, the Estate fell into the hands of the Persians, after to the Macedonians (Greeks,) and then to the Romans, &c. Among the Kings of Persia who ruled in Egypt, Cambyses was the first and best known; among the Macedonians and Greeks, Alexander the great; after whom the Kings of Egypt took the names of Ptolomies, from the name of him who first bore the title of King after Alexander, but after the Romans had to do with the affairs of Egypt, there was nothing more remarkable of their History but Cleopatra; after whom Augustus reduced this Kingdom to a Roman Province: and it remained under the Romans, and under the Emperours of the East, near seven hundred years, till about the year of Grace six hundred and forty, that the Arabs seised it under their Califs, who resided first at Medina, then at Bagdad, Damascus, and sometime at Cairo. The Soldans abolished this Califate in Egypt, and among them the Christians have but too well known one Saladine, who drove them out of a great part of the Holy Land. Among these last Soldans, Campson, Gaurus and Tomombey were esteemed valiant, yet were so ill served, that the Turks under their Emperour Selimus, became Masters of Egypt in 1518, and do yet possess it.

At present the Port sends a Bassa to command in Egypt, and the 12 Cassilifs or Governours of the Country depend on this Bassa, and are as it were only his Farmers: They give him every year a certain number of Purses, (every Purse of 750. or 760 Lion dollars) some 25, 30, 40, some only 10 or 12, according to the goodness of the Country, or the greatness of their Cassilifs or Governments, some having only 40 or 50 Towns, other 100, 200, 300 and more: besides these Purses for the Bassa, they give to the Tihaja or Haja (who is as it were his Chancellor) and other Officers, about the sixth, or at least the fifth part of what they give to the Bassa. And for the Prince, or Grand Signior, some pay 6 times more, others ten times more then they give to the Bassa; and besides these Purses they furnish a certain number of Ardeps, or measures of Grain, Pulse, &c. The constant Profit or Revenue that the Grand Signior draws•rom this Kingdom is 1800000 Zeccheens yearly,* 1.5 each Zeccheene is valued at 9 s. sterling, which is 8 millions and 10000 l. sterling, and this Revenue is divided into 3 equal parts, of which one is allotted for the furnishing and accommodating the Annual Pilgrimage to Mecha; the second goes for the payment of the Souldiers and Officers, with other necessary charges for the management of the Kingdom, and the third and last goes clear into his Chequer.

The Cassilif of Girgio, or of Sait is one of the best and richest; it passed not above 100 years since for a Kingdom, and received its Bassa from the Port. It hath likewise its Dievan, disposes its Cassilifs, or under-Governments, which lie in its extent, the Soyl is fruitful, bears much Corn, and feeds many Cattle. The Cassiliffs of Manfelout, and Benesuef, are not so great but better peopled, and worth little less then that of Girgio. On the other side of the Nile are those of Minio and Cherkeffi. which have as large an extent as the other 3 together; but are incomparably less as to the goodness, scarce yielding the tenth part of what the others do; so great difference is there in being at the foot, and on the East of a Mountain. These 5 Cassilifs answer to the higher Egypt, or the Thebais of the Ancients; in which are a great many Cities, Walled Towns and Villages, as are generally found throughout all Egypt, as anon I shall have occasion to treat of. Those Cassilifs of Fium and Giza with the Territory of Cairo to the middle. The Cassilifs of Fium and Giza have very good Earth, and which is easily watred by the Nile; it yields store of Grain, Fruits, as Raisins, &c. Flax, Milk, feeds many Cattle, &c. but the Cassilif, or Governour of the last hath not a free sword, that is, hath not power of life and death as he pleases, as the others have, being out of the course of the Arabs, and too near Cairo, of which a word or two.

This City of CAIRO hath for a long time been all the Ornament of Egypt: It was the Residence of the Sultans, is now of the Bassa, some make it very great, others much less; the first compose it of 4 parts, to witt, Old Cairo, New Cairo, Boulac and Charafat; there being some void places between each; they say that these 4 parts together with their Suburbs may be about 10 or 12 Leagues long, and 7 or 8 broad; nor give they it less then 25 or 30 Leagues Circuit. They count 16 or 18000 Streets, 6000 Mosques, and if the particular Oratories be comprised above 20000, as also they account about 200000 Houses, among which are divers Bazars or Markets, Canes or Magazines of certain Merchandizes, many Hospitals, and magnificent structures. The Castle is great, strong, and well fortified, scituate on the top of a Rock, which overlooks the City, and discovers the Plain on all sides, even to the loss of sight. The buildings, paintings, and other Ornaments which yet remain, do testify the magnificence of the Soldans. This Castle (as Heylin noteth) for largeness, Walls, and divided into many Courts, in which were stately buildings, but now hath lost much of its glory; being in part destroyed by Selimus; that which now remains, serveth for the Court or habitation of the Bassa. In and about this City, are abundance of delicate Orchards, which are places of great delight in which are excellent Fruits, Walks, &c. and nigh to this City, there is a pleasant Lake which is much frequented by the Inhabitants, who for their recreation pass some time daily on this Lake in boates, for their further mutual society, and seeing their friends and acquaintance.

Coesar Lambert of Marsillia in his relations of the year 1627, 28, 29, and 32, saith, that Cairo (separated from the other Cities and Towns) is not so great as Paris, (and if an eye witness of both may be believed he speaks truth) and takes for witnesses some eminent French Gentlemen then at Cairo; who confesses that joyning it to the Cities and Boroughs adjacent, it may with reason be called Grand Cairo; but however he maintains this to be but almost the shadow of Cairo, as it was 100 and odd years since, so much is the trade diminished, and that according to the report of the people of the Country. He saith likewise that the Castle hath been much greater, and more magnificent then it is at present, and observes several footsteps or proud buildings, now of no use; and after all, saith, that this is not strong.

Sandys in his book of Tavels among other remarkable things, makes this description of it, saying, that this great City called Grand Cairo, is inhabited by Moors, Turks, Negroes, Jews, Copties, Greeks and Armenians, who are observed to be the poorest, and yet the most laborious, the civillest and honestest of all others; they are not subject to the Turk, neither do they pay him any Tribute of Children, as other Christians do; and it they happen to be taken in Wars, they are freed from bondage; and this priviledge they gained, by a certain Armenian that foretold the greatness and glory of Mahomet. Here he saith they hatch▪ Eggs by artificial heat, and that in exceeding great numbers, which they do in this manner. In a narrow entry, on each side are 2 rows of Ovens, one over the other. On the floors of the lower they lay Flax, over those Mats, and upon them Eggs. The floors of the upper Oven, are as roofs to the under, being grated over like kilns, onely having tunnels in the middle, which have covers over them. These gratings are covered with mats, and on them they lay dry and pulverated dung of Camels, &c. three or four inches thick, at the farther and higher sides of these upper Ovens are trenches of Lome, which are about a handful deep, and two handfuls broad,* 1.10 and in these they burn the aforesaid dung, which yieldeth a gentle heat, without any fire, under the mouths of the upper Ovens are conveyances for the smoak, having round roofs, with vents at the top to open and shut; and thus ly the Eggs in the lower Ovens for the space of eight daies, turning them daily, and looking that the heat be gentle and moderate, then they put out the fire, and put the one half into the upper Ovens, then they shut all close, and let them alone ten daies longer, at which time they become hatched.

I shall conclude my description of this City, with some observations which Sir Henry Blunt hath observed during his abode there, first, he saith that there are Mosques and Oratories to the number of thirty five thousand, some of which are very stately and magnificent; next he saith there is twenty four thousand noted Streets, besides by-Streets and Lanes, and some of these Streets are about two miles in length, and to all these Streets, at each end, there is a Door which every night is lockt up and kept guarded, by which means tumults, robberies, fire or the like is prevented; and without the City to hinder the Incursions of the Arabs from abroad, there doth also watch every night four Saniacks, with each of them one thousand horsemen, the number of men that do every night guard this City is twenty eight thousand. This City is built, he saith, after the Egyptian manner, high, and of large rough stones, with part of Brick, the Streets are but narrow, but as the Houses decay, they are rebuilt after the Turkish manner, mean, low, and made of Mud and Timber; yet their Palaces are stately, with spacious Courts, wherein are fair Trees to keep them from the heat of the Sun; also other Courts belonging to their Palaces adjoyning to curious Gardens, wherein are variety of excellent fruits, and watred with Fountains, nor want they any state in their Edifices, which are vast, lofty, and very magnificent. This City notwithstanding its greatness, he saith, is so exceeding populous, that the people pass to and fro, as it were, in throngs; near to this City are Josephs 7 Granaries, now brought to ruines, yet 4 of them are so repaired, as they are made use of to keep the publick Corn. On the South end of this City, he saith, there yet remaineth a round Tower, wherein Pharaohs daughter lived when she found Moses in the River which runs hard by it.

South West of Grand Cairo, on the other side of the Nile, about four Leagues distance, stands the three oldest and greatest Pyramides; the Jews affirming them to be built by Pharaoh, who was drowned in the Red Sea; the fairest for himself, the next for his Wife, and the least for his only Daughter. The greatest of the three, and chief of the Worlds Seven Wonders, is made in form Quardangular, lessening by equal degrees; the Basis of every Square, is 300 paces in length; and so lessening by degrees, ascending by 250 steps, each being about 3 feet high; the Stones are all of a bigness, and hewed four square. And in this, as also in the others, there are several Rooms. There are also about 16 or 18 other Pyramides, but of less note, and not so ancient as these 3 aforesaid are, which I shall pass by. Nigh to this City, in the Plain, is the place where they did inter their dead; in which, they used such art, that the bodies of their dead remain to this day perfect sound; and these we call Mummies. The places where these bodies ly, are about ten fathom under ground in Vaults; either in the Sand, or upon an open stone: The Earth is full of dry Sand, wherein moisture never comes; which together with their art of Embalming them, doth thus preserve the bodies for some thousand years past. In the brest of these Mummies is set a small Idol, some of one shape, some of another, with Hieroglyphicks on the back side of them. This City of Grand Cairo was formerly of a very great Trade but that which hath now ruined it, as likewise that of Alexandria, is the discovery of the East Indies by the Cape of Good Hope▪ by which, the English Portugals and Hollanders, at present go to these Indies, and bring into the West all those Drugs, Spices, Precious Stones, Pearls, and a thousand other Commodities which came before by Aleppo, or by Egypt; but passing by Cairo, let us come to the other Cassilifs.

In the lower Egypt, are those of Garbia, Menufia, and Callioubech, within the Delta, and between the Branches of the Nile. That of Mansaura, without, and Eastward towards the Holy Land, and Arabia: Likewise without, and Westward of the Nile, is the Cassilif of Bonhera or Baera, which stretches it self from the Nile unto the Cape of Bonandrea. This last Cassilif is almost quite out of Egypt, though within its Government, and the length of its Sea Coast, not less then that of all Egypt along the Nile: But that which is distant from the Nile, is subject to the Arabs, and very Desart; that which is near it is better worth. Its Governor is obliged to Mannel a Callech or Channel of 100000 paces in length, to carry water from the Nile to Alexandria; and when a new Bassa arrives in Egypt, this Governor hath likewise to furnish him with Horses and Camels for himself, his Train and Baggage, and to defray his charges from Alexandria unto Cairo. But since the Wars with the Venetians, the Bassa's have generally come round by Land, and not adventured by Sea to Alexandria. Among the Desarts of this Cassilif, those of St. Macaire have had 360 and odd Monasteries: And here is likewise to be seen, a Lake of Mineral Water, which converts into Nitre, the Wood, Bones, or Stones, that are thrown into it.

The Cassilifs of Callioubech, Menousia and Garbia, being between the Branches of the Nile, and out of the course of the Arabs, ought to be esteemed the best in Egypt; and particularly, the last which yields more abundantly Sugar, Rice, Milk, Grains, Oyl, Flax, Herbs, Honey, Fruits, &c. And Maala, one of its principal Cities, which they call the Little Medina, is a place of great devotion with them, where they hold yearly a famous Fair, which the Governor opens with great pomp, observing many Ceremonies. The Cassilif of Mansoura doth produce the same Commodities, but not in so great a quantity, though of a greater extent then Garbia; but more over it yields Cassia. These four or five Cassilifs take up the whole Coast of Egypt, and of its Government, and on this Coast are the Cities of Alexandria, Rosetto, Damiata, and some others.

Alexandria, among the Turks, Scanderia, was built by the command of Alexander the Great, and by him peopled with Greeks, immediately after the conquest of Egypt; and the Moddel traced by the Architect Dinocrates, who for want of other matter, made use of Wheat-flower to mark out the circuit; which was taken for a good Augury. It was afterwards beautified by many, but especially by Pompey. It is scituated Westward of the Delta, over against the Isle of Pharos, and built upon a Promontory, thrusting it self into the Sea; with which, on the one side, and on the other, the Lake Mareotis. It is a place of good defence; its circuit is about 12000 paces, adorned with many stately Edifices, among which, the most famous was the Serapium, or the Temple of their god Serapis. Which for curious, workmanship and the stateliness of the Building, was inferior to none but the Roman Capitol, then the Library erected by Ptolomy Philadelphus; in which there were 200000 Volums, which Demetrius promised to augment with 300000 more. And this in the War against Julius Caesar was unfortunately burnt. And this is that Philadelphus who caused the Bible, to be translated into Greek by the 72, Interpreters, which were sent him by the High Priest Eleazar. In this City, in Anno 180, Gantenus read Divinity and Philosophy; who, as it is thought, was the first institutor of Ʋniversities. This City hath been enriched with 400 high and strong Forts and Towers; and the Ptolomies or Kings of Egypt, having made here their residence after the death of Alexander the Great, and caused many stately and magnificent Palaces to be built: Under the Houses are Gisterns sustained with Pillars of Marble; as also Pavements for their refreshment, being their Summer habitation; their ancient custom, by reason of the heat, being to build their Houses as much under ground as above, the upper part serving for their Winter habitation. It was their custom also to erect great Pillars of Marble or Porphyry; among others, that of Pompey, which stands upon a four square Rocky Foundation without the Walls, on the South side of the City: It is round, and of one intire piece of Marble, and of an incredible bigness, being above One hundred foot high, not far from the place where he was slain in a Boat at Sea, and where his ashes were laid. In this City are also two square Obelisks, full of Egyptian Hieroglyphicks of a vast bigness, and each of one entire piece of Stone; said to be thrice as big as that at Rome, or that at Constantinople. Near these Obelisks, as Sir Henry Blunt relateth, are the ruines of Cleopatra's Palace, high upon the shore, with the private Gate, whereat she received Mark Antony after their overthrow at Actium. And he saith, That about a bow shoot further. upon another Rock on the shore, is yet a round Tower, which was part of Alexanders Palace. This City, after the Romans were Masters of Egypt, was steemed the second of their Empire: And when the Arabs seised it, there was counted 12000 Sellers of Herbs, 4000 Bathing-houses, 400 Playhouses, &c.

Thus was the former state of this City, but at present almost a heap of ruines, especially, the East and South parts; not the moyety of the City being inhabited. And were it not for some conveniencies of Trade, or the like, more then any pleasure of the place, by reason of the evil Air which reigns there, it would be soon left wholly desolate. It is now inhabited by a mixture of Nations, as Turks, Jews, Greeks, Moors, Copties and Christians. Now remarkable for a Mosque, in which St. Mark, their first Bishop, was said to be buried: Yet their rests still within, and near the City, many Obelisks, Columus, Footsteps of pround Building, &c.

Raschit or Rosetto, a pritty little City, seated on the Nile, four miles from the Mediterranean Sea; a place of no strength, but of a great Trade, and well furnished with several sorts of Commodities. Its Buildings are stately, both within and without, and is only defended by a Castle, being without Walls, or other Fortifications. This City in ancient times, was noted for a place of all kinds of Beastliness and Luxury. Damiata is a fair City,* 1.15 and its Land excellent, famous for the often Sieges laid unto it by the Christian Armies, in Anno 1220. Who for 18 Moneths continuance, did stoutly defend themselves; till in the end, the Enemy hearing no noise, some of them did adventure to Scale the Walls, who finding no resistance, the Army marched in; who then found in every house and corner, heaps of dead bodies, and none to give them burial; and searching them, found them to die of Famine and of the Pestilence, which grievously raged amongst them: Which lamentable spectacle, must needs add terror to the beholder. This City was built, as some Authors say, out of the ruines of Pelusium, which was built by Peleus, the Father of Achilles; who for the murther of his Brother Phocus, was by the gods commanded to purge himself in the adjoyning Lake. This place (as Heylin noteth) was the Episcopal See of St. Isidore, sirnamed Pelusiotes, whose Pious and Rhetorical Epistles are yet extant. And at this place Ptolomy, the famous Geographer, drew his first breath. And these three Cities, after Cairo, are at present the fairest of Egypt. There are abundance of other Cities which are yet in some repute; as Suez and Cossir, seated on the Red Sea; Suez noted for its Arsenal; and Cossir, for its reception of the Merchandizes of the East; and Saiet, a fair Town not far from Cairo, on the Nile, by some said to be the dwelling place of Joseph and Mary, whither they sled with Christ for fear of Herod, where are yet the ruines of a fair and beautiful Temple, which as they say was built by Helena, the Mother of Constantine, with several others too tedious to name. But to speak truth, Egypt is nothing in regard of what it was under its first Kings, with several other, as I have set down in my Geographical Tables, as they are found in the said Twelve Cassiliffs; and are all commodiously and pleasantly seated on the Banks of the Nile, which traverses the whole Countrey, dividing it self into several streams, especially in the Higher Egypt, where with several Mouths it full• into (or receives) the Mideterranean Sea: Also I have noted several Cities seated on the Red Sea, to which I refer the Reader.

* 1.16In this Countrey are two Lakes, the one is called The Lake of Bucheira, in the Territory of Alexandria, and is about twelve Leagues in length, and seven in breadth; the other is called The Lake of Moeris, in the Cassilifs of Giza and Fium; and is about 27 Leagues in length, and 20, 15, 10, 5, and 3 in breadth.

Thus much for the Description of the Countrey; In the next place, I shall treat of the Inhabitants, as to their Laws, Religion, Customs, Antiquities, Hieroglyphicks, Stature, Habit, &c. Also the Fertility and Rarities of the Countrey, amongst which I shall end with the Description of the Nile.

* 1.17Their Laws, as to Justice and Government, are perfectly Turkish; and therefore I shall refer the Reader to the Description of the Turks, as ye may find it treated of in the Description of Constantinople, their Metropolitan City. Yet for rigor in their punishments, they exceed other parts of Turkey, and that by reason of the treacherous, malicious, and base dispositions of them; their executions being different according to the quality of the Crime, for some offences they use slaying alive; for others impaling; cutting them off with a red hot Iron at the Waist; for others oynting with Honey in the Sun; also, some they hang by the Foot, and the like cruelties. The ancient People of this Countrey were Heathens, worshipping the Sun, Moon and Stars, sacrificing to Apollo, Jupiter, Hercules, and the rest of the gods; also attributing divine honors to Serpents, Crocodiles, as also to Garlick, Onions, and Leeks. But the god which thay most adored, was Apis, a coal-black Ox, with a white Star in his Fore-head, two Hairs only in his Tail, and the form of an Eagle on his back; but now Mahometism is much received amongst them. The Christian Faith was here first planted by St Mark, who was the first Bishop of Alexandria. And these Christians are all of the Jacobites Sect, observing the same Customs and Forms of Ceremonies in their Religion, as those formerly treated of in Asia.

* 1.18Among the many Rarities or Antiquities of this Countrey, are the Pyramides; as also the Obelisks and Columns spoken of before; next on the Banks of the River Nile, stood that famous Labyrinth built by Psamnicus; a place of an exceeding great bigness, containing 1000 Houses, besides 12 Royal Palaces, within an intire Wall, Which had but one entrance; but exceeding many turnings and windings, which caused the way to be exceeding difficult to find, the building being as much under ground as above. The buildings were of Marble, and adorned with stately Columns: The Rooms were fair and large, especially a Hall, which was the place of their general Conventions, which was adorned with the Statues of their gods, and composed of polished Marble. Not far from the Pyramides doth stand the Colossus, being in form of an Aethiopian Woman, which heretofore was adorned as a Rural Deity.

This Colossus is of a vast bigness, and is made out of the natural Rock, together with huge flat Stones. Also the Isle and Tower of Pharos, opposite to Alexandria; a place of a great bigness, and of great rarity and magnificence; its Watch-Tower, was of an exceeding great height, being ascended by steps, and on the top of this Tower there were placed every night abundance of Lanthorns with Lights, for the direction of Sailors, by reason of the dangerousness of the Sea on that Coast, being so full of Flats.

The Egyptians instead of Letters, made use of Hieroglyphicks; of which, an example or two shall suffice; viz. For God, they painted a Falcon; for Eternity, they painted the Sun and Moon; for a Year, they painted a Snake with his Tail in his Mouth; for any thing that was abominable, they painted a Fish; with a thousand more in the like nature too tedious to name. They are said to be the first that invented Arithmetick, Geometry, Musick, Philosophy, Physick; and by reason of the perpetual serenity of the Air, found out the course of the Sun, Moon and Stars; their Constellations, Risings, Settings, Aspects and Influences; dividing by the same, Years into Moneths, grounding their divinations upon their hidden properties. Also the first Necromancers and Sorcerers. These People are much given to Luxury, prone to Innovations, Cowardly, Cruel, Faithless, Crafty and Covetous; much addicted to Fortune telling, wandring from one Countrey to another, by which cheating tricks they get their livelihood: But these people are not the same as the ancient Inhabitants were, being a Misceline of other Nations as aforesaid, these People not addicting themselves to Arts or Letters, as the former did. They are of a mean stature, active, of a tawny complexion, but indifferently well featured; and their Women fruitful in Children, sometime bringing two or three at a time.

Their habit is much after the Turkish dress, in which they are not over curious.

They have in this Countrey a Race of Horses, which for one property may be esteemed the best in the World; that is, they will run without eating or drinking, one jot, four daies and nights together: And there are some Egyptians, which with the help of a Sway bound about their body, and carrying with them a little Food to eat, are able to ride them. For shape, these Horses do not surpass others; and for this property they are held so rare, and esteemed at three years of age, to be worth 1000 pieces of Eight, and sometimes more: And for this breed of Horses, there are Officers appointed to look after them, and to see the Foles of them, and to register them in a book with the colour, &c. which they receive from the testimony of credible persons, to avoid cheats. But these Horses are not fit for any other then such a Sandy Countrey, by reason of their tender feet.

But let us come to the Nile, which is the principal piece in all Egypt: I hold it for one of the most considerable Rivers of the World. The length of it, course, and the divers Mouths by which it discharges it self into the Sea. Its inundation at a perfixed time, the quality of its Waters, and the fertility and richness it leaves where it passes, are my inducing Reasons. It begins towards the Tropick of Capricorn, ends on this side that of Cancer, running for the space of above 45 degrees of Latitude, which are 11 or 1200 Leagues in a streight line, and more then 2000 in its course, crosses a great Lake, embraces the fairest River Island, and waters the richest Valley, we have knowledge of. Among its Inhabitants this is particular, that naturally some are black and some white; and that in the same time, the one have their Summer, or their Winter; when the others (which is not known elsewhere) have their Winter, or their Summer. Its true Spring is likewise almost unknown, it is certain that the River that comes out of the Lake of Zair, and takes its course towards the North, is that which we call the Nile: But this Lake receives a number of Rivers which descend from the Mountains of the Moon. To tell whether any of these Rivers bears the name of Nile, and which they be, cannot be done: Though there have been Kings of Egypt, Roman Emperors, Sultans, and Kings of Portugal, which have made the search.

In sum, and according to Ptolomy, who hath said as much as any hitherto, it must be that most advanced towards the South, and which washes at present the City of Zambery, crosses the Lake of the same name, or of Zair; the City of Zair being likewise on the same Lake. At the coming out of the Lake, the Nile passes between the Kingdoms of Damont and Goyame in the Abissines; receives a little on this side the Equator, the Zafflan, which comes out of the Lake of Zafflan; near the Isle of Mero or Gueguere, the Cabella or Taguezzi, which descends from the Lake of Barcena; and at the entrance into Egypt of the River Nubia, which crosses Nubia, and comes from Saara and Billedulgerid; and apparently answers to that, which Juba believed to be the true Nile. These 3 Rivers are the greatest of all those which disburthen themselves in the Nile, and carry a great many others. But in Egypt the Nile remains alone, passes between two ranks of Mountains, approaching the Sea, the Valley enlarges, and the Nile divides it self into many Branches, and glides by many Mouths to the Sea. The Ancients made account of seven, nine, or more, now except in the time of Inundation, there are only two principal ones, which pass by Rosetto and Damiata, and three lesser by Turbet, Bourles and Maala: These not being Navigable, but during the Inundation; the others always. This Inundation of the Nile is wonderful, some attribute it to certain Etesian winds, that is, North-West, which repulse the current, and make it swell: Others to the quantity of Snows which melt; and to the continual Rains which fall there, where the Nile hath its beginnings, or there where it passes. Others will have the Ocean then to swell, and under ground communicate its waters to the Nile, &c. But there are so many different opinions touching the cause of this Inundation, and so many Reasons are given pro and con, that a whole treatise might be made of it. This Inundation begins about the sixteenth or seventeenth of June,* 1.21 increases for the space of forty daies, and decreases for other 40 days; so that its greatest height is about the end of July, and it ends about the beginning of September. If it begins sooner or later (which is observed by certain Pillars in the Towns; and particularly in the Castle of Rhoda, which stands in a little Isle opposite to old Cairo, and where the Bassa resides, during the solemnity of opening the Channel, which passes through and fills the Cisterns of Grand Cairo; and in the Fields by the Aspes, Tortoises, Craw-fish, Crocodiles, &c. who remove their Eggs or Young from the Banks of the Nile, immediately before the Inundation, and lay them there where it will bound) they give judgment, whether there will be more or less Water; and the people are advertised, to the end, they may take order for what they have to do.

The King Maeris had expresly caused to be dug the Lake of Maeris, to receive the Waters of the Nile, when it had too much, or to furnish it when too little: At present they remedy it when little, by Channels, advanced towards the higher Countrey, that they may be water'd: When too much, by certain Flood-Gates which they open to let the Water slide away.

For the effect of this Inundation, is, That all that the Nile covers with its Water, is made fruitful, and no more. It Rains sometimes in the Lower Egypt, very little in the Higher, and not sufficient to moisten the Earth; but when the Nile increases too much, or too little, it doth hurt: At 12 Cubits, it is yet Famine; at 15 or 16 sufficient; at 18 or 20 abundance. The little cannot moisten the highest Lands, and nearest the Mountains. That which lies too long, leaves not time to Sow the lower Grounds; but the little, or none at all, is more dangerous then the too much; and often besides the Famine, presages some other misfortune near. So before the death of Pompey, there was little; before that of Anthony and Cleopatra, none at all.

Moreover, the Dew which causes this inundation, is imperceptible, as the same Author says: He assures us however, that so soon as it falls, the Air is purified, and all Diseases and Pestilential Feavers of the Countrey, (which are there very rife) cease; which makes it appear that these Waters are excellent, and indeed all Authors agree, that the Waters of the Nile are sweet, healthful, nourishing, and that they keep a long time without corrupting; so that they be discharged from the Mud and Sand they bring along with them from the Grounds, through which they pass. The first Kings of Egypt made so much account of them, that they drank nothing else than the Waters of Nile; and when Philadelphus married his Daughter Berenice to Antiochus. Theos, King of Assyria, he gave order, That from time to time there should be the Water of Nile carried her, that she might drink no other. And the fruitfulness which these Waters cause, is not only known by their making the Earth so exceeding fertil, (which otherwise is as barren) so that if they do in a manner but throw in their Seed, they have four rich Harvests in less than four Months; and in that they produce and nourish an infinite number of strange Creatures, as Crocodiles, which from an Egg no bigger than that of a Goose, cometh to be 20, 25, and sometimes to 30 foot long: His Feet are armed with Claws, his Back and Sides with Scales so hard not to be pierced; but his Belly soft and tender, by reason of which he receiveth many times his deaths wound: His Mouth is exceeding wide, hath no Tongue; his Jaws very strong, and armed with a sharp set of Teeth as it were indented: His Tail is equal to his Body in length, by which he infoldeth his prey and draws it in the Water: At the taking of his prey he gives jumps, and it is a pretty while ere he can turn himself; so that if it be not just before him, it may escape him. Four Months in the year it is observed to eat nothing, which is during the Winter Season; the Female is said to lay one hundred Eggs at one time, which she is as many days a hatching; and they will live to the age of one hundred years, and growing to the last. Also this River breedeth River-Horses, of old called Hippopotami; they have great Heads, wide Jaws, and armed with Tusks as white as Ivory; they are proportioned like a Swine, but as big in Body as a Cow; smooth Skinned, but exceeding hard. Also River-Bulls, about the bigness of a Calf of a Twelve month old, and in shape like a Bull. Also here are found abundance of great and small Fishes. And lastly, the fruitfulness of these Waters is shewed, in that the Women and Cattle which drink thereof are very fruitful, ordinarily bringing forth their Children and Young by two and three, and sometimes by four and five at a time.

There are yet many fine things might be said of the Nile, as its divers Names, its Cataracts, &c. But we have likewise omitted many things which might be said of Egypt, which hath been famous in Holy Writ as well as in Prophane, and which would swell into a Volume. Let us end with saying something of the fertility of the Country, what Commodities it produces and communicates to other Countries.

It is plentifully furnished with several Metals; the Ground along the Nile produceth abundance of Corn, Rice, Pulse, and other Grains, that it may well be termed the Granary of the Turkish, as it was formerly of the Roman Empire: and it feeds much Cattle, produceth great plenty of Fish, hath store of Fowls, yields excellent Fruits, Lemmons, Oranges, Citrons, Pomegranates, Figgs, Cherries, &c. Also, Capers, Olives, Flax, Sugars, Cassia, Sena, Oil, Balsom; some Drugs and Spices, Wax, Civet, Elephants Teeth, Silk, Cotton, Linnen Cloth, with several good Manufactures; also Hides, besides the Ashes of two little Weeds growing about Alexandria, whereof quantity are transported to Venice; and without which they cannot make their Chrystal-Glasses. We may add, that Incense, Coffee, and other Commodities of Arabia and India, pass through this Country, to be transported into the Western parts of Turky.

Throughout the Countrey they have abundance of Palm-Trees, which may be reckoned among the Rarities of the Country, and that for several Reasons. These Trees are observed always to grow in couples, Male and Female: They both thrust forth Cods full of Seeds; but the Female is only fruitful, but not except it grows by the Male, and having his Seed mixt with hers, which they do not fail to do at the beginning of March. The Fruit it bears is known by the name of Dates, which in taste resemble Figs. The Pith of these Trees is White, and called the Brains, which are in the uppermost parts. And this is held an excellent Sallad, in taste much like an Hartichoke; of the Branches they make Bedsteads, Lattices, &c. Of the outward Husk of the Cod, Cordage; of the inner, Brushes; and of the Leaves, Fans, Feathers, Mats, Baskets, &c. This Tree is held among them to be the perfect Image of a Man, and that for these Reasons: First, because it doth not fructifie, but by Coiture: Next, as having a Brain in the uppermost part, which if once corrupted (as Mans) doth perish and die: And lastly, in regard that on the top thereof grow certain Strings which resemble Hair; the great end of the Branches appearing like Hands extended forth; and the Dates as Fingers. And so much for Egypt.

1685. Geographia universalis: the present state of the whole world by Pierre Duval.

Egypt.

FEw Countreys have had so many ancient Names as Egypt; the Hebrews and Jews call'd it Mesraim, and the Egyptians at present call it Chibet. Its length, that is to say, its extent from the North to the South, is two hundred Leagues; and its breadth, which is what it contains from the West to the East, is confin'd by the Mountains, which bound the Valley of the Nile. It is the only Region of Africa, which touches Asia, and the Countrey the most populous in the World, tho' the Air be somewhat bad. Its Women do often bring forth two or three Children at a time, which is attributed to the Water of the Nile. Egypt was no less peopled formerly, if it be true, that under Amasis, one of its ancient Kings, it had full twenty thousand Cities. The plenty of Corn it affords, made the Ancients call it the Publick Granary of the World. The abundance or famine of the Roman Empire, depended on the good or ill Harvest in Egypt. The Nile, by the inundation of its Waters, which are full of Nitre, (as we said before) gives it this advantage; not by wholly covering the Lands, as several have imagin'd, but being brought into several Channels, after the Inhabitants have broke the Dikes. That part which is on the East of the Nile, is more fruitful than that which is on the East of the River. Its Plants grow so abundantly, that they would stifle one another, if they did not prevent it by casting Sand in the field. Thus it is somewhat surprizing, that the Egyptians make their Lands lean with Sand, whereas other Nations endeavour to fatten theirs with Dung. Besides Corn, they transport out of this Countrey, Rice, Sugar, Dates, Sena, Cassia, excellent Balm, Skins, Linnen, and Cloth. They are but ill inform'd, who say, that it never Rains there, whereas there are frequent Showers, during the Months of November, December, and January, principally on the Mountains, and in the lower parts.

Still are there at this day to be seen in Egypt, Pyramids, Obelisques, Labyrinths, and other Works which its ancient Kings caus'd to be made at an extraordinary charge, to shew their Power, and to give Employment to their People. The Statue of Memnon was formerly very considerable there, as well as the Pharos near Alexandria: But among all these several Works, it has been observ'd, that the Pyramid is the most solid Monument Antiquity has left us. There remains nothing more in the Lake Meris than the place of the Labyrinth, which is said to have had above three thousand three hundred Chambers. The Mummys, which are very frequent in this Region, and which Travellers take delight to bring into Europe, are Humane Bodies pitch'd and embalm'd, that have been preserv'd above two or three thousand years in Caverns, whither the ancient Egyptians took care to carry them. They passed for that purpose a Lake in a Bark; and so first gave occasion to the Fable of Charon. Fiction has made Gods, Heroes, and Men reign in Egypt. History gives an account of several of its Kings before Alexander the Great: It says that, among those Kings, Sesostris was the greatest Conquerour: that Memnon having dedicated his Statue to the Sun, it saluted that Star at its rising: that Busiris pass'd there for a Tyrant, by reason of the Cruelties he exercised over the Hebrews: that Cencres is the Pharoah, who was drowned in the Red Sea: that Protcus had the repute of changing his Form, because he had divers sorts of Head-array: that Chemnis employed three hundred and sixty thousand Men, for twenty years together in building the first and greatest Pyramid: that Sesonchis, with an Army of four hundred thousand Foot, and sixty thousand Horse, took Jerusalem; and that Sennacherib, King of the Assyrians, being come against him, wild Rats gnaw'd the Bow-strings in the Assyrian Army: that Necaus began the Channel for the joyning the Nile and the Red Sea, and made all Africa to be travell'd round about.

Under Amasis the Kingdom of Egypt fell into the hands of the Persians; afterwards into those of the Greeks, and then to the Romans; and after the Romans it was swayed by the Califes, whose abode was first of all at Medina, then at Bagdad, at Damas, and at Caire. The Sultans succeeded the Califes. The Turks have had it in possession since the year 1518. They reckon there 18 Cassilifs or Governments, where they are commanded by the Bashaw of Caire; and the standing Soldiery there, are the bravest and the most esteemed of all the Ottoman Empire. And indeed this Government is the most honourable of all those that are out of the Port, and the Grand Seignior receives every year from hence, above a hundred and fifty thousand Piasters, a Turkish Coin worth about 4 s. sterl.

The Egyptians are the best Swimmers in the World, gay, pleasant, brisk, and very ingenious. The Invention of Astrology, Arithmetick, and Physick, is attributed to 'em; Wherefore Egypt is often called the Mother of Arts: They say, it was Ptolomey Philadelphus, who took care to have the Version of the Bible out of Hebrew into Greek, done by the serenty Interpreters; and to make a Collection of above two hundred thousand Volumes. There was also a prodigious number of Books in the Library of Alexandria, which was unluckily burnt, when Julius Caesar there made War. The Natives of the Countrey have a peculiar way of hatching Chickens, by means of Furnaces, or Ovens, wherein they put sometimes three or four thousand Eggs together, and when they are hatch'd, they sell them by the Bushel. They are for the most part Mahometans, but have amongst them Jews too, and Christians, known under the Name of Copties. These Copties are Natives of Egypt; they have a Tongue wholly peculiar, and a way of Writing little different from that of the ancient Greeks. The ancient Egyptians were so very superstitious, that they had almost as many Gods as Animals and Plants, whose Names they gave to their Cities. Some Authors attribute this great number of their false Divinities, to the Resolution they had taken of making and adoring the Figures of what had hindred them from following Pharaoh, when he was drown'd in the Red Sea.

Egypt is commonly divided into four parts, Sahid, or High Egypt; Bechria, otherwise Demesor, or Middle Egypt; Erriff, or Low Egypt; and the Coast of the Red Sea. Some make only two of it, the one High, and the other Low, according to the Course of the Nile, and say that the Hebrews inhabited the Higher; which they pretend to prove, by the coming of the Locusts from towards the East, for the punishment of Pharaoh, and by the way that Prince took when he pursued those same Hebrews. Some Ancients have divided Egypt into Libyca, or Africana; and into Arabica, or Asiatica; in regard of the same River.

Amongst the Cities, Cairo is called Great, by reason of the advantages it has over all the other Cities of Africk. It is on the other side the place, where was the ancient Memphis, and three Leagues lower to the East of the Nile. Those who reckon in't sixty thousand Mosquees, comprehend in that number several heaps of stones:

They say also, there are above twenty four thousand Contradoes, or Quarters, and about seven Millions of Persons, whereof sixteen hundred thousand are Jews. 'Tis certain, there are full three and twenty thousand Mosquees, but some of 'em are not ten paces square. Its Castle, which stands upon a rising Hill, has the rarest Prospect and the best Air in the World: It is one of the finest and strongest that is seen, tho' it be much impair'd from its ancient splendour. 'Tis not of marble, as some Relations averr; there are only several Mosaique Works. The Water of the Nile is convey'd thither by an Aqueduct of three hundred and fifty Arches. The People of Cairo must questionless be very numerous, since we are assur'd, that in three Months of the Year 1618, they buried there above six hundred thousand Persons that died of the Pestilence; and that this sickness is not perceivable, when it only sweeps away two hundred thousand in a year. In short, Cairo is said to have full two hundred thousand Houses, eighteen thousand considerable Streets, and twenty five or thirty Leagues in circumference. But I speak this comprehending therein the old and new Cairo, and the Boulac, which are near it; If new Cairo was only meant in this Account, its bigness does not equal that of London. They ride thro' the Streets upon Asses, as People go here in Chairs and Coaches; not but that there are Horses in Egypt: but the Turks have introduced this Custom, that they may keep them for their own use. The Inhabitants of Cairo make those excellent Tapistries, which we call Turky Carpets.

Besides the Pyramids, that are three Leagues, and the Mummys, which are six, from Caire, the curious Travellers go to see the Granaries and Pits of Joseph. (Now it's to be observ'd, that what ever is beautiful and good of the Ancients in Egypt, is attributed to Joseph; and what is vilainous and infamous, to Pharaoh.) They go also to see Matarea, two Leagues from Cairo, which serv'd for a retreat to the Virgin, with the Fountain, which, with that of Caire, is the only Spring-Water in all the Countrey. Here is no longer to be seen the Plant of the true Balm, which was brought thither from the Holy Land, by the Cares of Cleopatra, and the permission of Anthony.

Sahid, formerly Thebes, with an hundred Gates, was the abode of the Kings of Egypt, which was afterwards transferr'd to Alexandria, then to Memphis, and at last to Cairo; It gives its name to the Thebaid, which serv'd for a retreat to several Hermits. The most modern Relations call this City Gergio, and make it the Residence of a Bashaw.

Alexandria, the Work of Alexander the Great, formerly the best Town of all Africa after Carthage was the abode of the Ptolomeys and Cleopatra. When it was subject to the Romans, it contributed more in one Month alone, than Jerusalem did in a whole Year. It had in its Neighbourhood the Tower of Pharos, one of the Seven Wonders of the World: It drives some trade, by means of its two Havens; It is the chief of a Patriarchate of the same Name. St. Mark hath made it renown'd in Holy History. The Desarts of Macaire, where were reckon'd above three hundred Monasteries were on the West of it. Damietta is one of the Keys of the Countrey, by reason of its Scituation and its Haven upon the Mediterranean-Sea, which made the French King, Lewis, (entituled, the Saint) resolve, in his Expedition into the Holy Land, to make himself Master of it. Rosetta, a modern City, and pretty well built, is the resort of several Ships upon the most frequented Channel of the Nile.

Sues, which has not much above two hundred Houses, with a sorry Port, is nevertheless the Arsenal of the Turks, upon the Red Sea. The Governour keeps two small Galleys, and some Ships, to make himself considerable upon the Red Sea. The Merchandizes of the East-Indies, bound for Europe, came thither formerly; for which reason the Turks have, not without regret, seen the Establishment of the Europeans in those Indies. But they still bring Spices, to truck with the Inhabitants for Corral. Cossir, formerly Berenice, was the Resort of the Commodities which the Romans fetch'd from the East-Indies, and which from thence were carried to the nearest part of the Nile, in the City of Coptos, now called Cana. Buge, in the most Southern part of Egypt, is a Kingdom tributary to the Abyssins, according to the Relations of 1657.