Phenix XIV.

A Narrative of the Proceedings of a Great Council of Jews, affem bled in the Plain of Ageda in Hungary, about thirty Leagues from Buda, to examine the Scriptures concerning Chrift, on the Twelfth of October 1650.

By SAMUEL BRETT, there prefent. Alfo a Relation of fome other Obfervations in his Travels beyond the Seas.

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First Printed in 1655.

To the READER.

HERE was nothing I more defired than to travel beyond the Seas, and to know the various Manners of the Nations of the World: for which, thro God's Providence, I had an oppor tunity offer'd me, to my great Satisfaction, being Chirurgeon of an Eng lith Ship in the Straits, where, for a Cure that I did for Orlando

de

de Spina of Gollipulo, an eminent Man in thofe parts, I was by kim prefer'd to be a Captain of a Ship of Malta, which was set out by the faid Orlando, and committed to my Command against the Turks in the Arches, in affistance to the Venetian Service: in which Service I spent about nine months, till the tempestuous Season of the Year enforc'd me to return into Harbour again. And in this time of Employment, I made five Fights at Sea, and two at Land; being chofen by lot to invade the Turks Country, with a certain Company of Seldiers collected out of our Fleet, to do fome execution upon the Borders of the Enemy, and to get fome Provifion for our Relief; in all which Fights (altho very perilous) God gave me the Victory.

The whole time I spent beyond the Seas, before and after this Employment, was almost four years, not staying long in any one place. But first I travel'd to all the Sea-Towns of note for Merchandizing, to know the Trade of the places, and the Conveniency of their Har bours, that I might be able to do fome profitable service in Merchants Affairs. Also I travel'd into feveral Countries, and the most eminent Cities and Towns therein; viz. Egypt, Macedonia, Dalmatia, Calabria, Apuleia, Sicilia, Affyria, Sclavonia, fome parts of Spain and Portugal; to the Islands of Cyprus, Candia, Patmos, Delphos; to Carthage, Corinth, Troy, Conftantinople; befides many other Towns and Places: but my longeft abode was in Italy, and therein at Venice, Naples, Leghorn, Florence, Milan, Rome, Bolognia, Mantua, Genoa, &c. And at last looking bomeward, I came into France; taking a brief view of many eminent places in that Kingdom. And at Paris I found many of my Countrymen (of which, tho some be Perfons of great Quality, yet) God knoweth they are in a low Condition. And now I shall give a brief Account of fome of my Obfervations, during the time of my abode beyond the Seas.

A Narrative of the Proceedings of a Great Council of Jews, &c.

T Paris our Countrymen live peaceably, and enjoy our Religion without difturbance. There is a Place allow'd them, with neceffary Accommodations for the Exercife of Religion. Dr. Steward did often preach to them; and for their Form of Worship, it is the fame that was formerly in England, with the Book of Common Prayer, and the Rites therein ufed; and alfo they continue the Innovations that were practifed by many of our Clergy, as Bowing at the Name of Jefus towards the Altar, &c. which I know giveth

offence

offence to the good French Proteftants, who to me did often condemn thofe Innovations for Romish Superftitions. Doubtlefs they would do our Church and our Religion more Credit there, if they did ufe lefs Ceremony. As for the French Papifts, truly they are more civil to them than was expected: for the Opinion of the World, where I have been, is but mean of that Nation. And I believe the Italian may be their Coufin German, for both of them are falfe and faithless enough. And this Confideration (God having taken away Orlando my noble Friend, who did always much countenance me) did leffen my Affection to continue in that Service for my Soldiers were all Italians (except a few Greeks) and ĺ 73 never faw much caufe to be confident in their Fidelity; but it was chiefly for fear of him, that they were so tractable

to me.

As for Religion, in moft parts where I have been, it is generally the fame with the Church of Rome; but for the Grecians (for amongft them I was) they are neither pure Proteftants nor pure Papifts; I mean, neither only Proteftants nor only Papifts, but their Religion is a mixture of both: For tho they hold fome Fundamentals with us, yet they follow many of the Romish Superftitions; and (according to my Obfervation) they follow more the Religion of Rome, than the Proteftant Church; and they are much poison'd with Herefys.

But of all Nations, according to my Obfervation, none are more zealous for the Religion of Rome than the Spaniards, who, I think, for this are more Romanifts than the Romans themselves; for with them there is an Inquifition, and in Rome I never heard of the fame dangerous Snare: there I had as much Freedom as I could defire, and more Courtesy than I could expect, without any Temptation to apoftatize from my Religion.

As for the Occurrences that I met with, they were many: But these four were the moft confiderable.

Firft, The ftrangling of the great Turk by the Janizaries, at which time there was great Fear and Trouble in Conftantinople; but they enthron'd his Son, and this brought a peaceable Settlement. And with him there were cut off divers Bafha's I Heads; all whofe Heads (excepting the Great Turk's) lay three days in Chargers before the Palace-Gate, for the pub lick View of the People; which they fay is the Cuftom for the Noblemen that are beheaded.

The next thing is, The flowing of the River Nilus in Egypt; the manner whereof is this: It beginneth to flow about the fifteenth of June every year: the People know the time thereNa

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of, and expect it accordingly; and this is after their Harveft, which is ufually ended about the beginning of May. As for Rain, there seldom falleth any in Egypt. During the time the River is up, all the Country appeareth like lands. Their Towns are feated upon Hills, and their lower Grounds are all cover'd with Waters; and the Inhabitants use small Boats to pafs from place to place about their Affairs: and becaufe they know the yearly flowing of Nilus,they provide for the Safety of their Cattel till the Waters are wafted away again There are alfo certain Pillars of Stone fet up, with divers Marks upon them, by which they know the degrees of the rifing, and the ufual height that the Waters do afcend unto; and if the Waters do afcend above the higheft Mark, they do expect fome ftrange Confequence thereof. But the greateft wonder is, the prefent Ceffation of the Plague upon the flowing c this River. There died fome thousands of the Plague the day before the flowing of Nilus in Grandcairo, as they certify? me; and a day or two after, not one Perfon more died o the Infection. This I obferv'd, that the Land is full of unhealthy Fogs, Mifts, and Vapours, which cause the Difcase; and it feems the Waters of Nilus do purify it again.

In the Kingdom of Grandcairo, alias Pharaoh's Town, is the City, and it is greater than any elfew here I did behold; but Memphis is the neater City: and being there, I went to fe the Land of Goshen, where the Ifraelites did inhabit. This s a very pleasant and fruitful Land for Pafture, fuch as I have no where feen the like. At this time alfo, I had an oppor tunity to fee the Red Sea, and the place where (as they in form'd me) the Ifraelites did enter their Journy thro the fame. There alfo they fhew'd me the great Mountains that inclos'd them, when Pharaoh purfued them with his great Army; and the Hills where the two Armies lay in fight one of another. And there I found the true reafon why it is call'd the Red Sea; not because the Water is red naturally, but because the Sand is red: And this was clear to me by plain Demonftration; for I put fome of the Water into a clean Vessel, and there I did fee it had the fame colour of other Water; but the Sand is reddish, and giveth the fame colour to the Water.

I fhall omit many other things concerning Egypt; only this, It is under the Turks Dominion, and the Natives are bis mi ferable Slaves.

Thirdly, You may expect fome News from Rome, where alfo I was, and did behold their great Solemnity; it being then the Anno Santo, as they there call it, that is, the Year of Jubilee.

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There I beheld the Pope in his Glory, and how in great State he was carried about the City: the Streets were throng'd with the People; and as he pafs'd by,they made them even ring with Acclamations and Rejoicings: He was carried by fome eminent Men, having a rich Canopy over him. He made his Croffes in the Air with his fingers, and threw his Bleffings amongst them. And truly thefe Delusions were fo prevailing with the People, that (poor Souls) they feem'd to me to rela joice, as if Chrift himself had been come to Rome, and brought them down the Felicities of Heaven.

At one time I beheld in Naples (perhaps it will feem ftrange, but it is true) about eight thousand Pilgrims going to Rome for their Abfolution; all which the Vice-Roy of Naples maintain'd three days at his own charge; and on the fourth day, they did prefent themselves before him at his Palace in Pil grim Weeds, viz. with leaden Pictures of Saints in their Hats, with leather Collars about their Necks, which fell down half way over their Arms, and their Staves in their hands: and thus they march'd away from Naples, in the pofture of an Army towards Rome; and fo farewel Rome. Vidi, fatis eft vidiffe.

I omit to recite many other Occurrences, which by conference I fhall willingly communicate to my Friends, they being too many to commit to writing: only now the fourth remarkable thing remaineth to prefent you with; and that is,

The Proceedings of a great Council of Jews, affembled in the Plain of Ageda in Hungary, about thirty Leagues diftant from Buda, to examine the Scriptures concerning Chrift; on the twelfth of October, 1650.

It hath been much defir'd by many honeft Chriftians, that this Narrative of the Jews Council fhould be publish'd, which I did intend only to communicate to private Friends. The chief Argument by which they have perfuaded me to do it, is, because they do conceive it to be a Preparative and hopeful Sign of the Jews Converfion, and that it will be glad Tidings to the Church of Chrift; and therefore I have yielded to fatisfy their Defires therein. And thus it was:

At the place above-named there affembled about three hundred Rabbies, call'd together from feveral parts of the World, to examine the Scriptures concerning Chrift; and it feems this Place was thought moft convenient for this Council, in regard that part of the Country was not much inhabited, becaufe of the continual Wars between the Turk and the King of Hungary; where (as I was inform'd) they had fought two bloody Battels: yet both Princes, notwithstanding their own Differences, did give leave to the Jews to hold their Council

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there.