Cf4.>t^ 
 
 U 
 
 R O L I. E . 
 
 A- in 
 
DUKE UNIVERSITY 
 
 LIBRARY 
 
 The Glenn Negley Collection 
 of Utopian Literature 
 
Digitized by tine Internet Arciiive 
 in 2010 witii funding from 
 Dui^e University Libraries 
 
 littp://www.arcliive.org/details/memoirsofsigrgauOOberi 
 
THE 
 
 MEMOIRS 
 
 o F ^.:ae. 
 
 Sig' Gaudentio di Lucca : 
 
 Taken from his Confeflion and Examina- 
 tion before the Fathers of the Inquifi* 
 tion at 'Bologna in Italy. 
 
 Making a Difcovery of an unknown Country in 
 the midft of the vaft Deferts of Africa^ as 
 A'lcient, Populous, and Civilized, as the 
 
 Chinefe, 
 
 With an Account of their Antiquity, Origine, Reli- 
 gion, Curtoms, Polity, ^c. and the Manner how 
 ihey got firft over thofe raft Deferts. Interfpers'd 
 with feveral moft furprizing and curious Incidents. 
 
 Copied from the original Manufcript icept in St. Mark's Libra- 
 ry at Venice : With Critical Notes of the Learned Signer 
 Rhediy late Library -Keeper of the faid Library. 
 
 Tq which is preiix'd, a Letter of the Secretary of the In(^ut- 
 Jition, to the fame Signor Rhedi, giving an Account of the 
 Manner and Caufes of his being feized. 
 
 Faithful!;^ Tranjlated from the Italian, by E. T. Gent. 
 
 LONDON: 
 
 Printed for T. Cooper, at the Glebe in Fater-NtfttT' 
 Row. Mdccxxxvii. 
 
'J 
 
 T 
 
 :^ -» 
 
 ^\^ 
 
 [ i.rif: 
 
THE 
 
 1o 
 
 Puhlijher to the Reader. 
 
 I S very natural to think 
 the Reader would wil- 
 lingly be apprised of 
 two Things relating to 
 
 J Thefe Memoirs: Firft, 
 how this curious Manufcript came to 
 Light, confidering the dark and deep 
 Secrecy with which all things are 
 tranfafted in the Inquifition. Second- 
 ly, how it came into the Tranflator's 
 Hands. To fatisfy fuch a commen- 
 dable Curiofity, he is to be inform'd. 
 That the Manufcript was fent by the 
 Secretary of the Inquifition at Bologna 
 
 a 2 to 
 
iv The Fuhlijher 
 
 to the Learned Signer Rhedi^ Keeper 
 of the Library of St. Mark at Venice^ 
 his intimate Friend and Correfpon- 
 dent, with the whole Account how 
 the Author was taken up, and fecu- 
 red in the Inquifition, as the Letter 
 of the Secretary to the fame Signor 
 Hhedi will ihew : Which Letter, as it 
 gives a great many curious Particu- 
 lars in the Examination of the Cri- 
 minal (for he was taken up as fuch, 
 tho' nothing very material was prov'd 
 againflhim; for which Reafon, he 
 received a more favourable Treatment 
 than is generally believ'd to be cufto- 
 mary in that Dreadful Tribunal) fo 
 it difcovers no indirect Practices of 
 the Inquifition, but, on the contrary, 
 fhews they proceed with a great deal 
 of Circumfpedion within their Walls, 
 tho' all things are involved in impe- 
 netrable Darknefs to thofe without. 
 Befide, the Succeffion of new Popes, 
 and, generally fpeaking, the Change 
 of other Officers attending it, might 
 make them be lefs upon their Guard, 
 
 as 
 
7^'/^^ Reader, v 
 
 as the Secretary (eems to hint at in 
 his Letter. Neither is there any thing 
 that might do him any Harm, in 
 cafe he were difcovered ; efpecially 
 writing to a Friend of his own Com- 
 munion, and a Prieft, as Sig. Hhedi 
 was ; which is hkewife feen by the 
 Letter. 
 
 As to the feeond £u^re, The Ma- 
 nufcript came into the Pubhfher's 
 Hands, by the Means of the fame 
 Signor Rhedi, who is an Honour to 
 his Church, Profeffion, and Coun- 
 try, and one of the moft Learned 
 and Pohte Men in the World. He 
 is not fo bigotted to his Rehgion or 
 Profeffion, as to fliun the Company 
 of the Heretical Traj?Jontani^ a Title 
 the Italians generally give us ; but 
 loves and elteems a Learned Man 
 tho' of a different Perfuafion. One 
 Reafon for this may be, that he 
 breathes a freer Air at Venice^ than 
 they do in the other Parts of Italy, 
 The Inquifition has nothing to do in 
 the Venetian Territories. Tho* they 
 
 are 
 
VI The VuhUJher .\ 
 
 are Roman-Catholicks^ the State admits 
 of no Tribunal independent of it 
 felf. Befides, as they are a Trad- 
 ing People, their Commerce obliges 
 them to be civil to Perfons of all 
 Perfuafions, efpecially Strangers. But 
 of all others they feem to have the 
 greateft Refped for the Englijh ; whe- 
 ther it be on account of their Power 
 at Sea, or their Franknefs in fpend- 
 ing their Money, fo many of the 
 Englijh Nobility and Gentry travel- 
 ling that Way ; or from the Candour 
 and Sincerity of our Nature, fo op- 
 pofite to the Italians^ yet highly 
 efteem'd by them : Be that as it will, 
 the Publifher, who had feveral times 
 made the Tour of Italy^ was not 
 only intimately acquainted, but had 
 contraded a particular Friendihip 
 with Sig. Rhedi^ as well on account 
 of their mutual Inclinations for Lear- 
 ning and Antiquity, as for feveral 
 reciprocal Obligations paffing ber 
 tween them. The laft Time he was 
 at Venice, which was in Company of 
 
 a Per- 
 
to the Keade r. vii 
 
 a Perfon of the firll Rank, who lik'd 
 the Place as well as he did, he ftay'd 
 there upwards of Fifteen Months ; 
 during which Time he had the Op- 
 portunity of enjoying the Converla* 
 tion of his learned Friend, with as 
 much Liberty as if he had been of 
 the fame Perfuafion. But the Pre- 
 fcnt of a Gold Repeating Watch, 
 with fome other of our Englijh Curi- 
 ofities, fo won his Heart, that one 
 Day being together in the Great Li- 
 brary, he unlocks a little Grate where 
 he kept his Rarities, and turning to 
 me with a Smile, Signor hglefe, lays 
 he, holding a Manufcript in his 
 Hand, here k fuch a Curiofity, I 
 am fure you never faw, or perhaps 
 never heard of: Tis the Life of a 
 Perfon who is now in the Inquifition 
 at Bologna, taken from his own Gon- 
 feffion before the Inquifitors ; with 
 the Account of a Country m the 
 Heart of the vaft Deferts of Africa, 
 whofe Inhabitants have lived un- 
 known to all the World upwards of 
 
 3000 
 
viii The Publijher '^^^ 
 
 3000 Years, and inacceffible to all 
 the World, but by the Wayhe was 
 earned thither. The Inquifitors are 
 fo far perfuadedof the Truth of it, 
 that they have promifcd him his Li- 
 berty, if he will undertake to con- 
 dud; fome Miflioharies the fame way, 
 to preach the Gofpel to a numerous 
 People, who by his Account have the 
 greateft Knowledge of natural Reli- 
 gion and Polity of any Heathen Na- 
 tion yet known, even beyond the 
 Qhineje. For my own Part, I could 
 fcarce have believ'd it, had not the 
 Secretary of the fame Inquifition, 
 who you may be fure, by his Poft, is 
 not a Man to be impos'd upon, af- 
 fur*d me of the Truth of it : Nay, 
 that he himfelf was prefent at his Sei- 
 zure and Examination, and fent me 
 a Copy of his Life, which he was 
 order'd to give in by the Inquifitors ; 
 with the whole Account of the 
 Occafion and Manner of his Seizure. 
 It feems he had lived fome time in 
 Bologna in quality of a Phyfician, 
 
 under 
 
to the Reader, ix 
 
 under the Name of Signer Gaudentio 
 At LtiCQAy which he fays is his true 
 Name, and confirms it by the Place 
 of his Birth, the Names of his Pa- 
 rents, Time of his Captivity, dc. 
 He had dropp'd fome Words of fe- 
 veral ftrange Secrets he was Mafter 
 of, with Mutterings of an unknown 
 Nation, KeHgion, and Cuftoms, 
 c[uite new to the Italian Ears ; for 
 which reafon the Inquifition thought 
 fit to feize him, and by Ways and 
 Means made ufe of in that Tribunal^ 
 obhg'd him to give an Account of 
 his whole Life, which is the moft 
 furprizing I ever read. Here is the 
 Secretary's Letter, giving a fuccind 
 Account of the whole Affair. I have 
 added, continued he, fome critical 
 Remarks in proper Places, to fhew 
 that this Account is not fo incredible 
 as it may appear at firft Sight, and 
 that it agrees with fome Hints left 
 us in the Remains of ancient Hifto- 
 ry. Befides, the Man ftands to the- 
 Truth of it with a Stedfaftnefs that 
 
 b is 
 
IX The Publijher 
 
 is furprizing. He is a Perfon of a 
 very handfome Prefence, well read, 
 good Senfe, and, as it appears to 
 the Inquiiitors (who are nice Judges) 
 of feemingly good Morak He pro- 
 feffes himlelf a ze^Aous Roman-Cat ho^ 
 lick^ and that he always was fo ; for 
 which Keafon, the Inquifitors are 
 civiller to him than ordinary. H^ 
 gives fuch a rational and circumftan- 
 tial Account of his Adventures, that 
 I am of the Secretary's Opinion, as 
 to the Truth of it. But, added he, 
 I won't foreftal the Satisfadion you 
 will find in the Perufal: So delivered 
 the Manufcript and the Secretary's 
 Letter into the Publifher's Hands, 
 who running his Eyes over it for 
 fome time, w^as fo Itruck with the 
 Novelty of the Thing, that he ask'd 
 Signor Rhedi, whether he might not 
 take a Copy of it. He was anfwer'd^ 
 he could not permit the Manufcript 
 to be taken out of the Library ; nor 
 could he, with Safety to himfelf, 
 allow a Stranger, and of a different 
 c: u Reli- 
 
to the Reader, xi 
 
 Religion t(j)o, the Liberty of flaying 
 fo long in biie Library-fey himfelf, as 
 the Tranfcribing would take up. 
 The Publilher laid he might put 
 . what Guards upon him he pleas'd, 
 provided he might but tranfcribe it. 
 No, fays he, that's inconvenient too ; 
 but I will order one of my Under- 
 Librarians, I can confide in, to write 
 you out an exad: Copy, with the 
 Secretary's Letter, and my own Re- 
 marks, if you think them worth 
 your Notice ; which he did moil 
 faithfully ; generoufly commanding 
 the Tranfcriber, at the fame time^ 
 not to take any thing of me for his 
 Pains. Thus this curious Manufcript 
 came to Hand, to the infinite Satit- 
 fadion of the Publilher, and he 
 hopes it will prove no lefs to the 
 Readers, in the Perufal of it. The 
 Character of Signor Gaudentio crainot 
 be cail'd in QuelHon ; nor is the 
 Publiflier a Perlon fo little vers*d iu 
 the Nature and Ways of the Italiam, 
 as to be impos'd upon. The Tranfl 
 
 b 2. lation 
 
xli The PuhUJber 
 
 lation from the Italian is as exadl as 
 poffible. This is the previous Ac- 
 count the Publifher thought proper 
 to give of this Affair. 
 
 K B. Great Part of the Matters 
 treated of in thefe Me?noirf, being 
 tranfaded in a Roman-Catholick Coun- 
 try, and among Roman- Catholickt^ the 
 Reader muft not wonder, if they 
 fpeak of their Rehgion, as if it were 
 the only true one in the World. 
 
 It will not be improper to admo- 
 nifh the Reader, not to difcredit im- 
 mediately fome of the Relations con- 
 tained in thefe Memoirs \ but to fuA 
 pend his Judgment, till he has read 
 Signor Rhedi's Remarks ; particular- 
 ly, when he comes to the Originc 
 and Antiquity of the People the Au- 
 thor fpeaks of. The Learned will 
 find in them fuch a vaft Knowledge 
 in Hiftory, and the moft intricate 
 Remains of Antiquity, as will ren- 
 der them very well worth their No- 
 tice. The fame Signor Rhedi tola 
 the Publiflier, he had enquired into 
 
 what 
 
to the Deader, xlii 
 
 what happened at Venice', particu- 
 larly what the Author mentions of 
 Monfieur Godart, one of the moft 
 improbable Parts of his Adventures, 
 and found the Whole to be juft as 
 he relates it. 
 
 The Publiflier is fatisfied the Rea- 
 der will be extreamly forry, as well 
 as himfelf, for the Lofs of fome 
 sheets belonging to the middle Part 
 of this Hiftory. How they came to 
 be loft, he cannot tell ; but he fup- 
 pofes, by the Incivility of the Cuf^ 
 tom-houfe Officers at Marfeilles ; for 
 they tumbled over his Effeds at a 
 very rude rate, and while he had an 
 Eye on other Matters, they either 
 took fome of the loofe Sheets or 
 they dropp'd out in the Tumbling ; 
 that he was very much troubled, 
 when he came to mifs them in the 
 Courfe of the Tranflation. 
 
 T HE 
 
niz .^:'T^ 
 
THE 
 
 MEMOIRS 
 
 O F 
 
 SIg' Gaudentio di Lucca. 
 
w* jL 
 
 / 
 
 ^ k. 
 
(x ) 
 
 INTRODUCTION 
 
 To the following 
 
 MEMOI 
 
 Giving an Account of the Caufes and 
 Manner of the Seizure of Signer Gau^ 
 Bentio di Lucca, and the tirft Part of 
 his Examination : In a Letter from the 
 Secretary of the Inquisition to Sig- 
 ner Rhedi. 
 
 The Italian Titles of 1 1. l u s t r i s s i m o, ib''. are left out, 
 as not us'd in our Language. 
 
 SIR, 
 
 ]| H E prefent Turn of f Affairs, 
 which fills the Heads of other 
 People with Intrigues of State, 
 gives me an Opportunity oi 
 returning my beft Thanks, for 
 the rich Prefent you were pleafed to fend 
 to a Pcrfon who was yours before by the 
 
 i" He either means the Death of fome Pope, or fome ex- 
 traordinary Crifis in the Romt/h Oecooomy. 
 
 B 
 
 flriaeft 
 
2 INTRODUCTION. 
 
 ftriaefl: Tics of Gratitude. The Cabi- 
 net, with the other Curiolities, came fafe 
 to Hand, and fliew, that whoever is fo 
 happy, as to obHge Signor Khedi^ fows a 
 
 Seed which returns a Hundred-fold. 
 
 The Poverty of our * ProfelTion, hinders 
 me from being capable of making a fuita- 
 ble Return for your magnificent Prefent; 
 but nothing ought to take from me the 
 Deiire of expreiling my Acknowledgments. 
 In Teftimony of it, and to fliew that Po- 
 verty itfelf may be grateful, I fend you 
 by the Bearer, the Account of a Man, 
 whofe Life has filfd our Inquifitors with 
 Wonder and Aftoniflimcnt. He has been 
 in the Inquifition at this Place about Two 
 Years : We have employed all our Engines 
 to find out the Truth of what he is, and 
 can find nothing material againft him, 
 imlefs it be the unheard of Account he 
 gives of himfelf. Our firff Inquifitor has 
 obliged him to write his own Life, with 
 all the Particulars, as fuccinc^tly as pofli- 
 blc, adding Threats withal, that if we 
 find him in a falfe Story, it fhall be worfe 
 for him. He tells us (Irange Stories of 
 one of the moft beautiful Countries in the 
 World, in the very Heart of the vaft De- 
 farts of Africa^ inacceflible to all the 
 
 * The Secretary was a D3W«if<?;/ir>v/"; the Domlnicam 
 being Mailers of the Inquijition. 
 
 Worl4 
 
INTRODUCTION. .3 
 
 World but by one Way, which feems as 
 extraordinary as the Country it leads to. 
 As you are a Perfon of univerfal Know- 
 ledge in Antiquity, and an Admirer of 
 Curiofities of this Nature, I fend you a 
 Copy of the Manufcript to have your Opi- 
 nion of it ,• and to give you as cl'ear a No- 
 tion of the Man as I can, you muft know 
 that about three Years before he was taken 
 up by the Inqiiifition^ he took a neat 
 Houfe at bologna in Quality of a Phyfi- 
 cian, palling thro' fome flight E,xamina- 
 tion for Form fake, and paying his Fees 
 as is cuftomary with Strangers. His Name, 
 as he fays, is Gaiidentio di Lucca "^5 ori- 
 ginally of Lucca-^ but born in Rcigtifa f ,- 
 he is a tall handfome clean-built Man, as 
 you fliall fee in a Thoufand, of a very 
 Polite Addrefs, and fomething very en-^ 
 gaging in his Afpci^t, as befpeaks your 
 Favour at firft Sight. He feems to be near 
 Fifty j he is a Man of good Senfc and fine 
 Difcourfc, tho' his Accent is not pure Ita- 
 lian^ becaufe, as he fays, of his living fo 
 long in Foreign Countries. He fpeaks ai- 
 moft all the Oriental Languages, and has 
 a very competent fliare of other Parts of 
 Learning, as well as that of his Profellion. 
 We fent to Ragtifa and Lucca to enquire 
 
 * A little Repulick in Italy. 
 
 f A Republic!, in Dalmatia, and Tributary to the Turks. 
 
 B 2 about 
 
4 introduction: 
 
 about him, but could not get the leafi: In- 
 formation of his being known in thofc 
 Places. The reafcn of which he has gi- 
 ven in his Life, as you will fee ; only at 
 Hagu/a^ fomc People remembered there 
 had been a Merchant of that Name, a- 
 bout five and twenty or thirty Years ago, 
 who w^as either loft, or taken by Pirates, 
 and never heard of more. 
 
 The Inquifition, as you know^, Sir, has 
 Eyes every where, efpecially on Strangers j 
 "we kept an Eye upon him from his iirfl fet- 
 ling at Bolog77(i : But as we proceed with 
 Juitice as well as Caution, we could not 
 difcover any fufficient reafonto take him 
 up. His Life was as regular as that 
 of others • of his ProfelTion, which he did 
 not follow, very clofely, but only for 
 Form fake, being chiefly confuitcd at his 
 ow^n Houfe, on Account of fome extraor- 
 dinary Secrets he pretended to be Mafter 
 of, without making any Yifits but to La- 
 dies with whom he grew in prodigious Re- 
 queft. They faid he had a Sweetnefs and 
 Eafe in Converfation, that was almoft be- 
 witching. This unaccountable Fondnefs 
 of the Ladies gave us the firft Sufpicion, 
 left he fliould inftill fome ill Notions into 
 that Sex fo credulous W'here they are fond, 
 and fo incredulous ' where they diflike. 
 He profeffed himfelf a Koman Catholick ; 
 feem'd to have a competent Knowledge, 
 
 and 
 
INTRODUCTION. s 
 
 and even Veneration, confidering he was 
 a Phyiician, for our Holy Myfteries : So we 
 had nothing againfl: hin:i on that Account. 
 We could not find that he wanted for 
 Money, though he lived rather genteely 
 than magnificently : We found on fevcral 
 Occaiions, that Money, the Idol of other 
 People, was the lead of his Carej and 
 that he had fonie fecret Springs we could 
 not fathom. His Houfe was but decent- 
 ly though coriQpleatly furniiVd for one of 
 his Rank -, he kept two Servants in Livery 
 and a Valet de Chambre ; who being of 
 this Town, knew no more of him than we 
 did. There was an elderly Lady we thought 
 had been his Wife, but it provM fhe was 
 not i a Foreigner for whom he feem'd to 
 have a great Refped:, and her Maid a 
 Foreigner alfo ; and an elderly Maid-fer- 
 vant of the Town. We have them all fe- 
 cur'd in the Inquifition, tho' he does not 
 know it. She has the remains of a wonder- 
 ful fine Face, and an Air of Quality -, flie 
 fpeaks a broken Italian^ fo that we can 
 get very little out of her, but what agrees 
 with his Account. I am confident you 
 will rather be pleas'd with thefe particu- 
 lars than think them tedious. There is 
 fomething fo extraordinary in the Man, I 
 ought not to omit the leaft Circumftance; 
 we had feveral Confultations about him 
 in our Inquifition^ as well as our T^eiger 
 B ; Intel-. 
 
6 INTRODUCTION. 
 
 Intelligences, but could clifcover nothing 
 of Moment; we examin'd what Cor- 
 refpondcnts he had from other Parts, 
 and ordcr'd the Poftmaftcr to fend us all 
 his Letters^ which wc could cafily open, 
 and fealup again with the greateft Nice- 
 ty, but we could not find any he had, 
 exfcept one about a moderate Rent of Four 
 Thoufand Crowns in the Bank oi Genoa ; 
 and two from a Lady of your City of 
 (J^cnice) whom wc difcover^d to be a cele- 
 brated Curtezan, who fubfcribes herfelf 
 Facilla. We find by her lad Letter, that 
 he had given her very good Advice^ and 
 perfuaded her to become a. Penitent^ you'll 
 oblige us if you will enquire what ihe is. 
 Amorous Intrigues not falling under our 
 Cognizance, wc let him aJonc for fomc 
 time, having a Perfon under our Exami- 
 nanon on Sufpicion of being a yew in 
 Mafquerade, and a Spy from the Grand 
 Signer, which kept us cmploy'd for fome 
 time. Befides, the good Advice he gave 
 the Curtezan, and he being paft his Prime, 
 made us Ici^s fufpicious of the Ladies j we 
 fuppos'd they had Recourfc to him on Ac- 
 count of fomc Female Infirmities. Tho' 
 the young Ladies were moll: fond of him, 
 his Behaviour to them was more an endea- 
 ring Sweetnefs and Courtefy, than Love, 
 with very little Signs, at Icall: he had the 
 Addrefs to conceal them, of more Kind- 
 
 nefs 
 
INTRODUCTION. 7 
 
 nefs for one than another. In fine, Pcr- 
 fons of the beft Rank, of both Sexes, be- 
 gan to have a prodigious Hking for his 
 Company ; he ftole upon them infcnfibly. 
 As he incrcas'd in this good Opinion, he 
 open'a himfelf with greater Freedom ^ he 
 made no iliew at all at lirft, more than a 
 fine Prefcnce and a polite Addrefs ; But 
 after further Acquaintance, they difco- 
 ver'd ho was niafter of mod Sciences, and 
 fhew^d a fuperior Genius in any thing they 
 could difcourfe of. We employed proper 
 Perfons to infinuate themfeivcs into his 
 good Liking, and confult him as a Friend 
 on feveral nice Points j but he had fuch a 
 Prefencc of Mind_, yet appeared fo iincon- 
 ftrain'd in his Difcourfe, that they own'd 
 themfelves Novices in Comparifon to him. 
 If they talk'd of Politicks, hefaid very ju- 
 dicioufly, it was not for Men of his Rank, 
 to meddle with Aifairs of State, or exa- 
 mine what Perfons did in the Cabinet. 
 If of Religion, he feem'd to underftand 
 it very well for one of his Profefiion, that 
 nothing came from him but what wascon- 
 fonant to the Catholick Faith j exprefiing 
 on all Occalions a great Deference for the 
 Authority of the Church. But ftill the 
 more Sagacious w^ere pcrfwaded fomething 
 more than ordinary lay hid under that fpe- 
 cious Cover. At length talking one Day 
 with fome of our Spies about the Cufcoms 
 
 B 4, of 
 
8 INTRODUCTION. 
 
 of Foreign Countries, he faid, he had met 
 with a Nation in one of the remoteft Parts 
 of the World, who, tho' they were Hea- 
 thenSy had more Knowledge of the Law 
 of Nature and common Morality, than 
 the moft civiliz'd Chriftians, This was 
 immcdiateiy carried to us, and explained 
 as a Rejection on the Chrifiian Rehgion. 
 Another Time^ as he had a great Know- 
 ledge in P]iilofophy,he dropt fome Words as 
 il he had fome Skill in judiciary Aftrology ^ 
 which you know. Sir, is a Capital Crime 
 with us. We were as good as rcfolv'd to 
 feizc him, when wc were determin'd to it 
 by the following Accident. Two of the 
 moft beautiful Women in all bologna had 
 fallen in Love with him, cither on Ac- 
 count of the Handfomenefs of his Pcrfon, 
 or by a Whimiicalnefs peculiar to fome 
 Women, becaufe he was a Stranger, or 
 thinking he might keep their Secrets bet- 
 ter under the Cloak of being a Phyfician ; 
 or in fine, drawn in by fome Love Potion, 
 or other, we can't tell j but the Matter 
 grew to fuch a Height, that on his fhew- 
 ing more Favour to one than the other, 
 our Women being moft violent in their 
 Jealoufy as well as Love, the other to be 
 revenged, faid he had bewitch'd her; 
 which fhe was fare of, for that, (ince. the 
 very firft time Jlie faw him, flie thought 
 there was fomething more in hin), than 
 
 ever 
 
IHTRODU.CTION. 9 
 
 ever flie faw in any Man in her Life. Be- 
 fide, fhe faid, fhe had often found him 
 drawing Circles and Figures on Paper, 
 which to her look'd hke Conjuration. 
 Her Friends immediately inform'd our 
 Fathers of it ; fo we refolv'd to feizc him, 
 if it were but to find out his Secrets, and 
 fee what the Man was. There was ano- 
 ther Reafon induced us to it, which the 
 World will hardly believe, tho' it is Mat- 
 ter of Fa(5l : That is, w^e were afraid, the 
 Man would be Airafifmated by fome fecret 
 Means or other, for being fo great with 
 our Ladies ^ fo, to fave his Life, and not 
 lofe the Difcoveries we expe(3: from him, 
 it wasdetermin'd he fliould be feiz'd imme- 
 diately. Accordingly, I was deputed with 
 three Under-Officer-s^ to do the Bufmefs, 
 but with all the Caution and Secrefy ufual 
 in fuch Cafes. It was done about Mid- 
 night, when we had watch'd one of the 
 two Ladies that he favour'd moft, into 
 his Houfe. We went in a clofc Coach, 
 and myfelf and one of the Officers flop- 
 ping at the Door, as foon as the Servant 
 open'd it, fteppM in, telling him what we 
 were, and charging him at his Peril not 
 to make the leaft Noife. The Servants 
 being Italians^ and knowing the Confe- 
 quence of the leaft Rcfiftance, ftood as 
 mute as Fifnes. We immediately went 
 into the Inner Parlour, and contrary to 
 
 our 
 
to INTRODUCTION. 
 
 our Expecftation, found our Gentleman, 
 the young Lady with her Governante,and 
 the elderly Lady that belong d to him, fit- 
 ting very decently at an elegant Collation 
 of Fruits and Sweetmeats, brought as we 
 fuppos'd by the fair Lady as a Prefent. 
 At our firft Appearance, he feem'd more 
 furpriz'd than terrified 5 as wo make no 
 Ceremonies in thofe CafeSj we told him 
 our Errand, and commanded him to come 
 along with us without the leaft Refiftance^ 
 or clfc it fliould be worfe for him. Then 
 we turn'd to the young Lady, whofe 
 Friends and Perfon we knew, and told her 
 we wondcr'd to find her in fuch Company, 
 at fuch unfeafonable Hours ; but on Ac- 
 count of her Friends, would not meddle 
 with her, but bid her for her own Sake, 
 as file tendcr'd her Life and Honour, ne- 
 ver to take the leaft Notice of the Affair. 
 She trembling, and-ready to faint away, 
 after fome Hcfitation, was able to fay, 
 that (ho was come to confult about her 
 Health ^ that (he brought her Governante 
 along with her to take off all Sufpicion, 
 and as fhe was Miftrefs of herfelf and For- 
 tune, it was notunufual for Perfons of her 
 Rank to be out at that Time, confidering 
 the Heat of the Seafon. She had fcarce 
 pronounc'd thefe Words, when fhe fell di- 
 rectly into a Swoon, Her Governante hav- 
 ing Things proper for fuch Occalionsj re- 
 
 viv'd 
 
INTRODUCTION, it 
 
 viv'd and comforted her as well as flie 
 could. But when we were going to take 
 the Gentleman along with us, the elder- 
 ly Lady, to whom we fuppofe he had 
 told his Misfortune, infteacl of failing in- 
 to Fits, flew at us like a Tigrefs, with a 
 Fury I never fawin any Human Creature 
 in my Life ; tearing at us with her Nails 
 and Teeth, as if fhe had been in the mod 
 raging^ Madnefs. We, not accuftomed 
 to Rehitance, confidering our Chara<fter 
 and Cloth, and fhe a Woman, were al- 
 moft motionlefs, when the Servants at the 
 Noife came up, we commanded them in 
 the Name of the Inqiiifition to feize her: 
 The Gentleman interpos'd in our Favour, 
 faying fome Words to her in an unknown 
 Language, which he alTur'd us, was to 
 beg her to be pacified, as flie tendred his 
 Life as well her own ; then the violence 
 of her PalTion turn'd another way, and 
 threw her into the ftrongefl Convulfions I 
 ever faw. By this Time the other two 
 officers were come up, wondring at our 
 Delay, and to find Refiftance againft the 
 Officers of the Inquilition. The Gentle- 
 man, with a becoming SubmilTion, rather 
 than Fear, yielded himfelf a Prifoner, 
 and begg'd us to pardon the fuddcn Tranf- 
 ports of a Perfon unacquainted with our 
 Cufloms, whofc Life in fome manner de- 
 pended on his. That Ihe was a Terfinn 
 
 . Lady 
 
12 introduction: 
 
 Lady of Quality, brought into this Coun- 
 try by great Misfortunes, who had once 
 fav'd his Life, as he had been afterwards 
 Inftrumental in faving hers. That flie 
 was difpos'd to turn Chrijiiaiiy with In- 
 tention after fome time to end her Days 
 in a Convent. That for his own Part, re- 
 lying on his Innocence, he readily fub- 
 mitted to our Authority, and offcrM him- 
 felf to be carried wherever we plcas'd ; he 
 utter d all this with an Air of Conftancy 
 that was furprizing. We immediately 
 took him into the Coach, leaving two of 
 the Officers with the elderly Lady, and 
 commanding them and the Gentleman's 
 Servants not to ilir put of the Room till 
 further Orders. As foon as we arriv'd at 
 the Inqnifitiony we lodg'd him in a hand- 
 fome ftrong Room ,• not fo much like a 
 Criminal, as like a Perfon for whom we 
 had fome Rcfpcd. There we loft him to his 
 own Thoughts, and return'd to his Houfe 
 to fcize the elderly Lady and his Papers. 
 Having difmifs'd the young Lady and her 
 Governante before, I forgot to tell you, 
 that Signer Gaitdentio^ by our Permiffion^ 
 had fpoke to her coming out of her Fits 
 in Italian (for we would not let him 
 fpeak to her in the unknown Language, 
 for fear of a Combination) and with much 
 Pains made herunderftand, that he begg'd 
 her by all that was dear, to fubmit to 
 
 what- 
 
INTRODUCTIOR 13 
 
 whatever we fliould enjoin her,- afTurlng 
 her by that Means all would be well for 
 her Safety and his own, which laft Words 
 feem'd to give fome calm to her tempeftu- 
 ous Spirits. You may believe. Sir, we 
 were much furpriz'd at the Novelty of the 
 Thing, and the Account he gave of her 
 Quality. But often meeting with falfe 
 Stories in our Employment, that did not 
 hinder us from doing our Duty. So I 
 took her by the Hand with a great deal of 
 Refpe(5t, and put her into the Coach be- 
 tween my-felf and my Companion,- not 
 without Apprehenfions of fome extrava- 
 gant Follies, confidering the violence of 
 her Temper. But fhe continued pretty 
 fedate, only feem'd to be overwhelm'd 
 with Grief f we brought her to the In- 
 qiiifition^ and lodg'd her in a very hand- 
 fome Apartment feparate from the Con- 
 vent, on Account of her Sex \ with two 
 Waiting Women to attend her with all 
 Refped:, till we were better apprized of 
 the Truth of her Quality. This oblig'd 
 me to take another Journey to Signor 
 Qaiidentioi Houfe, to fecure his Papers, 
 with whatever elfe might contribute to 
 further our Difcovery. I found all Things 
 in the fame Order I left them ^ but being 
 extrcamly fatigued, I fat down to the 
 elegant Collation that was left, and after 
 a fmall Repaft, went to Bed in his Houfe, 
 
 tOi 
 
14 INTRODUCTION. 
 
 to have the Morning before us for fccur- 
 ing his Effeds. I feard up all the Papers 
 I could find, to examine them at more 
 Leifure, took an Inventory of all the 
 Moveables, that they might be reftor'd to 
 him in Cafe he were found Innocent ; and 
 font for a proper Officer to remain in the 
 Houfc,"\vho was to be rcfponfible for eve- 
 ry Thing. There were two little Cabi- 
 nets of curious Workmanfliip ; one of them, 
 as it appeared, belonged to him, the other 
 to the ftrange I.ady ; but being full of in- 
 tricate Drawers or Tills, we took them 
 both along with us. Thefo and the Pa- 
 pers we deliver d to the Head Inquifitors, 
 not being willing to proceed in either of 
 their Examinations, till we had got all 
 the Light we could, to find out the Truth, 
 for that was all our Aim j then we could 
 tell what Courfe to take Vv^ith them. We 
 plac'd two cunning Lay-Brothers, in the 
 Nature of Servants for Signer QatidentiOy 
 who were to infinuate themfelves into his 
 Favour by their kind Offices, compaffiona- 
 ting his Misfortunes, and advifing him to 
 difcover the whole Truth, in the Account 
 of his Life, Quality, Profeilion, Opinions, 
 and in fine, whatever Articles he was to 
 be interrogated on, to confefs ingenuoufly 
 what he knew : That that was the only 
 way to find Favour at the Hands of the 
 Inquifitors; that they pardon'd almoft all 
 
 Faulty 
 
INTRODUCTION, ij 
 
 Faults on a fincere ConfelTion, and an Af- 
 furance of Amendment. I vifited him 
 myfelf feveral Times before his Examina- 
 tion, and gave him the fame Advice and 
 Aflurance ; he promised me faithfully he 
 would; and fcem'd fo fteady and confirm'd 
 in his own Innocence^ with fuch an agree- 
 able, yet fincere way in his Difcourfe, as 
 really furpriz'd me, and caus'd me already 
 to be prejudiced in his Favour- adding 
 with a Smile, that the Hiftory of his 
 Life would admin ifter more caufe of Won- 
 der than Indignation. Not to be too 
 
 particular, the Chief of the Inquifition, 
 with myfelf along with them, fet to the 
 Scrutiny of his Papers, we examined them 
 Tvith all the Care imaginable, but could 
 find nothing to ground any material Ac- 
 cufation, except fome Imperfed: Memoirs 
 of the Cuftoms of a Country and People 
 unheard of to us, and I believe to all the 
 World befide, with fome odd Charaders, 
 or Words, which had no Affinity with 
 any Language or Chara^ers we ever faw. 
 We difcover'd he had a great Knowledge 
 in Natural Philofophy, with fome Re- 
 marks that were very curious. There 
 was a rough Draught of a Map of a Coun- 
 try, with Towns, Rivers, Lakes, Or. 
 but no Climate mark'd down. In lliort, 
 all his Papers contain'd nothing but fome 
 fmall Sketches of Philofophy and Phyfick, 
 
 with 
 
s6 INTRODUCTION. 
 
 with fome Pieces of Poetry of an uncom- 
 mon Tafte. Neither could we find any 
 Footfteps of Judiciary Aftrology 3 or Calcu- 
 lations of Nativities, of which we had the 
 greateft Sufpicion j only a Pair of Globes, a 
 Set of Mathematical Inftruments^Charts of 
 Navigation, Forms of unknown Trees and 
 Plants, and fuch like Things, as all Gen- 
 tlemen who delight in Travelling are cu- 
 rious to have. There were indeed fome 
 Lines, Circles, Segments of Circles, which 
 we fuppos'd the informing Lady meant ; 
 but looked like an Attempt to find out 
 the Longitude, rather than any Magical 
 
 Schemes. His Books were of the fame 
 
 Nature j nothing of Herefy that we could 
 fee, but fuch as belong'd to a Man of 
 Learning. There were feveral common 
 Books ot Devotion, fuch as are approved 
 by our Church, and fcem'd pretty well 
 us'd j by which we judg'd him to be really 
 a Ro777a7i CathoUcki and a Perfon of no 
 bad Morals. But as nothing looks fo like 
 an honcft Man as a Knave, this did not 
 take away all our Sufpicion. — When we 
 came to open the Cabinets, in the firft of 
 them, which belong'd to him, we found 
 in one of the Drawers about four Hun- 
 dred and fifty Kommi Crowns, with other 
 fmall Money, and fome Foreign Coin 
 along with it, as IttrhJJo Sequins, and 
 fome we knew nothing of. The Sum not 
 
 being 
 
INTRODUCTION. 17 
 
 being very extraordinary, we could con- 
 clude nothing from thence. In another 
 Drawer we found feveral Precious Stones, 
 fomc Set, fome Unfetj of a very great 
 Vaiue, fo far from being Counterfeit, that 
 we never faw any fo brilliant. Befides, 
 feveral Pieces of Native Gold, of fuch 
 Finenefs, as nothing with us can come 
 up to it. In a Third, we found a fmall 
 Heap of Medals moft of Gold, but of an 
 unknown Stamp and Antiquity. There 
 were Outlandifh Stones of odd Figures 
 enough, which to others might look like 
 Talifmans, but we took them for fome 
 out-of-the-way Cur ioli ties. In a private 
 Drawer in the Center of the Cabinet, 
 there was fomething wrapt up in a Piece 
 of Green Silk of wonderful Finenefs, all 
 embroider'd with Hearts and Hands join'd 
 together, wrought in Gold with prodigi- 
 ous Art, and intermix'd with different 
 Flowers, unknown in our Part of the 
 World i in the midft of it was an Azure 
 Stone, as large as the Palm of one's Hand, 
 fet round with Rubies of very great 
 Value, on which was moft artfully paint- 
 ed in Miniature, a Woman at length, 
 holding a little Boy in her left Hand, the 
 moft beautiful Creauirc that ever Eyes 
 beheld ; clad likewife in Green Silk fpan- 
 gled with Golden Suns ,• their Complexion 
 was fomething darker than that of our 
 C Italian 
 
i8 INTRODUCTION. 
 
 Italian Ladies ; but the Features efpeci- 
 ally the Woman\ fo uncommonly beau- 
 tiful as if flie had been of another Species, 
 and under was cngrav'd with a Diamond 
 in a Modern Hand, ^iiefio jclo, Yovi may 
 befurc. Sir, this rai^'d our Ideas of the 
 Man j at firft we thought he had the Se- 
 cret of the Philofophcr's Stone : But in 
 all his Inventory we could find no Imple- 
 ments of that Art. Then we thought he 
 niuft have been fome famous Pirate ; or 
 one who had robb'd the Cabinet of fome 
 Great Prince, and come to live at Bologna 
 in that private Manner, under the difguife 
 of a Phylician. But having been three 
 Years in the Town, if it had been any 
 'European Prince, the World would have 
 had an Account of it before now : So we 
 concluded that either what he faid of that 
 unknown Country was true, or that he 
 had robbM fome of the JEaftern Princes, 
 and got off clear with his Prize. But the 
 Picture of the Woman made us incline to 
 think, he had married fome Outlandifli 
 Queen, and on her Death had retired 
 with his Effeds. The reft of the Draw- 
 ers were full of Natural Curiofities of Fo- 
 reign Plants, Roots, Bones of Animals, 
 Birds, Infcvfls, C^f . from whence very like- 
 ly he took his Phyfical Secrets. The 
 other Cabinet which belong'd to the el- 
 derly Lady was very Rich, but nothing 
 
 nigh 
 
INTRODUCTION, i^ 
 
 nigh the firft j th^re were a great many 
 fmall Jewels, and fome very tine Pearls, 
 with Bracelets, Pendants, and other curi- 
 ous Ornaments belonging to Women j and 
 a little Pidure of a very handfome Man 
 about Thirty, nothing like our Gentlc- 
 man, in a Warlike Dre fs, with a TiirkiJIj 
 Scymitar by his Side. By his Mein he 
 feem'd to be a Man of Note, but we could 
 find nothing that could give us any Inlight 
 what they were : So that we were at a 
 Lofs with all our Sagacity what to think 
 of the matter, or to find any juft Caufe to 
 keep them in the Inquijition : For tho' we 
 don't difcover our Motives to other Peo- 
 ple, we never proceed againft any one but 
 on very ftrong Sufpicions. On which Ac- 
 count we were refolv'd to make his Con- 
 finement as eafy as pofTiblc, till we could 
 fee further into the Affair. We had 
 thoughts of examining the Woman firft, 
 to get what we could from her for his In- 
 terrogatories ,• but flie not underftanding 
 Italian enough, we fent to Venice with 
 our accuftom'd Privacy, for fome of your 
 People, that trade to the Jue^jant^ to be 
 our Interpreters. In the mean Time we 
 refolv'd to try what we could get out of 
 him by his own ConfeiTion,- fo we fent for 
 him before us. He came into the Room with 
 a modell Unconcernednefs, that rather ar- 
 gued Wonder than Apprehenfion : We 
 C 2 had 
 
20 INTRODUCTION. 
 
 had the CabiHet and Jewels all before us, 
 flievv'd them to him all together, with the 
 Inventory of his Goods, aifuring him they 
 fliould be forth-coming, in Cafe we were 
 appnz dof his Innocence j but withal ad- 
 vifing him, as w'cll as commanding him to 
 confefs the Truth, and then not a Hair 
 of his Head fliould be touch'd. But if 
 ever \vc caught him in a falfe Story, all 
 fliould be confifcated, and he never fee 
 Sun or Moon more. He aflur'd us with 
 great Refpedt, he would own the Truth 
 to every Thing we fliould interrogate him 
 about, in an Accent that would have per- 
 fuaded any one of his Sincerity, humbly 
 defiring to know what Accufations we 
 had againfl: him. We anfwer'd. That 
 was not the Method of the lnqzufaio7i ; 
 but that he fliould anfwer diredtly to our 
 Interrogatories. As the Holy Office 
 chiefly concerns itfelf about Religion, 
 we ask'd him firft, what Religion he was 
 of. The Reafon of this was, becaufe, tho' 
 he profcfs'd himfelf a Roman CathoUck% 
 we were to keep up the Forms : Neither 
 did we know but that he might be fome 
 Jew ovTurkifJjS^y'm Mafquerade : Then 
 his Name ; Place of his Birth ; w^here he 
 was Educated i how he came by thofe 
 Jewels -y what was the Occadon of his 
 fetling at "Bologna^ who that elderly La- 
 dy was i in fine, every Thing in General 
 
 and 
 
INTRODUCTION. 21 
 
 and Particular, we could thinkof atiirftjthe 
 better to compare his Anfwers afterwards. 
 He told us he was a Roman Catbolick 
 bred and born ; always profefs'd himfelf 
 fuch ; and in that Faith would live and 
 die, let what will happen to him. He cx- 
 plain'd himfelf on the chief Heads, to fliew 
 that he was well inftrudted in his Reli- 
 gion : He appeal'd to all the Enquiries 
 we could make, whether he had not be- 
 hav'd as a Roman Catholick on all Occa- 
 fions, naming a Capuchin in the Town, 
 who was his Father ConfelTor ', to whom, 
 he faid, he gave leave to declare all he 
 knew on that Head. As to his Name, he 
 faid, his true Name was Gatidentio di 
 Luce a J tho' born at Ragtifa. That his 
 Father was a Merchant trading to the 
 Le'vaiit ; which Employment he delign'd 
 to follow himfelf i but in his firft Voyage 
 was taken by aa Algerinc Pirate, who 
 carried him a Slave to Grand Cairo, and 
 fold him to a Merchant, of what Country 
 no-body knew, which Merchant took him 
 along with him, thro' the vaft Defarts of 
 Jfrica, by a Way he would defcribe to 
 vis if we required it, till he came to a 
 Country, perhaps, the mofl Civilized and 
 Polite in the whole Univerfe. In that 
 Country he liv'd near Five and Twenty 
 Years, till on the Death of his Wife, and 
 his only furviving Son, whofe Pidures were 
 in that^Cabinet j the melancholly Difafter 
 C 3 made 
 
2i INTRODUCTION. 
 
 made him induce his Father-in-law, who 
 was the Merchant that had firft bought 
 him, to take another Journey to Graiid 
 Cairo, from whence he might be able to 
 return to his Native Country. This the 
 Merchant, ( for lie pafs'd for fuch, tho' he 
 was a great Ruler in his own Country )com- 
 ply'd with ; But happening to come thither 
 when the Plague ragM in the City; his 
 Father-in-law and foveral of his Atten- 
 dants dy'd of iti leaving him Heir to moft 
 of his Effcds, and part of the Jewels we 
 faw before us. That being now entire- 
 ly at Liberty, he return 'd \n 2. French Sh\^ 
 trading from Marjei/les to t\\Q Levant^ 
 the Mafter*s Name was Francois Xavier 
 Qodart^ who by Agreement was to Land 
 him at Venice , but touching at Candy ^ 
 they accidentally fav'd the Life of that 
 elderly Lady, and brought her off along 
 with thern, for which they were purfued 
 by two T'lir'kiflj Veffels, and carried Prifo- 
 ners to Conftantinople^ but releas'd by the 
 Order of the Sultanefs Mother. That 
 Monlieur Godart was well known at Ve- 
 nice \ particularly by Signer Corridani an 
 eminent Merchant there, who could af- 
 fure us of the Truth of ivhat he faid. 
 That in fine, having ftaid fome Time at 
 Venice^ to fee the Curiofities and the 
 Carnival, an Affair relating to the young 
 Lady we faw with him^ when he was 
 
 feiz'd; 
 
INTRODUCTION. 23 
 
 feiz'd ; and the Love he had for Learning, 
 Sologiia being a famous Univerfity, in- 
 due a him to fettle there, where he pre- 
 fum'd we had been very well inform'd of 
 his Behaviour ever fince. This, faid he, 
 is the moft fuccind: Account I can give to 
 your Reverences, on the Interrogatories 
 you have propos'd to me ; tho' my Life 
 has been chequer'd with fuch a Variety 
 of Incidents, as v^^ould take a great deal of 
 Time to defcend to Particulars. We look'd 
 at one another with feme furprize at this 
 ftrahge Account, which he deliver'd with 
 fuch an Air of Steadinefs, as fcarce left 
 any room to doubt of the Truth of it. 
 However, our Superior turned to him, and 
 faid. Signer Gatidentio, we neither believe, 
 or disbelieve, what you tell us j as we con- 
 demn no Man without a full Convidion 
 of his Crime, fo we are not to be impos'd 
 upon, by the Accounts People may give 
 of themfelves; what is here before us, 
 fliews there is fomething extraordinary in 
 the Cafe. If we find you to be an Im- 
 poftor, yon fhall fufferas fuch ,• in the mean 
 Time, till we can be better inform'd, we 
 enjoin you to give in your whole Life, 
 with all Occurrences, except your private 
 Sins, if you have any, in Writing; which 
 you^ fhall read to us, and be crofs-exa- 
 minM, as we think proper. It will con- 
 cern you therefore to be very exa^, for 
 
 C 4 aprr 
 
24 INTRODUCTION. 
 
 nothing will pafs here but Innocence, or a 
 fin cere Repentance. 
 
 This, Sir, is the Manufcript I fend 
 you, given in by himfelf as order d; with 
 the Inquifitors Interrogatories as wc exa- 
 min'd it. Article by Article. Which In- 
 terrogatories, 1 have inferted as they were 
 propos'd, with a further Account at the 
 End, for the better clearing of the whole. 
 We beg you to inform yourfelf of the 
 Fads, which his Memoirs fay happened to 
 him at Venice^ particularly, about Mon- 
 iieur Godart, Befides, Sir, you that can 
 trace all the Branches of Antient Hiftory 
 to the Fountain Head, are able to form 
 a better Judgment of the probability of 
 his Relation. He is ftill in the Inquifition, 
 and offers himfelf to condud fome of our 
 MiiTionaries, to preach the Gofpel to thofe 
 unknown People. The Length of this 
 only gives me leave to affure you, 
 that 1 am with the greatefl Efteem ima- 
 ginable, 
 
 Sir^ &c. 
 
 BoiogriM, jR Jlif^o de St* Imrio* 
 
 July» 20. 1 721. 
 
 THE 
 
( »5) 
 
 THE 
 
 MEMOIRS 
 
 O F 
 
 Sig^ Gaudentio di Lucca. 
 
 SHOULD be infenfible Reve- 
 rend Fathers, if I were not high- 
 ly concern'd to find myfelf under 
 any Accufation before this Holy 
 Tribunal, which I revere with all the 
 Powers of my Soul : But, particularly, if 
 your Reverences iliould harbour any fini- 
 fter Opinion of my Religion ; for I was 
 born and bred up in the Bofom of the 
 moft Holy Catholick Church, as well as 
 my Parents before me ,• and in the De- 
 fence of which, my Anceftors fpent part 
 of their Blood againft the Infidels, and 
 Enemies of our Faith j and for which 
 
 Faith 
 
•5^ "The MEMOIRS^/ 
 
 Faith I am ready to lay down my Life, 
 But I am as yet a Stranger to your Reve- 
 rences, and on fcveral Accounts may be 
 liable to Sufpicion. Wherefore, I blame 
 not the Juftice of your Proceeding, but 
 rather extol your Goodnefs in allowing me 
 the Liberty to clear myfelf, by a true 
 andlincere Declaration of my whole Life, 
 wherein I own, have happen'd fcveral 
 aftonifliing and almoft incredible Occur- 
 ences j all vNhich 1 iliall lay before your 
 Keverences, according to the Commands 
 impos'd on me, with the utmoft Candour 
 and Sincerity. 
 
 My Name is Gaudentio di Lticca, I was 
 fo caird, bccaufc m y Anceftors were faid to 
 beoriginally of that Place. Tho' they had 
 been fettled for fome Time at Ragtifa, 
 where I was bom ; both which Places are 
 not fo far off, but they may be very well 
 known to your Reverences. My Father's 
 Name w^as Gafparino di Lticca^ hereto- 
 fore, a Merchant of fome Note in thofe 
 Parts ; my Mother was a Corjican Lady, 
 reported to be defcended from thofc who 
 had been the chief Perfonages in that 
 Ifland. My Grandfather was likewife a 
 Merchant: But, my Great Grandfather, 
 Bernardino di JLiicca^ was a Soldier, and 
 Captain of the great Teener ios own Gal- 
 ley, ( I ) who was General for the Vene- 
 
 netians^ 
 
Signor Gaudentio di Lucca, ^j 
 tianSy in the famous Battle of Lepanto 
 againft the lurks. We had a Tradition 
 in our Family, that he was Venerios Son 
 by a Grecian Lady of great Qiialityj 
 fome fay defcended from the Taleologi, 
 who had been Emperors of Conflantinople^ 
 But Hie dying in Childbed, and they hav^ 
 ing been only privately married^ V'enerio 
 bred him up as the Son of a Friend of his 
 who was kill'd in the Wars. That fa- 
 mous Battle in which the ChriJiianSy and 
 Venerio got fo great Renown again ft the 
 Ttirks^ inftead of raifing my great Grand- 
 father's Fortune, was the Occafion of his 
 retiring from the Wars, and turning Mer- 
 chant. The Reafon was this, Venerio the 
 Venetian Admiral, had caused a Spanijh 
 Captain to be hung up at the Yard-Arm 
 for Mutiny i (2) which fevere Difcipline 
 fo difpleas'd i>on John of Juftria^ Gene- 
 ralijjimo of the whole Fleet ^ that after 
 the Battle, the Venetians^ to appcafe ^on 
 John^ and not to be depriv'd of the Succours 
 of the Spaniards againft the T^tirks^ were 
 forc'd to facrifice Vefierios Honour to the 
 Refentment of the Spaniards ^ and put him 
 out of CommifTion. (3) After this Dif- 
 grace, Venerio retirMi and my Great 
 Grandfather, whofe Fortune depended on 
 his, having been bred up to the Sea, turn'd 
 Merchant, or rather Privateer againft the 
 
 Moors 5 
 
28 ^/je MEMOIRS of 
 
 Moors ; and with the Knights of Mdha^ 
 not only did great Service againft them, 
 but made a confiderable Fortune in the 
 World. 
 
 Remarks of Signer Rhedi. 
 
 (O'TPHIS part of the Account is certainly true; there was 
 -■- fuch a Captain in the Lift of the Officers in that fa- 
 mous Battle. 
 
 (2) 'Tis likewife true, that (here was fuch a Quarrel be- 
 tween Doit John of Aujirla, the Generaliflimo, and Venerio 
 Admiral of the Venetian Gallies; which had like to have pat 
 the whole Chrijfi/in Fieet at Variance together, before the 
 Battle, and ruin'd the Hopes of all Chrijlendom. The Occafion 
 was, as he relates it; Z)o« ^(?/5'/7 as Generaliffimo, viewing the 
 whole Fleet before the Fight, and finding the Venetian Gal- 
 lies too thinly mann'd, order'd four Thoufand Spaniards to be 
 put on Board the faid Gallies. But one Mutio Tortona, a 
 Spanijh Captain, proving Mutinous, after a great many injuri- 
 ous Words, came to Blows with the Captain of the Venetian 
 Galley where he was ; upon which the whole Fleet fell to't. 
 Venerio hearing the Uproar, fent his own Captain to fee what 
 was the Matter ; but the proud Spaniards trezted him no bet- 
 ter than they did the reft; fo that Venerio himfelf wat. forc'd 
 to come toappeafe them ; but feeing the Spanijh Captain perfift 
 in his mutinous Temper, and the Affront he had put upon 
 his Captain, who was reported to be his Son, order'd Tor- 
 tona and his Antient to be hung at the Yard-Arm. At this all 
 the Spaniards in the Fleet were up in Arms, and threaten'd to 
 cut the Venetians to pieces, but by the Interpofition of the 
 other Generals, the Matter was made up till after the Fight : 
 When Venerio, who had behav'd with incomparable Valour, 
 and according to Den John's own ConfefTion, was the chief 
 Occafion of the Vidlory ; to appeafe the haughty Spaniard, 
 had his Commiffion taken from him, and was recall'd by the 
 Senate. 
 
 (3) It w.'^s Fufcarini, who was made General of the Vene- 
 tians in VtHerio^i Stead. 
 
 Every 
 
Signer Gaupentio of Lucca, i^ 
 
 Everyone who is the leaft acquainted with Hiftory, knows 
 that the Battle oi Lepanto was the greateft Sea-fight that ever 
 was fought between the Chriftians and Turks; and the ViftoJ 
 ry on the Chrijlians Side the moft fignal. The Spavi/h Gal- 
 lics were commanded by Do}i Johfi of Aujlria, Generalif- 
 fimo : The ?ope% Gallies, by the famous ColoTina : The 
 Genoefes by old Dorio, who had gain'd fo much Renown a- 
 gainft the Turks and French, under Charles V. T\\&Venetians 
 by the great Venerio, one of the brav eft Soldiers of his Time. 
 Hal'j the Turk, Great BalTa of the Sea, was flain, and almofl: 
 all the Turkijh commanding Officers kill'd or taken. Among 
 the Prifoner?, were Halfs two Sons, Nephews to the Grand 
 Signor. Of the common Soldiers of the Turks, were flain 
 Two and Thirty Thoufand: A Hundred and Forty-one of the 
 Enemies Gallies were taken. Forty funk or burnt, of Galliots 
 md other fmall VelTels were taken about Sixty. Vide The 
 TurkiJ}} Hiftory, and other Accounts of this famous Battle, and 
 the whole Affair as is there related. The Battle was fought on 
 the 7th QlO£tobery 1571- 
 
 Continuation oj the MEMOIR S. 
 
 BUT, to return to myfelf, my Father 
 having a plentiful Fortune, took particu- 
 lare Care of the Education of his Child- 
 ren 5 he had only two Sons, of whom I 
 was the youngeft, and a Daughter who 
 died young. Finding I had a great Incli- 
 nation to Learning, he promoted it, by 
 providing me with the bell Mafters, till I 
 I was •fit to go the Univerfity. The 
 Knowledge of Languages, being of great 
 Ufe as well as Ornament to young Gen- 
 tlemen, he himfelf, by way of Recreation, 
 taught me that mix'd Language call'd 
 Lingua Fravca^ fo neccffary in Eaftern 
 
 Coun- 
 
3^ 77^^ MEMOIRS ^/ 
 
 Countries : It is made up of Italian^ Tar^ 
 hflh Terjian^ and Arabian^ or rather a 
 Jargon of allLanguages together. He fcarce 
 ever fpoke to us but in that Language^ 
 faying we might learn Latm from our 
 Matters, and our Mother-Tongue from 
 our Play-fellows. The fame Reafon in- 
 due d him to fend me to the famous Uni- 
 verfity of Taris to learn French^ at the 
 fame time with my other Studies. I liv'd 
 in the College des ^itatre Nations^ and 
 maintain'd my Thefes of Univerfal Phi- 
 lofophy under tlie celebrated Monfieur 
 5Dw Hamel^ who was one of the firft in 
 the Univeriity, who decry'd Ariftotle\ 
 Philofophy, and lean'd towards the Opi- 
 nions of i>e[cartes. 
 
 Secretary* Here the Inquifitors mut- 
 ter'd a little, fearing he was inclined to 
 the Copernican Syftem, w^hich has been 
 condemned at Kome. But, fince it re- 
 garded Philofophical Matters only^ they 
 pafs*d it over. 
 
 I was entring into my nineteenth Year, 
 and had fome Thoughts of taking to the 
 Church ; when my Brother wrote me the 
 melancholly Account of my Father and 
 Mother*s Death, and the unfortunate Oc- 
 cafion of it; which in fhort was. That 
 having loft his richeft Ship with all his 
 Effeds by Pirates, and his chief Fa6tor at 
 Smyrna being gone off, his other Cor- 
 
 refpon dents 
 
Signor Gaudentio di Lucca. 31 
 
 rcfpond nts came upon him thickj he was 
 not in a Condition to anfwer their Calls, 
 whxh threw him and my Mother into fo 
 deep a Melaricholy, that it broke their 
 Hearts, dying in three Weeks one after 
 the other. My Brother told me he was 
 not able to maintain me at the Univerfi- 
 ty, as I liad been ; but acquainted me, 
 he had made a fliift to rig out a liriaU 
 VefTel, wherein he liad put his All i and 
 invited me to join the fmall Portion that 
 fell* to my Share along with him, with 
 which, he faid, we could make a pretty good 
 Bottom i and fo retrieve the Ihatter'd For- 
 tune of our Family. Not to be too pro- 
 lix, I follovv'd his Advice,- he fold his 
 Houfc and Gardens to pay his Fathers 
 Creditors, and put what was left, toge- 
 ther with my little Stock into that unfor- 
 tunate Bottom. We fet fail from Kagw 
 fa^ the 3d oi March ^ Anno T>om. i688j 
 very inaufpicioully for my dear Brother, 
 as will appear by the Sequel. We call'd 
 in at Smyrna^ to fee if we could hear any 
 Thing of my Father's Factor. We were 
 told he was turn'd T^/r/', and was gone 
 off to fettle at Conflantinople^ very mag- 
 nificently drefs'd up in borrow'd Fea- 
 thers. However, we pick'd up fomething 
 of fome honeft Chriftian Merchants, 
 with whom he had lodg'd fome of his 
 Effects. This encourag'd us to go on for 
 
 Cyprus 
 
32 T/j^ MEMOIRS c/ 
 
 Cyprus 2L\\i\ Alexandria ', but, as wc were 
 purfuing our Voyage, one Morning in a 
 prodigious Fog, as if the Sea were fatal 
 to our Family, we faw on a fudden two 
 Jlgerine Rovers coming clofe up to us, 
 one on each fide. We had fcarce Time 
 to fee where we were, when they fir'd 
 upon us, and commanded us to yield, or 
 we were dead Men. My Brother and Ij 
 confidering that our All was at Stake ; and 
 that we had hotter die honourably thaa 
 be made Slaves by thofe unbelieving Mif~ 
 creants, call'd up our Men, who were but 
 twenty-three in all, of whom five were 
 young Gentlemen, who had engaged to 
 try their Fortune along with us. They 
 were arm'd only with Swords and Piftols 
 under their Girdles; after a ihort Conful- 
 tation, we refolv'd to fight it out to the 
 laft Man i we turn d Back to Back to make 
 head againft both Sides. My Brother in 
 the middle of one Rank, and myfelf in the 
 other \ the Enemy mounted our Deck by 
 Crowds, looking on us as Madmen to pre- 
 tend to make any Refiftance j but they 
 were foon made to leap back, at leaft all 
 that were able \ for being clofe up with 
 them, and the Enemies crowded together^ 
 we fir'd our Piftols fo luckily, that fcarce 
 one mifs'd doing Execution. Seeing them 
 in this Confufion, we made a Pufh at 
 them on each Side, ftill keeping our 
 
 Ranks, 
 
Signor Gaudentio di Lucca. 3^ 
 
 Ranks, and drove the remainder headlong 
 off the Deck j this we did twice before 
 any of our Men dropp'd. We were grap- 
 pled fo clofe^ they had no Ufe of their 
 Cannon or Muskets, and fcarce thought 
 of firing their Piflols at us, but expected 
 we fhould yield immediately, or to have 
 borne us down with their Weight. I am 
 itoore particular in defcribing this petty 
 Fight, fince there are but few Examples, 
 where a handful of Men made fuch a long 
 Refiftance. The Arch-Pirate, who was a 
 ftout, well-built young Man, rag'd like a 
 Lion, calling his Men a thoufand Cow- 
 ards fo loud, that his Voice w^as heard a- 
 bove all the Cries of the Soldiers. The 
 cdigQ of their Fury was a little abated at 
 the dropping of fo many Men. They be- 
 gan to fire at feme Diftance,- which did us 
 more harm than their moft furious At- 
 tacks. My Brother feeing his Men to 
 begin to drop in their Turn, order'd me to 
 face the one Ship, while he with his Rank 
 leap'd in amongft the Enemies in the 
 other. He did it with fuch a generous 
 Intrepidity, that he made a Gap among 
 the thickeft of them immediately. But 
 their Numbers doling together, their very 
 Weight drove him back in fpite of all he 
 could do, that he loft feveral of his Men 
 before he could recover his Poft. The 
 Enemy would neither board us, nor leave 
 
 D US; 
 
34 Tbe UEMOIKS cf 
 
 US; but firing at us continually, ftill kill'd 
 fomc cf our Men. There were now only 
 eleven of us left ; and no hopes of Vi<^tory 
 or Quarter after fuch obftinatc Rcfiftance. 
 They durft not come to a clofe Engage- 
 ment with us for all this; when my Bro- 
 ther, to die as honourably as he could, 
 once more leap'd into the Pirate's Ship, 
 and feeing their Captain in the midft of 
 them, made at him with all his might, 
 calling on the few he had left to fecond 
 him, he foon cut his way thro' ; but juft 
 as he was coming up to him, a cowardly 
 T^rk clapt a Piftol juft below his two 
 Shoulder Blades, and I believe fliot him 
 quite thro' the Heart, for he dropp'd down 
 dead on the Spot. The Turk that Hiot 
 him, was run thro' the Body by one of 
 our Men, and he himfelf with the others 
 that were left, being quite over-power'd, 
 were all cut in pieces. I had yet left four 
 Men on my fide againft the lelTer Ship, 
 and had till -then kept off the Enemy from 
 boarding ; bat the Pirates giving a great 
 Shout at my Brother's fall, the Captain 
 of the Ship I was engag'd with, who w^as 
 the Arch-Pirate's Brother, cry'd out to 
 his Crew, that it was a Ihame toftand all 
 Day firing at five Men. So he leaps on 
 my Deck, and made at me like a Man 
 of Honour, with his Piftol fteadily pois'd 
 in his Hand. I met him with equal Re- 
 
 folution, 
 
Sie^nor Gaudentio di Lucca, 3^ 
 
 Iblution j he came boldly up within Sword's 
 length, and fir'd his Piftol diredly at my 
 Face J he aim'd his Shot fo right, that one 
 of the Balls went thro' my Hair, and the 
 other fcarr'd the fide of my Neck. But, 
 before he could fecond his Shot, I gave 
 him fuch a Stroke with my Broad Sword, 
 between the Temple and the left Ear, 
 that it cut thro' part of his Skull, his 
 Cheek-bone, and going crofs his Mouthy 
 almoft fever'd the lower Part of his Face 
 from the upper. I had juft the Satisfac- 
 tion to fee him fall, when a Musket-Ball 
 went thro' the brawny Part of my right 
 Arm, and at the fame Time, a l^urk hit 
 me juft in the Nape of the Neck, with the 
 Butt-end of his Musket, that I fell down 
 flat on my Face, on the Body of my flaia 
 ;^nemy. My Companions, all but one, 
 who died of his Wounds foon after, fell 
 honourably by my Side. The Tnrkf 
 pour'd in from both Ships like Wolves 
 upon their Prey ; after their barbarous 
 Shouts and Yelling for the Victory, they 
 fell to dripping the dead Bodies, and 
 threw them into the Sea without any 
 further Ceremony. All our Crew befide 
 myfelf were flain or gafping, with three- 
 fcore and fifteen of the Enemy. The 
 Reafon why we fought fo defperately, 
 was that we knew very well, having kilfd 
 fo many at the firit Attacks, we were to 
 D 2 expe(a 
 
3^ ne MEMOIRS of 
 
 expe6l no Quarter, fo we were refolvM to 
 fell our Lives as dear as we could. When 
 they came to ftiip me like the reft, I was 
 juft come to myfelf, being only ftunn'd at 
 the ftroke of the Musket ^ they found by 
 my Cloaths, that I was one of the moft 
 confiderabie Perfons of the Crew : I was 
 got up on my Knees, endeavouring to rife, 
 and reaching for my Sword to defend my- 
 felf to the laft Gafp 3 I found I could not 
 hold it in my Hand, by reafon of the 
 Wound in my Arm, tho* if I could, it had 
 been needlefs^ for three of them fell down 
 upon me, and prefling me to the Deck, 
 •while others brought Cords and tied 
 my Hands, to carry me to 'the Cap- 
 tain. He was dreffing a flight Wound he 
 had in his Leg with a Piftol Shot ; and 
 four Women in Terjian Habits ftanding 
 by j three of them feeming to be Atten- 
 dants to the fourth, who w^as a Perfon of 
 the largeft Size, about five or fix and 
 twenty, but a moft exquifite Beauty, ex- 
 cept an Amazonian kind of Fiercenefs in 
 her Looks. When I was brought thus 
 bound to the Captain, they affur'd him I 
 was the Man, that had flain his Brother, 
 and done the moft Harm of any of the reft. 
 He ftarting up in the greateft Fury, a Bar- 
 barian was capable of, and calling for a 
 new Scymitar, he had in his Cabin, faid, 
 iet mcj if I can cleave the Head of this 
 
 Chriftian 
 
Sigiwr Gaudentio di Lucca. 37 
 
 Chriflian Dog, as he did my poor Bro- 
 ther's : Then all of you cut him in a thou- 
 fand Pieces. With that he drew the Scy- 
 mitar, and was going to ftrikc, when to 
 the Alton iili men t of the very ^Barharians^ 
 the ftrange Lady cry'd out, O fave that 
 brave young Man ! and immediately falls 
 down on her Knees by mc, catching mc 
 in her Arms, and clafping mc clofetoher 
 Bofom, and covering my Body wath her 
 own, cry'd out, ftrike, cruel Man, but 
 ftrlke thro' me, for otherwife a Hair of 
 his Head iliall not be hurt. The Barha- 
 rians that flood round us were ftruck 
 dumb with Amazement. The Pirate lift- 
 ed up his Eyes towards Heaven, and with 
 a Groan enough to break his Heart, faid. 
 How, cruel Woman! Shall this Stranger 
 in a Moment obtain more than I can 
 with all my Sighs and Tears ! Is this your 
 Paramour that robs me of what I haVe 
 fought for with the Danger of my Life ? 
 No, This Cbriftian Dog iliall be no lon- 
 ger my curfed Rival; and lifting up his 
 Hand, was going to ftrike again, when fhe 
 covering me more clofely with her deli- 
 cate Body, cry'd out again. Hold Hamet ! 
 This is no Rival, I never faw his Face 
 before, nor ever will again, if you will 
 but fpare his Life,- grant me this, and 
 you iliall obtain more from me, than all 
 your Services could ever do. Here ho be- 
 
'3^ ne MEMOIRS of 
 
 gan topaufe a little. For iny own Part, 
 1 was as much in amaze as he was. Af- 
 ter a little Paufe, he faid, Cruel Woman ! 
 'What is the meaning of this ? Says fhe, 
 there is fomcthing in this young Man (for 
 I was but turn'd of Nineteen) that he muft 
 not die. But, if you will engage and fwear 
 by the mod: Holy Alcoran^ you will do him 
 no harm, I not only promife to be your 
 Wife, but to take off all Umbrage of 
 Jeaioufy, I giv^e you leave to fell him to 
 fome honourable Pcrfon for a Slave, and 
 will never fee him more. Nor would fl^e 
 Iqofe mc, till he had fworn in that fo- 
 lemn manner, never to do me any hurt 
 diredly or indnredUy, and for greater 
 Security order'd one of her own Servants 
 to attend me conftantly. So I was un- 
 bound, and flie without fo much as look- 
 ing at me, or ftaying to receive my Thanks, 
 retir'd with her Women into the Cabin. 
 The Pirate,who had fomething very noble 
 in his Looks, for a Turk^ confirm'd again 
 to me in the hearing of her Officer, that 
 1 fhou'd receive no harm, then order'd 
 me to be carried under Deck to the t'other 
 End of the Ship, commanding his Men 
 to fleer back for Alexandria^ in order, as 
 I fuppos*d, to difpofe of me the iirft Oppor- 
 tunity, that he might be rid, as bethought, 
 of fo formidable a Rival. 
 
 Secre-. 
 
Signor Gaudentio di Lucca. 3^7 
 
 Secretary. Here the Superior cf the 
 Inquifition rccciv'd a Meflage for fome 
 other Bufincfsi fo we told him \vc would 
 coniider further of the Account he gave 
 us, which, faid we, might be true, tlio' 
 the Adventure w^as extraordinary i but we 
 would hear the remaining Account of his 
 Life another Time. He afUir'd us with 
 the moft natural Air, that the whole, let 
 it fcem never fo extraordinary, was real 
 Fad. Whether it were true or falfe, it 
 did not much concern the Holy Office, on- 
 ly fo far as we might catch him tripping 
 in liis Story : However, {om^ of the In- 
 quifitors ask'd him the following Qucf- 
 tions. 
 
 iji Inquifitor. Why did you not yield 
 at iirft, confidering the prodigious Inequa- 
 lity of your Strength and Numbers, when 
 you might have been ranfom'd afterwards j 
 and not expofe yourfclvcs like Madmen , 
 to be cut in Pieces, as you really all were, 
 except yourfelf ? 
 
 Qaiidentio, I told your Reverences, 
 we had put our All in that Bottom j which 
 once loft, we had nothing to ranfom our- 
 folves withal, but in all likelihood muft 
 have remain'd in miferable Slavery all our 
 Life. We were mod of us raili young 
 Men, of more Courage than Prudence j 
 wc did not doubt but we could keep th:ni 
 off from Boarding us, as v;c did ,- and 
 D 4 thought. 
 
40 T7j'^ M E M O I R S ^/ 
 
 thought, by that warm Reception, they 
 would have given us over ^ befides, fight- 
 ing againft T'ttrks and Infidels, tho' it was 
 for our Lives and Fortunes, at the fame 
 Time, we judg'd it meritorious, and might 
 be look'd upon, as laying down our Lives 
 for our Holy Religion. 
 
 2d Inqiiifitor, You faid that the ftrange 
 Lady cry'd out, there is fomething in that 
 young Man, that tells me, he 77itift not 
 die : I hope you don't pretend to the Sci- 
 ence of Phyfiognomy, which is one of the 
 Branches of Divination ; or that an Infi- 
 del or Heathen Woman could have the 
 Spirit of Prophecy ? 
 
 Qaiidentio. I can't tell what was her 
 motive for faying fo; I only relate mat- 
 ter of Fadl. As for Phyfiognomy, I don't 
 think there can be any thing certain in it. 
 Not but that a Perfon of Penetration, who 
 has confider'd the Humours and Paflions of 
 Men, and the little Care the generality 
 of the World take to refift them j I fay, 
 fuch a Perfon who has ftudicd Men, may 
 give a great guefs, a ^Pofteriori^ hoiv they 
 are incHn'd, tho' Reafon and Virtue 
 may overcome the moft violent. But I 
 entirely fubmit my Opinion to your bet- 
 ter Judgments. 
 
 Secretary, I can't fay we were diffa- 
 tisfied with thefe Anfwers j we faw he 
 was a Perfon of a very noble Prefcnce ; 
 
 and 
 
Signer Gaudentio di Lucga, 4, 
 
 and muft have been extreamly handfome 
 in his Youth; No wonder a barbarian 
 Woman fliould fall in Love with him, and 
 make Ufe of that Turn to fave his Life. 
 However, for the prefent, we remanded 
 him back to his Apartment. Some Days 
 after he was call'd again to profecute his 
 Story. 
 
 While I was under Deck in Confine- 
 ment with the Pirates, feveral of them 
 w^ere tolerably civil to me j knowing the 
 Afcendant the Lady had over their Cap- 
 tain, and being Witnelfes, how fhe had fav'd 
 my Life. But yet flie would not confent to 
 marry him, till Hie was alfur'd I was fafe 
 out of his Hands. The Arch-Pirate ne- 
 ver came to fee me himfelf, not being 
 willing to truft his PafTion ^ or elfe to watch 
 all favourable Opportunities of waiting on 
 his Miftrefs. One Day being indifpos'd 
 for want of Air, I begg'd to be carried 
 upon Deck to breathe a little; when I 
 came up, I faw the Lady, with her Wo- 
 men, (landing at the other End of the 
 Ship on the fame Account. I made her a 
 very refpedtful Bow at a Diftancc ; but as 
 foon as ever fhe caft her Eye on me, flie 
 went down into the Cabin, I fuppofe, to 
 keep her promife with the Cap'ain, and 
 not to adminifter any Caufe of Jealoufv. 
 1 dcfu-'d to be carried down again, not to 
 hinder my Benefa(^ref§ from taking her 
 
 jDivcr- 
 
4? TZ^^ MEMOIRS ^/ 
 
 Diveifion. I can't fay I found in myfelf 
 the leaft Inclination or Emotion of Love, 
 only a Senfe of Gratitude for fo great a 
 Benefit J not without fome Admiration of 
 the oddnefs of the Adventure. When I 
 was below, I askM the moft fenfible and 
 civiliz'd of the Pirates, who their Cap- 
 tain was, and who was my fair Deli v. r- 
 er. How long, and by what means fne 
 came to be among them ; becaufe fhe 
 feem'd to 'be a Perfon of much higher 
 Rank. He told me his Captain's Name 
 was Hamety Son to the Dey of Jlgters ; 
 who had forfakcn his Father's Houfe on 
 Account of his young Mother-in law's fal- 
 ling in Love with him. For which Rea- 
 fon his Father had contrived to have him 
 affaflinatcdjbelieving him to be in the Fault. 
 But his younger Brother, by the fame Mo- 
 ther, difcover'd the Defign. So gathering 
 together a Band of ftout young Men like 
 themfelves, they feiz'd two of their Fa- 
 ther's beft Ships, and refolv'd to follow 
 the Profeffion they were now of, till they 
 heard of their Father's Death. That as 
 for the I^ady who had fav'd his Life, flie 
 was the late Wife of a petty Prince of the 
 Curdiy ( I ) Tributary to the King of Ter- ' 
 fia^ whofe Husband had been lately kill'd 
 by Treachery, or in an Ambufcade of the 
 wild Arahs. I'hat, as far as he had been 
 inforjii'd, the Prince her Husband had been 
 
 fent 
 
Signer Gaudentio di Lucca. 45' 
 
 fcnt by the King his Mafter to Jlexan- 
 driai (2) who apptehcnding anlnfurrec- 
 tion among his Subje(fis, (3) had order'd 
 him to treat for feme Troops of Arabian 
 Horfc. (4) That he went there with a 
 very handfome Equipage, and took his 
 beautiful Wife along with him ^ our Cap- 
 tain, continued he, happen'd to be there 
 at the fame time to fell his Prizes, and 
 had not c^ly foldfeveral Things of great 
 Value, to tlie Curdijlo Lord and Lady, but 
 had contraded [a particular Friendlliip 
 with him, tho' as w^e found fince, it was 
 more on Account of his fair Wife than any 
 Thing elfe. Nothing in the World could 
 be more obfequious than our Captain, 
 He attended them, and offer'd his Service 
 on all Occafions ,• you fee, he is a very 
 handfome Man, and daring by his Profef- 
 fion. We could not imagine of a long 
 while, why he made fuch a flay at that 
 Town contrary to his Cuftom^ living at 
 a very high Rate, as Men of our Calling 
 generally do. At length the Curdijl) Lord 
 having perform'd his Commiffion, w^as 
 upon the Return, when we percciv'd our 
 Captain to grow extreamly penfive and me- 
 lancholly, but could not tell what was the 
 caufe of it. He call'd his Brother, who 
 loft his Life by yourHandj and me to him, 
 and told us m private, he had obferv'd 
 fome of thg Arahiatt Strangers mutter- 
 
 ing 
 
44 7^^ MEMOIRS cf 
 
 ing together, as if they were hatching 
 fome Plot or other, whether againft him- 
 felf, or the Cttrd^ he could not tell^ but 
 bid us be fure to attend him well arm'd 
 wherever he went. The Event prov'd, 
 he had Reafon for his Sufpicionsj for one 
 Evening, as the Cttrd and his Wife were 
 taking the Air, with our Captain who 
 was always of the Party, palTing thro' a 
 little Grove about a League out of Town, 
 fix Arabian Horfemen, exceeding well 
 mounted, came full gallop up to us j and 
 without faying a Word, two of them fir'd 
 their Piftols diredly at the CtirdiJJo Lord, 
 who was the foremoft, but by good For- 
 tune mifs'd us all. The Ctirdt as all that 
 Nation are naturally brave, (5) drew his 
 Scymitar, and rulliing in among them, cut 
 off the foremoft Man's Head, as clean as 
 if it had been a Poppy ; but advancing too 
 far unarm'd as he was, one of them turn'd 
 fhort, and Hiot him in the Flank, that he 
 dropp'd down dead immediately. Our 
 Captain feeing him fall, rufh'd in like 
 Lightning, his Brother and myfelf fal- 
 ling on them at the fame time ; But the 
 Affaflins, as if they wanted nothing but 
 the Death of the Ciird^ or faw by our 
 Countenance their flaying would coft 
 them dear, immediately turn'd their 
 Horfes, and fled fo fvviftly on their Jcn- 
 netSj that they were out of iight in an 
 
 Inftant. 
 
Signor GaOdentio di Lucca. 45^ 
 Inftant. We conduced the poor difcon- 
 foiatc Lady and her dead Husband back 
 to the Town, where thofe People made 
 no more of it, being accuftom'd to fuch 
 Things, than if it had been a common 
 Accident. When her Grief was a little 
 abated, our Captain told the Lady, that 
 it was not fafe for her to return Home 
 the fame way flie came ^ that in all pro^- 
 bability, thofe who kill'd her Husband 
 were in Confederacy with the diaffedied 
 Party, and would way-lay her, either for 
 his Papers, or her Goods. That he had 
 two Ships well-mann'd at her Service, and 
 would condud: her fafe by Sea to fome 
 part^of the Terfimi Empire* from whence 
 ihe might get into her own Country. She 
 confented at laft, having feen how gallantly 
 my Mafter had behav'd in her Defence.' 
 So ihe came Aboard with her Attendants 
 and Effcifts, in order to be tranfported in- 
 to her own Country. Our Captain, you 
 may be fure, was in no hafle to carry her 
 Home, being fallen moft defperatciy in 
 Love with her : So that inftead of carry- 
 ing her to any of the Ter/Jan Dominions, 
 he direded his Courfe for Jigiers, hear- 
 ing his Father was dead ; but meeting 
 with you, it has made him alter his Mea- 
 fures for the prefent. He has try'd all 
 ways to gain her Love^ but fhe would not 
 give him the Icaft Encouragement, till this 
 
 late 
 
^^6 Th MEMOIRS cf 
 
 late Accident, by which flie fav'd you^ 
 
 Life. When he had ended his Relation, 
 
 I refleded on it a good while, and confi- 
 dering the Nature of thofe Pirates, I 
 thought I faw a piece of Treachery in the 
 Affair, much more black than what he de- 
 fcrib'd, and could not forbear compaf- 
 fionating the poor I.ady, both for her 
 Difafter, and the Company (he w^as fallen 
 into. However, I kept my Thoughts to 
 myfelf. Not long after we arriv'd at 
 Jlexmidria^ (6) where the Pirate fold all 
 our Efteds, that is, the Merchandize he 
 had taken aboard our Ship, except feme - 
 particular Things that belonged to my 
 Brother and myfelf, as Books, Papers, 
 Maps and Sea-Charts, Pidures and the 
 like. He determin'd to carry me to Grand 
 CairO:, the firft Opportunity, to fell me, 
 or even give me away to a ftrange Mer- 
 chant he had an Acquaintance with, 
 where I fhould never be heard of more. 
 
 Remarks of Signor Rhedi. 
 
 T HI S is an odd Adventure enough ; but the Circum- 
 ftances are pretty well connected together. There hap- 
 pen very ftrange Accidents among thofe lawlefs Eajleni Peo- 
 ple, and the wild Arabs, who obferve no Rules but what the 
 Lions and Tigers, could they fpeak, would make for their own 
 Prefervation. I fear there are fonme who profefs theinfelves 
 Chrifiians would do the fame. 
 
 ^ (i)The 
 
'Signor Gaudentio di Lucca. 47. 
 
 (i) The CurJi, or People of Curdiflan, are a warlike Na- 
 tion, paying a fmall Tribute to the Per/tans^ and fometimes 
 to the Turks; their very Women are Martial, and handle the 
 Sword and Pike. The Country runs from the AUduli, a 
 mountainous People, made Tributary to the Turkshy Seliml. 
 Father of Sol'man the Magnificent, and reaches as far as Ar- 
 menia. 
 
 (2} Alexandria is a Sea-port, at the further End of the Me- 
 diterranean, belonging to the Turks, but much frequented 
 by Arabian Merchants, both by Land and Sea. One Point of 
 Curdijlan is not far from this Port. 
 
 (3j This Infurreftion he fpeaks of, might be the Seeds, or 
 the firil plotting of the grand Rebellion of Merowits, which 
 began about the Date of this Account, and caus'd fuch a ter- 
 rible Revolution in the Btrjian Empire; which no one who 
 underftands any Thing can be ignorant of. 
 
 (4) The Arabian Horfes are the beft in the World, tho' 
 not very large. The Horfefnen are very dextrous according to 
 the £/j//r» way of Fighting. On which Account, one can't 
 wonder if the King of Perjia, and his rebellious Subjedts, 
 made it their Intereft to procure as many Auxiliaries, as the/ 
 could. It is very likely the little Parties would always be on 
 Watch, to furprize one another when they could find an Op- 
 portunity. And this petty Curdian Prince being zealous for 
 the Service of his King, might be taken off by the Rebels that 
 way. 
 
 (5) Alexandria is a great Sea-port of Egypt under the 
 Turks. 
 
 (6) Grand Cairo is the Place of Refidence of the great Bafla 
 Q^ Egypt, higher up the Country, on the River M/i?. 
 
 Continuation of the MEMOIR S, 
 
 NOTHING remarkable happen'd 
 during ourftay at Alexandria i they told 
 me the Captain had been in an extraordi- 
 nary good Humour, ever fince the Lady's 
 Promife to marry him. But ilie, to be 
 furc he fhould not deceive her in doing me 
 
 any 
 
48i "the MEMOIRS of 
 
 any Injury, when I was out of the Ship^ 
 Order'd her Officer to attend me where- 
 ver I was carried, till I was put in fafe 
 Hands, and entirely out of the Pirate's 
 Power. When we were arriv'd at Grand 
 CairOy I was carried to the Place where 
 the Merchants meet to exchange their 
 Commodities ; there were Perfons of almoft 
 all the ^aftern and Indian Nations. The 
 Lady's'Officer according to his Miftrefs's Or- 
 der, never ftirr'd an Inch from me, to witnefs 
 the performance of Articles. At length, 
 the Pirate and a llrange Merchant fpy'd 
 one another almoft at the Inftant, and ad- 
 vancing the fame way, faluted each other 
 in the T^urMfly Language, which I under- 
 ftood tolerably well. After fome mutual 
 Complements, the Pirate told him he had 
 met with fuch a Perfon he had promised 
 to procure for him two Years before, 
 meaning myfelf, only I was not an EitmLcb^ 
 but that it was in his Pov/er to make me 
 fo if he pleased. Your Reverences can- 
 not doubt but I was a little llartled at 
 fuch a Speech, and was going to reply, 
 that I would lofe my Life a thoufand 
 Times, before I would fuffer fuch an In- 
 jury. But the Lady's Officer turn'd to the 
 Pirate, and faid, he had engag'd to his 
 Lady I fhould receive no harm y and that 
 he muft never exped to obtain her for his 
 iWife, if fhc had the leaft fufpicion of fuch 
 
Signor Gaudentio di Lucca* 45* 
 a Thing. But the Merchant foon put us 
 out of doubt, by affuring us, that it was 
 againft their Laws to do fuch an Injury 
 to any one of their own Species, but if it 
 were done before they could not help it* 
 Then turning to me, he faid in very good 
 Lingua Franca, young Mao, if I buy you, 
 I lliail foon convince you, you need not 
 apprehend any fuch Ufage from me. He 
 ey cl me from Top to Toe, with the moft 
 penetrating Look I ever faw in my Liio ; 
 yet feem'd pleas'd at the fame time; ho 
 was very richly clad, attended with three 
 young Men in the fame kind of Drefs, 
 tho'not rich, whofeem'd rather Sons than 
 Servants. His Age did not appear to me 
 to be above Forty, yet had the molt fc- 
 rene and almoft venerable Look imagma- 
 ble. His Complexion was rather browner 
 than that of the Egyptians, but it feem d 
 to be more the Effcd of Travellmg than 
 Natural. Iw fliort, he had an Air fo un- 
 common, that I was amazed, and began 
 to have as great an Opinion of him, as he 
 feem'd to have of me. He ask'd the Pirate 
 what he muft give for mc; he told him,' 
 I had coft him very dear, and with that 
 recounted to him all the Circumftances of 
 the Fight,wherein I was taken j and to givo 
 him his due, reprefented it no v;ays to my 
 Difadvantage. However, thofe were not 
 the Qiialifications the Merchant defir d. 
 ^ £ >Vhai: 
 
^50 TZ'^ MEMOIRS of 
 
 What he wanted was a Perfon who was a 
 Scholar, and could give him an Account 
 of the Arts and S^>eits>;s, I^aws, Cuftoms, 
 (5'r. of the Ch/iftians. This the Pirate 
 affur'd him I could do ; that I was an 
 'European Chrifiian^ and a Scholar, as he 
 guefs'd by my Books and Writings ^ that I 
 underftood Navagation, Geography, Aftro- 
 nomy, and feveral other Sciences, I was 
 out of Countenance to hear him talk fo, 
 for tho' 1 had as mucli Knowledge of thofe 
 Sciences, as could be expe(5ted from one of 
 my Years, yet my Age would not permit 
 me to be mafter of them, but only to have 
 the firft Principles, by which I might im- 
 prove myfelf afterwards. 
 
 Secretary, The Inquifitors demurr'd a 
 little at this, fearing he might be addi(ft- 
 ed to Judiciary Aftrology j but confider- 
 ing he had Philofophy, and was defign'd 
 for the Sea, he was oblig'd to have feme 
 Knowledge in thofe Sciences. 
 
 The Pirate told him, I had fome Skill 
 in Mufick and Painting, having feen fome 
 Inftrumentsand Books of thofe Arts among 
 my Effe(5ts, and ask'd me if it were not fo : 
 I told him, young Gentlemen of liberal 
 Education in our Country, wholly learnt 
 thofe Arts, and that I had a competent 
 Knowledge and Genius that way. This 
 made the Merchant refolv'd to buy me. 
 W^^ii they came to the Price, the Pirate 
 
 de-r 
 
Signor Gaudentio di Lucca; "51 
 
 demanded 40 Ounces of Native Gold, and 
 three of thofc Silk Carpets, he faw there 
 with him, to make aPrefentto the Grand 
 Signor. The Merchant agreed with him 
 at the firft Word j only demanded all the 
 Books, Globes, Mathematical Inftruments, 
 and in fine, whatever remain'd of my Ef- 
 fects into the Bargain. The Pirate 
 agreed to this, as eafily as the other did 
 to the Price ^ fo, upon performance of Ar- 
 ticles on both fides, I was deUver'd to him* 
 As foon as I was put into his Power, he 
 embrac'd me with a great deal of Ten- 
 dernefs, faying, I fnould not repent my 
 Change of Life ; his Attendants came up 
 to me, and embraced me in the fame 
 manner, calling me Brother, and exprefs'd 
 a great deal of Joy for having me of their 
 Company. The Merchant bid them take 
 me down to the Canvavfera or Inn^ that 
 I might rcfrefh myfelf, and change my 
 Habit to the fame as they wore. I was 
 very much furpriz'd at fuch unexpeded 
 Civilities from Strangers. But, before I 
 went, I turn'd to the Pirate, and faid to 
 him with an Air, that made the Mer- 
 chant put on a very thoughtful Look ; 
 that I thank'd him for keeping his Promife 
 in faving my Lifej but added, that tho' 
 the Fortune of War had put it in his 
 Power to fell me like a Bcaft in the Mar- 
 ket, it might be in mine fome time qr 
 E 2 other 
 
52 1'he MEMOIRS of 
 
 other to render the like Kindnefs. Then 
 1 turn'd to the Lady's Officer, who had 
 been my Guardian fo faithfully, and em- 
 bracing him with all imaginable Tender- 
 nefs, 1 beggMhimto pay my beftRcfpeds 
 to my fair Deliverer j aifuring her that I 
 lliould efteem it the greateft Happinefs to 
 be able one Day to make a Return for 
 fo unparallel'd a Favour, tho' it were at 
 the Expence of that Life flie had fo ge- 
 neroufly fav'd. So wc parted, the Pirate 
 grumbling a little within himfelfj and I 
 in an amazing Sufpenfe, to know what 
 was likely to become of me. As they w^ere 
 conducting me to the Cawvanfera where 
 they lodg'd, I was full of this forrowful 
 Refle(^ion, that I was a Slave ftill, tho' I 
 had chang'd my Mailer: But my Com- 
 panions, who were fome of the handfom-, 
 eft young Men, I ever faw in my Life,' 
 comforted me with the moft endearing 
 Words, telling me, that I need fear no- 
 thing: That I fhould efteem myfelf one 
 of the happieft Men in the World, when 
 they were arriv'd fafe in their own Coun- 
 try, which they hop'd would not be long. 
 That I fliould be as free as they were, and 
 follow what Employment of Life my In- 
 clinations led me to, without any Re- 
 ftraint whatfoever. In fine, their Dif- 
 courfe fill'd me withfrefh Amazement, and 
 gave me at the fame time a fort of juve- 
 nile 
 
Sig7ior Gaudentio di Lucca; 5^ 
 
 nile dcfire to fee the Event. I favv they 
 6\d not keep any i\n€i guard on mc^ that 
 I verily belicv'd I could eafily have given 
 them the flip; and might have gotten 
 fome Armenian Chriftian to conceal me, 
 till I could find an Opportunity of return- 
 ing into my own Country. But having 
 loft all my Effects, I thought I could fcarce 
 be in a worfe Condition, and was refolv'd 
 to run all Hazards. When I came to the 
 Houfe, I was ftruck with wonder at the 
 Magnificence of it, efpecially at the Rich- 
 nefs of the Furniture ^ the Houfe v^as one 
 of the beft in all Grand CairOy tho' built 
 low according to the Cuftom of the Coun- 
 try; It feems they aUvays ftaid a V^ear 
 before they returned into their own Coun- 
 try, and fpar'd no Coft to make their Ba- 
 nillimentj as they call'd it, as eafy as they 
 could. I was entertain'd with all the Ra- 
 rities of Egypty the moft delicious Fruits^ 
 and the richeft Greek and Jfiatick Wines 
 that could be tafted i by which Ifaw they 
 were not Mahometans, Not knowing 
 what to make of them, I ask'd them who 
 they were ; of what Country, what Se(5l 
 and ProfelTion, and the like; they fmil'd 
 at my Queftions, and told me they were 
 Children of the Sun, and were calld Me-* 
 zoranians ; which was as unintelligible to 
 me as all the reft. But, for their Coun- 
 try> they toid me I ftiouid fee in a fcvr 
 
 £ 3 Months^ 
 
^4 Tt)e MEMOIRS of 
 
 Months, and bid me ask no further Quef- 
 tions. Prefently my Mafter came in^ and 
 embracing me, once more bid me wel- 
 come, with fuch an engaging Affability, 
 as took away almoft all my Fears. But 
 what followed, fill'd me with the utmoft 
 Surprize. Young Man, faid he, by the 
 Laws of this Country you are mine ; I 
 have bought you at a very high Price, and 
 would give twice as much for you, if it 
 were to be done again : But, continued he, 
 with a more ferious Air, I know no juft 
 Laws in the Univerfe, that can make a 
 Free-born Man become a Slave to one of 
 his own Species. If you will voluntarily 
 go along with us, you fliall enjoy as much 
 Freedom as I do my felf : You fliall be 
 exempt from all the barbarous Laws of 
 thefe inhuman Countries, whofe brutal 
 Cuftoms are a iliame to the Dignity of a 
 rational Creature, and with whom we 
 have no Commerce, but to enquire after 
 Arts and Sciences, which may contribute 
 to the common Benefit of our People. We 
 are bleft with the moft opulent Country 
 in the World : We leave it to your Choice 
 to go along with us if you pleafe j if you 
 will not, I here give you your Liberty, 
 and reftore to you all that remains to you 
 of your Effedxs, with what AlHftance you 
 want, to carry you back again into your 
 own Country, Oniy^ this I mud tell you^ 
 
 if 
 
Signor Gaudentio di Lucca, ^f 
 
 if you go with us, 'tis likely you will ne- 
 ver come back again, or perhaps deiire it. 
 Here he ftopp'd, and obfervM my Counte- 
 nance with a great deal of Attention. I 
 was ftruck with fuch Admiration oF his 
 Generolity, together with the Sentiments 
 of Joy for my unexpected Liberty, and 
 Gratitude to my Benefactor, coming into 
 my Mind all at once, that I had as much 
 Difficulty to believe what I heard, as your 
 Reverences may now have at the Rela- 
 tion of it, till the Sequel informs you of 
 the Reafons for fuch unheard of Proceed- 
 ings. On the one Hand, the natural de- 
 fire of Liberty prompted me to accept 
 my Freedom j on the other, I coniider'd 
 my fliatter'd Fortune ; that I was left in 
 a ftrange Country fo far from Home, a- 
 mong ^■urks and Infidels ; the Ardour of 
 Youth excited me to pufh my Fortune. 
 The Account of fo glorious, tho' unknown 
 Country, ftirr'd up my Curiolity ; I fliw 
 Gold was the icaft part of the Riches of 
 thefc People, who appear'd to me the 
 molt civiliz'd I ever faw in my Life ; but 
 above all, the Senfe of what I ow'd to fo 
 noble a Benefador, who I faw defir d it, 
 and had me as much in his Power novv, as 
 he could have afterwards. Thefc Confi- 
 derations made me as good as refolv'd to 
 go along with him. I had continued lon- 
 ger thus irrefolute, and fluctuating be- 
 E 4 tweea 
 
5^ Tbe WEUOIKS of 
 
 tween fo many different Thoughts, if ho 
 had not brought me to myfelf, by faying 
 what fay you, young Man, to my Propo- 
 fal ? I ftarted out of my Reveries, as if I 
 had awak'd from a real Dream ; and ma- 
 king a mod: profound Reverence, my Lord, 
 faid I, or rather my Father and Deliver- 
 er, I am yours by all the Ties of Gratis 
 tude a human Heart is capable of ^ I re- 
 iign my fcif to your Conduct, and will 
 follow you to the End of the World, 
 This I faid with fuch Emotion of Spirit, 
 that I believe he faw into my very Soul ; 
 for embracing me once more with a moft 
 inexpreflible Tendernefs, I adopt you, 
 faid he, for my Son ,• and thefe are your 
 Brothers, pointing to his two young Com- 
 panions ,• all I require of you is, that you 
 
 live as fuch. Here, Reverend Fathers, I 
 
 muft confefs one of the greateft Faults I 
 ever did in my Life : I never confider'd 
 whether thefe Men were Cbnjiians or 
 Heathens: I engag'd myfelf with a Peo- 
 ple, where 1 could never have the Exer- 
 cife of my Religion, altho' I always pre- 
 ferv'd it in my Heart. But, what could 
 be exped:ed from a daring young Man, juft 
 in the Heat of his Youth, who had loft 
 all his Fortune, and had fuch a glorious 
 
 Profpe^l offer'd him for retrieving it ? 
 
 Soon after this, he gave Orders to his 
 Attendants to withdraw, as if he had a 
 
 mind 
 
Signer Gaudentio di Lucca. 57 
 mind to fay fomething to mc in private ^ 
 they obcy'd immediately with a filial Re- 
 fpc(5l5 as if they had indeed been his Sons, 
 but they were not ,• I only mention it to 
 fiiew the Nature of the People I was en- 
 gag'd with: Then taking me by the Hand 
 he made me lit down by him^ and ask'd 
 me if it were really true, as the Pirate 
 inform'd him, that I was an Enropemi 
 Chrijiian? Tho', faid he, be what you 
 will, I don't repent my buying of you : I 
 told him I was, and in that Belief would 
 live and die. So you may, faid he, feem- 
 ing pleas'd at my Anfwer. But I have 
 not yet met with any of that Part of the 
 World, who feem'd to have the Difpofi- 
 tions of Mind, I think I fee in you, look- 
 ing at the Lineaments of my Face with a 
 great deal of Earneftnefs. I have been in- 
 form'd, continued he, that your Laws are 
 not like thefe barbarous 5l/r/('j, whofe Go- 
 vernment is made is made up of Tyranny 
 and Brutality, governing all by Fear and 
 Force, and making Slaves of all who fail 
 under their Power. Whereas, the Euro- 
 pean Chriftians^ as I am told, are govern 'd 
 by a Divine Law, that teaches them to 
 do good to all, Injury to none; particular- 
 ly not to kill and deftroy their own Spe- 
 cies; nor to Ileal, cheat, over-reach, or 
 defraud any one of their juft due ; but to 
 do in all Things juft as they would be 
 
 done 
 
58' the MEMOIRS of 
 
 done by ; looking on all Men as common 
 Brothers of the fame Stock, and behavmg 
 with Juftice and Equity in all their Ac- 
 tions publick and private, as if they were 
 to give an Account to the univerfal Lord 
 and Father of. all. I told him our Law 
 did really teach and command us to do fo; 
 but that very few liv'd up to this Law j 
 that we were oblig d to have recourfe to 
 coercive Laws and Penalties, to enforce 
 what we acknowledg d othervvife to be a 
 Duty : That if it were not for the fear of 
 fuch Panifliments, the grcateft part of 
 them would be worfethan the very Turks 
 he mentioned. He feem'd ftrangely fur- 
 priz'd at this. What, fays he, can any 
 one do in private, what his own Rcafon 
 and folemn Profellion condemns ? Then 
 addreffing himfelf to me in a more parti- 
 cular manner ; do you profefs this juft and 
 holy Law you mention'd ? I told him I 
 did : Then, fays he, do but live up to 
 your own Law, and we require no more 
 of you ( I ). Here he made a little Noife 
 with his Staff, at which two of his At- 
 tendants came in : He ask'd them if my 
 Bffeds were come from the Pirate ? Be- 
 ing anfwer d they were ; he ordcr'd them 
 to be brought in, and examin'd them very ' 
 nicely. There was among them fome Pic- 
 tures of my own drawing, a repeating 
 AVatch, two Compafs Boxes, one of them 
 
 very 
 
Signor Gaudentio di I.itcca. fjf 
 very curioufly wrought in Ivory and Gold, 
 which had been my Great Grandfather s, 
 given him by Venerio i a Set of Mathemati- 
 cal Inltruments, Draughts of Statuary and 
 Architecture, by the beft Maftcrs, with all 
 which he feem'd extreamly pleas'd. Af- 
 ter he had examin'd them with a great 
 deal of Admiration, he order'd one of his 
 Attendants to reach him a Cabinet full of 
 Gold j he open'd it to me and faid, young 
 Man, I not only reftore all your Effeds 
 here prefent, , having no right to any 
 Thing that belongs to another Man, but 
 once more offer you your Liberty, and as 
 much of this Gpld, as you think Sufficient 
 to carry you Home, and make you live 
 eafy all your Life, I was a httic out of 
 Countenance, thinking what I faid of 
 the ill Morals of the Chrifiiaiu^ had 
 made him afraid to take me along with 
 him. .Itold him, I valu'd nothing now fo 
 much as his Company, and bci^gd him not 
 only to let me go along with him, but 
 that he would be pleas'd to accept what- 
 ever he faw of mine there before him : 
 Adding, tliat I cfteem'd it the grcateft 
 Happinefs, to be able to make fome fmall 
 Recompence for the Obligations I ow'd 
 him. I do accept of it, (liys he, and take 
 you folemnly into my Care; Go along 
 w^ith thofe young Men, and enjoy your 
 Liberty in Lffeti, which I have hitlierto 
 
 only 
 
6<i 'Tbe MEMOIRS of 
 
 only given you in Words. Here fome of 
 his Elder Companions came in^ as if they 
 were to confult about Bufinefs 5 the young 
 Men and myfelf, went to walk the Town 
 for our Diverfion. Your Reverences may 
 be furc, I obfcrv'd all the Adions of thefe 
 new People, with the greateft Attention 
 my Age was capable of. They feem'd 
 not only to have a Horror of the barba- 
 rous Manners and Vices of the Tnrks^ but 
 even a Contempt of all the Plcafures and 
 Diverfions of the Country. Their whole 
 Bufinefs was to inform themfelves of what 
 they thought might be an Improvement 
 in their own Country, particularly in 
 Arts and Trades, and whatever Curiofi- 
 ties were brought from Foreign Parts; 
 fetting down their Obfervations of every 
 Thing of Moment. They had Mafters of 
 the Country at fet Hours to teach them 
 the TtirkiJI) and 'perjian Language, in 
 which I endeavour'd to perfect myfelf a- 
 long with them. Tho' they feem'd to be 
 the moft Moral Men in the World, I could 
 obferve no Signs of Religion in them, till 
 a certain Occafion that happen'd to us in 
 our Voyage, of which I fliall fpeak to 
 your Reverences in its proper Place. This 
 was the only Point they were fliye in ^ they 
 gave me the Reafons for it afterwards ; 
 but their Behaviour the moft candid and 
 fmcerc in other Matters that can be ima- 
 
 gind, 
 
Signor Gaudentio di Lucca, 6i 
 giii'd. We liv'd thus in the moft perfed 
 Union all the time we ftaid at Grand 
 Cairo i and I enjoy'd the fame Liberty, 
 that I cou'd have had^ if I had been in 
 Italy: All I remarked in them was an Un- 
 eaiinefs they cxprefs'd to be fo long out of 
 their own Country ; but they comforted 
 themfelvcs with the thought it would not 
 be long.— —I can't omit one Obfervation 
 I made of thefe young Men's Condud 
 while we ftaid in Egypt, They were all 
 about my own Age, ftrong and vigorous, 
 and the handfomefl: Race of People, per- 
 haps, the World ever produc'd. We were 
 in the moft voluptuous and lewd Town in 
 the whole Eaftern Empire j the young 
 Women feem'd ready to devour us as we 
 tvent along the Streets. Yet I never faw 
 the leaft Inclination to any Thing of that 
 Nature. I imputed it at firft to the Appre- 
 hcnfion of my being in their Company, and 
 a Stranger ; but I foon found they aded 
 by Principle. As young Men are apt to 
 encourage, or rather corrupt one ano- 
 ther, I own I could not forbear exprelling 
 my Wonder at it. They feem'd furpriz'd 
 at the Thought ; but the Reafons they 
 gave were as much out of our common way 
 of thinking, as their Behaviour. They told 
 me for the firft Reafon, that all the Wo- 
 men they faw were either married, or 
 particular Mens Daughters, or Common. 
 
 For 
 
Bt 1%e M E M O I R 3 ^/ 
 
 For married Women, they faid, it wasfiich 
 a heinous Piece of Injuftice to violate the 
 Marriage-bed, that every Man Hving would 
 look upon it as the greateft Injury done 
 to himfclf: How could they therefore in 
 Reafon do it to another? If they were 
 Daughters of particular Men, bred up 
 with fo much Care and Sollicitude of their 
 Parents, what a terrible Afliidion muft it 
 be them, or to ourfelves, to fee oiir 
 Daughters or Sifters violated and corrupt- 
 ed, after all our Care to the contrary ; 
 and this too, perhaps, by thofc w^e had 
 cherifh'd in our own Bofonis ? If common 
 Strumpets, what rational Man could look 
 on them othcrwifc than brute Beafts, to 
 abandon themfelvcs to every Stranger for 
 Hire ? Befides, their proftitute Lewdnefs, 
 generally defeats the great Delign of Na- 
 ture to propagate the Species ; or by their 
 impure Embraces, fuch Diforders may be 
 contra6ted, as to make us hereafter at 
 beft, but Fathers of a weak and fickly 
 Offspring. And if we fhculd have Chil- 
 dren by them, what would become of our 
 Fathers Grand-children ? But what Man 
 who had the lead Senfe of the Dignity of 
 his own Birth, w-ould ftain his Race, and 
 give Bu*tli to fuch a wretched Breed, and 
 then leave them exposed to Want and 
 Infamy ? This they faid chiefly with re- 
 ference to the vaft Ideas they had of their 
 
 owa 
 
Signor Gaudentio di Lucca. 6^ 
 own Nation, valuing themfelves above ali 
 other People : Tlio' the Coniideration 
 holds good with all Men, I own, I was 
 mute at thefe Reafons, and could not fay 
 but they were very juft, tho' the warmth 
 of my Youth had hindred me from reflec- 
 ting on them before. Thefe Reflexions 
 appeared fo extraordinary in young Men^ 
 and even Heathens^ that liliall never for- 
 get them. Some time after, I found 
 
 by their Diligence in fetthng their Affair^v 
 and the Chcarfulnefs of their Countenance^ 
 that they had Thoughts of departing 
 from Egypt ; they feem'd to wait for no- 
 thing but Orders from their Governour. 
 
 In the mean Time there happen d an Ac- 
 cident to me^ which is fcarce fit for your 
 Reverences to hear ,• nor fhould I ever 
 have thought to relate it to you, only 
 you laid your Commands on me to give 
 an exaa: Account of my whole Life. ' Bc- 
 fides, that it is interwoven with feme of 
 the chief Occurences of my Life in the 
 latter Part of it. Our Governour whom 
 they calfd 'Pophar, which in their Lan- 
 guage fignifies Father of his People, and 
 by which Name, I iliall always call him 
 hereafter, looking at his Ephemeris, 
 which he did very frequently, found bv 
 Computation, that he had fometime left 
 to ftay in the Country, and refolv'd to op 
 down once more to Alexandria, to i^o 
 
 if 
 
g4 "Ihe MEMOIRS of 
 
 if he could meet with any more "Etiro^ 
 pean Curiofities, which arc brought by 
 Merchant Ships coming in perpetually at 
 that Seafon into the Port. He took only 
 two of the young Men and me along with 
 him, to fhew me, as he faid, that I was 
 entirely at my Liberty, (ince I might ea- 
 fily find fome Ship or other to carry me 
 into my own Country ; on the other 
 Hand, to convince him of the Sincerity of 
 my Intentions, I generally kept in his 
 Company (2). The Affair I am going to 
 fpeak of, foon gave him full proof of the 
 Sincerity. While we were walking in the 
 publick Places to view the feveral Goods 
 and Curiofities, that were brought from 
 different Parts of the World, it happen'd 
 that the Balfa of Grand Cairo^ with all 
 his Family, was come to Jlexandria on 
 the fame Account, as well as to buy 
 fome young Female Slaves. His Wife and 
 Daughter were then both along with him : 
 The Wife was one of the Grand Signor's 
 Sifters, feemingly about Thirty, and a 
 wonderful fine Woman. The Daughter 
 was about Sixteen, of fuch exquifite Beau- 
 ty and lovely Features, aswerefufficientto 
 charm the greateft Prince in the World *. 
 
 * N. B. The Bafla of Grand Cairo is one of the greateft 
 Polls in the Turhp Empire, and the moft independenc of any 
 Subjeft in Turky ; it's cuftomary for the Sultans to give their 
 Daughters in Marriage to fuch Perfons ; who are often difliked 
 by the Husbands on Account of their Imperious Behaviour. 
 
 WheQ 
 
Signer Gaudentto bi Lucca; (>5| 
 When he perceiv'd them, the Tophar, 
 xvho naturally abhorr'd the Turks, kept off, 
 as if he were treating privately with fome 
 Merchants. But, I being young and in- 
 confidcratc flood gazing, tho'ata refpedt- 
 ful Diftance, at the Baflfa's beautiful 
 Daughter, from no other Motive but 
 mere Curiofity. She had her Eyes fix'd 
 on my Companions and myfelf at the 
 ^me time, and, as I fuppos'd, on the fame 
 Account. Her Drefs Avas fo magnihcent, 
 and her Perfon fo charming, that 1 thought 
 her the moft beautiful Creature I had 
 ever feen in my Life. If I cou'd have 
 forefeen the Troubles that lliort Inter- 
 view was going to coft both the Tophar 
 and myM^^ I fhould have chofe to have 
 look'd on the moft hideous Monfter. I 
 obferv'd that the young Lady, with a par- 
 ticular fort of Emotion, whifpcr'd foinc- 
 thing to an elderly Woman that attended 
 her, and fhe did the fame to a Page, 
 who immediately went to two Natives ^^of 
 the Place, whom the Tophar ufed to 
 hire to carry his Things ; This was to en- 
 quire of them who we were. They, as ap- 
 pear d by the Event, told them, I was a 
 young Slave lately bought by the Topbar. 
 Attcr a while, the Baflk with his Train 
 went away, and for my own Part I thought 
 no more of the Matter. The next Day 
 as the Tophar and we werd walking in 
 
 E one 
 
IS6 'lioe MEMOIRS oj 
 
 one of the publick Gardens; a little elder- 
 ly Man like an Eunuch, with a moft 
 beautiful Youth along with him, having 
 dogg'd us to a private Part of the Walks, 
 came up to us, and addreffing themfelves 
 to the Tophary ask'd him what he would 
 take for his young Slave, pointing at me,- 
 becaufe the Baffa defir'd to buy him. The 
 ^ophar feem'd to be more furprizVi at this 
 unexpeded Queftion, than I ever obferv*d 
 him at any thing before, which con- 
 firmM me more and more in the Opinion 
 of the Kindnefs he had for me. But foon 
 coming to himfclf, as he was a Man of 
 a great Prefence of Mind, he faid very 
 fedately that I was no Slave ,• nor a Per- 
 fon to be fold for any Price, fince I was 
 as free as he was. They taking this for 
 a Pretext to enhance the Price, produced 
 fome Oriental Pearls, with other Jewels 
 of iramenfe Value, and bid him name 
 what he would have, and it fhouid be 
 pe paid immediately : Adding, I was to be 
 the Companion of the BaiTa's Son, where 
 I might make my Fortune for ever, if I 
 would go along with them. The Tophar 
 perfifted in the fame Anfvver, and faid he 
 had no Power over me : They infifted I 
 had been bought as a Slave, but fome time 
 ago, in the Grand Signor's Dominions,' 
 and they would have me. Here I inter- 
 pos'd and anfwer'd briskly^ that tho' I had 
 
 beejQ 
 
Signor Gaudentio di Lucca. 6f 
 
 been taken Prifoner by the Chance of 
 War, I was no Slave, nor would I part 
 with my Liberty but at the Price of my 
 Life. The Balla's Son, for fo he now de- 
 clar'd himfelf to be, inilead of being an- 
 gry at my refolute Anfwer, replied with 
 a moft agreeable Smile, that I fhould bo 
 as free as he was, making the moft folemii 
 Proteftations by his Holy Alcoran^ that 
 our Lives and Deaths fhould be infepara- 
 ble. Tho* there was fomething in his 
 Words the moft perfuafive I ever felt with- 
 in myfelf; yet confidering the Obliga- 
 tions I had to the Tophar^ I was refcJv'd 
 not to go, but anfwer'd wath a mcft re- 
 fpectful Bow, that tho' I was free by Na- 
 ture, I had indifpenfible Obligations not 
 to go with him, and hop'd he would takt? 
 it for a determinate Anfwer. I pronounc'd 
 this with fuch a refolute Air, as made 
 him fee there was no Hopes. Whether 
 his Defire was more enilam'd by my de- 
 nial, or whether they took us for Perfons 
 of greater Note than we appear'd to be, 
 I can't tell ; but I obferv'd he put on a 
 very languiiliing Air, w^ith Tears ftealing 
 down his Cheekf, which mov'd me to a 
 Degree I can't exprcfs. I was fcarco ca- 
 pable offpeaking, but ca ft down my Eyes, 
 and ftood as immoveable as a Statue. 
 This feem'd to revive his hcpos ; he re- 
 cover'd himfelf a little, and with a trem- 
 
 F 2 bling 
 
6$ J/je MEMOIRS of 
 
 bling Voice, replied, fuppofe it be the 
 Bafik's Daughter you faw Yefterday, that 
 deiires to have you for her Attendant, 
 what do you fay ? I darted at this, and 
 calling my Eyes on him more attentively, 
 I faw^ his fwimming in Tears, with a Ten- 
 dernefs enough to pierce the hardeft 
 Heart. I look'd at the Tophar^ who I 
 faw was trembling for me ^ and fear'd it 
 was the Daughter herfelf that ask'd me 
 the Queftion. I was foon put out of doubt, 
 for file finding llie had gone too far to go 
 back, difcover'd herfelf, and faid I mull 
 go along with her, or one of us muft die* 
 I hope your Reverences will excufe this 
 Account I give of myfclf, which nothing 
 ihould have drawn from me, tho* 'tis li- 
 terally true, but your exprefs Commands 
 to tell the whole Hiftory of my Life. The 
 perplexity I was in can't be imagin'd ,* I 
 conlider d flie was a Ti/f Z", and I a Chrif- 
 tian : That my Death muft certainly be 
 the Confcquence of fuch a raili Affair, 
 were I to engage in it. That whether 
 She conceal'd me in her Father's Court, 
 or attempted to go off with me, it was ten 
 thoufand to one, we Ihould both be facri- 
 ficed : Neither could the Violence of fuch 
 a fudden Paflion ever be conceal'd from 
 the Baffa's Spies, In a Word I was re- 
 folv'd not to go ; but how to get off was 
 the Difficulty, I faw the moft beautiful 
 
 Crea- 
 
Sigiior GAUnrxtio m LirccA. '6^ 
 Creature in the World all in 1 cars before 
 mc, after a Declaration of Love, that 
 exceeded the mod Romantic Tales j 
 Youth, Love and Beauty, and even an 
 Inclination on my Side pleaded her Caufc. 
 But at length the Confideration of the 
 cndlcfs Miferies I was likely to draw on 
 the young Lady, fliould I comply with 
 what flic deiir'd, prevaii'd above all others. 
 I was refolv'd to refufe, for her fake more 
 than my own, and was juft going to tell 
 her fo on my Knees, with all the Argu- 
 ments my Reafon could fuggeft to appeafe 
 her J when an Attendant come running in 
 hafte to the other Perfon, who was alio a 
 Woman, and told her the BalTa was coming 
 that way. She was rous'd out of her Le- 
 thargy at this : The other Woman, with- 
 out any demur fnatch'd her away, as the 
 ^Pophar did me : She juft cried out with a 
 Threat, think better on't, or die,- fo wc 
 were immediately out of Sight of one ano- 
 ther. I was no fooner out of her Sight, 
 but I found a thoufand Reafons for what I 
 did, more than I could think of before, 
 when that enchanting Oh]cCt was before 
 my Eyes. I faw the Madnefs of that Paf- 
 fion which forc'd the moft: charming Perfon 
 of the Ottoman Empire, capable by her 
 Beauty to conquer the Grand Signer him- 
 felf, to make a Declaration of Love, fo 
 •contrary to the Nature and Modelly of lier 
 ? I Sex, 
 
76 I'he MEMOIRS of 
 
 Sex, as well as her Quality and Dignity, 
 and ready to facrifice her Reputation, the 
 Duty file ow'd her Parents, her Liberty, 
 perhaps her Life, and all for an unknown 
 Perfon, w'ho had been a Slave but fome 
 time before. I faw on the other Hand, 
 that had I coraply'd with the fair Char- 
 mer's Propofal, I muft have muft run the 
 Rifquc of lofing my Religion or Life, or 
 rather both, wdth a dreadful Chain of 
 hidden Misfortunes, which were likely to 
 accompany fuch a ralli Adventure. While 
 I was taken up with thefe Reflc<5tions, the 
 wife Tophar^ after having thought a little 
 upon w^hat had happen'd, told me, tliis 
 unfortunate Affair would not end fo, but 
 that it might coft us both our Lives, and 
 fomething elfe that was more dear to him. 
 He fear'd fo violent a Paflfion wcmld draw 
 on other extreams ; efpecially confidering 
 the wickednefs of the People, and brutal 
 Tyranny of their Government ; However, 
 ho w^as refoiv'd not to give me up but 
 ■with his Life, if I would but ftand to my- 
 felf: Adding that we muft make off as 
 faft as we could ; that having fo many 
 Spies upon us, v/e muft ufe Policy as w'ell 
 as Expedition. So he went down dirct^ly 
 to the Port, and in the hearing of all, 
 pubiickly hired a Ship to go £ov Cyprus^ 
 paid the whole Freight on tlie Spot, and 
 laid they muft ncceilarily go oft that Evenr 
 
Signor Gaudentio di Lucca, yj 
 
 ing. We had really done fo, but our 
 Companions and Effedls oblig'd us to re- 
 turn to Grand Cairo -, but inftcad of go- 
 ing by Sea, he caii'd the Mafter of the 
 Vcll'ei, who was of his Acquaintance, and 
 for a good round Sum, privately agreed 
 with him to fail out of the Port w^ithcut 
 us, as if we w^erc really gone with him^ 
 while he liir'd a Boat at the other End 
 of the Town, and went that Night di- 
 rciflly for Grand Cairo* As foon as wc 
 were arrived there, we enquir'd how long 
 the Bafla would be before he return'd to 
 that City. They told us it would be a- 
 bout a Fortnight at fooneit j this gave the 
 ^Fophar Time to pay off his Houfe, pack 
 up his Effects, and get all Things ready 
 for his great Voyage j but Hill with great- 
 er Approl^'nlion in his Looks than ever 
 I remarked in him. However, he told us,, 
 he hop'd the Aifair would end well i in 
 live Days time all Things were in readi- 
 nefs for our Departure. We fet out a 
 little before Sun-fet, as it is cuftomary in 
 thofe Countries, and march'd on but a 
 (low Pace whilft wc vs'ere near the Town, 
 to avoid any Sufpicion of Flight- After 
 we had travell'd thus about a League up 
 by the fide of the River Nilc^ the Tophar 
 leading the Van, and the reft following 
 in a pretty long String after him, wc 
 met five or fix Men coming down the 
 F 4j ilivcr;: 
 
fjt Tbe MEMOIRS of 
 
 Kiver-fide on Horfeback, who by their 
 fine Turbuts and Habits, ihew'd they were 
 Pages, or Attendants of fome great Per- 
 fon. The Tcpbar turn d off from the 
 River, as if it were to give them way ; 
 They pafs'd on very civilly without taking 
 any further Notice. I was the hindmoft 
 but one of our Train, having ftaidto give 
 our Dromedaries fome Water, Soon after 
 thefe, came two Ladies riding on little 
 Jrahian Jennets, with prodigious rich 
 Furniture, by which I guefs'd them to be 
 Perfons of Quality, and the others gone 
 before their Attendants. They were not 
 quite over againft where I was, when the 
 younger of the two Ladies Jennet began 
 to fnort and ftart at our Dromedaries, 
 and became fo unruly, that I apprehend- 
 ed the Lady could fcarce lit him. Ac 
 that Inftant, one of the led Dromedaries 
 coming pretty near, rhat and the ruftling 
 of its Loading, fo frighted the Jennet, 
 that he gave a Bound all on a fudden, 
 and being on the Infide of us towards the 
 Kiver, he ran full fpeed towards the edge 
 of the Bank, where not being able to ftop 
 his Career, he flew diredly off the Pre- 
 cipice into the River, with the Lady ftill 
 fitting him ; but the violence of the Leap, 
 threw her off two or three Yards into the 
 Water. It happened very luckily that 
 there was a little Illand jufl by where flie 
 
 fell. 
 
Sigfior Gaudentio di Lucca. 7^ 
 fell, and her Cloaths keeping her up for 
 fome Minutes, the Stream carried her 
 againfl: Ibmc Stakes that flood juft above 
 tiie Water; the Stakes catcli'd hold of 
 her Cloaths, and held her there. The 
 Shrieks of the other Lady brought the 
 nigheft Attendants up to usi but thofe fear- 
 ful Wretches durft not venture into the 
 Kiver to her Affiftance. I jump'd off of 
 my Dromedary with Indignation, and 
 throwing off my loofe Garment and San- 
 dals, fwam to her, and with much Diffi- 
 culty getting hold of her Hand, and loof- 
 ing her Garments from the Stakes, I 
 made a fliiit to draw her a-crofs the 
 Stream, till I brought her to Land. She 
 was quite fenfclcfs for fome time -, I held 
 down her Head, which I had not yet 
 look'd at, to make her difgorge the Wa- 
 ter ihe had fwallow'd,- but I was foon 
 ftruck with a double Surprize, when I 
 look'd at her Face, to find it was the 
 Baffas Daughter, and to fee her in that 
 Place, whom I thought I had left at 
 Jlexandria, After fome time, flic came 
 to herfelf, and looking fix*d on me a good 
 while, her Senfes not being entirely reco- 
 vered : At laft flie cried out, O Mahomet^ 
 muft I owe my Life to this Man I and. 
 fainted away. The other Lady who was 
 her Confident, with a great deal ofPains 
 brought her to herfelf again; wc rais'd her 
 
74 "I'he MEMOIRS of 
 
 up, and endeavoured to comfort her as 
 well as we could: No, fays flie, throw 
 me into the River once more ; let me not 
 be obliged to a "Barharian for whom I have 
 done too much already. I told her in the 
 moft refpe(5tful Terms I cou d think of, that 
 Providence had order'd it fo, that I might 
 make fome Recompence for the undefer- 
 ved Obligations flie had laid on mc; that 
 I had too great Value for her Merit, ever 
 to make her miferablc, by loving a Slave 
 fuch as I was, a Stranger, a Chriftiany 
 and one who had indifpenfible Obligations 
 to ad as I did. She ftartlcd a little at 
 what I faid j but after a Hiort Recollec- 
 tion anfwer d. Whether you are a Slave, 
 an Infidel, or whatever you pleafc, you 
 are one of the moft generous Men in the 
 World. I fuppofe your Obligations are on 
 Account of fome more happy Woman than 
 myfelf; but fince I owe my Life to you, 
 I am refolv'd not to make you unhappy, 
 any more than you do me. I not only 
 pardon you, but am convinc'd my Preten- 
 iions are' both unjuft, and againft my own 
 Honour. She faid this with an Air be- 
 coming her Quality : She was mucli more 
 at Eafe, when I ailurM her I was engag'd 
 to no Woman in the World ; but that her 
 Memory fiiould be ever dear to me, and 
 imprinted in my Heart till my laft Breath. 
 Here ten or a dozen arm'd T-iirlzs came 
 
 upoa 
 
Signor Gaudentio di Lucca. 7J 
 upon us full Speed from the Town, and 
 feeing the Tophar and his Companions, 
 they cried out Hop Villains, we arrefl: you 
 in the Name of the Balfa. At this we 
 darted up to fee what was the matter, 
 when the Lady who knew them, bid mc 
 not be afraid ^ that thefe were Men flic 
 had order'd to purfue me, when fhe left 
 Jlexanchia, That hearing we were fled 
 off by Sea, fhe pretended Sicknefs, and 
 ask'd leave of her Father to return to 
 Cairo^ there to bemoan her Misfortune 
 witli her Confident j and was in thofe me- 
 lancholly Sentiments, when the late Ac- 
 cident happen'd to her. That flie fup- 
 pos'd thefe Men had difcover'd the Trick 
 we had plaid tliem in not going by Sea, 
 and on better Information had purfued us 
 this way. So flio difmifs'd them immedi- 
 ately. I was all this white in one of the 
 grcateft Agonies that can be exprefs'd, 
 both for fear of my own Rcfolutions and 
 hers : So I bcgg'd her to retire, left her 
 wet Cloaths iliould endanger her Health. 
 I iliould not have been able to pronounce 
 thefe Words, if the Tophar had not caft 
 a Look at me, which pierced me thro', 
 and made me fee the Danger 1 was in by 
 my Delay. Her Refolutions now feem'd 
 to be ftrongcr than mine. She puU'd off 
 this Jewel, your Reverences fee on my 
 ringer, and juft faid^ with Tears trick- 
 ling 
 
7^ 27^^ MEMOIRS (?/ 
 
 ling down her beautiful Cheeks : Take 
 this, and adieu ! She then pull'd her Com- 
 panion away, and never look'd at me 
 more. I ftood amaz'd, almoft without 
 Life or Motion in me, and can t tell how 
 long I might have continued fo, if the 
 'pophar had not come and congratulated 
 me for my Deliverance. I told him, I did 
 not know what he meant by Deliverance, 
 for I did not know whether I was alive or 
 dead, and that I was afraid he would re- 
 pent his buying of me, if I procur d him 
 any more of thefe Adventures ? If we 
 meet with no worfc than thefe, fays he, 
 we are well enough ; no Vidory can be 
 gain d without fome Lofs. So he awaken'd 
 me out of my Lethargy, and command- 
 ed us to make the belt of our way. 
 
 Remarks of Signor RhedL 
 
 (0 T I V E up to your own Law, t^c. if it appear incredi- 
 P , ble to any one, that Heathens, as thefe People were, 
 ihou'd have fuch drift Ideas of Morality and Juftice, when 
 they fee fuch horrid Injuftices, Frauds and Oppreffions among 
 Chrijlinns. Let them confider firft. That the Law and Light 
 of Nature will never be entirely extinguifh'd in any who 
 don't fhut their Eyes againft it ; but that they would efteem 
 the Injuries they do to other?, without any Scruple, to be very- 
 great Hardfhips if done ro themfelves : They have therefore 
 the Ideas of Juftice and Equity imprinted in their Minds, how- 
 ever obfcurrd by their wicked Lives. 2dh, Let themr 
 
 read the celehra'.ed Bifl'.op of Meaux^^ Univeifal Hiftory, 
 Pt. 3. of the MorJb and Equity of the Antient Egyptians undtv 
 
 their 
 
Si^nor Gaudentio di Lucca. 77 
 
 thfeir great King Sefoflris, or about that Time. 3i/jy, Not 
 
 only the Lives and Maxims of the nrft Htathen Philoiophcrs, 
 afford us very juR Rules of Morality, but there are alio Frag- 
 Kiencsot Antient Hiftory, from the earlieft Times, of whole 
 Heathen Nations, whofe Lives would make Chrijiians blufh at 
 their own Immoralities, if they were not harden 'd in them. 
 The People of Ca/cbos, whom the great Bochart in his Pha- 
 Je?:, proves to have been a Colony of Antient Egyptians, as 
 w'ill be feen in the Sequel of thefe Memoirs, or the Antient 
 Inhabit.mtsofPfl/z/*;, who come from them, were according 
 10 Homer the moft Juft of Men. 
 
 Milk-Eaters the moft Juft of Men, Horn. II. K, 
 
 Chcerilus In Xerxis Biahofi apud Bochart. Speaking of the 
 Scythians on the Euxine Sea, fays No/wot'cTwi' V(TAV a/^roDLot 
 AvQgu'Truv voyJfxav. T^hey wtre a Colony of the Nomades, a 
 ju/l People. 
 
 ' Strabo fay?, That Anacharfts landi Abaris-, both Scythian s» 
 efteem'd by the Antient Greeks^ for their peculiar and National 
 Afi'ability, Probity and Juftice. o]t \^vi)i'ov riVA X^&^^^^£^ 
 t-ji(pa.ivov iVKoKtUi, 3^ TSAso]rt7o? ^ J^iKA/offvviK. And Nicho' 
 iaus Damafcenus of the GalaSlophagi, \i<ji 3 t^ J^/kaioJatoi. 
 They are the moji Juft of Men. Vide Bochart. lib. g. c. 9. 
 
 (2) Love Adventures are not the Defign of thefe Memoirs, 
 as will appear by the reft of his Life: Otherwife, This Ac- 
 count of the BalTa's Daughter, had like to have made me lay 
 down my Pen, without troubling myfelf to write any further 
 Remark. Bu;, when I confider'd, the Man is no Fool, lee 
 him be what he will, nor could defign to embellifh his Hil- 
 tory by thii extraordinary Adventure, folike the former, and 
 juft upon the Back of it, I am inclin'd to believe he wrote the 
 
 matter of Faft juft as it happen'd. More unaccountable 
 
 Accidents than this have happen'd to feme Men. 
 
 The amorous Temper of the Turkijh Ladies, cfpecially at 
 Grand Cairo, where the Women are the moft voluptuous in 
 the World, and the furprizing Beauty of this young Man, wli'5 
 the Secretary izys, has the nobleft Prefence he ever favv, even 
 at that Age, might eafily charm a wanton giddy Girl at the 
 firft Sight. Bcfides, (he was inform'd he was a Slave, and 
 might think (he could have purchased him for her private Gal- 
 lant} or might be encourag'd in it by the luftful elderly Wo- 
 man that attended her. Such Things have been done before 
 now; but when (he came nearer co the tempting Obj'jfl. and 
 
 found 
 
75^ "the MBMOIRS of 
 
 found him to be fomething more Noble than fhe expelled, 
 her Paffion might thereby grow to the higheft Pitch. 
 
 Extraordinary Beauty, in both Sexes, is oftentimes a great 
 Misfortune; fince it frequently leads them into very great Fol- 
 lies and evenDifafters. What will noc heedlefs Youth do, when 
 fired with Flattery or Charms ? Tis no new Thing for Women 
 to fall in Love at firll Sight, as well as Men, and on as unequal 
 Terms ; in fpight of all Reafons and Confiderations to the 
 contrary, I believe there may be Men in the World, as 
 charming to the Eyes ot' Women, as ever the fair He/en ap- 
 pear'd to the Men. The almoll incredible Cataftrophe's caus'd 
 by her Beauty, are fo far from being Fabulous, that, befide the 
 Account Homer gives of hef, there is extant an Oration of 
 the famous Ifocrntes de Laudibus Helena t before Alexander 
 the Great's Time, which gives a more amazing Account of 
 the Effefts of her Beauty, than Homer docs. He fays, fhe was 
 ravifh'd for her Beauty, by the great and wife Ihefeus^ when 
 Ihe was but a Girl. She was afterwards courted by all the 
 Grec'ianVnxicti; and after her Marriage, was carried from 
 Europe '\Xi\.o Afiahy the beautiful Paris; which kindled the 
 £rfi: War, that is recorded in Hiltory to have been made in 
 thofePartsof the World. Yet notwithftanding that falfe and 
 fatal Step, her Beauty reconcii'd her to her Husband ; Jfocrates 
 de Laudibus Helena:. The Sight of fome Men may have as 
 violent Eifefts on Women. 
 
 'Tis pofTible the young Lady would have been very angry 
 with any one, who fhould have perfwaded Signor Gaudenti9 
 to do as he did ; yet in Effeft it was the greateft Kindnefs : For 
 this very Lady, fome time after, became Miftrefsof the whole 
 Ottoman Empire. Whereas if Ihe had run away with him, 
 as the Violence of her Paflion fuggelled, they had both of 
 them been inevitably miferable. Notwithftanding all thefe 
 Reafons, I fhould not hive believ'd this Story, if I had not 
 examined fome other Fads, which, he faid, happened to him 
 at Venice, as incredible as this, and found them to be really 
 true. 
 
 (^onthm^ 
 
SignoT GAUDEmio Di Lucca, 7^ 
 
 Continuation of the MEMOIRS. 
 
 T H O' the Tophar was uneafy to be 
 out of the reach of the fair Lady and her 
 faithlefs Turks^ yet he was not in any 
 great hafte in the main, the prefent Time 
 for his great Voyage not being yet come. 
 There appear'd a Gaiety in his Counte- 
 nance, that feem'd to promife us a profpc- 
 rous Journey. For my own Part, tho' I 
 was glad I had efcap'd my dangerous En- 
 chantrefs, there 'was a Heavinefs lay 011 
 my Spirits, which I could give no Account 
 of 5 but the Thoughts of fuch an un- 
 known Voyage, and Variety of Places, dif- 
 fipatcd it by Degrees. We were eleven 
 in Number, five elderly Men, and five 
 young Ones, myfelf being a Super-nume- 
 rary Pcrfon : We were all mounted upon 
 Dromedaries, which were very fine for 
 that fort of Creature ^ they are fomc- 
 thing like Camels, but lefs, and much 
 fwifter i they live a great while without 
 Water as the Camels do, which was the 
 Rcafon they made Ufc of them, for the 
 Barren Sands they were to pafsover ^ tho 
 they have the fincft Horfes that can be 
 feen in their own Country. They had 
 five fparc Ones to carry Provifions, or to 
 
 change. 
 
So "thd MEMOIRS of 
 
 change, in Cafe any one of their own 
 fnou d tire by the way. It was upon one 
 of thcfe five that I rode: We went up the 
 ISLih^ leaving it on our Left-hand all the 
 way, fleering our Courfe directly for tke 
 upper jE-^j'/?/. Iprefumeyour Reverences 
 know, that the River Kile divides Egypt- 
 in two Parts length-ways j defcending 
 from JhyJJhiia with fuch an immenfe 
 Courfe, that the Ethiopians faid it had 
 no Head, and running thro' the hither 
 Ethiopidj pours down upon Egypt^ as the 
 'Khine does thro' the SpaniJJo Netherlands^ 
 making it one of the richeft Countries in 
 the Univerfe. We vifited all the Towns 
 on that famous River upwards, under pre- 
 tence of Merchandizing J but the true 
 Reafon of our Delay was, becaufe the 
 ^ophars critical Time for his great Voy- 
 age was not yet come. He look'd at his 
 Ephemeris and Notes almoll every Hour> 
 the reft of them attending his Nod in the 
 moft minute Circumftances. As we ap- 
 proach'd the upper Parts of Egypt ^ as 
 nigh as I could guefs, over-againft the De- 
 ferts of "Barca^ they began to buy Provi- 
 fions proper for their Purpofe ; but parti- 
 cularly Rice, dry'd Fruits, and a fort of 
 dry'd Pafte that ferv'd us for Bread. They 
 did not buy their Provifions at one Place, 
 to avoid Sufpicion ,• yet I obferv'd they 
 laid up a coniiderable Quantity, both for 
 
 their 
 
Signer Gaudentto di Lucca. 8i 
 
 their Dromedaries and their felves; by 
 which I found we had a long Journey to 
 make.— When we came ovcr-againft 
 the middle Coaft of the vaft Dcfert of 
 'Barca^ we met with a dehcate clear Ri- 
 vulet, breaking out of a riling Part of the 
 Sands, and making towards the K'lle^ 
 Here we alighted, drank ourfelves, and 
 gave our Dromedaries to drink as much 
 as they wou'd : Then we filfd all our Vcf- 
 fels, made on Purpofe for Carriage, and 
 took in a much greater Proportion of Wa- 
 ter than we had done Provifions. 1 for- 
 got to tell your Reverences, that at fe- 
 veral Places as we pafs'd, they difmount- 
 ed and kifs'd the Ground with a very fu^ 
 perftitious Devotion, and fcrap'd fome of 
 the Duft, which they put into Golden Urns^ 
 which they had brought with them on 
 Purpofe, letting me do what I pleas'd all 
 the while. This fort of Devotion I guefs'd 
 then, but found to be true afterwards, 
 was the chief Occaiion of their coming 
 into thofe Parts j tho* carried on under 
 the pretence of Merchandizing. They did 
 the fame in this Place j and when all were 
 ready, the Tophar looking on his Papers 
 and Needle, cry'd Goiilo Benim^ which I 
 was inform'd, was as much as to fay. Now 
 Children for our Lii'es^ and immediately 
 as he had fteer'd South all along before, 
 he turn'd fliort on his Right-hand due 
 
82 7/je M-EMOIRS of 
 
 l^eft^ crofs the vaft Defeit of "Barca^ as 
 faft as his Dromedary cou'd well go^ we 
 had nothing but Sands and Sky before us, 
 and in a few Hours were almoft out of 
 Danger of any One's attempting to fol- 
 low us. 
 
 Being thus embark'd, if I may fay fo,©!! 
 this vaft Ocean of Sand, a thoufand per- 
 plexing Thoughts came into my Mind, 
 which I did notrefle(^ on before. Behold 
 me in the midft of the inhofpitable Deferts 
 €>£ Jfricdy where whole Armies (i) had 
 often perifh'd. The further we advanc'd 
 the more our Danger encreas'd. I was 
 with Men, who were not only Strangers 
 to myfelf, but to all the World befide : 
 Ten againft one j but this was not all ; I 
 was perfuaded now they were Heathens 
 and Idolaters : For befide their fuperftiti- 
 ous kiflTmg the Earth in feveral Places, I 
 obferv'd they look'd up tow^ards the S^my 
 and feem'd to addrefs their Orifons to 
 that Planet, glorious indeed, but a Planet 
 and a Creature neverthelefs : Then I re- 
 fleded on what the Tophar faid when he 
 bought me, that I was not likely to re- 
 turn. 'Tis pofTible, thought I, I am de- 
 Ilin'd for a Human Sacrifice, to fome Hea" 
 then God in the midft of this vaft Defert. 
 But not feeing any Arms they had, either 
 Offenfive or Defenfive, except their fhort 
 poads to prick on their Dromedaries, I 
 
 wa$ 
 
Signor Gaudentio di Lucca. 8| 
 was a little eafy : I had privately provid- 
 ed myfelf with two Pocket Piftols, and 
 was refolv'd to defend myfelf till the laft 
 Gafp. But when I confider'd that unpa- 
 ralell'd Jufticc and Humanity I had ex- 
 perienc'd in their Treatment of me, I was 
 a little comforted. As for the difficulty 
 of pafllng the Deferts, I refleded that 
 their own Lives were as much in Danger 
 as mine ; that they muft have fome un- 
 known Ways of palfing them over, other- 
 wife they would never expofe themfclves 
 to fuch evident Danger. 
 
 I fliou d have told your Reverences, 
 that we fct out a little before Sun-fet to 
 avoid the Heats, June the 9th, 1688, 
 the Moon was about the firft Quarter, and 
 carried on the Light till nigh Dawn of 
 Dayi the glittering of the Sands, or ra- 
 ther pebbly Gravel, in which there were 
 abundance of fhining Stones like Jewels 
 or Chryftal, encreas'd the Light, that we 
 could fee tofteer our Courfe by the Needle 
 very well. We went on at a vaft Rate, 
 the Dromedaries being very fwiftCreatures 5 
 their Pace is more running than galloping, 
 much like that of a Mule : That I verily 
 believe, from Six a-Clock in the Evening 
 till about Ten the next Day, we ran al- 
 moft a hundred and twenty Italia?! Miles: 
 We had neither ftop or let, but fteer dour 
 Courfe in a dire(5t Line, like a Ship under 
 G 2 Sail' 
 
Sail. The Heats were not nigh {o Infuf- 
 ferable as I expcfled, for tho' wc la\V no- 
 thing we could call a Mountain in thofe 
 immenfe 'Bares, yet the Sands, or at leali 
 the way we fteer d was very high Ground: 
 That as foon as we were out of the Breath 
 of the inhabitable Countries, we had a 
 perpetual Breeze blowing full in our 
 Faces ; yet fo uniform, that it fcarce rais'd 
 any Duft : partly becaufe, where we 
 pafs'd, the Sands were not of that fmall 
 dufty kind, as in fomc Parts of Jfrica^ 
 which fly in Clouds with the Wind over- 
 whelming all before it, but of a more gra- 
 velly kindi and partly from an impercep- 
 tible Dew, which tho' not fo thick as a 
 Fog, moiften'd the Surface of the Ground 
 pretty much. A litter after Nine next 
 Morning we came to fome Clumps o£ 
 fhrubby Trees, with a little Mofs on tlie 
 Ground inftead of Grafs : Here the Wind 
 fell, and the Heats became very violent. 
 The Tophar order'd us to alight and pitch 
 our Tents, to ilielter both ouffelves and 
 Dromedaries from the Heats. Their Tents 
 were made of the fined fort of oil'd Cloth 
 I ever faw, prodigious light and porta- 
 ble, yet capable of keeping out both Rain 
 and Sun. Here we refrefli'd ourfelves and 
 Beafts till a little after Six ; when we fet 
 out again, fleering ftill diredly Weji as 
 nigh as I could guefs : We went on thus for 
 
 three 
 
Signor Gai/dentio di Lucca. 8j, 
 three Days and Nights without any con- 
 fiderable Accident, only I obferv'd the 
 Ground fecm'd to rife infcnfibly higher, 
 and tlie Breezes not only ftrongcr, but 
 the Air itfclf much cooler. About Ten 
 the third Day we faw fome more Clumps 
 of Trees on our Right-hand, which look'd 
 greener and thicker than the former, as 
 if they were the beginning of fome habi- 
 table Vale, as in Elfc(^ they were. The 
 'Pophar order d us to turn that way, which 
 was the only turning out of our way we 
 had made yet. By the chearfulnefs of their 
 Countenances, Ithoughtthis might be the 
 beginning of their Country; but I was 
 very much miftaken, we had a far longer 
 and more dangerous Way to go, than what 
 we had pafs'd hitherto. However, this was 
 a very remarkable Station of our Voyage^ 
 as your Reverences will find by the Se- 
 quel. As we advane'd, we found it to 
 open and defcend gradually j till at length 
 we law a moft beautiful Vale, full" of 
 Palms, Dates, Oranges, and other Fruit- 
 Trees, entirely unknown in thcfc Parts, 
 with fuch a refreihing Smell from the odo- 
 riferous Shrubs, as fiUM the whole Air 
 with Perfumes (2); we rode into the 
 thickcft of it as faft as we could to enjoy 
 the inviting Shade. We eas'd our Dro- 
 medaries, and took the firft care of them j 
 for on thera all our Safeties depended. Af- 
 G 3 ter 
 
85 The MEMOIRS ^/ 
 
 ter we had refrefh'd ourfelves, the To- 
 fhar order'd every one to go to Sleep as 
 foon as we could, fince we were like to 
 have but little the three following Days. 
 I fhould have told your Reverences, that 
 as foon as they alighted, they fell down 
 flat on their Faces and kifs'd the Earth, 
 with a great deal of feeming Joy and Ar- 
 dour, which I took to be a Congratula- 
 tion for their happy Arrival at fo hofpita- 
 ble a Place, but it was on a quite diffe- 
 rent Account. I was the firft awake af- 
 ter our Refreflnmenti my Thoughts and 
 Fears, tho' much calmer than they had 
 been, wou'd not fuffer mc to befo fedate 
 as the reft. Finding the Hour for de- 
 parting was not yet come , I got up and 
 walk'd in that delicious Grove, which 
 was fo much the more delightful, as the 
 Peferts we had pafs'd were dreadful and 
 horrid : I pafs'd on defcending towards the 
 Center of the Vale, not doubting by the 
 Greennefsand Fragrancy of the Place,but 
 I fhould find a Spring of Water. I had 
 not gone far, but Ifaw amoft delicate Rill, 
 bubbling out from under a Pvock, forming 
 a little natural Bafon, from whence it ran 
 gliding down the Center of the Vale^ en- 
 creafing as it went, till in all Appearance 
 it might form a confiderable Rivulet, un- 
 lefs it were f wallowed up again in the 
 Sands. At that Place the Vale ran upon 
 
Signor Gaudsntio di Lucca. 87 
 a pretty deep Defccnt, fo that I could fee 
 over the Trees and Shrubs below me, al- 
 moft as far as my Eyes could reach -, en- 
 creafins; or dccreafing in Breadth as the 
 Hills of Sands, for now they appeared to 
 be Hills, would give it leave. Here, I 
 had the moft delightful Profped that the 
 moft lively Imagination can form to it- 
 felf i the Sun-burnt Hills of Sand on each 
 fide, made the Greens look ftill more 
 charming ,• ,but the finging of innumerable 
 unknown Birds, with the different Fruits 
 and Perfumes exhalin'g from the Aroma- 
 tick Shrubs, rendered the Place delicious 
 beyond Expreflion. After I had drank 
 my fill, and delighted myfelf with thofe 
 Native Rarities, I faw a large Lion come 
 out of the Grove, about two hundred 
 Paces below me, going very quietly to 
 the Spring to lap : When he had drank, 
 he whiskM his Tail two or three times, 
 and began to tumble on the green Grafs. 
 I took the Opportunity to flip away back 
 to my Companions, very glad I had 
 cfcap'dfo: They were all awake when I 
 came up, and had been in great Concern 
 for my Abfence. The Tophar feemM more 
 difpleas'd that I had left them, than ever 
 I lliw him ; he mildly chid me for expo- 
 fing myfelf to be devoured by wild Beafts; 
 but when I told them of the Water and 
 the Lion, they were in a greater Surprize, 
 G 4 look- 
 
n The MEMOIRS of 
 
 looking at one another with a fort of 
 pear in their Looks, which I interpreted 
 to be for the Danger I had efcap'd ; but 
 it was on another Account. After fome 
 Words in their own Language, the ^o- 
 fhar fpoke aloud in Lingua Franca^ I 
 think, fays he, we may let this young 
 Man fee all our Ceremonies, efpecially, 
 ficce he will foon be out of Danger of 
 difcovering them, if he fhould have a mind 
 to do't. At this they puU'd out of their 
 Stores, fome of their choiceft Fruits, a 
 Cruife of rich Wine, fome Bread, a burn- 
 ing Giafs, a Thurible '^, Perfumes and 
 other inftruments commonly ufed in the 
 Heathen Sacrifices. I look'd aghaft at 
 this ftrange Sight : Which was fuch as I 
 had never obferv'd in them before, and 
 began to apprehend that was I now real- 
 ly defign'd for a Human Sacrifice (3) to 
 fome infernal God or other ; but when I 
 compared the Tophars late Words with 
 what 1 faw, I fcarce doubted of it, and 
 was contriving with myfelf to fell my 
 Life as dear as I cou'd. The *'Pophar 
 order'd us to bring the Dromedaries, and 
 every Thing along with us for fear, as he 
 faid, they fliou'd be devoured by wild 
 Beafts. We defcended towards the Cen- 
 ter of the Vale, where I faw the Foun- 
 
 * An Inftrument to hold Incenfe. 
 
 tain. 
 
Signor Gaudentio di Lijcca. 8^ 
 tain. They went on a great way lower 
 into the Vale, till it began to be very 
 deep j but we i'ound a narrow way made 
 by Art, and not feeming to have been 
 very long unfrequented, which was more 
 furprizingj becaufe I took the Place to be 
 uninhabited, and even inacceflibic to all 
 but thefe People. We were fore d to de- 
 fcend one by one, leading our Dromeda- 
 ries in our Hands : I took particular Care 
 to be the hindmoft, keeping at a little 
 diftance from the reft for fear of a Sur- 
 prize. They march'd down in a mourn- 
 ful kind of ProcelTion, obferving a mod 
 profound Silence all the while. At length 
 we came into the finelT: natural Amphi- 
 theatre that is pofifible to defcribe. There 
 was nothing but odoriferous Greens and 
 Sky to be feen j except downwards right 
 before us, where we had a moft delicious 
 Profpedt over that glorious Vale, winding 
 a little to the Right, till it was inter- 
 cepted by the collateral Hills. At the 
 upper Part of the Amphitheatre, where 
 the break of the Hill made that agreea- 
 ble Splanade, there flood an ancient Ty- 
 ramid^ juft after the manner of thofe in 
 Bgypty but nothing near fo big as the 
 leaft of them. In the Front of it that 
 fac'd the Vale, the fteps were cut out in 
 the Form of an Altar, on which was 
 erected a Statue of a venerable old Mnn 
 
 done 
 
90 rZ'^ MEMOIRS ^/ 
 
 done to the Life, of the fineft polifh'd 
 Marble, or rather fome unknown Stone 
 of infinite more value. Here, I had not 
 the leaft doubt, but that I was to be fa- 
 crificed to this Idol : The ^ophar feeing; 
 me at a Diftance calFd to me, to come 
 and fee their Ceremonies. Then I thought 
 it was time to fpeak or never ; Father, 
 faid I5 fince you give me leave to call you 
 fo, 1 am willing to perform all your Com- 
 mands, where the Honour of the fupreme 
 God is not call'd in Queftion j but I am 
 ready to die a thoufand Deaths rather 
 than give his Honour to another: I am a 
 Chriflian^ and believe one only God, the 
 fupreme Being of all Beings, and Lord of 
 the Univerfe ; for which Reafon I can't 
 join with you in your Idolatrous Worfhip. 
 If you are refolv'd to put me to Death on 
 that Account, I here offer my Life freely ! 
 if I am to be made a Part of your Infer- 
 nal Sacrifice, Til defend myfelf to the iaft 
 drop of my Blood, before I will fubmit 
 to It. He anfwer'd me w^ith a Smile, ra- 
 ther than with any Indignation, and told 
 me when I came to be better acquainted 
 with them, I iliould find they were not 
 fo inhuman as to put People to Death, 
 becaufe they were of a different Opinion 
 from their own. That this was only a 
 Religious Ceremony they perform'd to 
 their de-ceasd Anceliors (4), and if! had 
 
 not 
 
Signor Gaudentto dt T.ucca. 91 
 not a mind to afiift at it, 1 might (it down 
 at what Diftancc I pleas'd. 
 
 Secretary, The Inquiiitors were ex- 
 treamly pleas'd with the firft Part of his 
 Difcourfe, wherein he iView'd fuch Cou- 
 rage for the Defence of his Religion, and 
 Refolution to die rather than join in their 
 Idolatrous Worlliipj but all had lik'd to 
 have been dafli'd again by the fecondPart, 
 which made one of the Inquifitors inter- 
 rupt his Narration, and ask him the fol- 
 lowing Queftion. 
 
 Inqiitfitor, I hope you don't think it 
 unlawful to perfecute, or even to put to 
 Death obftinatc Hereticks who would dc- 
 ftroy the Religion of our Forefathers^ and 
 lead others into the fame Damnation with 
 themfelves. If Treafon againft one's 
 Prince may be puniiVd with Death, why 
 may not Treafon againft the King of 
 Heaven be punilli'd with the like Penal- 
 ty < Have a care you don't caft Reflecti- 
 ons on the Holy Inquifition. 
 
 Qatidentio. Reverend Fathers! I only 
 relate bare Matter of Fadl, as it was fpoke 
 by the Mouth of a Heathen^ ignorant of 
 our Holy Myfterics ^ I have all the Rea- 
 fon in the World to extol the J'^iftice of 
 the Holy Inquifition : Nor do I think, but 
 that in fuch Cafes mention'd by your Re- 
 verences, it may be lawful to ufe the ut- 
 moft Severities to prevent greater Evils, 
 
 But 
 
"^2 The MEMOIRS of 
 
 But it argu d a wonderful Moderation in 
 the Tophar^ which I found to be his real 
 Sentiments, not unbecoming a Chnftian 
 in fuch Circumftances, wiiere it did not 
 tend to the Deflrudion of the whole j but 
 in this, as in all other Matters I fubmit to 
 your Decifions. 
 
 Secretary* I interposed in his Favour, 
 and put the Inquifitors in mind, that there 
 was nothing but what was juft in his An- 
 fwers : And we ourfelves only ufed thofe 
 Rigours in the laft Extremity to prevent 
 greater Mifchiefs ^ fo they bid him read 
 on« 
 
 When the Tophar had fa id this, he 
 and the reft of them fell down on their 
 Faces and kifs'd the Earth : Then with 
 the Burning-glafs they kindled fome odo- 
 riferous Woods j put the Coals in the 
 Thurible with the Incenfe, and incenfed 
 the Idol or Statue : That done they pour'd' 
 the Wine on the Altar ,• fct Bread on the 
 one fide and Fruits on the other: And 
 having lighted two httle Pyramids of moft 
 delicious Perfumes at each End of the great 
 Pyramid, they fat them down round the 
 Fountain, which I fuppofe was convey'd 
 by Art under the Pyramid (5), and iffucd 
 out in the middle of the Amphitheatre. 
 There they refrein'd themfjlves, and ga- 
 thered the Fruits, w^hich hung round us in 
 the Grove, eating of them very heartily, 
 
 and 
 
Signor GauDentio di Lucca. 9| 
 
 and inviting me to do the like. I made 
 feme d'.flRculty at firft, fearing it might 
 be part of the Sacrifice ^ but they affuring 
 me all was but a civil Ceremony, I join'd 
 them, and did as they did. The Tophar 
 turn'd to me and faid, my Son, we wor- 
 fhip one mod: High God, as you do ; What 
 we did juft now, was not that we believe 
 any Deity in that Statue, or ador'd it as 
 a God 3 but only refped it as a Memorial 
 and in remembrance of our Great Ancef- 
 tor, who heretofore condu<5led our Fore- 
 fathers to this Place, and was buried in 
 this Pyramid (6). The reft of our Fore- 
 fathers, who died before they were forc'd 
 to leave this Valley, are buried all around 
 us : That is the Rcafon we kifs'd the 
 Ground, not thinking it lawful to ftir the 
 Bones of the dead. We did the fame in 
 'Ezypty becaufe we were originally of 
 that Land : Our particular Anceftors liv'd 
 in that Part, which was afterwards call'd 
 Thehcs (7). The time will not permit 
 me to acquaint you at prefcnt, how we 
 were driven out of our Native Country 
 to this Place, and afterwards from this 
 Place to the Land we are now going, you 
 {hall know all hereafter. The Bread, 
 Fruits and Wine we laid on the Altar (8), 
 as they are the chief Support of our Be- 
 ing, fo we leave them there as a Teftimony, 
 that the venerable old Man, whofe Statue 
 
 you 
 
5^4 "^^he MEMOIRS of 
 
 you fee, was under God the Author and 
 Father of our Nation. This faid, he 
 told us it was time to make the heft of 
 our way, fo they all got up, and having 
 kifs'd the Ground once more, the five el- 
 derly Men fcrap'd a little of the Earth, 
 and put in fine Golden Velfels, with a great 
 deal of Care and Refpedt. After reirefh- 
 ing ourfelves again, we made our Provi- 
 lion of Fruits and Water, and leading our 
 Dromedaries up the way we came down, 
 we mounted and fet out for the Remainder 
 of our Journey, 
 
 Remarks of Signor Rhedi. 
 
 (i)YT7HOLE Armies had often pen{h'd, ^i-. Antient 
 VV Hiftories give us feveral Inftances of a great number of 
 Perfons, and even whole Armies, who have been loft in the 
 Sands o{ Africa. Herodotus in Thalia, fays that Cantbyj'es the 
 Son of Cj/v/j- the Great, in his Expedition againft the ^//5»/5- 
 ■piansy was brought to fuch Streights in thofe vaft Deferts, that 
 they were forc'd to eat every tench Man before they could get 
 back again. The other Army which he fent to deftroy the 
 Temple of 'Jupiter Hammon was entirely overwhelm'd and 
 loft in the Sands: Herodot. Thalia. The Idolaters imputed it 
 as a Puniftiment for his Impiety againft Jupiter, but it was 
 
 for want of knowing the Danger. Ifuppofevery few are 
 
 ignorant of the Contrivance of Marias the Ro?nan General, 
 to get over the Sands to Capfa, to (eizejugurtba's Treafurc, 
 which he thought fecure. Salluft. de Bella Jugurthin. 
 
 (2) The prodigious Fertility of y^r/V<7, in the Vales between 
 the Deferts and the Skirts of it, for a great Breadth towards 
 the two Seas, is recorded by the beft Hiftorians ; tho' the Ridge 
 of it, over which our Author was conduded^ and other par- 
 ticular Tradls, are all cover'd with Sands. 
 
 (3)1 
 
Eignor Gaudentio di Lucca. 95 
 
 (3) I was defign'd for a Human Sacrifice. Our Author's 
 Fears were not vain, confidering the Preparatives he faw, and 
 other Circumftances. Befide?, 'tis well known, the Antient 
 Africans, particularly the Getulinns and Lybians, and even 
 the Carthaginians, made ufe of Human Sacrifices to appeafe 
 their Deities. Bocbart in the Second Part of his Geographia 
 Sacra, proves beyond Qucllion, that the Carthaginians were 
 part of the People of Catiaan Ax'wtn cut by Jojhua, who us'd 
 to facrifice their Children to Moloch, Sec. Even in Hannibal'i 
 Time, when they were grown more polite, they fent privately 
 Children to Tyre for a Sacrifice to Hercules. 
 
 (4) They perform'd to their deceas'd Anceftors. The ear- 
 liefl Accounts of £^j//, from whence thefe People come, tell 
 us that they had a great Veneration for their deceas'd Ancef- 
 tors. See the 3^ Part of theBifhop of Meaux''s Univerfal Hif- 
 
 tory, quoted above. Diodorus Siculus, wholiv'd in the 
 
 beginning of Augujlush Reign, fays of the Egyptians, 7c 
 tfid rui rafoii ^Xi^a. CTaeTa^flv, vvere particularly diligent 
 about their Sepulchres, or in the Worfhip of their Dead. The 
 fame Superftition reigns ftill among the Chinejes, whom I 
 ihall (hew afterwards to have been a Colony oi Egyptians, not- 
 withftanding that China znd Egypt i^tc fo far diftant from each 
 other. 
 
 (5) The Antient Egyptians had a ftrange Fondnefs for build- 
 ing Pyramids, whether they were for the fame End as the 
 Tower of Babel, that is, to make themfelves a Name, or for 
 
 other Ends, we can't tell. The great Pyramid is more 
 
 Antient than all the reft, infomuch that the bell Authors 
 don't know when to fix its Date, fome faying it was built by 
 Maris their firft King, others by Cecrops Leflor. But if the Ac- 
 count ihtPophar gxw^i of their Origin, at the next Station, be 
 true, it was built before there was any King in Egypt. The 
 River Nile was convey'd by Art under the Great Pyramid. 
 
 (6) One of the Ends of building the Pyramids, was certain- 
 ly for Burying- places for fome great Men. 
 
 (7) Which was afterwards call'd Thebes, Sec Thebes once 
 the moft famous City of Egypt, having a hundred Gates, cs'r. 
 was the No-Am:n, or Dlafpojis of the Antients, Bochart Pha- 
 ieg. lib. 4. Tacitus fays, that in the time ofGer/namcus, there 
 was remaming an Infcription in the Egyptian Language, fig- 
 nifying, HabitaJ/e quondam (Thebis) feptingenta milUa Homi- 
 num atate Militari. That there was once Seven Hundered 
 Thoufand Inhabitants in Thebes fit to bear Arms, Tacit, lib. 2. 
 Annal. 
 
 (8) This is certainly rank Idolatry, for all the Pophar calls 
 it but a civil Ceremony ; Thus the Worlhip the Chineje piy 
 
 to 
 
^S T'Z^^ MEMOIRS r/ 
 
 to their Dead, and allow'd by the JefuitSy was faid by them 
 to be but a Pious Civil Ceremony, tho' it was like this, or 
 rather more Siiperftitious. See the Condemnation of it by 
 Pope Clement XI. 
 
 Continuation of the M E M O I K S. 
 
 W E were now paft the Tropick of 
 Cancer ( i ), as 1 found by our Shadows 
 going Southward; we went on thus a Ut- 
 tle bending towards the TVefl again^ al- 
 moft Parallel to the Tropick. The Breezes 
 encreafing rather ftronger than before, fo 
 that about Midnight it was really cold. We 
 gave our Dromedaries Water about Sun- 
 rifing and refrefh'd ourfelves a little : Then 
 fet out with new^ Vigour at a prodigious 
 Kate ; ftill the Breezes fell between Nine 
 and Ten, however vjc made fhift to go 
 on, becaufe they came again about Noon, 
 between Three and Four was the hotteft 
 time of all. Befides, going now parallel 
 to the Tropick, we travell'd on the hot 
 Sands, or even defcending j whereas when 
 we pointed Southwards towards the Line, 
 we found the Ground to be infenfibly ri- 
 ling upon us (2) ; but as we went on the 
 Flats, if it had not been that we were 
 almoft on the Kidge of Jfrica, which 
 made it cooler than one can well believe, 
 it had been impoflible to bear the Heats^ 
 
 Whea 
 
Signor Gaudentio di Lucca. 97 
 
 When wc reftcd, we not only pitch'd our 
 Tents for ourfelves and Dromedaries, but 
 the Sands were fo hot, that we were 
 forc'd to lay Things under our Feet to 
 preferve them from burning. Thus wc 
 travcU'd thro' thofe difmal Deferts for 
 four Days, without fight of any living 
 Creature but ourfelves. Sands and Sky 
 was all that prefented itfelf to our View. 
 The Fatigue was the greateft I ever un- 
 derwent in my Life» The fourth Day a- 
 bout Eight in the Morning, by good For- 
 tune for us, or elfe by the prudent fore- 
 caft of the Tophar^ who knew all Ins 
 Stations, we faw another Vale towards 
 the Right-hand, with fome draggling 
 Trees here and there, but not looking nigh 
 fo plcafant as the firft : We made to it 
 with all our Speed, and had much ado 
 to bear the Heats till we came to it. We 
 alighted immediately, and led our Dro- 
 medaries down the gentle Defcent till we 
 cou d find a thicker Part of it. The firfl: 
 Trees were thin and old, as if they had 
 juft Moifture enough to keep them alive : 
 The Ground was but juft cover'd over 
 with a little Sun-burnt Mofs without any 
 fign of Water, but our Stock was not 
 yet gone. At length, as we defcended, 
 the Grove encreas'd every way, the Trees 
 were large, with fome Dates here and 
 there, but not fo good as in the other, 
 ' H We 
 
^S Tbe MEMOIRS of 
 
 We refted a little, then continued to de^ 
 fcend for fome time, till we came into a 
 very cool and thick Shade. Here the 
 Tophar told us, we muft Hay two or three 
 Days, perhaps longer, till he faw his 
 ufual Signs, for proceeding on his Jour- 
 ney, and bid us be fparing of our Water 
 for fear of Accidents. We fettled our 
 Dromedaries as before : For ourfelves we 
 we could fcarce take any Thing, we were 
 fo fatigued, wanting Reft more than Meat 
 and Drink. The Tophar ordering us fome 
 Cordial Wines, they had along with them 
 for that Purpofe, told us, we might fleep 
 as long as we wou d, only bid us be fure 
 to cover ourfelves well : For the Nights 
 were long, and even cold about Midnight ^ 
 we were all foon afleep, and did not wake 
 till Four the next Morning. The Tophar 
 being foUicitous for all our Safeties as 
 well as his own, for this was the critical 
 Time of our Journey, was awake the 
 fir ft of us. When we were up, and refre/li'd 
 ourfelves, which we did with a very good 
 Appetite, he told us we muft go up on the 
 Sands again to obferve the Signs, We 
 took our Dromedaries along with us for 
 fear of wild Beafts, tho' we faw none, 
 walking gently up the Sands, till we came 
 to very high Ground. We had but a 
 dreary Profpe(5t of Sun-burnt Plains, as 
 far as our Eyes could carry us, without 
 
 Grafs, 
 
Signor Gaudentto t>i Li*cca. 99 
 
 Grafs, Stick or Shrub, except when we 
 turn'd our Backs to look at the Vale 
 where we had lain all Night, which we 
 faw fpread and extended itielf a vafl Way. 
 He allur'd us, the Notes left for Rules by 
 his Anceftors, mention'd a Spring in that 
 Vale below us_, which running lower be- 
 came a Rivulet, but that either by an 
 Earthquake, or fome Flood of Sand, it 
 was quite choak'd up, running under 
 Ground without any one's Knowledge, 
 whether it broke out again, or was entire- 
 ly fwallow'd up (3). He faid alfo that by 
 the moft ancient Accounts of his Fore- 
 fathers, the Sands were not fo dangerous 
 to pafs, as they are now, or of fuch valt 
 Extent (4)3 but had fruitful Vales much 
 nearer one another than at prefcnt. He 
 added, that he hopM to fee the Signs he 
 wanted, for proceeding on our way ; fince 
 there was no ftirring till thofe appeared. 
 That according to his JEphemeris and 
 Notes, they fliould appear about this 
 Time, unlefs fomething very extraordina- 
 ry happen'd. This was about Eight in 
 the Morning, the 9th Day after we fet 
 out for the Deferts. Ho was every now 
 and then looking Sonth^ocard^ or South" 
 'wcft^ with great SolHcitudc in his Looks, 
 as if he wondcr'd he faw nothing. At 
 length, he cry'd out with great Emotions 
 of joy, *tis coming! Look yonder, fays 
 H 2 he, 
 
100 The WEMOIKS of 
 
 he, towards the Soitthweft^ and fee what 
 you can difcover, as far as your Eyes can 
 carry you j we told him, we faw nothing 
 but fomc Clouds of Sands, carried round 
 here and there like Whirlwinds. That is 
 the Sign I w^ant, continued he i but mark 
 well which way it drives, we faid it drove 
 diredly Eajiward^ as nigh as we could 
 guefs. It does, fays he j then turning his 
 Face Weftwards^ with a little Point of 
 the Souths all thofe vaft Deferts are 
 now in fuch a vaft Commotion of Storms 
 and Whirlwinds, that Man and Beaft 
 would foon be overwhelm'd in thofe rol- 
 ling Waves of Sands. He had fcarce faid 
 this, but we faw at a vaft Diftance^ Ten 
 Thoufand little Whirlfpouts of Sand, ri- 
 fing and falling with a prodigious Tumult 
 and Velocity (5) Eqftward:, with vaft 
 thick Clouds of Sand and Duft following 
 it. Come, fays he, let us go down to our 
 Refting-place, for there we muft ftay, till 
 we fee further, how Matters go. As this 
 appear'd newer to me than any of the reft, 
 I made bold to ask him, what was the 
 Caufe of this fudden ^hanomenon^ being 
 polfefs'd with a great Idea of the Know- 
 ledge of the Man : He told me that about 
 that Full-Moon, there always fell prodi- 
 gious Rains (5), coming from the Weft em 
 Part of Africa^ on this Side the Equator, 
 at the firft coming, driving a little South- 
 
Signot Gaudentio di Lucca. lor 
 
 ^efl for fome time, then they turn'd al- 
 mofl Souths and crofs'd the Line till they 
 came to the Source of the Kile ; in which 
 Parts they fell for three Weeks or a 
 Month together, which was the Occa- 
 (ion of the over-flowing of that River (7), 
 But that on this (idc the Equator, it only 
 rain'd about fifteen Days, preceded by 
 thofe Whirlwinds and Clouds of Sand, 
 which rendered all that Trad impaffable, 
 till the Rains had laid them again. — By 
 this time we were come down to our Reft- 
 ing-place, and tho' we did not want Sleep 
 or Rcfrelliment, yet we took both to have 
 the cool of the Evening to recreate our- 
 felves after fo much Fatigue, not being 
 likely to move till the next Evening at 
 foonefl. 
 
 Remarks of Signer Rhedi. 
 
 (01[^7 E were pafs'd the Tropick o^ Cancer, as we found 
 " " bjr our Shadows, (^c. When Perfons are beyond 
 thatTrooick, at Mid-day the Shadows of Things are towards 
 the South, becaufe the Sun is then [North of us; 
 
 Mir ant ur que umbras tranftre ftnijlras. 
 
 They might have pafs'd the Tropick before, fince it run*, 
 over part of the Defert of Barca, not much Southzo.ird o* 
 Egsipt ; but it fcems they fteer'd VVefliuard for fome time. 
 
 (2) His Obfervations are juft, fmce all the new Philofo- 
 
 phers allow the Earth to be Spheroidal and Gibbous towards 
 
 the Equator. V/hocver therefore goes by Land, cither from 
 
 H J the 
 
I02 T/je MEMOIKS of 
 
 the North or Soutii towards the Equator, muft afcend. This 
 feems to be a very natural Reafon, why thofe immenfc Bares 
 are not fo excefiive hot. The higheft Mountains are confide- 
 xably nigher the Sun than the low Lands, yet exceffive cold 
 in the hotteft Climates ; in the Vales the Rays of the Sun are 
 coop'd in, anddoubl'd andtrebl'd by Refradlionand Refleftion, 
 ^e. The fame Air put in a turbulent Motion will be hot, 
 and in a direfl one cold. 
 
 (3) Geographers agree, that Rivers, and even great Lakes 
 in Africa fink under Ground, and are quite loft without any 
 vifible Outlets. The vaft Depth of the Strata of Sand feem 
 more proper to fwallow them up there, than in other Parts of 
 the World. 
 
 ■(4) There fesms to be a natural Reafon for what he fays; 
 for thofe vaft S.mds or Hills of Gravel, were undoubtedly left 
 by the gener<il Deluge, as probably all the lelTer Strata or Beds 
 of Gravel were. Yet great Part ot them muft have been co- 
 ver'd with Slime or Mud for feveral Years after the Deluge, 
 fome thinner, fome thicker, and confequently more rnoift and 
 produdive accordingly. Neverthelefs, the violent Rays of the 
 Sun, ftill render them more dry and barren, and in all pro- 
 bability, thefe Deferts will encreafe more and more, where 
 the Country is not cultivated. 
 
 (5) Tho' in the vaft Ocean between the Tropicks where 
 Promontories don't intervene, the Winds are generally Eajl- 
 
 erly, yet there is a perpetual PFeftwindhlowi imo Guinea. 
 
 There are vaft Rains at the SolftiQCS between the Tropicks, 
 as the Accounts of thofe Parts declare ; the' at that Time of 
 the Year, more beyond the Line than on this fide of it. It is 
 not to be queftion'd, but in fuch violent Changes, particular]/ 
 before thofe Rains, there muft be furious Hurricanes of Wind 
 and Sand, enough to overwhelm whole Armies and Coun- 
 tries. The moft incredible part of this Narration, is 
 
 how they could travel at all under the Tropick, in the Sum- 
 mer Solfiice, only, as he fays, the Ground being very high 
 and open, it muft draw Air. 
 
 (6) Nituralifls agree, That beyond the Line, there are 
 great Rains at that Seafon. 'Tis pofiible they may begin on this 
 iide, being driven by the perpetual l^^ejizuinds into Guinea^ 
 and then by natural Caufes, turn towards the Line and southern 
 
 'Tropick. 
 
 "»,, .{■j\ The Caufes of the over-flowing of the River Niky un- 
 known to moft of the Antienrs, are now allow'd to be the 
 ..great Rains falling in JuneznA J^h about the Line, and the 
 .Souther): Tropick, and the melting of the Snow on the Moua- 
 , Jains 0! the Moon lying in that Trad. None can wonder there 
 
 ihould 
 
Signor Gaudentio di Lucca. 105 
 
 ihould be Snow in thofe hot Climates, who have heard of the 
 Jndes or CordilUrias bordering on Peru. Our Italy is very 
 hot. yet t\\t /lips zndi Appenines are three parts of the Year 
 
 cover'd with Snow. The Nile overflows in Augujly 
 
 which feems to be a proper Diftance ot Time for the Waters 
 to come down lo Egypt, fuch a vail way oft' from the Caufe 
 of it. There is a River in Cochinchina, and elfwhcre, that 
 overflows in the fame manner. 
 
 Qontinnation of the MEMOIRS. 
 
 AT five in the Evening, the Tophar 
 call'd us up to go with him him once more 
 to the highefi: part of the Dcfert, faying 
 he wanted one Sign yet, which he hopd 
 to have that Evening, orelfe it would go 
 hard with us for want of Water, our Provi- 
 lion of it being almoft fpent ; and there 
 were no Springs in the Deferts that we 
 were to pafs over, till we came within a 
 long Day's Journey of the End of our 
 Voyage. However, he fcarce doubted 
 but we fhould fee the certain Sign he 
 wanted this Evening: On which Account, 
 there did not appear fuch a Sollicitude in 
 his Countenance as before, for tho' he 
 was our Governour or Captain, with the 
 mofl: refpedful deference paid to him, as 
 ever I faw ; yet he govern'd us in all Rc- 
 fpc(5ts, as if wc were his Children, with 
 all the Tendcrnefs of a Father, as his 
 Name imported i tho' none of the Com- 
 H 4 P^ny 
 
I04 1'he MEMOIRS of 
 
 pany were his real Children. If therewere 
 any Signs of Partiality, it was in my Fa- 
 vour, always exprefling the moft endear- 
 ing Tendernefs for me, which the other 
 young Men^ inftead of taking any diflike 
 at it, wxre really pleas'd with it; No 
 Brothers in the World could be more 
 loving to one another than we were. The 
 elderly Men took Dehght in feeing our 
 youthful Gambols with one another : 'Tis 
 true their Nature is of the two, a little 
 more inclin'd to Gravity than the Italians^ 
 who are no light Nation j yet their Gravi- 
 ty is accompanied with all the Sereni- 
 ty and Chearfulnefs imaginable, and I 
 thought then^ by our firft Acquaintance, 
 that I never faw fuch an Air of a Free- 
 born People in my Life, as if they knew no 
 other Subjedion but what was merelyFilial* 
 When we came to the high Ground, we 
 could fee the Hurricanes play ftill i but 
 what was more wonderful, very few Ef- 
 fects of that Aerial Tumult came our 
 way, but drove on almoft parallel to the 
 Equator: The Air look'd like a brown 
 dirty Fog, towards the Eafi and South- 
 Eaft '^ all the Whirlwinds tending to- 
 wards thofe Parts : It began after fomc 
 time, to look a little more lightfome to- 
 wards the Weft \ but fo, as if it were oc- 
 caiion'd by a more ftrong and fettled 
 Wind. At length w^e perceiv'd at the far- 
 theft 
 
Sigjwr Gaudemtio di Lucca, loy 
 
 theft Horizon, the edge of a prodigious 
 black Cloud, extending itfelf to the South- 
 Weji and Weftern Points, riling with a dif- 
 cernible Motion, tho' not very fall:. We 
 faw plain enough, by the biacknefs and 
 thicknefs of it, that it prognofticatcd a 
 
 great deal of Rain. Here they all fell 
 
 proftrate on the Earth : Then railing up 
 their Hands and Eyes towards the Sun, 
 they feem'd to pay their Adorations to that 
 great Luminary. The Topbar^ with an 
 audible Voice, pronounc'd fome unknown. 
 Words, as if he were returning Thanks to 
 that Planet for what he {a\\\ At this I 
 ftepp'd back, and kept myfelf at a Dif- 
 tance: Not fo much for fear of my Life, 
 as before, as not to join w^ith them in 
 their Idolatrous Worfliip. For I could not 
 be ignorant now, that they had a WTong 
 Notion of God, and if they acknowledg'd 
 any, it was the Sun : Which in Effect is, 
 the leaft Irrational Idolatry People can 
 be guilty of (i). "When they had done 
 their Orifons, the Tophar turn'd to me, 
 and faid, I fee you won't join with us in 
 any of our Religious Ceremonies ^ but I 
 muft tell you, continued he, that Cloud 
 is the faving of all our I>ives : And as that 
 great Sun, pointing to the Luminary, is 
 the Inftrument that draws it up, as indeed 
 he is the Preferver of all our Beings, we 
 think ourfclvcs oblig'd to .return our 
 
 Thanks 
 
lo^ rZ;^ MEMOIRS (?/ 
 
 Thanks to him. Here he ftopp'd, as if he 
 had a mind to hear what I could fay for my- 
 felf. I was not willing to enter into Dif- 
 putes, well-knowing tliat Religious Quar- 
 rels are the moft provoking of any ; Yet I 
 thought myfelf oblig'd to make ProfclTion 
 of my Belief in the Supreme God, now I 
 was call'd upon in the profefs'd Worlhip 
 of a falfe Deity. I anfwer'd with the 
 nioft modeft Refpc6t I was capable of, 
 that that glorious Planet was one of the 
 Phyfical Caufes of the Prefervation of our 
 Beings, and of the Production of all 
 Things ; but that he was produc'd him- 
 felf by the moft High God, the firftCaufe 
 and Author of all Things in Heaven and 
 Earth: The Sun only moving by his Or- 
 der, as an Inanimate Being, incapable of 
 hearing our Prayers, and only operating 
 by his Dircdion. However, I offer'd to 
 join with him, in returning my belt Thanks 
 to the moft High God, for creating the 
 Sun, capable by his Heat to raifc that 
 Cloud for the faving our Lives. Thus I 
 adapted my Anfwer, as nigh to his Dif- 
 courfe as I cou'd, yet not fo as to deny 
 my Faith. For I could not entirely tell 
 what to make of them as yet ; fmce I ob- 
 ferv'd, they were more myfterious in their 
 Religious Ceremonies, than in any Thing 
 elfe (2), or rather this was the only Thing 
 they were refcrv'd lu. He ponder'd a 
 
 good 
 
Signor Gaudentio di Lucca. 107 
 
 good while on what I fald, but length ho 
 added, you are not much out of the way, 
 }ou and I will talk this Matter over an- 
 other Time. So turn'd off the Difcourfe ; 
 I fuppoi'd it to be becaufe of the youno- 
 Men ftanding by us, who he had not a 
 mind iliould receive any other Notions of 
 Religion, but what they had been taught. 
 It was Sun-fet by that we came down to 
 the Grove. We had fomc fmall Flights of 
 Sand, caused by an odd Commotion in the 
 Air, attended with little Whirlwinds, 
 which put us in fome Apprehenfions of a 
 Sand-fhower ; but he hid us take Courage, 
 iince he could not find in all his Accounts 
 that the Hurricanes or Rains ever came 
 in any great Quantity, as far as we were. 
 The Nature of them being to drive more 
 parallel to the Equator ^ but he was fure 
 we fhould have fome, and order'd us to 
 pitch our Tents as firm as we could, and 
 draw out all our Water- Veifels, to catcii 
 the Rain againft all Accidents. When 
 this was done, and we had eat our Sup- 
 pers, we recreated ourfelves in the Grove 
 wandering about here and there, and dif- 
 courfing of the Nature of thefe Thano7ne- 
 na- We did not care to go to Reft fo 
 foon, having repos'd ourfelves fo well thnt 
 Day, and had all the following Night and 
 the next Day to ftay in that Place. The 
 Grove grew much pleafantcr . as we ad- 
 vanced 
 
io8 "The MEMOIRS cf 
 
 vancd into itj there were a great many 
 Dates and other Fruits, the natural Pro- 
 duce of Africa % but not quite fo rich as 
 in the firft Grove. I made bold to ask the 
 ^ophar^ how far that Grove extended, or 
 whether there were any Inhabitants. He 
 told me, he could not tell any Thing of 
 either. That it was poflible the Grove 
 might enlarge itfelf different ways, among 
 the winding Hills ; fiixe his Accounts told 
 him, there had been a Rivulet of Water, 
 tho' now fwallow'd up j but he believ'd 
 there were no Inhabitants, fincc there were 
 no mention made of them in his Papers. 
 Nor did he believe any other People in the 
 World bcfide themfelves, knew the way, 
 or would venture fo far into thofe horrid 
 inhofpitable Deferts. I ask'd how he was 
 fure that was the Place j or by what Rule 
 he could know how far he was come, or 
 where he v;as to turn to Right or Left; 
 having a mind to learn whether he had 
 any certain Knowledge of the Longi- 
 tude, which creates fuch Difficulties to 
 the Europeans. He ftoppM a little at 
 my Queftions ; then faid without any ap- 
 parent Hefitation, Why, faid he, we know 
 by the Needle, how far we vary from the 
 J<lonh or South Point, at leaft till wc 
 come to the Tropick (3)^ if not, we can 
 take the Meridian and Height of the Sun, 
 and knowing the Time of the Year, wo 
 
 can 
 
Signor Gaudentio di Lucca, lo^ 
 
 can tell how near we approach to^ or are 
 off the Equator. Yes, faid I j but as 
 there are difterent Meridians every ftep 
 you take, how can you tell, how far you 
 go Eqft or JVcJij when you run cither 
 way in parallel Lines (4) to the Tropick, 
 or the Equator. Here he ftopp'd again, 
 and either cou'd not make any certain 
 Difcovery, or had not a mind to let me 
 into the Secret. The firft was moft like- 
 ly, however, he anfwer'd readily enough, 
 and faid, you pleafe me with your curious 
 Queftions, {ince I find you underftand the 
 Difficulty. Why, continued he, all the 
 Method we have, is to obferve exadtly 
 how far our Dromedaries go in an Hour, 
 or any other Space of Time : You fee we 
 go much about the fame Pace : We have 
 no Stops in our Way, but when we know 
 of it, to rcfrelli ourfelves or fo, for which 
 we generally allow fo much Time (5). 
 When wefet o\xt{xom JB^gypty we went due 
 Weft -y our Beafts gain fo many Miles an 
 Hour 5 we know by that how far we are 
 more Weft than we were. (6) If v/e decline 
 to the North or the Souths we know like- 
 wife, how many Miles we have advaiic a 
 in fo many Hours, and compute how much 
 the Declination takes off from our going 
 due Weft, And tho' we can*t tell to a de- 
 monftrative Exadncfs, we can tell pretty 
 
 nigh. 
 
no 7"^^ MEMOIRS ^/ 
 
 nigh. This was all I could get out of 
 him at that Time, which did not fatisfy 
 the difficulty: Then I ask'd him, how 
 they came to find out this Way, or to 
 venture to feek out a Habitation un- 
 known to all the World befide. He an- 
 fwer'dj for Liberty, and the Prefervation 
 of their Laws. I was afraid of asking 
 any further, feeing he gave fuch general 
 Anfwers. By this .Time it began to be 
 prodigious dark, for all it was Full 
 Moon (7) i we had fome fuddeii-Gufts of 
 Wind that ftartl'd us a little. It light- 
 ened at fuch a Rate, as I never faw in my 
 Life, tho' it was towards the Horizon, 
 and drove fide-ways of us^ yet it was 
 really terrible to fee ; the Flafhes were 
 fo thick, the Sky was almoft in a light 
 Fire : We made up to our Tents as fafl 
 as we cou'd ^ tho' we had only the Skirts 
 of the Clouds over us, it rain'd pretty 
 hard, fo that we had foon fupply'd our 
 Veffels with Water, and got fafc into our 
 Shelter. The Thunder was but juft au- 
 dible at a vaft diftance, and for our Com- 
 fort, drove ftill to the IE aji wards, I 
 don't know in what Difpofitions the el- 
 derly Men might be in, being accuftom'd 
 to the Nature of it,- but I am fure I was 
 in fome Apprehenfion, not doubting, but 
 if it had come diredly over us, nothing 
 
 could 
 
Signer Gaudentio di Lucca, m 
 could withftand its Impetuofity. I had 
 very little Inclination to reft, whatever 
 my Companions had, but pondering with 
 myfelf, both the Nature of the Thin^ 
 and the prodigious Skill thefe Men muft 
 have in the Laws of the Univerfe, I ftaid 
 with Impatience waiting the Event. 
 
 Remarks of Signer Rhedi. 
 
 (i)TrHR leaft Irrational Idolatry People could be ouiity 
 • n. 2 °c\ ^'- -^'^ Idolatry being a Worfhip of Creatures, 
 initead of the one Supreme God, muft be Irrational. But it 
 IS certain, and well attefted by Antient Hiftory, that the E^f- 
 tern Nations worfliipped the Sun : Probably it xvas ihe firft 
 Idolatrous Worftiipthat was in the World. The great Bene- 
 fits all Nature receives from his Influence ; the glorious Brigh'- 
 nefsofhisRays; the Variety, yet conftant Tenour of his Mo- 
 tions, _ might induce Ignorant People to believe him to be of a 
 bupenor Nature to other Creatures, tho' it is evidently certain 
 he IS limited in his Perfedions, and confequently no God* 
 lis true, the Anixtnt Egyptians, from whom thefe People 
 fprung, as will be fl-en afterwards, did worfliip the Sun in the 
 moft early Times. There w.s a Prieft of the* Sun in the P, 
 
 'ZlVfj^^'^'"^^-- ^"^ '' ^"^^ Egyptians were fome of 
 the hrll Aftronomers m the Wo.-ld, contending for Antiquiti' 
 with the Chaldeans. Tho' both the Cha/cieanfz^d E..ptiJs 
 had their Knowledge from the Defcendants of .^.;!7, or his Father 
 Noah, who by the admirable Structure of the Ark, app-ars to 
 have been Mafter of very great Sciences. I fay the E'^'-.tttMns 
 being fo much addified to Aftronomy, 'tis probable thft glo- 
 rious Luminary was the chief Objeft of their Worfhip. Thev 
 aid not worlhip Idols and Beafts till long afterwards. Seeth'- 
 Learned Buhart'% Pkaleg. in Mifraim 
 
 (2) Myllerious in their Religious Ceremonies. This agree. 
 wKha 1 Antient Accounts of the firft People o^gypt ; ^' 
 nefs their Emblems. Hieroglyphicks. ^c Moft of the An. 
 
 did nnrfi ftV" ^^''^^^'"^"y ^y^^^rks were couched, 
 did not firft ipring from the Greeks, tho' improv'd by them ; 
 
 but 
 
112 7be MEMOIRS of 
 
 but from the Egyptians and Chaldeans, who at firft held a 
 Communication of Sciences with one another, but grew to 
 Emulofity afterwards. The wonderfi.il Things the Egyptian 
 Magi did, in Imitation of the Miracles wrought by Moj'est 
 Ihew they were great Artijls. 
 
 (3) Atleail till we came to the Tropick, ^c. Experimen- 
 tal Philofophy tells us, that the Needle is of little Ufe in Na- 
 vigation, when under the Line; but lies fluftuating without 
 turning to any Point of itfelf; becaufc as fome fuppofe, the 
 Cnrrent of the Magnetick Effluvia, flying from Pole to Pole, 
 has there its longell: Axis, as the Diameter of the Equator is lon- 
 ger than the Axis of the World. But whether this has the fame 
 EiFedl on the Needle by Land, which is the Cafe, as it has 
 by Sea, we muft have more certain Experiments to know, 
 tho' 'tis pi-obable it may- 
 
 (4) In Parallel Lines to the Tropick or Equator, i^c. 
 Wherever we fland, we are on the Summit of the Globe 
 with refpefl to us. Whoever therefore thinks to go due Wcji, 
 parallel to the Equator or Eajl, will not do fo, but will cut 
 the Line at long-run, becaufe he makes a greater Circle. Thefe 
 Men therefore, when they thought they went due Wefty were 
 approaching to the Line, more than they were aware of, and 
 fuppofing the Strudlure of the Earth to hz Spheroidal^ went 
 up Hill ail the way, bating fome fmall Inequalities. 
 
 (5) This mufl; be underilood according to the foregoing 
 Remark. 
 
 (6) At firft Sight, it feems to be eafier to find out the Lon- 
 gitude by Land than by Sea, becaufe we may be more certain 
 how far we advance. At Sea there are Currents and Tides, 
 and Settings in of the Sea, which makes the Ship to go aflant 
 more or lei's infenfibly. As yet there has been no certain Rule 
 found to tell us, how far we advance due Eajl or due Wejl. 
 The Elevation of the Pole, or the Height of the Sun fhew us, 
 how far we decline to the liorth or South i but we have no 
 certain Rule for the Eaji or Weji. 
 
 (7) The Full Moon about the Summer Solftice generally 
 brings Rain, and the over- flowing of the Nile is now known 
 to be caus'd by the vaft Rains in the Regions near the 
 Equator. 
 
 Contimia" 
 
Signor GAiJDENTtb di Lucca. Itj 
 
 Continuation of the MEMOIR S, 
 
 I W A S mufing with myfelf on what I 
 iiad heard and feen, not being able yet 
 to guefs with any Satisfadion, what thefe 
 People wxre, when an unexpeded Acci- 
 dent was the Caufe of a Difcovery; 
 which mlde me fee they were not great- 
 er Strangers to me, than I was to myfelf* 
 The Weather was ftifling hot, fo that 
 we had thrown off our Garments to our 
 Shirts, and bared our Breads for Coolnefs 
 Sake y when there came a prodigious 
 flafh, or rather Blaze of Lightning, 
 which ftruck full againft the Breaft of one 
 of the young Men oppoiite to myfelf, 
 and difcoverd a bright Gold Medal 
 hanging down from his Neckj with the 
 Figure of the Sun engrav'd on it, fur- 
 rounded with unknown Characters ; the 
 very fame in all Appearance I had feem 
 my deeeafed Mother always wear about 
 her Neck, and fince her Death I carried 
 with me for her Sake. I ask'd the Mean- 
 ing of that Medal, fince I had one about 
 me, as it appeared, of the very fame 
 Make. If the Tophar had been ftruck 
 with Lightning, he could not have boein 
 in a greater Surpri^je than he was at thefe 
 
 I Words^ 
 
^14 r^^ MEMOIRS ef 
 
 Words : You one of thofe Medals faid 
 hcj How in the Name of Wonder did 
 you come by it ? 1 told him my Mother 
 wore it about her Neck from a little 
 Child, and with that puU'd it out of my 
 Pocket. He fnatclVd it out of my Hands 
 with a prodigious Eagernefs, and held it 
 againft the Lightning perpetually flafh- 
 ing in upon us. As foon as he faw it was 
 the fame with the other, he cried out. 
 Great Sun, what can this mean ! Then 
 ask'd me^igain where I had it ? How my 
 Mother came by it , who my Mother was > 
 What Age flie was of when fiie died ? As 
 foon as the Violence of his Extafy would 
 give me leave, I told him my Mother 
 had it ever fincc fhe was a little Child : 
 That fhe was the adopted Daughter of 
 a noble Merchant in Corjica^ who had 
 left her all his Efte(5ts when my Father 
 married her : That flic was married at 
 thirteen, and I was then nineteen, and 
 the fecond Son, fo that I guefsM flie was 
 towards forty when ilie died. It muft be 
 Jfipheva^ cry'd he, with the utmoft Ex- 
 tafy, it muft be fhe > Then ho caught 
 me in his Arms and faid, you are now 
 really one of us, being the Son of my 
 Father's only furviving Daughter, my 
 dear Sifter Ifiphena^ whofe Remem- 
 brance made the Tears run down the 
 old Mans Cheeks very plentifully. She 
 
 .was 
 
Sigmr Gaudentio di Lucca. Si|; 
 
 'Wai loft at Grand Cairo about the Time 
 you mention, together with a Twin- 
 fifter who I fear is never to be heard of. 
 Then I refleded I had heard my Mother 
 £ay, Ihe had been inform'd, the Gentle- 
 man who adopted her for his Daughter, 
 had bought her when Ihe was a httle Giri 
 
 of a ^urkifl) Woman of that Place, 
 
 that being charm'd with the early Signs 
 of Beauty in the Child, and having no 
 Children, he adopted her for his own. 
 Yes, faid the Tophar, it muft be vhe 5 but 
 what is become of the other Sifter ; iot 
 faid he, my dear Sifter brought two at 
 one unfortunate Birth, w^hich coft her her 
 i^ife > I told him I never heard any Thing 
 of the other. Then he acquainted me 
 that his Sifter's Husband was the Perfon 
 who conducted the reft to vifit the Tombs 
 of their Anceftors as he did now : That 
 the laft Voyage he took his Wife, who 
 out of her great Fondnefs had teaz'd him 
 and importuned him fo much to go along 
 with him, that tho' it were contrary to 
 their Laws, he contriv'd to carry her dif-* 
 guis'd in Man's Cloaths like one of the 
 young Men he chofe to accompany him 
 in the Expedition : That ftaying at Grand 
 Cairo till the next Seafon for his Rurn, 
 ilie prov'd with Child of two Twins i 
 and to his unfpeakablc Grief died ia 
 Child-bed. That when they carried her 
 \ i. up 
 
\iS 91^^ MEMOIRS (9/ 
 
 up to T^bebes to be interred with tiej^ 
 Anceftors, of which I fliould have a mord 
 exa<5t Information by and by, they were 
 oblig'd to leave the Children with a 
 Kurfe of the Country, with fome Egypr 
 tian Servants to take Care of the Houfe 
 and Eftodtsj but before they came back, 
 the Nurfe with her Accomplices ran away 
 with the Children, and as wc fuppos'd, 
 murdered them, rifled the Houfe of all the 
 Jewels and other valuable Things, and 
 were never heard of afterwards. But it 
 feems they thought it more for their Ad- 
 vantage to fell the Children, as we find 
 they did by your Mother ^ but what Part 
 of the World the other Sifter is in, or whe- 
 ther fhe be at all, is known only to the 
 great Author of our Being. However, 
 continued he, we rejoice in finding thefe 
 hopeful Remains of your dear Mother, 
 \vh< fc Refemblancc you carry along with 
 you : It was that gave me fuch a Kind- 
 nefs for your Perfon the firft time I faw 
 you, with fomething, methought, I had 
 never obfcrv'd in any other Race of Peo- 
 ple befide. But, faid he, I deprive my 
 Companions and Childrens here of the 
 Happinefb of embracing their own Fleili 
 anci Blood, fince we all fprung from one 
 common Father, the Author of our Na- 
 tion, with whom you are going to be incor- 
 porated once more. Here we embraced 
 
Signor Qaudentio di Lucca, ii^f 
 
 one another with a Joy that is inexprcin- 
 ble. Now all my former Fears were en^ 
 tirely vanifh'd : Tho' I had loft the Coun- 
 try where I was born, 1 had found ano- 
 ther, of which I could no ways be aiham* 
 ed, being the moft humane and civihz'd 
 People I ever faw, and by all my Hopes, 
 one of the fined Countries in the World i 
 the only Check to my Happinefs was that 
 they were Infidels, However, I was re- 
 folv'd not to let any Confideration blot 
 out of my mind that I was a Chriftiaiu 
 On which Account, when the Tophar 
 would have ty'd the Medal about my 
 Neck, as a Badge of my Race, I had fome 
 difficulty in that Point, for fear it fhould 
 be an Emblem of Idolatry, feeing thenx 
 to be extreamly Superftitious. So I ask'd 
 him, what was the meaning of the Figure 
 of the Sun, with thofe unknown Charac- 
 ters round about it I He told me the Cha- 
 raders were to, be pronounced Omahwty^ 
 i, e. The Sun is the Author of our Being, 
 or more literally, the Sun is our Father. 
 Om or Ouy fignifies the Sun,. [This will be 
 explain'd in another Place] Ah fignifies 
 Father, Im or Mim^ us. This made me 
 remember, they had told me in Egypt that 
 they were Children of the Sun ^ and gave- 
 me fome Uneafinefs at their Idolatrous. 
 Notions. So I told him, I wou'd keep it 
 ^§ ^ Cognizance of my Country,- but 
 
 I ^ could 
 
!ii8 ^he MEMOIRS of 
 
 could not acknowledge any but God tobe^ 
 the Supreme Author of my Being. As to 
 the Supreme Author, faid he, your Opi^ 
 nion is little different from ours *. 
 
 But let us leave thefe Religious Mat- 
 ters till another time : We'll ciofe this 
 happy Day with Thankfgiving to the Su- 
 preme Being for this Difcovery : To-mor- 
 row Morning, fince you are now really 
 one of ours, I will acquaint you with your 
 Origin, and how we came to hide our- 
 felves in thefe Inhofpitable Deferts.— — 
 
 ^he 'Keader is defired 7iot to cenfiire 
 
 or dishelieve the following Account^ 
 
 of the Origin and T^ranfmigration of 
 
 ^-- thefe people, till he has perused the 
 
 Learned Remarks of Signor Rhedi.] 
 
 THE next Morning t\iQ T oph ar c2iVL 6. 
 me to him i Son, faid he, to fulfil my 
 Promife which I made you laft Night, 
 and that you may not be like the reft of 
 the Ignorant World, who know not who 
 their Forefathers and Anceftors were; 
 (i) Whether they fprung from Brutes or 
 barbarians is all alike to them, provided 
 they can but grovel on the Earth as they 
 
 * Thefe People are fometKing likethe Cbinefe, who wor- 
 fhip the Matcri.l Heaven or Sky, which foiiMfc MiiTionaries 
 could think compatible with Cbrijiianity. 
 
 do« 
 
Signor Gaubentio dt Lucca, ir^ 
 
 do. You muft know therefore, as I fup- 
 pofe you remember what 1 told you at 
 our firft Station, that we came origmaliy 
 from E^ypt, When you ask*d me, how 
 we came to venture thro*thefe Inhofpita- 
 ble Deferts, I told you it was for Liberty 
 and the Prefervation of our Laws ; but as 
 you are now found to be one of us, I de- 
 iis^n to give you a more particular Ac- 
 count of your Origin. Our Anceftors did 
 originally come from Egypt -> once the hap- 
 pieft Place in the World : Tho' the Name 
 of Bgypty and Egyptians^ has been given 
 to that Country, long (ince we came out 
 of it, the original Name of it wasilfe- 
 zoraim (2), from the firft Man that peo- 
 pled it, the Father of our Nation, and 
 we call ourfelves Mezzoranians^xom him. 
 We have a Tradition delivered down to 
 uSj from our firft Anceftors, that when 
 the Earth firft rofe out of the Water (3), 
 fix Pcrfons, three Men and three Women, 
 rofe along with it: Either produced by 
 the Sun (4), or fent by the Supreme Dei- 
 ty to inhabit it. That Mezzoraim our 
 firft Founder w^as one of thofe fix ; who 
 encreafing in Number, made choice of 
 the Country now call'd Egypt^ for the 
 Place of his Habitation, where he fettled 
 with fixty of his Children and Grandchil- 
 dren, all whom he brought along with 
 him, governing them as a real Father, and 
 
 I 4 in 
 
:iaQ The MEMOIV^S of 
 
 inftruding them to live with one anotherj^ 
 as Brothers of one and the fame Family 
 (5), He was a peaceable Man, abhor- 
 ring the fhedding of Blood (6), which 
 he faid would be punifli'd by the Supreme 
 Ruler of the World: Extreamly given 
 to the fearch of Sciences, and Contempla- 
 tion of the Heavens (7). It was he, who 
 V^as the firft Inventor of all our Arts, and 
 whatever was ufeful for the Government 
 of Life, fprung from him. Tho' hisi 
 Grandfon Tbaotb (8) rather excelfd him, 
 particularly in the more fublime Sciences. 
 Thus our Anceftors liv'd for Four Hun- 
 dred Years, encreaiing and fpreading over 
 all the Land of Egypt ^ and abounding 
 with the Blefling of Peace and Know- 
 ledge, without Guile or Deceit, neither 
 doing or fearing harm from any ; till 
 the wicked Defcendants of the other 
 Men, call'd Hickfoes (9), envying theiu 
 Happinefs, and the Richnefs of their 
 Country, broke in upon them like a Tor- 
 rent, dcftroying all before them, and tak- 
 ing Polfeflion of that happy Place our An- 
 ceftors had rendered fo flourifhing. The 
 poor Innocent Mezzorania7is abhorring, 
 as I faid, the fhedding of Blood, and Ig- 
 norant of all Violence, were flain like 
 Sheep all over the Country ; their Wives 
 and Daughters violated before their Eyes. 
 Thofc their mercilels Enemy fpar'd, were 
 
 made 
 
Sigmr Gaudentio di Lvcca. 'i%\ 
 
 made Slaves to work and till the E^rthf 
 for their new Lords. 
 
 Secretary. Here the Inquifitors inter- 
 rupted him, and ask'd him, whether he 
 thought it unlawful in all Cafes to refift 
 Force by Force, or whether the Law of 
 Nature did not allow the Mez^oranianSy 
 to refift thofe cruel Invaders even to the 
 fhedding of Blood ; as alfo to punifli Pub- 
 lick Malefactors with Death lor the Pre- 
 fervation of the whole. Their Intent was, 
 as they are cautious of any new Opinions^^ 
 to know whether he might not be a ^og- 
 matizer^ and advance fome erroneous No-, 
 tions, either by holding that to be law^ 
 ful, which was not fo j or denying Things 
 to be lawful, which really may be allow- 
 able by the Light ©f Nature, 
 
 Qaiide7itio, Doubtlefs they might lawr 
 fully have refifted even to the iliedding of 
 Blood in that Cafe, as Publick Criminals 
 may be put to Death. I only acquaint 
 your Reverences with the Notions pecu- 
 liar to thefe People j as for the Punilli- 
 ment of their Criminals, your Reverences 
 will fee, when I come to their Laws and 
 Cuftoms, that they have other Ways and 
 Means of pun illiing Crimes, as effedualas 
 putting to Death \ tho' living entirely 
 within themfelves, free from all Mixture 
 and Commerce vvith other People, they 
 
 have 
 
iTi* r^^ MEMOIRS of 
 
 have preferv'd their Primitive Innocenca 
 in that RefpeCt to a very great Degree. 
 
 Inqiiifitor. Go on. 
 
 Gandentio* The Tophar continuing 
 his Relation, added ; but what was moft 
 intolerable was, that thefe Impious Hick" 
 foes, forced them to adore Men and Beafts, 
 and even Infers for Gods : Nay, and 
 fome to fee their Children offer'd in Sa- 
 crifice to thofe Inhuman Deities (lo). 
 *rhis dreadful Inundation fell at firft only 
 on the lower Parts of Egypt, which was 
 then the moft flourifhing ; as many of the 
 diftrefs'd Inhabitants as could efcape their 
 cruel Hands, fled to the upper Parts of the 
 Country, in hopes to find there fome lit- 
 tle refpite from their Misfortunes. But 
 alas ! What could they do ! They knew 
 no ufe of Arms : Neither would their 
 Laws fuffer them to deftroy their own 
 Species ; yet expelled every Hour to be 
 devoured by their cruel Enemies. The 
 Country to which they were now retired* 
 was too fmall for them, if they could 
 have enjoy'd it in Peace. The Heads of 
 the Families in fuch diftrefs were divid- 
 ed in their Counfels, or rather they had 
 no Counfel to follow: Some of them fled 
 into the neighbouring Deferts, which you 
 have feen are very difmal on both Sides 
 the upper Part of that Kingdom ; they 
 were difpers'd like a Flock of Sheep fcat- 
 
 tjsrd 
 
Signer Gaudentio di Lucca, ts'^. 
 
 ter'd by the ravenous Wolves. The Con^. 
 fternation was fo great, they were refolv'd 
 to fly to the fartiieft Parts of the Earth, 
 rather than fall into the Hands of thofe 
 Inhuman Monflers. The greateft Part of 
 them agreed to build Ships, and try their 
 Fortune by Sea. Our great Father Mez- 
 zoraim^ had taught them the Art of ma- 
 king Boats (i 1)5 to crofs the Branches of 
 the great River [Nik] ; which fome faid 
 he had learn'd by being preferv'd m fuch a 
 Thing from a terrible Flood that over- 
 flovv'd ail the Land ^, Which Inftrument 
 of their Prefervation they fo improved af- 
 terwards, that they could crofs the leffer 
 Sea (12) without any difficulty. This 
 being refolv'd on, they could not agree 
 where to go : Some being refolv'd to go 
 by one Sea, fome by the other. How- 
 ever they fent all Hands to work, fo that 
 in a Vear's time they had built a vaft 
 number of VefTels, trying them backwards 
 and forwards along the Coafts, mending^ 
 what was deficient, and improving what 
 they imagin'd might be for their greater 
 Security. They thought now, or at leaft 
 their Eagernefs to avoid their Enemies, 
 made them think they could go with Safe- 
 ty all over the main Sea. As our Anccf. 
 
 » In all Appearance this muft have been Nor?//? Flood, 
 which 'tis much Signor Rhai pafles over in his Remarks. 
 
 tors 
 
»24 7%e MBMOIKS of 
 tors had chiefly given themfelves to tKcJ 
 Study of Arts and Sciences, and the 
 Knowledge of Nature, they were the 
 moft capable of fuch Enterprizes of any 
 People in the World. But the Apprehen- 
 (ion of all that was miferable being juft 
 freih before their Eyes, quickenM their 
 Induftry to fuch a Degree, as none but 
 Men in the like Circumflances can have 
 a juft Idea of. Moft of thefe Men were 
 thofe who had fled in Crowds from lower 
 'Egypt. The natural Inhabitants of the 
 upper Parts, tho* they were in very great 
 Confternation, and built Ships as faft as 
 they could, yet their Fears were not fo 
 immediate, efpecially feeing the Hichfoes 
 remained yet quiet in their new Poffcflions^ 
 But News being brought them, that the 
 Hickfoes began to ftir again, more Swarms 
 of their cruel Brood ftill flocking into 
 that rich Country, they refolv'd now to 
 delay the Time no longer, but to commit 
 themfelves , Wives and Children, with all 
 that was moft dear and precious, to the 
 Mercy of that Inconftant Element, rather 
 than truft to the Barbarity of their own 
 Species. They who came out of the lower 
 JEigypt^ were refolv'd to crofs the great 
 Sea (13), and with immenfc Labour were 
 forcM to carry their Materials partly by 
 Land, till they came to the outermoft 
 Branch of the Kile^ lince their Enemies 
 
 coming 
 
SignoT Gaudentio di lWa^. tif 
 
 coming over the Ifthmiis^ tho' they hia-» 
 der'd them from going out of their Coun- 
 try by Land, unlefs by the Deferts, yet 
 had not taken PolfeiTion of that Part of the 
 Country. 'Tis needlefs to recount their 
 Cries and Lamentations at their leaving 
 their dear Country, I fliall only tell you, 
 that they ventured into the great Sea, 
 which they crofs'd, and never ftopp'd till 
 they came to another Sea (14), on the 
 Sides of which they fixM their Habitation, 
 that they might go off again in Cafe they 
 were purfued. This we learnt from the 
 Account of our Anceflors, who met with 
 fome of them that came to vilit the Tombs 
 of their deceased Parents, as we do j but 
 *tis an immenfe Time fince, we never 
 
 heard any more of them.' The other 
 
 Part J who were much the greater Number, 
 went down the leffer Sea (15), having 
 built their Ships on that Sea j they never 
 ftopp'd or touch'd on either Side, till they 
 came to a narrow Part of it (16), which 
 led them into the vaft Ocean, there they 
 turn'd off to the left into the Eaflern Sea 
 (17). But whether they were fvvallow'd 
 up in the mercilefs Abyfs, or carried into 
 fome unknown Regions, we cannot tell, 
 for they were never heard of more. Only 
 of late Years, we have heard talk at 
 Grand Cairo ^ of a very numerous and ci- 
 yiliz d Nation in the Eaftern Parts of the 
 
 World, 
 
13$ !r^^ MEMOIRS of 
 
 Woi^ld, iVhofe Laws and Cuftoms have' 
 ft me RefemblaRce to ours ; but who^ and 
 what they are, we cannot tell, linc6 we 
 have never met with any of them. 
 
 Remarks of Signer Rhedi: 
 
 (i)TX7HO know not who their Aneefl:orJ,^r. Itwould 
 " " certainly be a great Satisfadlion to Perfons to know 
 fVom what Race of People, Country or Famiiy, they fprutig 
 originally. This Igr.or.mce is owing ^chiefly to t\\e. Barbari 
 *rr.imont.ini \ ; and other Northern Nations, who have from 
 Time to Time, over- run the Face oi Europe; leaving a mix- 
 ture of their Spawn in all Parts of it, fo that no one knows^ 
 ■whether he came originally from Seythia ox ^fia, from a ci- 
 viliz'd Nation, or from the preateft Brutes; and the' Wars! 
 and Invafions have deftroy'd, or interchang'd the Inhabitants 
 of moft Countries J yet this Man's Obfervation is a juft Cen- 
 fure of the negleft of moft People, with Pefpeft to theif* 
 Genealogy and Knowledge of their Anceftors, where they 
 have been fettled in a Country for feveral Ages. But there 
 are Matters of greater Moment in this Man's Relation, true 
 or falfe, which lead us into fome curious Remains of Antient 
 Hiftory. 
 
 {2) Mezortiim from the firft Man, ^c The original 
 Name of £g-j/>/ was Mifr,jim', from Mifr^im, Meforaim, of 
 Metjoraim, as the Learned Bochart explains it, lib. 4. Geo- 
 graph. Sacra in Mifraim. Monfieur Du Pin's Hiftory of the 
 Old Teftament, Chap. VI. and others. All Antient Authors 
 agree, that it was once the richeft and happieft Country in the 
 World: Flourifh'ng with Plenty, and even Learning, before 
 the Patriarch Abr.7htm''s Time. There is a very remarkable 
 Fragment of Eupolemus an Antient Heathen Writer, taken 
 from the Babylonian Monuments, prcferved by Eufebius, 
 
 "^ Signior Rhedi being an Italian, one can't wonder he 
 fpcaks fo contemmibly of the Ne/therrt People ; the Italians 
 qall. them all ^.^rW/. 
 V* '•• * lib, 
 
Sigmr Gaudektio di Lucca; t^f 
 
 lib. 9. Preparat. Evan. The Words are, BdiSiKuviis 
 
 m(7£^,(/. 'zrctrayi ^AiyvTrvuvi The whole Fragment, in 
 our Mother Tongue iignifies, that according to the Baby- 
 lonians,^ the firft was Belus^ the fame with Kronoi or Saturn^ 
 from him came Ham or Cham^ the Father of Chanaan, 'Bro- 
 ther to Mefrnim, Father of ihe Egyptians. 
 
 (3) The Earth rofe out of the Water. This is an obfcure 
 Notion of A^(?rf^'s Flood, known to all Nations, at leaft the 
 Eaftern, as appears by the oldeft Remains, of which fee Eo- 
 cbart in that Article, lib. i. The Earth rofe out of the Wa- 
 ter, or the Waters funk from the Earth. Thefe People might 
 iniftike fomethingof that undoubted and anticnt Tradition. 
 But Mifratm could not be Ignorant of the Flood, his Father 
 //tf;« having been in the Ark, whether Ignorance or other 
 Motives made his Pofterity vary in the Account; but 'tis evi- 
 dent the Antients had a Notion of the general Deluge, as may 
 «% be proved by the Remains of Heathen Authors bearing 
 ieltimony to the Scripture Account of it. 
 
 (4) Either produced by the Sun, ^c. The Anticnt J5>y«- 
 ttans thought Men, as well as Infefts, were produced out of 
 the Shme of the Nile, by the Heat of the Sun, and call'd 
 themfelves Aborigines, as feveral other Nations did. Tho» 
 
 •this wile Man is inclin'd to think they were created by God ; 
 as 'tis evident and certain they were; for fince we fee one fingle 
 Infedt cannot be produced without a Caufe, 'tis Nonfenfe, as 
 well as impoffible to imagine an Infinite Series of Men and 
 Animals could be produced without a feparate Caufe- Qn 
 which Account Atheijm is one of the moft foolifh and abfurd 
 Notions m the World. 
 
 {<^) Herodotus tells us, the ^-^j;;//^;:/ pretended to be the firft 
 Innabuants of the Earth ; tho' the Ethiopians contended with 
 ihem for Antiquity. I muft quote the Words in Latin, out 
 of Laurenzo Falla^i Tranflation, becaufe I have him not in 
 Greek, O^.'imitm Hominum priores fe extitiffe arbitrabantur. 
 Jheyelteem'd themfelves, fays he, to have been the firft of 
 all Men. Herodot. lib. 2. Euterpe. 
 
 (6) Of the fame Family, ^c. Tis certain from Bochart, and 
 other Learned Authors._ That the £^v;/.<7« Government, as 
 well as that of moft Nations, was at firit Patriarchal: Till iV/z/z- 
 rod founded the firft Kingdom or Empire in the World ; whole 
 Examp.e others followed according to their Power. However, 
 the P.tnarch.] Government was foon broke in upon in Eg^U 
 fince they had ^ng's in Abraham and Ijaac'^ Time, as we leari 
 froir. tl,e Old Teftament. See Bccb^rt^ Geographia Sacra, 
 
fiii The MEMOIRS of 
 
 (7) Abhorring the fhedding of Blood, ^c. The celebra- 
 ted Bifhop of Meaax in the 3d Part of his Univerfal Hiftory;, 
 gives us a wonderful Defcription of the Juftice and Piety of 
 the firft Egyptiatis, who had luch a Horror of fhedding Man's 
 l&lood, that they punifh'd their Criminals after they were 
 dead ; which was as much hi Terrorem, confidering their fa- 
 perftitious Reverence for their deceas'd Friends and Parents, 
 as if they had been pun ifhcd when alive. The Reafon why 
 the Antient Moral Heathctis abhorr'd the fliedding of Blood; 
 might be on Accouht that Noah^ Sons living before the De- 
 luge, knew the wickednefs of the World was the Caufe of 
 that dreadful Judgment. And fliedding of Blood being the 
 £rft Crime punifh'd by God, they might take Warning by fuch 
 terrible Examples^ tho' their Impiety, in fome Nations, foon 
 obfcured this Innate Light of Nature. Particularly, the De- 
 fcendants of Ham, all but this Mifraim ; who with his Fa- 
 mily, by all Accounts, firft peopled Egypt } and they were 
 noted for Juftice and Knowledge. It will be made evident iii 
 the fubfequent Remarks, that thefe Hichfoes, were the De- 
 fcendants of wicked Chanann or Cujh, who deftroy'd the 
 peaceable State of the firft Egyptians, and introduced Idola- 
 try among them ; which made great Numbers of them fl/ 
 into other Parts of the World to fave themfelves. 
 
 (8) Extreamly given to the fearch of Sciences, tjfc. The 
 fime Learned Bifhop of Meaitx, and other Hiftorians afTure 
 US, as it is a Thing well known to all the Learned, That Arts 
 and Sciences were brought to very great Perfeftion in the 
 carlieft Times in Egypt. Mofes was inftrufted in the Sci- 
 ences of the Egyptians. Triptohmtis the Founder of Agri- 
 culture, came out of Egypt. Bacchus the Inventor of Wine, 
 according to the Antients, csme oni of Egypt ov Lyl>ia, which 
 borders upon it ; tho' it was firft learn'd from ^oah ; Pytha- 
 goras 2ind other learned Men, went into Egypt to be inftru6l- 
 ed by the Prieft?, Cffc. Herohtus fays the fame of himfelf. 
 
 (9) His Grandfon 7'^/?-(?//^. This 7'/^(7-orZ> the famous Phi- 
 lofopher of the Egyptians^ was before Mercury, or Trifne- 
 gijlus ; tho' fome take him to be the fame. All allow him to 
 be cxtreamly Antient, but cannot fix the Time when he lived. 
 Hiftorians murder his Name at a ftrange Rate. Both art qMs 
 him, Ta-anttis, lib. z. cap. 121. Clemens Alex. lib. 6. 
 Strom, fays, he wrote 42 Books of Aftrology, Geography^ 
 Phyfick, Policy, Theology, Religion and Government. Jo- 
 Jeph Ben-Gorion de Divifione Gentium, calls him, tiitis ; fome 
 call him T^heut, others Teut, Taut, Thoth, &c. But accord- 
 ing to this Man, his Name was Tha-oth: 'Tis undoubted, 
 however, that he was the great Mafter of the Egyptians ; but 
 
 derived 
 
Signor Gaudentio di Lucca. 12^ 
 
 derived his Learning from Noah, who might have the Know- 
 ledge of Arts and Sciences from the Antediluvian World, or 
 from the Columns of Seth, which Jofephus hy%, contain 
 the Principles of Aftrology, and were erefted before the Fljod 
 by the Nephews of Seth : One of which Columns, as he fays^ 
 remained in Syria in his Time. Jojeph. lib. 2. An. c. 2. 
 
 (10) Call'd Hyckfoes, ^c. The fame Jofephus, lib. z. 
 Contra .Ippion, fays, x\\iX Hyckfoes, or Hycloes, an old Egypti- 
 an Word fignifies Bitff/A«f rrotfj-iVcti, King Shepherds, or King 
 of Beafts, given them by the Native Egyptians, as a Name of 
 Difgrace and Contempt. It's out of all Controverfy that there 
 was a great Revolution in Egypt, about four Hundred Years 
 after the Flood, or a little hthrt Abraham's Time. Monfieur 
 du Pin makes the Time from the Flood to Abraham'^ Birth 
 three Hundred and fifty Years ; and about four Hundred to 
 his being call'd by God. 'Tis certain alfo, there were Kings 
 in Egypt in Abraham's, Time. 'Tis probable thefe Kings were 
 the Hyckfoes, or King Shepherds, who altered ihe Government 
 of the Ancient Egyptians, and continued about five Kings 
 Reigns, For when the Patriarch Jofeph call'd his Father and 
 Brethren into Egypt, he bid them ask the Land of Gofhen to 
 inhabit, becaufe, faid he, all Shepherds are an abomination 
 "to the Egyptians. By which it appears the Shepherds v/ere 
 lately driven out. In all likelihood they were thefe Kings 
 who introduced Idolatry and the Adoration of brute Beafts 
 among the Egyptians, for which Reafort they calld them in 
 
 derifion King- Shepherds, or King-Beafts. The great 
 
 'Bochart, in his Phaleg. looks upon this Revolutibn in Egypt to 
 have been before Abraham's Time, and lb far from being 
 a fidlion, that he fays in exprefs Word;, Caflucos i^Capthoraos 
 (whom -he proves to be the People of Colchos, for all it is fo 
 far from Egypt ) ex JEgyfto tnigraffe certutn efl ante Abrahaml 
 '^Tempjira. It is certain, fiys. he. that the Cafluci and the 
 Cdpthorai went out of Egypt before Jbrahatu^sTinxQ. Bochart 
 Phaleg. lib. 4. c. 31? 'Herodotus in E'derpe fays, that the 
 Teople of Colchos were originally Egyptians ; tho' fome fay 
 they went back fome Ages after, and fettled' in talefline, and 
 were call'd after that Philiflines. '" ... ' . . 
 
 (11) Their Children ofFer'd a Sacrifice to thofe inhuman 
 Deities. Thefe Hjff/f/"^.'; being in all appeirarice'th'e defcendants 
 of wicked Chanaan or Cufh, vvere 10 abominably impious, as 
 -to Sacrifice human Vidlims and Children to their falfe Gods; 
 ahdevenwere the firft Authors of all Impiety and Idolatry. 
 
 (12) The art of making Boats, i^c. 'tis highly probable the 
 Egyptians had the knowkdge of Shipping long before ths 
 
 GreekSf whofe fineft Ship was Argo, built by Jafon to fetch 
 
 K the 
 
.130 77j;^ MEMOIRS (?/ 
 
 the Golden Fleece from Colchos. The firft notion of Ship- 
 ping was undoubtedly taken from the Ark ; the Egyptians 
 were necefiitated to make ufe of Boats, by reafon of the annual 
 overflowing of the River Nile, and to pafs the different 
 Branches into which that famous River divides itfelf in the 
 lower Egypt. The Sidoni/jns, whom Bochart proves to be 
 the defcendants of Chanaan, had the ufe of Shipping, as he 
 alfo proves, before the Children of Ifrael departed out of 
 Egypt. 
 
 (13) The lefTer Sea. Egypt is bounded on the one fide by 
 the end of the Mediterranean ; on the other fide by the Red- 
 Sea dividing it from Arabia : This he calls the lefTer Sea, as 
 being much narrower than the Mediterranean. 
 
 (14) This great Sa, as dillinguifhed from the lef?, muft be 
 the Mediterranean. Thofe who fled by tli«t Sea, muft be 
 thofe who went to Colchos; they could not goby Land over 
 the Ifthmoi, becaufe the Hyckfoes pour'd in upon them that 
 way : We muft not fuppofe they went all the way by Sea to 
 Colchos, quite round by the Streights of Ilellefpont. They 
 muft crofs the end of the Mediterranean, and went by Land 
 the fliorteft way they could till they came to the borders of 
 the Euxine Sea. 'Tis almelt incredible Men fhould go fo far 
 to feek an Habitation. But Bochart hys, 'tis certain the Peo- 
 ple of Colchos came out oi Egypt ; they muft therefore have 
 Been drove out by fome terrible Enemies. You will fay, why 
 inay not this firft Revolution in £^)'/i/, which Bochart fpeaks 
 jof, have been made by the great Semiramis, Wife to Ninus^ 
 jthe Son of Nimrod. 'Tis anfwer'd in the firft Pl.ice, becaufe 
 '^ojephus calls the firft Invaders of Egypt, 'BttcnKeii isoi^iVAit 
 Kl'ig shepherds, which can't agree with the great Heroine Ser 
 tniramis. ..a^/y.,, Becaufe it is not credible, notwithftanding 
 ^he contrary Opinion of moft Hiftorians, that Ninus the 
 Husbapd of Semiramis, could not be fo early as they make 
 Jiim to be, ;. e. the Son of Nimrod, but fome other Ninus 
 long after him. For tho' Semiramis conquer'd Egypt and af- 
 terwards loft her Army againft the j^thiopians, this could 
 npt be fo foon after the Flood; becaufe Hiftorians defcr.ibp 
 that Army to confift of three Hundred Thoufand Men in- 
 ^ydled in difgipUne after a Military manner, arm'd with vvar- 
 iike Chariots, i^c. as were the Ethiopians againft her, and 
 "even fuperior to' her. 1 fay 'tis not credible fuch great Ar- 
 jmies could be raifed fo foon after the Flood, if fhe was Daiigh- 
 ter in Law to Nimrod the great Hunter, who was the S09 pf 
 CijJ^, and Great Grandfon to iV!^<7/^. " ."."^ " '^'*" 
 
 (15) Another Sea, «. ^. the Euxine Stz. ^■' 
 
Signor Gaudenti6 di Lucca. 131 
 
 (16) The leffer Sea, /. e. the Retl Sea. There were feveral 
 other Revolutions in Egypf, as, by the ^Ethiopians after, 6"^- 
 miramis was conquer'd ; who were expell'd again, either by 
 the Great Sejojlris of whom Herodotus relates fuch famous 
 exploits ; or a little before by his PredecefTor. The Chanaa- 
 nites alfo, who were driven out of Palejiitie by Jojhuah, Con- 
 quer'd part of it, as we fhall fee afterwards. Long after that, 
 it was fubdued by Nabucodenofor, who deftroyed the Renown- 
 ed City of Thebes with her Hundred Gates. Bochart in Ni- 
 tiive. Then the Perftans under Catnhjfes the Son of C;jrus 
 the Great. In fine, the Romans made a Province of it in Aii^ 
 gujlus^s Time. Strabo fays of that famous City of Thebes, vvvi 
 KcoiMii'ov svvo'iK^Toi, at prefent fays he, 'tis but a poorVillage. 
 
 Atque vetus Thebe centum jacet obruta portis. 
 
 Juven. Sat. ij. 
 
 (17) They came to a narrow part of it, ^\. This muft be 
 the Streights of Babelmandel, which let them into the vaft 
 'Eajlern Ocean. 
 
 (18) They turn'd ofF to the Left, iSc. 'Tis likely that Co- 
 loay was carried to China ; for let what will come of this 
 Man's Relations, there are very ftrong Reafons to believe, 
 that the Chinefe, notwithftanding the vail diftance from Eg-ipt, 
 came originally from that Country, about the timeof the'ln- 
 
 ^vafion of the King Shepherds, which was before Jacob and his 
 Sons went into the Land of Egypt. For whoever compares 
 the Account given by the Learned Bilhop of Meaupc, in the 
 <hJrd P-art of his univerfel Hiftory, of the Lives and Man- 
 ners of the firft Egyptians^ -with thofe of the Chinefe, will 
 ■ find them to agreqr in-^ ^reat many Points. As \Ji, their 
 i)oafted Antiquity -^'id,' their fo early Knowledge of Arts and 
 iSciences: 3^/, their ve'neration for learned Men, who have the 
 preference before others : 4^/^, their Policy : <^th, their ua- 
 "apcouptableSuperftition for their deceafed Parents : dth, their 
 Srinualvifiting the Family of. their Anceftors : -jth, their peace- 
 jlble difpoficions : %ths their Religious Worfhip. As for this 
 lajl,. 'tfs well known the firft Egyptians worfhipped the Sun, 
 Ibng-^before the Gods Apis, and tfis, and Anubis, were intro- 
 ijduff d ,aTi)ong them by their Idolatrous Invaders. And the 
 fihipe/eto this Day worfhip- the Material Heaven, as is feen 
 in ih'e Condemnation of ths Js/uits by C/em. XL Laftly, 
 ille afe of Pyramids in China, which were like antient Idols 
 junpng the Chinefe. See the Account of them * in M^reri. f 
 
 Y J>i!'JjJ ' !^"J 
 
 ^fVf:.'iPyramA V^^-'fiditio C/erici, 
 
 <^ 
 
 K » The 
 
Iji l^he MEMOIRS of 
 
 The only difEculty is to know how they got from Eg^ft to 
 China, which is not To infupportable as People may imagine, 
 'Tis certain, the Egyptians, as has been remarked, had a very 
 early Knowledge of Navigation. *Tis certain alfo, that in 
 thole barbarous Invafions, the Invaders of Kingdoms almoft 
 deftroyed all before them. Since we find therefore in the 
 moll Antient Hiftories, that there was a moft terrible Revolu- 
 tion in Egypt about that Time made by the People, whofe 
 Cuftoms the Egyptians had in abomination, the Chinefe 
 might leek their Fortune by Sea, and might be carried beyond 
 -the Perfian Gulph, till they came to Cochin China, from whence 
 they might get into the main Continent, and fo People that 
 .vaft Empire; prelerving their Antient Laws and Cuftoms in- 
 violable. So that whatever becomes of this Man's Relation, 
 tis' extreamly probable, the Chinefe axnt iirft from Egypt. 
 
 Continuation of the M E M O I K S, 
 
 THE Father of our Nation, fincewe 
 fcparated ourfelves from the reft of the 
 World, who was Prieft of the Sun a^: 
 No'Om (i), call'd afterwards by thofe 
 Mifcreants No-Jmrnon (2), becaufe of 
 the Temple of Hammon^ was not afleep in 
 this general Confternation ,• but did not 
 as yet think they would come up fo high 
 into the Land. However, he thought pro* 
 per to look out for a Place to fecure him- 
 felf and Family in cafe of need. He was 
 the defccndant, in a dired Line, from th^ 
 great Tha-oth \ and was perfe<5t.ly verfed 
 in all the Learned Sciences of his An- 
 eeftors. He s^uefted there muft -certainly 
 be fome habitable Country beyontl thofe 
 
 ^Jread- 
 
Signor Gaudentio di Lucca. 133 
 
 dreadful Sands that furrounded him, if he 
 could but find a way to it, where he might 
 fecure himfelf and Family ^ at leaft till 
 thofe Troubles were over : For he did 
 not at that Time think of leaving his na- 
 tive Country for good and all. But like 
 a true Father of his People, which the 
 Name of Tophar implies, he was refol- 
 ved to venture his own Life, rather than 
 expofe his whole Family to be loft in thofe 
 difmal Deferts. He had five Sons, and 
 five Daughters Married to as many Sons 
 and Daughters of his deceased Brother (3 ). 
 His two eldeft Sons had even Grand Chil- 
 dren, but his two youngeft: Sons as then 
 had no Children. He left the Govern- 
 ment and Care of all to his eldeft Son, in 
 cafe he fhould mifcarry, and took his 
 two youngeft Sons who might beft be fpa- 
 red, along with him. Having provided 
 themfelves with Water for ten Days, with 
 Bread, and dried Fruits, juft enough to 
 fubfift on, he was rcfolv'd to try five 
 Days Journey end-ways thro' thofe Sands, 
 and if he faw no hopes of making a Dif- 
 covery that^Time, to return again before 
 his Provifions were fpent, and then try 
 the fame Method towards another quar- 
 ter. In fliort, he fet out with all fecrecy, 
 and pointing his courfe diredly Weftward^ 
 the better to guide himfelf, he came to 
 the firft Grove that we arriv'd to, in a lit- 
 K 3 tie 
 
134 'tte MEMOIRS ^/ 
 
 tie more Time than we took up in com- 
 ing thither. Having now Time enough 
 before him, and feeing there was Water 
 and Fruits in abundance, he examined the 
 extent of that delicious Vale : He found 
 there was Room enough to maintain a 
 great many Thoufands in cafe they ihould 
 increafe, and be forced to ftay there fome 
 Generations, as in effed they did. After 
 this they laid in Provifions as before, with 
 Dates and Fruits of the natural Produce 
 of the Earth, finer than ever were feen 
 in "Egypt^ to encourage them in their 
 Tranfmigration, and fo fet out again for 
 his Native Country. The time prefixed 
 for his Return was elapfed by his ftay in 
 viewing the Country ; fo that his People 
 had entirely given him for loft. But the 
 joy for his unexpected Return, with the 
 promifing hopes of fuch a fafe and happy 
 Retreat, made them unanimoufly refolve 
 to follow him. Wherefore, on the firft 
 News of the Hickfoes being in motion a- 
 gain, they packed up all their Effects and 
 Provifions as privately as they could j but 
 particularly all the Monuments of Arts 
 and Sciences left by their Anceftors, with 
 Notes and Obfervations of every part of 
 their dear Country, which they were go- 
 ing to leave, but hoped to fee again when 
 the Storm was over. They arrived with- 
 out any confiderable difaftcr^ and refolv'd 
 
 only 
 
Signor Gaubentio di Lucca. 135 
 
 only to live in Tents till they could return 
 into their native Country. As they in- 
 creafed in Number, they defcended further 
 into the Vale, which there began to fpread 
 it felf different ways, and provided them 
 with all Ncceflaries and Convcniencies of 
 Life ; fo that they liv'd in the happiefl 
 Banilhment they could wifli, but never 
 ftirred out of that Vale for feveral Years, 
 for fear of Difcovery. The Tophar find- 
 ing himfelf grow old (having attained al- 
 moft to two Hundred Years of Age) (4), 
 tho' he was tall and ftrong for his Years, 
 refolv'd to vifit his native Country once 
 more before he died, and learn what 
 News he could for the common Intereft ; 
 fo he and two more difguifed themfelves, 
 and rcpafs'd the Defarts again. They juft 
 ventur'd at firft into the borders of the 
 Country : But alas ! when he came there, 
 he found all the Country over-run by thofe 
 barbarous Hyckfoes, All the poor remains 
 of the Mezzoranians were made Slaves ,• 
 and thefe Barbarians had begun to build 
 Habitations, and eftablifh themfelves, as 
 if they deiigned never more to depart the 
 Country. They had made No-07n one of 
 their chief Towns(5), where they creel- 
 ed a Temple to their Ram-God (6), call- 
 ing it No-Iiammon (7), with fuch inhu- 
 man Laws and Cruelties, as drew a flood 
 of Tears from his aged Eyes (8). How- 
 K 4 ever 
 
fl3^ rthe MEMOIRS of 
 
 ever, being a wife Man, and of greaf fore- 
 light, he eafily imagined by their Tyran- 
 nical way of Living, they could not laft 
 long in that ftate without fome new Re- 
 volution. When he had made what Ob- 
 fervations he could, and had vilited the 
 Tombs of his Fore-fathers, he return'd to 
 the Vale, and died in that Place where 
 you faw the Pyramid built in his Memo- 
 ry. Not many Generations after, accord- 
 ing as he had forefeen, the Natives being 
 made defperate by the Tyrannical Oppref- 
 lions of the Hiclfoes^ were forced to break 
 in upon their primitive Laws, which for- 
 bad them fhcdding of Blood ; made a ge- 
 neral Infurredion, and calling in their 
 Neighbours round about, fell upon the 
 JHyckfoes when they leaft cxpeded it, and 
 drove them out of the Country. They 
 were headed by a brave Man of a mixt 
 Race, his Mother being a beautiful Mez- 
 zoranian^ and his Father a Sahcan (9), 
 After this young Conqueror had driven 
 out the Hyckfoes^ he eftabliihed a new form 
 of Government, making himfelf King 
 over his Brethren, but not after the Ty- 
 rannical manner of the Hjckfoes^ and grew 
 very powerful. Our Anccftors fent Per- 
 fons from time to time to inform them- 
 fclves how Matters went. They found 
 the Kingdom in a flourifhing Condition 
 indeed, under the conquering So/s (10), 
 
 for 
 
Signor Gaudentio di Lucca. 1^7 
 
 for fo he was call'd. He and his Succef- 
 fors had made it one of the moft power- 
 ful Kingdoms of the Earth ; but the Laws 
 were different from what they have been 
 in the Time of our Anceftors, or even 
 from thofe the great <S'i9/j" had ellabhfiied. 
 Some of his SucceiTors began to be very- 
 Tyrannical j they made Slaves of their 
 Brothers, and invented a new Religion ; 
 fome adoring the Sun, fome the Gods of 
 the Hyckfoes ; fo that our Anceftors> tho* 
 they might have return'd again, as they 
 could not think of altering their Laws, 
 chofe rather to continue ftill unknown in 
 that Vale, under their Patriarchal Go- 
 vernment. Neverthelefs, in procefs o£ 
 Time, they increafed fo much, that the 
 Country was not capable of maintaining 
 them, fo that they had been obliged to 
 return, had not another Revolution in 
 JBjgypt forced them to feek out a new Ha- 
 bitation, This change was made by a 
 Race of People calld Cnanim (11), as 
 wicked and barbarous in Effed, but more 
 politick than t\\Q Hyckfoes -^ tho' fome faid 
 originally they were the fame People, 
 who being driven out of their own Coun- 
 try by others more powerful than them- 
 felves, come pouring in, not only over all 
 the Land of Mezroaim^ but all along 
 the Coafts of both Seas, dcflroying all 
 before them, with greater Abominations 
 
 than 
 
138 T:^^ MEMOIRS <?/ 
 
 than the Hyckfoes had ever been guil- 
 ty of: A faithlefs and moft perfidious 
 Race of Men that corrupted the innocent 
 Manners (12) of the whole Earth. Here 
 our fore-fathers were in the moft dreadful 
 Confternation imaginable. There was 
 now no Profpe^t of ever returning into 
 their Antient Country. They were fur- 
 rounded with Defarts on all fides. The 
 Place they were in began to be too nar- 
 row for fo many Thousands as they were 
 increafed to : Nay, they did not know 
 but the wicked Cnanimy the boldeft and 
 moft enterprizing Nation under the Sun 
 (13) might find them out fome time or 
 other. Being in this diftrefs, they refolv'd 
 to feek out a new Habitation j and to this 
 end, they compared all the Notes and 
 Obfervations on the Heavens, the courfe 
 of the Sun, the Seafons and Nature of 
 the Climate, and whatever elfe might 
 direft them what courfe to ftcer. They 
 did not doubt but that there might be 
 fome Habitable Countries in the midft of 
 thofe vaft Defarts, perhaps as delicious as 
 the Vale they lived in, if they could but 
 come at them. They fent out fome Per- 
 fons to make difcoveries, but without Suc- 
 cefs. The Sands were too vaft to travel 
 over without Water, and they could find 
 no Springs nor Rivers \ at length the moft 
 fagacious of them began to reflect, that 
 
 the 
 
Signor Gaudentio dt Lucca. 13^ 
 
 the annual overflowing of the great Ri- 
 ver Nile, v^'hofe head could never be 
 found out, muft proceed from fome pro- 
 di2;ious Rains which fell fomevvhere *S'^f//^y^- 
 ward of them, about that time of the 
 Year ; which Rains, if they could but 
 luckily time and meet with^ might not 
 only fupply them with Water, but alfo 
 render the Country fertile where they 
 fell. Accordingly the chief Tophar af- 
 fifted with fome of the wifeft Men, ge- 
 neroufly refolv'd to run all Rifques to 
 fave his People. They computed the ex- 
 ad Seafon when the Kile overflowed, 
 and ailow'd for the time the Waters muft 
 take in coming down fo far as Egypt, They 
 thought therefore, if they could but car- 
 ry Water enough to fupply them till they 
 met with thefe Rains, they would help 
 them to go on further. At length, five 
 of them let out with ten Dromedaries, 
 carrying as much Water and Provifions as 
 might ferve them for fifteen Days, to 
 bring them back again in cafe there was 
 no hopes. They ftcer'd their courfe as 
 we did, tho' not quite fo exadt the firft 
 Time, till they come to the Place, where 
 we are now. Here, as their Obfervati- 
 ons tell us (14), they found a little Ri- 
 vulet, which is fince fwallowed up by the 
 Sands, they filfd their VelTels, and went 
 up to obferve as we did. But feeing the 
 
 iigns 
 
I40 Ihe MEMOIRS of 
 
 figns of the great Hurricanes, that whicK 
 was our greateft encouragementj had hke 
 to have driven them into defpair ^ for the 
 ^ophar knowing the danger of being over- 
 whelmed in the Sands, thought of nothing 
 but flying back as faft as he could, fear- 
 ing to be fv^^allow'd up in thofe ftifling 
 Whirlpools. This Apprehenfion made 
 him lay afide all Thoughts of fucceeding 
 towards that Climate ; and now his chief 
 care was how to get back again with fafe- 
 ty for himfelf and his People. But find- 
 ing all continue tolerably ferene where 
 they were, they made a halt in order to 
 make fome further Obfervations. In the 
 mean time, they reflected that thofe Hur- 
 ricanes muft be fore-runners of Tempefts, 
 and Rain. Then they remember'd that 
 no Rain, or what was very inconfiderable 
 ever fell in Egypt (15)5 or for a great 
 way South of it, till they came within 
 the Tropicks ; fo they concluded, that 
 the Rains muft run Parallel with the 
 Equator, both under it, and for fome 
 breadth on both fides, till they met the 
 rife of the River Nile^ and there caufed 
 thofe valt Inundations that were fo hard 
 to be accounted for by other People. 
 That in fine, thofe Rains muft continue 
 a confiderable while, and probably tho' • 
 beginning with Tempefts, might continue 
 in fettled Rain capable of being pafs'd 
 
 thro'. 
 
Signor Gaudentio di Lucca. 141 
 thro\ Then he at firft refolv'd to ven-* 
 ture back again to the firft Vale : But 
 being a Man of great prudence, he pre- 
 fently confider'dj that as he could not pro- 
 ceed on his way without Rains, fo he 
 could not come back again but by the 
 fame help;, which coming only at one Sea- 
 fon, muft take up a whole Year before he 
 could return. However, he was refolv'd 
 to venture on, not doubting but if he could 
 find a Habitable Country, he fliould alfo 
 find Fruits enough to fubfift on, till the 
 next Seafon. Therefore he order'd two 
 of his Companions to return the fame way 
 they came, to tell his People not to exped 
 him till the next Year, if Providence 
 fhould bring him back again : But if he 
 did not return by the time of the over- 
 flowing of the Nile^ or thereabouts, then 
 they might give him over for loft, and 
 muft never attempt that way any more. 
 They took their leaves of one another, 
 3A .if it were the laft Adieu, and fet out 
 at the fame Time ,- two of them for their 
 Home in the firft Vale, and the other three 
 for thofe unknown Regions, being deftiv 
 tute of all other helps but thbfe of .a cou- 
 rageous Mind. The three came back to 
 this Place, where it Thunder'd:and Light»- 
 en'd as it does now.j but xhQ.Topbarohi- 
 ferv'd it ftill tended fide-ways, and guel^'d*, 
 when the firft violence was over^ the Rains 
 ' ." • might 
 
14J 7h MEMOIKS of 
 might be more fettled. The next Day it 
 fell out as he forefaw ; as foon as he per- 
 ceived that, he recommended himfelf to 
 the great Author of our Being, and launch- 
 ed boldly out into that vaft Ocean of 
 Sands and Rain, fleering hisCourfe Soutb- 
 weji^ rather inclining towards the South. 
 They went as far as the heavy Sands 
 and Rains would let them, till their Dro- 
 medaries could hardly go any further. 
 Then they pitch'd their Tents and re- 
 frefh'd themfelves jufl enough to undergo 
 new Labour, well knowing all their Lives 
 depended on their expedition. They ob- 
 ferv'd the Sands to be of a different kind 
 from what they had been hitherto, fo 
 •fine, that any guft of Wind muft over- 
 whelm Man and Beaft, only the Rains 
 had clogg d and laid them. Not to pro- 
 long your cxpcdlation too much, thus 
 they went on for ten Days, till the Rains 
 began to abate, then they fawtheir Lives 
 or Deaths would foon be'<letermin'd. The 
 Eleventh Day the Ground began to grow 
 harder m Patches, with here and there a 
 little Mofs on the furface, and now and 
 then '2. fmall withered Shrub. This re- 
 vived then* Hopes; that they fliould fifid 
 ;good iLaiid:.in a fhori time, and In effe(5fc, 
 iiie Soil changedjfor the better every ftep 
 they took ; and now they began to fee 
 little Hills. cover'd vvitii^Xarafs, and the 
 
 Valleys^ 
 
Signor Gaudentio di Lucca. 143 
 Valleys fink down as if there might be 
 Brooks and Rivers. The Twelfth and 
 Thirteenth Day cleared all their doubts, 
 and brought them into a Country, which 
 tho' not very fertile, had both Water and 
 Fruits, with a hopeful Profped further on 
 of Hills and Dales all Habitable and Flou- 
 riihing. Here they fell proftrate on the 
 Earth, adoring the Creator of all Things, 
 who had conduaed them fafethro' fo 
 many dangers, and kiffing the Ground 
 which was to be their common Nurfe, 
 for them, and, as they hoped, for all their 
 Pofterity : When they had repofed them- 
 4;elves for fome Days, they proceeded 
 further into the Country, which they 
 iound to mend upon them the more they 
 advanced into it. They knew they wer^ 
 not to return till next Year, fo they 
 fought the propereft Place for their Ha- 
 bitation. They fet up Marks at every 
 moderate diilance not to lofe their wa^ 
 feack again. They made for the higheft 
 Hills they could fee,from whence they per^ 
 eeiyedaia immenfe and delicious Country 
 evf^ry. way ; but to their greater Satiisfac- 
 tipi>, no Inhabitants. They ivander'd thii^ 
 at-Pleafure thro' thofe natural Gardens 
 XKhere there was a perpetual Spring; in 
 fome kinds of the produce of the Earth. 
 and the ripenefsof Autumn with the moft 
 '^.quiiite Fruits, in others. They kept the 
 
144 7h MEMOIRS of 
 
 moft exadt Obfervations poflible, whicfi- 
 ever way they went, there were not on- 
 Jy Springs and Fountains in abundance, 
 but as they guefs'd, for they kept the 
 higher Ground, the Heads of great Ri- 
 vers and Lakes, fome of which they 
 faw, till they were fatisfied there was 
 room enough for whole Nations without 
 any danger, as they could find, of being 
 difturb'd. By their Obfervation of th6 
 Sun, they were nigher the Equator thart 
 they had imagin'd (i5), fo that they 
 there pafs'd the middle fpacc between 
 the Tropick and the Line. Being come 
 back to their, firft Station, they thei*^ 
 waited the proper Seafon fdr their returm 
 The Rains came fomethirig fooner thati 
 the Year before, becaufe they were fur- 
 ther JVeftispard. The Hurricanes were no- 
 thing like what they were in the vaft 
 Sands. As foon as they began to fix in 
 fettled Rains, they fet out again as be- 
 fore, and in Twenty Days ^time ffoni 
 their laft fetting out,- happily arrived ^ift 
 the Place where they left their dea? 
 Friends and Relations, whofe joy for their 
 fafe and happy arrival ivas greater than I 
 can pretend to defcribe. Thus: this-im^ 
 mortal Hero accompliili'd his great un^ 
 xiertaking, fo much more Glorious thari 
 all the Vidories of the greateft Conque- 
 rors, as it vwas projci^ed^ form'd, ^^^nd 
 
 execu- 
 
Signor Gaudentio di Lucca. 14J 
 
 executed by his own Wifdom and Cou- 
 rage i not by expofing and facrificing the 
 Lives of thoufands of his Subjeds, per- 
 haps greater Men than himfelf, but by 
 expoilng his own Life for the fafety of 
 thofe that depended on him. 
 
 Remarks of Signor Rhedi. 
 
 (i) T)Rieft of No-om. Noofn, or No on, fignifies in the old 
 JL Mezzoraniaji, or old Egyptian Linguagt, the Hoafe 
 of the Sun. Their words are made up of Monofylbbles put 
 together like ths Cbinefe, which is another Reafon why the 
 Chinefe ought to be look'd upon as a Colony of the Egyptian!. 
 Vide the Remarks of the foregoing part of this Relation. The 
 Patriarch Jofeph Married the Daughter of the Prieft of On ; 
 which feveral learned Men fay, is the fame with Heliopolis, 
 or City of the Sun. From No comes the Egyptian Names, or 
 divifions of the Country, which the great Bochart in his Phaleg, 
 fays is an Egyptian, not a Greek word, tho' Dynajly is Greek. 
 Bochart, lib. 4. c. 24. Hence very likely came the Nomades, 
 and Numid^e, from their wandering and frequently changing 
 their Habitation, or Names j the firft and moll antient of all 
 Nations lived thus. 
 
 (2) CiW'd h No-Ham, or Na Hafnmon ; that is, the Houfe 
 or Temple of Ham, or Hammon ; or Char noon, or Chum, as 
 Bochart varies it. This Ham was the Syrian 'Jupiter, and ia 
 this Place was afterwards fituatcd the great City of Thebes, as 
 has been obferv'd before, call'd by the Greeks Diofpolis, or 
 the City of Jupiter. Cadmus, who was of Thebes in Pale- 
 Jline, being driven out from thence by Jojhuah, built it ; 
 but was driven out from it, and forced to retire to Tyre, from 
 whence he conduced a Colony of Tyrians, or banilh'd Cha- 
 a/ianites into Beotia, where he built Thebes alfo ; or rather 
 the citadel of Thebes, call'd Cadmcia. Vide Bochart^ in Cad' 
 mus & Hermione ; which laft the fame Author fays, came 
 originally from Mount Herman in Palefiine ; and as that word 
 in tbe Chananean Languages fignifies a Serpent, from hence 
 arofe the Fiblc of th? Serpent's Tc€;h turning into Men. The 
 L T-c«- 
 
i4<$ 77;^ MEMOIRS ^/ 
 
 Temple of Jupiter-Ammon, or Hammon in Africa, was built 
 by the Chanani, who fpread themfelvcs from Egypt into 
 Lybia. 
 
 (3) It's certain that the Antients, particularly the Enflern 
 Nations, Married their nigh Relations, as well as the Jezos^ 
 to keep up their Names or Tribes ; but we don't find in Hifto- 
 ry that they Married their own Sifters, 'till the Perjjan Kings, 
 who were condemn'd for it by the Greeks. The Egyptians 
 under the Ptolemies foUow'd that barbarous Cuftom', tho' 
 they begun with Ptolomy Lngus, one of the Captains of .(^/^Jf- 
 ander ; the Tina's in America did the fame, not to prophane 
 their Blood, as they faid, with other mixtures, 
 
 {4) Hale and ftrong, ijc. The regular Lives of the firft 
 Egyptians, and of thefe People defcended from them ; toge- 
 ther with the Climate, their diet of Fruits and Liquors, their 
 exemption from violent Paffions, without being corrupted by 
 the fpurious fpawn of other Nations, and the like, might con- 
 tribute very much to the length of their Lives and Strength 
 proportionably. The Macroliiy or long-livers, a People of 
 JEthiupia, and a Colony of theAntient Egyptians, lived to a 
 ▼aft Age, and were call'd Macrobii from their long Lives. 
 Stt Herodotus of the j^thiopians ; and what he fays of their 
 Strength in the Bow they fent to Canchyfes, when he had de- 
 nounced War againft them ; faying that when he could bend 
 that Bow, he might make War againft them ; which Bow on- 
 ly Smerdis Canchyfes''^ Brother could bend, and for that Rea- 
 fon was afterwards put to death by his Brother out of envy. 
 
 (5) A Town of No-ojn, l^c. It feenis Thebes, tho' after- 
 wards fuch a prodigious City, was then but the Head of the 
 Name of that Man's Family. 
 
 (6) Their Rjm God, ^r. Jupiter Hammon, V'lhoxnBochart 
 proves to have been Ham or Cham, the Son of Noah, was 
 reprefented with a Ram's Head, which was held in fuch Abo- 
 mination by the firft Egyptians, from whence they call'd thofe 
 firft Invaders Hyckfoes. 
 
 (7) No-Hammon, the Houfe of the Ram-God. 
 
 (8) Inhuman Laws, i^c. It's likely he means Bufyridii 
 Aras, fo infamous in Antiquity ; or the cruel Bufyris, who 
 facrificed his Guefts. Tho' Hiftorians don't agree about the 
 Time when Bufyris lived, which (hews he was very Antient, 
 yet all agree, he was a monfter of cruelty, and became a Pro- 
 verb on that Account. Tliis was a very natural Reafon for 
 the Egyptians to difperfe themfclves into fo many Colonies, 
 as they did, to avoid fuch cruelties. 
 
 (9) A Sabttan. Thefe Sabaans were the defcendants of 
 feme of the Sons of Chufp, or Qhtifs^ a very tall Race of 
 
Signor Gaudektio di Lucca. 147 
 
 Men, great Negotiator?, and more Polite than the other ^r<«- 
 bians. Bochart in Seba filio Chus, where he quotes a paflage 
 out 0^ Agatharcides of the handibmnefs of the Sabaans. 
 
 The Bodies of the Inhabitants [ the Sabaam ] are mure maje(^ 
 tick than other Men. 
 
 (10) The Conquering Jo/f. This muft be the great Sefo- 
 Jiris or Sefojis, of whom the learned Bifhop of Meaux, as alfo 
 Hersdotus, fays fuch glorious Things ; tho' Authors don'c 
 fay precifely when he lived, all acknowledge him to have 
 flourifh'd in the earlieft Times. He extended his Conquefts 
 over the greatell part of the Eajt, and almoft over the known 
 World, as feme fay ; %vhere his Enemies were cowardly, and 
 made no refiftance, he fet up Statues of them refembling 
 Women. Herodot. lib. 2. Euterpe. 'b-lonC. de Meaux, Par. 3, 
 Hift. Uni. This great Conqueror's Name is very much varied 
 by Authors. 
 
 (11) QzW^Cnanim, or Chanani. Thefe in all appearance 
 were the wicked Char.aneans, who being to be dsllroyed, 
 and being driven out of Chanaan by Jojhua, difperfed them- 
 felves, and invade'd the greatell part of the Countries round 
 about them. Bochart in Chanaan proves almoft demonltrablyj 
 that they difperfed themfelves over all the Iflands and Sea- 
 Ports of Europe, Jfia, and Africa. In his Preface he quotes. 
 a moft curious paffige out of Procopius de Bella Vandalico, 
 of a Pillar that was found in Africa, with a Phenician or Cha" 
 nanean Infcription which fignifies in Greek, 
 
 HMEI2 E2MEN Ol $ETroNTE2 'AOO nPOSCnOT 
 1H20T TOT AH2T0T TlOT NaTH. 
 
 We are tbofe who fled from the Face ef Jefus, or Jofliua the 
 Robber, the Son of Nave. Eujebiiu in Chronica, has much 
 the fame ; and St. Augujlin, in his City of God, fays that the 
 Antient Country People about Hippo in Africa, who were the 
 Remains of the Antient Carthaginians, if you ask'd them who 
 they were, would Anfwer, we are originally Chanani, or 
 Chananeam. 
 
 (12) Corrupted the innocent Manners, i^c. The celebra- 
 ted Bochart, fo often quoted, proves that the Phenicians or 
 Carthaginians, whom he alfo proves to have been Channne' 
 ans, were the Perfons who fpread Idolatry with all the Tribe 
 of the Heathen Gods, and their abominable rite«, over the 
 whole World, Bochart in Chanaan. The fame Author fays 
 the Phenicians, or Chanani, did \n\'zAt E^ypt about that very 
 Time; this he proves direflly, and that they had their CVy?rd 
 *bottt Memphis ; as alfo that Cadmus and Phenix, whom he 
 
 L 2 makes 
 
148 T2^^ MEMOIRS ^/ 
 
 makes contemporaries with Jopua, having fled before him, 
 came out of Egypt afterwards, and built Thebes in Beotia. 
 See alfo Herodotus in Euterpe. 
 
 (13) The moll en terprizing Nation under the Sun, ^f. He- 
 rodotus fays, thnt they Sailed (even in thofe early Days) from 
 the Red Sea, round Africa, and came back to Egypt ihro' 
 the Streights, and up the Mediterranean, Herodot. Melpomene^ 
 and Bocbart That Hanno the elder, by order of the lenate of 
 Carthage., Sailed round the greateft part of the World, and 
 after his return delivcr'd into them an Account of his Voyage, 
 which is called the Periplus of Hanno ; he affeded to be Ho- 
 noured as a God for it, and lived before So/omon's Time. Bo' 
 (hart in Chatiaan, lib. i. c. 37. Canaan. 
 
 (14) As their Obfervations tell us. Thofe wife Anticnts 
 kept Records of every Thing that was memorable, and ufe- 
 ful for their People. If this had been the praftice of the Eu- 
 ropeans, we fhould not have loft fo many fecrets of Nature aa 
 •we have. 
 
 (15) No Rain fell in fg'^/i/. This is well known by all the 
 Defcriptions of that Country, the inundation of the Nile fup- 
 plying the want of it, and making it one of the moft fertile 
 Kingdoms in the World ; every one knows it was once the 
 Granary of the Roman Empire. However, fome fmall Rain 
 falls fometimes ; nor is there any more higher up in the Coun- 
 try. The overflowing of the Nile is known to be caufed by 
 vaft Rains falling under the Line, or about that Climate ; and 
 fince thefe don't take Egypt and the adjoining part of /fricA 
 in their way, they muft by confequence run parallel with the 
 Line, which was a very Natural and Philofophical Obfervation 
 of thefe wife Men. 
 
 ( 1 6) They were nigher the Equator than they imagin'd, l^c. 
 Tho' we may imagine a lefler Circle parallel to the Tropick* 
 and the Equator, which is called Maximus parallelorum ; yet 
 whoever Travels either by Land or Sea, as he thinks, parallel to 
 the Equator, does not do fo, but will approach to it ; nay and 
 crofs it at laft, unlefs he goes fpirally, and makes indentures 
 as he goes along ; the Realon is, becaufe wherever we are, 
 we are on the fummit of the Globe with refpedl to us, and 
 our Feet make a Perpendicular to the Center; fo that if we 
 go round the Globe, we fhall make a great Circle, and by 
 confequence cut the Equator. , 
 
 CoTi". 
 
SignoT Gaudentio di Lucca. 149 
 
 Continuation of the M E M O I R S. 
 
 I T were too tedious to recount to you 
 all the Difficulties and Troubles they 
 had, both in refolving to undertake fuch 
 a hazardous Tranfmigration, as well as 
 thofe of Tranfporting fuch a Multitude, 
 with their Wives and Children, and all 
 their moft precious Effeds, over thofe 
 mercilefs Sands, which they could only 
 pafs at one Seafon of the Year. But the 
 Voyage being at length refolv'd on, and 
 the good Tophar wifely confidering the 
 Difficulties, Neceflfity, the Mother of In- 
 vention, urging him, at the fame time, 
 to gain as much Time as he could, (ince 
 the Vale where they were at prefent was 
 fufficient to maintain them till the Rains 
 came ,• got all his People hither in the 
 mean time, to be ready for the Seafon. 
 The new-born Children were left with 
 their Mothers, and People to take Care 
 of them, till they were able to bear the 
 Fatigue. Thus, in Seven Years Time, 
 going backwards and forwards every Sea- 
 fon, they all arrived fafe, where we our 
 felves hope to be in ten or twelve Days 
 Time. This Great Heroe we defervedly 
 honour, as another Mefraim^ the fecond 
 
 L 3 FouM- 
 
I50 ""Ihe MEMOIRS oj 
 
 Founder of our Nation, from vvhofc Loins 
 you your felf fprung by the furcr Side, 
 and are going to be incorporated again 
 with the Offspring of your firft Anceftors. 
 Here he ended his Relation, and your 
 Reverences may eafily believe, I was in 
 the greateft Admiration at this unheard 
 of Account. As it raifed the Ideas I had 
 of the People, fo I could not be lorry to 
 find my felf, young and forlorn as I was 
 before, incorporated with, and allied to 
 fuch a fiourilliing and civiliz'd Nation. 
 My Expedtation was not difproportiona- 
 blc to my Ideas : I was perfwaded I was 
 going into a very fine Country ^ but the 
 Thoughts of their being Pagans loft fome 
 little Damp on my Spirits, and was a 
 Draw-back to my expcd:ed Happincfs. 
 However, I was refolved to prefcrve my 
 Religion, at the Expence of all that was 
 dear to me, and even of my Life it felf. 
 By this time, the ^ophar ordered us to 
 refrefli our felves, and prepare all things 
 for our Departure, tho' the Storm of 
 Thunder and Lightning did not ccafe till 
 towards Morning. At length all things 
 were ready for Motion j fo we march'd 
 eafily on^ till we came into the Courfe 
 of the Rains. It was the moft fettled 
 and downright Rain (as the Saying is) 
 that ever I faw ; every thing feem'd to be 
 as calm, as the Tcmpefl was violent be- 
 fore. 
 
Signer Gaudentto di Lucca. 151 
 
 fore. They being accuftom'd to it, had 
 provided open Vcflcls on each Side of the 
 Dromedaries, to catch enough for their 
 Ufe, as it fell, with that fine Oiled 
 Cloth I mentioned before, over them- 
 felves and Beafts. All the Sands were 
 laid, and even beaten hard by the Rains, 
 tho' heavy and cloggy at the fame time. 
 We made as much \\'ay as ever we could, 
 for five Days, juft refting and refrefliing 
 our felves when ic was abfolutely nccef- 
 fary. I muft own, nothing could be more 
 difmal than tbofe dreary folitary Deferts, 
 where we could neither fee Sun nor Moon, 
 but had only a gloomy, malignant Light, 
 juft fuificient to look at the Needle, and 
 take our Obfervations. On the fixth Day 
 we thought we faw fomething move fide- 
 ways of us, on our right Hand, but feem- 
 ingly paffmg by us, when one of the 
 young Men cried, T^here they are^ and 
 immediately crofs'd down to them. Then 
 we perceived them to be Perfons travel- 
 ling like our felves, crofling in the fame 
 manner up towards us. I was extreamly 
 furprizcd to find, that thofe Deferts were 
 known to any but our felves. But the 
 Tophar foon put me out of Pain, by tel- 
 ling me, they were fome of their own 
 People, taking the fame Seafon to go for 
 B^ypt^ and on the fame Account. By 
 this time we were come up to one ano- 
 
 L d. ther. 
 
15a ne MEMOIRS of 
 
 ther. The Leader of the other Caravan, 
 with all his Company, immediately got 
 off their Dromedaries, and fell proftrate 
 on the Earth before our Tophar i at 
 which he ftept backj and cry'd, Jlas ! is 
 our Father dead? They told him, Yes; 
 and that he being the Firft of the Second 
 Line, was to be Regent of the Kingdom, 
 till the young ^ophar^ who was born 
 when his Father was an old Man, lliould 
 come to the Age of Fifty. Then our 
 People got off, and proftrated themfelves 
 before him, * all but my felf j they took 
 no Notice of my Negle(fl, feeing me a 
 fupernumcraryPcifon, and by confequence 
 a Stranger, but as foon as the Ceremonies 
 w'cre over, came and embraced me, and 
 welcomed me into their Brotherhood with 
 the mod fincere Cordiality, as if I had 
 been one of their Nation. The ^Pophar 
 foon told them what I was, which made 
 them repeat their Careffes with new Ex- 
 tafies of Joy peculiar to thofe People, After 
 re-iterated Enquiries concerning their 
 Friends, and Allbrances that all was well, 
 except what they told him, the Tvphar 
 ask a them, how they came to dired their 
 Courfe fo much on the left Hand, ex- 
 pcding to have met them the Day before ; 
 and they feeming to point as if they were 
 
 * Tiic Eiilern Manner of fhevving Refped. 
 
 going 
 
Signer Gaudentio di Lucca. 1^3 
 going out of their Way. They told us thev 
 were now fenfible of it, and were making 
 up for the true Road as faft as they 
 could : But the Day before they had like 
 to have loft themfelves by the Darknefs 
 of the Weather, and their too great Se- 
 curity; for, bearing too much on the left 
 •Hand, one of their Dromedaries flouu- 
 der'd, as if he were got into a Quick- 
 fand (1). The Rider^thinking it had 
 been nothing but fome loofer Part of the 
 Sand, thought to go on, but fell deeper 
 the further he went, till the Commander 
 order'd him to get off immediately, which 
 he did with fo much Hafte, not minding 
 his Dromedary, that the poor Bcaft going 
 on further into the Quick-fands, was loft. 
 Then the Tophar told them, there was 
 fuch a Place mark'd down in their anci- 
 ent Charts, which, being fo well ac- 
 quainted with the Roads, they had never 
 minded of late Years : That he fuppofcd 
 thofe Quick-fands to be either the Rains, 
 which had funk thro' the Sands, and 
 meeting with fome Strata of Clay, ftae- 
 nated, and were forming a Lake,- or more 
 probably, it was the Courfe of fome dif- 
 tant River, rifing perhaps out of a habi- 
 table Country, at an unknown Diftance, 
 but had loft it felf in thofe immcnfc Sands. 
 However, he congratulated them for their 
 Efcape, and like a tender Father, gently 
 
 chid 
 
154 77^^ MEMOIRS <?/ 
 
 chid them for their too great Security in 
 that boundlefs Ocean. Our Time not 
 permitting us to ftay long, each Caravan 
 fet out again for their deftin'd Courfe, 
 having but five or fix Days Journey to 
 make, that is, as far as we could travel 
 in fo many Days and fo many Nights ^ for 
 we never ftoppM but to refreili our felves. 
 The Rains had fo temper'd the Air, that 
 it was rather cold than hot, efpccially 
 the Nights, which grew longer, as we 
 approached the I/me. Here we fleered our 
 Courfe more to the Weft again, but not 
 fo as to leave the Ridge of the World. 
 I obferv'd, the more we kept to the Weft, 
 the more moderate the Rains were, as 
 indeed they flacken'd in Proportion as we 
 came nigher our Journey's End ; bccaufe 
 coming from the Weft, or at leaft with a 
 little Point of the South, they began 
 fooner than where we fet out. The tenth 
 Day of our Journey, I mean from the laft 
 Grove or Refting-place, one of our Dro- 
 medaries fail'd. We had changed them 
 feveral times before, to make their La- 
 bour more equah They would not let it 
 die, for the Good it had done; but two 
 of the Company having Water enough, 
 and knowing where they were, (lay'd 
 behind, to bring it along vi^ith them. We 
 now found the Nature of the Sands and 
 Soil to begin to change, as the Tcpbar 
 
 had 
 
Signor Gaudentio di Lucca. 15^ 
 had informed me , the Ground began to 
 be cover d with a little Mofs, tcndrng to- 
 wards a Greenfward, more like barren 
 Downs than Sands j and I perceived in 
 fome Places unexpe(5tedly, inftead of thofe 
 barren gravelly Sands_, large Spaces of to- 
 lerable good Soil (2). At length, to our 
 inexprelTible Joy and Comfort, at leaft for 
 my felf, who could not but be in fome 
 Sufpence in fuch an unknown World, 
 we came to Patches of Trees, and Grafs, 
 with (lanting Falls and Heads of Vales, 
 which feemed to enlarge themfelves be- 
 yond our View. (3) The Rains were 
 come to their Period ; only it look'd a 
 little foggy j?.t a great Diftance before us, 
 which was partly from the Exhalations 
 of the Country after the Rains (4) part- 
 ly from the Trees and Hills flopping the 
 Clouds, by which wc found that the Wea- 
 ther did not clear up in the habitable 
 Countries fo foon as in the barren Dcferts. 
 The Tophar told me, that if it were not 
 for the Hazinefs of the Air, he would 
 ihew me the moft beautiful Profpea that 
 ever my Eyes beheld. I was fenfibiy con- 
 vinc'd of it by the Perfumes of the fpicy 
 Shrubs and Flowers, which ftruck our Sen- 
 fes with fuch a reviving Fragrancy, as 
 mule us almoft forget our pafl Fatio;ue, 
 efpccially me who had not felt the like, 
 even in the firxlVale: Neither do 1 be- 
 lieve 
 
155 I'he MEMOIRS qf 
 
 lieve all the Odours of the Happy Jra* 
 hia could ever come up to it. I was juft 
 as if I had rifen out of the moft delicious 
 Repofe. Here the Tophar order'd us to 
 flop for Refrefhment, and added, we muft 
 flay there till the next Day. We pitch'd 
 our Tents on the laft Defcent of thofe 
 immenfe Bares^ by the Side of a little 
 Rill that iifued out of the fmall Break of 
 the Downs, expetling further Orders, 
 
 Remarks of Signer Rhedi. 
 
 (i) AS if he were got Into a Quick-fand, tfft. Perfons 
 J»- may wonder to hear of Quick-fands in the midfl oF 
 the Sun-burnt Defcrts of Africa. But the Thing will not 
 feem fo improbab'e, when we come to examine the Reafons 
 of it. Without doubt, our Author does not mean fuch 
 Q\iick-fands as are caufed by the coming in of the Tide 
 under the Sands; a Man of Senfe would be incapable 
 of fuch a Blunder. But that there fhould be fome ftagna- 
 ting Waters in the low Swamps of the Sands, is fo far from 
 being incredible, that it can hardly be thought to be other- 
 wife. *Tis very well known, there are vaft Lakes in lome 
 Parts of Africa, which have no vifible Out lets. There are 
 I^ers alfo that iofe tbemfelves in the Sands, where finking 
 under for fome time, they may form fandy Marflies, or Quick- 
 fands, as the Author calls them. 
 
 (2) It was obferved in fome of the former Remarks, That 
 not only the Deferts of Africa, but all the Strata, or great 
 Beds of Gravel, which are found in all Parts of the World, 
 probably were caufed by the Univerfal Deluge. Nor can 
 they be well accounted for otherwife. The deeper the Beds 
 of Gravel are, the more they fhevv, by the heterogeneous 
 Stuff lodged with them, that ihey were brought thither, not 
 produced there ab crigine. The vaft Falls and Gullets, which 
 are I'een on the Skirts of all the Mountains in the World, evi- 
 dently 
 
Signer Gaudetjtio di Lucca. 157 
 
 dently (hew they were caufed by fome violent Agitation, which 
 carried ihe looier Earth and fmall Stones along with it : For 
 which nothing can be more natural, than the Suppofition of a 
 Flood, or agitated Fluid, which, by its Violence and Shakings, 
 carried all that was moveable before it for fome time. This 
 Gravel was incorporated with the loofe Earth before the Flood, 
 and was carried to and fro, while the Waters were in their 
 greateft Agitation, wafhing and melting the loofe Earth from 
 the Gravel and Stones. But when the Waters came to their 
 higheft Fitch, and began to fubfide, the Stones and Gravel 
 would fink fooner than lighter things, and fo be left almoft in 
 a Body in thofe Strata they appear in. This might be illuf- 
 trated much further, if there were Occalion. The vaft Num- 
 bers of petrified Shells and Scallops, which are found in all 
 Parts of the World, on the higher Grounds, could never be 
 a mere Lu/us Natura, as fome too curious Philofophers ima- 
 gine, but mufl: be accounted for by fuch a Flood; and thefe 
 appearing in all Parts of the Univerfe, the Flood muft have 
 been univerfal. The fudden Change of Soils in every Regi- 
 on, with the exceeding Richnefs of fome more than others, 
 and that too fometimes all at once, is to be accounted for 
 from the fame Caufe : For the fame Violence of Waters 'vafh- 
 ing the Earth from the Stones, muft naturally make an une- 
 qual Accumulation of both. As for Africa, all the Ancients 
 fpeak of the incredible Fertility of it in fome Places, and the 
 extreme Barrennefs of the Deferts in others. 
 
 (3) The prodigious Height of the Sands \n Africa, in thofe 
 Parts which lye between the Tropicks, may not only be the 
 Caufe of the Sands or Gravel finking in greater Quantities at 
 the Decreafe of the Flood; but the moft extenfive Vales 
 may have their Rife from very fmall Gullets at firft. 
 
 (4) 'Tis very natural to think, that thofe barren Sun-burnt 
 Deferts fend up but few Exhalations. 
 
 Co7itimiation of the MEMOIRS. 
 
 THE caufe of our ftay in that Place 
 was not only our Companions we had left 
 behind us, (now that we were out of dan- 
 ger) but on a ceremonious Account, as 
 
 your 
 
I5S "JChe MEMOIRS of 
 
 your Reverences will fee by and by ; they 
 were alfo to change their Habits> that 
 they might appear in the colours of their 
 refpe^tive Tribe or Name, which were 
 five, according to the Number of the Sons 
 of the firft ^Pophar^ who brought them 
 out of Egypt, whofe Statue we faw at 
 the Tyramid, By their Laws all the 
 Tribes are to be diftinguiihed by their Co- 
 lours ; that wherever they go, they may 
 be known what Name they belong to, 
 with particular Marks of their Pofts and 
 Dignities, as I fhall defcribe to your Re- 
 verences afterwards. The Grand ^Po- 
 phars Colour, who was defcended from 
 the eldeft Son of the Antient Topha}\ 
 was a flame Colour, or approaching nigh 
 the Rays of the Sun, becaufe he was 
 chief Prieft of the Sun. Our new Re- 
 gent's Colour was Green fpanglcd with 
 Suns of Gold, as your Reverences faw 
 in the Picture i the Green reprefenting 
 the Spring which is the chief feafon with 
 them. The third Colour, is a fiery Red 
 for the Summer. The fourth is Yellow 
 for Autumn i and the fifth Purple, repre- 
 fenting the gloominefs of Winter ,♦ for 
 thefe People acknowledging the Sun for 
 the immediate Governour of the Univerfe, 
 mimick the Nature of his Influence as 
 nigh as they can. The V/omen obferve 
 the Colours of their refpedive Tribes, 
 
 but 
 
Signor Gaudentio di Lucca. 15:9 
 
 but have Moons of Silver intermixt with 
 the Suns, to fhevv that they are influen^ 
 ced in a great Meafure by that variable 
 Planet. The young Virgins have the now' 
 Moon ,• in the ftrength of their Age the 
 full Moon ; as they grow old, the Moon 
 is in the decreafe proportionably. The 
 Widows have the Moon exprefs'd juft as 
 it is in the change j the defcendants of 
 the Daughters of the firft Tophar were 
 incorporated with the reft. Thofc of the 
 eldeft Daughter took the eldeft Son's Co- 
 lour, with a mark of Diftin6tion, to fliew 
 they were never to fucceed to the Tophar- 
 Jhipy or Regency, till there fliould be no 
 Male IlTue of the others at Age to go- 
 vern. This Right of Elderfhip, as thefe 
 People underftand it, is a little intricate, 
 but I fl:iall explain it to your Reverences 
 more at large, when I come to fpeak more 
 particularly of their Government. When 
 they are fent out into Foreign Countries, 
 they take what Habit or Colour they 
 pleafe, and generally go all ahke to be 
 known to each other, but they muft not 
 appear in their own Country but in their 
 proper Colours, 'tis criminal to do other- 
 wife ^ with Marks alfo of their Families, 
 that in cafe any mifdemeanor fliould be 
 committed, they may know where to 
 trace it out, for which Rcafon, now they 
 drew near their own Country, they v/ere 
 
 to 
 
tso Ihe MEMOIRS of 
 
 to appear in the Colours of their refpec- 
 tivc Names; all but my felf, who had 
 the fame Garment I wore at Grand Cairo^ 
 to lliew I was a Stranger, tho' 1 wore 
 the ^ophars Colour afterwards, as being 
 his Relation, and Incorporated in his Fa- 
 mily. When they were all arrayed in 
 their Silken Colours, fpangled with Suns 
 of Gold, with white Fillets round their 
 Temples, ftudded with precious Stones, 
 they made a very delightful fliew, being 
 the handfomeft Race of People this Day 
 in the Univerfe, and all rcfembling each 
 other, as having no mixture of other Na- 
 tions in their Blood. The Sun now had 
 broke thro' the Clouds, and difcover'd to 
 us the Profped of thg Country, but fuch 
 a one as I am not able to defcribe -, it 
 look'd rather like an immenfe Garden 
 than a Country : At that diftance I could 
 fee nothing but Trees and Groves j whe- 
 ther I looked towards the Hills or Vales, 
 all feem'd to be one continued Wood, tho' 
 with fome feemingly regular Intervals of 
 Squares and Plains, with the gHttering of 
 Golden Globes or Suns thro' the tops of 
 the Trees, that it look'd like a Green 
 Mantle fpangled with Gold. I ask'd the 
 Tophar if they lived all in Woods, or 
 whether the Country was only one con- 
 tinued immenfe Foreft j he fmiled and 
 faid, when we come thither you fhall fee 
 
 fome- 
 
Signor Gaudentto di Lucca. \6i 
 fomething elfe befides Woods, and then 
 bid me look back and compare the dreary- 
 Sands we had lately pafled with that Glo^ 
 rious Profpe(5t we faw before us : I did fo 
 and found the difmal barrennefs of the 
 one enhanced, the beautiful delight of 
 the other. The Reafon, fays he, why it 
 looks like a Wood, is, that befides innu- 
 merable kinds of Fruits, all our Towns^ 
 Squares and Streets, as well as Fields and 
 Gardens, arc planted with Trees both for 
 Delight and Conveniency, tho' you will 
 find fpare Ground enough for the pro- 
 duce of all Things fufficient to make the 
 Life of Man eafy and happy. The glit- 
 tering of Gold thro' the tops of the Trees 
 are Golden Suns on the tops of the Tem- 
 ples and Buildings : We build our Houfes 
 flat and low on Account of Hurricanes, 
 with Gardens of perfumed Ever-Greens 
 on the top of them, which is the Reafon 
 you fee nothing but Groves. We defcend- 
 ed gradually trom off the Defert thro' the 
 fcattered Shrubs, and were faluted every 
 now and then with a gale of Perfumes 
 quite different from what are brought us 
 Europeans from Foreign Parts. The freili 
 Air of the Morning, together with their 
 being exhaled from the living flocks, gave 
 them fuch a fragrancy as can't be exprefs'd* 
 At length we came to a fpacious Plain a 
 little (helving, and covered with a Greenifh 
 M Coat, 
 
i6i The WEU01V.S of 
 
 Coat, between Mofs and Grafs, which 
 was the utmoft border of the Defcrt, and 
 beyond it a fmali River collected from 
 the Hills, as it were weeping out of the 
 Sands in different Places, which River 
 was the boundary of the Kingdom that 
 way. Here we made a halt, and percei- ' 
 ved a fmall Company of ten Perfons equal 
 to onr Number, except my felf, advancing 
 gravely towards us j they were in the 
 proper Colours of the Homes with fpang- 
 led Suns of Gold, as my Companions 
 wore, only the tops of their Heads were 
 fprinkled with duft in fign of Mourning. 
 As foon as they came at a due diftancc, 
 they fell flat on their Faces before the 
 ^ophar^ without faying a word, and re- 
 ceived the Golden TJrns^ with the Earth 
 we brought along with us. Then they 
 turned and march'd dire(5tly before us 
 holding the TJrns as high in their Hands 
 as they could, but all in a deep and 
 mournful filence. Thefe were Deputies 
 of the five Nomes fent to meet the Urns, 
 We advanced in this filcnt manner with- 
 out faymg one word, till we came to the 
 River, over which was a (lately Bridge 
 with a triumphal Arch on the top of it, 
 beautified with Suns of Gold moft magni- 
 ficent to behold. Beyond the Bridge, we 
 immf^diately paf^'d thro' a kind of a cir- 
 cular Grove, which let us into a moft de- 
 lightful 
 
Signor Gaudentio di Lucca. i6^ 
 
 lightful plain like 2n. Amphitheatre, with 
 five Avenues or Streets leading to it ; at 
 the entrance of each Avenue flood an in- 
 numerable Number of People reprefent- 
 ing the five Nomes^ or Governments of 
 thofe immenfe Kingdoms-, all in their dif- 
 ferent Colours, fpangled with Suns of 
 Gold, which made the moft gloriows Show 
 in the World. As foon as ever we enter'd 
 the Amphitheatre, our filence was broke 
 with ftiouts of Joy that rended the very 
 Skies ; then the whole Multitude fell flat 
 on their Faces adoring the UrnSy and re- 
 peating their fhouts and adorations thrice, 
 there advanced ten Triumphant Chariots, 
 according to the Colours of the Nomes 
 with Suns as before j nine of the Chariots 
 were drawn with fix Horfes each, and the 
 tenth with eight for the Tophar Regent. 
 The five Deputies, who were the chief of 
 each Nome J with the Vrns and Compa- 
 nions, mounted five of the Chariots, the 
 other five were for us, two in a Chariot, 
 only my felf being a Supernumerary, was 
 placed backwards in the Tophars Cha« 
 riot, which he told me was the only mark 
 of Humiliation and Inequality I would re- 
 ceive. We were condu(5ted with five 
 Squadrons of Horfe, of fifty each in theif 
 proper Colours, with Streamers of the 
 fame, having the Sun in the center, thro* 
 the oppofite Avenue, till we came into 
 M % ano- 
 
1(^4 The MEMOIKS of 
 another Amphitheatre of a vafl: extent, 
 where we faw an infinite Number of 
 Tents of Silk of the Colour of the Nomes, 
 all of them fpangled with Golden Sunsj 
 here we were to reft and refrcfh ouifclves. 
 The Tophars Tent was in the center of 
 his own Colour, which was Green, the 
 fecond Nome in dignity, in whofe Domi- 
 nions and Government we now were, I 
 have been longer in this Defcription, be- 
 caufe it was more a Religious Ceremony 
 thai=i any Thing elfe, thefe People being 
 extreamly myfterious in all they do (i). 
 I iliall explain the meaning to your Re- 
 verences as briefly as I can. The flopping 
 before we came to the Bridge on the 
 borders of thofe Inhofpitable Deferts, and 
 walking in that mournful filent manner, 
 not only exprefs'd their mourning for their 
 deceas'd Anceftors, but alfo fignified the 
 various Calamity and Labour incident to 
 human Life, where he not only ought to 
 be, but really is in a ftate of baniil-iment 
 and mourning ^ wandering in fun-burnt 
 Deferts, and toft with the ftorms of in- 
 numerable lawlefs defires, ft ill fighing af- 
 ter a better Country. The palfage over 
 the Bridge, they would have to betoken 
 Man's entrance into Reft by Death • their 
 fhouts of Joy, when the facred Urns ar- 
 rived in that Glorious Country, not only 
 fignified the Happinefs of the next Life, 
 
 (for 
 
Signor Gaudentio di Lucca, itfj 
 
 (for thefc People univerfally believe the 
 immortality of the Soul, and think none 
 but Brutes can be ignorant of it) but alfo 
 that their Anceftors, whofe burial duft 
 they brought along with them^ were now 
 in a Place of everlafting Rei'l 
 
 Inqiiijitor, I hope you don't believe ^o 
 of Heathens^ let them be ever fo moral 
 Men, fince we have no affurance of Hap- 
 pinefs in the next Life mentioned in the 
 Holy Scripture, without Faith in Chrift. 
 
 Gaudentio, No, Reverend Fathers,- I 
 only mention the myfteries of thefe Mens 
 Religion as they underftand them. As I 
 believe in Chrift, I know there is no other 
 Name under Heaven by which Men may 
 be faved. 
 
 Inqiiifitor, Go on. 
 
 Gaudentio, Every Ceremony of thefe 
 People has fome myftery or other includ- 
 ed ill it ; tho' there did not appear any 
 harm in any of them, except their fal- 
 ling proftrate before the duft, which look'd 
 like rank Idolatry : But they faid {!i\\\^ 
 they meant no more than what w^as mere- 
 ly civil, to iignify their Refpe^t for their 
 deceas'd Parents (2). I Hiall not as yet 
 detain your Reverences with the Defcrip- 
 tion of the Beauties of the Country thro' 
 which we palled, having fo much to fay 
 of the more fubftantial Part ; that is, of 
 their form of Government^ Laws and 
 M 3 Cuftoms, 
 
1 65 Ty^^ MEMOIRS c/ 
 
 Cuftoms, both Religious and Civil ; not 
 defcribe their prodigious magnificence, 
 tho' join'd with a great deal of natural 
 fimplicity, in their Towns, Temples, 
 Schools, Colleges, (i'C. Becaufe, being 
 built moftly alike, except for particular 
 Ufes, Manufadturics, and the like ; I 
 fliall defcribe them all in one, when I 
 come to the great City of Tbor^ other- 
 wife called in their facred Language, No- 
 om (3) for if I fhould Hay to defcribe the 
 immenfe Riches, Fertility and Beauties 
 of the Country, this Relation, which is 
 defigned as a real Account of a Place 
 wherein I lived fo many Years, would 
 rather look like a Romance than a true 
 Relation. I fliall only tell your Reve- 
 rences at prefentj that after having taken 
 a moft magniticent Repaft, confifting of 
 all the Heart of Man can conceive deli- 
 cious, both of Fruits and Wines, while 
 we ftaid in thofe refrelhing Tabernacles, 
 we pafs'd on by an eafy Evening's Journey 
 to one of their Towns, always condu(5t- 
 ed and lodged in that Triumphant man- 
 ner, 'till we came to the head of that 
 Nome^ which I told your Reverences was 
 the Green Nome^ belonging to the To- 
 phar Regent, and fecond in dignity of the 
 whole Empire. Here the JJm of Duft 
 belonging to that Nome was repofited in 
 a kind of Golden Tabernacle fet with 
 
 pre- 
 
Signor Gaudentio di Lucca. i6y 
 precious Stones of immenfe value, in the 
 center of a fpacious Temple, which I fhall 
 defcribe afterwards. After a Week's Feaft- 
 ing and Rejoicing, both for the Recepti- 
 on of the Duft, and the fafe return of 
 the Tophar and his Companions, toge- 
 ther with his exaltation to the Regency, 
 we fet out in the fame manner for the 
 other Komes^ to repofite all the Urns in 
 their refpedtive Temples. Thefe are five, 
 as I informed your Reverences before. 
 The Country is fomething Mountainous, 
 particularly undei* the Line, and not very 
 uniform, tho' every Thing elfe is j con-* 
 Gaining Vallies, or rather whole Regions 
 running out between the Deferts ; befides 
 vaft ridges of Mountains in the Heart of 
 the Country, w4iich inclofe immenfe Rich- 
 es in their Bowels. The chief Town is 
 fituated as nigh as poflible in the middle 
 of the Nomes, and about the center of 
 the Country, bating thofe irregularities 
 I mention'd. The four inferior Nomes 
 were like the four corners, and the flame- 
 coloured Nome where the Grand Tophary 
 or Regent pro tempore redded, in the 
 center of the Square. Their Method was 
 to go to the four inferior iV^^^z^j- iirft, and 
 repofite the Z7r??x, and then to compleat 
 all at the chief Town of the firft Nome, 
 Thefe No7nes were each about eight Days 
 very eafy Journey over. Thus we went the 
 M 4 round 
 
1^8 T:he MEMOIRS of 
 
 round of all, which I think, as I remark- 
 ed, was a kind of Political Vifitation at 
 the fame Time. At length we came to 
 the great City of Thor^ or No-om^ there 
 to repofite the laft Vrn^ and for all the 
 People to pay their Refpedts to the Grand 
 *Pophar^ if in being, or elfe to the Re- 
 gent. By that Time, what with thofe 
 who accompanied the Proceflion of the 
 Vrns^ and the Inhabitants of that im-^ 
 menfe Town, fo many People were ga- 
 thered together, as one would have aj- 
 mofl: thought had not been in all the 
 World be fide ^ but in fuch Order and De- 
 cency diftinguilh'd in their Ranks, Tribes, 
 and Colours, as is not eafy to be compre- 
 hended. The glittering Tents fpread 
 themfeives over the Face of the Earth. 
 I fliall here give your Reverences a De- 
 fcription of the Town, becaufc all other 
 great Towns or Heads of the Nomes are 
 built after that Model, as indeed the lef- 
 fer Towns come as nigh it as they can, 
 except as I faid. Places for Arts or Trades 
 which are generally built on Rivers, or 
 Brooks for conveniency y fuch is the Na- 
 ture of the People, that they affedl an ex- 
 a<^ uniformity and equality in all they 
 do, as being Brothers of the fame Flock, 
 The Town of Thcr^ that is, the Glory or 
 No cm, which fignifies the Houfe of the 
 SuDj is built circular in Imitation of the 
 
 Sun 
 
. Signer Gaud en no di Lucca. j69 
 
 Sun and its Rays. It is fituated in the 
 largeft Plain of all the Kingdom, and 
 upon the largeft River, which is about as 
 big as our To, rifing from a Ridge of 
 Mountains under the Line, and runs to- 
 wards the North, where it forms a great 
 Lake, almoft like a Sea, whofe Waters 
 are exhaled by the Heat of the Sun, hav- 
 ing no Out-letj or Sink under Ground, in 
 the Sands of the vaft Deferts encompaf- 
 fing it. This River is cut into a moft 
 magnificent Canal, running diredly thro' 
 the Middle of the Town. Before it en- 
 ters the Town, to prevent Inundations, 
 and for other Convenicncies, there are 
 prodigious Bafons, and Locks and Sluices, 
 with collateral Canals, to divert and let 
 out the Water, if need be. The middle 
 Stream forms the Grand Canal, which 
 runs thro' the Town, till it comes to the 
 Grand Place j then there is another Lock 
 and Sluice dividing it into two Semicircles 
 or Wings, and carrying it round the Grand 
 Place, forming an Ifland with the Temple 
 of the Sun in the Center, and meeting 
 again oppofite to Wihere it divided, and 
 fo goes on in a Canal again. There are 
 twelve Bridges with one great Arch over 
 each, ten over the circular Canals, and 
 two where they divide and meet again. 
 There are alfo Bridges over the ftrait 
 Canals, at proper Diftances. Before the 
 
 River 
 
17b T:he MEMOIRS of 
 
 River enters the Town, it is divided by 
 the firft great Lock into two prodigious 
 Semicircles encompaflfing the whole Town. 
 All the Canals are planted with double 
 Kows of Cedars, and Walks the moft de- 
 lightful that can be imagin'd. The Grand 
 Place is in the Center of the Town, a 
 prodigious Round, or immenfe Theatre, 
 encompafs'd with the Branches of the 
 Canal, and, in the Center of that, the 
 Temple of the Sun. This Temple con- 
 fifts of Three hundred and fixty five dou- 
 ble Marble Pillars, according to the Num- 
 ber of the Days of the Year (4) repeated 
 with three Stories one above another, and 
 on the top, a Cupola open to the Sky for 
 the Sun to be feen thro*. The Pillars 
 are all of the Cormthian Order (5), of a 
 Marble as white as Snow, and fluted. 
 The Edges of the Flutes, with the Ca- 
 pitals cornifh'd, are all gilt. The inner 
 Roofs of the vaft Galleries on thefe Pil- 
 lars, are painted with the Sun, Moon, 
 and Stars, exprefling their different Moti- 
 ons i with Hieroglyphicks known but to 
 feme few of the chief Elders or Rulers. 
 The Outfides of all are doubly gilt, as is 
 the Dome or grand Concave on the top, 
 open in the middle to the Sky. In the 
 middle of this Concave is a golden Sun, 
 hanging in the Void^ and fupportcd by 
 golden Lines or Rods from the Edges of 
 
 the 
 
Signer Gaudet^tio di Lucca. 171 
 
 the Dome. The artificial Sun looks down, 
 as if it were fhining on a Globe or Earth, 
 ereded on a Pedeltai Altar-wife, oppofite 
 to the Sun, according to the Situation o£ 
 their Climate to that Glorious Planet^ in 
 which Globe or Earth are inclosd the 
 Urns of their deceafed Anccftors. On 
 the Infide of the Pillars, are the Scats of 
 the Grandees or Elders, to hold their 
 Councils, which are all publick. Oppo- 
 fite to the twelve great Streets, are fo 
 many Entrances into the Temple, with 
 as many magnificent Stair-cafes between 
 the Entrances, to go into the Galleries 
 or Places w-here they keep the Regifters 
 of their Laws, (jc, with gilt Balufirades 
 looking down into the Temple. On the 
 Pedeftals of all the Pillars were engraven 
 Hieroglyphicks and Characters known to 
 none but the Five Chief TopharSj and 
 communicated under the greatcd Secrecy 
 to the Succeflbr of any one of them, in 
 cafe of Death, Lofs of Senfes, and the 
 like. I prefume, the grand Secrets, and 
 Arcana of State, and, it may be, of 
 their Religion, Arts, and Sciences, are 
 contain'd therein. The moft improper 
 Decorations of the Temple , in my Opi- 
 nion, are the Flutings of the Pillars, which 
 rather look too finical for the Auguft and 
 Majeflick Simplicity affe(^ed by tlicfe Peo- 
 ple in other refpciSts. 
 
 The 
 
172 Ihe MEMOIRS of 
 
 The Fronts of the Houfes round the 
 Grand Place are all concave, or Segments 
 of Circles, except where the great Streets 
 meet, which are twelve in Number ac- 
 cording to the twelve Signs of the Zo- 
 diack^ pointing to the Temple in ftrait 
 Lines like Rays to the Center. This vaft 
 round is fet with double Rows and Cir- 
 cles of Stately Cedars before the Houfes, 
 at an exadt diftance j as are all the Streets 
 on each fide, like fo many beautiful Ave- 
 nues, which produces a moft delightful Ef- 
 fe(5t to the Eye, as well as conveniency of 
 Shade. The crofs Streets are fo many 
 Parallel Circles round the Grand Place 
 and Temple, as the Center, making great- 
 er Circles as the Town enlarges itfelf. 
 They build always Circular-ways till the 
 Circle is compleat ; then another, and fo 
 on. Ah the Streets, as I faid, both ftraight 
 and Circular, are Planted with double 
 Rows of Cedars. The middle of the 
 Area's between the cuttings of the Streets 
 are left for Gardens and other conveni- 
 cncies, enlarging thcmfelves as they pro- 
 ceed from the Center or Grand Place : 
 At every cutting of the Streets, is a lefler 
 Circular fpace fct round with Trees, a- 
 dorn'd with Fountains, or Statues of fa- 
 mous Men ; that, in Effed:, the vi'hole 
 Town is like a prodigious Garden, diftin- 
 guifli'd with Temples, Pavilions, Avenues, 
 
 and 
 
Signor Gaudentio di Lucca. 173 
 
 and Circles of Greens ; fo that 'tis diffi- 
 cult to give your Reverences a juft Idea 
 of the Beauty of it. I forgot to tell your 
 Reverences, that the twelve great Streets 
 open themfelves as they lengthen, like 
 the Radii of a Wheel, fo that at the firft 
 coming into the Town, you have the Pro- 
 fpe<^ of the Temple and Grand Place di- 
 redly before you ,• and from the Temple 
 a diredl view of one of the fineft Avenues 
 and Countries in the World. Their Prin- 
 cipal Towns are all built after this form. 
 After they have taken a Plan of the 
 Place, they firft build a Temple,- then 
 leave the great Area or circular Market- 
 place, round which they build a circle of 
 Houfes, and add others as they increafe, 
 according to the foregoing Defcription ; 
 ridicuhng and contemning other Coun- 
 tries, whofe Towns are generally built 
 in a confus'dNumber of Houfes and Streets, 
 without any regular Figure. In all the 
 fpaces or cuttings of the Streets, are 
 publick Fountains brought down by Pipes 
 from a Mountain a confiderable diftancc 
 off the Town ; or, as I faid before. Sta- 
 tues of Great Men holding fomcthing 
 in their Hands to declare their Merit"; 
 which, having no W^ars, is taken, either 
 from the Invention of Arts and Sciences, 
 or fome memorable Adlion done by 
 them for the Improvement and Good of 
 
 their 
 
174 2^^^ MEMOIRS ^/ 
 their Country. Thefe they look upon 
 as more laudable Motives, and greater 
 Spurs to Glory, than all the Trophies 
 erected by other Nations for deftroying 
 their own Species. Their Houfes arc 
 built all alike, and low, as I obferved 
 before, on Account of Storms and Hur- 
 ricanes, to which the Country is fubjed j 
 they are all exadly of a height, flat 
 roof'd, with artificial Gardens on the top 
 of each (6) full of Flowers and Aroma- 
 tick Shrubs i fo that when you look from 
 any eminence down into the Streets, you 
 fee all the Circles and Avenues like 
 another World under you ; and if on 
 the level, along the tops of the Houfes, 
 you are charm'd with the Profped o£ 
 Ten Thoufand different Gardens meet- 
 ing your Sight wherever you turn ,- info- 
 much, that I believe the whole World 
 belides cannot aiford fuch a Profped. 
 There are a great many other Beauties 
 and Conveniencies, according to the Ge- 
 nius of the People ; which, were I to 
 mention them, would make up a whole 
 Volume. I only fay, that the Riches of 
 the Country are immenfe, which in fome 
 Meafure are all in common, as I lliall 
 fliew when I come to the Nature of 
 their Government j the People are the 
 moft Ingenious and Induftrious in the 
 World y the Govcrnours aiming at no- 
 thing 
 
Signor Gaudentio di Lucca. 17^ 
 thing but the Grandeur and Good of the 
 Publick, having all the Affluence the' 
 Heart of Man can delire, in a Place 
 where there has been no War for near 
 Three Thoufand Years ,• there being in- 
 deed no Enemies but the inhofpitable 
 Sands around them, and they all confi- 
 der themfelves as Brothers of the fame 
 Stock, and living under one common Fa- 
 ther; fo that it is not io much to be 
 wonder'd at, if they are arrived at that 
 Grandeur and Magnificence as Perfons in 
 our World can fcarce believe, nor con- 
 ceive. 
 
 Remarks of Signor i^W/. 
 
 (0 "pXtremelyinyfieriousin all they do, Cifr. The anci- 
 , . "Vr^"' Egyptians were fo myfterious, particularly in 
 their RehgTous Ceremonies, and yfrr^;?^ of Government that 
 m all probability, the ancient Fables, which very few yet un- 
 derftand rightly, had their Rife from them ; tho' the learned 
 Bochart, m his Phaleg, derives them chiefly from the Canna- 
 nites, who difperfing themfelves all over the World, when 
 they fled from Jojhua, impofed upon the credulous Greeh 
 by the diiFerent Significations of the fame Vt^ords in their 
 Language. Tis obfervable by the bye, that the moft ancient 
 Languages, as the Hebrew, with its diiFerent Dialeft?, of which 
 the Cananean or Phanicinn Language was one, rhe Chinefe 
 Language, fe-f had a great many Significations for the 'fame 
 Vord either from the plain Simplicity or Poverty of the an- 
 cient Languages, or more probably from an afFedted Mylleri. 
 oufnels m all they did. ' 
 
 (2) To fignify 'their Refpeft to their deceased Anceftors, ^c. 
 See the Remarks before on that Head, and the Accounts of 
 
 the 
 
i'j6 Th WEMOIRS of 
 
 the Worlhip of the Chinefe, who were originally Egyptians* 
 in the Difputes between the Dominicans and Jefuits, where 
 the latter maintain'd the idolatrous Ceremonies and OfFerings 
 made to their deceased Anceftors, to imply nothing but a natu- 
 ral and civil RejpeSi. The Dominicans , on the contrary. 
 Very jurtly held them to be Idolatry, as they were judg'd to 
 be, and condemn'd as fuch by Clement XI. 
 
 {3) Caird No.om in their facred Language, ^c. Jofephus 
 agriinft Appion diftinguifhes two Languages of the ancient 
 Egyptians, the one facred, the other common. Their facred 
 Language was full of Mylleries, perhaps like the Cabala oi the 
 jervs. 
 
 (4) According to the Number of the Days of the Year. 
 Ojt Author feems to be a little out in this PlaCe } for 'tis cer* 
 tain, the ancient Egyptians did not make their Year to con- 
 fift of fo many Days, unlefs you'll fay, that thefe People be- 
 ing very great Allronomers, were more exadl in their Obfer- 
 vations- 
 
 (5) The Pillars were <jf tfic Corinthidn Order, gpr. 'Tis 
 generally fuppofed, that the different Orders of Pillars, as the 
 Doric, the Ionic, Corinthian, &c. came firft from the Greeks, 
 as their Appellations being Gr^^yJ would make us believe ; but 
 the famous and ancient Palace of Perfepolis, notwithftanding 
 its Greek Name, where there were Hieroglyphicks and In- 
 fcriptions in Charafters none could underftand, with other 
 Reafons, Ihew that the Invention came from Egypt, or from 
 the ancient Chaldeans, or rather from Seth, Noah, and the 
 ancient Hebrews. 'Tis likewife very obfervable, that the In- 
 vention of Arts and Sciences came from the Eaft, and can be 
 traced no higher than Noah\ Flood ; unlefs you will allow the 
 Fables of Seth, alledg'd by the learned Jofephus in his Anti- 
 quities quoted above. All which is a very natural Confirma- 
 tion of the Account given by Mofes, againft our modern 
 Scepticks. 
 
 (6) Artificial Gardens, i^c. The ancient Babylonians had 
 Artificial Gardens, or Horti Penfiles, on the Tops of their 
 Houfes, as early as the Great Semirantis ; tho' Herodotus de- 
 rives their Invention from a later Babylonian Queen, who 
 being a Mede by Nation, and loving Woods, and not being 
 permitted to go out of the Palace, had thofe Artificial Gar- 
 dens made to divert her. 
 
 Conthma' 
 
Signor Gaudentio di Lucca. 177 
 
 Continuation of the M E M O I R S, 
 
 WHEN the Ceremonies for the Re- 
 ception of the Urns were over. Religi- 
 ous Ceremonies with thefe People always 
 taking place of the Civil (i), they pro- 
 ceeded to the Inauguration of the 'Po- 
 phar Regent, which was performed with 
 no other Ceremony, for Rcafons I fhall 
 tell your Reverences afterwards, but plac- 
 ing him in a Chair of State with his Face 
 towards the Ecift^ on the top of the high- 
 eft Hill in the Nome^ to lliew that he 
 was to infpe^t, or over-look all, looking 
 towards the Temple of the Sun, which 
 ftood directly Eaftward of him, to put 
 him in Mind that he was to take care of 
 the Religion of his Anceftors in the firft 
 Place. When he was thus placed, three: 
 Hundred and fixty five of the chief of 
 the Nome^ as Reprefentatives of all the reft, 
 came up to him, and making a refpedful 
 Bow, faid, J5// Topbar^ which is as much 
 as to fay. Hail Father of our Nation -^ 
 and he embracing them as a Father docs 
 his Children, anfwered them with Call- 
 Benim^ that is. My dear Children, As 
 many of the Women did the fame. This 
 was all the Homage they paid him^, which 
 
178 ^he MEMOIRS 0} 
 
 was efteemed fo facred as never to be vio- 
 lated. All the Diftincaioii of his Habit 
 was one Great Sun on his Breaft^ much 
 bigger than that of any of the Reit. The 
 Precious Stones alfo, which were fet in 
 the white Fillet binding his Forehead, 
 w^ere larger than ordinary, as were thofe 
 of the crofs Circles over his Head, ter- 
 minatwi on the fummit with a large Tuff 
 of Gold Fringe, and a thin Plate of Gold 
 in the fhape of the Sun faftened to the 
 top of it Horizontally j all of them, both 
 Men and Women wore thofe Fillet- 
 Crowns with a Tuff of Gold, but no Sun 
 on the top, except the Tophar. 
 
 As foon as the Ceremonies and Rejoic- 
 ings xvere over, which were performed in 
 Tents at the Publick Expence, he was 
 condudled with the chearful Acclama- 
 tions of the People, and the found of 
 Muiical Inllruments, to a moft magnifi- 
 cent Tent in the front of the whole Camp 
 facing the Eafi^ which is look'd upon as 
 the moft Honourable, as firft feeing the 
 Rifing Sun ,• and fo on by eafy Journeys, 
 till he came to the chief Town of that 
 Nome, The Reafon why thefe Ceremo- 
 nies were performed in the different A'^i?;;^^/, 
 was to fhew that they all depended on 
 him, and bccaufe the Empire was fo very 
 populous, it was impoffiblc they could 
 meet at one Place. I can't exprefs the 
 
 caref- 
 
Signor Gaudentio di Lucca. 179 
 
 carelTes I receiv'd from them, efpccialJy, 
 when they found I was defcended from 
 the fame Race by the Mother's fide, and 
 fo nearly related to the Tophar, When- 
 ever I came firft into their Company, they 
 all embrac d me. Men and Women, with 
 the moft endearing tendernefs ,• the young 
 beautiful Women did the fame, calling 
 me Brother, and catching me in their 
 Arms with fuch an Innocent Affurance, as 
 if I had been their real Brother loft and 
 found again. I can't fay but fome of 
 them fcem'd to have a fondnefs for me 
 that feem'd to be of another fort, and 
 which afterwards gave me a great deal 
 of Trouble, but I imputed it to the Na- 
 ture of the Sex, who are unaccountably 
 more fond of Strangers, whom they know 
 nothing of, than of Perfons of much 
 greater Merit, who convcrfe with them 
 every Day. Whether it proceeds from 
 the want of a fufficient folidity in their 
 Judgment, or from a levity and hckle- 
 ncfs in their Nature, or from the Spirit 
 of contradiction, which makes them fond 
 of what they moftly fliould avoid ; or 
 thinking that Strangers are not acquaint- 
 ed with their defeds, or in fine, are more 
 likely to keep their Counfel ; be that as 
 it will, their mutual jealoufies gave me 
 much uncaiinefs afterwards. But to fay 
 a word or two more of the Nature of 
 N 2 the 
 
i8o Tbe MBMOlKi of 
 
 the People, before I proceed in my Rela- 
 tion ; as I told your Reverences, they are 
 the handfomeft Race of People 1 believe 
 Nature ever produced, with this only dif- 
 ference, which fome may think a defe(ft, 
 that they are all too much like one ano- 
 ther : But if it be a defe£V, it proceeds 
 from a very laudable Caufe j that is, from 
 their fpringing from one Family, without 
 any mixture of different Nations in their 
 Blood (2); they have neither Wars, nor 
 Traffick with other People, to adulterate 
 their Race, for which Reafon they know 
 nothing of the Vices fuch a commerce 
 often brings along with it. Their Eyes 
 are fomething too fmall, but not fo lit- 
 tle as thofc of the Chinefe j their Hair 
 is generally Black, and inclined to be a 
 little croped or frizzled, (3 ) and their Com- 
 plexion Brown, but their Features are 
 the mofl: exad and regular imaginable ; 
 and in the Mountainous Parts towards 
 the line, where the Air is cooler, they 
 are rather fairer than our Italians (4) ^ 
 the Men are univerfally well fhaped, tall 
 and {lender, except thro' fome accidental 
 deformity, which is very rare ,• but the 
 Women, who keep themfelves much with- 
 in Doors are the moft beautiful Creatures, 
 and the fineft fhaped in the World, ex- 
 cept, as I fliid, being too much alike. There 
 is fuch an innocent fvveetncfs in their 
 
 Beau- 
 
Signor Gaudentio di Lucca* iSi 
 
 Beauty^, and fuch a native Modefty in their 
 Countenance, as can't be defcrib d. A bold 
 fonvardnefs in a Woman is what they 
 diflike ; and to give them their due, even 
 the Women are the moil chafte 1 ever 
 knew, which is partly owing to the early 
 and provident Care of their Governours, 
 But as I defign to make a feparate Arti- 
 cle of the education of their young Peo- 
 ple, I fliali fay no more at prefent on that 
 Head. 
 
 The Vifitations which we made to car- 
 ry the TJrns^ gave me an Opportunity of 
 feeing the Greeneft part of their Coun- 
 try as foon as I came there ^ tho' the To- 
 phar with a lefs Retinue, and with whom 
 I always was, vifited them more particu- 
 larly afterwards. The Country is gene- 
 rally more hilly than plain, and in fome 
 parts even mountainous ^ there are, as I faid, 
 vaft Ridges of Mountains, which run feve- 
 ral hundred Miles, either under, or parallel 
 to the Equator. Thefe are very cold, and 
 contribute very much to render the Cli- 
 mate more temperate than might other- 
 wife be expeded, both by refrigerating 
 the Air with cooling Breezes, which are 
 wafted from thence over the reft of the 
 Country, and by fupplying the plains 
 with innumerable Rivers running both 
 North and Souths but chiefly towards 
 the North (5). Thefe Hills, and the 
 N 3 great 
 
i82 The MEMOIRS of 
 
 great Woods they are generally covered 
 with, are the Occafion of the Country's 
 being fubjed: to Rains (6) ; there are vaft 
 Forefts and Places, which they cut down 
 and deftroy as they want room, leaving 
 lefler Groves for beauty and variety, as 
 well as ufe and conveniency. The Rains 
 and Hillinefs of the Country make Tra- 
 velling a little incommodious, but thea 
 they afford numberlefs Springs and Ri- 
 vulets, with fuch delicious Vales, that 
 adding this to the Honefty and Innocence 
 of the Inhabitants, one would think it a 
 perpetual Paradife. The Soil is fo prodi- 
 gious fertile, not only in different forts of 
 Grain, and Rice, with a fort of Wheat 
 much larger and richer in Flower than 
 any Indian "Wheat I ever faw , but par- 
 ticularly in an inexhauflible variety of 
 Fruits, Legumes, and eatable Herbs of 
 fuch nourishing Juice, and delicious Tafle, 
 that to provide Fruit for fuch numbers of 
 People is the leaft of their Care, One 
 would think the curfe of Jdam had 
 fcarce reached that part of the World j 
 or that Providence had proportion'd the 
 fertility of the Country to the Innocence 
 of the Inhabitants , not but the Induftry 
 and Ingenuity of the People, join'd with 
 their perpetual Peace and Reft from ex- 
 ternal and almoft internal Broils, contri- 
 bute very much to their Riches and Fer- 
 
 tilit}'. 
 
Signor Gaudentio di Lucca. 183 
 
 tility. Their Villages being moft of them 
 built on the Rivulets for Manufadtures 
 and Trades, are not to be number'd* 
 Their Hills are full of Mctallick Mines 
 of all forts, with Materials fufficient to 
 work them ; Silver is the fcarceft, and 
 Gold almoft the moft plentiful ^ it comes 
 out oftentimes in great lumps from the 
 Mineral Rocks, as if it wept out from be- 
 tween the joints, and afterwards by the 
 natural heat of the Earth, or other un- 
 known Caufes: This Gold is more du(5tile3 
 ealier to work, and better for all ufes^ 
 than that which is drawn from the Ore; 
 Their Inventions for Arts, and all manner 
 of (I won't fay purpofes,) but even the 
 Magnificence of Life,are aftonifliing. When 
 I fpoke of their Fruits, I fhould have 
 mention d a fmall fort of a Grape that 
 grows there naturally, of which they 
 make a Wine fharp at firft, but which 
 will keep a great many Years, mellowing 
 and improving as it is kept ,• butthechoi- 
 ceft Grapes, which are chiefly for drying, 
 are cultivated among them, tho' a very 
 little pains does it. Their Wines are more 
 Cordial than Inebriating , but a fmaller 
 fort diluted with Water makes their con- 
 ftant Drink. I don't remember I ever 
 faw any Horned Beafts in the Country, 
 except Goats of a very large fize, which 
 ferve th'im for Milk, tho* ic is rather too 
 N 4. rich : 
 
i84 T^he MEMOIKS of 
 rich: Deer there are innumerable, of 
 more different kinds than are in Europe. 
 There is a little Beaft feemingly of a fpe- 
 cies between a Roe and a Sheep, whofe 
 Flefh is the moft nourilliing and delicious 
 that can be taftcd j thefe make a Difli in 
 all their Feafts, and are chiefly referved 
 for that end. Their Fowl, both wild and 
 tame, make the greateft part of their 
 Food, as to Fleili-Meat, of which they 
 don't eat much, it being, as they think, 
 too grofs a Food. The Rivers and Lakes 
 are ftored with vaft quantities of moft cx- 
 quifiteFilli, particularly a Golden Trout, 
 ■whofe Belly is of a bright Scarlet Colour, 
 as deledable to the Palate as to the Eye. 
 They fuppofc Fifli to be more nourifhing 
 and eafier of digeftion than Fle(h, for 
 which Reafon they eat much more of 
 it i but having no Rivers that run into the 
 Sea, they want all of that kind. 
 
 Their Horfes, as I obferved before, are 
 but fmall, but full of Metal and Life, 
 and extreamly fwift; they have a wild 
 Afs longer than the Horfe, of all the Co- 
 lours of the Rainbow, very ftrong and 
 profitable for Burden and Drudgery ; but 
 their great carriages are drawn by Elks, 
 the Dromedaries are for travelling over 
 the Sands. The Rivers, at leaft in the 
 plain and low Countries, are cut into Ca- 
 nals, by which they carry moft of their 
 
 Pro- 
 
Sig7ior Gaudentio di Lucca. iSj 
 Provifion and Efte(5ts all over the Country. 
 This is only a fmali sketch of the Nature of 
 the Country, becaufe I know thefe matters 
 don t fall under the Cognizance of your 
 Reverences fo much as the Account of 
 their Religion, Morals, Cuftpms, Laws 
 and Government. Yet I muft fay that 
 for Riches, Plenty of all delicacies of 
 Life, Manufatftories, Inventions of Arts, 
 and every thing that conduces to make 
 this mortal State as happy as is polTible, 
 no Country in the known World can 
 parallel it ; tho' there are fome Inconve- 
 niences, as your Reverences will obferve 
 as I go on with my Relation. 
 
 Remarks of Signor Rhedi. 
 
 (i) f^ Eiigious Ceremonies always taking place of the Ci- 
 LV vil. ^c. The moft polite Nations of Antiquity, even 
 imoT^g the Heathens, gave the Preference to Reiigion, before 
 all other confiderations; as for the Chriftian Religion, tho' 
 of late Perfons of fome wit, little judgment, and no morals, 
 call it in queftion, 'tis well known. Men become more Men 
 as they become Chriftians. The light of Faith brought in 
 Learning, Politencfs, Humanity, Juftice, and Equity, inf^ead 
 of that ignorance, and a brutal Barbarity, that over-fpread the 
 Face of the Earth; and the want of it will lead us in time 
 into the fame Enormities which Religion hss taught us to for- 
 fake ; on which Account it's the p^rc of all wile Govermencs 
 to countenance and preferve Religion. 
 
 (2) Without any mixture of different Nations in their 
 Blood. Tacitus fays much the fame of the Germans, ipfe 
 eerum opinionibus acceio, qui drmania populos nuliis aliarum 
 
 natio- 
 
i85 "the MEMOIRS of 
 
 nnttonum connubiis infeSlos, propriam ^ finceram Qp tanquamfai 
 jimilem gentem extitijje arbitrantur- * I agree, fays he, with 
 their Opinion, who think the People of Germany fo peculiar- 
 ly like one another, becaufe they have not been corrupted by 
 Marriages with other Nations. They were noted mAuguJJus's 
 Time to have blue Eyes, as moft of the Native Germans have 
 to this Day. I remember I faw a Review of a German Re- 
 giment in the City of Milan, where almoft every one of the 
 common Soldiers had blue Eyes. No wonder therefore, if 
 thefe Africans our Author fpeaks of, fhould be lo like one 
 another. 
 
 (3) Frizzled Hair, t^c. The antient Egyptians, according 
 to Herodotus, and Bochart were fo. 
 
 (4) Fairer than our Italians, ts'c. Tho' our Italians are 
 fomething more Swarthy than the Northern Tramontani ; yet 
 our Ladies keeping much in the Houfe from their Childhood, 
 have very fine Skins, and excel all others for delicacy of Fea- 
 tures. I 
 
 (5) But chiefly towards the North, i^c. It's remarkable, 
 that moft Springs rife from the North fide of the Hills, and 
 more Rivers run Northward than Southward, at leaft on this 
 fide of the Line, tho' the Obfervation does not always hoI3 ; 
 the Reafon may be, for that there are more Mifts and Dews 
 hanging on the North-fide, becaufe the Sun dries up the moi- 
 fture on the South-fide of the Mountains, more than on the 
 North ; tho' perhaps all Springs don't rife from Rain and 
 Mills, i^c. yet moft do. 
 
 (6) It's well known to the Naturalifts, that great Woods and 
 Hills collefl Clouds and Vapours, and confequently caufe it 
 to Rain more there than in other Places. 
 
 * 'Tacitus de morihus Germanorum. 
 
 •\ I fancy Signer Rbedi never faw our Englijb Beauties. 
 
 Contimia- 
 
Signor Gaudentio di Lucca. 187 
 
 Continuation of the MEMOIRS. 
 
 BEFORE I come to the remaining 
 Occurrences of my own Life, in which 
 nothing very extraordinary happen'd till 
 I came away, unlefs I reckon the extra- 
 ordinary Happinefs I was placed in, as 
 to all things of this Life, in one of the 
 moft delicious Regions of the Univerfe, 
 Married to the Regent's Daughter, whofe 
 Pi<5ture is there before you, and the de- 
 plorable lofs of her with my only re- 
 maining Son, (here he could not refrain 
 from weeping for fome time) as well as 
 the prefent State to which I am reduced ; 
 tho' I mufl own I have received more fa- 
 vourable treatment than could well be 
 expc(^ed. I fliall give your Reverences 
 a fuccin(5t Account of their Religion, 
 Laws, and Cuftoms, which are almoft 
 as far out of the common way cf think- 
 ing of the reft of the World, as their 
 Country. 
 
 Of their Religion. 
 
 The Religion of thefe People is really 
 Idolatry in the main ; tho' as fimple and 
 natural as poifible for Heathens. They 
 
 indeed 
 
i88 ^he MEMOIRS of 
 
 indeed will not acknowledge themfelves 
 to be Heathens in the fenfe we take the 
 word ; that is^ worfhippers of falfe Gods 
 (i), for they have an abhorrence of Ido- 
 latry in words as well as the Chinefe^ but 
 are Idolaters in effed, worfhipping the ma- 
 terial Sun, and paying thofe fuperftitious 
 Rites to their deceased Anceftors j of 
 which part of their Religion your Reveren- 
 ces have had a full Account already. Thefe 
 People however acknowledge one fupreme 
 God maker of all Things, whom they 
 call JEjI '^ or the moft High of all. This 
 they fay natural Reafon teaches them 
 from an argument, tho* good in itfelf, yet 
 form'd after a different way of arguing 
 from other People : They fay all their 
 own Wifdom, or that of all the wifeft 
 Men in the World put together, could 
 never form this Glorious World in all its 
 caufes and effects, fo juftly adapted to its 
 refpedtive ends, as it is with Refpedt to 
 every individual Species. Therefore the 
 Author of it mult be a Being infinitely 
 wifer than all intelledual Beings. As for 
 the notion of any thing producing itfelf, 
 without a prior Caufe, they laugh at it. 
 
 * The oid Arabian by Al^ or perhaps El, mean fome- 
 tliing very Grand or High, as AJ-Cair, for Grand Cair, Al- 
 (hymy for the higheft Chynljly^^ tafc. I wonder S'lgnox Rhedi 
 took no notice of this in his Rernark*. 
 
 and 
 
Signor Gaudentio di Lucca. i8^ 
 
 and ask why we don't fee fuch Effcds 
 produced without a Caufc. Hence they 
 hold only one independent Caufe, and 
 that there muft be one, or nothing could 
 ever be produc'd. Tho' they make a God 
 of the Sun, they don't fay he is indepen- 
 dent as to his own Being; ; but that he 
 received it from this £/. Some of the 
 wifer fort, when I argued with them, 
 feem'd to acknowledge the Sun to be a 
 Material Being created by God ^ but 
 others think him to be a fort of a Vice- 
 gerent, by whom the BjI performs every 
 Thing as the chief Inftrumental Caufe of 
 all produ(ftions. This is the Reafon that 
 they addrefs all their Prayers to the Sun, 
 tho' they allow^ all Power is to be referr'd 
 Originally to the EL The Men look up- 
 on the Moon to be a material Being de- 
 pendent on the Sun ,- but the Women feem 
 to make a Goddcfs of her, by Reafon of 
 the Influence fhe has over that Sex j and 
 fooliilily think ilie brings forth every 
 Month when fhe is at the full, and that 
 the Stars are hers and the Sun's Children. 
 They all of them, both Men and Women, 
 reft fatisfied in their Belief, without any 
 Difputes or ftudied Notions about a Being 
 fo infinitely above them^ thinking it nuich 
 better to adore him in the Infcrutabiiity 
 of histffcnce, in an humble filencc, than 
 to be difputing about what they cannot 
 
 com- 
 
i^o The MEMOIRS of 
 
 compreliend ; all their fearch is employ'd 
 in fecond Caufes, and the Knowledge of 
 Nature as far as it may be ufeful to 
 Men. 
 
 Inquifttor. I hope you don't deny but 
 that fome Men may have wrong notions 
 of the Deity, in which they ought to be 
 fet right by wifer and more learned Men 
 than themfelves ; by confequence all 
 fearches and difputes about the Being 
 and Nature of God are not to be con- 
 demn d. 
 
 Qaiidentio. No, may it pleafe your 
 Keverences, for I prefume you only un- 
 derftand me now as reprcfenting other 
 People's Opinions, not my own, which 
 is entirely conformable to what the Ca- 
 tholick Church teaches. I often told the 
 ^ophar, to whom I could fpeak my Mind 
 with all the freedom in the World, that 
 as no mortal Man could pretend to tell 
 what belonged to the incomprehenfibility 
 of God's Effence, yet our Rcafon oblig- 
 ing us to believe his Being ; it was necef- 
 fary by the fame Reafon that we fliould 
 be Inftrudted by himfelf, or fome Law- 
 giver immediately Commififion'd by him, 
 left we fhould err in fo material a Point. 
 This Law- giver we Chriftians believe he 
 did fend, by giving us his only Son, who 
 was capable of Inftru6Hng us in what be- 
 lone'd to the eternal God-head i that he 
 
 did 
 
Signer Gaudentio di Lucca, ipi 
 did not only give us the jufteft Notions wc 
 could poflibly have,but conlirm'dthcTruth 
 of what he faidjWith fuch figns andwondcrs 
 as none but one fent fromGodcould perform. 
 Inqiiifitor. Go on. 
 Gaudentio. When I faid, they addrefs 
 all their Prayers, and moft of the exter- 
 nal Aaions of their Worfliip to the Sun, 
 it is on Account of their believing him to 
 be the Phyficai Caufe of the Produaion 
 of all Things by his Natural Influence; 
 which, tho' the wifer fort of them, when 
 you came to Reafon more clofely, will 
 grant to be derived from the £/, and fome 
 of them will own him to be a mere mate- 
 rial Being, moved by a prior Caufe, yet 
 the generality of them don't reflea on 
 this^ but are really guilty of Idolatry in 
 worfiiipping a mere Creature. Neverthe- 
 lefs, as to the moral Eflfeds of the Uni- 
 verfe, or the free Anions of Men with 
 Refpea: to Equity, Juftice, Goodnefs, 
 Uprightnefs, and the like, which they al- 
 low to be properly the Duty of rational 
 Creatures, and of much greater Confe- 
 quence than the Phyficai part of the 
 World : This I fay, they all refer to the 
 fuprcme Being, whofe Will it is, they 
 fhould be Mcroiful, Good, Juft, and Equi- 
 table to all, agreeably to the juft Notions 
 of the all- wife Author of their Exigence, 
 w^hofj fupreme Reafon being incapable 
 
 of 
 
192 T^hd MEMOIRS of 
 
 of any irregular Biafs, ought to be the 
 Rule of his Creatures that depend on 
 him, and are in feme meafure partakers 
 of his Perfections. They confirm this no- 
 tion by a very proper comparifon j that, 
 as for example, to ad contrary to the Laws 
 of Nature in Phyficai Productions, is to 
 produce monftrous Births, (^c. fo to ad 
 contrary to the Ideas of the fupreme 
 Reafon in moral Cafes, muft be a great 
 deformity in his fight. I own I was 
 charm'd with this Natural way of rea- 
 foniiag, and. ask'd them further, whether 
 they believ'd the fupreme Being troubled 
 himlelf about the moral part of the 
 World, or the free A(5tions of Men ? They 
 feem'dfurpriz'd at the Queftion, and ask'd 
 me whether I thought it was polTible he 
 ihould leave the nobleft part out of his 
 Care, when he took the pains (that w^as 
 their exprcOTion) to create the leaft Infed 
 according to the moft exad Rules of Art 
 and Knowledge, beyond all that the Art 
 of Man can come up to ? I ask'd them 
 again, what were the Rules, which it was 
 his Will that free Agents, fuch as Man 
 for inftance, fliould follow in the direc- 
 tion of their Lives ? They told me, Rea- 
 fon, Jufiicc and Equity, in in:iitation of 
 the fupreme Reafon in him ^ for faid they, 
 can you think the fupreme Being can ap- 
 prove of the enormous A(^ioas commited 
 
 by 
 
Signor Gaudentio di Lucca. iP3 
 
 by Men ; or that any vile Practices can be 
 according the juft Ideas of his Reafon ; 
 if not, they muft be contrary to the beft 
 light of Reafon not only in God but Man, 
 and therefore liable to be punilli'd by the 
 juft Governour of all. I fubmit thefeno* 
 tions to your Reverences better Judg- 
 ment, but I thought them very extraor- 
 dinary for Perfons who had nothing but 
 the light of Nature to diredt them ; 'tis 
 pity but they had been as right in their 
 more remote Inferences as they were in 
 thefe Principles. The fum therefore of 
 the Theoretical part of their Religion, is 
 lirft. That the El is the fupreme Intel- 
 le6lual, rational, and moft noble of all 
 Beings ; that it is the Duty of all intel- 
 le(5tual Beings to imitate the juft Laws of 
 Reafon in him, otherwife they depart 
 from the fupreme Rule of all their Ac- 
 tions, fince what is contrary to the moft 
 perfedt Reafon in God, muft be contrary 
 to our own, and by confequence of a de* 
 formity highly blameable in his fight ; all 
 their Prayers and w^hatever they asic of 
 this fupreme Being is, that they may be 
 juft and good as he is. Secondly, That 
 the Sun is the chief, at leaft Inftrumental 
 Caufe of their Bodies, and all other Phy- 
 lical Effe«5ts. Your Reverences know bet- 
 ter than I can inform you, that this is 
 wrong : To him they addrefs their Pray- 
 O ers 
 
194 Tbe M-EMOIKS of 
 
 crs for the prefervation of their Lives, 
 the Fruits of the Earth, (^c, Thirdiy^ 
 That their Parents are the more immedi- 
 ate Inftrumental Caufe of their Natural 
 Being, which they derive partly from the 
 .£/, and partly from the Sun, and they 
 Reverence them the more on this Ac- 
 count, as being the Vicegerents of both, 
 and believe them to be immortal, as to 
 the Spiritual or Intelle(5tual Part, and con- 
 fequently able and ready to aflift them 
 according to the Refpedt they ihew them, 
 by Reverencing their Tombs and Honour- 
 ing their Memories. Tho' upon a nicer 
 examination I found, that the fuperftiti- 
 ous Worlliip they pay to their deceafed 
 Anceftors, was as much a Politick as a 
 Religious Inftitution, becaufe their Go- 
 vernment being Patriarchal, this invio- ' 
 lable Refpedt they fhew to their Parents 
 makes them obey their Elders or Gover- 
 nours, not only with the moft dutiful 
 obfervance, but even with a filial Love 
 and Alacrity. 
 
 There are fome other Points of lefs 
 confequence, and reduceable to thefe three 
 Heads, which your Reverences will ob- 
 ferve in the courfe of my Relation. As 
 for the Immortality of the Soul, Re- 
 wards and Puniiliments in another Life, 
 they believe both, tho' they have an odd 
 way of explaining them. They fuppofe 
 
 w'ith- 
 
Si^7wr Gaudentio di Lucca, ipj 
 
 without any Hefitation, that the Soul is 
 a Being independent of matter, as to its 
 Ellence, having faculties of thinking, wil- 
 ling, and chuiingj which mere matter, let 
 it be fpun ever fo fine, and actuated by 
 the quickeft and the moft fubtle Motion, 
 can never be capable of ,• but their notion 
 of their pre-exiftencc with the £/, before 
 they werefent into Bodies, is very confus*d» 
 The Rewards and Punifliments in the 
 next Life, they believe will chiefly con- 
 fift in this J that in proportion as theil* 
 A6lions have been conformable to the juft 
 Ideas of the fupreme Being in this Life, 
 partaking ftill more and more of his infi- 
 nite Wifdom, fo their Souls will approach 
 ftill nearer to the beautiful Intell gence 
 of their divine Model in the next. But 
 if their Anions in this Life have been 
 confiftent witli the fupreme Reafon in 
 God, they fliall be permitted to go on foi* 
 ever in that inconliftcncy and difagrce- 
 ment, till they become fo monftronfly 
 wicked and enormous, as to become abo- 
 minable even to themfelves. 
 
 Of their Opinion conctrning the 'Traufnii- 
 gration of Souls ^ and the Science cf 
 Phyiiognomy. 
 
 I found the wifell of th^m held the 
 
 Meti^mpfychojis, or the Tranfmigration of 
 
 Q % Souls 
 
i5>6 The MEMOIRS of . 
 
 Souls ( i), not as a Punifhment in the next 
 Life, as fome of the Antient Heathe7i 
 Philofophers didj but as a Puniiliment in 
 this ; the chief Punifhment in the next 
 was explain'd above. This Tranfmigra- 
 tion oi: Souls is quite different from the 
 receiv'd notion of the word, inftead of 
 believing as the Antients did, that the 
 Souls of wicked and voluptuous Men af- 
 ter their Deaths, Tranfmigrated into 
 Bcafts according to the fimilitude of their 
 vicious Inclinations, till pafifing thro' one 
 Animal into another, they were permitted 
 to commence Men again ; I fay, thefe Peo- 
 ple, inftead of believing this, hold a Me- 
 tempfychofts of quite a different Nature ; 
 not that the Souls of Men enter into 
 Brutes, but that the Souls of Brutes en- 
 ter into the Bodies of Men even in this 
 Life. They fay for Example, that the 
 Bodies of Men and Women are fuch deli- 
 cate Habitations, that the Souls of Brutes 
 are perpetually envying them, and con- 
 triving to get into them j that unlefs the 
 divine light of Reafon be perpetually at- 
 tended to, thefe Brutal Souls fteal in up- 
 on them, and chain up the rational Soul, 
 fo that it fliall not be able to govern the 
 Body, unlefs it be to carry on the Defigns 
 of the Brutal Soul, or at beft only make 
 fome faint efforts to get out of its Slavery. 
 I took it at firft, that^this Syftem was 
 
 merely 
 
Sigfior Gaudentio di Lucca. 197 
 
 merely Allegjorical, tofhewthe fimilitudc 
 between the palfions of Men when not 
 directed by Reafon, and thofe of Brutes. 
 But upon examination, I found it was their 
 Opinion, that this Tranfmigration did re- 
 ally happen, infomuch that in my laft 
 Journey with the Tophar into ligypt^ 
 when he faw the Turks^ or other ftrange 
 Nations, nay fevcral Armenia7i and ILu- 
 YOpean Chriftians, he wou'd fay to me in 
 his own Language, there goes a Hog, 
 there goes a liion, a Wolf, a Fox, a 
 Dog, and the like ; that is, they believe 
 the Body of a voluptuous Man is poffefs'd 
 by the Soul of a Hog, of a luftful Man 
 by that of a Goat, a treacherous Man by 
 that of a Fox, a tyrannical Man by that 
 of a Wolf, and fo of the reft. This be- 
 lief is inftiifd into them fo early, and 
 with fo much care, that it is of very great 
 Benefit to keep th{?m within the bounds 
 of Reafon. if a young Man finds him- 
 felf inclined to any of thefe Pallions, he 
 addrefles himfclf immediately tofomePer- 
 fon whom bethinks of fuperiour Wifdom, 
 who affures him that the Soul of feme 
 certain Brute is endeavouring to furprize 
 and captivate his rational Soul, .and take 
 pofTelfion of its Place. This makes them 
 all be always watchful, and upon their 
 guard again ft their own PafTions, not to 
 be furprizcd by fuch a nicrcilcfs Enemy. 
 O 3 Their 
 
ip8 "The MEMOIRS of 
 Their prefent Remedy is to look ftedfaft- 
 ly at the Divine light that fhines within 
 them, and compare it with its Original, 
 till by the force of its Rays they drive 
 away thofe brutal Souls, which as foon 
 as fully difcover'd in their treacherous at- 
 tacks (for they come on, fay they, by 
 ftealth, not daring to attack that divine 
 light dircdtly) are eafily repulfed before 
 they have obtained Poffeflion, tho' it cods 
 a great deal of pains to dillodge them, 
 when once they are got in. The fear of 
 being abandon'd to the Slavery of thefe 
 brutal Souls is fo deeply imprinted in them 
 from their Infancy, that they impute the 
 temperance and regularity of their Lives 
 to, and think it in a great Meafure owing 
 to this Do(5trine ; the fame notions hold 
 with their Women, which their Mothers 
 and Governeffcs inftill into them, as the 
 wife Men do with the Men^ only they 
 believe the brutal Souls that enter into 
 Women, are of a different Species irom 
 thofe that enter into Men. They fay for 
 Inftance, that of a Camelion, makes 
 them falfe and inconflant, that of a Pea- 
 cock, cgquettiili and vain, that of a Ti- 
 grcfs, cruel and ill-natured, and fo of the 
 reft (2). They add another diflFcrcnce 
 between Men and Women, that when 
 thcfe brutal SouLs are entered into them, 
 they are much harder to be driven out 
 
 from 
 
Signor Gaudentio di Lucca. \gg 
 
 from them, than from the Men j befides 
 that thefe brutal Souls will lurk undifco- 
 ver'd in Women a great while, and are 
 often fcarce difcernible, till five and 
 twenty or thirty ; whereas in moft Men 
 it difcovers itfelf prefently after its en- 
 trance. 
 
 It was on account of this Dodrine, as I 
 found by repeated Obfervations, that they 
 were fo addided to the ftudy of Thyfiog- 
 nomy^ laying down Rules to know by 
 the Countenance, the Lines of the Face, 
 and unguarded Looks of Men, whether 
 the brutal Soul has got Pod'eifion or not, 
 in order to apply proper Remedies. This 
 Science^ however uncertain and doubtful 
 among Chriftians (who have greater affift- 
 ance of Grace and Virtue to refill: their 
 PafTions, thofe treacherous Invaders) is 
 brought to greater Perfection and Certi- 
 tude, than one would imagine among fuch 
 of thefe People who having no fuch helps, 
 will take little care to cultivate and mo- 
 derate their vicious Inclinations, unlefs 
 they are apprized and forewarn'd of tho 
 Danger. Therefore their wife Men, when- 
 ever they come in Company of the young- 
 er fort, confider attentively W'ith them- 
 felvcs all the Lineaments of the Counte- 
 nance, Complexions, Motions, habit of 
 Body, Conflitution, tone of the Voice> 
 make and turn of the Face, Nofe, Ears, 
 O 4 ^c. 
 
2O0 !ra^ MEMOIRS ^y 
 
 dxc, but particularly they obferve the 
 Strutlure and Glances of the Eye, with 
 innumerable Signs proceeding from it, by 
 ■which they pretend to difcover thofe Paf- 
 fions ; I fay, they pretend to know by 
 thefd what brutal Soul lays fiege to the 
 rational Soul, or whether it has already 
 taken Poflcflion of its Poft. If they are 
 Strangers, they prudently take care to 
 avoid their Company, or at leaft are on 
 their Guard not to have any dealings with 
 them in matters obnoxious to the brutal 
 Soul they think them poffefs'd by. But 
 if the Pcrfon attack'd by thefe brutal 
 Souls be of their own Nation, they im- 
 mediately forewarn fuch to be on his 
 Guard, by which, and the dread they 
 have entcrtain'd from their Youth of thefe 
 brutal Enemies, they are kept in fuch or- 
 der, that, as 1 faid, I never faw fuch 
 moral People in my Life ; the worft is, 
 they are extreamly inclin'd to be proud, 
 and have too great a value for themfelves, 
 defpifing in their Hearts all other Nations, 
 as if they were nothing but Brutes in hu- 
 man fliape (3). However, their wife Men 
 take as much care as pofiTible to corred 
 this fault, as far as the ignorance of the 
 Law of Grace will allow ; by putting 
 them often in mind of the Miferies and 
 Infirmities of human Life, w'hich being 
 realE/ils, mud be in Punirfiment of fome 
 
 fault. 
 
Signor Gaudentio di Luc<:a. 201* 
 
 fault i that the moft Perfed are liable to 
 Death, which makes no diftindion be- 
 tween them and the reft of the WorJd. 
 Befides that. Humility, and a Commife- 
 ration for the defeds of others, is one 
 of the Rays of the divine Lieht that is 
 to guide them. From fuch Documents and 
 InftrU(5tions of the wifer fort, tho' they 
 don't care to have any Correfpondcnce 
 with other People, feeing them fo pof- 
 fefs'd with thofe brutal Souls, yet they 
 are a moft courteous, and compaifionate 
 People in all their Behaviour. 
 
 Remarks of Signor Rhedi. 
 
 ( I ) ' I "Hey held the Metempfychofis, or Trartfm'igration of 
 *- iiouh. This Opinion was very ancient, and came 
 originally from Egypt, where Pythagoras learnt ic : Tho' per- 
 haps not liking this way of employing it. he alter'd ic quite 
 from what thel'e Men held, which is the lefs irrational of the 
 Two. Tho', with Signor Gaudentio'$ Leave, I cm never be-- 
 lieve, thcfe wife Men really held that Opinion, but only under- 
 ftood it Allegorically, I muft own, at the fame time, fome 
 of the Ancients did hold the other Metempfychofis, 
 
 (2) That of aTygrefs made them fo cruel, i^c. This No- 
 tion of the Tranfmigration of the Souls of Brutes into Men 
 and Women in this Life, particularly into the latter, was not 
 unknown to the Ancients, tho' explain'd fomething after a 
 difFcrent way: Witnefs a remaining Fragment of Simciiidts., 
 a very -.ncieni Greek Poet, to that Effedl. 
 
 (3) Brutes in human Shape, (3V. The Chinejes, whom I 
 have prov'd to be dcfcended from the firft Egyptians, are fub- 
 je<fl to the like Pride and Contempt of other People; faying, 
 
 that 
 
202 T/^^ MEMOIRS of 
 
 that all other Nations have but one Eye, whereas Nat are has 
 given them two: Signifying thereby, how much wifer they 
 
 think themfelves than other Men. 
 
 Continuation of the MEMOIRS, 
 Of their Laws and Ctiftoms. 
 
 OVER and above what has been faid 
 already of the Nature and Cuftoms of 
 thefe People, their Laws are very few in 
 Number ^ but then they are prodigious 
 exadt in the Obfervance of them, I have 
 often heard the T^ophar make very fevere 
 Refledions, contrary to his Cuftom, on 
 the Lawyers of other Countries, who 
 make Laws upon Laws, and add Precepts 
 upon Precepts, till the endlefs Number of 
 of them makes the fundamental Part to 
 be forgotten ; leaving nothing but a con- 
 fused Heap of Explanations, which may 
 caufe ignorant People to doubt, whether 
 there is any thing in earneft meant by 
 the Laws, or not. If I forbid my Son, 
 fays he, to do any Wrong to any one, 
 what need is there of reckoning up all 
 the Particulars by which a Perfon may be 
 wrong'd ? Shew but the Fait on both 
 Sides, any Man of Senfe and Equity can 
 tell, if there be any Wrong done, or not : 
 For if you multiply an Infinity of Cir- 
 
 cumftanccs. 
 
Signor Gaude-ntio di Lucca. 205 
 
 ctimftances, it will be much more difficult 
 to decide what is right, or what is wrong, 
 than if you precifely and abfolutely for- 
 bid any Injury whatfoevcr. It is almoft 
 incredible, with what Nicety and Equity 
 their Judges determine thofc few Difputcs 
 they have among them, in a few Minutes. 
 To weigh the Merits of the Caufe by the 
 Weight of the Purfo, would be counted 
 by them one of the greateft linormities. 
 There are no Courts for Difputes of this 
 Nature ; ail is done, by laying the Cafe 
 before their publick Allcmblies, or before 
 any one or two prudent and juft Men, and 
 the Aifair is finally decided at once. Ali 
 the Law for Meum and Timm among 
 them is. Thou JJoalt do no Wrong to aiiy 
 One^ without entring into any further 
 Niceties. Such explanatory Suppoiitions, 
 fay they, oftener fliew People how they 
 may ingenioully contrive to do an Injury, 
 than how to avoid it. 
 
 Their Laws therefore arc nothing but 
 the ^ firft Principles of Natural Juilicc, 
 judg'd and explain'd by the Elders in the 
 publick Hearing of all who have a Mind 
 to come in, as the Fads are broue:ht into 
 
 Jipute. 
 
 The VVorfi-iip of the Deity, and that 
 cxccfTive and even fuperftitious Reverence 
 they pay to their Parents, both alive and. 
 dead, is fo carefully inculcated into them 
 
 from 
 
204 "The MEMOIRS of 
 
 from their Infancy, that there is no need 
 of any written Law to enforce it. They 
 look on a Man to be poffefs'd with fome 
 brutal Soul, who fhould pretend to call in 
 queftion, or negled this Duty. 
 
 There is a pofitive Law among them, 
 not to flicd human Blood voluntarily (i). 
 They carry this fundamental Law of Na- 
 ture to fuch a Height, that they never 
 put any one to Death, even for Murder, 
 which very rarely happens ; that is, once 
 in feveral Ages. If it appears that a Per- 
 fon has really murdcr'd another, a thing 
 they think almoft impollible, the Perfon 
 convicted is fhut up from all Commerce 
 of Men, with Provifions to keep him 
 alive as long as Nature allows. After his 
 Death the Fadt is prociaim'd, as it was 
 when they fliut him up, over all the 
 Novies. His Name is blotted out of their 
 Genealogies ; then his dead Body is man- 
 gled juft in the fame Manner as he kill'd 
 the Innocent, and afterwards burnt to 
 Aflies, which are carried up to the high- 
 eft Part of the Deferts, and then toft up 
 into the Air, to be carried away by the 
 Winds blowing from their own Country : 
 Nor is he ever more to be rcckon'd as one 
 of their Race, and there is a general 
 Mourning obfcrved throughout the King- 
 dom for Nine Days. 
 
 There 
 
Signor Gaudentio di Lucca. 20^ 
 
 There is alfo an exprefs Law againft 
 Adultery and Whoredom, which are hke- 
 wife punifhed after Death. If Perfons 
 are caught in Adultery, they are Ihut up 
 apart till Death ; then they are cxpofed 
 naked as they were furprized, and the 
 Body of the Woman treated after the 
 moft ignominious manner for three Days. 
 After which, they are burnt, and their 
 Aflies difperfed as before. (2) Whoredom is 
 only punifh'd in the Man, by chaining him 
 to a He-Goat^ and the Woman to a Salt 
 'Bitchy and leading them thus round the 
 Nome, All in the refpec^ive Nome^ Men 
 and Women, are to be prefent at the 
 more fignal Punifliments, and Parents are 
 obliged to explain to their Children the 
 Wickednefs and Horror of the Crime, for 
 a Warning for the future. I forgot to 
 tell your Reverences, that if the Woman 
 brings forth by Adultery, the Child is pre- 
 ferved, till able to be carried with them 
 when they go into Egypt^ and there given 
 to fome Stranger, with ample Provilions 
 for its Maintainance, but never to be 
 heard of more. (3 ) 
 
 There is alfo one Particular I fhould 
 have mentioned, relating to Injufticc. IF, 
 for Example, the Elders find there has 
 been any conllderable Injuftice done, the 
 Criminal is obliged to reftore Nine times 
 the Value. If any one be convided to 
 
 have 
 
205 Ihc MEMOIRS of 
 
 have impofed upon the Judges, he is to be 
 fent out to the Skirts of the Country, to 
 live by himfelf, for a Time proportionable 
 to his Guilt, with a Mark on his Fore- 
 head, for all Perfons to avoid him, left he 
 Ihould inftill his Principles into others. All 
 other Matters are regulated rather by 
 Cuftom, than by Laws, which will be 
 feen, w^hen I come to the Form of their 
 Government, and other particular Infti- 
 tutions. 
 
 Remarks of Slgnori^Z^^/sf/. 
 
 (i) AGainft fhedding of Blood, f^c Thefe People de- 
 •i* I'cending from Mifrnim, who might know the Patri- 
 arch Noah, and might have learnt by Tradition, the Punifh- 
 incnt of Cain for the Murder of his Brother Abel, carried 
 that Opinion to an Excefs. Thefe People, be who they will, 
 or not be at all, I can't but obferve, how inexcujable the 
 Wickednefs of Men was from the Beginning, without blam- 
 ing God, as fome Libertines do, for leaving them in Igno- 
 tance. 
 
 The wicked Ham, or Cham, was in the Ark with Noah^ 
 and lived many Years before the Deluge (the Truth of which 
 is attelled by ancient Hiitory, as well as by Scripture and 
 Faith) and law the dreadful Punifhment inflided on the World 
 for Sin ; could not he have learnt Godlinefs, and the Reward 
 for it, of his Father Noah ? Could not Ham have taught his 
 own Children, They theirs ; and {o on ? But they corrupted 
 their own Ways, and thereby fhcw'd the Neceflity of the 
 Law of Grace and o\ Revelation. 
 
 (2) See the learned Bifhop of Meaux''s Univerfal Hiftory 
 concerning the Egyptians, Par. 3. and of their Punifhments 
 after Death. 
 
 (3) And jiever heard of more, iffc. With our Author's 
 Leave, this is not fuch a juft and compaflionate Part, to turn 
 
 inno- 
 
Signer Gaudektio di Lucca. 207 
 
 innocent Children out among People whofe Cuftoms they had 
 fuch a Horror of, only for their Parents F<)ults. For tho' the 
 Maxim be good. Beware a Breed; yet the Care they took of 
 their Youth, and the moral Inftruftion they gave them, might 
 make ihem abhor the Crimes of their Parents. 
 
 Continuation of f ^bf M E M O I R S* 
 
 Of their Form of Government. 
 
 Their Form of Government, as I 
 had the Honour to acquaint your Reve- 
 rences before, is Patriarchal, which they 
 preferve inviolably, as being the moft 
 Tenacious People in the World of their 
 Primitive Inftitutions. But the Order of 
 the fuccefifion is extreamly particular, to 
 keep up the equality of Brotherhood and 
 Dignity, as exad as they can. Your Re- 
 verences, I prefume, remember that they 
 all fprung from one Family, (and lived as 
 fuch when they were driven out of Egypt) 
 the head of which was Prieft of the Sun. 
 This Government they had obfervcd ever 
 fince Mifroaim took PoflcfiTion of that 
 Land for his Habitation. But when they 
 were fccured from all the World in the 
 firfl: Vale, as was mentioned before, they 
 eftablillicd that form of Government af- 
 ter a particular manner. The firft Tophar 
 fettling in that Vale with his five Sons, 
 
 and 
 
2o8 7^^ MEMOIRS ^/ 
 
 and as many Daughters with their Huf- 
 bands, govern'd them during Life, as Fa- 
 ther or Patriarch of them all. Their pro- 
 digious veneration for their Parents, and 
 reparation from all other People, render 
 this form iniinitely more practicable than 
 can well be imagined. As they were Chil- 
 dren of one Man, the Intereft of the 
 whole was the Intereft of every particular. 
 All the nation of the firft Tranfmigration 
 were Children, Grand Children, or great 
 Grand Children of the good Old Man 
 who conducted them thither. Having no 
 Wars, or Voyages at Sea, nor commerce 
 with the Diftempers, as well as Vices of 
 other Nations, who generally differ in 
 their way of Living as well as their Cli- 
 mate ; having nothing of this, I fay, to 
 deftroy their People, they not only in- 
 creased prodigioufly, without Plurahty of 
 Wives, but by tlmt and their almolt Pri- 
 mitive way of Living, they preferved their 
 Lives to a great old Age, moft of them 
 Living above a Hundred Years, and fome 
 above a Hundred and Fifty. The firft 
 Tophar^ fay their Memoirs, lived till a 
 Hundred and Fifty five, and his Q\dQ{!i Son 
 his SuccefTor, being more robuft than bim- 
 felf, to a Hundred and Sixty. Prefently 
 after his Eftablifliment in the firft Vale, 
 he divided his fmall Dominions into five 
 Monies^ or Governments, under his five 
 
 Sons, 
 
Signer Gaudentio di Ltjcca. 20^ 
 
 Sons, as was obferved before, all were to 
 be fubordinatc to the eld^ft ; but it was 
 only a Patriarchal Subordination, relat- 
 ing to the whole. The other Governoursj 
 and indeed all Fathers of Families, were 
 entire Minifters of the Laws in their re- 
 fpedtive Families ; but thefe laft were lia- 
 ble to the Infpedion of the more immedi- 
 ate fuperiors, and all to that of the Grand 
 ^ophaVj aiTifted with fuch a Number of 
 Counfellors as were eftablifli'd afterwards. 
 To give your Reverences a more diftind 
 Idea of this wonderful Government, it 
 will come much to the fame, whether we 
 defcend from the chief Tophar to every 
 refpe(^ive Family, or from thefe upwards. 
 The particularities of the SuccefTion I 
 fhall confider afterwards. However, it 
 will be eafier feen if we take them when 
 their Numbers were not fo great, at the 
 firft beginning of their Eftablifliment. The 
 ^Pophar then having diftinguifli'd the 
 bounds of every Nome^ I mean in their 
 tirft Tranfmigration, each Son took pof- 
 fefifion of it for himfelf and pofterity. 
 While each Son's Children were unmar- 
 ried, they continued under the Govern- 
 ment of their Father, who made ufe of 
 as much Land as was fufficient for the 
 Conveniencics and Pleafures, as well as 
 the Neceflaries of Life. But as foon as 
 any Son was Married, or at Icaft when 
 
 P he 
 
210 T:he MEMOIRS ^/ 
 
 he could be call'd a Father of a Family, 
 the Father, with confent of the ^Pophar^ 
 alotted him likewife a fufficient quantity 
 for the fame end -, fo they fpread and en- 
 larged themfelves as it were from the 
 Center to a farther extent, much in the 
 fame manner as they build their Towns, 
 till they had occupied the whole Nome* 
 Here you will fay, thcfe People muft in 
 procefs of Time encreafe to an Infinitum^ 
 without Lands fufficientto maintain them. 
 This was really the cafe in the tirft Plan- 
 tation, which was fo entirely occupied by 
 them, that if the famous Tophar who 
 brought them into the vaft Continent 
 they now enjoy, had not made that glo- 
 rious difcovery with the danger of his 
 Life, they muft have return d into Egypt^ 
 or eat up one another ; but where they 
 are at prefent, they have Room enough, 
 notwithftanding their Numbers, for feve- 
 ral Ages. However, I often reprefented 
 to the Tophar^ that it muft come to that 
 at laft J the thought made him uneafy at 
 firft, and at length put him on a further 
 difcovery, as your Reverences will fee in 
 the fequel. But fuchvaft Numbers of them 
 betaking themfelves to Arts and Manufac- 
 tures, and the Country being fo prodigioully 
 fertile, there does not appear any great 
 difficulty in that refpcd. Of all Arts they 
 look upon Agriculture as the firft in Dig- 
 nity, 
 
Signor Gaudektio di Lucca. 211" 
 
 nity, next to the liberal Sciences, fince 
 that nouriilies all the reft j but it comes 
 fo ealily, and the Fruits and 1 >egumes are 
 fo rich and delicious, that they have lit- 
 tle more trouble than to gather them, 
 befides having two Summers, and two 
 Springs, each difeent Seafon produces 
 its peculiar Fruits. But to return to the 
 Idea of their Government, each Father of 
 a Family governs all his Defcendants mar- 
 ried, or unmarried, as long as he lives. 
 l£ his Sons are Fathers, they have a fubor- 
 dinate Power under him ; if he dies before 
 he comes to fuch an Age, the eldeft Son, 
 or the eldeft Uncle, takes care of them, 
 till they are fufficient to fet up a Family 
 of themfelves. The Father, on extraor- 
 dinary Occaftons, is liable to be infpeded 
 by five of the moft prudent Heads of that 
 diftrid i thefe by five of the five adjacent 
 diftri(5ts chofen by common confent j thefe 
 laft, by the Heads of the five Nomes^ and 
 all the Nofnes by the Grand Tophar af- 
 fifted with three Hundred fixty five El- 
 ders, or Senators, chofen out of every 
 Nome, What is moft particular in this 
 Government, is^ that they are all abfo* 
 lute in feme manner, and independent, 
 as looking on themfelves as all equal in 
 Birth j yet in an entire dependency of 
 Natural Subordination or Elderiliip, which 
 runs thro' the whole OILcono7ny^ as your 
 P a Reve- 
 
212 The MEMOIRS of 
 
 Kevcrences will fee when I come to th(i 
 Succeilion. They are in the fame man- 
 ner Lords and Proprietors of their own Pof- 
 fefifions, yet the Tophar and Governours 
 can alot and difpofe of all for the publick 
 Emolument, becaufe they look on him 
 to be as much the Father of all, as the 
 immediate Natural Father is of his pro- 
 per Children, and even in fome fen fe their 
 Natural Father by risjht of Elderfliip, be- 
 caufe they fprung Originally from one 
 Man, whom the Grand Tophar rcprc- 
 fentj. To this, that Natural, or Poli- 
 tick, or even Superftitious Rcfpedt they 
 flicw to their Parents,contributes fo much, 
 that they never difputc, but on the con- 
 trary, revere the Regulations made by 
 their Superiors ; being fatisfied that they 
 are not only juft and good, but that it is 
 their own Aft, fince it is done by Virtue 
 of a Subordination to which they all be- 
 long. 
 
 The fucceifion of Elderfhip has fome- 
 thing very particular, and even intricate 
 in it. To exprefi at the fame time the 
 Superiority of the Elder Son, and the 
 equality of Independence ^ I fliall endea- 
 vour to explain to your Reverences, as 
 well as I can, the Right thereof. The 
 eldeft Son of the firft Pophar^ is always 
 Grand Tophar^ when he is of Age to go- 
 vern, which, as I faid, is fifty at iboneft ,• 
 
 but 
 
Signor Gaud^ntio di I.ucca. 215' 
 but if the direft Line f^iils, not the Un- 
 cle's Son, nor any one in that Nome^ but 
 the right Heir of the next No7ne, and fo 
 of all the five Nomes. If they iliould fail 
 in ail the Nomes^ the right Heir of the 
 fecond Son of the tirft Nome^ and fo of 
 all the relh This they fay has happen'd 
 feveral Times fince their firft eftabiifli- 
 ment, which is not much to be wonder'd 
 at, if they are fo Antient as they pretend. 
 Thus, tho' the Grand TopbarJIoip be con- 
 fin'd to the eldcft in fome Senfe, in effect 
 it belongs to them all ; but if the next 
 Heir be a Minor, as he is always judged 
 to be till he is Fifty Years of Age, the 
 eldcft of that Age, of the fecond Son of 
 the next Nome, is Regent, till the Heir 
 be out of his Minority, and fo on i info- 
 much that he who has the next Right to 
 be Grand Tophar^ is never to be Regent, 
 to divide the fuperiority among them as 
 equally as is poilible. All other publick 
 OtHcers, Teachers of Arts and Sciences, 
 Overfeers of all the publick Employments, 
 (^c. are conftitutcd by the Grand To- 
 phar and Sanhedrim^ with x^ffociates of 
 every Nome» 
 
 Move 
 
214 'The MEMOIRS of 
 
 More Tartictilars of their Tuhlich 
 OEconomy. 
 
 T H O' as I faid, the Tophar is in fomo 
 Senfe the Proprietor of the whole Coun- 
 try, as Head of the Government, and 
 chief Patriarch ; yet the Paradox of this 
 Government confifts in this, that they are 
 joint Lords, acknowledging no inequality, 
 but merely elderfhip, and the refped due 
 to dignitaries, which they cfteem as their 
 own, or redounding to themfelves, becaufe 
 they all give their confent to their Elec- 
 tion for the publick Good. In a word, the 
 whole Country is only one great Family 
 GovernM by the Laws of Nature, with 
 proper Officers conftitnted by the whole, 
 for Order and common Prefervation ^ eve- 
 ry individual looks on himfelf as a part 
 of that great Family. The Grand To^ 
 fbar is the common Father, efteeming all 
 the reft as Children and Brothers, calling 
 them univerfally by that Name, as they 
 all call one another Brothers, bartering 
 and exchanging their Commodities as one 
 Brother wxuld do with another j and not 
 only that, but they join all in building 
 their Towns, publick Places, Schools, C7^. 
 laying up all their Stores and Provifions, 
 over and above the prefent Confumption 
 in publick Places for the ufe of the whole, 
 
 with 
 
Signor Gaudentio di Lucca, iij 
 
 with Overfcers and Infpe(5lors, conftituted 
 by common confent, who are to take care 
 chiefly, that no diforder be committed. 
 Thus every one contributes to all publick 
 Expences, Fcafts, and the like, which cii 
 fome Occafions are extreamly Magnificent, 
 aifecfting an external Grandeur in all Re- 
 fpeuts. Thus alfo every Man, wherever 
 he goes enters into what Houfe he pleafes, 
 as if it were his own Home ; this they 
 are doing perpetually thro'out the whole 
 Country, rather Viliting than Merchan- 
 dizing, exchanging the Rarities of each 
 refpective Place with thofe of other partb, 
 juft like Friends making Prefcnts to one 
 another i fo that all the Roads are like 
 Streets of great Towns, .with People go- 
 ing backward and forward perpetually. 
 They do this the more frequently to keep 
 up a Correfpondence between the NomeSy 
 for fear that diflance of Place ihould caufe 
 any forgetfulnefs of their being of one Fa- 
 mily. The plenty of the Country affords 
 them every Thing that Nature can call 
 delightful, and that with fuch eafe, that 
 infinite Numl:)ers are employed in Trades, 
 and Arts, according to their Genius, or 
 Inclinations, which by their continual 
 Peace and Plenty, their long Eftablilh- 
 ment in one Country, and under one form 
 of Government, the natural Ingenuity of 
 the People, the fo early knowledge of 
 P 4 'Arts, 
 
ai6 ne MEMOIRS c/ 
 Arts^ which they brought with them out 
 of Egypt ; and by the Improvements 
 their wife Men make in them from time 
 to time, from what they learn when they 
 pay their vifits to their deceas'd AnccftorSj 
 they have brought to prodigious Perfec- 
 tion. One may fliy of them, that they 
 are all Mafters, and all Servants, every 
 one has his employment ; generally fpeak- 
 ing, the younger fort wait on the elders, 
 changing their Offices as it is thought pro- 
 per by their fuperiors, as in a well regu- 
 lated Community. All their Children 
 univerfaily are taught at the publick Ex- 
 pence, as Children of the Government, 
 without any Diftin6:ion but that of Ter- 
 jonal Merit, As the Perfons deputed for 
 that end, judge of their Genius, or any 
 •particular Inclination, they are difpos'd 
 afterwards to thofe Arts and Callings for 
 which they feem moft proper ,* the moft 
 fublime Sciences are the moft in refpe(5l 
 with them, and are chiefly the employ- 
 ment of their great Men and Governours, 
 contrary to the Cuftom of other Coun- 
 tries ; the Reafon of which is, becaufe 
 thefe being never chofen till they are 
 Fifty Years of Age, they have had more 
 time to improve themfelves, and gene- 
 rally are Perfons of more extenfive capa- 
 cities. They rightly fuppofe that Perfons 
 who excel others in the moft rational 
 
 Sciences, 
 
Signor Gaudentio di Lucca. 217 
 Sciences, are not only fitteft to govern a 
 rational People, but aifo mod capable of 
 making themfelves Mafters of \Yhat they - 
 undertake ^ not but fuch Men knowing 
 the Governours are chofe out of that rank, 
 have an Eye in their fludies to the Rules 
 and Arts of Governing, which are com- 
 municated at a diftance by them, accord- 
 ing to the Talents they remark in the 
 Subje£ls. They don't do this out of any 
 Spirit of Ambition, employments being 
 rather an honorary Trouble than an Ad-. 
 vantage, but for the real Good of the 
 whole. Agriculture, as I faid, has the 
 next Place in Honour after liberal Arts • 
 and next to that, thofe Arts are moft 
 efteem'd which are moll neccffary; the 
 laft of all are thofe which are of Icalt 
 ufe, tho' perhaps the moft delightful. 
 
 Since every one is employed for the com- 
 mon good more than for themfelves, per-, 
 haps Perfons may apprehend tliat this 
 gives a Check to Induftry, not having 
 that fpur of private Intereft, hoarding 
 up Riches, or aggrandizing their Families, 
 as is to be found in other Nations. I was 
 apprchenfwc of this my felf, when I came 
 to undcrftand their Government ; but fa 
 iar from it, that poflibly there is not fuch 
 an Induftiious Race of People in the Uni- 
 verfe. They place their great Ambition 
 in the Grandeur of their Country^ look- 
 ing 
 
2i8 Ihe MEMOIRS af 
 
 ing on thofe as narrow and mercenary Spi- 
 rits, who can prefer a part to the whole ; 
 they pride themfelves over other Nations 
 on that Account, each Man having a pro- 
 portionable iharc in the publick Grandeur, 
 the Love of Glory and Praife feems to bo 
 their greateft PalTion. Befides, their wife 
 Governours have fuch ways oi ftirring up 
 their emulation by pubHck Honours, Ha- 
 rangues, and Panegyricks in their AfTem- 
 blies, with a Thoufand other Arts of 
 Shew and Pageantry, and this for the moft 
 minute Arts, that were it not for that 
 fraternal Love ingrafted in them from 
 ' their Infancy, they would be in danger of 
 raifing their emulation to too great a 
 height, Thofe who give Indications of 
 greater Wifdom and Prudence in their 
 CondutSt than others, are marked out for 
 Governours, and gradually raifed accord- 
 ing to their Merit. Whoever invents a 
 new Art has a Statue eredcd according 
 to the ufefulnefs of it, with his Name and 
 Family put down in the pubhck Records. 
 Whoever diftinguifhes himfelf by any par- 
 ticular Eminence, has fui table Marks of 
 Diftindion paid him on publick Occafions, 
 as Garlands, Crowns, Acclamations, Songs, 
 or Hymns in his Praife, ^x, 'Tis incredi- 
 ble how fuch Rewards as thefe encou- 
 rage Induftry and Arts in Minds fo af- 
 fedied with Glory as thefe People are : 
 
 On 
 
Signer Gaudentio di Lucca. 219 
 On the other hand, their greateft Punifli- 
 ment, except for capital Crimes, which 
 are punifh'd as above, arc by publick dif- 
 graces. 
 
 But now I am fpeaking of their Youth, 
 as they look upon them as Seeds of the 
 common Wealth, which if corrupted in 
 the Bud will never bring forth Fruit, fo 
 their particular care is laid out in their 
 Education, in which I believe they ex- 
 cel all Nations yet known. One cannot 
 fay there is one Perfon in the whole Na- 
 tion who may be call'd an Idle Perfon, 
 tho' they indulge their Youth very much 
 in proper Recreations, endeavouring to 
 keep them as Gay as they can, becaufe 
 they are naturally inclin'd to Gravity, 
 and befides daily Recreations, they have 
 fct Times and Seafons for publick cxer- 
 cifes, as Riding, Vaulting, Running, but 
 particularly Hunting wild Beafts, and Fifh- 
 ing for Crocodiles^ and Jlligators^ in 
 their great Lakes, which I fliall defcribe 
 to your Reverences on another Occaiion ; 
 yet they are never fuffer'd to go alone, 
 that is, a Company of young Men toge- 
 ther, without grave Men and Perfons in 
 Authority along with them, who are a 
 Guard to them in all their A<5tions : Nay, 
 they are never fuffer'd to lye together, 
 each lying in a fingle Bed, tho' jn a pub- 
 lick Room, with fom^ grave Perfon in 
 
 the 
 
220 The MEMOIRS of 
 the fame Room with them. Their Wo- 
 men are kept much in the fame manner, 
 to prevent Inconveniencies I fliall touch 
 upon, when I come to the Education of 
 their Women, and this fo univerfally, 
 that as there are no idle Companions to 
 lead them into extravagancies, fo there 
 are no idle and loofe Women to be found 
 to corrupt their Purity. Their whole time, 
 both for Men and Women,is taken upinEm- 
 ployments or publick Recreations_, which, 
 with the early care to Inftrud them in the 
 fundamental Principles of the MoraHty of 
 the Country, prevents all thofe diforders 
 of Youth we fee clfcwherc. Hence comes 
 that ftrcngth of Body and Mind in their 
 Men, and modcft bloomy Beauty in their 
 Women ; fo that among this People Na- 
 ture fccms to have kept it fclf up to its 
 primitive and original Perfedion. Befide 
 that univerfal Jikenefs in them, proceed- 
 ing from their conjugal fidelity, and cx- 
 clufion of all foreign Mixture in their 
 Breed, where all the Lineaments of their 
 Anceftors, dired and collateral, meet at - 
 laft in their off-fpring, gives the Parents 
 the Comfort of feeing their own Bloom 
 and Youth renew'd in their Children, tho* 
 in my Opinion this univerfal likenefs is 
 rather a defeat ; not but the Treafurcs of 
 Nature are fo inexhauftiblc, that there 
 arc feme diftinguifhing Beauties in every 
 
 Face. 
 
Signor Gaudentio di Lucca. l2t 
 Face. Their young Men and Women 
 meet frequently, but then 'tis in their 
 publick AlTemblies, with grave People 
 mixt along with them ; at all publick ex^ 
 ercifes the Women are placed in view to 
 fee and be feen, to enflame the young 
 Men with emulation in their Performan- 
 ces. They are permitted to be decently 
 familiar on thofe publick Occafions, and 
 can chufe their Lovers refpedtiveiy, ac- 
 cording to their liking, there being no 
 fuch thing as Dowries, or Intereft, but 
 mere perfonal Merit in the Cafe ,• but 
 more of this in the next Paragraph v/here 
 I ftiall^ fpeak more particularly of the 
 Education of their Women and Marriages. 
 This is a fliort sketch of the Government 
 and OEconomy of a People, who are fo 
 much diftinguiili'd from the Cuftoms of 
 others, as they are feparated by their Ha- 
 bitation and Country. 
 
 Inqiiifitor, You feem. Sir, to have a ve- 
 ry high Idea of this Patriarchal Govern- 
 ment, and look upon it according to the 
 Law of Nature ; I hope you don't deny 
 but Perfons may be obliged by the Law 
 of Nature to obey their forms of Govern- 
 ment, as well as a Patriarchal one ? 
 
 Gaudcntio. No, Reverend Fathers, by 
 no means, I don't enter into comparifons, 
 but relate Matter of Fact. 'Tis not to be 
 doubted, but different Forms of Govern- 
 ment 
 
222 TZ?^ MEMOIRS ^/ 
 
 ment may be proper for different Nations, 
 and where once a Form of Government 
 is lawfully cftabliilVd, Perfons are obliged 
 to obey, to avoid anarchy and confufion ; 
 as for example, whoever fliould endea- 
 vour to fubvert a MonarchicalGovernment 
 once lawfully cftablifli'd, muft break in up- 
 on the Laws of Right and Juftice, which 
 are Obligations of the Law of Nature. 
 
 Inqiiifitor. Read on. 
 
 Second Inqiiijitor, Under Favour I muft 
 ask him a Qiicftion or two fir ft. I think. 
 Signer Gaudentio^ you make the Grand 
 ^ophar to be both Prince and Prieft ^ that 
 is, to be veftcd both with Temporal and 
 Spiritual Pow'cr : Is it your Opinion that 
 the Spiritual Powder is fubjed to the Tem- 
 poral ? 
 
 Gaiidentio. I fpeak of Heathens^ Re- 
 verend Fathers, and a IleatheniJJ) VVor- 
 iliip, where the Grand Tophar was both 
 Prince of the People, and chief Prieft of 
 the Sun by his Place. I acknowledge no 
 Head of the Church but his HoHnefs, as 
 moft agreeable to the primitive Inftituti- 
 on of our Religion. 
 
 Here he went on in his exalted 7iotions 
 of the So'vereign Pontiff, partly beings a 
 Roman Catholick, hit chiefly in all yjp- 
 pearance^ hecaiife he z^oas before the In- 
 
 quifition ; 
 
Signor Gaudentio di Lucca. ii% 
 
 quifition j for which Reafon the TzibliJIo^ 
 er thought fit to leave it out, 
 
 Qaiidentio. Do's it pleafe your Reve- 
 rences that I go on with my Hiftory c> 
 Inquifitor. Ay, ay, read on. 
 
 The ^Education of their Women^ and 
 Marriages. 
 
 A S for their Women, the Tophar told 
 me it was what gave them the moft trou- 
 ble of any Thing in their whole Govern- 
 ment i that by their Records their Ancef- 
 tors had held frequent confultations af- 
 ter what Manner they were to be mana- 
 ged, there being great Difficulties to be 
 feared either from allowing them Liber- 
 ty, or keeping them under Reftraint. If 
 you allow them Liberty, you muft depend 
 on their Honour, or rather Capricio^ for 
 your own ; if you keep them under Con- 
 finement, they'll befure to revenge them- 
 felves the firft Opportunity, which they 
 will find in fpite of all you can do. The 
 Rules, faid he, by which Men are govern'd, 
 won't hold with Women ,- folid Reafon. 
 if you can make them fcnfible of, it will 
 fome time or other have an influence on 
 moft Men, whereas Humour is what pre- 
 dominates in Women. Hit that, you have 
 them, mifs it, you do nothings and yet 
 
 th ey 
 
824 "I'he MEMOIRS of 
 
 they are fo far from being an indifferent 
 Thing in the Common-wealth, that much 
 more depends on the right Management 
 of them than People imagine. Licentiouf- 
 nefs of Youth draws innumerable Misfor- 
 tunes on any Government, and what 
 greater Incentives for Licentioufnefs than 
 lew'd Women, whether Proftitutes, wan- 
 ton Ladies, or AdultercfTes ? For all loofe 
 Women belong to one of thefe Clafles. 
 Our Women, continued he, arc cxtream- 
 ly beautiful, as you fecj our Men ftrong 
 and vigorous ; conjugal fidelity therefore 
 and chad it y muft be the ftrongeft Bonds 
 to keep them in their Duty. As for our 
 young Men, wc keep them in perpetual 
 employment, and animate them to Glory 
 by all ways capable of ftirringup generous 
 Minds ; we endeavour the fame on our 
 Women, by ways adapted to their Ge- 
 nius. But our grcatcft care of all, is to 
 make Marriage efteem'd by both Parties 
 the Happiefl State that can be wifli'd for 
 in this Life. This we believe to depend 
 more in making the Woman happy and 
 fixt in her choice, than the Man ^ becaufCj 
 if the Perfon be impos'd upon her, not 
 according to her own inward Inclination, 
 that Diilike, or Revenge,or perhaps a more 
 fliameful paiTion, will make her feek for 
 Relief elfewhere j and where Women are 
 not vertuous. Men will be lewd. We 
 
 there- 
 
ISignor Gaudentio dt Lucca. 2it\ 
 
 therefore permit the Yvoman to chufc? 
 entirely tor her felf, and the Men to make 
 their AdJrefles where they pieafe ; But 
 the Woman is to diitinguifh her choice by 
 fome lignal Occaiiou or ether, and that 
 too not without groat Difficulties on both 
 fides, whicri being furmounted, they efteem 
 themfeives arrived at the happy part of 
 ail their Wifhos. The moft ardent and 
 tried Love determines the Choice : This 
 endears the Man to her on the one Hand^ 
 and the difficulty of finding any Woman 
 who has not the fame Inducements to Love 
 her Husband, leaves him no encourage- 
 ment in his lawlefsDehres among married 
 Women ; and the lingle Women are ei- 
 ther fo early engaged with their Lovers, 
 or fo pofiefsM with the notion that a mar- 
 ried Man can't belong to her, that his 
 Su^t would be entirely vain. In a Word, 
 we don't allow the ieaft Temporal Inte- 
 reft to interfere in the Choice, but rather 
 wi(h our young People fl^iould fall in Love. 
 Our whole Bufin efs is to prove their con- 
 ftancy, and to make them fo j when we 
 are well alfured of this, all obftacles are 
 removed. We found this Method to have 
 the Ieaft Inconveniencies of any, and the 
 beft Means to preferve conjugal Fidelity, 
 on which the good of Fanjilies fo much 
 depends* 
 
 XX Wheni 
 
-i2<5 27^^ MEMOIRS of 
 
 When our Nation, continued he, bcgaii 
 to grow very populous, the Country full 
 of Riches and Plenty ; the promifcuous 
 Converfation of our young Men and Wo- 
 men, with feme negled: on the part of the 
 Governours, was the Occafion that the 
 Bounds of our innocent Anceftors were 
 not futficient to keep them in their Duty ; 
 Itrangc diforders were crept among our 
 Youth of both Sexes, our Men grew ener- 
 vated and effeminate, our Women wan- 
 ton and enflamcd ; unnatural Abufes waft- 
 ed away their Conftitution, fo that we 
 loft Thoufands of our young Men and 
 Women, without knowing what was the 
 caufe ; even in the married State, the 
 Women began not to be contented with 
 one Man, on which Account our Ancef- 
 tors had almoft refolv'd to keep all our 
 Women from the light of Men till they 
 were Married, and then to deliver them 
 up to their Husbands, who fhould have 
 a defpotick Right over them, as I am in- 
 form'd they have in other Nations. They 
 judg'd this to be a certain means to be 
 fure of the Legitimacy of their Children, 
 and to prevent Jealoufy, the firft caufe 
 tho' diftembled, of the Man's diflike to 
 his Wife. Others obje-ited againft tliis fe- 
 vere Difcipline, and faid, it was making 
 the moft beautiful part of the Creation 
 mere Slaves, or at Ica/t mere Properties ; 
 
 it 
 
Signor Gaudentio di Lucca. 227 
 
 it was to give an innate check to the 
 Glory of a free People, it was to deprive 
 the Husband of the voluntary Love of his 
 moiety, and take away the moft endear- 
 ing part of conjugal Happinefs. To this 
 the fevere fide anfwer'd, that the Wo- 
 men were come to fuch a pafs, that 
 the Abufes of it, fhew'd they were not 
 capable of Liberty i however, a medium 
 betwixt both carried it for that Time. 
 The Injuries of the Marriage State, and 
 the Corruption of Youth, which was the 
 Occafion of it, was judg'd to be of fuch 
 Confequence to the Commonwealth, that 
 they were refolv'd to put a ftop to it at 
 any rate j all the wife Men and Gover- 
 nours confulted and refolv'd unanimoufly, 
 to put the Laws I mention'd againft Adul- 
 tery and Whoredom in execution, caufing 
 Proclamations to be made for that intent 
 throughout the whole Empire. All cor- 
 rupters of Youth of both Sexes were fliut 
 up immediately, with thofc regulations 
 I related above, of having grave Perfons 
 always in the Company of young People, 
 Jvlen and Women. They Married off all 
 that were at Age for it, as fail as they 
 could, but found they did not increafe as 
 ufual, having, exhaufted or debilitated 
 their native Vigour by their unnatural 
 Abufes. 
 
 Q Z $07729 
 
^28 27^^ MEMOIRS (?/ 
 
 Some Paragraphs feem wanting in 
 this part cf GaudcjUioV Narratii'e^ 
 which doubtlcfs were z^ry Curious, 
 
 There is a peculiar Method allowed 
 by them in which they differ from all 
 other Nations 5 for whereas other Nati- 
 ons endeavour to preferve their young 
 People from Love, left they fliould throw 
 themfelves away, or make difadvantage- 
 ous Matches, thefc People having no 
 interefted Views in that Refpedt, encou- 
 rage a Generous and Honourable Love, 
 and make it their care to fix them in the 
 flridleft l,ove they can, as foon as they 
 judge by their Age and Conftitution how 
 they are inclined ; this they do fometimes 
 by applauding them on their Choice, but 
 moftiy by raifing vaft Difficulties, contri- 
 ved on purpofe, both to try, and enhance 
 their Conftancy. They have Hiftories and 
 Stories uf Heroick Examples of Fidelity 
 and Conftancy in both Sexes, but particu- 
 larly for the young Women, by which 
 they are taught rather to fuffer ten Thou- 
 fand Deaths, than violate their plighted 
 Faith ; one may fay they are a Nation of 
 faithful Lovers, the longer they live to- 
 gether the more their Friendftiip encrea- 
 fes, and Infidelity in either Sex is look'd 
 iipon as a capital Crime, Add to this, that 
 
 being 
 
Signor Gaudentio di Lucca. 22^ 
 
 being all of the fame Rank and Quality, 
 except the regard paid to Elderfhip and 
 pubLck Employments, nothing but perlb- 
 nal Merit, and a liking of each other, de- 
 termines the Choice. There mud be iig- 
 nal proofs produced, that the Woman pre- 
 fers the Man before all others, as his Ser- 
 vice muft be diftinguiAi*d in the fame man- 
 ner. Where this is approv*d of by the Go- 
 vcrn'^urs or Elders, if the Woman infifts on 
 her Demands, 'tis an inviolable Law, that 
 that Man mud be her Husband. Their 
 Hands firft are join'd together in Publick, 
 then they clafp each other in the clofclt 
 Embrace, in which pofture the Elder of 
 the Place puts a Circle of the fineft Tern* 
 per'd Steel, to fhew that this Union is 
 never to be diifolv'd. It is all woven with 
 Flowers, and iirft laid over their Necks, 
 as they are thus clafping eacli other, then 
 round their Waill, and laft of all round 
 their Breads, or Hearts, to hgnify that 
 the ardency of their Love muft terminals 
 in an indiffoluble Friend iliip, with in- 
 finite Acclamations and Congratulations 
 of the whole AlTembly. I believe the 
 World can't furnifh fuch examples of 
 conjugal Chaftity as are preferved betweea 
 them by thefe means. Widowers and Wi- 
 dows never marry fingle Perfons, and but 
 rarely at all, except left young, when 
 they are to gain each other as before. By 
 .3 Q. 3. fuch 
 
150 27j>^ memoirs of 
 fuch prudent precautions infinite difor- 
 ders are prevented, proceeding not only 
 from difproportionate and forc'd Mar- 
 riages, but from the Licentioufnefs of idle 
 Perfons, who either marry for Money, or 
 live on the fpoil of other People, till they 
 can get an advantageous Match, which 
 often occafions great Misfortunes in a 
 Commonwealth. This is a fliort sketch 
 of their Government and Cuftoms, which 
 I thought would not be unacceptable to 
 your Reverences, tho' a great many other 
 Cuftoms of lefs Moment will occur in the 
 Sequel of my Life. 
 
 Continuatmi of the MEMOIRS. 
 
 JVhere the Author Returns to the more 
 particular Circiimfiances of his o'^^n 
 Life. 
 
 THE Tophar Regent made choice of 
 me for one of his attending Companions, 
 with the other young Men who carae 
 Home with us ; he had a great many 
 other Attendants and Officers deputed by 
 common confent, to wait his Orders as 
 Regent ; thefe were chang'd every five 
 Years, as were thofe attending the Go- 
 vernours of the other Nomes, on Account 
 
 of 
 
Signor Gaudentio di Lucca, 231 
 
 of Improvement j for, being all of equal 
 Quality, they endeavour to give them as 
 equal an Education as is poliible, chang- 
 ing their employments, and waiting on 
 one another in their turns by the appoint- 
 ment of their refpedtive Governours, ex- 
 cept thofe whofe Genius or Choice deter- 
 mines them to Arts and Sciences, accord- 
 ing to their OEconomy defcrib'd before. 
 I muft only add, that having fuch a high 
 Value for their Race, no one thinks it a 
 difgrace to perform the meaneft Offices, 
 being all to be attended in like manner 
 themfelves when it comes to their turns, 
 every one looking on the Honours done 
 to every Branch of their Government, as 
 their own. Hence all their publick Ranks 
 and Ceremonies are the moil Magnificent 
 that can be imagin'd ; there is fcarce any 
 Thing done even in Entertainments be- 
 tween the private Tribes, but there are 
 proper Officers deputed for it, and all ex- 
 pences paid out of the common Stock, 
 with Deputies and Overfcers for every 
 Thing. Their Houfes are all open to one 
 another with a long Gallery, which runs 
 from the end of one range of Building to 
 the other y the \V omens apartments join 
 together, with the Men of each Family 
 joining to their own Women, that is, their 
 Wives, Sifters, and Daughters. The Wo- 
 men have their fubaltern Officers like the 
 Q. 4. Men; 
 
^3i 'Ihe MFMOIRS r/ 
 Men. The fi-ft Af artm.wt of every break 
 of a Street belongs to the M'jn, then the 
 Women's belon^^ing to them ,• then the 
 Women of the r.ext Family joining to 
 them, and their Men beyond thum, and 
 fo on, with large pubii CR Halls at proper 
 diftances for publick. AlT-mblies; fo that 
 every Thing they do is a fq;t of a i^-^ra- 
 dox to us, for they are the freolt and yet 
 ftridteft People ia the Worlds the whole 
 Nation, as I obferved before, being more 
 like one univerfai regniar College, or 
 Community, than any '\ n^^ eife. The 
 Women are perpetual iv employed as well 
 as the Men ; 'tis their l>uiinefi. to work all 
 the fine Garments tor themfelves and the 
 Men, which being much the fame, except 
 Devices and Fiow^'-s for their F i-^nds and 
 Trovers, are made with lefs Difficulty i the 
 chief difference is in the wearing them : 
 But the chief diftindi^ n of Sexes is in the 
 Ornaments of their Necks, and Hiir. 
 Crowns and Fillets are worn by all, jjft 
 after the Model of the little Picture your 
 Reverences faw in the Cabinet; all their 
 Tapeftry, Embroidery, and the like, with 
 infinite other Curiofitie^, arc ail the works 
 of their Women; fo that the chief Quali- 
 fication of their Women, or Ladies, for 
 they are all fuch, is to excel in the Loom, 
 Needle, or Diflaff. Since I came there, by 
 tne Topbar's Defire, they have added 
 
 that 
 
Sigmr Gaudentto dt Lucca. 233 
 that of Painting, in which I believe, the 
 vivacity of their Genius will make them 
 excel all the reft of the World. Not 
 teaching for hire, I thought it no difgrace 
 in me to inftrucl fuch amiable Scholars ia 
 an Art no Man ought to be afham'd of; 
 'tis a Thing unknown with thefe People, 
 for young Ladies of all degrees, or even 
 young Men, to have nothing elfe to mind 
 or think of but Vifits and Dreffes, When 
 I gave them an Account of the Lives of 
 our Quality and Gentry, they cried out 
 what Barbarians ! can any thing become 
 Beauty more than Knowledge and Inge- 
 nuity ? They feem'd to have fuch a con- 
 tempt, and even a horrour for a Life of 
 that Nature, that the young Ladies ask'd 
 me with great concern, if our Ladies had 
 any Lovers ? as if it were impolTible to 
 Love a Woman who had nothing to re- 
 commend her, but what Nature gave her. 
 In fine, by the Defcription I gave oiP the 
 idle Life of our Ladies, they judged them 
 to be no more than beautiful Brutes. They 
 asked me alfo, if I did not think my felf 
 fortunate by my Captivity, where I met 
 with Ladies, who thought the Ornaments 
 of the Mind more defirable than thofe of 
 the Body, and told me they imputed what 
 they faw in me, to my good Fortune of 
 being born of their Race by the Mother s 
 fulej nay, could fcarce believe but my 
 
 Fa- 
 
234 T^ke MEMOIRS of 
 
 Father had a mixture of their Blood fome 
 way or other. I aflured them, I efteem'd 
 my fclf very happy to be in the midft of 
 lb many Charms of Body and Mind ; and 
 added, that tho' they had the ineftimable 
 Happinefs of being born all of one Race 
 without any mixture of Foreign Vices, 
 yet in effed, all the World were original- 
 ly Brothers and Sifters, as fpringing from 
 one ^air^ fince Men and Women did not 
 rife out of the Ground like Muflirooms. 
 This I faid, to give them a little hint of 
 natural and reveal'd Religion, which are 
 infeparably link'd together. But to re- 
 turn to my felf i the 'Popbar being my 
 neareft Relation, took me into his own 
 Family, as his conftant Companion, and 
 Attendant, when he was not on the pub- 
 lick Concerns, where I always accompa- 
 ny'd him with moft diftinguifliing Marks 
 of his favour. He would often confer with 
 me, and inftrud me in their Ways and 
 Cuftoms, and the Polity of their Govern- 
 ment, enquiring frequently into the par- 
 ticularities of our Governments both Ci- 
 vil aod ReHgious ^ for the laft he never 
 endeavoured to perfwade me to conform 
 to their Ceremonies, and my own good 
 fenfe told me it was Prudence not to med- 
 dle with them. I rather thought he feem'd 
 incUn*d to have more favourable fcnti- 
 ments of our Religion j as fuch, than his 
 
 own. 
 
Sigmr Gaudentio di Lucca. 237' 
 
 own, tho' he was prodigioufly bigotted to 
 their Civil Cuftoms,- faying, it was im- 
 poflTiblecvertopreferve a Commonwealth, 
 when they did not live up to their Laws,- 
 that thefe Laws lliould be as few, and as 
 fimple as poifible, but then kept to a tit- 
 tle. For when once People come to break 
 in upon fundamentals, all fubfequent Laws 
 would not have half the ftrength as pri- 
 mary ones, with a great many other re- 
 flexions, that fliew a he was a Man of 
 a moft confummate Wifdom^ and worthy 
 the high Poft he bore. He had had two 
 Sons, both dead, and two Daughters liv- 
 ing, the one was about ten Years old, 
 w^hen I arrvied there ; it is ilie your Reve- 
 rences faw in that Pidure, the other born 
 the Year before the Tophar fet out for 
 Grand Cairo, His Lady, much younger 
 than himfelf, Ihew'd fuch frefh remains of 
 Beauty, as demonftrated that nothing but 
 w^hat fprung from her felf, could equal 
 her ; both the Topbar and his Con fort 
 look'd on me as their own Son, nor could 
 1 exped greater favour had I really been 
 fo. I took all the care imaginable not to 
 render my felf unworthy of it, and both 
 revered and loved them beyond what I 
 am able to exprefsj tho' indeed, as I ob- 
 ferved, the whole Race of them was no- 
 thing but a Kingdom of Brothers and 
 Friends; no Man had the leaft fufpicion 
 
 or 
 
7^6 The MEMOIRS of 
 
 or fear of one another. They were fo 
 habituated to the obfervance of their 
 Laws, by their natural Difpofitions and 
 the never-ceafing Vigilancy of their Go- 
 vernours, that they Teenj^o to have a 
 greater hoirour for the bieach or their 
 Laws, than the punifhments attending it ; 
 faying^ that infinite diforcl:'S might be 
 committed by the mahcious Inventions of 
 Men, if th.re was nothing but tear to 
 keep them in their Duty. Sucn forco has 
 Education and the hght of Nature right- 
 ly cultivated j for my felf I w.i> left to 
 follow what liberal employir?' nt i h-id a 
 Mind to. Ph'lofophy, Mufick and Paint- 
 ing had been the chief part of my Study 
 and Diverfion, till my unhappy Captivity, 
 and the lofs of my BiXthci -, but as I was 
 fallen among a Nation of Philcfophers, 
 that noble Science, the Miftrefs of all 
 others, made up the more fcrious part of 
 my Employment. Tho', by the Popbar 
 Regent's earneft Defire, 1 applied n-y felf 
 to the other two, particularly Paintmg. 
 They had a great many old-%fhion'd Mu- 
 fical Inftrtiments, and an infinite Number 
 of Performers in their way, accompanying 
 their Feafts and PuUlick Rejoycings j their 
 Muiick both Vocal and Inftrumental was 
 not near fo perfedt as one might have ex- 
 peded of fo polite a People, and did not 
 come up to the elevated Genius of our 
 
 Ita- 
 
Signor Gaudentto di Lucca. 237 
 
 Italic IS. l'he\r Phiicfopby chiefly turn'd 
 oil the more ufeful jiart of it, that is, the 
 Mitheaiaticks aid Axetiion of Nature j in 
 the Moral part of it they have a Syftem, 
 or rather ^sotion, of which I forgot to 
 acquaint your Reverences before ; it is a 
 too high and exalted Notion of Provi- 
 dence, if that Expreffion may be Hiow'd, 
 by which they imagine all Things to be 
 fo govern'd in this World, that what- 
 ever injury a Maa does to another, it 
 will be return'd upon him or his Pofterity, 
 even in this World, in the fame Manner, 
 or even in a greater degree, than what he 
 did to others. 
 
 In qui jit or. Youll be pleafed to ex- 
 plain your own Sentiments in this parti- 
 cular, fince we hope you don't deny that 
 fuadamental Law of Nature and Reli- 
 gion, viz. That the Divine Providence 
 prefides over all Things ; and as for fub- 
 lunary Things, we prcfume you believe 
 that Providence docs net only fhew itfclf 
 in the wonderful Production and Harmony 
 confpicuous in all natural Caufes and Ef- 
 fedts, beyond all the Wit and Art of 
 Men i but alfo over the moral Part, that 
 is, the free A(5tions of Men, by fuitable 
 Rewards and Punifl^^ments \x\ this World 
 or the next, to make an equal and jufl 
 Compenfation for all the Goods and Evils 
 of this Life, as God is the juft and equal 
 
 Father 
 
238 !r^(? MEMOIRS ^ 
 
 Father of all. So pray explain your felf, 
 that we may know your real Sentiments 
 on rhat Head. 
 
 Gaitdentio, I hope, Reverend Fathers, 
 I fhall convince you, my Sentiments are 
 really Orthodox in this Point ; no Man 
 has more Reafon to magnify Providence 
 than ray felf ; but Heathenifli People may 
 carry a juft belief to Superftition. That 
 there is a Providence over the phyfical 
 Part of the World, no Man who has any 
 juft KnowledB;.e in Nature can be igno- 
 rant, and may be convinced by the leaft 
 Infetl:, every thing being adapted to its 
 peculiar Endi, with fuch Art and Know- 
 ledge in the Author of it, that all the 
 Art and Knowledge of Men can't do the 
 like 'y and by confequence not being able 
 to make it fclf, it muft be produced by a 
 Caufc infinitely Knowing and Forefeeing. 
 Then, as to the moral Part of the World, 
 the fame Reafon fliews, that fince the 
 great Creator defcends fo low as to take 
 Care of the Icaft Infedt, 'tis incredible to 
 think that the nobleft Part of the World, 
 that is, the free Anions* of Men, fliould be 
 without his Care. But as he has given 
 them the glorious Endowments of free 
 Will, the fame Providence knows how 
 to adapt the Diredion of them by ways 
 and means fuitable to their Beings j that 
 isj by letting them know his Will, and 
 
 propo- 
 
Signor Gaudektio di Lucca. '23^ 
 
 propofing fuitable Rewards and Punifh* 
 ments for their good and bad Adionsj 
 which Rewards and Punifhments^ 'tis evi- 
 dent, are not always feen in this Life, 
 iince the wicked often Profpcr, and the 
 good Suffer, but by confequence niuft be 
 referved for another State. 
 
 But thefe People not having a juft No- 
 tion of the next Life, tho' they believe a 
 future State, carry matters fo far, that 
 they think every Injury done to another, 
 will be fome way or other retaliated 
 upon the Aggreffor, or his Pofterity in this 
 Life ; only they fay, the Puniiliment al- 
 ways falls the heavier the longer it is de- 
 ferr'd. In this manner do they account 
 for all the Revolutions of the Earth, that 
 one wicked Action is punilli'd by another, 
 that the Defcendants of the greatefl Mo- 
 narchs have been lofl in Beggary for al- 
 moft endlefs Generations, and the Perfons 
 that difpoffefs'd them treated after the 
 fame manner by fome of the Defcendants 
 of the former, and fo on : Which Notion, 
 in my Opinion is not jufl:, (ince a fmcerc 
 Repentance may wipe off the mod grie- 
 vous Offences. But as Perfons generally 
 fpeaking are more fenfibly touched with 
 the Punifliments of this Life, it is not to 
 be doubted but there are often moft fignai 
 Marks of avenging Providence in this 
 Life, in order to deter the Wicked. 
 
 Inqui' 
 
240 ihe MEMOIRS of 
 
 Jnqnifitor. Go on. 
 
 Gaiidentio. Finding the Tophar had 
 a prodigious fancy for Painting, by fome 
 indifferent Pieces he had picked up, I ap^ 
 plied my felf with extraordinary diligence 
 to that Art, particularly fince he would 
 have me teach his Daughter, whofe un- 
 paralelled Charms, tho* juft in the Bud, 
 made me infenfible to all others. By fre- 
 quent Drawing, I not only pleafed him 
 and others, but almoft my felf ; every one 
 there. Men and Women were to follow 
 fome Art, or Science j the "Tophar dcfired 
 me to impart my Art to fome of the 
 young People of both Sexcs^ faying they 
 had very great Encouragements for the 
 Inventors of any new Arts, which I might 
 juftly claim a Title to, with refpe(5t to 
 their Notion : I did fo, and before I left 
 the Place, 1 had the pleafure to fee fome 
 of them equal, or even excelling their 
 Mafter. 
 
 Thefe were the chief Employments of* 
 my leifure Hours i tho* I was forced to 
 leave them for confiderable Intervals, to 
 attend the Regent in the private Vifita- 
 tions of his Charge, which he did fre- 
 quently from time to time, fometimes to 
 one Nome^ fometimes to another, having 
 an Eye over all both Officers and People* 
 Thefe Vilitations were rather Preferva- 
 tions againft^ than Remedies for any 
 
 Diforr 
 
Signor Gaudentio di Lucca. 241 
 
 Diforders. He ufed to fay, that the 
 Commonwealth was like a great Machine 
 with different Movements, which if fre- 
 quently vifited by the Artift, the leaft 
 Flaw being taken Notice of in Time, was 
 not only foon remedied, but was a means of 
 prefervingall the reft in a conftant and re- 
 gular Motion J but if neglected, would foon 
 difordcr the Motions of the other Parts, 
 and either coft a great deal to repair, 
 or bring the whole Machine to De- 
 ftrudtion. Unlefs on Publick Solemnities, 
 which were always very Magnificent, the 
 ^ophar went about without any great 
 Train, not to burden his People, accom- 
 panied by only an afTifting Elder or two, 
 the young Tophar^ and my fclf, he hold- 
 ing frequent Confultationswith the Subal- 
 tern s^ and even with the meanefl: Jrtifaits^ 
 calling them his Children ; and they hav- 
 ing recourfe to him as their common Fa- 
 ther. For the firft five Years of his Re- 
 gency, the only difficulty we had of any' 
 Moment to determine was an Affair of 
 the moft delicate Nature I ever heard i 
 Tho' it does not concern my felf, I fhall 
 relate it to your Reverences for the pe- 
 culiar Circumflances of it, it being a 
 Cafe entirely new, as well as unprovided 
 for by the Laws in their Conflitution. 
 
 The Cafe was thus: Two Twin Bro- 
 thers had fallen in Love with the fame 
 
 R Woman^' 
 
t^i ne MEUOIRS of 
 
 .Woman, and fhe with them. The Meii 
 and the Woman lived in different Parts 
 of the fame NomCy and met accidentally 
 at one of their great Solemnities ; it was 
 at the Feaft of the Sun which is kept 
 twice a Year^ becaufe, as I informed your 
 Reverences, their Kingdom lies between 
 the Tropicks, but more on this fide the 
 Line than the other. This Situation is 
 the occafion that they have two Springs 
 and two Summers. At the beginning of 
 each Spring, there arc great Fcafts in 
 CVQXY Nofne^ in Honour of the Sun ; they 
 are held in the open Fields, in Teftimony 
 of his being the immediate Caufe (in their 
 Opinion) of the Produdiion of all Things. 
 'All the Sacrifice they offer to him are five 
 little Pyramids of Incenfe, according to 
 the Number" of their Nomes^ placed on 
 the Altar in Plates of Gold till they take 
 Fire of themfelves. Five young Men and 
 as many Women are deputed by the Go- 
 vernours to perform the Office of placing 
 the Pyramids of Incenfe on the Altar, 
 clad in their fpangled Robes of the 
 colour of the NomCy with Crowns on 
 their Heads, marching up two by two, 
 a Man and a Woman, between two 
 Rows of young Men and Women, placed 
 Theatre-wife one above another, and 
 make the mod beautiful Show that Eyes 
 can behold. It happened that one of the 
 
 Twin 
 
Signor Gaudentio di Lucca. 245 
 
 Twin Brothers was deputed, with the 
 young Lady I am fpeaking of, to make 
 the firft Couple for the placing the In- 
 cenfe on the Altar. They marched up on 
 different (ides till they came to the Altar : 
 When they have placed the Incenfe, they 
 falute each other, and crofs down, he 
 by the Ranks of the Women, and llie by 
 the Men, which they do with a wonder- 
 ful Grace becoming fuch an Auguft Affem- 
 bly. The defign of this is to encourage 
 a decorum in the Carriage of the young 
 People, and to give them a fight of each 
 other in their greateft Luftre. When the 
 five Couple have perform'd their Cere- 
 mony, the other Ranks come two by two 
 to the Altar, faluting each other, and 
 eroding as before, by which means the 
 young People have an opportunity of 
 feeing every Man and Woman of the 
 whole Company, tho' the placing of them 
 is done by Lot. If they have not any en- 
 gagement before, they generally take the 
 lirlt liking to one another at fuch Inter- 
 views, and the Woman's Love and Choice 
 being what determines the Marriage, with- 
 out any view of Intereft, being, as I faid, 
 all equal in Qiiality, the young Gallants 
 make it their Buiincfs to gain the Affec- 
 tion of the Perfon they like by their fu- 
 ture Services. To prevent inconveniences 
 of Rivaliliip at the Beginnings if the Man 
 R a bo 
 
244 T^e MBUOIKS of 
 be the Perfon the Woman Hkcs, he prc- 
 fents her with a Flower juft in the Bud, 
 which fhe takes and puts in her Breaft* 
 If Ihe is engaged before, ilie Ihews him one, 
 to fignify her Engagement ; which if in 
 the Bud only, fliews the Courtfhip is 
 gone no further than the firft Propofaland 
 Liking ; if half blown, or the like^ 'tis an 
 Emblem of further Progrefs ; if full 
 blown, it fignifies that her Choice is de- 
 termined, from whence they can never 
 recede ; that is, llie can change the Man 
 that prefents it, but he can't challenge 
 her till Hie has worn it pubHckly. If any 
 diflike llioald happen after that, they arc 
 to be jliut up, never to have any Husband. 
 If file has no Engagement, but does not 
 approve of the Perfon, fhe m-akcs him a 
 low Courtcfy, with her Eyes fhut till he is 
 gone away. The Women, 'tis true, for 
 all this, have feme little coquettiili Arts,, 
 dilfembling their Affedions now and then, 
 but not often. If the Man be engaged, he 
 wears fome Favour or other to flievv it; 
 if he likes not the Woman, he prefents 
 her with nothing j if the Woman flioud 
 make fome extraordinary advances, with- 
 out any of his fide, ihe has liberty to live 
 a Maid, or to be difpofcd of among the 
 Widows, being look'd upon as fuch, who 
 by the bye, marry none but Widowers. 
 But to return to the Twins, it happened 
 
 that 
 
Signor Gaudentio di Lucca. 243r 
 that the Brother who went with the 
 Lady to the Altar, feeing fhe had no Bud 
 upon her Breaft, fell in Love with her, 
 and file with him ,• the Awe of the Cere- 
 mony hindered them from taking any 
 further Notice of one another at that 
 Time. As ihe went down the Ranks, the 
 other Brother faw her, and fell in Love 
 with her likewife, and contrives to meet 
 her v\^ith a Bud in his Hand, juft as the 
 Ceremony ended, which llie accepts of, 
 taking him to be the Perfon who had 
 marched up with her to the Altar ; but 
 being obliged to go off with the other 
 young Ladies, whether the concern fhe 
 had been in, in performing the Ceremony 
 before fuch an lUuftrious AlTembly, or 
 the Heat of the Weather, or the Joy (he 
 conceived in finding her AffecStion reci- 
 procal, or all together, had fuch an effed, 
 that Hie fell into a fainti^ng Fit among her 
 Companions ,• who opening her Bofom in 
 hafte, not minding the Flower, it fell 
 down, and was trod under Foot. Juft as 
 ihe was recovered, the Brother who per- 
 formed the Ceremony, came up and pre- 
 fented his Bud, fhe thinking it had been 
 that file had loft, received it with a Look 
 that fhew'd he had made a greater Pro- 
 grefs in her Affe(5lions than what that 
 Flower exprefs'd ^ the Lav/s not permit- 
 ting any further Converfation at that 
 R 3 Jundture^ 
 
«4(5 ""Ibe MEMOIRS of 
 
 Jundture, they retired to their refpe£tive 
 Habitations. Some time after, the Brother 
 who had the luck to prefent the firft 
 Flower^ whom for diftin^ion I fliall call 
 the younger Brother, as he really was, 
 found a way to make her a Vilit by ftealth, 
 at a grated Window, which as I obferved, 
 ^vas publickly prohibited by the wife Go*- 
 vernours, but privately connived at to 
 enhance their Love. He came to her, and 
 after fome amorous Converfation, makes 
 bold to prefent her the more advanced 
 Mark of his Afiedion, which llie accepted 
 of, and gave him in return a Scarf work'd 
 with Hearts feparated by little Brambles, 
 to fliew there were fome difficulties for 
 him to overcome yet j however, they gave 
 one another mutual Affurances of Love, 
 and he was permitted to profefs himfelf 
 her Lover, without declaring her Name, 
 for fome private Reafons ihe had. Not 
 long after, the elder Brother came and 
 procured an opportunity of meeting her 
 at the fame Window. The Night was very 
 dark, fo that he could not fee the fecond 
 Flower which fhe had in her Bofom, 
 only flic received him with greater figns 
 of Joy and Freedom than he expeded ; 
 but reflecting on the figns he had rcmark'd 
 in her Countenance, and after her lUnefs, 
 by a fort of natural Vanity for his own 
 Merits, flatter'd himfelf that her Pafilion 
 
 was 
 
Signor Gaudentio di Lucca; 247 
 
 was rather greater than his, excufed him- 
 felf for being folong without feeing her, 
 and added, that if he were to be guided 
 by the height of his Flamtg he would fee 
 her every Night. She rejecting how lately 
 file had feen him, thought his diligence 
 was very extraordinary, but imputed it to 
 the ardour of his Pailloni in fine flie gave 
 him fuch alfureo figns of Love, that he 
 thought in himfeif he might pafs the 
 middle Ceremony, and prefent her with 
 the full blown Flower^ to make fure of 
 her. She took it, but told him fhe would 
 not wear it for fome time, till fhe had 
 paffcd fome Forms, and had further Proof 
 of his Conftancy ^ but for his Confirmatioa 
 of her Affeaion, flie put out her Hand as 
 far as the Grate would permit, which he 
 kifs'd with all the Ardours of an en- 
 flamed Lover, gives her a thoufand Af- 
 furances of his Fidelity, and ihe in return 
 gave him a Ribbon with two Hearts in- 
 terwoven with her own Hair, feparated 
 only with a little hedge of Pomgranates 
 almoft ripe, to (lie w' that the time of 
 gathering the Fruit was nigh at hand. 
 Thus were the three Lovers in thegreateft 
 degree of Happinefs imaginable ^ the Bro- 
 thers wore her Favours on all publick 
 Occafions, congratulating each other for 
 the Succefs in their Amours,- but as 
 Lovers affect a fecrecy in all they do, 
 
 B. 4 never 
 
24^ 1'he MEMOIRS of 
 never telling one another who were the 
 Obje(5ts of their Aftedion, the next great 
 Teaft drew on, when the younger Brother 
 thought it was time to prefcnt the laft 
 Mark of his Affcdion, in order to demand 
 her in Marriage, which was ufually per- 
 form'd in thofe publick Solemnities. He 
 told her he hoped it was now time to re- 
 ward his Flame, by w'caring the open 
 Flower, as a full Sign of her Confent, and 
 gave her a full blown artificial Carnation, 
 with gold Flames and little Hearts on the 
 Leaves, interwoven with w^onderful Art 
 and Ingenuity. She thinking it had been 
 a repetition of the Ardour of his Af- 
 fetSlion, took it, and put it in her Bofom 
 with all the marks of Tendernefs, by 
 which the fair Sex in all Countries know 
 how to reward all the Pains of their 
 Lovers in a Moment. Upon this he re- 
 folved to ask her of her Parents, w^hich 
 "was the only thing neccffary on his fide, 
 the Woman having Right to demand any 
 Man's Son in the Kingdom, if he had but 
 prefented her with the laft Mark of his 
 Affedion. The elder Brother having 
 given in his fome time before, thought the 
 Parents approbation was the only thing 
 wanting on his Side, and rcfolves the 
 fame Day on the fame Thing. They were 
 ftrangely furprized to meet one another,- 
 but feeing the different Favours, they did 
 
 not 
 
Signor Gaudektio t>i Lucca. 249 
 
 not know what to make of it. When the 
 Father came, they declar'd the Caufe of 
 their coming in Terms, which earneftly, 
 expreffed the Agony of their Minds: The 
 Father was in as great concern as they 
 were, alTuring them he had but one 
 Daughter, who he was confident would 
 never give fuch encouragement to two 
 Lovers at the fame time, contrary to their 
 Laws j but feeing their extream Likenefs^ 
 he guefs'd there muft be fome Miftake. 
 Upon this the Daughter was fent for, who 
 being informed it was to declare her con- 
 fent in the Choice of her Lover, came 
 down with four Flowers in her Bofom, 
 not thinking but the two full blown had 
 belonged to the fame Perfon, fince ftie 
 had received two before fhe had Vvorn 
 the firft. The Defcription the Poets give 
 of the Goddefs Venus riling out of the 
 Sea, could not be more beautiful than the 
 Bloom that appeared in her Cheeks when 
 (he came into the Room. I happened to 
 be there prefent, being fent before by the 
 Topbar^ to let the Father know of the 
 Regent's intended Vifit , he being a conli- 
 able Officer, was to order his concerns ac- 
 cordingly. As foon as the young Lady 
 heard the caufe of their coming, and fee- 
 ing themindiftinguifliably like each other, 
 with the publick ligns of her Favours 
 wrought with her own Hand, which they 
 
 brought 
 
2S6 !ra^ MEMOIRS^/ 
 
 brought along with them, flie fcream'd 
 outj lam betrayed! and immediately feli 
 in a Swoon, flat on the Floor, alraoft be- 
 tween her two Lovers. The Father in a 
 Condition very little better, fell down by 
 his Daughter, and bathing her with his 
 Tears, calFd to her to open her Eyes, or 
 he muft dye along with her. The young 
 Men flood like Statues, with Rage and 
 Defpair in their looks at the fame Time. 
 I being the only indifferent Perfon in the 
 Room, tho' cxtreamly furpriz'd at the 
 Event, caird her Mother and V/omcn to 
 come to her AiTiflance ; they carried her 
 into another Room, undrefs'd her, and by 
 proper Remedies, brought her at laft to 
 her felt i the firft Word ibe faid was oh I 
 ^erilla^ what have you done ! all the reft 
 was nothing but fobbs and fighs, enough 
 to melt the hardelt Heart. When fhe was 
 in a condition to explain her fclf, Ihe de- 
 clared, fhe lik'd the Perfon of the Man 
 who went up with her to the Altar ^ that 
 fome time after the fame Perfon, as fhe 
 thought, had prelented her with the firft 
 Marks of his Affection, which fhe accep- 
 ted of, and in fine had given her Confent 
 by wearing the full-blown Flower j but 
 which of the two Brothers it belonged to 
 file could not tell y adding flie was willing 
 to fubmit to the Decifion of the Elders, 
 or to undergo what punifhment they 
 
 thought 
 
Signor Gaudentio di Lucca, i^t 
 thought fit for her heedlefs Indifcretion, 
 the' flie never defigned to entertain two 
 Perfons at the fame time, but took them 
 to be the fame Perfon. The care of their 
 Marriages being one of the Fundamentals 
 of thir Government, and there being no 
 provifion in the Law for this extraordi- 
 nary Cafe, the matter was referred to 
 the Tophar Regent, who was to be there 
 in a few Days, with Guards fet over the 
 Brothers for fear of Mifchief, till a full 
 Hearing. The Affair was difcufs'd be- 
 fore the Tophar Regent, and the reft of 
 the Elders of the Place. The three Lovers 
 were prefent before them, each of them 
 in fuch an Agony as cannot be exprefs'd. 
 The Brothers were fo alike, it was hard 
 to diftinguilL which was which ; the Re- 
 gent ask'd them which of the two went 
 up to the Altar with the young Lady ,• 
 the Elder faid it was he^ which the 
 Younger did not deny ; the Lady being 
 interrogated, own*d ihe defign'd to enter- 
 tain the Perfon that went up with her to 
 the Altar, but went no further than the 
 firft liking : Then they ask'd which of the 
 two Brothers gave the firft Flower, the 
 Younger faid he prefum'd he di\A^ fince 
 he fell in Love with her as flie went down 
 the Ranks, and contriv'd to give her the 
 Flower as foon as the Ceremony was 
 over, not knowing of his Brother's Affec- 
 tion, 
 
i5i Tbe MEMOIRS of 
 
 tioD) neither did fhe bear any Mark of 
 Engagement, but accepted of his Service, 
 the Lady likewife owning the Receipt of 
 fuch a Flower, but loft it, fainting away in 
 the Crowd ^ but when, as flie thought, the 
 reftor'd it to her, fhe did not like him 
 quite fo well, as when flie received it tlie 
 iirft time, fuppofing them to be the fame 
 Perfon. Being ask'd wha gave her the 
 fccond, third, and laft Mark of Engage- 
 ment, it appear'd to be the younger Bro- 
 ther, whofe Flower flie wore publickly 
 in her Bofom ; but then flie receiv'd the 
 full blown Flower from the elder Brother 
 alfo. The Judges look'd at one another 
 for fome Time, not knowing wellwhat 
 to fay to the Matter. Then the Regent 
 sisk'd her, when flie gave her confent, if 
 fhe did not underftand the Perfon to be 
 iiim that went up with her to the Altar ? 
 She own'd fhe did ,• which was the Elder, 
 but in fa(5l had placed her Affedions on 
 the Perfon who gave her the firft Flower, 
 which was the Younger. Then the two 
 Brothers were placed before her, and llic 
 was ask'd, that fuppofing flie w^ere now 
 at Liberty, without any Engagement, 
 which of the two Brothers llie would chufe 
 for her Husband ? She ftopp'd, and blufh'd 
 at the Queftion, but at length faid the 
 Younger had been more afliduous in his 
 Courtfhip, and with that burft into Tears, 
 
 cafting 
 
Signer Gaudei^tio di Lucca. 253 
 
 cafting a Look at the younger Brother, 
 which ealily fhevv'd the Sentiments of her 
 Heart. Every one was in the laft fufpence 
 how the Regent would determine the 
 Cafe j but the young Men exprefs'd fuch 
 a concern in their Looks, as if the laft Sen- 
 tence of Life and Death, Happincfs or 
 Mifery, was to be pronounc'd over them. 
 When the Regent with a Countenance 
 partly Severe as well as Grave, turning 
 towards the young Lady, Daughter, faid 
 he, your ill Fortune, or Indifcretion, has 
 deprived you from having either of them : 
 Both you can't have, and you have given 
 both an equal Right; if either of them 
 will give up their Right, you may marry 
 the other, not elfe. What do you fay 
 Sons, fays he, will you contribute to make 
 one of you Happy ? They both perfifted 
 they would not give up their Right till 
 the laft Gafp. Then, fays the Regent, 
 turning to the Lady, who was almoft 
 Dead with Fear and Confufion, fince nei- 
 ther of them will give up their Right, I 
 prort ounce Sentence on you, to be iliut 
 up from the Commerce of Men, till the 
 Death of one of your Lovers ^ then it 
 fliail be left to your Choice to marry the 
 Survivor i fo giving Orders to have her 
 taken away, the Court was going to break 
 up, when the younger Brotlier falling on 
 his KneeS;> cries out, I yield my Right, 
 
 rather 
 
254 T'^e MEMOIRS of 
 
 rather than the adorable 'Berilla iliou d be 
 miferable on my Account ; let me be fliut 
 up from the Commerce of Men, for being 
 theoccafion of fo divine a Creature's Mif- 
 fortune : Take her Brother, and be happy, 
 and you Divine 'Berilla^ only pardon the 
 . Confufion my Innocent Love has brought 
 upon you; and then I fhall leave the 
 World in Peace. Here the whole Court 
 rofe upj and the young Man was going 
 out, when the Regent ftopp'd him; hold. 
 Son, fays he, there is a greater Hap- 
 pinefs preparing for you than you expc(fi ; 
 Berilla is yours, you alone deferve her, 
 you love her Good more than your own ; 
 as I find her real Love is for you ; here 
 join your Hands, as I find your Hearts 
 are already : So they were Married imme- 
 diately, the Regent leaving behind him a 
 vaft Idea not only of his Juflice, but Wif- 
 dom, in fo intricate a Cafe. I drew an 
 Hiftorical Piece of Painting of this re- 
 markable Trial, expreffing as nigh as I 
 could the Poflures and Agonies of three 
 Lovers, and prefented it to the Divine 
 Ifyphena the Regent's Daughter, telling 
 her, that if fhe were to receive Flowers as 
 that young Lady did, fhe would ruine all 
 the Youths of Mezorania. She received 
 it blufhing, and faid ihe fhould never re- 
 ceive any but from one Hand, nor even 
 that, if ilie thought llie fhould do him 
 
 any 
 
Signor Gaudentio di Lucca, 25 j 
 
 any harm ; adding, her Father had given 
 a juft Judgment, but turn d off the Dif- 
 courfe with fuch Innocence, yet Know- 
 ledge of what ftie faid, that I was fur- 
 prized to the laft degree, not being able 
 to guefs whether I had offended her or 
 not. 
 
 Thefe VifitatioHS in the Company of 
 the TophaV:, gave me the Opportunity of 
 feeing all the different Parts and chief 
 Curiolities of the whole Empire, Their 
 great Towns, efpecially the Heads of 
 every Nome were built, as I faid, much 
 after the fame Form, differing chiefly in 
 the fituation. Thefe are chiefly defign'd 
 for the Winter Rcfidence, for their Courts 
 and Colleges, but particularly for in- 
 ftruding and poliihing their Youth of 
 both Sexes, but with fuch admirable Care 
 and OEconomy, to avoid all diflolutenefs 
 and idlenefs j that, as I obferved before, 
 there is no fuch thing known, as that any 
 Perfons fhou d have no other Bufinefs on 
 their Hands but Vifits and Drefs, cfteem- 
 ing thofe no better than Brutes and 'Bar^ 
 barlans, who are not conftantly employed 
 Improving their natural Talents in fome 
 Art or Science. Their Villa's or Palaces 
 of Pleafure are fcatter'd all over the 
 Country, with moft beautiful variety : 
 Their Villages and Towns for Manufac- 
 tures, Trades, conveniency of Agricul- 
 ture, 
 
25^ Ihe MEMOIRS of 
 
 ture, (^c» are innumerable ^ their Canals, 
 and great Lakes, fome of them like lit- 
 tle Seas, are very frequent, according as 
 the Nature of the Country will allow, 
 with Pleafure-Houfes and Pavillions, built 
 at due diftanccs round the Borders, inter- 
 fpers'd with Iflands and Groves, fome Na- 
 tural, fome Artificial, where at proper 
 Seafons you might fee Thoufands of Boats 
 skimming backwards and forwards, both 
 for the Pleafurc and Profit of FiHiing, of 
 which there is an inexhauftiblc ftore; 
 there are alfo vaft Forefts of infinite 
 variety and dcHght, diftinguiili'd here 
 and there with Theatrical Spaces or 
 Lawns, either Natural, or cut out by 
 Hand, for the conveniency of pitching 
 their Tents in the hot Seafons, with fuch 
 Romantick Scenes of deep Vales, hang- 
 ing Woods, and Precipices, natural Falls 
 and Cafcades, or rather Cataracts of Wa- 
 ter over the Rocks, that all the decora- 
 tions of Art are nothing but foils and fha- 
 dows to thofe Majeftick Beauties of Na- 
 ture ; befidcs the glorious Profpeds of dif- 
 ferent kinds over the edges of the Moun- 
 tains where we pafs'd in our Vifitations^ 
 fometimes prefenting us with a boundlefs 
 View over the moft delicious Plains in the 
 World; in other Places, having our View 
 terminated with other winding Hills, ck- 
 haling their reviving Perfumes from in- 
 numerable 
 
Signor Gaudentio di Lucca. 257 
 
 numerable Species of natural Fruits and 
 odoriferous Shrubs. Travelling thus by 
 eafy Journeys, ftaying or advancing in 
 our Progrefs as we thought fit, I admired 
 with infinite delight the effects of Indu- 
 ftry and Liberty, in a Countr.y where Na- 
 ture and Art feem'd to vye with each 
 other in their different Produ(5lions. There 
 was another extraordinary fatisfadtion I 
 received in thefe Viiitations, which was 
 the Opportunity of feeing, and partaking 
 of their grand Matches, or rather Com- 
 panies, if I may ufe the exprefTion, of their 
 Hunting and Filliing. All the young Peo- 
 ple with their Governours, or all who aro 
 able or willing to go, at particular Sea- 
 fons difperfe thenifelves for thefe Hunts 
 all over the Kingdom : The Country be- 
 ing fo prodigious fertile, that it provides 
 them almoft of it felf w^hatever is ne- 
 ceflary, or even delegable for Life, the 
 People living in fome Meafure in com- 
 mon, and having no other Intercft but 
 that of a well regulated Community; 
 They leave the Towns at certain Sea- 
 fons, and go and live in Tents for the 
 conveniency of Hunting and Fiiliing, ac- 
 cording as the Country and Seafons are 
 proper for each Recreation j the flat part 
 of the Country (tho' it is generally more 
 Hilly than Champaign,") is ftock'd with 
 prodigious Qiantities of Fowl and Game, 
 
 S a§ 
 
25S ne MEmOlRS of 
 
 as TheafantSy Cartridges of different 
 Kinds, much larger than our Wild Hens^ 
 Turkeys and Teacocks with other Species 
 of Game^ which we have not in Italy ; 
 Hares almoft innumerable, but no Coneys 
 that ever I faw ; unlefs we call Coyieys a 
 lelTer fort of Jiare^ which feed and run 
 along the Cliffs and Rocks, but don't 
 Burrovgh as ours do. There is alfo a 
 fmali fort of Wild Goat^ much lefs than 
 ours, not very fleet, of a very high Tafic, 
 and prodigious fat i they take vaft Quan- 
 tities of all Sorts, but ftill leave fufficicnt 
 Stock to fupply next Seafon, except hurt- 
 ful Bcafts, whicli they kill whenever they 
 can. But their great Hunts are in the 
 Mountains and Woodland Parts of the 
 Country, where the Forefts are full of in- 
 finite Quantities of Maft and Fruits, and 
 other Food for wild Beads of all Kinds ^ 
 but particularly Staggs of four or five dif- 
 ferent Species i fome which keep in the 
 wildeft Parts, almofl: 2iS big as a Horfe^ 
 whofe Fleili they dry and feafon with 
 Spices, and is the richeft Food I ever 
 taftcd. Their wild Swine are of two 
 Kinds, fome vaftly large, others very lit- 
 tle, not much bigger than a Lamh^ but 
 prodigious fierce. Thh is mod delicate 
 Meat, feeding on the Malls and wild 
 Fruits in the thickeft Part of the Groves, 
 multiplying e:iccedingly, where they are 
 
 not 
 
Slgnor Gaudentio di Lucca. 25^ 
 
 not difturb'd, one Sow bringing fixteen or 
 eighteen Piggs; fo that I have feen Thou- 
 fands of them caught at one Hunting- 
 Match, and fent for Prefents to the other 
 Parts of the Kingdom, where they have 
 none ; which is their way in all their Re- 
 creations, having Perfons appointed to 
 carry the Rarities of the Country to one 
 another, and to the Governours, Parents^ 
 and Friends. left behind. When they go 
 up to their Grand Htmt^ they chafe fomo 
 open Vale, or vaft Lawn, as far in the 
 wild Forefts as they can ; where they 
 pitch their Tents, and make their Rendez- 
 vous : Then they fend out their moft 
 courageous young Men, in fmall Bodies of 
 Ten, in a Company well arm'd, each with 
 his Spear and his Fufil flung on his Back, 
 which of late Years they find more fervice- 
 able againft the wild Beafts than Spears, 
 having got Samples of them from Terfia. 
 Thefe go quietly thro' the wiideft Parti 
 of the Foreft at proper diftances, fo as to 
 meet at fuch a Place, which is to view the 
 Ground, and find a Place proper to make 
 their Stand, and pitch their I'oils. They 
 will befeveral Days out about this; but 
 are to make no Noife, nor kill any wild 
 Beafl, unlefs attacked, or come upon him, 
 in his Couch at unawares, that they may 
 not difturb the reft. When they have 
 made their Report, feveral Thoufands 
 
 S 2 oi 
 
"i6o The MEMOIRS of 
 
 of them furround a confiderable Part of 
 the Foreft, {landing clofe together for 
 their mutual AlTifbnce, making as great 
 a Noife as they can with Dogs, Drums, 
 and Rattles, and other noify Inftrumen-ts, 
 to frighten the Game towards the Center, 
 that none may efcape the Circle. When 
 this is done, all advance in a Breaft, en- 
 couraging their Dogs, founding their 
 Horns, beating their Drums and Rattles, 
 that the moft courageous Beafts are all 
 roufcd, and run before them towards the 
 Center, till by this means they have driven 
 together fcveral Hundreds of wild Bealts, 
 Lions, Elks, wild Boars, Staggs, Foxes, 
 Hares, in fine all Sorts of Beafts as were 
 within that Circle. 'Tis moft terrible to fee 
 fuch a heap of cruel Beafts gathered toge- 
 ther, grinning and roaring at one another, 
 in a moft frightful manner : But the wild 
 Boar is the Mafter of all. Whoever comes 
 near him in that Rage, even the largeft 
 Lion, he ftrikcs at him with his Tusks, 
 and malies him keep his diftance. When 
 they are brought within a proper Com- 
 pafsj they pitch their Toils round them, 
 and inclofe them in, every Man joining 
 clofe to his Neighbour, holding cut their 
 Spears to keep them off. If any Bead 
 fhould endeavour to make his Efcape, 
 which fome will do now and then, parti- 
 cularly the wild Bears, will rua a-Head 
 
 againit 
 
Signor Ga^udentio di Lucca. i6t 
 againftthe points of the Spears, and make 
 very martial Sport. They told me that 
 once a prodigious wild Sow broke thro' 
 three Files of Spears, overturn'd the Men^ 
 and made a Gap, that fet them all a 
 running almoft in a Body that way, that 
 they were forced to open and let them 
 take their Carreer, and fo loft all their 
 Labour. But now they have Men ready 
 with their Fufees to drop any Beaft that 
 fliould offer to turn a-Head. When they, 
 are enclos'd, there is moft terrible Woik^ 
 the greateft Beafts fighting and goring 
 one another, for rage and fpight, and the 
 more fearful running into the Toils for 
 fhelter. Then our Men with their Fufees 
 drop the largeft as faft as they can -, whca 
 they llioot the wild Boars, three or four 
 aim at him, at a time, to befuretodrop 
 him or difable him, otherwife he runs full 
 at the laft that wounded him, with fuch 
 fury, that fometimes he will break thro' 
 the ftrongeft Toils i but his Companions 
 all join their Spears to keep him off. Whea 
 they have dropp'd all that are dangerous, 
 and as much as they have a mind, they 
 open their Toils, and difpatch all that are 
 gafping. I have known above five hun- 
 dred Head of Beafts of all Sorts kill'd in 
 one Day. Then they carry off their Spoil 
 to the Rendezvous, Feaftingand Rejoicing, 
 and fending Prefents as before. 
 
 S 3 Thcro 
 
26i Tbe MEMOIKS of 
 
 There is oftentimes very great danger^ 
 ■when they go thro' the Woods to make 
 difcovcry of their haunts j becaufe, going 
 in fmall Companies, fome ftubborn Beaft 
 or other will attack them diredly j every 
 Man, as I faid, has a Fufee flung at his 
 Back, and his Spear in his Hand for his 
 Defence. Being once in one of their Par- 
 ties, we ftumbled on a prodigious wild 
 Boar, as he was lying in his Haunt juft in 
 our v/ay j fome of us were for pafling by 
 him, but I thought fuch a noble Prey was 
 not to be let gOj fo we furrounded him, 
 and drew up to him, with more Courage 
 and Curiofity, than Prudence; one of my 
 Companions, who was my intimate Friend, 
 being one of thofe who conducted me 
 over the Defarts, came up nigher to 
 him, than the reft, with his Spear in his 
 Hands, ftretch'd out ready to receive him, 
 in cafe he fliould come at him ; at 
 which the Beaft ftarted up of a fudden 
 with a Noifc that w'ould have terri- 
 fied the ftouteft Hero, and made at 
 him with fuch a Furv, that we gave him 
 for loft. He ftood his Ground with fo much 
 Courage, and held his Spear fo firm and 
 exa(^, that he run it diredly up the Mouth 
 of the Beaft, quite into the inner part 
 of his Throat j the Boar roar'd and fhook 
 his Head in a terrible manner, endeavour- 
 ing to get the Spear out, which if he had 
 
 done. 
 
SignoT Gaudentio di Lucca; 2(5/ 
 
 done, all the World could not have faved 
 the young Man. I feeing the Danger, 
 ran in with the fame precipitancy, and 
 clapping the Muzzle ot my Gun almoft 
 clofe to his Side, a little behind his Fore- 
 Shoulder, {hot him quite thro' the Body ; 
 fo he dropp'd down dead before \:.s, Jufi 
 as wx thought the Danger was over, the 
 Sow, hearing his cry, came rulliing on us, 
 and that fo fuddenly, that before I could 
 turn my felf with my Spear, Ihe ftruck at 
 me behind, with her Snout, pufhing on at 
 the fame time, that fhc knock'd me 
 down with her Impetuofity, and the Placs 
 being a little fhelving, came tumbling 
 quite over me, which was the occafion o£ 
 faving my Life. I was fcarce got up on 
 my Feet, and on my Guard, not only 
 afham'd of the Foil, but very well ap- 
 prifed of the Danger; when making at 
 me alone^ tlio' my Companions came into 
 my affiftancc, fhe pufh'd at me a fecond 
 time with equal Fury. I held my Spear 
 with all my might, thinking to take her 
 in the Mouth j but milfmg my aim, I 
 took her juft in the Throat, where the 
 Head and Neck join, and thruft my Spear 
 with fuch force, her own Carreer meeting 
 me, that I ftruck quite thro' her Wind- 
 pipe, ftriking the Spear in her Neck-bone 
 fo faft, that when ilie dropt_, we could 
 fcarce get it out again. She toft and recl'd 
 
 S 4 her 
 
264 lie MEMOIRS cf 
 
 her Head a good while before flic fell ; 
 but her Wind-pipe being cut, and bleed- 
 ing inwardly, Ihe was foon choaked : My 
 Companions had hit her witli their Spears, 
 on the Sides and Back j but her Hide and 
 Lriftles were fo thick and hard, they did 
 lier very little damage. They all applauded 
 my Courage and Vi<^ory, as if I had kill'd 
 both the Swine. But I, as juftice requir- 
 ed, gave the greateft part of the Glory, 
 for the death of the Boar, to the courage- 
 ous dexterity of the young Man, who 
 had expofed himfelf fo generoufly, and 
 hit him fo cxatt in the Throat. We left 
 the Carcafies there, not being able to 
 carry them off; but marking the Place, 
 when w^e had made our Obfervations, we 
 brought others with us to carry them off. 
 I had the honour to carry the Boar's Head, 
 on the Point of my Spear j which I would 
 have given to the young Man, but he re- 
 fus'd it, faying, I had not only kill'd it, 
 but faved his Life into the Bargain. The 
 honour being judg'd to me, by every one, 
 I fent it away, as a Prefent to the Divine 
 lfiphe7iay a thing allow'd by their CuHoms, 
 tho' as yet I never durft make any decla- 
 rations of Love : She accepted of it, but 
 added, flie hoped I would make no more 
 fuch Prefents, without explaining herfclf 
 any further. 
 
 Thcfe 
 
SigJior Gaudentio di Lucca. ^6f 
 Thefe People having no Wars^ nor 
 Combats with Men, which are not al- 
 low'd, for fear of deftroying their own 
 Species, have no other way of fliewing 
 their Courage, but againft wild Beafts : 
 Where, without waiting for any exprefs 
 Order of their Superiours, they will expofe 
 themfelves to a great degree, and fome- 
 tiraes perform exploits worthy the greateft 
 Heroes. Their Filhing is of two Kinds; 
 one for Recreation and Profit ; the other 
 to deftroy the Crocodiles and Alhgators, 
 which are only found in the great Lakes, 
 and the Rivers that run into them, and 
 that in the hotter and champaign Parts of 
 the Country. In fome of the Lakes, even 
 the largeft, they cannot live; in others 
 they breed prodigioufly. As they fifh for 
 them, only to deftroy them, they chufe 
 the propereft time for it, that is, when the 
 Eggs are hatching ; which is done in the 
 hot Sands, by the fides of the Rivers and 
 Lakes. The old ones arc not only very 
 ravenous at that time, but lie lurking in 
 the Water near their Eggs, and are fo 
 prodigious fierce, that there is no taking 
 their Eggs, unlefs you contrive to kill the 
 old ones before. Their way to fifli for 
 them is thus. They beat at a diftance, 
 by the fides of the Rivers and Lakes, 
 where they breed, which makes the old 
 ones hide themfelves in the Water. Then 
 
 Twenty 
 
i$S ne WEMOIKS of 
 
 Twenty or Thirty of the young Men^ 
 row quietly, backward and forward on 
 the Water, where they fuppofe the Crea- 
 tures are ,• having a great many ftrong 
 Lines with Hooksj made after the man- 
 ner of Fifh-hooks, well arm*d as far as 
 the Throat of the Animal reaches. Thefe 
 Hooks they fallen under the Wings of 
 Ducks and Water-Fowls, kept for the 
 purpofe, which they let drop out of the 
 Boat, and fwim about the Lake. When- 
 ever the Ducks come over the Places, 
 "where the Creatures arc, they ftrike at 
 them» and fwallow the poor Duck imme- 
 diately, and fo hook themfclves, with the 
 violence and check of the Boat. As foon 
 as one is hooked, they Tow him floun- 
 dring and beating the Water, at a ftrange 
 rate, till they have brought him into the 
 middle from the reft of his Companions, 
 who all lie nigh the Banks ; then the 
 other Boats furround him, and dart their 
 Harping' Spears a^ him, till they kill him, 
 Thefe Harping-Spears^ are pointed with 
 the fineft temper d Steel, extreamly fharp, 
 with Beards to hinder them from coming 
 out of his Body ; there is a Line fattened 
 to the Spear, to draw it back, and the 
 Creature along with it,- as alfo to hinder 
 the Spear from flying too far, if they mifs 
 their aim. Some of them are prodigious 
 dextrous at its but there is no piercing 
 
 the 
 
Signor Gaudentio di Lucca. iSf 
 the Creature but on his Belly, which the^^ 
 muft hit as he flounders and rolls himfelf 
 in the Water. If a Spear hits the Scales 
 of his Back, it will fly off as from a Rock, 
 not without fome danger to thofe who 
 are very nigh, tho' they generally know 
 the length of the String. I was really appre- 
 five of thofe ftrange fierce Creatures at 
 firft, and took a confiderable time before 
 I could dart with any Dexterity ; but the 
 defireof Glory, and the Applaufcs which 
 are given to thofe that excel, who have 
 the Skins carried like Trophies before 
 their Miftreffes, this and the Charms o£ 
 the Regent's Daughter, fo infpired me, 
 that I frequently carried the Prize. It is 
 one of the tineft Recreations in the World ; 
 you might fee feveral hundred Boats at a 
 time, either employed, or as Speftators, 
 ■with fhouts and cries, when the Creature, 
 is hit in the right Place, that make the 
 very Banks tremble. When they have 
 kili'd all the old Ones, they fend their 
 People on the Shore, to rake for the 
 Eggs, which they burn and deflroy on the 
 Spot j not but fome will be hatched be- 
 fore the rcfl:, and creep into the Water, 
 to ferve for Sport the next Year. They 
 dcftroy thefe Animals, not only for thefr 
 own fecurity in the ufe of the Lakes, but 
 alfo to preferve the wild Fowl and Fiili, 
 
 which 
 
26S T'/je MEMOIRS of 
 
 which are devoured and deftroyed by the 
 Crocodiles, 
 
 But the Fifhing on the great Lake 
 Gil'goly or Lake of Lakes, is without any 
 danger ; there being no Alligators in that 
 Water j and is only for Recreation, and 
 the Profit of the Fifli. The Lake is 
 above a Hundred Italian Miles in Circum- 
 ference.'^ At proper Seafons, the whole 
 Lake is covered with Boats ; great num- 
 bers of them full of Ladies to fee the 
 Sport, befide what are on the Iflands and 
 Shores, with Trumpets, Hautboys, and 
 other Mufical Inftruments, playing all 
 the while. It is impolTible to defcribe the 
 different Kinds of Fifli, the Lake abounds 
 with 'y fuch as we know nothing of in 
 JEjurope ; tho' they have feme like ours, 
 but much larger, as Pikes, or a Fifh like 
 a Pike, two or three Yards long ; a Fifti 
 like a Bream a Yard and half over i Carps 
 forty or fifty pound Weighty they catch 
 incredible Numbers of them i fome kinds 
 in one part of the Lake, fome in another. 
 They Fifh thus, and Feaft on what they 
 catch for a Fortnight or three Weeks, 
 if the Seafon proves kind, retiring at 
 
 * The Lake Mtris in Egypt, according to Diodorus Siculuf 
 and Herodotus, quoted by the Bifhop oF Meaux, Hi/}. Uni. 
 Seel- 3. was a hundred and fourkore French Leagues in Cir- 
 cumference. 
 
 NJgbt 
 
Signor Gaudentio di Lucca. ^69 
 Night to their Tents, either on the Iflands, 
 or Shore, where there arc Perfons em- 
 ployed in drying and curing, what are 
 proper for ufe ,• fending Prefents of them 
 into other Parts of the Country, ia ex- 
 change for Venifon, Fowl, and the Hke. 
 Tho' there are noble Lakes, and Ponds, 
 even in the Forefts, made by the enclo- 
 fures of the Hills and Woods, that are 
 ftored with excellent FiOi, but they are 
 entirely deftitute of the beft Sort, that is 
 S:a Fi/li : When this Filliing is over, they 
 retire to the Towns, becaufe of the 
 Rainy Seafons, which begin prefently 
 after. 
 
 I am going now to enter into a part of 
 my Life, of which I am in fome doubt, 
 whether 'tis proper to lay before your 
 Reverences^ or not : I mean the Hopes 
 and Fears, the Joys and Anxieties of a 
 young Man in Love j but in an honpura- 
 ble way, with no lefs a Perfon than 
 the Daughter of the Regent of this vaft 
 £mpirc. Tho' I lliall not enter into the 
 Detail of the many various Circumftances 
 attending fuch a PalTion, but lliall juft 
 touch on fome particular Parages, which 
 were very extraordinary even in a Pallion, 
 which generally of it felf runs into ex- 
 treams. Your Reverences will remember, 
 that there is no real diftin(5lion of Qiiality 
 in thcfc People, nor any regard either to 
 
 Intereft 
 
870 "ihe MEMOIRS of 
 
 Intereft or Dignity, but merely to perfonal 
 Merit ; their chief view being to render 
 that State happy, which makes up the 
 better part of human Life. I had no- 
 thing therefore to do in this Affair, but 
 to fix my choice, and endeavour to pleafe 
 and be pleas'd. My choice was foon de- 
 termined ; the Hrfl Time I faw the incom* 
 parable Ifiphena^ the Regent's Daughter, 
 tho' flie was then but ten Year old, ten 
 Thoufand budding Beauties appear'd in 
 her, with fuch unutterable Charms, that 
 tho' I as good as defpair'd of arriving at 
 my wifh'd for Happinefs, I was rcfolv'd 
 to fix there, or no where. 
 
 I obferved, when I was firft introduced 
 into her Company, by the Regent her 
 Father, llie had her Eye fix'd en mc, as a 
 Stranger as I fuppos'd, but yet with more 
 than a Girliili Curiofity. I was inform'd 
 afterwards, that flie told her Play-fel- 
 iovi's, that that Stranger fliould be her 
 Husband, or no one. The wife Tophar 
 her Father had obferved it, and whether 
 it was from his Knowledge of the Sex, 
 and their unaccountable fondnefs for 
 Strangers, or whether he difapprov'd of 
 the thought, I can't tell, but he was 
 refolv'd to try both our Conftancies to 
 the utmcih 1 was oblig'd by the Tophar 
 to teach her and fome other young La- 
 dici,, as well as the young Men to Paint, 
 
 but 
 
Signor Gaudentio di Lucca, 271; 
 
 but it was always in the Father or Mo- 
 thers Company. Not to detain your Re- 
 verences with Matters quite foreign to, 
 and perhaps unworthy your Cognizance, 
 it was five Years before I durft let her 
 fee the leaft glimmering of my Affediion. 
 She was now Fifteen, which was the 
 height of her Bloom. Her Father feeing 
 fhe carried no mark of any Engagement, 
 ask'd her in a familiar way, if her Eyes 
 had made no Conquefts ,• fhe blufli'd and 
 faid, ilie hoped not. He told me alfo as 
 a Friend, that I was older than their 
 Cuftoms cared to allow young Men to 
 live fingle, and with a fmile ask'd me if 
 the Charms of the 'Baffcis Daughter of 
 Grand Cairo had extinguifh'd in me all 
 Thoughts of Love ; I told him there 
 were objedls enough in Mczorania-t to 
 make one forget any thing one had feen 
 before, but that being a Stranger I was 
 willing to be thoroughly acquainted with 
 the Genius of the People, left I Ibould 
 make any one unhappy. 1 was juft come 
 back from one of our Vifitations, when I 
 was ftruck with the moft lively fenfe of 
 Grief I ever felt in my Life. I had al- 
 ways obfcrvd before, that Ifiphena ne- 
 ver wore any fign of Engagement, but 
 then I found iLe carried a Bud in her Bo- 
 fomj I fell ill immediately upon it, which 
 llie perceiving, came to fee me without 
 
 any. 
 
27i ne MEMOIRS of 
 any, as flie ufed to be before, keeping 
 her Eyes upon me to fee what Effed: it 
 would have. Seeing her continue without 
 any marks of Engagement, I recover'd, 
 and made bold to tell her one Day, that 
 I could not but pity the miferable Perfon, 
 whoever he was, who had loft the Place 
 in her Bofom, he had before j ilie faid un- 
 concernedly, that both the wearing and 
 taking away the Flower from her Bofom, 
 was done out of kindnefs to the Perfon. 
 I was then fo taken up with contrary 
 Thoughts^ that I did not perceive Ihe 
 meant to try whether fhe was the objedt 
 of my Thoughts or not. However, find- 
 ing flie carried no more marks of Engage- 
 ment, I was refolvcd to try my Fortune 
 for Life or Death, when an Opportunity 
 offcr'd beyond my wifh. Her Mother 
 brought her to perfed a Piece of Paint- 
 ing fhe was drawing : I obferved a Me- 
 lancholy and Trouble in her Countenance 
 I had never fecn before j that moment the 
 Mother was fent for to the Regent, I 
 made ufe of it to ask her, what it was 
 that affeded her in fo feniible a manner ; 
 I pronounced thefe words with fuch Emo- 
 tion and Concern on my ov;n part, that 
 file might ealily fee I was in feme very 
 great Agony. She exprefs'd a great deal 
 of confufion at the Queftion, infomuch, 
 that without anfwering a word, flie got- 
 
 'up 
 
Sign'or Gaudentio di Lucca, 273' 
 
 up and went out of the Room, leaving 
 me leaning againft the Wall almoft with- 
 out Life or Motion. Other Company 
 coming in, 1 was roufedout of my Lethar- 
 gy, and flirunk away to my own Apart- 
 ment, but agitated with fuch numberlefs 
 Fears, as left me almoft deftitute of Rea- 
 fon. However, I was refolv'd to make 
 a moft juft Difcovery, and to be fully de- 
 termin'd in my Happinefs or Mifery. There 
 was a grated V/indow on the back lide of 
 the Palace, where 1 had feen Ifyphena 
 walk fometimes, but never dared to ap- 
 proach ; I went thither in the Evening, 
 and faw her by her felf, I ventur'd to it, 
 and falling on my Knees, ask a her for 
 Heaven's fake what was the matter, or 
 if I had o0endcd her ? She immediately 
 burft into Tears, and juft faid, Ask no 
 more, and withdrew ^ tho' I can't fay 
 with any figns of Indignation. Some time 
 after, I was fent for to teach her in the 
 finiftiing of her Piece* I muft tell your 
 Reverences, that I had privately drawn 
 that Picture of her which you faw, and 
 put the little Boy in afterwards. In a hur- 
 ry I had left it behind me in my Clofet^ 
 which the ^opbar had found acciden- 
 tally, and taken away without my Know- 
 ledge I he had fliewn it to the Mother^ 
 and making as if he did not mind Ify- 
 fhena^ who ftood by, and faw it, as me 
 T thought 
 
?74 T/je MEUOIRS of 
 
 thought undifcern'd, then feem'd to talk 
 in a threatening tone to the Mother about 
 it. When I came in, I had juft Courage 
 enough to caft one glance at Ifyphena^ 
 when methought 1 faw her Eyes meet 
 mine, and lliew'd a mixture of Comfort 
 and Trouble at the fame Time. As this 
 Subjci^t can't be very proper for your Re- 
 verences Ears, I fliall comprife in half an 
 hour what coft me whole Years of fighs 
 and follicitude, tho' haply crown'd at laft 
 with unfpeakable Joys. This Trouble in 
 Ifyphena^ was that having made herfelf 
 Iviiftrefs of the Tencil^ flic had privately 
 drawn my Pi^iure in Miniature, which 
 fhe kept fecrctly in her Bofom, but that 
 had been difcover'd by the Mother, as 
 mine was by the Father, who to try her 
 Conftancy, had exprefs'd the utmoft In- 
 dignation for it ; but her greateft trouble 
 was, left I lliould know, and take it for a 
 Difcovery of her Love_j before I had made 
 any Overtures of mine. In procefs of time 
 we came to an EclaircilTement, fhe re- 
 ceived my two firft Flowers,- but becaufe 
 I was half a Stranger to their Race, we 
 were to give feme more figvial Proof of our 
 Love and Conftancy than ordinary : We 
 had frequently common Occafions offered 
 us, fuch as might be look'd upon as the 
 greateft Trials : She was the Paragon not 
 only of the Kingdom^ but poiTibly of the 
 
 Uni- 
 
Signor Gaudentio di Lucca; 275] 
 Univerfe, for all Perfe(aions as could be 
 found in the Sex. Her Stature was about 
 the middle Size, the juft Proportion of her 
 Shape made her really taller than fhe 
 feem'd to be ^ her Hair was Black * in- 
 deed, but of a much finer Glofs than the 
 reft, nor quite fo much curl'd, hanging 
 down in eafy TrefTes over her Shoulders, 
 and fhading fome part of her beautiful 
 Cheeks. Her Eyes tho' not fo large as 
 our EtiropeanSy darted fuch Luftre, with 
 a Mixture of fweetnefs and vivacity, that 
 'twas impofifible not to be charm a with 
 their Rays ; her Features were not only 
 the moft exa^t, but inimitable and pecu- 
 liar to her felf. In fine, her Nofe, Mouth, 
 Teeth, turn of the Face, all concurring 
 together to form the moft exquifite Syme- 
 try, and adorn'd with a Bloom beyond all 
 the bluflies of the new-born Juror a^ ren- 
 der'd her the moft charming, and the moft 
 dangerous objed in Nature. The nobleft: 
 ^nd gayeft Youths of all the Land paid 
 their Homages to her adorable Perfediions, 
 but all in vain j ilie avoided doing hurt 
 where fhe could do no good^ fhe did not 
 fo much fcorn, as fhut her Eyes to all 
 their offers, tho' fuch a Treaftire gave me 
 ten Thoufand Anxieties before I knew 
 what Ihare I had in it -, but v.hen once Hie 
 
 •* The Author being an Itaiian^ did not think black Hair 
 fo Heauciful. 
 
 T % receive J 
 
27^ ne MEMOIRS of 
 
 received my Addrefles, the fecurity her 
 conftant Virtue gave me was proportion- 
 able to the immenfe value of her Perfon. 
 For my part, I had fome Trials on my fide. 
 I was furrounded with Beauties, who 
 found a great many ways to fhew me, 
 they had no diflike to me. Whether be- 
 ing a Stranger of different Features, and 
 Make from their Youth, gave them a 
 more pleafing Curiofity, or the tallnefs 
 of my Stature fomething exceeding any of 
 theirs, or the gayety of my Temper, which 
 gave me a freer Air than is ufual with 
 them, being as I obferved, naturally too 
 grave, (be that as it will) Ilypbevds bright 
 Senfe eafily faw I made fome Sacrifices 
 to her I but we had greater Trials than 
 all this to undergo, which I fnall briefly 
 relate to your Reverences, for the parti- 
 cularity of them. When I thought I was 
 alraoft arrived at the height of my Hap- 
 pinefs, being affured of the Heart of the 
 divine Ifyphena, the Tophar came to me 
 one Day with the moft feeming concern 
 in his Countenance I ever remark'd in him, 
 even beyond that of the Affair with the 
 Great ^qjffas Daughter : After a little 
 paufe, he told me, he had obferved the 
 Love between his Daughter and myfelf, 
 that out of Kindnefs to my Perfon, he 
 had confulted their wife Men about it, 
 who all concluded, that on Account of 
 
 my 
 
Signer Gaudentio di Lucca. 277 
 my being a Stranger^ and not of their Race 
 by the Father's fide, I could never marry 
 his Daughter,- fo that 1 muft either fo- 
 lemnly renounce all Pretentions to her, 
 or be fhut up for ever without any Com- 
 merce with his People, till Death. But, 
 fays he, to fliew that we do Juftice to 
 your Merit, you are to have a publick 
 Statue ereded in your Honour, becaufe 
 you have taught us the Art of Painting, 
 which is to be crown'd with a Garland 
 of Flowers, by the moft beautiful young 
 Woman in the Kingdom ; thus you will 
 live to Glory, tho' you arc dead to the 
 World. But if you will renounce all pre- 
 tentions to my Daughter, we will furnifh 
 you with Riches fufficient, with the hand- 
 fomencfs of your Perfon, to gain the great- 
 eft Princefs in the World, provided you 
 will give a folemn Oath never to difcover 
 the way to this Place. I fell down on 
 my Knees before him, and cried out, Here 
 take me, fliut me up, kill me, cut me in 
 a Thoufand pieces, I will never renounce 
 Ifypbena ; he faid no more, but that their 
 Laws muft be obey'd. I obferv«d Tears 
 in his Eyes, as he went out, which made 
 me fee he was in earneft. I had fcarcc 
 Time to refled on my miferable State, of 
 rather was incapable of any Refledion at 
 all, when four Perfons came in with a 
 difmal heaviaefs in their Looks, and bid 
 T ^ me 
 
^78 'Ihe MEMOIRS ^/ 
 tne come along with them ; they were tq 
 conduct me to the Place of my Confine- 
 ment. In the mean Time, the Tophar 
 goes to his Daughter, and tO'lls her the 
 fame thing, only added, that I was to bo 
 fent back to my own Country, loaded 
 with fuch immenfe Riches as might pro- 
 cure me the Love of any Woman in the 
 World ; for, fays he, thofe 'Barbarians^ 
 meaning the Bjiiropeans^ will marry their 
 Daughters to any one who has but Riches 
 enough to buy them ; the Men will do 
 the fame with Rcfpe(!^ to the Women ; 
 let the Woman be whofe Daughter flie 
 will, if fhe had but Money enough to pur- 
 chafe a Kingdom, a King would marry 
 her. Before he had pronounced all this, 
 Ifypbena had not ftrength to hear it out, 
 but fell down in a fwoon at his Feetj 
 when fhe was come to her felf, he endea- 
 vour'd to comfort her, and added, that 
 flic was to have the young ^Pophars Son, 
 a Youth about her Age i for tho' he was 
 not old enough to Govern, he was old 
 enough to have Children 5 he went on 
 and told her, I was to have a Statue 
 created in Honour of me, to be crown'd 
 by the faireft Woman in all Mezorajiia^ 
 which, fays he, is judg'd to be your felf, 
 and iF you refufe it, Amnophilla is to be 
 the Perfon. This was the mod beautiful 
 Woman next Ifyphena^ and by fome 
 
 thought 
 
4S/V;;^r Gaudentio Di Lucca. 279 
 
 thought equal to her, whofe figns of her 
 approbation and Hking to my Perfon I 
 had taken no notice of, for the lake o£ Ify^ 
 phena. She anfwer'd with a Refolution 
 that was furprizing, even to her Father, 
 that file would dye before fhe would be 
 wanting to her Duty, but that their Laws 
 allow'd her to chufe w^hom flie pleas'd for 
 her Husband, without being undutiful j 
 that as for the Crowning of the Statue, 
 file accepted of it not for the Rcafon he 
 gave, but to pay her laft refped:s to my 
 Memory, who ilie was fure would never 
 marry any one elfe. As for the young 
 ^ophar^ Ihe would give her Anfwcr when 
 the Ceremony was over. When all Things 
 were ready for the Ceremony, there was 
 publick Proclamation made in all parts 
 of the Nome^ that whereas I had brought 
 into the Kingdom, and freely communi- 
 cated to them the noble Art of Painting, 
 I w^as to have a publick Statue ereded in 
 my Honour, to be crown'd with a Crown 
 of Flowers, by the Hand of the faireft 
 Woman in all Mezcrania, Accordingly, 
 a Statue of full proportion, of the hneft 
 poliili'd Marble, was ereded in one of 
 their fpacious Squares, with my Name 
 engraven on the Pedeftai in Golden Cha- 
 raders, fetting forth the fcrvice I had 
 done the Commonwealth, dxc. The Stn« 
 tue had the Pidure of Ifyphena in on© 
 T ^ iianJ,. 
 
28o TZ^^ MEMOIRS tf/ 
 
 Hand, and the Emblems of the Art in 
 the other. The iall Kindnefs I was to 
 receive, was to be permitted to fee the 
 Ceremony with a Perfpcdive Glafs, from 
 the top of a high Tower belonging to the 
 Place of my confinement, from whence I 
 could difccrn every minute Circumftance 
 that pafs'd. Immediately the crowd opcn'd 
 to make way for Ifyphena^ who came in 
 the Regent's triumphant Chariot, drawn 
 by eight white Horfes, all caparifoned 
 with Gold and precious Stones, her felf 
 more refplendent than the Sun they ador 
 red. There was a Scaffold with a Throne 
 upon it juft clofe to the Statue, with gilt 
 Steps for her to go up to put the Crown 
 on the Head of it -, as foon as fhe ap- 
 pear d^ a fliout of joy ran through the 
 whole Crowd applauding the choice of 
 her Beauty, and the work fhe w^as going 
 to perform ; then Proclamation was made 
 again for the fame Intent, fetting forth 
 the Reafons of the Ceremony. When all 
 was filent, fhc fleps from the Throne to 
 the degrees with the Crown in her Hand, 
 holding it up to be feen by all, fupported 
 by Ammphilla and Menija^ two of the 
 moft beautiful Virgins after her felf. 
 There appear'd a ferenity in the Looks 
 of Ifyphena beyond what could be ex- 
 pefted, cxpreffing a fixt Refolution at the 
 fame Tfime : As foon as ilie had put the 
 
 Crown 
 
Signor Gaudektio di Lucca. 281 
 
 Crown on the Head of the Statue, which 
 was applauded with repeated Shouts and 
 Acclamations, ihe flood ftill for fome 
 Time, with an Air that fhew'd Wic was 
 dctermin'd for fome great Adion, and 
 turning to the Officers, order'd them to 
 make Proclamation, that every one fhould 
 remark what fhe was going to do. Up- 
 on this there was a profound (ilence thro' 
 the whole AfTembly, then llie went up 
 the Steps again, takmg out the moft con- 
 fpicuous Flower in the whole Crown, and 
 putting it in the right Hand of the Sta- 
 tue, claps it into her Bofom, with the 
 other two fhe had receiv'd from me be- 
 fore, as a fign of her con fen t for Mar- 
 riage, which could not be violated, at 
 which there arofe a fliout ten Times 
 louder than any before, applauding fuch 
 an heroick A^ of Conftancy, as had ne- 
 ver been feen in Mezormtia. The Regent 
 ran up to her, and embracing her with 
 Tears of Joy trickling down his Cheeks, 
 faid fhe fliould have her choice, lince flie 
 had fulfilled the Law, and fupplied all 
 defers by that extraordinary A(ft of Fi- 
 delity, with Orders to have that Heroick 
 Ad:ion regifter d in the publick Records, 
 for an Example and Encouragement of 
 Conftancy to Pofterity. But the People 
 cried out, where is the Man !• where is 
 
 the 
 
282 I'he MEMOIRS of 
 
 the Man ! let their Conflancy be reward"* 
 
 cd immediately. 
 
 Here the Reader^ as welt as the Tuh^ 
 lijher^ will lament the irreparable 
 JLofs of the Sheets^ which were mif- 
 laid at his coming over ; he does not 
 fretend to charge his Memory with 
 what they contain d\ jtiji halving 
 had ^ime to rim them over in the 
 Italian^ when Signer Rhedi got the'm 
 copied out for him. Js far as the 
 ^iihlijher remembers ^ the lofi Sheets, 
 contain d fever al T)ifcourfes between 
 the Pophar and GaucJcntio, co^icern- 
 ing Religion^ Thilofophy^ 'Politicks, 
 and the like ,• with the Account of 
 the lofs of his Wife and Children^ 
 and fome other Accidents that befel 
 him during his flay in the Country ^^ 
 which, as we fhall fee, induced him^ 
 to leave the Tlace^ with fever al cu- 
 rious Remarks of Signor Rhedi, all 
 which woidd douhtlefs have given a 
 great deal of SatisfaUien to the Rea* 
 der, ^ut no ene can be fo much con*, 
 cernd for the lofs as the ^ublifher, 
 fince they cant now be rep air'' d, by 
 Reafon of the ^eath of the fame 
 Signor Rhedi, never to be fufficient- 
 Ij regretted by the learned World. 
 
 Thefe 
 
Signor Gaudentio di Lucca. i%i 
 
 Thefe Difcourfes t made very great Im- 
 prellions on the Mind of a Perfon of fo 
 much penetration as the Regent was^ in- 
 fomuch that he feem'd refolv'd when his 
 Regency was out, which wanted now but 
 a Year, to go along with me into Europey 
 during the ftay he was to make at Grand 
 Cairo^ to examine matters at the foun- 
 tain Head, wifely judging a confideration 
 of fuch Confequence, as that of Religion, 
 to be no indifferent Thing. For my own 
 part, notwithftanding the Beauty and 
 Riches of the Country, I could find no 
 Satisfadion in a Place where I had loft 
 all that was dear to me, tho' I had the 
 Comfort to have my Dear Ifyphena^ and 
 her three Children all Baptized by my 
 own Hand before they died ,• neither could 
 length of time allay my Grief, but on the 
 contrary, every Thing I faw rcviv'd the 
 Memory of my irreparable Lofs. I con- 
 iider'd the Inftability of the fleeting Joys 
 of this World, where I thought \ had 
 built my Happinefs for a Man of my For- 
 tune, on the moft folid Foundation, But 
 alas! all was gone as if it had been but 
 a Dream, and the adorable Ifyphena was 
 no more. The good old Tophar was in 
 a very little better Condition, having loft 
 
 t Probably about thc Chriftian Religion, which are loft, 
 as aforefdid. 
 
 his 
 
jS4 1'^MEMOIKS of 
 
 his dcareft Dausihter, and his little Grand 
 Children, particularly the eldeft Boy who 
 is in that Picture with his Mother. This 
 refledion on the vanity of human Feli- 
 city, made him more difpofed to hear the 
 Truths of our divine Religion, fo that 
 he was refolv'd to go and fearch further 
 into the Rcafons for it. There was ano- 
 ther yet more forcible Reafon, induced 
 me to foUicite the Top bar for my return 
 to my native Country, which was the 
 care of my future State, I had lived fo 
 many Years without the exercife of thofe 
 Duties our Church obliges us to perform, 
 and tho' I had not been guilty of any great 
 Crimes, I was not willing to die out of 
 her Bofom : Hovrcver, to do all the good 
 X could, to a Country where I had once 
 enjoyed fo much Happinefs, this being 
 the iaft Year we were to ftay, I at length 
 perfwaded the Regent, that there might 
 be fome danger of an Invafion of his 
 Country, from the oppofite fide towards 
 the Southern Tropick ; at leaft, I did not 
 know, bu«t there might be fome habitable 
 Climate that may not be fo far over the 
 Sands, as towards Lyhia and JEgypt -^ I 
 had often fignificd my Thoughts to him 
 in that refped.o. I told him that tho' his 
 Kingdom was fafc^ and inacceflibie to all 
 but ourfelves on that fide, it was pollible, 
 it might be nigher the great Ocean on 
 
 the 
 
Signor Gaudentio di Lucca. 28^ 
 the oppofite one, or that the Sands might 
 not be of fuch extent ,• or in fine, there 
 might be ridges of Mountains, and from 
 them Rivers running into the Ocean, by 
 which in procefs of time, fome barbarous 
 People might afcend and difturb their long 
 uninterrupted Reft, without any fence to 
 guard againft fuch an emergency. This 
 laft Thought alarm'd him, fo we were 
 refolv'd to make a new Trial, withont 
 communicating the defign to any but the 
 chief Council of Five, where we were fure 
 of inviolable fecrecy. What confirm'd me 
 in my notion was, that when we were on 
 the utmoft Point of our Mountains South- 
 ward, looking over the Deferts, I could 
 perceive fomething like Clouds, or Fogs 
 hanging always towards one part. I ima- 
 gined them to be Fogs covering the tops 
 of fome great Mountains, which muft 
 have habitable Vales. Being refolved to 
 make a Trial, we provided all Things 
 accordingly, and fet out from the furtheft 
 part of the Kingdom Southwards, taking 
 only five Perfons in our Company, fleer- 
 ing our courfc directly towards that point 
 of the Horizon, where I obferved the 
 thick Air always hanging towards one 
 Place. We took Provifions and Water but 
 for ten Days, leaving word that they 
 fhould not trouble therafelves about us, 
 unlefs we made a confiderablc Itay, be- 
 
 caufe 
 
2U ^he MEMOIRS of 
 
 caufo in cafe we found Mountains, wd 
 Ihould always find Springs and Fruits td 
 fubfift on, while we made a further fearch 
 into the Country, otherwife if wc faw 
 no hopes at the five Days end, we would 
 return the other five, and take frefh Mea- 
 fures. The third Day of our Voyage, we 
 found the Deferts nothing fo barren as 
 we expe^ed, the Ground grew pretty 
 hard, and the fourth Day difcover d feme 
 Tufts of Mofs and Shrubs, by which we 
 conjedur'd we fhould foon come to firm 
 Land, the Evening of that Day we dif- 
 cover'd the tops of Hills, but further off 
 than we thought on, fo that tho' we tra- 
 velfd at a great rate, all that Night and 
 mofl of the next Day, we could only arrive 
 at the foot of them the fifth Day at Night; 
 After feme little fearch we came to a 
 fine Spring, but to our comfort ho figns 
 of Inhabitants ; if we had, we fliould have 
 returned immediately to take further Ad- 
 vice. The next Morning we got up to 
 the top of the highcft Hill to difcover the 
 Country, but found it to be only the point 
 of a vaft Mountainous Country, like the 
 worft part of our Alps^ tho' there were 
 feme fertile Vales and Woods, but no 
 Footfteps of its ever having been inhabited j 
 as we believed, fince the Creation. Seeing 
 we could make good Provifion for our Re- 
 turn, we were in no great pain about time ; 
 
 wo 
 
Signor Gaudentio di LuccAi Jty 
 
 we wander'd from Place to Place viewing 
 and obferving every way. We went oa 
 thus along thofe craggy Hills and Preci- 
 pices for five Days; they began to leffea 
 towards our Right, but feem'd rather to 
 increafe the other way : At length, in the 
 moft difmal and horrid part of the Hill- 
 brow, one of our young Men thought he 
 fpy'd fomething like the Figure of a Man, 
 fitting by a little Spring under a craggy 
 Rock juft belov^rusi wefent three of our 
 People round another way to keep him 
 from running into the Wood, while the 
 ^ophar and my felf ftole quietly over the 
 Rock where he was. As foon as he faw 
 us, he whips up a broken Chink in the 
 Rock, and difappear'd immediately, we 
 were fure he could not get from us^ fo 
 we clofed and fearch'd till w^e found a lit- 
 tle Cave in the windings of the Rock, 
 where was his retiring Place. His Bed 
 was made of Mofs and Leaves, with lit- 
 tle heaps of dried Fruits, of different forts, 
 for his fuftenance. When he faw us he was 
 furpriz'd, he rufh'd at us like a Lion, 
 thinking to make his way thro' us, buc 
 being all five at the Mouth of the Cave, 
 he ftood ready to defend himfelf againft 
 our Attempts. Viewing him a little nigh- 
 er, we faw he had fome remains of an 
 old tatter'd Coat, and part of a Pair of 
 Breeches, with a ragged Sa(h, or Girdle, 
 
 round 
 
a88 7'he MEMOIRS of 
 
 round his Waift, by which, to our grea€ 
 furprize, we found he was an Europe am 
 The Tophar fpoke to him in Lingna 
 Franca^ and ask'd him who, or what he 
 Was ; he fliook his Head as if he did not 
 undeiftand us. I fpoke to him in Frenchy 
 Italian^ and Latin^ but he was a Stran- 
 ger to thofe Languages j at length he cri- 
 ed out Inglis^ Inglis. I had learnt fome- 
 thing of that Language when I was a Stu- 
 dent at Taris. Knowing my Father had 
 a mind I fliould learn as many Languages 
 as I could, I had made an Acquaintance 
 with feveral 'Englifly and Scotch Students 
 in that Univerfity, particularly with one 
 i\ Johnfon^ an BjUglifli 'BeiicdiUinCy and 
 could fpeak it pretty well for a Foreigner, 
 but had almoft forgot it for want of ufci 
 I bid him take Courage, and fear nothings 
 for we would do him no harm. As foon 
 as ever he heard me fpeak JEngliJJo^ he fell 
 down on his Knees, and begged us to take 
 pity on him, and carry him to fome habi- 
 table Country, where he might poffibly 
 get an opportunity of returning Home 
 again, or at Icaftj of Living like a hu- 
 man Creatur«. Upon this he came out 
 to us, but look'd more like a wild Beaft, 
 than a Man ; his Hair, Beard and Nails^ 
 were grown to a great length, and his 
 Mien was as haggard, as if he had been 
 a great while in that wild Place 5 tho' he 
 
 was 
 
Signor Gaudentio di Lucca. 289 
 
 was a ftout well built Man, and fliew'd 
 fomething above the common Rank. We 
 went down to the Fountain together, 
 where he made us to underftand, that his 
 Father was an Eaji India Merchant, and 
 his Mother a T>iitch Woman of ^Batm^ia^ 
 that he had great part of his Education 
 in London^ bat being very extravagant, 
 his Father, whofe natural Son he was, 
 had turn'd him off, and fent him to Ba- 
 tavia^ to his Mother's Friends \ that by 
 his Courage and Induftry, he was in a 
 way of making his Fortune, being ad- 
 vanc'd to be a Lieutenant in the "JDutcb 
 Guards at 'Bata-via -, but was unhappily 
 caft away on the Coaft o£ Jfrica^ where • 
 they had been on a particular Adventure. 
 That he and his Companions, four in 
 Number, wandering up in the Country 
 to feek Proviiions, were taken by fome 
 ftrange Barbarians, who carried them a 
 vaft unknown way into the Continent, de- 
 figning to Eat the.-n, or Sacrifice them to 
 their inhuman Gods, as they had done by 
 his Companions. But being hale and 
 fat,at the time of his taking, they referved 
 him for fome particular Fealt. That as 
 they were carrying him thro' the Woods, 
 another party oF Barbarians, Enemies to 
 the former, met them, and fell a fighting 
 for their Booty ; Which he perc-'iving, 
 knowing he was to be Eaten if he ftaved, 
 U flunk 
 
290 Tbe MEMOIRS of 
 
 flunk away in the Scuffle, into the thickefl: 
 Woods, hiding himfelf by Day, and 
 marching all Night, he did not know 
 where, but as he conje(Stured> flill higher 
 into the Country. Thus he wanderd 
 from Hill to Hill, and Wood to Wood, 
 till he came to a defart of Sands, which he 
 was refolvM to try to pafs over, not dar- 
 ing to return back, for fear of falling into 
 the Hands of thofe mercilefs Devourers. 
 He pafs'd two Days and two Nights with- 
 out Water, living on the Fruits he car- 
 ried with him, as many as he could, till 
 he came to this mountainous Part of the 
 Country, which he found uninhabited; 
 taking up his abode in that Rock, where 
 he never had any hopes of feeing a hu- 
 man Creature again: Neither did he 
 know himfelf where he was, or which 
 way to go back. In fine, he told us he had 
 lived in that miferable Place, now up- 
 wards of five Years. After we had com- 
 forted him, as well as we could, I ask'd 
 him, which way the main Sea lay, as 
 near as he could guefs, and how far he 
 thought it was to it ? He pointed with 
 his Hand, towards the South, a little 
 turning, towards the Eaft, and faid, he be- 
 lieved it might be thirty or forty Days Jour- 
 ney, but advifed us never to go that way ; 
 for we fliould certainly be devoured by the 
 Barbarians. I ask'd him whether the 
 
 Country 
 
Signer Gaudentio di Lucca. 2^1. 
 
 Country was habitable from that Place, 
 down to the Sea j he told me yes, except 
 that Defart we had pafTed ,• but whether 
 it was broader in other Places he could 
 not tell. All the time he was fpcaking, 
 the Tophar eyed him from Top to Toe; 
 and calhng me afide, what Monfter, fays 
 he, have we got here ? There is a noblo 
 Legion of wild Beafts in that Man. I fee 
 the Lion, the Goat, the Wolf, and the 
 Fox, in that one Perfon. I could not 
 forbear fmiling at the Topbars Skill in, 
 Phyfiognomyj and told him, we fhould 
 take care he fliould do no harm. Then 
 I furn'd to the Man, and ask'd him, if he 
 would conform himfelf to the Laws and 
 Rites of the Country, if we carried him 
 among Men again, where he iliould want 
 for nothing. He embraced my Knees, and 
 faid, he would conform to any Laws or 
 any Religion, if I would but let him fee 
 a habitable Country again, I flared at 
 the Man, and began to think there was 
 fome truth in the ^Fophars Science. How- 
 ever, I told him if he would but behave 
 like a rational Creature, he fnould go 
 along with us; But he muft fuffcr himfelf 
 to be Blindfolded till he came to the 
 Place. He ftartled a little, and feemed 
 to be prodigious fufpicious, left we iliould 
 deceive hira. But on my alluring him, 
 oa the Faith of a human Creature, that 
 U 2 he 
 
2P2 Jhe MEMOIRS / 
 
 he fhould come to no harm, he confented. 
 After we had refreili'd ourfelves, being 
 both glad, and concern'd for the informa- 
 tion we had received of the Nature of 
 the Country, which was the end of our 
 Journey, in order to guard againft all in- 
 conveniencies, we covered his Eyes very 
 clofe, and condu(5tcd him back along with 
 us, fometimcs on Foot, fometimeson one 
 of the fpare Dromedaries, till we arrived 
 fafe from where we fet out. Then we 
 let him fee where he was, and what a 
 glorious Country he was come into. We 
 cloath'd him like our felves, that is, in 
 our travelling Drefs, to fliew he was not 
 an entire Stranger to our Race. He 
 feem'd loft in admiration of what he faw. 
 He embraced me, with all the figns of 
 Gratitude imaginable j he conformed to 
 all our Cuftoms, and made no fcruple of 
 Afldfting at all their Idolatrous Ceremo- 
 nies, as if he had been as good a Heathen 
 as the beft of them. Which I feeing, 
 without declaring my felf tobe a Chriftian, 
 I told him that I had been informed, the 
 People of the Country, where he was 
 educated, were Chriftians i and wonder'd 
 to fee him join in adoring the Sun. Pugh ! 
 fays he, fome bigotted People make a 
 fcruple, but mod of our Men of Scnfe 
 think one Religion is as good as another. 
 By this I perceived our Savage was of 
 
Sigiior Gaudentio di Lucca, ig^ 
 anew fct of People, which I had heard 
 of before I left Italy, calfd "Politici * who 
 are a fort of Atheiftsin Mafqucrade. The 
 Topha)\ out of his jrreat skill in Phyfogno- 
 my, would have no Converfation with 
 him, and commanded me to have a ftridt 
 Eye over him. However, the information 
 he had psK^xx us of the polTibility of inva- 
 ding the Kingdom the way he came, 
 anfwer'd the intent of our Voyage, and 
 my former Conjectures ; about which there 
 was a Grand Council held, and orders 
 given to fecure the foot of our outermoft 
 Mountain Southvv'ards, which ran a great 
 way into the Defart; fo that it was fuffi- 
 cient to guard againft any of thofe Bar- 
 barous Invaders of the Continent. But 
 to return to our European Savage ^ for 
 he may be juftly call'd fo, being more 
 dangerous in a Common-wealth, than the 
 very Hyckfoes themfelves ; tho' he was 
 a Perfon who had had a tolerably civi- 
 lized Education, bating the want of all 
 fenfe of Religion, which he fuck'd in 
 from his perpetual Converfation with Li- 
 bertines.^ He had a fmattering of moft 
 kinds of polite Learning, but without a 
 bottom in any refpea. After he had been 
 with us fome time, his principles began to 
 
 •^iThefe Politki wert fore-runners of our modern Free- 
 thinkers, whofe Principles tend to the D^ftruainn of all hu- 
 man Society, as our Author fhcws incomparably well by 
 and by. i / / 
 
 U 3 fliew 
 
194 '^^^^ MEMOIRS of 
 jdiev/ themfelves in his Pradicc. Firft, 
 he began to be rude with our Women, 
 married or finglc, it was all alike to him, 
 and by an unaccountable Spirit of Novelty 
 or Contradiction, our Women feemcd to 
 be inclin'd to be very fond of him ^ fo 
 that we were at our wits ends about him, 
 ,Then he began to find fault with our Go- 
 vernment, defpifing and condemning all 
 our Ceremonies and Regulations : But his 
 great aim, was to pervert our Youth, en- 
 ticing them into all manner of Liberties, 
 and endeavouring to make them believe, 
 that there was no fuch thing as moral 
 'Bj'vil in Nature ^ that there was no harm 
 in the grcatcft Crimes, if they could but 
 evade the Laws and Punifliments attend- 
 ing them. As I had cndeavour'd to create • 
 a confidence in him, he came to me one 
 Day, and faid, that fince I was an 'Etiro-' 
 fean as well as himfelf, we might make 
 our felves Men for ever, if I would join 
 with him : You fee, fays he, thefc Men 
 can't Fight: Nay, will rather be kill'd 
 thcmfelves, than kill any one elfc ; can't 
 you ihcw me the way out of this Country, 
 where we will get a Troop of flout 
 Fellows well armed, and come and Plun- 
 der all the Country ; we fhall get im- 
 menfe Riches, and make our felves Lords 
 and Mailers of all, I heard him w^ith a 
 great deal of Attention, and anfwer'd him, 
 
 that 
 
Signor Gaudentio di Lucca. ig$ 
 
 that I thought the Proje(ft might eafily 
 take, only lor the horrid Wickedn efs of 
 the Fad:: Efpecially for us two, who had 
 receiv'd fuch favours from the Tophar and 
 his People : He, for his being delivered 
 from the greateft Mifery^ and my felf, 
 who had been freed from Slavery, and 
 made one of the head Men of the King- 
 dom. That the Adion would deferve to 
 be branded with eternal Infamy, and the 
 blacked: Ingratitude: Belide the infinite 
 Villainies, lnjuftices,Crimes, and Deaths of 
 innocent Pcrfons, who muft perifh in the 
 Attempt i which would always ftare us 
 in the Face, and torment us with never- 
 ceafings ftings of Confcience till our death. 
 Confcience! Says he, that's a Jeft; a 
 meer Engine of Prieftcraft : All Right is 
 founded in Power : Let us once get that, 
 and who will difpute our Right ? As for 
 the Injuftice of it, that's a meer Notion, 
 diftin(5tion of Crimes, meer Bigotry, and 
 the eff.^dt of Education, ulKer'd in under 
 the cloak of Religion. Let us be but fuc- 
 cefsful, and Til anfvver for all your Scru- 
 ples. I told him it was a Matter not to 
 be refolv'd on, on a fuddcn j that I would 
 confider on t. But I bid him, be fure keep 
 his matters to himfclf. I went imme- 
 diately to the Topba)\ and 'gave an Ac- 
 count of what had palTed. He was ftruck 
 with horror at the Recital j not fo mucli 
 
 U 4 " for 
 
396 "ihe MEMOIRS of 
 
 for the confequences, as that human Nature 
 could be brought to fuch a monflrous Defor- 
 mity. If your Bj^iropeans are Men of fuch 
 Principles, who would not fly to the furthcft 
 Corner oftheEarth, to avoid their Socie- 
 ty ? Or rather, who can be fure of his Life 
 among fuch People ? Whoever thinks it no 
 more in it felf, to kill me, than to kill a Fly, 
 will certainly do it, if I (land in his way. If 
 it wxre lawful, continued he, by our Confti- 
 tutions, to kill this Man^ he deferves a 
 thoufand Deaths, who makes it lawful to 
 deflroy all the World befides. I anfwer'd, 
 that all the Europeans were not Men of 
 his Principles, nor even thofe of his Nation, 
 who were generally the raoft compafidonate^ 
 and bcft-naturM Men in the World. But 
 that he was of a new fet of wretched Peo- 
 ple, who calfd themfclves 'Z)^//?j- ; and in- 
 teriorly laught at all Religion, and Mora- 
 lity, looking upon them, as mere Engines 
 of Policy, and Pricftcraft. Interiorly fays 
 he I yes, and would cut any Man's Xhroat, 
 exteriorly and actually, if it were not for 
 fear of the Gallows. Shut him up, cried 
 he, from ail Commerce of Men, leil: his 
 Breath fnould infed the whole World ; 
 or rather, let us fend him back to his 
 Cave, to live like a wild Beafl^ where if 
 be is devoured by the Savages, they do 
 him no Injury, by his cwn Principles. I 
 reprcfented to him, that we wxre juil on 
 
 our 
 
Signor Gaudentio di Lucca. 297 
 our Journey back to Grand Cairo, where 
 we would carry him BJind-fold, that he 
 fliould not know our way over the Sands 
 and give him his Liberty; but that wc 
 would iliut him up till then. This was 
 agreed on, fo I took a fufficient number 
 of Men, to fcize him -, and to do it, with- 
 out any Mifchief, for he was as ftout as a 
 Lion. We contrived to come upon him 
 in his Bed, where we caught him with 
 one of our young Women. Three of 
 them fell upon him at once, and kept liim 
 down, while the reft tied his Hands and 
 Legs, and carried him into a ftrong hold, 
 whence it was impoffible for him to 
 efcape. The Woman was (hut up apart, 
 according to our Laws. When he found 
 himfelf taken, ho call'd me by the moit 
 cruel Namei; he could think on, as the 
 moft wicked and treacherous Villain that 
 ever w^as, thus to betray him, and the 
 trull he had put in me. Yes, fays I, 'tis 
 a Crime to difcover your Secrets, and 
 no Crime in you to fubvert the Govern- 
 ment, and fet all Mankind a cutting one 
 another's Threats, by your monftrous 
 Principles i fo I left him for the prcfcnr. 
 Some time after I went to him, and told 
 him, our Council, had decreed he fliould 
 be carried back from whence he came, 
 and be delivered over to the Savages^ 
 cith'jr to be devoured by them, or to de- 
 fend 
 
298 The MEMOIRS of 
 fend himfelf by his Principles, as well as 
 he could. He cried out, fure we would 
 not be guilty of fuch horrid Barbarity ? 
 Barbarity I faid I, that's a mere Jeft ! they 
 will do you no injury ; if your Flefli is a 
 rarity to them, when they have you in 
 their Power, they have full Right to make 
 ufe of it. He begg'd by all that v^^as dear, 
 we would not fend him to the Savages ; 
 but rather kill him on the Spot. Why, 
 fays I, you are worfe than the greateft 
 Cannibals; bccaufe they fpare their 
 Friends, and only eat their Enemies ; 
 whereas your Principles fpare no body, 
 and acknowledge no Tie in Nature. At 
 length he own'd himfelf in a miftake^ and 
 fcem'd to renounce his Errors. When I 
 told him, if he would engage his moft 
 folemn Promife, to fuffer himfelf to be 
 blind-folded, and behave peaceably, wc 
 would carry him to a place where he 
 might find an opportunity to return to his 
 own Country. But, fays I, what fignifies 
 promifes and engagements in a Man, who 
 laughs at all Obligations, and looks upon 
 it, as juft and lawful to break them, as 
 to make them ? No, he curfcd himfelf 
 with the moft dreadful imprecations, if he 
 were not traiflable in all things we fliould 
 command him. But, fays he again, won't 
 you deliver me back to the Savages ? I 
 anlwer d in the fame tone, ihould we do 
 
 you 
 
Signer Gaudentio di Lucca, ig^ 
 
 you any wrong, if we did ? At length to 
 appeafe him, I promifed him faithfully 
 we would put him in a way to return into 
 his own Country : But bid him confidcr, 
 if there were no fuch thing, as Right and 
 Wrong, what would become of the 
 World, or what fccurity could there be 
 in human Life ? 
 
 In a few Weeks, the time drew on for 
 our great Journey to Grand Cairo^ where 
 I was in hopes of feeing my native Country 
 once more. All things were now as good 
 as ready ,• the Tophar ^nd my felf had 
 other dcfigns than ufual, and were in 
 forae pain to think of leaving that once fo 
 happy a Country. Tho', as I faid, all 
 things that could make me happy, were 
 buried with my Dear Ifyphena, The 
 ^ophar had fome ferious Thoughts of 
 turning Chriftian ,• the evidences of our 
 Religion were foon perceived by a Pcr- 
 fon of his deep Penetration \ tho' Perfons 
 of little Learning, and great Vices, pre- 
 tend they don't fee them. But like a 
 wife Man, he was refolved to examine 
 into it, in the Places where it was excr- 
 cifed in the greateft Splendor. We pro- 
 vided a good Quantity of Jewels, and as 
 much Gold as we could well carry, for 
 our prefent expences at Grand Caivo^ and 
 elfewhere, and future Exigences. I went 
 to my T)cift in his Grotto^ and threw 
 
 him 
 
300 r/:7^ MEMOIRS ^/ 
 
 him in, as much Gold and Jewels, as 
 were fufficient to glut his Avarice, and 
 make him happy m his brutal way of 
 Thinking. But I would not truft my felf 
 with him alone, for all his Promifes, as 
 he on his fide exprelTed ftill a diffidence of 
 trufting any Body ; I fuppofe from the 
 confcioufnefs of his own vile Principles. 
 Then I threw him a Blinding-Cap_, which 
 we had made for him, that he lliould not 
 fee our way over the Defarts. This Cap 
 was made like a Head-piece, wdth breath- 
 ing places for his Mouth and Nofe, as 
 well as to take in Nouriflimcnt, opening 
 at the back parr, and clafping with a 
 Spring behind, that being once lock'd, 
 he could not open it himfelf. He put it 
 on his Head, two or three times, before 
 he durfl: venture to clofe it. At length 
 he clafo'd it, and he was as blind as a 
 Beetle. We went to him and tied his 
 Hands, which he let us do quietly enough ; 
 and ftill begg'd us, that we would not 
 betray him to the Savages. I bid him 
 think once more, that now his own inte- 
 rior Scnfe told him, that to betray him 
 would be a Sin ; by confcquence there 
 was fuch a thing as Evil. Ail things be- 
 ing in rcadincfs, we mounted our 'Drome- 
 daries, Tlie Tophar and all the reft 
 kifi'd the Ground as ufual ^ I did the fame 
 out of rcfped to the Place i which con- 
 
 tain'd 
 
Signor Gaudentio di Lucca. 3 or 
 tain'd the Remains of my never too much 
 lamented Ifyphena^ the Afhes of whofe 
 Heart are in the liollow of the Stone 
 whereon is her Pi(aure. Not to mention 
 the Ceremonies of our taking leave, we 
 were condud:ed in a mournful manner 
 over the Bridge, and launched once more 
 over the Ocean of the Sands and Defarts, 
 which were before us. Our Savage was 
 on a T>romedary^ which would follow the 
 reft, but led by a Cord faften'd to one of 
 the reft for fccurity. It ftumbled with 
 him twice or thrice, and threw him off 
 once, but without any great hurt. But 
 the fear of breaking his Neck, put him 
 in fuch an Agony, that, tho' he was as 
 bold as a Lion on other Occafions, he was 
 prodigious ftartled at the thoughts of 
 Death. We arrived at Graiid Cairo at 
 the ufual Period of Time, without any 
 particular Difafter. As foon as we were 
 fetled, the Tophar order'd me to fend 
 the T>ciff; packing as foon as we could. 
 This brutal Race, fays he, next to the 
 Canttibalsj are tlie litteft Company for 
 him. I unlock'd the Blinding-Helmet, 
 and told him, we had now fulfiil'd our 
 Promife i that he was at Grand Cniro^ 
 where he might find feme way or other 
 to return into J5?^;75/?f; and to convince 
 him, carried him to fome European Mer- 
 chants who allured him of theVame, de- 
 livering 
 
302 T^Jbe MEM OIKS of 
 
 livering to him his Gold and Jewels. I 
 begg'd him to refled on his Obligations to 
 us, and the grateful Acknowledgments 
 due to our Memory on that Account. 
 We had taken him from that miferable 
 Solitude, where he lived more like a wild 
 Beaft than a Man ; where he was in dan- 
 ger of being found and dcvour'd by the 
 Camiihah, We had brought him into 
 one of tlic happieft Countries in the World, 
 if he would but have conformed to our 
 Laws ; and now had given him his Li- 
 berty to go where he pleas 'd, with Riches 
 fufficient to make him eafy, and Benefits 
 to make him grateful all his Life; fo I 
 took my leave of him* But to our for- 
 row we had not done with him yet. As 
 foon as the Tophar and the reft had 
 perform'd the Ceremony of viiiting the 
 Tombs of their Anceftors ; or rather the 
 Places where the Tombs had been : The 
 good old Man and my felf began to 
 think of our Meafures for our Journey into 
 Italy. During the time we had to flay, 
 he had ordered his People to (lay there 
 till the next annual Caracan ; or in cafe 
 he did not return by that time, they were 
 to return, aiid he would take the oppor- 
 tunity of the next Cara'van afterwards, be- 
 caufe he w^as upon Bufinefs that nearly 
 concern'd him. We had agreed with a 
 Mafter of a Ship to carry us to Venice^ 
 
 which. 
 
Signor Gaudentio di Lucca. 30^ 
 
 which, as I had the hono ur to acquaint 
 your .Reverences before, was a French 
 Ship, commanded by Monfteur Godart. 
 We had fixt the Day to go aboard, when 
 behold our Savage at the Head of a Band 
 o^Turks^ came and feiz'd every one of us, 
 in the Name of the great ^ajj'a. By 
 great good Fortune, while I {laid at 
 Grand Cairo^ I had the grateful Curio- 
 fity to inform my felf what was become 
 of the former "Bajfds Daughter, we left 
 there five and twenty Years ago. The 
 People told me, the Daughter was mar- 
 ried to the Grand Sultan, and was now 
 Sultanefs, Mother to the prefent Sultan, 
 and Regent of the Empire ^ adding that 
 her Brother was their prefent great Bajfa. 
 This lucky information faved all our 
 Lives or Liberties. We were carried Pri- 
 foners before the great 'Baffa^ the faith* 
 lefs Savage accufing us of Crimes againft 
 the State j that we were immenfely rich, 
 a Crime of it felf fufficient to condemn 
 us, and might make a difcovery of a 
 Country of vafi; Advantage to the Grand 
 Signor. To be fliort, we had all been 
 put to the Torture, had not I begg'd 
 leave to fpeak a Word or two in private, 
 to the great BajJ'a, There I told him 
 who I was ; that I was the Perfon who 
 had faved his Sifter, and now Emprefs's 
 Life 5 and to convince him, told him all 
 
 the 
 
'3 04 I'he M B M O I R S of 
 
 the Circumftances, except that of her 
 Love, tlio* he had heard fomething of 
 that too : I fhew'd him the Ring flie had 
 given me for a Remembrance, which he 
 alfo remember'd r Adding, that we were 
 innocent Men, who lived Honeftiy, accor- 
 ding to our own Laws, coming there to 
 Traffick, like other Merchants, and had 
 been traduced by one of the greateft Vil- 
 lains upon Earth. In a Word, this not 
 only got us off, and procured us an ample 
 Palf-port from the great ^l^affa for our 
 further Voyage ; but he alfo order'd the 
 informing Wretch to be feiz'd, and fent to 
 the Galiies for Life. He offered to turn 
 'Ttirky if they would fpare him. But they 
 being apprizd of his Principles, faid he 
 would be a difgrace to their Religion, 
 and ordered him away immediately. Up- 
 on which feeing there was no Mercy, be- 
 fore they could feize his Hands, being 
 grown Mad with Rage and Defpair, he 
 drew out a Piftol, and fliot himfelf thro' 
 the Head i not being able to find a worfe 
 Hand than his own. The ^Popbar^ good 
 Man, bore thefe Misfortunes with won- 
 derful Patience, tho' ho afl'ur'd me his 
 greateft Grief, was, to fee human Nature 
 fo far corrupted, as it was in that impious 
 Wretch, who could think the moft hor- 
 rid Crimes were not worth the Notice of 
 the Supreme Governour of the Univerfe, 
 
 But 
 
Signor Gaudektio di Lucca. 305:' 
 But we fee, fays he, that Providence can 
 make the wicked themfelves the Inftru- 
 ments of its juft Vengeance. For can any 
 thing be fo great a blot upon human Na- 
 ture, as to be its own Deftroycr, when 
 the very Brutes, will ftruggle for Life till 
 the laft Gafp ? However, he was uneafy 
 till he had left that hateful Place. Be- 
 fides there were fome Signs of the Plague 
 breaking out ,• fo we went down to Jlex- 
 andria as faft as we could. And to en- 
 courage MonfieiiT Godartj he made him 
 a Prefent before-hand of a Diamond of a 
 confiderable Value. We fet Sail for Candy ^ 
 where Monfieur Godart was to touch, the 
 i6tb Day of Aiigufi^ Anno 171 2. But 
 alas ! whether thcfe Troubles, or not be- 
 ing ufed to the Sea, or fome infedion of 
 the Plague, he had caught at Grand 
 Cairo^ or all together, is uncertain ; but 
 that great good Man fell fo dangeroufly 
 ill, that wc thought we fhould fcarce get 
 him to Candy, He affured me by the 
 knowledge he had of himfelf and Nature, 
 that his Time was come. We put in at the 
 firft Creek, where the Land Air a little 
 refrefh'd him^ but it was a fallacious 
 Crifis, for in a few Days all of us faw his 
 End draw near. Then he told me he was 
 refolv'd to be baptiz:!d, and die in the 
 Chriftian Faith. I got him infl:ru<5ted by 
 a Reverend Prieft, belonging to Monfieur 
 X Gydarti 
 
3o<5 rz^^ M E M O I R S of 
 
 Godart:^ his Name was Monfieur la Grelle, 
 whom I had formerly known, when he 
 was a Student in the College, for Fo- 
 reign Miflionsj and what was the only 
 Comfort I had now left, I faw him bap- 
 tized, and yield up the Ghofl with a Cou- 
 rage becoming the greateft Hero, and the 
 beft of Men. This was the greateft Afflic- 
 tion I ever had in my whole Life, after 
 the Death of his Daughter : He left me 
 all his Effe(5ts, which were fufficient to 
 make me Happy in this Life, if Riches 
 can procure Happinefs. 
 
 We had feme Days to ftay, before Mon- 
 fieur Godart could make an end of his 
 concerns. I was walking in a melancholly 
 Pofture along the Sea-fhore, and refled- 
 ing on the Adventures of my paft Life, 
 occafion'd by thofe very Waters whereon 
 I was looking, when I came, or rather my 
 Feet carried me to a hanging Rock, on 
 the fide of the liland, juft on the edge of 
 the Sea, and where there was juft room 
 enough for two or three Perfons to ftand 
 privately under covert, very difficult to 
 be difcern'd; where going to fit down, 
 and indulge my melancholly Thoughts, 
 I efpied a Tttrk and two Women, as if 
 conceafd under the Rock j my own Trou- 
 bles not allowing me the Curiofity to pry 
 into other People's concerns, made me 
 turn fhort back again : But the elder of 
 
 the 
 
Signor Gaudentio di Lucca. J07 
 the two VVomerij who was Miftrefs of the 
 other, feeing my Drefs, that I was a 
 Stranger and a Chriftian, (being now in 
 that Habit,) came running to me, and fal- 
 ling on her Knees, laid hold of mine, and 
 begg'd me to take pity on a diftrefs'd Wo- 
 man, who expeded every moment to be 
 butcher'd by one of the moft inhuman 
 Villains living, from whofe violence they 
 had fled and hid thcmfelves in that Place^ 
 in expedation of finding a Boat to convey 
 them off; I lifted her up, and thought I 
 faw fomething in that Face, I had feert 
 before, tho' much alter'd by Years and 
 Troubles. She did the fame by me, and 
 at length cried out, O Heavens I it can't 
 be the Man I hope I I rememberM confu^ 
 fedly fomething of the Voice, as well as 
 the Face ; and after a deal of Aftonifli- 
 ment, found it was the Curdilh Lady, 
 who had faved my Life from the Pirate 
 Bamets. Oh ! fays ilie, I have juft time 
 enough to tell ye, that we expedt to be 
 purfucd by that inhuman Wretch, unlefs 
 you can find a Boat to carry us off before 
 he finds us, otherwife we mufl fall a Sa- 
 crifice to his Cruelty ; I never flay'd to 
 confider Confequences, but anfwer'd pre- 
 cipitately that I would do my beft, fo ran 
 back to the Ship as faft as I could, and 
 with the help of the firft Man brought 
 the Boat to the Rock. I was juft getting 
 
 X 2 out 
 
3o8 The MMEOIRS of 
 
 out to take hold of her Hand, when we 
 heard fomeMen coming ruiliing in behind 
 us, and one of them cried, hold. Villain, 
 that wicked Woman flian't efcape fo, and 
 fires a Piftol, which mifling the Lady, Ihot 
 the Man attending her, into the Belly., 
 fo that he fell down prefently, tho' not 
 quite dead. I had provided my felf with 
 a TurkiJJj Scymitar, and a Cafe of Piftols, 
 under my Safh, for my defence on Ship- 
 board i 1 faw there was no time to deli- 
 berate, fo I fired dire<^Uy at them, for 
 they were three, and had the good luck 
 to drop one of them. But Ha^nets^ as I 
 found afterwards, minding nothing but 
 his Revenge on the Woman, fired again, 
 and milling the Lady a fecond time, fliot 
 her Maid thro' the Arm, and was drawing 
 his Scymitar to cleave her down, when I 
 ftept in before the Lady, but fhooting 
 with too much Precipitancy, the Bullets 
 pafs'd under his Arm, and lodg'd in the 
 Body of his fecond -, he ftarted back at 
 the fire fo near him, which gave me time 
 to draw my Scymitar. Being now upon 
 equal Terms, he retired two or three 
 Paces, and cried, who art thou, that ven- 
 tured thy Life fo boldly for this wicked 
 Woman ? I knew his Voice perfc(5tly well, 
 neither was he fo much alter'd as the La- 
 dy. I am the Man, faid I, whofe Life 
 thou wouldft have taken, but this Lady 
 
 faved 
 
Signor Gaudentio di Lucca. 309 
 
 faved it, whofe Caufe I fhall now re- 
 venge as well as my own, and my dear 
 Brother's. We made no more words, but 
 fell to it with our Scymitars, with all our 
 Might; he was a brave ftout Man, and 
 let me fee I iliould have Work enough to 
 hew him down. After feveral Attacks, 
 he gave me a confiderable Wound on my 
 Arm, and I cut him a-crofs the Cheek a 
 pretty large gafh, but not to endanger his 
 Life ,• at length the Juftice of my Caufe 
 would have it, that ftriking off his Tur- 
 bout at one ftrokc, and with another fal- 
 ling on his bare Head, I cut him quite in- 
 to the Brain, that fome of them fpurted 
 on my Scymitar. He fell down, as I 
 thought, quite Dead, but after fome time 
 he gave a groan, and muttered thcfe words. 
 Mahomet^ thou art juft, I kill'd this Wo- 
 man's Husband, and fne has been the Oc- 
 calion of my Death ; with thefc words he 
 gave up the Ghoft. By this time the La- 
 dy's Attendant was dead, fo I took the 
 Lady and her Woman without (laying, 
 for fear of further Difficulties, and putting 
 them in the Boat, conducted them to the 
 Ship. Monfieur Godart was extreamly 
 troubled at the Accident, faying we fliould 
 have all thelfland upon us, and made great 
 Difficulty to receive the Lady ; but upon 
 a juft Reprefjntation of the Cafe, and 
 an abundant Rccompence for his Lffedts 
 
 X :: left 
 
3i'o The yiEMOlKS of 
 
 left behind, we got him to take her in, 
 and hoift Sail for Venice as faft as we 
 could. The Lady had now time to thank 
 me for her delivery, and I to congratulate 
 my happy Fortune in being able to make 
 a return for her faving of my Life. Du- 
 ring our pafl'agc, I begg'd her to give us 
 the Hiftory of her Fortunes fincc I left 
 her, which I prognofticatcd then could 
 not be very happy, confidering the Hands 
 ilie was fallen into. Says flie, you remcm-^ 
 bcr I made a Promife to HametSy that \ 
 would Marry him on Condition he would 
 fave your Life j yes. Madam, faid I, and 
 am ready to venture my owvi once more 
 in return for fo great a Benefit. You have 
 done enough, fays flie, and with that ac-? 
 quainted us, that when I was fold off to 
 the ftrangc Merchant, Hamcts carried her 
 to JlgierSy and claimed her Promife : I 
 was entirely ignorant, fays ilie, of his ha- 
 ving a Hand in the Death of my dear 
 Lord ; but on the contrary, the Villain 
 had contrived his wickednefs fo cunning- 
 ly, that I thought he had generoufly ven- 
 tured his own Life to fave his, and being, 
 as you know a very handfome Man, of 
 no very inferior Rank, and exprcifing the 
 moft ardent Love for my Perfon, and I 
 having no hopes of returning into my own 
 Country, fulfilled my Promife made on 
 your account, and married him. We lived 
 
 con- 
 
*S/^;;<7r Gaudentio di Lucca. 311 
 
 contentedly enough together for fome 
 Years, bating that we had no Children, 
 till his conftant Companion, who was 
 the Man attending me at the Rock, and 
 was kiird by that Villain, fell out about 
 a fair Slave which Omar^ fo he was call'd, 
 had bought, or taken Prifoner in fome of 
 their Piracies. Hamets^ as wxll as hcj, 
 fell in Love with her, and would have 
 taken her for his Concubine, but the other 
 conceal'd her from him : They had like to 
 have fought about it i Harriets vow'd Re- 
 venge. The other, who was the honclter 
 Man of the two, was advifed to be upon 
 his guard, and to deliver the Woman ta 
 him, which he never would confent to, 
 but was refolv'd to run all rifques, rather 
 than the young Lady fliould fuffer any 
 diilionour. In the mean time^ her Friends, 
 who were rich People of Circajfia^ hear- 
 ing where flic w^as, made Intereft to have 
 her ranfom'd, and taken from both of 
 them, by the Authority of the T)ey of 
 JlgierSy who was otherwife no Friend 
 to Hamets, This lafl; had been informed, 
 that 07nm\ becaufe he could not enjoy 
 herhimfclf, contriv'd to haveher ranfom'd 
 from his Rival, and I my felf had a hand 
 in the Affair, for which he threatened 
 Revenge on both of us y and being alfo 
 difgufted with the *Dey^ he gave Orders 
 to have his Ships ready to remove and 
 X 4 ioliow 
 
3ii "the MEMOIRS of 
 
 follow his Trade of Piracy. Then Omar 
 informed me how Hamets had murder'd 
 my firft Husband, having hired the Ara- 
 hians to do it, while he pretended to de- 
 fend him to avoid my fufpicions, with fuch 
 circumftances of the Fa(^j that I faw the 
 truth w^as too clear. It is not to be ex- 
 prefs'd the Horror and Deteftation I was 
 in, both againft Hamets^ and againll my 
 felf, for marrying fuch a Monfter. Omar 
 added, that he was certainly inform'd, 
 that as foon as he had us out at Sea, he 
 would make away with us both ^ and told 
 me, if I would truft my felf with him, he 
 would undertake to carry me off in a Boat, 
 and condu(5t me into my own Country. 
 1 was refolved to fly to the fartheft tnd 
 of the Earth to avoid his loathed Sight; 
 fo refolv'd to pack up our mod precious 
 Things, and go along with him. He pro- 
 cured a Boat to meet us, at a little Creek 
 of the liland, by a Perfon he thought he 
 could confide in -, but who betrayed the 
 whole affair to Hamets. Of which alfo 
 we had timely Notice, to remove from the 
 Station where we expeded the Boat, and 
 flying along the Coaft as privately as we 
 could, hid our felves under the Rock 
 where you found us, expecting either to 
 find fome favourable occafion to be car- 
 ried off, or to die by the Hand of 
 IIi:iietSj which we certainly had done, 
 
 had 
 
Signer Gaudentio di Lucca. 315 
 
 had not he met with his juft Death by 
 yours. The Lady had fcarce given us this 
 iLort Account of her Misfortunes, and 
 we were not only congratulating her for 
 her Deliverance^ but ftood in admiration 
 at the Juftice of Providence, which reached 
 over this Villain, both to bring him to 
 condign Punifhment for the Murder of 
 the innocent Curd^ and making him die 
 by my Hand, five and twenty Years after 
 he had robb'd and kill'd my Brother, with 
 ail his Crew, fold me for a Slave, and 
 would have kiii'd me alfo, had not the 
 flrange Lady faved my Life. I fay, we 
 were making fuch like Refledions on this 
 ftrange Accident, when they told us from 
 above, that two Veffels feem'd to come 
 full Sail upon us, as if they were purfuing 
 us w^ith all their might. We made all the 
 Sail wx could, but our Ship being pretty 
 heavily loaded, we faw we muft be over- 
 taken. Some of us were refolv'd to Fight 
 it out to the lafl:, in cafe they were Ene- 
 mies. But Monficiir God art would not 
 confent to it, faying the 'BaJJ'ds Paffport 
 would fecure us, or by yielding peaceably, 
 we might be ranfom'd. They came up 
 to us in a fliort time, and fainted us with 
 a Volley of Shot, to lliew what we were 
 to truit to. We ftruck our Sails, and let 
 them Board us without any Rcfiftance. 
 Monfieitr Qodarty as I thought, with too 
 
 mean 
 
314 T^he MEMOIRS of 
 mean a Spirit, told them with Cap in 
 Hand, that he would give them any Sa- 
 tisfadion^ and alTured them he would not 
 willingly fall out with the Subjeds of the 
 Grand Signer. They fcized every Man 
 of us, and fpying the Lady and my felf. 
 There they are, faid they, the Aduiterefs 
 and her Lover, with the Spoils of her 
 mui der'd Husband. Which Words fhewing 
 they were Turks purfued us from Candy^ 
 ftruck Monfieiir Godart all of a Heap at 
 once, and made me imagine, I fliould have 
 much ado to find any Quarter. They 
 hauled us upon Deck, making Show, as 
 if they were going to cut off my Head. I 
 never thought my felf fo nigh Death be- 
 fore ; but had the prefence of Mind to 
 cry out in the hearing of the whole Crew, 
 that we were Servants of the Grand Sid- 
 tauefs, and produced the Paffport of the 
 Great ^aJJ'a her Brother, charging them 
 on their Peril not to touch us. This 
 flopt their Fury a little, feme cried out 
 hold, have a care what you do ; others 
 cried, kill them all for Robbers and Mur- 
 derers , the Sultancfs will never protedl 
 fuch Villains as thefe. When the Hurly- 
 burly was fomcthing appeas'd, Monficnr 
 Godart reafon'd the Cafe with them, and 
 told them, if they murdered us, they could 
 never conceal it j fince all the Crew of 
 the three Ships heard our Appeal to the 
 
 Sulta- 
 
SigvM Gaud^-ntio d! Lucca. 315 
 
 Sultanefs's Mother, the Paffport fitting 
 forth among other Things, that 1 had 
 faved the Life of the Grand Sultanefs. 
 This brought them to a demur. The 
 Chief of them began to confult among 
 themfelves what was beft to be done? 
 When I begging leave to fpeak, told them, 
 if they would carry us to Confiantinopky 
 we would willingly fubmit our Lives, and 
 all that belong'd to us, in cafe the Sulta- 
 nefs did not own the Fad, and take us 
 into her Prote(ftion. That in cafe they 
 put us to Death, fome one or other in fuch 
 a Number, would certainly inform againft 
 them, the Confequences of w^hich they 
 knew very well. I touched alfo but ten- 
 derly on the Death o^ Hatitets^ and our 
 Innocence. The firft part of my Speech 
 made them pafs over the other. They de- 
 murred again, and at length refolvcd to 
 carry us to Conftantinople^ and proceed 
 againft us by way of Juftice, not doubting 
 to make good Prize of us, on account of 
 our being Chriftians. Thus w^as our Jour- 
 ney to Venice interrupted for fome time 
 by this Accident. When we came to the 
 Port, MGiifieur Godart got leave to fend 
 our Cafe to Monfieur Sai'lgni^ the French 
 Refident ; who found means to reprefent 
 to the Sultanefs's Mother, that there was 
 a Stranger in Chains, who pretended to 
 be the Pcrfon who had fayed her Life^ 
 
 when 
 
3i6 Tbe WEMOIKS of 
 
 when flic was at Grand Cairo y and would 
 give her Proofs of it, if he could be ad- 
 mitted to her Highnefs's Prefence. I 
 would not fend the Ring fhe gave me, 
 for fear of Accidents. The Sultanefs 
 gave Orders immediately, I fhould be 
 brought to her Prefence j faying fhe could 
 eafily know the Perfon, for all it was 
 fo long ago, I put on the fame kind of 
 Drefs I was in, when fiie firft favv me, 
 which if your Reverences remember, 
 was the travelling Drefs of the Mczo- 
 ranians. When I was brought into her 
 Prefence, I fcarcc knew her, being advanc'd 
 to a middle Age, and in the Attire of the 
 Grand Sultanefs ,• flie look'd at me with 
 a great deal of Emotion, and bid me ap- 
 proach nighcr. I immediately fell on my 
 Knees, and holding the Pving in my Hand, 
 which file gave me at parting, as if I were 
 making a Prefent of it. Madam, faid I, 
 behold a Slave, who had the Honour to 
 fave your Highncfs's Life, and now begs 
 his own, and that of his Companions, and 
 mod humbly requcfts your Highnefs to 
 accept of this Jewel, as a Token of our 
 Lift Dlftrefs, Inftead of anfwcring mc, 
 which put me in great Pain, almoft doubt- 
 ing whether I was right or not, fhe 
 turned to her nighcfl: Attendants, and cried 
 in a pretty foft Voice, 'tis he, I know him 
 by his YoicCj as well as Drefs : And rS\v.% 
 
 o'tf 
 
Signor Gaudentio di Lucca. 31-7 
 
 off her Seat, came and took the Ring 
 herfelfi ^^^ looking attentively at it: 
 Yes, Sir, faid fhe, I own the Ring, and 
 Bearer j and acknowledge you to be the 
 Perfoti who faved my Life. For which 
 Reafon, I give you yours, and all that 
 belongs to you, forbidding all under 
 Pain of Death, to give you the leaft 
 Trouble ,• and withal ordered a prodigi- 
 ous rich Tiirhjlj Robe, to be thrown over 
 my Shoulders, as a fign of her Favour. 
 Immediate Orders were font to the Port 
 to fet Monjienr Godart and all his Crew 
 at Liberty, and to Feaft us, as particular 
 Friends of the Grand Sultanefs. The 
 Company being difmifs'd, fhe made a lign 
 for me to ftay, having further Bufinefs 
 with me. When all were gone, but two 
 of her chief favourite Women, llie came 
 to me without any Ceremony, and taking 
 me in her Arms, as if I had been her Bro- 
 ther, fhe embraced me, with a great deal 
 of Tendernefs J her Joy to fee me, making 
 her lay afide her Grandeur, and yield to 
 the Tranfports of undifguifed Nature. She 
 led me by the Hand into a mod magnifi- 
 cent Apartment; faying, come, Signor 
 Gaudentio^ for fo I think you are call'd, 
 after you have refrefli'd your felf, you 
 fliall tell me your Adventures. She made 
 no fcruple to fit down with>me, being now 
 not only Miftrefs of her fel^ but of the 
 
 whole 
 
3i8 "ihe MEMOIRS of 
 
 whole Ottommi Empire, as well as fure 
 of her Attendants. We had a refelhment 
 of all the Rarities of the ^afl^ with the 
 richeft Wines for me, tho' flie drank none 
 her felf. I long to hear your Adven- 
 tures, continued (lie, of fo many Years 
 abfence. So I told lier in lliort, how I 
 was carried by that ftrange Merchant in- 
 to an unknown Country, without telling 
 her the way we went thither; where I 
 had married the Regent's Daughter, She 
 blulli'd a little at that Part, and fhew'd 
 the remains of all her former Beauty. 
 But it put me in mind of my own indif- 
 cretion to toucli on fuch a nice Point. 
 She pafs'd it off with a great deal of Good- 
 nefs, and recovering my felf, I continued 
 to acquaint her of the Reafons of my 
 Return, as well as how I was taken by 
 Jiamets the firft time, which flie had not 
 been acquainted with before ; and laftly, 
 how I met with the fame Hamets again, 
 kill'd him, and by that means came into 
 that Misfortune. I call'd it then a Mif- 
 fortune, but look upon it now, to be one 
 of my greateft Happineffes j fmce by that 
 occafion, I have the Honour of feeing 
 your Highnefs in that Dignity of which 
 you are the moft Worthy of any one in 
 all the Ottoman Empire. She feem'd to 
 be in admiration at the Courfe of my 
 Life, and ask'd me, I think, Signor, 
 
 faid 
 
Signor Gaudentio di Lucca. 3i^_ 
 
 faid file, you faid your were married; is 
 your Spoufe with you ? No Madam, faid 
 I, alas, fhe is dead, and all my Children, 
 and I am going to retire, and lead a pri- 
 vate Life, in my native Country. With 
 thefe and other difcourfes we pafs'd the 
 greateft part of the Day, when fhe bid 
 me go back to the Ship in Publick, at- 
 tended with all the marks of her high 
 Favours i but faid ilie would fend for me 
 privately in the Evening , for faid llie, 1 
 have a Thoufand other Things to ask ye. 
 Accordingly I was introduced privately 
 into the Seraglio -, which, fhe being Sulta- 
 nefs Regent, could eaiily have done. 
 There flie entirely laid afide her Gran- 
 deur. We talk'd ail former PalTages over 
 again, with the freedom of Friends and 
 old Acquaintance, where, in our Conver- 
 fation, I found fhe was a Woman of pro- 
 digious Depth and Judgment^ as indeed 
 her wading thro' fo many Difficulties, at- 
 tending the Inconftancy of the Ottoman 
 Court, particularily the Regency, gave 
 evident Proof. I made bold to ask her, 
 how fhe arrived at that Dignity, tho' fhe 
 was the only Perfon in the World that de- 
 ferved it ; and took the Liberty, to fay 
 in a familiar way, that I believed her 
 Highnefs was now fenlible of the Service I 
 did her, in refufing to comply with her for- 
 mer demands, fince the Fates had referved 
 
 her 
 
S20 1'he MEMOIRS <?/ 
 
 her to be the greateft Emprefs of the 
 World, not the Confort of a wandering 
 Slave. Had I not been entirely alTured of 
 her goodnefs, I Ihould not have dared to 
 have touched on that Head. She blufli'd 
 with a little Confufion at firft, but put- 
 ting it off w4th a grave Air, fays fhc. 
 Grandeur does not always make People 
 happy. Ten Thoufand cares attend a 
 Crown j but the indifference I had for all 
 Things, made mine fit eafier than it might 
 have done otherwife. 'Tis true, faid Ihe, 
 that young People very feldom fee their 
 own good, and oftentimes run into fuch 
 Errors, by the violence of their PaflTions, 
 which not only deprives them of greater 
 BledingSj but renders their Misfortunes 
 irretrievable. Some time after you were 
 gone, continued fhe, my Father the Grand 
 'Bajj'a was accused by fome underhand 
 Enemies, of Male- Adminiftration^ a thing 
 too frequent in our Court, and privately 
 condemn'd to be Strangled. But having 
 fome trufty Friends at the Port, he had 
 notice of it, before the Orders came. He 
 immediately departed from Grand Cairo^ 
 and took a round-about way towards 
 Conftantinople^ to prevent, as the way is, 
 the Execution of them. He fent me be- 
 fore to prepare matters, and to intercede 
 with the young Sultan, my late deceafcd 
 Lord for his Life^ leaving Word where. 
 
 I might 
 
Signor Gaud en no di Lucca, 321; 
 I might let him know of the fuccefs of 
 my InterceiTion. I prcfented my felf be- 
 fore the Sultan, with that modeft AfTu- 
 rance, which my Innocence, my Youth, 
 and Grief for my Father's danger gave me. 
 I fell down on my Knees, and with a 
 Flood of Tears, begg'd my Father's Life. 
 The Sultan look'd at me with fome 
 Amazement, and whatever he faw in my 
 Face, not only granted my Rcquefl-, and 
 confirm'd my Father in his former Pofl ; 
 but made a Profeflfion of Love to my Per- 
 fonj and even continued it with more 
 Conftancy, than I thought a Grand Sultan 
 capable of, having fo many exquifite Beau- 
 ties to divert him, as they generally have. 
 I confented, to fave my Father's Life; 
 and whether the indifferency I had for all 
 Men, made him more eager, I can't tell ; 
 but I found I was the chief in his Favour. 
 He had fome other Miflreffes now and 
 then, of whom he was very fond. But I 
 never teazing him, nor fretting my felf 
 about it, eafily found I continued to have 
 the folid part of his Friendiliip; and 
 bringing him the firft Male Child, the 
 prefent Emperor, I became the chief Sul- 
 tancfsi and by his Death, and the Mino- 
 rity of my Son, am now Regent, by 
 which I am capable of rendering you all 
 the Service the Ottoman Empire can per- 
 form. Which I efteem one of the hap- 
 
 Y pieft 
 
pi The MEMOIRS of 
 
 pied Events of my Life. I return'd her 
 the mod profound Bow, and humble 
 Thanks, a Heart full of the moft lively 
 Senfe of Gratitude could profefs. She 
 offered me the firft Poft of the Ottoman 
 Empire, if I would but become a Mufful- 
 man, or only fo in appearance ; or if, faid 
 Ihe, you had rather be nigh me, you fliall 
 be the chief Officer of my Houfhold. Tho,' 
 faid ilie, I have had afTurance enough, that 
 neither your Inclinations, nor Principles 
 can be forced ; neither will I endeavour 
 to do it, but leave you as much at your 
 Liberty, as your generous Mafter did, 
 when he bought you of Hamets, I ex- 
 prefs'd all the grateful Acknowledgments 
 p'rfUble, for fo generous an offer, but af- 
 fLrod her with an Air, that even expreffed 
 Sorrow for the Refufal, that I lay under 
 Rf'lig'ous Obligations, which bound me 
 ind.ffp..nfably to return into my own 
 Country. She was become now^ as much 
 Miftrofs of her Inclinations, as fhe had ac- 
 quired Prudence and Experience by the 
 P>ng command fhehad over her Husband's 
 Heart, and the whole Ottoman Empire. So 
 after a Month's ftayfhe let me go, with all 
 the M^rks of Honour, her Dignity would 
 fuifor her to exprefs. She would have 
 punifli'd the Perfons that took us, but I 
 rntCi ceded for them. Monfieiir God art 
 cannot only teftily the Truth of this 
 
 Hiilory, 
 
Signor Gaudentio di Lucca. 325 
 
 Hiftory, but was well rewarded for th^ 
 lofs of his Time and Confinement. The 
 lafl Words fhe faid to me, were to bid 
 me remember, that a 'Turk^ and a Wo- 
 man^ were capable of generous Gratitude 
 and Honour^ as well as Chriftians. So we 
 fet Sail for Venice. 
 
 Secretary. Here one. of the Inquifitors^,' 
 came in with a Gold Medal in his Hand^ 
 and turning to the Examinant, faid^ 
 Signor Gaudentio^ I believe you have 
 found a Relation in Italy^ as well as in 
 Jfrica, and one of the fame Nation with 
 your Mother. 'Tis the Terjtan Lady you 
 brought with you, whom we fecured the 
 fame Time we did you, but would not 
 let you know it, till wc could procure 
 Intelligence from Venice^ and a Perfon 
 who could fpeak the ^erfian Language* 
 We own we find her in the fame Story 
 with you, and nothing material againfl 
 you from J^;z/V^. Upon the examining her 
 Effects, we found this Medal of the famd 
 make with yours, by which you knew 
 who your Mother was. She fays it v;a3 
 about her Neck, when fhe was fold to 
 the Terfian Merchant. But iince we 
 Aiall give you both your Liberties, in a 
 fhort Time, flie fliall be brought into 
 you, and we give you leave to fay what 
 you will to her, with the Interpreter by. 
 Upon this the Lady was introduced, with 
 
 Y 1 her 
 
324 "I^e MEMOIRS of 
 her Maid and the Interpreter. As foori 
 as Hie faw our Examinant in good Health, 
 and feemingly at Liberty, a joyful Serenity 
 fpread it felt over her Countenance, fuch 
 as we had not fcen before. Our Exami- 
 nant ask'd her, to be pleas'd to give an 
 Account of her Life, as far asihe thought 
 proper, and how fhe came by that 
 Medal. 
 
 Lady* All I know of my felf, faidfhe, 
 is that the noble Ciird^ who bought me 
 of a Terjian Merchant for a Companion 
 for his only Daughter, about my own Age, 
 whom he thought I rcfembled very much, 
 often declar'd to me, that the Merchant 
 bought me of a ^itrkiJJj Woman, who 
 left that Medal about my Neck, fuppo- 
 fing it to be fome Charm or Preferva- 
 tive againft Diftempers, or becaufe a Sifter 
 of mine had the fame faftcn'd about her 
 Neck, with a Gold Chain, which could 
 not be taken off without breaking ; but 
 who, or where the Siller was, I never 
 knew. The noble CtirdiJJj Lord, who 
 bought me, grew prodigious fond of me, 
 and bred me up as another Daughter ; and 
 not only fo, but having an only Son, 
 foraething older than my felf, he conni- 
 ved at a growing Love he perceived be- 
 tween his Son and my felf,- which after 
 fome difficulties on both fides, at length 
 came to a Marriage ^ tho' it coft my gene- 
 rous 
 
Signor Gaudentio di Lucca. 325 
 rous Benefador and Father-in-law his 
 Life, For another young Lord of Ciirdi- 
 fian^ falling in Love with me, often 
 challenged Prince Cali^ that was my 
 dear Husband's Name, to decide their 
 Pretenfions by the Sword, which I had 
 always forbid him to do^ faying, that 
 Man fhould never be my Husband, who 
 expos'd my Reputation by a Duel j fince 
 the World would never believe, that any 
 Man would expofe his Life for a Woman, 
 unlefs there had been fome Encourage- 
 ment given on both Sides; whereas I 
 never gave the leafl: to any but Prince 
 Call, However, the other met him one 
 Day, and attacked him fo furioufly, that 
 Prince Call was forced to kill him in his 
 own Defence, making a Thoufand Pro- 
 teftations, that he had almofl fuffereH 
 himfelf to be kill'd, rather than to dif- 
 obey my Orders. But the Father of the 
 Prince, who was flain with a Company 
 of Affaifms, laid an Ambufcade for Prince 
 Call and his Father, in which this latter 
 was kill'd, and moft of his Train. But by 
 the Valour of his Son, and two of his 
 Companions, the chief AflaflTins were laid 
 dead on the Spot, and the Reft put to 
 Flight. But Prince Call after the Death 
 of his Father, fearing further Treachery 
 of that Nature, prefently after we were 
 Married, removed to another Part of tlie 
 Y 3 King- 
 
326 ne MEMOIRS of 
 
 Kingdom, from whence he being fent 
 on a CommilTion by his King, he was 
 inhumanly Murder'd by the Barbarous 
 Hamets, This is the fum of my unfor- 
 tunatvO Life, till 1 had the good Fortune 
 to fave yours. 
 
 Secretary* We permitted the Nephew 
 and the Aunt, (for fo they were found to 
 be by the Modal) to embrace one another. 
 Signor Qandentio alluring her, that by 
 all appearance, he was the Son of her 
 Sifter and the Mother's Sifter that was 
 loft, and both of them prefcrved to favo 
 each other's Lives. The Lady then de- 
 clared, file would turn Chriftian, fince her 
 Misfortunes were come to that Period. 
 She was refolv'd to leave the World, and 
 retire into fome of our Monafteries. \Vc 
 put her among the Nuns of our Order, 
 where (lie proiniCes to be a fignal Example 
 of Virtue and Piety. The Inquilitors or^ 
 der'd the Examinant to give them the re- 
 maining Part of his Life, which in all 
 appearance, if they found his Story to 
 agree with their Informations, might pur- 
 chafe him his Liberty. 
 
 Qandentio* I was telling your Reve- 
 rences, that at length we fet Sail from 
 the port, and fteer'd our Courfe diredly 
 for Venice^ where we happily arrived 
 without any confiderablc Accident, the 
 izitb oi T>ece7nhert Jnn»T)om* 1712. I 
 
 don't 
 
4SV^«^r Gaudentio di Lucca. 327 
 
 don't queftion but your Reverences are 
 already inform'd, that fuch Perfons did 
 arrive at 7^?z/r^ about that time ; Monfieur 
 Qodart is well known to feveral Mer- 
 chants, and feme of the Senators of that 
 famous City, whom he inform'd of what 
 he faw with his own Eyes. But there 
 were fome particular Paitages, unknown 
 to your Reverences, wherein I had like 
 to have made Shipwreck of my Life, af- 
 ter fo many Dangers, as I did here of my 
 Liberty,- tho' I don't complain, but only 
 reprefent my hard Fortune to your Reve- 
 rences Conlideration. It happen'd to be 
 the Carnival Time, during our ftay at 
 Venice, Curiofity led me, as well as a 
 great many other Strangers, of the firft 
 Rank, to lee the Nature of it. I put on 
 my Mezoranian Habit, fpangled with 
 Suns of Gold, and the Fillet-Crown on 
 my Head, adorn'd with feveral Jewels of 
 very great Value, which I believe was 
 the moft remarkable and magnificent 
 Drefs of any there. I wxnt unmafqued, 
 being affur'd my Face and Perfon was un- 
 known to all that World. Every one\s 
 Eyes were upon me. Several of the Maf- 
 queraders came up to me, and talk'd to 
 me, particularly the Ladies. They fpokc 
 to me in feveral Languages, as Lathis, 
 'French^ Italian^ Spanijlo^ High'^iitchy 
 (jc, I anfvver'd them all in the Mezo- 
 Y 4 ranian 
 
328 "the MEMOIRS of 
 
 ran/an Language, which fecm'd as ftrange 
 to them, as my Drefs. Some bf them 
 fpoke to me in the Ttirkiflj and Terfian 
 Language, in Lingua Franca^ and fome 
 in an Indian Language I really did not 
 underftand. I anfvver'd them ftill in the 
 Mezoranian^ of which no body knew 
 one Word. Two Ladies particularly, very 
 richly Drefs'd, foUow'd me wherever I 
 went. The one, as it proved afterwards, 
 was Farilla the celebrated Coiirtcjan^ in 
 the richeft Drefs of all the Company ; the 
 other was the Lady who was with me, 
 when I was taken up, and was the Occa- 
 {ion of my fettling at ^Bologna, I mean 
 the true Reafon, for I will conceal no- 
 thing from your Reverences. Notwith- 
 flaiiding their Diligence, I got away un- 
 known at that Time. The next time I 
 came, I appeared in the fame Drefs, but 
 with richer Jewels ; 1 had more Eyes upon 
 me then, than I had before. The Courte- 
 fan purfued me agiin in a different, but 
 richer Drefs than the former. At length 
 {he got me by my fclf, and pulling off her 
 Mafque, fhew'd me a wonderful pretty 
 Face, only there was too fierce an Alfu- 
 rance in it. She cried in Italian^ O SignoVy 
 you are not fo ignorant of our 1-anguagc, 
 as you wou'd fjem to be! You can fpcak 
 Italian and French too ^ tho' we don't 
 know v/ho you are, we have learnt you 
 
 ars 
 
Signor Gaudentio di Lucca. 329 
 are a Man of Honour. If you would not 
 underftand our Words, you may under- 
 ftand a Face, which very great Perfonages 
 have been glad to look at, and with that 
 put on one of the moft enfnaring Airs I 
 ever faw. I don't doubt but your Reve- 
 rences have heard of that famous Courte-^ 
 fan^ and how the greateft Man in Venice 
 was once her Slave. I was juft going to 
 anfwer her, when the other Lady came 
 up, and pulling off her Mask alfo, faid 
 almoft the fame Things, but with a Mo- 
 dcfty more graceful than her Beauty, 
 which was moft exquifite, and the likeft 
 the incomparable Ifyphena I ever faw. 
 I made them both a moft refpedlful Bow, 
 and told them, that it had been much 
 fafer for me, if I had kept my felf ftill un- 
 known, and never feen Ifuch dangerous 
 Charms. 1 pronounc'd thefe Words with 
 an Air, that fliew'd, that I was more 
 plcas'd with the Modefty of the laft 
 Lady, than the commanding Alfurance 
 of the Firft. The Courtefan^ tho' a little 
 netled at the Preference flie thought I 
 gave the other, put on a more ferious 
 Air, and faid, fhe had been informed, 
 there was fomething very extraordinary 
 in my Chara6ter, and iliould be glad to 
 hear more of it by her felf ^ that her Name 
 was Favilia^ and that ihe liv'd in fuch 
 a Street, where I fhould find her Houfe 
 
 remark- 
 
5JO . T:hc MEMOIRS of 
 
 remarkable enough. The "Boloznian La- 
 dy, whom your Kcvercnces knew very 
 well, and who was then at Venice on ac- 
 count ot the Death of her Uncle, one of 
 the Senators, who had left her all his 
 trfet^s, fa id modeftly, if I fhould favour her 
 with a Viiit, as ilic had been informed, 
 that I was a learned Man, and a A^'irtuofo, 
 fhc being inclined that way her felf, llic 
 lliould be glad of an hours Converfatioii 
 with me on that Subje^l, telling mo her 
 Name and where ihe lived j adding, if 
 1 would inform my felf of her Charader, 
 I need not be afliam'd of her Acquain- 
 tance ^ nor, I hope of mine. Madam, fays 
 the other, thinking fhc had been refle(^- 
 ed on by that word. It was Monfieur 
 Qodart who, with a Levity peculiar to his 
 Nation, had made the difcovery who I 
 was, tho' he knew nothing of me but what 
 pafs'd lincc I came from Grand Cairo* 
 I was going to reply to the Ladies, when 
 Company came up, and broke off the 
 Difcourfc j I was rcfolv'd to fee nei- 
 ther of them, and would go no more to 
 the Affembiy, tho' almoft unavoidably I 
 faw both afterwards. I enquir'd into pa- 
 •villas Charader, tho' I fcarce doubted 
 of it by what 1 faw and heard, and was 
 inform'd that llie was an imperious Cour- 
 tefan, who had cnilavVi feveral Perfons 
 of the tirft B-ank, of different Nations, 
 
 and 
 
Signer Gaudentio di Lucca. 331 
 
 and enrich'd herfelf by their fpoils j fo I 
 was fully refoiv'd not to fee her j but as 
 Monfieur Godart and my felf were walk- 
 ing to fee the Town, he brought me ei- . 
 ther induftriouflyjOr accidentally, by her 
 Door ; fhe was fitting at the Window of 
 one of the moft magnificent Palaces in 
 Venice^ fuch fpoils had fhe reap'd from 
 her bewitch'd Lovers. As foon as flie 
 cfpied me, fhe fent a Servant to tell me,^ 
 that that Lady would fpeak with me ,- 
 I made fome difficulty, but Monfieur Qo- 
 dart told me, a Man of Honour could not 
 refufe fuch a Favour as that ^ fo I went 
 in, and Monfieur Godart with me. The 
 Lady receiv'd me with a moft charming 
 agreeable Air, much different from her 
 former Affurance, and conducted me into 
 a moft magnificent Apartment, leaving 
 Monfieur G^^^^r/- entertaining a very pret- 
 ty Lady, her Companion. Not to detain 
 your Reverences too long, when I would 
 not underftand what llie meant, {he of- - 
 fer'd me Marriage, with the Inheritance 
 of all her Effei5ts j I was put to the laft 
 Nonplus. I aiTur'd her with a moft profound 
 bow, that tho' I was not worthy of fuch 
 a Happincfs, I had an indifpenfable obli- 
 gation on me never to marry ; all the Blood 
 file had came in her Face ; I don't know 
 what file was going to do, but finding her 
 in that diforder, I made another bow, 
 
 fay- 
 
332 Tbe MEMOIRS of 
 
 faying, I would confider further on her 
 propolal, and walk'd diredly out of the 
 Houfe, defigning to leave Vetiice as foon 
 as ever my Affairs would give me leave. 
 Some time after, Monfieur Godart came 
 to mc, and told me, he was forced to do 
 as 1 did i that the Lady was in fuch an 
 outrageous Fury he did not know what 
 might be the confequcnce. Three Nights 
 after, as Monfieur Godart^ and a young 
 Kinfman of his, and my felf, were going 
 towards the Kialto^ in the dusk of the 
 livening, four RufHans attack'd us una- 
 wares i two of them fet upon me, the 
 other two attacked Monfieur Godart and 
 his Kinfman ; the poor young Gentleman 
 was run thio' the Body the hrft pu(h ; I 
 made ihift to difable one of my Advcrfa- 
 ries, but in doing it, the other run me 
 thro' the Ribs, but the Sword took only 
 part of my Body, and miffing my entrails, 
 the point went out on the fide of my Back. 
 Monfieur Godart^ who to give him his 
 due, behaved with a great deal of Courage 
 and Bravery, had killed one of his Men, 
 and wounded the other ; but the Ruffians 
 feeing us now two to two, thought fit to 
 march off as well :is they could. I was 
 forced to be led to my Lodging, not doubt- 
 ing but the wound was mortal, tho' it 
 proved not to be fo ,• the Affair made a 
 groat noife about Town : We very ratio- 
 nally 
 
Signor Gaudentio di Lucca. 33^ 
 
 nally fuppos'd it was Famlla who had 
 fet the AnafiTms on, but we knew her to 
 be fo powerful with the Senators, that 
 there was no hopes of Juftice. While I 
 was recovering, I was told there was a La- 
 dy with two waiting Women, defir'd to 
 fee me on very earneft Bufinefs, if it would 
 not be incommodious to me. (Moniieur 
 Qodart would not ftir from my Bcd-(ide, 
 for fear of Accidents.) Who iliould this 
 be but Famlla^ who came all in Mourning 
 for my misfortune ^ I pretended to be a dy- 
 ing Man, and took the liberty of telling 
 her of her way of Living, to what a dif- 
 mal pafs her Paflions had brought her; m 
 fine, I faid fo much, and begg'd her, by 
 all that was dear to her, to confider her 
 ftate, that burfting into a flood of Tears, 
 ihe promis'd me if I died, fhe would be- 
 come a penitent Nun* I effected fo 
 much by Letters afterwards, that tho' I 
 recovered, ilie perform'd her Promife. The 
 "Bolognian Lady had heard of my misfor- 
 tune, and by a ^joodnefs peculiar to the 
 tender Sex, particularly with Regard to 
 Strangers, fhe fent often to know how I 
 did, with Prefents of the richeft Cordials 
 that could be got in Venice, Finding my 
 illnefs continued longer than was expect- 
 ed, ihe fent me word, that tho' it was 
 not fo decent for her to make the firft 
 Vifit, fhe had heard fo much of my Ad- 
 ventures 
 
334 'Tbe MEMOIRS of 
 
 ventures, as very much raifed her Curio- 
 lity, to hear them from my own Mouth, 
 when I was capable of Converfation with- 
 out doing me any prejudice. I had in* 
 form'd my felf of her Charader from ve- 
 ry good Hands, fo that I was very curious 
 to converfe with a Perfon of thofe in- 
 comparable Talents I heard flie was Mif- 
 trefs of; \\\c was the only Woman next 
 to Ifypbena^ and the great "Bajfds Daugh- 
 ter 1 ever much liked in my Life. To fum 
 up all, in fliort, Ihe came fcveral Times 
 to fee me, infomuch that wc contradcd 
 the mod virtuous rriendlliip, by our mu- 
 tual Inclination to Learning, and the fym- 
 pathy of our Tempers, as ever pafs'd be- 
 tween two Perfons of different Sexes. It 
 was on her account I refolv'd to fettle at 
 ^Bologna ; and having fome Knowledge in 
 Nature and Phylick, I took on me that 
 Character, to be the oftner in her Com- 
 pany without fcandal ; wc were neither 
 of us inclin'd to marry. She is one of 
 the moft virtuous Women living, and 
 my felf being advanced in Years, as we 
 were entirely Mafters of our fclves, we 
 thought our innocent Friendiliip could 
 be often five to no one. What has pafb'd 
 fincc I came to this Town, I don't doubt 
 but your Reverences arc apprized of. 
 This is a true and full Account of my 
 Life hitherto j whatever is blamcable in it 
 
 I 
 
Signor Gaudentio di Lucca. 335, 
 
 I hope your Reverences will pardon, as 
 I fubmit it entirely to your Judgments. 
 
 Secretary* As I had the Honour to in- 
 form you before we enquir'd into all thefe 
 Fads, which he faid happened to him in 
 the Company of Monfieur Godart^ which 
 finding to be true, we judg'd the reft might 
 be fo. We ask'd him, if he would con- 
 dud fome of our Miifionaries to that 
 ftrange Country he mention'd ^ he told us 
 he would, but not to truft him entirely, 
 as not knowing what he might do with 
 them, when he had them in unknown 
 Countries, w^e thought fit to give him 
 his liberty firft to go where he would, 
 even out of Italyy with alTurances if he 
 came back of his own accord, we would 
 fend MiflQonaries along with him. He 
 went to Venice and Genoa about his con- 
 cerns, and is now come back, and with 
 us, fo that we believe the Man to be 
 really, what he profefles himfeif to be. 
 
 FINIS,