Chap. II. The description of the City of Jerusalem, and the territory thereof. Am unskilfull in Geography, and much Jerusalem. more in the making of Mappes: but according to the faithfull view of my eyes, I will first draw the situation of Jerusalem, and after explaine it, aswell as I can. And first I thinke good to professe that by my journy to this City, I had no thought to expiate any least sinne of mine; much lesse did I hope to merit any grace from God; but when I had once begun to visite forraigne parts, I was so stirred up by emulation and curiosity, as I did never behold any without a kind of sweete envy, who in this kind had dared more then my selfe. Thus affected, I thought no place more worthy to be viewed in the whole world, then this City, where howsoever I gave all divine worship to God, and thought none to be given to the places, yet I confesse that (through the grace of God) the very places strucke me with a religious horrour, and filled my mind prepared to devotion, with holy motions. In like sort I professe, that I will faithfully relate the situation of the City, and the description of the monuments made to me by the Friars, making conscience not to adde or detract, but as neere as I can to use their owne words. Yet doe I not my selfe beleeve all the particulars I write upon their report, neither doe I perswade any man to beleeve them. But for many monuments, the scripture M. ¡I I A 1596. gives credit to them, and it is not probable in so great difference and emulation, (whereof I shall after speake) of Sects of Christians there abiding, and being most apt [I. iii. 218.] to note errours one in another, that any apparant fictions could be admitted: as on the contrary, it is most certaine, that some superstitious inventions (wherewith all the sectes are more or lesse infected) have in time obtained, to be reputed true, and religiously to be beleeved. Howsoever he that conferres the situation of the City and of the monuments, with the holy Scriptures, and with the old ruines of Rome, and other Cities, shall easily discerne what things are necessarily true or false, and what are more or lesse probable. Jerusalem seated in the same place. And it will notoriously appeare, that the Citie is now seated in the same place, in which it flourished when our Saviour lived there in the flesh. Neither let any man object to me the prophecies of the fatall and irreparable ruine thereof, which all Divines understand of the Temple to be utterly demolished; and for my part, I would rather admit (if necessitie require) any figurative speech, then I would bee so wicked or so blockish, as not to beleeve the holy Scriptures, or that which I did see with these eyes. Upon the West side, the Citie could never have been more enlarged then now it is, since Mount Calverie (without all doubt) was of old without the walles, which now is inclosed within them, so as rather it appeares the Citie hath been so much inlarged on that side. In like sort on the East side, the Citie is so compassed with the Valley of Jehosephat, and the famous Mount Olivet, as it appeares the City could not that way have been larger then now now enlarged. it is. On the North side I did never reade nor heare Jerusalem any, that described this Citie to have been larger then now it is, yet in respect of huge ruines still remaining there, upon a large Plaine of the highest part of the Citie, if any should confidently affirme that they belonged to the old Citie, for my part I could not gainesay it. From the Plaine of this highest part of the Citie it 1596. declines by little and little (if you except some little Hilles within the walles) from the North to the East (where the Temple of Salomon is seated upon the lowest part of Mount Moriah) and likewise it declines from the North to the South Gates, whereof the one is called Sterquilinea, of the filth there carried out, the other Præsentationis, because the Virgin Mary entered there, when she presented Christ to the Priest in the Temple, which gates (as the whole Citie) are seated upon Mountaines, yet lower then any other part of the Citie. Upon the higher part of Mount Sion, on the same South side towards the West, lie many ruines of houses, and it is most certaine, that the Tower of David, and other famous The Tower of houses there, which are now without the walles, were of David. old inclosed within them, and that the City extended somewhat further towards the South, then now it doth. Yet the Hill of Sion is so compassed with knowne Vallies, and those Vallies with high Mountaines, as this extent could not be great. Moriah. Jerusalem was of old called Moria (where they write Jerusalem that Adam was created of red earth), & is seated upon seated upon Mount Moriah, upon the top wherof towards the North- Mount west is Mount Calvery (where they say that Abraham was ready to sacrifice his sonne Isaac, and where without doubt our Saviour Christ suffered), and in the lowest part of this Mountaine, the Temple of Salomon was seated. The Citie was after called Salem, and thirdly, Jebus, and fourthly Jerusalem, and at this day the Turkes have named it Chutz. It is compassed with stately walles (the like whereof I did never see) of red and blacke stone more then an Elle long, and about halfe an Elle broad. I call them stately, for the antiquitie, wherein for the most part they much excell the Roman walles. I numbred seven Gates. The first of Damasco, (of old called the The Seven Gate of Ephraim) on the North side. The second of gates. Saint Stephen on the East side (which of old had the name of the beasts for sacrifice brought in that way.) The third the golden Gate, also on the East side (which |