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The brook
Cedron.

of prison, into which Herod had cast him, (noted with the figure 31). At this day there was an obscure Church, kept by the Syrian Priests.

(38) Here they shew the Iron gate, which Peter found miraculously opened, and by the same entring into the other City, came to the house of Saint Marke.

We going out at Saint Stevens Gate towards the East, descended into the vally of Jehosaphat, and here they say (39) the bridge stood, by which the Queene of Saba passed over the Brooke Cedron, and that the Crosse of Christ was made of the wood of this bridge.

(40) In this place they say the Protomartyre Saint Steven was stoned. (41) This smal line without the Easterne gates, shewes the bed of the brook Cedron, (or Kidron) which is very narrow, having not at this time one drop of water, so as we passed over the stony bed with drie feet. But of old when Jerusalem flourished, and had many conduits of water drawne to it, then it is probable that it was filled with water. And at this day, when any raine fals, the water runnes swiftly from the mountaines on the North side, according to this blacke The vally of line, through the most pleasant vally of Jehosaphat. Jehosaphat. This vally extendeth it selfe on both sides of this brooke,

some two Italian miles in length, but is very narrow, and it hath on the West side the wals of the City, where Salomons Temple stood upon the lower part of the Mount Moriah, and it hath upon the East side the most high Mount Olivet, and it hath on the North side mountaines somewhat (but not farre) distant from the City, and upon the South-side mountaines a little more distant. Many interpret the Prophet Joell, in his third Chapter and second verse, as if Gods Tribunall at the day of judgement should stand in this vally, and thereupon the Jewes when they die in remote parts, will be brought to be buried in this vally, for the expedition of their triall. But the best Divines doe teach, that the word Jehosaphat signifies the Judgement of the Lord, and that the Prophet may be interpreted figuratively, namely, that as the Lord often

defeated with great slaughters the enemies of his Church in this valley, so in the day of judgement he will strike the wicked with like confusion.

1596.

(42) Beyond the Brooke is a stately Sepulcher for the The Sepulcher most part under the earth, into which we descended by of Joseph. some fiftie staires, and about the middle descent, on the left hand towards the City, under an Altar, lie the bodies of Joseph, and Joachimus, and on the right hand the body of Anna (namely, of the Husband, Father, and Mother of the Virgin Marie.) In the bottome is a Church, in the middle whereof, under a stone raised some few feete from the ground, they say the Apostles buried the Virgin The Virgin's Mary. This Church (so they call all places where they burying place. have Altars to sing Masses) is very darke, having no light but by one window or vent, made through the earth, and upon this monument lies part of the bed of the Brook Cedron. On the right hand the Turks (who greately reverence the monuments of Christ while he lived), have made themselves an Oratory. But for the monument it selfe, the Franciscan Friers of the Latin Church have alone the priviledge to keepe the same, and the Altar thereof, for their singing of Masses.

(43) Here is a Cave, at the foote of Mount Olivet, in which they say Christ used to pray, and did sweat bloud.

(44) Here they shew a place where they say (beleeve The place it who list), that S. Thomas after the Virgines buriall, where the Virgin did see her both in body and soule assumed into heaven, appeared to and that she casting her girdle to him, gave it for testimony S. Thomas. thereof, that all others might beleeve it. In my opinion they did well to make Saint Thomas see it, for otherwise hee would never have beleeved it.

(45) The place where they say the Virgin was wont to rest, when she visited the places frequented by her Sonne in the time hee lived heere, and where she beheld the stoning of Saint Stephen, and prayed for [I. iii. 224.] him.

(46) The stone where Christ, leaving Peter, James,

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The Garden

where Christ was betrayed.

Two old sepulchers.

The top of
Mount Olivet.

and John, said, that his soule was heavy unto death, and went aside to pray, warning them to watch.

(47) Here is a little circuit inclosed with a low wall, where they report the Garden to be, at the foot of Mount Olivet, where Christ used to pray, and was betrayed by Judas with a kisse.

(48) The place where they say, the Village of Getsemany was of old seated. Round about this place the Turks doe bury their dead (as they do also in a field on the North side without the walles); for they never burie within Cities, excepting onely the monuments of their Emperours.

(49) Here they say Saint James the lesse did lye hidden, till hee heard that Christ was risen againe the third day after his Passion.

(50) Here be two old Sepulchers, almost of a round forme, built of Free-stone, or rather cut out of the living stone, wherof the one is called the Sepulcher of Absolon, the sonne of David, the other of King Manasses (or as others say, of the King Ezekias.) And considering the antiquitie, they seeme no Plebean Sepulchers, but stately and fit for Princes, being foure Elles from the ground in height.

(51) Here is the top of Mount Olivet, the highest of all the Mountaines that compasse Jerusalem, and here, in a Chappell, they shew in stone the print of Christs feete when he ascended into Heaven. And this Chappell is kept by a Turkish Zanton, that is a kinde of their Priests, and the Turkes give such reverence to the monuments of Christ living on earth, as they are much offended with Christians, if they creepe not on their knees, and with their shooes off to this and like monuments. To the keeper hereof we gave a few meidines for reward.

(52) Here they say Christ did weepe over the Citie and rich Temple of Salomon, and in this place is the fullest prospect to view the Citie and Temple.

(53) Here they shew the ruines of the house, wherein the Apostles assembled did write the Creede.

(54) Here they say Christ taught his Disciples to pray in the forme ever since received, and here was a Church built by the Christians of old.

(55) Here they say Christ foretold the signes of the day of Judgement.

(56) Here they say the Angell foretold the Virgin shee should die at three dayes ende.

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Upon Thursday the sixth of June, we being to goe The way to to Bethania, hired each of us an Asse for foure meidines, Bethania. that place being scarse two Italian miles from the citie. Of our company we were foure Lay-men, and because the Friers our consorts pleaded themselves to be free from such expences, we were content to yeeld to them, and gave jointly into the hands of the Fryer our guide two zechines, wherewith he was to give small rewards, and to pay the Muccaro, who furnished us with Asses: for we meant not to eate till our returne, the place being no further distant, and there being no dwellings, but onely the ruines of houses. What our guide spent I know not; for he never offered to give us account, and because he was a Frier, wee would not trouble him in demaunding it. We went out by the Gate Sterquilinea (noted with the figure (11) on the South side).

(57) First, we came to the Fountaine Siloe, to which The Fountaine Christ sent the blind man to wash his eyes, and there Siloe. we found Turkish women washing, who beate us away

with stones.

(58) Here they shew a monument of the Prophet Elia, but what it was I remember not.

(59) Here they shew a Fountaine, where they say, the Virgin washed Christs clothes when he was an infant.

(60) The Mount of Offence, opposite to Mount The Mount of Sion, which Mount lies beyond the Brooke Cedron, and Offence. extendeth Eastward towards Bethania, and upon the top thereof they shew the ruines of the Pallace which Salomon built for his Concubines, and of the Altar, upon which hee sacrificed to Idols. Betweene this Mount and that

of Mount Sion, they shew the Valley of the sonnes of [I. iii. 225.]

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Hinnon towards the West, and there they shew a place, wherein the Jewes offered their children to the Idoll Molech, (that is, Saturne); yet we reade, that this Valley lies by the entry of the East-Gate, Jeremiah, chap. 19.

vers. 2.

The Prophet (61) Here they say, the Prophet Isaiah was cut in Isaiah's death. pieces with a Sawe, at the commaund of King Manasses. (62) Here is a bridge over the Brook Kedron, or Cedron of one Arch, & built of stone, whereby they passe when the bed of the Brooke is filled with water, which now wee passed drie footed. And here they shew a place, where they say Christ fell upon the stones of the bed where the brook should runne, when he being betraied by Judas, was drawne into the Citie in a great presse of the Jewes. And upon these stones are the prints of hands and feete (as they say, his.)

The place where Judas

hanged himself.

The Pallace of
Lazarus.

(63) The way leading to Bethania over Mount Olivet. (64) The place where they say Judas hanged himselfe, and burst; after he had betraied his Lord. Not farre hence they shew a figge tree, which they say Christ cursed, because it had leaves without fruit.

(65) Here descending from Mount Olivet towards the East, we did see farre off the valley Jordan, to which the Mountaines decline by little and little. And now we were come to Bethania, where we did see the House of Simon the Leaper, not yet ruined, and inhabited by a Moore, to whom we gave a few meidines.

(66) Here they shew stately ruines of a Pallace, which they say belonged to Lazarus. And not farre thence is a Chappell, built over the stately sepulcher of Lazarus, the key whereof the Friars our guides had with them. For the Turkes putting great religion in reverencing this place, have an Oratory neere it, and enter into the Sepulcher by another way. Here they say Christ raised Lazarus out of his grave. At our going forth, wee were forced to give some few meidines to certaine Turkes and Arabians, (I know not whether they had the Place in keeping, or no).