A.D. 

 I581. 



[II. i. 151.] 



The number 

 of Jezves in 

 Venice. 



THE ENGLISH VOYAGES 



of the danger thereof, it is so wel knowen already to the 

 world : the heigth of them is marveilous, and I was the 

 space of sixe dayes in passing them. 



I came to Venice at the time of a Faire, which lasted 

 foureteene dayes, wherein I sawe very many, and faire 

 shewes of wares. I came thither too short for the first 

 passage, which went away from Venice about the seventh 

 or eight of May, and with them about three score pil- 

 grims, which shippe was cast away at a towne called 

 Estria, two miles from Venice, and all the men in her, 

 saving thirtie, or thereabout, lost. 



Within eight dayes after fell Corpus Christi day, which 

 was a day amongst them of procession, in which was 

 shewed the plate and treasure of Venice, which is esteemed 

 to be worth two millions of pounds, but I do not accompt 

 it woorth halfe a quarter of that money, except there be 

 more than I sawe. To speake of the sumptuousnesse of 

 the Copes and Vestments of the Church, I leave, but the 

 trueth is, they bee very sumptuous, many of them set all 

 over with pearle, and made of cloth of golde. And for 

 the Jesuits, I thinke there be as many at Venice, as there 

 be in Colen. 



The number of Jewesis there thought to be 1000, who 

 dwell in a certaine place of the Citie, and have also a place, 

 to which they resort to pray, which is called the Jewes 

 Sinagogue. They all, and their offspring use to weare 

 red caps, (for so they are commaunded) because they may 

 thereby be knowen from other men. For my further 

 knowledge of these people, I went into their Sinagogue 

 upon a Saturday, which is their Sabbath day : and I found 

 them in their service or prayers, very devoute : they 

 receive the five bookes of Moses, and honour them by 

 carying them about their Church, as the Papists doe their 

 crosse. 



Their Synagogue is in forme round, and the people 

 sit round about it, and in the midst, there is a place 

 for him that readeth to the rest : as for their apparell, 

 all of them weare a large white lawne over their 



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