Part L Travels into the Levant. 197 
Shoulders : Several of them joined together in a body, and carrying men upon 
their Arms, as they paffed by the holy Sepulchre let them fail, and then burffc 
*out in Laughter, while they who had fallen, run after the others to be revenged 
of them : In fliort,one would have taken them all for down right mad People j 
and it was not only little Boys, but men both old and young that did fo. From 
time to time they lifted their Eyes up to Heavcn^zTÀ ftretched out their hands 
full of Wax-Tapers, crying all together Elcefon^ as if they v;ere weary of 
expeding the holy Fire, and would obtain it from God by force. This con- 
tinued till about three a Clock in the Afternoon, when two Greek' Arch-Bilhops 
and two Bifliops being cloathed in Patriarchal Robes, ( for the Patriarch was 
not at that time in Jerufdem) came out of their Qiiire with all their Clergy, 
and began the Procelfion about the holy Sepulchre; the Armenians came alio 
and followed that Proceffion, there being four Armenians Mitres after the 
Latin fa/hion \ then came a Cophtifh Bifliop with his Clergy and People, going 
all diftindly, but yet following clofe after one another. After they had con- 
tinued their Proceffion three times round the holy Sepulchre, a Greek Prieft 
came out of the Chappel of the Angel and told him who fupplied the place 
of the Patriarch, that the holy Fire v\^as come down from Heaven^ then jie 
went into the holy Sepulchre, having in each hand a bunch of \¥ax-Cand!es; 
he was followed in by him that reprefented the Armenian Patriarch, and the 
Cophtifh Bifhopi the door of the Chappel of the Angel, being in the mean 
time guarded by Janiz.aries. When they had been a little while there, we 
faw the Greek Arch-Bifhop comeingout in a very pleafant pofture, he marched 
with his head down, having in each Fift a bunch of Wax-Candles all lighted ; 
no fooner did he appear, but they all fell a ftriving who fhould firft light 
his Candle at the Arch-Bilhops, it being the bell Fire that is fooneil lighted 5 
in the mean time the Janiz^aries hands v/ere not in their Pockets, they hurled 
the Greeks Caps and Calpecs from one end of the Church to the other, and 
laid about them on all hands with their Cudgels, to make way for the poor 
Arch-Bifhop, who was doing on his part the bell he could to make his efcape 
too. The Arch-Bilhop being freed a little, got quickly upon a Itone- Altar, 
that is before the door of the Quire, over againft the entry of the holy Sepul- 
chre, where the People immediately flocked about him ; thofe alfo who having 
lighted their Candles, endeavoured to get out of the Croud, were run down 
by the reft; in (hort, there was a horrible confufion, and plenty of Blows 
beftowed. After that the Greek Arch-Bilhop was come out, the Armet?ian C2.mt 
next, and made his efcape towards the Church of the Armenians ^■^'s, the Cophtilh 
Prelate did towards his own Church ; in the mean time the Jamzarics kept the 
door of the holy Sepulchre, and fuffered none to enter but fuch as gave them 
lèverai Aiddms ^t\\zt they might4ight their Candles at the Lamps of f he holy 
Sepulchre, where the holy Fire firft was .• All made fo much hafte to catch this 
holy fire,that in a fliort time their candles were all lighted,fo that in a trice there 
were above two thoufand bunches of Candles flaming in the Church ; then began 
all to cry again and play more foolifh tricks than before, and immediately a 
man with a Drum upon his back, fell a running with all fpeed round the holy 
Sepulchre, while another at his heels beat upon the Drum with two fticks, 
and when he was weary,another inftantly fupplied his place, however by little 
and little the noife lefl!ened, and we began to look about towards all the parts 
of the Church both above and below, and there confider men and women, 
who having by them pieces ofCloath, enough to let up a fhop,unfolded them, 
and at every fpans length made Croflès with their lighted Candles in them ^ 
this Cloath ferves them to be buried in, and for that end they keep it, as if 
it wereaReiick; during this Solemnity, one would certainly think himfelfin 
Hell amidft a Legion of Devils let loofe, and neverthelefs, the moft ferions 
cannot forbear Laughing at it : After that is over, they perform their office 
and then go eat, for they neither eat nor drink that day, before they have had 
the holy Fire. Now itisirapoffible to know how they make this holy Fire, 
for they have a fpeciai care that nobody comes near the holy Sepulchre to 
obferve them, but I am apt to beleive that a man hid -within it ftrikes Fire 
with a Steel, and fo lights the Lamps. The Turks difcovered the Cheat, and 
would have punifhed them for it, but the Patriarch reprefented to them, that 
he 
