[ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]
famous of the missionaries of the first century.
Jerusalem now became, indeed, the world centre. A very stream of pilgrim travellers tramped to the Holy City
from far-away lands to see for themselves the land where the Christ had lived and died.
The pilgrim age begins with the journey of a woman--the beautiful and learned daughter of the King of
Britain, Helena, mother of the Emperor Constantine. She was a student of divinity and a devoted Christian. In
the year 326 she undertook the difficult journey to Jerusalem, where she is reported to have discovered the
"true cross," which had been buried, with Pilate's inscription in "Hebrew and Greek and Latin." When the
news of her discovery was noised abroad a very rush of pilgrims took place from every part of the world.
Indeed, one pilgrim--his name is unknown--thought it worth while to write a guide-book for the benefit of his
fellow-travellers. His Itinerary from Bordeaux to Jerusalem is very interesting, being the first Christian
guide-book and one of the earliest travel-documents ever written for the use of travellers. This ancient
"Bradshaw" has been translated into English and throws light on fourth-century travelling. Enthusiastic indeed
must these early pilgrims have been to undertake the long and toilsome journey.
[Illustration: THE FIRST STAGES OF A MEDIAEVAL PILGRIMAGE: LONDON TO DOVER. From
Matthew of Paris's Itinerary, thirteenth century.]
The guide-book takes them, save for crossing the Bosphorus, entirely by land. It leads them from the "city of
Bordeaux, where is the river Garonne in which the ocean ebbs and flows for one hundred leagues more or
less," to Arles, with thirty changes and eleven halts in three hundred and seventy-two miles. There were
milestones along the Roman roads to guide them, and houses at regular intervals where horses were kept for
posting. From Arles the pilgrim goes north to Avignon, crosses the Alps, and halts at the Italian frontier.
Skirting the north of Italy by Turin, Milan, and Padua, he reaches the Danube at Belgrade, passes through
Servia and Bulgaria and so reaches Constantinople--the great new city of Constantine. "Grand total from
Bordeaux to Constantinople, two thousand two hundred and twenty-one miles, with two hundred and thirty
changes and one hundred and twelve halts."
"From Constantinople," continues the guide-book, "you cross the strait and walk on through Asia Minor,
passing the spot where lies King Hannibal, once King of the Africans." Thus onward through the long dreary
miles to Tarsus, where "was born the Apostle Paul," till Syria is reached at last.
Then the "Bradshaw" becomes a "Baedeker." Long and detailed accounts are given of the country through
which the pilgrim has to pass. From Caesarea he is led to Jezreel by the spot "where David slew Goliath," by
"Job's country house" to Sichem, "where Joseph is laid," and thence to Jerusalem. Full accounts follow of the
Holy City and Mount Sion, "the little hill of Golgotha where the Lord was crucified," the Mount of Olives,
Jericho, Jordan, Bethlehem, and Hebron. "Here is a monument of square form built of stone of wondrous
beauty," in which lie Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Sara, Rebecca, and Leah.
CHAPTER XI 52
"From Constantinople to Jerusalem is one thousand one hundred and fifty-nine miles, with sixty-nine changes
and fifty-eight halts."
Here the guide-book ends abruptly with a brief summary of distances. Thither then flocked the pilgrims, some
by land and some by sea, men and women from all parts of the world.
"Even the Briton, separated from our world, leaves the setting sun and seeks a place known to him only by
fame and the narrative of the Scriptures."
One of the earliest was Paula of Rome--a weak, fragile woman accustomed to a life of luxury and ease, but,
fired with the enthusiasm of her religion, she resolved to brave the dangers and hardships of a journey to the
East. Her travels were written by St. Jerome.
"When the winter was spent and the sea was open," he writes, "she longed and prayed to sail.... She went
down to the harbour, accompanied by her brother, her relatives, her connections and, more than these, by her
children, who strove to surpass the affection of the kindest of mothers. Soon the sails were swelling in the
breeze, and the ship, guided by the oars, gained the open sea. Little Lexotinus piteously stretched forth his
hands from the shore. Rufina, a grown-up girl, by her tears silently besought her mother to stay until she was
married. Yet she herself, without a tear, turned her eyes heavenward, overcoming her love for her children by
her love for God.... Meanwhile the ship was ploughing the sea--the winds were sluggish and all speed slow."
[ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]