_Of the Samaritanes._
[Illustration]
FROM Sebasten to Hierusalem is xii myle and betwene the hylles of this
countrey is a well, that men call _fons Jacob_, That is to say
Jacobs well, that chaungeth foure times in the yeare his coloure, for
sometyme it is redde, sometymes cleare, sometime grene and sometyme
thycke, and men that dwell there are called Samarytanes, & they were
converted through the Apostles and theyr law varieth from Christen law
and Sarasins lawe and also from Jewes & Paynims. They beleve well in
one God that all shall deme,[1] and beleve the Byble after the lettre,
and they lappe theyr heads in redde linnen cloth, for difference of
other, for Sarasins wrap theyr heads in white cloth & christen men
that dwell there in blew cloth, and Jewes in yelow, and in this
country dwell many Jewes paying tribute as Christen men doth.
[Footnote 1: Regard, consider, or suppose.]