sect and profession hee came in short time to haue so great a name and report ouer all the lesser Asia that by meanes thereof there flocked vnto him daily infinite troopes of Turkes in hope to restore the name honor of their natiō to recouer their former fortune With these forces within a while had OTTOMAN subdued diuerse Prouinces in Asia as the greatest part of Bithynia and al Natolia now named Turkie besides many citties vppon the Euxine sea Through the happy successe of his fortune in these conquests and victories hee purchased so great an opinion both of his wisedome and courage that the Turkes with a generall consent and incredible ioy elected and proclaimed him for their King or Amira And so strangely did they growe in processe of time to affect him that they decreed ordained from thencefoorth neuer to admit nor endure any other to raigne ouer them but such a one as should descend of the line and seede of OTTOMAN Thus was the empire of the Turkes reuiued out of their former ruines by the rare vertue and fortune of this OTTOMAN by the ciuill discordes dissentions which were then rise both amongst the Mahometists and the Christians Since which time it hath so wonderfully encreased by the valure and prowesse of his successors and by the resolution good discipline of that Nation and our owne intestine diuisions the most pestilent poyson and plague of all kingdomes and common-weales that the whole estate of Christendome hath at this day iust cause both to deplore the miserable condition and calamities of the Christians from whome these miscreants haue extorted infinit kingdomes estates and empires and also to feare and suspect the violent course of their fortune the excessiue greatnesse of their puissance and the cruel dispositiō of their courages as being fatall to the christian religion For this people being more eager and zealous than euer were the Sarracens or any others Pagans or Barbarians in the propagation and extending both of their empire and of their damnable sect and profession do openly as it were by nature professe themselues the sworn vowed enemies of Christ and his Gospel And holding it a meritorious deed to tyrannize ouer his members they do bend and employ all their Forces Studies and Counsailes how they may vtterly extirpate the name memorie and faith of the Christians And how they may plant and establish the blasphemous traditions of their prophet MAHOMET in all the regions and kingdomes of the worlde But for the more particular discouery and manifestation of al these matters as also touching the maner of the rising increase and augmentation of the Turkish Empire out of so meane and base a beginning to that glory height and puissance of dominion whereunto we see it now growen and exalted wee will referre you to a Discourse which wee haue written of the liues and actes of the OTTOMAN Kings and Emperours wherein all the former matters are sufficiently and at large layd open In the mean time we wil now proceed to the vnfolding of the sum and secrets of their religion to discouer the qualitie of their law ceremonies traditions Of the Turkish Alcoran and of the great reuerence which the Turkes beare vnto it Cap. 3. HItherto haue we deliuered the inuentiō first beginning of the Turkish religion with the continuaunce and establishment thereof both vnder the Sarracen and Turkish Empire whose original also and increase hath in part been touched Now are we to consider of the substance of their religion wherein first we will speake somewhat of their Alcoran in which their law traditions are contained and deliuered and then wil we proceed to the grounds principles of their religion The whole sum and substance of the Turkish religion laws ceremonies together with the maner and form of their prayers sacrifices almes and whatsoeuer els they do hold needful and necessary to the saluation of their soules is deriued and drawen out of a certaine book which in their language they call Musaph This book is diuided into 30 parts or Tomes The Arabians call the same Curaam which is as much to say as The Beginning and end of the Turkes law And it seemeth to be the very same word which is vsuall amongst other Nations though with some difference it is most commonly called by the name of Alcoran Vpon this Booke as vpon the very groundworke and chiefe foundation doth the whole religion law of the Turks seeme to rely and depend And it is a common and generall tradition constantly helde and affirmed by all Turkes whatsoeuer that the Archaungell GABRIEL and their prophet MAHOMET did by the singular grace and fauour of God first of all publish and disperse this booke throughout al partes of the world And that MAHOMET togither with his disciples did frame put the same in writing in the same maner form as it is now receiued amongst them But howsoeuer the Turkes do dreame of the first writing and inuention of this their Alcoran and attribute the same to their prophet MAHOMET yet it is more thē probable by many cōiectures euen out of their own books writings That neither the religion now professed by the Turks nor that Alcoran out of which they do now deriue their superstitions ceremonies is not the same that was first inuēted written by MAHOMET besides it is apparant by the testimony of many those most approoued Histories that at such time as the Sarracen empire being risen to some strength and perfection was first established vnder their Caliph in Babylon and that the Turkes came to be vnited and incorporated into the societie and religion of the Saracens there was a new Draught made by the authoritie of their chiefe Gouernours and with the aduise and consent of their priests who secretly amongst themselues caused an other Booke to be deuised and written of such traditions rites and ceremonies as were thought requisite and needefull to bee vsed and obserued amongest them And because that forme of religion which had beene at first conceiued and inuented by MAHOMET and his disciples was found in many thinges greatly repugnant in it selfe and ful of contrarieties and absurdities it was in most points either altered or abrogated new traditions and ordinances inserted in their places The which for that it was done in secret and without the notice knowledge of the common sort from whom it was purposely concealed al those that are of the Mahometan sect and religion haue euer bin and are yet still persuaded their Priests and Gouernors still norishing and feeding that conceit in them that it was the same which was first supposed to be written by their great Prophet MAHOMET And that there was no change nor innouation made of any of their auncient traditions lawes or ceremonies but that all things did continue and remaine entire vnaltred in their Alcoran according to the first
prescript inuention of them Which opinion although it be currant amongest them yet it is thought that not onelie the Saracens as hath beene already touched in the time of their Empire did in many points alter their Religion frame a new Alcoran But that the Turkes also euen since their Monarchie began to rise to that flourishing estate wherein wee now see it vnder the house of OTTOMAN haue in some sort done the like And it is not to bee doubted but that their Religion as well as their Empire is drawne and reduced into another manner and forme both of order and perfection then it was at the first beginning For it is written of MAHOMET the second he that tooke and conquered the Cittie and Empire of Constantinople and was the first of the line and house of OTTOMAN that tooke vpon him the name and tittle of Emperor of the Turkes that he also did in many things alter and chaunge the lawes and Religion of the Turkes abrogating and abolishing many of their olde and auncient traditions And instituting and ordaining new in their place But how so euer it bee whether that this Alcoran were written at first by MAHOMET himselfe or by some others his successours this is one thing most assured and certaine That the Turkes generally in outwarde shew and appearance doe hold and esteeme this their Musaph or Alcoran in no lesse honour and reuerence then the auncient Iewes did their Bookes of the olde Testament written by Moyses and the Prophets or the Christians doe the whole Bible and sacred bookes of holy Scriptures written by the spirit of God himselfe and by the penne of his Prophets and Apostles This may we manifestly perceiue by their outward gesture and vsage when they come either to the handling or reading of any part of this booke For first ther is none of them whosoeuer that dareth to touch or handle it vnlesse he be first either cleane washed with fresh water from the top of the head to the soule of the feete or that he doe wrappe and couer his hands all ouer in some cleane and fine peece of lynen before he aduenture to lay hands vppon it Besides as often as they repaire to the Temple to heare any part of this Booke publiquely read vnto them the same being done with a lowde and cleare voice all of them doe most attentiuely hearken and giue eare therunto with a singular and notable shew and deuotion And they do hold it a very deuoute and religious part a little to mooue and encline their bodies whilest they do intend to the reading of the same The manner and fashion of him that readeth it is to holde the Booke aloft betweene both his hands And he deemeth it a most sinfull matter and an act of great impietie to holde the Booke at any time beneath his wast Whilest he is reading it vnto the people hee standeth as a man rauished in spirit and besides himselfe seeming to haue his mind wholly bent and fixed vpon those things which hee readeth and pronounceth vnto them When he hath signified and made an end of his reading hee kisseth the Booke with great reuerence and casting his eyes downe vpon the same in a most sober and deuoute manner hee afterwards layeth it vp with great solemnitie in an high place purposely prouided for the keeping of the same as being a most sacred and holy Relique and of farre greater accompt and reconing then all the residue of their Bookes any way appertaining to their Lawe and Religion Thus we see that the curiositie of these misbelieuing Turkes is greater in their Idolatrie and superstition couering their inwarde deformities with outward appearances of holines pretended shewes of deuotion then the reuerence vsed by many Christians in the right worshipping of God and the obseruation of true Religion Of the principles and groundes of the Turkes Religion and of the Eight Commaundementes prescribed in their Alcoran Cap. 4. AMongst infinite matters contained in the Turkish Alcoran though there be many thinges deliuered touching their faith and doctrine yet is it for the most part full stuffed and replenished with vaine fantastical conceits of feigned dreames apparitions visions and reuelations And it aboundeth throughout all the volumes thereof with a number of fond tales and fables which are euery where entermingled with the deliuerie of their superstitions All which do tende rather to make some colourable shew and pretence of truth in their religion and to giue a grace and countenaunce of their Sect then to prescribe directly any matter of doctrine or to deliuer the summe and substaunce of their traditions And it seemeth that that Booke was purposelye inuented to induce and drawe all men that shall reade or haue the same by the straunge reuelations and forgeries therein contained vnto an opinion and beliefe that all thinges therin prescribed are enioyned vnto them by a kinde of diuine ordinaunce and institution And that their Prophet MAHOMET the supposed Author of their Alcoran was a most holy and singular deuote man and one whome God highly fauored and loued Now touching the summe and substance of their Religion and the chiefest matters of doctrine deliuerd in their Alcoran they doe depend vpon certaine grounds and principles and they may be reduced to three speciall points Of which the first is that they obserue diligently and deuoutly certaine lawes and commaundements prescribed vnto them The second that they shunne and auoide certaine notable vices which they terme deadly sinnes and which they are commaunded likewise by their law to haue in speciall hatred and detestation and thirdly that they doe precisely conforme themselues to the obseruation of all such rites and ceremonies as are either taught in their law or receiued amongst them by tradition Of ech of these wee will discourse seuerally and in order beginning first with their precepts or commandements prescribed in their Alcoran For as the Iewes had a particular lawe giuen vnto them and published by God himselfe in mount Sinai the which being written in two Tables and containing ten Commaundements is receiued also by all Christians as a most sacred and holy law and is held to bee a certaine rule of iustice and pietie whereunto all their actions are to be conformed and directed teaching them what is to be done or left vndone So haue the Turkes in imitation of the same certaine lawes and precepts or Commandements laide downe in their Alcoran the obseruation whereof is so necessarily required in their liues and conuersations that whosoeuer shal transgresse or violate any of them is held by their law to be a most sinfull and wicked person And they repute it very hard and difficult for such a man to be saued Contrariwise they do belieue that who so doth obserue keepe those commandements and escheweth those sinnes which they esteeme to be mortall he shall be sure to be saued be he either Turke or Christian. Which argueth that their confidence and
vse first of all with great solemnitie to lay downe vpon his Tombe their Alcoran which Booke as they say was the same that MAHOMET wrote with his owne hand Then the houre of their prayers and ceremonies approching their Meizin getting vp into the Towers and Turrets of the Temple doe with a lowde voyce sing their woonted Psalmes and doe inuite the people to their ceremonies When they haue spent three whole houres in the Temple at their praiers they issue out sodainly and with great speed with all their force they run to the top of the next mountaine so hastily that all their body runneth on a sweat For they are perswaded That with this sweating all the spots and deformities of their sins do distil likewise and vanish away from them As soone as one companie is thus gotten out others do succeed in their places so folow on after them doing as the former haue done before them And after that al haue finished this ceremonie then presently do they repaire to the sepulchre of MAHOMET to kisse it These things thus done they repaire again to the next mountaine to offer vp their sacrifices which are fat goodly rammes which being killed they do wrap vp the carcases in the skins and then euery man may lawfully take away a peece thereof at his pleasure Then doeth each of them fill a little vessell which they carry with them of purpose with certain water springing out of a rocke there adioining which they call Abemzem sui that is The water of Purification And they do esteeme the same as a most holy relike because they imagine affirme that this water did first beginne to issue out of that rocke by reason of a stoke that MAHOMET gaue it with his foote In regard whereof they do vse to carrye of this water home with them into their countries And if any of them happen to die on the way they doe with that water besprinckle the garments wherein the dead body is wrapped supposing thereby the party deceased doth obtaine pardon of all his sins During the time and solemnitie of this their feast if it happen that any one who is a slaue either by purchase or by inheritance doe enter into the Temple hee is by his entry presently enfranchised and his Maister cannot from thenceforth by any meanes depriue him of his libertie If any woman be desirous to enter into the Temple during this feast the order is that the husband must leade her thither holding her by the hand if shee be a widdow any other man may supplie the roomth of a husband in that behalfe But if she be a maide the custome is by their lawe that shee be led thither by a yong man After they haue ended theyr ceremonies in the Temple they spend al the rest of the day in singing dauncing and such like kindes of mirth and merriment to testifie and make shew of their exceeding ioy for that they holde themselues to be deliuered that day from the paines of the fire of purgatory Howbeit they are of a beleefe That for all such as doe again pollute themselues with the committing of new sins God hath prepared another purgatory in hell the torments whereof being with all extremitie of cold they affirme to be farre worse than the fiery purgatory and that there is no deliuery of those soules from thence which are once brought iâ—to that place but that they are to continue there for euer without al hope of redemption These things being thus ended and accomplished at Modin in honor of MAHOMET his sepulchre the next morning early they proceed on their iourney towardes Mecha to visite the Temple there builded by Abraham and to consummate the rest of this their feast of Easter Where being come for that the place is not capable of them al at once part of them do stay without before the Temple vntill such time as those which be first entred haue perfourmed their deuotion and then others do enter and succeede still in order after them dooing as the rest haue done before them For there also they vse many and diuers ceremonies besides most ardent and vehement prayers made vnto God that it would please him to heare them and to grant their petitions which they there make vnto him as he heard and granted the prayer of Abraham at the building of that temple From thence all their rites and ceremonies being ended taking their iourny homewardes they goe first to Ierusalem which place they call Cuzu Mobarech And then also vsing certaine praiers they visit the sepulchre of Christ for they haue an opinion that vnlesse they visit that sepulchre the holy land aswel as the sepulchre of Mahomet their pilgrimage to Mecha would little auaile or profit them nor that it woulde bee pleasing or acceptable vnto God All things being nowe finished which doe in anie sort appertaine to the solemnitie of their feast and sacrifices the next morning they do depart all together in troopes and companies and in the same order that they first set forward taking with them all their carriages beasts camels and other prouisions the first troope that marcheth are the Indians after them the Persians and so euery nation each after other in seuerall troopes The morrow after the day of their departure coÌ„meth the Admirall of Egypt with a great multitude of Mameluckes and souldiers who hauing first taken that Alcoran which was layde vpon the tombe or sepulchre of MAHOMET at Modin and set the same vpon a Camel richly trapped and couered al ouer with scarlet he causeth it to be caried along with him vnder a rich and beautifull canopie Before the Camel march the Mameluckes and souldiours and after foloweth a huge multitude of other people who beeing come within a dayes iourny of Caire the Soldan commaundeth all the rest of his Mameluckes and souldiours and all the Citizens of Caire to goe forth of the citty to meete with them Then doe they altogether accompany the camel to the Soldan his pallace where the Soldan himselfe comming forth after he hath saluted them doeth receiue and entertaine them with great courtesie Whereupon the Camel with the Alcoran being brought neere vnto him presently kneeleth downe being taught aforehand so to do And in the mean time all the pilgrims do sing certaine psalms or hymnes after their maner Then approcheth one of their priests called Imam who being clothed in most precious perfumed garments and hauing his armes and hands couered with crimosin taffata taketh down the Booke from the Camel with notable reuerence and solemnitie And hauing himselfe first kissed the same with great deuotion hee offereth it to be kissed likewise by the Soldan and afterwardes holdeth it aloft so as it may be plainly seene of all the people who as soone as they haue a sight thereof sodainely with great force and violence doe assault and set vpon the Camell and with their swordes daggers and kniues doe cut him in
the memorie of another also whom they haue in great reuerence and estimation and they call him Scidibattal whose Sepulcher they doe much glory and boast of in Natolia or Turkie And they say that he was the first that conquered a great part of the Turkish Empire by his prowesse and force of Armes There is a Monasterie adioyning to that Sepulcher in the which do liue aboue 500. of that sect and order And euerie yeare thither do assemble out of diuers nations aboue 8000. of these Daruisses where they doe hold a conuocation or Synode and for seuen whole dayes together do spende the time onely in the recreating of themselues with great pleasure and delight Their chiefe gouernor or Generall as they terme him they call Assambaba that is The father of all fathers There are amongst them very many young men of greater learning and iudgemēt then the residue who being clothed in certaine white garments hanging downe to their knees doe euery one of them seuerally repeate some notable and worthie Historie in their generall assembly before the whole companie All which Histories they doe register downe and collect together in one Booke setting to each Historie the name of the partie that repeated it This booke doe they present to their Assambaba And in those Histories for the most part are contayned such strange and admirable things as themselues have seene and obserued in the course and time of their Trauell and Pilgrimages made throughout seuerall Counties During their abode in that place vpon the Frydaie which is with them a great Festiuall Holy day they doo repayre into a greene Meadowe not farre distant from their Monasterie and there they doo Feaste together hauing a notable banquet or feast with varietie of daynties purposelie prouided for them In the which the Assambaba first taketh his place in the middest and next to him doo sit the most learned of those young men which are clothed in white and so the residue in order When they haue dyned the gouernour arising vpon his knees and all the companie doing the like with him they doo after their manner vse a solemne Prayer wherein they doo call vpon God Which prayer being ended all of them with a loude and high voice doe crie all at once Alacabull Eilege that is O God let this our prayer be acceptable vnto thee Then commeth to the Gouernour certaine young men called Cuccegler who doe vse to carrie alwayes about with them in a Skinne the powder of a certaine hearbe beaten very small the vertue whereof is such that it will procure mirth and gladnesse in anie man as if hee were drunken with excellent good Wine This hearbe in their language they call Asserai Out of this Skinne first the Gouernour and then euery man in order each after other taketh a part of that powder and eateth it which done they cause certain histories to be read out of the book which was presented to their gouernour After this they depart from thence into another place neere their Monasterie where is prepared for them a huge fire hauing as much wood as a hundreth beastes or more can well carrie About this fire they dance in a round hand in hand altogether singing songs in praise of their Sect and Order Their Daunce being ended euerie man taketh a sharpe poynted knife wherewyth they doo raze and cut the skinne either of their armes legges thighes or breasts engrauing vpon them the formes and pictures either of boughes leaues or flowers or of a hart or some such like figures as if they were cutting imprinting the same in wood In the dooing whereof they doo vtter this speach This I cut for the loue of such a woman When they haue thus done they set thē downe by the fire drying their wounds with the warm ashes they bathe them with their own vryne which they haue prouided readie before hand and then couer them with cotton or bombast wet and moistened with the same wherewith as soone as their wounds are wel and throughly dried they are perfectly sound and cured Vpon the last day of their feasting hauing taken their leaue of their Gouernour they depart thence in Troopes or Squadrons after the manner of armed Souldiers with their Banners displaid Drummes sounding before them and so doo they returne euerie one to their owne Dwelling or Monasterie crauing the almes of all persons and in all places wheresoeuer they passe in their iourney The fourth and last religious Order of the Turkes are those whom they cal Torlacchi who vsing the like habit with the Daruisses are clothed likewise in sheep-skins hauing all the other parts of their bodie naked Howbeit they vse not any kinde of hats or couering on their heades but being close shauen doe goe bare-headed both winter and summer and against the inconuenience and violence of the colde they doe vse to annoint their heades with oyle They haue a custom also to burne their Temples with olde clowtes and ragges to the intent they may preuent the falling of the rheume into their eies to the endangering of their sight Their life is altogether brutish and little differing from wilde beastes being not vnlike to the most miserable and wretched sorte of Beggars amongest vs. They are altogether vnlearned and without askill knovvledge or experience in anie Arte or or mysterie and being vtterly deuoyde of vertue and all goodnesse they haue no meanes nor course to liue by but onely by begging They go vp and downe the townes and villages of the Turkish empire daily and hourely haunting and visiting the Tauernes Victualling houses the common Baths and such like places taking euery where and in all places occasion and opportunitie how to fill their bellies at the charge of others Many times also they doe wander in troopes and companies in the countrie frequenting desart and solitary places where if they happen to meete with any hauing clothes or money in their purses these fellowes being naked poore and needie wil soone lighten and dispoyle them of the same As they go vp and down the towns villages and hamlets if they chance to come in place or cōpany with any simple women they professe themselues to be cunning and skilfull in Palmestry and telling fortunes whilest in looking vpon their hands they do promise to foretell what shal afterwards betide and happen vnto them they do in the meane time search for their purses with a purpose to picke or cut thē by that means either robbing or els cosining deceiuing them of their mony Not much vnlike that kinde of people which with vs are cōmonly knowen by the name of Egyptians With these their cunning shifting deuises they doe often get of foolish women such other simple ignorant persons both bread egges cheese other victuals enabling themselues by these meanes to the practising of new and greater villanies Somtimes they will leade about with them some olde man of a great age whom they will
practises did also minister vnto him fit opportunity occasion afterwards both to make himselfe great in credite and reputation and to lay a most sure foundation for the establishment of his new doctrine as shall appeare by the discourse following Not long before that MAHOMET did enter into his detestable and pernicious practises in setting abroche his superstitious and diuelish traditions It happened that the Empire of Rome was vsurped by one PHOCAS who being a chiefe fauorite and in principall authoritie vnder the Emperour MAVRITIVS yet aspiring to the imperiall crowne and scepter most traiterously murthered his Lorde and master together with his children and so tooke vpon him the name title of Emperor Now as it is commonly seene that one mischiefe draweth another and that mischaunces doe seldome come vnaccompanied So the hatefull and odious act of this vsurper was the occasion of many commotions and tumultes and of many chaunges and alterations in diuerse partes of the Empire For the head and chiefe commaunder hauing encroched vpon the estate by so notorious an example of disloyaltie treason and murther It seemed a small matter vnto the members to participate in the like vices For thereupon began all care of Religion quite and cleane to bee abandoned and ambition and auarice in all estates and persons so abounded that the Prelats of the Church contemning Christian humilitie aspired to temporall gouernment and challenging the double sword thirsted after regall authoritie In so much that the desire of superioritie swallowed vp all regard of pietie and the couetousnesse of the Cleargie made them neglect their particular dutie Then grew the vsurpation of supremacie in the Church of Rome after which ignoraunce and superstition increased in the West no lesse then Mahometisme preuailed in the East In like manner the Laytie forgetting their allegeaunce and following particular profit enclyned to mutinies sedition and rebellion in so much that sundry nations both in Europe and Asia began to decline reuolt from the imperiall gouernment By meanes whereof the Romaine Empire was mightily encombred with many great and grieuous wars sore pressed on all sides with the armies both of rebels and forraigne enemies Thus that Empire which PHOCAS had purchased with bloud and treason hee held all his life time with continuall trouble and vexation and at his death hee left the same to his successors full of tumult and confusion HERACLIVS the Emperour who succeeded after him being driuen to great extreamities by the multitude of his enemies found himselfe most encombred by the armies of the Persians who hauing before reuolted from the Romaine obeisaunce had raised a strong mightie kingdome in Persia. Against the furie and violence of this so puissant an enemie hee determined to serue himselfe with the forces and succours of the Sarracens who inhabiting in Arabia Petrea had their name of a towne in the same Countrie called Sarraca seated not farre from Petra which being the chiefe and Metropolitan City of that part of Arabia gaue the whole prouince the name of Petrea These Sarracens being growne famous partly by reason of their great and populous numbers and partly by the course and manner of their life for that they were accustomed to liue by robberie spoyle and pillage a vsage familiar to most of the Arabians they had the name in that age to bee a most stout and warlike kinde of people In regarde whereof HERACLIVS resolued to vse their ayde against the Persians And the rather for that their nation hauing beene lately seduced and peruerted by the damnable doctrine of MAHOMET whose power authoritie was then growne great amongst them they seemed at that time to bee seditiously addicted and were suspected to be inclining to a rebellion To the intent therefore he might auoid the danger threatned to the Empire on the one side by the warres and fury of the Persians and on the other side by the seditious disposition of these misbeleeuing Sarracens the Emperour thought it good policy to serue his turne of the one against the other and so to make ech of them the meane of the others ruine and destruction According to this determination he hyred diuers great and huge numbers of them to serue him in these warres supposing that the countrey being thus purged from so pernicious and pestilent a people and they exposed to the sword and fury of a stout and warlike enemie the imminent daungers woulde soone cease and bee auoyded But that counsell which seemed to the Emperour to bee most sagely and politikely deuised turned afterwardes by the couetousnes and folly of his officers to bee the vtter ruine and confusion both of the Empire and of Christian Religion For after that the Sarracens had for certayne yeares serued very valiantly against the Persians had so harryed and spoiled that kingdom that it was reduced vnder the subiection of the Romane Empire they comming to demaund their pay of the Emperour his Treasurer aunswere was made them that the Emperour had scarce money sufficient to pay the Greekes and Romanes and the Christians his other souldiers much lesse had hee any for such a company of dogges as they were The indignity of this iniury and disgrace was taken so haynously of the Sarracens and did so exasperate their courages who of themselues were alway prone and ready enough to rebellion that presently they reuolted from the Emperour and shaking off the yoke and obeysance of the Romane Empire in their returne homeward they spoyled and harried all the countrie townes villages about Damascus in Siria Which done knowing that MAHOMET was then grown to be of great power and estimation by reason of his wealth and the opinion of his Religion which made him highly adored both of the Arabians and the Egyptians They were easily drawne to elect and choose him for their head and gouernour And being thereunto sollicited both by secrete perswasions and by large and bountifull rewards whereby hee had wrought and wonne them they both gaue vnto him the name and honour of a Prophet and proclaymed him for their Duke and Prince not only the Sarracens but the rest also of the Arabians and a great parte of the Egyptians acknowledging him for their Lord and gouernour In this manner did MAHOMET erect a new Religion and kingdome amongest the Sarracens in the yeare of grace 623. And making Siria the seate of his new Empire he liued the rest of his daies in the confines of Damascus During which time it is said that he made the Alcoran A booke wherin are written all the lawes ceremonies and traditions of his Religion with an infinite multitude of fantasticall tales and faigned myracles Howbeit sundry times before his death hee altered and chaunged added and detracted many of his precepts and institutions according as the varietie vanitie of his passions and lewd conceites did induce and leade him Notwithstanding it is thought that that forme of Religion
to sing their Hymnes when they call the People together to their Praiers are of a verie great height and are all of them made in the manner of Watch-towers their greater Churches hauing two and their lesser but one of them Vppon the toppes of those Towers or Turrets is set an half Moone or Cressaunt which is the Ensigne of the Turkes as the Crosse is the Ensigne of the Christians Within their Temples they haue no kinde of Ornaments besides bare and naked walls faire whited saue onely theyr Bookes and their Lampes burning with Oyle of which they haue great store and their Clothes of Tapestrie on the which being spred ouer mattes vpon the pauement they vse to kneele downe and prostrate themselues at the time of their Praiers Howbeit vppon the wals of their Churches are written commonly these words La Illah Illelah Mehemmet Irresul Allah Taure Bir Begamber Hach that is There is but one onely God and Mahomet his Prophet There is one Creator and his Prophâ—ts are equall Or els these words Fila Galeb Illelah that is There is none so mighty as is God Hauing sufficiently discouered the manner and fashion of the Turkish Temples let vs now in a word or two shew the order of their Hospitalls which they call Imareth Of these throughout most of their dominions they haue as great store as of Temples and they are ordained purposely for the releefe of poore People of Pilgrimes of Trauellers and of sicke Persons with meate drinke and other needfull necessaries both for themselues and their horses Howbeeit they do not in all their Hospitals vse to giue one kinde of dyet but diuers and sundrie sorts of meats according to the diuersitie of the places In some they vse to giue them Ryce which they call Pirinct Tsorba and some allowaunce of flesh in others they feed them with a kinde of meat called Boghdatas which is made of wheate with a certaine quantitie of bread and water for their drinke They haue places appointed for them to lodge in some priuatelye and seuerall others openly and in publique howbeit they sleepe not vpon beds but on straw or haye vnder the couering or roofe of some house prouided of purpose This allowance in most of their Hospitalls is common to all persons both poore rich be they Christians Iewes or Turkes and they haue it freely without paying for anie thing to which end there are great Rents yearly Reuenewes giuen for the maintenance of those Hospitalls and the releefe of such as resort vnto them In Constantinople be manie of those Hospitalls one of which builded by their Emperour Mahomet the second is in a manner the chiefest and another begun to bee buylded like vnto that by his Sonne Baiazeth which was afterwardes finished by his Sonne Selim the first Both of these haue about fiue and twentye round Turrets couered with lead one of which beeing in the middest of the other is larger and greater than the rest and vnder it are lodgings and dwellings appoynted for the Priests On one side of the Hospitall are set beddes for Pilgrimes where they are entertained together with their seruaunts verie curteously and may continue there for three whole dayes together And so maye all Trauellers hauing both meate and lodging allowed freely both for themselues and their horses On another side of the same are beds and lodgings ordained for Leapers and other sicke and diseased persons which are there attended and nourished verie carefully for they spare for no costs or charges to helpe them but the greater that is their misery the more care and compassion they take of them And therefore they haue there purposely prouided to attend them both Phisitions Surgeons and Apothecaries lodged and maintained in those Hospitalls Three times a day may any man that wil come and eate there in a place seuerally prouided of purpose They haue also in each of those Hospitalls a certaine allowance for fourteene Schollers and Doctours that studie the Lawes of MAHOMET who haue their lodgings apart seauen on the one side and seauen on the other side The Gouernours of the Hospitals haue their lodgings likewise seuerall to themselues and they haue the care and disposing of the rents and Goods which are giuen and bequeathed to the Hospitalls Some say that the Reuenewes of that Hospitall which was builded by Mahomet amounteth to an hundred fiftie thousand Duckats by the yeare and that the other hath rather more than lesse In either of these Hospitalls there is a faire Meschit or Church builded each of which hath a little Chappell builded close adioining vnto it wherin the Founders of those Hospitalls lie buried both Mahomet and Baiazeth each in his owne Chappell which himselfe had builded For themselues hauing taken order before their deathes and made choyce of those places for their Sepultures they did ordain those Meschits or Temples in either of those Hospitalls because they wold haue those Priests which were maintained there vpon their allowaunce and all such Pilgrimes and others as should come to take and enioye the benefit of their bountie and liberalitie after they had fedde and refreshed themselues there and then to pray to God to haue mercie vpon their soules There is another Hospital in Constantinople which was builded after these by the Emperour Solyman the Sonne of Selim which dooth so farre surpasse all the former both in greatnes beautie and riches that it exceedeth them beyond all comparison As for others of a meaner sort and lesser proportion it were both an endlesse and a needlesse matter to intreate of them For all the Bassaes Nobles better sort of people amongst the Turkes are generally so addicted to these kinde of workes and they are so wonderfully possessed and carryed awaye with this humour of building both Hospitalls Temples Common Innes or Hostells Bridges Cawseys Conduicts and Water-coutses and such lyke Edifices that there is almost none of theyr Cittyes Prouinces or Countreyes but you may see in them sundrie yea infinite Testimonyes of theyr bountifull and liberall Dispositions towardes these kindes of VVoorkes and Buildinges In so much that if anye man should behold the multitude of them both in Constantinople and else-where within the Turkes Dominions and should therewithall consider the manner and quality of those workes both for sumptuousnes cost and curiositie the great and strange prouisions and expences made and laid out vpon them their excessiue rents yearely reuenewes and the huge summes of money which are dayly giuen from time to time for their encrease and maintenance hee might make a question whether were more to be wondered at either the multitude and magnificence of those buildings or the Superstitious Opinion and Conceipt of this Nation who doo repute such singular pietie and deuotion in the making of them that they think they cannot in anie of their actions either doo God better seruice or finde a more readie and better meanes to bring theyr soules to the blisse of Paradice Of
buried But if the partie be poore then is there a collection made for money wherewith to pay the priests and to discharge the expences of the funeralles This also is not to be pretermitted that the Turkes do vse at their funerals to weare Blackes notwithstanding that they doe not continue the wearing of them aboue eight dayes And those that are of great accompt and estimate doe not vse to weare them anie longer than for three daies at which time all the kinsfolkes and friends of the dead do assemble themselues together and hauing vsed some comfortable speeches and wordes of consolation ech to other they do from thencefoorth clothe themselues in their woonted habite and apparell Howbeit the friendes of such as are departed do not forbeare for all that oftentimes to visite their sepulchres especially their mothers sisters wiues and some other women of their kinred and familiar acquaintance who do oftentimes make repaire to their toombes and frequent them of purpose to weepe and lament ouer them in token and remembrance that the like lot and fortune is one day to befall and happen vnto themselues Of the opinions of the Turkes touching the state of the soules departed out of this life and of the generall iudgement and resurrection of the dead as also of the ioyes of Paradice and the paines of hell Cap. 23. THe faith and beleefe of the Turks concerning the Godhead and by what meanes they do hope and expect the saluation of their soules hath sufficiently beene expressed in the precedent discourses It now resteth that wee deliuer their opinions touching the estate of the soule after it is departed out of this life and what they thinke of the generall Iudgement and resurrection of the dead as also what kinde of ioyes they imagine to be reserued in Heauen for such as liue well and godly and what torments be prepared in Hel for the wicked and vngodly For they doe generally beleeue and confesse that there is a time wherein the world shall haue an end and that there is a day ordained for the general iudgement of all mankinde wherein the bodies of the dead shall be raised and reuiued by the power of God and that ech man shal then appeare before the maiestie of God both with their soules and bodies to receiue the reward of their good and euill deedes done in this life with an endlesse recompence either of eternall blisse or euerlasting vnhappinesse In al which points of their religion albeit the Turkes be to be esteemed farre better than the Epicures and the Atheifts who deny the immortalitie of the soule and doe acknowledge neither God nor Deuill heauen nor hell And though they goe farre beyond the heathen Philosophers and all the Gentiles and pagan Infidelles who thought the world to be eternall and held the resurrection of the bodie to be an idle dreame and fable yet for that their opinions in this behalfe do notwithstanding differ in most points from the doctrine and traditions both of the Iewes Gentiles and Christians and are ful of most grosse absurdities and fantasticall toyes and vile impieties farre differing from the trueth and sinceritie of true religion we will therefore briefly set downe how and in what maner they do imagine of these matters First this is one opinion and vain perswasion of the Turkes that when any dead person hath laien and rested about the third part of an houre in the sepulchre God doth then send and put into it a new spirite and that therevpon also there doe repaire vnto him by the appointment of God two Angelles of the which one as they say is called Nechir and the other Remonchir who being of a most terrible aspect and fearfull countenance hauing burning fire-brands in their hands do examine the dead man of his fore-passed life in this world Which if they finde to haue bin verie wicked and sinful they do then scourge him with fiery whips But if his life were good and godly they doo then transforme him into the shape of a goodly and beautifull Angell and they giue him good and comfortable speaches telling him that hee shall rest and remaine there accompanied with all his good deedes vntill the last Day of the Generall Iudgement The manner whereof according to the Tradition of the Mahometists is as followeth It is an opinion generally embraced and constantly affirmed by the Turks That there is an angel aboue in heauen named Israphill who hauing a Trumpet in his hand is appointed to stand always in the presence of God and to be in a readines when God shall commaund him to sound his Trumpet and to make an ende and consummation of the world As soon as this Trumpet shalbe sounded all those that are then aliue vpon the Earth shall in a moment fall downe dead to the ground and the Angells also which are in Heauen shall die likewise And this theyr Opinion they doo confirme out of these words of their Alcoran Culumen Alleiafan ve geb tab vegei roebic tull gela li velle I cheram that is God hath spoken it with his mouth That all mankinde is mortall and that all creatures shall haue an end either by age or by some accident Hereof the Turkes conclude that not only men but that the Angels also are mortall And although manie of their doctours and such as are best seene in their religion do oppose themselues against this opinion and do contradict it vpon good reasons and with no absurd arguments yet when those words are alleadged against them they are soone put to silence and do subscribe to this opinion For that no man must gainsay or deny any thing contained in their Alcoran But whosoeuer shall dare eyther to dispute against that booke or to doubt of any article therein written he shall be sure eyther to haue his tongue pulled out of his head or else his bodie to be burnt and consumed with fire But to our purpose They holde also that immediately vpon the sound of the trumpet by the Angell there shall be so great and terrible an earthquake that the whole frame of the world both earth and heauen shall be ruinated insomuch as the rockes and mountaines shall fall and tumble together with such force and violence that they shall be broken into powder and dissolued into dust and heapes of sand and that then God wil create a newe Light and newe Aungelles equall in glory and dignitie to the former After which hee will cause to fall a pleasant and svveete raine which they call Rehemet sui that is The raine of mercie with the which the earth then lying in dust shall be watered and so shall it remaine for fortie dayes together Howbeit they say that those dayes then shall be longer than are the dayes at this present And manie of them hold also that from thenceforth there shall not be anie darkenesse of night as is nowe vsuall but that the night shall be most cleare and
manie siluer belles hanging at the same the which doo yeeld a most sweet and pleasant sound howbeit some of them weare them fastened to their knees and not to their girdles About their necks they doo weare a skin either of some Lion or Leopard or of a Panther with the legges and clawes therof hanging ouer their shoulders or els fastned vnto their backs by the eares The haire of their heads they doo vse to weare verie long and hanging downe ouer their sholders wauing and curled and they keepe it meruailous faire and beautifull for in the Trimming thereof they employ more paines and labour than vpon anie other matter of what importaunce soeuer and that it may shew and shine the more beautifull they do vse to trim it with a certaine glewe or oyntment made of Rosen and certaine haires such as they vse in the making of their water Chamblets Commonly they doo carrie a Booke in their hands written in the Persian Tung in which is contained pleasaunt Songs and Sonnets of Loue made in rymes and meeter Their manner is to goe bare-headed and with shooes made of small cords or ropes When manie of them doo meete together there is a wonderfull sweete Harmonie and Musique made with the noyse of their Bells If they happen to meete with anie yong man of a beautiful faire complexion their manner is to fall into a Round ioyning hands together and so to inclose him in between them as it were in a Circle endeuoring to delight rauish him with their musique which they doo make so to agree with the sound of their bels that it causeth a most excellent and wonderful sweet consent of musique insomuch as the People of all hands come running wondering at it With this sweet and melodious kind of musique they doo vse to frequent resort to mens houses especially of Artificers who doo giue vnto euerie one of them that sing an Asper These Giomailer are wonderfully addicted to the loue both of women and of yong men and they seeke by all meanes deuices possible to draw both the one and the other of them to the fulfilling of their leaud and beastly lustes For being thus giuen ouer altogither to their plesures they doo wander vp and downe throughout all Citties Townes and Countreys where they list seeking opportunitie to fulfill their sensuall and filthie appetites They are termed generally by the Turkes The Religious Brethren of Loue but are indeed fitter to bee compared to swine and hogges as beeing giuen ouer to sensualitie voluptuousnes and Epicurisme rather than to be reckoned in the number of men deuoted to holines or religion The second Order of religious Persons amongest the Turkes are called Calenderi and are a Sect quyte contrarie to the former for these doo professe perpetuall Virginitie and precise Continencie and Chastitie They doo vse certaine Temples peculier and proper to their Sect onely differing from the other Mosches of the Turkes which they call Tecchio And vpon the Gates of those Temples they haue these words written Caedan ormac Dil Ersin Cusciunge Alcha checciur which is Whosoeuer is disposed to enter into our religion he must conforme himselfe to our order and maner of liuing and must not in anie case nor at anie time violate his vowe of perpetuall chastitie and Virginitie Their vpper Garment is a Gown fashioned like a sheet foure-square which is made of wooll and horse-haire wouen together Commonly they weare not any hair on their heads but keep them shauen couered with a kind of broad hat such as the ancient Priests of Greece were wont to vse which being made of horse-hayre are vnshorne not much vnlike our thrummed Hattes but hauing the endes of the haires hanging downe from them the length of a span or more and are of such stifnes as they can hardly be bent any way Vpon their cares and about their neckes and armes they vse to weare certaine yron Rings and they haue also a hoale boared through the skin vnder their priuities where they doo weare a Ring either of yron or of siluer of three or foure pound weight by means wherof howsoeuer they be otherwise by nature addicted all desire and opportunitie of luxuriousnes and incontinencie is taken from them and so they do the more easily keep their chastitie according to their profession These also doo vse to goe wandring vp and downe the Countrey reading vnto the people out of certaine Books Verses written in Ryme or Meeter by one Nerzimi who in former time was a man of principal accompt and fame in their Sect and Profession and as they report was put to death hauing his skin flayed off his bodie for writing and teaching certaine Points of Doctrine contrarie to the Law of MAHOMET and as some write for acknowledging the Deitie and humanitie of Christ and confessing him to be both God Man They doo obserue verie precisely and deuoutlye the Orders and Institutions of this Nerzimi they liue altogether vpon Almes There haue been some Christians who haue seen read part of those Books written by the said Nerzimi and they say that they do fauor more of Christianitie than of Mahometisme that there are manie thinges comprehended in them which both for excellencie of arte and cunning and for elegancie of Rythmes and Verse according to the maner of that language are verie commendable praise-worthie A third Order of Religion amongst the Turkes is that of the Deruisi or Daruisses whose chiefest care and profession is mirth and pastime as affecting and studying nothing more than how to spend their time and passe away their dayes in merriment and solace Their guise is to goe clad or couered with two Sheeps skins dried in the Sunne one of which hanging behinde at their backes and the other before at their breasts and reaching downe to their knees are fastened together about their neckes Other apparell they weare not anie but goe altogether naked and because they loue not to haue anie haire seene vpon anie part of their bodies they vse to shaue themselues often and all ouer They carrie in their hands a Club full of knots and of a reasonable bignes vpon their heads they weare a kind of hat of two spannes long They haue hoales boared in their eares wherein they hang rings set with rich precious Stones Throughout all parts of the Turks Dominions they haue Monasteries or Houses wherein they dwell doo vse great Hospitalitie to all Trauellers and Passengers In the Summer season they seek their liuing by begging al which time they spend not anie thing at home in House-keeping When they do aske the almes of any person they do it in these termes Sciai mer Daneschine that is Giue vs our Almes for the loue of that worthy man Hali who being the sonne in law of Mahomet was alwaies the formost man in Battel amongst our Predecessors professing the Mahomet an Faith and Religion They doe celebrate