in Gabriel the Porter there where he saw a Cock so great that standing upon the Moon his Coxcomb reacht into the imperial Heaven many millions of miles altitude and when this mighty Chanticlear crowed all the Cocks upon earth re-ecchoed him this he saw in the first Heaven In the fourth he beheld an infinite company of Angels whereof every one was a thousand times bigger then the Globe of the earth each of them had ten thousand heads every head threescore and ten thousand tongues and every tongue praised God in seven hundred thousand several languages amongst other of these Angels saith he was one named Phatyr or the Angel of mercy who was of that immense greatness that every step he trode was twelve times more then the distance betwixt the Poles This Angel said he had a quill or pen of Orient Pearl of such a length that an excellent Arabian Courser could hardly reach to the end of it in five hundred years continual galloping with this pen saith he doth God record all things past present and to come in such a mysterious Character that none but he and Seraphael can understand it with this quill were written all the hundred and four Holy Books viz. the ten which Adam received Seth fifty Enoch thirty and Abraham the remainder this pen forsooth also writ Moses Law David's Psalms Christ's Gospel and Mahomet's Alcoran In the seventh Heaven he saw the. Throne of God supported by seven Angels each of them so great that a Faulcon with incessant flying could scarce in a thousand years reach the distance of one eye from another fourteen everlasting burning candles hung about the Throne whose length according to Mahomets measure was as much as a horse could run in five hundren years There saith this blasphemer did he see the Almighty who bid him welcome and stroaked him on the face with his hand which was a thousand times colder then ice Here Mahomet for shame of his own baseness blusht and sweat six drops which he wiped from his brow and threw into Paradise where one became a Rose another a grain of Rice and the other four became four learned Men viz. Armet Sembelin Almamed Molec-zed Seh-naffin Who would think people should be so credulous to believe such antick stories but his other opinions were full as ridiculous as concerning the day of Judgement that he should paint it out by a great and fearful Duel betwixt him and death who being overcome shall be so inraged that he shall destroy all the world presently and being armed in flaming brass shall sound his Trumpet to each quarter of the world whose affrighting noise shall make all creatures to give up the ghost yea the very Angels also shall die as also Adriel who wrapping his iron wings about him shall strangle himself with such a hideous noise as is not to be imagined Then shall ensue a terrible earth-quake and a violent shower of parching brimstone which shall turn the world into a disordered Chaos in which condition it shall remain the space of forty days at which time God shall take it in his fist and say Where are now the haughty Princes the cruel Tyrants lascivious ' Wantons and covetous Muck-worms of the earth Then will he rain down mercy for forty dayes and nights together incessantly which shall reduce the world again into a flourishing estate Then shall the Angel Seraphiel take a golden Trumpet in his hand of length 500 years travel from one end to another with which he shall give such a sound as shall revive again both Angels and men who shall re-assume their former estate after this Michael the Arch-Angel comes with a mighty Ballance and poyses every mans actions in either scale those whose good deeds outweigh their evil are put on the right hand the other on the left Then is every man loaden with his sins in a satchel and hung about his neck with which they pass on a narrow weak bridge over the mouth of Hell now those that be heavy laden break the bridge and fall therein but such as have but few sins pass over securely on the other side of the bridge stands Mahomet who shall be transformed into the shape of a mighty Ram full of locks and long fleeces of wool in which all his Sectaries like Fleas shall shroud themselves then will he jump into Paradise and so convey them all thither Paradise he described to be as many miles about as there be Atoms in the Sun and that it is enclosed with a wall of ninety times refined gold ten thousand miles high and three thousand thick it hath seven Gates to enter in at and is divided into seven spacious Gardens and those subdivided into seventy times seven several places of delight In this place he promises to his Mussel-men or true Believers all sensual pleasures and delights imaginable namely that they should have garments of silk with all sorts of colours bracelets of gold and Amber Parlors and Banquetting-houses upon floods and Rivers vessels of Gold and Silver Angels serving them bringing in Gold and Silver Flaggons Milk and Wine curious Lodgings rarely furnished Cushions Pillows and Down-beds most beautiful Women to accompany them Maidens and Virgins with twinkling eyes Gardens and Orchards with Arbors Fountains Springs and all manner of pleasant fruit Rivers of Milk Honey and spiced Wine all manner of sweet Odours Perfumes and fragrant Scents yea whatsoever the flesh shall desire to have In this Paradise saith Mahemet there is a Table of Diamond seven hundred thousand dayes journey long this is for men to feast upon sitting on chairs of Gold and Pearl Gabriel the Porter of Paradise hath seventy thousand keys which belong to his Office and every key is seven thousand miles long questionless he must be very strong or else those keys must needs tire him Here saith the Alcoran shall men tumble in all manner of pleasure reposing upon fair beds lined with Crimson there shall they gather the fruits of the Garden to their contentment there shall they enjoy the company of fair and beautiful Damosels whose hairs be threds of Gold their eyes of Diamonds as big as the Moon their lips of Cherries their teeth of Pearl their tongues of Rubies their cheeks of Coral their noses of Jasper their fore-heads of Saphyr their eyes exceeding black and bodies exceeding white round fac'd sweet amorous and beautiful there shall they spend the time with these Virgins in pleasant Arbors who being enjoyed shall have their Virginities again renewed as often as lost In the midst of this delightful place saith he is a very high spreading Tree higher then all the Mountains in the world were they heap'd one upon another and so broad that it shadeth all Paradise The trunk of this extraordinary rate tree is all of Diamond the leaves of Ophirian gold and the boughs of jet each leaf hath an antick shape having on one side growing the name of God and on the other that of Mahomet Such
not sufficient to mantain the number of their Children they otherwise supply themselves by Handicrafts Trades or what else befits a free-man as teaching Schools transcribing Books c. I ne'er could see amongst them any Printers but Paper is there very well made Some make profit one way some an other as Taylors Shooe-makers c. Of their Monks They have likewise Monks of several Orders but chiefly of these three the first have no propriety in any thing they go almost wholly naked saving their privities covered with a Sheeps skin and in cold weather they use the like to cover their backs their sides their feet and hands are never covered They beg alms as well of Christians as Turks and For God's sake These Monks having eaten an Herb called Maslach are possest with a kind of fury and madness they cut and wound their breasts cross and overthwart and so their arms dissembling all trouble or pain then clap on their heads hands and breasts the spunge or mushrooms of old Trees light burning and not remove them till they are reduced to ashes Another Order I have seen who go with their privy part bor'd thorow and a Ring included therein of the weight of three pound and this to preserve chastity The third Order is rarely seen abroad but remain both day and night in Churches where within some little Angles they have small Cabins no shooes vestments or coverings of the had wearing nothing but one shirt their exercise is fasting and prayers that God would reveal things future to them With this sort of Monks the King of Turks usually consults when he intends a motion on expedition to War They give so much respect to Mahomets Traditions and Statutes Their reverence to Mahomets traditions that not onely they never blaspheme God or his Prophet which amongst us sometimes happens but if they find the least leaf or scrowl thereof lying on the ground they take it up and often kiss it and place it on some shelves or chinks of walls affirming it a sin to suffer that wherein the Name of God and Laws of Mahomet are written to be trodden under foot And no man dares to sell the Alcoran and other writings of their Law to any Christian or any other differing in Religion or Faith with them lest they should be trodden on or touched with unclean hands and whosoever should so do is severely punished And in this regard they may be stiled far more reverent then Christians They have places for Instruction and Teachers both of Men and Women Of their Schools in several Towns Men the Boys and Women the Girls some teach Astronomy Physick and some the Art of Poetry which when they do they speak out with loud voice and moving their hands unto their sides they pronounce their meanings They understand no artificial Musick but frame Verses to certain Rules which consist of eleven syllables The hotness of the Clymate and often sicknesses makes most inclined to Physick wherein they have some small knowledge They learn Astronomy to be thought able to tell fortunes Printing is supplied by a number of writing Priests and perhaps neglected as all learning is to maintain the peoples ignorance and keep them off from search into the gross absurdities of their constrained Religion Their marriages They marry without Vows or Oaths take Wives without portions and for the most part buy them contrary to the Roman custom where the Son in-law was bought with Money to take a Daughter This married Woman carries nothing with her for use or ornament which she is not forced to redeem or purchase from her Parents Evil manners or sterility are causes of Divorces for which there is a peculiar Judge They permit their bond-men or purchased servants to marry but the issue of them are all born slaves The Alcoran perswadeth marriage as pleasing God and Man and it allows plurality of Wives and Concubine as many as a Man pleaseth The Turk amongst his whereof he hath above five hundred in his Seraglio's nameth her for his Wife or Sultana by whom he hath his first-begotten Son All their Wives are used with equality of respect in diet cloaths returns and what concerns them and are most obedient to their Husbands They nurse their own Children and bear them on their Shoulders not in their Arms no men but Eunuchs are suffered to be with them not their own Sons if above twelve years of age they never go abroad but accompanied with onely Women Pilgrims of several Nations travel to visit holy places Of strangers which the Turk possesseth as Mecca and Medinum as Christians Jerusalem where they say Mahomet was buried but this is done as well for gain and profit as for devotion or Religions sake And there having seen a gilded Shoo hanging from the roof of the Church and bought such fine linnen and cloth as they please they return home with great advantage some carrying about the streets water from thence in glases for devotion sake and freely give it to any that are thirsty others do the like for profit And if any one of them happen to die in this Pilgrimage by what occasion soever although he ne're arrive near Mecca yet he hath the estimation and shall be placed in the rank of Pilgrims I know not whether I should call them Miracles or rather Monstrous Toys Miracles done by Mahomet at Mecca which they say he still doth in these times written in their Book called Mehemidine wherein they are perswaded that when Mecca was a building God by the prayers of Mahomet commanded divers mountains to bring their stone to the Fabrick of that Church every Hill his tenth and when divers Mountains had brought their portions and Mecea built and perfectly compleated a certain Hill called Araphat and some other more remote coming thither with their tenths somewhat too late and finding Mecca built and no use of their stones they begun most bitterly to weep which when Mahomet perceived Hills so distressed and understood the cause he said unto them Be of good chear weep not but store your tenths up in a place which I shall shew you and whosoever shall not pray upon your stones his pilgrimage shall be unprofitable and unaccepted And after so doing Mahomet struck the stones with his foot and there issued out Water not useful to drink and imposed a name and called it A Water of Purification whereof every Pilgrim carrieth at his return some portions thereof in vessels and when ever any die the vestures wherewith the body is to be covered are sprinkled with this water for remission of their sins And they further affirm That no man can come to Mecca whose visit is not known to Mahomet who reveals the persons to the Keepers there all Eunuchs and if a Pilgrim come a Ravisher or wicked Man a Christian or any of Religion different from theirs these said Keepers forbid him entrance into Mecca But the body of Mahomet is
impregnable Fortresses the Turk possess as is Famagusta in Cyprus It is now inhabited by Turks and Jews which were banisht out of Spain As to the story of Anatolia it chiefly depends upon the two Empires of Constantinople and Trabezond and the Kingdom of Caramania subdued by Bajazet the second since which time every parcel thereof became united to the Ottoman Dominions It was once the most flourishing part of the world but hath lost since some few Centuries no less then 4000 Cities partly by earth-quakes which are frequent here and partly by the sloath and natural laziness of the Turks who busie themselves in nothing but their lust and luxury so that little Trade is stirring here But their Horse bread here retain their native excellency and are reputed the best the European Horse-men are like so esteemed And in these two consist the chief power and strength of the Turk So that we have seen under the Empire of the Turk is comprehended the better part of the antient three-fold division of the earth which we will recapitulate and repeat for the Readers memory The sum of the Turkish dominions He holdeth in Europe the whole Sea coast which from the borders of Epidaurus stretches it self to the mouth of Tanais whatsoever lyeth between Buda and Constantinople and from the Euxine Sea to the banks of Savus is his In that perambulation is contained the greater part of Hungary all Bosnia Servia Bulgaria Macedon Epire Greece Pelloponese Thrace and the Archipelago with the Islands He holdeth in Asia and Africk all that is between Velez de la Gomera and Alexandria in Egypt between Bugia and Guargula between Alexandria and the City Siene and from the City Suez as far as Swachen The hugeness of this territory may be imagined by the circuit of some of the parcels Palus Meotis wholly his spreadeth it self a thousand miles into the land two thousand and seven hundred miles do hardly incompass the Euxine Sea The coast of the Miditerranean Sea as much as is subject to him containeth in circuit eight thousand miles Egypt wholly his is esteemed three thousand and two hundred miles so far from Derbent upon the Caspian Sea to Aden upon the Red Sea and from Balsara upon the Persian Gulf to Tremessen in Barbary is accounted little less then four thousand miles In the Sea he is Lord of the most noble Islands of Ciprus Eubea Rhodes Samos Chio Lesbos and many other in the Archipelago of which before CHAP. IV. Of their Militia THeir Infantry consists of two sorts First such as are levyed upon particular Cities more or less according to the nature of the Expedition The Infantry and proportionable to their abilities from whence many Christians are frequently sent both Turks and Christians well cloathed and armed and exercised a moneth before they march without the Cities where they are raised The second the Janizaries who make 50000. which are Christian Children taken from the Northern parts of Europe and entred into the Grand Seigniors books and bred in the Seraglio and other places as common servants till twenty two years old and then are mustered and disciplined for service but now Turks are listed among them very frequently these are the flower of the Army and are never disbanded but when old are put into Garrison The horse consist of the Spahioglans Their Cavalry whose just number is 32000. and are the constant guard of the Emperors person at home and abroad and the Timariots who hold lands by serving the Sultan in his Wars and according to the value of their Timar or Farm sending three four or six horses but not all for service their total number with the Tartar whose aid of 60000. horse is alwayes to be in a readiness may be 300000. of which number the Kingdom of Algier affords 40000. that of Tunis 30000. Tripoli 10000. we may not reckon proportinably so with the other Provinces because horse are here in abundance When a War is proclaimed and a general Rendezvous appointed the several Bassa's and Governours of Provinces draw their forces together summoning the Timariots to do their service aforesaid but many of them with some Janizaries and Voluntiers have leave to march before to the said Rendezvous When these Bashaws begin their march publick proclamation is made to hang all such Janizaries as shall be found behind those Forces upon their march when they are rendezvoused and upon the Expedition the Bashaws do not go all in company but setting forth about an hour one after another The Turks disdipline in marching draw out their Troops without confusion not in any strict order of Rank and File as near no enemy Yet though there is not the discipline of posture their Officers commands are in all other things carefully obeyed 't is a wonder to see such a multitude as commonly they march with so clear of confusion violence want sickness or any other disorder there being alwayes plenty of good Bisket Rice and Mutton carried with the Army The Bashaws and great Commanders have with them three or fourscore Camels besides six or seven score Carts to carry the Baggage when the General takes horse he hath five or six Coaches covered with cloath of Gold or rich Tapestry to carry his wives some have with them twelve or sixteen the least ten who when they enter the Coach there are men placed on both sides holding up a row of Tapestry to cover them from being seen by the people although they were musted after the Turkish manner that nothing but their eyes appeared The Turks Sodomy Besides these women each Bashaw hath as many or rather more pathick Boys which they use for Sodomy whom they prefer as the greater satisfaction before their Wives which are used mostly to dress their meat to wash and for to honest their unnatural lust The Boys are generally of fourteen ten or nine years old and are usually clad in velvet or scarlet with gilt Scymetars and bravely mounted with sumptuons furniture and each of them a Souldier is appointed who walks by his bridle for his safety When the Prime Visier departs upon any expedition out of Constantinople he wears in his Turbant a long broach Feather which none but the Grand Signior usually wears besides himself upon this only occasion He is accompanied on his way with all the Grandees of the Court who present him with Gifts as doth the Sultan himself in vests and such like commodities to bestow upon merit or other occasions for his Magnificence Their Military musick The martial musick they have is none of the best but will serve sufficiently to confound the senses and deafen the ears to any other clamour being a kind of horse Kettle Drum which with some brass dishes and wind Instruments carried by fellows on Horse-back ride a little before every great Commander and noise along the journey The great rendezvous when he marcheth against Christendom is always appointed in that fatal playn
but one God Mahomet is his Prophet and Apostle this is their profession of Faith nevertheless there is no mention of Circumcision in all the Alcoran they say they observe it in imitation of Abraham whose Law is recommended to them by Mahomet they believe that the Alcoran was brought to him at several times by the Angel Gabriel in the City of Mecca and that of Medina because the Jews and Christians had altered the holy Scriptures and the Law of God They are permitted to have four wives married at the same time and as many Concubines as they are able to maintain They can put away their wives when they think fit paying them what they promised them in contract of marriage and marry again at their pleasure but the women are bound to tarry until they are assured that they are not with child before they marry again and their husbands are obliged to keep and take the care of the child The children which they have by their slaves are indifferently esteemed with those of their wives and are all held as legitimate They have Temples Colledges and Hospitals well revenued they have covents of Religious that live exemplary obey their Superiours without contradiction and dance after the sound of Flutes and other instruments when they make their prayers They have moreover another sort of Religious Vagabonds through the world cloathed like fools of that Country they often go naked and cut their skin in many places they are held to be holy persons and live by alms which are never refused them both the one and the other sort of Religious are called Dervis they are known by their habit and can retire and marry when they please They deny Jesus Christ to be God or the Son of God neither believe they in the holy Trinity they say that Jesus Christ was a great Prophet born of the Virgin Mary a Virgin both before and after her delivery that he was conceived by divine inspiration or by a divine breath without a father as Adam was created without a mother that he was not crucified that God took him into heaven and that he shall come again on earth at the end of the world to confirm the Law of Mahomet they likewise affirm that the Jews thinking to crucifie Jesus Christ crucified a man among them that resembled him They pray to God for the Dead A great question among Mahometans they invoke their Saints of whom they have a large Legend nevertheless they believe not Purgatory and many among them imagine that the soul and body remain together in the grave until the day of Judgement They have Mecca and Medina that are two Cities of Arabia in great veneration because Mahomet was born at Mecca and buried at Medina they make thither great pilgrimages and believe that Land to be Holy They bear likewise singular respect to the City of Jerusalem for that it hath been the Birth-place and habitation of many Prophets They use no Clocks at the hour of their prayers their Priests ascend the highest part of the Tower that is in a corner of the Temple and with a loud voice call the people to prayer singing prayer composed for that purpose CHAP. VII The Seraglio or Court of the Great SIGNOR HAving before mentioned the place to satisfie some Curiosities concerning this Emperors pleasures in which he satisfies himself with variety conversing with his Mutes and Buffones for that it is not lawful for any body but the Vizier Bassa's and some few others to speak to him in the same signes and gestures and now and then riding and shooting and casting a heavy Iron Mace all which he is taught to do with great exactness I will transiently speak of that then which nothing is more secret and reserved viz. His Companying with women the beautifullest those parts of the world afford the greatest excellency and perfection whereof is reputed to consist in great and broad eyes the enjoyment of women so featured being made a part of their Paradise in the World to come They which are within the third gate called the Kings gate are about two thousand persons men and women whereof the women old and young one with another what with the Kings Concubines old women and women servants may be about eleven or twelve hundred Now those which are kept up for their beauties are all young Virgins taken and stollen from forraign Nations who after they have been instructed in good behaviour and can play upon Instruments Sing Dance and sew curiously they are given to the Grand Signor as presents of great value and the number of these encreaseth daily as they are sent and presented by the Tartars by the Bashaws and other great men to the King and Queen They do likewise sometimes decrease according as the Grand Signor shall think fit For upon divers occasions and accidents he causeth many of them to be turned out of this Seraglio and to be sent into the Old Seraglio which is also a very goodly and spacious place of which hereafter I shall take occasion to make mention Virgins made Turks and how These Virgins immediately after their coming into the Seraglio are made Turks which is done by using this Ceremony onely to hold up their fore-finger and say these words law illawheh illaw Allawh Mahummed resoul Allawh That is there is no God but God alone and Mahomet is the Messenger of God As they are in age and disposition being proved and examined by an old woman called Kahiyah Cadun that is Kahiyah Cadun the mother of the Maids as we say the Mother of the Maids so they are placed in a room with the other of the same age spirit and inclination to dwell and live together Their manner of life Now in the womens lodging they live just as Nuns do in great Nunneries for these Virgins have very large rooms to live in and their Bed-Chambers will hold almost a hundred of them apiece They sleep upon Sofaes which are built long-wise on both sides of the room and a large space left in the midst to go to and fro about their business Their Beds are very course and hard for the Turks neither use Feather-beds nor Corded Bed-steads and by every ten Virgins their lies an old woman and all the night long there are many lamps burning so that one may see plainly throughout the whole room which doth both keep the wenches from wantonness and serve upon any occasion which may happen in the night Near unto the said Bed-Chambers they have their Bagnos for their use at all times with many Fountains out of which they are served with water and above their Chambers there are divers rooms where they sit and sew and there they keep their Books and Chests in which they lay up their apparel They feed by whole Camaradaes and are served and waited upon by other women nor do they want any thing whatsoever that is necessary for them There are other places likewise for