God who hath preserved us from such calamities and likewise hoping to encrease the number of relenting mindes and charitable dispositions My poverty and weak capacity could finde no other means to be instrumental for them Thick and dark clouds have eclipsed the warmth and comfort of the Sun from me but Be you merciful as your heavenly Father is merciful Farewel ERRATA Page Line  12. 23. for and paid read are paid 14. 16. put out Troy-weight 28. 5. for teh read the. 44. 8. Passengers read Passages 79. 1. do kill read do not kill 102. 14. for their fenars read their defenc◠117. 21. for drunk read drink 123. 8. for Rocks read Rocks Of the Rites and Ceremonies of the TURKS CHAP. I. Of their Oratories THe fabricks of their Churches are sufficiently large and sumptuous and called by the name of Meschites in which I never could perceive any sort of fancies or imageries for Idolatry is held by them the worst of abominations but onely these or one of these inscriptions following in the Arabick Language There is no God but one and Mahomet his Prophet or One Creator and Prophets equal or None is strong as God Then there is seen a great abundance of burning Lamps the whole Church whited the Pavement covered with Mattresses and on them the Ornaments of Tapestries Neer the Church is erected a Tower of great height to the top whereof the Priest ascends before the time of Prayers and with a loud voice his ears stopped with his fingers he thrice proclaims these words God True One which Clamour or Outcry for they have no Bells being heard the Nobility and all unbusied persons repair to Church as bound to that devotion Afterwards the said Priest descending prays with them and then they turn their faces towards Mecha And this he is tyed to do by his Office five times day and night But whosoever cometh to these Prayers must wash his hands his feet and privities and his head thrice sprinkled with water and these words pronounced Glory to my God Then their shooes put off and left at the Church-door they enter in some bare-footed others having new Shooes or Socks and so tenderly touch the ground Women come not into Churches as being not excis'd and for fear of disturbing mens devotions but meet apart in severed places altogether shut off from eyes and ears of men and more seldome frequent their Churches except in time of Passeover or Easter and on Fridays which days from Mahomet's Traditions for distinction and imitation they almost respect as much as Jews their Sabbaths or Christians the Lords day They pray from nine a clock at night till twelve and in their praying their bodies are ever in great motion and agitation wherewith they marvelously afflict themselves with loud cryings and fierce ejaculations so as oftentimes their strengths and spirits failing they sink unto the ground and if it happen any of them conceive her self with child she then assures her self that pregnancy proceeds from favour of the Holy Spirit and when delivered the Infants born are called Sons or Souls of the Holy Ghost This hath been related to me from their Hand-maids for I nor ever any man else were present at that spectacle At mens devotions I have been often present with my Master whose customes are in manner following in their prayers they ne'er take off their Turbants coverings of their heads but with the tops of their fingers gently touch them in token of taking them off they fall upon their knees and often kiss the ground they hold it for great wickedness to have a Christian present at their mysteries for they believe their Churches as they say to be polluted by men unwashed and that Christians use not such Lavatories Every Church in Turky hath a peculiar place for Baths and washings with lodgings for a Priest Now here the Priest ascends his Pulpit reads a piece of the Alcoran and sometimes expounds it and there preaches about two hours his Sermon ended two boyes come up to him who pronounce their prayers singing with responsals which Songs being ended the Priest with the whole People in a low voice beating upon their sides repeat these words There is but one God which for the space of half an hour they do and so depart But this manner of Prayers and Ceremonies of Preaching and singing are not done every day unless in time of Lent Festivals some Sundayes and most observe the Fridayes for religious worship Of their Lent THey keep their Lent by fasting one Month and one Week every Year but not alwayes the same for if this Year they fast out January the next they fast out February and keep on that course so as in twelve Years space they dedicate to God in lieu of tenths one Year and twelve Weeks Travellers and sick Persons are excused from present fastings but are injoyned to supply it by fasting so many dayes at other times When they fast all that Day they taste nothing not so much as Bread or Water then the Stars appearing it is lawful for them to eat of all things which are not strangled or Hoggs-flesh which they esteem as carrion most unclean Their Lent being past they observe Easter for three dayes with great solemnity anoynting the Nails of their Feet and Fingers with an Oyl which they call Chna which maker those Nails to shine like Gold and with the same they somtimes stain or colour the Hoofs and Tails of Horses This Tincture holds very long can hardly be wip'd away so as until new Nails thrust out the old they still retain that dye but Nails of the Hand by frequent washing abate in time Women do not onely anoynt the Nails but their whole Hands and Feet also with that Oyl Of their Circumcision THey Circumcise not on the eighth day as the Jews do but when the new-born arrive at the age of seven or eight yeers and be of perfect speech the mystery whereof is from the words of confession required before circumcision which are some of those sentences afore-mentioned in their Churches which they repeat and give assent thereto by holding up the Thumbe of the right-Hand The Youth is not for this mystery brought unto their church but is circumcised in his Parents House I have been often present at this solemnity which is performed in manner following first the friends are all invited to a feast sufficiently furnished with all sorts of delicate flesh lawful for them to eat and almost everywhere especially amongst the wealthier sort an Ox is killed bowelled and flawed in the body whereof they include a Sheep and in that Sheep a Hen and in her an Egge all which are entirely roasted together for the solemnity and splendor of that day Then in their Feast and time of Supper the Boy that is to be circumcised is brought to a Physitian skilful in that Art who fixing between a pair of pinchers the fore-skin of his privie Member to prevent all fear in the
day of Pentecost where he moved to me first this Question Where God had his being before the Heavens and Earth and therein all things else were created Which Question though it seemed to me not much pertinent to our purpose yet lest he should imagine us ignorant of our great God's universal presence I said He then was in his own being But when that seemed to him somewhat obscure and that he did not sufficiently understand it I then told him He was where he now is Which he understanding denied in the general and said Not so but that he then was in a bright cloud Which when he earnestly affirmed I quoted Genesis for they also read the books of Moses and the Prophets and said If God were in a Cloud before the Foundation of Heaven and Earth then that Cloud must be created before them both and upon further argument on this point being at last convicted he would dispute no further in it but gave me leave to propound some Question to him and for solemnity of that dayes sake I thought fit to say something thereof and finding these words In the name of God his mercies and the Spirit of them in their Alcoran in the Arabian Tongue and Character I desired him to read them The mystery of the holy Trinity Which when he had considered and wondred at he said Christian from whence had you this for in the beginning of all our actions we Musselmen use these three words and prefix them to every Chapter of our Alcoran when we sit down to eat when we go to prayers when we wash our hands or other parts of our bodies these words we first pronounce and these actions finished we sprinkle our heads with water and repeat these words In the Name of God his Mercies and the Spirit of them When thus he had confessed the Truth I desired to understand from him what he meant by the word Mercies who replied He understood it literally without other signification Then I applied my self to the mystical Interpretation and divided it according to Truth into three Persons the Father the Son and the Holy Ghost and shewed them written in the Arabick tongue And when he saw I had mentioned the Son of God he question'd How God could have a Son since according to their Law and Doctrine of Mahomet God had neither Wife nor Childe To whom I answered according to my weak understanding and capacity We Christians call God the Father for his Creatures sake being the first creating Cause and sole Preserver of all created who was for ever in the same Essence he now is in and will be for Eternity and is the first Person in the Trinity We believe the Son who by Mahemet in the Arabick phrase is called Rahman and signifieth Mercies so changed by him to be likewise God not according to flesh for God is a Spirit born of a Woman but of the Essence and substance of God Omnipotent begotten by God the Father to put away the sins of the World and so took humane flesh by the Holy Virgin Mary suffered for us died and was buried and according to the sayings of the Prophets arose again the third day and ascended into Heaven and sitteth at the right hand of God the Father there to judge the quick and the dead to render immortal happiness to those that have faith in him and to the unfaithful everlasting punishment I then presented him a Crucifix and said Behold this now and see if Mahomet did unworthily call the Son of the eternal God by Name of Mercies when with Arms thus stretched forth he calls poor sinners to his embraces saying Come unto me all ye that labour and art burthened with sins and I will refresh you And to render him more capable of the Trinity I pointed to the Sun saying You have a fair similitude here as there is but one Sun that hath form heat and light so there is but one God the Father who hath Son and the Holy Spirit which you call Ruâ—ahim consisting of three Persons equally of one substance and from Eternity coexisting This comparison wrought in him a belief in God the Father his onely begotten Son and the Holy Ghost a Trinity in Unity And when he had heard my weak discourses of God the Father God the Son and God the holy Ghost he much admired with saying O God O God I nor any of our Sect could ever imagine you had such good thoughts of God for we conceive you live in darkness of understanding but by your relation it seems you have great apprehensions of him and believe well if you did not neglect our great Prophet of God Mahomet I said What shall we do with the toyes and dreams of Mahomet for besides Baptism and the mystery of the Trinity which were had from Christians we know the Alcoran contains nought that tends to Truth Then I alledged to him the fancies and silly trifles of Mahomet's two Angels called Arot and Marot whom Mahomet sayes That God did send from Heaven to minister justice unto mortal men commanding them to forbid drinking of wine and unlawful mixtures with women to shew the ways to heaven to no man These Angels transgressing Divine Commandment were defiled deceived and made drunk by a Woman and shewed to Mahomet the way to heaven whom when God saw there he asked the Angels standing by who it was that came in that shape thither And the Angels telling him it was by the error of Arot Marot he turn'd the Woman into a Star and sent those Angels chained into a well to be punished everlastingly Divers like ridiculous stories I related as that of the Beast Baraile who could speak as man who carryed Mahomet to heaven where himself confesseth to have seen great Angels with many heads and those speaking many Languages in divers Tongues which is sufficiently foolish unworthy the name of a Prophet but said I knew not whether oppressed with Wine in sleep he dreamed to have seen such miracles or monstrosities in his imaginations And therefore when he inserts such follies in his Alcoran he deserves nor the Title of a Prophet from any reasonable man Having heard this somewhat abashed he arose and would argue no further but led me into the Temple and shewed me certain Images carved in wood and asked me If we did worship those silmilitudes of men or adore them I answered No think not we worship the stones or timber wherein these figures are engraved they are used and respected onely as records and remembrances to mens mindes of the passions and sufferings of our Saviour Jesus Christ for the redemption of our transgressions and we worship our true God in minde and Spirit remembred by that Crucifix neither are you denied the like remembrances of your great Princes and famous men nor we of holy Saints but 't is to give God thanks for their examples of holiness and our prayers to imitate their charity and pieties In these
the war let Scepters fall as they will he is no less grievous to friends and companions then Enemies Church-men besides pomp ecclesiastical have little of the Church not sanctity not piety some not fitting erudition seeking their own not Christ's advancement that we may say with the Prophet All have declin'd the ways of God and are unprofitable there 's none that doth good not even one Why should we marvel then that Christ is not our Friend We therefore go to war without a God and what is more calamitous with God our adversary We carry Bibles Crucifixes with us but the crucified by his favour converseth with our enemies our actions therefore perish are involv'd in losses And when one Nation fights against the Turk another is imploy'd in civil wars calling to his aid Pagans Schismaticks or Hereticks more eagerly to oppose Christ others tend their home-affairs to indulge themselvs in ease voluptuousness The souldier sets not forth for Christ but money which failing soon deserts the field turns home back again What have we then from those rich Attributes Eulogies of Germany France England Spain Italy when the Souldier neglects both God and Honour and goes to war as to market a brothel-house or stews to exercise all rapine spoil and lewdness We have good laws but evil manners good furniture of arms but wicked dispositions it is our glory to fight among our selves and if we prove coward to enemies there follows little shame or punishment When do we see a Souldier quitting Colours or disbanding severely handled which crimes were anciently capital and whole Legions have been decimated and tyth'd for less offences We therefore march with men few in numbers and those corrupt in manners against millions of men well disciplin'd for Tuâ—ks leave their vices in their houses from whence we carry ours In their Pavilions and Tents no deliciousness arms onely and necessary provisions in Christians all sorts of Table-delicates luxury and riotousness and commonly as many light lascivious Women as Men. What wonder then if they conquer who are preserved by sobriety parsimony diligence fidelity and obedience Let them perish then who lose a field to get a prey who are oftner found amongst whores and drunk then in good actions but 't is the fault and error of Supeâ—iors when Subjects are not kept in due observance which if Christians were we could not be inferiour to Turks And yet a greater fault behold Princes themselves while they contend in mutual quarrels are causes why they cannot muster equal forces against the Turk for whilst they fight and combate for some little Town or other after grievous strife conflictation and exhaustion of men and treasure they grow weak impoverished and heartless What brave actions might those streams of Christian blood have done which civil wars most impiously have drawn out emptied and dried up But 't is too late to mourn in complaints Asia and Affrica are lost Greece extinguished Hungary desperately sick Illyria and Sclavonia joyned to the Turk Austria much enfeebled and this plague much threatens Germany and Christianity universal and that so far that no great Prince or Monarch ought to be secure or think himself so free but that he may be forced to defend his own without invasion of his neighbours Territories whether it please or not unless they will become of Princes Servants of Free-men Slaves detained in perpetual chains or slain and murthered that their Subjects may want Captains and good Leaders Now most mighty Monarchs and high Governours for God's cause banish from amongst you all discord ambitious tyrannies which are the Devils instruments to maintain oppressions impieties thereby to prolong Gods wrath upon you and restore to each proprietor his due rights and priviledges and then as Rivers having free course haste all smoothly to the sea make one mighty body so your strengths united in the bond of peace would startle astonish and drown this great Tyrant Turk which blessing on bended knees I humbly pray for and recommend unto the God of Peace And being reconcil'd among your selves if you would say as Moses said to Joshua Chuse you a man and go and fight with Amalek If you would reduce your selves to this peace and concord which is onely hopeful and put your helping hands and powers toward so greatly honourable so blessed so necessary and profitable a war against the Turk who can imagine but that ye should at least equal the number of his Souldiery if not far exceed them He is now swell'd up to the very height of Tyranny and hath there remained so for divers yeers as if expecting as if waiting an attempt All full Seas have their ebbings all ripe fruits are quickly shaken down there wants nothing to this general and glorious work of Christian Princes but God's blessing unanimity and an Heroick courage brave and masculine For the Emperour can with easiness raise arm and muster 50000 horse 100000 foot the like may hopefully be expected from France from Spain and Italy the yet remaining parts of Hungary and Illyria with the Provinces under the King of Romans will raise and maintain 60000. These Christian Forces may make 400000 horse and foot besides the Maritime great assistances of England Denmark united Provinces Venetians Portugals and Swedes and all other Christian Commonwealths who if once unanimous and freed from jealousies and petty wretched wilful home-contentions the Turkish power could no more resist ye then Darius Alexander Xerxes Themistocles or Antiochus Judas Macchabeus and having gotten but one victory and once passed the Danube towards Constantinople God being pleased and our lives amended these enemies of our faith would easily be trodden down All Greece and Thrace where yet great part retain the law of Christ expect with greediness the Christian Sword and readily would revolt upon such occasion and manfully assault and fight against those Lords and Masters that have so cruelly afflicted them which circumstance alone would much hasten if not perfect a speedy victory I would to God and wish heartily most Christian Monarchs That your civil fruitless home-contentions would permit and suffer you seriously to consider and calmly to examine these offered motions you then would finde all mens wills and arms concur with yours no age no sex no conditions of men would leave your Ensigns Each Turk would have his Executioner at home his Traytor in his Tent and fugitive in the field All Christians amongst them have contemptuous opinions of their arms and know them onely fitted for light Skirmishes and Pickerings who if their noise like shoals of clamouring Rocks affright you not they fly And whensoever it shall please God to root out from amongst us these perpetual Enemies of his faith and send them to their old lurking holes and caves and corners in Bythinia by the Christian Sword according to some of their own Prophecies or else to reduce them to the bosome of our Catholick Church no man can doubt but in short time the Emperor will be seated in his chair at Constantinople and invested in his Imperial Roman Territories The King of Romans re-established and recover Hungary and Thrace France lesser Asia England part of Aegypt Spain part of Africa Italy all Shores and Banks of the Mediterranean Seas and last the Pope as a great Pastor of the Christian Church will be extol'd magnifi'd for such an union These are the apprehensions of all Christian captives under the Turkish Tribute and even Turks themselves who have knowledge and long acquaintance in military affairs And this my self have learned by thirteen yeers experience The Turk is valiant against a flying and flying against a valiant Enemy when therefore he by nature is fugitive impiety flyes without pursuit Let God arise and scatter all his Enemies let those that hate his Doctrine avoid his presence let them like smoak vanish and melt like wax against the fire so may all Infidels perish before the face of God and his holy Church that there may be but one Flock and one Pastor Jesus Christ the righteous Which grant Oh ever blessed Trinity and Unity God the Father God the Son and God the Holy Ghost Amen Contents OF Oratories pag. 1. Lent pag. 6. Circumcision pag. 8. Priests pag. 11. Monks pag. 13. Reverence to Mahomet's Traditions pag. 15. Schools pag. 16. Contracts of Marriage pag. 17. Of Strangers pag. 19. Miracles at Mecha pag. 20. Of Alms. pag. 23. Sacrifices pag. 24. Wills and Legacies pag. 25. Ceremonies of the dead pag. 26. Of a Sepulchre called Tulbe pag. 27. Concerning War pag. 29. Condition of Noble-men pag. 31. Bassa's and Councellors pag. 33. The obedience of Turks to their King pag. 34. How strength diminished pag. 36. Of Chazalars pag. 37. Order of foot pag. 38. Pavilions of Turks pag. 40. Carriage of Beasts pag. 42. Justice in war pag. 44. Celebration of Turkish Victories pag. 45. Of hunting pag. 46. Artificers and Husbandmen pag. 48. Justice amongst Citizens pag. 49. Husbandry pag. 51. Diversitie of Cattle pag. 53. Of Houses pag. 54. Garments Ibid. Of Viands pag. 56. Drinks pag. 57. Manner of eating pag. 58. CHAP. II. Afflictions of Captives pag. 60. Imployment of slaves pag. 61. Women and Virgins pag. 64. Private Prisoners pag. 65. Artless Prisoners pag. 66. Prisoners newly taken pag. 68. Exposed to sale pag. 69. Shepherds pag. 71. Fugitives out of Europe pag. 73. From Asia Ibid. Their punishment pag. 75. Armenians charity Ibid. Incantations of Turks pag 76. Memory of Christ lost pag. 77. Condition of the conquered pag. 78. Priest and Friers pag. 81. Tribute pag. 82. CHAP. III. Narration of a dispute pag. 85. CHAP. IV. Lamentation pag. 97. CHAP. V. An Exhortation pag. 109. FINIS