Turkes are wonte to faste one moneth and one weeke euery yere buâ— they do not alwayes keepe one prefixeâ— tyme for if this yeare they faste in â—â—mmary the next yeare they will doo it iâ— Feâ—ruaryeâ— the third in Marche and so orderly of the rest and when they doe faâ—â—â— they taste and eate nothinge all the whole day not so much as bread or water 〈◊〉 when â—â—errs appeare it is lawfull for them to eate al thinges sauinge thinges which are suffocate and swynes fleshe They haue vineyardes the fruite and coÌ„moditie wherof they vse diuerslye The Christians make wine and the Turkes do so prepare honye raysons that they appeare alwayes freshe both in tasâ—e and sight they haue three maner of drinkes the first of Sugar or hony mixte with water The seconde of raysons sod in water the stones castaway and then rose water is added vnto them and a little of the best â—ony The third is made of wine wel sodden and representeth a kynde of honnye both in tast and sighte this is tempered withe water and geeuen to seruaunts to drinke When they should eat any thing they strewe their floores and groundes with matts and other thinges then they lay carpets and tapestrye worke or rushines aâ—d some sit downe vpon the naked earth their table is of some skinne as I sâ—ide beforeâ— it is draweÌ„ at large and shit â—â—gâ—ther agayn as a purse they sitte not downe after oure manner nor yet as the people of olde were wonte to do leaninge on their elbowes but with their feet foldeâ— together in the formes of this letter X. lyke vnto the maner of boâ—â—hers and before they take take any meat they hauâ— their prayers or thankes geuinge Theâ—â—â—te gredelye and hastelye with greate silence but al their wiues â—epeth the in â—elues in secret Those whiche are captiue 〈◊〉 neuer go abrode nor can get lycence but with other Turkishe women when they go to washe them in bathes â—r in any other place ouâ— of the cittie for recreation sake into gardens or vineyarâ—â—â— â—â—t alwayes keepe hoome at their worke and it is not lawfull for other women 〈…〉 sant witâ— their captiues Of th◠〈◊〉 of the Turkes THe 〈…〉 not in 〈…〉 the manner 〈…〉 as the 〈…〉 eyght yeares and can speake the 〈◊〉 â—ell the whiche 〈…〉 them for y 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 of 〈◊〉 whiche are 〈◊〉 before 〈…〉 and 〈…〉 for thys 〈…〉 in to the â—â—â—ple but is circumcised at home in his parents house There be assembled at this notable feast al their frendes and commonly amongst the richer sort they kil an Oxe and therin they include and put in a Sheepe exenterate and readye dressed in the whiche Sheepe there is a Hen in the which hen there is an Egge which are all rosted together for the solempnitie of that daye then at supper time in their banquet the child which must be circuÌ„cised is brought in whose yearde and priuie member the phisician openeth and apprehendethe the folded skinn with a fine payre of pinsons then to take al feare from the childe hee â—aith that he will make the circumcision the next day and whileste hee vseth those wordes he sodeynâ—ye cutteth the prepuce whiche is the skin that couereth the head of the yearde layinge a little salt on the wound They do not geue names to their children in the day of circumcision but in the day of their natiuitie after thre days space he that is circumcised is led withe great pompe vnto the hath when he commeth home agayne he is led throughout all the gestes whiche offer vnto him their prepared gifts some geue silke garmeÌ„ts some siluer cups others present him monye or horses If any christian man of his owne accorde confessing Mahumet wyll suffer himselfe to be circumcised whyche thing chaunceth often times for the greuouse exaction and burden of the tribute such one is â—eâ— throughout all the stretes and lanes of the cittie with greate honor and triumphe of the people for ioye playinge on the drummes and to him manye giftes are presented and afterward he is made fre from their payment and tribute Yet the Turkes compel no man to the denial of his religion although they be coÌ„maunded in the booke of Alcoran to expulse the aduersaries and gainsayers wherof it commeth to passe that so many and diuerse sectes of people are found amongest the Turkes al whiche do reuerrence and honour God after their peculier rites and customes Their priestes do little differ from the laitie and ther is no great learning to be required in them it is ynoughe if they can reade the booke of Alcoran but those which can interprete the booke according to the texte are estemed as most cunning because Mahumet gaue his precepts not in the vulgar turkishe tonge but in the Arabicall tonge they thinke it a wicked vnlawful thing to haue them interpreted or set forthe in the vulgar tongue these ministers haue their stipende and rewarde of the prince for their paynes they haue wiues and apparell euen as secular men if the stipend be not sufficient for the multitude number of their children then may they practise and vse al maner of artes crafts and trades that other men doe but yet they are free from exactions and other imposicions and are greatly estemed of the coÌ„mon sorte They haue diuers liuing solitarye like vnto monkes which vnder the colour of religion inhabite the woodes desert places vtterly renounsinge mens company and som of them haue nothing of their owne but they go almoste naked sauing that their priuy partes be couered with Sheepe skinnes they traueyle and wander through oute countries askinge almes as well of the Christians as of the Turkes Some of theym goe seldome abroade but continue in temples hauinge in the corners of churches litle cottages their heades vncouered their feete without shoes their bodies without garmeÌ„ts bearing nothing about theÌ„ but one shirt they fast many dayes and praye that God would reueale vnto them things to com and the prince of the Turkes is wonte to aske counsell of them when soeuer he goeth about any warres VVhat execution of Iustice the Turkâ— haue what kinde of mariages what maner of apparell and liuinge THe Turkes do execute iustice moâ—â— exquisitely for hee that is giltie of slaughter or bloudshed is alwayes punished with like vexacion and torment He that is taken withe a woman in adultrye is stoned to death without mercy or â—arying There is also a punishmente appointed for those whiche are taken in fornication for who so euer is apprehended for it he must suffer eight hundred lashes with a whip a thiefe for the firste and second tyme is so manye times scourged also but if he be taken the third tyme he loseth his hand at the fowerth tyme hys foote Hee that doth any damage to anye bodye â—s compelled to make satisfaction according to the estimate of the losse They admit no witnesses but very mete and allowable persons and such as may be
the eeares of the Bishoppe of that place who was nothing fauorable to the Iewes The Bishop vnderstanding that the stub horne Iewes for the scrupulous obseruation of their Sabbothe daye woulde not help their brother out of the Iakes commaunded vpon payne of deathe that they which did so â—uriously obserue their own Sabbâ—th day shoulde in lyke manner as religiously obserue and kepe with the lyke solemnitâ—e the next daye after beinge the Christians Sabboth daye This was an harde case what shoulde they nowe do vpon payne of death they must obay In the meane tyme the miserable Iewe in the Iakes was enforces to continue â—ii daies and ii nightes in great filth and stinke daunger of his lyfeâ— The like history you shall fynde in Fabians Chronicle How the Torneymentes and â—ustes began first in Saxony HEnry Duke of Saxony in the yeare of our Lorde .934 being much assaulted and incuÌ„bred with infidels and heathen nations made an assemble of a greate multitude of the nobilitie to assist him in his warrs against the Sarracens wherin he had so good successe that triumphantly he had the victory ouer theÌ„ Thus after that he had geuen the repulse to the Infidels considering what a number of the nobilitie hee had dailye exercising themselues in martial acts thought it meete that after the ende of his longe and great warres to recreat theym with some honest and pleasaunt exercise Hee had compassion ouer them because some of them inhabitinge amongest Cittizens should be occupied with ciuill busines not in the exercise of noble and honorabie pastimes meete for suche personages as they were and therfore he prescribed certayne articles accordinge to the whiche they shoâ—ld liue and if they did tranâ—gres them that then they should bee punished in the open Turniament These articles were twelue in number The firste whosoeuer of the Nobilitie should say or do any thing agaynst the holy faith hee shoulde be restrayned from y torneyment and if vnder the colour or excuse of the noblenes of any of his auncestours any doth presume to enter the lists or the Torneyment let him with shame be driuen away The second whosoeuer comminge of noble bloud doth attempte any thinge againste the Royall maiesty of Caeâ—ar let him bee punished openlye in the Torneyment and of this article was the author Conradus a prince of Palatyne The Duke of Franconia was the author of the third which is this Whosoeuer comminge of a noble house betraieth his Lorde or forsaketh him or exciteth to flye away in an army without any necessary cause or sleath his innocent companions let him haue punishment in the open Torneyment The Duke of Sueâ—eland made the fowerth after this sort Who so euer comming of noble parentage doth violate or diffame by wordes or deedes virgins or women let him be openly correâ—ted in the Torneyment The fifte article the Duke of Bauaria made in this manâ—â—r If anye of the nobilitye bee apprehended or reproued to to haue corrupted or falsefyed the seale or to haue violate his othe or hath bene noted of infamye let him as vnworthy be kept from the torneyment The sixt is if any noble man did either secretly or openlye slea his wife and bedfellowe or had helped by his counsell or dede to the destroying of his Lorde that the lawe of the Torneyment should take place agaynst him The seuenth If any did spoyle rob churches chapples widdowes or warâ—es or kepte by force that whiche was â—heirs from them wher as they were raâ—her to bee helped and mainteyned that he should be duly corrected for it The eight If any noble man were beâ—ome an enemie to an other and did not â—ayntayne his cause by lawfull orderâ— or by martiall law but would hurt his aduersary by robberies or by destroying of â—is goods especially his wines corne â—herby the common wealth is endamaâ—ed let him be tormented in the Torneymente The ninthe If anye did presume to make any alteracion or set anye heauye burden vppon others otherwise then of auncient times were vsed how so euer it were done c. that he should haue his correction in open Torneyment The tenth if any were canuicte of adulterye c. in like manner let him bee amended The eleuenth What so euer Noble man doth not liue as a noble man should do c. in lyke maner let him be punished The twelfe He that wil be at the torneyment not coÌ„ming oâ— noble parentage or cannot proue his nobility in foure descents he may not enter into the exercise of the Torneyment Thus in a briefe somme you may see the manner of the Torâ—eymente in Saxony the whiche Munster moste largely doth set forth with euery article in his order Of wilde Bulles iu Prussia THere be wild Bulles in the woods of Prussia like vnto the common sort of Bulls sauing that they haue shorter hornes and a long beard vnder the â—hinne They bee cruell and spareth neyâ—he man nor beast and when any snares or disceite is prepared to take theÌ„ or they â—e wounded with arrowes in the woods they labour most vehemently to reuenge their wounds vpon him that gaue them the which thing if they cannot do rushing and stumbling on trees they kill theÌ„ selues They be of such bignes that two men may sit betwixt their hornes Of Iselande IN this countrye from the .x. of Iune for a moneth space or moore they haue no night at all and about the tenth of December they haue no day at all The people liueth in dens and holowe places in hilles sydes with them mountaynes and â—illes are in steede of Townes and spring waters for delicate drinkes An happy nation whose poore estate none doth enuye and so much the more that is â—atâ— receiued christiannitie The marchauntes of England and Denmarke do not suffer theÌ„ to be content with their owne but by reason of the goode fishingâ— there they repayre thither often times with their marchaundize they carry thyâ—ther their vices and enormities They haue learned now of late to brewe with malt and haue left the drinking of playne water They haue also golde and siluer in admiracioÌ„ as well as other nations The king of Denmarke that ruleth also Norway maketh a ruler amoÌ„gest them yearly all thinges be common amongest them sauing their wiues they esteme their yong cattel as much as their children and of the pore sort you may soner obtayne their child then their cattel They honour their Bishop as a king to whose wyll and pleasure all the people hath great respect whatsoeuer he determineth by lawe scripture or by custome of other nations that they do curiouslye obserue and yet now the king hath coÌ„pelâ—ed them to take a ruler They haue so great store of â—ishe in this isle that they make their â—ales of them in piles as high as â—ouses they liue most coÌ„monly there by fishe for the great penurye of wheate and corne which is brought vnto theym â—rom other nations that with great lucre
they wype and rub them otherwise Euery yeare they faâ—â—e a whol moneth and a weke most straight lye in the daye tyme neyther eatinge nor drinking any thing nor yet hauinge anye coniunction withe women but after the Sonne set vntill the Sonne rising the next day they fyll them selues with meate drinke and venereouse pleasures in the ende of this solemne feast they celebrate the feast called the Pasch in remeÌ„brance of Abrahams Ramme whiche appeared in steede of his Sonne at the sacrifice of a certayne night wherein they suppose the Alcorane was geuen from heauen Their priestes do not much differ from the laytie nor their churches from common houses It is sufficient to knowe the booke which is called Alcorane and such thinges as appertayne to prayer obseruaÌ„ce of the Lawe They lacke not their readinges and studies of artes and sciences They haue no care of churches nor soules departed They haue no sacraments nor obseruation of reliques holy vessells nor alters but they are attente and diligent in loking to their children their wiues familye to tillage of the ground to marchandize to hunting and like exercises wherwith lyfe is mainteyned They bee free from seruitute and exactions these priestes be honored of euery body as men that knowes the ceremonies of the lawes haue the gouernment of churches can instruct others They haue many scholes and places of exercise wherin such polyticke Lawes are taughte as haue beene made by their princes for the administracion of the common wealthe and defence of the countrye wherin they that proâ—ite some of them are made rulers in eccleâ—iasticall matters and some be seculier magistrates there be also in that sect many and diuers religious sorts wherof some liuing in woods and solitude vtterly refuse the company of men some keepinge hospitalitie in citties do releeue the pore straungers with hospitalitie if they haue not to refreshe them selues with all for they themselues also liues of begginge almes many of them wandringe aboute citties cary good and alwayes freshe water in certayne bottles of the which they geue to euerye one demaundinge for the same frely and gladly for the which duetifull good will and worke of mercie if any thing be geuen they take it they coueâ— nothing but they make so great a shewe and ostentacion of religion both in their deedes and sayings and also in their maners and gesture that they rather seeme aungels then men such is the disceite in mens eyes The Turkes ceasse from all labour on the Fryday and keepe it withe as much religion and deuocion as we do the Sonday But the Iewes do meruaylously obserue the Saturday In euerye Cittie there is one principall Churche wherin they meete together after noone euery body after their prayers solemplye done they haue a sermon They haue large and sumptuouse temples whyche are called in their tongue Meschit wher in they haue no Images at all but it is found written euery where There is no God but one and Mahumet his prophet one creator and the prophets equall And also There is none so strong as God. There be in their churches a great number of burning lampes with oyle All the churche is white the pauement is layde with mats and other thinges and aboue many clothes of tapestrye and Arras be hanged There is a great turret about the churche on the top wherof their minister when seruice tyme is standethe and puttinge his fingers in his Eares withe an highe voyce in his owne tongue he repeteth these wordes thrise One true God. when this crie is harde the nobles and the meaner forte commeth to the temple only intent to deuocion the minister prayeth with them and that he oughte to doe fower tymes betwene daye and nighte by his office they which come to the prayers ought to wash their handes and fete and secret parts They must put of their shoes and leaue them before the churche gate and thus some enter barefote into the churche and some withe very cleane and fayre shoes The women fit together in a secrete place from the men so that the men may neyther see theym nor heare theym albeit they come not so often to the church In their prayers they cruciate and afflict their bodies merueyâ—ously with continual agitation and vociferacions so that often times they sowne and faynt in minde and strength They thinke it an horrible â—hinge and moste wicked that a christian man shuld be present at their ceremonies and Sacrifices hauinge this Opinion that their Temples are contuminate and defyled of vncleane and vnwashed men their minister getteth him into the pulpit and there about two howers hee preacheth when his sermon is don ii children ascend thither which singe their prayers sweetlye after this the minister beginneth with all the people to sing in a low voyce bendinge his bodye on euerye side but his words are nothing but these There is but one God. They kepe thursday also as a festiuall day albeit the Friday is most deuoutly and most religiously â—alowed of them because they haue an opinion amongeste theym that Mahumet was borne vpon the Fryday The opinion of the Turkes vppon the worlde to come THe Turkes attribute so muche to Mahumet and his lawes that thei assuredly promise euerlasting happines to such as kepe their lawes that is 〈◊〉 say a paradise of pleasures a gardeyne hauing most pleasaunt and swete waters set in a pure and temperate ayre wherein they should haue whatsoeuer they wold as all kinde of deintye dishes for satietie silke and purple apparell yong and beautifull maydes at their owne wil and plesure with golden and siluer plate Angels seruing and ministring vnto theym like Butlers bringinge milke in golden plates and red wine abundantly in siluer cups Contrarye wise to those that breake these lawes they threaten the daunger of hell and euerlasting destruction This also they beleue that how great offences soeuer a man hath committed if he wyll beleue onely in God and Mahumet wheÌ„ he dyeth he shall be â—afe and happye Some of their religion haue this opinioÌ„ that the lawe profiteth nothinge but the grace of God wherby a man muste be saued which without merit or law is sufficient to get saluacion There be some as it were â—uccessors of the prophets and fathers aleâ—ging and affirming the tradicions of the elders which teach that men by merit may be saued without the lawe and Gods grace so that they be earneste in prayers in watching and meditacions There be others agayn that affirme euery man to be saued in the law that is geuen of God because those Lawes are equally good to those that keepe them and one ought not to be preferred before another So you may se where Christ is not how inconstant myndes wauer in diuers â—rroes the which thing also may appear amongest some christians as such as seke for saluation of any other then of the Sauiâ—ure oâ—elye Of the Fastinge and Meates of the Turkes THe
beleued withoute anye othe It is not lawfull for anye man that is of ful age to liue out of matrimonye they may be maryed to fâ—ure lawfull wiues those whosoeuer they wil chose except their mother and sistâ—rs hauing no respect at all to the propinquitie of bloud they maye haue as many illegitimate and vnlawfull wiues as they please and bee able to keepe the children both of lawefull and vnlawefull wiues are equally heyres in their fathers goodes so that they obserue this order that two daughters shall but matche and bee equall with one sonne They kepe not .ii. or moore wiues in one house or in one cittie for feare of often contention and vnquietinge but in euery citie they keepe one the husbandes haue this libertie to putte them away thre times and to take theim agayne thrise those wiues which are put â—way may if it please them continue and abyde â—ith such men as receiueth them The women are very descent and honeste in their apparell they vse on their heads a kinde of linnen like vnto youg damsels and they haue veyles ouer the same the folding wherof is decent that the topp of it hangeth ouer the left or righte side wherwith if they goe from home or come into their hâ—â—baÌ„ds sight they may quicklye couer all their face â—auing the eyes the woman may neuer be sene in the company of men nor to go to market nor to bye or sell anye thinge in the churches they haue their places seperate from the men so closely that no man may peepe into theÌ„ nor by any meanes enter into theim and yet it is not lawfull for euerye woman to enter in thither but for noble meÌ„s wiues and neuer els but on Friday at xii of the clocke onely they vse their prayers the which is a solempne time with them the talkinge of man and woman together openly is so rare and against common cuâ—tome that if you should tary a whole yeâ—re with theÌ„ you could scantly se it once It is thought a monstrous thinge that a man should openly talke with a woman or ryde in the company of any They that are maried together do neuer vse any waÌ„â—on toys in the sight of others they neuer brawle nor chide because the men do neuer omit their grauitie towards women nor wiues their reuerence towards their husbands great Lordes that cannot alwayes be with their wiues haue Eunuches deputed to the custody of them which do so diligently obserue marke and watche them that it is vnpossible for anye other then their husbandes to speake with theÌ„ or for theym to do a misse and otherwyse then wel They contract mariage without any othe they take no sommes of monye with their wiues but are almoste enforced to bye theim contrarye to the Romaines fashion where the sonne in Lawe was wont to be bought and not the sonns wife The wife hathe no ornamente nor decking vpon her body but that she is driuen to gette of her father A cause of deuorce with them is eyther barrennes or intollerable manners their iudge is pryuie to these things The women vse most simple apparell shewinge no kinde of excesse in the worlde they neuer come with open face into the sight of their husbands or other men The Turkes deteste oure hose and great breches with their Cod-pieces because they do to liuely expresse and shewe the priuie partes Their heads be couered with linnen hauing a top like vnto a turret and commeth neare vnto a pyramidate forme They vse bread not of the worst sort both blacke white bread sauing they cast a certayne kynde of seede vpon newe bread which bringeth a great plesaÌ„tnes iâ— eating They haue diuers artificious wais in preparing meates varietie of sauces a solempne kinde of meat with them is a kinde of pottage made with â—yce so thicke that it can hardelye be deuided with handes froÌ„ fishe they absteyn merueilously they vse all kinde of fleshe sauing swines fleshe There be no coÌ„mon tauerns nor Innes for gestes and straungers nor common vitaling houses but in the stretes diuers kindes of meats are to be solde and other thynges necessarie for lyfeâ— The townesmen cause theyr fieldes to be tylled by theyr seruaunts and they paye tythe to theyr Emperour and ruler Crafts men mayntayn them wyth their sciences they that do loue idlenes do perish with famine they exercise marchandise most diligentlye they passe and trauel into Asia the lesse Arabia Egipte and they haue their peregrinations also to the Uenecians If they make water they wash their yard after it if they emptye their bellies the make al cleane afterwarde in like manner doo the women whom their seruaunts and bond men do follow bearing vessells ful of water the man seruaunt folowing the maister the mayde the mistres They haue one kinde of Iudge as well Christians as Turkes And this iudge is bouÌ„d to minister equallye right to euery body Of dame Flora. THe Lady which the Poets call dame Flora was a notable and common harlot who when shee had gotten great riches by common ribaudrie made the people of Rome her heire and left a certayne somme of monye with the yearlye vse where of the daye of her natiuitie should be celebrate in the setting forth of goodly playes the which thinge because it seemed detestable to attribute a certain solempne dignitie to a dishoneste thinge they fayned and surmised her to be a goddesse that had the rule and gouernance oâ— flowers and that it was meete she should be reconciled with cerimonies that through her helpe fruites and trees myght florish and prosper Of the Ieate stone IN some parte of Englande and Scotlande there is greate store of the beste kynde of Ieat stone If any body drinketh the powder of this stoone in water if the same partie be contaminate with lybidiouse actes the same body out of hand shal bee enforced to make vrine and shall haue no habilitie to kepe it backe But if a virgin drinketh of it there is no power to make vryne folowe Munster in theâ— 2 booke fol. 45. Of the Burialles of the Turkes and of diuerse obseruacions and customes VVHan any dyeth amongest the Turkes they washe his carcasse and couer it in very fair linnen clothes Afterward they cary the bodye out of the citie into some place for they thinke it an heynouse thing to burye one in the Temple Their monkes go before the herse with candels the priests folowe singing vntil they come vnto his sepulture and graue if it be a poore man that is dead they gather monye in euery stret for the laboures and paines of the religiouse and that they offer vnto him The frendes of the dead commeth often times to the graue weeping and bewaylinge they set the sacrifice of their meates for y dead vpon the monument as bread fleshe these egs milke and the feast is of nyne dayes space after the manner of the Ethnickes and all this is eaten for the soule of the dead
of the pore or ells of the fowles of the ayre or ants for thei say it is as acceptable vnto God to geeue and offer almes to bruit beasts and fowles neding it as vnto men when it is offered for the loue of god There be som that set birds at libertie to flye which were restrained and shit vp geuing monye according to the vâ—lewe of the birdes Some cast bread to fishe in the waters for Gods sake saying that they shal get of God a noble reward for such â—ountye and pitie towardes those that nede it The Turkes haue also thre diuers maners of washing them the first is a sprincbling of all the whole body with water and that this should not be vayne â—or frustrate they shaue the heares from â—uery parte of their bodye sauing onlye that heardes in men the heares vpon womeÌ„ heads And yet they washe them very curiously and kembe them often therfore in the more famouse citties therbe baths which they vse continually Wher there be no such they haue som secret place prepared to washe theym in houses that they might be wel clarified with water before they go out of the house They haue another kinde of washing nothing necessarye as when they ease nature of superfâ—uities For then in some secrete place they wash their secret partes there is none sene staÌ„ding or vpright when he deliuereth Naâ—ure of superfâ—uous burdens The thyrd kinde of washing is to purifye the instrumentes of senses wherin they wash bothe handes and armes euen to the elbowes then their mouth their nosethrils and al their face Both men women do make a scraping of filthye places euery moneth twise or thrise but especiallye when they frequente the Temples otherwise they should be burnt as violaters and prophaners of a sacred place They vse such seueritie in war that no souldier dareth take away any thing vniustly for if he doth he shal be punished withoute mercie They haue ordinarie kepers and defenders of those thinges as bee in souldiers wayes the which are bound to mainteyn the orchardes and gardeynes with their fruites about highe wayes so that they dare not take an apple or any such like with out the lycence of the owner For if they dyd they should suffer death for it Of this writeth one Barthelmewe Giurgeuitus that was captiue thirtene yeres in Turkie after this sort When I was in the Turkes armie in his expedition againste the Persians I did see a certayne horseman headdâ—d with his horse and seruaunt also because his horse beinge loose entered into the fieldes of another man None of the princes or Dukes possesseth any prouince or cittie as rightfull enheritance nor they cannot leaue anye suche thing after their death to their children or successors withoute the consente of the king and supreme gouernour But if ani Duke desireth to haue any certayne possessions it is graunted to him vpon thys condicion there is a perfect note made of the price of the rents and reuenues of those possessions The Turke knowethe also how many souldiers may be kept with that yearly reuenue and so many souldiers he enioyneth him to kepe the whiche ought alwayes to be in a readines at euerye commaundement otherwise that Lorde shall lose his head if he did not aunswere his duetie and office How the Christians taken of the Turks in warre be handled and tormented and how they are made fre THe Emperour of the Turkes wheÌ„ he maketh his expedicion against the Christians he hathe alwaies waytinge vpon him a companye of butchers and sellers of Boyes to abhominable vses who cary with them a great number of long chaynes in hope of bondmen and captiues wherein they lincke and bynde fiftie or three score easlye by order The same men do bye also of suche as haue boties or prayes as many as haue not perished with swoorde the whiche thinge is permitted them vppon this condicion yf they geue vnto the prince the teÌ„th or tithe of their bondmen prisoners and captiâ—es The other it is lawful for them to keepe to their owne vse and marchandize and there is no better nor moore plenteouse a marte amongest them then of bondmen The Emperour doth so seperace the olde men and the youth of both kindes which coÌ„meth to him in the name of the tenth or tithes that he selleth theym of ripe age for the ploughe and husbandrie Younge maides and yong men hee sendeth awaye to a certain place to be instructed in certaine artes that he might vse them after warde moore commodiouslye and firste they goe aboute this to make theym denye their christian faith and then to haue them circumcised and wheÌ„ they are once entered into their ceremonies according to euery mans disposition and wit hee is appointed either to studye the Lawes of their nacion or elles to practise feates of war if more strength appeareth in the bodye than in his wit they are so instructed in the principles of warlike affayres that for the weakenes of their strenght fyrste they vse an easy bowe afterward as their strength increaseth and they haue moore exquisite knoweledge they haue a more strong bow vntill they be meete for war. There is a maister whiche calleth seuerlye vpon daylye exercise as often as they swarue from the marke so ofteÌ„times are they whipped Others are made meete aud cunninge to fight with staues But they in whome there is a greater grace of beautiful forme are so maÌ„gled that no manlines appeareth in their bodies they haue bene so abused with great daunger of lyfe and if they do escape they be mete for nothing els but ministers of moste flagitious voluptuousenes and when their beauty waxeth olde thei are deputed into the office of Eunuches to obserue and kepe matrones or ells they are addicted to the custodye of Horses or Mules or to kitchin drudgerie Maydens that are verye comelye and beautifull are chosen to be their concubines those of the meaner sort are geuen to matrones to wait vpon them where they haue some suche filthye seruices and functions that they cannot be named with honesty for they are compelled to folow them with a vessell of water when they go to discharge the bellyr and those partes Other be kept at maydens workes as spinning and bakinge When the Turks haue gotten any yong prisoners they vrge theym with threateninges promisses and flateringes that their new bond men wold be circumcised and when any hath admitted that hee is vsed with a little more humanitie but al hope of returning again into his country is vtterly taken awaye and if he once goeth about it he is in daunger of burning These because they are thoughte moore stedfast and lesse geuen to run away thei are preferred of their Lordes to warlike affayres their libertie is then dewe vnto theym when they being vnprofitable for yeares be rather reiected of their Lordes than dismissed or ells where their Lorde hath geuen them libertie in warre for the daunger of death that he hath escaped by them
Matrimony is permitted vnto theÌ„ but their children are taken from theym at the Lordes will the which causeth the wiser sort to abhorre froÌ„ mariages they vse other extremely that refuse circumcision They haue a very hard life that haue not learned any art or craft for such are in great estimation as are cunning craftes men Wherfore the noble men the priestes and the learned sort which passe ouer their liues in quietnes and idlenes whensoeuer they chaunce into their handes they are thought moste miserable oâ— all for the marchaunt seller of them can not abyde when he seeth no profit to comâ— of them nor any good sale to be made These go with their feete and head vncouered and for the most parte with naked bodies through the snowe and vpon the stones both winter and sommer they are enforced to trauayle and there is no end of these miseries before that eyther they dye or ells they fynde a foolishe Lorde in the byinge of yll marchandize No man is so happy of what condicion so euer hee be or of what age beautie or arte he bee that they wil lay him being sicke in his iorney at anye Inne or lodginge house for first hee is coÌ„pelled to go with stripes if he caÌ„not so do he is set vpoÌ„ som yong beast there if he cannot syt he is bouÌ„de with his bodye flat euen lyke vnto a packe or a burden if he dyeth they take awaye hys clothes and cast him into the next ditch or valley for dogs and rauens They keepe their captiues not onely in chaynes but also withe gyues vppon their handes as they leade them the distance betwene theÌ„ is about a yearde least they shoulde one spurne and hurte an other and this doe they for feare their bondmen hurle stones at them For where as euerye one that is a coÌ„mon marchant and seller of men leadeth a great number of bondmen so that ten of them oftentimes haue fiue hundred in chaynes they feare the force of suche a great multitude if their handes shoulde be at libertie to throwe or cast any thing In the nighte tyme they make their feete sure with chaynes and irons and lay theÌ„ vpon their backes open to the iniurie of the the ayre the women are vsed with moore humanitie they that are able do go vpon their feet and they that are lesse able be caryed vpon yonge cattell and those that are so weake that they may not suffer the shaking of the horses or asses or such like are caryed in hampers and paniers lyke vnto geese and swannes The nighte is more heauie vnto theym for then eyther they are shit vp in strong holds or els are compelled to suffer the filthy lust of those that haue bought them and great lameÌ„tacion is hard in the night time bothe of yong men yong women suffring much violence so that they spare not theym of sixe or seuen yeres of age in this miserie such is the cruelnes of that filthy nacion against nature in the rage of voluptuousnes When the daye commethe they are brought forth into the market as shepe goates to be solde when they that would bye them come the price is made if the captiue pleaseth him all his apparell is cast of that he might be seene of his maister that shal be all his partes and members are vewed touched serched and tried if there be anie faulte in his ioyntes or not if he pleaseth not the byer he is reiected againe to the seller and this is as often done as any doth cheapen or go about to bye if the byer liketh the bondman he is caryed away to a moste greuous seruiuitude as to be eyther plowman or shepe hearde that he might not remember the more greuous sciences If anye be taken with his wife and childreÌ„ noble men wil bye him gladlye and make him ruler of his vilages and geeue him charge of his groundes vineyardes and pastures but his children must be bondmen if they perseuer and continue in christian faith they haue a determinate tyme to serue that whiche being paste they are made free yet their childreÌ„ except thei be redemed coÌ„tinue in seruitude and boÌ„dage at the wil pleasure of the Lorde VVith what burden and exactions the christian Princes are charged and oppressed being ouercome of the Turkes VUhen the Turke hath taken anye christian prince he taketh all theyr goods as wel moueable as vnmoue able as a pray and bootye hee putteth awaye nobilitie cleane especiallye of the kinges stocke the clerkes and clergye he killeth not he spoyleth them of all welth and dignitie and maketh them very mockinge stockes in beggerie The Turkes take also out of the christian churches all bells organes and other instruments of musicke and after they haue prophaned the churches they consecrate theÌ„ to Mahumet They leaue pore and small chapples to the christians where they may do their holye seruice not openlye but in silence the which if they fall by any earthquake or be ruinouse by any sodeyn fyer it is not lawfull to repaire them againe but through great sommes of money geuen They are forbidden to preach or teache the Gospell and it is not lawefull for any christian man to beare anye rule in the common wealthe nor to beare weapons or vse like vesture with the Turkes If anye contumelious wordes be spoken of the christian or of Christe he must suffer it â—olde his peace but if the Christian speaketh any thing vnreuerently of their religion he shal be circumcised againste his wil but if any whisper any thing against Mahumet he shal be burnt The christians geeue the fowerth parte of all their fruite and commoditie both of the proâ—it of their fieldes and cattell and also of the gaynes of their artes and craftes there is another charge also where they pay for â—uery one in their familye a ducate and if the parentes be notable to pay thei are compelled to sell their children to seruile offices other bound in chaynes do begge from dore to dore to get their fees to dyscharge the exaction and if they cannot by these meanes pay it they must be content to suffer perpetuall enprisonment Those captiues that goe aboute to flye away yf they go into Europe they haue the easier flighte seinge that nothinge is to hinder their passage but certaine waters which are passed ouer easlye and this doo they most attempte in harueste tyme because then they may hide them in the corne and liue therby in the nighte tyme they take their flight and in the day time they hide them selues in woodes and puddles or in the corne and had rather be deuoured of wolues and other beastes then to be sent againe to their olde maisters But they which into Asia take their flight go first to Hellesspont betwixt Callipolis and the two towers which were of olde called Seston and Abydon but now they are named Bogazassar the castells of the Sea mouth and with them they cary both an axe
runnagate found a filthie priuy and dungeon of all wickednes Whom his vnhappy maister taught Nestorians madnes and perswaded him to expulse and remoue the christians and their priestes from Damascus Syria Arabia and so to corrupte the Iudaicall lawe and depraue the Christian fayth it cannot wel be rehearsed by howe manye craftye and subtile meanes this most vnfaythfull Apostata and runneagate hath deceiued and seduced the people Nowe Mahumet beinge taughte al kinde of vngraciousnes of his detestable Maister throughe intemperant liuinge and continuall drunkennes fell at the length into the fallinge sicknes the whiche his wife could not wel suffer for the often coÌ„ming therof Wherfore the olde dissemblinge knaue to deliuer himselfe from that infamie doth hide and cloke his disease sayeinge it to be the meruailous brightnes of Gabriell the aungel messenger of God of whom he being put in that trauÌ„ce did receiue and learne most secret straunge thinges and that hee was not able to abyde the presence of him with a manifest lye be affirmed it O my deare and wel-beloued wife he sayth marueile not that this commeth to me when I conceiue the spirite of God himselfe who suggestethe to mee thinges to come and to make mee priuye of many matters he commeth often to mee The fame hereof was spred abroade immediatlye and he was openly called the prophet of God the which opinion he encreased with a newe art craft by the instruction of his maister Sergius For he accustomed and taught a Doue to be fed and fetche meate at his eares the whiche doue his most subtile and craftye maister called the holye ghost He preached openlye and made his braggs lyke a most lying vilâ—en that this doue did shew vnto him the most secrete counsel of God as often as the simple fowle did flye vnto his dares for norishment His wife being now dead left him her heyre and all that she had so that he encreased in wealthe authoritie daylye and began to make a neâ—â— Lawe by the healpe of his mayster Sâ—â—gâ—â—s and certayne Iewes his companions borowing sâ—me thinges of the Hebrewes and some thinges of the christiaÌ„s discipline he did write in a certayne voâ—ume all the lawes of his new sect that whiche â—ookes name is Alcoran that koke noâ— manye yeares agâ—e hathe come into pâ—int Aâ—d that he might the more craftelye deceyue hys people and nacion geeuen â—o the bellyeane to sleape he brought vp â—nd fed a certayne Bull whych was vsed â—nely to take foode at the handes of Maâ—â—met he bounde a booke betwyxte hys â—ornes and the simple people lookynge aâ—oute with an highe voyce he called the Bull out of a â—ecrete place and when hee with hys bablyng tonge had vttered madye thyngs concerning hys lawes sodenlye the Bull start forth and ouerthroweynge manye in hys hast ye comminges he â—ayeth downe the booke in the handes of Mahumet as it had bene a gift sent from heauen The whiche he receiuing withe much honour did immediatly interprete many thynges out of it to the people and wyth this forged and subtyle deuise hee named hym selfe a Prince and Sergius a prophete For the doue brought a paper about her necke written with golden letters in this maner Whosoeuer shal put the yoke on the buls necke let him be king Sergius broughte the yoke and gaue it to Mahumet who did easly put it on the bul and by and by hee was called kinge of the simple people thinking these thinges to be done by Gods prouidence and that he tooke the booke no other wise In thys booke they are commaunded to be circuÌ„cysed not for anye religyon but for mere supersticion or els as some saye that no filth shoulde remayne vnder the skyn of the yearde when they did washe and bath theÌ„ There was also commaunded abstinence of wine and fleshe that he might the more easlye cloake his disease who felt himself oppressed with wine of late for wyne taken more excessiuelye and intemperantly in stopping the passages of the brayne that no respiracion may be had doth breede norishe the fallynge sickenes and swynes fleshe maketh grosse humors wherewith obstruction of the brayne coÌ„meth quickelye and manye other diseases springethe thereof The Booke of Alcoran commaundeâ—â— also the fasting of one moneth wherein a man may eate at the night loÌ„g so the daylye abstinence is recoÌ„pensed with night surfeting Mahumet appoynted also because he would haue his law to disagree from the Christians and Hebrewes that the Frydaye should be consecrate as holy day because he was made kynge vp on that â—aye and also would not agree with any other sect For the same cause do the Turkes also tourne them into the south at their prayers against the maners of other nacions He hath also graunted to euery man four wiues â—f his own kinred but concubines and bond women bought it is lawfull for euery man to haue as manye as he can kepe so that they maye forsake them and make a diuorce as often as they list and this was done to drawe the coÌ„mon sort and rude multitude vnto him more easly He taught also that the pleasures of the bodye did not hinder the happye lyfe to come and hee promised to the â—bseruers of his lawe a paradise garâ—den of al pleasures wherein they shoulde â—se their most desired ioyes and all kinde of pleasures as maydens most beautiful adorned and the embracinges of Angels and al other kindes of pleasures that any man would desyre with the which subtil â—raftines be ledde the people flexible of their owne nature whyther hee woulde because he promised al kind of libidinous pleasures He reprehended the Iewes for that they denyed Christe to bee borne of the virgin seing that the prophet through deuine inspiracion did prophecie the same He reproued the Christians of foolishnes because they did beleeue Iesus to bee borne of the virgin and to haue suffred al contumely and punishment of the Iewes paciently for asmuche as that body conceiued by Godds inspiracion was made vnpassible and also seing that Christ dyd ascend into the heauens and Iudas was crucified in his place The Turkes admit onely three prophets Mahumet their lawe geuer Moyses the prophet of the Hebrewes Christe whoÌ„ they denie to be god Mahumet made a â—â—rsed lawe that if anye man should dispute against his misteries that he should suffer death for it in the whiche lawe hee hath manifestly taught that there is no sinâ—ere or goode thynge in Alcoran the whiche he goeth aboute to defende by the sworde onelye Thus withe Sergius hee made this booke full of wickednes corrupted the true scriptures with counterfait interpretacions and that he mighte be accompted the prophete and conseruatour of both Testamentes he flattered the christians in this that he was baptized oâ— Sergius and commaunded his people to be washte often for the expiacion of theyr offences He folowed also the Iewes in that that he appointed circumcision and abstinence