The three Arabia's are likewise parcel of this Empire which is a marvellous great country included between two huge bosomes of the Sea in manner of a Peninsula viz. upon the West and East with the Arabian and Persian gulfs upon the South with the Ocean and upon the North with Syria and Euphrates The Inhabitants are indifferently called Arabians Saracens or Moors Those are the true Arabians which live out of Cities in Tents dispersed over Syria Egypt and Africk these give themselves to feed Cattel and droves of Camels Those which inhabit Cities are called Moors and were once of such puissance that they not onely subdued Syria Persia and Trogladitica but likewise Aegypt a great part of Africk and almost all Spain with the Island of Sicily and the Kindom of Naples Two hundred years they kept possession of these peeces but of some part of Spain seven hundred even until the days of our Fathers And further this accursed generation at this day is not onely spread over all the Southern coast of Asia viz. Persia East-India and the Islands of the Indian Sea butlikewise advanced with great prosperity unto divers wealthy Kingdoms famous Cities and worthy Mart-towns over all the South Coast of Africk under this people the Turks were first called into Asia to bear Arms and from whence issued out the swarm of this Locust Mahomet The Division is as followeth first The division of it ARABIA DESERTA This is a vast Country full of Deserts yet well inhabited with populous and warlike multitudes especially toward Euphrates and the mountains of Arabia Faelix whether Merchants resort The residue towards the West is sandy by which if a man be to travel he must have the stars for his guide company for his safeguard and provision for his diet for otherwise he shall lose his way or surrender his goods to the Theevish Arabs or starve in the Deseâ—t for want of food ARABIA PETREA Towards Syria this is somewhat fertile but smally commended for that property by the Ancients For indeed it is exceeding barren and wanteth necessary sustenance Wood and fresh Water The memorable things herein are the Mountains at Synay and Oreb upon the former whereof is at this day builded a Monastery of Christians following the Greek Church and the onely receptacle or Inn for wayfaring Christians other place of relif is there none ARABIA FELIX is a very large province better manured and watered then the other It is adorned with noble Cities and full of Villages especially toward the Sea side where are many excellent places of Trade The residue except the Sand is made manurable either for feeding of Cattel or Camels in which places live infinite swarms of divers Nations by Grazing and Husbandry It s History Arabia Petrea and Deserta were subdued by the Turks upon their first Conquest of Persia in the rise of their greatness but recovered by the Mamalukes whose fortune they followed to the fatal period made by Selymus the first when in his expedition to Egypt they more annoyed him by falling in his rear terrified him in their night alarums then all the Forces of their Mamaluke Masters in the field which deciding the title to Egypt included soon after the Dominion of those Countries the chiefs thereof being gained by money and promise of preferment who yet nevertheless continue their petty Soveraignties and rob and steal upon their own account making no distinction betwixt Turk and Christian As for Arabia Felix it continued unconquered till the Turks and Portugals quarrelled about it in 1538. when Solyman Bassa sent with a Fleet into to the read Sea to maintain the Trade thereof and to repress the Persians assisted by the said Portugals instead of taking in Diu most basely surprized Aden one of the chiefest Ports when under colour of a friendly invitation he had got the King thereof on board where he hanged him as he did the like to Zibel and the King thereof the Port of Mecca nevertheless the Turks have but little command here especially in the more in-land parts and towards the Persian Gulf where a Turk is generally hated and abhorred Assyria described ASSYRIA is bounded on the East with Media West with Mesopotamia South with Susiana and North with part of Turcomania by the last name of it as alluding to its great Original called by the Turks Arzyrum and though formerly the terrible name of a mighty Empire and the first of the four is now a mean Province of the Grand Seigniors Dominion in it was once seated the famous City of Nineve mentioned in Scripture Nineve but the name and memory of it is now lost only it is supposed that Mosul seated on the Tygris and inhabited with a number of Nestorian Christians is risen out of its ruines The Bassa of Arzyrum the chief and strongest place in this Province hath ten thousand Timariots under his Command to defend this Country and to be ready for any other service MESOPOTAMIA is bounded on the South with Arabia Deserta from which it is parted with the bending of Euphrates on the East with the River Tygris and Assyria on the West with Syria and on the North with Mount Taurus and Armenia Major it is memorable for very little of modern note the people prone to slavery and accept of any Master that can win and wear them CHALDEA bounded on the East with Susiana a Province of Persia on the West with Atabia Deserta on the North with Mesopotamia and on the South with the Persian Bay and the rest of the Deserta As to the account hereof we shall confine our view to Babylon Babylon described enlarged by Nebuchadnezzar once accounted one of the worlds nine wonders but since dwindled into oblivion but recovered by the name first of Selencia and now of Bagdat it was taken from the Persians by Solyman the Magnificent and recovered from them under Sophy Abbas in 1625. and retaken from them by the noble and glorious Sultan Morat in 1640. when he intended to bury the name of the Janizaries in the rubbish of it but left his own bones there like another Alexander but the same vicissitude hath again restored it to this present Sophy the people of those Regions as was hinted before being patient and regardless of any power or Government whatsoever as sure to suffer no worse nor having ever experienced better TURCOMANIA of which something more largely for the quality of the place is bounded on the North with part of Tartary Turcomania upon the West with the Euxine Sea Cappadocia and Armenia Minor on the East with Media and the Caspian Sea and on the South with Mesopotamia and Assyria it is called Turcomania from the Turks who from hence made their first fortunate expedition and irruption to the conquest of Persia and spread themselves afterwards into other Regions The inhabitants are now generally Christians priviledged by Mahomet the Great and speak a language of their own yet are
was built by Hadrian the Emperour whose name it retains it is now the usual retreat of this Grand Signior and where at present he abides for its vicinity to his affairs in Hungary Pera by others called Galata once peopled by the Genoese as the Mart and Factory of that State taken by Mahomet in 1653. but still replenished with Christian Merchants and Artificers But above all other Constantinopolis Description of the famous City of Constantinople by Heaven erected to be the head of an Empire as the onely seat which Romans Greeks and now the Turks have chosen and reputed to be most commodiously seated not for the Government onely of the Empire but as was before generally mentioned of the whole World By its first Founders Name it was called Byzantium and after many various turns of Fortune betwixt the Persians and Spartans it setled at last under the Roman Empire by the Conquest of Severus who sacked it after three years siege for their partaking with Niger his Competitor but yet such Majesty remained in the very ruines that Herodian reports not without favour and pity thereof Mirabantur homines utrum eorum qui primi Extruxerunt vel eorum qui deinceps sunt demoliti vires essent potiores it was wondred at whether the strength of the Founders or the destroyers was greatest From this Rubbish it was reared re-edified by Constantine the Great and finished May 11.331 and endowed with the Priviledges of Rome and called for that reason Nova Roma for some short times but in memory of its raiser afterwards Constantinople It continued in this state under the Eastern Empire 1100. years and upwards till an unfortunate Constantine sirnamed Palaeologus lost it to Mahomet the Great A.D. 1453. by the base covetousness of the Citizens who would not for their own defence supply the Emperor with money It is eighteen miles in compass by which computation it is one third part bigger then London and the Suburbs it is said to contain seven hundred thousand souls and would be much more populous were it not for the plague whose Triennial mischief destroyeth multitudes it is fortified toward the Land with three strong and high walls the one higher then the other but towards the Sea with one only built with many Turrets which strongly flanker it It yields a pleasant prospect afarre off by reason of the many Groves and Gardens within it but is meanly built the Houses but two stories high some of course Stone the rest of Timber rough and ungarnished there are the in it 8000. Mosques or Churches which are beauty of the City the chief of them and worthy of remarque is that of St. Sophia which in elegancy though not in bulk exceeds all the Fabricks of the World the sides and floor flagged with Marble with a stately Porch at the entrance add hereunto the Sepulchral Mosques of the Turkish Sultans which are very sumptuous together with the Seraglio built all of white Marble round in form and crowned at the top with shining golden Spires not to omit the Mosque of Solyman the magnificent one of the present wonders of the world But Canstantinople which is seated upon seven Hills and Mountains as well as Rome is better furnished with a Port and Haven so convenient and advantagious to shipping and so commodiously seated upon the Thracian Bosphorus that Ships of all burdens and with all winds may come close to the walls the water is so deep As to the Seraglio it standeth on one of the seven Hills in the North-east quarter of the City like a Delta two Angles of it aspect the Sea which affords it a most pleasant speculation the other is joyned by a wall to the City towards which it hath one gate only the other gates are never opened but for the private pleasure of the Grand Seignior or his displeasure to be executed by the death of some of his Officers and Bashaws it contains three Courts one within another the first is open to all persons in the second sits the Divan or Courts of Justice into which no man comes on Horse-back the third is the Mansion and privacy of the Grand Seignior and his women it is three miles in circuit in which are contained many delightful Groves of Cypresses intermixed with Plains delicate Gardens Artificial Fountains Banquetting Turrets and Prospect Rooms with a most magnificent Audience-Chamber for Ambassadors floored with embroidered Velvet seamed with Pearl and other Jewels I have the longer insisted on this place because as the Mistris of the World she draws all eyes upon her and therefore it is fit to dress her in those Ornaments which she usually wears and do become her greatness Callipolis is another famous portion thereof seated on the Northen promontory of Chersonese the first City of note possessed by the Turks in Europe taken in the reign of Orchanes in 1358. from whence they easily spread their conquest over the adjacent Provinces it is the most convenient passage between Europe and Asia by reason of the safe harbour and good anchorage Next followeth MACEDON bounded on the East with the Aegaean Sea Macedon described on the West with Albania on the North with Mysia superiour and on the South with Epyrus and Achaia it is now principally divided into Thessaly a sweet and delectable Country Macedon specially so called and Migdonia by the Turks called Jamboli It is a fertile Region inclosed with Hills and near the Jonian Sea plain and woody That it was once the Empress of the East it is well known but at this day it is Turkish and without any famous Cities save in a piece of Albania In it is nothing so memorable as the Mount Athos Mount Athos or holy Mount It is seventy five miles in compass three dayes journey long and a half a days journey broad resembling the shape of a man lying with his face upward whose highest cone alwayes covered with Snow is seen thirty miles off at Sea It is exceeding fertile in Grass Fruit Oyl and Wine Long ago it was dedicated in honour of St. Basil to the Greek Caloieri and endowed with priviledges which at this day it enjoyeth by the Turks good favourâ— that is to say Priviledge of Greek Priestâ— that no man neither Graecian nor Turk may inhabit in this place except he be a Priest So that their number in these days are about six thousand dispersed into twenty four Monasteries ancient and warlike built for fear of Theeves and Pyrats although there be no such great cause In these Monasteries are many reliques which cause great concourse of people and they are stately built and richly adorned This was made a Roman province in the year of the World 3798. after the Captivity of their last King Perseus and was upon the division of that Empire to East and West consigned to the Eastern to which it continued subjected till Amurath rent in from that Dominion by taking Thessalonica it is now governed by a
Sanjack who is bound to maintain a 100. horse and to find 400. more upon an Expedition Epire Epirus now Albania was once a very famous Province bounded on the East with that part of Greece called Aetolia on the West with the Adriatick on the North with Thessaly Macedon and part of Albania and on the South with the Jonian Sea as witnesseth P. Aemilius it had in it seventy Cities now destroyed and turned into ruines and Villages meanly inhabited For the most part it is woody and barren but near the Sea fertile and adorned with very beautiful havens This Country was formerly Famous for Olimpias the Mother of Alexander the Great and Pyrrhus that great Captain among the Romans but modernly as much renowned for the unexemplary valour and conduct of Scanderbeg or Lord Alexander who proved a scourge to the Turks in the reigns of Amurath the second and Mahomet the first Scanderbegs renown his bones after his death taken up were worn by this rude enemy about them as an Omen or pledge of success and victory whomsoever they engaged with Achaia mentioned for its name in Scripture is a very goodly region as may be gathered by the goodly Cities which therein once flourished viz. Delphos Thebs Athens Megara and many more now destroyed So is Peloponesus termed by Pliny the Bulwark of Greece It yeildeth all things that man can desire either for life or pleasure and although the ancient Cities be now defaced yet is for quantity the best peopled part of Greece It is now under the Turk and counted the best Sanjackship in Turky as bound to bring at the command of the Beglerbeg of Greece 1000. horsemen under his own pay It is worth yearly fourteen thousand ducats And so we pass to the Isles of the adjoyning Aegean Sea which are many in number Dardanels saluting first the Dardanels or the two Block-Houses where all vessels passing out of the Hellespont into this Sea which extends forty miles in length are staid three days for slaves and other prohibited mercandizes or until information of any such may come from Constantinople they are exceedingly well walled fortified and provided they receive the customs and are the principal strength of that City as to the Mediterranean as it is defended with the two black Towers the Prison for the Bashaws and great persons at the mouth of the Euxine where it joyns with the Thracian Bosphorus the one of which is scited above Constantinople on Europe side and the other on the Asian shore The Aegean Islands These Aegaean Islands are thus named Samothrace Thassus Imbrus Lemnos famous for the late contest in 1660. between the Turks and Venetians about it Euboea circuting a hundred and fifty miles in which stands the famous City known by the Gulf of Negropont taken from the Venetians to whom with other things it fell in the division of the Eastern Empire unto the Latins by Mahomet the Great in 1471. with the loss of forty thousand men Salamis Aegina the Cyclades in number fifty three called now the Isles of the Arches encompassing Delos and the Sporades Candia Described Next we should view the Isles of the Cretan Sea but they being inconsiderable we will mention onely Candia in form extending East and West in length two hundred and seventy and in breadth fifty miles placed in the midst of this Sea the Natives speak the Greek Language and before the Turks put foot there were governed by Latine Bishops of the Chuch of Rome to which the Venetians then the Lords of it do adhere It hath been attempted by Selymus the second in 1571. when he conquered Cyprus but in vain yet Ibrahim the Father of this Sultan gained footing there some few years ago and this is like when he shall be at leisure unless the Venetians improve his absence in Hungaria to carry it all for of late he hath been very successful there against all the power they can make and is at present possessed of the better half so that he must be reckoned as more interested then the Venetian The Jonian Isles as pertaining to their Seigniory we are not obliged to mention here though they stood in great danger of changing their Master From hence as we descend to the bottom of the Straights appears the Island of Rhodes Rhodes which we must observe in our way to the Isle of Cyprus and so to Egypt famous in former times for the potent residence of the Knights of the order of St. John of Jerusalem who deserted by the Christian Princes were forced to yeild it in the Grand mastership of Villerius to Solyman the Magnificent not more to the scandal then detriment of Christianity but this is so notorious that I must not enlarge my self Cyprus is situated in the Syrian and Cilician Seas Cyprus extended in length from East to West two hundred miles in breadth sixty the whole Compass reckoned five hundred and fifty and distant from Cilicia in Asia minor some sixty miles it is a rich and fertile Kingdom and hath in it twelve eminent Cities but the most famous are those two of Nicosia and Famagusta the last whereof was gallantly maintained by Signior Bragadino Governour of the Island for the Venetians who being in in despair of relief yeilded the Town and consequently the Kingdom upon Honourable Articles to Mustapha The barbarous conquest of Cyprus Selymus's General but was barbarously flead alive and all persons of quality murdered besides onely a beautiful Lady reserved for the lust of the Grand Signior with some other Prisoners in their voyage to Constantinople blew her self Ship and company into the Ayr and worthily preserved and transmitted her honour to after ages inviolate And so we pass to Syria SYRIA is bounded on the South with Palestina and some parts of Arabia on the West with the Mediterranean Sea on the East with the River Euphrates by which parted from Mesopotamia on the North with Cilicia and Armenia minor from which it is separated by the Mountain Taurus In the Survey of this spacious Country the Reader is desired to limit his sight to the grand division thereof into its several Provinces wherein we must transitorily observe those eminent Cities which are in the knowledge and discourse of Europe The first Province is PHAENICIA bounded on the East and South with Palestine Phaenicia described on the North with Syria on the West with the Mediterranean Sea It is famous for the noble Cities for their atchievements and Merchandises of Tyre and Sydon Berytus and Ptolemays the last place of the Holy War conquest they were reduced to the Turkish Dominion in 1489. but that place which now most concerns us is Tripoli bravely and fertilely seated once a Christian Marquisate but in name so allied to that barbarous den of Theives in Africa mischeivous to trade that I cannot but forestal its scite and is upon that account the Metropolis of Phenicia secondly Syria Propria bounded and
their manners very barbarous given much to Tillage and very industrious they are of late well seen in Manufactures especially in rich Tapestries Grograins and watered and unwatered Chamlets with which they Traffick in all places of Turkey Armenia Major The chief Provinces of this Territory are Armenia Major conquered by Selymus the first in 1515. after the fatal Calderan field the day whereof was called by the Turks Dooms-day against Hismael the Persian Sophy The Chaldean fields whose Predecessor Vssan Cassan took it from a Christian Prince thereof and fully setled by Amurath the third by the strong Garrison of Van. 2. Colchis reduced by Vluzales the famous Turkish Sea Captain sent into the Euxine Sea by Amurath in 1579. and made subject to a Beglerbeg 3. Iberia with the rest formerly feudatory to the Graecian as before to the Roman Empire by the same Amurath who pursued his Father Solymans design was partly united to his Scepter but the Georgian Princes by the near aid of the Persians have yet a part 4. Albania conquered by the Great Cham of Tartary but since blended with the other Georgians into Turkish slavery This Turcomania though it were the first place of the Turks extraction yet it was the last of their conquest besides that it is strangely Christian and is the last Province that is assured and setled under their Dominion Georgia describech GEORGIA by the Barbarians termed Gurgistan comprehendeth part of the ancient Iberia with part of the great Armeny and peradventure Atrapatia Upon the West lyeth Mengrelia upon the North Zuiria once Albania upon the East the middle Atropatia now Sirvan upon the South that part of the greater Armenia which now is called Turcomania For the greater part it it covered with Mountains Woods and Thickets and in that regard inconquerable for the difficulties of the mountainous passages It is notwithstanding fertile and adorned with many large places and villages from whence arise many famous Rivers as Cirus and Araxis springing from the Mountain Taurus and running thorough the whole Province until at last it disgorge it self into the Caspian Sea The Inhabitants are termed Georgians of St. George whom they advow their patron and advocate For they are Christians according to the Greek Church with some small difference They are very populous and warlike strong of body and valorous in fight even until our times maintaining their liberty in the midst of the Mahumetans sometimes following the fortunes of the Turks sometimes of the Persians But at this day they have not onely lost their wonted liberty but also many Fortresses and Cities as Teflis Lori Clisca Gori and Tomanis and withal some of them have imbraced the Turkish infidelity The City of Tauris I must here insert the Noble City of Tauris in Media within that Province belonging to the Persian being the utmost extent of the Turkish Dominion Eastward and the bound thereof whither being arrived we will return back to Constantinople by the way of Asia minor called Natolia and after this spacious perambulation sit down and compute in an intire sum the whole extent of this dominion for the reader happily may be tyred with so tedious a journey Asia Minor NATOLIA That which the Turks at this day term Natolia or Turcia major once Asia minor comprehendeth the Provinces of Pontus Bithinia Asia it self Licia Galacia Pampbilia Cappadocia Cilicia and Armenia the less and in these Provinces of antient times flourished the States and Kingdoms of the Troyans of Methridates of Cressus of Antigonus of the Paphlagonians of the Galathians of the Cappadocians and Phrigians All which at this day are not sufficient to satisfie the single ambition of the Turkish Tyranny The Inhabitants for the most part are Mahometans and naturally Turks of simpler nature then the Turks of Europe and nothing so cruel as the Renegado Christians Yet are there many Christians among them in many of these Regions The condition of the people following the Rites of the Greek Church Among these Turks there is no acknowledgement of Superiority Blood or Nobility but all are equal slaves to the Grand Signior over whom he appointeth Beglerbegs and Sanjacks They are either a kind of idle or lofty people for they are smally industrious and were it not for their slaves their grounds would generally lye unmanured Pontus and Bithinia are now united under one name and called Bursia Its Canons Here once raigned the Great King Methridates and here stood the famous City of Chalcedon Nicomedia Apamia Prusia Nice and Heraclea Ponti Asia propria now Sabrum is a particular Province of Asia minor and containeth in it many famous Provinces as Phrygia major and minor Caria Mysia c. in Phrygia minor stood that Noble City of Troy famous at this day saith Bellonius an eye witness for its very ruines of Walls Gates Circuit and Marble Sepulchres found upon the way without the Walls Pamphylia now Caramania is one of the seven Sangjack-ships with 8000 ducats of yearly revenue In this Country as also in Cilicia are woven those fine cloaths which we call Chamblets watered and unwatered They are made of the hair of Goats so fine and white as no silk can surpass them in those two properties Cappadocia now Amasia is a goodly Country and the seat of the Turks eldest Son In it are many goodly Cities as Trapezond once the seat of the Commeni Emperors of Trepesond The Empire of Trapezond whose name and progeny Mahomet the second utterly extinguished Cilicia now part of Caramania is a good Country the Inhabitants are given to pasturing of Goats for lucre of their fleece of which they make their Chamblets but otherwise neither given to fishing Navigation nor Husbandry At the foot of mount Taurus saith Bellonius are divers small Villages and excellent pastures about them which for the fertility thereof should seem to be one of the Turks Races for from thence he culleth out every year 600 horse of service which they highly esteem and name Caramani Armenia Minor is a better soil and more populous then Cappadocia round about incircled with tall huge broken and woody mountains These Provinces are of Natolia governed by a Beglerbeg the chief next to him of Romania but his forces are not esteemed so much for their service as the Europeans The whole is bounded on the East with the River Euphrates by which it is parted from Asia the Greater on the West with the Thracian Bosphorus and Hellespont by which divided from Europe on the North with the Euxine Sea and on the South by the Rhodian Lydian and Pamphilion Seas so that it is almost a demy-Island or Peninsula To omit for brevity sake the Provinces of the Isles among which are reckoned as chief Samos Lesbos Tenedos and principally Rhodes The Island Rhodâ—s an Island an hundred and forty miles in compass the City whereof taken by Solyman the magnificent on Christmas day 1522 is reputed one of the most
the place or Territory is first considered and the revenues thereof whereby the Turk apportioneth what number of Souldiers that can anually maintain then the Lord is injoyned always to keep in readiness that number for any his commands and in default his head is lost nothing can excuse his presence in any commanded place but known want of health sickness And whensoever it please the Turk to ease him of this benefit it 's at his liberty but if not deprived he enjoys it during life after death if his Successors will observe the same conditions they are often admited if not 't is then disposed to others And if it happen any one of these great ones have occasion to speak unto their King it is with eys fixed on the ground they dare not look him in the face Of Bassa's who may be called Counsellors Chancellors or Secretaries These for the most part are all Eunuchs castrated when youths and bred in Seraglio's for attendants on the Turkish Concubines and of later years some of them as I was informed being a slave to a great man in Constantinople are cut so close the body that they often dye by the incision and if live they ever after use small Pipes for discharging their water such is their cruel jealousie introduced as 't was said by an Emperor that perceived a Gelding leap a Mare these Bassa's are of greatest esteem with the Turk next to the Sanjacks and they are almost all that are preferred to that dignity children of Christian parents violently taken from them none of them although he hath to wife a daughter of a Turk as Hurstan Bassa had can enjoy a Parish Castle or Village by inheritance but if he be promoted to any dignity or possessions he enjoys it till his death or so long as the Turk pleaseth Each Bassa hath a Court of Justice in the province he commandeth from whence appeals are to the King or great Mufty whose sentence is concluding and immoveable The obedience of Turks to the King None of their Janizaries or great Captains have licence to wear Swords or other Arms within the Cities unless the King go forth his Palace for Devotion sake or Hunting And where there are Magistrates or Governours of Towns Porters carry with them staves or Clubs finding any quarrellings or offerings at injuries they presently punish them with those instruments No man speaks to them or dares look in their faces but falling on the earth kiss their feet with eys to the ground speak as to themselves And whensoever they send forth messengers with letters to Governours cities or provinces whose horse grows faint by journeying this messenger hath fall authority to dis-horse whom ere he meets and meeting none he turns into the next town or village repairs to the chief Officer if he presently provides him not an horse he 's hang'd before his door and for this cause many make use of Asses rather then horses And when this messenger shal come to whom he was sent he is most honourably received his Letters kissed with great humility and their contents answered with incredible celerity and quick dispatch No Princes dare contradict one sillable therein None dare as here rebel all men live in such awful fear and trembling Tortures and present death depending on his will The Turkish strength how diminished The Emperor distributes in some equality all Provinces to his Noblemen but with condition that such a Souldiery should be continually maintained by him with the Revenues of that Province both in time of Peace and War A Souldier killed is not loss to him unless the Province likewise be lost as for example the Turk hath now four hundred Souldiers whereof one hundred is maintained by Hungary now if he lose Hungary those Souldiers are lost if he lose no Province he loseth nothing for he can raise more in their rooms as Church-Officers or Benefices easily find in vacancies Successors The condition of Chazilars These are stout Souldiers and excellently versed in military affairs who in their first encounters break their Lances without other Armour then a Sword Lance and Target using it as we do with Coat of Fence and Helmet the Lance being broke they use the Sword and fight valiantly always aiming at the head or hands and think it ignominious to thrust at their adversary or an horse with point of Sword These men spend all their lives and hopes under the protection of a Goddess Fortune having a Proverb with them What is written will befall them that is What that Goddess hath printed on the head at each mans nativity cannot be possibly avoided though he were preserved in a Castle unexpugnable The actions of these men are writ in verses and sung by all men that others stirred up by like praise and honour might with like audacity advance against an enemy couragiously and valiantly and for each victory of these men their stipends are doubled and are obliged attendance on their King on horse-back with Lances Swords and Iron Clubs some have Targets some none and are paid as well in Peace as War The order of their foot Their first are Bowmen with Arrows Bows and Javelins they are distinguished from Janizaries by coverings of the head The second is of Janizaries who instead of Bows have Guns with short Hatchets all these are gathered from amongst Christians living under Tribute by force snatched from their Friends being young Circumcised and educated as aforesaid These fight most valiantly against Christians yet have but slender stipends for their maintenance some four five or six Aspers a day of which sixty make a Crown English And these are prohibited on pain of death to come on horse-back unless sick There are some few likewise Sons of Turks made Janizaries There is a third Order whom they call Azaplars whose stipends determine with the War and are all Sons of Turks These use a longer Lance with Swords and red Hats or Bonnets or other coloured cloth with crooked Angles like half Moons and so distinguished by Arms and Habit from the other orders There is a fourth of the Grecian Sect who have no other stipend then freedom from paying Tributes and Tenths They commonly attend the Turks horse of pleasure keeping them at their own charge and well managing them for War Of the Turks Pavilions When the King removes from Constantinople to any Expedition of War he carrieth with him double Tents that when one is planted this day the other is carried to the next station ready to receive him the day following the number and magnitude of these Pavilions is such that afar off they seem no less then Cities round about the King's Pavilion are the Tents of Princes and great Men encompassing his in circle Then the horse-men of Arms two or three together have their Tent the foot-men have the like for discipline sake and to keep them from cold Air. When the body of the Army
conversation with them who read the Old and New Testament unto him for himself was unlettered he preferred Christianism and seemed of opinion that thereby only a man might attain unto salvation and accordingly he framed his life which bred admiration in them that knew him and gave him a greater reputation then he did expect But this hasty spring was quickly blasted for the Devil taking advantage by this his esteem enflamed his heart with pride which wrought in him a desire to be taken for a Prophet thinking all other attributes of Religion and sanctity to be but vile and base Mahomet aspires to the name of a Pâ—â—phet To aspire unto that opinion he embraced a solitary life retiring to a Cave in the Mountains where he lived free from the ordinary conversation of men repaired seldom to his own home and his speeches mixt with gravity and holiness teaching good life and beating down Idolatry moved not onely such as saw him to admire but the rest also that heard by other mens ears held him to be a Saint To increase this opinion of sanctimony of the falling sickness wherewith he was afflicted he made good use Mahomet troubled with the Falling sickness for he gave it out when he fell into his fits incident to that disease that he conferred with the Angel Gabriel by whom the pleasure of God was revealed unto him and that his trance proceeded through the weakness of his earthly Carcase that was astonished at the Divine presence of the Heavenly Ambassadour To pass by the vulgar story of his pedigree Grown now famous he thought it necessary to divulge into the world some works in writing whereby his name might encrease His best help was a Jew Scribe whom for want of a better Scholar he entertained but shortly after his Master the Devil the Church of Christ then labouring with the sickness of many Heresies procured the acquaintance of a Christian called Sergius born in Alexandria by profession a Monk and by infection a Nestorian witty eloquent and learned who having mist of some Ecclesiastical preferment which in his opinion he had deserved full of despight and revenge The Monk Sergius his Coadjutor in a devillish discontent having fled out of Syria into the house of Mahomets Master sought as well to raise a scandal upon the Christian Religion as upon the professors thereof the readiest way to kindle this fire he found to be Mahomet who as is already said had won some extraordinary opinion of sanctity After some conference between them the Jew for insufficiency was discharged Sergius being fully informed how Mahomet had hitherto proceeded made him to understand how weakly and grosly he had erred in fundamental points necessary for the advancement of a new Religion His damnable advice and cunningly shewed him not only the means how to smooth his past errors without scandal but to compose a new Treatise collected out of the Old and New Testament united into some common principles with devised additions of his own to bring Christians Jews and Gentiles under one profession that should give credit to his Doctrine and humour the hearers which being divulged amongst the Idolatrous people who were easily caught spread the poyson it contained over all the Arabies but the wiser sort fearing as they had cause that the setling of a new Religion might also draw with it a new form of Government opposed themselves against it calling Mahomet an Impostor reproving his hypocrisie and taxing his sensuality and drunkenness of both which he was guilty and sent to apprehend him whereof Mahomet from some of his friends in Mecca having notice left his Cave and fled to the Desarts Sergius in the mean time sounding in the ears of the people his parts and piety the sixteenth of July 622. from which flight the Turks begin their computation of Hegyrathi unto whom divers Novelists resorted The Hegyra as also such as the Estates had banished for approving his late coyned trash This swarm of Wasps being stirred nothing but revenge could ease their hearts Mahomet willingly taking the advantage there offered enlarged his thoughts holding it now less difficil for him to gain a Kingdom then the title of a Prophet which he had obtained To make a smooth way to his enterprize by under-hand means he exasperated the heady Novelists whereof there were many of wealth and estimation to be sensible of their banishment and to repair their wrongs by force himself accounted unto them Revelations which assured him that God was displeased with the Meccans for the rigorous prosecuting him and his Sectaries that God willed to chastise their Tyranny of victory he was assured and whosoever of them dyed in that holy War his soul should presently ascend to Heaven with these and such like motives the giddy people encouraged and seduced elected Mahomet to be their chief who ordaining Officers and Captains and receiving an Oath of fidelity as well from them as from their troops marched to the City of Medina Mahomet takes Medina and though repulsed at first yet after a field fight with the said enemy at a place called Bedez often mentioned in the Alcoran where he had the Victory took it by force the cause of his quarrel being pretended against the Jews Synagogue which he converted into a Temple for his own abominations This first good fortune wrought the effect he desired for instantly by his Army he was saluted Calipha which interpreted is King and because his creation happened upon a Friday that day was ordained by him to be their Sabboth Takes Mecca His next conquest was the City of Mecca where he triumphed in the blood of his Neighbour Citizens which was not spared and proclaimed death to all those that did not embrace his Doctrine The Princes and great men in Arabia opposite unto him assembled all their forces Opposed by the Nobles oâ— Arabia Mahomet being too weak was overthrown wounded and fled to Mecca yet in the end the war continuing he prevailed and reduced the three Arabies under his subjection Grown great and glorious with his Victories at that time the Emperor of Constantinople and King of Persia being men of weak and tame Spirits and assisted with the Saracens who had been deceived and abused of their pay by Heraclius the Emperor as also by Julian the Apostate for Mahomets appearance was signalized with the contemporary raign of that miscreant he invaded their Dominions and with a conquering sword triumphed over Syria the City of Jerusalem His conquests the Kingdom of Mesopotamia and Persia the great City of Babylon with other Eastern Provinces of all which as of the Arabies he stiled himself King Being now grown elder by his inordinate life in the state of his body then in years which exceeded not sixty seven full of glory as well in regard of his large Empire as in opinion of sanctity in being esteemed a Prophet And retirement and weary with war with
Corcutus and five of his brother Achomet's Sons makes war against Hysmael the Persian Sophy with whom he had a signal encounter beyond Euphrates but such was the equal fortune of the day that Selymus content to have coped personally with that renowned and dreadful Potentate retreated back to Constantinople whence he threatned Hungary but the force and fury of his Army fell upon Campson Gaurus and Tomombeus Sultans of the Mamaluke Empire whom he overthrew in two fatal battels at Singa and in the City of Grand Cairo which with Egypt and Syria were annexed to his Dominions In his return hence as he was meditating an useful expedition into Hungary being seized by a canker in his back he breathed out his revengeful soul in the year 1520. SOLYMAN his only Son not so strange considering his Father was a most Martial Prince succeeded to the Throne in whose reign this great Empire rose to its highest pinnacle and culmination of Glory He was sirnamed the Magnificent for the nobleness of his Acts He first conquered the Isle of Rhodes defeated King Lewis of Hungary and slew him at Mohaez and besieged Vienna but in vain In fine this was the potent Monarch that conquered Hungary took Buda Strigonum Alba Regalis in pretence of the right of King John and his Orphant elected by the Hungarian Nobility against the due title of Ferdinand He likewise threatned Italy with his Fleets and aided the French King by them against Charles the Fifth as he likewise combated the Persian Kings Hysmael and Tamas He besieged Malta by his General Mustapha but was there worsted Towards the latter end of his reign he was enjealoused by his Paramour Recotane against the Noble Prince Mustapha his eldest Son by another woman to make way for her children and Mustapha strangled as Solyman was upon a pretended Expedition against the Persians In his seventh and last expedition into Hungary he died at the siege of Zigerh 1566. having made Hungary a Province of Turkie Selymus having met his Fathers Corps about Belgrade having been privily advertised of his death by Mahomet Bassa who had concealed it from the Janizaries as is usual in that Government to avoid the mutiny of the Janizaries was there saluted Emperor but not admitted to the Seraglio at his return to Constantinople till he had given them a large Donative He was a Prince no way like his Father but given to excess and debauchery which made him willing to make peace with the Emperor of Germany and the Persians notwithstanding by his Captains he gained Cyprus from the Venetians as he lost the famous battel of Lepanto to Don John of Austria Toward the end of his reign he subdued Moldavia and Valachia more absolutely to the Turkish subjection as he also reduced the Kingdom of Tunis and the strong Castle of Guletta taken from Barbarossa by Charles the fifth 42 years before He died at the 51 year of his age spent with wine and women and in the year of the Incarnation 1574. AMVRATH the third succeeded him having caused his five Brethren to be strangled in his sight He was a Prince not vicious as his Father but given to peace and addicted to a quiet life and managed his Arms as his Father had done before him by Lieutenants who were famous men in their times as Sinan Ferhates Mustapha and Osnan Bassa the first and last of whom sorely plagued the Persians against whom Amurath was provoked by a dream and vision and took from them the Province of Media now called Sirvan a great part of the greater Armenia and the Regal City of Tauris after two or three dismal encounters they confirmed likewise the Crim-Tartar in a surer obedience to the Ottoman Family The same Sinan waged a fierce War in Hungary took Raab and other Towns but they were all recovered again and he after many grand atchievements shamefully driven to flie out of Hungary by Sigismund Prince of Transylvania since which time until this day the Turks power was never formidable in Europe Amurath died in the year 1595. having raigned 21. years MAHOMET the third his eldest Son succeeded him commencing his reign with the bloody Massacre of 18. of his Brethren and ten of his Fathers Wives and Concubines thought to be impregnate with Posthume issue that so he might make sure work He was dreaded before his assumption to the Crown to have been of a fierce and untractable nature but he proved a meer swine for he was memorable for nothing of military concernment but his personal appearance in Hungary with 200000 men where he took Agria and was present at the battel of Keresture in 1596. the second of his reign out of which field he run in the beginning of the Fight and would never endure to hear of an engagement again something was done by his Captains in Hungary but as much was done against them and things continued there in statu quo to his death which hapned by his unweildy Fat under which he could not stand in the year 1603. ACHMAT his Son a stripling succeeded him a Prince proud and imperious yet no way Martial he had some Piques with the Persian who threatned him hard and made him glad to urge a peace with Rodolphus the Emperor being also perplexed with his Rebels in Asia Like his Predecessors he was engaged in a Valachian and Moldavian War which he finished with victory taking the Princes Alexander Bougdan and Coresky Prisoners the latter of whom made a great bustle in the Ottoman Court by his escape out of prison This Sultan Achmat was much given to women and with too frequent use of them died young at the age of 30. years in 1617. As to his Sons and Successors having spoken of them in the modern History of the Turks hereto adjoyned this is their brief Character Mustapha the Brother German of Achmat appointed by him because of the minority of his Sons to the Government was a bookish Philosophical man and bred in the fear of death all his dayes Osman Achmat's Son who dethroned him a Prince of 16. years of age was a very forward active Prince he quarrelled with the Poles and perceiving in that War the sloath and cowardliness of the Janizaries by which he came off with dishonour by the advice of Derlavir the grand Visier an experienced honest man and a great Captain on the Asian side intended the extirpation of them and the erection of a new Militia which design being sented was the cause of both their deaths Osman being strangled in prison and the Visier cut in pieces by the tumultuous mutinies of those Bands MVSTAPHA was re-inthroned but was the same man and again deposed by the same Janizaries and Sultan Morat the brother of Achmat established He was as warlike a Prince as his brother or any of his Progenitors for he recovered Bagdat taken by the Persians during these changes at Constantinople and there in prosecution of his Brothers intentions designed the perdition of
with fresh and sweet water The City is now ruinated but as for pleasure and delight it was inferior to no other It is scituated upon the side of a Hill the eighth part of a mile from whence a man may behold the ruines of a great Temple whereupon as men say Christ sate when he asked water of the Samaritan woman But these are uncertainties not to say fallacies JVDEA Judaea far excelleth any part of the residue of Palestine and at this day enjoyeth its ancient fertility The tribe of Juda so named it and in it as in the rest of Palestina were very many worthy Cities whereof Jerusalem was the chief seat of their Princes Jerusalem the possession of the Patriarchs Prophets and Apostles the original place of our faith and the glory of the Christian world By the Barbarians at this day it is called Godz or Chutz It standeth on an eminent place as whereunto a man must always ascend Saint Jeroms opinion was that it stood not only in the heart of Judeaa but in the very center of the world as having Asia on the East Europe on the West upon the South Lybia and Africa and upon the North Scythia Armenia Persia with theresidue of the Pontique Nations What the glory hereof hath been may be conjectured out of Tacitus who reporteth that in the beginning of the Siege it contained two hundred thousand souls At this day it numbereth not above five thousand inhabitants although many Pilgrims daily resort thither in a good conscience and for devotion sake It was once strongly and fairly walled but now weakly and therein it sheweth nothing so famous as the Sepulchre of our Saviour Christ whose Temple incircleth the whole Mount of Calvary scituated upon a plain plot of ground high round and open at the top The Sepulchre of Christ from whence it receiveth light but the Sepulchre it self is covered with an archt Chappel cut out of the main Marble and left unto the custody of the Latin Christians Whosoever is desirous to see this Sepulchre must pay nine Crowns to the Turk so that this tribute is yearly worth unto him a very considerable revenue One hundred and eight foot distant from this Tomb is the Mount called the Mount Calvary whereon our Saviour Christ was crucified by the treacherous Jews In this place are many other religious Reliques And the pilgrims which come thither are alwayes lodged according to his own profession the Latines with the Franciscans without the City by Mount Sion the Graecians are lodged with the Caloirean Greeks dwelling within the City by the Sepulchre And so every other Nation Abessines Georgians Armenians Nestorians and Maronites who all have their proper peculiar Chappels Those Franciscans which follow the Latin Church and are for the most part Italians were wont to create the Knights of the Sepulchre and to give testimonial unto Pilgrims of their being there Without this City is the valley of Jebosophat and therein the Tombs of the blessed Lady and Saint Anne The territory adjoyning is exceeding fruitful in Vines Apples Almonds Figs and Oyl the mountains are no less stored with trees wild beasts and spiceries Besides Jerusalem here standeth Bethlem now destroyed and shewing nothing worth looking on save a great and stately Monastery of the Franciscans within which is the place where Christ was born Rama is now likewise ruinated the Arches and Cisterns which are now remaining by the witness of Bellonius his own eye are greater then those of Alexandria but not so thick Gaza is now a Turkish Sanjackship the soyl about fertile and the inhabitants Graecians Turks and Arabians IDVMEA In holy writ this Region is called Edom Idumea and by other Authors Nabathea Toward the Sea and Judea the soil is fertile but toward Arabia desert and barren Some say its inexpugnable for its desarts and want of water yet is it stored therewith but hidden and known to none but the Natives Of old they were a turbulent unquiet and seditious people and so at this day they are like to their villanous and roguish Neighbours the Arabians For further satisfaction of the Reader be he pleased to refer himself to Doctor Fullers Holy Land or Sir Walter Raleigh who have amply discoursed on this Subject by whose copious pleasant stile and luxurious description the Ruines and present indigence and penury of this once flourishing and abundant Region are onely to be alleviated And so we pass forward AEGYPT is best to be known as to its bounds by its threefold definition and division Egypt First Egypt properly so called extends it self North upon the Mediterranean Sea and part of Idumea to Lybia or Marmarica Secondly Lybia or Marmarica lying betwixt Egypt properly so called and Cyrene or Pentapolis so called for the five cheif Cities thereof thirteen hundred miles long and two hundred broad reaches from Lybia to the greater Syrty where it is bounded with the Kingdom of Tunis in Africa The kingdoms of Tunis and Algier which Kingdom with the other of Algier by the Ottoman Family 's intermedling with the quarrelling Princes thereof though Mahumetans also came at length to acknowledge no other Master but themselves the last King of Tunis named Mahomet put in by Don John of Austria whose succour he craved being subdued by the Turks and carried Prisoner to Constantinople in the reign of Selymus the second about which time the Kingdom of Algier in length 300 miles but in breadth not considerable was likewise reduced upon the same score by the famous Barbarossa Not to mention here some of the Isles of Barbary which are subject to the Grand Seignior as Zerby infamous for the loss of fifteen thousand Christians by slaughter at the taking and afterwards by famine at the surprize and retaking of it by Pial Bassa in 1559. I am constrained to mention these parts of Africk here for want of convenient reduction in this brief Compendium to their proper place Aegypt was vassalled to the Mamalukes who seized it from the Eastern Emperors some three hundred years before Selimus the second that ambitious and martial Sultan wrested it from them in the fields of Aleppo and extinguished the name and Empire as aforesaid when Cyrene followed the same fortune and submitted to the Turkish yoke In this Province we must remarque Tripolis assigned by Charls the fifth to the Knights of John of Jerusalem in lieu of Rhodes but wrested from them by Sinan Bassa in 1577. since which it is become a Den of Pirates as was mentioned before in the Syrian Tripolis In Egypt passing over Pelusium and the famous Damiata we will confine our view to Grand Cairo once called Memphis the Metropolis of Aegypt which of all antient Cities hath lost little or nothing by the injury of time Grand Cairo described at large Grand Cairo was wrested from the Mamalukes and their Sultan Tomembeus by Selimus the first in the year of the Incarnation 1517. after four bloody
time they live amongst the Women they have their Hojah that is their School-Master appointed them by the King to teach them to Write and Read and to instruct them in good manners that they may behave themselves decently before the King their Father which Hojah comes once a day into the womens Seraglio and is brought into a Chamber by the black Eunuchs without ever seeing the Kings women at all whither the Children come accompanied with two or three old Black-moor-women slaves and there they are taught for so many hours together as their Tutor is permitted to stay and then he departeth The Kings daughters As for the Daughters they are but slightly looked after nor is the King so tender and careful over them For as they are not suspected at all for any thing that may concern the State in future times so likewise are they not much respected yet they are well provided for by the Grand Seignior their Father in case they live to be fit for Husbands After the Shawh-zawdeh the next heir to the Crown is Circumcised if his Father think it unfit to keep him any longer with him at home in the Seraglio he provides all things fitting for to send him abroad The Prince sent abroad that he may see the world and learn experience the better to enable him to govern the Empire after his Fathers decease sending along with him one of his principal and trusty Eunuchs for to be his guide An Eunuch his Overseer and overseer in all his actions besides many servants to attend upon him all which he chuseth out of his own Seraglio He allows him likewise sufficient means to maintain him like a Prince as he doth also the rest of his Sons if he have a purpose to send any of them abroad And so all things being well ordered and prepared for him having taken his leave of his Father and Mother who present him with many gifts as also the Sultanaes and all the Bashaws and great men of the Port do he departs for Magnesia a City in Asia Magnesia his residence there to reside in the Government of that Province in which he hath not the supreme Authority but governs onely as his Fathers Deputy And should he pass the limits of his commission His Commission he would quickly fall into disgrace and suspicion of Rebellion as heretofore it hath happened unto divers of his predecessors sent out in the same manner Wherefore the Eunuch which is appointed to be his helper and over-seer is bound to give continual advice to the Grand Signior of his deportment and to the Viziers of all occurrences whatsoever according to the carge given him and likewise to receive from Constantinople such orders and commandments as are to be obeyed in those parts where the Prince resideth So that all things in a manner are swayed by the discretion of the Eunuch His beding A Shash is the whole peâ—ce be it long or short of fine linnen Pages watch And as for his lodging he sleeps upon mattresses of velvet and cloth of gold in the summer in sheets of Shash embroidered with silk sown to the quilts and in the winter betwixt coverlets of Lusernes or of Sabells wearing all night a Gheje-lick or little shash on his head And when he lies alone in his own lodgings he is alwayes watched by the Pages of his chamber by two and two at a time changing their watch every three hours one of them standing at the chamber door and the other by the bed side to cover him in case the clothes should slide off and to be near hand if his Majesty should want any thing or be ill at ease In the same chamber also where he lies there are also two old women that wait with burning torches in their hands Two torch women which they may not put out till such time as the King is risen out of his bed now the use of these lights is for his Majesty to say over his Beads and for to pray by in case his devotion be stirred up thereto at midnight or at Temcheet namaz which is about two hours before day Womens habit The habit of his women is much like to that of the men Breeches from the waste down to the heel For they wear Chacksirs and Buskins too and the meaner sort of them have their shooes shod with iron at the heels They likewise sleep as the men do in their linnen breeches No close-stools among the men but the women ever when they go to the Haman or Bagno carry theÌ„ along with theÌ„ No paper used at the privy They also call it Kecheh that is a Janizaries cap but Vskuf properly signifieth a hood and quilted waste-coats having thin and light ones for the summer and more thick and warm ones for the winter The Turks never have any close-stools or such like utensils in their chambers but having necessity they rise and go to the privies made in places apart where there do alwayes stand pots full of water ready that they may wash when they have done for they use no paper in that service as others do holding it not only undecent but an extraordinary absurdity for a Musselman to put paper to so base a use seeing that both the name of God and the Mahometan Law are written upon the like They all put off their Turbants when they go about that business and a Janizary may by no means piss with his Vskuf upon his head but having done he must kiss it and so put it on again For they hold the covering of their heads to be as honourable in a manner as the head it self His Majesties Bed-chamber is near unto the great Hall of Audience in the third Court of the Seraglio Grand Seigâ—ors bed-chaÌ„ber described Hâ—ng ngs be ore the doors the walls whereof are covered with stones of the finest China metal spotted with flowers of divers colours which make an excellent shew The Anteporta's are of cloth of gold of Bursia and their Borders of Crimson velvet embroidered with gold and pearls The posts of the bed-stead are of silver hollow and instead of knobs on the tops of them there are set Lions made of Christal The Canopy over it is of cloth of gold and so are the bolsters Lions of Christal and the matresses The floor of this Chamber as of the other rooms and the Sofaes are spread with very costly Persian Carpets of silk and gold and the Pallets to sit on with the Cushions to lean upon are of very rich cloth of gold Victuals Cooks The victuals in the Seraglio for the most part are dressed by Agiamoglans brought up to Cookery which are called Aschees and are known from other Agiamoglans by their white caps Cooks yet in the form of a suger-loaf as well as the others are howbeit there are belonging to the Kitchins that are therein more then two hundred under-cooks and skullions besides their
not there as some affirm but onely an imaginary form in the Wall of the Church expressing the lineament of a body which is often kissed and so they return home again Such lying follies for miracles these Infidels are possessed with concerning Mahomet and divers others so ridiculous as I omit for modesties sake yet must advise the Reader if he please to interrogate any Turk therein and he will finde I have spoke nothing but meer Truth Of their Alms. The Alcoran obligeth men to Alms as meritorious and much pleasing God and saith The contrary comes from the Devil They have Hospitals for poor travellers built by the Wills and Legacies of their Kings where they have meat in different manners some allow Rice with flesh others prepare Wheat-bread and water to drink but for rest or lodgings there is no place allowed yet there are some few publick receptacles where they are received without charge or other bedding then straw or hay but they repose under a good roof Of their Sacrifice Their offerings or oblations are for the most part upon promise or vows in sicknesses or other dangers and then they kill an Ox or a Sheep according to their abilities and promise to sacrifice it in some certain place This Offering is not burnt or placed on an Altar after the custom of the Jews but the Beast being killed the skin head feet and a fourth part of the flesh is given to the Priest another part to the poor a third to neighbours and the remainder they keep for themselves and friends to rejoyce withal Neither are they tyed to perform these vows unless they escape the disease or danger for which they intended them all things with them being conditional I give you if you give me And the like is observed by the Greeks Armenians and other Asiatick people even of the Christian Faith If any of their Musselmen make a Will their Legacies are given before Friends or Neighbors Of their Wills and Legacies and they are commonly for cutting Water-courses for conveying Springs from some remote places to Hospitals Churches or dry habitations and that for Piety sake their souls benefit Others give money to free bond-men out of thraldom But women for the most part as most superstitious bequeath their gifts to Souldiers for a certain slaughter of Christians which they conceive to be greatly beneficial for their souls The Legacies of their Kings are for the building of Hospitals Churches and so likewise are those of eminent and great personages Ceremonies of the dead When any of their Musselmen die men take the Funeral-care of men and women of women They wash the departed body very clean wrap it in fine linnen then they carry it out of Town into some remote place for they hold it sinful to bury in their Churches First Friends of the deceased Priests meet and go in progress certain Monks bearing Wax-candles then follow some of their Priests singing till they come to the grave shaking their heads often turning round fall down with giddiness as in a trance The better sort have their graves lined with boards at bottom and at sides and covered with boards on which they throw the Earth strow sometimes the seeds of flowers thereon Great men Bassa's have peculiar Chappels for themselves and Kindred The poor are buried by high-ways or in open fields If the deceased be of poor ability there is then money gathered for satisfaction of labour for those religious men which is offered in the streets Of the edifice of a Sepulchre called Tulbe Over this stately Tomb being Prince-like there is erected a goodly Temple wherein their Kings are buried in the City with great magnificence Both rich and meaner have an Altar built of such an height as beasts cannot annoy or pollute it with any foulness thither with lamentations and weepings they often return and spread upon the monument sacrifices of meats bread flesh cheese eggs milk This Solemnity or Funeral-supper continues for nine dayes after the parties burial according to the Heathen manner for the soul of the departed and it is left to be eaten by the Poor by Ants or Fowls of the Air. They say It equally pleaseth God to give Alms to Beasts that wants as men when they are given for Gods sake I have seen many buy Birds in cages at good values only to set them at liberty and see them flie away others throw Bread into Rivers for Fishes and that for the love of God saying That such charity towards the needy doth obtain a great reward from Heaven The Turks have all one Emperor or King of the Race of Ottoman Concerning War who hath next to himself in Authority two Sanjacks or Vice-roys chief Governors the one of Europe the other of Asia and these have under them Lieutenants of lesser quality who command the ordinary Souldiery and if they fail being called to any expedition are presently punished with death He hath others alwayes following him as Councellors Guardians of his body ever neer him Chamberlains Chancellors and Exactors of Tribute for monies and young people with certain numbers of light-horse Messengers and divers others that continually follow the Court. His greatest strength is in his flaves Children for the most part torn from Christian Parents with Tribute-Children bred and educated in several Seraglio's Captives taken in War and Renegado's Of these some are trained up and serve on Horse who have a double stipend to the foot and always ready at command in stables keeping four hundred Horse together The great body of Foot-Souldiery are the Janizaries all commanded by a Chief called their Aga a person of mighty trust and like importance who hath under him diverse inferior Commanders and have Seraglio's apart Of these and Auxiliary Forces the Turk can draw three hundred thousand into the field A great part of these Janizaries attend the Court Ambassadors Houses and protect all Christian Inhabitants and Travellers for rewards and are faithful in those employments Their Standard in the field is an Horse-tail tied upon a Pole an Emblem of their first barbarity and rudeness His strength at Sea is not considerable consisting most in Gallies and those not equal to some Italian Princes nor hath he many for want of slaves whom he imploys more for Land-services The best of Shipping is under the Bassa's of Algier and Tunis whom he manageth with much policy sometimes as Rebels and sometimes as good Subjects to his best advantage against Christians for if they complain of loss the Turk then says He cannot rule them If the other do the like he 'l take treble damages The condition of Noblemen There is not any of those great personages that possess by right of inheritance any Province City or real estate to derive unto his children or successors without consent of the King If any of their Dukes or Princes desire possessions it must be with this condition the value of