onely to set them at liberty and see them flye 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 Concerning War THe Turks have all one Emperor or King of the Race of Ottoman who hath next to himself in Authority two Sangiachs or Viceroys chief Governours th' one of Europe th' other of Asia and these have under them Lieutenants of lesser quality who command the ordinary Souldiery and if they fail being call'd to any expedition are presently punished with death He hath others always following him as Councellors Guardians of his body ever neer him chamberlains chancellors exactors of tribute for monies and young people with certain numbers of light-horse messengers divers others that continually follow the court His greatest strength is in his Slaves 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 alwayes 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 divers inferiour Commanders and have Seraglio's apart Of these and Auxiliary Forces the Turk can draw three hundred thousand to 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 imployments 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 imployes more for Land-services The best of Shipping is under the Bassa's of Algier and Tunis whom he manageth with much policy sometime as Rebels and sometime as good Subjects to his best advantage against Christians for if they complain of loss the Turk then sayes He cannot rule them If th' other do the like he 'll take treble damages The Condition of Neblemen 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 the Place or Territory is first considered and the Revenues thereof whereby the Turk apportioneth what number of Souldiers that can annually maintain then the Lord is enjoyned alwayes 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 and sickness And whensoever it please the Turk to ease him of this benefit it 's at his liberty but if not deprived he enjoyes it during life after death if his Successors will observe the fame conditions they are often admitted 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 with eyes 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 yeers 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 die by th' 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 Emperour that perceived a Gelding leap a Mare These Bassa's are of greatest esteem with the Turk next to the Sangiachs and they are almost all that are preferred to that dignity Children of Christian Parents violently taken from them and 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 enjoyes 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 license 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 and finding any quarrellings or offerings at injuries they presently punish them with those instruments and no man speaking to them dares look them in the face but falling on the earth kiss their feet with eyes to the ground and 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 full authority to dis-horse whom ere he meets and meeting none he turns into the next Town or Village and repairs to the chief Officer and 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 keep horse And when this Messenger shall 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 Emperour distributes in some equality all Provinces to his Noblemen but with condition that such a Souldiery shall 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 benefits easily finde in vancancies 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 alwayes aiming at the head or hands and think it ignominious to thurst at their adversary or an horse with point of Sword
Boy he telleth him that the next day he will circumcise him and so departs but presently feigning to have omitted something appertaining to this preparation on a sudden he cuteth off the fore-skin applying thereunto a little salt and bombace and then he is called a Musselman that is one circumcised Yet their Names are given the day of their Nativity not Circumcision After continuance of this Feast for three dayes the Boy with great pompe and solemnity is accompanied to the Bathes and being returned to his House he is brought before the Guests and by them presented with gifts prepared for him some give Silver Silken Vestments some Silver Cups others Money and sometimes Horse Women present him likewise some with Shirts Handkerchers and such like according to the several pleasures and abilities of the Guests Women are not circumcised onely they confess the aforesaid words and so made Musselmen And if any Christian voluntarily confess a Faith in Mahomes and suffers Circumcision which often happens by the heavy yoke and burthen of their Tribute this Man is led through all the Streets and open places of the City to the great joy and honour of the people with acclamations and ringing of Bells him also they present with gifts and after free him from all Tribute For covetousness of this profit many Greeks and Albanes become circumcised But if any be forced thereto as he that shall strike or otherwise disgrace a Musselman or blaspheme Mahomet as it befel a certain Grecian Bishop which I did see that man is circumcised and hath nothing presented to him yet shall be freed from Tribute as others circumcised Of their Priests THeir great Musty as the Pope among Catholiks cannot erre and is the highest Minister of all Religious and Lay Persons an Officer of great power and trust his conclusions and sentences in State and Church-affairs are irrevocable and his person held in most esteem and reverence next the Emperour his habit most in green being Mahomet's colour There is small difference between their other Priests and Lay-men nor much from the Governours of Ceremonies such as our Bishops are neither is much learning required from them it is sufficient if they can read the ALCORAN and MUSSAPH yet they that can interpret on the Text are esteemed most learned because the Traditions of Mahomet are written in the Arabick not vulgar Turkish Character and they hold it for most detestable to have them interpreted in the vulgar Language These Priests and Governours are elected by the People but their rewards are stipends for their labours and paid by the King They have Wives and Habits like Seculars and if their stipends be not sufficient to maintain the number of their Children they otherwise supply themselves by Handicrafts and Trades or what else befits a Free-man as teaching Schooles transcribing Books c. I ne'er could see amongst them any Printers but Paper is there very well made Some make profit one way some another as Taylors Shooe-makers c. Of their Monks THey have likewise Monks of several Orders but chiefly of these three the first have no propriety in any thing they go almost wholly naked saving their privities covered with a Sheep's skin and in cold weather they use the like to cover their backs their sides their feet and hands are never covered They beg alms as well of Christians as Turks and For God's sake These Monks having eaten an Herbe called Maslach are possest with a kinde of fury and madness they cut and wound their brests cross and overthwart and so their arms dissembling all trouble or pain then clap on their heads hands and brests the spunge or mushrooms of old Trees light burning and not remove them till they are reduced to ashes Another Order I have seen who go with their privy part bor'd thorow and a Ring included of the weight of three pound Troy-weight and this to preserve chastity The third Order is rarely seen abroad but remain both day and night in Churches where within some little Angles they have small Cabins no shooes vestments or coverings of the head wearing nothing but one shirt their exercise is fasts and prayers that God would reveal things future to them With this sort of Monks the King of Turks usually consults when he intends a motion or expedition to War Their reverence to Mahomet's Traditions THey give so much respect to Mahomet's Traditions and Statutes that not onely they never blaspheme GOD or his Prophet which amongst us sometime happens but if they finde the least leaf or scrowl thereof lying on the ground they take it up and often kiss it and place it on some shelves or chinks of walls affirming it a sin to suffer that wherein the Name of God and Laws of Mahomet are written to be trodden under foot And no man dares to sell the Alcoran and other writings of their Law to any Christian or any other differing in Religion or Faith with them lest they should be trodden on or touched with unclean hands and whosoever should so do is severely punished And in this regard they may be stiled farre more reverent then Christians Of their Schools THey have places for Instruction and Teachers both of Men and Women in several Towns Men the Boyes and Women the Girls some teach Astronomy Physick and some the Art of Poetry which when they do they speak out with loud voyce and moving their hands unto their sides they pronounce their meanings They understand no artificial Musick but frame verses to certain rules which consist of eleven sillables The hotness of the Clymate often sicknesses makes most inclined to Physick wherein they have some small knowledge They learn Astronomy to be thought able to tell fortunes Printing is supplied by a number of writing Priests and perhaps neglected as all learning is to maintain the peoples ignorance and keep them off from search into the gross absurdities of their constrained Religion Of Marriages THey marry without Vowes or Oathes take Wives without portions and for the most part buy them contrary to the Roman custome where the Son in law was bought with Money to take a Daughter This married Woman carries nothing with her for use or ornament which she is not forced to redeem or purchase from her Parents Evil manners or sterility are causes of Divorces for which there is a peculiar Judge They permit their bond-men or purchased servants to marry but the issue of them are all born slaves The Alcoran perswadeth marriage as pleasing God and Man and it allows plurality of Wives and Concubines as many as Man pleaseth The Turk amongst his whereof he hath above five hundred in his Seraglio's nameth her for his Wife or Sultana by whom he hath his first-begotten Son All their Wives are used with equality of respect in diet cloaths returns and what concerns them and are most obedient to their Husbands They nurse their own Children and bear them on their Shoulders not in their Arms no men
These Men spend all their lives and hopes under the protection of a Goddess Fortune having a Proverb with them What is written will befal them that is What that Goddess hath printed on the head at each Man's 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 stirried 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 Bow-men 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 cloath with crooked angles like half Moons and so distinguished by Arms and Habit from th' 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 th' 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 moves Yeomen footmen clear the wayes and here and there make heaps of stone or piles of wood for ease and direction of the passage so as even in darkness of the night they can hardly erre The Army moveth at midnight and till mid-day following marcheth The King rides between two Bassa's talking with him before whom marcheth some of the order of Janizaries on horseback bearing lighted Candles in time of night Certain Captains follow them with iron Clubs round pointed who keep off men from sight of the King a good large distance amongst these are numbers of the King's Guard and amongst them a Chariot of Women and Boyes fitted for use of the Turk and his Nobility These great Men go some before some follow these Captains with great multitudes of Souldiers horse and foot and all conditions some for stipend some for plunder but all men Their carriages of Beasts THen follow a multitude of Camels Mules Horse and sometime Elephants laden with Victuals Pavilions and all necessaries for military uses and where the Turk pitcheth his Tent there every one according to his condition as in a City sets up his habitation Boothes for Taylors Bakers Butchers Sutlers and all sorts of Victuallers some sell dainty flesh and fowls and when fresh meat cannot be had then what is brought upon their Beasts they expose to sale bisket dry meats cheese curds and milk All Turks are generally most patient in suffering hunger thirst and cold They seldom lodge in Towns but field it in their Tents neer water-springs Rivers or Meadows taking more care of their cattel then themselves content with little and course diet curds mingled with water bread with milk sometime bisket master and servant eat together They keep deep silence in the night they neglect stirring after fugitives for fear of raising clamours which are forbid upon great mulcts and punishments but when they go to rest or rise to march all with an unanimous noise cry out Allah Allah Allohu that is O God thrice repeated Of justice exercised in War THere is so much severity in military discipline that no Souldier dares unjustly seize on any thing of anothers for if he do he dies without mercy They have amongst them certain Guardians Defenders of all Passengers from Souldiers violence with Boyes of eight or ten yeers old carrying bread eggs fruit oats and such-like things to sell These Guardians are bound to free and preserve all Orchards Gardens Closes they pass by so far that they themselves dare not touch an Apple Pear or Grape or any such-like thing without the owners license otherwise they lose their heads When I was present in the Turkish Army in an Expedition against the Persian I saw a great Commanders head with horse and servants all three cut off because that horse had been found grazing in another mans pasture unsatisfied for Celebrations of a Turkish victory WHen a Conquest is declared the Cities straight throw themselves into all delights and joyings At entrance of night for good auspice of the solemnity Torches Wax-candles Lamps Fire-brands Fire-works and all things that give light are everywhere disposed of throughout the City with Garpets costly Hangings Tapestry and Silken Silver and Gold Vestments their houses all are covered but especially that way by which the Emperor entreth The chiefest triumph is made in Constantinople his conftant residence unless occasioned by war into some other Region And he is bound by Law at every three yeers end to undertake some expedition into Christian Territories for advancing or defending his own Kingdom I verily believe and do confess for those dayes he celebrates for Victory no Mortal eye nay not the Moon or Sun did ere behold a spectacle more glorious and resplendent for order number silence richness state and magnificence in all kindes It is impossible for onely man to be exalted to a loftier degree of sublimation then this Pagan when triumphful Of their hunting and hawking NO Nation under the Sun delights so much in hunting as doth the Turkish they 'll follow game through rocky steepy craggy mountains and that on horseback taking diversities of Beasts but if any chance to be killed or suffocated by dogs or chase they never eat thereof nor any Christian that lives in those Regions and if they kill wilde Boars they give them to the next inhabiting Christians Musselmen being forbidden to feed on Hogs flesh The Turk hath multitudes of Faulkoners