and licentious libertie The Opinion of the Turkes touching the sinne of Gluttonie Cap. 17. THe sinne of Gluttonie they do repute nothing inferiour to anie of the other dead-sinnes For they hold the same to be verie odious in the sight of God because as they say this was the first sinne that man committed after his Creation and therefore they teach that the same ought to be auoided and that men ought to abstaine from it with al their studie and endeuours For seeing the first Parents of mankinde Adam and Euah were expelled out of Paradice for the sinne of gluttonie in eating of the forbidden fruite where they had abundance of other frutes to haue satisfied both their hunger and appetites they doo therefore firmely beleeue That the same punishment is prepared for all those that are giuen to surfetting gurmandize or to excessiue feeding They haue a Tale also in theyr Alcoran of a certaine Hermit who liuing a solitarie life in a place farre remoued from anie Cittie or resort of men did seeme in regard of his hard austere life to be more like a beast than a man and yet he was so addicted to continuall praier and deuotion that hee was held to be a verie holy and religious man Thys Hermit hauing vppon a time fedde vppon certayne hearbes and rootes more greedily than he was accustomed hauing filled his belly with more thē ordinary he fell into a sound heauie sleepe During the which he dreamed that he had the companie of a certain woman with whom he committed sinne and folly Afterwards awaking from his sleepe which had been longer than his wonted vse a little before Sunne set he beheld aloft in the ayre aboue him a certaine Deuill or Fiend of hell making a great noyse in the ayre and carrying a great Bundle or Roll of writings Wherevpon the Hermit hauing coniured the Spirite to aunswere vnto that he should demaund vsed these words vnto him Bremelcon vecchialer Durchini Indumirsin That is O thou Enemie of our Faith what writings are those which thou carriest there with thee Whereunto Sathan answered These quoth hee be the sinnes which haue been committed this day within the compasse of this place and I haue been licensed to collect them together to record them Whereupon the Hermit his conscience somewhat touching him as beeing in doubt of himselfe demaunded the Spirit if hee had found and obserued anie fault that he had cōmitted Yea quoth the Deuill this daye hast thou sinned in Gluttonie in eating hearbes more greedily licentiously than thou wast wont which was an occasion that thou hast also exceeded in thy sleepe and hast offended in sloath and sluggishnes Therof also it hath insued that thou hast polluted thy selfe with vncleannesse and hast abused thy bodie in lust with a Woman Last of all thou hast all this while neglected and left vndone thy Prayers and Deuotion whereunto thou oughtest earnestlye to haue betaken thee Wherefore holde on and continue still in thy sinne of Gluttonie and then it will be easie enough for mee euerie day to register not onely one sinne but many committed by thee Hauing thus saide the Deuill departed from him with great noise and furie After which the Hermit bethinking himselfe of his fault became verie pensiue and penitent and praied earnestly to God to pardon and forgiue him this errour wherein hee had offended Now out of this tale or olde wiues fable the Turkes doe gather this doctrine That if the Hermite did sin so grieuously in eating of a few herbs drinkinge of a litle water more then ordinarie howe much greater care and regard ought those men to haue who feede vsually vpon other meates and drinks more delicate and delicious least they fall into this dangerous sin of gluttonie and gurmandise which will indaunger their soules bodies to euerlasting death damnatiō Of the opinion of the Turkes touching slouth or Lazinesse Cap. 18. COncerning slouth they say it is a secreate and vnknowen sin caused and engendred by a certaine diabolicall and filthy Idlenes which maketh men both forgetfull and negligent in all their affaires not onely in those that concerne both their publique and priuate estate but euen in their seruice dutie towards God making men altogether secure and carelesse of the saluation of their soules And inducing the mind of man to a most wicked prophane contempt both of God himselfe and of all his creatures To this effect they haue in their Alcorā a fable not much vnlik to y e others aboue recited of a certaine King that liued in the time of MAHOMET and was altogether drowned in this sin of slouth and securitie In so much that he did not only neglect all the matters and affaires of his estate and kingdome but he was growne to that excessiue Lazines that he was loth to take the paines or to imploy any time in obseruing the necessities of nature till at length it happened that hee was brought to see the enormitie of this sin to perceiue what holde the Deuil had gottē of him by meanes of this security wherin he had of a long time held him tied enchayned For one morning as this King lay Idle in his bed and loath to arise Beating his braines and deuising vpon many vaine toyes and light fantasies as he was alwaies accustomed He chaunced to espie an Angel in the shape likenes of a man running and coursing hither and thyther about the house top and still remouing from one side of the house to another At last seeing him somewhat neere him hee demanded him what hee ment in that maner to run vp and downe Vnto whom the Angell presently made answere That he had the charg keping of certaine Camels some of which he had lost and that he did goe to seeke them out and to see if hee could possibly discerne them in any place ther abouts The King replyed Truely I thinke that either thou art mad and out of thy wits or else thou art a theefe purposely come hither to rob and steale For how is it possible for any Camels to be going or walking vpon the top of the house And yet I do not so much maruell at the folishnes of thy speech as to see how thou couldest get vp thither so high without the helpe of any ladder The Angell speedily answered Much more difficult impossible a thing it is to flie into Paradise without wings And hauing so said he vanished sodenly out of sight The King being both astonished at the strangenesse of this sight and musing also at the manner of his speach continued a long time in a deepe profound studie what shuld be meant by that which he had seene and heard At length considering that the persons who had thus spoken vnto him did not in all things resemble a humane shape and confering both his person his speeches together hee began to imagine and coniecture that it should be some Angell come from
delicate taste and sauour than the wylde weedes and hearbs of the fields growing at randon on the barren Rockes Mountaines and Deserts so the Christian religion is of a most excellent and diuine nature and full of heauenly comfort and consolation to al those that know God aright according to his word and it leadeth them the true way to endles and perfect felicitie whereas the Mahometists following the vanitie of fond and fantasticall illusions little differing from the impiety infidelitie of the Ethnicks doo erre and wander in the Labyrinth of straunge superstitions In the which whilest they seeke after an imaginarie felicitie they doo plunge themselues into the depth of all blasphemie idolatrie wherein sticing fast as Flies entangled in a Spiders web they doo miserably perish in the blindnes of their hearts and so make shipwracke both of their soules and bodies Notwithstanding howsoeuer their Religion be erroneous and abhominable and though God himselfe haue it in hatred and detestation as being opposite to his truth and derogating from the maiestie of his Deitie yet hath God suffered these reprobates to preuaile against the Christians because they haue not walked in the right way and truth of his religion not with that sinceritie reuerence and due obedience as becommeth the Professors of Christian pietie For the crie of their sins hauing pierced the Heauens hath brought downe vpon them a most heauie vengeance and hath drawne the sword of these Miscreants against them against the places of their Habitation as a iust plague for all their vnthankfulnes securitie and negligence Whereof we haue at this day too too lamentable a proofe experience by the prosperous successe which that People hath had in their Conquests gotten vppon manye great Kingdomes Nations and Prouinces of Christendome The manner of whose ruine and miserable subuersion shalbe ere long represented vnto you in our Historie of the Ottoman Kings and Emperours FINIS LONDON Printed for William Stansby 1597. Mahomet his birth parentage Sergius a Monke Arrian coâ—federat with Mahomet in the inuention of his Religion Mahomet his doctrine deriued out of sundry sects and Religion Mahomet setteth abroch and publisheth his religion Phocas murdereth Mauritius the Emperour and vsurpeth the Empire Warres betweene Heraclius the Emperour the Persians The originall of the Sarracens Heraeclius hireth the Sarracens to serue him against the Persians The cause of the Sarracens reuolt from the obeisance of the Romaines Mahomet proclaimed Prophet Prince of the Sarracens Mahomet writeth the Alcoran Mahomet dieth poysoned by one of his Disciples named Albunor Mahomet his body torne in peeces by Dogges after his death Ebubezer second king of the Sarracens Damascus Gaza and Ierusalem wonne by the Sarracens Haumar the third king of the Sarracens and first Caliph of Babilon Caliph what it signifieth Suldan or Sultan what it signifieth Orimasda or Hormisda king of Persia. Of the Originall of the Turkes Haiton a king of Armenia his historie Turke a Tartarian word and what it signifieth The Turks their first comming into Asia The Turks embrace the Religion of the Sarracens Saracens raise new kingdomes in Egypt and Afrique Godfrey of Builoyne his expedition into the holy land Belchiaroc the fifth and last emperour of the Turkes before the time of Ottoman Soliman and Artolus Sultans of the Turks in Asia Tartarians raise an Empire in Scithia and Asia Turkish Empire in Asia decayed Ottoman restoreth the Turks Empire Ottoman made king of the Turkes Alcoran of the Turkes containeth the whole summe of their religion Alcoran of the Turkes not made by Mahomet The Alcoran how it is reuerenced of the Turkes The manner and gesture of the Turkes in handling reading hearing of their Alcoran The grouÌ„ds and principles of the Turkes law religion The eight commaudements of the Turkes law The beliefe of y e Turks touching the Godhead Opinion of the Turkes touching the holy Ghost Opinion of the Turkes touching the diuinity of Christ. Opinion of the Turkes touching the prouidence and goodnes of God Opinion beliefe of the Turkes touching their Prophet Mahomet Opinion of the Turkes touching Moyses Christ and Mahomet and the lawes of each of them Blasphemy against Christ or his mother how punished amongst the Turkes Blasphemie against God and and Mahomet how punished by the Turkes Practises deuices of of y e Turks to drawe men to the law of Mahomet and to turne to Turke Circumcision vsed by the Turkes as a token that they coÌ„secrat themselues to the lawe and loue of Mahomet Circumcision what it is and the first institution and end thereof Genes 17. Genes 28. and Genes 35. Circumcision of the Turkes first instituted by Mahomet The maner of the Turkish Circumcision done vpon their children The manner of Turkish circumcision done vpon Christians and other Strangers The differeÌ„ce betweene the Turkes and Iewes in their Circumcision Opinion of the Turkes touching the curse of parents vpon their children The notable care of pareÌ„ts in the education of theyr children and the great obedience of children to theyr parents amoÌ„g the Turkes Sentence of the Turkes The behauior of the Turkes towards all persons required in their law Ciuill Iustice of the Turkes for the most part grouÌ„ded on the third Commaundement of theyr law and yeelding like for like The ordinary times of praier vsed by the Turkes The manner of the Turkes both how they are assembled and how they prepare themselues to their Praiers The maner of the Turkes praiers in their temples A praier vsed by the Turkes supposed to be made by Mahomet Fridaies kept for holyday by the Turkes What persons may not enter into the Churches of the Turkes nor be present at their prayers The time and order of fasting amongst the Turkes The punishment inflicted vp onthose that obseru not the custome of fasting amonst theTurkes The cause and maner of the Turkish sacrifice Of sacrifices done by the Turkes in the nature of vowes Charity of the Turkes to the poore Opinion of the Turkes of almes beggers Opinion of the Turkes touching the necessitie of marriage in all men The auncient order of marriages amongest the Turks The common vsage and ceremonies of the Turkes in their marriages at this day Sagdich one that giues the Bride to the Bridegroome amongest the Turkes The licentiousnes of the Turkes in hauing manie wiues and in the manner of their diuorces The opinion of the Turkes touching murther and murtherers In what cases the Turkes do thinke that manslaughter is tollerable The seueritie of the Turkes in pâ—nishing of quarreling fighting manslaughter c. “ Theodore Spaudugin The opinion of the Turks touching pride and prowde men Saying of the Turkes touching the enuious man The cause of y e Turks pilgrimage to Mecha in Arabia The Temple of Mecha in Arabia visited by y e Turks supposed to be built by Abraham The maner vsage of the Turkes when they goe to Mecha on Pilgrimage The nature of the Camel to endure thirst and labour more than any other creature Of the sepulchre of Mahomet at Modin in Arabia and howe it is visited by the Turkish pilgrims Opinion of the Turkes touching double purgatory The Mahometan and Turkish pilgrims visite the sepulchre of Christ at Ierusalem The manner and ceremonies of the Turkish pilgrims at their departure homewardes from Mecha Of the last willes and testaments and legacies of the Turkes The manner of the Turkish Temples The description and excellencie of the Temple of Saint Sophy in Constantinople Opinion of the Turkes touching the hauing worshipping of Images The order of the Turkish Hospitalls Of the place of burial amongest the Turkes and the maner of their sepulchres The manner and time of mourning for the dead amongest the Turkes Opinion of the Turkes of the state of the soule presently after the departure thereof out of the bodie The opinion of the Turkes touching the maner of the worldes end Opinion of the Turkes that the Angelles are mortall Alcoran of the Turkes must not be contradicted by any man vpon paine of death The opinion of the Turkes touching the manner of the Resurrection of the Dead The opinion of the Turkes touching the manner of the General iudgment The opinion of the Turkes touching the felicitie of the soules in Paredice Opinion of the Turkes touching the estate of women after this life The opinion of the Turkes touching the paines of hell The office of the Muphti the chiefe or high priest of the Turkes The office of the Cadileschier among the Turkes The office of the Cadi amongest the Turkes Of the ofice of the Modecis or Gouernors of the Turkish hospitals Of the ordinary sorts of Priests amongest the Turkes The Meizin or Turkish Priest which calls the people to prayers Imam are Turkish prists hauing care of their cemonies Antippi are Turkish prists that reade interprete their Alcoran Sophi Turkish priests emploied in singing of Psalmes at their times of prayers Seiti priests descended of the liue of Mahomet Chagi or Fachi priests of the Turkes liuing by almes Of the Giomailer a kinde of religious order among the Turkes of their habit manners and Customes Of the Calenderi a kind of religious order amongest the Turkes and of their habite manners and customes Nerzimi one of the order of the Turkish Calender iâ— martyred for confessing the deitie of Christ. Of the Daruisses or Deruisi a kind of religious Order amongst the Turkes and of their habit manners and customes Hali the sonne in law of Mahomet Scidibattal two Patrons highly honored of the Daruisses Asserai the name of an herbe vsed by the Turks and the vertue thereof Of the Torlacchi a religious order of the Turkes and of their habite manners and customes Baiazeth the second emperour of the Turks in danger to haue bin murdred by one of the Torlacchi The Order of the Torlacchi banished by Baiazeth the Second and restored by Selim the first
which is at this day prescribed and obserued out of their Alcoran was for the most part reformed and perfected by his next successours at what time they had made themselues Lords of the most part of Asia Howsoeuer it was after MAHOMET had Raigned about nine or as some say ten yeares he departed this life being fortie yeares of age and as is reported dyed of poyson For hauing oftentimes boasted before his ende that the third day after his death he would rise againe and hauing therefore giuen streight commaundement that his body shoulde not bee buried nor enterred in the earth One of his Disciples called ALBVNOR being desirous to proue and make tryall of the truth of his doctrine and prophecies did secretly cause poyson to be conueied into his drinke The which MAHOMET hauing taken his body presently in all parts began to swell extreamely and so he gaue vp the ghost most miserably For twelue daies did his body lye vnburied during all which time their appeared no likely-hoode of any resurrection but his Carcasse yeelded an intollerable and most filthie stench In the end ALBVNOR comming to see him found his body torne in peeces and deuoured by Dogges whereupon gathering together the bones that remained and putting them into a coffin he caused him to be buried This was the ende of this monster of mankind who hauing filled the worlde with Idolatrie and infidelitie by his blasphemous traditions and damnable forgeries seemed to haue beene borne for the vtter ouerthrow and desolation of many kingdomes estates and prouinces and for the ruine confusion of many millions of soules Of the originall of the Turkes and how they came both to embrace the Religion and to encroch vpon the Empire of the Sarracens Cap. 2. AFter the death of MAHOMET EBVBEZER otherwise EBENBEHOR or as some call him ABVBACHER his son in law succeeded him in his kingdom And was the first whome the Sarracens called AMIRAS which in their language signifieth Prince or successour This man reigning but three yeares in that short space tooke Damascus the chiefe Cittie of Siria and made it the seate of his kingdome Likewise after two yeares siege hee tooke and spoyled Gaza Ierusalem His successour and the thirde King or AMIRA of the Sarracens was HAVMAR or OMAR who beginning his reigne in the yeare of Christ. 634. continued the same for twelue yeares with great prosperitie and good fortune In which time he subdued to his obeissaunce all Siria and Egypt Afterwards inuading Persia hee conquered that kingdome and then hauing added also Cilicia Cappadocia Mesopotamia and the Isle of Cyprus vnto his conquests he chose Babilon for the seate of his Empire And from thence forward the Sarracens called him their Amiras and Calipha of Babilon which in their language signifieth a chiefe Prince hauing souereigntie both of Empire and Religion Ouer his other prouinces wherein himselfe could not bee resident he appointed seuerall gouernours or Deputies whome the Sarracens called Suldans which worde since that time hath beene vsed in another sence as a title of greater and higher dignitie by reason of the excessiue power and soueraigne authoritie whereunto some of those Suldans afterwards attained in many of those prouinces Which being by them conuerted and augmented into great and mighty kingdomes the name of Sultan grew to be taken for an absolute Lorde and Prince and so is vsed at this day by the Turkes who haue subdued and annexed most of those kingdomes and prouinces to the Dominions and Empire of the Ottomans But to our purpose HAVMAR thus ruling ouer the Sarracens at such time as they vnder-tooke the conquest of Persia ORIMASDA or HORMISDA raigned ouer that kingdome Who being sore pressed in those warres and not able of himselfe to withstand the furie and violence of so great an enemie Hee sent for the Turkes then inhabiting within the Caspian mountaines requesting them to come vnto him into Persia and that he might haue their aide and succours against the Sarracens This was the first occasion that brought the Turkes into Asia who before that time were a people vnknowne and not heard of In so much as euen to this day it is doubtfull and vncertaine whence they had their beginning And the opinions of their originall are very diuers and different Some thinke them to be discended of the auncient Troyans but without any probabilitie or good reason of their opinion others deriue them out of Turca a Cittie of Persia And some from that part and prouince of Asia which is called Turquestan But it is thought that both those places had their denomination rather from the nation of the Turkes then that this people should be so named of those places HAITON a King of Armenia in an Historie which he hath written and some other also doe affirme them to be of the cursed seede of those auncient Israelites who being carried into captiuity by SALMANAZER King of Assiria and placed by him in diuers parts of Media and Armenia afterwards by ALEXANDER the great were shut vp within the straights of the Caspian mountaines where they continued till this time that they first came to bee knowne in Asia And the reason which they yeelde for this opinion is because the place where they liued so long hidden and concealed was neere the Tartarians In whose language the word Turke being a Tartarian word signifieth one that is accursed and a vagabond But the most probable opinion and that which commeth neerest the truth is That they are naturally descended from the bloud and brood of the auncient Scythians called Nomades who vsing to wander vp and downe in Tents as do at this day many of the Tartarians in their Hordes not hauing any townes Cities or villages and without any certaine habitations did inhabit that part of Scythia which bordereth vppon the North parte of mount Caucasus not far from the riuer Tanais where according to Plinie Pomponius Mela and other auncient writers their dwelt a people then but obscurely knowne by the name of Turkes The which Countrie being now also inhabited by the Tartars It is to be presumed that both these peoples are of one and the same discent their language not much differing or disagreeing ech from other And either of them hauing at first vsed and imitated the manners life and customes of those auncient Scithians And therefore it may well be that the name of Turke was giuen them in regarde of the wandring course of life vsed by them And whereas both the Scythians in times past and the Tartars after thē haue euer ben distinguished into many sundry peoples It seemeth that the Turkes were one speciall people of the Tartarians whose seate and dwelling seemed to bee either verye neere or within the straights and deserts of the mount Caucasus which being also called the Caspian streights are adioyning to that part of the Countrie which is neere Tanais But how so euer it be
Murther in great hatred and detestation and that there is no one sinne more odyous and abhominable And they saye that this was the second sinne that crept into the World after the Creation beeing first committed by cursed Cayne onely vpon enuie and despite against his brother Abell because that his Sacrifices were more acceptable vnto God than his owne That the first therefore that defiled and besprinckled the Earth with mans blood was Cayne and that he did fall from this sinne into manie other most filthie and detestable vices For they say that hee which durst commit so great and notorious a wickednes did not feare to offend in other sinnes lesse hainous and therefore God hauing laid his curse vpon him did in the end punish him with the like plague and tooke him away with the same kinde of death by which he had before made away his brother Moreouet it is sayd in their Alcoran That in the last Daye of the General Iudgement Cayn shalbe the formost man of all other sinners that shall first goe to hell for they are of opinion that there shall not anie Soule come into hell before the Day of Iudgement but that all the soules of wicked men departed are reserued in the fire of Purgatorie but in the last Day they say that Cayne shall lead the way to all others and be cast into hell before them and that then all other murtherers and manquellers shall follow after him Moreouer they doo affirme That when GOD cursed Cayne he did then also pronounce a Curse vpon all those that should commit Murther and Homicide and that al those vpon whome the Curse of God is falne are continually so tormented and disquieted in their Consciences as their mindes can neuer be quiet nor in rest but theyr harts are so ouerwhelmed with care sorrow and vexation that they are afflicted with all extremities of torments so that manie times by the iust iudgement of GOD they doo worke their owne destruction and imbrewe their hands in their owne blood Besides they say That as soone as anie Murther is committed the blood of the Partie murthered doth presently euen from the Earth crie and call to Heauen for vengeance And they are of a firme beleefe That God wyll neuer pardon this sinne being so hainous and detestable howsoeuer he be mercifull and gracious in remitting other sinnes and offences Howbeit if anie man doo kill and take awaye the life of another either by meere chaunce without mallice pretended and not in choler or in his owne defence and for the preseruation of his proper life or els in Fight against the enemies of the Mahometan Religion or in a iust and lawfull Warre vndertaken for the seruice safetie and defence of his Prince and Countrey in all these cases they thinke that God will easily shew mercy vnto such a one Notwithstanding they hold that there ought to be had a diligent and carefull regard that none willingly shed the blood of anie man nor incurre the guilt of this sin where they may by anie reasonable meanes shun and auoyd it These Opinions and Traditions of the Turkes touching Murther and Slaughter being not much amisle nor farre dissonant from the truth doo showe how greatly they detest and abhorre it And as theyr Opinions are most precise in hatred and detestation of this Vice so are they wonderfull extreame in the punishment of such Malefactours Insomuch that if one doo but set hand on his sword to strike another hee is presently apprehended and carryed to the Magistrate who causeth his skinne and flesh to bee mangled and cut with kniues in two three or foure places either more or lesse according as the qualitie of hys offence dooth deserue and afterwards they leade him vp and downe the Countrey for a spectacle that others by his example may abstayne from the lyke misdeedes The seueritie of which punishment dooth so terrifie them from this offence that you shall oftentimes see most mortall Enemyes to passe by one another and they dare not for theyr lyues offer to draw their weapons which they doo not of cowardize for they are a most couragious kinde of People but for feare of the Lawe and the displeasure of the Emperour If it happen that anie Murther or Man-slaughter bee committed in anie place the Inhabitaunts and Neighbours neere adioyning are bounde to apprehend the Malefactour and to deliuer him safe Prisoner into the hands of the Magistrate Which if either they doo refuse to doo or that by any occasion they suffer him to escape or if hee saue himselfe from beeing taken by flying awaye though it bee agaynst theyr wills yet are they then bounde to pay vnto the next kinsman of him that is slaine the summe of foure and twentie thousand Aspers as the price of his blood that was slaine and murthered But if the Murtherer or Man-slayer bee apprehended and sentence of death giuen against him he is sure to bee executed with most terrible and extreame Martyrdome and the next Kinsman of the Partie murthered hath full Authoritie giuen him to see Execution done with as great Torments as it shall please him To this effect it is written of a certayne Woman in the time of the Emperour Solyman who hauing her Sonne slaine in Constantinople tooke so great a pleasure and delight to bee reuenged for his death that shee went to the place of Iustice to see him executed where when shee saw that the poore Wretch was not able to endure the Tortures inflicted vppon him but that the exceeding paine of his torments did quickly end his life she was not contented with his death but with an incredible kinde of crueltie euen with her owne handes shee pluckt the hart out of his belly and did presently eate it in open viewe of all the People A strange and inhumane act in the execution of Iustice yet liuely discouering in what horrour and detestation that barbarous Nation holdeth Homicides and Murtherers vpon whome they accompt it not a sufficient reuenge that the Law doth shorten and cut off their liues but they doo thinke them also worthie to bee abandoned to the merciles crueltie of their accusers aduersaries as if no torments and punishments were sufficient to expiate the heinous guilt and hatefulnes of their bloudy trespasse Wherefore seeing this barbarous and rude people who in many things are guided onelie by Nature and doe liue after the manner and guise of bruite beasts and are straungers from the true knowledge of God and of his word doe so strictly enioyne men to beware of murther and doe so seuerely punish such malefactours howe much more earnestly ought all christians professing pietie and christian charitie endeuour to abstaine from this hatefull sinne of homicide The practise whereof sheweth men to be more cruel and vnnaturall than the bruite and sauage beasts and to be little better than Furies or Deuilles incarnate Of the doctrine and opinion 〈◊〉 â—â—e Turkes touching the seuen deadly sinnes
for three dayes together are they entertained in certain Hospitalls vpon the way where their costs and charges are born and defrayed for them which before such time as the Sultan of Egipt and that Countrey came to be subiected to the Turkish Empire was then paid discharged by the Sultan but since that time hath been at the charge of the Great Turke whose Deputie in Egipt doth see these Pilgrims to be furnished with al necessarie prouisions at their departure from Cayr For from thence they were conducted on theyr waye by the Admirall whome the Sultans did alwayes commaund to accompanie them appoynting a greate number of his Mameluckes or Souldiours both on horse-backe and on foot to attend vpon the Admirall and to safe-conduit the Pilgrimes euen to Mecha to the intent they should see them safely protected against the violence of the Arabians who doo vse to lye hidden vppon the sides of the High waies in Rockes and Caues of purpose to rob and spoyle men as they passe For that Countrey hauing verie fewe or no woods at all is a verie Desart and like a Sea of sand the which manie times the winde doth so violently take blow too and fro that in a moment it will gather into huge heapes like mightie Mountaines and sodainly againe it wilbe scattered and dispersed into smoothe plaine ground By meanes whereof the Pilgrimes are often-times in great danger and hazard of their liues Besides there is so great scarcitie and lacke of water that for three daies iourny they cannot haue any vpon the way by reason the Countrey is altogether voyd of Springs and Riuers which want is supplied by the care and liberalitie of the Sultan or Gouernour of Cayre who dooth not onely prouide them of a great number of Water-bearers to carrie water along with them for which they haue an yearly allowance of ten thousand Duckats for their paines and is paid vnto them out of the Publique Treasurie and Reuenewes but Hee also sendeth with them manie Camells both loaden with their water and for the Pilgrimes also to ride vpon for their more ease and speedier passage ouer that Desart to the intent they may haue the lesse neede and want of water than otherwise they should For there is not any beast or creature liuing more patient and able to indure thirst than the Camell who though he neuer taste neither of meate nor drinke for fiue dayes together yet will neuer faint nor giue ouer in his trauell Besides he is of such strength in his legs that he will stand for many dayes without lying or resting himselfe on the ground especially about the spring time at which season hee will continue standing for fourtie dayes together Thus do they trauell ouer the desarts of Arabia till they come to Modin or Medina which is three short dayes iourney from Mecha There doe they prouide themselues of lodgings in a faire Plaine before the walles or else they rest themselues vppon the ground hauing great store of victualles prouided and brought vnto them by the citizens and inhabitants of Modin where also they doe meete with infinite numbers of people both Merchants and others assembled out of Persia India and all other Nations in that part of the East which are addicted to the law and religion of MAHOMET The next morning after their comming thither their whole company is numbred for they doe holde it a very prophane and vnlawfull thing to perform the solemnity of this feast with lesse than 60000. men at the least But by how much the more their company doth exceed that number so much the better and more solemne doe they esteeme it After they haue thus taken a view of the whole multitude all of them do go vp into the next mountaine called Arefetagi where putting off their garments they do wade starke naked into a riuer running thereby till they be couered vp to the necke and in the meane time they mutter certaine superstitious praiers to themselues in secret And they say that they vse this ceremonie because that Adam as they perswade themselues did in the same place in the like manner thrice wash and couer himselfe in that water where hauing deplored his sin which he had committed he obtained of God remission for the same After this ceremony ended hauing clothed themselues they returne downe again into the Plain before the city of Modin and then doe they prepare themselues to the celebration of their feast which they begin here at this citie the cause and maner whereof with the course order which they obserue both there and at Mecha elsewhere wee will as briefly as wee may make open and manifest After that MAHOMET was departed this life at Mecha his Disciples conueyed his dead body to this Citie of Modin And according as he had commaunded them before his death they caused a sepulchre to be digged for him very deepe in the middest of a temple which himselfe had there caused to be builded In the which being walled round on all sides his bodie was laied the same being inclosed in a coffin made of wood and so couered ouer with marble worke euen from the botome of the graue rising as high as the stature of a man aboue the ground Ouer his sepulcher do hang two Tables of marble one aloft at his head and another somewhat lower at his feete And his sepulchre is couered with a vault hauing a couering of greene water chamblet cast ouer it Vpon the marble wherein he lieth entombed are written these wordes in the Arabian tongue This is the Sepulcher of Mahomet In times past the Armenians had thought to haue stollen thence the body of MAHOMET and for that purpose had begunne to vndermine the ground neere about eight furlongs from the place where it lay and so thoght to haue gotten into the sepulcher but their purpose being strangely discouered they were apprehended executed Thereupon was the sepulcher enclosed with iron grates on euery part both ouer c vnder and on all sides to the end the body of their Prophet shoulde not at any time bee stollen nor conueied from thence The Turks affirme that Mahomet in his last wil testament prophecied that his body should not continue there about 1000. yeres and that then both his religion and empire should haue an end but to our purpose This sepulcher is so reuerenced and honoured by the Turkes Moores and all Mahometists that they doe frequent the same with great religion and deuotion thinking that they shall obtaine pardon and forgiuenesse of their sinnes if they doe once kisse the Sepulcher of their Prophet One of the first things therfore that these pilgrims doe obserue in their peregrination to Mecha is to visitt this Sepulcher of Mahomet For the which cause hauing washed themselues as we haue said in the riuer vpon the Mountaine aforementioned and being now entred into Modin to perfourme their deuotion at MAHOMET his Sepulcher they doe
the Sepultures and manner of Buriall amongst the Turkes Cap. 22. WHensoeuer anie Turke is at the point of death his friends and kinsfolks do come to visit and to comfort him putting him in minde of his sinnes they doo aduise him with a contrite and repentaunt heart to bewayle and deplore his fore-passed life and offences Then do certain of their Priests reherse read ouer certain himnes or Psalmes By which time if the Partie be not alreadie dead but that the pangs of death doo still continue and holde him they doe bring thither their Alcoran out of the which they doe reade a certaine prayer repeating it seuen times which praier in their language they call Thebara echelezi for they are of opinion that before they can say that prayer thrice ouer the partie will haue yeelded vp the ghost But if they do as then perceiue any token or shew of life in him they doe recite an other Psalme which they call I asinnell Curanil Hecin And this they doe to the intent the Deuil may not any way endommage nor hurte his soule whilest he is in the extremitie and paines of death After that the breath is departed out of his bodie they lay foorth the corps vpon the grounde in the midst of the house vpon tapestrie clothes turning it vpon the right side with the face towardes the South Then doth there assemble certaine of their priests which are to bury him who hauing brought with them a certaine corde or string whereon are a multitude of little Beades made of the wood of Aloes not much vnlike those which are vsed in the church of Rome for their Pater nofter Beades they doe tie the same round about the dead body turning it some foure or fiue times In the doing whereof still as they come to touch euery one of those Beads or roundels after other The Priests who are to the number of twenty or vpwardes doe all at once turne their faces towardes the standers by say Subanasella that is God haue mercie vppon him Then do those Priests take vp the corps and carry it out into the Garden where hauing laide it vpon a Table two handes breadth aboue the ground there be certaine who are appoynted to make ready the corps to the buriall who first of all doe take away the shirt from it And then couering the secret partes with a new cloth made of fine bombaste they doe wash the body all ouer from the head to the feete with warme water and sope after which they do wipe and drie the same again with two other very fine white clothes made likewise of bombaste In the which as it were in a funerall or winding sheete they do wrap the corps and after they haue sprinckled it with rose-water perfumes and other odoriferous things then they put vppon it the best and most precious garments that the partie vsed to weare whilest he liued And at the head thereof vpon a peece of wood made and fitted of purpose they do set his hat or turbant trimmed with roses and sundry sortes of flowers and so doe they lay it vpon a beere These ceremonies about the dead bodie if it be of a man are done by men but if it be a woman they are perfourmed by women The Priests in the meane time hauing begunne the ceremonies of the funerals at the last some of them doe take vp the corps vppon their shoulders and doe carry it towardes the Church with the head forward after the fashion of the Iewes and contrary to the vse and manner of the Christians Before the corps do go their Monks with candles burning in their handes after it folow the Priests singing still as they go this Hymne God is God and the true God and Mahomet was sent from God after them folow the men first the kinsmen of the partie deceased and then the rest of his friendes and neighbours The women in the meane time staying at home mourning and lamenting for the dead doe prepare a banquet for the Priests who when they haue brought the corps to their Temple or Meschit doe set it downe before the Temple doore till they haue perfourmed all the ceremonies of their funeralles Which done they take vp the corps againe and going on all together they cary it out of the Cittie to the place ordained for burialles for neither is it lawful amongest them to bury in their temples neither do they vse to bury any within their Citties howbeit their Emperors and their Bassaes and other grand Seigniors that do build any hospitalles or Mosches for their soules health do prepare sepulchres for themselues in some little chappel neere vnto those Temples and Hospitalles where they doe giue order to haue their bodies buried And it is a common and vsuall thing amongest them for the better sort to prouide their owne sepulchres in their life time notwithstanding that the greater number haue them made by their friendes and kinsfolkes after their death Many of them do make their sepulchres in their Gardeins or in some other solitarie places and yet they haue certaine seuerall places of buriall appointed for the common sort like vnto the churchyards of the Christians where you may see infinit Toombes one adioyning to another some made of Bricke some of Marble some of other stuffe according to each mans state and abilitie They haue a vse at their funeralles that if the partie deceased be a Gentleman or nobly borne his horses and coursers shal be led with his corps and his toome shall be adorned and trimmed with many Epitaphs if he be a great seignior or captain his horses are sadled with steele saddles set on the contrary way and with their best and richest caparisons and they vse to hang certaine thinges at their noses which doe make the horses to goe continually neying to make a shew as though they did it for the losse and death of their lord and maister Moreouer they vse to carry with them the truncheons of their launces with their Standardes also and ensignes trayled along vpon the ground The great personages haue a vse to plant about their sepulchres sundry sortes of plants with store of violets and other sweete and pleasant flowers but the poorer sort buried in their common graues haue their toombes onely made of plaine marble stones with certaine letters or caracters ingrauen vpon them after the Turkish fashion But to proceede with the manner of their funeralles When they haue brought the corps to the place appointed that it is laid in the sepulchre then doe they cast some earth vpon the face of it and so closing vp the graue or tombe they returne backe againe to the dwelling house of the party deceased where the priests after that they haue saide certaine prayers for his soule do make merry with a daintie banquet prouided for them of purpose and euery one of them hath fiue Aspers giuen him for his paines by the friendes of him that was
lightsome and that there shal be no need of sleep for the sustentation of their bodies And they say That after the end of those fortie dayes God wil commaund the Angell Israphyll to sound his Trumphet againe the second time and that at the sound thereof the dead shall sodainly arise bereuiued from death to life For whē Israphyll hath thus blowen his Trumpet the sound thereof say they shalbe with such an exceeding noise that it shalbe heard ouer the whole World and that thereupon all the Dead euen from Abel vnto the ende of the World shall immediately be raised and rise againe in the same manner and habit as they were buried At which time there shall appeare great varietie diuersitie of countenaunces for some shall shine clere and beautifull as the Sunne others as the Moone and manie like the Starres some againe shall haue vgly visages blacke and darksome others shall haue the heads of swine with great and swollen tungs and such lyke deformities And at that time all in generall shall crie and exclaime with a lowd voyce Nessi Nessi that is Woe is mee most miserable and wretched man who haue suffered my selfe to be ouercome with my filthie lusts and lewd desires Whereupon the Angells shall shewe and point at each man with their fingers reuealing manifesting either their good works or wicked deeds Then all those whose faces shalbe found to shine lyke the lights in heauen shal stand appear most glorious in the sight of God by reason of their vertuous and good deeds whereat the wicked shall haue enuie despight As for those who shall then be seene with deformed faces of hogges and swine they are such as haue been greedily addicted in this life to the getting of riches by vsurie and other vniust and vnlawfull meanes and they who shall haue their tungs swolne great loathsome are such as haue bin liers deceiuers blasphemers periurers such like and they that haue been puffed vp with pride arrogancie in this world shall then be troden vnder foote and trampled vppon by others They say moreouer that GOD will then question with the mightie Potentates of this world both Emperours Kings Princes Tyrants and other Signiors great Personages who haue reigned with force and violence and haue tirannized ouer their subiects and inferiours with oppression and iniustice Besides they doo imagine and affirme That GOD will then seperate and deuide all the wicked vngodly into seuentie seuerall Companies and will examine euerie man of all their deedes in perticular both good bad which shall at that time be laid open before thē so as there shal not need any testimonies to be brought against them for that there is no part or member of their bodies but will then openly voluntarily confesse the truth what euill it hath committed and each man will accuse himselfe of all his owne misdeeds yea euen of their wicked thoughts cogitations though they neuer came to be executed put in action They say also that Michael the Archangell will be there present hauing in his hand the Ballance of the Diuine Iustice with which he will weigh the Soules and so wil discerne the iust from the vniust Moreouer they haue a conceipt that Moses shall stand thereby with a Standard vnder the which all those shalbe assembled who haue obserued and fulfilled his Law and that next to him there shalbe Iesus Christ the Sonne of the Virgin Mary with another great Standard vnder which shall be assembled all those Christians that haue kept obserued his Gospell and that he shall then bee Iudge of the deeds of al men of al things done in this world On the other side at the right hand of Christ they say that MAHOMET shalbee with another Standard hauing all his Followers about him whom he shall there shew vnto Christ. Thus all those that haue done good in this life shall appeare vnder their seuerall and proper Standards where they shall finde a most sweet and pleasant shadow to comfort refresh them But as for all those who are not vnder the shadow of some one of those Banners they shall be most extreamely scortched with the burning beames of the Sunne according to the quantitie and proportion of their misdeeds that both the one the other shal remain in this estate till their Doome final Iudgement be giuen vpon them As soone as the Soules haue heard their Iudgement pronounced by the diuine Sentence they say That thē the Angels shall appeare on all sides in a most glorious and beautifull habit distributed and deuided into seueral troops companies each of them hauing his place assigned vnto him the Cherubins on the one side and the Seraphins on the other some of them playing vpon instruments of musicke some singing of psalmes and hymnes that many of them shal attend singing and reioycing at the Gates of Paradice to welcome the blessed Soules of such as haue obserued the diuine Cōmandements And they affirme That there shalbe no difference betweene Turkes and Christians Iewes and Moores neither shal one be known from another but all such as haue liued well and haue done good deedes in the sight of god shalbe of equal beauty blessednes howbeit that amongst the wicked and reprobate there will be euident and apparant difference and that each shalbe discerned from other Moreouer they dreame that God wil appoint a large and spacious place in heauen for those souls that shal be admitted into Paradice where according to their merites and deserts euerie one shall haue a perpetuall Habitation and a goodly mansion place of a most glorious and beautiful brightnes and that they shall haue manie Sunne beames appointed for them vpon which they may at their pleasure ride vp and downe about Heauen to take a view of those delights precious things which God hath there made and created Besides all this they do dreame of other pleasures in Paradice both of venerie and also for the belly For they imagine that they shall haue there certaine apples and fruites of a most heauenlye taste and that as soone as they haue eaten one of those Apples God will immediately cause others to growe in stead thereof Likewise for the quenching of their thirst that they shall haue certaine Riuers in Paradice cleere as the Christall sweet as suger Of the which after that they shal haue tasted both their sight their vnderstanding shalbee so quickened and enlarged that they shalbe able to see from the one Pole to the other and that both the meate and drinke which they take shall consume within their Bodies onely by a fine and subtill kinde of sweate distilling from them Moreoouer they doo imagine that they shall haue there delicate and choyce wiues which they call Vri that is Women shining bright and beautifull as the Sunne For you must note that the Turkes doo hold that none of the women liuing in