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ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A42086	A late voyage to Constantinople containing an exact description of the Proportis and Hellespont, with the Dardanels, and what else is remarkable in those seas, as also of the city of Constantinople ... : likewise an account of the ancient and present state of the Greek Church, with the religion and manner of worship of the Turks, their ecclesiastical government, their courts of justice, and civil employments : illustrated ... in fourteen copper-plates ... / published by command of the French King by Monsieur William Joseph Grelot ; made English by J. Philips.; Relation nouvelle d'un voyage de Constantinople. English	Grelot, Guillaume-Joseph, b. ca. 1630.; Phillips, John, 1631-1706.	1683 (1683)	Wing G1934; ESTC R5793	148,879	261

seen several Pictures in Mosaic work and other pieces of Carving upon the Brazen Folders and these words already recited 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 with several Cyphers denoting the year when the doors were set up Then ●nder each of these large Portalls are two lesser doors that lead to the Womens Gallery up an easy pair of stairs mark'd with the letter E. Going out of this Portico at the West side you enter into another Portico neither so long nor so large as the former It was by the Greeks call'd Nartex mark'd in the Platform draught with the letter N. Now in regard this Nartex serv'd to no other use then to receive the Penitents and Catechumeni or Proselytes who were not admitted into the Church till satisfaction given or before Baptisme we do not find the least appearance that ever it had any great cost bestowed upon it being very plain with a roof like the bone of a Fish and pav'd only with great pieces of Marble without any order or design Which is the reason that some believe that this first Portico was not built at the same time with the rest of the Church because it hinders the sight of the Front But in regard we do not find by any probable conjecture that there was ever any other Front or Entrance into the Church then what it still to be seen and for that it is a thing unlikely that they would have rais'd a Tower not above Twenty paces from the main structure and half a dozen open Arches at the same distance without closing up the whole with a wall and some slight covering instead of a Portico we may well believe this Portico to ●e as ancient as the rest of the Church as being built after the same manner and form with the rest of the particular parts At the two extremities of this Portico stand two little doors mark'd in the Platform Draught with the letter M. These are the doors of the Towers upon the West part of the Church through which the Muezins ascend when they go to call the people to Church and which had the Turks any Bells would serve for Steeples Round about the Tower upon the South side are several Fountaines under a Gallery supported by Eight Pillars marked with the letter R. The west part of this Nartex receives in the Light at thirteen Windows and opens with Three doors of which Tw● are very large for the use of the people the other ●ery small not far from the Tower mark'd with the letter O. This Tower was formerly the Steeple belonging to the Church now a useless vacuity the Turks having converted the Bells into the lowder and less pleasing Music of the Cannon The little door is only for the Muezins and other Officers of the Mosquee who have their Chambers round a small Court mark'd in the Platform Draught with the Directions S. and T. There is also in this Court belonging altogether to the old Steeple a place where you descend Thirty steps to fetch water out of a large Cistern which runs under all the body of the Church and discharges it self out of several Cocks mark'd in the Platform Draught with the letter P. Near to thse steps and toward the middle of the Court stands a large Vessel in which the Officers wash their Linnen and other Habits I have also mark'd it with the letter V. not that it is a thing so much worth notice but that the Reader may observe the exactness and fidelity of the Draught if ever it be his chance to Travell to Constantinople He will also find at the direction ✚ a small octogon Chappel which serves now to no other use then to lay the provision of Hay and Oates for the Sultans adjoyning stables It was formerly the Vestry belonging to the Church of which there is still some likelihood remaining there being a door out of this place into the Church which I have fill'd up with small Tittles to shew that it is now quite stopp'd up All this that I have said may be seen in the platform Draught and therefore I shall cease to tire the Reader with any farther topographical description As for the measure I have reduc'd it to the ●adom call'd Toise de petit pied by which the Reader may view and examine every thing without any fear of being deceiv'd or making false conjectures as being drawn with all the exactness imaginable Having thus describ'd the Platform I come now to the elevation of the Church True it is that all persons who till now have heard talk of the Church of Sancta Sophia have been easily led to believe that the out side and inside of it was a Master-piece of Architecture and that the ornaments both without and within do not give place to any of the stately and magnificent structures in Europe and all this not only upon the credit of the Greeks who in all Ages however have been look'd upon as vain boasters but also perswaded thereto by several Travellers who have made descriptions perhaps more pleasing to the ear than approaching to truth But for my part not believing the Hyperboles of Poetical fancies and not finding the Historians of chiefest credit who spake most highly in praise of this Astonishing pile have gone any farther than big words which only fill the mind with false Idea's without having vouchsaf'd us the least Line of a Description by way of Draught or the least touch of Pencil or Graver I have therefore presum'd to do more and say less for the satisfaction of the Reader who is left to his own judgment knowing that of the Poet to be true Segnius irritant animos demissa per aures Quam quae sunt oculis commissa fidelibus Words passing through the ear far less convince Then what is obvious to the seeing sence The Northwest Prospect of Sancta Sophia An Explanation of Figure VI. A. The Domo very much weather beaten inform like a half Circle having Twenty Four Windows supported with Four large Pillars upon which it does not seem however to rest B. Three of the four great Buttresses added to the Four large Pillars which sustain the Dome in every one of which a great pair of stairs run up that lead to the Womens Galleries C. The Womens second Galleries the six Arches of which are stopp'd up to make them more firm in regard of the frequent Earth-quakes D. The Womens first Galleries much longer and larger then the second the Walls of which like those of the Church are lin'd with Marble the Roof like a large Fish-bone all enrich'd with Mosaic work adorn'd with sixty Pillars of speckled Egyptian Marble resting upon Forty others much bigger of the same stone which together with the Pilasters support the whole stuucture d. The stairs by which the Priests ascender with their Incense into the Womens Gallery E. The upper Portico at the end wheneof were the Wiudows that looks to the West is that fair transparent stone which some

stratagem to milk their Parishioners by means of their Sphragides or mark'd Loaves The secular Priests carry every one of them to Church a Houshould loaf and the Clerks and Deacons having cut it into small pieces the Priest blesses them as he distributes to all the Congregation This is observ'd upon all Holy-days and Sundays toward the people But the Priests having thus engag'd the Multitude and unwilling to lose by their charity and benedictions put this trick upon 'em the first Sunday in every Lent to reimburse themselves For then every Family covetous of the Papa's Blessing Bakes and brings to Church a little Loaf made in the form of a Cross of which the four extream parts are like a Lozenge and the middle part round and every part mark'd with the name of Iesus thus 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 These Loaves the Priest takes and having blest them breaks one Loaf into five parts and gives them to five several people Now in regard those pieces being thus blest are presently endu'd with secret vertues equal to all the Charms Antidotes and Amulets in the world therefore the people are oblig'd to pay for every mark'd piece six blanks by which means one blessed Bun which costs them nothing in regard every Family provides their own Loaf produces them being divided to five persons no less than Twelve or Thirteen Sous which is a very good blessing-interest Yet notwithstanding all these petty cheats and several others which the Priests impose upon the people to pinch mony out of their pockets those poor Christians are the most zealous to obey their orders and injunctions of any people in the world and to give them whatever they demand They firmly believe that a Papa can never tell a lye and that no Oracle spoke such truth as what a Greek Priest utters whatever his ignorance and how low and self Interested soever his soul may be It is impossible to make a Levantine acknowledge that the Bishops Priests and other Ministers of their Church being so lumpishly dull and sottish as they are are uncapable of instructing them in matters of Faith which are above their reach And therefore they choose rather blindly to obey their commands than to suffer themselves to be better taught or convinc'd of their errours Of their Faith AS for what concerns their Faith they neither know what they believe nor what it is they ought to believe Their Papa's never speak a word of Catechisms Articles of Faith of Hope or Charity or if at any time a Papa mounts the Pulpit 't is not so much to make a pious exhortation to the people nor to direct them how to lead their lives like Christians nor so much as to read a good Homily which is more easy but to gain the Two Crowns which is generally given to the Preacher for his Sermon which as the people do not understand so neither do the Papa's know what they say And which is more they draul out their words at such a distance one from another that though they stand a full hour in their Pulpits yet they hardly utter Four Hundred words in all the time Nevertheless they are in high esteem and the poor people that understand not nay some that heard not a word the Papa said cry one to an other as they go home Psila Emiliseno Didascalos What a rare Preacher was this what wonderful things has he said Thereupon I once ask'd some of their Adorers what it was they so much admir'd and what it was their Parson had told them that was so charming to their ears But when I found that not one of them could remember the least tittle of what they so highly commended I made answer Psila Emiliseno Didascalos diatiden heptases Most certainly your Preacher spoke Mysteries for I find that none of you know what he said Of their Sacraments COncerning the Administration of the Sacraments they are by them administred after a manner so different and disagreeing from the first Institution of the sacred Mysterie that you would swear they either believe not in what they do or else that they take little care of what they are about They number Seven Sacraments but to make short work of it they administer but Three Baptisme Confirmation and the Eucharist they give them all together to Infants Forty days after the birth sometimes later sometimes sooner at the pleasure of the Parents or as necessity requires Penitence Extream Vnction and the Eucharist they make use of all together likewise five times a year at Easter Saint Peter's St. Paul's the Assumption of our Lady and Christmas the Order and Marriage they confirm both together and upon the same person Concerning Baptisme when the Child is in a condition to be Baptiz'd they make choise of a Godfather and Godmother if it be a Boy if a Girl they many times content themselves with a Godmother only Then the Infant is carry'd to Church where he is plunged over head and ears in the Colymbitra or Font of Baptisme Which done the Godfather carry's the Child Midwife-like to the great door of the Sanctuary where they anoint the Childs head neck stomach shoulders armpits hands elbows leggs and feet Which done they put upon the Infant a white shirt and wastcoate and such other accoutrements as are requisite which they never put off in eight days after At what time the Godfather and Godmother carry the Child again to Church there to have all the Childs swaths and linnen wash'd which he has foul'd during the eight days All which is done in a little stone Vessel bored through in the middle lest the sacred Oyls that besmear'd the Infants Cloaths should be profan'd by powring away the water that wash'd them upon the Ground This Oyl is highly esteem'd among the Eastern Christians especially among the Armenians who some while since had a great dispute in Law upon this very subject Their Patriarch who generally resides in the upper Armenia lives in a large convent which the Armenians in their Language call Echemiazin the Turks in regard of its three Churches Vscha Klisia and the Europeans the Three Churches It is seated in a large Plain at the foot of the famous Mountain Ararat This Patriarch was wont always to make the Myron for so is the holy Oyl call'd and sent it from time to time to all the Armenian Bishops as well those in Persia and Turkie as to all the rest who had not permission to make this Oyl which was a priviledg only belonging to the Patriarch But it happen'd that about Ten years since the Bishop of Ierusalem having an Ambition to make himself Patriarch for that Iacob Vartabiet the present Catholicoës or Patriarch of Armenia had given over his trade by an immediate power from the Grand Signor fell to work himself and made such a quantity of the holy Oyl as 't is thought would suffice all the Armenians in Turkie for several years which new Ierusalem Myron has caus'd such a

Castle of Asia or upon that same jetty of Land near to the Mouth of Xanthus and Simois So that you travel all this way whether by Sea or Land 't is all one without observing any thing remarkable and at length you arrive at the old Castles which the Turks call Boghase-issari or the Castles of the Throat The old Castle upon Asia side by the name of Natoli-iski-issar is a square Building flank'd at the four corners with Towers of which those that are next the Sea are four-square also but those that look toward the Land are round In the midst of this Castle is a large square Tower upon whose Platform are planted several Culverins From this same Tower was made the fatal Shot that took away the Life of Lazaro Mocenigo at what time after he had giv'n a second defeat to the Turks Fleet in the year 1657 he was designing in spite of these Castles to have run up the Channel and have fir'd Constantinople had not that unfortunate blow at the same time disappointed him in the pursuit of so noble an Enterprise Behind this Castle lies a large Village inhabited by about three thousand People whereof some few are Christians the rest Turks and Iews This place is considerable for nothing but for the command of the Passage where it lies and the most part of the great Guns lye unmounted even with the surface of the Water like those in the new Castles They are in number twenty eight and carry to the other side of the opposite shoar large Stone Balls each weighing sixty pound as likewise do those which are planted on the other side in the European Castle the Channel lying between these two Castles not being above half a League broad The European Castle which the Turks call Roumeli-iski-issar is more irregular and not so strong as that upon the Asiatic side It is plac'd upon the descent of a Hill which commands it and is compos'd of three great Towers joyn'd together in a Triangular form resembling the shape of a Heart These Towers are environ'd with a circuit of Walls with certain half Towers which descend to the Harbour where lye about thirty Cannons equal with the Water that carry the same Bullet with those on the other side and they are planted obliquely lest by shooting streight forward the two Castles should mischief one another Most people believe that these two Castles and the two Towns adjoyning are the Ruins of the two ancient Cities of Sestos and Abydos but in regard there are several that question the truth of it and that it is a difficult thing to prove it unless some curious Traveller shall hereafter discover something more convincing I shall leave the matter undetermin'd The Franks or Europeans who travel into Turkie call these two Castles the Dardanels for that Dardanus the Son of Iupiter by Electra the Daughter of Atlas was the first King of this Country who built therein a City which he call'd by his own name Dardanum and the Country round about it Dardania Virgil will have this City to be the same with Troy so call'd by Tros the Grandchild of Dardanus and Father of the fair Ganimed Others assure us that the ancient Dardanum which was built upon the Hellespont where now the Dardanels stand retain'd its ancient name and that the new City built upon the Xanthus and Scamander was first call'd Dardanum afterwards Troy or Ilium However it were the Inhabitants of that ancient Dardanum did not much exceed in Reputation those that now possess the Dardanels For those formerly were accounted Magicians according to that of Columella At si nulla valet Medicina repellere Pestem Dardaniae veniant artes But if no Physic can repell the Plague Let then Dardanian arts be us'd Or else such as minded nothing but their Profit according to that of another Poet Dardanius merces divendit carius emptas Dardanian Wares he sells more dearly bought They who now inhabit those Castles are much of the same disposition where as in several other parts of Greece you shall find several of those old kind of Sorceresses which they call Striglais who being addicted to all sorts of mischief in their Infancy and despairing of any other Allurements to purchase their Love put to sale the Affections of others of which they falsly vaunt themselves to be the Mistresses or else they sell the satisfaction of their Hatred They make use of several sorts of Witchcraft some they call Philtra to create Affection others Ecthra to procure Hatred others Vaskarmiais or Phtarmiais that deal in all sorts of Fascinations and Enchantments These old Haggs practice after various manners according to the mischief which they design and although they go to work but by night and in secret for fear of being apprehended by the Soubachi and thrown into the Sea with a Stone about their Necks ty'd up in a Sack yet I shall here set down one remarkable passage which was related to me by a person that liv'd upon the place concerning one of these Witches that was taken in the fact This same Race of Circe having a design to revenge themselves upon any one that has perhaps but given them cross language in the Street do it in this manner They rise about Midnight and take three Flint Stones over which they mumble for about half an hour certain words which they teach to none but their Scholars Which being done they put the Stones in the Fire 'till they are red hot at what time they take 'em out again to light a little Wax Candle at each which they place upon the three feet of a three-legg'd Stool in a kind of imitation of the Trikirion of the Greek Bishops This done they lay the three-legg'd Stool across upon their Heads take up the three Flints by this time cold and in this Equipage forth they go into the Street where the Party lives and being come to the first place where they find three ways to meet they throw the three Stones into the three different passages believing that by the help of such words which they utter at the same time that those Fascinations will procure the mischief they intend Beside these they have also a hundred other little Tricks which they practice as well for the telling of Fortunes as for Witchcraft to which as the more rational Turks give little or no credit so are they much less worth mentioning here As for their Trading the most part of the Merchants in the Towns belonging to these two Castles especially the Iews are great gainers For they buy cheap out of the Christian and Turkish Vessels that pass through the Channel and sell again with considerable advantage either upon the place or else they carry their Markets to other Towns and Villages upon the dry Land where they turn to good accompt But as it is common with all Merchants to sell as dear as they can I shall say no more concerning the Inhabitants of the Dardanels who

below could hardly reach it True it is that History tells us of another Domo that far surpass'd the present but that it seems to spare the curious the trouble and the lost labour of staring upon it at such a distance where they could not discover it fell down it self to the ground where it might be discern'd with more ease It brake down with its fall several things among the rest the Emperour and the Patriarch's seats which were plac●d at the two parts of the Church mark'd with the letter c. However as I have said Iustinian caus'd it to be set up again and to make it more light as they that believe the Greeks assure us he caus'd it to be made all of pumice stone with some light sort of Mortar to cement the parts together Could I have got up to the top to have examin'd the truth I would have done it with all my heart but as things now stand no Christian is permitted to soar so high unless he will be content to leave his Preputium below for fear of over charging the building which according to the opinion of the Turks would certainly fall with the weight of an Uncircumcis'd Christian. I leave it therefore to others to satisfy the Readers Curiosity in that particular But this I am sure of that all the under part of the Domo is lin'd all over with several Crosses trefoyld and flower-delis'd in Mosaic work and that the outside is cover'd with Lead with a Gilded Crescent instead of a Pinacle in the place were the Cross formerly shew'd it self This Domo of which the largeness and the place are mark'd in the following Plate with a circle of points covers the best part of that which may be call'd the Body of the Church For the Quire was enclos'd from the eastern extremity of this Circle to the separation mark'd with a double line pointed at the letters a a a which shew the place where stood the holy doors and it extended to the right and left hand as far as the two semi-circles mark'd H. H. The entrance into the Church was from the west extremity of the same Circle to the Three doors of the middle at the letter I. Extending to the right and left hand like the Quire between the two letters H. H. which shew the two West semi-circles opposite to those of the Quire The space cover'd by the Domo is just the middle of the Greek Cross which composes the figure of the Church The head of this Greek Cross toward the East contains the Quire and Sanctum Sanctorum the lower end towards the west comprehends the entrance and doors of the Church The wings consist of two Parallelogram spaces one of which runs to the North and the other to the South mark'd in the Platform with the directions f. G. Now in regard this Cross is as it were enchas'd in a square that represents the walls of the Church there appear also four other void spaces at the four Corners of the Square which are mark'd with the letter H. An Explanation of Figure V. ✚ The middle of the Church of Sancta Sophia cover'd with a large Domo A. The place were formerly stood the only Altar belonging to this Church a a a. The Doors of the Sanctum Sanctorum B. The Turks Mehrabe which is to them instead of an Altar toward which all the Mahometans turn themselves when they pray it is made like a Nich in a wall wherein they put the Alchoran and is plac'd toward Mecka where Mahomet lyes intomb'd to which part of the world all the Mosquees are turn'd C. The Muftie's Mamber or the place where he reads Prayers during Ramazan or Lent and all the time of Bairam or upon other solemn Festivals of the Mahometans ● The Grand Signors entrance into the Mosquee ● The Grand Signors Closet where he hears divine Worship c. The places where formerly stood the Seats for the Patriarch and Emperour THE PLATFORM OF SANCTA SOPHIA D. Are the Four large Pillars which support the Domo d. Are Four little Pillars which together with the Four large Pillars support six large Semi-Domes of which Three appear toward the East and Three toward the West E. All these letters denote so many easie stair-cases by which the Women went up to the Galleries F. All these semicircular overtures are so many windows that give light to the Church f. The doors through which the Priests and Deacons went to perfume the Womens Gallery G. These are four great Columns of speckl'd Egyptian Marble all of a piece each Four Foot in Diameter These Four Columns sustain Six other lesser than themselves which form the Galleries above on each side of the Church H. These are Four Semi-Circles form'd out of Four great Pillars and two other lesser between which are two Columns of Porphyrie plac'd upon Pedestalls of White Marble These Two Columns support six other lesser belonging to the upper Galleries that sustain the Cupola above I. The great Gate or Door leading into the Church having Four others that are less and lower of each side K. The Stone work rais'd between the Four great Columns and the Four great Pillars which were formerly separate but are now contiguous by reason of the Brick-work represented by little points belonging to this letter L. The great Vestibulum or Porch into which you may enter at sixteen doors Nine to the East Five to the West One to the North and One to the South M. The Four Steeples N. The first Portico or Vestibulum formerly call'd the Nartex O. A great square Tower which was formerly the Steeple where the Bells hung P. The pair of stairs that lead to the Cocks that belong to the great Cistern under the Church For all the under part of the Foundation is square and full of water that gently falls from the roof which has made some to think that a man may go by water through subterraneal passages from Sancta Sophia to the Sea Q. The outward Doors of the Church R. The Fountains where the Turks wash themselves before they go to prayers S. A Court belonging to some Officers of the Mosquee T. Their Chambers V. A great Vessel where they wash their linnen and other cloathes X. A little Chapel formerly the Vestrey like the Vestrey of St. Peters or St. Stephens the Round in Rome Now 't is only a place where they keep Oates and Hey for the conveniency of the Grand Signors stables adjoyning Having sufficiently describ'd the Domo that covers the Cross which forms the middle part of Sancta Sophia I now come to what is to be found round about adjoyning The Eastern part of the Cross is a large semi-circle cover'd with a Demi-Dome made like the back of an Oven Round about this great semi-circle which is taken out of the breadth of the grand Domo are to be seen Three others lesser which are also cover'd with their half Cupola's of which Two stand upon the right and left

and arms with Vinegar to secure at least those parts which are expos'd most to publick view The Religious Exercises of the Turks in Sancta Sophia and elsewhere AFter that Mahomet the Second had taken the City of Constantinople and had made his Entry into the Church of Sancta Sophia on Horseback that same sacred Temple which the Christians had formerly Dedicated to the Eternal Wisdom of the Son of God ceas'd to be a place for the celebration of the Divine Mysteries of the Christian Religion so that after the 29 th of May in the year 1453. the former melodious sounds of those sacred Hymns and Songs that accompany the Worship of God was chang'd into the hoarse discords of the Turkish Namas which is the ordinary Prayer of the Mahometans But in regard this Namas may be consider'd with respect to him that prays as it concerns his Neighbour and with respect ot God himself it may not be amiss to take a short view of a good Musselmans Duty before he goes to his Prayers while he is at his Prayers and after he has finish'd his Devotions to the end he may acquit himself well in reference to himself his obligations toward his Neighbour and his duty towards God The Preparatious requisite for a Turk before he goes to Prayers are five the first is to believe the Articles of the Mahometan Faith The second to be Circumcis'd The third to forgive his Enemies The Fourth to hasten to the Mosquee when he is call'd And the fifth is to wash which is the preparation just before Prayers Of the Faith of the Turks ALL the Articles of the Mahometan Faith may be reduc'd to two namely that there is but one God and Mahomet his peculiar Prophet or Messenger For the word Resul-alla signifies rather a Messenger than a Prophet of God The belief of only one God happen'd by chance to the Turks if we may credit Iacoub Elkindi an Author whose Works are to be seen in Syriac who assures us that the Alcoran being written Sergius sent Mahomet to some of the Arabian Idolaters who ador'd a huge Statue they call'd by the name of Hachar which signifies great or vast of bulk to tell them that being commissionated of God he did by his command advertise them no longer to adore any more Idols but to acknowledge the only true and one God which had sent him But those Idolatrous Arabians devoted to the worship of their Hachar would give no heed to his message for said they very gravely and considerately if we must adore one only God which is thine what shall become of our Hachar Mahomet not knowing what answer to make to such a difficult and puzsling objection return'd back again to consult with the Monk Sergius Who considering of what Importance it was to bring over those Arabians to the Law which he was going about to establish in regard they were very numerous and neighbouring upon Mount Sinia where he had been a Monk sent back the new Legislator to acquaint 'em that he had consulted the Divinitie concerning their answer and that he was satisfy'd they should have the same esteem they had before for their old friend Hachar provided they would adore God too in testimony whereof he was content that from thence forward all the true Musselmen should be call'd to their Prayers in the name of God and Hachar Upon this condition that Hachar might go Partners with God the Arabians were content to worship God and follow the Law of Mahomet and from that time forward they made their joynt supplications to God and Hachar till Mahomet being grown into greater power order'd poor Hachars Idol to be taken out of the Temples and to set up in his room in great Arabian Characters these words ALLA HOV HAC HER God and Hacher which is the cry that the Mahometans have ever since us'd to call the people to Prayers And this is the Relation of that ancient Author Iacoub Ebni Issaac Elkindi who liv'd about the year Eight Hundred about two Hundred years after Mahomet Wh●ch if it be true according to the report of this same Author who was a Christian the Cry of the Muezins is easily expounded Though it be true on the other side that the most skilful in the Arabic Language and most knowing in the Alcoran assure us that we must not read the words Alla hou ei Hacher God and Hacher but Alla hou Hachar without the Article el which is then no more than God is powerfull and by maintaining that the words were never otherwise written or pronounc'd avoid the reproach of being the Off-spring of Idolatrous Ancestors and of being constrain'd to change their first Religion for a new Doctrine The 〈◊〉 therefore give divine adoration to none but 〈◊〉 the only Creator of Heaven and Earth and absolute Lord of the World And this is the reason they will not suffer in their Mosquees the Image or representation of any living thing either in sculpture or painting or if there be any left remaining in Mosaic work which the ancient Christians made for the Ornaments of their Churches they are either in places so obscure or so high where they are not taken notice of or if they are once discover'd 't is because they are unwilling to be at the charge of Scaffolds to pull 'em down or deface ' em But where such prohibited things are within their reach they are either disfigur'd and demolish'd or quite daub'd over with the Masons Trowel The second Article of the Mahometan Faith comprehends in epitome all the vain dotages and extravagances of the Alcoran in believing Mahomet to be the Messenger of God and that there was never any truth more certain than what that Impostor has convey'd to 'em as well by Tradition as Writing Which Article being the source and fountain of all the rest it will be needless to repeat here their trifling Conceits concerning the creation and preservation of the World or the method which God has taken to sanctifie and save mankind with many other fantastical and irrational opinions wherewith their brains and writings are stuff'd Nor shall I say any thing concerning their leud conjectures of Paradise celestial in respect of the Beatific Vision of God of which they assure their believers but beastial in regard of those brutish pleasures which they hope there to enjoy with a full swinge and the Apartments which they allow therein to several Beasts such as Abrahams Ram Moses's Heifer Solomons Ant the Queen of Sheba's Parrot Esdras's Ass Ionas's Whale the Seven sleepers Dog and Mahomets Camel Nor need I speak of the number of their Prophets of which they have a vast scrowl though none so famous as Moses Issa Peccamber or Christ whose Filiation and Death they deny and Mahomet their chief and therefore passing over these Absurdities of their belief I come to The Circumcision of the Turks THe Law of Mahomet being the product of dull earthly humane Invention that had nothing of