observed great wax Candles, is enclosed with latten wire Grates, for
the better accommodation of such religious _Turks_ as come to pay their
respect to the memory of this great _Musulman_ Saint. In the middle
of the Area there is raised a building sustained by excellent marble
Pillars, ascended by two several pair of stairs, where the new Emperor
is inaugurated, and where he usually goes in _Biram_-time.
FOOTNOTES:
[1] Κατὰ τὴν ἐπώνυμον ἡμῖν πόλιν. _So the Emperor_ Constantine _in a
Letter to_ Eusebius. de vita Constantini. _lib._ 4. _cap._ 36. & apud
Theodoritum Histor. Eccles. _lib._ 1. _cap._ 16. _v._ etiam Socrat.
Scholast. Hist. Eccles. _lib._ 1. _cap._ 16.
[2] V. Socratem ibidem. Et Theophanem in Chronographia XXV. anno
Constantini.
[3] _The _Italian_ Word _Rione_ is a manifest corruption of the _Latin_
Word._
[4] In Panegyrico, quem Romæ dixit Anthemio Augusto, bis Consuli.
[5] __Hæresi LXIX. quæ est Arianorum. Sect. 2._ where he says a sad
dismal Fire was kindled by _Arius_; πῦρ ὀυ τὸ τυχὸν ὃ κατείληφε πᾶσαν
τὴν Ρωμανίαν σχεδὸν, μάλιστα τῆς ἀνατολῖς τὰ μέρη, which seized almost
upon all _Romania_, or _Universum Romanorum imperium_, as _Petavius_
renders it, but especially the Eastern parts of it._
[6] Pag. 144, 152, 153.
[7] Pag. 139.
[8] v. Gillium de Bosp. Thracio lib. III. cap. 12. &c.
[9] Pag. 169. Num. 3.
[10] Pag. 121.
[11] Vid. Historiam Politicam Constantinopoleos apud Crusium in
Turco-Græcia, pag. 9.
[12] This was an old error; for thus writes Dionysius Byzantinus in his
little Book of the Bosphorus. Τοῦ ῥεύματος τὸ μὲν πλεῖον κατιόντος ἐστὶ
δὲ ὅτε κατ' ἐπικράτειαν ἀναστρέφοντος.
[13] Pag. 119.
_An account of the City of _Prusa_ in _Bythynia_, and a
continuation of the Historical Observations relating to
_Constantinople_, by the Reverend and learned _Thomas Smith_ D.
D. fellow of _Magd. Coll. Oxon._ and of the _Royal Society_._
_Montanea_ formerly called _Nicopolis_ according to _Bellonius_, or
rather _Cios_, the bay hence called _Sinus Cianus_, lies in the bottom
of a Bay about Fourscore miles from _Constantinople_, and is the Scale
or Landing-place for _Prusa_, from which it may be about twelve miles;
in the middle way to which is the Village _Moussanpoula_.
_Prusa_, now called by the _Turks_ _Bursia_, the chief City of
_Bythynia_, is seated at the foot partly, and partly upon the rising
of the mount _Olympus_, which is one of the highest Hills of the
lesser _Asia_. Its top is covered with Snow for nine or ten Months of
the Year, several streams of Water flowing down the Hill continually,
accounted very unwholesom from the Snow mixed with it. In the upper
part of the City to the North-west lies the Seraglio, which is walled
round; but the Emperors not residing here since their acquests in
_Thrace_, or scarce making visits to this Imperial City, and none of
their Sons living here of late, according to the former Policy of the
_Turkish_ Emperors, who did not permit their Sons, when grown up, to
be near them, but sent them to some Honourable Employment, accompanied
with a Bassa and Cadi to instruct them in the Arts of War and
Government, it lies now neglected and despoiled of all its ornaments.
In this part also are the Sepulchers of _Osman_, the founder of the
Family, which now Reigns, and his Son _Urchan_, who took the City,
near a Mosch, formerly a _Christian_ Church dedicated to St. _John_,
and where was formerly a Convent of Religious, built by _Constantinus
Iconomachus_, where I saw the figure of a Cross still remaining upon
the Wall. Here hangs up a Drum of a vast bigness, such as they carry
upon the backs of Cammels, and I suppose is one of those which they
used in the taking the Place.
In the lower part, near the bottom of the Hill, _Morad_ the second, the
Father of _Mahomet_ the Great, lies buried: near whereunto was formerly
the Metropolitical Church of the _Holy Apostles_. The _Bezesten_, or
Exchange, seems to be much better and larger than the great one at
_Constantinople_, as are the several Caravanserais built for the use
and accommodation of Merchants, and Travellers; in one of which, the
Rice Chane, I took up my quarters.
Without the City toward the East is the Mosch and Sepulcher of the
Emperor _Bajazid_ the first, whom the _Turks_ call _Jilderim_ or
lightning, and the Greek Writers λαίλαψ. Not far from hence is the
Mosch of _Mahomet_ the first, and his Sepulcher. Toward the West upon
the side of the Hill is the Mosch of _Morad_ the First, whom they call
_Gazi_ or the Conqueror, near which he lies buried. There are in the
whole about 124 Moschs, several of which were formerly _Christian_
Churches, and between fifty and sixty Chanes. The Castles built by
_Osman_, when he besieged the City, are slighted and altogether
unfortified, the one to the North, the other to the South-West.
At _Checkerghe_, about a mile and a half out of Town, are the hot
Baths, much frequented both by _Christians_ and _Turks_. They are made
very Convenient to Bath in, and are covered over, that they may be used
in all Weathers. Among others, there is a large round _Basin_, where
they usually divert themselves by Swimming.
What opinions the _Turks_ have of our Blessed _Saviour_ and the
_Christian_ Religion, I shall briefly shew, as they lie dispersed
in several Chapters of the _Alcoran_, according to which they frame
their Discourse, whensoever either Zeal or Curiosity puts them upon
this Topick. For _Mahomet_ upon his setting up to be the Author
of a new Religion, finding such a considerable part of the World
professing the doctrine of _Christ_, with all the Mysteries of Faith
therein contained, was cast upon a necessity of saying something both
concerning Him and It. By which it will appear, how great the Power of
Truth is above Imposture and Subtility, and that as the Devils in the
Possessed confess'd, though against their Wills, _Christ_ to be the
Son of _God_, so this _Dæmoniack_ in the midst of all his Forgeries
and Lies, and Ridiculous and Childish Narratives, not being able to
contradict the universal Belief of the _Christians_ of that, and the
preceding Ages, founded on the History of the Gospel, hath been forced
to give Testimony to several particulars of it.
They confess then that _Christ_ was Born of a Pure Spotless Virgin, the
Virgin _Mary_, chosen by _God_ and sanctified above all the Women in
the World; and that the Angel _Gabriel_ was dispatched out of Heaven to
acquaint her with the News of it. That such a kind of Miraculous and
Supernatural Birth never hapned to any besides, and that _Christ_ was
conceived by the _Holy Ghost_, and that he wrought mighty Miracles, for
Instance, that he cleansed Lepers, gave Sight to the Blind, restored
Sick Persons to their Health, and raised the Dead.
That he is a great Prophet, sent by _God_ to convert Men from the
Vanity and Error of their false Worship to the Knowledge of the
true _God_, to Preach Righteousness, and to correct and restore the
Imperfection and Miscarriages of Humane Nature; that he was of a most
Holy and Exemplary Life, that he was the true Word of _God_, the
_Apostle_ or _Ambassador_ of _God_; That his Gospel was revealed to
him from Heaven, and that he is in Heaven standing nigh to the Throne
of _God_. They Blaspheme indeed with a Brutishness and Stupidity only
befitting _Turks_, the Mysteries of the _Holy Trinity_, and of the
Divinity of our _Blessed Saviour_, and deny that he was put to Death,
and say that another in his Shape was Crucified by the _Jews_, and that
he himself was assumed into Heaven in his Body without dying at all,
and consequently they will not own, that he satisfied Divine Justice
for the Sins of the World; so great an affinity is there between the
Heresie of _Socinus_ and profess'd _Mahometanism_.
I could never yet see any _Turkish_ Translation of the _Alcoran_;
they cry up the Elegance of the Style, which being Enthusiastick and
High-flown, by reason also of the tinkling of the Periods, is very
delightful to their Ears, who seem to be affected with Rhime mightily.
Though I suppose it is upon a more Politick Account, that they are
so averse, as to the translating it into their vulgar Language, not
out of respect to the Sacredness of the Original only, whose full
commanding Expressions they think cannot be translated without a great
diminution to the Sense; but to keep it in greater Veneration among
the People, who might be apt to Slight and Dis-esteem it, should it
become thus common among them. It is enough, that the Priests and
Learned Men explain the difficult Passages of it to the People, and
write Commentaries for the use of the more Curious and Inquisitive. The
_Persians_ on the contrary think it no disparagement to the _Arabick_,
or Profanation of the Sense, to Translate this cursed Book into their
own Language, and Copies are frequent among them.
The _Grand Signior_'s Women are usually the choicest Beauties of the
Christian Spoils, presented by the _Bassa's_ or _Tartars_. The present
_Sultana_, the Mother of the young Prince _Mustapha_, is a Candiot;
the _Valide_ or Emperor's Mother, a _Russian_, the Daughter of a poor
Priest, who with her Relations were seized upon by the _Tartars_ in an
Incursion, which they made into the _Muscovites_ Country. She being
receiv'd into the _Seraglio_, by her beautiful Complexion and cunning
Behaviour, gain'd the Heart and Affection of _Sultan Ibrahim_ (a Man
wholly addicted to soft Pleasures, and who seldom cared to be long
absent from the Women's Apartment, but chose to spend his time among
them) having the good fortune to be the Mother of the Prince _Mahomet_,
the eldest Son of his Father, who now Reigns, she had all the Honours
that could possibly be done her, and was the beloved _Hazaki_ or chief
Concubine. During this height of Splendor and Glory, the Court removing
from _Constantinople_ to _Adrianople_, distant about an Hundred and
Twenty Miles, as she was passing in great State attended with her
Guards, through the Streets of the City, in a Coach, much like our
Carriage-Wagons, but that they are latticed to let in the Air (for no
one must presume to stare or scarce look upon the Women, much less must
they themselves suffer their Faces to be seen in this jealous Country)
she out of Curiosity looking through the holes, saw a poor _Christian_
Slave in a Shop, where Sugar and such like Wares were Sold. Upon her
return she sent one of her Eunuchs to enquire for the Person, and to
ask him several Questions about his Country, Relations, Friends, and
the time when and how long he had been a Slave: His answers were so
particular and satisfactory, that she was soon convinc'd of the Truth
and Certainty of her apprehensions, when she first cast her Eyes upon
him, that he was her Brother, and accordingly it proved so. Whereupon
acquainting the Emperor with it, she immediately redeemed him from
his Patron, and having made the poor Wretch turn _Turk_, got him
considerably preferred.
The Bassa's for the most part are the Sons of _Christians_, taken
into the _Seraglio_, near the Emperor's Person, and so are prefer'd
to considerable Governments, or else they raise themselves by their
Conduct and Valour. _Mahomet_ Bassa in the time of _Achmet_, whose
eldest Daughter he Married, was the first natural _Turk_, that was made
chief Vizir, having before been Captain Bassa. The chief Vizir _Mahomet
Kupriuli_, (who settled the Empire in the Minority of this Emperor,
when it was ready to be shaken into Pieces, and dissolved by several
powerful Factions in the State, and by the Mutinies and Discontents
of the _Janizaries_ and _Saphi's_, who drove different ways) was an
_Albaneze_ by Birth, the Son of a _Greek_ Priest, whom out of the
height of Zeal for _Mahomet_, he made turn _Turk_ in his Old Age, and
converted the _Christian_ Church in the Village where he was Born into
a Mosch. This Man also forbad the _Dervises_ to Dance in a Ring and
turn round, which before was their solemn Practice at set times before
the People, which they would do so long, till they were giddy by this
swift circular Motion, and fell down in a Swound, and then oftentimes
upon their recovery from such Trances, they pretended to Revelation.
The Church-Men are not very kind to his Memory, looking upon him as a
Man of little or no Religion; and they give out, that if he had lived,
he would have forbid their calling to Prayers from the Spires of their
Moschs, and hanging out Lamps; both which they look upon as Solemn and
Essential to the exercise of Religion; but he as the effect of Bigotry
and Superstition.
They have a mighty Honour and Esteem for Physicians, for though they
are of Opinion, that they cannot with all their Art prolong Life, the
Period and Term of it being Fatal, and absolutely determin'd by God,
yet they often consult them upon any violent Sickness or Pain, in order
to make the time allotted them in this World more pleasant and easie.
It is extraordinary rare, that a natural _Turk_ makes Physick his
Profession and Study. They who practice it among them, when I was in
_Turky_, were for the most part _Greeks_ and _Jews_, who know nothing
of Chymical Medicines, but follow the usual Methods, which they learnt
in _Italy_ and _Spain_, the former having studied in _Padua_, and the
latter in _Salamanca_, where they pass for good _Catholicks_. And I
remember I met with a certain _Jew_ Physician, who had been a Capuchine
in _Portugal_. During the tedious Siege of _Candia_, the _Vizir_, what
with the melancholy, and what with the ill Air of the Camp, finding
himself much indispos'd, sent for a _Christian_ Physician _Signior
Massalins_, a subject of the Republick of _Venice_, but Married to a
_Greek_ Woman, by whom he had several Children, who was our Neighbour
at _Pera_, an experienc'd able Man, to come speedily to him, and made
him a Present of about a thousand Dollars, in order to fit himself for
the Voyage and bear the expence of it. By this worthy Gentleman's Care,
he recovered his Health, and would not permit him to depart, till after
the surrendry of that City, which might be about seven Months after
his Arrival there, treating him in the mean while with all imaginable
Respect. During our short stay at _Bursia_, one of our _Janizaries_
accidentally discoursing with a _Turk_ about us, whom they knew to
be _Franks_, told him that there was a Physician in the Company, who
had been lately at the Grand _Signior_'s Court at _Saloniki_ with the
_English_ Ambassador, and was now upon his return from _Constantinople_
to _Smyrna_, where he lived. This presently took vent, and the
_Turks_ thought that they had got a Man among them, that could Cure
all Diseases Infallibly; for several immediately came to find us out
in behalf of themselves or their Sick Friends, and one of the most
considerable Men upon the Place, desir'd the Doctor to go to his House
to visit one of his Women Sick in Bed, who being permitted to feel her
naked Pulse (for usually they throw a piece of fine Silk or Curl over
their Womens Wrists at such times) soon discovered by that and other
Symptoms and Indications of her Distemper, that opening a Vein would
presently give her Ease and recover her: which he did accordingly; for
which he received an embroidered Handkerchief instead of a Fee, and
gained the Reputation of having done a mighty Cure.
They have little of Ingenious or Solid Learning among them; their
chief Study, next to the _Alcoran_, being metaphysical Niceties
about the Attributes of _God_, or else the Maintenance of other odd
speculative Notions and Tenets, derived down to them from some of
their famed Masters and Holy Men, whom they pretend to follow. Their
Knowledge of the motion of the Heavens, for which the _Arabians_ and
the other Eastern Nations have been so deservedly famous, as their
Astronomical Tables of the Longitude and Latitude of the fixed Stars,
and of the appulse of the Moon to them, fully evince, is now very
mean, and is chiefly studied for the use of Judiciary Astrology. The
great Instrument they make use of is an Astrolabe, with which they
make very imperfect Observations, having no such thing as a Quadrant
or Sextant, much less a Telescope, or any mechanical Engine, to direct
and assist them in their Calculation. Their Skill in _Geography_ is
as inconsiderable; I remember I heard the Captain Bassa, whom they
stile Admiral of the Black and White Seas, meaning the _Euxine_ and
the _Mediterranean_, ask this silly Question; whether _England_ were
out of the Streights? and at another time the _Caymican_ or Governour
of _Constantinople_, hearing that _England_ was an Island, desired to
know, how many Miles it was about, in order, we supposed, to make an
estimate of our King's Greatness and Strength by the extent and compass
of it.
One of the great Astrologers of _Constantinople_, having heard that I
had a pair of Globes in my Chamber, made me a Visit on purpose to see
their contrivance, being introduced by a worthy Gentleman of our own
Nation. After the first Ceremonies were over, I took my Terrestrial
Globe, and rectified it to the position of the Place, and pointed to
the several Circles both without and upon it, and told him in short the
several uses of them: Then shewed him how _Constantinople_ bared from
_Candia_ at that time Besieged, _Cair_, _Aleppo_, _Mecca_, and other
chief Places of the Empire, with the other Parts of the World: At which
he was mightily surprized to see the whole Earth and Sea represented
in that Figure and in so narrow a compass, and pleased himself with
turning the Globe round several times together. Afterwards I set before
him the Celestial Globe, and rectified that, and shewed him how all
the noted Constellations were exactly described, and how they moved
regularly upon their Poles, as in the Heavens; some rising, and others
setting, some always above the Horison, and others always under, in an
oblique Sphere, and particularly what Stars would rise that Night with
us at such an Hour; the Man seemed to be ravished with the Curiosity
of it, turning this Globe also several times together with his Finger,
and taking a mighty Pleasure in viewing the motion of it: and yet this
silly Animal past for a Conjurer among the _Turks_, and was look'd
upon as one that could foretel the events of Battels, the fates of
Empires, and the end of the World.
They have no Genius for Sea-Voyages, and consequently are very Raw
and Unexperienc'd in the Art of Navigation, scarce venturing to Sail
out of Sight of Land. I speak of the natural _Turks_, who Trade
either into the _Black Sea_, or some part of the _Morea_, or between
_Constantinople_ and _Alexandria_; and not of the Pyrats of _Barbary_,
who are for the most part Renegado's, and learn'd their Skill in
Christendom, which they exercise so much to the Terror and Damage of
it. A _Turkish_ Compass consists but of eight Points, the four Cardinal
and four Collateral; they being at a mighty Loss how to Sail by a side
Wind, when by hauling their Sails sharp, they might lie their Course,
and much more, when they are in the Winds Eye, not knowing how to make
Tacks and Bords, but choose rather to make hast into some Neighbouring
Port, 'till the Wind blows fair. An _English_ and _Turkish_ Vessel both
bound for the Bay of _Saloniki_, at the time of the Grand Signior's
being there, past together out of the _Hellespont_; but foul Weather
happening, the _Turks_ got into _Lemnos_; while our Men kept at Sea and
pursued their Voyage, and after three Weeks stay, returned back to us,
observing in their way, that the _Turks_ remained in the same place
where they left them, for want of a Fore-Wind to put to Sea in.
They trouble not themselves with reading the Histories of other Nations
or of antient times, much less with the Study of _Chronology_, without
which, History is very lame and imperfect; which is the cause of those
ridiculous and childish Mistakes, which pass current and uncontradicted
among them. For instance, they make _Job_ one of _Solomon_'s Judges
and (_Iscander_) _Alexander_ the great Captain General of his Army.
They number _Philip_ of _Macedon_ among the Ancestors of our _Blessed
Saviour_, and believe that _Sampson_, _Jonas_, and St. _George_
were his Contemporaries. In this they are more excusable then their
false Prophet _Mahomet_, who in his _Alcoran_ has perverted several
Historical Notices in the Writings of the Old Testament, and is
guilty of vile and absurd Pseudo-chronismes. To remedy this defect,
of which he was very conscious, and the better to understand the
States of _Christendom_, and the particular Kingdoms and Republicks of
it, the late Great and Wise _Vizir_, _Achmet_, made his Interpreter
_Panagiotti_, a Learned _Greek_, at leisure Hours, even at the Siege
of _Candia_, as well as at other times, read several ancient Histories
to him, and render them _Ex-tempore_ into the _Turkish_ Language,
and particularly _Blaeus Atlas_, with which he was mightily pleased,
and made great use of, and truly gained the Reputation of a solid
and judicious States-man, as well as Souldier among the _Christian_
Ministers, who in the ordinary course of their Negotiations apply'd
themselves to him.
Tho' their Year be according to the course of the Moon, and so the
_Turkish_ Months run round the civil Year in a Circle of thirty three
Years and a few odd Days, yet they celebrate the _Neuruz_, which
signifies in the _Persian_ Tongue the New Year, the twenty first Day of
_March_ (on which Day the vernal Equinox was fixed by the _Greeks_ and
other Oriental _Christians_, in the time of the Emperor _Constantine_,
who made no Provision for the προήγεσις ἰσημερινὴ, or Precession, which
in process of Time the inequality between the Civil and Astronomical
Year must necessarily produce) at which time the _Cadyes_ and other
annual Magistrates, and Farmers of the Customs take Place, and reckon
to that Day twelve Month again.
In their civil Deportment and Behaviour one towards another, the left
Hand is the more Worthy and Honourable Place, except among their
Ecclesiasticks; and the Reason they alledge is, because they Write from
the right Hand, and the Sword is worn on the left Side, and so is more
at his disposal, who walks on that Hand. The chief _Vizir_ accordingly
in the _Divan_ sits at the left Hand of the _Mufty_, each maintaining
their Right of Precedence according to this way of decision.
In their Moschs they sit without any distinction of degrees.
Some of the more zealous _Turks_ cause to be engraven on their
Scymitars and Bucklers a Sentence out of the sixty first _Surat_, which
is concerning Fighting or Battle-array, and contains Incouragements to
Fight in the _Way and Paths of God_, as the Impostor Words it; for
which he assures them, besides assistance from Heaven to help them to
get the Victory over their Enemies, and that _God will Pardon their
Sins and bring them to Paradice_. Thus spirited with Zeal, a _Turk_
lays about him with Fury, when he is a fighting, and seems ambitious of
dying to gain the delights of Paradice, at least indifferent whether he
dies or lives.