Now sing I of Bizantium: Bosphors tydes,
Twixt Europe, and the lesser Asia glydes:
Their Hyppodrome, adorn'd with triumphes past,
And blackish Sea; the Jadilecke more fast:
The Galata, where Christian merchants stay,
And five Ambassadours for commerce aye:
The Turkish customes, and their manners rude,
And of their discent, from the Scythian blood:
Their harsh Religion, and their sense of Hell:
And Paradice: their lawes I shall you tell:
Then last of Mahomet, their God on earth
His end, his life, his parentage and birth.
Constantinople is the Metropolitan of Thracia, so called of Constantine
the Emperour, who first enlarged the same: It was called of old
Bizantium, but now by the Turkes Stambolda, which signifieth in
their language, a large City: It was also called Ethuse, and by
the Greekes Stymbolis. This City (according to auncient Authors)
was first founded by the Lacedemonians, who were conducted from
Lacedemon, by one Pausanias, about the yeare of the World 3294. which
after their consultation with Apollo, where they should settle their
abode and dwelling place, they came to Bithinia, and builded a City
which was called Calcedon. But the commodity of fishing, falling
out contrary to their expectation, in respect that the fishes were
affraide of the white bankes of the City; the Captaine Pausanias
left that place, and builded Bizantium in Thracia, which first was by
him intituled Ligos. By Pliny, Justine, and Strabo, it was surnamed
Urbs Illustrissima, because it is repleate with all the blessings,
earth can give to man; yea and in the most fertile soyle of Europe.
Zonoras reporteth that the Athenians, in an ambitious and insatiable
desire of Soveraignty, wonne it from the Lacedemonians: They thus
being vanquished, suborned Severus the Romane Emperour, to besiege
the same: But the City Bizantium being strongly fortified with walles,
the Romanes could not take it in, untill extreame famine constrained
them to yeeld, after three yeares siege: and Severus to satisfie his
cruelty, put all to the sword, that were within, and razed the walles,
giving it in possession to the neighbouring Perinthians. This Citie
thus remained in calamitie, [Bizantium reedified by Constantine.] till
Constantine (resigning the City of Rome, and a great part of Italy
to the Popish inheritance or the Romane Bishops) reedified the same,
and translated his Imperiall seate in the East, and reduced all the
Empire of Greece, to a unite tranquilitie, with immortall reputation,
which the Parthians and Persians had so miserably disquieted.
But these disorders at length reformed by the severe administration of
Justice, for the which, and other worthy respects, the said Constantine
sonne of Saint Helen, and Emperour of Rome (which afterward the
Pope usurped) was surnamed the Great. He first in his plantation
called this Citie new Rome; but when he beheld the flourishing,
and multiplying of all things in it, and because of the commodious
situation thereof, he called it Constantinoplis, after his owne
name. This Emperour lived there many prosperous yeares, in most happy
estate: likewise many of his successors did, untill such time, that
Mahomet the second of that name, and Emperour of the Turkes; living in
a discontented humour to behold the great and glorious dominions of
Christians; especially this famous Citie, that so flourished in his
eyes, by momentall circumstances, collected his cruell intentions,
to the full height of ambition; whereby he might abolish the very
name of Christianity, and also puft up with a presumptuous desire,
to inlarge his Empire, went with a marvellous power, both by Sea and
Land, unto this magnificent Mansion.
The issue whereof was such, that after divers batteries and assaults,
the irreligious Infidels broke downe the walles, and entred the City,
which breach was about forty paces long, as by the new colour being
built up againe, is easily knowne from the old walles: where when
they entered, they made a wonderfull massacre of poore afflicted
Christians, without sparing any of the Romane kinde, either male or
female. In the mercilesse fury of these Infernall Impes, the Emperour
Constantine was killed, whose head being cut off, was carried upon
the point of a Launce through all the City, and Campe of the Turkes,
to the great disgrace and ignominy of Christianity. His Empresse,
Daughters, and other Ladies after they were abused in their bodyes,
were put to death in a most cruell and terrible manner.
By this overthrow of Constantinople, this Mahomet tooke twelve
Kingdomes, and two hundred Cities from the Christians, which is
a lamentable losse, of such an illustrious Empire. Thus was that
imperiall Citie lost, in the yeare 1453. May 29. when it had remained
under the government of Christians, 1198. yeares. It is now the chiefe
abode of the great Turke Sultan Achmet, the fifteene Grand Cham, or the
line of Ottoman, who was then about twenty three yeares of age; whose
sonne [Foure Emperours one after another distressed.] Osman since,
and after his death, was murdered by the Janizaries, being 14. yeares
of age, after his returne to Constantinople from Podolia in Polland:
And in his place, his Unkle Mustaffa made Emperour, whose weaknesse
and unworthinesse being eft soones discoverd, he was displaced, and
Amurath Osmans brother made Grand Signior, who presently raigneth, and
not without great feare of his Janizaries and Timariots, who twice in
three yeares have lately made insurrection against him. This Emperour
Achmet, who was alive when I was there, was more given to venery,
then martialitie, which gave a greater advantage to the Persians in
their defensive Warres.
Concerning the Empire, we may observe some fatall contrarieties in
one and the same name: For Phillip the Father of Alexander, layd the
first foundation of the Macedonian Monarchy, and Phillip the Father
of Perseus ruined it. [Contrarieties of fortune.] So was this Towne
built by a Constantine, the Sonne of Helena, a Gregory being Patriarch;
and was lost by a Constantine, the sonne of a Helena, a Gregory being
also Patriarch. The Turkes have a Prophecy, that as it was wonne by
a Mahomet, so it shall be lost by a Mahomet.
The forme, or situation of this Citty, is like unto a Triangle, the
South part whereof, and the East part, are invironed with Hellespontus,
and Bosphorus Thraicus; and the North part adjoyning to the firme
land. It is in compasse about the walles, esteemed to be eighteene
miles: in one of these triangled points, being the South-east part,
and at the joyning of Bosphore and Hellespont, standeth the Pallace of
the Great Turke, called Seralia, and the Forrest wherein he hunteth;
which is two miles in length.
The speciall object of Antiquity, I saw within this Citty, was the
incomparable Church of Saint Sophia, whose ornaments and hallowed
vessels, were innumerable in the time of Justinian the Emperour, who
first builded it; but now converted to a Moskuee, and consecrate to
Mahomet, after a diabolicall manner.
[Hyppodrome.] I saw also the famous Hyppodrome, and the Theater whereon
the people stood, when the Emperours used to runne their Horses, and
make their Princely shewes on solemne dayes, which is now altogether
decayd: There is a great Columne in that same place, in the which
all these things memorable, that have bene done in this Hyppodrome,
are superficially carved.
Upon the West corner of the Citty, there is a strong Fortresse,
fortified with seaven great Towers, and well furnished with Munition,
called by Turkes, Jadileke: In this Prison, are Bassawes, and
Subbassawes imprisoned, and also great men of Christians, if any
offence be committed. Their place of Exchange is called Bezastan,
wherein all sorts of commodities are to be sold; as Sattins, Silkes,
Velvets, Cloth of Silver and Gold, and the most exquisitely wrought
Hand-kerchiefes, that can be found in the world; with infinite other
commodities, the relation of which would be tedious.
I have seene men and women as usually sold here in Markets, as Horses
and other beasts are with us: The most part of which are Hungarians,
Transilvanians, Carindians, Istrians, and Dalmatian Captives,
and of other places besides, which they can overcome. Whom, if no
compassionable Christian will buy, or relieve; then must they either
turne Turke, or be addicted to perpetuall slavery. Here I remember of
a charitable deede, done for a sinfull end, and thus it was; A Ship
of Marseilles, called the great Dolphin, lying here forty dayes at
the Galata, [A French palliard.] the Maister Gunner, named Monsieur
Nerack, and I falling in familiar acquaintance, upon a time he told me
secretly that he would gladly for Conscience and Merits sake, redeeme
some poore Christian slave from Turkish Captivity. To the which,
I applauded his advice, and told him the next Friday following I
would assist him to so worthy an action: Friday comes, and he and
I went for Constantinople, where the Market of the slaves being
ready, we spent two houres in viewing, and reviewing five hundreth
Males and Females. At last I pointed him to have bought an old man
or woman, but his minde was contrary set, shewing me that he would
buy some virgin, or young widdow, to save their bodies undefloured
with Infidels. The price of a virgin was too deare for him, being a
hundred Duckets, and widdows were farre under, and at an easier rate:
When we did visite and search them that we were mindfull to buy, they
were strip'd starke naked before our eyes, where the sweetest face,
the youngest age, and whitest skin was in greatest value and request:
The Jewes sold them, for they had bought them from the Turkes: At
last we fell upon a Dalmatian widdow, whose pittifull lookes, and
sprinkling teares, stroke my soule almost to the death for compassion:
whereupon I grew earnest for her reliefe, and he yeelding to my advice,
she is bought and delivered unto him, the man being 60. yeares of age,
and her price 36. Duckets. We leave the market and came over againe
to Galata, where he and I tooke a Chamber for her, and leaving them
there, the next morning I returned earely, suspecting greatly the
dissembling devotion of the Gunner to be nought but luxurious lust,
and so it proved: I knocked at the Chamber doore, that he had newly
locked, and taken the key with him to the ship, for he had tarried
with her all that night; and she answering me with teares, told
me all the manner of his usage, wishing her selfe to be againe in
her former captivity: whereupon I went a shipboord to him, & in my
griefe I swore, that if he abused her any more after that manner,
and not returned to her distresse, her Christian liberty; I would
first make it knowne to his Maister the Captaine of the ship, and
then to the French Ambassadour: for he was mindfull also, his lust
being satisfied to have sold her over againe to some other: At which
threatning the old Pallyard became so fearefull, that he entred in
a reasonable condition with me, and the ship departing thence sixe
dayes thereafter, he freely resigned to me her life, her liberty and
freedome: which being done, and he gone, under my hand before divers
Greekes, I [The Dalmatian Widdow relieved.] subscribed her libertie,
and hyr'd her in the same Taverne for a yeare, taking nothing from her,
for as little had she to give me, except many blessings and thankefull
prayers: This French Gunner was a Papist, and heare you may behold
the dregs of his devotion, and what seven nights leachery cost him,
you may cast up the reckoning of 36. Duckets.
In Constantinople there have happened many fearefull fires, which often
hath consumed to ashes the most part of the rarest Monuments there,
and the beauty of infinite Pallaces; as Zonoras the Constantinopolitan
Historiographer in his Histories mentioneth. And now lately in
the yeare 1607. October 14. there were burned above 3000. houses,
of which I saw a number of ruines (as yet) [Pestilence and Earth
quakes.] unrepaired. It is subject also to divers Earth quakes, which
have often subverted the Towers, Houses, Churches, and Walles of the
City to the ground. Especially in the yeare 1509. in the raigne of
Bajazeth, the ninth Emperour of the Turkes, in which time, more then
13000. persons were all smothered and dead, and laid up in heapes
unburied. And commonly every third yeare, the pestilence is exceeding
great in that City, and after such an odious manner; that those who
are infected (before they die) have the halfe of their one side rot,
and fall away: so that you may easily discerne the whole intrailes of
their bowels. It is not licentiated here, nor else where in all Turkey,
that any Christian should enter in their Moskies, or Churches, without
the conduct of a Janisary; the tryall whereof I had when I viewed
that glorious and great Church of Sancta Sophia, once the beauty
and ornament of all Europe; and is now the chiefe place, to which
the Great Turke or Emperour goeth every Friday, their Sabboth day to
doe his devotion, being accompanied with 3000. Janisaries, besides
Bashawes, Chowses and Hagars. Truely I may say of Constantinople,
as I said once of the world, in the Lamentado of my second Pilgrimage;
A painted Whoore, the maske of deadly sin,
Sweet faire without, and stinking foule within.
For indeed outwardly it hath the fairest show, and inwardly in the
streets being narrow, and most part covered, the filthiest & deformed
buildings in the world; the reason of its beauty, is, because being
situate on moderate prospective heights, the universall tectures,
a farre off, yeeld a delectable show, the covertures being erected
like the backe of a Coach after the Italian fashion with gutterd
tyle. But being entred within, there is nothing but a stinking
deformity, and a loathsome contrived place; without either internall
domesticke furniture, or externall decorements of fabricks palatiatly
extended. Notwithstanding that for its situation, the delicious wines,
& fruits, the temperate climat, the fertile circumjacent fields,
and for the Sea Hellespont, and pleasant Asia on the other side:
it may truely be called the Paradice of the earth.
Perah is over against Constantinople, called of old, Cornubizantii;
but by the Turkes, Galata, being both a quarter of a mile distant,
and the Thraick Bosphore dividing the two. It is the place at
which Christian Ships touch, and where [The Christian Ambassadours
at Perah.] the Ambassadours of Christendome lie. The number of the
Christian Ambassadours that then lay there, and now doe, were these,
first the Romane Emperours, then the French, thirdly the English,
fourthly the Venetian, and lastly the Holland Ambassadours, with
whom often for discourses I was familiar, although with Noble Sir
Thomas Glover I was still domestick for 12. weekes, whose Secretary
for that time was my Countrey man, Maister James Rollocke, who now,
as I take it, is resident in Striveling; he was the last Scotsman I
saw till my returne to Malta after my departure from Constantinople.
From thence I went to the blacke Sea: but commonly Mare Euxinum, where
I saw [Pompeyes Pillar.] Pompeyes Pillar of Marble, standing neere the
shoare, upon a rocky Iland: and not far from thence, is a Lanthorne
higher then any Steeple, whereon there is a panne full of liquor,
that burneth every night to give warning unto ships how neare they
come the shore; It is not much unlike these Lanthornes of Ligorne and
Genua. The water of this Sea is never a whit blacker then other Seas:
but it is called blacke, in respect of the dangerous events in darke
and tempestuous nights, which happen there; and because of the Rockes
and Sands which lye a great way from the maine shore: upon which
many vessels many times are cast away. The blacke Sea is not farre
from Galata, for I both went and returned in one day, being forty
miles out, and in: For I went by boate, and not by land, through the
pleasant Euripus, that runneth betweene the Euxine Sea and Hellespont:
And by the way, I cannot but regrate, the great losse Sir Thomas Glover
received by the Duke of Moldavia, who chargeably entertained him two
yeares in his house, and furnished him with great moneys, and other
necessaries fit for his eminency: This Duke or Prince of Bugdonia
was depraved of his Principalities by Achmet, and fled hither to the
Christian Ambassadours for reliefe: To whom when all the rest had
refus'd acceptance, onely Noble Sir Thomas received him, maintained
him, and seriously wrought with the Grand Signior and his Counsell,
to have had him restored againe to his Lands, but could not prevaile.
In the end, Sir Thomas Glovers five yeares time of Ambassodry being
expired, and the Duke hearing privately that Sir Paul Pinder was
to come in his place, as indeede he came too soone: this Moldavian
Prince stole earely away in the morning over to Constantinople; and
[The Duke of Moldavia turnd Turke.] long or midday turnd Turke, and
was circumcised, contenting himselfe onely for all his great Dukedome,
with a Palace, and a yearely pension of twelve thousand Chickens of
Gold during his life. Which, when we heard, the Ambassadour, and we
were all amazed and discontented: He was indebted to the Ambassadour
above 15. thousand Chickens of Gold, yet or my leaving Galata, I went
twice over with Sir Thomas, and saw him, and found him attended with
a number of Turkes, who when he saw me, tooke me kindly by the hand,
for we had bene two moneths familiar in the Ambassadors house before.
The English Ambassador within halfe a yeare, recovered the halfe
of his moneys, the other halfe he was forced to forgoe for diverse
importunate respects. Nay, I must say one thing more of this Knight,
he releeved more slaves from the Galleys, payd their ransomes, and
sent them home freely to their Christian stations, and kept a better
house, than any Ambassadour did, that ever lay at Constantinople,
or ever shall to the worlds end.
His mother was a Pollonian, who comming from Dansicke to London,
was delivered of him upon the Sea: Afterward he was brought up
at Constantinople from a boy, and spoke, and wrot the Slavonian
Tongue perfectly: And thence returning for London, he was the first
Ambassador King James, of blessed Memory, sent to Constantinople,
after his comming to the Crowne of England: And this much for this
worthy and ever renowned Knight, whose prayse and fame I cannot too
much celebrate.
The Turkes have no Bels in their Churches, neither the use of a clocke,
nor numbring of houres, but they have high round Steeples, for they
contrafact, and contradict all the formes of Christians: when they
goe to pray, they are called together by the voyce of crying men,
who goe upon the bartizings of their Steeples, shouting and crying
with a shrill voyce: La illa, Eillalla, Mahomet Rezul allah, that is:
God is a great God, and Mahomet is his Prophet, or otherwise there
is but one God.
In Constantinople, and all other places of Turky, I ever saw three
Sabboths together, in one weeke: The Friday for the Turkes, the
Saturday for Jewes, and the Sunday for Christians: but the Turkes
Sabboth is worst kept of all: for they will not spare to do any labour
on their Holy Day. They have meetings at their publicke Prayers,
[Times of Turkish prayers.] every day five severall times: the first
is, before the rising of the Sunne: The second is, a little before
midday: The third is, at three of the clocke in the afternoone: The
fourth is, at the Sunne-setting, Sommer and Winter: Fifthly, the last
howre of Prayer, is alwayes two or three howres within night. Many of
them will watch till that time, and not sleepe; and others sleeping,
will awake at the voyce of the Cryer, and go to Church.
In signe of reverence, and in a superstitious devotion, before
they go into their Mosquees, they wash themselves in a Lavotoio,
beginning at the privy members, next their mouthes faces, feete and
hands: And entring, they incline their heads downeward to the earth;
and falling on their knees, do kisse the ground three times. Then the
Talasumany, which is the chiefe Priest, mounteth upon a high stone,
where he maketh many Orations to Mahomet: and the rest to assist him,
continue a long time shaking their heads, as though they were out of
all their naturall understanding, repeating oft this word Haylamo,
Haylamo; and after that will sigh grievously, saying, Houpek. And
sometimes will abruptly sing the Psalmes of David in the Arabick
tongue, but to no sense, nor verity of the Scriptures. And at their
devotion, they will not tollerate any women in their company, lest they
should withdraw their minds and affections from their present zeale:
But the men observe their turnes and times, and the women theirs,
going alwayes when they goe, either of them alone to their devotion:
The like custome, but not after the same manner have I seene observed
among the Protestants in Transilvania, Hungaria, Moravia, Bohemia,
and Silesia, who when they come to Church on the Sabboth day, there
is a Taffaty Curtaine drawne from the Pulpit to the Church wall over
against it: The men sitting on the right hand of the Preacher, the
women on the left; whose eyes and faces cannot see other during divine
Service, save only the Minister that over-toppeth both sides; and
truly me thought it was a very modest, and necessary observation. [The
Turkes are circumcised.] The Turks are generally circumcised after the
manner of the Jewes, but not after 8. dayes, but after 8. yeares. The
Church men are called Hadach Casseis, or Darvises, who weare on their
heads greene Shashes, to make distinction betweene them and others:
for they are accounted to be of Mahomets kindred.
They hold all mad men in great reverence, as Prophets or Saints, &
if they intend any far journey, privat purposes, or otherwise, before
they go to battell, they come to crave counsell of these Santones, to
know if they shall prosper, or not, in their attempts. And whatsoever
answer these Bedleem Prophets give, it is holden to be so credible,
as if an Oracle had spoken it. The Turkish Priests are for the most
part Moores, whom they account to be a base people in respect of
themselves, calling them Totseks: Their principall Church governour
is called Mufti, Whose definitive sentence in Lawe or Religion is
penetrable, and absolutely valiant: Neither abaseth he himselfe to
sit in the Divano, nor affordeth more reverence to the Emperour, than
he to him. [The Turkish Church-men.] The other sort of Church-men are
the Naipi or young Doctors, the Caddi, whereof there is two or three
in every Citty to judge the offences; the Calsi or Readers, and the
Mudressi which use to oversee the Cadeis in their Office: They were all
formerly Idolatrous Pagans, and were fast initiated in Mahometanisme,
when they got the Soveraignty of the Persian Scepter; by the great
Battell, and fortunate conduct of Tangrolipix in overthrowing Mahomet a
Saracenicall Sultan of Persia; who inthronized himselfe, in the Persian
Chayre of Estate, Anno 1030. This prerogative Title of Mufti, was first
intituled Caliph, whose residence was in Babylon, and wholly supreme
over the Mahometans: But the Ægyptians after the death of Mot adi Bila,
withdrew themselves from this Babylonian obedience, and choosed one
of their owne, to whom the Moores of Barbary submitted themselves.
[Babylon recovered by the Persians.] But now since Bagdat, or Babylon
hath beene recovered by the Persians, about foure yeares agoe, their
Mahometanicall Mufti or Caliph, that then was Resident there, is now
retired to Constantinople, where he sitteth in a more securer place,
thinking rather to follow the Grandeur of the Turke, than the broken
Estate of the Persian, whence I may truly say, he is Fortunes Page,
that favoureth them most, who have most favourers.
This unwealdy body having two heads, began to decline; for Allan a
Tartarian Captaine, starved Mustatzem the last divided Babylonian
Caliph to death and rooted out all his posterity: And then Sarancon
the first Turkish King in Ægypt, brained the last Ægyptian Caliph
with his Mace, leaving none of the issue, or Kindred surviving. The
Office of the Caliph is now executed in Turkey, under the name Muphti,
or high Priest. All Turkes do detest the colour of blacke, and thinke
those that weare it, shall never enter into Paradise: But the colour of
greatest request among them is greene; wherewith if any Christian be
apparrelled, he shall be sure of Bastinadoes, and other punishments:
Neither may he use the name of their Prophet Mahomet in his mouth,
(under the paine of a cruell censure to be inflicted upon him) whom
they so much adore, and honour.
[Mahomets birth.] This Mahomet was borne, Anno Dom. 591. in Itraripia,
a beggarly Village in Arabia, whose father was Abdillas, an Ismaelite;
and his mother Cadiges, a Jew; both different in Religion, and also
of diverse Countries: In his youth he was partly taught the Judaicall
Law, and partly the superstition of the Gentiles. Many alleadge his
parentage was never knowne (being so base) untill his riper yeares
bewrayed the same, I also learned that his Parents dyed whiles he
was a young child, and was turned over to his Unckle, who afterward
sold him to one Abdeminoples, a Merchant in Palestina: And he, after
a little time, having remarked his ready and prompt wit, sent him
downe to Ægypt, to be a Factor in his Merchandise; where, by his
dissimulate behaviour, he crept in favour with Christians, Jewes,
and Gentiles. He was in proportion of a meane stature, lively faced,
big-headed, eloquent in language, of a sanguinicall complexion, and a
couragious stomacke, in all attempts exceeding desperate: he was also
deceitfull, variant, and fradulent, as may appeare in his Satanicall
Fables, expressed in his Alcoran, where oft one saying contradicteth
another, both in words, and effect.
About this time there was one Sergius, an Italian borne, banished from
Constantinople, because he allowed of the Arrian sect; who afterward
came to Palestina, and frequenting the house of Abdeminoples, fell
in acquaintance with the young man Mahomet; and this Frier perceiving
the aspiring quicknes of his braine, bore a great affection
to his naturall perfections. Shortly after this, his Maister dying
without heires, and his Mistresse enjoying many rich possessions; she,
for these his extraordinary qualities, from the degree of a Servant,
advanced him to be her owne Husband.
That unhappy match was no sooner done but she repented it with teares:
[Mahomet possessed with the falling sicknes.] for he being subject to
the falling sicknesse, would often fall flat on the ground before her,
staring, gaping, and foaming at the mouth; so that his company became
loathsome and detestable. The which begun contempt in his bed-fellow;
being to him manifested, he strove (under the shaddow of invented lies)
to mitigate the fury of her hatefull disdaine; faining, and attesting,
that when he fell to the ground, it was the great God spoke with him,
before whose face (sayth he) I am not able to stand; such is the
soliciting of me, with words of terrour and Majesty, to reforme the
wayes of the degenerate people with fire, and sword; sith Moses and
Christ (notwithstanding of their miracles) have beene rejected by the
world. The old Trot, believing all these flattering speeches, was not
onely appeased of her former conceit, but also loving him more then a
husband, reverenced him for a divine Prophet; imparting the same unto
her neighbours and gossips. After they had lived two yeares together,
the bewitched Matron dying, left all her possessions to Mahomet;
both because she accounted him to be a Prophet, and next for that
loving regard she had of his tender body, being but 30. yeares of
age. He being thus left with great riches, was puft up in pride,
and hauty desires, striving by all inordinary meanes, to bring his
new devised plots to perfection. For the better performance whereof,
he consulted with this Sergius a Nestorian Monk, and Atodala another
Thalmudist, a diverted Jew; hereupon these two helhounds, and the other
perverst Runagate, patched up a most monstrous, and divellish Religion
to themselves, and to their miscreant beleevers; partly composed of
the Judaicall law, partly of Arrianisme, partly intermixed with some
points of Christianity; and partly of other fantasticall fopperies,
which his owne invention suggested unto him.
The Booke of this Religion is named the Alcoran, the whole body of
which, is but an exposition, and glosse on the eight commandements
he affixed; whereupon dependeth [The Law of Mahomet.] the whole
Mahometanicall Law: First, every one ought to beleeve that God is a
great God, and onely God, and Mahomet is his Prophet. Secondly, every
man must marry to encrease the Sectaries of Mahomet: Thirdly, every
one must give of his wealth to the poore: Fourthly, every one must
make his prayers seaven times a day: Fiftly, every one must keepe a
Lent, one moneth in the yeare, this Lent is called Birham, or Ramazan:
Sixtly, Be obedient to thy Parents; which Law is so neglected, that
never any children were, or are more unnaturall then the Turkish be:
Seaventhly, thou shalt not kill, which they inviolable keepe amongst
themselves; but the poore Christians feele the smart thereof. Last
and eightly, Doe unto others, as thou wouldst be done unto thy selfe,
the performers of which have large Sophisticall promises ascribed them.
This new coyned doctrine, was no sooner wrapt up in his execrable
Alcoran, but he began to spit forth his abhominable and blasphemous
heresies: Affirming, that Christ was not the sonne of the most high,
nor that Messias looked for; denying also the Trinity, with many other
prophane blasphemies. The worke concluded, for the better advancement
of his purpose, he married the daughter of the chiefe Prince of his
owne tribe: By which new affinity, he not onely seduced his Father in
law, but also the whole linage of that family; by whose acceptance,
and conversion, he also confederated with other associates, and waxed
dayly stronger. Contending continually to divulgate his name, aye
more and more, he assembled his new Alcoranists: exhorting them to
assist him in the besieging of Mecha, which Citizens had in derision
rebuked his law, and absolutely disdained his Mahometanicall illusions:
and promised to them, in such a well deserving attempt, both eternall
felicity, and the spoiles of these his contradictors; perswasively
assuring them, that God would deliver all the gaine-sayers of his
Alcoran into his hands. By which allurements they being moved,
rose to the number of 3000. in Armes, and menaced Mecha, but the
Citizens put him to flight, and so was he thrice served; till in the
end he wonne their City: wherein after his death [Mahomets Tombe.] he
was intombed in an Iron Coffin: Which betweene two Adamants hangeth
to this day (as I have been informed of sundry Turkes, who saw it)
which confirmed in them a solid beliefe of his erronious doctrine.
But now of late the Turkes growing more circumspect then they were,
and understanding the derision of Christianes concerning their hanging
Tombe, and because the Turkish Pilgrimes were often suffocate to death,
with a fabulous desart in going to Mecha; they have transported
Mahomets Tombe now to Medina; which is a great deale nearer to
Damascus, and at the entry of Arabia foelix; in a glorious Mosquee,
where the Tombe being close ground set, and richly covered with a
golden Cannopy; they have inhibited that any Christian shall come
neare to it by two courses, to wit. twenty foure miles, under the
payne of death: which indeed they keepe more strictly in execution,
then Princely Proclamations are obeyed, observed, or regarded with us;
either for regall statutes, or generall benefits of Common-wealth:
their continuance being but like the miracle of nine daies wonder;
returne againe from whence they came frustrat of power, and robbed of
obedience. From this time that he vanquished Mecha, casting out the
Greeke Officers, (for then all Arabia was under the Constantinopolitan
Empire) the Saracens began their computation of yeares (as we from
Christs Nativity) which they call Hegira, and begunne about the yeare
of our Redemption, 617. Concerning which time, that Mahomet compiled
his divellish Alcoran, beginning his Empire; nigh about the same
time it is observed that Boniface the third begun his Empire, and
Antechristian title, for Phocas having killed the Emperour Mauritius,
his Wife and children: To secure himselfe of Italy, ready to revolt
from such a Tyrant, made Boniface universall Bishop and head of
the Church.
This Boniface was the threescore and fourth Bishop, & [The first
title of Popes.] first Pope of Rome: Which was immediatly thereafter
confirmed by Puppin the French King, who also had murdered his
Master and Prince; and lastly was ratified by Paleologus, whose
sonne Constantine about 14. yeares thereafter, had his head stroake
off, his wife and daughters put to cruell death, his Empire quite
subverted, in the losse of 12. Kingdomes, and 200. Cities, being
the just judgements of God upon the sonne, for the fathers sake, who
assigned such an ambitious charge unto that perverse Papality: After
which predominant titles and falsified power, what long controversies
and disputes were betweene the Pope, and the Councels of Carthage,
Calcedon, Ephesus, Allexandria, and Nyce. This Papall prerogative
begun with bloud, and murther, continueth in bloud, and massacres, and
(doubtlesse) in the ende shall perish, and be confounded with bloud,
and abhominable destruction.
And what great debate was of old by the Romane Emperours, in abolishing
out of their Churches, the Images and Idols of Stone, Iron, & Timber,
&c. that for many hundreth yeares they were not suffered to be
seene: And at the beginning of the Papality, and a long time after,
the Emperours prohibite them, and diverse Popes have confirmed,
and approved the same: Yet succeeding Popes, and the Empire being
divided in East and West, introducted againe, the dregs of their olde
Hethnish and [Romish Idolatry.] Romane Idolatry: and yet they will not
be content with the bare name of Images, but they impose a surname
or epithite of sanctity, tearming them holy Images. Truely I may
say, if it were not for these Images, and superstitious Idolatries,
they assigne to them, the Turkes had long agoe bene converted to the
Christian Faith.
I have seene sometimes two thousand Turkes travelling [Turkish
Pilgrimes.] to Mecha, in Pilgrimage; which is in Arabia felix: where
many in a superstitious devotion, having seene the Tombe of Mahomet,
are never desirous to see the vanities of the World againe: For in
a franticke piety they cause a Smith to pull forth their eyes: And
these men are called afterward Hoggeis, that is, Holy men, whom the
Turkes much honour, and regard: and are alwayes led about from towne
to towne by mens hands, and fed, and regarded like unto Princes; or
like the Capushines that scourge themselves on good Friday, met, and
homaged at every passing Streete, with prayers, gifts, and adorations.
Some write, that Mahomet in his youth was a Souldier, under the conduct
of Heraclius, who imploying certaine Arabians in an expedition to
Persia, not onely denied them their wages, but told them, that,
that was not to be given for dogges, which was provided for the
Romane Souldiers. Hence some mutinies arrising in the Army, he, with
certaine Arabians, his Country-men, by faction, separated themselves,
and revolted: Whereupon Mahomet, encouraging them in their defection,
was chosen their Captaine; and so for a certaine time they continued
rebellious Runnagates, Theeves, and Robbers of all people. The subtilty
of this dissembler was admirable; who knowing that he was destitute of
heavenly gifts, to worke miracles, feignd, that God sent him with the
sword: He also promised, at the end of a thousand yeares to returne,
and bring them to Paradice; [Mahomet hath broke his promise.] but
he hath falsified his promise, for the time is expired forty yeares
ago. And they imagining, that he is either diseased, or become lame in
his journey, have ascribed to him another thousand yeares to come. But
long may their wicked and faithlesse generation gape, before he come,
untill such time, that in a generall convocation, they be partakers
of his endlesse damnation in Hell; unlesse it please the Lord in his
mercy to convert them before that time.
Mahomet, chiefly prohibiteth in his Alcoran, the eating of Swines
flesh, and drinking of Wine, which indeed the best sort do, but
the baser kind are dayly drunkards: Their common drinke is Sherpet,
composed of Water, Honey, and Sugar, which is exceeding delectable in
the taste: And the usuall courtesie, they bestow on their friends, who
visite them, is a Cup of Coffa, made of a kind of seed called Coava,
and of a blackish colour; which they drinke so hote as possible they
can, and is good to expell the crudity of raw meates, and hearbes,
so much by them frequented. And those that cannot attaine to this
liquor, must be contented with the cooling streames of water.
[Oppression of Turkes.] It is incident to Turkes, which have not
the generosity of mind to temper felicity, to be glutted with the
superfluous fruites of doubtfull prosperity. Neither have they a
patient resolution to withstand adversity, nor hope to expect the
better alteration of time. But by an infused malice in their wicked
spirits, when they are any way calamited, will with importunate
compulsion, cause the poore slavish subjected Christians, surrender all
they have, the halfe, or so forth, sometimes with strokes, menacings,
and sometimes death it selfe; which plainely doth demonstrate their
excessive cruelty, and the poore Christians inevitable misery. And
yet being complained upon, they are severely punished, or else put
to death, for committing of such unallowable Ryots, being expresly
against the Imperiall Law of the Turke, concerning the quietnesse
and liberty of the Christians.
I have often heard Turkes brawle one with another most vilely,
but I never saw, or heard, that they either in private or publicke
quarrels, durst strike one another, neither dare they for feare of
severe punishment, imposed to such quarrellors: But they will injure
and strike Christians, who dare not say it is amisse, or strike
againe. It is a common thing with them, to kill their servants for a
very small offence, and when they have done, throw them like dogges
in a ditch. And oftentimes (if not so) will lay them downe on their
backes, hoysing up their heeles, bind their feete together, and
fasten them to a post, and with a cudgell give them three or foure
hundreth blowes on the soles of their feete: Whereupon peradventure,
some ever go lame after. Their servants are bought and sold, like
bruite beasts in Markets; neither can these miserable drudges ever
recover liberty, except they buy themselves free, either by one meane
or other. Their wives are not farre from the like servitude, for the
men by the Alcoran, are admitted to marry as many women as they will,
or their ability can keepe. And if it shall happen, that any one
of these women (I meane either wife or Concubine) prostituteth her
selfe to an other man besides her husband; then may he, by authority,
bind her hands and feete, hang a stone about her necke, and cast her
into a River, which by them is usually done in the night.
But when these Infidels please to abuse poore Christian women against
their husbands will, they little regard the transgression of the
Christian Law; who as well defloure their daughters, as their wives;
yet the devout Mahometans never meddle with them, accompting themselves
damned to copulate (as they thinke) with the offspring of dogges. The
Turkes generally, when they commit any copulation with Christians,
or their owne sexe, they wash themselves in a South running fountaine,
before the Sun rising, thinking thereby to wash away their sinnes.
[The Turkes Justice.] If a Turke should happen to kill another Turke,
his punishment is thus; after he is adjudged to death, he is brought
forth to the market place, and a blocke being brought hither of foure
foote high; the malefactor is stripd naked; and then layd thereupon
with his belly downeward, they drawe in his middle together so small
with running cords, that they strike his body a two with one blow:
his hinder parts they cast to be eaten by hungry dogges kept for
the same purpose; and the forequarters and head they throw into a
grievous fire, made there for the same end: and this is the punishment
for man-slaughter.
But for murder or treason he is more cruelly used, for being convicted
& condemned, he is brought forth before the people, where in the street
there is an exceeding high Stripad erected, much like to a May-pole:
which tree from the roote, till it almost come to the top, is all
set about full of long sharpe iron pikes, and their poynts upward:
The Villaine being strip'd naked, and his hands bound backward, they
bind a strong rope about his shoulders and cleavings: And then hoysing
him up to the pillow or top of the tree, they let the rope flee loose,
whence downe he falles, with a rattle, among the iron pykes, hanging
either by the buttocks, by the breasts, by the sides, or shoulders;
and there sticking fast in the ayre, he hangeth till his very bones rot
and fall downe, and his body be devoured being quicke, with ravenous
Eagles, kept to prey upon his carkas for the same purpose.
[Turkish marriages.] But now I come to their nuptiall rites, their
custome and manner of marriage is thus: If a man affecteth a yong
mayd, he buyeth her of her parents, and giveth a good summe of money
for her, and after she is bought, he enrolles her name in the Cadies
Booke, witnessing she is his bound wife, bought of her father. Loe,
this is all the forme of their marriage: This being done, the father
of the woman sendeth houshold-stuffe home with the Bride; which is
carried through the streets on Mulets or Camells backes, the two new
married folkes marching before, are conveyed with musicke, their owne
acquaintance, and friends unto his house.
The Turkes in generall, whensoever they loath or dislike their
wives, use to sell them in markets, or otherwise bestow them on
their men-slaves: And although their affection were never so great
towards them, yet they never eate together, for commonly the women
stand, and serve their husbands at meate, and after that, they eate
a part by themselves, secretly; without admission of any mankind in
their company, if they be above foureteene yeares of age. They goe
seldome abroad, unlesse it be each Thursday at night, when they goe
to the Graves to mourne for the dead, alwayes covering their faces,
very modestly with white or blacke masks, which are never uncovered,
till they returne to their houses. Many other ceremonies they have,
which would be too prolixe for me to recite. And notwithstanding of
all this externall gravity, amongst these hirelings, yet there are in
Constantinople above 40000. brothel-houses, Turqueski as Libertines;
in any of which, if a Christian (especially Francks) be apprehended,
he must either turne Turke, or Slave all his life: But the women by
policy apply a counter-poyson to this severity, for they accustomably
come to the Chambers of their Benefactors and well-willers, or other
places appointed secretly, whereso they learne either a French Syncopa,
or an Italian Bergamasko.
[The Emperors Concubines.] As for the great Turkes Concubines,
they are of number eight hundred, being the most part Emeeres,
Bashawes, and Timariots daughters: The third and inmost part of
the Seraglia is allotted for their residence, being well attended
at all times with numbers of Enuches, and other gelded officers:
Every morning they are ranked in a great Hall, and set on high and
open seats: where when he commeth, and selecting the youngest and
fairest, he toucheth her with a rod; and immediately she followeth
him into his cabine of leachery, where if any action be done, shee
receiveth from the Head-Clarke her approbation thereupon, which ever
afterwards serveth her for a conditionall dowry to her marriage, with
much honour and reputation besides: And if any of them conceave,
and the child borne, it is suddenly dispatched from this life:
[A hundred Concubines changed every moneth.] The oldest hundreth,
every first Friday of the moneth are turned out, and another new
hundred come in to make good the number: Their entrie and issue is
alwayes at one of the posterne gates of the Parke, toward the sea
side, and joyning nigh to their Pallace: Whence crossing Bosphore,
in an appointed barge, they both goe and come in one day, from
and to the Galata, which I my selfe did see three several times:
The oldest and last hundred that are every moneth dismissed, they
depart from the Galata, home to their Parents and severall Countreys,
rejoycing that they were counted worthy to be chosen and entertained
to be their Emperours Concubines. The custome of the great Turke
is, every Friday being their Sabboth day after divine service and
dinner, to run at the Glove in a open place before all the people,
with some Hagars, or yong striplings that accompany him; who have the
Glove hanging as high on a sticke, as we have the ring with us: And
truely of all the Turkish Emperours that ever were, this Achmet was
the most gentle & favourable to Christians; who rather for his bounty
and tendernesse might have beene intitulated the Christian Emperour,
then the Pagane King: for he dissanulled all the exactions that had
beene inflicted by his predecessors upon his tributarie Christian
subjects; and cancelled the custome or tythe of their Male children,
abrogating also that imposition on their Female dowries.
The Lent of the Turkes is called Byrham, which continueth the space
of a moneth once in the yeare: In all which time, from the Sunne
rising to his setting, they neither eate nor drinke: And at their
prayers (especially in this fasting) they use often to reiterate
these words Hue, hue, hue, that is; He, he, he, alone is God; or,
There is but one onely supreme Power; which they doe in derision of
Christians, who (as they say) adore three Gods. They have also this
sinister opinion, that at the day of Judgement, when Mahomet shall
appeare, there shall be three displayed Banners, under the which all
good [The Turkes Paradise.] people shall be conducted to Paradise:
The one of Moses, under the which the children of Israel shall be:
The second of Jesus, under which Christians shall be: The third of
Mahomet, under the which shall be the Arabs, Turkes, and Musilmans:
All which, they thinke, shall be elevated to severall honours; and
they in promotion shall be discerned from the rest, by Chambers made
of resplendant light, which God will give them; wherein they shall
have banquetings, feastings, dancing, and the best melody can be
devised; and that they shall spend their times with amorous Virgins,
(whose mansion shall be neare by) the men never exceeding the age of
thirty yeares, and the Virgines fifteene, and both shall have their
Virginities renewed, as fast, as lost.
They hold also this, as a confident article of their Beliefe, there are
seven Paradises in heaven, the pavements whereof are laid with gold,
silver, pearles, pretious stones, and garnished with stately buildings,
and pleasant gardens, wherein are all sorts of fruit, and Princely
Pallaces; through the which runne Rivers of milke, honey, and wine.
The first Paradise, they call it Genete Alcholde, the second
Alfirduzy, the third Anthinak, the fourth Reduasch, the fift Azelem,
the sixt Alcodush, that is holy, and the seventh Almega, that is,
the greatest. And that in the midst of this last Paradise, there is
a stately tree, called Tubah, the leafe of which is partly of gold,
and partly of silver: whose boughes extend round about the wals
of this seventh Paradice, whereon the name of Mahomet is written,
neare to the name of God, in these words, Alla, illa, he, allah,
Mahomet Rezul allah. The which words are in such reverence amongst
the Turkes, that if a Christian should happen, unadvisedly to repeate
them, he is adjudged to a most cruell death, or compulsed to renounce
his Christian Religion.
[The Turkes Lent.] Their Lent lasteth thirty dayes, called Byrham,
some name it also Ramadan; induring which time, they eate nor drinke
nothing from Sunne rising to its setting downe: but when night commeth
they Cormandize at their selfe pleasures: Their moneth of Lent is
our January, where every day after their severall devotions, they
goe to solemne playes; and all kind of prophane pastimes: counting
that best devotion, which is most sutable to their dispositions;
allotting fancy to follow their folly, and blindnesse, to overtop the
ignorance of nature, drawing all their drifts within the circle of
destruction: But indeed, as they are blind, in the true way of sacred
worship; yet are they masked with a wonderfull zeale to their devoted
blindnesse; surpassing farre in shew, and observations, the generall
Professours of Christianity, and all the Ceremonies can bee annexed
thereunto: Theirs running on with the flouds of ignorant affection,
and ours distracted with the inutile novelties of superfluous Schoole
questions: which indeed do more distemper the truth, than render God
to be rightly glorified.
[The Turkes opinion of hell.] As concerning their opinion of Hell,
they hold it to be a deepe Gulfe, betwixt two Mountaines: from the
mouth whereof are Dragons, that continually throw fire, being large
eight leagues, and hath a darke entry, where the horrible Fiends meete
the perplexed sinners, conveying them till they come to a bridge,
that is so narrow as the edge of a Razor: whereupon these who have
not committed haynous offences, may passe over to Hell, but those who
have done Buggery (as the most part of them do) and homicide, shall
fall headlong from it, to the profoundest pit in Hell, where they
shall sometimes burne in fire, & sometimes be cast into hot boyling
waters to be refreshed. And for the greater punishment of the wicked
(say they) God hath planted a tree in Hell named Sajaratash, or Roozo
Saytanah, that is, the head of the Divell, upon the fruit of which,
the damned continually feed: Mahomet in one of the Chapters of his
Alcoran calleth this tree, the Tree of Malediction.
They also thinke the tormented soules may one day be saved, providing
they do indure the scorching flames of Hell patiently. Thus, as
briefly as I could, have I layd open the opinions of the Turkes,
concerning their Heaven and Hell, before the eyes of these, who
peradventure have never bene acquainted with such a ghostly Discourse.
[The number of all the Emperours in East and West.] And now I thinke
it not amisse to reckon you up in generall all the Romane and Greeke
Emperours, that have bene from the beginning to this present time,
both in the East, and in the West, with the number of the Turkish
Emperours also: Beginning now at Julius Cæsar, the first Dictatour of
Romane Emperour, to Constantine the Great, who transported the seate
of the Empire from Rome to Constantinople, he was the three score and
fourth Emperour: And from Constantine the Great in the East, to the
first made Emperour in the West, there were thirty nine Emperours:
of whom Constantine the sixth, sonne to Leo the third, with Irena his
wife was the last sole Emperour, and she Empresse of East and West:
After whose death and overthrow, Charlemaine was called in to Italy
to danton the Lombards, who had oppressed that region, and the peace
of the Church for two hundreth yeares: He chased them from Rome,
Apulia, and from all Italy, and was therefore declared by Pope Leo,
the Romane Emperour of the West: from Charlemaine to this present
Ferdinando that now raigneth, Charlemaine being the hundreth and
fourth, there were forty and one Emperors: So in all, with this
Emperour Ferdinando, lately Duke of Grasse, the number amounts to of
these Emperours, counting from Julius Cæsar to Constantine the sixt,
the last sole Emperour of the East, and after him, from Charlemaine
the first Emperour of the West, to this time, their number have bene
a hundreth and forty sixe Emperours.
Some whereof were Greekes, which cannot perfectly be set downe,
in regard some were Empresses, and others suddenly elected, were as
suddenly murthered or poysoned.
Now to reckon the Turkish Emperors, I will first begin from the time
that the Turkes tooke a Monarchick name, under the name of Ottoman,
even to Mahomet the second, the first Grecian Emperour, beginning,
I say at Ottoman, the sonne of Orthogule the first Emperour of the
Turkes, and the first that erected the glory of his Nation; there
were nine Emperours to Mahomet the second: And from him to this
present Amurath, that now raigneth, there have bene eleven Emperours:
The number of which are onely twenty, and or they come to thirty,
they and theirs, I hope, shall be rooted from the earth.
[The beginning of the Turkes.] The Originall of the Turkes, is sayd
to have bene in Scythia, from whence they came to Arabia Petrea,
and giving battell oft to the Sarazens, in the ende subdued them,
and so they multiplied, and mightily increased: the apparence of their
further increasing, is very evident, except God of his mercy towards
us prevent their blood sucking threatnings, with the vengeance of
his just judgements.
The Sarazens are descended of Esau, who after he had lost the blessing,
went and inhabited in Arabia Petrea; and his Posterity, striving to
make a cleere distinction betweene them, the Ismaelites, and Jewes,
called themselves (as come of Sara) Sarazens; and not of Hagar,
the handmaide of Abraham, of whom came the Ismaelites, neither of
the race of Jacob, of whom came the Jewes. But now the Sarazens being
joyned with the Turkes, their Conquerours, have both lost their name,
and the right of their discent.
The Turkes which are borne and bred in the lesser Asia, and East parts
of Europe, [The Turkes complexion.] are generally well complexioned,
proportionably compacted, no idle nor superfluous talkers, servile
to their grand Signior, excessively inclined to Venery, and zealous
in Religion: Their heads are alwayes shaven, reserving onely one
tuft in the top above, by which they thinke one day to be caught to
Heaven by Mahomet, and covered on all sides, counting it an opprobious
thing to see any uncover his head, they weare their Beards long, as a
signe of gravity, for they esteeme them to be wise men, who have long
beards: The women are of a low stature, thicke and round of growth,
going seldome abroad (unlesse it be each Thursday at night, when
they go to mourne upon the graves of their dead friends) and then
they are modestly masked: they are fearefull and shame-fast abroad,
but lascivious within doores, and pleasing in matters of incontinency;
and they are accounted most beautifull, who have the blackest browes,
the widest mouthes, and the greatest eyes.
The other Turkes which are borne in Asia major, and Ægypt, (I speake
not of the Moores of Barbary) are of a greater stature, tanny, cruell,
a barbarous and uncivill people. The better sort use the Slavonian
tongue, the vulgar speake the Turkish language, which being originally
the Tartarian speech, they borrow from the Persian their words of
state, from the Arabicke, their words of Religion, from the Grecians,
their termes of warre, and from the Italian their words and titles
of navigation.
The puissance of the great Turke is admirable, yet the most part of
his Kingdomes in Asia, are not well inhabited, neither populous, but
these parts which border with Christians, are strongly fortified with
Castles, people, and munition: If Christian Princes could concord,
and consult together, it were an easie thing in one yeare, to subdue
the Turkes, and roote out their very names from the earth; yea,
moreover I am certified, that there are moe Christians, even slaves
and subjects to the great Turke, which do inhabite his dominions,
then might overthrow and conquer these Infidells, if they had worthy
Captaines, Governours and furniture of Armes, without the helpe of
any Christian of Christendome.
And yet againe, I thinke it not amisse to discourse more particularly
of the Turkish manners, of their riches, and of their forces of warres,
and the manner of their conducements.
[The Turkes are Tartarians.] The Turkes being naturally discended
of the Scythians or Tartars, are of the second stature of man, and
robust of nature, circumspect and couragious in all their attempts,
and no way given to industry or labour, but are wonderfull avaritious
and covetuous of money above all the nations of the world. They
never observe their promises, unlesse it be with advantage, and are
naturally prone to deceive strangers; changing their conditionall
bargaines, as time giveth occasion to their liking: They are humble
one to another, but especially to their superiours, before whom they
doe not onely great homage, but also keepe great silence, and are
wonderfull coy during the time of their presence: They are extreamely
inclined to all sorts of [Libidinous Turkes.] lascivious luxury; and
generally adicted, besides all their sensuall and incestuous lusts,
unto Sodomy, which they account as a daynty to digest all their other
libidinous pleasures. They hold that every one hath the houre of his
death wrot on his fore-brow, and that none can escape, the good or
evill houre predestinated for them: This rediculous errour makes them
so bold and desperate, yea, and often, to runne headlong in the most
inevitable dangers: They are not much given to domesticke pastimes,
as Chesse, Cards, Dice, and Tables, but abroad and in travell, they
are exceeding kind disposers of their meate and drinke to any stranger
without exception: The better sort of their women, are sumptuously
attyred, and adorned with pearles and precious stones, and some of
them are accustomed to turne their hands and haire into a red colour,
but especially the nayles of their hands and feete; and are wont to
go to bathe themselves in Stoves twice a weeke, as well as men.
The true Turkes weare on their heads white Turbanes, save a few that
are esteem'd to be of Mahomets kinred, and they weare greene Shashes,
being most part of them Priests: the better part of the Turkes in Asia,
care not for fish, but these Turkes which remaine in Europe love fish
better then flesh, especially at Constantinople or Stambolda, where
the best fishes and most abundance of them are taken, that be in the
world, and that in the blacke Sea: They are ever desirous to seeke
advantage on their neighbours, which if they cannot by force, they
will under colour of truce, accomplish it with perfidiousnesse. And if
their interprises, finde no happy event, they are never a whit ashamed
to take the flight, yet are they generally good souldiers, and well
taught in martiall discipline: Their Armies in marching, or camping
(notwithstanding infinite multitudes) keepe modestie and silence,
and are extreamely obedient unto their Captaines and Commanders: When
the great Signior is abroad with his armie at warres, the Turkes at
home within Townes, use great prayers, and fasting for him and them:
They ingeniously describe the victories of their Ancestours, and
joyfully sing them in rimes and songs; thinking thereby that fashion
in recalling the valiant deeds of their predecessours, to be the onely
meane to encourage their souldiers to be hardy, resolute and desperate
in all their interprises: [Turkes are noe Schollers.] They are not
given to contemplation, nor studdy of Letters or Arts; yet they have
divers faire Schooles, where the publicke lecture of their legall
Lawes are professed, and Mahometanisme; to the intent that Children,
being elected to be brought up there for a nones, may be instructed,
to be profitable expounders of their Alcoran, and judicious Judges
for the government of the Common-wealth: It is seldome, and rarely
seene, that a Turke will speake with a woman in the streets; nay,
not so much as in their Mosquees one to be in sight of another;
and yet they are Lords and Masters of their Wives and Concubines,
from whom they receive as great respect, service and honour, as from
their bond and bought slaves.
Now as concerning his riches, the chiefest three parts of Commerce
of all kind of merchandise, and abounding in silver and gold in all
the Turkes dominions, as well in Asia, and Affricke, as Europe, are
these, Constantinople in Thracia of Europe: Aleppo in Syria of Asia
major; and grand Cayro in Ægypt of Affricke: for these are the three
Maggezzines of the whole Empire, that draw the whole riches, money,
and trafficke to them of all the Imperiall Provinces: It is thought
that ordinarily and [The great Turkes yearely rent.] annually the
rent of the great Turke amounteth to sixteene millions of gold,
notwithstanding that some doe make it lesser: But because it is
so hard to judge of any Monarchs rents; being like the infinite
concavities of the earth, sending, and receiving so innumerable wayes
their streames of riches, I'le desist from any other instances: And
yet the great Turkes revenewes, are no way answerable to his great &
large dominions: The causes arising hereupon are many, of whom I will
select three or foure of the chiefest reasons: First the Turkes being
more given to armes, to conquer, to destroy and ruine, and to consume
the wealth of the people they overcome, leaving them destitute, of
nuriture; rather then any way to give course for their encreasing
and stablishing of traffique, out of which should flow the royall
advantages. [Certaine reasons.] And the reason why they keepe their
subjects poore, and frustrate themselves of great profits; is onely to
weaken, and enfeeble them, whereby they should not have wherewith to
move insurrection or rebellion against them. And on the other part,
the Greekes are as unwilling to be industrious in Arts, traficke or
cultivage; seeing what they possesse is not their owne, but is taken
from them at all occasions, with tyranny & oppression. For what gaines
the sower, if another reape the profit; So in the Ottomans estate,
there be great Forrests, and desartuous Countries; proceeding of the
scarcity of people to inhabit there, the multitudes being drawne from
Asia, to strengthen the frontiers of his dominions in Europe.
And besides there is another reason of the dispopulosity of these
parts; to wit, when the great Turkes Army, is to march to a farre
Countrey to make warres, then must their vulgar subdued peasants,
perhaps twenty or thirty thousands go along with them, to carry their
victuals, and all manner of provision, being taken from the plough,
and constrained to this servitude, and notwithstanding the halfe of
them never returne againe: Partly, because of the change of food,
and aire, and partly because of their long travell and insupportable
service, both in heate and cold: And to these of the first reason,
there is another perpendicular cause; to wit, that the whole commerce
of all commodities in Turkey, is in the hands of Jewes, and Christians,
to wit, Ragusans, Venetians, English, French, and Flemings, who so
warily menage their businesse, that they enjoy the most profits of any
trading there, dissappointing the Turkes owne subjects of their due,
and ordinary trafficke.
[Parsells of ground for Tymariots.] The last and most principall reason
is, which is a great deale of more importance than his Revenues;
to wit, the great number of his Timars: for the Turkish Emperours;
being immediate Maisters of the lands they overcome, they divide the
same in Timars or commandements: leaving little or nothing at all
to the auncient Inhabitants; they dispose upon these proportions,
to valerous Souldiers, that have done good service: And with this
condition, that they mainetaine, and have alwayes in readinesse Horses
for the warres: which is an excellent good order for the preservation
of his Empire; for if these Timariots were not rewarded, with such
absolute possessions of parcell grounds, the state of his power would
suddenly runne to ruine: for the profit of which lands, maintaining
themselves, their horses, and their families, maketh them the more
willing to concurre in the infallible service of their Emperour:
These Timars or grounds, entertaine through all his Dominions, about
two hundreth and fifty thousand horses, that are ever in readinesse
to march at the first advertisement, without any charges to the great
Signior, being bound to maintaine themselves in during the warres: And
yet these Timariots, and their horses, cannot yearely be maintained
under the value of ten Millions of Gold: The consideration whereof,
makes me astonished, when I recall, the relations of some ragged
Authors, who dare compare the Great Turkes Revenues unto our petty
Princes of Christendome.
This establishment of Timars, and the by-past election of Azamglians,
or young children to be made Jannisaries have bene the two strong
Foundations, that supported so inviolably the Turkish Empire. The
Romane Emperours for a long time used the selfe same manner for the
assuring of their persons, and estate, in election of yong males
to be their guard. They were called the Pretorian Army, and this
taxation of children was the first thing that moved the Flemings,
to revolt against the Romanes.
[Policies of Turkes.] As for the Turkish Cavalrie, they sustaine two
important effects, first they keepe under awe and subjection, the
great Turks subjects, who otherwise perhaps wold revolt: And next they
are ordained for any dependant interprise for field Garrisons, yea,
and the principall sinewes of the warres: and yet the election of the
grand Signior, lieth most in the hands of the Janizaries, who can not
perfectly say he is Emperour before they confirme him in his Throne.
The Turkes have three things in their Armies which are very fearefull,
to wit, the infinite number of men, great discipline, and force of
Munition: As for discipline, they are not onely governed with great
silence, and obedience, but they are ruled also with signes of the
eye, and being tractable, they are tied to maine conducements: And
although their multitudes have often bred confusion to them, so that
little Armies have broke and overcome them; yet in their flight they
are so cautulous, that a small number can do them no absolute violence
nor finall overthrow: for as they assaile, so they flye without feare.
The first Residence of the Turkish Emperour after his comming
from Ægypt, was at Priusa in Bithinia: thence it was transported to
Andreanople, and then to Constantinople, where it abideth to this day:
Besides, all his great [Beglerbegs or Bashaes.] Bassaws in Europe,
which are eight, one in Buda in Hungary, another in Moldavia, the third
in Dacia, the fourth at Bagaviliezza in Bosna, &c. He hath also in
Affrick a Bassaw, in Algeir, another in Tunneis, the third in Tripolis,
and the fourth in Ægypt, &c. And in Asia major and minor, to wit, one
in Aleppo, of Syria, one in Damascus, another at Balsera, the fourth
at Meccha in Arabia fælix, the fift in Carmania, the sixt in Cyprus,
the seventh in the Rhodes, the eighth at Arzeron in Armenia major,
the ninth and tenth at Testis and Upan, on the Frontiers of Gurgestan
and Persia, &c. For Arsenals he hath foure for sea, to wit, one at
Perah or Galata, containing a hundred thirty and three Galleys: The
second at Gallipoli of twenty Galleys: The third Arsenall is at Savezza
upon the Red Sea, consisting of twenty five Galleys: And the fourth
is at Belsara in Arabia fælix, towards the Persian Gulfe, depending
of fifteene Galleys, which are kept there to afflict the Portugals,
remaining in the Ile of Ormus; and other parts adjacent there.
The Turkes have a custome, when they are maisters of any Province, to
extermine all the native Nobility, chiefely these of the blood-royall
of the Countrey: And neverthelesse they permit to all and every one
of theirs to live and follow his owne Religion as he pleaseth without
violence or constraint.
Amongst the Turkes there is noe Gentility, nor Nobility, but are all
as ignoble and inferiour members, to one maine body the great Turke,
lineally descending of the house of Ottoman: whose magnificence,
puissance, and power is such, that the most eloquent tongue cannot
sufficiently declare: His thousands or Janisaries, Shouses, and
others dayly attending him: which are the nerves and sinewes of the
Warlike body of his whole Monarchy and imperiall estate: His hundreds
(besides his Queene) of Concubines, hourely maintained by his meanes,
and monethly renewed: His Armies, Bashawes, Emeeres, Vizier-bashawes,
Sanzacks, Garrisons, and Forces here and there dispersed amongst his
dominions, would be impossible for me briefly to relate. The inhumane
policy of the Turkes, to avoid civill dissention is such, that the
seede of Ottoman (all except one of them) are strangled to death:
Wherefore, as Augustus Cæsar said of Herod in the like case, it is
better to be the great Turkes dogge, then his Sonne. His Daughters
or Sisters are not so used, but are given in marriage to any Bassa,
whom so they affect; yet with this condition; the King saith to his
Daughter, or Sister, I give thee this man to be thy slave; and if he
offend thee in any case, or be disobedient to thy will, here I give
thee a Dagger to cut off his head; which alwaies they weare by their
sides for the same purpose.
[Noble Persians.] The Persians differ much from the Turkes, in
nobility, humanity, and activity, and especially in points of Religion:
who by contention thinke each other accursed; and notwithstanding both
factions are under the Mahometanicall Lawe. Neither are the Sonnes
of the Persian Kings, so barbarously handled, as theirs; for all the
brethren (one excepted) are onely made blind, wanting their eyes,
and are alwayes afterward gallantly maintained, like Princes. And it
hath oftentimes fallen out, that some of these Kings, dying without
procreate Heires; there have of these blind sonnes succeeded to the
Empire, who have restored againe the seed of that Royall family.
And now the great advantage, that the Turkes have dayly upon the
Persians, is onely because of their Infantery, which the Persians
no wayes are accustomed with, fighting alwayes on Horse-backe;
neither are the Persians adicted or given to build Forts, or
Fortifications, neither have they any great use of Munition, but
exposing themselves ever to the field in the extreame hazard of
battell, become ever doubtfull in their victories: whose [Babylon
regained by the Persians.] courage and valour cannot be paraleld
among all the people of the Easterne world, as Babylon in their late
and last fortunes may give sufficient testimony thereof.