In what maner the Turkes do vse to make vvarres.

AFter that the Turkes had vanquished the strenght & powre of the Macedonians, thei kept and imitated ther traininge vp of souldiers, warrelike discipline, and maner in go­uerning, althoughe in euery particuler point they agre not. Wherfore ther har­neis being coates of maile, they ar accu­stomed to fight with spere, shilde, and swordes croked in the backe lyke our woode kniues, and often times proue conquerours. It is most certain that the Ianitzaries do nothing at all differ from the most picked souldiers of Macedonia, by whose martiall prowes Alexander the great, vanquished the inhabitantes of the Easterne partes, and brought thē in subiection to his Empire. They bring vp, exercise, and instructe them euen frō [Page] their infancye in fighting and the war­res. Not one amonge them doth knowe either his parentes, or knisefolke. They ar (to saye the truth) the children of chri­stians, rauished and taken awaye at son­drye robberies, and spoiling conquestes, whiche beyng brought into the orcharde of the turkishe Prince, they practise and traine vp in warrelike feates and exer­cises, wherby in time to come, they may be haue and defend thē selues more mā ­fully in the forefront of their battelles. If any of them chaunce to dye, or to bée slaine in the felde, eyther at the assaute of any citie strong castell, or other migh­tye places of defence, incontinent they ordaine and substitute in ther places, certaine of those so exactly exercised and in­structed yong menne, and by that mea­nes fil vp the member. By reason wher of the bande of Ianitzaries, whiche is is it were the fortresse and harte of all the powre and strength of the Turkes, doth [Page] alwaies confinew vndeminished. They haue not equal stipendes, but euery one hath a pension: according to his propre manlines and puisant dedes atchiued.

And this is the onelye cause why they proue so desperate prompt and ready to attempt all kynde of valiant actes and aduentures, as of late yeares wée haue of them bene taught and certifyed, not withe out oure greate grefe, domage, and discommodytie. For euen sithens the time of Amurathes the second, which first constituted the Ianitzaries, and dis­posed them in this order, we neuer reade that they loste the vniuersall and hole strenght of any generall armye, but by experience haue rather knowen them, to be the victours and conquerours.

The Turkes do mainteine & kepe with suche iustice and seueritie the discipline of war, the lawes and customes in bat­tell, that in this behalfe they maye seme farre to passe y ^e Gretiās & Romains. Ther [Page] neuer chaunceth amonge them, eyther diuisions, mutual slaughters, seditions, or treason. For they ar fourthe with be­headed, being but for a trifeling offence conuicted. The turkish souldiers in ma­ny respectes do surmount the warriours of other nations. First of all they readi­ly obeye, with out grudging or disdaine, their Prince & Captaines, which is not obserued among vs. Secōdly al thoughe they be enforced with moste vrgent ne­cessitie, yet they neuer take flight, but rather assaile and fight more desperatly. For they fully beleue that by celestiall prouidēce it is determined at what time, and after what sorte euerye mane shall ende his lyfe and dye, and therfore they thinke that no misfortune may chaunce vnto them before the prefixed houre.

Finally in as muche as they ar endura­ble & most patiēt, a lōg space of time they can susteine thē selues with out bred or wine, with only water and rice.

Of the Turkes Lent, vvhen They kepe it and hovve their Easter is obserued.

ALent they haue also, in their propre language called Orutz, wherin eue­rye yeare they fast the space of one Mo­nethe and a weke, but not alwayes one, and the same, for if this yeare they faste Januarye, the next folowing they ab­steyne in Februarye, goinge in order, so that in the course of twelue yeares, thei faste a yeare, and the twelue wekes are offredde vnto God in stéede of a Tenth. In the time of their fasting, they tast all the daye of no kynde of meate, no not so muche as of bredde or water. But after the sight of a starre, it is lawfull for thē the féede on all sortes of meates, excep­ting stranguled, and the flesh of Swine. Stranguled meate of thē is called Mur­dar, whiche doth signifie a deade, or vn­cleane carcas, and the swine Domutes. The Lent finished they celebreate the [Page] feast of Easter, in their mother speache [...]ned Bairam, with marueilous solem­ytie, by the space of thre dayes, anoyn­ [...]nge the nayles of their handes & féete [...]ith a certaine oyntment by thē named [...]hna, whiche causethe their nayles to [...]lister: they steigne with the same oynt­ [...]ente also, the tayles and féete of their [...]ouses: thys colour sticketh very faste, [...]nd cane not easely be wéeped or was­ [...]ed awaye: wherfore excepte new nay­ [...]s encrease out of the rootes, they all­ [...]ayes apeare glistringe, but from the [...]andes with often and continewal was­hyng it maye he weipte out. The wo­men not only infecte their nailes, but al­so their handes and féete with the same Oyntemente.

❀ The maner of the turkisne circum­cision, after vvhat sort it is done, and of their names.

THey vse Circuncision called in theyr propre spech Tsuneth, not on y ^e eighte [Page] daye, accordynge to the custome of th [...] Jewes, but after the childes birth whe he is in the age of seuen or eyghte yea­res, then skilefull in speaking their lan­guage: and that ceremonye is obserued amonge them at that time, for the wor­des of confessyon, whiche are required before the circumcision (the Thumbe of his hande called Larmath, lifted vp) and they are those to witte, that before we haue mentioned to bée written in their temples. And the childe is not brought vnto the chuch, but circumcised at home in his parentes house, At this solemnity haue I ben often present, which is done after this maner. First of all their frin­des are called together to a bankete, for whom of dayntye dishes, ther are suffi­cient prepared, of all kyndes of fleshe, suche as they may lawfully féede on, and here and ther, (as among the richer sort) is slaine an Oxe, in the which (flean, & his boweles taken out), they encloase a [Page] sheepe, in the shepe a henne, and in the henne an egge, all whiche holye toge­ther are rosted in honour of that daye.

After that at the time of their banketing and feast, the childe is brought fourth to bée circumcised, then the Phisition or Surgion seruinge for that purpose, ope­neth the mitte of his yarde, and taketh the skinne folded in a crampe wire, sōne after whereby to rydde the childe from feare, he sayeth that y ^e circuncision shal­be deferred vntill the nexte daye, and so departeth, not longe betwine, fayninge as thoughe some thynge were omitted or forgotten, whiche necesarye apper­taineth to the accōplishinge of that acte, vpō a sodaine he cutteth of peace of that skinne, whiche couereth the heade of the childes yarde, putting vpon the wound a litle salte and softe silke thense fourth he shalbe called Musulman, which is cir­cumcised, and they haue no names geuē them on the daye of circumcision, but at [Page] their very birthe, when firste they are brought into light and this worlde, whi­che are these, and firste of kynges as Su­leiman, interpreted Solomon Sultan Ste­lim, whiche is a Prince of peace Murath Begh, a desyred ruler: Mustapha & suche like. Of captaines as Pirin, Haradon, Hader, Ebrahim. And the names of lordes of the meaner condition are Spahalar, Sauslar, Eminler, Behram, Memmi Mehē ­met, Alli, Ahmat, Tcielebi, Paiazith, Chatsun, Hutscref. Vnto all the reste, Mutsa, Ionutz, Sthender, Perhat, Ferro. Their captiues and bondemene, for the greater parte are called Seremeth, which name signifyeth a bolde and spedye ser­uante. From that time forewarde the feast continewing by the space of three dayes, the circumcised childe is brought with a moste solemne triumphe vnto a Bathe. And in retourning home, he is leade by the guestes and banketters, which offer giftes vnto him before pro­uided: [Page] some silke garmentes, some siluer cuppes, other mony or horses. The wo­mē also present him with shirtes, napt­kinnes, and other suche like. Euerye of the feasters geueth acording to his plea­sure, habilytye, or riches. The women are not at all circumcised, but confessing only the fornamed wordes, are counted Mulsuman But if any amonge the chri­stians of his voluntarye will, graunting him selfe to bée a Mehemmetiste, dothe suffer circumcision whiche not seldome chaūceth by reason of the most greuous yoke and burthen of tribute, he is caried throughe all the streates & highe wayes of the cytye, with great honour and ioye of all the people, playing vpon timbrel­les: vnto him also are geuen certain gif­tes, after that he is made frée frō paying any tribute, in their mother tounge cal­led Haracs. And throughe gredines of this lucre and aduantage, manye of the Grecians, whiche they call Vlumlar, and [Page] Albanians, that are named Arnautla haue bene circumcised. If anye manne forced by vyolence, as one whiche hath stroken a Mulsuman, misused him with reproche, or blasphemed Mehemmet wiche I sawe chaunce vnto a certaine Bishoppe of the Grecian religion) be circumcised, ther is no thing geuen vn­to him, albeit he shalbe discharged from paying any tribute, as the reste Mulsul­manlar, whiche is of the circumcised are.

¶ Of the turkishe Prestes by vvhome they are elected, and hovv thei liue.

THe prestes, which in their speche are called Talismanlar▪ do very litle or no thinge at all differ from the laye people, neither from the chefe ministers of their ceremonies (which amonge vs are. Bis­shoppes) and no depe learnynge is to be required in them, it is sufficiente if they are of abilytye too reade the Alkaron and Mussaphus. But they that canne inter­prete them accordynge to the texte, are [Page] counted profundely learned: because thei were not deliuered by Mehemmet in the vulgare turkishe toung, but in the Ara­bian language, for they counte it a hei­nous matter if beynge interpreted they should be writen in their mother speche. These prestes are elected by the people, but receyue a stipende for their labour of the kinge: they haue wiues and their apparell is lyke vnto seculer menne. If the stipende be not sufficiente for them to lyue, throughe the multitude of their children, they vse some handye crafte, and handle some suche occupation, as maye be thought worthye a frée manne, they become schole masters and writte bookes, I saue verely no printers among them, but they dresse their paper verye finelye. The rest doo vse other meanes for aduantage and games, as the occu­patiōs of Showemakers, Tailers, and suche lyke.

¶ The festes of the turkishe Munkes and maner of ther liuinge.

THer are not wantinge amonge them Munkes called Deruislar, of diuers sortes verely, but chefely of thrée orders. The first order is of those, which hauing no one thinge propre, goo as it were na­ked, sauing their pryuye partes are co­uered with shepes skinnes, and likwise in the time of extreme coldnes, they vse the same skinnes to couer their backes: but their sydes, handes, féete, and head, they couer at all with no garmente. Re­questing almes as wel of the christians as Turkes, they desyre it Alahisi, which dothe signifye for gooddes sake. These Munkes deuourynge the herbe called Mas [...]ath, are driuen into a madnes, in so muche that they wounde them selues, and draw a launce from one side of their breast ouerth wart vnto the other, after, that alongest their armes, without she­winge fourthe any token of grefe: and [Page] remoue not the kindlede drye stickes of trées layed vpon their head, breast, and hands, vntil they be resolued in to asses. I sawe an other secte whiche forebidden carnal copulation with women, goe, the fore parte of their yarde, or the secrete parte it selfe perced throughe, and ther­in encloased an iron ringe of the weight of thrée poundes to obserue chastitye.

The third order seldome goeth abroad, but doth remaine day and nyght in tem­ples, hauing litle cabines in the corners of those churches, with out showes, gar­mentes, and bare headed, hauinge no­thyng about them, exceptyng one shirte. fastinge the space of manye dayes, and prayinge, that God woulde reueale vn­to them the estate of thynges to come, withe whom the turkishe, beyng about, and entendynge to stirre or make warre accustometh to consulte.

¶ Of the marueillous reūerence vvhich the Turkes exhibite vnto the tradi­tions of Mehemmet.

THe Turkes attribute such reuerence vnto the traditions & decrées of Ma­homet, y ^t not only god they blaspheme note (which chaunceth often among vs) yea if they but finde, a scroll, in what fa­cion soeuer it be writen, lyinge on the earth, taking it vp, and often times kis­sed, they encloase the same, throuste into some chenke of the wal: for it is counted a synne, that the letters, wherwithe the name of God, and lawes of Mahomet are writen, shoulde be trode vnder their féete. And therefore no manne dare to sell an Alkaron, or anye other of their writinges vnto a christian, or mane of some other faith and religion, lest being neglected and cast awaye, they should be troden vnder their féete, or touched with vncleane handes, if otherwise they are be headed. Wherefore in this respecte, [Page] they can not verely but be preferred and estemed before vs.

❀ Of the Scholes for bothe kindes, and in vvhat artes they instructe their youthe.

THey haue places apointed to trade in good letters their youthes of bothe kindes, called in their toung Ochumach­girleri, and teachers for the same whiche are named Hogsialar, howbeit separatly they are instructed, as the male children by men, and young girles by women, in Astronomye, Philosophye, and the arte of Poetrye. Durynge the time of their learnyng, speaking in a shr [...]l voyce, they moue their bodyes from one syde to the other. They haue no skill in artifyciall Musicke, but faine certaine vearses by prescribed rules, whiche are in this ma­ner. Euerye vearse ought too compre­hende a leuen syllables. Wherefore it pleased me for an example to subscribe these fewe.

❧ Vearses called of them Bethler.

They ar amorous vearses, of a goddesse called in their language Assih, whyche is goddesse of loue, whose interpretation worde by worde is suche:

☞ Hovve they contracte matrimo­nye, of their dovvries, and occasion of deuorse.

[Page]THer matrimonye called in their toūg Eulenmech, is done in this maner. They ioyne to gether in mariage with out any betrowething [...] made, they take their wiues without dowrye, and for the most parte are constrained to bye them, contrarye to that aunciente custome, which in time past was vsed among the Romaines, wher the sonne in law was wounte to be bought, and not the sōnes wife. The spouse hath no comelye dec­kynge or furniture about her body, whi­che the bridegrome is not compelled to raūsome and by of his wyues parentes. Leude and vnsemelye behauiour or ba­raines causeth a diuorse betwine them. Their Judge hathe certificate, and de­cydeth suche matters. Mariage is also permitted vnto them withe their bonde seruantes, but the children borne are counted in seruitude and boundage.

❀ Of their Pilgrimmes, and to vvhat places they goe in Pilgrimage.

[Page]PIlgrimes in their language called Hagfilar, do visite the places by them counted sacred and holye, whiche are Mecha, Medinus, (as our men Jerusalē) wher they affirme that Machomet dyed, but no lesse throughe hope of gaine, then for religion or deuotions sake. Ther after the s [...]ght of a Shoe called Tsaroth, which gilted only, hangeth downe from the roofe or vaulte of the temple, and cer­taine moste subtile nettes, named Chu­mas, bought, they departe with greate aduantage into their countrye. And in their retourne, some for deuotions sake dothe carye water throughe the strea­tes, and offer the same srelye vnto the thyrsty, suche as they méete, other at­tende their propre busines. And if anye, by what meanes so euer it be, happe to dye in the iorney, allthoughe they come not to Metha, yet are they accounted a­monge the nomber of Pilgrimes.

[Page]❀ The foolishe fayle vvriten by Ma­homet in his Alkaron, and of the beast named El Barahil

MAchomet write the in this Alkaron of two Angelles called Aroth and Maroth, whome he affirmethe to haue [...]ene sente by God into the earthe, that [...]hey shoulde minister iustice and equitie [...]nto menne, and were commaunded too [...]rinke no wyne, neyther adioyne them selues in cōpanye with women, or shew [...]nto any body the waye whiche leadeth to the place of perpetual blissednes, whi­ [...]he transgressynge the commandement of God, becam drūke, deceiued by a wo­man, defyled them selues, and declared [...]nto her the waye whyche to heauen bringeth, whome whē God sawe com­minge towardes heauen: he asked the Angelles standyng by him, who it was that endewed with suche a shape, would come into heauen. When the Angelles hadde affirmed that it was throughe the [Page] folie of Aroth & Maroth, God commaun­ded that the woman shoulde bée turned inta a Starre, but bidde them caste the Angelles cheyned together into a bur­ninge pitte foreuer ther to bée tormen­ted. He maketh mention likewyse of a beast named El barahil capable of the speache of manne, whyche beaste caried Machomet into heauen, wher he confes­sed to haue sene great Angelles, hauing many heades, and those heades to haue diuers and manifolde tōges. These tru­lye ar rather toyes to mocke Apes with­al, and vnworthy to be spoken by suche a prophet as they counte Machomet to be. But peraduenture well tipled with wine, he thought to haue dreamed in his dreames of such miracles, or rather pro­digious folishenes. Therfore in as much as he was not ashamed to declare suche trifles, by mouth, but also to write them in his Alkaron, he ought deseruedly not to be called a Prophet, but a false decey­uer, and malicious seducer frō the truth.

☞ Of the miracles vvrought at Mecha by Machomet, and of suche as they report him ther dailie to doe.

I Doute, and am vncertaine whether they ought to be called miracles, or miraculous trifles, those I meane which are writen in their boke named Mehem­medinum▪ For they stedefastlye affirme and throughely perswade them selues, that, when Mecha shoulde bée builded, God throughe the prayers of Machomet gaue commaundement vnto the Hilles, that euery one should bringe stones, for the erectynge and building vp of Mecha: and when all the hilles had brought the tenth of his stones, wherby Mecha was builded and finished, a certaine hill na­med Araphatdagh beyng more slacke, by reason of his comming frō farre coastes, then y ^e rest, whē he saw Mecha through­lye builded, and perceiued that they nea­ded not hys stones, began bytterlye too wepe. Whom whē Machomet had sene [Page] murning, and vnderstode the cause of his lamentation, sayde, lette not thy co­rage fainte the, and bée not sorowefull, but laye downe ther (apointinge to the place with his finger) thy tenthe: & who­soeuer shall not praye vpon that stone, his pilgremage shalbe vnprofitable and vnthankefull. Then Machomet stroke the stone with his foote, & brought water ther from, not good to be dronken of, and called it by name Abzemzemsui, which is water of purification, wherof al their Pilgrimes are accustomed to cary home with them in vesselles: and when one chaunceth to die, the clothes wherin the dead carcas shalbe wrapped are sprin­cled with that water, in remissyon of all his sinnes and offences.

They saye also that no man can come vnto Mecha, but his comminge is fore­knowen by Machomet, which afterward to the kepers (& they are all Eunuches) by hym is reuealed: but if that Hagij, [Page] whiche signifyeth Pilgrime, bée a thefe, a wicked persone, christian, or manne of oher suche like religion, the forenamed kepars doe prohibite him entrance into Mecha. But in deed his dead corps, as some affirme, lyethe not ther, but the shape of an image printed by the person of Machomet in a wall of the temple, whome they kysse, and so retourne vnto their habitation. Those Infideles haue suche vaine lyes perswaded vnto thē by Machomet, and a gret number mo to be laughed at, which here I am ashamed to alleage. Howbeit I would that the gen­tyle reader, shoulde enquere of some Turke, whether suche thinges are so in déede, and then he shall bol [...]lye affirms that the Author hath spoken mere vere­tye and truthe.

❀ Of their almes houses, and vvhat meate is geuen vnto the pore.

THey haue hospitalles or almes hou­ses, called Imareth, builded by the tes­tamentes [Page] of their kinges, in whyche places meate or foode is geuen vnto the poore and Pilgrimmes, but diuersly at sondrye places. Ther are whyche geue Rice named Pirrincts Tsocbà, with flesh: at an other place, Bolghdaias, whyche is made of wheat, in steade of potage, they adde bread also of a reasonable quanti­tye: the drincke whyche they distribute is water. But place is graunted vnto none ther to remaine alnyght, or slepe, for ther is a publike Charuatsaur [...]e, wher frelye they are receiued to hospitalytye, howbeit ther be assigned vnto them no beddes, but they slepe vnder the coue­ring of a house eyther in heye or strawe.

❀ The maner of their sacryfice, for vvhat cause they do it, and hovv the beastes offred are vsed and distri­buted.

THey offer beastes in sacrifice, but for the moste parte before vowed, called Chorban as well in the turkyshe as ara­biane [Page] language: In the time of anye di­sease or perill, they promise (euery mane acording to his habilitie) in certaine pla­ces to sacrifice eyther a Shepe or Oxe: after that the vowed offringe is not bur­ned, like vnto a beast killed and layed on the aulter, as the custome was amōg the Jewes, but after that the beast is slaine, the skinne, head, féete, and fourthe parte of the flesh are geuen vnto the prest, an other part to poore people, and the thirde vnto their neigheboures. The killers of the sacrifice doe make readye the other fragmentes for thē selues and their com­paynons to féede one. Neyther are they bound to performe the vow, if they haue not bene deliuered from the possessed di­sease or peril. For all thinges with them are done condytionallye I will geue if thou wilte graunt. The lyke woorshyp­pinge of God is obserued amonge the Gretians, Armenians, and other realmes in Asia imitating yet y ^e christian religiō.

¶ VVhat is assigned to be done by the Testamentes of the Turkes, as vvell of menne as vvomen.

IF any of the circumcised dying enten­deth to make a testament, suche lega­cies for the most part are apointed, (their neigheboures and frendes called toge­ther) eyther to fetche springes of water, and bringe them before some Hospitall, temple, or drye place, that is frequented be menne Haritsi, moued with a godlye zeale, & Gsianitsi, for their soules health. Other bequethe their goodes to make captiues and bound menne frée. But the women (as thys kynde aboue all other is moste superstitious) geue monye vnto souldyers, for to kill a certaine number of christians. They make account, that by so doynge, it will greatlye profite the health of their soules. The kynges a­point temples and hospitalles to be builded, and other of the nobility when their lotte is to dye.

¶ Their ceremonies about the dead, and maner of interrement.

IF a circuncised manne dyeth amonge them, the men take care to make ready the dead corps: if any of the female kind, the women. They washe cleane the co­arse, and wrappe in fresh and néet lyuen, after that the same is caried vnto some place without the cytye, for it is a hey­nous crime to burye in the temples.

The taper bearers & monkes with light goe before, the prestes folowe after, syn­gynge by all the waye, vntill they come vnto the place of interrement. But if the disceased person were poore and nedye, money gathered together is accustomed to be geuen vnto the religious people for their labour and trauell.

¶ The building of ther sepulture called Tulbe, and of the sacrifices done to the dead.

VPon the kynges sepulcher is builded a temple, for their kinges are buryed [Page] in Cities: the tumbe of riche and poore mene, is about the height of an auter, so that beastes can not leape vpon, and de­file the same. They often resort thither in wepinge and murnynge: and certaine infernall sacrifices layde on the monu­mente, as bread, fleshe, chéese, Egges, milke, and the banket continewinge by the space of nyne dayes, accordynge to the Ethnicke custome, it is al deuoured, for the disceased soules sake, eyther by Pismares and the birdes of heauen, or poore people. For they affirme that it is lyke acceptable vnto God, that almes shoulde be offred to the brute beastes ha­uinge néede therof, as vnto menne, sins that it is geuen for y ^e loue of God. I haue senne many, whiche geuing the valewe in monye of one litle birde before kepte incloased, haue cast of the same to flye a­waye: other to throwe bread into the ri­uer for fishes, through the loue of God: addinge that they for suche mercifulnes [Page] towardes the neadye, shoulde receiue an abundante rewarde at goddes handes.

¶ Of the Turkishe vvarrefare: and first of the king, and a part of his officers.

THey haue all one kynge, and in their lāguage he that now raigneth, of thē is called Huncher Othmanlardan Sahitsultan Suleiman, which by interpretation is, Salomon is emperour & Prince of Tur­keye, of the Othomans descended, whiche now hathe his first begotten sone of the age of thrée and twenty yeares, or their about named Mustapha, in crueltye and tyrannye, passyng his predicessors, often lying in waite for his father, if he might by any meanes kille or cause him to bée slaine, throughe gredie affection, and de­sire to beare rule. But in what sorte, he was murthered by his Father it shalbe declared in the ende of this booke. The kynge hath vnder him two chefe goue [...] ­nours, or liuetenantes, ouer Europe and Asia, named Tsangiach Begler, vnto the [Page] whiche are subiecte inferiour presiden­tes called Timargilar, whose hestes doe certaine ordinarye souldyers obeye, but if they be founde lingringe and slacke, when they be called for expedition vnto war, are punished with hāging. Bassalar, whiche they interpret heades, are manye in number, they for councell do alwayes accompanye the kinge. Sulihtarlar also, whyche are the garde of hys bodye, are wont continewally to folowe immediat­lye after his backe, together with hys Capugtsibegler chamberlaines, Iazitgtsi­begler chauncellours, Eminler exactours of tribute, whyche is to witte, of children and money, Spahalar lyght harneysed horsemen, a great route, Vlachlaris pos­tes▪ or pursiuantes, with other such like alwayes folowing the courte.

¶ The estate of the Turkes peeres or nobilitie, and of the possessione.

NOt one of the nobles, doth possesse anye prouince or cytye by ryght [Page] title of inheritāce, which after his death, he maye leaue vnto his children, heires or successours, with out consente of the kynge. But if a Prince or gouernour co­ueteth to haue certaine possessions, it is graunted vnto him vpon this condition. They enter in bargaine concernyng the Prince and reuenewes of those possessi­ons. The Turke doth know, how many souldiers may yearely be mainteined by the profits of that prouince, then y ^e Liue­tenante is bounde to haue allwayes in readines for him, that band of souldiers, at all callinges, otherwise he léeseth his head: and no thing may excuse him from going vnto warre, but onely sicknes. And if at anye time, it shall please the Turke to depriue him of that benefyte, it is in his frée will and choyse: But if he be not depriued, it is his propre possessiō vntill death. After whose interremente, if the heyres of the disceased, will ob­serue and kéepe the same couenant, they [Page] are permitted to enioye it, if not, it is as­signed vnto others. If some time any of these péeres or noble doth talke with the kyng, he fasteneth his eyes on y ^e ground, not daring to beholde hys countenance.

¶ Of the Bassans, vvhom vve may cal councellours, chancellours or rather Secretaries.

ALl the Bassans, for the greater part are made [...]nuches (as it was decla­red vnto me, when I was bonde manne of a certain ruler in Constantinople and are in greater estimatiō with the Turke then all the rest of his nobles, excepting the Sangiackes, and almost as manye as are aduaunced vnto that dignitie, are the rauished children of christians. Not one among them, albeit he hathe a daughter of the Turke to wyfe (as one Chrustā a Bassan had) is indowed eyther with cas­tell cytye are towne, which he may cha­lenge by inheritance: but if he be aduaū ­ced vnto any honorable authoritie, he en­ioyethe [Page] the same vntill his deathe, or as longe as it shall please the Turke.

☞ The obediēce vvhich the Turkes are cōstrained to attribute vnto their king and of his messaengers or poastes.

NOt one, eyther of the Jenitsaries, or nobles, hath leaue, or maye bée permitted to walke in the cytye, armed, or girded withe a sworde: excepte it bée, whē the Turke goeth out of his palaic [...], eyther to pray, or hūte. The gouernours and officers of the cytie do beare in their handes coogelles, whiche if they fynde any brawlyng, or doinge iniurye, and of­fence one to an other, they punishe them with the aforenamed coogelles. And not one speakinge to an officer, dare to looke him in the face, but fallynge flatte to the earthe, and kissyng his féete, he spekethe vnto him his eyes fastened on the groūd. And when the kynge sendeth Poastes with letters vnto the gouernours of any hys Prouinces, whose horses, as sonne [Page] as they are weried with iourneyng, or tyred with swifte, and contine wall galo­pinge, the poast is licensed, to take from them their horses, what soeuer they bée whiche méete him in the waye, but if in traueling he méeteth with none, then he turneth towardes the cytyes or townes, Cadiam, whyche is to saye, the iudge he goeth vnto, whiche, excepte he prouide him an horse, is hanged before the gate of his oune house, and for this cause, hor­ses are nowrished by fewe, but for the greater part Asses. And when that mes­sanger, or poast shall come to those, vnto whome he was sent, the kynges letters receyued with greate humilytie, kyssed, and his comaundementes with all spede possible executed, he is sent awaie. Then is no Prince whych dare gaine say him, no one Prouince or cytye (as it often chaunceth amonge vs) that rebellethe, and finallye not one whyche dothe not feare hym.

☞ By vvhat meanes the Turkes powre is alvvaies found, and hovve it maye be deminished.

THe turkishe Emperour equallye di­stributeth all his prouinces, vnto the péeres of his realme, but on this condi­tion, that continuallye, as well in the time of peace, as warre, a bande of soul­dyers may be mainteyned by the yearely profites of that prouince: his powre is not at al deminished, the souldyers being slaine, excepte he léese also the prouince. As for an example, if the Emperour of Turkeye hath now fowre hundred ban­des of souldyers, of the whyche a hun­dred is susteined by the reuenewes of Hungarye, then if Hungarye shoulde be loste, he léeseth also the hundred bandes of souldiers: but if he forgoe no prouince, and léese all the souldyers mainteyned therby, he léeseth nothyng: because that to succede in their places, (yea if he wold desire a greater number,) they may ease­lye [Page] be founde: like as amonge vs eccle­siasticall liuinges, and other vacant offi­ces, may quicklye finde a possessor.

❧ The state of the Chazilarious.

THe souldiers called Chazilar, are stronge, and marueilouslye practised in warrelike affaires, whyche at the first bickering, do breake their speares vpon the aduersaries, vsyng no kinde of wea­pons, sauyng shéelde, speare and gleues, accordynge to oure countrymen, with a helmet, and coate of maile: but their spe­res beyng broken, they manfullye fyght with drawen gleaues, defendynge them selues with sheildes, alwais endeuoring to mischefe the handes or heades of their enemyes, and lyinge in wayte with all their force to destroye them. It is coun­ted among them no prayse, but an igno­minyes, to stryke the enemye or horse with the point of their swoorde. These men put all their lyfe and safegarde vn­der moderation of the goddesse Fortune, [Page] called in their mother speche Hassup, or Ctsutara, of whom the most common pro­uerbe amonge them all is this, Iazilan Gelur Bassina, whyche in the Englyshe tounge after this maner maye bée inter­preted, Iazilan, the writynge, Bassina, on the heade. Gelur, shall take effecte: their meanyng is that, what so euer the God­desse Fortune, at the daye of Natiuitye, hathe writen on euerye mans heade, to auoyde it, it is impossible althoughe he lurketh in an in vincible castell. Their worthy déedes and exploites are writen by Historiographers in vearse, and re­hersed by all sortes of men, that the reste w ^t such lyke boldnes (encoraged through desyre of honour and prayse) may valiūt­lye, and with out feare assaile their ene­mies. But for euery noble victorie atchi­ued by them, their stipendes are doubled, and therfore al the fornamed horse men, ought to folowe & accompanie the kyng, furnished with these kynds of weapens, [Page] that is to witte, Jauelinges or speares, gleaues, dartes, and iron clubbes, some haue tergates, other haue none, and they alwayes receiue wages, as well on the time of peace as warre.

❀ Hovv manie orders ther be of the turkishe footemene.

THe first order of footemene, is of the Solachlaries, which are archers, they vse bowes, arrowes, gleaues, and differ by their heade garment from the Ienit­zaries. The second order is of the Ienit­zaries, they also haue wepons lyke vnto the Solachlaries, howbeit, for bowe and arowes they vse hargabusheares & po­leaxes. All these gathered from amonge the christians, leadynge their liues their vnder tribute, taken awaye by force, cir­cumcised, and brought vp in a certayne place called Tsarai, doe fight moste cora­giously against the christians, and haue stipendes litle enoughe to liue by: that is to saye, some fowre, fiue, or sixe peces of [Page] monye called Ahtse, of the whiche thrée score do make vp a Crowne: and these vpon paine of lyfe may not ryde, excepte they be sicke. Ther are many also found to be made Ienitsaries of the Turkishe children. The third order of footemene is of the Azaplares, of whome, the warre being ended, y ^e wages also do cease, and they are all the children of Turkes.

They vse a longe speare, gleaue, & haue red heade coueringes, or of some other colour, made of cloth, with fowre angles, corner wise, called Tachia, and differ frō the Ianitsaries, and Solachtaries, by their garmentes, and armour: in the time of battell they throust throughe the horses of their enemyes. Ther is besides these an other order of footemene, from walla­chia, of the Grecian religion, named Voinichlar, whych haue no other stipend of the Turke, then that they are frée frō payinge any tribute and Tenthes. The men of this order are bound, at their pro­precostes [Page] and charges, to féede the idle horses of the Turkish kinge, to take iare of them, and brynge them fourthe in the time of warre.

¶ Of the great Turkes tentes, and paui­lions of his nobles, and souldiers, with the order of their iorneyinge in the time of vvarre.

WHen the Emperour of Turkie, for­saking Constantinople, setteth fore­warde vnto anye warre, he taketh with him two tentes, called Satorlar, that one this day, may be pitched at the next place of taryinge, when the daye folowing, he purposeth to be receyued. The greatnes of his tabernacle is suche, that vnto the beholders a farre of, it maye be thought a cytye: next therevnto doe the Princes pitche their pauilions, and encompasse round the kynges tabernacle: after these the horsemen, wherof euery one singu­lerly, or thrée enioye a tente. The foote­men also haue vnto them peculier taber­nacles, [Page] for it is decréed by ordinance of warre, that no mane shall lye abrode out of house, or couering. Certaine laborers do make way for the Armie to passe, pla­cing heapes of stones, or piles of woode, on euery syde, as tokens of the waye, in somuch that in the darke, they can scarse straye out of the waye. They begine to sette forewarde about middenight, and continew marching vntill noone tide of the next daye. In the time of their ior­neyinge, the kinge is caried, sittinge in the middeste, betwne two Bassans tal­kynge with him, before whom do iorney certaine souldiers of the [...]enitsarye or­der, on horses, caryinge burning torches, and this is done in a very obscure and darke night. Then the Tsanlar, whyche are captaines or disposers of y ^e Army, ha­uinge iron clubbes, sharpened and ky [...]e on euery syde, do driue men awaye from the kinges sighte, by the distance of sto­nes caste, or shootynge of an arowe, [Page] where Sulihtarlar, the multitude of the garde doth goe, amonge whom are the wagons or chariottes laden with loue boyes, seruyng for the Turkes vse and his péeres. Then the forenamed captai­nes or disposers of the armye, iorney ey­ther before them, or come after, with in­finite bandes of horsemen, footemen, and souldiers of diuers orders, some ha­uing wages, other for gaine, and lukces sake: men only, for they bringe no womē with them.

❀ The driuing of their beastes, order in the campe, in vvhat sort they lodge, and vvith vvhat foode they lyue.

AFter these succedeth a multitude of Camelles, Mules, and horse (sumeti­mes they bring Elephantes with thē al­so, called in their language Phil) carying victalles, tentes, with other suche thin­ges necessary for the Campe. And when the Turkes tabernacle is pitched, euery thing is their setled, and placed in order, [Page] as it were in a cytie: ther are places for Shoemakers, Bakers and Butchers: some séeke and prouide for all sortes of fleshe, but if freshe meate can not be got­ten, then they drawe fourthe suche foode as is caried by their beastes, that is to witte, bredde twise baken, fleshe dried in the smoke, named Pastarmar, chese, and milke congealed to curdes. They ar most pacient of hunger, thirst, and colde. Very seldome they herboure, or lodge in cities, but in the feldes vnder tentes, not farre from heye cockes and riuers, hauinge a greater regarde vnto their beastes, then of them selues, contēted with a light and base meat, as congealed milke tempered with water, and bread put therin, eyther newe, or twise baken, both maisters and seruantes. Ther is suche sylence obser­ued amonge them in the nyght season, that they neglecte their captiues flyinge awaye, for feare leste if a noyse, or cla­mour shoulde be stirred, they should suf­fer [Page] the punishment ordeined for y ^e breche of Sylence: but at what time they goe to reste, and when they ryse from their bed­des, to walke abrode, they crye all with a loude voice these wordes, repeatynge them thrise Allah, Allah, Allah, whyche doth signifie. O god, O god, O god.

☞ VVhat seuere iustice is exercised in the time of vvarre.

SUche seueritie is vsed to the breakers of decrées, and ther ordinances in war that no souldier dare to take any thynge vniustelye, if otherwise he should be pu­nished with out compassion: For ther ar elected among them, certaine ordinarye kepers, or defendours of such necessaries, as ar brought in the wayes, towards the campe, by children of eight or tenne yea­res olde, which bring to be solde, bredde, egges, frute, corne, with other such like. The forenamed officers ar also bound to defende the Orchardes of frutes, sytuate by the wayes sydes, in so much that they [Page] them selues dare not to take one apple, or other such lyke thing, with out licence of the possessed, for if it happen otherwise they also shalbe punished by léesing ther heades. When I was in an armye of the Turke, at an expeditiō or voiage against the Persians, I saue a Espahye together with his horse and seruant beheaded, be­cause his horse breakyng louse, had en­tredan other mans fielde.

❀ Of the triumphe to be celebrated for the Turkes victorie, vvher he is all­vvayes resident, and vvherefore he maketh vvarre so often againste the christians.

WHen it is signifyed, or relation made of the Turkes victorye, the cytyes breke fourth into all kinde of ioyefulnes. By night about the first kindeling of the candell, they begin this triūphant mirth, torches, linkes, and tapers of waxe, are euery wher displayed, the house & wayes whereby the turkyshe emperour muste [Page] passe are adorned with tapestry workes clothe of Arras, and hanginges of silke. But the most solemne pompe is done at Constantinople, wher he is alwayes re­sident, if no warres be stirringe betwene him and other countries. Howbeit by the lawes, he hym selfe is bounde, after euery thrée yeares, to take a voiage into the christian realmes, eyther for ampli­fyinge or defence of his kyngedome and dominion.

Of their hunting.

THer is no nation, vnder the sunne, that so muche deliteth in hunting as the Turkes. For in pursuing wilde bea­stes, thei runne throughe on ther horses, daungerous, sharpe, and rockye places, takyng diuers kyndes of beastes, and if the dead beast hath bene choked by dog­ges, neyther they them selues do féede v­pon the fleshe therof, neyther the chri­stians inhabiting those costes. But if by chaunce they kill a boare, him they geue [Page] vnto the christians of those partes, for the circumcised are forebidden to eate of Swines fleshe.

¶ Of husbandrie, and craftes men, vnto whom the tenthes do perteine, of the bath, and ceremonies about the same.

THe Husbandemen doe til the feildes by their seruantes, and paie the tenth therof vnto their Emperour. The labo­rours susteine them selues with handye craftes, but they whiche lyue sluggish­lye, and in idelnes, do pine awaye withe hunger. Merchandise is practised also very diligently amonge them. They tra­uell into Asia the lesse, whiche nowe is called Natolia, Arabia and Egipte, they discloase them selues, euen amonge the Venetians. In euery of their cytyes ther are Bathes, in the whiche accordynge to their accustomed vse, they washe them selues twyse or thryse. If they voyde vrine, their priuey member is washed, if they vnlode the burthen of nature, their [...] [Page] [...] [Page] [Page] fundament is made cleane with water: the lyke is done by the women, both kin­des are waited vpon, as the men by ther seruantes, and the women by their wai­tinge maydes, caryinge after them ves­selles full of water. And when they goe fourth to washe, the women do anointe them selues, with a certaine kynde of Oyntement, whyche after the space of halfe an houre, doth cause the heares to fall of, the men them selues doe shaue ther priuye partes, and in no wyse they suffer the heares to growe, but ridde thē selues therof, as wel the men as the wo­men, in euery moneth twise or thrise: but chefly when they frequent the temples, otherwyse (as defillers of the sacred and holy place) thei should be consumed with fire. Ther are amonge them also diuers sortes of craftes men as bowchers, shoe­makers, tailers, goldsmithes, siluersmi­thes, and of al other kinds of metall, lik­wise printers, and masons, but not of so [Page] subtile and excellent wittes, as certaine ther ar amonge vs.

¶ The iustice and equitie vsed amonge Citizens.

ALl the christians, and lykewyse the Turkes, haue one iudge chosen frō among the circumcised, whiche is bound to minister the law, and iustice equallye vnto all estates of men. If any man cō ­mitte murther, he shall suffer deathe for the same. If he steale, or take any thinge by force, he shalbe therfore hanged. As it chaunced vnto a certaine Janitsary, that had dronken vp the milke of a woman, carying it to be solde in the market, not payinge the price therof, whiche, accused before the iudge, whē he had denined the facte, being hanged vp by the héeles, and bounde harde about the middle with a corde, incontinent he vomitted vp the milke, and fourthe with by iudgemente condemned to hanging. This happened, I beyng present, at Damascus, when I [Page] iorneyed from Armenia towardes Jeru­salem. If any temple commit adultrye, the man is caste into prison, and after certaine monethes redemed for monye, but the adulterous womanne is caryed throughe the streates and highe wayes, on an Asse, scourged with whippes na­ked, and hauyng the intralles of an Oxe hāged about her necke, is stoned to death

☞ The tilling of their grounde, of the graine, Vines, and other frutes, vvhiche grovve in those countries.

AS well the Christians, as circunci­sed Turkes, do till the feldes, main­teine pastures, and plante vines, hauing corne or graine like vnto this of our coū ­trye, as wheat, Millet or Hirse, barlye, Oates, fine wheat, beanes, and al kindes of pulse: forthermore Rice in great plen­tye, flaxe, and silke cotten, more then in our countries. Both the sortes of menne aforenamed haue also in possessyon vi­neardes, vsinge diuersly the frutes ther­of.

[Page]The Christians make wine, but the Turkes a kinde of honye called in their language Pecmez, thei vse, and order cer­taine reasons in suche sorte, that as well to the eye, as in taste, they all wayes seme freshe and new, and are by them named Vzum Turssi. They haue frutes ther in gret abundance. At their propre seasons, the Orchardes, gardens, and feldes, are replenished, and laden with Pompones, Melons and cucumbers. Ther are nut­tes, apples, peares, pome granates, al­moundes, chest nuttes, figges, cheries, plummes, and other of lyke sorte, for a small price to be bought, but not in eue­rye nation. For ther are places, as heare and ther in Cappadocia and Armenia the lesse, where (throughe extreme cold) not one of these ar to be had, or may be gottē.

¶ The state of their Shepardes, vvhat heardes of beastes they fede, and of the tribute vvhich is required of the Christians.

[Page]THer are Shepardes among the Tur­kes called Sobaenlar, which leade ther liues contineweally in desartes, & chang places for freshe pasture almoste euerye moneth, hauyng at all no houses or pos­sessyons, exceptyng tentes, and droues of beastes. They féede Camelles, Mules, Horses, Oren, Shepe, Goates, and make chéese, butter, and shere Shéepe, wherof they make a kinde of garment, or clokes called Ghepenech, and tapestrie workin­ges, which ar solde, to bye corne for foode vnto their familie. The fornamed She­pardes generally, do yearly pay vnto the turkish Emperour, tyethes, of y ^e encrease of al their beastes. The Christians also, liuinge vnder tribute, ar constrained to paie tēthes, which in quantitie is to wit, of euerye male beaste, one crowne, and whiche is moste cruell, they take awaye from them by force all their sonnes ha­uinge no wiues, makyng searche ther­fore in ther houses, euery fifte yeare.

❀ The forme of building ther houses.

THeir is no great magnificence be­stowed vpon ther houses, the greater [...]art of them builded of bricke worke, and [...]her bricke is made after two sortes, ey­ther they are baked in a kéele, or dryed by heat of the Sunne. The rowses of ther houses ioyne together wedgewise, as do the buildinges of our countrye, and this is obserued throughe out al Europe, but in Natolia the coueringes or roufes, are plain, in fashion of a flowre, without any ridge: cundites they haue, and water pipes, that sende downe the rayne water vnto them, whiche is conueied throughe rouled pipes.

❧ The fashion of ther garmentes, vvherof they are made, and in vvhat sorte.

THeir aparaill made of the substance of wooll, flare, and silke, is riche and magnificent enoughe, the garment cal­led Chauton, they vse gardeo, plaites, and [Page] hangyng downe euen vnto y ^e shoe hēme our bréeches they abhorre, obiectinge thē opprobriously vnto vs, as thynges to be ashamed at. Their shertes named Gum­lech, and Naptkins ar dyed with a violet colour, ther head is builded vp with an heape of cloth, in maner of a turret, and gathered together at the toppe, not much vnlike the fashion of a stéeple, and suche a couering for their head is called in ther tonge Tulbent, or Salma. The wiues of riche men goe with their faces couered, and neuer open their countenaunces vn­to any other sauing their husbandes, nei­ther at any time frequent the market, or common assemblies. The shoes named Babucs, or Csisme, as well of the women as men, haue thicke sooles, that they may vse them the longer space.

¶ Of their meates, and foode.

THey vse bread most holesome, called Echmech, both white, & browne, euen as the men of our countries doe, but thei [Page] scater or mingle with the dooghe a cer­taine kinde of séede named Sussam, after that it is baked, which geuethe a delec­table switnes vnto the eaters, that bread is not vsed amonge the Christians, sa­uinge at certaine places, here and their in Spaigne, as in the kingdome of Gra­nata, and about Ciuill. In their foode is bestowed great conninge, and diuers sortes of sauces, their ordinarye meat is so muche thickened with rice▪ that the partes therof maye be drawen a sonder with their handes. Marueilous is the ab­stinence amonge them from fishe. They eate all sortes of fleshe, exceptynge of Swine. Their are amonge them no ta­uerns, or publike Innes, to entertaine strangers, as with vs, howebeit in the stretes are sold diuers kindes of meate, requisite for sustenance, with other thin­ges necessarye to liue by.

¶ The diuersities of their drinke.

[Page]THrée sortes of drynke they haue: the firste is made of Suger, of them na­med Secher, or honye alayed with water, this drinke hathe to name Tserbeth. The seconde is of reasons (the kerneles firste drawen forth) boyled in water, after that is added water of Roses, with a quanti­tye of pure honye, that drynke hath his denomination Hossaph, and is sold eue­ry wher in Turkye, it is swete, and cau­seth the bealy to swell. The thirde is of that kinde of hony named Pechmes, whi­che is made of newe wine sodden, vntill the third parte be boyled awaye, this drinke in taste, and to the sight represen­teth the lykenes of honye, it is alayed with water, and geuen to be dronken of their seruantes.

¶ The maner of the turkishe tables, and hovv they sit at meate.

WHen the time of refreshyng is cōme, they put vnder them mattes, called Hactser, after that they spred, abrode ta­pestrye [Page] clothes, or Cuishens. Some, sitte downe vpon the bare ground. Their ta­ble hauing to name Tsophra is made of leather, it is sprede abrode and drawen together in forme of a purse. They sitte not downe acordynge to our custome, or after the maner of the auncient fathers, as leanyng to their Elbowes, but their legges lyinge one ouer the other, crosse­wise, muche like vnto Tailers, Grace or thanke geuinge vnto God is said, before they tast of any meate. They eate spede­lye and with great silence, in which space their wiues are kept in som secret place The menne seruantes, after the age of twelue yeares, ar not permitted to en­ter the house wher women be: but yoūge boyes, within the age of twelue yeares, comming in, and goinge fourth, do bring them thinges necessarie, whyche separa­ted farre of, haue their habitation in an other house. The bounde women haue not so muche lybertye, as to step with­out [Page] the dores, except it be with the Turkes wiues when they enter the bathes to washe, or goe some other where, with out the cytye, as into Orchardes, vinear­des, and Gardens, for recreations sake (whiche often times they are wount to doe) but labour harde, continewally lur­kynge in ther houses, neyther are they permitted to talke, or be conuersant with the men seruantes, as in his propre place, whiche is in the treatise next folowing, of the afflictions of cap­tiues, the readers easely shall vn­derstande.

❀ The salutation of the Turkes, Persians, and Arabians, is suche.

Sellam aliech Tsultanum,

Peace be vnto the O Prince.

Sellam aliech Baba.

Peace be vnto the O Father.

Sellam aliech Ana,

Peace be vnto the O Mother.

And so the reste in order yow maye salute accor­ding to the worthines of their persons.

Ther aunswere.

Rahmatullah Sellam alechmi,

Our mercifull God geue peace to yow also,

Rahmatullah aliech, tseudigum,

Our mercifull God geue vnto yow, my frende,

Berechyat.

his blessyng.

The lamentable affliction, as vvell of the captiue Christiās, as of them vvhich liue vnder the most greuous youke of Tribute.
❀ In vvhat sort the Christians, taken in warre by the Turkes are handeled.

THe turkishe Emperour entending to take any voige, against the Christiās, amonge other hys honorable marchan­tes a grat number or rablement, of vn­naturall Regraters of manne kynd, and slaughterous bouchers, sitting on Ca­meles, doth allwayes accumpanye him: these for hope of bondemen, doe bringe with thē cheines of a merueilous lēght, in the whiche maye fiftye, or thrée score easely be bound on a rowe. So many as [Page] the enemies sworde hathe not muthered and cōsumed, they by of the spoilers and botye sekers, whiche is permitted vnto them, on this condition, that they pay the tenth of their captiues vnto the Empe­rour, the reste it is lawfull for them to kéepe, eyther for their propre vse, or to be solde: and amonge them ther is no mer­chandise so frutefull, profitable, or more vsed and accustomed, as in time paste it was among the Romanes which called gods merchādise, bought with no faute, and in the whiche no conuincement by lawe ought to be feared.

¶ In vvhat maner the Emperour orde­reth, and diposeth his captiues.

THe aged sorte, and youthe of bothe kindes, which befel and happened vn­to him vnder the name of tēthes, he this disposeth, that the wel stroken in yeares, may be sold to applye husbandrye, how­beit they ar very seldome taken, for it is arare thinge, that they should be spared, [Page] whome age of many yeares hath made scarse saleable. The young men, and vir­gins, they kéepe inclosed in a certaine place named in their lāguage Sarai, that ther they maye be instructed in profita­ble artes and sciences, wherby in time to come, they may vse them the more com­modiously, but firste it is attempted, that, the christian faith and religion being de­nied, they may be circuncised. And nowe hauyng receiued the first instructions of their ceremonies and the proportion and lineamentes of their bodyes, diligentlye marked by Phisiognomye, they ar acor­ding to euery ones disposition & toward­nes, apointed, either to learne the lawes of their country, or, (if a greater force of body, apeareth in them, then sharpnes of witte,) vnto warrefare: and they haue geuen for their daily pention, two or thre Ahcse peces of mony, that they call As­pres, thrée score of the whiche do make a crowne: they thinke it to be sufficient for [Page] their foode, and aparaill, vntill they be a­ble to fight in a battell. In this maner, they are instructed in the rudimentes of warrefare. Firste for the tendernes of their strenght, they haue a weke bowe assigned vnto them, but in continuance of time, the force of their bodye, and skil­fulnes in showtinge beinge encreased, a tougher and more strong bowe is assig­ned, thus it still augmenteth vntill they ar fit for the warre. A most seuere mai­ster, at night wil be present among them, to examine, and haue an accounte of ther daily exercise, and as often as they haue [...]rred from the marke, so manye tymes shall they be beaten with roddes. These are ascribed to the order of Solacrarors, whiche are Archers. Certaine other ar brought vp, for that they may be elected amonge the Ienitsaries: these also haue their ouersears, which constraine them to a daily kynde of combating, their con­tendyng is with clubbes. But the reste [Page] (Oh enuious acte) in whome a greate [...] grace of bewtie apeareth, ar so mangled, that no manlines is to be sene in all ther bodyes, with no small daunger of léesing their liues: but if they escape, yet from thence fourth saftye and sauegard maye they not obtaine, vntill they are made pertakers of their vnnatural lust and le­cherye, or, their comly bewtye wearynge away, ar made Eunuches, to serue ma­trones, and dames, eyther appointed to kéepe horses and Mules, or assigned to be drudges in their kitchens.

¶ Hovv they deale vvith virgins, and other vvomen.

SVche as are endewed with excellent bewtye, they chuse to be Concubines, the meaner sorte are geuen to ryche Da­mes and matrones, for wayting mades, to vse them about their necessarye busi­nes, amonge the whiche, certaine ar such vncleanlye offices, that with honestye they may not be named: for the maydes [Page] ar compelled to folow them, with a ves­sell of water, when they goe fourth to lay downe the burthen of nature, and purge their inferiour partes. The reste are streightlye kept to labors fitte for wo­men, as imbrotheringe, and weuing. It is lawful for none of them all, eyther to persiste in the Christian religion, or cō ­ceiue anye hope of fredome, as longe as they liue.

☞ In vvhat sort, the other Turkes doe Vse their captiues.

HEre before wée haue shewed, what the turkishe Emperour accustometh to doe, and nowe shalbe declared, what is done by these priuate persons. When any new captiues by them ar receiued, first they endeuour by all kinde of thret­ninges, faire promises, and flatteringes, that the late obtained bondmen, maye be circuncised: whych when it is done, he is handled sume what more gentellye, but all hope of returning into his country is [Page] cleane cutte of: for burning is ordeined [...]s a punishement vnto the flyers away, Those whiche ar counted most constant, and lesse fugitiue, ar taken by their ma­ [...]ters, to serue them as pages in the ar­mye, and then at lenght fréedom is pur­chased, whē, being vnprofitable through his age, he is rather reiected by his ma­ster, then dimised, or when his maister being in daunger of death at the warres, doth bequeth him fredome. They ar suf­fred to marrie, but their children ar disposed accordynge to the arbitrement, and pleasure of their maister, whiche thinge causeth the wyser sorte to abhorre ma­trimonye. But suche as refuse circum­cision, ar moste cruelly tormented: what miseries haue I ther susteyned by the space of thirten yeres? Verely I am not able to expresse in any wordes, what ca­lamity and grefe is in that kynde of life.

¶ After vvhat maner, they vvhich ar vn­skilefull of manual sciences, ar vsed.

[Page]MOst miserable is the estate of them which haue not learned the manual [...] craftes, for they onely amonge them are had in honour & regarde, wherfore when the learned sort, prestes, and noble men, whyche haue leade all their lyfe in idel­nes, come into their handes, they ar coū ­ted in a more greuous case then of al the rest. For the regrater neuer entendeth to bestow any cost on them, as scarse salea­ble: they trauell bare legged, with vnco­uered heades, and often times naked in the greatest part of their body: for their first garmentes worne out, ther shalbe no newe apparell bestowed vpon them, they ar lead and drawen throughe cold, snowe, rockes, stones, summer and win­ter, and haue no prefixed ende of miserye vntil they dye, or chaunce vpon some fo­lyshe maister, whiche byeth such vnpro­fitable merchandise, this is their pitifull estate, and dolefull misfortune. Finallye not one among them is so happy of what [Page] age, condition, science or bewtye so euer he be of, that, falling sicke by reason of iorneyinge, the regrater will leaue hym at some place to be loked vnto. Firste he forceth him to go with stripes, if that can not preuaile, he is placed on a beast, vpō the which if he cane not sitte vpright, he is bounde to the beast, his fore part, and face lokinge to the grounde, lyke vnto a fardell or packe: and beyng about to dye, first spoyled of his garmentes, they caste him into the next diche, or pitte, there to be deuoured by dogges, and vultours.

❀ Hovv the nevv taken captiues are handeled in iorneyinge,

NOt only in the iorney, they bynde ther captiues in perpetual cheines but also adde manacles to their handes: the distance of a passe is betwine euerye of them, lest one should tread vnder féete the other: whiche they doe for this occa­tion, because they would not bestoned, of the bondemen, to deathe. For in as much [Page] as euery Regrater leadeth with hym a great multitude, so that often times they haue fiue hundred men lincked in Iron [...], they feare the force of so great a number if they should haue their handes at liber­tye, and frée to caste with all. But when the night is come, they late their féet al­so with giues, and laye them vp right to al domages of the aire. The state of wo­men is more gentill, they whiche are of competent strenght, go on their féete, the weker sorte ar caried vpon beastes, but suche as are so féeble, that they cane not abide the rockyng of the beast are placed to be borne in panniars lyke Géese. The nyght is vnto them more sadde and so­rowfull, for eyther they are inclosed in mightie senced places, or enforced to suf­fer the beastly lust, and vncleane lecherie of those mankynd regraters. And a most lamentable howlynge and wepynge is heard throughe the darke of youthelye wightes of both kindes susteining vio­lence, [Page] neyther maye the age of sixe or se­uen yeares defende the miserable wret­ches from suche filthines, the malitious nation is so fearce and feruent, bothe a­gainst and beside all course of nature in libidinous lecherye.

☞ After vvhat fashion the captiue Christians are lead, and brought fourthe to be solde.

WHen the daye begynneth too were bright, they are brought fourthe into the market to be solde, lyke drones or flockes of shepe and Goates. The mer­chantes assemble together, the price is sette: if the captiue liketh them, his gar­mētes taken of, he is shewed openly be­fore the eyes of his mayster to come, all his membres are vewed, they ar felte, and euery part searched, whether anye hurt or domage hauing bene taken, lieth in the limmes and ioyntes. If he likethe them not, againe he is retorned vnto the regrater, so many times that to suffer, as [Page] any man entending to by shall come and drawe neare: if he contenteth their min­des, and they agre vpon a price, he is lea­den awaye to moste painefull bondage, eyther to bée made a ploughe manne or sheparde, that in the weane time I may omitte more laborous trauels. For there are amonge them vnspeakeable exam­ples of miserye, I haue sene menne ve­rye often coupled together in a youke to drawe the ploughe. The bonde women, are moste streitly kept to perpetuall la­bours, separate from the sight of menne, and they are not permitted so muche as to talke with their felowe seruantes. If any man hath bene taken by them, with his wife and children, the noble and rich men will bye him very gladdely, and he is made ouersear of their farmes, eyther to take the charge of tillinge their lande, dressyng of their vineyards, or maintai­nyng pastures. The children of these are in bondage. If they perseuer and conti­newe [Page] in the christian faithe, a certaine time of bondage is assigned vnto them, whiche beynge passed, they enioye their auncient fredome: howbeit their childrē, except they be redemed, remaine in ser­uitude, according to the pleasure of their maister, eyther to abyde in the same pla­ces, or som other wher to be transferred: there is no lande geuen by inheritance, for the which they serue a certaine space of time. If after their obtained libertye, they long to retorne into their countrye, letters patentes are deliuered vnto them for safe conducte. But vnto such as haue abiured and foresworne our religion, neyther is ther any determinate time of bondage, neyther lawe to be chalenged cōcerning retorne into their natiue lāde, all hope of Fredome onely dependeth at their maisters frée will and pleasure, and albeit that fredome be obtained, yet paye they tyethes, as the rest of the Turkes doe, but are frée from other burthens, [Page] were with the Christians ar oppressede.

❀ The state of those captaines vvhich they make Shepardes.

PEinefull is the lyfe of husbandmen, yet more greuous it is with thē which are bought to take the charge of She­pardes, they must leade their liues in de­sertes, and remaine continually both day and night abrode in the open ayre: only their maister with his wife, dwelleth in the tente, and besides the painefull tra­uell in defendyng and kepyng their stoc­kes, they ar cōstrained at leasurable hou­res to make garmentes, & tapestrye wor­kinges. Euerye moneth they change pa­stures, conueying them selues from one hill to an other. They which are of a na­ture more gentil and tractable, ar w [...]nte to gene a small stipend vnto their ser­uantes, suche as we reade to haue bene measured amonge the Romaines, and that is counted their propre goodes, whi­che is kept for assistance in the waye, yf [Page] after obtained Fredome they purpose to retorne into their countrye, or vnto other thynges necessarye for maintenance of their lyfe. But this chaunceth not euery wher, for it is a miserable enticement in to bondage, wherby they restreine them from their intente of departure. But vn­to them whiche haue denyed Christe: be­cause they ar sure that they will not take flight, no suche fauour is shewen.

¶ The flight of bonde menne out of Europe.

FLight is more easye for them to take whiche passe their dayes in Europe, then vnto suche as are sold ouer into the regions beyond the seas: for by them no daungerous places ar to be passed but ri­uers, whiche easely they maye swimme throughe, the greatest perill is in goinge ouer the sea Hellesponte. These whiche purpose to flie awaye, are wont to ende­uour it in the time of harueste, for that the more commodiously they maye hide [Page] them selues in the corne, and haue suste­nance therof, they continewe their flight in the night season, and lurke in the daye time, either in wooddes, marishes or a­mong the corne, and had rather to be de­uoured by wolues and other beastes, thē backe to be drawen againe to their olde maisters.

❧ Of their flight out of Asia the Lesser.

THey whiche seke meanes to flye out of Asia, doe take their iorneye towar­des the sea Hellespont, betwine Call [...]po­lis, and y ^e turrettes sumtime called Seston and Abidon but nowe in these our days Bagas Asar, whych maye be interpreted, a castell of the streightes of the sea, wher the sea is most narrowe. Thei cary with them an Axe and cordes, both to cutte downe trées, and binde them together, therof to make them boates for passage ouer the sea, bearinge no other thynge with them, sauing salte: by nyght they [Page] enter the boate. If the windes and good fortune be fauorable, they rowe ouer in thrée or foure houres, if otherwyse, ey­ther they perish in the waters, or are dri­uen backe agayne to the sea bankes of Asia▪ Hauinge escaped the seas, they ap­proche the hilles, and fixinge allwayes their eyes vppon the Pole, and Bootes, they directe their iorneye into the northe part: In the time of hūger they sustaine them selues with Acornes, and herbes sprinckeled with salte. If a companye resorte & assēble together to take flight, they inuade by nyght the Shepardes, whiche beyng slaine, they carye awaye with them what meate and foode soeuer ther they finde, howebeit often times they perish them selues, receiuing death of the Shepardes, or taken by them, and deliuered to their old masters, ar brought again vnder their accustomed thraldome and bondage. But a greater nomber the daungers destroye, thenne doe escape in [Page] safty, for either they ar drowned by ship­wracke, deuoured with y ^e téethe of wilde beastes, slaine by their enemies sworde, or finally famished for defecte of nowri­shemēt, when by flyinge thei haue wan­dered a longe space.

¶ Of the punishement ordained for fugitiues.

MAnifolde ar the punishemēts apoin­ted for flyars awaye: some hanged vp by the héeles ar most greuously scour­ged, but of such as haue committed mur­ther, the féete ar launced with kniues in­to manye furrowes, and so miserablely mangled they sprinkle them with salte, throughe the bodyes of other is thruste a great forke, that hath an iron toppe, which a longe space both daye and night they beare and susteine.

¶ The fauorable affection of Grecians and Armenians tovvardes fugitiues.

PUnishement by death and forfaiture of all their goodes is ordained for thē, [Page] y ^e fauer or further the flight of fugitiues. Notwythstandyng the Armenians and Gretians doe not cease daily to hide the Christian captiues in their houses, and bringe them diffigured with their appa­rell vnto the shippes of the Venetians, or other Christians, and geue prouision re­quisite for their iourneye, with all other thinges necessarye, neyther by them are ther omitted any tokens of godlye loue, For they affirme to haue receyued lyke fauour at our handes, at what time they come to Rome and Compostella.

❀ Of the inchauntementes Vsed by the Turkes against Fugitiues.

THey haue a certain kind of inchaunt­mente, wherby they bringe thē backe ma [...]ger their teth. The name of the ser­uant writen in a scroll of paper is han­ged vp in his lodging or cabinne, after that they coniure his heade with horri­ble wordes and incantatiōs: which dōne by poore of the deuil it commeth to passe, [Page] that the seruaunte flyinge shal thinke to chaunce, in his iorneye, amonge Lions or Dragons, either the sea and fluddes to breake oute againste him, or all th [...] ­ges to seme blacke by reason of darke­nes, and driuen backe with this terrible sightes, he retorneth vnto his maister.

¶ Hovve the memorie of Christ by litle and litle vvereth to obliuion in the Prouinces sumetime of Christian religion.

THere are certaine yet remayninge aliue, whyche haue in remembrance the conqueringe of Constantinople, and the kyngdones of Gretia, Albania, VVa­lachia, and Seruia, whiche the Turkes do nowe call Bosnam, reduced and brought into Prouinces, they verelye sticke most firmelye vnto Christe, but the younger sorte can not remember it, and in short space it will come to passe, that the obli­uion of Christianitye shall replenishe all those countries: The like will happen in [Page] Croatia, Ilungarie, & Sclauonie, which are [...]ate additions and augmentinges of the Turkishe empire.

☞ In vvhat sort the conquerour aafe [...] any victorie behaue them selues, and hovve by them are vsed the Spi­rituatie.

WHen the Turke hath subdued any [...] prouince, al the goodes therunto ap­pertayning as wel moueable as not mo­ueable, are graunted and geuen for a boo­tye. He noteth out by the grounde all the nobility, but chieflye the princes issue. And in that at this presēt is fauoured by them the sonne of kynge Ihon, they do it not to none other ende, then if Hungarie should be taken frō them, they may place him therin, newe mischiefes to attempt, but whē of Hungarie they shal haue sure and safe possession, no doubt but they wil ridde hym out of this life. For the Tur­kes to obtaine a kingdome do fauor nei­ther their owne bloud nor kinsfolke, no [Page] not their propre brethren. If they mur­ther not the spirituall men, at least wise▪ spoiled of al their riches and promotiōs▪ thei cast them of to be laughed at, and to get their liuinge by begging. They take oute of the Churches all the belles, or­ganes, and other musical instrumentes, yea the temples them selues profaned & defiled, they cōsecrate to their Mahomet: the naked and base chapelles are lette stande for the Christians, wher they say their seruice not openlye, but with great silence, and couertly: whiche when they are fallen to the grounde by meanes of earthequakes, consumed with fyrye fla­mes, or rotten throughe longstanding, it is not lawfull for them to réedifye with­out the paiment of a greatsome of mo­ny. Sermons and preaching of the Gos­pel is plainelye forbidden, neyther is it lawfull for thē to assēble vnto any Chri­stian cōmon wealth, beare wepōs about with them, be cladde with like apparrail [Page] vnto the Turkes, daunce, or sette fourth pleasant sightes of a ioyefull lyfe▪ If any iniurie be done towardes the, or Christ, by opprobrious wordes, thou must holde thy peace, and pacientlye suffer it. But contraryewyse, if thou speake anye vn­worthye or disdainefull thynge of their religion, thou shalt be enforced to circū ­ [...]ision, if then also thou mutter againste Mahomet, fire and burnyng shall consu­me the to asshes. And if a horseman of y ^e Christians passe by a Musulman, whi­che is one entrede in the turkish religion it is necessaryly required that he descend from his horse, and worshippe the other sitting, with a lowly countenance, and bēding his body, which except it be done, he is beaten downe from his horse with clubbes.

¶ The estate of prestes and munkes li­uinges vnder tribute of the Turkes.

PKestes and mūkes with the Turkes are of all other in vileste estate, [Page] they ar reputed as cōmitters of sacrilege & accursed both by god & man, neither do they receiue any stipēds of y ^e church. Upō Festiuall they haue caste vnto theym [...] y certaine women, a small quantitye of bredde, no thinge is distributed amonge them vppon otherdayes. They lyue by purueyinge of wodde: for the custome is that they he we downe trees in the wod­des, wherwith their asses beynge laden, they wander wyth that marchaundyse through out al the streates, proclayming wodde to be solde.

¶ Of the vnmerciful tributes exacted at the Christians handes.

THe Christians do pay the fourthe of all their increase, and this fourthe is not only gathered of the profites of their landes, fieldes and flockes, but also the manual artificers do geue the fourthe of all their gaines. Ther is besides this an ther burthen of payment, by the which [Page] so many as ar in one familie, do exhibite euery one a duccate. If their parentes be not able to discarge it, they are constrai­ned to sell their children into bondage. Some other linked in cheines do wan­der doore by dore to begge money for dis­chargement therof, but if neyther then they ar of abilitie to paye, they are con­demned to perpetuall imprisonement. And nowe when they haue performed all dew [...]ies, yet is it alwayes lawful for the Turke to haue the frée election of the best of his sonnes, whiche, circumci­sed, and conueied awaye out of his par­rentes sight, is trained vp for the war­res, neyther shall he euer retorne againe to his parentes, and first because a childe will quicklye commit Christ to obliuiō, soone after also his parentes and alyes, so that if they should be conuersant with him, he can not discerne, or iudge one of his kinsefolke. No manne is able to ex­presse [...] wordes, with what bitter tea­res, [Page] sorowefull sighes, and pitifull sob­binges that violente separation is done. The Father séethe his sonne, whom he hathe instructed and brought vp in the true worshippinge of Christe, to be dra­wen by force vnto the warrefare of Sa­than, that he maye fight against Christe: the soone is rauished from his parentes perpetually to liue amonge straungers and Aliantes, vtterly to forsake that whiche by bloud is dearely beloued, grateful throughe aquaintāce, and frendly by fa­miliarity: from thense foreward to come amonge the number of them, whom the Grecians are wont to call Apatoras and Ametoras. And albeit that this greatlye degenerate frō the trew Christian faith, yet a great number of them do cary vn­der their armepittes, as a most sure pre­seruatiue against euill happes, the Gos­pell of saint Ihon, (whiche is to witte. In the beginning. &c.) throughely written vnto the ende, bothe in the Grecian and [Page] Arabian language, whiche intentinelye and with feruent desire expect and lōge for the Christians sworde (of whom the turkishe prophet dothe speake, as it shal­be declared in y ^e treatice next folowing) to reuenge and deliuer the Christians from their vnspeakeable afflictions and painefull persecutions. Whiche in that it hathe not vntill this daye made haste, and ben lifted vp against them, who soe­uer they be that ar the hinderers therof, and to what purpose they do it, it forceth not, but they seme trewlye to haue de­serued moste vnworthely of the Chri­stian religion. For nowe (Oh soroweful mischaunce, our brother George of Vara­dinum being disceased) how quickely ha­ue we lost the gouernement of the Te­mesuans? let hence fourthe Hungarie la­ment, and Transyluania be sorowefull, Pollonia also ought to bée circumpecte, with Lutē Russia, Prussia, Moschouie, Da­cia, Denmerke, Gutlad, Norvvaie, and Sue­uelande [Page] Lotte the lyke be sayde of Au­striche, Morauie, Siletia, Boeme, Saxonie, Germanie. England, Scotteland. Spaigne, and France. Let Rome, Venice with all Italie loke no better to spede. God graunt that these thinges maye attaine vnto a more happye end then I suppose they will.

❀ The Lordes praier in the Sclauone toungue.

Nass otsse ki yessi na nebessi. Our Father whiche arte in heauen. Ssuhtisse tuoie ime. Kralyeusstuo Holowed be thy name. They kyngdome. pridi, tuoia olia budi na zemlij kako come, they will be done in earthe as it is na nebu. Dai na [...]ga danass nassega in heauen. Geue vnto vs this daye our ssagdaniga kruha, iodpusciainā nasse dughe daillye bredde, and forgeue vs oure debtes. kako mi odpuscianao nassiiw dusuikon, i as we doe forgeue our depters. and nepeliai nats u napast, da izbaui leade not vs into temptation, but deliuer nate od nepriazni, Amen. vs from euill.

Amen.

The Salutation of the Angell.

ZDrano Mario puna milosti, gospidin Haile Marie full of grace, the Lorde is stobum, blasena ti meusenami, with the, blessed art thou amonge women, i blasen tsad tuoye vtrobe and blessed is the frute of thy wombe Iesus Kristus, Amen. Jesus Christe,

Amen.