THE Navigations, peregrinations and voyages, made into Turkey by Nicholas Nicholay Daulphinois, Lord of Arfevile, Chamberlain and Geographer ordinary to the King of France: containing sundry singularities which the Author hath there seen and observed: Divided into four Books, With threescore figures, naturally set forth as well of men as women, according to the diversity of nations, their port, entreaty, apparel, laws, religion and manner of living, aswell in time of war as peace: With divers fair and memorable histories, happened in our time. Translated out of the French by T. Washington the younger. ❧ Imprinted at London by Thomas Dawson. 1585. To the Right Honourable Sir Henry Sidney, Knight of the noble order of the garter, Lord Precedent of her majesties Council in the Marches of Wales and the principality thereof, and one of her majesties most honourable privy Council: And to the Right Worshipful Sir Philip Sidney Knight, john Stell wisheth long life, and happy dai●●, with increase of honour. IT is a wise, and not so wise as true a saying of a trau●●led writer (Right Honourable and Noble) uttered upon his own experience, that he was always of opinion and mind, that the perfect praise of wisdom and learning, is not to be sought for in books, but to be gotten by very use and practise▪ They therefore that by continual study, and incessant reading do usurp & challenge to themselves the title of knowledge, are not alone to be judged wise; but they rather much more are to be esteemed such, who setting apart all other their private businesses and affairs (though to them very advantageable) are conversant in this world as in a Theatre of man's life, and by due trial are taught the diversities of countries, the differences of people's manners, the examples of life, and manifold things beside, which travelers do comprehend with their eye, and compass by their wit. For what is more discommendable, what more unbeseeming a man that is studious, specially being nobly borne, than always to a●ide at home like a snail in the shell, to wax old in vain pleasure without praise, and unnecessary leisure, without profit, and not to meditate & think that at one time or other it is meet to hover with the wings, to leave the nest, and to fly abroad, that they may aspire to the knowledge, and attain to the sight of great matters, wherewith they shall never be acquainted, otherwise than by the book or the map, which differ as much in moving the imagination and other faculties of the mind, as the representation of a thing in a glass or a painted table, doth vary from the thing represented? To undertake traveling, the utility (which is not small) springing from thence, should invite all liberal minds and free natures. And in truth none are so much adorned and benefited by peregrination as Noble and Great men; though doubtless it is not deniable, that common men, (I mean not triobular mates) men I say, of base descent and lineage, have thereby not only been commended to the Honourable; but also their own experience and trial of occurrents in traveling, doth procure thus much more than ordinary unto them, that they are among men untravelled as Hesperus among the smaller stars. For when we either hear or read of fruitful countries, of well governed commonwealths, of true religion and divine worship, of learned men, of training up youth, of manners and behaviours &c: is it not sweet in every one's ear, is it not worth the understanding, doth it not deserve diligent marking and remembering? But yet much more pleasant, and profitable is it to view the very things themselves, to behold them, and to see them with satiety, as the Poet very aptly saith: That which we hear with outward ear, moves not the mind so much, As that which beams of rolling eyes, attain unto and touch. A certain traveler, but (as may be suspected by the course of his writing) superstitious, according to his time, speaking of a voyage of his own, saith thus: Should it grieve or repent me of my peregrination to Rome, specially in the year of jubilee? No in truth. For such things as were doubtful to me, before uncertain, & as a shadow, are now, by the infallible testimony of mine eyes assured unto me with singular credit, and have raised up in me an exceeding delectation & astonishment. They therefore at no hand deserve the hearing, which being induced by an argument drawn from the greatness of the labours, & the dangerousness of circumstances incident unto traveling, suppose that the same is to be laid a ●●eepe, to be omitted, & not meddled with at all. But what (think we) may be objected against those shelsnailes? This truly, that people are borne to pains taking, as birds to flying. Aristotle in his Ethics requiring a capable hearer of his moral precepts, rejecteth infants and old men as insufficient: which two degrees of age do seem (in some men's thinking) unfit for traveling: because the one, by reason of their multiplied years; are to be released from the tediousness thereof; the other also, in respect of want in judgement, understanding and strength, are wholly to be sequestered from it. But I do much mislike their opinion, and the reasons likewise thereto ann●●ed. For though infants are unfit for peregrination, yet to exclude old men, as unapt, is (in my poor conceit) palpable erroneous. For in a matter nothing doubtful to use needless proofs as Tully neatly saith) we have an example of jacob, an old man, & full of years, who notwithstanding traveled out of his own● country into Egypt, partly by constraint of famine, and ●artly also for his son joseph's sake, whom naturally he loved▪ Again, if old men are condemned as unfit for peregrination, then truly (by the same comparison) women much more whom the same Aristotle termeth unperfect creatures. But the Queen of the South, hearing of Solomon's wisdom, glory, and mightiness left the territories of her own dominions, ●o see him with her eyes, whose incomparable renown had amazed her heart. So then by these instances the former reason seemeth too halt, and the Author thereof to have said somewhat▪ but yet with little advisement and to small purpose. I might add to these hagiographical examples, other testimonies deduced and brought out of profane Chronologies, both ancient and modern; were it not that I fear the censure of some politic Hannibal, and incur deserved blame for talking fond of a thing wherein I have no practice, as sometimes did foolified Phormio. Only this I say, that the greatest commendation and praise of a traveler is, not only to talk by knowledge roundly of such famous Cities, Countries, people, and other strange objects as he hath seen; but also to speak their language readily, to learn their manners desirously, to know their religion perfectly, their policy thoroughly, their government absolutely, and all things else, that he may employ himself about profitably; as it is recorded of Ulysses▪ whom Ascham out of Homer commendeth in these words: All travelers do gladly report great praise of Ulysses, For that he knew many men's manners, and saw many cities. And as histories bear witness of Mithridates the King of Pontus, whose peregrinations and expeditions into foreign lands was so beneficial, that (besides a number of unnamed commoditities) he had the exquisite use of two and twenty sundry tongues. But now (Right honourable and Noble) to stop this flowing stream of words, I leave to the level of your exact considerations the manifold utilities of peregrination, because you are completely furnished with knowledge and experience in that behalf, not severed, but united. Beseeching you to accept at my hands, with no less favour and well liking, than is presented with hearty goodwill and honest meaning, a work extant in French, published in Duitch, & now printed in English at my costs & charges for the general profit & pleasure of the studious, and all such as delight in novelties. Wherein things no less strange and true are remembered, than either Christopherus Colonus noteth in his voyage to the Indies, or Petrus Martyr de Angleria mentioneth of the West Ocean islands, or Gonzalus Ferdinandus Ouiedus specifieth of the occidental Indies, or Ludovicus Wertomannus rehearseth of Arabia, Egypt, Persia, Syria, Aethiopia, etc. or Maximilian Transiluan recordeth of the wonderful navigation of the Spaniards round about the world, etc. Hoping that your Honourable wisdoms will esteem of it, as the commendable labours of an adventurous and skilful traveled Gentleman, doth require: which is the uttermost, and indeed all in all▪ that I can wish; saving health, and happy days to your Honours, with the fullness of all virtue, and perfect nobleness. Your honours most humble to be commanded, john Stell The first Book of the navigations, and peregrinations Orientals of Nicholas de Nicholaij of Dauphin, Chamberlain and Geographar Ordinary of the King of France. The departure and voyage of the Lord of A●amont (Ambassador for the King towards the great Turk) from Constantinople to return into France. Chap. 1. ABout the end of the year of our Lord 1550. 1550. The Lord of Aramont sent Ambassador from the king of France to Soliman Emperor of the Turks. The Lord of Aramont (a wise & virtuous Gentleman,) after he had for many years been Ambassador for the most Christian kings, Francis the first of that name, and Henry the 2. towards Soliman Emperor of the Turks, about certain affairs greatly importing his charge▪ was by the said Soliman sent back into France, and departing from the city of Constantinople anciently called Bizance, and of the Turks Stambolda, The voyage by land from Constantinople to Ragusa. having travailed through the countries of Thracia, Macedonia & Bulgaria, and surmounted the height and sharpness of the mount Rhodope vulgarly called the mounts of silver, because of the silver mines that there are found, and passed Morannia, Bossina and Servia, which by the ancients was called Mysia differing from those which are in Asia came to Ragusa in times past called Epidavia, a city in Dalmatia most rich and famous, cituated upon the Sea Adriatic & governed in common wealth as hereafter in his place shallbe declared. Navigation from Ragusa to Venice. From thence inbarking himself in a Brigantin, passed along by the Gulf Adriatic & the coasts of Dalmatia, journey from Venice to the city of Blois. Slavonia, & the isle of Istria, unto the city of Venice: afterwards taking his journey by land towards Padua, Vincence, Veronne, Bresse, & other towns of the Signiory of Venice, of the Grisons, & Switsers, arrived in the end at Lions: and from thence to Roan, where he embarked upon the river of Loire, repaired to the king being in the city of Blois, where his master did receive him with all royal humanity, and having well, and at large understanded the proceedings in his charge, and the cause of his coming, often putting the same to the deliberation of his counsel, his return was finally concluded and resolved, and that for the more surety of his voyage, he should return by Sea. To which intent and in consideration of his virtue and service (having already honourably endued him with the estate of a Gentleman ordinary of his chamber, The Lord of Arramont made gentleman ordinary of the king's chamber and captain of two galleys. ) he gave unto him two Galleys of the best and best furnished that were within the haven of Marseillie, & ordained the knight of Seur, (a man of great experience and excellent judgement) to accompany him with his galliot well appointed: The king commandeth the author of this book to go with the Ambassador into Levant. and I (for certain causes) was by his majesty expressly commanded to assist him in all places during his voyage. The departure of the Lord of Arramont from the Court, to return in his ambassage into Levant towards the great Turk. Chap. i●. THE said Lord of Arramount thus being dispatched with all things necessary for his voyage, The departure of the Lord of Arramont from the court to return on his ambassage in to Levant in anno 1551. having taken his leave of his majesty, and of all the Princes and Lords of his counsel, we departed from Hoyron (a house in Poytou most fair and stately, belonging unto Monsieur de Boissij, Knight of the order, and great master of his majesties horse) about the last of May 1551. and in few days after being come to Lions, we embarked upon the Rhone, a river being one of the swiftest of all Europe, The Lady of Arramont receiveth the Ambassador her husband at Auignion. to go down into avignon, where my Lady of Aramount of most fervent desire and singular affection was attending her husband: as having been deprived of his presence more than ten years. And there being arrived he was of her received with incredible joy and contentation, as also of the Gentlemen and Ladies dwelling within the City and thereabouts, his kinsmen and Allies, who all came to visit and bid him welcome. Afterwards about the end of the fifteenth day, after we had rested ourselves, the Ambassador being mindfully bend to his charge, having set an order in his household affairs, and taken his leave of all parties, sent down his train by water: & himself went by land, accompanied with his kinsfolk, & certain Gentlemen went to visit the county of tend, governor & Lieutenant general for the king in Province at his house at Marignane: & the day following they both arrived at Marseillie: & were lodged in the king's lodging, where within few days after, the Ambassador was taken with a grievous sickness, which persecuted him so violently, that men despaired of his life. The Ambassador fell into an extreme sickness at Marseille. He recovereth his health. Notwithstanding he was so diligently tended & succoured of God & men, that before the captain cost his Lieutenant had given order for the full rigging of his galleys, & the knight de la Seure, his Galliot, he recovered his health: so as the iiii. day of the month of julie in the year before specified, about evensong time the Ambassador & his company embarked in his galleys. The anchors being weighed, by force of oars we went to the isle of If, distant from Marseillye one mile at the fortress whereof my Lord the county of tend accompanied with the great prior of Rome, the Lord of Carses, the captain Marse, & captain Pier bon, captain of the said fortress, & divers other captains, gentlemen & soldiers, & with xv. galleys: & there caused a supper to be prepared. And after the table was taken up, and leave taken of both parties, the said county with his company returned to Marseillie: & we about the first watch sailed strait towards the port of Carry, being distant from the isle of If xii. miles, Port of Carry. at which place we made provision of fresh water for our galleys, and reviewe of the Gentlemen, soldiers and other of our company: the principal whereof were the afore named Knight de Seure, with his Galliot; The Lord of Montevand Daulphinois a man at arms of the company of the said county of tend with a frigate to accompany us and to bring back news from us. The Captain cost Lieutenant of the ambassadors galleys, a nephew of his called Erasme, The Lord of S. Veran, brother unto my Lady of Arramont; The young Baron of London, and the Lord Fle●ri, both nephews to the Ambassador, the knight of Magliane: the Lord of Corignac, chamberlain ordinary unto the king, who for his very long voyages and travails in the king's affairs in Levant, was after the said Lord of Arramont, made chief Ambassador, (but notwithstanding afterwards, clean forgetting the honour and good which he had received of the king his sovereign Lord, Ingratitude mother of all vices. and the crown of France, contrary to that which duty & fidelity commanded him, went over to the king of Spain:) The Lord of Vilrailh also chamberlain ordinary unto the king, a gentleman learned and of singular experience: who for that he had the duitch tongue, besides the Latin and other languages very familiarly, hath since divers times under the reign and commandment of king Henry, been very honourably and happily employed in great and honourable affairs towards the Princes and Potentates of Germany & the holy empire: Three gentlemen of Gascoignie being brethren called jueuses: the Lord of Saint Marie: the Lord De la mot otherwise called Chasteau Regnaud: the captains la castelle Barges, and Bartolome de avignon, Guiliam de Grantrie, nephew of Monsieur de Laubespine presently elected and sent to Constantinople as other Ambassadors: a nephew of mine called claud de Bayard, and divers other of whom for avoiding of prolixity I leave to speak. The reviewe being thus made, and having returned on shore certain unfit eaters: our anchors being weighed, and our sails displayed, we sailed along by East and by North towards the North of the cape De creo in Cathalonia which the Spaniards call Capo de Creuses: Cape de Creo. and after having passed Grece & Tramontane, sailed through the Spanish Seas towards the Isles Baleares, so anciently called: but by the moderns Maiorque and Minorque, whereof passing forward we will make some more description. Of the Isles Baleares, now called Maiorqúe and Minorqúe. Chap. 3. THE isles Baleares, Description of the Isles Baleares. (which were so called and derived out of the name of Balee, companion unto Hercules) although the Grecians have named them Gimnesie, & Diodore Gimnaisis: yet are they vulgarly by the Mariners called Maiorque and Minorque, being situated in the Spanish or Believe Sea, according to the name of the said islands. The inhabitants whereof (as Vegece writeth) were the first inventors of casting with the sling. Vigece saith the inhabitants of this isle to have been the first inventors of casting with the sling. Maiorque, after the opinion of Bordon in his Isolarie containeth in circuit 480. miles, although the mariners now adays do ascribe unto it but 200▪ and in breadth 100 about which Isles there are certain shelves, whereof the one which lieth towards the South, is called Cabrera, & the other towards the West Dragonera. The said Island hath two cities, Palm now called Maiorque or Mallorque, accorcording to the name of the Island, and Polence, now called Alcidia: Minorque hath in length 60. miles, & in circuit 150. & to the East stretcheth from Maiorque 30. miles & hath also according to the moderns two cities, of which the one is called Minorque, but anciently Mugo, and the other jamma, now called Citadella▪ And although Minorque is less than Maiorque, yet in goodness nothing inferior: for certainly both are very fertile, and have good ports. Of the Isles by the ancients called the Pitieous Isles, and now Ieu●●e and Fromentiere. Chap. 4. FRom the Baleares we sailed towards the Isles called Piteous, Description of the Isles piteous which in times past were called Ebuse: and Ophicuse ●● that all the people moved at it, run to the mole head to see us enter into the port: where we being entered Cotignac was again sent with the Chiaous to the king to advertise him of our arrival, who stayed not, but straightways there came with him divers other Chiaous, captains and janissaries to receive the Ambassador, presenting him with a fair horse of Turkey harnished after the fashion of a Spanish Jennet, to bring him to the palace, which standeth in the midst of the city, where coming in good order, we entered into the lower court from whence the Chiaous which first was come with Cotignac, conducting us, Description of the Palais. brought us into another court something less than the first, in the midst whereof was a small pond foursquare paved with marble stones. And at the end which is toward the South, stood against the wall a great fountain for the common service of the house, and at one of the sides was a great stair of wood which did ascend into a long gallery standing upon pillars, some of divers marber stones, & some of white stone, & in the midst of the pavement which was of Marberstone made very artificially a small fountain being no higher set then the pavement: The king of Alger receiveth the Ambassador. besides a seat which did environ it. The king being appareled in a gown of white Damask, sat at the end of the said Gallery upon a very fair and costly seat, & a little from him was his Capi-aga, Capi-aga, which is the Captain of his estate, clothed in a long gown of crimson Velvet, with a Tulbant upon his head, holding in his hand a long staff of silver, near unto him were his Capagiss, which are Porters, every one having in his hand a staff coloured green: Capigis. a little further were in a range the king's slaves bearing on their heads a Saracoll of Crimson velvet, and before the front the band, a silver socket set with long feathers, and certain stones of small value: And there the Ambassador having done his reverence to the king in kissing of his hands, The Ambassador saluteth the king. the king caused him to sit down by him, and after certain talk, the Ambassador showed him his commission, and so took his leave of him, and returning too his Galleys, was accompanied by those which brought him up. The whole day after we were visited of a great number of Turks & moors, to whom of our parts was made good cheer during four days the king sent to us every day six oxen and xxi. muttons. Liberality of the king. The captains of the Galleys of Alger, and other Turks and moors brought unto us all sorts of fruits, as Pears, Apples, Figs, Reasons, and millons of excellent goodness, & certain bread without leaven like unto cakes or bunnes. To every of them was given some money which increased their good will to return often: For in all the world is no nation like to them in theft and covetousness, we remained a whole week in good liberty & friendship, Covetous nanation. frequenting the one with the other with great familiarity, during which time the knight of Seure caused his Galliot to be new calked, & for this purpose the king lent him one of his galleys & did further gratefully furnish him of tallow and other things thereunto necessary. Of the great perils and dangers we were brought into by the means of certain christian slaves that were escaped. Chap. 7. Upon the Thursday being the xvi. day of the said month of july, a christian slave of one of the foists which had rob Cotignac, being by subtle means escaped, cast himself into the Sea to swim to our galley: but a Turk of another galley espying him did likewise cast himself into the Sea, & in swimming followed him so swiftly that he mounted upon his back and without the succour of our mariners, who pulled him being half dead into our galley, had drowned him: too whom incontinent came running divers other Turks to recover him, & amongst other his master, who despairing that his slave should not remain a live any long time, was contented & left him with us for x. crowns, & from time to time always came away into our galleys divers other, & amongst the rest a young nephew of the captain cost, being slave unto a very rich merchant of Alger, Who was perceived by certain Turks, as he was climbing into the chief galley, who straighwayes came running with divers other with great and furious cries for to recover him. Conspiracy of the Turks against us. After which time the Turks and moors began to conspire openly against us, for too endamage us, by reason whereof the Ambassador foreseeing the great dangers into which he or his, might fall, went twice to the king to have his dispatch & leave, to the end to follow on his voyage, on the other side the Raise and Azappis of the galleys persisted instantly too have again their slaves, affirming that since our arrival they had lost above xx. of them: wherefore upon Sunday the nineteen. these Raise accompanied with a number of others, came again into our galleys to demand their slaves, and especially the nephew of the captain cost, whom they affirmed to be within the chief galley, using very rude and outrageous words towards the Ambassador: who excused himself, and assured them that he knew nothing thereof & that he did not think that any of their slaves were gotten into his galleys, which he said he would not permit: notwithstanding for their more satisfaction to search a new within his galleys & galliots, assuring himself that they should not find any of their slaves. To whom, for the present they would give no ear: for that their intent was to have our galleys discharged on land, and so have good means to saccage us, which the Ambassador well perceiving would not agree unto them, but to the contrary dispatched the knight De la Seure, Cotignac, and me, to go and declare unto the king of the great wrong & injury that was done unto him. But we were not so soon on land, the knight De la Seure did instantly request me in all diligence to return to his galliot for a service him greatly emporting touching the slaves, of the loss whereof the complaint was made, which I willingly accomplished. And as I was again returning to the land● the more to augment our quarrels, and the suspicions which the Turks had conceived of us, there came incontinent another slave into my boat with a cofin full of figs and raisins, which he said he would carry to the master of our galley, which I would not permit unto him, considering the danger such people put us into. But a Turk which was in another boat perceiving this, came incontinently into my boat, and by strokes with a staff chased the slave into his, causing him to mount into a galliot, and upon the sudden, altering his purpose, brought him back again into my skiff, which in spite of my heart he forced too pass along by the poop of the galley royal, into which he made the slave too climb, & whatsoever I could to the contrary they hoist me up by the arms into their galley: as also they did to the master of my skiff, which presently and in my presence was made fast by the leg to a chain, and so they kept me as prisoner, furiously threatening me, that I should not get out of their hands before they had again all their slaves: notwithstanding I always showed an assured countenance, making unto them protestations and remonstrances of the wrong and injury, they did too our Ambassador and his, and that their master and ours were mighty and sufficient enough to take up the matter, so as in the end they agreed to let me departed, but kept my poor master, who perceiving me departing, thought himself undone, and I was fain even alone aswell as I could myself too row my skiff to our galley, to give the Ambassador to understand of all that had happened unto me, which troubled him very sore: & forthwith he sent me a land, thereof to advertise the knight De la Seure, and Cotignac, to the intent they should inform the king thereof, whom I found on the way coming back again with the Caith (which is their high Priest) having charge to do the excuses in the name of the king, and show that it was not he, that thus troubled us, but the justice of the town over whom he had no authority, (for that Alger is as it were ordered as a particular common wealth). This notwithstanding the other persisted in the demanding of their slaves, and too the contrary, the Ambassador sought by all means to appease them with good cheer & presents of silver, praying them once again to view and search his galleys above and below, which they did curiously enough, and finding nothing of that they sought for: yet could not persuade themselves, and above all they said that in the Admiral and Galliot there lay many of their slaves hidden, and in that opinion they departed for that time, not forgetting to take with them the silver that was given unto them in secret. In the mean space we saw all along the mollehead the people with the soldiers both Turks and moors, looking for nothing more than an opportunity too saccage us, & therefore we set ourselves in good order, and all the night kept very good watch. The next day the king caused all his people to put themselves in arms, and sent a great number of arquebusiers and archars, which were placed as well upon the poops and foreships of his galleys, foists, and Galliots, as upon the shore all alongst the mollehead: The Turks rose in arms against us. he caused also to be charged and bend all the Artillery aswell of the town as of the galleys, against our Galleys, and this done in most furious manner, they came to demand their slaves of us, which seeing the knight de Seure and Cotignac being yet aland did of new endeavour themselves to speak unto the king which they could not do, for he would neither see them nor hear them speak: and they finding the whole town in arms were greatly amazed. All which being seen and understanded by the Ambassador, & to eschew the peril wherein he saw himself & his to be: caused him to be set a shore, & went strait to the palace to seek to speak to the kings own person, but it was in vain, for the access unto him was denied, & (which was worse) the king sent his lieutenant, & other captains into our galleys to have the captain cost & his nephew Erasme to be put unto the chain in steed of his other nephew, which was stolen away, notwithstanding that the evening before he was sent back again to his master by a Turk who gave to him his Tulbant & his gown because he should not be known of others, Erasme nephew unto captain cost was delivered unto the Turk's ●o appease them. for that he had promised him that none should do him any harm: all this notwithstanding the uttermost remedy to appease them was to deliver unto them Erasme whom forthwith they condemned to be hanged & stifled upon the mast of the galley, which presently they would have done if the Ambassador through his prudence (as of long time knowing the insatiable avarice of these barbarous people had not appeased their force and rage with great sums of money, promising them moreover that in their presence Erasme should be put to the chain & not be let out before they came to Constantinople. By these means & like promises he was rendered unto them having received many Bastonadoes of the Turk) and incontinent according to the conventions, put unto the chain, where he remained not long. All this notwithstanding they were not appeased, for the number of the soldiers and armed men did still increase, which made us too fear that they would do some injury to the Ambassador being yet a land, or at the least keep him prisoner, which they would fain have done, and in deed with all rigour forced him to ascend into the galley royal from which they would not suffer him to departed, without first (over and above all that it had cost him) he should give them for their losses and interest, two hundredth crowns, which were paid down in ready money. Now the brute Barbery's were not so soon departed, but we weighed our anchors, too escape their hands, and dined in the Rhode: and afterwards by force of oars we came surging along by the East and by South beyond the cape of Matafus, Cape of Matafus. which is thirty miles from Alger, where we tarried until the morning attending a good wind. But before I pass further I thought it good to make a brief rehearse of the foundation, force, and situation of the city of Alger, with the manner, religion, and apparel of the inhabitantants thereof, so much as by sight I could comprehend, and understand of the inhabitants & other that have written thereof. Description of the city of Alger. Chap. 8. ALger is a city in Africa very ancient, first builded by a people of Africa called Mesgana, Change of names of Alger. of whom she took her first name: afterwards was called jol, and was the seat royal of juba in the time when the Romans bare dominion in Africa, in honour of Caesar it was called julie Caesare, & since the moors called it, Gezeir Arab Eleagair, which in their language signifieth isles, because she is cituated near Maiorque-Minorque jevise and Fromentierre: but the Spaniards now do call her Alger: howbeit, she is situated upon the Mediterane Sea, upon the hanging of a mountain ewironed with strong walls, ramperdes, ditches, platforms and bulwarks, in form almost threesquare, the largeness which goeth towards the Sea side, stretcheth narrowly almost unto the highest part: where as there is a great building made in form of a Citadelle to command the town and entry of the heaven. As for the buildings being beyond the palace royal, are very fair houses belonging too particular men, with a great number of baths and Cooks houses The places and streets are so well ordained, that every one in his occupation apart: there are about three thousand hearthsteedes. At the bottom of the city which is towards the North joining too the walls which are beaten with the surges of the Sea in a great place, is by great artifice and subtle architecture builded, their principal & head Mosque, and a little below that, is the arsenal, which is the place into which are hailed up and trimmed the galleys and other vessels. This city is very merchantlike, for that she is situated upon the Sea, and for this cause marvelously peopled, for her bigness: she is inhabited of Turks, moors, and jews in great number, which with marvelous gain exercise the trade of merchandise, and lend out money at usury. They have two market days in every week, to the which resort an infinite number of people, of the mountains, plains and valleys, being neighbours thereabouts, which do bring thither all sorts of fruits, corn and foul, of very cheap price, for I have seen a Partridge sold for a judit, which is a small piece of silver money, in manner four square, and is in value of our money four pence and a mite, but true it is that their partridges be not so big nor delicate as ours are: Furnaces fitly made for breeding of chickens. the hens and chickens be also very good cheap, for that they have in most parts of their houses furnaces, made in manner like unto the hothouses or stoves of Germany in the which with a small heat they do breed and hatch their eggs without help of the Hen, and therefore it is not to be marveled at though they have great plenty of such pullen. Camels and oxen shod. They also have a great number of Camels and Oxen, which they do shoe, lad, and ride upon as upon horses. And going through the streets, because of the multitude of people, which there is marvelous they go crying with a loud voice, Baluc, Baluc, which is too say, beware, beware. I have also seen divers moors mounted on Barbary horses without saddle, bridle, stirrups or spurs, The moors do ride their horses with-without saddle or bridle. having only a string in the mouth to stay them withal. And as for the men they are altogether naked, having only about their middle part to cover their privities, some piece of a white sarge or blanket in manner of an apron, and about their head a linen clothe rolled, which they bring about and under their chin. Their weapons are three darts or long javelins, Weapons of the moors which they carry in their right hand, and do shoot and throw with wonderful dexterity, and upon their left arm is fastened a large dagger made a little crooked after the fashion of a woodknife, which they call Secquin, and use to fight at hand strokes withal, and to annoy their enemies coming to the close. The most part of the Turks of Alger, whether they be of the king's household or the Galleys, are Christian's renied, or Mahumetised, of all Nations, Many rent christians in Alger. but most of them, Spaniards, Italians, and of Provence, of the islands and Coasts of the Sea Mediterane, given all to whoredom, sodometry, theft, and all other most detestable vices, living only of rovings, spoils, & pilling at the Seas, and the Island, being about them: and with their practic art bring daily too Algera number of poor Christians, which they sell unto the moors, and other merchants of Barbary for slaves, A miserable life of the christian slaves in Alger. who afterward transport them and sell them where they think good, or else beating them miserably with staves, do employ and constrain them too work in the fields, and in all other vile and abject occupations and servitude almost intolerable: And therefore it is not to be marveled at though these poor Christian slaves made of it no scruple at all in putting of us in danger, to set themselves at liberty. Without the City towards the West are many fair and pleasant Gardens set and adorned with divers Pleasant Gardens. trees bringing forth fruits of all sorts. Amongst other things there be milons of marvelous goodness and incomparable sweetness: they have also another fruit called Pateque, which the Italians call Anguries, being like in bigness and colour to our green citrovilles in winter which they eat raw without bread or salt, and hath a taste so delicate & sweet that it melteth in one's mouth, giving a water as it were sugared and serve greatly to refresh and digest. About their Gardens are many Welles full of good water, and the ground there abouts although it is mountains and valleys, is very fertile for fruits and vines. On the other part towards the East, without the town runneth into the Sea a small river called Savo, Savo a river. which serveth well aswell to drink of as other commodities, and also maketh many mills to grind. The course of the Sea from the Cape of Marfuz, (where as yet are seen the foundations of the ancient city Tipasa, Tipasa an old city. which in time's paste was by the Emperors of Rome honoured in praise of the country Latin) doth bow & wind like unto a Crosbowlath, and all along the river and the shore the Moorishe women and maiden slaves of Alger do go too wash their linen, being commonly whole naked, saving that they wear a piece of cotton cloth of some strange colour to cover their secret parts, (which notwithstanding for a little piece of money they will willingly uncover). They wear also for an ornament about their neck, arms, and legs, great collars or bracelets of latten, set with certain false stones. But as for the wives of the Turks or moors, they are not seen go uncovered, for they wear a great Bernuche made of a blanket of white, black, or violet colour, which covereth their whole body and the head. And to the end ye should more easily comprehend the manner of all their apparel, I have thought good in the end of this present Chapter lively too set forth unto you, a woman as she goeth in the street, and a maiden Moor being a slave. The second day after our arrival at Alger, I found the means for money and with fair words too hire a renyed spaniard too conduct and lead me thorough all places that I most desired too see. So as by his means I saw and learned many things within iiii. or v. days that we were there in quiet: And namely brought me upon a high mountain being a mile from the town, to see & behold, the situation of a very strong and great tower, being builded upon another mountain there near about, & gently inquiring of him what strength the tower might be of: he declared unto me, that the breadth of the ditches about the same, was xvij brases, saving about the gate & entry into it towards the North, it was only seven fathoms broad, and two spear lengths deep. Moreover he said unto me, that within the fortress, there were niene great cast pieces, and xviij. other, as well minions, as faw conets & other: and that in the midst of the tower there was a well of very good water, upon the height thereof standing a windemill, and another standing without the gates. And that thirty. ordinary soldiers are committed within it to keep the same. And to make short, that this tower was made to none other intent (as also others since have confirmed) then for the guarding and keeping of the fountain heads which from thence are brought and conveyed under the water into the city. A Woman Moorisque of Alger in Barbary, as she goeth in the streets. A Maiden Moorisque being a slave in Alger. By what means Cairadin Barberousse came to be king of Alger. Chap. 9 ALger was long time under the dominion of the king of Telensin, until such time as they of Bugie chose a new King, unto whom they gave and rendered themselves as his tributaries, because he was nearer unto them then the king of Telensin, and that he could sooner help them (if need were.) But in process of time, perceiving themselves to be as it were free and out of all doubt: armed certain ships too the sea, with the which they became such Coursaires or pirates, that in short time they annoyed by their piracies & robberies on the Sea, not only the coast of Spain, but also all the Mediterane islands. Which perceiving Ferdinando the king Catholic sent to Alger a great army to assiege them, Ferdinando king catholic constraineth the moors to a truce. & for to keep them in most distress, caused with a marvelous readiness a fort to be made in a small island, which lieth before the city, keeping them by that means so straightly besieged, that in short time they were constrained to require a truce for ten years: Which was agreed unto them upon condition of a certain tribute, which they paid until the death of king Ferdinando, for than they espying a convenient time and means too break the truce, and to set themselves at liberty, called unto them Cairadin Barbarousse, who after the siege of Bone, retired to the castle of Gegill, standing in the coast of the Mediterane Sea, upon the top of a high rock 70. miles from Bugie, who being by them chosen too be their chief captain, gave many fierce assaults unto the fortress, so as he put the Spaniards too flight, and incontinent after caused it to be ruined and pulled down even to the foundation. He then seeing so happy success of his enterprise, could no longer abide to be as companion, but in a bath traitorously slew a prince of Arabia called Selim: Selim slain by treason. who declared himself to be Lord of the City. Afterwards forsaking the name of a Captain any longer, caused himself to be called king and coined money under his name, and so well guided his affairs that in short time after he brought all his neighbours about him to become contributory unto him. Such was the beginning of the magnificent estate of Cariedin Barberousse: after whose death, his brother Hariadne succeeded him in the kingdom, & after him his son Cassam, who reigned at the time we arrived there. Of the further procession of our Navigation Chap. x. TO return to the discourse of our navigation, which I left at the Cape Matafuz, from whence (having sojourned there a night) we departed in the morning: the wind was so contrary that it forced us to come to an anchor near to the cape Tedele: Cape of Tedele. at which place we saw within a great rock, a deep entrance being 2. flight shot long, into the which the sea entereth even to the very bottom, where we entered with our skiff, even to the half way of it: and thinking to pass on further, we found so great a number of strange mice, Strange mice. that we were constrained to turn back: so were we persecuted. And so for fear they should piss on our heads (their piss being venomous) we were forced to cover us, and to wrap ourselves in our cloaks. This part of the sea is very full of mountains and great rocks. Approaching the city of Tedele are certain valleys, very fertile of vines, gardens, and fruitful trees, and we there lying at anchor, certain of the city for our money, brought unto us sundry victuals, fruits and melons. In the evening we took in fresh water out of a well being a little beyond our galleys, & in the morning with a favourable wind, having doubled the cape, we passed along the town of Tedele, of which I shall make here a brief description. Of the town Teddel, and of the Inhabitants thereof. Chap. 11. TEddel is a city containing about 2000 harthsteeds, Teddel. cituated upon the sea Mediterane 60. miles from Alger at the bottom of a mountain: & on the hanging o● a great rock. On the midst of the mountain is a little castle from the which along goeth a wall stretching to that of the city. The Africans first did edify it, and at this present is inhabited of a people very merry and pleasant. For, for the most part of them they are given to the exercise of the harp and Lute. Their principal craft and occupation is fishing, and dying of wols and cloth, by reason of divers small brooks very fit for their die, which descending from the mountains through divers places of the town issue into the Sea. The inhabitants of the same place are under the same obeisance & justice, that they of Alger are. Leaving the coast and town of Teddele we bore room to seawards, & had so good speed, that the 24. of julie in the evening, we discovered the city of Gigeri, but even thinking to be near it, within a moment arose such a sudden Borasque or Flaa, Borasque of Barbary most dangerous for sailors. that if our mariners had not nimbly bestirred themselves in taking in of their sails, we had been in great danger to have been all drowned, and immediately saw our frigate (which was made fast to our galley) lost before our eyes, because they had not quickly cut the halser, but all our men were saved by swimming to our galleys. These Borasques (engendered of a wind called by the Grecians Typhon, of Pliny Vertex or Vortex, but vulgarly Tourbillon or whirlwind, proceed not ou● of the West, notwithstanding do often happen in Winter) are very often & dangerous all along the coast of Barbary, and as they come very suddenly, so are again soon appeased. The twenty five in the Evening we arrived at the port of Bone: port of Bone. where we being come to an anchor, the Ambassador sent to salute the Caddy, which keepeth the town upon tribute under the king of Alger. This Caddi was a renayed Christian, & notwithstanding showed himself very courteous and liberal towards us, for over and above the refreshings of flesh, bread and fruits which he gave us, about supper time sent unto the Ambassador two great platters of Macolique, full of their kind of meat dressed according to their fashion, which was a kind of Menudes made in paste with onions, and fat poullets with certain sauces of very good taste and savour. Of the city of Bone anciently called Hippon, of which S. Augustine was Bishop. Chap. 12. BOne anciently called Hippon, Bone anciently Hippon. of which Saint Augustine hath been Bishop in times past edified of the Romans upon the Mediterane sea, standeth of the one side upon high and ragged rocks, and there is a very fair and sumptuous Mosque, unto which is adjoined the house of the Caddy: but the other side of the town towards the South, and the valley is cituated more lower, and aswell within as without accommodated with wells and good fountains. The houses within it (having been twice saccaged and spoiled by the Spaniards) are evil builded, and this town doth not now contain above 300. harthes'. Thee Emperor Charles the 5. after he had subdued the town, Charl. the v. builded there a castle. caused upon a height of one side towards the West, a great castle too be builded: which commanded of all sides, and did accommodate it with a number of cestarns to gather water in, for that on this height there is neither well nor fountain. Notwithstanding shortly after it was razed by the Turks and moors, The Spaniards driven out of the castle. and the Spaniards driven out of it: without the city towards the East, is seen a goodly & large champion country, Merdez a people. inhabited & tilled by a kind of people called Merdez which country besides the great quantity of corn that it bringeth forth, nourisheth & pastoureth in the valley a great number of oxen, kine, sheep and other cattle, so plentifully, that with their milk and butter not only the city of Bone is provided and furnished, but also Thunes & the isle of Gerbes▪ there are also about it many fair garden plaits, plentifully abounding with dates, figs, and sweet melons. At the beginning of the valley pass two small rivers, whereof, the next and greatest hath a bridge of stone, under the which is a way to an old ruined Church being between 2. rocks, which the moors do say too have been the Church of S. Augustine, A church builded by S. Aug. which made me the more desirous to go and see it: Notwithstanding that a jew, borne in Spain, being then with me, used all the means he could to persuade me from it: for the dangers which he said too be there of the thieves called Alerbes, which there abouts do lie secretly hid too entrap them that came thereabouts, by which his remonstrances notwithstanding he could not dissuade me, but that needs he must accompany me: and certainly there I found by experience: and upon the top of a high mountain he showed me a small troop of these Alerbes stark naked mounted on horseback with their darts in their hands, after the fashion of those I saw in Alger: In the haven or road which lieth before the fortress is found great quantity of very fair coral, which Andree Doria then had in farm of the king of Alger, for which he paid unto him yearly great sums of money. By chance we found there a ship of Marselie conducted by a coursarie, to gather the same, who presented unto the Ambassador many fair and great branches. The next day being the 26. after sun set, weighing our anchors, we departed from Bone, and passed from the gulf which continueth about 18. miles to the cape of Rose, Cape de Rose. & passing further towards the sight of the isles De la Galite, & des Symbols, there flew a fish into our Galley of the length, Galite and Symbols. colour and bigness of a great sardin, A flying fish. which before had two great wings and two less behind his head and mouth being great according to the proportion of the body: this fish is by the moors called Indole. And having doubled the cape Bon the twenty and eight day we arrived at the isle of Pantalaree: where by reason of a contrary wind, we were for that night constrained to come to an anchor, & to put us to the disposition of the wind. Of our arrival in the isle of Pantalaree Chap. 13. THe other night following, we came too an anchor in another road of that Island about vj. miles from the city, and in the morning one of the warders thinking we had been of the Emperor's party, or of Malta, came into our galley too make a present unto the Ambassador of a good quantity of raisins & figs, which he brought in a goats skin upon his back. This present being not so soon rewarded, as it was taken, our trumpeter was sent with this warder to demand of the Lieutenant of the island, two. slaves of Provence: which the day before were run away out of the galliot of the knight de Seure. For all we had delivered them from the captivity of Alger, with such danger as before I have recited unto you: whilst we renewed our beverage out of certain cisterns, and towards the evening, the warder and our trumpeter returned without having heard any news of our slaves, but in the behalf of the Lieutenant told the Ambassador, News sent to the Ambassador. that the Turks army was at Malta, and that she had saccaged the town of Augusta in Sicilia, and that Andree Doria meaning to have passed from Sicilia towards the town of Affricque, to furnish the place with soldiers and munition, did the vj. day of the same month of julie through evil conduct and lack of knowledge, so beat against the isle of Lampedose, that of xv. galleys, which were with him, there were viii. lost: to wit, his Capitainesse: and two other being his own▪ out of which he and a slave only were saved, and two which appertained to the Marquis of Terre neuf the Patron of Cigallela patron of Monego, and the galissa of Sicilia with all those that were within them. Description of the isle. Chap. 14. THis I'll of Pantalaree, which by the ancients was called Paconia, Pantalaree anciently Paconie. is very hilly and full of great rocks. There groweth great quantity of cotton, capers, figs, melons and raisins: and throughout the island is full of cestarnes. There are also many small houses very anciently builded within the ground (made like unto caves) made by the moors in the time they possessed the Island: Along the sea side are found stones being black, and glistering like unto fine jet, and certain rough stones. They have no horses, but of oxen great store, with the which they do labour & till the ground, how well there groweth no corn. Of which they furnish themselves out of the isle of Sicilia, unto which they are subject. But well there groweth certain other grain and herbs of small estimation. There groweth a small tree like unto Nerte: which the moors called Vero, and the Sicilians Stinco, bringing forth a small round fruit, which at the first is read, and being ripe, waxeth black. Of which the Inhabitants of the Island (which are very poor) make oil, which they use aswell too burn in their lamps, Oil made of Stinco. as to eat: & the women after having washed their heads, do anoint their hair with it to make it grow long and fair: aswell the men as women are of nature good Swimmers, as by experience we saw by a woman of the country, bringing a great basket with fruit, The women of this country are very good Swimmers. entered into the sea, and swimming, brought the same to sell in our galley. This Island containeth thirty. miles in length: and in breadth about x. miles. Of our departure from the isle Pantalaree towards Malta. Chap. 15. THe 30. day of the same month of july we departed from Pantalaree with such a favourable wind: that the 1. day of August, being passed the isle of Goze, we arrived about the Evening in the road of Malta, where incontinent we were visited by the knights Parisot & Villegaignon, & of many others of divers nations▪ And after the Ambassador had given to understand to the great master, his coming, the chains of the haven being opened with salutation accustomed of the one side & other, we entered into the haven, upon the sides whereof were with the afore named, divers other knights come thither in the behalf of the grand master (of birth a Spaniard) named Omede, which received, the ambassador & presented unto him a mulet, on which he lighted & accompanied him to the great hall of the castle, where the grand master with divers knights attended him, & having done reverence unto him, & declared part of his auctorisation, the night approaching taking his leave returned to his galleys. The next day he was by the great master bidden to a sumptuous dinner, unto the which all the ancient and notable knights of the religion were also bidden and assembled, & there was openly rehearsed, how that certain days before Sinan basha, captain general of the Turks army had taken and saccaged the castle of the town of Augusta in Sicilia, & that he from thence arriving in a port of Malta called Mechetto, near unto that of the castle, put his men there on land to overrun, ravish & spoil, all whatsoever they should find for their advantage, which they executed most cruelly, as such barbarous people in like affairs are accustomed to do. But a most valiant & well advised knight a Spaniard, named Guimeran, captain of one of the galleys of the religion, who could not abide such insolency, & secretly assembling certain number of soldiers & Insulans, did by ambushes & other means so distress them, that after having taken & slain such as fell into his laps, made them to remove from that place: but notwithstanding did not desist of their enterprise: for from thence they went to the Road of S. Paul, where they landed their ordinance to assiege the city, Roade of S. Paul. whereof they got the suburbs, & framed their trenches too make the battery. And forsomuch as they could not achieve the end of their enterprise (by reason as well of the roughness of the place being full of rocks, as seeing their men fail them, dying through extreme heat) they resolved to remove their siege, & to embark themselves with their ordinance, Goze saccaged. having slain, taken and saccaged all that they met withal at advantage. From thence they went to the isle of Goze, being very near and subject to the isle of Malta, which they saccaged and by deceitful composition took the Castle, leading the people both men, women and children as slaves into miserable captivity: being in number vj. thousand and three hundredth. 6300. prisoners taken. The knight de Villegaignon in his treaty which he hath made of the wars of Malta, doth recite a history no less lamentable than full of despair, and unnatural cruelty: A pitiful history. and is of a Sicilian which in that place had dwelled of long time, and there married a wife, by whom he had two fair daughters then being in state to be married, who seeing his last calamity approaching, because he would not in his presence see his wife and his daughters ravished and violated, and to be brought in shameful servitude, and too deliver them from all shame and bondage, having called them into his house, A strange cruelty. first slew with his sword his two daughters, and afterwards their mother. And this done, with a arquebus and a Crossbow bent (as clean bereft of senses) made towards his enemies, of whom he slew twain at the first encounter, afterwards fight a while with his sword, being environed with the multitude of the Turks, brought himself too the end of his most unhappy life. Behold the summarye of the miseries happened through the Turks in few days in the isles of Sicilia, Malta, and Goze. After which things the Bascha caused his army with the whole booty and prey to embark, and removed the twenty seventh of july towards Barbary to assiege the castle of Tripoli: the dinner being ended, The zeal of king Henry to the religion of Malta. the Ambassador in presence of that noble assembly, declared the zeal & good will which the most Christian king his master had always borne to their religion, & the great displeasure he would take, when he should understand the great damage which the Turks had done to that isle, assuring them that if in time he had been there arrived, too have his remonstrance unto the basha, he would neither have spared his pains, nor yet the favour of the king his master, to have caused them to remove. Whereupon the great master (after his great thanks) said unto him, that there was yet time enough to pleasure them, if that according to the good will of the king, & offer which he had made, it might please him to sail towards Tripoli, which the Turks were gone to besiege, to the end too persuade them (in so great necessity, and before they should proceed further) to remove & leave the siege▪ for he feared that the place being little, and of small force, and moreover, for that by reason of the poor treasure of the religious (as he affirmed,) could not have been fortified nor succoured, and might not long hold out nor resist such a great army: The ambassador consenteth to go too Tripoli, too persuade the basha to leave the siege thereof. whereunto the Ambassador did willingly consent, although the charge of his voyage did command him to go another way. And they of the religion having prepared a frigate to direct us, he assured them that (so soon as he could) he would by the same give them to understand of all the news: we sojourned in the isle of Malta only two days, aswell to make clean our Galleys, as too take in fresh water & other things necessary. And within this small time I endeavoured all pains and study, to see and understand the things most notable and singular of this Island. In which the knight of Villegaignon for the old acquaintance, he had with me, and the good will he bore towards me, was a great help unto me. And therefore before I proceed any further I thought it not to vary from my purpose, to make here a succinct description of the island, & memorable things thereof, following therein as well the writings of the ancient and modern Geographers & Historiographers, as that which with mine eyes I have seen. Description of the isle of Malta. Chap. 16. MAlta which by the ancients was called Melita, is an isle in the Sea Mediterrane between Sicilia and Tripoli in Barbary, Malta anciently called Melita. which from the West to the East containeth in length two and twenty miles, in breadth xi and in circuit threescore. It is an Island low and stony, and hath five fair & large ports, all issuing at one mouth: at the entry of which Isle is the castle (where the grand master keepeth) by art and nature almost inexpugnable, The castle of the grand master very strong. being furnished with good quantity of ordi●nance, and cituated upon a high rock of three parts environed with the Sea: and on the side towards Cande, separated with a large chamnel from the Bourg, which lieth underneath it, very great, and well inhabited, full of fair houses and palaces, well builded, every one with a Cistern: for they ●aue neither there nor in the castle, neither wells nor fountains. There be also many fair Churches both Greek & Latin, and in the midst of the great place, a great pillar erected, where the malefactors are punished. True it is that this Bourg is not defensible against any great siege, because it is environed with great hills, unto which of all sides it is subject: she is inhabited & peopled with a great number of Commanders, Knights and Merchants of all nations: Many whores in Malta, and above all there is great abundance of Courtesans, both Greek, Italian, Spaniards, moors, and Maltez. Summer clothing of the women of Malta. The common sort wear none other clothing because of the extremity of the heat, than a long linen white smock girded under their breasts, and over the same a fine white woollen mantle, by the moors called Barnuche, as in the end of this chapter I have lively set forth unto you. The city is distant six miles from the castle, Description of the city. cituated upon the top of a mountain, environed on the three parts with great valleyesfull of gravel and large stones very painful too go upon. On the South side about two miles from the City, is a great fountain, bringing forth such a marvelous number of Eels, that it is a matter hard to be believed, which have so sharp teeth, Eels with sharp teeth. that there cannot be a string so good, but they will bite it asunder, so as such as will take them are forced to strengthen their lines about the hook with a silk or cotton thread, & as soon as they feel them taken, be very ready to pull them up: & out of this fountain our galleys took their fresh water. There are in this Island 60. castles or villages all well inhabited & very abundant of Barley, Sixty villages in Malta. Cunego (which is a grain which they mingle amongst their corn to make bread) Cotton, Citronnes, Oranges, Melons, & other fruits of excellent goodness, but for wheat & wine they do furnish themselves out of Sicily: there are bred very good mulers & horses of the race of Spain. The sir Villegaigon led me into a garden, which the grand M Omede caused to be made beyond the port, & near unto the Bourg, which garden is beautified with a goodly lodging containing chamber, wardrobe, hall & kitchen: the court is pavid with Mosaique stone, & the fountains very fresh & good to drink, the gardiner's house, chapel, & pond for to water the horses, all cut out by marvelous & industrious art out of a great rock, which is of a very fair white stone: and near the entrance of the gate, out of the same rock, is cut a great man on horse back coloured green, a great deal bigger than the rustic of Rome. As for the garden, the earth is carried into it & planted with all sorts of excellent fruitful trees, as apples of paradise, which they call muses, dates, apples, pears, prunes, peaches, figs common, & of the India's, & other fruits & herbs of incomparable goodness, in such sort that this place excelleth all others in pleasures & dainties. The air in summer is dangerous, by reason of the great heat, & therefore they study to seek places cool & shadowous, to eschew the heat of the Sun● there is another port which specteth towards the North, called the port of S. Paul (where the Turks as I have said landed to assiege the city) and this place is so called, Port of Saint Peter. for that the apostle Paul having suffered the dangers of marvelous tempests upon the Sea 14. days, when by Festus he was sent to Rome, his feet & hands bound, & being stung with a viper, Acts. 28. ●● cast the same into the fire, & healed the father of publius of the ague, & flux, which happened in the third year of the reign of Nero. A woman of the isle of Malta. Of our departure from Malta towards Tripoli. Chap. 17. To return to our Navigation, according too the request which the Grand master had made unto the Ambassador▪ upon the Sunday being the second day of August, at the going down of the Sun, being departed from the havens having doubled the Cape of Marche-Siroch, Cape of march Siroch. we sailed until the tuesday following towards the evening, at which time we descried the coast o● Tripoli, but to eschew the danger of the night, because of the coast which is low and sandy, and for that we would not at an undue hour enter amongst the Turks army, having struck our sails, we did nothing but lie by the wind until the dawning of the day, when we perceived the ignorance of our Pilots, Ignorance in Pilots is most dangerous. which having taken no heed unto the stream which in those parts is very fierce, we found ourselves to be driven back about thirty miles from our right course, and were constrained too go about by Lebech towards the cape of Taiure distant from the Town of Taiure two miles, and twelve miles from Tripoli. At this Cape of Taiure, Cape of Taiure. were four Galliots of the rearward of the Turks army whom having saluted we proceeded forwards towards the army, which was about a mile from Tripoli where Cotignac with the Frigate was sent to show the Bascha of our coming which straightways was sent back with a Raiz of the galley & a ●anissarie to receive the Ambassador & to bring him to the Galley royal, who being entered into his skiff, honourably accompanied, went to salute the Bascha, who made him good countenance, showing his coming to be very acceptable unto him. The Ambassador saluteth the Bascha, The talk between them was for this time not very long, for the Ambassador incontinently returned to his Galleys, and within a while after the Bascha sent unto him a present of five and twenty Muttons, & certain other refreshments. All that day we were visited by divers Turks and renied Christians: the next day the Ambassador sent his presents unto the Bascha, which were two fine pieces of Scarlet of Paris, one piece of fine Holland cloth, and one small clock or dial, which he received with very great contentment & pleasure. Afterward Cotignac which had carried the present, returning, the Ambassador accompanied of his Gentlemen, went to declare unto him the cause of his coming, praying him in the name and behalf of the king to refrain from such an enterprise, which the Bascha would not agree unto, but too the contrary made him answere● that the great Turk was much aggrieved, that the knights at the giving over of the Rhodes having sworn, The Bascha his answer founded on the perjury of the knights of the religion. at no time after to wear arms against the Turkish nation, had not only contrary to their oath, aided & favorized all the enterprises of the Emperor: namely at the taking of the city of Africa against Dorgut: but also of themselves did daily make war unto his highness, and did thereunto all the worst they could. And that he therefore was moved to dress this army, to chastise their temerity, and if it were possible, to drive them out of Africa, and in all that lay in him to endamage them: he complained also of the Seure Leon Strossa, priour of Capua, for that he being in service of his most Christian Majesty, had sent his galley to them of the religion, to serve in the wars against them. Moreover that the day before he had understanding, that the Frigate which we brought with us was of Malta, whereof he thought very strange, of which the Ambassador perceiving, and that by no entreaty he was to be persuaded from his pretence, determined too proceed on his voyage towards Constantinople, with all diligence to him possible, to the intent to assay whether he could obtain of the great Lord that which by his lieutenant was refused, making his account that the place (which too him seemed more strong than it was, and better furnished of good men of war, ordinance and all other kind of munition) would hold out longer than it did, but he could not obtain his leave of the Bascha, but desired him to pass the time there until such time as he had seen the success of his enterprise, which he hoped to have shortly executed, which made the Ambassador very sorrowful, who did greatly excuse himself upon the haste of his voyage, but all was in vain, for there was no remedy but to obey and to arm himself with patience. The Bascha and Dorgut did in the mean space diligently advance their trenches and approaches for planting of their ordinance, which they did not without great loss of their men: for they of the castle having a great deal of good ordinance, and the best gunner's in the world, did continually nothing but shoot, and discharged very few shot in vain, in such sort that they were often constrained to retire, and to return with longer trenches. The seventh day of August, the Bascha came a land too cause the rest of his artillery to be brought unto the trenches and therefore sent to the Ambassador, praying him to come to see the placing of his camp, and the place where he made his approaches, which he durst not refuse for fear of putting himself in suspicion, taking with him to accompany him the sir of S. Vetan. Cotignac, the knights De Seure, and de Maliane, the sir Caius de Wirail, Saint Marie, and the sir De Montenard, the Captain cost, me▪ and certain other of his household: he found the Bascha upon the sea side under a pavilion, which for the hear of the Sun he had caused to be set up, and after they had a little while devised together, we were brought upon an hill, from whence me might easily see both the town and the castle, the planting of their camp and their approaches, by long and crooked trenches from about 3000. to near 400. paces from the city, not without the great endaungerment of them of the Castle, aswell of their artillery, as courses and skirmishes, which by the knights were daily offered to them. A hardy enterprise of certain knights. And the same very morning (as a renied Spaniard told me) 20. knights came forth to the skirmish even to the pavilion of the Bascha, and that in despite of the whole camp▪ ●hey carried away with them a Turk prisoner. Before I pass any further, for the more certain intelligence of matters, I ha●●●hoght good to make a summary description of the foundation and situation of Tripoli. Foundations of the city of Tripoli. Chap. 18. Tripoli. TRipoli is a City of Barbary, cituated on the main land upon the coast of the Sea Mediterrane, and was first builded of the Romans, and afterwards subdued by the Goths which possessed the same unto the time of Homer the second Califfe, and was by the Africanes so straightly besieged, that about the end of six months they constrained the Goths to flee towards Carthage, & to abandon the city, which being taken pilled, and defaced, part of the inhabitants being slain, and part kept prisoners, fell in the end under the puissance of the kings of Thunes, which did re-edify the same. But it came to pass that whilst Albuhenan king of Fez, made war with Abulhabbes king of Thunes (whom he took prisoner) the Genevois with an army of twenty ships, took it, peeled it, and carried away the most part of the inhabitants prisoners, of which taking the king of Fez being advertised, sent in diligence to compound with them for the deliverance of the city and prisoners, for the sum of fifty thousand crowns, which were delivered unto them in ready money: but after the giving over and their departure, they found the one half of the money to be counterfeited. afterward the king of Thunis was set at liberty, upon an accord and alliance which he made with Abuselim king of Fez, and by that means returned too Tripoli, which was of him and his long time possessed, until such time as the inhabitants not being able to support the extortions & Tyrannies of the Governors, Extortions of officers: cause sometimes the subjects to revolt from their sovereign. which by the kings were sent thither, did chase them away with all the other kingly officers. And having chosen unto their Lord a Citizen of their city delivered into his hands all the revenues & treasures of the same, who governed for a certain space very well, showing himself mild and tractable towards the Citizens. But when he saw himself, mounted to so high dignity, waxing proud above measure, even suddenly changed his good manners and virtues into most vicious tyrannies, which gave occasion unto a brother of his to take away his life from him, & to the people to constrain through importunity, an Heremit which had been brought up in the court of the Prince Abubaco, An heremit constrained to take government upon him against his will too take the charge and administration of the city, which notwithstanding he governed with all modesty to the great contentment of the inhabitants, until the year 1510● and such time as Ferdinando king of Spain by force of arms came & occupied the same, and after his death was by the Emperor Charles the fith, given unto the knights of the religion, Charles the ● gave the keeping of Tripoli unto the Knights of the religion who broke down the city to the intent to fortify the castle, which they furnished with artillery and other munitions necessary, and yet notwithstanding hath been so ill looked unto (whether it was through the avarice of the grand master, or negligence of those of the religion, that in the end to their great shame and overthrow, it is again fallen into the hands of the Barbaries, in manner as hereafter shall be declared unto you. For that presently we will not leave the following on upon our purpose. So now this city is environed by great circuit, with hills & a great number of Palm trees (bearing dates,) amongst which are seen many towers and goodly buildings ruined with certain Mosques & cestarnes vaulted, amongst which, one which was unbroken, besides that it was very great & full of water of excellent goodness, was all paved with fine Marber of Numidia (& notwithstanding that the ground is lean & sandy, yet being well tilled & trimmed, doth bear many good fruitful trees, as Olive trees, Corniers, Carabiers', and great abundance of palm trees: of the fruit of which trees, the more part of the inhabitants which are poor & needy are nourished● Also there grow good Melons, Raves, and pateques: in steed of corn they sow Maith, which is a kind of gross Mill, & of that grain they make meal which they knead with water, and thereof make bread for their eating, which they bake upon an y●●n plate, heated with a small fire, because they have nothing else to burn but the wood of the palm tree: & as for the commodities of the waters, upon high places they use cisterns, but upon the plain along the Sea side they have many wells of sweet water, aswell for their drinking, as for the watering of their ground & gardens, they have also great quantity of Oxen Asses and sheep, which have very long tails more than a foot long, of which the flesh is very tender and delicate, and above all other have great number of camels, for I have seen in one field near the town of Tripoli, above three thousand going in one pasture. Of Basar where were sold the christians, taken in the isle of Sicily, Malta, and Goose: and of the manner of trenches, Gabions, and batteries of the Turk. Chap. 19 Having well considered the placing of the camp, the town and castle, we returned to the Bascha, with whom the Ambassador talked a while, and in the mean while I went to see the market of the Turks (which they call Basar) being hard by where the poor Christians of Sicil, Malta, & Goose, were sold unto those that most offered for them & last inhaunsers, being permitted unto those that bought them (as the ancient custom of the Oriental Barbarians is) to strip them stark naked, Manner to search the christian slaves that come to be sold. & to make them go, to the intent to see if they have any natural impediment in their bodies, visiting afterwards their teeth and eyes, as though they had been horses, and standing there, I saw creeping upon the ground a Scorpion of yellow colour, being of length more than a long finger. The same day the Turks brought their ordinance & gabions unto the trenches, which Gabions are made of great planks of three inches, which they carry upon their galleys or ships to serve them when they have need of them: for when they will batter any place, they set them in the ground in form of Baskets, Afterwards being set in ranks, they fill them with earth, and is a very commodious invention, for the shot which can but slippering pass over it, and can do no hurt nor damage. The Turks having in the night placed their gabions, & their ordinance ready to the battery, did the next day following being the eight of August, begin to shoot at the castle with great fury, which was not left unanswered, & every hour some slain: whilst this was a doing the Bascha sent to pray the Ambassador that he would suffer none of his men to come a land, lest the Turks might do them some outrage in mistaking them to be of those of the castle. This battery continued until about noon, but not without receiving great damage of the besieged, who without ceasing shot into the trenches, so as that day they slew four of the best gunner's of the army, two Chiaous, & certain Raiz of the Galley: Raiz are captains of the galleys. they also shot off the hand of the clerk general of the army, being a man of great estimation & greatly beloved of the Bascha, and to be short there were a great number of janissaries slain and hurt. Moreover they burst one of their best pieces, and dismounted four other, which for that day made them to leave of the battery, which they of the Castle did not, but shot without ceasing to endamage the enemy: the night following the Turks approached more near unto the castle, upon whom they of the Castle about the break of day, gave an assault even to their trenches: and being retired, the Turks (at the Sun rising, which they have in great reverence) renewed their battery with great force and 8. pieces at once: upon the evening the fire by mischance got into their ponder, with the which were burnt 30. Turks, & many hurt, and one piece broken. The Ambassador on the other part, sued with great instance for licence too prosecute on his journey, which was granted unto him, but as we were upon our departure, the Bascha (being almost mad) sent to him by an Eunuch his Dragoman, that he would stay 2. days longer, within which time he hoped to win the castle. This message so grievous put the Ambassador in no less perplexity of mind, than choler aswell because of the retarding of his voyage: as for the diminishing of our victuals, which began to scanten, but there was no remedy, but to dissemble the matter. The 11. of the month the Sieure Wirail, & I, went too see the trenches of the Salaris being not passing 150. paces from the Castle, where he was battering with 8. great pieces. Morataga being behind the Artillery, sent for me by a renied Spaniard, called Casa matta, who having had acquaintance with me in our galleys, had told him that I was an Engineer of the king, and therefore inquired of me many things appertaining unto the siege, and strength of a place: I made him a short & brief answer, and clean contrary to that which by the reason of wars and experience I did know, which he well perceived, and smiling, told me that he saw well that I dissembled. This Morataga was an Eunuch of nation a Ragusey, but for the feats of war of good spirit and judgement, & then had the government of Taiure & all the country Tripoli, having no grater enemies than the knights of the religion, who daily warred against him: Dorgot was five & twenty or thirty paces, beyond Salarais also, beating with eight great pieces: the janissaries & Azapis were on the left hand in their trenches, with their harquebusies ready, bows and arrows, targets and bucklers. And thus being placed they had so well continued the battery, that they had beaten it down even to the very edge of the ditch: but that which was beaten down in the day time, the assieged made up again in the night: notwithstanding the end was such that an unhappy soldier of Provence, borne in Cavaillon, being the Pope's country, which by the long frequentation he had had in those countries, had learned the language and served as a spy unto the enemy, seeing the occasion to be come to that pass, which his knavery and dissimuled treason had wished for, and being corrupted with money, found the means to fle● unto the camp, where he declared unto the Turks the weakest places of the castle, by the which it might be battered and soon taken, & it was against the governors lodging, which standing towards the ditch, and having underneath it the cellars to retire the munition, could not be repaired nor fortified: which the Bascha having understanded, caused the battery there to be planted, laying the pieces so low that easily they did beat the vaults and cellars in such sort as in small time they did pierce the walls, whereupon followed that the height being charged with rampardes through the continual battery began greatly too sink, which amazed the soldiers for that they knew no means to repair the same, that setting all honour aside, quyting themselves of their weapons, concluded together to take some party, giving their captain to understand that having unto that instant quited themselves as good men and valiant soldiers, seeing their matters too be in despair of succour, and not able to hold out any longer: he would not think evil of them, if they thought to practise some way for their surety. Whereof the Governor called valier a knight of Dauphin being advertised, and by Argosin a Spanish soldier one of the eldest and most authorised, solicited, to come too a composition with the enemy, before the walls were further endamaged, was greatly dismayed: which seeing a sage and valiant knight of France, named Poisieu, as the most ancient, in the name of the other knights, declared unto them, that the breach was not so great nor profitable for the enemy, but that it was defenceable too such as would diligently repair the same: And moreover that it was more honourable to knights of honour and lusty soldiers, to die valiantly, fight against the Barbaries for the maintenance of the law and true Christian religion, than so faint heartedlie to surrender themselves to the mercy of those, at whose hands was nothing to be looked for, but miserable servitude, and all kind of cruelty. But rather to prevent these dangers, it were necessary too refresh the thirty. knights which were there offering himself to sustain the assault, and to secure the first that he should see weary or hurt: and therefore exhorted the Governor to fight as long as he could. Notwithstanding all these his remonstrances were of no effect, because the Governor was without ceasing solicited unto and as it were constrained by Argosin, Importunity of the Argosin & other of his party to surrender: which with vehemency declared unto him the eminent danger, they and so many women and young children were in: finding himself bereafte of heart and fortune: and forsaken of his soldiers, without further consideration consented, that a white banner should be erected upon the walls too call the enemies too a Parle. And a Turk presenting himself, they prayed him that he would understand of the Bascha, if he would receive certain of them to treat of some good accord touching the giving over of the castle, whereunto the Bascha lightly consenting, was in all diligence dispatched a brave Spaniard, Conditions proponed by the assieged. named Guivare, and a knight of Maiorque to offer unto the Bascha the castle with the Artillery and munition, so as he would furnish them of ships to bring them with bag & baggage safely to Malta: to whom summarily was answered, that (forasmuchas, as yet they had not deserved any grace presuming to be so bold as to keep so small a place against the army of the highest Prince on the earth) if they would pay the whole charges of the army, he would gladly agree to the matter proponed, or if they would not thereunto consent (as it became them) that for their recompense, all they within the Castle should continue slaves and prisoners: notwithstanding if they incontinently and without delay, did surrender the place he would exempt out of them two hundredth. whereupon the messengers returning in despair of any further grace, were stayed by Drogot and Salaraiz with flattering words, and feigned promises, that they would endeavour so much as in any wise lay in them, too make the Bascha condescend to a better and more gracious composition: for they feared that the assieged through despair would resolve (as their extreme refuge) to defend themselves even too the last man. And incontinent went to the Bascha, to declare unto him his oversight, in refusing those which of their own voluntary came to surrender themselves into his hands, and that too put them out of doubt and despair, he ought with all mildness to agree unto all that they demanded. For after he had the Ca●tle and all the men under his authority, he might afterwards dispose of them, as he should think good. The Bascha finding this counsel good, caused the two messengers too be called again unto him, declaring unto them with feigned & dis●em●blyng words, that at the instance and request of Drogot and Salaraiz, there present, inclining unto their request, he did discharge them of all the costs and charges of the army, swearing unto them (the better to deceive them) by the head of his Lord and his own, inviolably to observe all that which he had promised unto them, which they (too easily) believed, and forthwith went to declare the same unto the Governor and others within the Castle. Of the Composition and giving over of the Castle of Tripoli unto Sinan Bascha. Chap. 20. THE Bascha the better to achieve too his enterprise, sent forth after the deputy aforesaid a Turk (one of the most subtle to his mind, that he could choose) to whom he gave express charge to persuade the Governor to come with him to conclude and treat concerning the giving over, and for the vessels which should be necessary for their conduct too Malta, & that if he made difficulty to come he should make a semblance as though he would remain there in hostage for him▪ and that above all things he should have an eye to consider of the strength and assurance of the assieged and of the disposition of all things there, which the Turk could execute so finely, that the Governor by the counsel of those that had persuaded him too surrender, notwithstanding the reasons of wars, and duty of his office, forbade him in such manner to abandon the place of his charge, resolved upon so small an assurance of the Bascha, and gave ear unto the miserable end of his fortune. Vaillier upon the Baschas word goeth to him. So as being deprived of heart and good counsel, taking with him a knight of his household (too send him back unto those of the castle to declare unto them the faithfulness or disloyalty of the Turk) under the conduct of the Turk that was come to fetch him, went strait towards the Tents of the Bascha, who by the Turk that first entered was advertised of the small courage of the assieged, which he assured him too be such, that if he thought it good he might bring them to such order & appointment as he would himself, upon whose persuasion, calling in the Governor Vaillier, after he had rigorously reproached his timeritie, said unto him: that forsomuch as he had given his word, that if he would pay the charges of the army, he would let them go with bag and baggage, otherwise he could discharge but two hundred, whereat valier being greatly moved, answered, that is was not that which with the deputy of the castle he had agreed unto: But seeing he would do none otherwise, that it would please him too suffer him to return too the place for to have the advise and deliberation of the assieged, which he could not obtain, but it was only permitted unto him too send back the knight that he had brought with him too make report of these piteous news unto the assieged and on the other party valier was sent to the Galley with irons on his legs. valier sent to the galleys with irons upon him. They of the castle having understanded the premises, were greatly afraid of the mischief, which they perceived approaching towards them and could take none other resolution than the next day in the morning early to return the said knight to the Bascha, to know whether they should look for no better. But as soon as he was come before him, the governor was brought in, of whom the Bascha asked, which of both he would choose, either to pay the expenses of the army, or that he & all they of the Castle would remain prisoners, to whom he answered, that, a slave had none other authority then that which by his master was given unto him, A good & wise answer of Vaillier. and that having lost, besides his liberty, the power too command, if any thing were yet reserved in him, could not counsel him to command too agree unto any thing but that which was concluded with the delegates, which the Bascha hearing, for fear that such an answer should not come to the knowledge of the assieged, and that it should cause them desperately too fight it out having taken counsel of his captains, took the governor by the hand, & with a smiling & dissembling countenance said unto him, that without any doubt he would as he had promised them set them at free deliverance: & that therefore without fearing any thing he would cause them all to come out of the castle: but the governor (because he had before been deceived, would not trust to his words, but said unto him, that he should command him that was come from the castle, for that he knew they would do never a whit the more for him. So that the Bascha turning towards the knight, commanded him that he forthwith should go unto them, and cause them to come forth: swearing unto them by the head of his great Lord, and his own, that they should all be delivered and set at liberty, according to the first conventions agreed upon. Which the knight believing, went to report unto them these good news: which they received with such joy, that without any further care or consideration of their mishap so near, and prepared for them, they ran to the press with their wives, children, and best movables, pressing who should first go forth. But they were not so soon issued, but were clean spoiled, and of the enemies, Faith and promise broken● part of the knights were sent to the galleys, and the rest to the Bascha; who being by the knight valier admonished of his faith, which he had twice given, answered that there was no promise to be kept with dogs, and that they had first violated their oath with the great Lord, unto whom at the giving over of the Rhodes, they had sworn that they never would take on arms against the Turks. The castle being taken and spoiled, and about 200. moors of that country that had served the knights, cut in pieces, with great cries & shouts, rejoicing of their victory, they discharged a great peal of ordinance. At which noise the Ambassador there arrived, took in his heart great displeasure, to see, that contrary to the oath given to this miserable governor, & many other knights, they were thus villainously entreated, lying along the ground as half desperate. And he being by them prayed to be a means towards the Bascha, that forsomuch as he would not keep his promise which upon his oath he had promised, that yet at the least according too the offer made upon his own voluntary, The ambassadors care for the Prisoners. he would release two hundredth of them▪ which the Ambassador went to declare unto him effectually; but he purged himself with the excuses above mentioned, & yet nevertheless did presently condescend, that 200. of the eldest & most unapt, (amongst which was comprehended the governor, & certain knights) should be set at liberty. But as for the Spanish knights & certain young French men, which he had caused to be put unto the chain, there was no remedy to get them away, but by great presents which the Ambassador made unto the Bascha, and to those that were about him: and also that he should become surety too cause to be rendered and delivered 30. Turk's slaves, which were taken at Malta at the landing of the army. There was within a tower (which the Spaniards had built at the entry of the Haven when they took the city) a French knight with thirty Soldiers which the Turks did practise as much as in them lay, too overcome with fair words, as they had done with them of the castle: but of his part he did dally with them so well and so long, and with so many subtleties & conditions which he proponed unto them, that he found means to recover a bark, into the which he and his men got▪ & after having abandoned the place retired into our galleys. This is the whole sum of that I could learn of the Knight, touching the composition and giving over of the Castle: which the Knight de Villegaignon hath more at large described in his treaty of the wars of Malta, which he hath directed unto the late Emperor Charles the fifth. The Bascha sent to give the Ambassador too understand that it were convenient for him to carry this desolated company to Malta● and that he therefore should cause his galleys to approach: (which during the siege had lain in a road four miles from Tripoli) for to take them in, & that he should not suffer any of his to come to land, which was accorded & accomplished out of hand. For about the evening were brought into our Patron by a Captain of the janissaries the Governor valier and the Spanish Argosin, and within a little while after were brought in a Bark, a great number of Knights and soldiers promised, of which the Knight Valier kept the scroll for to call them one after another, and the press was so great, who should first enter into our Galleys, that it was a thing most pitiful too behold: for those that were too hasty, were by the Turks repulsed with staves and fists: and also some of them before they could get out of the bark were strip●ped into their shirts. Now after the Knights were thus put into our Galley, and the Soldiers into the Patron, the next day being the fifteenth day of August, through means of a gown of fine cloth of Gold fringed, which the Ambassador gave unto the Bascha for a present, he obtained licence to go to see the town and the castle, and took with him his brother in law de Saint Veran, his two nephews, ●leurij, Lodon. Montenard, the Captain Bartolomy and me, with his Moustaffa and the Dragoman. But we coming too the gates of the castle, finding them shut, gave to understand too him that had the ward, that the Ambassador was there with licence of the Bascha, to enter and see the castle. Notwithstanding he made us to stay there a great while, & afterwards coming through the wicket upon the bridge, where with a staff he began to beat certain other Turks which were there, and after returning to the Ambassador, repulsed him with most injurious words, whereat he being offended, sent to give the Bascha to understand of the rigorous refusal made unto him, desiring him too send a Chiaous to cause him to have entrance. In the mean space after we had gone about the ditches of the castle which are large & deep we went to see the town which was (as before we have declared) altogether ruined since the Emperor Charles gave it unto the knights. Description of the ruins of Tripoli. Chap. 21. ALthough the houses and buildings within the Town be ruined, yet it is environed with very fair & strong walls, accompanied with a great number of turrets, double ditches and false breaches and the same are on the three parts environed with the sea, & within them are very good wells and fountains. We saw in the midst of the Town, an Arch triumphal of white marber with four faces upon four pillars of Corinth four square, An Arch tryumphal. being graven in the front that looketh towards the East (by excellent sculpture) a Chariot drawn by two great griffions, & within it was Victory sitting with two wings: Toward the West was graven a Chariot, whereupon was sitting Pallas, & about the edge were written divers roman letters, but were so ruined● that scarce they were too be known. Notwithstanding, by that which can be read, we understood, that they were made in the time of P. Lentulus▪ which is a good witness too believe that this city, as before I have said, was builded by the Romans. The inside of the arch was full of divers enrichments, & above after the fashion of a four square turret: & 2. other faces looking towards the North & South, were cut as from the upper part of the body unto the girdlesteed without any heads, two great figures of the overcome. All the rest was set forth with all sorts of weapons in form of Trophy, not far from thence was seen a great four square place environed with many great & high pillars in two ranks after the manner of a porch, & near that are the destructions of a high tower▪ which in times past was (as a Moor of the country told me) the great temple or Mosque of the city: there are a number more of antiquities ruined. The Chiaous being come which was sent by the Bascha, we returned towards the castle, but might not at that time enter in all, because the Bascha had given commandment, that there should not enter with the Ambassador above 5. or 6. at the most, which were Sant Veran de Fleury▪ de montenard, Batolomy, & the Dragoman▪ and I: at the entry we met with Morataga & the captain which had the charge of the castle, which caused us to be brought upon the rampards, too the end we might the better view & consider of all things & having seen both above & below, we perceived for certain, that all things were well repaired & furnished▪ & well appointed with 36. pieces of ordinance, Munitions of war resting within the castle. as well small as great, and that there was a great number of pikes & pots to cast fire, abundance of all kind of victuals & other munitions, a good well & fountain: and that at the time when the siege was laid to it, there was as well of knights as soldiers of divers nations about 600 and the best gunner's of the world, it is an everlasting shame to them that so fainthartedlie surrendered the same unto those barbarous people without any warlike reason. All which having well considered with a heavy mind we returned again too our Galleys, whither incontinent the Bascha sent to desire the Ambassador that the next day he would come to his solemn dinner, which he pretended to make for joy of his victory, & taking of the castle, & that he would bring valier with him, which he would not refuse, thinking by such occasion too recover the rest of the 200. knights & soldiers which were yet to be delivered: & therefore the day following being the 16. day of August 1551. accompanied by the governor valier, the knight de Seur, Cotignac, captain cost, Montenard, & me▪ went towards the Bascha, being within the ditch against the breach of the castle, where for a magnificency were set up 2. fair pavilions, the one for him, joining unto a very fair fountain: & the other for the Ambassador & his company: & so soon as he had sent his presents as well to the Bascha, as to others his familiars (which of old time hath been the manner and custom that they that have to do with these Barbaries must observe) he was brought unto the pavilion that was prepared for him, & forthwith served with all magnificence, honour & superfluity of meats as well of flesh as fish, diversly dressed according unto their fashion: and with wines very excellent that they had found within the castle, & this service was done with noise of all their instruments, and by officers in number above one hundredth, appareled for the most part in long gowns of fine cloth of gold, tuffed or figured, & the other of velvet & crimson damask, & divers other colours. The Bascha was no sooner set down, but all the ordinance of the galleys, foists & galliots of the army (being in all 140. besides the great gallion and 2. Mahumez) was discharged, with such a noise & thundering, that it seemed the heavens & skies did shake. The table being taken up, the Ambassador & the governor Vaillier entered into the pavilion of the Bascha, which in the end agreed to deliver the 200. men which he had promised▪ & moreover gave 20 unto the ambassador upon promise, that he should cause to be released the 30. Turk's taken at Malta, at the landing of the army. But the most part of them that were delivered, were almost all Spaniards▪ Sicilians & Calabres, and few French men: for the most part of them were put to the rank of criminels forsworn: that day were brought into our galleys the coffers of valier, within which were found certain apparel, a sack with money and a cup of silver, the rest which he said to be more worth than 2000, crowns, the Turks had taken away and spoiled: besides 2. pavilions which he esteemed worth 300. crowns. The Turks having in their hands an ancient gunner of the castle named john de Chabas▪ A cruel sacrifice upon the person of john Chabas a gunner of the Castle. born within the town of Romance in Dauphin (to the end that their feast of victory should not be unfurnished of some sacrifice of cruelty) for that with a canon he had shot off the hand of the clerk general of the army, brought him into the town: & having cut off his hands & his nose, they put him quick into the ground even to the girdle steed, & there with a cruelty was persecuted & shot at with arrows, & in the end for to accomplish the execution of his glorious martyrdom they cut his throat▪ About 8. a clocks in the evening were lighted upon all the galleys, galliots, foists and other vessels all along upon the takels, yards, and other ropes & poops, in every of them above 300. candles, with cries & shouts accustomed, and sound of drums and other instruments. To make an end of all their triumphs, they again discharged all their ordinance. The next day being the 17. the Bascha sent to be presented unto the Ambassador a gown of cloth of gold tissed, and with the same his leave too departed which he so long had desired: & was not received without a present given him that brought it, & to divers other officers of the Bascha which on all sides came running one after another as a sort of hounds, to have their fee & share in the game, for they are the most barbarous, covetous, & cruel nation of the world, & in whom there is neither truth nor fidelity, never observing the one half of that they promise: and yet men must always be giving to them. The 18. the Spanish Argosin bought of them a Moor slave of his with his 2. little daughters, the one being 6. year old & the other sucking as yet the mother's breasts for 62. ducats: which slave, for my description of divers apparel I thought good lively to present by a picture in the end of the next chapter. Of our departure from Tripoli to return to Malta. Chap. 22. THe same day the 18. of August about the going down of the sun, we took our course to sail towards Malta. But after we had sailed 60. miles, the wind about midnight did arise out of the North: so cold and contrary that we were constrained to return to Tripoli: whereof the Bascha being advertised sent word unto the Ambassador, that he was very welcome back again: and that before he had well told him that at the Seas he should find a contrary wind, yet nevertheless when he saw the time convenient to departed he might do it by night or by day without demanding of further consent, we sojourned there until the one and twenty in the morning within the which time we took in fresh water and a few victuals. Afterwards with an indifferent wind sailing and keeping our course North and by East, we had such lucky speed, that we came to discover the isles of Lampedose and Linose being upon the saturday the 22. which day died of a fever most pestilent, the Master of our Gallye called john Raymond, which was a great loss unto us, The master & two gallie● slaves of our● galley died. being a good Pilot and a very honest man. The day before there died also two galley slaves and four in the patron: all which were cast into the sea to feed fishes. Upon the Sunday being the 23. approaching near unto Malta: we sent the frigate on before along the coast of Gosse to discover whither the sea were clear of galleys, galliots and other vessels of the enemies. For we something doubted the galleys of Genua, after having long looked for their return discovering them a far off, they gave us a sign that there was no danger towards: & so sailing betwixt Goze & the isle of Malta: we arrived there very late: & the entrance of the haven being shut, the Ambassador sent his lieutenant with his skiff towards the grand master to signify unto him our arrival, & to desire him to cause the haven to be opened for us, and too give him also to understand, that he had within his galleys the Governor and other knights of Tripoli. But he understanding of the taking of Trypoli was in such a rage and anger, that he sent word back again that he would do nothing until the morning, that he should have all his counsel together, to understand of them what were too be done, and afterwards would let him understand his pleasure. The knight Parisot sent forthwith certain refreshinge of bread, wine, and sweet water: which were accepted in better part than the answer of the grand master: Vaillier & other knights went to lie within the Bourge. The next day in the morning the haven was opened, into which we entered without any welcome bidden. And nevertheless the grand master sent Parisot and certain other ancient knights to receive the Ambassador, who greatly disdained at the message that in the evening before was sent unto him, which the knights would fain have cloaked and excused, but could not with honesty do it: being come to the castle, he was received of the grandmayster with small countenance, Ingratitude of the grand master. as a recompense for that he had at his great charges and costs, besides the loss of his men that were dead and diseased, safely brought away the knights and soldiers from Tripoli, who if it had not been for him and his gifts had all remained as Slaves to the Turks: wherein the grand master could not be persuaded, which against all right & truth maintained his opinion, that without the good wills of the knights, they would never have Surrendered. And as for the 30. Turk's being slaves, which Vaillier (upon caution & assurance of the Ambassador) had promised too be redelivered unto the Bascha, he would by no means thereunto consent. The counsel of the religion were three times assembled, where the ambassador by good reasons spared not to reprove the false opinion of the grand master, from the which he was by no manner of remonstrances to be persuaded. But to the contrary maliciously suborned the spanish and Italian knight against us, so far that some said we were come to Malta to espy and view the place, & to cause it to be brought under the jurisdiction of the Turks: other said that after we had caused Tripoli to be lost, we would return again to the army. And generally and above all, that we were the very chief authors of all the mischiefs that were happened unto them by the Turks. Such was their unthankfulness for all the good will and services which the Ambassador and his company had done to them of the religion. Vaillier put under arrest. Departing from the castle, he went to dine with the Knight Parisot, where Vaillier was under arrest, attending that his process should be declared against him: all the rest of the day there was preparation made too dispatch and send away the knight de Seure towards the court, too advertise the king of all that which during our voyage was happened unto us. And in the mean space the grand master sent away three frigates toward Sicily, Africa and Naples, too advertise them of the loss of Tripoli, or rather (as the common voice was) to advertise Andre Doria (which was tarrying for us at the passage with 5 principal galleys) of the day of our departure, & the course we meant to keep for we used all diligence to escape his hands. Nevertheless we made some small provision for our galleys, and with much difficulty got certain victuals, and wood for our kitchen. Moreover, we got a pilot being of the isle of Chio in place of him that was dead: the knight de Seure did also no less diligence in preparing his galliot too return into France, & being embarked with him, the Lords of S. Veran, Montenard the knight of Magliane, Vestry, Flamerin & certain others (who having heard that Andre Doria lay in wait for us at the passage, would not put themselves in hazard to fight, nor to fall into the hands of their enemies) the 26. of August in the evening, their anchors being weighed, having a good wind, directed their course towards Marseilie. A woman Moor of Tripoli in Barbary. The second Book of the Navigations and peregrinations Orientalles, of Nicholas de Nicholaij of Dauphin, chamberlain and Geographer ordinary to the king of France. The dep●rture of the Lord of Arramont Ambassador for King Henry the second, towards Soliman, Emperor of the Turks, from the isle of Malta, to proceed on his voyage towards Levant. Chap. 1. THE Knight of Seure having with a very favourable wind taken his course towards Marseille, we with our galleys after we had taken in fresh water, the rest of our men that were a shore about the beginning of the night being shot to the Seawards' about 25. or 30. miles, found the wind to be at Northwest, which served us so well, that having set our course southeast, we sailed that night 60. miles further, & following the same course, we sailed so with that wind, that upon sunday being the last of August, we had on our left hand the sight of the Islands of Zefalonia, The Isles of Zefalonia and Zante. anciently called Zephalonia and Zante, sometimes called jacintha, being both subject unto the Venetians and contributory unto the Turk (as I hope to declare in mine other treaty of our return from Constantinople. The same day about noon we descried a great ship of Candia, laden with malmsies, Muscadels and other marchadises, being bound for Venice. And yet notwithstanding we had given them a shot of assurance, yet left not to set up a red flag in which were painted the arms of Candia, and began to prepare themselves to the fight, thinking we had been Coursaries, which the Ambassador seeing, made them beleene that he was of Sicilia; upon which occasion they forthwith struck their sails, & the master with his bark came to salute the Ambassador, whom he straightways knew, for that he had oftentimes furnished him of wines at Constantinople, and therefore presented him with a great barrel of muscadel, a mutton & divers other pouncils, A gift agreeable and necessary. citrons and oranges, desiring him too help him with a barrel of fresh water, for that theirs began to stink: which forth with was delivered unto him. In which space an Italian slave which was escaped out of Constantinople, came swimming into our galley: which notwithstanding, we left not to prosecute our race towards the isle of Sapience, The isle of Sapience. being distant from Malta 550. miles, where we touched not, but followed on along the coast of Morea to pass the cape Malee, Cape Malee or S. Ange very dangerous for Sailors. now called Cape S. Ange, very dangerous for sailors: extending 50. miles into the sea, the sailing by it is so perilous, by reason of the contrariety of the winds blowing the one against the other, that oftentimes the Mariners are constrained to put it in adventure twice or thrice before they can pass the same, & as often are put back to the seashore, for the sea which so furiously casteth against Malee, is such that without great labour and long space she is not to be recovered or surmounted, and oftentimes when men do think to be escaped the most danger, are by contrariety of winds carried back again to such places as oftentimes they cannot escape death. And there forthwith we found ourselves too be in great peril for having all the whole day sailed with a prosperous wind: about the edge of the evening being ready to double the cape, even in a moment arose a wind out of the North-east, so cold and so contrary to our navigation, that we were constrained thinking to go on forwards, to go back 30. miles to the isle of Cerigo, The isle of Cerigo. which belongeth to the Venetians: In which we sojourned 8. days, and that by reason of the contrary wind: to wit, one day at the port of S. Nicholas, Port S. Nicholas. where first we arrived, and seven days under the castle and fortress called Capsali, The castle Capsali. & to eschew the dangers of the Coursaries which every day were thereabouts) whether we came too an anchor upon good will and request of the Proveditor which incontinent after we were come to an anchor sent too visit and salute the Ambassador with refreshinges of mutton, foul and fresh bread, commanding all the inhabitants of the isle to furnish us for our money with all sorts of their victuals, which did us great pleasure because of the necessity which began too press us, in such sort that we were at the point to distribute the bysket unto the mariners and galley slaves by weight: Courtesy of the Proveditor of Cerigo. which the Ambassador marking very well, and for that he would not be ingrate, he sent unto him by his lieutenant and other his gentlemen reciproque presents, which by him were courteously received and well esteemed▪ for he was a Gentleman both honourable & virtuous, whereof I took experience at two several times that I went to him: and being informed of mine estate & profession, he used all courtesy & liberality towards me, in such sort that without fear or scruple he caused to be showed unto me the whole fortress & the munitions of the castle, which by nature & artifice seemed to be invincible, being towards the sea side, cituated upon a high rock not to be ascended, and towards the land environed with great and deep valleys, having also the said Castle but one gate to enter into, which is very strong & well guarded with 20. Italian soldiers which cause all them that shall enter into it (without any exception) too lay down their weapons. The Proveditors lodging standeth towards the sea and round about the hall are painted the arms with the names of all the proveditors, which for the signory have governed that island from the year 1502. until the time of this said governor called johan Andree Quirini, which was in the year 1551. Under the castle standeth the town being great, & cituated upon the hanging of a hill, being evil to get up unto, for that there is but one street cut out of a hard slippery rock of black marber. Description of the isle Citharee, vulgarly called Cerigo. Chap. 2. THis I'll of Cerigo, as writeth Bordon in his Isolary, was first called Scothera, Cerigo. but as saith Aristotle, Porphiris, for the beautiful marbers which are there. And yet Pliny and divers others do call it Cithere, by the name of Cithere the son of Phaenis, & presently is called Cerigo. Within this isle Venus after her birth made her first habitation, & (within a temple erected for her) was worshipped & reverenced as a goddess & princess of the same. She regardeth towards the west the cape Malee, distant from it according to the opinion of the modern mariners 30. miles. But Pliny, Error of Pliny & Strabon. & Strabon make thereof but 5. mile's distance, wherein me thinketh they have greatly erred, for experience showeth the distance to be much greater. There are divers ports, which nevertheless are very strait & dangerous, & this isle is round about so full of woods & mountains that she is almost desert & unhabited, but towards the castle, where the Proveditor dwelleth, & in certain small villages of no account: the circuit is 60. thousand paces, abounding (as reciteth the said Bordon) of wild asses, Wild asses having in their head a stone of great virtue. which have in their head a stone, having the virtue against the falling sickness, pain in the flanks, & to lay upon a woman that cannot be delivered of child. Antiquities by the author observed in the isle of Cithare. Chap. 3 During the time of our abode in this isle of Cithare for too refresh my spirit & eschew idleness, I took the pain to seek out the relics & antiquities aswell of the city of Cithare, as of the castle of Menelaus and the old temple of Venus, and in the end were showed unto me by one of the Island, upon the top of an high mountain certain ruins which he said too be of the said temple, Ruin of the temple of Venus. and there were seen two high pillars jonique without heads, with five other foursquare, amongst the which appeared the form of a great portal, and near unto it the stature of a woman clothed after the Grecian fashion, of bigness unmeasured. But as my guide told me, certain years before the head had been taken away by Proveditor of the isle, which had caused the same to be conveyed to Venice, The stature and effigy of Helen. and the Isolands do affirm that it was the effige of Helen, which john de More of Belges in his illustrations of Gaul, doth approve saying, that it was there, where Paris after he had ravished Helen, took of her the first fruits of his love. A little below this temple upon the same mountain, was the castle of Menelaus, the husband of Helen, which was king of Sparta, & lord of this isle. The foundations of which Castle, are there as yet apparent by the residue of the walls which are made of graven stone without mortar or plaster, of length and bigness unmeasurable, then was also an high tower foursquare, Foundations of the castle of Menelaus. from the which in fair and clear weather may be seen, not only the city of Sparthe, but also the most part of Penelopeses (now called Morea.) From this castle, they descend into the City of Citheree, which was cituated on the East part, on the hanging of a hill, in which appeared yet certain pieces of the old walls. And for better witness of the antiquity thereof, the inhabitants of the isle do at this present day call all these old ruins Paleopolys, which is to say, and old City under which passeth a small river, which through the midst of a gulf issueth into the Sea, and upon the banks of this gulf are within a great rock eighteen or twenty baths small & great, Baths cut in rocks. cut out by marvelous art, the most part being made with pipes and gutters to bring the waters unto them. I saw these baths thorough a great hole, which in times past was made for a breathing hole, upon the top of a rock whereof the principal entry was covered and shut with great bushes, and wild brambles, which in process of time and lack of frequentation, were so grown and multiplied, that to content my mind I resolved, by a cord too go down into this hole, which readily I did by the help of those that were with me, and after me followed my nephew, and we straightways so bestirred our selves with an axe too cut down the trees and bushes, which letted the going down, that we made such a gap that every man might enter and see at his pleasure. Likewise after our first arrival, the Ambassador having sent his guard to the mountain of S. Nicholas (being very high, stony, & ill to climb up), I showed him two chapels, being upon the top of it, of which the biggest had aswell within as without his pavement very anticly wrought after the Mosaique fashion with figures of hunters on hosebacke, Hearts, Lions, Bears, Dogs, and divers birds, And thus ye have the most part of those things which I have seen worthy of memory: the wind still continuing contrary, and the Seas being sore wrought, constrained us to remain there all that while to our great grief. The 7. day of September, and of our abode, died of a bloody flux a young Gentleman called Polmi, kinsman to Saint Marie, who (according to the commodity of the place) was honourably buried with in the Bourg: which being notified unto the Proveditor, fearing he had died of the plague, incontinently forbade all his folk and the men of the Island to deal or frequent any more with us, nor yet to bring any more victuals unto us. The same night also we had news of a Galliot of Messene, which coming from venturing, was arrived at the Dragoners (which are two small Islands very near to Cerigo) & therefore the better to be on our guard, every one put himself ready in arms. And as it pleased God, which knew what was necessary for us (for that already we began to way out the biscuit unto the galley slaves and that in the Patronne there was scarce left for four days) about the second watch in the night, the Sea which for eight days before had sore raged, began to assuage, and the North East winds, which so long had continued, favourably changed into the West and by North. Of our departure from the isle of Citheree or Cerigo. Chap. 4. About the third watch our anchors being weighed by the help of god (who never forgetteth his in time of need) we departed out of the haven, and with sails spread, doubled the Cape of Saint Nicholas of the same I'll, and after that the cape Malee, and sailed aswell with one as other wind, that we entered the Sea Aegeum: passing by the Isles of Archipelagua, and approaching the isle of Tino, with force of o●res we overtook two Ragusian ships, for that the Seas being calm they could not flee: the master refusing to speak with us se●t a passenger being of Chio, unto us in a small boat, whom the Ambassador ask from whence those ships came, said that it was not five days past since they were departed from Messena in Sicilia: as for any news of the wars he would declare nothing excusing himself said that it appertained too Merchants to be occupied with their merchandise, and yet nevertheless told us that Andre Doria with five ●allies well appointed, was twice departed & returned: & determined for too entrap us at the passage, and that the first occasion of his return too Messena was for that the Mast of one of the chief Galleys was by storm broken, and the second, for that he had miss of his enterprise, he was fallen sick with thought. Thus having returned this good fellow (who scarcely would impart any of this news unto us) to his ship, we again began to follow on our course towards the isle of Chio, and in the night having passed the Cape Mastic, we approached in the morning within eight miles of the City. Of our arrival at the City of Chio. Chap. 5. THE next day, being the tenth of September, after we had put our galleys in order, with their flags, banners, streamers and Gailiardets, and the Gentle men & Soldiers set in their ranks, we made way towards the strength port of Chio, Our coming to Chio. at the entering whereof were discharged all the ordinance & harquebuses, and afterwards with sound of Trumpets and Clarons, we came to an anchor, near unto the mole head upon the which, and all along the haven, the people came running to see us arrive: and we had not so soon touched ground, An oration made to the Ambassador. but the Ambassador was straightways visited by the principal and most ancient of the Signiory of which one made the oration for the rest, with great courtesy and honour, offering him the City withal that was within it, to dispose of the same according to his pleasure, & with great affection, req●sting him to take the same for his lodging, quiet recreation, and repose of his travails sustained on the Seas, assuring him that the signory desired nothing more, than the good entreaty of him and his. For which the Ambassador rendered unto them his most hearty thanks, excusing himself upon the weakness of his person and haste of his voyage towards Constantinople, so as he could not come a land and for that he was also resolved to departed that night: but promised them that at his return he would certain days pass the time amongst them. The said lords were not so soon returned into the town, but they sent a boat laden with divers Presents: to wit twelve couple of quick partridges being in twelve several cages, twelve couple of fat capons, sundry baskets full of Citrons, Lemons, Oranges, Pomegranates, Apples, Pears, prunes and Reisons, of such bigness that there were some of them● that every cluster weighed six or seven pounds, a great quantity of new bread, and certain calves, & muttons, which refreshings were unto us no less welcome than necessary. Moreover in the afternoon they sent unto us a good quantity of all manner of fruit with a 100 poullets, two butts of wine of Chio, two fourth parts of muscadel, 12. bootes mastic 4. tapites flowered, of pinsed satin, for there are made the best and fairest of any place in Levant, 4. Turkey coverlets, 12. great streamers of green silk, and a good quantity of tallow candles. The Consul of the French men called joseph justinian, sent likewise on his behalf divers fair presents unto the Ambassador, we had made our account to reembarke and departed that night but there arose a wind out of the North-east, so contrary to our course, that we were constrained too prolong our abode until the 13. day towards the evening: to the great pleasure and contentment aswell of us as the inhabitants and specially of the fair dames and maidens of Chio, which entreated and entertained us with all courteous and honest liberality, in such a sort that I dare well say and affirm for certain, that I have not seen in any place where I have been, a nation more amorous and civil, nor which studieth more in all honest sort to obtain the favour of strangers. Now to come to the description of things most special and worthy of memory, which are aswell within this famous I'll, as within the City of the same, I will first begin with the general description of this most famous I'll, and afterwards of the particularities. Description of the isle of Chio. Chap. 6. THE isle of Chio or Scio, by Ephore first called Ethalie, of Metrodore Chia, of the nymph of Chione, and as others say, Macrin or Pithiosa, lieth in the sea jonique specting Eastwardes by the distance of ten miles. Eolide, a country in Asia the lesser by Ptolemy Argenum Promontorium, and of the modern mariner Capo Bianco, or as Pliny writeth, Mysie: she is cituated between the Isles of Samos and Lesbos, about the height of Erithase. The circuit thereof after the opinion of Ptolemy is 128. miles & 500 paces. Pliny maketh mention only of 125. miles but Isidore adjoineth 9 more, Pli. lib. 5. c. 30. although the mariners nowadays yield unto it only 124. To the northwards she is distant from the isle of Lesbos now called Metelin, 50. miles, & from Delos now called Sdile (where sometimes was the famous temple and oracle of Apollo) between the south and the North 90. miles, from Lango, between the north the south 80. miles, and from Psara by Strabo Psira to the west 15. miles. This isle is divided into 2. parts: to wit, by height and lowness, the height towards the south is high and hilly, full of great woods, dark valleys and rivers, which issuing into the sea, cause many myls to grind. There are also divers castles, some on the mountains, and some on the plain which is very fertile, and aboundeth of all things necessary. On the end of the isle towards the West is the mount of S. Helias: Mount S. Helie. upon the which within an old castle (as the Insulans do say) is the sepulture of Homer who lived as josepus writeth 200. years after the destruction of Troy.) But Pliny contrarying them, saith that his sepulture is in the isle jos, which likewise was called Phenice, & presently Nio. The said Insulanes do further say, that the said Homer was born in a village not far from thence called to this hour Homero, whereas grow the best & most excellent wines of all Graecia, which the ancients in their banquets & feastings did greatly esteem as Pliny reciteth, saying: Book 14. C. 15. that Caesar the Roman dictator distributed at the celebrating of his triumph a 100 great pots of wine of Falerne, & 100 vessels of wine of Chio amongst his guests. And likewise that in his triumph of Spain he gave of the wine of Chio & Falerne. Mount Pelenee. The mount Pelinee is the highest in all the island: producing fair marberstones, & as Pliny allegeth, the sellers & vaults of marber of divers colours were first seen & discovered in this isle, ye have there moreover the mounts Peparque Menaleto, S. Helen, Vicchio, Pino, Cardanella, S Angelo & Aruisio, a place most rude & hilly: and yet bringeth forth very good wines. And towards the North is the fountain called Nao. vitrvuius sayeth. There is another which is of such nature, that if any drink of it unawares, he shall forthwith become bestraught of his senses. Leon Albert in his Archirecture saith, that in this isle there are two other fountains, whereof the one is so venomous, that if any man do but taste or smelleth to the same only she procureth present death without any smart, and tother likewise killeth those that wash in it. Not far from the fountain Nao is the port of Cardamille, Port of Cardamille. at the entry whereof there is a shelf called Strovilli, and near this port is seen a fair plain well inhabited, and watered with the flood Helusan, and below towards the South, is the port Delphin, which at his entrance hath the rock of S. Stephano, with a watch tower above it. After that of S. George, S. George. whereas gather & spring many fair fountains, which after a long & sharp course do come altogether into an universal flood, which by crooked ways finally issueth into the Sea. On the other side of the isle, between the South & the West, is another great haven called Lithilimione, Lithilimione. having in the entry two rivers, & round about it a great & plain field watered with a little spring. The other & lower part, which looketh towards the South, the ancients have called Fane Promontorium & now is called Cape Mastico, Cape Mastico of the ancients, Fane promoutorium. & is the place where the trees grow, which bring forth the Mastic, & cometh not (so far as is known) from any other part of the world, except as the Spaniards writ, out of certain parts of the Indies. These trees do properly resemble the Lentiscus (which is the cause that divers do write that the Mastic is the tear or droppings of the Lentiscus, but they are a great deal higher & have more larger leaves. As for the trimming & gathering of the mastic, is used in this manner. The Segniori giveth unto the inhabitats of every castle or village of this lower part, such portion & quantity of the plants & roots of these trees, as they think good, upon condition that every one in his degree shall trim them & keep the ground clean that is under them, & that the time & season being come to gather the Mastic, he do deliver unto the signory a certain weight and quantity according too the number of the trees that are committed unto him. And if through the plentifulness of the year they do deliver more than they are bound to do, the Signiory payeth unto them a certain reasonable price for every pound. But to the contrary, if the barrenness of the year doth not permit them to furnish the quantity by them promised, they are constrained to pay for that which lacketh, the double that which was given unto them for the abundance, and this charge the Lords do lay upon them to make them the more careful and diligent, the better to labour, trim, and make clean the trees. The order to pull and gather the Mastic from the trees is this. About the beginning of the months of july and August, the husband men with a pointed Iron do rend and cut the bark of the trees in divers places, and out of these incisions and cuts proceedeth the Mastic by drops as it were Gum, The manner of gathering of mastic. which they gather in the month of September following, & after do deliver the same unto the signory, as before is said, This done, the Lords do part the same, and put it to the handling and administration of four of them: the one of which hath the charge too furnish all Grecia: the other, the whole West parts, which is Italy, France, Spain, and Germany: the third distributeth his part throughout little Asia, which verily is Turkey: and the fourth, furnisheth Suria, Egypt and Barbary. Moreover the said four Lords have under them Commities, which do distribute the mastic throughout all the principal towns being under their charge. The whole mass of these four may amount too about 150. caces, every one weighing two Canters, which are wroth eighty Hoccha of Constantinople weight, The price and value of the mastic. and every Hoccha four pound, at eleven ounces the pound, the Cantar is worth fifty crowns, and so is a hundrd crowns for every case. Of the City of Chio. Chap. 7. THE City of Chio hath in times past been so famous and opulent, that she hath kept an army imperial at the Seas: but by long prolapse of time, as allthings are subject to changes and varieties of fortune, the Empire Constantinoplitan beginning to decay, and to fall into the power of the Barbarous infidels, was brought under the dominion of the Genevoises, which long time defended the same against the fury and rage of the Turks, but in the end perceiving their strength to be too much inferior, they became tributories vnto● the prince of the Turks, for 10000 ducats by the year. The Genevoises do pay unto the Turk 10000 crowne● for Chio. Besides the presents which they must give unto the Baschas, & other officers of estimation, which amounteth unto more than 2000 ducats. This City is cituated upon the sea ten miles below the port Delphin having his aspect oriental toward Asia the less: the haven is very good & able to hold a great many vessels, & the town is environed with good walls, large rampards, & deep ditches: Upon one of the sides of the common place where the market for victuals is kept, is the burse, whereas the Merchants do every day assemble, The Burse where the merchants doc assemble. as they do at the Change of Lions and burse of Antwerp, & royal exchange of London, for the traffic & handling of their merchandises: & on the other side, on the left hand, is the palace where the signory keep their counsels for the affairs of the isle & the City. The streets are fair and large, & the houses & churches, builded after the manner of Genua and Italy, without the walls are fair suburbs full of gardens, pleasant and delectable, filled with divers fruits of marvelous sweetness: as oranges, lemons, citrons figs pears, apples, prunes, abricors, dates & olives, and likewise of all sorts of herbs, sweet flowers, good and wholesome waters both of wells and fountains. The inhabitants are very gentle & courtuous towards strangers, & are much given too music and all other virtuous & honest exercises. As for the women and maidens, Prase of the women of Chio. I do not think (without offence too any other) that in all the East parts are any, more accomplished in beauty and good grace, & amorous courtesy: for above the singular beauty, wherewith nature hath so well endued them, they do attire themselves so finely, & have so modest countenance & grace, that men would judge them rather to be Nymphs or Goddesses, than women or mortal maidens: Apparel of the women of Chio. the women of reputation wear their gowns or coats of velvet, satin, damask, or other rich silks, white or of other seemly colour, which they guard about with broad bands of velvet, and do fasten their sleeves above with silk ribbon lace● of divers colours: their apron is of fine linen clothe wrought & fringed about, and attire their head with a coif of white satin, or other colour embroidered with gold & pearls, and close the same about the head with long strings & other ribbons of like silk, as about the sleeves, in which they make knots & devices behind with a very good grace, & before their forehead they wear a yellow Cypress wrought upon goldfolie, which they shut and knit fast behind their coif: but the married women differing from the maidens in steed of a cypress, wear on their shoulders a fair rail white as the snow, and generally their hosen and pattens are of colour white. Briefly there is nothing to be seen upon them which is not proper & pleasant, but that they make their bodies short, & have their breasts hanging, because of the continual frequentation of the baths, but about their neck and upon their stomach, they were many chains, tablets, & other trynkets of gold, pearls, or other fine stones of great value, every one according to her quality and degree, so that all their pleasure and study is to attire and set out themselves to make them the more acceptable unto men aswell private as strangers. To return to the city of Chio, she is inhabited with Grecians and Genevoises, and a number of jews, which severally have one street to dwell in, and because they should be the better known from others, they are constrained to wear for a token a great cap of yellow colour: they exercise great traffic, usury of money & other merchandises, as they do in other countries where they dwell. The Grecans do obeisance unto the patriarch of Constantinople and have a church on a mountain Westwards, A sumptuous church of the Grecians. and five miles from the City which is esteemed to be the fairest that is in all those islands Ciclades, being artificially made of Mosaique, and was builded after the common opinion of the Insularies, by the Emperor of Constantinople called Constantinus Monomachus, which named her our lady of Niamovi. I do here present unto you gentle Reader, lively set forth, two pictures of the wife and maiden of the isle of Chio, and another of the isle of Paros, notwithstanding that I do refer the description of the said I'll, and our arrival in the same, for that it appertaineth unto the second tome, in which (y● God give me grace) shallbe described our return and navigation from Constan●tinople into Italy, where I disbarked to go to Rome, and by land into France. A woman of the isle of Chio. A maiden of the isle of Chio. A maiden of the isle of Paroe in Archipelagua. Of the government of the isle and city of Chio. Chap. 8. THe government of this city is in form of a common wealth, for they have the Mahomies which were the first gentlemen sprung out of the ancient stock of justinian of the nation of Genua: Mahomies' gentlemen. Genevoises. & for that they were the first Dominators in this isle from 2. years to 2. years, one of the said Mahomies is elected & created potestate, and chief justice both civil & criminal, the which hath a Lieutenant being a doctor of the laws, which assisteth him in the hearing and deciding of all processes and differences. They ordain further from 6. months to 6, months, 4. governors which are assistants in the judgement of criminal persons, Four goue●●nors elected. when there is question to judge them to death, taking informations of all things politic, aswell of the City and suburbs, as generally of the whole isle, & are also appointed to receive all Ambassadors aswell Barbaries, as Christians that come into their isle. They have moreover 12. counseilers which are called when there are matters of great importance, Twelve counsellors. but above these the 4. governors do command. There are also created 2. other officers, Officers for victuals. which are to take view and acknowledgement of all victuals, & may judge of small matters being under the value of twenty crowns. Being also curious of their healths, they do establish two persons, which by reason of their charges are called judges of health, for that specially they have a regard that in the plague time no ship or other strange vessel do enter into their port without first showing a good certificate that the place from whence they come is not infected with the plague. Furthermore there are four other officers two of which are Mahomies, 4. Officers for the overseeing of the buildings. the third a Grecian and the fourth a Citizen, which altogether have the charge to look unto the old and new buildings, and other mean & politic affairs. Item more, two Lords being Mahomies which have the government of the mastic, Two Mahomies have the government of the mastic. being forbidden unto all persons upon pain of death not to gather & sell the said Mastic, but by their leave and consent: they have also a captain for the night, and divers other mean officers, which for avoiding of prolixity I will pass over with silence, and yet will speak of two things worthy of reciting, which I have seen in this isle, whereof the first is of the divers nature of two fig trees, which were showed unto me in the garden of the grey Friars, which is such, that the fruit of the one which is good to eat, can never come to be ripe but with the figs of the other, which notwithstanding are nought to eat, and therefore they use them in this order. About the time that the figs begin to wax ripe, they tear certain branches of the fig tree that is nought, and cast the same upon the other that is good, or else do fasten by the stake certain quantity of the ill figs, after they have first picked them, out of which pricks do engender and breed certain small flying worms, which with their bills and stings picking the other figs, suddenly after they are picked, they come to a good and perfect ripenesss, and as I was informed they have of those fig trees, a great quantity in that Island. The second thing worthy of memory is, that in certain Casales or villages of that I'll, are seen an inestimable number of great red partridges, as tame as though they were chickens or hens of this country which the country folks do feed by great flocks, Tame partridges which are led & brought to and fro the fields. driving them in the day time too go graze in the mountains, and towards the evening the boys or girls, which do keep them, do call them together with a whistle or some song: and these Partridges being accustomed to such calls, incontinently every flock (which sometimes are two or three hundred more or less) gather to their conductor, which bringeth them home to their village & dwelling as though they were hens or tame geese: they go also a feeding in small flocks alongst the streets of the city & within private houses, but being carried out of this isle, they become wild, forgetting their tamenes. A tribute which the widows of Chio that will not marry must pay They of Chio (as divers inhabitants worthy of credit have informed me) observe a custom used of antiquity, that if a woman after the disease of her husband, will remain a widow with pretence never to marry again: the signory constraineth her to pay a certain piece of money, which they call Argomoniatico, that is to (saving the honour and reverence of the Reader) as a cout set at rest of unfit. Moreover, that if a maiden of the country or city doth lose her maidenhead before she is married, and that she will continue in that occupation, she is bound to give a ducat unto the Captain of the night, The whores do pay a tribute unto the captain of the night for thyr licence. and after may use it at her pleasure without fear or danger, and herein lieth the most assured gain which this gentle Captain hath in his estate & office. divers great and excellent personages have taken their beginning & birth in this isle: amongst which were Io Tragicque, Io tragicque. Theopompe the historiam, Theopompe the Historian. Theocrite the Sophist, Theocrite the Sophist. & as the Insulans say, Homer. the Poet Homer (producing for a witness those which were called Homerides: which as Pindare sayeth, were most excellent singers:) Bubale and Antherme brethren, Bubal and Antherme brethren. the sons of Antherme the most renowned carver and graver of Images were there borne: which (as Pliny reciteth) in derision and mockery, made the shape and proportion of Hipponax the poet jambique, Hipponax the Poet jambique. because of his hardfavourednesse and deformity, and set it out openly abroad: at which this Poet being full of poetical spite and indignation in great collar drew the sword of his wit, that is to say, of his verses, that some dare well say that he constrained them of despair and anger to hang themselves. Now after we had sojourned in this isle with all pleasures until the 13. day of the same month of Septem. about the going down of the sun, we being all gone aboard & our anchors weighed, ●ailed close along by the isle to the little isle of S. Stephano, I'll of S. Steph. which lieth at the entrance of the port Delphin, Port Delphin. Cardemille. and from thence too Cardemille distant from the port Delphin 10. miles, and 20. miles from the city of Chio. Afterwards setting our course east North-east towards the gulf of Caloni, being from the isle of Metelin and distant from Cardemille 30. miles, and for to be there the next night we sailed alongst the land to the port of Segre, which is 20. miles below the gulf, whereas because the wind was too fresh, we reposed until the break of day. But I will not pass further without first making a brief description of the isle of Metelin, following therein the opinions aswell of the ancient and late Geographers, as that which I could learn of the mariners and inhabitants of the country. Of the isle of Metelin. Chap. 9 MEtelin is an isle in the Sea of Aegee by the ancients first called Lesbos, and afterwards named Issa, Pelasgie, Mytylene, Mytais: and lastly, Metelim of Milet, the son of Phoebus, which builded the city, and named it Mytilene which was not only metropolitan of all the towns of Eolea, but also (as writeth Pope Pius) obtained the empire of the Trojans. This Isle (as writeth Ptolemy) extendeth from the South to the North in distance threescore miles, In his descriptio of Asia the less. chap. 74. counting from the City of manlee joining to the Promontory Sigrie, unto the cape Lesbos anciently called the promontory of Sytrie. Cape of Lesbos. Notwithstanding that the moderns founded on a contrary opinion and ocular reason, affirm the length thereof to be from the West too the East 110. miles, and the whole circuit 160. Pompone saith, that there were in it, five cities Antissa, Pyra, Eresson, Cirave and Mytilene, of which the who●e I'll beareth the name. But Seruie calleth it Methine, howsoever it be, Strabo spoke aright, where he sayeth it to have two great ports, the one, on the direct South, able to hold above fifty galleys and many other vessels. The other, being great, sure, and deep, having at the entry thereof a small Island, but where he saith the second to lie on the North part, he may by the view & eisight only be reproved, being in deed towards the East. Of the City of Mytelene, was Pithagore one of the seven sages of Grecia: Alcee the Poet, and his brother Antimenides, a man most valiant at arms: Theophraste & Phanie, Philosophers Peripatetics & familiar friends of Aristotle, & likewise Arion the most excellent player on the harp, of whom Herodote speaketh very fable like, saying that he being by certain thieves cast into the Sea, was by a Dolphin brought safe and sound to the port of Tenare. Of thence was also Terpandre the famous Musician, which joined the seventh string to the quadricord, after the likeness of the seven straying stars. Sappho, a woman most wel● learned in poetry, was also a Lesbian being called the x. Muse & numbered amongst the ix. Poet's Li●iques. She invented the verses which after her name are called Saphic, & being very fervently in love with Phaon, who being gone into Sicilia & fearing that she was not beloved of him again, in a fury & rage of a love dismeasured, she cast herself down headlong from the mount Epire into the Sea. In our time are sprung out of the same two so happy & renowned Coursaries, Cairadni and Ariadne brethren. brethren Cairadni & Ariadne Barberousse, which being gone (as being two of the poorest of the isle to seek their adventure upon the Sea, were so favourably conducted by fortune, that they both are happily diseased with the name & title of kings of Alger. The first inhabitants of this isle, after the saying of Diadore, were the Pelasgiens, for after the Xanthe the son of Priape, king of the Pelasgiens, had part of the signory of Letia went to Lesbos, which them was not inhabited: after the palasgiens, succeeded the Eoliens, & after was subject to the Empire of Persia, & after that to the Macedonians: & finally, under the Emperors of Grecia, until such time as the Emperor Calo jani being driven away by Cartacusan, and afterwards recovered ●he empire through the aid of Catalusio of Genua, & gave unto him in recompense of the help & secure which he had done unto him for him & his posterity, the Lordship & domination over this isle. Notwithstanding since that the Turks have made divers roads & spoils into the same, they have finally brought it under their puissance & dominion. Metelin under the puissance of the Turk. She produceth of the best wines that are in all Graecia & great quantity of all good fruits for although the most part of the isle is hilly and savage, yet is therein the midst thereof a valley very good and fruitful. Of our navigation from the isle of Metelin to Galliopoli: Chap. 10 From Metelin we sailed along by Anatolia or little Asia unto the promontory of Sigee by the moderns called the cape of janissaries right against which by the distance of 10. miles is the isle of Tenedon, Promontory Sige●. so called of one Tenes, which first peopled the same, and there founded a city which he called after his name. Pliny in his natural history writeth, The fountain Ephere. that in this isle there is a fountain which by natural virtue from the third hour of the Solsticium unto the sixth: doth so abound of water that for a certain time she batheth and watereth the whole plain of the isle, and afterwards during the rest of the year remaineth dry & full of cliffs. Strabo also affirmeth, that without the city of Tenedon, Temple of Neptune. was the temple of Neptune greatly reverenced by the concurrence of the people, which of all parts came unto it. alongst this side between the port of Sigee, and the flood Xanthus otherwise called Scamander are seven divers ruins and pieces of walls foundations, colomnes pillars and other monuments of the great and ancient city of Troy by the elders so much celebrated, which ruins by their long & large extending which they show, is made apparent the greatness and magnificence of the said so renowned, & in the end most infortunate city. The river Sca●●nder. The river Scamander being above it coming from the bottom of the mount Ida (which is clothed with all manner of trees, as pinetrees, Serapins, Cypress, Terebinths, jemuers & other trees great & little Aroma ticque) runneth softly along the valley of Mesaulon, Mesaulon. & so issueth into the sea, from thence we entered the straight of Hellespont, streite of Hel●espont. for the safeguard whereof there are 2. strong castles, builded by Mehemet the 2. conqueror of Constantinople, the one on the one side of Europe, Two castles. at Charronesse Thracien, & the other in little Asia in the same places (as they of the country do affirm) where sometimes were the 2. castles of Seste & Abide so renowned by the fables of the poets in memory of the love of Leander & Hero. Seste which is in Europe, is cituated at the foot of a mountain whereof the circuit is made after the form of a double clover leaf: to wit: with 2. towers one within another, every one made in 3. half circles, & the great compass of the wall in form of a triangle which have at every corner a tower which beateth & defendeth the other, for this castle is & always hath been well provided of men & munition: the other on the side of Asia, abide in Asia. whereas stood Abide is more new & strong than Seste, for it is in form 4. square cituated in a plain marish, the most fair and fruitful as in any place, hath been seen, aswell for gardens, fruits, tillage grounds and pastures which are about it, as for the river of Simois wherewith it is watered, which coming from the mount Ida (as doth the Scamander) runneth along by the castle, & so issueth into the sea: the castle as I have begun to say is in form 4. square, having on every corner a round tower, & in the midst of the base court a high tower 4. square like unto a platform, which beateth & commandeth of all parts, all well & indifferently ramparded & ditched, & furnished of good ordinance, specially the curtines which beateth all along upon the water too the seaward. For oftentimes they are assaulted on that side. Before the gate on the side of the Bourg, there is a great place to keep their markets in, & a fair Mosque. The guard having with a loud voice requested us to come near the shore, we came to an anchor very nigh the castle, wherein when our patron would follow us, taking the advantage of the stream which there is so extreem & with such force, A stream very dangerous. that there is no mariner so perfect, but that it would sore trouble him, & not finding sufficient depth was so fiercely cast thwart the nose of our galley that it wholly burst the same in pieces. Which the warders seeing, they came forthwith aboard of us with small boats, Exaction of those of the guard upon the passengers. & after they had seen the safe conduct of the ambassador & understood of him the news of their army at sea: they gave him to understand that it was not the custom that ambassadors should pass that straight, without some presents given to the captain & other officers of the castle, so as to content their insatiable avarice he gave to them certain ducats. Afterwards having mended and new covered a piece of our palliment, our anchors being weighed, we went that day too come to an anchor at a great village called Maiton, Maiton a great village. which lieth on the side that the Seste is of, inhabited with Grecians, which are all spynners' of wool and cotton, I say aswell men as women, and of their thread they make Esclaunis, which are coverlets with long hair. The village containeth about two or three hundred hearthsteds and is cituated upon the hanging of a mountain near the Sea side, & on the bending of it, which is in the midst are seen the foundations of an old castle, & along the streets of the village & corners of the houses, are pieces of fair columns & other monuments with certain figures broken, which giveth an appearance that it hath in times past been some renowned city. This place aboundeth of fair and fruitful gardens, and is a great country of vines producing great abundance of good wines, which they preserve in great earthen pitchers, which they bury in the ground, to the intent too keep the same the longer good. They have also abundance of pastures and good waters both of wells & fountains: all along the sea side are seen 36. windmills, having every one of them 10. wings, Windmills with x. wings. and also there are divers of them about the castle of Abide. The next day in the morning as we were lading of wines which we took in for our galleys, there came a complaint unto the Ambassador of two Grecian mariners of the Patronne: which the day before had stolen two gowns from one of the Inhabitants of that place. Of which the one being taken had presently three stroppadoes at the yards arm of the galley: but the other being better advised and swifter of his feet escaped. After dinner we departed from this place, and having a forewind, sailing along by Graecia, we passed the castle of widows lying upon the sea coast three miles from Mayton: whereof nothing is seen but the ruins, under which lieth a valley very fertile of all things. The Greeks do say that it was there where the Turks first passed out of Asia into Graecia, by the means of two Genevoises, which carried them over in their ships for a ducat a piece, & being passed, killed all the men that were within the castle, which afterwards gave the occasion that it was called the castle of widows. About 5. a clock in the Evening we arrived before the City of Galliopoli being 30. miles beyond the castle. Of the city of Galliopoli. Chap. 11. GAlliopoli is an ancient city cituated upon Cherenesse of Thracia at the point which looketh towards Propontide near unto the city of Lamsacque, which is in Asia the less: some hold opinion that she was builded by C. Caligula, and other say that she was in times past inhabited by Frenchmen, for that this word Gallipoli signifieth City of the Gauls or Frenchmen, and for that the Frenchmen do dwell in Gaul, as Nicopoli and Philipopoli signifieth the city of Nicholas & Philip. She containeth 600. households, but the principal habitations are so ruined that scarce there is any notable thing to be seen, but that the haven is very good and able too hold a good army of all sorts of ships● nevertheless there is a castle which seemeth in times passed too have been very strong, but now is altogether ruined, and yet there is an ordinary watch kept there. In this city are divers Windmills, and there are also two Amarathes, whereof the one is at the going out of the town towards Constantinople, which was builded by Sinan Bascha, which was in the time of Mehemet the second, which conquested Constantinople, and the other of Sultan Baiaset, which lieth buried there in a most sumptuous sepulture. Very near unto it the great Turk hath caused to be made a very fair fountain which springeth of very good waters through a conduit as big as a man's arm, whereof the water is carried too be sold throughout the City for two Aspres the burden, for they have none other water to drink then well water, which is neither good nor wholesome to drink: The other Amarathe is within the City: they have to them both belonging, two fair Mosques, the City is not compassed with walls, but is altogether open after the manner of a village, there are within it many fair gardens and most fruitful trees of all sorts and very excellent: upon the cape which stretcheth into the sea, is a high Theatre made like unto a Turret eight square, & about the cape are divers windmills. There are paid two ordinari tributes for every head, as well for men as women and children, one of which, Tributes or head money. which is an Aspre is called Piginte, and he that taketh it too farm, payeth yearly unto the great Turk, 30000. Ducats, and yet gaineth a great deal, besides that which he stealeth: the other is called the Capitanat, in which they pay two Aspres for evety head, the farm whereof is worth to the great Turk 60000. ducats▪ This city is peopled with Christians, Greeks, jews & Turks which do use their great trades of merchandise being a town of great resort aswell from the firm land as the sea, which is the occasion that victuals there are commonly very dear. The wind being very good for us we continued our voyage along the costs of Thracia towards Propontide, passing by Macrotique, Macrotique. which otherwise is called Longus murus, afterwards Byzante now Rodesto, or Rodosto, Byzante or Rodesto. being upon the midst of a gulf, (having 30. miles in breadth) leaving the isles Proconese of the moderns called Mormora, & the Besbiques at this day called Calanio on our right hand, and from thence passed towards the city of Perinthe vulgarly called Heraclee, which as the foundations do show hath in times past been very great. She standeth upon the point of a promontory, which stretcheth far into the sea, having one of the greatest and fairest ports defensible against all winds as is or may be seen: which at the entry hath certain small rocks, and enter into it with a South wind. The rest of the promontory is full of ruins unhabited except that which is in the straight: and whereas now the Town standeth which towards the sea side is not walled, we rested there one night, but nevertheless came not a land. And in the morning in the dawning of the day being with rowing gotten out of the port, we found a fresh wind, which sailing brought us before the gulf of Selimbrie, Gulf Selimbrie. which the moderns call Seliuree, being an ancient city. Travishing this gulf, a Northerly wind came full in the face of us, and thought too have made us turn back again: but we laboured so, that we passed the mouths of the floods Athiras (which is also called Pidaras, and presently Ponte Picciolo) and Bathinias now vulgarly Ponte grand, and from thence we went to come too an anchor at a fair Casal called Flora, which is builded on the brink of the Sea, within a wood of Cypress, and divers other trees. From thence the Ambassador sent a man by land towards Constantinople, too signify his coming too his Secretary Phoebus, whom he had left there as his Agent which was upon a Saturday being the nienteenth of September: having again weighed our anchors, we recovered by force of oars the Casal of Saint Stephano, which hath a very good port. Casal S. Stephano. And there are seen certain monuments of old walls being of great appearance. The said Casal hath a small cape before which lie certain small rocks: and we perceiving the weather to be very close, came to an anchor in the Sea: which we had not so soon done, but the rain overtook us with such an impetuosity and violence, that it seemed that the skies would fall. After supper the rain being ceased, and the anchors weighed, with strength of rowing we coasted along even right over against the first corner of Constantinople: in which place are seven towers by the Turks called jadicula, within which the great Turk's one after another have kept their treasure, jadicula, for the keeping whereof there are 500 men ordinarily called Assarelis, all being slaves unto the great Turk, and which have been his janissaries. Their chief, called Disdarga, is a man of great praise and authority. From the said Casal S. Stephano, unto the 7. towers are seen divers walls ruined, and many fair mines whereof are taken great quantity of stone too build the Mosque of the great Turk: & other edifices of the city. There came too visit us in a boat a grey friar of Calabria called brother john, with a certain Grecian being both of the Ambassadors family, unto whom they presented a letter from his Secretary & Agent, being very glad to hear good news of his affairs and household: we passed a good part of the night with talk & making good cheer, for the said Frater had brought with him a great bottle, which the Grecians call Ocalips full of good muscadel with a quantity of Plaisantin cheese, certain sauceges and other good and acceptable refreshments, to make us merry with. Aftarwards when every one had prepared himself too go to his rest about twelve of the clock, arose a fierce cold wind with a sharp shower of rain, which continued until the morning, and so soon as it began too cease, the Ambassador returned the Grey Friar, and we having weighed our anchors, rowed alongst by the City too recover the point of the Sarail, which is the second and most eminent corner. The wind and the rain took us again with such a furor and impetuosite that it evidently seemed heaven & earth would have gone together. Notwithstanding the great desire which the Ambassador and his, had to join with a place so long desired, taking a good heart, & setting all fear aside, we did use such force, that in despite of the rain, wind & fury of the sea, we gate the point of the Sarail, but as we thought to enter into the channel, we found▪ the stream that cometh from Bosphore of Thracia, so violent & outrageous: besides that, the wind was altogether contrary, so as it was not possible for us to enter, but were constrained not without great danger, to pass over into Calcidonie and Natolie, Chalcedon in Natolie. & to pass along by the tower of the guard (lying in the sea called the tower of ●anissaries) to get above the stream, working so forcibly with oars, that we entered into the port, at the entering whereof were put out all the flags, bamners, streams, & gailliadets of our galleys▪ & our artillery charged, wherewith we saluted them before the Sar●il: & to be short, thanks be given to God (being the sovereign pilot of all those that trust in him) which in so long a voyage had safely conducted us being escaped out of many great dangers we went to take our harborowe on the side of Constantinople, where the first Dragoman of the great Turk called Hebrahim, a gentleman of Polonia of the Mahumet sect, Our arrival at Constantinople. & divers other great personages Turks came to receive the ambassador, assoon as he was landed accompanied with the Lord of Cotignac, the young Baron of Lodon, S. Marry, the young jueusse Serres, & me, with certain others of his household, & having caused him to light on a fair horse which was brought for him, was conducted unto the house of Rostan Bascha, The Ambassador being arrived goeth too salute the Rostan Bascha. who received him with great countenance of friendship. And after being returned unto the galley, we crossed the channel to go towards Pera, where he was also received with tokens of great joy and gladness of all the christian inhabitants: the most part of which accompanied him to his lodging, which happened the 20▪ day of September, anno 1551. being the 78. day after our departure from Marseille. Of the foundation of Bizance now called Constantinople. Chap. 12. BYzance called Constantinople, is a city most famous (by Strabo entitled Illustre, Byzance otherwise Constantinople. and of Pliny and justin most noble) cituated in Thracia (now called Roman, a Region being one of the most fertile in all Europe) upon the gulf of Po●thus, which separateth Asia from Europe. Description of Constantinople. The form thereof is three square, whereof the two sides are washed by the sea, & th●●hyrd joineth unto the firm land. The soil thereof is very delectable, bringing forth all kinkes of good fruits, necessary for sustenance of human life: the situation whereof is so well de●●sed & ordered that no ship can enter, nor go forth but with good will of the Constantinopolitans, being masters of the sea Pontic, which having 2. mouths, the one coming from Propontide, & the other from the sea Euxinun, is by Ovid called t●● port of 2. seas: Chalcedon. for the distance from Constantinople to Chalcedon is but 14. furlongs, Fane. & the place which by the ancients is called Fane, cituated in Asia (whereas jason returning from Colchos sacrificed unto the 12. gods,) hath in breadth but 10. furlongs. But forsomuch as many great rivers of Asia, and many more of Europe do fall into the black and Euxine Sea▪ 〈◊〉 cometh too pass that being full, she gusheth out through the mouth of her with great violence into the Sea Po●ticque, and from thence through the straight of Hellesponthus (being not much broader than three furlongs) into the Sea of Egee. The time of the building & repairing of Constantinople. This city according to the saying of many ancient authors, was first builded by the Lacedæmonians under the conduct of their Duke Pausane, which was about the year of the world 3292. & before the birth of jesus Christ 663. which after they ●ad consulted with Apollo, where they should plant & settle the●● abode, & dwelling place, Megarians▪ why they are called blind. they were by an oracle answered that they should do it even hard by the blind, which were the Me●ariās, for that after they were sailed into Thracia, leaving the good and fruitful coast (where since Byzance was builded) unadvisedly went & planted themselves either for the opposition most fruitful of the ground of Asia, or for the vain hope they had for the fishing, they builded there a city which they called Chalcedon: But they found themselves greatly deceased, for the fishes being carried by the violence of the flood, and tied of the Euxine Sea into Propontide, approaching near unto the banks of Chalcedon, Calcedon builded by the Megarians. being frayed through the whiteness of the rocks do retire streightwaies to the side of Byzance, which gave occasion unto the valiant Pausanias to fortify the city with good walls & rampards, changing the first name thereof which (as Pliny saith) was Ligos, Ligos. called the same Bizance. Notwithstanding that Diodore and Polibe do contrarily say that it was called Bizance, Diodore and Polibe contrary to Pliny. by the name of a captain which was the first founder thereof. Pausanias (as Zonare writeth) possessed the same 7. years, during which time Fortune showing herself an enemy unto his magnificence stuffed the heart of the Athenians with such an insatiable ambition, that they having brought thither their forces, after a long siege & divers assaults did bear away the victory which the Lacedæmonians seeing could not abide: but with their whole puissance took their weapons in hand with such pertinacy, that the adventure thereof on the one side, & the other was very hazardous and variable, & being sometimes taken again by her first founders, & afterwards by her aggressors became in the end a pray unto both the armies. And after that Severus succeeding in the Roman empire, the Tyrant Pissinin her mortal enemy being in possession▪ Byzance ruined by Severus the Emperor. Bizance suborned the emperor to lay siege to the same: who not having sufficient power to overcome the same by assaults, kept them besieged the space of 3. whole years, & in the end through extreme famine constrained them to yield themselves unto the mercy of the Romans, which was such that after they had put to the sword all the men of war that were within it, & killed the magistrates thereof, ruined & cast down to the ground the walls of the city▪ & Severus afterwards to satisfy his cruelty▪ spoilt the citizens of all their rights, franchises & liberties, giving moreover the land & possessions unto the Perinthiens. And thus this most famous city remained in miserable calamity, until such time as Constantine the great emperor did reedify the same in manner as followeth. The reedification of Bizance by Constantine the great Emperor. Chap. 13. COnstantine the great Emperor of the Romans seeking to resist the courses & robberies which the Parthes' daily used towards the Romans, deliberated to transport the empire into the East parts, & there too build a large city, which first he minded to have builded in Sardique, & afterwards in Troiada a country of high Phrigia, Troy begun to be new builded. near unto the cape Sigee, in the place where sometimes stood the city of Troy, which he began to reedify and to repair the foundations thereof. But being by a revelation in the night inspired to change the place, caused to be recommenced the works of Chalcedon, A sign given by Eagles. where certain Eagles (as Zonare writeth) being flown thither, took in their bills the masons lines and crossing the straight, let them fall near unto Bizance, whereof the Emperor being advertised, taking the same for a good sign & divine instruction, after he had taken view of the place, called back the masters of his works from Calcidon, caused the city to be repaired and amplified, which according to his name he called Constantinople: notwithstanding that at the first he had called the same new Rome, as likewise it was called Ethuse and Antony, but by the Grecians Stimboli, and of the Turks Stampolda which signifieth a large City. The Emperor now seeing his city builded and sufficiently peopled, compassed the same with walls, towers & ditches, building therein many sumptuous temples, adorning it with many magnific buildings & necessary works aswell public as private: and afterwards for the more beautifying thereof, The palladic of Rome brought too Constantinople. caused to be brought from Rome divers antiquities worthy of memory, & amongst others the Palladium of ancient Troy, which he caused to be set in the place of Placote the great column of Porphyre, which was set up in the same place, near unto which he caused to be erected a stature of brass, too the likeness of Apollo of a marvelous bigness, in which place he ordained his name too be set up, but in the time of the Emperor Alexis Comine this stature, through a great & impetuous tempest was cast down too the ground & broken all to pieces. This Emperor lived there many years most prosperously in happy estate, as likewise did many of his successors, but not altogether exempt of divers persecutions▪ as well by wars, fire pestilence, earthquakes, as sundry other calamities, until such time as god being bend to punish the people for their sins through negligence of emperors stirred up Mehemet the 2. of that name, Mehemet the 2. spoileth and saccageth Constantinople. & the ● Emperor, unto the Turks: who being moved of an ardent desire to bring the christians unto decay: & thereby to augment his empire, being beyond measure ●elous too see this noble City so flourish before his eyes, went with a marvelous power both by sea and by land, to give a furious siege unto the City. The end and issue whereof was such that after a long siege, battery and divers assaults, the Infidels having gotten the walls with a great hurlement and fury entered into the City, where at the first entry they made a marvelous slaughter of the poor assieged without sparing any age or degree. Constantine the emperor killed in a press. The Emperor Constantine they killed in the press as he thought too have saved himself: and after they had cut off his head in derision & ignominy, they carried the same upon the point of a spear round about the camp and City. And afterwards Mehemet not contenting himself with the violating and deflowering of the Emperor his wife, The empress, with her daughters, and maidens, ravished, deflowered, & after cut in pieces. his daughters, & other Ladies of honour, by a more than inhuman rage, caused than in his presence to be dismembered & cut in pieces, during the time of the saccaging which continued 3. days: there was no kind of fornication, sodometry, sacrilege, nor cruelty by them left unexecuted: they spoilt the incomparable temple of S. Sophia (before by most marvelous expenses builded by the emperor justinian) of all ornaments & hallowed vessels, The temple of S Sophia made a Stews. & made thereof a stable & a brothel for buggers & whores. This lamentable loss of Constantinople being chief of the Oriental Empire, & likewise of the City of Per● by the Turks called Galata, being the seat of trade of the Genevoises, lying hard by Constantinople upon the other side of the Channel, was in the year of our Saviour 1453. the niene & twenty day of March, some do say of April, and others of May, after it had remained under the dominion of the Christians 1198. years. But this is a marvelous thing and worthy to be noted, that Constantinople being re-edified and new set up by Constantine the son of S. Helen, after the proportion and likeness of Rome, A marvelous providence. was by another Constantine son of another Helen, taken, saccaged, & brought into the hands of the Turks, which for ever shall be an irreparable damage unto all Christendom. Mehemet after he had thus taken the city resolving to keep there the seat of his Empire caused in all diligence the walls to be new made, and certain other places ruined to be repaired, and in steed of the great number of people, that were there slain and carried away as prisoners, he caused to be brought thither out of all the provinces & cities by him conquered, a certain number of men, women, and children, with their faculties and riches, whom he permitted there to live, according to the institutions & precepts of such religion, as it pleased them to observe, & to exercise with all surety their handicrafts and merchandises, which ministered an occasion unto an infinite multitude of jews and Marannes' driven out of Spain, for to come and dwell there, by means whereof in very short time, the City began to increase in traffic riches▪ and abundance of people. This Mehemet was the first founder of the great Sarail, which he builded at the entry of the channel about one of the corners of the city upon the Promontory Chrisoseras, which afterwards by the great Turks which successively have dwelled there, hath been greatly beautified & augmented, he founded likewise upon one of the mounts of the same city, a sumptuous Mosque, Amarathe & College, enduing them all with great yearly revenues, Twelve kingdoms & 200▪ cities by the Turks taken from the christians. whereat is not too be marveled for fortune was so favourable to him, that after he had ruined the Empire of Constantinople and Trebironde, he take from the Christians twelve k●ngdomes and two hundred cities, so that by reason of his great prowesses and conquests the name & title of great was given unto him, & to this day remaineth unto the house of the Othomannes. Of two marvelous fires by chance happened at two several times within the City of Constantinople. Chap. 14. ZOnar the Constantinopolitan historian, maketh mention in his histories of two fires marvelously happened unto Constantinople, whereof the first was in the time and empire of Leon the great, spreading itself from the North unto the South along by Bosphore, too wit, the length of one of the Seas to the other, and was so horrible and furious for the space of four days, that it devoured & brought to ashes the whole beauty of the city: namely, the place where the Senate and citizens, chosen to deliberate upon common affairs, did assemble. There was also burned another princely house, and a palace joining unto the cave or den called Nymphee, and divers other churches and private houses: the second fire which was in the time and reign of the emperor Basil, lightened in such sort that it compassed the market of copper, and consumed to ashes the houses and streets thereabouts with the palace, A Library of 120000. volumes. within which was a Library of 120000. volumes of books, and the stature of a dragon of the length of 120. foot, which was written in letters of gold, the Illiade and the Odisse of Homer. The stature of of a dragon 120. foot long And moreover burned the most renowned Simulachres of juno, of Samos, of Minarua, of Lind, of Venus and of Guide: and finally, devoured the most pleasantest places of the city. Of two earthquakes happened within Constantinople. Chap. 15. THe said Zonare reciteth, that during the reign of Anastase chosen unto the Empire of the East parts, there happened such a great Earthquake, that it ruined even too the foundations a great number of buildings, not only at Constantinople, but likewise in Bithynia, and other places thereabouts. but the last, whereof divers worthy authors have written, namely, Munster in his Geographi, was so strange and fearful for the space of xviii. days continually, that with horrible fearfulness and damage it cast down to the ground the walls of the city, and all the buildings towards the Sea side, and overthrew all the ditches: it did also cast down the tower where the Turk kept his munition with five others more: the house of tribute which stood near unto the wall was overthrown even to the foundation into the Sea, with the leadinges of the waters & conduits, which with incredible expenses had been made to lead the waters out of the Danube into the City, were for the most part broken and bruised: and the channel which is betwixt Constamntinople and Pera, was so moved that by great surges, it cast the water over the walls of both the cities, but the worst of all was that more than 13000. persons remained dead on a heap: This great Earthquake happened in the month of September, in the year of grace 1509. in the reign of Bajazet the second of that name, & the ninth emperor unto the Turks (which succeeded Mehemet the 2,) who with all diligence caused the walls of the city to be repaired. Antiquities of Constantinople. Chap. 16. THe rest of the noble antiquities, which presently are to be found at Constantinople, are the Hippodrome, Hippodrome. which the Turks do call Atmayden, which is the place where in times past the Emperors made the horses to run for the pleasure & delectation of the people, which beheld the same upon a stage or Theatre, which now is altogether ruined. In the midst of this place was set up upon four bowls of fine Marber, a fair obelisquie of coloured stone all of one piece 50. cubits high beset with letters Hieroglificque, & near to it is a great colomne, in the which are carved by histories the things memorable, which have been done in this Hippodrome: there is also another great column near unto it of marber, & one of brass, made by singular artifice, in form of three serpents, wrong one within another, & divers other antiquities which are dispersed in divers places of the City, as the palace of Constantin the great, her first restorer, which joineth to the walls near unto the corner which is towards the West. The sepulchre of the same Constantine, The sepulchre of Constantin mad of Porphyre. which is made all of Porphyre▪ being in a corner of a street the most filthiest in all the city. And going towards the gate of Seliuree is to be seen a great Colomne of Marbre historied after the manner of those of Antonin and Adrian, which are at Rome. Moreover there are conduit pipes, and divers cisterns vaunted, supported some by vaults, and othersome by a great number of pillars, and divers other fragments of Antiquities. Of the Castle of seven towers, by the Turk's called jadicula. Chap. 17. Upon the corner of the city which stretcheth towards Gallipoli, near unto the Sea side, there is as before I have said, a very strong castle compassed with seven great towers, environed with high and strong walls, furnished with a good quantity of artillery, which castle is by the Turks called jadicula, for the keeping whereof there is a captain called Disgarda, a man of great revenues and authority, which ordinarily hath under him five hundred dead pays called Assarelis, which have all been lanissaries, and have every one of them for their wages, five thousand Aspres by the year & there the great Turk keepeth such guard, for that he and other Emperors, Turks, his predecessors, have always there kept their treasures, and yet the great Lord cometh thither very seldom. Of the Sarail wherein the great Turk dwelleth. Chapter. 18 Upon the corner of the city, which the Grecians have called S. Demetrius, & the ancients the Promontory Chrisoseras which stretcheth towards the east, right against the mouth of the port, standeth the Sarail, where ordinarily the great lord Turk doth resede when he is at Constantinople, and this Sarail is enclosed with strong & high walls, being in circuit about two miles, in the midst whereof upon a little hill is to be seen a fair & delectable garden, which beginning on the midst of the mount descendeth towards the Sea there are divers little houses & dwelling places, with a gallery, standing upon columns after the form of a monastery, round about the which are about 200. chambers, & thereabout the great Turk dwelleth for the most part of the summer, for that it is a place, both high, of a fresh air, & abounding of good waters: in times past these inhabitations have been of the dependences of S. sophy, but Bajazet the 2. caused them to be divided: and in the midst thereof caused a principal house, to be builded, within the which in the lower chambers to eschew the North-east wind (of the Grecians called Boree & Aparctie, as coming from the party of Arctus which in greek signifieth a she Bear, which by the Bosphore Thracien cometh out of the great sea) he dwelleth all the winter. A little more below, was another small habitation, all made of very clear glass, joined & tied together with rods of Tin in form of a round Hemisphere, under which by wonderful artifice passed a fair & clear fountain, which sweetly descending by the same Hemisphere, spreadeth over the whole garden. In this place Bajazet in summer often went to refresh himself: and pass his sleep over with the sweet noise of the waters: 2 Sarail of Sultan wife to the great Turk. but now the most part thereof being ruined, the water hath taken his course towards other places, within this compass is as yet the Sarail of Sultana, wife to the great Turk, 3 the Sarayl for the young Slaves. garnished with baths most magnificque, & near unto the same a place for young children, which are pages, being notwithstanding esteemed as slaves, are there nourished, instructed, and exercised aswell in their religion, as to ride horses, to shoot, and do all other warlike exercises, even from their age of eight, niene, or ten years, unto twenty, the ordinary number of these children being commonly about five or six hundred. There is also a great stable, within the which the Turk ordinarily keepeth forty or fifty of his most fairest horses. The first and greatest gate, whereby men enter into this Sarail, on the fide of S. Sophia, is very great and well set forth, with letters of gold, and leaves of divers colours after the fashion & form jamesque, & through the same they enter into a great and large place unpaved, at the head whereof between two great towers, is another gate guarded by a number of Capagis & janissaries, who upon the same have their furnitures & weapons hanging. for there all those that do resort unto the Sarail or court do accustomably alight of their horses, & from thence go on foot into another great Court, where the Baschas three times in the week give public audience unto all comers, The court where the baschas 3. times in the week do give audience unto all comers. of what nation or religion soever they be aswell in matters politic, as processes & other differences. And notwithstanding the number of the people coming together from all parts is very great, yet such silence is kept, that ye could scarce say that the standers by did either spit or cough: In the midst of this court is a very fair fountain, set about with divers fair cypress trees: and below the garden towards the point of the Sarail, whereupon the sea beat●th, is another gate, near unto which is a small pavilion, out of the which the great Turk embarketh, when he will go to pass the time in his garden, which he hath caused too be made in natoly, in the place by the Turks called Scutary & by the ancients Chalcedon, and for this intent are ordained two Brigantins, upon one of which he is embarked by Bostaugi Bassi, Captain of the gardens & gardiner's: and the other Brigentin followeth after, being kept & reserved as at a moment to secure & supply the instant necessities which might happen. The great lady and wife unto the great Turk. The great Sarail, or Sarail of women. Chap. 19 THere is moreover within the midst of the city, the old Sarail, which first was builded and inhabited by Mehemet the second, before the edification of that before mentioned, which likewise conntaineth 2000 paces in circuit, enclosed with high walls of fifteen cubits, and of thickness accordingly, without any towers: it hath only two gates, whereof the one commonly standeth open, being well guarded by eunuchs and the other almost never opened, the porters of this Sarail are eunuchs. within this Sarail are divers small houses, being separated with chambers, kitchens, and other necessary commodities, within which do dwell the wives & concubines of the great Turk, which in number are above 200. being the most part daughters of Christians, some being taken by courses on the seas or by land, The turk hath above 200 concubine. aswell f●om Grecians, Hongarians, Wallachers, Mingreles, Italians as other christian nations, some of the other are bought of merchants, and afterwards by Beglierbeis, Baschas and Captains presented unto the great Turk, who keepeth them within this Sarail, well appareled, nourished & entertained under straight keeping of the eunuchs, and every ten of them have a Matron, too instruct, govern, and teach them too work all sorts of needle works. The captain of this Sarail called Capiangassi, is also an Eunuch or a gelded man, having for his wages threescore Aspres every day, and is clothed twice a year with cloth of silk, he hath under him forty eunuchs, which supply the common service of these Dames, of which the great Lord taketh his pleasure when he thinketh good: and if it so come too pass that any of them be gotten with child, he causeth her to be separated from the other▪ augmenting her estate & pension, accounteth her amongst the number of his wives, so as if she be brought a bed of a manchild, the same may by order & course succeed in the Empire. But as for the other by whom he can get no children, he marrieth them unto his Spachis, or other officers of his court, and is not permitted, that any other but the great Lord and the eunuchs of the Sarail, how greatly soever he be favoured, shall be permitted in any manner of wise to have the sight of them. And therefore to find the means to represent unto you the manner of their apparel I fell familiarly acquainted with an Eunuch of the late Barbarousse called zaferaga of nation a Ragusan, being a man of great discretion & a lover of virtue, which from his tender age had been brought up within the Sarail, who so soon as he had perceived, that I was desirous to see the fashion of the attire and apparel of these women, to satisfy my mind, caused to be be clothed two public Turkish women, with very rich apparel, which he sent for the Bezestan whereas there is too be sold of all sorts, by the which I made the draughts and protractes here represented unto you. A Gentlewoman of the Turks being within her house or Sarail. A woman appareled after the Surian manner. A Turkey woman appareled after the Moorish fashion. Of the most famous Temple of S. Sophia and other Mosques of Constantinople. Chap. 20. THe temple of S. Sophia in times past builded by justinian the 15. Emperor of the East parts, justinian founder of the ●emple of S. Sophia. was a work of bigness, building, beauty and riches incomparable: the midst whereof is made in form of a Hemisphere according to the proportion of the Panthee of Rome (which is the Rotonde:) but a great deal higher and larger. There are 2. sorts of pillars of fine marbre very great, and of compass such, as two men can not embrace the same: and afterwards another rank of less height and bigness which are for the holding up of the Cube, which within is most artificially made with Mosaique figures, garnished with gold and Asur and the inner part of the temple is altogether plastered and covered with great tables of Porphyre, Serpentines and marbres of divers colours, & the cloisters about it are of the same stuff, & making, of a singular beauty & largeness more than ordinary but as forth Images of Mosaique and other flat pictures, the Turks have scratched out their eyes for that they will not allow or permit any picture or image, saying, that we ought to worship one god only, The Turks opinion of ima●ges. the Creator of heaven and earth, and not the walls nor pictures, which are but dead things, & in whom there is no sense or feeling The covering of this temple is of led, and the gates (being the fairest in the world) of fine latin of Corinth: in such sort that in the time of the Christian Emperors it might justly have been called the most perfect, most rich, and most sumptuous temple, not only of the parties oriental, but likewise of the whole world. For it had one hundredth gates, and was in compass more than a mile, within which also were comprehended the houses of the Canons & priests, and was in revenues worth more than 300. thousand ducats a year. But incontinent after the taking of the City the Turks changed the same into a Mosque, and of the most part of the cloister, for that it was near unto the Sarail, they made stables for horses. Besides this magnificque temple of S. Sophia (which is to say, S. Sapience) there are within Constantinople three other fair Mosques, accompanied with their Amarathes (which are as hospitals) fountains and schools to instruct the poor infants in their laws. The first of which Mosques and Amarathes was founded by Sulttan Mehemet the second, 3 Mosques in Constantin●ple. which took Constantinople. The second by Bajazet his son, and the third by Selim the father of Soliman, which now reigneth, and they are all three buried within the same, every one in the place which he had founded. But that of Mahemet is the fairest & richest, being aninuated with 60000. ducats of rent, & in bigness & similitude being very like unto that of S. Sophia, hath about it an hundred houses covered with lead, and round above, made to lodge their Doctors and priests of their laws, and to receive all pilgrims and strangers, passengers of what nation or religion soever they be, where they may refresh & rest themselves, their servants and horses (if they have any) for three days & there be lodged, meated, and their charges paid for, as well for themselves as their train, without paying of any penny, without the presinct of the Mosque, there are moreover an 150. other tenements for the poor of the city, unto whom so many as do dwell within the same is given every day an Aspree, and as much bread as they need: but they esteem that kind of life so unhappy, that oftentimes the most part of these tenements stand empty and void: and is doubtless, that in this Country are not to be found any companies of vagabonnds, ●ewe vaca●oundes in Turks. which do say themselves to be diseased of the sickness of S. Antony, S. Main, or of S. Fiacre, as there are in other our Christian Countries, especially in France, Spain, & Italy, for there they should not be well welcomed. But if it shall so happen that if the money ordained for the poor is not there bestowed, the alms masters do sand y● which resteth into the hospitals of the Lepers, sick folks and mad men, for as soon as they find any one of these fools, doing harm within the city, he is forth with taken up & by force brought into an hospital therefore appointed, and with stripes and buffetinges constrain them to become wise. But as for other sick folks they are gently entreated, lacking nothing that may serve for their ease, whether it be Apothecary wares, surgery or any other necessary thing. The other two Mosques are almost like unto them, but that they are not so great, nor so rich. There are four other particular buildings founded by four several Baschas, the first by Daat Bascha in the time of Mehemet the second, the second by Mehemet Bascha, the third by Haly Bascha, and the last by Mostafa: which was in the time of Baiacet the second. Of the Baths and manners of washing of the Turks. Chap. 21. IN Constantinople as also in all the other cities Mahematised in Graecia, Asia, & Africa are a great number of very fair baths, aswell public as private: Baths public and private. which according to the imitation of the ancient Grecians & Romans, are constructed & builded with industry, sumptuousness, & expenses almost incredible: & above all others those of the Sarails of the great Turk, his women & his Baschas: yea even the most part of the common baths are beautified and set out with pillars in crustures tables and pavements of divers marbers rare in colour and beauty. These baths are builded after this manner, that there are 2. principal great bodies of building round & strongly set up vawtwise in form of the Hemispherike: & the first wherein they do enter, which by the ancients hath been called Apoditayre hath in one of the corners thereof a furnace like unto the hot houses of Germanye serving too dry the shirts and other linen, which do come thither to bathe: & in the midst is a fair fountain of Marber, either of a natural spring or artificial, and round about the walls are divers several seats, made the one a little from the other, covered with tapestry of Turkey, upon the which they unclothe themselves, leaving their garments in sure keeping of the Capsaire: and such as will bathe themselves after they have covered their privy members, with a great blue linen cloth which is given unto them, do first go in to the Tepidarie too make themselves sweat, and from thence they enter into another great place of the bath being more higher, & the ●eeling thereof made clear with divers windows, too the intent too show the brighter: in the midst whereof is also a fountain most magnificque casting forth water abundantly, and even hard by the same is a table of fine Marber, set upon four round bowls, upon the (which after they have well sweated and have well bathed themselves in a great vessel of Marber of Porphyre which standeth ready at hand) the servants which there are in great number, require you to lay yourself along flat upon your belly, & then one of these great lubbers after they have well pulled and stretched your arms aswell before as behind in such sort that he will make your bones too crack, and well rubbed the sooles of your feet, mounteth upon your back, and so with his feet slideth up and down upon you, and upon your reins, as if he would browse them in pieces, and then again maketh you to turn on your back, pulling and removing your joints as before is said, and nevertheless without doing unto you any harm at all, but to the contrary doth so comfort your sinews and strengtheneth your members, that ye shallbe after it a great deal more fresh, lively & better disposed: and being thus dressed, ye enter into a little chamber, temperately whoat, where again this great fellow cometh too rub you: and after that he hath well soaped and rubbed your body and your members with a purse of Stammin, or Chamblet, which he holdeth in his hand in manner of a glove (in steed of the Strigil which the Romans used) he washeth you with very clear water spring out of 2. conduits or fountains, the one being hot and other cold, both which do fall into a basin of Marber, within the which he tempereth it, pouring out the same with a fair basin of Copper damasked, and also with a pounced stone he rubbeth and cleanseth the plants of your feet, and then cutteth your beard and the holes underneath your arm pits. But as touching the privy members, they give you a razor, or rather a Psilothre (which they do call Rusma) which is a paste which being laid upon the hearye places doth forthwith cause the hairs to fall out. And of this paste the Turks both men and women do often use for that they do abhor to wear hair in those places: and after ye have in this order sweated and have been pulled, stretched, rubbed, scratched, and washed, you do return to the place where your clothes are for to dry, and make you ready again: and after ye have given certain Aspres in reward to the servants, & 2▪ or 3. Aspres unto the Capsayry (which sitteth at the entry of the gate to receive of those that come thither to bathe) ye may go whither it pleaseth you. Now is to be noted that all nations of what faith or religion soever they be, are all alike and indifferently received & entreated for their money in these baths. But above all other the Turks, Moors, and generally all the Mehemetised frequent thither most often aswell for their volupt pleasure as bodily health. And principally for, the observing of their law which commandeth y● no Muselmans' shall enter into their Mosques▪ without they be first well washed and purified, The Mahumatised may not enter into the Mosques with out first being washed. these brutish Barbarians esteeming of the outward washing, and not that which inwardly toucheth the soul. Behold here so much as toucheth the baths, which now a days are in Turkey which the Turks do ●al Tschimuns, and the manner of their bathing and washing. josephus in his book of the wars of the jews, doth very amply testify unto us where he speaketh of the public baths which Herod caused to be made in Tripolys, Herod. Damas' & Ptolomaide, as also Herodian in the thirteenth chapter of his first book, where he maketh mention of Cleander of Phrygia a slave unto the Emperor Commodus, Cleander. who perceiving himself through the means of his master, and the chance of fortune to be exalted from the estate of a chamberlain, to the captainship of his guard, durst very well advance himself to come too the estate imperial, whereunto too attain, after he had gotten together a great mass of goods, used diuer● liberalities towards the soldiers and people, & fo● to obtains their good wills, amongst others, caused many public baths to be made, wherein every man might go to bathe without paying of any thing. I cannot also pass with silence the greatness & magnificence of the costly & sumptuous Thermes of the Agrippians, Neronians, Domitian's, Antonians, & divers other whereof the ruins are as yet to be seen at Rome the ample discovery whereof I will nevertheless omit, for avoiding of prolixity▪ and too return to the entreaty of our matter in hand, which is too speak aswell of the baths of the women of Turkey, as we have done of those of the men. Of the women of Turkey going unto the baths, and of their apparel and manner of cleanness. Chap. 22. THe Turks wives by ordinary custom & ancient observation, which they do reserve of the old custom of Asia and Grecian do delight at all times to haunt the baths, aswell for the continuance of their health, as beautifying of their persons which is not to be reputed as spoken of the women of base estate or condition, but likewise of the great and notable dames, which ordinarily do frequent the baths 2. or 3. times in the week, not the public but their private baths, which for the most part they have very fair within their houses or Sarails, but such as are of the meaner degree go unto them at the lest once in the week, if by other they will be esteemed not infamed or scarce honest. And notwithstanding they will not gladly fail to go thither for two several occasions, the one being for the observation of their mahumetical law, which as before I have said forbiddeth them not to make their prayers within the Mosques, except first their bodies be washed & purified, notwithstanding that few women do enter into the same Mosques, but such as are dames of great reputation and authority, the other & principalest reason is, to have good occasion and honest excuse too go abroad out of their houses, within the which they are continually closed up for the great jealousy of their husbands, or rather for the observing of the ancient custom of their ancestors, which after that sort kept their wives & daughters closed up in the backsides of their houses, which they call Ginaises: so as the Turkey women being shut up without permission to go abroad, nor to appear in the streets openly, except it be going to the baths, whereto they ne●erthelesse go with their faces covered too bring their jealous husbands out of suspicion, which continually so keep them under subjection and closed in, & oftentimes under colour of going to baths, they resort to other places where they think good to accomplish their pleasures, & come home again in good time without the knowledge or perceiving of their husbands, wherein they fear nothing at all, for that to those baths no men do frequent, so long as the women are there▪ & there are also certain women which do serve & tend to such women as come thither without an● waiting maids: & likewise that sometimes they do go. 10. or 12. of them together, & sometimes more in a company aswell Turks as Grecians, & do familiarly wash one another, whereby it cometh to pass that amongst the women of Levam, there is very great amity proceeding only through the frequentation & resort to y● baths: yea & sometimes become so fervently in love the one of the other as if it were with men, in such sort that perceiving some maiden, or woman▪ of excellent beauty, they will not cease until they have found means to bathe with them, & to handle & gr●pe them every where at their pleasures, so full they are of luxuriousness & feminine wantonness: Even as in times past were the Tribades, of the number whereof was Sappho the Lesbian which transferred the love wherewith she pursued a 100 women or maidens upon her only friend Phaon. And therefore considering the reasons aforesaid, to wit, the cleansing of their bodies, health, superstition, liberty to go abroad, & lascivious voluptuousness, it is not to be marveled at that these baths are so accustomably frequented of the Turks, & that likewise the women of estate do so gladly go thither in the morning betimes for to remain there until dinner time, being accompanied with 1. or 2. slaves, the one bearing on her head a vessel of brass made after the fashion of a small bucket to draw water with, and within the same is a fine & long smock of cotton tissed, besides another smock, breeches, & other like linen with a drug called Rusma, which being putuerised and tempered in water, they rub upon all the parts of the body where they will have the hairs too go of, which incontinently with the sweat do fall of. This vessel thus garnished is born being covered with a rich pavilion of velvet or crimson satin set with gold and silver, and hanged with tassels of silk and gold. The other slave (if there be two of them) carrieth a fine coverlet with a fair pillow beer: and in such order the slaves do go behind their mistresses, which under their gowns are clothed with a fine linen smock by them called Barami. Now being come to the place of bathing, the coverlet is spread abroad, upon the which they unclothe themselves and lay down their garments and jewels: for their preparation and order is such, that going to the baths whither they be Turks, or Christians, the better to be liked the one of the other, they set forth themselves with their richest apparel, and most precious tablets: and being thus unclothed upon the carpet, they turn the vessel with the mouth downwards, and the bottom upwards for to sit the more easily, and then the slaves the one of the one side, and the other on the other side, do wash and rub the body until it do suffice: and then do go to repose themselves in a small chamber being indifferently hot. In which mean space, and during this repast, the slaves do wash one another. And after they have thus remained in the baths and hot chambers so long as it doth please them, the slaves do again lay up the smocks and other linen into the vessel, and so following their mistress do return homewards, as ye may perceive by the picture following: after that she hath paid unto the mistress of the bath such sum as the men do pay, The usage of the baths hath been anciently observed of the Scythes. & as before I have recited. Herodote in his fourth book saith likewise, that the baths of long time past had been much used by the women of the Scythes, who after they have been well washed in the baths, did with a rough stone puluerise the branches of Cypress, Cedars & of Frankincense, which they tempered like unto an unguent, wherewith they anointed their bodies & visage, which caused them to savour & smell very sweet: and the next day the unguent being taken away, made them to show clear & bright, and consequently more amiable. A woman of Turkey going to the bath. Of the place called Bezestan and other public markets. Chap. 23. Having already sufficiently spoken of the Mosques, A marathes and baths which are in Constantinople, I will not forget to describe unto you the place called Bezestan, being a house, great, foursquare & high, made after the manner of a hall covered, having 4. gates, and as many streets within it, being round about set with shops, furnished with all sorts of rare merchandises & of high prizes, as rings, precious stones, furs of martyrs, Zebelins, Sables, Wolves, Bucks, Foxes, & other fine skins of good prizes, Good cheap Pelt●rie. in respect & comparison of this country: for oftentimes it happeneth that he shall have the whole furring of a long gown, all of fine martyrs, for fourscore or a 100 ducats, where here you shall not have them for 3. or 4. times somuch. All sorts of cloth of gold, of silver, of silk, chamblets, and fine Mockadoes, bows of Turkey, Targets and Bucklers, and other merchandises very rich and necessary. And there are also to be sold unto them that do bid and offer most for them, Slaves sold as horses are in markets. an infinite number of christian slaves of all ages and nations, in such order as we do use to sell horses, for such as do cheapen them and are desirous to buy any of them, do view their eyes, teeth, and throughout the whole parts of the body, yea cause them too be stripped stark naked, and see them go, to the intent they might the better know the defaults, which of nature might be in them, or imperfection of their persons, a thing most pitiful & lamentable to behold: I have there seen stripped and 3. times visited in less than an hour, on one of the sides of the Bezestan, an Hongarian maiden, being of thirteen or fourteen years of age, and of beauty indifferent, which in the end was sold and delivered unto an old merchant a Turk for four and thirty ducats, I hope with God his help in my second volume to treat more particularly of the pain, calamity & miserable servitude wherewith these poor christian slaves are entreated by the hands of these cruel Barbarians. The Bezestan standeth every day open until the after noon, except upon the Friday which is the festival day of the Turks, The Friday is unto the Turks as the Sunday to the Christians, & the Saturday to the jews. as the Sunday is unto us, and the saturday unto the jews. There are beside this divers other public places to sell upon the market days: one for old apparel and other things, as Saint. Thomas Apostle is in London, and the lousy mart in Antwerp: and the other for all sorts of gold works, and of silk wrought with the needle, and in the Saddler's hall are sold many fair furnitures for horses, vessels of gold and other fine things, fair painted after the Damaskin fashion, or after the jamesque sort, fairer than in any place in Turkey. But the aforesaid Bezestan is the place where the most costly things are sold. A Woman Turk going through the City. A Woman Turk leading her children. Of the city of Pera or Galata Chap. 24. PEra or Galatha, which anciently was called Cornubyzance, is a city of great antiquity, Pera Galata, Cornubizance builded by the Genevoises, who sent thither one of their Colonies, and is vulgarly called Pera by a Greek word which signifieth beyond, for that it is cituated beyond the Canal very nigh unto constantinople, Pera signifieth beyond. & men do pass from the one town to the other, with barks called Permes, it is well to be gone by land, but that it is in compass round about 12. miles. As for the haven it is one of the sayrest and commondiousest, which as I think is in all the world, for in circuit it containeth more than four or five great miles, and the breadth at the entry thereof is more than one mile, and in some places half a mile. The depth thereof is such, that there is no ships or Galleons of what bigness soever they be, which cannot anchor on both sides even to the very houses sides. This city of Pera is builded partly on the midst and partly on the hanging of an hill, Description of Pera. being in compass little less than three miles and is separated by walls in three parts, within one of the which do dwell the right Peratins, in the other the Grecians, and in the third the Turks, which have the whole government thereof, and a certain of jews, Pera inhabited by three sundry nations. for that the most part of the jews do dwell in Constantinople. The proportion thereof is in a manner confused, for that she is broad in the midst & lowest parts, and long at the further end. She is very well beset with houses, which nevertheless are neither greatly fair, & less commodious, notwithstamnding there are divers tayre fountains, led through pipes out of the river Danube, and other floods nearer unto them. All the whole length of the City is washed with the springs of the Sea: without the gate which is towards the haven side, is the arsenal of the great Turk, An arsenal of 100▪ Arches. which hath near an hundredth arches or vaults to build and hale the galleys under covert and dry. And on the further part of the havens mouth, is the gate of Bombards or guns, which is the place where artillery is cast near unto the sea side, where are to be seen divers great and little pieces aswell of brass as of iron being those which the Turks have won of the Christians in Hungary, Artillery gotten of the christians. the Rhodes and divers other places in Christe●dome. On the height of the other part of the city, are the wines & gardens well tilled, accompanied with divers pleasant houses, for the most part appertaining to certain Christians, of whom the most part doth dwell at Pera, & few at Constantinople, for so the great Turk willeth & commandeth. The Frenchmen and true Peratines' do live according to the laws of the Romish Church, which differeth much from the religion of the Grecians, which is the occasion that they do not greatly love one another, for the diversity of their faith▪ whereby it cometh to pass that if a Greek do marry with a Perotte, Francke, or a Grecian woman with a Perot Franco, every one of them do live according to their religion and do therefore not agree very well together. There is also without the city the Sarail of the Azamoglans or janissaries, Sarail of the Azamoglans. and the places ordained for the burying of the jews and Turks. Churchyards. But the Ambassadors of France do ordinarily keep their residence within the City, as likewise do the pledges or hostages of the Venetians and Florentines, The Ambassadors of France Venice & Florance, were lodged in Pera. aswell to maintain the leagues and confederacies of the amity which they have with the great Turk: as for their traffic and trade of merchandise, which they do there exercise, & likewise through out all the parts of Levant. Of the women and maidens of Graecia, and the Peratines' Franques of Pera or Galata. Chap. 25. The apparel of the Grecians and women of Pera is exceeding rich. THe apparel of the women & maidens of Graecia & the Peratins Franques is so rich & costly, that he that had not seen it, would scarce believe it, for that they do not only set all their care and study to be brave and well attired, but that which is more, they do oftentimes wear about them their whole substance as they go along the city to their churches or baths, for there is not so base a citizens or merchant's wife, which doth not wear her gowns of velvet, crymsin, satin, or damask, set with passament lace & buttons of gold or silver, and the meaner sort, of taffeties and figured silks, with many chains, handring or bracelets, carquants, tablets, and other jewels, garnished with divers stones, some of them being fine & some again of small value: and on their head (I speak of the maidens and newly married) they wear a round cap of crymfin satin, or cloth of gold figured, wound round about with a band of two inches broad, being of silk and gold, set with fine pearls & stones very costly: their smocks are of cypress or taffeta coloured, hemmed and overcast with gold, like as the Turks do wear: they forget not also to attire themselves after such a sort, that if a man did see them as they do march, he would take them to be Nymphs or Spouses, which is the occasion that the most part of them specially the married sort, Excess of apparel procureth unshamefastness. do in steed of virtue and chastity give themselves too all voluptuousness and unshamefastness, for if the husband will not or cannot entertain them in apparel according to their will and desire, they will procure one or more friends, to furnish them at pleasure, which amongst them is very common, & according to the custom of the country almost ordinary. But it is also very true, that the women being somewhat aged, notwithstanding they are richly appareled, yet do wear the same modestly, for as they go about the streets they do wear a fine white linen cloth, hanging down behind even to the calf of the leg: but the widows wear the same coloured yellow with saffron, marching with great gravity, as ye may at large discern by the three figures following. A Gentlewoman of Pera Franque. A Grecian woman of estate of Pera Franque. A Maiden of estate of Pera. The third book of the Navigations and peregrinations oriental of N. De Nicolay of Dauphin, Chamberlain and Geographer ordinary of the king of France. Of the origin, life and bringing up of the Azamoglans being children of tribute, levied upon the Christians being Subjects and tributaries too the great Turk. The first Chapter. AZamoglans are children which the Turk sendeth for to be levied in form of tribute from 4. years to four years, throughout all Grecia, Albania, Valaquia, Servia, Bossina, Trebisonda, Mingrelia and all other provinces of his Dominion of the Christians dwelling within the same, Of 3. male children one levied for tribute. taking away by tyranny more than barbarous, of every three male children one, at the choice and will of the Commissary, and notwithstanding that all christians dwelling in these countries, are not subject unto this kind of tribute of souls, yet are they so over charged with such excessive Subsidies and exactions of money that oftentimes not having wherewith to pay him, they are also constrained to give & deliver their own children into bodily servitude, Compassion ought to be had of these christian slaves. & eternal perdition of their souls, a tyranny I say again, most cruel & lamentable, & which ought too be a great consideration & compassion unto all true christian princes for to stir & provoke them unto a good peace & christian unity, & to apply their forces jointly, to deliver the children of their christian brethren out of the miserable servitude of these infidels, which by outrageous force ravish these most dear infants & bodies, free by nature, from the laps, of their fathers & mothers, into a servitude of enmity more than bestial, from baptism to circumcision, from the company of the christian faith, to servitude & Barbarous infidelity, from childly & fatherly kindness to mortal enmity towards their own blood: 200. Commissaries ordained for levying of these poor children. for the executing of these lamentable levyings are ordained more than two hundred Commissaries, which returning to Constantinople, bring with them an incredible number of these children, amongst which the most fairest are chosen to be put into the Sarail of the great Turk, where they are nourished and brought up in the law of Mahomet, & by divers masters being eunuchs, are instructed well to ride horses, shooting, and all other exercises of arms & agility, to the intent in process of time to make them the more obeisant and apt too support all pains and travails of the wars, or else they do teach them to learn some art or occupation, according to the capacity of their spirit: and such as amongst them are found to be the most grossest, they are put some to carry water & wood into the offices some other to make clean the Sarail, or in the winter too gather the snow which falleth from heaven & for to carry the same under the ground into a place called Carlich, where it preserveth all the whole Summer in his accustomed nature and coldness without melting, Snow preserved all the summer long. & this being reserved in these cold places serveth in hot weather too refresh the great Turk his drink: the other are made gardiner's or cook's, or are put to serve the janissaries Spachis, or captains, unto which degrees by succession & time as fortune and virtue directeth them, they may attain unto themselves: they have for their wages two or three Aspres a day, Wages and entertainment of the Azamoglans. and are appareled and hosed twice a year with course blue cloth, wearing on their heads a high yellow hat made after the fashion of a sugar loof, and are under a captain called Agiander Agassi, which hath for his provision thirty Aspres a day, clothed and appareled at the charges of the great Turk. The finest of these Azamoglans, are kept prettily appareled, according to their fashion: And although they have no skill of the art of music, they do nevertheless give themselves to play on divers instruments, and most commonly going in the steetes they do sound upon a thing very like unto a Cittern, which they call Tambora, Tambora like unto a Cittern. too which sound, they do accord their voices with such an evil favoured and unpleasant harmony, that it were bad enough to make a Goat to dance. Of these instruments, and of their apparel, ye may see the form naturally set forth (as all the other are) by the figure following. Azamoglan or jamoglan a child of tribute. Of the Azamoglans' rustic. Chap. 2. THE Deputies and Commissaries appointed for the leueing of the christian children, after they have put the fairest & pretiest of them into the Sarail of the great Turk, send the other being the most rustic into the natoly (being little Asia towards Bursie and Caramanie) to labour and till the ground, and keep the cat-tail in the fields, to the end to use them to labour, endurance in heat & cold wether, and to learn the turkish language. And afterwards at the end of 4 years, against which time others are levied, they are brought to Constantinople, and delivered to the Aga of the Azamoglans or janissairots, which distributeth them in the service of the janisses, or else causeth them to be taught in some art or occupation serving for the wars, & thus exercising in divers places their apprenticeships of janissairots, The Azamoglans do become deadly enemies to the Christians and their own parents. are entertained & brought up (as the others are) at the charges of the great Turk, except for the time that they are in the natoly, where they are nourished & appareled at the charges of those whom they do serve. Of these Azamoglans, christian children Mahometised, the venomous nature is so great, mischievous and pernicious, that incontinent after they are taken from the laps of their parents and instructed in the laws of the Turks, they do declare themselves, aswell by words as deeds mortal enemies unto the Christians, so as they practise nothing else then to do unto them all injuries & wrongs possible, and how great or aged soever they become, they will never acknowledge their fathers, mothers, nor other friends: for by example I have seen in Andrinople, The great Turk being there a natural uncle of the late Rostan first Bascha & brother in law of the said Lord, Unnatural ingratitude of Rostan Bascha which his poor uncle and certain his nephews christian men, went openly a begging through the City, without that the said Rostan (being sprung up of the race of the Azamoglans) would vouchsafe once to know them, and much less too do them any good, and yet some are found amongst them, (but very seldom) that by their own goodness, virtue and nobleness of heart, have not so unnaturally forgotten their blood, native country, nor humanity and true religion, but have inclined, & finally returned unto their natural and primitive virtue: as of late the most valiant knight George Castriot, Georg Castriot called Scanderbegus being brought up as an Azamoglan revolteth against the great Turk and setteth his Country at liberty by the Turks called Scanderbegus, which is to say the Lord of Alexandria, the most manly of the manly, & most valiant of the valiantest, who from his childhood being taken away from his father john Castriot Despot of Servia, his country being desolated, & his people overthrown & carried away, he was brought unto the Turk, was Mahumetised, and put into the Sarail● and after he had in feats of arms done very great services, & marvelous prowisses under the great Turk Amurat the second of that name, finally revolted against him, and returning to the christianity, revenged and set at liberty his country and people, & so long as he lived, kept the same against the puissance of the great Turk making a strong head against him, of whom he had learned the forces and understanded the falseness of his religion, and the knavery of the Turkish nation. But of these or like very few are found, so as now a days the renayed Christians, are a great deal worse unto their christian Brethren, yea unto those of their own blood, than the natural Turks are, Unhappy bringing up Passeth nature so doth this unhappy bringing up of them deprive them of their first nature, and inclination, By the figure following (which is of the Azamoglan Rustic) may almost be seen and judged, their gesture and great manhood. The Azamoglan Rustic. Of the origin and first institution of the order of janissaries. Chap. 3. Having already by descriptions and figures given amply & clearly enough to understand the upspring of the Asamoglans I have thought good by the same means to describe unto you the estates and dignities unto which consequently they may from degree to degree come and attain unto, beginning with the janissaries which are likewise of the number of those which have been taken away from the hands of their fathers & mothers, brought to leave the true faith & light of jesus Christ, and to follow the dark and blind sect of the false prophet Mahumet. Their order was first instituted by Amurat the 2. of that name and 7. Emperor of the Turks: The order of the janissaries instituted by Amarat the 7. Emperor of the Turks. & their number hath been since augmented by his son & successor Mahomet Conqueror of the great city of Constantinople, and usurper of the oriental empire, so as the number of them now is 1200. in their order, which is the principal strength & most puissant force of the army of the great Turk. For by their help Amurat and such as have holden the Empire after him, have gotten & overcome divers battles: and overcome all the East parts, without that ever it hath been proved that in any day of battle those janissaries have been overcome. The order of which is nothing else then the following of the Macedonian Phalangue with the which Alexander the great extended his domination and monarchy almost upon all the regions of the earth, and seemeth that the Turks occupiers of his empire are also imitators of the warlike discipline of the old kings of Macedon, armour of th● Macedonians. although the difference of their weapons is most evident, for that the Macedonians covering their heads with sallettes, and their bodies with curates carried long pikes with shields or bucklers of iron cast upon their backs, to the intent promptly to take the same again, & to cover themselves therewith when it should come to fight hand to hand with swords. But the janissaries or the most part of them wear other arms, armour of the janissaries. as a Cemiterre, & a dagger with a little hatchet hanging at his girdle, using also long harquebuses which they can handle very well: the other do carry half pikes. And to the intent they should seem the more cruel & furious in the aspect of their faces, they do not suffer their beards too grow but above the lips, & let their moustaches grow very long, gross & thick: & the rest of the hairs of their beards they do cut away with the razor, as also those of their head, except a tough of hair on the top of their head, to leave some hold to take up their heads being stricken off by the enemy, if it should chance them to be overcome, so as by such defiguration they do show very horrible, hideous, & fearful, no less then in times past was the cruel Caligula, as the histories do witness of him. They are clothed twice in the year with course blue cloth, as the Azamoglans are, and on their heads of a peculiar prerogative, in steed of a salad or morlion, they wear a hood of fine white felt, which they call Zarcola, set out in the forefront with a garland of fine drawn gold, with a socket of silver & guilt, set up right in the fore part, enriched with rubies, turquesies, and other fine stones of small price, within the top of which socket they set such plumes of feathers, as they do wear. And yet this is not permitted unto every one of them, but only to those who in the wars have done some notable feat in their person. Their order universal is distributed in tenths, hundreths, and thousands: every ten of these janissaries going to the wars have a pavilion or tent, Distribution of the order of the janissaries. & a tenth person in their language called Oda Bassi, which distributeth and parteth amongst them the offices of the chamber, as to the one to cut the wood, the other to dress up the pavilion, and the other to make ready their meat, an other to keep the ward, and so consequently all the rest: and by this order of equality, they live together as in a fraternity, quietness and incredible concord. Moreover, they have their Bolu●z Bassis being chiefs of hundreths, & the Chechaya, or Protogero which is chief of a thousand or Lieutenant general over them, & over all these is sovereign captain one called Aga, being a man of great authority and reputation. All these captains & chiefs go on horseback: & in their apparel do much differ from the janissaries, as shallbe seen in their places. The wages of the janissaries are not alike, for the one hath more & the other less: they have from 4. to 8. Aspres by the day, according to the estimation of the person, it is not to be thought that either favour or recommendation shall stand them in steed for the advancing of them to any higher degree, for every of them have their wages augmented according to his merits & warlike qualities, Wages of the janissaries. for that he which in the wars taketh upon him, or putteth in execution any act of valiant prowess in the sight of every man, attendeth his good or evil fortune: moreover, since that these janissairies have perceived their company to be become so great in number, force & authority, they have usurped & maintained such a bold advantage, that so soon as their Emperor is dead, incontinently are given unto them for a prey & pillage all the money, clothes merchandises, & movables of the jews & Christians, The spoil of the Merchant jews and christians given unto the janissaries by the new Emperour● which for their haunt & traffic of merchandise, both by Sea & land, do dwell or frequent at Constantinople, Pera, (or Galata) Andrinopole, Salomique, Bursia, & other places of the dominion of the great Turk, for otherwise being called too swear unto the new emperor succeeding, they will never swear fidelity unto him, before he have first granted unto them pardon for this kind of pillage & in form of a gift or reward given unto them for a welcome, this spoil made upon the jews & christians: Being a custom certainly very barbarous & cruel & more than tyrannical, which reasonably to consider aswell the time past, present, and too come, is a true & manifest token of the ruins threatened of this Oriental empire; which by the same forces whereby now it is maintained, shall one day be clean overthrown: for even as the Roman Empire (without comparison both greater and better ordered than that of the Turks, was overthrown, & in the end brought into decay from the time that the Caesars & Antonines failed, & the Praetorian legions (which now adays representeth the estate of these janissaries) began to become rulers over their masters, under pretext of such a Military gift: even so by these means shall it happen unto the Turks, for that was the beginning to make the empire unto the world so odious, that from the election of the estate being come to a succession inheritable, was in the end made poison, & by the bands Pretorians & other the legions Castrenses, set at a price & delivered unto him that offered most for it, & that under the title of a Militaire gift. And also the emperor chosen by such corruption being once rid, & void of money, those very same which had elected him slew him for to have a new one full, & ready to give, with whom in few days after they dealt as with the former, as also they did by the old julian, with Partinax Maximian, Galba, Otho, Vitellius, Caracola, Heliogabulus, & divers other, whereby in the end the Roman empire which before was the monarchy of the whole world came unto ruin & decay, & was ruled in divers regions by sundry emperors tyrants, being chosen in every place by their Legionaries who sold the title of the empire for a gift corrupted, & so finally fell in decay that of the great name Imperial (in times past chief of the world) there is almost nothing left then a shadow thereof, and that through an usurped arrogancy under colour of a gift Military used by the Pretorians Captains & soldiers. And likewise according to the pleasure of this Monarque, it shall happen unto the empire of the Turks, and that through the faction of these janissaries, which one day shall choose a great Lord to their own will to wit, one that shall give most unto them & suffer them to take all, whereupon afterwards they shall chase him out of the empire, or rather kill him for a recompense of his deserts: therefore this warning pronosticated & evidently founded upon such pillage & robbing of the merchants, Advertisement for all princes jews and christians, may serve for all Princes that they do not suffer their people to be spoiled, for whose defence they are chosen & ordained, nor yet their subjects to be rob through the licentious orders of the soldiers, for fear lest they by such custonable permission do become arrogant, do not overmatch their chief, & be not the causers of his ruin: as (if he look not unto it) it cannot choose but must happen unto the great Turk, if he cut not his janissaries from such outrageous pillage, & constrain them to content themselves with their ordinary wages, which are paid unto them from 3. moons to 3. moons, & as we might say from 3. months to 3. months, for whereas we reckon by the months, the Turk counteth by the moons, after the order of the Greeks, which called them Neomenies, which signifieth new moons. Of the janissaries going to the wars ye may see the natural draft by the figure following. The janissary going to the wars. Of the janissaries which are continually about the gates of the great Lord, or at Constantinople. Chap. 4. OF the janissaries some are married and some not married, The janissaries unmarried in time of peace do keep watch in Constantinople. and for the dwelling and lodging of those which have no wives, are ordained 2. quarters within the city of Constantinople, where they do dwell in time of quietness & peace, and do ordinarily every day and every night by change and turns to the number of forty or fifty keep watch and ward within the streets, to the intent that no question or strife should be moved or any robbery be committed within the city bearing none other weapon then only a long staff of a cane of the Indies or of some other wood, for that it is forbidden that none of what law, estate or quality soever he be, shall carry any weapons about him. The order in living of these janissaries, is that they lay together a certain number of aspres by the day for their daily provision which is prepared by a steward & a cook, who do provide their victuals: & as for the rest of their personal service, those which amongst them have the least wages, do serve by bond, for to get part of their expenses, by the other which have more, & in this manner without any woman they do order their Economy. The janissaries which are married do abide & dwell in the towns & villages of Graecia and Natolie with their wives, living particularly by some kind of means as they think good for the maintenance of their household. And of both these estates of janissaries married or unmarried, divers of them are sent abroad for the assistance & service of strange Ambassadors of what law or nation soever they be, being come unto the court of the great Turk for any kind of business, Every Ambassador hath 6. or 8. janissaties for his guard. so as every Ambassador hath 6. or 8. waiting on him for his guard, conservation or surety of his person, his house & family, so as to them or none of theirs be done any wrong or injury, which if any should attempt to do, these janissaries have full authority for to punish such by beating them with a staff upon their belly, and buttocks, yea & sometime under the soles of their feet, without that any dare withstand or resist them, such is their great authority. And for this assured guard they have of the Ambassadors above their ordinary wages 4. Aspres of pension by the day, but upon that they must find themselves: and besides this they do stand in hope, that after they have well and truly served the Ambassadors, unto whom they are set over as their guard, by the approving, good report and laudable attestation of them for their merits and good service, they may obtain of the great Turk augmentation of their wages, or advacement unto a more higher degree, to wit, of Spachis' Zainligelers, Zagarzis or other more higher estates. But when these men become to be old, A commendable order for entertaining of the old janissaries. so as they can serve no longer in the wars, or that upon any other occasion the great Lord will have them to be discharged of the states of janissaries, they are sent as Assaries, which is to say, keepers of castles and towns, whom we do call dead pays, & the chief of them are made keepers of the castles, having every one of them like wages as before they had: by reason whereof none of them can decay into such miserable poverty, but that by reason of their wages ordinary, they always have good means to live. The figure following doth lively represent unto you the proportion of the janissary about the gates of the great Turk, or at Constantinople. The janissary or janissarler, being a soldier on foot, and of the ordinary guard of the great Turk. Of the Bolukz Bassis being captains of 100 janissaries. Chap. 5. THe Bolucks Bassis be chiefs of a band or captains of a 100 janissaries, having a pension of 60. Aspres by the day, mounted on horseback, and appareled according to the manner, presented by the figure following. Like unto which are also they whom they do call Oda Bassis, which are chief of the chambers, or tenthmen. And although they are appareled after the fashion of the Bolucz Bassis, yet have they but 40. Aspres by the day. Their number is 3. or 4. hundredth, and their office that when the great Lord goeth to the Mosque, or into the fields, to sit upon fair horses, well and richly harnished, and in very good order, before the esquadre of the janissaries, being in their hands a lance or light spear after their fashion: and upon their saddle bow, their roundel & the Busdeghan (being the maze of arms) and being thus mounted and armed with their great tufts of feathers upon their heads, they seem in their appearance proud and haughty, and fearful to those that do see them coming a far off, being of such a show, that the number of them which is about 400. showeth more in sight, than a 1000, of our horses would do. These Bolucz Bassis being grown into age, and discharged for that they can serve no longer in the wars, are committed as Captains to keep the places, forts and castles with a recompense equivalent unto their accustomed salary & wages. Boluch Bassi Captain of one hundredth janissaries. Of the janissary Aga, being Captain general of the janissaries. Chap. 6. THe Captain general of the janessaries by the Turks called janissary Aga, or simply Aga, or Agach, which in their language signifieth a staff, hath a 1000 Aspres in wages by that day, & 6000. ducats of Timar, which we do call pension & is clothed 5. times in the year with good cloth of gold & silk. And moreover is furnished of victuals, & all other things necessary for the supporting of his house & estate: he hath under him a Chechaia or Protegero, Chechaia or Protegero. which is as his Lieutenant general over all the janissaries, having for his wages 200. Aspres a day and 30000. Aspres of pension. He hath under him also a janissairiazigi, which is to say, a Clerk of the janissaries, which hath for his stipend a 100 Aspres by the day, but no yearly pension. This Aga hath 2. or 3. hundredth slaves of his own for his service, The janissary Aga doth sometimes marry the daughters or sisters of the great Turk. & is a man set in such estate, dignity, and authority, that oftentimes it happeneth that he marrieth the daughters or the sisters of the great Turk. And whensoever he keepeth his court and house open, which he doth twice in the week, he is bound to give a breakfast or repast unto the the janissairies, & cause them to be served with bread, rise, mutton & water: & they are bound to present themselves every morning at his house, to know whether he will command them any thing, & thereupon promptly too obey him: and as often as the great Turk goeth into the country, or too the Mosque, the Aga rideth alone after the Esquadre of the janissaries, mounted upon some fair Turkey or Barbary horse, the saddle, and other furnitures wrought with goldsmiths works, and set with precious stones, he being clothed in a long gown of cloth of gold frised, or else of velvet or Crimson satin, as ye may see in the figure following, which I have only represented on foot, hoping in the third volume to set him forth, marching on horseback in his order as also all the other household officers of the great Turk. Aga captain general of the janissaries. Of the Solaquis, archers, and of the ordinary guard of the great Turk. Chap. 7. THe Solaquis are 300. in number, 300. Solaqu●● chosen and picked out of the most strongest and most excellent archers amongst the janissaries, for the ordinary guard of the body of the great Turk: and are all clothed in one livery of damask or white satin, wearing their garment long behind, and before short, and tucked up with a large & rich Turkey girdle of gold and silk: and upon their head a high hat of white felt, and set behind a great plume of Ostrich feathers of indifferent great price. They wear for their arms a Cemiterre and in their hand a bow guilded, being bend with an arrow ready to shoot, and a quiver upon their back. And whensoever the Turk goeth into the fields, or to the Mosque, they march in this order two and two about his person, to wit, a rank on the right side, which are lefthanded, and another upon the left being right handed, observing this order, because that if it should happen for necessity, or pleasure of the Lord: it should behove them to lose their bows, To turn the back toward the great Tur● is accounted great unreverence. they should not turn their backs towards him for that they take the same for a great unreverence, shame and dispraise, and upon this occasion they are called Solaquis or Czolachers, which is to say left handed men. Now if that the Lord going through the country, must pass through a River or brook, they must also wade through it, but true it is that if the water do come unto their knees, the Lord giveth every one of them for a present fifty Aspres, and if it pass above the gyrdlesteed, they have a hundred Aspres: and if they must wade deeper one hundred & fifty. But if the water be too furious & deep, they pass through it on horseback, and is to be understood, that they have not such a present at every river which they do pass: but only at the first, and at the other nothing at al. Their wages are from twelve to fifteen Aspres a day, and are clothed and hoased twice a year as the other janissaries, but are not subject as the other are to watch or ward, nor go unto the Sarail, but when the great Lord meaneth to ride into the fields or to the Mosque. They have two Captains called Solach Bassis, which have every of them threescore Aspres a day, their liveries and other necessaries, as other Captains have and go on Horseback. Solachi or Solacler archer ordinary and of the guard of the great Turk. Of the Peicz or Laque of the gerat Turk. Chap. 8. BEsides the number of these Solaquis, the great Lord hath 40. Lackeys being Persians, called in their language Peicz or Peiclars, every one having eight or ten Aspres by the day, and twice in the year new clothed with garments of satin or damask, figured of divers colours, upon their heads they do wear a high Bonnet of fine silver gilted, called in their language Scuff, set round about with divers stones, whereof some are fine and some false, and in the top a great and high tuft of Eastrige fearhers, set out with many divers & rare small feathers of birds. About their body they are girded with a large girdle of Tissue, or of silk and gold, called Cochiach, being very fair and of great value, and of such length that it goeth three times about the hody, & overthwart the same, do wear a brave dagger by them called Biciach set with ivory or bones of fishes, Sugar candy good for faintness. carrying in one of their hands an Anagiach being a small hatchet, and in the other a handkerchief full of Sugar Candie, which in running they do eat, aswell for their sustenance and strength, as to take away the faintness. These Peicz do run before the great Lord, always leaping on their toes without ceasing or rest: and if it chance that in their course they come into any green meadow or upon any plain way, they suddenly turn their faces toward their great Lord, They run backwards on the way. & so do go backward a certain space, or so long as the fair way dureth, crying loudly, Alau Deicherin, which is to say God maintain and preserve the Lord long time in such power and prosperity. The light running of these swift Peicz is also employed in services of more importance, for if it happen that the great Lord hath to send & dispatch in haste any matter into any places of the Empire the same is committed unto these, who, so soon as they have received the same, & with great reverence taken their leave, they do speedily departed, crying with a loud voice, Sauli, Sauli, which is as much as beware, beware: & upon this ready departure, they run leaping amongst the people like unto young rams, and travailing both day and night without any rest or stay, do dispatch more way than the best horse in Turkey could do: it is thought certainly, that these light runners in their youth do consume their milt, by a mean which they keep so secret, that for nothing in the world they will disclose unto any person: as for my part I refer me too that which it may be, and will not otherwise assure it to be true, for that I have not myself seen it, notwithstanding that divers at Constantinople have affirmed unto me the same be true & accordingly hath written john Antonio Menavino of Genua, which as a young slave was brought up within the Sarail in the time of Sultan Bajazet. Peich or Peicler of nation a Persian one of the Lackeys of the great Turk. Of the apparel, custom and manner of living of the ancient Peicz or lackeys of the Emperors of Turkey. Chap. 9 IN times past, and in the days of other Emperors of Turkey, the Peicz, whom we call lackeys, have varied much in their apparel, custom, and manners, from those which are now adays, for as some have written, they following the example and antiquity of the Grecians and Asians, travailed and ran barefooted without any shoes, or any other thing on their feet saving that the soles of their feet were shod like unto horses, the skin under the plant of their feet being so hard that easily they could forbear the nails & irons being but light▪ being a matter so hard that at the first I could scarcely believe it, for that amongst all the Peicz, The ancient Poise were shod like horse● I had not seen one after that sort, but having curiously inquired of the very same party by whom the lively figure before set out was made, he did assure me the same to be very true, yea and that there were as yet some of his companions (than absent from the gate and court of the Turk) which caused themselves to be shod, wheerin to give me a more faithful testimony, he caused me to see one in Andrinople, whose sole of his foot was so hard, that with a bodkin how sharp soever it were, ye could not easily pea●●e it. And being thus shod the better to counterfeit the horses, did wear in their mouth a bal of silver, Peichz wear a bal in their mouths like horses pierced & made with holes in divers places, like unto the bit of a bridle, & is for to keep their mouth fresh & the longer to sustain their breath. Round about their girdle, which was very large & very well wrought of leather, they hung divers cymbals or bells, which by moving & shaking in their running made a very pleasant and delectable noise, observing that manner as I believe of the Tartars, as Marc Paul Venetian hath written, saying, that the foot posts or messengers of the great Cham Cublay Emperor of the Tartars did likewise in running wear a Girdle hung full of Bells, like as the Peichz now a days do and in one hand carried an Anagiach, which is as much as to say a little hatchet damaskined, and in the other hand a crueses or vial full of sweet and smelling water to besprinkle such as they do meet in their way for to have of them some piece of money. Their caps, which they called Meulai were not of silver as now adays they are, but only covered with velvet or some light cloth of gold, upon the tops whereof they fastened certain common plumets of Eastrige seathers, or of other birds. And these jolly lackeys have such an opinion of themselves that they do not think in the whole world to be any other persons that can run with like force and swiftness, whereat is not to be marveled, for truly they do run so swiftly, that the best horse in Turkey could not do the like: so as being so required they travel from Constantinople to Andrinople & back again in 2. days & 2. nights, as by some I have been credibly informed, which is as much as a good horse keeping his ordinary pace, could do in four days, being distant from the one city too the other five days journey of the Turkish journeys, being three or four days travel in England: and the reason wherefore their journeys are longer than ours, is that they do not go or ride from the morning to the evening as we do, but from the morning to high noon. And being arrived at the place of their bait, whether it be in town or village, they take up their lodging in a Caruasseras, which is like unto a barn or great stable instead of an Inn, for that there are none throughout the whole country of Levant. And if it hap that the bait be too long, they stay at half way or near unto the bait in some fair meadow, There are no ●nnes throughout all Levant. near unto some river or fountain, there alighting do let go their horse to pasture, & set down themselves under the shadow of some tree or hedge upon a carpet, if they have one, or else upon the fair green grass, refreshing themselves with such victuals as they have brought with them in their satchel, but do drink of such drink as their horses do, to wit, fair and clean water, and so being gotten on horseback again, they proceed on their journey. Now to return to our ancient Peicz, the figure following setteth forth unto you, the manner of their going, and form of their apparel. The apparel and ancient form of the Peicz or Lackeys of the great Turk. Of the wrestlers of the great Turk called Gurelsis or Plevianders. Chap. 10. OF all the games anciently exercised in Asia and Grecia, the Turk hath observed the Palester of the Athletes, which is too say, the wrestling, being very near like unto the old custom of the Greeks, Asians, & Romans, for the great Turks for one of his accustomed recreations, entertaineth in wages o. men, strong, big set, and full of flesh, and sinews, which are of divers nations, but the most part moors, Indians, or Tartars, by the Turks called Peluianders or Guressis, Plevianders are moors, Indians, or tartares. which signifieth wrestlers, who at all times and as often as it shall please him to take therein his pleasure, do wrestle before his person two and two with force of arms, being bare on all their members, saving that they wear breaches of leather, gathered & made fast under the knee, anointed with oil, as all the rest of their bodies likewise is, according to the ancient custom of the Romans to the intent to give or to take the less hold the one of the other, Why wrestlers do anoint themselves. by reason of the slipperous gliding of the oil dropping upon the dead leather or quick skin, whereby it cometh to pass, that when they are well chafed, oftentimes for lack of good hold with the hands, they with their teeth do fasten upon the flesh of the one & other, like unto the fighting of the mastiffs with the Bears & wild Bulls, & in that order they do bite and with their teeth nip one another, in the nose, ears, or any other part of the body sticking out, or where any hold is to be fastened on, so as oftentimes they do carry away a piece of the flesh with their teeth. The wrestling being then ended either through victory or a sign of abstinence given, and to wipe of the sweat, they cast about their shoulders a cloth of blue cotton, checked according to their fashion. And such is their form, order, apparel and manner of their combat in wrestling, but when they are without the bars, and at common rest, they are clothed with a long gown, which they do call Dolyman, girded with a large girdle of silk, according to their manner, their head being covered with a bonnet of black velvet, or with the fur of a young lamb, which they call Taquia, hanging upon on of their shoulders after the fashion of the Georgians or the gentlemen of Polonia but that it is more even & strait, they do say themselves too be impolluted of body & obseruants of virginity, which in their opinion (being not unreasonable) doth the longer preserve & maintain their bodies in strength: and what forces with their bodies abandoned soever they do, yet are they not therefore servants or slaves, but of free condition & for their necessary provision have of the great Lord ten or twelve Aspres a day. Of these like wrestlers strong & big set men I have seen a great many in Alger in Barbary, many wrestlers in Alger which daily about uhe going down of the Sun, do present themselves in the place near unto the haven before the great Mosque making place for all comers and there do wrestle after a fine & strong manner for to make a show & pastime unto the assembly & beholders, which therefore do give unto them a piece of money being foursquare in the moorish speech called Giudith, being worth about 4. deniers of our money. The Prester ●an king of Ethyopia hath also of these wrestlers, as lately hath written Francisco Aluarez in his voyage of Ethyopia, whereby is to be known that the people beyond the South & East seas do as yet observe the Palestres, & exercise of wrestling after the antiquity of the Olmipicke games, Invention of wrestling. instituted by the valiant Hercules, which in the same country of Mauritania and Africa challenged and overcame with wrestling the mighty Giant Antheus: & nevertheless Lactance firmian in his first book, doth attribute the first invention of the Palestre unto Mercury as likewise he doth the playing on the fiddle. In these figures following I have lively painted out unto you these Peluianders (as I have seen them in Constantinople) in the form as they wrestle, and in the other figure aswell of their making ready to the wrestling, as after the game, and finally of their ordinary appparrell, which they wear without the exercise Athletique: and likewise have represented unto you the draft of three drunkards, who after they have well tippled themselves with their drink, which they call Sorbet, or after they have eaten of their powder Opium, go howling about the stre●tes like unto Dogs, and then it is evil for the Christians too be near them, because of the peril they should be in of being well beaten. Plevianders' wrestling. Plevianders' wrestlers. The Drunkards. Of the Cooks and other officers of the Kitchen of the Great Turk, and the ordinary manner of the eating of the Turks. Chap. 10. IT shall not be impertinent nor out of my purpose, if I do speak and entreat of the estates, officers, duties, wages, & services of Cooks & other officers of the kitchen of the great Turk, and therefore is to be understood that ordinarily he keepeth within his Sarail 150. cooks, aswell masters as boys Azamoglans, amongst which the best & most expertest are chosen & ordained for the privy kitchen of the great Lord, & the other for the common sort. The Master cooks have for their stipend 8. or 10. Aspres a day, & the boys 3. clothed every one of them once in the year: those of the privy kitchen have their furnaces apart for to dress and make ready the meat without smell of smoke, which being sodden and dressed, they lay into platters of purcelan, and so deliver it unto the Cecigners, whom we do call carvers, for to serve the same unto the great Lord, the taste being made in his presence: the other cooks for the common sort, do deliver their meat unto those which have the charge of the distributing thereof throughout the Sarail according to the order made by the officers thereunto committed, for over these two kitchens, privy & common are set & ordained four superiors, of which the first being in their language called Hargibassi, is appointed to the charge & keeping thereof, 4. Officers se● over the Cooks. & to pay the cooks their wages, & hath for his pension 60. Aspres a day, amounting to the value of a ducat, and every year a gown of silk. The second is cal-Emimmutpagi, which is to say, chief kater, ordained for the disbursing of all the money & charges of the kitchen, and hath 50. Aspres a day, & a gown such as it shall please the Turk to give him upon the day of the great Bairam, which is their Easter. The third is the Chechaia or Stewards, ordained to oversee all that which shall go out or into the kitchens, & to take order in all differences, which might arise amongst the cooks, and is provided in wages like unto the Emimmutpagis. The 4. and last is called Muptariapagis, who keepeth the books and accounts of the whole charges of the kitchens, & hath the charge to ordain from day to day, the meat for the diet of the great Lord: and for this office he hath but 30. Aspres by the day, and this is the estate of the Cooks and other officers of the kitchen of the great Turk and of his Sarail. Now there resteth to speak of the dressing of their meat & the ordinary manner of eating of the Turks which far differeth from ours, Great difference betwixt the Turks & us in dressing of meat. being so superfluous, curious, and delicate, and our Cooks dressing the same accordingly: whereas to the contrary theirs is scant, bare, and gross, without any diversities of lardings, dressinges, sauces, ioyces, and confections: their Cooks being very simple dressers of meat, as being neither dainty nor delicate in the dressing thereof. For the Turks do content themselves with slight meats & easily dressed, Meats of the Turks. so as they be nourishing or restorative: as Bucks flesh, goats flesh, Mutton, Lamb, and Kid, and certain Hens, whereof there they have as fat and as savoury as in any other place, where I have been. They do eat little beef, and less veal, for they say that the cow having her calf taken away from her would lose her milk, and thereby should lack butter, cheese, and other whitemeat, they hold the sheeps feet for a very delicate meat, which ordinarily in divers shops at Constantinople are set forth to be sold ready sodden & dressed with peeled garlic, which is their common sauce at all times, there are also to be sold pies of minced meat, and rice dressed with butter and almonds very savoury and of a good taste: as for the flesh they will rather eat it roasted then sodde, and do roast the same in manner following: They have a great Iron pot of the bigness of a ketle, in the bottom whereof they do lay red burning coals, and over it a gridiron, upon the which they do roast their flesh through the vapour and heat of the coals, Water is the most common drink of the Turquis which can neither be wholesome nor dainty. And to be short their kitchens & Cooks are nothing like unto ours: as for their drink, their most usual and common beurage is that which is natural unto all beasts in the world, too wit, fair and clear water. But they have notwithstanding other drinks artificially made and confectioned of divers sorts which they do sell in sundry places of the city. Some made with water and barley after the manner of Ale▪ some other of pears or apples, or with the seething together of plums, reisons, figs▪ pears, peaches, and other like fruits, & of the beurage which they do call Sorbet, they do much use to drink in the summer with ice or snow to cool the same. They do also drink much Aqua vitae both at and after meals which they call Archent. As for natural wine, notwithstanding that by the Mahometical law, the drinking thereof is forbidden them, yet do they for all that leave it nothing at all, taking of it oftentimes so much in, that scarce they are able to bear it. But it is when it costeth them nothing, for there is no nation in the world which seek more their own advantage then these Turks do, specially when they may get it of the christians, because they do spend more and keep better cheer than they of their nation do. For example whereof, I have often times seen divers of them, & of the principallest, as Secretaries, Dragomans, and other officers of the great Turk which came to the lodging of Monsieur Darramont our Ambassador, to banquet and make merry, and without any courtesy drunk as much as pleased them, which nothing was refused them, but to the contrary the Ambassador well knowing their natural inclination, forgot nothing which might serve for their good entertainment, aswell with delicate meats, as divers sorts of good wines both Malmesies and Muscadels, whereof they do stuff themselves so full, that oftentimes in going home to their houses the largest & broadest streets in the city are too narrow for them. And are so far from shame and honest civility, that they do not think they have made good cheer, nor attribute any honour unto those that have feasted them, except they be made beastly drunk. Notwithstanding that by their law as I have said, they are specially forbidden to drink wine or to be drunken, whereat they make no great scruple & less sin, so as they may drink free without their cost. They have another order to make themselves drunk without wine which is with their Opium, Opium will make them drunk. being a composition made with a white stuff, whereof the Turks do not only use, but also the Persians and other people of Levant, through the opinion which they have, that it maketh them to forget choler & melancholy, & so causeth them to be joyful and merry, and in the wars more stout and hardy. Of which Opium after they have taken in of it about a Dragma, doth so work with them, and maketh them so out of square, that they lose both their wits and understanding, for they go reeling about the streets, holding one of another, as the other Drunkards do, foaming out of the mouth like unto chafed boars, making fierce and terrible cries and howlings like unto dogs. And being in this case, it is not good for jews or Christians to meet with them, lest they should be well beaten with fists or cudgels. But those which are most to be feared in the meeting are those 3. kinds which in the former chapter I have lively described unto you: to wit, the Azamoglans, the Leventis, and the Azappis being renied Christians, and mortal enemies unto all Christians, and those which do unto them the most wrongs and outrages, and thus ye have heard of the manner of eating and drinking of the Turks, far differing from ours. But because I will not forget to touch the manner of the apparel of these Cooks, I will say that they do wear a long coat of marokin or leather closed, and shutting the same upon the breast with great flat buttons of tin instead of silver, wearing on their heads a white Zarcole like unto the janissaries, but without any fringe of gold or other enrichment in all respects as the figure following doth represent unto you. A Cook of Turkey. Of the Physicians of Constantinople. Chap. 12. IN Turkey and principally at Constantinople, are found divers Physicians professing the Art of physic, and exercising the practise thereof, but a greater number of the jews than Turks, jews excellent in physic & why● amongst the which there are many that are skilful in Theorica, and experimented in practice, and the reason wherefore in this Art they do commonly exceed all other nations, is the knowledge which they have in the language and letters, Greek, Arabian, Chaldee and Hebrew. In which languages as to them partly, peculiar, and original, have written the principal Authors of physic and natural philosophy and Astronomy, being the sciences meet and necessary for those that study physic. Besides, the common Physicians which the Turks call Echim, the great Lord hath of his own proper and ordinary, waged with great stipends, and intertainments, whereof part are Turks and part jews. He which in the time that I was in Levant, had the first dignity and authority, amongst the order of Physicians was of nation an Hebrew called Amon, Amon ●● Hebrew Physician. of age above sixty years, a parsonage great of authority, and much esteemed, aswell for his goods, knowledge, and renown, as for honour and portliness. They are moreover besides those aforesaid within the Sarail of the great Turk, ten common Physicians, Ten Physicians for the commons of the Sarail. which for their salary have every one of them ten aspres a day, and meat and drink, their charge being such that so soon as there falleth any sick within the Sarail, one of them goeth unto the great Turk to ask licence to heal him, (for otherwise they dare not take him in hand) which having obtained, he causeth the patiented to be brought into a place which within the Sarail is ordained for sick folk, and is bound to visit him four times a day, until such time as he have recovered his health: but if it chance the sick to wax daily worse and worse: then all the other Physicians are bound to come to his assistance. As for the apparel of the Physicians of Turkey, it doth not differ much from that of the common people: but yet from that of the jewish Physicians for instead of a yellow Tulbant very near like unto the jewish nation, they were a high topped cap, died of red scarlet, after the manner as ye may behold in the figure following: A Physician jewe. Of the Grecian Peisants or husbandmen called Voinuchz. Chap. 13 THe Voinuchz or Grecian village men, are of a province of Graecia on the borders of Bossine, Voinuchz neighbours unto Bo●sinian. comprehended as the other are under the dominion of the great Turk, although that the men, notwithstanding they are Christians, are not tributory in any gables or money taxes: yet are they pressed with a more grievous tribute of their own persons or o● their Children, for they are subject to obey a Sangiac Turk (whom we call a Governor) which every year levyeth a thousand of them: and sendeth them to Constantinople to be presented at the gates of the great Turk, every one bearing on their shoulder a satchel full of hay in token of their bondage and service. Now after they have been seen of the great Lord, they are sent unto the Imbreorbassi, being as it were chief groom of the stable, which causeth them to be provided of lodging within the stables of the great Lord thereunto appointed, in time of peace to feed the horses in the pastures, and in time of war to follow the camp, to mow grass, and to make hay thereof, for the daily food of the horses. And if any should fail to be at such commandment and service, he should be constrained to hire and pay another in his place, for that these poor Voinuchz must serve of their own charges: and being very pour people, after they have done their work appointed them, they do employ that small time of the rest of the day, to make pastime unto the people for to get some money, making an assembly throughout the streets, with a great baggepype made of a goats skin, A Baggepype. (being such a one as ye see here painted in the figure following) and with a sound thereof they dance certain dances, with such a nimbleness of the body and legs, that the pleasure thereof is not small unto the beholders. And after they have well danced and leapt, they have some small pieces of money given unto them which is their only advantage and sustentation of their poverty. They have beside this another mean and practise to get something by, in making an assembly of six or seven of them in a company, disguising themselves with certain masquerie, as with heads and Cranes necks, and other most antic foul and strangest in the world, which (if God do preserve my life) I hope to set forth unto you in my third Tomb, where I will entreat of the whole estate of the house of the great Turk that now reigneth. A Peisant or man of the country being a Greek. Of the Cadilesquers great Doctors of the law Mahometicke and chief justices of the Turks. Chap. 14. I Was not determined to have entreated in this first tome any thing belonging unto the religion of the Turks, pretending to have reserved the same for the second part, where I hope by God his grace too declare, as before I have proposed, all that which may concern their religion and ceremonies of their justice and administration thereof which with the same is conjoint. But having afterwards considered that the strange diversity wherewith these doctors of their law do disguise themselves: and also their Priests, Monks, religious Heremits and Pilgrims, would no less delight the spirits and sight of the Readers, them the curious desire to understand of their brutish lives & abominable superstition, I thought it not impertinent to set hear in order only the pourtractes and figures of the principallest amongst them with a brief description & declaration upon every of their figures, beginning with the two Cadilesquers, great doctors of their law & chief of their justice, the one of them being ordained for the administration of Grecia, and the other for Anatolia. 2. cadilisqu●● one for the ●●tolie and on● for Grecia These Cadilesquers are reputed amongst the Turks, in the estate of religion, of like dignity and reverence, as the Metropolitans are in the church of Grecia and the patriarchs in the Roman Church: and in the exercise of justice, as Chancellors or chief Presidents, being created and elected unto this dignity and authority not by favourable ambition▪ but through honourable election out of the first and most learned doctors of their law, because they should be approved so pertinent and sufficient in knowledge, that they themselves be provided of wisdom, counsel, & good judgement, before they will counsel or judge others, which they could not do, & less should be possible unto than to decide justly, an arrest of justice, in matter or weight and of great difficulty, if they were adorned with good knowledge, great learning, and prudent judgement: and therefore are they chosen of ripe age and consistant, too the intent the heat of youth should be passed & cooled with them, or the fire of carnal love of the one sex to the other (which detestably in those countries is used) should not cause them to sway or stray from the true way of justice, whereas to the contrary, if they were chosen young, that the old men should not have occasion to esteem them, that even as they were young of years and age, they should also be green of sense and judgement, which so commonly is not found to be amongst old men, ripe of age & years, unto whom the number of years and long experience ought to have brought more wisdom and ripe doctrine well and duly to administer justce which ought not to be peruer●ed nor corrupted by any friendship, favour, kindred, or any other alliance, and much less through insatiable avarice. The estate therefore of these worthy Cadilesquers is very stately and honourable, besides that they daily and ordinarily do follow the court of the great Lord (which they call the gate) and through the honour, reverence, and dignity, they do go before the Bascha, for all that their authority is not so great. They are executors of the laws, & with the consent of the Baschas they do constitute and depose the Cadis which are judges of the provinces, and also take acknowledgement upon the appellations interposed upon the sentences & judgements of the said Cadis, according to their provinces and circuits: to wit, the one for whole Graecia, and the other for the natoly, which is very Turkey. Their annual wages for their estate and office aswell for the Church as administration of justice, Vages of the Cadilesquers. is about seven or eight thousand ducats besides their ordinary gains, every of them entertaining for his service two or 3. hundred slaves, and beside have given them and kept at the charges of the great Lord, ten Secretaries, and two Moolurbassis, which are busied about the horses. Apparel and ●anner of the Cadilesquers. As for their apparel, they love to be clothed in chamblet, satin, or damask, of sad colours, and more honest, as russet brown, tawny, or dark purple. The sleeves of their gowns be long and straight: upon their heads they do wear a Tulbant of a marvelous wideness and bigness, having the midst (which they do call Mogevisi) more lower and straight than the other ordinary are: going through the Country or City, they do ride most commonly on Mules or Mulets, or sometimes on gelded horses covered upon the crupper, with a cloth of purple colour guarded with silk fringes, as in the picture following ye may see: and if it hap that they do go on foot they go with a grave, fair, & soft pace, wearing their beard long & fierce, showing in them a great gravity, joined with a feigned holiness, casting forth but few words, but such as are of their law and religion altogether, with evident and mere hypocrisy. Cadilesquier a judge in spiritual and temporal matters. Of four sundry religions of the Turks their manner of living and pourtracts of the religions: and first of the Geomalers. Chap. 15. IF the belief and faith of the religious hermits and Pilgrims, both Turks and moors Mahometistes, were as good, holy, and true, as it is in false appearance coloured with most evident hypocrisy & damnable superstition, they might a great deal better assure themselves of their salvation, than they do: for their manner of living is so beastly and far from the true religion under colour of their feigned holiness and vain devotion, that by comparable reason it might better be called a life of brute beasts then of reasonable men: we will therefore discover here a little of their four hypocritical religions, 4 orders of 〈◊〉 Religious G●●ma●ers, Cale●●ders, Doruis● Torlaquis being a Sectary vile & abominable & of the observations thereof, of which in the end of every description, ye may see the figures naturally drawn out. These four orders of false mahumetical religion are in their language called Geomalers, Calendars, Deruis, and Torlaquis. The life of the Geomalers (to begin first with them) is not much different from that of the worldly sort, for that the most part of them are fair young men and of rich houses, which willingly do give themselves to run about the country, and to travel through many and divers regions & provinces, as through Barbary, Egypt, Arabia, Persia, the Indies, and the whole land of Turkey, for to see and understand the world with great pleasure at other men's charges, under colour of their pilgrimage and religion: the most part of these are good artificers, & the other given to reading, & to describe all their voyages, the lands and countries which ●hey have run through and travailed. During these blind & straying peregrinations, they carry none other apparel, than a little cassock without sleeves being of purple colour, made and fashioned like unto a deacons coat, so short, that it cometh but to above their knees, girt in the midst with a long and large girdle of silk and gold of no small beauty and valour, upon the ends whereof are hung certain Cymbals of silver mixed with some other clear sounding metal, and they do ordinarily wear six or seven of these aswell about their girdle as under their knees. And besides the coote, in steed of a cloak, they are covered above the shoulders with the skin of a Lion or Leopard being whole and in his natural hair, which they do make fast upon their breast by the two former legs. All the rest of the parts of their bodies are bare: saving that in their ears they do wear great rings of silver or of other metal▪ and on their feet a kind of shoes made after the fashion of those which the Apostles did wear, bound together with cords▪ and to be the more disguised, and appear more holy, they let their hair grow very long and wear the same spread out upon their shoulders as the brides do in these Countries. And to make them grow & to show the more longer, they use by continual artifice Terebinthe and varnish, laying sometimes for to make it the thicker, goats hair whereof the chamblets are made. And in such superstitious apparel ranging about the country, they do bear in one of their hands a book written in the Persian language full of songs and amorous sonnets, compounded after the usage of their rhyme▪ And being many of them in a company, their bells and cymbals, both near and afar of make such a pleasant tune, that the hearers do therein take very delectable pleasure. And if by fortune these jolly loving religious do in the streets meet with some fair young stripling, straightways they do set him in the midst of them, cherishing him with a fair and sweet music of their voices and sound of their cymbals, which to hearken unto every one runneth, and true it is that whilst they do sing, they do sound only with one of their bells or cymbals, every man keeping measure and time unto the voice of the other, and then afterwards do sound all their bells together, and in this order they do run about, visiting the artificers and other people for to allure them to give them some piece of money. Amongst these devout pilgrims of love, there are some which secretly and under pretext of religion do of a fervent love draw unto them, the hearts of many fair women, & likewise of the fairest younglings, of which they are no less amorous than they are of the woman kind, so much are they given unto the abominable sin of luxury against nature. Thus then they do go triumphing upon their love, voluptuousness and pleasure, giving themselves betimes to wander throughout the country at their pleasure, in such sort that under this colour, they are called of some Turks, the men of the religion of love, as in effect they in very deed are, so as if there were such an order and profession amongst us, Why the G●●malers are ca●led men of 〈◊〉 religion of love. I believe that the most part of our youth, would sooner give themselves to the avowing and profession of such a religion, then to that of chastity and observance. Geomaler a religious Turk. Of the second sect of the religious Turks, called Calendars. Chap. 16. THE religion and manner of living of these Calendars, is far different from the aforesaid religion of love: namely, for that the religious and obseruatours of the same, for the most part contrary to the Geomalers, say themselves to be virgins, making their boast and glory not of lascivitie & luxury, but of very straight abstinence and pure chastity, which if it be not holy, is at the least feigned▪ they have for their dwelling certain little churches, abstinence & chastity of the Calendars. which they call Techie, over the gates whereof they do write these or like words, Caeda normas, dil ersin cusciunge all cachec ciur: which is to say in our language, he that will enter into this religion must do the same works, which they do and observe, to wit, in virginity and abstinence like unto them. These Calendars are clothed with a little short coat without sleeves after the fashion of a hair clothe made of wool and horse hair, and do not let thei● hair grow long as the Geomalers do, Apparel of the Calendered but cause their hairs to be cut, covering their head with a felt hat, like unto the priests of Graecia, about which they hang certain strings, hanging down the breadth of a hand, being strong and rough, being made of horse hair, in their ears wearing great rings of iron, & likewise about their neck & arms, & under their privy members they do pierce the skin, thrusting through the same a ring of iron or silver of an indifferent bigness & weight, to the intent that being thus buckled, they can by no manner of means use luxury, although they would & had thereunto commodity. These also go reading of certain songs & common rhymes compounded by one of their order called Nerzimi, The first martyr of these religious. whom they repute & take amongst them to have been the first Saint of their religion, who for having spoken certain words against the law of Mahomet, was in Azamia, which is Assyria flaide quick, and by these means the first martyr of their religion. calendar a Religious Turk. Of the third sect of the religious Turks called Deruis. Chap. 17. A Great deal more strange and beastly is the life and manner of doings of the Deruis, altogether divers, and other than that of the Geomailers and Calendars, for these go bare headed, and cause their hair and beard to be cut with a razor, and generally all the other parts of the body, where as any hair groweth, and moreover burn and scauld their temples with a hot Iron or an old piece of cloth burnt, having their ears pierced, wherein they do wear certain great rings of jaspe, of divers colours and rare beauty. All their clothes are two sheep or goats skins, Apparel of the Deruis. the hair thereof being dried in the Sun, putting on the one before, and the other behind, embracing the body in form of a girdle: the other parts of their body are naked, whether it be in Winter or Summer: they dwell without the cities in suburbs and villages in divers parts of Turkey. And all the Summer long go running throughout the Countries from one village to another, doing under the colour of holiness and religion, infinite knaveries and robberies, for they are all of them great thieves, Spoils under pretext of religion. fornicators & spoilers making no conscience to rob, kill, & murder (if they find themselves to be the stronger parties) those whom they meet withal on the way with a small hatchet, which they bear under their girdles, and with the same to assault and spoil the strange wayfaring men of what law or nation soever they be. Besides which inhumanity, they are also full of divers unhappy vices for they are wonderfully given to the detestable sin of Sodomitry, notwithstanding that for to cover their loathsome filthiness, Matslach an herb of pestilent operation. & to shadow their hypocrisy & for to show some godliness to be in them, they do going through the country, eat of an herb called Matslach, the violent operation maketh them to become mad, enraged, & out of their wits. So as through a certain furor, they with a certain knife or razor do cut their neck, stomach, & thighs, until they be full of most horrible wounds, which for to heal, they do lay upon them a certain herb, letting it lie upon the hurt until it be altogether consumed and become unto ashes, suffering in the mean space an extreem pain, and that with marvelous patience. And this they do to show themselves true immitatours of their Prophet Mahomet, saying, that during the time that he was within the cave or den through the great abstinences which he used, fell one day into such a fury, that he would have cast himself down headlong from the top thereof, and for this cause they have fools in great reverence, saying that they are acceptable unto God. These devout Deruis live of alms as the other religious do, which they do beg with these words, Sciai Merda nescine: which is to say, give an alms in the honour of the valiant man Haly brother in law to Mahomet, which was the first that exercised arms amongst us. They have moreover in the Anatolia, the sepulchre of another Saint by them called Scidibattal which they say, to be he that hath conquested the most part of Turkey, and about the place of his sepulchre is an habitation and covent, where do dwell a great number of these Deruis, and there once in the year they kept a general chapter of assembly, in which their Prior or Superior is precedent, a foolish temerity of one of these Religious. whom they do call Assambaba, a name signifying father of fathers. These good religious people are not very welcome at Constantinople, for that a while ago one of them durst take upon him with a short Rapier, which he carried hidden under his arm to have killed the great Turk Sultan Mehemet, the second of that name: notwithstanding because the Turks have above all things charity in great recommendation, they do not leave to give alms unto them for God his sake. Deruis a Religious Turk. The fourth sect of the religious Turks, called Torlaquis. Chap. 18. THe Torlaquis by others called Durmislars, clothe themselves with sheep and goat skins, like unto the Deruis, above the same, they wrap about them in manner of a cloak, the skin of a great Bear with the hair, Apparel of the Torlaquis. made fast upon their stomach with the legs: upon their heads they wear a high bonnet of a white felt, folded with small plights, having the rest of their bodies altogether naked. They do also burn themselves on the temples with an old cloth burned for too take away and dry up the humours of the brains, and too let that they should not fall down upon their eyes, and take away their sight. The Libyans, as Herodote in his fourth bo●e doth write, had the like custom, to burn the veins of the brains or of the temples of the young children when they were come to be four years old, with wool or cotton, to prevent the falling down of the Catharres so long as they lived, and were of opinion that the same made them a great deal more healthful. The form and manner of living of these Torlaquis, Beastliness of these Torlaquis. is more rude and beastly, than the life of the brute beasts, for they know not, nor will learn, to read, writ, or do● any civil or profitable act, but do live Idly upon alms, as the others do. And most often go roguing alone through the towns and villages following the baths, taverns and assemblies, for to have free shot and cheer. But going in great troops thorough the deserts, if they find any at their advantage, wearing good apparel, they will stryppe them and constrain them too go stark naked as they do, and by such vagabond beggary, they make the poor and simple people of the Towns and Villages believe, that they can foresay and divine the good or evil fortune by locking in the Palm of their hands, as if they had good skill and knowledge in the art of Chiromancie or Palmistry, for the beastliness of this barbarous people is so lewd and gross, that these poor idiots do come running on all sides unto these abusers, as if they were Prophets, having an opinion and false persuasion that they are endued with the spirit of prophesy. And above the rest the simple women, who for to have of these soothsayers some vain prediction or feigned promise of their desires, either for the time present or to come, do bring unto them great quantity of bread, eggs, cheese, & other victuals, being no less welcome unto them then necessary. But these impostors Torlaquis under colour & pretext of their false religion, do further commit many other more greater abuses, not only false and inconuenable, but enorm and most blasphemous against the divine providence, for that oftentimes they lead amongst them an ancient old man, whom they reverence & worship like a God: and being come into any town or village they do lodge themselves as near as possible they can in the best and richest house, placing themselves round about him with most feigned humility, and hypocritical reverence. Afterwards, this good hypocrite, being no less grown in knavery then in age, feigneth himself to be ravished in spirit, pronouncing at sundry times a few words, and those full of gravity and spiritual commandements, and as if he were in a trance, lifteth up his eyes unto heaven, and afterwards by little and little turning himself toowardes his disciples speaketh unto them in this manner: My well-beloved children I pray you too take me away, and carry me out of this Town, for in lifting up mine eyes unto heaven I have both seen and understanded by divine Revelation great tribulation too be prepared for the same. And then these gentle disciples being well instructed and taught in this sort of knavery, do altogether with great affection desire him to make his prayers to God, that he would appease and mitigate the ire which justly he had determined against such a desolate city, and the inhabitants thereof. The reverend old man showing himself by their prayer to be won, and well inclined to do the same with his simuled holiness, beginneth to make a feigned prayer unto God, desiring him to forbear his threatened fury, and evil eminent. Then this poor barbarous and ignorant people being feared with the divine threatening, and comforted through the deprecation of this reverend revealer and Intercessor, do run towards him from all parts, giving so much faith unto the masked hypocrisy of this old fox, that they are fully persuaded, that all these devilish & abused works are divine miracles. For which by charitable admiration, they do bring unto them so many alms, that these false religious at their departure from that place, have like unto Summoner's, as many bribes as they can carry away. And having thus sped they return to their houses triumphing of their impostrie, and making merry cheer at the costs of these too much credulent people, which do give the same unto them, of whose foolish simplicity they go mocking & scoffing amongst themselves. They do also eat of the herb called Matslach like unto the Deruis, The Torlaquis do use also of the Matslach. and do sleep upon the ground, no less naked of shame then bare of clothes, using their damnable and abominable, sodomitical luxury, the one with the other more beastly and unnaturally, then would do the brute and wild beasts. And thus then under pretext and appearance of their holiness, yea but rather of their feigned and abused religion, these beggars going a begging do commit so many horrible and execrable abominations. Torlaqui a religious Turk. Of other religious Turks leading a solitary life amongst beasts. Chap. 19 THere are moreover throughout whole Turkey another sect of religious, dwelling within the towns and villages in certain shops: the walls whereof they do cover with skins of divers wild beasts: as of oxen, goats, hearts, bears and wolves. And about the walls thereof they do fasten and hang upon the horns of the same beasts a great number of tallow candles. And in the midst of this their sacred shop standeth a stool covered with a green cloth or covering, and upon the same a great latin candlestick without any candle or tape: which show they make to declare themselves true followers of the law of Mahomet. Moreover, they have painted a Cemiterre, hung by the midst, in memory and reverence of the brother in law, & successor of Mahomet called Haly, of whom they do say, as we do of Bevis of Hampton, miraculous fables, saying that with the same Cemiterre he cut the mountains & rocks asunder: moreover, to show themselves more strange & marvelous, they bring up and feed certain wild beasts, as wolves, bears, hearts, eagles & ravens to declare that they have abandoned the world, to live a solitary life amongst beasts: wherein their false hypocrisy is too openly showed, for whereas they say they do live a solitary life, they resort and frequent in the midst of most populous towns and villages, and professing to live solitarily amongst wild beasts, they do tame them & accustom them to live with them for they do not dwell in Hermitages solitarily, but amongst great assembly of people, and likewise do not live with the wild beasts, but the wild beasts do live with them, except they do mean that these beastly & barbarous Turks, their companions are the same wild beasts, amongst the which they do say they do live. These good religious people thus living on the profit of their shop, and when soever that there is not brought sufficiently unto them for the maintenance of their idle life, them they come forth out of their den, (even as the wolf pinched with hunger cometh out of the wood) and go about the streets ask of alms, leading in their hand a Bear or Heart with a bell about his neck, as ye may see in the figure following. Behold then how under colour of religion, they do disguise their damnable and more than evident hypocrisy. And of these gallant companions I have seen a great many in Constantinople, but many more in Andrinopole. A religious Turk. Of those which do call themselves kinsmen to Mahomet. Chap. 20. THere are divers amongst the Turks, which do call themselves & for such are reputed, kinsmen of Mahomet, whereof some do wear a green Tulbant, and the other a Muzavegia, which is to say, a bonnet which they do wear under the Tulbant being of colour green: Mahomet's kinsmen do wear a garment & Tulbant several to be known from others. & all the rest of the Tulbant white They do wear such colour for that they say their Prophet ware the like on his head, and contrary to the Turks. The Sophians which are the Persians, wear red ones. Sophy is not the name of the King of persia (as some do think) for this name cometh of their sect and religion, which commandeth them of an humility, not to wear on their heads any habit; more precious than wool, and for that in the Arabian tongue wool is called Sophy, those which are of this sect are called Sophians, and in derision the Turks do call them Kesulbach, which is to say, red heads. The Turks & the Sophians do say that it were not reasonable to cover the dishonest parts of the body, with the colour which the Prophets did wear on their heads. And therefore is no more permitted unto the Turks to wear green hose, then unto the Sophians to wear red hosen: & whosoever should wear them, should be esteemed amongst them as an heretic. And therefore is not permitted unto any: but unto such as do say themselves to be sprung of the kindred of Mahomet, to wear a green Tulbant, and therefore are called jessilbas', which is to say green heads. They are also commonly called Emirs, which may be interpreted, kinsmen of the Prophet, and are holden in such reputation for holiness of life that in judgement, the testimony or witnessing of one of them is allowed for 2. others. But they are so mischievous & unhappy, that for money they will make no conscience to bear such false witness, such as ye will have them: & specially if he be a jew or a Christian unto whom they are mortal enemies. Some of them are very rich, and go honourably appareled. The other are poor handicrafts men, or sellers of fruits, candles, and vinegar, whereof I have seen a great many in Constantinople and Andrinopl●. Likewise divers of them come with the Hagis pilgrims of Mecque, making often with them through great hypocrisy, their prayers in the midst of the place. And for that they are of most perverse and abominable nature divers amongst these barbarous and rustical people, are constrained more for the fear which they have of their false witnessing, then for the holiness which they know in them, to bear unto them great honour and reverence. Emir a kinsman of Mahomet. Of the Pilgrims of Mecqua by the Turks called Hagislars. Chap. 21. THe Turks, moors, and all other such barbarous nations, living under the observance of the law, & commandment of the false prophet Mahomet, find written in divers places & passages of their Alcoram, that God hath promised unto all Musulmans which through devotion should go to visit the temple of Mecqua by the Arabians called Alcaaba, that he would never send their souls into perdition. Upon confidence of which promise they will gladly go on such pilgrimage, leaving undone all other household or common affairs, and foreseeing the difficulty of the voyage, by reason of the long deserts and sands, whereby they must pass, do begin these pilgrimages, some soon, and some later, according to the distance of the Country, because they will be at Mecqua against Easter, which they do call Chucci Bairam. But before they do departed, because their voyage should be the more lucky, they do ask one another forgiveness of their offences. And then the day of their departure being come, they do assemble in great companies, taking their way, first towards the city of Damas' or of Cairo, which the Arabians do call Alcair where the crew doth assemble: for they will not departed lightly, except they be at the least thirty or forty thousand in a company, with a good number of janissaries appointed for the security, conduct, defence and safeguard of them, and to take regard that the same be not peeled and saccaged of the Arabians, which day and night are watching in the deserts to spoil and take the pilgrims and travailers. And besides that, the company having to pass thorough so many deserts, sandy, withered, unfruitful, and lacking of all things necessary for man's sustenance, order is taken for the loading of many Camels with great provision of victuals, fodder and water, aswell for the persons, as for the Camels and other beasts, for that in these sandy and dry wildernesses no drop of water is found but from three days to 3. days journey, which notwithstanding they must get with force of arms from the Arabians, which keep and defend the same: having then thus passed these deserts, and the Pilgrims arrived at Medine Thalnabi, which also hath been called Tribic, or as others do say jezrab. They do go unto the temple and there lay their Alcoram upon the sepulture of Mahomet. And after that, the hour of service being come, the Maizins begin to cry upon the towers as their custom is, to call the people together to come unto their ceremonies, and there remain in prayer the space of 3. hours, which ended, they repair unto a mount near unto the town called Arafetagi, upon the which they do strip themselves stark naked, and go to bathe in a river near unto it, even to the neck, mumbling out certain long prayers: which ended, they go out of the water to put on their clothes again: and the next morning they proceed on their way towards Mecqua, being 3. small days journey from Medine: where they being come, do enter into the temple to say their prayers. After which they go turning seven times about a foursquare tower, at every circuit kissing the edge thereof, from thence they go unto a pit of salt water, which they call Birzenzen, being closed within a Tower, being from the other, ten or twelve paces, pronouncing these words. All this be to the honour of God which is most merciful, God forgive me all my sins. These words being ended, certain ministers there appointed to draw the water do cast upon the head of every one of them three small buckets full, without sparing of their clothes. These beastly Mahometistes thinking through such outward washing to be cleansed & purged of their inward sins. Moreover, they say, that the tower which they seven times do go about, was the first house of prayer which Abraham builded through the commandment of God. Now when they are in this tower well washed and bathed, they go to do their sacrifice upon a mount near unto it, presenting for an offering many sheep which being immolated and sacrificed, they do distribute amongst the poor for God his sake. The sacrifice being thus ended, a Sermon is made unto them by the Cady Muselman, and that being done, every one of them do go to cast 2. stones in a place, where they say the Devil appeared to Abraham when he builded the temple. From thence they return to Mecqua to say divers other prayers, desiring God to exalt them as he exalted Abraham to the building of the temple. All these ceremonies being accomplished▪ they depart to go towards jerusalem, which they call Cuzumobarech, & there do visit the holy mount where the temple of Solomon was, which they hold in great reverence. In this place they do celebrate another feast, and there exercise new ceremonies. At the departure from the temple of Solomon every one taketh his way to return homewards or else where he doth think good. And thus they go in troops carrying great banners with a pike & half moon in the top of the staff, going about the towns & villages▪ singing the praises of their great Prophet Mahomet, and ask of alms for the honour of God, & that which is given them they do eat altogether, being set down in the midst of the common place, & after they have thus eaten with a great hypocrisy and show of holiness, they do openly make their prayers. The most part of these pilgrim's (which the Turks call Hagislars) are moors, clothed poorly enough although that divers of them do say to be descended of the line of Mahomet, as the Emirs above mentioned. And of these I have seen a great number at Constantinople, appareled after the manner, as here I have represented unto you in the figure following. Pilgrim moors returning from Mecqua. Of the Sacquas carriers of water, being also Pilgrims of Mecqua. Chap. 22. IT is found in the Alcoram that Mahomet prophet of the Turks, Wine forbidden by Mah●met and why. doth forbid all his ●ectators Mahometistes to drink wine. For that he did esteem it a true nourishment of all evils and sins: and also as divers have written, to keep the Arabians with such severe prohibition in greater sobriety, who for the natural heat which is in them, taking the wine in too abundantly, would not so easily suffer themselves to be tamed nor brought under subjection: by reason of these defences, are throughout whole Turkey, Graecia, and other provinces under the obeisance of the great Turk, a great number of Turks & moors called Sacquaz, which daily go by the streets, places and assemblies of the cities, towns, and suburbs of the said provinces, with a scrip of leather full of fountain or cestarne water, houng on their side, & covered above with a fair cloth embroidered with leaves about it or else plain: & in one hand, a cup of fine Corinthian latten guilded and damaskined out of the which of great charity they do offer and give to drink, all them that will: but yet for to make the water seem more fair & delectable to drink, they put within the cup many and divers stones of Calcedonie, jaspe and lapis Azuli, bearing in the same hand a lookingglasse which they hold before the eyes of those to whom they give to drink, exhorting and admonishing them with words demonstrative to think on death: for doing the office of this gentleness, they will ask no payment nor recompense; but if through honest liberality some piece of money be given unto them, they will most gladly receive it, and in manner of thanks and congratulation, they pull out of a budget or poke which hangeth at their girdle a vyollfull of sweet smelling water, which they cast on the face and beard of him that hath given them money. I have in a morning at Constantinople seen fifty of these Sacquas in a company, all furnished with their scrips, large girdles, cups, glasses & all other their instruments, which thus appareled went through the city demanding their new years gifts of all those they met withal, whether they were Turk's Christians, or jews in the honour of one of their saints, whose feast they celebrated that day. And the more to provoke men to give unto them, presented to the one an apple, to the other an orange, or as I have said, did cast sweet water in their faces, for you must understand that the liberality of the Turks and moors is so great that they will hazard to give the value of a Mangor, which is the 8. part of an Aspre, to have two or three Aspres again for it. The same day in the afternoon these worshipful Sacquas with their ornature came unto me to the house of my Lord the Ambassador, where then I was lodged, he being then in Andrinopole, to see as they said, the picture which the day before I had made of one of their companions, which brought them thither. But the end was, that they would not departed without having of me some present, alleging by their reasons that they had done me great honour, in coming to visit me with the best of their stuff and apparel, so as for to rid myself of them I gave them about 20. Aspres, and so being very well contented, they returned to the place from whence they came. Now to return unto my first purpose, some of these Sacquas, do this office of charity through devotion, which they have received at Mecqua, but the others do it for hope of a gain, which they pretend to get thereby, for besides that which is given unto them of alms, they are waged either publicly, or of some in particular. There are moreover divers other which in that order do keep before their houses great vessels of marber full of water, covered, & under lock and key, & about the bottom thereof is a cock of brass to draw water out of, with a cup of latten damasked, fastened unto it, with a small iron chain, to the intent that every on may drink thereof at his pleasure or going to the Mosque, likewise wash his hands. So as this charity is in such recommendation amongst the Turks, that there are no artificers keeping shops, which have not commonly great vessels or artificial fountains full of water standing upon their stalle●, for the common commodity as before I have amply declared. Sacquas, of nation a Moor, a bearer of water, and a Pilgrim of Mecqua. The fourth book of the Navigations and Peregrinations Orientals of N. Nicolay of Dauphin, Chamberlain and Geographer ordinary unto the king of France. Of the ancient Laws and manner of living of the Persians. The first Chapter. XEnophon in his first book of Cyropedie, which is to say, of the life and institution of Cyrus, speaking of the ancient custom of the Persians, saith that they had a certain great place called the place of liberty, whereas was the Palace royal, and other houses public; and that the same place was divided into four quarters. The first, being for the children: the second, for the young men: the third, for men of perfect age: and the fourth for the ancient and aged men unfit for the wars. Every one of the aforesaid degrees were by the laws constrained to repair at a time and hour appointed in his quarters. To wit, the children and perfect aged men at the point of the day: the ancients at certain days and hours for the affairs of the common wealth. The charge of the young men was in the evening to present themselves in arms, and so to pass about the houses public, except those which were married, which were not bound to appear except they were thereunto specially commanded. Every one of these quarters had twelve Provosts of the most wise and gravest that could be chosen, for that the nation of the Persians was divided into twelve lines. Over the children were appointed certain of the most ancient, wise, and best advised for to bring them up in virtue. To the young men, well to instruct them: to the men of perfect age, others were committed & deputed for to accustom and keep them in ●re, for the due obeisance towards their Prince. The ancients also had their superiors, which admonished them in the perfection of their duty: unto the Provosts, was given the charge and administration of justice, to do right unto every man, to condemn the offenders and false accusers, but above all other vices, ingratitude was most severely punished: for that they knew ingratitude to be the spring of all vices, the enemy of nature, poison unto sweetness, and destruction of benignity. They did moreover take great pains to make their children patiented and obedient towards their superiors, and able too endure both hunger and thirst, They never went to take their repast without leave and permission of their superiors and never did eat in the sight of their mothers, but in presence of their masters, having none other meat than bread and other small pulaunce, and for their drink nothing but clear water: their exercise was to cast the dart & to shoot: & being thus brought up from the age of 6. to 17. years, and came unto the degree of young men, under which they remained 10. years more, passing as I have said, in the nights to go about the streets & houses, aswell for the watch and surety of the town, as for to make them strong and able to endure pains, and to withdraw them from vice and voluptuousness. In the day time they did represent themselves before the Governors to be employed in the public affairs, as was commanded unto them: and whensoever the king would go on hunting (as every month he did,) he took the one half with him, set out and furnished with bows and arrows a skayne with a buckler, and two darts to throw at length, and the other weapons to fight at hand. And in this exercise they were instructed by the king as if it had been in the wars, so as he would not hunt himself alone, but had also a careful regard that his men should do as he did, saying and esteeming, hunting to be a true exercise of things requisite for the discipline of wars, as being an argument & occasion to use men to rise betimes to forbear heat and cold, hunger and thirst, and to travail and run a long while: they also took their meat with them, and dined not, before the hunting was ended, nor yet had they that which they had taken, nor yet their Cartadanne, which is to say, their accustomed fee. As for the other half of the young men that were left in the town, whilst these were a hunting, exercised themselves in those things which in their infancy they had learned, to wit, to cast the dart, and shoot in companies. And if any occasion fell out to take thieves and robbers, they were bound to wait on the Magistrate, and to assist him in the watch. Afterwards having spent ten years in this order of discipline, they were put amongst the degree of the men perfect in age, in which state they remained xxv. years more. And if need required to go to the wars they carried no more arrows nor darts, but all sorts of weapons to fight at hand, as the corselet on his back. The shield in the the one hand, and the sword in the other hand. The Magistrates were chosen and elected out of this degree, except the governors that had the charge over the children, who after they had thus lived and attained unto the years of fifty or above: they resorted with the elders and were no more subject to go unto the wars out of their country. And might freely return to their houses to judge of the affairs both common & private, give sentences of death and to chose Magistrates. In those days the common wealth of the Persians contained about six score thousand men of which none was excluded from coming to the said estate honour and dignity, for unto every Persian it was lawful to put his children to the school of the laws, if he had wherewithal to maintain and keep them, or else they brought them up in the learning of some science or occupation. The children that had been brought up in the laws might haunt and frequent amongst the young men, afterwards might also be acquinted with the perfect men, and achieve (according to their virtue) unto honours and dignities. And the men perfect, accompany amongst the old men, to be preferred unto the government of the common wealth, so as they had passed their time & years without reprehension. Of the religion and Ceremonies of the ancient Persians. Chap. 2. AS for their religion and ceremonies, they esteemed it for a great shame, openly to spit, blow the nose or to piss, or else to do any other like thing in public: they called the heaven jupiter, worshipped the Sun, which they called Mitra, and honoured the moon, Venus, the fire, the earth, the water and the wind. And bore such a reverence unto ●he water, that they would at no time bathe themselves in any river nor cast any carrion or dead thing into it. They did sacrifice near unto some lake, river or fountain, making a hole in the ground, within which was killed the beast that they would sacrifice: taking a special heed, that no drop of the blood should fall into the water, lest the same should thereby be polluted and uncleansed. And after this oblation was cut in pieces & dressed under some Bay tree or Laurel. Their Mages put the flesh into the fire by them made of small branches or barks of trees, & after some imprecations made, anointed their sacrifice with oil, milk & honey mixed together, Their king was created out of a certain family amongst them, to whom if any were disobedient, for his transgression and rebellion, had his head stricken off, and his body was left unburied. Every Persian (besides the number of Concubines which they kept:) for to increase their stock and lineage, took many women in marriage. And to her that brought forth most children in the year was by the king lawfully authorised marriage. Such was the ancient manner and living of the Persians, whose kings having possessed the Monarchy after the Medes for the space of 250. years were afterwards through many battles overcome and vanquished by Alexander the great, who surmounting Darius, were constrained to give place unto him in the Empire. The ancient weapons of the Persians. Cap. 3. THE Persians, (according to Herodote his saying) which went under the army of Darius, at the overcoming of Grecia, were armed after this manner, they had on their heads bourgonets, strong and inpenetrable, and upon their body's curates of shells of divers colours, with half Targets, and in steed of shields, bare targets of steel, (as at this present day they yet do) under which, hung their Cemiter. Their darts were short, but their bows and arrows made of Cane Reed, were long. Moreover, they had their Woodknife or skaine hanging at their girdle, beating on the left thigh. Of the religion of the Persians used now adays. Chap. 4. PResently all the Persians are Mahometistes, like unto the Turks, which two nations, notwithstanding that they both have one faith, yet are different in Ceremonies and opinions, for that Haly (which was cousin unto the false prophet Mahomet) or as some say his son in law having married his daughter Fatoma or Fatma) being the second caliph would no more bear this name, but would be called a messenger of God, as great or more than Mahomet, whose institutions laws and ordinances, he changed and disannulled and made new ones, whereby it came to pass that the Mahometists were divided, for those which followed Mahomet made a Caliphe in Egypt, and the other dwelled in Persia with Haly, which, of these two peoples was holden in such reverence, that unto this day the Turks do call upon him next after Ma●omet, saying Alla Mehemet Haly, which signifieth, god Mahomet Haly: and such hath been the division of the Mahometistes in their religion, which unto this present continueth betwixt the Turks and the Persians, which hath been the chief and beginning of all the wars which they have had one with another unto this present day. From Haly are descended the Sophis which nevertheless (as I have said in the description of Emir) is not the true name of the kings of Persia as some do think, but this name of Sophy cometh of their sect and religion, which commandeth that of an humility they should wear no array on their heads being more costly than is the wool▪ and for that in the Arabian tongue: wool is called Sophy, those being of that sect are called Sophians. These must always live in poverty and abstinence of wine and meats, and be in continual watchings and prayers. They are also called Etnazeri, for that their custom is to wear a Talbant high topped before divided with twelve pleites or folds, & that Nazerin the Arabian language signifieth twelve: they are also in derision called Kesulbach, which is to say, red head. So as through divers causes & accidents, this sect hath gotten and obtained divers names. Of the estate of the wars of the Persians nowadays. Chap. 5. AS for the state of the wars of the Persians: there are very puissant and warlike, having a good number of horsemen. Their men at arms are armed with curates, of shells, bucklers, roundels and targets of steel. Bourgonnets and headpieces of iron, garnished with feathers, having the right arm and hand armed, and do fight with a lance or light spear. Their horses are great and courageous, and are barded with leather. Moreover, they are set forth with strong and large bows, shooting arrows like unto those of the Tartaries, and are so given unto the service of their king (aswell for the opinion that they have that he hath some heavenly and divine spirit in him, opinion of the Persians towards their King. as also for the oath that they own unto their religion) that there can be no danger so great, wherein they will not hazard themselves without any fear of death. The deputed of the guard of the Sophia, are maintained at his charges & expenses, and at a time appointed, they have by ancient custom, given amongst them armour, horses, gowns, tenths and victuals, when he marcheth in the field he is environed with them for the surety & guard of his person. And often changing his place, seeking the most fruitful grounds of his regions for fouriage, doth visit the most noblest towns of his provinces. Afterwards at the point of the wars, the Dynastes Barons, tetrarchs, and vassals of the ancient nobility are by public edict called together to do that which they shallbe commanded, & in time ordained, do repair to their ensigns well appointed. Of these there may be about 50000. on horseback, part of them armed as before I have said, & part of them with some privy coat made of divers plates of iron. They fight with spear & dart, covering their bodies with their shields & targets. There are moreover those which are named to be of the royal city Sciras (in the which are made armours most excellent, which are the most esteemed, and nearest like unto the Assyrians in valiantness, hardiness, dexterit●e, & renown, more than any other nation of the East parts. As for the Armenians being subjects unto the Persians they do fight the most part of them on foot, and coming in the face of the enemy, having fixed in the ground a long row of darts, do defend themselves as with a rampired against the furious brunt of the horsemen, and do fight with arrows & short weapons. They have moreover for their aid the Iberians and Albanians inhabiting on the mount Ca●case sent by their kings unto them being friends and allied unto the Persians, and neighbours unto Medea and Armenia, the greater part whereof being half christians do bear unto the Turks the like hatred, which they of Persia do. Of the wanton and voluptuous life of the Persians. Chap. 6. THE aforesaid Persians now adays contrary to their ancient customs, are much given to all pleasure and voluptuousness, appareling themselves very sumptuously as the figure following doth show, using singular perfumes, & taking pleasure and delight in all jewels and precious stones. By their law it is permitted unto them to have many wives▪ which because they are very jealous of them, they keep shut up under the keeping of the eunuchs, and nevertheless like unto the Turks and other nations of the East parts, they are so given unto the detestable sine against nature, that they take it for no shame, but have places appointed and ordained for the same. I have seen and practised with divers Persian gentlemen which had given themselves into the service of the great Turk and spoken with them by interpreters, and Dragomans, as I have likewise done with divers merchants and artificers dwelling at Constantinople: but to say truth, I do find them without comparison, more noble, more civil, more liberal, and of better spirit and judgement than the Turks are, unto whom (what countenance soever they do show) they are mortal enemies, I think that I have now sufficiently described, the laws, customs, religions, and manner of living aswell of the antic as Modern Persians, and resteth now to describe unto you the situation of their country, whereunto to attain fully, I am deliberated (as hereafter ye shall understand) to follow the most ancient, famous, and modern Geographers & Historians, which are found to have theereof written. A Gentleman of Persia. Description of the kingdom of the Persians. Chap. 7. THE kingdom of the Persians (according to Ptolemy is a region of Asia (so named Persia after the name of Perseus the son of jupiter and Danae) which on the North part bordereth with the Medes, on the West with Susiana, on the East with the two Carmanies, and on the South with a part of the Persian sea or Gulf. In Persia are found many ancient and modern Cities, whereof the most ancients are Babylon, now called Baiadet. Suse which is altogether ruined, except the Castle, whereof as yet a part standeth: the great city of Procopolis or Percepolis upon the flood Araxes, in times past destroyed by Alexander the great. Likewise the City of Scyras, which remaineth in her autiquitie, containing in circuit with the suburbs, twenty thousand paces. Moreover the City of Alexandria (otherwise called Isia, cituated upon the river Syria) and Arion, lying all on the foot of the mount Caucase, upon the river Euprates (which the Arabians call Aforat) are the Cities of joppes and Nicephore, the Castle of Isse, where Darius was overthrown and discomfited. The Cities of Thesiphon and Carra, where was broken the army of Marcus Crassus, in which place are as yet seen divers sepulchers and antiquities, which the Inhabitannts do say to be of the Roman Senators, which died in the same overthrow. The Cities of Persogade, Opine and others, bordering upon Armenia the greater, being under the dominion of the Sophy. In which Armenia upon the river Euprates, are many towns inhabited of Christians, Georgians, being men valiant at arms. The names of their cities are, Tunis, Masestan, and Derbent, lying upon the Caspian sea, or sea of Bachau, there are likewise the Cities of Artassetta, Asimosia, and Micopoli. As for the Modern Cities of Persia the pincipallest where most often the Sophy dwelleth, is the noble City of Thauris anciently called Phasis, or Terua, and by the Persians vulgarly Teuris (being notwithstanding in Armenia:) within the same is used great traffic of divers merchandises, of cloth of gold of silver and of silk, and of all sorts of fine stones, & an infinite number of merchants do resort thither of all parts of the world as from the Indies from Baldac, from Molsuc, from Cremesol and from the country of the Latins: the other are Bagadet, whereof I have spoken before, and Cambalech, a great city Basta, Mulasia, Va●ta, Drecherin, and Saltamac: All which cities are in the country of Chelmodate betwixt the river Euphrates and the Tiger, upon the side of the mount Cortestan, called by the ancients the mount of Taur. Upon the said river of Euphrates lieth the city of Adene, and the castle of Bir. The Cities of Merchin, Assanchef, Sair, Chesfen, Vastian and Coy, all being cituated on the top, and about the mount Cortestan. Gies also being a great city six days journey distant from the gulf of Persia, otherwise called the Misidan Sea: upon the which lie also the isle & city of Ormus, where great trade of merchandise is used with the Portugals: and whereas are fished great quantity of Pearls. Likewise the cities of Sultania, Saban, Cassan, Come, and jex, being all cities of great Persia, well traded with merchandise, and whereas is made great quantity of silk, which is carried throughout all Suria, and into Bursia (anciently called Prusa) being the principal city of Bethinia, cituated at the foot of the Mount Olimpe. Upon the borders of the flood Indus, as ye go too Calicut, is the great city of Querdy, near the Persian gulf, and upon the river Bindamach the four cities following to wit, Vergan, Maruth, Sana and Nain, and on the North side from the Sea Caspium unto Thauris, Coy, Rey, Sidau, Billan, Strana, Barbariden, Madranolan, Samachi, and the city of Arben, which hath gates of iron, sometimes builded by Alexander the great. And upon the border of the same Sea, is the fair and rich city of Bacach. Moreover, towards Armenia the greater in Persia, are the cities of Ansengan, Maluchia, Sio, Ere & Meson. These are the fairest & most famous cities, which at this present are under the dominion of the Sophy: as for the rivers the most renowned in all Persia is Bindmir, of the ancients called Bragada, whereupon is to be noted that the distance from the sea Maior unto the Sea Caspium, is. Of the Persian women Chap. 8. IF amongst the women of the East parts, the Persians have of all ancestry obtained the laud and praise to be the most gentle, and proper in their apparel and clothing, so are they likewise no lessefull made in proportion of their bodies and natural beauty: namely, and above all other, those of the ancient and royal City of Sciras, which are so praised in their beauty, whiteness, pleasant civility and shamefast grace, that the moors of an old and common Provet be will say, that their Prophet Mahomet would not go to Scyras, for fear that he having once tasted of the pleasures of those women, his soul after his death could never have entered into Paradise, we have moreover sufficient testimony of the singular beauty of these Persian women by Alexander the great, who keeping the daughters of the king Darius, as his prisoners, would never salute them but with his eyes looking downwards, and beside so seldom as he could, for the fear which he had of being overcome with their beauty, and would say sometimes unto his familiar friends, that the daughters of the Persians did great harm unto the eyes of those that looked upon them. The Persians in their habit go very honourably clothed, and like unto the Turks and Grecians wear long gowns, closed and buttoned before, and attire their heads with sundry bands of divers colours, the ends whereof hang down very low before and behind over their shoulders, in the form and manner as the picture following doth show unto you, which I have naturally drawn out in Constantinople, with the favour of a Persian with whom I was entered in friendship, but it was not without cost, great difficulty and danger, for that there is no nation in the world, which are more loath to let their wives be seen, not only unto strangers (like as I was unto them) but scarce they will trust them with their nearest parents, whether they be father or brother, so full are they of suspicion and jealousy. The first Sibille (called Sanabete or Sambetha) of whom Nicanor maketh mention, describing the deeds of Alexander, was of nation a Persian, notwithstanding that some do say a Chaldean, having too her father one called Berose, and her mother being called Erimanthe, she compounded four and twenty books and prophesied the miracle of the five loaves and two fishes as more amply is treated in the book of the Sebilles'. A Woman of Persia. Description of the three Arabies, and first of the rocky, or stony. Chap. 9 To come to the more easier knowledge of the laws, manners, customs, religion, and manner of living of the ancient and modern Arabians, I have taken in hand first to begin with the description of their country, which according to ptolemy and other Geographers aswell ancient as modern hath been divided into three provinces, to wit, Arabia the stony, Arabia the desert, and Arabia the happy: Arabia parted into three provinces. Arabia the stony was thus called of the name of the old and famous city of Petra (called in isaiah the stone of the desert) and presently according to Voleteran, Arach. Notwithstanding that the vulgar Arabians do call it Rabach, cituated upon the brook Arnon: and whereas anciently was the seat royal, namely in the time of the most puissant king Areta, which about the coming of our saviour into the world was king. Or else this country is called stony, because of the great mountains and rocks which environ & close the same in. Notwithstanding, that within the same are found divers fountains abounding of very good waters: she bordereth on the West with Egypt, almost in the midst of Istma, being between the castles of Posside, presently called Ara, and Rinocorura, lying upon the further parts of the red sea, or the Arabian sea, & on the part of our Mediterane sea, the lake of Syrboni, between which space (whereof Pliny maketh but 125. miles) the seas coming from divers parts do divide themselves. And the third part of the world which is Asia the greater, joineth there with the firm land of Egypt above Istma, at the mouth of the red sea, which appertaineth unto this Arabia, and extendeth beyond the gulf Elanitick, and the city Elane of whom this gulf hath taken his name. Of the East and the south it is environed with mountains, which divide the same on the one side from Arabia the happy: and on the other part from the desert. On the North it bordereth with Syria entering unto the lake Asphaltide (so named because of the abundance of the Asphalte which it produceth: which is gathered upon this lake, of which is made the Greek fire, some do call it Stercus Demonum, for that the smell thereof stinketh very much) Philadelphe and Batanee, and in none other place is the said Arabia more fertile then in this, This Arabia was in times passed through the great heat & barrenness of the fields, little esteemed of the ancients, but we ought otherwise to think thereof, for the memory and reverence of the divine things which there have happened: for be●ingly she received and kept the children of Israel: for the space of forty years, after they had marvelously passed dry foot through the red sea. And likewise the same time the City of Madian nourished Moses, his wife and children. Likewise within the same is the mount Sinai, or Oreb, which Ptolemy calleth Melane, and the moors Turla▪ upon the which the law was given unto Moses. near unto this mount is the stone, which being touched by the said Moses, cast forth water abundantly to the great alteration of the children of Israel. Likewise towards Egypt is the mount Casie so renowned for the sepulture of Pompee the great, which there is. Plynie calleth the people of this Arabia, and of the desert Scenites, because they dwelled under tents & cabbynes, without having any other houses or buildings, and like Vagabonds went straying with their cattle from place to place, staying only at the place where abundance of pasture bade them. Their most famous and ancient neighbours are the Nabathees, so called by the name of Nabaioth the son of Ishmael, neighbours also unto the Amoverats. Of Arabia the desert. Chap. 10. THe second Arabia, which is the desert, is of great compass and Solitude, which on the West part (according to Ptolemy) bordereth upon Arabia the stony, and on the East with the Sea Persic and along the Chaldees is divided from Arabia the happy, being on the North side, with the river Euphrates, which cometh from Comaigene: she is inhabited with divers peoples, whereof those which are called Naba●●ees, which do dwell in the East parts the most desert, and without water, go straying like unto thieves through the fields, making many incursions upon their neighbours, and unto the Carovanes, which thereby do pass to go to Medine and to the Mecqua. For in all Arabia the desert, there are but these two Towns, and the place called Metach, where Mahomet wrote his Alcoram, but there are many small castles: the Country is so barren, that it bringeth forth neither trees, fruits, nor waters but very little. But the inhabitants, which do none other occupation then to rob and steal do dig there certain pits which are unknown unto the strangers, & by that means do eschew the danger of their enemies, & cannot be overcome▪ likewise have always lived with all liberty without at any time to have been subject unto strange kings, but under certain Captains unto whom they obey. Many have written that besides these great deserts, there is another called the sandy sea, the greatest whereof which is called Benahali is in breadth twelve days journey, being all white and lose sand. These said deserts are called sea, for that like unto the sea, they are subject unto the fortune of the winds, so as those which do conduct the Carovanes, are constrained to help themselves with the card and compass as the mariners do upon the sea. And he which is the guide goeth before mounted on a camel: but if through misfortune the wind come contrary unto their way, divers are found buried in the sand: & whensoever that happeneth few do escape the peril: these dead carcases being by succession of time discovered, are curiously taken up, & carried unto the merchants, who buy the same, and is, as divers do affirm, that which is called Mumie. Plutarch writing of the life of Alexander maketh mention, that in this great desert remained dead under the sands fifty thousand men of the army of Cambyses, this sand being moved with a storm which blew out of the south. And that which is worse in all this sandy sea, is found no water, but those which do pass through it, must carry the same upon their Camels: with all other things necessary for the sustentation of their bodies: for, during these twelve days journey there is nothing to be found but white sand. The principallest places of this Arabia, near unto the red Sea, are the City of Zidem, the port of Mecqua, and the isle of Camarran, The people thereof are of complexion nearer the black then white, and are all Mahometistes. Of Arabia the happy. Chap. 11. THe third Arabia so called of Arabo the son of Apollo of Babylon, by the Grecians called Eudemon which signifieth very happy, separateth judea from Egypt, and divideth itself from Arabia the desert at the port of Zidem, & within the firm land stretcheth unto Arabia the stony, she hath at the mouth of the Sea, the city of Adem, which is in greatness, strength, quantity of people, & traffic of merchandise, the most famous, not only of this province, but likewise of all those other parts. Moreover, Fatarque the isle of Maeyra, at the cape of Reselgati, Calha, Masquati & Curia on the side of the straight of Ormus: and also amongst the mountains are divers other Cities, Castles and Villages. The people are very apt for the arms, because they are ordinarily exercised in the wars: Their horses are the best in the world, and have great number of Camels and Oxen, whom they use in carrying of farthels and burdens, and other things necessary. Of nature they are presumptuous and proud, notwithstanding do obey unto a king which for the most part of the time, hath wars with certain people of the other Arabies. The part of this Arabia bordering upon Ethyopia by the ancients called Trogloditick, beginneth upon the red sea, towards the country of the Abissins, and endeth at the isle of Madagassar otherwise called the isle of S. George, and extendeth near unto the isle of Delaque: some do say that it extendeth no further than unto the cape of Guardafumi, which if it be so, she hath without the straight Zeila, Barbora: and within Delaque Laquari, being a port not greatly peopled; from whence if it were not for fear of the Arabians, which assail and rob the Carovanes that pass along, ye might by land go over in 6. days unto the river of Nyl. The richest & best peopled nation of this region are the Sabees. The Metropolitan City whereof is called Saba, cituated on a high mounted in which their king was in times past created by succession of lineage, with great honour and rejoicing of the people, whose life although the same seemed to be happy for that he might do all things, and had every man at commandment without giving account or reason of those things which he did, it was mixed with a great many of perplections: for that it was not permitted unto him to go out of his palace upon pain (that attempting the contrary) to be forthwith stoned by the people, being an ancient superstition and observance which they had by an oracle of their gods. This region above all the other in the world, is the most pleasant and abundant of things precious & Aromatic. Moreover it beareth corn abundantly, olives & all other excellent fruits, and is watered with divers rivers, & most wholesome fountains. The South part is furnished with divers fair forests, full of trees, bearing Frankincense and myrrh. Palm trees, cinnamon, Casse & Ledanun, the savour of these trees being unto the smelling of men of such a sweetness: that the same seemeth rather to be heavenly then earthly or human. So as it might be said, that nature consulted there to gather together so many good and sweet smells. In the same forests are a great number of red and venomous serpents, which leaping upon men do bite them with poison most dangerous and mortal. They make fire of the branches of myrrh, The smell of myrrh unwholesome, but the smell thereof is so pernicious, that if they did not remedy the same with the smoke of Storax, it would engender unto them sicknesses uncurable. They which gather the Frankincense (dedicated unto divine honours) are called sacred or holy, for that during the time of their gathering, they do abstain from women and burials, esteeming, that by that kind of observation and ceremony, their merchandise will increase the more; divers have written, that the incense is not found in any other place then in Arabia. But Pedro Gesa of Leon, in his second part of the history general of the west Indies, saith: that near unto the river Marannon, is found great quantity of Frankincense, better than that of Arabia. In this place are also found the Sardonique stones, Molochite, and those which are called Iris, being of colour as clear as crystal, the Andromede also and the Pederote, which Pliny calleth Opalius: it is said also, that there is bred the bird Phoenix, which liveth as some do say ●40. years: but Pliny saith 660. years; & Manilius, Senator of Rome affirmeth, that with the life of this bird, the revolution of the great year is made, which divers (as Solin) say to consist, not in 540. years, but in 12950. years. Let him believe it that wil● as for me, I think that to speak of the Phoenix is none other thing then the telling of a fable; unto the ports of the said Zeila, Barbora, & Delaqua, come to traffic, the merchants of Cambaia, of Aden, & of the whole Arabia. They bring thither small clothes of divers sorts and colours, and other things from the said Cambaye and Ormmus, and for their merchandises, they receive again raisins, dates, gold, ivory and slaves, and do their traffic at the port of Zeila, and Barbora▪ unto which ports likewise do come they of Chiloa, Melinde, Brava, Madagassar, and Mombaza. And thus by these two ports are dispersed the merchandises throughout the countries of the Abissins, and even into Turkey and Graecia, where I have seen divers merchants of Arabia, clothed and appareled as the figure following doth show. A Merchant of Arabia. Of the ancient manner of living, laws, and religion of the Arabians. Chap. 12. IN old times the Arabians had amongst them divers manner of living and different ceremonies, they wear long hair, and wear on their heads a cloth wreathd, shaving their beard with a razor, suffered no hair to grow, but only the moustaches betwixt the nose & the mouth as they do yet at this present. As for arts & sciences, they kept no school, but lived after the instructions which they had received of their fathers. Unto the most ancient of them was given the puissance & government over all the other, having nothing particular, but lived all in one commonalty: using their wives which they took of their lineage, in common, yea even of their own mothers & sisters, esteeming themselves in that manner, as all brethren together. And such amongst them as used carnal company with any other woman, then as was of his own blood, was punished by death as an Adulterer. They had in great observation the solemnity of others, for whensoever they would swear amity and confederation with any other, they set in the midst of the 2. parties, some certain person who with a sharp cutting stone, cut them in the hand as near the thumb as might be: & afterwards took the hair & flocks of their coats which he dipped within the blood, & there with rubbed 7. stones, which were laid between both the jurants, calling upon Bacchus & Uranie, (for they had an opinion that there were none other gods, than these: calling Bacchus, Vratalt, & Vranie Alilat) & then the mediator of such a peace & amity, admonished the 2. parties carefully to observe & keep the pacts & coventions between them made & sworn. The Arabians as before we have said, are crafty & proud, & do believe that in valour & hardiness they do surpass all the other nations in the world: for the present they are all obseruators of the sect of Mahomet, & the most part are subject and Tributories unto the great Turk. A Slave Moor. Of the adventurers called Dellis or Zatasnicis. Chap. 13. DEllis are adventurers, like unto light horsemen, whose profession is to seek their adventures in the most dangerous places, Dellys. where by warlike feats of arms they make proof of their strength and manhood, and therefore do love to follow the army of the great Turk, without any wages (like unto the Anchises) but that the most part of them are kept and entertained at the charges of the Bashass, Beglierbeiss and Sangiaques, which every one of them have a number of the bravest & valiantest in their train. These do dwell in the parties of Bossine, & Servia, bordering upon Graecia on the one side, and on the other, Hungary and Austria, and at this present time are called Seruians or Crovats, which are the true Illirians, whom Herodian in the life of Severus, describeth to be men most valiant, of great stature, well shapen, and big set, their colour being yealowishe, but of nature most malicious, and of custom more than barbarous, of gross understanding, and easy to be deceived. Notwithstanding they were in great estimation with Alexander the great: yea, so that oftentimes they durst undertake to take in hand the occupying of Macedonia. The Turks do call them Dellys, which is to say hardy fools: but amongst them they call themselves Zatasnicis, which signifieth in their language, defyers of men, for that every one of them are bound to fight against ten (before they can attain to the name and token of Delly, or Zatasnici) they challenge always body for body, to break the spear upon their enemies, using in their fights many guiles and crafts, which are remained to them from their ancestors, with such dexterity & hardiness, that most often they remain victorious. The first Delly, that I saw, was in Andrinopole, being then with the Lord of Arramont, in the house of Rostan Bassa, too whom the said Delly was retaynour, who not only at my request: but also in hope to have some present, as he had, did follow us unto our lodging, where whilst he was making good cheer, I took the extract of his person, and of his strange habit, which was such as followeth, his doublet and his long and large hosen, by the Turks called Saluares, were of the skin of a young bear, with the hair outward: and under their Saluares, boots, or buskins of yellow Marokin, sharp before and very high beinde, shod underneath with iron, and compassed with long and large spurs. Upon the head he had a long cap after the Polonian or Georgian fashion, hanging down over one of his shoulders made of a Leopards skin well spotted, and over the same before the forehead for too show more fearful, was fastened a long tail of an Eagle and the two wings nailed upon the target with two great iron nails, which he carried in a scarf about his shoulders: his arms were the Cymiter or skayne, and the dagger: and in the right hand the Busdegan, which is to say, the mase of arms well damaskaned. But certain when he departed from Andrinopole, with the forces which Achmat Bascha (which since the great Turk caused to be strangled in his bed) carried for the great Lord into Transsiluania, I saw him mounted on a fair Turkey horse decked with the whole skin of a great Lion, fastened with the two foremost feet before upon the breast, and the other two hanging down behind, his Busdegan hung at his saddle bow, & in his right hand bore a long lance, the poleaxe at the point being well steeled, altogether being as ye may lively see in the picture following. I was moreover curious to ask him by a Dragoman of what nation he was, and what religion he kept, whereupon wisely he gave me to understand that he was of nation a Seruian, but that his grandfather was descended of the Parthes', a people sometimes renowned & esteemed to be the most warlike in all the East parts: and that as for his religion notwithstanding that he dissembled to live with the Turks according to their law, yet was he from his birth of heart & will, a christian, & the better to make me believe it, he said in the vulgar Greek, and in the Esclavon tongue, the lords Prayer, the salutation of the Angel, and the Symbol of the Apostles. Furthermore I asked him why he did apparel himself so strangely, and with such great feathers, his answer was, that it was to show and appear unto his enemies▪ more furious & fearful. And as for the feathers, the custom amongst them was, that to none other it was permitted to wear them: but unto such as had made some memorable proof of their person for that amongst them the feathers were esteemed to be the true ornament of a valiant man of war, which was all that I could learn of this pretty Delly. Delly which signifieth fool hardy. Of the men and women of Celicia, presently called Caramania. Chap. 14. WIthin the city of Constantinople, near unto the 7 towers there is a great street for the most part inhabited by the Caramanians (by the ancients called Cilicians) living as other strange nations do under the tribute of the great Turk and exercising merchandises or handicrafts, wherein they are very ingenious and cunning, specially in goldsmiths work, & imbrodering. The Goldsmiths keep their shops near unto the Bezestan, which is, as before I have said, a hall, whereas all sorts of costly merchandises are sold, as of gold, of silver, of stones, furs, cloth of gold, and of silver and silk, slaves, Camels & horses unto him that most biddeth: Amongst which Caramanians are the most excellent and richest works. The Caramanian women, principally those of quality, do but seldom go abroad, as the other Grecians do, except it be to the baths or to the Church: but keep themselves ordinarily enclosed within their houses, employing their time in making of divers fair needleworks upon cloth, which they put to be sold at the Bezestan or other common markets. But the other women of less estate, for to get their living and for relief of their necessity, give themselves to sell openly within the city, eggs, chickens, cheeses, and herbs, & go appareled as ye see in the figure ●ollowing. But the richer sort go more bravely & costly appareled, for they wear their Doliman, either of velvet, satin or damask, & on their head a long mitre, figured with flowers of divers colours, covered with a great cloak, hanging down behind to the ground: the men are appareled after the fashion of the other Grecians, observing the same faith and religion, and obey unto the patriarch of Constantinople. A woman of Caramania. Of Cilicia presently called Caramania. Chap. 15. AS for the country of Caramania, first called Cilicia, of the name of Caelix the son of Agenor, according to Herodote, Hipachea, Cilicia of Cilix. is described by Ptolemy in his fift book as a province of little Asia, having for her borders towards the East, the mount Aman, presently called the black mountain, of the North the mount of Taur, of the west side a part of Pamphilia, and on the other part of the South the uttermost parts of the gulf Issique, which now is called ●asse. This region is environed with high and sharp mountains, from the which drop towards the sea, divers rivers. And of these mountains the issues are very narrow, and straight▪ of the one & other side environed high with mountains, first called the ports of Armenia, afterwards the mountains of Caspie, & presently of Silicia: through which narrow straits, Alexander the great going into the East parties, with great perils and dangerous hazard, made his army to pass. The principal and Metropolitan city of this country is Tharse▪ vulgarly called Terrase, being the place of birth and household of S. Paul, which first was founded by the noble Perseus' son of the fair Danae. Although Solin, and pope Pius attribute her first edification unto Sardanapal the last son of Anacindaraxe, and last king of the Assyrians: through the midst of the same Country runneth the fair river Cydne or Ca●ne, by the Frenchmen called the river of Salef, which takes her spring from the mount of Taur and wherein was drowned the Emperor Fredrick Barberosse. vitrvuius in his eight book and third chapter saith, that if they did wash their legs within this river Cydne, that incontinent after they should find themselves cleansed and healed of their disease. The Tarsians were in times passed so given to philosophy, that they excelled the Athenians and Alexandrians, notwithstanding that the Athenians were more famous and renowned in strange countries, and that their City was more frequented with all sorts of people. Nevertheless, the Tarsians were in philosophy more excellent, and of their city took origin, Antipater, Archelaus, Antenor, Marcel, Diogenes, Artemidore, Dionysius, and Crates the Grammarian. Besides Tarse the head city of Cilicia, there is another renowned city of the ancients called Coryce, and of the moderns Curth, of all sides environed with a haven of the sea, saving of one side being very straight which joineth unto the firm land. Above this city there is an Antherne, a cave or den, A cave very strange. which Pomponius Mela saith to be made by such singular artifice of nature, that the admiration, excellency, and sovereign beauty thereof, carrieth those that enter into it out of their proper senses and memory and almost ravisheth and taketh away the spirits of those, which upon the sudden enter into it. But after they are come to themselves, they cannot satisfy them of the pleasure which is there. For, for to come to the bottom of this heavenlike den, you do descend by a fair stare, about 3. quarters of a mile indelectable and shadowed, where is heard a harmony more than humane, certain sounds agreeing, & sounding like unto symbals or other melodious instruments, which greatly abasheth and seemeth marvelous to those that first enter into it. So as in times past the inhabitants of the country by superstitious, opinion did think, that this sounding cave was the sepulchral bed of the valiant Giant Typhon. In the plain fields, which are about Coryce or Curth groweth abundance of very good saffron, giving more smell, & being more like unto the colour of gold, and more profitable in medicines, than any other, & hath for the singularity thereof by the ancients been called saffron of Coryce. Tarse therefore and Coryce are two the most famous and renowned Cities of Cilicia or Caramania, although there be divers others of good and antic name, as Selimontis in the honour of the good Emperor trajan after his death consecrated in his name, and called Traianopolis. There is also Satalia cituated upon the sea coast of Cilicia, whereof hath taken the name the gulf of Satalia, anciently called Issa, and presently jasse: about this place Alexander the Macedonian vanquished and overcame the great Darius' king of the Persians, by reason whereof the City was called Nicopolis, which is to say, town of victory. Moreover in the same region, is as yet resting the ancient town of the Sun called Heliopolis, or to say better, Solos or Soloe, for that Solon one of the seven sages of Grecia, was founder thereof, and afterwards by the name of Pomp was called Pompeiopolis, for that in the time of the triumphant Rome, the Sicilians dwelling along the coast of the Mediteran sea, a people being acquainted with the seas, & exercising the navigation, Pirates, Coursaries, and Skummers of the sea, stood up in so great number, and so strong men given to piracy, & of vessels and ships necessary for that purpose, as Foists, and Brigantins, that they possessed and kept the Sea side in such distress, that they did not only let and annoy the merchants ships, and ships of war, but likewise kept the ports and passages so shut, that they kept away the corn and victuals from all Italy, whereby the Roman people were in danger of being famished. Wherefore (as Flore writeth in his Epitome) Pompee was sent against them with an army, which through marvelous diligence and speed within forty days overcame them, and chased them clean out of the sea, and in the end having on the land taken them into mercy, sent them into certain towns and lands in Cilicia, far from the Sea, there to dwell and live, and too the end to purge the sea: and namely assigned new inhabitants in the town then called Soloe, and since upon this reason Pompeiopolis. The Cilicians were in times passed called Tarses (as josephus writeth) their denomination having taken that name of Tarse, nephew unto japhet, who first gave them the order too live, bearing over them the principality and government. Likewise, called after his name their chief city Tarse. Now a days the whole Cilicia is as I have said, called Caramania, a country reduced under the puissance and domination of the great Turk, which before was a kingdom so puissant, that the kings of Caramania, might have brought into the field forty thousand men on horseback, yea that Orcan Lord of the Turks son, and successor of the first Ottoman, who made himself chief of the Turks, and that first gave the name of his nobleness to their Emperors, durst well, for to make himself more noble to take in marriage the daughter of Caraman king of Caramania, so called after his name, after he had conquested and overcome the same. Of the Merchant Iewes dwelling in Constantinople and other places of Turkey and Grecia. Chap. 16. jews great usurers. THE number of the jews dwelling throughout all the Citities of Turkey and Grecia, and principally at Constantinople is so great, that it is a thing marvelous and incredible, for the number of these, using trade and traffic of merchandise, like of money at usury, doth there multiply so from day too day, that the great haunt and bringing of merchandises which arrive there of all parts aswell by Sea as by land, is such, that it may be said with good reason that at this present day they have in their hands the most and greatest traffic of merchandise and ready money, that is in all Levant. And likewise their shops and warehouses the best furnished of all rich sorts of merchandises, which are in Constantinople are those of the jews. Likewise they have amongst them workmen of all arts and handicrafts most excellent; and specially of the Maranes of late banished and driven out of Spain & Portugal, who to the great detriment and damage of the Christianity, have taught the Turks divers inventions, crafts and engines of war, as to make artillery, harquebuses, gun powder, shot and other munitions: they have also there set up printing, not before seen in those countries, by the which in fair characters they put in light divers books in divers languages, as Greek, Latin, Italian, Spanish, and the Hebrew tongue, being too them natural, but are not permitted to print the Turkey or Arabian tongue: they have also the commodity & usage to speak and understand all other sorts of languages used in Levant, which serveth them greatly for the communication and traffic, which they have with other strange nations, to whom oftentimes they serve for Dragomans, or interpreters. Besides, this detestable nation of the jews, are men full of all malice, fraud, deceit, and subtle dealing, exercising execrable usuries amongst the Christians and other nations without any consciences or reprehension: but have free licence, paying the tribute: a thing which is a great ruin unto the country & people where they are conversant. They are marvelous obstinate and stubborn in their infidelity▪ attending daily their Messiah promised, by whom they hope to be brought again into the land of promise: they have the vale of Moses so knit before the● eyes of their understanding, that they will not nor by any manner of means can see, or acknowledge the brightness and light of ●esus Christ, whom through misbelief, envy, and unmeasured rage, they condemned and caused too die on the cross, and charging themselves with the offence & sin committed towards his person, wrote unto Pilate, his blood be upon us and our children, and therefore their sin hath followed them and their successors throughout all generations, so as where they would not receive his salvation, the same for ever shallbe kept from them, to their great mischief and confusion, for since their extermination and the vengeance upon jerusalem unto this present day, they had at no time any certain dwelling place upon the face of the earth, but have always gone straying dispersed and driven away from Country to country. And yet even at this day in what region soever they are permitted to dwell under tribute, they are abhorred of God and men, and more persecuted of the Turks, which in derision call them Chifont, then of any other nation, who have them in such disdain and hatred, that by no means they will eat in their company, and much l●sse marry any of their wives or daughters, notwithstanding that oftentimes they do marry with Christians, whom they permit too live according to their law, and have a pleasure too eat and be conversant with Christians: and that which is worse, if a jew would become a Muselman, he should not be received, except first leaving his judaical sect he became a christian. The jews which dwell in Constanstinople, Andrinople, Bursia, Salonica, Gallipoli, & other places of the dominion of the great Turk, are all appareled with long garments, like unto the Grecians, and other nations of Levant, but for their mark and token to be known from others, they wear a yellow Tulbant. Those that dwell in the isle of Chio (which are in great number under the tribute of the Signiory) in steed of a Tulbant do wear a great cap of credit, which some do call a bonnet of Arbaleste, being also of yellow colour. This which I have drawn out is one of those that carry cloth to sell through the city of Constantinople. A Merchant jewe. Of the Armenians. Chap. 17. THE Armenians are conversant in Turkey and Grecia like unto strangers, chief at Constantinople and Pera, being the most part merchants, do great traffic of merchandizes of Levant, as Chamblets, Mockadoes, Says, and Carpets of Suria. The poorer sort of them are artificers, or else do give themselves to dressing of gardens and vines. Their garments are long, like unto the Grecians and other nations of the East parts, and on their heads do wear a blue Tulbant, mixed with red and white, for that it is not permitted unto any then to the Turks to wear a Tulbant being white only. The religion and manner of living of the ancient Armenians. Chap. 18. IN times past, the Armenians in their laws, customs & manner of living, did not much differ from the Medians, nor likewise in their religion, wherein the most part followed the error of the Persians, nevertheless the Persians worship one Goddess only called Tanais, Tanais a goddess worshipped by the Armenians. unto whom they builded in sundry places, divers temples, and dedicated unto them not only their men and woman servants, but likewise their own daughters of the most noble houses: their law being such as constrained them too put them forth publicly, and a long time unto all comers, before they might be married, & there was none that for this matter would refuse too take them in marriage, which to contract, they did as followeth. The bride groom did cut of the tip of the right ear of the bride, A strange fashion of contracting marriage, and the bride of the left ear of her husband, & by this mutual consentment without any other ceremony, was the marriage contracted and observed between them, and published to all the world. But when they would vow any great & solemn oath, they took of the blood of their right ear, & so drunk it with wine, as is written in the nienth book of Valerius Maximus. josephus in his first book of the antiquity of the jews, writeth, that Otree the son of Aram, was he which first gave the law and manner of living unto the Armenians. Modern religion of the Armenians. Chap. 19 AS for their faith and modern religion, they are christians, having their church and ceremonies a part, as all other not being Turks have, all which the great Lord doth permit, to live according to their mind, their law and religion, paying unto him the Carach or tribute of a Ducat for every head by the year. Notwithstanding the ceremonies of the christian Armenians are far different from those of the church of Rome, & a great deal more from the Grecian, for that in steed of a pope of Rome, or Patriarch of Grecia, or else of an Abyma, chief of Aethiopian church, and the country of Prester johannes, they have a catholic Lord, being both temporal and spiritual▪ to whom aswell in ecclesiastical reverence as temporal justice they do equally obey. Their priests are married according to the liberty of the oriental church, & of the Ethiopians, which in apparel do show themselves modest, of countenance, grave and venerable, being shaven on their head with a large crown, wearing their hair hanging down very long & likewise their beard. They celebrate their office after the manner of the latin church, but not in latin nor greek, but in the Armenian tongue, to the end without any difficulty to be better understanded of the standers by, which do answer them in the same vulgar language. And when they do rise to hear the gospel read, do cross themselves, in sign of peace and reconciliation, making their sacrament according to the Roman manner, with a round cake, with a chalice of glass or wood. Amongst the annual feasts they do not celebrate the nativity of our Lord jesus Christ, but on the twelfth day, use great feasts and solemnity▪ As for the Lent they do fast and observe the same as we do, but with greater and straighter abstinence, not only of earthly flesh and fish: but likewise of all other substances wherein life hath been, and of all nourishing and delectable liquors of oil and wine, using none other food, than simple meats without fatness, as herbs fruits, and certain lean pottages. True it is that for to show themselves more different from the Grecians, the Emulators, at certain days on the friday, they do eat flesh and drink wine, and use of all other meat and drink that pleaseth them. And amongst all the holy Apostles of the catholic church, they take S. james the greater, for their great patron & protector. Their ecclesiastical men in their manner of doing and outward appearance, do show a great sanctimony, devotion, modesty, & simplicity of life, as well in their garments, fashion, & ornaments of the body, as in gesture, port, & manner of going, if they were not furred with too great & mischievous hypocrisy, for under such devout pretext of holiness & religion, they do not only without any shamefastness exercise usury as the secular men do, but also give themselves to the art magic, and all other sorts of southsaying and Nicromancies, altogether contrary to the true and christian religion. Of Armenia. Chap. 20. TO come now to the original country of the Armenians, you must understand that Armenia is a region in Asia, so called Armenia by the name of Armene, otherwise called thessal, companion of jason the Thessalonian in his expedition Argonantique, and is divided in two parts, to wit, Armenia the greater, now called Turcomania, & Armenia the lesser, which yet reserveth his name. In this region (as Isidore saith) is the mount Ararat, otherwise called the mount Gordian, upon the top whereof rested and remained the ark of Noah, after the great deluge was ceased. Through the plains of Armenia passeth the river Araxe by them called Arath, and likewise a great part of the renowned Rivers of Euphrates & Tiger. The Euphrates which in the Assyrian tongue is called Almacher, through his inundations (as Nilus doth in Egypt) maketh the country fruitful and abundant, in the channel and decourse whereof are found many precious stones of great price and value. Ptolemy in the first book of his Geography, & pope Pius in his 3. part of the description of Asia, describe Armenia after this manner: on the North side it hath a part of Colcide, now called Calpurt of Hiberia and Albania: on the West it hath the great course of the river of Euphrates, which on the left hand leaveth Capadocia▪ Armenia the lesser, Sirrah, Comegena, and towards the Euxine the mounts Mosquises. On the East it is termined with part of the Sea Hircanum, and of Media, toward the which are the Caspian mounts: and on the South side hath Mesopotamia and Assyria. The most famous mountains of Armenia are the Mosquises, which stretch towards Capadocia upon the part of Periade, whereas are the springs of Euphrates, Araxes and Antitaure, which is the half part of the Euphrates, & runneth through Media and Armenia, and at the end of his course is called Albus: the Cordicque out of which the Tiger groweth and extendeth unto the pales of Tospie the Taur, and the Niphante, which divide Mesopotamia and Assyria from the Armenians, the Caspiens which decline to the Medes and the Caucases, which shut up the North parts towards Iberia & Albania▪ As for the rivers most renowned in Armenia▪ the 4 principallest are these which follow: Cyrus which growing from the mount Caucase, leaveth on the left hand Iberia and Albania, and on the right hand Armenia, and so falleth into the Hircan Sea: Araxe, (which as we have said) falling from the mount Periade, taketh his course far Eastwardes, afterwards inclineth towards the North, and having run so a great way, divideth into two streams, whereof the one keepeth his course northwards, and falleth into Cyrus, and the other towards the East, casteth out into the Sea Caspium: the Euphrates which issueth out of the same mount towards the West, runneth unto the Mounts of the Mosquice, and to the borders of Capadocia, and from thence taketh his course far towards the South, returning too Antitaure parteth the same from Armenia the lesser: afterwards taking his right course towards the South; the flood Mela, which falleth from the mount Arga, after cutting the Taur in two, leaveth Syria on the right hand, and Mesopotamia on the left, extending unto Arabia the desert, & then again having run along course towards the South, & tending again towards the East and West, separateth Babylon from Mesopotamia, & of new returning towards the East, not far from Selencia, boweth towards the South, & maketh a great course by Apamia: and afterwards running once again towards the East, mingleth with the Tiger, which also taketh his origin in Armenia, from the mount Cordicke: & running with him towards the south, entereth into the gulf of Persia. The most famous cities of Armenia the less, according to Pliny in his sixth book the nienth chapter, are Cesaria, Asa, and Nicopoli. And of Armenia the greater, Arsamote, which Ptolemy calleth Arsamosate near unto Euphrates, and to the Tiger Carcachiocerte. In the mountains is Tigranocerte, and in the plain near unto the flood Araxe, Artaxete. Ptolemy speaketh of a great many more which I leave behind for eschewing of prolixity, but only that I will say, that at this present day, Armenia the greater hath the first place amongst the countries of Sophy, as being ennobled of his royal city of Tauris or Terua, as Ptolemy saith, or else as it seemeth unto some Hebrews very well experimented in languages, & assieties of countries, the famous & ancient city of Susa. But as fo● Armenia the lesser, the most part thereof is now under the yoke & dominion of the great Turk, and Armenia the greater, under the puissance of Sophi king of the Persians. A Merchant of Armenia. Of the Ragusins, Chap. 21. THe Ragusins generally are rich: for that they are very covetous, inclining their mind to nothing more than to the gain of merchandise, and to make ready money. Besides this, they are of nature so proud, that they do not think to be more knowledge or nobleness in any other nation than is in them▪ And to speak truth they do deserve great praise, considering that the situation of their town being in such a sharp place, and so straightly extended, by their only virtue and industry, yea almost in despite of nature, they have opened the way to all commodities necessary. The apparel of the men is such, that some do cloth themselves after the Venetian, & others after another manner, as ye may see by that figures following, to wit, the merchants & the foot posts, as are the Fantes carrying of letters, whom we do call messengers which carry the ordinary dispatches from Raguse to Constantinople, and from Constantinople to Raguse, aswell of the Ambassadors of France, as of the hostages of the Venetians and florentines. Their common language is the Sclavonian speech, and do also speak certain broken Italian, more lewdly than the Venetians do. Their women are not very fair, and apparel themselves but homely, wearing ordinarily on their head an high attire made of fine linen cloth, but the nobler sort wear it of white silk, having their hosen even to the heels: they do go very seldom abroad out of their houses, but do love to be looking out at the windows to behold the goers by▪ As for their daughters are kept so close shut in, as they are not to be seen by no manner of wise. Of the policy and government of the Ragusins. Chap. 22. THE politic estate of the Ragusins, is aristocraty, or a common wealth governed by the Lords, out of which, is created every month a precedent which remaineth in the palace, and hath twelve counsellors by whom the congregation is called Pregai or Pregadi, unto which do resort an hundredth or more of the ancients of the city. And besides these aforesaid, they have moreover the great counsel, unto which are assistant, all the nobles of the age of twenty years and upwards. They are tributaries unto the great Turk of twelve thousand ducats, which they are bound to send unto him every year with two Orators to Constantinople, or else where he shallbe. A Merchant of Raguse. Fante of Raguse, or a carrier of letters. Of the City of Raguse. Chap. 23. RAguse (which Ptolemy calleth Epidaure is a city very ancient & noble, although the same which presently is called Raguse, is not the old, for that was destroyed by the Goths, but of the ruins thereof the later Raguse was by the inhabitants builded ten thousand paces from the old, which for th● present is but little inhabited, but the new is so much the more frequented & better peopled, edified in most fair situation upon the coast of the Adriatic sea, being notwithstanding within the precinct of the Dalmatian. The haven is very little & wrought with hands. On the upper part there is a mount of great highness and sharpness: at the foot whereof the city is founded, she is very subject unto winds & Earthquakes, and also in Winter season is very cold. There are divers fountains taking their beginning of the next mountains, the water whereof is very sweet & wholesome to drink. About the distance of a mile from the city, there is a fair & delectable place called Gravosa, set all along with houses builded by most fair & ingenious Architecture, accompanied with divers gardens and pleasances, planted with Orange trees, citrons, lemons & other excellent fruitful trees of divers sorts. There are also seen many clear & fair fountains dyvinely wrought, which thorough conduits & pipes they make to come forth where it pleaseth them. And this fair place of Gravosa standeth on the edge of the sea, which there maketh a gulf after the fashion of a port very pleasant, and able to receive a 100 Galleys. Description of Thracia. Chap. 24. THracia which first was called Perca, and since Scithon, is a province in Europe (counted amongst the regions of Scythia, most ample and of great compass, but of an ill temperature, the air being unwholesome, & not healthful, the ground also barren enough, except it be in the places near unto the sea. It was named Thracia, after the name of Thiras the son of japhet, or else as others say of Thrax the son of Mars, & by this reason (seeming to be the most apparent) was by Euripides called the house of Mars, at this present day is called Roman, & is divided in 2. parts, the one whereof is called Thracia only, and the other Thracia Chersonese. On the East part bordereth upon the sea Exinum, and Propontide, on the south the Sea Aegeum, the flood, Strymon, presently Redino, & the fields of Macedonia: on the North the river Istre, being the Danube or Danoe, and on the West the mountains of Peonia a part of Pannonia, & the river of save, as Pliny & Strabo have written, who do affirm Thracia to be divided by the mount Eme, and that the tribals Dardanes (a fierce & proud people) and the Mysians inhabited Thracia, but the tribals possessed the part presently kept by the Rastians', whom we do call Seruians. After the tribals are the camphors, from the East unto the sea Euxinum, & dwell between Istre and the mount Eme, extending towards the south alongst the sea coast unto Hellespontus, and is that which presently is called Romanie. The rivers of Thracia are, Bathynia, Athyras, Arsus, vulgarly Chiarelech, Melas, whereof taketh the name the gulf of Mela, otherwise the gulf of Caridia, Hebrus now Matizza, or Valisa, Nesus or nest, & Strimon. But the most famous are the three last. Of the most renowned mounts ye have Eme, which separateth the Thracians from the tribals, which by some hath been called the chain of the world. Rhodope, so called by Rhodope Queen of Thracia, out of which do spring the rivers nest, & Hebrus, & the mount Orbel, much celebrated for the sacrifice of Bacchus▪ & through the congregation of the Maenads under the conduct of the Poet Orpheus. Amongst these mountains Eme is of such a height that from the top thereof (which as Pliny reciteth is 6000. paces) is seen the sea of Exinum: there is moreover the mount Athos of the latins called Monte santo, because it is altogether habited of the Caloeres, Greeks, which are (as most curiously writeth M. Peter Bellon in his observation) in number 5, or 6. thousand, & have 23, or 24. monasteries all well fortified, for that they should not be molested of the Coursaries and Pirates on the sea, & all these Caloieres live under the obeisance of the Patriarch of Constantinople. This mount Athos is so high, that it passeth the skies, so as divers have written that from thence the sun shining, the shadow doth extend to the isle of Lemnos, being distant one from another 70. M. paces. And nevertheless Xerxes the great king of the Persians, going against the Grecians, caused this mount to be cut through on the side that joineth unto the firm land, making the sea to pass underneath it in such sort, that easily he made it round about navigable▪ The Thrace's (as Herodote in his 7 book writeth) have the way whereby Xerxes passed his army, in such reverence, that never since that time they would till or sow the same. Plutarch in the life of Alexander the great, maketh mention of a certain Stacicrates, an ingenious master, who being sent for, to come before the said Alexander, proposed unto him that if his pleasure were, he would make to be cut in human figure, the mount of Athos, with such art & industry, that with his left hand, he should sustain a City habitable for 10000 persons, & with the right hand should power out a great river: which should run down into the sea. But Alexander taking it for a jest would not believe it. As for the cities of Thracia, the principallest and most ancientest are Bisia, sometimes the fortress of the kings of Thracia, but odious unto the swallows for the detestable sin of Thereus, Phinolopis, Curnubisance, presently Pera or Galatha, & Bizance, now Constantinople, cituated upon the Bosphore Thracian, (whereof I have before made particular description.) Ye have afterwards Opisime at the foot of the mount of Eme, Valla, Orcelis, Tonsus, Caliba, Nicopoli, Ostamphus, Arsus, Carpudemon, Bergula, presently Bergas, Plotinopolis, Drusipara, Selimbria, otherwise Selions or Solombria, Perinthe or Heraclee. About Propontide, Praside, Terta, Penetropolis: at the foot of the mount Rhodope, and afterwards of his foundator Philippopoli: and finally, Adrianopolis, which I cannot pass without description, for that the great Lord keepeth oftentimes his residence there. Of the City of Andrinopole. Chap. 25. ADrianopolis which sometimes was called Stratomcie, Odrysus and Trimuntium: vulgarly Andernople, Andernopoli or Andrinople, was a city most ample and fair, as by the ancient walls may be seen, her situation is in a plain: but about, it hath many fruitful hills. All the houses, except the ancient churches of the Christians, and the Mosques and baths of the Turks, are builded after the Turkey fashion of wood and earth, Sultan Selim builded there for a dwelling place, a fair and sumptuous Sarail, for that it was the place of his most residence: as also is of Sultan Soliman, that now reigneth, namely, in Winter, for the commodity of hunting, wherein he greatly delighteth. There is beside another Sarail for the lodging of the Azamoglans or janissaries, but the fairest and most sumptuous building of all is the Mosque of Sultan Amarat: at one of the entries of the city, ye pass over a great bridge of stone of Marbre, very high, on the one side whereof as also alongst by the Sarail passeth the river Hebrus, vulgarly called Matizza, and on the other side the Tuns, which rivers by the turning in their course have made near unto the city many fair & pretty isles, no less pleasant than profitable, as being trimmed and dressed into most fair orchards (full of all sorts of excellent fruitful trees) and delicious gardens. The city is peopled with a great number of Christians Greeks having there their Metropoli: who having lost their liberty, and seeing themselves destitute and dispossessed of all they had, are retired thither, some to give themselves to some trade of merchandise or handicraft. The other having yet left some mean to live by, go up & down thinking of their former estates and degrees. There are likewise an infinite number of rich jews, and great traders, with merchandise & ready money, to give and deliver out by gross upon excessive usury. But the number of the Turks is the greatest of all, and specially of excellent woorkmen, which is the occasion that the city doth abound of all sorts of merchaundises, and fair works, of saddles, bridles, & all other furnitures for horses, which there are made very fair and perfect: likewise fine damaskened needles, & the fair maroquins and skins of all sorts▪ of lively colours, strange & divers above all other places in the world. As for the manner of the garments of the inhabitants, I have hereafter presented in order the lively drafts of a woman of estate of Graecia, of a Turkey woman of mean estate, and of a maiden of joy or a common woman, or strumpet▪ (of whom not only the city, but likewise the whole country is full.) And as for the men, Turks, jews, or Christians, they go appareled after the manner of those of Constantinople, & other cities of Thracia and Graecia. To return now to our first points of Geography, you have also in this region Traianopoli, Apri, Bizanta, now Rodesto or Rodeste, but according to Pliny, Macronticke, Partyra, Lysimachia, which is cituated at the foot of the great chersonese: within the which is Gallipoli, builded by C. Caligula, Maditus presently Maython, abounding of very good wines, Ceste against Abide: Cretee & the port Cele, where was fought on the water the battle betwixt the Athenians & the Lacedæmonians, in which place are the marks of the ruins of Lacedemonia. There is again found Cinosseme the sepulchre of Hecuba: after that Helle being the end of Hellespont, and likewise the place where Xerxes, made a bridge to pass over his army out of Asia into Grecia: there is also the promontory Mastuce, and the flood Egee, memorable because of the shipping of the Athenians. Afterwards returning into the land Aphrodise, Cipselle, otherwise Capsilar, whereas is found great quantity of fine alum, Aen● builded by Aeneas in the time of his fleeing after the ruin of Troy, Sardique presently Triadisse, Pergame, Nicopolis, Abdere or Polystilo, where Democritus the Philosopher was borne, Even a free City, within which was erected the sepulchre of Polidore, Fisique, Dyme, Marogne, Pantalie, Topicis, Gazore philippi, Oesine, Neapolis, which beside is called Cristopolis & Stagira, the native country of the great Aristotle. Moreover about the beginning of the banks Pontic, whereas the river Istre entereth into the sea, are many fair cities▪ as Istropolis of the Melesians, jonie, Celatin or Acernete, Heraclee and Bizone, which was swallowed up through an earthquake. About the rivers Mela and Hebrus are the Cicones, and more further the Dorisques, which is the place where Xerxes not being able to number his army, measured the circuit of the ground which they overspread. After that is the promontory Serree, in which place Orpheus, through the sound and harmony of his voice and harp, moved the trees ●nd beasts to give ●are unto him. Beyond that is the city of Tinde, where the cruel Diomedes was borne, which through his unnatural cruelty, made certain of his cruel horses too eat the flesh of strangers, which by a mischance fell into his hands. But in the end he himself was devoured being overcome by Hercules, and was cast before his horses. Between the river Strymon, and the mount of Athos, is the tower Calerne, and the port Crapule the city Acanthe, and Oesine, and betwixt Athose and Pallene, Cleone & Olinthe. Thus much as concerning the description of Thracia. Now resteth to treat of their laws, fashions, religion & manner of living of the Thracians, aswell anciently as nowadays. A Graetian woman of estate of the city of Andrinople in Thracia. A Turkey woman of mean estate as she is in her Chamber. A maiden of pleasure or common Woman of Turkey. Manners, laws, religion, and ancient order of living of the Thracians. Chap. 26. HErodote father of the Historians in his 5. book sayeth, the nation of the Thracians to be next after the Indians, the greatest of all the countries on the earth, and that if the same were governed by one head, should be invincible, or if they agreed amongst themselves: but that it would be hard to bring them to that point, for that at all times they have been esteemed amongst all the other people of Europe the most cruel, spiteful and inhuman, proceeding of their nature, for that part of them are true Grecians, and the other come of the Scythes, a people most barbarous: their eyes are hollow their countenance furious, and the sound of their voice fearful, exceeding all others in bigness of body and force of members, & are of long life, their custom was to sell their children, to be carried hither and thither amongst strange nations. And permitted their daughters to forsake them, and have company with such men as they thought good, or with him that first prayed them. But as for their married women, they were very carefully looked unto, by reason they bought them at a great price of their fathers and mothers, specially the fairest: which being once set at a price none could marry them, except they first paid the price, they were rated at. And to the contrary, those which lacked beauty, were constrained to give great presents unto those that would marry them. Amongst them it was esteemed a fair and noble thing to have the forehead stigmatized▪ & not to have it, was esteemed great shame and villainy. They had likewise in great honour, & commended it, to live in idleness without doing of any thing, or else in theft and stealing, and esteemed it a great shame and dishonour to labour the ground, or do any husbandry. divers amongst them that knew not what it was to drink wine, had a custom to turn round in taking their repast about a great fire, upon the coals whereof they cast a certain seed, the smoke whereof was so violent, that forthwith it made them so dissy, that it seemed they were drunk in very deed, and out of their wits, and in such follies they took a singular pleasure and pastime. Of the ancient opinion of the Thracians, touching the immortality of the soul. Chap. 27. AS concerning death, the opinion among the Thracians was very divers, for some thought that the soul being departed out of the body, suddenly entered into another, or else if she returned not, did not therefore die, but passed into another life more sweet & happy than was the first. Others with great pertinacy affirmed, that the soul died with the body, but that such death was better than a life full of bitterness & perplexity. And upon this occasion the Trauces, a people of Thracia, did at the birth of their children, with weeping crying, & sighing, lament their coming into the world, pitifully rehearsing the travels and calamities which they had to suffer in this miserable world, during the small course of their life: & to the contrary if any of them came to die, they brought them to their grave with all kind of plays & ●eastings, reciting & singing altogether, the evils, torments & adversities, whereof by the tribute of death, they were delivered. For like as man is borne of a woman in dolour & anguish: so he liveth in misery and calamity unto the end of his days: & for that they had many wives, if any of them came to die, they fell in great discord the one with the other, to know which of them had been the best beloved, and she to whom the honour & praise was adjudged, was of all men greatly honoured, and afterwards being by her next parents brought unto the sepulture of her husband, clothed & set out with her richest garments, was there buried by him. And as for the other wives, they brought over the rest of their life in mourning and displeasure, as if some great misfortune had been happened unto them. But when it came to pass some nobleman to be buried, the body was buried for three days, about the city, sacrificing all sorts of beasts, and then after a great feast made, consumed the body into ashes, and that being done, set forth all sorts of ●urnoyes and cumbates in honour of the deceased. When the Thracians perceived it thunder or lighten, incontinently they shoot their arrows towards heaven, threatening of their god, for they thought that there was none other God than theirs, which was Zomolixis, being the first that instituted them laws to draw them to civility, such as he had seen by the jonians, being with the philosopher Pythagoras, unto whom he had been a disciple: and did beside commonly worship Mars, Bacchus, and Diana, & did swear by the only name of Mercury, whom they had in great honour and reverence for that they esteemed themselves to be descended of him. Their kings wear chosen by the voice of the people, and not by nobility and above all things had a regard, that he should be of a ripe age of good life and manhood, and that he had no children, for fear least in the end the kingdom should come to an hereditary succession. Likewise they left unto him no absolute power to command, for they ordained forty counsellors too govern him, and if question of death chanced upon one criminal person, or many, he alone had neither power to judge nor condemn. And if by fortune their king himself was found attainted & convinced of capital crime, without having regard to his dignity, he was punished by death as a private person, but not by handy execution, but they forbade him the usage of any kind of meat, and so through hunger was constrained to die an unhappy death. The ancient arms of the Thracians. Chap. 28. AT the time when the king Darius had war with the Thracians, they used the arms following: their headpiece was made of the skin of a Fox, and they carried Darts, pavoyses, and little daggers, using shooting with great dexterity, whereof the do vaunt themselves to have been they first inventors: those which dwelled in Asia, did wear for their arms, little shields covered with ox hides, with two hunters spears, and on their heads had salads of leather, & upon the same horns like unto Oxen. Thus ye have that which Herodote doth write in his seventh book. Their language is like unto that of the Scythians. But at this present their speech, their garments, religion, manner of living miserable calamity and servitude, is conform & like unto the other Grecians, which are under the same puissance and tyrannous obeisance of the Turk. A woman jew of Andrinople. A maiden jew of Andrinople. The description of Grecia. Chap. 29. GRecia amongst other countries in Europe, is the most noble, A general description of Grecia. & most famous, and was first called Helles, of one of the sons of Deucalion and Pirrha, and afterwards Grecia of a king whose name was Grecus, and is so ample, that she extendeth & joineth with the sea Mirtee (so called of Myrtile the son of Mercury) drawing by great circulation, from the North to the South, from the East towards the sea Egee, and from the West, to the sea jonie, until she cometh to engulf 5. miles within it, so as it lacketh very little but that in the midst it is cut and divided. Then again enlarging her, sometimes of one side & sometimes of another principally towards the sea jonie, and then again coming into a less breadth then where she taketh her beginning draweth in the end to be almost an island, which anciently was called Appie and Pelasgie, and since Peloponese by reason of the gulfs and promontories, wherewith they are parted and divided. But by the moderns is called Moree, being in figure almost like to a plantin leaf: the circuit of the Peninsula, according to Plini● and Isidore is five hundredth seventy and three paces, but if all the creeks of all the gulfs and promontories should be reckoned, would contain little less than twice as much, notwithstanding (according to Polibe) besides the borders, containeth about four thousand stadias or paces, and from the East to the West forty thousand and four hundredth. Ptolemy bordereth the Peloponnesse of the North, with the gulf of Corinthe, presently called the gulf of Lepanto▪ and with Istine, and from thence with the sea Creticque. Towards the West and the South, bordereth with the Adriaticque sea, and on the East with the sea of Candia, sometimes called Cretique. The country of Macedonia first called Emathie of Emathias that was king thereof, afterwards Macedonia of Macedon, the son of Deucalion, or according to Berose, the son of O●yris, by valiant strength of the great Alexander, obtained before the Empire & Monarchy of the most part of the world habitable, for, having passed Asia, Armenia, Iberia, Albania, Capadocia, Syria, Egypt, the mountains of Taur & Caucase, subdued the Bactrians, the Medes, & the Persians, and in the end vanquished and overcame all the East parts: & moreover was victorious over the Indians. The Macedonians do say themselves to be come & descended of Sethim, the son of Jaon, & their provinces are Thessalia▪ which (according to Pompone and Pliny) was first called Emone of the king Haemon, since Pelasgie: and again Hellade & Myrmidone, by reason whereof Homer gave three sundry names unto the Thessalians, to wit, Myrmidons, Helenes, & Achees, but at the last was called Thessalia of Thessale, which possessed the kingdom▪ The principal city is Thessalonia vulgarly called Salonicke, unto which people S. Paul the apostle of jesus Christ, wrote many godly Epistles. This city is as yet most ample & rich, inhabited of three sundry sorts of people, to wit, Christian Greeks, Iewes● & Turks: but the number of jews (being merchants very rich) is the greatest: and there are 80. synagogues: their attire on their head is a yellow Tulbant safroned, that of the Grecian christians is blue, & that of the Turks white, for that through the same diversity of colours, they should be known the one from the other, & are all clothed in long gowns as the other Orientals are. In Thessalia is the mount Parnassus, consecrated unto the god Apollo, unto which the people retired at the time of the deluge in this region, & in the riegne of Deucalion. There is also the mount Pelion upon the which was celebrated the marriage of ●he king Peleus, with the Nymph Thetis. Near unto Thessalia is Magnesia. Moreover Ethiotes, Dorie, Locre (whereof the inhabitants were called Ozoles) Phoce, Beoce, having taken that name as Pliny writeth, of an ox which there was sacrificed by Cadmus the son of Agenor. In this province near unto the river Erimne, are two fountains of such virtue that the water of the one of them giveth & increaseth memory to those that drink of it, & the other taketh away the memory. Beoce stretching from the East to the West, toucheth the sea Eboique, and the gulf Etanee famous through the goodly revowme of the city of Thebes. In this province is the mount Citharee, the river of Ismenee & the fountains of Irce & Aganippe, & was the place of birth of the Muses at the wood of Helicon, the native country of Hercules, & of the father Bacchus (who taught the Thebans to plant the vines & the usage of wine) moreover she was the productrice of the strong & valiant Epimanondas. As for the city of Thebes so much renowned by the ancients is at this present but a small castle of little estimation, as likewise presently are the most part of the other Cities of Macedonia, which are altogether desolated & ruined. In Macedonia is the fountain of Susistige, out of which issueth a poison being of such a strength, that it will not be kept in any other thing than in the hoof of a horse foot, & is thought of divers that Alexander the great was poisoned with the same: Ye have moreover Attic which took such a name of one of the sons of a king named Attis, who after Cecrops, succeeded in the kingdom, or else of Athis the son of Cuba, king of the Athenians, but according to others Actique of the king Actron, or of Arcte, which signifieth a coast. And likewise Megare, a region so full of woods and mountains that the most part of the inhabitants are shepherds & keepers of cattle. Of all these provinces Attic is the principallest & most famous. In Peloponese which sometimes was called Rocque, & the most noble province of Grecia, are the regions of Argole & Laconia, which before was named Oebalia, in the which is the city of Amicle, being the natural country of Castor & Pollux. There is the cape Malee of the moderns called the cape of S. Ange, being a great enemy unto the seafaring men, as before I have described in the first chapter of the second book. There is moreover Messenie, which by the Sparthes' was brought under servitude, for that oftentimes it was given to revolting & seditions, which was the occasion, that they were more rudely entreated than other servants to take away all their means & strength of reuolting● After that is Achaie anciently called Egial, because of the cities in order cituated all alongst her borders, Eel, Arcady which hath the name of Arcade the son of jupiter. In the same is the Palude learn where Hercules killed the serpent Hydra that had seeven heads. There is also the great & impetuous flood of Erimanthe (greatly remembered by divers Poets and Historiographers) taking his origin of the mount Erimanthe, whereof it hath taken his name. Moreover, there is Etolie and Acarnie before called Cart. Epire goeth even to A-dry, in these regions the places & cities far from the Sea, the most notable, and that do merit to be set out, are Thessalia, Thessalonique & Larisse, anciently jolque, in Magnesie, Antronie, in Phiotide Phithie, in Locree, Sign, and Calliacre. Pliny in his fourth book, the first chapter, saith, that the Locrians have been called Ozoles. In Phocide, is the city of Delphe, cituated at the foot of the mount Parnasus, and watered with the river Cephisusi: within the same city was in times passed a temple, within the which Phoebus or Apollo, the God of divination according to the error of the ancients was worshipped. In Beoce, Thebes, which at this present hath but a little castle stibes, and Citheree, much celebrated by the fables of the Poets, and in Atticque, is Eluse, consecrated unto Ceres. But the most renowned city of all Grecia is Athens, which was builded by Cecrops Diphies, being in the days of Moses, which called it Cecropia: afterwards was called Mopsophie of Mopsus, and Ionie the son of jon, the son of Xuthe, or else as josephus reciteth of janus the son of japhet: & finally of Minerva, for the Grecians called Minerva, Athene, she was the inventor of all good arts, and industrious liberal sciences, mother & nurse of divers excellent Philosophers, Orators, and Poets, which through their labours and memorable works, have gotten immortal praise. But by change of time and unsteadfastness of fortune this so flourishing a city is brought to such extremity & ruin, that at this present there is nothing of estimation left of it, but a little castle, which is called Sethine, builded on the leavings of the walls of the ancient and renowned temple of Minerva. In Migare otherwise called Niscee, is the City of Megare, in which was borne Euclid, prince of the Geometrians, and this City gave the name unto the province, as Argus did in Argos. In Argolide is Argos and Micene, and the temple of juno much renowned aswell for antiquity as devotion. In Laconie is Terapne, Lacedemone (the seat and habitation of the king Agamemnon) which also was called Sparthe of Sparthus, the son of Phoroneus, but presently is called Mysithra. There is likewise Amicde, distant twenty stadias from Lacedaemon, a country abounding of all good and excellent fruitful trees and other goods, and in the same is the temple of Apollo the most excellent of all others in that country, aswell in riches as cunning building, set in that quarter of the town, which is towards the sea and the mount Tayget. In Messenia, Messene, and Methon, or Modon, at the siege whereof Philip king of Macedon, father of Alexander the great lost one of his eyes, with the shot of an arrow. In Achie is, Pise of Oenomae, Elis, & the Olympian temple of jupiter, much renowned because of the Olympian games, and though row singular devotion, and a great deal more, because of the excellency of the image made by the hands of Phydias. Arcady is round about environed of the Peloponesians, and her principal cities are Psefe, Tenie, and Orcomene. The mounts Pholoe, Cillene, Parthene, and Menale: the rivers Erimanthe, and Ladoen. In Arcadia greatly flourished Prometheus the son of japetus, who being a man of deep knowledge taught the rude men to live civilly, he invented the natural pourtractes with the fat earth, and was also the first that stroke fire out of the flint stone, and that taught the Grecians Astrology and therefore the poets do feign that he held up the heaven. In Etolie is Naupacte vulgarly Lepanto or Epacto. In Acarnania presently called Ducte or Ducat, or Duche, the castle Strate. In Epire is the temple of jupiter Dodone, and the sacred fountain, which is of such a virtue, that putting into it any burning thing: is suddenly extinguished: but putting into it a bundle of straw, it is forthwith set on fire. Passing beyounde the coasts of the promontory Sepie, by Demetrie, Boic, Pitheleon and Echine, is the passage towards the gulf of Pagase, which having embraced or environed the City of Pagase, receiveth into his haven the river Sperchie, and this place is renowned for that the Minies accompanying jason when he went to Colchos to conquer the golden fleece, did there go on land, and delivered their ship Argo, to go and drive upon the great sea, which voyage is so celebrated, that the poets have feigned this ship Argo, to have been taken up into heaven and upon this reason do put it amongst the Celestial signs. It is needful and of force that they which this way will go unto Sunio first to pass the gulfs Maliabe and Opunce of which are the Trophies, sometimes by the Laconians there discomfited & killed) and come unto the straits called Thermopyles, which cross through the midst of Grecia, like unto the Appenin hills of Italy. The mountains are so high that it seemeth almost a thing impossible to get up unto them, but between both, there is a valley about threescore paces wide, by the which only ye can get up unto them: through which means these mountainnes have been called piles, which is to say, ports, and by reason of the hot waters that run out of the same Thermopyles. They were so renowned by the great discomfitures of the Persians done by the Greeks under the conduct of the valiant Leonidas the Laconian, who bravely withstood the impetuosity and furor of Xerxes, but in our time they have not been able to resist or shut up the passage unto the Turks, of whom all the Grecians have been overcome & subdued. It hath again Scatphie Cnemides, Alope, & Larymne. Besides Aulide, where the assembling of the army, was made by Agamemnon and other princes of Grecia after the league by them made to go to the siege of Troy. There is also Marathon, a true testimony of divers noble prowesses● celebrated since the victory of Theseus, and by the great foil which the army of the Persians received there. ye have moreover there Rhamne, a little city, but famous, because of the temple of Amphia●aus, and the Nemesis of Phidias. Thorique and Brauron, were there sometimes good cities, but now there is nothing left of them but the name. Sunio is a promontory bordering and running along by the sea side of Hellade or Grece, on the side that is towards the East, and from thence unto Megare a city of Attic, doth turn towards the South. The fields of the Megarians come unto Istine, being of a long and straight extendure of the space of 5000. paces, & entereth into the sea Egeum, and the sea jonie. There is the castle Cenchree, the temple of Neptune and the famous games called Istmetiques', instituted by Theseus upon envy of those which Hercules had instituted in Olimpe. Corinthe which in time passed was so notable of riches, first builded by a Brigand called Sisiphe the son of Aeolus in the four score year of the age of Moses, and was called Corcyre or Certhyre and afterwards Ephire, after that she was augmented, was ruined and builded again by Corinthus the son of Orestes or jupiter, which after his name called it Corinthe, which signifieth administration or public safeguard, and since was again destroyed by the Romans, and restored by august Caesar, within this city of Corinthe there was sometimes a temple of great beauty & excellency's dedicated unto the Goddess Venus, to whom belonged above ● 1000 whores of renown dedicated to this goddess according too the Heathen custom, which were common unto all comers. But now Corinthe is but a little village called Caran tho. In the region of Corinthe is a place now adays called Sydrocapsa, whereas be many fine mines of gold, of which the Turk receiveth an inestimable riches. This province bringeth forth the most fine copper of all Europe, whereof are made vessels very excellent & of great prize. From the most high tower of the fortress, called acrocorinth, are seen both the seas, to wit, of Ionie and Egee. The mouth & rinage of Peloponese, is divided with many gulfs & promontories, too wit, towards the East with Bucephalus, Cherchonese, & Scilee, towards the South Malee, Tenare, Ac●ite & Ichtis, & towards the West Chelonate & Arasse: from Isthmus to Scilee, do dwell the Epidaures' famous & renowned, for that they have the temple of Esculape and the Trezenians, Illustred, for the faith which they always observed in the confederacies which they made with the Athenians. There are the ports Saronique, Scemte, & Pagone, but as for the towns which are on the sea coasts, Epidaure is cituated on the side of the gulf Saxonique of nature beset and environed with high mountains. The sick folks which went● unto the temple of Esculape for to be healed, slept there in the night and said that Esculape in this manner did heal them in their sleep. Troese and Hermione are also cituatid and placed on the border of the sea Betwixt Scilee and Malee, is Argolique & betwixt this & Tenare, is Laconic, from thence to Acrite, Asinee, & from thence towards Ichtis, Cyparissienne. In Argolicque the rivers known, are Erasine, and Inaque, & the Castle of Learn. In Laconic, Githie, and Eurotas rivers: but in Tenare is the temple of Neptune, & a cave or Antre, like unto the same of Pont called Acherusienne. In Assine is the river Pamisse, and in the Ciparissenne Alphee. And every one of these are called after the names of the Cities, cituated upon the sea coast. Cilene and Callipoli, are upon the river of Patras, which anciently was called Aroe, in which place Saint Andrew an apostle of jesus Christ, received the crown of his martyrdom. In Epire sometimes called Molosse, by reason of the people Molosses, which sometimes have reined there, there is nothing more singular than the gulf Ambritien. In this province are the towns Action, Argy, Amphiloche, Ambratie and Buthroton, vulgarelye Butrinto, the royal city of Aeacides and Pyrrhus. The Partheneans and Dessaretes used for their habitation the first countries, amongst which the principal towns are, Orique and Dirrachium, by the ancients called Epidamne, but the Romans changed the name thereof, for that it seemed unto them almost à Malum Augurium, & an unhappy encounter to them that went thither, because that Damnum in their language signifieth damage. near unto Epidamne is Apollonie, Salone, jadere, Narone, Tragure, the gulf Polatique and Pola, sometimes (as is said) inhabited of the Colques. But since as all things in the world are changeable and inconstant, became the Colony of the Romans. The rivers thereof are Eas and Nar, and the Danube, which is in that place, and having changed or lost his name, is called Ister. Eas runneth alongst Apollonie Nar entereth the Pyreans and Lyburnians, and Ister through the Istrians. Tergiste, lying beyond it in the midst of A-dry, closeth and endeth the Illiricque. Of the manner and ancient order of living of the Grecians. Chap. 30. THe Grecians in their ancient manner of living were very uncivil & barbarous, for they lived & dwelled with the beasts in all idleness, having no meat more daintier for their nourishment then the fruits of wild trees, to wit, acorns & other mast. But through long succession of time, they became so to be framed & ordered unto all human society & good manners, that amongst all other nations they were reputed to be the most civil, wise, & valiant in all Europe. Nevertheless, for that in divers countries of Graecia, the men not thinking themselves sufficiently assured, neither upon the high ways nor in the houses, because of the fear they had of the Pirates & rovers on the sea, which in great number dwelled alongst the seaside, went always armed, according to the custom of the Barbarians, for the defence & conservation of their goods, their families & persons. The Athenians were the first that left off to go so armed, & framed themselves to lead a life more honest & civil. And true it is that for a certain time the ancient men did clothe themselves most simply, & above all others the Lacedæmonians, who notwithstanding that at all times they had been esteemed the most rich & wealthy of all the Grecians, did notwithstanding go all appareled equally & after one sort, aswell the meaner as the richest sort, & have been the first, that for the wrestling have stripped themselves naked & anointed their bodies with oil, whereas they which used the like exerci●e in Olimpe, covered the shame fast●members with small clothes. And as yet presently the Barbery's, Asians, & Africans, being appointed to wrestle for the game, do wear breeches of leather, & do anoint their bodies & arms with oil, to the end their adversaries should fasten the less hold upon them, even as I have before amply declared, in the description of the ordinary Wrestlers of the great Turk. Of Lycurgus' laws given unto the Lacedæmonians. Chap. 31. Lycurgus' perceiving the Lacedæmonians to live without any honest form of policy was the first that instituted laws unto them, having first abolished all the corrupted customs, which they had before amongst them. First, he confirmed the people in the obeisance of their princes, and the princes to the true justice of the empires, through the mean of a Senate of 28. Counsellors, which he constituted as a bar and bulwark unto the popular temerity, and again to the contrary, to foresee likewise, that the Princes should not usurp upon tyrannous force▪ to divide and equally part the lands & possessions, to the end that in goods & heritage's, the one should not be esteemed more wealthy than the other but only in this, that they should surpass one another in virtue and manhood, and that by this means they should live altogether as true brethren. He took away and abolished all kinds of money, of silver and gold: and instead thereof made iron to be coined: which notwithstanding he made to be tempered and extinguished being red hot in vinegar, to the intent to make it soft: & by that means, to be unfit for all other works: he banished out of Lacedaemon all handicrafts and arts not necessary, and instituted banquets & common feasts, to the intent to refrain superfluity and flintiness: unto which aswell the poor as the rich were called & welcomed, both with one place and one kind of meat & they called these banquets Phiditia & by the Candiots were named Andria he forbade the often attempting of wars against one's self party or enemies, for fear lest they should be constrained often to defend themselves, and in the end become valiant and good fighters, he commanded that the maidens should exercise themselves to run, wrestle, cast the dart and throw the bar, to make them through such exercise: the more strong & able to bear children, and when there was any great feast or solemn sacrifice, willed them to sing and dance amongst boys stark naked, which was done with all honesty, without any fear or shame: & ordained also that the maiden virgins should be married without any dowry of money, for that the men should marry them for their virtues and good manners, & to get children, and not for covetous getting of money. Moreover, it behoved, that those which would marry, should not have too do with wives, whilst they were little, young, & of a tender age, but with such as were strong & able to bear children. He also further permitted to those that were fair & well disposed to lie with other men's wives, for to labour in them as in a fruitful ground, and to engender children in common, & it was esteemed a matter of no reproach to an old & decayed man▪ having a fair and young wife, to choose some fair young man seeming agreeable unto him, to make him to lie with her, and so to get her with child, and raise up seed unto him, which child he took and brought up as his own, and yet it seemed unto him a very foolish and strange matter in other nations, which so carefully got fair dogs to line their hot bitches, and sought the fairest stoned horses to spring their mares: and notwithstanding with great care kept their wives so closely under lock and key, for fear lest they should get of their neighbours, whereof sometimes their jealous husbands could not furnish them. The great honours he ordained to be given according to the degrees of age, and not according to the abundance of goods & riches. And for that some of his laws seemed to be too rigorous and straight, by reason of their corrupted manner, he feigned that he had instituted them by the commandment of the God Apollo, which had invented the same, & this did he because they should be received of the people with more reverence, and by oath bound the city to keep the same inviolated, without diminishing any part thereof until his return from the Oracle of Delphis, whether as he said, he went to consult what should be good to be added or taken away. But he went into Crete, where he ended his days in voluntary exile, where after his death, as writeth Aristocrates the son of Hippa●chus, his body by some of his friends was consumed into ashes & according to his decree were thrown into the Sea, for fear if they were brought unto Lacedaemon, the Sparthans should not think themselves to be free of the oath which they had sworn, for the inviolable observation of his laws. Thus ye have summarily that which plutarch writeth of the life of the same Lycurgus. Of the Athenians. Chap. 32. AS for the Athenians, justine in his 12. book reciteth, that they were the first that taught the art of spinning of wool, making of wines and oils, to blow the ground, & to sow corn: for at the first they fed on nothing but on acorns, & for their dwellings had none other lodgings, than little cabins & caves. Doxius was the first that builded houses in Athens, which (following therein the manner of the swalows) he builded of earth. In the days of Deucalion, Cecrops reigned as king over the Athenians, & is he whom the Poets have feigned to have 2. foreheads because he was the first that joined the men & the women by the right line of marriage. After him succeeded Granaus, which had a daughter called Athis▪ which gave the name unto the region. After that reigned Amphitrion, which first consecrated the city unto the goddess Minerva, & named it Athene. In his time was the great flood & inundation of the waters, which marred and drowned the most part of Grecia, & in this great deluge, were only saved those that could get up to the mountains▪ or the other which were conveyed towards Deucalion king of Thessalia. By whom according to the feinings of the Poets, the world was by order of succession restored. The kingdom being since come unto Eristheus, during his reign the sowing of corn was brought in & invented in Eleusine by Triptolemus, & therefore in remembrance of this good thing the nights were sacred unto him. The Athenians being esteemed the wisest amongst the Grecians (for that the administration of their common wealth was governed by the sage & wise doctrines of the Philosophers) made a law that to every one of them it was permitted to take two wives, but thereby were straightly forbidden to keep any concubine, saying it to be a thing without all honesty, to keep other men's wives, and to give unto his own an ill example of living. And this they did for the opinion which they had that a man could not live without women and company: and when the one was brought to bed or sick he might go unto the other, or else if the one were barren the other might be fit to bring forth children and succession, and to her that was fit to conceive, the government and administration of the house was given, and the barren woman was unto him as a servant. Pliny is one of his Epistles saith, that the Athenians were wont to marry the brother with the sister, but not the Uncle with the nephew, alleging for his reason, that the marriage of a brother with the sister was an even match: but the Uncle with the nephew was the marrying of the old with the young. The laws of Solon given to the Atheninians. Chap. 33. SOlon being by the common voice of the Athenians, chosen for the general reformer of their laws, and of the whole estate of their common wealth, to confirm or abolish that which he thought reasonable, first revoked and made void all those which Dracon had made, except certain touching murdering & deaths of men, for that they were too severe & rigorous, for, for all sorts of crime he had almost ordained but one punishment only which was death, so as if any had been found in idleness, or if he had stolen fruits or herbs out of a garden, he was aswell condemned to death as if he had been a murderer, or sacrilege, which gave occasion unto Demades, that the laws of Dracon were rather written with blood then with ink. Secondly he ordained that the rich citizens should have the offices of magistrates, & that the meaner sort of the people should have their part in the authority & government of the city, he made generally to be estimated the goods of every one particularly, putting into the first order those which were found aswell in grain, as fruits of yearly revenues the quantity of 500 minots liquided, and those he called Pentacosiomedimnes, which is to say, having 500 minotes of revenue, and those which had 300. and might maintain a horse of service, were put into the second degree, & were called knights, & those which had but 200 were put into the 3. rank, and were called Zeugites, but the other being under 200. were put unto the fourth rank, & he called them Theles, as who would say, mercionaries, and would not permit these to exercise any public office, nor yet to enjoy the right of Burgesie, but to have voices in the elections, assemblies of the city and judgements, in which the people were sovereign judges. Notwithstanding, the bettet to provide for the weakness of the people: he permitted unto every one that would, to take in hand the quarrel of him that had been wronged. Above the counsel of the Areopages, which he had established, he set another second counsel of 100 men, for the matters of estate, which he did choose out of every degree, whereof 4. were chosen to consult upon matters before they were proponed unto the people. He willed moreover, that if any had married a rich & young heir, & that afterwards he was found not able to live with her so fleshly, as his youth required, that then it was permitted to the woman to choose to her help the nearest kinsman of her husband such as should please her, & to couple herself with him, so that the children which he should beget, should at the least be of the blood and lineage of her husband. Furthermore, he took away the dowries of other marriages, willing that the men should have with their wives three gowns only, and certain other small movables of little value, thinking it a thing neither just nor reasonable, that marriage should be made a traffic to be gained by, as by other merchandises, but wished that it should be done of a hearty love towards the common children. He forbade the speaking evil of the dead, & expressly not to wrong or injury the citizens, either in word or deed, upon pain of three drams: the one to be given to him that should be offended, & the other two to be for the common purse: he permitted unto every one to make a will, & to take such an heir, as he should think good: so as he had no children. He permitted also the kill of the Adulterer being found with the deed, but only condemned him that took a woman of free condition by force, in a 100 drachmas: he forbade that none might sell his daughters or sisters, except that being married, they were found in adultery. To those that won the prize at the Istmick games, he ordained out of the common purse 100 dragmas, & those that had won at the Olympic, 500 and to him that brought in the head of a wolf, was given 5. drams, and one dram, for the head of a she wolf, he would not that the freedom of the City should be given unto any stranger, except he were banished his Country for ever, he made many other goodly ordinances, which I pass with silence, referring unto the reader, to see that which Plutarch hath written of the life of the said Solon, but will declare only that after he had authorised the laws for a 100 years, he made them to be written in boards or roundelles of wood (which roundels, according to Aristotle, were called Cyrbes) and feigned that the Goddess Minerva had invented the same: & afterwards having made the counsel & common people to swear the observation thereof, because of the opportunity which some daily used to take away or mitigate some of them, he took leave of the Athenians for 10. years, and by sea went into Egypt, where he remained a certain space: afterwards returning into Cypress in the end returned to Athens, where he found such troubles, seditions & partialities amongst the inhabitants that in the end they opened the way unto Phisistratus, to usurp his tyranny to the great grief of the said Solon, which notwithstanding lived unto the time that Hegestrate was provost of Athens. The arms of the Macedonians. Chap. 34. THe Macedonians in times past, were amongst the other Grecians in feats of war most valiant & flourishing, they had their Phalanguelike unto a foursquare battle of footmen, joined togethet with their arms, Phalangue. being long pikes called Sarisses of 18. foot long: with the which they opened the battles of their enemies, their headpiece was of a raw ox hide, their cuirass cuilted with flax, the shield of leather, the javelin & sword short: and thus were set out their Phalangue, which as Vegece writeth, were at the first but 8000. men, but according to Dion of the life of Antony Caracole, every Phalangue Macedonique in the time of Alexander the great, was 16. M. men, & did not set in order their legions as the Romans did, which did make one range to enter within another, but made only a soldier to enter in the place of him that was slain, and by such warlike order did many high and memorable feats of arms. But after the discomfiture of the Persians, through the marvelous increase of their power, they fell into such a vainglory & arrogancy (even as at all time's pride and presumption are accustommed to accompany great prosperities) that in place of most honest government, which they had in their common wealth: they gave themselves to a life disordered, corrupted, and full of all villainy, and abominable dissolution: whereupon ensued, that during the time of this monarchy, the Grecians had between themselves many great & long wars: yea such, as in the end, this so noble Graecia was altogether ruined and destroyed: for every one attempting upon it of all sides, was in the end given as a pray unto all strangers. By the figure following is to be seen, what the manner of apparel is of the Macedonian women nowadays. A woman of Macedonia. The ancient religion of the Grecians. Chap. 35. THe same Grecians, through their marvelous industry and subtlety of spirit, were inventors of many monstrous manners of superstition and idolatry, for every one of them had their God, prayers, and ceremonies proper unto themselves. jupiter was honoured amongst them for a remedy of storms and tempests, Mars for to eschew the perils and fortune of wars. They honoured juno for to get riches, Pallas to obtain wisdom, and Venus for to have descent, & a 1000 like follies which amongst them were observed, so as they fell into such infamy, that in the end they established their solemn feasts impure and unhonest: at the which it was unto every one indifferently permitted, under pretext of religion and holiness, to ravish & deflower women and maidens: such were the brave solemnities of their false gods, by the Grecians anciently observed under colour of religion, and so deeply were their hearts drowned in error and idolatry most abominable, through ignorance of true understanding, and knowledge of the most highest Lord. Cecrops▪ of whom before mention is made, was the first amongst them that called on God under the name of jupiter, who invented the images, and dressed the altars for to offer sacrifices. And Orpheus was he which produced and celebrated the first sacrifices unto Liber Pater in the mountain Boetia, near unto Thebes, whereas Liber Pater was born. Wherefore they were called Orpheique, and in the same Orphee was afterwards taken and torn in pieces. And likewise amongst the Thebans, the Eagle was in opinion thought to be of such divinity, that because she did fly so high, they supposed her to have some communication with God. The Athenians also had their religion in such honour and reverence, that they banished out of their city the Philosopher Diagoras, for that he durst write, that he doubted whether there were any gods, and if there were any, what kind of ones they might be. These also condemned the wise Socrates, for the suspicious opinion they had in him, that he would have brought into their city a new religion, which Socrates when it was reported unto him, that the Athenians had condemned him to die: and they (quoth he) are undoubtedly condemned by nature. Behold, thus have ye the ancient manner of living and religion of the Grecians. The modern religion of the Grecians. Chap. 36. ABout the time that the saviour of the world suffered death and passion on the cross, with his own blood to buy again the sin of our first father, the true religion and knowledge of God began to show and take root amongst the Grecians, thorough the means of the holy preachings of the disciples and Apostles of jesus Christ, namely, by the Apostle S. Paul, which by divine inspiration in Thessalonia, Athens, Corinth and Achaia, preached and announced Christ to be the true Messiah, and through many godly miracles, so multiplied the christianity, that in the end, leaving their damnable superstition, the worshipping and calling on their false gods (which so long time had held them in obscurity and dark damnation) they acknowledged their faults, & opened their eyes to take the right taste of the light to eternal salvation, wherein they have always persisted, until such time, as through the invention & cursed venom of Satan, they fell (in succession of time) into many errors & damnable heresies, as into that of the Manicheans, which affirmed that there were 2. gods, the one good and the other evil, which both were eternal, that jesus Christ was not the true God. They boasted also that they could give the holy ghost, they forbade marriages, Heresy of Donatus. & all superior puissance▪ & as for the books of the apostles, they would by no means believe in them, but made doctrines of themselves, which they called gospels of jesus Christ. They were also infected with Donatus sects, which said the son to be less than the father, & the holy ghost less than God & the son: afterwards following the heresy of Nestor Bishop of Constantinople, affirmed that the virgin Marie was not the mother of God, but only the mother of a man, in placing two persons the one human and the other divine: with the heretic Eutiches Abbot in Constantinople, said the divinity to be with the humanity, & consequently from the time of Constantin the Emperor, they stuck unto the infected heresy of Arrius, which was no less pestiferous than other, for they taught that jesus Christ was not borne naturally God, & divers other most blasphemous things more amply wiritten in the first book of Theodorete Bishop of Cyropolis, whereby in the end through god his miraculous work, the author of the same sect was punished according to his deservings for being pressed in his belly as he was going to the stool he burst through the midst of his belly and so died miserably, and notwithstanding that all their errors have been rejected and convinced by many Synods and Councels● yet do they at this present err in many things from our faith, for they maintain that the holy Ghost proceedeth from the father and not from the son▪ they do nothing agree with the Latins, for they will by no means acknowledge the Pope of Rome to be the head of their church and much less do esteem his commandments. But to the contrary do say that the Popes (whom they esteem with all their adherents, as heretics and schismatics) have corrupted and violated the gospels and other books of our religion, to add or take away that which seemed good unto them, for to serve their insatiable and damnable avarice. Moreover they say themselves too be the first that were converted unto the faith, and that because they believe purely and simply the true traditions of the primitive church, as by the Apostles it was preached & anounced unto them. They have four patriarchs in four several provinces, which do command & have power of the oriental churches, whereof the first & principally is he which is at Constantinople unto whom as unto their chief superior, they do obey with all honour & reverence. All the Christians of Grecia, Macedonia, Epire, Thracia, and the isles of Archepelague, and other country's subject unto the Constantinopolitan Empire, yea and over the Muscovites. The second recedith at Cairo, & hath under him Egypt & Arabia. The third commandeth over judea, Damas', Barut, & Tripoli in Suria, keepeth his seat at jerusalem. The fourth & last hath his place of abode in the city of Antioch, and hath puissance over the Graecian church of Suria. These patriarchs are chosen & created by the Metropolitans of the provinces as the pope's are by the Cardinals, & above all things they have a regard to choose amongst them those which they think to be of a perfect age, witty, manful & holy of life. And notwithstanding they have the full power & authority over their churches, yet do they not possess either towns, castles or fortresses, nor yet do entertain men of war or archers for the guard of their persons. They do not also apparel themselves in cloth of gold, purple velvet, crimson satin, or any other cloth of silk, but do live in all simplicity & modesty, having none other revenue, for their entertainment or living, books & apparel, them about the sum of 200. ducats a year, which are ordained & distributed unto them by the churches, over which they do command, & their garments are nothing different nor more rich, than those of a simple monk, whom they do call Caloier, but that upon their head instead of a three crowned mitre, they do wear a great felt hat, whereupon is laid a large band of cloth of gold cross wise. Their priests did wear long beards, & were married to one woman only, which coming to die they might not marry another, and if they were found in adultery, they were punished by their superiors without any mercy. They do celebrate the mass in their vulgar language to the intent to be understanded of all men, and communicate the L. supper under two kinds, & do it indifferently aswell unto the great as lesser sort. They do not put any water into their wine: they deny the purgatory, & say, that prayers, fastings & alms do nothing help the souls of the diseased & will not suffer any carved images of saints in their churches, but on flat pictures painted. These patriarchs have beside an other custom very strange, which is that every year on the good friday, they do anathemise & excommunicate the pope & all princes & christian people obeying unto the traditions of the Rom▪ church. They do observe two Lents with great abstinence, where of the first beginneth on the fat monday, being ix▪ days before the lent of the Latins, & during these ix. days, they may eat eggs, cheese and fish: but after that, until Easter they do abstain from all kind of fishes and other meat that hath blood in it. The other Lent they do solemnise in the time of the advent, & then do fast 40. days with like abstinence as at the first. And finally, they have many other ceremonies far different from the Roman Church, and although in their religion they do observe many good things, yet do they in many things differ much from the primitive Church, I mean such as have been taught us by the Apostles. By reason of which their errors, as for divers other vices, wherewith they have been & are entangled: it is not to be marveled at, though this Grecian nation, which hath been the most flourishing in all Europe, aswell in government of common wealth as administration of justice, good policy, full of excellent captains and good soldiers & expert philosophers, yea that rightly it might have been called the just spring, and fountain of all philosophy and liberal sciences: and now through the variable course of nature, & unsteadfastness of fortune, the most desert, barbarous & desolated country, habitable on earth▪ as being fallen into ignominious calamity, and miserable servitude under those that are more barbarous. For besides the great vices wherein first they were so deep drowned, being in the chief of their monarchy and magnificence, after they had overcome the Persians, feeling themselves rich & puissant because of such a spoil, they fell into such pride & presumption, that not being able to live in peace one with another, had between them many long & cruel wars, upon which followed the ruin, saccagement, & desolation of their country, burning of their cities, cruel murdering of their ancient citizens, & other inestimable losses. So as by the same, Graecia was altogether destroyed, marred and overthrown, yea that after, it was set as a pray & open passage to those that would invade the same, & in the end from honest common wealths, & politic government, the inhabitants were brought under tyranny, & forthwith under kingdoms. And after they had remained under the subjection & obeisance of the romain empire, unto the last Constantin for making up of their last calamities, by divine permission & for punishment of their vices & detestable sins, after they had lost their Emperor and the imperial city of Constantinople, his wife, children, parents, friends, and riches to the whole ruin of the oriental empire, they being all destroyed dead or captives, sequestered of their rights, immunities, traunchises and liberties too the most shameful confusion of Princes, and Christian potentates & contempt of divine religion. These wretched Grecians are left under the miserable servitude of these miscreated Mahometists, constrained to insupportable tributes, yea to pay the tenth person of their own children, as before in the description of the Azamoglans I have declared: such are the righteous judgements of GOD towards the misbelieving, and those that abuse his gracious gifts. I have before lively set forth the figure of a woman of Lacedemonia, to wit, of those which upon the high ways near unto the villages do sell bread unto the passers by, and hereafter I do represent unto you, the Gentleman and the Merchant of Graecia, and the Gentleman's hat must be black, as that of the Albanoys, and the tulbant of the merchant must be sky coloured, ye have also here the portrait of a woman of the country in Graecia. A Gentleman of Graecia. A Merchant of Grecia. A country woman of Grecia. A Table of the Chapters of this book of Navigations and Peregrinations Orientals, of Nicolas de Nicolay of Dauphin, Chamberlain, and Geographer ordinary of the king of France. The first number signifieth the Chapter, the second, the Folio. Chapters of the first book THE departure and voyage of the Lord of Arramont (Ambassador for the king towards the great Turk) from Constantinople to return into France. Chap. 1. Folio. 1. The departure of the Lord of Arramont from the Court, to return in his embassage into Levant towards the great Turk. 2.1. Of the isles Baleares, now called Maiorque & Minorque. 3.3. Of the isles auncienly called the Piteous, and now jevisse, and Fromentiere. 4.3. Navigation from the isles called Piteous to the city of Alger. 5.3. Of our arrival in Alger. 6.4▪ Of the great perils & dangers we were brought into by the means of certain Christian slaves that were escaped. 7.5. Description of the city of Alger. 8.7. By what means Cairadin barbarous came to the king of Alger. 9.12. Of the further proceeding on our navigation. 10.12. Of the the town Teddel, and the inhabitants thereof. 11. 13 Of the city of Bone anciently called Hippon, of which saint Augustine was bishop. 12.13. Of our arrival at the isle of Panthalaree. 13.14. Description of the isle. 14.15. Of our departure from the isle Panthalaree towards Malta, 15.15 Description of the isle of Malta. 16.17. Of our departure from Malta towards Tripoli. 17.19. Foundation of the City of Tripoli. 18.20. Of the Bazar where the christians were sold, taken in the isles of Sicily, Malta, and Goze, & of their manner of trenches, Gabions, and batteries of the Turk. 19.21. Of the composition and giving over of the castle of Tripoli, unto Sinan Bascha. 20.24. Description of the ruins of Tripoli. 21.26. Of our return from Tripoli to return to Malta. 22.28. The Chapters of the second book. THE departure of the Lord of Arramont Ambassador for king Henry the second, towards Soliman Emperor of the Turks, from the isle of Malta, to proceed on his voyage towards Levant. 1.31. Description of the isle Citharee vulgarly called Cerigo. 2.32. Antiquities by the author observed in the isle of Citharee. 3.32. Of our departure from the isle of Citharaee or Cerigo. 4.34. Of our arrival at the isle of Chio. 5.34. Description of the isle of Chio. 6.35. Of the city of Chio. 7.36. Of the government of the isle and city of Chio. 8.41. Of the isle of Metelin. 9.42. Of our navigation from the isle of Metelin to Galliopoli. 10.43. Of the city of Galliopoli. 11.44. Of the foundation of Bizance now called Constantinople. 12.47. The reedification of Byzance by Constantine the great Emperor. 13.48. Of two marvelous fires happened by chance at two several times within Constantinople. 14.49. Of two earthquakes happened within Constantinople. 15.49. Antiquities of Constantinople. 16.50. Of the castle of 7. towers by the Turks called jadicula. 17.50. Of the Sarail wherein the great Turk dwelleth. 18.51. The great Sarail or Sarail of women. 19.53. Of the most famous temple of S. Sophia and other Mosques of Constantinople. 20.57. Of the baths and manner of washing of the Turks. 21.58. Of the women of Turkey going unto the baths, and of their apparel and manner of cleanness. 22.59. Of the place called Bezestan, and other public markets. 23.62 Of the City of Pera or Galata. 24.65. Of the women and maidens of Grecia, & of the Peratins Franques of Pera or Galata. 25.65. The Chapters of the third book. OF the origin and bringing up of the Azamoglans▪ being children of tribute levied upon the Christians being subjects and tributaries unto the great Turk. 1.69. Of the Azamoglans' rustic. 2.71. Of the origin and first institution of the order of janissaries. 3.73. Of the janissaries which are continually about the gates of the great Lord, or at Constantinople. 4. 7●. Of the Bolucks Bassis, being captains over a hundredth janissaries. 5.78. Of the janissary Aga, Captains general of the janissaries. 5.79. Of the Solaquis archers, and of the ordinary guard of the great Turk. 7.80. Of the Peicz or Lacquaes of the great Turk. 8.82. Of the apparel, custom, and manner of living of the ancient Peicz or Lacquaes of the Emperors of Turkey. 9.84. Of the wrestlers of the great Turk called Guressis or Peluianders, 10.86. Of the Cooks and other officers of the kitchen of the great Turk, and ordinary manner of the eating of the Turks. 11 90. Of the Physicians of Constantinople. 12.93. Of the Grecian Peysants or husbandmen called Voinucz. 13.95. O● the Cadilesquers great doctors of the law Mahometicke and chief justices of the Turks. 14, 97. Of four sundry religions of the Turks, their manner of living, & portraites of the religious, & first of the Geomalers. 15.99. Of the 2. sect of the religious Turks called Calendars 16.101. Of the 3. sect of the religious Turks, called Deruis. 17.102. Of the 4▪ sect of the religious Turks, called Torlaquis. 18.104. Of other religious Turks, leading a solitary life amongst beasts. 19.106. Of those which do call themselves kinsmen to Mahomet. 20.108. Of the Pilgrims of Mecqua by the Turks, called Hagislars. 21.110. Of the Sacquas carriers of water, being also pilgrim's of Mecqua. 22.112. The Chapters of the fourth Book. OF the ancient laws and manner of living of the Persians. 1.113. Of the religion and ceremonies of the ancient Persians. 2.115. The ancient weapons of the Persians. 3.115. Of the religion of the Persians used now adays. 4.115. Of the estate of the Persians now adayes● 5.116. Of the wanton and voluptuous life of the Persians, 6.117. Description of the kingdom of the Persians. 7.118. Of the Persian women. 8.119. Description of the three Arabies, and first of the rocky or stony. 9.121. Of Arabia the desert. 10.121. Of Arabia the happy. 11.122. Of the ancient manner of living, laws, and religion of the Arabians. 12.125. Of the adventures called Dellis or Zatasnisis. 13.126. Of the men and women of Cilicia presently called Caramonia. 14.128. Of Celicia presently called Caramonia 15.129. Of the merchant Iewes dwelling in Constantinople, and other places of Turkey and Grecia▪ 16.130. Of the Armenians. 17.133. Religion & manner of living of the ancient Armenians. 18.133. Modern religion of the Armenians. 19.133. Of Armenia. 20.134. Of the Ragusins. 21▪ 136. Of the policy and government of the Ragusins. 22.136. Of the city of Raguse. 23.139. Description of Thracia. 24.139. Of the city of Andrinopoli. 25.140. Manner, laws, religion, and ancient order of living of the Thracians. 26.145. Of the ancient opinion of the Thracians, touching the immortality of the soul. 27.145. The ancient arms of the Thracians. 28.146. The description of Graecia. 29.149. Of the manner and ancient order of living of the Grecians. 30.153. Of Lycurgus laws given unto the Lacedæmonians. 31.153. Of the Athenians. 32.154. The laws of Solon given to the Athenians. 33. 155. The arms of the Macedonians. 34.156. The ancient religion of the Grecians 35.158. The Modern religion of the Grecians. 36.158. Imprinted at London by Thomas Dawson.