The true and Exact Portraiture of ●… MAHOMET the 4th: fourteenth Emperor of the Turks now reigning in 1663.  MatthAei, Florentinus Pinxit: Io: Chantry sculp:   

A New Survey OF THE Turkish Empire AND GOVERNMENT, IN A Brief HISTORY deduced to this present Time, and the Reign of ●he now GRAND SIGNIOR MAHOMET the iv The present and XIV. Emperor. With their Laws, Religion and Customs. As also an Account of the Siege of NEWHAUSEL.  
LONDON. Printed for Henry Marsh at the sign of the Prince's Arms in Chancery-Lane. 1663.   

To the Right Worshipful, Sir ANDREW RICCARD, Knight, and Governor of the Levant Company.  
THis Turkish Breviary and Abstract, as of right and due addresseth itself to your Hands, in which the Administration of our Intelligence and Commerce with that Nation is very worthily and prudently placed. Be pleased therefore among other lesser Concerns of your Surintendence therein, to suffer your Name to be interested in the Patronage of this Brief SURVEY.  
The Prefixing whereof was partly designed to compose and civilize those horrid and dire conceptions we have of those Barbarous Arms; by letting the World see, that persons of the greatest Humanity have and do maintain a constant and amicable Correspondence with them; partly to let their present Dread and Puissance do service to those fair and obliging atractions for which your Name is no less Famous, and partly to vindicate the Truth of the Discourse ensuing, when we offer it at so known an Altar, and to so competent a Judge and Patron.  
And that advantage with your own Eminence will justly engage an Ambition to sound your Name in the general Voice and Discourse of the World, which is now busied with this Mighty Monarch; whose Glories and Successes will have this further felicity, that they have harmlessly reached us, under your particular Protection.  
And under that let the World also be taught, the great and admirable effects of Sobriety and Abstinence, and the mischiefs of Riot and Excess: For this Asian People, once the nauseated and basest dregs of the World, odious for their Luxury, and Infamous for their Slavery, (the necessary consequents thereof) are now by their temperance and abstemiousness, (the injunction and Discipline of an absurd Religion) become the Mightiest Nation, and greatest Lord of the Universe: and by irresistible and over bearing approaches, have given the Empire of Germany (the reeling, staggering Remnant of the Fourth Monarchy a Cup of Trembling.  
God in his good time heal those Breaches, and pardon the many provoking sins of Christendom, and continue us in our undeserved peace, and your Noble Self and Family therein, in all Honour and prosperity.  
So prays Your Humble and Devoted Servant H. Marsh.   

ERRATA.  
THe Reader is desired to mend and observe a mistake; in Page 8. Line 25 for 1633. read 1640.   

THE PREFACE TO THE READER.  
WHile the noise of those barbarous Armies, that now prevail in Hungaria, and dangerously threaten the adjacent Hereditary Dominions of the Germane Emperor, as Archduke of Austria, do resound through the whole Christian world; which may justly fear the second part of that Tragedy, which the in●…undation of the Goths and Vandals terribly effected in those parts of Europe, that now are the next affrighted Neighbours to this Invasion; It will be a satisfactory endeavour, I presume, to give some account of this terrible Enemy; whose distant efforts give us the secure and quiet contemplation of his strength and power, while it employs other Regions of Christendom in hasty and tumultuous Action, and hath hurled them into a general distraction and consternation.  
I will not be curious to dive into this providence and grand Affair of the world, unto which so many strange events seem to be chained, as that the Fate of the Universe is judged by some to be concerned therein; but he that shall consider and peruse some modern Treatises which hint at this very thing, and shall likewise weigh with himself those great mutations and changes which have been wrought in this Kingdom, especially the late blessed Restitution, must believe that some extraordinary Revolution is at hand, and that ours, and the like in other parts, are but the precursory and predictory signs of some Conclusive wonder.  
The expectation of the world hath long laboured under the discourse and disputes about Antichrist, variously conceived by a multitude of Writers, as also about the period of the Roman Empire, which now is visible only, and hath been so for some ages in the House of Austria, supported by the Grandeur of the Spanish Monarchy: and it is now no vain and groundless an opinion of the same that one or both of these Mysterious Intrigues in humane judgement will in this present juncture be determined, at least some greater light be given by this clashing and collision of the Eastern and Western Princes the success whereof will decide whether Caesar aut Nullus, a Caesar or No Body.  
The Reader therefore I hope will take in good part this brief Account of the Customs, Laws and manners (subjoined to this brief History of this Formidable Nation) as they are described by a worthy hand, a person of quality und experience.   

A NEW SURVEY OF THE Turkish Empire.  
PART. I.  

The Rise of the Turkish Empire, and its Present Greatness.  
THis Puissant, and almost numberless people, in their Armies and Hosts, which like Xerxes his Forces, drink whole Rivers dry as they march, came from most contemptible and petty Originals; and like the Roman Empire, which began from a collected rabble of lose and outlawed persons, was founded in a Company of theiving Shepherds, who wand'ring up and down like a running disease, infested and disquieted all places they came to, and at last grew to such considerable strength, like a Snowball, that they became suspect to the Monarches of the East, both Pagan and Christian.  

The rise of the Turkish power.  The first appearance which rendered them Famous and Notable to the world, was under the conduct and leading of their Captain Tangrolipix, who was called in by the King of Persia, to aid him against the potent and prevailing Armies of the Saracens, which having readily undertaken, and strenuously and successfully atcheived; this Auxiliary took occasion to carve for himself, and erect a new Principality and Empire, as well as upon his friends, whom he pretended to rescue, as upon their common enemy's territory, making both of them the equal prey of his ambition of Sovereignty and Dominion.  
This new Family continued in this Usurpation and Intrusion with various success one hundred and seventy years, to the year of our Lord, 1300. But standing solely upon its own legs, neither strengthened nor secured by any alliances, and wasted with a continual War with the former just Propietors of the Land they had treacherously and forcibly wrested, it expired its dying, gasping breath into a younger slip of the same House, for now the Zelzuccian Name and Fortune was transmitted to the Oguzian Tribe (which were the two, and only Descendants of this people) whom Fate had adopted to the reserve and residue of her greatest and benignest Favours, which she decreed to double upon it; for having made an essay of the former's aptness to glory, and laid the dead colours in it, of a Majestical and August Form and Feature; drew it perfect afterwards in this beautiful and fair proportion, in which we now see the Turkish Empire.  

The rise of the Ottoman family.  The Infant Darling of this rising greatness, was the famous Ottoman, to whom the grand Seignors refer, and ambitiously entitle their Surname, who having precariously obtained a small quantity of ground from his Neighbours, upon protestation of his quiet and peaceable demeanour, partly by courage, and partly by treachery, over-ran the whole Country of Bythynia, in the Lesser Asia; and dying, left the design of enlarging and extending his Dominions to his Son and Successor Orcanes, whose Sons immense Fortune, like the Colossus, bestrid the Hellespont, and conveyed the Turkish Ensigns into Europe, whose delicious and useful soil, so pleased andentic ed those conquerors, that the Imperial Seat was first fixed here at Adrianople, to which most of the vicine Princess were forced to come and pay tribute and homage: such was the slavish condition of Servia and Bulgaria, and most part of Slavonia, afterwards swallowed up in absolute Mahumetanism, and made Provinces of this monstrous signory.  
But that which constituted, and was as the formal being thereof, was the Conquest and Possession of Constantinople, now called Stamboli, the Magnificent Throne of the Eastern Empire, which resigned its glories to victorious Mahomet, May 29. Anno Dom. 1450. and transferred its imperial Title to that Regal claim, his Ancestors had enjoyed. This irrecoverable loss, and lop of one of the greatest and chiefest members of Christianity, so stunned the Greeks, and other petty Princes, who yet maintained their Dominions, that most of them were either suddenly reduced, or tamely yielded themselves, which was the fate of the Epirots (though they held out for a while, by the unexampled conduct and felicity of Scanderbag,) the Rhodians, the Cypriots, and Isles of the Mediterranean Sea, and lastly, in the Reign of Solyman, of Moldavia, Valachia, part of Transilvania and Hungaria, whether he pierced and passed as far as Vienna, (and beyond it, in other part, of Austria) which by the fear of his approach, saw her Suburbs, and Houses, and Gardens of pleasure fired and ruined, that he might have no shelter for his men, when he should attempt the siege, which he did, but in vain: but such was his importunate ambition of effecting a total conquest of that Country, in which he had been partly successful to the gaining of the better half of that Kingdom of Hungaria, and seizing Buda the Capital City thereof, that he made several expeditions in person, even in his old Age, and died at his return from taking Zigeth, though gallantly defended to the last man, by Count Serinus, great Ancestor to the Emperor's Generalissimo, now in that Kingdom. Not to mention the Augmentation of this Empire, by the triumphal accessions of Egypt, and remoter parts of Asia the Great, both Nations of the same Religion.  

The death of Solyman.  From the time of this Soliman's Decease, about 1566. till now, little or no attempts were made this way by his Successors, for Amurath his Son, Mahomet and Achmat, were Princes given to quiet, and Home Delights, so that most men conjectured, this Empire was at its Zenith and Solstice, and full stop, and would decline as fast as it risen; and that glory wearied with such a train of greatness, would flag at last, if not be pulled back again with the weight of them, and crush it to nothing.  

The death of Achmat the first.  And this was almost concluded on, when after the death of Achmat, there immediately followed such Convulsions in that State, and receding from those observed rules of policy, which were the security of its Establishment, viz. the saving the lives of the younger brethren of the Emperor, as Achmat did by Mustapha, and he by Achmats' three Sons; Osman, who at tweelve years of age had the Government transferred to him from his Uncle Mustapha, and was afterstrangled by the tumultuary Janissaries, Amurath or Morat, and Ibrahim (the Father of the present Emperor) who all reigned successively; of which three, Morat proved a most Heroic Prince, and of as great if not greater spirit than any of his Progenitors. He died in 1633. at the siege of Bagdat, alias Babylon, (whether he had designed the Janissaries for slaughter and extirpation, as being the causes and Agents of all those troubles and disloyalties which had happened to his Brother and Uncle, intending in their room to erect a new kind of standing Militia, which should be more absolutely at his command. Being asked upon his deathbed, occasioned by a violent Fever (in the said year 1640.) whom he would appoint to succeed him, he disdainfully and angrily replied, Will there be any more worlds when I am dead? He was thought to have favoured the Christians for his Mother's sake, and therefore chose this expedition against the Persian. His immature fate was much lamented by his Subjects, for his justice and temperance, and care of them; but welcomed by the Janissaries, who began to perceive his drift against them, and who notwithstanding saluted his Brother Ibrahim with the Imperial dignity the year abovesaid.  
Ibrahim immediately upon his Assumption renewed the League with the Emperor of Germany, which had been concluded by Achmat in 1612. and had been thitherto punctually and inviolably observed: but the Galleys of Malta meeting with his wealth, coming from Cairo and Alexandria, and carrying them, and one of his dear Sultana's, which was on board, away for that Island, put him into such a rage, that without present restitution he vowed to attaque Christendom: Which immediately he commenced against the Venetians, as abettors, if not complices in the fact, upon whose Trade and Territories he might wreak his fury, which would be spent in vain against that impregnable Isle, which had blemished the prowess and glory of his Ancestors: and having rigged a Fleet, and raised an Army, he set upon the Isle of Candy by Sea, and by Land upon Dalmatia, resolved against any agreement or accommodation soever, and with various fortune maintained the War, till the Janissaries tumulting again, deposed him, and set up his Son Mahomet the Fourth, a stripling, and whom they might govern as they pleased. He died in the said fatal year 1648. the murderous Revolution of Princes; but how, is not certain: For such is the knack of this Tyranny, that the world cannot tell, whether the Prince or his Slaves do die the fairest.   

Of the present Reign of Sultan Mahomet the Fourth:  
SUltan Ibrahim being thus deposed, his Eldest Son Mahomet was with general applause saluted Emperor, and his Mother the Sultana was highly complemented: His Name did much conciliate the affection of the people for his great Grandfather's sake, Mahomet the Third, whose memory was highly honoured and beloved, and because of his comeliness of Feature, and towardliness of Mind, which promised the revival of all his Ancestors virtues in himself.  
There had been frequent changes by death, and disgrace of the Prime Viziers in the next preceding Reigns: It is a Dignity far greater than our Lord Chancellor, for he commands supremely both in peace and war, at home and abroad, but of such short and uncertain possession, especially of late, that the Turks have a Proverb, The greatest Persons and Officers in that government, are but at best fair statues of Glass. He that administered this place at the Emperor's Assumption, was an old Statesman and a person of good success and conduct, and of as good age and experience, and who questionless laid those Noble principles and elements of glory and ambition in this young Monarch, which the Christian world now sadly feels. For from that disreputation, and despicableness of the Turkish power, by reason of those confusions and intestine troubles, which for some years before had besotted, and as was hoped, had emasculated the Policy, Prudence, Valour, and Courage of that Empire; he at the first instant of his Government gave manifest signs of a Mercurial and Martial Disposition, and with his own active Genius, (the example of Princes being the great Engine of worth) soon buoyed up the Spirits of his people to their former pitch of fortiude, and bravery of mind, awakened and restored their lost discipline: and to whet their new furbished Scimitars, resolved to employ them altogether against the Christians, upon the irreconciable quarrel of Religion, the great Incentive to Heroical enterprises, especially amongst the Turks, where zeal always fights half the Battle.  
To this purpose he resolved to prosecute the War against the Venetians, which his Father had begnn, and though at his first entrance upon it, Fortune seemed to oppose his designs, and severely to exercise his glorious and aspiring mind, with a very great defeat given his naval Forces by the Sea, the greatest ever given them since Lepanto fight, wherein he lost forty eight Galleys, 6 Galiasses, 12 Mahones and 9 Ships, and his Admiral Bassa slain in the fight in the Haven of Foggia; and this success disabling his command at Sea, he made no more of it then his Noble Ancestor Selimus the Second, who beaten at Lepanto, after his conquest of Cyprus, said merrily, Lepanto is but the shaving of my beard, Cyprus is the loss of a limb.  

Venetians Victory over the Turks.  In the year 1654. the Venetians obtained another Victory over the Turks, having fought them two days together in the Dardanelles, the straight of the Hellespontick sea between Asia and Europe, famous for the story of Leander and Hero, where now the Turks have two Castles built, in lieu of Sestos and Abydos, made more impregnable very lately by some modern Fortification, for better security against the Venetians, The Grand Signior himself advised the method of it, and was present at the beginning, and finishing the work, wherein he takes much satisfaction. 
Turks fleet overthrown.  At this Naval encounter no less than 6000 Turks were slain, and Amurath Bassa, Captian Admiral of the Port was mortally wounded, and twenty ships of War and Galleys taken, besides as many sunk and spoiled.  
This Defeat so incensed the Grand Signior that the Prime Vizier (being obnoxious to his anger and displeasure, for other matters, some whereof were noised to be of treasonable Consequence against his Life) was by a private Council ordered to be strangled, and he accordingly was executed; about which time the sparks of that Conflagration which at this present is mastering Hungary began to appear, for a party of Turks attempted the surprisal of Vesperin, a Garrison of the Emperors, which annoyed the freedom of their correspondence; but their design being discovered, they were forced to retreat with the loss of 900 men, and so the peace continued in a kind of doubtful and suspicious entertainment by both parties, who made slight and mutual inroads into one another's limits, without any declaration or notice taking of a War, which the Turkish Governors studied to dissemble.  
The death of the Grand Visier begat several Factions in the Soldiery and chief Officers, whom he in his life time had tampered with, hoping to make a party for himself, and transfer the Imperial Dignity from this ancient Ottoman Family to his own house, an attempt never heard of before in that Government, which hath showed the most awful reverence to the majesty of their Prince, beyond all others whatsoever.  
The seeds of this Treason broke out and appeared two years after in 1656, in the tumults raised by the Janissaries, but abetted by some of the Bashaws of his Council and Intrigue at Constantinople, where they massacred several of the Divan (the Emperor's Council and Court of Justice) strangled the Visier Bassa in revenge of his Predecessor, forced the Sultana or Empress, Mother of the Grand Signior, who managed her Son, and the administration of Affairs, to fly to the old Seraglio for safety, and made search for the Muphtee, by whose Consent and Advice (which the Great Turk always asks in matters of life and death) the aforesaid Visier had been put to death, resolving to depose the Grand Signior, & set up his Brother  
To this purpose they laid aside all the former Principal Officers to secure themselves from the punishment of their Rebellion, and placed others in their room, who had encouraged and prompted them thereunto: These men mistrustful of their violent beginnings, and dreading more violent ends, forbore those desperate actions and Councils which this Revolt at first threatened, intending first to secure themselves, and establish their interest: And thus they applied themselves to the Sultan, with deep protestations of their Loyalty and dutiful Intentions, and that the exorbitant abuses and oppressions of his Officers had caused the late Troubles, which they hoped to remove, and restore his Majesty to the affection of the Janissaries, which those Ministers had debauched from him. And to make this appear they proceeded vigorously in carrying on the War against the Venetians in Dalmatia, and Candia, as the most acceptable, and which made them likewise more grateful to the people, so that the Venetians to reinforce the places they held in Candia, dispatched away some new Regiments, Volunteers and others, under the command of Prince Horatio Farnese, of the House of Parma, who did that Republic good service, in several enterprises against the Enemy; as did their General Zeno in Dalmatia, where the morlacs, who at the beginning of the war revolted from the Turk, merited also very exceedingly, from the said signory.  
The grand Signior in the mean while doubtful of these fair shows, and their pretences to him, by some of his trusty Eunuches, and at the advice of his old friends, had insinuated so far into some of the principal of the new statesmen with proffers of his greatest favours, setting likewise before them the danger of continuing this force upon him, for that the Bassa of Damascus was said to be upon his March to Constantinople, that they resolved to save their own stakes, and by a timely submission and discovery, prevent others from doing it before them; And this was almost done as quick as thought, and the news of it not published sooner than by his solemn appearance in Constantinople, who at his return from this his joyful cavalcade, gave order for the strangling of the Ringleaders of the late defection, some of whom were even those who had declared their return to their obedience, so unpardonable a crime is Rebellion amongst those Barbarous Nations, who have no Scripture, Rule, and Command obliging their Allegiance, that there is no place left for Repentance, in any hopes of mercy or forgiveness.  
In this naked composure of the state which had been dismembered of her chiefest Ministers, it was not an Act of grace or of choice to prefer, but of the greatest necessity and care, to find some worthy and fit person for the dignity of Visier Azem, or Prime Visier, who should be able to undertake this Corruens Imperium, and to sustain, likeanother Atlas, the tottering ruinous Fabric of this overpoyzed greatness.  
Much consultation among the Grandees themselves there was, who should be the man Nominated by them in this hazardous and variating condition of the state, to the Grand Signior, whose own consideration of his, and the public safety, had pitched upon the aforesaid Bassa of Damascus whom not long before he had dismissed out of the Seraglio to that command (it being the custom to breed Christian noble Children, to the number of a hundred, for the immediate service of the Emperor, who according to his favour, or their abilities and parts disposes them afterwards to the best Provinces, and prefers them to the highest dignities, and those are called at their initiation, Itchoglans, and are taught the Rules and Policies of the Government) as having perceived in him some aptitudes to his service, in the resemblance of his own disposition. Advantaged by the near equality of Age.  
This prudent person beyond the expectation of his years, not exceeding twenty four, courageously but modestly accepted of the charge, and behaved himself so discreetly, yet confidently therein, that he allayed and awed that discontented and mutinous humour of the Janissaries, partly by extraordinary munificence, and partly by just severity: as he gained upon the people's respect by his free and uncorrupted Justice, so that of all the Ministers that the Seraglio ever bred, or the Government produced, there hath been none exceeded him therein, & his Fortune is highly paramount to them all. And this is he who at present commands and menageth the victorious Army of these Infidels with that fairness for which he is universally famed.  
Yet had he no better luck than his Master at his entrance upon the Government (in which he was installed in Constantinople with most extrordinary Pomp and solemnity) the first care whereof, as to Foreign business was the equipping and recruiting of the Fleet going to Sea against the Venetians, who braved the Grand Signior and the Port (as Constantinople is called) at the mouth of the Dardanelles, and had continued there a month, on purpose for an Engagement.  
June the 26. the Turkish Fleet set sail, consisting of 28 great ships, nine Galleasses, 60 Galleys, and 30. Mahons, The Venetian Navy had 28. great Ships, 24. Galleys, besides 7. of Malta, and 7. Galiasses, who keeping in the Channel, the Turk could not pass without fight.  
There were two Batteries raised on both sides the straight, to facilitate the going out of the Turkish Fleet, by causing the Venetian to desert their station, 
A great Fight in the Dardanelles.  which nevertheless they would not abandon, but stood the shot of the Castles and them, and upon the advance of the Tukish Fleet, part of theirs under the command of Captain Mocceingo, making more boldly to the shore, got a stern of the whole Navy, and so hemmed them in: after a sharp and tedious encounter this Armada, was wholly overthrown by sword, fire, and water, 40. Galleys were taken, with 9 Mahones, the 28. Ships butnt, the Captain Bassa only saving himself with 14. Galleys. The number of Turks slain, was reputed no less than 5000. and 4000 taken, and as many Christian slaves set at liberty. The Venetians lost their Captain General Marcello, 500 Mariners and Soldiers, of whom the Maltese did brave service: in room of Marcello, the gallant Moccenigo was elected General by the Senate, and a chain worth two thousand pound, bestowed on him besides.  
In September, the same year, the Noble General being recruited, following his success, landed and took the important and strong Island of Tendos, (the Grecian Harbour, when they besieged Troy) and soon after took the Island of Lemnos, after a difficult siege, for the Turks esteemed it as impregnable, and having repaired and provided the Fortress with all necessaries for defence, it lying within view of the Enemy, and a great annoyance to their trade and provision by Sea, departed towards Scio, and now the hopes of an accommodation by a Treaty, which was maintained at this time by their Secretary Bellarini●, were evaporated into the Turks fury, who caused the said Secretary to be secured, and the Treaty to be laid aside. For these losses nothing discouraged but rather heightened the Grand Signior and Visier, nor did they give over the design of reducing Candia, which was only feasible by success at Sea, as being an Island, but Achmat breathing nothing but Revenge and Honour, with fierce language, and stern looks upbraided the Bashaws for employing such base cowardly fellows, and then cheerfully bade them equip another Fleet, and he would design and appoint the Commanders, whom his own observation had recommended to his choice.  
In the same time the Land service in Dalmatia, went hotly on, but so as it shown the Turks had not totally recovered the use of their Arms; and while a greater experience could be gained He thought it not adviseable to hazard an expedition in person, or venture the reputation of his Prime Visier, in so minute an enterprise; reserving that design till he had trained and accustomed his men to that service, to the same end keeping his Army in continual service in Candia, though with little effect. 
The Turks severity & Policy.  For nothing of consequence was atcheived of either side, and those small successes that were, were equal and mutual, now the one, and then the other prevailed, as if they bartered and exchanged Victory. For which lazy progress, notwithstanding, on purpose to show his severity against such remiss and unactive Commands, though it were hardly possible to effect more with the force he had, upon the Island, He sometime after caused the Bassa, Governor thereof, to be put to death, at his return from that Government; the like fate befell the Bassa of Bosnia, for his slow and fruitless menage of the war in Dalmatia aforesaid.  
Another Fleet as the grand Signior threatened was again rigged, and in August the same year defeated in the same place by the same General, the Emperor himself coming to the Castles to view the encounter, which was gallantly maintained on both sides, and the loss nothing so considerable to the Turk; for that he set to sea with a potent Fleet the next month, the Venetians having lost their General by a casual lighting of the shot of a tire of Cannon from the Isle of Scio, into his magazine of powder, which here blew him up, and other Nobles with him into the air.  

The Turks get conquest.  With this Fleet the Turk regained the Isle of Tenedos, though with a great ruin to themselves; for the Venetian Fleet, who had braved and affronted them all this Summer, being gone to take in fresh water, the Turkish Fleet took the opportunity, and landed there a great Body of men; who storming it, were at first repulsed; but preparing for a general onslaught, the Venetian Garrison working a Mine under the Fort, disposed the powder therein, with a Match fitted to it; when quitting the place, and getting on shipboard, the Turks taking possession, were blown with the Fort into the air. The Venetian Fleet returning, and perceiving what had happened, the Turks Fleet being at hand, prepared for the encounter, which was again resolutely performed, the Grand Signior being in view again, and concerned in the regaining of the aforesaid Island; but in fine the Venetians got the Victory, sinking twenty of the Galleys, and taking four more: the rest sheltered themselves within the Dardanelles. So often was that little Republic in one year successful against this potent Enemy. Besides that, it hath sustained their whole Naval Force (and their strongest efforts by land) f r twenty years together, without any considerable loss, and with very inconsiderable helps and supplies from other Christian neighbour Princes. But there is a great deal of difference and odds betwixt an united and entire State, whose virgin Generosity had almost tired this lustful Leviathan; and divided Dominions, not only by distances, Limits, Laws and Customs, but Religion also, and prostituted likewise to his ravishing Arms by others interests, designs, and ambition.  
After his return from that short Expedition, the Grand Signior continued at Constantinople, busy in reforming his Court, and Officers, and other abuses in the Seraglio, which by the depravity of the times, and those breaches and corruptions in the State, had prevailed to custom; sloth, and Epicurism, and Pride the mother of Faction, and the specific direct bane and ruin of this arbitrary Government, were extremely predominant; and corruption by bribery, to which the Turkish Ministers of State are most strongly inclined, was never so boldly licentious; so that the virtues of another Hercules was requisite to purge out these enormities: 
The Grand Signior excellent in Government.  Yet such was the excellency of this Prince's judgement, such his severe government of himself and commands, and punishments of others, and the strict execution of them, that by this he quickly reduced things to the former state; denying himself the ordinary use of those pleasures, for whose excesses his predecessors are so infamous to Christendom.  
This sharp and rigid proceeding with all sorts of persons, especially the Soldiers of his Guard, putting the hard yoke of Discipline upon their necks again; began to grate and gall, and make them to wince against the Government; and therefore a Persian war was concluded: which Kings Ambassador had his head taken off for making a denunciation thereof at Constantinople. But a nearer European quarrel presenting itself, a Truce and Peace was afterwards patched up betwixt them.  

Prince Ragotzi enters Poland.  The Swede proving very successful in Poland in 1656 and 1657. by taking most of the Towns and Cities of that Kingdom, and wanting men at present to maintain them, fairly invited Ragotzi Prince of Transilvania to come and take share of the spoil, promising him a part of  conquest for his labour: To the same purpose Oliver Cromwell courted him; and many transactions of that nature there passed between them. 
Recalled by the Grand Signior.  Ragotzi no way disliking the bargain, and being next neighbour, out of covetousness and ambition came in with a great Army, and assisted the Swede at the siege of Cracovia, which at last was yielded, and put into his hands. The news hereof hastily alarmed the Turkish Court; who resenting this growing greatness of the Swede, and the ill neighbourhood they were like to have from him, if once he could fix and settle himself in Poland; the Grand Signior commanded Ragotzi, as his Tributary and Vassal, (for, for many years those Princes, like the other of Vallachia and Moldavia, have received their investiture from the Turk) to abandon his League with the Swede, and to return home, restoring the Polander the places he had taken. Ragotzi not daring to refuse, marched back again; and upon his arrival was met with a Chiaux, commanding him to resign his Principality to his Cousin Radus, for that he had presumed without the Grand Signors command or licence to invade the King of Poland, and make war with a Prince in league and amity with him; and withal, to resign his Forts, and places of strength. To the first he seemingly yielded; but the other he would by no means hearken to: and thereupon making use of his Forces, reassumes his former Title, and prosecuted the Turk with open war: And at the beginning with very good success, though his confederate the Prince of Vallachia was routed, and 8000 men slain, as he was marching to his assistance; defeating the Turkish Army and Bassa of Buda at Lippa, 6000 men taken and killed, and the Victory followed thirty leagues: where hearing of the advance of the prime Visier with 80000, he retired in haste; and making opposition about Alba Julia to the whole Force of the Turk, was there worsted: a little before which, he had vanquished his competitor Radus (and after besieged and taken the Castle wherein he had thought to have secured himself) and put him to death.  
Before and after this overthrow, he had importuned the Emperor of Germany by many instances at Vienna, to undertake the protection of his Country, offering to give him caution of what Towns he should please: but the Emperor delaying a timely interposition (yet giving the Turk occasion of a quarrel by underhand assisting Ragotzi with some men) Ragotzi died of his wounds (received at Alba Julia,) and with grief, at Waradin: Which being defended for a while after by Colonel Gaude a Scotchman, was yielded upon terms to this prime Visier, being the immediate earnest of those present conquests in Hungaria.  

The Transylvanian Troubles.  In the mean while, Radus the competitor of Ragotzi being put to death by him as abovesaid, the prime Visier named another to the Principality of Transylvania at the end of the year 1659. a Nobleman by descent allied to the former Princes, by name Michael Apaffi, (though vulgar error call him Abassi) who at the appointment of the Grand Signior was accepted by the States thereof, when they perceived it was in vein to struggle for Ragotzi's Interest against the whole power of the Sultan, without any assistance from the Emperor, who in this declension of that Prince's fortune abandoned the quarrel, and left them to themselves, nor would hearken to any overtures made to him for his protection, upon what ever terms of resignation or Dominion, and his Envoys publicly declared to the Turk as much, who measuring his designs by those fears and jealousies which this punctual satisfaction signified, was the more incited to a pursuance of those resolutions, which had been taken up sometime before at the Port. 
The Emperor complies with the Turk.  And by this means Transilvania was quite lost, and absolutely in the power of the Turk, with some further advantages gained for his intended invasion of the adjacent provinces of Hungaria and Austria.  
Leave we that Kingdom for a while which is to be the Doleful and Tragical Conclusion of this Narrative, and retrospect to the grand Signors, Home-affairs, which diverted him from an immediate prosecution of his success in Europe; for the Bassa of Aleppo (where resides the greatest English Factory) in 1659. broke out into a Rebellion, and threatened a conjuncture with the Persian, declaring for Reformation in Government and Religion, the latter especially, having for better pretence made some new fangled expositions of the Koran, more to the humour of the preciser and and rigid zealots of the Mahometan Religion.  
By virtue whereof, and some former discontents which were not yet quite purged out of the Soldiery, who were distributed, and had their possessions in those Parts, under his command (for the Grand Signior allows each Horseman such a porportion of ground, for which he is to be in a readiness to do him service) he had amassed a very considerable Army, several inferior Bashaw's dependants, and retainers to the former Prime Visier, whose quarrel they espoused, resorting to him from their respective Governments.  
With this power he marched towards Constantinople, and came on his way thither as far as Scutary, within four miles of that City, and thence sent in his demands, which swelling to that daring presumption, as to require a resignation of the Imperial Title, to a pretended Son of the late Emperor Morat, an impostor of his own setting up, such another as Perkin Warbeck (to whom he gave all honours and observances becoming the state of a Sultan;) and in his right and Title encountered and overthrew two distinct Armies of the Grand Signior, that were in haste dispatched to obstruct the increase of more adherents, and favourers of his enterprise.  
He continued in this posture, like a cloud hover over Constantiple, big with some ruinous storm, till this successful Prime Visier having amassed his European Forces, 
The Expedition for Asia.  passed the Bosphorus into Asia, with 50000. men, (more proparing to follow him) being the choice of the Turkish power, and with good speed advanced after the Rebel, who knowing the courage both of the Leader, as having been his Neighbour at Damascus, and the Soldiers, after a long consultation with his Council of War, resolved immediately in all humble and frankest manner to submit themselves to the Sultan's mercy, dismissing the common Soldiers to shift for themselves; which being done so unexpectedly, the Visier gave notice of it by an express with as much favour to their persons as the case deserved, to the Grand Signior, who gave them all his pardon, with some extra ordinary respects for the Bassa of Aleppo, but presently after, when there was no danger of the Rebellion, and all things were quieted thereabouts, at the instance of some Enemies of his at Court, but more truly by reason of State, and the Policy of the Government, which never pardons that Crime, 
The Bassa of Aleppo strangled.  he and thirty more were suddenly strangled, their heads chopped off and set upon poles against the Emperor's Seraglios at Constantinople.  
I his treacherous and cruel dealing after pardon given, and such a Loyal Rendition of themselves, when as they might have hazarded the whole Empire, raised in the friends of the deceased, a thirst of revenge, having yet their Arms in their hands, and the Soldiery as prone to new troubles as they could wish them, and hereupon instantly ensued another defection, as great altogether as the former, but the authority of Leaders was wanting to manage it to effect. Nevertheless upon the first news of it, the Grand Signior resolved to march himself in person to make a final end, and root out the seeds of those commotions, which were so apt upon every occasion to burst forth.  
Preparation was made accordingly for a solemn expedition, and the Rebels cursed and devoted by the Priests to destruction, the Janissaries and Spahies mustered, and upon their march, the Sultana, the Mother of the Emperor appointed Regent in his absence, when news came that all was quieted again, and the chief Authors of the late defection were fled and escaped into Persia.  
The Emperor being but just in his way, having effected his business, thought it adviseable, while the Army was in motion into those parts, to treat with the Persian, who doubting he might bend his Forces upon him, was willing to come to agreement, and so a Peace was confirmed between them; At his return to Constantinople, he was welcomed as if he came from a Triumph, but that which pleased him more than the vain glorious pomp of his magnificent Reception, was the news of a Victory obtained by his Forces in Candia against the Venetians, who having employed the Prince Almeric de Este, of the House of Modena, as General for that service, who carried with him some Regiments of French, the said Regiments in an expedition into the Country, towards Candea, with a design thereupon, were met by the Bassa, and after a Brave Encounter, and much gallantry on both sides, were defeated, very few escaping back again to their Garrisons. This loss, and the unagreeableness of the Climate so affected the said Prince, that he shortly after died there, (the grave of many a gallant person, that have sacrificed their lives against, and for this Infidel) and was brought by Sea back again, to be interred with his Ancestors.  

The E. of Winchel. Ambassado Extraordinary to the grand Signior.  At the end of winter 1660. arrived at the Port, after very bad weather, the right honourable the Earl of Winchelsea His Majesty's Ambassador extraordinary, in the place of Sir Thomas Bendish, who succeeded Sir Sackvile Crow in that employment in 1648. to the Grand Seignor. He had Audience in very great State, and as usual, the day thereof was treated at Dinner in the Divan, by the Chief Visier, and He and His Retinue vested with rich Turkey Habits, out of which it is not lawful to see the Emperor, and through the two outermost Courts of the Seraglio, Conducted into the innermost, and thence to a great Hall, leading into his Chamber, the floor whereof was covered with Velvet, embroidered with Pearl, etc. the Capitzi Bassa and his assistants, leading him by the Arm to kiss his Majesty's sleeve, as they did several Gentlemen beside, that were of his Retinue, but of this an account hath been lately given; but I may not omit that it is certainly reported, the Grand Signior being highly affected with his Majesty's Restitution, should say, That if he were to choose his God, or his Religion, he would choose the King of England's.  
All things now seemed to be in a serene condition, and calm from the late troubles, which had tempested this Monarchy; And discourses there were that the Grand Signior would now at last hearken to an accommodation, with the state of Venice, and consequently restore a free Trade and commerce to his Dominions, which had been endamaged and spoilt by frequent Depraedations.  
But as deep waters run smooth and stiller than shallow brooks, so was it in this seeming tranquillity of affairs, not but perhaps there might be due to the Sacred number of 1660. and the particular glories of his Majesty's Restitution, and the fortune of England, the same general peace and quiet, which once blest the world in the reign of Augustus Caesar (with reverence to that sacred Miracle) for that the universal Cessation which France boasts to have given Christianity, by the late accord with Spain, was clearly influenced by his Majesty's Native Star, and the necessities of Fate, which attended the prosperous Culmination of his greatness, as could be instanced and demonstrated, were it not beyond the purpose of this discourse.  
Yet so much concerns it, that the Grand Signior took his deliberate Enterprise upon Christendom, from the very juncture of this peace; (being as understanding and conversant in the Affairs of Europe as ourselves) particularly his ancient League which France, gave him opportunity of such Intelligence, which he never maintained with the Spaniard, as his necessary enemy.  
For he knew well, that the state of Christendom could never endure a vacation, nor could be free from the vicissitudes of Interest, when so many Monarches at leisure had opportunity to project their ambition.  
Nor was he ignorant of these Animosities which perplexed the late Election of the Emperor at Frankfurt, nor with what industry the French managed their lust after the Imperial Dignity.  
Certain it was that the Arms of that Puissant Nation must be employed upon another Enemy, whose ever ill luck it should be to receive them; and that he knew would be the House of Austria or some other vicine Power, if, which was more favourable to his design, he did not amuse all Princes, and then take his best advantage.  
These undoubtedly were the encouragements of this his Expedition and violent irruption into Hungary, he using the same method of Conquest which his Progenitors had fortunately experienced by occasion of the divisions and security of their Neighbours. And therefore unlooked for, or at least wise not provided against, while the Germane Emperor stood upon his wrong guard, and dreaded the loss of Alsatia (which jealousy likewise armed the adjacent Princes) he like a deluge entered Hungary, and auspiciously began the race of his Glories.  
Now the better to conceal his designs upon Europe, and to colour his aspect upon those parts, he gave order for a removal of his Court to Adrianople, pretending the salubrity of the place, and the freer prosecution of his pleasures, and vacation from business, and the toil of the Government, leaving the Sultana his Mother, and the Visier to the care thereof, as he had done before in his expedition into Asia; Hither accordingly he came attended as usually, with a great Train or Army, but now augmented to an Host, as a guard of his Person; still entertaining the Emperor's Ambassador, with shows and flourishes of Peace and good Correspondence, till the Visier having amassed and drawn down the Asian Forces over into Europe, while the Europeans were embodying about Belgrade, it was plainly manifest, what this preparation portended.  
Yet the relics of the late Transylvanian defection, were still voiced to be the object of this expedition, and to settle the other Provinces of Moldavia and Valachia, in a perfect subjection to the grand Signior, they for some late years having fluctuated and wavered in their duty towards him, and still ready upon all occasion, or change of their Princes, to break out into open Hostility and disquiet, and disturb the provinces nearest them, and to take part with any Revolt of others, and help and assist it to a formidable, and very considerable puissance.  

The Turks policy at his entrance into Hungary.  But in the mean while they approached and entered the Hungarian limits without leave, and enlarged their quarters into the Towns and Villages belonging to the Emperor, contrary to the Tenor of the former, and yet existing League, which appointed the bounds of their Jurisdiction; nevertheless, complying in all things with the Hungarians, and paying their Quarters justly, nor taking the least thing from them without satisfaction, which was made Capital by the Prime Visier, who caressed the Inhabitants, and treated them very humanely and civilly upon any address or complaint made to him.  
The gross of this Army, when made up by the Auxiliary Tartars, who are hired to wait upon his expeditions, forces marching also from all parts (even out of Dalmatia, where he resolved to stand only upon the defensive part, against the attempts of the Venetians) amounted in all to near two hundred and fifty thousand men; disposed of afterwards into several parts and commands, a Resolution being taken to commence the War.  
The Hungarians in the mean while had armed themselves under the Commands of the two Counts, Serinus and Forgatz, whose Ancestors had been terrible to the Turks, and were famous for their martial exploits and atchivements, but subjected by the Emperor's order to his Generallissimo, Count Montecuculi, which at first bred a discontent in the Hungarians, who have no affection for the Germans, nor would ever cheerfully engage with them, except out of envy or emulation; and this is and was one of the chief causes of that little opposition and inconsiderable resistance, that hath been made against this present-Invasion.  
The cause of this misunderstanding hath been very ancient, upon the account of Religion, and much ado there hath been to keep the Hungarians in obedience and fealty to the Emperor of Germany, as their King and Sovereign, which from being Elective, is now, and hath for many years been made Hereditary; that force upon their Privilege, Rights and Liberty, interwoven with more violent constraints upon their conscience had caused a very great averseness to this Foreign Government, and a general defection in 1610. and those years; for fuller satisfaction whereof, we must refer the Reader to the Turkish History.  
Upon the same score it was that Bethlehem Gabor Prince of Transilvania entered Hungary, some few years after, & possessed himself of the Fortress of Newhuse alias Newhausel, the Governor whereof was delivered bound unto him by the Inhabitants, with Presburg and other places, and designed (having the Regalia in his hands which were deposited at Presburg) to Crown himself, with the consent likewise of the States and the People, he being of the same Reformed persuasion; but the Emperor's Successes in Bohemia against the Prince Elector Palatine (with whom Bethlehem was in Confederacy) and the King of Denmark also soon after, made him relinquish his design, and secure himself at home, by which means the Hungarians were forced to submit, but yet so that they have always had a hankering and ready proneness to any alteration, and a grudging at, and indisposition to the House of Austria, whose prerogative they have in all their Assembles highly disputed and debated.  

The Hunrians cajoled.  And as a further incentive and reason to this reluctancy, may be added, the general fair and civil usage in point of Religion & Taxes, which the Turks every where observes in those places of the same Kingdom (which are far the better half thereof) that are in and under his subjection and dominion; not intently and prudently considering, that forbearance and lenity is merely a temporary bait and lure to debauch them from their duty to a Christian Prince. For he that will but reflect on the miserable and calamitous condition of the Greeks and other Provinces which have been long subdued, and have no dependence and vicinity to Christendom, but are swallowed up in a total Conquest; is sufficiently warned against those insinuating treacherous kindnesses, and popular captations, which will certainly end in most unsufferable slavery and bondage, even to the snatching away their children, and enhansing the Tax of money to the tribute of life, upon their Mahumetanized Posterity, carried every year for the Grand Signiors service to Constantinople, and there employed and educated in his Seraglios.  

Count Forgatz unhappy engagement.  But to return, these misunderstandings betwixt them, and the rumour of the French design, either upon Alsatia, in Germany, or Italy, to the amusing all the Princes thereof, and causing them to stand upon their own guards, which removed the fear of their supply or aiding of the Emperor, put the Turk upon present action, part of which Army advancing upon the Enterprise, were adventurously, and inconsiderately engaged by Count Forgats, who with a party of six or seven thousand Germans and Hungarians together, was appointed to attend their motion, and observe which way they steered, and to be ready to put relief and succour into what places so ever the Infidels should attaque. The Count and his men indeed behaved themselves very gallantly, but their number was far inferior to the multitudes that pressed upon him, whereupon ensued a total Rout of his party, most of whom were cut in pieces, the rest hardly escaping to the body of the Army, and Count Forgats himself into Newhausel, being the nearest the place of his defeat.  
The occasion of his so sudden Engagement, was to dispossess the Turk of a Bridge they had laid upon Danubius, having put 3000 men over to secure it, but the pouring in of multitudes upon them occasioned their discomfeiture. Forgats was highly questioned for this rashness, because of the slain there were 400. Gentlemen, and of the Prisoners 800. had their heads cut of, in the presence of the Emperor's Ambassador, which were afterwards sent to Constantinople, as an evidence of their Victory.  
Upon the news hereof, General Montecuculi suspecting the siege of the aforesaid Newhausel, had clapped in a supply of a thousand Germans, with Provision and Ammunition proportionable. This Town is of a late standing, as its name imports, being built for a Frontier, upon a convenient level in a morass, the River Niutre gliding within a stones cast of the wall: and within 8 miles of the River Waegh; It is a modern and very regular Fortification, consisting of six great Bastions or Bulworks, with Flankers; well stored with Cannon; the Town having but two Gates, the upper and the lower; There is in it a very large Market place, wherein is a place built at one corner to lodge the Garrison Soldiers and their Arms, being most of them Germans, who confide not in the Hungarians; but upon this necessity they were mixed together.  

The Turk besieged Newhausel.  The Turk coming before the Town, passed his Army over the Nitre, by a bridge laid thereupon, a little below the lower gate, (where the River is nearest the Town) out of reach of the Cannon, and entrenched upon the beginning of August this year, and begird it round, and made his approaches, by thundering day and night from two great Batteries, on which were mounted a hundred Cannon, so that the shots he made were numberless. By which fury he battered almost all the Houses and Churches of the Town down into Rubbish, but made no considerable Breach, which he might attempt. Notwithstanding, the Prime Visier, being resolved to carry the Town, one way or other, concluded on an Assault, Septemb. 14. before break of day, and brought Scaling-Ladders, Faggots, and other necessaries to fill up the Trenches, 
The Turks beaten off again.  but was so gallantly and stoutly received by the Defendants, that he was forced to sound a Retreat, having lost 8000. men at a Breakfast, and the Trenches filled with Carcases of the slain. They began their fierce onslaught with the cheerful noise of Alla, Alla, but ended it very silently and heavily; notwithstanding the Visier continued his Resolution of gaining the place, or perishing before it; having promised the Grand Seignor to Conquer and take four principal places, on forfeiture of his Head; but before I proceed further, it will be requisite to give you a Copy of the Summons, to the Governor of this Place.  

I That through the Grace of God, and through the Miracles of our Prophet, who is a Son of both World's, and by whom there is happiness and glory, I that am the first of the Council, and General of the most mighty Emperor of the Turks, That is the King of all Kings upon Earth: To you Adam Forgats, that are the Chief among the Nobility of Hungary, do make known, that through the Command of my Gracious Lord, I am come with his Forces before Newhausel, to reduce it to his obedience; wherefore if you shall deliver up the Place to us, you shall have liberty to march out with what belongs to you from the Highest to the Lowest, and to what Place you please, and he that will rather stay, shall keep his Goods and Estate; but if you will not yield, we will take it by force, and every man of ye from the Highest to the Lowest shall be put to the Sword. If the Hungarians did but know the good Intentions of the Mighty Emperor, they and their Children would bless God for them. Peace be to the Obedient.   
In the Interim, to revenge himself of the affront, he received before the Town, he divided his Army into three parts, one part whereof was ordered to march into Moravia and Austria, and front the Emperor's Forces, and the other into Silesia, while he continued the Siege, which said Armies passing over the River Waegh, made most terrible Havoc, spoiling and burning thirty miles together. They passed the said River the 21. of August, but were forced back again with loss, 
The Tartars make an irruption into Moravia.  yet the day following they came on with 30000. and after some opposition gained the pass of the River, 200. Dragoons being slain in defence of the passage, and put the Imperial Forces to a retreat towards Presburg. After those came a body of 20000. Tartars, who took in several walled towns, which they burned to ashes, with all the adjacent villages, possessing themselves of the narrow passages between the Hills, and massacring many thousands of people, putting others in chains, and in fine overbearing all in his way without resistance; At the same time, the pass of Jalunca was attempted, the only entrance into Silesia, but they were forced to retreat, re infecta.  
Lamentable was now the condition of those poor Christians, who were exposed to those outrages, and could not prevent the suddenness of the danger, there being no Armies nor places at hand, wherein, or to which they might have recourse for safety. The Austrians only by the benefit of the Garrisons had opportunity to secure, and to put themselves into a posture of defence by raising every fifth man to bear Arms against this furious and desolating Enemy.  

Count Serini into the Turks Country.  But to requite the incursion of these barbarous Tartars, the Counts of Serini and Budianis carried the like ravagement and ruin into the Turkish Provinces, where they spared nothing they could destroy, and left as little of what they could carry away with them, and so revenged in part, having also defeated and slain a party of 3000 Turks, and taken a convoy of 300000 Rix Dollars, and other provisions designed for the Leaguer of Newhausel, with good speed returned to the Germane General; having notice that the other body of Tartars was advancing to join with the Wallachians, and Moldavians, and that they were already come as far as Clausenburg, and to the gates of Zachmar, (where the Hussars on the 29. of August had sallied out and killed divers of them;) preventing also thereby the danger of being intercepted by forces from Newhausel.  
The Emperor of Germany himself, at the terror of this inroad, left his City of Vienna (now filled with the Country people, who flocked thither for refuge, and made sad Relations of their ruins) to Lintz another City in Austria, and thence by his Agents and Expresses gave notice to the Princes of the Empire of the present danger, desiring them to afford him some sudden Supplies, as he did the same to the King of Poland and the States of Venice (now respited and breathing after a tedious continuance of War, which was devolved upon other Territories) but nothing of sudden resolution was to be expected from either of these States, and the rest were too remote and at present unconcerned.  
It was rumoured indeed that the Muscovite had proffered his Assistance, in case of an accord to be made betwixt him and the Polander, but there were never any effects thereof, and the like report there was that the Duke of Brandenburg would accept of the supreme Command of the United Armies of the Empire, and that France offered their aid likewise upon certain conditions and Articles, but none of all these overtures produced any such thing, by reason of the Jealousies yet reigning between them; though Christendom was never in such jeopardy; and in the mean while for satisfaction of the Hungarians, and to keep them in their fidelity, which this storm had shaken, Count Serini was declared the Emperor's Generalissimo of them.  
This ruinous devastation can hardly be represented by any pen, or pencil, but from it nearest resemblance of Doomsday; the fire flaming for twenty miles in view, and laying the Country in a heap of ashes, and the Tartars like so many Devils haling and dragging their Captives, and chaining them together, with such cries and ejulations, as if humanity were dammed, and Nature had expired, amidst a numberless invention of tortures.  
This same merciless Crew having destroyed all things, returned with celerity to Weissemberg, there to dispose of their prey, and to be ready to assist the siege of Newhausel, while in their absence the Counts Susa and Sporck were throwing down trees, and cutting up Ditches, and making deep Trenches to impede their further advance, for they had not men or arms to oppose against this Torrent.  

Newhausel siege continued.  And so we are returned also to the siege of Newhausel, where the Turk having endeavoured to fill the Trenches, and knowing that the season would not suffer him to continue his Leaguer, attempted another storm, which continued off and on August 28. and 29 with very considerable loss, though he now made a Breach, but the Trenches proved too wide and too deep many men perishing in them, with little danger to the Defendants.  

Another, storm.  On Septemb. 9 having cast great Moles of earth, and other implements into the Graft, he stormed again, beginning in the dusk of the evening, and continuing it again till midnight, when he made such a fierce Scalado (the Bassa's themselves in person leading on their own men on peril of their own heads if their men did not valiantly) and was in hopes of carrying the Town, for the business was come to handy-blows upon the top of the Rampire, and some of the Turkish Ensigns were advanced thereupon, which nevertheless by the speedy and gallant succour of the Reserves and redoubled courage of the Defendants, were wrested from the Infidels after their utmost endeavours and efforts to have maintained their achievement, and after the slaughter of 500 of the besieged, and the unrevenged fall of 9 some say 10000 of their fellows, which they left behind them; upon which carnage was grounded that rumour of the pest raging in that Army by reason of that noisome stench the dead bodies raised in the Camp.  
This trial of one another's resolution, and utmost Essay of Force proved the Grisis of either's Fortune; the Turks apayed, and taken off their metal, had no mind to make another venture, nor the Bassa to command it, for fear lest that obstinacy of his honour should hazard that and his life together to the Grand Signior, nevertheless he thought good to continue the siege, and his preparations for another assault, and threaten it hourly, hoping he had given the Defendants the like qualm upon their spirits, which with a little hard duty, and new offers and advantages upon a surrender, would work them to a compliance; and this took its desired effect, for the Hungarians being no way assured of relief, and certain of good conditions, and having their estates, dwellings and families concerned, resolved not to hazard another storm, but to admit of a Treaty contrary to the opinion and resolution of the Germans; which treaty produced an accord and surrender upon very honourable Articles, the Garrison and Inhabitants, if willing, to march out with Colours flying, Drums beating, match lighted, and Bullet in their mouth, with Bag and Baggage, and to be convoyed to Comorra nine miles off. Those that stayed to have indemnity, protection, and liberty of conscience.  

Newhausel yielded.  Hereupon there marched out 3500. sound men, & 500 wounded, with four pieces of Canon, most of them Germans, having a Convoy of 10000 Turks, who civilly and fairly conducted them to the aforesaid Garrison, and returned to Newhausel, where the Prime Visier had out of a pretended generous sense of the Hungarians valour given every man of them thirty Ducats, as a reward thereof: in lieu and value of which sum, he found there a 100 brass pieces of Ordinance, and ammunition proportionable, with 3000. Fats of Hungarian Wine, the use whereof being prohibited the Turks, was converted into money, and supplied and countervailed his liberal magnificence.  
The Army thus freed from this difficult piece of service, the same flying parties were commanded to make new inroads into Austria, Moravia, and Silesia, while the Prime Visier designed upon Presburg, the Capital and regal City of that Kingdom, as aforesaid, and the imperial Army not able to make any Head yet against them, continued, passing and repassing the Danow thereabouts, and a General Council of war being called, Count Serino newly made Generallissimo, Prince Gonzaga, Montecuculi, Counts Rothal, and Palfi being present, it was concluded to retreat before the Enemy, and to put in Count Strozzi a famous Soldier, with a supply, as Governor of the place, whether the Turk directed his March, but being at liberty, and facing all the circumjacent Garrisons of his attaque, he more imperiously summoned them all together, the dreadful event whereof, must be remitted to a further discourse.  
The other two divisions of the Army entered Moravia, and Silesia, and gained the strong Pass and Key of Jaluncka, putting the Imperialists to flight, with some Execution, but made not that havoc as before, having Commandment from the Prime Visier, to offer all friendly and fair terms, in the Grand Signors name, if they would submit to his protection, the chief of those Terms were, Liberty of Conscience, and free Exercise of all Religions, no Taxes or Tribute to be paid for six years, and then but five Shillings upon every House, per annum; with security of their Laws, rights, Claym, Titles, and Propriety, by which he is in all probability like to gain submission and obedience from, and to establish and fix his footing he hath got already in, those Provinces, which he hath once again invaded.  
And thus far of their History, now I shall speak of their Customs and Manners.    


DABIT DEUS HIS QUOQUE FINEM  
ALLACH HECHBAR    

The Copy of this Letter or Summons coming newly to Hand by a person of quality, and having seen the like insolence, and blasphemous arrogance formerly Printed in the Turkish History, I thought it would be something satisfactory to publish this which expresseth some extraordinary design and resolution of this Victorious and successful Infidel.  
WE by the Grace of God, Lord of many Countries, Victor and Triumpher over our Enemies, Potent Emperor of the Turks, Co-adjutor of the God Mahomet, and the Moon, Protector of the Sepulchre of the Crucified Christ, Implacable enemy to all professing Christianity: To thee Roman Caesar, King of few Regions, give to know;  
That we come to thee with a people of thirty three Kingdoms, so great a multitude as thou never sawest or heardst of before, to bereave thee by force of Arms, of thy Crown and Tribute of thy Subjects. The City by thyself Inhabited we will besiege, we will overcome thy strong men, thy women with child we will give to Universal slaughter, Their Embrios as Toads we will thrust through with Spears and sharpened Stakes, Thy most valiant young men we will rend in pieces, and cast forth for meat for the Dogs. Thee, thy Popes, Cardinals, Arch bishops, Monks and Nuns, together with all their own depending, we will send as Slaves into perpetual bondage, and finally, we will ruin and destroy you all, and then shall you see, whether your Crucified Christ will save you from us, who could not save himself; as if we or ours could give credit, or yield any belief to such incredible things. The very City where he was born, wherein he lies dead, We even enjoy, detain under our Dominions, and assuredly you may believe that he will not help you, as being long since slain.  
This we were willing to signify, that thou and thine might know the real Event and Truth thereof, as soon as thou couldst expect. This is given forth by us at our Great Metropolis called Constantinople, which the valour of our Ancestors hath taken from yours, and that which we keep, and will always keep from yours; and that which we keep and will always keep, to the Ignominy and disgrace of you all.  
Dated at Constantinople in the 15. year of our Reign, and the 23. of our Age.   

A New Survey Of the Turkish EMPIRE.  


Of their Oratories.  THe Fabrics of their Churches are sufficiently large and sumptuous, and called by the name of Meschites: in which I never could perceive any sort of fancies or imageries, (for Idolatry is held by them the worst of abominations) but only these, or one of these inscriptions following, in the Arabic Language, There is no God but one, and Mahomet his Prophet; or, One Creator and Prophets equal: or, None is strong as God. Then there is seen a great abundance of burning Lamps, the whole Church whited, the Pavement covered with Mattresses, and on them the Ornaments of Tapestries. Near the Church, is erected a Tower of great height, to the top whereof the Priest ascends before the time of Prayers, and with a loud voice, his ears stopped with his fingers, he thrice proclaims these words; God, True, One: which Clamour or Outcry (for they have no Bells) being heard, the Nobility, and all unbusied persons, repair to Church, as bound to that devotion. Afterwards the said Priest descending, prays with them; (and then they turn their faces towards Mecha:) And this he is tied to do by his Office, five times day and night. But whosoever cometh to these Prayers, must wash his hands, his feet and privities, and his head thrice sprinkled with water: and these words pronounced, Glory to my God; Then, their shoes put off, and left at the Church-door, they enter in, some , others having new shoes or socks, and so tenderly touch the ground. Women come not into Churches, as being not excised, and for fear of disturbing men's devotions, but meet apart in severed places, altogether shut off from eyes and ears of men; and more seldom frequent their Churches, except in time of Passover, or Easter, and on Fridays; which days from Mahomet's Traditions, for distinction and imitation, they almost respect as much as Jews their Sabbaths, or Christians the Lord's day. They pray from nine a clock at night till twelve; and in their praying, their bodies are ever in great motion and agitation; wherewith they marvellously afflict themselves with loud cry and fierce ejaculations; so as oftentimes, their strengths and spirits failing, they sink unto the ground; and if it happen, any of them conceive herself with child, she than assures herself that pregnancy proceeds from favour of the Holy Spirit; and when delivered, the Infants born are called, Sons, or Souls of the Holy Ghost. This hath been related to me from their Handmaids; for I, nor ever any man else were present at that spectacle. At men's devotions I have been often present with my Master; whose customs are in manner following: in their prayers they ne'er take off (their Turbans) cover of their heads, but with the tops of their fingers gently touch them, in token of taking them off; they fall upon their knees and often kiss the ground: they hold it for great wickedness, to have a Christian present at their mysteries; for they believe their Churches (as they say) to be polluted by men unwashed; and that Christians use not such Lavatories. Every Church in Turkey hath a peculiar place for Baths and washings, with lodgings for a Priest. Now here the Priest ascends his Pulpit (reads a piece of the Alcoran, and sometimes expounds it) and there preaches about two hours; his Sermon ended, two boys come up to him, who pronounce their prayers singing with responsals; which Songs being ended, the Priest with the whole People in a low voice, beating upon their sides, repeat these words, There is but one God; which for the space of half an hour they do, and so departed. But this manner of prayers and ceremonies of preaching and singing, are not done every day, unless in time of Lent, Festivals, some Sundays; and most observe the Fridays for religious worship.  

Of their Lent.  They keep their Lent by fasting one Month and one Week every Year; but not always the same: for if this Year they fast out January, the next they fast out February, and keep on that course; so as in twelve Years space, they dedicate to God (in lieu of tenths) one Year and twelve Weeks. Travellers and sick Persons are excused from present fastings; but are enjoined to supply it, by fasting so many days at other times. When they fast, all that Day they taste nothing, not so much as Bread or Water; then the Stars appearing, it is lawful for them to eat of all things which are not strangled, or Hoggs-flesh, which they esteem as Carrion, most unclean. Their Lent being past, they observe Easter for three days, with great solemnity, anointing the Nails of their Feet and Fingers with an Oil which they call Chna, which makes those Nails to shine like Gold; and with the same, they sometimes slain or colour the Hoofs and Tails of Horses. This Tincture holds very long, and can hardly be wiped away; so as until new Nails thrust out the old, they still retain that dye; but Nails of the Hand, by frequent washing, abate in time. Women do not only anoint the Nails, but their whole Hands and Feet also with that Oil.  

Of their Circumcision.  They Circumcise not on the eighth day as the Jews do, but when the newborn arrive at the age of seven or eight years, and be of perfect speech: the mystery whereof, is from the words of confession required before Circumcision, which are some of those sentences aforementioned in their Churches, which they repeat, and give assent thereto, by holding up the Thumb of the Right-hand. The Youth is not for this mystery brought unto their Church, but is Circumcised in his Parent House. I have been often present at this solemnity, which is performed in manner following: first, the friends are all invited to a feast, sufficiently furnished with all sorts of delicate flesh, lawful for them to eat; and almost every where, especially amongst the wealthier sort, an Ox is killed, bowelled and flayed; in the body whereof, they include a Sheep; and in that Sheep, a Hen; and in her, an Egg; all which are entirely roasted together, for the solemnity and splendour of that day. Then in their Feast and time of Supper, the Boy that is to be circumcised, is brought to a Physician skilful in that Art, who fixing between a pair pinchers the foreskin of his privy Member, to prevent all fear in the Boy, he telleth him that the next day he will Circumcise him, and so departs; but presently feigning to have omitted something appertaining to this preparation, on a sudden he cutteth off the foreskin, applying thereunto a little salt and bombace; and then he is called a Musselman, that is, one circumcised. Yet their Names are given the day of their Nativity, not Circumcision. After continuance of this Feast for three days, the Boy with great pomp and solemnity is accompanied to the Baths; and being returned to his House, he is brought before the Guest, and by them presented with gifts prepared for him; some give Silver, Silken Vestments; some, Silver Cups; others, Money, and sometimes Horse. Women present him likewise, some with Shirts, Handkerchiefs, and such like, according to the several pleasures and abilities of the Guests. Women are not circumcised, only they confess the aforesaid words, and so made Musselmen. And if any Christian voluntarily confess a Faith in Mahomet, and suffers Circumcision, (which often happens by the heavy yoke and burden of their Tribute) this Man is led through all the Streets and open places of the City, to the great joy and honour of the people, with acclamations and ringing of Bells: him also they present with gifts, and after free him from all Tribute. For covetousness of this profit, many Greeks and Albans become circumcised. But if any be forced thereto, as he that shall strike or otherwise disgrace a Musselman, or blaspheme Mahomet, (as it befell a certain Grecian Bishop which I did see) that man is circumcised, and hath nothing presented to him, yet shall be freed from Tribute, as others circumcised.  

Of their Priests.  Their great Mufty (as the Pope among Catholics) cannot err, and is the highest Minister of all Religious and Lay Persons: an Officer of great power and trust: his conclusions and sentences in State and Church-affairs, are irrevocable; and his person held in most esteem and reverence next the Emperor: his habit most in green, being Mahomet's colour. There is small difference between their other Priests and Laymen, nor much from the Governors of Ceremonies (such as our Bishops are) neither is much learning required from them: it is sufficient, if they can read the A LCORAN and MUSSAPH; yet they that can interpret on the Text, are esteemed most learned, because the Traditions of Mahomet are written in the Arabic, not vulgar Turkish Character; and they hold it for most detestable, to have them interpreted in the vulgar Language. These Priests and Governors are elected by the People; but their rewards and stipends for their labours, are paid by the King. They have Wives, and Habits like Seculars: and if their stipends be not sufficient to maintain the number of their Children, they otherwise supply themselves by Handicrafts and Trades, or what else befits a Freeman; as teaching Schools, transcribing Books, etc. I ne'er could see amongst them any Printers; but Paper is there very well made. Some make profit one way, some another, as Tailors, Shoemakers, etc.  

Of their Monks.  They have likewise Monks of several Orders; but chief of these three: the first have no propriety in any thing; they go almost wholly naked, saving their privities covered with a Sheep's skin, and in cold weather they use the like to cover their backs; their sides, their feet and hands are never covered. They beg alms as well of Christians as Turks; and, For God's sake. These Monks having eaten an Herb called Maslach, are possessed with a kind of fury and madness; they cut and wound their breasts cross and overthwart, and so their arms, dissembling all trouble or pain; then clap on their heads, hands and breasts, the sponge or mushrooms of old Trees light burning, and not remove them till they are reduced to ashes. Another Order I have seen, who go with their privy part bored thorough, and a Ring included therein of the weight of three proud; and this to preserve chastity. The third Order is rarely seen abroad; but remain both day and night in Churches, where within some little Angles they have small Cabins, no shoes, vestments, or cover of the head, wearing nothing but one shirt; their exercise is fasting and prayers, that God would reveal things future to them. With this sort of Monks, the King of Turks usually consults, when he intends a motion or expedion to War.  

Their reverence to Mahomet's Traditions.  They give so much respect to Mahomet's Traditions and Statutes, that, not only they never blaspheme GOD or his Prophet; (which amongst us sometime happens) but if they find the least leaf or scroll thereof, lying on the ground, they take it up and often kiss it, and place it on some shelves or chinks of walls; affirming it a sin, to suffer that wherein the Name of God, and Laws of Mahomet are written, to be trodden under foot. And no man dares to sell the Alcoran, and other writings of their Law, to any Christian, or any other differing in Religion or Faith with them, lest they should be trodden on, or touched with unclean hands: and whosoever should so do, is severely punished. And in this regard they may be styled far more reverend than Christians.  

Of their Schools.  They have places for Instruction, and Teachers both of Men and Women: in several Towns, Men, the Boys; and Women, the Girls: some teach Astronomy, Physic; and some, the Art of Poetry; which when they do, they speak out with loud voice; and moving their hands unto their sides, they pronounce their meanings. They understand no artificial Music; but frame Verses to certain rules, which consist of eleven syllables. The horness of the Climate, and often sicknesses, makes most inclined to Physic, wherein they have some small knowledge. They learn Astronomy, to be thought able to tell fortunes. Printing is supplied by a number of writing Priests; and perhaps neglected (as all learning is) to maintain the people's ignorance, and keep them off from search into the gross absurdities of their constrained Religion.  

Of Marriages.  They marry without Vows or Oaths, take Wives without portions, and for the most part buy them; contrary to the Roman custom, where the Son-in-law was bought with Money to take a Daughter. This married Woman carries nothing with her for use or ornament, which she is not forced to redeem or purchase from her Parents. Evil manners or sterility, are causes of Divorces; for which there is a peculiar Judge. They permit their bondmen or purchased servants to marry; but the issue of them are all born slaves. The Alcoran persuadeth marriage, as pleasing God and Man; and it allows plurality of Wives and Concubines, as many as a Man pleaseth. The Turk amongst his (whereof he hath above five hundred in his Seraglios) nameth her for his Wife or Sultana, by whom he hath his first-begotten Son. All their Wives are used with equality of respect, in diet, , returns, and what concerns them; and are most obedient to their Husbands. They nurse their own Children, and bear them on their Shoulders, not in their Arms: no men but Eunuches, are suffered to be with them, not their own Sons, if above twelve years of age: they never go abroad, but accompanied with only Women.  

Of Strangers.  Pilgrims of several Nations travel to visit holy places, which the Turk possesseth; as Mecha and Medinum, (as Christians, Jerusalem) where they say Mahomet was buried: but this is done as well for gain and profit, as for devotion or Religion's sake. And there having seen a gilded  hanging from the roof of the Church, and bought such fine linen and cloth as they please, they return home with great advantage; some carrying about the streets, water, from thence, in glasses, for devotions' sake, and freely give it to any that are thirsty; others, do the like for profit. And if any one of them happen to die in this Pilgrimage, by what occasion soever, although he ne'er arrive near Mecha, yet he hath the estimation, and shall be placed in the rank of Pilgrims.  

Miracles done by Mahomet at Mecha, which, they say, he still doth in these times.  I know not whether I should call them Miracles, or rather Monstrous toys, written in their Book called Mehemidine, wherein they are persuaded, that when Mecha was a building, GOD, by the prayers of Mahomet, commanded divers mountains to bring their stone to the Fabric of that Church, every Hill his tenth: and when divers Mountains had brought their portions, and Mecha built and perfectly completed, a certain Hill called Araphat, and some other more remote, coming thither with their tenths somewhat too late, and finding Mecha built, and no use of their stones, they begun most bitterly to weep; which when Mahomet perceived Hills so distressed, and understood the cause, he said unto them, Be of good cheer, weep not, but store your tenths up in a place which Ishall show you; and whosoever shall not pray upon your stones, his pilgrimage shall be unprofitable and unaccepted. And after so doing, Mahomet struck the stones with his foot, and there issued out Water, not useful to drink; and imposed a name, and called it, A water of purification, whereof every Pilgrim carrieth at his return, some portions thereof in vessels; and whenever any die, the vestures wherewith the body is to be covered, are sprinkled with this water, for remission of their sins. And they further affirm, That no man can come to Mecha, whose visit is not known to Mahomet, who reveals the persons to the Keepers there (all Eunuches:) and if a Pilgrim come, a Ravisher, or wicked Man, a Christian, or any of Religion different from theirs; these said Keepers forbidden him entrance into Mecha. But the body of Mahomet is not there, as some affirm, but only an imaginary form in the Wall of the Church, expressing the lineament of a body, which is often kissed; and so they return home again. Such lying follies, for miracles, these Insidels are possessed with, concerning Mahomet; and divers others, so ridiculous, as I omit for modesty's sake: yet must advise the Reader, if he please, to interrogate any Turk therein, and he will find I have spoke nothing but mere Truth.  

Of their Alms.  The Alcoran obligeth men to Alms, as meritorious, and much pleasing God; and saith, The contrary comes from the Devil. They have Hospitals for poor travellers, built by the Wills and Legacies of their Kings; where they have meat in different manners: some allow Rice with flesh, others prepare Wheat-bread, and water to drink; but for rest or Lodgings, there is no place allowed: yet there are some few public receptacles, where they are received without charge, or other bedding then Straw or Hay; but they repose under a good Roof.  

Of their Sacrifice.  Their Offerings or Oblations are for the most part upon promise or vows, in sicknesses or other dangers; and then they kill an Ox or a Sheep, according to their abilities, and promise to sacrifice it in some certain place. This Offering is not burnt, or placed on an Altar, after the custom of the Jews; but the beast being killed, the skin, head and feet, and a fourth part of the flesh, is given to the Priest; another part, to the poor; a third, to neighbours; and the remainder they keep for themselves and friends to rejoice withal. Neither are they tied to perform these vows, unless they escape the disease or danger for which they intended them: all things with them being conditional; I give you, if you give me. And the like is observed by the Greeks, Armenians, and other Asiatic people, even of the Christian Faith.  

Of their Wills and Legacies.  If any of their Musselmen make a Will, their Legacies are given before Friends or Neighbours; and they are commonly for cutting Watercourses, for conveying Springs from some remote places, to Hospitals, Churches, or dry habitations; and that for Piety sake, and their souls benefit. Others give money to free bondmen out of thraldom. But Women for the most (as most superstitious) bequeath their gifts to Soldiers, for a certain slaughter of Christians, which they conceive to be greatly beneficial for their Souls. The Legacies of their Kings are for the building of Hospitals, Churches; and so likewise are those of eminent and great personages.  

Ceremonies of the Dead.  When any of their Musselmen die, men take the Funeral-care of men, and women of women. They wash the departed body very clean, and wrap it in fine linen; then they carry it out of Town, into some remote place, (for they hold it sinful to bury in their Churches.) First, Friends of the deceased and Priests meet and go in progress, certain Monks bearing wax Candles; then follow some of their Priests singing till they come to the Grave, shaking their heads, and often turning round, fall down with giddiness, as in a trance. The better sort have their Graves lined with Board's at bottom and at sides, and covered with Board's, on which they throw the Earth, and strew sometimes the seeds of Flowers thereon. Great men and Bassa's have peculiar Chapels for themselves and Kindred. The poor are buried by highways, or in open fields. If the deceased be of poor ability, there is then money gathered for satisfaction of labour for those religious Men, which is offered in the Streets.  

Of the edifice of a Sepulchre, called Tulbe.  Over this stately Tomb, (being Princelike) there is erected a goodly Temple, wherein their Kings are buried in the City with great magnificence. Both rich and meaner have an Altar built of such an height, as Beasts cannot annoy or pollute it with any foulness: thither with lamentations and weep they often return; and spread upon the monument sacrifices of meats, bread, flesh, cheese, eggs, milk. This Solemnity or Funeral-supper continues for nine days after the party's burial, (according to the Heathen manner) for the soul of the departed: and it is left to be eaten by the Poor, by Aunts, or Fowls of the Air. They say, It equally pleaseth God, to give Alms to Beasts that want, as men, when they are given for God's sake. I have seen many buy Birds in cages at good values, only to set them at liberty, and see them fly away; others, throw Bread into Rivers for Fishes, and that for the love of God, saying, That such charity towards the needy, doth obtain a great reward from Heaven.  

Concerning War.  The Turks have all one Emperor or King, of the Race of Ottoman; who hath next to himself in Authority two Sangiaches or Viceroys, chief Governors, th' one of Europe, th' other of Asia; and these have under them Lieutenants of lesser quality, who command the ordinary Soldiery; and if they fail, being called to any expedition, are presently punished with death. He hath others always following him; as Councillors, Guardians of his body, ever near him; Chamberlains, Chancellors, and Exactors of Tribute, for moneys and young people; with certain numbers of light-horse, Messengers, and divers others that continually follow the Court. His greatest strength is in his Slaves; Children (for the most part) torn from Christian Parents, with Tribute-childrens bred and educated in several Seraglios, Captives taken in War, and Renegadoes. Of these, some are trained up, and serve on horse; who have a double stipend to the Foot, and always ready at command, in stables keeping four hundred horse together. The great body of Foot-Souldiery are the Janissaries, all commanded by a Chief, called their Aga, a person of mighty trust, and like importance; who hath under him divers inferior Commanders, and have Seraglios apart. Of these, and Auxiliary Forces, the Turk can draw three hundred thousand to the Field. A great part of these Janissaries attend the Court, Ambassadors houses, and protect all Christian Inhabitants and Travellers, for rewards; and are faithful in those employments. Their Standard in the Field, is an Horse-tail tied upon a pole; an Emblem of their first barbarity and rudeness. His strength at Sea is not considerable, consisting most in Galleys, and those not equal to some Italian Princes; nor hath he many, for want of Slaves, whom he employs more for Land-services. The best of Shipping, is under the Bassa's of Algiers and Tunis, whom he manageth with much policy; sometime as Rebels, and sometime as good Subjects, to his best advantage against Christians: for if they complain of loss, the Turk then says, He cannot rule them. If th' other do the like, he'll take triple damages.  

The Condition of Noblemen.  There is not any of those great Personages that possess by right of inheritance any Province, City or real Estate, to derive unto his Children or Successors, without consent of the King. If any of their Dukes or Princes desire possessions, it must be with this condition; the value of the Place or Territory is first considered, and the Revenues thereof, whereby the Turk apportioneth what number of Soldiers that can annually maintain: then the Lord is enjoined always to keep in readiness that number, for any his commands; and in default, his head is lost: nothing can excuse his presence in any commanded place, but known want of health and sickness. And whensoever it please the Turk to ease him of this benefit, it's at his liberty; but if not deprived, he enjoys it during life: after death, if his Successors will observe the same conditions, they are often admitted; if not, 'tis then disposed to others. And if it happen, any one of these great ones have occasion to speak unto their King, with eyes fixed on the ground, they dare not look him in the face.  

Of Bassa's, who may be called Counsellors, Chancellors, or Secretaries.  These for the most part are all Eunuches, castrated when Youths, and bred in Seraglios, for attendants on the Turkish Concubines: and of later years, some of them (as I was informed, being a Slave to a great Man in Constantinople) are cut so close the body, that they often die by th' incision; and if live, they ever after use small pipes for discharging their water: such is their cruel jealousy, introduced (as 'twas said) by an Emperor that perceived a Gelding leap a Mare. These Bassa's are of greatest esteem with the Turk, next to the Sangiaches; and they are almost all that are preferred to that dignity, Children of Christian Parents, violently taken from them: and none of them, although he hath to Wife a Daughter of a Turk, (as Hurstan Bassa had) can enjoy a Parish, Castle, or Village by inheritance; but if he be promoted to any dignity or possessions, he enjoys it till his death, or so long as the Turk pleaseth. Each Bassa hath a Court of Justice in the Province he commandeth, from whence appeals are to the King, or great Mufty; whose sentence is concluding and .  

The obedience of Turks to the King.  None of their Janissaries or great Captains have licence to wear Swords or other Arms within the Cities, unless the King go forth his Palace, for Devotion sake or Hunting. And where there are Magistrates or Governors of Towns, Porters carry with them staves or clubs and finding any quarrelings or offer at injuries, they presently punish them with those instruments; and no man speaking to them, dares look them in the face; but falling on the earth, kiss their feet, with eyes to the ground, and speak as to themselves. And whensoever they send forth Messengers with Letters to Governors, Cities, or Provinces, whose horse grows saint by journeying, this Messenger hath full authority to dis-horse whom ere he meets; and meeting none, he turns into the next Town or Village, and repairs to the chief Officer; and if he presently provides him not an horse, he's hanged before his door: and for this cause, many make use of Asses, rather than keep Horse. And when this Messenger shall come to whom he was sent, he is most honourably received, his Letters kissed with great humility, and their Contents answered with incredible celerity and quick dispatch. No Princes dare contradict one syllable therein. None dare (as here) rebel; all men live in such awful fear and trembling: Tortures and present death depending on his will.  

The Turkish strength, how diminishod.  The Emperor distributes in some equality all Provinces to his Noblemen; but with condition, that such a Soldiery should be continually maintained by him with the Revenues of that Province, both in time of Peace and War. A Soldier killed, is not loss to him, unless the Province likewise be lost: as for example, The Turk hath now four hundred Soldiers, whereof one hundred is maintained by Hungary; now if he lose Hungary, those Soldiers are lost: if he lose no Province, he loseth nothing; for he can raise more in their rooms; as Church-Officers, or benefits, easily find in vacancies Successors.  

The condition of Chazilars.  These are stout Soldiers, and excellently versed in military affairs, who in their first encounters break their Lances, without other Armour than a Sword, Lance and Target, using it as we do with Coat of Fence and Helmet; the Lance being broke, they use the Sword, and fight valiantly, always aiming at the head or hands, and think it ignominious to thrust at their adversary, or an horse, with point of Sword. These Men spend all their lives and hopes under the protection of a Goddess, Fortune; having a Proverb with them, What is written, will befall them; that is, What that Goddess hath printed on the head at each Man's Nativity, cannot be possibly avoided; though he were preserved in a Castle unexpugnable. The actions of these men are writ in verses, and sung by all Men; that others stirred up by like praise and honour, might with like audacity, advance against an Enemy, couragionsly and valiantly: and for each victory of these Men, their stipends are doubled; and are obliged attendance on their King, on horseback, with Lances, Swords, and Iron Clubs: some, have Targets; some, none; and are paid as well in Peace as War.  

The order of their Foot.  Their first are Bowmen, with Arrows, Bows and Javelins; they are distinguished from Janissaries by cover of the head. The second is of Janissaries, who instead of Bows, have Guns, with short Hatchets: all these are gathered from amongst Christians living under Tribute, by force snatched from their Friends being young, circumcised, and educated as aforesaid. These fight most valiantly against Christians, yet have but slender stipends for their maintenance; some four, five, or six Asper's a day; of which, sixty make a Crown English. And these are prohibited on pain of death, to come on horseback, unless sick. There are some few likewise, sons of Turks, made Janissaries. There is a third order, whom they call Azaplars, whose stipends determine with the War, and are all sons of Turks. These use a longer Lance, with Swords, and red hats or bonnets, or other coloured cloth, with crooked angles like half Moons; and so distinguished by Arms and Habit from th' other orders. There is a fourth of the Grecian sect, who have no other stipend, than freedom from paying Tributes and Tenths. They commonly attend the Turks horse of pleasure, keeping them at their own charge, and well managing them for war.  

Of the Turks Pavilions.  When the King removes from Constantinople, to any Expedition of War, he carrieth with him double Tents, that when one is planted this day, th' other is carried to the next station, ready to receive him the day following: the number and magnitude of these Pavilions is such, that afar off they seem no less than Cities: round about the King's Pavilion, are the Tents of Princes and great Men, encompassing his in circle. Then the horsemen of Arms, two or three together, have their Tent: the footmen have the like for discipline sake, and to keep them from cold Air. When the body of the Army moves, Yeomen footmen clear the ways, and here and there make heaps of stone, or piles of wood, for ease and direction of the passage; so as even in darkness of the night they can hardly err. The Army moveth at midnight, and till midday following marcheth. The King rides between two Bassa's talking with him, before whom marcheth some of the order of Janissaries on horseback, bearing lighted Candles in time of night. Certain Captains follow them with iron Clubs round pointed, who keep off men from sight of the King a good large distance: amongst these, are numbers of the King's Guard; and amongst them, a Chariot of Women and Boys, fitted for use of the Turk and his Nobility. These great Men, go some before, some follow these Captains with great multitudes of Soldiers, horse and foot, and all conditions; some for stipend, some for plunder; but all men.  

Th●ir Carriages of Beasts.  Then follow a multitude of Camels, Horse, and sometime Elephants, laden with Victuals, Pavilions, and all necessaries for military uses; and where the Turk pitcheth his Tent, there every one, according to his condition, (as in a City) sets up his habitation; Booths for Tailors, Bakers, Butchers, Sutler's, and all sorts of Victuallers: some sell dainty flesh, and fowls; and when fresh meat cannot be had, than what is brought upon their Beasts, they expose to sale; biscuit, dry meats, cheese, curds and milk. All Turks are generally most patiented in suffering hunger, thirst and cold. They seldom lodge in Towns, but field it in their Tents, near water-springs, Rivers or Meadows, taking more care of their  then themselves; content with little and coarse diet, curds mingled with water, bread with milk, sometimes biscuit: master and servant eat together. They keep deep silence in the night; they neglect stirring after fugitives, for fear of raising clamours; which are forbid upon great mulcts and punishments: but when they go to rest, or rise to march, all with an unanimous noise, cry out, Allah, Allah, Allchu, that is, O God, thrice repeated.  

Of justice exercised in War.  There is so much severity in military discipline, that no Soldier dares unjustly seize on any thing of another's; for if he do, he dies without mercy. They have amongst them certain Guardians, Defenders of all Passengers from Soldier's violence, with Boys of eight or ten years old, carrying bread, eggs, fruit, oats, and suchlike things to sell. These Guardians are bound to free and preserve all Orchards, Gardens, Closes, they pass by; so far, that they themselves dare not touch an Apple, Pear or Grape, or any suchlike thing, without the owner's licence; otherwise they lose their heads. When I was present in the Turkish Army in an Expedition against the Persian, I saw a great Commanders head, with horse and servants, all three cut off, because that horse had been found grazing in another man's pasture unsatisfied for.  

Celobyations of a T●… victory.  When a Conquest is declared, the Cities strait throw themselves into all delights and joy. At entrance of night, for good auspice of the solemnity, Torches, Wax-candles, Lamps, Firebrands, Fireworks, and all things that give light, are every where disposed of throughout the City; with Carpets, costly Hang, Tapestry, and Silken, Silver, and Gold Vestments, their houses all are covered, but especially that way, by which the Emperor entereth. The chiefest triumph is made in Constantinople, his constant residence, unless occasioned by war. into some other Region. And he is bound by Law at every three years' end, to undertake some expedition into Christian Territories, for advancing or defending his own Kingdom. I verily believe, and do confess, for those days he celebrates for Victory, no Mortal eye, (nay, not the Moon or Sun) did ere behold a spectacle more glorious and resplendent, for order, number, silence, richness, state, and magnificence in all kinds. It is impossible for only man to be exalted to a loftier degree of sublimation, than this Pagan when triumphful.  

Of their bunting and hawking.  No Nation under the Sun delights so much in hunting, as doth the Turkish; they'll follow game through rocky, steepy, craggy mountains, and that, on horseback, taking diversities of Beasts; but if any chance to be killed, or suffocated by dogs or chase, they never eat thereof, nor any Christian that lives in those Regions: and if they kill wild Boars, they give them to the next inhabiting Christians, Musselmen being forbidden to feed on Hog's flesh. The Turk hath multitudes of Faulkoners (above thousands) in constant wages through his Empire. Their Hawks both long and short winged very hardy. The like charge he's at, for all sorts of dogs: nothing can move in th' Air, or stir on Land, that shall not be encountered, and seized on. These charges, with the Soldiery, Officers, Seraglios, and Court-attendances, are in a manner infinite; and yet supplied more by casualties than Revenues constant: for he commands all men's fortunes at his pleasure, and is the general Heir of all that by nature die, or violence.  

Of Artificers and Husbandmen.  The Countrypeople with their Servants blow their Lands, and pay the Tenths of all increase unto the King. Artificers maintain themselves by Trades: who live in idleness, consume in hunger. They eagerly pursue all sorts of Merchandizing; travelling the lesser Asia, Arabia, Egypt, and States of the Venetians. They have their baths in every City, where in solemn manner they wash themselves. When they make water, they wash that part; and the like, when they ease their bodies. The like is done by Women, who have handmaids following them, with Vessels filled with water; and when they bathe, they anoint themselves with such an unguent, that within the space of half an hour, rots off all hair from parts anointed. Men and Women do the same; not suffering hair to increase: and this is done twice or trice each month, especially when they frequent the Church; otherwise, (as violaters of sacred places) they are burnt with fire. They have divers sorts of Artificers; Tailors, Shoemakers, Gold and Silversmiths, and for all sorts of Metals; Painters, Carpenters, Stone-cutters; but not of such wits and exquisite inventions, as in our parts.  

Of Justice amoag Citizens.  They have one Judge as well of Christians as Turks, (but always chosen from amongst the Musselmen) to administer equal right to all men. If any kill another, he suffereth death: if steal, or violently taketh from another, he is hanged; as it happened to a Janisary, who drunk milk of a poor Woman's, brought to sell, and paid not for it; and accused before the Judge, denied the fact; whereupon, being stretched up by cords at his feet, and about his middle, he forthwith vomited the milk, and was immediately by the Judge commanded to be strangled: this happened in my presence at Damascus, when I travelled from Armenia to Jerusalem. If any commit adultery, the Man is cast into strict Prison; yet after divers months may be redeemed: the Woman is carried about the streets riding on an Ass, beaten naked with whips, stones thrown at her, and a Bull's pizzle tied about her Neck. He that gives a blow, is cut cross the face, and led about the streets for terror. All suits have this good piece of justice, that right or wrong they last not above three days. Their differences are few, because they buy and sell for ready Money; their chiefest wealth consisting in it: for few have Lands or Revenues, but who command the Soldiery: but generally the Turk's Law and Equity is in his Sword, and both oppressed and stifled with Fear and Bribery, two potent and prevailing Agents. To spoil, to rob, to kill, to murder, upon design of interest, he says, 'Tis Justice; devastation and destruction of whole Provinces and Kingdoms, he calleth Peace. And if in aught he advise with Counsel or the great Mufty, 'tis not for substance, but formality of justice, as well assured from gainsaying an opposition.  

Of Husbandry.  Both Christians and Musselmen manure and till their Grounds, Vineyards and Pastures, and have like Fruits and Corn to ours; Wheat, Millet, Barley, Oats, winter-Wheat, Pease, Beans, and all kinds of Pulse, and Rice in abundance; Linen, and Cotten wools, more than these Nations; Vineyards like ours; but use their Grapes in different manner: where we make Wine, the Turk hath a kind of Honey with them; so medicining their Grapes, that both in taste and colour they appear always fresh: other Fruits they have in great plenty; Melons, Cucumbers, Pumpions: replenish well their Fields and Gardens in their seasons: Nuts, Pears, Apples, Peaches of all sorts, Apricocks, Chestnuts, Figs, Lemons, Oranges, Cherries; and suchlike, at small rates; but not in equal plenty in all Kingdoms: and there are some within the Turks Dominion, as Cappadocia, and less Armenia, where, in regard of cold, they have no suchlike Fruitages.  

Of diversity of Cattle.  They have Shepherds, (whom they call Sobanlars) always living in solitary places, and every Month remove their stations: they neither have possessions or houses, other than their Tents, and Cattle; as Camels, Mules, Horse, Cows, Oxen, Sheep, and Goats; whom they feed, make Cheese and Butter; shear the Wool, and so make Cloaks, Mantles, and Tapestry, which they sell, and supply thereby their Families with Corn and necessaries. All these Shepherds pay the King tenths of all annual increase; and all Christians further pay Tribute, that live under the Turkish Government, for every Male, one Crown yearly; and that which is most cruel, their sons unmarried, are taken forcibly from them every fifth year, when their Tents are visited.  

Of Houses.  They have no great magnificence of buildings; most of them are of bricks, but differing; some are burned in Furnances, some dried by Sun. Their houses are contiguous, like ours in Europe; but in Anatolia, they are flat tabled without elevation; from whence by Gutters, Pipes, and Channels, Rain-water flows down to them. The houses low; none above two stories, and meanly furnished, if not poorly.  

Of their Garments.  Their Vestments are made of Wool, Flax, and spun Silk, sufficiently magnificent. The use a Garment (which is called Chaucan) strait, full of plates, and of length even to their ankles; abhorring breeches, as too much directing to, and expressing privities. Their shirts or smocks are died in colour Violet. Their heads are covered with great rolls of calico or suchlike stuff, wound about in fashion of Pyramids; which they call Turbans. Women of quality go always with their faces veiled; which are never seen of strangers, or in public places. Their shoes are high, with strong soles, for longer service both of men and women. Some say that Mahomet had a bald or scalded head, which he covered with white linen rolled up, as their Turbans, from thence derived, and still continue, for they never alter fashions. They wear long beards, as tokens of their freedom, all Slaves being shaved. No great difference in habit between rich and poor; but in the stuffs. They are religiously cleanly, and never seen to unburden nature, but always after wash.  

Of Viands.  They use, as we, bread white and course, which they sprinkle with certain seeds before 'tis baked, and yieldeth a great sweetness to the eater; which with us is only used in Granada, and about Sivilia in Spain. They use much art and sauces in their Cookeries: but ordinary food is pulse or Rice, so thickened, that it must be parted with the hands: they feed on all flesh but Hogs. There are no Taverns or Inns allowed; yet in the streets, divers sorts of victuals are sold, and all things necessary for man's sustenance.  

Of their Beverage.  They have three sorts of drinks: the first made with Sugar and Honey mingled with Water: The second of Raisins, the stones taken out, and boiled in Water, whereto they add some Rose-water, and a little perfect Honey; and this is to be sold in most parts thorough Turkey; for it is sweet, and puffeth up the belly: The third is made of a Fruit (called Pechmez) into Must, and hath a kind of Honey-taste and colour with it; this, mingled with Water, is given to their Servants. The Houses where they sell, are frequented as Osteries in Italy, or Taverns with us. Turk's for the most part drink only Water; they are not suffered to buy or swallow Wines; and who happens to be accused, and proved to have drunken thereof, his testimony, in all occasions and actions is invalid: and yet in private Christian houses, they do not abstain.  

Of their manner of eating.  When they go to Dinner, they first strew Mattresses on the floor, and spread upon them carpets or pillows; some fit on the bare ground. Their Tables are made of skins, and plaited, to be drawn open more or less, like to a budget. They neither sit, as we do, nonlie along on elbows, as the ancients; but like a cross of Burgundy, with legs enfolded, they sit Taylor-wise. They always Pray before they eat, then eat greedily and hastily, but with deep silence; and in that time their Wives secluded from them. Man-servants after twelve year's age, are never suffered to co-habitate in houses where Women are; but under such age, they go about the houses, serving their Master's occasions. Captive women have never liberty to go abroad, unless their Mistresses or Lady; go to Vineyards, Graves of Friends departed Baths, or Gardens out of Town (which they often do) for recreation sake; and otherwise are kept strict at work in houses, not suffered to converse with other captive Servants; as shall be more at large declared in the following Chapter. Their dishes are commonly placed at such distance one over another, as 'twere on Pillars, that each man may make choice of three, which pleaseth best. They eat three times a day; but quick therein, unless at a Feast, where they sit all day.   

Of the afflictions of Captives, and Christians under the Turkish Tribute.  
WHen the King of Turks makes Expeditions against Christians, amongst divers sorts of Merchants, there always follow him on Camels, a mighty number of Buyers or Scorcers of Children or Men, who in hope of getting Slaves carry with them bundles of long Ropes, wherewith they easily tie together fifty or sixty men. These traders purchase of the Soldiery or Freebooters, whomsoever the Sword hath not devoured; which is granted them, upon condition that the King may have the tenth of what is trafficked for, the rest unto themselves to sell. Nor is there any Merchandise so profitable amongst them, nor so frequent; as anciently among the Romans, who called things fairly bought, their proper Goods and Rights, as just as that of Slaves.  

How the Turks employ their slaves.  The youth and aged of both Sexes, whom Chance by tenths appropriates to the Turk, he thus disposeth; the elder in years he sells for Husbandmen, who yet are rarely or cheap bought; for they seldom escape the Sword, their age making them less vendible. Young men and Maidens, they confine them in Seraglios, there to be instructed in useful Arts for future times. But first, they must deny their Faith in Christ, and then be circumcised. And thus initiated in their Ceremonies, they diligently examine their physiognomies, and the several lineaments of their bodies, and then the whole composure; and according to conceived strength, forwardness of wit, and dispositions, they are destinated to learn Laws of the Country, or discipline of Wars; and in the mean time are allowed a daily stipend of two or three Asper's, sixty whereof make five shillings, which they conceive a liberal sufficiency for diet and clothing, until they are fitted for employments. In the elements of War, they thus are trained, according to each strength: they first have given them a light bow; skill and strength increasing, they have a greater and a heavier; so by degrees they are fitted for expedition. They have Instructors, severe Exactors of their daily Exercises; and whensoever they err much from the mark, so often are they cruelly whipped with scourges. These are enrolled in the order of Bowmen. Others are instructed and made fit for Janissaries, who have appointed Masters and Teachers every day to fight, two together with Cudgels. Others (an horrid thing) who have more lovely faces, are so close cut, that nothing like Man is lest them; and this not done without great and imminent danger to life: and if the party escape death, his health is for no other use, but their most wicked lusts; and after youth's grown aged, they are put to the offices of Eunuches, to attend on Ladies, Concubines, Horses, Mules, and some Kitchin-imployments.  

The condition of Virgins and other women.  Such as are of extraordinary beauty, comeliness, or composition of body, are chosen out for Concubines; mean and indifferent Faces, are appointed Matrons handmaids; amongst whose offices some are so filthy, and so loathsome, as were before (though somewhat uncivilly) relted. Others are set to women's work, as spinning, carding, weaving. It is free for none of them to profess the Christian Faith, or hope of liberty during life. There is some content in hope, but these have none.  

How private Turks use Prisoners.  Hitherto hath been spoken how the Kings use Captives; now how private men their Prisoners newly taken: first, they threaten them with all sorts of menacing sharp words, promises, and allurements, to entice them to Circumcision; which if yielded to, they are treated somewhat more courteously; but then all hope of ever returning to their Country is clean cut off; and whosoever endeavours it, burning is his appointed punishment. Such as are thought more firm and less fugitive, are admitted to their Master's Military employments, and can only be made free, when age hath made them useless; and then he is rather turned off, then remitted orderly; or when the Master by hurt in War, or danger of death, bequeathes him liberty. They are permitted marriage; but their Children are disposed at the Master's pleasure; which makes the more understanding sort utterly abhor marriage. They who refuse Circumcision, are miserably and unhumanely treated; of which I have had the experience of thirteen years' sufferings: nor can Lexpress in words the great calamities of such people.  

How Christians ignorant in mechanic Arts are used.  The condition of such unskilful men is wretched. Those whose toil brings profit, are only in reputation with them: and therefore learned Men, Priests, and Noble men, who have lived in retiredness and pleasures, when they fall into the hands of Turks, are of all most miserable; the Merchant or Man-scourser bestows no cost on them, as scant vendible: they walk with naked head and feet, and often their whole bodies: no new  succeed, the old worn out: they are hurried through Mountains, Rocks, from place to place, Winter and Summer, and have no end thereof till death, or that they find a foolish Purchaser, that (they think) buys ill Merchandise; but no man is so happy, or esteemed amongst them, for Age, Art or Beauty, that they being sick will leave behind them. First, they are whipped to go on; if they cannot do that, than they are put on horseback; and there not able to sit upright, their bellies are tied on horseback, no otherwise then a sack of Corn or Cloak-bag: if he die, he's stripped of all , and thrown into the next ditch, to be devoured by dogs and vultures.  

How Prisoners newly taken are used.  They do not only bind them in endless chains, but, in their journey, also manacle their hands; they march the distance of a large pace one from another, that mutually they do not hurt; and tie their hands, lest with stones they mischief do their Masters: that when sometimes they lead great multitudes, as ten times five hundred chained together, the strength of whom, if hands at liberty to throw stones, might much annoy them. At night when they rest, their feet are likewise chained, and exposed to all injuries of weather. The condition of Women is a little more humane; they who have strength of limbs, are driven on foot; those more tender, are set on horses; such as are infirm and cannot ride, are put in baskets or ripiers, as we use geese. Afterwards their condition is sadder; either they are included in strong Turrets, or forced to endure the wicked lusts of their Merchants. Where still they are, is ever heard vast and hideous howl of both sexes, suffering violations from them; neither doth the age of seven or six years, defend them from those vitions actions: a people incomparably wicked, both against nature, and before libidinous.  

How used that are exposed to sale.  At the break of day they are brought to Market, like droves of sheep, or herds of goats: Merchants appear, prizes are set; if the prisoner be liked, his  are stripped off, he is viewed by the buyer, all members surveyed, tried and throughly searched for faults in joints or arteries; if he please not, then returned to the owner: and this is done until he find a purchaser. When bought, he's carried to some heavy servitude, to blow, keep sheep; omitting base Offices. They endure there many unheard examples of calamities: I have seen men tied together with yokes, to draw the plow. Maidens are severely forced to perpetual labours; separated from the sight of men, nor are they suffered speech or conference with other Servants. If any man be taken Prisoner with wife and children, him some great person willingly purchaseth, to be employed in his Countryhouse, in Tillage, Vineyards, Meadows, Pastures; and Children born of them, are all his Slaves: and if they persevere in Christian Faith, a certain time is allotted them to servitude, and then made free; their Children notwithstanding continue Slaves at the Master's will, and employed where he pleaseth; for they have no certain nor enroled Estates in Lands, and so not assured seats of residence. If after making free, they desire to return to their Country, they have Letters Patents given for their Journey. But to such as abjure the Christian Religion, no certain time of bondage is prescribed them, nor right of return; all hopes of their liberty, totally dedepends upon the Master's pleasure: and when they have got freedom, they pay the Tenths, as other Turks, but freed from other Taxes with which Christians are burdened.  

Of Captives made Shepherds.  The Husbandman hath an hard and sad condition, but the Shepherd far more grievous; they always live in solitariness, night and day, covered only with the roof of heaven. The Master and the Wife have some small Tents; no shelter for the Shepherd, unless at spare times compelled to work on Tapestry or Carpets. Every month they change their Pastures, and drive their flocks from one Mountain to another. Some Masters that have more humanity, now and then give small rewards, which the Servant keeps as his proper Goods, and preserves, to bear the charge of a return to his Country, if ever he get liberty: but these largesses are seldom done, and then, but as a miserable enticement to servitude, thinking thereby to withdraw their hopes of shifting from them. To such as deny Christ, and are circumcised, knowing they dare not run away, no like indulgence offered.  

Escapes of prisoners out of Europe.  European Slaves may more easily escape, than those sold into transmarine Regions; they pass Rivers only, that may be swimmed over; others, with great difficulty must pass the Hellespont. Such as intent escapes, usually attempt it in Harvest season, to hid themselves in Fields of Corn, and by it live. The Nights they travel, the Day lie close in Corn, Woods or Marshes; and rather choose to be devoured by Wolves, than brought back to their Tyger-Masters.  

Out of lesser Asia.  Who flee from thence, repair to the Hellespontick Sea, between Callipolis, and those Towers of Sestes and Abydos, now called by the Turks Bogaz Aser, that is, Castles on the mouth of the Sea, where the Waters are strait and narrow; hither they come with Saws and Ropes, cut Timber-trees, and tie them fast together, to serve and save themselves for shipping; carrying nothing with them but salt. If Wind and Fortune favour, in three or four hours they are wasted over; if otherwise, they perish in the Sea, or reforced again upon the Coast of Asia: if safely pass, they then betake themselves to the Mountains, and by inspection of the Pole and the Star Boötes, they tend their way Northward; and sustain themselves with Acorns and Herbs sod in salt. If many fly together in society, sometimes in Night, they set upon the Shepherds, and what they find of Victuals take from them; sometime they kill, and are sometime killed, or taken and returned to their old Masters and Drudgeries: but the several dangers of travelling, consumes more than escape, by shipwreck, the enemy's sword, wild beasts, and starving hunger.  

The punishment of Fugitives.  Some are hanged up by the heels, and most cruelly scourged; and if commit murder, the soles of his feet are all slashed into furrows, and salt stuffed in. Some have great iron Chains, fastened on their necks, and forced to wear them day and night, and as long as the Master pleaseth.  

The charity of Greeks and Armenians to Captives.  Death, and confiscation of all sorts of Goods, is inflicted on those who undertake, procure, or assist Captives in their flight, or running away, yet notwithstanding both Greeks and Armenians cease not to entertain them, being Christians, to hid them, and in disguises to conduct them unto shippings of the Venetians or other Christians, and freely give them good provisions and all things necessary for their journeys; nor do they spare or omit any kind of piety towards them; for they confess to have had heard the like experience from Christians charity, when as they travel for conscience sake to Rome or Compostella.  

The Incantation of Turks against Fugitives.  They have certain kind of charms, which they think can draw them off from flying. The name of the Slave is written in a Schedule of Paper, which is hung up in his Tent or house: then with vengeable and horrible curses, his head is charged and threatened, conceiving this by the Devils help, the Fugitive will be affrighted with meeting of Lions and Dragons in his Journey, or that the Seas or Rivers will swallow him, the heavens will grow dark, and these astonishments will bring him back again.  

The memory of Christ by degrees lost informer Christian Provinces.  There is some memory yet left of the expugnation of Constantinople, the Kingdoms of Greece, Alania, Valachia, and Servia, now reduced to Provinces. These, for a long time, constantly retained the Christian Faith, but their Children have forgot it; and there will come to pass a full oblivion of Christ. And likely it is to fall out so in Croatia, Hungary and Sclavonia, which are now Additaments and Adjuncts to the Turkish Empire.  

The condition of the conquered.  When a Province is subdued and taken, all sorts of Goods movable and  are given away for spoil. They totally extirpate the whole Nobility; but especially the Princely Issue. And when they took John the King's Son of Hungary, and favoured him with life, it was on good advice, that if Hungary where lost again, they might employ and involve him into any new encumbrances; and when the Province should be in a quiet and calm condition, then to dispatch him: for in such respects, the Turk regards neither Kindred, Father, or Brother; he spares none. And if they do kill and murder not all Church and Clergymen they take; yet they expose them to all scorn, nakedness and beggary, despoiling them of all their Fortunes, Goods, and Dignities. Their Bells, their Organs, and other Instruments and Ornaments of Churches, Chapels, and Devotions, they raven and tear from the Temples, profaning them with consecration to their Mahoment; leaving only the most miserable and wretched Chapels to the Christians, wherein they are forbid public Prayers, and may pray seemingly in silence: which Chapels, when either Earthquake, Fire, Tempest, or Age destroy, they must in no sort re-edify. Preaching or reading parts of the Scripture is utterly forbidden. It is a sin to admit a Christian to any public Office, to wear, have Arms or habit like a Turk: or else to use the recreations of cheerfulness, as Pageants, Plays, or Dance. If they injure Christ or you with bitter or contumacious words, you must be silent, and endure it. If you speak aught against their professed Religion, you are forced to Circumcision; and but to whisper against Mahomet, Fire and Brimstone followeth. If a Christian on horseback pass by a Musselman, (that is, one initiated in the Turkish Faith) he must, on necessity, light from his horse, and bowing down his head worship him; which if omitted, he strait is knocked down with clubs.  

Condition of Priests and Friars under Tribute.  Priests and Friars are held the worst of Men, and are esteemed by Turks the very Sacrilege and Scandal of God and mankind. They have no benefit from Churches. Upon some festival days, a little bread is given them by poor Women, and not on other days. They get their livelihood by carrying Wood; their custom being to cut down sticks in Woods, lad them on Asses; and with this Merchandise, they cry about the Streets, Wood to be sold.  

The Tribute of Christians.  They pay a part of all increase, not only of Corn and Cattle, but even Mechanics pay it out of all their profits. And then they pay another subsidy, for every single man through a Family, each head a Crown. If Parents refuse this Tribute, their Children are taken from them, and made Slaves. Others are bound in Chains, and beg from door to door to pay this Crown; which if they cannot this way procure, they are cast into perpetual Prison; and when all Duties are performed, it is yet lawful for the Turk to choose the best amongst his Children, whom he circumciseth, and removes from all approach or sight of Parents, and breeds him for his Wars, ne'er to return to his Friends; and so a child easily forgets both Christ, his Parents and his kindred; that after, if he chance in company with them, he shall not know them. No Man can express by Words, the Lamentations, Cries, Tears and grievous sighs, at this distraction of Children. The Father to see his Son (educated in the fear of Christ) torn from him, and made an Instrument of Satan, to oppose Christ; hurried from his Mother, to live perpetually with strangers, leaving whatsoever is dear in blood, pleasing in society, or loving in familiarity, with an everlasting dereliction: after listed in the ranks of those the Greeks call Fatherless and Motherless: yet many of these, although they have denied Christ, carry about them the Gospel of St. John, (In the beginning was the word, etc. in Greek or the Arabic tongue) as an Amulet or preservative in their Armpits; and with great desire they expect the Christian Sword (according to some Turkish prophecies) should revenge and free them from those great afflictions and persecutions; and that if Christians do it not, whatever is the cause, or with what mind soever hindered; all very ill deserve of Christian Religion.   

A Narration of a dispute with a Turk.  
AFter I had traveled with much labour and many dangers the better parts of the world, and seen many pleasant Towns and Countries, as Socrates, Plato, and other Philosophers had diligently done; at length I arrived at the famous City of Hungary, Varadinum, where by chance I met one Dervis Gsielebi, a skilful man in the Laws of Mahomet; who having dispatched his business with the Governor, he very much desired conference with some Christian about Religion on either side. This motion of his being published by an Interpreter, and none for divers days appearing to encounter him, in defence of the Christian cause, though many Religious persons were in that Town, (struck mute and speechless at the courage of one Ethnic Infidel) who seemed to me like Israelites, that durst not adventure on one uncircumcised Goliath, provoking them. This I perceiving, and grieving in my spirit, that in such plenty of Clerks and learned men, none was so well armed with Truth as durst (though by Interpreters) reprove the insolence of such an Heathen; then; and fearing that so wicked and detestable a silence, in so good a Cause, with so bad a Man, would betray the Truth, and render our Saviour Jesus Christ's Opinion with him more ignominious; I myself, though never called to Ecclesiastical Function, undertook the charge of arguing this point of Piety with him; and so a prefixed day was agreed on between us; when multitudes of of people of each Religion, came Spectators of the event. The place was in a Monastery of Franciscans; the day, Whitson-Sunday, day of Pentecost; where he moved to me first this Question: Where God had his being, before the Heavens and Earth, and therein all things else were created? Which Question, though it seemed to me not much pertinent to our purpose, yet lest he should imagine us ignorant of our great God's universal presence, I said, He then was in his own being. But when that seemed to him somewhat obscure, and that he did not sufficiently understand it, I then told him, He was where he now is. Which he understanding, denied in the general, and said, Not so; but that he then was in a bright cloud. Which, when he earnestly affirmed, I quoted Genesis; (for they also read the books of Moses, and the Prophets) and said, If God were in a Cloud, before the Foundation of Heaven and Earth, than that Cloud must be created before them both: and upon further argument on this point, being at last convicted, he would dispute no further in it; but gave me leave to propound some Question to him; and for solemnity of that days sake, I thought fit to say something thereof; and finding these words (In the name of God, his mercies, and the Spirit of them) in their Alcoran, in the Arabian Tongue and Character, I desired him to read them: The mystery of the holy Trinity. Which when he had considered, and wondered at, he said, Christian, from whence had you this? for in the beginning of all our actions, we Musselmen use these three words, and prefix them to every Chapter of our Alcoran; when we sit down to eat, when we go to prayers, when we wash our hands, or other parts of our bodies, these words we first pronounce; and these actions finished, we sprinkle our heads with water, and repeat these words, In the Name of God, his Mercies, and the Spirit of them. When thus he had confessed the Truth, I desired to understand from him what he meant by the word Mercies: who replied, He understood it literally, without other signification. Then I applied myself to the mystical Interpretation, and divided it according to Truth into three Persons, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost, and shown them written in the Arabic tongue. And when he saw I had mentioned the Son of God, he questioned, How God could have a Son? since according to their Law, and Doctrine of Mahomet, God had neither Wife nor Child. To whom I answered, according to my weak understanding and capacity; We Christians call God the Father, for his Creatures sake, being the first creating Cause, and sole Preserver of all created, who was for ever in the same Essence he now is in, and will be for Eternity; and is the first Person in the Trinity. We believe the Son, (who by Mahomet in the Arabic phrase is called Rahman, and signifieth Mercies, so changed by him) to be likewise God, not according to flesh (for God is a Spirit) born of a Woman; but of the Essence and substance of God Omnipotent, begotten by God the Father, to put away the sins of the World, and so took humane flesh, by the Holy Virgin Mary, suffered for us, died, and was buried, and according to the say of the Prophets arose again the third day, and ascended into Heaven, and sitteth at the right hand of God the Father, there to judge the quick and the dead, to render immortal happiness to those that have faith in him, and to the unfaithful everlasting punishment.  
I than Presented him a Crucifix, and said, Behold this now, and see if Mahomet did unworthily call the Son of the eternal God by Name of Mercies, when with Arms thus stretched forth, he calls poor sinners to his embraces, saying, Come unto me all ye that labour, and are burdened with sins, and I will refresh you. And to render him more capable of the Trinity, I pointed to the Sun, saying, You have a fair similitude here: as there is but one Sun, that hath form, heat and light; so there is but one God and Father, who hath Son, and the Holy Spirit, which you call Rucahim, consisting of three Persons equally of one substance, and from Eternity coexisting.  
This comparison wrought in him a belief in God the Father, his only begotten Son, and the Holy Ghost; a Trinity in Unity. And when he had heard my weak discourses of God the Father, God the Son, and God the holy Ghost, he much admired, saying, O God, O God; I nor any of our Sect, could ever imagine, you had such good thoughts of God; for we conceive you live in darkness of understanding: but by your relation, it seems you have great apprehensions of him; and believe well, if you did not neglect our great Prophet of God, Mahomet. I said, What shall we do with the toys and dreams of Mahomet? for besides Baptism and the mystery of the Trinity, which were had from Christians, we know the Alcoran contains nought that tends to Truth. Then I alleged to him the fancies and  trifles of Mahomet's two Angels called Arot and Marot, whom Mahomet says, That God did send from Heaven, to minister justice unto mortal men, commanding them to forbid drinking of wine, and unlawful mixtures with women, and to show the way to heaven to no man: These Angels transgressing Divine Commandment, were defiled, deceived, and made drunk by a Woman, and shown to Mahomet the way to heaven; whom, when God saw there, he asked the Angels standing by, who it was that came in that shape thither? And the Angels telling him it was by the error of Arot and Marot; he turned the Woman into a Star, and sent those Angels chained into a well, to be punished everlastingly. Divers like ridiculous stories I related; as that of the Beast Baraile, who could speak as man, who carried Mahomet to heaven, where himself confesseth to have seen great Angels with many heads, and those speaking many Languages in divers Tongues; which is sufficiently foolish, and unworthy the name of a Prophet; but said, I know not whether oppressed with Wine, in sleep he dreamt to have seen such miracles, or monstrosities in his imaginations. And therefore when he inserts such follies in his Alcoran, he deserves not the Title of a Prophet from any reasonable man.  
Having heard this, somewhat abashed, he arose, and would argue no further: but led me into the Temple, and shown me certain Images carved in wood; and asked me, If we did worship those silmilitudes of men or adore them? I answered, No; think not we worship the stone or timber wherein these sigures are engraved; they are used and respected only as records and remembrances to men's minds of the passions and sufferings of our Saviour Jesus Christ, for the redemption of our transgressions: and we worship our true God in mind and Spirit, remembered by that Crueifix; neither are you denied the like remembrances of your great Princes, and famous men, nor we of holy Saints; but 'tis to give God thanks for their examples of holiness, and our prayers to imitate their charity and pieties.  
In these discourse, he spies some dogs walking in the Church, and doing something against an Altar, (an evil custom, and to be condemned by all) and asked whether it was lawful for Beasts to enter our Churches? and blushing with shame, not knowing how to defend this negligence of Christian Pastors, I told him, It was neither lawful nor seemly; and desired him to conceive it a mere negligence of Officers.  
When he heard this, he commended it very much, and desired me to instruct him in our Saviour's Prayer, which I gave him after, in the Arabian Dialect.   

A Lamentation for loss of Christians destroyed.  
AFflicted with an infinite and incredible sorrow (most high and mighty Monarches and Governors of Christian Commonwealths) to see the sad condition, and most miserable being of our Brethren under the Turkish slavery; whereof some seduced from the bosom of our Church to heretical unhappiness; others with civil and hostile sword, slain, murdered, and cast to devouring Beasts; others made captive to perpetual servitude, and most cruelly afflicted: They all by me in lamentable sobs and groan complain, O monstrous, mischievous ambition of ill men, and wicked covetousness of ruling! How many equal souls consecrated to God's Divine Worship, have you betrayed to Death and to the Devil? How many Principalities and Kingdoms of great Kings, and all sorts of Nobility, have you destroyed? How many walls of stately Towns have you demolished? How many sumptuous Palaces and strong stately Castles have you leveled with the ground? How many lawful Owners have you dejected from eminent Estates and quiet Conditions, and banished to perpetual disconsolations?  
And although I intent not to write the Acts of Princes, but to delineate the calamities and tragedies of Captives, I cannot forbear remembrance of that abominable discord of the Earl of Servia, a potent and proud Prince, who agreeing (a shameful foul example of a vicious ambition) with the Bassa of Bosnia, (his neighbour Enemy) and having many Castles and strong holds upon the Turkish Confines, even to the River Savus, (which divides Illyria from Croatia) and defended all those Provinces which lie between that River and the River Dravus, from Turkish violences and incursions: This Earl or Lord of Servia, falling into variance and some petty controversies with the Nobility of Sclavonia, made friendship with the said Bassa, and joining their Armies both together, invaded the Sclavonians, partly at difference between themselves, and partly impotent; wholly destroys them and their Province with fire and sword, ruining their Towns and Castles, some by violence and force, some by craft and treachery, (customary with wicked men and Turks) and so totally vanquished and conquered them. And after a few Months had passed, this Bassa beholding the Earls rich Provinces, and neighbouring with his, he took or made occasions to invade him, whom at length he killed; and so reduced all his Territories under the Turkish Government. Thus this seditious Atheist, Traitor to his Country and his Brethren, most ignominiously lost his life: for such are the Turks rewards to whomsoever by craft, policy, or villainous fraud, he can lay hold on or ensnare. The like was done with some Noblemen of Hungary, whom they reduced to miserable captivity.  
Wherefore (most Christian Monarches) the cruelties of this Tyrant ought with all industry and vigilance be both feared and prevented; lest considering your fair Provinces, and viewing them with a fascinating eye, he find you disagreeing, and thereby enfeebled, he assault you on all fides, not only Candia, Calabria, Malta, and Sicily, but even Italy, France, Spain, and Germany; and prove an universal scourge and terror to all Christendom. They are wise, who by others harms prevent their own: you are concerned when your neighbour's house is fired. But not to trouble you in this kind, I recommend to you, most prudent Governors, the correction and amendment of this great error, and return to the deplorable calamities and afflictions our Brethren suffer under the yoke of Tribute in the Turks Dominions, where some with chains about their necks are dragged through sharp and spiny parts of Thracia and lesser Asia, with naked feet, in thirst and hunger: and if by labour of long journeys, diseases, or other griefs they die, (as often happens to men of Quality and bred in ease) are hurled stripped in the next ditch, (though not half dead) to the care of ravenous fowls; others, that is, young people of either sex, endure perforce the filthy lusts of their buyers and their defencers, with hideous cries and howl of violated and vitiated people; the age of six years not defending them: others ignorant in husbandry or Mechanic Arts, and literated men (who are least saleable) are for long time driven from Town to Town, from Street to Street; and being once sold, compelled with clubs and scourges to learn Trades and daily employments in base businesses and grievous pains: others of more robustious strength, are made slaves to Galleys, tied by the legs with chains, and most miserably tortured; whose sad calamities the power of humane wit cannot express in words. And if these poor unfortunate souls could have foreknown that miserable being, they'd rather have chosen a thousand deaths. If pains of life and death were e'er commixed together; yea, if to live long and many days, and die every hour, were ever extant, it is in Turkey: Egyptian servitude, Babylonian banishment, Assyriack captivity, Roman destruction, are toys and trifles to these calamities. People, who live as it were in the fiery Furnace of the Chaldean Hut, and crying up to heaven, with sighs and groans, O Lord, how long! arise, and forsake us not in the end: and when oppressed and grieved beyond all hope, they turn their eyes again on their own Countries, likewise in captivity; yet wish themselves rather slaves there, then where they are: their prayers are not for liberty, but change of place; and for that cause, indifferent for death or or life, they turn Fugitives; and some leaving their flocks in deserts, their Oxen at plough, expose themselves to devouration; some murdering their Masters and their Children; some burning their houses in revenge; some run away, hiding themselves in Caves and hollow Trees, with fearful wants and dangers; which I here forbear, having given the Reader some taste thereof before. And now they turn their cries to you, all Christian Monarches and Governors of Commonwealths.  
Imploring and beseeching the Pope of Rome, who should be Father of our Country, and all sorts of men belonging to Christ his holy Church, That they uniting all sects of men in peace and concord, would labour to suppress this common enemy, and restore their Brethren unto liberty.  
Imploring and beseeching the Emperor and all Imperial Princes, Dukes, Cities, and Nobility, to cool their hot Calentures of ambition, and avarice of neighbours rights, and set apart domestic quarrels, and call together and unite their strengths against so cruel an Usurper, and hostile Enemy, and labour to defend their present, or else recover their lost Territories; and then be assured, the circumspection of the Spanish Soldiery, the warlike fierceness of the Belgic Provinces, the quick prudence of the Italian w●…, the robustiousness and stoutness of the Germans, will be easily persuaded by the King of Romans, against this universal Enemy; remembering you withal, No Crown sits so gloriously on an Emperor or Prince's head, as that which beareth a true Title of the People's safety and lawful Liberties.  
Imploring and beseeching the most Christian King of France, to employ his helping and heroic Arms, in safeguard (according to his Title) of his Christian brethren's liberties, and his own from Turkish Tyranny.  
Imploring and beseeching the most mighty and potent Kings of England, Poland, Denmark, Swedeland, with all Republics, Cities and Corporations Christian, to unite, and join in one, their strengths and powers in war against this cankered common Enemy of their Religion, Crowns and Dignities.  
Imploring and beseeching all sorts of Powers and Authorities spiritual and temporal, to employ their diligence, and show the worthiness of their callings, by correction and amendment of wicked and dissolute lose livers, by whom God's wrath is kindled against us; and to reduce them to holy Rules of Christian Exercises, in living justly, soberly and religiously, and so render God a true account of Stewardship, and prevent the miseries have befallen others drowsy and sleeping inadvertencies.  
Imploring and beseeching both young and old, of all sects and conditions, godly Christians religious and secular, beloved Fathers, dear Brethren, respected Friends, Neighbours, and Companions, that you all, with humble face and countenance, pure and sincere hearts and hands, devout minds, mournful voices, and weeping eyes, condole, grieve, and lament the miseries, the calamities of Turkish captives; and call unto the Lord of Hosts with violence, in pity to his people, to avert his anger, and not to give them up to the perpetual rebuke of this wicked Infidel, most cruel Enemy of Christian Religion and Liberty; but to inspire the minds of Christian Kings and Governors, with light of his holy Spirit, to reduce them all to unity and concord, against this ravenous and insatiable Dragon; and grant others such success, that these wretched captives, their Christian Brethren, may be restored to liberty in the worship and adoration of their God, our Christ, and only serve him, who is for ever blessed; that at length the Christian World may be refreshed and eased from such perpetual slavery.   

An Exhortation against the Turk.  
I Have often marvelled with myself, most mighty Monarches, when I considered theadvantages which promise Christian's victories against the Turk; and yet in so many years they attempted none, or failed. We have Jesus Christ our God, who in one only night destroyed the host of Sennacherib; who drowned Pharaoh; who with a maiden hand of Judith, struck off the head of Holopherues; and, to be brief, a God, whose will is victory. Contrary to which, they have Mahomet, a wicked man of life and conversation; in death yet, hanging in his Sepulchre without Resurrection: so as there is as much difference between them, as is between an ever living Son of an ever living God, and a putrid carcase of a son of a mortal man; that if we diligently examine the nature of each Power and Authority, it would appear like dead men, superiors in strength to living. Now in abilities of bodies, capacities, and gifts of understanding, we exceed them; which are good strengths and fortifications against an enemy: and yet we are still defeated. Who is more hardy than the Hungarian? more stout and robustious than the Germane? more quick and nimble than the Frenchmen? more grave and solid than the Spaniard? more cautelous and prudent than the Italian? more valiant and daring then the English? forbearing other Nations, the endowments of whose minds, are better, or at least equal. All these abilities seem able singly to get a victory, or at least well to forward it. Courage often without much force, generosity of mind, wisdom, forecast, ambition of honour, and policy, oft subdues an Enemy; yet notwithstanding, wretches as we are, amongst so many victorious attributes, we get no victories. Then if we consider the easy preparation and great furnitures of all sorts of arms, we shall appear far to exceed the Turk. Guns of all sorts have been our own inventions, and the divers kinds of complete harnesses for horse and foot. The Turks, Persians Subjects, naked, or half so, march forth to war: they have bows, we guns, that is, fire and thunder: they have arrows, which hardly pierce and Armour; we Cannons, which Rocks cannot withstand: and yet now some Musselmen have Guns and Gunners, but few, and unskilful.  
Now I pray, what other kind of people use they most in Expeditions? Scythians and Thracians, who have no Italian or Spanish Spirits, only a kind of inhuman fierceness, ignorance and stolidity: to these are added Grecians, lost men with ease and laziness; Asians, corrupt with luxury; Egyptians, no less in mind then bodies, feebled; Arabians, bloodless, thin, and parboiled with the Sun. Who could imagine such kind of Soldiery should subdue the great advantages and abilities of those forenamed Nations? yet (be it spoken with grief) our Christians by these are overcome, and mastered into servitude, and our great Captains are forced to bear arms against us, who were born and bred by Ancestors to liberty: and in the mean season, the Turk laughs at us, and the Jew rejoiceth.  
Now if I should consider the Laws and Institutions of Nations, we shall be found abundantly superior in that respect: for, what is more righteous and divine then the Decalogue and holy Gospel, written by Gods own Finger and his Spirit? what more regular than the Canon-Law? more just and equal then the Civil Law? Whereas the Turks live by Direction and Dictates of the Alcoran; a book of stuff as foolish, as full of vanity; a book of sport and mirth, if pity for the seduced did not allay it; though now spread abroad too much, and handled amongst Christians; so as it may be truly feared, we shall learn other Laws, or shortly lose our own, and turn Turks in our minds and approbations, sooner than in our bodies to their Dominion. What is then the cause, having so many Prerogatives of hopeful War, we are always beaten? why are our Ensigns adorned with Crucifixes, fearful formerly to Infidels and Devils, now trampled on and slighted? I shall tell you in few words, and truth. We have a God most great, most good; but alienated from us so far, that according to the Prophets saying, We scarce are to be named his people: for why should Christ remain with us, whom we have rend and corn in far more pieces than the Soldiers did his Garment, by our hideous Sects, Schisms and Heresies? Besides his Name, what of him is deap unto us? The very Ploughman these times is impudent and factious, the Citizen fraudulent and avaricious, the Magistrate seeks retributions and rewards, the Nobility is riotous and lazy, the Gentry contentious and proud; the Soldier, beyond his pay and spoil, craves nothing from the War; let Sceptres fall as they will, he is no less grievous to friends and companions, than Enemies. Churchmen, besides pomp Ecclesiastical, have little of the Church; not sanctity, not piety, and some not fitting erudition; seeking their own, not Christ's advancement; that we may say with the Prophet, All have declined the ways of God, and are unprofitable; there's none that doth good, not even one. Why should we marvel then that Christ is not our Friend? We therefore go to war without a God, and what is more calamitous, with God our adversery: We carry Bibles and Crucifixes with us, but the crucified by his favour converseth with our enemies; our Actions therefore perish, and are involved in losses. And when one Nation fights against the Turk, another is employed in civil wars, calling to his aid Pagans, Schismatics or Heretics, more eagerly to oppose Christ; others tend their home-affairs, to indulge themselves in ease and voluptuousness. The soldier sets not forth for Christ, but money; which failing, soon deserts the field, and turns home back again. What have we then from those rich Attributes and Eulogies of Germany, France, England, Spain, and Italy, when the soldier neglects both God and Honour, and goes to war as to market, a brothel-house, or stews, to exercise all rapine, spoil, and lewdness? We have good Laws, but evil manners; good furniture of Arms, but wicked dispositions: it is our glory to fight among ourselves; and if we prove coward to enemies, there follows little shame or punishment. When do we see a Soldier quitting colours or disbanding, severely handled? which crimes were anciently capital; and whole Legions have been decimated and tyth'd for less offences. We therefore march with men few in numbers, and those corrupt in manners, against millions of men well disciplined; for Turks leave their vices in their houses, from whence we carry ours. In their Pavilions and Tents, no deliciousness; Arms only, and necessary provisions: in Christians, all forts of Table-delicates, luxury and riotousness; and commonly, as many light lascivious Women, as Men. What wonder then if they conquer who are preserved by sobriety, parsimony, diligence, fidelity and obedience? Let them perish then, who lose a field to get a prey; who are oftener found amongst Whores, and drunk, then in good actions: but 'tis the fault and error of Superiors, when Subjects are not kept in due observance; which if Christians were, we could not be inferior to Turks. And yet a greater fault, behold, Princes themselves, while they contend in mutual quarrels, are causes why they cannot muster equal forces against the Turk: for whilst they fight and combat for some little Town or other, after grievous strife, conflictation and exhaustion of men and treasure, they grow weak, impoverished and heartless. What brave Actions might those streams of Christian blood have done, which civil wars most impiously have drawn out, emptied, and dried up? But 'tis too late to mourn in complaints: Asia and Africa are lost; Greece, extinguished; Hungary, desperately sick; Illyria and Sclavonia, joined to the Turk; Austria, much enfeebled; and this Plague much threatens Germany, and Christianity universal; and that so far, that no great Prince or Monarch ought to be secure, or think himself so free, but that he may be forced to descend his own, without invasion of his neighbour's Territories, whether it please or not; unless they will become, of Princes, Servants; of Freemen, Slaves, detained in perpetual chains, or flain and murdered, that their Subjects may want Captains and good Leaders.  
Now, most mighty Monarches and high Governors, for God's cause, banish from amongst you all discord and ambitious tyrannies, (which are the Devils instruments to maintain oppressions and impieties, thereby to prolong God's wrath upon you) and restore to each Proprietor his due rights and privileges; and then, as Rivers having free course, haste all smoothly to the Sea, and make one mighty body; so your strengths united in the bond of peace, would startle, astonish and drown this great Tyrant Turk. Which blessing on bended knees I humbly pray for, and recommend unto the God of Peace. And being reconciled among yourselves, if you would say as Moses said to Joshua, Choose you a man, and go and fight with Amelek; if you would reduce yourselves to this peace and concord, (which is only hopeful) and put your helping hands and powers toward so greatly honourable, so blessed, so necessary and profitable a War against the Turk; who can imagine, but that ye should at least equal the number of his Soldiery, if not far exceed them? He is now swelled up to the very height of Tyranny, and hath there remained so for divers years, as if expecting, as if waiting an Attempt. All full Seas have their ebbings, all ripe fruits are quickly shaken down; there wants nothing to this general and glorious work of Christian Princes, but God's blessing, unanimity, and an heroic courage, brave and masculine. For the Emperor can with easiness raise, arm and muster 50000 horse, and 100000 foot; the like may hopefully be expected from France, from Spain and Italy: the yet remaining parts of Hungary and Illyria, with the Provinces under the King of Romans, will raise and maintain 60000. These Christian forces may make 400000 horse and foot, besides the Maritime great assistances of England, Denmark, united Provinces, Venetians, Portugals and Swedes, and all other Christian Commonwealths, who, if once unanimous, and freed from jealousies and petty, wretched, wilful, home-contentions, the Turkish power could no more resist ye, than Darius, Alexander; Xerxes, Themistocles; or Antiochus, Judas Macchabeus: and having gotten but one Victory, and once passed the Danube towards Constantinople, God being pleased, and our lives amended, these enemies of our faith would easily be trodden down. All Greece and Thrace (where yet great part retain the Law of Christ) expect with greediness the Christian Sword, and readily would revolt upon such occasion, and manfully assault and fight against those Lords and Masters, that have so cruelly afflicted them: which circumstance alone, would much hasten, if not perfect a speedy victory.  
I would to God, and wish hearty, most Christian Monarches, That your civil, fruitless, home-contentions, would permit and suffer you seriously to consider, and calmly to examine these offered motions; you then would find all men's wills and arms concur with yours; no age, no sex, no conditions of men would leave your Ensigns: Each Turk would have his Executioner at home, his Traitor in his Tent, and fugitive in the Field. All Christians amongst them have contemptuous opinions of their arms, and know them only sitted for light Skirmishes and Pickerings; who, if their noise, like shoals of clamouring Rocks, affright you not, they flee. And whensoever it shall please God to root out from amongst us these perpetual Enemies of his faith, and send them to their old lurking holes, and caves and corners in Bythinia, by the Christian Sword (according to some of their own Prophecies) or else to reduce them to the bosom of our Catholic Church, no man can donbt, but in short time the Emperor will be seated in his chair at Constantinople, and invested in his Imperial Roman Territories; The King of Romans reestablished, and recover Hungary, and Thrace; France, lesser Asia; England, part of Egypt; Spain, part of Africa; Italy, all Shores and Banks of the Mediterranean Seas; and last, the Pope, as a great Pastor of the Christian Church, will be extolled and magnified for such an union.  
These are the apprehensions of all Christian captives under the Turkish Tribute, and even Turks themselves, who have-knowledge and long acquaintance in military affairs. And this myself have learned by thirteen year's experience, The Turk is valiant against a flying, and flying against a valiant Enemy; when therefore he by nature is fugitive, impiety flies without pursuit. Let God arise and scatter all his Enemies: let those that hate his Doctrine, avoid his presence: let them like smoke vanish, and melt like wax against the fire: so may all Infidels perish, before the face of God and his holy Church, that there may be but one Flock, and one Pastor, Jesus Christ the righteous. Which grant, Oh ever blessed Trinity and Unity, God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Ghost. Amen.   

The Seraglio of the women and Sultanas of the Great SIGNIOR.  
BEfore I dismiss this Subject, to satisfy some Curiosities concerning this Emperor's pleasures, in which he satiates himself with variety, conversing with his Mutes and Buffoons (for that it is not lawful for any body but the Vizier Bassa's, and some few others to speak to him) in the same fignes and gestures, and now and then riding, and shooting & casting a heavy Iron Mace, all which he is taught to do with great exactness; I will transiently speak of that, than which nothing is more secret and reserved viz. His Companying with women, the beautifullest those parts of the world afford, the greatest excellency and perfection whereof is reputed to consist in great and broad eyes; the enjoyment of women so featured, being made a part of their Paradise in the world to come.  
They which are within the third gate, called the King's gate, are about two thousand persons, men and women; whereof the women (old and young one with another; what with the King's Concubines, Old women, and women Servants) may be about eleven or twelve hundred. Now those which are kept up for their beauties, are all young Virgins, taken and stolen from foreign Nations; who after they have been instructed in good behaviour, and can play upon Instruments, sing, dance, and sew curiously; they are given to the Grand Signior as presents of great value: and the number of these increaseth daily, as they are sent and presented by the Tartars, by the Bashaws, and other great men, to the King and Queen. They do likewise sometimes decrease, according as the Grand Signior shall think fit. For upon divers occasions and accidents, he causeth many of them to be turned out of this Seraglio, and to be sent into the old Seraglio: which is also a very goodly and spacious place, of which hereafter I shall take occasion to make mention. 
Virgins made Turks and how.  These Virgins immediately after their coming into the Seraglio, are made Turks; which is done by using this Ceremony only; to hold up their forefinger and say these words; law illawheh illaw Allawh, Muhammed resoul Allawh. That is, there is no God but God alone, and Mahomet is the messenger of God. 
Kahiyah Cadun, the mother of the maids.  As they are in age and disposition (being proved and examined by an old woman called Kahiyah Cadun, that is, as we say, the Mother of the Maids) so they are placed in a room with the others of the same age, spirit, and inclination, to dwell and live together.  

Their manner of life.  Now in the women's lodgings, they live just as Nuns do in great Nunneries, for these Virgins have very large rooms to live in: and their Bedchambers will hold almost a hundred of them a piece. They sleep upon Sofaes, which are built longwise on both sides of the room, and a large space left in the midst to go to and fro about their business.  
Their Beds are very course and hard (for the Turks neither use Featherbeds, nor Corded Bedsteads) and by every ten Virgins there lies an old woman and all the night long there are many lamps burning, so that one may see plainly throughout the whole room: which doth both keep the wenches from wantonness, and serve upon any occasion which may happen in the night. Near unto the said Bedchambers they have their Bagnos for their all times: with many use at Fountains, out of which they are served with water, and above their Chambers there are divers rooms, where they sit and sew: and there they keep their Books, and Chests, in which they lay up their apparel.  
They feed by whole Camaradaes, and are served and waited upon by other women: nor do they want any thing whatsoever, that is necessary for them.  
There are other places likewise for them, where they go to School, to learn to speak and read (if they will) the Turkish tongue, to sew also, and to play on divers Instruments, so they spend the day with their Mistresses, who are all ancient women: some hours notwithstanding being allowed them for their recreation, to walk in their gardens, and use such sports as they familiarly exercise themselves withal.  
The King doth not at all frequent or see these Virgins, unless it be at that instant when they are first presented unto him; or else in case that he desire one of them for his Bed-fellow, or to make him some pastime with music or other sports: wherefore when he is prepared for a fresh Mate, he gives notice to the Kahiya Cadun of his purpose; who immediately bestirs herself like a crafty Bawd, and chooseth out such as she judgeth to be most amiable, and fairest of all; and having placed them in good order in a room, in two ranks, like so many pictures, half on the one sidr, and half on the other, 
The Kings eoming to them.  she forthwith brings in the King, who walking four or five times in the midst of them, and having viewed them well, taketh good notice within himself of her that he best liketh, but says nothing; only as he goeth out again, he throweth a handkerchief into that Virgin's hand; by which token she knoweth that she is to lie with him that night: so she being (questionless) exceeding joyful to become the object of so great a fortune, in being chosen outfrom among so many, to enjoy the society of an Emperor, hath all the art that possible may be, shown upon her by the Cadun, in attiring, painting, and perfuming her; and at night she is brought to sleep with the Grand Signior in the woman's lodgings, where there are Chambers set apart for that business only. And being in bed together, they have two great wax lights burning by them all night; one at the bed's feet, and the other by the door: besides there are appointed (by the Cadun) divers old Black-more women, to watch by turns that night in the Chamber, by two at a time; one of them to sit by the light at the bed's feet, and the other by the door, and when they will they change, and other two supply their rooms, without making the least noise imaginable, so that the King is not any whit disturbed. Now in the morning when his Highness riseth (for he riseth first) he changeth all his apparel from top to toe, leaving those which he wore, to her that he lay withal, and all the money that was in his pockets, were it never so much; and so departeth to his own lodgings; from whence also he sendeth her immediately a present of jewels, money, and vests, of great value, agreeable to the satisfaction and content which he received from her that night. In the same manner he deals with all such as he maketh use of in that kind; but with some he continueth longer than with other some, and enlargeth his bounty, far more towards some than others; according as his humour, and affection to them, increaseth, by their fulfilling his lustful desires.  
And if so fall out, that any one of them doth conceive by him, and bring forth his first begotten child; then she is called by 
Sultna Queen.  the name of Sultana, Queen: and if it be a Son, she is confirmed and established by great feasts, and solemnities; and forth with hath a dwelling assigned unto her apart, of many stately rooms well furnished; and many servants to attend upon her.  

Her allowance.  The King likewise alloweth her a large revenue, that she may give away, and spend at her pleasure, in whatsoever she may have occasion; and all they of the Seraglio must, and do acknowledge her for Queen, showing all the duty and respect that may be, both to herself, and to them that belong unto her.  

Other Sultana's  The other women (howsoever they bring forth issue) are not called Queens; yet they are called Sultana's, because they have had carnal commerce with the King: and she only is called Queen, which is the Mother of the first begotten son, heir to the Empire; the which Sultanas, being frequented by the King at his pleasure, have also this prerogative; to be immediately removed from the common sort, and to live in rooms apart, exceeding well served and attended; and have no want either of money, or apparel, in conformity to their degree.  
Alderman these Sultanaes' do resort together very familiarly, when they please; but not without great dissimulation, and inward malice; fearing lest the one should be better beloved of the Grand Signior than the other; yet notwithstanding this their jealousy, they (in outward show) use all kind of courtesy one towards another.  
They never stir out of the Seraglio but in company of the King himself, who often times carry; either all, or most of them abroad by water, to his other Seraglios of pleasure: and in those ways through which they pass, to go to and fro from their Kaiks, there is Canvas pitched up on both sides, and none may come near them but black Eunuches, till they be settled, and covered close in the room, at the stern of the Kaik; and then go in the Bargemen; so that in fine they are never seen by any men, but by the Grand Signior only, and the Eunuches.  
The King's Daughters, Sisters, and Aunts, have their lodgings also in the same Seraglio; being royally served, and very sumptuously apparelled, and live together by themselves in continual pleasures; until such time as at their request the King shall be pleased to give them in marriage: and then they come forth of that Seraglio, and carry each of them along with them a chest which the Grand Signior gives them, full of rich apparel, jewels, and money; to the value of (at the least) thirty thousand pounds sterling a chest; and that is (as we call it) their portion.  
There are many other things which are worthy a Discourse, and Relation in this Magnificent Court and family of the Grand Signior, but being confined by time to this Volume, they must await a fairer opportunity of Publication.   
FINIS.