The glory of England, or A true description of many excellent prerogatiues and remarkeable blessings, whereby she triumpheth ouer all the nations of the world vvith a iustifiable comparison betweene the eminent kingdomes of the earth, and herselfe: plainely manifesting the defects of them all in regard of her sufficiencie and fulnesse of happinesse. By T.G.

CHAP. VIII. Their manner of aduancement, and diuersitie of customes farre from our example, and orderly prosperitie.

OVr former allegations haue maintain∣ed, * 1.1 that the Turkish Empire is cor∣roborated by the absolute will of the Prince, and wretched duty of the subiect; for he pulleth downe and aduanceth whom he pleaseth, and without sense or reason debar∣reth any man from pleading in his owne behalfe, or contesting with authoritie, if so be, he will not haue it so; otherwise, there is a certaine shadow of vprightnesse amongst them; an approaching to honor by degrees, and spreading the faire colours of some good customes, though farre short of our example: all which in in this Chapter shall be for diuers reasons enlarged. You must then consider, that euery second or third yeare his Officers range ouer all his kingdomes, and territories for slaues, Moores, and Eunuchs, but especially for the beau∣tifullest and handsommest children they can finde, being all the sonnes and daughters of Christians, who accor∣dingly are brought into his seuerall Seralios by 20. and 30000. at a time, and there from their infancy instructed in the Law of Mahomet, circumcised, and disposed of with∣out

knowledge of parents, friends, or countrey, except some Eunuch or Keeper out of meere commiseration discouer the same; so that all his Concubines, Wiues, Officers, and souldiers are the off-springs of Christians depending immediately on the Princes Exchequer, and pensions, not acknowledging other God, other law, other religion, other King, other Benefactor, or other life (ex∣cept in the story of George Castriot, who rebelled against him, after he knew his father was a Christian, and King of Epirus, which we may briefly runne ouer thus. When Amurath the 2. had conquered Epirus, with many other places of Seruia, Bulgaria, and Albania, he tooke prisoners * 1.2 with him to Adrinopolis the King, and fiue of his sonnes, whom he tormented most barbarously vpon some dis∣tasting reply of the old Prince by putting out their eyes, and at last strangling them, except the youngest named George, whom he so fancied in his infancie, that he present∣ly circumcised him, instructed him in the Law of Maho∣met, and kept him secure in his owne pallace, vntill a mighty Champion of Persia made a challenge to fight with any Turke for the honour of both Empires hand to hand, starknaked, and with single Semiters: wherein as the motiue might be honourable enough, so the manner seemed ridiculous; yet so formidable, that for three daies together he insulted round about the Court without a daring answerer, or any man who durst take the matter in hand; at last this George Castriot out of some diuine inspi∣ration, and generous spirit, stepped foorth in the presence of the Emperour, not fully 18. yeere old, and without procrastinating the matter, stripped himselfe before them, and made them as much amazed at the beautifulnes•…•…, and comelinesse of his person, as greatnesse of courage, and

shaking his sharp and glistring curtelax triumphantly ouer his head, approached the Persian, who by this time was prepared to the encounter, and in lesse then one quarter of an houres trauersing the ground, closed with him, wrastled with him, stradled ouer him like a Colossus, after hee had layd him on his backe, and strucke off his head: for which hee was presently embraced in his sweat by the great Em∣perour, inuested with a robe of honour, proclaimed by the sound of a trumpet Scanderbeg, quasi Alexander Mag∣nus, and aduanced to the dignity of Generall of the army: Therfore I wonder at their ignorance, or slender enforma∣tion, which haue published in print, that it was a name of scorne and derision; when we neuer read of so famous an action, and so high a recompence, wherein hee proceeded more and more, with loue of the army and regard of the Prince, till indeed an Eunuch, rauished with his worthi∣nesse, discouered what he was, and opened at large his fa∣thers story vnto him, whereat hee startled, as it were con∣founded, and neuer desisted, till he had perswaded the ar∣my to reuolt, and so obtained his Kingdome, making war against the Turke seuenteene yeere together, as in the lar∣ger stories may appeare. But to the businesse in hand.

The naturall Turke they call Muscellman, and he seldom comes to preferment: but liues as a trades-man in cities, * 1.3 husbandman in the countrey, or mariner at sea: yet, for the most part, are all your gally-slaues Christians, and o∣uerlooked by the cruell eyes of hard-hearted masters, the rest cast vp their account in this manner. At the begin∣ning they are called Gimoglanes, or Azamoglanes, resem∣bling * 1.4 poore hospitall-boyes, doing all manner of drudge∣ry, both in court & the houses of Bashawes, and are known by a plaine habit and strange hat on their head, which is a

felt like a suger-loafe, of a maiden-haire colour.

The second degree is of Ianizaries, whose Haga or Cap∣taine is a most honourable, though dangerous place. Of * 1.5 these be two sorts: of the court, limited in their numbers; and at large without restraint, as alwaies mustred for chiefe souldiers in the army: yea, as (a man may say) the principall beame of the whole Empires frame. For from their suffrages and obedience, the Gran Signeur is confir∣med: from their repinings, disorders are multiplied: from their partiality, a sonne deposeth a father: and from their mutinies confusion riseth, and like a swelling sea casteth downe the bankes of all gouernment.

The third sort are Capogies, employed as porters of gates, purseuants on errands, attenders on the Viceers, as * 1.6 they sit at meat in their great Dowana's, which be open hals trauersed, as occasion shall serue with Persian hangings, and sometimes trusted with secret murthers, and such like dangerous businesse.

The fourth place is appropriate to the Spahyes, who are inferiour horse-men, with high fethers in their strange fa∣shioned * 1.7 hats, somewhat more glorious then the Ianizaries, their arming, as also the Ianizary, keepes some correspon∣dency with the Persian. On foot, either bow and arrowes, and a semiter, or hargabush and a semiter: on horse-backe the very same, with addition of a shield made of sinewes, or the barke of an Indian tree, cast behinde at their backs, with addition of a pollax, hatchet, or iron mace, which are made like scepters: but, for the most part, none pre∣sumes to weare them vnder the degree of a Chiaus, who haue them in the city of siluer for shew, and of steele for execution.

The fift roome is supplyed by the Chiaus, a degree of * 1.8

honourable eminence and may ranke with our Barons. For they ride in veluet gownes, siluer-plated saddles, costly stirrups, and rich turbanes: with these I may almost equall the Captaines of castles, forts, frontire townes, bands of foot, cornets of horse, and such like Commanders, known by the name of Haga's. Heere also, though hee seeme to step a little higher, may be seated the Cady, who is a Iudge or Magistrate ouer criminall causes, ouer whom there is one principall called Cadeleskier, as our Lord cheefe Iu∣stice, in some places they haue also Sub-Bashawes accor∣ding to his Sansacks, Trimatriots, or countrey diuisions, ei∣ther for maintaining his armies, or prouision ouer his ci∣ties. Then may you name with a little better reputation the Treasurer called Testerdy, ouerseer of customes, which is an office farmed by the Iewes, his Chancellor, Doctours of the Law, and such like.

On the sixt step ofhonour is the Bashaw lifted vp, who is a principall Viceroy, or at least hath beene, ouer King∣domes * 1.9 and Countries, such as Arabia, Aegypt, Tauris, Tunis, and diuers others, both in Asia, Affricke, and Europe, and * 1.10 according to the dignity and maiesty of the place called Beglerbeg: these are euery three yeeres mansuold, that is to say, remooued. For as they be subiect to strange ouerseers, so they are not permitted to grow rich, and indeed seeme iealous of their liues and estates, if any extraordinary for∣tune or greatnesse be imposed vpon them, except the Ba∣shaw of Aleppo, who either is so permitted to haue, or ma∣keth his place hereditary, daring sometimes to doe actions befitting an absolute Prince.

The last and greatest place of account is a Viceer, who commonly exceede not fiue in number, besides the Gene∣rall * 1.11 of the army, who is principall, these bee they that go∣uerne

the Empire, and to whose trust all matters depen∣ding in controuersie are committed. But you must consi∣der, that times haue altred their first strictnesse, when in the inchoation of goodnesse they resolued on a perseue∣rance & stedfastnesse. For amongst the best of them, abuse hath bespotted that faire promising countenance, and o∣uer-vailed that beauty, which shewed true Iustice, puni∣shed extortion, and made adultery one of their haynousest offences, with fowle deformity, and new fashions of im∣piety. And thus much for their persons. Now to their customes, and generall conditions.

The Turkes, by the law of their Alcaron, should drinke nothing but water, or water mixed with honey, which they * 1.12 call sherbert: yet the better sort haue certaine Iuliups, which be syrups of roses, violets, and such like, of which a spoon∣full or two will season a pinte of water, and is not onely pleasant in taste, but powerfull enough in operation: they shaue all their head, sauing one tuft on the crowne, super∣stitiously imagining to bee pull'd vp to heauen thereby: they maintaine their beards with great formality and cost, and haue them in such reputation, that they sweare by them: they sildome doe any thing in vaine, or speake an idle world, but in a substantiall grauity passe the time, euen at their pleasure and sports: they sit crosse-legg'd, and so commonly eat on the ground, or higher bench: they hate prophanation, and will not suffer Christ to be ill spoken of. Their religion generally carries a reuerent shew, but no substantiall commendation, as allowing God Omnipo∣tent, a father, inuincible, and creator of the world, and Ie∣sus Christ as the Prophet of his time, as Moses had beene before, but haue opinion that Mahomet was sent to them, as the last Mediator, with promise ofreturne to consum∣mate

their eternity after 1000 yeeres, which time is almost expired, whereupon hee enrolled a booke called his Alca∣ron, in which he bound together, both lawes touching re∣ligion, and precepts for ciuill administration, with prohi∣bition of disputing on their probability, and warrantize of the flourishingest Common-wealth vnder the sunne, vpon their obseruation; coniuring them to a strict obedience, if euer they hoped to thriue in glory and terrestriall maiesty, and attaine the blessednesse of an immortall Kingdome, and a trebled felicity in the world to come: wherein hee imitated Lycurgus, who compelled the Lacedemonians, and bound them by oath to the resolute keeping his instructi∣ons, vntill his returne, which they ratefied by a solemne vow, whereupon coniecturing the subsequent good, hee banished himselfe for euer; or, as some suppose, threw himselfe from a cliffe of Olympus. The like wee reade of Empedocles, but with greater suspition of ambition, as in∣deede affecting a god-head, who cast himselfe into the Cra∣teres of Aetna, after hee had combined the Sicilians to the iudicious allowance of his decrees.

They loue their Churches, reuerence the Priests, make account of Naturals, dumb men, and Lunaticks, and must * 1.13 not enter into their Mosques, either with their shooes on, or fowle hands, or any vnreuerent gesture. Amongst these the order of Deruices or Turners are of greatest ac∣count, as men liuing a contemplatiue life, and no way tran∣sported with mundane affaires. They celebrate diuers re∣ligious dayes, especially Friday, and haue many ceremo∣nies of preaching, musike & solemne silence: concluding their seruice with a strange turning about, encreased by de∣grees from a slow stillnes to a violent circular whirling, pa∣•…•…ible of foure seuerall diuisions, lasting in all an houre, ac∣cording

to the modulent sound of certaine instruments, which haue a primordiall solemnity, and so by little and little encrease to a swiftnesse, in which time they with strange gestures looke vp to heauen, and when they haue done thus a quarter of an houre, all in a sweat they fall groueling to the ground, and haue certaine garments cast ouer them, to preuent taking of colde; then after a while they beginne againe, and so foure times together: the loo∣king vp hath relation to extraordinary visions, and that they are rauished with high inspiration, forgetting the world, and all affaires in the same: the prostitution on the ground would acknowledge the vilenesse of mans creati∣on, and their humility to consider of the same: they ob∣serue the ceremonie of praying for the dead, bewailing their losse, and bemoaning ouer the graues; they repaire to their Mosques or Temples foure times a day, and on Friday fiue: and they haue a solemne fast and a solemne feast, called Ramdam and Byrame, much about our Alhal∣low-tide, at which time their Mosques, and the turrets, are solemnely furnished with burning lamps night and day, fiue weekes together: with diuers other particulars, much like the absurd ceremonies, both of Greeke and Romish Churches, consisting all in forme and outward adoration, as you shall heare anone.

They circumcise the men, & in Arabia cut their women, they sell all things by weight, write Bias, like the ancient Arabians and Chaldeans, read backward as the Iewes, and obserue many other customes of Moses Law. For their women are sildome or neuer seene abroad, except the meaner sort, who yet couer head and face (sauing their ve∣ry eyes: what rich apparrell soeuer shee weares, the out∣ward garment is a long cloth gowne with wide sleeues,

breeches, boots, or rather buskins, and an ill-fashioned tire on their heads: their hands are without gloues, their nailes and eye-browes painted, which they learnt of the Greekes, and all outward appearance most vncomely; but within doores they are more stately, and with a comely presence entertaine those which are to be admitted. Their marria∣ges are somewhat strange; for they neuer see their wiues, vntill they lie with them, vnlesse it bee such as are able to buy slaues, and keepe many concubines; and then expect no dowry, either of land or money, but vtensells and pre∣sents of apparrell, which are carried in delicate baskets on boyes heads, singing of songs in the street before the Bride, vntill shee come to her place of aboad. In which negotiation are elder women employed, and dare not but tell the truth, vntill the matter be fully determined. Thus are also their incontinences satisfied by entercourses of Pandars, yet for aduantage they haue brothels and stewes; yea, the very Balnea's serue for meeting places.

Thus could I runne ouer a large field of discourses: but my purpose is onely by demonstration to bring the defects * 1.14 of this Empire in question, for all their ostentation of glo∣ry, and proud boasting of magnificent gouernment, yet so farre short of our example and comparison, as they are from iudgement and loue of religion, who extoll it for the greatest, best, and richest Kingdome of the world. Salomon led the Vantguard of royalty, and like a noble minded Land-Lord, let happinesse to farme amongst all his Ten∣nants rent free. The Turke is so farre from augmenting the peace and plenty of his subiects, that as soone as any of them is but entring into the field of thriuing and con∣tentment, he puls them backe, and thrusts them doggedly into the dungeon of penury and wants. Salomon was an

honourable King, and sat on a throne to decide the con∣trouersies of his people. The Turke is an absolute Tyrant, and neither commeth amongst them, but for glorious magnificence, nor admitteth any to approach neere him, but for pleasure and wantonnesse. Salomon had Princes ouer the Tribes, and the sonnes of Lords enioyed their fathers immunities. The Turke hath none of eminence, but himselfe, and the name of slaue obscureth all light of posterity. Salomon kept an order in his cities and townes, whether they were places of harbour, traffique, and forti∣fication; or for concourse, sacrifice, and reposednesse. The Turke alloweth none, or very few, with Decorum and glory of Citizens. In the dayes of Salomon, the Country-man liued at peace vnder his vine, and the Israelites with∣out number eat, dranke, and made merry. Amongst the Turkes nothing but feare and terrour is threatned, like a tempestuous storme hanging ouer the heads of the Inhabi∣tants. For the cities lie deuasted, the townes depopulated, and confusion is powred out in full measure amongst them; yea, spred like a menstruous cloth, to make mode∣sty and true gouernment ashamed, so that if you returne to the ouerlooking the gallant fields of Greece, which in times past was a subiect for Philosophers and Poets to write vpon, except some few, namely Constantinople, Gratianopolis, Andrinople, Philipopolis, Gallipolis, Salenica, and such like, and heere and there a pretty towne in an Iland, the rest are vnwalled, the people vnarmed, their goods taken by force, their daughters reserued for incon∣tinency, and the whole Countrey a true patterne of mise∣ry, insomuch that the Inhabitants being Christians, in a manner creepe into their houses at a little doore through a wall, otherwise shall a Turke come and make a stable of

his hall, rauish his daughter, abuse his wife, and consume him like a lingring disease, which washeth away the flesh, and leaueth nothing but skinne and bone: besides, he dare not manure the ground to grow rich, lest an intruder reap his haruest, and make his endeauours fruitlesse: so that though this great Emperour be so mighty in people, spa∣cious in territories, opulent in wealth, and glorious in im∣periousnesse: yet receiueth hee not the fift commodity of his countries, by reason the fields are vnplowed, the vine∣yards vndressed, the medowes vnstored with cattle, and the very trees vnpruned, all which were plentifully suppli∣ed and compassed about with the embracings of husban∣dry in the time of Salomons peace. Nay, such is the misery of corrupted times, that whereas the Turkes haue been euer a true and religious people toward their Prophet, obser∣uing the lawes of his Alcaron very strictly: in these dayes they are all transported with prosperity, and seduced with filthy and abhominable wickednesse. For they endure both sloth and idlenesse, augment their desires of inconti∣nency, maintaine the extremities of gluttony, and will bee drunke, against their owne prohibitions and naturall en∣clination.

I haue insisted the longer on these Turkish particulars, because of all the Empires of Asia, and Kingdomes of Affrick, it affoordeth matter of discourse, and mine owne commorance amongst them warrants the truth of what is published, whereby you may thus conclude, after a sum∣mary collection, that their Common-wealth may rather bee termed a coniuration of tyrannies, then method or forme of good gouernment: their Emperours masters of a slaughter-house, then fathers of the countrey: and their Gouernours such as the Iudges of Israel, when euery man

did what was best in their owne eies, then Iosua or Samuel, who washed their hands in innocency, either from doing wrong themselues, or winking at others vnder them, wit∣nesse the stories you haue heard, and thousands other vn∣repeated. But if this will not yet exclude them out of our palace of happinesse, nor diuert their conceits, which are onely carried away with nouelties, why then let vs extract these fearefull particulars amongst them. First, that fun∣damentall * 1.15 poynt of establishment, by murthering all their brethren. Next their ambitious supplanting their fathers * 1.16 and elder brothers, and rather then they would bee disap∣poynted in their proiected drifts, thrusting them into a slaughter-house. Thirdly, the policy and cunning of their Concubines, who haue destroyed very worthy Princes for * 1.17 degenerating persons. Fourthly, the raging cruelty and iealousie against Bashawes, neither permitting the lawfull * 1.18 discent of the sonne, nor continuing long a constant opi∣nion toward the well-deseruing father (for euen the wor∣thy Cigala's themselues, had much a doe to keepe their cre∣dit without murmuring, and repining of others. Fiftly, a∣gainst the maine position of preseruing Iustice, their cor∣rupting * 1.19 by bribes and presents, euen to the peruerting of manifest causes, especially against Christians. Sixtly, the miserable estate of the country-man, and poore commu∣nalty, * 1.20 who are in as ill condition as their asses, fit for no∣thing but to haue heauy burthens layd vpon them. And last of all, their confusion of diet, both for the time and * 1.21 plenty, wherein nothing is gracious or acceptable, nor any thing worthy the name of a happy countrey, or weal∣thy people. Now to the rest.

Notes

• * 1.1

  The Turkish gouernment deficient in exemplary goodnesse, or happines.
• * 1.2

  The story of Scanderbeg, and why he was so cal∣led.
• * 1.3

  The degrees of the Turks
• * 1.4

  1
• * 1.5

  2
• * 1.6

  3
• * 1.7

  4
• * 1.8

  5
• * 1.9

  6
• * 1.10

  Beg, in Tur∣kish is great or honoura∣ble.
• * 1.11

  7
• * 1.12

  The man∣ners of Turks, and their go∣uernment.
• * 1.13

  Their reli∣gion.
• * 1.14

  The compa∣rison layd together.
• * 1.15

  1
• * 1.16

  2
• * 1.17

  3
• * 1.18

  4
• * 1.19

  5
• * 1.20

  6
• * 1.21

  7