Emblems of rarities: or Choyce observations out of worthy histories of many remarkable passages, and renowned actions of divers princes and severall nations With exquisite variety, and speciall collections of the natures of most sorts of creatures: delightfull and profitable to the minde. Collected by D.L.

Of the Circumcision of the Turkes.

THe Turkes use Circum∣cision not in the eight day after the manner of of the Iewes, but as soone as the child is past seven or eight years, and can speake the tongue well, the which thing is a mystery with them, for the words of confession which are required before Circumcision, and the child for this is not brought into the Temple, but is Circumci∣sed at home in his parents house. There bee assembled at this no∣table feast all their friends, and commonly amongst the richer sort, they kill an Oxe, and therein they include and put in a Sheep exenterate and ready

dressed, in the which sheep there is a Hen, in the which Hen there is an egge, which are all rosted together for the solemnity of that day; then at supper time in their banquet the childe which must bee Circumcised is brought in, whose yeard and privy mem∣ber the Physitian openeth, and apprehendeth the folded skinne with a fine paire of pinsons, then to take all feare away from the childe, he saith that hee will make the Circumcision the next day, and whilst he useth those words, he suddenly cutteth the prepuce, which is the skin that covereth the head of the yeard, laying a little salt on the wound. They do not give names to their children in the day of circumci∣sion, but in the day of their nati∣vity: after 3 daies space he that is circumcised, is led with great

pompe unto the Bath, when hee commeth home againe, he is led throughout all the gests, which offer unto him their prepared gifts, some give silke garments, some silver cups, ohers present him mony or Horses. If any Christian man of his owne ac∣cord confessing Mahomet, will suffer himselfe to be Circumci∣sed, which thing chanceth very often times, for the grievous ex∣action and burthen of tribute, such one is led throughout all the Streets and Lanes of the Citty, with great honour and triumph of the people, for joy playing on the Drums, and to him many gifts are presented, and afterward hee is made free from their payment and tribute. Yet the Turkes compell no man to the deniall of his religion, al∣though they bee commanded in

••he booke of Alcoran, to ex∣••ulse the adversaries and gaine∣••ayers: whereof it commeth to passe, that so many and divers ••ects of people are found a∣mongst the Turkes, all which doe reverence and honour God after their peculiar rites and cu∣stomes. Their Priests doe little differ from the Laity, and there is no great Learning to bee re∣quired in them, it is enough if they can reade the booke of Al∣coran, but those that can in∣terprete the same Booke ac∣cording to the text, are estee∣med as most cunning, because Mahomet gave his precepts not in the vulgar Turkish tongue, but in the Arabicall tongue; and they thinke it a wicked and un∣lawfull thing to have them in∣terpreted or set forth in the vul∣gar tongue: these Ministers

have their stipend and reward o•• the Prince for their paines, they have wives and apparrell eve•• as secular men: if the stipend b•• not sufficient for the multitude and ••umber of their children then may they practise and use all manner of Arts, crafts, and Trades that other men doe, but yet they are free from exactions and other impositions, and are greatly esteemed of the com∣mon sort. They have divers li∣vings solitary like unto Monkes, which under the colour of Reli∣gion, inhabite the Woods and desert places, utterly renoun∣cing mens company: and some of them have nothing of their owne, but they goe almost na∣ked, saving that their privy parts bee covered with Sheepe-skinnes: they travaile and wan∣der throughout Countries, as∣king

almes as well of the Chri∣stians, as of the Turkes. Some of them goe seldome abroad, but continue in Temples, having in the corners of Churches lit∣tle cottages, their heads un∣covered, their feete without shoes, their bodies without garments, bearing about them nothing but one shirt: they fast many dayes, and pray that God would reveale unto them things to come, and the Prince of the Turkes is wont to aske counsell of them when∣soever hee goeth about any Warres.