CHAP. X.
Of the Opinions holden by the Turkes in their Religion.
HOw the Turkes from so small beginnings haue aspired to this their pre∣sent greatnes you haue seene; bought indeede at a deare price, with their temporall dominions accepting of a spirituall bondage, becomming the Lords of many countries, and withall made subiect to those many Mahumetan superstitions. The occasion & chiefe cause of sects in the Saracenicall deuotions ye haue heard in the fourth and seuenth Chapters: to which we may adde here out of a 1.1 Bellonius. He saith, that besides the Alco∣ran they haue another booke called Zuna, that is, the Way, or Law, or Councel of Ma∣homet, written after his death by his disciples. But the readings therof being diuers and corrupt, the Caliph assembled a generall Councell of their Alphachi, or learned men at Damasco, wherein six Commissioners were appointed, namely, Muszlin, Bochari, Bu∣borayra, Annecey, Atermindi, and Dent, to view and examine these bookes, each of which composed a booke, and those six books were called Zuna; the other copies be∣ing two hundred Camels-lading, were drowned in the riuer; those six only made au∣thenticall, esteemed of equall authoritie among the Turks, with the Alcoran, and after by one of their Diuines contracted into an Epitome; which booke was called the booke of flowers. But this Zuna being not Vna (one as the Truth is) but full of con∣trarietie, hence haue arisen sects amongst them; the Turkes differing from other Ma∣humetan nations, and diuided also amongst themselues.
Anthony b 1.2 Menauinus (who liued a long time in the Turkish Court) saith that the booke of their Law is called Musaph or Curaam, which Georgionitz reckoneth ano∣the booke; not the Alcoran, but perhaps some Glosse, orsome Extract thereof in Ara∣bian, which they hold vnlawfull to translate into the vulgar. They haue it in such reue∣rence, that they will not touch it, except they be washed from top to toe: and it is read in their Churches by one with a loud voice; the people giuing deuout attendāce with∣out any noise: nor may the Reader hold it beneath his girdle-stedde; and after he hath read it, he kisseth it, and toucheth his eyes with it, and with great solemnitie it is carri∣ed into the due place. Out of this booke are deriued eight principall commandements of their Law. The first is, GOD is a great GOD, and one only GOD, and Mahomet is the Prophet of GOD: this article of the Vnitie (they thinke) maketh against vs, who beleeue a Trinity of Persons: in detestation wherof, they often reiterate these words, hu, hu, hu, that is, he, he, he, is only GOD, who is worthy to be praised for their limbs, health, &c. & for that he hath prouided sustenance for euery one forty yeares before his birth.
The second Commandement is, Obey thy parents, and doe nothing to displease them in word or deed: they much feare the curses of thier parents. 3. Doe vnto others, as thou wouldest be done vnto. 4. That they repaire to the Meschit or Church at the times appointed: of which after. 5. To fast one month of the yeare, called Remezan or Ramadan. 6. that they giue almes to the poore liberally and freely. 7. To marry at con∣uenient age, that they may multiply the sect of Mahomet. 8. Not to kill. Of these com∣mandements is handled at large in Menauine, and in the booke c 1.3 of the Policie of the Turkish Empire, and in others.