Purchas his pilgrimage. Or Relations of the vvorld and the religions obserued in all ages and places discouered, from the Creation vnto this present In foure partes. This first containeth a theologicall and geographicall historie of Asia, Africa, and America, with the ilands adiacent. Declaring the ancient religions before the Floud ... With briefe descriptions of the countries, nations, states, discoueries, priuate and publike customes, and the most remarkable rarities of nature, or humane industrie, in the same. By Samuel Purchas, minister at Estwood in Essex.

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Purchas his pilgrimage. Or Relations of the vvorld and the religions obserued in all ages and places discouered, from the Creation vnto this present In foure partes. This first containeth a theologicall and geographicall historie of Asia, Africa, and America, with the ilands adiacent. Declaring the ancient religions before the Floud ... With briefe descriptions of the countries, nations, states, discoueries, priuate and publike customes, and the most remarkable rarities of nature, or humane industrie, in the same. By Samuel Purchas, minister at Estwood in Essex.
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Purchas, Samuel, 1577?-1626.
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London :: Printed by William Stansby for Henrie Fetherstone, and are to be sold at his shoppe in Pauls Church-yard at the signe of the Rose,
1613.
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"Purchas his pilgrimage. Or Relations of the vvorld and the religions obserued in all ages and places discouered, from the Creation vnto this present In foure partes. This first containeth a theologicall and geographicall historie of Asia, Africa, and America, with the ilands adiacent. Declaring the ancient religions before the Floud ... With briefe descriptions of the countries, nations, states, discoueries, priuate and publike customes, and the most remarkable rarities of nature, or humane industrie, in the same. By Samuel Purchas, minister at Estwood in Essex." In the digital collection Early English Books Online. https://name.umdl.umich.edu/A10228.0001.001. University of Michigan Library Digital Collections. Accessed June 8, 2024.

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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.

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Their times of prayer, according to the fourth Precept, are h 1.4 in the morning, called Salanamazzi, before Sunne rising: the second at noone, called Vlenamazzi. (On the Friday they pray sixe times, resorting to their Church two houres before noone) the third, about three houres before Sunne set, called Inchindinamazzi. The fourth at Sunne set, Ascannamazzi. The fifth, two houres within night, before they goe to sleepe. They which meane to goe to prayer, goe first to the house of office, and there purge their bodie: they wash their priuie parts; & then going thence, wash their hands, their mouth, their nose, their countenance, and their wrists, each of them three times, and after their eares and neckes, saying a certaine Psalme, and then wash their feet to the mid-legge, saying another Psalme: and after all this, with a graue pace, walke to Church; without these washings they hold their prayers vnprofitable. Septemcastren∣sis saith, that for this cause of washing, they cut their nailes, and all their haire; except on their heads and beards (which yet they combe, and bestow curious paines about, that the water may haue free passage to all parts) yea for this cause hee thinketh they obserue Circumcision, that nothing be left couered and vnwashed. They haue three kinds of washings: the first of all the bodie, no part being left free, called Zeoag••••g∣meg, which is necessarie after any pollution. The second is called Tachriat, of the pri∣uities and hinder parts after stoole, vrine, or breaking of winde. The third, Aptan, or Abdas, in the instruments of the fiue senses, beginning at the hands, from thence the wrists to the elbow; then the mouth and nosthrills; then all the face with the eyes; then the eares, and from thence to the feet, which hee washeth as high as the ankles. This is not necessarie before euery prayer, except some vncleannesse happen, but may serue for all day.

Their Almes, enioyned in the sixth Commandement, are publike or priuate. Their publike almes is a sacrifice or offering of some beast once euery yeare. For whereas of old they should haue giuen a certaine pension of money to the poore, namely, two in the hundreth: Mahomet vpon their complaint eased this heauie burthen, and conuer∣ted it into this sacrifice. This beast must be cut in peeces, and giuen to the poore: nei∣ther must they themselues eate of it, yet may each man eate of his neighbours offering, and this sacrifice ought to be of the fairest and best, Horse, Veale, or Mutton. The place for this sacrifice is called Canaara: where are many Butchers, which, cutting the throat thereof, say; In the name of him which hath made heauen and earth, and all things else; this sacrifice bee to his honor and worshippe, and let his infinite bountie accept the same. They vse the like vpon occasion of vowes, if any of their house be sicke. As for their priuate almes, they hold it necessarie: hauing a vaine con∣ceit, that it freeth them from all imminent miserie, which (they say) together with the almes, turneth from them to the poore man; whence it commeth that the poore are so full of diseases. But for all this charitable Precept, many poore people die amongst them for want of reliefe: and o 1.5 if the poore pay not their head money to the King year∣ly, they are beaten, and their women and children sold to pay it.

Mariage ought to be sought (they say) for procreation, not for lust. * 1.6 They which liue vnmarried (after fit time, which is about fiue and twentie yeares of age) are not iust, nor please GOD. Their Law enioyneth them to performe their marriage-ceremo∣nies, with prayers, and prayses, and modest shamefastnesse; and they ought to learne each other to reade, if either partie be ignorant. But their marriage is now farre dege∣nerate from that ancient simplicitie: p 1.7 For if a man like a yong woman, he buyeth her of her father, and then enrolleth her in the Cadies booke; the marriage following with all Bacchanall solemnities. The father giueth only some peeces of houshold with her, carried openly by particulars through the streets. When he disliketh any of his wiues, he selleth them, or giueth them to his men-slaues. They sit not at table with their hus∣bands, but waite and serue them; and then they dine by themselues, admitting no man or mankind with them aboue twelue yeares old. And they neuer go abroad with∣out leaue, except to the Bath, and on Thursday to weepe at the graues of the dead: * 1.8 They rise to their husbands, and stand while they are in presence; and besides them, come in no company of men, nor do they speake with a man, or in any part of their

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bodie are seene of any man; because they thinke sight, especially where beautie or comelinesse is, cannot be without sinne. Onely the brother may bee permitted to see the sister, but not the husbands brother. For this cause that sexe is not suffered to buy and sell, but is closely mewed, saue that their law alloweth them to frequent the pub∣like Bathes. The wife and concubine differ in the right to a dowrie, which the later wanteth: but the wife must cause the other to be her husbands fellow, when he com∣mandeth, without gain-saying, except on their Sabbath, or Friday night, which is the wiues peculiar. Yet are the Turks giuen in both sexes to vnnaturall lust (in these times) euen the women in publike Bathes, sometimes are so enflamed in that filthinesse, as is intollerable. Busbequius tells of one woman, which falling in loue with a yong maid, and no way else preuailing, clothed her selfe in mans apparell, and hiring a house neere, procured the fathers good-will to haue that his daughter in marriage; which being so∣lemnised betweene them, and the truth discouered (which the blacke mantle of night could not couer from Hymenaeus) complaint was made, and the Gouernour quenched the hot flames of this new bridegrome, causing her to be drowned for that offence. If the man abuse the wife to vnnaturall lust, she may haue her remedie by diuorce, if she accuse her husband; which modestie forbids to bee done in words, and therefore shee puts off her shooe, and by inuerting the same, accuseth her husbands peruerse∣nesse.

Murther (prohibited in their eight Commandement) they hold vnpardonable, if it be done wilfully. Often will the Turkes brawle, but neuer in priuate quarels strike one another, for feare of this law, and the seueritie of the Magistrate. And if one be found dead in a street or house, the master of the house, or the parish, must find out the mur∣therer; otherwise he hmselfe shall be accused of it, and the whole Contado shall be fi∣ned, and likewise in case of robbery.

Menauinus reckoneth also seuen mortall sinnes; Pride, Auarice, Lecherie, Wrath, Enuie, Sloth, and Gluttonie. The first, they say, cast Lucifer out of heauen. The second is the roote of many other sinnes. The third is most rise amongst them, and that in the most filthie and vnnaturall kind of Sodomie; their law to the contrarie notwithstan∣ding. The fourth maketh a man a beast. The fifth shutteth men out of Paradise, and so forth of the rest. Wine q 1.9 is also forbidden them; but yet they will be drunke with it, if they can get their fill of it. And Mahomet the third (Anno 1601) imputing di∣uers insolencies of the Ianizaries to their excessiue drinking of wine (by the Mufti's perswasion) commanded on paine of death, all such in Constantinople and Pera, as had wine, to bring it out and staue it (except Embassadors only) so that the streetes ranne therewith. One drinking * 1.10 wine with Busbequius, made great clamors; being asked the cause, he said he did it to warne his soule to flee into some corner of the bodie, or else be quite gone, lest it should be polluted with that sinne. Yet in their Fast or Lent, they abstaine very religiously. * 1.11 If it be proued against a Priest, that he hath drunke wine but once, he shall neuer be beleeued as a witnesse after it. Swines flesh is prohibited too; in abstaining from which they are more obedient; it being vtterly abhorred.

The Turkes r 1.12 generally hate (saith Septemcastrensis) that lightnesle in apparell, speech, gesture, &c. vsed of the Christians, whom for this cause they call Apes and Goats. Likewise they are not sumptuous in their priuate buildings. They goe to the warre, as it were to a wedding, esteeming them blessed which are therein slaine. The wiues and women-seruants agree in one house, without iealousie and grudging, they are in their habite and behauiour modest: and, where he himselfe dwelt, the father in law had not seene the face of his daughter in law, liuing in the same house with him, in twentie yeares space; so religiously doe they veile themselues.

On Friday they pray more deuoutly, but (as the Alcoran also permitteth) they ab∣staine not from all labour. He saw the grand Signor himselfe goe to their Church, and likewise to the Bath, attended only with two youthes; none vsing any acclamation to him. And in the Church he prayed on the pauement couered with a carpet, like to the rest, without any throne or ensigne of royaltie. And he obserued the like modestie in his other behauiour.

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The Turkes are so zealous in their superstition, that they will rather lose their life then religion: as among other examples in Scanderbegs time at Dibra, many Turkes chose rather to die Turkes, then to liue Christians; yea some, as it is reported, rather to kill themselues, then to leaue their superstition: and in the yeare 1568. the Persian Embassador was shot at, and one of his followers hurt by a Turke, who being appre∣hended, confessed that he did it because he was an Heretike, and sent from an Here∣tike: for which fact he was drawne at an horse-tayle thorow the Citie, and then had his right hand cut off, and after his head. They hate the Persians, as Rustan Bassa told Busbequius, more then they doe the Christians: like as the Traditionary Iew doth the Textuarie, and the Papist the Protestant. * 1.13

Images they haue in such detestation, that (besides the scratching out the eyes of those in the Musaique worke of Saint Sophies Temple) when Salomon ouerthrew King Lewis of Hungary, he carried away three Images of cunning worke in brasse, repre∣senting Heroules with his Club, Apollo with his Harpe, Diana with her Bow and Qui∣uer, and placed them in the tilt-yard at Constantinople: but by the perswasion of the Mufti, they were molten into great ordnance. They haue no Scutchions or blazing of annes: nay, they vse no seales in their letters or other writings, which seeme to them to sauour of superstition, or superfluitie.

When they conquer any Citie, they turne the Temples into Mosques, and sacrifice there. Thus did Solyman s 1.14 at Buda, and Amurath sacrificed sixe hundred captiues to his fathers ghost.

They are moderate in their priuate buildings, and detest t 1.15 the Christians for their ex∣cesse and superfluous expences that way: What (say they) doe those Pagans thinke they shall liue euer? they often lodge (saith * 1.16 Villamont) at the signe of the Moone; and the like moderation they vse in diet and apparell. They haue a brasse-pot, and their other meane houshold implements with them in the warres, which they vse in peace. Rea∣die money is their surest riches, because the Grand Signior is their surest heire.

They haue the rising of the Sunne in great reuerence; and especially the appearing of the new Moone: as u 1.17 when Mahomet the great besieged Scodra, the new Moone beginning to shew herselfe, the Mahumetan Priests, going about the armie, gaue the souldiers warning thereof, as their manner is, by singing of a song in manner of a Pro∣cession; whereunto the whole armie answered with a short respond, and at the same time bowing themselues to the ground, saluted the Moone with great superstition.

They may x 1.18 haue twelue lawfull wiues, and as many concubines as they will (some say, but foure wiues.) The children of the one are equally legitimate as well as the o∣ther, and inherit alike: yet few of them keepe two wiues together in one house: but in seuerall places where they haue dealings, they haue seuerall wiues, which they di∣uorce at pleasure.

They referre all things, that fall out well, vnto GOD, be they neuer so vngratiously begunne; measuring things by the successe. They tell many things of Antichrist (whom they call * 1.19 Tethschel) and of the resurrection, and of the last Iudgement, of hell, and Purgatorie: And that Mahomet after Iudgement shall deliuer all of all religions from thence.

They haue no knowledge of liberall Arts, of cases of conscience, of Originall sin, or of actuall, further then the outward act.

Their respects to reliques appeareth by Mahomet y 1.20 the third, 1597. who in the discomfiture of his armie fled towards Agria, shedding some teares as he went, and wiping his eyes with a peece of Mahomets garment, which he carried about him as a relique.

The Turkes may neither eate, drinke, nor make water, standing.

In their aduersitie they seeke with earnest prayers to their Prophets; and publike supplications are sometimes decreed. At z 1.21 the taking of Alba Regalis, 1601. the Bas∣sa of Buda (then prisoner at Vienna) hearing of it, abstained from meet with his two seruants a whole day, prostrate vpon his face, praying vnto his Prophet Mahomet,

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who he said had beene angrle all that yeare with the Turkes. They * 1.22 endure punish∣ments inflicted by the Magistrate with great patience, thinking they shall escape all torment in those parts in the world to come: they therefore reward the whipper, and esteeme the whip (which I enuy not to them) sacred.

They are (but contrary to the Alcoran) addicted to sorceries and dreames: their Priests write them letters or spells, to keepe them from danger and harme of shot, &c. called * 1.23 Haymayly. They will write any thing for money, as letters of free∣dome for seruants to runne away from their Masters, and such like. They make a shew of holinesse, but are closely wicked, ignorant of their owne law (to couer which, they answere in darke sentences) and the people much more. Nothing is sinne, to count of, but that which endamageth ciuill societie.

They esteeme for good workes, a 1.24 the buildings and endowings of Hospitals, ma∣king bridges and high-wayes, digging of pits, and welles, and conueying waters to high-wayes and Cities, building Bathes, and founding of Churches, and such like publike workes. Rostan b 1.25 Bassa left his wife, the daughter of Soliman, at his death fif∣teene millions of gold, and she had of yearely reuenue halfe a million: she, amongst o∣ther her workes, attempted one most famous, which was a conduit to conuey water, for the vse of the Pilgrims betwixt Cairo and Mecca, fortie dayes iourney; and for the same intent procured the Sultan Selym her brother, to write to the Venetians for a li∣cence to extract out of Italy an hundred thousand pound of steele, onely to make Chissels, Hammers, and Mattockes, for the cutting of certaine rockes, by which this water must passe.

Their c 1.26 oathes (especially of their Emperours) are of many cuttes, and varietie of fashion. And for vowes; in necessities and dangers; they will promise vnto GOD the sacrifices of beasts in some holy places, not vpon Altars, but d 1.27 hauing flaide off the skinne, they giue it with the head, feete, and fourth part of the flesh to the Priest; another part to the poore; the third to the neighbours; the fourth is for the guests.

They are so addicted to the opinion of Fate, that GOD is esteemed to blesse what∣soeuer hath successe, as namely, Selims murthering his father; and to detest what wan∣teth good euent, whatsoeuer ground it had. They feare not the Plague, accounting e∣uery mans time limited by fate, and therefore will wipe their faces with the cloathes of such as haue died thereof.

They hold e 1.28 it alike acceptable to GOD, to offer almes to beasts, and to bestow it on men, when it is offered for the loue of GOD. Some there are, which will redeeme birds, imprisoned in their cages or coupes, and hauing paid their price, let them flie. Others (for the loue of GOD) cast bread into the water to feed the fishes, esteeming it a worke greatly meritorious; but dogges are accounted vncleane, in stead whereof they delight in cats, following (they say) their Prophet Mahomet, who falling asleepe at table, and awaking to goe to his deuotions, rather cut off his sleeue, whereon hee found his cat fast asleepe, then he would disturbe her sleeping.

They say Moses was the first great Prophet, to whom was giuen the booke Tefrit, that is, the Law, and they which obserued it in those times were saued. But when men grew corrupt, GOD gaue Dauid the booke Czabur, or the Psalter: and when this pre∣uailed not, IESVS was sent with the booke Ingil, or the Gospell, wherby in that time men were saued. Lastly, Mahomet receiued his Alcoran, and all the former were disa∣nulled. This Law and Law-giuer is so sacred to them, that in all their prayers, euen from their mothers breasts, they obserue this forme: La illah, illelah Mahemmet irre∣sullellah tanre rirpeghamber hace: That is, there is no GOD but one, and Mahomet his Prophet: one Creator, and more Prophets. This they sucke in with their milke, and in their first learning to speak lispe out this deuotion. The infants go with the rest to their Mosquees or Meschits; but are not tied to other ceremonies, sauing washing, till they are circumcised. Euery man f 1.29 hath (in their opinion) from his birth to his death two Angels attending him; the one at his right hand, the other at his left. At foure or fiue

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yeare olde they send him to the schoole to learne the * 1.30 Curaam, and the first words which their Masters teach them are to this sense; GOD is one, and is not contained in any place, but is through all, and hath neither father nor mother nor chil∣dren, eateth not, nor drinketh, nor sleepeth, and nothing is like to him. The two Angels beforesaid, are called Chiramim and Chiraetibin, which write the good or euill that men doe against the day of iudgement. The Turkes g 1.31 abhorre blasphe∣mie not onely against GOD and Mahumet, but also against CHRIST and the Virgin MARY, and other Saints: and they punish blasphemers of whatsoeuer Sect: they account it a sinne for a man to build a house which shall last longer then a mans life: and therefore howsoeuer they are sumptuous and magnificent in their publique buildings, yet are there priuate dwellings very homely, and ill con∣triued. They eate much Opium, thinking it maketh them couragious in the warres. They h 1.32 haue a remedie for paine in the head or elsewhere, to burne the part affected with the touch-boxe (which they alway carry with them,) or with some linnen cloth whereby they haue many markes on their foreheads and temples, witnesses of their needelesse and heedlesse respect to Physitians.

As the Scripture containeth some prophecies i 1.33 of the arising and proceedings of the Turkish Nation, the rod of GOD, whereby hee scourgeth his Christian peo∣ple; so haue they also prophecies amongst themselues of their end and ruine, when GOD in his mercie to Christians shall execute iustice vpon the Turkes, and cast the rodde into the fire, wherewith hee had chastised his Children. Such an one is that which Georgiovitz k 1.34 translateth and expoundeth: and such is that which l 1.35 Leuncla∣ius hath transcribed out of their Booke called Messabili, wherein is written that Con∣stantinople shall be twice taken before Degnall Lain, that is, the Cursed Antichrist, shall come; once by the Sword, another time by the force of the prayers of the sonnes of Isahac. Lain m 1.36 is an Epithete which they giue to Degnal, signifying wic∣ked or mischeeuous. Of this Degnal the Turkes Fable, that before his comming, shall Mechdi enioy the Empire. This Mechdi they say n 1.37 was descended of their pro∣phet Mahumot, and walketh inuisible: one day hee shall come into light, and raigne for a time: and after him shall Dagnal their Anti-prophet, or Antichrist come. A certaine Deruise offered to assault and murther Baiazet the Great Turke, prosessing himselfe to be that Mechdi, and was slaine by one of the Bassa's.

As for the bloudy practises which each Emperour vseth in murthering his bre∣thren to secure him in his throne, in rooting out of the Nobilitie of the countreys which they conquer, in rasing the walles and fortresses of the cities, least they should bee receptacles for conspiracie, in translating people from one countrey to another, in turning the countreyes into Timars, or erecting fees and tenures of land to holde in seruice of the Turke in his warres; whereby without any charge to him he maintaineth more horsemen in continuall pay and readinesse then all the Princes Christian: also of their Court, Seraile, manner of gouernement by Vezier Bassas Beglerbegs, Siniacks, &c. Of the Turkish Nauies reuenues & other things: (not concer∣ning their Religion, but their policie) I hold it not sutable to our scope and argu∣ment. Others in diuers languages haue done it in set treatises and discourses. I there∣fore (leauing these things to * 1.38 others) from this relation of their opinions, will come to the publike exercise and practise of their Religion.

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