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THE Turkes naturall, that is to say,* 1.1 those that be Turkes of the auncient ofspring, although they be by nature not of so euill a disposition and inclina∣tion, as the other Rinegate Turkes are, yet bee they as greatly discontented and displeased as the Rine∣gates are: so that it will be no great matter for them one day to make a rebellion, especially if they shall
find a Head, or a Captaine fit for the purpose.* 1.2 The occasion of their discontentments springeth from hence, that they see all the militarie charges and of∣fices, whereon only the profite, commoditie, & ho∣nour of that Empire doth chiefly depende, (as it is before partly touched) are giuen and bestowed vp∣on the rinegate Turkes, those few onely excepted, which are graunted to some of the naturall Turkes by exceeding great fauour, or to the children of the Sultane-Ladies. And herevpon it commeth, that a∣mong the Musulmani, there is no terme or title more honourable,* 1.3 or more in request, then to be cal∣led Schiauo del Gran Signore, the vassall or slaue of the great Lord: nor any more infamous and more ab∣horred, then the worde Turke: for Turke in their tongue signifieth a villaine: as among the Greeks Nomade doth not signifie onely a man of Numidia, but a Sheepheard, and therfore Strabo calleth the Scythians, Nomadi. And hereof likewise it is, as it hath beene also obsetued by a late moderne wri∣ter, that euen as the Italians doe in their Comedies bring on the stage a Zani, which is a Bergamaske slaue or villaine, so the Turks in their playes do bring vp a Turke, that is to say, a rusticall or rude Clowne. Others there are, which deriue the worde Turke from the Hebrew, and wil haue it to signifie an Exul or a banished man, for the selfe same reasons, for which we told you before, that the Tartarians cal∣themselues Reliquias, reliques.
The rinegate Turkes, out of all question it is cer∣taine,* 1.4 that when by the grace of God they shall feele and vnderstand the benefite which they haue lost,
they will easily ouerturne that state vp-side downe, with the totall and vtter ouerthrow of that Empire: considering that they haue in their hands (as it hath beene tolde you) all the reputation and riches, which are the thinges whereon both Credite and Obedience do necessarily depend. But for as much as they are men of a most vitious and wicked na∣ture, and are tollerated in all kind of beastly inso∣lences, so that they dare doe any thing that them listeth, they are willing and content to liue in that infamous liberty, without attempting any inno∣uation.
The Christians,* 1.5 who by the Turkes are called Ghiauri, that is to say, Gentiles and Infidels, euen in regarde of the diuerse and sundry Rites that are a∣mong them, especially in the Turkish Countrey, (not knowing poore vnhappy soules, that there is but one onely true Church, one Baptisme and one true Faith) they are eyther of the Greeke Sect, or of the Latine Rite. I doe not entend at this time to discourse particularly of althose that haue strayed from the purity of the Greeke sect, as the Geor∣gians, the Armenians,* 1.6 the Aethiopians, the Iaco∣bites and many others, that dwell (as I told you) in the Ottoman Empire, aswell in Europe, as in Asia, and Africa, both because it hath beene diligently & curiously done by others, and also because it is a very intricate and difficult matter, by reason of their differences in opinions, and distances of Country∣es, and for many other respectes, to bring them to conspire together in one, (without the great mira∣cle of GOD,) for the subuersion and ruine of that
Empire.* 1.7 I ouerpasse also the Heretikes that are a∣mong them, for that although they doe remaine in the Ottoman State, eyther as Reliques of their an∣cient Forefathers, or else of late retyred into diuerse partes of that Countrey, to liue the more licenti∣ously, or like the Sonnes of Sathan, to disperse their poyson euen among the Turkes: yet being so greatly abhorred of them,* 1.8 as disturbers of the pub∣like peace and tranquilitie (as Sultan Soliman wrote to the Queene Dowager of Transyluania.) They cannot bee permitted to make any great trayne, or worke any innouation among the people. I wil one∣ly speake of those Greekes, which serue best for this our purpose, not regarding them for this time tou∣ching their Religion, but considering them for so much as in policie may bee expected and hoped for at their handes, in this particular point of re∣bellion and insurrection.* 1.9 The Greekes without al doubt, are by a certaine pricke and eagre desire to dominere and rule, which they haue had by nature most desirous of Nouelties: and because the Turks doe so greatly tyrannize ouer them, they doe willingly and readily embrace any alteration or tumult, hoping by that onely meane to shake off the heauie yoke of their most miserable slaue∣rie. And this is chiefly and especially desired by the Greekes of Morea and of Thessalie, and by those rather which dwell towardes the sea, because for∣raine aides and helpes may more easily bee sup∣plyed to them, then to those that dwell within the land. But farre aboue all others, it is most desired by the Seruiani, being a Nation that inhabiteth
in the mountaines of Albania, euen to the Danow: a∣mong whom those that are in Dardania, and most neare vnto the saide Mountaines, are best able to make the greatest stirres. And they be the Piperi, the Cucci, the Clementi, the Bellopauligi, and others in the Countrey of Plaua, and among them there are ma∣ny Albanians that liue after the Romish rite. And these be they, that because they haue a strong site for dwelling, and are by nature verie fierce and hardie, haue not as yet suffered themselues to bee subdued by the Turkish forces. And therefore they did (at the last) attempt to withdraw themselues out of the Ottoman tyrannie.* 1.10 For hauing vnderstood that Ma∣hamet was discomfited and slaine in the battaile at Agria, they all arose in a tumult vnder the com∣maund of Gardan Vaiuode, and made a great slaugh∣ter of the Turkes that were in their Countrey: but when they were minded to passe further, they vn∣derstood the contrarie, and so in a discontented ma∣ner retired themselues into their mountaines.
And for as much as these poore miserable Greeks haue endured so seuere chastisement at the handes of the Turkish officers, that they remaine not onely most pitifully afraied, but also most grieuously op∣pressed, their chiefe heades and gouernours being cruelly put to death, their children taken from their parents, some killed and slaughtered, and almost all of them bereaued and spoyled of that little which they had, and brought to extreame miserie: a man may verie plainely and clearly see and know that to be most true,* 1.11 which is written by Iohn Botero in his Africa, and more at large by Antonio Bruni in his
treatise of the Beglerbey-ship of Graecia,* 1.12 that is to say, That it is not good to attempt such enterprises and insurrections, but with a strong resolution, and for∣ces sufficient to bring the intended purpose to passe. For otherwise they waken and arme the enemie, and serue to none other end, but to worke losse to the Authours of them, and to themselues that are in the action: and so much the rather because such re∣bellions (for the most part) are not throughly con∣sidered of,* 1.13 nor well aduised, nor raised in fit time & oportunitie. And that this is true, it may bee percei∣ued & known by that which the Turke did, whē he vnderstood that the Armadaes of the Portugals had oftentimes entered into the redde sea, and were there entertained by the Officers of Prestre-Ian, and that they also gaue ayde to the Portugals agaynst him. For thereupon he tooke away from Prete-Ian almost all the Prouince of Bernagasso, and made the Arabians to fortifie their hauens, which alwayes be∣fore were wont to be open and common.
Moreouer, the Chimeriotes, of whom I haue spo∣ken somewhat alreadie,* 1.14 hauing lately made a rebel∣lion, by some perswasions giuen vnto them (and spe∣cially by the meanes and helpe of Athanasius Bishop of Ocrida, who made them beleeue that hee had intelligence with the Emperour,* 1.15 and that he expec∣ted aydes from the king of Spaine) were enforced to reconcile themselues to the Turkes, as diuerse o∣ther times they had done before, with such conditi∣ons as were of great disaduantage vnto them: which likewise (to leaue now al older examples) happened in our dayes to the Ducati their neighbours, who
after they were well chastised by Pirri Bassa,* 1.16 then being the Sangiack of Deluino, and brought not to many mo then two hundred housholds, were trans∣ported to Neriho.
Lastly,* 1.17 the taking of Clissa (to leaue those of Co∣rone, of Castle Nuouo in the time of Charles the fift, and others) which fell out now last of all, hath not wrought that benefite and profite, which was high∣ly desired by the popes holy minde: and principal∣ly because the Murlacchi, by whom the imperialists did verily beleeue they shoulde haue beene ayded against the Turke,* 1.18 perceiuing so small a number of them to come, quite contrarie to their hope and ex∣pectation, because they would not make their estate worse with a greater affliction & punishment, came downe from the mountaines and fought on the Turkes side, who did helpe them to defeate Lenco∣uich, telling him plainly that they would be true and faithfull to the grand-Turke.
But returning to those peoples, that dwell in the Turkish Country,* 1.19 it remaineth now to speake of the Latines. Some of them dwell there as forreiners and straungers, and some make their continuall abode there. The forreiners attend and employ themselues vpon trades and trafficke, either by themselues, or by others for them: and little harme can they doe, hauing neither a Head or Captaine to guide them, nor weapons sufficient to fight withal, especially be∣ing in number so few, and dispersed scattringly here and there ouer all that state. Some there be that ma∣king these Latines to bee all one with other Christi∣ans, that are of a seuerall sect, do hold opinion, that
they which dwell in Constantinople, by conspiring to∣gither, vpon any occasion of some notable tumult and vprore raised by the Turks thēselues, may make some stirre not vnworthie of good consideration. For they do think, that the Latines being (indeed) of greater number in Constantinople, then in the other most populous Cities of that Empire, such as are Cairo, Aleppo, and Tauris, adding Pera therevnto, where all the Latines almost do remaine, those few Caffaluchi excepted,* 1.20 which keep in Constantinople after they were transported thither from Caffa by Mahamet, they may the more easily confederate themselues togither, and be prouided and furnished with armour, whereof the Turkes are wont most strictly to spoyle the Christians in other places, therby the more to strengthen and secure their own estates.* 1.21 And hereupon Amurath the last, hauing ac∣cused the Christians that they had set on fire certain streetes in Constantinople (euen like for all the worlde as Nero did, when hee accused the Christians that were in Rome in his time of the like crime) & therfore had giuen order, that the Iannizaries should hew them in peeces, he reuoked that commaundement, when he was aduertised by the Aga, that in regarde of their multitude it could not bee put in execution without great daunger: besides that it would breed an exceeding notable losse of his customs, and great∣ly disturbe the trafficke which would bee a thing a∣gainst reason, and the law of all nations: and there∣fore he caused diuerse Iewish women to be put to death, that had counsailed and aduised him there∣vnto.
Others are of opinion,* 1.22 that some persons might bee vsed without any suspition of the Turkes, who vnder the colour and by occasion of traffique, in the Ottomans Dominions, and speciallie in Constanti∣nople, might eyther by large bribes, or by soothing and fostering the ambition or discontentmentes of the chiefest great men, ouerthrow that Empire with a ciuill warre, and the rather for that their Prince is a man of small witte or forecast: as per∣aduenture it had fallen out, if wee Christians had furthered the discontentmentes and iealousies of Ferat,* 1.23 of Hibraim, of Pirri, and of Mustafa, and of Mahamet Bassa, and lastly of Sinan and of Ferat, and those iarres that are not yet appeased betweene Ci∣cala and Hibraim. And this matter might the more safely bee brought to passe, if any occasion should fall out, that diuerse Brethren should meete in pretense and challenge of the Empire, as it hap∣pened among the Children of Mahamet, of Baiazet, and of Soliman: or if the Empire should chance to want a Naturall Successor.
And forasmuch as the will of Man,* 1.24 may bee wonne and bowed two manner of wayes, that is to say, eyther by force or by reason: Some thinke that the Turkish State may bee ouerturned not on∣ly by such meanes as are aboue mentioned, but al∣so by discouering vnto the Turkes, and particu∣latly vnto the Ianizzaries, on the one side their birth and ofspring, and the Baptisme which they haue had, and on the other side the fables and mad fooleries of the Alcoran, which are verie learnedly declared by Cardinall Cusanus, and other writers
But the more auaileable course would bee,* 1.25 to make some easie and witty bookes of this matter in the Sclauoyne tongue, and in the Arabike, as in particu∣lar hath beene alreadie done by Iohn Andrea,* 1.26 som∣times a Moore, and Alfacqui, of the Cittie of Sciati∣ua: and the bookes of the one language to bee dis∣persed and scattered in Europe, and the other in A∣sia, causing them to passe from the Indies, to Mo∣zambique in Africa, and from thence to Zofala & Quiloa which are in Asia: Or to the Moluccoes, to Gouien, Goa, Diu, Ormuz and other places where the Turkish merchantes doe haunt and frequent: or els to Oran, to Arzide, and to other places subiect to the King of Spaine: or lastly thorough the Countryes of the Gentiles and Heathen, that are in amity and confederacie with the Christians, as Calicut, Zeilam, Cambaia and others, and ouer all the partes of Eu∣rope, that confine and border vppon the Turkes. which course in mine opinion, although it will not peraduenture worke that which such like bookes doe vsually worke among vs Christians, being sow∣en and scattered abroade for the most part by men, that are desirous of Nouelties, especially for that the Turkes are as farre from employing themselues in reading and studie, as wee are too much addicted thereunto, and curious therein: yet notwithstan∣ding, it may peraduenture one day worke some great good, if some Great man among them should become the Head of a new sect:* 1.27 for thereby it may easily come to passe, that hee should bee fol∣lowed by the multitude, as it hath happened in Germanie, in England, and in France, and oftentimes
among the Turkes themselues in Africa, where lear∣ning flourished for a long time,* 1.28 and in Persia among the Sophilarii, who are the followers of the Sect of Hali, one of the fower companions of the seducer Mahamet, which sect was afterward rather renew∣ed then inuented by Erdeuil, whome Paulus Ioui∣us calleth Arduel the Father of Ismael the Sophi.
And here I cannot but vpon this occasion re∣count vnto yon a matter most worthie to be recor∣ded in Historie,* 1.29 that happened in the life time of the last Emperour Amurath at Constantinople. And thus it was. That one of those youthes which are brought vp in the Royal Serraglio, hauing leasure & conueniencie to reade the Holy Bible, and there∣vpon by the mediation and working of the grace of God, being brought to the knowledge of his error wherein hee liued, caused himselfe to be carried in∣to the Presence of the Great Turke, and there with a Christian courage and boldnesse told him, That if he would preserue his soule from the eternall fire and damnation, hee must surcease from following that impious superstition of Mahamet, and humble himselfe vnder the obedience of the true law of Ie∣sus Christ the Sauiour and Redeemer of the whole world. But hee was for the same, as though he had committed a most heynous and grieuous offence, condemned publikely to bee spitted aliue vppon a stake, where hee iterated and repeated the same words to all the people, with such effectuall termes replenished and enflamed with the fiery spirite of the holy Ghost, that many of the beholders feeling themselues inwardly inkindled therewith, did burst
foorth in commiseration of his death, into verie disdainefull and despitefull speeches against Amu∣rath: and if the tumulte had not beene appeased at the first, by the Praetorian Bandes, certainelie there had followed thereupon a most daungerous and perilous sedition.
So that in truth,* 1.30 the Great Duke of Tuscane, deserueth exceeding prayse and commendation, for causing many good and godly workes to bee im∣printed in the Arabike Character or Letter, of purpose to disperse them afterwardes, as hee doth in Africa, and else where. A course out of all que∣stion, that although it was heretofore disturbed and hindered by the Siriffe of Africa, vpon the in∣sinuation of Antonio di Flores, a Neapolitane, yet one day perhappes may bee so happily promoted and furthered, as it will bring foorth that fruit which was affected & desired by Pope Gregorie the XIII. a man in that respect worthie of euerlasting memo∣rie, and is also at this time greatly endeauored by the Pope that now liueth.
But forasmuch as the greatest part of those Chri∣stians, which doe continuallie dwell and remayne within the Turkish dominions, are Albanois, I will somewhat insist vpon telling you somewhat of them.
The naturall Turkes.
Why the natu¦rall Turkes are disconten∣ted.
What the word Turke signifyeth.
The Rine∣gados.
The Christi∣ans called by the Turkes Ghiauri.
Georgians, Armenians, Aethiopians
Heretikes.
Sultan Soli∣man to the Widdowe Queene of Transyluania.
Greekes.
Rebellion of the Greekes in Plaua vnder Gardan Vai∣uode.
Iohn Botero Antonio Bruni.
Caution to be obserued in rebellion.
Why the Turk tooke Berne∣gasso from Prete Iani.
Rebellion of the Chimeri∣otres.
Athanasius B. of Ocrida.
Pirri Bassa.
The taking of Clissa.
Why the Mur¦lacchi went a∣gainst Lenco∣uich.
The Latines The forren Latines.
The Caffalu∣luchi.
Why Amu∣rath meant to put to death certaine Chri∣stians of Con∣stantinople, & yet did not.
The meanes to raise ciuill warres among the Turkes.
Iars betweene the Great men of Turkie.
That the Tur∣kish estate may be ouerturned rather by lear∣ning then by Force.
Iohn Andrea Alfacqui of Sciatiua.
Bookes to bee dispersed in Turkie, to ad∣uertise the Turks of their errors.
The Sophilarii.
Erdeuil.
A notable hy∣storie of the Confession & death of a youth of the Serraglio.
Commendati∣on of the D. of Florence for printing in the Arabike tong.