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ALl the Cypriots which remaine without the towns, are diuided into fiue diuers con∣ditions, that is to say, into Parices, Leissteres, Perpiaires, Albanois, and white Vene∣tians. The condition of the Parisians was the most miserable, for that they were entrea∣ted
like slaues: for in old time they paid a certaine summe vnto their maisters yerely, and [ A] did endure other troublesome charges; for they ought two daies journey weekely vnto their lords, and they gaue them the third part of all the fruits of the earth. These lords had all power ouer them; so as they might imprison them, banish them, beat, and tor∣ment them; yea they might doe any thing but kill them: for the king onely had that au∣thoritie: but it was lawful for them to sell them, and to exchange them; and the Parices might also redeeme themselues for sixtie crownes, or thereabouts: yet their lands remai∣ned Parices, that is to say, bound to their lords with the same condition. They that were infranchised after this manner, were called Leissteres, that is to say, free, and their chil∣dren were of the same condition that their fathers, except those that had beene begot∣ten [ B] before their infranchisement, for they were held for Parices. The Leissteres paid the fift or sixt part which they had gathered. Finally, they were forbidden to ioine in mar∣riage with the Parices, for that the children which were borne of such marriages were held for Parices.
The Perpiaires are some among the Parices which obtained libertie in the times of the kings of Cypres, with all their children and successors, vpon condition to pay yearely fif∣teene perpirs, which are certaine peeces of money of Constantinople: but their lands re∣mained subiect as before.
The Albanois are certaine people receiuing pay, being in former times brought into this Island to guard it, and these begot children in Cypres, who receiued pay as well as they that bare armes, vntill that the Island was taken by the Turkes. [ C]
The white Venetians are certaine inhabitants of the Island which were free, both they and their children, paying onely vnto the king, or to the commonweale of Venice a cer∣taine summe of money. This Island came to be subiect to the Venetians, in the yeare of Grace 1473, and remained in this estate vnto the yeare 1570, when it was taken by Soly∣man Emperor of the Turkes. Touching the Turkes gouernment, we will treat thereof in the generall discourse of his Empire.