The estates, empires, & principallities of the world Represented by ye description of countries, maners of inhabitants, riches of prouinces, forces, gouernment, religion; and the princes that haue gouerned in euery estate. With the begin[n]ing of all militarie and religious orders. Translated out of French by Edw: Grimstone, sargeant at armes.

The Estate of the Turke in Asia.

[ B] ❧THE COVNTRIES WHICH THE TVRKE HOLDS IN ASIA.

[ C] The Contents.

1 HAuing described all the prouinces and countries which the Turke holds in Europe and Africke, it is fit we should now see what he enioyeth in Asia, before we enter into a distinct discourse, which the Author hath made of the Turkes in general, describing their manners, riches, forces, gouernement, and religion. He begins his description with Asia the Lesse, which is at this day called Natolia, or High Turkie, the which containes many prouin∣ces; and he declares the bounds vnder what climat, in what paralell, and of what bredth the countrie is. 2. A particular description of the prouinces of High Turkie, and first of Pontus and By∣thinia, sometimes diuided, their bounds, and chiefe townes. 3 Asia, her bounds, and chiefe townes. 4. Phrygia, high and low, where are yet to be seene the ruines of the great citie of Troye. [ D] 5. Caria, Missia, Ionia, Dorida, Lydia, and Lycia; their limits and townes. 6. Galacia, or Gaule∣grecia, her bounds, and extent. 7. Pamphylia. 8. Capadocia. 9. Cilicia. 10. Base Armenia. 11. Turcomania. 12. Georgia. 13. Arabia, diuided into Desart and Stonie. 14. Arabia the Happie, her forme and chiefe townes, amongst the which is Mecca, whereas Mahomet was borne. 15. Idumea. 16. Syria, diuided into fiue prouinces, of the which the first is Palestina. 17. Meso∣potamia, or Diarbek. 18. The qualitie and bountie of the ayre and soyle of the said prouinces, and wherein they abound: first of all they are remarkable for the great and goodly riuers of Natolia: The woods of Bythinia fit for shipping: The Synnadike stone like vnto the Alablaster of Asia: The hot waters of Hyerapolis which turnes to stone: The Adamant stone of Caria: The Vermilion of Ionia: The golden sand of the riuers of Lydia, and the Saffron of Tmole. The three kinds of [ E] beasts of Mount Chymera in Lycia the top whereof is full of Lyons, the middest of Goats, and the lower part of Serpents. The Wines, Fruits, Mettalls, Siluer, Copper, Iron, Alume, Chrystall, Ia∣spis, Onix, Alablaster, Horses, and the Bees of Capadocia of two kinds. The Cedars of Mount Aman, and the forrest of Myrtle trees in Cilicia, with the Wolues called Squilaques: The Dates, Manna, Corrall, and the Amethist stone of Arabia the Stonie. The Palme trees, Nard, Cassia, Synamon, Myrrhe, and the Incense of Arabia the Happie. The Roses, Melons, Citrons, Oliue trees, Figges, Pomegranets, and vines carrying Grapes thrice a yeare in Palestina. The balme of Idumea. The Canes of Honie, and the sands of Belo, fit to make glasse in Phenicia. 19. The Nature, Manners, Customes, and Lawes of the auncient Arabians, Sabeans, Naba∣theans, Iewes, and Cappad••cians. 20. Description of the manner of liuing prescribed by [ F] Moyses vnto the Iewes, and their most remarkable lawes. Of the departure of the children of Israel out of Aegypt, and their passage into Indea, ill vnderstood by the Pagans. Of three kinds of Iewes Pharisies, Saduces, and Esseniens. 21. A relation of the manners, disposition, and kind of liuing of the Turkes, Arabians, Iewes, and other nations inhabiting the prouinces of Asia:

Their manner of habit, their meat, their armes, their lodging in Tents, vnder Palme trees, and [ A] in houses vnder ground 22. Their wealth, consisting in the traffique of Cotton, the Adamant stone, in mynes of Copper, Chamlets, Yron, Alume, Chrystall, Iospis the Onix stone, Alablaster; The tribute of Pilgrims to the Holie Sepulcher, and to Medina: Spices, pretious stones, pearles, and In••nse, 23. The number of the forts and places of most importance of all the prouinces of Asia subiect to the Turke. 24. Of what religion and sects they be, which inhabit these coun∣tries: and first of the Christians, Latins, and Greekes, diuided into many sects, that is to say, Melchites, Nestorians, Dioscoriens, Armeniens, Iacobites, Maronites, and Costes; Their be∣ginning, and their errours in the faith 25. A discourse of the Turkes in genera••l, contayning an ample relation of their manners, riches, forces, gouernement or policie, and religion. 26. The [ B] numbers of the Emperours of Constantinople, as well Chr••stians as Turkes, since that the empire of the West was diuided from that of the East, and giuen to Charlemaigne.

[ I] THe great Turke holds all the countrie which is betwixt the Euxin or Great Sea; the Aegean Sea, or Archipelagus, the Mediterranean Sea, Aegypt, the Arabian and Persian gulfes, the riuer of Tygris, the Ca••pian Sea, and the strait of land, or Istmus, which is be∣twixt the Caspian Sea, and the Eoxin. We will now begin with the Lesser Asia, the which we take here for all the C••ertonese, or Peninsula, betwixt the Euxin Sea, and that of Cilicia and Pam∣phylia, [ C] which extends towards the Archipelagus, and is at this day called Natolia, or high Turkie. It containes the prouinces of Pontus and Bythinia, the prouince particu∣larly called Asia, Lycia, Galacia, Pamphylia, Capadocia, Cilicia, and Base Armenia. It hath for confines or bounds vpon the East, the riuer of Euphrates, which is now called Apherat or Frat: vpon the South, it confines with the Mediterranean Sea, the which doth sometimes take the name of the Lycian Sea, sometimes of the Pamphylian, or sometimes of the Cilician or Caramanian, according to the countries by the which it passeth: vpon the Westerne part, the Archipelagus of Greece: and towards the North, the Euxin Sea. It containes a great tract of countrie, for that it lyes betwixt the six and thirtieth degree, and the one and twentieth, and the fiue and fortieth degree, that is to [ D] say, betwixt the middest of the fourth climat, and the eleuenth paralell, and the middest of the sixt climat, and the fifteenth paralell, whereas the change of the longest day is but of an houre: for the longest day of that part which approacheth neere vnto the South, is but of foureteene houres and a halfe, and the remote part towards the North, fifteene houres and a halfe. The bredth of this countrie (as Plinie writes) is about two hundred thousand paces, that is to say, from the Isfike Baye, or gulfe of Lajazze, vnto Trebisonda, which is in the countrie of Pontus. Wherein he agreeth with Herodotus, who saith, That the Istmus of Asia the Lesse, containes about fiue daies journey of a man that trauelleth well.

[ II] Pontus, and Bythinia, were in old time two prouinces diuided by the riuer of Sanger, [ E] which passeth through the middest, but they were afterwards reduced into one pro∣uince, the which is called at this day by the name of Bursia, as Giraua writes, or Becsangi∣al, according to Castaldus, and some others. This prouince is bounded vpon the West, by the mouth of Pontus, by the Bosphorus of Thrace, and by a part of the Propontides: vpon the North by a part of the Euxin Sea: on the South, by the prouince called parti∣cularly Asia, neere to the riuer of Rhindace: and on the East, Galacia, neere to Paphlago∣nia. In this prouince in old time were to be seene the famous townes of Chalcedonia, Nicomedia, Apamia, Prusia, Nicea, and Heraclea of Pontus. Chalcedonia, a colonie of them of Megara, hath beene famous by reason of the fourth Councell that was held there; but it is now ruined: yet some say, that it is standing right against Constantinople, [ F] and diuided by a part of the Bosphorus, for the space of seuen stades, and that it is now called Galata: others say, that at this day it hath the name of Scutare, the which is oppo∣sit to Constantinople.

[ A] Nycomedia is an auncient towne seated very pleasantly vpon a little hill, and hauing many springs of waters; so as many Turkes and Grecians inhabite there▪ although it be ruined. Prusia, at this day Bursia, or Burse, is a great town standing neere to Mount Olym∣pus. This was in former times the place where the Ottomans kept their court, before the taking of Constantinople. Nicea, now called Nichia, according vnto Niger, and Isnich as others affirme, was in old time the chiefe citie of Bithinia: it is seated nerre to the lake of Isnich.

The prouince called particularly Asia, now Sabrum, or Sarcum, hath for her bounds [ III] (according vnto Ptolome) vpon the West, a part of the Propontides, Hellespont, and the [ B] Archipelagus: vpon the South, the Rhodian sea, and a part of Lycia and Pamphylia: towards the East, Galicia: and vpon the North, Pontus and Bithinia, with a part of the Propontides. It comprehends the countries of Phrygia, Caria, the two Missias, Eolia, Ionia, Doryda, and Lydia.

Phrygia is diuided into high and low: the high lies towards the East, and base Phry∣gia vpon the West, and this is called Hellespontica, and Troada: Castaldus saith, that they nowcall it Sarcum. High Phrygia hath at this day, as in former times, more villages than towns. In it they reckon the town of Mydaia, sometimes the aboad of king Mydus neere to the riuer of Sangar. Appamia, called also in former times Sibotis, was the greatest towne in Phrygia.

[ C] Base Phrygia or Troada is right against Mount Athos. The citie of Troy stood in this countrie, where there is also to be seene Mount Ida, the which is now called Gargara. There are also the admirable ruines of the great citie of Troy, that is to say, the rui∣nous buildings of some towers, and the foundations of some walls. Without the circuit of the citie walls, vpon the high waies, there are to be seene very great sepul∣chers of marble the which are of one peece. ••here are also the ruines of two Castles built of marble, and great auncient Colosses lying vpon the ground, and about the walls, gates almost whole, according to the report of Belon, who saith also that the ri∣uers of Symois, Xante, and Scamandra are small brookes, which drie vp in Sommer, and haue no great store of water in Winter. The citie of Pergama was also in Troada, [ D] and was the chiefe of that prouince, and the countrie of the Physitian Galen. There they found out the vse of parchment. There remaines nothing at this day but certaine ruines; yet they do still call this place Pergama.

Caria, lying betwixt Ionia and Licia, had in former times for her chiefe citie Halicar∣nassa, [ V] at this day called Messi. Tabu is a very good towne of Caria. Neere vnto Halicar∣nassa, on the right hand, begins Mount Taurus. Some place Milet in this countrie; others attribut it to Ionia.

Missia is diuided by Ptolome into high and low. In old time there was a towne in this countrie, the which was called Lampsaca, and it is seated vpon the Hellespont right against Callipolis; butit hath been ruined, and the place where it stood is at this day cal∣led [ E] Aspico, as Niger writes, and according to Sophian, Lampsica. Abidos, now Aueo, was a colonie of the Milesians. There is the strait of Hellespont, being but seuen stades broad. This towne continues to this day, and is seated in the middest of a moore, and well forti∣fied, and her castle, with that of Seste, which is right against it are two keies of the Turks Empire: for from these two castles, they play with their canons vpon all ships that come into Hellespont, or attempt to go forth without the Turkes permission. There was also in former times to be seene the towne of Adramisium, a colonie of the Athenians, now called Landermitti. The riuer of Granica is in this countrie, the which Niger calls Las∣sara, whereas Alexander vanquished Darius Lieutenants.

The countrie of Eolia lies vpon the coast of the Aegean sea, and the maritime towns [ F] are Myrina, Cuma, now Castri, and Focea, hauing two ports, at this day called Foglia Vecchia, or the old Leafe, the which in former times was two miles and a halfe in circu∣it, as Tytus Liuius reports. Ionia hath in length in a straight line fortie miles, and two hun∣dred along the coast, whereas the towne of Ephesus stands, now called Figena or Fiena, according to Castaldus, but retaining the old names as Sophian writes. It is famous by rea∣son

of the Councel which was held there, and of the Temple of Diana, numbring among [ A] the seuen wonders of the world. Some place Miletum in this prouince.

Dorida runs into the sea like a point, and containes the towne of Guidos, famous by reason of Venus statue: the place where it was, is called Capo Chio, or Crio. Some do also put Hallicarnasse in this countrie, which is now called Mesi, as we haue said, ac∣cording vnto Sophian, and S. Peters castle, as Nyger and Vadianus writes. It was in this cit∣tie that Mausolus king of Caria did raigne, for whom Artemesia caused that stately tombe to be built.

Lydia was also called Meonia. The chiefe towne was Sardis, whereas Cressus made his aboad. It was ruined by an Earthquake, and built againe by Tyberius. Lycia was in old [ B] time called Milias, and Ogigia, as Stephanus writes. Gyraua affirmes, that at this day they haue giuen it the name of Brichia. And Castaldus ascribes vnto it that of Aldinelli: but Theuet saieth, that the Arabians call it Bensaacam: this prouince stretcheth to the sea which is called Lycian, by reason of the countrie; and it hath for bounds vpon the West and North, Caria; vpon the East, Pamphylia; and vpon the South, it is limited by the Lycian sea, about two hundred thousand paces of Nauigation. There were in former times sixtie townes, whereof there were six and thirtie standing in the time of S. Paul. The chiefe were Xanthe, Patara, Pinara, Olympe, Myrrha, and Lamyra: whereof the chiefe was Patara. There was also the towne of Telmesa, neere vnto a Cape or Promon∣torie of the same name. Auncient authors place here the mountaine of Chimera [ C] which burnes in the night. The chiefe towne at this day is Fisco, the which hath a very good port.

[ VI] Gallacia or Gallogrecia hauing taken that name from the Gaules, who mingled themselues with the people of Asia, in the time of Pyrrhus king of the Epyrotes, is at this day called Chiangara, according to Castaldus. It hath for bounds vpon the West By∣thinia and Phrygia: vpon the East, Capadocia: vpon the South, Pamphylia: and vpon the North, the Euxin sea, whereas the shore runs two hundred and fiftie thousand pa∣ces. The most famous towne is Ancyra, commonly called Angoure, famous by reason of the chamlets both watred and others which are made there. In this prouince is the countrie of Paphlagonia, whereas Synope is seated vpon a little hill of a Peninsula of [ D] the Euxin sea with a good port. There is also Amisis, a maritime towne, now called Sy∣miso.

[ VII] Pamphylia, which is called by Plinie Popsopia, carries at this day the name of Seti∣lia, as Gyrana, and some others affirme. Theuet saith that the Arabians do call it, Zina; but Belon assures that they haue giuen to this prouince, and to Cilicia, the name of Ca∣ramania, whereas the Turke hath seuen Sangiacs remaining. It is frontired vpon the East by Cilicia, and a part of Capadocia: vpon the West, by Lycia, and a part of the prouince of Asia: vpon the North, Gallacia: and to the South, the sea of Pamphylia, which is alwaies raging. The coast is about one hundred and fiftie thousand paces. Her townes are Perga, which is in the middest of the countrie vpon the riuer of Cataracte, [ E] then Syda, and Aetalia, maritime townes. Aetalia which is the chiefe of the countrie, doth now beare the name of Satalia, and is the greatest and strongest of all the townes of that countrie, and communicats her name vnto the gulfe which is neere vnto it.

[ VIII] Capadocia, or Leucositia, according vnto Strabo, and some others (now Almasia, or Amasia, as Castaldus affirmes, and Genech, according vnto Theuet, otherwise it is called Toccatu Allelujen, as Spinet reports) extends vnto the Euxin sea: and it is boun∣ded in vpon the West by Paphlagonia, a part of Pamphylia, and Gallacia: vpon the South, by a part of Cilicia: vpon the East, by the Antitaurus, a great mountaine neere to base Armenia, by the mountaine of Moschia, and a part of the riuer of Euphrates: and on the North by the Euxin sea. Her riuers are Halis, now called Ottomagiuch, somtimes the li∣mit [ F] of the realms of Cressus: then Iris, now called Casalmach, & Thermodon, now Por∣mon. Her best townes are Trebyzonde, called Machomach by the Barbarians, sometimes the seat of an Empire. Some make Amasia the chiefe of Paphlagonia; but Ptolome & many others teach that it belongs to this prouince. This towne retains the name vnto this day,

[ A] and imparts it vnto the neighbour countrie. It is seated in a deepe valley vpon the riuer of Gazalmach. This was Strabos countrie, and at this day the Turke hath a Beglia••bey remaining there, who is called the B••gliarbey of Amasia and Cappadocia. Some put the towne of Iconium in Cilicia; but (according to Ptoleme) it belongs to this countrie, and is called Conia, or Cogna, it stands neere vnto certaine high mountaines, and is wa∣tered by diuers small riuers which flow from them. Her forme is round, and the wals are ancient, and her Towers square. There are eight gates, and a good number of faire Mos∣ques and Stoues.

Cilicia, which Iosephus cals Tarses, is by the Hebrews tearmed Chalah. Niger holds, that [ IX] [ B] at this day it is called Turcomania, and Finichia: but they which giue it the name of Ca∣ramania, are to be followed; for Turcomania is no other thing but high Armenia.

Caramania, who doth also comprehend some part of other prouinces, besides Sili∣cia, and especially Pamphylia: it hath for bounds vpon the West, Pamphylia; vpon the North, Mount Taurus; vpon the East, Mount Aman, vulgarly called Monte Negro, or the Blacke mountaine; and vpon the South, the Sea of Cilicia, being about three hun∣dred thousand paces sayling. The chiefe towne was Hama, or Hamla, in old time Tar∣ses, scituated in a goodly valley, and watered by the riuer of Cydne. There is also the towne of Adena, called by Ptolome, Adana, the which is great, but lies open, and hath a castle with foure square Towers. Belon saith, that in Cilicia, there is a towne called He∣raclea, the which is verie great, scituated neere to Mount Taurus in a goody plaine, and [ C] some three daies journey from Adena, bending towards the North and West.

Base Armenia carries the same name at this day, as Niger writes: but Giraua giues it [ X] that of Anadule; Castaldus, Pegian, and some others call it Geneh. In the Booke of No∣tices, it hath the name of Perme. Her bounds are vpon the East, the riuer of Euphrates, by the which it is diuided from Turcomania, or high Armenia; vpon the West, Cappa∣docia; vpon the Southerne part, Cilicia, beyond Mount Taurus, and a part of Syria to Mount Aman; and vpon the North part, Pontus, at which place they say it ends with an angle, which the riuer of Euphrates and Antitaurus make; but the Turke is not abso∣lute maister.

To end the description of that which the Turke holds in Asia, let vs now come to a [ D] part of high Armenia, comprehended vnder the name of Turcomania, which doth also embrace Georgia. This prouince confines vpon the North with Colchida, called at this day Mingrelia; vpon the West, with Euphrates, and Base Armenia; vpon the East, with the rest of high Armenia, which is in Georgia; and vpon the South, with Me∣sopotamia, now Diarbec, and with the nation of the Curdes. Her mountaines are Peri∣andra, now Chielder; Antitaurus, at this day called the Blacke mountaine, and some others. The chiefe towne of the coutrie, is Esechia, which some hold to be that which re∣maines of Artaxata. Neere vnto high Armenia, lies the countrie of Curdistan, according to the Persians and Turkes, but the Armenians call it Keldan. Castaldus giues it the name [ E] of Gorden, and puts it in the prouince of high Armenia.

Georgia, otherwise called Gurgestan, comprehends the auncient Iberia, with a part of [ XII] high Armenia, and it may be of Atroparia. Vpon the West, this prouince joynes with Mingrelia, or Colchida; towards the North, lies Zemrie, in old time Albania; vpon the East, the middle Atropatia, now called Seruan; and vpon the South, that part of high Armenia which is called Seruan. These people haue alwaies maintayned their libertie vnto our time, joyning sometimes with the Persians, and sometimes with the Turkes, and there haue beene many Lords of the countrie: but it is now for the most part vnder the Turkes dominion, who hath many good townes, and strong places, as Testa, Lori, Clis∣que, Gori, and Toman.

[] All Arabia taken together is a verie great and spacious prouince, the which is shut vp betwixt two gulfes in the forme of a Peninsula. These gulfes are the one of Arabia, [ XIII] otherwise called the Red sea, vpon the West; and the other the Persian gulfe, vpon the East: vpon the South it hath the Ocean; and vpon the North part, Syria, and the famous riuer of Euphrates. This Peninsula of Arabia is diuided into three parts, that is to say,

into the Desart, the Stonie, and the Happie. [ A]

Arabia the Desart, called Aspre by Aristides, Base by Seruius, and Hollow and Deepe by Lucian, is called by the Hebrews, Cedar. The bounds are vpon the East, the mountains of Babylon, and a part of the Persian gulfe; vpon the North, Mesopotamia, neere to the riuer of Euphrates; vpon the West, Syria, and Arabia the Stonie; and vpon the South, the Happie mountaines.

Arabia Petrea, or the Stonie, joynes to Syria vpon the West and North; and confines with the Desart vpon the East; and vpon the South, it borders with Arabia the Happie. Plinie, Strabo, and Ptolome, call it Nabathea; Tyrius giues it the name of the Second, and some others call it Base Arabia. But it hath the name of Petrea, of the towne Petra, [ B] which is the chiefe of that prouince. This prouince is at this day called Barra, as Ziglerus writes; Bangaucal, according to Castaldus, and Battha Calha. Mount Sinay, so famous in the Holie Scripture, whereas the law was giuen vnto Moyses, is in this countrie. This mountaine is verie high and troublesome to ascend, and therefore they haue cut staires in the rocke, to the end that Camells and other beasts might passe more easily. In this mountaine there is a Conuent of Christian Monkes, called Maronites, which liue after the Grecian manner: they are fiftie in number, and receiue Christian Pilgrimes which go thither for deuotion. There is also in this countrie, another famous mountaine called Oreb, and now Orel, the which is not so high as that of Sinay. These two mountaines are by Ptolome called Melanes. The chiefe towne of the countrie was called Petra, w••ich [ C] the Scripture calls Petra of the Desart, whereas the waies are verie bad to go in. Many hold, that it is the same that Mecca, the place whereas Mahomet was borne: the which is not probable, but it seemes rather to be that which the Maps call Petra of Est. And moreouer, they hold that Mecca is in Arabia the Happie.

[ XIIII] Arabia the Happie joynes to the other two in forme of a Peninsula, betwixt the Ara∣bian and Persian gulfes; and the nauigation about this countrie is neere three thousand fiue hundred and foure miles. Solynus and some others call it Happie; and Virgil, Pan∣chaia, but at this present it carries the name of Yaman, or Gyamen. The chiefe townes are Medina Tanalbi, Mecca, Ziden, Zibi, and Aden; besides others which are not come to our knowledge. [ D]

Medina Tanalbi, that is to say, the Citie of the Prophet, is scituated neere to Arabia Petrea, and it is well peopled. Mahomets coffin is there, neere vnto which there are con∣tinually about three thousand lampes burning. Mecca, in the which Mahomet was borne, is not farre from the auncient Petra; yet it is not the same, but it may rather be the towne of Mechara, mentioned by Ptolome. This place is reasonably pleasant, but restrained be∣twixt mountaines and desarts, and without any walls, hauing in it neere six thousand fa∣milies. There come yearely three Carauannes, which part from Caire, Damas, and the Indies, and go to Mecca for deuotion, in honour of Mahomet who was borne there, then they go to a place called Medina, whereas (they say) the coffin of this false Prophet remaines. [ E]

Ziden is a Sea towne, fortie miles distant from Mecca. It hath no walls, but the houses are reasonable faire. Zebeth, or Zibit, is a good towne, and the chiefe of that part of Arabia. It stands in a plaine, betwixt two mountaines, and vpon a riuer of the same name, halfe a dayes journey from the Red Sea. It was taken after Aden by the Turke, who sent a Begliarbey thither with great forces.

Aden is a royall towne, seated vpon the borders of the Red Sea, neere vnto the strait of Babel Mandel: it is the fairest towne of Arabia, and not onely strong by scituation, but also by art; where there are two Bostians, a good fort, and a port well defended. It con∣taines about six thousand housholds, and is well peopled. The Turkes tooke this towne and the whole realme by policie, in the yeare of our Lord God 1538, and they lost their [ F] king.

At this present time they haue a Begliarbey there, with good troupes of souldiers for the warre.

[ XV] Leauing Arabia, they entred into Idumea, which begins at the lake of Sirbon, and

[ A] extends towards the East vnto India. This prouince containes Gaza, a most auncient towne betwixt the which and Caire, stands Cattia, then Ostrasina, Rhinocoruta, A••ca∣lon, and Azot.

Syria, which is a very great prouince betwixt the riuer of Euphrates, Sil••cia, Arabia, and the Mediterranean sea, begins in the two and thirtieth degr••••e, and e••ds in the six and thirtieth. It is diuided into fiue prouinces, which be Palestina, Phenicia, Celosyria, Suria, and Comagena: Palestina, which lies betwixt the Mediterranean sea and Arabia, is diuided into two parts by the riuer of Iordan. The Tribe of Ruben, and halfe the Tribe of Manasses dwelt beyond this riuer, and the others on this side. This latter is subdiui∣ded [ B] into three parts, whereof the one is properly called Iudea, the other Samaria, and the third Galile. Iudea lies betwixt the dead sea and the Mediterranean; Ierusalem is the chiefe citie. In this countrie Ierico stands in a pleasant valley, about thirtie miles long, and fifteene broad. Samaria tooke her name of the chiefe towne which is at this day cal∣led Naplos. Galile is diuided into base and high: the base begins at the sea of Tiberia∣des, being fiue miles broad, and twelue long, Nazareth standeth almost in the Center: the other begins at the lake of Samaconites, and extends vnto mount Lybanus. In aunci∣ent time there was not any prouince proportionably so well peopled as Palestina: for being not aboue one hundred and sixtie miles long, and sixtie broad, (considering that the bounds of her length were Dan and Bersabe)in the muster which Dauid caused to be [ C] made, they found a million and three hundred thousand men fit to beare armes, besides the Tribe of Beniamin: but now she is stript of all her ornaments, except the beautie and bountie of the soi••e.

Ierusal••m, at the siege of which there died aboue a million of persons, and one hun∣dred thousand taken prisoners, hath not at this day aboue fiue thousand inhabitants, and if the holinesse of the pla••e did not continually draw a great number of Christians thi∣ther, this towne would be of no fame. This prouince is crost by the riuer of Iordan, which rising at the foot of Mount Lybanus, from two fountaines, whereof, the one is called Ior, and the other Dan, passeth by two lakes, whereof the first is that of Gallile, and the other of Tyberiades, the which is the greater: finally, it falls into the dead sea, [ D] called by the Grecians the lake of Alphaltites.

Phenicia lies all vpon the sea right against Iudea. Her chiefe townes were Tyre and Sydon, at this day Sait and Sur. Tyre was an Island, but so neere vnto the firme land, as Alexander filled vp the sea with earth whenas he besieged the towne. The Prophet Eze∣chiell speakes much of her greatnesse, wealth, and state. Sydon was in a manner equall to Tyre in beautie and power. Both were famous by reason of the dying of purple, which the Poets do sometimes call Tyrien, sometimes Sydonien. There are ••••arce any remain∣ders to be seene at this day, no more than of Ioppa, or of Acre.

Suria extends from Tyre vnto the gulfe of Lajazze, in which tract are contained the townes of ••arut, Tripoli, and To••••o••a, where of Barut and Tripol are places of great [ E] trafficke, and in the middest of the countrie, Damas and Laodicia. Damas is a goodly towne seated in a great valley: the houses are fairer within than without: the streets are narrow and crooked; but that which makes it pleasant, is the aboundance of water which passeth by their houses, and waters their gardens at pleasure. There is an excellent castle built by a Florentine Mammelu, who grew very rich, and was gouernour of this towne, which is the chiefe of this prouince.

Celosyria, is properly the countrie betwixt Lybanon, and Antilybanon, from whence springs the riuer of Orontes now called Farfara, vpon the bankes whereof stands the fa∣mous citie of Antioche, which is now a sepulcher of it selfe, and a heape of ruines, ra∣ther than any other thing. But the walls are yet standing, the which are very faire, and so [ F] built as three men may march about in front. There are a good number of towers, and a castle built vpon the side of a hill Moreouer there is to be seene the house whereas S. Pe∣ter kept, with a little place where he baptised many. At the mouth of the riuer of Oron∣tes stands Seleucia Pieria, at this day Soldin.

Camogena is that part of Syria, which followes the course of the riuer of Euphra∣tes,

vnto the frontires of Armenia. Aleppo is the chiefe towne, and holds the third place [ A] among all the townes of the great Turkes Empire. It is built vpon the riuer of Singa, and hath a channell of water vnder ground, from whence flow many fountaines, both publicke and priuat. It imbraceth foure hills, vpon the one of which stands a very strong castle: her suburbes are great; but there is no other building of importance, but the Mosquees or Temples, and the store-houses for merchant strangers. We may easily con∣iecture of the great multitudes of people that are in it, for that in the yeare 1565 there died in that towne and suburbes aboue one hundred and twentie thousand persons in three moneths.

[ XVII] The Turke did also possesse a part of Media, and the chiefe citie Taurus: but some are [ B] of opinion, that the Sophi hath recouered of late yeares the greatest part: moreouer he holds in a manner all Mesopotamia and Diarbecke; and he is maister of a part of Assyria, whereas the citie of Babylon stood, which was built by Semiramis, and he also is maister of Chaldea, which is a portion of Assyria, in which is the towne of Bagdet or Bagade•• built vpon the ruines of Babylon, by a Calife of the Mahometans. Some confound it auncient Babylon, and maintaine that it is the same. He hath Balze••e yet in his power, whereas he maintaines a great garrison, and hath alwaies certaine gallies readie to make head against the Portugal.

But for that we haue made a description of all these countries, discoursing of the estates of the kings of Persia, and that the Sophy doth dayly win something from the Turke, [ C] and recouer his Estate by little and little; so as we cannot speake certainly of the lords of many of these countries, which change their maisters dayly; so as that which to day be∣longs vnto one, may to morrow be conquered by another. I will therefore passe them ouer with silence, and speake of the qualitie of those prouinces which we haue des∣cribed.

¶ The Qualitie.

[ XVIII] NAtolia doth enioy a sweet and temperat aire, and her fields did yeeld aboundance of graine, with store of good pastures for the feeding of cattell; and to be short, her [ D] inhabitants had all and more than was sufficient for the vse of man. But now this coun∣trie is not so fertile, nor so well manured: yet in those places which are neere vnto the sea it is more fertile; and as the land is better husbandred, so it yeelds more aboundantly. The places which are within the heart of the countrie are for the most part great plains, whereas they sow wheat, barley, and cotton. It is watered by many riuers, whereof the principall are, Iris, Halis, Parthenius, now Dolap, and Sangar, which discharge them∣selues into the Euxin sea, then Ascagne, now Isnic, and Phyndace, at this day called Sin∣di, which fall into the Propontides. Moreouer Scamandores, at this present called Symo∣res, which runs into Hellespont, and after it Caique, or Giruasti, Hermes, or Sarabat, Caistre, which C••staldus calls Chaici, and Ortelius Chias, and the riuer Meander, which [ E] hath six hundred turnings, and is called Madres. All which riuers pay their tribute to the Archipelagus. There is also the riuer of Melas, now called Genssui, which runs into Euphrates, besides many others which discharge their waters into the Mediterran••an sea.

Bythinia yeelds much corne, and doth furnish the great Turkes court with meale, espe∣cially that which is neere vnto Bursa. This countrie doth so abound in wood and timber for the making of ships, as it seemes gallies fal readie made into that sea, they are so soone finished. Neere vnto Nicea they find good store of Orpiment or Arcenick.

The particular prouince of Asia was in old time famous for the Sinnadicke stone, like in a manner to Alablaster, the which they carried to Rome to make pillars. [ F]

In Troada the countrie neere vnto Troy is very leane and barren, and withall it wants water: ••ut the soile neere vnto Pergama is very good and fruitfull. There are also quar∣ries of stone, whereas in former times they haue found men which had hidden them∣selues during the warres, conuerted into stone. Strabo writes, that neere to Hierapolis,

[ A] there are hot waters which are easily conuerted into a kind of brittle stone: And there are other waters so fit for the dying of wooll, as those dyes which are made with hearbes and roots, yeeld vnto it.

As for Caria, in former times they haue much esteemed the soyle neere vnto Magne∣sia, for that it did beare aboundance of wheat, and neere vnto this citie they doe also find the Adamant stone, called by the Latines, Magnes. There are also mountaines in Cu∣ria, whereas they digge a kind of white stone for building, the which shines much. This prouince hath beene in former times much shaken with earthquakes.

Touching Missia, some hold that the vines which are in the territorie of Aspic, or Lamp∣sic, [ B] yeeld aboundance of graines. In Ionia, they made Vermilion, of a kind of earth which they boyled, and in some places they gathered excellent wines.

Lydia had in former times many riuers which fall from Mount Tmolus, which carried gold among the sand, and it did also yeeld siluer; and moreouer, the countrie was verie fertile, and well manured. The mountaine of Tmolus hath beene much esteemed for the fertilitie thereof: And among other things, there are great store of vines, and aboundance of Saffron.

Lycia is verie rough and troublesome by reason of Mount Taurus, which hath his be∣ginning there. The top of Mount Chimera, was in old time full of Lyons, the middest with goats, by reason of the good pastures, and the foot with Serpents. This was the [ C] cause which made ••oets to faine a beast called Chimera, the which had the head and brest of a Lyon, the bellie of a Goat, and the taile of a Dragon. Earthquakes haue done much harme in this countrie. In Pamphylia, and also in Cilicia, the Goats haue their haire verie soft and delicat, so as it is nothing inferiour to silke in softnesse; and moreouer, it hath this propertie, that it is as white as snow.

Cappadocia abounds with all sorts of graine, wines, fruit, and also with Siluer, Cop∣per, Yron, Alume, Chrystall, Iaspis, Onix, and Allablaster, which is not verie saire: And this countrie doth breed great store of horses. The••e are others which say that this coun∣trie is rough, and defectiue of many things necessarie for the life of man. Plinie writes, that neere vnto the riuer of Thermodon, there are two kinds of Bees, whereof the one [ D] make their honie in trees, and the other vnder ground. The tops of Mount Argea are couered with snow, as well in Sommer as in Winter. The soyle neere to Amasia, or Ga∣zalmac, is wast and desart, and yet verie fit for the breeding of cattle. Neere vnto Co∣nia, there growes great plentie of vines, which yeeld as good wine as any place whatso∣euer.

Cilicia is diuided into two: one part is called Rough, which lyes towards the West; and the other, Champian or Plaine, vpon the East. This hath goodly riuers, yeelds store of fruit, and all kind of commodities, and doth feed great numbers of horses. The grea∣test part of Cilicia is reasonably well manured, by reason of the commoditie of riuers wherewith it is watered: yet the soyle is full of clay, and wants wood, so as they are faine [ E] to fetch it from the mountaines, the which are aboue two daies journey from it, namely from that of Aman, where there growes verie high Cedars, Iuniper, and diuers other plants. There are many places in Cilicia, which are verie pleasant, being euer full of greene trees: but there are some places which are wild and barren, which are of a great extent, and not held by any; so as they may feed their swine there, of which they haue great troupes, as also of goats, whereof the inhabitants make great store of butter and cheese. Their goats haire is also verie soft, and as delicat as silke. There are whole for∣rests of myrtle trees, which beare a whitefruit, and in like manner of Turpentine trees, and pyne trees. The riuers of this countrie, are Pirama, now Malmistra, which arising out of the middest of a plaine sarre beyond Mount Taurus, makes a noyse like to thunder, the [ F] which is heard farre off: And the riuer of Sidne, which flowing from Autitaurus, is cold, swift, and verie cleere: Plinie hath written that the water is good to cure the gout. They find also little Wolues there, which go in troupes, the which the Grecians doe vulgarly call Squilaques, the which are so theeuish as they feare not to go in the night to them that sleepe, and to steale from them whatsoeuer they find, as caps, shooes, and such like.

Belon saith, That neere to Heraclea, there is a goodly plaine, which beares all kind of 〈◊〉〈◊〉 [ A] trees, and that they bread great numbers of horses.

High Armenia is full of mountaines and hills, yet there are vallies which yeel•• great store of fruit. Some hold that this countrie is verie fertile, and abouns in cattle; but it is verie subject to snow, the which lyes sometimes verie deepe. Georgia hath many moun∣taines and forrests; by reason whereof it is in a manner inaccessible for any enemie: yet it is fertile, and hath some plaines, and pleasant vallies, watered by diuers riuers, whereof the principall are Cyre, and Araxis.

Arabia the Desart, hath great Wildernesses, and yet there are many bouroughs and inhabitants, especially neere to the riuer of Euphrates, and the mountaines of Arabia the [ B] Happie; the other part towards the West, is full of land. Arabia Petrea, or the Stonie, is held by the Ancients to be altogether barren; yet that which lies neere to Syria, yeelds more than the rest. It is verie desart, and wants many things necessarie for the life of man: but the chiefe defect is wood and fresh water. There grow Palme trees which beare dates that are great, reddish, and tender, but they are not ve••ie moist. Manna falls in like manner there, and vpon the coast there growes corrall which is reasonably faire, but hollow within. They doe also find the Amethyste stone in this countrie.

Arabia the Happie is better manured and tilled than the two other, and is watered by many riuers, whereof some make lakes. It beares barley, and other graine, honie, vax, and diuers fruits, as Apples, Peares, Citrons, and such like: and here they sow twice, as at [ C] the Indies. Moreouer, this countrie yeelds Palme trees, Nard, Cassia Synamon, Myrthe, and many odoriferous hearbes, with aboundance of Incense. They also find some met∣talls, and diuers stones, and neere vnto the shore they fish out goodly Pearles. This coun∣trie doth breed verie good horses, and sheepe whose tailes doe sometimes weigh twentie pound. But to speake particularly, the soyle neere vnto Medina is barren, and yeelds little, as also that aboue Mecca, whereas they find little water.

Palestina is verie pleasant, diuersified with hills and goodly plaines, and watered with many riuers. It raines often, and therefore the land is verie fruitfull; for it yeelds aboun∣dance of wheat, and other graines, and fruits. The Roses haue an excellent smell, and there growes store of Rue, Fennell, Sage, and other good hearbes. There are also many [ D] Oliue trees, Figge trees, and Pomegranets, and great numbers of Palme trees and vines: for although they prohibit the Turkes to vse wine, yet there is good store in this pro∣uince, and they make their vintage thrice a yeare. It is true, that this countrie yeelds no Apples, Peares, Cherries, Nuts, and other fruits, which we haue commonly in these parts, but they bring them from Damas. In this prouince there is a certaine fruit which they keepe all the yeare vpon the tree, like vnto great Citrons or Apples of Paradice. Moreo∣uer, there are excellent good Melons and Cowcumber••, and such other like fruits. It did also yeeld balme, which it wants at this day; but it hath honie, and some wild Canes of Sugar.

There is store of Goats, Hares, Partridges, Quailes, and such like: but although I haue [ E] noted it to be fertile, yet there are some places which are in a manner desart, by reason of the great numbers of Rats and Mice which are there; so as if certaine fowles did not de∣uoure them, the inhabitants of the countrie should not be able to sow any thing that should yeeld encrease. Along the bankes of Iordan there grow many willowes, bushes, and sundrie sorts of Canes.

The lake of Samachonita is most commonly drie in the Sommer time, in the which there growes little trees and shrubs, whereas Lyons and other beasts hid themselues. The plaines neere adjacent vnto the lake of Genezareth, are desart, by reason of a tree full of thornes, which grow there in such exceeding aboundance, as they cannot sow any thing to prosper. [ F]

The Dead Sea, which is fiue dayes journey long from North to South, & fiue leagues broad from East to West, and as some write, seuentie miles long, and nineteene broad, casts forth a great fume, and such fogges, as it makes all the land barren halfe a league about. This sea hath no fish, neither are there any sowle seene neere vnto it, and

[ A] if they cast any beast into it, it neuer sinkes, but driues vnto the shore, although the fee•• bbound.

Galilee is naturally fertile, and yeelds all sortsof trees, and is very well manured; yet the base countrie which lies beyond Iordan is in some places stonie and desart.

Samaria is part hillie and part plaine. The countrie is pleasant, fertile, and abounds with fountaines and fresh waters. There are many gardens, and places full of oliue trees, and all other things necessarie for the life of man. The hills ne••re to Naplos are couered with fruit trees, and the oliue trees are exceeding big, as Belon writes.

As for Iudea, the countrie which is neere to Ierusalem is well manured, and beares store [ B] of apples, almonds, figgs, and oliues. The hillie places are replenished with fruit trees, and aromaticall wild hearbs, and where there are any rockes, they make steps with great care and industrie; so as they plant vines, and other fruit trees, as oliues, figs, and orange trees, which beare aboundance of fruit.

Neere vnto the towne of Rama, the soile is good, but there are few inhabitants, by reason wherof the fields are not wel ti••led, and the Grecians which liue there sow wheat, barley, and some pulses, but there are few vines. The soile which is neere to the towne of Gaza is fertile, and abounds with oliue trees figgs, oranges, and vines. there grow also some palme trees, but the dates doe seldome ripen, for that the countrie is somewhat cold.

[ C] Idumea is exceeding fertile in those places which lie neere vnto the sea, and to Iudea; but barren vpon the frontires of Arabia, where there are many mountains: there growe many palme trees, and in former times they found balme there. They that haue written, say that strangers cannot liue there, by reason of the desarts, and for want of water: yet there are fountaines, but they are hidden, and none but the inhabitants of the countrie know them.

The soile of Phenicia neere vnto Sydon is fertile, and brings forth plentie of canes of honie. That about Acon, or Ptolomaida is also fruitfull, where they haue good pastures, store of vines, and many orchards, whereas they gather diuers fruits. The riuer of Belo, which passeth neere vnto this towne, is famous by reason of the sand which they vse for [ D] the making of glasse.

The countrie about Emissa or Haman, hath plentie of waters, and yeelds all things ne∣cessarie for the life of man, being full of fruit trees.

¶ The Manners of the auncient.

THe Arabians made no esteeme of arts & sciences. They suffered their haire to grow; [ XIX] and as for their beards, some did shaue them very neere, and others not at all. He that was the most auncient among them had power ouer all the rest. They possest all things in common by families, and they enioied their women in common; so as the first of them [ E] that entred into the house and had left his staffe at the dore, enioied the common woman first: and as for the night she spent it with the most auncient. In this sort they all held themselues br••thren, and had the companie of their mothers and sisters, so bruitish they were.

Adulterie among them was punished with death, and he was held an adulterer which enioied a woman that was not his kinswoman. All that were borne in the familie were held for lawfull husbands. They had no care of dead bodies: and as for their d••ce••••ed kings, they sent them to be bur••ed in a dunghill. They kept their promise and f••ith very strictly; and when they would promise any thing vpon their faith, a third person inter∣posed himselfe betwixt the two which contracted, and stroke the palme or his hand, to [ F] the which he drew the longest fingers of the contractors, and hauing taken a 〈◊〉〈◊〉 of the haire of either of their garments, he dipt it in the bloud of the palme of his hand, and cast it vpon ••euen stones prepared fi••st to that end in the m••ddest of both parties, and in doing so he called vpon the God Denis ••nd Vrania: this done the mediator cau•••••• one of one of them to promise, that he was bound by the accord to appea••e before a 〈◊〉〈◊〉

Iudge which he named vnto him, whether that he which was bound were of the coun∣trie [ A] or a stranger: and this was found an honest course, and was obserued among them which contracted any new friendship or alliance. The sinamon was gathered by the priests of their law, who before sacrificed certaine beasts, and they made this collection betwixt Sunne and Sunne. He that had most authoritie among them diuided the heaps of sinamon with a hatche••, and they first reserued a bundle in honour of the Sunne: they held an opinion, that if it were equally diuided, it would take fire by the heat of the Sunne beames, and burne of it selfe.

There were some amongst the Arabians called Ophiophages, for that they liued onely of se••••ents. Some there were that vsed camells, as well to fight on, as to beare [ B] their burdens, and they liued of nothing but milke and flesh. There were others called D••••••s, who applied themselues to manure and till the land. It is said of them, that they found among the clods of earth peeces of gold, round and big as a nut, and that they did se•• pretious stones in them, and made Carcanets, which they did hang about their armes and necks. They sold their gold to strangers, and to neighbour nations, and gaue three pounds for one of copper, and two of siluer for one of any other mettall.

Among the Sabians it did belong onely to the king to judge of controuersies. Their kings were chosen by the fauour of the people, who gaue this honour to them that were of some noble familie, out of which they found that some kings had beene formerly cho∣sen. These kings did confidently beleeue that if they had gone out of their royall pallace, [ C] they should haue beene stoned, and therefore they neuer went out of the gate. They had beds and great chaires, whose feet were of massie siluer, and the rest of their furni∣ture was exceeding sumptuous. It was also said of them, that they had beene alwaies free from desire to take from another man by force and rapine.

The Gareenesw, ho were other Arabians, had all their furnitures of gold and siluer, and the entries of their houses, the walls, and couerings were of Iuorie. The Nabatheans were not so stately as the rest. He among them that had diminished his estate was noted with infamie. The Panchaiens vsed chariots in warre, and they diuided their realme into three parts: in the first ranke they put the priests of their law: in the second, the labou∣rers, and men of trauell: and in the third, the souldiers, among whom were comprehen∣ded [ D] the sheepheards. The priests decided all controuersies, as well those that concerned priuat men, as the affaires of the commonweale, vnlesse there were question to condemne any one to death.

The labourers hauing gathered in the fruits of the earth, laid them in common, and they that were found the best laborers, were deputed to the number of ten at the request of the rest, and by the resolution of the priests, to distribute the fruits to euery one.

The labourers were bound to vse diligence to bring in publicke those things which concerned the sacrifices, and other things which were distributed particularly by number and weight, and they had nothing priuat to themselues, but their houses and gardens. As for tributes and other things all was deliuered vnto the priests, who destributed equal∣ly [ E] to euery man according to his necessitie; and as for themselues they tooke a double share, with the consent of the two other estates. They vsed goodlie apparell, for that their woolls were much finer than any other. Both men and women did indifferently vse guil∣dings, and they did weare chaines about their neckes, and bracelets on their armes, and rings of gold at their eares, after the Persian manner, and they ware coloured shooes of a strange fashion.

They suffered their souldiers to defend the countrie. Their priests liued in great plea∣sure, yet chastly. They did vse long albes of very fine linnen, and some did weare gownes of exceeding fine wooll. Their head were couered with myters made of goldsmiths work, & they vsed all ornaments of gold like to women, except their eare rings. They did [ F] chiefely intend the seruice of their gods, whose deeds the yrecited in musicke in hymnse.

They bragged that they were descended from Iupiter, saying that he came into their countrie, whenas conuersing amongst men, he gouerned the Empire of the world.

It was not lawfull to transport their gold, siluer, or other mettalls out of the countrie,

[ A] no more than for their priests to go out of the temples and sacred places, so that he that was found in any other place, might lawfully be slaine, and the murtherer was not to be blamed. They did curiously keepe those presents which had beene in old time giuen vnto their temples. The seat whereon the image of their god stood, was six cubits long, and foure broad, and it was all of pure gold verie curiously wrought. All the land round about the temple within two hundred stades, was reputed holie, and the reuenue which grew thereby was applied to the seruice of their gods.

The Iewes which did sometimes inhabit Iudea, Samaria, Galile, and some other coun∣tries, receiued precepts for their course of liuing from Moyses, to whom God prescribed [ B] what his people should doe. I should be ouer teadious if I would make a repetition of all their lawes; wherefore I will only set downe the most remarkable, referring the Rea∣der, touching the rest, to that which the holie Scripture, and Iosephus hath written.

First of all, he ordained, That children in their youth should be instructed in the law, as in that which contained all good precepts and instructions: That he which blasphemed the name of God, should be hanged, and left vnburied: That nothing that had been got∣ten by fornication, should be offered in the temple. He instituted in euerie towne seuen men, excellent in justice and wisdome, to whom he gaue authoritie to judge of all contro∣uersies, calling two Leuites vnto them, and if there were any great difficultie, he would haue it decided by the chiefe priest of the law. He would not haue credit giuen to one [ C] witnesse alone, but ordained there should be two at the least, & those without reproach. He would not haue a woman admitted for a witnesse, no more than a man of seruile con∣dition. It was forbidden to gather the fruit of any tree but foure yeres after it had beene planted, and Moyses commaunded that they should then begin to pay the tyth. He would haue them distribute some part of the fruits gathered (the tyth being paied) vnto their neerest kinsfolkes, and to straungers that were their guests, and that the rest should be his that had planted or sowen it. He did forbid them to hinder passengers, to enter into ano∣ther mans ground, to gather the fruits, where of they had need for their present necessitie. He did forbid them to marrie those maids who had publiquely exposed themselues, or such as had beene formerly married. He ordained, That an vnchast maid, which had beene [ D] taken in marriage for a virgin, should be stoned, or burnt aliue. If any one had the com∣panie of a maiden which was betrothed to another, & that the fault was committed with both their consents, they were both put to death, and if the maiden were forced, he that had done the violence suffered the punishment. She that had been left a widow without children, the brother of her deceased husband was to marrie her, to the end he might con∣tinue the race: the which if he did refuse, he was bound to shew good reasons for his re∣fusall before Iudges appointed to that end, who finding his causes just, did suffer him to marrie elswhere. Mourning for the dead, might not exceed thirtie daies. The son which spake injurious words to his father or mother, was hanged without the towne. It was ena∣cted, That the enemies which should be staine in battaile, should be interred. A creditor [ E] might not keepe a poore debtors pawne aboue a day, and if the debtor was not able to sa∣tisfie, he was bound to serue his creditor vntil the debt was paid. If any one bought a slaue of his owne nation, he was to free him within six yeres. He that found any gold or siluer, was to crie it publiquely. Whosoeuer found any stray beast, was bound to carrie it backe to the troupe, or to keepe it vntil the owner came to fetch it. Who so was conuicted to haue offered poyson to any one, was forced to take it himselfe. He that had caused ano∣ther to loose an eye, had one of his owne put out. If a bull had beene the cause of the death of any man, it was beaten downe with stones, and none might eat of the flesh. The sonne should not suffer in his bodie or goods for his fathers offence, nor contrariwise. M••yses did also ordaine, That things taken by force from his people by forraine nations, or by any of the same nation, should first be demaunded by Heraulds, and in case of refus••ll, they [ F] should denounce war. If they were to besiege an enemie, it was not lawfull to touch any fruit trees. All rebells were to be punished with death, and those enemies which did yeeld themselues voluntarily, should be tributaries. In time of warre it was not lawfull for wo∣men to manage armes which men did vse. It was forbidden to eat the flesh of any beasts.

Lepers, and such as had an issue of bloud, were expelled out of townes. They in whose [ A] house any one was dead, were to absent themselues out of the towne seuen dayes. No woman which had beene deliuered of a male child, might enter into the Temple, vntill fortie daies after her deliuerie, and she that had brought forth a female, was to forbeare eightie daies. He that had distrusted the chastitie of his wife, was to offer a cake of barley flowre in the temple, and then present her at the doores of the temple; whereas the priest examineth her vpon her oath, If she had been chast? and after the oath taken, if she had forsworne her selfe, she presently had a dislocation, or an vnknitting of her huckle bone, with a purrifaction of her bellie, and this miserable woman died in this sort: If she had li∣ued chastly, she was deliuered of the fruit of her wombe within ten moneths, without any [ B] paine and then the priest did wipe out her name which was written in parchment, and and gaue her drinke. All adulterers, incestuous persons, and Sodomites, were punished with death. Priests which had not their members whole and sound, were forbidden to ap∣proach neere vnto the Altar, and yet they were to be nourished of that which was offered in the temple. All lands held by the Iewes, was to lie still euerie seuen yeares. All land which bare fruit of it selfe, was common once in fiftie yeares, as well to them of the coun∣trie, as to strangers; and this was called the yeare of Iubile. Creditors were then to giue a longer time vnto their debtors, or to acquit them of a part. Slaues were to be set at li∣bertie, and lands sold at an vnder rate, were restored to them that sold them.

The Israelites aboue all other people haue bin verie religious, and giuen to ceremonies. [ C] In the beginning they vsed two kinds of sacrifices, whereof the first was called Holocau∣stum, and was made by the richer sort, wherein the beast that was sacrificed might not be aboue a yeare old. The priests did sprinkle the corner of the Altar with the bloud of the beast sacrificed, and afterwards cut it in peeces, and burnt it vpon the Altar. The people of meaner condition, did sacrifice beasts of more age, and hauing poured the bloud vpon the Altar, they put the reynes, the fat, and bowels, into the fire; the priests had the right thighs, and the rest was to be eaten by them that made the sacrifice within two daies af∣ter. They that were poorer, were bound to offer a paire of Pigeons, or two Turtle doues, whereof the one was sacrificed, and the other belonged vnto the priest. He that commit∣ted any crime by mischance, was to offer a sheepe of a yeare old, or a goat. He that felt [ D] himselfe guiltie of any secret crime, was to sacrifice a sheep. The priests entertained them∣selues in the temple with the flesh of all these beasts. We must obserue, that in sacrifices, both publique and priuat, they vsed a measure of flowre to the sacrifice of a lambe; to a rambe, a double measure; and to that of a bull, three measures. They had also a custome to sprinkle their sacrifices with oyle. They sacrificed a lambe euerie day, once in the mor∣ning, and once at night. On the Sabbath day, they made a double sacrifice. The first day of euerie moneth, they did sacrifice two oxen, and seuen lambes, a ram, and a goat, to pourge sins. Also, they added two goats, whereof the one was put out of the temple, and serued for the sins of the people; the other was carried into the suburbs, and burnt. In March, & in the beginning of their yeare, whenas the Moone was full, and the Sun past by the signe of [ E] Aries, they made the sacrifice of the Paschallambe, for that they came out of Aegypt at the same time. They did obserue certaine daies of the Azimes, or vnleauened bread, and du∣ring euery one of these daies, they burnt in their sacrifices, two buls, a ram, & seuen lambs, with a goat. The second kind of sacrifice of the Azimes, was at the first comming of new fruits, and corne, which they presented in the temple, with a certaine measure of oyle, and a lambe for a Holocaust. Much more may be spoken of this subject, but it would require a whole volume: wherefore it shall suffice to haue touched the principall points.

Sacred and prophane Authours agree not touching the Iewes: for Cornelius Tacitus (who refers not the going of the children of Israell out of Aegypt, and their passage to Iu∣dea to the will of God) writes, That there happened a kind of scabbe at that time in [ F] Aegypt, the which was verie troublesome: so as king Bochoris was forced to demaund a remedie of Iupiter Hammon; to whom the oracle made answer, That he must pourge his realme of the Iewes, who were vnpleasing vnto the gods, and send them to liue in some other place: the which he did, and in the end an infinit companie of people infected

[ A] with this scabbe, being drawn together in one place, one amonst them called Moyses, pre∣uailed so with them, as he persuaded them not to beleeue either in God or man, but in him onely, and in this sort they tooke the first way which fortune offered them, and went by hazard; that during their trauell, they had no trouble, but onely thirst, wherewith they had perished, if they had not discouered a troupe of wild asses, the which hauing fed, drew towards a rocke, couered with a forrest that was round about it, where hauing found water, they receiued from Moyses ceremonies quite contrarie to those of other men. He saith also, that in the holiest places of their Temple, they did set vp the image of an affe, by the which they had found the place where they quencht their thirst, and had [ B] beene set in a good way to come into the countrie, where since they made their aboad, and that they sacrificed a ram to mocke at Iupiter Hammon, and an oxe in contempt of the Aegyptians, who worshipped this beast vnder the name of the god Apis. He saith more∣ouer, that the Iewes abstain from eating of swines flesh, to auoid scabs and leprosie, wher∣unto this beast is subiect, and that they forbeare all worke vpon the seuenth day, for that they were at rest vpon that day, and for the same reason they passe the seuenth yere with∣out doing any thing, and that some affirme it was in honour of Saturne, by reason of the hunger which they had endured. According to the same author, they did neuer banquet one with another: they lodged apart, and were enclined to whoredome. They first thing they, did was to contemne the gods. They were of opinion, that those which died in bat∣taile, [ C] or for any crime were eternal, and that all should go to heauen to or hell, according to the good or euill, which they had done.

There were three sects among the Iewes, who had a different kind of liuing from the common sort. The first was of Pharasies, the second of Saduces, and the third of Esseni∣ens. The Pharisies led an austere life in shew, interpreting the law of Moyses according to their owne will. They carried papers vpon their foreheads and left armes, wherein the ten commaundements of the law were written. These papers were called Phylacteries. They also ware greater imbroderies vpon their gownes, and they sowed thorns in them, to the end their pricking might put them in mind of the commaundements of the law. They did attribute all things to God, and predestination. It is true, they confesse that [ D] the inclination of man did helpe them to do or contemne things that were just; yet that in all things man was led by destinie, the which they say did consist in the motion of the coelestiall bodies. They did neuer contradict the opinion of their auncients and mai∣sters. They did attend the judgement of God at the end of the world, and they did hold that the soules of men were incorruptible, and that onely the soules of such as liued wel, passed from one bodie into another, vntill the day of the resurrection, and that these of the wicked were sent into perpetuall prison. The Saduces denied this destinie, saying that God knew all things, but it was in the disposition of man to do good or euill. As for the dead, they were of opinion, that after this life they felt neither ioy nor torment. They de∣nied the resurrection of the dead, belieuing that the soule perished with the bodie, nei∣ther [ E] did they thinke that there were any Angells. They receiued onely the fiue bookes of Moyses. They were very seuere, and did conferre little among themselues. The Esse∣niens liued altogether like vnto Monkes, and they did abstaine from marriage, and from the companie of women, not in detestation of marriage, or for any desire they had that mankind should perish, but onely for feare of the lightnesse and incontinencie of women, whom they hold to be faithlesse and vnconstant to their husbands. They∣brought all their goods in common, and held it a dishonour to vse ointments and stones; and contrariwise, they held it for an honorable thing to be carelesse of their persons, and that it was sufficient to haue their white gownes. They did not speake of any worldly thing before the rising of the Sunne, but they prayed vnto God that the Sunne might [ F] rise, and then euery man set his hand to some worke, vntill fiue of the clocke, when∣as they washt their bodies in water, and tooke their refection with great silence. It was held vnlawfull amongst them to sweare, and they did account it as great and grieuous a sinne, as to foresweare themselues. They did not receiue any into their sect, before he had been a probationer for the space of a yere, and hauing receiued him, they made two

yeares triall to know his manners: if they found him in sinne, they chased him from [ A] their companie, and enioined him to eat nothing but hearbes, and to doe that penance vnto the last moment of his life. When ten of them were sitting together, not any one of them durst speake any thing without the consent of the other nine. They did for∣beare to spit before them, or on the right hand; and they did obserue the Sabbath so strictly, as they durst not do their necessarie businesse, and whenas they did them, they carried with them a stake, with the which they made a hole in the ground, to the in∣tent that they might hide it; so much they feared to do any thing that might be in con∣tempt of the diuine light. They liued long, by reason of their simple and and spare diet, eating for the most part nothing but the fruit of palme trees. They vsed no gold nor [ B] siluer in coine: and they held him most happie that died for the zeale of justice. They said, that although the soules were created from the beginning, yet euery one tooke his bodie in a certaine time, and that those which went out of the bodies in an estate of ••ountie and innocencie, went to liue beyond the Ocean, in a certaine place whereas they enioied all pleasures; whereas on the other side, those which left the bodies in a bad estate, went into places that were inhabitable by reason of the extremitie of cold. Some amongst them did foretell things to come: and some also did marrie, but they had the companie of their wiues seldome: and they said, that they tooke wiues least they should be an example to other men to suffer all the world to perish, if they should haue alto∣gether abstained.

They of Cappadocia were of that disposition, as they could not liue without kings, [ C] and they say, that in old time they were very wicked. It is said that the Amazons did liue in this countrie neere vnto the riuer of Thermodon. In Dorida, Ionia, and Eolia, there haue beene very rare and excellent men, who haue written better than any other of Greece. The Phrygians were the first that inuented Southsayings, the flute, and the instrument of three strings. In Lycia, the towne of Telmese was famous by reason of Southsayings, and the interpretation of dreames. The Cicilians haue beene held great 〈◊〉〈◊〉. The Pheniciens inuented letters and nauigation, and had more comerce with fo••ai••e nations than any other people. The Idumeans were in old time barbarous, mu∣tinous and seditious, and loued innouations. [ D]

[ XXI] ¶ The Manners at this day.

IN Natolia, the middle part of the countrie is inhabited by people which are of base condition. The naturall Turkes which do remaine in all this countrie are more simple and rude than any other neither are they so cruell, as they which haue left the Chri∣stian religion. There is not any nobilitie by race, but they are all equall, and are held by the Turkes in manner of slaues. The contrie men are altogether idle and slouthfull, taking little paines to till and manure the ground, especially, they which are of the richer sort; and if their slaues did not the labour, the land would be soone desart and [ E] wast. Cappadocia is inhabited by Grecians, Turkes, Iewes, Arabians, and Arme∣nians. There are few people that remaine in Cilicia, and such as doe inhabite in that countrie, as Belon reporteth, are neither giuen to the taking of fish, nor to make voiages by sea, and they leaue their land ill husbandred and manured, although it be very good, and ••••th many riuers to water it. In Idumea, the inhabitants of Catia vse pigeons to send aduice to Caire of that which passeth. They tie letters vnder their wings, and they neuer stay vntill they come to the pigeon house of the castle, whereas they find their companions. It is six daies journey from one place vnto another, and by desart countries.

Palestina hath inhabitants in a manner of all nations, as of Arabians, Turkes, Iewes, Grecians, Syrians, Armenians, Georgians, Nubiens, Abissines, Indians, [ F] Aegyptians, and some of other nations. Galile is inhabited for the most part by Ara∣bians, who are little and small of stature, and they carrie a long doliman or coat, which h••ng•• downe to the calfe of the leg, being made of goats haire, white and blacke. They weare vpon it a gowne longer than the doliman, with sleeues which be long and wide,

[ A] they haue blacke caps, and pointed. In their warres, they vse bowes, swords, and dag∣gers.

As for Iudea, there are many people of all nations which go to I••rusalem, and which dwell there, and whosoeuer will enter into the Holie Sepulchre, must pay nine crownes. Pilgrimes which come thither are receiued according to the religion whereof they make profession. The Latins are entertained by the religious of the order of S. Francis, who liue without the towne vpon Mount Syon; the Grecians are receiued by the Caloyers which liue within the citie, neere to the Holie Sepulchre, and the rest, as Abissins, Geor∣gians, Armenians, Nestorians, Maronites, and others, lodge with them of their sect, [ B] whereof euerie one hath a particular chappell. The religious of the order of S. Francis, who are for the most part Italians, haue beene accustomed to create knights of the Holie Sepulchre, and their great maisters giue patents to Pilgrimes, which are sent thither to certifie that they haue beene there. Neere vnto Rama, there are none but Greekes, Turkes, and Arabians, who are verie carefull to manure and trim their vines. The Idume∣ans are in a manner like to the Arabians, their neighbours, in behauiour.

The Arabians are swart, wittie, subtile, superstitious, giuen to traffique, desirous of re∣uenge and troubles, louing innouations, and the change of affaires. They are all in a manner theeues, and doe much annoy trauellers. They haue more subtiltie and industrie than force; they fight without order, and trusting in their numbers, they charge their ene∣mies [ C] on euerie side, vntill they haue put them to rout. Whenas their enemies assaile them, they are as soone disperst, and doe sometime flie verie sodenly. They are wonderfully giuen to w••men, and marrie many, suffering not any one to go abroad but with their face couered. Many of them liue vnder Palme trees, and in rockes, or in houses which are vnder ground. They go halfe naked, and weare cloakes and wide breeches. Their armes are a bow and arrowes, with long darts. They that trauell through Arabia the Desart, gouerne themselues by the stars, by reason of the sands, and it is not safe trauelling these, vnlesse one be well accompanied, in regard of the Arabian theeues, and withall, he must carrie victualls with him for many dayes. The inhabitants of Arabia Petrea, liue for the most part of Dates, the which is the best and the most wholesome meat they haue. Vpon [ D] the shore of the Red Sea, they doe salt and drie great store of fish in the Sunne, the which keepes long. In Arabia the Happie, there are many which applie themselues only to the keeping of cattle, and others giue themselues to the trade of merchandise.

Those that are right Arabians, lodge vnder Tents, and they that liue in townes are cal∣led Moores, they liue most commonly of cakes roasted vpon the embers. Oyle is one of their greatest delights. Their treasure consists in camells, in some horses, and in their armes, which they leaue for an inheritance. They neuer shooe their horses, and vse verie light saddles. They haue a great conceit of their nobilitie.

The inhabitants of Turcomania are great theeues, who draw their beginning from the Tattarians, and spend their liues vnder Tents, keeping their flockes: yet there are some borne in the countrie which giue themselues to tillage, and to mechannique arts. There [ E] is good repestrie, and chamlet, both watered and plaine, made there.

The Curdes vse the like manners. The Georgians are many in number, and exceeding valiant, especially they that liue in the mountaines. They are verie strong, and haue main∣tained their libertie vnto our daies among the Mahometans, but they haue beene forced in the end to yeeld vnto the Turkes.

¶ The Riches.

THe principall reuenue of Natolia, consists in Cotton, which grows there abundant∣ly. [ XXII] [ F] Bythinia hath Opiment, which it imparts vnto other nations. Caria makes a good reuenue of the Adarnant stone which it sends forth. Galatia hath mines of copper, which yeelds them great profit yearely. The Pamphylians make great sums of money of their chamlets, which are the best that can be seene. The Capadocians are inricht by their sil∣uer, yron, alume, chrystall, jaspis, onix stone, and alablaster. The Cilicians make great

store of Chamlets of Goats haire, for the which they receiue much money from straun∣gers. [ A] They of Iudea reape much profit by Pilgrimes which go euerie yeare to the Holie Supulchre. Phenicia is a countrie of great traffique, and much frequented: but Arabia the Happie exceeds them all in merchandise, and is exceeding rich, by reason of the spi∣ces, pretious stones, and pea••les, which the inhabitants sell to Merchant strangers which trade there: Among other things, it yeelds Incense sufficient for all the rest of the world. Mecca is a place of great traffique, whether many merchants come from Aethiopia, the Indies, and many other places: It is much inricht euerie yeare by reason of the Pilgrima∣ges, as in li••e 〈◊〉〈◊〉 Medina. As for Aden it is a place of more traffique than any other, and exceeding rich, by reason of the aboundance of commodities which are brought [ B] thither from the Indies, Aethiopia, and Persia, the which arefetcht from thence, and sold by the Merchants at a deare rate; for those people are verie wittie in matters of traf∣fique.

¶ The Forces.

[ XXIII] FIrst of all, the towne of Bu••sia in Bythinia, whereas the Turkish emperours in former times made the•• residence, is reasonably well fortified. In Caramania stands the towne of Laranda, whose fort is much esteemed, as well for the scituation, as for the workeman∣ship and structure. Amasia is in Paphlagonia, where there is a strong castle built vpon [ C] a hill, where the Turke entertaines a good garrison. The citie of Trebisonde in Cappa∣docia is not contemned, for that it is a place of good importance, and well fortified since the Turke held it. In the countrie of Ayaman in Arabia, there are three great townes which are exceeding strong, that is, Manta, Nazua, and Bala, with a great number of good castles. A den is strong, and hath good bastions, with an exceeding strong castle. The port is well fortified; and the Turke entertaines a great garrison there. He hath also a Bassa at Zibit, with some thousands of souldiers.

As for Syria, the castle of Damas is exceeding good, and that of Antioch is not to be contemned. In Comagena, the towne of Aleppo is of great importance, and the castle buil•• on the side of a hill, makes it more strong. The rest that is to be seene in all these [ D] ••ountries is of no great note or reckoning: and moreouer, I should be verie indiscreet to spend more time about it, seeing I haue a dessigne to discourse in generall of the Turkes forces.

¶ The Religion.

[ XXIIII] BEsides the Mahometans which remaine in all these countries whereof we haue made mention, there are many others of diuers religions and sects, whereof we will here make some mention, yet leauing that which we haue formerly spoken of: first of all there are Iewes which are dispersed ouer all these countries; and as for Christians, there are [ E] some which obey the Church of Rome, and others which liue diuided. As for the first, besides the merchants of Venice, Ragouse, France, and other places, which traffique in great numbers to Tripoli, Damas, Aleppo, and to some other townes of Asia and Surya, and are assisted in spirituall things by the religious of the order of S. Francis, which dwell in Hierusalem, and at Bethelem, they find few that liue among the Armenians after the manner of the Latine Church. Alangiacana is a castle, two daies journey from Tauris, the which hath fiue and twentie villages vnder her jurisdiction, that acknowledge the Ro∣mish Church, although they speake the Armenian tongue.

The inhabitants of these places were conuerted by father Bartholomew of Bolonia, of the order of S. Dominick, who was made Bishop of Armenia, in the yeare of our Lord [ F] God 1337, vnder Pope Iohn the twelfth. At that time (as we haue said) there were fiue 〈◊〉〈◊〉 ••wentie villages; but at this day there are but twelue that persist in the obedience of the C••u••ch of Rome, and of the other thirteene. Some haue submitted themselues to the Patriarch of High Armenia, and the others haue beene ruined during the wars which

[ A] the Turkes haue had against the Persians: and these twelue villages of the Latins make about one thousand and two hundred families. They are assisted in spirituall matters by the religious of Saint Dominicke, vnder an Archbishop of the same order, who is made by their Chapter, and by the chiefe of the villages, and then confirmed by the Pope.

It is not long since that the Latins had Churches at Bursia and Trebysonde: but for want of priests, the Churches, and Latin ceremonies haue beene lost: so as the religion of the Armenians, or that of the Grecians hath succeeded them.

Let vs now come to the other Christians, which are diuided into three sects, that is to [ B] say, into Melchites, Nestorians and Dioscoriens. The Melchites haue drawne this name from Melech, which is to say, king or prince, for that those haue followed (as well in the faith, as in Councells) the example of the Emperors of Constantinople, and of this sect, are all they which in Asia hold the religion of the Grecians, vnder the Patri∣arches of Constatinople, Alexandria, Antioch, and Ierusalem, whereof he of Anti∣och remaines not at Antioch, but at Damas. These foure patriarches are chosen by the Bishops of the countrie, and now they seeke no confirmation from the Pope, as they did in former times; but they demaund libertie to make their election from the Turks Bassa, and confirmation from the Turke himselfe, and they exercise their jurisdiction vnder this authoritie which is giuen them. The patriarches chuse and consecrate the Archbi∣shops [ C] and Bishops which were subiect vnto them. It is true that some haue recourse vnto the Pope to receiue confirmation from him. All these Patriarches, Melchites, and their Archbishops and Bishops are Monkes of S. Basil, of which order there are ma∣ny conuents through out all the Leuant: but the most famous are those of S. Sabe in Ie∣rusalem, of S. Katherine vpon Mount Sinay, and of the holie mountaine vpon the Archi∣pelagus. These Melchites retaine all the errors which were in old time condemned by the Grecians at the Councell of Florence, and it is thought their are more of this sect in the East, than of all the rest; for all Natolia is full, and in like manner Suria, and it ex∣tends into Aegypt, and beyond it into Corazzan, a prouince of Persia. They do also put the Georgians among the Melchites, who acknowledge vnder, one Metropolitan, the [ D] authoritie of the Patriarch of Constantinople. These call vpon S. George, as their Aduo∣cate. There are some among them which haue made themselues Mahometans.

There are also Nestorians in this part which we haue described, of whose errors we haue spoken in the discourse of the Sophies Estate. These Nestorians speake the Chaldean, Arabian, and the Turkish tongues, with that of Curdestan, according to the places wher∣as they liue; but they celebrat diuine seruice in the Chaldean tongue.

Moreouer there are Dioscoriens, which are diuided into three sects, that is to say, Ar∣meni••ns, Iacobites, and Costes. The Armeniens giue the title of Patriarch to many of their Prelats, made partly by the Turkes fauour, (for these farme the impositions and tri∣butes which the Armenian houses pay vnto the Turke) and are chosen by Coadiutors [ E] of the said patriarch, with the consent of the Bishops or people. But they giue not the title of vniuersall Patriarch but to two, where of the one is established ouer high Arme∣nia, and the other ouer the lower. The first remaines in the monasterie of Ecmeazin, neere vnto the towne of Eruan in Persia, and the latter in the towne of Sis in Caramania, neere vnto Tarsis. This sect of Armenians is not much lesse than that of the Melchites: for the townes and prouinces of the two Armenias, of Cilicia, Bythinia, Surya, and Mesopotamia, are full of them; yea there are good numbers in Persia. Moreouer there are an infinit number of Armenians in all the townes of the Ottomans Empire, where there is any trafficke, as at Bursia, Angora, Trebisonde, Alexandria, Caire, Constan∣tinople, and Caffa. The reasons why they haue so great libertie in all the Turkes Estate, is [ F] (besides that they are wittie and politike in trade) in regard of certaine testimonies of af∣fection, which their predecessors gaue to Mahomet, who did recommend them passionat∣ly to his successors; so as they haue enioied great priuiledges, by meanes whereof, they trafficke freely with the Mahometans. The Armenians dwell at Sis in Ad, at Matas, and thereabouts, at Tharsis, at Lajazze in Aleppo, and at D••randa. There are about twen∣tie

thousand families of them. They haue eighteene monasteries, and foure and twentie [ A] Bishops.

There is to be seene at Sis, the palace, and ruines of the king of Armenias castle, with two Churches which are neere vnto it, the one of S. Sauiours, which was the kings, and the other of S. Sophia, which did belong vnto the patriarch. They haue no other ima∣ges but crosses of brasse and yron, yet they haue diuers relickes in shrines of siluer. The patriarch was woon•• to take a maidin, which is the value of a pennie, of euery houshould: but the Turke hath taken this right from him; so as he now liues of offerings and almes: and to maintaine himselfe more easie, he doth visit the prouince continually, and enter∣taines 〈◊〉〈◊〉 familie with amerciaments which he imposeth vpon them that offend. The [ B] Armenians say seruice in their owne language, although they speake many others, and 〈…〉〈…〉 so vse the Turkish tongue at Constantionople, as they can scarce say the Pater 〈◊〉〈◊〉 in the Armenian.

Th••y haue many errours which are common to them and to the Dioscoriens; but those which they haue particular to themselues, are, that they consecrat with pure wine: they eat figgs and milke, on the Saturday at night before Easter, and flesh euery Friday, from Easter vnto the Ascension. They celebrat the Annunciation of the Virgin the sixth of Aprill, and the Natiuitie of our Lord, the sixth of Ianuarie, the Purification, the four∣teenth of Februarie. They assure that Iesus Christ was exempt from passions, and the necessities of humane nature. They abstaine during fiue Saturdaies of the yeare to kill [ C] any flesh, and to buy any, in remembrance of the time when the Idolaters tooke their children, and sacrificed them to Idolls. In their Masse for the dead they blesse a lambe, and putting it vnder the priests gowne, they giue it hallowed salt to eat, and then they carrie it about the Church before they kill it, the Masse being done they eat it. By reason of these things, some call them Sabbatins, and Iulianists, and adicted to the ceremonies of the Iewes, and the heresie of Iulian the Apostat. Yet they thinke themselues to be confor∣mable to the Roman Church, for that they alone, of all the Easterne sectaries, celebrat the sacrament with vnleauened bread: and whereas they put no water in their wine, they say that the Latin Church vsed it in old time. They also make the signe of the Crosse with two fingers, and not with one like vnto the Iacobites; and they make it first on the [ D] right side, and then on the left, contrarie to the Iacobites. They remember their first vni∣on with the Church of Rome, in the time of Pope Siluester, and of the Emperour Con∣stantin.

To come vnto the Iacobites, you must vnderstand that Dioscores and Eutyches dissenting from the Councell of Chalcedonia, had followers who diuided themselues, as Leoncius writes, into twelue sects, among which, was that of the Iacobites, so called of one Iacob a Syrian, who liued in the time of Pelagius the second, and of the Emperour Mauricius. They comprehended vnder this name a part of the Chaldeans, which dwel in the towns and villages of Mesopotamia, Babylon, and Suria, to the number of one hundred and sixtie thousand families, or thereabouts, and the principall are in Aleppo, at Caramit, and [ E] in Tur, a mountaine of Mesopotamia.

They were in former times subiect to two Patriarches, whereof the one remained in the foresaid mountaine of Tur, and the other in the monasterie of Gifran, neere to the towne of Mordin, which stands vpon so high a mountaine, as they that liue there (as the Turkes say) neuer see any birds flying ouer their heads. But at this day, the Iacobites haue but one Patriarch, which is he of Gifran, who for his greater commoditie liues at Caramit. This Patriarch hath vnder him a Metropolitan in Ierusalem, and another at Musali, and Archbishops at Damas, Or••e, Saur, Caramit, and in Cypres; and he hath other Archbishops in the aforesaid prouinces, with many monasteries of religious men of the order of S. Antonie. [ F]

The Iacobites celebrat in the Chaldean tongue, and speake Arabian, Turkish, and Ar∣menian. Besides their errors common with the Armenians, they haue others. They make the signe of the Crosse with the singer next vnto their thumbs, to signifie an vnitie of na∣ture of will, and of operation in Iesus Christ. They eat (contrarie to the rule and general

[ A] custome of the Christians of the East) milke and flesh on Wednesday, and Friday at night after Sunne let, saying, That when the day is ended, the terme of abstinence is past, and that the Thursday and Saturday are begun, and so they eat flesh all the yeare long but in Lent. Some Arabians, which remaine in the same villages and places where the Iacobites liue, haue vnited themselues vnto them, and are called by the name of Xemsi∣nir, that is to say, Solaires, for that among their other superstitions, they worship and adore the Sun.

Some thinke that the Maronits are a branch of the Iacobites: for these two sects were in old time subject to the Patriarch of Antioch, the which is now in the hands of the Mel∣chites, [ B] and remaines at Damas: both vse the Chaldean tongue, and the same Syrian cha∣racters. They had the same errours touching the vnitie, will, and operation of Iesus▪ Christ: Both pretend the Patriarchship of Antioch, so as the Patriarchs of the Iacobites, leauing their proper name, take that of Ignatius, and they of the Maronits, that of Peter, and both call themselues Patriarchs of Antioch. They deriue the name of Maronits, ei∣ther from Marona a village of Mount Lybanon, or from the Abbot Maron, or as it is ge∣nerally held, from Maron the Arch hereticke. It is the least sect among all the Christians of the East, there being not aboue twelue thousand housholds, and most of them poore. They liue in the villages of Mount Lybanon, and in the townes of Surya: yet this sect is most affected to the See of Rome, whereof it hath made profession these foure hundred [ C] yeares; and Peter, Patriarch of the Maronits, sent Embassadours to the Councell of La∣tran, in the yeare of our Lord God 1515, Pope Gregorie sent two Iesuits vnto them, who hauing caused a Synod to be called, whereas the Patriarch and his Bishops met, they brought them to a full profession of the Catholicke faith: so as they burnt their bookes, which were full of errours, and drew their religious men into two monasteries, being dispersed here and there, giuing order that children might be instructed in the Christian religion.

The Patriarch of the Maronits is of the order of S. Anthonie. He is chosen by the Bi∣shops and religious men, and then confirmed by the Pope. His residence is at Tripoli of Surya. There are some Conuents of S. Anthonie, and a small number of Bishops, who [ D] hauing no certaine aboad, are as it were his assistants. Among other Saints, they pray vnto Maron; but they say that it is not that Arch-hereticke, but an Abbot of a verie ho∣lie life. Among the Maronits they find some which are called white, who not being baptised, call themselues Christians, and are confest, and doe communicat in secret, and yet in outward shew they liue like Mahometans.

The Curdes are for the most part Iocobits and Nestorians, but with many other er∣rours, and a wonderfull ignorance of diuine things. There are also many Mahome∣tans among them.

¶ A DISCOVRSE OF THE TVRKES IN GENERALL.

¶ The manners at this day.

THe Turkes are partly Origina••ies, and draw their beginning from the Scythi∣ans or Tartarians, and part of them descend from Christians Apostotats. [ XXV] They are for the most part broad faced, their members are well proportio∣ned, and they are naturally bigge and strong. They doe not suffer their haire to grow, but onely their mustachoes. They are but grosse witted, slow, and ydle, and slacke in their affaires. They are nothing fit for labour. They are exceeding couetous,

and loue money aboue all the nations of the world: for justice is sold in Turkie (as a man [ A] would say) to him that offers most, and the Turkes doe no man a kindnesse without a fe••. They are humble among themselues, and obey their superiours strictly, keeping ••••at silence, and being verie still before them. But they are insupportable, proud to straungers, infolent, bragge••s, and so arrogant, as they thinke there▪ is not any nation in the world that may be compared to theirs. They shew much vaine glorie and pride in the•••• speech; they are deceitfull, and neuer keepe their words, but when it may be bene∣ficiall vnto them. Moreouer, they are ydle, and giuen to gluttonie and drunkennesse; so as they will sometimes spend three whole daies together in feasting, and they doe wil∣lingly drinke wine, yea with excesse, notwithstanding that their law forbids it; for the [ B] ordinarie drinke of the better sort is water mixt with sugar, and damaske Rose water, or 〈◊〉〈◊〉 the deco••tion of prunes, raisins, figges, peares, and other fruits, the which they vse 〈◊〉〈◊〉 in Sommer, with y••e, which they keepe in Caues, to drinke coole: but they that obserue the law of the Alcaron strictly, drinke no wine. They are much inclined to ••horedome, and are for the most part Sodomites: the which they doe vsually practise in their gallies and ships, where they haue alwaies some that are forced to endure that accur∣sed practise. They beleeue lightly, and are wonderfully superstitious, giuing credit to dreames and diuinations; and they hold that the destinie of euerie man, and the houre of hi•• death is written on his forehead, and that no man can flie that houre: the which makes them run to rashly into daungers. [ C]

The Turkes haues permission to marrie as many wiues as they can entertaine. After a Turkish woman is great with child, the husband toucheth her no more vntill she be deliuered, but he lies with his ••laues, out of the house where his wife remaines. The Turkes haue a kind of marriage made at pleasure, which they call Kebin, the which is of∣ten practised by straungers, who being out of their countrie, make an agreement with cer∣taine women, whom they enjoy during their pleasure, and when they cast them off, they are bound to giue them a certaine summe of Aspres, and to keepe the children. The Iudges, whom they call Cadis, forbid this Kebin, especially amongst Christians, vnlesse it be with an oath of marriage. A Turke hauing had the vse of a Christian woman, is con∣demned to die, and in like manner the woman, vnlesse she receiue the law of Mahomet: [ D] the like is obserued betwixt a Christian and a Turkish woman, if they haue beene found together. Diuorce is allowed among them, in cases of incontinencie and barrennesse, whereof the Iudge deputed for those matters may take knowledge. Bondslaues which are bought, may also marrie, but the children which are borne of that conjunction, remain slaues. The women go seldome out of their lodgings, and their faces are alwaies coue∣red. They are gorgeously attired, and weare much gold and pretious stones; and they haue also a custome to die their haire, hands, and feet, red; but especially their nailes. They go to the stoues or hot-houses twice a weeke, like vnto the men.

The Turkes play neither at cards nor dice. They are charitable, and giue great almes, not onely to them of their owne sect, but also to Christians, and to men of all professi∣ons: [ E] yea they shew themselues charitable to beasts, for that they sometimes buy birds, and set them at libertie, as it were for charitie sake. Their garments are long, and open before vnto the foot, except the shirt, which they weare without their breeches, so as it is some∣times seene as they go. Their cloths are of fine wooll, and silke, imbroydered sometimes with pearle and pretious stones. Their Turban is white; but they that tearme themselues kinsmen to Mahomet, weare it greene. They neuer take off their Turban whenas they will salute any one, and doe him honour; and with them the left hand is most honou∣rable. They that are rich, and hold any ranke among them, go most commonly on horse∣backe. They are slouenly in their feeding, and haue not those delights and dainties that are among vs. They eat thrice a day, that is to say, at the breake of day, at noone, and at [ F] night. They vse not any table cloth, or napkins, and they sit not at the table vpon stooles, or in chaires, but on the ground, crosse legged like vnto Taylors, and in this manner they sit about a round table, which is verie low.

They eat all kind of flesh except it be swines flesh, which is forbidden by their law.

[ A] They feed most commonly vpon rice, and the Turkes of Asia do not willingly eat any fish, but they of Europe loue it much better than flesh. They that are good obseruers of their law, as I haue said, abstaine from wine, and drinke nothing but water, in which they vse in Winter to quench a hot burning cole, least it should offend them. Moreouer, the Turkes vse the juice of poppie much, and there is not any one amongst them but takes it to make them the more hardie, and not to feare daungers. They sit downe when they make water.

Their houses are for the most part of tymber and earth, and are little and and ill built, and they hold it for a great sinne to build any houses that last aboue a mans life: yet they [ B] make faire Mosquees or Temples, and goodly Hospitalls to receiue strangers when they passe, as also publicke bathes, to the which they adde faire fountaines, not onely for the commoditie of men, but also of beasts; and to the end they may haue places fit and con∣uenient to wash themselues in, before they enter into the temples. Moreouer, they are very curious to make aqueducts or conducts of water, and publicke bridges, and to paue high waies, all which things are very stately in Turkie.

They alwaies studie how to haue the aduantage of their neighbors, and what they can∣not get by force, they seeke to obtaine it by subtiltie and treacherie. If their enterprises succeed not happily, they are not ashamed to run away: yet they are reasonable good souldiers, and their best propertie is, they are careful to obserue militarie discipline. They [ C] are very obedient to their commaunders, enduring labour, and all discommodities pati∣ently; and they content themselues with little meat, and that very course. The armes they vse are launces, bowes, battaile-axes, and swords, which they commonly call Scy∣meters, the which they most commonly inrich with gold and siluer. They vse great si∣lence and modestie, not onely whenas they campe or stay in any place, but also when they march: for although their numbers be great, yet they most commonly part from any place before day so silently, as few of the neighbours can discouer them. They vse no engines, guidons, or standards, but they haue a launce, which hath certaine tassells of diuers colours on the top of it, by meanes whereof euery man knowes how to retire himselfe to his companie: yet they haue drums and fifes to encourage the souldiers.

[ D] When the Turkish Emperor is in any war, the Turkes which remaine in townes pray for the souldiers which are in the campe, as well in their feasts, as in their assemblies at their temples. They also pray for them that are staine in any fight, and hold them happie to haue ended their daies after that maner, and not amiddest the teares and sighes of their wiues. They describe the victories of their auncestors, and sing them very willingly, belieuing that this doth auaile much to encourage the souldiers, and to make them more resolute in all their enterprises.

They vse no kind of seale, either in the kings patents, or in any other letters, neither do they marke them with any figure. They haue no bells, neither do they suffer the Chri∣stians which liue in their countrie to haue any. They put off their shooes whenas they [ E] enter into their mosquees, and take them againe at their comming forth. Wheresoeuer they sit either in their houses or in their temples, they haue tapistrie couerlets, or mats, and there are some places which they cause to be planchered, for that they are too low, or else very dyrtie. They are not much giuen to contemplation, nor to learning: yet the Turkish women being married, and hauing issue, are very carefull to breed vp their chil∣dren, and being of age to learne, they cause them to be instructed; for which there are goodly scholes, wheras they read the lawes published by their princes, in which the chil∣dren are instructed, to the end they may serue in their mosquees, and be capable to go∣uerne the commonweale.

As for the princes children, they are-taught by an old doctor called Hogea, to read the [ F] Arabian and Turkish tongues, the which are very difficult; and being able to read them, they do so often repeat the Alcoran vnto them, as they learne it all by hart, the which not onely the princes children, but others do also learne: and they that are apt for studie, are instructed in the liberall sciences, especially in Astrologie, Philosophie, and Poetrie, but not in Historie, or Rhetoricke, saying, that there is no credit to be giuen to Histories, and

that during a princes life, no man speakes truth of him, and that being dead, his memo∣rie [ A] is lost: and as for Rhetoricke that it is not necessarie, for that nature deliuers her mea∣ning in few words: and therefore the Turkes haue no aduocats to breed delaies in their suits, as it is generall in most parts of Christendome. Whenas the child is come to the age of fourteene, being circumcised, he is put into a Serrail, there to be trained vp in the exercise of armes, and to learne to ride, and he is carefully kept (I speake of the princes sonne) least some rogue or queane should corrupt and debosh him. Christian slaues are bred vp by the prince in his Serrail, whom he calls his children, and they are made noble for their liues, but this title of nobilitie goes not to their issue. In those places they studie, and are trained vp in armes, as the women be to sow and imbroder. [ B]

The Emperor of the Turkes hath a great number of them in diuers Serrails, and many times there are aboue three hundred in that of Constantinople: the which number en∣creaseth or decreaseth according to his warres; for that the fairest women that can be found are brought vnto the Turke: of all these, the Sultania is lady and mistresse, which is she whom the great Turke fauours most, and hauing had issue by her, she is held for the first, and chiefest of all his women: the rest as they are in grace with the prince, are brought vnto him to haue his pleasure of them, and then they are sent backe againe: if happily they be with child, they are put into the number of the Sultanias, and much countenanced by the prince, who doth greatly augment their meanes and reuenues. They that are not pleasing to the prince (for that they are not beautifull) learne to low, [ C] imbroder, and to make diuers excellent workes, which certaine old matrons teach them, being entertained to that end; and if any desire to learne to read and write, they haue e••∣nuches among them to teach them. They are all very well bred and entertained, and are apparelled in silke twice a yeare. Such as the prince hath had the vse of, yet haue no chil∣dren by them, hauing learned qualities sit for great ladies, are giuen in marriage to the princes slaues, which are aduanced to dignities, and made gouernors of some countries or frontires.

The Turkish women are neuer seene in any assemblies of men, and they are strictly forbidden to go to market to buy or fell in any sort whatsoeuer: and in the great Mos∣quee, they haue a place seperated from that of men, and so close, that no man may see [ D] them, or enter into them. It is a rare thing to see a man speake to a woman in publicke, once in a yeare. They that are married neuer dallie with their wiues in the presence of others, and the husbands hold their reputation and grauitie with their wiues, who on the other side honour them much.

Great noblemen which cannot remaine continually with their wiues, leaue them vn∣der the charge of certaine eunuches, who keepe them in such sort, as it is impossible for them to do wrong vnto their honours, or that any one should haue their companies, but their husbands.

The Turkes doe not circumcise their children the eight day after their birth, but when the infant is come to the age of knowledge, to make confession of his faith after this [ E] manner, lifting vp his finger, he speakes these words, which are grauen in their temples in the Arabian tongue: There is but one God, whose Prophet Mahomet is, one God, and equall Prophets. The circumcision being ended, they feast three daies together, and then the circumcised is carried to a bath with great pompe, and the guests carrie him backe to the house, where they present him with gifts. Some giue him apparell of silke, others siluer vessell, some money, and some horses, according to the qualitie of the circumcised. The women giue shirts, handkerchefs, and such like, and euery one giues according to their will and meanes. The women are not circumcised, but onely speake the foresaid words. If any Christian doth willingly confesse Mahomet, and endure circumcision, the which doth often happen by reason of the insupportable yoke, and charge of tributes, [ F] they lead him throughout all the streets, and publike places of the towne, with great ho∣nour, and reioicing of the people, by the sound of a drum, to whom they also giue, and then he is free from the paying of any tribute: so as many Grecians and Albanoides, by reason of this gaine and aduantage, accept of circumcision.

[ A] ¶ The Riches.

THe Turkes empire comprehends countries that abound in all things: for there is not any countrie richer in wheat, and all other graine, than Aegypt, Africke, Surya, and Asia; nor that is more plentifull of all other things, than Hungarie, Greece, and Thrace. In all his countries, he hath towns whose wealth is inestimable, as Constantinople, Caire, Aleppo, and many others. Constantinople is a citie whether merchants come from all parts, and in a manner all the siluer of the Turkes empire is imployed there. Aleppo is [ B] the greatest towne of Surya, and as it were the center and place whether all the traffique of Asia comes. Caire is as it were the Store house, not onely of the riches of Aegypt, and of a good part of Africke, but also of the Indies, whose treasures being brought into these parts by the Red Sea, and afterwards vpon camells, are distributed into countries which lye vpon the Mediterranean Sea.

As for the great Turkes reuenues, some are of opinion, that he hath but eight milli∣ons of gold for his ordinarie reuenues; and they say, that although in apparance he should haue much more, by reason of his great and large dominions, yet it prooues otherwise; for that the Turkes haue no care but of armes, which (in all mens judgements) are fitter to ruine and destroy, than to preserue and inrich a countrie: and moreouer, the [ C] Turkes, to entertaine their armies, and to continue their enterprises begun, consume men in such aboundant sort, as they scarce leaue sufficient to manage their domesticall and ne∣cessarie affaires, by reason whereof, the subjects despairing euer to enjoy their wealth, no not necessarie commodities which they might get by their labour and industrie, im∣ploy not themselues to worke, nor in traffique, no farther than bare necessitie doth in∣force and constraine them: for what auailes it (say they) to sow that which another man must reape? or to reape that which another will wast and consume? for this cause, in the Turkes Estate you shall see great forrests, and whole countries lie wast. In these parts, dearth growes by reason of the multitude of people; but in Turkie it proceeds for want of men to labour and manure their land; for that the countrie men and pesants, for the [ D] most part, either dye in the voyages which they make, or else in carrying of victualls or o∣ther things necessarie for their armies; for of ten thousand men which they draw from their houses to row in their gallies, scarce the fourth part returnes home againe, by rea∣son of the discommodities, the change of aire, and the great toyle; and the rather, for that the Turkes disarme their gallies euerie Winter; so as they that are imployed to row, are neuer well accustomed to the Sea, nor to labour.

Moreouer, all traffique and commerce is in a manner in the hands of Iewes, and Chri∣stians of Europe, as Ragousans, Venetians, French, and English; and in so great a coun∣trie, as they hold in Europe, they haue no other townes of great traffique, than Constan∣tinople, Caffa, Salonica, or Thessalonica: in Asia, Aleppo, Damas, Tripoli, and Aden: [ E] and in Africke, Caire, Alexandria, and Algier. To conclude in a word, all the mischiefe growes by the abandoning and dejecting of tillage, which is the chiefe ground of reue∣nues; for it furnisheth matters to art, and art to merchandise, and whenas tillage failes, all goes to decay.

But although the ordinarie reuenues be no greater, or more copious, than we haue for∣merly said, (some write that he hath fifteene millions of gold yearely, whereof fiue are put vp in his coffers and the other ten imployed for the entertainement of his Estate) yet doth he make great account of his extraordinarie profits, and especially of confiscations, and presents: for the Bashas, and other chiefe officers of that crowne, which sucke the bloud of the Turkes subjects, gather together inestimable treasures, which in the end fall [ F] for the most part into the great Turkes hands. Some hold, that Abrahim Basha did car∣rie out of that famous citie of Caire, the value of aboue six millions: Mehemet Visir had a greater summe: Occh••ali, besides his other wealth, had fiue thousand slaues: Selymus the seconds sister, called Sultana, had 2500 Chequines of rent euerie day, and she was so rich, as she began an aqueduct which should go from Caire to Mecca, for the ease of pilgrims,

which was an enterprise worthie of a great prince, and of an infinit charge. Moreouer, [ A] the great Turke may easily find a subject to take away the goods and life of any one at his pleasure. After this, the presents amount to great summes; for there is not any Embas∣••••dour that may present himselfe before him without a present, and no man may hope for any office or dignitie, or any thing of importance, but for money; neither doth any man returne from his prouince where he hath beene Gouernour, that dares present him∣selfe before the Turke emptie handed: and it is well knowne, that they may not offer any thing of small price to the great Turke.

The Vayuodes of Moldauia, Valachia, and Transiluania, maintaine themselues in their principalities by meanes of their presents and gifts, and they of Valachia, and [ B] M••ldauia, change daily; for that they giue these dignities to him that offers most; who, to be able to giue that which they haue promised, ruine the countrie, and consume the people. But notwithstanding all this, the Persian warres haue emptied the Turkes cof∣fers, and wasted his treasures; for that on the one side, both at Constantinople, and throughout all his empire, the value of gold and siluer was much augmented for a cer∣taine time, so as a crowne was double the value it was accustomed to be, and their gold and siluer much imbased, so as it gaue occasion to the Ianissaries to set fire of Constanti∣nople, which did much terrifie them all, yea the great Turke himselfe: And in Aleppo, they demaunded a loane of sixtie thousand crownes from the merchants. And this is all that can be said touching his riches: as for the Tymarets, I will reserue the discourse to [ C] that of his forces.

¶ The Forces.

THe forces of the great Turke consist in treasure, horsemen, footmen, fleets at Sea, and munition. As for his treasure, we haue alreadie spoken of it: But notwithstan∣ding that we haue said that his reuenues are not so great as his large dominions might well require, yet he drawes a profit from his Estate, which is of farre greater importance than his reuenues. This profit is nothing else but the great number of his Tymarets; for the Turkish Emperours make themselues immediat maisters and lords of all the lands [ D] they get by armes, and leauing what they please to them of the countrie, (the which you must imagine is verie little) they diuide the rest into Tymarets, which are as it were com∣maunderies, the which they giue vnto souldiers, that haue done them good seruices, vpon condition, that they shall entertaine so many horses alwaies readie for the warres: And Georgieuiz Ierosolimitamus hath written, That there is not any Gouernour or Basha that enjoyeth any prouince or towne by right of inheritance, or can leaue it to his chil∣dren and successours after his death, without the princes fauour and consent: If any great man will haue any certaine possessions, it is lawfull vpon these conditions: They looke verie exactly and narrowly to the price and reuenues of the said possessions: And the Turke doth also know how many souldiers may be fed and entertained of this yeare∣ly [ E] reuenue, and then the Gouernour or Basha is bound to haue alwaies this number of souldiers readie to march to the warres, whensoeuer they shall be commaunded, else his head must aunswer it, and there is nothing but sicknesse that can excuse him from fol∣lowing the warre. The prince may also depriue him of this benefit, otherwise he en∣joyes it during his life, and then the possession returnes to the prince. After the death of thi•• nobleman, if his successours will keepe the accord, they are admitted, else others are inricht with his ••poyle••. This kind of proceeding hath beene one of the best orders which they haue obserued for the good and preseruation of the Turkish empire; for that if the souldiers were not interessed in the lands, by reason of the commoditie and profit which they draw from thence, all had beene ruined: for the Turkes themselues are accu∣stomed [ F] to say, That there growesno grasse, whereas the great Turkes horse sets his foot. These Tymarets entertaine about one hundred and fiftie thousand horse, readie to march vpon the first commaund, for the which the prince neuer disburseth a penie, and yet this number ot horsemen can not be entertained for lesse than 14 millions of gold. By reason

[ A] whereof, I wonder at some who making a comparison of the great Turkes reuenues with those of other Christian princes, make no mention of so great a part of the Ot∣tomans riches. In the warre which the Turke made against the Persian, some twentie or thirtie yeares since, he conquered so great a countrie, as he made foure thousand Ti∣marets. This erection of Timarets, and the choise of Azamoglians, or young lads, the which are Christians children, whom he causeth to be taken and trained vp in armes, to make Ianissaries, are the two foundations of the Turkish Empire, and they seeme to be in∣stituted in imitation of the Romans: for the Roman Emperours imploied their subiects for the war, whereof the Preterian armie which was alwaies about the Emperors person [ B] was composed: and Tacitus writes, that the choise they made of young men to that ef∣fect made the Flemings to reuolt. In the same Roman Empire, there were Timarets gi∣uen for life vnto souldiers, in recompence of their seruices: Alexander Seuerus graunted to the heires of souldiers that they might enioy those prouisions, so as they went to the warres, and not otherwise. Constantin the Great gaue vnto his captaines (which had well deserued) the lands which vntill that time had beene only enioied for life: and in France the fees which were but for a certaine time, are become perpetuall vnder some of their kings, desiring to content such as might trouble their Estates.

But to returne to our discourse, this Turkish cauallarie workes two important effects, whereof the one is, that it doth so keepe the Turkes subiects in awe, as they cannot stir, [ C] but they are presently vpon their backes; and for this cause they are diuided throughout the whole Estate, and are vnder the comaund of the Begliarbies, and Sanghiacs in euery prouince: the other effect is, that a part of this cauallarie is alwaies readie for any enter∣prise that shall happen: thus it serues as a garrison and support of the Estate, to suppresse sedition, and as a chiefe sinew for the warres. Besides those, the Turke entertaines a good number of horsemen about his person; whereof some are called Spahi, and these were Christian slaues, the which were bred vp young in the princes Serrail, and growing great, shewing themselues vertuous, ha••ing gotten that degree, which serues as a ladder to rise to greater dignities: these do commonly attend the prince, and are about his per∣son wheresoeuer he doth go, and they are commonly to the number of 1300. The Cari∣pices [ D] are held to be the choise and floure of all his horsemen, & they are in number eight hundred which march in battaile alwaies about the prince, to serue him as a guard. There is another sort of horsemen which are called Vlusages, and the Spaccoglans; that is to say, young men on horsebacke, being in number aboue three thousand, and these alwaies march vpon the right hand of the prince. They are m••n at armes of a good fashion, of whom the prince doth vsually make choise, and they are also bred vp young in the Serrail.

The Salichtaires are in like manner horsemen, the which doe amount vnto the number of three thousand, or there abouts, and they do lodge alwaies vpon the left hand of the prince: they haue their breeding like vnto the Spahi, and there is no diffe∣rence, [ E] but that the Spahi marcheth vpon the right hand, and the other vpon the left hand of the prince. And there is another sort of horsemen amongst them, which they call Olofages, amounting vnto the number of two thousand or there abouts, which march vpon the right and left hand of the prince. All these are as it were a nurs••••ie of the chiefe officers of that Empire; for out of these, they doe most commonly chuse their Bashas, Begliarbeys, and Sangiacs. Moreouer, besides these aboue mentioned, they do also reckon the Alcanzes, and such as come to serue the Turke from Tartaria, Vala∣chia, and M••ldauia.

The other part of his forces is his infanterie, which consists chiefely in Ianissaries, in whom are two things to be considered, the nation, and disposition in the mannaging of armes. As for the nation, they do not commonly receiue into the roll of Ianissaries, any [ F] men of Asia, but all of Europe; for the Turkes hold the first to be soft and saint hearted, as in effect they haue bin alwaies more readie to flie, than fight. Contrariwise the people of Europe haue alwaies had the reputation of good souldiers, & of valiant. So as in the East, the Asiaticke souldiers vnder the Turke, carie the name of Turks, but the Europians

are called Rumy, that is to say, Romanes. As for the disposition, they send euery three [ A] yeares and fetch in Christians children, vnlesse necessitie force them (as in the Persian warre) to make a quicker and more speedier choise: they make choise of such children as haue, the greatest shewes of magnanimitie, agilitie, and courage, which are the three parts required in a souldiar.

These children are brought vnto Constantinople, where they are visited by the Aga, and there they loose both their names, and the knowledge of their parents, yea and of their countrie. After this, some of them are sent into Natolia, and some of them towards Bursia, Caramania, and other prouinces, to digge and weed the ground, that they may the better accustome themselues to industrie and labour, where learning [ B] the language, law, and vices of those with whome they doe conuerse, they become Ma∣hometans, before they haue discretion to judge of any religion whatsoeuer. These chil∣dren doe remaine in Natolia, and in some other places, for the space of three or foure whole yeares, without any charge vnto the prince, being apparelled and entertained by them for whom they do continually toile and labour: and then they are sent for backe. Some of those are put into the great Turkes Serrails, the which are at Constantino∣ple, and at Pera, and they which haue the best faces, and the most actiue bodies are ordained and kept for the princes owne peculiar seruice. When they come to haue the name of Azamoglain, some of them are imployed in gardens, others in buildings, and some other for houshold seruices, and such like. [ C]

After a certaine time the are called into the Serrail of the Azamoglain (for so they are called vntill they be Ianissaries) vnder their Gouernours and Maisters, who doe commonly teach and instruct them in diuers manuall and painefull exercises, and with all they haue bare feeding, and very meane clothing: they for the most part lie in great and spacious roomes, like vnto those of religious men, hauing a light continually bur∣ning, and guards about them, without whose leaue they may not go forth. Afterwards they learne the exercise of shooting both with a bow and hurquebuze, wherein growing perfect, they are made Ianissaries, or Spahis, whereof the one hath no lesse then fiue As∣pres, nor aboue eight a day, and the Spahis haue ten.

Being Ianissaries, they are either sent vnto the warre, or put into garrisons, or else they [ D] remaine at the port, the which is the great Turkes court; and these latter haue for their dwelling three great and spacious places, the which are like vnto religious houses, where they liue, and are gouerned vnder their commaunders. The younger do serue the aun∣cient to make their prouision, and dresse their meat, and such like, vsing great respect and silence. They which are of one troupe or squadron, eat together at one table, and sleepe in certaine long halls: if any of them happen to be out of his lodging all night, the night following he shall be well beaten with a cudgell, wherein he sheweth so great patience and obedience, as after all this punishment, he kisseth his hand that hath cor∣rected him. They haue many priuiledges, and are respected notwithstanding their inso∣lencies, and feared of all men. In their voiages they spoiled and ruinated poore Chri∣stians houses, and they can haue no reuenge but onely in words. When they buy any [ E] thing, they set what price they please: they cannot be judged but by the Aga, or Cap∣taine, and there is neuer any one of them punisht with death, without great daunger of a mutinie, so as they seldome put any to death by the course of justice, and they are exe∣cuted very secretly. They haue many presents giuen them, for that some are appointed to attend vpon Embassadours, and to serue them as a guard; others go with trauellers of qualitie, and such like persons, who desire to passe safely throught the Turkes Estate. They haue a great power in the princes election, for no man can say it is done, vntil they allow of it, and euery Emperour when he is newly receiued, giues them something, and encreaseth their pay. The number of Ianissaries which liue at Constantinople or therea∣bouts is 24 thousand, for in his whole Estates he hath a far greater number. Whenas any [ F] important war happens, part of the Ianissaries march vnder the commaund and leading of their Aga, or his Lieutenant. In our time they doe degenerate from their auncient va∣lour, first for that the Turkes of Asia are made Ianissaries, whereas in former times

[ A] they receiued none into this number but Christians of Europe: and secondly, for that they marrie against their auncient custome, and without doubt their long aboad in Con∣stantinople, which is one of the delightfullest townes in the world, hath made them effe∣minat and insupportable.

It is generally held that the sinews of the Turkes forces consist in these Ianisaries; be∣sides the which, there are other kinds of foot men, as the Acouizes, which is a forlorne hope, and receiue no pay, but march before the armie, and (when they see opportunitie) haue permission to ransacke and spoile, conditionally, that that they giue the fift part of their bootie vnto the prince. There is also another sort called Azapi, which be footmen [ B] of small effect, and serue rather with the pickax and the spade, than with the sword, and are fitter to tyre an enemie with their numbers, than to vanquish them with their valour. These are the last, which are accustomed to fill vp ditches with their dead bodies, and to make a passage for the Ianisaries to mount vp to their enemies walls. To conclude, there is such order and discipline obserued in all the Turkes Estate, and the garrisons are so wel maintained, as it is thought he may draw together aboue two hundred thousand men. Out of his Ianisaries there are chosen one hundred and fiftie Solachi, which are the prin∣ces footmen, either of them hauing fifteene or twentie Aspres a day, to spend; these run about the princes person whensoeuer he goes abroad. When any of his Ianisaries grow old, or that vpon any other occasion their seruice is not pleasing vnto the prince, they are [ C] cassiered, and put out of the roll of Ianisaries, and are sent Assareri, that is to say guards of castles: And their commanders, being deposed for the like reasons, are sent to be captains of castles, with prouision equall to the pay which they had before.

Whenas the Emperour of the Turkes, leauing Constantinople, goes to the warres, they carrie two pauillions or tents for him, called Sartorlar, whereof, the same day that they set vp the one, the other is planted whereas he shall march the next day. These pa∣uillions are so great, as seeing them a farre off, they seeme a towne, or some huge buil∣ding. The princes campe neere vnto it, and enuiron the emperour pauillions: and then the kinghts, who either a part, or three and three, or two and two, haue their pauillions set vp. The souldiers haue also tents, for that by their discipline they may not lie abroad. [ D] Before the armie march, they that make the way, laying of either side heapes of stone or of wood for a direction, so as they can hardly stray, no not in the night. The Turkes march from midnight vntill noone the day following. The Emperour goes betweene two Bashas, who talke vnto him, and before them certaine souldiers on horsebacke, which carrie torches when the night is darke.

Moreouer, there are captaines with battle axes to keepe the presse farre off from the the Emperour, and withall, there are great numbers of guards and archers about the princes person.

The great Turkes armie is accompanied with an infinit number, both of souldies with∣out pay and of pyoners, and of other people necessarie for the warre, which serue to make [ E] passages, mynes, and trenches, when need requires. This powerfull armie of men is obedi∣ent to their prince, and obserues so good an order, as there is not any souldier, I will not say insolent, but in any sort vnruly or disobedient, that is not punished with death, or at the least wise so ill inteated, as he shall not be able to helpe himselfe. When the warre is ended, all the souldiers present themselues before the commissarie generall of the wars, to see what number of souldiers haue beene slaine, to the end their places may be present∣ly supplyed with others.

But leauing any more to speake of their land forces, let vs now come to their Sea pro∣uisions and fortitude: first of all, there is not any prince that hath greater commoditie to make nauies at sea than the Turke: for the forrests of Albania, and Caramania, but aboue all, those of Nicomedia, and Trebizonde, are so great, so thicke, and withall so full of [ F] Tymber trees fit for the building of vessells of all sorts, as it seemes that gallies fall readie made from these woods into the gulfe of Nicomedia, and into the Blacke Sea. Neither haue they any want of good shipwrights, for that couetousnesse hath drawne many Christian carpenters into his arcenall; so as the yeare after his great losse at Lepanto,

he put an armie to Sea, which had the courage to affront the Christians. He hath also [ A] great numbers of men experienced in marine matters, by reason of the gallies which he keepes in guard at Metelin, Rhodes, Cypres, and Alexandria, and for the retreat he giues to pyrats at Tunes, Bona, Bugia, and Algier, from whence at need he draws commanders, and the chiefe of his marriners. We haue seene what he could doe by the armies which he hath had at Malta, the Cursolaries, Goulette, and Lepanto. Moreouer, he hath great store of munition for the wars, and an infinit number of ordnance. He drew from Hungarie, fiue thousand pieces, and woon aboue fiue hundred in Cypres, and almost as many in Goulette. The Turkes haue pieces of ordnance which are so great, as the verie wind of them (not speaking of the blow) shake walls. They haue great prouision of poul∣der [ B] and bullets, as it appeared at Malta, whereas they discharged sixtie thousand shot. At Famagosta, whereas they reckoned eighteene thousand; and at Goulette, where, in nine and thirtie daies, they did beat downe and made euen, with the force of their canon, all the fortifications which the Christians had made in fortie yeares. In those places whereas they cannot vse any artillerie, they imploy the pickaxe, or they fill vp the ditches with earth, and when all this will not serue, they heape them vp with the souldiers bo∣dies.

The Turkes haue three things which amaze and terrifie: an infinit number of men, good discipline, and store of munition. Multitude doth naturally breed confusion, by reason whereof, many times great armies haue beene vanquished by small numbers; but [ C] the multitude of Turkish armies keepe so good order, as by this meanes it doth vanquish the lesser number of enemies: so as they surmount others, both in art and numbers, and their discipline is so good, as they yeeld not in that point to the Romans themselues. It consists in many things, that is to say, in the distribution of victualls, for that they liue of a little bread, baked in the ashes, with Rice, and the poulder of flesh dried in the Sunne: As for wine, it is forbidden them, as it was to the Carthagenians. In the campe, euerie ten Turkes haue a commaunder, whom they obey without replie. There are no women seene in their armies. They obserue a wonderfull silence, and all those souldiers are go∣uerned by the becke of a hand, or any shew of the countenance; so as sometimes they suffer prisoners to escape, rather than to make a noyce. They punish quarrells and thefts [ D] verie seuerely. Whenas they march, they dare not enter into any corne fields, or into vines. The valiant are assured of preferment, and cowards haue punishment. They ne∣uer lodge in townes, nor are suffered to enter. The Ottomans are alwaies accustomed to haue some warre with their neighbors, to keepe them in breath. But discipline is a matter of smal moment, if it be nonfurnished with armes, and other things necessary for the wars; for that a naked gyant, how strong and mightie so euer he be, may easily be vanquished by a child that is well armed: but the Turke marcheth to the warres with such great prepa∣ration of engins, and other necessarie instruments, as it seemes he makes account of no other thing, as may probably be seene by the ruines which he leaues in all the places that he assailes. [ E]

He confines with the Persian vpon the East, where you must draw an imaginarie line from Tauris vnto Balzera. He makes warre against the Sophi with aduauntage, by reason of his infantarie, which this king wants, and in like manner of his artillerie and mu∣nition. If the Persians haue at any time vanquished the Turke in the field, they haue on the other side lost much of their countrie, vntill the time they began to recouer them∣selues. Solyman tooke Mesopotamia, or Diarbeck, from them; Amurath, Media, and not onely they themselues haue sustained great losse, but also their friends; for that Selimus the first dispossest the Mammelus of the empire of Aegypt, and Surya: and Amurath the third did in a manner quite ruine and extirpe the Georgians, who were confederats with the Sophi. [ F]

He makes warre against the Portugalls, who confine with him vpon the South by meanes of the Red Sea with great disaduantage; for that all their quarrells must be deci∣ded by Nauall forces: wherein the Portugalls haue as much aduauntage ouer him, as the Indian Ocean hath of the Persian gulfe, or the Red Sea: for as the Indies they haue

[ A] places, ports, and whole estates, and seigneuries, in which are found aboundance of tim∣ber, victualls, and all preparations for the sea, neither do they want princes which assist them. Contrariwise, the Turke hath no other place of importance within the Persian gulfe, but Belzera. The coast of Arabia (whereof he might make vse) hath but foure pla∣ces, & those are but weake; and withall he can hardly arme so many vessells in that place, as in the red sea; for that the countrie is in a manner quite destitute of timber fit for ship∣ping. Wherefore when he hath intended to arme vpon the red sea, (the which he doth with more difficultie in the Persian gulfe) he hath beene forced to transport timber and other materialls, from the ports of Bythinia and Caramania, by the riuer of Nile vnto [ B] Caire, from whence they carrie it afterwards vpon cammells to Suez, where he hath an arcenall. But as often as he hath attempted any thing against the Portugals, he hath reapt nothing but shame and losse, as it happened in the yere 1538 at Diu, and in the yere 1552 in the Island of Ormus, and in the yere 1580 at Mombazze, whereas the Portugals tooke foure galleis, and a galliot from the Turke, who thought to liue in those seas by the fa∣uor of this king.

He confines vpon the South by the red sea with Preste or Presbiter Ian, or the great Neguz, and without doubt he hath an aduantage ouer him, as well in regard of captaines and souldiers, as of armes and munition: for it is most certaine that this prince hath his countries vnfurnished of strong townes, and his souldiers are without armes: by reason [ C] whereof, the prince of Barnagas, who was his lieutenant towards the red sea, lost all that coast, and was forced to pay a tribute vnto the Turke to haue a peace.

He hath much more countrie in Africke than in Xerif, for that he enioieth all that lies betwixt the red sea, and Velez de la Gomera: yet that which the Xerif holds is more fer∣tile, richer, better vnited, and stronger; but they make not war one against another, by reason of the neighbourhood of the king of Spaine.

We must now looke vnto the Christian princes which confine with him. The first is the king of Poland: we haue seene what these two princes can do one against another in former enterprises. Of the one side, it seemes the Turke doth esteeme, and in a manner feare the Polonians, for that hauing many times been subiect to make war against them, [ D] as vnder Henry king of Poland, during the warre which Iohn Vayuoda of Mold••uia had against the the Turkes, whereas many Polonians fought against them, and vnder Sigis∣mond the third, for the incursions of the Cosaques, and the sturs raised by Iohn Siamoschi generall of the realme: he did not seeme to haue any feeling thereof with his ordinarie pride, nor sought reuenge of the wrongs which he had endured.

On the other side, the Polonians haue not attempted any thing against the Turke since Ladislaus, nor they haue not relieued the Moldauians, and Valachians their allies, and they haue lost that which they held vpon the Euxine sea; the which hath happened ra∣ther through want of courage in their kings, than in the nobilitie. Stephen Battori (although a valiant and couragious prince) held the enterprise very daungerous to encounter [ E] with the Turkes, and yet discoursing with his familiars, he maintained that with thirtie thousand foot, and the horsemen of his realme, he would vndertake a war against him, whereof he had some desseigne.

The princes of Austria confine with the Turke, more than any other towards the North: for which cause they spend much in the garrisons of their sorts, whereas they entertaine aboue twentie thousand men, part horsemen, part footmen, and with the suc∣cours of Germanie ioined to their particular forces, they are more carefull to defend and ••••epe, than to recouer their owne, or to extend their limits: and Ferdinand attemp∣ted the enterprises of Buda, and of Possegue, with more courage than good fortune. It is ture that the cause thereof did not proceed from the weakenesse of men, but for want [ F] of agilitie and addresse. My meaning is that this princes armies were great enough, and supplied with all things necessarie; but they were composed of Germanes and Bohemi∣ans, who are slow, and vnfit to debate any thing against the Turkes, which be nimble and actiue in militarie factions.

The Venetians confine also with the Turke both by sea and land, for many hundreds

of miles, and they maintaine themselues against them in fortifying their places excee∣ding [ A] well, and furnishing them with come in time, by the meanes of their trafficke, and they carrie themselues valiantly in all occasions that are offered, as well for the good of their Estates, as of all Christendome.

As for the king of Spaine, who confines in like manner with him, there is no great dif∣ference betwixt his forces, and those of the Ottomans: for as for his treasure, we may easily jugde by the discourse of this Monarch, that it yeelds nothing to the Turke, al∣thoug they add•• thereunto the value of his Timarets, accounting in like manner on the other side, those which are bound to serue the king at their owne charge within his do∣minions. Moreouer the cauallarie which the Turke entertaines by meanes of his Tima∣rets [ B] are not so fearefull for their valour, as for their numbers; for that these horsemen are growne faint and effeminate by reason of the villages and places which haue beene assigned vnto them, and the desire to inrich themselues with the fruits of their lands, and to spare something, makes them rather to desire peace than war; so as they do vnwilling∣ly leaue their houses, and go vnto enterprises with more desire to returne and enjoy their delights, than to fight. If a little spoile got by armes makes a souldier lesse desirous of war, what will the possession of much wealth do, being accompanied by a wife and children which he hath left at home?

Moreouer it is certaine that this cauallarie entertained by the meanes of Tymarets, hath rather beene instituted to keepe people subdued in awe, than to go to warre against [ C] his enemies: for the Turkes subiects obey him by force, and hate him exceedingly, as well by reason of his religion, as for his maner of gouernment. The Arabians & Moores loue him not for the diuersitie of their sects, and the Christians which make aboue two third parts of his Empire, detest him, both for his religion, and for his manner of com∣mand; so as the greatest part of his cauallarie is imploied at home, & cannot go abroad without daunger to his Estar. Moreouer his Empire is diuided by so great a tract of coun∣trie, and so dispersed here and there, as he can send no great numbers to any enterprise, nor entertaine his armies long without want and necessitie, if he haue no other aide but that of his Timarets.

Experience of things past do shew that their forces are equall, for that they oppose [ D] the f••ight of the Turkes armie before Malta, to the losse of the king of Spaines armie in the Island of Zerbe, and the taking of Pinion de Velez to the losse of Goulette. These two princes haue had hindrances a like, the one in Persia, and the other in the Low Coun∣tries, so as they could not make war one against another with any great forces. The fore∣said wars haue beene wonderful chargeable to these two princes, for that those countries lie far from them: but it hath cost the king of Spaine more than the Turke, for that al∣though Persia be far from Constantinople, from whence the greatest part of his forces go, yet it confines with Diarbecke. and some other of his Estates, by meanes wher of, his armie is easily supplied with money and victualls; whereas the Low Countries lie far di∣uided from the kings other Estates. We might adde other considerations hereunto, but [ E] the desire of breuitie makes me to passe them ouer with silence.

¶ The Gouernment.

THe gouernment of the Ottomans is absolute, for that the great Turke is maister in such sort of all that is within his Estates, as the inhabitants tearme themselues his slaues: and there is not any one that can say, he is maister of the house where he dwells, nor of the lands which he tills, no nor of himselfe, except some families which were priui∣ledged by Mahomet the second, at Constantinople: and there is not any one in Turkie, how great soeuer, that can assure himselfe of the Estate wherein he liues, or of his owne [ F] life, vnlesse it be by speciall grace from the great Turke. He maintaines this absolute power by two meanes, the one is, that he disarmes his subiects, the other is, that he puts all things into the hands of such as haue abiured the Christian religion, and haue beene brought by way of tything from his Estates in their infancies. By these two meanes he

[ A] enjoyes two benefits, the one is, that he depriues his prouinces of the flower of their men, for that he makes choyce of the strongest children, and fittest for armes: the other is, that he armes and assures himselfe by this meanes.

The first seat of the Turkish Emperours was at Bursia, or Prussia, a towne in Bythinia, and since it was transported to Adrianopolis, and last of all, to Constantinople, where it now remaines. This Emperour hath for his guard about foure thousand Ianissaries, whose colonell is called Aga: And besides these, there are fifteene thousand horsemen which receiue pay from the great Turke, and they are diuided into Spahi, Vlosages, Cilistares, besides those horsemen which are vnder the Begliarbeys. All these are payed out of the [ B] Casne, or the great Turkes Exchequer; besides these, he hath many thousands of Ianissa∣ries dispersed throughout his realme, the which are in like manner entertained. And their captaines acknowledge no other superiour than the great Turke. He hath also his Tymarets, of whom we haue spoken in the discourse of this princes forces. All these obey the Sangiacs, and the Sangiacs the Begliarbeys.

The Turkes Court is vulgarly called Capi, that is to say, Port, where there are many offices, to number the which would be teadious. There are offices in the great Serrail for the princes seruice, and these are executed by Eunuches, who haue vnder them other men that be gelt. But before we proceed in the description of officers, we wil speake something of their lawes and Iudges.

[ C] The Turkes haue for their lawes the institutions and answers of wise men, seruing as an interpretation to their Alcaron, which is their principall law: and these institutions and laws are contained in ten volumes, which treat of all things that belong to the ciuile con∣uersation of men: And as affaires haue multiplied, and gre•• in a manner infinit, so prin∣ces haue added new lawes to prouide for them. Some prouinces and countries of Tur∣kie are gouerned by customes, and enjoy certaine immunities and priuiledges; and their wise Iudges supplie many things which are not written. Among many Iudges and officers for the gouernement of the realme, the prince makes choyce of the wisest and worthiest person that can be found, being of a sincere life, according to their law, and he is called by the name or title of Mustee, that is to say, an interpreter of their Alcaron, [ D] and law, and he applies himselfe onely to matters of religion and faith, and is as it were their high priest.

The Turkes make triall of the knowledge and sufficiencie of their Iudges, before they elect or chuse them, and to this end there are two Cadilesquiers Talismans, that is to say, Doctors of the law, and Examiners, at Constantinople, or else wheresoeuer the prince re∣maines: These examine the particular Iudges or Cadis of diuers prouinces subject to the Turke: the one doth chuse and examine the Iudges of Europe or Greece, and is cal∣led Cadilesquer Romly, before whom the Iudge, after due and sufficient information of his life, studie, and knowledge, sweares vpon the lawes, that he will do right and justice to euerie man, submitting himselfe to yeeld an account of his charge to the said Cadilesqui∣er, [ E] whensoeuer he shall be called.

The other Cadilesquier is for Natolia, and other prouinces, who gouernes himselfe like vnto the first, in regard of the Iudges of the countrie: and Selymus the first added a third for Aegypt, Syria, Arabia, and Armenia. These Cadilesquiers are soueraigne Iudges in all causes, and as it were Patriarchs, before whom they doe appeale; and they haue au∣thoritie ouer the other Caldis, which are particular Iudges of prouinces. Their office is verie honourable, and are much esteemed by the great Turke. They are called to the princes Councell, called Diuan, with the Bashas, to consult of matters of importance. Among the Bashas, which in former times were but foure, but now is augmented to the number of nine or more, there is one superiour, called the Grand Visir, whom the Turkes [ E] call Vizirazem, who is alwaies about the princes person, and not the rest; for that they are imployed in charges, and commissions abroad, as in the gouernement of the prouin∣ces, the leading of armies both by sea and land, and the guard of frontiers, or being im∣ployed in some other businesse, according to the will of the prince. All the affaires of the Turkes Estate, passe by the hands of these Bashas, but the head Visir or first Basha

hath power ouer the rest, and they are bound to giue him an account of their imploy∣ments: [ A] And as for himselfe, he hath no superiour, but onely the prince, he being the se∣cond person in the great Turkes mightie monarchie, the which he gouernes with great authoritie and most commonly the Emperour takes councell of him, and in his most im∣portant affaires.

His charge is tou••••••••g matters of iustice to keepe Court openly foure dayes in the weeke that is Saturday, Sunday, Munday, and Tuesday; and this Court or Di••an is held whereas the prince remaines: If he be at Constantinople, in the Serrail; if at the warres, in his pau••••ion neere vnto the prince: And to this Court or great Councell, the other Bashas ••oute, if they be with the prince; and the Cadilesquiers are also called if the busi∣nesse [ B] requires it: where first of all, matters of State are decided, and then the affaires of pr••u•••• men. The Court or Councell being risen, the superiour Basha, or Vizir, informes the prince truely of euerie particular proceeding, not daring to doe otherwise; for that the prince hath a window joyning to the Diuan, by the which he may heare and see any thing, and not be discouered: And hauing declared the opinion of the Court vnto him, he doth seldome impugne it, vnlesse it be to moderat some rigorous sentence, or to make answer to an Embassadour. Whatsoeuer the prince hath said, is irreuocable, and it is pre∣sently inrolled by certaine Registers of the Court.

Next vnto the Basha in honour, follow the Begliarbeys, which are men of great autho∣ritie and reputation and haue places in Court next vnto the Bashas. They haue the com∣maund [ C] and gouernement of great countries, and armies, and haue vnder their obedi∣ence diuers Sangiacs, which be sent as Gouernors into prouinces, whereas they remaine during the prince•• pleasure, who changeth them from one vnto another. The office and charge of these Sangiacs, is to gouerne the Spahi, and Tymarets, to exercise them in armes and containe them in obedience. The Turkes empire hath beene gouerned before the Persian warre by fortie of these Begliarbeys, who had vnder them two hundred and seuentie Sangiacs, since which time their number is much encreased; of which number the Begliarbey of Greece, he of Natolia, and the Demzt Begliarbey, or Generall of the Se•• are the chiefe. Others restraine them to a farre lesser number, setting them downe as they follow here in order. The first of the Begliarbeys is he of Greece, in the which is [ D] contayned all the countries that the Turke holds in Europe; yet some write that he hath a Begliarbey in Hongarie, and another in Sclauonia. He of Greece hath vnder him a∣boue thirtie Sangiacs: He hath more entertainement from the prince than any other, and his place is aboue all the rest.

There are also six Begliarbeys in Asia, and one distinct from Aegypt:the first of the six is called Begliarbey of Natolia, which was called in old time Asia the Lesse. He gouernes Pontus, Bythinia, the prouince of Asia, Lydia, Caria, and Lycia, all which prouinces are now called Natolia. His place in Court is next to the Begliarbey of Greece, and he com∣maunds ouer twelue Sangiacs. The Begliarbey of Caramania, which was in old time Cilicia, and Pamphylia, hath vnder him seuen Sangiacs. [ E]

The Begliarbey of Aladule, which is a place betwixt Sutya, Caramania, and Tocca to which in former times was called Paphlagonia, and is a moytie of Asia the Lesse, hath the commaund of seuen Sangiacs. Some say that this prouince of Aladule, whenas the prince was there, besides such as had entertainement, made thirtie thousand men, which were bound to serue on horsebacke for the prince, without any pay, hauing onely their charges and victualls of the countriemen.

The Begliarbey of Amasia, and Toccato, which was Cappadocia, and Gallatia, hath vnder him foure Sangiacs. The Begliarbey of Mesopotamia, or Dyarbeck, vnder whose gouernment is the rest of Armenia the Lesse, and part of the Greater, whereof the other part belongs vnto the Sophi, and to the Curdi, to the confines of Bagader, hath vnder his [ F] commaund, twelue Sangiacs or Gouernours of prouinces.

The Begliarbey of Damas, Surya, and Iudea, hath vnder him twelue Sangiacs. And the Begliarbey of Caire, whose power and charge extends vnto Amech, that is to say, to the Arabias, the which are subject to the Turkish empire, and enjoyed by him, but they

[ A] are not so obedient as the other countries of his Estate, yet Arabia the Happie is more subiect than the other, and he hath vnder him sixteene Sangiacs.

The Turke hath a Begliarbey of the sea, who is Admirall and Commaunder in all ma∣rine causes. This office hath beene created of late yeares, for that in former times, the Sangiac of Galipoli was woont to be Admirall at sea, and Barbarouse was the first that had this charge. The Turke hath foure Arcenalls: the one is at Pera, the which hath one hundred thirtie and three places, or lodgings for so many galleis: the second is at Gali∣poli of twentie lodgings, and the Admirall or Generall of the sea hath charge of these two, with some of his Sangiacs: the third is at Suez, neere to the Red sea, where there [ B] are fiue and twentie lodgings: the last is at Balzera vpon the Persian gulfe, which con∣taines fifteene gallies, and these two were vnder the Begliarbeys of Balzera or Caire.

As for his treasure, he hath two officers called Desterdari, the which many rightly be called gouernours of the reuenues: the one hath the charge of the reuenues which are raised in Europe, and the other in Natolia. They are offices of great dignitie, and they keepe an account of the Casna, that is to say, the princes treasure.

The Turkes haue this custome, after they haue once seised vpon any prouince, to root out all the nobilitie, especially, such as are of the bloud roiall: and as for rich and mightie families, they transport them into other places, which are accustomed to their gouern∣ment. Yet they suffer euery man to follow what religion he lists, and they force not any one to abiure his: but they do not suffer their subiects to fight, and go to war vnder any [ C] other prince.

¶ The Religion.

MAhomet the sonne of Abdala, an idolater, of the race of Ismaell, and of Hennina a Iew, both of base condition, was borne in the yeare 562. Being growne to some yeares, the Arabians Scenites accustomed to make incursions, and to steale, tooke him, and sold him to a merchant of Persia, who finding him fit for trafficke, affected him, and made so great account of him, as after his maisters death, he married the widow. Being thus rich he raised his spirit to higher matters, and made vse of the time being then fit for innoua∣tions. [ D] The Arabians were discontented with the Emperour Heraclius. The heresies of Arrius and Nestorius had miserably torne and dismembred the Church: the Iewes made a great number: the Sarrazins were powerful; and the Roman Empire was full of slaues. Mahomet seeing this opportunitie, framed a law, in which euery one had his share. He was assisted therein by two Iewes Apostates, and two heretickes, whereof the one was cal∣led Iohn a Nestorian, and the other Sergius of the Arrian sect. The chiefe end of this law, was to ouerthrow the diuinitie of Iesus Christ, wickedly opposed by the Iewes and Arabians. First he persuaded his wife, and by her meanes his neighbours, that the An∣gell Gabriell spake vnto him, so as he imputed the falling sickenesse whereunto he was sub∣iect, [ E] to the brightnesse of this Angel which threw him to the ground: then he extended it, allowing all that was pleasing to the sence and flesh, and offering libertie to slaues which should receiue this law. So as being pursued by the Maisters of these slaues which had ioined with him, and had reuolted, he fled to Medina Tanalbi, where he re∣mained some time. From this flight the Mahometans begin their Hera, or the numbring of their yeares. But there was nothing that did helpe more to extend the sect of Maho∣met, than the multitude of his victories, who defeated the Persians, made himselfe mai∣ster of Arabia, and chased the Romans out of Suria: and his successors did afterwards in∣large their Empire from the riuer of Euphrates, to the Atlanticke sea: they held Spaine, Sicile, and many other prouinces, and almost with a continuall course of victories they [ F] subdued or afflicted the East and West for three hundred yeres.

But to returne to the law of Mahomet, it maintaines circumcision and the distinction of cleane and vncleane meats, to content the lewes: it denies the diuinitie of Iesus Christ to please the Arrians, who were then powerfull: it is full of fables, to content ido∣laters, and it giues libertie to the flesh wherein most men take delight.

They confesse one God, and honour Iesus Christ, not as the sonne of God, but as a [ A] Prophet borne of Marie the Virgin; but they belieue not that he died vpon the Crosse. They do not honour images, and will not haue any. Friday is their day of rest, as Sun∣day is ours. They obserue a Lent of thirtie daies, which they call Ramadan, or Romo∣dan, during the which they eat not any thing in the day time; but whenas night comes, all meats are indifferent, but swines flesh, and in like manner they abstaine from wine and women. After which they haue their Easter, called Bayran, which continues three daies, during which, they haue all sorts of pleasures: but this feast falls not out alwaies at one prefixt time; but it is sometimes in Sommer, sometimes in Winter, somtimes the Spring, and sometiues in Autumne, the which happens for that they account not the day ac∣cording [ B] to the course of the Sunne, but of the Moone: wherefore they do carefully ob∣serue the new Moone, and salute it, and weare the signe of the halfe Moone, as we doe tha•• of the Crosse.

They are circumcised, after the maner of the Iewes, but not after the eight day, but af∣ter the eight yeare. They haue no bells, but their priests go to the top of high towers, from whence they call the Turkes with a loud voice, fiue times a day and night to come to prayers. The Mahometans will not be called Turkes, for that this name in the Hebrew tongue signifies banished, but Musulmans, that is to say, belieuing well.

There are foure sects, which are as it were foure orders of religious men among the Turkes, which differ in manner of liuing, habit, and ceremonies. These be the Torla∣ques, [ C] Deruis, Kalenders, and Huguiemales, which be very wicked and vicious, and de∣ceiue the simple people. They conuerse with Christians without any scruple, eat and traf∣ficke with them freely, yea and sometimes they marrie their daughters, and suffer them to liue after their owne law and religion. But they hate the Iewes exceedingly, and con∣temne them as the most vile people in the world, and they do not vouchsafe to eat with them or to marrie their daughters, no a Iew is not receiued into the number of the Ma∣hometans vntill he hath beene baptised a Christian.

The Turkes not onely forbeare to blaspheme the name of God, and Mahomet, but al∣so that of Iesus Christ, and the Virgin Marie, or of any of the Saints, and they punish blas∣phemers grieuously, of what sect or condition soeuer. [ D]

They assure themselues, that he that shall strictly obserue the lawes of their Mahomet shall enioy eternall life, and a Paradice full of delights, which shall be a garden enuiro∣ned with two goodly riuers, seated vnder a cleere heauen, and a very temperat aire, where they shall haue all the contents they can desire or wish for, that is to say, store of all kinds of exquisit meates, and faire wom••n, which shall serue them in vessells of gold and siluer. They hold also that the Angells shall be their cupbearers, & bring them milke in cups of gold, and wine in boules of siluer. Contrariwise, they that shall breake the laws of the Alcaron, are threatned with hell, and eternall death. Yet to molifie this feare, they haue an opinion that he shal firmely belieue in the Alcaron when he dies, how great a sinner soeuer he hath beene, shall be saued without all doubt. [ E]

¶ The Emperours of Constantinople, as well Christians, as Turkes, since the Empire of the West was diuided from that of the East, and giuen to Charlemaigne.

COnstantin the sixt, sonne of Leo the fourth, was Emperour after his father, in the yeare of Grace 780. He raigned nine yeares, being very young, with his [ F] mother Irene, and both being persuaded by Therasius, Patriarch of Constan∣tinople, caused a Councell to be held of three hundred and fiftie Bishops, by the which it was decreed, that images should be restored into Churches, the which Con∣stantin the fift had taken away. Some time after, Constantin depriued his mother of the

[ A] gouernement of the empire, and pulled out the eyes, and cut out the tongue of Nicepho∣rus, finding that he had a secret dessigne to make himselfe Emperour. He also put Marie his wife, daughter to Charlemaigne into a Monasterie, and then he tooke a Concubine by the aduice of his mother, who desired to make her sonne hatefull vnto the people. Soone after, she caused his eyes to be pulled out, and cast him into prison, where he died, in the yeare 798. Then she raigned alone fiue yeares, or thereabouts. In her time Charlemaigne was crowned Emperour of the West, in the yeare of Christ 801.

Nicephorus, a Patrician, vsurped the empire from Irene, in the yeare of Grace 803. He was good in the beginning, but afterwards he grew wicked, and was slaine fighting a∣gainst [ B] the Bulgarians.

Stauratius, his sonne, was wounded in the same battaile, and deposed from the em∣pire three moneths after, by Michael Curopalata, who had married Procopia his sister, and they sent him to end his dayes in a Monasterie.

Michael Curopalata, called Rangaba, was Emperour in the yeare of our Lord God 811. He was faint hearted, and a verie coward, so as in the first battaile which he had against the Bulgarians, he fled, and became a Monke, refusing to hold the imperiall dig∣nitie any longer.

Leo, an Armenian, the fifth of that name, was made Emperour, in the yeare of our Re∣demption 813. He was before colonell of the horsemen to Michael Curopalata. He cau∣sed [ C] the genetories of Michaels sonnes to be cut off, and banished them. He would not re∣store the images which he had beaten downe, and was slaine in the Church during diuine seruice, in the eight yeare of his empire. His wife was put into a monasterie, and his chil∣dren were hidden.

Michael, the Stuttering, or Thraule, a wicked man, and murtherer of Leo the fift, was emperour in the yeare 820. He died of a bloudie flix.

Theophilus, son to Michael the Stuttering, came vnto the empire in the yeare of Christ 829. He was a good Iusticer, but he hated images, and punished such as worshipped them. He grew into an exceeding melancholie, by reason of his continuall losses in bat∣taile, so as leauing his meat, and drinking nothing but water, he fell into a loosenesse of bodie, whereof he died.

[ D] Theodora, after the decease of Theophilus her husband, as tutrix to her sonne Michael, gouerned the empire happily, in the yeare of Grace 842, and she restored the images of Saints to Churches. In the end, Michael being capable of the gouernement, his mo∣ther became a Nunne, and left him the gouernement of the empire, in the yeare of our Redemption 856.

Michael, the sonne of Theophilus, succeeded his father from his infancie. He made Basil of Macedonie his companion in the empire, and was presently slaine by this ingratefull wretch, hauing raigned eleuen yeares, nine moneths, and fiue daies, after the time his mo∣ther deuoted her selfe a Nunne, and in all, fiue and twentie yeres, ten moneths, and foure∣teene [ E] dayes.

Basil of Macedonie was receiued emperour in the yere 867. He was slaine by a stagge which ran him into the bellie with his brow anklers.

Leo the sixt, surnamed the Phylosopher, began to gouerne in the yeare of Christ 886. He went sometimes all alone in a disguised habit, in the night, to see if they kept a good guard: but once the souldiers beat him, and carried him to prison, for the which he gaue them money in recompence.

Alexander, brother to Leo the sixt, succeeded him in the yeare of our Redemption 904. He was giuen to pleasure, and died of bleeding at his nose, and yard, hauing gormandised and played excessiuely at Tennis; for going hot to horsebacke, he brake a vaine, whereof [ F] he died.

Constantin the seuenth, sonne to Leo the sixt, was at the age of seuen yeares left by his father vnder the charge and gouernement of his mother Zoa, and began to hold the em∣pire after his vnkle Alexander, in the yeare of Christ 906. He restored learning in Greece, and left vnto his sonne a booke treating of the affaires of the empire, which the Venetians

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keepe as a great treasure. He raigned foureteene yeares with his mother Zoa, fiue and [ A] twentie with Romain Lecapen, who thought to chase him out of the empire, and about fif∣teene yeares alone, which was in all neere fiftie fiue yeares.

Romain Lecapen did so trouble Constantin in the empire, as he was forced to make him his companion or partaker, in the yeare of our Lord God 920. He gaue his daughter Helen in marriage to the said Constantin, and would haue vsurped the empire for himselfe, and his sonne Christopher: but he was taken in the warres which he had made against Symeon the Duke of Bulgaria, by his sonnes Stephen and Constantin, who dispossest him of the empire, and put him into a monasterie: who seeking to doe the like vnto Constan∣tin, they were taken and shut vp themselues. Thus Constantin remained peaceable and sole [ B] emperour.

Romain the Young, sonne to Constantin the seuenth, was Emperour in the yeare 959, vnder the gouernement of Nicephorus Phocas. He chased away his mother and sisters, who got their lining lewdly, and as for himselfe, being giuen to play and gluttonie, he dyed of poyson.

Nicephorus Phocas was Emperour in the yeare of our Redemption 963. He recoue∣red Cilicia, and the greatest part of Natolia, from the Sarrazins, and presently after, he tooke Antioch by night: but for that he layed many impositions vpon his people, by rea∣son of the warres, and caused base money to be coyned, and diminisht the weight, he was hated of the subjects, and slaine in the night sleeping in his chamber, by Iohn Zimisces: [ C] Theophania the wife of Nicephorus gaue entrie vnto the murtherer, and to them that were with him.

Iohn Zimisces was Emperour in the yeare of Christ 969. He was valiant, and recoue∣red all Bulgaria which the Roxolains held, after which he was poysoned. He made his companions in the empire, Basil and Constantin, brethren, sonnes to Romain, predecessors to Nicephorus Phocas.

Basile the second, and Constantin the eight, were Emperours in the yeare of Grace 976, vnder whom all Bulgaria was made subject to the empire of Constantinople, hauing al∣waies before reuolted. Constantin was companion in the empire with his brother Basile; and after his death was Emperour almost three yeares, and died wallowing in his de∣lights. [ D]

Romain Argyre, or Argyropiles, sonne in law to Constantin the eight, succeeded him, in the yeare of Christ 1034. He was drowned in a bath by the treason of his wife Zoa, and her adulterer.

Michael Paphlagon, adulterer to Zoa, and who had smothered her husband Argyropiles in a bath, was by her made Emperour of Constantinople, in the yeare 1034. He had the falling sicknesse, foaming at the mouth. Being somewhat faire, he was beloued of Zoa, but he had no great vnderstanding. In the end, he died of a dropsie.

Michael Calaphas, adoptiue sonne to Zoa, hauing sworne vnto her that he would not hold the empire but from her, was made Emperor in the yeare of our Redemption 1042: [ E] Soone after, he practised against Zoa, saying, that she sought to poyson him: whereup∣on, he put her into a Monasterie, and cut off her haire. But the people mutining against him made Theodora, sister to Zoa, Empresse: They drew Zoa out of the cloyster, pursued Calaphat, and put out his eyes, together with his brothers.

Zoa being drawne out of the Monasterie, was restored to the gouernement of the em∣pire, with her sister Theodora. The same yere that Michael Calaphat had raigned foure mo∣neths, Zoa being sixtie yeares old, yet ful of amarous passions, called Constantin Monomache from exile; and taking him to be her husband, she made him Emperour, these two wo∣men hauing scarce held the empire two moneths.

Constantin the ninth, surnamed Monomache, being of the imperial race, was made empe∣rour [ F] by his wife Zoa, in the yeare 1042. He was effeminat, and giuen to his pleasures, and kept a faire Concubine in stead of his wife; and yet he surmounted two great ciuile wars, and some others. Zoa died, being seuentie yeares old, and he being full of the gout, and surprised with a pluresie, died within few yeares after.

[ A] Theodora sister to Zoa, they hauing iointly held the Empire about three moneths, she go∣uerned it all alone after the death of Monomache, in the yeare 1055, about two yeres. She mannaged the affaires, so well, as all was in quiet during her gouernment. But for that in∣firmities opprest her with age, by the persuasion of her seruants, she made an old man cal∣led Michaell, partaker of the Empire, and liued not long after.

Michael the auncient was Emperour of Constantinople, with, and after Theodora. Hauing scarce raigned a yeare, Isaac Commenes deposed him; so as liuing a priuat life, he died soone after.

Isaac Commenes was Emperour in the yeare 1058, hauing depriued Michael the Aun∣cient. [ B] He was valiant, and of great courage, but arrogant, of a noble familie, and dili∣gent in his affaires. He was surprised with a paine in his side, being a hunting; so as des∣pairing of his health, he became a Monke, and declared Constantin Ducas Emperor, with the consent of the Senat and people.

Constantin Ducas the tenth of that name, came vnto the Empire in the yeare 1060. He was deuout, and a great justicer; but very couetous, and therfore hated of his subiects, and contemned of his enemies. He died being sixtie yeres old, leauing his wife Eudoxia, and three of his sonnes, heires of the Empire.

Eudoxia and her sonnes held the Empire after Constantin Ducas. This woman might well haue gouerned the State, if forraine warres had not troubled her. But for that stran∣gers [ C] inuaded the Empire of all sides, the opinion of such as held that a sufficient man should vndertake the charge, preuailed: so as Eudoxia contrarie to the promise made to her dying husband, hauing raigned seuen moneths, and certaine daies, married againe to Roman Diogines, whereof she soone repented, being discontented at the arrogancie of this man, who would gouerne all.

Romain Diogines held the Empire of Constantinople in the yeare 1068. He was taken in war by the Turkes and the Sultan Azan, who did him honour, and sent him backe with presents, hauing concluded a peace with him. But in the meane time all was in combu∣stion at Constantinople: Eudoxia was expelled, Diogines deposed, and Michael of Con∣stantin made Emperor, who put out the cies of Diogines, and then sent him into exile, in [ D] which estate he died, and was interred by his wife Eudoxia.

Michael surnamed Parapinace, by reason of the great famine which was in his time, a man vnfit for such a charge, was made Emperour, in the yeare 1071. Whilest that he busied himselfe to make verses vnder his maister Psellus, the Turkes inuaded the Empire in many places, especially towards Asia. It was then thought fit to chuse another Empe∣ror, and Michael was put into a Monasterie with his wife and sonne.

Nycephorus Botaniat of the familie of the Phocas, was chosen in the place of Michael Parapynace, in the yeare 1078. He was deiected by the Commenes, and put into a mona∣sterie, where he liued not long.

Alexius Commenes, sonne to the Emperour Isaac, held the Empire in the yeare 1081. [ E] he sought to crosse the French in the recouerie of the Holie land, but in the end he was forced to promise to furnish them with victualls, and other necessaries. He died of a lan∣guishing disease, being seuentie yeares old.

Caiolan, sonne to Alexius, held the Empire, in the yeare 1118. He died hauing hurt himselfe with a dart, the which he himselfe had poisoned, meaning to cast it at a wild boare,

Manuell brother, or as some say, sonne to Caiolan, obtained the Empire in the yeare 1142. He was a very treacherous prince, and full of wickednesse. He made warre against the Turkes, and hauing raigned neere eight and thirtie yeares, he liued a Monke, and died of sickenesse.

Alexius, sonne to Manuell, came to the Empire in the yere 1180, which he gouerned vn∣der [ F] Adronic his cousin german, who was his tutor, then his companion in the Empire, and in the end his murtherer: for he caused his head secretly to be cut off, and his bodie to be cast into the sea, Alexius being then but fifteene yeares old.

Andronic Commenes sonne to Isaac, held the Empire in the yeare one thousand one

hundred eightie and three: William king of Sicile made warre against him to reuenge the [ A] death of Alexius, and being assailed of all sides, Isaac Ange came against him, vanqui∣she•• ••••m, expelled him the Empire, tooke him, and pulled out one of his eies: he then 〈◊〉〈◊〉 him to be put vpon a she asse backeward, crowned him with garlicke or leekes, and gaue him the asses taile in his hand in steed of a scepter: and in this sort, he caused him to be led through Constantinople, the people reuiling him, casting dyrt in his face, and bea∣••ng him with 〈…〉〈…〉. Being thus brused and broken, he died, and was hanged, and the women with hookes tare him in peeces.

Isaac 〈◊〉〈◊〉 unto the Empire in the yeare 1185. His younger brother Alexius pulled 〈…〉〈…〉, tooke away the Empire from him, and kept him in prison, vntill such [ B] tim•• 〈…〉〈…〉 the sonne of Isaac obtained succours from the French and Venetians, and fr•••• 〈◊〉〈◊〉 ••••ther, who died soone after, hauing taken the aire too boldly, after his long re∣•••••••• in prison.

〈◊〉〈◊〉 Ange brother to Isaac, was Emperor after him, in the yere 1195. But in the end 〈◊〉〈◊〉 expelled, as hath beene said by Alexius sonne to Isaac, by the helpe of Baldwin and the Veneti••ns.

Alexius the younger sonne to Isaac Ange, was restored to the imperiall seat in the yeare 1204: but as he began to gouerne, Murzyphile issued from a base familie, and ad∣uanc••d by him, slew him. This Murzyphile finding afterwards some resistance, fled away by night with his wife, whores, and treasure, and within short space after, he was [ C] brought backe a prisoner out of Morea to Constantinople, where he died miserably. So as the citie remained to the French, and Baldwin was the first Emperor of the French na∣tion in the East.

Baldwin Earle of Flaunders, was made Emperour in the yeare 1205. He recoue∣red all that did belong vnto the Empire of Constantinople, except Adrianopolis, the which was taken by Theodore sonne in law to Alexius the murtherer, for the dowrie of his wife, and this Adrianopolis was the seat of his Empire. And as the French besieged it, and were readie to take it, Baldwin was taken, and put to death, hauing rainged scarce a yeare.

Henry, brother to Baldwin, was Emperor after him, in the yere 1206. He left his daugh∣ter [ D] Yoland his heire, who was married to Peter of Auxerre.

Peter of Courtenay, grandchild to Lewis the Grosse, King of France, Earle of Aux∣etre, succeeded in the Empire, by the meanes of Yoland his wife, in the yeare 1216, whose head was cut off at a banquet by Theodore Lascares, who termed himselfe Emperour of Adrianopolis, and of Greece, hauing drawne him vnto it vnder a colour of peace, and by a false oath. Some others write that Lascares had laid ambushes in the forests of Thes∣salia, at a place called Tempe, and that he surprised Peter, carried him away, and caused him to die in captiuitie. His wife Yoland held the Empire two yeres, during his imprison∣ment.

Robert, sonne to Peter, hearing newes of his fathers misfortune, went out of France [ E] and came to Constantinople, where he was receiued Emperour in the yeare 1220. He tooke to wife a young ladie, promised to a gentleman of Bourgondie, who not able to endure that wrong, came into the pallace, cut off his ladies nose, & cast her mother (who had made this new match) into the sea. The Emperour who went vnto Rome to receiue the crowne, durst not say any thing, but returning with an intent to reuenge it, he died of sickenesse in Achaya.

Baldwin the second, sonne to Robert, succeeded his father, in the yeare 1228. In the end Michaell Paleologus entred the citie by intelligence, Baldwin being then at the strait of Constantinople with a great armie. At that time the Grecians recouered the Empire of Constantinople, which the French had held neere sixtie yeares. [ F]

Michaell Peleologus (to whom Theodore Lascares dying, left Iohn Lascares his sonne in 〈◊〉〈◊〉, as a sheepe vnto the wolfe) surprised Constantinople in the yeare 1259, hauing fi•••••• expelled William king of Achaia, with the helpe of the Geneuois, and vsurped his realme. He came to the Councell of Lyons, whereas Pope Gregorie and he became

[ A] good friends, for which cause he was so hated of the Greecians, as after his death, he recei∣ued no honour at his funeralls: yet the empire continued in his house neere two hun∣dred yeares, and vntill the Turkes tooke it.

Andronic the second, eldest sonne to Paleologus, succeeded his father in the yeare of our Lord God 1283. He made his sonne Michael (whom some hold to be his sonne in law) companion or partaker in the empire, but he died in the yeare of our Redemption 1319 so as he then called another, named Andronic Constantin Despot, to haue part of the empire, in the place of the forenamed Michael; whereat, Andronic, the sonne of Michael, being incensed, tooke armes against the Emperour his Grandfather, and vanquished him [ B] with the helpe of the Geneuois, but the Venetians reinstared the old man. In the end, he died, being aboue seuentie yeares old.

Andronic the third, sonne to Michael, continued the warres six yeares together against his grandfather. They did often make a peace, by the meanes of their friends; but it held not, vntill the yeare of Grace 1332, whenas young Andronic entred by policie into Con∣stantinople, where being entred, he did no harme vnto his grandfather, but suffered him to raigne with him during his life. After the death of his grandfather, he got the victorie of his enemies: then, being about fiftie yeres old, he was surprised with a feauer, and a paine in his head, whereof he died within foure daies.

Iohn Cantacuzen was tutor to Iohn Paleologus, and his companion in the empire, in the [ C] yeare of Grace 1341.

Iohn Paleologus, called also Caloian, succeeded his father in the yeare of our Saluation 1341. His tutor Iohn Cantacuzen was expelled; but fiue yeares after, he made warre a∣gainst Paleologus, and his mother. He was the first which brought the Turkes armed into Europe. In the end, Constantinople yeelded vnto him, and hauing it, he did no harme to any man, carrying himselfe onely for companion of the empire to Iohn, to whom he gaue his daughter in marriage▪ After this, Iohn Paleologus being banished, he made war, being assisted by the Turkes, to whom he gaue the first habitation in Europe, and he en∣tred into Constantinople in the yeare of our Saluation 1357. Then Cantacuzen left the empire, and retired himselfe into a Monasterie, and Mathew his sonne, seeking to be com∣panion [ D] to Paleologus, was forced to desist. Iohn Paleologus died in the yeare of Christ 1384, hauing raigned sixteene yeares with Cantacuzen, and seuen and twentie alone, being in all three and fortie yeares; and Andronic, his eldest sonne, who, notwithstanding is not put in the number of Emperours, held the empire three yeares.

Manuel, the sonne of Iohn Paleologus, came vnto the empire, in the yeare of our Lord God 1387, and the most remarkable thing of his life, was, that he left seuen sons, whereof the eldest, called Iohn, succeeded in the empire.

Iohn, eldest sonne to Manuel, succeeded in the empire, in the yeare of our Saluation 1422. He was more addicted to peace than warre; and being accompanied by all the princes and Prelats of Greece, he assisted at the Councell of Ferrara, vnder the authori∣tie of Pope Eugenius the fourth, the which was afterwards transported to Florence. Then the two Churches, Greeke, and Latine, were vnited. Being returned to Constanti∣nople, he liued not long after, and died without any children, in the yeare of our Redem∣tion 1445.

Constantine the eleuenth, sonne to Manuel, after the death of his brother Iohn, came vn∣to the empire, in the yeare of Grace 1445. Being before king of Morea, he was called Dragon, for the crueltie he vsed against the Turkes. But whenas Constantinople was taken by Mahomet the second, sonne to Amurath the second, retiring himselfe to the citie gate to flie away, he was smothered in the presse, the nine and twentieth of May, in the yeare of our Lord God 1453. His head was carried throughout the enemies campe vp∣a Lance. Thus Constantinople, raised and inricht by Constantine the sonne of Hellen, vn∣der [] this Constantine the sonne of another Hellen, was taken, and brought vnder the Turkes subjection.

Although it seemes fit to follow with those Turkish Emperours which haue succeeded him that first made himselfe maister of Constantinople; yet, for that I discourse here of

the empire of these princes, I haue held it more conuenient to set them all downe in this [ A] place, and 〈◊〉〈◊〉 begin from the time that the Turkes began to liue vnder one monarch of the familie of the Ottomans.

Ottoman then, the sonne of Orthog••le, was Emperour of the Turkes, in the yeare of our ••••••mption 1200. He was the first that receiued the glorie of his nation, which had taken ••ierusalem, in the yeare of our Saluation 1008; but they had beene vanquished by the Christians, vnder 〈◊〉〈◊〉 of Boulloin; so as they which remayned, retyred to Nicea, after which, they had 〈…〉〈…〉 of ••ame, vntill this, who made himselfe monarch, and holds the first 〈…〉〈…〉 Historie. He subdued a great part of Bythinia, and tooke many 〈…〉〈…〉 vnto the Pontike Sea. But that which got him most honour, was, the [ B] taking of the towne of Sy••a, sometimes called Sebastia. He died old, the first yeare of the 〈◊〉〈◊〉 of Philip of Valois.

〈◊〉〈◊〉, the sonne of Ottoman, was Emperour of the Turkes after his father, in the 〈◊〉〈◊〉 Christ 1328. He was more valiant than his father, bountifull, and of a good grace. He conquered the countries of Misia, Lycaonia, Phrygia, and Caria: he tooke 〈…〉〈…〉, now called Bursia, the auncient aboad of the kings of Bythinia, and there re∣ceiued a wound whereof he died, the first yeare of Iohn the French king. He raigned two and twentie yeares.

Sol••m••n, the sonne of Orchanes, raigned two yeares after the death of his father: he made warre against the Grecians, and past out of Asia into Europe, where he defeated the Bulgarians, and tooke in Thrace the towne of Adrianopolis, and Philippolis. Some [ C] others say, that he died in his fathers life time, falling from his horse going a hunting, and that soone after his father died of griefe. Wherefore some doe not number him among the Turkish Emperours.

Amurath the first, the sonne of Orchanes, was Emperour of the Turkes in the yeare of our Lord God 13••0. He being incited by Iohn Paleologus, sent two thousand Turkes to his succour, the which was the fountaine of the ruine of Constantinople: for being 〈◊〉〈◊〉 with the wealth of Europe, he transported at another time six thousand Turkes in the gallies of Genoa, vnder colour to succour the Emperour of Constantinople; but his dessigne was to vsurpe Greece. Thus he crost the arme of Hellespont at Abyde: he [ D] tooke Gallipolis, and other townes, and then he fell vpon the Emperour himselfe, who neuer suspected him, and he tooke Seruia, and Bulgaria, and defeated the princes. But a seruant to Lazare Despote of Seruia, to reuenge his maister who was dead, flue Amurath, in the yeare of Christ 1378.

••••••••zeth, Emperor of the Turkes, the first of that name, after the death of his father Amurath, slue Solyman his elder brother by treason, and enjoyed the empire alone, in the yeare of our Redemption 1378. In reuenge of his fathers death, he made warre against Mar•• Lord of Bulgaria, whom he vanquished, and put to death, and subdued a great part of his countrie. He was called Ba••azeth Hildrin, that is to say, Lightning, he was so sodaine in all his affaires. He subdued in a manner all Greece, and besieged Constanti∣nople, [ E] but he was taken by Tamerlane, who put him into a cage of yron, and carried him in that sort ouer all Asia and Syria, and in the end Baiazeth died in this miserie. After his death, some hold there was a vacancie vnto Mahomet, who was one of his sonnes.

Iosua, or Cyriscelebes, which some vnproperly call Calapin, eldest sonne to Baiazeth, after the defeat of his father, was dispossessed of Asia by Tamerlane, and carried captiue to the Emperour of Constantinople, who intreated him beseeming a prince, and then he suf∣fered him to go into Asia, where he recouered his fathers realme. He was slaine by his brother Mustapha, otherwise called Musulman, in the flower of his age, in the yeare of Christ 1407. [ F]

Mustapha, or Musulman, was Emperour of the Turkes a verie short time, for his bro∣ther Moyses seised vpon the State, and expelled him. Some call this man Mustapha Orcha∣•••••• the s••cond, and they say, that he was sonne and heire to Iosua, and that he was slaine by 〈◊〉〈◊〉 his vnkle by the fathers side: but Moyses did soone suffer the punishment which

[ A] he had deserued: for he was also slaine by his owne brother Mahomet. There are some which write that Mahomet raigned immediatly after Baiazeth his father, and they make no mention of Iosua nor of Mustapha, but after Baiazeth they place his sonne Mahomet. Moyses expelled and slew his brother Mahomet, or as some say, his nephew Orchanes, and afterwards he was also slaine by his brother Mahomet. These two are not by some put among the Emperors of the Turkes, for that they raigned little.

Mahomet the first, brother to Iosua, Mustapha, and Moyses, was Emperour, in the yeare 1407▪ Some attribute to him that which is spoken of Iosua: he recouered all the places which Ta••erlan had taken from his father, and he expelled his owne kinsfolks out of Ga∣lacia, [ B] the countrie of Pontus, and Cappadocia. Being returned into Greece, he remai∣ned at Adrianopolis, which he made the seat of his Empire, driuing away the Christians that were within it. He died the twelfth yere of his raigne, and of Grace 1418.

Amurath the second, sonne to Mahomet the first, succeeded his father in the yeare 1418. He first instituted the Ianissaries, which were Christians renegados, for the guard of his person. He inuaded Hongarie, Bosnia, Albania, Valachia, and Greece. He tooke Thessalonica from the Venetians. Hauing held the Empire two and thirtie yeares, he left it to his sonne Mahomet the second, in the yeare 1450.

Mahomet the second, caused his younger brother to be presently slaine. He was most wicked, and did not belieue in any God: he said that Mahomet was a false Prophet, and [ C] like vnto himselfe, he mockt at the holie Patriarchs and Prophets. He purchased the surname of Great, and left it to the house of the Ottomans. He ruined the Empire of Constantinople, taking the citie by assault, the nine and twentieth day of May 1453, and he did the like to the Empire of T••ebysonde. He tooke twelue realmes, and two hun∣dred townes from the Christians. In the yeare 1479▪ he besieged the Island of Rhodes, but it was well defended by the knights, and their great Maister Peter of Aubusson, or of Amboise, a Frenchman. In the end he died of the chollicke, being eight and fiftie yeares old, and hauing raigned one and thirtie.

Baiazeth the second, sonne to Mahomet the second, was Emperor by meanes of the Ia∣nissaries, in the yeare 1481. He subdued Valachia, then he went against the Sultan of Aegypt, who was the stronger. He tooke Lepanto, Modon, and Duras from the Veneti∣ans. [ D] Selim his younger sonne, whom by the Ianissaries meanes, he had preferred before his elder, and declared Emperour in his lifetime, first expelled him, and then poisoned him, in the yeare 1512.

Selim was Emperour in the yere 1512. He added to his fathers murder, that of his bre∣thren Achmet and Corcut, and he caused seuen of his brothers children to be strangled. He vanquished and expelled the Sophy of Persia, and he defeated the two Souldans of Aegypt, Campson and Tomumbeye, with the Mamm••••us, and Arabians. He added Aegypt and Arabia to his Empire, and took•• the great Caire▪ then returning into Greece, he had an vlcer in the raines of his backe, the which encreasing dayly, was the cause of his death, [ E] the eight yeare of his Empire, and of Grace 1519.

Solyman, which some say to be the second of that name, Emperour of the Turkes, re∣couered Syria, defeated Gazel, who had reuolted, tooke Belgrada, Rhodes, and Buda twice. In the yeare 1543 he tooke Strigonia, and Alba Regale in Hongarie. He conque∣red the realmes of Assyria, and Mesopotamia, with the citie of Babylon. He spoiled the frontires of Armenia, Media, and Persia, and tooke Tauris, the chiefe citie of Persia twice. He caused his eldest sonne Mustapha to be strangled, to please his concubine Rosa, who desired that her sonne Selim might be Emperour after his father. He besieged the Island of Malta, and Vienna in Austria; but he was repulsed by the great Maister called Peter Parisot or La Valette a Frenchman, & by Charles the fift, Emperor. And Solyman died [ F] in Hongarie, in the yere 1566, before the Castle of Sighet, the which he besieged, hauing raigned seuen and fortie yeares.

Selim the second, entred into possession of the Empire by the meanes of Mehemet Bas∣sa, before the death of his father was discouered. He tooke the Island of Cypres in the yeare 1571: but he lost his nauall armie the same yere, at the battaile of Lepanto, which

he had against the Christians; but he repaired it soone, and hauing recouered Tunes and [ A] Gou•••• 〈◊〉〈◊〉 Africke from the king of Spaine, he died, in the yeare 1574, in the eight of his 〈◊〉〈◊〉. He did all this by his Ba••••••s, whilest that he tooke his pleasure, being much 〈…〉〈…〉 women and wine.

〈…〉〈…〉 the third, sonne to 〈◊〉〈◊〉, enioied the Empire eight daies after his fathers death, in the yeare 1574. 〈…〉〈…〉 brethren to be slaine, and two of his fathers ••••••••••bines th•••• 〈…〉〈…〉 ••••began to gouerne at the age of eight and twentie yeares, being 〈…〉〈…〉 religion, and a great justieer. He was much gi∣••en to w•••• 〈…〉〈…〉. He was father to one hundred and twentie children, and g••ew 〈…〉〈…〉. He died in Ianuarie 1595, the one and twentieth yere of his Em∣pi••••, [ B] 〈…〉〈…〉 yeares old.

〈…〉〈…〉 the third, succeeded his father Amurath in the yeare 1595. He slew nineteene 〈…〉〈…〉 ••••••thren, and drowned some of his fathers concubi••es, whom he found with child 〈…〉〈…〉 of his death. He put to death his eldest sonne with his mother, for that they 〈…〉〈…〉 of Astrologers how long he should raigne. In the yere 1603, the Sophy of 〈…〉〈…〉 couered P••••••ls and Bages from him with a great part of his countrie, which Se∣•••••• the first, and Solyman the seconh had vsurped. He died of the plague in Ianuarie 1604, 〈◊〉〈◊〉 ••••igned nine yeares.

〈◊〉〈◊〉, who raigneth this yere 1612, succeeded to his fathers Empire in the yere 1604, ••••ing but sixteene or seuenteene yeares old. In the yeare 1605, he tooke Strigonia, and [ C] 〈◊〉〈◊〉 other places in Hungarie. They say that he causeth his fathers bodie to be carried 〈…〉〈…〉 a••••ie, being imbalmed, and in a coffin of lead, belieuing that his desseignes shall succeed the better. He hath made a truce with the Emperor Rodolphus, and them of the house of Austria, for fifteene yeares, and hath turned all his forces against the Sophy. He is •• co••••teous prince, and of great hope.