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IT is the custom of the Armenians, that when any one of them apostatizes, and desires to return again to the Church, he cannot have Absolution but at the same City or Village where he first abjur'd his Religion.
Now it happen'd that a young Armenian being sent to Smyrna with a very considerable quantity of Goods, and falling to debauchery, turn'd Mahometan, to
the end he might defraud his Father and his Brethren of their Estate, according to Haly's Law, already mention'd. But after he had spent good part of the Goods in Debauchery, he return'd to the Three Churches, where the Grand Patriarch liv'd, to be absolv'd from his Fault; but the Patriarch telling him he must go to the Bishop of Smyrna, he went accordingly; and in some few days after he had under∣gone the Penance enjoyn'd him, he went to the Cadi, and with a great Resolution, Sir, said he, you know that some years since I turn'd Mahometan; now I come to declare before ye that I have repented, and do repent of the foul Crime I committed, when I deny'd the Saviour of the World, and embrac'd your wicked Law. The Cadi, who thought it had been at first only some evaporation of Extravagance, endeavour'd to reclaim him by fair words and promises; but when he heard him persist in his resolution, when he heard him curse and blaspheme Mahomet, he caus'd him to be carry'd to the Piazza, where he was cut to pieces immediately. For no persons go with more courage and joy to suffer for their Faith, then the Armenians.
In the year 1651 there happen'd to be a Wedding between a young Turk and a Virgin of the same Nation. To this Wedding was invited an Armenian Lady, who was a great friend of the Bridegroom's Mother. The Armenian had an only Son of about twelve years of age, that earnestly desir'd to go along with her; at first she refus'd him, knowing that after the age of five or six years, no Youth is permitted to be in company with the Turkish Women or Maids. But the Boy still pressing his Mother, and being seconded by an Aunt, who to please her Nephew, told her she might let him go in Girls Apparel; at last the indulgent Mother, over-rul'd by the importunity of the Child, took him along with her in a female dress. Three days the solemnity of the Turkish Weddings last: but the very first day, an old Gipsy-Turk casting her Eye upon the young Armenian, and finding him too sparkish and too nimble for a Girl, suspected his Sex; and calling his Mother aside, told her, that by all the gestures and actions of the Child, she could be no Girl, but a Boy in dis∣guise. The Mother not only deny'd the matter, but also seem'd highly offended at the old Womans suspition; who as much incens'd to have her judgment que∣stion'd, decoy'd the Child among the Eunuchs of the Family, and caus'd him to be search'd; and finding her self in the right, spred it presently about the house. Im∣mediately the people cry'd that the Chambers were defil'd, that the Armenian Lady had done it in derision of their Law; and seizing Mother, Aunt, and Youth, carry'd them all before the Basha, demanding Justice. The Basha dismiss'd the Mother and the Aunt, but kept the Youth six or sev'n days, hoping the rage of the people would be over. But in vain he strove to plead for the Child, though the Father offer'd them half the weight of him in Gold, for the Basha was forc'd to deliver him up into the hands of the marry'd Womans kindred; who carry'd the Child to the Market-place of the City, where they stript him stark naked; and first they flea'd him from his Neck behind down to the Wast, and so left him with a Guard upon him all night. The Cadi and Moullah's exhorted the Child to turn Mahometan, and they would preserve him from further mischief. His Mother beg'd him to have pity upon her and himself, and to turn Mahometan to save his life. But neither tears, nor all the tender words that grief and affection could inspire, could shake the con∣stancy of the Infant, who with a resolute utterance answer'd, that he had hitherto suffer'd, and still would suffer patiently; and that nothing griev'd him, but that his Mother should exhort him to deny his Saviour. Next day the pitiless Turks came and flea'd all his Breast and his Stomach, and so left him all night under a Guard, intending to have flea'd him part by part every day. But the Basha abhorring their Cruelty, came the next day with his Guards, and caus'd his Head to be cut off.
Van is a City peopl'd as well with Armenians as Turks; so that it is a usual thing for the Armenian and Turkish Boys to play together. One day it unfortu∣nately fell out, that the Boys playing one among another, and flinging Stones at each other, an Armenian Boy hit a young Turk full upon the Temples, and strook him dead. Presently the other Turkish Boys and the Rabble seiz'd him, and carry'd him to the Basha; the Father and Mother of the Child slain follow'd with hideous out-crys, bawling for justice, or that the Boy should turn Mahometan to expiate his fault. The Armenian Parents offer'd a large sum of Money to redeem their Child; but the adverse party obstinate against all accommodation, the Basha was constrain'd to
deliver the Child, giving sentence that the young Armenian should endure the same death the Turk had suffer'd, and no other. Immediately the Turks hurry'd the poor Child to the place where he had unfortunately slain his play-fellow; and after the Parents of the young Turk had had the two first hits, he was presently brain'd by a show'r of Stones from the Rabble. Yet as near death as he knew himself to be, without any disturbance at all, he exhorted his weeping play-fellows to stand firm to the Faith of Jesus Christ, for which he was going to dye.
Another time an Armenian Merchant coming from the Indies to Grand Cairo, went to the Coffee-house according to custom, being a rendesvous of all the Mer∣chants in the Town. There falling into discourse, by reason of the heat of the weather, he took off his Bonnet made after the Armenian fashion of divers Colours, and laid it behind him, keeping his black Cap only upon his head. When the Moullah came about to hasten the people to go away according to the custom, which I have already declar'd, the Armenian hastily rising up, a Turk, concealing the Merchant's Bonnet, clap'd his own Bonnet upon his head. Upon that all the Turkish Merchants that were there came and congratulated the Armenian Merchant, telling him, how glad they were to see that he had embrac'd the good Law. At which words the Armenian surpriz'd, takes off the Turbant, throws it to the Ground before all the Company, and stamp'd it under foot. This action of contempt so enrag'd the Turks, that they carry'd him before the Basha, before whom it was in vain to justifie himself, or to affirm that the Turbant was malitiously put upon his head; for the Turks swore the contrary, and that he took it of his own accord, and therefore he must either turn Turk or dye for it. Upon his refusal they put him in Prison, and in a few days the sentence was brought him from the Mufti and Cadi, that he must either turn or be burnt alive. The severity of the sentence overpower'd him at first to embrace the Mahumetan Law. But four or five years after returning from the Indies to Cairo, he came where the Basha was sitting in Council with the Grandees of the Country, and getting as near the Mufti as he could, and throwing his Turbant in his face; There Dog, said he, Thou wert the cause that I have worn it so long, of which I have repen∣ted, and do repent from the bottom of my heart; for I know that neither thou nor thy Law are worth a Straw. At the same time the croud laid hold of him, and drag'd him to the Piazza, where he dy'd in the midst of the flames with an admirable con∣stancy.
A rich Merchant of Zulpha, call'd Cotgia Soultenon, was so well belov'd by Sha-Sefi, that he often went to Dine at his house, But one day it fell out that the King having eat and drank to excess, upon his return home fell crop-sick, upon which the report ran that the Armenian had poyson'd him. Which report coming to his ears, fearing least the King should dye, and himself be put to cruel Torments, he took a dose of Poyson and dy'd. Which when the King, who was well again the next day, understood, he was very much troubl'd for his death.
The same Cotgia Soultenon had a Cafer sent him from Melinda for a Slave; who being young and very apprehensive soon learnt the Persian and Turkish Languages, and was instructed in the Christian Religion, and Christen'd by the name of Huzod or Joseph. After his Master's death he turn'd Mahumetan, and so continu'd twenty years. At the end whereof returning to Zulpha, he beg'd pardon of the Church; and all the rest of his days so crucify'd himself with Fasting, that every one pitty'd him; and when the Armenian Bishops told him he had done well, he made no other answer, but that he was not worthy to live upon the Earth who had deny'd his Saviour, only he hop'd that he would have mercy upon him; and so continu'd his austere penance 'till he dy'd.