The rarities of Turkey, gathered by one that was sold seven times a slave in the Turkish Empire, and now exposed to view for the benefit of his native countrey:.

The Tribute of Christians.

THey pay a part of all en∣crease, not onely of Corn and Cattle, but even Me∣chanicks pay it out of all their pro∣fits. And then they pay another sub∣sidie, for every single man through a Family, each head a Crown. If Parents refuse this Tribute, their Children are taken from them, and made Slaves. Others are bound in Chains, and beg from door to door to pay this Crown; which if they cannot this way pro∣cure, they are cast into perpetual Prison; and when all Duties are performed, it is yet lawful for the Turk to chuse the best amongst his Children, whom he circum∣ciseth, and removes from all ap∣proach or sight of Parents, and breeds him for his Wars, ne'er to return to Friends; and so a childe

easily forgets both Christ, his Pa∣rents, and his Kindred; that after, if he chance in company with them, he shall not know them. No Man can express by Words, the Lamentations, Cries, Tears and grievous sighs, at this distraction of Children. The Father to see his Son (educated in the fear of Christ) torn from him, and made an Instrument of Satan, to oppose Christ: hurried from his Mother, to live perpetually with strangers, leaving whatsoever is dear in blood, pleasing in society, or loving in familiarity, with an everlasting dereliction: after listed in the ranks of those the Greeks call Fatherless and Motherless; yet many of these although they have denied Christ, carry about them the Gospel of St. John, (In the beginning was the word, &c. in Greek or the Arabick tongue) as an amulet or preservative in their Armpits; and with great de∣sire

they expect the Christian Sword (according to some Turkish prophesies) should revenge and free them from those great afflictions and persecutions; and that if Christians do it not, whatever is the cause, or with what mindes soever hindred; all very ill deserve of Christian Religion.