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:.

CHAP. IV. A Lamentation for loss of Christians destroyed.

AFflicted with an infinite and in∣credible sorrow (most high and mighty Mo∣narchs and Go∣vernours of Christian Commonwealths) to see the sad condition, and most mise∣rable being of our Brethren under the Turkish slavery; whereof some seduced from the bosome of our

Church to heretical unhappiness; others with civil and hostise sword, slain, murthered, and cast to de∣vouring Beasts; others made cap∣tive to perpetual servitude, and most cruelly afflicted. They all by me in lamentable sobs and groanings complain, O monstrous, mischievous ambition of ill men, and wicked covetousness of ruling! How many equal souls consecrated to God's Divine Worship, have you betrayed to Death and to the Devil? How many Principalities and Kingdoms of great Kings, and all sorts of Nobility, have you de∣stroyed? How many walls of state∣ly Towns have you demolished? How many sumptuous Palaces and strong stately Castles have you levelled with the ground? How many lawful Owners have you de∣jected from eminent Estates and quiet Conditions, and banished to perpetual disconsolations?

And although I intend not to write the acts of Princes, but to delineate the calamities and trage∣dies of Captives, I cannot forbear remembrance of that abomina∣ble discord of the Earl of Scrvia, a potent and proud Prince, who a∣greeing (a shameful foul example of a vitious ambition) with the Bassa of Bosnia, (his neighbour-E∣nemy) and having many Castles and strong holds upon the Turkish Confines, even to the River Savus, (which divides Illyria from Croatia) and defended all those Provinces which lye between that River and the River Dravus, from Turkish violences and incursions: This Earl or Lord of Servia, falling into variance and some petty contro∣versies with the Nobility of Scla∣vonia, made friendship with the said Bassa, and joyning their Ar∣mies both together, invaded the Sclavonians, partly at difference be∣tween

themselves, and partly im∣potent; wholly destroys them and their Province with fire and sword, ruining their Towns and Castles, some by violence and force, some by craft and treachery, (customary with wicked men and Turks) and so totally vanquished and con∣quered them. And after a few Months had passed, this Bassa be∣holding the Earl's rich Provinces, and neighbouring with his, he took or made occasions to invade him, whom at length he kill'd; and so reduced all his Territories under the Turkish Government. Thus this seditious Atheist, Traytor to his Country and his Brethren, most ignominiously lost his life: for such are the Turk's rewards to whomsoever by craft, policy, or villanous fraud, he can lay hold on or ensnare. The like was done with some Noble-men of Hungary, whom they reduced to miserable captivity.

Wherefore (most Christian Mo∣narchs) the cruelties of this Ty∣rant, ought with all industry and vigilance, be both feared and pre∣vented; lest considering your fair Provinces, and viewing them with a fascinating eye, he finde you dis∣agreeing, and thereby infeebled, he assault you on all sides, not onely Candia, Calabria, Malta, and Sicily, but even Italy, France, Spain, and Germany; and prove an universal scourge and terror to all Christen∣dome. They are wise, who by o∣thers harms prevent their own: you are concerned, when your neighbours house is fired. But not to trouble you in this kinde, I recommend to you, most prudent Governours, the correction and a∣mendment of this great error, and return to the deplorable calamities and afflictions our Brethren suffer under the yoke of Tribute in the Turk's Dominions, where some

with chains about their necks, are dragged through sharp and spiny parts of Thracia and lesser Asia, with naked feet, in thirst and hun∣ger: and if by labour of long journeys, diseases, or other griefs they die (as often happens to men of Quality and bred in ease) are hurl'd strip'd in the next ditch, (though not half dead) to the care of ravenous fowls; others, that is, young people of either sex, endure perforce the filthy lusts of their buy∣ers and their fenars, with hideous cryes and howlings of violated and vitiated people; the age of six yeers not defending them: others igno∣rant in husbandry or Mechanick Arts, and literated men (who are least saleable) are for long time driven from Town to Town, from street to street; and being once sold, compell'd with clubs and scourges to learn Trades and dayly employ∣ments in base businesses and griev∣ous

pains: others of more robusti∣ous strength, are made slaves to Gallies, tied by the legs with chains, and most miserably tor∣tured; whose sad calamities the power of humane wit cannot ex∣press in words. And if these poor unfortunate souls, could have fore∣known that miserable being, they'd rarther have chosen a thousand deaths. If pains of life and death were e'er commix'd toge∣ther; yea, if to live long and many days, and die every hour, were ever extant, it is in Turky: Aegyptian ser∣vitude, Babylonian banishment, As∣syriack captivity, Roman destructi∣on, are toyes and trifles to these ca∣lamities. People, who live as it were in the firy Furnace of the Chaldean Hur, and crying up to heaven with sighs and groans, O Lord, how long! arise and forsake us not in the end: and when oppressed and grieved be∣yond all hope, they turn their eyes

again on their own Countries, like∣wise in captivity; yet wish them∣selves rather slaves there, then where they are: their prayers are not for liberty, but change of place; and for that cause, indiffe∣rent for death or life, they turn Fu∣gitives; and some leaving their flocks in deserts, their Oxen at plow, expose themselves to devo∣ration; some murthering their Masters and their Children; some burning their houses in revenge; some run away, hiding themselves in Caves and hollow Trees, with fearful wants and dangers; which I here forbear, having given the Reader some taste thereof before. And now they turn their cries to you all Christian Monarchs and Governours of Commonwealths:

Imploring and beseeching the Pope of Rome, who should be Fa∣ther of our Country, and all sorts of men belonging to Christ his

holy Church, That they uniting all sects of men in peace and con∣cord, would labour to suppress this common enemy, and restore their Brethren unto liberty.

Imploring and beseeching the Emperor and all Imperial Princes, Dukes, Cities, and Nobilities, to cool their hot Calentures of ambi∣tion, and avarice of neighbours rights, and set apart domestick quarrels, & call together and unite their strengths against so cruel an Usurper, and hostile Enemy, and labour to defend their present, or else recover their lost Territories: and then be assured, the circum∣spection of the Spanish Souldiery, the warlike fierceness of the Bel∣gicke Provinces, the quick pru∣dence of the Italian wits, the ro∣bustiousness and stoutness of the Germans, will be easily perswaded by the King of Romans, against this universal Enemy; remem∣bring

you withal, No Crown sits so gloriously on an Emperour or Princes head, as that which bear∣eth a true Title of the Peoples safe∣ty and lawful Liberties.

Imploring and beseeching the most Christian King of France, to employ his helping and heroick Arms, in safeguard (according to his Title) of his Christian Bre∣threns liberties, and his own from Turkish Tyranny.

Imploring and beseeching the most mighty and potent Kings of England, Poland, Denmark, Swede∣land, with all Republicks, Cities, and Corporations Christian, to u∣nite, and joyne in one, their strengths and powers in war against this cankered common Enemy of their Religion, Crowns and Digni∣ties.

Imploring and beseeching, all sorts of Powers and Authorities spiritual and temporal, to imploy

their diligence, and shew the wor∣thiness of their callings, by cor∣rection and amendment of wicked and dissolute loose livers, by whom God's wrath is kindled against us; and to reduce them to holy Rules of Christian Exercises, in living justly, soberly and religiously, and so render God a true account of Stewardship, and prevent the mi∣series have befallen others drowsie and sleeping inadvertencies.

Imploring and beseeching both young and old, of all sects and con∣ditions, godly Christians religious and secular, beloved Fathers, dear Brethren, respected Friends, Neigh∣bours, and Companions, That you all, with humble face and counte∣nance, pure and sincere hearts and hands, devout mindes, mournfull voyces, and weeping eyes, condole, grieve, and lament the miseries, the calamities of Turkish captives; and call unto the Lord of Hosts with

violence in pity to his people, to a∣vert his anger, and not to give them up to the perpetual rebuke of this wicked Infidel, most cruel Enemy of Christian Religion and Liberty; but to inspire the mindes of Chri∣stian Kings and Governours, with light of his holy Spirit, to reduce them all to unity and concord, a∣gainst this ravenous and insatiable Dragon; and grant others such suc∣cess, that these wretched captives, their Christian Brethren, may be restored to liberty in the worship and adoration of their God, our Christ, and onely serve him, who is for ever blessed; that at length the Christian World may be re∣freshed and eas'd from such per∣petual slavery.