Chapter XIII: Front Matter (13)

_Adrachne seu Arbutus folio non serrato_, _Picea_, _Aria_, _Ilex cocci-glandifera_, _Terebinthus_, _Lentiscus_, several sorts of _Cistus_, _Capparis Spinosa_, _Paliurus_ or _Christ_’s Thorn, Fig-trees, Olives, Almonds, a sort of wild Peach, _Jujubes_ or _Zizyphus_, _Esculus_ or Dwarf-oak, _Alaternus_, white Mulberry for the Silk-worms, the inhabitants trading a little in Silk and _Kermes_, which they gather from a Holm-oak: _Sesamum_, _Gossipium seu Xylon_, _Thymbra_, _Marum_, _Origanum Heracleoticum_, _Tragoriganum_, _Salvia_, _Stachys_, _Ruta Sylv._, _Trifolium Asphaltites_; a rare sort of _Hyosciamus_ on the walls of _Jerusalem_; _Azadarach Arbor in Palestinâ secundum D. ~Monconny~_.

_Between Mount ~Sinai~, Mount ~Oreb~ and ~Suez~._

_Oenoplia_ a sort of _Zizyphus_; _Arbor Lanigera_ or Cotton-tree; _Glans seu Nux Unguentaria_, call’d _Balanus Mirepsica_, _Alcanna_ a _Species_ of _Ligustrum_, of great use and sale for dying and colouring; _Senna_, Rose of _Jericho_, or _Hiericho_ a sort of _Thlaspi_, _Colocynthis_, _Ambrosia_, or Oak of _Cappadocia_.

Some Plants mention’d by _Breynius_, and taken out of _Rauwolff_’s _Hort. Sic._ or else found in those Countries where _Rauwolff_ travell’d.

_Acaciæ similis Mesopotamica minutissimis foliis, siliquâ integrâ contortâ, crassâ, & obtusâ; sive siliqua Nabathæa nobis._

_Azadirachta foliis ramosis majoribus ~Syriaca~ sive vulgaris flore cæruleo maj. ~Perlato~ falso Sycomorus Italorum. ~Bellon.~ ~Astergir.~ ~Rhasis~, & incolis ~Zenselacht~ ~Rauwolff.~_

_Horminum Syriacum, tomentosum, foliis Coronopi, sive profundè laciniatis ~Breyn.~ Horminum rarum foliis laciniatis ~Rauwolff.~ in Herbar. vivo._

_Lapathum Rotundifolium montis Libani, semine maximo ~Breyn.~ Ribes Arabum ~Rauwolff.~_

_Lycium Buxi foliis angustioribus Syriacum ~Breyn.~ Lycium Dioscoridis ~Rauwolff.~ in Herbar. Hadhad Arabibus, & Zaroa incolis montis Libani, ejusdem. In Syriâ & Palestinâ observavit ~Rauwolffius~._

_Lycium Buxi foliis rotundioribus Syriacum vel Persicum ~Breyn.~ Hoc Lycium apud ~Rauwolffium~ cum priore confunditur._

_Marrubium villosum Syriacum, sive montis Libani ~Breyn.~_

_Melanthium Syriacum minus frutescens latifolium, Rutæ flore, fructu tricapsulari, ~Breyn.~ Ruta vocata Harmala ~J. B.~_

_Melilotus minima Syriaca. Nephel sive Naphal, Ibenbaithar & Malasesæ._

_Plantago angustifolia minor lanugonisa Syriaca & Cretica, pediculis & capitulis maturitate ad terram inflexis ~Breyn.~ Leontopodium ~Alpin. Exot.~ Leontopodium Creticum ~C. B.~_

_Plantago angustifolia peniculis Lagopi ~C. B.~ Plantago quinquenervia cum globulis albis pilosis ~J. B.~ Catananche Dioscoridis ~Rauwolff.~ in Herbario vivo._

_Satureia frutescens Arabica folio fimbriato hirsuto ~Breyn.~ Sathar Arabum ~Rauwolff.~_

_Tithymalus (vel Tithymalo affinis) aphyllos dictus major latifolius, flore sanguineo aviculæ capitulum repræsentante ~Breyn.~ An Planta lactaria Xabra & Cammaronum Rhasis ~Rauwolff.~_

_Jacea maxima Hierosolymitana ~Alpin. Exot.~_

_Marum Syriacum foliis incisis._

CHAP. IX.

_Here follow some Epitaphs of the Christian Kings of ~Jerusalem~, together with a short Relation of their reigns and mighty deeds._

In the year of our Lord Christ 1096, when _Henry_ the fourth was Emperor of the west, and _Alexius_ the _Grecian_ Emperor at _Constantinople_ in the east, Pope _Urban_ the second call’d a council at _Claremont_ in _France_, where they consulted together which way the Land of Promise might be deliver’d again from the hands of the Infidels. Where it was concluded and agreed upon, to take the field in common, and for their general they chose _Gottefrid de Boulion_, Count of _Bononia_ in _France_. Along with him went many Princes, Counts and Noblemen, _viz._ _Baldwin_ and _Eustachius_ his brethren, and many more, and brought together an army of six hundred thousand foot, and one hundred thousand horse; so they went in several parties through _Hungaria_, _Greece_, _&c._ till they had passed the _Hellespont_, and came into _Asia the Less_, now call’d _Natolia_, and belonging to the _Turks_, where they joined again, and took some towns, to wit, _Nicea_, _Tarsis_, and also _Antiochia_ situated in _Cælosyria_. Yet in these actions were a great many Christians slain by the way, others were taken prisoners, some were starved, a great many dy’d of sicknesses, that came by changing of the air in these hot countries; so that in three years time, for so long dured this march, there were hardly forty thousand men (as some write) left, of the afore-named sum that did arrive in the Land of Promise. These went with their master and general _Gottefrid de Boulion_ before the city of _Jerusalem_, wherein were a great number of the infidels, to defend it; yet they surrounded the city, and took it in a little time, and kill’d a great number of them. When they had taken the town on the fifteenth day of _July_, in the year 1099, and had reduced it, they laid down their armors and arms, and went to visit the holy Sepulchre with great devotion, and chose there unanimously their general King of _Jerusalem_, who at their request undertook the government, would not be call’d King, nor crown’d with a golden crown in that place, where our Saviour that Arch-King had worn one of thorns. After he had obtained this victory, he also subdued some adjacent towns, _viz._ _Joppe_ call’d _Jaffa_, _Porphria_ situated at the foot of mount _Carmel_, the _Arabians_ and _Turks_ call’d _Hayphe_, _Tiberias_ and the confines of _Galilea_. He also overcame with a handful of his men, the Captain of the Sultan, who had a great number of men with him, and kill’d above thirty thousand of them. But as nothing is lasting in human affairs, he dy’d in the eleventh month of his reign, and was bury’d in the above-mention’d chapel, and upon his tomb-stone is still to be read this following epitaph.

_Hic jacet inclitus dux ~Gottefridus de Boulion~, qui totam
istam terram acquisivit cultui Christiano: cujus anima regnet
cum Christo. ~Amen.~_

After his decease the Christians unanimously chose his brother _Baldewin_ King of _Jerusalem_ in his place; he overcame with a small number of men the King of _Egypt_, that was twenty two thousand strong, and kill’d the greatest part of his men. And when he dy’d in the eighteenth year of his reign, they chose his cousin _Baldewin_ of _Burgo_, the second of that name, King. This was a great warrior, and did many heroick deeds with few men against the Heathens; he overcame and took prisoner _Gatzim_ the _Turkish_ Prince of the _Lesser Asia_, with a great number of men; but soon after in the fifth year of his reign, he was beaten in a battle by the King of the _Parthians_, and carry’d away prisoner. In the mean time the _Venetians_ and _Genoese_ came with two hundred and seventy ships, and dispersed and beat the Armada of the _Saracens_, and sunk many of their ships and took also the strong town of _Tyrus_, so that both by sea and land there was abundance of blood shed. When the enemies saw this, that they set the King at liberty again in the eighteenth month of his imprisonment, for a sum of money; after that he did execute in the six following years of his reign, in order to an enlargement of his kingdom, many glorious and famous deeds. He overthrew the King of the _Ascalonites_, who was assisted by the _Egyptians_, and fell upon _Jerusalem_ in one single battle, and also beat the King of _Damascus_ in three several ones, as you may see by his epitaph here underneath written:

_Rex ~Baldewinus~, ~Judas~ alter ~Machabæus~,_
_Spes patriæ, vigor ecclesiæ, virtus utriusque_
_Quem formidabant, cui dona, tributa ferebant_
_~Cedar~, & ~Ægyptus~, ~Dan~, & homicida ~Damascus~_
_Proh, dolor, in modico clauditur hic tumulo._

In the year 1131, the crown was presented to _Fulcon_, count of _Andegavia_, and son-in-law to the before-said _Baldewin_, who also obtain’d several victories against the _Persians_ and _Turks_. But in his time there arose some differences among the Christians, and some conspiracies, which proved afterwards very disadvantageous to him; he lost also _Edessa_, a city in _Mesopotamia_, which King _Baldewin the first_ had conquer’d before, which the _Turks_ took by force from him. This King left two sons, _Baldewin_ and _Alamric_, and after he had reigned eleven years, he fell dead when he hunted a hare on full speed. After him his Son _Baldewin the third_ was crown’d, who also dy’d in the twenty fourth year of his reign, after he had fought several battles, and taken some towns. Then his brother _Alamric_ came to the crown, who was a great warrior, so that he was very fit for this dignity, he obtain’d many victories against Sultan _Saladin_. But afterwards when the scales were turn’d, he dy’d also after his return from _Egypt_ in the year 1178, his son _Baldewin the fourth_, and the seventh King, undertook the government of the Kingdom in the thirteenth year of his reign. This, although he was leprous, yet he manag’d his business very well, and defended his dominions courageously and gloriously against the infidels. And because he would not be marry’d by reason of his distemper, therefore he marry’d his sister _Sibylla_ to a Marquis of _Monteferrato_, call’d _William_. She was brought to bed in the first year of a son, and call’d him after his uncle _Baldewin_. But when _William_ dy’d, he marry’d her again to _Guido_ of _Lusignan_, Count of _Joppe_; with this condition, that after his decease he should rule the kingdom for his son-in-law, and be his guardian so long until he came at age. But he behaving himself very ill in the mean while, the King grew so angry with him, that he would by no means suffer him to live in his dominions, and order’d another to fill up his place, one _Raymond_, a Count of _Tripoli_. Soon after the King dy’d before his son was quite twenty years old, and was also bury’d in the temple of the holy Sepulchre. Within eight months after, did also die the true heir of the crown, the son of _Sibylla_ his sister, and was also bury’d by the other Kings; so that we find still on three several tomb-stones that stand close one behind the other, _viz._

_Septimus in tumulo puer hic regnum tumulatus_
_Est, ~Baldewinus~ regum de sanguine natus._
_Quem tulit è mundo sors primæ conditionis_
_Ut Paradysiacæ loca possideat regionis._

So by the incitation of his mother, _Guido_ was proclaim’d the last King.

_Raymund_ the Count of _Tripoli_, was extremely disgusted at this election, being that the Kingdom was already recommended to him, wherefore he resolved to go to war with him, and that he might be strong enough for him, he made a league with Sultan _Saladin_, to his own grief and ruin; for when the Sultan saw these differences between them two, he raised suddenly a great army, and took _Jerusalem_, and the whole country by force of arms. So the kingdom of _Jerusalem_, after the Christians had been possessed of it eighty eight years and nineteen days, was re-taken again by the infidels, not without great loss and damage.

Not long after, the infidels did pull down the walls of the city, turn’d the churches into stables, saving the temple of _Solomon_, and spoiled the holy Sepulchre of our Lord Christ, which in all the other wars did still remain intire, so that only one side of the rock thereof is now to be seen. This was done by the infidels on purpose to shew us the foolish zeal we have to conquer and visit the holy grave and city, as if Christ were still in it. This and other places had been quite demolish’d also, had it not been for the eastern Christians, the _Armenians_, _Syrians_, _&c._ which did stop their fury, by giving of them a great sum of money, and so redeem’d it.

CHAP. X.

_A common account of several sorts of Christians, but chiefly of them that are always to be found in the temple of mount ~Calvaria~; and also how these, and many other strangers, are treated by the ~Turkish~ Emperor (as by their chief head, to whom they generally are subjected) and his officers._

In the temple of mount _Calvaria_ live Christians of several nations; as _Latins_ or _Italians_, _Abyssins_, _Græcians_, _Armenians_, _Georgians_, _Nestorians_, _Syrians_, _Jacobites_, &c. which for the most part are Priests and Friers, who are of so different opinions in many articles of faith, that many of them might sooner be reckon’d amongst the superstitious and hereticks than Christians; wherefore each of them have their peculiar habitation and chapel, that they may perform their devotion undisturbed by one another. The _Turkish_ Emperor also lets them alone, and doth not at all trouble them for their religion, nor endeavour to bring them over to the _Mahometan_ religion and _Koran_; and is very well contented to receive his yearly tribute, which is exactly demanded as it cometh to be due. I have seen many of them in the temple to go up and down in their peculiar habit, and once I did attend at their devotion, so that I easily passed away the times that the _Turks_ kept us locked up in it.

Their Pilgrims resort thither yearly, chiefly against the great feasts or the holy days, in great numbers to see the holy places, not only from the eastern, but also from the western countries: Those that are under the subjection of the _Sultan_, which they are almost all of them (except the _Latins_ and _Abyssins_) must pay him yearly the fourth part of all their revenues: He that hath four Olive, Almond, or Quince-trees, must yield one of them to be the Emperors. So in their harvest, every fourth sheaf is also his; their harvest beginneth in the beginning of _April_, and endeth in _May_, as you may see, _Deut._ chap. xvi. 9. ‘Seven weeks (that is from _Easter_ to _Whitsunday_) shalt thou number unto thee: begin to number the seven weeks from such time as thou beginnest to put the sickle to the corn.’ Besides this imposition, they have another; that is, They must pay yearly for every head that is male, the poor as well as the rich, one ducat, and sometimes two, chiefly when the _Sultan_ intendeth to go to war with the Christians; then he beginneth to lay these taxes upon them a year before-hand, and hath it gather’d in. He that hath not wherewithal to pay it, is forced either to sell one or the other of his children to perpetual slavery, or else to give one of them to the Grand _Turk_, according to his liking to be his own for ever: And what is more, he sendeth every fourth or fifth year through all his dominions his Emissaries, _viz._ _Wallachia_, _Servia_, _Bosnia_, _Albania_, _Colchid_, &c. to fetch away every third son of his Christian subjects, and they always chuse that which they like best; and so they bring together a great number, and call them _Azanoglans_, and give them to the _Janizaries_ to be their servants. These have in some chief places their exercises from their infancy, that in time they may be fit to be made Officers and Commanders in time of war. In this the _Turks_ exercise great cruelty and pride, they spare no body, for if a Christian doth possess some small matter of riches, he must either keep it very privately, or else with a great deal of discretion say, That it is all belonging to his Emperor and him. So if the _Grand Signior_ hath occasion for any thing of theirs whatsoever, it must be granted him without any refusal: But what a trouble and heart-breaking this must be to the poor parents, not only to have their children which are free by nature, forced to such a brutal way of life and education, but, what is more, taken away from baptism to circumcision, from the Christian congregation and faith, into a severe slavery and superstition, wherein they are brought from their duty to their parents, into a mortal enmity against them and their other relations, every Christian may with himself consider.

The _Turks_, where there is choice, take them that are single and young, because, they being still infirm, and but slightly grounded in their faith, they are the sooner seduced, chiefly if they are instructed in their _Mahometan_ laws, and educated therein for a while, for then they soon forget their own faith, and grow in theirs, and so as they grow up in years, they also grow in their malice, and become to be worse than they themselves, as daily experience doth sufficiently testify.

Of the same stamp are also the Christians, that after they have been taken prisoners in the war, turn _Mamalucks_ (which they call in their language _Haracs_) and are circumcised. These are free from all imposition as well as the _Turks_, save only the tenth, but dare not go away without their master’s leave, upon pain of death; if they are taken, they are according to their law, without any tryal, sentenced and condemned to be burnt. And these also are confirm’d and obdurated in their impious and base life, that they forget God and themselves, never think of coming home again to hear the Gospel preached, or to see their friends and relations again. Yet the prisoners are not so very much pressed by the _Turks_ to deny their faith and turn, except there should be found one or more great persons among them, for such they always use to press more, and endeavour to turn them one way or other, and promise them great preferment if they will declare for their religion; for they are in hopes, that if they could persuade them, a great many more of the little ones would also come over with them. If such are persuaded by them and turn, they are entertained by the _Turks_ very honourably, and called _Tscheleby_, that is gentlemen, and endued with great revenues, but yet they do not easily confide in them, or put any trust into their hands, and do not esteem such inconstant and faltering men in their heart, although they carry themselves very friendly before their faces, for they make account, That he that will easily deny his religion, will also betray his Prince and country if occasion should serve. I have known in these countries some slaves, whom their masters that bought them as their servants, did very much press to be circumcised, but when they did mightily resist, and excuse themselves, and say, That they could not admit thereof with a safe conscience, and if by force, they should take away their prepuce and circumcise them, that notwithstanding all that, they could not circumcise their hearts, and therefore they desired them not to trouble themselves any farther with them, they were for all that ready and willing to serve them honestly and faithfully to the utmost of their power: So their masters have been satisfied with this answer, and have pressed them no more. But if it should happen that a Christian should be taken in one of their _Mosques_ (for they, as unclean men, are forbid to come there) or should dispute with them, or speak ill of their Prophet _Mahomet_ and his laws, or should pronounce these words, which are almost written every where in their churches, and underneath their gates, in their _Arabian_ language, _Leila hillalla Mahammet rasur alla_; that is to say, _O God, only God, and Mahomet a Prophet of God_, he must (because they are an epitome of their religion, confession, belief and laws) suffer himself to be circumcised, or else lose his life. For being that _Mahomet_ did defend his false doctrine described in the _Koran_, rather with the sword than with reason and true grounds, that it might not be discovered, and so his adherents leave him. _Mahomet_ to prevent this, by the devil’s inspiration, hath strengthen’d it with strong points and articles, _viz._ That no body shall discourse or dispute with any Sectaries whatsoever, much less believe them, or read their books, as such wherein is no ground to be found, because all that is good and true in the old Testament, testified by the _Jews_, and in the new one, by the Christians, is by him taken out and transcribed into his _Koran_, and therefore it must be believed and kept as the word of God, without any scruple or search; and he that speaketh or writeth against it, must fall by the sword, and besides be damned for ever.

Who doth not see that this subtile _Mahomet_ did this, that any body that he gets once into his snares, or that falls into his net, might be so entangled, that he must be forced to keep there to perish and to be damned for ever; notwithstanding all his sweet promises of great privileges, salaries, and permission of _sodomitish_ sins, robbing, burning, perjury, _&c._ which transgressions they regard but very little, seeing that according to their Prophet’s promise, if they pray but often, and wash themselves often, they do not only not hurt them, but by continual usage of the before-mentioned means, they become to be cleaner than we Christians from our sins, in the bath of regeneration. To these traditions of _Mahomet_, the _Turks_ and _Moors_ stick so close, and believe them implicitly, according to the commands of _Mahomet_; so that one, although he be of another opinion, because they will hear no contradiction nor objection, is forced to hold his tongue and say nothing. And in case you should ask them why they are forbid to eat pork, or drink wine? they answer and say, That their Parents did so before them, partly because they are unclean, and partly because they are forbid it in their _Koran_; or else that if they should over-fill themselves with it, so that they should bring it up again, it might contaminate their cloaths, and so they should commit a great rusticity; so that they know not how to give any reason concerning their religion. Wherefore their law ought to be called or reputed cruel, and a tyrannical one, that is rather upheld by the sword than by reason and justice; which also appeareth from thence, that they carry a naked scymiter before the noblemens sons, when they carry them about the streets in order to be circumcised; and also their Priests, chiefly those that are called _Antippi_, after prayers and sermon, shew unto the people from a high place, a burning torch in one hand, and a naked scymiter in the other, to encourage their own adherents, and to frighten those that are of a contrary opinion; and so _Mahomet_ pretends to his adherents, that God hath bidden him to conquer all other nations by the sword, until they confess that there is no other God besides God, and _Mahomet_ his Prophet; or else agree to pay him yearly tribute, and to be his obedient subjects; if they follow his directions, his laws will endure so long as they defend them by the sword. Now how strictly they have hitherto prosecuted these his commandments, the inhabitants of the eastern countries have formerly, to their grief, sufficiently experienced, _viz._ _Asia_, _Syria_, the _Land of Promise_, _Ægypt_, _Thracia_, _Greece_, &c. which they have not only conquered, and to their own great improvement subdued, but have also infected them with their poisonous doctrine to such a degree, that in these our times there are but very few to be found in those parts, that do adhere unto the true religion.

It being so then, that God Almighty hath visited them with these great punishments, by reason of their manifold sins and ingratitude, for his holy and sacred word, and that we also are guilty of these and the like sins and vices, we cannot wonder that the Almighty and Just God, should, according to our demerits, send also such a horrid tyrant against us, to terrify us very much, and come so near to us, that we must expect every moment (except we amend) the like punishments and executions. And so we hear daily, to our grief, that this potent tyrant is continually at work, and taketh one strong town after another; and what is more, they take often in their excursions, a great number of our brethren and sisters, part whereof they murder barbarously, others they carry away into perpetual slavery. When they have obtained a victory, and have got booty, there is ready, and at hand, several Sutlers, that drive a great trade by buying and selling poor prisoners; these buy them of the Soldiers, chain them (after they have given the Grand _Turk_ the tenths thereof, according to his choice and pleasure) together with long chains, and so drive them away miserably, as if they were beasts, to the chief trading towns, to sell them with profit again to others, that come thither from foreign countries. There you find weekly, in their _Batzars_ or Exchanges, many prisoners of several nations, viz. _Christians_, _Moors_, _Arabians_, _Indians_, _Abyssins_, and amongst them young and old, men and women, some whereof are white, and others black; thither come the chapmen and cheapen them; they have liberty to look upon their naked bodies, as if they were beasts, and to feel them, whether they are sound in their limbs, or whether they have any defect, which they always fear. If they like their bargain, the buyers take them home with them into their small habitations or tents, and put them (chiefly those that are given to idleness, and have learned no trade) to any sort of hard labour, and all that they get so belongeth to their master, who disposeth of it as he pleaseth. Wherefore those that keep many men and maids, esteem themselves richer for it; and sometimes they marry them together, and when they beget children, they are slaves as well as themselves, and he hath power to educate them, and to dispose of them as he pleaseth. Wherefore the Christians (that to their temporal punishment, they may not also acquire eternal ones, for their childrens sake) in these countries do seldom marry, but rather study how to make their escape, if they are not hindered for want of that language, and by unskilfulness of the roads; or else they go with their master before a Justice, in their language called _Cadi_, and there buy their liberty for a sum of money, or else agree with him for a certain time, and so make a contract with him concerning their liberty, which commonly those do that intend to persevere in their Christian religion, or undertake to get something by their handy-work, that when the time is past, or the money paid, the Justice may, according to the instrument before made by him at their request, declare him free, and give him a pass, to shew upon the road, that he may not be molested. Other ways to get their liberty there are but very few, except their master should happen to dye, which commonly in their last will, declare that their bought servants, after the opening of it, shall have their liberty. Sometimes it happens, that from others they buy false letters (which are soon found out in these countries) and so by the help of them get away clandestinely.

But yet that but a few slaves come from thence to us again, the chief reason is not, as many think, because the _Turks_ press them to change their religion; for although they sometimes threaten them, as they use to do, or treat them somewhat more hardly than is usual in their servitude, as Christians also do very often, but rather their secure and impenitent life which they lead, forgetting God and his holy Word to that degree, that they know not how to give an account of their Christian faith and religion; nay, (what is more) they know not the difference between these two religions, which are so vastly differing, although they would, if they did know it, rather suffer death than be seduced from the true religion, and precipitate the soul, together with the body, into damnation. When then the knowledge of the truth is gone, and faith almost, if not quite extinguish’d, so that there is but little hope left of their salvation, they daily forsake their religion as fast as worm-eaten fruit falls from the tree; begin to think how to compensate their bodily suffering, they may lay up and get money by robbing and burning, and so get privileges, to live according to their own will and pleasure, like beasts in daily uncleanness; and when they are harden’d in it, they come at last to such a degree of sottishness and brutality, that (as St _Peter_ saith) they believe the chief good of this world to consist in voluptuousness, wherein they perish at length, and must expect the wages of unrighteousness with the rest.

When the _Turks_ have conquered one or more (which they discern at first by their fore-finger, which those that have a mind to turn use to shew to them first, as a token, by lifting of it up over their heads, chiefly in their _Mosques_) they rejoyce in them mightily, and are clearly of opinion, That this their work is precious and good before God, and that their religion is confirmed and upheld by the assenting of many; wherefore they soon meet together to confirm these turn-coats with their usual ceremonies, and so to make them true _Turks_. First they lay before them a cross, whereon they must trample three times, spit upon it, and repeat every time some words after them taken out of the _Koran_; so the Christians that will be made _Turks_ pronounce them after them. When this is done, three of them are ready with their bows, and shoot together up, and give them before the arrows fall down again _Turkish_ names: then (if they be men) they set them up upon high horses, put them on their best cloaths, and dress them neatly, and so lead them for two days together through all the streets, that every body may see them, and know them to be such as do adhere to their religion, and so to be free to walk and deal among them without any hinderance. If they are of an higher degree, and of great authority, sometimes ride along with them some _Turkish_ gentlemen of quality, in their best dress, accompanied by many _Janizaries_, who fire here and there in the streets for joy, but chiefly in those places where they spy Christians. They have with them all sorts of musical instruments, _viz._ The drums, great drums, and little drums, (which they beat at the same time both above and below) hautboys, and others: They also carry in this their procession long streamers upon long poles, almost like unto them that we see in the cross-walks in our Frieries; and besides, the rabble that run before and behind make such a noise, that one cannot hear the other. When all this is over, they circumcise them at last on the third day, and then they reckon such an one to be a true _Musulman_, that is, a circumcised one, who hath leave to go to their _Mosques_ without being hindered, to buy their books and writings, and to read them, which must not be sold to others that are not of their religion, upon pain of great punishment, that they may not come into unclean hands, or to be trod upon as writings of no worth.

Their _Jews_, whereof there are a great many among them, and are called by them _Choifut_ or _Choifoutler_, excel ours in cheating and cozening by far, and there is no doubt but they would oftentimes renounce their religion to make profit: But the _Turks_ envy them more than we Christians, they do not trust them, they reckon them not worthy to eat with them as they do with us Christians, nor marry with them; much less will they receive them as any thing related to their religion, except it be, that before for some days they have frequented the Christian churches, and there are baptized, and have often eaten pork, that unclean meat, that is also forbidden unto them. When they have done thus, they proceed with them after the same manner as is before-said.

Concerning the Christians that live among the _Turks_, as the _Surians_, _Armenians_, &c. they have here and there in great trading cities, their peculiar streets which they inhabit, and they are commonly without in the suburbs; and thereabout are also small and low churches, where they perform their devotions. When they begin to be decayed of age, or are burnt by fire, or destroyed in war time, if they will have them built up again, they must have leave first of the _Turkish_ magistrate, and lay down a good sum of money, which grants nothing except you grease them well.

The _Turks_ (to save charges) suffer no bells nor clocks, neither in their own nor other temples, nor will they give leave to the Christians to ring to church with them, so that all day long you neither hear a bell toll, nor a clock strike. Instead thereof, the _Turks_ have, according to their _Koran_, their five hours set, which their Priests call out from the high steeples, and in the exchanges, with a loud voice, and with stopped ears, and cry, _Alla Haickbar_, that is, _God is true_; and then, _Leila hillalla, Mahammet rasur alla_; each of them he repeats twice, to call the people to their devotions. But the Christians have a servant, that at the hours of prayers and sermon goeth about with a strong cudgel, and striketh, in every street, on one or more doors made strong for that purpose, as if it were upon an anvil, several times, which resounds through all the street.

When the Christians pray, they observe almost the same ceremonies with the _Turks_, _Persians_ and _Arabians_, _&c._ they turn themselves towards the south, they speak low in the beginning, lift up their hands, bend their heads and whole bodies downwards; then they fall down upon their knees, kiss the earth several times, and pray with great devotion; which custom the _Jews_ keep also, and that without doubt, because the Patriarchs used the same in their prayers, as we read in _Genesis_ chap. xvii. verse 3. and 17. ‘And _Abraham_ fell on his face: _Exod._ xvii. 11. When _Moses_ held up his hands _Israel_ prevailed:’ And in 1 _Kings_ xviii. 42. is said, ‘And _Elijah_ went up to the top of _Carmel_, and he cast himself down upon the earth, and put his face between his knees:’ And also _Nehemiah_ viii. 6. ‘And all the people answered, Amen, Amen, with lifting up their hands; and they bowed they heads and worshipped the Lord with their faces to the ground.’ So did _Christ_ himself, lying on his face, vehemently pray the third time. If we Christians did but mind the fervency and zeal of the heathens and superstitious in their prayers, we should see what reason we have to awake from our laziness and coldness in our prayers, and to pray with earnestness. There live in _Turky_ so many Christians, that they inhabit the greatest part of that country; wherefore considering their great number (to speak according to all human probability) it would be an easy matter to subdue the _Turks_ without the assistance of any outlandish power, and to drive them out of their own countries, did not God Almighty, who visiteth us for our manifold sins, set them over us as a punishment: For although the _Turkish_ Emperor sets his Beglerbys and Bashaws, as great and mighty lords here and there over great provinces and countries, to rule them with great zeal and severity, and to order all business according to his pleasure, so that among so great a number of people, and considering their severe reign and government (where small transgressions are vigorously punished) there is not easily to be feared an insurrection; yet he could not be half so strong, without the help of the Christians that live amongst his people, nor be able to bring together such mighty and numerous armies of good and experienced soldiers.

The Christians, for the most part, wear as well as the _Turks_ long cloaths, and gird their loins with fine and soft rollers, some of silk, and others made of cotton; in them they keep still to this day their money, chiefly the poor, as some with us, that have no pockets, do in their handkerchiefs, tied up in a strong knot; the same without doubt did the ancients wear, as the words of _Christ_ our Saviour, _Matth._ x. 9. give us to understand, where he speaketh to his disciples, and sends them into the world, saying, _Provide neither gold nor silver, nor brass in your purses_. (In the _German_ bible, we read girdles.) With such a one, without doubt, the Prophet _Agabus_ did tie the hands of the Apostle _Paul_ in _Cesarea_ in the house of _Philip_, when he would make him to understand, that the _Jews_ at _Jerusalem_ would take and tie him, and at length deliver him up into the hands of the heathens, as you may read in _Acts_ xxi. Now altho’ the Christians go as well as the _Turks_ in long cloaths, so that that way they are hardly to be distinguished from one another; yet they are distinguished by the peculiar colours of their turbants, which they wear; for the _Turks_ wear white ones, as also do the _Arabians_ and _Persians_, only these put behind to it a red coloured cloth, and the others make it up in another form, and let one of the ends hang down behind to defend their naked necks from the excessive heat of the sun. But the uncircumcised that have a differing religion, are not allowed to wear a white one, unless another colour be mixed with it, much less a green one; which colour being their _Mahomet_’s, and esteemed to be holy, is not allowed to be worn by any body, neither _Turks_ nor Christians, (except to their Priests and some Pilgrims that have been on pilgrimage to _Mecca_) neither in turbants nor other cloaths. So the _Armenians_ have blue, the _Nestorians_ flesh coloured, the _Grecians_, _Maronites_, _Surians_, and others have white ones with blue lists wrought into them. But the _Jews_ have yellow ones, as they have in our country yellow bonnets; yet when they have a mind to travel afar off, as into _Mesopotamia_, _Assyria_, _Persia_, or into the _Indies_, &c. (seeing that the _Turks_ hate them, that so they may travel the securer, and with little charges) they put on white ones by the way, and pretend to be _Tschelebys_, or noblemen, nay, sometimes messengers of the _Cambre_, which they may easily do, because they understand the languages, yet not without great danger. But they stay not long in a place, that they may not come to be known.

There are also some _Jewish_ Physicians, which instead of the yellow turbants, wear red high hats of scarlet, they exceed in number the _Turkish_ ones, that go cloathed like the common people. They are commonly more able and learned, because they can read the physical books of _Galen_ and _Avicenna_, &c. in their original languages _Greek_ and _Arabick_; which they generally understand. But for the _Latin_ tongue, very few of them understand that, neither have they any good books in it, but what they have received in the taking the island _Cyprus_.

So much of the Christians in general. But because I have made mention of Christians of several nations, that inhabit the temple of mount _Calvaria_, what places in and without the town of _Jerusalem_ each of them are possessed of, and with what errors in religion they are contaminated, I cannot but relate in particular of each of them, as much as I could understand and learn in that little time.

CHAP. XI.

_Of the GREEKS._

As the ancient _Greeks_ in former days did excel almost all other nations in wisdom and understanding, and used to have their children instructed at home in their own universities in all manner of learning; so in our times we find the contrary; for in all _Greece_ there is not one university to be found, where such discipline and learning flourishes as did anciently; just so is the desire of learning, and instructing their children extinguished in them. They take greater delight in idle discourses, and rather love idleness, which they have learned very well, since they truckle under the _Turkish_ yoke. ’Tis true, they write the _Greek_ language, but which is as corrupt and different from the ancient, as the _Italian_ is from the _Latin_. The _Turks_ despise them for their laziness and cowardise, and on the contrary they love the _Germans_, _French_ and _Italians_, and praise them, saying, That they are stout and courageous soldiers; they call them all by the same name _Franci_, because the divisions of our country are unknown to most of them.

In former ages they had here and there in large and eminent towns, instead of the Pope (whom they will not obey, nor be subject unto) their Patriarch, Archbishops and Bishops, whereof some are still kept up; but after the _Turks_ did take and possess themselves of their country, there is fewer of them in number, and they have smaller revenues.

Without their country, they have in great trading Cities, as _Cairo_, _Aleppo_, _Antiochia_ of _Syria_, _Venice_, &c. their peculiar churches, and chiefly in some holy places in the Land of Promise. As at _Jerusalem_ the temple of mount _Calvaria_, the place of Skulls, whereon _Christ_ was crucified; and also the beautiful chancel that is in the middle of the church; wherein is a round hole about a span over in a stone, which is, as they pretend, the middle of the earth, according to the words of the kingly prophet _David_, when he says: ‘God, who now is my King from the beginning, has wrought our selves on the middle of the earth.’ Besides these, they have another called the Holy Cross, about an _English_ Mile out of town, which, as they pretend, is built on the same place where the tree did grow whereof they made the cross of _Christ_. Besides this, they have a great many more which I reckon unnecessary to mention here.

Some of their church doors are so low, that you must stoop when you will go through them.

They believe that the Holy Ghost doth proceed only from the Father, and not from the Son. They keep yearly two great fasts, and they eat flesh upon the sabbath, or saturday, at pleasure; they sing the mass in their own language, that every body may understand it. In their churches they suffer no embossed work, nor carved images, but have plain pictures on boards, or on the walls. They do not believe in Purgatory, as the Papists there, called _Latini_, do; nor that our praying, fasting or offering for the dead can do them any good. And they are mightily displeased, that the _Roman_ priests do not, according to the plain words of St _Paul_, marry as well as they, nor give the Lord’s Holy Supper in both kinds, as our Lord himself did institute it. Wherefore they condemn such errors of the _Popish_ church, and excommunicate the Pope and his adherents on the Holy Friday yearly. And because they reckon them to be superstitious, they will not permit them to say mass upon their altars; but if they should do it, they accuse them before the _Turkish_ magistrates.

So it happened when I first came over, that they were very angry with a Papist that had said mass upon their altar, and so had profaned it, wherefore they did immediately consecrate the altar again, and had the Priest before the Cadi: and they brought it so far, that he was mulcted five hundred ducats, to pay in a short time. When he thought that the punishment was greater than the tresspass or transgression, he did seek for help at _Aleppo_ and _Tripoli_, by the _French_ and _Italian_ Consul, but did obtain no great matter, so that he was still in election to pay the forfeiture.

CHAP. XII.

_Of the ~Surians~ that esteem themselves to be ~Christians~._

Among the eastern _Christians_, we also find them that are called _Surians_, whereof there is a great many, but chiefly in _Syria_. They have like unto the _Jews_ in several towns their peculiar churches. In _Jerusalem_ they live in the church of St _Mark_, which stands in the place, where the house stood formerly, at the door whereof St _Peter_ the apostle did knock when the angel had delivered him out of prison.

In their religion they follow for the greatest part the _Greeks_; they administer the Sacrament in leavened bread; and they say their masses like unto them in the vulgar _Arabian_ tongue. They are a sort of poor naked, covetous, and helpless people; their gowns reach only to their knees, as those of the _Maronites_, some whereof are wrought of coarse goats hair, striped black and white, such as the _Arabians_ make use of commonly, and almost alike unto their _Mescha_, which they use for sacks and tents, and they wear nothing underneath them, but shirts without neckbands, as is usual in all the eastern countries, they wear high shoes, which serve them for stockings and breeches also, being tied up with straps. They are subject unto the _Turks_, who make use of them as labourers both by water and land. They also mind their trade more than their religion; wherefore having lived so long among the _Turks_, they have already assumed their customs and manners in temporal and spiritual affairs, and are thereby become so confident and secure, that now-a-days the difference between these two religions are esteemed by them to be small and frivolous. If a Christian hath to deal with them, and desireth, to buy something of them, either Opium, Scammony, or any other the like drug, which they commonly falsify, he must look to himself as if he had to deal with _Jews_.

CHAP. XIII.

_Of the GEORGIANS._

Near unto the glorious city of _Trapozinta_, situated on the _Euxine_ sea, beginneth the country of the _Georgians_, and buts toward the south upon _Armenia_. These are very civil and simple people, but yet strong and brave warriors; they esteem and honour among other saints, but chiefly for warlike businesses, as their patron, the Knight St _George_, from whom they take their denomination. Their Merchants come very often in great caravans to _Aleppo_, and are, according to all appearance, in their shape and posture like unto the _Persians_, only that these are more whitish, and the others more tawny and browner: they wear also like them, short flying coats, and long and wide drawers, _&c._ They have, as the rest, their Patriarchs and Bishops, who, altho’ they are differing and dissenting in some points; yet for the most part they follow the doctrine and errors of the _Grecians_, and so they have and use the same writings and offices. Their priests are, as well as those of the _Armenians_, allowed to be married; but yet if either of them should happen to die, they must not marry again. In _Jerusalem_ they are also possessed of their peculiar places, wherein they sing and exercise the offices, and chiefly of one in the church of mount _Calvaria_, in the place near the sepulchre of our Lord _Christ_, where he did first appear unto _Mary Magdalen_ in the similitude of a Gardener after his resurrection.

CHAP. XIV.

_Of the ARMENIANS and their religion._

The _Armenians_ possess a large country, which is chiefly divided into two parts, _viz._ The lesser _Armenia_, which is now subject to the _Turks_, and the greater, now called _Turco-Mannia_ by some, which is partly belonging to the Sophy King of _Persia_. In it arise two great rivers, the _Euphrates_ and the _Tygris_, which run a great way toward the south, mix together below _Bagadet_, and at length fall into the _Persian_ gulf, by the town _Balsora_ or _Batzera_. They are pious and honest people, innocent, but very zealous in their religion, and receive strangers readily that come to them, and give them lodging, as I have often found it in my travels. They are also very much inclined to help and assist the poor slaves that are under _Turkish_ confinement, and ready to help them out. Their Merchants, whereof there are many amongst them, are dispersed not only over all _Turky_, but also _Persia_, the _Indies_, and many other countries; wherefore they have in all chief towns of trading, as _Antiochia_, _Aleppo_, situated in _Cœlosyria_, _Orpha_, &c. their peculiar warehouses and churches; and also in _Jerusalem_ (whither they go in great numbers) the beautiful church of St _Jacob_ the Greater; and also below near to the place of Skulls, another chapel locked up, _&c._ and have commonly before their chancels large hangings, behind which the priests keep separated from the people.

These, although they agree in very many points and articles exactly with those of the reformed religion, yet notwithstanding they have some errors worth to be rejected, and some scandalous customs besides. So you may see them here and there cry over the graves of their deceased friends; for to give them visits, they go out in the morning early, the greater part of them old women, and there they make such mourning and howling, that the travellers that come by (for their graves or burying places, are generally out of town near the highways) may hear them a great way off. There you shall see them sit, some folding their hands over their heads, and looking mournfully; others fetching great sighs, beating on their breasts; others spreading themselves over the graves, as if they would embrace their friends and take them in their arms. In the mean while, their priests go about among them reading and praying, and sometimes they speak to some of them. When they have done mourning thus, and cast sorrows from their hearts sufficiently, they sit down together, eat, drink, and be merry.

They do not at all esteem the Popes of _Rome_, but have their own prelates, which they honour with great and peculiar reverence; neither do they believe any indulgences, nor purgatory.

Their priests go in plain habits; they have wives as well as their laymen; they let their hair and beards grow; they keep on _Easter-day_ a great feast, and soon after beginneth their Lent, which they keep strictly, and therein, as also on Wednesday and Friday all the year round, they eat neither eggs nor flesh, nor any thing else that ever had life in it, only Saturday and Sundays they are allowed them, to refresh themselves; other feasts and holydays they do not keep any at all. In all these points, they rather agree with the _Abyssins_ than the _Romans_; and also in these following, _viz._ That they eat not of unclean meats that are forbidden in the Old Testament; they admit to the communion young and old without distinction; they baptize their children in the name of the Holy Trinity; they believe the articles of our Christian faith; they preach, sing, pray, and perform all their devotion in the vulgar tongue, that every one may understand it; they use for the interpretation of the word of God, the writings of _John Chrysostom_, and _Gregory Nazianzen_; they dare not, no more than all the other nations that live amongst the _Turks_, except the _Maronites_, make use of any clocks, to call people to church, in place whereof they have strong wooden tables, or some house doors prepared, several in each street, whereon they strike several strokes with a great cudgel, and so call people to church.

CHAP. XV.

_Of the NESTORIANS._